The room was bright, the silver surfaces reflecting the overhead lights in all directions. Everything held the look of a hospital room, although the armed guard standing just outside the large window on one wall hinted at prison infirmary. It was neither. 1
Ash stood by the guard, watching the squire he had rescued from the Gallu earlier as he lazily clicked through television channels with the remote control in his hand. 2
“No one in or out for forty-eight hours,” Ash said, going with a higher than normal time frame to be on the safe side. “Make sure he’s on the other side of the room before slipping any food through the bottom of the door.”3
“Got it.” The Blood Rite squire checked his weapon. “If he goes demon?”4
“Shoot him through the window.” Ash turned and walked away. “We can always replace the glass.” 5
Without looking back, or pausing, Ash walked down the corridor of the house that the Squires sequestered ‘problem’ issues in. If someone broke the code, or threatened someone above and beyond the norm, they would be brought here. Since, at times, they were brought against their will, and usually injured, an operating room had been set up far from the main areas of the house.6
Out of five originally missing, two of the squires had been found, and one was confirmed dead. Ash brought up a hand to rub his temple as the thoughts surfaced that there were more than likely two squires added to the dead list. And they had no idea why they were being hunted.7
Grant it, Daimons had attempted something similar a few years previous in New Orleans, but this felt different. Ash had felt the murdered squire’s soul yelling out as it departed, but it didn’t hold the terror that it should have had if a Daimon had been the killer. There was nothing like a soul being sucked into a black void to bring the panic out in it.8
It was basically irrelevant anyway; a soul screaming out was a soul screaming out, and it still made his mind sting either way. Usually he could block it, but since he was concentrating on locating the squires, his mind had been wide open at the time. 9
Slipping his hand in to his coat pocket, his fingers caressed the smooth stone from the necklace he had bought in New Orleans. He had originally intended to give it to Tria, but found that it had a calming effect on him when he touched it, and decided to hold on to it for a little while longer.10
Covering a yawn with his other hand, he stopped when he got to the bottom of the stairs that led to the rest of the house, closed his eyes to locate a specific Hunter, then vanished. Taking a step out of the shadows where he had appeared, he took a look around, trying to find the person he had come to see. He knew she was in the alley, and spun at a sound behind him. 11
A blonde man ran towards him, his breath coming in labored gasps as he tried to escape the figure that was rapidly catching up with him. Before Ash could move, the man stopped as someone grabbed him from behind, then fell to the ground. 12
Tria threw the Daimon to the ground, then pulled a knife from her pocket and leaned forward, landing on the Daimon’s chest with her knee. “This is for making me run on the beach with spiked heels,” she hissed as she brought the knife down to embed it in the chest below her. Gold dust exploded, bringing her knee down to ground level. 13
“All done?” Ash asked calmly.14
Looking over her shoulder at him, Tria’s eyes flashed red until she realized who had spoken. Jumping to her feet, she pocketed the knife and brushed off her jacket and pants. Then, she noticed that she was standing in an alley.15
Ash watched as the cocky assuredness left her face, replaced by something similar to nausea. Raising a hand slightly, he teleported them both back to her living room. “What’s wrong?” he asked.16
Shrugging her jacket off and letting it fall on the couch, Tria rubbed the back of her neck with one hand. “Dunno,” she finally replied with a shrug. “Must still be tired.”17
“Okay.” He knew she was avoiding the truth. “How was Honolulu?”18
“Wonderful.” She gave him a small smile. “Anytime you want me to sub there, just let me know.” Stretching completely, Tria flopped on to the couch. “How was your night?”19
“The usual,” he said vaguely.20
“That bad, huh?”21
“Tiring.” Ash sat on the couch beside her. “I would like nothing better than to be able to undo a few things, and sleep until the rest goes away.” Reaching out, he ran his fingers through her hair that touched her shoulder.22
“I hate running through sand,” she said. “Always have.”23
Grateful for the change in subject, Ash smiled down at her. “This from a Californian?” 24
“Oohhh, stereotyping…how…Atlantean.”25
Despite his mood, Ash couldn’t help but laugh at that. “You’re funny. No, I mean that, seriously,” he said dryly. “Maybe we should rent you out for parties. Can you juggle?” He ducked the small pillow that came sailing his way. 26
“I can do a wicked flame throwing act,” she said mischievously. “Care to witness it firsthand?” She brought a hand up and covered a huge yawn. “Sorry,” she said, blinking a few times. “Guess I really am tired.”27
