She couldn’t sleep, not with the words from the phone message running through her mind. She should have stayed home, should have been here to answer the call from a frightened squire. Should have…1
Sitting up in annoyance, Tria stood from the bed, grabbed her housecoat off the hook by the door, and headed upstairs. Walking through the darkened kitchen, she made her way to the living room, both pleased and disappointed that Ash was no where to be found. Although it would have been nice to have someone to talk to, at times Ash got that defensive and slightly mystical look to his face when the conversation touched on death.2
Taking a seat in her favorite chair, she picked up the guitar from its stand and looked at it. Playing the guitar was something she learned in her teens, and it was about the only thing she didn’t have to give up when she became a Huntress. Sitting so the guitar was resting on one knee, she stretched her other leg out and started playing the song she had just learned before her death in 1978. 3
Upstairs, clad only in his leather pants, Ash was laying on the bed, staring at the ceiling when he heard a noise filtering through the door. His eyes flicked to the side as he reached out with his powers to see what it was. The opening notes of ‘Dust in the Wind’ by Kansas came from downstairs, stopped, and started again. With curiosity getting the better of him, he got off the bed, walked out of the bedroom and quietly made his way to the staircase.4
Tria had her back to him, and he had to strain to hear the melody as it came quietly from the guitar. When she started singing, her voice was barely above a whisper, but full of emotion. Sitting on a step about halfway down, he leaned his head against the railing and watched her.5
Even while enveloped in the music, she still had that ‘don’t touch me’ aura around her, and somehow Ash knew it was what he found intriguing about her. She, like him, had been violated, in more ways than one in her life and death, and a part of him felt for that. 6
Through the music, he sensed a flicker of…something… in his mind, and cocked his head as he tried to listen through the walls around him out into the grounds beyond, and then to the area surrounding the property. Finding nothing beyond wildlife, he continued on, listening to a million voices at once in his head, and rapidly dismissing each one until he got to one who’s thoughts screamed at him in anger and misery.7
Trinity? He thought, trying to reach through to the sliver of humanity that seemed to be there, but was fading fast. He blinked as the brief connection severed, and attempted to reach out to her again. Frustrated, he closed his eyes, and used the music that was playing as a springboard to search out the closest Gallu. 8
The demon was closer than he would have liked, being somewhere in the city, and Ash attempted to see its thoughts. Gallu were tough ones for him to read, since they weren’t from his pantheon, which was most likely why he had been unable to sense Trinity before when she was deep in their caverns in Nevada. 9
Ash wanted to find out why he had been able to sense her just a few moments ago. He could think of only one explanation – she wanted him to know she was close. Trinity Wells, Squire, and friend to Tria Cavanaugh, was now Gallu, and intent on killing.10
So deep in thought, he didn’t realize that the music had stopped, and although he was still watching Tria, his focus was elsewhere. His attention snapped back, and he actually blushed slightly when he noticed Tria looking at him. He couldn’t remember the last time he had ever blushed, and was half tempted to just stand and walk back up the steps. 11
“Sorry,” he said instead. “I think I zoned out while thinking.”12
“Happens a lot,” Tria said in an odd voice. “Didn’t wake you, did I?”13
“I was already awake,” he said.14
“I couldn’t sleep,” she admitted. “Kept wondering when Trin would show up, and if I’d have the strength to kill her.”15
Finally standing, Ash made his way down the stairs and stood in front of her. She had to take a step back so she could look up at him, and he was acutely aware of her presence. “You’ll find that strength if you need it.”16
Wrapping her arms around herself, Tria bit her lip lightly with a fang. “I keep thinking… if I hadn’t been killed, and had a daughter, she would be about Trinity’s age.” Taking a ragged breath, she held back tears that wanted to come. “I mean… I wasn’t able to protect my own kids that night, and…it’s like I failed again.”17
