Standing outside the gate, Simi looked in at the grounds, and the house. She knew that her Akri was inside, but somehow he felt different today. Studying the place, she tried to pick up on what was causing the confusion, and not being able to figure it out, opened her pink cell phone and pushed a button. 1
She gasped in annoyed surprise when the call was immediately sent through to voicemail, and tapped her foot while the ‘please leave a message’ finished. “Akri, it’s Simi. I’m here, standing outsides the gate, and I want to sees you. Now. Please.” Flipping the phone shut, she stared at the house and patiently waited. She was still staring a few seconds later, and pursed her lips while she started tapping her fingers on her hip. Charonte demons were not patient beings, and Simi was about as impatient as they came. Besides, she was tired from a night of devouring Gallu, and needed to sleep off the feeling that always came from overeating. And for a Charonte, overeating meant a lot of food. 2
Flipping her phone open again, she punched another button. “Xirena,” she said when it was answered after the first ring. “Did my daddy call Alexion?” She pulled the phone away when her sister launched into her usual tirade about “he is not your daddy! Your daddy is a Charonte demon.” 3
When Xirena was done, Simi place the phone back to her ear. “Did Akri call, or didn’t he? It’s a simples question, Xirena. I think sometimes that you not as smart as Simi, so yous jealous and likes to not answer questions.” Hanging up on her sister, Simi sighed and continued her vigil on the house.4
Akri!5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~6
Ash jerked slightly at the voice in his head, and sighed. Opening his eyes completely, he realized that he was lying on a bed that he shouldn’t have been on, holding a sleeping someone that he shouldn’t have been holding. 7
He still had his clothes on, which he was suddenly grateful for, and smiled slightly to himself at the memory of holding Tria in his arms. She had been so warm and inviting, slightly demanding, yet completely gentle. They had kissed…a lot…but that was basically it, and he couldn’t remember the last time that he had actually just held someone as they slept. 8
She hadn’t tried to get inside his pants, nor had she demanded anything more than his lips on hers. He sensed the desire from her, burning its way through her veins as they kissed, but she made no move to claim him. Then, without preamble, she wrapped her arms around him, snuggled in close and soon fell to sleep.9
He knew that she hated to be touched, and he unfortunately knew every detail of her torture and death, and suddenly felt a little chill when he realized that she trusted him enough to lay with him like this. The chill turned to trepidation when he realized that he liked it.10
Akri!11
I’m here.12
You didn’t answer.13
Ash’s eyes closed as Tria shifted in her sleep, her left leg moving up to rest on his thighs. If this kept up, there would be no way his body could be satisfied with just kissing. 14
Yeah, he thought to Simi, sorry, I was sleeping.15
Oh. Can Simi come in?16
I think Tria is sleeping, he said, staring at her face. She looked so angelic. Should get her permission first. Go back home, and I’ll call you the moment she wakes up. He closed his eyes, hoping Simi didn’t get the right impression from that. 17
Okay.
