19 comments/ 33830 views/ 13 favorites Haunted Prey Ch. 01 By: purefire Author's Note: If you have not read "The Order" or "Daybreak", it is highly suggested that you go back and read those first as this chapter contains spoilers. __________ There wasn't much time left. He'd taken too long getting inside; there were too many sentries on guard. Fighting them off had been harder than he'd imagined. He was the only one fighting. The sudden sound of approaching footsteps had him crouching, ready to attack. The dim candlelight in the barren hallway didn't allow him enough of an advantage to assess how many he had to fight this time. There were three - no, four - and each one of them were heavily armed; the familiar clanging of metal weapons made him sigh in relief. He used his back to slide back upward into a standing position seconds before he made his presence known. He didn't give them time to reach for their weapons. He didn't give himself the chance to look at their faces. He lifted his hands allowed the bolts of electricity to burst forth from them. His enemies seized violently as the unbearable volts of bright blue energy consumed them. They couldn't scream; the intensity of the voltage paralyzed them into silence. Within seconds, the only evidence left was charcoal dust. He grunted in frustration when he was attacked from behind. How could he have been so careless as to forget to mind his surroundings? That was an easy enough question to answer; he had to get there before it was too late. He turned in time to receive the powerful uppercut his opponent threw. He stumbled backward a few steps before regaining his balance and made quick work of throwing his hands up to launch another series of electric bolts. The move only succeeded in having his hands pushed to the side. Shit, his attacker knew what he could do. While that only meant that he was close to his goal, he also had to revert to classic combat, a form that might take too much time. It wasn't as if he had a choice, the charcoal colored demon used its fearsome looking talons to slash at his chest. The demon made his mark; he clutched his chest in pain for only a second. And then he heard her scream. Rage and determination coursed through his veins as he balled his fists. One solid punch to the demon's horned face had his opponent flying backward. He didn't allow the demon a chance to gain its feet; he continued his attack. He didn't care that the demon's horned face cut into his hands or that the hardened skin comparable to a ceramic pot bruised his legs; he would not stop until he'd cleared this obstacle. When the demon dropped to its knees in exhaustion, he used the opening to electrocute the enemy. The bolts of electricity burned his raw, open wounds, and it felt as if he'd placed his hands in hot acid. He didn't stop until the demon was nothing but a pile of dust at his feet. He remained still for only a moment to ensure no other surprise attacks. The sound of another scream made him throw caution to the wind. He ran in the direction of the pained sounds, praying that there was enough time. His heart felt like jackhammer in his chest and had he taken a moment to stop, he would have seen how much his hands shook. He was dizzy with fear and panic; he didn't even stop running as he shot approaching demons with electricity. His goal was to make it to the large double doors at the end of the barren hall. Nothing was going to stop him. He used an electrical surge so intense that it was white to blast the doors open. And has he ran into the room, he stopped tat what he saw. There at the head of the room, a large demon, much like the one he fought in the hall, stood, shifting color as it grew in size. In its hand was a half eaten heart. A human heart. He could only stare in horror as the demon completed the shift and retained its charcoal color. He knew, even from the distance between them, that its skin would feel like ceramic. And when the demon shifted eerie yellow eyes to him, he knew that he was too late. He'd wasted too much time. He gasped for breath as he came awake. A thick layer of sweat covered his bare chest and caused his wild hair to cling to his face. He surveyed his surroundings; three white walls led to the large glass doors that took up the length of the fourth wall. The drapes had been drawn, leaving him with a view of a star-filled sky over bright city lights. He looked up and sighed at the familiar steepled ceiling and wooden ceiling fan hanging from the apex. He was in his bed. He was home. He'd been dreaming again. "Shit," he mumbled as he rolled out of bed. That made four times this week that he'd had the same dream. With each dream, he woke up in a cold sweat, disoriented and anxious. He hadn't thought about it since... He groaned angrily as he padded toward the kitchen. Alcohol. He needed massive amounts of alcohol to stave off the oncoming headache he was getting. As he walked, he considered which form of poison he'd go for; whiskey made him emotional, and considering he was looking to numb himself from the pain coursing through him, that option was out. Brandy made him calm and relaxed; it would soothe him enough to at least get some rest if he couldn't go back to sleep. But he didn't want to relax. Relaxing made him think and he didn't want to think. He wanted nothing more than the dark abyss that forced him to lose himself. Tequila. It was hard, and it was the fastest route to finding that abyss. Yes, tequila was his weapon of choice tonight. He'd just crossed the threshold that led to the kitchen when he noticed the light coming from the living room. He hadn't left that on when he went to sleep. He really wasn't in the mood to deal with incompetent thieves tonight. He considered launching a sneak attack on the bastards, but changed his mind at the last minute. Walking proudly into the living room to face his adversaries, he stopped at what he saw. A lone man sat in his plush and overused reading chair, an over-worn copy of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein in hand. His dark brown hair was mussed and looked windblown, though it was obvious that that was his preferred style. The man's dark brown eyes were intense and seemed to bore into the surprised man standing in his underwear. He would have smiled, but he didn't like the way the action pulled on the sickle-shaped scar on his cheek. Instead, he merely nodded his head in greeting. "What are you doing here?" The man in the chair tilted his head to the side curiously as he replied, "Is that any way to talk to your older brother?" "Don't give me that big brother bullshit, Alexis. What are you doing here?" Alexis stared at his brother and felt the sides of his mouth turn up in the beginnings of a smile. His brother's brilliant green eyes were narrowed in annoyance and his thin lips were pursed in annoyance. "I thought it was obvious that I'm reading a book." "You know what I mean." "Lindsay, can't a man visit his brother?" Lindsay felt his eyes narrow even more at the statement. Though he was somewhat happy to see his brother, he did not appreciate the unannounced visit. "I told you bastards never to come here unless-" "Someone died?" Lindsay stopped cold at his brother's words. Alexis couldn't be saying what he thought he was saying. But he had to be; he'd told every single on of his brothers never to visit him unless there was a death in the family. "Who?" Alexis sat back and watched as Lindsay took a seat on the large maroon couch docked against the far wall. He hated to be the bearer of bad news, but as the head of the family and unofficial leader of The Brethren, an elite group of demon hunters, he felt compelled to inform Lindsay of what had happened. "Out with it already." Lindsay knew that Alexis was infamous for his quiet nature; the brunette rarely ever spoke as he preferred to observe what went on around him. While it made his brother quite the perceptive person, the trait did nothing to ease his growing anxiety. "Who died, Lex?" Alexis had expected a more detached reaction from the self-proclaimed loner. It satisfied him to know that Lindsay was more compassionate than he cared to let on. "We had two sisters." This, Lindsay was not expecting. "What?" "Charisma is Jameson's woman. They met six months ago when he and Liam saved her from an attempted kidnapping." Alexis was as concise as he could manage as he told Lindsay his story. Zaide, the leader and creator of the Mordecai, demons that lived on the souls of humans, wanted Charisma for her ability of power transference. His initial plan was to capture as many magical beings and humans with paranormal abilities as possible and have her transfer their powers to him. "But Mordecai don't have the capacity to take in abilities like that," Lindsay interrupted. "Zaide did," Alexis replied on a nod, "Something about him being the first." "Obviously his plan failed if you are telling me that she's with Jameson now." Lindsay watched as his brother nodded before continuing his tale. Apparently Zaide had managed to capture Charisma, as well as another and had diabolically gotten her to give him Jameson's ability before the tables were turned on him. "What happened to give you guys the upper hand?" Alexis sat forward in his seat and rested his elbows on his knees. He stared at the ground before he took a long, tired breath. "Nearly four months before we ever knew about Charisma-" "Lex, why are you starting another story when you haven't even finished the first one?" Lindsay didn't like the run around and would be damned if his brother took him for a spin. Alexis ignored his brother as he continued. "Her name was Nadia, and because she knew too much about our world, The Order of Zebulon contracted Andraemalek to kill her." Lindsay waited for Alexis to continue and found himself sighing in frustration when the brunette remained silent. "Finish it, Lex." "D. ended up falling in love with her, and she with him. He double-crossed The Order and long story short, they killed her." "How does this tie in?" "The old man brought her back." Lindsay knew that Alexis spoke of their father, a member of the High Council. The Council was responsible for creating the Brethren after Roycelyn, their father (and member of the Council), formulated a plan to create his own personal army of fighters by impregnating women on the human realm. The 'brilliant' plan yielded twelve demigods who were forced to walk away from their lives to act as the High Council's personal bouncers while their father was banished to another realm. "He gave her an ability?" It was generally known that for a member of the High Council to bring a being back from the dead, a part of themselves would have to be given away. The sacrifice usually manifested itself in given the lucky beneficiary a paranormal ability. "She became a Daemis." "Wow," Lindsay said on a breath. A Daemis was one of the most powerful oracles ever created. They didn't simply see what was to happen for the simplest of decisions could alter the future. The things Daemis' saw were destined to happen; nothing could be done to change their prophecies. "She must be a valuable asset to you." "We never saw her as an asset." Lindsay found himself frowning in confusion. "Why do you talk about Nadia in the past tense?" "I told you we had two sisters, remember?" A sense of dread washed over Lindsay at his brother's words. "What happened?" "I told you that the tables were turned on Zaide after he captured Charsisma." At Lindsay's nod, Alexis continued, "He captured Nadia as well and forced Jameson to choose which one of the women he wanted to die." "What?" "Both women wanted Jameson to choose her, but Nadia must have been better at convincing him. Roman witnessed the whole thing. He told me that she foresaw her death, the very reason why she implored Jameson to choose her." "Did she..." Alexis stared at the ground as he said, "Ziade drained her of her blood before he stabbed her in the heart." Lindsay sat quietly for long minutes, shocked by what had happened in the space of ten months. Part of him was upset because he wasn't told of his new family or that there was the potential for him to help. Another, more secret part of him was glad that he wasn't given the chance to become close to the two women. He'd had his fair share of watching women he cared about die in front of him. He refused to go through it again. "Tell me you killed the bastard." "His captives banished him to another realm." "That's not good enough." "Nothing ever will be, but it was the simplest solution considering everything that happened." Lindsay figured that his brother made sense. Based on what he was told, Zaide was one powerful demon. It was better that he was banished to another realm instead of potentially hurting anyone else in the battle trying to kill him. "How is D.?" Alexis shrugged silently, immediately annoying him with his stoic behavior. "Do you know where he is?" "Only the twins know." "Why did you tell me all of this?" "You needed to know." Lindsay shook his head as he said, "If that was the case, you would have told me six months ago, when it happened. What does all of this have to do with me?" "Absolutely nothing. I simply figured that I would tell you what happened while I was here." "Which brings us back to the question of why you're here." Alexis almost smiled at how quickly he managed to rattle his brother. Lindsay was known for his brooding and intense personality. He was also known for his lack of patience. If he wanted something, he had to have it that second or there was hell to pay. "I'm here to help you." "I don't need help." Alexis watched as his brother stood and walked to the small countertop that held all of his liquor. Lindsay reached for a brandy sifter before he poured himself a good amount. "You should meet Charisma." Alexis denied the offer of a sifter of his own with a shake of his head as he continued. "She's a bit of a skeptic, but she's sweet." "No, thanks," Lindsay replied. He gulped down a large amount of the liquid and allowed it to warm his insides pleasantly. Growing close to any female was absolutely out of the question. He was alone for a reason. "You have to pull yourself out of hiding sometime." "I said no, thanks." Alexis sat back in his seat and watched his brother polish off three glasses of brandy. Though it had been nearly two centuries since he'd seen Lindsay, the men kept in contact with letters, emails and semi-regular phone calls. As far as he knew, the loner rarely left home and spent his time reading, as evidence by the pile of books littered on the coffee table. "If you don't want to come home, that's fine. But you should get out of this..." Alexis looked about the room, searching for the appropriate description. Dull grey walls were barren and only emphasized the maroon couches and reading chair. A black coffee table and matching end tables gave the room a dark feel and paired with the ominous chrome chandelier hanging from the ceiling, he felt as if he was in a dungeon. "... Mausoleum seems to be the best word for this." "It's a condo, Lex." "If you say so." The only aspect of the room that could be considered bright and welcoming was the liquor display, and that was because of the way the light glittered off the bottles and surrounded glasses. Lindsay shook his head in annoyance as he poured himself another glass of brandy. "And where, exactly, were you expecting me to go?" He was convinced that his older brother was sending him on some oddball mission simply to get him out of his house. He wasn't about to fall for it. "Wherever the wind takes you." "That's original." Lindsay felt his eyes narrowing once again when his brother only shrugged in answer. Was he seriously supposed to follow this bullshit advice? "And what the hell am I supposed to do after I follow this... wind?" "Listen." Lindsay lowered his glass in shock as he asked, "Listen?" Alexis nodded and looked away from Lindsay's surprised and curious expression. "Listen to the music." Lindsay had to put the sifter down before he dropped it and wasted precious brandy. Not only had his brother traveled hundreds of miles to tell about sisters he wanted nothing to do with, but he was telling him to follow the wind until it led him to music. Alexis was always an odd one, but that was because of his silence, not his cryptic words. Lindsay wanted to say something, but found that he could not form any words. His brother had stunned him into silence, and it wasn't even because he appeared to be high on some serious drugs. Lindsay was stunned because his brother's eyes were glowing. * * * * * He wasn't exactly sure why he wanted to go out walking at two in the morning. Lindsay usually found himself engrossed in one of the many novels littered throughout his condo or sleeping. But he couldn't deny the urge to go for a walk. So he dressed himself, stepped outside of his building, and looked around. As he expected, there wasn't anyone outside; the long street crowded with apartment buildings and condos was barren, save for the random car that drove through. Lindsay looked left, then right, unsure of where he wanted to go. He knew that there was a nearby park towards the left, but there was also a fantastic view of the bay on the right. The sudden indecision prompted him to turn around to go back into his building. Lindsay stopped at the faint and pleasant breeze that brushed over his skin. He tilted his head when he thought he heard a voice. A woman's voice. A second later, he shook his head and searched for his keys. Another breeze washed over him. This one was stronger than the first, and Lindsay was sure he heard the word 'left.' He stopped for a moment, and felt his eyes narrow dangerously when he remembered Alexis' words. His son of a bitch brother was playing games with him and had the bastard not left earlier that morning, Lindsay would have shown him just how much he wanted to play. For three days he was fed the 'follow the wind' mumbo-jumbo. And now he was going on two in the morning walks and hearing voices in the wind. "Bullshit," he murmured. Absolute bullshit. But that didn't stop him from going left. Lindsay kept his senses on high alert as he walked, waiting for the moment his bullshit brother would step out of the shadows. He'd be dead once that happened, but Lindsay couldn't find the compassion within him to care; it was rude to barge in on someone's space, give him cryptic messages, then go so far as to play tricks. All of this to a brother, one of his blood! It was cowardly, it was inconvenient, and most importantly- Lindsay stopped at the faint sounds of a familiar nocturne. The notes barely registered over the sounds of the wind that grew in intensity behind him. For a moment, he felt as if he was being pushed in that particular direction. He wanted to turn away, wanted to go back home, but realized much too late that he'd long ago continued to walk toward the music. He didn't stop until he was in front of the old brick building, staring up at the lonely lit window. Yes, it was a piano nocturne, but he didn't remember the name of it. Lindsay was only able to concentrate on the music, the passion behind the notes that were played. Every chord held, and every note trilled filled him, held him in suspension. He wasn't listening to the music, no; he was the music. He was every note and every chord progression. An intense feeling of longing and desperation washed over him and he just knew that he could stand in that very spot forever if it meant feeling like this. As the final notes of the nocturne bled into one another, Lindsay found himself lifted out of his trance. He looked around the deserted street, realizing he was nowhere near the bay, given that he'd walked in that general direction. He didn't know where he was; he'd never had reason to wander to this particular section of town. Jones Street; that was what the street sign said. Haunted Prey Ch. 01 Lindsay shook his head ruefully as he turned on his heels, intent on returning to his condo. There was no longer any wind; the air was still and as he retreated, it became stale and cloying. The realization only made him walk faster. He had no idea what Alexis was trying to do, but he wanted no part of it. He only wanted to be alone. __________ So, I'm back at it again. I hope you guys enjoyed and I am very much looking forward to your feedback. Please comment! Haunted Prey Ch. 02 It hadn't taken him long to come to the realization that Alexis was evil. As Lindsay briskly walked down crowded Water Street, he replayed the 'advice' his older brother had given him. He knew that his brother had the ability to see certain things that were to happen, but it was a very rare instance in which his visions came true. This was mostly because Alexis' visions were determined by the decisions people made; all it took was a simple change of mind for things to be altered. But Lindsay hadn't changed his mind; he did in fact end up following the wind and listening to the music, a new habit he'd picked up in the past seven days. That didn't explain his brother's glowing eyes, however. In the years he'd known his brother, Lindsay never knew his eyes to glow for any reason. Which only meant that Alexis was evil. Why else would he suddenly be obsessed with standing outside a strange building every day, hoping to hear the music? As was his usual habit, he found himself standing outside the red brick building, staring up at the window. There was music today, but it wasn't what he wanted to hear; the music was choppy, there were endless errors, and the tune was much too simplistic for his taste. Someone else was playing the piano today and while he praised that person for even attempting to play, Lindsay wanted the person who had him rooted in place. "That one yours?" Lindsay found himself looking down at a small elderly woman with wiry grey hair and soft brown eyes he found sweet. She glanced toward the building before looking back at him. He remained quiet, unsure of what she was asking about. "I know that a lot of parents prefer to wait for their children outside. Some superstition about their presence being bad luck during lessons. My Julie has lessons every Thursday, but I like to come by and listen to how the other students are progressing." Students? That certainly explained the amateur sound to the playing. "No, I'm just listening too." He glanced at the widow once more when the music stopped. A few moments later, a teen-aged boy walked out of the building, whipping out a cellular phone in the process. Lindsay listened as the boy mentioned the end of a lesson and felt his eyes narrow suspiciously. This was what Alexis wanted him to do? Piano lessons? "You have a nice day, young man." He looked down at the smiling woman and nodded quietly. As she walked away, Lindsay found himself staring at the simple, single paned glass door that displayed a staircase. He didn't know why, but he wanted to go up, had to see the person behind the music he listened to every night. It was the only logical way to get the whimsical feelings out of his system. Alexis would pay for this. Lindsay stormed toward the door and quickly ascended the stairs. He expected another door, and was surprised when he only walked into a large, open room. It looked a lot like a waiting room because of the couches and chairs lined up against the walls. Various pictures of sheet music, students, and who Lindsay assumed were professional pianists filled the walls and reflected the sunlight raining in through the unadorned windows. In the center of the room was a black baby grand; it too seemed to glitter in the sun. The top board was partially opened, and he was given a glance of the intricate detailing associated with the inner mechanisms of the instrument. In front of the piano rested a cushioned bench. It was a simplistic room, one meant to comfort the students, while at the same time, give the instructor the room needed to teach sufficiently. "No, I absolutely will not talk to him." Lindsay found himself craning his neck to the side ever so slightly to listen to whoever was in the back room. Because of his many years locked in silence, his hearing was better than many expected. Though the person in the back whispered, he was able to hear every word as if he was in the back room as well. "It's been years. What could he want now? My help? Please, he should have thought of that before he walked out without a backward glance." The person in the back room was female; there was no mistaking the feminine pitch or the lack of an audible husk. There was also the topic of the conversation; no man would reject the efforts of a reconnection with a man who'd walked out without dropping a few impolite words for effect. "I don't care if his leaving had nothing to do with me. Where was he when I needed him the most?" A woman scorned. A lover who'd decided he had enough and was cowardly enough to keep quiet about it. The lives of humans were always better than television. "Mom, I know you want me to give him a chance, but I'm not giving him another opportunity to mess with my emotions. I've spent too many nights crying over him." Whoever this woman was, she was strong, that was for sure. Good for her; she'd found her limit, and had no intentions of pushing it again. Her voice, while polite due to the fact that she was talking to her mother, was laced with anger and resentment, a sure sign that her old wounds had yet to be healed. "I'm done talking about this. I won't see him, end of story, Mom. Yes, I'll be there. Seven-thirty. Yes. Yes. Ok, Mom, see you then. Love you too. Bye." Lindsay immediately straightened and followed the sounds of her footsteps. She lingered in the back for a good ten minutes, shuffling through papers and rifling through filing cabinets. He had plenty of time to leave, and knew that he should have; he wasn't in the mood to deal with a scorned woman. But curiosity had gotten the best of him, and he wanted to see what she looked like. He had to wait fifteen extra minutes before his rare bout of patience was rewarded. Her head was bent over a stack of sheet music, and she lightly hummed to herself, as if testing the sound of the music in her hands. Lindsay wasn't given a clear view of her face as her curly black hair hung down due to the angle of her neck. From her hands and arms, he able to appreciate her sepia colored skin. The way the sunlight bounced off her skin made her look otherworldly, an observation that annoyed him. She was only a human, and it was probably the fact that her skin seemed to glow because she wore a gold blouse over black slacks that he'd even noticed that about her. She was on the taller side for a woman, and while she wasn't what he would consider average sized, she wasn't exactly full figured either. She still had curves for days, though, and the new observation only added to his annoyance. Lindsay quickly grew tired of her lack of perception. He had to have been standing there staring at her for at least a minute or two, and she hadn't once bothered to look up from her sheet music. He wanted to look at her face and then leave so that he could give Alexis hell. "Hello." Lindsay watched as she glanced up at him before stopping dead in her tracks. Her jaw slightly dropped in surprise and dark espresso eyes bore into him disbelievingly. She had an oval shaped face, a trait that emphasized those eyes of hers and her seemingly perfect eyebrows accentuated her shock. A small, upturned nose led to full pink lips and a semi-dimpled chin that looked completely out of place. She was pleasant to look at, but her unwavering gaze made him uncomfortable. "Are you the instructor?" She nodded slowly, terrified of blinking because she believed that he would disappear if she did. The giant of a man standing in her studio wasn't the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. He was... gripping. Mesmerizing. His hair was the most unusual shade of red she'd ever seen; it looked like dark cherry wood because he stood in a partly shaded area of the room, but the parts that were kissed by the sun reminded her of fresh black cherry juice. That kind of color had to be natural; the people who created hair dyes weren't that inventive. The man chose to wear his hair on the longer side; it was just long enough to be pulled back in a queue if he wanted, but at the same time, it didn't touch his shoulders. He wore it down now, and the locks accentuated the rectangular shape of his face. Thick sable eyebrows hooded over vibrant, grass green eyes. His nose was a bit on the large side, but it worked with his face. Thin lips rested over a hardened chin. Yes, this man definitely had what it took to be one hell of a distraction. Lindsay was damned uncomfortable. She continued to stare, scrutinizing every tidbit of his face, and wearing his patience. Neither one of them had moved in the time they stared at each other which angered him. He felt so... on display. "Are you the one who plays at night?" The question jarred her out of her stupor. She looked away from him as she cleared her throat. The last thing she expected was an angry neighbor. "Uh, yes, yes, I am. I'm sorry if it bothered you." "It didn't." She nodded again and forced herself to look directly over his shoulder. If she looked at his face again, she'd end up staring even more than she already had, and the man already looked as if he wanted to file a restraining order. "Are you here for lessons?" "I don't know why I'm here." Other than the fact that his son of a bitch brother gave him cryptic messages about wind and music. Lindsay watched the way she clutched the music in her hands and felt a mild sense of satisfaction knowing that she was more rattled by him than he was by her. "Well, um," she stopped to lick her lips nervously. There was odd kind of energy wafting off the man. It wasn't dangerous, but it was intense. Dark. "We can have a preliminary session, if you'd like." "How does that work?" "It would be run just as any other lesson I give. It just gives me an idea on where you are musically, how teachable you seem to be, and whether or not I'm the best teacher for you." "And if everything works?" She suddenly felt as if she was being interrogated for murder. His gaze hadn't wavered and if it was possible, it seemed to bore deep into the crevices of her soul. "If everything works, then we'll make arrangements for weekly or bi-weekly lessons." Lindsay nodded and frowned when she looked down at the ground. She was nervous. "When can we arrange this preliminary lesson?" He wasn't even sure why he was asking. It wasn't as if he planned on taking lessons from the woman. He had no interest in music, other than listening to other people play it for him. She looked down at the watch on her wrist to check the time. "If you have an hour, we could just get it over with now." Get it over with? So now she was annoyed and wanted him out of her studio? He narrowed his eyes as he walked toward the piano and sat down. "We have to adjust you." "What?" Lindsay watched her set her music down before she reached beneath the bench. She tried to pull it backward, and he almost smiled at the way her arms trembled as she struggled to move him. He knew that she refrained from asking him to move for fear that he would have taken offense and because of that, he lifted his body just enough for her to pull the bench backward. "There," she panted. She rolled her shoulders backward a few times to ease the tension, then went to correcting her student's posture. "Back straight, shoulders down." "They are down." Burly man. She only nodded once before instructing him on the proper finger placement above the keys. "You always want your right thumb on middle C." "What?" She looked at him for a moment and made note of his absolute lack of piano knowledge. "All right. We'll work on your basic keys and the C major scale. If there is enough time afterward, I'll show you one or two chords." "Sounds simple enough." Lindsay watched as she pointed out the keys, but he didn't pay any attention to what she said. Her hands were absolutely stunning; long, delicate fingers led to feminine palms and waif-like wrists. She also smelled like pineapples; sweet, with a bit of a kick. He noticed that her voice was softer now that she wasn't angry, and entirely too pleasant for his comfort. "Are you ready to try?" When he only stared at her blankly, she clarified her question. "The scale. Do you want to try playing the scale on your own?" "You think that's a good idea?" "Mr..." "Call me Lindsay." Of course a man like him would have a name that was completely out of character. "Ok, Lindsay, I'm Alauria. If you expect to play, you need to learn the basics." She demonstrated the scale once more, then motioned for him to try. She nodded when he mimicked her actions flawlessly. She decided to show him a few more major scales before asking him to play the C major scale for her once more. He played it without mistakes, and went so far as to play the other scales she taught him. "Beautiful. You're a natural." Yes a naturally quick learner. As long as he paid attention long enough to listen to what she said, he was fine. Or so he thought until she began teaching him to play the scales with both hands. In a span of ten seconds, he'd developed an immeasurable respect for pianists; there was way too much going on when playing simple scales. Lindsay could not imagine playing actual music with both hands. Countless tries and many curses were said in his effort to remember finger placements and synchronization. It was ridiculous; he could take down a demon in a matter of minutes, but he couldn't play a damned C major scale with both hands. And then she decided to go for broke and ask him to play a chord while struggling through the damned scale. For the life of him, Lindsay didn't understand how he could pull off the task. He could play a scale with one hand beautifully. He could easily hit a chord. But both of them together? Insanity. "You're not angling your hand enough." Alauria reached over his shoulder and placed her hand on his to show him the proper placement of his wrist. A second later, she quickly pulled her hand back at the sting associated with static shock. That was weird; neither one of them wore wool and the studio wasn't carpeted. Lindsay only waited a second after she stepped back to abruptly stand. He knew for a fact that he'd inadvertently shocked her; he saw the small current flow from his fingers when she pulled away. This was the first time since he'd come into power that he'd shocked someone without even thinking to. That wasn't a good sign. Without a backward glance, he walked out of the studio and back toward his condo. Going up there was a stupid idea, but at least he finally appeased his curiosity about the person who played the music. Now he could get Alexis' idiotic words out of his mind and go back to the life he was used to. * * * * * "Mom?" Alauria pulled her key out of the lock as she walked into her mother's aroma-filled house. They would be having lemon chicken and Spanish rice, if her nose was correct. Her favorite meal. Her mother was trying to butter her up. "Mom, where are you?" "I'm right here, Honey Bun." Alauria smiled at the name her mother liked to use when they were together. The special title brought back fond memories of a simpler time. A time when she didn't have the stresses of her life to deal with. She walked to her mother and placed a soft kiss on her rich mocha skin. "You have a good day?" She smiled at her mother's brown eyes, eyes she inherited and hoped to give to her children when she decided to have them. "It was quite nice." Her mother led her to the kitchen where their dinner sat waiting. "I went for a walk with Mrs. Gumpfry three doors down, worked on the garden, then made dinner." Alauria nodded as he motioned her mother to sit down at the small round table set in the center of the kitchen. She quickly bent to the task of serving them both before she sat down. "Lemon chicken," she commented. "Yes, it's your favorite." "And you only make it when you want something." "Yes, I want you to say Grace." Alauria narrowed her eyes at her mother for a moment before she took hold of her hands and obeyed the request. She was quick in her prayer then remained silent as her mother began to eat. She decided to look at her surroundings, at the white cabinets that stood out against the yellow walls and granite counter tops. Everything had been cleaned, which meant that her mother finished dinner at least an hour before she arrived. Yes, she definitely wanted something and was making it impossible for her to say no. "What do you want, Mom?" "I want you to eat your food before it gets cold." "You know what I mean." Alauria bent to the task of polishing off her dinner anyway. She had to close her eyes at the succulent taste of her mother's cooking. Though she loved her independence, she missed not having such wonderful food at her disposal at all times. The downside of moving away from home. The two women ate in silence for a few moments, Alauria, waiting for her mother to get to the heart of their dinner, and her mother, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. What she needed to speak about was quite serious, and would no doubt ignite her daughter's usually docile temperament. "Daniel called me today." Alauria took a deep breath to calm her rising temper. The simple mention of that name was enough to send her into a rage. "I don't care." "He really needs to talk to you." "About what?" "It's not my place to tell you." "But you're pushing me to speak to him." Alauria placed her utensils on her plate before pushing it away from her. "I told you already, I won't speak to him." "I'm not asking you to speak," her mother reasoned, "I'm asking you to listen." "And like I said before; he should have thought of that before he did what he did." "I did not raise such a hard daughter." "No, you raised your daughter to be strong enough to know the difference between an asshole and a genuine person." "Alauria Jaedyn Hawkins, you will not use that language in my house!" Alauria was immediately contrite. "I apologize, but I really don't appreciate you taking part in his agenda." "I am trying to do what is right." "And I am trying to leave the past behind me." There was a moment of silence as the women both stared at each other. This wasn't what Alauria wanted when she agreed to have dinner with her mother. Her appetite ruined, she lifted her plate and placed it on the counter near the sink. "Fridge or can?" "You