The feeling of failing someone was something Ash knew all too well. Every time one of his Hunters died, he felt that guilt. “Failure is a hard feeling to get over,” he said quietly. “To be honest, I don’t think it will ever go away.”18
She looked at the floor and sniffed. “Not very helpful.”19
“Sorry.” Without thinking, he reached out, placing his finger under her chin and gently raised her head. She flinched at the contact but didn’t pull away. “If it ever gets to the point where you don’t feel like that, then it’s time to worry. Emotions like regret, guilt and helplessness are what keeps beings like us from sliding into dangerous territory.” He realized that he was gently rubbing her cheek with his thumb, but didn’t stop. “Those feelings are what spur us into making the hopefully right decision at a pivotal moment, instead of just walking away and leaving it all for Hades to sort out.”20
“What if I can’t?” she asked in a whisper, confusion running through her mind. She was standing there, in her nightclothes, her cheek being caressed by a man who was wearing only tight leather pants. By all rights, she should be pushing him away in anger.21
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, is that what will be, will be.” He paused, trying to see some hint of what would happen to her. Frowning when it appeared hazy, he pulled his hand away from her face and clenched it into a fist as he turned and nearly ran back up the stairs.22
Closing the bedroom door behind him, he leaned against it and shut his eyes. “Damn it.”23
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~24
Sitting in the car, Trinity looked at the gate that ran the entire perimeter of the property. She knew that by now any security codes would have been changed, and that if she tried to get in that it would immediately alert the Squire’s Council. Not that she was worried about the humans, it was just that she didn’t want to announce her presence just yet. 25
It was too close to dusk, and Tria would probably be awake. If this was to be done, Trinity wanted to do it properly, and that meant in broad daylight when Tria’s options were limited as to where she could hide if needed. If she could get into the house, she knew the best place would be the bedroom. Although Tria was the only one that could gain access through the door of that room, Trinity knew a few tricks to bypass the palm reader. 26
Shutting off the electricity was one way, but the property had backup generators, and there would be a less than five second window of opportunity for her to get over the wall and past the cameras that were hidden everywhere.27
Toying with the idea of letting Ash feel her presence again, she decided against it, knowing that he was the more dangerous of her prey and toying with him was not a bright idea. Putting the car into drive, she headed back towards the city in search of someone to eat.28
~~~~~~~~~~29
Tria was sitting at the kitchen table, completely dressed in her usual attire, when Ash walked in. He paused, tempted to turn and walk out, but went to the table instead. He sat across from her and traded stares.30
“I’m sorry,” he finally said. “I was out of line.”31
“It’s okay,” she replied. “You were trying to comfort me, and I appreciate it.”32
“But-“33
“Ash,” she interrupted. “It’s okay, really. If it pissed me off, then I would have told you.” Finishing her coffee, she stood and took the cup to the sink. 34
Watching her back, his brow creased as a stray thought crossed his mind. “How hard is it to get into your bedroom?” he asked.35
Turning slowly, Tria raised an eyebrow at him. “Pardon?”36
Realizing what he asked, Ash raised a hand slightly. “Didn’t mean it like that. Beyond the palm reader at the door, is there any other way into your bedroom?”37
“Why?”38
“Is there?”39
Tria walked back to the table and slid into the seat. “Technically, no… possibly, yes.”40
“Explain.”41
“If the power goes out, then there would be about a two second gap before the generators kicked in.” 42
“Sleep upstairs tomorrow,” Ash said slowly. “I’ll make sure it’s dark enough for you.”43
Tria regarded him calmly, although she was nearing panic inside. “I don’t know. All my gear is in my room if I need it, plus my emergency exit. If something happens in the day, I’ll be stuck in one room.”44
“So I’ll make the entire house dark.” Ash leaned forward slightly. “I take it that the whole property would be vulnerable for that brief moment if the power goes out?”45
“The house, yes.” Tria thought for a moment. “The gate would stay sealed, regardless.” She shrugged. “It would take too much…luck…to pull it off without being stopped. My guess is that any move made against me would be as I’m leaving or coming back, or in the city.”46