Ash exhaled slightly and stared at the ceiling. He could feel the woman with him starting to stir, and he wondered what her reaction would be to what greeted her upon waking.18
Tria moved in that half-sleep, smiling to herself. It was in those brief moments between sleeping and consciousness that everything was fine with the world. In those moments, she wasn't alone. 19
She suddenly realized that she wasn’t alone.20
Opening her eyes, she could see a well-defined chest below her, and by following the muscles, she could make out black hair as it flowed over one shoulder. The events from earlier came back, and she could actually feel herself blush. They hadn’t done anything past a lot of hot and heavy kissing, and although she had been tempted, she held back. Part of her was glad she had, while a small part wanted to sample more of the body that she was laying against. 21
Closing her eyes again, she wondered why she had even allowed it to happen. She hated to be touched, and sex was completely out of the question after what had happened to her. You need this. She blinked at the voice in her head. It was deep, pleasant, and belonged to her deceased husband. Not sure if she imagined it or not, she looked upon it as a sign that maybe it was time. 22
She knew that Trinity would just freak when she found out. Clenching her eyes at that, Tria rolled over, got out of bed and limped as fast as she could to the bathroom. 23
Ash cringed as the bathroom door slammed, and sat up on the bed as he stared at it. She was upset, that much was certain, and it bothering him that he might have been the one to cause it. Needing to make sure, he got up and walked to the door, knocking lightly on the mahogany.24
“Tria?” he called out lightly. “Are you…” He trailed off, not really sure what to say. Usually, with Artemis, he would be rolling his eyes and gritting teeth at her actions. He didn’t really care if he hurt her feelings or not, so this was uncharted territory for him.25
The door opened and Tria gave him a curious look. “I’m… She sighed. “Just remembered that I killed Trinity.”26
“You didn’t,” he said gently. “I did.”27
Shaking her head, she screwed up her face and walked away. “She’s dead either way.” Making it to the bed, she fell onto it and rolled over. “Forget it… I don’t want to think about it for a while.”28
“I have an associate that wants to come here,” Ash said, changing the subject. 29
Tria gave him an evaluating look. “Who?”30
“My bodyguard,” he said, not exactly lying. 31
She gave a small laugh. “You need a bodyguard?”32
Ash slowly walked to the bed and sat beside her. “Need someone to watch my back sometimes.” He raised a hand and touched her face, covering a frown when she flinched. “Sorry.”33
“It’s…it’s…” She sighed. “I’m not used to being touched by someone that isn’t trying to kill me.” It was true; the past thirty years had been full of demons gunning for her.34
“I won’t hurt you,” he whispered. “I promise.” Once uttered, his promises were binding. “I just have to tell you now… this…us…if you want to, that is, and it’s all right if you don’t, I understand…we can only be together for about seven more weeks. And then…”35
“Goodbye?”36
He nodded. “Yeah.”37
“Why?” She placed a finger on his lips when he started to speak. “No. Never mind. You’re married.”38
“Hell no.” Gently pulling her finger away, he exhaled, and decided to go for the truth instead of avoidance. “It’s… complicated. Extremely.” He rubbed his hands over his face briefly. “Even I have to answer to those higher than me,” he told her. “And one of the biggest rules since the creation of Hunters was that I couldn’t get involved on an intimate level with any. Personal level, yes, but sexual, no.” He reached out and took her hand in his. “If Artemis ever found out about this, I have no doubt that she would punish you to prove a point to me.” Boy, would she ever!
She gave him a suspicious look. “And she won’t find out over the next seven weeks…?”39
“Because in exchange for certain things, I have two free months a year where she is forbidden to contact me.”40
“Certain things.” Tria laughed slightly, then lay back on the bed with a long, disbelieving sigh.41
~~~~~~~~~~~~42
Kessar growled deep in his throat as he listened to various people talking around him. What he really wanted was to be left alone, but there were times that he had to act civilized, and this was one of them. He would rather be ripped the throat of the person that was talking the loudest, but that would only piss off Stryker, and Kessar wasn’t in the mood to put up with a Spathi throwing a hissy fit. 43
So, he pretended to listen while the Daimon representative spoke, and kept a little attention on the conversation between two of his ‘aides’, as they stood off to the side. 44
“My Lord Strykerius wishes-“ the Daimon stopped suddenly as Kessar stood.45