know that we do not waste food in this house." Alauria nodded silently as she pulled a drawer open to retrieve the roll of saran wrap. She quickly wrapped her plate before she placed it in the refrigerator. "This guy came into the studio this afternoon. Very odd." "Odd how?" Alauria put the saran wrap away and say down at the table before she relayed the story of her time with Lindsay. "It was like some weird kind of out of body experience." "He shocked you and then he just walked out?" At her daughter's nod, she added, "You sure it was a shock and not sparks flying between the two of you?" Alauria rolled her eyes heavenward. "Seriously, Mom?" "You said he is handsome and that he seemed taken aback by the shock. Maybe you rattled his cage." "A man like that can't be caged." Nor could he be tamed. Not that she was interested. As it was, she'd probably never see him again. The way he stormed out of the studio seemed quite indicative of the fact that he wanted nothing to do with her any more. "Ok, so have sex with him a couple of times." "MOM!" Alauria was mortified. The only mention of sex she wanted to hear from her mother was the 'birds and bees' talk. She was no longer five years old and had no intention of reliving that age any time soon. "For the love of God; never again." "What? There is nothing wrong with a little physical-" She stopped when her daughter placed her hands on her ears and began to sing at the top of her lungs. When did Alauria become such a prude? Haunted Prey Ch. 02 * * * * * Lindsay rolled onto his back and stared at the stars through his glass doors. He wasn't sure if he preferred being unable to sleep because he was having nightmares or because his mind was focused on women he had no business thinking about. What was it about Alauria that had him so out of sorts? Yes, she was different, down to her musical name. Alauria. It was the kind of name people used in songs or titled songs. Hell, she was a song. But it wasn't just her name. Alauria was intriguing and in her very own way, quite mysterious. He'd made her nervous, but yet, she went on as if she'd known him for years. In his experience, Lindsay made women so nervous that they usually kept a wide berth. Draco, the most personable of his brothers, said it was the angry and brooding look he always wore. It had a tendency to make people want to run for the hills. But not Alauria. She found a way to work around his gruff exterior. He couldn't get the scent of pineapples out of his mind. Nor could he forget the shocked look in those dark eyes. "Hell." Lindsay had spent the better part of an hour trying to fall asleep, only to have her memory plague him at every turn. He could still feel her delicate hand on his, and would never forget the nervous expression on her face as they stared at each other. Lindsay stared up at his ceiling fan and growled. He wondered what she was doing, who she was with, and what she thought of him. Did she want to know more about him? What she put off by the way he simply left in the middle of their lesson? Did she find him attractive? Did she find him attractive? What in the hell was he thinking? He didn't care about something so trivial. Looks faded over time and they certainly weren't a solid basis for a relationship. Now he was thinking of relationships. Over a half a century single and now, after one awkward moment, he was thinking of relationships. Not just any relationship; a relationship with Alauria. He wanted more, and the realization pissed him off. He didn't have time to allow thoughts of a simple human woman rule his life. It didn't matter what Alexis told him or why; at the end of the day, Lindsay only wanted the company of his books. Books weren't complicated, they didn't interrupt his life, and they didn't have soft skin that glowed in the sunlight. Books were easier, and that was exactly how he intended to live his life. Haunted Prey Ch. 03 The son of a bitch was blocking all of his moves. As many times as he tried to throw up a bolt of energy, the large black demon found a way to block his moves. Why couldn't this have been as easy as taking down the other four bastard demons? And then the demon used its talons to swipe at his chest. The pain was instant; the burn caused his pectorals to seize almost unbearably and it hurt to breathe. Shit, the demon was good. The high pitched tortured scream made him refocus his attention on the goal. He had to get to her before it was too late. She needed him and he would do whatever it took to make sure she made it out alive. He finally found his opening and pushed the bastard demon back. The pain in his hands was nothing compared to the burn that came with shocking the bastard to hell. The beast was quick to disintegrate into ash. It wasn't enough to satisfy his bloodlust, but it would have to do. She needed him. She was screaming again, and the sound made his heart thud in his chest. It wasn't just adrenaline; no, fear and anxiety gripped him, forced him to neglect his surroundings and run down the long dark hall that led to the double doors of her torture. He didn't even bother to push the doors open; another blast of energy had the doors flying inward and crashing to the ground. He rushed in, his eyes darting along every wall and corner of the demon-infested room. They all stared at him disbelievingly, their yellow eyes bright with evil. He didn't care. He brought his eyes to the front of the room and felt his muscles lock into place at the sight before him. The demon held the half-eaten human heart in its hands as it continually shifted shape and color. The change was taking place. The ritual had been completed. He looked at the lifeless body on the alter in front of the shifting demon, the shimmering blond hair and dull blue eyes, and felt his eyes close in despair. When he opened them, cold, menacing yellow eyes stared back at him, glittering with promise. His world shattered; his heart felt as if it stopped beating, and an overwhelming heaviness took hold of his body. She was gone. He wanted to die, wanted to lose himself in a never-ending abyss of numbness. He'd failed, and she had to pay the price for his mistakes. Rage unlike any he'd ever known surfaced and took hold of his body. The emotion paralyzed him, made him hungry for vengeance. He had to kill the ones who did this to her. He had to punish himself for not being able to stop it. He felt his nerves calm at the lulling sounds of a nocturne. It was so beautiful, so peaceful Chopin. Yes, it was one of his works. Opus 27 no.2. There was no mistaking the earthy flow of the notes or even the romantic overtones of the music. An image of sepia toned hands and long, elegant fingers made his heart seize once again. This time, the feeling was pleasant, and made him forget about the despair threatening to take hold of him. The scent of pineapples filled his senses and soon, he was taken from the demon filled room and placed on a plush couch in a soft welcoming room, watching curly raven locks sway against her back as the nocturne continued. Sunlight filtered into the comforting room, illuminating soft skin encased in a flowing yellow gown. Alauria. She was beauty, she was life, and she was everything he needed to push the demons away. Through the music, her passion and life flowed from her fingers to the grand piano positioned in front of her. From the piano, the music washed over him, cleansed him. He was renewed. Lindsay opened his eyes and found himself staring at the far wall of his bedroom. He had been dreaming again. He remained still for a moment, replaying the hell-turned-heaven his mind created, and he wasn't certain which part of the dream scared and upset him more; the hell or the heaven. Demons were easy enough to deal with; he'd spent centuries fighting them, killing them, and even befriending them. Hell, one of his brothers was a half demon. They were easy enough to handle. But Alauria... She was new, she was unknown, and she was absolutely addicting. She snuck up on him and made him want things he wasn't supposed to care about. How did she do that? The woman was like a drug in his veins, bonding herself to every fiber of his being. And he didn't mind. Damn Alexis. As soon as he found the will to get out of bed, a very angry call was in order. His life was just fine the way it was before his darling brother came for a visit. Now he couldn't even have a damned nightmare without her invading them. Yes, his brother would get a nice earful once he got a hold of him. It was only right that Alexis understand exactly why he was hated and why vengeance would be sought. Lindsay was not in the mood to have his life complicated by a piano instructor. A beautiful piano instructor who smelled like pineapples and had skin comparable to a goddess. "Shit," he muttered as he turned onto his back. Where was his resolve? Could he not go five minutes without letting her invade his thoughts? The only option was to stay away from her. He was set in his ways and had no intention of letting her interrupt his life. These schoolboy urges were sure to run him into the ground if he didn't get a handle on himself. Lindsay wasn't ready to let himself become attached to someone, to have a weak link in his life. He'd heard about what his urges did to his brothers and he refused to let anything like that happen. He was better by himself. The room smelled like pineapples. * * * * * She literally fell into his arms. Lindsay hadn't meant to walk back to Jones Street, but as usual, he couldn't stop the unbelievable urge that washed over him. He'd lasted an entire week; seven days of forcing himself to forget the smell of her skin and the look in her eyes when she looked at him. Seven days of ignoring the fact that she invaded every single one of his dreams. Finally, he could take no more and decided to simply see if he could figure out how to get her out of his system. Lindsay figured that going at night would better work in his favor; her neighbors would be asleep because if the late hour, and she'd be too caught up in the music she played to even notice that he was standing outside of her opened window like some kind of stalker. She hadn't been playing, but he was able to make out the subtle sounds of her frustrated mumblings and the irritating sounds of a heavy object scraping against a hardwood floor. She was obviously moving furniture, and while he was tempted to go upstairs to lend a hand before she broke something, he forced himself to remain as he was. She never even had the chance to scream out in fear; one moment there was a loud thud and crash and the next, she was hurtling out the window. Shock kept Lindsay from shouting at her stupidity; he simply braced his legs and waited for her to fall into his arms. "Tuck your knees to your chest," he instructed. Alauria was sure that she was going to meet her maker when she fell out of the window. To hear his voice both surprised and relieved her. She did as he said and grunted at the shock of her body falling into his arms. His grip was incredibly gentle, but the rigid stance of his body gave away his true feelings at having to save her life. She didn't care, of course, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Alauria hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek in her gratitude. "Thank you so much." Lindsay had to stop himself from throwing her off him. The alluring weight and heat of her body made his cock instantly harden; he wanted to bury himself deep within the depths of her body. This was exactly the kind of thinking that make him need to stay away from her. "Are you all right?" She nodded against his neck, marking him with her sweet scent. It would take at least a dozen showers for him to get the smell off him. Lindsay remained still, hoping that his rigid stance would make her uncomfortable enough to let go of him. But as he felt her shake in his arms, he only found himself tightening his hold. "Fuck." "What?" "Is the front door locked?" She shook her head against him and he sighed before taking her inside. His mind continued to drift to the fact that she felt incredibly perfect in his arms and if she turned just a fraction of an inch, her succulent breasts would be pressed against his chest. His loins felt as if they were on fire and he knew that there were only two ways to alleviate the need; he had to either let her go or take what his body wanted. Neither option was acceptable at the moment. Lindsay carried her back to the studio and found himself frowning in frustration when she moved to disengage herself from his arms. As she stood shaking in front of him, he surveyed the room and noticed that she was attempting to move the piano away from the window and replace the empty space with one of the plush couches. "Couldn't wait until you could get some help?" He looked around and scratched his head in confusion. "How the hell did you manage to fall out of the window anyway?" She only shook her head, which he took to mean as her uncertainty as to how it happened. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the window was wide and low enough for her to fall out of, but such a feat would require a shove. But she simply fell out. Alauria was too busy trying to recover from her near death experience to question why her temperamental student was with her. She could only find the energy to be grateful to him for saving her life. "Thank you." "You said that already." "Yes, but..." She shook her head to clear her thoughts before she looked up at him. That was a bad idea. He was standing close to her, less than a foot away and his large and powerful body radiated heat. How could a man who looked so dangerous seem so comforting? "Thank you." "You're welcome. Why don't you sit down for a minute?" He watched her drop herself onto one of the chairs and rest her head in her hands. She was still shaking, he noticed and for a moment, the overwhelming urge to pull her into his arms washed over him. Because he needed to put some space between them before he did something stupid, he moved to complete the job she'd started. Within the space of five minutes, he moved the room back to its original setting. "No, I want to move the piano to the other side of the room." Alauria moved to stand but stopped at the warning look he gave her. She did not know this man; arguing with him in the middle of the night with no help around was not a good idea. "It's better over here." "But if I move it, I won't have to worry about bothering anyone when I play at night." Which was exactly what he was trying to avoid. If she moved the piano, then he wouldn't be able to hear the music she played as clearly as he was accustomed to. "If your neighbors can't appreciate your music, they can go to hell." "Tell me how you really feel." Lindsay found himself smiling at the comment. Her voice was stronger, a clear sign that she wasn't as shaken. "You shouldn't have to turn your life upside down for people who don't even know you." He made a point, she had to admit, but she didn't want to make enemies of her neighbors. "I was trying to be considerate." "And look at what it got you." Alauria said nothing to that. She watched as he adjusted the piano bench in front of the instrument before he closed the window. He seemed extremely unaffected by saving her life and she assumed that his day job had to do something with saving others. "I didn't think I'd see you again." Lindsay turned sharply to look at her. Was she expecting him to return? Was she waiting for him? "Why is that?" "The way you stormed out the last time I saw you didn't exactly showcase your willingness to return." Lindsay didn't know what to say to that. If he told her why he really left, she would have thought him to be a perverted psychopath. At the same time, he didn't want to lie to her. There was something about Alauria that demanded honesty, and he didn't have the strength to deny her the simple courtesy. So he simply stared at her, wondering how she was able to affect him as much as she did. Her dark eyes seemed to suck him into her soul. They called to him, haunted him with their expressiveness. A subtle flush took over her skin and he held back a smile at the knowledge of his affect on her. She still stared at him like he was some sort of apparition but he wasn't uncomfortable this time. Lindsay glanced at the piano and found himself asking, "When do I get another lesson?" "You actually want another lesson?" He didn't, but he couldn't think of another seemingly innocent reason to stay. "I figure one lesson isn't enough to determine that I'm completely hopeless." Alauria found herself smiling despite herself. The man was making her extremely nervous, but he also made her feel safe and comforted. It was most likely because he saved her life, but that didn't change how she felt. "You're not completely hopeless, but I wouldn't allow myself to dream of headlining with an orchestra any time soon." She felt her cheeks heat dangerously when he smiled at her. Good Lord, he was sexy. He only wore a black turtleneck and light blue jeans, but it was more than enough to make her mouth water. "You want me to give you a lesson at two in the morning while in my sweats?" Lindsay allowed his eyes to sweep over her voluptuous body and felt his brow quirk in interest. He hadn't noticed that her clothes were extremely casual, but considering the time of night, it would have been ridiculous for him to think he'd have seen her in a blouse and slacks. "We're both here and we're both awake. I don't see why not." She could think of a few reasons, and they all had to do with the fact that he had everything it took to make her forget that her mother raised her to be a lady. The innocent expression on his face made her give into his request however, and that only made her reach the conclusion that she was going to have to learn self control when it came to him. "All right, but only half an hour." Lindsay nodded before he walked to the bench and sat down. He remembered her instructions on posture and corrected herself before she said anything. "What are we learning today?" "We're just going to continue where we left off." Alauria pulled a fold-out chair from the back room and sat down next to him. "You are going to play the chord with your left hand on every second note of the scale." "Do you usually stay up this late?" He asked while following his instructions. He had to wince when he hit the wrong keys, but said nothing to them. If she didn't comment, neither would he. "No, but I like to play on nights that I can't sleep." She was lying to him. He knew because he'd listened to her play enough to know that she was up at this time every day. What was she trying to hide? "Music calms you down?" "Music is everything to me. Watch your wrist; there is too much tension." Lindsay obeyed and remained quiet for only a moment before asking, "Your husband must be very-" "I'm not married." Alauria wasn't sure why he was asking such probing questions, but they were making her extremely uncomfortable. "Let's move to the D major scale." Of course she would move onto something more complicated to keep him from talking. He played the scale quite horribly and thus had to play it again and again until she was satisfied. The task left him no room to ask her any other questions, which was exactly what she wanted. Why didn't she want him to know anything personal about her? "Let's try E major." Was she serious? He'd barely gotten through D major. Lindsay begrudgingly plowed through the task, butchering what should have been a beautiful sound. It didn't take long at all for him to want to throw the piano out the window in frustration. Playing an instrument was not for him; his brother Giles, yes, but definitely not him. Alauria noticed the frustration taking hold of her student and stood from her seat to stand behind him. "Try to relax." She placed her hands on his hard shoulders and once again felt the shock associated with static electricity. She ignored it and gently placed her hands on his. "You still aren't angling your wrist properly." Lindsay stopped moving the second she placed her hands on him. Again, he shocked her, but she didn't seem as bothered by it as the last time. The scent of pineapples wafted toward him and all too soon, control went out of the window. In one quick move, Lindsay turned on the bench and pulled her into his arms. The look of shock mixed in with uncertainty brought out a fierce feeling of protectiveness. He ran the backs of his fingers over her cheeks and let out a sigh at her shaky breath. Her pulse radiated through her silken skin; he felt his pulse quicken in response. Alauria's dark eyes glistened and narrowed and while she did try to push him away, there was no force behind her efforts. She wanted him. Alauria felt her eyes go wide with shock when his lips descended onto hers. She made no response at first, only allowed herself to feel his hot lips as they slanted against hers. The heat of his body stifled any resistance she had and soon, she was gasping as his tongue brushed against hers. She closed her eyes, allowing the sensation of his body against hers. Hot, erotic bolts of electricity pulsed through her body as his hands slowly roamed over the contours of her back. She clutched his turtleneck and moaned when he pulled her closer. Alauria let her body take control, sucking on his tongue as he plunged it into her mouth. The man was raw sex; he didn't hesitate to cup her bottom into his hands as he pulled on her lower lip with his teeth. He was also demanding; angling her body around his the way he wanted. It didn't surprise her that she was somehow straddling his legs as he pulled her hips closer to his. The startling presence of his arousal made her gasp in surprise. Then she felt his hands underneath her shirt, slowly working the lace cups of her bra off of her sensitive breasts. "Wait, stop." Alauria pulled her lips from his and would have jumped off him had his grip allowed it. His face was flushed and damn, did it make him look sexy. Intense, green eyes were narrowed in arousal and she was sure that he wouldn't hesitate to rip her clothes off if she let him. "You're my student." That seemed to have no effect on him as he'd taken to nibbling on her earlobe. He even went as far as to suck her silver teardrop earring into his mouth. The sounds of his uneven breathing made her hot and aching for him; she found herself wiggling to get closer to him. "Wait, wait, wait." She pulled away again, this time holding his head in her hands to keep him from sucking on anything else. "I don't even know you." Lindsay slowly smiled at the amazed look on her face. Shit, she was addictive. Her skin even tasted like pineapples. "What's your point?" Her wide-eyed look reminded him of her innocence and while the attribute inflamed his loins, he knew it wouldn't be right to take advantage of it. With a frustrated sigh, he lifted her off him and placed a small kiss on her lips before he walked out of the studio. He felt the smile tug at his lips and this time, he allowed himself to feel the smile down to the depths of his soul. Lindsay had no choice; that was how deeply she affected him. Alauria remained silent as she watched her student-turned-seducer leave. He had a thing for just walking out of the studio when he felt like it, she noticed. As much as she wanted to call him rude, she couldn't; his hot and cold nature was a bit of a turn on. Alauria tried to ignore the cold sensation that washed over her body from losing his heat but couldn't; she shivered as she set herself down on the piano bench. The tingle in her lips had her touching her fingertips to them. She'd never be kissed like that by anyone else. Haunted Prey Ch. 03 She didn't want to be kissed like that by anyone else. * * * * * The lone man walked into the Maleficent hotel with his head down, determined to keep from making eye contact with anyone he saw. He had specific instructions, and to disobey them meant sacrificing his life, and he wasn't ready to die. He wanted to work his way up the chain, make something of himself within the organization before he lost himself in a blaze of glory. Because he was still nothing, he would do as he was told until he was promoted. He hadn't even realized that he'd made it to the penthouse level until he'd encountered the two large bodyguards standing outside of the wide double doors. He stood still and ignored the burn associated with the green beams of light that shot out of their eyes. It was customary for them to search any and all visitors before and after every visit they made, but it never made him comfortable when he stood in front of them. He had nothing to hide -- not that there was anything anyone could hide with these two guards keeping watch -- and that fact alone almost made him resent his position within the organization. But he would do what he had to do to get where he wanted to go, even if it meant having to deal with the burn. "You're clear to go in," one of the guards announced. He nodded as he walked through the double doors the other guard opened. Through the double doors, he was led through a very short hallway made of mirrors before descending five carpeted steps that led into the main room of the penthouse suite. Dozens of miniature chandeliers hung down from the dark cherry wood steepled ceiling. Black wall sconces adorned the matching paneled walls and within them were burning candles. Directly across the steps was a large fireplace that took up the entire wall. No fire blazed tonight, and the lack of light gave the room an ominous feel. A series of crème accented Asian rugs were scattered along the dark wood floors. They were the only lightly colored accessories to the room. Black wooden couches and chairs were strategically arranged around the fireplace and on them, blood red cushions rested. To the far left, French doors led to the balcony that overlooked the bay. The room, while elegant and worth the seven thousand a night it cost to rent, had been turned into the kind of environment horror movies tried to emulate. Emphasis on the try. "Any news for me tonight, Drachen?" He turned right and bowed low. He had to acknowledge his leader, and kept his head bowed low as he replied, "He has been showing erratic behavior." "What kind of behavior?" "He alternates between walking to Jones Street during the late hours of the night and remaining indoors." "What is so important that he has to travel to Jones Street? You may stand." Drachen lifted himself into a relaxed stance and watched as the large black demon walked to one of the dark chairs and sat down. With a throw of it's menacingly clawed hand, the fireplace ignited in a blaze of light. "At first, he listened as one of the humans played piano but then he began going inside the building." The large demon focused its attention on the blazing fire as it said, "Piano lessons? That teacher, whoever he is, must have a handful." "She does." The demon seemed to freeze in place before it slowly turned to look at its follower. "The teacher is a woman?" Drachen nodded before adding, "He was covered in her scent the last time he left her." "When was this?" "Four days ago." "Why wasn't I told then?" "You gave me specific instructions to keep track of his movements and report to you weekly." "You are to keep me updated daily from now on." The demon turned to the fireplace and let out a strained breath before saying, "You may leave now." So he was seeing a woman. A human woman, of all things. Did he really think that he wouldn't have to pay for such a transgression? Didn't remember the vow that was made those many years ago? Well, he would just have to be reminded. Haunted Prey Ch. 04 "All right Julie, we made a lot of progress today." Alauria smiled at the young woman seated at the piano, extremely proud of their years of working together. At fourteen years old, Julie was ready to compete against pianists much older than she, and it was because of the passion and dedication the young woman showed to her craft. Alauria liked to take some credit for that; she'd been the one to take on the challenge of Julie when many other instructors had deemed her un-teachable. It helped that Alauria was new to instructing; she and Julie had to work together to find a medium that satisfied them both. Years later, they were equal when it came to proficiency. "If you'd like, you can stay a little longer." "I wish I could, but I can't." The petite blonde grabbed her almost too large back pack before standing from her position at the piano. "Gran's waiting outside." "She's always welcome to come sit in." "She knows, but she can't. The stairs make her arthritis worse." That certainly explained why she'd only ever interacted with the sweet older woman outside. Alauria made a mental note to start looking for buildings with an elevator or something on the main floor when her lease was up. It was the truth that she grew tired of having to carry everything up a flight of stairs or paying some of the neighborhood musicians to do it. "All right. Keep up the good work. I'll see you on-" "Thursday," Julie finished. She smiled when her instructor smiled before turning to arrange the music scattered around the piano. "See you then!" Julie turned to run out of the room but stopped at the sight of the extremely large man standing at the door. At just five feet, she knew that she was small, but she might as well have been called a hobbit in front of him. "Excuse me, sir." Lindsay quietly stepped to the side and smiled down at the young woman who rushed passed him. He heard her murmur 'holy crap' to herself and smiled in response. He was used to that kind of reaction, even expected it, but that never lessened his amusement. The only time he hadn't laughed was with Alauria, who once again, had no idea he was even in the room. Lindsay wanted to take offense to that; he was a tall man who had a lot of presence. How could she not have realized that he was in the room? "Hey." Alauria felt herself close her eyes in dread. It wasn't that she didn't want to see him. It was that she did; so much that it hurt. He'd let another seven days go by before simply showing up again and while she didn't mind that because she only saw the majority of her students weekly, it was quite clear that he wasn't just a simple student. He'd made it known that he was a man who wasn't afraid to act on his attraction to her. That was of course, when he wasn't acting as if she didn't exist. "Hello, Lindsay." There was something about the way she greeted him that had Lindsay narrowing his eyes suspiciously. Her voice was hard and detached, as if she was only going through the motions of speaking to him. She didn't even turn around to look at him. "Did I come at a bad time?" "Not really. My next student isn't for another hour." She went back to arranging her music before she went to file it away. Alauria faintly heard him follow her to the back room and figured that she had to make conversation before she ended up staring at him like an idiot. "What brings you here today?" She might as well have asked him what the hell he wanted from her. It wasn't as if he knew the answer to either question. "I figured that I should get you your payment for last week's lesson before the next one." Seriously? He kisses her, ignores her for seven days, and then comes to her with that nonsense? Of course he had to be an asshole; she seemed to attract them like flies to honey. "Just write down your address and I'll send you the bill and some referrals." "Referrals for what?" "Other teachers." Lindsay was too shocked by what she said to stop her when she brushed passed him to leave the room. She didn't want to teach him anymore. "Why would I want another teacher?" He didn't even want to play piano! "It's not about what you want." Suddenly, she was a jumble of nerves and knew that there was only one way to calm her racing heart. Alauria sat down in front of the piano and immediately began to play Chopin's Revolutionary Etude. The tumultuous rhythm of the music forced her to focus on the movements of her hands and allowed her the opportunity to forget that he was in the room. Yeah, right... Had he not cared about what she thought about him, he would have shoved the piano across the room. "Why don't you want to teach me anymore?" Alauria waited until she'd finished the piece before she looked at him. He was leaning against the piano casually, and it immediately made her angry. "Because you have no focus, you look bored half the time you're here, and there is no passion for the craft. If you just want to know how to play music that's in front of you, go to someone who'll teach you how to go through the motions." The dangerous gleam in her eyes as she looked up at him told him that she wasn't very happy with him. Lindsay wasn't sure how to react to that. "What do you teach, then?" "I don't teach my students to play what's in front of them. I teach them to become the music." She stood and took a step back, making sure to keep the bench between them. As angry as she was, she was still ridiculously attracted to him and that put her in all kinds of danger. "I teach them to feel what they play. That's not something I think you're capable of understanding." Lindsay ignored the insult, primarily because of what she said before it. She was definitely wrong about him wanting to feel; he wanted his hands all over - just not all over the music. He inwardly cursed Alexis for this new complication in his life. "Is it my lack of passion for the music that makes you want to get rid of me or is it something else?" "Something else like what?" "Like the fact that I kissed you." Alauria cursed herself when she felt her cheeks heat. She looked away from his intense eyes for a moment, unsure of what to say. She couldn't deny the claim, not after the blush that took over her face. At the same time, she wasn't about to let him know that his kiss still affected her. "About that kiss..." "Don't you dare try to act like it didn't mean anything to you." Lindsay would be damned if she tried to make light of the way she kissed him back. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her, which should have been all the reason he needed to keep away from her. But it was quite clear at that point that he couldn't. "Did I say that?" She watched as he visibly relaxed. The movement of his body was enough to show her that it wasn't just a kiss to him. His body also displayed his mixed emotions about that. She didn't need him confusing the hell out of her while he tried to get things together in his head. "That's just another reason this whole teacher- student thing won't work, anyway." He felt his eyes narrow when she casually waved, as if dismissing the notion. Her penchant for difficulty was quickly wearing on his nerves. "I don't want another instructor." And she didn't want the risk of letting him ravage her on her piano. "You're just going to have to deal with it." He was going to have to deal with it? Lindsay found himself laughing in spite of himself. She was definitely more comfortable with him. "What are you doing tonight?" Alauria took a step back and shook her head furiously as she said, "No. No, you don't get to ask me out." "Why the hell not?" "You think you can just come in here when you want, kiss me, ignore me for eighty million days and that viola! I'll agree to go out with you? Please." "It's just a date." He let out a frustrated breath when she only stared at him. "Look, I like you. And I don't like it." "This is supposed to convince me to let you take me out?" She had a point. "I'm just trying to figure out why." Alauria crossed her arms over her chest as she asked, "And what happens if we go out and you still can't figure it out?" "I'll just have to take you on another date." "No." The determined look on her face tugged at his heart. He had to admit that he liked her strength. "I could just kiss you again." The fierce blush that took over her face made him laugh again. "Natoli. Seven o'clock. If you don't show up, I'll try to leave you alone." He was serious! Alauria only stared at him in shock as he wrote the name and address of the restaurant down on a piece of paper he pulled out of his pocket. He seriously asked her out to dinner. She seriously wanted to go. "Hello there, Honey Bun." "Oh Good Lord..." Alauria turned sharply and forced herself to smile. "Hi, Mom." Alauria's mother looked from her flushed daughter to the large, good-looking man who stood near the piano. His gaze shifted from her to her daughter and there was a level of curiosity she couldn't make out. "I was just in the neighborhood and wanted to see how everything is going." She glanced at the man again and smiled at his cordial nod. "Everything is fine. Lindsay was just leaving." "Oh, this is your new student." Lindsay quirked a brow at the revelation. She'd told her mother about him. "Former student. According to your daughter, I'm utterly hopeless." He stepped forward and held a hand out to her. "Lindsay Royce." "Patricia Sanders." Aside from the general shape of the face, Patricia looked nothing like Alauria. Her daughter stood three inches taller than her and the sepia tone of her skin was shades lighter than her mother's mocha complexion. Alauria's eyes were also darker than her mother's and much more expressive. Patricia was still a stunning woman, however, as evidence of her infectious smile and soft facial features. "Pleasure to meet you." He focused his attention on Alauria, who looked ready to run out the door. "Natoli. Seven." Lindsay smiled at Patricia as he said, "I'll leave you two ladies to have some quality time." He felt himself whistling as he walked out of the studio, and damn if he didn't want to laugh again. "Have you slept with him yet?" "Jesus Christ, Mother!" Patricia looked at her daughter's mortified face and shrugged nonchalantly. "I can see that you want to." "I'm not having this conversation with you." Patricia walked to the piano and glanced at Lindsay's perfect scripture. It had to be his; Alauria's print looked like chicken scratches. "Natoli? It's one of the finest restaurants on the bay." "I know, Mom." She did not need to be reminded of how easily Lindsay could sweep her off her feet. "He's a very strange man." "Strange or no, he's hot." "For the love of..." Alauria felt herself stopping when her mother sat down and began to play Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3. The piece always served to calm her nerves during moments of stress with her mother. She let the melody of the piece ease her tension and soon, she found herself sitting on a nearby chair to watch her mother play. It was from the outspoken woman that she'd developed her love for the piano; she'd wanted to play as beautifully and as effortlessly as she'd seen her mother. There was never anyone who played better than Patricia Sanders. "Are you going to go out with him?" Alauria sighed as she said, "I'm not sure. I barely know him." "That's the thing about dating, Honey Bun; you go out with someone to see what he's about." How she hated it when her mother had a point. Alauria remained silent, taking in the music her mother played and hoped that she could get herself together before she spontaneously combusted. Lindsay would have been a wonderful complication to her life - if he wasn't so damned complicated. Because of him, she was a jumble of incoherent thoughts. "You don't have to go out with him if you don't want to." "I know that, Mom." "Yes, but just know that if you don't make a nice cup of lemonade with the lemons he's throwing at you, I sure will." * * * * * Based on the amount of time he'd allotted for himself, Lindsay had exactly one hour to shower, find something to wear, and drive to Natoli. He'd cheated and only descended the stairs halfway to listen in on the conversation Alauria and her mother had once they thought he left. He was vastly amused by Patricia's boldness and wondered why her reserved daughter couldn't be the same. In actuality, part of his attraction to her was her reserved nature; there was no real reason for him to compare the two women. Lindsay liked Patricia; she seemed to be a very accepting woman. She wouldn't mind having him for a son. He stopped at the thought. Since when was he thinking about what the title entailed? He was only going out on a date with Alauria. That did not mean marriage. Serious relationships weren't in the cards for him; with the exception of his brothers, the people he loved were always in danger - if they weren't immediately killed anyway. He didn't want to carry that with him anymore. He'd been through enough pain. Lindsay knew something was wrong the second he'd walked through his door. There weren't any lights on like when Alexis cursed him to his fate, but there was a dark and ominous charge to the atmosphere. He set down the flowers he'd purchased for Alauria on his way home a second before he let an electrical charge flow into his hands. Lindsay stalked through the small foyer, prepared to blast at anything that jumped at him. What he found made him livid. Sitting on his couch was the unmistakable form of the one demon he wished he could kill. "What are you doing here, Raife?" He felt his eyes narrow in annoyance when the black demon only smiled. Jagged teeth gleamed in the filtering moonlight, and Lindsay was sure that Raife's skin was even darker than the last time they were in the same room. "Can't an old friend stop by for a visit?" "We aren't friends." Raife said nothing and looked around the room when the lights were turned on. "I like what you've done with the place." "It'll look even better once you leave." Raife laughed at the comment before staring at the ground. The demon lifted its yellow eyes to Lindsay's cold green ones. "There was a time when we were civil to one another." "That was before you killed my mother." "I couldn't go against my clan." "Better to go against me than them, is that right?" Lindsay shook his head slowly and focused his attention on the bottles of liquor. A bottle of two of tequila dominated his thoughts and if it wasn't for the fact that he had to meet Alauria, he would have indulged. "What do you want, Raife?" "I hear you're taking piano lessons." Lindsay felt his hands ball up into fists. "I told you to keep your people off my ass." "They were, until you started standing outside windows at two in the morning." Lindsay wanted to blast the demon with a surge of electricity so powerful, it would block off all electrical power sources for the city. Lindsay wished he could, but he couldn't. Raife had made it impossible for him to do what needed to be done. "Get them off me, or I kill them." Raife made no reply to the comment; the demon only smiled at Lindsay's anger. "I wonder what Rachel would think." At the mention of the name that haunted him, Lindsay felt his body tense in rage. "Rachel is dead." "Not in the biblical sense." "What the fuck would you know about the bible?" "It's a good read." Raife leaned forward to rest spiked elbows on its hardened knees. "I'm particularly fond of the Good Friday story. Interesting how a person can come back from the dead." Of course the bastard would warp the tale for its own personal gain. Lindsay ignored the irritating sounds of Raife's hardened skin scraping against itself as he said, "She's dead to me. That's all that matters." "But you promised to love her forever, remember?" Such promises needed to be upheld. It was only right. "That was before," Lindsay said with a shake of the head, "things have changed." "You could still be with her. Souls get reincarnated all the time." Lindsay almost laughed at the argument. "Not hers, and you know it." Rachel could never be reborn, not unless he... No, he wouldn't think of that. "Doesn't mean the soul isn't around. Waiting for the promises you made to remain true." "Rachel is gone." Raife had to suppress the surge of rage that took over. The demon would have loved nothing more than to rip the bastard's self righteous head right off his body, but rules and prior commitments prohibited the action. That didn't mean the demon slayer couldn't be reminded of his weaknesses. "Is this because of your little piano instructor?" Lindsay remained quiet. He knew Raife's game and would be damned if he played. Alauria had nothing to do with the conversation, and he would do all he could to ensure her separation from the paranormal aspects of his life. "Attractive enough, for a human. But if I remember correctly, you liked your women best when they walked the thin line between good and evil." Raife smiled at the murderous expression on Lindsay's face. Yes, this was the desired reaction. "You loved not knowing if the women you took would be next on The Brethren's extermination list." Lindsay threw caution to the wind and walked to his collection of liquor. He grabbed the bottle of tequila and took three large swallows in quick succession. The sensation of liquid fire coating his insides did nothing to dispel the rage coursing through his veins. "Tastes change. People change. You should know that better than anyone else." With narrowed eyes, Raife said, "She'll never come close to Rachel. Rachel was a woman who did what she had to do to get what she wanted." "And look at what that got her," Lindsay said on a cynical laugh. Raife watched the demon slayer take another three swigs of the fiery liquid and said, "It's not nice to break promises. People get hurt." When Lindsay only gave a suspicious look, Raife decided to add, "Karma, you know." Lindsay knew exactly what the self serving demon meant. Enraged, he launched the bottle in his hand clear across the room. The sounds of glass shattering only made him wish that it was the demon's ceramic-like skin that created the sound. "Don't you dare threaten her!" "I'm a demon. We don't make threats." Raife stood up, preparing to leave. The conversation was becoming boring. "But we do honor our words. Well, at least my kind doesn't. And I promise you that if you continue to betray Rachel's memory, your little chit will be the one to pay." Lindsay watched with angry eyes as Raife prepared to teleport out of the room. "My loyalty to Rachel died the moment she did." Raife stared at Lindsay for a moment before saying, "I just wonder if you'd be more inclined to keep your promises if your little instructor dies too." * * * * * He was a dead man. Alauria shook her head furiously as she walked toward her apartment building. Normally she would have just parked her small Volkswagen Beetle in the parking lot, but as someone in the building was having a party, all available parking had been taken. That left her to park in the only other lot in the neighborhood -- four blocks away. And in four inch stilettos that made her want to chew her own feet off, she was ready to murder someone. She already had a victim in mind; he stood at around six feet four, had red hair, and infuriatingly sexy green eyes. Meet at Natoli, he'd told her. If she didn't show up, he would understand. Well she did show up; had even gone through the grueling process of dressing up for the bastard. It took her nearly an hour to straighten her curls and even longer than that to shower, apply makeup, and get dressed. The prettiest dress she owned, a simple black cocktail dress with a shimmering lace overlay, was her ensemble of choice. Haunted Prey Ch. 04 She'd shaved her legs for this. When she arrived at the restaurant, she'd given Lindsay's name; Lindsay Royce he'd written down on the piece of paper he left on her piano, and when the hostess heard the name, Alauria was immediately seated on the restaurant terrace. She was given a dazzling view of the bay, and the water looked like a black sheet of diamonds; it matched the sky. He definitely knew what he was doing when he told her to meet him at Natoli; the waiters seemed to know him by name and made quick work of serving her a glass of wine and setting down fresh baked bread on the table. Alauria was too wrapped up on the classic Viennese setting to notice that she'd arrived at exactly seven and he was nowhere to be seen. But when she'd checked her cellular phone for the time and realized that it was quarter past the top of the hour, she began to wonder. At first, she figured that he was late; it had taken her ten minutes to find a parking spot that wouldn't take her fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant. Then she remembered the special treatment associated with his name; he probably had his own parking spot. He could have just been running late. There was no need to panic. At exactly eight-ten, her face was flushed with anger. There was no call, no announcement from the hostess, nothing. The waiters gave her sympathetic looks when they checked on her. The restaurant manager came by to ask her if she wanted to move to a more generalized table as there was a customer who wanted to propose to his girlfriend underneath the stars and moonlight. Alauria gladly gave the couple the table and literally stomped back to her car - where she'd been blocked in. So she had to wait another twenty minutes for the parking official to free her car. She knew that her face was comparable to a beet; rage unlike any she'd ever known coursed through her veins. Alauria was hurt, she was angry, and she was humiliated. So now she trekked the four blocks back to her building, regretting the fact that she'd cancelled two of her sessions for the no-good son-of-a-bitch. "Prick." Her eyes watered at the memory of the looks she'd received from the other diners when she was asked to move tables. If she could make him feel one ounce of that, she'd go to bed happy. There were a few people out tonight, all most likely on the way to the nearest bar or club. A few men whistled at her or made comments, but she ignored them all; the last thing she wanted to deal with was another one of the male species. Alauria felt herself frowning when she happened to glance over to see the lone woman standing in the street. She was underneath a streetlight, and her dirty blonde hair was left to wave down her back. She was a woman with presence; she was tall and athletically built, with vivid blue eyes. Flawless alabaster skin made her look damn near unreal. Why the woman stared at her in a knowing way, Alauria did not know. She wasn't in the mood to deal with possibly insane women who might have been streetwalkers. She just wanted to go home and go to sleep. The bottoms of her feet felt like they were on fire; her shoes were meant to be worn, yes, but not walked in for long periods of time. Every teeth-clenching step made Alauria hate him all the more; she was such an idiot for following whatever it was she felt for him. No more. She was done with anything she had to do with Lindsay Royce. And of course he was sitting on her doorstep. Of course he was; because fate wasn't done torturing the shit out of her just yet. Why he was outside her door, and not the restaurant, she didn't know. Nor did she care to. He wore a black leather jack over what looked like a plain black t-shirt and blue jeans. Black leather boots covered his feet and for the first time, his hair was pulled back. Alauria didn't care; she lifted her head, straightened her posture, and walked toward the back entrance to the building where she'd be able to access her apartment. Lindsay saw the angry and hurt looks in her eyes and felt his stomach twist uncomfortably. He was the reason for those looks, the reason she'd walked passed him, and had she not fisted her palms, he would have stepped in her way. Instead, he followed behind. "I'm sorry." He'd meant to call her to cancel, but convinced himself that severing ties completely was the best solution until he dealt with Raife. He couldn't have Alauria stuck in the middle. But that hadn't kept him from worrying about her, and wanting to know that she arrived home safely. He'd only been there for ten minutes and was sure that she was too angry to play when he saw her approach. And she looked stunning; even through the angry haze that simmered around her, she made him forget to breathe. He watched as she stopped in front of the back door to pull out her keys and felt his eyes narrow when he realized that she had absolutely no intention of talking to him. "Can you please say something?" Lindsay would have preferred her screaming in anger. At least then he knew that she was dealing with what she felt and getting it out of her system. Her silence was... unnerving and scary as hell. "Say something. A word, at least." Alauria had just managed to get the door open when he'd made his request. "Asshole. There's a word." She took her time stepping inside just enough to keep him from following her inside and turned to face him. He deserved that, he knew, but he didn't like knowing that that was how she felt about him. "I know you're upset." "You stand me up for a date you asked me for and the only thing you can think to say to me is that you know I'm upset? Damned right I'm upset." "I didn't mean for this to turn out this way." He let Raife get to him and he honestly thought that staying away from her was the best way to keep her safe. He knew that he didn't broach the method of protection correctly, but he stood by his decision. "Things happened-" "Yes, things did happen tonight, and you showed me exactly who you are." Alauria shook her head when he tried to speak and instead said, "Usually I can find it within myself to deal with the hot and cold attitude. But when you go so far as to humiliate me, all bets are off." Lindsay opened his mouth to defend himself and apologize once again, but he found himself stopping when she abruptly closed the door in his face. He listened as she ascended the staircase that led to her apartment, shocked by the level of her anger. He knew that she was upset, but he figured that she would have at least given him an opportunity to defend himself. Apparently not, because he was left standing outside her door. There was nothing more he could do tonight, unless he wanted to talk to the police, because he knew she was angry enough to call them. It was best that he went home; Alauria established that she hated him and he'd accomplished finding a reason to leave her alone. There was nothing more he could do. ________ I know it's a bit late, but I hope you guys enjoyed the latest installment. As always, comments are most welcome. Haunted Prey Ch. 05 Alauria placed her fingers on the piano keys, poised to create a new composition. It had been a long time since she'd written anything new, and since the night she'd been humiliated, she'd wanted nothing more than to pour her feelings into something productive. Music seemed to be the only outlet she felt comfortable with, but whenever she tried to play, she drew a blank. It was most likely because she was left with the image of his face haunting her. Every minute of every day left her with his memory. The electrical pulses that shot through her body when he kissed her, the intensity of his green eyes when he looked at her... The complete and utter feeling of humiliation when he stood her up. That had been seven days ago and though she'd pretty much told him to leave her the hell alone, she couldn't stop thinking about him. She went so far as to install a small bell on the front door so that she was afforded the opportunity to hear when someone came into the studio. She didn't want to be surprised, Alauria convinced herself, but deep down, she knew that she wanted the extra ten seconds to prepare herself in the event that he showed up. Her hands were poised over the keys, but she couldn't find the heart to play. Alauria had been that way since the night of their date and it frustrated her. Music was her passion, the only thing she had to turn to when life became complicated. It severely upset her that he was able to take that away from her. "Asshole." On a frustrated sigh, she walked to the back room, hoping that she had enough concentration to prepare a lesson for her next student. She'd been behind on that as well, and had even gone so far as to cancel a few more lessons in order to get herself together. It seemed that the harder she tried to stop thinking about him, the more she did. "This seriously needs to stop." Alauria gathered the music she wanted and felt herself freeze in place when she hard the light signs of the door chimes she had installed. She'd cancelled all of her lessons for the day, so it wasn't a student. That could only mean... Alauria walked to the main area of the studio and stopped short of who she saw. "What are you doing here?" He shuffled back and forth for a minute before he said, "I believe your mother told you that I've been looking for you." "Then she should have told you that I don't want anything to do with you." There was a moment of silence as both man and woman stared at each other. Alauria took in his appearance, his dark brown eyes and chestnut brown hair, and almost snarled in renewed rage. He was the last person she wanted to see. "Why don't you go back where you came from, Daniel?" The shocked look in his eyes goaded her to push the limit, to say things she would have never thought to speak aloud. "When you walked away, you had no problem staying away. So I see no reason for us to ever be on the same planet let alone in the same room." "I understand why you're upset-" "So you'll also understand why I want you to get the hell out." He remained quiet for a moment. Alauria was beyond upset, he knew, and had a valid reason to be. That didn't dispel any of the anger rising within him. "I will not leave until you have heard what I have to say." "That's not your choice to make, now is it?" "I don't care whose choice it is." Alauria found herself crossing her arms over her chest to keep from hitting him. She really wanted to; Lord knew that she had enough pent up anger and aggression toward men and he was the root of it all. The second she started hitting, however, she wouldn't stop, and the last thing she needed was to get arrested for assault. "I'd like you to leave. Right now." "No." "Leave!" "Is everything all right here?" Alauria looked over to the entryway and found herself groaning inwardly at the sight of Lindsay approaching. "Ugh, what do you want?" Lindsay blinked in surprise at the gruff tone of her voice. "I wanted to talk to you." His original reason for going to the studio was to talk to her, to give her an actual explanation for his actions the week before. Surely seven days was long enough for her to calm down enough to want to hear what he had to say. When he'd heard her yelling, however, he was sure that something was wrong and rushed upstairs to help. Lindsay hadn't expected to see her flushed with anger in front of who he could only described as the original to her carbon copy. Though the man was on the paler side, he had the exact same face as Alauria, down to the dark penetrating eyes. He too was flushed, but it was obvious that it wasn't from anger. He was face to face with Alauria's father. "What is it with you men? How many times do I have to say that I don't want to talk to you before you get the point?" Daniel also crossed his arms over his chest. Despite the fact that he deserved the yelling, he was quite tired of it. "Alauria Jaedyn-" "You do not get to middle name me, Daniel." "Alauria, calm down." "Stay out of this, Lindsay." Alauria felt rage course through her when both men gave each other a similar look of sympathy and support. "Get out! Both of you!" "Not until we talk," Daniel replied. The stubborn set to his chin told her that he was completely serious and that there was nothing she could do. She could call the police, but that didn't reflect well on her studio. "Fine. Say it." Daniel looked from his daughter to the large man standing just a few feet away. He knew for a fact that his daughter's guest would not leave until his got a chance to talk to her, which meant that he had to say what he had to say in front of a complete stranger. "I need your help." "So let me get this straight; you abandon me and my mother and leave us to think that you dropped off the face of the earth. Well, that would have actually been a gift now that I think about it." "Alauria-" "You leave, stay gone for years and now think that I would actually jump at the chance to help you simply because you ask?" "It's actually my daughter who needs help." Alauria took a step back at the information. He had other children? She had siblings? "What?" "She has aplastic anemia; a condition where she has severely low amounts of all types of blood cells. She needs a bone marrow transplant but neither her mother or I are a good enough match." "Why come to me?" "The doctors told us that a sibling would be a better match than a parent. You're only a half sibling, which makes the chances of you being a match even lower, but there is still a chance." Alauria wasn't sure of how to feel. On the one hand, she resented this sibling of hers for having a father who didn't leave. There was also the fact that a part of her wanted to make her father pay for leaving her, and the only way to do that was to deny his request. But she wasn't so cold hearted. At least she didn't think she was. "So you basically want me to jump to the chance to give a part myself to some stranger who has the bad luck of having the same father that I do?" Alauria shook her head slowly as she let out a disgusted grunt. "I heard what you had to say. Now get out." She didn't give her father a chance to reply as she walked to the back room. Lindsay remained silent as he watched Alauria walk out of the room. He wasn't sure what to say; based on his history with his father, he understood how she felt. He hadn't known about his brothers until his father summoned them all to become generals of his army. It was a difficult adjustment, going from only child to brother of eleven. Granted, none of them were sick when he learned of them, but he did understand her feelings of resentment toward her father. At the same time, he knew first hand that years of separation did nothing to dispel the feelings of love and affection she could develop for her sister if she helped. "Her name is Raedyn." Daniel dipped in his head as he said, "Actually, it's Brittania Raedyn, but she prefers to be called Raedyn. My little Rae." Lindsay watched as Daniel pulled a picture out of his wallet and felt his brow raise when the photo was handed to him. Curiosity made him look down at the picture and he was amazed by how similar she looked to her older sister. Though Raedyn was as pale as her father, she had the same curly hair and dark eyes as her sister. "She's beautiful." "She's only sixteen." Lindsay could only nod at Daniel. Sixteen was extremely young. She still had so much living to do. "I'll give her the picture." He silently watched as Daniel looked around the studio before leaving. Lindsay stood rooted in place for a few minutes, unsure of what to do. Alauria was too upset to have a civil conversation with him and he wasn't in the mood to get yelled at again, but at the same time, he couldn't leave her knowing that she was upset. Her pain hurt him. Despite everything, he only wanted to see her happy. With determination welling inside him, he walked to the back to talk to her. He found Alauria leaning against the door in defeat. She looked so sad, so... Done. "Are you all right?" She shook her head slowly as she stared at the ground. No, she wasn't all right; she'd just had to deal with the father she hadn't seen in almost twenty years. On top of that, she'd learned that she had a younger sister. No wonder her mother was so eager for her to call him; all this time she'd known that he had another family. Why hadn't she said anything? Why hadn't her father cared enough about her to be a part of her life? "I didn't know about my brothers until I was twenty-five. Our father was a bit of a womanizer." And that was the understatement of the year. "But we're all pretty close now." "Is this your way of saying I should go to the hospital and give her my bone marrow?" "I'm just saying that despite the fact that you don't know her, she's still your sister at the end of the day." "Lindsay, what are you doing here?" "I wanted to talk to you." "About what? You made your point when you stood me up." He didn't like that she refused to look at him while she spoke. "I was trying to protect you." "From what? The fact that you're an asshole in nice guy's clothing?" If only she knew what he was really protecting her from. As it was, he shouldn't have gone to see her because he hadn't yet pinpointed the demon Raife assigned to follow him. But he couldn't allow her to stay mad at him. "I'm not what you think." "No, you aren't. Thanks for letting me see that before I got in too deep." "Alauria-" God, why did it have to feel so good when he said her name? "Look, I've already had to deal with one man who had no problem walking away from me." Alauria finally moved to look at him and had to force herself to keep from losing her resolve at the earnest look in his eyes. He was really trying, but she wasn't in a forgiving mood. "I don't have the energy to deal with another." Finally, the root of why she wasn't willing to listen to him. Lindsay almost let out a sigh of relief when he realized that it was her aversion to feeling abandoned that contributed to her attitude. She was completely justified, and he didn't blame her for them. He simply felt better knowing that there was a way to get her to forgive him and let go of her anger. In the back of his mind, Lindsay knew that he should have just left things as they were, but he couldn't stay away when she was obviously confused and hurting. She was going to need someone to support her and he was determined to be there for her. "I'll leave." "Thank you." Lindsay hooked his finger beneath her chin so that she had no choice but to look up at him. Her brown eyes were wary and hesitant, the very looks he never wanted to see from her again. "I'll leave, but don't think this is the last you'll see of me." And there he went with the hot and cold attitude again. "Lindsay, it's better if we just leave it-" Alauria found herself stopped by the soft but quick kiss he placed on her lips. She should have been enraged by his bold move, but shock and fatigue kept her from doing anything other than staring at him. One kiss wasn't enough. Lindsay placed another chaste kiss on her lips, primarily because he knew he would feel as if he was taking advantage of her if he deepened it. He liked that she kissed him back this time and made his pleasure known by kissing her on the cheek. "See you soon," he whispered. Alauria watched as he walked out of the room and had to touch her fingers to her lips. Even now, knowing that she almost hated him, he was still able to make her tingle with just a touch. She looked down at her hand and found herself staring at the picture she held. Obviously Lindsay had given it to her, but she had no idea when. It was also quite apparent that the young girl in the picture was her sister; they looked so much alike. Could she really make her pay for their father's mistakes? Should she? * * * * * It took exactly three days for Alauria to come to a decision about her never-seen sister. She decided against talking to her mother about seeing her father; that would only result in an argument in which her mother would stress the importance of doing good things. While her mother would be right, Alauria wanted to make the decision on her own. After long, restless nights agonizing on whether or not she should help a young girl she'd never even met, she'd finally made up her mind. Lindsay's words did manage to influence her the slightest bit, a fact that partially annoyed her. As was his usual habit, he hadn't returned after he left the studio, but that didn't remove the memory of the way he kissed her. It didn't remove the feeling of longing for him either. Alauria looked toward the door and forced a smile at the woman who walked in. With shoulder length black hair and kind blue eyes, the woman made her feel comforted, as if everything would turn out all right. "Miss Hawkins?" "Yes." The woman walked to Alauria and shook her hand as she said, "I'm Dr. Monroe." "Are you Raedyn's doctor?" "Yes." Alauria nodded quietly as she watched Dr. Monroe look through what she assumed were Raedyn's charts. "So is this going to work?" Dr. Monroe kept her expression blank as she responded, "Because you two are only half sisters, there is a small chance. We're going to go on with the bone marrow harvest then test your sample to see if you are a match." "And if I'm not?" Alauria looked around the small office, at the shelves of books and journals, and sighed. She was actually going to go through with this. The wall full of certifications and licenses gave her a degree of confidence in Dr. Monroe's expertise. If she was going to do this, she was going to do it right. She hadn't even told anyone what she planned to do because she wanted the procedure over and done with. Alauria figured she would deal with the ramifications later. "She's also on the national donor list." Dr. Monroe switched to another chart and frowned before she looked at Alauria. "You're allergic to local anesthetic?" "Yes, there was a complication when I had my tonsils taken out." "This may be a problem. Bone Marrow harvests are usually done while the patient is anesthetized." "So we can't do it?" Alauria felt frustration well within her. After three days of agonizing over whether or not to help her sister, she couldn't even do it? "There are ways around it. We can sedate you-" "I don't want to risk being allergic to them too. Is there any way we could do this naturally?" "Miss Hawkins, this procedure can be extremely painful." Alauria nodded in understanding. "I can do it. I'll sign whatever clauses you need. I just," She looked down at the ground to keep from becoming hysterical. This should be so difficult, but it was. She was about to go through a painful procedure without drugs, and without a support system, all for a sister she didn't know. "I just want to help her." Dr. Monroe nodded in response before looking down at the chart once more. "Are you sure about this?" At her patient's nod, she folded her hands in front of her. "Because you are choosing to forgo medication, you should know that we are going to be inserting needles into the iliac crest, that would be your hip bone, to harvest the marrow. You'll be able to go home a few hours after the procedure, but you will be in extreme amounts of pain during the harvest." "What about after?" "The pain won't be as intense, but you will be in pain." "When can we do this?" "Miss Hawkins, don't you think you should take some more time to think about this?" "I've done all the thinking I'm going to do. When can we do this?" "We can have you prepped and ready to go in about an hour." Alauria breathed a sigh of relief. The sooner she got the procedure done, the sooner she could put the situation behind her. "Will you let me know if I'm a suitable match?" "If that is what you'd like." "It is." Dr. Monroe nodded a second before saying, "All right, I'll go put you in the schedule. I'll have a nurse bring you all the forms you need and you can fill them out here." Alauria watched as the doctor walked out of the room and sat back in her seat. Suddenly, she was exhausted. She'd been through too much emotional stress in too little a time. After dealing with Lindsay and her feelings about her father, she had to deal with the emotional ramifications of helping her sister. Her sister. Alauria'd only known about the teenager for three days and now she was possibly saving her life. Did this mean that she was also obligated to meet her? Would their families want them to become more than sisters in name? Did she even want to know her sister? Alauria barely paid any mind to the nurse that brought in the forms for her to fill. Twenty minutes of going through the motions of filling the forms and trying to take her mind off the pain she was to go through gave her time to mentally prepare for what was to come. Just as she'd signed the last form, the nurse returned to take her to change and prep for the procedure. Alauria didn't see anything as she was led through the hospital; her mind was focused on the young woman who looked liked her. Had the doctors caught her condition early enough to keep her alive in the event she wasn't a match? Alauria hadn't realized how engrossed in her thought she'd become until she looked down and found herself in a hospital gown. The nurse who'd led her to her temporary room placed her clothes in the closet. "How much longer?" "An intern will be by to take you to the procedure room in a few minutes." Alauria nodded and moved to sit down on the bed. She stared out of the window and again, saw nothing. For some inexplicable reason, she wanted to talk to her father. Dozens of questions flooded her mind and she knew for a fact that she would not get any answers unless she spoke to him specifically. At the same time, she wasn't sure if she wanted the answers to the questions that flooded her mind. So much for simply getting the procedure over and done with before anyone found out she was in the hospital. She wasn't surprised when she felt the large hand that was gently placed on her shoulder. Alauria didn't have to turn around and look to know who it was. "How did you know I was here?" "Are you all right?" Alauria turned and looked up at Lindsay's concerned eyes and found herself sighing when she realized that she didn't want to kick him out. "Didn't your mother ever tell you that it's impolite to answer a question with a question?" Lindsay smiled at the comment as he ran his fingers over her head. Her usually unbound hair was tied in a tight bun, most likely because of where she was. She looked so sad, so unsure and for the first time, she seemed to look through him and not at. No wonder he'd received a cryptic call from Alexis ordering him to go to the hospital. At first, Lindsay thought there might have been a demon he would have had to get rid of, but once he'd walked past her room and smelled pineapples, he'd been corrected. He'd also been scared out of his mind; immediately thoughts of her in a life or death situation flooded his mind, and he was sure that something was wrong. "What's wrong?" Haunted Prey Ch. 05 "You just did it again." Alauria turned to stare at the window again and tried to force herself to keep from leaning into him. His presence was much appreciated and until now, she wasn't aware of how much she wanted him there. "I decided to help her." Lindsay sat down on the bed next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him, and it was then that he realized that she was too involved in what was to happen to remember that she hated him. He didn't care either way; she couldn't be alone, not when she was about to do something so important. "The doctor says that it's going to be really painful, but that I'll be able to go home later. They should be starting soon." Lindsay remained quiet. It seemed as if she needed to talk to calm herself. He gently ran his hand over the expanse of her back and found himself sending gentle shocks of electricity through her to relax her tense muscles. She relaxed immediately, he was happy to see, and went so far as to take hold of his other hand for comfort. "Do you want me to be there with you?" Alauria found herself nodding despite herself. She stood when the intern arrived to collect her and listened quietly as Lindsay informed him that he would be there in the procedure room with her. Luckily, hospital rules allowed him to be there as the procedure was non-invasive. Within ten minutes, he was dressed in hospital scrubs and holding her hand as she was wheeled to the procedure room. Alauria thought it best to remain quiet as Lindsay introduced himself to Dr. Monroe and allowed the intern to help her onto the table. She didn't look at anything, only focused on Lindsay's face. She winced when iodine was swabbed on her back and hips; the more work they did, the tenser she became. The sound of Lindsay's voice afforded her a little bit of comfort, but it wasn't quite enough to calm her heart rate. Lindsay sat down on the extra stool placed in the room and immediately took hold of Alauria's hand. It only took the doctor five minutes to prepare. The menacing-looking needle was long and gleamed in the bright lights of the room. He became nauseated on Alauria's behalf. "It's going to be ok," he ensured, "Just hold onto my hand." Alauria nodded and waited for the inevitable. She cried out at the first injection of the needle and would have jumped off the table hand Lindsay not stepped in to hold her down. She buried her face in his forearm as she fought to remain still. Her body felt as if it was on fire and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Alauria became lightheaded from the pain and all too soon, she could take no more. "How much more?" "We're halfway there," Dr. Monroe replied. Lindsay felt his heart break at her tortured cries and whimpers. Part of him wanted to beat the life out of the doctor for