14 comments/ 57229 views/ 49 favorites Hunter Hunted By: Daniellekitten Before all of you go nuts and scream at me. This story will be used to replace the ASP story I was writing. Someone I truly respect as advised me to take that one down and revamp it, using only one couple at a time. So this is the story of Mirage and Hunter. I hope you enjoy it! * * * * Mirage Chapter One The screaming was loud and—she had to admit—annoying as hell. She reached down, pulling her weapon from the holster and cocking it, smiling when the ready light shone green. She ignored the sudden static buzz from her communicator and headed into the deserted factory. It was as they'd been warned, a factory full of vampires and their victims. Blood and bodies were everywhere. Usually this wouldn't bother her in the least and she would go in and take out all of them, but this time, some of those bodies were the targets and she had to check each one out carefully. She took careful aim and squeezed the trigger, watching the green ray slam against the blacked out windows. It made them glow for a quick instant and then the glass exploded outward, allowing the beautiful golden rays of the sun to shine inside. There was screaming and then a swift poof as one of the Vampires caught on fire. She watched as the panicked running began and the Vampires searched frantically for somewhere that the sun couldn't touch them. She had her weapon cocked on her shoulder and she fired with a subtle thoroughness that began to clean out the survivors. There was a loud scream from right behind her and she turned, leading with her weapon. The girl was hideous, her skin falling off her body, huge pustules growing and then bursting and the sun shimmered on her skin. She reached for Mirage who just smiled, letting the horrid beast touch her skin. The buzz of the madness sounded loudly in her ears despite the horror going on around her. She tried to ignore it as the monster next to her dropped her arm as if it were on fire. She began to jabber, her words making no sense, and her fingers dug into what little skin was left, tearing at it. She turned to run and stepped right into one of the rays of sunshine, standing there as the power of the sun finally finished her off. Mirage shook her head. "Stupid blood sucker. No one can touch me and stay sane." She snapped a few last shots then turned when the door of the factory burst open. Seeing the rest of her team standing there, she shrugged her slender shoulders, shaking her head. "Just like you, Hunter. Always too late for the party." "Mira, honey, you can be the biggest bitch sometimes. You ever thought that maybe you need to get laid?" Hunter, the tallest of the group, stepped inside, lifting his own weapon to blast at another of the vampires who was trying to sneak out. "Damn, girl do you think just for once, you could clean up your own mess?" "And wreck your chance at proving you're the King of the hunters?" She smirked over at him, her green eyes sparkling even as she pushed her hand through her short white blonde hair. She didn't wear the normal dark gray leather ASP uniform. Instead, she wore tight white leather pants that flared at the ankles. They were hip huggers, a thick white belt molding the band at her middle, leaving a good four inches of bare, tan skin at her waist. Her top was a tight white leather vest that zipped in the front. It molded across her breasts, the zipper left down far enough to show off the beautiful curves of her upper breasts. It was far from ASP regulation wear but Mirage did what she wanted most of the time. She listened to her team leader, Dianna and worked with her other team members, Hunter and Beast, but she had a reputation of not playing well with others or with sharing her toys. Shadow, the Director of ASP here in the east, dealt with Mirage because she had a reputation of getting the job done and not bitching about the shit jobs. Since Dianna managed to reel her in and keep her from becoming too outrageous, she was dealt with. Mirage had an entire file of complaints that had been filed about her and against her. She'd been busted from team leader more than once and had to go up in front of the council more than any other member of ASP. But in the end, she'd always been reinstated because she got the job done and she didn't bitch...well, too much. A tug on her hair had her head coming up to glare at Hunter. He got closer than any being had a right to, than any being should with the curse that the gods had left on her. An enduring sadness shone in her beautiful eyes for just a second before she shrugged it off. "What the fuck, Hunter? Are you trying to spend the rest of your life walking into walls?" He tugged on her hair again, just to watch her wheel around and glare at him. With a wide grin, he followed Dianna further into the building, sending back a wink in her direction. She scowled at him, her fingers twitching on the barrel of her weapon. Beast, who stood almost as tall as Hunter, growled in her direction, cocking his furry head to indicate she should follow them and then headed that way himself. He fired his weapon at another Vampire, a strange, high-pitched yowling noise coming from his mouth when the Vampire turned to ash. "Quit bragging, Beast." Dianna called back the words as she opened another door that led deeper into the factory. "Mirage! Get in here!" Mirage glanced around the room, shooting one last Vampire before heading into the interior. She could hear the sound of the blasters from just outside the door and she smiled, hurrying now that there was more "clean-up" to be done. Dianna and Beast were back to back, Hunter was off to the side. The vampires were beginning to pile up, until one would burst into flame, taking the others with it. Mirage sighted, pulling the trigger and taking out her own targets until finally the factory was cleared, the Vampires little more than soot in the breeze and the humans that were left had been taken out by clean up. Mirage stood, her hand on the butt of her blaster where it rested against her side. She glared at Hunter as he walked up to her side. "You're damn lucky, Mira love. Dianna's finally calmed down Shadow so it looks like he's not going to suspend you one more time. He doesn't take it so well when you walk into a Factory full of Vampire with no back-up." "You three got here quick enough. I was in no danger." She smirked. "As if I'd be in any danger anyway. They can't touch me, Hunter, you know that." "A blaster doesn't have to touch you, Mira. One of these days, you're going to find someone who will be able to touch you and I plan on paying them to kick your ass for me." Hunter reached out and twirled a lock of her silky white-blonde hair around his finger. "Then I might watch as he fucks you silly. I think you need someone to fuck you silly, Mira. You're just too damn cocky and sure of yourself." "I haven't been fucked in over three thousand years, Hunter. Trust me, no man can touch me. Just getting close enough to fuck me would have them turning into drooling fools." She snarled the words before closing her gorgeous green eyes and hiding the pain that filled them. Hunter didn't know of the curse or of the reason it was put on her. He didn't know about the ancient gods and the horrid things that they would do when they thought they were being slighted or made fun of. He wouldn't know that they'd forced her to watch as her beloved husband was killed, torturously slow until he screamed out his hatred of those gods. He wasn't forced to watch as her daughter, her one and only baby who'd only reached six years of age was killed, screaming in agony. Her shrill cries for her 'Mama' still rang harshly in Mirage's dreams. "Then it sure as hell is time." Hunter stepped even closer and she felt the heat of his breath against her skin. She growled and took a step back, her hand going to the butt of her blaster. Hunter grinned, raising his hands in defeat. "I give, okay? Don't shoot me." The anger in her eyes would have killed him dead and she turned without saying a word, heading for the door and her ride back to ASP headquarters. Hunter grinned as Dianna walked up to him, then flinched as she smacked him across the back of his head. "Hey, what the hell was that for?" "For being such a dick," Dianna said easily. "You know better than pushing her like that. You're lucky she managed to hang on to her temper." "She needs to get shaken up a bit. She takes way too many chances. I mean, we're all on the same team, aren't we?" He ducked again when he saw her eyes but instead of smacking him, she reached out and tugged on his dark hair. "Have you ever wondered why she takes those chances Hunter? Or why it irritates you so badly that she does?" Dianna glanced up as Beast came over to lean against the wall next to Hunter. He opened his mouth, letting out a loud yowl, as if he were agreeing with whatever Dianna was going to say next. "And what the hell would you know about it, you hairy bastard," Hunter growled at Beast. Beast glanced at Dianna and then back at Hunter, shrugging his furry gray shoulders. He leaned his arm against the shorter Dianna and looked down at her. "He knows more than you might think, Hunter. We both do. I know first of all, that you bad mouth her because you're afraid she's going to get hurt. You get on her case like you do because you're afraid what it would do to you if anything happened to her." Dianna grinned up and into Hunter's stunned features. "Don't even try to deny it, boy." "I won't deny it, Dianna. I'll just say one thing. You and the furry boy here need to quit putting meaning into things that have no meaning." He nodded once and then headed toward the door and the SUV that was waiting for them outside. Dianna chuckled as she watched him walk out, hearing the growling gibberish that Beast emitted. "Yeah but he'll learn." She put her arm around Beast's wide shoulders. "Our little boy's growing up." Beast's harsh, grumbling laughter echoed through the room and they walked out of the Factory. Dianna laughed even harder as she saw Mirage settled into the back seat of the car and Hunter with his arms crossed over his chest, leaning against the back end of the SUV. As soon as he saw them, he went to the front seat and climbed in behind the steering wheel. "Are you two done? Or did you have some other kind of nonsense you felt like spouting?" Beast snorted but Dianna just glanced at Hunter, climbing into the passenger seat beside him. "It's not nonsense. But I'll wait for you to come to that conclusion on your own." She sat back, relaxing as the truck moved under Beast's weight and then jerked as Hunter stepped on the accelerator a bit too hard. "Acting like an ass isn't going to change my opinion." "What opinion?" Mira asked, grabbing hold of the 'oh shit' strap on her side of the SUV. Beast might look soft but bumping into him would do the same thing to him that touching her hand down to the hoary Vampire earlier that evening. She happened to like Beast, though he never knew when to shut his damn mouth, and she didn't want to see him hurt. Before Dianna could spin any stories for Mirage, Hunter spoke up. "They think I'm in love with you." Mirage met his eyes in the rearview mirror then threw her head back and burst out laughing. "I hope you explained to them that we work together and have done so for the past five years. While I do love you, Hunter, we both know that being in love with you would be a damn waste of time. For two major reasons. One, we can't even touch each other. Two, you're too damn in love with yourself." Beast snorted and Hunter glared at him before turning those heated eyes back at Mira. "I think you've got that wrong," he said with a glare. "You're the one that does everything but strip down and wave your arms in front of me to get my attention. I'm just a bit more into self-preservation then that." "So now you're what...?" She met his eyes then shook her head sadly. "You're actually implying that I'm in love with you now?" She laughed, sinking back into the seat and wrapping the seatbelt more tightly around her waist as he swerved the big SUV. "You wanted to watch the driving there, speed. I don't think Beast would like to be a drooling idiot for the rest of his furry life." "Not much different than he is now," Hunter grunted. "And before you somehow come up with the opinion that I want to have crazy babies with you, don't worry. You're cute but you have a big fucking mouth, Mira. I like my women with a little bit of tact." "Oh, so you don't want them laughing at you when they get to see the size of your...package?" She whispered the last word but everyone in the cab had no problems in hearing her voice. "Don't worry, Hunter, Dianna already threatened the last time to cut off the next person's head that called you Hunter Little Dick." Mirage grinned when she saw the telltale ruddy hue of Hunter's chiseled cheeks. She had heard stories of the size of his...but not a single one of them was about how little he was. Hunter was rumored not only to be well endowed but also in knowing how to use what he had to please a woman. But she had him on the run now and she wasn't about to let him go without the kill shot. "Of course, we both heard what happened with that last...thing...that you dated. What the hell was she anyways, Hunter? I don't think I could have fucked that, little dick or not. Anyway," she said with a heavy sigh, sitting forward in her seat. "You really need to teach those dogs the little trick of keeping their fucking yaps shut. She was spouting all over the locker rooms about you and how you failed in the relationship." She had spouted, Mirage remembered because Mira had threatened to tear her throat out if she didn't shut the fuck up about Hunter. She'd cried and she'd whined that Hunter was a player, that he fucked her until she could barely stand up and then left her without a backward glance. Even now, some of the things the girl had said still sent tingles through her pussy. It had been one of the first times she'd ever really missed that intimate act between two people. And it hadn't been the first time that dreams of Hunter had woken her in the middle of the night. But she'd never tell him or let anyone else know about that little weakness. She'd learned the hard way that feelings and emotions were wastes, that caring meant the opportunity for pain. It was easier not to learn to care or to love, because it kept the hurt factor out of a relationship, even a working one. "Did anyone ever tell you what a bitch you are, Mirage?" Hunter asked callously, his hands tightening on the steering wheel as if to keep them there and not flying into the back seat to cold cock her one. "Better beings than you," she said with a sassy toss of her head. "Did they ever tell you to Shut the fuck up!" Mirage chuckled. "Numerous times, Hunt. So I guess you can tell that it didn't work for them and damn well won't work for you." "Maybe you two need to work it out on the mats?" Dianna offered. "We got some down time coming after the job we pulled today." "Last time I offered to settle something on the mats, you fucking yelled at me because he had to be stitched back together," Hunter complained. "What, did he laugh himself to pieces?" Hunter glared back at her, noting the thick leather gloves she was smoothing onto her slender arms. "You're on." "It's about fucking time you said something worth listening too," Mira said with a snort. "Maybe if you'd shut your own constant bitching up, you'd be able to really hear what others are saying." Dianna relaxed even further in her seat. "You two will keep this fair and it's over at first blood, got me?" When neither of them answered, she sat up. "Do you understand!?" Her voice was loud, like a clap of thunder and it had the two of them answering her quickly. "Yes, ma'am." That was the thing about Dianna. She could be low keyed and one of the guys but when she gave an order, she expected it to be heeded. It was one of the biggest things that Mirage liked about her. She was no wuss. "I might even leave some of him left to let him have his couple days down time somewhere besides the clinic." Dianna chuckled. "Want to make a bet to see who wins this?" she asked, looking back at Mirage. "You'd bet against me?" The hurt in Mirage's voice made Dianna chuckle. "Nine times out of ten, no. But this time, I just don't think you can win this one, Mira. One way or another, I think this time you're going down." She laughed when she heard Beast's yowl. "Yeah, I got you for twenty, furball." She pulled a small black notebook out of her pack she wore around her waist and started writing on a new page. But put it away when she saw where Hunter was turning. At the gate, he rolled down his window and fixed the guard in the stand with a look. Hunter handed the man an identification tag for the truck and took the slips that he was given. Handing them to Dianna, he rolled up his window and headed down and into the parking structure, following the steep curve around and around until they reached the bottom floor. Then he turned down the far yellow lines and pulled up to a solid wall. Dianna reached into her pack again and pulled out something that looked like a garage door opener, except this one had a number pad instead of a plain button. She keyed in her code and the wall in front of them began to shift, sliding slowly along an almost indistinguishable track. Hunter pulled through and then waited while Dianna closed up the doorway before pulling up to what amounted to a building inside of a building. The Agency of Supernatural Police or ASP as it was more commonly referred to, was stationed in this building. It was some fifteen stories of offices, gyms, cafeterias, and one of the best computer systems around. It also had a garage and living quarters for some of the more diverse of their kind. The bottom five floors were used for housing the criminals that weren't slated to die. Death sentences were carried out rather quickly in the supernatural world. The building was rather non descript. Cinderblock seemed the preferred building choice which had then been painted white to distinguish it from the rest of the parking structure. Hunter pulled into the small parking lot that held the other twenty SUVs. He grunted when Dianna reached over and slid the keys out of the ignition, before dropping them in her pack. "If you two plan to take care of this today, you might want to go and reserve the gym." She slid easily out of the SUV, closing her door and waiting for her team to disembark. Then she pressed a button on the keyfob that locked the doors before turning to walk into ASP proper. Just inside the front doors was a large waiting room. As per almost everyday of the week, it was filled to bursting, the sound of tears, the screaming of young children and the cursing of teenage boys was almost deafening. Dianna didn't even slow. She waved to the Vampire who ran the front desk and went through the door in the back of the room. It closed behind the group, cutting out half the insane racket. Mirage sighed and then dropped behind the rest of her team, slapping a button on a small console in the wall. There was a bing and then the sliding doors of the elevator opened. Slipping into the sanity of the elevator, she hit the button for the gym. * * * * "You know, Hunt. I'm not trying to hurt you here with telling you these things about Mirage. She'll never admit to how she feels about you either." Dianna grinned up at the much taller man watching as he disgustedly shoved his fingers through his hair. "Maybe because she doesn't have any feelings about me," he said slowly. "I don't really need to go and kick the shit out of her for this, Dianna. We both know you're full of shit this time." Hunter Hunted "Run Tom, run!" Lieutenant Thomas Murdoch, formerly of the 3rd Royal Australian Regiment Commandos, plunged head first into the wilderness, running for his life. Branches smacked against his rifle, tore at his armour, scraping the sides of his helmet. He ignored these things as the unimportant irritations they were and focused on the bigger problems: Get Away! He crashed through a clearing and spun around, dropping to one knee and raising his Austeyr F88 rifle into position as two soldiers rushed onwards, firing 3 shots into their pursuers before following them. He heard com chatter in his helmet's headset. "They're everywhere!" "11 o'clock, fire fire!" Bursts from more F88s. "More ahead, keep moving!" "Where the hell's Jackson?" "He's down, Jackson's down!" Tom kept moving, reaching a clearing where Sergeant Liam Oxley and private Robert "Niner" Hinds were poised, their rifles raised in his direction. He sat down on a log, exhausted, removing his helmet for a brief respite, the hot jungle air washing over his face. "That was a trap...we've been double crossed." said Hinds, easing off his own helmet, dropping down to sit on a rock near Oxley, who nudged him with his foot. "They were in the fucking trees Niner...of COURSE it was a trap." Niner took a large gulp from his water bottle and gave him a withering look -- an effect that was lost on Oxley, who still had his expressionless helmet on and just stared right back. "Ox, Niner, cut it out, we have bigger problems, we have to get moving, this jungle's crawling with soldiers and God knows what else. Let's call it in." He lifted his helmet up to place it back on his head when he heard a twig snap. Instantly all 3 commandos had their guns trained on a spot in the jungle, 4 metres from the edge of the clearing. Niner looked at Tom. "What is it?" he mouthed, when another noise was heard from the left, then behind them. They spun around, trying to get a bead on it, when suddenly... "AAAAHHHHHH!" A flash of black, brown and orange and Niner was gone. Tom and Ox spun around again, back to back, hearing strange growls and dragging sounds all around them. Ox raised his rifle to his left but he was too slow and they were both bowled over. Tom rolled to his right and raised himself up, aiming his rifle at Ox, to find him wrestling with the strangest sight he had ever seen. Ox was being pinned and dragged out towards the edge of the clearing by what appeared to be a panther, but it wasn't a panther. It had a black tail and legs, but the colour stopped around the animal's bottom, which was rosy pink. The colour continued down the creatures sides and arms, but the back of the neck, face and belly were all flesh pink. It was a girl, and she was naked to boot. As he ran forwards, another one appeared, brown with white stripes down her back, grabbing his arm and biting it hard, drawing blood through the uniform as the first one tugged at his legs, or so Tom thought. Are they pulling off his pants??? As Tom reached Ox, a third girl leapt out at him, pushing him onto his back, his rifle firing several shots as he went down and it flew out of his hand. He rolled over and pushed the thing off of him, which got up and with a snarl launched itself into the jungle. Tom turned around to grab his weapon and saw it had completely disappeared. So had Ox, and the girls dragging him and, he could only guess, Niner as well. He reached for his helmet where he had dropped it...it was gone too. He was alone. He drew his M9 and held it up, two handed, as he scanned the jungle. It had all gone quiet, not a sound to be heard. It was eerie. Tom raised the pistol as he heard a branch move behind him, and turned to see a girl on all fours, looking hungrily at him. It was the one who had leapt at him earlier. She was blond haired, with orange cat ears poking out of her hair, light and dark orange stripes down her sides, a little orange over her back and her bum, her legs and arms both striped as well. Her tail was fluffy, orange mostly, but her belly was the pinky white colour of skin, stretching from her neck down around the outside rim of her boobs and down her belly, between her legs and ending in a rounded point around her asshole, underneath her tail. She had sharp claws and teeth that pointed out a lot, especially when she growled, which she was doing now. "Easy, er, girl," he said, backing up, one hand out in the stop position. He didn't want to shoot this animal. She was just a young woman - sort of - and if he could avoid killing her he would. "I don't want to hurt you, ok?" He backed up more, reaching the log and stepping over it. But this was his mistake, for as he took his step, one leg on either side of the log, the tigress leapt at him, snarling again and grabbing his shoulders in each hand, her weight tripping him over, legs pushing on his belly and forcing him to the ground. His head spun and his vision blurred, unable to figure out which way was up, until he felt her move. He yelled as she dug her claws into his hips sharply, ripping his pants down the legs and tearing his belt off violently. He looked incredulously as she used her teeth to bite through his pants and tearing a hole in the crotch, revealing his underwear to her. She uncharacteristically removed them gently as possible, exposing his penis to the warm air, staring down at it hungrily. Tom panicked. Oh God, what is she going to do to me? He tried to sit up but she growled fiercely at him, making him lie back again, scared to anger her. He still had his knife, but it wasn't going to be fast enough to stop lightning reflexes, teeth like knives and claws that looked like razors. She moved her tiger-like body up on either side of him, her legs poised with her exposed pussy over his groin, and slapped her claws down onto his chest, gripping him as she sat on the balls of her feet, her bum and pussy out like she was sitting, and lowered herself down onto his cock, going deep on him. Tom's head snapped back as he gasped with surprise...she was tighter than anything in the world! He couldn't believe the feeling she gave him as she flattened her ass to his legs, purring suddenly and loudly in his ear as she started to pump herself up and down on him, slow at first, then faster and faster, getting a little louder with her purrs. Her claws dug in harder, hurting his chest as her head arched back, her eyes rolling with pleasure as she started to become the animal once again, moving her hands over his chest and belly sharply. The animal growled with delight, gripping Tom hard, making his eyes water, as her pussy clenched around his dick. He realized this is what she wanted, but she was starting to hurt, so he sat up and took her hands in his to move them off his chest. She didn't like that. She growled loudly, angrily shoving him down and clawing his hands away, leaving light cuts down the backs of them. He lay down again and tried to grip her wrists, but she pulled up and clawed him again, wanting to do it her own way. He paused for a moment, letting her get back into the moment, working her pussy up and down his dick, then grabbed her roughly and rolled her over onto her side, getting up and stepping away, not wanting to lose all his blood for sex. The tigress growled angrily, down on all fours, stalking him as he stepped back towards the jungle. He didn't quite understand what she was, but he knew what she wanted, and that she wanted it rough, which could end up killing him if she didn't watch those claws of hers when she got too excited. Suddenly she leapt at him, but he ducked and ran for it, hearing her growl behind him. Before he'd gotten 5 steps he felt a weight on his back and he fell forwards into the dirt, the tigress thrashing about on top of him. Her claws were going crazy, and Tom could feel blood beginning to well up on his shoulder blades. He rolled over and tried to pin her down, but was tossed back and leapt on again, leaning back against a rock as she impaled herself on his swollen member. He grabbed her by the shoulders and stood himself up, trying to shake her loose, but she dug her claws in and wrapped her legs around his waist, forcing him into her. Tom panicked and turned to a nearby tree, slamming her against it. Shards of bark flew off as she cried out in pain and pleasure, her tail flicking around him. Tom pulled his knife and prepared to dice her, girl or no girl, but she ducked her head to the side and the blade thudded into solid wood. She snarled and leant forward, pushing his head away and bit into his shoulder, hard enough to draw blood. He gave a roar of pain as she dragged her claws down his chest, snarling as she ripped the rest of his suit apart and forcing him to fall backwards to the ground. She tried to bite him again, and he wrestled with her aggressively, trying to get a hold of her head to keep her razor sharp canines away from his jugular. He managed to get a foot up into her midsection and launched her back, but as she went she threw her hand across his cheek, leaving 3 deep gashes in it that bled quite freely. She landed on all fours, watching him intently, growling low with a fierce burning desire in her eyes. Tom then spied something in the ground to his left: his pistol, half buried in the dirt. He glanced back at the girl, then lunged for the pistol. At the same time the tigress leaped forward. He got a grip on the weapon and turned to fire, but the tigress tackled him, clawing at his forearm, and the shot went wide as he fell to his hands and knees. Then she leapt again as he stood up, landing on his back and biting and clawing every inch of him as he tumbled to the ground yet once more. He pinned the girl on her back. He had had enough of this. She wasn't going to stop until she was satisfied. But he wasn't going to get killed by it, so he decided to stop running and just give her what she needed. He forced her back, his hands on her shoulders, her legs bent up over his, and started to force himself inside her. A clawed hand reached down and grabbed him, guiding him in as she growled, still trying to do it her way. He fought through the aching pains across his back and face and started to pump her, sliding his cock in and out of her pussy fast, making her moan with pleasure. Her claws scratched at his arms, but they didn't dig in hard enough to bleed. She started to close her animal eyes, her head leaning back on the mud as she make low purring noises with each thrust. He was starting to think she was ready, but then her eyes opened, a new fire lit in them. She looked up at him and bared her teeth, then with a new found strength, she pushed back against him, shoving him to the ground and crawled on top of him, digging her claws in with each movement, and slipped easily down his cock, her pussy wet with juice. She started to ride him hard, her knees on either side of his hips in the dirt, her hands on his chest, naked breasts hanging over him. He reached out and gripped her ass, moving her up and down on his cock, making her growl loudly with pleasure. She arched her back and he took her nipple in his mouth and sucked on it, then bit down making her cry out, getting her more excited. She scratched his chest armour to ribbons, leaving deep claw marks down his naked chest, then leant forward, her rough breathing in his ear. He gripped her ass tightly as she rode him hard, rocking back and forth with such passion that he started to hurt with the intensity of it all, thrusting hard up into her pussy, her clit rubbing on his groin as she rocked madly back and forth. With an animal cry she leant down and bit into his neck, but he didn't notice. He was past the pain now, and was getting close and she could feel it, her tight pussy flexing around his hard cock. Then as she sped up riding him as fast as they could go together she threw back her head, blood dripping down one corner of her mouth, and let out a heart stopping scream of pleasure as she came hard, gushing out over his groin, cutting his shoulders open with her claws. He couldn't take the pressure anymore and sat up, throwing his arms around her midsection and hugging her to him, sucking on one nipple in his mouth. She shrieked and dug her claws into his back, still rocking hard on him, her eyes rolling back in her head as she came a second time. Her cries were of pure pleasure, and at this he could take no more and roared like a wild animal himself as he came deep inside her tight pussy, making her scream with absolute orgasmic delight, biting and clawing and crying out like nothing he had ever dreamed of. Tom collapsed backwards, covered with sweat and blood, and groaned as his rock solid cock twitched with cum, her every move causing him to see stars in his vision. The tigress, shaking all over with pleasure, slid off of his dick, her inner thighs coated with his seed, and crawled wobbly legged over to him, curling up with her head on his chest. She closed her cat eyes and gave him a very satisfied purr before falling asleep. --- When Tom woke up, the first thing he realized was he was in pain. He was bleeding from at least a dozen wounds, and his team had no idea where he was. He started to get up, and accidentally knocked the girl's head with his arm. He froze, mid crouch, as she stirred, then looked up at him with tired eyes that suddenly became clear and recognizing. Tom almost panicked, and was ready to fight to the death this time, but she simply stretched, yawned, and moved closer on all fours, rubbing her ears on his leg, her tail flicking pleasantly around her bum. Her claws were retracted, and her teeth didn't seem quite so deadly-looking. It was then that Tom realized what the orgasm was for: she needed taming. Now she was acting incredibly friendly towards him, and as he leant down to scratch her head, she licked his good cheek and mewed gently. "Well well well," he said to her, smiling in disbelief. "Seems like I've got you figured out, haven't I?" The tigress looked up happily, then crawled forward and nudged his groin, giving his cock a long wet lick, making it start to rise again, looking up into his eyes with a familiar hungry look. Well, maybe not totally figured out... Hunter Hunted Ch. 02 Discovered Secrets Chapter Two Hunter's engaging smile was long gone before Dianna finished Mirage's story. A strange pang started in his chest, surprising him. Hearing of how Lineal and Lynette, Mirage's husband and daughter had been put to death was heartbreaking. He could almost feel their pain. The scorch of the whip was a terrible thing. He'd felt it once or twice in his own inhumanely long life. But know that Lineal had been forced to endure the bite until he'd mercifully died was almost more than he could bear. How must it have felt for Mirage? She'd been forced to stand there, to watch her husband's proud face as he'd been beaten to death. She'd been made to listen to his screams when he'd finally broken and she had pleaded and screamed herself, begging to prove her innocence or that the gods would punish her, not her husband. But he'd died, his bowed and broken body left dangling in the dirt for the carrion to feed. And that hadn't been the end of their horror. Lynette, a scared six year old had been next. But her death was even worse than that of Lineal's. Mirage had been magically caged, held in a box no bigger than her own body. She'd been forced to watch as Lynette had been strapped down to a table and one by one, red hot coals had been put on her body until she was covered in their smoldering stench. Every inch of her skin had been layered with those coals, her screams growing hoarse and horrid until shock had finally killed her. They'd forced her to uncover the child's body, to see the damage that the poor little girl had been forced to endure because of her mother. Mirage had been violently ill, unable to look at what was left of Lynette, of the little girl she had adored. And she'd cursed the gods, renouncing her beliefs and promising untold torments upon them. They'd laughed. Bia, the goddess of violence and the one who'd begun this torment had slapped her. But no pain could get through the haze of her emotions, the loss of her child, of her beloved husband, had left her in. So Bia had thought up one more torment and she waved her scepter at Mirage. Dianna opened Mirage's file and pulled out a small sheet of paper she'd placed in there last week when after years of searching, she'd finally found the exact wording to the curse. "Until time's end or when someone stands for you, willing to share in this curse, your touch shall cause nothing but chaos. Even the slightest of touches will result in a madness that is incurable. Only one will be immune and until you find that one person, you will be alone to walk this earth. But it is for you to decide. Is it worth it for you to lose those you love to madness? Will you be able to touch them, to see if they are the ones to save you?" Bia had laughed and then they'd cast her out, throwing her from their exalted presence. But Aphrodite, the loveliest of the goddess had stepped in. She'd save the souls of Lineal and Lynette, rescuing them from Hades and sending them on to their reward after seeing what had been done to them and to Mirage but unable to stop Bia's ugly actions. She'd gone to Mirage in her dreams, afraid of the curse that Bia's words had left upon the girl's skin. Showing her the renewed spirits of her family had helped but it did nothing for the hurt or the loneliness that the curse had left on her. People feared her and they cast her out of village after village, leaving her alone to walk the world. During this time, She'd learned to fight and began to hire herself out to the great lords of the land who's presence meant constant torment and wars. She'd forged bonds and had proven herself to these great war lords. She'd made her way, the right hand of men such as Alexander, learning from scholars such as Socrates and Confucius. She'd shorn her beautiful white blonde curls with little regard, keeping her hair short and out of her eyes. She'd learn to fight with every weapon she could place her hands on. From Scimitar to dagger to throwing stars, she'd become expert and everything in between. Never would she allow herself to be put in the position that those gods had. Never would she allow any man, woman or sentient being to tie her down and hold her captive. Never would she allow herself to fall in love with another, because it gave you a weak spot in your defenses. She would never have that happen again. "Now," Dianna said softly, reaching out and touching Hunter's hand. "Do you understand why she acts the way she does? Why she pushes everyone away?" Hunter's vivid blue eyes were tormented. He stared up at Dianna, finally placing his coffee cup on her desk. "I can't say that I really thank you for telling me this, Dianna." She smiled, leaning back to snag the coffee carafe from where it sat, staying hot. She held it out to Hunter and then refilled his cup, topping off hers. "I know. What they did to her family was heart wrenching. I can't even imagine what I would have done. But Mirage has been alone in everyway that counts for over three thousand years." "She's not alone," Hunter interjected. "She does have us." "You went home with that little Were-kitten last night, didn't you? Imagine climbing into bed with Miss Puss-n-boots and suddenly finding her crazy as a coon just because you touched her. Try imagining never sleeping with another woman again. Would you feel completely alone?" Hunter sighed. "But this isn't about me, Dianna. This is Mira. I can't imagine she would be very happy with you for blabbing her secrets. So I've got to ask, why did you tell me this?" "Because you are the closest one to her. No matter what you think, I've seen her eyes when you walk in a room. She comes alive in your presence, Hunter. I've known her for a good long while; I recruited her for this team. I know she lets no one tease her or aggravate her the way you do. There has to be a reason for that." "Lots of years of practice?" He sank back against the chair, suddenly feeling very tired. "I also see your eyes when you look at her, Hunter. I know there are feelings in there for her. I've seen you run into places to back her up when most agents I know would be screaming for back up and retreating. I'm not saying that you should become this mythic savior who will stand with her against the gods and be willing to share in her curse. That's asking a lot, even for me. But I know you care." "I do care, Dianna. I care for you and for Beasty boy as well. I also care about my own skin. If I suddenly back down on Mira, what do you think she's going to do? She's going to call me on it. Then what am I supposed to say. I'm sorry that the gods fucked you over? How do you think that'll go with her?" He rose suddenly, slamming his cup on her desk and spilling what was left in the mug. "You've really screwed me up here, Dianna and I can't thank you for it." He turned and headed out of her office, slamming the door hard enough behind him that the glass rattled. He stalked away quickly, ignoring everyone around him and heading down toward the gym to find Mira. Going around a corner, he almost walked right into her. He jerked back, his eyes softening as he stared down at her. He suddenly saw images in his head of Lineal and Lynette and he took another step back. "You ready to do this?" "You that anxious to get your ass handed to you?" Her soft voice seemed a bit shaken and Hunter felt his will to kick her ass dissolve just that quickly. Damn Dianna and her meddling. He was perfectly happy with the way things had been before she'd called him into the office for her little 'chat'. "No smart ass remark?" Mirage took a step closer to him. "Not even a lame...'oh yeah, so's your mother?'" "I'm tired, Mira. So are you ready to do this or not?" "Not the way you're dressed." He looked down at her, his eyes sharpening as he saw all that gorgeously tanned and sculpted skin was now covered. Everything but her face was now hidden in tight white leather from the tips of her fingers to the tips of her toes. There would be no chance that he might touch her in the heat of battle and lose his mind. Yet, even with all that white leather, she still managed to look sexy and sensual. Maybe it was her eyes, he didn't know. He did know that if he didn't worry about his mind around her, he'd have been working to get her taut ass into his bed a long fucking time ago. "Well, let's get going and I'll change," he growled, wishing he could reach down and adjust the sudden constant throb of his cock in the tight constraints of the uniform he was wearing. He let her go into the gym while he took a left down another hallway and walked into the men's locker room. It was full and all heads turned when he opened the door and stepped inside. But besides a few greetings, most of the men went quickly back to their own business when he slammed open his locker. Unzipping his uniform, he pulled it off, glaring at his disobedient cock when it still hadn't softened. Why now did he have to have these uncontrollable urges around her? Now, after five years of working with her as closely as they were allowed to work, now he decided to want her, like the proverbial forbidden fruit. Damn Dianna! He grabbed the one piece lycra suit he wore when he went up against Mira, seeing the small stain of blood that was left from a lucky punch she'd landed last time. He scratched at it with his finger then shrugged, sitting to tug the skin tight suit up his long legs. Wrangling it over his shoulders, he forced his big hands down the sleeves, twisting them until they felt right. Then he zipped the damn thing up and reached down for his shoes. He wore something that was a combination of swim sock and ballet shoe. They were soft, tying tightly around his ankle. There was a thin rubber sole, but the shoe moved with his foot, giving him more control over his kicks and better balance. He pulled the long, thin lycra gloves over his hands, tightening the straps at his wrists. Grabbing a towel, he was as ready as he possibly could be to go up against Mirage. He rose feeling as if he were missing his scuba gear as he always did in this outfit. Pulling his shoulder length hair into a ponytail, he headed out into the gym. Mira stood with her back to him, her body molding beautifully into the sensuous and strong poises of the Tai Chi. He watched her for a moment, feeling a calmness seep into him. Taking two deep breathes; he stepped forward and let her see him. To give her credit, she finished the Tai Chi sequence, bowing gracefully to Dianna when she finished before facing him. "You ready for this, hero?" he called, knowing that the nickname he'd tagged her with the first time he'd seen her all in white irked the hell out of her. "Yeah, well you know what they say," she quipped, stepping forward and taking the sword that Dianna handed her. "Only the shadow knows..." She nodded at his pure black suit, her eyes lingering on the way it cupped the very noticeable bulge at his crotch. "You...ah...happy to see me there, Ace?" "More like happy to kick the shit out of you." He picked up his own sword, turning to run into Beast and then glaring at him until he moved out of his way. "And here I never would have thought you to be a sadist." She circled him, her eyes roaming over every muscled inch that the suit showed off so well. Then she looked up and into his eyes and shrugged. "But then I never would have thought you to be a narcissist either." Hunter stepped into the mat, his sword swinging easily into a circle before him before he made his first attack. They had a rhythm at this, one that came from long practice and years of working together. Her sword clanged against his, sparks flying. She countered, admiring his back handed defense. With little effort, she blocked his first round house kick, ducking below his leg and bringing her sword up to block his sudden attack. "You've been practicing, Hunt. This might be even more fun than I'd thought." "Yeah, well Mira, I'd hate to think I was boring you or something. Oh, and I'm not a fucking Narcissist, either!" He blocked her next strike, feeling the vibrations all the way into his shoulders. "You have been doing this a few thousand years longer than I have, you know." "Then maybe you should remember to respect your elders and quit being so fucking mouthy!" She grunted, blocking him once more. He had her on strength and on arm length but she'd been doing this longer than he'd been alive and she refused to take another beating at his hands. "We never did discuss winner's prize." Mirage backed up, tossing her sword to Dianna and taking the stun stick. "What do you want?" "Well, my apartment needs cleaning," he said with a smirk. He handed his sword to Beast and then knocked the end of the stick on the floor, feeling it hum as it turned on. The stick was an excellent training tool. Every hit sent a surge of electricity through the body, growing stronger each time. Hunter had been around the sticks set on high stun only once and that was the fight between Callie Wolfe and Shadow about six months before the two of them had mated. Now Callie was rounded with a litter of Shadow's pups and off on maternity leave for the last weeks of her pregnancy. She'd made it through the ordeal and if she could, well dammit, so could he. "And if you win?" Mira glanced around her, twirling her stick expertly and then using the end to help hoist her body off the gym floor. She hurtled toward Hunter who dumped his stick to the floor, ducking the blow that she threw at his head and catching her easily. Lifting her slender form, he glanced down into her green eyes, seeing the sudden spurt of mischief that lurked there. "You're trouble." His voice was low and just a touch hoarse. But he lifted her above his head, ready to spin her and then slam her to the floor. When her weight lifted off his hands, he glanced up, surprised. He was so surprised that he didn't move quick enough to miss the blow of her stun stick and took it, full force upon his temple. He hit the ground hard, more surprised then hurt though that didn't stop his eyes from watering or his jaw from clenching. Mira unwrapped her long leg from around the thick rope used for strength training in the gym and slowly lowered herself to the ground. She kept her stun stick at the ready and advanced toward Hunter, a sassy grin coming to her full lips. "Should have known, one good crack at your thick skull and you're huddling on the floor like a baby." When he slid almost bonelessly to the floor, Mira quirked one slashing brow at him and then poked him with the end of her stun stick. The buzz of the electricity was loud and his muscles jumped and bunched but he didn't move away or say a word but a quiet moan. "Hunter?" Mirage stepped closer and then knelt next to him. She felt a thrill of fear squeeze her stomach and she fought the sudden urge to touch him and babble in fear. "Hunter are you...ahh!" Hunter came alive with a small roar, grabbing her easily and lifting her. He was so involved in his attack, he didn't notice that his glove had come unfastened and a scant three inches of flesh could be seen from between it and his sleeve. He tossed Mirage carelessly into the air, catching her easily. She weighed less than his blaster. Then he lifted her to his shoulder, tossing her over it. "Do you give up?" he teased. "Do I look bloody?" Mirage snapped, struggling frantically against his arm holding her so effortlessly. "Dianna said first blood, you moronic idiot." "Moronic idiot? Such big words there, Mira. You might want to watch it. You might actually say something smart one of these days. As far as the blood's concerned, I'm sure we can figure something out." "The only way you're putting blood on me is if it's yours," she snapped, kicking her legs furiously. She hated being in this position, helpless across his shoulder like some cave bitch being dragged away by her mate. When his hand came down with stinging hardness against her ass, she screeched, letting her teeth dig into his flank. "Now you're turning into a woman, next thing I know, you'll be scratching and pulling hair like all little girls." He smacked her ass again. "I never thought you'd act like a real girl." Mirage squirmed even harder, not even feeling better when she heard the sound of his panting breath and knew he had to exert himself to keep her there. She wanted down and she wanted it now! She kicked harder and then doubled up her fist and hit him in the kidney. "When I get down from here," she growled in warning, "you're going to wish you'd never met me." "I wish that now, half the time, Mira. You want down all you've got to say is that I've won. Give in and admit to me beating you again, little girl, and I'll let you down. You can come over and start cleaning tomorrow." "You are too, too funny, dickwad. Now put me the fuck down!" Hunter spun, knowing that between her blood rushing to her brain and the sudden spatial changes around her, she had to be getting close to the edge. But he also knew that this was Mira he was dealing with and she would let blood flood from her ears before she'd admit to him winning. Stubborn wasn't a flaw or a character definition to Mirage. It was a fucking way of life. He spun once more and felt the clamp of her hands against his thighs, her nails digging into his workout suit. "You sorry ass, son of a bitch, fuckwad." And that was only the beginning. She cursed the air blue around her until Hunter clapped his big hand down hard against the almost delicate curve of her ass. The sound was loud and he did it again and then once more until she hung motionless against his back. "You want to try that one more time? It's very easy, Mira. I'll even it start it for you. Repeat after me...Hunter you are a god. You are a much better fighter. I don't even know why I ever thought I could beat you in a fight. You are my idol "You are going to make me sick." "Nope, wrong again. Maybe we just need to let Dianna judge this one." He turned to the tall brunette, cocking one finely arched brow her way. "So what do you say, mighty leader? Does Mira come to my place tomorrow and clean toilets and do laundry?" Dianna sighed and rolled her eyes at him. "He does have you pretty helpless, Mira." "Tell him to put me down and we'll see who ends up helpless," Mira growled, using her knee to kick him in the chest. "Told you she was a rotten looser." He lifted her up a bit higher, letting her fall against his shoulder so her hip bones were bruised under her white leather. "So, little girl, will you concede?" Mira gave it one more try, furiously trying to free herself from his tenacious hands. Then with a grunt, she relaxed. "You win." The words were snarled and Hunter snorted his amusement. Then he reached up, lifting her off his shoulder to put her on her feet in front of him. She stumbled, her knees not quite holding her up and he reached for her to keep her from falling to the ground. They both came to a halt when each felt the unmistakable touch of bare skin to bare skin as his wrist brushed against her cheek. Their eyes met, his stunned, hers fearful. "Oh no, shit, Hunter, I'm so sorry." Her eyes shut tight and she refused to look at him, not wanting to watch as the intelligence and life drained from his face as her insanity spread it's tattered and ragged touch. * * * * Okay, I have a big question and I'm going to ask it whether it pisses people off or not. I've been posting here for quite a while, usually putting my stories on here before taking them down to get them published. Now I know I'm not everyone's cup of tea in the reading department. I'm fine with that, but what I am curious about is why people don't comment on my work? I used to get thirty and forty comments per chapter and now on some stories, if I get one, I'm lucky. Hunter Hunted Ch. 02 Note from the Author: this story is much longer than the last Hunter Hunted, which was a one shot, because I have decided to make it an extended short series. I hope you enjoy! ***** "Three days." Private Parker looked up from his desk at Commander Grant, standing at the window of the temporary office building. His arms were folded across his chest and his usual cigarette was no where to be seen. The man who led an army of hardened mercenaries was worried, and with good reason. His best team of scouts hadn't been heard from in 74 hours. "I'm sure they will show up, sir," said Parker, trying to ease the Commander's worry. Grant nodded absently, turning to walk into his quarters and closing the door. - The water's surface rippled as Thomas Murdoch plunged on hands and knees into the riverbed, splashing his tired face. His arms and chest stung as the cold water washed over his numerous cuts and gashes while the temperature gave him goosebumps. His ragged body armour had been no comfort against the weather as he hiked through dangerous territory for 2 days, scavenging food and making rough shelter each night. Ignoring the pain wracking his body, Tom drank slowly from the freshwater river, making sure not to take on too much in one go and make himself sick. When he had recovered some of his strength he would move on, but it had been a long day and until now he hadn't found anything to drink. A splash nearby alerted him and he looked up as a slender orange figure bent down to lap at the edge of the bank, apparently unfazed by their hard travel. The girl - if you could call her that - was orange because of the fine, light and dark striped fur that covered most of her body. Her girlish face, neck & hands were clear, as were her breasts and belly, making a pink-white trail of skin leading down to her crotch. Her head however had blonde hair, with two pointy orange cat ears sticking through her waves. Her hands and feet were clawed, and she had an amazing furry orange tail sprouting from above her bottom, flicking around. As he watched, the girl lapped up a mouthful of water and looked up at him, purring happily. The young soldier couldn't help but smile back at his companion. "Careful you don't fall in now," he warned, as the girl leaned over more to examine a lily pad. With one unfortunate slip her front paw - or was it a hand? - slid off of the rock she was balanced on, making her cry out with shock as she landed face first in the water. Tom laughed as the tigress climbed out quickly, the lily pad draped over her shoulder. "I did warn you!" he laughed, as the tigress shook herself off. He beckoned and the girl came over to him, letting him lift the lily pad off of her and brush droplets of water from her soaked blonde hair. He didn't even have a name for her, this girl who had kept him warm at night and looked after him by day. She had followed him from the clearing in which they first met without hesitation, and nothing he could do would shoo her away, so he had let her come along. He hadn't anticipated getting attached to her so strongly, thinking at the time that at the very least it would be interesting when they got back to his base camp, trying to explain how a half-girl half-tiger had just appeared out of the jungle to attack him and his squadmates. Oxley. Hinds. Hope you guys are alright, wherever you are. Tom feared not only for the safety of his own squad, but the others who had been in the scouting party too. Word of the ambush might not have made it back to base, and more men could have been fighting and dying for a lost cause because he had screwed up: the scouting teams were his responsibility, his to train, his to command. The sooner he got back to base the better, but unfortunately the battle and being lost in the jungle had both taken their toll on the weary soldier, so he leaned against a nearby tree and closed his eyes for a minute, hoping to gather some energy for the last push home. Tom was interrupted by a quiet purr and a soft nuzzling of his hand. He opened his eyes to gaze upon the tigress, who started licking the wounds on his chest again. She had done this each time they had stopped, and to his amazement Tom had felt his wounds healing much faster than normal, and the pain was certainly duller than what a deep gash would normally feel like. With no real explanation for what she even was or why she was so sexually driven, he assumed her regenerative powers had something to do with the rough, vicious treatment he had received when she first claimed him as her own. Nothing she had done since then had been even close to the same level of violent or dangerous, although she was still very much an animal. Tom continued watching as the girl licked each of his wounds, before coming face to face with him and staring into his eyes. He stared back, marvelling at this human girl with a gorgeous face, soft pink lips and orange cat ears poking through her blonde hair. Apart from the orange that started up on the back of her neck she was perfectly human from this view, and Tom was struck with an overwhelming urge to kiss her. Not knowing how a girl with razor sharp teeth might react to such an action he elected to very slowly lean in and plant a small kiss on her cheek, feeling her smooth warm skin on his lips. The girl didn't react at first, tilting her head to one side and giving him that same strange stare, but eventually she gave the three deep gashes on his cheek a lick and smiled at him happily. Tom smiled back and something in the girl's eyes changed. She moved down his body again and gently nuzzled his crotch with her nose, looking back up at him hungrily. With a delicate nibble she took the front of his pants in her teeth and pulled, sliding them down to reveal his cock. Tom watched as the girl placed one arm on either side of his hips and leant down, giving him soft, gentle licks. It didn't take much before his shaft began to lengthen, making the girl lick him faster and more insistently. Over the last few days they had continued to have sex in a manner that was still quite animal-like, and she had displayed few regular tendencies of female humans apart from getting wet when he fucked her. The licking was about as close as she got, and he actually had found himself liking it more and more, and it seemed now that she had picked up on it, because she tried to lick him for longer each time until she couldn't resist fucking him. Tom could see a glint in her eye today, as she ran her tongue up and down his hard cock. Then, very slowly - and with the kind of grace that wasn't to be expected from such a strange animal - the tigress lowered her girlish lips down over the end of Tom's cock, taking it into her warm, wet mouth and giving it a long suck. She lifted her lips and swirled her soft, human tongue around the head of his cock, making him shiver before she swallowed his length again, trying to go a little deeper. She had go slowly so as not to injure him with her teeth, but her need to please him made her work his shaft lovingly, bobbing her head up and down with his cock in the back of her throat. The tigress started to choke so she quickly pulled back and sucked on the head of his cock, moving her lips rapidly up and down his length and purring lightly around him. His hand reached out and rested on top of her head of blonde hair, gently pushing her mouth further down his cock as she looked up at him, his eyes closed in pleasure. She was getting wet just from hearing him moan, from the feeling of his fingers in her hair, gripping tighter as he forced her lips up and down his cock. This was a whole new way of pleasing, and inside she hoped she could keep finding new ways to be with him. The girl could sense her Master was getting close, so she gently slipped his cock out of her mouth and gave it a few long licks, purring happily. As Tom opened his eyes, the tigress wandered over to a nearby tree, leaning up and gripping the bark with her hands and digging in her claws, flicking her tail from side to side as she stuck her bum out towards him. The light pink flesh of her belly curved along her belly and between her thighs, ending with the bare flesh of her tight, round bottom. Tom could see that her hairless folds were almost dripping wet with anticipation, so he moved forward and wrapped his hands around her waist, resting them on her smooth belly as he positioned himself behind her. The tigress looked over her shoulder to gaze into his eyes, watching him almost desperately as he pushed his hips forward, the head of his cock brushing the small hole of her ass before sliding further down, his shaft rubbing along her folds as his head nudged her clit. The girl moaned, her claws digging into the bark of the tree as she pressed backwards into his arms, rubbing her juices along his 7 inch length. Tom could feel her body vibrating as she purred and shook with need, so he slid one hand down from her belly, following the patch of smooth skin to her clit, touching it lightly and making her jump. As his fingers very gently brushed against her clit, Tom's cock pressed on her folds and suddenly slipped in, instantly causing the girl's breath to catch in her throat. Tom marvelled at her tightness, pulling her belly back into him as he pushed his cock further into her opening, stretching her until her asscheeks were pressed against his hips. He stayed still for a moment, letting her adjust to the intrusion, then began to ease out and back in again, making the girl purr with pleasure. Her pussy clenched on his shaft with every thrust, trying to hold him inside her as he moved back and forth. His hands roamed her body, every now and then moving down to touch her clit again as the other caressed her soft, pink belly, moving up to cup one of her small breasts neatly in his hand. The girl growled, both a warning of the contact she wasn't yet fully used to and a sign of pleasure that said he had better not stop, her claws leaving deep marks in the tree as she dragged her hands down one after the other, loving the feeling of her Master's cock inside her once more. Tom had fucked the girl on both days since their first eventful encounter, but even this could not slow his lust for her. In very little time he knew he was going to cum, her cheekiness and hunger for sex making him feel hornier than anything had before. He continued to pound the tight animal girl, his hips slapping lightly against her perfectly round bottom as he held her belly, his other hand playing with her breast, touching her in just the right way to get her off. The tigress hung her head, pressing back against him with each thrust of his shaft into her wet pussy, one hand dropping to touch her other breast, gently rubbing the nipple between her fingers. Slowing down, Tom paused for a moment, the head of his cock almost slipping out of the girl and making her growl angrily, desperate to feel him fully inside her, and that was when he forced his cock straight back into her, pushing deeper than before. The girl cried out with shock and lust, her tail waving wildly against his chest as she bucked with animal need. Tom threw his