“Stryker can wish all he wants,” Kessar said as he slowly approached the Daimon. “Wishes mean nothing when one is not willing to put everything on the line to get it granted.”46
The Daimon stood still as he circled him, and Kessar had to give credit for not flinching or fidgeting. Some of his own Gallu weren’t that brave when confronted with a pacing leader. He needed beings like this in his fold, and if it had not been an emissary straight from Stryker, then he might have just bitten and converted. 47
But… one didn’t kill a Daimon envoy unless they wanted to face the full force of Stryker. Having done that once before, Kessar wasn’t really in the mood to take on the Spathi Warriors again.48
“Just… leave,” he finally said as he circled around to stop in front of him.49
The Daimon took a step back and paused for a moment. “Do you have any messages for Strykerius?”50
“No,” he replied, then a thought occurred to him. “But I do have a request.”51
“A request?”52
“It’s something people ask for,” Kessar said in a bland voice.53
“I know what it is,” the Daimon replied tightly. “What is it that you want?”54
“What I want,” he said as he turned and walked back to his seat, “is Tria Cavanaugh dead. Not just dead, but annihilated. Totally and completely…dead.”55
“And that would be?”56
“A Dark-Hunter.”57
A smile spread over the Daimon’s face. “I believe that is do-able.”58
~~~~~~~~~~~~~59
Simi rang the doorbell and waited while bouncing on the tips of her toes. She missed her Akri and was excited to see him. Stepping back, she gave the woman who answered a curious once over and cocked her head to the side. 60
“You must be Tria.”61
Tria stared at the young woman curiously. Ash had said that his bodyguard was coming, and Tria was ready for some burly man. Instead, she was looking at a girl barely over twenty that was dressed in a lime green bustier, yellow mini skirt and yellow/green leggings that ended with platform biker boots. 62
“And you would be…?”63
The girl smiled. “The Simi,” she said. “I’m looking for Akri.”64
“Ak-“ Before she could finish, Ash stepped up behind her, and the girl at the door pushed past her with an excited squeal.65
“Akri!” she said, an instant before launching herself at his open arms. “The Simi missed you.”66
“I missed you too, baby,” Ash said warmly, giving her a peck on the forehead.67
Tria stared as Ash hugged her, then turned and walked out the open door. 68
Ash watched Tria leave. ”Just a sec, Sweetie,” he said to Simi. He heard the car door open, and by the time he got there, all he could see were the taillights driving out of the gate. Pulling out his cell phone, he hit a button, and held it out so he could use the speaker function.69
“What?” Tria said when she answered.70
“Upset?”71
“Nope.”72
”You sound it.” Ash turned back to the house. “Sorry about Simi. I should have told you that she can be rather… rambunctious.”73
“Fine.” Over the phone, she sounded ready to bite the head off of something. “Is this Simi going to be staying long?”74
“Just a while. She can stay with me.” He blinked as the phone was disconnected. “What the…ooohhh.” He shook his head when he realized what he had done. 75
Tria pulled over to the side of the road and stared at the darkness around her. After thirty years, she had finally let someone touch her, and… growling in frustration, she pounded her hands against the steering wheel. 76
A small flash of light illuminated the outside of her car, and she tensed, ready for anything. She wasn’t ready to see Ash standing by her door, looking at her. 77
“Jealous?” he asked.78
“No.”79
“Pissed off?”80
“At myself,” Tria shifted and place her foot on the accelerator, frowning when the car stalled. 81
“Why?”82
Shaking her head, she ignored him. “Seventeen questions left,” she muttered.83
“Tria?”84
“Sixteen.” She sighed and looked at him. “I’m pissed off because I don’t know what to think.”85
“Simi’s my daughter.”86
She stared at the simple way he said that. “Oh, I can tell.” Sarcasm laced her words. “Looks just like you.” 87
Ash walked around the car and got in. Sitting in the seat, he looked at her. “Technically, she’s not my daughter, but I raised her. She’s been with me for…an eternity. She’s my family.”88
Tria leaned forward and placed her head on the steering wheel. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. 89
He reached out and touched her hair. “It’s okay,” he said quietly. “You need to rest, Tria. A good night and day’s sleep and things will look better.”90
Sighing, she straightened, and tried the car. It started without protest, and easily pulled away from the side of the road.91
Simi was in the kitchen when they returned, and looked at Ash and Tria as they walked in, and continued to stare as they went to a door. Tria went through the door and Ash had it held open in such a way that Simi couldn’t see what was going on. Ash leaned forward briefly, then took a step back and shut the door.92
“What’s going on, Akri?”93