causing her so much pain, but another part of him, the rational part of him understood why he had to endure the hot tears that coated his arms. Dr. Monroe explained Alauria's allergy to anesthesia, as well as her aversion to any form of sedation. He was slightly annoyed that she was willing to go through this by herself. But at the same time, he was proud of her strength and her gentle heart. Not many people would have gone through such pain for someone they did not know. Lindsay wasn't even sure if he would. As much as he loved his brothers, he'd had time to care for them. Alauria didn't know anything about Raedyn other than the fact that they were sisters and that she was sixteen. "I have twelve brothers," he said. "That's a lot," Alauria gasped. "Yeah, but you can't help but love all of them." Alauria listened gratefully as Lindsay ran down his mile long list of brothers. They each had different personalities, which was expected, but based on the way he described them, their traits were extreme. For some inexplicable reason, she wanted to meet them all, especially the one called Liam who liked to yell all the time. There was also Giles, the musical genius of the family who would appreciate her love of the art form. But the one she wanted to know the most about, the one she couldn't get out of her mind, was the man who couldn't decide if he wanted to be around her or not. His skin smelled like fresh cedar and the heat that radiated off it comforted her. "When is the last time you saw them?" "It's been a while since I've seen them, but I talk to Alexis quite regularly." "Alexis and Lindsay... Were you two supposed to be the pansies of the family?" "Those names were once only allotted for men." "Yea, like a trillion years ago. Oh God," she gasped as a sharp pain shot through her back. "You're ok," Lindsay comforted. "Just a little more to go," Dr. Monroe added. Alauria nodded as she tightened her grip on Lindsay's hand. "Tell me more about Liam." "He's a hot head. The smallest thing sets him off." "So you and your brothers make sure you piss him off daily." Lindsay laughed as he nodded. "Caleb loves to torture him. He's good at reading people so he makes it a point of messing with everyone he meets." "I'll make it a point to stay away from him then." The statement made his stomach clench. "Does this mean you plan on meeting them?" "Does this mean that you plan on sticking around long enough for me to meet them?" As much as he wanted to answer the question, Lindsay remained silent. That wasn't the kind of conversation people had in the middle of a bone marrow harvest. To ensure her confidence, he kissed the palm of her hand. He would have preferred kissing her lips, but that would have been highly inappropriate. The remainder of the procedure was quiet, primarily because Alauria preferred to keep from speaking. Lindsay watched as her marrow was taken out of the room. Dr. Monroe nodded at him, a signal that everything was fine. He sighed in relief. The nurses took little time cleaning Alauria and placing small bandages on the areas of skin that still bled. Within ten minutes, she was in a wheelchair and on her way to recovery. Lindsay remained beside her as he'd refused to let go of her hand. In her room, he'd taken it upon himself to settle her into bed; he felt his heart break with every groan and whimper of pain. She was sweating by the time he had her settled in bed. "Do you need anything?" "A huge slice of red velvet cake would be fantastic." Lindsay smiled at the comment and waited until they were the only ones in the room before he said, "I know of a place on Lee Street that sells the best red velvet in the state." Alauria stared at Lindsay in disbelief for a moment before she laughed cynically. Then she groaned at the pain that came with the action. "You can't ask me out." "Why not?" "I told you I didn't want to see you anymore, remember?" "I'm sorry I'm being such a dick. It's been a really long time since I've done this dating thing." "To say that we're dating would mean that we've gone on at least one date." She shook her head when he shrugged indifferently. Apparently he was the kind of man who did what he wanted no matter what other people thought. "I should have known you would be trouble." "Does this mean you're saying yes?" "It means I'll think about it." "I can accept that. For now." This gave him plenty of time to find the demon Raife had on his tail. Seeing her in the hospital only made him realize that as a human, Alauria didn't have a lot of time to deal with his antics. She deserved better than that. She deserved better than him, but he would be damned if he let anyone else have her. He had to deal with Raife before it as too late. Haunted Prey Ch. 06 Alauria looked down at herself as she struggled to calm her breathing. She was nervous, and wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing. After receiving a call from Dr. Monroe that she was, in fact a match for her sister, Alauria knew that she had to meet her. It wasn't enough knowing that she was saving the life of someone who shared her blood; she had to see the face of the young woman. The picture that Lindsay had given her of her sister touched her, called out to her. Other than the fact that their skin tones were shades apart, they had the same face. What other similarities did they share? How did she feel about their father? She probably loved the man. Daniel did, after all, stick around to raise and love her. Brittania didn't have to deal with feelings of insecurity and abandonment. She never had to think about what she did wrong to push her father away. Most importantly, she never had to lay awake at night and listen to her mother's sobs of despair because the man she loved didn't return her feelings anymore. As much as she wanted to dislike the teenager for her simpler life, Alauria only felt protective of her. Brittania was sick, and she needed support, not a half crazed sister hell bent on revenge. Alauria smoothed her hands over clothes and took a deep breath before she knocked on the hospital room door. She didn't wait for an invitation and simply walked into the room. Brittania, who looked miserable confined to her hospital bed, shifted her attention from the television to her visitor. Both women stared at each other for a moment, each unsure of what to do or say. Alauria closed the door behind her and leaned against it. She wasn't sure if Brittania wanted her to come closer or even if she knew about her. Upsetting the sick young woman would not be beneficial to everyone. "Hi." Brittania looked at the woman standing in front of her, and had she the energy, she would have hugged her. "Daddy didn't think you'd come to see me." Alauria blinked back her surprise as she looked at her sister. "You know about me?" "All my life." Alauria didn't know what to say to that. She could have raged and thrown a fit, knowing that the teenager in front of her wasn't to blame. That wasn't exactly her style, and based on the way her sister blushed and barely made eye contact, this moment was just as awkward for her. "I would say that I wonder why it took him so long to find a reason for us to meet..." "You still hate him." The disappointed look in her sister's eyes made her stomp the urge to reveal how she really felt about their father. "What I feel for him isn't the issue right now. I came here because I wanted to know the young woman I'm helping." Brittania nodded in agreement but for the life of her could think of nothing to say. For years, she'd imagined this moment in her mind, the moment when she would meet her accomplished pianist sister. The sister who knew nothing about her. The sister who hated their father for what he did to her mother. "I like to write stories." "What kind?" Brittania felt her face flush and stared down at her clasped hands as she said, "It usually depends on my mood, really. The story I'm working on right now is about a girl trying to fit in." "Fit into what?" "Anything that looks like it'll fit." Alauria took a small step forward in her interest. "So she's all alone in the world?" "She has her family, and while there is lots of love, there isn't much understanding." That told Alauria everything she needed to know. "Sometimes it just feels like the people you love don't understand you because they're trying so hard to make sure that they do." "Is that why you refused to talk to Daddy until he cornered you?" Brittania felt her face flame dangerously at the incredulous look on her sister's face. "I'm sorry, that's none of my-" "I'm sure you know what happened to make me dislike him. He never tried to understand. He gave up on us, and now he has to deal with the consequences." "Do you love him?" "This visit is supposed to be about us, remember?" Brittania nodded slowly, thoroughly chastised. "I don't know what to say to you." "At least we're on the same page when it comes to something." Alauria found herself looking around the small hospital room. The dozens of daisies that lined the table surfaces and window ledges told her what her sister's favorite flower was. Had Brittania not told her that she liked to write, Alauria would have figured it out; there was a small stack of notebooks by the bed, and on top of them was a sheet of paper that looked like notes for whatever she was working on. Other than that, there wasn't much else for her to figure out on her own. Brittania seemed shy, but that simply could have been because of the awkward situation they were in. "We had a brother." "Excuse me?" Brittania nodded as she said, "He was a year younger than me. Christopher Haedyn." Alauria said nothing to trend of their rhyming middle names as she was too taken in by the look of hurt in Brittania's eyes. "What happened to him?" "Cranial bleed-out, the doctors said." Brittania shrugged as she fought back the tears that threatened to fall. "All I know is that is was trying some trick on his skateboard and he hit his head." "How old was he?" "Fourteen." "This happened last year?" Alauria watched in horror as Brittania nodded. Her family had been through way too much in the past year. No wonder their father came looking for her. "I'm sorry." The two women remained silent for a long moment as there wasn't much else to say. Alauria took another step forward and placed her hand on the footboard of the hospital bed. It was the most comfort she could supply considering the circumstances. Had she known about her siblings, she would have been there for them, would have held her sister's hand while she grieved for their brother. As it was, Alauria didn't know her brother and she mourned his loss. "Christopher Haedyn. Brittania Raedyn." At least their father found one way to link his children together. "Alauria Jaedyn." Hearing her name on her sister's lips forced Alauria to take a step back. "I should get going. I hope everything works out for you." Brittania sat up at the abrupt exit. "Are you coming back?" "I don't... I'm not sure..." Alauria took a breath to calm her racing thoughts. "Do you want me to come back?" At Brittania's nod, she dipped her head in compliance. "I'll come back then." Alauria didn't wait for her sister to respond; she simply walked out of the room and tried to calm her racing heart. She liked her sister. Despite the awkwardness and the hesitation, she really liked the young woman confined to the hospital bed. That wasn't something she was sure she could deal with. And that only added to the confusion Alauria felt about her family. * * * * * Alauria wasn't quite sure if she'd made the right decision when she agreed to another date. Based on her short and complicated history with Lindsay, she was doomed to be angry and humiliated once more. At least she'd be humiliated in the confines of her apartment; he'd informed her that he would pick her up this time. Good; this way, if he pulled his favorite trick again, she wouldn't have to answer the door. She'd decided against straightening her curls this time. Alauria told herself that she'd be less disappointed if she didn't work so hard to impress him. She wore only the barest essentials of makeup; foundation to even out her complexion, eyeliner to emphasize her dark eyes, and mascara to give her an alert look. Tinted lip gloss completed the cosmetics and helped to emphasize the simple green halter dress she chose to wear. It wasn't until it was too late to change that she'd realized that the dress was the exact color of his eyes. Knowing Lindsay, he'd arrogantly assume that she'd chosen the dress specifically because of his eyes. Ass. Maybe if he wasn't such a jerk, she might let him go on believing that. Alauria sat down on her couch in an effort to calm her racing heart. She shouldn't have been so nervous; she'd mentally prepared herself for any conceivable outcome down to what she would say in each situation. But it was easy to think of things to say when a person assumed that things would go exactly as they planned. Life was unpredictable. Confused and possibly emotionally stunted men, even more so. Who was to say that the unpredictable man wouldn't throw her for an even bigger loop than he already had? Based on her life this month, the scenario was quite possible. For a moment, she wondered how her sister was faring. Alauria shook her head at the realization that she'd never get used to the title. She had a little sister. A sick little sister who was stuck in the hospital for a few more days. Did her mother know? She had to; it was the only reason for her constant pressure to talk to Daniel. Alauria made a mental note to call her in the morning. With everything that had been going on, there hadn't been much time to talk to the meddling woman. And of course she made no moves to contact her; Daniel probably kept her updated on what was going on. Yes, she would definitely have to talk to the woman in the morning. The sound of the doorbell made her jump. From surprise or excitement that he actually showed up, Alauria wasn't sure. She took a deep breath, grabbed her purse and shawl, and headed down the stairs to meet her date. Before she opened the door, she told herself that she would be fine and took another breath. Lindsay felt his breath catch in this throat at the sight of her. Perfection wasn't an adequate description for her; she was better than perfect. That dress... Compared to other dresses of the same style, the green satin covering Alauria's skin was modest and at the same time, entirely too enticing. The beauty mark on her shoulder made his cock harden. The condition only worsened when the sweet scent of pineapples wafted over him. "Hi." Alauria found herself blushing at the hot look Lindsay gave her. She should have been used to that particular stare, but there was something new in his eyes, something soft and welcoming that threw her off. She liked it. She also liked his choice of attire for the evening; he opted for a black suit. With it, he wore a black shirt and a simple blue tie to add color. Lindsay slicked his hair back and the small change of hairstyle only emphasized those mesmerizing eyes of his. "Hello." She smiled at the small pot of orchids he handed her and gently placed them on the staircase leading to her apartment. "Thank you. I'll put them upstairs when I get back." Lindsay nodded and felt his cock throb uncomfortably when she leaned over to place the flowers on the highest step she could reach. It took all of the self control in his body to keep from reaching for her and taker her right there on the stairs. He placed his hands in his pockets and took a step back to give her room to step outside. "You look good." Alauria found herself smiling at the overly masculine compliment. "You look good too." He only nodded in answer. The walk to his car was silent, primarily because he wasn't sure of what to say. He considered trying to make her laugh, but decided against it when he remembered that he didn't have a humorous bone in his body. Sure, he found things funny, but he couldn't tell a joke to save his life. His brother Draco would have been a godsend. No... She'd probably find him a better conversationalist than him. He really didn't want to have to go through the process of explaining Draco's death to Alexis. It was best if he remained silent. Alauria felt her eyes go wide at the sight of the fire engine red Pagani Zonda C12 F parked near her building. The only reason she knew the particular model and make of the car was because one of her students was a car buff. In her mind, a car was a car. Expensive cars were potentially death traps as they rode low, went way too fast and had virtually no room in the cabin. "This is your car?" she asked as he approached it. "One of them." Lindsay opened the passenger door for her and helped her settle herself in before moving to the driver's side. He heard her repeat his words as a question and smiled at the inflections in her voice. "I also have a truck and a Ferrari at my brothers' house." He said nothing more as he entered the car. She only nodded slowly in response. She shouldn't have been surprised by his wealth, but it was difficult considering the things he'd shown her thus far. "Do I get to ask where we're going or should I be prepared to be surprised?" Lindsay smiled at the question as he started the car. "We're going to the bay." "To?" He only shook his head as he began the short drive to the bay. He remembered to adhere to the speed limits set by the town, though it killed him to go slowly. Lindsay stole glances at Alauria while he drove, and found himself smiling at the absent way she tapped her fingers against her thighs. She was obviously going over a piece in her head. He liked that she was too comfortable to be on guard. "You don't get motion sickness, do you?" That was an odd question to ask. Alauria shook her head slowly and countered with a question of her own. "We're not going to be putting my life in danger, are we?" Lindsay gripped the wheel tightly at the question. He hadn't yet dealt with Raife and that only put her life in even more danger as time went on. "Lindsay?" "I'll keep you safe." Alauria nodded and focused her attention on the docks. He said he was taking her to the bay and he wasn't lying. There was only one boat docked and the longer she looked at it, the more she realized that it wasn't a boat. It was a yacht. A beautifully lit yacht that looked as if it cost more than a private mansion. She looked over at Lindsay as he parked the car and felt her eyes widen at his pleased smile. "Yours?" "My brother's." Because he was the only one who lived near a body of water large enough to hold the yacht, Rufus, the ever-rebellious brother left his precious boat with him. Lindsay was allowed to use the vessel, but never had because of a lack of opportunity. Until now. "Nice, isn't it?" Nice? The thing looked better than most mansions she saw on television. Alauria only nodded but found the action useless as he'd already cut off the engine and exited the car. Within seconds, he was assisting her out and leading her toward the yacht. "This is where we're having our date?" "Yes." He did not take offense strictly because of the wonder in her voice. She was simply impressed; Alauria was flattered that he deemed her important enough to board his brother's yacht. He took hold of her hand and tightened his grip when she instinctively jerked back. He'd shocked her again. "Come on." Alauria followed quietly as he led her to the yacht. Icicle lights gave the outdoor deck a romantic glow that was only emphasized by the gentle breeze. As they approached, she saw the small table adorned with dinnerware and a bottle of wine already placed on ice. There were more orchids on the deck as well and the sweet scent of them made her close her eyes in pleasure. "You like orchids?" She gasped in surprise when he swept her up in his arms. He smelled like pine and rain; a deadly combination. She inhaled deeply as he quickly walked through the semi hazardous socks to get to the yacht. "You didn't have to carry me." "The planks aren't evenly spaced and since you're in heels, that isn't good." Lindsay effortlessly boarded the boat before setting her down. "They remind me of you." Alauria frowned at the statement. "Excuse me?" "The orchids. They remind me of you." "Oh." "Wine?" She almost laughed at the breezy way he complimented her. "Sure." She followed him to the table and watched as he poured them both glasses of rich, red wine. As she accepted her glass, she asked, "What do we toast to?" The innocent sparkle in her eyes made his lips quirk up in a smile. "To an interesting evening." "To an interesting evening," she repeated with a smile. After clinking glasses, Alauria took a sip of the heady wine and closed her eyes at the mouthwatering taste. Good Lord, the man didn't settle for anything below average. She took another sip and opened her eyes. He hadn't moved an inch, not even to sample the wine. "Aren't you going to have any?" Lindsay's answer was to set his glass down before stepping forward to possess her mouth with his. He slanted his lips over hers slowly and licked her sweet lips to get a taste of the wine. He wanted more. He pulled her to him and coaxed her mouth open with his tongue, invading the intoxicating cavern as he swept his tongue inside to sample her sweetness. Her low moans and whimpers made him pull her closer and he was sure that she felt his obvious arousal against her lower stomach. Alauria's hand slowly began to drop and he took hold of her wine glass before she spilled any. He didn't stop kissing her; he couldn't when her arousing tongue mimicked his movements. Lindsay used his free hand to hold a fistful of her hair and the soft tresses only made him take more from her; it wasn't long before she was clinging to him for support. It was when Alauria felt herself slipping into whatever spell he was casting on her that she pulled her mouth from his. "We should stop." The almost panicked look in her eyes brought him to his senses. Lindsay placed one small kiss on her lips before murmuring, "You're right. Desert should come after dinner." Her wide-eyed expression made him smile. "Are you ready to eat?" Lindsay didn't wait for her to answer; he pulled Alauria to the table and sat her down before going to kitchen to retrieve their dinner. As he returned to the table, he smiled at her calm and adorable expression. "I made us my best dish." Alauria found herself laughing loudly when the plate of macaroni and cheese was placed in front of her. "You're best dish, huh?" Lindsay smiled at her amused expression as he sat down. It was nice to be free and easy with someone, even though he knew that he most likely had her in danger. He couldn't help himself; he couldn't seem to stay away from her. "It's about the only thing I can cook." He didn't need to learn how to make anything else; his dietary needs didn't require daily sustenance and as he tended to stick to what he liked, he chose to only eat the easy-to-make meal. "I'm sure it'll be great." Alauria picked up a fork and took a bite. It was regular macaroni and cheese but because he'd taken the time to prepare it for them, she liked it better that five-star cuisine. "The best I've ever had." "What every man likes to hear. "He felt his smile deepen at the small flush of her skin. "What dirty things are you thinking about?" "Nothing," she said too quickly. Another bite of food was the only diversion she could think of, so Alauria took a large bite of her meal. "This is really good." Lindsay didn't say anything, but he knew she'd be saying the exact same thing he got his hands on her. "I'm glad you like it." Alauria nodded slowly before taking a sip of wine. "So you take piano lessons, cook a mean mac-and-cheese, and like to brag about your brothers. What else do you like to do?" "Are you finished with your dinner?" "Sure." Alauria stared at Lindsay curiously as she said, "You barely touched your food." "Same to you. But I'd like to answer your question before you forget you asked." "Forget I asked what?" Lindsay laughed as he stood and walked to a small control panel built into the wall. With the push of a button, Chopin's Prelude in E minor softly accented the atmosphere he'd created. He walked to her slowly and held his hand out to her. "Dance with me." "This is what else you like to do?" He said nothing; only smiled at her slowly. He sighed when she placed her smaller hand in his and made quick work of pulling her into his arms. He had to improvise as he never considered himself a dancer, but the fact that she didn't seem to mind eased any anxiety he might have had. Lindsay felt himself sighing again when Alauria placed her hand on his shoulder. The ease in which she melted into him arms created a surge of pleasure that touched the corners of his soul. Haunted Prey Ch. 06 Alauria looked up at him curiously when he abruptly pulled away. "Something wrong?" He shook his head slowly before pulling her back into his arms. It did no one any good if he allowed himself to panic at the thought of getting close to another woman, especially not Alauria. He was sure that she was expecting something harsh and cold from him, and Lindsay wasn't the kind of man who enjoyed living up to the expectations of others. "Everything's just fine." He continued to sway with her and forced himself to concentrate on the smell of her skin and the way her curls brushed against his chin. He could do this; it was just a simple dinner to prove that he wasn't an ass and that he did take her feelings into consideration. It didn't have to be anything more that that. A faint sound in the distance forced him to tilt his head. A rustle of leaves, a sound that should have been normal. Only, there hadn't been any kind of breeze for at least five minutes and there certainly wasn't one now. He was prepared to blame the sound on a random wild animal, but the thought was dispelled when he noticed the flicker of light in the distance. They were being watched. Lindsay knew better than to tense or abruptly end their date. He had to draw his adversary out, and the best way to do that was to act as if he wasn't aware of the danger. Alauria couldn't know what was happening; he wanted her ignorant to the real responsibilities of his life and as far away from danger as possible. Lindsay was sure that the spy belonged to Raife and might possibly have been the one following him around for months. If he didn't have Alauria with him... "Are you all right?" Lindsay looked down at her concerned face and shook his head. "What makes you think something is wrong?" "You got really tense all of a sudden." She'd noticed that? Damn. "I'm fine. Just wondering when you wanted to go home." "That eager to get rid of me?" He cursed himself for the unintended implications of his words. "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant." "What did you mean then?" He knew that he'd pricked her temper and that she was looking for a reason to storm off. Lindsay was not about to let that happen. "It's been a really long time since I've done this relationship thing." Alauria was taken aback by the statement. "The way you said that, you make me think that you consider us more advanced than just dating." The last time Lindsay romantically involved himself with a woman, there was no such thing as 'dating'. Man and woman met, they courted through a series of outings, and then married. The modernized terminology meant that a man and a woman courted before acting as if married before deciding that they might as well make the relationship valid in the most permanent way. Lindsay was anything was modern when it came to such issues. When he only shrugged in answer, she decided to get straight to the point. "So you consider this a relationship, relationship? Not just us messing around for kicks?" He nodded in answer and something in her stomach fluttered. "So you think of me as your girlfriend?" He was sure that she meant the modernized version of 'intended mate'. Lindsay nodded slowly, making sure to watch for any signs of displeasure or panic. "Do you want to be?" And this was coming from the man who found nothing wrong with kissing a woman he barely knew. Alauria thought for a moment. While it would be one hell of a quick entry into a relationship, there was no use in denying her fierce attraction to him or the fact that she could never seem to get him out of her head. She'd never met a man like him before, and it was that very reason that made her desperate for more. "I guess that's all right." She laughed at the way he rolled his eyes heavenward before leaning into him. The scent of his skin made her sigh in content. He was her boyfriend. He was hers. "So you're going to stop your crap-tastic version of a broken faucet?" "What?" "The hot and cold thing. You know... Acting like you're into me one second, and then pretending that I have the plague the next?" It wasn't what she said, but how she said it that made him laugh loudly. "No. No more broken faucets." "Good. Because I'd really hate to have to-" She found herself suddenly thrown into a deep and consuming kiss that left her knees weak. Alauria grasped the lapels of his jacket as he ravaged her mouth with his tongue. She moaned into his mouth when he fisted his hand in her hair again. She wasn't sure what happened after that; she'd become too consumed in the way he kissed her to pay any mine to anything else. Alauria could only think of the domineering way Lindsay took possession of her mouth and the gentle way he brushed his fingertips over her exposed skin. Small, inexplicable pulses thrummed through her body and each delicious throb brought her closer to a madness she did not want to control. There was a point where she realized that they were on a very soft bed, but for the life of her, Alauria could not remember how they got there. She was only concerned about the wonderful things Lindsay did with his mouth. Lord, did the man know how to kiss! Every addictive flick of his tongue made her hunger for more and it wasn't logs before her hips began to move against his. Lindsay knew that he had to put a stop to their play before they did something she might regret in the morning. It was difficult to pull away from her; Alauria's soft and pliant body melded into his and her lips reached for any part of his body they could access. As much as he wanted to show her the effects of her movements, he knew that it would be a bad idea in the long run. "I should probably get you home." She should have been offended by the comment, but pragmatism washed over her. They'd only just decided that they were in a relationship; while physical gratification would have been wonderful, she needed to learn more about her boyfriend. "What time is it?" Lindsay looked at the sky through the skylight and guessed a time based on the quarter-moon. "I'd say around midnight, maybe one." They'd been kissing for hours! How time flew when wrapped in the arms of a sexy man. "Oh. Yeah, maybe it's time to go home." She remained silent as they adjusted their rustled clothing before going back on deck. "I don't mind waiting for you if you want to put all of this stuff away." "It's all right. I have to swing back anyway." "Another hot date?" Though he knew that she was joking, he still lost his patience. "I'd never do that to you." The anger in his eyes made Alauria frown in confusion. "I know that. I was only joking." "No need to joke. As long as you're with me, there will never be anyone else. Ever." Alauria nodded quietly and decided that the best course of action was to remain silent until she could think of a better way to joke around with him. She watched as he ran a hand through his mussed hair before turning to look out at the bay. She'd already figured out that the man was emotionally turbulent, but never pegged him for one to take things so personally. What else should she have expected after everything they'd been through? "How is your sister doing?" The change of subject had her turning in just enough time to hold on as he lifted her into his arms. "She looked all right when I went to see her." "You actually visited her?" "Don't sound so surprised." Lindsay smiled at the comeback. "I figured you wouldn't because you don't want to see your father." "He wasn't there, luckily." "What's she like?" "Like a sixteen-year-old, I guess." Alauria looked up at him when he abruptly stopped walking. It was obviously that he did not like her answer. "She's shy, but seems eager to be friends." "How do you feel about that?" "I don't know. This whole thing is enough to have to digest without adding my feelings." She rested her head on his shoulder and she sighed. "She's known about me all her life. She wants to know who I am." "Not a terribly outrageous request," he said as he resumed walking. "No, but I don't think I'm the person she's dreamed up all these years." "You're afraid you'll disappoint her." "Yes and no. She had a brother." Lindsay stopped in front of his car and looked down at her pensive face. She was trying so hard to get her thoughts in order. "You had a brother." "He died last year." His silence was exactly what she needed. "I don't want to be a replacement." "Remember I told you that I didn't learn my brothers existed until I met them?" At her nod, Lindsay said, "There were countless times Liam and I nearly killed each other. He's short tempered and I'm impatient. Horrible combination." "How is this supposed to help me?" "We had to learn how to deal with each other. No one expects you to magically know how to be a sister." She nodded in thought a felt a small smile from on her lips. Who would have thought that he had so much insight? He did have experience in the particular topic, but something told Alauria that he would have said the same exact thing had he not gone through it. "Thank you." Lindsay only nodded as he opened the car door for her. Instinctively, he found himself looking for any other signs of the spy. He wasn't sure to feel relieved ort annoyed that there was none. Something had to be done to get Raife off his back, and it had to be done quickly. With a sigh, he walked around to the driver's side and made quick work of making the short drive back to her apartment. Raife seriously had some nerve. They'd come to an understanding; if he was left alone, he'd have no reason to kill the bastard demon. It was their history that kept Raife alive, but the threat on a future with Alauria made Lindsay reconsider the treaty. "I had a good time tonight." Lindsay felt himself smile proudly at that. "I know." Somehow, his arrogance turned her on even more. Alauria shook her head slowly and smiled. Finally, he'd given her a reason to stick around. As he parked his car in front of her building, she tried to not become disappointed by the fact that their night was over. There would be other nights; he was, after all, her boyfriend. Her boyfriend. Wait until her mother got an earful of that. He found himself smiling as he cut off the ignition. He walked around the car to help her out, and again ignored her surprised gasp as he accidentally shocked her. He really needed to get a handle on that. "I'll come by tomorrow if that's all right." "As long as you don't mess with my students, I'd love it." He smiled again at the sparkle in her eyes and it was then that he knew that the woman standing in front of him had irrevocably changed his life. While the revelation terrified him, it excited him even more. Lindsay found himself staring at her as they walked to her door; the easy way her hair bounced with each of her steps made him remember the softness of the dark locks and the sweet scent that permeated off them. Alauria had a tendency to glance at the ground as she walked; he figured it was to make sure she didn't step on anything unfavorable. She also inhaled a little deeper when she walked by flowering plants. He was sure she didn't even realize the habit. That habit had to be one of the sweetest things about her. At her door, Alauria took her time fishing for her keys. Somewhere in the back of her mind, something told her -- urged her -- to invite him up, but once gain, pragmatism won over. "So I'll see you tomorrow." She smiled when he gently took the keys from her and opened the door. "Thank you." Lindsay nodded as he quickly assessed the area. Everything looked fine and there were no suspicious sounds. But something didn't sit well with him. It might have just been the fact that they were being watched by Raife's spy. "Yeah, tomorrow." He focused his attention on her and couldn't stop himself from sampling her sweet lips once more. The sweet way she moaned into his mouth had Lindsay pushing her against the opened door. Once again, she clung to him and surprised him by taking his lower lip between her teeth. He groaned her name in response and had to pull away before he ravaged her. Her pleasantly swollen lips made him run his thumbs over them. "Shit," he groaned when she brushed the tip of her tongue against his skin. The woman was going to be the death of him. "Goodnight." Alauria smiled as she ducked her head nervously. "See you tomorrow." She accepted the keys he handed her before whimsically climbing the stairs that led to her apartment. She couldn't have asked for a better re-do of their first date. Lindsay ran his fingers over his chin as he fought to keep from laughing. He wasn't even sure why he wanted to laugh, but he was barely able to control the urge. As he walked to his car, he thought of a second outing that would no doubt sweep her off her feet. He'd have to find more orchids; they were after all, the only flower that made him think of her when he looked at them. "Shit," he whispered as he whipped around. The orchids weren't on the stairs when they'd returned. Immediately infuriated, Lindsay marched back to the building, determined to retrieve the stolen flowers from whichever neighbor took them. Alauria had left the flowers on the stairs for a reason and that reason did not revolve around theft. Potent anger coursed through him and that anger made him forget that he was supposed to seem like a normal human; Lindsay pulled the locked door open without a second thought and stormed into the building. He stopped at the odd sensation that sizzled down his spine. Centuries of training told him that the sensation meant one thing. There was a demon present. Thinking stopped. Lindsay stormed up the stairs and used the force of his body to push the door open. White hot rage took over. Two demons were in Alauria's apartment. One held her still while the other searched hr apartment. For what, Lindsay did not care. All