Staring at his face in the darkness, Tria was once again amazed at how young he looked while sleeping. Grant it, Ash’s appearance was that of someone around twenty-one, but the hardness in his eyes aged him considerably. Then again, eleven thousand plus years would age anyone.1
Although he had said he was tired, it had taken a long time to fall to sleep. Part of that was to be blamed on Tria, but she couldn’t recall Ash complaining. She was tired, though try as she might, sleep eluded her. Too many thoughts ran around inside her brain, the foremost one being that she was in deep trouble, with no real way out.2
Sure, she could be relocated, but she knew that somehow demons would find her again. And, like this time, someone she cared about would be sacrificed so that she could continue her existence. It was a cold, callous way of life, and one she wasn’t really sure she as willing to let continue. 3
Since quitting had never been an option in her life, ever, she had lain awake, trying to work out some survival plan. Maybe relocation to some sparsely populated place like the Australian Outback, or Northern Alaska would be in the cards for her. But, eventually, someone would recognize her, and it would start all over again. 4
Quietly slipping out from under Ash’s arm, she padded to the bathroom, and closed the door behind her. Staring into the mirror, Tria projected her reflection to the smooth surface, and moved her face slowly from side to side to take in every angle. Reaching into one of the small drawers that lined the counter, she pulled out a pair of scissors and brought them up to study the sharp blades. 5
~~~~~~~~~~~6
The halls of Kalosis were dark and foreboding, matching perfectly the beings that populate them. For millennium, Spathi Warriors, the bodyguards to Apollymi and the elite Daimons, walked through the Atlantean hell, waiting for their chance to be free to control the Earth. 7
Their leader Strykerius, son of Apollo, passed the years, biding his time for the precise moment to act. That moment had been a few years previous, and ever since, he had been manipulating things so as to hurt one of the few beings he cared enough to hate. Acheron Parthenopaeus came a close second to the hatred Stryker had for his father, and by attacking Ash, and all he held dear, Stryker would be able to hurt Ash, and Artemis, who happened to be Apollo’s twin sister. Through Artemis his father would be hurt, and to Stryker, harming all three with one action seemed like a win/win situation in his books. 8
Although…lately it had become increasingly hard to harm Acheron. The man seemed to be wrapped up in luck, and it was pissing Stryker off. Trying to kill his Were-Hunter friend Aiden Falconidae had been more trouble than it was worth, even if it did take away some of the boredom that was Stryker’s constant companion. No, the eagle had caught the eye of one omnipotent son of a bitch, and the Spathi Leader was far too smart to push Savitar past his level of tolerance. 9
Lately, joining in a devil’s pact with Kessar and his merry band of demons was something Stryker agreed to, but it was not something he could advertise or have known past his closest men. Even then, he kept a careful eye on those that knew, for if word got to Apollymi, he had no doubt that her ‘motherly love’ for him would cease to exist… and so would he.10
The Atlantean goddess had taken him in after his father’s curse had doomed him to an early death, and had been the one to show him how to remove the soul from humans in order to survive. That moment had been the birth of the Daimons, which ultimately led to the creation of the Dark-Hunters by his Aunt, Artemis. Stryker wasn’t sure if it was irony or just some pathetic coincidence that the first Dark-Hunter ended up being his adopted mother’s son, but he was certain of one thing; families were a complete pain in the ass at times. 11
Yes, the Destroyer would toast his ass, no questions asked, if she knew that he was making deals with something her biggest enemies, the Sumerians, had created. And she’d most likely double toast him if she knew he was still deep in his plan to kill her son, Acheron. But, most definitely, Stryker knew that he would be immediately destroyed, most likely with the rest of his Spathi, if Apollymi even knew that he knew Ash was her son. 12
Luckily, keeping secrets was something Stryker excelled at. He was almost as good at it as he was at killing. And speaking of which, he looked around for the Spathi that had been the one he had selected to be the representative between the Spathi and Gallu.13
The emissary, as it was, had delivered Stryker a most pleasant bit of news earlier, and, needing a little boost, he wanted to hear it again. It seemed that the Gallu were having no more luck than the Daimons in killing the Dark-Huntress, and Stryker couldn’t help but gloat at that news. 14
Not that he actually cared about that specific Huntress, and if it were up to him, he would leave her alone for a while. His Daimons had seriously wounded her, and there was no honor in continuing to hunt and harass someone that was too weak to defend herself. In a few weeks, the Huntress would be back to her normal annoying and, if rumors were to be believed, unstable self, and would be back on his hit list.15
Far be it for him to advise a bunch of savage demons that they were wasting their time trying to kill her. It meant they were out of his way for a while, and he could concentrate on a few things he had in the works.16
Ash had been reported in multiple locations around the world, usually in the company of Dark-Huntresses, which could only mean one thing. He was on his yearly two months free from Artemis. Stryker smiled slightly. Okay, so maybe family was all right at times, especially when one’s half-sister held a position as Kori, or handmaiden, to Artemis.
