After a quick detour to Katoteros to pick up Simi, who was full of a million and one questions, Ash continued on to Earth with his demon secured on his shoulder. He felt better than he had in months, and although nothing had been accomplished, he had faith that it would work out in the end. 1
He didn’t like having to rely on someone like Savitar, regardless how much he believed that the surfer was telling the truth. That was the funny thing with Savitar though… the truth was something he used to get what he wanted. Issues were spun to reveal only certain aspects, and although things ended up like they were supposed to, sometimes the outcome was not what was expected…or even desired.2
Tria had seemed at ease with what the future held, although he knew that if she had a full grasp of what was going on, then her outlook would be vastly different. Knowing that there was nothing he could really do about the whole thing, Ash had decided to let the fabrics of time continue to be woven to the finished product, and accept whatever it was. Until he felt the desire to change it, that is. 3
Standing in the living room of his New Orleans home, he looked around and exhaled. He could go out and kill a dozen or three Daimons and Gallu, or check on the area’s Dark-Hunters, visit his godchildren, or a hundred other things. All he wanted to do was go back to Neratiti and hold Tria. 4
Shaking himself to get rid of the thought, he reached a hand into a pocket of his long coat and pulled out the tiger’s eye pendant that he had been holding on to. He wanted to give it back to her, but somehow there never seemed to be a point where he could do it smoothly without making it look like he wanted to get rid of it. 5
Everything he did was reminding him of Tria, and he needed to stop. Dwelling on it would do neither any good, and acting like some pining moron would most likely end up getting him or someone else killed. 6
Or maybe… his silver gaze shifted to the row of guitars that lined one wall. Walking over to an acoustical one, he gently took it off the wall hooks and turned it over in his hands. After Tria’s ‘death’ in the caves, the squires council had followed her wishes that the house and contents be sold. The only object that hadn’t been in the ‘sale’ had been Tria’s guitar, which Ash had retrieved shortly before the squires appropriated everything. 7
Walking to one of the couches that sat in the large living room, he sat on the edge of one, hesitated, then started playing her guitar. Maybe if he got most of the guilt, joy, and various emotions that were whirling through him out, then he could get on with his duties of killing demons. 8
~~~~~~~~~~~~9
Staring into the darkness of the bedroom, Dom tried to connect the pain in his body with the fragmented events that were running through his mind. He could see it all from a dream, but the images were quickly slipping into nothingness. Coughing, he grimaced at the pain, and sat up slowly to look at his chest. 10
Scars puckered the area, some old, some new, and a slowly healing one that was disturbingly near where his millennium old spear wound resided. 11
“Oh, yeah,” he whispered as the events surfaced in his mind. Lightly cursing himself for being stupid enough to let the woman stab him, he stood unsteadily and headed for the bathroom. 12
After a quick shower that existed of him mainly leaning against the shower stall while water cascaded over him, he got out, dried off, pulled on a pair of pants and walked out of the bedroom. He was halfway down the hall when he realized he was shirtless, but continued on to the living room. The way he felt, he didn’t think he had the energy to pull a shirt on anyway.13
Making it to the large oak door that separated him from the rest of the mansion, he leaned against it for a moment, then pushed with his shoulder. The door slowly opened, admitting him to the rest of the world.14
Discovering that he was alone, he made his way to the couch, stopping mid stride as his squire walked in to the living room.15
Craig came to a halt as he spotted Dom. It was rare that the Dark-Hunter walked around in the middle of the day, and it caught him off guard. “How are you feeling?” Craig asked.16
“Like death warmed over,” Dom muttered. “Twice.” 17
“Coffee?”18
“Please.”19
Craig nodded and left, quickly returning with the coffee. He noticed that Dom was still standing where he left him, and clamped down on the urge to make a smart-assed remark regarding it. He could see the healing scars on Dom’s torso, and was amazed that he actually made it to his car from wherever he had been injured.20
“What happened?” He watched as Dom finally started walking again, and lazily fell into the couch.21
“Thanks, mom,” Dom said as he took the large mug of coffee. He took a sip, sighing in appreciation. “Well…I let some woman trick me into thinking she was a victim, when she was really the bait.” 22