hands around her waist and held her body close to his as he pumped his cock in and out of her rapidly, getting faster as the tigress moaned and threw herself around, her blonde hair in his face as she started to shake madly. He kept going and felt the girl reach down with one hand, resting her fingers on her folds to feel his hard shaft sliding in and out of her wetness and as she rubbed herself she screamed with wild abandon, cumming hard on his cock and wetting her thighs with absolute pleasure. As Tom groaned with need, the feeling of his lover's release making him even more desperate to empty himself into her. The tigress squeezed her trembling thighs together, her hands taking his and placing them on her naked breasts, his fingers brushing over her rigid nipples. She dug her claws into the tree and pressed her ass back against him, begging him for his load, and with one great push he thrust into her and came, shooting deep inside her pussy. The girl cried out, feeling his throbbing cock pump her full of cum, her legs barely able to hold herself up. She roared and gripped the tree tightly, another wave of lust striking her and making her shake with pleasure again as she felt her Master filling her. Tom pushed forward until her body was flat against the tree, burying himself inside her as deep as he could as they came together. Tom hugged the girl's body to his chest and held her tight as she rode out her second orgasm, his shaft pulsing deep in between her folds. The girl was panting and gasping, her claws having left deep scars across the bark of the tree, her shoulders heaving and her legs weak. Tom very gently lowered her to her hands and knees, then to her belly, rolling over so they were on their sides spooning together, his cock still buried in her pussy. The young tigress clenched reflexively, not wanting his beautiful big cock to leave, his cum now deposited inside her. Tom's hand stroked the bare flesh of her belly where his seed was, feeling her relax in his arms. "I love you," Tom murmured to her. Lying there like that, with his hands wrapped around her waist and resting on her girlish belly and breasts, and her hands on top of his, they slowly began drifting off in the dense jungle heat. As Tom felt himself succumbing to sleep, he thought about the girl in his arms. He was definitely attached, no matter what it meant for his future. Wondering if she had a name of her own, he looked around and spotted the lily pad that he had picked off of her earlier. "Lilly, wait, no...Tigerlilly," he said out loud, feeling the little tigress shift slightly in his arms. He smiled at her. "Yes...Tigerlilly." - A day later Tom paused at the entrance to the temporary compound his mercenary army had set up, surveying the situation. As far as he could tell everything looked normal, no signs of enemy attack or intrusion. It was entirely possible that the bandits who had ambush him and his scouting team did not intend to engage the mercenaries at all, but rather stay on the defensive. Tom didn't fully understand the reason they were called in to deal with these 'rebels', only that it had to do with the theft of a great deal of money and equipment, but either way it wasn't up to him. Commander Grant didn't endanger his men without a good reason and a very generous reward. Still, even if things were normal, Tom felt nervous about entering the compound. He hadn't figured out how to explain the tiger-girl who was undeniably attached to him, nor did he know how anyone would react to such a complex species. He reached out and gently felt for Tigerlilly, rubbing between her pointy cat ears that poked up out of her hair on the top of her head. He would protect her existence if he had to. She mattered too much to him now. - "Commander Grant, you need to come outside sir, it's urgent! They found Murdoch, and...something else." Grant looked up from his desk at his aide, Private Parker, and gave him a sharp look. "Murdoch's alive? And what do you mean, 'something else'?" "I...well, I don't know sir, it's...some sort of creature, she looks human but...isn't." Grant was already out the door by the time Parker finished his lame description. He entered the courtyard of the compound to find Lieutenant Thomas Murdoch, his lead scout and one of his best soldiers, surrounded by armed guards, his hands held high in surrender. His armour was effectively destroyed, his chest plate barely holding to his uniform. Behind his legs, hissing and growling defensively, was what looked like a human girl, with pale pink skin and long blonde hair, but she was covered in orange fur with darker orange stripes, had long wicked claws on her hands and a pair of pointy orange cat ears parting her hair on the top of her head. A long orange tail sprouted above her bottom, and her fur gave way to smooth, pink human skin from her face and neck down her chest, around her breasts, over her belly and her private region, as well as on her hands and fingers. Private Parker stepped forward, gesturing angrily at the armed men surrounding the Lieutenant. "What is this?" he exclaimed. "Stand down! That is one of your senior officers!" The guards didn't move, keeping their rifles pointed at the missing soldier and his tiger companion. Murdoch looked directly at his commander, who noticeably hadn't backed up the private in ordering the guards to stand down. "Sir, I know this is a little odd, but you must understand, she is just protective! She isn't going to attack." Before Grant could reply another voice came from behind the guards. "You're right Lieutenant, it is odd, and we don't understand...we have every right to be protective too." It was Captain Lewis, one of Grant's senior advisers and a brutally violent soldier. Grant glanced at the aggressive man before turning his attention back to Tom. "Murdoch, what is...this...and where have you been?" "We were ambushed, sir, separated. I have been out of contact with my squad for 2 days." Tom briefly outlined the details of the ambush, as well as the other animal girls who had attacked Ox and Niner. He left out some of his own experience with Tigerlilly, feeling that being almost torn to ribbons while being fucked was a little too much detail. Captain Lewis didn't budge and Commander Grant looked dubious, examining the wounds on Tom's chest and the three cuts on his face before glancing at Tigerlilly's claws. Tom noticed the men around him eyeing Tigerlilly as well, with a mix of interest and fear; her brazenly naked human parts were well-endowed in the right places, and contrasted oddly with the light orange colour of her back, arms and legs, not to mention the long tail that sprouted above her smooth, pink human backside. "Sir," he said loudly. "This...girl, whatever she is, isn't a threat. Believe me; the others, the more wild ones, are much more aggressive. Having said that, I must insist that great care is taken in her handling." Tom glanced over at the guards within earshot. Some of them backed off a little, lowering their weapons and trying to remain calm. Tigerlilly relaxed slightly, staying close to her Master's leg. Grant nodded, gesturing to Lewis and the guards who all lowered their weapons. "I think we'd better get you medicated, your wounds look infected. You can bring your...tigress...with you. She will have to be kept in a separate room however, with the door locked. We will make sure she has food and water. She won't be harmed Murdoch, it's just a precaution." Tom looked down at the girl, unsure about leaving her alone. "I can be less accepting of these circumstances, Lieutenant," Grant said quietly. "I want to ensure the protection of my men, and this, this girl," he said, gesturing to Tigerlilly, "she is a threat, no matter how well trained you seem to think she is. She will be safe in her room and you can see her tomorrow, after you've been patched up." Tom wasn't happy, but he knew the Commander was right. "Come on, we're going this way now, alright?" He guided Tigerlilly to the temporary building that served as the medical facility, letting the medics steer them into a small room with no occupants and a heavy door. Tom was handed a plate of raw meat and a bowl of water from a soldier and placed them on the ground next to the girl, hoping he could keep her calm. "I know this seems bad but it really isn't, I'll be back soon, alright?" said Tom, gently rubbing behind one of Tigerlilly's feline ears. "You just stay here and rest..." He glanced over his shoulder to check that Grant and the medics were out of earshot. "I need to make sure these men won't hurt you." She licked his cheek, smiling. "I'll come back for you, I promise." Tigerlilly seemed to understand, curling up and yawning loudly, exhausted from the journey. Tom stroked her head gently and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I love you." Tigerlilly looked up into his eyes, considering him, as he backed away and shut the door to her room. Hunter Hunted Ch. 02 Tom brushed past Lewis, who had stood leaning against the wall of Tigerlilly's room waiting for him, allowing himself to be led away by Grant, only once looking over his shoulder at the door being locked by Lewis. "It will be ok, Lieutenant," Grant said. "You need your rest too." Tom followed the medics into the med bay, providing the details Commander Grant needed about the ambush as he was tended to. The medics had cleaned his wounds and were patching him up as best they could, wrapping bandages around the repaired muscles and skin to hold it in place; he had enough stitching in him to knit a sweater by the time they were finished. "Our clients lied to us about the enemy's numbers," Grant was saying. "After your team went missing they sent out a raiding party, damaged a lot of our equipment and claimed many lives. We tracked them and ended up lost in the jungle; even after we found their main camp they had already cleared out, probably falling back to another nearby position to strike from." The commander shook his head. "We aren't being paid to lose." "We aren't being paid to die either, sir. We brought enough for a small scale skirmish, not guerrilla warfare, and not against such a numerous force." "I've been in contact with our clients since the raid: they don't appreciate being left empty-handed, and since we spent their deposit on the equipment we needed, we're staying here." Grant shook his head. "The things we have to do sometimes...you'll need to stay here tonight, in isolation - just a precaution, I'm sure you understand." Tom nodded as the medics fixed a pad to his cheek over the three claw marks there, starting to feel drowsy from the antibiotics he had been given. They left him to it and he began to drift as soon as his head touched the pillow. "What of the girl?" he asked, anxious about Tigerlilly's fate. Grant paused, looking back at the young soldier. "Don't worry about it, everything will work out for the best." - Tom awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of a gentle tap. Sitting up carefully, he peered around the small dark room, wondering what was causing it. Hearing the noise again, he glanced up at the single window in his room and spotted Tigerlilly, her hand pressed mournfully to the glass, a sad look in her eyes. Tom got up and worked the window back and forth, eventually lifting it up and allowing Tigerlilly to crawl through the gap. The girl cuddled into his arms, mewing lightly and nuzzling his chest. He didn't know how she managed to get out, or why she was outside the facility, but Tom thought she seemed scared, in a way that he had never seen before. "Shhh...it's ok, Tigerlilly, I'm here," he whispered to her, trying to calm the poor thing down. Tigerlilly's eyes were shut tight, her hand gripping his robe tightly. Tom looked her over and in horror he could just make out a small bloodstain on the fur on her hip, and another on her arm. "What has happened to you?" With a loud crash the door to the room burst off its hinges, blinding light filling the doorway. Men bearing long batons with electro stunners on the tips charged in and struck Tigerlilly, making the girl cry out in pain and fall to the floor, curling up in a ball to protect herself. Tom was thrown from the bed as more men grabbed him by the arms, jabbing him in the side to bring him to his knees. The pain was unbearable. Tom roared with anger and struggled, but was unable to resist as volts of electricity flashed through his body. Eventually Tom was pinned down face first as the light to the room came on. Tom heard boots on the white floor enter the room and stop next to him. He looked up and recognised Captain Lewis, wearing heavy body armour and holding a stunner. The man seemed almost too eager to be there in his opinion. Lewis glanced to the men who were restraining Tom and smirked. "Still resisting is he? Looks like he could lash out at any moment," he said to the guards, who were having no trouble at all holding Tom in place. "Better hit him again," he laughed, and jammed his stun-bat into Tom's back. - Tom was dragged bodily through the compound, half-concious, to a low building with a biohazard marking on it. Like the medical building it was well built with solid walls despite being a temporary structure, but it had no windows. He was led inside by the guards and brought to a halt before a heavily barred door. Captain Lewis knelt down in front of him. "So, there's more to you than meets the eye, Murdoch," he growled, fiddling with the stun-bat. "Shame you didn't bring that rat fuck Hinds back with you...doesn't feel right doin' this without the full set." He pressed the business end of the bat underneath Tom's chin, lifting his head up. "If they're alive, and you know where they are...ohhh, you'd better believe I'll find them," Lewis said, as though he thought he was being intimidating. Tom just glared, filled with anger, and for a moment a hint of uncertainty flashed across the captain's face. Behind him the heavy bolt slid across and the door opened. Lewis stood up and backed away as Tom squinted against the light coming from the doorway. "Commander Grant?" "Lieutenant, I must say this isn't how I wanted it to be." Grant stepped into the room, blocking the glare behind him. "Your friend, however, has proved to be something quite extraordinary, and her actions tonight have forced my hand." Growling noises were coming from the doorway as Grant spoke, getting Tom's attention. Grant glanced over his shoulder. "Busy happenings in there, my friend. Would you like to see?" He gestured to the guards who lifted Tom up and dragged him through the door behind Grant. The room they entered was like a prison, bars and cages on all sides. "I wasn't lying when I said we were in trouble here," Grant said, walking ahead of Tom. "We have quite a lot invested in this endeavour, and little to show for it. However," he went on, tapping the bars of a small cell. "There is something of great value here after all, and I am taking whatever action necessary to pull my men out of the dirt and give them a future." Tom looked into the cell and saw a girl, as familiar as Tigerlilly yet just as unique. She sported a jet black coat with grey hair around her hands, her ears and her breasts, some of it stained with red. "As you can see, our attempts at domesticating these...girls...has been less than successful," said Grant, turning to the second cell containing another girl. He pointed to her. "This one tore Kudrick to shreds when he attempted to bed her." The small, brown haired girl hissed at Grant, who didn't seem phased by her at all. "Sergeant Molov was able to finish with the other girl, but only while she was heavily restrained, and it did nothing to help her controllability." Tom looked back as the poor creature with black and grey hair threw itself against the bars in an attempt to get to Grant. They raped her. "The only one we know of that has shown any kind of tame behaviour - or any behaviour different from this kind of aggression - is yours." Grant continued, passing through another lockable door into an empty room of cells. "She is as dangerous as the others, but it's not the same...something about her interaction with you makes her unique." He abruptly stopped, turning to face Tom in front of the open door of a prison cell as the two guards holding Tom up dropped him to his knees. "Son, I need to know what makes her different. Why she is obedient to you...and why she is five times more dangerous to other men than the wild ones are." Tom read into Grant's words and glared at him. "I swear if you touched her, if any of you've touched her..." "I don't want it to be like this, Murdoch. You're my best soldier, but right now I need to know how you tamed that girl." Grant grabbed Tom's throat, glaring down at him. "How did you do it? How do you control her??" "Y-you can't, just, control them! It...it doesn't work like that! They don't work like that!" "Fine, have it your way." With a heave Grant lifted Tom and threw him into the cell, his back slamming into the wall. Tom coughed and groaned as the door swung shut, clanging into place. Commander Grant stepped up to the bars, and for the first time Tom noticed private Parker standing just behind the guards, looking scared and uncomfortable. "Your little friend will be put with the others we have caught, and when we start the next stage of our experiments she will be the first in line. I WILL pull my men out of this mess ahead in profits, even if it means doing things I would rather not. You should have cooperated, Lieutenant. Not every commander would do anything it takes to save his men." He stepped back, the anger draining from his face. "Enjoy your last night alive, Murdoch. Tomorrow morning, you face the firing squad." He shook his head, looking regretful. "I am sorry to have to do it." - Tom sat alone in his cell, feeling helpless and miserable. He didn't even know where Tigerlilly was now, and he knew that Grant wasn't bluffing; he would take whatever action necessary to control the girls, even if he never succeeded. Tom had tried the bars on his cell, but there was no way through them, and no weapons nearby. He had no escape plan. The sound of a door unlocking at the end of the hall roused Tom from his stupor. He got up and stood by the door to his cage, prepared to fight his way out. The inner door opened and private Parker stepped through. "Relax, Murdoch, I'm not here to fight. I swear I didn't know about any of...this, when we took you and your girl in." Parker stepped up to the bars and Tom could see the sincerity in his eyes, along with a loss of loyalty. "Grant didn't tell you a damn thing, did he?" "I had no idea they even existed, never mind what he was planning for them." "I didn't think he had it in him. Doesn't matter now, all I care about is saving these girls. They're innocent, and don't deserve this. Can you help me?" "Of course! These are amazing creatures," Parker said, gripping the cell bars. "They are unlike anything I've ever seen, and I won't stand by while they are treated this way." Parker fiddled with the lock and opened the door, letting Tom step out. "Several of our men mysteriously disappeared overnight, just after we chased the rebels following their raid on our base. My guess is Grant brought back the girls then, under cover of darkness, and I think the missing men might have been killed by these girls. From what I read about Grant's experiments, all but one fought off the men's advances, and she had to be tied back during it, which still didn't work because she was even worse afterwards. Grant said something about a choice being made...I don't know, I'm no expert, but it sounds like their aggressiveness has something to do with their...virginity." Parker looked at Tom, almost a little embarrassed to be talking about it. Tom tilted his head in acknowledgement. "They choose their mate very carefully, making sure he is strong enough to protect her and tough enough to survive the, er, process," Tom said thoughtfully. "That kind of loyalty can't be earned by rape, not if she can't test his limits. It doesn't matter what Grant does, he will never get these girls under control." Parker nodded, standing up quickly. "We need to get them out of here, and you as well," he said. "Grant has your girl locked away somewhere separate, I think he means to take her for himself once he's figured out how to master them." The thought made Tom sick. He knew Tigerlilly would never touch Grant, but even the idea of him finding a way... "How did you figure all this out, Parker? There's no way Grant's team has this much intel if they can't even bed the girls." "I had help...from some friends of yours. It seems you're not alone, Murdoch." Parker led Tom out into the other room of cells, occupied by the two girls in the cages and four others: two uncaged girls, one of them maroon coloured with a black stripe down her back, the other brown with white stripes on her sides pointing to her belly, and two men in a mix of uniform and armour. "Oxley? Hinds??" Tom stammered as Liam Oxley crushed him in a hug. Robert "Niner" Hinds smiled and grasped his comrade's hand as Ox let him go, the two girls at their heels emitting a low growl of caution. Ox leaned down and stroked the red and black girl's back, flattening her tall black ears against her head to calm her down. Tom noticed she had a clash of black and maroon coloured shoulder length hair, with taller ears and a thinner tail than either Tigerlilly or the other girl, who had long brunette hair the same colour as her body and short brown ears. "Easy, Ruby," whispered Ox, looking up at Tom. "Good to see you in one piece, Lieutenant...well, mostly one piece," he added, looking at Tom's bandages. Tom noticed similar markings on some of Ox and Niner's clothing, however their armour was complete and tightly fixed to their uniforms. Ox looked down at their gear as Niner moved with his brown and white girl to check the door leading out of the hut. "Already snuck into the armoury, and left a little surprise in there too," he said, grinning mischievously. Parker grinned as well, while Niner gave a snort of disbelief, waggling a small detonator at them. "I did the wiring, and the planting, and the priming," he said, before tucking the detonator into a small chest pocket behind his armour plating to keep it safe. Ox shrugged and handed some of Tom's personal gear over, motioning to the rifle slung across his back. "Well, I also had to pick up Little One, of course." Little One was Oxley's custom-built designated marksman rifle, a bullpup design with a compact submachine gun mounted underneath the barrel for extra firepower at close range. It was a bit of a heavy weapon, with a powerful large calibre round coming out of the end which could cause more damage than Grant usually asked for. Tom should have figured Ox wouldn't leave it to be destroyed in the blast. "So what's the plan then?" he asked, strapping his P99 pistol to his leg and accepting some hard plates from Niner. "We getting the girls all together and busting out of here on our own?" "Not that simple, we have to be very careful," Ox cautioned. "There's only seven of them, but they sometimes get aggressive and frisky towards tamed girls and their tamers respectively. We haven't figured out how the alpha pack thing works with them yet." He gently patted Ruby's head, letting her know everything was ok. "Plus they may see us as friendly, but we're probably going to need more help from guys like Parker, and if we couldn't convince these girls to play nice when we thought they were trying to eat us I don't know if we can convince them not to rip our buddies to shreds. Parker had an idea though," he said, turning to the private. Parker gulped, a little apprehensive. "Lieutenant Shrike, Sergeant Cussler and a many others aren't interested in staying here if Grant insists on treating these girls the way he is. It's not just his chosen brutes anymore; the secret's out, and about half of those who didn't know about them until you showed up are disgusted at the idea of slavery. So we want to come with you, if that's alright," he added, looking from Ox to Tom for approval. "Since we'll have more than one pilot in our group, we could fly the big cargo chopper out of here with plenty of room for all of us. We could even separate any girls who come with us if need be, so there is less chance of infighting." The plan made sense. The enormous cargo helicopter sitting in the compound was called the Thunderbird: it was a special build, one of a kind, and needed a crew of at least three or four men to safely manage it on long journeys. The problem was that it was one of Grant's most prized possessions. He wouldn't let it go easily if they were caught out. "I like it, but I have to rescue Tigerlilly," Tom said, strapping his forearm guard into place and harnessing a knife on his shoulder webbing. "I can't leave without her." "I figured you wouldn't," Parker nodded. "She's in a solitary holding cell, set up in a tomb behind the main storage building that leads into the local ruins." The jungle hadn't been completely empty when they arrived, and Grant had placed one of the storage sheds in the mouth of a large stone temple, with the intention of using its many small rooms going off of a central passageway that had no other exit. "This facility is too small for them all to fit, so Grant only used it for his...experiments," he said, as though the word left a foul taste in his mouth. "The other girls are stored in small cages just inside the smaller adjacent storage building. There's a key for that door, where we'll go in, but Grant has extra security on Tigerlilly. You'll find it difficult to access the ruins." "Thank you," he said to Parker. Tom turned to the others. "I can't ask you guys to wait for me, especially since if I get caught the whole plan will go out the window. Grant will know I can't have gotten this far on my own, or known where he was hiding Tigerlilly," he said, looking at Parker. Niner turned and shook his head. "We came back for you as much as the girls," he said. "Besides, we know what she means to you. I'd do the same for Evie." He reached down and smoothed out the fur on the brown girl's back, listening to her purr happily. "We have to move," said Parker, checking his watch. "We don't have long before the guards will figure out someone has gotten into the base from the outside." Niner motioned to the others and they all headed out the door and into the main room, where Parker picked up an assault rifle and handed one to Tom. "We'll rally the troops," said Ox, cocking the large bolt handle and chambering a round in Little One. "You go get the girl, Bond." - The compound was quiet, most of the soldiers sleeping in the barracks and only a few guards on perimeter duty. Tom kept his rifle close, hoping he wouldn't have to use it until he was on his way out, given the amount of noise the round would make in the peaceful jungle night. When he got to the temple entrance he crept slowly over to one of the storage shed doorways, noticing it was locked but unguarded. Seeing a side entrance, he moved around to the left and tried the other door. Also locked, just as Parker said he would be. With little option Tom made his way down the side of the building to where it backed onto the ruins, hoping to find a weak point in the structure. Luckily the engineers were only able to cover part of the temple with the shed and there was a jagged stretch of stone that didn't line up with the straight temporary walls at the bottom, so Tom dug into the dirt for a few minutes until he had made a big enough hole to crawl through. "I didn't sign up for an archaeological dig," he muttered to himself as he shimmied underneath the stone wall of the temple. He came out on the inside of the ruins, with the back of the storage building to his right and the passage way to his left, with a single electric light bolted to the wall for illumination. The passage was just wide enough to drive a car down, with several small square shaped rooms along each wall. Tom quickly made his way down into the dark, stepping around several poorly placed boxes of gear that must have been moved out of the other shed to make room for the girls. He moved quietly and carefully, afraid of turning on his flashlight and attracting attention. Eventually he found himself at the back of the passage, so dark that he could barely see. He heard a faint sniffing noise and froze, finger on the trigger of his rifle. When he heard a faint mewling sound he immediately switched on his light and turned the corner into one of the rooms, finding Tigerlilly in a small animal cage with a barred door. The girl looked exhausted, but thrilled to see him as he rushed over to her cage. Hunter Hunted Ch. 02 "Shhh," he whispered to her, stroking her hair and gently caressing her cheek. Tigerlilly licked his hand gently and nuzzled him, tears leaking from her blue eyes. Tom fumbled with the lock, picking up a crowbar and jamming it into the gap between the door hinges and giving a great heave, busting the metal frame. Tigerlilly dashed out and leapt into his arms, nibbling his neck and wrapping her arms around him, her naked belly and breasts rubbing against his chest. Tom held her close but gently placed a hand between her breasts to stop her as her hands began to claw at his crotch, tugging on his belt. "No no, Tigerlilly, not now," he said quietly. "We have to leave. I have friends waiting for us, they're going to take us away from here, far away." Tigerlilly gave him a questioning look, and he wondered if she realized that meant leaving the jungle - her home - behind for good. "Do you want to leave with me? I have to go, but I don't want to leave you here...I love you, Tigerlilly," Tom said quietly. "If we go...we won't come back." She stared at him, and Tom wondered horribly if she would choose to stay with the other girls. Instead, Tigerlilly pushed him backwards until he was sitting with his back to the temple wall. She walked forwards and sat in his lap, her naked groin against his, her breasts inches from his face. He could feel the heat coming from her pussy, and her nipples were rock hard. "Do you want to come with me, or do you want to stay?" he asked her. Tigerlilly reached up and gently placed her hands on his shoulders, digging her claws in just a little bit, but nothing like what she had done before. Staring into his eyes, she inched closer, and closer, until their noses were almost touching. Looking down at him, Tigerlilly tilted her head to one side, and with a cautious, gentle motion, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his. It wasn't quite a kiss, she was just touching his mouth with hers, but Tom gently leaned into it and kissed her, feeling her lips move and change to match his. Tom held the kiss for a little bit longer, then Tigerlilly pulled away, looking at him with that same slightly blank expression. Taking the initiative, Tom gently slid his hands up her naked sides, then around her and across the short orange coat on her back, pulling her pink girlish parts closer to press against him. He felt her claws dig in, a sign that she was nervous perhaps, so he leaned forward and kissed her again, feeling her mouth open slightly. He was hesitant about her teeth, but felt her kiss him back before he pulled away this time, not wanting to overload her. Then he had a mischievous idea, and licked her cheek playfully. Tigerlilly grinned and nuzzled under his chin, giving him a hard on as she started grinding her hot, naked folds against his groin, rubbing herself lightly. "I love you," he said again, "but you're just insatiable sometimes." Tom smiled as he said it though, sliding his hand down her back. She was still a little tense but his acknowledgement of her attempts at kissing made her feel more comfortable with the touching, which was still a bit foreign to her. Tom's hand gently flowed down to caress her ass, feeling her perfectly soft, fleshy cheeks as she ground against him. Gently easing her back, Tom reached down between them and stroked her belly just above her groin, feeling her tense slightly but purr with enjoyment. "Something to experiment with perhaps," he said to her, his hand drifting lower down. Tigerlilly didn't stop him, so he turned his hand with his palm facing her and his fingers pointing down and slid his hand below her waistline, his hand coming into contact with her pussy. He paused, his fingertips brushing the space between her folds and asshole and his palms rubbing just below her clit, feeling her hot wetness soak his hand as she wriggled and hummed. He moved his hand up a little, brushing her clit, and then back down again, feeling her shake with pleasure. He did it again, this time pushing against her as he moved, making her squirm in his lap. Tom paused, knowing he had to leave soon, but tilted Tigerlilly's head up and looked her in the eye. He held his finger to her lips gently. "Shhh..." he whispered. Tigerlilly clamped her mouth shut and Tom slid his hand back around behind her, pulling her forward so that her upper chest rested against his and her chin leaned on his shoulder. Holding her close, Tom quickly but gently slid his hand up and down against her, rubbing her pussy and clit. Tigerlilly instantly began shaking and squirming against him, but she dug her claws in and pressed her boobs against his body, tilting her hips so she could push against his hand. Tom continued to rub her folds, feeling heat and wetness coating his fingers as he worked her. In no time at all Tigerlilly bit down on his shoulder and her entire body shook violently, her pussy spraying a wet blast of juices all over Tom's lap and palm as he clamped his hand to her folds, pushing hard against her. He could feel her clenching with each pulse, a faint pant escaping her mouth as she came. After another minute or so she started to calm down, her pussy shivering only a little as she eased her claws out of his shoulders. Tigerlilly licked Tom's face all over and he knew he had done well for her. He gave her forehead a kiss and stood up, helping the wobbly-legged girl to her feet. But even as he picked up his rifle and turned to go, Tigerlilly was getting control of herself, standing proudly at his heels with a new strength and determination that he didn't think she showed in the cage. "Ready?" he asked her. Tigerlilly licked his crotch, where his rock solid hard on was just visible. She wanted to get out, if for no other reason than to fuck him senseless. "Let's go then." Tom made his way back to the hole near the entrance to the shed. As he directed Tigerlilly to crawl through the hole, the door to the building clanked, and Tom raised his weapon as it swung open. Captain Lewis stood on the other side, his hand still on the door handle, a surprised expression on his face. "You -!" Tom smashed Lewis in the face with the butt of his rifle, knocking him down on his back. He dashed forward to lift the dazed man to his feet, pressing the barrel of his assault rifle up under the captain's chin. "Make a noise and I blow the top of your head off," Tom hissed, his arm wrapped around Lewis's throat. "Get your hands off me you fucking shitbag!" he choked out, blood pouring from his nose. "Not gonna happen," Tom growled, pushing him forward as Tigerlilly bared her teeth at his heels. "You think you're better than us? You think you're so fucking righteous, trying to man up and fuck us over? You won't make it out if here alive, none of you dumb fucks will!" Tom lifted his rifle and beat Lewis over the head with it, but even as he moved back towards the rear doorway, the entrance to the shed burst open and armed guards rushed in, followed by more from the side entrance. They all aimed their weapons at Tom and Tigerlilly "Drop it!" one of them yelled. Tom did so, motioning for Tigerlilly to stand down as well. They were caught. - Commander Grant's elite guards marched Tom and Tigerlilly out into the compound, where almost everyone in the base was present, some with weapons, others without. Those that stood armed were facing the same way as Commander Grant, and had their weapons aimed at those who didn't, indicating a clear line between the two groups. Tom watched as Ox, Niner, Parker and Shrike were singled out from the unarmed, the rest of the resisting men stepping back with their hands on their heads. Tom was kicked from behind, falling to the ground beside Tigerlilly as an enraged Lewis stormed past him and stood with Grant, Tom's assault rifle and pistol in his arms. As Tom looked around, he couldn't help but notice at least half of Grant's men were wearing a full complement of body armour, including goggles and helmets; all the better to defend against the girls and their vicious claws. A fair number of his men had known about the girls, then. Those that weren't as heavily armoured had still clearly chosen their loyalty though, and all of Grant's men were armed with UMP45 submachine guns and outnumbered the resisting soldiers by a great deal. It appeared Tom had been working with a great many borderline brutes just waiting for a good - and inherently terrible - reason to turn. It upset him how many familiar faces he couldn't see among his allies. "Parker," called Grant. "I ask that you come back now...you have done nothing to deserve punishment. I realize you were deceived about these animals," he said quietly, "and I'm sorry. But if it was a test, you passed. You acted as a mercenary should: you showed independence, bravery, leadership. It's about time, son," he finished, holding out his hand. Parker, who was sporting a bruised eye and a nasty cut on his forehead, lowered his arms and walked slowly over to Grant, standing amongst the guards looking like his soul had been destroyed. Then Grant turned to Tom. "I tried to reason with you," Grant said to him coldly. "I tried to explain, I wanted to work with you, Murdoch. You are still my best soldier," he said, earning a disappointed glance from Captain Lewis behind him. "We can still work together, you and I - these girls will make us enough to only take the jobs we want. Think of it: millionaires, willing to pay top dollar for a new breed of sex-obsessed pussy, protective enough to be a bodyguard, kinky and exotic enough to meet any possible criteria, no matter what the buyer likes. It's completely unheard of," he said excitedly, "and it will make us for life." He reached out to Tom, almost pleading but not willing to go that extra step. Tom stepped back. "These girls don't work that way," he said. Grant lowered his hand. "And they will never be what you want them to be." Tigerlilly licked his hand lovingly, her faith in him confirmed. Grant looked down at the ground in thought, then turned to Lewis. "Captain Lewis...make an example of these four, and then take the others into custody," he said, turning on the spot and walking towards the facility with several of his men forming an armed escort. Lewis slung Tom's rifle across his back, threw his P99 to the ground and motioned to Parker, who reluctantly moved forward and grabbed Niner. Niner struggled, forcing Parker to grasp hold of his chest plate, grappling with him for a moment before dragging him forward in front of Lewis. Lewis looked down his nose at Parker. "Was it really that hard, private?" sneered Lewis, turning to Niner as Parker stood a few feet behind him. Niner's gaze had followed Parker, but now he turned to glare at the captain, unafraid of the man's macho attitude. "We won't let you enslave these innocent creatures," he declared. "Defiant to the end." Lewis smirked, then punched Niner in the side of his unprotected ribs with an armoured glove and pushed him to his knees. "Too bad...we'll be millionaires, you'll be dead, and the world will be better off without you!" Lewis drew his own pistol and jammed it hard against Niner's head, glaring menacingly. "Any OTHER last words, you arrogant, smug cunt?" he spat. Niner looked up at him calmly, then over Lewis's shoulder at Parker and back to Lewis, his hands loose by his sides. "Fire in the hole?" he said, as Parker jammed his thumb down on Niner's stolen detonator. The blast knocked Tom onto his back as the armoury exploded, light and noise drowning out everything else for a brief moment. The fireball shot high into the sky as ordnance ignited, burning fiercely behind them all. As he rose from his position he saw Niner standing over a bleeding, unconscious Lewis and shaking his knuckles, the captain's pistol clutched in his other hand. Meanwhile Parker had smashed the nearest elite in the face and now yanked the submachine gun from his hands, spraying a burst of fire horizontally that cut four or five of the other elites in half before the magazine went dry. Then all hell broke loose. Tom leaped forward and grasped hold of his own pistol and a dropped submachine gun as automatic gunfire ripped up the dirt he was kneeling in. He fired back randomly at the elites, saw one go down, and dived for cover behind a stack of crates as Ox joined him. Shrike, Parker and two other men dived behind an armoured car as the rest of the resistance scattered, grabbing their assault rifles and returning fire. Niner and the all of the girls bolted up into the back of an APC while bullets struck the ground all around them. In less than ten seconds the scene had devolved into a mad firefight the likes of which usually took place between an entire army and Sylvester Stallone. Over the sound of Ox's heavy DMR round cracking next to him Tom heard the whine of an engine and risked a look over at the Thunderbird. He could see Cussler firing his 1911 pistol from the cockpit as the huge six-bladed rotors started spinning up slowly, but more of Grant's men were advancing towards him. Tom spied the Commander in the middle, seeking shelter as Cussler's .45 rounds knocked the elite next to him backwards and out of the fight. Some of the elites had dropped into the low zig-zagging trench that surrounded the helicopter pad, their heads well below Tom's line of fire, and even as Cussler fired down into the pit more were lining up ready to jump in and rush the cockpit as a group. "Cussler's in trouble!" he called to Ox. Ox spun around and sighted up on the elites nearest to the big helicopter and the trench. With a boom of thunder one of their heads vanished and the other's chest exploded, sending the rest of them firmly behind cover and away from both the trench and the pad. Grant pointed and yelled in their direction and Tom and Ox ducked quickly as rifle fire from another angle threatened to cut them down. Tom opened up on them with his UMP, but stuck in the middle of nowhere as they were it was a losing battle. "Couldn't have picked a better time to go rogue," he yelled to Ox, squeezing off a burst at two elites trying to move to another position. One of them went down but the other escaped with glances to his heavy armour. "I thought you'd be glad! You're the one who always complained about the coffee rations, like you were trying to form a bloody union or something!" Ox retorted, as his under-barrel mounted submachine gun buzzed at a group of elites clustered beside a jeep. The tyres burst and men fell to the ground in a hail of bullets. The high capacity helical magazine finally ran dry and Ox ducked down as return fire chewed away at their cover, quickly reloading. "I got the idea from you forming your own union over the food," Tom yelled, quickly drawing his pistol and firing as his submachine gun jammed. His target fell and he reached down to clear the UMP's chamber, firing full auto again at an elite running across the courtyard for cover. It was only a matter of time until they managed to get a third angle on the stack of crates Ox and Tom hid behind, then they would have nowhere to hide. Tom dropped an empty magazine and reloaded, half trying to save his shots and half spraying in Grant's direction every chance he got, full of hatred. He watched rounds clatter against the Thunderbird's bay door and Cussler fired his pistol in return, then raised a carbine rifle and opened up on Grant's position. Cussler was keeping them back, but with most of the resistance pinned down several metres behind the helicopter pad and Tom's position, the elites were slowly inching forward, once more getting close to the protection of the trench. Cussler was only one man and had to be running low on ammo; he wouldn't be able to take them all at once. Tom couldn't see Parker, Shrike or the girls from this position, and he began to fear for Tigerlilly's life. "Almost out of ammo," called Ox, jamming a giant magazine into the DMR and loosing more sniper rounds. Tom joined him in pinning down the elites he could see from his position and prayed for a miracle. Rounds hit near them and one of them smacked into Ox's armour, knocking him down. The large man swore and leaned up to fire back, only to get another round in the arm, this one punching through the soft joint in his uniform and drawing blood. Then a round hit Tom square in the chest, throwing him back as one more struck the top of his shoulder plating, cracking it in half. A third skinned his thigh just to the left of his armour, and even though it was only a flesh wound he dropped to the ground, knowing the accuracy of the elites was getting better. Tom fired blind, emptying half of his magazine in desperation as Ox fired his rifle one-handed, swapping to the submachine gun attachment as more troops emerged from cover and swarmed towards them. Suddenly the courtyard was ablaze with fire and a deafening sound as heavy machine gun rounds cut through the crates nearest to their position, dead elites flying backwards with the force of the impact. Tom looked up and saw the .50 cal machine gun mounted to the APC hatch spitting lightning as Niner squeezed the trigger, returning fire pinging off the vehicle's heavy steel harmlessly. Shrike leaned out of the APC door and fired his assault rifle, motioning to Tom and Ox that they should run for it. The two men dashed out from behind cover and reached the relative safety of the APC, where Tigerlilly threw her arms around Tom. Shrike leaned down to be heard over the rattle of the .50 cal. "The treads on the APC are busted, so we're gonna make a dash for the Thunderbird!" he yelled. "When Niner runs dry, the resistance will cover us, Parker will punch a hole in the wall behind it with a grenade, and the girls can escape there while we hold off the elites from the helipad!" Tom nodded and motioned for the girls to come down the ramp. They were a strange mix, but with some coaxing from Ruby, Evie and Tigerlilly they slowly huddled at the base of the APC. Tom leaned out and motioned to the resistance soldiers that they should lay down cover fire while Tom and the girls ran, then he and the others would cover the troops from the trench around the Thunderbird. The soldier watching him nodded, loading a fresh magazine and signalling the others. Shrike was watching Niner's ammo belt getting eaten up into the machine gun. "Three...two...one...now!" yelled Shrike. The enormous gun fell silent and some of the elites stood up to survey the scene. All at once the resistance fighters opened fire, killing three men outright and keeping the others pinned down behind cover for fear of being torn apart. Tom, Ox, Shrike and Parker, who had a 40mm grenade launcher slung across his back, ran from behind the APC as Niner jumped from the hatch, the girls in the middle of them as they sprinted for the Thunderbird. Parker slid the gun from his back, sighted up on the wall past the tail rotor and fired, the explosion blowing out a large enough hole for the girls to escape. They all leapt down into the trench around the helipad and leaned over the top, submachine guns, assault rifles and pistols firing simultaneously on the remaining elites as the next group of resistance fighters dashed after them, some of them limping, others carrying wounded on their backs, all of them letting loose with bursts from the hip as they leapfrogged across to the shelter of the crates around the helipad. By the time the first group had made it to the safety of the helipad there were only a few enemy soldiers still returning fire. Tom couldn't see Grant among them. "Alright," said Shrike to Cussler. "Scoot over action hero, I'm drivin'." He strapped into the cockpit as others manned the engineering controls. The rest of the resistance fighters formed up, some taking cover behind crates and in the trench, others climbing aboard the Thunderbird. Tom moved to help Tigerlilly into the helicopter bay, then motioned to Parker. Hunter Hunted Ch. 02 "You and Niner take the machine gun nest in the far southwest corner of the trench," he yelled. "I'll take that cutout along the south stretch between the corners." He pointed to two resistance fighters. "You two hold the east facing stretch of trench until everyone else is across the courtyard and on board, wounded first." He dropped his empty machine gun and grabbed an assault rifle before he ran down the pit as Parker dashed across the surface to the far side, the other men dropping down to Tom's left around the corner. The south facing trench ran at right angles from the corner of the east trench to the compound wall, ending in a square bunker Niner and Parker were occupying. Along the straight stretch a U shape had been cut facing south, jutting out away from the helicopter. As Tom reached the middle of the U shape and sighted up on a stack of crates near the burning armoury, a hellish scream rattled his mind and a body flew into the trench, knocking him down. "I'll fucking kill you!" raged Lewis, brandishing his stun-bat. "You AND your bitch-kitty!" and he lunged at Tom wildly. Tom leaned back as the stun-bat swiped the air in front of his face, the electrodes crackling. He attempted to draw his pistol left handed but Lewis kicked his wrist, pinning it against the trench wall. He swung the bat again but Tom ducked and the tip of the bat smashed into the wall and broke. Tom threw a right punch at Lewis's head and lurched forward, tackling the larger man and pinning him against the opposing wall. Lewis grunted, bringing his fist down on Tom's back and bringing his knee up, which scraped past Tom's face barely missing its mark. Tom disengaged from the grapple and threw a crippling round kick at Lewis's knee. The captain's leg briefly collapsed and Tom swung a left punch and a right hook at the man's face, but Lewis shrugged both hits off and aimed a shoulder charge at Tom for his trouble, followed by an uppercut to the chin and a spinning side kick to the ribs which sent him half-dazed back into the opposite trench wall. Lewis seized his moment and leapt for Tom's dropped pistol, scooping it from the dirt and bringing it up. Tom immediately stepped in to Lewis's side and stopped him bringing the pistol around, grappling with his wrist and elbowing Lewis in the face. Lewis stumbled and Tom yanked his outstretched gun arm forward, swinging his left elbow and forearm up to smash it into Lewis's now straightened elbow, breaking the joint with a sickening crunch. Lewis howled in pain as Tom twisted his wrist with one hand and yanked the pistol from his twitching fingers with the other, the firearm falling to the ground as Lewis drew a knife left handed and thrust at Tom's ribcage. Tom twisted but gasped in pain as the tip of the blade sliced along his right side, stepping back and holding a hand to the deep cut. Lewis swapped to a reverse grip on the knife and slashed at Tom's throat, missed, then swung it down overhead intending to drive it directly into the top of Tom's skull. Tom's arms came up and deflected the knife, moving to the side and going with the momentum of the strike while yanking the captain's arm out, pushing his left shoulder down and kneeing him in the face. Tom threw him back up against the wall of the trench and pulled down on Lewis's elbow, finally driving the knife, still clutched in his hand, straight into the deranged captain's stomach. Lewis gasped, shocked at the turn of events, as the blade stuck to the hilt below his ribs. Tom glared into his eyes as he let go of the cold-blooded mercenary, watching him fall to his knees, then to the ground, landing face first in the dirt. Tom picked up his pistol and glanced out into the chaos that was the compound. Most of the elites were retreating under the combined firepower of Niner's second heavy machine gun barrage and Parker's grenade launcher, with various small arms fire coming from the east trench and across the courtyard. Tom took a few shots at an elite group dashing from cover and looked for another target. It seemed he had none left to shoot. "Tom!" called a voice above him. Tom looked up to see Ox holding out his good hand, Little One slung across his back and a smile on his face, with Ruby at his heels. He took his hand and was pulled up out of the trench to the sight of the soldiers all waiting inside the cargo bay of the Thunderbird, the wild girls no where to be seen. "Thanks," he yelled over the roar of the helicopter. "Now come on, we need to get you and Ruby settled." But Ox shook his head, smiling sadly. "I don't think so, Tom," he said, reaching down to stroke the red haired girl's head. "I can't leave the girls to be caught by any surviving elites we missed. They need protection now. I'm staying here." "Ox - Liam, you can't be serious," Tom spluttered, lost for words. "We have to go...you can bring Ruby with you, the world doesn't have to know what happened here..." "No Tom, they will find out, they always find out, and I'm not sure the rest of the world will understand." Ox stared off into the jungle. "But the guerrillas we fought here, they might know. It might explain why they fought so fiercely to protect their land." He turned back to Tom. "I'm sorry, my old friend. But this is as far as we go. I'd appreciate some help clearing the compound of any stragglers." He held out his hand. So that was it then. Tom took it. "We would have stayed with you," he said quietly. Ox smiled. "One day, maybe. One day." They let go and parted ways, Tom climbing into the cargo bay of the enormous helicopter, Ox and Ruby turning to face the rest of the base camp. Tom watched him as they started to lift off, hovering a few metres above the ground as Shrike and Cussler scanned for elites. Shrike pointed down at the ground and leaned back to yell through the gap from the cockpit. "Niner, I need a gunner, let's go!" Niner moved up and sat in the left side gunport, loading some rounds and spooling up the minigun. Shrike spun the chopper around and Niner let go with a burst of fire, spraying the ground as Tom watched Ox and Ruby move through the area. Parker nudged him. "He'll be fine," he said over the noise. Tom nodded, not really worrying about Liam Oxley at all. He turned to Parker. "So...finally got to do something beyond typing," he joked. Parker laughed back. "Yeah, I think I'm going to like our new - " Parker lurched backwards, blood flying from his shoulder and hip as the ping of gunfire against the Thunderbird's belly alerted Tom to enemy activity. His rage boiled over as he saw Commander Grant standing on the rooftop of the office building, holding an automatic rifle in his hands. Tom drew his pistol and aimed when Shrike's voice screamed out and the helicopter jerked and started to spin violently. "Aaahhh, aaaaahhhhhh!" "Shrike's hit...RPG!!" The Thunderbird miraculously swerved out of the way of the streaking rocket propelled grenade, but the already out-of-control behemoth tipped almost sideways and Tom and two resistance fighters were thrown from the cargo bay. Tom saw Tigerlilly's outstretched hand reaching for him, fear all over her face, he saw solid metal sheeting flying up to meet him, and then he saw nothing. - Tom's vision was blurry. His hearing was muffled. He was on his back, somewhere hard and uncomfortable, and the smell of burning fuel and discharged ammunition was heavy in the air, along with the whump-whump-whump of helicopter blades and a faint alarm signal. Coming back around, Tom turned his head and saw a giant dent and scrape marks on the roof, not a foot away from him. He looked up and saw a matching set of scrapes on the front of the massive helicopter Thunderbird as it wobbled dangerously, beeping loudly and barely under control after nosediving and bouncing off of the rooftop. The cockpit window was shattered with bullet holes and red with blood on one side. He couldn't see Shrike in the cockpit, nor Niner at the controls of the left side minigun. Tom turned his head again and saw his pistol, two other soldiers, and Commander Grant, standing on the rooftop. As he watched, the commander aimed his assault rifle and executed one of the soldiers as he tried to crawl to his feet. An elite came into view, fitting a second rocket propelled grenade into the launcher and kneeling down to take aim at the helicopter. Grant went to kick the second resistance soldier and saw Tom coming around, his pistol lying next to him. Grant walked calmly over to Tom and put his boot firmly down on Tom's hand, aiming down his rifle at him. "I told you once already, Murdoch!" he yelled, the wind whipping his hair to one side. "I told you I would do anything!" The crack of a rifle echoed through the air, but Tom was still alive. Commander Grant turned, confused and shocked, as the elite about to fire the RPG at the Thunderbird fell backwards, his head split in two by a large calibre round. Tom instantly rolled over, knocking Grant off his feet and pulling his hand free, snatching his fallen pistol. Tom spun on his back and kicked the assault rifle from Grant's hands before the older man lunged at Tom, grabbing for the P99 in his hands. Tom headbutted Grant in the face, hearing a satisfying crack as his nose broke, before he jammed the gun into his leg and pulled the trigger. The commander screamed as the bullet ripped through his thigh, flopping to the side in agony as he held his bleeding leg. Tom stood up and holstered his gun, yanking Grant to his feet and dragging him over to the edge of the roof. "There's only one thing you haven't done yet!" yelled Tom over the sound of the helicopter blades, looking Commander Grant - the man he had trusted all these years - right in the eye. "And that's learn how to tame these girls!" The traitor looked confused, then Tom turned him sideways and he gazed down over the edge of the rooftop, his eyes widening in fear. The girls had come back, even more of them than the ones trapped in the base, and they were right below him. Red, white, brown, black and all manner of stripes and mixed colours adorned the girls as they snarled and bared their teeth up at the men, their human faces filled with fury. Tom leaned over, making sure Grant could hear him over the sound of the Thunderbird coming in close. "Good luck, Sir!" He let him go. The fall was short, but Commander Grant's screams as he was set upon by the hungry, furious hell cats lasted a long time. After years of doing dirty work Tom wasn't squeamish, but he still turned away after the girls stopped slashing skin and muscle and just ripped what was left of Grant's body in half. Even then, he was still screaming. Tom grabbed the surviving resistance soldier under the arm and got him onto the chopper as it came in close, piloted by Cussler now, then turned and looked down into the base. Liam Oxley stood, his rifle Little One in one hand and Ruby by his side, his free arm raised in the air. Tom climbed into the cargo bay, Tigerlilly nuzzling him and licking his injured hand lovingly. "I love you," he said to her, holding her tightly as he stared out the open door. Tom didn't move from that spot until the helicopter rose well above the treetops, where the compound - and his oldest friend - were out of sight. - In the small beige room of a safehouse, in a hot, dry place on the other side of the world, Tom Murdoch sat in a chair with a bottle of the local alcohol clutched in his bruised hand. The patch on his cheek had come off, revealing three deep scars that would never fully fade, not that he needed them to. He didn't need much anymore, except for one thing. Tigerlilly twisted and turned on the small, soft bed that took up most of the space in the room, trying to figure out how she was supposed to stay on something so unstable. Of all the places they had slept in the past five days this was the closest to a normal life for Tom, but for her it was the most confronting. Still, perhaps as a sign of her ever changing ways, she seemed to be trying to accept her new life rather than remain difficult. Tom smiled as she finally gave up trying to determine the most solid section of mattress and just plonked down in the middle, curling up gently as her claws tugged on the material. "Comfy?" Tom asked. Tigerlilly mewed quietly and he stood and approached the bed, drink in hand. Tigerlilly looked up at him and licked her lips, a familiar hungry look in her eyes. Tom was getting used to her insatiable appetite by now, and after a few proper meals he was well up to strength. He stood at the edge of the bed as Tigerlilly stretched her girly body, showing off her breasts and pussy as she flicked her tail around. Tom's cock was straining against his pants as Tigerlilly crawled over to him and pulled on them with her clawed hands, inching them down his waist to expose his cock. The girl licked her lips again and slowly, being very careful as she always was about her teeth, she slid her mouth over the head of his cock, sucking him hard as she looked up at him. Tom closed his eyes and leaned back slightly, letting Tigerlilly take more of his cock down her throat as she sucked on him, her mouth sliding up and down his shaft. Her lips were wet and her mouth was warm, but most of all when he opened his eyes he found her eyes staring up at him, full of desire. It had been a solid day and a half of travelling since they had done anything together and Tom knew he would cum quickly, but part of him didn't want her to stop just yet, so he said nothing. Tigerlilly's tongue flicked around the head of his cock as she gave him a good sucking, her lips moving back and forth and her blonde hair swishing as she sucked him, her head bobbing faster now as she got into it. Tom was tempted to take her head in his hands and help her move faster, but he hadn't done that before and didn't want to give her too much new experience, but his hips began thrusting forwards as she sucked, the head of his cock lightly touching the back of her throat as she took him deeper into her mouth. Tigerlilly had gotten very good at blowjobs since her first try, and was eager to improve, taking as much of her Master's cock as she could handle in one go. Tom shuddered with pleasure as he felt his release coming, and was unable to resist putting a hand on top of her head gently as she sucked him off, his fingers brushing the pointy orange feline ears sticking through her blonde hair. Tigerlilly's ears twitched slightly but other than that she barely noticed his grip as she began to sense her Master's sexual needs growing, his desire for her increasing with each thrust of his cock into her warm, wet mouth, so she sucked on him harder than she had before. Tom looked deep into Tigerlilly's eyes as her lips slid all the way down his shaft, her claws digging into the bed and her ass in the air, and with a grunt his cum started to pump out of his cock. Tigerlilly locked her lips down on him as she felt her Master shiver with pleasure and at last she took a load in her mouth for the first time, her eyes bulging as she felt her Master's cum spurt onto her tongue. Tigerlilly mewed with her mouth full, swallowing the precious sweet seed of her Master's pleasure, feeling it coat her cheeks as his shaft pulsed between her soft lips. When she had swallowed his load and there was no more entering her mouth Tigerlilly pulled back, flicking her tongue over him as she gave a low growl and reached up to pull him onto the bed. Tom lay on his back and felt Tigerlilly tug his pants all the way off and run her soft clawed hand over his cock, already getting hard again. Tom knew she wanted something in return and sure enough Tigerlilly stepped over his legs and positioned herself over him, her pink human pussy dripping wet. Tom reached up and slid his hand over her, rubbing her folds with his palm as his fingers entered her, making Tigerlilly even wetter. With no effort whatsoever she slid his head into her folds and slowly eased herself all the way down onto him. Tom gasped at her unbelievable tightness. He was reasonably thick but every time he entered her she always felt as untouched as a virgin. The tigress gave a sigh of pure ecstasy as