he knew was that he was going to make quick work of killing them. He stepped into the apartment and focused his attention on Alauria. Her face was flushed in anger but her features were contorted in fear. Tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving dark trails from her makeup. There was a bruise forming on her arms where the demon held her tightly. A shock of electricity sliced through Lindsay's body at the sight of the marks. But it was the lone bruise forming on her cheek, one obviously from a blow meant to threaten her into silence, that forced him to lose control. With a ferocious roar, he focused a bolt of electricity on the demon searching the apartment. The familiar scent of the demon's black, ceramic-like skin burning from the intense volt of electricity did nothing to sate Lindsay's bloodlust. He increased the intensity of the blast and had to turn his head away from the brightness of his power. He faintly heard Alauria scream out, but he couldn't stop until he felt the first demon had had enough. The horny surface of the bastard's hard skin began to ashen; soon it would be nothing more than a pile of dust someone would have to vacuum. It wasn't until the demon combusted into a flurry of charcoal dust that Lindsay turned to the other demon. This one was smaller than the last and its skin was almost plum colored. Where the first demon had horns on its hard skin, this one was smooth. It's bright red eyes conveyed nothing but determination to leave with it's captive. Lindsay smiled evilly when the demon wrapped it's long and slender hand around Alauria's neck. She was shaking and her eyes were wide with fear. Her lower lip trembled as she stared at him. "Let her go, " Lindsay commanded. "I'm not leaving without her," the demon replied. "You're not leaving with her either." Lindsay braced his legs apart as a sign of his willingness to fight. "I'm the one with my hand around her soft human neck, demon hunter." Lindsay looked at Alauria's confused expression and only said, "I'm sorry," before he shot a blast of electricity at the demon. Because Alauria would be affected, he made it a point to keep the voltage light enough to keep her safe while at the same time ensuring it was powerful enough to force the demon to release its hold on her. Lindsay winced at Alauria's grunt of pain and watched as she fell to the floor in a faint. Once she hit the ground, he rushed forward and kicked the demon back before blasting it with another bolt of electricity. Lindsay was dissatisfied by the fact that the demon was quick to die; he wanted the bastard to suffer. The second the demon became a pile of ash, Lindsay forced himself to calm down. If he touched Alauria now, he would no doubt shock her heart into arrest. He focused his attention on the mess that was her apartment and was proud to see the obvious signs of a struggle. What would have happened if he hadn't come back? It was obviously that the demons were Raife's; the demons had something planned for her which only meant that Lindsay had to do whatever was necessary to keep her safe. It was one thing to threaten her life, but to actually go after her... His treaty with Raife was over. ________________________________ I know that things are a little slow coming here, but they will pick up. As always, please comment! Haunted Prey Ch. 07 Why was her skin tingling? Alauria groaned as her body came awake and as a reflex, she winced. Her throat was sore and every muscle in her body ached. She felt as if she'd had about ten too many drinks last night. She was terrified of what would happen if she opened her eyes. Her head was already spinning and her stomach lurched. Alauria didn't think she'd ever been so hungover. What the hell happened last night? How much did she drink, and why didn't anyone stop her? She was going to have a blinding headache, that was certain. Alauria winced again at the thought of having to open her eyes. She wished she could cancel her lesson for the day, but it was too late; she prided herself on giving a twenty-four-hour notice unless it was an extreme emergency. Though it might have felt like one, her current condition was nowhere near an emergency. It was a simple consequence of stupidity. With a disgusted sigh, she forced herself to sit up and threw her legs over the side of the bed. Alauria kept her eyes closed as she wasn't ready to face the day. She simply sat, waiting for the will to do anything other than stay in bed to come to her. She had six lessons today. Or was it five? No, it was definitely six; Julie called to reschedule one of her lessons. "Damn," she muttered. Christ, her throat felt as if she'd swallowed sandpaper. Alauria brought her hand to her neck and winced at the tenderness. What the hell happened last night? She was going to have to open her eyes if she expected to get anything done before the day was out. It took more effort than she expected to simply crack open her eyelids. But once she did, Alauria had no problem keeping them apart and wide. The first thing she noticed was the far wall that was actually nothing but a large window. Drapes had been drawn, allowing her a view of the city. Bright, fluffy clouds floated in the bright blue sky. The glint of the sun illuminated the three white walls and the unique steepled ceiling that almost made her dizzy. But the wooden ceiling fan was quite beautiful; it contrasted the darker white walls and almost made her forget where she was. But she didn't forget, and the realization that she wasn't at home had her heart pounding. Alauria bounded up and off the bed and looked around for something, anything familiar. Nothing. She ran a nervous hand through her hair, unsure of what to do. She looked down at herself and felt her anxiety worsen upon seeing the foreign t-shirt that covered her body. "What the..." A quick inspection told her that her panties were still on and she said a quick prayer of thanks for that. There were quiet, unfamiliar sounds coming from the outer room. Alauria tiptoed toward the door, but stopped when the sudden flash of light nearly blinded her. She stumbled backward as images of large scary looking... things rifling through her apartment came to her. Fear crept up her spine as they turned to look at her. Razor sharp, menacing-looking teeth were bared in cynical smiled as they advanced on her. There wasn't time to scream as they both moved quickly and had her restrained in seconds. They threatened to rip her throat out if she made any noise and the demon that didn't have its cold and hard hands on her continued to go through her things. Alauria never had the time to wonder what they were looking for; Lindsay appeared out of nowhere. And that's when an already unbelievable situation became surreal. Lightning shot out of his hands! Actual lightning! And he literally electrocuted one of those large... things until it turned into a pile of dust on her living room floor. Shock and new fear kept her frozen in place. That couldn't be real. Lindsay couldn't be... one of them. He was a man; a solid, warm-skinned, confusing mess of a man. Surely she had to be seeing things. But the cold and calculated glitter in his eyes made her think twice. He wasn't the Lindsay she knew. The man standing before her literally pulsed with what she could only describe as the need for death. Small waves of what looked like electricity radiated off of his skin and his voice was rough and menacing when she spoke. The last thing she remembered was seeing another flash of lightning, this one headed in her direction. And then she woke up here. Panic made her hyperventilate and it wasn't long before she began seeing stars. It felt as if her lungs were seizing; they burned and Alauria was sure she would pass out. She crouched low on the floor as her condition worsened. The stars gradually became black spots. Her chest began to ache. Good God, she was having a heart attack! Alauria closed her eyes as she tried to move. She had to find a phone or someone to help her. She couldn't die like this; not alone in a strange bedroom while in the middle of a heart attack. "Please," she gasped, "Please." Lindsay rushed into the room and felt his stomach lurch at the sight of Alauria writhing in pain on the floor. He scooped her up and quickly brought her to the bed. The furious beat of her heart was felt through her skin. "Alauria, look at me." He touched a hand to her face and felt a small pulse of relief when she tried to fight him off. If she fought him, she wasn't dying. "Alauria." She didn't wasn't his help. She wanted normalcy. Alauria shook her head and tried to push him off her. "Get away!" she managed to yell. Years of saving humans from demon attacks trained Lindsay in the differences between heart and anxiety attacks. Alauria luckily fell into the latter category, despite the severity of her condition. If he didn't calm her down, she'd pass out from a lack of oxygen. Though he hated to do it, Lindsay placed his hands on either side of her head and let a relatively low voltage of power pass from his hands to her body. The idea was to calm her down enough to get enough oxygen into her system before they discussed the trigger for her panic attack. He never expected her to shove him off the bed before scrambling to stand on it. From his spot on the floor, Lindsay watched Alauria's eyes dart around the room before settling on him. They stared at each other for long moments, each silent. He was sure that she'd panic again if he spoke first. So he waited. She stared down at the being sprawled on the floor warily. He couldn't be called a human; humans couldn't shoot bolts of lightning out of their hands. Not at will, anyway. "What are you?" "The guy you just shoved off the bed you're standing on." "Do you really think I'm in the mood for jokes?" Lindsay sighed before sitting up. Alauria's eyes were wide with uneasiness and even from his spot on the floor, he saw the way she trembled. She was afraid of him and the realization tore through him like a hot knife. "I was trying to calm you down." She suddenly found herself laughing. Alauria hugged her middle as she laughed harder. It was official; she'd lost her mind. "Trying... Trying to calm me down?" She continued to laugh, and gasped for breath when her stomach muscles were too contracted to allow a proper breath. "Trying to calm me down? How in the hell am I supposed to be calm after you tried to kill me?!?" "I did not try to kill you." "You threw one of those lightning bolt things at me!" Lindsay shook his head as he said, "That was intended for the Prygorian." "The what?" "The things that were in your apartment last night." Lindsay stood and felt irritation well in his chest when she pressed herself against the wall. "They're called Prygorian demons." "Demons? Like from the pits of hell, lemmings for the devil, demons?" "Not quite, but just as annoying to keep in line." The blank expression on her face told Lindsay that they were going nowhere fast. "I guess I should start at the beginning." "The beginning of what?" "What I am. I'm a half-god demon hunter." Alauria was sure she misheard him. "Excuse me?" "My father was part of this group of powerful beings called the High Council. They're older than time itself. Anyway, Roycelyn, my father, came up with the brilliant idea of getting women pregnant so that he could have generals for his super army. The rest of the Council found out, banished him to another dimension, and forced my brothers and I to control the demon populations here." She didn't say anything to his explanation for a long time. He was sure she would begin to panic again, which put him in an awkward position; he didn't want to have to shock her again. "Alauria?" "So you hunt demons for a living?" "Yes." "And those two things, the Pry... Pry..." "Prygorians," he supplied. She nodded as she continued, "Yes, those things. They are demons." "Yes." Alauria remained quiet, unsure of what to say. She stared at Lindsay, the demon hunter, and wondered what she did in a past life to end up where she was. She was a good daughter, didn't go out and party, was diligent in her studies. She made a good life for herself. And now she had to deal with demon attacks and demon hunters. This couldn't be real. "Show me." "What, my powers?" At her nod, he shook his head slowly. "I don' think you're-" "Show me!" The sharp tone of her voice made Lindsay stop for a moment. He stared at the serious expression on her face for only a moment before holding his hand up. A small bolt of lightning formed on his palm. He allowed it to grow and shrink in size. Alauria's eyes narrowed and the action unnerved him. Lindsay closed his fist to snuff out the small bolt and waited for what she had to say. "All of your brothers can do this?" "No, they each have their own unique ability." "Why can't you all do the same things?" "Royce had to make sure his generals couldn't overthrow him. Or each other." "Why were there demons in my apartment?" She didn't like his sudden silence at all. She repeated her question with more force and felt herself calm slightly when he actually twitched. "I'm pretty sure their leader sent them to bring you back to their base of operation." "Why?" "To remind me of a promise I made a long time ago." She'd heard enough. "So now I've got to probably move because you're not a man of your word?" This was ridiculous. "I didn't sign up for having my life turn upside down when I agreed to be your girlfriend." "I'm going to take care of it, Alauria. I'll make it safe for you." "When? After one of my students gets caught in the middle of another attack? After they manage to kidnap me?" She jumped off the bed and immediately regretted the decision when she wasn't given the pleasure of looking down at him. "If you knew there was a possibility of this happening, you should have stayed away from me until it was safe." "I tried." "Obviously not hard enough." "I'm going to take care of it, Alauria." "How?" "I'm going to take you somewhere safe until you aren't in danger anymore." "You will do nothing of the sort." Alauria felt her face flush with rage but didn't care. "You are even more out of your mind than I thought if you seriously think that I'm going to put my life on hold and let you hide me somewhere because you don't understand the meaning of 'damage control.'" "Alauria-" "Don't Alauria me, Lindsay. You got me into this, and now you are going to fix it without disrupting my life. I have responsibilities." "So do I." Lindsay let out a frustrated breath as he placed his hands on his head. He was beyond frustrated, mostly because of her stubborn and entirely too arousing nature. While he understood where she came from, things weren't as easy as she thought them to be. "I can't let you stay here in town. They'll just keep coming after you." "Whose fault is that?" "Alauria, I already know this is my fault. And I'm trying to make it right, but you have to work with me here." While she felt sorry for giving him a hard time, she couldn't budge yet. "This coming from the man who asks me out and then stands me up." She stopped at the quick way he avoided eye contact. "They're the reason you stood me up." "Raife, they're leader threatened to harm you if I kept seeing you. I only wanted to keep you safe." "So why didn't you kill this Raife demon when you had a chance?" "It isn't that simple." "Why not?" Alauria crossed her arms over her chest as she said, "You had no problems frying the other two demons." "Raife and I made a treaty." "What kind of treaty?" "It's complicated," he murmured on a sigh. She stared at him for a minute before he said, "So let me get this straight: you're a demon hunter who refuses to kill a demon, even after said demon tried to have your girlfriend kidnapped?" When he didn't answer her, she shook her head in disgust. "It's a good thing I learned how important I am to you now before it was too late." "What does that mean?" "It means that you can tell your precious treaty-protected Raife that there is nothing to worry about because you and I are done." The twist in his gut would have brought tears to his eyes if he didn't know how to control his emotions. "Alauria-" "I'd like my clothes, please." She stood rigid and it was obvious that he couldn't change her mind. "It's not that simple. Raife won't stop until you're dead." "What?" "I need you somewhere no one can get to you until I take care of Raife." Her shocked silence gave him the opening he needed. "You may not want to go, but you have to. Be packed and ready to go by midnight, but it would be better if we left as soon as possible. That should be enough time for you to cancel your lessons for a couple of weeks and whatever else you need to do." "If you really think-" "If you don't go voluntarily, I'll just take you, Alauria. I'd rather have you alive and pissed than dead with some stupid sense of independence." "I can't believe I ever saw anything in you." The enormity of her words hit him like a ton of bricks. Showing her the pain she inflicted was out of the question. Lindsay turned on his heels and strode out of the room. As an after thought he said, "There are clothes for you on the counter in the bathroom. I drew you a bath too." * * * * * Alauria was still fuming when she walked through the hospital doors. The reason for her anger walked approximately three feet behind her. He hadn't left her side since their earlier argument, which left her no room to cool off and think. He didn't quite understand that coping with what he was and what he did for a living was more than enough to handle without the added stress of knowing that some demon was out to kill her for whatever reason. Then there was the fact that she broke up with him during their argument. Normal people needed time and space to themselves after such an event. But Lindsay wasn't normal; Alauria kept forgetting that. And she was simply supposed to take that with a grain of salt. He'd taken her back to her apartment after their fight and stood watch as she begrudgingly packed her things. Her plan was to slip out the back and leave town on her own so that no one would find her, but Lindsay rarely left her line of vision. As the minutes ran by, her anger increased until she was red-faced from the strain of remaining calm. They never said a word to each other -- until she tried to take her car. All hell broke loose when Lindsay declared that they would take his deathtrap of a vehicle because it was faster. Alauria lashed out at him, declaring her independence and that she could take care of her herself. His only response was that she handled the two demons in her apartment quite nicely on her own. Then he used his strength to pull the hood up and pulled what she knew were important cords out of the engine. Rage made her hit him; she hadn't left a mark when she slapped him, and that enraged her even more. Alauria had to walk away; if she didn't, the already delicate situation would escalate dangerously. She simply announced that she wanted to stop by the hospital before they left. Now, in the elevator, she crossed her arms over her chest. Looking angry wouldn't help anyone the second they stepped foot on Raedyn's floor. Alauria took calming breaths and focused on mellow things to take her mind of the man standing behind her. Lindsay had to fight to keep from saying something to her. She had every right to be angry, but honestly, did she have to shut him out completely? He'd hoped that they would talk about what happened so that they could move on. Apparently not; when she spoke to him -- screamed at him rather -- nothing she said was particularly civilized. That, he actually saw coming. But the slap? Alauria was a multi-layered woman, yes, but that, he never saw coming. Nor did he expect her rash decision to call off their relationship. They hadn't been an item for twenty-four hours and already, she considered them done. In her defense, he didn't quiet explain his situation with Raife appropriately, which caused the confusion. So he chose to remain quiet until she was ready to speak to him. If she ever spoke to him again, anyway. It was a hard call to make at this point. Lindsay sighed as he followed her off the elevator and down the hall. He knew that she planned to see her sister and because of that, he didn't argue. He remained quiet as they walked into the daisy-filled hospital room and felt his first smile of the day form at the way the teenager stared at him. It was obvious that Raedyn had never seen someone who looked like him. She immediately pulled a notebook off the side table and began to write. Her pen danced furiously as she wrote in the book and it wasn't until she began glancing at him that he realized that she was writing about him. What an interesting first impression. Alauria felt the side of her mouth quirk up in a rueful smile as she watched Raedyn. Her sister was fascinated by Lindsay and knew that if she had the energy, her sister would have gotten out of the bed to describe the back of his body. "How are you feeling?" Alauria ad her answer when her sister continued to write. "Ok, I'll wait then." Raedyn had to be sure she got every single detail of her latest hallucination written down before she lost it. Had she the energy, she would have gotten out of bed to get a closer look at it. She thought about speaking to it, but as was the case with her other visions, it might have disappeared. "I didn't think you would come back so soon." Alauria frowned when she noticed the overly flushed condition of her sister's skin. "Are you all right?" "Slight fever." She looked from her vision to her paper and shook her head slowly in wonder. "I never thought my imagination was so great." "What?" "I tend to hallucinate when feverish. Great writing material." Alauria glanced at Lindsay and took note of his confused expression. The corner of his mouth quirked up for the briefest of moments, the only indication of his amusement. He continued to stare at the feverish teenager curiously as he remained silent. "Are you talking about Lindsay?" Raedyn didn't look away from the large apparition as she asked, "None of my characters are named Lindsay." Alauria felt herself smile as she glanced at her escort. He seemed genuinely enthralled by Raedyn. The amused look on his face made her release her anger at him. Lindsay looked at Raedyn like a big brother, like someone who would do anything to keep her safe. The air of protectiveness around him warmed her heart and for a minute, she cursed herself for being so forgiving. She was supposed to be enraged at him for turning her life upside down, for making her run. Her life was simple before she met him, and now she had to deal with demons and possibilities of murder. Yes, she should have hated him down to the smell of his breath. But she couldn't find the heart to dislike a single thing about him as he moved forward to place a hand on Raedyn's shoulder. Alauria watched as he gently pulled the notebook from Raedyn's hands. "Lindsay is my friend. He wanted to meet you." Haunted Prey Ch. 07 Raedyn sat still as she looked from her sister to the man she'd assumed was a hallucination. "He's... You're real?" Lindsay gently pushed her down as he said, "Very much so. Why don't you get some rest?" "But you're too... Big to be real." "He's real," Alauria said on a laugh. Lindsay nodded quietly when the teenager looked at him again. The intense flush that took over her skin made him lift his brows in thought. "I've never seen someone with a fever blush before." "I'm really sorry, I thought you weren't real." Raedyn was horrified by the way she blatantly stared at the large man. Her sister didn't look upset but her eyes were focused on the man. "Is he your boyfriend?" she blurted out. Her flush intensified at the shocked look her sister shot her. Damn, she'd done the wrong thing again. "I mean, duh, he's your friend, and he's a boy -- a man, really," she stuttered, "But it just looked like he was. I mean I could be wrong..." She stopped to take a frustrated breath. "I'm sorry." Alauria sensed her sister's unease and decided to change the subject. "Did they do the transplant yet?" Raedyn nodded as she said, "A couple nights ago, and then the fever came. Just my luck." "Look at it this way; more days off from school." Raedyn smiled at Lindsay's interjection but did not look at him; she was still mortified. "How are you?" she asked Alauria. "I'm fine. I just wanted to see how you were doing." Alauria took a step toward the pair, unsure of why she envied Lindsay's hovering. "I'm going out of town for a bit." "And you wanted to say goodbye?" The hopeful light in Raedyn's eyes made Alauria nod. She felt uncomfortable again and shifted her attention to Lindsay. "We should get going." "But you just got here." Lindsay agreed but said nothing. He walked to Alauria's side and placed a hand on her lower back before stepping out of the room o five the women a moment of privacy. He knew it would take time for them to be comfortable enough to speak freely. Raedyn seemed eager to know her sister and was genuinely disappointed by the fact that they had to leave. It was obvious that Alauria was still conflicted, the very reason for their early departure. Good thing she was going out of town; she'd have time to think. Inside Alauria paused for a moment before taking a step back. "Feel better." "I'll be out of the hospital when you get back." "Yes." Raedyn nodded solemnly. This was it; her sister would leave and they'd never see each other again. "It was nice to meet you." The sadness in Raedyn's eyes pulled at Alauria's heart. "Listen; I have a piano studio on Jones Street. Come by and visit sometime." "Really?" Alauria smiled at her enthusiasm. "Really. I should get going." "See you." "See you." Alauria quickly ducked out of the room and didn't bother to look for Lindsay as she headed for the elevators. She immediately felt Lindsay's presence behind her but did nothing to acknowledge his presence. She immediately felt stifled, as if she couldn't breathe. It wasn't anxiety due to what she was running from; it was more the fact that she found herself growing closer to Raedyn. The slowly tighten bond didn't so much bother her as frighten her. Getting closer to Raedyn meant that she'd have to let their father back into her life on some level. She wasn't sure she could hadn't that; Alauria was still getting used to the fact that he'd left. There was also the fact that her new sister was a constant reminder of what she and her mother never had. How was that supposed to make her feel? "She's a sweet young woman." Alauria only nodded at Lindsay's question as she stared ahead. She didn't see anything; her mind remained focused on the dangers she had to adjust to. New sister. Forced reconciliation with her father to continue relationship with new sister. Death by deranged demon. Escape to unknown location. The list went on and on. And she only had five minutes because she couldn't be sure if she'd make it to the next. Not with demons on her ass. "Are you sure you don't want to say goodbye to your mother?" She shook her head slowly. Goodbye sounded so... Final. Like she'd never see her mother again. That was a thought she couldn't bear. "The less she knows, the better." Lindsay understood her reasoning. His lifted wasn't made for human, the very reason he and his brother kept their true identities secret. The more humans that knew about them, the more danger there was. Demons depended on their vulnerability, their breakability. It was why humans needed to be protected, why she should have stayed away from Alauria in the first place. She didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve her. She was right to end things with him. "After I finish-" "Where are we?" Lindsay looked over at Alauria's confused face as he said, "On the way to someplace safe." Alauria looked out at the nearby deserted road as she trued to remember what happened between the time they'd left the hospital and now. "I don't remember." "You've been thinking for a long time. We both have." She nodded as she stared out of the window, wishing she could find some solace in the guard rails that paved the way to safety. "Why are there no other cars on this road?" A finished highway should have been littered with traffic, especially considering it was just after rush-hour. She didn't like seeing the barren pavement in front of her. "It's marked as unfinished on all maps." "Is it?" "Yes." "How do you know that?" Because he and he brothers paid a lot f money to ensure the highway remained incomplete. "I just do." The manor that served as a central hub for The Brethren rested near the end point for the road. While that endpoint rested nearly two thousand miles from where they were, it was imperative that the manor remain concealed. Magical cloaks prevented strangers from coming a thousand yards from the property. Those who did immediately fell asleep. Considering the road would have run parallel to the manor at nine hundred, ninety-eight yards from the manor, immeasurable danger presented itself. No one could afford that risk. The sounds of distant motorcycles had Lindsay looking to the rearview mirror. "Fuck." There were five of them, each ridden by large Prygorian demons that worshipped Raife. They were coming fast, and it was quite clear who they were after. "Oh, Jesus!" Alauria gripped the seat when she saw the ten motorcycles that went against Lindsay's direction of traffic. Large fearsome Prygorian demons rode the motorcycles and based on the way they increased their speed, they had no intention of stopping. "Lindsay-" "I see them. Hold on." Lindsay accelerated, trying to think of a way to evade the oncoming demons, he swerved left. There were two demons prepared for the move and he'd counted on that. He slammed his foot down on the gas, going full speed and didn't bother to look at Alauria as he commanded, "Hold on!" He plowed into the two demons and winced as their heavy bodies dented his car. He looked over at Alauria and quickly noted that she covered her face with her hands. Good. She shouldn't have to see this. Plowing through the two demons gave him the room he needed to bypass the other eight. Lindsay continued to drive, wanted to take the fight as far away from town as possible. There could be no witnesses for this. The demons chased mercilessly, throwing small power bolts at the car. One narrowly missed the rear left tire, forcing him to swerve right to avoid the hit. "You're fine, baby." Alauria wished she had enough control over herself to agree. All she was aware of was the fact that they were going over a hundred miles an hour while being chased by demons. She'd made the mistake of uncovering her eyes just as he'd swerved; the action only served to make her scream. They were going to die. No; he was a half god; it would take more than fifteen demons to take him down. She was going to die. "Lindsay-" Alauria stopped at the loud popping noises that shook the car and took out the rear window of the car. Shards of glass rained over the back of her head and she ignored the small cuts that marred her neck, shoulders and arms. "Sons of bitches harpooned my car!" It was bad enough that they'd attacked Alauria; they had to damage his sweet, precious car on top of it? Muttering an oath, he took Alauria's hand and placed it on the steering wheel. "Take the wheel." "What?!?" "Just for a second." He shifted in his seat and made her to keep his foot on the gas pedal. "Try to keep it straight." Focusing on the two demons that acted as the lead to the demented gang, he threw his hands out and shot bolts of electricity at them. They were too far away to launch a constant stream that would turn them into dust, so he had to result in continuous bursts. It took ten consecutive bursts to get rid of the two leaders, but the others retaliated by increasing the energy bolts focused on them. One managed to hit the back tire, forcing Alauria to scram in fear. He spun around and slammed down on the brakes. "Don't get out of this car," He commanded as he jumped out to face his adversaries. Anger coursed through his veins as the demons leapt off of the motorcycles to attack. Lindsay launched a defensive attack by allowing a powerful surge of electricity to fry one of the demons to dust. From there, he had to launch into hand-to-hand combat as they were too close to fend off with his powers. They thought to split up; six rushed at him while the rest headed for the car. They absolutely could not get to Alauria. Lindsay felt his head whip to the side from the punch he was given while he snapped the neck of the demons restrained in his harms. The move wouldn't kill the Prygorian, but it would incapacitate it long enough from him to take care of the rest of them. He cursed at the harsh blow that brought him down to his knees and felt the volts kick up in his system. He distantly heard the grown of the car's engine; Alauria was trying to drive away. Good; less for him to worry about. Lindsay grunted as the five demons beat down on his back. He allowed the energy to well from within his chest and shoot out from the surface of his skin. The white, burning light instantaneously turned the five demons into dust. He coughed as the dust washed over him and gained his feet. The two demons he'd taken down with the car caught up to the action and Lindsay wasted no time throwing out the bolts of electricity he'd itched to before. Their tortured screams did nothing to sate him; he still had the four demons chasing after Alauria to deal with. The second the two he concentrated on turned to dust, he took off running after the car that, to his disappointment, had been stopped by the four demons chasing it. One pulled Alauria out of the care while the other three attached him. Lindsay blocked each one of their blows and kicked one back, making sure to add an electrical bolt to the blow. With only two to face, he grabbed the closest one and quickly snapped its neck so that he could backhand the demon that rushed him. The moved was followed by a roundhouse kick that sent the demon flying into the back of his car. This one was relentless; it quickly regained its feet and rushed him, letting out a menacing hiss as it moved. Lindsay wasn't quick enough to block the tack and ad to shake his head to clear his thoughts. The demon wasted no time punching his midsection and banging his head against the rough concrete. Impatience and anger allowed him to well up another powerful surge of energy that radiated from his center. This was stronger than the last and was powerful enough to touch the demon that held onto Alauria. Both she and the demon cried out in pain. The Prygorian on tip of Lindsay charred to dust, making him cough once more. But there wasn't time to recover. Alauria had gone limp from the electrical surge; he'd probably inadvertently stopped her heart. The remaining demons struggled to stay upright as it held onto her. Lindsay stalked forward, his eyes narrowed, and his body poised for the kill. "Drop the woman." The Prygorian shook its head, creating a scraping sound as it struggled to remain upright. Lindsay didn't want to kill the demon so close to Alauria, but he would do it if he had to. "Put her down." The demon faltered and managed to drop her on the hood of the car. Lindsay wasted no time; he ran forward and kicked the demon back right before he blasted it with a ferocious bolt of energy. The demon burst into dust in seconds. Lindsay then ran to Alauria and pulled her to the ground. There was a heart beat; she'd just fainted again. Relief washed over him as he checked her over for broken bones. Luckily there weren't but there were minor cuts from the broken glass and a few bruises from the demons. Those he could deal with. Those types of injuries didn't scare him. Lindsay took a moment to retrieve his cellular phone from the glove compartment of his car before returning to Alauria's side. He pushed the speed dial for Alexis' phone and hoped that his semi-reclusive brother did not leave the device off. "I'll be there in ten minutes," Alexis said after picking up on the second ring. "How did you-" "Oracle, remember?" "But that rarely ever works with those of your blood," Lindsay replied with a confused frown. "Today's your lucky day. Be there soon." Lindsay pocketed the phone as he watched Alauria slowly come awake. He was there in an instant, cradling her in his arms. "Baby? Baby, it's ok. I'm here." Alauria groaned as she tried to focus on what was happening. "What? Lindsay?" She sighed when his hand caressed her skin and leaned into his touch. And then the spark from his hand made her wince. Instantly, she was pushing him away, desperate to get somewhere safe. "Get away from me!" Lindsay sighed when he realized that their moment of peace was over. "Alauria, calm down." "Calm down?" She stood up and stumbled backward. "Calm down? Lindsay, we were just attacked by demons! They tried to kidnap me again! There is no way in hell I am going to calm down!" "I took care of it." "Oh, yeah, you sure did." Alauria took another step back as she tried to control her outrage. "I thought I was supposed to be safe with you." She was. This unprecedented Prygorian attack wasn't supposed to happen. "You are." "Bull." She turned and began to walk away from him, determined to fix her life on her own. As long as she stayed wit him, she was a target. "Get out of my way," she said when he blocked her path. Christ, he hadn't fought this much or this hard since... No, now was not the time to think about that. "Look, my brother-" "I don't care!" She shoved him hard, desperate to have him away from her. Of course, he didn't budge this time; the man was like rock. "I'm going away. By myself." "You'll never last on your own." He refused to admit that her words felt like acid being poured on him. The fact that her anger and fear motivated her words didn't make him feel better, but the emotions did help him understand her point of view. "Like I've been do so well with you so far." Lindsay gritted his teeth in frustration. How he wanted to yell at her, to shake some common sense into her. "Just wait for my brother." "So that the demons he has treaties with can come and try to kill me too? No thanks." "Why are you being so difficult?" "I'm not sure if you noticed, but I was almost kidnapped. Again. By the same demons that work for your 'let's make a deal' demon. Excuse me if I think it's a better idea if I stay away from the reason the demons are after me in the first place." As much as he hated to admit it, she had a point. "I'll keep you safe." "Yeah, and I'll turn blue and fly out of here in a minute." "For Christ's sake, Rachel-" Lindsay stopped when he realized that he said a name that wasn't Alauria's. They both stared at each other for a tense minute, she because she was confused, and he, because he did not know what to say. Certain things were never meant to be mentioned and it seemed as if he'd forgotten that fact. "Who is Rachel?" The flush that took over his skin did not sit well with her. Obviously, this Rachel person was someone that struck a chord with him. "Who is Rachel, Lindsay?" "Someone I used to know." The slow, despaired tone of his voice told her that things with Rachel didn't end well. She stared at him, annoyed that he refused to make eye contact. Who was the woman and what did she mean to him? Being called another name did not sit well with Alauria, especially when it was him making the mistake. It... hurt. Yes, they were not on the best terms, but she would never think to call him someone else's name. Ever. The black BMW X5 xDrive35d that barreled down the road would have scared her had Lindsay not muttered his brother's name. Alauria looked from the approaching car to Lindsay's slightly relieved face and felt her eyes narrow suspiciously. Something was going on with him and as usual, he wasn't filling her in. "Let's hope he knows how to keep me safe," she muttered as she walked toward the car. Alexis had stopped about a hundred feet away but didn't bother to get out of the vehicle. It was just as well; she wasn't in the mood to be cordial. Alauria shook off the hand Lindsay placed on her shoulder before moving to follow him. It was a long and silent walk to the car, and each step made her shrink more into herself. Her life was no longer her own, it seemed. But she could make one thing clear. "For future reference, my name is Alauria." * * * * * Raife was not pleased when only two demons walked into the hotel room empty handed. Obviously, they'd failed miserably, but were smart enough to report their failure themselves instead of running. Raife wasn't in the mood to chase down inconsequential demons, not when there was too much to get done. "You're empty handed." The two demons looked at each other uneasily before staring at their seemingly indifferent leader. They stood on the carpeted steps, unsure if they were to relay the events of their botched mission or remain silent until they were punished. One could never be sure about Raife's moods; one minute the fickle leader was as forgiving as a saint then the next, as merciless as... well, a demon. Raife paced slowly in front of the blazing fireplace, its hands steepled beneath its hard chin. "He protected her." "Yes, my liege." "Where did you find them?" "They were on the four-oh-nine headed west when Pondouras tracked them down." Which mean that he'd managed to get the woman to the safety of The Brethren. Their fortress was impenetrable, the very reason Lindsay took the piano instructor there. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. "Fifteen of you, and not one could get your hands on one lowly human woman?" If this was the best his minions could do, and the top line of demons had been sent, then everything planned would crumble. "Pondouras did manage to get her, but he was killed before he could manifest a portal to bring her here." "And what were you two busy doing?" "He snapped our necks." Raife used that moment to stop pacing long enough to look at the two demons standing on the steps. This should have been an angering situation, but for reason the demon could only laugh. The general misconception was that others knew nothing about the move that would neutralize a Prygorian demon. Of course Lindsay remembered; he'd been wary of Raife's camp for nearly a century. He had to keep his head above water to prevent situations like this. The fact that the nearly elusive member of The Brethren went to such lengths to remain a step ahead enraged Raife. He wasn't supposed to win. Not after so much had been done to maintain the terms of the treaty. "My liege?" Raife refocused on the two idiot demons before saying, "I'm in a giving mood. You have one more opportunity to bring the woman to me before I decide you are no longer needed to my cause. I don't care what you do or how." The tall, sinewy redheaded woman who walked into the room made Raife pause. As was her preference, she was nude, and the gentle sway of her generous bosom was mouthwatering. Her predatory and penetrating gaze was enough to make the demon insane with lust. Piercing yellow eyes were focused on Raife as the lithe woman sauntered to him. Rich auburn curls brushed over hard ceramic skin and made the demon leader growl with need. She did not care that there were two other demons present as she ran her slowly extending nails over the rough protective skin. "You should be resting." Haunted Prey Ch. 07 "I want more," was all she said as she slowly walked around to drag her nails over Raife's back. Raife smiled menacingly and said, "Insatiable little whore." The demon then looked to the two still standing on the steps "I want her here within five days. Now leave me." The woman was a distraction with the way she'd replaced her fingers with her tongue. The texture of it was comparable to that of a cat's; rough, stinging, and completely arousing. "And if you fail again," Raife said to the retreating demons, "You'll will that would only snap your pathetic necks." _______________ Here we are, another chapter in. Hope you guys enjoyed reading this as much as I loved writing it. As always, please comment! Haunted Prey Ch. 08 Lindsay looked at Alauria through the rearview mirror and sighed at the stubborn way she stared out the window. She sat behind Alexis, her arms aggressively crossed over her chest. Her chin was raised in a show of defiance, and her eyes were narrowed in annoyance. He'd tried to talk to her countless times during the long ride to the manor, but she ignored him. At one point, she stared at him long and hard, not once breaking eye contact until he felt sheepish enough to turn around and watch the roads Alexis drove. Never, in the centuries he'd been alive, had he ever been stared down by a tiny blip of a human. The moment would have been hilarious if his patience hadn't been worn thin; Lindsay was tired of her anger and worse, annoyed that she was treating him the way she treated her father. This was not what he signed up for. "Thanks," he muttered to his brother. Alexis was astute enough to understand that his brother was not thanking him for the ride. He too glanced at the rearview mirror and felt the side of his mouth quirk up. "Your name is Laurie?" "No, it's Alauria." She brought her attention to the rearview mirror and felt herself shiver at the intensity of the deep brown eyes staring at her. Lindsay's brother, she'd come to learn in the few hours they drove, was a very quiet man, not speaking unless he had something to say or ask. He seemed content to observe everything that went on around him. He never smiled, and his expression seemed permanently serious. The sickle-shaped scar on his cheek looked menacing. Amazingly enough, he was still devastatingly attractive. His coffee colored hair looked windblown despite the closed windows, but the oddity seemed to balance out his straight patrician nose and the serious set of his mouth. A goatee and mustache added sophistication, a trait that contrasted greatly with the black tank top and blue jeans that made him look rugged. His skin wasn't pale, but it wasn't bronzed either. Not that it mattered; the ridiculous tone of just his arms was more then enough to set a woman's loins on fire. Hell, it certainly made her curious about what the rest of him looked like. But that was only curiosity. As attractive as Lindsay's brother was, it was the emotionally stunted jackass in the passenger seat who made her heart race dangerously. "You two don't look like brothers." So she could talk to his brother, but she couldn't talk to him. Lindsay felt his eyes narrow as he answered, "With the exception of Draco and Roman, none of us look alike." "Why is that, Alexis?" She ignored the warning glare Lindsay gave her as she continued to stare at his brother through the rearview mirror. Alexis almost laughed at the ridiculous direction the conversation was taking. He'd already known that Lindsay was the only other brother aside from Liam to have a problem keeping women in good spirits, but there was something off about the woman sitting behind him. Alauria was upset, yes, but he didn't think it was because of something Lindsay said. "We all take after our respective mothers. Drake and Rome are twins." "And there are how many of you?" "Twelve brothers in total." "And I had to be blessed wit the jackass of the lot," she muttered to herself. "For Christ's sake, Alauria!" Lindsay had reached the end of his rope. He let his anger take hold and shifted in his seat so that he could look at her. Had he not been as large as he was, he would have climbed into the backseat just so that he could shake some sense into her. "I told you I would take care of this. I know you're pissed, but fuck, man, I'm trying to make it right." She knew that he was, but pride and irritation refused to let her see reason. "This is your fault in the first place, making bullshit treaties with the enemy." Alauria lurched forward when Alexis abruptly stopped the truck. Her broken concentration caused her to look outside the window to find them in the parking lot of what looked like a local restaurant. "Lindsay, why don't you go get her something to eat?" "Why don't you?" Lindsay snapped. "It wouldn't look right to have someone as large as you arguing with her in the middle of a parking lot." Alexis glanced at Alauria through the mirror and came to the conclusion that the reason for her anger had nothing to do with what was going on. "I'm sure you'd like to stretch your legs for a bit." Alauria felt her eyes narrow suspiciously at the odd tone in Alexis' voice. That didn't stop her from agreeing, however, because she knew that she needed a few minutes away from Lindsay to finally get her thoughts in order. "Yes, I do." They'd been on back roads and highways she'd never heard of for hours. It was about time she became part of civilization again, even if it was for a few minutes. She watched Lindsay angrily exit the truck and winced when he slammed the door. Alexis sighed at the action, and she was sure that he'd be doing a lot more of that before they reached their destination. Alexis took his time getting out of the truck before opening the door for Alauria. He quirked a brow when she merely shifted to allow her legs to dangle, but said nothing to the action. "How are you handling all of this?" "Just dandy." She glanced at him and found herself immediately chastised by the unamused expression on his face. Lord, the man made her feel like a child again. The ground seemed like a better place to focus her attention. "I don't know, really. It's like, one minute I'm teaching my students, minding my own business, you know? And then the next, he walks into the studio and turns everything upside down. And I could deal with it when I thought that he was just a complicated person. But I had no idea it would be like this; demons chasing after me and wanting to kill me simply because we hung out a couple of times." "You and I both know it's more involved than that." "I never slept with him if that's what you mean." Alexis let out another sigh as he shifted to lean on the open door. "Alauria, there's a lot you don't know about Raife and Lindsay." "Because he won't tell me." "Because he doesn't know how." She looked up at him and frowned at his unwavering gaze. "You're not going to tell me, either, are you?" He remained quiet for a long time, choosing to stare at the customers walking in and out of the restaurant. Lindsay looked frustrated at having to wait on the slow-moving line, but he kept his composure. Alexis watched his brother continually glance at him, as if ensuring he didn't take the woman away. "It's understandable that being pulled out of your life and away from your family is upsetting, especially when you haven't an entire clue why. But he wouldn't be working so hard if he didn't care." "I never thought that he didn't." "So why won't you talk to him?" Jesus, all it took was one quick glance and she felt like a petulant five-year-old being forced to apologize. "Because I'm annoyed," she confessed, "It annoys me that some stupid treaty with a demon he hasn't killed yet is more important than where I thought we were headed. Because I feel like I care about him more than he cares about me. Because despite the fact that I deserve more than he's given me, I don't want to walk away. Because I still want him. Because I'm not mad at him; I'm pissed that I'm not strong enough to kill this Raife myself. Because... Because..." "Because?" "Because I'm afraid," she sighed, "I'm afraid that I'll go through all of this, that I'll keep on falling for him, and then once this is done, he'll decide that I really wasn't worth the trouble and walk away." Alauria had no idea why she divulged so much information, but she felt lighter the second she let it out. It was easier to accept everything now, and there was a part of her that wasn't completely confident in Lindsay's promise to keep her safe, she believed wholeheartedly that he believed what he said. That would have to be enough for now. "Legs in," Alexis suddenly announced. Before she had a chance to question his statement, he lifted her legs with one hand and gently repositioned her inside the truck. Then he shut the door in her face. Alauria had a good mind to give him some words for his sudden animalistic behavior but stopped when she noticed Lindsay in the passenger seat. He was partially turned and held the small paper bag of food toward her. There was an odd look on his face, as if something he couldn't believe had happened. She figured he did not like seeing his brother's hands on her legs and was tempted to stick her tongue out at him. But then she remembered what she said to Alexis and couldn't find the heart to be petty. Lindsay was trying. Alauria accepted the bag he offered and whispered her thanks. "I don't mind if you eat in the truck," Alexis announced, "Just don't spill anything major." Hell, he didn't even have to look at her to make her feel like a child. She nodded silently and pulled a French fry out of the bag before she said, "You didn't get anything for yourselves." "We don't eat much," Lindsay replied. He didn't say anything to the fact that she was speaking to him. Not like he could; he found himself too distracted by the way she nibbled on the French fry. How was it possible for him to be insanely jealous of a fried vegetable? He continued to glace at her periodically, satisfied that she was eating enough, and couldn't stop himself from taking advantage of her civil mood. "We're about ten hours away from the manor." She was only able to nod, as she'd chosen that moment to take a large bite out of the cheeseburger he bought her. Lindsay found himself smiling inwardly at the puff of her cheeks as she chewed. "We'll get you some new clothes after you've settled in." "She can have Nadia's things," Alexis interjected, "They'll have to be taken in, but there's no use in wasting all of the clothes Jameson bought her." "He still loves to shop." "Worse than any woman I've ever heard of." Alauria found herself smiling at the conversation Lindsay and Alexis were having. They seemed completely relaxed, as if there wasn't a demon attack just hours before. They were acting like brothers on a long road trip, and that observation alone made her realize that Lindsay wasn't emotionally stunted; he simply chose not to put his feelings on display. The way he laughed with his brother while they talked about the rest of their brothers was filled with joy and ease. It was filled with love. He cared about the people in his life and she had no choice but to include herself. She couldn't hold onto her anger anymore. Hell. She chose to remain silent, using the food as an excuse for why she never jumped into their conversation. The time Alauria spent listening taught her a lot; Alexis really didn't like to talk. He knew how to phrase a thought perfectly so that the person he spoke to did all of the talking. Lindsay spent the bulk of the time relaying stories about his brothers while Alexis filled in parts he missed. The Royce men, it seemed, were older than Jesus Christ. The only reason she knew that was because of a story Lindsay retold about Slade, the youngest brother of the bunch, meeting the iconic pacifist and not knowing so until he was told. His excuse was that he expected Jesus to be taller. Alauria had to laugh at that story, but found herself sobering when Alexis mentioned Lindsay's mother. Lindsay immediately tensed and became withdrawn. It was quite clear that he didn't want to talk about her. As much as she wanted to ask about his change in attitude, Alauria decided to get the wrappers from her dinner in order before leaning back to rest her eyes. The truck was silent for a while and just as she was about to drift off to sleep, she heard Lindsay accuse his brother of mentioning things he had no business speaking of. Alexis' only reply was that it was a topic she would come to learn of soon and that now was as good a time as any. "Says the guy whose eyes started glowing out of nowhere," Lindsay whispered harshly. "Some things can never be explained." "Bullshit, Lex. Don't sit there and preach about being honest when you're carrying that shit around." "I didn't ask for this." "Neither did I." Alauria wasn't sure what happened next; one minute, she was listening to the once jovial brothers have an argument, and the next, she was sighing happily at the light electrical shock that came with Lindsay's touch. She smiled at his whispered apology before slowly opening her eyes. Intense green eyes smiled down at her and she found herself unable to look away as he continued to run the pad of his thumb over the expanse of her cheek. Alauria didn't realize she did the same until she felt the shock against her fingertips. Though there was a slight sting, she couldn't deny the fact that she enjoyed the sensation. She smiled; sleeping on a full stomach sure did alter her mood for the better. "I guess I should just feed you whenever you get mad then." She laughed at the ridiculous comment then sat up as she realized that the truck wasn't moving. Alauria looked around and it was then that she realized that they were in a very large garage filled with over a dozen very bright, very flashy and extremely expensive cars. "Where are we?" "At the manor." "Oh." Alauria pushed him away and immediately got out of the truck. She found herself glancing at the cars again and had to shake her head; there was probably a billion dollars' worth of cars in the garage. She was almost afraid to go into the house. His wealth shouldn't have intimidated her anymore, but it did; being in the presence of such expensive things made her feel awkward and out of place. "Come on." Lindsay took hold of her hand and pulled her through the garage and into the kitchen. Things had changed since he'd last been to the manor. Where the black marble countertops were once bare, they were not littered with stainless steel appliances that rivaled even the most equipped of restaurant kitchens. A plasma screened television was mounted above the expansive entryway that led to the rest of the house. The fluorescent ceiling lights illuminated the chestnut wood and brought his attention to the many magnets covering the refrigerator. A lot of them were mini picture frames and in them were photos of his brothers and the two women he would soon call sisters. Correction; one he would call a sister. The other, he would never know to have the honor of giving her such a title. Lindsay found himself drawn to the photo of a red-haired woman whose smile made the depths of his soul bright. Her unusual grey eyes were happy and sparkled; it almost looked as if the mood reflected itself in the stormy pools. Mocha skin seemed to reflect the sunlight, especially when paired with the mess of deep red hair piled atop her head. He found himself drawn to her unnatural beauty; the woman was a work of art that could not be duplicated. "Her picture always had that effect on people." Lindsay quickly turned and had to hold Alauria steady. He hadn't realized that she'd plastered herself to his side in order to look at the photo as well. They must have been quite entranced; they never heard this new woman walk into the room. And she was in heels. Lindsay took his time appraising the tall and lithe woman who stood next to the large island in the center of the room. Her wavy brown-red hair barely reached her shoulders but did nothing but accentuate a pleasant round face. Pale green eyes regarded him curiously, but Lindsay found himself staring at her mouth. He'd never seen lips so red before and it was quite clear that the color was natural. Alauria stood quietly as Lindsay looked at the woman in front of him. Amazingly, she did not become jealous, primarily because she knew that he was taking everything in. Like Alexis, Lindsay liked to observe and memorize details. She stepped forward and smiled politely as she said, "Hi, I'm Alauria." "Charisma." Her smile was genuine as she stepped forward to take hold of her guest's hand. "Welcome to the manor." She shifted her gaze to the man quietly staring at her and waited for him to make a move. When he only nodded at her, she frowned; usually the brothers she'd met would have said something by now as a form of introduction. Well, maybe not Alexis, but that was because, according to Jameson, he detested speaking. Lindsay watched as Charisma took a wary step back and began to rub her hands together. They were turning red, he noticed, but she didn't blush. Odd. "Where the fuck are my wrist blades?" Everyone turned to watch the tall man with copper red hair walk into the kitchen angrily. The alluring and musical tones to his voice did nothing to distract from the anger radiating off him, but Lord, he was another looker. A strong, square-shaped face beautifully framed full lips and a perfect nose. Crystal blue eyes completed his god-like look. He barely glanced at Charisma as he walked in, but he did stop and stare at the strange woman standing next to the fridge. "Who the hell are you?" "Some things never change." Alauria watched in amazement as the man's face changed completely the second he realized Lindsay was in the room. There was a moment of shock before both men rushed forward to pound each other on the back. Then the once angry man roughly shoved Lindsay back. Alauria would have become worried had Lindsay not laughed at the action. "Where the fuck have you been?" "Same place as always, Liam." Liam looked from his brother to the quiet woman beside him and immediately felt his eyes narrow angrily. "If you're smart, brother, you'll take care of whatever problem she's in then never speak to her again." "Liam," Charisma warned. Liam held up a hand for silence as he continued, "These fucking human women are nothing but trouble and a fuck-load of pain none of us needs." "It's been six months," Charisma pleaded. This was not the type of first impression Alauria needed. She looked worried that things would blow out of proportion. "And I'm just supposed to forget what happened?" he shouted. He ignored the warning and comforting hand Lindsay put on his shoulder as he added, "She was my sister." "She was my sister too," Charisma whispered, "I loved her too." "And what are you going to say next, Charisma? That she wouldn't want us to go on like this? That she would want us to value every second that we have left?" When she said nothing, he balled his hands into fists and shook his head angrily. Her pale green eyes glistened with unshed tears, and the visible proof of the pain he caused her only served to enrage him even more. "Not all of us get the luxury of forgetting what she did for us by staying in the mansion he built for her." "Liam, that's quite enough," Alexis stated from the entryway. Rage coursed through him at the scene unfolding. Charisma on the verge of tears. Alauria damned near ready to bolt. Liam red-faced and shouting. "This is not the way to deal with your grief." "What the fuck would you know, Lex?" "Go cool off, Liam," was all he said as a response. "Don't tell me-" "Now!" "Why don't you show me what else has changed around here?" Lindsay asked. He was too shocked by what he'd witnessed to do much else. It was true that Liam only knew too emotions; angry and enraged. But to be there to see him rail on who Lindsay assumed was sweet-tempered woman... He refused to have any more of that around Alauria. As a precaution, he didn't even look at her because he knew the expression on her face would force him to pick a fight with his already livid brother. There was too much else too deal with. Alauria watched Lindsay pull Liam out of the room with wide eyes. And she thought her family had problems. She brought her attention to Charisma who stood shaking. Her hands were extremely red, and she could tell by the expression on her splotchy face that she was in some kind of physical pain. Alexis walked to stand in front of her and murmured what Alauria assumed were words of comfort. She felt out of place; as if she was in the middle of some warped television drama that wouldn't cut to commercial. Haunted Prey Ch. 08 "Please don't take offense to him," Charisma said to Alauria, "He's going through a really rough time right now. We all are." Alauria had to blink back her surprise. She was actually defending him? Things just kept getting stranger. "Are you all right?" Alexis asked. "Yes, I'm fine," Charisma assured, "Just wasn't prepared to have this week's tirade directed at me." She brought her fingers to her temples and frowned at how warm her hands were. "What's wrong with your hands?" "They hurt a little, but-" Charisma stopped when she looked down at her hands and felt her eyes widen at their condition. "That's not normal." "No, it isn't." Alexis moved to take her hands in his but stopped when he felt the intense heat radiating off them. With a frown, he grabbed a metal bowl from the top of the counter and placed it in her hands. It immediately began to soften as if being melted. "How are you doing that?" "Doing what?" Alauria looked toward the entryway once more to find a gorgeous raven-haired man walk into the room. His stormy grey eyes were filled with concern as he walked over to Charisma and Alexis and his strong angular face was contorted with concern. It was quite obvious that Charisma was his woman and he was very much the doting man. Alauria watched Charisma hold the melting bowl up. "You did that?" He asked. Charisma only nodded before placing the liquefying metal on the counter. "It just happened." She held her red hands up for display and frowned at the dull throb radiating through them. "My hands hurt." "They're about as hot as..." Alexis looked from Charisma to the man and raised a brow as he said, "Her hands are as hot as yours get when you don't want to flame up." "Jameson, what is he talking about?" "I think you're retaining some of the abilities you swapped." "What?" Charisma shook her head in denial as she took a step back. Six months ago, she didn't know she had the ability to swap powers between beings with abilities. After being kidnapped by a powerful demon, the full range of her ability had been unlocked, making her able to hold the abilities within herself for a short period of time before having to insert them into someone else. She wasn't sure if she liked this part. "How can I do that?" "I'm not completely sure," Jameson replied, "But I'm the only one I know of whose powers you took in who can do that." He thought for a moment, hoping to remember something that would help him figure out the puzzle. "You told me that your mother's ability was retaining powers permanently." "Yes." "It's possible that you're beginning to take after her," Alexis reasoned. "So now I'm going to be throwing fireballs?" Alexis raised his brows high in realization when the red color in her hands intensified. "It gets hotter the more distressed you become. Liam must have set you off." Jameson narrowed his eyes dangerously as he asked, "What does he have to do with this?" "Nothing," Charisma said. She looked at Alexis as she asked, "So you're telling me that when I'm upset I'll do this?" "Anger is what triggers Jameson's ability." "What did he do to upset you?" Jameson asked. "Jameson, we have more important questions that need to be answered," Charisma countered. She made a mental list of the abilities she'd temporarily absorbed thus far. "Five. Five abilities. Fire from Jameson, healing from Liam," She shook her head as she remembered accidentally switching their abilities, "Invisibility from Roman, slowing things down from Draco and fear recognition from Dion." Dion, a young man who had also been abducted by Zaide was able to pick out an individuals greatest fear and use it as a weapon. Unfortunately, Charisma was not able to return his ability before Zaide was defeated. "Zaide meant for me to give him other powers, but there wasn't enough time before he killed... Before what happened to Nadia." "Take deep breaths," Jameson instructed. He took hold of her hands but to him, her touch only felt mildly warm. That only meant that her newfound ability truly did come from him. "The more you calm down, the cooler your hands will become." He glanced at Alexis, who seemed lost in thought at the new developments occurring. "Where did Liam go?" He had a good mind to talk to his rude mess of a brother. It was one thing to intimidate Charisma because he knew she was afraid of him, but to go so far as to bring her to the verge of tears... It was unacceptable. "With Lindsay. Focus on Charisma. If we're right, we're going to have to keep an eye on her to see just how much her abilities advance." Jameson was too shocked by the reply to acknowledge the advice given about Charisma. "Lindsay's here?" Alexis only nodded once as he said, "He brought a guest." It was then that Jameson noticed the wide-eyed woman standing near the refrigerator. She looked like a statue; her face was frozen in place and she never moved. It didn't even look like she was breathing. He was easily able to recognize her fear and amazement, which only told him that she'd witnessed everything that happened. "It's a lot to take in, but trust me when I say that you're safe." Alauria was only able to nod slowly. So much had happened in the space of ten minutes; she was on sensory overload. She wanted Lindsay; he was the only constant at this point and the only familiar person she could depend on. She wanted him to hold her and tell her that everything would be fine, that she didn't have to worry about the insanity that was his family. There was kindness in Jameson's eyes, however, and that observation alone gave her the courage to take a deep, calming breath. She could get through the next five minutes on her own. Jameson walked over to stand in front of this new and strange woman, who amazingly looked calm. Most women who walked into the manor had panic attacks because of the environment they'd been thrust into. "You're here with Lindsay?" "Yes, he's my..." She trailed off when she realized she was about to label him as her boyfriend. Alauria couldn't call him that, not after she'd ended that level of their complicated relationship. But it was quite certain that he wasn't simply a friend or a protector. "I'm here with him." Jameson only raised his eyebrows high as he nodded. He didn't want to touch that subject. "Welcome to manor, where days like this are considered slow." "Uh, thanks, I guess." "Why don't you get yourself out of the corner and take a seat at the island." He shuffled her over and pulled out a chair for her to sit. As he settled his new guest, he winked at Charisma, happy to see that the intense color in her hands was slowly fading. "Would you like anything to eat or drink?" "No thank you," Alauria said with a small shake of her head. What she wanted was Lindsay, but she couldn't say that. "Are you another brother?" "Yes, I'm Jameson. Resident flame-thrower." His smile was infectious and it wasn't long at all before Alauria felt calm enough to return the gesture. "I'm Alauria. Human. Pianist." The arrogant way she announced herself made Jameson's smile deepen. It didn't take her long to adjust to stressful situations, he was happy to observe. That meant that she had what it took to be a part of his family. That was of course, if she and Lindsay could get everything in order, which he figured would take them a long while. "Nice to meet you, Alauria. Who will we be saving you from?" "Some demon named Raife." The amazed and wary look on Jameson's face was not a good sign. What the hell was up with this demon that everyone decided to take a step back instead of act? "Let me guess... You're part of this treaty too?" "Well, no, it's just that after Rachel-" "I think she's harmless enough to get out of the kitchen," Alexis announced. He gingerly pushed Charisma toward Jameson. "I don't think she'll accidentally melt anything." "Right." Jameson pulled Charisma into his embrace and gently kissed her lips as a show of comfort and love. "Looks like we have to postpone our trip to see the house." When she only nodded and looked away, he was sure the reason for her distress was the manor given to them by Andraemalek, his brother. He'd been Nadia's man, the one to have the house built for her. "It was nice meeting you, Alauria," Jameson said with a smile. "You too," she replied as she watched them walk out of the kitchen. It was hard to believe that only fifteen minutes had gone by since she set foot in the kitchen. Lindsay's family sure was temperamental, and if Liam was any indication, she'd been lucky when it came to the emotionality of the men. She couldn't count Jameson because he was taken, and though she wasn't sure about Alexis' relationship status, she had a feeling that the quiet leader was unattached as well; it would take one hell of a special woman to deal with his constant silence. "Come on, I'll take you to your room." Alauria said nothing as she followed Alexis out of the kitchen and up a widely curved staircase that led to an intricate hallway. It looked more like a beautiful stretch of road more than it did a hall, but that was just her opinion. Rich crème walls were adorned with tapestries and oil paintings that looked like they should have been cataloged in a museum. An Asian rug lined the marble floor made the hall look longer and more sophisticated, and when paired with the bronze chandeliers that hung from the arched ceiling, it glowed. Small tables covered with various pieces of art from around the world were strategically placed along the length of the hall, and as she looked closer, Alauria realized that the small pieces of art should have been in museums as well. Good Lord, she felt inadequate. "You have a beautiful home." Alexis only nodded in response before he stopped in front of the corner room at the end of the hall. "I'll have Lindsay bring in some clothes for you. There's a closet in his bathroom with fresh towels and a robe." Alauria didn't have time to thank him; Alexis simply turned on his heel and walked away. That was something she was going to have to get used to during her stay here, she supposed. With a sigh, she opened the door and stopped short at the threshold. The room was like an island sanctuary. Flame-red walls were softly illuminated by the tall floor lamps that looked like lava lamps strategically placed in each corner of the room. The tall, white, waffled ceiling had no lights installed and seemed to make the room look larger than it was. A tall four-poster bed sat in the center of the room and the soft lighting bounced off the light wood. Two large potted plants were docked in front of the two corners of the bed, and the way they blocked the wooden feet of the wood frame, it looked as if the bed was floating. A lone painting hung to the left of the arched doorway that led to what she assumed was a white and brown themed bathroom. Other than the large armoire against the far wall and the lone night table on the left side of the bed, there was no furniture in the large room. When Alauria turned right and spied the enormous bay window attached to a window seat, she understood why. She didn't have to walk up to the large window to see the gorgeous garden darkened by the night sky. The stars looked like shining beads and for a moment, a sense of peace washed over her. She was safe. Her newfound contentment gave her the resolve to walk into the bathroom. There was no decoration on the tan walls, but none were needed when the beautiful large mahogany bathroom vanity was on display. A tan marble top accentuated the large white bowl-shaped sink and shining mirror that reflected the larger than life white whirlpool bathtub in the corner. A mahogany lined walk-in shower stood adjacent to the vanity and looked way too inviting. A glimmer of excitement rolled through Alauria as she ran to the shower. She had to be careful not to slide on the tiled floor and made quick work of starting the shower. Good God, it was a glass waterfall showerhead. Within moments, her clothes were placed in a nice folded pile on the vanity and she was stepping into heaven. The water pressure was perfect and the temperature was set to stinging hot - just the way she liked it. Lindsay's scent washed over her and she followed the source to the lone bar of soap in the dish mounted on the wall. Yes, it was that intoxicating scent of his, minus his personal aroma. She couldn't stop herself from using the bar to wash herself, and gasped at the rush of arousal that spread to every cell of her body. Desire radiated from her core, making her skin sensitive and hot. Stopping it was not an option; with every inhalation of that magnificent scent, her body craved. Alauria's hands slowly caressed her skin with the bar of soap, spreading and intensifying the madness in her system. It was too much. It was not enough. She had to force herself to put the bar of soap down. Then she blasted the cold water until she shivered. Still, it was not enough. Alauria sighed; her moods were shifting too fast for her to adjust. It must have been a result of being around the temperamental family; there was