Through Satara, Stryker had a direct link in knowing when Ash was and wasn’t on Mount Olympus. When Ash was, the Kori were dismissed, and Satara would visit with her helf-brother. When Ash was absent, Satara was recalled. It had taken centuries of eavesdropping, and calculations to see the pattern emerge, and now Stryker knew that Ash would spend two week sequestered in Artemis’ temple in exchange for two months free. 17
During those two months, it was also noticed that Ash visited the Huntresses, and Stryker started planning little assaults for where he knew Ash wouldn’t be. So far, they were fairly successful, and his Spathi managed to do a lot of damage. This time, interestingly enough, most of the ‘Ash Sightings’ were centered around the area where one specific Huntress lived… and that was one of the other reasons Stryker was willing to leave her alone for a while. If Ash was there, then the woman was too heavily guarded. Better to attack in a few weeks, both when she was healthier, and when Ash was gone.18
Not that he was afraid of Ash, hell no. It was more of a case of being tired of Artemis’ ‘pet’ stepping in and messing up Stryker’s plans for a little fun at the Dark-Hunter’s expense. The instant that Satara appeared, Stryker would send his men against the Huntress, knowing that Ash would be far too busy catering to Artemis to help.19
Yeah, sometimes life was good, and sometimes it sucked. Okay, it usually sucked, but Stryker wouldn’t have it any other way.20
~~~~~~~~~~~21
The ringing of the phone jerked him from a sound sleep, and Ash blindly reached into the black backpack by the bed to get it. Flipping it open, he blinked as the ringing continued. Rolling over on the bed, he reached for the phone on the nightstand, and stopped when the ringing ceased. After a few moments, the small light started to blink, signifying that someone had left a message. 22
Rolling over, Ash slipped the cell phone back into the backpack, and settled into the blankets again. His eyes closed, only to open again as he sat up and looked around. Rubbing his hands over his face, he tried to wake up enough to get some thoughts going through his brain. 23
Although he appreciated what a long uninterrupted sleep brought him, he never liked the languid feeling that accompanied it for a few minutes after waking. Okay… he was in Tria’s bedroom, alone in her bed…24
His eyes drifted to the bathroom door, which was closed, with a small sliver of light peeking out from below. Music was filtering out with the light, the heavy sounds of Godsmack waking him further. He looked at the clock and frowned at the time. It was night, Tria was obviously getting ready to go out for an evening of hunting, and he was more than likely going to have to deny her that option. 25
The music stopped mid-song, and the door suddenly opened. Ash stared as she stood in the bathroom doorway, the light behind her casting fingers of illumination that seemed to caress her body. She looked…different, and it took Ash a second to realize what it was. Her hair was short, the tips just brushing her shoulders, and was now the color of light brown sugar. 26
She was dressed in a blood-red corset, the leather hugging her lithe figure as it curve at all the right places. Impossibly tight jeans rode low on her hips, making the denim seem like a second skin as she walked across the floor in three-inch spiked heals. 27
And all Ash could do was stare. 28
“Nice…haircut,” he finally managed to say, his focus nowhere near her head. “Very… fetching.”29
Tria held her arms out slightly and turned a complete circle in front of him. “Decided that since my hair was a little to recognizable, that maybe a change would help.”30
“I don’t think anyone would actually notice your hair with that outfit on,” he replied honestly.31
“Maybe I should change?” she asked, reaching a hand up to unclasp the corset.32
“Let me help you out of that,” Ash said as he quickly stood and went behind her. Reaching his arms around, he placed his hands on the soft leather.33
Tria stiffened, then took a step forward and turned to face him. She could see confusion in his silver eyes, and it took a lot of power not to lash out at him. Inhaling, she shoved the sudden anger down to some small recess deep inside of her. “I’m not…comfortable…with being touched from behind.”34
Ash could have kicked himself for what he had done. As unintentional as it was, he should have remembered her death, and the events that led up to it. “I’m sorry,” he said, his deep voice just above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to upset you.” 35
“I know.” Tria took a step toward him and stared up into his face for a few moments. “Could you unzip me, please?” she finally asked. “It’s getting hard to breathe in this thing.”36
~~~~~~~~~~~~37