her bumcheeks came to rest in his lap, his full length throbbing inside her pussy. "This is what you want, my Tigerlilly?" he asked her. He got no response, as Tigerlilly was already rocking back and forth to get herself off. Tom's hands slid up her sides to hold her hips, helping Tigerlilly bounce up and down his cock, her pussy clenching around him each time she slid down him. The girl was hungry for sex and desperate to feel her Master as deep inside her pussy as he had been in her mouth, so she bottomed out, grinding her hips against him, one of his hands dropping to rub her clit. Tigerlilly shivered and growled at his touch, feeling his gentle but strong fingers play with her body. Tom's other hand slid up her body and felt the fur on her side, the silky soft light and dark orange running between his fingers. Her back was tight and muscular, and as his hand moved back down he felt the soft sexiness of her thighs and her ass, feeling bare skin once again before her tail flicked across his forearm. Her tail was by far one of the sexiest things about her, and it flicked around as she got closer and closer to cumming, her animalistic, raw sexual needs transforming her once more into the predator, her claws gently digging into his shoulders as she leaned over his body. Tom had grown used to her claws, too, the way she tended to dig them into his flesh as she became more aroused. She never drew blood anymore, unless the sex turned even more wild and insane than normal, which sometimes did happen in the heat of the moment, especially if she had been horny for him for too long. Today, however, she just wanted to feel him again, so he gave her clit one last rub before holding her hips in his hands and thrusting up into her, his cock pushing deep inside her pussy. Tigerlilly roared with pleasure, pushing her hips down against him as he fucked her hard, her large, pink breasts rocking with their passion. Tom leaned up and took one of Tigerlilly's nipples in his mouth, earning a slightly painful grasp from her hands but also a low, pleasurable rumble from the girl. She arched her back, burying her pussy on his crotch and allowing him to access her breasts, moaning as he licked and kissed them as she rode him hard. For an hour Tom lovingly pleasured her naked body, his lips and hands sliding from orange, stripy fur to soft, pink skin as his fingers brushed her naked belly and breasts, feeling her run her hands down his chest as her pussy became wetter and wetter. Tom could feel the girl clenching around him, tighter than the day they met, her tail brushing his thighs as she rocked her strange yet incredibly sexual body back and forth. They slowed down and sped up, wanting to get off but not wanting to finish too quickly. Tigerlilly was in heaven as her Master's fingers roamed her animal body, frequently running along the dividing line between her orange fur and her pale skin, his gentle and lust-driven touch making her wild with desire. Eventually Tom felt himself getting close again and began thrusting hard up into Tigerlilly's folds, his cock pushing deep inside her as she rode him. Tigerlilly was also about to cum, and she dug her claws into his back muscles as he sat up and wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling her large soft breasts and her hard nipples rub up against his bare chest as they fucked. Tigerlilly gave a loud roar and bit down into his shoulder, making Tom cry out as she started clenching her thighs around his waist, wetness spreading from her lap as she came hard, her voice filling the room with cries, pants, moans and screams. Tom held her tighter and as his fingers slid up and down her orange body his fingers brushed the base of her tail and he went over the edge, emptying himself into her pussy, filling her up with cream. Hunter Hunted Ch. 02 They fell back on the bed together, Tom's scratched, muscled arms wrapped around a small, furry girl with soft, pink skin and a wet, cum-filled pussy, one hand stroking her back and down over her tail, her low mewing in his ear telling him how much she needed to feel her Master release inside her again. His last thought was that it didn't matter where he went with her, as long as they had each other. "I love you, Tigerlilly," he whispered to her. Tigerlilly nuzzled closer, her face resting against his neck as she licked his bite, and with a quiet purr she closed her eyes and smiled, understanding her Master's words. Coming soon: Part III - Evolution Hunter Hunted Ch. 02 If you are all tired of my work, that's fine. It would probably make me more money if I didn't post it here for free first of all. But I do that because I know some of you can't afford to buy my work and have been loyal to me for years. If you aren't enjoying it anymore though, let me know and I will stop posting to this website just write for my publishing companies. Thanks! Hunter Hunted Ch. 03 Mirage waited, knowing that the buzz of the insanity was coming, that she'd just ruined Hunter's life. She kept her eyes tightly closed, her wrist still pressed against his face. "Mira?" His voice, still soft and completely sane had her opening her eyes and staring up at him in shock. "You're not..." She couldn't even finish the question. "You're..." "No, I'm not," he said, just as shocked as she was. He lifted his hand, his fingers trembling just a bit as he unfastened the hood on her head and pushed it back. "Are you..." Mirage didn't even flinch. She held completely still when his hand touched her face, his palm cupping her cheek. "I'm touching you," he whispered, his blue eyes shining. "I'm actually touching you." "How is this possible?" she gasped, turning her face into the strange feeling of heat, of skin against skin. She could smell him, a very masculine, very raw smell that had her breathing quickening. "How can you touch me?" "I don't know." He shook his head, looking up when Dianna walked up next to them. Her gaze went from his hand to Mira's face. "I knew it," she crowed. "I just fucking knew it." "But how?" Hunter couldn't stop touching her, his hand resting against her neck, feeling her pulse pounding under her skin. "How could you have known?" He used his teeth to unclasp his second glove, pulling it off his hand with a sound of aggravation. "It just made sense." She barely glanced at Beast when the hairy man walked up next to them, his eyes almost popping from his head. He yowled loudly, his hand reaching out to touch Mira as well. Hunter slapped his hand, knocking him away from her. "I might not be going insane but I really don't think I broke her so that anyone can touch her. Hands off, furry boy." Mira seemed to come out of her trance. "You won the bet, Hunter. Now if you'll quit touching me, I'm going to change clothes and go home. Unless you need me for something else?" she asked Dianna. When the tall beauty shook her head, Mira turned without saying another word and headed into the locker room. She snarled at anyone who even thought to speak to her, quickly changing back into the outfit she'd worn to work and grabbing her pack that held her keys. She hurried to the door of the locker room just as Dianna came in from the gym. "We should talk about this, Mira." They could both hear the buzz of whispers as the news spread through the room and out into ASP. Mirage would be the most talked about women here tonight. Mira shook her head, barely glancing back as she left the locker room and headed out toward where she parked her car. She ignored everyone and anyone who tried to speak to her. Her tires squealed as she headed toward the entrance to the parking garage. And then she was out on the streets and heading for home. She'd bought one of the bigger, ornate houses that graced the outskirts of town and had revamped it to suit her own needs. There was a gate at the end of the driveway and she only stopped long enough to pick up her mail and then entered the code to get inside. She sighed as she sped up the rest of the drive, feeling a bit of satisfaction at seeing her home, the lights shining with warm welcome out the big windows. She pulled her car into the attached garage, picking up the mail and going into the house. She dropped her pack on the dining room table and then dropped her mail on the small desk in the hall. Climbing the steps, she pulled open her bedroom door and reached into her closet. The dress was exactly what she'd been looking for. Tiny straps held the diaphanous material to her shoulders, the slim folds emphasizing her slender curves. It was soft, the colors sweetly muted and intimately feminine in every way it could be. She smiled. The dresses were her own little secret, what she wore when she was home alone without having to prove to anyone what a badass she actually could be when she wanted to. They were something she would never admit to or allow anyone of her team to see her dressed in this way. Mira peeled the white leather off her body, dropping it into a pile on the bedroom floor. In the morning, Beatrice, her housekeeper/keeper, would be in and she would make sure it was cleaned and put back into her closet, ready to wear. She took the dress and a clean pair of silky lace panties into the bathroom, reaching into the grass enclosed shower stall and turning on the water. When it got warm, she slipped inside, relaxing back against the shower to let the spray beat against her back. The hot water beat against her muscles and she smiled under the heavy spray. The day had been a long one, the ending had been a bit too shocking to believe. Hunter, the bane of her existence, the man who haunted her nightmares and inhabited her brain when she least expected it, could touch her. She rinsed out her hair and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around her slim body before grabbing another to dry her hair. Before she left the bathroom, she looked into the mirror. "I know you're there. Talk to me." The figure that coalesced in the steamy mirror was dressed in flowing, almost transparent white robes. A thin gold chain wrapped around her slender waist. Her hair was held up at the top of her head, the rest pulled through to fall to her shoulders in a waterfall of golden curls. She had beautiful blue eyes that were almost startlingly innocent. "You know what happened," Mirage said. "Yes, I saw." Her voice was soft, musical. The words were spoken in a voice that was strangely accented. She reached forward and touched Mira's soft hair. "You should dry this." "It'll dry on its own. How the hell did he touch me?" "He's the one." Mirage stared at her. "The one what?" The woman smiled and then walked out of the bathroom. "Have I ever told you how much I like what you've done with this house?" "Aphrodite, if you don't stick with the topic at hand and tell me what the fuck is going on..." "You're threats don't scare me, Mira. You've always been attracted to Hunter, maybe he's the one to end the curse." "I've been working with him for five years, there's no way he could possibly be the 'one'. Besides, what's with the maybes? I thought you knew all." "I know all I'm allowed to see, Mira. I'm not allowed to see it all." Aphrodite picked up the dress that Mira had dropped on the bed, lifting it critically between her hands. "This will be beautiful on you, my darling, but you should wear brighter colors, especially with your hair and eyes." "I'm at home and I wear this for my own pleasure, no one else's. Now could we get back to Hunter and the fact that he touched me? I've got to know how." Her head shook slowly as the Greek goddess sauntered around her bedroom, touching the little bits of feminine frippery that Mirage bought for herself. There was lace on her curtains and on the thick comforter on her bed. "You know, Mira, you are a fascinating creature, so many different sides that make up one complicated and thoroughly irritating woman. I can almost understand why Bia did what she did." She held her hands up when Mira gave her a scowl. "I said almost, Mirage. Almost understand. But you've been under her curse for over three thousand years, haven't you wondered when it would end, when she would stop hurting you the way she has?" "Did you talk her into this? Or is having it be Hunter to be able to touch me another little giggle on her part?" Her scowl was fierce. "Why did it have to be him?" "Because you desire him, Mira. Admit it. You've wanted Hunter since the first day you met him. What woman wouldn't?" "What female of any species wouldn't?" Mirage countered. "Even if I wasn't cursed, I'd have held him at arm's lengths. I've seen what he does to females. He can't be serious about any of them." "No, he hasn't been serious about any of them." Aphrodite stepped closer to the free standing mirror, her hand moving across the surface even as her eyes grew hazy and distant. "But there are reasons for Hunter's actions, reasons he will tell you if you but ask the question. Your future is not set, Mirage. It splinters and changes with each thought that races through your incredibly active mind. With that, I can not help you." She shook her head, moving away from the mirror. "I thought you'd know, you've always known what I should do before..." "Perhaps I've done you wrong by directing your actions," she said with a small wave of her long-nailed fingers. "Perhaps this day would have come more quickly if you hadn't listened to my words." Mirage pressed her fingers against her temples where a headache had begun to pound through her head. She glared at her friend. "Then go." Aphrodite looked as if she wanted to say something else, but she didn't, turning toward the mirror and disappearing into it. "Thanks for nothing." Mira grabbed her dress and slid the soft material over her head, pulling her towel off from around her body and then straightening the flared hem. She took her towel into the bathroom and hung it neatly from the towel bar, grabbing the panties she'd left on the counter and pulling them on. She brushed her hair, wincing as a knot caught in her brush. Then she picked up something else that she wore only for herself. A light, spicy scent wafted through the air and Mirage smiled, setting the bottle down. She twirled, watching the skirt of her dress flare out and then fall, hiding her slim thighs as it did. Grabbing her favored pair of sandals, she slid them on her small feet and headed down the stairs. It was a vastly different looking Mirage that stepped out the front door of the big house than the one that had walked in. This Mirage looked young, feminine and beautiful, as if stepping out to meet her beau on a date. She smiled, but without that menacing bite that scared so many of the foes she'd faced in her life, in her very long, very violent life. Half of them would have sworn this was a different woman, one that was sexy and sensual, one they wouldn't mind risking insanity to be able to touch. Her skin was tanned, smooth and soft, a slight sheen of health glistening off of it. Her hair bounced against her shoulders. She wasn't heavily armed, though she was armed. She never left the house without something. She could hear the traffic of the city racing by her front gate and she shuddered. Humanity had hurt her almost as much as that Greek bitch, Bia, had. She longed for a moment where she might call the bitch out for the hurt she had wrought, not only on Mirage but on her family. Part of Aphrodite's gift to Mira had been the chance for her to say good-bye to her family. She knew that neither Lineal or Lynette blamed her for the torture they'd been put through. They knew what had happened and both wished her to find what happiness she could. She'd done her best. Every person she killed was a little wafer thin slice of the hate off of her soul. Even some of the more unusual of her kills recently, the Vampires and renegades of the Were community, the aliens, the creatures that no one really knew where they'd come from, had helped that hurt just a bit more. "Yeah, another thousand or so years and I'll be Miss Happy," she said with a smug smirk. She shook her head, turning toward the path that she took every night, the path that led to the statues she'd had made many millennia before. The small clearing quickly opened at her feet and she stepped inside the small Garden of Eden she'd made. The soft lights were left on at all times. Lynette had feared the dark more than anything and even now, Mira couldn't force her to face it. Not when she couldn't be there to calm and to soothe her. Lineal stood next to a cement bench, poised forever in Mirage's favorite stance. His strong, well shaped legs were a shoulder's width apart, his arms crossed over his wide chest. His head was tipped back and he was laughing as he forever watched their daughter play among the flowers Mirage had planted herself. Even his hair seemed almost real, the locks curling around his strong shoulders. He'd always left it long because he knew she liked it. She walked toward him now, wishing that his blue eyes would open, that he would see her in this dress and step forward, his eyes showing his admiration. Mira knew her husband and she well knew that if they'd been alone, her dress would now be hanging off one of the flowering bushes scattered throughout the clearing. That she'd be crying out as he gave her the first of many climaxes. He'd been her first and her only. Causing men to go insane was actually a good way to keep a woman faithful. But she knew those eyes would never open and that she would never feel his heated touch or hear her daughter play and laugh through the flowers. She knew she created this wonderland of a happy family life to keep the insanity from taking her. Mirage knew why she did what she did. But she also knew that she would walk away from this little slice of heaven and be able to pick up her blaster tomorrow, to do the things she had to do for her job because tomorrow night, she'd be back here. "He touched me, Lineal. He actually touched my skin and the insanity didn't take him. Maybe this is it. Maybe he's the one to break the curse so that I might finally die and join you and Lynette. I've missed you so much, both of you." She sank down on the bench, her hands reaching out to touch the life size statue. "I can't think of anything I want more than to finally be able to leave this horrid existence and be with you again." She smiled up at him even as he didn't answer. She could still hear his voice in her dreams and as long as she had that, she'd fight to keep her sanity. "I love you, even more now than I did before." About an hour later, she rose. Tears fell freely from her eyes as she kissed his cool marble cheek and bent to hug her unwieldy daughter. "Until tomorrow," she whispered and then forced herself to turn away. The glow from the clearing lit the path and she easily found her way back to the house. It was only as she walked up the front stairs that she saw she had a visitor. "What are you doing here?" "We need to discuss this, Mira. You can't just shrug me off and say what happened didn't affect you." "God, Hunter, do you always think you have some kind of amazing affect on women? Get over yourself already." Mira opened the front door but didn't go in, looking down at the driveway and seeing Hunter's motorcycle sitting there. "Why don't you just climb back on that beast and go the fuck away for the next three days. We can talk about it again at work." Hunter reached out, grabbing her arm. He saw her tense and her eyes closed again as if she waited for whatever would happen next. When nothing did, she blinked open her eyes and glared up at him. "Okay, so you proved it again. Look world! Hunter is touching me! Did you ever think that maybe the reason you don't go mad is because you've never been that sane to begin with?" "And did you ever wonder if the reason you were cursed was because you're such a bitch!" The words were growled and she knew he'd lost his temper. She could feel it in the pressure of his fingers around her arm. She'd be bruised, but if he didn't watch himself, he'd be bloody. "Yeah, tell me something I don't know." When he didn't answer right away, she looked up and into his face, seeing his eyes widen. "What the hell are you wearing, Mira? Is this an actual dress?" "No, you've gone crazy, Hunter. Now why don't you do what they usually do and go run into a few hundred trees on your way out." "Where were you? I didn't hear the gate open. You...you walked out of the woods. What the hell is back there?" "My husband and daughter," she growled. "Not as if it's any of your business. I visit them every night." She felt his fingers loosen and she yanked away from him. "Damn, first man who can touch me and he's already leaving bruises." She smacked his hand away when he tried to exam the marks he'd left. "Just go away, Hunter. You've proved your point. I'm a bitch and I deserved what happened to me. I'm tired and I want to go to bed." He didn't move but to block her from entering her house. "You know, this is the first time I've ever been here. I had to get the address from Dianna. Don't you want to give me the twenty-five cent tour?" "For a quarter I'll show you out to your bike and then open the gate so that you can leave. Forget my address, Hunter. I never asked you out here." "Damn you're prickly," he growled and she could see he was losing his temper. Good, maybe if she pressed him too far he would hop on his bike and get out of her house. "Keep pushing me and you'll find out just how prickly and I can get." "Dammit, Mira. I came out here to help you, not piss you off. Why the hell you gotta be this way?" "Help me how exactly, Hunter. Did you come out here to show off what a fucking stud you are? Did you figure I'd be easy prey after three thousand years of abstinence?" She glanced at his face and felt a bitchy smile cross hers. "That's it, isn't it? You thought you'd come out here and touch me and I'd be so grateful for the wonders of your attention that I'd give you a ride." She shook her head sadly. "I can't really do any riding when you're dressed, Hunter. Get them pants off, boy and let's see what you've got to offer?" Mirage walked around him, her eyes roaming over ever square inch of taut, tempting body he offered. He wore ancient jeans, worn to white at the stress points. But they followed his skin like butter, showing off the wide, muscled expanse of his legs and that incredible bulge. She couldn't help but glance at it now, wondering as always if that was all his or if he stuffed a pair of tube socks in the front of his jeans. Under his leather jacket, he had on a wife beater, pure white, making his skin appear incredibly tanned. A gold chain was around his neck, the double bow pendant causing her to smile. She wondered if he knew it was Dianna's sign, if that way why he wore it. But knowing Hunter as she did, she'd almost bet he wore it because he thought he looked studly. "Did I ever say that was why I was here?" he growled, grabbing her arm to hold her still. "I came out here to talk, to make sure you were all right. Dammit Mira, I'm the first person in three thousand years to actually touch you and you aren't the least bit curious about it?" "Well, what can I say? Mysteries bore me to tears." She refused to let him know just how upset she actually was or how much she desperately wanted to know what this whole thing meant. Was the curse over? Could she touch anyone now? More importantly, could she die now? "Then prepared to be bored." He reached behind her and pushed open the front door. Surprise crossed his face as he stared at the beauty of the house before him. This was one of the last things he'd expected out of Mira. It was the country house of a rich doctor or a socialite, not Mira's home. He'd expected a double-wide or one side of a duplex, not this country estate. This house, the dress she was wearing, it was all a side of Mira he hadn't known existed and suddenly he was almost defensively curious to find out more. He wanted to know this white haired beauty with the tiny mole at the corner of her mouth that he longer to touch. He wanted to discover her wants and wishes, to hear her dreams. He wanted to know how much of this new Mira was really ingrained into her or if this was something new. Mirage pulled away from him and walked into the beauty of her rose covered living room. Roses were one of her favorite flowers, even as boring and blasé as that sounded. There was something intricately lovely about a rose in full bloom and the scent was mouth watering. She walked to one of the many antiques that she'd refurbished herself, another secret she hid from her team. She had her own workshop out back and spent many relaxing hour there, taking something worn and beaten and changing it into something useful and beautiful. Pulling out a crystal decanter, she lifted it toward Hunter and then poured the amber liquid into two matching tumblers. Hunter Hunted Ch. 03 "Go ahead and sit. If you have to be here and I can't talk you into leaving, we might as well be comfortable." She handed him the tumbler and then sank down gracefully into one of the rose colored love seats scattered around the room. "Who are you?" He took the tumbler and sat as well, feeling decidedly uncomfortable in his heavy leather biker's boots. "I could ask the same of you." She looked up at him suddenly, her eyes very direct. "I've fought beside you for five years, Hunter. You've saved my life and I've done the same for you. But I don't even know where you come from or who the hell you are." Hunter sighed and then drained his glass. "You might want to sit back and relax if you want the entire story. It could take a while." Hunter Hunted Ch. 04 Mirage rose to fill his glass after he drained it then returned to her seat, crossing her legs uncomfortably. She wasn't used to being dressed like this in front of anyone but Lineal and Lynette and she was feeling a bit naked in front of Hunter. It might have helped if he wasn't looking at her the way he was, as if she were sitting here in that extreme state of undress. She drank more of her whiskey, clearing her throat. "Okay, anytime you want to start. I don't have all night here." He sighed and then took another drink from his glass, finally setting it down in front of him. "I'm not quite sure how to start." "Well, I'd say to start like your favorite comedian. "I was born a poor black child..." "Hey, he's epic," he said with a laugh. "Okay. I was born a poor black child, except for the fact that I'm not black, my family wasn't really poor, and I'm not from here." "From the city?" "Uh...no, from this world." Mirage stared at him for a minute then lifted her glass and finished her drink, getting up and grabbing the crystal carafe. She refilled his drink and her own before setting the carafe in front of her. "Then...where are you from?" He let out a slow breath and took another hit of the potent brew. With his constitution, he could finish the whiskey in the carafe and another on top of that before he'd even begin to feel it. "It's hard to explain." He ran his hands through his hair in aggravation, wondering how he would come up with the words to explain. "I've never met my real mother. From what my parents told me, she came out of nowhere holding me in her arms. They said she seemed terrified, that someone was after her." "After her? Probably knew what you would be like when you grew up and wanted to save the world from that horror." Hunter chuckled, shaking one finger at her. "Funny girl. But no, they said she kissed me and then handed me to them, begging them to raise me and to keep me safe. She gave them a bag of jewels which got me through college, but no idea of exactly where I came from and why she was so desperate to hide me." "So you have no idea who you are?" Hunter shrugged. "I've had thoughts but nothing that I can substantiate." Mirage took another drink of her whiskey, a prickle of curiosity making her eyebrows rise. "You've never tried to find her?" "I wouldn't know where to start. My parents passed away about thirty years ago." "Thirty? You don't look much over that yourself." "I was close to sixty when they died." He smiled at her gasp, enjoying her disbelief. "I know, it's hard to believe. I don't age the same way you do, or should I say other humans do. I have a few other special talents; you've seen some of them." "Well maybe if you'd keep it in your pants more often, I wouldn't have to see it." Hunter chuckled. "Mouthy to the end," he said with a shake of his head. "But that's how I got here and that's all I know." He got up and began pacing the floor. "Does that help you any?" "It still doesn't tell me what you're doing here." She kicked off her sandals, bringing her feet up and tucking them under her. He picked up his tumbler from the side table, swishing the potent liquid around the glass before finishing it in one swallow. "I touched you." The words were explosive and he took two steps toward her before he caught himself. "I've seen so many creatures touch you and go insane, Mira. I've seen their eyes and I've watched as their sanity leaked from them. I've seen the pain it causes you. I know how much you hate it. I just want to help." "You can't." She rose, slamming her glass down and then wincing when she saw the mark it made in the wood. "There's nothing to help." "But Dianna said..." Hunter clamped his mouth shut but he saw the look in Mirage's face and knew what it meant. He'd opened his mouth and now she was going to press until she got all the information she wanted. "Shit. Open mouth, insert both feet side—fucking--ways." "You can say that again. Now tell me." "She was concerned. You've grown very distant in the past few months, less concerned about your own safety. Dianna was concerned about you. She wanted someone else to know your story besides herself and she knows I care about you." He stared at her, hoping that little tidbit would keep her from trying to kick his butt again. But knowing that he could touch her now, that he didn't have to fear for his sanity, that just might tip the scales into his direction more often. "You care about me. Yeah...right." She took another mouthful of the whiskey and blew out a deep breath. The burn was there and she could feel just the hint of a buzz. For just an instant, she held onto that buzz, wanting the sweetness of forgetfulness that letting herself consume too much alcohol would give her. But it was a weakness, one that she couldn't afford and she forced herself to sit forward and ignore the carafe of whiskey. "Try feeding that to someone who hasn't known you for five years." "What's that supposed to mean? Damn, Mira. I knew you were scarred but when you treat people like shit just because they want to help you, that's really fucking sadistic." He rose, coming easily to his feet to glare down at her. "I didn't ask you for your help and I sure as hell didn't ask for you to care about me, Hunter. I've been taking care of myself just fine for a fuck of a lot of years. I don't need you to do it for me!" She rose as well, refusing to back down. "You can be such a bitch, Mira." She could hear the disgust in his voice and it made her smile. "You know where the door is, Hunter." She turned, scooping up her shoes and heading for the doorway that led out to the hall and then to the stairs. She was heading up them, right now. He could find his own fucking way out. "Forget where I live, Hunter. Next time I'll just shoot first and ask questions later." Hunter felt the rage rising in him and he tried to push it back. But when Mirage got her claws in, she didn't want to let go. She was worse than a fucking cat with a mouse and right now, he was in no mood to be her play toy. Instead of backing down and leaving as she seemed so intent upon forcing him to do, he took two steps toward her and grabbed her arm, spinning her around so that she ran into him and then bounced off. Her exclamation of surprise was cut off when he grabbed her other arm as well, dragging her up against his tall, well-made body. "Let me go," she hissed with the deadly tone of a rattler. "Learn to treat others better," he growled. He glared down at her, wondering how she always managed to piss him off so well. Mira stood still under his hands for less that a second. Then it seemed as if an implosion of emotions sent her into a tailspin and she couldn't breathe. She dropped her shoes and grabbed hold of his jacket with almost desperate hands, the heat of his body seeping through the thin fabric of her dress, the smell of him filling her head. He smelled male, raw and almost wild, like hot, wet sex and she found herself breathing deeper of his scent. His hands pulled her even closer and he could feel her body against his, the tilt of her breasts pressing against his chest, the softness of her surprising him. For some reason, he'd always thought of her as hard, unwielding, but she wasn't. She gave, her body molding to his in a way that sent his temperature rising and not because of anger. "Let me go," she whispered. Hunter knew she meant it to be an order but the soft, breathy way it came out made her sound sexy and needful. A need he was more than willing to fulfill. "Look at me," he whispered giving her a little shake when she seemed about to refuse. "Just look at me!". Her eyes rose to his face, the green depths seeming almost fathomless. He stared down at her for less than a minute then his head dipped and his lips covered hers. It was almost a shy sort of testing of the waters, a tentative kiss that began as rather sweet and tender. Then it quickly grew heated, his lips molding to hers, his mouth opening, his tongue searching for the passionate depths of her. It was frenzied and wet, growing almost desperate before he twisted away, gazing down at her in disbelief. His breath was a panting rasp, his chest quickly rising and falling, rubbing against her breasts. His blue eyes grew even wider when he saw the passion that clouded her eyes, the pleasure that had her lips parted, her tongue sweeping out to gather his taste into her. "Hunter..." she moaned softly, her hands going to his chest, her palms rubbing gently as she pushed them around his neck. "Kiss me again." The order seemed to surprise him but it didn't stop him from following it. "God yes," he moaned and then his mouth was on hers once more. He dragged her even closer, his arm around her waist, lifting her easily. His hand dug into her hair, tilting her head so that he could mesh their lips even closer together. It was as if a wild fire raged through his veins, an out of control burn that had him begging for more. "I want you." The words were growled against her mouth and she felt the back of her dress be drawn up her body. His hand filled with the curve of her hip and he squeezed, not so gently. "I want to make love to you." Every negative thought was wiped from her head and she stared up at him. She'd forgotten the power of a kiss, the pleasure to be had from strong male hands holding her close. She hadn't been able to really remember how much she had enjoyed touching and being touched, of kissing and the amazing hold wanting and needing could exhort on someone. She tugged on his hair, wanting to feel his lips against hers again, only to feel him resist. "Ask me to make love to you," he ordered, staring down into her passion flushed face. "Tell me what you want, Mira or this ends now." "I want you," she said easily. "You want me to what?" She let loose a long, drawn out breath. "I want you to...to fuck me, Hunter." Mira tried to ignore the surge of guilt just saying those words sent spinning through her. She wanted to take them back, to deny her feelings, to stay true to her husband, but the need clamoring in her veins wasn't listening. The hot, needy throb between her thighs was too demanding to allow her to take it back. "Please, Hunter. Please fuck me." Hearing her say those words, words he'd dreamed of in the deepest hours of the night had his heart pounding. He lifted her into his arms, barely noticing her weight. "Where?" he growled, cocking one dark eyebrow at her. "Up the stairs, second door to your right." He took off like a shot and took the stairs easily two at a time. He had no problem with holding her and opening doors, amazed with the soft colors and the sweetly feminine finery she surrounded herself with. This was nothing like the Mirage he knew from work, nothing like the woman he'd gambled his life with more times than he could count. This Mirage seemed almost...sweet. He dropped her on the bed, barely paying attention as he stripped off his leather jacket, dropping it to the floor. Sitting next to her, he tugged at the laces on his boots, kicking them off with an impatient growl. Then he turned toward her once more, his hand reaching out to drag her close once more, sighing with almost relief when her arms went round his neck, tugging his head down to meet her lips. Her tongue met his, dueling softly in his mouth as she claimed control of the kiss. He felt her push him backwards, her body coming over his, her thighs straddling his hips. His hands moved over her, sliding up her soft arms, feeling the almost delicate bones of her shoulders and the thin ridge of her collarbone. She moaned when they slid down her back and over the decidedly feminine curves of her hips. It felt too good, too right, and that fact scared the hell out of her. But there was nothing she could do about it now. If he stopped touching her, stopped kissing her, she might just explode with the desire that was tearing through her now. "Why you?" she managed to moan. "Why does it have to be you?" "Because you want me too," he growled against her lips. He almost seemed to be crowing his victory but she couldn't deny him, not now, not when she was too close to what she needed so badly. She reached down, grabbing the hem of his wife beater and yanking it over his head. Mirage had seen his chest before, all that tanned male muscle, so gloriously formed. But now it laid in her bed, under her hands, hers to taste and touch as much as she wanted. A thrill so sharp it almost sent her over the edge to climax had her shaking, her fingers curling against it. He was gorgeous, she couldn't deny it or the fact that she wanted him so badly she was sweating with it. His hands slid under the hem of her dress, moving over her hips and across her ribs and she managed to open her eyes, staring down at him. His eyes were like blue flames, his gaze almost like a touch against her skin. He couldn't seem to get enough of looking at her. Of touching her and the damned dress he'd caught her in. Finally, she reached down and lifted it over her head herself, hearing him moan as she sat astride him, wearing nothing but the thin lace and silk panties she'd pulled on earlier. "When did you start wearing lace?" he groaned, his fingers moving over the pattern over her mound. "Do you have any idea what it's going to do to me, knowing you're wearing something like this under your leather?" "Then...don't think about it." Her hand stroked over his chest, feeling his heat and the rapid pounding of his heart. "Yeah, like that could happen." His hands clamped on the curve of her hips and he dragged her against the hard ridge of his cock, hidden only by the thin, worn denim. "I want you so badly, Mira." She fell forward, her hands landing against his chest. Her mouth sought out his, needing more of his taste, of the heat of him. She moaned into his mouth, continuing to rock her hips against that incredibly hard ridge. Her hard nipples dragged across his chest and she heard his deep growl, felt his hand rise, touching her gently. Then finally, she felt the heat and calloused tips of his fingers against her nipples. "God!" The word erupted from her lips and her back arched, pushing her flesh harder against him. "You're going to kill me." He rolled with her across the bed, pushing her under him, his mouth moving across her skin. "But what a sweet death," he whispered, taking one of the hard pink nipples into his mouth. Her thighs parted, her feet moving over his legs, pulling herself up against him. She felt the first tears slide down her cheeks and hated herself and him for the weakness. A sense of betrayal, of being the one doing the betraying sent a shock of pain through her and she tensed against him. Thoughts of Lineal, of the last time all those many centuries ago that they had made love, the laughter, the joy of the act, hit her and she felt ashamed. "Wait, no...Hunter, stop!" He looked up, his blue eyes dazed, staring into her face, puzzled. "What...?" "I can't do this. You've got to stop!" She pushed against him, waiting until he rolled off of her before she rolled out of the bed, hurrying to the closet to grab her robe. "I...I just can't." Hunter stared at her, hearing the helplessness in her voice. He took a deep breath and sat up, running shaking hands through his hair to drag it out of his face. "What's wrong, Mira? I know you wanted me as much as I want you. Why'd you put on the brakes?" She held her hand up when he rose, a warning not to come too close to her. "I...I just can't. I'm...I'm married, Hunter. Making love with you, well, it would be amazing, I have no doubt. But I can't betray Lineal that way. I just can't." "Lineal? That's your husband, isn't it? The one that was killed?" "You mean the one that bitch, Bia, put to death. She beat him with a whip, one stroke after the other until he died from shock and blood loss." She put her head down as if too ashamed to look at him. "They made me watch it all." Hunter heard the pain in her voice and felt the emotions that had taken him when Dianna recounted the story grow inside of him. "I know, and about your daughter." "My L...Lynette," she said, a sob shaking her voice. It was the sob that did it. In all the time they'd worked together, as closely as they'd gotten, he'd never seen her cry. Hearing that sob had him off the bed, reaching for her. He ignored the tightening of her body, just pulling her close, his hands stroking over her hair and down her back. "I don't know how anyone could do something like that, Mira. I don't know how you survived it. It broke my heart when Dianna told me. I'm...just so sorry." His body rocked slowly, rocking her there in the strength of his arms, holding her against his warmth, against his heart. He felt her tears fall from her cheeks, felt them slide across his skin. "God, Mira, you're killing me here. Please don't cry." She sniffled, feeling even more like an idiot, her cheeks blazing in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I...I don't know what's wrong with me." "Maybe the fact that you can touch another person for the first time, that you aren't completely alone anymore?" He lifted her chin, wiping away her tears with gentle fingers. "You've been through hell, Mira. No one should be as alone as you've been the past three thousand years. I don't know how you managed and stayed sane." "I killed things." He snorted, he couldn't help it. The way she said it, like it was the most logical thing in the world tickled him. "I guess I never thought of it that way. You can't touch anyone so, to take out frustration, you killed things." He shook his head, his laughter rich and full as it rolled over her. "Yeah, well we all do what we have to do." She glanced down before looking up at him once more. "Would you go somewhere with me?" "Anywhere," he said simply, turning and reaching for his tank top. He sank back down on her bed, ignoring the throb of his still erect cock. He was making progress and it felt better than sex every could. She went to the closet, slipping into a simple pair of boot cut jeans and grabbing a bright red tank top from a drawer. Then she grabbed a pair of soft soled shoes and slid her feet in them, waiting for him to finish tying his boots. "It's not far." She held out her hand and he took it, letting her lead him out of her house. "You're not planning on taking me out here to some kind of slaughterhouse, are you?" he asked with a wry chuckle as she started down the path she'd come back from earlier. "No, that's on the other side of the property." She smiled as he laughed. "I wanted to introduce you to my family. I...I feel a bit weird doing this, Hunt. I've never introduced them to anyone before." "I'm honored." He smirked before adding..."As long as you have no plans to use me in some weird ritual where you'll need all my blood." "Boy, aren't you the trusting type." She shook her head at him. "Come on," she urged, tugging on his hand. "If I plan on killing you, I'll give you at least a thirty second head start, okay?" "I'll hold you to it." He followed her down the well traveled path, dipping his head to miss some of the lower branches. The pat was well lit and Mira seemed to know exactly where she was going. She hesitated at the edge of a clearing, blocking his way. "Please don't make me sorry that I brought you here." Hunter shook his head, squeezing her hand comfortingly. "If I did, you'd kick my ass." "Yeah, I would." She tugged on him, stepping past the last branches, her eyes moving from the sight of her daughter, frozen forever, playing in the flowers to her husband, his proud head tipped back to laugh at Lynette's antics. "This is how I like to think of them." She stepped to the side, watching as Hunter moved through the small clearing. She watched him with eagle eyes, looking for any sign of him possibly making fun of her or profaning her little Eden. When he walked back up to her, she could see that his eyes looked suspiciously wet and his smile was sad. Hunter Hunted Ch. 04 "It just seems even more tragic," he said softly. "You obviously love them both and to have them taken from you the way they were, well, it's just wrong, Mira." His hand went to her face and his thumb wiped her tears from under her eyes. "I understand why've you made this place for yourself. It's kept you sane all these years, hasn't it?" "Well, it's been different places. Being immortal makes staying in one place a bit difficult. People begin to look at you a little strangely when you don't age. I've brought them to each home I've made. I've given them their own places, created someplace special just for them. It's a way for me to have them with me even now." "And you can't betray him with anyone else." It wasn't a question and she looked up at Hunter with a new respect in her eyes. "You really do understand." "It hasn't been easy for me either, Mira. My parents tried to make things simpler but when I didn't age the way everyone else did, when I still looked in my mid twenties when I should have been seventy, the differences became a bit apparent. It really hit me when my dad took me hunting. I was about sixteen years old and Dad had gotten bear permits for the property we owned. We'd been having some problems with bears for a few years and dad wanted to clean them out." He tugged on her hand and they walked over to one of the benches that encircled the clearing. Sinking down, he pulled her next to him. "We'd just found one. We'd been tracking him all morning. My dad went in to make the kill shot and the bear went down. Dad led the way over to check out the kill, but the bear wasn't dead. He took my Dad down with one swipe of his huge paw. The bear even took Dad's throat in his teeth. I've never been more scared in my life." "What happened?" I went to kill him but he kept picking my dad up with his teeth, blocking my shot. My Dad's screams were getting weaker and I was losing my mind to try to figure out some way to save him. I finally just ran up to the bear. I was screaming at it, trying to make it release my dad and run away." "Oh, my God, Hunter. What did he do?" Hunter chuckled, lifting Mirage's hand and pressing his lips to her knuckles. "He sat down and asked me why I was acting like a damn fool." "Your Dad did? Or the..." "The bear." He laughed again when he saw the disbelief on her face. "I told you, it's a bit hard to believe. Trust me, I thought I was losing my mind. But the damn bear sat down, dropped my dad at my feet and told me to calm down." "What did you do?" "What any good son would do. I picked up my father and went running as fast as I could for our truck. I drove him to the hospital and got him help. Then as soon as I knew he'd be okay, I went back into the woods and searched for another bear." "And it talked to you." Mirage looked up at him and laughed. "Now we know why you can touch me. You never were sane to begin with." Hunter Hunted Ch. 05 I'm a big fan of my ASP characters. Writing the first of the ASP stories was one of the most pleasurable time for me. Now I hope to take them all deeper and to get more involved with the different members. Those of you who loved Tambor and Rylan, keep your eyes out. Wynter Witch will be out when this story is finished. Let me know what you think of the title. Thanks for all of the comments and the feedback. It wonderful knowing when something works for you all. Take care! * * * * The Promise of the Coming Day Chapter Five Hunter just stared down at her for a second. "Whoa, she's on a roll tonight." "Well, you know, I now have an idea why you can be so completely unbearable to be around sometimes." She giggled when Hunt made the sound of a rim shot. "You're getting Punny, Mira. Maybe it's time to get you out of the night air. I think it's affecting your thought processes." He rose and tugged her up, turning her to walk ahead of him back toward her house. They'd walked only a few steps before his stomach rumbled loudly, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since before work in the morning. "Wow, you didn't tell me you ate the bear too," she teased. "Ha ha. No, I actually haven't had a chance to get dinner. Some little blonde hellion had my guts all twisted up after work today, especially after I touched her and didn't go insane." He patted her on her jean covered rump, urging her to keep moving. "I saw a Chinese place on the road out here. You wouldn't want to...buy me dinner tonight? I mean considering the size of this place, I'm thinking you can afford it." "And considering the look of your bike, you can't even afford a grown up car." She shook her head. "Scamming off females now, Hunt? Have you no shame?" "Hey, it's good work when you can get it." He smiled down at her, his hand cupping her cheek. "I find that I have a problem, Mira." His voice was soft, seductive, and she had no will to pull away from him. "What's your problem, Hunter?" Her breathy little gasp made the smile on his face widen and he brought up his other hand, framing her wide emerald eyes before pushing them through her hair. "I can't seem to stop touching you." He tugged her a little closer, taking the one step that brought his chest into contact with hers. "I want to kiss you again, Mira. Tell me no now." "No," she breathed agreeably, her face lifting, going on tip toes to move even closer. He groaned, seeing the surrender in her eyes, in their soft grassy depths. Then his lips were on hers, hot and seeking, his arms wrapping around her waist, dragging her against him. Mira didn't fight him; instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and wrapped one leg around his waist, holding him closer. Her mouth moved, her lips opening to tease him with soft touches of her tongue, beckoning him in, inviting him to take more, to drive the passion deeper. Her soft moans were swallowed by his mouth, and he reveled in her gasps of pleasure. "I want you, Mira. I have since that first day at ASP when you told me in no uncertain terms to back the fuck off. I've dreamed of you. You've become my own personal nightmare." His voice was husky and low, sending a shiver of heat through her to her core. She stared up at him mutely, seeing the question he wouldn't ask in his eyes. She had no answer, torn as she was by the newness of the sensation of touch and by the guilt that still echoed through her. Her hand was on his face and she reveled in the satiny texture of his hair, of the whiskery roughness of his skin. Such a contrast of sensations and she wanted more, so much more. His stomach chose that moment to grumble once more and she laughed. "I think your stomach has other ideas, Hunter." He smiled but it was one of chagrin. "So, what do you say? I'll let you ride on the back of my bike?" Her eyebrow rose, disappearing behind the ragged expanse of her bangs. "Ride behind you on that buzzing monster? I don't think so. You go, get your Chinese food, Hunt." "And?" "And what?" she asked, her eyes narrowing up at him. "And you'll be at my apartment first thing in the morning, ready to attack the grout mold, right?" He tapped his finger on her nose. "You lost, remember?" "Oh, now wait...if I'd said okay to the Chinese and riding pillion behind you on that monster machine of yours, you'd have forgotten about our bet?" "Hell no, are you kidding? I've been looking for a good maid service for months now, ever since the last one quit. I'd have just made sure you were fed well first." He chuckled at the look on her face. "Oh come on, Mira. You can't be afraid of a little grout mold, can you?" "Can I bring my blaster?" Hunt laughed. "No, I don't think my landlord would appreciate the holes in the wall. I've got everything you'll need, Mira, love. You've just got to show up." "You really expect me to show up at your apartment tomorrow and clean your grout?" "You're not actually going to welsh on me now, are you, Agent Mirage?" "The last time someone called me Agent Mirage, I'd just finished ramming my foot up their ass. You could be next." Hunter laughed. "Now there's the Mira I know and love." He flicked his finger against her nose. "Don't make it too early. It is my day off, you know." He turned away from her, heading up to the front steps of her house. "Where the fuck you think you're going?" "I left my Jacket in your bedroom. You don't want me to ride my bike without it, I might end up getting sick. Of course, then you could make me some chicken noodle soup." He tipped his head as if considering it then opened the door and ducked inside. She was still standing there when he came back out a few minutes later. The leather jacket hugged his shoulders, molding to his long, lean body, a body she'd always admired. Before heading toward his bike, he detoured toward her, pulling her tightly against him and dipping his head to take her lips in a quick, heated exchanged. "Well, now I can dispel all those rumors about you being frigid," he breathed, lifting his mouth and taking a deep breath. "That should keep me warm on the way home." Mirage stood staring at him as he walked away, her thoughts in an uproar. Part of her wanted to beg him to stay, to take her upstairs and into her lonely bedroom and make her remember all those things that she'd loved about being a woman. She wanted to feel that excitement, that joy. She wanted to remember what it was like to fall asleep, satisfied, in a man's arms and wake up to his kiss. But another part of her screamed in denial. She wanted to wake up in Lineal's arms, to remember the joy of his kiss, or his love making. She wanted to be true to him, to the memory of their love, of the commitment that they'd made to each other so very long ago. How could she ever think about being unfaithful to him? Her eyes turned hard as she watched Hunter slip on his helmet then throw his leg over the black seat of his bike. He kicked it to a start, the buzzing a loud, obnoxious roar in her ear. A surge of disgust rose in her throat and she couldn't watch him anymore. She felt like a bitch in heat, panting over Hunter, the biggest philandering dog she'd ever met. He knew nothing of fealty, of trust and love. He was true to one thing, and one thing only, the rising of his own cock at the smell of any female. He wanted little but his own pleasure and he'd proven that to her many times in the five years that she'd known him. She walked toward the house, closing the door as he pulled away from the stairs and headed down toward the gate. He'd made it in on his own, he could damn sure make it out just fine as well. Heading up the steps, she barely glanced at her bed, instead going to the closet and kicking off her shoes. She pulled out a pair of heavy duty boots, the kind with heels hard enough to break bone. Pulling out her own black leather jacket, she pulled it on and then headed back downstairs. Mirage grabbed her keys off the table where she'd dropped them and stuffed them into her pocket. Her mini-blaster went in the other and her six inch dagger was slipped into the top of her boot. She wasn't looking for trouble, but in the mood she was in right now, she knew it would find her. Hunter was no where in sight when she got into her car. So much for her quiet night and the book that she'd thought to start. She needed a drink and she needed it in the company of others, those like herself. She knew exactly where she was heading. Reaching into the center console of her car, she lifted out a thin pair of black leather gloves, gloves that fit her hands so well, so could lift dimes off smooth surfaces with them on. She slid the ignition key in, turning the car on smoothly before backing down to turn her car around. Than she was through the gates and on the main drag, turning away from town and heading even further into the country. Twenty minutes later and she was pulling into the parking lot of a darkly painted building. The windows were either dark or blacked out and very little sound could be heard from the parking lot. Mirage smiled, getting out and locking the car behind her. She walked toward the deserted looking building and didn't hesitate at the door. It took a moment for her eyes to grow accustomed to the darkness inside but when it did, she saw the slight glow behind a bar full of glasses. There was the low grumble of voices and Mira could see the darker shapes of those that inhabited the few bar stools there. A sense of peace filled her and she smiled, cocking her leg around one of the stools that were open. She nodded at the creature that stood behind the bar, nodding against when he held up a bottle. It was sat in front of her, a short glass next to it. "Getcha anything else?" "A little music," she answered, sliding a ten dollar bill across the bar toward him. He nodded and then picked up a remote, pointing it at a large piece of stereo equipment that stood in a corner. It lit up, the brightest thing in the entire place and a bluesy saxophone filled the bar, the sound mellow with just a hint of soul. The bartender glanced at Mira and smiled at her nod. She poured herself two fingers of liquid from the bottle and then swished it around the glass before taking a sip. She relaxed onto the stool, letting the music flood over her. A long sigh escaped her as she finally felt as if she could breathe again. The voice from behind her was unexpected and very unwelcome. "I know you." Mira took another sip out of her glass. She decided to ignore the man who was pacing irritably behind her. Instead of answering, she picked up the bottle, pouring more of the biting alcohol into her glass. "I said I know you!" the man growled loudly. His hand fell on her shoulder and he yanked, forcing her to face him. "I was hoping you'd do that," she hissed, letting the glass settle onto the bar. She saw the fist he threw at her and caught it easily in one hand, standing and thrusting the ball of her hand so that it landed hard against his stomach, just under his diaphragm. He took a step back, bending, his arms going around his stomach as his breath rushed out with a loud woof. Grabbing one of his hands, she spun and used her hip to throw him off balance, flipping him easily onto his back on the hard wood floor. "Do not touch me," she growled at the man who now lay on the floor, her boot stepping down hard against his throat. "I...I'm s-sorry," he stuttered. "Not yet, you aren't. Touch me again and you won't have to worry about knowing anyone. Got me?" She waited until he nodded and then sank back down on her bar stool, not even watching as the man scrambled to his feet, glaring at her even as he quickly turned and headed toward the door. "That wasn't smart." Mirage glanced up at the bartender who stood in front of her, calmly running a bar towel over the length of the gleaming oak bar. "Why not?" "You don't know who that was?" Mirage scoffed. "Was I supposed to?" "Aren't you that hot shot agent from ASP, the one that likes taking on the bad asses all by herself?" Mirage grunted. But she ended up nodding. "Yeah, what of it." "He's one of Taylor Braxton's boys." "Taylor Braxton?" The name was familiar, like a fact on the tip of her tongue. "He runs the girls and the drugs down here." That piece of information was spoken in a voice that was barely louder than a whisper. The shifty eyed bartender glanced around the sparsely populated bar. Without a word, he reached into one of the refrigerators under the bar and then uncapped a beer and slid it down the bar. It slid to a stop in front of a man who was just setting down his last beer after swallowing the last drop. The man nodded to the bartender and then lifted the new beer to his lips. "And why should I worry about Taylor Braxton?" Mira lifted the bottle and filled her empty glass, glancing up at the bartender when he seemed to hesitate in answering. "That guy you just dissed, well, he ain't the type to take what you done sitting down. I just wanted to warn you. You're probably on his list now." Mira smiled. "Maybe that just makes him on mine." She shrugged her shoulder, taking another healthy swig of her drink. "Thanks." She just nodded when he did and then went back to listening to her music while he moved down the bar to take care of the other patrons. It didn't surprise her when in another hour, the man that had accosted her before walked back into the bar with two other individuals. She would have called them men but she'd learned the hard way that not everything that walked on two legs could be considered human. "You should have left," he said with a cocky grin. He reached over her head and grabbed the bottle that was three quarters of the way gone. Lifting it to his lips, he thought to take a drink, never seeing Mirage move. The bottle was snatched out of his hands before his lips could touch it. "I don't think I invited you for a drink," Mira said, pouring the rest of the alcohol into her glass. She lifted it, turning to stare at him over the top. She watched as his face turned red, enjoying the way he sputtered at her insult. She could see the bulges in their jackets and counted weapons quickly while trying to decide exactly what the three males were. There was one Vampire, for sure. One man reminded her of Johnny Knoxville's role in Men in Black II but without the other head. He had that quirky, jerking movement and the obnoxious laughter that Mira wanted nothing more than to squelch. "So, who are you boys?" She took another drink, spinning around on her bar stool to face them. "My name is Myler Baer-Braxton," the first man hissed, glaring at the bartender until he brought him a bottle of his own. "You'd best learn some respect, bitch." Mira shook her head sadly. "See, now this is why I don't go out all that often. See, Myler, is it? See, Myler, respect is a two way street and not many women are going to give it if it isn't reciprocated. Now I know that word has more than two syllables so I'll be nice and explain. It means show some respect, asshole, and you might get some as well." She shook her head sadly. "I know the concept is new to some of you cretins just crawling out of the ooze, but you should get it a shot." She slammed back the rest of her drink before sliding the glass back onto the bar and getting to her feet. The biggest of the three, the one that she'd decided was definitely Vampire, reached out and pushed her back down on the stool. Mirage hit so hard she felt her teeth shake and ran her tongue over them to make sure they were still firmly attached. "Now that was just rude," she stated, glaring at the man. "I'm a hell of a lot smaller than you are, bud." "Sit down and shut up, bitch." Mirage smiled. It was a slow smile and one that didn't quite reach the depths of her green eyes. "Oh, now that might be a problem. I'm only out for a drink and my drink, as you can clearly see, is gone. That means my reason for staying here...is gone as well. Now unless you want to find out what pain really is, back the fuck off of me." The first man, or Slimey as she was beginning to think of him, tipped his head back and laughed. Mira smiled at his amusement, her hand sliding into the pocket of her jacket and finding her keys. Sliding two of them between her fingers, she balled the hand into a fist. "Bitch, we ain't done with you yet. When we get done with you, you'll know it. Then...and only then...will we allow you to leave." "Now