no other explanation for her mood swings. She turned off the water and simply stood in the steamy confines of the shower, praying that her libido calmed itself down. Five minutes later, no dice. She walked out of the shower and padded the short way to the closet to find a towel. Alauria wrapped herself in the large soft cloth before she walked into the bedroom. Lindsay stood in front of the window and the flash of heat in his eyes forced another throb of desire to pulse through her. She clutched the towel like a lifeline. It was all Lindsay could do to keep from closing the distance between them and taking her in his arms. From his place near the window, he could smell his scent on her. It was like a brand, announcing to the world that she belonged to him. She looked like an anxious doe standing next to his bed with the towel clutched to her chest. It was obvious that she was nervous; the flush taking over her cheeks was indication enough. But there was something else, a tension in the air that pulled at him. Anger wasn't the reason; she was past that emotion. "Are you all right?" She nodded slowly before moving to sit on the bed. "Just a little out of it, I guess." Like she was really going to tell him that she craved his body like the souls in hell craved ice water. Alauria continued to glance at him, confused by why he didn't move from his place near the window. Lindsay didn't look uncomfortable, but he did look as if he wanted to move somewhere else. "That was crazy, what happened with your brother." "He's taken the death pretty hard." "Death?" "Nadia, someone he considered a sister, died six months ago. She was with my brother Andrae, who had a house built for her." "The house Charisma is going to move to?" At Lindsay's nod, she felt her brows raise in realization. "Is Liam jealous that she got the house?" "He has it in his head that they are all trying to forget her." "Oh." She knew that people thought irrational things when in mourning, but Liam took his grief full tilt. "I guess I'd feel flattered if someone mourned me like that." "What?" "I mean, to be cared for so much that someone would go to such lengths to keep from forgetting me, it makes me a little less scared to die." "You will not die." The fervent denial in his voice made her pause. Lindsay looked terrified at the thought of her dying. There was a panicked looked in his eyes that touched her. He really did care about her. "Not today, no." He said nothing to the generalization she made, but turned to face the window. The thought of her dying, of no longer being there with him made him sick. It was like he was congealing inside. She couldn't die. He wouldn't let her die. "Lindsay, I..." Alauria stopped for a moment, unsure of what to say. He was visibly angry; his body was tense, rigid. His refusal to look at her made her worried; upsetting him wasn't something she wanted to do. All she wanted was to have a civilized conversation with him. It was the least she owed him after everything he was doing for her. As she secured the towel around her, Alauria slowly stepped forward until she was able to place a hand on his broad back. She ignored the slight sting from the shocks he gave her and gently caressed him as a show of comfort. "I didn't mean to make you upset." He said nothing to her statement, but the gentle thrum of electrical pulses coming off him intensified. "I was just thinking out loud. I know you won't let anything happen to me." "I refuse to let you die on me," he snapped as he suddenly turned. As she stumbled backward in shock, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. His scent rolled off her and seemed to intensify with her anxiety. That only pushed him further away from his control. He stared down into her wide brown eyes as possessiveness washed over him. She began to calm down and soon, she unconsciously began to run her hands over the length of his arms. She was soothing him, calming him down. Though he was a long way from regaining his control, he didn't have to worry about scaring her. "I won't die on you, Lindsay," she murmured. The way he absently pulled her closer was turning her mind to mush. She could only focus on the heat permeating off his body and the pleasant thrum of electricity rolling off him. Pragmatism told her to pull away, to put some distance between them before things went too far. They'd been through too much in the past forty-eight hours to add what she knew was about to happen onto the list. But that didn't seem to matter as she reached up to bury her fingers in his hair. She couldn't seem to care about rationality or thinking things over as she pulled his head down to hers. And when he possessed her lips with his, she couldn't seem to think at all. Alauria moaned at the intensity of his kiss; Lindsay seemed to ravish her, consume her with his touch. Every nerve ending in her body seemed to react to the electrical pulses thrumming off his body. She never wanted him to stop. She fisted her hands in his hair as his tongue sought entrance into her mouth. A moan escaped her lips at the tiny shock that sensitized the tip of her tongue. Alauria absently felt the towel being pulled from her body, but thought nothing of it until he lifted her into his arms and placed her on his bed. Lindsay took a step back and the dark vibrant color of his eyes set shocks of fire coursing through her system. There was something strangely erotic about laying nude on his bed while he stood above her completely clothed. She felt exotic, inhibited... wanton. She adjusted her position on the bed, resting her weight on her elbows and felt the throb emanating from her core intensify at the hitch in his breathing. Lindsay didn't know which part of her he wanted to devour first. Every inch of that silken body called out to him, urging him to drink his fill. The innocent flush on her face contrasted the seductive look in her eyes and the sensual tilt of her lips. Her breasts rose invitingly with each intake of her breath. Her nipples were stiff and begging for attention. The sight of them pained his straining cock wonderfully. Alauria's legs were closed, but they were also slightly drawn up. Impatience made him forget to think things through; he lowered himself onto the bed, placing his large hands on her knees. Her shudder of anticipation made his head swim. He didn't have to work very hard to pull her legs apart. The dull light of the room bounced off the wetness that clung to short hairs of her cleft. "Fuck," he moaned. The scent of her arousal had him taking hold of her hips. Lindsay pulled her toward him and lined her glistening core with his face. He could clearly see the throb of her arousal that made her glistening lips quiver. Finesse had to be a priority; while she might have liked him following his instincts and ravaging her roughly, he wanted to give her something to remember. Haunted Prey Ch. 08 Alauria gasped as she felt his tongue slowly travel the length of her throbbing core. He barely touched her, but that didn't stop the jaw-dropping pulses of electricity that inflamed her. Lindsay took his time, dragging his tongue up, then down, then back again only to focus on the ultra-sensitive button hidden between her slick folds. He was teasing her, only using the tip of his tongue to drive her insane. She felt so swollen, so ready to explode. Need made her reach down to place a hand on the back of his head. She fisted her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer, silently begging him to end the sweet torment. Alauria wanted to touch more of him, wanted to drive him as wild as he did her, but she couldn't seem to make her body move. Every muscle was tightening, straining as she fought to keep what she knew what was coming at bay. She closed her eyes in her effort to maintain control. And then she groaned angrily when he pulled away. "No," she commanded. He had to keep going. He couldn't stop; not when she was so close. Lindsay smiled at the tremble in her voice as she protested. He knew that she was close, but he wanted her delirious with pleasure before he allowed her the delicious end she craved. He soothed the burn he ignited with his fingers as he rubbed them over her hot and throbbing cleft. Once they were coated with her honey, he eased the fingers inside her and groaned at her tightness. Her shaky pants and low hisses of pleasure made him take more from her. He loved the way her hips began to move against him, urging him to give her what she wanted. As a small show of mercy, he grazed his tongue over the hard bud begging for his attention. When Alauria began to tighten again, he stopped once more and had to force himself to ignore her whispered protests. He pulled away, tearing at his clothes while he did. He knew that he'd destroyed his clothes, but he did not care; he couldn't hold back anymore. Once he was nude, he trapped her body against the bed with the weight of his and groaned at the feel of her flushed and soft skin against him. Alauria touched him restlessly; her hands flitted from his chest, to his back, down to his hips and back. In response, Lindsay lifted her legs to wrap around his waist and groaned at the way his throbbing cock pressed against her slick opening. Her frustrated pants and whimpers made him mimic the erotic sounds. The way she brushed her tongue over the length of his neck and shoulder set him off. Taking his straining cock in his hand, he rubbed the velvet head against her. "Yes," she hissed restlessly. "Fuck." Lindsay slowly pressed himself into her but stopped once the tip of his turgid member penetrated her depths. "Look at me." It took her a moment, but Alauria was able to open her eyes to look at him. Concentration was impossible; the heat permeating off his hard body and the scent of his skin wreaked havoc on her senses. There was a fine layer of sweat on his body that made her ache to run her tongue over every inch of him. But that was after he gave her what she needed. She looked into his green eyes and pulled his head down to kiss him hotly. She moaned and tried to push her hips up, but could only groan when he pulled his face away from hers. "Lindsay, I can't." "This is forever, Alauria. Say it." "Yes." She nodded frantically to emphasize her agreement. "Say it." "Forever," she moaned. A second later, she cried out at the intense pleasure that burst through her body at his swift invasion. Alauria moaned loud at the slow, torturous pace of his thrusts; she lifted her hips for more. She needed him to go faster, needed that beautiful end her body screamed for. "More." "Fuck yea," he moaned as she placed her hands on his lower back to guide him. He moved faster within her, groaning at the earth-shattering way her body shuddered around him. She gripped him so tightly, so perfectly. Then she dug her nails into his back. All control was lost. She groaned in triumph when he accelerated the pace of his thrusts. The ferocity of their lovemaking turned gritty and animalistic, but the way he touched her remained gentle. His consuming kisses had them moaning into each other's mouths. And when she thought he would finally giver her body the end it craved he only slowed until he barely moved within her. "Lindsay, no, please." "Not yet," he groaned harshly. Fuck, she seemed to pull all the will out of his body. He had to slow down, had to make it last. He never wanted it to end. Lindsay pushed in deep then cried out when she lifted her head to flick her sweet tongue over his nipples. For the first time in his life, the shock of electricity that coursed through his body stunned him and had him screwing his eyes shut to keep from exploding within her. Her slick heat was slowly milking him; finesse had long gone out the window. His new goal was to overwhelm her with desire, to make her delirious with it. He kept up the slow torture until tears streamed down her face and her body was tense with pleasure. Harsh grunts and groans rumbled through his chest and in no time at all, he knew that he couldn't hold on much longer. And then she reached down between them to feel him make love to her. Alauria felt her body liquefy at the loud groan he emitted as he finally, finally gave into the needs of their bodies. She matched his every stroke as he fisted his hands in her wet hair and moaned against his ear as he whispered erotic encouragement to her. She lifted her knees higher, causing him to sink in deeper within her depths. Their lovemaking became even more animalistic; harsh grunts and groans accented the natural sounds of their bodies moving as one. She felt as if she was breaking apart into a million pieces, and he loved her harder still, using a deliberate tilt of his hips to wrap her in a fierce orgasm that locked her limbs in place. A lusty cry poured out of her as thousands of tiny shocks zipped through every cell of her body. The tiny stings extended her climax, heightened it to unexpected levels. And when he joined her in that inevitable end, she gasped in ecstasy. Lindsay shouted her name as his orgasm consumed him. With every hot spurt of his essence, his muscles loosened, melted against her. There was no will to move, no ability to pull his weight off her plaint body. Never had he given himself so completely, never had he allowed himself to become so vulnerable. He was open, he was raw, and he was comforted in the hold of her arms. The scent of their lovemaking washed over him and he felt his chest tighten in contentment. He wanted the moment to last forever. Alauria sighed as she felt her body relax and closed her eyes. She was exhausted, she was exhilarated, and she was completely at peace. As much as she wanted to talk, to make sure that he'd received the same amount of pleasure he'd given her, she couldn't find the strength to speak. Sleep was quickly taking over and her last thought before slipping into that wonderful abyss was that they'd have to have a serious talk in the morning. He knew the second she fell asleep; her body daintily went limp and the grip she had on his hair loosened. Lindsay pulled up just enough to look at her face and sighed at the deep stirrings that touched his soul. This lone woman had him in her clutches and she had no idea. She had the power to destroy him if she wanted, power he wasn't sure he wanted her to have. He'd never allowed anyone to have that much power over him but yet, here he was, nearly crushing this lone woman who almost made him forget that he was better off alone. With a sigh, he rolled off her and stared up at the ceiling as he considered the enormity of the pledge he'd forced her to agree to. He hadn't meant to make her say that; now she was bound to him in more ways than one. Lindsay wasn't sure if that was a smart decision considering he hadn't yet taken care of Raife, but there was a part of him that basked in the thought of her belonging to him so intimately. But the possession could get her killed. Nothing was ever simple, he surmised as he got up to place her beneath the covers. He couldn't change what he was and how he lived his life, but damn if she made him want to. The harsh anger that suddenly washed over him had Lindsay forcefully getting out of bed and cutting the light in the room off in an effort to calm down. He was a demigod, a member of The Brethren. His job description required ferocity and strength. There was no room for weakness, and it was quite apparent that having Alauria in his life would always keep him on the verge of madness. Lindsay climbed into bed and stared up at the ceiling as he considered his plan of action. Obviously, he had to ensure Alauria's safety before he went after Raife. Once he was sure she would not be harmed, he would be free to think clearly and handle the situation. Then he could deal with his relationship with the human woman sleeping beside him. The human woman who'd found a way to worm herself into his soul. The woman who'd became his greatest weakness. He shouldn't have made her give him that pledge. Alauria sighed as she rolled into him to envelop herself in his heat. Her contented sigh broke through his anger. With another sigh of his own, Lindsay shifted onto his side and pulled her into his arms. He may not have been able to think clearly with her wrapped in his embrace, but there was always the morning. Yes, once there was a little distance between them, he'd set things back in order. _______ And we're back at the manor. Hope you enjoy seeing the familiar faces! As always, please comment! Haunted Prey Ch. 09 Alauria opened her eyes slowly and found herself staring up at the ceiling. This time, she knew where she was, and the memory of last night brought a slow smile to her face. She knew that Lindsay wasn't in bed, which meant it was safe for her to take in the new level of intimacy of their convoluted relationship. As she stretched lazily, she let out a small groan at the wonderful soreness she felt. The man sure was thorough when it came to turning her into jelly. The simple memory of the way he touched her had her body heating, readying itself for another round. "Good afternoon." Shock had her sitting up abruptly. She remembered to clutch the blanket to her naked chest as she stared at him in disbelief. Lindsay stood in front of the window again, but this time, he'd turned to lean against the frame so that he could comfortably watch her sleep. Damn, he'd seen the look on her face when she woke up. A fierce blush took over her face and she looked away from him, unable to make eye contact. The sigh he emitted sounded frustrated and she only had a second to look in his direction before he was sitting on the side of the bed, his hand on the bed trapping her between his arm and hip. "Did you sleep well?" She was only able to nod like an idiot as the blush on her face intensified. There was something in the semi-guarded look he gave her that made her nervous. A glint in his eye, much like the one he had when he was upset, made her curious about his emotional state. When it came to him, there was no telling how he was feeling. "Are you mad at me?" Of all the things she could have said, she chose the most random question in the world. "Why would I be upset?" She looked over his shoulder for a moment and took a breath to collect herself. Her face had finally cooled down, which meant that she didn't have to seem like a blubbering idiot. "I don't know. You seem kind of broody and dark." He was, but not for the reasons she probably thought. "I'm fine. Are you ok?" "What do you mean?" "I was a little rough last night, toward the end." Lindsay smiled at the severe blush that took over her face again. She looked so innocent and vulnerable; it was amazing, the many layers she'd revealed to him the short time they'd been together. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips, not only to assure her, but because he couldn't resist sampling her sweetness. "Did I hurt you?" Alauria shook her head as she pulled her lower lip between her teeth. He was being extremely gentle, but there was still a tense set to his body, as if he was holding something back. It was then that a harrowing thought came to her. "I wasn't bad, last night, was I?" "Why would you think that?" When she didn't answer, he pulled back to look at her. She avoided eye contact and for some inexplicable reason, felt the need to obsess over her hair. "Why are you acting so weird?" "Why are you?" He let out a frustrated breath as he realized the moment wasn't going as he'd planned. This was a time for soft words and praise, not suspicion and accusation. It was time to try another tactic. "You don't have to worry about getting pregnant." "What does that have to do with this conversation?" "Nothing, but I thought you should know." "I'm not worried." Lindsay quirked a brow at her statement. As far as he knew, most women would have had a panic attack after having unprotected sex. "Why aren't you worried?" She decided to focus her attention on the section of the floor that was illuminated by the sunlight. "I take Depo Provera. You know, the birth control shot you get every eleven weeks or so?" "Oh, well I suppose that makes sense then." This had to be the most awkward conversation she'd had in her entire life. "Why did you say that I didn't have to worry?" "My father passed on this trait that makes it impossible for me to get you pregnant unless I really want to." Alauria focused her attention on his suddenly nervous eyes as she said, "Interesting trait." He nodded, and she wondered if he thought she would become upset by that. "Only you can do this?" "No, all twelve of us." He waited for her to say something, anything, to let him know that he wasn't wasting their time trying to have a tender moment. But she remained silent. "Fuck, this is awkward." Lindsay stood up and walked back to the window. Maybe if he wasn't distracted by her beautiful face, he'd be able to turn their conversation into something meaningful. What was she supposed to say? Though they were speaking to each other, they weren't really saying anything. She had a feeling that no matter what she said at this point, it would get turned around into something even more complicated. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think that you regret what happened" Alauria felt her eyes widen and the enraged look in his eyes and gulped nervously as he stormed back to the bed. Relief washed over her as she realized that he wasn't upset that she might have found him out; no, he was livid because she had the audacity to even think her words. "Are you deliberately trying to piss me off?" "No, I'm trying to figure out why you're being so damned weird. You're the one who made me promise you forever." "You remember that?" "How could I forget?" "I'm not being weird, Alauria." "Yes, you are, Lindsay." Even when she said his name in anger, he felt renewed. The hold she had over him would have been ridiculous had he been turned off by it. Hell, if she knew even half the things that crossed his mind when he thought of her, she would have never thought that he regretted making love to her. Why in the hell would she think that? Irritation made him forget realism. "If you'd get your head out of the clouds for five minutes, you'd see that I'm a little preoccupied trying to save your ass instead of finding new ways to kiss it." He closed his eyes in frustration when the weight of his words washed over him. What the fuck was wrong with him? "I didn't mean that." Alauria said nothing to his comment; she simply wrapped the bed sheet around herself and got out of the bed. "Alexis said you would bring some of Nadia's clothes here for me." It annoyed him that she so callously changed the subject. He saw the hurt in her eyes before he closed his and cursed himself for his stupidity. But instead of screaming at him or trying to hurt him back, she simply asked about some clothing, like what he said didn't mean anything. "Alauria-" "I would really appreciate something to change into after I take a shower." "The shelves in the bathroom closet pull out to take you to the main closet. The clothes are in there." "Thank you." She turned to walk to the bathroom but stopped when he took hold of her arm. Alauria didn't completely turn to look at him, but she did shift enough to make eye contact. "What?" "Can we talk about this?" "What is there to talk about, Lindsay? Yet again, you've reminded me how important I'm not to you, and that slap in the face is not one I'll soon forget." "You mean everything to me. I'm doing everything I can to keep you alive." He frowned when she pulled away from him but said nothing to it. "I'm going to take care of Raife, Alauria." "I know that you will." She looked away from him when she felt the tears well up in her eyes and quickly turned to stare at the entrance of the bathroom. It did no one any good to get emotional over this. "But something tells me that no matter what, this whole situation with Raife will always come between us." With a sigh, she walked toward the bathroom and ignored him as he called out her name. She quietly shut the door in his surprised face then went to turn the shower on. At the door, Lindsay cursed, enraged at himself for hurting Alauria once again. He saw the tears brimming in her eyes, and his gut twisted painfully at that. It seemed that the only think he knew how to do was either upset her or hurt her feelings. No damned wonder she refused to talk to him in the car. Changes would have to be made if he expected to keep her from hating him, but it seemed as if everything he planned made her dislike him even more. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. "Fuck." Before he remembered the meaning of impulse control, Lindsay stormed out of the room and did not stop until he was in the kitchen. He tore through the cabinets, searching for anything that had acceptable alcohol content. Distantly, he was aware of the fact that his brothers stared at him, but he didn't care; he needed something to numb out the feelings that were driving him to distraction. "What the fuck are you looking for?" "Alcohol, Liam. And lots of it." "Is that a good idea?" Alexis asked. It wasn't the question he asked, but the chastising and judgmental way he asked it that made Lindsay mentally count to ten. "It's a damned good idea, Lex. You don't have to deal with that woman on a day-to-day." He stopped and narrowed his eyes as he remembered that his older brother was the reason for the complications in his life. "I should kill you for what you did." "What did you do?" Jameson asked as he turned the television off. "It was going to happen whether or not I sent you." "And that's supposed to make me feel better?" Lindsay roared. "What is going on?" "Never mind, Jameson," Alexis said. He never took his eyes off his enraged and obviously confused brother. Lindsay was always a mess of a man where a woman was concerned, so his behavior didn't surprise him. "You have more important things to deal with right now." "No shit, Sherlock." "Is this about the human?" Liam asked. Before anyone could answer him, he shook his head in disgust and said, "See what I mean? Nothing but trouble, the whole damned lot of them." "Now is not the time, Liam," Alexis warned. "What are you going to do about Raife?" he directed to Lindsay "Wait, this has to do with Raife?" Liam interrupted. His shock could not be contained as he looked at his brother. "Good fucking luck with that." "Thanks," Lindsay murmured sarcastically. He really did not have the patience for this. "Obviously, I'm breaking the treaty," he said to Alexis. "She must mean a lot to you," Jameson said. "Does she know everything?" "No, and I plan on keeping it that way." "How in the fuck is that fair?" Liam asked indignantly. "She may be nothing but a weak human, but she has a right to know why you turned her once pathetic life to shit." "She's not weak or pathetic and if you insult her again, I'll forget that you're my brother and kill you." "Can we please save this for later?" Jameson asked. Though he was used to his brothers fighting like raging bulls, he was more interested in how he could help the newest addition to their lives. "How are you going to do it?" "I'm sure all the Prygorians have moved to the old tunnel system so it's a matter of getting in and passed all of the guards." "That doesn't sound all that difficult," Liam said. "No, but you forget how many of them there are." Lindsay leaned his hip against the counter and took a breath. The last time he'd been through the tunnel system, things did not go very well for him. He couldn't risk a repeat, not when it came to Alauria. "We'll be fine," Alexis promised, "You just need to make sure that we don't waste our time getting you to Raife, only to have you change your mind again." Lindsay really did not want to be reminded of the last time he'd set to get rid of the demon. The more he thought about it, the more a sense of foreboding washed over him. "I won't." "And Alauria will stay here?" Jameson asked. "No." "You're not stupid enough to take her with us," Liam said incredulously. "No," Lindsay said again. He crossed his arms over his chest as he thought aloud, "Raife knows I brought her here so I'm sure that there are some Prygorians around waiting to attack." "Of course you had to make a treaty with the one breed of demon that no magic works on," Liam mumbled. "We could just get rid of them before we leave," Jameson suggested. "Too risky," Lindsay said with a shake of his head. "I'll call Maels and she can stay with the Naguals. They'd never expect us to send her there." "Does she?" Lindsay sighed in annoyance at Alexis' question. "It doesn't matter at this point. The main focus is to keep her alive. If she hates me, that's fine; at least she'd be alive to." "What is this really about, Lindsay?" Jameson may not have been as intuitive as Alexis, but he knew firsthand when someone was working overtime to make up excuses. Though Lindsay was set in protecting Alauria, he worked hard to either hide or protect himself from something. The something, Jameson didn't know, but he was sure that it had to do with the new woman in the house. "Are you only protecting a human, or are you protecting a mate?" Lindsay didn't answer. He was aware of his brothers staring at him expectantly and normally he wouldn't care. But he had no real answer to the question Jameson put to him. His head told him that Alauria would have been better simply being a human that he protected; the sooner he got to this over with, she could go back to her life and never have to worry about being in danger again. But then there was the other part of him; the heart that he fought so hard to protect couldn't think of her being anything less than his mate. He was aware that considering her his mate meant nothing if she wasn't in agreement; they way they'd just left things meant that it was more than possible for her to want nothing more to do with him. Hell, this was too complicated for him to deal with. "I'll call Maels to come get her tonight. Be ready to leave at dawn." * * * * * It was official; Alauria was lost. She wasn't sure if it was the first left turn or the third right that put her off track, but she was somewhere in the house she was sure no one would find her. She should have paid more attention when Alexis took her to Lindsay's room. That actually wouldn't have mattered; her mind was too focused on Lindsay and the unbelievable conversation they'd had before she took a shower. She couldn't understand the point of it; she initially thought that he tried to have some unique form of pillow talk, but then he started talking about pregnancy. And then he pretty much shattered any possibility of them having a conversation that didn't end in hurt feelings. What was it with Raife that made Lindsay an idiot? If she could just figure out the history between them, she would understand the ridiculous treaty. Maybe then she wouldn't have the resentful feelings that made her want to hit him. Another left turn brought her a small hall that led to a beautiful music room. There was a baby grand in the center of the white room, and a large shelving unit filled with instrument cases. From the shapes, she was able to make out a trumpet, a violin, a cello, a soprano saxophone, and what might have been a flute. Alauria wasn't aware that there musicians in the family. When she thought about it, she'd never bothered to ask; she was too busy trying to get things together with Lindsay. The good that did her. The glossy black piano was too beautiful for her to resist. Alauria walked into the room and sat down. She hit a couple of experimental chords and closed her eyes in pleasure at the rich sounds that emanated from the instrument. Perfectly tuned. There wasn't a particular song she had in mind to play so she experimented, putting small melodies together. For a moment, she wished that she had her recorder with her; the semi-dark, mysterious tune was unlike anything she'd ever composed and would have been a random addition to her library. The good thing was that there was no way she could forget such a piece; she could easily ask one of the men if they had a recorder she could borrow and find her way back to the room. A feeling of being watched prompted Alauria to stop mid-chord to look toward the doorway. Charisma stood quietly, taking in the music she heard. There was a mixed look of sadness and awe on her face and for a moment, Alauria wondered if her piece was really that touching. "Hi." "You know, I've been here for six months, and I never knew this room existed." "I was lost." "Yeah, that happens a lot around here." The women laughed and Charisma took the light atmosphere as a sign to enter the room. She stood next to the piano and touched the cool wood carefully. "I was never good at the musical stuff. Cooking is my thing." "Everyone has their specialty." "You say that like you have someone in mind." Alauria did. Lindsay was a pro when it came to keeping her confused and frustrated. She said nothing to Charisma's comment, however, for fear that her thoughts would find their way back to the man who'd turned her life upside down. "Liam could probably give lessons on how to scare people." Charisma laughed softly. "He's actually kind of nice when he forgets that he's mourning Nadia." "I'm going to have to take your word on that." She had no intention of finding out. As far as Alauria was concerned, she and the angry man knew each other well enough. "Was it hard, adjusting to life here?" "Yes and no." Charisma leaned her elbows on the piano as she thought of a proper way to explain her answer. "The brothers that I've met so far are really nice; Draco and Roman are the most sociable ones I've met. They make it a point to make you feel like someone they've known for years. Slade... Oh, Slade..." She shook her head slowly as she laughed, "To say that Slade is a flirt is like saying that it's really easy to have a conversation with Alexis." "So I don't want to meet him?" "Oh, you do. Just make sure Lindsay's around to scare him off when you do." Alauria looked down at the fingers she'd kept on the piano keys at Charisma's statement. "Yeah, I'm not sure it's like that between Lindsay and me anymore." "He wouldn't have brought you here if you were only someone to protect." She would know; when she was the main objective for Zaide's evil plans, Jameson had been sent to save her. It wasn't until they'd realized that there were other demon hunters that should have dealt with Zaide, and the mutual attraction she and Jameson shared wasn't simply coincidence that Charisma knew that there was to be more to her life than being a chef. "It doesn't feel that way." "It never does." Alauria sighed as she allowed herself to experiment with chords once more. She didn't want to think about what was going on between her and Lindsay; at this point, she simply wanted to be safe to go home. Everything else could be figured out later. "Does it get easier?" "Ask me again in a year." Though she and Jameson were happy with each other, there were many aspects to their new lives together that they needed to work out, the most important being their guilt at being the ones to survive the effects of Zaide's madness. "It's still a little too new for me to give you an honest answer." "Right." Alauria continued to play until she settled for a popular rock song she'd rearranged. "I know this song." "It's 'Broken' by that band, Seether." "You made it sound almost like something Enya would have arranged." Alauria laughed as she continued to play the piece. Charisma continued to speak, mostly about random, mundane things that would keep a conversation going and Alauria was more than happy to listen; it was obvious that the chef with new abilities needed a sounding board, one that was not full of testosterone. She'd come to the conclusion that she would have to be careful about her powers and relayed a story about healing herself after she'd accidentally cut herself while preparing dinner. "I don't see cause to worry about that." "I do. If I can heal myself, then that means rapid cell regeneration. Which probably means immortality. I don't want to be around after Jameson dies." Haunted Prey Ch. 09 "Unless they cut your head off," Alauria reasoned. Charisma thought the words over for a moment before she smiled. "Brilliant!" "You're actually considering offing yourself after he dies?" "Yes. The guys will live a really long time; at least a couple more millennia. The world will be too different from what it is now when he goes. I don't want to experience that on my own." At least one of them had the privilege of saying something like that. She was probably destined to spend the rest of her life pining over men she had no business being with. "When you put it like that, I guess it makes sense." Charisma decided to wait until Alauria finished the song before she spoke again. It wasn't that she had nothing left to say; it was that she sensed the newcomer's need for a few moments of silence. She completely understood; being thrust into the fast paced life of The Brethren could be a lot to take in. As it was, she was still trying to adjust. Alauria had a long way to go. "You're very easy to talk to." "I didn't say much." "No, but that doesn't change my opinion." Charisma smiled at Alauria's confused look and decided that the library was a good place to be for the moment. "I'll let you get back to playing." "You don't have to go." "Actually, I need to; Jameson tends to freak out if he can't find me in ten seconds." With a small wave, Charisma made her exit and made sure to remember to talk to Jameson about the possible addition to the family. It was obvious that Alauria wanted more than Lindsay's affections; she needed acceptance from everyone else. * * * * * It was another hour before Alauria decided to try to find the kitchen. Being alone in the music room seemed to calm her nerves and give her new perspective; Lindsay was a complete ass when it came to expressing emotion, but the fact that he even tried in the first place should have been enough to get her to cut him some slack. That didn't mean that she wouldn't call him out when he upset her; no, he would know when she was ready to do battle. He'd left her with no other option; she had to fight for what she wanted, and a relationship with Lindsay was what she desired most. Alauria figured that the smartest place to start was with his brothers; they would be able to tell her countless things about Lindsay, not only giving her an opportunity to get to know the man she wanted, but also a glimpse into the emotional man he was. She would