“What?”23
“Saved some bitch, and she stabbed me in the back. Literally.” He took another drink of the coffee, then stared off at a spot on the wall. “The sword that was in my jacket pocket…”24
“Still there.”25
“Good.” He looked at his squire. “Her prints may still be on it, so take it over to the Blood Rites, and see what they can do about her.”26
“There might be some prints under all that blood,” Craig said in a neutral voice. “You sure you want her dragged into this?”27
“Not my choice,” he replied calmly. “If she’s a Dolous, then she got a pretty good look at me. I don’t need every Daimon in the city trying to track me.” Running his hands briefly through still damp hair that rested halfway down his back, he tried to get some semblance of order in his mind.28
“Going out tonight?”29
“Probably,” Dom said, drinking some more coffee, then placing it on the end table before standing again. He swayed slightly as the room tilted in his vision. “Or probably not. My body seems to be two or three steps behind my brain.” He rubbed his right shoulder, his hand nearly covering the Cerberus tattoo that resided there. “Maybe I’ll take Angie up on that massage offer.”30
“Yeah,” Craig said doubtfully. “That’ll go over real good with all the bullet wounds.”31
“There’s some stab wounds in there too,” Dom said as he looked down. “Word of advice, Craig. Don’t let anyone run a sword through your back. Hurts like hell.”32
“I’ll keep that in mind.”33
~~~~~~~~~~~34
Waves lapped at the sandy shores, leaving little bubbles that soon vanished into the warm afternoon air. Savitar stared out at the water, thinking through things in his mind, and quite pleased with the way they were going so far. 35
Having already considered Ash’s confusion and objections to recent events, and working them in to the overall plan, there wasn’t anything that couldn’t be altered to fit the unexpected. Not that there should be any unexpected points, but as Savitar had found out in the past year, sometimes things happen when least expected.36
Pointing the human female in the right direction had been surprisingly simple, and if she kept on the path of letting Ash choose, then all should be fine. Tria was rather naive in the grand scheme of the universe and in the conduct of the god and immortals, and hopefully would learn a huge lesson by the time this was over. 37
Now, all he had to do was get everyone off his island so he could immerse himself in the waves that were licking at his feet.38
“Babe?” he whispered. “Could I see you please?”39
Aiden appeared in front of him, looked down to see that she was standing in water, and moved to the side. “Water and leather sandals… how pleasant,” she muttered, then gave him a patiently curious stare. 40
“Are you all right?” he asked casually. “Everything cool between you and Ash?”41
“Since you already know the answer to that, I’m going to assume that you’re leading up to something, and, as charming as it is…” She trailed off.42
“That’s what I like about you,” he said. “You prefer getting to the point.” He sighed. “But, since I’m a god, and I like to play around getting to the meaning on most things, please… humor me.”43
“I think we’re fine,” Aiden said slowly, trying to hide the annoyance that always crept in when he was acting superior with her. It usually meant he was about to do something completely narcissistic, which would more than likely piss her off. At times, she had the feeling like she was viewed as a gofer, or stooge, and it was aggravating. 44
Taking one step towards her, Savitar leaned slightly so he could look into her eyes. “If I ever stoop so low as to treat someone as special as you in that way, then you have my permission to kick my ass.” His hand came up to her chin, raising her face so he could kiss her.45
Warmth spread through her body as his lips caressed hers, hinting at unspoken delights. “I’ll hold you to that,” Aiden said as they separated slightly.46
“You do that,” Savitar said in a low voice. “Now to decide what to do with our newest immortal.”47
Aiden glanced at him sideways. “Thought she was going to stay here.”48
Savitar gave an imperceptible shrug as he looked out at the water. It was beckoning him like a lost soul, and he desperately wanted to feel it all around him. 49
Aiden sighed lightly. She knew that look, and knew that although he was all-powerful, that nothing would get accomplished until he spent hours on his surfboard. “This is what’s gonna happen,” she said. “Tria comes with me, stays in one of the empty condos, I tell my Regis to blow, and I get cut off from all I knew, and you go surf.”50
“Sounds good,” Savitar said, his beach clothes morphing into a black and brown wetsuit the same time a board appeared beside him. He vanished and instant later as a wave crested the horizon.51
Staring at the small figure that was standing on the board riding the wave in, Aiden closed her eyes for a moment. “That was too easy,” she whispered to herself. “What are you up to this time?”52
