Promise Kept (Chapter Two)

Chapter Two1

“Sebastian! Down boy!” Rachel shut the door behind her and turned to disable the security alarm. After giving her golden retriever a brief hug and submitting herself to a series of dog kisses, she headed toward the kitchen. It had been a long day, and she was starving. Clapping her hands sharply, she rubbed her eyes as she took in the flood of light. Her flat in the most sought after skyline in the city was meticulously clean and simple with sparse furniture and dark carpet. The walls were coated in green and white paint, there was large clear window with a view of the full moon and the city's skyscraper, and a large piano was stationed next to a pot of Chamaedorea Palm. 2

After a quick dinner of soup and salad, she tiredly sprawled over her couch. A binder and a textbook laid in front of her. In the kitchen, Sebastian noisily ate his dinner with remarkable eagerness. Usually on a Friday night she would be finishing up on an assignment or spending time with Arlene, but because of the full moon, she was too exhausted to take up Arlene's offer on CrimsonX. Staring blankly at the binder in front of her, she decided to take a shower first. 3

The wonders of technology, thought Rachel with a grin. Nothing was better than a bath massage after a long day. Rubbing her hair dry, she walked back in the living room. Suddenly she felt a chill run through her and she paused. 4

“Sebastian?” No sound greeted her call. Rachel attempted to focus in on her energy. Unfortunately, it was just prior to midnight, which meant that even her emergency reserve was depleted. Only one person could walk in on her territory unannounced, and Rachel mentally berated herself for forgetting.5

“Rachel.” 6

Gasping in surprise, she spun around but a pair of arms quickly pressed her tightly to a hard chest. Rachel swallowed hard and ceased her wild movements. 7

“Victor, punctual as always I see.” She forced a laugh, but did not receive one in return.8

“Promise me you won't run?”9

“You have my dog as hostage, how can I leave him?” Rachel said dryly.10

Giving a laugh, Victor released her. Rubbing her arms, Rachel turned to look at the intruder. Victor's smile danced casually on his lips as he looked at her choice of pajamas, long sleeved sleepwear with puppy imprints. She took in his newly pierced ear and high ponytail without comment although she could not prevent an eyebrow from raising at the sight of his leather jacket. 11

“Now where's my dog?” 12

Snapping his fingers, Victor lifted the glamour and Rachel gave a sigh of relief at the sight of her unharmed although slightly bewildered retriever. 13

“Did you hear the inauguration speech?” Victor helped himself to a bottle of burgundy. Watching Rachel in between his sips, he was careful to keep control of his powers. Fingering the piano keys, he played the first few notes to Chopin's Nocturne Op.9. 14

Rachel looked at Victor in surprise, “You remembered.”15

Pulling away from the keyboard, Victor scoffed, “Of course. Your favorite. Although I have always preferred Beethoven to Chopin. Well? What'd you think about President Mervin's speech?”16

Rachel knew she needed to tread carefully. She eyed Victor thoughtfully as she chose her words, “It was a bit optimistic for my taste. Although the man does have a valid point.”17

“Really?” Victor's eyes darkened as he peered out the window. His index finger swirled absentmindedly in the air as he traced Luna's outline. Placing his palm against the glass, he asked quietly, “Do you think I will win the Council's approval?” 18

“I think it would be better if you left politics to the Elders,” Rachel knew she spoke out of line as Victor whirled his head toward her. She tried not to flinch as he said harshly, “Who do you think I'm doing this for?”19

“I never asked for you to step in. Do you think your stupidity will bring them back from the dead? Damn it Victor, accept it! The Council will never take you seriously. Why can't you be satisfied? Am I nothing to you? Don't make me wait for you, and don't think I will forgive you if you die on me!” Angrily, Rachel blinked her eyes rapidly in fear of tears falling. Her hands became unclenched by her sides. There was a moment of peace between them, but it was interrupted as Sebastian gave a low whine at the sight of his owner's distress. 20

“You were always the sensible one.” Victor looked sorrowfully at Rachel for a second before he remembered the reason for his visit, “Now, the contract?” He held out a hand expectantly. 21

Glaring at him, Rachel said, “You should know me better than that.”22

“Rachel, don't make this harder for me.” Rachel could barely pick up the tone of desperation in his voice, but it was there. 23