Ash leaned on the counter beside her. “Tell me about last night.”94
“Simi and Xirena found Lyov ands helped him kill a bunch of Gallu. Good eatings.” Simi walked to the fridge and opened it. “Lyov gots bitten, but the Simi burned it out of him.” She turned her head from the contents of the fridge. “We’s can check on him later to make sures, and to have some of his good Russian foods.”95
“Sure.” Ash tried not to yawn. It had been a long week and it was finally catching up with him. “Simi, return to me,” he said, holding out an arm. 96
Simi smiled before shrinking and changing into a shadow of sorts. The shadow hovered briefly over Ash’s arm before attaching itself and taking the form of a dragon tattoo. Ash grimaced slightly at the burning it always caused, and then shivered as the tattoo moved up his arm so Simi could settle in a more comfortable place.97
He smiled at the familiar sensation of the Charonte on his skin, and started to walk out of the kitchen towards the living room. He had just walked under the door arch when he switched direction and went to the door leading to the basement. After a moment’s hesitation, he opened the door and quietly went down the steps. 98
Ash raised his hand to knock on the bedroom door, and stopped. I can’t do this, he thought to himself. Forcing himself to turn and walk back up the steps was one of the hardest things he had ever done. 99
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~100
“D’Alerian?”101
Ash waited while his Dream-Hunter friend appeared in the living room. “Yes?”102
“Need a favor,” Ash said as he stood from the couch. “I have to leave, Tria is sleeping, and I don’t want her to be alone.”103
“It would be my pleasure to remain while you leave,” D’Alerian said solemnly. His eyes closed slightly for a moment. “I only have a few hours, though.”104
“That would more than enough.” Ash materialized his long black jacket over his clothes. “I’m just going to tell her and I’ll be back.”105
Ash appeared just inside the door of her bedroom and silently walked to the bed, sitting on the corner. She looked at peace as she slept, her arm over her head, and her chest rising and lowering gently. 106
“Tria?”107
“Hmmm?”108
“I have to go out,” Ash said quietly. “A friend of mine is upstairs, in case anything happens.”109
“’kay,” she mumbled.110
Ash leaned over and gave her the faintest kiss on the lips, then stood and flashed himself out of the room and into the living room. He stopped when D’Alerian stared at him. “What?!”111
“Nothing,” he said seriously as he vaguely pointed. “You just got some lipstick there.”112
Ash quickly swiped at his mouth, then stopped when he realized that he was tricking him. “When a Dream-Hunter makes a joke at my expense, then you know the world is truly doomed.”113
D’Alerian titled his head slightly. “It was you that once told me to get some sense of humor.”114
“That was three thousand years ago,” Ash groused. “And you’re just doing it now?” He shook his head. “Just… make sure Tria gets all the sleep she needs, and if anything weird happens, let me know.”115
“Shall I enter her dreams, or would you prefer me to remain in this realm?”116
“If she needs you, anywhere, then please be there.” Ash vanished from the living room, appearing just outside the door of a large house set far back from the road. It looked similar to Tria’s house, but held a distinctive ‘Old World’ feel to it.117
Shrugging his jacket off at the shoulders, he stood back and turned his head. “Simi, appear.” 118
The shadow leapt from his body, and quickly solidified into Simi. She looked around, smiling when she realized where they were. “Before we’s go in, Akri, the Simi wants to know about Tria.”119
Ash gave her a brief smile, then raised his hand and knocked on the door. He was silent as they waited, and avoided Simi as she moved to be in his line of sight. 120
The door was opened by an elderly gentleman, who greeted them with a nod, then showed them to a large room. Dressed in black leather, the two looked out of place with the opulent figurines and paintings that lined the walls and shelves.121
“Ash!” a voice boomed as Lyov entered, a smile on his face. “And Simi! Pleased to see you again.”122
“Just wanted to make sure you’re all right,” Ash said. 123
“Is fine,” he replied, his Russian accent still with him after more than two hundred years. “No demon.”124
“Good. Tell me about last night.”125
“One moment,” Lyov replied, then looked at Simi. “The kitchen is full of food, little one. Help yourself.” He turned back to Ash as Simi scampered off. “Now, about last night.”126
Ash listened as the Dark-Hunter filled him in on certain parts of the evening, only interrupting to ask a few clarifying questions. It seemed more and more that the Gallu were brought out to grab attention, and to pull him away while Trinity tried to get Tria.127
“Is it true?” Lyov asked. “About the squire?”128