~~~~~~~~~~~53
Craig hung the phone up and looked over at Dom as he sat on the couch. The Hunter seemed in his own little world as he stared at the floor, seemingly oblivious to everything around him. Craig knew that he was in some sort of ‘meditative healing’ zone that he had picked up somewhere along the past thousand years.54
He looked like he needed it. Craig couldn’t recall the last time Dom had walked out of his private rooms looking like something the cat hacked up then hid under the couch. 55
Hair that was always neatly tied back, currently fell loose down his back, with some hanging over one shoulder. Stubble covered his lower face, giving him a dangerously scruffy appearance that seemed to amicably go with the rest of him. Four tremendously detailed tattoos lined the arms and upper back, the snake that wrapped around Dom’s left arm flexing slightly as he brought his hand up to absently rub his neck.56
“Who was that?” Dom asked, his gaze quickly focusing on the squire.57
“Ash,” Craig said. “Wants to see you at the café around eight.”58
“Where’s my car?”59
“I picked it up while you were recouping,” Craig smiled slightly. “Sweet ride.”60
Dom nodded slightly. “Let me know when it’s time to go. You’re driving.”61
Watching as the other man went back to his meditating, Craig walked behind the couch as he headed to the kitchen to brew another pot of coffee.62
Dom tried to put all thought out of his mind and concentrate on settling the uneasy feeling that had been with him since he woke, but was having no luck. Only by sheer will power had he been able to remain sitting when Craig had walked behind him a moment ago. Having someone behind him was never a thing he had worried about in the past, and he refused to start caving in to any sort of paranoia regarding it now. 63
Slowly getting to his feet, Dom stretched lightly, grimacing in the pain that pulling muscles brought. Walking back to the large door that separated the house, he pulled it open and shuffled down the hall to one of the rooms that served as his small private gym.64
Craig walked back into the living room in time to see the large door close. Shrugging slightly, he changed direction and went towards the steps and one of the upper rooms that served as his office. 65
Downstairs, in the secured area of the house, Dom lazily swung at a large workout bag that was suspended from the ceiling. He could feel the muscles in his sides pull and protest with each swing, and used that pain as a springboard to punch a little harder each time. 66
Stopping long enough to go to a wall to push a button on a control pad, he stepped back as the wall in front of him separated, then retracted, folding as it slid into the wall at both ends. The small workout room he had been in doubled in size now to include an assortment of workout equipment scattered amidst the treadmill and weights. 67
Going to a small table in the corner, he searched through a drawer, pulling out a band to secure his hair with. Stepping back, he stared at a particular piece of equipment, then gave a derisive sniff as he approached the punching bag that had been designed to look similar to a human, complete with weighted arms and legs.68
Reaching out, he grabbed hold of the ‘arm’, and pulled it towards him. Letting go of the dummy activated a small mechanism inside that would make the thing spin and move in random motion, making it harder to get a good hit in. 69
Watching for a few moments, Dom bent low, punching out and connecting with the midsection of the dummy. Bring and arm up to block being hit, he took a step back, narrowly missing being struck in the head from the other side. 70
Not really feeling like sparring, but knowing that he had to push himself or else fall into the paranoia that wanted to claim him, he inhaled and approached again. Each hit would send the dummy into another random move, and more often than not, that move ended up smacking Dom someplace on his arms and legs. 71
He could feel his body stretch in protest, and used that a fuel to overcome the resentment that wanted to seep through the concentration. Fights that were won by rage had a way of being incomplete, and Dom preferred to use cold calculations to heated anger. Usually.72
After pacing a few half-hearted hits on the sparring dummy, he reached out, placing both hands on the fabric chest, and shoved as hard as he could. Tensing as the object swung back far enough to touch the ceiling, he steadied himself as the springs ricochet it back at him. 73
The air left him as the weight crashed into his torso, but he kept on his feet. Reaching out to steady both himself at the gyrating dummy, he exhaled in discomfort. Taking a step back, he pivoted, bringing one leg up in a perfect roundhouse kick. The dummy snapped back from the force of the hit, swinging back at the same time Dom finished his spin. Raising an arm to block a swinging weight, he ducked low, delivering some well placed hits over the padded dummy.74