there's a word I know a lot of women hate." "What? Being called a bitch?" Mira shook her head, sliding her hand quietly from her pocket. "No, the word allow." Without warning, she struck, her fist striking her the first man with a jab as fast as an Adder. Blood poured from his face where the keys had ripped into his flesh and she smiled, lifting the bottle of alcohol off the bar and pouring it over the open wounds. He screamed, backing quickly away from Mirage, his hand slapping over the burning, dripping flesh of his face. Mirage reversed her grip on the bottle, grabbing Johnny by the neck and swinging for the fences, dropping him quickly to the sticky floor. The big Vampire was the only one left of the three that was still standing. Mirage slid off the bar stool, dropping her keys back in her pocket. She smiled gently at the big Vamp who took a step back, swiftly slipping off his jacket. The gun in the holster under his arm didn't scare Mirage. Being cursed with the ability to handle most wounds made getting wounded a bit easier to handle. "Now you really need to think about this, Drac," she said softly. "I was sitting here, minding my own, when your little friend over there decided to harass me. You and I, we don't have any problems right now, but if you do those things you're thinking about doing, we definitely will. And I guess I should warn you, I'm the take charge kind of girl and I don't let my problems hang around for very long." "You're no bigger than the frog I smashed with my car tire on my way here tonight." The man snorted at Mira's attitude. "Now I think you need to apologize to my two friends and then maybe offer to give them lap dances before we take you out of here and take our times, fucking you good." Mirage blinked, a wry smile coming to her lips. "You think you could fuck me good? I don't think you could get your pathetic pecker inside of me before you'd turn into a driveling idiot. Want to try it?" "What the fuck do you mean by that?" The Vampire growled his rage, reaching out for her only to be stopped by the bartender's next words. "That's Mirage." Her smile grew as she saw the wary fear that came over the Vampire's face. "I see you've heard of me." "Who hasn't? I'm just not sure I believe everything I've heard." "Ah, a hard-headed Vampire. Now there's something new." There was sarcasm dripping off that last statement and she heard the just plain pissiness in his voice. "You really are a bitch." "Yeah, I've been told that once or twice." She glanced around the room before her eyes were drawn back to the big man. "Now are you sure you want to take any chances that what you heard about me was just some drunken spewing and that the touch of my skin won't cause you to start dribbling into your nappies? Or should I take off these gloves so you can find out the truth?" She met his eyes easily and knew she'd won as soon as he begat to back away. "No, don't touch me," he hissed and she could see his mouth full of sharply pointed teeth. She knew he wanted to use them on her but word of the curse kept him away. Word of the curse had always kept all of them away, all...except Hunter. Just the thought of his name sent a sharp thrill through her, twisting and coiling into that spot just below her stomach. It burned there, causing her pussy to throb and her nipples to tighten. She glared once more at the two others, Johnny who was unconscious and the little asshole who'd started this whole thing. He glared back with unconcealed anger and hatred. There was something else there as well. When she took a step toward him, she found out it was exactly what she'd thought it was. He was terrified of her. Hunter Hunted Ch. 05 That single step had him fleeing from the dark building, his high pitched scream echoing dully behind him. Mirage smiled, nodding at the bartender and handing him a fifty dollar bill to cover the clean up from the hole Johnny had made in the floor and the blood that had spewed against the bar and on some of those glittering, pristine glasses. The bartender nodded and wished Mira a good night, pocketing the money she'd handed him with a satisfied smile She could feel his eyes on her ass as she headed for the door and turned, giving him a sly wink before leaving the bar. Mirage slid behind the wheel of her car, barely feeling the buzz of the alcohol. A yawn startled her and she smiled. Turning on the car, she pulled out of the lot and headed for home. She'd be able to sleep now. Sudden inspiration had her smiling even wider as she thought about the coming day and what Hunter expected of her. She wouldn't welsh on her bet. She wasn't a welsher. But she damn sure would show Hunter that she had her own way of doing things and to hell with him if he didn't like it. Reaching for her cell phone, she dialed the number from memory as she sped toward home. Hunter Hunted Ch. 06 I've decided that the last half of this story needs to be rewritten, so I'm re working it I hope to make it more plausible to those of you who have complained that Hunter and Mira wouldn't have been caught by surprise like that. I never thought it was that big of a stretch but I guess I was wrong. So hopefully you'll like this chapter better and I'll have to figure out another way for Mira to get over her fears. Thanks! A Cleansing Experience Chapter Six Mira woke easily when her alarm went off at six a.m. Even the late night and the amount of alcohol she drank last night couldn't dispel the good mood she woke up in. Hunter thought he'd beaten her. He'd thought she would trot her little ass over to his house and scrub his floors and clean out his refrigerator while his briefs were drying in the dryer. He had a lot of thinks coming if he thought she'd be the dutiful little maid service and fluff and fold. A giggle escaped her as she thought of the look on his face when she did show up there this morning. Her cell phone, sitting in its charger on the dressed across the room picked that moment to ring and she threw back the covers to go get it. The sun shone on her naked body, the rays casting her in a golden glow, highlighting the white blonde of her hair and making her eyes sparkle. She was a glorious sight, one that no man had been allowed to cast eyes upon since Lineal's death. She checked the caller id. on the phone and shook her head. "Yeah, I'm awake, Hunter. I thought you didn't want me over too early." "I was just calling to make sure that you weren't planning on back out on me. I've got the buckets and cleaners all ready for you. I've even separated the laundry for you. Oh, and I hate starch in my shorts, okay?" Mira chuckled, her eyes sparkling with devious delight. Starch in his shorts would be the last thing he'd be thinking about when she finished up with him. "I got it, Hunter. Now quit being such a nag and let me get done what I need to finish up." She hit the off button, not waiting for his reply and then tossed the phone on her bed. "Prick," she said, though there was no heat in her voice. "Today you get your comeuppance, buddy. I'm just glad that I get to be the one to give it to you." With another grin, she headed into the bathroom to shower and get ready for her part in the morning's entertainment. Thirty minutes later, she was dressed and heading down the stairs, hearing the buzz of the front gate. Checking in the small video monitor she had, she smiled at her visitors. "I'll be right out," she called through the intercom and then snatched up her keys and headed out the front door. She led the small procession through the streets of the city, heading to the other side of town where Hunter lived. His apartment building wasn't too bad, the area around it becoming one of the better areas in town. Hunter owned a condo on the sixth floor of a controlled building. She parked in the visitor's parking, waving the truck and the other car into the spots next to hers. "Okay, ladies, I need you to stay back when I call up there to get him to let us in. I don't want him to have any idea of what's coming until it's too late for him to hide. Okay?" "You're paying the bill, Miss Mirage." Mira nodded and then strolled nonchalantly up to the intercom to press her finger on the button marked Hunter. She heard it buzz loudly and then a few seconds later, heard his voice come through the speaker. "I wasn't expecting you for a few hours yet, Mira. Everything okay?" "Everything's just great, Hunt. You going to buzz me up?" "Okay, I'll leave the front door cracked. I'm just getting out of the shower so come in and pour yourself some coffee." Mira barely managed to hide the snicker that wanted to escape her constraint. This was going to be better than she'd thought. Knowing Hunt and his attempt at seducing her last night, she had no doubt that there was going to be some kind of show this morning, and Mira was going for a front row seat. She heard the buzz of the door and grabbed for it, pushing it open as she waved her co-conspirators into the building. There was the clink of buckets and the squeak of plastic as well as the rustle of leather as they passed her by, every one of them being cautious about not touching her. The wait for the elevator was a short one and they filed on in, Mirage the last to board. She slapped her hand on the number six button and then felt the quick lurch of the car as it began to move. "I have to thank you, Miss Melody, for changing your schedule around to fit me in. I really appreciate this. My co-worker has a problem with practical jokes but this time I think I've managed to one up him." "Oh and I have no doubt that he'll enjoy our services," Miss Melody said, her voice soft but certain. "I've yet to meet a man who doesn't have a smile on his face when we finish with his house." Mira smirked. "I have no doubt." Miss Melody was a tall blonde who wore her thick hair down to her waist. She had a small black cap on top of her head that denoted her profession but the rest of her body was pretty much hidden by a shapeless knee length coat. The rest of her crew was dressed about the same, the only difference in the color and length of their hair. Miss Melody's service had a sterling reputation and cost a pretty penny, but for their particular services, she was willing to foot the bill. At least this time. If Hunter wanted them back, he could hire them himself. The doors pinged, announcing their arrival at the designated floor and then they slid open. Mira led the way down the hall to the last door on the left, seeing it cracked open as Hunt had said it would be. She pushed it the rest of the way, waving in the crew. "The living room is through that opening," she said to Melody. "Why don't you start in there while I go and find my friend." "Excellent." Melody nodded to her three girl crew and then watched as they slipped off their coats, handing them to Mira. Her smile widened when she saw four sets of perky tits and bare little pussies. Two of the girls wore thigh high nylons under their four inch heels. The other two had small white bobby socks with a fringe of lace around the top. Mira quickly hung up their coats in the hall closet and then headed toward the kitchen as the sound of a vacuum cleaner started in the living room. When she saw Hunter, she realized this was going to work out even better than she'd hoped. His eyes were wide as he saw her sitting at his small breakfast table, the paper folded in front of her and a cup of coffee in her hand. "If you're in here, whose making all the racket with the vacuum?" "Maybe you should go see yourself?" she said, laughing as he turned, the towel he was wearing around his naked body floating up like a skirt. She got up herself, hurrying to follow him. She grabbed his arm as he stopped suddenly in front of her to keep herself from being knocked over. Hunt's blue eyes were wide, his mouth hanging open in shock. "What the..." he began, staring at the naked women who were cleaning his living room with vigor. "Who are..." "Having problems with words this morning, Hunt?" she asked innocently enough, but when he turned to look at her, she couldn't hold back the laughter any longer. The look on his face was precious, stunned and slightly horrified. Mirage grabbed her stomach as the laughter rolled out of her and she leaned weakly against him. Hunter reached out and grabbed her, dragging her back through his condo and into his bedroom. He pushed her onto the bed, glaring at her. "You think this is funny? You bring naked women in to clean my apartment, which is the job that you should have been doing and you think this is funny?" "You would too if you could see your face," Mira managed to gasp. "Come on, Hunt. You don't care if it's clean or not. It was just your way of getting me over here this morning. Admit it." She got up and off his wide bed, holding up her hands as he moved closer again. "Besides, what do you have against there being naked women in your apartment? I've heard it's a regular occurrence." Hunt swore and then spun, pacing back and forth in front of her with angry strides. He stopped after a moment and stared down at her. "You don't understand, do you?" he asked, his dark brows furrowing above his eyes. "You have no clue why I'm upset." "No, actually, I don't. I really didn't think you'd care who cleaned your house as long as it got done. And you have to admit, that those four are much more fun to watch then some guy with a hairnet." "How long have you been alive?" he asked, frustrated. "If I wanted a naked woman to clean my place, I'd have made that part of the deal between us. If you want to get naked and clean my place, I'll be very happy to stand and watch. But that's you, not four Playboy Playmates that do this for tips and to get their jollies. Dammit, Mira," he threw up his hands, turning to face the wall and push his fingers through his still damp hair as frustration raged through him. "You really are upset?" Mira walked closer to him, her hand coming out to touch his arm. She didn't even realize what she'd done until she felt his skin under her palm. "Yes, I'm really upset." He growled the words at her, turning to face her. The feel of her hand on his arm sent a thrill through him, especially when he saw the realization dawn on her face that she hadn't even thought about touching him until she was. Her eyes were huge and she suddenly seemed to realize how he was dressed and the fact that she was alone with him in his bedroom. "Now you're getting it," he whispered, his hand coming up to touch her face, holding her still as he stepped even closer. "Now you know why I'm upset. I wanted to spend this time with you, to get to know you better, Mira. I wanted you to get to know me. There's a reason that I can touch you, and we both know what it is." His hands went to her arms and he held her still even though she'd made no move to get away from him. The look in her eyes was almost one of terror and she felt him move closer, his head dipping. She watched his eyes as his face came closer and then closed her own, feeling the heat of his breath against her lips. Then their breath mingled and she felt the softness of his kiss, a tentative touch that seemed so at odds with the heated strength of his body pressed against hers. "What are you doing?" she gasped when he lifted his head. "I thought we'd decided this was a bad idea?" "Wrong pronoun," he whispered, him mouth moving gently over her lips. "You decided. I was the one all for discovering what emotions and connections we could find." His hands went to her hair and he tugged her gently closer, groaning as she pressed intimately against his scantily clad form. "I'm the one that told you I wanted you, Mira. I'm not the one hiding behind a dead husband." He felt her stiffen, her hands coming up to push at his chest. "I'm not hiding," she growled. "Besides, what do you know about commitment, about something other than desire and the passion of the moment? How would you have any idea of the feelings I had for Lineal or the feelings he had for me? What gives you the right to decide what is between us?" Hunter easily fended off her hands, holding her against him with one arm wrapped tightly around her waist. "You think I don't understand love? Or commitment? Who the fuck made you the genius on feelings and emotion? Who gave you the right to tell me I don't know what the hell I'm saying or thinking or even feeling? You think that feeling the way I do about you is easy? Dammit, Mira, you're one of the most prickly people I know. You're never fucking happy no matter how things go." "How the hell would you know? Dammit, Hunter, you're little more than a walking penis and you pull this on me now?" Hunter's next words were lost in the sudden screaming that came from inside the rest of the apartment. "What the..." Mirage began, only to watch, stunned, as four masked men dressed all in black came into the room. Two of them grabbed Hunter, one using his gun to slam him in the head, leaving him to slump between them. The others held up gloved hands. "Okay, cunt, get your ass out and into the living room or Romeo is going to end up singing soprano." "I'm going," she growled, glaring at him. From his body shape and the sound of his voice, she knew who was behind this. "You know, after last night, you might have been smarter to let someone else do the talking for you." "After last night, you might be smarter to just shut the fuck up." He growled the words but then reached up, tugging the mask from off his face. "Move, bitch." He followed her out, his eyes on her every step. She walked into the living room, glancing back once to see a now naked Hunt being dragged into the room. His eyes were partially opened but she could tell he'd been hurt by that blow and that he wasn't thinking straight yet. "What the hell do you want?" she snarled, spotting Myler standing and staring at the four beautiful women who huddled together, terrified. "I should have known you'd be the cowardly bastard to pull something like this." She stood resolute as Myler walked toward her, his gloved hand coming up to slap her face, hard. "You know, I don't think this is all that fair. I mean, all these lovely ladies and your gentleman friend over there are naked. You are decidedly over dressed." He took a step closer, reaching out and grabbing her jaw. "Strip." "In your dreams." She spat the words at him and then fell to the floor, breathing unsteadily as he slapped her again. "You can fucking get those clothes off on your own or I can let my men take them off of you. It's your decision." "Your men come anywhere near me and I'll do my damnedest to touch you." She sat up, getting to her knees and then slowly to her feet. "I'll fucking touch you and watch as your mind drains out, you fucking asshole." He slapped her again and then laughed when she spat at him from where she'd fallen to the floor once more. "Get up and do as you're told, bitch or I will be more than happy to do some slicing and dicing on your friends over there." He pulled out a switch blade, smiling when the shiny steel whisked out. He pushed it toward her face and then slipped the edge of the blade down the front of her blouse, the razor sharp knife splitting the material easily. Cutting it down the center, he nodded at two of his men to come and lift her to her feet. "Take it off," he hissed at her. When she just glared at him, he walked over to where Hunter stood between two of his men and then he leaned down, letting the knife slip under Hunter's soft cock. "Take it off or this is coming off next." Mira cursed but tore her arms out of the sleeves of her shirt, letting it drop to her feet. "You son of a bitch! There won't be anyplace far enough for you to hide from me." She stood proudly under their scrutiny, her shoulders back, head up. Only when Myler came toward her again did she flinch. He quickly slit the bra off of her, watching as the pieces fell from her creamy skin, her nipples standing proudly atop breasts that almost seemed too big for her slender frame. "Jeans are next, bitch, unless you get them off, now!" Mirage pulled the button loose and then slid the zipper down its track. Shimmying out of them, she tried to ignore the words the men were saying about her. It seemed almost worse to do this here, now, in front of the other women but glancing over at them, she noted they had their own problems. More then one of the maids was now being molested by one of the men, the worse was the Vampire who held Miss Melody to him, his hands moving over the front of her body, his fangs buried against her throat. Mira could see his throat moving as he gulped down her warm blood and the arousal Melody was being forced to feel because of the power of his bite. "I'm not going to let you get away with this," she growled, dropping her jeans to the floor at her feet. She snarled when he nodded at the last of her garments. "Take those off too," he nodded at the white thong she'd put on this morning. She glared at him, unwilling to be naked in front of these men, wanting nothing more than to fight. She glanced back at Hunter and saw his eyes were open and he was looking at her. Mira moved her hand just the tiniest bit, holding up three fingers. Hunter closed his eyes and then opened them, signaling that he understood what she wanted. He let more of his weight rest on the two men who held him up, his hands coming up as if to help hang on to them. He counted in his head. One. Two. Three. Mirage blurred into action roundhouse kicking the blaster that Myler held. It went flying and she used the momentum of her kick to bring her hand around to slam against the side of his face. The contact was too fast for the insanity to work on him but it sent him flying against one wall, sliding down to sit, his legs sprawled in front of him. Blood streamed from his nose and his eyes instantly began to swell. Mirage turned, seeing Hunter grab the heads of the two men holding him and slam them together, watching as they hit the ground. He hurried to her side. "Nice uniform, Mira. I think we should let Shadow check it out, he might approve." "Hunter, shut the fuck up," she growled though there was a smile on her face. "Come on, those girls aren't going to save themselves." Hunt scooped up the blaster that Myler had been trying to use and slipped the safety, rolling his eyes at the idiots that were hired in as Master Goons now-a-days. "Fully loaded and primed, ma'am." Mirage glanced at his cock. "Aren't you usually?" she scoffed. Most of the men hadn't been paying attention to the goings on of those around them. The vampire especially, seemed eager to continue playing with Lady Melody. She was little more than a limp doll in his arms. When he looked up and saw Hunter and Mira standing in front of him, he smiled, blood dripping from his fangs. "I just hate a vampire who won't use a napkin," Hunt said. "Manners dude, try getting some." "Oh, he won't be needing them where I plan to send him, Hunt. There are things down there, a lot bigger than him who love the taste of Vampire blood. They'll play with him for days." Mira took one step toward the two, ducking instinctively when the Vampire threw Melody at her. She heard Hunt oof and knew he'd caught the woman even as she sprang toward the Vampire. "You'll never catch me, bitch." The Vampire stood still for just a minute, watching as Mira's roundhouse kick was coming toward his face, then he phased, running so fast that only another of his kind would have been able to see him move. "Fuck!" Mira growled. "Remind me to get Angel on his case, or the new guy that's starting later this week." "Another fucking Vampire?" Hunter growled. He would have stopped to talk to her, curious about the new team that Shadow was setting up but he had his hands a bit busy. One of the men in front of him was a spell caster but not a good one. His magic left him fast and he fell to the floor, weak and helpless until he'd rested. He was joined fairly quickly by another of his gang and Mira grabbed the duct tape out of the small cupboard where Hunt kept it. The rest of them followed pretty quickly, no match for Hunter's quickness or Mira's force. Myler did manage to sneak away, much to Mira's chagrin. Three of the four women sat on the couch and agreed that they'd had worse Saturday nights. Lady Melody on the other hand, was covered by Vampire bites, two of which had ripped out her flesh, leaving a raw wound. She had little blood left in her body and she shook like she was freezing. One of the girls had given her a blanket, tucking it warmly around Melody. Hunter Hunted Ch. 06 "We have to do something, she doesn't look good." Mira sat next to Melody on the floor, carefully lifting the blanket to check her wounds. "She needs ASP," she called out to Hunter. Hunter came into the living room, buttoning his jeans, two tee shirts tossed over his shoulders. "Not that I mind the outfit you're wearing, Mira, but I think others from ASP might find it a trifle distracting. I've called Shadow. He's sending a team." She took the tee shirt he threw her and slipped it over her head before grabbing a hank of his hair and tugging his head so she could study his eyes. "Are you okay? You took quite a knock." She poked at the bump on his head, smiling when he growled and grabbed her hand. "I'll be a lot better without your tender, loving care, Mira." "Wuss," she teased. "You're just pissy because now that your cleaning service is out of commission, you have to clean my apartment." Hunter grinned, watching Mira's eyes and waiting for the blow up. But she surprised him. "I guess you're right. There's no way I'm going to be able to get anyone else out to clean it, not after rumors of this is spread around." He starred at her, not sure if he was hearing her correctly. She was giving in? She was actually going to clean his apartment? He was almost afraid to ask. "You're not going to try to wiggle out of it so you can go after Braxton?" "No, I figure if I clean your apartment, when I'm done, you can use some of those over rated tracking skills of yours to help me find him." Hunter nodded for a second, then cocked his head to the side. "Okay, I know you too well, Mira. You're up to something. What is it?" "Talk about untrusting," she said, shaking her head sadly. "A girl can't live up to a bet she made without you thinking there is some hidden agenda. I'm shocked, Hunter. I'm actually kind of hurt that you would feel this way." "It's not going to work, Mira. You're cleaning the apartment today." He headed toward the door, hearing the sounds from the other side. Checking the peep hole, he hurried to undo the lock and pull open the door. "Shadow," he said in greeting. "Kit and her Delta team are on their way up as well. Report." Hunter stood at attention and crisply and concisely told Shadow of the things that had happened. He brought Shadow into the living room where Mirage had just zipped her jeans and showed him the men that were on the floor as well as the women who huddled next to Melody, each covered by a blanket or a coat. "Mirage," Shadow said. "Where is the leader of these thugs?" "He got away sir. We were trying to save the women from a Vampire, who also got away, sir." "Damn I hate it when that happens," Shadow said. "Do you have any clues on how to find these rogues?" "I do," Mirage answered. "I ran into one of them last night. I never thought he'd take rejection this far, sir." "Maybe it's just your style of rejection," Hunter said then grabbed her hand when she went to hit him. "This being able to touch you is going to keep me from getting bruises," he said with a grin. "You can touch her?" Shadow gaped. Hunter pulled her into a neck hold, laughing as she slapped at his arms before biting him. "Ouch!" "It's what you deserve. You could have just told him yes." "She's right, Hunter. When did this happen?" "Yesterday. It's still a little freaky on this end of things too." Kit and her team came through the front door. Kiteria Demos is a were-lion, the queen of her pride. Her race could be seen upon her proud and beautiful caramel colored features. The position of queen was waiting for her when she tired of working for ASP. As far as she was concerned, someone else could take over that role and she'd be just as happy. Lelia Storm came next. Lee, as she was called, was a black witch and a "liner". She could tap into the lei lines of the earth, those magnetic lines that supposedly held magical powers and showed directions for those who could read them. Her hair was cut short, the red strands spiked around her delicate features. Her eyes were an eerie gold, cat's eyes as some have called them. They sparked now for she was riding a lei line now and it hit her like a cocaine rush. The Tinman was next. Drakon Rubis had never known his parents. He'd found out at an early age that he could change the molecular material of his skin, turning himself into a man of steel, or Tinman as his lover, Lelia Storm, called him. Mage was the last of the four. He was tall, incredibly skinny and wore a hooded cloak, one that reminded Lee of the Grim Reaper. Mage's powers were a bit freaky as well. He was an empath, but he could use those empathic powers to control some humans, to delve into their minds and learn their secrets. It was not a pleasant process for the human caught in Mage's web and usually left them with drool dribbling from the corner of their mouths. But he was a powerful force and one that Kit used, only when every other force had failed. They burst into Hunter's apartment, coming to a halt when they spotted Shadow standing and talking to Hunt and Mirage. "You two okay?" Kit asked, coming up to the group. "I would say. Hunter can touch Mirage, Kit." Kit turned to look at the two of them. "Show me," she said simply. Hunter held out his hand and Mirage, shaking her head and rolling her eyes, laid her palm in his. "See," Hunt said. "No drool, no running into walls, no screaming into the night." "It's mid morning," Mirage interjected. "That's not the point, Mira. I'm touching you and I'm not going stark raving looney tunes." "I got it, okay? Remember, I'm the one you've been pawing on for two days?" "She doesn't mean pawing like that, Shadow," Hunter said quickly. Hunter Hunted Ch. 07 Shadow stared between the two of his agents, watching as Mira looked down and away from his intent gaze. "Yes, I can see that," he said sagely, chuckling to himself as Mira blushed red. "Okay, get this mess cleaned up, take the prisoners down to the tombs and Mage, wipe their memories." He nodded at the four women who still huddled together under blankets. "Lady Melody is going to need more than her memory wiped," Mira said. She showed Shadow the bite marks. "He's poisoned her." "We'll get her in detox as quick as we can, Mira. She should be fine in a couple of days." Kit touched one of the bites, watching as Melody flinched. "She goes first," she called to Lelia. "Make sure she doesn't try to bite anyone until we get her taken care of." Lelia reached down, helping Melody to her feet and to the door. "You'll be fine, Sweetie. Just stay calm." "Did you get a good look at them?" Shadow asked. "I ran into them last night, well at least two of them. The Vampire that took Lady Melody and the man who was behind the whole thing. Myler Baer-Braxton. He's as pretentious as his name, Shadow. I made a fool of him at this bar and I think he was trying to get his evens with me." Mirage rolled the edge of her shirt under her hands nervously. "I know where to find them, Shadow. I want to be in on this, I have to be." Shadow studied her face. "Both you and Hunter are going to the med floor at ASP before you do anything else. After you're checked out, come find me and we'll figure out what we're going to do next. I want a clean bill from the doctors and then we'll talk, Mira, not before." "Shadow," she began to argue and then watched his back as he just walked away from her. "How does Callie put up with this shit," she complained softly. "She loves him. You'd be surprised what two people in love will deal with, Mira." Hunter reached out and tipped her chin up, staring into her pretty eyes. "Come on, let's just do what he wants and get it over with." "You're almost as bad as he is," Mirage growled, jerking her chin out of his hand. "What is with you and all the touchy feely stuff?" "Touchy, feely stuff? Damn Mira, can you be anymore prickly?" He dropped his hand and turned away, walking down behind the women and muttering his complaints to the world. "Nothing will make you happy." "Try keeping your hands to yourself and I'll be ecstatic," she grumbled back. "Okay children, don't make me turn this car around," Kit said, her voice almost as long suffering as the look she gave Mira. "Can't you two play nice?" "Why should I? He always starts it." "I'm going to finish it," Kit growled. She almost turned on Drake when he walked up behind her. "She started it, Mom," he said with a whine in his voice. "Tinman, you are on my team. Behave or I'm going to find you a cornfield and then douse you with water to see if we can make your rust." "Going to send out a crazy chick in a blue gingham dress as well?" Drake, behave before she really gives it to you, Mage whispered into his head. He was heading for the door, knowing he would be called upon to take care of the girls' memories of this morning. "Did I ever tell you how creepy that is?" Tinman said, staring over at Mage. The empath just smiled, the smug look giving him an even creepier look. Kit waved them all out to the SUV. She sighed and looked at Shadow. "I just can't figure out how you conned me into running a team. It's like a permanent babysitting job." "Now you know how I feel," Shadow said with a laugh. "If it weren't for Callie, I'd have quit a long time ago and gone into some kind of private practice." "Callie loves you, Shadow. I don't think she'd be unhappy with anything you did." "Maybe not unhappy, but now that we have babies on the way, I won't do anything that might cause her even the least bit of grief. Leaving ASP will have to wait until later." He reached for the cell phone on his belt when it went off, turning away from Kit to answer it. She headed out the door as well, knowing that Shadow would lock up before he left to go out to his own vehicle. Her team was already in the truck. They would head back to ASP and then go out later to find the man Mirage had pissed off. * * * * Mirage sat staring at Hunter who sat on the cot next to hers. He was holding an ice pack to the bump on his head. "I don't know why you bother, there's nothing in there to hurt." Hunter glanced at the nurse who was taking his blood pressure. "Can't you feel the love?" The girl, no more than twenty-two, giggled at Hunter's joke, her breasts jiggling under the tight nurse's uniform she was wearing. The dress was short, stopping some three inches above her knees. It also zipped up the front and the zipper seemed to like to worm its way down, which the nurse didn't always fix right away. She exposed a lot of creamy white skin and shadowed cleavage as she fawned over Hunter. "See?" He growled at Mirage, deciding never to tell her annoying he found the nurse and her obnoxious giggle as well as the flamboyant way she seemed to flaunt her body. "Some people find me funny." "Looking, maybe," Mira said with a scowl. "Where's the doctor?" Her words were clipped and demanded that they be paid attention to, sending the little blonde nurse running out of the cubicle and out looking for the doctor. "Did you have to frighten her like that?" Hunter snapped. "Oh, are you afraid that you're going to miss out in getting laid?" "You know, Mira, you can be a real bitch sometimes." He dropped the ice pack onto the cot and got up, walking toward her. "I'd think you were jealous if you could ever be accused of having a real emotion." "I have a lot of real emotions," Mira snarled, standing to face him. She poked him in the chest as he stepped even closer. "Listen, Hunter, if you want to flex your manly muscles for the blonde dingbat, you go right ahead. But don't think you're going to do it when you're making fun of me. I've about had enough today. I saved your fucking life today. Show some gratitude." "Gratitude?" Hunter seemed almost too angry to speak. "How many times have I pulled your ass out of the fire when you were diving off that damn frying pan? Don't even bother trying to figure out how many. It's way more times then you have fingers and toes." "Prick," Mira growled, pushing him back and away from her. Hunter seemed to rebound off an invisible wall, coming back quickly. He reached out and pushed her back, his eyes widening as she hit the cot and then fell to the floor, his tee-shirt that she was still wearing catching against the cot and dragging up and over her breasts. A growl shook him and he reached down for her, now completely out of control of his actions. Hunter dragged her to her feet, grabbing one of her hands. He yanked at the button of his jeans then pulled down the zipper, pushing her hand into his pants. "I have one," he snarled, wrapping her hand around his stiffening shaft. "I don't need yours." "What the fuck are you doing? You've got me confused for that little blonde tart with a giggle like nails on a chalkboard." She tried to shake off his hand but she'd pushed him too far and he wasn't letting go. He held onto her hand, curving it around his cock, moving it as if he were going to use it to jack himself off. It pissed her off even more and she took a step forward, arching her back to push her breasts against his chest. Hunter moaned, more than out of control. She was driving him stark raving mad. He'd worked with her for five years and never once had he guessed that just the touch of her hand would have him aching. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he lifted her easily, dumping her back on the gurney. He followed her down, forcing her to her back, lying between her parted thighs. His lips touched her face, his mouth dragging over her cheek to nip at her lips. She fought him for a moment, her hands pushing at his chest. Then when he took her mouth, she gave in, her lips curling into his, holding him captive. Her hands flattened against his chest and she let them slide up until she held him against her, refusing to let go. Her tongue pushed at his lips and he quickly parted them, letting her explore all she wanted. He pushed his hand under her tee shirt, rubbing against her flat stomach and over her ribs. She held her breath until she felt his hand cup her breasts. Then it all rushed out in one big sigh. "We can't do this," she said, punctuating each word with a kiss. "It's wrong." "How?" he panted. "It feels to right." "No," she argued but she wrapped her legs around his hips, rubbing her groin against the hard ridge of his cock. "I'm married." Hunter lifted his head, his eyes meeting hers. "No, you're not. You've been single for thousands of years, Mira. It's time to get over that." "Get over it? I watched my little girl be burnt alive. I watched as my husband's flesh was ripped off his bones. You think I can just get over that?" "I think you've used that and your curse to keep yourself from growing close to anyone. You live in that fancy house hidden behind huge gates that keep you locked in and others locked out. If you go out, it's too Vampire bars or hidey holes where you won't have to face any real emotions. You've been touchless for so long, you're scared to death that I might be someone you could actually fall for." Her head was shaking long before he got to the last sentence. "You know nothing about me. You can't know what it's been like for me. You don't know anything but what your little head thinks." She pushed at him, forcing him off of her. "Don't touch me again." He got up, fastening his jeans with angry jerks. "Trust me, I won't. I might end up with fucking frost bite." He stomped toward the door, growling as the nurse came back in. Walking past her, he pushed open the door violently, hearing it slam against the wall. It wasn't near as cathartic as he'd thought it would be, so he growled, walking out and leaving her there to face the curious nurse on her own. * * * * Shadow was sitting in his office, a smile on his usually grim face. "I really wanted to go to that with you, baby. You're all healthy?" "Very healthy," Callie said, having just come back from the doctor who'd taken care of her prenatal needs. She hadn't decided if she wanted to go to him when she finally started labor or if she wanted to go to the Medical floor at ASP. "They are doing gymnastics, Brian." He laughed. "Did he give you any ideas how much longer?" "I think you're almost more anxious than I am," Callie laughed. "But the doctor said that I have about three weeks left." She sighed. "I love these four but I miss working. I miss Angel and Marcus. But mostly, I miss you." "I'll be home in a few hours, gorgeous. If it hadn't been for that call out, I'd have been home already, you know that." "You haven't even asked what they are." "Well, I kind of figured that they were pups." "Brian, you know what I mean." He laughed. "Yeah, so are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?" "Now I'm curious, what would you guess?" Shadow leaned his head back, the chair tipping just a bit. He kicked his feet up on his desk, careful to keep his boots off the files that were sitting there waiting for his attention. "Honestly. I thought three girls, one boy." "Try the other way around," Callie laughed. "Now that we know, we should start working on names." "Three boys, one girl? Well, at least I'll have some help whipping the boys that'll be sniffing around her. We can work on it when I get home. I promise, love. Only a couple more hours to try and get some of this paperwork off my desk. I'll call you before I leave." "I love you, Brian." Her voice was full of emotion as she spoke the words and he could almost feel what she was feeling. "I love you, Callie Anne." He said his good-byes and then hung up the phone, just in time to hear the knock on his office door. "Come in." Mirage pushed open the door and stood in front of Shadow's desk, waiting for him to offer her a chair before she sat. "I have an address where we can find him, Shadow." "Who, Mira?" "Myler Baer-Braxton. The man who was responsible for that mess at Hunter's today." "Ahh, that reminds me. Why were you at Hunter's today, Mirage?" "I lost a bet." She shut her mouth, not willing to say anymore unless he specifically asked. "A bet?" Shadow's eyebrows rose. "What kind of bet?" "Hunter and I had a bet on who would win at the mats. He won." "He won? What did he win?" "I was supposed to come over and clean his apartment this morning." "Okay, so let me guess, you hired those ladies to clean to piss Hunter off." "Well, no, not really, sir." She could feel the blush starting on her cheeks and she cursed her fair skin. "I hired them to fulfill my part of the bet." "Agent Mirage," he snapped, watching as her back straightened automatically. "I am not an idiot. I have worked with Marcus and Angel long enough to see when two of my agents are attracted to each other and when they are fighting it. You hired those women to piss Hunter off. It backfired on you." "Yes sir," she said, not bothering to argue with him. Shadow would think what he would think even if he was amazingly wrong. "I want to find them sir, to bring them to justice for what they did to Lady Melody." "So where is he?" "I have an address of the bar where I ran afoul of him last night, sir. I also have an address to Braxton's home." Shadow nodded. "Fine. Lady Melody is waiting for her detox. I'm going down to supervise the use of the shell. You'll come with me and then you can take Hunter with you and Kit's team. I don't want you walking into any of those places without backup." "Yes sir." She shuddered delicately, thinking of the shell that Shadow was talking about. It looked like a big conch shell with the same creamy colors and deep pink on the inside. But what lived in the shell was something completely different all together. There were two ways to detox a Vampire's victim and the shell was the better of the two ways. The other way dealt with blood letting until the victim was almost dead and then giving a transfusion. It was harder on humans and wasn't used unless the shell didn't work. Mira had never seen the shell not work. It gave her the creeps, the shell with its dark pink tentacles. Just the thought of those tentacles entering her body, living in her veins, cleaning her blood made her almost sick. She followed Shadow out of his office and into the elevator. Then she walked into the Medical unit again, cringing as she saw the blonde nurse. Shadow went right to a small wall safe, pressing his thumb against the biometric reader. Then he pressed in a code to the number pad and spun the wheel that would open the heavy metal door. Reaching in, he pulled out a metal box that was locked on three sides and put it under his arm. Something thumped in the box and Mira flinched. Just the thought of what was in that box gave her the creeps and she almost asked Shadow if she could skip this part. But it wasn't in her to neglect her duty, so she stiffened her chin and followed him into one of the curtained cubicles. Lady Melody lay on the gurney, her eyes closed, a blanket pulled up and around her shoulders. Her eyes fluttered when Shadow pulled the curtain back, but they didn't open. It was almost as if what had happened had taken too much out of her, which it probably had. The bites alone could have caused her to bleed to death. She'd been lucky though she probably didn't feel that way now. Shadow sat the box down on a metal tray and then went to the wall phone and dialed a number. He spoke to the doctor, letting her know that he was ready and had brought the shell. Doctor Kayla Gibbs, another Were, was on duty. "She'll be right down; she's just finishing up with Hunter." Mira nodded and then hooked the small metal stool with her foot, drawing it over to her. She sank down on the stool, watching as Shadow got out the tools he would need to keep the shell from hurting Lady Melody. When Doctor Gibbs walked into the room followed by Hunter, Mira flinched even more. She nodded at the doctor hoping she wouldn't say anything about her just getting up and walking out in front of Shadow. Kayla glanced her way, but didn't say a word. Instead, she stood next to the metal tray, twirling the small locks on the case until they were all unlocked. Then she pulled on the special gloves that were used to handle the shell with. Opening the case, she quickly reached in and pulled it out with one hand, her other going to Lady Melody's shoulder, shaking her gently. "This is going to feel a bit strange," she warned, holding the shell right above the bite on her neck. It was the deepest and most life threatening of her wounds. Mira stood, watching as the tentacles began to curl out of the shell opening until it seemed as if there were a hundred of them, all reaching for Lady Melody. She cringed a bit when the tentacles found the bite and began to sink into Melody's wound. Melody grunted and then her eyes opened and she looked around the cubicle, seeing the doctor holding the shell and the tentacles coming out of it. "No...Don't." Mira stood at the woman's feet, making sure her hands were shielded from actually touching her skin, her fingers wrapping around each limb to help hold her still. "It will be over soon," Kayla said. "Just hold still a few moments longer." Hunter held down her arms, holding on persistently as Lady Melody tried to shake him off. He even managed to ignore the tentacles that brushed over his skin. But they didn't want him. They wanted the tainted blood. Kayla let the shell go when it pushed right up against the wound. She kept talking to Melody, trying to calm her, to stop the struggling that the woman was doing. Melody's skin lost its grayish cast. It was slow going because this Vampire had been brutal. There were many bites and a lot of poison in the woman's body to be sucked out. "Almost done," Kayla said calmly. Two seconds later and Melody began to scream. She thrashed on the small gurney, doing everything in her power to get away from Hunter and Mirage. Her hands came up to claw at her neck and she tried to thrust the shell away, but it held on to her. "Hunter, pull it out!" Shadow grabbed her other arm and Hunter grabbed hold of the shell, hissing as the heat of it burned his fingers. But he held on, pulling it slowly out of her, trying to ignore the tentacles that whipped out and around the four of them. Melody calmed when the shell was finally out of her body, her eyes closing, her breathing becoming more regular. Hunter turned toward the metal box, thrusting the shell inside, his hands gathering the tentacles, and pushing them in as well as Mira tried to close the box. Between the two of them, they finally got the thing inside and closed. "What the hell was that?" Mirage almost yelled, freaked out by the shell and its actions. "I've never seen it behave like this before," Doctor Gibbs said. She twirled the combinations on the locks and handed the box to Shadow. "It could have been something in the Vampire's poison that did that. I'd have to take samples of the shell and of Melody's blood." "Do that, Doctor. You two come with me." Shadow headed out the door of the med unit, Hunter and Mirage following behind him. * * * * As always, I'm curious to hear what you think. This is definitely the last version of this I am going to write. Enjoy! Hunter Hunted Ch. 08 Slaves to the man. Chapter Eight Shadow waved Hunter and Mirage toward the chairs that sat in front of his desk. Mirage sat, glancing over and meeting Hunter's eyes. He shrugged and then his gaze went to Shadow as the director of ASP sank down in the chair behind the desk. "Have either of you ever seen one of the shells acting like that?" Mirage shuddered. "No. I hate the damn things anyway." "I can understand that. I just need to know if we're going to have a problem with a new strain of Vampire poison." "Well, boss, I think we're going to need to dissect the shell." Shadow glanced at Hunter before he turned to look at Mira. "You know where we can find this Vampire?" "I do," Mira answered. "I just need a team for backup and we should be able to round up the whole crew." "I need this Vampire alive," Shadow said, his eyes meeting Hunter's. "I will let you go after him and Myler Baer-Braxton. You are in charge, Hunter. Grab Kit and her team and the six of you will take them down." "But..." Mira felt a spurt of rage and she turned to look at Hunter. Her mouth hung open and she glared at him. "That's my decision, Mirage. If you're not happy with them..." She rose, glaring at Hunter even as she walked out of Shadow's office. "I'm changing," she snapped at Hunter. "I'll meet you in the SUV." "Mira..." He shut up when she turned around and glowerd at him. "I'll see you in the SUV." Mirage walked out without waiting for him to say anything else. She slammed her hand on the button of the elevator and then glanced around, feeling the eyes of other agents as they stared at her. With a low curse, she pushed open the door to the stairs, slowing as she enjoyed the quiet. She was almost down to the level of the locker room when she saw him standing by the door with his arms crossed on his chest. "Are you ready to discuss this?" Mira snarled her foul mood irrational. She'd got what she wanted, even if she did have to work with another team to get it. So why was she so pissy? She didn't know and better yet, she really didn't fucking care. "Discuss what?" she snapped. Hunter grabbed her arm when she tried to walk by him. When he found his face pressed against the wall, his arm twisted behind his back, it was his turn to curse. "Let me go," he snapped. "Then don't fucking touch me. I haven't invited you to touch me, so just don't do it!" She let him go, adding a push to put some space between them. "What the fuck do you want?" "To have a conversation where you aren't going to try to snap my head off!" The words were growled, his eyes almost glittering in the bright light of the stairs. "So talk." Hunter just stared at her, seeing the irritation in the icy blue of her eyes. She was antsy, pacing back and forth on the landing just outside of the gym floor. "Why is this pissing you off?" Mirage glared at him. He could be so freaking annoying. He had to talk about feelings. The worst thing about it was she really didn't know why she was being so pissy. "Maybe because I don't feel like being mauled like I was some two bit hooker," she snapped. She could see the anger as it flashed in his eyes, turning them to gold. He pushed his hand into his hair, and she could see that she'd gotten to him. "Two bit hooker? Dammit Mira, I've done no such thing." "Maybe in your eyes." Hunter glared at her and she could see that he was now angry. He reached out, grabbing her arm and yanking her along behind him as he headed down another three flights of stairs. He didn't say a word, just held her arm, his fingers like steely bracelets, and forced her to follow him. When he finally opened the door off the stairs, she could see he'd brought her down to the crypts, the rooms that were used for those beings that couldn't be out during the day. He didn't say a word to her before he pulled her into one of the rooms, shutting the door and locking it. "We are going to talk about this," he growled, releasing her as if she had some kind of contamination. "Maybe I don't want to talk to you," she snapped back at him. Mira stared up and into his eyes for a single long moment. Then she turned, ignoring his voice, calling her name and going toward the door. "Mirage!" His voice was loud and she sighed loudly. "What?!" "What in the hell is your problem?!" He took two huge steps, reaching her quickly and grabbing her arm again. "You, Hunter. You are my fucking problem." She jerked her arm out of his grasp. "I hate it down here. I hate you down here!" She walked quickly back toward the door, her eyes narrowing when he came at her one more time. "Can't you just leave me alone?" He glared at her, watching as she turned the lock on the door, flinging it open and walking out into the hallway. He followed her out. "I'll keep my hands off of you, Mira. But we will have this out, if not here then later. Understood?" "Fuck you, Hunter." She stormed into the elevator and hit the button to close the door, smiling sweetly as it closed in his face. She gave him a little wiggle of her fingers and then relaxed as the elevator started on its way back up. It was almost too easy to make it to the locker room this time. Going inside, she sank down on the bench in front of her locker and sighed heavily. Why did it have to be him? Why couldn't it have been someone else that could touch her? She reached out, quickly unlocking her locker and tugging out her white leather. She stripped, dropping his shirt on the bottom of her locker. Pulling on the tight white pants, she quickly did them up and then pulled on the short white vest, zipping it up. She reached out for the thick white belt that held her holster and the hook that she put her set of keys on. Sliding it around her hips, she buckled it tight and then stood, closing her locker. The door to the locker room opened and she looked up, watching as Lelia walked into the room, spotting her and heading her way. "Hunt's looking for you," she said quickly. "What the hell happened to you?" Lee pointed at the welts on her arms, welts left by Hunt's fingers. "A disagreement," Mira said. "Are we ready to go?" "Just waiting for you." They walked out of the locker room together, Mira tucking Shadow's blaster into her holster. They went out to the parking lot and split up, Mira going to the SUV that stood, engine running, Hunter in the driver's seat. She slid in, fastening her seat belt as Hunter tore out of the parking lot, almost sending her crashing into the passenger door. "I'd rather not die in the truck," she said caustically. "I'd rather not be court-martialed for killing you," he growled. He took the curving ramp almost too fast, the SUV coming up on two wheels before it slammed down again. Then they were in traffic, Hunter driving along the side streets, heading out of town. Mira gave him directions, her eyes roaming over the darkened windows of the bar. She could hear the sound of the band, the blues with a smoky, mellow sound. "Are they even open?" Mira glanced at Drake. He was in full Tinman mode, everything about his shining with a steely glint. Lee's eyes were glittering and she was tripping on a ley-line, letting the black magic flow through her body, making her strong. Blues? Mage asked in her mind. "I happen to like the Blues," she snapped. Mira shrugged, then she headed toward the front doors, ignoring Hunter when he tried to call her back. She opened the door to the bar, seeing the same bartender that had been there the night before. He glance up at her and then reached down, flipping open a lid off a bottle and setting it down on the bar for her. She pulled out a fifty dollar bill, sliding it across the bar to him. "Keep it," she said, lifting the beer to her lips. "I need some information." "What kind?" he answered, his eyes moving over her with caution. "Myler Baer-Braxton, the scumbag from last night, where can I find him?" The barman took a deep breath, picking up his rag and washing a few of the glasses that were in the sink. "We sell alcohol here, Miss, not information." Mira pulled out another fifty. "Just give me the address," she said, waving the money in front of his face. "I don't know it," he said, watching as she pulled another fifty out of a pocket in her leather, stacking them neatly in front of her. "Do you know what you're asking me to do?" "I'm only asking for a number and a road," she said. "When's the last time you got this kind of money for a tip?" He sighed heavily. "265 Old Mill Road. The drive is long and they have a ton of out buildings. I can't tell you where they're going to be." Mira slid the money across the bar, picking up the bottle and draining half of it. She wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. "Thanks." "You and your ASP buddies can come out and work my murder tomorrow night," he grumped, glowering at her. She shook her head and then slid off the stool, leaving the bar with the same feline pace that she'd come in with. Going back out to the SUV, she gave Hunter the address. "Before we go anywhere," he growled, "you're going to learn how to listen to me, Mira. I'm not jeopardizing the job or the team because you have some idea of vengeance. If you can't listen to my orders, then I'm leaving you here until we get this vampire back to ASP." "You wouldn't even know where to go if it wasn't for me." Hunter stared her down, watching in satisfaction as she dropped her eyes. "Say the word, Mira, say it or stay here." "I'll fucking listen," she snapped. "And obey..." he added. "Fine, but don't expect me to honor or respect you." She turned away from his eyes, gazing out the window as she tried to swallow her anger. It wasn't working very well, not very well at all. By the time they'd gotten to the Old Mill Road, she had steam coming out of her ears. She pulled Shadow's blaster, checking the load and smiling grimly in the green light. "Baer-Braxton is mine." "We don't even know what we're going to find there, Mira. Just cool your jets." "The man is a misogynistic jerk. He's mine." Hunter sighed, wanting to reach out and grab her, maybe tear those white pants off of her round ass and then redden it until she couldn't sit without squirming. Then maybe he'd arrange her over him and fuck her until her screams of pleasure were louder than her screams of pain had been. "Why can't you be easy, Mira? Why do you always have to do things the hard way?" "It's part of my charm," she said with a wave of her hand. "Why can't you realize after five years of working with me that I'll always want to work a case my way?" "Because your way isn't always the best way." He turned off the road and into a long driveway, protected by a huge black iron gate. He pulled the truck half way across the road, watching as Kit pulled hers over to the other half. The driveway was blocked now. No one would be getting out that way. "We're walking it." Mira nodded, sliding out of the SUV and pulling on the long, leather duster over her vest and pants. She tucked one side of the coat behind her holstered blaster and then headed off behind Hunter toward the house. The roof could barely be seen from the driveway and as they got closer, Hunter grew more intense. "The place is huge," he groaned. Drake nodded. "But the bigger they are..." "The more work they are to clear," Mirage finished for him. "Kit, you and Lelia take the front, Tinman, you and Mage get the back." "And what are you and Mira going to be doing during all of this?" Hunter nodded at the huge barn that stood to one side of the house. Unlike the house, the barn was lit up and they could see shadows moving. "Mira and I are going to clear the barn." When it looked as if Kit was going to protest, he just gave her a look and she shut up. "Okay, team, you heard him. I want comms open and I want to know what you know when you know it. Drake, no shit head hero moves, got me?" "How about regular hero moves?" "Tinman!" "Yes ma'am." Hunter gave them a few moments to get into position and then he nodded at Mira. "Same goes as what Kit said to Drake." "Yes, daddy." Hunter growled, reaching out and grabbing hold of the collar of her duster. "When we get done with this op, you and I are going to have a long fucking talk." "I'll bring my pillow and blanket." Hunter almost ordered her back to the SUV right there. But he knew he was going to need help in the barn. "Let's go." Mira took off, running bent over to make a smaller target in case anyone inside got a look at them. She reached a window in the barn and squatted under it, raising just enough to get a quick look inside. "There's some kind of meeting going on," she hissed. One more glimpse and she cursed. "They've got women in there. They're chained, Hunt. I don't think it's voluntary." Hunter risked his own look and then squatted back beside her. "No, it's not voluntary. We've got whip marks on their backs. I saw some blood in there as well." "Assholes," she growled and then ran toward the big sliding door that was partially open. Spinning, she went in low, hearing Hunter coming in behind her, but going high. His blaster blew out the side of one of the guys that were holding the chains of the women. Mira was close behind him, popping off two quick blasts that killed two more of the men instantly. "That's him," she growled, nodding her head at one of the men. "That's the vamp." Hunter rolled, using a water trough for cover as he blasted out a couple more of the men, shooting at the vamp's legs. The vampire blurred and Mira put out one foot, cursing as the vampire tripped over her, almost breaking her leg at the speed he was going. Putting her blaster to his head, she glared at him. "Please, move." "Mirage, Shadow said alive." "But if he moved, if he gets threatening..." "Don't make me have to shoot you," he growled. Two more men came into the barn and he reached out, grabbing their heads and knocking them together. They went down hard and he ducked backward as a hail of bullets splintered the barn's wooden floor under him. "Fuck!" Mirage slammed the butt end of her blaster down on top of the Vampire's head before shooting at the man with the automatic weapon. It took two shots and he screamed, his leg gone as he fell from the loft above them. It only took a few more shots and the guards were either dead or injured. Mira rounded them up and then found the ring of keys that would unlock the women's chains. As soon as the heavy chains were off, the women curled into balls on the floor next to the wall. Each one of them had a look of emptiness in their eyes, a look of pain that was too immense for them to handle easily. They'd been through hell and it would take a lot to get them back from that hell. Mira picked up the chains, going to the men who were still alive. She chained them up, using an extra set to chain the vampire with enough metal to keep him from moving. "Asshole," she growled. Hunter reached up, his finger touching the small receiver that was inside his ear. "Yeah, Kit. We're fine." He glanced at Mira before turning away to finish his conversation with the were-lion. When he turned back, Mira had finished chaining the survivors and checking the dead to make sure they actually were. "What's going on?" "Kit and Lee have Myler, but his boss got away. He has some kind of tunnels set up under the mansion. He got out using those." "Fucking Braxton," she growled. "We're going to need a bus to get