“So, stay home.”47
She gave him a hard stare. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.”48
“Suggesting you leave for a safe house would be…?”49
“Out of the question,” Tria supplied with a nod. “I don’t run. If she comes, she comes. If she infects me, she infects me. You do what you gotta do.”50
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~51
The sun was shining on Mount Olympus as birds twittered melodious songs designed to bring joy and happiness to even the bitterest of hearts. In her palace, Artemis ordered one of her Kori, or handmaidens, to close the windows to block out the annoying chirping of the birds. 52
The Kori was nearly to the window when she vanished, and Artemis raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow as the remaining Kori soon followed. She looked up as a small flash appeared just to the left of her, assuming it was her brother Apollo coming to visit, since he would always dispose of her Kori before he popped in. What she saw instead prompted her to bolt to her feet and stare with a mixture of fear and hatred.53
He couldn’t be here! Not in her palace! Anyone not of her pantheon had to be invited to gain entrance, and there was no way in the universe that she would ever invite him to be anywhere near her.54
“You can’t be here unless you’re invited,” she said, getting her fear slightly under wraps.55
Savitar gave her a bored look. “I don’t need anyone’s permission to go anywhere, sweet cheeks.” Ignoring the way her face turned red at his words, he looked around the room they were in. “So, this is where you screw Ash over… literally, and figuratively.”56
If anything, her face turned a darker shade of red, and it looked like she was straining to hold on to her legendary temper. Had it not been Savitar, she would have been in the midst of a colossal tantrum. “You don’t know what goes on here.”57
“Unfortunately, I do, but please spare me the details... I don’t think my stomach could take it, but hey... this isn’t a social call.” 58
“Imagine my relief.”59
Walking around the opulence, he could understand why Ash hated it here. Everything seemed so perfect, so magnificent, so…fake. “I need a soul.”60
“So, go get one.”61
“I need one that you’re holding.”62
“Oh, no… they’re mine. Given to me freely.” 63
“Tria Cavanaugh,” he said. “Her soul, if you please.”64
“She’s a Hunter.”65
“She prefers Huntress, and she’ll still be one. I don’t need her for anything. I just require her soul.”66
“Why?” she asked.67
“Why not?”68
“I can ask Ash.”69
“He’s busy right now.”70
“Doing what?” she snapped.71
“This is his Artemis free time,” he replied, ignoring her jealous question. Damn, but she liked to keep a tight leash on Ash. “If you dare peek on what he’s doing, I’ll tell him so fast that he’ll be here before you’re able to think up an excuse.”72
“Someone will have to pay for the soul.”73
“Don’t look at me,” he said, aghast. “And lady, if you’re even considering taking it out on Ash in any way… think again. This is a freebie, donated to me, by the goodness of your… uh, well, since you don’t have a heart, I’m just going to go with… mind.” He rolled his eyes slightly at that. “So, yeah… let’s keep this our little secret, shall we? ‘Cause if you don’t, I’ll be forced to come back.”74
Artemis paled at the threat in his voice. “I hate you,” she muttered.75
“I know. And it makes me all warm and tingly inside knowing that.”76
Suddenly feeling brave, she strolled up to him. “You won’t ever kill me.”77
Folding heavily tattooed arms over his chest, he regarded her coolly. “I’m interested in hearing why you think that.”78
“You kill me, and Ash will eventually die.” She smirked as she stopped in front of him. “And we both know you’d never do that to him.”79
Savitar leaned over so he could whisper to her. “There are a lot worse things than dying, Artemis. If you never wish to experience them, then I would highly advise that you stop pissing me off.”80
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~81
Trinity walked past a building, keeping her face shielded in case someone recognized her. Across the street sat the Squire’s building, and she hungrily watched as her former co-workers and friends came and went.82
Chances were that Tria would show up here tonight, as she seemed to have done every night since her squire had vanished. Not feeling the least bit of trepidation in what she had planned for the evening, Trinity continued walking until she got to an alley. Entering, she melted into the shadows to wait. Hunger gnawed at her, but she followed the voices in her head that told her that she could eat to her hearts content after she got to the Dark-Hunter.83
