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Stone jerked awake as a knock sounded on his bedroom door. He looked around the room, his dream still fresh in his mind, and a cold sweat glistening on his naturally tan skin.3
He looked as the knock sounded again, harder this time. “Yeah?” he asked loudly while trying to get his breathing under control. 4
The door opened, casting a column of artificial light, and a young man looked in. “You okay, Stone?”5
Stone stared at his squire in confusion. “Yeah, sure, Migs,” he said. “Shouldn’t I be?”6
Miguel Santos shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know… just wondering because you were doing some heavy duty screaming there for a while.”7
“Ah,” Stone said in understanding as he laid back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. “Anything else?” He glanced as Miguel shook his head. “Close the door then.”
Miguel backed up, closing the door. Stone continued to stare as the room went back to darkness. “Shit,” he whispered to himself. He hadn’t dreamed about his death in over sixty years, and had somehow foolishly thought he was over it. He closed his eyes, seeing things again, as the emotions returned full force. 8
He fleetingly wondered if Dark-Hunters had panic attacks as his breathing became shallow, and the pain in his chest felt like a knife being plunged into it and twisted. 9
He automatically curled into the fetal position to lessen the pain. “Stop it!” he hissed at himself as he forced his body to straighten out and then sit up on the side of the bed. “It’s over, it’s done, it’s just memories.” He repeated the words over and over until his breathing calmed enough for him to stand. 10
Exhaling lightly, he headed towards his bathroom, ignoring the stiffness in his side and right arm. He managed to splash cold water on his face, and then leaned on the sink as he looked at a mentally projected image of himself in the mirror. 11
~~~~~~~~~~~12
Ava smiled absently as her friends tried to include her in their conversation. “Sorry,” she said. “Talked to the kids this afternoon, and I’m missing them.”13
“They’ll be home before you know it,” May said. “So, uh, about this mystery man?”14
Ava shot a look at Kari, who held up her hands in innocence.15
“What?” she asked. “You didn’t say I couldn’t dish… and chick, laying some guy you flashed is dish-worthy.”16
“Haven’t seen him since two nights ago,” Ava said. “So, don’t get your dishing panties in a knot waiting for more juicy details.”17
“Ugh,” Michelle said in disgust. “He didn’t hump and dump you, did he?”18
Ava rolled her eyes, and turned away to watch people play pool just behind them. She wanted to see Stone again, but pride kept her from driving to his house and jumping his bones. That, and she didn’t want him to think she wanted him just for his amazing body.19
“Anyone want to shoot pool?” she asked.20
“Sure,” Kari said. “Why not. Teams?” The others agreed. “Me and Ava against May and Michelle.”21
Ava stood and waited while Kari went to the bar, got the pool balls and returned. They selected a table in a corner and quickly set up the game. Michelle broke, then they got down to the task of playing. Soon, jokes and friendly insults were flying across the pool table, making Ava forget about her problems.22
They were halfway through their second game when a group of men approached. Ava tensed, then relaxed slightly when she realized they were mostly brunettes, and most likely not the Daimons that she had originally thought were mythical.23
“I got another stick you can hold,” one of the guys said as he put his hand on Ava’s cue.24
Ava gave him an amused look, lowered the cue out of his grasp, and turned to the table to take her shot. The man flicked the stick as she was aiming, causing her to hit the ball and send it into a side pocket. 25
“Ooops,” he said slyly.26
“Take the shot again,” Kari said as she glared at the men. Two took the hint and wandered away, leaving one leaning against the wall to watch his buddy make an ass of himself.27
Ava walked to the other side of the table, ignoring both men.28
“Oh, come on, baby,” he said. “It was a joke.”29
“Much like your face.” She fished the ball out and placed it near the spot where it had been. She stared as he reached out and grabbed the ball.30
“You’re a bitch,” he said. “I was having some fun, and you had to get all PMS on me.”31
Ava leaned across the table and snatched the ball out of his hand. “Get the bouncer,” she whispered to Michelle as she kept an eye on the troublemaker. She had no idea what was wrong with her lately that was making her attract the weirdos.32
The man approached and stood in front of her. “I’ll buy you a drink, babe, and maybe that’ll get you off your high horse.”33
“Get the hell away from me,” Ava said clearly and loud enough for others to hear. “Or I’ll kick your smarmy little arse from here to the bar and back.” She placed the cue on the table and went to walk away, stopping as he grabbed her arm.34
~~~~~~~~~~~35