“Yes.” Ash leaned forward. “Anything else that seemed…odd… last night?”129
“Compare to?” Lyov raised and eyebrow. “Last night, no. But tonight it seemed like all the bad guys just decided to stay home.”130
“Even Daimons?”131
“Even Daimons.”132
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~133
Returning to the house, Ash let Simi roam the property as he thought about things. D’Alerian told him that Tria was now sleeping peacefully, and left without further word. Sitting on the couch, Ash ran his fingers through his hair briefly as he stared around the living room. 134
The Daimons were hiding… whether from the Gallu, or for some other reason, Ash didn’t know. But he intended to find out. If the two enemies were connected in any way, then that could spell tremendous problems for the Dark-Hunters, and humanity in general.135
Leaning back on the couch, he stared at a figurine on a shelf, the smooth colors of the dolphin grabbing his attention while he thought. He could feel his eyes slide shut, and decided not to fight it. Suddenly, he jerked at a sound, and looked to see Simi coming in to the room. Rubbing his eyes, he glanced at the clock, surprised to see that three hours had passed.136
“Akri have a nice nap?”137
“Yeah,” he whispered, wishing he could have gotten more. Instead, he flipped open the computer to check on other Daimons sightings and to see if there was anything relating them to Gallu activity.138
“About Tria,” Simi said, then looked as Ash pointed at the television and the Shopping Network came on. The sight of jewels, or as Simi called them, sparklies, was enough to grab the demon’s attention from Ash. Going to one of the couches, she perched on the edge and stared at the screen.139
Ash smiled to himself and continued with the internet. About Tria…good question. He used his powers to peek in on her as she slept, and was pleased to see that she was close to waking. 140
Stretching on her bed, Tria felt a little better than she had when she retired to the room not quite…she looked at the clock, blinking to discover that she had basically slept the entire night and half the day away. As long as she didn’t go upstairs, the house would be dark enough for her to walk around in, and she had an urge to get out of her room.141
Getting up, she quickly showered, dressed and was almost to her door when she stopped. Suddenly remembering the paper she had gotten from Trinity’s pocket, Tria first looked around her bedroom, then went upstairs to find it. She entered the living room to find Simi watching the shopping network, while Ash was quickly surfing through sites on the Internet.142
“Ash?”143
“Kitchen counter, by the coffee maker.” he replied without looking up. 144
Tria nodded thanks, not that he saw it anyway, and turned back for the kitchen noticing that Simi was looking at her. The paper was where he said it would be, and she slowly unfolded it. It looked to be a page from a magazine, with very light writing on it. Her eyesight was enhanced enough to make it out clearly, and she closed her eyes before starting to read. 145
Completely surprised that she made it through the first few lines without crying, she inhaled deeply and continued. By the fourth line, she couldn’t keep the emotions back any longer and wiped at her eyes while the tears fell. 146
Finishing the note, she placed it on the table, then brought her head down on the cool surface. Covering her head with her arms, she rocked slowly as the contents of the note ran through her mind.147
According to her note, she knew she was going to turn demon, and although she fought it the whole way, there was no chance of it not happening. She apologized for it, and was even sorry for what she would most likely end up doing to Tria. The ending, and what hit Tria the hardest, was Trinity writing that she forgave Tria for having to kill her, and that she hoped it happened before she could infect the Huntress.148
Part of Tria felt some sort of relief that Trinity was at peace in her knowing what was going to happen, while another part wanted nothing more than to find this Kessar and beat the life out of him for Trinity.149
Needing someway to actually find the Gallu leader, she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and slowly sat up. Searching through the large index of Dark-Hunter phone numbers, she came upon the one she needed, and pushed the button to call.150
A deep male voice answered. “Yeah?”151
“This Sin?” she asked, referring to the Sumerian god that was in Las Vegas.152
“Who wants to know?”153
“Tria Cavanaugh.”154
“The one that thinks I’m psycho?”155
“Yes.”156
“What do you want?” He sounded slightly pissed off, yet strangely amused. 157
“Know how I can get a message to Kessar?”158
“And you call me psycho?” he gave a little laugh. “He tries to kick my ass every time I sleep, so I might be able to get one to him.”159