Besides, if Tria didn’t show up, then Trinity would head out just before dawn to her old home, grabbing a bite to eat along the way, and make it over the fence and to the house…somehow. She hadn’t quite figured out that part yet, but she knew that failure wasn’t an option. She had to follow through on this immense desire to kill.84
She laughed to herself, an evil, low chuckle when a thought ran through her. Wouldn’t it be amusing if a group of Daimons happened upon her? That would just be the lovely icing on and already ironic cake. Then again, Daimons tended to convert rather quickly, and their hatred of Dark-Hunters was already well entrenched within them, so maybe running into a few wouldn’t be so bad. Not like she could be killed by them anyway; at least not before getting at least one to convert. 85
Her heart started to beat faster and the hunger grew when she spotted a red car at the intersection. Frowning when she realized it wasn’t the Roadster that Tria drove, she settled back against the wall and waited. 86
It took a few hours, but her vigilance paid off when a blood red Roadster drove by, and kept on going. Confused, Trinity watched as it stopped at the corner, then continued going. Growling deep in her throat that she would have to follow, or just go to the property and wait, Trinity decided on the second action and started to walk back to the car she had obtained in Las Vegas.87
~~~~~~~~~~~88
“Tonight.”89
Tria glanced at the man sitting in the passenger seat of her car. “Pardon?”90
“What?”91
“You said ‘tonight’.” 92
“I did?” Ash closed his eyes behind the dark sunglasses.93
Tria sighed at his consistently enigmatic moods. Ever since the…whatever it was that had happened in the living room…Ash seemed aloof and reserved. His distance seemed to increase when she refused to run from her own home and into some safe house. 94
Ash was silent as she drove, centering himself on his Oracle side and trying to get some sense of what was going on. He had no idea why he had reached out and caressed her face earlier, but he knew he couldn’t be doing things like that. 95
Even though the touch had been innocent enough, he was glad this was his two months free from Artemis’s influences. He had no doubt that she would be jealous enough to toast Tria over something so harmless, regardless if she promised to never harm another Dark-Hunter again.96
“Sure you can do this?”97
She looked at him. “Do what? Kill Trinity?”98
“Exactly,” he glanced at her. “You’ve said you can, but when the moment comes, can you.”99
“If she’s Gallu now, then yes.” Tria shrugged as she drove. “This may sound arrogant, but the life of a former squire is, in the grand scheme of things, not worth the life of a Dark-Hunter. I have the capability to live for centuries, ridding the world of things that only want to destroy.” She looked at him briefly. “Logically speaking, how can I put that on the line for someone that may be a demon?”100
Ash stared out the window as her word soaked into him. They were cold and harsh, but held truth to them. Tria had the potential to do good, while Trinity had the potential to cause great harm. In the scheme of the cosmos, it was a no-brainer. 101
“Okay, then,” he said. “As long as you can remember that when it comes down to it. All the good intentions in the world are worth crap if they’re not stuck to when it really matters.”102
~~~~~~~~~~~~~103
She was nearly out of the city when she spotted the Roadster parked in front of a theatre. Assuming there to be Daimons in the area, Trinity parked, got out and walked around, eyeing pedestrians and fighting the urge to just grab one. Not seeing Tria anywhere, she casually followed a man that was hurrying along the street, smiling when he cursed and cut through an alleyway. 104
Seeing no harm in a snack, she followed, letting pretty human features melt into the demon face that was now her. The man didn’t even realize he was being followed until she grabbed his arm and swung him around. Confusion and anger changed to terror as he saw her, and his cry was cut short when she moved in for the kill. 105
Sometime later, she emerged from the alley, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, and taking a look around. She stiffened, instinctively ducking back into the alley when a blonde man ran across the street, followed by a woman with brown hair loaded with silver and black streaks. Keeping an eye for Ash, Trinity peeked again, and not seeing him, stepped out and ran across the street. 106