Stone walked through the heart of the city, his dark eyes scanning his surroundings as he hunted for Daimons. The soul killers liked to frequent the poorer areas of the city where the homeless would be sleeping outside, and easily preyed upon. He passed a construction area, glancing in at the new outreach center that was going up. He’d anonymously donated a large amount to the organization to get some people off the streets, and hoped that it would lessen the amount of people who went missing every month.36
Walking by a row of nightclubs, he slowed as he sensed a familiar presence in one, and looked as he quickly narrowed it down. His groin ached as her presence caressed him, beckoning like a siren as he place a hand on the door. 37
“Just checking out some bars,” he told himself as he entered, his eyesight immediately adjusting to the dimness. Looking around, he heard her before he saw her. She sounded angry, but in control. 38
He walked to the pool tables in time to see a man grab her by her arm. Stone grew angry, and took a step to the man, ready to kick his ass, stopping when Ava placed a hand on the man’s wrist, and pushed her thumb into a pressure point. 39
“Now,” Ava said politely as he yelped in pain. “I’m going to let go, and you’re going to walk away. You don’t walk away, and I’ll apply pressure someplace you won’t like.”40
The man moaned in pain, then nodded as he sunk slightly. He grabbed his hand away, and went to say something but caught sight of Stone standing by the wall, glaring at him. “Bitch,” he said instead.41
“That’s Miss Bitch,” Ava called as he stormed away. She turned back to the table, stopping when she saw Stone. 42
“Hi,” she breathed and gave him a dazzling smile. She hadn’t seen him in two days, and was worried that her note had brushed him off.43
He walked up to her, ignoring the gasps of her friends, and stopped close to her. Without saying a thing, he put an arm around her, pulling her close and kissed her wickedly.44
“Whoo!” Kari called. “You go girl!” 45
Michelle arrived with the bouncer, took one look at Ava in a lip-lock with someone, and shooed the bouncer away. “Isn’t that the guy from the club and alley the other night?”46
“Don’t think so,” Kari said. “That other guy was bigger.” She rolled her eyes and tapped Ava on the shoulder. “’Scuse me, but as interesting as this is to watch, you two better come up for air before you pass out.”47
Stone pulled back slightly, glanced at Kari, inhaled deeply, then went back to kissing Ava. Kari raised her hands in mock surrender.48
Ava couldn’t believe how good he felt against her, and how good it felt to be in his arms. Suddenly remembering both her friends and the bar, she reluctantly pulled back and gave him a small smile. She nearly melted as he leaned to whisper in her ear, his warm breath sending an erotic chill through her.49
“If you want to spend the day in bed,” he whispered, “I’ll pick you up here at closing. I know the owners and they’ll let you stay until I get here.” He kissed her cheek, then turned and walked away.50
Ava leaned back against the pool table and exhaled happily. Spend the day in his bed? Hell, yeah.51
She suddenly realized that people were coughing behind her, and she turned to find her friends covering their mouths and coughing to get her attention. “Yes?”52
“Wow,” May said. “And more importantly, does he have a single twin brother?”53
~~~~~~~~~54
Stone arrived at four, hoping to find Ava there, and pleased that she was. He frowned as he noticed her friends were standing around her, and approached slowly, thinking that maybe this was the brush off and they were her moral support.55
May bit her knuckle in desire as she looked him over, then cleared her throat to get his attention. “Be good to Ava,” she said, “or we kick you ass.”56
Stone arched an eyebrow at her as Ava covered her face in embarrassment. He inclined his head at May. “I’ll return her in the same condition,” he promised solemnly as he held his hand out for Ava. “Just completely worn out from sex, though.” He turned and led her away as her friends screamed in shock and delight. 57
~~~~~~~~~58
Artemis tapped her finger on her chin. “He’s different from the rest.”59
Ash merely stared as she sat at the foot of his bed, waiting for her to get to the point. When she didn’t continue, he shrugged, rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.60
“He seems… happy,” she finally said when Ash was nearly asleep. If he didn’t know better, he would swear she did that on purpose. “But this is more than a one night stand, you do know.”61
He hated when the Greek Goddess of the hunt popped uninvited into his bedroom for one of her chats, and Ash finally decided that he’d rather sleep than listen to her go on and on. “He’s fine, Artie. It’s fine. They’re fine. It’s until the end of the summer, then it will most likely be over.”62
“How do you know?”63
“She told him.”64
“What if she lied?”65
“Then we’ll know in September, won’t we?” He rolled back over to sleep. “Until then, you’re going to let them be.” 66
“Whatever you say, Acheron,” she said, then vanished.67
