A million pinpoints of light broke the dark sky, their shine highlighting the lone figure that sat on one of the benches situated around a small pond. Tria stared at the moonlight reflected in the pond, the image as serene as she wished she were. After everything else that happened in the past few days, she needed some time to just sit and think. 1
On the top of that list of things to think about was the universe's biggest puzzle, Acheron Parthenopaeus. Her body heated just thinking about the way he gently touched her, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted it or not. Grant it, she did find him highly attractive, and very sexual, but he was essentially her boss, and someone she should steer clear of.2
Then again, he knew all these things, yet he seemed to be willing to look past them. Staring at the water, she wished she could get over what had happened in her death so that she could look at this without clouded judgment. A part of her knew that she was holding on to the horrors of her death to spare her any pain of sorts in the future; which was why she hated being touched. Yet, she liked Ash touching her.3
Putting her head in her hands with an aggravated moan, Tria clenched her eyes closed and tried to shut her mind the hell up. “Mitch,” she whispered, talking to her deceased husband, “is this all right? Would I be disrespecting us if I moved on?” She had spent many years wondering what her life would have been like had the deaths not happened. Would she still be married? Be a grandmother? Have more children? At times, it was enough to make her head ache almost as much as her heart. “Send me a sign,” she whispered.4
A small flash of light made her look, and she raised her eyebrow as Ash stood there. Looking at the sky, she gave a half smile.5
“Are you all right?” Ash asked, not really sure why he was there. Of all people, he knew when someone needed time alone to think and reflect. He’d spent eons doing that.6
“I think I am,” she replied in an odd voice. Moving over on the bench, she nodded to the empty spot for him to sit. 7
Sliding into the seat, he leaned back. “It’s quiet here,” he whispered. “Peaceful.”8
“That’s why I like it,” she said as she repositioned herself slightly closer to him. “It helps silence the mind.”9
Placing his arm around her shoulders, Ash fought the urge to kiss her. The urge left when she looked up at him and he caught sight of the soft shadows that seemed to caress her face. His lips touched her briefly, then deepened as she returned the kiss. His other hand went to her thigh, carefully first, with just the softest of touches. He didn’t want to scare or startle her, but it took a lot of will power on his part to hold back. 10
Tria forced all doubt to some small crevice in her mind as she kissed him. She had almost pulled away when he touched her thigh, but after a moment of inner discomfort, she started to enjoy the sensation. Not wanting to give herself time to reconsider, she stopped kissing him briefly. 11
He looked at her as she sat there, her face unguarded since the first time he had ever seen her. She seemed unsure, and timid…not at all like the ass kicking Huntress that he had trained.
“Be with me,” he whispered, surprising himself, since he had rarely ever been the one to initiate any sort of encounter. 12
Tria hesitated, then nodded, gasping in surprise when their clothes vanished. Ash lowered her to the ground, where he could demonstrate the one thing he had excelled at in his human life.13
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~14
Fucker? Fucker?! Kessar stormed from the room he was in, down the hall, and into the main gathering room for his Gallu. Searching out his highest-ranking demons, he summoned them to him with a look, and snarled.15
“I want Tria Cavanaugh dead. Now,” he growled. “Contact the Daimons and tell them to make it as painful as possible, then deliver her body to me.”16
Wisely keeping silent, his men left with a nod to do his bidding. Needing someone to destroy, Kessar turned and strode out of the room. After a few minutes of walking, he stopped by what could pass as a corral had it been on a farm, which he thought apt enough since humans were considered as nothing more than cattle to the Gallu. 17
Eyeing the few people that were huddled in corners, he studied them while making his decision. Usually, the Gallu would bite to convert, but at times food stocks were needed, and this was where they bought the humans they would essentially capture from above ground. Too many people arrived in ‘Sin-City’, that at times it was pathetically easy to just grab someone and bring them underground.18