“I could sleep,” Ash admitted, teleporting them both to her bedroom.28
“Sleep?” Tria arched an eyebrow at him.29
He looked away slightly. “I’m not…”30
“You’re not in the mood.” Tria watched as the annoyance played across his handsome face. She pulled her clothes off and slipped beneath the covers. Looking at him, she frowned. “Ash…if you think the only reason you’re sleeping in my bed is because of sex, then you can say goodbye right now, and make sure you drop the garbage bag by the front gate as you leave. It’s pickup day, you know.”31
Ash stared at her. He couldn’t remember the last time his ‘not in the mood’ had meant anything to the person he was with. This was getting to be too comfortable, and he knew he would have a hard time leaving at the end of his ’vacation’. 32
Then, she smiled at him, making his breath catch in his throat. This was not the smile that he usually received from women, a smile that told him that they wanted nothing more than to claim him for themselves. No, this was a smile that hinted at forbidden promises and of asking nothing in return.33
The image brought back the dream he had had a few weeks previous after he had held her while beheading the Gallu in the alley. The look in that dream had prompted all sorts of thoughts to run through his brain. To see it again, this time in reality, had just about the same effect on him. 34
Okay… maybe he was in the mood.35
~~~~~~~~~~~~36
The children of Squire’s, like most offspring of ‘kidnap worthy’ people, usually had a bodyguard watching out for them when they traveled from their homes. The Squire’s in Montreal were no different. Bodyguards would act as chauffeurs, bringing the children to school, friend’s house, or to the mall. 37
The sun had finally peeked through the clouds as a newer model Ford Explorer pulled into a nondescript street, following the detour signs that were set up around a street corner construction site. The Blood Rite squire that was driving grimaced slightly at the traffic ahead, then rolled his eyes as the two teens and one child in the back cheered about being late for school. 38
Checking the rearview mirror, the bodyguard noticed an almost identical SUV behind, his brow creasing when he saw three people walking up beside the vehicle. 39
“What the hell?” he whispered to himself, his eyes going wide as the man stuck something in the driver’s side door, popping the lock and yanking the door open. Too many people to count suddenly surrounded the Explorer behind him, with a few heading for the one he was driving. Instinct took over as he put the vehicle in drive, and pressed down on the gas, driving into the back of the car in front of him, pushing it into the one in front of that.40
“Hang on!” he said loudly over the shocked screams coming from the back seat. Regardless how much he wanted to stop, get out and run to the aid of the others in the vehicle behind, he knew his duty; and that was to the three in the back seat.41
Grabbing his phone out of his pocket as he turned the steering wheel sharply, he tossed it to the back seat while driving over someone’s front lawn.“Chris,” he said in a calmly authoritative voice. “Call the council, speed dial one, and inform them that we’re coming. Tell them code three.”42
He drove over the remaining lawns on the block until he got the end, then swerved into traffic, ignoring the honks and tire screeching that it caused. Checking his mirror, the last view he had of the other SUV was of the driver lying face down on the ground while two kids were pulled forcibly out of the backseat.43
Speeding the entire way, the squire took a few back streets in an attempt to throw off any followers, and then headed for a parking structure in downtown Montreal. Parking on the forth level, he quickly got out of the Explorer, opening the back door and looking in at three frightened faces. 44
“Grab your backpacks, and anything else that would identify you,” he said calmly. “Chris, my phone?” Taking the phone from the eldest sibling, he pushed a button, then stepped back. “GPS me,” he said, not wanting to give a location out. “Then come get us.”45
He turned as the children got out of the vehicle, then went to the passenger side and took the entire contents of the glove compartment out and put it into one of the backpacks the kids had. Doing a quick scan of the interior, he then closed the door and motioned for the others to follow him. 46
“I’m very proud of you three,” he said, wanting them to know that they were doing great. “We’re going to go stand in that corner over there, and wait. Anyone have to use the bathroom?”47
~~~~~~~~~~~~~48
Kessar smiled maliciously as reports came in from various points on the continent. So far, his Gallu had managed to grab fifteen of the squire’s children while killing six squires in the process. All in all, it had been a highly successful morning, and if it all went according to his plan, it would be a highly entertaining afternoon.49