Ashes eyes popped open, suddenly worried that she had given up so easily. That alone was enough to scare him.68
~~~~~~~~~~~~~69
Ava opened her eyes as the bed beside her moved, then pulled back to look as it moved again. It took a few minutes for her eyes to adjust to the darkness before she could make out Stone as he tossed on the bed. His lips were moving like he was whispering, and his fingers flexed in pain. 70
Knowing better than to wake someone from a nightmare, Ava quietly crawled off the bed, grabbed his shirt from the floor and pulled it on. It fell to her thighs as she took a pillow from the bed and stood back. Holding her breath, she tossed the pillow at him, taking a step back as it hit him and bounced to the floor.71
An angry scream emerged from him as he bolted up, his eyes wide in pain and terror. He stared into the darkness for a moment before he sensed her presence, and quickly looked at her standing by his bed. Without a word from either, he forced himself to stand, and walked to the small bathroom, slamming the door behind him.72
Ava sat on the corner of the bed as the sound of water running filtered through the close door. Okay, so the guy had rather violent nightmares…she supposed had she been dead, she would have some rather wicked ones, too.73
She glanced up as the bathroom door opened and he stood with a hand on either side of the frame, staring at the floor for a few moments before his gaze slowly rose to her.74
Stone breathed slowly as he wrestled his phantom pain back under control. He grimaced as it threatened to break free again, and slowly lowered his hands and walked back to the bed. He sat on the corner, looked at Ava as she watched him, then lowered his body back to the cool sheets, and rolled so that his back faced her.75
Ava stared at his muscular back as it moved slowly with his breathing. “Stone?”76
He clenched his eyes shut, not wanting her to ask him about what had just happened. “Yeah?” he whispered.77
“Could you pass me the pillow?”78
Stone raised his head and saw a pillow on the floor, and wondered how it got there. He reached down, grabbed it, and passed it over his back to her. She thanked him, and he could feel her settle in behind him. Her arm came over his side as she spooned in behind him, and he clenched his eyes tighter at the feel of her against him. 79
They were silent for a few minutes before his curiosity got the better of him. “Aren’t you going to ask?”80
“No,” she whispered. “If you want to tell me, then you will.”81
Stone rolled over to face her, sliding his leg between hers so he could be even closer. Her short hairs tickled his thigh, and his body reacted immediately. He could see the smile form on her lips as she felt him press against her, and gasped as she lowered her hand to rub him slowly. 82
“I sometimes dream of the night I was killed,” he said, before realizing the words were out of his mouth. 83
“That would be a nightmare,” Ava agreed as she stroked him. 84
The pain in his chest vanished as she hoisted one thigh over his, and guided him into her. 85
~~~~~~~~~86
“I was fairly rich,” Stone said after as his lay on Ava’s chest with her running her fingers through his hair. “But my brother was richer, and somehow that appealed to my wife.” He paused for any response from her, and not getting any beyond a continued stroking of the hair, continued. “My brother also appealed to her. I sort of knew something was going on, but I chose to play the naive husband. On my thirty-fifth birthday, my wife threw me a surprise party, and made a big show of letting everyone know how much she loved me, and how happy she was.” 87
Ava continued to run her fingers through his hair as he paused, and noticed that he was shivering slightly. She pulled the blanket closer around them as he started again.88
“August 30, 1648,” he whispered with a sigh. “After the party, we went to bed, and…well…had a private party.” He coughed lightly, and his voice lowered. “Then she told me to close my eyes, and when I did, she drove a dagger straight into my chest.”89
Ava jerked at the words, shocked that someone could do anything like that. “My God,” she whispered.90
Stone’s voice hardened and turned clinical, like he was retelling someone else’s story. “Of course, I screamed in pain, and tried to push her off, but she pulled the knife out and continued to stab me. I finally got her off me, and somehow made it out of the bed… and someone stabbed me from behind.” He stopped at the feelings threatened to show, but refused to give in to them. “The last thing I remembered was my wife being held by my brother as they watched me die.”91
“On your birthday?” Ava whispered to the room as a few tears slid down her face.92
“Not something I recommend,” Stone said. “Seriously sucks.” He fell silent as he listened to her heart beating below his head.93
“You saved me on my birthday,” Ava said, suddenly remembering. “Thank you.” She kissed the top of his head. “Whatever happens in September, I’ll always remember what you did for me.”