Finally making a choice, Kessar entered the area, grabbed an obviously pregnant woman by the hair and pulled her to her feet. Ignoring her cries and pleas, he yanked her head back and sank his fangs deep into her throat. The others in the corral were too numb to anything but stare.19
“We’ll see who wins, and who loses,” he said out loud as he let the body fall, and walked away.20
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~21
Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Tria arched her back, slipped her hand under, and pulled a rock out. Tossing it towards the pond, she glanced up to see Ash smiling at her, his face mere inches from hers. His face grew closer as he lowered it, his lips brushing her forehead before moving to her eyes, then cheeks, and finally her mouth.22
He tasted so sweet that she could feel herself wanting him again, and by the way he moved against her, she could tell he felt the same way. Shifting, Ash moved so he was sitting up, and brought her to sit on his lap, her legs wrapped around his waist. Their bodies slid together as he started kissing her again, his fangs nipping at her lips as his tongue caressed all the right places.23
Moving his lips to her neck, Ash could feel her blood flowing just below the surface of her delicate skin, the rhythmic beat beckoning him like a Siren’s song. And like a willing sailor, he was tempted to crash upon her shore and drown in her. The persuasion to bite her was strong, and not wanting to do something he would regret, he pulled his mouth back to hers.24
The feeling of his body on hers was too much, causing Tria to cry out as her head spun with unbelievable ecstasy and energy. This was totally amazing, and any hesitation or revulsion she had maintained about being touched was gone. Even if she never saw him again after this night, she would be eternally grateful to him for healing a part of her that had been broken for nearly three decades.25
Panting heavily, they sat in the moonlight holding each other as breathing slowly returned to something near normal. Staring into his silver eyes, Tria smiled slightly before closing her eyes and bringing her head to this shoulder. His embrace tightened around her as he kissed the side of her head.26
Ash stared at the moonlight reflected in the pond as his mind spun around inside his head. I shouldn’t have done that he thought, knowing that there would be no way that he could continue. He was kidding himself if he thought he could have some sort of relationship with this woman, and then just stop when he had to return to…27
Not wanting to even finish that thought, his eyes clenched shut and his head lowered to rest against hers. Too many emotions tore through him, the highest one being the guilt he had for doing this to her. Shoulda just stuck to kissing…safer.
Tria shifted on his lap, causing him to move his head so she could pull back. “Thank you,” she said, kissing the tip of his nose. 28
His body started to harden again, but he fought the urge and smiled at her. “Dawn will be soon,” he whispered. “Should get back.”29
Unfolding herself from his lap, Tria slowly stood, then reached a hand down to help him up. Ash stared at the hand as unfamiliar emotions hit him again. Taking the hand, he let her help him to his feet, then motioned with his hands, dressing both of them.30
Tria smiled. “Rather handy gift you’ve got there,” she said, then turned and started to walk back towards the house.31
With his long gait, catching up was no problem, and he walked beside her as they made it up the small hill behind the house. Before he realized it, her hand was in his, and she squeezed gently, then gave him an odd look when he stopped and stared.32
“What?” she asked.33
“Nothing," he replied, still staring at their hands. Hers looked so small in his. This was something he wasn’t used to. Artemis never held his hand, not even back when he had actually loved her. She never touched him in public, since she was a goddess, and although he was a god, he was still looked upon as someone of a vastly less stature than her. She couldn’t risk anyone knowing about them, although everyone on Mount Olympus already did. 34
That someone wanted to hold his hand touched him deeply, and he brought her hand up to kiss the back of it before starting to walk again. They had made it to the sheltered area at the back of the house when he stopped again. 35
“I have to go away for a few days on Hunter business,” Ash said, suddenly realizing that he needed a few days away to sort through far too many conflicting emotions. “Would I be able to come back after I’m done?”36