He felt no guilt or remorse at targeting children, since all they were to him were potential enemies that he would just have to do away with later. Delivering a message that the Dark-Hunters couldn’t miss, he patiently waited on word of the remaining attacks. The loss of three of the targets in Montreal, Los Angels and New Orleans was annoying, but he pushed that to the side.50
If only the squires had known how predictable they had been in their transporting the brats, then they may have saved themselves some grief. Then again, one species stupidity was his gain.51
He turned as one of his head Gallu approached. “All are completed,” he reported.52
“Bring them here,” Kessar ordered. “It’s time to work thing to our benefit.”53
The Gallu left with a nod.Kessar would have like to bring the humans to his side by infection, but decided that holding the humans as hostage in exchange for what he wanted would be a bigger blow to the psyche than become Gallu could ever achieve. 54
This would show the Dark-Hunters, and Tria Cavanaugh in particular, what he was capable of repeating if she didn’t present herself to him. And after she was dead, killing the hostages and then leaving the bodies to be found was something he looked forward to.55
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 56
Images swam in and out of his dream, beckoning him closer, then shoving him away violently. Ash rolled over in his sleep, moaning lightly as visions came at him from all sides like phantoms, floating just out of his line of sight, and vanishing when he turned to look. He could hear the soft sounds of screaming coming from far away, ebbing and flowing like the tide on a beach. 57
A melodious chiming entered his dream, and he recognized it as the same sound his cell phone made. Only this sound was coming from far away, and seemed to be the wrong pitch and general tone of his phone.58
Clouds surrounded him, the white fluffiness morphing into storm clouds so quickly that he cringed at the violence that came from them. Lightening crashed though his mind, stealing his breath as thunder vibrated him to the center of his being. The voices sped across the horizon, coming at him so fast that he could only watch as they surrounded him, battering from all sides, and bringing him to the ground in agony.59
He knew this dream was a foreshadow of what was going to happen, wrapped around images of what had already happened. Struggling to his knees, he was knocked down again from the brute force of what seemed like the entire universe crashing over him. 60
Taunting and begging to be helped, the essences of too many clawed at him, pulling him under in confusion as they tried to break through a surface that wasn’t there. Ebbing slightly, the feeling lessened enough to allow Ash to move.61
“No!” Ash bolted up in bed, sweating, and trembling in pain as the souls screamed out their betrayal. 62
“Ash?”63
His head whipped to the sound, a feral snarl on his lips and his eyes glowing red. The wave of pain crested again, bringing an agonizing gasp from him a second before he curled on to his side.64
Tria slid to the floor so she could lean on the bed and look into his face. His hand shot out to grab hers, and held tight as he started to shudder. “What’s wrong?” she asked, trying to stay calm.65
All she got for a reply was another moan as a fresh sheet of sweat glistened his body. The thought that he might have been infected prompted Tria to pry her hand from his and take a step back. Grabbing a nightdress from the back of a chair, she slipped it on and regarded him warily.66
“Ash!” she snapped, making him to look in her direction. Holding her hand out, she formed a fireball in her palm. Not wanting to do what she might have to, but determined to do it if needed, she continued. “Were you bitten?” she asked in a hard voice.67
“No,” he gasped. “No bite.”68
Taking a step back to the bed as the fire dissolved, she ran a hand over his face, jumping at both the hiss is elicited from him, and the heat that seemed to emanate from his body. His cell phone started ringing, but she ignored it. “What’s wrong?”69
“Too many,” he whispered through chattering teeth. “N-not re-al,” he stuttered, forcing himself to breathe slowly, shivering as the phantom voices continued to assault them. He tried to console and placate them when he could, but their grief and anger was overpowering his attempts. 70
“Want me to get Simi?”71
“No,” he whispered. The last thing he wanted was to be found in Tria’s bed. It wasn’t that he was ashamed or hiding, he just didn’t want to put Simi in the position to have to lie to anyone about his relationship with Tria. “I’ll be…okay.” Although the pain was unbearable, it was slightly less unbearable than it had been a moment ago. 72
This was similar to what had happened in New Orleans a few years previous, when he had felt the deaths of far too many people screaming in eternal pain, and as then, he was overcome by the event. But since this was more of a premonition, he was able to slowly wrestle it under control. 73
The feeling of Tria’s hand in his, as she stroked his brow helped to alleviate some of the residual suffering. Something big had happened, and he knew he had to pull himself together before whatever it was blew completely and horribly out of control.74