these women back to ASP." "Mira, they're human. They need to go to a doctor." "They need Mage." She took two steps and then turned to glare at Hunt. "They've been raped and savaged, Hunter. Look at the bruises, do you have any idea what it's like to be unable to defend yourself, to be abused and degraded with no hope of recourse? I do. It's why Bia cursed me, why she killed my daughter and my husband. Her husband saw me in the gardens outside one of the houses of worship. He raped me, left me bleeding and bruised." She couldn't look at him as she spoke. This was something she'd never told anyone, not since that terrible day when Bia took her vengeance. "When I tried to bring him to some kind of justice, she told everyone that I lied, that I was jealous because I wanted him and couldn't have him. He'd raped me and she had them believing that I wanted it and I was crying rape because he wouldn't have sex with me again." "God, Mira, that's awful." He reached out for her but she ducked his hand. "That son of a bitch raped me and then Bia did worse." She could feel the same shame, the same hurt and worse yet, the same betrayal she'd felt that day, the day when she'd been found guilty of falsifying testimony. Only Aphrodite had believed her, had befriended her after they were dead. Worse yet, she had no idea of why she was telling Hunter this. She should be heading into the house to get Myler, to show him her own kind of punishment. But even as she thought it, a wave of exhaustion took her, making her feel too tired, too weary with life to deal with him. She moved away from Hunter and from the women, finding a small piece of wall out of the way and sinking down. She only nodded when Hunter asked if she were alright and then agreed to watch the prisoners while he called ASP to have a bus sent out. "Bitch," the word held a world of loathing and Mira glanced up, seeing Myler, handcuffed and held by Tinman. She rose slowly, walking over toward him. "You do know who I am," she asked the man. He nodded, his eyes watching her every move. "Then you know what would happen if I took you from Drake here?" "Yeah." "So, since you know of all of that, would you like to apologize to me now or would you rather hold my hand?" She held up her hand, slowly pulling off the thin white leather gloves she'd pulled on before the fight. Wiggling her fingers in front of his face, she waited for his answer. "You keep that bitch away from me," he growled at Drake. "Dude, she's my boss. That means if she tells me to let you go, I let you go. If she tells me to shoot you, then I shoot you. If she tells me to cut off your balls and string them up for her..." "I know, you cut off my balls and string them up. Just keep her away from me." Myler took to steps back, tripping over the chains that bound his ankles and falling on his ass. "You know, boss, I think he's a bit afraid of you." "I guess he's not as stupid as he looks." Mira grinned at Drake. She'd always liked the Tinman. He was mouthy and irreverent, two qualities she liked in a person. "So, should we take him in, or should I just touch him and then we can go let him live with the voices out in the streets?" "He might know how to find Braxton," Hunter said from behind them. "I'd hate to miss out on that information. These girls aren't the first slaves they'd taken, and they won't be the last if we don't round him up. He's selling them off to the Supernatural market." "You mean, like vamps and weres and witches?" Hunter nodded at Drake. "They don't seem to care if they're human or supernatural. They sell them off to the highest bidder. One of the girls told me that they were holding more at a different location. She just doesn't know where they are." Mira pulled off her other glove, stuffing them into the pocket of her duster. She walked toward Myler, a look of pure pleasure in her eyes. "This will be worse for you than it is for me," she said softly, holding her hand up right before his face. "I'm the one that can't be touched. I'm the one who will drive you raving mad, Myler. And you know, it's a bit of a shame, but I just don't give a shit if you're hurt or not in the deal. So...do you want to tell us or should we get touchy feely?" "Don't touch me," he cried, cringing back against Drake. "You can't let her touch me, Dude. You just can't." Hunter Hunted Ch. 08 "That's where you're wrong, Dude," Drake said, mocking the man. "She can do whatever she wants to do, she's the boss you stupid son of a bitch." "Which is it, Myler?" Mira moved even closer, close enough that she could smell Myler's sweat and his fear as well as the spiciness of Drake's aftershave. "Tell me now or I'll make up your mind for you." * * * * Let me know what you think? Hunter Hunted Ch. 09 Harsh cries came from his mouth as the terrible agony flooded his body. It was growing worse by the minute, and he rolled, fighting the straps that held him to the bed. Blood ran thick in his veins, too thick. He needed to feed, he needed the release but every movement he made seemed to trap him worse. "Braxton!" he screamed, throwing his head back. His voice was guttural, almost as thick sounding as his blood that flowed heavily through his veins. Then he calmed, his eyes resting upon the clear plastic bag that was feeding a dark orange liquid into him. It seemed to be the cause of his agony and he tried to reach the needle that was pushed into his arm. "Arghhh!" he screamed, shaking his bonds. "Braxton, I will kill you!" A chuckle tore his thoughts from the orange liquid and his problem. His head turned and he stared at the man before him. "Braxton," he whispered. "Yes. Calm down Nicholas. You'll be thanking me when I'm done." "Thanking you for killing me, I don't think so. Let me go." "Not yet, Nicholas." Braxton moved across the tile floor, moving to the other side of the bed. He checked on the small plastic bag and then reached into a small refrigerator, pulling out a bag of blood. He hooked it up to the pole, unrolling a length of the thin tubing. He pushed it onto the plastic stopper of the bag and then sent the needle end into the IV in his arm. "This will help." Nicholas shook his head, smelling the difference in the blood than that of what he usually ingested. "No, what is that?" "It's blood...and a special additive. Trust me Nicky, you'll enjoy it." He started the drip, the blood flowing into his veins. He began to feel stronger, but something new, something that almost felt foul dripped into his blood as well. "No!" He shouted the word. Braxton smiled, resting his hand on Nicky's for just a moment. He squeezed it, and then turned toward the door, staring at the face that was peering into the window. He nodded once and watched as the face disappeared. Then he stepped toward the door and walked out. * * * * Mirage stared at the small man hanging in Tinman's arms. "So which is it, Dude?" When he didn't say anything, Mira moved toward him again, lifting her hand as if to touch him, smiling as he screamed and moved futilely in Drake's arms. "No! No, he'll kill me!" "I'll kill you, dude, I'll just enjoy it a hell of a lot more." Mira stepped closer, her fingers reaching out to grab a lock of Myler's hair. "You want me even closer, Myler?" She took another step closer, her fingers a hair's breath away. He screamed, falling backward against Drake. "I'll tell you, I will. Just don't let her touch me." Drake cocked his head to the side, winking at Mirage. "You know, Dude, I just don't understand your aversion to the pretty ladies. I'd let this one touch me anytime and anywhere." "You're steel, she'd make me crazy." "Did you want to try that, Drake?" Mira asked, laughing as his eyes narrowed as if he were considering it. "I'd say yes, but Lee has a problem with me flirting with the pretty ladies, Mira. She'd turn me into a lump of molten metal scrap." He jumped when an arm came around his shoulders, soft fingers moving over his chin. "You're so, so right, gorgeous. You'd be scrap metal in a second if I thought you were doing any flirting with Mira here." Lee rose up on tip toe and kissed his cheek. "Whoa, Lee. Wanna loose the line before you fry me?" Mira turned seeing the gold flecks that seemed to snap like sparks in Leila's unusual cat-like eyes. She grinned at the black witch, watching as Lee blinked a couple of times and her eyes changed, the gold leaving them just amber. Kit walked up as well, a pair of handcuffs on a man who was wearing a black suit, a distinguished gray and black striped tie knotted neatly. There was a tiny smudge of dirt on his collar, but beside that, he was perfect, not a hair out of place. "Mira, this is Geeves, the butler." "Miss, my name is Jarvis," the man interrupted, heaving a sigh. "Geeves here claims that he has no knowledge of what his 'master' is doing here." Kit smiled as she mauled the man's name again. "Who is this master?" "Mr. Taylor Braxton, Miss. The owner of this house." "So your "master" is kidnapping women and then selling them on the black market whether they're supernatural or not and you have no idea of what he's doing?" Mira turned, staring at the fussy little man. "You really can't expect me to believe a pile of hooey like that." "Hooey, Miss?" "Bunkum, bullshit, balderdash, crap, drivel, nonsense, twaddle, claptrap, baloney, garbage, hogwash. . Okay, let's try...Lies." Jarvis flinched at the word before he shook off Kit's hand and started walking toward her. "Miss, I've been a member of this household for many years. I'm seen Master Taylor do many things. I've never seen him lie." "Well, keep your eyes open, Geeves. We'll see if we can fix that for you." Mira moved towards Myler again, seeing the relief in his eyes when he was no longer center of her attention. "Oh, no, Myler. I haven't forgotten about you." Myler screamed, a hollow sound that had the hair standing up on Mira's neck. "He sounds like a four year old girl," Drake said with a laugh. "I wonder if Myler here is actually a man?" Mira reached down, managing to unbutton the man's pants without touching his skin. Running the zipper down had him dancing in place, as if he'd do anything to get away from Mirage. "I said I'd tell you," he screamed even as the weight of change and keys in his pockets had his pants falling to his knees, exposing Sponge Bob Squarepants boxers." "Hey, Drake, don't you have a pair of those?" Lee asked, laughing. "They're classic," Tinman growled. "Don't make fun of the Sponge." Mira snorted. "Okay, Myler, this is your chance. Where will we find Master Taylor?" Jarvis seemed to bristle even as Myler squirmed backwards, trying to evade Mira's hands. "There are passages that run under the house! He took one of those!" "Took one where?" Kit demanded. The shot that splattered Myler's head all over Drake's face seemed to come from nowhere. Drake jerked back, letting the man drop from his hands. "What the...?" Then Hunter was there, knocking Mira to the ground and holding her there as another shot sounded, Drake grunting as the slug struck him in the shoulder, dropping harmlessly to the ground. "Son of a bitch!" he exclaimed. "That's going to bruise." He reached out, grabbing Lee and pulling her in front of him, protecting her with his metal body. Even as he held her, he felt her beginning the ritual that would allow her to tap into the power of the ley lines. There was the sound of a roar and Kit's furred body brushed by him, heading toward the direction the shot had come from. "Let me up!" Mira growled, pushing at Hunter when he refused to let her go. "That bullet was meant for you." He grabbed her hands, holding her down under him. "Kit's gone to see if she can track the man who fired it so just shut up and stay put." Mira shook under him, her hands clenching as she pushed against him. Nothing went through her mind but how close he was, how she could feel him, all of him, against her. His hands touched her hair and he stared down at her, into her eyes, watching as the confusion took her. "Hunter?" she groaned softly, feeling the hardness of him between her thighs. He made her feel things, realize things, that she hadn't since her husband's death all those many years ago. Heat suffused her, making the flesh between her thighs grow wet and throb. It was need, a desperate need that finally forced her to realize what was happening. "Let me up," she whispered, unable to look at him. Hunter looked around them, then lifted, grabbing her hand and pulling her up with him. "Stay here," he said softly, but there was the tone of an order to his voice. Mira glanced down at what was left of Myler and cursed succinctly. There was no doubt that the man was dead. There wasn't much left a top his shoulders for him to be anything but. "Dammit! We'd been so close!" Kit yowled loudly as she came back toward them. She grabbed for her uniform and then returned, a human once more. "He's gone. He left the rifle on the ground out there and disappeared. I could smell him on the gun but that was it. It's as if he'd never been there." "That was a hell of a shot," Drake said, staring down at the mass of blood and gore that was all that was left of Myler. "I don't know of too many who could have made it. Someone doesn't like you much Mirage." "That's if they were actually shooting at Myler," Hunter said. "Who else would he be shooting at?" Mirage scoffed. "No fucking way he was shooting at me, Hunter. I think you might have bumped your head when you dived on me." "Maybe on that brick you call a head." Hunter grabbed her arm, feeling her stiffen against him. "Come on, we're getting you out of here before they can try again. Kit, you got this?" "Yeah, just get her out of here, Hunter. I'll report back to Shadow and take Geeves here down to the tombs. He'll be waiting there for you." Hunter smiled. "Thanks Kit." Then he kept his hand wrapped around her upper arm, almost dragging her away and back to where they'd parked the SUVs. "Dammit Hunter," she snarled as he pushed her in from the driver's side. He forced her over easily enough, pushing the keys into the ignition and starting the truck. "Two fucking inches, Mira. That's it. Two fucking inches to the right and you'd be the one lying out there with no head." "You don't know that the shot was aimed at me, Hunter. They could have been just trying to shut Myler up before he gave us Taylor's whereabouts." "And you believe that about as much as I do." He spun the wheel, pulling onto the main road, his hands almost shaking on the steering wheel. "This whole fucking thing was you, Mira. You were the one who started it last night. It was you that got the cleaners and you that brought them into my house. This was your idea and you were the one who found out that Braxton is running slaves. You were the one that was fired at. You can't doubt that now." She stared at him as if he were speaking some strange language, her eyes narrowing. "This is my fault?" Hunter didn't even smirk. "Yes, it is." "Pull over," she growled. She stared at him, her eyes flaming when he didn't do as she ordered. "Pull the fuck over," she hissed. "I don't want to even be in the car with you." "Well ain't it grand that I don't care what you do or don't want?" His foot slammed down on the accelerator and he sped around cars, hitting the siren when they wouldn't get over quick enough for him. "We're going to talk about this." "You go to hell," she sneered. "I've been there since the first time I touched you." Mira heard the tone of his voice and felt a deep tearing pain that seemed to come from the region of her heart. She refused to even think about it, about what he could mean by what he'd said. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the passenger side window. Hunter drove like a madman, veering around vehicles, coming up behind them so quickly that it would look as if he weren't going to slow down to miss them. He took his anger out on the SUV, ignoring Mirage for the moment as his anger seemed to double. "Stupid woman," he growled and watched as her head snapped around. "You'd better not be talking about me." "Oh, yeah, that's right. You'd be a stupid little girl!" "What the hell do you mean by that?" she snarled. Hunter turned onto a back road, barely slowing as the SUV kicked up a cloud of dust behind them. "That you wouldn't know how to act like a woman. You have the mental range of a selfish little girl." Mira hit the button on her seatbelt and then threw herself at him, her hands coming up like claws. She screamed curses at him, even as he fought her off with one hand, finally slamming on the brakes and putting the SUV into park. Then he brought both hands into the fight, grabbing her wrists. Mira fought him, using her feet to push her body into the back seat, to try to get away from his grasping hands. Instead, he followed her, his body coming down on top of hers on the long back seat. He was hard and hot against her and she gasped at the way he felt. But she didn't stop fighting. Her legs scissored, trying to kick out at him. Instead, Hunter found himself intimately pressed against her, her legs wrapping around his waist. "Let me go," she hissed when she finally grew tired of struggling. "Get the fuck off of me." Hunter stared down at her. She was flushed from fighting, her hair a spiky mess around her head. Her duster was open; the vest zipper had come down during their fight, leaving her breasts bared to his eyes. Her nipples were hard and pink, almost as if they were begging for his mouth. She heard his groan and stared up at him, knowing what he was seeing. Her breasts rose and fell agitatedly and she saw his eyes dip, staring at her. "No," she moaned, knowing what was going to happen next. When his mouth touched hers, she expected to be ravished, to feel his hands hot and hard against her skin. Instead, he was almost tender, his lips gentle against hers. He parted them, sliding his tongue between, tasting her heat. A muffled moan was torn from her and she fought his hold again, this time wanting nothing more than to touch him. But Hunter didn't know that. He held onto her, his chest crushed her breasts, her hands held next to her head. His mouth moved determinedly over hers, his tongue dipping inside, anxious to taste and tease, to tempt her into giving in to his heat. When she arched, her breasts pressing into him, he groaned again, knowing he'd be unable to stop this time if he didn't do it soon. Slowly, one at a time, he let go of her hands. He flinched as she dug them into his hair, tugging at it to pull him even harder against her. Her eyes shone like pale blue ice and she held on to him tightly, unable to think as his lips grew softer, teasing her. "God Mira," he gasped. "I can't stop." He tugged at her duster, stripping her of the heavy white leather as well as her vest, leaving her naked from the waist up. His hand shook as he touched her breast, curving around the generous mound, his thumb stroking over her nipple. She arched, pushing more of herself against him, her fingers tugging at his hair to take his mouth to her breasts. The sound of her pleasure shook him; the taste of her, the way she felt on his tongue was almost more than he could take. He groaned, feeling her hands move over his head, her fingers gentle on his scalp. "I...I want you, Hunter," she whispered almost too softly for him to hear. But he did. His breathing was rough, ragged, and he moved his hands down to her waist, tugging at the wide leather belt. Then he was pulling at the button, his fingers sliding down the tab on her zipper before reaching into the vee and sliding his palm against the soft cotton thong she was wearing. He could feel the thin strip of hair under the cotton and he followed the material between her legs, wanting to bury his hand in her wetness. The first touch of his fingers between her thighs sent a stuttered hum of pleasure through her. She was wet, the cotton of her thong soaked and she pushed up against his hand, wanting more. He pulled his hand away for just an instant, grabbing her hands and putting them at the zipper of his uniform. "If you want me, show me." The words were spoken in a raspy husk of a voice. She could hear the sound of his need; feel the thumping beat of his heart under her hands. Flipping up the tiny tab on the zipper, she pulled it down, baring his chest and then his stomach to her eager eyes. Then her hands were flat against his chest, running up and underneath the shoulders of his uniform, pushing it off and down his arms. The heat of his skin under her hands was its own kind of pleasure and she slid them down his back and over his hips, his hands coming off of her body to pull free of the uniform. "Tell me," he ordered. His voice brooked no argument and she felt the flush heat her cheeks. "I...I ahh..." "Mira," he growled. "Tell me, now." "I...I do, Hunter." The words were spoken softly and he cocked his head to the side, staring down at her. "I don't think I heard that, Mira." He moved his hips, the hard ridge of his cock still caught inside his uniform rubbed against her and she moaned again. "I want you, Hunter. Dammit! Fuck me!" "Well you don't have to yell," he teased, grinning down at her. He grabbed her hand before she could strike him, bringing it to his lips. He kissed it softly then trailed his tongue down her wrist, hearing her gasp as what he was doing affected her. "Hunter," she growled, her free hand moving down to where his uniform rested and she pushed at it, wanting to feel him naked against her. "Help me." He moved, but not to help her. Instead, he sat up, grabbing her boots and dragging them off of her feet. Her switchblade fell from the top of one boot and he picked it up, letting the blade flash out. Rubbing the small dimple in his chin, he looked from the blade to her leather pants. "Don't you even think about it." The words were growled and he grinned even wider. "Oh, why not?" "Do you have any clue how expensive leather is?" She wiggled her hips, slowly moving the tight leather off of her hips and down her legs, finally kicking free of them. "You're running behind here," she said, glancing down at the uniform that still covered most of his lap. He grinned, holding his foot out so that she could tug on his boots before he tossed the switchblade into the front seat. By the time she had his uniform off, Hunter had flipped the lever in the back seat that sent the seat flat, making it as wide and as long as a double bed, almost. "I always wondered why they did that." "And here I thought you'd had sex in every conceivable place in Central." "How often do I get the keys to the car when Dianna is with us?" He reached out, dragging her over so that she lay atop of him. He groaned as the softness of her breasts pressed so intimately against his wide chest, his hands trailing down her back to cup her hips. "Tell me you won't regret this." The words were growled and hurried, the silence afterward was expectant, waiting while she tried to form her thoughts around an answer that he would accept. She couldn't tell him she wouldn't regret this. She was regretting it all ready. But her body was impatient and needy and she couldn't, wouldn't stop what seemed to be so necessary to her. But to lie to him, to tell him that she wouldn't regret the act after it was done, that she couldn't do. She shrugged, her eyes wide as she looked up at him. "I make no promises." Hunter's hands stroked over her skin, his fingers digging into her hip as he heard her words. "Mira," he growled, her name sounding dangerous in his brooding voice. "Take what you can get, Hunter. I need you now. But I can't tell you how I'll feel when this is done, and I won't lie to you. I want you. I want to use your body. I want to feel the things that I haven't felt in three thousand years." "What if I said I wanted more than that?" Hunter's hand was on her chin, lifting her face so that he could see her. "What if I wanted to love you, to move in with you, to become a couple?" Panic struck, hard and fast, and she felt her stomach twist. "Y-you can't. We can't." "What if this isn't enough for me, Mira?" "This is all I have to give you, Hunter." The words were spoken softly but he heard them and rolled away from her to sit up. She reached out to him, her fingers skimming over the skin on his back. "You started this, you got me naked, and now you're just planning to stop?" Hunter Hunted Ch. 09 "No, but I do believe that we should discuss this, Mira. I've had feelings for you for a very long time. I just never knew I could act on them." He felt her hand, the flat of her palm sliding under his arm, her breasts pressing into his back. The sensation of her skin against his, of her body, naked and heavy against his own, had his desires spinning into orbit. He turned, reaching out for her, dragging her over his lap and into his arms. His palm stroked over her cheek, his thumb catching against her chin, holding her face up so that he could look down at her. "This is a first for me, Mira. I'm the one that always and forever runs from commitment and the complications it causes. I've never wanted any woman any longer than the time it takes to share pleasure. But for you, I'm willing to try, to make the commitment and to say the words." * * * * Gotta love those reformed bachelors. Now, is Hunter going to stick to his guns or is he going to take her home and go home himself? Do they make love or do they just fuck? Help! Hunter Hunted Ch. 10 Nicholas Stavaros woke, a gnawing sensation in his stomach. It was one he wasn't used to, one he hadn't felt since he'd gotten old enough to feed himself. He was hungry. He rolled over on the bed, sitting up on the side to let his feet hang over and touch the floor. His eye narrowed and he felt as if something was wrong, something was different. He smelt the blood and turned his head, seeing the naked girl who sat shivering on the floor nearest the door of the room. She was chained, a collar around her throat, a substantial leash running from the metal loop there to the heavy metal hook on the floor. "Who are you?" Nicky asked. "Where am I?" His memory was a blank and he tipped his head, studying her and the room curiously. It was four walls painted a very uninspiring pale green. Linoleum covered the floor. The only piece of furniture was the bed he'd woken up in. There was a door, a plain wooden portal that had a window on the top and metal bars across the glass. "Y-you don't remember?" she stuttered, shivering under his interested gaze. "I don't remember what?" "They b-brought you in l-last night." She turned her face so that he could see her and he inhaled sharply. She was incredibly lovely, a blonde haired, blue eyed angel. But she was bleeding from marks in her throat, marks he knew he hadn't been responsible for. "Who are you?" "M-my n-name is Arielle Clayton. My father is Senator Richard Clayton from Texas." "How did you get here, Arielle?" Nicky rubbed his hand over his protesting stomach. It was protesting the fact that he hadn't fed from her yet, that he'd managed to ignore his vampiric instincts and kept from ripping her throat out and bathing in her blood. She wasn't very strong, she'd been fed on before and it had left her weak and unable to fight. "I don't know. I'd been on my way home and then I woke up here. There'd been another man here then." "Was he the one that fed on you?" "Yes," she said quickly. Her hand rose to the bite marks on her throat, touching one of them gently. "He hurt me. Are you going to hurt me too?" Nicky stood, his hands reaching out to steady himself. He took a couple of steps, feeling his own weakness and the almost overpowering urge to feed. He fought it, unwilling to continue her suffering, to force her to bear the agony of his weakness and his need. "I don't want to hurt you, Arielle. But I am almost impossibly hungry and your blood smells so good." He moaned as he said the words, making it sound almost sexual. She ducked her head, turning her eyes away from him. He was naked, as was she, but she hadn't really noted his bareness until he'd walked toward her. He was muscular and very strong looking and she knew she had no chance of fighting him off if he decided he wanted to finish what the other man had started. That man had been like a ravening dog, tearing into her flesh over and over, his hands holding her to him as he'd gulped at her blood. "Arielle," Nicky said softly and she looked up, startled to see how close he'd gotten to her while she'd been distracted. "We need to get out of here. I'm going to try to free you." "Okay," she whispered. He was a gorgeous man, very tall and well built, he had hair the color of the sun and eyes that swirled with the blue of a spring sky. He was pale, but that didn't detract from his looks. It made him seem even more exotic in some strange way. As he spoke to her, she could see the sharpness of his fangs. She could almost sense his hunger and the pain it was causing him. He grabbed the leash and gave it a good, strong pull. It ripped out easily, freeing her. Holding up her hands as if she wanted to push him a way, she scuttled backward, her back butting up against the door. "I'm not going to hurt you," Nicky said again. But it was almost impossible to calm her. She'd been hurt badly by the vampire that had fed from her the night before, and she had little trust in Nicky's self-control now. She was curled into a ball in front of the door and she wouldn't listen to a word he tried to say to her. Finally, he had no choice. If he was going to get the two of them out safely, he had to get by her and calm her down in some way. There was only one way that came to mind and he moved quickly to her, his fist flashing out and catching on her jaw. She moaned and then her head tipped back, her body falling to lay sprawled on the floor at his feet. Nicky's eyes roamed over her unconscious form, noting the shapeliness of her legs, the curve of her hips. Her belly was flat, her ribs slender. Her breasts would have been delicate handfuls and except for the bite marks on her neck, she was very nearly perfect. He went back to the bed, ripping the blanket off and taking it over to wrap her in it. When he was done, he stood in front of the heavy door, reaching out for the handle. With one deft twist, he wrested it open and then glanced out into the hallway beyond. It was empty. Nicky bent, lifting Arielle into his strong arms, fighting the instincts of the demon inside of him that wanted to take her to the bed and part her thighs, digging his teeth into the vein and drinking his full. It would kill her and he'd made himself a promise to never be the cause of another death if he had anyway to stop it. Turning to the door, he forced himself to ignore the scent of her blood and then he headed out of the room, spotting a small green sign up by the ceiling that lit the way to the "Exit." He didn't see anyone as he traveled down the twisting and turning halls of the place they'd been locked up in, always following that sign. When he'd finally pushed through another heavy door and out into the cool outside air, he could have shouted his victory. He'd made it and he hadn't hurt her or tasted her blood. He sank down into the cool grass, letting Arielle down next to him. He wanted to race and run, to savor the feel of the dewy grass on his feet and legs. He wanted to crow his victory. And then the hunger settled in, a hunger different than what he was used to. This was blood lust in its worst form and it hit him right in the stomach, letting him think of nothing but the urge to feed. No urge wasn't the right word. This wasn't an urge; this was a need that was almost desperate in its intensity. His eyes went from where he'd been scanning the area to where Arielle laid, defenseless, unconscious, temptingly smelling of blood. She wouldn't know if he drank from her as well. He went to her, not even realizing he was moving until he knelt at her side. Her neck was bloody but it wasn't his preferred place to feed from, especially not from a woman who looked like she did. Nicky tugged the blanket down, taking it away from the long, slender length of her thighs. Then he slid between them, his hands coming out to tip her hips up so that he could slick his tongue through the tastiness of her juices. She was hot, sweet, her clit turgid and pulsing against his tongue. He flicked at that tiny bundle of nerve endings, hearing her moan in pleasure in her dreams. He could smell her, the scent of her arousal, the aroma of her blood. It called to him and he felt his cock grow hard, pressing against the blanket that was under her. The temptation was great, the need for more of her even greater. He wanted nothing more than to lift himself above her, to push his hard flesh between her wet pussy lips and take her. Then, as he gave her the ultimate in pleasure, he wanted to sink his teeth into the unbroken flesh of her neck, to give her the pleasure of his bite and give him the satisfaction of her blood. Nicky could feel his teeth growing, his fangs becoming more pronounced. He could feel the demon of his soul begging for her blood, demanding it. He wanted to fight it, he wanted to defeat it, but the scent of her was too strong. He rose, pressing his cock into the flesh of her pussy. He barely felt the small piece of flesh that blocked his path, unable to stop until it was split around his cock. "Oh God," he groaned, staring down at her in shock. She was so incredibly beautiful, it was impossible that he'd felt what he had, that he'd taken her virginity. No girl her age that looked the way she did could be a virgin in this day and age. "Arielle." She was hot and tight around him, her body moving under his. She began to meet his thrusts, her hands coming up to wrap around his neck, to hold onto him tighter. Moans were coming from her mouth, moans that were a counterpoint to the groans he was unable to control. Her hands grasped at him, dragging him closer, the scent of her blood calling him like a compulsion. He filled his hands with her breasts, his thumbs rubbing over the hard nipples. He dipped his head, his lips sliding over the torn flesh of her neck, tasting the blood the oozed slowly out. His tongue lapped at the blood and he felt her skin healing. She would be scarred, there was nothing he could do about that. But she wouldn't die from blood loss, at least not from that wound. His thrust grew shorter, harder, her body jiggling with every jolt. She was moaning, tiny whimpers, small cries, were ripped from her mouth. But they were sounds of pleasure. Her hands were like claws against his back, digging into his skin as the pleasure grew sharper. Her eyes opened and she stared at him, confused. "Nicholas?" Then her head fell back and he felt the first pulsing of her body as pleasure convulsed over her. "God! Nicky!" A dark smile crossed his lips and he kissed his way down, over the scars on her throat, finally taking her nipple into his mouth. He played with it, teasing her with frantic suckling before just flicking it with the tip of his tongue, rolling the tender bud. He let her feel the sharpness of his teeth, but he didn't bite her. Not there, not yet. "Is it good?" he asked, lifting his head to stare down into her pretty blue eyes. "Is it?" "Yes," she moaned, the sound dragged from her mouth. "It's good." "More?" He slowed the pace of his thrusts, the heat of her juices squelching out from around his plunging cock. She was excited, she couldn't deny that, not while the proof was so readily visible. "Do you want more, Arielle?" Her eyes wouldn't meet his, her cheeks flushing a pale pink. "Yes," she whimpered softly even as her hands dragged down his back, cupping over his ass, flexing with the movements of his muscles. He lifted her soft breast, holding it in his hand, twisting her nipple with his thumb and finger. She moaned and arched her back, giving him more of herself, begging silently for more of him. His tongue ran over his teeth and he felt a quick, sharp pain, the taste of his blood filling his mouth. His fangs were sharp, cutting him, but the taste was different. His blood was different. A sudden panicked thought had him throwing himself backward, away from Arielle. "The orange liquid," he said softly, his head dropping into his hands. "It's done something to me." "Nicholas?" He looked up, seeing the concern in Arielle's eyes. She was sitting up, her hand out, reaching for him. Her body, her naked skin, almost seemed to glow in what little light there was from the moon above. She was beautiful, even more so now that he'd healed her wounds and her pale blue eyes stared up at him. "H-have I done something wrong?" His head was shaking before he even thought to open his mouth to speak. "No, Arielle. You're perfect." "Then why did you stop?" Nick reached out, holding his arms wide to catch her when she threw herself at him. "It wasn't anything you'd done. I just thought of ...something and it distracted me." Arielle curled up against him, her hands moving over his chest and stomach. "Should we stay here?" Nick looked around at the lawn they'd been making love on. They were exposed to anyone looking. "No, we shouldn't. I'm just not sure where we should go." "I...I have a sister. She lives in the next town over, we could go there." He thought about it for a moment but nothing else came to mind. "I guess we go to your sister's. I'd like to find some clothes first though." Arielle nodded and then she shivered. Nick reached down, picking up the blanket from the ground and wrapping it around her. Tucking it warmly under her chin, he pushed her silky blonde hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ears. "How did you stay a virgin for so long?" She stared up at him, her eyes widening. "I guess you took care of that, didn't you?" "I didn't mean to insult you, Arielle. You are just so beautiful. I can't believe you could have grown up around any man worth his name." "Why?" she snapped, though it wasn't as sharp as it could have been. "You don't think I can't say no or save myself for the man I want to gift my body too?" She held the blanket closed at her neck and at her waist. Her eyes were hard as she looked at him, the blue going almost icy. "I didn't mean that, Arielle. Please, just listen for a moment..." "Talk," she growled. "I just meant that I couldn't understand how some good man hadn't snapped you up yet. Are the men around here blind? Or are they just stupid?" Arielle stared at him for a moment as if considering how she should answer. When he smiled winningly at her, she couldn't hide her own smile. "Am I forgiven?" he asked softly, stroking the back of his knuckles against the softness of her cheek. "Is that what this smile means?" "Yes," she said, a catch in her voice. He was being so charming, making her forget what she'd just been through and wish for more of what he'd been doing with her when she'd woken up. "A-aren't you cold?" "Oh no, it takes a lot more than a bit of nudity to make me cold." He reached over and lifted her in his arms, carrying her easily even though the demon hunger was lifting its evil head once more. He started off, jogging down the pathway as if she weighed less than nothing. She spoke up only once. "My sister lives the other way." He rolled his eyes, turning to change directions. Then they hurried off into the night. * * * * "The words?" Mira asked, feeling her heart pounding almost too fast in her chest. "Which words?" "I want more than just a night of sex, Mira. I want to take the feelings I know we have and see where they will take us." Hunter slipped his hand over her hair then cupped her cheek, lifting her face so that he could look into her eyes. "Tell me you don't feel like I do." "I-I don't," she stuttered and then let her eyes close as Hunter laughed. "Want to try again?" His head dipped and his lips moved over her face before stopping against her lips. He kissed her with determination, wanting nothing more than to hear her agree with him. She was naked against him, the round softness of her breasts pressing against his chest. His hands framed her face when she acted as if she would move. He wasn't done with her lips, with their softness, the sweetness of her. He wanted to drown in her taste, in the scent of her arousal that was quickly filling the air inside the SUV. Her moan of pleasure was quiet but he heard it. She sounded sultry, sexy. He could hear the yearning in her tone. It sent a shaft of need through him that he couldn't ignore. "I'm going to take you, Mira. I'm going to take you and make you mine." His lips slanted over hers once more and he kissed her until the car spun around her head. Her fingers were gripping his arms, roaming over his well defined biceps and then over his shoulders. He could feel her shaking fingers against his neck, moving into his hair, holding his head so that he wouldn't stop kissing her. She had no worries on that front. He didn't know if he'd ever get enough of her taste, of the texture of her mouth, of the way she felt as she kissed him back. His hands skimmed over her hair, slipping over her shoulders and down her arms. He took her hands, holding them on either side of her face, lifting his head to stare down into the heated need he could see in her blue eyes. Hunter had seen almost every side of Mira, but this one, this softness, this desire, it was almost more than he could handle. A strange sensation seemed to burn in his gut but he pushed it away, not ready to dissect it, not yet. "You're not going to fight me?" Mira smiled. "Why should I fight something that I want so much?" The smile he gave her was almost luminescent. "Good answer, Mirage." He kissed her again, rewarding her and himself because he couldn't get enough. He could tell already that just once wasn't going to be enough, not for him and he could only hope and pray that it wouldn't be enough for her either. "I've dreamed of this." His head moved, his lips trailing across her jawline and then down her throat. He could feel her straining to free her hands but he didn't know what he'd do if she touched him, if he'd be able to keep what little control he had left. She tasted of salt and of the back lash from her blaster, but under that, she was sweet. Little moans were torn from her, moans that egged him on, moans that made Hunter even more hungry for her. His tongue slid round the curve of her breast and he felt her hold her breath. He smiled even as he teased her, kissing every inch of her breast but continually missing her nipple. She was growling, her body twisting, trying to force him where she wanted him. "You've only got to ask, Mira." Her words were more command. "Quit teasing me, Hunter. I need you." Hunter let go of her hands, cupping her breasts in the warmth of his palms. She arched her back, her fingers spearing through his hair, moaning as she finally felt him draw one taut tip between his lips. The heat of his mouth sent a shiver of pleasure through her. She could feel her toes curling against the seat. "God yes!" she growled. The flesh between her thighs grew wet and she could feel the pulse throbbing inside of her. Her body seemed to tune into the way his mouth suckled upon her nipples and she could barely breathe. What came next hadn't happened to her in over three thousand years, not in the hands of someone else. Pleasure roared through Mira and she convulsed under him, her fingers digging into his back. "Oh fuck, Hunter. It's so good." She wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing her twitching pussy against his stomach. Hunter could feel her juices flowing out of her. He'd yet to touch her anywhere below her waist. The idea that he could give her such pleasure with just his mouth on her breasts fascinated him. "More?" he breathed against her skin. "God yes, don't stop, don't ever stop." She had tingles of heat flowing over her, gooseflesh that wouldn't stop. When his mouth left her breasts, moving down her stomach and then over the slight points of her hipbones, she'd thought she'd die from the way he was making her feel. It had been so long, so terribly, horribly long. She couldn't even think of how she'd done without this for those thousands of years. But now that she'd had a small taste, she didn't want to let go. When his hands pushed her thighs further apart, holding her open, she cried out in surprise. Then his finger moved with utmost gentleness against the wet flesh of her pussy, slipping through the damp heat. He found her clit, moving over that turgid piece of flesh to circle her opening. "You're so wet," he growled, his lips against the inside of her thigh. "So tight.' "It's been a while," she moaned and then smiled as he laughed. "I'd say." Her hands came down, grabbing handfuls of his hair, and she wasn't sure if she was trying to pull him away or push him closer but when his tongue came out, gentle and insistent against her clit, she lost the will to care. "Oh God," she breathed. "Hunter, don't stop." His tongue was softer than his finger had been, but it was also much more dexterous and it was long before her body was arched into a bow, her face a mask of pleasure so intense she couldn't breathe. Hunter Hunted Ch. 10 The waves of bliss were never ending, slamming into her over and over. Her fingers dug into the fabric of the seat under her, her cries echoing in the small space of the SUV. When he finally moved back up her body, she couldn't help the sigh that left her mouth, a sigh of pure satisfaction. "I'm going to take you now," he whispered against her ear, his cock finding its home quickly and easily. He pushed into her, slowing when she tightened against him. "Easy, Mira, easy." Her eyes were closed tight, her mouth open. Her tongue licked at her lips and she could taste him there. When he bottomed out inside of her, she found the energy to open her eyes, staring up and into his passion-hardened face. "Are you okay, Mirage?" he whispered. "What's beyond okay?" she breathed. "Great?" "Past that," she teased. "Wonderful?" "You're getting there." She moved against him, hearing his moan and then did it again, surprised when his hands framed her face and his mouth covered hers. "You're going to drive me mad," he growled into her mouth. "But it's a good madness." "Oh God, the best." He began moving slowly, every emotion tuned into the slightest nuance of her body. He didn't want to hurt her. The rape might have happened so many years ago but he knew that the mind didn't heal that quickly, especially when she'd been forcibly taken off the market. It wasn't long before her cries, her little whimpers had him driving into her harder. Her hands stroked over his ass, her fingers digging in to hold him closer. He could feel even the slightest of convulsions in her body. Her pussy seemed to be constantly moving around his cock, feeling like a satiny vice that he never wanted to leave. He heard her cry out in pleasure once more and knew he didn't have much time left inside of her. His body was building up to one of the hugest orgasms in his life. "I'm going to cum!" he growled, feeling her shiver against him. Then Hunter felt nothing more then ecstasy, his spunk filling her waiting womb in long, hot spurts. His hands came down hard on the seat next to her. It wasn't stopping; it just seemed to go on and on, taking more and more of him until he felt as if he'd been turned inside out. He collapsed on top of her, barely remembering to hold some of his weight off of her as he tried to remember how to breathe, how to see. "Hunter?" she whispered almost shyly. He managed to lift his head, his eyes blinking open to stare down at her. "Yeah?" "You...didn't use anything...any protection?" * * * * This chapter was so close to being finished, I just couldn't resist. I should have the next chapter of BtCoD done today sometime as well. I hope you are still enjoying both stories. Thanks so much Hunter Hunted Ch. 11 Mirage in Love? Chapter Eleven "Protection?" Hunter mumbled, staring down and into her face. "Yes, you know, to keep women from having babies? Condoms?" "You can't get pregnant..." he began then heard her laugh. "Yeah, I thought that same thing before Lineal and I got married. I was already three months along when we finally spoke our vows. After that, we were very careful." Hunter's hand slid down from her shoulder, slicking across her breasts before ending against her flat, muscled stomach. "Y-you could be carrying my baby?" The wonder in his tone make Mirage smile even though she wasn't as happy about the thought as he seemed to be. "Do you want me to be?" "I never thought it possible. I mean, I come from a different planet then you, I didn't think I'd be able to conceive a child on an Earth woman." "I'm not your normal Earth woman, Hunter. Remember?" He glanced around the cab of the SUV that had become their love nest. "When will we know?" "A month or two," Mirage answered. "But you never gave me an answer. Do you want me to be pregnant with your child?" Hunter was quiet for a moment, then his hand cupped her face. "I wouldn't be unhappy about it." He kissed her slowly, marveling at how she didn't pull away from him, how she kissed him back. When her tongue touched his lips he felt a groan growing in his chest that he couldn't stop from escaping. "Mira, I really care about you. You know that, don't you?" Mira moved her hips slowly, feeling him growing hard inside of her once more. "Oh yeah, I can feel how much you care." She tugged on his hair, bringing his mouth down to hers again. "Make love to me again, Hunter. Make me feel like a woman, like your woman." Another groan escaped him and he couldn't resist the sweetness of her plea, or the silken walls that surrounded his cock. He moved slowly against her, holding himself up with one hand while the other roamed over her body, touching her breasts, lifting one to his mouth. "Are you sure?" he asked around the nipple he held in his mouth. "Sure that I want you," she moaned, her hips rising to meet his eager thrusts. Every stroke brought her closer to her peak and she growled her need, her legs wrapping around his hips. "Fuck me, Hunter. Fuck me hard." The sound of his flesh slapping hers was loud in the steamy interior of the SUV. So was the sound of sex, the wet noise of his kiss, the squelching sound of her juices flooding her sex. It made Hunter groan and he threw his head back, holding his body at arm's length from her sleek, slim form. "Come for me, Mira." "Come with me, Hunter," she moaned on a gasp. Her body was tied up with emotions, turned inside out with this man inside of her. So many thoughts ran through her head, such as what their future would hold or if they even had a future? But then his fingers slid through the damp curls at the apex of her thighs and she forgot everything but the man who's hard cock was taking her over the edge and into the steamy chasm of bliss. "Hunter!" He heard her scream his name, felt her body tighten around him and then the first fluttering pulse of her orgasm. He didn't quit pounding into her, nor did he stop teasing her clit wanting her to feel more pleasure, to know he wasn't here just for a quick fuck. He wanted more with her, so much more, and if that included a baby, then he would do his best to impregnate her. That thought alone was enough to send him over as well, shuddering above her as his cock jerked, spewing his hot spunk inside of her. His hand cupped her face and he bent his head, his lips easily finding hers. He kissed her tenderly, letting his emotions pour through. "I could have gotten you pregnant then," he said softly, kissing her again. She opened her mouth to answer when another voice interrupted her. "Hunter, base priority one." Hunter let his head drop to hit the seat next to her shoulder. "What the fuck does he want now?" he groaned. Mira pushed on him. "I don't know but if you don't answer, he'll send someone out searching for us." He groaned again, but started moving. Pulling free from her, he turned, reaching between the front seats to grab the microphone. "Base priority one, go for Hunter." Shadow's voice came through the speakers and Hunter was really glad that they hadn't updated communications in the SUVs yet. "Hunter, we've have a scenario happening here at base. I need you and Mirage here now." "On our way, Shadow. ETA about twenty minutes." He hung up the microphone and jumped when Mira reached up and swatted him on his bare ass. "Move it, Hunt. I'll drive until you get dressed." He stared at her as she pushed past him, already dressed, cocking an eye at him. "I don't think you want to meet Shadow in that state, do you?" "You're just a regular comedian, aren't you?" He turned around in the seat, reaching for his tangled uniform as she turned the truck around. "I wonder what's going on now?" "Shadow probably heard you screeching my name from base and wanted to make sure I wasn't killing you." "Ha ha, so funny." He grabbed for the back of the seat when she spun the wheel, careening back onto the main road. "Damn girl, I forgot the entire reason that Dianna had decided that you are never to drive the truck. Do me a favor and don't kill the could be father of your child." "Then hurry up and get dressed." She spun around a curve, hearing him swearing even as he tried to pull his uniform up his long legs. "It's one piece of material, Hunter. Quit acting like it's trying to kill you." A few minutes later, he tapped her on the shoulder. "Get over," he said, nodding at the passenger seat. He glanced at the speedometer and cursed. "Get over now." Mira grinned, enjoying his expression as he saw the speed she'd been driving. She slid over the console in the middle of the front seat and then watched as he slid behind the wheel. Reaching out, she smoothed down his hair and straightened his collar. "There now no one will know that you got your nookie on." "Got my nookie on?" He cocked a dark eyebrow at her, an unwilling smile crossing his lips. "Yeah, you know, canoodling, getting down...sex?" "I know what nookie means, Mira. He shook his head. "I just really worry about you some days." "That's good, you're supposed to." She pulled her seat belt on and then let her hand run over the hair by his ear. She heard his moan and smiled, winking when he turned to look at her. "Is that all it took?" "All what took?" Mira asked, frowning in confusion. "Having sex, with me, to make you so much more loving?" "More loving?" Hunter rubbed his head into her hand. "Well, this certainly feels more loving. You're touching me without me asking you to, Mira. You're acting like we are a couple now." "Isn't that what you wanted?" "Yes," he sighed even as he stressed the word. "I'm not trying to start a fight, Mira. I'm just amazed at the difference in you." He leaned over, brushing a quick kiss on her white blonde tresses. "Maybe I feel different now. Maybe I want to thank you for reminding me how it feels to be a woman. It's been so long since any man touched me with desire." "It's been so many years since a man touched you at all, Mirage." He seemed about to say more when he stopped, switching subjects. "Do you think this has anything to do with the slaves we found?" "It's a priority one, Hunter. We won't have a clue what this is about until Shadow informs us. But I don't doubt it has something to do with Baer-Braxton and Taylor Braxton. Those are two of the biggest scumbags I've ever met." "True, to use a woman like those women were used, it takes a particular brand of scumbag. It will be a relief when we finally get them put in their very own, special little room in the tombs." He hesitated a moment and then hit his turn signal before turning into the parking lot that hid ASP from prying eyes. "You will be coming home with me tonight, won't you?" "Or you could come home with me?" Hunter thought about it a moment as he spun the wheel hard to go down the spiral ramps. "I don't know if I'd be comfortable there, Mira. It would be like sleeping with someone else's wife in their marriage bed." "Because of the statues of..." "Yeah, because of those." She sank back against her seat, watching as he hit the button that would open the big door outside of ASP so that they could pull into the parking lot. "But..." "But?" he asked when she didn't continue. "I loved Lineal and I have stayed faithful to him. I just don't know if I'd have stayed as faithful if I didn't have this curse standing in the way. I have feelings for you, Hunter. Strong feelings. I think that Lineal would have understood if he could have known. He wouldn't want me to be alone all these years. He wouldn't be happy with me if I stayed celibate now that I know we can touch." "So, that means you're ready to move on?" * * * * Nicholas pulled at the sweatpants that were all Arielle's sister, Cheridon, had that would fit him. They were a bit short and he gazed down at his bare ankles, a touch of a smile upon his lips. Arielle was safe, for now. She was with her sister and now he could leave her. That thought wiped the smile from his lips and he was frowning down at his ankles when Arielle came into the room. "I know they are small Nicky, but they were the best she could do." "No, they are great, really," he said, trying to smile but it was a lost cause. "It's not the pants, Arielle. You're safe now. You don't need me to rescue you or to keep you safe. You'll be safe as long as you're here. You don't need me at all." His hand lifted and he touched her hair, letting it slide through his fingers. "You are so incredibly beautiful." Arielle tried to consider her life without Nicky and she felt a surge of panic shoot through her. Before she even thought of what she was doing, she threw herself into his arms. "No, don't leave me, Nicky. Please." "But..." Before he could say anything more, her lips covered his and she kissed him passionately, pushing her tongue past his lips and into his mouth. She rubbed against him, letting him feel the taut tips of her breasts against his chest. "No buts," she whispered as pulled back just a little. "Tell me you'll stay, please Nicky?" "I want to, Arielle. But you don't even know what I am." "Then tell me," she said as she snuggled into his shoulder, cuddling against him. Nicky sighed. He didn't want to frighten her especially after what she'd been through the night before. But there was no way he could stay with her even for the daytime unless she knew, unless she'd come home with him. "Arielle, I'm a vampire." The words rushed from his mouth before he could stop them. "You're a what?" she asked, staring up at him in confusion. "I'm a blood sucker just like that brutal animal that tore at your throat earlier." "But you haven't tried to..." "No, Arielle. I never will. They left you in that room for me to feed off of. I don't know why they think I am so much stronger, but you were lucky they were right. I don't ever want to hurt you, Arielle. It would kill me if something bad happened to you. They did...something to me there in that place. I don't feel quite right." His words trailed off as if he wasn't aware he was actually speaking them. "I don't understand," Arielle said. "What did they do to you?" "If I knew, don't you think I'd tell you?" He reached up framing her face with his hands. "I'm terrified, Arielle. I saw some of those things that had been experimented on in the lab. How can I promise not to hurt you when I don't know what they've done to me?" Arielle reached up and took his hands, pulling them around her body and stepping into his embrace. She nuzzled her nose into his neck and took a deep breath. She could feel his big body shaking and after a short moment, he wrapped her into a tight embrace. "You won't hurt me, Nicholas. You're strong, stronger than your instincts. You're strong enough to stop yourself." Nicky drew her tighter against him. The scent of her blood running through her veins was almost like an aphrodisiac, and he felt his tongue slip from his mouth, sliding across that wildly beating vein in her throat. "I could rip your throat out and you wouldn't even have the time to scream." Arielle did the only thing she could think of to do. She tipped her head to the side and back, allowing him all the room he needed to feed off of her. He growled, low in his chest, sounding almost like a loud guard dog. She felt the tips of his fangs scrape across her skin and then she was thrust away, his hands keeping her at arm's length. "Arielle," he began, his voice dark and raspy, totally unlike his normal voice. "You need to leave, now. I just need a few moments to...to straighten myself out." Arielle stared at him for a moment. "Promise me you won't leave." He stared up at her. "What?" "Promise, on your word of honor, that you won't leave when I leave the room." She was adamant and she was not going to take any answer but the one she wanted to hear. "Tell me, or I'll sit in here with you." Nicky had to smile and he couldn't help but approve her sassy attitude. "I won't leave. But before you get too excited, if I feel that I could become a danger to you, Arielle, I will be out that door quicker than you can breathe. Understand?" She nodded but his words did little to diminish the smile that graced her face. "You're absolutely nuts, you know that don't you. Stark raving mad." "It's all part of my charm," she teased. "Do you still need a few moments to straighten yourself out?" He sighed. "No, I think I'm better now. Arielle, I will have to leave, to feed, you understand? I will not do that in front of you. But I will tell you that I am going and give you an idea when I'll be back." He almost flinched at the look in her eyes. "You'll feed off of other women?" "Men, women, they both taste pretty much the same. With the women I can use my mind to let them think they'd had the best time of their lives. Men are a bit more difficult. They don't respond to the same stimuli that women do. With women it's all emotion. Men like a bit more of the physical." "You have sex with men?" "When I've been desperate to feed, yes. You'd be surprised at what you'll do when the hunger comes on you. If you're lucky, you're sire sticks around and teaches you everything you need to know to survive. I wasn't that lucky. My sire, well she got out of me what she wanted and then she left me there. I woke with the morning sun burning my skin. I was terrified. I didn't know what she was and I had no idea what she'd done to me.. If it hadn't been for Domino... He found me, he showed me how to hunt, he taught me how to feed just enough so that I wouldn't kill the human I was feeding off of. Domino showed me the ins and outs of the vampire condition until I could hunt for myself. I could care for myself and even when I should hide. Domino would help me know what to do now." He got more excited as an idea came to him. He went to the window and opened it out, pushing it as far as it would go. Then he brought his fingers to his lips. He repeated the procedure four times. "He should have heard that." "He should have heard what?" Arielle went to the window herself and heard all the racket the dogs in the neighborhood were making. "What was that?" "A whistle. Vampires have very sensitive ears, close to the level of dog ears. The whistle I used was one that only dogs or vampires would be able to hear. I'm hoping Domino is in the area. Maybe he'll know what those men did to me." "So do you fetch too?" she teased, screaming with laughter as he reached out for her and then chased her around the room. When he caught her, he buried his face in her neck, breathing the stimulating aroma of her blood. He didn't hide the erection he was sporting, letting her feel it against her stomach, wanting her to know that her blood wasn't the only thing he wanted. She moved against him, standing on her tiptoes to reach him easier. His hands went to her hips and he slowly swiveled his groin into her, moaning when she didn't push him away, instead, she held him closer. "Do you want me?" His groan was heavy and full of the need he felt. "Yes," he answered, remembering the way she'd felt around his cock before. "I want to fuck you. I want to show you that a vampire's bite doesn't have to be something to fear, Arielle." She giggled. "So you're all bark and no bite?" He growled and she giggled again. "Show me," she begged. "Make me yours." He barely allowed her to get the words out before his head dipped and his lips moved, going from the soft morsel of her earlobe down her chin, finally ending at her mouth. His tongue swiped over her lips, tickling the corners of her mouth until she opened for him, letting him kiss her hungrily. But when she tried to push her tongue in his mouth, he pulled his head away. "Give me your hand," he whispered urgently. When she did, he clasped his hand over it, pushing down her fingers and her thumb and leaving her index finger out. "Don't fight me." She nodded, giving in and trusting him completely. He opened his