Stopping with a dissatisfied sigh, he took a step back. “Yeah, okay,” he said to the empty room. “It just isn't fun unless it’s a real person.”75
~~~~~~~~~~~76
His jacket fluttered behind him as Ash ran along the street in New Orleans, the Daimon he was chasing still in his sights. Although it was odd to run into a lone Daimon, Ash had given chasse in hopes that they would try the trick of luring a Dark-Hunter into an alley and an ambush of a dozen or more fellow demons. It seemed to be their trick of the trade lately, and although most Hunters knew not to fall for it, he was ignoring his own warnings. 77
Ash could really sink his fangs into kicking the gold dust out of the soul suckers, and silently hoped that he would have his chance. The Daimon slowed enough to turn into an alley, and Ash gave a rare smile as he followed. 78
Stopping at the end of the alley, Ash’s senses went on immediate alert as he continued forward with that predators gait that tended to scare the hell out of anyone he happened to be approaching. 79
He had twenty minutes before he had to meet Dom in the café, so he would have to make this as painful as he could in the time remaining. It would have been easy to just dispose of the Daimon and be on his way, but Ash wanted to do this anyway but the easy way.80
The group of Daimons that greeted him was like a gift from the gods, especially when only half ran away after recognizing him. Those that remained would be the bravest of the brave, and a nice little diversion for Ash’s mind. 81
Manifesting a staff in his hand as he stalked towards the Daimons, he swung out, spearing two at the same time and reducing them to dust. Wanting it to be more than just him killing while they disintegrated, the staff vanished with a thought. 82
Although Daimons were worthy adversaries, he would rather have a few gallu to face. Daimons vanished after one well placed hit, while gallu tended to be stubborn demons that continued long after they should be dead.83
“Let’s get this going,” he said in a deep voice. “I got things to do and people to see.” 84
~~~~~~~~~~~~~85
None too impressed with being shipped around like some orphan that no one wanted, Tria stood in the living room of a surprisingly small condo and looked around. After being in her large house for years, and then on the island for the past few days, she has grown accustomed to open spaces. The condo, although airy and open, seemed cramped when compared to the other places. 86
Aiden walked to the kitchen and looked through a drawer, returning with a key that she handed over to Tria. “Door across the hall,” she said. “Don’t worry about souls floating around… the place was ridded of them about a year ago.”87
“What?” Tria asked slowly. 88
“I had a shaman come in and rid the property of any anguished souls,” Aiden told her, not bothering to explain it any further than that. She looked at the other woman. “After I had a visit from Stryker, Savitar put a pretty powerful curtain of protection over my condo. No one can come in without my invitation. Although, I’m not sure if it covers the whole building or just my condo…”89
Tria nodded slightly. “Don’t worry about it. If anything happens, I’ll run for here. Anyone on the ‘already invited’ list?”90
“Well, you,” Aiden paused to put coffee into the machine and turn it on. “Savitar, Ash, Simi, and Fury.”91
“Fury?”92
“Kattalakis.”93
“Katagaria wolf?”94
“The one and only,” Aiden said as she opened the fridge and looked though the minimal contents. Pulling out a jug of milk, she opened it hesitantly and made a face. “Eww.” Turning to pour the contents in the sink, she rinsed out the container and tossed it into the recycling bin in the corner. “Gotta get groceries. Want to come?”95
Tria titled her head slightly. “Don’t Weres just use magick?”96
“You’re going to find a lot of things you were told have been misconceptions and half truths.” Grabbing her cell phone, Aiden started for the door. “By the way, what did you want to be called in public?”97
“By my name would be preferred.” 98
“Usually is,” Aiden agreed. “But, since you’re supposed to be dead, and Tria isn’t exactly a common name… at least not amongst those that know Ash, you might want to use something else.”99
Looking confused, Tria blinked a few times. “Come again?”100
“You might have noticed that Ash lives in a dangerous world, and it trickles over by mere virtue of being around him.”101
“I’m able to take care of myself.”102
“Oh, I noticed, ex Dark-Hunter,” Aiden replied. “But, uh, I’ve had my tush on the line enough in the past year or so, and I prefer not to knowingly place it there again.”103
“I’m immortal.”104