“Three?!”38
The Gallu that delivered the news took a step back as Kessar bellowed. “They never returned,” he said.39
“Three?” Kessar repeated in a somewhat calmer tone. “Three Gallu were killed by an injured Dark-Hunter.”40
“If I may,” the Gallu said. “If Acheron is still in the area, then it may have been the Charonte.”41
“Yes,” Kessar said tightly, wondering if it were possible for Gallu to get headaches. “Contact the Daimon. I want a face to face with Strykerius.” He turned and walked away, brining a hand up to massage his right temple. “Why can’t it be like the old days,” he whispered to himself as he walked. “We attack, they die or join us. I hate this twenty-first century.”42
“Not as easy as it looks, it is?”43
Kessar spun at the voice, his face a frightening specter. Stryker leaned casually against a wall, his pose that of relaxed indifference.44
“Ohhh, scary,” he quipped. “What did you want?”45
“World domination.”46
“Get in line.” Stryker straightened from the wall, but kept his distance from the demon. “Anything else?”47
Kessar was getting rankled at the attitude the Spathi leader was giving. “I want you to keep to your end of the bargain.”48
Lazily raising his hand, Stryker sent a god bolt to the wall mere inches from Kessar’s head. “Care to rephrase that?”49
“Take your powers somewhere else,” Kessar snarled. “They don’t impress me.”50
“They might not impress,” Stryker replied, “but how much you want to bet they could kill you?” He gave a rare smile; one that was full of malice. “I doubt you requested a meeting just so we could chitchat.”51
“I want that Hunter dead.”52
“Which one?” Stryker asked, knowing exactly whom he was referring to. 53
“Are all Spathi as annoying as you?”54
“I’m a breed above the rest.” Deciding that he’d had enough of the dismal caverns, he sped things up slightly. “If you want the Huntress dead, then attack something she cares for. It’s usually the fastest way to any of their hearts.”55
“Her squire is already dead.”56
“Kill the other squires, then.” Stryker shook his head. “Think outside the Gallu box. Leave the bodies someplace they’ll be found, and let it be known that it will stop once she faces you.” 57
“Why don’t you do that, then?”58
“I have no quarrel with the Huntress,” Stryker said honestly. “She’ll still be there in a couple weeks, when I decide it’s her time to die.” Waving a hand, he summoned a bolthole and stepped through it, taking him back to the much more comfortable cavern city of Kalosis. 59
~~~~~~~~~~60
“I like the hair,” Ash said as he ran his fingers through the shorter length. “It suits you.”61
“It’ll take some getting used to,” Tria said as her head rested on his bare chest. “I’m going to miss the streaks.” She shivered slightly as his fingers left her hair to trace down her shoulder. “I take it this is your way to distract me from wanting to go patrol?”62
“Mm-hmm,” Ash said. “I’ll let your boss know that you plan on remaining in bed all night.”63
“Don’t let him know,” she whispered as his fingers continued down to her chest. “He’s kind of moody at times.”64
“I can take him,” Ash joked, lowering his mouth to hers. No sooner had they touched then a ringing tone sounded from the side of the bed. Sighing in annoyance, Ash pulled back, leaded over and pulled his cell phone out of the backpack.65
“Yeah?” he said as he answered. Listening for a few moments, he closed it slowly, and put it away. “I have to go,” he told her. “Would it be useless to ask that you stay here?”66
“Pretty much, yes.” Tria stood from the bed and walked to a dresser to get some clothes. “Tell you what. I’ll go to the city, and see how my disguise works.” She slipped a pair of jeans on and looked at him. 67
“Counter offer,” he said as clothes appeared on his body. “If you’re intent on killing Daimons and Gallu, I’ll take you to another city, then come back for you before dawn.”68
“Before dawn would be nice.” Grabbing a shirt out of a drawer, she placed it on the top of the dresser while she hooked the front of her bra. 69
“I really would prefer that you stayed here to rest,” he said as he watched her pull a shirt over her head, then approach him.70
Standing on her tiptoes to kiss him, she smiled. “I know you would. And I appreciate it. But, I currently have the need to impart great pain upon the Daimon population in retribution for me getting my ass kicked.”71
“How can I argue with that?” Ash asked, leaning his head down to kiss her. He pulled back and looked around. 72
Tria blinked in surprise when she realized they were no longer in her bedroom. “Coulda waited until I got my boots on,” she said, then jumped slightly as they appeared on her feet. “Thanks. Where are we?”73