mouth and took her finger, rubbing it gently across the tops of his teeth. "Oh," she gasped, amazed at how sharp they were. "How did that happen?" "A little blonde minx kissed me and made me want her more than any woman I've ever wanted before." He kissed her finger. "Passion is a stimulant, and it affects vampires the same way as the scent of blood. Our teeth drop and if we haven't fed, the desire to fill that need is almost the same as the desire to culminate a joining. That is why it is so dangerous to have an unfed vampire and drive him to madness." "Will feeding make this easier?" She heard the tiny catch in her voice and felt her pulse speed up even as she made her decision. "What is going through that adorable head of yours, Arielle?" He kissed her nose and then her cheek, waiting for her to answer. "I'm not afraid with you. I know you won't hurt me. I remember how you were making me feel when I woke and you were inside of me. I want more of that and I want you to feed from me." Nicky was shaking his head before she even got to the last sentence. "No, you were ravaged by that other vampire, Arielle. He drank your blood until you were almost dead. You can't have replenished that loss already and I will not be made party in making you sick. No, and that's final." Arielle smiled. Her hands went into the pockets of the robe she wore and she pulled one out. Before Nicky could realize what she was doing, she flicked out the switchblade and had it to her wrist, quickly cutting across her veins. She felt the heat of her blood on her skin and she held it up, offering her wrist to Nicky. "Feed from me, Nicky. I want to know all of you, not just this gentle side. I want to see and feel the beast inside of you as well. I know you won't take too much. Do it, Nicky. Feed from me." Nicky stared at the bright red of her blood that was pooling in the palm of her hand. He felt the blood hunger hit him, low and hard, making him bend over in pain. Then he was reaching for her hand, licking the blood from her fingers before clamping his mouth to her wrist. She felt the steady pull of his mouth and the giddiness of blood loss. For some reason, feeling his mouth on her had her careening through bliss and on into ecstasy, unable to stop the moans and tiny cries that came from her mouth. "Oh God, Nicky, it feels so good." He growled and then she felt something new. His teeth pierced her skin and she came, almost falling to the ground but for his strong hands. Her climax just seemed to grow, her hunger for more of him the most important thing in her world. Her body writhed on the floor, the robe coming undone, exposing her body to his eyes. Hunter Hunted Ch. 11 She was pale, her skin perfect. She had smallish breasts but the nipples were large and full. Her waist was slender and he could count the bones of her ribs when she breathed in. Her hips were lush, full, her thighs parted, wanting him inside of her. He could see the glistening drops of her arousal on the soft pretty curls of her mound and he found his blood lust changing. He wanted to taste her passion. Quickly healing her wounds, he moved between her thighs, using his shoulders to keep them spread. "Oh Nicky, what are you doing?" she moaned. "Loving you," he said softly, breathing in the sweetness of her scent. His head dipped lower and he pushed his tongue between her plump lower lips, his fingers stroking over the smooth skin of her inner thigh where he usually liked to feed. She cried out when he found her clit, his finger stroking over it and then the softness of his tongue came in to play. Arielle was seeing stars behind her closed eyelids and she flinched when she felt the soft flexibility of his tongue. He was taking her higher again, forcing her orgasm to go on and on. She feared the fall and she told him in no uncertain terms. "I'll be here, Arielle. You only have to fall into my arms. I will always catch you, beloved." He was careful when he pushed one long finger into her, seeing the raw flesh from when he'd taken her before. She'd been a virgin and he needed to remember that, to be tender with her sore flesh. He slowly fucked her with his finger, his tongue ever moving across her clit. The sound of her cries, the desperate scrabbling of her fingers in his hair let him know she was reaching for that final cliff, ready to toss herself over and into the bubbling sea of ecstasy. He slid one hand up her front, cupping and caressing her breasts, plucking at the hard nipples. She found his hand, squeezing it over one breast, holding it there while her body jerked and the soft flesh of her pussy throbbing under his fingers and mouth. Then he used the skirt part of her robe to wipe his face before traveling up to look down into her face. "Is that what you wanted, Arielle?" "You called me beloved." He grinned, running his hand through her golden hair. "Okay, take two. Is that what you wanted, Beloved?" "I still want to feel you inside of me," she said softly, her fingers coming up to cup his handsome face, drawing him down so that she could kiss him. But he broke the kiss before she could drag him back into the lovely snare of her bare arms and legs, not to mention the heat of her pussy that he could feel even through the sweat pants he was wearing. "You've been fed from two vampires today, Arielle. That's one too many for you to be up to playing more games tonight." "But...but you haven't..." "No, but I'm a big boy and I can take care of that myself. You need to rest, Arielle. You need to replenish what blood has been taken for you. I will not have you get sick just because my dick's got a mind of his own." "Can I...watch?" "Y...you want to watch me...masturbate?" He felt his cock jump at the thought. He could almost feel her eyes on him already. "Yes...is that wrong?" "How in the hell can you be so exciting and wonderful? You were a virgin just last night." "Can I watch?" she asked again, blushing at the admiration she could hear in his words. "Maybe help?" * * * * I've had so many people wonder about who Nicky is and how he fits into this story. If you can give me a couple more chapters everything will be revealed. Remember the creepy shell? All those mysteries will be revealled soon enough. I hope you are still enjoying my story and thank! Hunter Hunted Ch. 12 Mira followed Hunter into the ASP Building, veering off to the side of the main lobby. Down a long hallway there was three investigation room and a hallway that led to a wide set of stairs. They turned to go up the stairs, barely glancing at the other agents they passed. Down another hall were the team leaders and Shadow's office. They stopped at his shut door, Hunter letting Mira catch up before they pounded on Shadow's door. "Come!" "Oh hell, he sounds grumpy." "Mira, honey, do me a favor and grow a set would you?" "I'll grow you a few," she growled under her breath while Hunter opened the door and held it for her. "Sir?" "Hunter, Mirage, it's about damn time." Shadow got up and went to a counter next to his desk. He picked up a vile of bright orange liquid. "Do either of you know what this is?" "Some kind of crazy orange soda?" Mirage asked. She shrugged her shoulders when Hunter glared at her. "He asked?" "Okay, now if you two are done being comedians..." Shadow waited until the both nodded and then he sat the vial in a stand on his desk. "This is what the shell sucked out of Mistress Melody." "Vampire poison is not orange," Hunter said. He picked up the vial, tipping it back and forth in his hand. "There's some kind of black pulp in here." "Yes, that black pulp is the normal vampire poison but somehow it's thick, chunky.. It's the orange liquid that has our labs shaking their heads. We have no idea what it is or where it comes from. But to me, it looks as if Braxton found a new way to make Vampires even more powerful. We've still got tests being run. But from what results we've had come in, this orange liquid makes vampires almost impenetrable. None of the usual weapons work. We've tried sunlight, UV light, silver, crosses and Holy water. Nothing hurt the test subject. If Braxton is handing out this liquid, we could have a big problem on our hands." "Oh hell," Hunter said softly. "Super supernaturals. This could really put a crimp on a weekend." "Yes, which is why I've recalled Dianna and Beast. It will be your job to find out who is making the orange liquid and giving it to the vampire world. When you find him, you bring him to me, understand?" Mirage started to nod her head and then she stopped. "What about the Braxtons? The vampire that did this to Mistress Melody was in his employ." "Then you've got your starting point for your investigation. Don't let me down on this, it could be the most important case in your life." "Is Mistress Melody okay? She didn't seem quite normal after the shell attacked her." "She's been sleeping since then and hasn't woken up yet. I'll be sure to keep you in the loop if the orange liquid has done anything else to her." They got up and Hunter and Mira headed for the door. "I think I've seen this movie," Mira quipped. "Doesn't it start with a doctor letting loose some bug in the lab and then some girl wakes up and has to fight off all the zombies that were created by this super bug?" "I hate zombies," Hunter said with a shudder. "We come up on any vampire zombies, Beast gets to go first." "Like that hairy, walking rug would have the balls to go up against vampiric zombies," Mirage scoffed, stepping into the elevator. She'd give Shadow back his blaster and now she was heading down to the gym to collect her own. "I'd be more afraid of super Vampires that don't understand the concept of lying down and dying." "Yeah, but isn't that the same thing?" Mirage laughed, feeling his hands coming out to tug her back and into his arms. He nuzzled his nose in her neck and she felt the tips of his teeth. "Oh help me, help me," she said in a fake falsetto whisper. "The big, bad zombie vampire wants to suck my blood and eat my brain. Help me." Hunter started laughing. "I think you'll be okay when it comes to the eating brains part." He grunted as she shoved an elbow into his ribs and held up his hands in surrender when she turned, her fists coming up. "You know, that's almost grounds for a challenge. This time I wouldn't have to take it easy on you for fear of making you insane." "Taking it easy on me? When did that happen?" The both glanced up when the door to the elevator opened. Dianna and Beast were standing in the opening, waiting for them. "Come on, you two. We're going to have to have a talk about you guys playing cowboy when we're on our three days off." Dianna wiggled her fingers. "I've got an SUV already gassed up and ready to go." "Give me ten," Mira said. "My blaster is in my locker." "Meet us in the garage. I want you to take me to that place where you rescued the girls." Mirage nodded and took off at a jog, weaving around people without touching one of them. She retrieved her weapon and then headed out, almost getting to the SUV before they did. Taking her normal seat behind Hunter and next to Dianna, she reached into a small compartment in the back of Hunter's seat and pulled out a soft white cloth. She quickly disassembled her blaster, cleaning each part as she put it back together. When she finally clicked in the power cell, the blaster hummed to life and the light on the top turned green. "Locked and loaded," she said to Dianna, stroking her hand over the smooth contour of the blaster. "She's ready to make some vampires into nothing but orange splats against the wall." Dianna nodded, then pulled her own blaster, clinking it against Mira's like they were sipping champagne at a toast. "Here's to bright orange splats. Now I know Shadow brought you up to date about the shells. Whatever was in that orange liquid turned that shell vicious. If Hunter hadn't pulled the damn thing free, it probably would have killed her and everyone else that touched it." Mira shuddered. "I hate those damn things. Who could ever stand having tentacles push into your veins and devour your blood? I'd rather go up against super vampires." "Well, the way it looks, you'll have your chance. Shadow had the girls you rescued taken down to the med lab and all of them are infected with the orange goop. It would take more than one vampire to infect all of them." "What's going to happen to them? Shadow can't use the shells to clean their blood; he'd end up with an entire army of killer shells." Hunter glanced back at them from his rearview mirror. "He's using a human devise," Dianna said. "When open heart surgery is done, they use a heart/lung machine to simulate the functions of your heart and lungs. Shadow has figured out a way to strain out the orange liquid by hooking up the victims to one of those machines. It's not pleasant and one girl almost died, she'd been bitten more than any of the others. But it does seem to be working." "So he just strains them?" Mirage tried to picture that but the only thing that kept coming to mind was straining orange juice to get out the pulp. "So, if we find any more victims, the quicker we can get them back to ASP the better. Shadow has a van as well as medical personnel waiting for our call. But the first and most important thing to find is the lab that is creating this stuff and destroying it and any notes made. So, where do we start?" "Braxton's home. Kit and her team went through it but I don't think they knew what they were looking for. I think there's more to that place than what meets the eye." "How long, Hunter?" "ETA about five minutes, Di. I say we start in the basement and see what we can find. That place has to be riddled with tunnels and hidden rooms. Have you ever seen a creepy old mansion that didn't have them?" "Well, let's hope you're right, or this could be an awfully long shift." Beast yowled his agreement, then settled down in his seat, searching the tree line with his incredibly gentle eyes. When he suddenly sat up again, yowling loudly and reaching for the steering wheel, he startled all of them. Hunter slammed on the brakes, letting Beast pull the car to the side of the road. "Dammit, fur boy, do you have to do that? You give me a freaking heart attack every time you do." But Beast wasn't listening. He'd jumped from the SUV and was racing into the bushes at the side of the road. He bent over and then stood, lifting a girl into his arms. She was scantily dressed, a pair of ripped jeans barely covering her legs. A white buttoned down shirt was ripped down the front, and Mira caught a glimpse of heavy, pale breasts. She got out of the truck, giving Beast room to lay the woman down in the back seat. Mira could see the bite marks, pieces of flesh had been ripped from her bones. Her heart was barely beating and she tried to look up at the four ASP agents. "I got away," she said defiantly. "They tried to get me to go into one of the coffins, but I got away when no one was looking." Dianna stroked the girl's hair, gently pushing the tangled mass off her forehead. "What's your name?" "T-Trixie Delong. They were going to hurt me more, but I got away. I got away." She repeated the words as if they were her victory cry. "Who was going to hurt you, Trixie?" Hunter asked from the front seat. "T-the men. Do you have any w-water?" Hunter pulled open the small refrigerator that was between the front seats and pulled out a cold bottle. He twisted the cap off and handed it to Dianna. "Lift her head, Beast." The Wendigo carefully lifted her head, holding her gently as Dianna let her drink her fill. In the light from the overhead, he could see just how badly she was injured. Yowling softly to Dianna, he waited for an answer. "Yes, we'll call Shadow right away, Beast. She needs to be taken back and have her blood cleaned." Dianna dipped her finger into a trail of blood that moved sluggishly down Trixie's body. Holding her finger up to the light, she gaped at the strange color. It wasn't red, not the bright red of good oxygenated blood. It was dull, thick, a tinge of orange appearing on her skin. "She hasn't just been bitten," Mira said slowly. "She's been given the orange liquid. It's running through her blood now." Hunter reached for the microphone. "Beta team to base, come in base." "Base to Beta team, we read you." "Base, we have a victim of the orange liquid. We think she was dosed with it. We need the van here now and also let Priority One know what we're sending it." "Beta team, we have you on Old River Road. Is that your twenty?" "Old River Road, almost to the Braxton estates, Base. We'll be waiting here for the van." "Ten-four, Beta team, Base out." "W-who are you p-people?" Trixie asked, her eyes going from Dianna's gentle gaze to the hairy guy that held her so tenderly. "We belong to a group called ASP. We're Agents that work to protect humans from the renegades and the rogues of our kind." Dianna smiled down at her. "We aren't going to hurt you, Trixie. We're going to send you to a place where they can fix you all up and make you feel better. This will all seem like a bad dream then." "Do you mean like the things that attacked me? There was only four or five of them but they were like rabid dogs." "Was this before or after they gave you the orange liquid?" "Orange...They didn't give me anything. I begged for water, to be let go, to have them keep those things away from me, but the man, he just laughed. He told me I was a carrier and that I would breed hundreds of more carriers. I-I couldn't understand what he meant. He was insane." She started to cry, burying her face in Beast's furry chest. He yowled something at Dianna. "Yes, I agree, Beast. She's had enough for now. Shadow will talk to her when she's gone through the process to rid herself of the orange liquid. Right now she needs to rest and to gather her strength." Dianna ran her hand over the Wendigo's back and then turned and walked down the road, gazing off into the thickening gloom of the trees. The sun was beginning to rise, she could feel its promise on her skin. Just as she was about to order Beast to take her into the back of the SUV, the ASP van arrived. They put her on a gurney and put her into the van. Her eyes were closed, her face wan. In the growing light of dawn, her wounds looked worse, bite marks, gouges, and cut marks marred her fair skin. Her lack of blood caused deep shadows under her eyes and a hollowness to her cheeks, making her look as if she'd been dead a week. How she'd managed to survive the attack and then her run in the woods, Dianna would never know. The ASP van pulled out and Dianna's team poured back into the SUV. "Let's go find the demon responsible for these atrocities and put him down." * * * * Nicholas stared at the golden haired beauty and shook his head. "Arielle, you are amazing." "Why?" she pouted. "Because I want to help? I thought you'd like that. You know, my hand around your..." Nicky slapped his hand on her mouth, stopping her from saying that final word, but it didn't help. His mind could fill in the blank rather well. She stared down at him and he could see the mischievous side of her in the sparkle of her eyes. Then he felt her tongue, rubbing against her palm and she took his hand, pulling it far enough away to suck on one of his fingers. "Let me help, Nicky. I want to watch you come." "How in the hell do you know this stuff?" he gasped as her tongue tickled the base of his finger. "I had sex ed like everyone else did. Just because I didn't want to use that education until now didn't mean I didn't understand how things work. I know your cock fits in my p-pussy and that if you thrust into me, you will fill me with your sperm." She hesitated a moment, her hand going to his chest, slipping over his bare stomach to push under the waistband of the sweats he was wearing. He hadn't had underwear and he'd be sliced and diced before he'd wear women's panties, so he was going commando. It took her only seconds to understand that as he groaned, his hips thrusting upward as her hand circled his cock. "God, Arielle, don't stop." "Take these off," she ordered him, snapping the waistband of his sweats. Somehow he managed without disrupting her hand that was slowly driving him mad. "Your hand feels so good," he moaned, his hands digging into he sheets under him. "How did you learn how to do this?" "Porn flicks. My dad is something of a pervert, Nicky." She slid further down his body, her tongue exploring the narrow hollow of his navel before she kissed a line across the skin of his lower stomach. She could feel his pre-cum cover her hand, lubricating it to make moving over him easier. "I want to watch you come," she said softly, her eyes on the small hole at the top of his prick. It was leaking clear fluid and she couldn't stop herself from leaning forward just a bit and rasping her tongue across that small hole, tasting him. He was bitter and salty, a strange combination but one that she found very addictive. She hummed her pleasure, feeling him stiffen under her. His hands dug into the hair on her head, holding her there, thrusting into her mouth as gently as he could. When she fought his hands, he reluctantly let her go, seeing her smile down at him. There was an impish gleam in her eyes and he barely remembered to try to stop her as she swung her leg over him, taking the head of his cock and pushing it into the slight depression of her pussy. "I want you in me," she whimpered, pressing down to take him almost forcibly into her. He stretched her out, her silky walls making way for his impossibly hard invader. He could feel her knees shaking next to his sides and he reached for her hips, guiding her way. It was almost more than he could take, the sleek wet heat that was surrounding him so tightly. He groaned out her name and then helped her rise, his passions leaping higher and higher until the only thing he could feel was her, Arielle. Her body fell forward, her breasts pressing into his skin, the hardness of her nipples almost boring into his chest. He could feel the demon inside of him, urging him to take the next step, to bite her and then to bite his own wrist, to feed her his blood. He desperately wanted to make this golden haired angel a blood sucking demon like himself. He nuzzled his nose into her hair, breathing the freshness of her scent. "I want you," he groaned. "I want to make you mine forever." "Yes," she whimpered, reaching up to move her hair away from the unscarred part of her throat. "Yes, I want that too, Nick. Please." He could smell her blood; see her pulse beating so delicately against the skin of her throat. It was such a weak throbbing, turning her would be so, so easy. His lips touched her forehead, moving slowly down her nose to her lips. "Are you sure of this, Arielle? If you become apart of me, you'll have to give up your family, your friends. You'll no longer be able to be in the sun and you'll have to feed." Arielle arched her back, pushing her breasts into his chest. "You'll never leave me?" His laugh quickly turned into a moan as her pussy muscles moved rhythmically against his cock. "God, Arielle, I would stake myself before I would ever leave you. I've never felt like this for anyone before, not even my sire." "As long as I have you," she whispered against his ear, the heat of her breath sending a shutter of pleasure through him. "I won't want anything else." He could feel his teeth coming down, his mouth watering at the thought of drinking from her again. The need was strong, as strong as the passion she caused. He rolled her to her back, lifting himself on his elbows to stare down into her passion glazed eyes. "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever met, Arielle. You're intriguing and different. I've never met anyone with such honesty or conviction. You make me feel things I thought long dead. There is no one anywhere that I would like to make my mate but you. I just need you to be absolutely sure. This isn't something you can try and then back out of if you don't like." She smiled and it felt like the gentle heat of the sun that he'd loved when he was still human. "I've never felt more sure about anything in my life, Nicky. You're unlike anyone I've ever met. You asked how I stayed a virgin for so long? I'd never met anyone I want to give it to." "And then I stole it from you," he growled. His passion was growing and it was getting harder to think. His instincts were kicking in and he wanted nothing more than to press his teeth to that wonderfully soft skin of her throat and drink, even as he filled her with his spunk. "I'm sorry about that." "I'm not," she whimpered, her head fell back, her body arching as she felt the first spasm of orgasm roll through her. "Make me yours!" The demand made him smile. She was so tiny but had so much nerve, so much grit to make her seem even tougher than she actually was. "If you're sure..." "Yes, Nicky, yes. Do it, bite me, make me yours." The growl that came from deep inside of him was totally different than the way his lips felt against her neck. He let his teeth skim against her skin then once again, the third time, he was sure she was locked into the pleasure of her orgasm and he bit down, opening her jugular for him to drink from. She was sweet, her blood full of endorphins that made him feel a bit dizzy inside. He drank deeply, knowing she didn't have much blood left in her. When he felt her hands begin to fall from his shoulders, he plunged into her hard, using his teeth to rip open his wrist. His climax was intense and he pulled open her lips, holding his wrist over her mouth to the blood drip inside. Her hands came up and she grabbed his arm, dragging his torn wrist to her mouth. He felt her suckle against his skin, heard her moan as she came again. He finally had to pull his wrist away, and he fell to the bed beside her, weak as a baby kitten. Rolling to his side, he kissed her cheek. "Sleep, beloved. Tonight will be a new experience for you." Hunter Hunted Ch. 12 She murmured his name and he managed to find the comforter, pulling it out from under her and then pulling it up and over their heads, creating a dark, love nest for the two of them. He tugged her against him, holding her in his arms as the sun came up outside the closed curtains in all its spectacular beauty. "Mine," he whispered hoarsely, before closing his eyes and going to sleep. Neither had any clue what would happen to them when the sun set. If they had, they may not have slept so contentedly in each others arms. * * * * Across town, a man who wasn't quite a man roamed his study, staring at the tiny lights that lit up an electronic board on the wall. He smiled when he saw the green light slowly change to orange and he took a healthy drink of his finest brandy. Both lights glowed an ominous looking orange to mix with the other orange lights that gleamed back at him. "Two more down. Oh Nicky, I knew you wouldn't be able to resist her. She looks like an angel and now you've turned her into a devil." He laughed, swishing the brandy around in the bottom of his snifter. "Oh the fun we shall have. Good times ahead," he laughed. "Good times." He lifted his snifter into a silent toast to the board and then turned to make another circuit of his study. * * * * I love creepy villions and this one with his orange goop is really tickling my fancy. I hope you are still enjoying Hunter and Mirage. I know I threw in another couple, but it was necessary to add on to the plot line. Besides, it's kind of difficult to hate a vampire with a heart of gold and Nicky is a goodie. Take care and remember to vote and let me know what you think! Hunter Hunted Ch. 13 The house was almost overly quiet as Dianna and her team entered. They could see the door that Kit had busted in, and they used the same entrance, trying to be as quiet as possible. Mirage's head was up, her eyes constantly moving. She was in the lead, which was usual for her since when anyone found out who she was, they wouldn't come near her. They went through every room on the first floor and then Hunter and Beast peeled away to check out the second floor. They were back fairly quickly. "It's empty, Dianna. It's like a tomb in here." "I...I'm not too sure of that, Hunter." She held her hands out, her magic shining bright white flames from her fingers. "I can feel others. They are here." She spun, one hand shooting out, the white light flung from her fingers to encase a wall to ceiling portrait of Taylor Braxton. The painting shoot and then slowly opened like a door, the stairs behind it easily seen. "Nice, Dianna. I'll remember to call you the next time I lock myself out of my house." Mira snorted at Hunt's words. "She's cheaper than a locksmith and a hell of a lot faster." "Better looking too," Hunt said, pressing a kiss to Dianna's cheek. "Okay, okay, enough kissing up, you're both forgiven for getting yourselves in so much trouble while I was trying to enjoy my three days off." She held her hands in the air. "Now, shall we check out the creepy stairs or would you two like to go get coffee." "It's Beast's turn to get coffee," Hunter complained. "But he always gets mine wrong." "Well, if you didn't have to have the exact specifications down to the last drop of foam, it wouldn't be so hard to make you happy." Mira slugged Hunter in the arm and headed toward the stairs, her blaster leading the way. The stairs were badly lit and the shadows almost seemed alive. Mira continued moving down the long set of stairs, grateful when Dianna used her magic to give the some light. Hunter was behind her and then Dianna, Beast bringing up the rear. "Damn, Dianna, you sure know how to call them. These stairs are damn creepy." Mira shuddered as a sudden burst of cold air washed over her. She held her hand up to stop her team, scenting a strange aroma in that burst of air. "Get back," she shouted as she began to feel the effects of the strange scent. Her eyes fluttered and her body fell to the stairs, beginning to convulse even as a frothy foam came from her mouth. Dianna and Beast hopped back a few steps while Hunter bent, holding his breath, and picked Mira up. He carried her up the flight of stairs and out of the strange opening then right outside where she could get some fresh air into her lungs. She'd passed out, her body nothing but dead weight. But Hunter preferred that to the strange convulsions that had racked her slender form. He held her gently, calling her name. "Come on, Mira. Open your pretty eyes for me." He gently slapped her pale cheeks, lifting her higher to get her the cool fresh air that came through the garden. "Wake up, baby. Please wake up." Dianna could hear the pain, the absolute anguish Hunter was going through. She put her hand on his shoulder. "Lay one of your hands on her chest, Hunter and put the other on her face." She waited for him to do as she instructed then began to chant in a strange language, her voice growing deeper then louder. Hunt could feel his hands growing warmer and he could see the white light the pulsed out of them. He didn't move his hands even when he felt Mirage start to cough and then her eyes opened, her irises held pin pricks of red from being asphyxiated. "Hunter?" Dianna stepped back, breathing a huge sigh of relief. Mirage might be a complete pain in the ass, but she was Dianna's pain in the ass and Dianna wanted to keep her that way. Then she saw Hunter's face and she knew, things were definitely going to be different from now on. "What was that?" "It was a smell, Dianna. There was a cool breeze and then that smell, almost sickly sweet. Then I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was drowning. The next thing I knew, I was out here." She put her hand on Hunter's shoulder to use to help her to her feet. He stood behind her, his hands on her hips, steadying her. "We're going to have to use masks." Hunter's head was shaking before she even said the word "going". "No way. You are not going back there until we get some of the lab geeks down here to find out what you inhaled, Mira. And you're getting a complete physical." Mira rolled her eyes. "Listen, lover, just because I let you have my body doesn't mean that you are going to get to run my life. Dianna cured me. And there could be helpless women being loaded up right now into coffins to send them out to their buyers or auctions, or whatever they do with them. We use the masks and we'll be fine." She glanced at Dianna and then back to Hunter. "If it will make you feel better, once we are done with this, I'll let you take me to the med unit and allow them to poke and prod at me. Okay?" "I've got your word on that?" he asked, knowing Mirage and her habit of sneaking away when anything that dealt with doctors was thrown at her. "Yes," she sighed with another roll of her eyes. "Now, can we get back to work?" Beast skidded up to them, four high quality gas masks in his large furry hands. He yowled when he saw Mira standing. If it hadn't been for her curse, he would have picked her up and hugged her. For once Mira was glad about the curse. Being hugged by a huge Wendigo was not her idea of a fun time. They each took a mask and fitted it on. The masks had flashlights built into the top strap and they all turned them on. This time, Hunter took the lead, Mira right on his heels. They passed the stair tread where the gas was dispersed but the gas mask took care of any exposure. It took only a few more seconds and they were standing on a piece of sandy ground. They were in some kind of long hallway, the stairs seeming about half way from either side. The sound of water lapping on a beach could be heard and men's voices were coming from the other direction. The voices were growing louder, the men heading down the hallway. Dianna and Beast scooted into a tiny alcove barely big enough for Dianna and Hunter and Mira ducked behind an outcropping of rock. "I swear, I heard the gas. Somebody's down here." "Where?" another man asked. "I don't see nobody." "Well, maybe they went down to the lake." There were three men and Dianna and Beast took care of the first two, Hunter grabbing the third one and then slammed his head on the stone walls. They hid the bodies on the stairs hearing the same hissing sound of the gas before heading back the way the men had come. They went quietly, no words spoken, hand signs to transmit whatever they were thinking. Not more than two hundred yards from the stairs, they found what they were looking for. There was a line of girls, their eyes glazed, some barely able to stand, all dressed very scantily. The line was moving slowly as each girl would climb into a coffin, and let the hinged lids close. Some would be crying, their sobs easily heard even as the coffin was wheeled away. Mira nudged Hunter, nodding toward the figure of a man masked in shadows. "Braxton," she hissed. "He's mine." Before anyone could say a word to her, she was stealthily going around the coffins, sticking to the many shadows before climbing the few stairs that would take her even closer to her quarry. Dianna shot Hunter a dirty look, one asking why he couldn't control Mira. Then she stepped out into the center of the wide chasm. "Hello, my friends and I are lost. Does anyone know how to get to San Francisco from here?" The first spurt of gunfire had Dianna rolling and ducking, pulling her blaster to do a little firing herself. She heard a scream and knew she'd got one of the men, then she rolled again, putting herself amidst the women that were still standing in line. "Get down!" she shouted, staring into the blank eyes of even those that were crying. One girl turned, her fingers turning into claws and grabbed her, her mouth opening, her teeth chomping as if she were some kind of Zombie. Dianna didn't even have time to squeak and she felt Beast's large body behind hers, his fist coming down to strike the woman on the head. She fell to the ground at Dianna's feet. "T-thanks, fur ball," she said, unconsciously using Hunter's pet name for the Wendigo. He yowled loudly and then lifted, Dianna with gentle hands, pulling her away from the women who now began looking at her as if she were lunch. "What the fuck did he do to these women?" "Shoot first," Hunter shouted. "Ask questions later." He blasted two of the women who looked as if they were deciding upon which end of Beast to start on first. They went down in a heap, only to be stepped over by others. Dianna began firing again, surely picking off every woman that was in the line, even blasting through one of the coffins to get at one woman who sounded like she was eating the wood to get out. It wasn't a pretty sight and holstered her blaster, her hands coming up, turning a bright white. She took a step forward and it was as if she pushed the light across the room, surrounding every evil thing and causing them to become unconscious. Hunter stood, waiting for Dianna to finish, his eyes moving from one body to the next, searching for his woman. "Mirage," he shouted. "Front and center, baby!" Beast yowled, his big hand pointing toward the dais of stone. There was no one there but Hunter could see the hint of a shadow. It was an opening into the rock and Hunter raced toward it. He slipped through, finding another long hallway. A few feet from the door, he found Mira's blaster and he felt a spurt of fear curl in his gut. "She'd never let go of her blaster," he whispered softly. "He's got her." He felt the panic start to well in his stomach. "He's got her," he repeated, turning to Dianna. "Somehow, he got his hands on her." Dianna touched his back, offering comfort. "We'll get her back, Hunter. Just remember, Mira is a big girl, she can take care of herself." He nodded but didn't say anything, turning toward the far end of the hallway. He moved quickly, bursting through the final door and into the basement of the house. He stood and listened, trying to hear Mira's voice. "Mirage!" A muffled thump answered his cry and he turned his head, his eyes scanning over the walls, searching for another hidden door. "Mirage!" But there was no answer. He began pressing on the walls, moving quickly over each block. "Hunter," Dianna said, coming up behind him. Her hand came down gently on his shoulder. "We'll get her back, Hunter. But we have to get those women help." "Go," he growled. "I'm not leaving without her. I can't, Dianna. I love her." His eyes widened as he spoke, as if his words surprised him. "I do," he said slowly. "I love her." * * * * Nick woke from a nightmare, sitting straight up in the bed. A name was on his lips and he turned with a snarl when he felt a warm hand touch his chest. "Nicky? Are you okay?" "Arielle," he breathed with a sigh of relief. He smiled, trying to calm her fears. "Just a dream, lover. It was just a bad dream." "Would it help if you talked about it?" She moved closer to him, waiting until he laid back down to rest her head on his chest. It was a bit different, his heart didn't beat and now, neither did hers. She waited for him to answer and heard him sigh again. "Did you ever wonder how I ended up in that cell with you?" She nodded, smoothing her hand over his chest. "I was kidnapped, just as you were. But I knew who'd done the deed, Arielle. Taylor Braxton, he's a man who has his fingers in a lot of different pies." "Why did he kidnap you?" "He pumped some kind of drug into me, sweetheart. I'm not sure what it was but I've never felt anything like it before. It had something that sent my adrenaline into overdrive and I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest, which is funny. I haven't had a heart beat in over two hundred years." He trailed his hand down the back of her head, feeling her soft curls seem to grab onto his palm. He was about to say something else when there came a scratching on the window. Arielle started and then stared at the window in fear. "It's all right, baby. It's Domino." He got up and handed her the bathrobe she'd discarded earlier before he tugged on the sweatpants and went to the window, opening it and holding his hand out to his friend. "I hoped you'd heard me." The man that came through the window was Arielle's perfect idea of a vampire. He wore all black, his skin pale. His cheeks were hollow and when he smiled, she could see his canines, sharp and white. His eyes seemed ancient as if he'd been alive forever and had seen more than he wanted to. Only his lips had any color. They were full, sensually pink and Arielle suddenly had a sudden insight on how sweet and soft they would be against hers. He smiled as if he could read her thoughts. "Miss Arielle, my pleasure." He bent over her hand, his lips pursed against her skin, then his tongue sneaked out and she felt a small rush of pleasure. "Domino, she's mine," Nick said, his eyes speaking volumes to his friend. "Knock it off." "Oh, that's too bad," he stood running his hand over her hair and stroking her cheek. "If you ever decide to leave him..." "We're bound," Nicky growled, reaching out and snagging Arielle's hand and tugging her closer to him. "Now behave so I don't have to stake you myself." Domino shrugged then his head lifted, his lips tipping into a scowl. "Who have you been feeding off of, Nicholas? I think they're bad." "I was drugged, Dom. If it wasn't for Arielle, I'd probably still be tied up in a small cell. With them pumping this orange colored drug into my veins. I'm not sure what to do, Domino?" "We'll figure it out, Nicholas. I guess I owe this lady a huge thank you. I'm not ready for this world to be without you." Dom smiled at Arielle and she felt another surge of pleasure. Nicky growled, seeing Arielle's eyes go glazed. "I should have warned you, Arielle. Domino is not only a vampire, he's also a succubus." "A...a what?" Her voice was deep and a little hoarse and she licked her lips, almost tasting him upon them. "I am a Succubus, Arielle. I don't just feed off of my victim's blood but also of their passion and pleasure. There is nothing more succulent then a woman's climax." His voice grew low and a bit raspy and he smiled as she gave a small shiver. "Quit playing with her, Domino. I called you to help me, to figure out what's been done to me. I didn't call you to seduce my mate." He pulled Arielle into his arms and then lifted her face to his. Kissing her gently snapped her back into focus and she licked at his lip, feeling her teeth dropping. He smiled, knowing she was back and he let her go. "Where do we start, Domino?" he said, still keeping eye contact with Arielle. "I suspect that you both will have to come home with me. It'll be easier that way to use my lab and find out what was given you." "Can you behave?" Nicholas asked, keeping Arielle in his arms. Domino smiled, his grin reaching his eye this time. "It'll be difficult, but I'll try. Now we must hurry, get dressed." Nick whispered in Arielle's ear and watched as she walked out of the room. "You get me as I am, Dom. I was held naked." Domino sighed, then slid the long black leather duster he was wearing off of his shoulders, handing it to Nicholas. "I probably will have something that can fit. But for now, you can't be running around half-naked." Nick slid his arms in the heavy leather, pulling it over his shoulder. "So, is Selena still trying to redecorate your place?" A sad expression crossed Dom's face. "Selena was killed." But his face then closed down and Nick knew he wouldn't get any more answers from him about her. "I'm sorry, Dom." Domino nodded. Arielle came in, seeing the look of sorrow on Dom's face and the look of surprise on Nick's. Her eyes moved over Nicholas in the black leather duster, admiring the finely delineated muscles of his body under the heavy leather. She smiled as he held his hand out to her. "I said good-bye to my sister. She gave me these." She held her hand out, showing off the trim fitting jeans and the waist length sweater in bright blue. It made her hair almost seemed to glow and gave her eyes an uncanny look, like staring up into the summer sky. "You look fantastic, baby." Nick kissed her gently. "Front door or window?" he asked Domino. "Oh, definitely the window, Nicholas." Arielle's eyes widened. "We're on the fourth floor." "Not a problem, Arielle. You've got to learn sometime." They went toward the window and Domino smiled, saluting the couple before throwing his leg out the window and disappearing. Arielle ran to the window, looking down and gasping as she saw Domino leaning against a light pole. "How did he do that?" "It's easy, baby. Put your leg out the window, duck your head and hang on for just a second." She felt him push his leg through the window also and she glanced back at him. "What am I doing, Nicky?" "It's very easy. I want you to take a deep breath." He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him then leaned out further, letting go of his grasp on the window frame. He felt her inhale sharply as they started to fall and then he controlled their headlong flight They both landed softly on their feet and Arielle glanced back at the window they'd leapt from. "I can't believe we did that," she whispered. "Well we did. Now come on, sunrise will be soon." He glanced worriedly at the sky, seeing the horizon just beginning to change to a dark purple. He took her hand and they left, climbing into Domino's black BMW that was waiting for them. * * * * I've always had a thing for sexy, brooding vampires. I hope you enjoy Domino. Thanks so much for reading me. Hunter Hunted Ch. 14 Domino stepped out of the car, his eyes upon the huge house that sat on a picturesque estate just beyond city limits. The lights were on and, with his excellent ears; he could hear the sounds of people talking and music being played. A disgusted sigh was wrestled from his chest and he glanced apologetically at the two that stepped out of the passenger side. "My dinner must be entertaining again. I've asked her not to do such things when I'm not home. It's almost impossible to find humans that are trustworthy among the riches I have amassed. But no matter, now that I am home, I will take care of the situation. Do make yourselves at home." He headed toward the wide stairs and the double doors that opened into the house. Turning his head, he smiled at Arielle. "Of course, present company is very much excluded, my dear." "Of course," Arielle muttered, rolling her eyes at the smoothness of his apology and at his opening words about his "dinner". She followed Nick's black leather clad form up the steps and stepped into luxury the likes she'd only imagined. Crystal chandeliers and a curved oak stairway were among the first things she saw. Then she heard the tinkling of water flowing and saw something that made her blink. Two marble nymphs cavorted in the center of a large circular fountain. Each nymph held a simple jar tipped to its side, spilling the water into the pool. The thing that held Arielle's attention was the faces of the nymphs. Each was the same, delicate features, a heart shaped face, the hint of a dimple upon the smooth white cheeks. Each was smiling with full lips and perfect teeth. "Who is she?" she whispered to Nicky, motioning with her hand toward the pool. Nicky let his hands come to rest upon Arielle's shoulders, turning her slightly as he gestured to the full length portrait of a woman who was a twin to those in the pool. "Selena," he whispered in her ear, but gave her no other information. In color, her features were even more delicate and the artist had captured the life and beauty of her wide sea-green eyes. She was dressed in a full length gown, the cap sleeves off her shoulder, leaving her arms and her slim shoulders bare. Her neck was surrounded by emeralds in gold and more hung at her tiny, shell-like ears. She was slim, a wide green ribbon that matched the emeralds, circling her slender waist. One hand was on an empty leather covered chair, the other was reaching out as if offering Arielle a place next to her upon the painted canvas. It was an exquisitely done piece and Arielle was intrigued by the mystery that she seemed shrouded in. "Who is Selena?" she asked aloud though she spoke only to herself. But Domino heard and he turned, his darks eyes almost feral in a face that was no longer genial but full of anger and a strange longing. "She was my mate," he snarled. "And she was killed. You need to know nothing else, human." Nick's hand shot out and he pulled Arielle behind him, feeling her crowd close to his back. She didn't take his arm and he was glad, if he needed to shove Domino away, to protect her, he didn't want to hurt her in the process. "Easy, Dom. She had no idea. Don't take it out on her." Domino seemed to give himself a mental shake and his generous lips smoothed out, his teeth once more hid behind them. "I am sorry. To you both," he added. "Selena's loss was unexpected. We'd been together for some time as you know, Nick. I still feel as if she should skip down those stairs and into my arms." Nicky nodded. He reached behind him now that Domino had control of his anger and drew Arielle beside him. "I shall miss her warmth and the sound of her laughter." As he spoke, the sound of crashing crystal sounded and Dom grew tense, his eyebrows, as dark as his hair, drew together as he frowned. "That had better not be the crystal set my Mother bought for me," he growled and then headed toward the sound of partying. He threw open the doors, took one look inside and roared. "Out! All of you, now! Or the next thing I will do is suck you all dry and leave you to rot in the sun!" Nicky pulled Arielle to the side as a sudden exodus of men and women, all dressed in black, tattooed and pierced, hurried past them and to the door. Only one woman stopped in front of Dom. She was a gorgeous blonde, her hair curled and teased to frame her lovely face. Her model-slim body was showcased in a flowing red satin dress, the bodice exposing most of her bountiful breasts, barely covering the rouged colored nipples. Bite marks marred her smooth skin and her cheeks were flushed, a trail of red dripping from the side of her mouth. "Callista," Dom growled. "I've told you and told you, keep those wannabes out of my house." "But Dom," the blonde purred, her fingers coming up to trail down the front of his black shirt, teasing at the flat oval buttons. "You left me all alone. You know I hate being alone." Domino didn't seem to be swayed. "I was gone less than two hours, Cal. You can control yourself for two hours, can't you? Now I have company. They will be staying with us for a while and I expect you on your best behavior. Arielle is human and you are not allowed to snack." He tapped her nose with one long, slender finger, laughing as her eyes crossed. "Clean up your mess, Callista. I'd better not find blood stains on that Oriental rug or I'll be taking the cleaning expense out of your hide." Callista simpered, casting a smile toward Nicky but completely ignoring Arielle as if a simple human was beneath her unless she was food. "Yes, Dom, but you know how much I absolutely love it when you go animal on me." Domino rolled his eyes and shook his head. Then he turned her, his hand coming down with a resounding smack upon her rounded ass. "I'm not having Maria and Theresa clean up after you again, Cal." She went but with a sigh that seemed both forced and unnatural sounding. Then Dom turned toward Nicky and Arielle, waving them toward another closed door. "Shall we?" "Definitely." Nicky sounded exhausted and Arielle glanced at him worriedly. He'd been through hell at that place they'd been held at and he still looked pale, even though she'd let him feed from her. She wrapped her arm around his waist and felt his go over her shoulders. Looking up, she tried to smile bravely for him but it had been a difficult night for her as well. "Dom won't hurt you, Arielle. And he will keep Callista in line, don't worry. He will have a place for us to sleep and we'll get there soon enough. Can you hold on for a bit longer?" "Together?" she asked, feeling a thrill of fear at the thought of staying in a room alone in the vastness of this house. "If you want, it's what I'd prefer but I didn't want to take liberties." He smiled, his hand coming up to stroke her hair back from her face. He didn't like the paleness of her skin or the dark shadows that lay under her eyes. "You aren't," she assured him. "I want to stay with you." Her eyes grew wide again as she saw the room Domino was leading them in to. It looked like libraries she'd seen on television. The ones that soap opera stars lounged in their fictional estates. Those same stars that never seemed to have morning breath, or hair, whose make up never smudged, no matter how many fires or floods, or psycho stalker/killers were chasing them. It was darkly paneled, book lined shelves covered wall upon wall. A huge fireplace sat unlit, the logs placed ever so careful to allow only a single match to start it to burn. Over that brick fireplace, another portrait of the stunning Selena hung. This time, she sat upon a horse, hunting dogs milling around her mount's legs. Domino waved them into to maroon colored, leather covered easy chairs. "Sit, may I offer you something?" he asked, waving his hand at the small bar that held a variety of cut crystal decanters full of different colors of liquids. "Your usual, Nicky?" Nick nodded, settling Arielle in one of the chairs before seated himself. He kept her hand, watching as she kicked off the shoes her sister had given her and curled her stocking covered feet under her. "Arielle?" "No, thank you. This night has been a bit surreal for me," she said almost apologetically. "I don't think alcohol would make it any less so." Dom smiled and nodded, then reached down and into a small refrigerator, pulling out a plain glass bottle of thick red liquid. Pouring some in one of the tumblers, he held it out to Nicky and then poured more for himself before returning the bottle to the refrigerator. Nicky swirled the glass for a moment then lifted it to his lips. A slight grimace crossed his face but it was gone as quickly as it had come and he nodded at Dom. "We have to thank you, Dom. I'm not sure what's going on or why that son of a bitch had me captured but I think it had something to do with that damned orange drug he gave me." "Are you feeling any different, Nick?" "Different?" "Besides being a bit creeped out, no. I keep waiting for something to happen..." "Such as?" "I don't know... ahh...feeling stronger or weaker, feeling tired, hearing strange things, smelling something, growing another head? I'm as much in the dark as you are." "Well, I know who took me and Arielle. Taylor Braxton. He'd invited me over, said he had a business deal he wanted to talk to me about. I can remember accepting a drink from him..." "And then?" Domino urged, sinking down on a matching maroon sofa. "Then I woke and he was standing over me. I was naked, tied down to a table and I had a tube in my arm feeding that orange bile into my system. Then I was in a cell and Arielle was there. She'd been attacked, ravaged by a vampire." "And Nicky played hero," Domino added. He glanced at the heavy drapes that covered the windows. It's almost dawn, I should get you two settled and then check on Callie. She's not the brightest tool in the shed, but I've eaten worse." He rose, setting his empty glass on the small bar and then taking Nicky's from him. "Sleep as late as you want. When you are better rested, I will set up testing for you and we'll figure out what that bastard, Braxton, is doing." He led the way out the doorway and then up the stairs, stopping in front of another set of wide double doors. He opened them and waved Nicky and Arielle in. "There are toothbrushes in the bathroom, Arielle. If you don't see what you need, Nicky should be able to help you with it. My servants will be here soon and I will let them know you are here. Ring the bell and they'll fix you whatever you want to eat." "Thank you, Domino," she said almost shyly. Then she turned and walked into the bedroom, Nick on her heels. * * * * "Mirage!" Hunter felt a surge of panic twist inside of him. She couldn't be gone, she just couldn't. To lose her now, well, it would be devastating. He forced himself to be still in the dark tunnel, and made himself take three calming breaths. He would be no good to her if he allowed himself to foolishly dash into some gun battle and end up with his head splattered on one of the tunnel walls. He had to think, to clear his mind of panic and depend upon his skills. He wasn't called Hunter for nothing. One last breath and he started moving again, though this time he was cautious, checking walls, floor and ceilings for traps, his head up, his nose in the air. He came to an intersection in the tunnels and for a moment, the fear rushed in but he pushed it back. Closing his eyes, he pushed out his thoughts, searching for her. * * * * Mira felt a hint of something just at the edge of her consciousness. It was a tingle of little fingers in her mind and she mentally tasted it, instantly recognizing Hunter. He was coming and she breathed a silent pray of thank you as well as one for his safety as he pushed forward. "I'm here," she muttered softly, only glancing up when Taylor stepped in front of her. "Who are you talking to?" he asked, his leather covered hand grabbing her chin and forcing her to look up at him. "None of your fucking business, dick head." Taylor laughed. "Crass to the end, hmm, Mirage? But where are those valiant heroes of ASP? Are they not coming for you? Have they decided that you aren't worth the time or the effort to retrieve?" He laughed again as she jerked her chin away from him. "Take of those gloves, fuck wad and then let's dance." He laughed again then motioned for his minions to hurry with loading. The tunnel had widened and now a sleek passenger train sat upon silver tracks in front of her. Taylor's men were loading crates by hand trolleys. The cases were marked with all sorts of different warnings. Mira was tied to a post that held the roof steady above their heads. She'd tugged and pulled at the ropes, searching for any sort of give or weakness, but so far, she'd had no luck. "You know, Mirage, I've heard all sorts of stories about you. Stories about how you have these mythical powers. How you can take down any man with the touch of your skin. Any of those true?" "Touch me, Braxton. Touch me and you'll find out." "I don't think so. You seem a bit too eager. You and the rest of your meddlers had to poke your noses in where they weren't needed. But never mind that. I have another place, almost exactly like this on the west coast. I think you'll like California. Maybe you can get a bit of a tan." He stroked his glove covered finger over her cheek, drawing back when she snapped her teeth at him. "That's so sad," he said with a shake of his head. "You are so incredibly beautiful, I'm almost tempted...but never mind." He turned with a shake of his head and then went back to harassing his men to hurry, they didn't have all day. Mira watched as the men finished loading the crates. Then she saw them hefting closed caskets into another car and she frowned. She knew what was inside those crates. More of those crazy zombie slaves that Braxton was pumping out. She struggled at her bonds again. "Hurry, Hunter," she whispered, not wanting Braxton's attention. When the ropes gave and she was free, her jaw dropped. Then she felt his hand, her skin against his and she knew who it was. Turning, she grabbed his head, dragging him down to plant a quick but passionate kiss upon his lips. "It's about damn time," she said with a grin. "You're welcome. What the hell is Braxton doing?" "Packing up and moving his operation to California," she whispered, following him back and into the shadows. "We've got to stop him. He's got that orange drug he's been using on the Vampires in huge crates in one of the cars, the other he's filling full of coffins." "I've called for backup but you're right, Mira. We can't wait. I counted sixteen of them." Mira grinned. "Well, that sounds about fair, that's eight each. No sweat." Hunter shook his head and rolled his eyes. "We seriously need to talk, Mira." He tossed her the blaster that he'd found on a stack of boxes and pulled his own. "Ready?" "Just waiting on you, as always." Hunter sighed. "I should have left you tied up. Maybe Braxton has a gag I can borrow?" Mirage didn't even look at him. She spun out, quickly picking off two of the men who were loading the caskets. They didn't even know what hit them. Braxton saw the flashes of green and looked toward where he'd had Mirage tied. She was gone! Then he saw Hunter as the man took out another two of his men. "Fuck!" he shouted. "Get them!" A casket was dropped, the top opening as Hunter and Mirage took careful aim, using whatever they could for cover. The top half of a girl's body was jounced, but she fell back against the satin lining, her limbs limp. Mira rolled, rising to her feet to pop off another shot that missed her target. Diving behind the casket, she reached in, feeling for a pulse. When she felt the steady beat of the girl's pulse, rage flowed through her, fierce, pounding rage that Braxton felt he had the right to subjugate these women, to drug them and take them from their homes against their will. The fact that he'd used the drugs, a drug that she or no one else in ASP had ever heard of made it even worse. She felt the tunnel vision of the rage taking her over and she found Braxton. "You son of a bitch," she growled, aiming carefully and taking her shot. "Dammit!" Her shot was true but it didn't hit Taylor Braxton. His man stepped in the way and took the shot, saving Braxton. She rolled again, searching for another angle, for the shot she desperately wanted to take. When the butt of someone's gun smashed against her forehead, she was left stunned and then hard, gloved hands grabbed hold of her, lifting her up. Braxton shouted Hunter's name, waiting for him to look up. He pushed his pistol barrel against her temple. "Throw it out, Hunter." Hunter growled his anger but tossed his blaster to Braxton's feet. "Okay, okay!" he shouted. "Just don't hurt her." He allowed himself to be grabbed, two men holding him between them. "I never thought the great Hunter would be so easy to capture," Braxton said with a sneer. "You allow yourself to be taken because of this little whore. How disappointing." Hunter snarled. "She's the boss' girl." Braxton chuckled. "Try again; your boss is married to Callan Wolfe's daughter. You're pretty transparent, Hunter." "Then why the fuck are you asking lame ass question." Braxton pushed the barrel of his pistol a bit harder against Mira's head. "Maybe I'm a bit dense. I just don't understand the attraction." He lifted Mira's face, watching as she blinked dazedly up at him. "She's a pretty bitch, but I've seen better. And you can't even fuck her. Touch her and she'll drive you crazy." "You wouldn't know a good woman if one bit you," Hunter snapped. "Just leave her alone. You've got me, you don't need her anymore." Braxton laughed. He pulled her even further up, his hands moving over her body as he held her negligently in his arms. "Is it me or does Hunter, the scourge of any who seek to flaunt justice, has a crush?" "You mother fucker," Hunter hissed, struggling against the hands holding him until Braxton shook his head and pushed the barrel further against Mira's wan face. "Just leave her alone. I always knew it took a pretty sick and disturbed individual to hide behind a woman." He let his eyes move with scorn over Braxton's face. "I'd always heard that you were unbeatable, that you never left any of your enemies alive. Look at you now, hiding behind the skirts of a woman." Braxton cocked his head to the side, staring at Hunter with eyes that seemed to burn into his soul. "You love her," he said softly. "You love the woman no one can touch. How disturbed does that make you?" Hunter sighed. "Yes, yes I love her." "And she loves you? She must, the way she gave up so easily when I threatened you. Oh how rich is this? You have a relationship with a woman no man can touch." His chuckles grew louder and Hunter saw the saw movements Mira was making. She was becoming more aware and he had to take the focus off of her so that Braxton would stay in the dark. "Yes, we have a relationship. And yes, the curse makes if difficult. But I will petition the Gods to give me the same curse that Mirage has, so she would know how much I love her." "You'd do that?" Braxton asked, shuddering distastefully. "All the gorgeous babes in this world and you want to make yourself untouchable to be with only one?" "Truly?" Mirage managed to mutter loud enough for Hunter would hear. Braxton's hands were moving all over her leather covered body, and though no skin touched hers, it was making her distinctly ill. "To be with you forever, yes, I