Manifesting a sword to her hand, Aiden gave the other woman an arched look. “Want to try out that statement?” She nodded when Tria took a step back. “Didn’t think so.” The sword vanished. “Immoral does not mean ‘can’t be killed’.”105
The two women traded stares, one calm, and one full of annoyance. “Wendy,” Tria finally said. “My middle name… well, it’s Wendell, but Wendy will do.”106
“Good enough.”107
~~~~~~~~~~~108
The early evening crowd was light, resulting in pathetically sparse tips. Angie scooped a ten dollar bill off of a table and put it in her pocket before grabbing the dishes to bring to the kitchen area. 109
Hearing the door chime to signify that customers had entered she fixed a smile on her tired face and walked out. Pausing slightly at the two men that made their way to a table, she grabbed the coffee pot and approached. 110
Placing a cup down in front of one without even asking, she glanced at the other man. “Coffee?”111
“Please,” Craig replied with a smile. 112
“And how are you tonight?” she asked, making it sound like she was actually interested in their answers. 113
“I’m great,” Craig answered. “But King Klutz over here,” he motioned to Dom, “could use a massage.”114
Angie’s eyebrow rose slightly as she slowly looked at Dom, who was glaring at the other man like he was ready to launch himself over the table and kill. 115
“Excuse my employee,” Dom said pointedly. “He sometimes forgets that he can easily be replaced.”116
Craig laughed and reached for his coffee. “The day you do that, you can fire me.”117
“That’s kind of the point,” Dom said, humor seeping into his voice. He glanced up at Angie as she stood close enough for him to smell her delicious aroma; just a hint of lilac, mixed with coffee. “Ignore him.”118
“You do look kind of bad,” Angie said quietly. “What happened?”119
“Got drunk, fell down a big assed flight of stairs,” Dom said easily. “Hurts like hell, but I think I may be able to play the violin again.” 120
Shaking her head in mock annoyance, Angie turned and walked away. She was halfway to the coffee maker before glancing over her shoulder, and turned a slight shade of red when she noticed Dom staring at her with an intensity that was slightly disturbing. He blinked, and turned away. 121
“So, that’s Angie,” Craig said in a low voice. “She’s cute. No wonder you like her.”122
“Shut the hell up, Craig,” Dom warned in the same low tones.123
“You like her,” Craig continued. “You want to kiss her, you want to take her back- ow!”124
Dom pulled his foot back from kicking the other man in the shin. “Mind your tongue, Squire,” he said dangerously. "Or risk losing it." He glanced out the window. “And vacate your seat. Mr. Parthenopaeus has arrived.”125
Without question or looking behind him, Craig got up, grabbed his coffee cup and switched to another table. Dom pointedly ignored the door as it opened to admit the original Dark-Hunter.126
~~~~~~~~~~127
Although she looked at ease, Aiden was acutely aware of their surroundings. Tria seemed a little too tense as she walked through the street towards the store, and Aiden took that opportunity to try to calm the woman down.128
“Relax,” she said in a casual voice. “There is nothing out here that could harm you.”129
“According to you.”130
”Whatever,” Aiden sighed. “Okay, Wendy…last name?”131
“Peters is my maiden name.”132
Aiden nodded. “Nice and generic. Good.”133
”I’m glad you approve.” Tria glanced in a store window, pausing in amazement that she could see her reflection without having to mentally project it. That was one of the many things that would take some time getting used to. Being able to walk in the sun was still a novelty that she had placed all other things on hold. 134
“Do you still have your Hunter powers?” Aiden asked.135
“No idea,” came the reply. She looked at the eagle. “Do you think Ash will actually give it all up?”136
Aiden stopped walking. “If I had to place a bet on it, then I would say no way in hell would he ever turn his back on the Hunters just because it meant happiness for him.”137
“Oh.” Sadness crossed her features.138
“But,” Aiden continued, “since he’s proven me wrong too many times in the past century, I would have to honestly say…I don’t really know.” She smiled slightly. “Stranger things have happened.” 139
Tria frowned. “Is vague talk some thing that’s a prerequisite for you people?”140
“You want non-vague?” Aiden asked. “Fine. Ash is one of the best, and only, friends that I have, and if I heard the slightest whisper of something that would bring him happiness, then I would do everything in my power to make sure it came to pass.”141
“I…see.” Tria looked to the side to avoid the searching gaze. Once again, she experienced that little pang of jealousy that she felt with Ash was near Aiden. “How well do you know Ash?”142
“No one knows Ash,” Aiden said. “I doubt even Ash knows Ash.”143
“What’s his deal with Artemis?”144
Keeping the suspicion from her face, Aiden looked the newest immortal over. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to.”145