Stone squeezed her in a hug, not wanting to think about after the summer. He was content, and maybe a little happy, and he didn’t want being with her to end. He mentally counted to the time when they would end, and cringed when he realized that it would land on the anniversary of his death. Figures he thought. Fuck you, fates. 94
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The main hall in Kalosis, or the Atlantean hell, was always dark…suited to the Daimons who lived there, and to Apollymi, the Atlantean Goddess known as the Destroyer, who was improsoned there. Strykerius, the Spathi Daimon leader, leaned back in his throne, waiting for some of the Daimons to return. He had an eerie feeling that he’d gone through something similar before, and recalled a few months earlier in Seattle when he sat waiting for his second in command to return, only to find out through the sfora that Trates had been killed by a human.
His current second in command, Davyn, sat on the other side of the wide table, waiting for orders. He glanced as Stryker pointed at a new sfora, and he got up to retrieve it. The older one had been shattered by Stryker after he viewed Trates’ death.
The Atlantean word for eye, the sfora was a way for those in Kalosis to keep tabs on anyone on Earth, or even there. Davyn handed it to Stryker, then retreated back to his spot at the table.
“What happned to Sylvan,” Stryker asked, peering into the mists of the sfora, searching for hint of one of the Daimon who was still to return. It showed a group of Daimons, including the three hundred year old Sylvan, being attacked and easily wiped out by a man in a long black jacket. Stryker’s hand tightened around the orb. “Show me what happened to the Daimons lost in the same area of Sylvan.” 95
In five instances over the past month, the same man in a black jacket could be seen, while three other times it was obviously someone else. He looked at his second in command Davyn. “Who is he.”
Davyn looked at the figure as he thought. “Seven Hunters in the Lower Mainland, three female, so that leaves four. One is of Asia descent, so that leaves three.” He paused to recall names that they had gotten from their Doulosi, the humans who helped Apollites or Daimons, from the Dark-Hunter web site. He wasn’t sure about the validity of names, but it was all he had to offer. “Zorin St. Martin, Stone Mikels or Eason Kantalaknia.”
Stryker stared at the image, narowing it down in his mind to who sounded like it fit the face. “Show me Stone Mikels,” he finally said 96
The orb clouded, then cleared to see the same man as he lay in bed, in the arms of a woman. This was not the pose of a passing one-night stand, but of something more. Stryker slowly smiled as they talked, a plan forming in his brain.
One of the things that Acheron held above others was the welfare of his Dark-Hunters. He had demanded, and gotten, monthly payments and Squires so that the Hunters could afford shelter, and anything they desired, including paying their Squires a large salary.
When a Dark-Hunter died, it hurt Acheron…and making Acheron suffer was one of Strykers main goal. That, and killing Acheron. Having a Dark-Hunter hurt before killing him appealed to the Daimon leader, and hurting someone who had single-handedly killed more than a few Daimons especially appealed to him. 97
“Find his Squire, and kill him,” he said absently. “Then go after this woman.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Miguel Santos grabbed the paper from the small slot in the outer fence, and walked to the house as he read the headlines. He quietly let himself in to the house, hoping that Stone wouldn’t realize that he hadn’t spent the day there getting caught up on work that had been neglected while he was in Hawaii. 98
He loved his job, and Stone was like an older brother to him, but there were times the twenty-two year old needed his own space. Besides, he’d met a woman from Burnaby while he was in Hawaii who was also there as a graduation present, and the two of them had spent most of their time together... he saw no reason to stop that practice once they returned.99
Miguel walked through the foyer, past the living room, and sat at the small island table in the kitchen. He placed the take out tray of Tim Hortons coffee on the table, then spread the paper out in front of him. Grabbing a coffee, he opened the top, and sighed as the caffeine worked it’s way through his body. “Oh, yeah,” he whispered. “That’s the stuff.” 100
“Miguel.”101
He looked up, forcing himself not to jump at Stone’s voice. The man could move like a ghost at times. “Stone.”102
Stone walked over, grabbed a coffee out of the tray, opened it and took a drink. “Next time you want to spend the day at some chickie’s place, bring protection,” he said easily, “And I don’t mean a condom. You left your gun here.”103
Miguel took a sip of his coffee to hide the fact that he’d been busted. He didn’t know why he had even tried to sneak in. He’d never been able to hide anything from a Dark-Hunter whose special gift was the ability to sense other people’s presences.104