Tria seemed to consider what that would imply and what it would actually involve, and part of her was completely thrilled that he wanted to come back, while another parted wanted to throw up at the thought. “Yes,” she finally said. “I would like that.”37
Ash smiled, not understanding the relief he felt at her words. Every woman wanted him, so why was he worried at the possibility of her saying no? The feeling that he was getting a little too emotionally involved with her crossed his mind, but he dismissed it. They both knew that it would be over in less than six weeks. 38
“Maybe you need a body guard while I’m gone.”39
“I need a what?”40
”Bodyguard.”41
Giving a short skeptical laugh, she turned from him. “I can’t believe this. Why don’t you just say that you don’t trust me to be able to protect myself.”42
“It’s not that-“ He stopped when she spun back to face him.43
“No? Then what is it? News flash, Ash,” she said, trying to hold her anger in. It was never wise to piss off the Head Dark-Hunter. “To me, saying that I need someone to watch over me is the same as telling me that I can’t take care of myself.”44
He gave her an arched look. “I have a bodyguard.”45
“Well, your life’s just a bit more fucked up than mine is, isn’t it.” Turning, she strode away.46
“What…the…hell…” Ash stared after her, tempted to shoot a god bolt at her retreating form. “Tria!” he barked.47
She stopped, then slowly turned. “If you’re suggesting the guard as Head Dark-Hunter, then I’ll accept it,” she said evenly “If you’re suggesting it because you think it’s your right as someone that just had sex with me, then you can introduce yourself to abstinence.” Giving him a good once over, her expression changed to annoyance. “Fucking me does not give you the right to treat me like property.”48
Ash stared as she spun again and stormed into the house, slamming the door so hard behind her that the glass in it shattered and fell to the step. Every argument and insult he was about to give her were spinning through his brain, directed at him. Property? He closed his eyes when he realized that he had been thinking of Tria along the same lines that Artemis considered him to be.49
Disgusted with himself, he continued staring at the door and its broken window, deciding if it was worth it to make amends. After all, in less than six weeks, it would be over, and all he would have would be memories that would be sullied by his contact with Artemis. 50
A bright flash to his side made him turn. Savitar stood a few feet from him, dressed in loose pants, an open shirt, and a completely peeved look on his face.51
Moaning in annoyance, Ash’s eyes flashed red at the being that he had been trying to contact for weeks. “Look what the cat dragged in,” Ash said dryly, not really in the mood for any of Savitar’s cryptic messages.52
“Never lose that sarcasm,” Savitar said easily as he continued to stare. “It’s about the only thing that’ll keep you warm at night.”53
Shaking his head, Ash gave him a dangerous look that had brought many humans to their knees in fear. Savitar, however, merely returned it with one of his own. 54
“As amusing as this stare off is,” Savitar finally said, “it’s not going to solve your problem.”55
“I have a problem?” Ash asked flippantly.56
“Amazing, isn’t it.” Savitar brought a hand up to scratch one heavily tattooed arm. “Yeah, you do. Don’t let her go, Ash.”57
Blinking slowly, Ash stared, not sure whether to scream in annoyance or just leave. “What?”58
“The innocent look just doesn’t work on you. I know all about you and that cute lil’ Huntress in there.” He pointed to the house. “You need her to remind you that you can care for someone on an intimate level. Don’t fuck it up.” Manifesting a tree behind him, Savitar leaned back against it.59
“I’ve been trying to talk to you for the past two weeks, and you pick now to show up…and lecture me about relationships?” Ash shook his head in annoyance. 60
“I heard you calling me,” Savitar replied in a neutral voice. “Face it, Atlantean. You’re even more pathetic in the relationship department than I am.”61
It should have pissed him off, but Ash knew the other god was right on that remark. “It’ll be over soon, and I won’t be able to see her again, so why bother?”62
”Then you have those weeks to be happy.” He sighed when Ash merely stared at him. “Look…there are times in our existences where we need certain things. You need this.”63
“Why?” Ash asked suspiciously.64