“Honolulu,” Ash said. “Local time, ten fifteen.” Handing her a cell phone, he took a step back. “Numbers for the squire’s council and city’s Hunters are top of the list. Might want to check in with them first. I’ll let the council know you’re on loan, and I’ll be back by about four in the morning.”74
Tria stood there as he vanished, then took a good look around. Palm trees swayed in a warm breeze, making her feel a little uncomfortable in her heavier jacket. No sooner had she though that, then her jacket morphed into one made of a lighter material. Sighing in amusement, she opened the phone and started making phone calls. 75
In another part of the world, Ash appeared in a hallway just outside of a nondescript door in an equally characterless building. Opening the door without knocking, he entered and leaned against the wall at the back of the room while a man finished talking. 76
Taking notice of the Head Dark-Hunter’s presence, the man stopped. “Thanks for coming.”77
“What’s going on?” Ash asked as the others in the room turned to look at him. He noticed that they seemed a little more nervous than usual when in his presence. 78
Leo Kirby, a short man with hair pulled back off a slightly balding head leaned forward. “We’re missing a few squires.’79
Not good. “Who and when?”80
~~~~~~~~~~~~81
Okay, it was official. Tria loved Honolulu.82
The sights, sounds, and even smells were new, interesting and exciting to someone seeing them for the first time. It didn’t matter to her that she was there only because two different mythological species wanted her dead. 83
Walking along the beach took some of the night away, and although the area was teeming with tourists, she hadn’t felt the sensation that indicated a Daimon or Gallu amongst them. Holding her boots in her hands, she made her way to one of the permanent chairs that dotted the soft sand and slipped them back on her feet before making her way back to solid ground and taking another look around. 84
Her previous feeling of contentment shifted as she felt the whispering of something just on the fringes of her awareness. Relieved that it was Daimon, and not Gallu, Tria casually walked to the street corner, and waited with others for the walk signal. Making it across to the other side, she glanced in a few shop windows, admiring the merchandise as she walked. Finally spotting the Daimon, she glanced around for more and hesitated when she realized that he was entering an alley. 85
“Why is it always an alley?” she whispered to herself as images from her last excursion into a lane surfaced in her mind. Ideas that maybe this had been a mistake started slowly, building as she took one step into the shadows at the mouth of the alley. A cold sweat started between her shoulder blades, as her breath caught in her throat. Thinking that Ash may had been right in asking her to remain home, she took a step back out on to the street and pulled her phone out with shaky hands. 86
Consulting a map of the city that she downloaded from the Internet, she located the alley, then started to run along the sidewalk as she rushed to the other side of the area. The Daimon was still on the move that much she could sense, and if she hurried, she just might make it to the opening before the demon did. 87
Dodging people as she ran, she rounded the corner, skidding to a halt just before an opening between buildings. Not looking in the opening as she walked by, she stopped just on the other side. The Daimon… no…she could now tell that there was more than one in there… had yet to emerge. Planning on waiting for them to come out, she leaned against the wall, then stood quickly when she noticed a police officer looking at her from across the street. 88
Assuming that after running, then stopping and leaning against the wall, she probably looked fairly guilty. Last thing she needed was to be arrested, or even questioned, and if she stood right now and walked away, that would most likely be what would happen. Gritting her teeth, she stayed where she was as the officer walked across the street and approached.89
“Excuse me,” he asked with trained patience. 90
Deciding to play innocent, Tria looked at him. “Pardon?” she asked in a French accent. 91
“What are you doing here?”92
“Parlez-vous le français?” she asked, hoping she remembered enough from her seven years of being posted in Montreal. “I…” she paused, trying to make it look like she was struggling for the words. “I…non…English.”93
Smiling in understanding, the officer fished a piece of paper from his pocket and read from it. “Avez-vous besoin de l'aide?” he asked, butchering the pronunciation. 94
No, she didn’t need help. What she needed was for him to get the hell out of her face so he wouldn’t be around when the Daimons strolled on out of the alley. She checked her senses, and noticed that the Daimons had stopped walking. They could probably see the officer, since he was standing smack dab in the middle of the alley mouth. 95