“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know.” 146
Giving an amused expression, Aiden started walking again, prompting Tria to hurry to catch up. 147
~~~~~~~~~~~~~148
Slipping in to the seat recently vacated by the squire, Ash calmly regarded the man across from him. “How’s the chest?” 149
Dom’s eyes finally flicked to him. “Hurts.”150
“Onerio helping?” 151
“They helped,” Dom said. “I just didn’t want to sleep any longer.”152
Ash nodded, then grew silent as Angie approached with a coffee cup for him, then moved behind Dom to place minimal settings on the tables near the window. 153
“You’ll be back to normal in no time,” Ash replied. All Dark-Hunters reacted to injury and healing differently, with some sleeping for days while the Dream-Hunters worked their magick in healing and removing bad memories. Others healed slowly, while even more healed half-way in sleep, relying on pure energy and time to heal the rest of the way. Dom landed in the last category.154
“Council found the woman,” Ash supplied. “She’s been… dealt with.”155
“Sounds good,” Dom said. “Anything else?”156
Deciding on no time like the present, Ash pulled out his trump card. “Your wife and children have been dead for quite some time,” Ash said in an even voice. “You’ve got to move on, Dom.“157
A scattering of dishes from the table behind made Dom close his eyes in anger. Standing, he glared down at Ash, then walked past Angie as she stared at him, a sympathetic look in her eyes. 158
Dom exited the café, got into his car and drove away. Craig looked up from his coffee, over at Ash, then exhaled. He was about to switch to Ash’s table to ask about what had happened, but Ash’s cell phone ringing made him stay where he was.159
Ash pulled the cell phone out of the black backpack at his feet and glanced at the number before opening it. “Yeah?”160
“I would just like to say one thing,” Dom’s voice said. 161
“Save it,” Ash said, already hearing the tirade in the other man’s head. 162
“Usually, I would defer to your request,” Dom said. “But right now, I’m too fucking pissed off at you and your fucking games to even give a fuck. Fuck! Damn it, Ash.”163
“Don’t swear at me,” Ash warned. 164
“Fuck. You.” Dom said. “I’m going to be at the café in about twenty seconds. Have yourself outside or I swear I’ll fucking drag you out and throw you in the car.”165
Ash’s eyes flashed red behind the dark lenses of his sunglasses. The Hunter was getting dangerously close to getting his ass seriously kicked into shade-ville with the attitude. “If you think-“166
“Ash, please,” Dom cut him off, his voice barely audible above the sound of the car’s engine. He sighed. “Just… please.”167
Closing the phone and returning it to the backpack, Ash stood from the table, tossed a twenty on the counter as he walked by and went outside. He could feel Angie’s eyes on his back the entire time, and could read her thoughts and how they had subtly changed regarding Dom. Her desire to tame his bad-boy persona had morphed into a concerned ache for him. 168
He watched as Dom’s car sped down the street, pulling into the parking lot with a screech, and waiting long enough for Ash to climb in before speeding away again. 169
Both men were silent as Dom drove, a small tick working in his jaw as he fought to keep quiet. 170
Ash finally broke the silence. “If you ever threaten me again,” he said in a deceptively calm voice, “you'll be sorry.”171
“Way to boost my opinion of you,” Dom replied sarcastically. “You knew Angie was behind me.”172
“Yes.”173
”Then why…” he trailed off angrily. “The past is another life. Why bring it up?”174
“If it’s another life,” Ash said, “then why haven’t you let go of it?”175
“I can’t.”176
“Why?” Ash asked, the question barely out before Dom slammed his foot on the brakes, sending the car into a spin that placed it too close to a telephone pole for comfort, and facing the wrong direction.177
Dom calmly took the seatbelt off, opened his door and got out of the car. Ash looked at the telephone pole inches from his window, and raised an eyebrow, before flashing himself out of the car. Standing on the sidewalk, he looked around, making sure that the street was deserted for the display he knew was coming. 178
Dom’s eyes glanced to the side as he leaned against the back of the car, resisting the urge to lash out at Ash as he approached. After the last few days, his temper was like an elastic band that was wound far too tightly; he would either unravel, spinning horrible out of control, or snap, hitting some random target. 179
“Dominic,” Ash said, stopping as Dom glared at him.180
Dom pushed himself off the back of the car with a grunt and went back to the driver’s door. Staring at the reflective surface, he shook his head, then brought a hand up, punching it into the glass.181