He was about to reply when someone else entered the kitchen, and he stared in surprise. Stone never brought people home.105
“Oh!” Ava said as she noticed Stone was not alone. “I’m sorry.” She turned to walk away.106
“Ms. Delen?”107
Ava looked back at the young man, recognition finally dawning. “Miguel?”108
“What are you doing here?” they both asked at the same time.109
Stone looked from one to the other. “Miguel’s my assistant. You two know each other?”110
Miguel nodded. “Ms. Delen was one of my teachers.” He looked expectantly at Stone. “Anything you want to tell me, boss?”111
“Yeah, you’re fired.”112
Ava gasped as Miguel merely scratched his eyebrow with a middle finger. “You can’t fire me.”113
“Go get caught up on the work you left before your vacation, then, and we’ll call it even.”114
Miguel gave him a mock salute, but remained sitting at the small island. “Get right on that,” he said and turned the newspaper page. “Does she know about you?”115
“Yes,” Stone said. “And squire… get your ass moving.”116
One of Miguel’s pure pleasures in life was seeing how far he could push before Stone raised his voice. The man was one of the few in the Dark-Hunter realm to be rather easy-going and not likely to lose his temper without massive cause. Miguel took a sip of his coffee and continued to read the paper.117
“Miguel Santos,” Ava said in a warning, but kind voice. 118
Miguel slowly looked up, sighed, and stood. “Yes, ma’am.” He grabbed his coffee, walked out of the room and headed for his office.119
Stone watched as the door closed then looked at Ava. She smirked at him, then grabbed an apple from the bowl on the counter, biting into it as she walked away.120
Stone grabbed her hand and spun her back so she landed in his arms. She chewed the apple, swallowed, then put it on the counter all without breaking eye contact with him. He easily picked her up, placed her on the counter and kissed her as her legs wrapped around his middle.121
“I need to get something out of the kitchen,” Miguel’s voice suddenly said from around the corner. “And if I walk in on my favorite teacher making out with my really, really, really, old boss, then I’m going to need years of therapy to get over the sight.”122
Stone pulled back with an amused moan, and helped Ava off the counter. “Coast is clear, smart-ass.”123
Miguel heaved an exaggerated sigh of relief as he entered the kitchen, grabbed his backpack from the floor beside the chair he was sitting in, and then walked out of the kitchen. “By the way, you have two e-mails that just came in, Stone. Both red flagged.”124
Stone sighed and went to the computer in the corner, and logged into his ultra-secure e-mail. He read both, then reread the second one before logging off, turning and going to the office. He knocked on the door. 125
“Come on Junior,” he said through the wood. “We gotta go.”126
“Why?” the question cam through the door.127
“Mueva su asno hombre joven, antes de que yo le dé una patada,” Stone said in Spanish, then stepped back as the door opened. 128
“You just threatened to kick my donkey, you know,” Miguel muttered as he grabbed his jacket and followed Stone to the door. 129
Suddenly remembering Ava, Stone turned and walked to her. “I have to go. Please…stay in the house until I get back, or until dawn, all right?” He gave her a kiss and a small smile.130
“Can I ask…”131
“Be better if you didn’t,” Stone said apologetically. “Don’t open the door to anyone.” He kissed her again, then left with his squire.132
Ava ran her fingers through her hair as she looked around, trying to find something to take her attention off her sudden worry.133
~~~~~~~~~134
Stone parked the black 2007 Mustang Convertible in the parking lot behind the building and got out. Miguel stretched lightly, then followed through the back door and then a small hallway that lead to a large meeting room. He waved at a few squires who were already present, and walked over to talk with them as Stone continued up a flight of steps.135
Stone stopped at the top, opened the door without knocking and entered, taking a seat against the wall so he could see all those present. He always sat near the wall, hating for anyone to be able to get behind him. 136
Five other dark-Hunters were present, and a sixth arrived just as Acheron Parthenopaeus entered from another door, took one look at them, then started talking. “Won’t keep you long. I have reason to believe that Daimons will be coming to the city this weekend for some reason. Might be the Science Fiction convention that’s starting tomorrow evening. If it is, then they can walk around without worry, and people that go to those expect things to be a little weird, and for there to be vampires.”137
He paused. “I know I could have e-mailed or texted this, but…” he paused again as if changing his mind. “Never mind. Go, before you lose strength.”138
Stone could feel himself getting tired from being so close to the other Dark-Hunters. Being near one another sapped their strength, and he knew the others were feeling it too. Stone stood with the others, also slightly confused to Ash’s speech. The man was hiding something, and that always worried Stone. 139