would do it in a heartbeat, Mira." As he spoke the words, a strange warmth began low in his belly and then grew to heat that seemed to flood his body. His skin began to glow, shining with a strange luminescence and the men holding him began to back away. Hunter was lifted from his feet, his heels six inches from the dirt floor. Hunter Hunted Ch. 14 "What the fuck?" Braxton asked then felt a strange flooding of heat in his hands. Glancing down, he dropped his hands from Mirage as she too began to glow. "Stop that!" Braxton howled angrily. But neither Hunter nor Mirage were in control at the moment. Their bodies were pulled toward each other and Hunter could feel his hand rising, his fingers reaching for Mirage. There was no pain with the heat they were suffused in and he wasn't afraid. He felt as if whatever power was drawing them together was resolute and there could be no other ending but the one that that power wanted. His eyes were open as Mirage floated into hand's reach of him and he felt his skin touch hers. "I love you, Mira." There was the burst of green as a blaster was used against them, but it reflected off of the glow. It surrounded them, that strange white light, protecting and holding them until whatever was going to happen did happen. "I can't believe it," Mira breathed. "It's impossible." "What's impossible?" Mira held her arm up and Hunter could see huge dark gouts of some soft of liquid lifting from her skin. "What is that?" he asked, alarmed. "It is the poison, the poison that Bia cursed me with three thousand years ago. They are taking away my curse, Hunter." Tears were sliding down her cheeks and he reached up, wiping them gently away with his thumb. It took a few moments for all the poison to disperse from her system but when it was gone, Hunter had found a way to draw Mirage in his arms. A throat being cleared interrupted the lover's embrace and Hunter allowed Mira to turn in his arms but not to leave them. Three people, two women and a man, moved toward them and Mirage's eyes widened as she recognized them. "Mirage," Aphrodite began. "Bia wishes to speak to you now that she has finally been forced to see the truth of the matter that occurred all those many decades ago." "Speak," Mira said, though it could in no way be described as being gracious. "I was...misinformed," Bia began. Aphrodite cleared her throat again and gave Bia a dirty look. "Fine," the woman growled. "I was wrong. I know my husband raped you and I am sorry that I listened to his lies then to even try to see the truth. Your curse has been lifted, the gifts that were given along with the curse will remain. I am...s-sorry." She folded her arms across her chest and glared at Mira and at Aphrodite. "We are allowing you one favor as well, Mira." Aphrodite waved her hand at the men who were trying to figure out how their bullets wouldn't reach past the white glow that surrounded them. "Your choice, Mira." Mirage's mind swam and she could barely believe what was happening. Just the knowledge that the curse was over, that she could live life like a normal woman and not have to worry about a sly brush would cause the person insanity. She glanced up at Hunter, seeing the joy in his eyes as well. Then it hit her and she decided instantly of what favor she would ask for. "My wish is not for myself," she said softly. "Then for who?" Aphrodite asked. * * * * Ahhh, now what and for whom does Mirage want her wish to be for. Any ideas? Oh come on, people, you've all mostly been reading my work for a while and you know the little plot twists I love to throw into a story. Let's just say, it'll answer a ton of questions... Anyway, I think two more chapters at the most and this one will be done. I have a character I created for this novel that I'm really intrigued wit and who may deserve his own novel in a few months when I finish a few of the others I've started. Domino seems to like to sneak into my dreams at night, though hell, who would complain. So I think he needs backstory and his own novel. Thanks so much for reading me and don't forget to vote and leave a comment if you wish. Take care! Hunter Hunted Ch. 15 Chapter Fifteen A Curse Lifted and A Wish Granted Mira lifted her hand, holding it out to Hunter. She smiled as she felt him take it to come and stand next to her instead of behind her. "The wish I have is for him." "Mira, no," Hunter interrupted. "What about Lineal or your daughter?" He lifted her face so that he could look into her eyes. "Don't waste your wish on me." Mirage's smile grew wide as she stared into his eyes. "You don't even have a clue of what I am going to ask, Hunter. So do me a favor and shut the fuck up." She rose on tip toe to kiss his lips, almost laughing at the startled look on his face. Aphrodite laughed. "That's one thing I've always loved about you, Mira. Mouthy and crass as hell." Mira shrugged her shoulders. "It's part of the charm. My wish has to do with Hunter's parents. He wants to find his heritage and I want to help him." Aphrodite smiled at Hunter and then slowly walked toward him. "This won't hurt," she said as she lifted her hand to touch his face. Hunter flinched, but then forced himself to hold still. He could feel the warmth of her hand and then a strange tingling heat ran through his conscious and then deeper. She hummed, her eyes closing, concentrating upon whatever she was seeing in her mind. A tiny smile touched her lips and her gorgeous blue eyes opened, her hand going to his shoulder and squeezing gently. "You're not from this planet." Hunter nodded. He'd know that from the people who'd raised him. "Hang on," she said as he went to turn away. "I'm not finished. There's a portal that you must cross to find your sister." "I...I have a sister?" Aphrodite nodded, watching as Hunter smiled. "You will need to find your way to Daring Castle, Hunter. There you will find your sister and her husband. Her name is Katrina. She too, is lost and looking for who she is. You and Mirage will be welcomed there." "Katrina," Hunter said slowly and then nodded his head. "How do we find this portal?" "Talk to Dianna. She can direct you to the person who will find the way to take you there." She stepped back, nodding to Bia and her husband. Mirage had ignored the man and she still refused to acknowledge him, even when Bia spoke once more to her. "We will not intrude upon your life again, Mirage. Live well and die happy." Mira nodded but turned into Hunter's arms, smiling only when Aphrodite smoothed her hand down her back. When her hand cupped Mirage's ass, Mira jumped, reaching back to grab her wrist. "Hey, it was your idea," Aphrodite said with a leering look. "Behave yourself," Mira growled, hearing Hunter snicker. "If you two would like to be alone..." he said solicitously. Aphrodite winked at him. "I think you two will have some work to do when we leave." She waved her hand at the men who stood dumbly outside the bright white light. She pointed her finger, making it look like a gun and she made noises like a gun going off, watching as the men fell to the ground. The only one that was missing was Taylor Braxton. "Dammit," Mira growled, looking around the area, ducking out of Hunter's arms to search behind the tall stack of coffins that hadn't been loaded into the train. As the bright white light and the three deities disappeared as quickly as they had appeared, they could see that the train was still there, still full of the orange drug. "Where the hell did he go?" She held her hands up in the air as Hunter came to her side once more. Hunter was still shaking his head at what Aphrodite had said to him. "Why did you do that?" he asked Mirage. "Do what?" she hedged. "Give me your wish, Mira, you know what." "You want to find your family. I know how important it is to belong to someone, to know there is someone there that cares about you. I wanted you to have that too." Hunter reached out and took her shoulders, forcing her to turn and face him. "That isn't all." "No, you know how I feel about you." She met his eyes, letting herself melt into the heat and emotion she could see in them. "I love you, Hunter. You know that." His smile was wide and he dipped his head. "Thank you," he said after kissing her gently. "I've never had anyone do anything so wonderful for me." "Anytime," she said with a grin. "Especially when you thank me so nicely." "And here I thought you loved me for my body." Mirage slid her hand down his back and over the curve of his ass, grabbing the hard curve. "Yeah, well there's that too." Hunter chuckled, letting his forehead drop down against hers. "I love you, Mira. You are my reason for living." He bent to kiss her again and then flinched when Dianna and Beast, along with Kit, Lelia, Tinman and Mage rushed onto the small platform in front of the train. They looked around, seeing the men left unconscious on the ground, the coffins and the long silver train. Mirage growled but pulled free of Hunter's arms. "You didn't happen to run into that asshole Braxton, did you?" Dianna shook her head. "I can't believe it. You two were so busy playing grab ass you missed him again?" Beast yowled, shaking his big furry head. "Shut up, fur ball or I'll make you a into an area rug." Mira turned, slamming her fist into one of the empty crates still lined up along the end of the platform. "Son of a bitch!" "How the hell does he do it?" Hunter asked, shaking his head and grabbing Mira's hand to check her knuckles. "Aphrodite wasn't here that long, was she?" "Aphrodite?" Dianna asked, her eyes wide. "What was she doing here?" "Lifting my curse." "Your curse was..." "Lifted, yes. I guess Hunter's vow of utter devotion and willingness to share my fate was enough to make Bia shut up and listen for once. My skin is no longer poisonous to the human mind." Dianna reached out, her hand trembling only slightly as she reached for the Mirage. The tips of her fingers brushed over her skin and she pulled back, holding her breath and closing her eyes. Mirage had braced for the buzz of the madness even though she'd witnessed the poison lifting from her skin. When Dianna eyes opened in shock, Mira actually managed a smile. "See, told you." "There's been something I've wanted to do since the first time you got mouthy with me, Mira." Dianna stepped forward and Mira braced, waiting for fists to fly. She wouldn't fight back, she'd been a mouthy know-it-all and deserved what Dianna was going to give her. But when she felt Dianna's hands grasp her shoulders, dragging her into a hug that brooked no arguments, an actual tear stung in her eyes and she returned the embrace. It was only when Beast wrapped his huge arms around them both, lifting them into the air that Mirage protested. "Watch it furball," she growled. "I bruise." Hunter chuckled and waited until she was free before tugging her back into his arms. "I guess now is as good of time as ever," he said, glancing down into her bright blue eyes. "Dianna, Aphrodite gave Mirage a wish, anything she wanted." "Wow, where's the dancing boys and the gold?" Dianna joked. "No dancing boys or gold, she used the wish for me." "I'm afraid to ask," Kit teased. "We are going to find out who my parents are and find my sister." "You have a sister?" "Yes, but we have to travel to a different planet and Aphrodite said you'd be able to summon some kind of portal that would take me there." "Take you where?" Dianna's eyes were shrewd and she only nodded at Hunter's answer. "Daring Castle." "Where?" Kit asked. "You remember Layna and Tynan Stavaros? Layna's father and Grandparents are from Daring Castle." "Would Layna be..." Hunter began, unable to finish. "Your sister? No, her mother is Lily Tremaine, the vampire that caused all of that trouble a few years ago, Hunter." "But you'd be able to get me there?" he asked. "Get us there," Mira interrupted. "You aren't going through any portals or storming any castles unless I'm backing you up." Hunter grinned. "Yes dear," he answered with a fake long suffering sigh. He oomphed when her elbow found his stomach, digging in. "Can you get us there?" he asked, rubbing his abused abdomen. "One way or another. But you'll both have to apply for a leave with Shadow. I don't think he'll mind. He has a couple new recruits he was waiting to place with seasoned team leaders anyways." "So when?" Hunter asked eagerly. Now that he knew he had a sister, he was eager to begin. "Not until after we find Taylor Braxton," Mira answered for Dianna. "We cannot allow him to get away with what he's doing, Hunt." "I'll put the request in with Shadow," Dianna said. I don't think he'll have any problems okaying the time off." "Just don't get too used to the new recruits," Mira said. "Hunt and I will be back." Dianna looked to Hunter, her eyes unsure. "Yes," he said with a small smile. "We'll be back." "Okay, then," Kit said, slapping her palms together. "Let's round up these men, get the coffins open and alert Shadow for another twenty some zombie girls and find us a scumbag." "Don't forget the load of orange drug in the train. If the R and D lab can't figure out what is in this with that amount, they are really getting slow." "R and D?" Mira asked, confused. She'd been with ASP a long time but she'd never heard of that department. "Research and development," Dianna said. "It was Shadow's new idea. He's trying to develop a cure as well as a preventative for the orange drug before any of the vampires that work for ASP can be infected. He's got some of the biggest eggheads in the world working for ASP now. They are already talking about an improvement for out blasters that will make them smaller, easier to carry and have more firepower." "Can't hate eggheads trying to make our lives easier." Hunt turned Mira and nodded toward the tracks. "Braxton could have only gone one of two ways." "Left or right?" she asked with a grin. Hunter glanced up and down the tracks, seeing the almost complete darkness outside the light of the platform. To the right, the darkness didn't seem as absolute. "Right." Mira jumped carefully onto the tracks, only looking back when Dianna called her name. "Whoa, where do you two think you're going?" "Shhh," Mirage said, holding her finger to her lips. "We're going scumbag hunting." She didn't wait for Dianna to argue with her, only for Hunter to land at her side and then they were trotting up the tracks. Kit laughed, patting Dianna on the shoulder. "Even without the curse, she's going to be a handful." "Yeah, and every time I call her on it, she tells me to respect her elders." Dianna chuckled and then smacked Beast on the arm. "I guess we're going to have to get used to them being gone anyway." He yowled and then gave her a big furry, Wendigo grin. "Funny, Beastman, very funny." And then she led the way to the first of the coffins. * * * * Domino sat straight up in bed, his eyes wild as he gazed around the room. "Selena!" Callista sat up next to him. She let her hand rest against his pale chest, caressing him gently. "She's gone, Dom. You're dreaming again." He glanced over at her, his eyes losing their wildness as comprehension dawned in them. "I'm sorry," he apologized, his voice cracking just a bit. "I didn't hurt you?" "No," she said, her beautiful blue eyes gazing at him worriedly. "I just wish you'd tell me about the dreams, Domino. It might help them to go away." Dom shook his head and then reached for the edge of the blanket, pulling it away from his naked body. Her eyes roamed over him, admiring the firm, lean muscles that he made no move to cover up. "It's not sunset yet," she said, glancing at the clock next to the bed that they shared. "I know. I just need...something," he finished lamely, barely glancing back at her as she let the sheets fall to her waist. Going to the antique wardrobe that stood against one satin covered wall, he pulled a long, black robe out. He tugged it over his shoulders and belted it snugly against his firm abdomen. "I'm going to my office, Cal." When the door closed behind him, she threw herself back against the pillows, slamming her fist into the thick comforter. "Damn that bitch. She's still wrecking my life even now that she's dead. I knew I should have done the work myself." Then she grabbed for the blanket, tugging it up and above her ears, letting sleep take her once more. * * * * Domino's mind was racing as he made his way silently down the wide staircase. He easily maneuvered past the spots of sun that shone onto the floor through the sheer draperies on the windows, going into his library where darkened drapes took away even a hint of the dangerous rays The dream bothered him even more than it should, considering how many times it woke him from a sound sleep to screaming into his pillow. He just couldn't get his mind past her last day; her last moments of life when she'd pushed him out of the way, saving him from the stake that had been going to end his life. He tried to forget how she'd looked, her mouth open with a groan of pain, her beautiful face going even paler as her blood began to flood out of the wound. He'd gotten to her as the first burst of flame had coursed over her. When he'd tried to pick her up, to rock her in his arms, to beg the gods to bring her back to him, it had been way too late. His hands had gone through the perfect ash replica of her, scattering them to the wind. The rage had taken him and he'd turned on the man who'd had the gall to try and stake him, instead, taking the life of his beloved. He'd pulled the man's head from his shoulders, heaving it against the brick wall of the house where he and Selena had been tricked into going. He burned the place to the ground, watching with haunted eyes as each story collapsed in on itself until the final flame burned out. He'd wanted to walk into the sunlight after that, his entire reason for living gone with her loss. He would have if it hadn't been for Tynan Stavaros, Nick's cousin. Tynan had found him as he stood, watching with haunted eyes as the first pale rays of the sun had made there way across the ground toward his feet. He'd fought him, finally covering him with a dark cloak and forcing him into the house. Domino's rage had been fierce but Tynan's friendship had been fiercer, forcing Dom to calm, to think of what he was doing. Dom had, but he'd still hadn't thought of a single reason not to walk into the sunshine. It was something he longed to feel once more, the warmth of the sun upon his icy extremities, watching as they burst into blue flames, licking over his skin, taking him to where he could be with Selena once more. The dreams of Selena's last moments were bad, but the ones like he'd just had were worse. He'd been making love to her, the powers of the incubus flowing through them, doubling the amount of pleasure both had felt with every kiss, every touch. When he'd gone to push into her, her eyes had gone wide, her mouth opening with a scream of pain. Then she'd been ash and his body had fallen right through hers, to land upon the rough ground. Dom went to the small fridge, reaching in and pulling out a special bottle. It looked like all the others but only he could tell the difference. Pouring himself a full glass of the thick blood, he took a healthy gulp, letting the special properties to flood into his system. The blood had been taken from an alcoholic who'd been well into his cups. The alcohol running in his veins a stronger proof then any straight alcohol could. Plain alcohol wouldn't numb the pain, but this alcohol filled blood went straight through his body to his head. It not only numbed the pain but made living with Selena's loss a bit easier to handle. It was a dangerous brew, easily addictive and he was normally careful about how much he would imbibe, but today, for some reason, the pain was worse. He took the bottle with him and went and sat behind his desk. Reaching out, he took the small picture he kept of Selena on his desk, turning the portrait so that it lay face down. He didn't want to see her, he didn't want to feel her eyes on him, disappointed in his actions. "Why did you have to leave me, Selena?" The cry was ragged and echoed in the emptiness of the big room, no answer forthcoming. In the corner of the room, a small figure stood from the sofa that Domino had placed there where he could enjoy the fire as well as see to read. "Who is it?" Domino rasped harshly, not wanting to deal with either of the maids if they'd come in there to goof off a bit. Arielle stepped closer to the desk, staring in fear at the man that Nick had called a friend. Would he hurt her like that other vampire had? The thought of being held down, of being ravaged the way the other vampire had done had her voice cracking. "It's me, Arielle." "What are you doing in here?" Dom growled, though he knew he was scaring her. "I woke and Nick was still sleeping. I didn't want to disturb him so I thought I...would...read," she managed to gasp out, taking a huge step back as he came around from his side of the desk. "I hope I'm not interrupting." She nodded at the bottle still in his hands. "Oh, where are my manners," he said, holding the bottle up. "Like some?" Arielle didn't even glance at the bottle. "No, thank you," she said primly. "I'll go back up to Nicky now." She tried to turn, to make a quick escape, but despite the amount of alcohol laden blood he'd already consumed, Domino was still faster than she and he quickly trapped her wrist in his hand. "No, please don't leave. I'd love to find out what Nicky sees in you. He's so overprotective at times, isn't he?" She felt as if he were reeling her in like a fish, his hand tugging at her until she was almost pressed against his body. "You do smell delicious," he said, lifting his head and breathing deeply of her scent. "But there isn't much of you." His eyes moved over her body, clad in only the thick white terrycloth of the robe she'd found on the door to the bathroom. Arielle felt panic grow in her gut, twisting her stomach mercilessly, especially when Dom dropped his head and she felt the rasping of his super sharp teeth against her neck. "No," she whimpered, pulling uselessly at her arm. "No, don't hurt me." "Oh, sweetheart, I wouldn't hurt you," he growled. He concentrated for a moment and she felt a surge of pleasure, shocking, swift and intense, flood through her. "W...what are you doing?" she panted, pushing at his chest with her free hand. "I belong to Nicky." Dom lifted his head, his dark eyes boring into hers. "You want Nicky?" he asked, then she heard Nicky's voice and saw him, her wrist still trapped but it was Nicky's hand that held her, not Dom's. "Oh," she gasped and threw herself at the black robed garbed Nicky. "I was so scared," she whispered against his chest. "There's nothing to be frightened of, sweetheart. You know I'd never let anyone hurt you." She watched as Nicky put down the bottle of blood he held in his hand and then took the book out of hers, leaning against the desk to pull her against him. She went more than willingly, her arms going around his neck, her hands playing in the long hair at his nape. "I know, but you weren't here, Nicky." Arielle glanced around the room, her eyes confused. "Domino was here," she said, tipping her head as she looked up at him. Then she felt another surge of passion and pleasure and forgot about what she was saying, instead, tugging at the neckline of his robe, wanting to touch his cool flesh. She forced it down his arms, stopping only because he refused to let her go long enough to slip it off his hands. Her lips moved against his neck, his taste strange on her tongue. A glance showed her Nicky's face above her, his eyes closed in pleasure, his head thrown back to give her all the room she wanted to pleasure him. "Nicky?" she whispered, and for just an instant, she was no longer in his arms but in Domino's his dark head thrown back, his dark eyes closed in pleasure. Hunter Hunted Ch. 15 "Domino?" He opened his eyes and saw the confusion again. The sound of his name in her soft voice was a shock and he felt the hold of the blood he'd drunk loosen and realized what he'd been about to do. "Arielle, my God, I'm so sorry." He pushed her away, drawing his robe back up to cover the pale skin it had exposed. "I didn't know...didn't realize...God," he growled, dropping his head into his hands. Her hand came up at his obvious signs of distress. "How...? "I am an incubus, Arielle." He spoke the words as if they explained all and ducked away from her hand. "God I'm sorry. I'd never betray a friend that way. For give me, please, Arielle?" She shook off the last surge of pleasure he'd given her. "I...I forgive you, Domino," she said softly even as her eyes widened. "You were Nick." He flinched at the accusation in her voice and for a moment he was tempted to reach behind him for the bottle, to lose himself in the forgetfulness he could find there, but he stopped himself. "Yes," he answered her. "It's part of being who I am, Arielle. I don't have the same power as Nick or any other Vampire. My powers work more in ways to seduce and to lull then to hurt or hunt. Since I feed on the raw power of sex, I can also give massive pleasure. You wanted Nick; I gave you what you wanted." He glanced up. "I really am sorry." "For what?" Nick asked from the door, his eyes going from Nick clad only in his robe to Arielle clad only in hers. Before Domino could confess what he'd done, Arielle spoke up. "A stupid misunderstanding, Nicky. I think I startled Dom. I came down here to find a book and got comfortable on the couch. He came down and I stood up. It was nothing, really." Dom looked down at her in amazement and shock. "Y...yes, she startled me," he confirmed when Arielle pointedly looked his way. She moved away from him and went to rest her head against Nicky's chest when he pulled her into his arms. "I didn't want to wake you; I couldn't sleep so I came down here. I hope you weren't worried." She lifted her head, his lips covering hers gently. "The bed was too big without you," he said against her lips. His hands played in her silky soft hair, brushing it away from her face. "Come back to bed with me?" Arielle could barely answer, his lips were already back on hers, his mouth hot and restless against hers. His hands caressed her terry cloth covered back, pulling her even closer. Neither of them saw the look on Dom's face as he turned away nor the hurt in his eyes as he saw the caring the couple shared. It was strong, even with the short bit of time they'd been together. He didn't say a word as Nick leaned down, picking up Arielle into his arms and turning away towards the door, his stride purposeful. He glanced back once and then was out the door, heading toward the stairs. Domino lifted the bottle, taking a pull from the opening itself. He stared after them even as the door closed behind them. A sense of loneliness filled him and he felt the same strong yearning for Selena that he'd felt every waking moment since her death. There were times he hated Tynan from drawing him back from the edge. He sank down behind his desk, lifting her picture, saluting her with the glass bottle. "I will always love you, Selena." Then he proceeded to get drunk. * * * * I am trying to figure out how to make a newsletter to keep you all up to date on whatever I have coming out. If you're interested, send me an email with your address and I'll put you on the list. Take care and keep reading! Hunter Hunted Ch. 16 I hope you enjoy the chapter. * * * * A City Under Siege Chapter Sixteen Mira's eyes slowly grew more used to the dark and she preceded cautiously, Hunter at her back. "Do you feel anything?" she hissed. "He's gone this way, Mira." Hunter closed his eyes, counting on his super sensitive senses to tell him that Braxton had gone this way, only a few moments before. "I can smell him." Mirage nodded and then kept up her suspiciously cautious trip down the tunnel. Everything was becoming clearer and she could see the tiny dot of light that showed the end of the tunnel and the beginning of another set of tracks that fed into Braxton's hideout. So when an arm reached out, grabbing her around the neck, a surprised squeak left her lips. Leather gloved hands pulled her back against a hard body and a gun was pressed to her skull. "Drop your weapon and then tell lover boy to drop his," Taylor Braxton growled ominously. "Now why the hell would I do something that stupid," Mira growled. "Tell you what, you drop your gun, give yourself up and give us the antidote for the orange drug you've devised and Hunter might let you live to spend the rest of your hopefully long, long life in the tombs at ASP headquarters." "Mira, now's not the time to be baiting the psycho killer," Hunter said softly, his eyes going from the shadowed look on Braxton's face to the gun he had pressing against Mira's head. "Your boyfriend over there has the right idea, Mirage. Drop the fucking gun or I'll blow your fucking head off." "Okay, now let's see, you blow my head off, you've lost your leverage and Hunter takes you in, if he doesn't get mad enough to kill you himself. I don't think you'll do it, Braxton. You're a coward at heart. You can't fight an opponent face to face; you have to wait until their back is turned. That means your life is more important to you then killing me." Braxton ignored her, tugging her even closer to him. "Drop it, Hunter or your little toy here is going to be a stain on the wall of my tunnel." Hunter met Mira's eyes, seeing her thoughts in that glance. He nodded almost imperceptively and started to lower his blaster. "I can't let him kill you, Mira." Taylor relaxed his grip just the tiniest of bits when he saw Hunter lowering his weapon and that's when Mirage struck. Her elbow went back and into his ribs followed by a solid backward punch into the groin. He bent, releasing his hold on her completely and she took a step forward, grabbing his head and pushing it hard into the knee she brought up as she turned back to face him. Braxton hit the ground hard, the gun skittering out of his now relaxed grip. Mira sat on his back, grabbing his arms and cuffing them tightly and then searching him for other weapons. She pulled an arsenal from his body, even checking his boots and finding the toes outfitted with sterling silver tips that shot out and became knives. Tugging them off, she threw them a few feet away where the rest of his arsenal lay. "Damn," Hunter breathed. "Sure you got it all?" Mira nodded. "Unless he's got a bazooka in his pants." Taylor moaned as he began coming around. With a grin, she grabbed his arm, yanking him up. "Ready for a vacation, Taylor?" "Huh?" he asked dazedly. "What vacation?" "The one you're about to get at ASP head quarters." She let Hunter take Braxton and bent to pick up his arsenal, dropping it all into his boots to cart back to ASP. "Damn, Taylor, get some odor eaters for these things." "He won't need odor eaters where he'd going. See, Taylor, ASP isn't really recognized by too many other law enforcement communities and since we police our own, we even house those that need to be kept from the public. You'll be going into a five by eight foot cell with no windows, no rights, and no considerations. You don't have the right to an attorney or even a phone call. The justice given by ASP authorities is absolute; there are no reprieves or chances. What you've done is enough cause for you to be put away forever." Taylor growled but kept quiet otherwise, moving docilely at Hunter's side. He didn't have much choice, considering the grip Hunter had on him and the fact that Mirage walked just a few feet behind him. They made their way back down the tracks, showing up just as Dianna and Beast were freeing the last of the "Zombie girls", as they'd been dubbed. "You got him!" Dianna said, hurrying to pull Taylor onto the platform as Beast gave Hunter and then Mira a hand up. "Is he talking?" "Well, beside a 'huh' we haven't heard a peep out of him but that could be due to the whooping that Mira gave him," Hunter said, gazing proudly at her. "Yeah, well it pisses me off to have knives held to my throat." Mira returned Dianna's hug. "Now, about that time off..." Dianna rolled her eyes. "Mouthy to the end." * * * * Taylor Braxton made nary a peep during the long trip back to ASP headquarters. He was walked through processing and put into an interrogation room, seated and cuffed to a long table where the chairs and table were bolted to the floor. He barely glanced up as Shadow opened the door, a thick file in his hands. He took the chair across from Braxton, an expectant look in his eyes. "You've caused us a bit of trouble," he said, glancing down at the paper on top of the file. "Anything you want to say before we get started?" Taylor rattled the cuffs that held his hands to the table. "You're going to have to kill me," he said softly. "Killing you is not an option, Mr. Braxton. See, despite my own beliefs, our founders feel that punishment for crimes committed will be decided upon by your peers. Since I can think of no one more justified to decide upon the punishment of your crime than those you hurt by it, well, we have to wait until they are capable of doing it." Shadow pulled some pictures out of the file, the first one being of Mistress Melody. It showed every bite mark, every injury that had been inflicted upon her body. The last being one of one of the girl's in the coffins Hunter and Mira had rescued. "These women caused you no harm, they did nothing to you to warrant this treatment," he slammed his hand on the table. "You defiled them, drug them, put them in coffins to sell them to the highest bidder. I'm here, not to discuss your crimes or the terms of your punishment but to find out what exactly was the drug that you gave them." "Go to hell," Taylor growled, slamming his hands on the table. "Have you ever seen the tomb here?" Shadow asked, holding on to his temper with a fine thread. "It's worse then hell. You've seen your last bit of sunlight, Braxton. If you cooperate, we might be able to work up a bit of sympathy." Taylor glanced over at Shadow, his mouth moving but no sound coming out. Sitting forward, he watched as Shadow sat forward as well, then he sprayed the man with a mouth full of spittle. Shadow sat back, wiping his face on his sleeve. "I'll take this as a refusal to cooperate," Shadow said slowly. "Go fuck your cooperation, and while you're at it, you might want to kiss this city good-bye. Taylor lifted his hand, pushing down one sleeve of the orange jumpsuit they'd put him in. Without a single sign of pain, he dug his fingers into his forearm, ripping his skin open. Blood dripped onto the table but Taylor ignored it, reaching into his skin. He pushed at something buried there and then his eyes met Shadow's and he began to laugh. A strange buzzing noise sounded but it wasn't from inside of ASP and Shadow jumped up from the table, reaching out and grabbing Braxton's arm. He reached into the same ragged tear, finding the button that Taylor had pushed and ripping it from his arm. "What the fuck is this?" "Your demise," Taylor said then laughed even more as the buzzing became louder and then pulsated. "How many of them are here? How many of them did you bring back here to try to help? You do-gooders will never learn." "Are you talking about those girls you kidnapped?" Before Braxton could answer, Shadow's cell phone began to ring and he stared down at it, his eyes on the small window. "Yeah Dianna." He listened intently and then hooked the cell phone back into his belt, staring at the man across from him. "Turn it off," he growled. "Turn if off now!" "Why the hell would I do that? By the time they are done, there won't be anyone around that will go up against me. You'll all be dead and I shall run my own little harem of women. I'll live like a king." Shadow grabbed Taylor's head. He shoved his blaster into Braxton's gut. "Turn it off or there isn't going to be enough left of you to sit on a fucking throne! Turn it off! There are innocent people dying out there, you stupid son of a bitch." "Innocent people," Braxton laughed. "Hah! Threaten what you will. I'm the only one who knows how to control them." Shadow growled then pushed Braxton back in his chair, heading out of the interrogation room. He hit the call button for the elevator and then headed up the stairs. He could hear the pulsing even louder and he kept his blaster pulled, ready for whatever he would see when he got to the upper levels of ASP. Hitting the door running, he stared at what was left of one agent. His body had been ripped in half and his lower half was missing, his upper half had chunks taken out of it, as if they'd been eating him. Despite thinking he was ready for anything, he knew it was going to be worse than his most awful nightmare and he began wishing he were at home with his wife. "Callie," he groaned. He could only hope that she'd found somewhere safe for her and their babies until he could get there. A body was slammed again the door he was passing and he stared at the trail of orange that showed in the glass of the door. He glanced inside through the orange and saw Marcus, his wings spread, reaching for the next zombie girl who snapped her teeth at him, while Angel kept trying to pick them off with her blaster. There had to be twenty girls trying to get in through the other door, their hands reaching and grasping through the hole they had made. Shadow picked up his foot, knowing the door in front of him would be locked and he kicked it open. He blasted one girl who'd gotten past Angel and was about to attack Marcus from behind. "Where is everyone?" he shouted as Marcus pulled his zombie's head off and let her body fall. "We're spread thin. No one was ready for this," Angel shouted back. "I think a bunch of them are trapped in the gym. What about that way?" "It's clear! Go on!" He gave Angel a push toward the door he'd busted down, watching as she skipped backwards picking off another two of the zombies before she reached it. "Marcus, go on!" "Not without you, boss! Remember, I can't die!" Shadow growled his ire and then disappeared into the floor as two girls tried to grab him. They stood, staring where he'd been, neither of them seeing as he reappeared behind them, blasting them from behind. "I'm right behind you. Get your wife out, Marcus. We have to figure out what all this is about." "Come on, Wings," Angel called harshly, her voice trembling just a bit. It wasn't just the girls' that were acting different, she'd had to take out one of her friends, a vampire who'd somehow been infected with the orange drug. She'd been forced to behead him and the experience was haunting her. She aimed carefully, taking out two more of the girls before they could get through the hole that was quickly filling with bodies. "Let's go, both of you!" "Go!" Shadow shouted at Marcus. "I'm not facing Callie if something happens to you, Brian! Let's go!" Marcus grabbed Shadow's arm and yanked him out of the room, using the strength of the warriors he'd been bred from to keep him moving. They ran from the room, taking the stairwell up to the next floor. When they opened it, the sounds of screams filled the air around them and they could see a group of the zombies pressing in against a doorway as something inside was desperately trying to keep them out. Marcus lifted his hand and spoke two words. His sword materialized in his palm and he stepped forward, slicing and dicing the zombies from behind. One jumped on his back and he spun, reaching between his wings to try and pull the girl forward. Angel blasted her and she dropped off, her head gone. "Thanks babe," Marcus called, winking at her. "Hey, no one's allowed to bite my husband but me," she growled. She rushed forward, grabbing another girl and twisting off her head before the rest turned back, seeing the three agents out in the open and not behind locked doors. A massive growl seemed to form collectively in them and they moved almost in unison toward the three. Shadow and Angel worked at blasting as many as they could, giving Marcus room to work his magic with his sword. By the time the last zombie on the floor had gone down, they were a bloody mess. Angel had been bitten once. Marcus reached down, grabbing a cotton shirt off of one of the zombies, wrapping strips of it around the bite to stop the bleeding. He could see Angel was tiring and knew she needed blood. Before he could ask, she shook her head, reading the thought in his eyes. "Later, Wings, after we get rid of these damn zombies." She turned; shooting one of the girls who'd managed to survive her wound the first time and was crawling toward them, her eyes bulging. "What the fuck started this?" Marcus asked, helping Shadow push aside the bodies to reach the door. "Taylor Braxton and his damn drug." "God," Angel hissed. "We brought almost a hundred of them into ASP. Not including the vampires that have been infected." She glanced at the slew of bodies. "There's what...about forty on the two floors that we killed?" "That's not counting the ones that he's sold or hidden at other warehouses." "He's gone Dawn of the Dead on us," Angel gasped. "We've got to get out there. People aren't going to be prepared to handle this mess." She leaned against the wall, her blaster still in her hands. "What the fuck are we going to do?" "Babe, I think it's more like Resident Evil then Dawn of the Dead," Marcus said, laughing as she gave him a withering look. "Whatever Butterfly," she sighed. "We still have to figure out what to do." "The only thing we can do," Shadow said. "We're going to start with ASP, clear every floor. Then we'll get in touch with police liaisons and start working with them. But for now, we've got agents to save. And we need to get down to the armory. Every agent, every secretary, supply clerk, hell even the medical staff need to be armed." "What about Callie, Brian? Have you been able to reach her?" Shadow flinched and unhooked his phone. "I haven't tried yet. I'm almost afraid to but something inside tells me she's fine and I've just got to hang on to that." He tossed the phone to Angel and then reached for the door, feeling it locked. He pounded on it, calling loudly for whoever was inside to let him in. The door opened slowly and he stared down at the small redhead who opened it. "Everyone all right?" She nodded, then glanced behind her. "We've got one girl who was mauled pretty badly; she doesn't look too good right now." Shadow pushed the door the rest of the way opened and Marcus walked in, pulling the girl up and into his arms. There were ten people in that room, all of them staring up at Shadow expectantly. "You need to follow us. If we run into anymore of the zombie's stay back and make sure you've got our back." He glanced at two of the people in the room, both of them close to the door. "We're headed to the armory. We'll get you two armed and then you can go with us." Tambor Wynter and Rylan Castle, the two newest members of the ASP team, glanced at each other and then fell in behind Marcus. Tambor called out to Shadow. "Director, if you'll give me a minute, I can map out the building and let you know where the problem spots are." "You can do that?" Shadow asked, amazed. She nodded and he watched as she pulled a map out of the pouch that was at her waist. Opening it, she held it at about waist level. Then she spoke in a sing-song voice and small red spots appeared on the map, followed by black dots. She held the map out to Shadow. "The red dots are where are people are, the black spots are the zombies, Director." He took the map, feeling Angel come up and lean over his shoulder. "Damn," she said. "This one's better then a Tom Tom." "Cute, babe," Marcus drawled. "Kay boss, where are we headed?" "North stairwell, Conference room eight is clear and no zombies are near it. We can get these people armed and then leave them there. Both doors lock and if the zombies attack one way, they can get out the other." He pointed out the room and then headed back the way they'd come. Down two floors and they pushed through the stairwell door, hurrying into the armory. Tambor and Rylan hurried to the back, followed by the other seven. Rylan handed out weapons, giving everyone a hurried tutorial and showing them how to put on and take off the safety. "Don't point it unless you plan on using it," he warned. Shadow was studying the map that Tambor had given him. He looked up when they came back to his side. "Remind me when this is done to get you your certifications" They plotted their route toward Conference room eight and picked up five more people from another zombie surrounded class room. Rylan and Tambor managed well, picking off their fair share of zombies and Tambor proved her worth as a black witch, freezing the zombies to keep them from attacking. When they reached the conference room, she wove a spell of protection before they left the others in the room. "Where are Hunter and Mirage?" Shadow asked Tambor, handing her the map. "They have the most experience with these things." Tambor concentrated on the map, searching every red dot for the Beta team. One spot seemed to stand out from the others and she pointed it out to Shadow. "Director, they're here, on the first level." "Then that is where we need to go." * * * * Mirage twisted, grabbing the head of the girl closest to her. "Dammit, how many of them are there?" Hunter finished off the one that had attacked him, going to her side. "I don't know," he growled. "Just don't let them bite you." Beast yowled, his big hairy hands grabbing another of the girls and breaking her back on his knee. He raised her above his head, throwing her in the pile of dead bodies around them. They'd been caught in the open, between the front desk and the offices and had no place to go when the girls began their advance. They seemed to be never ending, one following the other even as the four of them worked to kill them off. It had been shocking, when the girls first attacked, the growling had been animalistic and unreal. There jaws had snapped, their teeth clenching as they tried to bite. After the first few seconds though, the team had known they were in trouble. Dianna had tried to find help on her communicator but there had been no answer from any of the teams, or from Shadow. They were alone. Hunter Hunted Ch. 17 Well, it's almost done. I hope you all enjoyed my Zombies. And I hope they weren't too corny. Take care and let me know what you think! * * * * A New Member of the Family Chapter Seventeen The hallway was empty. It wasn't just empty, it seemed down right desolate. Angel spun down the hall, walking carefully and covering every angle that she could. This was the third hallway that they had cleared. Another twenty ASP workers were now on their way to Conference room eight. They'd run into Kit and her crew, sending them down to keep an eye on the survivors. With Tinman there, they had one agent that was bite proof. Mage had shed a little bit of light into the zombie girls, telling them that the orange drug had changed them, taking them from the mentality of humans to the mentality of a hive. One thought had been set to motion in their heads, one command that would stay with them until they found a cure or until the girl's were dead. That thought was chilling and eased Shadow's mind about killing the girls. That thought was kill. They'd managed to kill off all but the twenty some women that were in the hallway adjacent to where Angel now walked. A noise startled her from behind and she jerked, spinning and raising her weapon. Only her Vampiric swiftness kept her from sending a blast at her husband as he came up behind her. "Jump much," he asked softly, laughing lightly as her eyes flashed. "Dammit Butterfly! I could have blown your head off." "Uh, no, baby, actually you couldn't." He smiled, wrapping his arm around her neck and bending to kiss her quickly. "Remember? Immortal? Part of my godly talents?" "Do you want to know your best godly talent is?" she purred even as she stroked her hand down his back under his wings. "Oh definitely, beautiful. What's my best talent?" "Pissing me off!" Shadow chuckled as he stepped into the hallway as well. Tambor, Rylan and four other agents followed him. "You two will never change. It's good to know." Tambor held the map and she walked up to Shadow, showing him the red and black dots that were in the next hall. "They're surrounded, sir." "Then I guess it's up to us to unsurround them. You two stay on my six and watch where you're shooting. I've got pups on the way and I don't want to die before I at least see them." He led the way to the heavy metal door that separated them from the sound of blasters and the strange growling that came from the women as they attacked. "Marcus, Angel, follow me through and then you two," he said, nodding at Tambor and Rylan." "You got it boss," Angel said, snapping her teeth at Rylan as he got in her way. "What the fuck are you?" She stared at him for a moment as if trying to decide if she could trust him or not. "I'm an..." "Not now," Angel growled, holding her hand up in front of his face and moving toward her husband. Rylan stared at her back. "What the fuck is up her ass?" he hissed. "Stressful situation," Tambor answered, her eyes on the door that they'd come in. "Come on. It's not that big of deal." Rylan didn't say a word. He gave her one look and then followed Marcus and Angel as they'd been ordered to do. * * * * Across town two more bodies rose, their movements stiff. Arielle snarled as the pulsing buzz triggered the drug she'd been given, her teeth snapping together. Her tongue slipped over her new fangs, but she never even recognized the sting as her tongue was cut or wiped at the drop of blood that slid from her mouth, staining her chin. Next to her, Nicky stood, his body shivering as something inside of him fought the numbing pulse, knowing in some distant spot in his conscious that this wasn't right. The order to kill slammed through his brain and he did some snarling of his own, shaking his head to try and rid himself of the thought, of the compulsion to kill. "No," he gasped. He grabbed hold of the dresser, his eyes looking wildly around the room. He saw Arielle and the blood that seemed to flow thickly down her chin. "Kill," she moaned, looking back at him. "No, Arielle. Come on, you've got to fight this." "Kill!" she shouted at him. "No, baby. No. Fight it." His hand reached out for her even as the pain in his head grew even worse. He felt his stomach turn over and he fell to his knees, his hands going to his ears, trying to block out the buzz. It was immediate, painful and every second he fought it the pain grew. He stared around him, unseeing, crying out her name. "Arielle!" She barely glanced at him again, heading toward the door. He rose, throwing himself at her. She fell, her head hitting the edge of the doorway. For a single instant, she stiffened and then went limp. Nicky turned her over, seeing the bump and bruise that was growing on her temple. His hand went to her throat and he felt her pulse, still beating strongly. He sighed, his head falling into his hands and he sat next to her, fighting the compulsions that seemed almost irresistible. He sat there and fought the need to kill; praying desperately that someone would help them. * * * * In the ASP medical unit, a door was opened and then closed quietly, footsteps echoed hollowly in the empty room. The woman flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder, not even flinching as the movement pulled at the wounds that marred her pretty neck and shoulders. Unlike the other girls, this one had a different purpose in mind and she headed toward the door to the stairwell. She skipped lightly down five flights of stairs. Her hand reached into the pocket of the robe she wore, one that was the same dark gray as the ASP Uniforms worn by ASP personnel. At the opening to the floor she finally stopped at there was a thick metal door and a numbered keypad. The woman reached into her pocket, pulling out an identification card and sliding it through before pushing in a series of numbers. The light above the door flashed from red to green and the locked clicked open, allowing her to pull it open and slip inside. She pocketed the identification card and the walked inside. There were barred windows up and down the hallway and she walked calmly past them, ignoring the catcalls and lewd comments that were thrown at her. The door she wanted was halfway down the hall and she opened it, propping it with a door stop that sat on the floor outside. Taylor Braxton smiled when he saw the beautiful blonde, the bite marks not marring her sweet looks in the least. "Lady Melody, I'd hoped you'd remember what you were supposed to do." She didn't speak, only nodded her head. Going to the table, she reached down and tore apart the chains that held him to the table. When he stood, she ripped apart the chains that held his ankles bound. When he held his hand out, she set the passkey into it and then followed him out of the room and back down the hall until he opened the door to the tombs. He gave a deep sigh of relief as he stepped outside, turning and holding out his hand to Lady Melody. "Mylar did well with you, Lady Melody. If he still lives I shall have to reward him for his choice. Shall we?" Melody nodded, allowing him to pull her up the flights of stairs and out a side door of the building. He'd slipped a set of car keys off a board near the security desk, which had been deserted. It took only seconds to open one of the SUVs and slide inside. Melody slipped in next to him, calmly fastening her seatbelt as he backed out. There were zombie girls in the parking lot and Braxton didn't even blink as he ran two of them down, feeling the car tires jolt as he ran over their bodies. Melody glanced back as he drove through the big doors into the parking garage and then they were gone. * * * * The opening of the tombs door made by a low rated tech in the medical department had been reported to the computer. This was the computer that controlled most of the highly sensitive computer equipment and reported to Shadow as soon as something unusual was detected. No complaint for medical treatment had been reported and so the usage of the card was deemed unnecessary. Shadow felt the phone at his belt buzz but he'd just gone through the door and he could see the women that were still alive, trying to drag Hunter away. "Marcus!" he shouted and then nodded as he sank into the wall, passing the women undetected. He stepped out behind the two who had Hunter's arms. He could see Mira, panic in her eyes as she tried to pass the women to get to her man and just smiled. His blaster jerked twice and the women were gone. Shadow reached down and grabbed Hunter's hand, dragging him up. "Thanks boss," Hunter said, relief in his voice. "Their stronger than they look." Mira slammed her fist into his arm when he reached her then shot another of the women. "Hey, what the fuck was that for?" Mirage smiled at the outrage in his voice as he put his back to hers. "Being dumb enough to need rescuing." Hunter sighed and shook his head. "You know, Mira. It ain't easy being in love with you." She laughed, amazing her man. "If it were easy, would you keep coming back for more?" "For some of this," he reached back and took a handful of taut, tight ass encased in white leather. "Yeah, probably." "Will you two stop with the grab ass?" Dianna growled. Her voice was hoarse from the spells she'd used to save the members of her team more than once in the past hour since the pulsing had started. She glanced up as Shadow stepped next to her. "It's the buzzing, Shadow. There's something in it that's driving these women and telling them what to do. There blood has been chemically tagged somehow and those tags are what are affecting them because of that damn buzzing. We've got to find it and kill it." "Taylor Braxton," Shadow said quietly as the rest of his Agents cleaned out the rest of the women. Dianna leaned against the wall and he could see how exhausted she was. "I was with him when this started. He'll know how to stop it. But it's going to take Mage to do it." Rylan and Tambor rested against another wall, listening as the senior agents talked. Tambor still held the map and she glanced down at it, seeing a new layer slowly being drawn. "Shadow!" She held out the map. "It's the parking garage." Two dots were moving swiftly through the garage, one was bright red; the other was a tarnished looking silver. "Who the fuck is that?" Shadow growled, watching as Tambor lifted her hand over the dots and spoke a few words. She sighed and then glanced back at Shadow. "Taylor Braxton." Shadow glanced at his phone, reading the message that flashed in the screen. "He's escaped." * * * * Four teams sat in the ready room, their blasters replenished, watching as Shadow entered the room. His face was serious enough to stop any talking that had been going on. "We have an escapee," he said, hitting a button on a small remote he held in his hand. A mug shot of Taylor Braxton played on the wall. "He is responsible for this entire mess and we have to find him." "How'd he get out?" "One of the women who attacked us was programmed to get him out. When that buzzing started and the women went crazy, we were all a bit busy to keep an eye on what was happening in the tombs. The woman stole an ident card from one of the med techs and used it to get him out. Now she's with him. I'm splitting you up. Half of you will be hunting Braxton, the other half will be tearing his place apart, searching for the source of the buzzing. Until we manage to kill that, no one is safe out there." Shadow glanced at Hunter and Mirage. "You two brought him in the first time. Find him Hunter. Use whatever you can to find that bastard and bring him back. I don't care what methods you use, get him so that Mage can scan through his brain." He nodded at the other four on that side of the room. Then he put up a map of the city streets. Tambor had worked her magic on it and it showed groups of red dots as they moved through the city. "These women scent human blood. No living being is safe. I've given the order to kill and I'm not rescinding it. We will be going to town, finding the roving groups and doing our best to decimate them. When we've reached Braxton's manor, we will be searching for the origins of that noise. Our job will be to stop it in any way we can. Marcus will be carrying explosives and if worse comes to worse, we will blow the place apart. Questions?" "Only one," Angel said quietly. She could see the worry in his eyes and she knew it was for more than the job they had ahead. "Callie?" "Safe. She found refuge when the buzzing first started. She and the babies are fine." Angel huffed a sigh of relief. Callie had been her friend since day one and to lose her, well it would have torn Brian apart, not to mention how she would feel. "Thank God." Marcus put his arm around his wife, feeling her lean against him. Angel had her moments where he thought of trading her in for a new model, but he loved this vampire with every ounce of his being. When she allowed him to see her needs, her fears, even her pain, he knew she loved him as well. Angel was too strong and cocky to allow just anyone to see her like that. "Okay," Shadow said. "We all know what we're doing. Let's go. Rylan, Tambor, you stay with us. No taking off on your own, understood?" They took off, taking four different SUVs. The first two headed out, driving steadily toward the huge plantation that was owned by Taylor Braxton. When a band of roving women was found, they were taken out. The women were rabid, snapping and snarling, attacking indiscriminately. A single man had been out, taking his dog, a tiny, orange Pomeranian, for a walk. Five of the girls had attacked him. They'd gone crazy on the man, tearing huge bites of flesh from his body. One girl tried to grab the small dog, but he'd taken one look at the slathering, mindless women and taken off, barking his tiny head off at the women. By the time Shadow and his team had made it to where the man was attacked, there wasn't enough flesh left to make an identification. As Angel moved closer, the small Pom darted out, leaping from the ground and into her arms. "What the fuck is this?" she growled. She held the small animal at arms length. "Oh look, honey," Marcus said, leaning closer even as the dog began growling at him. "Snack on the paw." But Angel was closer and she jerked when the small dog reached out, nipping at her nose before licking her cheek. "Feisty little thing," she said thoughtfully. When Marcus tried to take the dog from her, the puppy reached out and nipped at his fingers, snarling fiercely. "Put it down, Angel. Someone will come and rescue it." "Someone already has," Angel said decisively. "We've got room for him." Marcus stared at his wife in shock. She'd never mentioned wanting a pet. "Uh...honey?" he began, only to stop when Angel glared at him. "He's coming with us," she said, tucking the puppy under her arm. She glanced at the tag that was on his collar. "His name is Riley." Riley seemed to understand where his bread was buttered and he licked at her fingers, wagging his tail. Angel took him back to the truck, putting him in the back with her while Marcus and Shadow climbed in the front. "Baby..." "Give it up, Marcus. You know she's going to do what she wants." "She's a vampire," Marcus almost wailed. "You do know what that means." He stared at Shadow with a haunted look in his eyes. Shadow glanced back at where Angel was stroking the puppy's thick fur. "I don't think she's going to hurt him." "No, Shadow, I don't think she will either. But being a vampire, she won't be able to take care of him during the day. I'm going to be the one to have to take him for a walk. Do you have any idea what that's going to look like?" Shadow snorted and began laughing. He hadn't thought of that, but obviously Marcus had. The thought of the winged warrior, with his golden curls and rugged beauty, his huge wings and macho attitude, taking the tiny orange puppy out on a leash in this city almost had in crying in amusement. "Maybe...maybe you can get matching sweaters." "It's not funny, Shadow. It's not funny at all." Marcus muttered something and stared out the window, refusing to look at his friend. Maybe he'd get lucky and one of those women would get a good shot in and kill him. Shadow was still chuckling when they pulled into Braxton's driveway. He could see lights on in the house and every instinct and warning system in his body kicked into gear. He parked behind another of the SUVs, knowing they'd just found Braxton. * * * * Hunter's nose twitched, his eyes roaming the area as he searched for the cause of that scent. He held his hand out, stopping the two teams he was leading through the woods where he'd first found evidence of Braxton. He felt Mira's hand as she ran it up his arm, her eyes silently asking what he'd found. "Women," he mouthed silently, seeing her nod in understanding. He could smell the orange drug. It had a fruity scent, something like lemons, distinctive and discernable. The scent had given them enough warning before to keep them from walking unaware of a situation that could have killed them all. He moved through the forest silently, his eyes scanning from one thicket to the next, searching for the cause of the scent that was still so prevalent above the regular woodland aromas. A furtive dragging sound caught his attention and he caught sight of a man and woman, another man between them, dragging his unconscious body forward. Pointing it out, he watched as Mira took point, rushing the trio. She slammed her fist into the woman's face, turning toward the man only to watch as he held up his hands. "Wait," he cried. Hunter reached out, grabbing the man to turn him into the light that Dianna held. "You're infected," he growled. "Yes," the man agreed. "But I'm not mindless. Please, we need help." "Who and what are you?" Mira demanded. "My name is Nick Stavaros. The girl is Arielle, the man on the ground is Domino. I was kidnapped by a man who considered himself a scientist. He drugged me and then tried to get me to kill the woman. We escaped with help of my friend there." "Who was this man?" Hunter growled, knowing the answer but having to ask the question anyway. "Taylor Braxton..." the man managed before he dropped to the ground, his hands squeezing at his head, trying to force the pulsing buzz to stop. He growled, his teeth snapping, closing his eyes tightly. "Make it stop." "We're trying," Dianna said. "Do you know where Taylor Braxton is?" "I was following his scent, trying to find the lab where he held Arielle and me. Arielle knocked Domino out, I don't think he's hurt though." "You're all Vampires," Hunter