His cell phone started to ring again, but he didn’t have the energy to do anything but stay where he was as the pain slowly left his head and chest, bringing his breathing to something closer to normal. He knew the call had something to do with his dream, and knew that whoever it was would call back. He wasn’t looking forward to that.75
Moaning deeply, he forced himself to sit up on the bed, closing his eyes as the room lurched around him. He brought Tria’s hand up to kiss the back of it, then released it so he could run his hands over his face.76
“Ash?”77
“Yes?”78
“What’s going on?”79
Taking his hands away, he looked into her black eyes, seeing the concern and worry there. Before Ash could answer, his cell phone started ringing again, and he fished it out of the backpack by the bed.80
“Yeah?” Listening, Ash closed his eyes, and ran a hand over them. “Is everyone locked down?” he asked. “I’ll be there soon.” Closing the phone, he manifested clothes on his body, then slowly stood from the bed. 81
“Ash?”82
“I’m fine, Tria.” He bent down to pick up the backpack, and swayed slightly when dizziness hit him. Standing again, he headed for the door. “I have to go,” he said. 83
“What happened?”84
Studying her face, he was tempted to erase the memory from her mind, but, for reasons he couldn’t quite fathom, he opted not to. “In the past few hours,” he said slowly, “Six Squires were killed, and fifteen family members taken. I had a dream that they were killed, and their souls screaming reached out to me.”85
“What?” Tria stared at him. 86
“You need to get dressed and come with me. I’m delivering you someplace safe.”87
“They were killed because of me?”88
“I didn’t say that.”89
“Then why do I need to be someplace safe?”90
Ash stared at her. “Tria. I don’t know why they were killed. It could be related to the missing squires from last night, or it could be some other reason. Others have tried this a few times before, but nothing of this magnitude.”91
She stared at him for a few moments before giving him a curt nod and walking over to a dresser. She seemed to be on automatic, and it took all her concentration to grab clothes and pull them on. 92
~~~~~~~~~~~~~93
The waves lapped gently along the sandy moonlit shores of Neratiti, the serenity and beauty working its best to pull the annoyance out of the woman walking through ankle deep water. Aiden Falconidae’s view was concentrated on the sand below her feet, watching as the water pulled back the sand to fill the footprints with each wave, leaving only a small indentation to show that she had been there.94
Trying to shake off unexplained feelings of inadequacy, she had slipped out from below Savitar’s arm and made her way to the shores of his private island. Ever since the events of the previous year, she had been silently questioning her place in the universe, and although Savitar had hinted at greatness in store for her, she just couldn’t picture or grasp it. 95
Afraid of taking a wrong step, and having that future vanish like the footprints below her, she took a long look at the ocean, then turned and headed back to the palace. In the past five months, she had spent more time here than her own condo, and wondered if that brought part of the questions that seemed to be running through her mind. 96
Her Regis wanted her to open the doors of her building and allow the eagles to move back in. She knew that he was doing this so he could use her relationship with Savitar, and part of her admired that. Safe places for Arcadian Were-Hunters were scarce. But, she couldn’t bring herself to forgive the way her own families had treated her in the past year and a half. 97
If she didn’t do as they wished, then she would be considered exoristos, which would make her the same as non-existent to her own clan. Even if Savitar didn’t think it a big deal, she certainly did. Her time with the surfing god was amazing, but both knew it to be limited. Once it was over, she would essentially be adrift, and she’d had enough of that in her life. 98
The number of friends she knew she could count on was sadly limited, although very powerful. Ash was fickle at best, his comings and goings strongly based on his attitude, which ran anywhere from ‘best friend’, to ‘look at me wrong, and I’ll kill you.’ Simi was an adorable flake, and when not tied to Ash, the best being to have watching your back. Fury Kattalakis was a moody, snarling wolf that would most assuredly bite any hand that fed him, but Aiden could think of no one she’d rather have as a friend than him. 99
That left Savitar. 100
She knew that all she would have to do was call, and he would be there, but she didn’t know if it would be to protect her back, or stab it to complete some all-important timeline. It wasn’t that she was afraid of him, or anything he would do, since she strongly doubted that he would ever do anything to hurt her. Hell, he’d nearly destroyed the cosmos once because he accidentally hurt her. But, he had his own reasons and motives for everything, and she supposed that it had some to do with her current thinking.101