By chasing after Tria at a short distance, she was able to keep tabs, and stopped when the Daimon that had been running turned to finally face his pursuer. It wasn’t much of a battle as Tria approached and slammed the Daimon against a wall. The man struck back, causing the Huntress to stagger slightly, and then exploded as Tria straightened her arm, embedding a knife in the black spot on his chest. 107
Trinity was about to come out of hiding when she sensed someone coming. Looking to the other end of the alley, she saw a tall silhouette approach, and knew immediately that it was Ash. Only he could create such a magnificent and intimidating figure. Slinking back to the shadows, she slid her knives out of her pocket, waited and listened.108
Tria looked up, concentrating on the alley, then shrugged and turned to face an approaching Ash. 109
“Problems?” he asked.110
“Thought I heard something,” she replied, and then nodded to the spot where the Daimon had been. “Little bugger was fast.”111
“Try chasing one twenty blocks through downtown Hong Kong.”112
“That’s…quite all right.” Tria looked around. “Are we being watched?”113
Ash nodded slightly. “Yeah. About thirty feet to your back, on the right. Feel the difference between Gallu and Daimon?”114
”Yes. So, who makes the first move?”115
“They do,” Ash said quickly, as he reached out, wrapped his hand around her upper arm and pulled her to his chest. A knife embedded itself in the wall where she had been standing, and Tria turned to look at the same time Ash took a step back, his arms still around her. Two more knives hit the wall, both at the level where her head would have been. 116
“You know what?” Ash asked lowly, still holding her against him.117
“What?”118
“I do believe someone wants you dead.”119
“I noticed that.”120
She took a small step back when Ash removed his arms. “Uh…” she paused, slightly confused at a few emotions running through her. “I can’t do this in the city. Too many people could get hurt. She knows where to find me.”121
“You want to go back to your house and wait.”122
“Yes.”123
“If she doesn’t show?”124
“She’ll be there.” Tria turned from him and went to the driver’s side of the car. She waited while Ash climbed in, then calmly drove out into the street and slowly through the city. 125
~~~~~~~~~~126
Keeping tabs on his newest protégé, Kessar tapped his fingers on the table in front of him in anticipation. He knew she had killed a few people while waiting for the Dark-Hunter, and was surprised that she hadn’t killed more. He lightly cursed the human part of her that was still suppressing the now dominant Gallu personality.127
Having no doubt that Trinity would carry through on her orders to infect the Dark-Hunter, he actually wondered if she would be killed in the process. Not that it would be a big loss, though. Gallu like here were easy to create, and weren’t as stubborn as she had been. 128
He smiled at the thought of having a Dark-Hunter in his ranks. It was a risky endeavor, but one he had to try for. With luck, trinity would be able to render the Hunter unconscious, and keep her that way until the transformation was complete. The only kink in the plan was that if Acheron Parthenopaeus was still in the area. It was highly possibly that he was, but if this was carried out properly, without Trinity letting herself get carried away, then he should be no problem what-so-ever. 129
Besides, Kessar had already arranged for some distractions that would pull the Head Dark-Hunter away from Tria Cavanaugh.130
~~~~~~~~~131
Ash sighed as his phone sounded again, and answered it before it could reach the second ring. “Yeah?” He listened for a few moments, then sighed. “Hold on.” Punching another button, he answered another call that was also coming in. “Yeah?” 132
Tria half-listened as she drove, the events from the evening going through her mind. Those knives had been close, and there was no doubt that she would have been Gallu bait. The blades might not have killed her, but it would have slowed her down enough to be prime eating for a demon. 133
Ash closed his phone and looked out the side window. Heavy shit was coming down in the city, and he was tempted to tell Tria to turn back. But somehow, it all felt... wrong… like it was designed to draw him away. Confident that his Hunter’s could handle it, but knowing they needed a little help, he closed his eyes.134
Simi?
Akri! Came the immediate reply. How’s you?
Good, Simi. I need you here, in the city. Gallu are running amok.