Ash waited until Stone was near the door, then approached. “Stone, I want to talk to you.”140
Stone closed the door, feeling like a kid being called to the office for something he may or may not have done. “Yes?”141
Ash stared as multiple scenarios went through his mind. If he told Stone the truth, then it would change it, and alter things. If he didn’t tell him, then it would also alter things. He clenched his jaw in indecision. “Where’s Ava?”142
“My place,” Stone said slowly, wondering if he was being called to task for keeping the relationship going when rules stated that he only keep one-night stands.143
“Keep her there,” Ash said.144
“Why?” he asked, trying not to sound panicked.145
“Just trust me.” Ash walked to the side door and out of the room.146
Stone ran his hands over his face, then went down the steps, motioning for his squire to follow and walked out of the building and to his car. 147
~~~~~~~148
Ash watched from a window as everyone left, his arms folded over his chest, and his torso leaning against the window frame. 149
“Why didn’t you tell them?”150
Ash quickly filtered out all other voices in his mind and focused on the one who had just spoken. “I don’t know.”151
“Sure you do.”152
“All right,” Ash agreed, too tired to argue. “I do know why.” He sighed as he stood and turned away from the window. “It won’t help for them to know.”153
A shimmer appeared in the corner, quickly becoming human in appearance. “It wouldn’t hurt for them to know, either,” the handsome man said.154
Ash smiled briefly at the other person’s attire. “I didn’t drag you from a righteous wave, did I?”155
Savitar lifted one wet foot from the floor, dripping as he placed it on the side of a chair. “Waves are kinda small right now,” he said with a dismissive wave of a heavily tattooed arm. “Acheron…this isn’t suppose to happen. You know it, I know it. Your Hunters have to know it so they can prevent it.”156
“Preventing might cause more problems than it solves.”157
Savitar sighed. “Hell… accept your birthright, and you can control it anyway.”158
Ash shook his head. “I’m not going to have this discussion with you right now,” he said easily. “Tell me who’s going to kill him, and I’ll stop it.”159
“You can’t,” Savitar reminded him. “Cosmic timelines are a bitch, and very picky. If you stop it, then it alters all sorts of shit, and well, I don’t have to remind you how that can turn out.”160
“Okay, okay,” Ash said as the events surrounding his mistake with Nick Gautier ran through his mind for the hundredth time that day. “Fine. I’ll tell him.” He sat on the corner of the desk. 161
“You can’t tell him.”162
“Pardon?” Ash looked confused at the contradictions Savitar was weaving. He hated being confused. “No...wait…I got it.. I can’t tell him… but I know someone who can…”163
“Ava.”164
“Is there anything you don’t know about?”165
“Now, that, I don’t know.”166
Ash nodded at Savitar’s vagueness. He never doubted that the god knew about Ava, and the fact that he agreed that she should be the one to tell Stone meant that the outcome could be changed.167
“You need a vacation,” Savitar said in a guarded voice. “Why don’t you chuck all this and come hit the waves with me.”168
“Me…on a surf board,” Ash mused. “Someone alert CNN.” He shook his head. “Tempting, but no thanks.”169
Savitar shrugged. “Got a wave with your name on it if you change your mind.” He ran a hand through still wet hair and vanished.170
Ash stared at the wet spot on the floor for a while as events went through his brain. No matter what futures he looked at, the outcome remained the same, and in some instances, became worse. 171
~~~~~~~~~172
Ava screamed as a man appeared in front of her, and swung without thinking. The man easily moved out of the way, and caught her hand as she hit again. 173
“Ava.”174
Ava stopped, realizing that the intruder was extremely tall and had long black hair with a red front strand. 175
“Christ on a crutch, kid,” she said. “You scared the snot out of me.”176
Ash stared at the statement, then shook his head slightly. “I need you to do something.” He let go of her hand and walked into Stone’s living room, making himself at home on the leather couch.177
Ava stared at him. “As long as it isn’t illegal… and if it is, as long as I don’t get caught doing it.”178
“I need you to keep an eye on Miguel Santos.”179
Ava opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and ran a hand over her face. “Why?” she finally said. 180
“Because he’s going to die this weekend, and he’s not suppose to.”
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yet another enthralling section from my new favorite series! this chapter had a very few very minor type-os that could probaly be a quick fix with spell check, i think?
anywhos.. i like that ava has a responsability now. her role though already strong is growing and now i do believe we will see her true potential. looking forward to her actions to come!
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