“Because you do.” Standing, Savitar gave Ash a stern look. “Just…enjoy the time you have. Learn from it, and take it with you when it’s over. Trust me.” The tree vanished, followed quickly by the enigmatic surfer.65
“Trust you?” Ash whispered. He didn’t trust the man as far as he could throw him, but he believed in him. Savitar was a lot of things, mostly bad, but the one thing he had never done was lie to Ash.66
Sighing, Ash took one last look at the house, fixing the broken window with a glance, then vanished.67
~~~~~~~~~~~~68
Running from room to room, Tria quickly pulled down all the heavy blinds over the windows, blocking the soon to be risen sun access into her house. Satisfied that she could walk around upstairs without erupting in flames, she went to the door near the end of the hall and placed her hand on the knob.69
Inhaling to steel herself, she tuned the knob and slowly opened the door to Trinity’s bedroom. Taking a hesitant step in, she closed her eyes, then went to the window to close the shutters and pull the blind down. Finally taking a look around, she bit her lip to keep from crying, but couldn’t prevent a small sob from escaping. 70
She had thought about putting this off for another day, or call the Squire’s council to come remove Trinity’s possessions, but her argument with Ash made her feel the need to do this. It was shallow, and petty, but she wanted something to take her mind off of the emotional maelstrom that was going through her at the moment.71
Going to one of the large closets, she pulled out two suitcases and placed them on the bed. Not giving herself time to change her mind, she started moving clothes from dressers to suitcase, filling one quickly and setting by the door. Her fingers brushed something at the bottom of a drawer, and she looked to see a small leather bound book. Taking it out, she realized it was a journal of sorts, and hesitantly opened it.72
She didn’t want to read, but rationalized that if it was handed to the council, they would pour over it to make sure that nothing was revealed. Flipping to the first page, she smiled when she read the small, neat handwriting of her squire.73
Tria, please don’t let the squires have this journal. –Trinity Wells. (I wrote it for you, and after reading it, please destroy.)74
“Can’t argue with that,” Tria said as she placed the journal aside to read later. It took her about thirty minutes to pack all of Trinity’s possessions up and place them by the door. Leaving the things there, she grabbed the journal, took a long look at the room then walked out, closing the door behind her.75
She was halfway down the stairs when she sighed, and pulled her cell phone out to make a call. It rang three times before being answered.76
“Yeah?” Ash said, his voice a classic study in neutrality.77
“Ash,” Tria said. “I’m sorry for the way I acted, and over-reacted to your suggestion. I may not agree with it, but that gave me no right to say what I did.” Closing her eyes, she exhaled briefly.78
“Apology accepted,” he said after a few moments. 79
“I would like it,” she continued, “if you would still be able to return here when you’re done…even if all we do is talk.”80
“I’ll be there,” Ash said. 81
Feeling a great weight lift from her, she closed the phone and continued to her bedroom. Closing the door behind her, Tria walked to the stereo on the shelf just below her DVD player and grabbed the small remote from the top of it. Pushing a button, she walked to the bed as the mixed CD started playing, sitting at the same time When I’m Gone by 3 Doors Down started. Bumping the volume up considerably, she laid on the bed, and slowly opened the journal. 82
“I’ve survived my first day with the Huntress,” she read to herself, “and now I know why the other squires call her a bitch.” Tria stopped in surprise. Making a face at the pages, she continued reading. “But, she’s not that bad…just a little acerbic, snarky, sarcastic, cynical, and caustic. Easy-breezy.. a piece of cake… mmm.. chocolate cake. Wonder if her Royal Pain the Ass would mind a nice big chocolate cake.”83
Tria laughed sadly, remembering the first day Trinity had arrived. It had been a couple days after she had threatened her previous squire, and the council had told her to get along, or she would be squire-less. Not really caring, Tria didn’t exactly go out of her way to be pleasant to Trinity Wells…but that chocolate cake made the difference. The two women stay up most of the next day, talking and coming to some sort of understanding.84