He could feel the excitement in Simi, and the bloodlust she held when facing Gallu. The Simi will be right there, she said. Xirena will want to come too, ‘cause she loves eating Gallu.135
Look for Lyov he told her, referring to the Russian Dark-Hunter. Simi loved hearing stories from the man, and he always cooked huge feast for her. I’ll let him know you’re coming.136
With that sort of settled, he flipped his phone open again and made another call. “Lyov… Simi and her sister or on their way to help.” He closed the phone and scratched his forehead while he thought.137
“Problems?” Tria asked.138
“Besides all Hades breaking loose?” 139
“Thought so,” she said as she slowed enough to pull into the driveway of her property. She left the gates open behind her and pulled up to the house. Getting out, she inhaled deeply, then closed the car door. 140
Ash got out, leaned against the car and regarded her calmly. “Up for it?”141
Tria took a few steps from the car, faced the open gate and held her arms out. “Trinity!” she yelled.142
“What are you doing?” hissed Ash.143
“Getting her attention,” she told him. “I know she’s out there.” She lowered her arms slightly as a figure appeared by a tree and stared at her. 144
She knew it was a trap, but ignored the warnings as she approached her old boss and friend. Going from a fast walk, to a trot, to a full-blown run, Trinity crossed the distance rapidly. She smiled wickedly as Tria remained where she was.145
Ash watched calmly, but ready to react if needed. Images flashed through his mind, and he tried to banish them so they wouldn’t distract him. 146
Tria stood her ground, sidestepping at the last possible second, her jacket swishing over the running Gallu like a cape over a charging bull. Spinning, she took a step back as Trinity came at her again. 147
Tria watched, calmly calculating which way the demon would move. She was glad that the face was that of a demon, and not of the woman that had been her friend for the past year. She wasn’t sure she would be able to battle Trinity, but held no compunction over annihilating the being that was attacking her. Dodging to the side again, she spun and kicked out, sending Trinity stumbling back.148
A knife was out and lobbed before Tria could move, and she hissed as it embedded into her shoulder. Pulling it out, she dropped it on the ground, and glanced up as Ash. He was still leaning on the car, watching the fight with detached interest. 149
“Fight me,” Trinity snarled, displaying her fangs.150
The voice made Tria’s skin crawl, and she repressed a shudder. “I’m done fighting,” she said and motioned, sending a fireball straight at the demon, catching her in the face. 151
Ash finally stood and approached as she fell to the ground. He was impassive as he motioned for a fire to start, and consume the body.152
“Wait!”153
Ash glanced up as Tria extinguished the flame, walked past him and knelt by the body on the ground. She put her hand in one of the jeans pockets, then the other, and pulled out a piece of paper. Turning, she crouched to get back to her feet, and fell back as the body on the ground moved. 154
Ash motioned as Trinity lunged for Tria, and his blast caught her the same instant her face made contact with Tria’s side. Falling back to the ground, Trinity jerked as another bolt hit her, this time right between the eyes, and was still as her body erupted in flames. Ash turned in time to see Tria point at the body again, making the flames go higher.155
Tria picked herself up from the ground, shocked and chastising herself for being so stupid to believe the Gallu was dead the first time. The stench of the burning body hung in the air, and Tria could not pull her gaze away from watching her former squire as she vanished. Even though the woman had tried to kill her, Tria still held guilt in the burning she had to do.156
Ash turned from the fire and walked up to her. “Let me take a look.”157
She stared, not comprehending, but jerked back when he pulled her jacket to the side. “Don’t touch me.”158
Her pants were ripped, and he could see blood seeping from puncture wounds. “You’ve been bitten on the hip,” he said as he took a step back and picked a knife up from the ground.159
“I’m fine.”160
“Tria,” he said, forcing his voice to be calm, although his accent came through strongly. “If that bite is not cauterized, then you will become Gallu. If that happens, then I will have no choice but to kill you.”161
“I know,” she whispered as all her strength seemed to leave, prompting her to sit back on the ground. 162
He slowly approached, and noticed that her breathing was coming in short gasps. She was panicking, her eyes not leaving the knife that was in his hand. The eyes went wide as he touched the blade and it started to glow from heat. 163
“Nooooo!” she screamed, getting a foot between them and kicking him back. Ash stumbled slightly and glared. 164
“Do you want to die?”165
“Don’t…touch me,” she panted in fear.166
Ash put the knife down and sat beside her. Given the way she had died, he knew that any sort of burning around the hip area of her body would be bringing back terrifying memories. Taking one of her hands in his, he reached up and ran his other hand along her hairline, caressing the side of her face. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. She barely had time to look confused before her eyes shut and she went limp in his arms.167