“I need your consent! You know as well as I do that with enough contracts I can submit a petition. We can get back what's ours. Our land, our fame, our name! I'm so close, Rachel! A few more contracts and it will be enough--”24

“Enough?!” Rachel took a step back, shaking her head, “It will never be enough for you.”25

“I can take it by force.” Victor smiled, and it was a cruel smile that made Rachel regret her temper. Taking a deep breath, she gave Victor a sad smile, “You won't.”26

Victor snarled, and his eyes blazed crimson. His hands glowed red as a small flame burst out. Sebastian began growling and barking, afraid of the creature in the room. Victor said warningly, “Give me your blood.”27

“No.” Rachel wondered how much further she could push him. Frantically, she tried to gather her power, but all she could generate was a small spark. She shrieked as a burst of fire exploded on her left, promptly setting her Chinese Evergreen ablaze. Tears trickled down her face as she stared with wide eyes at Victor. Sebastian growled menacingly and rushed in, sinking his teeth into Victor's jeans. Annoyed at the sight of his own blood, Victor said, “Call your dog off if you don't want him barbecued.” 28

“Sebastian! Come here!” Burying her face into her dog's fur, she patted his head gently. Sebastian licked her and gave a soft whine. 29

“Rachel, don't do this.” The fire extinguished from his hands, and Victor gestured helplessly, “You're my sister. If I don't have your support, who will I turn to? I'm doing this for--”30

“For me?” Rachel whispered. She stood up to face Victor, eying him accusingly. “It was never for me. You're lost to me, brother.” She headed toward the kitchen, taking a small glass vial from the cabinet and a knife from the drawer. She placed three drops of her blood into the vial and handed it to Victor, who, to his credit, kept eye contact with her. 31

“Thank you Rachel.” He clasped a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her genuinely, “I wish it didn't have to be this way, but you'll see, sooner or later, you'll understand.” 32

Shrugging off his hand, Rachel turned away from him. “Leave.” 33

“I...”Struggling to mend the situation, Victor hesitated at the door. “Thank you.” Knowing there was nothing he could say, Victor closed the door. 34

The bird clock Victor had given her two years ago chirped loudly. It was midnight. Breathing in loudly, Rachel focused. Her power was coming back. Shooting a jet of water to douse her ruined plant, she surveyed the living room. Everything looked normal. Suddenly, Rachel could no longer contain her emotion, and a choking sob escaped from her throat. Cuddling her dog close to her, she realized that her brother was gone. The shy boy she knew when she was little no longer existed, and she was terrified for the man who would stop at nothing to avenge their parent's death. 35

*****36

Shannon Wesley tried not to stare as she shifted uncomfortably in her chair. The light was dim and the smell of smoke lingered despite the CleanAir detectors located around the bar. The sound of loud music and cries of excitement pounded in her eardrums. A loud cheer erupted from a group of college girls as they watch an earthbound dance around a long pole. Money exchanged hands and an occasional fist fight would break out. Fortunately, nothing too disruptive would take place due to a few Supernaturals acting as security. CrimsonX was like any bar, except there was a more dangerous atmosphere; one could almost taste sex and blood in the air.37

“Where's Mathew?” Arlene handed Shannon a Bloody Mary. Dressed in a turquoise cocktail dress, Arlene had managed to tame her curly blonde hair by pulling it into a tight bun. A few stray locks had escaped from dancing, but with her flush cheeks and perfect mascara that outlined the deep blue of her eyes, she looked as Celtic as her surname suggested.38

“He's probably dancing with someone,” Shannon looked down at her vibrant red dress. Although she knew she looked stunning in her three inch heels, she felt nothing but awkwardness in this situation. Turning away from her friend's sympathetic gaze, Shannon resented herself. She wished she was stronger. Unlike Arlene who walked with confidence and could keep a man's gaze, Shannon was shy by nature. Her insecurity and fear of the unknown had prompted much teasing from her comrades, and although she had finally mastered the courage to enter CrimsonX, she had a strong urge to run away.39

“Would you like me to sit with you for a while?” Arlene looked longingly at the dance floor where SinFul, a band that had just received a five star rating for its first album, had begun to play.40

Smiling at Arlene, Shannon assured her friend that she was fine by herself. Promising that this would be the last dance, Arlene flashed Shannon a thankful smile before she rushed off to the dance floor. Immediately a group of men surrounded her, much to the envy of other girls.41