His hand went through, shattering the glass into small safety shards that pebbled on the driver’s seat and beyond. More than a few flew back to bounce harmlessly against his chest before falling to the ground. 182
Pulling back, Dom ignored the cuts that ran along his hand and up his arm, using the pain to fuel anger that had been buried for far too long. Breathing raggedly, he took a step back. 183
“You had no right,” he growled at Ash, his voice low and menacing. “None at all to say what you did in the café.”184
“And yet I said it.”185
Wanting to pound the life out of something, Dom pulled his glare from Ash, and looked for anything to direct his anger at. Not finding a suitable object, he took a step back from the car and inhaled deeply. “Why are you doing this?”186
“Doing what?”187
“Deliberately pissing me off,” Dom growled. “If you want me gone, then just do it. Don’t put me through this.”188
Staying where he was, Ash leaned against the roof of the car. “I’m not planning on killing you,” he said. “Yet. And you need to go through this so you can see your future.” He stood. “You’re avoiding happiness.”189
“I’m happy,” Dom snarled.190
“You look it,” Ash replied sarcastically. 191
Suddenly running out of anger Dom blinked a few times before leaning on the top of the car. “I don’t need this,” he said. “I was satisfied in my existence, then you had to come along and fuck it up. I really didn’t need to know that someone needed me,” he said, glaring at Ash. 192
“Why not?” Ash asked pointedly.193
Dom ignored him by looking away. Both were silent for a few moments. “The first time I saw Cathleen-” Dom stopped talking and closed his eyes briefly. That had been the first time his wife’s name had been uttered by him since her death. “I asked her to marry me. We were both fourteen, and I knew that I found the one. We were married the next year, and…” He stopped with a sigh. “She was so damn perfect, Ash. Golden hair that had red highlights in the summer, and a smile that could take the pain out of anything.” 194
Ash stared as he talked, knowing that Dom didn’t need or require any input from him. It had taken over a thousand years for Dom to talk, and Ash knew the importance of the moment. 195
“I don’t think we ever argued,” Dom continued, staring at the ground. “Or, if we did, the anger never lasted. It was perfect. Then…well… I guess all perfect things have to come to an end.” His gaze shifted to Ash. “I can’t move past that. Nothing will ever meet the love I felt for Cathleen, and I can’t bring someone else into my life unless I can give my all to her.” 196
“You wouldn’t be disrespecting her by moving on,” Ash said, knowing that it was time to talk. 197
“I can’t.”198
“Why?”199
Dom glared at him, then sighed. “If I do, then I’m accepting their deaths. I can’t. Accepting it would be like telling myself that it’s all right that they died. I need the anger to do what I do. Take that from me, and I might as well step out in the sun and let Apollo have a go at me.”200
“Accepting and acknowledging aren’t the same thing.” 201
“Gee, I hadn’t noticed.” 202
Ignoring the sarcasm, Ash leaned against the side of the car. “Can you honestly tell me that the only reason you’ve been a Hunter for the past thousand years is because you can’t accept something that happened over a thousand years ago?”203
“That’s not it, and you know it.”204
“Then why?”205
“I agreed to Artemis’ deal because I wanted to destroy those that took my future away.” Dom closed his eyes briefly. “One minute, I was holding my grandson in my hands, and the next, I’m watching the building with my family in it burn to the ground.”206
“You avenged their deaths.”207
“Yes.”208
“And you’re still avenging?”209
“No.” Dom shook his head slightly. “I can’t go through it again,” he said, finally voicing a millennium old concern. “If I find love, and she pulls me from being a Hunter, then one day I’ll have to watch her die. If I die first, then she has to continue without me. I know that feeling, and I can’t do that to anyone… and I refuse to live through it again.”210
In a list
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Comments
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Savitar's up to something.... surprise, surprise.
..."looking like something the cat hacked up then hid under the couch" very descriptive, and ick.
“It just isn't fun unless it’s a real person.” Snicker, snort.
Ash! Stop being an ass!
OKay. I have fifteen minutes left to read, so... no more commenting!
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Sad
I feel so bad for Dom now. Thats some bad stuff. Ash is being rather more insensitive than he's ever been, even if Dom might need him to be. I'm surprised Dom didn't attack Ash though. Keep up the good work.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Dom knows that Ash could kill him... but, he likes to push as far as he can just to see he reaction... that whole Alpha Male thing.
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