Tria went back to reading, spending the remainder of the day going through the pages of the book that was her last link to a friend. She decided to not read the whole thing so that she would not have to destroy the book…not yet, at least. Knowing it was nearly time to get her butt out of bed and go walk the streets of the city, she decided to read one last passage before putting the book away.85
“Part of her problem is that she’s afraid,” Tria read from the journal. “Afraid that if she finds someone to love, then she will be turning her back on her family.” Her face crinkled at that, not knowing if she should be angry or not. “She doesn’t want to admit it,” Trinity had written, “but that’s the way I see it. Tria has to get over this huge guilt she has that she wasn’t able to save her children on that night. She doesn’t realize that she’s saved so many children night after night just by being who she is.”86
Not able to finish the entry, Tria swiped tears from her face and rolled off the bed, landing in a crouch on the floor. Standing, she left the book on the bed and went to the bathroom to get ready.87
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~88
The only sound in the large throne room was from the silver heels on his boots as he walked, the sound echoing off the marbled walls. Ash walked from one end, to the other, then back again, his long white formesta trailing along behind him like a cape. 89
He could hear music filtering from Simi’s room, and he was silently glad that she was there, and not walking behind him every step like she had been when they first arrived back at Katoteros. He had tried explaining to her that there were times when people had to work through things on their own, and that he would rather be alone to do that thinking. She hadn’t really understood that reasoning, and after a couple hours of trying to get him to talk, left while muttering something about men.90
With Simi out of the way, and Alexion screening all calls, Ash was able to pace and think…and think and pace. He headed for his throne and sat in it with an annoyed grunt. He could wear a path in the marble floor, and still not be any closer to working through his thoughts. Reaching out, he scratched the head of a small dinosaur like creature that sat on the arm of his throne. The ptergsaurus lifted its head up, pushing against its master’s hand for more scratching. 91
“Hey, little guy,” Ash said to the reptile. “Where’s your brothers?” There were usually six of the small dinosaurs in the room, and Ash doted on his pets. He sighed. “Did Xirena eat him?” Simi’s sister seemed to think that Ash used his powers to summon dinosaurs just so she could have appetizers. 92
He jumped slightly when something nipped at his legs, and bent over to scoop up the other pet. Placing it on his lap, he absently scratched its head while thinking. As far as he could tell, he had two options open to him. One was saying goodbye to Tria and simply walking away and forgetting her, while the other one involved him placing his feelings and heart on the line, hoping that she didn’t step all over either with those wonderful 3-inch heals. He could enjoy their time together, and take those memories with him.93
He wasn’t concerned with the argument they had, since he could sort of see her point of view in not wanting a bodyguard. Though his reasoning outweighed hers, he could still respect her refusal. What mattered the most to him was that she had apologized to him. It took a strong individual to admit that they were wrong, and he admired that. 94
Then, there was the fact that Savitar told him to hold on to Tria…which actually concerned him slightly. The surfer always had reasoning for everything he said, and some times that reasoning bordered on downright scary. It would do Ash no good to ask, since he knew that Savitar would only ignore him if he felt like it, an only show up when he deemed it necessary.95
Shaking his head, he wanted to either go back to see Tria, or find something else to take his mind off of thinking about her. Standing, he turned and gently placed the ptergsaurus by its brother on the throne. “Make yourselves comfortable,” he told them. “I’m going to go kick the hell out of Daimons and Gallu.”96
His pets watched him walk out of the throne room, his stride one of pure predator. As he crossed the threshold, his robe changed to a black leather coat over leather jeans, biker boots, and not much more. 97
“Simi,” he said. “Return to me.” He waited while a shadow drifted down the corridor, and attached itself to his bare chest, then he teleported himself to familiar stomping grounds in New Orleans.98
~~~~~~~~~~~~99