“He…what?” she asked, not understanding.160
“If a Gallu touches you, they can enter your dreams.”161
Tria brought the phone away for a moment and stared at it before bringing it back. “Nice to know,” she said into the phone.162
“What do you want to tell him?”163
“I want to tell him, and you can quote me on this. “I win, you lose, fucker.”164
“Would you like me to add a sarcastic laugh at the end?” he asked dryly.165
“Sardonic would be better.”166
“I like the addition of fucker at the end, so I’ll see what I can do.” He disconnected the call.167
Tria leaned back in her chair, reached out to take the note in her hand, then waited for Sin to call Ash to tell him about the phone call. It was only a two minute wait before Ash appeared in the doorway, walked across the kitchen floor, and sat in a chair across from her.168
“Why antagonize Kessar?”169
Tria silently handed him the note, and watched while he read it. When he finished, he handed it back to her and waited for her to talk. “I did it because Trinity deserved better than what happened to her,” she finally said. 170
“It’s not a smart move.”171
Smiling slightly, she got up from the table and went to the living room, sitting on the couch across from the one Simi lounged, still entranced with the Shopping Network. Ash entered and walked straight to the couch she was sitting on and sat on the edge of it as he faced her. 172
“I can see the logic and the need,” he said quietly. “But this guy is not one to be playing around with.”173
“Why not.”174
“Because he’s a sadistic son of a bitch that likes nothing better than to torture people in the worst way imaginable before killing them.” Ash repositioned himself so he could sit on the couch, with his arm on the back of it. “Then once they come back as Gallu, he sends them after loved ones.”175
“All the more reason to dispose of him.”176
Sighing, Ash moved the arm he had on the back of the couch and rubbed a lock of her hair between his fingers. “In theory, it’s a perfect idea.” 177
“But?”178
“But this is about as far from perfect as one can find.”179
“Trinity needs closure.”180
“She got that,” he said gently, bringing a finger up to rub her cheek. “She’s at peace now.”181
“Simi likes the idea.”182
They both looked to see Simi watching them, and Ash moved so fast that Tria thought she had imagined him sitting closer. 183
“Akri,” Simi said with a sigh. “Don’t ignore what yous was doing just because the Simi saw. Tria’s a lots nicer than the Heifer Goddess, and the Simi approves.”184
Ash blinked slowly as he tried to understand that. How Simi knew these things sometimes baffled him, but for once he was willing to let it slide. “Why do you like the idea?” he said, going to complete avoidance.185
“’Cause then Gallu comes after her,” she pointed at Tria, “and Simi gets to eat them.”186
“Wait.” Tria stared at Simi. “You get to what?” 187
“Eats them.”188
Tria looked at Ash. “Your bodyguard is a Charonte Demon?”189
“Yes.”190
“How’s she knows?” Simi asked suspiciously.191
Shaking her head, Tria tried to catch up with some sort of reality. “This is,” she stopped and covered her face for a few moments while thinking. Taking her hand away, she looked at them both. “Sure, hell, why not. She’s a Charonte, and you’re Atlantean, since the Charonte were tamed by them, and the enemy of Sumerians, which created Gallu, which Charonte’s love to eat, and I’ll wake up soon finding this was some freaking wicked dream designed to keep me from eating pizza before bed.”192
“Pizza?” Simi brightened. “You haves pizza?”193
Ash watched, wary, as Tria started to laugh. 194
~~~~~~~~~~~
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Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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p.s. great self pic BTW!
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ahhh... back in the world of Barbarafied DH stories! yeah! lets see how long it lasts this time... hmm?
and we begin!
line 26- punctuation
i love the simi and her kookiness- one minute she is so easily distracted and the next her demon spidy-senseskick in and all is revealed! or was it all just a ploy to catch Ash off guard?!
BTW Ash is really bad at being secretive when his emotions are flustered... -
I love the Dark-Hunter series and you really know how to keep them according to character. I love your dialogue for the Simi, it's just like the books. Great fan-fic, I enjoyed it. I would've bought this if it were in Barnes and Noble.
ending: 5.
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^_^
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No, wait, what? They *didn't* do it? How COULD she not?
Oh, okay. Had to read the reasons.
oooh... the Daimons are now after her? Drama!
“You just got some lipstick there.”
Another excellent chapter!
beginning: 4, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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