Lowering her to the ground, he picked the knife back up and set to work saving her life.168
~~~~~~~~~~~~~169
Tria’s eyes flicked open, and she realized she was lying on her bed. Looking, she blinked at the sight of Ash sitting in a chair by the bed, his head leaning on an arm. Sitting up, she gasped in pain as her hip ached. 170
Ash’s eyes popped open and he was standing before she even noticed. He blinked a few times, and pulled his attention to her. “You okay?” he asked, his voice gravelly with sleep.171
“I could kick your ass right now,” Tria said. 172
“At least you’ll be doing it as a Dark-Hunter and not a dead Gallu.” He pinned her with a stare. “You were freaking out too much, so I…knocked you out.”173
Ready to kick his ass, Tria threw the covers off her, and suddenly realized that she was clad only in a shirt and panties. The blankets were pulled back immediately, and she stared at him. “Okay…”174
“The bite was on your hip,” Ash reminded her. 175
“Get me a pair of pants from the top of the dresser, please.” As soon as his back was to her, Tria’s mouth opened in disbelief at the whole situation. She grabbed the jeans from the air when he tossed them to her. 176
Ash watched, slightly amused as she pulled the jeans under the blankets and shimmied into them. “Wait,” he said.177
“What now?” she snapped.178
He sighed. “Let me change the bandage on the burn first.”179
Make a noise of disgust in her throat, Tria pulled the covers down slightly, and rolled on to her uninjured side.180
Ash paused at the scene, and forced himself to sit on the bed as he took a bandage off the nightstand. He gently took the bandage off her hip, and probed for a moment with a finger to make sure there was no sign of infection. Satisfied that all was well, he opened another bandage and applied it, smoothing it down gently with his fingertips.181
Without thinking, he leaned over and gently kissed the area above the bandage. He pulled back. “Sorry,” he told her as he busied himself with putting the things away.182
Tria stared across the bedroom, her eyes wide at the sensation. She had been prepared to give him a royal bitching out after she was dressed, but the sensation of his fingers on her made it hard to practice what she was going to yell at him. Then, feeling his lips on her hip made all thought flee right from her brain.183
For once since her death, she didn’t want to scream or cringe at contact. She lifted her waist slightly so she could pull her pants up, then sat and looked at him.184
Not giving his mind time to stop himself, he leaned forward and kissed her. He knew it was wrong, but for once decided to be selfish in his own wants. For the past eleven thousand years, there had only been Artemis; a cold, shallow and incredibly selfish woman. He never liked being touched, by anyone, but the sensation of Tria’s lips on his made him ache to have her experience every inch of his body.185
Sadness grabbed at him when she pulled back.186
“Not good,” she whispered, looking into his eyes. “This…can’t happen.”187
“I know,” Ash whispered. 188
For once, Ash’s features were completely open, and Tria smiled slightly at the way his face smoothed out, and his eyes seemed to brighten. Usually, he always had that guarded look to him that seemed to be second nature. 189
He kissed again, gently leaning against her. She lowered back to the bed.
In a list
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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its good but more stories u can write about are the lives of like julian kyran and sin all those about wat happened after their books
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Their stories have already been written by the author.
I prefer to make my own characters and borrow key characters from her, such as Ash, Savitar, etc, and only use the others off and on.
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sad to loose trinity, i truly did like her role.
nooo! ash can keep his lips to himself and me alone! ...*sigh i suppose i can handle hypothetical sharing.
on to the next section and more ashness.
and i do agree that the savitar and artie moment was absolutely priceless. savitar is the greatest jerk in the world! -
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I didn't plan to kill Trinity off, but... those darn Gallu had a mind of their own in this one.
But, I like the way it turned out, and leads in to not only the rest of this one, but the following novels.
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clad only in his leather pants,.... *what* an image!
I like the way the first part is written. It shows the way Ash views things, and how he feels when he might be messing up someone's life, but wants to make them feel better.
HAHAHA! Savitar and Artemis! I love it! What would he want with a soul? Hmmmm?
Wait, what? Already killed off? your story, of course, but I was hoping to see her around for a bit... but, then it must have something to do with the plotline.
The kissed!!! Yessssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!
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Thank God
I've been waiting for thius to happen since...god only knows.
Please post up 8 and 9 soon.
Thanks for the read
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