The streets seemed oddly deserted at such an early hour, making Tria slightly edgy and paranoid at every movement. Forcing herself to stop acting like some timid, jumpy weakling, she raised her head and quickened her pace. 100
She had just walked past a darkened school ground when she got the feeling that she was being followed, and by the familiar sensation that ran through her, she knew them to be Daimon. Her pace never altered as she switched direction slightly and crossed the street, continuing on the other side and around a corner.101
As soon as she cleared the corner, she broke into a run, heading for the alley ahead and the fire escapes that lined the buildings. Making it to the alley before the Daimons rounded the corner, she jumped, grabbing the bottom rung of one ladder and shimmied up to the landing a few feet above. Slinking into the shadows, she forced her breathing back to normal and waited. 102
Daimons, as a rule, didn’t follow Dark-Hunters unless they were trying to herd them into a trap of some sorts, and there was no doubt in her mind that they knew who she was. The long jacket was sort of a trademarked give-away, while her distinctive hairstreaks were very memorable. Standing still, she watched as eight extremely good-looking blondes rushed in to the alley.103
Realizing that they were alone, they started to look around, a few cursing about a running Dark-Hunter. Splitting up, four continued through the alley, while the remainder retraced their steps. As soon as they passed below her, Tria stepped out and jumped off the fire escape, and landed silently on the ground in a crouch. 104
“Giving up?” she asked. The Daimons spun to face her, and she politely gave them a huge grin, flashing her fangs as she allowed her eyes to turn red. Most times it was a frightening sight, but Daimons that chased were a little braver than the garden variety Daimons that ran at the slightest incentive.105
Moving as one, the Daimons started for her, prompting her to take a defensive step back. Palming two knives from her pockets, she flung her hands out, immediately reducing her opponents by two, then sent fireballs out for the remaining Daimons, striking both in the center of the chest. Sighing about how easy that was, she stiffened at a sound and looked over her shoulder expecting to see the other four Daimons that had originally been chasing her.106
Instead, the alley was full of Daimons, and she gave them a quick smile before heading for the opening closest to her. Skidding to a stop, she cursed as more entered in front of her, effectively closing off any escape route. 107
Sighing, she reached down to push a small button on her phone that would hopefully summon help in time, and then reached into her pocket to pull out more knives. Flicking her hands up, she sent out massive fireballs into the crowd of Daimons, satisfied as more than a few yelled in pain. 108
Turning in a slow circle, she surveyed the group as they slowly started towards her. She could take a lot out with her knives and fire, but there were more coming every second, and she knew she would not be able to keep up with the influx. Eventually they would get the advantage over her, and bring her down. 109
Instead of fear or anger, she felt something similar to peace as calmness flowed over her body. Without thinking, her body seemed to move on its own accord as she fought off five that attacked at once, making short work of them. 110
Flipping over the heads of a few more, she stabbed out quickly, and moved before the golden dust could touch her. She had heard stories from other Hunters about how, during stressful times, they had been able to enter that state where everything seemed to work in harmony with everything else, and she knew that she had found that zone. Too many Daimons lay dead by her hands, and they kept coming, breaking through that wall she had erected.
Before too long, her knives were gone, and although the fire was working, they were closing in, preventing her from being accurate. Her feet were knocked out from under her, and she landed with a grunt, and was kicked repeatedly when she trying to get to her feet. Pain sliced through her as her own knives were plucked from the ground and used. 111
Hands grabbed at her, holding her down, setting off her decades old hatred of being touched, and she screamed in anger and fear. Flames erupted on those closest to her, which gave her a moment’s respite that ended with her getting to her knees. She yelled in pain when something slammed into her lower back, driving her to the ground, where she writhed in momentary pain.