“Want company?”42

Shannon turned to face the speaker and could not prevent her jaw from dropping slightly. The man before her was devilishly handsome. He was dressed in a simple white shirt that revealed a well-toned torso while contrasting nicely with the pair of black jeans that accompanied it. Carrying a glass of red wine is his left hand, he turned to face her. His movements gave Shannon a glance of a pair of wings tattooed on his left shoulder. His smile was friendly enough, and Shannon was quite enchanted with the man's beautiful hazelnut eyes that matched his hair color perfectly.43

“Are you left-handed?” Shannon blushed as the man blinked in surprise. “I mean, please sit. Company would be nice, it's a bit boring sitting here by myself. Not that I'm not entertained, but...oh dear, I'm blabbering...” Knowing her face was bright red, Shannon promptly shut up.44

Laughing out loud, the man grinned widely, revealing a set of pearly white teeth, “My name's Clark. Nice to meet you.”45

“Shannon.” After shaking his hand, Shannon turned back to her drink. With the introduction out of the way, she once again felt uncomfortable. Perhaps it was his gaze; it was intense, and it felt as if he was analyzing her. “Please stop staring.”46

For the second time that evening, Clark Anderson was taken by surprise. “I'm sorry, force of habit. You're human right?” He checked her aura and knew he was right in his assumption.47

“I am, and I take it that you're not?” Shannon gave a mental sigh, she shouldn't have gotten her hopes up.48

“An angel actually.”Clark corrected himself at the unbelieving look Shannon gave him, “Technically a Fallen.” At the puzzled look she gave him, he explained, “A Fallen is an angel that gave up flight. My wings are clipped.”49

“Was it painful?”50

“No.” Clark gestured for the bartender. “Another merlot please.” Sneaking a glance at the girl beside him, he was painfully reminded of his wife. She was the spitting image of his last Bonded. While Clark did not believe in reincarnation, he wondered if Fate was toying with him again. “So, I take it that this is your first time here?”51

“Yes, and how about you? You look..." Shannon frowned as she tried to come up with the right word, “You look too clean.”52

Chuckling, Clark said, “Yes, angels usually do not come to bars.” He grimaced, “It's too chaotic for our taste.”53

“So what brings you here then?”54

“I needed a drink.” Clark paused, thinking quickly he asked, “You wouldn't happen to know where VIT is, would you?”55

“You're not from the Big Apple, I take it?” Shannon did not answer his question. Although the angel had only been friendly, she was a bit cautious. Something about him set her off.56

“Seattle. My plane arrived a few hours ago.”57

“So, why--” She was interrupted by the sound of shattering glass. The next second she found herself pressed against the floor by Clark as an explosion rocked the room. She screamed as liquids from broken bottles splashed around her and she faintly heard the sound of sirens. Her breath took in the smell of pine as Clark's hand covered her mouth, and just before she passed out, she noticed the yellowish vapor of Fluorine gas.58

*****59

“Mr. Pearce, there is a problem.” 60

The middle aged man did not move from his position. Instead, his eyes continued to watch the flickering flames dancing before him. Tossing in another log, he calmly watched the fire devour it. An old grandfather clock announced midnight, and an owl hooted softly outside the small cabin room. Staring at the pentacle etched into the back of his tanned hand, the man asked in a Hispanic accent, “Who?”61

“There's a fire fairy gathering petition to reopen the investigation file for the incident seven years ago. I think his name is--”62

“Mr. Donnelly.” Kay Pearce smiled, and his black eyes twinkled as he accepted the news calmly. “Edward, how long have you been in my service?” Kay admired the stony silence that followed his question.“I believe your wife is pregnant?” Kay could almost taste the smell of uneasiness leaking from the young man behind him. “Sophia? Why, isn't that a nice name for a girl.” 63

“Please,” Edward Lee prostrated his body to the floor. His hands shook slightly despite his attempt to maintain his composure. Above all else, his master demanded control. He mentally wiped away any coherent ideas, but his fear betrayed him as he thought frantically, I'm sorry. Telepathic! Catherine! He knows, he knows! Demons! Should have stayed in hell! Catherine! I'm sorry, so sorry!64

The owl flew away as a loud scream disturbed the night's silence. In the quiet countryside of Mexico, a coyote dragged away the bloody body of a chicken. Peasants tired from a long day of weeding, silently gave a small prayer as they shivered in their bed. 65