said. "Except for him, he smells...funny." "He's not just Vampire," Nick groaned. "He's incubus." "And he's not infected." "No," Nick agreed. "Arielle was left as food. She was bitten, almost ravaged. God, can't you make it stop!" Hunter reached out, his hands gentle on the man's face. He could sense the madness that was trying to take control of the vampire and the struggle that was going on inside. He waved Beast forward and let him pick up Domino. "Can you carry her?" "Yes," Nick said, bending over to pick up Arielle's unconscious body. "Braxton went this way." He tipped his head one way, tugging at the robe he'd forced Arielle to put on after she'd attacked Domino and knocked him out. He'd managed to exert some control over her rabid response to the pulsing and had gotten her to help him find their way back to Braxton's lab. It hadn't been easy and he'd had to fight his own reaction to the drug. He'd been sick, losing what little blood he'd taken from Arielle and the water he'd managed to drink. His extremities were cold, his hands shaking uncontrollably. Going back to Braxton's lab had been the only thing he could think of doing. He felt weak and afraid, two sensations he was not used to feeling. "Thank you," he muttered to Hunter when the man helped him carry Arielle and he led the way back, smelling Braxton and the drug over every other scent. Hunter Hunted Ch. 17 "You are related to Tynan Stavaros," Hunter said. It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Nick nodded. "He's my cousin. He got the panther blood, I'm wholly vampire." "You know his wife, Layna?" "Yes," Nick answered. "When this is over, you and I need to talk." Nick nodded. His legs hurt almost as much as his head did and he felt so incredibly weak. He wasn't sure how much further he could go on. A sense of dread was beginning to fill him. He could feel dawn coming, though he wasn't sure how much more time they had. If they were caught outside... "There!" A sigh of relief took him. They'd made it. The pulsing was much louder here, the buzzing almost irresistible. He could feel the wildness want him, the rabid, mindless rage that flooded his body. The smell of blood, delicious, unmistakable, mouth watering, caught his attention and he turned toward where it came from. Dianna watched as Nick's face changed. The lines from the pain he'd been suffering smoothed out, the anguish in his eyes disappeared. When you looked into them now, there was nothing of the man who'd managed to resist the pulsing so far. Now he had the same mindlessness as the women. Before Nick could attack, she stepped forward, her hand going to the nerve in his neck and pressing hard. He fell without a sound, his body tangling with Arielle. Hunter dropped next to him, his hand feeling for a pulse before he realized what he was doing. "We've got to get them inside." Dianna nodded, watching as Hunter lifted Nick, Mira reaching down to help Arielle. They hurried toward the long, low building, busting open a set of doors when they'd found them locked. Finding a room with no windows, they left the three inside. "Can you feel it?" Mira asked Hunter. It was like a wave of prickly heat hitting her skin and though there was no noise, the sensation was irritating. "Yes. It must be what is controlling them." "And what we need to stop," Dianna said, rubbing her arms to try and rid herself of the sensation. Following Dianna's lead, they hurried to the center of the building. Thick doors were marked "dangerous" and "biological contamination". They were locked, the doors made from heavy metal, the locks hooked to a biometric scanner. "Any ideas?" Mira asked Dianna. Dianna moved toward the door, resting her palm against the metal. She could feel it vibrate, as if whatever was sending out the pulsing was housed inside. She checked out the locks, watching as Mira kicked the thick door in frustration. "Calm down, Mira." "Then open the fucking door, Dianna." Dianna waved her over, taking Mira's hand and pulling her down so that the eye scanner flashed, a beam moving over Mira's eye and scanning her iris. Then Dianna placed her hand on the biometric scanner, speaking softly. The machine beeped and then purred, finally beeping one last time. The light at the top of the scanner beeped and a soft female voice spoke out. "Welcome Mr. Braxton." Hunt chuckled. "Remind me to keep you away from my apartment, Dianna." "Remind me to call you the next time I lock myself out," Mira said, twitching a curl that had slipped from the bun that Dianna kept her hair in. Dianna shook her head and then reached for the door handle, only stopping when Hunter grabbed her hand. "Hear that?" he asked urgently, stopping her from pulling the door open. Hunter Hunted Ch. 18 "What the fuck is that?" Mira gasped. It was a continuous growl, one that sounded inhuman and hungry and twenty times as big as the biggest of the Zombie girls. Hunter leaned against the door as the heavy metal rattled as if something much bigger wanted to open the door and make their acquaintance. He could feel the power that leaked through the metal and the thoughts that tried hard to leach into his brain. He fought it, moving bare inches from the metal. When his skin no longer touched the door, the influence of whatever it was, was gone. "Whatever it is," he gasped as he heard the door rattle again. "It's strong and hungry. It wants us." He glanced at Dianna and then at the other ASP members behind them. "We'll need to be at our strongest. This thing that Braxton has, it's strong and it's deadly. If it touches you, it will be able to control you. Don't let it touch you." He glanced at the two weres that were in the other team. "Morph." Dianna nodded. "Do you know how big?" she asked cautiously. "If Mage were here, we'd know," Hunter said. He reached out, pulling Mira into his embrace. "Don't let it touch you Mira. You aren't poisonous anymore." The two Weres had changed. One was a wolf, but he was huge, his fur a dark black that shone almost blue in the light. The other was a sleek cat, the spots of the jaguar evident. He snarled, his fangs gleaming. The other two, one a Vampire and one a ghoul, stood next to them, their eyes wide but blasters in their hands, ready for the fight. Beast yowled his understanding, his hand coming down on Hunter's shoulder, showing his solidarity. Mirage grabbed Hunter, planting a kiss of quick heat and an expression of love that he couldn't help but understand. "We've got a trip to plan for, don't you go in there and do something as idiotic as getting yourself killed." "I just love how when I play hero, I'm an idiot, when you do, you're wonderful." He shook his head. "I never thought I'd want to marry a woman with such horrible double standards." "Double standards!" Hunter shook his head. "I just came out and told you that I want to marry you and your entire take on that sentence was 'double standards'?" He dropped another kiss on her lips and then reached behind him to grab the door. The pulsing buzz hit him hard and he gasped, throwing his head back to fight off the will to do what the beast inside wanted him to do. It wanted the ASP members dead. It wanted him to turn his blaster on the woman he loved. He could almost see himself twisting his arm, poking the business end into Mira's beautiful face and pulling the trigger. He barely heard her voice but he could see her. She was nit picking at him again, every word that came from her mouth was a horrendous insult spoken in her worst nagging voice. How could he have ever wanted to marry someone who treated him and acted the way she did? "Bitch," he growled, the pain in his head soaring to a new level of awareness and he felt his stomach turn over. He swallowed heavily, his hand shaking as he slowly turned toward Mira, his gun raising. Mira reached out, wanting to touch him, but before her fingers connected with his skin, she seemed to reconsider. Instead, as the door behind him slowly began to open, she spun, her foot coming out to quickly and almost effortlessly, knock him loose from whatever evil had him in its grip. She dropped down next to him, watching as the two teams began to rush into what she could see was some freaky kind of laboratory based on the mind of a psychotic serial killer who had to be hooked on some kind of mind altering drug. She could hear the horrified screams of the teams and the glad cries of the beast they had to fight. A splat sounded against the wall, the sound of something wet and gushy being flung against something hard and unyielding. She could hear Beast yowling, his cries growing louder. Hunt stood up, his hand coming out to take hers. "Thanks," he said. "Let's go help our team." Mirage stopped him for only one tiny instant. "In case we don't make it out of this...I want to marry you, too." His smile was wide and he let his thumb brush over her cheek. "Keep that thought in mind. I want to reward it when we get out of this mess." She nodded and then followed him into the lab. * * * * Shadow felt his arm tingle and the satisfying vibrations of a punch that definitely wasn't going to be easy to rise from. "You have to be Myler. Mira said you were a whiny, kiss ass." Myler lay on the ground where Shadow's last punch had landed him. "I have information," he said with a heavy groan. "I will tell you how to kill the beast if you let me go." Angel snickered, coming up behind Myler to lift him from the ground to his feet. She tipped her head, glancing at the smaller man and then back to her boss. "What do you think, Shadow? We interested in any of his groveling?" "Depends on what he's got to say." Shadow barely nodded at Angel, managing just to keep from cracking a smile as the man let loose a high pitched scream when he saw the look in Angel's eyes. When she wanted to, Angel could look like a runaway shark hungry for its next meal. "Don't let her bite me, man. You're going to need what I got to say if you want to kill the monster behind all of this." He struggled futilely in Angel's grip. "You don't know what kind of beast he found. It's indestructible unless you know what you're doing. Anybody you send after this thing is just going to end up dead." "Start talking," Angel growled, shaking the man she easily held a foot off the ground. "If anybody else dies, you bastard, I'll be back to take it out of your hide." "Tell her to back off." Myler's voice was high pitched and terrified and he struggled to get free. "I won't tell you anything unless she puts me down," he screamed. "You know what, Mira was right. You really are a putz." Myler groaned as Angel shook him roughly. "Talk or else I'll rip your mouth off." "We don't know what it's called!" he shouted, anything to stop Angel from shaking his head off. "Taylor dug it up in a cavern deep in the Ashanti Mountains. He had it shipped back here. His entire company is based on what that ugly thing can do." "What can it do?" Marcus growled, taking Myler from Angel's hands and holding him up higher. "My wife is a little thing, Myler. I'm not saying that she couldn't hurt you. She could, pretty damned easy. She'd enjoy it as well. But I know how easily she gets carried away. She'd rip your throat out before she even knew what she was doing." He glanced over at Angel and saw her roll her eyes at him. "So, if you want me to save you from her, you might want to start talking and do it quick." Marcus unfolded his wings, letting them spread to their full width. With his bare chest and his manly physique, he looked like some kind of beautiful angel. One of God's own to reap punishment upon the sinners. Not too many could list the amount of debauchery, the selection and range of the sins that he could. Sins that would have him slow roasting over the coals of hell for eternity. With the knowledge of what could lay ahead for him, he wasn't in any hurry to get this part of his life over. "Just keep her the fuck back." "Then start talking." He let Myler down just a bit and hear Angel's deep growl. Myler heard it as well and Angel roared with laughter as a wet stain spread across the front of Myler's pants. "It has to have some kind of weakness, some way that Braxton keeps it contained." Mylar sighed. "I tell you and you let me go." "You tell me and I won't let Angel pull you apart. Did you ever see anyone pull the wings off a fly? Tell me now or you're going to find out how it feels to have your arms ripped out." Angel lunged and Mylar screamed, words flooding from his mouth. Marcus smiled, listening carefully before taking flight. Closer to the high ceilings of Braxton's manor, he found what he was looking for. The belt that was wrapped around his waist was of sturdy material and Marcus slipped it over the hook he'd found, listening as Mylar moaned and then screamed again. "No! You can't leave me here! I gave you what you needed." His screaming followed them out the door. "You know where we're going?" Marcus growled to Angel. "Yeah," she said, climbing behind the wheel. She waited until she saw Lee get into the other SUV, Tinman behind the wheel. Then she turned the ignition and backed out of the long drive, turning down the road that led by the river. "Let's just hope we can get there in time." Shadow tossed his communicator on the seat next to him. "They aren't answering," he said, slamming his hand into the door frame. "We'll get there," Marcus said softly, soothingly. "We'll get there." He didn't even glance back at Shadow, just continued working on the three blasters that were on his lap. "Let's just hope this actually works. * * * * Hunter grunted, feeling the crack of plaster at his back as he took another hit from the awful beast. It was ugly, there was no doubt about that. The main part of the beast looked like a huge loogey someone had spat out. It had about thirty eyes, all deep set, moving independently of each other. If it had been only the one part of the beast, they might have been able to win the battle quickly. But no, it also had tentacles that shot out from the sludgy body. Tentacles that had tiny mouths attached like suckers on octopuses. Hunter had been bitten once and the pain had been excruciating. He forced himself up and back into the fight, dodging two of the tentacles and making his way to where Beast stood, Dianna at his back. Mira knelt at their sides. She'd taken a lot of hits from this vile beast and she was close to the end of her endurance. He growled as she looked up at him, her pale blue eyes shadowed and dull. She looked beaten. "Did you get a hold of Shadow?" he called, dodging another tentacle and then letting his blaster cut the damned thing in two. The cut off part wriggled on the floor and he took the time to cook the damn thing with his blaster before he kicked it away. "They're dead," Mira said softly, knowing that Hunter would hear her. "The communicators are all dead. We don't even get static." "How is that possible? All our equipment was fully charged and loaded when we left ASP." "It's the beast," Gregor, the ghoul from the other team said. "It drained them." Dianna held up her hand, saying two words and sending a bolt of electrical current at the beast. It slashed through the creature and it gave out a shriek that had the teams covering their ears. "That hurt it." She held up her hand and rained current down on the beast's head. It recoiled its tentacles, giving the ASP teams time to regather. "It's too fucking strong," Gaia the vampire said, a sigh leaving her pale lips. Dawn was close and it was becoming harder for her to move. They'd lost one of their team members. Craig Oros, a member of the jaguar clan, had been killed within the first five minutes of battle. They'd all learned from Craig's mistakes. He'd rushed the beast and it had picked him up easily, the tentacles winding around his sleek body. His screams had been horrible, the pain he'd felt almost tangible. When the tentacles let him go, he was little more than a dried husk. "We should fall back." Gregor tried to ignore the looks that the other team was giving him. He knew from experience that most sentient beings loathed his kind. It seemed ingrained in their beings to hate what they didn't understand. Not many could understand his reasoning for becoming what he was. But if they'd known what his life had been like before, they might be more understanding. Joining ASP had given him purpose and he'd become a valued team member. He was Gaia's second and was always ready for anything. But this beast had him scared. None of their weapons seemed to phase it. And after Craig's death, he began to wonder if they would all end up as splats on the wall. "We can't fall back. We fall back and that thing will continue to send out that pulse, the Zombie girls will continue to prey upon what ever victim falls into their hands. We can't allow that. We can't allow Braxton to continue what he's doing." Mira's tirade fell off and she took a deep breath, looking up at Dianna. "We can't..." "No, we can't, Mirage. Gaia, if your team wishes to pull back, go ahead. But I'm not going to allow this thing to force the death of anyone else, not if I can help it." She lifted her hand again and called for the electricity when she saw the beast was recovering. It burst through the air toward him and they all heard its low, rumbling bellows of pain. It recoiled even more into itself, the tentacles coming up to cover its body as black streaks zipped through it. Mira rose, her eyes moving around the room until she saw what she wanted. Hurrying toward it, she ignored Hunter's yells for her to come back. An extension cord was plugged into one wall and she grabbed for the other end. Tearing off the plug, she groaned as a quick pulse of electricity went through her. Then she was spinning the end, working up some speed before she let it fly. Her aim was true and the beast squealed, pustules erupting on its side and then bursting open, loosing orange goop that dripped down its side to puddle on the floor. Hunter grabbed for Mira's hand, lifting her into his arms. She was exhausted and that final jolt of electricity seemed to have taken the rest of her energy. She let her head droop into Hunt's shoulder, one hand cupping the other against her stomach. "Is it dead?" Even her voice was weak. Hunter wanted to shake her for pulling something so dangerous and he also wanted to kiss her until she understood what she meant to him. "No baby, it's not dead but you hurt it." The lights in the room began to flicker as the beast's rumbling protests at the pain they were causing it grew louder. Then, with a suddenness that had Gaia yipping, the lights died and blackness surrounded them. They were only out for a moment and then the back up lights turned on. The two teams stared at each other in surprise. The beast was gone. The only thing left of it was the oozing goop on the floor. Hunter dropped to one knee on the floor, still cradling Mira against his wide chest. He lifted his head, his nose twitching as he searched for the beast's scent. He could smell the hot wire smell of fried electricity and the sweet scent of his woman. Closing his eyes, he took another deep inhale finally finding the sickly smell of the beast. "It's still in here." "Where?" Dianna asked, her eyes searching the shadowed depths of the room. Hunter opened his eyes. "There," he said, pointing to the rear section of the room, the place that the emergency lights did not cover. "It's back there." "You can't mean to have us go back there and fight it, Dianna. That's suicide." Gaia held her hands up, trying to halt Dianna as she began to make her way back to where Hunter said the beast was. "We'll all end up dead!" she shouted as Dianna never even looked back. Beast was close on her heels followed by Hunter, still carrying Mirage. "What do we do, boss?" Gregor asked, his eyes tracking from Dianna's team back to his boss. "We can't let them go back there alone." Gaia's eyes went from Gregor's to Samuel's, the werewolf. "We go back there, we're signing our own death certificates," she said with a sigh. "I won't ask either of you to follow me." Gregor tightened his grip on is blaster. "You're not going back there without us." Sam howled his agreement with Gregor's words and moved closer to Gaia. "You're both fools," she said, but she smiled at them, easing the harshness of her words. "Come on." * * * * Angel was first through the building's doors, her eyes searching for enemy and friend alike. She found herself in a hallway that seemed endless, doors on either side with no designation to be found anywhere. "Fuck," she growled, spinning when Marcus strolled into the hallway behind her. "You really are trying to get me to kill you today." "No, honey, I have perfect belief in your reflexes and in your love." He kissed her quickly before Shadow and the other team came in. "Now we just need to find the right room that houses this thing Braxton found." They'd barely taken two steps down the hall when the lights flashed and then flickered, finally going out. The emergency back up lights came on quickly and gave off a dim light every few feet down the hallway. Shadow took lead and the others followed, hurrying to keep up. The creepy sort of mad scientist vibe was growing stronger with ever step they took. It was nerve racking and it had every single agent on the tips of their toes Lelia Storm had found a ley line, a strong one and her grasp on that ancient magic was fierce. Her eyes sparked and her hair began to stand up on her head. Tinman tried to touch her only to have her draw back, her eyes grim. "I could kill you," she said softly, holding her hands up to keep him back. "You need to let go on that line a bit, baby. You're hanging on too tight. You know it'll cause you nothing but problems." Drake's voice was soothing and he waited until Lee turned to look at him. "Let it go, baby. Please, just let it go a bit." Lee sighed and then closed her eyes. A few short seconds later, she opened them and stared at her hubby to be. "Better?" There was still the buzz of the magical line in her eyes but it was no where near as powerful as it had been just moments before. He reached out carefully and drew her into his arms. "I love you, Lee," he whispered into her hair. "Never forget that." "I love you, too Drake." She tipped her face back for his kiss, finding the love he had for her to be even more powerful then the strongest ley line. "Let's go kill us a monster. Kit walked by the hugging couple and patted Drake on the shoulder. "Come on, Tinman. You can get your "tin" on later. We got work to do now." Drake rolled his. "You heard the boss, Lee. Let's go bag us a big oogly monster." They followed Shadow and Marcus and Angel, Tambor and Rylan were next and then Kit and her team. Mage's skeletal face looked even paler than usual and his big dark eyes showed more pain than normal as well. He was last in the line but Kit stayed close, knowing the buzzing was getting to him more than to any of the rest o them. "You're a black witch," Tambor said to Lelia. "You use the ley lines in the earth to tap into the power they possess. Very cool." "Who are you?" Lee asked. "I'm Tambor Wynter. I'm a..." "Black witch as well. Where do you tap your powers from?" "I'm the last in the Wynter dynasty, I've been given all the powers of my coven as they died or were killed." "You hold all the powers in the Wynter line. Cool. When this is done, you'll have to give me a demonstration." Tambor nodded. "I'd love to learn your trick with the ley lines." Lelia nodded as well. She opened her mouth to speak when something that was distinctly evil seemed to crawl down her spine. "Shadow!" she cried out, gasping in pain at the hold it had on her. Shadow was there quickly, his hand going out to touch her. Tambor quickly stepped in his way. "No, don't touch her, it would kill you. That's the problems with the lines. When you open yourself up to gather the power of the line, you also leave yourself open to anything else that would want to step in." Tinman dropped next to his woman, not touching her even though every fiber of his being wanted to pick her up and race her away from the nasty that had gotten into her mind. "Lee, baby, it's me, Drake. Wake up, baby and look at me. You're too fucking tough to let some itsy bitsy pip squeak of a ghoul sneak into your soul. Show him how kick ass you are, babe. Show him no mercy." Hunter Hunted Ch. 18 He stayed that close to her even when whatever held her captured in her own body tried to snap and claw at Tinman's metal frame. Sparks shone off his metallic sides and he finally reached down and took her arms. "Lelia Storm, fight this thing. Kick it's ass and let's go and do the job!" Tambor crouched next to Tinman, letting her hands slide over his. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, closing her eyes as well. "You are not wanted here. Let your spirit go into the light and do not be afraid. Someone will be there, waiting for you. Let my friend go and then you'll be free to go on to your after life." She opened one eye, meeting Tinman's. "When I tell you to, I want you to yank her into your arms, surround her as much as you can and hold on tight." Drake nodded. "Lelia Storm, it is not your time yet to cross over. You have a man here who loves you more than he does himself. Come back, live for him, for your friends and family. Come back to us..." She glanced over at Drake and nodded her head. "...Now!" Drake yanked Lee into his arms, holding her tightly. A bright white light seemed to grow from the spot she'd been laying in and it grew even brighter before it finally went out. Lee stared up at Drake from her cradle in his arms. "Thank you for not giving up on me." "I could no more do that then I could fly, baby. I love you." She whispered her love against his lips. Then she stood, with Drake's help. "That thing isn't just evil," she told Shadow. "It's diabolical. It doesn't care who it uses or what it does to that person as long as it can continue to harm people. It's got to die." "Okay. Are you strong enough to help or..." "Oh hell no, you aren't sending me to the bench, not this time. I've felt it, I know its tricks. You need me, Shadow." "Okay then, let's go kill us a beast!" Hunter Hunted Ch. 19 Chapter 19: The Monster VS. ASP Mira's screams could be heard from the hallway by Shadow and his party. They sounded horrified and as if she was in pain. Shadow glanced over at Angel and Marcus, nodding at the door, then he disappeared into the wall. Marcus wrestled open the door, tearing it almost off of its hinges. He ran in first, his recently reworked blaster leading the way. In front of him there was nothing but splotches of an orange colored goop. But he could still hear the shrieks of the other teams echoing hollowly. Hunter was screaming Mirage's name and Beast was yowling louder than anyone had heard before. "Through there!" Tambor yelled. Between her hands she held a huge ball of electricity that snapped and crackled as she balanced it precariously. She was first through the partition and she sent the ball, which had only grown bigger the longer she held it, toward the orange goop that was pulsing on the ground. Near it, and unmoving, Mirage lay. Her head was bent at an impossible angle and her eyes were wide and sightless. Nearby and beating at the tentacled monster, Hunter fought with his bare hands. His blaster lay useless on the floor near his feet, the power reading beeping and flashing red. His screams of Mirage's name were heart breaking and Angel ran to his side, firing her blaster at the beast. She was slicing hunks of orange goop off the beast and the thing was growling louder, jerking with every strike of electricity that hit him. "Get Mira and get her away from this thing!" Angel shouted at Hunter, covering his movements with the steady silver streams from her blaster. Marcus joined her, standing shoulder to shoulder as the thing tried to attack. The first two ASP teams had backed the thing into a corner and now someone was firing at the thing from the other side. Tinman touched Marcus' shoulder. "You know what to do." He was silver, his skin hard as metal, his body shining in the dim light. He nodded at Lelia and at Tambor, waiting until each held a ball of electricity before he stepped fearlessly up to the beast, thrusting his metal hand into one of its many eyes. "Now!" he shouted. The electricity hit him, both from Angel and Marcus as well as from Tambor and Lee. Sparks came off of him and his body jerked as the electricity surged from him, directly into the eye of the beast. His teeth were gritted and for one second, he met Lee's eyes, smiling determinedly. "Again!" The stream of electricity came from another source and Dianna stepped up next to the other two witches, her hands up. The beam that came from her hand was weak, but she was determined to help. Beast came up behind her, his furry body cradling hers. Dianna was exhausted and without his body holding hers, she would have fallen. She glanced up at him, murmuring her thanks and then sent another shaft at the beast. "Don't give it a chance to recover," she told the other two witches, watching as their hands came up, one on either side of her, touching her arms, adding their Wiccan power to hers. Her beam grew wider with their help and Tinman, still sparking and jerking from the flow, stepped into the orange goop, becoming a human lightning rod and frying the ugly thing from the inside out. Its growls grew frantic, its tentacles whipping at the air, trying to find a way to rid itself of the thing that was hurting it the most. Each time a tentacle came close to Tinman, Kit and Mage would fire their blasters and fry it before it could connect. Each member of the team was doing their best to kill the damn thing. It was working, the monster seeming to shrink with each jolt of electricity, the tentacles rolling up to try to protect the head of the beast. Most of them were now black and smoking, the scent of death, of sulfur and some other chemical, growing in the air. Hunter had lifted Mirage in his arms, crying out as her head seemed to flop bonelessly against his arm. He pulled her against his chest, words of love flowing from his lips. He took her behind the other ASP teams, his heart breaking as he felt for a pulse. He knew there was no hope, he knew she was dead from the time she stepped in front of him, taking a hit from one of those wretched tentacles that had been meant for him. She'd died for him and now all he could do was cry. He buried his head in her neck, tears flowing off his face and into her hair. How could she have done that? How could she have taken that blow? Didn't she know that without her, his life wasn't worth living? He forgot about the beast, about the other members of ASP, about everything but the pain that was making him tremble. How was he going to survive without her? He didn't hear when the battle ended or the cries of triumph that came from the battle weary teams. He barely felt Angel's hand as it came down on his shoulder. But when Marcus tried to take Mira's body away from him, he snarled, his teeth snapping, his body uncoiling. His fist flew and Marcus took the blow, knowing the pain that was boiling inside of Hunter. As quickly as he rose, he fell back to the floor, gathering her still warm body in his arms. "Don't touch her," he hissed. "Just...don't." He looked up as Shadow knelt next to him. "She stepped in front of me. She took the hit that was meant for me. She's...dead because of me. I love her, Shadow. How could she do that to me?" Shadow rested a sympathetic hand on Mira's cheek, slowly closing her sightless eyes. His other hand touched Hunter's shoulder. "She died saving you, Hunter. Your life, your love, meant so much to her. After everything she went through before, do you think she wanted to live without you?" "But...but I'm bigger, I'm stronger. I could have survived..." Dianna touched the back of Hunter's head. "No, Hunter, you wouldn't have." "How do you know?" he began angrily, only to reach up and grab her hand to hold it against his cheek as his tears flowed harder. "I'm sorry," he sobbed. "I know, Hunter." Dianna's eyes were full of tears as well as she gazed into Mira's beautiful face, still in death. "We'll miss her too." Hunter nodded, his shoulders shaking as he tried to hold back the sobs that wanted to tear him apart. He couldn't let go of Mira, not his Mira with her sparkling blue eyes and crass mouth. She was the whole of his world, his center, his reason for being. Now she was gone. "I...I c-can't do this," he cried. "I can't let her go." Then a bright white light, so intense to have him closing his eyes against it, filled the room. * * * * Domino woke slowly, his head throbbing, his heart seeming to pound against his chest. The thirst was terrible, causing him to ache in every joint of his body. He sat up slowly, feeling the world spin once before settling down. "Where the fuck am I?" He heard a growl from behind him and he spun, his eyes going to Nick and Arielle. They were growling and slathering, advancing upon him. Neither was in control of their faculties and both were a threat to him. "Nicky, I don't want to have to hurt you. Come on, Nicky. We're friends, remember?" For a moment it almost seemed as if his plea had struck a chord in the vampire. But that moment was swift and fleeting and now he seemed even more determined to make Domino his next meal. Arielle was even scarier. Her eyes were blank as she moved toward him, her hands in front of her, her fingers curved into claws. Her lips were parted and awful shrieking growls were coming from her lips even as her own blood dripped from a wound in her head to fall into her mouth. She snapped her teeth at him, acting rabid and sending Domino to run to the door. It was locked. Domino blinked and yanked at the door. It was of heavy metal, the lock being a solid steel bar built into the metal frame. He yanked again and felt the knob bend in his hands but the lock didn't budge. He was trapped in a room he couldn't remember entering with two vampires that were weirded out on some kind of drug that wanted him to feed them. "Fuck!" The word was heart felt and empathized every thing he was feeling at the moment. He was in a world of hurt and he had to figure something out. Gazing at Arielle, he knew she would be the easiest of the two to take out and he searched the room for some kind of weapon. The furniture was sparse, none of it heavy enough to take on two full grown Vampires. He ducked under Nicky's arm, hitting him in the chest with a punch that should have knocked his friend down and across the room. Nicky barely grunted. Domino spun, his leg coming up to smash against Arielle's chin. She did go down, but only momentarily. Domino watched, stunned, as Nicky turned to help Arielle up before turning back toward him. Maybe the secret of controlling Nicky was going to be Arielle. He sidestepped Nicky again, reaching out and pulling Arielle into his arms, turning her so she faced Nicky. He captured her arms, holding her far enough away from him to keep her from biting. "Stop, Nicky. Stop or I break her neck! You know I can do it so if you don't want to see her dead, you'll stop right now." Nicky stared at Arielle, then looked at Domino. The madness was in his eyes, the pulsing growl telling him one thing but his love for Arielle telling him another. He stopped moving, his hands going to his side, his eyes signaling his defeat. "That's good, Nicky, real good. Now you go and sit down over there and I'm going to figure out a way to get us all out of here." He waited to make sure that Nicky was sitting where he told him to and then grabbed Arielle around the neck, keeping his arm out of her mouth and holding her to him snugly. She was lithe and slender, making his job easier. The pulsing grew heavier and he could feel Arielle pulling on his arm, her growls growing frantic. Nicky jerked, his body desperately wanting to follow what the pulse was telling him to do. Only his concern for Arielle kept him in place. "Good boy, Nicky, just stay there and I'll get us out of this somehow." He reached out for the door knob again, yanking at it desperately. But with only one hand, he could do little more then twist the metal even worse, making it a mess. His eyes searched anxiously around the room, knowing he had little time before Arielle would find a way to bite him or Nicky would become uncontrollable. He could also feel dawn coming and he knew the drain of daylight would affect him soon as well. If that happened, he really would be dead. A sudden screeching had him dropping his arm from Arielle, his hands going to his ears. The sound was so intense, it made him feel as if his head would explode. He curled into a ball on the floor, his head buried between his arms, waiting for the noise to stop one way or another. He didn't see Arielle's confused face or her fright as the sound assaulted her, or see Nicky jerk her away from him, holding her even as he tried to protect both their ears. He only knew the pain of the screams. Then there was silence. So sudden it was almost as if the air had been sucked out of the room. Domino slowly lifted his head, his eyes moving around the room until he saw Nick and Arielle, huddled together on the floor. "Nicky?" he whispered, but the sound seemed like a shout in the sudden quiet. "We're okay now, Domino." Nicky's voice was sane and Arielle's eyes showed nothing of the rabid, mindless animal she'd been before. Domino let out a relieved sigh. "Thank God. I didn't want to hurt her, you know that Nicky." "I know. I wish I could have said the same about you." Domino chuckled and came to his feet. "Give me a hand and we'll get out of this room. Dawn's coming soon and I'd rather spend the day somewhere that I'm comfortable with instead of someplace I've never been before." He reached out a hand, helping them both up before going back to the door with Nick. Nicky took one look at the door then took a step back and kicked. His foot was aimed perfectly and he dented the door where the metal lock was. The first kick didn't bend it enough and he kicked again, feeling the door move. "Yank on it, Dom." Dom yanked and the door about pulled off its hinges. It banged against the side of the wall, reverberating loudly. But it was open and they were free. Stepping into the hallway, Dom looked around searching for something to tell them where they were at. The door across from them was closed but there were words on it and Domino cursed. "Braxton Labs. Damn that fucker to hell." "Well, at least we know where we are." "Yeah," Arielle said for the first time since the pulsing had stopped. "Right back where we started from." Nicky hugged her to him. "We'll get home." "Yeah," Domino added. "All I need is a phone." "I thought you business types were never without a phone," Nick teased. "I thought you had it surgically implanted from the moment you got your first job in the mail room." "I was never in the mail room," Domino said with a snort. He shook his head. "Give me a break, I bought my first company when I was eighteen and it's been uphill since then. But you're right, I should have grabbed my phone before we left the house." "Well, we didn't give you much time," Arielle said softly, smiling cautiously at Domino. "No, you certainly did not. There has to be a phone somewhere in this place." He started trying to open doors, growling in frustration when they all seemed to be locked. Finally he found one that opened and it turned out to be an office, windows behind the desk led to some kind of laboratory. He hurried to the desk, picking up the phone and sighing when he heard a dial tone. He dialed the number to the house, smiling when it was picked up at the second ring. "Sal, I need you to bring the limo and come and get us at Braxton Labs." He listened and then interrupted the man. "I'll tell you about it later, right now, dawn is coming and I'm feeling a bit exposed here." He hung up the phone. He'll be here in about fifteen minutes. They heard footsteps in the hallway and glanced at each other. Arielle gave a small shriek when Taylor Braxton popped into the room. He didn't even notice them as he closed the door and locked it, finally turning when it was secured. "Shit," he hissed. "Yeah, that's a good word," Nicky growled. He felt his teeth lengthening, coming to rest against his bottom lip and he snarled. "You've stepped in it enough, you smarmy bastard." "Wait," Braxton said, holding up his hands as all three vampires began to stalk toward him. "You don't understand..." "Understand what?" Arielle asked. "Understand that you pumped that orange shit into my body. Understand that you left me chained to the ground for some rabid Vampire to feed from? Understand that you've killed hundreds with girls that were innocent of everything but falling for your line? What more do we need to understand?" Braxton back toward the door that he'd just locked. He didn't really have an answer for Arielle. "I'm sorry for all that. It was a mistake," he hedged, feeling the knob under his hand at his back. "A mistake?" Nick's voice was full of disbelief. "You left Arielle locked up hoping that I would drain her and kill her, didn't you? She was supposed to be so tempting I wouldn't be able to resist and then I would have even more of that orange goop inside of me. You son of a bitch, I can't believe you're standing here telling us it was all a mistake." Domino stepped between Nicky and Braxton, holding out his hand to touch his friend's chest. "We should hear him out, shouldn't we Nicky?" "Hear him out? Dom are you fucking nuts?" Domino smiled and then reached back for Braxton and thrust him into Nicky's arms. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Don't know what I was thinking..." he smiled as Arielle stepped up next to Nicky, grabbing Braxton's hand. She was about to take a bite herself when she stopped and her head came up. "How do we know he isn't full of that orange goop himself?" "Easy," Nick said, grabbing Braxton's throat. And even as the man began to speak, to beg for his life, Nicky ripped his hand away, tearing out his throat. The dark rich essence of life ran from the wound and Braxton choked and gasped for air as his esophagus was filled with blood. "Drink," he said to Arielle and watched as she buried her mouth into the wound, gulping wildly as her thirst was quenched for the first time. His hand cradled her head and he smiled when she glanced up at him, blood smeared around her face. "It's good," she whispered, then lifted on tip toe to kiss him. Her tongue was wild in his mouth and he felt the blood lust begin in him as he tasted Braxton's blood upon her lips. "It's really good." "Yes," Nicky gasped, bending his head to drink his share. Braxton's body was limp in his hands and his blood was no longer flowing. Nicky took one last gulp and then pulled Arielle away, handing the body over to Dom with a nod of thanks. Dom nodded with a big smile and then jerked a thumb toward Arielle. "First kill?" "Yes," Nicky said softly, gazing down at her and pushing her hair out of her face. She was licking her fingers, scooping up what blood she could off of her face. He didn't even look up as he heard Dom bite into Braxton's flesh. Instead, he took Arielle's hand, putting her fingers in his mouth and suckling gently. She sighed her pleasure then she reached up and scooped blood from his chin, licking her fingers. Nicky chuckled. His head dropped to touch her forehead and he stared into her eyes. "We don't usually kill, baby. This was a special occasion." Domino wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and then let Braxton drop to the floor. "Couldn't have been a more satisfying ending. Come on, Sal should be outside waiting for us." He clapped Nicky on the shoulder and then stepped toward the door, opening it and stepping out into the hallway. The limo was at the end of the hall, parked right outside the big double doors. He was just in time as the first purple streaks of morning were coloring the sky. Hunter Hunted Ch. 20 The Conclusion Chapter Twenty Hunter's heart was beating too hard. His eyes were swollen from his tears and he couldn't look away from Mirage's dead face. She was beautiful even in death, incredibly lovely almost as if she were sleeping. He could feel his fellow ASP members around them and knew they wanted him to give up her body, to let her go back to the ASP office for internment. But he couldn't do it. He couldn't let them take her from him or think of letting her go into the cold dark of the burial floor at ASP. "She can't be dead," he moaned, holding her close. The white light surprised him. It was familiar and warm, something he'd known before. He looked up, his mouth dropping open as he watched Aphrodite walk toward him. It wasn't the Goddess of Love that he was staring at but the woman that was walking hand in hand with her. "Mira?" She pulled away from Aphrodite, rushing toward him. She only stopped when she saw her body in his arms. "Hunter?" she asked, shocked. But it was Aphrodite who answered. "Yes, Mira. You were killed." "Then...why?" she asked, her hands coming up in consternation. "Why are you here?" "Yes!" Mira's hands wedged against her belly and she stared over at Hunter, her misery at being so close but unable to touch him was blatant in her eyes. "You are here because you were taken before your time. What happened here was not controlled by the fates but by a man who thought he deserved more power, more abject devotion from his subjects then was his due. You ended up being his pawn, Mira." Aphrodite reached over and ran her hand down Mirage's face, lifting her chin. "You love him?" she asked softly. "More than life," Mira replied, her eyes meeting Hunter's. "More than anything else." Aphrodite smiled and it lit up her beautiful face with a glow that was luminescent. "I'd so hoped you'd say that." She reached out a hand to Hunter, pulling him to his feet and away from Mira's still dead body. "You love her?" "I'd take her place right now," Hunter gasped. Tears still streaked down his face, tears of loss, of pain, of longing that he was unable to hide. "Please, Aphrodite, spare her or take me too." Aphrodite rose on tiptoe, kissing him gently on the cheek. "Some women are so lucky," she sighed. "I'm almost tempted to keep you for myself and say to hell with all of this." She laughed as Mira cursed, turning to face her. "Whoa, Scarlett, watch your fiddle dee dee, there." Putting out her hand, she waited until Mira grasped it and then followed her past Hunter and over to her body. "This is going to feel a little weird," she warned, pushing Mirage down and back into her body. For a single instant, both Miras were visible. Then there was a sound, like the snap of a rubber band and she was fused back into her body. She gasped as she drew the first breath into her air deprived lungs and then she sat up, rubbing her eyes and staring at the men and women around her, men and women she'd served with proudly. Then Hunter was at her side, pulling her off the floor, kissing her. Aphrodite sighed. "Love conquers all," she mused. She turned slowly, glancing back only once before slowly fading from sight. "She brought you back to me," Hunter whispered against her lips. "You can't do that to me again, Mira. Promise me! I don't think I'd survive if you did that again." But he never let go of her lips long enough for her to promise, not that she was complaining. He lifted her in his arms. Glancing at Dianna, he arched one eyebrow in question. Dianna laughed. "Get out of here; we'll get a ride with the other teams." Beast yowled, reaching out and touching Mira's cheek as Hunter carried her past. Mira was dropped into the front seat of one of the SUVs. She watched as Hunter sprinted to the driver's seat, sliding in and pulling her next to him, only to kiss her again. "You're alive," he breathed. "You're marrying me." It wasn't a question but just this once; she didn't mind being ordered around. "Yes," she whispered. She reached out and turned the key in the ignition. "Get us home, Hunter." He kept his arm around her even as he maneuvered the SUV around the parking lot and out through the gate. Then he pulled onto the road and Mira leaned back into the crook of his arm, yawning. "Dying takes a lot out of you, huh?" he teased. "Being away from you was horrible. I don't even really know what happened." "You were trying to be the hero again. You knocked me out of the way of a tentacle; it hit you and broke your neck. You don't remember any of it?" "No, I remember my blaster going red and I...I saw you," she ended slowly. "I saw you and I don't remember anything else until Aphrodite took my hand and led me back to you." He dipped his head to kiss her. You took that hit that was meant for me, Mira. If you ever do anything so...so fucking heroic again, I'm going to take you over my knee." He hugged her closer, feeling her press against him. Nothing felt better than just that feeling, her being there, holding on to him, loving him. "You are marrying me," he ordered, waiting for her to bristle and put her back up like a spitting kitten. Instead, she sighed. "When?" "Would now be too soon?" "No," she answered, watching as a huge grin spread across his face. "I want you to be mine, Hunter. I want to be yours. Whatever that takes, I'll handle." "Okay, well, we need to invite the ASP teams. We really should wait for Callie to give birth so she can be there, um, my adoptive parents..." He took a deep breath as if to continue naming people and she held her fist under his nose. "No, you, me, and a member of the clergy or a Justice of the Peace. That's it, no big hoopla. Before we go and find your sister. I'm not taking you into any new world where they might have tall, gorgeous blondes with big boobs unless you belong to me, body and soul." Hunter laughed. "Oh come on, now. When have I ever gone after a woman like that?" "Do you want a list?" Mira countered, holding up her hand and counting them off by name. "Whoa, baby, hang on. Haven't you noticed, I've gotten smarter in my old age? I like small, courageous, females with big green eyes. Kinda like you, now that I think about it." He turned the wheel, pulling into her driveway and then putting her password into the small number pad to have the gates opening for them. "This isn't going to bother you, is it?" she asked hesitantly, nodding toward the path that led to the statues and her small garden. "Mira, you didn't go back to your husband or your daughter when you were given the chance for anything in the world, you stayed by me. You gave up your life for me. I can get over a wee bit of jealousy for a woman like that." He parked the SUV and then went to her side, lifting her out and carrying her up to the front door. "I can walk, you know." But she wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging on when he reached down to open the front door. "Let's just say I'm a little worried about what kind of trouble you'd get into if I let you down," he teased, jerking his head back when she took a nip at his earlobe. "Hey!" "I'll show you trouble," she warned. But she screeched when he dropped her on her bed, watching as she bounced and came back to her feet next to him. She stepped into his arms, hers going round his neck once more to drag his face down to where she could reach it. "Kiss me!" He needed no other incentive, his lips coming down to sink into hers. Her lips parted, her tongue coming out to woo and tempt, moaning when his answered. His hands came up, finding the zipper that held her vest closed over her breasts. Pulling it down, he felt the pert mounds of her breasts, the tight pink nipples erect and rubbing against the back of his hand. She gasped as she felt them, shivering in reaction even as he pushed the white leather off of her shoulders, dropping it to the floor. Hunter cupped his hands over her breasts, kneading the tender flesh gently. Her nipples grew harder, more responsive and she arched her back, demanding more. She cried out when his mouth left hers, his lips nibbling their way to her ear and then down the sensitive curve of her neck. Her hands were as busy, tearing at the zipper on his uniform, pushing at the shoulders to tug them down his arms. As soon as his chest was bare, she pulled away from him, wanting to see him, to feast her eyes on the beauty of his masculine form. His muscles rippled, moving sensually under his taut flesh. His eyes were a stormy blue with passion, moving over her body with as much adoration and admiration as hers. "God you're beautiful, Mira. You're beautiful and you're all mine." He tugged on her, bringing her back into his arms, groaning as her breasts were crushed against his chest. That sensation along had his breathing clogged and his head falling back with pleasure. "Mine," he repeated before picking her up and dumping her back on the bed. His hand reached for the thick white belt, undoing the buckle with practiced ease. He tugged it loose and dropped it next to her bed, his fingers already searching for the button and zipper of her white leather pants. "Do you have any idea what white leather does to me now? I can't see it without imagining you wearing those skimpy tops and these skin tight leather pants. It's almost embarrassing." Mirage chuckled, lifting her hips to help him remove the pants. He took the small white lace thong she'd been wearing as well, lifting it to his nose, his nostrils flaring as he caught the scent of her arousal in the lace. He dropped it over his shoulder before sitting on the edge of the bed to pull off his boots. Mirage came to her knees, pressing her breasts into his back and hearing him groan. She could see the long ridge of his cock, hard and throbbing against the dark gray uniform pants. "You want me almost as much as I want you, Hunter," she cooed in his ear, letting her breath tickle the sensitive whorl. "I want your touch, I want your fingers teasing my nipples, you mouth and tongue lashing at them. I want to hear your moan when I press my wet pussy against you and then feel the heat of your hand, finger fucking me to climax. I want you, baby. I want you right now." Hunter growled as the words she spoke so softly heightened his arousal to a point where it was almost painful. Having lost her, even for as short a time as he had, he treasured every second he was with her. He loved her so much that it was hard for him to pull away, even to finish removing his clothes. When he turned back to her, his hard cock swung in front of him and her hands were drawn to it, rubbing against his silky skin. "How can you be so soft but so hard at the same time?" she mused, biting her lower lip as she looked up at him. He grabbed her shoulders, dragging her to her knees on the bed, pulling her against him. His cock was thrust against her stomach, her hand between them. "Tell me you love me," he ordered hoarsely. His hips moved, thrusting into her fist. "Tell me!" "I love you, Hunter. I wish there was some way we could mate like the weres do, or to create some mental bridge like the vampires do. All I can do is promise you that my love for you will never die, that I'll never leave you, not willingly, and that I will want you until my last breath on this Earth." Her green eyes stared into his blue, showing him the truth of her words in the love he could almost feel coming from her. "You'll wear my ring," he said softly, his knee going onto the side of the bed as he gently pushed her to her back. "You'll take my name to prove to all that you're mine. If you want some kind of blood ceremony, I'm more than willing to blend mine with you, but I was kind of hoping you'd want to have my child as well." "Your child?" The words were said softly and he could hear the edge of fear in her voice. "Our child, Mira. We'll keep him or her safe, I promise. Just think about it, baby, but later, not now. Now I want you thinking of only me." He lay next to her on the bed, his hand cupping her breast, his mouth searching for the hard bud of her nipple. Her hands rose to his hair, digging in to draw down even further, arching her back. His tongue stabbed at the hardened tip and he heard her moan. His fingers played with her other nipple and he felt her hips begin to move, to arch, searching for the heat and weight that she needed. He teased her, tugging on her nipple then twisting it until pulled on his hair, drawing his mouth to hers. "I need you," she growled against his lips, her parted thighs spreading further, pulling him down to her. His cock slid against her wetness and he moved his hips, letting the head of his shaft rub against her clit, stimulating her even more. Her hands moved down his back, curling over his ass, her nails digging in, trying to force him to thrust inside of her. "Do you want me?" he growled, laughing when she almost screamed her answer. With a push, he found the small concave opening of her vagina, his cock pressing inside. He could feel her muscles, wet with passion, moving, trying to drag him in further. But he refused to be hurried, taking her slowly, carefully, with intimate skill and an almost taunting slowness. She wrapped her legs around his hips, her hands moving over his chest, his shoulders, his stomach. She begged him for more. He pulled out, leaving just the tip of his glans inside of her. His mouth dipped, her nipple a hard pouting morsel against his tongue. Suckling, he thrust in her hard, hearing her cry out her pleasure, feeling the folds of her vagina throbbing in pleasure. "God yes," she cried. "Fuck me!" He dragged her leg up, holding it over his arm, opening her even further for his possession. She was like a feline in her pleasure, rubbing against him, her nails digging into him. The wet slap of flesh against flesh was loud in the room, as were her impassioned cries. Hunter's breath was rough; his mouth searching and finding every erogenous zone Mira owned, even the crook of her elbow was kissed and touched. He drove into her hard, loving every moment, not wanting it to end. He could feel her, her body tightening around his cock, her hands holding onto him. He knew she was about to cum. One thought kept going through his mind. One image that made him even more intent upon giving her pleasure and tying her to him. The sight of her lying on the ground, her eyes so empty in death kept flashing in his mind. He heard her breathless cries, her words of love and of need and it terrified him that he'd almost lost her. "Cum, baby," he whispered in her ear raggedly. "Cum for me. I love you, Mirage, so much, so terrifyingly much." Mira heard his pain and she held onto him even harder. She knew what he was thinking but it was way too late for her to say anything. Her body clenched, spiraling heat flooding her system, prickling at her nerve endings. She screamed out her orgasm, unable to do anything else as it tore through her. Hunter never stopped thrusting, riding out the waves of her bliss with clenched teeth. He could feel her vaginal muscles milking at his cock, sending erotic chills through his body, but he stayed with it, fucking her as if he'd never touched her before. He sought her lips, feeling them soft and open for his tongue, her hands holding onto him. It didn't take long for her to tense again, her lips tearing from his to cry out his name. But this time, he was ready and he came with her, filling her with his seed in spurting jets. His roar was loud, echoing her cry and he held her even closer, wanting to bury her inside of him, to keep her safe, warm and soft as she was now. His breathing was ragged and rough but he managed to pull his weight from off of her and roll to his side in the big bed. She snuggled up against him, her wet pussy against his thigh as her leg slid up his. Her soft breaths tickled the hair at his nape and he turned his head, kissing her gently. "Can we do that again?" she asked coyly, glancing up at him from under the thick brush of her eyelashes. "Give me a few minutes," he groaned. "Gotta refill the tank." She moved up a bit, kissing him before chuckling. "I always knew they were lies." "What were lies?" he asked only mildly curious. "All the stories I heard from those ladies that you slept with. They always asked me how I managed to resist you. And they couldn't stop talking about how you went all night without a rest and how you wore them out. I knew they had to be lies." She laughed again, seeing his eyes open. "Mira," he growled. "We just got done fighting for our lives with some obscene monster that took control of women and made them zombies. Then, I lost you. You were dead. All that emotional upheaval takes a lot out of a man." "Excuses, excuses," she laughed. She came up, sitting across his thighs even as she bent down and kissed him. "It's okay, I understand." She sighed and curled up on top of him, her hair tickling his chin. He sighed as well, knowing she was baiting him and unwilling to take the bait. His hands moved in long strokes, his fingers moving over the bumps of her spine. He couldn't help the laugh that tore from him as he heard her soft sigh turn into an even softer snore. "And you said I couldn't last," he whispered against her hair. He kissed her head, letting his own eyes close. She was warmer than a blanket and he couldn't help but relax, enjoying the feel of her. He didn't know how long he'd slept but a noise in the room woke him. His eyes opened but he stayed still, Mira still wrapped around his body. He heard the noise again, the stealthy sound of someone moving around the room. It was dark, no light was coming through the blinds so he gently pushed Mira from off of his chest, slipping from the bed, waiting to hear the sound again. It came from behind him and he whirled, his hand reaching out and grabbing a large arm. He swung his other fist, knocking the man to the ground with a grunt. That grunt woke up Mira and she reached out for the bedside lamp. "What the fuck...?" Hunter stood naked over the man. "Now's not the time for crass questions, love." "Looks like it to me," she growled, getting out of bed and grabbing her robe and an extra one for Hunter. "Who the fuck are you and how did you get into my house." The man sat up, rubbing his jaw where Hunter had struck him. "My name is Jordan Daring," he said in a softly accented voice. "I come from Daring Castle. I am searching for my sister, Tawny. The portals brought me here." Hunter stared at the man then looked at Mira. "Did he say what I just thought he said?" * * * * I hope you enjoyed the story. I ended it with a segueway into Road to Love, which is something that I've been working on in spare seconds. I won't be posting any of it until I get some of my other stuff done, just explaining the ending. Please vote and let me know what you think! Hunter Hunted Dianna chuckled. "Sure you do. Did Mira ever tell you about how she came to have her curse? Or of how she lived before that?" "I've never asked. I always figured if she wanted me to know, she'd tell me." He shrugged his wide shoulders before moving to the chair that sat in front of her desk. The office was a small room and one that seemed even smaller with him in it. Hunt nodded at Dianna as she fixed him a cup of coffee from her own private stash and then one for herself as well, before sinking down into her chair behind the desk. "I think you need to know," she said after sipping the warm brew. "Mira hasn't had it easy, Hunt." "None of us has, Dianna. I mean look at Beast. You'd never have known that he'd been a man with a family and a job before that Wendigo bit him. If the poison of that bite hadn't reacted strangely in his blood, he could still be out there, living life with the human race. But he's had to run and to hide for so long, he doesn't know of any other way of life." "Yes, for someone like Beast, living here in ASP is perfect. But Mirage is different, Hunter. She had a husband and a daughter once, a long, long time ago. She'd been happy, living her life. Then a rumor was spread about her, a vicious lie made up by a woman who was jealous of Mirage and of her life. That rumor caught the ears of the gods." "Which ones?" Hunt felt his own interest perk. He'd often wondered about what had happened to Mirage to make her the hard, almost calloused woman he'd come to know. He'd seen the hurt in her beautiful green eyes; he'd even seen the regret, though he hadn't understood it. "Greek," Dianna answered, rolling her eyes. "I don't think anyone else would have gotten so bent out of shape for what was really no more than wasted breath. Anyway, they decided that she needed to be punished. The Greek gods are good for almost nothing, except they know how to take things too far and how to be complete asses." She shook her head and took another sip of coffee. "So...what did they do?"