Blood flowed from nearly every part of her body, with some running into her eyes and blocking her vision.Trying to get her breath, she managed to get one hand to her face, and wiped away blood while she struggled back to her knees. There was no way she would make killing her easy for them, and she was pulling herself to her feet with another noise entered her pain filled mind. 112
The Daimons stopped, then started running, and Tria turned to see three figures walking towards her. Hoping they weren’t Gallu, she could only watch as they struck out at the Daimons that ran past them, as they walked to her.113
Finally making out one figure, she gave him a mock glare. “What the hell were you waiting for?” she asked weakly. “An engraved invitation?”114
Mosi grabbed her before she could fall, and gently lowered his fellow Hunter’s body to the ground. The Swahili warrior checked her over quickly, then looked at one of the Blood Rite Squires he had with him. “Get the car,” he said. “We take her to the clinic.” 115
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~116
Ash walked down Bourbon Street, the sights, smells and atmosphere bringing a small smile to his face. Although the city held some bitter memories for him, it also held some of the best ones he had ever made. The city, like life, was adapting to the changes it had been dealt, and had come out thriving once again. Nothing could ever replace that which had been lost, but those that called this city their home were determined to make it work again. 117
He was tempted to look in on some old friends, but somehow knew that tonight he wouldn’t be the best company. Instead, he walked the pedestrian filled streets, looking for something to kill to take him mind off of his musings. 118
Passing by a street-side vendor, he stopped as an old woman stepped in front of him. “For your lover,” she said in a thick Cajun accent as she held out a small necklace. 119
“No, thank you,” Ash said as he took a step around her.120
“It’s pretty, like she is,” the woman said, holding it up for him to get a better look. 121
Ash knew that she was only trying to make a sale, so he feigned interest and took a look. His hand shot out, grabbing the necklace from the woman’s grasp and he brought it up to stare at it. The tiger’s eye stone in the golden setting was stunning. Even more so, it was an odd shade of brown for the stone, almost like chocolate milk, and had silver and black streaks through it, equally odd for the gem.122
“Ahh,” the woman said in a knowing voice. “It remind you of your love, non?” she chuckled. “The gem provides a protective energy to the user.”123
Ash’s gaze flicked to the woman. “How much?”124
“A bargain at one-fifty.”125
Ash pulled his wallet out, plucked two one hundred dollar bills from it, and handed them to her. “Keep the change,” he said, then turned and walked away, holding the necklace in his hand.126
He had just slipped the necklace into his pocket when his phone rang. “Yeah?” he answered. “Mosi…what’s up?” Ash stopped walking as the Dark-Hunter talked. “Thanks,” he said slowly and closed his phone. “Damn it.” 127
Making his way to an alley, he looked around to make sure no one was looking, then teleported himself to a small clinic that the Dark-Hunters used when they were injured.128
Although he appeared in the middle of a hallway, no one bother with him past the first glances to see who it was. Looking around, Ash approached the tall dark skinned man that was sitting in a chair, his eyes closed. Before Ash could make it, Mosi’s eyes popped open and he stood. 129
“Reserving my energy,” he said lamely. 130
“What happened?” Ash asked. 131
“Don’t know. She hit her panic, and by the time we got there, the alley was littered with golden dust, the smell of burnt Daimon and Tria ready to fall on her face. The Daimons that were there took off, but by the looks of it, they tried to take her down and she put up one hell of a fight.”132
“Go home,” Ash said, his mind searching out Tria’s so he could see her memories of the event. “I’ll get her to call you tomorrow.”133
“All right,” Mosi said, then grabbed his long jacket off the chair and walked out of the clinic.134
Ash sat in the chair the Dark-Hunter had vacated, and leaned back as he went through the fight in the alley, according to Tria’s memories of it. Mosi had been right, the Daimons had tried to take her down, and she took out more than expected while defending herself. And to think he had suggested that she needed a bodyguard…135
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~136
Lying on the narrow bed, Tria sighed at the stupidity she had displayed that evening. She should have known better than to take on the Daimons in that alley. Hell, they tried virtually that same trick with Mosi not long before, and he’d almost died. 137
Double hell, she had almost died. Had it not been for Mosi and the two Blood Rites, then she would more than likely be a shade, roaming the earth for eternity. Moving on the bed, she grimaced at the pain the wounds were giving her, and she knew that it was going to take a strong dose of Dream-Hunter to heal her body this time.138