“Aucun merci. Je suis parfait. J'attendais juste mes amis avant que nous allons au restaurant.” She said, telling him that she was fine, and was just waiting for her friends before going to the restaurant. 96
Smiling in non-understanding, the officer looked at the restaurant she pointed to, then gave her a polite nod and walked away. Tria exhaled in relief and leaned her head against the wall for a brief moment. Her eyes slid to the side when she felt the Daimon’s on the move again, and a purely predators smile graced her lips. 97
~~~~~~~~~~~~98
Walking through Seattle, Ash has his senses wide open, reaching out and feeling for any trace of the missing squires. Originally, five had been missing, but one had been located, safe and sound stuck in traffic in an area of the underground expressway that blocked cellular activity. 99
Ash knew for certain that another one was dead, her soul screaming out in agony the moment her life ended. He could still feel the pain in his head that hearing her had caused, and pushed it to the side to deal with later. 100
The other squires that were accounted for had been placed under protective custody in an undisclosed location of his choosing, having been taken there by him personally. A few had objected, but he had been in no mood to listen to even the tiniest bit of complaining, so he had left them there under guard and left. 101
Walking the streets helped to focus his attention on finding the missing squires, and also helped get him away from the Huntress Zoe as she bitched at him. Although her squire was not one of the missing, she had elected herself spokes-person for those that were, and verbally landed on him with five inch spiked heels. 102
Telling the Amazon as politely as he could to shut up, he simply vanished from in front of her. He had no sooner materialized in some alley, than his phone started ringing with calls from her. Ignoring the first dozen calls, he finally grabbed the cell, yelled at her to ‘stop her whining, and either help look or fuck off’, then slammed his phone shut and shoved it into his backpack. 103
Sensing Gallu activity a few blocks away, he vanished mid-stride and appeared walking in the area he had selected. Too pissed off to even bother with giving a warning, he raised his hands and sent massive electricity to a group that was standing above a body on the ground. The gallu were pushed back by the shock, and knocked to the dirt. As one, they exploded in flames, the stench of burning flesh contained by Ash’s powers104
Approaching the body on the ground, Ash quickly checked for any bite marks. Satisfied that there were none, he used his powers to heal some rather nasty injuries, then stood and waited. As soon as the body on the ground stirred, Ash held his hand out, making it so the person couldn’t get up. Scared eyes looked up at him, relaxing slightly when he was recognized. 105
“Were you bitten?” Ash asked, his voice low and sinister.106
The squire stared at him, then shook his head. He breathed in relief when the invisible grip was removed and he could sit up. “They grabbed me, mentioned something about leaving a body as a message... then… that’s all I remember, really.”107
Ash stood back as the squire got to his feet, placing a safe distance between them. Just because no bites could be found didn’t mean that the man may not have been infected. “I’m taking you to a secure location where you’ll be checked over and monitored.”108
“Understood,” came the reply.
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Comments
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Stryker! My ultimate bad guy! He puts the 'mon in Demon! Background info wrapped in the plot line. Niiice.
Hair change? Right on!
HAHA on the conversation between Kessar and Stryker. The guy can be a sarcastic pr*ck at times, and you wrote that well.
Pretty good on the French. Not perfect, but very close.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 4, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Excellent
Sherrilyn, is that you? LOL. Excellent plot line, I like the fact that she is such a young DH. It's an interesting view point. Usually, we do not meet them until they have had a few centuries to come to grips with any traumas they endured. Tria's is still very fresh. It really makes you feel for her character. Brava!
beginning: 4, language: 4, plot: 5, dialog: 4, characters: 4.
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Why, thank you
Hopefully I can keep that freshness in her without making her jaded(Until I need her to be, that is
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Thank you for reading, and I hope I keep you hooked so you'll be back when I post more!
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