Being declared exoristos would not be the best thing at this point in her long life. Plus, with these Gallu now running amok, she wanted the protection that a family…or at least a clan… could provide. At least Stryker was leaving her alone, that in itself a great relief. All things considered, though, she would rather face Daimons than Gallu. Daimons killed because they had to…Gallus, because they wanted to, and there was nothing more frightening than that.102
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~103
Ash let go of Tria’s hand the instant they appeared in a room, and took a step back to distance himself from the temptation of holding her. She looked tired, worried, anxious, slightly pissed off, and the way her now light brown hair sat in a hasty off center ponytail prompted him to look past her so he wouldn’t give into that temptation.104
“Where are we?” she asked.105
“Seattle”106
“Seattle,” Tria repeated. “Why here?”107
“Different location, safe house.” Ash looked around the sparse room he had phased them to. A narrow bed took up one wall, while a small table sat against he other by a door leading to the washroom. 108
“I mean, why not Vegas?” She waited until he looked at her. “If the Gallu took them, then it stands to reason that’s where they’ll be.” 109
“And that’s why you’re not there.” He started for the door. “Leo Kirby, Squire Regis for Seattle. He’ll be able to tell you more.”110
Allowing her to go first, Ash followed as they exited the room, and walked down a dark corridor. She noticed that Ash kept a respectable distance, and seemed to have adopted his standoffish persona once again. She knew that it would be different around others, but she was a little annoyed that he was doing this while the two of them were alone. She glanced at his face as they walked, and noticed that, despite the dark glasses that once more shielded him from the world, he looked incredibly tired. 111
“About your dream,” she said, trying to find some sense in all of this.112
“I’m fine,” he cut her off, then stopped walking. Turning to the door behind him, he opened it with his powers and then took a step back to let her enter first. As she passed, he reached out and briefly ran his hand over her back. It was soft and fleeting, but seemed to calm both of them slightly.113
Tria stopped as all activity ceased while everyone looked at her. It was then that she knew, without doubt, that she was the reason the Gallu were on the attack. Watching as a small, wiry man approached, she noticed a spider web tattoo on his hand, marking him as a Blood Rite Squire. 114
“Ash,” he said, giving the immortal a nod before turning his attention back to Tria. “Tria Cavanaugh, I presume?” He gave her a brief once over. “I’m Leo Kirby, and I need you to come with me.”115
“Leo,” Ash said, and walked a little to the side with the man. “Don’t mention the kids,” Ash said in a low voice as he watched Tria fidget with her jacket as everyone continued to stare.116
“Why?” Leo stopped when Ash slid a glance his way. “Fine.”117
Tria glanced up as the two men joined her again, then pulled her hands away from her jacket. “Just tell me where to turn myself in to Kessar, and I’ll be on my way.” 118
Although she didn’t think it possible, the room silenced even further. 119
“The Squire Council is not going to sit around and accept you trading yourself for anyone.” Leo stared at her. “If you trade yourself, then any demon with half a brain will start attacking innocents to try to get us to bow to their wishes.”120
“Innocents?” Tria looked from Leo to Ash. “Since when are Squires considered ‘innocents’?” 121
“It was a figure of speech,” Leo said, pulling her gaze back to him. “We’re not going to let them die and we’re not going to let you die. Things are already on the go to end this.”122
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Please tell me what you think
Comments
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Very well written. I like the way you give Ash emotion. Your writing makes him come to life. And now I go to read the next chapter.
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This is the last posted chapter??? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hurry up and post more... or, leave it on your computer so I can read it next week
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Chapter thirteen is done...
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“Shoot him through the window.” Ash turned and walked away. “We can always replace the glass.”
That's harsh, man.
Aww! Calming effect from the necklace. I think Ash is really falling for her. I can't wait the read the rest to see if I'm right.
"drop the garbage bag by the front gate as you leave" HAAHAHA! Now THAT'S harsh!
Ohhhh.. the plot thickens. Kidnapping kids? typical bully demons.
Bad dream! And bad effect on Ash. Poor guy (here, let Cryptic makeit all better).
I'm waiting for you to tie Aiden and Savitar in to this ... stop leaving me in suspense!!!
Stop being a jerk in public, Ash
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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