The door to her room opened and closed, and she turned her head, expecting to see one of the doctors that treated her kind. Instead, she saw the last person she expect, or actually wanted to see at this exact moment.139
Ash stared at her, and she could see the anger and worry in his eyes, along with a healthy dose of ‘I told you so’. Before he could open his mouth to tell her that he had been right, she held up a hand. 140
“I don’t want to have this argument again,” she told him. 141
Looking at her, he healed her injuries with his powers, and felt some solace in the relief that filled her eyes as the pain left. “I shouldn’t have gone,” Ash told her. 142
Suddenly pissed off at that, and not really knowing why, she stood from the bed, grabbed her boots from the floor and started pulling them on. “The protective attitude has its place, but baby, it best not, in any way, shape or form, be setting up camp around me and trying to preventing me from doing my job.” She gave him a frigid look. “Am I being understood?”143
Ash’s mouth opened and closed a few times while he worked out just what to say. His first instinct had been to tell her to shove it someplace uncomfortable, which was followed by the temptation to just give her hell back, and take her down a few notches on the bitch-o-meter. Eventually, rationality won.144
“Fine,” he said, then turned to walk away. He made it to the closed door before spinning and walking back to her. “No, it’s not fine,” he said as he stopped directly in front of her. “I’m protective at times. Yes. I admit that. But I would never interfere in someone’s ability to defend themselves unless they absolutely needed the help.” Stepping closer, he bent his head down to look in her eyes. With her 3-inch heels, she came to the top of his shoulder. 145
“I will never stand on the sidelines and do nothing while a Hunter is being hurt,” he said. “I may not be able to make in time to stop it from happening, but I will do everything in my power to prevent it when I can.”146
Tria listened to the conviction and pain in his voice. There were no doubt times that he had been too late to stop something bad, and he was the type that would take that as a failure on his part. She blinked at that thought. “It’s okay, Ash,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “You didn’t fail me.”147
“What?”148
“You weren’t there, I was attacked. They were fought off. It’s all right. If I died, then it would have been my fault, not yours…my shortcoming and failure as a Hunter, not yours.”149
A look of pain crossed his face for a brief moment, before being replaced by his customary mask of indifference. “I know,” he said, a little harsher than intended. He hated it when people stumbled on certain sore spots in his psyche, and failure was definitely one of those spots. “I’m sorry.”150
“Okay,” she whispered. 151
“Can I kiss you now?”152
Smiling at him, she bit her lip as he lowered his head and kissed her. Taking a step closer, he stopped when her back connected with the wall, and he easily hoisted her up so he could stand straight, his thigh between her legs for support. 153
In a list
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Comments
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sexy, sexy...
it is so cute how ash is so awkward with romance!
very little demon action in this section so I will have to look forward to more EVIL in the next chapters.
of course i enjoyed it as always though i realized that this novel seems much more romance based with less action? maybe its just me fantisizing about my ash! -
Four stars!!
wow. I just love your story so far if you know of anyone else that has dark-hunter stories or if you have anymore please let me know so I may read them. I love to read and your style of writing is very captivating and draws me in as a reader.Ah i don't know how to change the star things yet but you get four stars in my book! Sorry don't know how to change em yet.beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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This story is part of a larger one that I just finished. I have three other 'novels', and one short story that I list at http://storywrite.com/list/741-Hunter-World
I know of a one other person on here that writes Dark-Hunter. If you go to the search at the bottom of any page, and type in Dark-Hunter, it will take you to a general listing.
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I KNEW they couldn't hold out! How sweet... she's doing all the things that Artemis never does.
Savitar! Love his little cryptic quips, and how he seems to know everything, but reveals nothing.
Ash's inner turmoil grows, but he seems to be able to work through it. Good.
Attacked? Nice action sequence and battle.
I wanna necklace like that! Buy me one, Ash (or Savitar, or heck, even Fury... I don't mind )
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