also have an opportunity to learn about the brothers; she had to if she expected to work things out with Lindsay. Backtracking was easy and as she found herself in the familiar hall that led to Lindsay's room and was quickly able to find the correct route to the kitchen. In just enough time too; her stomach had begun a slow and steady rumble, a clear sign that hunger would dominate her in a short period of time. Alauria walked down the arched staircase and mentally prepared herself for what was to come. She wasn't sure if Liam was there; while he didn't scare her, he made her nervous. Being on the receiving end of his attitude did not seem like an exciting way to pass the time. She hoped that either Alexis or Jameson was present if Liam was; they knew how to balance things out to make her less antsy. Jameson, especially; like Charisma, he was friendly and seemed eager to become friends. A steadying breath and prayer for luck accompanied Alauria into the kitchen and she was pleasantly surprised to see all of them men in the room. Neither Lindsay or Liam acknowledged her entrance and while she didn't expect anything more from Liam, she was annoyed at Lindsay's behavior. The possibility of his still being upset about their earlier conversation didn't soothe her much; she would have at least glanced at him had the roles been reversed. Alexis nodded his greeting to her while Jameson offered a warm smile. She found it kind of weird that no one spoke, but she wasn't going to be the one to break the odd silence. Alauria walked over to the vacant chair at the island and quietly settled herself, making sure to avoid eye contact with Liam. She suddenly felt awkward; it wasn't everyday she was in the presence of half god demon hunters sexy enough to set her retinas on fire. There was also the fact that she had no idea what to say to keep Liam from snapping at her. Focusing her attention on the magnets on the refrigerator, she thought it best to wait until they left before getting herself something to eat. She felt their eyes on her, willing her to do something. Her spine straightened in response; she was not a side show character to be laughed and pointed at. She was a woman with pride, and she would sit there, silent as she waited for them to leave. "Here." Alauria only had a moment to lean back before the enormous muffin was thrust where her face once was. She stared at the blueberries threatening to burst out of the muffin before looking at the pale hand that held it. She followed the path from hand to arm, and found herself blushing at the expectant look Liam gave her. A quick glance to the left displayed an entire tray of muffins on the island counter. Alauria accepted the gruff offering with murmured thanks and held the muffin in her hands nervously. "Aren't you going to eat it?" She glanced around the room and felt her blush intensify when she noticed that every single one of the men stared at her expectantly. "I can't." "Why the hell not?" Liam asked. "Cut it out, Liam," Alexis admonished. It was obvious that she was nervous, and he was sure it was because she was seated next to the hot tempered troublemaker. "Don't let Liam scare you," Jameson soothed. He would have placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, but stopped at the dangerous glare Lindsay gave him. "He's in a docile mood right now." Alauria almost laughed out loud. If this was his docile mood, she'd hate to see him enraged. "It's not that." Lindsay, who expected her to go on with her explanation, let out a frustrated sigh when she said nothing else. "What is it then?" She took the time to fix him with a hard glare before she said, "It's very uncomfortable eating in front of four people who rarely eat." Not only did she feel on display, but knowing that sinfully gorgeous men watched her stuff her face with a fattening muffin lessened her self confidence. She couldn't afford that now. Everyone's attention turned when a large dog walked into the room. Alauria was amazed by the size of it; though the canine looked like a Golden Retriever/Alaskan Wolf mix, it looked larger than a Great Dane and had the build of a St. Bernard. Its fur was a beautiful golden color that was not a characteristic of any dog she'd ever heard of. Large, beautiful amber eyes stared at her curiously. She couldn't look away and while part of her should have run to hide behind one of the men because the animal looked terrifying, Alauria could only seem to stare at the animal. She wasn't afraid when it approached and carefully sniffed her, but she did become confused when it looked over at Lindsay for a moment. Instinct made her reach out to pet the animal, and she smiled when the large dog leaned into her side. "That's enough, Euan," Lindsay grumbled. "I've never heard of anyone giving a dog that name." "You don't like it?" Jameson asked. "Eaun's a beautiful name," she said as she watched the dog head-butt Lindsay's thigh, "Just never heard of a dog having that name before." "What makes you think he's just a dog?" Alexis asked. She looked at everyone in the room before glancing at the dog again. It looked at her curiously, and she could have sworn that it gave her a look daring her to disagree, almost as if it wanted to prove her wrong. "At this point, I'd be shocked if that was all he was." "I need you to find Maels for me," Lindsay said to the dog, "Tell him I need him to protect precious cargo for me." "We should start getting our supplies ready," Alexis said. He turned to walk out of the room and only fixed Lindsay with a deep stare as he passed him. Alauria took a grateful bite out of her muffin the second Alexis, Jameson, Liam and the dog left the kitchen. She was aware that Lindsay remained rooted where he was. Waiting for him to speak first seemed like a better idea than saying something that might spark another argument. "We're leaving tonight to take care of Raife," Lindsay said as he walked around the island to face her. The look of shock on her face pained him; she actually thought that he'd back out on his word. "You're taking me with you?" "No." "So why did you say we?" "Is that why you look so shocked?" Her nod made him groan inwardly. He'd never be able to read the woman accurately. "I meant we as in my brothers and myself. I'm taking you as far from the fight as possible." That, she could get on board with. "So I'm not staying here?" When he shook his head, she asked, "Where are you taking me then?" "I'm not taking you anywhere." "That doesn't make any sense, Lindsay." "Yes, it does, Alauria. You just don't want to think about the alternative." She took a moment to think about what he said. As she calmly put her muffin down, she took a breath. "You're sending me away." "I need to make sure you're somewhere safe." "I understand that. But you can't find the common decency to take me there yourself?" "Alauria-" "I mean, you're the one who forced me to leave my life behind in the first place. The least you could do is take me to some strange place yourself." "There are demons posted along the grounds. My brothers and I will get rid of them while you leave." Logic told her that the plan made sense. But the part of her that was terrified and needed him to hold her hand refused to listen to logic. "Why can't your brothers get rid of them while you take me?" "As long as the Prygorians see me, they won't concern themselves with following you. They think that I'll keep you close." "Bull." Panic steadily rose within her, and she hadn't the faintest idea why. The panic triggered her anger, and soon, the two emotions fed off each other until she was shaking with rage. "Just admit it, Lindsay; you're doing the guy thing." "What guy thing?" "Being an asshole and pushing me away until I break up with you." What the hell was going on? Everything was fine a moment ago. "You broke up with me two days ago." Again, logic was not the winning factor in her emotional war. "You know what, Lindsay, do whatever the hell you want. It's not like I can stop you anyway." What the hell was wrong with her all of a sudden? "Why are you acting like this?" "Because I'm sick of you and your shit." Alauria launched herself off the chair and began to pace the length of the kitchen in annoyance. "One minute you want me, the next, you ignore me. Then you choose some stupid demon over me." "I did not." His patience was running thin; there was only so much of her erratic temper he could take before he started shouting back. "Liar!" She walked to stand directly in front of him and gave him one the meanest looks she could come up with. His wince told her that she'd succeeded. "Every day you chose to keep that thing alive you chose it over me. We wouldn't be here if that wasn't true." So they were back to this again. "How many times do I have to tell you that you mean everything to me, Alauria? In how many different ways? How can I get you to understand that I am doing everything in my power to make you happy? That I would lay down my life right now if it meant you never had to go through this?" And just like that, she was terrified. The desperation behind his words, the sincerity of his feelings... it was all like a hot knife slicing through her heart. She wanted to believe him, wanted to let the fight end with those words, but something told her that his words were only words, that one day, he would tire of her and he would leave, juts like her father did. She wouldn't be able to survive if he left her and started a family with someone else. Suddenly, the air was too stifling in the room. Alauria needed to breathe, to get away from him before she made an even bigger fool out of herself. She wordlessly walked away, intent on packing her minimal belongings before she was carted off like unwanted furniture. Lindsay stared at her back in complete shock. She was actually walking away from him. "Wait a minute." She kept walking. "Wait." The fact that she refused to listen to him sent Lindsay into such a rage, he slammed his hand down on the counter, cracking the marble. "God damn it, Rachel, don't walk away from me!" The name had them both freezing in place. Alauria slowly turned and looked at his shamed face curiously. "Who is Rachel, Lindsay?" He said nothing, which she expected. She walked to stand in front of him once more, determined to get an answer. "This is the second time you've called me that name. Who is she?" He took a deep breath. She didn't want to know about Rachel, wasn't ready for the weight of what he knew, what he'd lived. "Alauria, not today." "Tell me who she is, Lindsay." There was anger in her eyes, yes, but there was also confusion and pain. He might have been looking too much into it, because he could have sworn that he also saw compassion. "Alauria-" "Please." The look of pleading in her eyes did him in. Another sigh had him leaning against the island for support. "Rachel was the woman I loved." That didn't surprise her. Only someone who had a strong emotional hold on him would have him calling her by another name. "Go on." He couldn't make eye contact as he retold the story. "I met her when I was twenty-five and I thought that she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen." Which was true at the time. But after Alauria, Lindsay was able to understand what true beauty meant. "We were together the better part of a century." Which meant that she was 'special' too. Wonderful; not only was Alauria competing with a memory and a demon, but she was competing with a supernatural memory and a demon. She crossed her arms over her chest and let out a slow breath for patience. "So she had powers." "Yes, she had the ability to mimic powers used around her." There was a small pause in the conversation as he tried to pick how to give her the information she asked for. "With the exception of you, I'd always been attracted to dangerous women. Rough, crass, not afraid to start and finish a fight... She hated the fact that my brothers and I lived by specific rules, and that those rules kept me from acting on my dangerous impulses. She wanted me to be as carefree as she was. I think she was the woman people had in mind when they coined the term 'bad girl.'" "But you loved her." "Desperately." Another pause in the conversation had him shuffling his feet nervously. Hearing the story had to hurt; he knew for a fact that he'd be incensed with jealousy had the roles been reversed. "Around her two-hundredth birthday, she started acting strange; saying and doing things completely out of character and she'd developed a habit of disappearing for days. At first I thought nothing of it because lets face it; she was the type of woman who did what she wanted and to hell with what you thought. "But I couldn't deal with the jealousy that came with her new antics and we fought all the time, to the point where we used our abilities on each other. I knew something was very wrong the night she tried to kill me while I slept." "What?" "I knocked the knife out of her hand in time and she dematerialized in front of me." Lindsay glanced at Alauria; there was confusion in her eyes, but there was something else there as well, something that urged him to keep going. "Dematerializing - shimmering is the human term for it - is something only demons do." Her wide-eyed look made him nod slowly. "Yeah... That's when it suddenly made sense to me; the erratic behavior, disappearing... She was coming into her demonic power." "Demons aren't born with their powers?" "Not half-breeds. Rachel was half human." "Oh." "I'm sure you can guess what my brothers suggested." "They wanted you to kill her." On a nod, Lindsay said, "Alexis was adamant about getting rid of her because she knew too much about The Brethren; our weaknesses and how we worked. It was too dangerous to keep her alive." "You killed her?" Alauria knew that blood was thicker than water, but she found it hard to believe that he would kill someone he'd loved for one hundred years so easily. "I let her go. Told her to hide until it was safe for me to find her." He stopped yet again and took a breath to calm himself. "A few days later, my mother went missing." She was quick to make a connection. "No." He nodded as he said, "There is a specific ceremony to initiate a half-breed. The presentation of the ceremony changes depending on the demon, but with Rachel's demonic half, it's always the same." "She had to kill someone." "Not just someone. The human they're closest to. Rachel's mother died during birth and my mother, who'd managed to live a very long life for a human thanks to Liam, was quick to take on the task of being a mother to her. Needless to say they became very close after a hundred years." "I don't get it; how could your mother live so long if she was just a human?" "There is something about Liam's healing abilities that tends to add years to a human's life. He'd healed her a few times in the years she lived." There was something in the way he said those words that had her putting the pieces together. "She killed your mother, didn't she?" Lindsay only nodded again and she felt her heart break for him. No wonder he was such an emotional wreck. "She killed your mother to join the clan?" "No. As a half-breed, it was her genetic right to join the clan. Human blood is needed to become a Prygorian." The statement had Alauria taking two surprised steps back. "Pry... A Pry... She's a Prygorian?" "It was too late for me to save my mother; I didn't make it there in time. By the time the shock of her death wore off, it was too late to save Rachel too." "Rachel is a Prygorian?" "I don't call her Rachel anymore. Rachel died the night my mother did." Lindsay focused his attention on her flushed face. Alauria was beyond surprised by the news, and he knew that she was fighting to deny what he did not outright tell her. "No," she said with a shake of her head. She couldn't believe it. She wouldn't believe it. "No." "Yes, Alauria. Now you know why I made the treaty." The tears that streamed down her defiant face tore through him. He didn't know how to fix it. "Now you know why I couldn't kill Raife when I had the chance." Her face flushed to a dangerous shade of red as she tried to come to terms with what he'd told her. "Rachel is Raife." _______ I hope you guys had a wonderful holiday. As always, please comment! Haunted Prey Ch. 10 She had to sit down. Alauria stumbled to the nearest chair and let herself fall onto it. She was shaking and was sure that she'd have another anxiety attack if she didn't calm down soon. Rachel was Raife. Raife was once the woman Lindsay loved above all others. No damned wonder the demon wanted to make her lunch meat. A sudden thought made her look at Lindsay. He hadn't moved except to turn and face her. There was a pained expression on his face and for a moment, she wasn't sure if the pain was because of her reaction or because of what happened to Rachel. "When did you make the treaty?" "After I buried my mother, I set out to kill her. The extra bulk of her new body made her a slower fighter so I was easily able to bring her down. But when it came down to it..." "Why couldn't you kill her?" She had no idea what it must have been like for him, but she knew for a fact that she would have his blood if he did anything to her mother. "Because I only saw Rachel when I looked at Raife." "Is that how you feel now?" The question was like a blow to the midsection. How was it, that after all this time, she still could not see what she meant to him? "You mean more to me than Rachel ever did." Though she should have found comfort in the statement, Alauria was only able to become suspicious. "That doesn't mean that you don't still love her." "What I felt for Rachel in the past has nothing to do with the hate I feel for Raife now." "If there was a chance, even a small one, that you could get Rachel back, would you take it?" He wasn't sure how to answer that question. On the one hand, if it meant saving the woman he once cared about, he would try; Rachel deserved a full and happy life. But to go as far as a reconciliation... That was a bit too much. What he felt for the confusing woman in front of him was too intense to ignore. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, she held a hand up for silence. "Never mind I asked. That was a... a really stupid question on my part, especially when I already know the answer." Alauria stood up and moved to walk out of the kitchen. As an afterthought, she said, "I think it's better that we leave it like this." Lindsay quickly reached out to gently take hold of her arm. "What the hell is that supposed to mean, Alauria?" "It means that once this is done you don't have to worry about me replacing her." "What the hell is wrong with you, Alauria? You aren't a replacement." "If you say so." She disengaged her arm and slowly walked out of the kitchen, not once bothering to turn. Had she taken the time, she would have seen the longing pouring out of his soul and the desperate need to take her pain within himself. * * * * * "Tell me how to make this right." Alauria sighed dejectedly as she rubbed her temples. She had a fierce stress related headache and added to Lindsay's constant pleas to work out their problems before she left, she was ready to pound her head against a wall to ease the pain. She'd reached the point where she realized that it made no sense for her to fight for him. If he wasn't pushing her away, she was left competing with who she was quite sure was still the love of his life. Alauria didn't know how she was supposed to compete with the past he had with Raife. What she did know was that no matter how she assessed her odds, she was on the losing end. And if there was one thing she'd always promised herself, it was that she'd never put herself in a situation where she'd be left behind. She had to face reality; if Lindsay couldn't kill Raife after she'd murdered his mother, there was no way in hell he'd kill the demon now after a simple kidnapping attempt. In the end, she wasn't worth it, and she wasn't going to allow him to feed her the lies he'd forced himself to believe. So she quietly packed the items she'd been given and remained silent as Lindsay stood against the door and watched her. With every attempt to reconcile, her headache intensified. It wasn't long until she was ready to start screaming like a lunatic to get him to leave her alone. It was torture being in his room with him, to look at the bed they'd made love in, knowing that after this, they'd be done. She turned to look at him and her breath caught at the heaviness in his gaze. He looked... sad. His stance was rigid, ready to fight as he leaned against the door, but he couldn't conceal what he felt in his eyes. The once brilliant green was slightly dulled, and there was an emptiness that confused her. "Are you upset because I'm leaving or because you have to fight her?" Somehow he knew she'd try to make him compare his feelings for them again. This time, he was prepared. "I was young when I met Rachel and I didn't know or love my brothers then as much as I do now. Because of that, I made the mistake of thinking with my heart, even knowing that it would one day backfire on me." He pushed himself away from the door and took a few steps forward. She didn't back away or cringe, he was happy to observe, and newfound confidence prompted him to take another step forward. "With you, my head and my heart say the same exact thing. So I know it's not a mistake to listen." She blinked back the sudden onslaught of tears and swallowed hard in an attempt to ease the lump forming in her throat. His words were too right, too perfect for her to believe. "That doesn't answer my question." Lindsay watched her fight the tears threatening to fall. He wanted to reach out and comfort her, but this was the first civil conversation they'd had in what felt like decades. "I'm upset because I wish that I could have known that I would meet you one day because then I would have found the strength to do what I should have done after she killed my mother." As she stared up at him in amazement, a single tear slid down her soft cheek. Her chin trembled, emphasizing its small indent. "I don't think you understand how deeply my feelings for you run." He would have never thought that she'd be the one running at every turn when he met her. It seemed more like she would have been set to chase him around until he finally gave into his feelings. Very odd, how things worked themselves out. God, how she wanted to believe him. He looked so sure in what he said. But how could she believe him when all she had was his words? Though words meant so much, they could also mean nothing at all; a valuable lesson she'd learned from her father. "Lindsay..." Alauria trialed off, unsure of what to say. She broke eye contact and shook her head to clear the clutter of thoughts in her head. "Lindsay, I-" "Why are you so afraid of me, Alauria?" Though he'd only whispered the question, it felt as if he'd shouted it. "Because you're going to leave me." She flinched and let out a small sob. She brought her hands up to cover her face and turned away from him. Crying in front of him wasn't something she wanted to do anymore. The tears made her seem weak and needy, two things she wasn't. But it was hard to keep her emotions at bay when he was near. Alauria cried harder when he pulled her into his soft embrace. To simply be in his arms was heaven. And hell. She wanted to trust him, wanted to know that when he said he wanted only her, he meant it. As she turned to press her tear streaked face against his chest, she felt her chest seize as overwhelming love washed over her. She was in love with him, more in love than she though was possible for anyone. The pain that came with the possibility of his leaving her increased tenfold. Her body shook with fear and love; she couldn't decide if she should hold him tighter or push him away. Finally, an answer for her behavior. Lindsay tightened his hold on her and placed a small kiss on the top of her head. The violent shakes of her body tore at him. "Baby, I'm not going anywhere." How could he when she'd irrevocably changed his life in the short time they'd known each other? The woman was a drug in his veins, an addiction he wanted no cure for. He couldn't let her go. He wouldn't. "Yes-you-are," she hiccupped. She felt his sharp intake of breath but ignored it was she continued, "You let her live this long." "What will it take to get you to believe me?" When she only shrugged in answer, Lindsay found himself laughing. He wasn't even sure why; whether it was the near ridiculous turn of their conversation or the fact that he'd finally found the root of her radical mood swings, it did not matter. He'd finally managed to worm his way passed her hostility to a place that would allow them a proper reconciliation once Raife was gone. The sudden knock on the door made him curse and her pull away to hastily wipe her eyes. "What?" Lindsay called out. "Maels is here." "We'll be down in a minute, Lex." He turned to Alauria, who'd quickly gone back to the task of packing her minimal belongings. She refused to look at him, but he did not take offense; the flush of her skin gave him the answer he needed. "I'm not going to leave you, Alauria. I'll be back to get you in a few days." Her simple nod annoyed him, but not enough to make an issue of the action. She was listening to what he told her; that was enough for now. She waited until all of her bags were packed before she looked at him. Funny; it didn't hurt so much to look at him anymore. Fear still coursed through her veins, but it was primarily fear for his safety. If what he said was true, he had to live so that he could come back to her. "Ok, I'm ready." Lindsay's brow quirked as she lifted the black duffel bag he gave her. There was a faint blush on her cheeks and while her eyes didn't glisten with impending tears, they were red. That did nothing to diminish her startling beauty, however, and he found his heart swelling at just the sight of her. "No you aren't." "What are you talking about? I have everything I need and you heard Alexis said that Maels is here." "You will kiss me goodbye first." Nervous excitement rolled through her body at the command. Alauria's first instinct was to shake her head but the brilliance was back in his eyes and the mesmerizing green called to her. Before she could stop herself, she'd walked to stand in front of him. A second later, she gasped as she was pulled into his embrace and met him halfway as he leaned down to kiss her. He showed no mercy as he slanted his lips over hers. Within seconds, her body was on fire and trembling with need as pulses of electricity rolled off his body and through her. Alauria moaned as she pulled his lower lip between her teeth and gasped again at the feel of his hard arousal pressed against her. His harsh groan of approval made her take more and it wasn't long before she was the aggressor of their kiss; her tongue thrust into his willing mouth, coaxing him to mimic the action. Lindsay's arms tightened around her, pulling her close while still keeping them torturously far apart. It was almost too much for her to take. He had a good mind to rip her clothes off and take her right then. The others could wait an hour... or five. The unique mixture of her natural scent and his soap ignited a dangerous level of passion within him he knew he would not be able to tame, not if he kept his hands on her. But that didn't stop him from cupping her perfect bottom in his hands so that he could press her closer to his aching member. He loved the way she clung to him; her body could not deny her true feelings for him. No matter how problematic she became, this part of her would never change. Lindsay had to force himself to put space between them when he caught himself lifting the hem of her shirt. It would have been so easy to let it happen, but making sure she was safe enough to go home was more important than giving into the needs of his body. He fought to control his ragged breathing but smiled at the deep flush of her skin. How he loved the way she blushed. Alauria cleared her throat nervously as she tried to control her racing heart. Her legs felt weak; she wanted to laugh at the realization. Instead, she retreated to the bed and retrieved her bag. Lindsay still stared at her and his gaze was hot enough to burn her clothes off. Lord knew that she wanted him to; her body still thrummed from the electricity that rolled off him. "They're waiting." He said nothing to her comment, but the side of his mouth quirked up in a devilish smile that made her breathless. She thought that he would command her to kiss him again and only blinked when he walked to the door to escort her downstairs. Alauria followed his lead and stopped to murmur thanks when he took her bag from her. Together, they walked down the hall and staircase in silence. It wasn't an awkward or tense silence, but it was enough to make her periodically glance up at him. His demeanor changed; he seemed to get harder and withdraw more into himself the closer they got to the kitchen. Was it preparation for what was to come, or a method of keeping his emotions from others? She stopped short at the sight of the three strange men standing with Lindsay's brothers in the kitchen. They weren't as beautiful as the men she was familiar with, but there was a rugged handsomeness about them that made them quite intriguing. The tallest of the three was by far the most gripping; dirty blonde hair bordering on brown ran down to rest against broad, muscular shoulders. His eyebrows were black, forcing Alauria to wonder if he colored the shiny locks on his head, but when she looked into penetrating amber eyes, her focus shifted. As she stared at him, she found herself remembering bits and pieces of her life; most of the memories were pleasant and it wasn't until the memories became focused on Lindsay and her activities since meeting him did she wonder if her thoughts were the result of someone's abilities. "Maels," Lindsay warned. He knew what his ally was about; the de-facto Nagual leader had the ability to read the intentions of others and used his gift to screen Alauria. Though he knew that his friend only thought of his safety, he was still insulted. "I will protect her for you," Maels responded. As he stared at the wide-eyed human, he used his abilities to read the intentions of his ally. He almost smiled at what he'd discovered; Lindsay's history with females was always entertaining. If the demon hunter did not change his mind, his life would be comparable to a musical. Alauria shook her head slowly as she felt her thoughts focusing on the present. Maels hadn't taken his gaze off her as he spoke, but she was able to focus on something other than his eyes. His nose was straight but thin and led to even thinner lips set into a serious line. The set of his jaw betrayed his boyish oval face, but she was sure that beneath his calm exterior was a vicious warrior. The other two men looked annoyed; they were scowling hard enough to scare an angry bear away. They both had sandy brown hair that made their dark eyes look black and menacing. The bulkier of the two, a round faced beast of a man, looked out of his comfort zone and ready to leave. It was obvious that he was impatient and ready to take care of more important tasks. As was the third man. He actually took a second to look at her and through the scowl that slightly distorted his triangular face, she saw a flash of curiosity in his eyes. "Thank you," Lindsay said with a nod. "Pick up the phone and ask yourself next time." "Didn't know your clan decided to live as part of the twenty-first century." He smiled when Alauria took a protective step toward him in response to Maels' reaction to his statement. "Settle yourself, Brock," Maels instructed the larger of his two associates. "It is time to leave." "We will in a moment." Maels brought his attention Alexis as he said, "You might want to sweep the northern perimeter of your land." "How close?" Alexis asked. "Three miles. Maybe less now." Alauria watched as Liam and Jameson quickly walked out of the kitchen before glancing at Lindsay. He didn't look upset or worried, but she wouldn't be able to tell anyway; he was a master at concealing his emotions. If she heard the conversation correctly, people who were not friends of anyone in the room were three miles north of the manor and Brock was very ready to leave. No wonder he and the third man looked ready to kill someone. "I guess we should get going then." "It would be the wisest decision," Maels agreed. "Thank you for your assistance," Alexis said as he walked toward the entryway. As he passed Alauria, he nodded his farewell. Lindsay placed his hand on the small of her back as he led her toward the garage. He did not take offense when Maels and his men split up in order to flank him and Alauria, but he did elbow Brock when the irritated man bumped into her. "Watch yourself." "Suck my dick, demon hunter." "Brock," Maels said, "I told you to be nice." Brock grumbled as he walked to the black Porsche Cayenne Turbo S parked near the garage exit. "Forgive him; both he and Hunter get anxious when there are demons near." Alauria would have commented on Maels' apology had he not abruptly walked away from her. "Ok..." "They won't hurt you," Lindsay assured. "I know; you wouldn't have let me go with them if you thought I wouldn't be safe." Her faith in his judgment pleased him enough to make him smile. He nodded once before walking her to the truck. "I'll be back before the end of the week." Her heart was beating a million miles a minute it seemed. Reality was setting in and it seemed as if she wasn't strong enough to handle it. Alauria nodded to show that she'd heard what he said before she settled herself in the truck. The window had been rolled down, allowing her the freedom to lean out once Lindsay closed the door behind her. "Be careful." He only nodded once more before leaning down to place a fierce but quick kiss on her lips. He faintly heard Brock let out an impatient breath and resisted the urge to laugh. Instead, he only pulled away and handed her the duffel bag through the window. Then he leaned in and directed his next statement to Maels, who'd decided to share the back seat with her. "Take the bend that leads to the backwoods then veer right. The road will be clear by the time you get there." "You should be telling me this, demon hunter." "Suck my dick, Brock." Alauria smiled at the glint in Lindsay's eyes as he winked at her. Suddenly, she wasn't so nervous. That didn't stop her from wanting to reach out and beg him to go with her, however. Though she could do it alone, she didn't want to. "See you in a few days." "Yes, you will." He took a step back as the truck's engine revved to life. As he placed his hands in his pockets, Lindsay watched the car exit the driveway. He had to force himself to keep from following it; the urge to rip Brock away from the wheel and take her to safety himself made him rigid. She would be safe, and in a few short days he would see her again. Knowing that they would both soon be free kept him rooted in place. * * * * * Alauria wasn't sure how long she slept, but when she woke up, she jumped up in surprise. Her face was pressed against the back of the driver's seat, forcing her neck to bend at an awkward angle. Her hands dangled on either side of her, nearly touching the floor. It was the harsh, foreign language being spoken between the men in the car that brought her out of her slumber, and the uncomfortable position that made her jump up. "Seatbelts are quite the nifty little device," Maels commented before going back to his language. She would have scowled had her neck not felt as if she'd spent the day letting someone balance a building on it. She decided to concentrate on stretching the tension out. The action served to cool her down enough to remember to be civil to the men set to guard her. "Where are you taking me?" Haunted Prey Ch. 10 "We have a compound three hours north of here." It annoyed her that Maels not only refused to look at her, but chose to answer her questions in English in between bursts of his foreign language directed at his men. "What is that, German?" "No, it is the language of our clan." "So everyone like you can speak it?" "No." It was Brock who answered the question. He glanced at Alauria through the rearview mirror and shook his head as if dealing with an unfocused child. "Each Nagual clan has its own specific language, which is mostly reflected by their country of origin." "So that's why your language sounds German." "There are bits of Polish in there," Hunter added. "So what happens when you meet someone from another clan?" "We do speak English, you know," Maels stated. "Don't patronize me," Alauria snapped. While she was grateful for the help, she refused to be treated like an imbecile. "I'm new to this stuff, ok?" There was a moment of silence she didn't understand and for a moment, she felt as if the men said nothing because they didn't want to laugh at her. The thought alone sparked her temper. "Do any of you have a phone I can borrow for a moment?" "Hunter," Maels ordered. Hunter pulled his cellular phone out of his pocket and handed it to Alauria. "Don't tell anyone where you are or where you're going," he ordered. She barely nodded at him as she quickly dialed and waited for an answer. "Hello?" "Mom, it's me," she sighed. Thank goodness, Raife decided to leave her mother alone. "Alauria, Jaedyn-" "Mom, I'm fine, I promise." She'd been middle named, which always meant she was in trouble. "Where are you? I don't hear from you and you're not at the studio. What is going on? Your father has been trying to find you." "Why?" "It's your sister." Alauria felt her heart seize as a sense of foreboding washed over her. "What happened?" "I didn't get all of the particulars, but according to your father, she has some rare infection." "Is she all right?" "The doctors are trying to fight it but the medications they are using aren't working very well." Tears welled in Alauria's eyes as she considered the meaning of the statement. "So she's dying?" "No, not dying; just very sick. She's been asking for you." Alauria sighed as she tried to figure out what to say. "Um, can you check on her for me and tell her that I'll see her as soon as I can?" "Shouldn't you do that yourself?" She felt the men's eyes on her and she blushed in reaction, but she kept her focus on her mother. "I can't at the moment." "Why not? What is going on with you?" The worry in her mother's voice made Alauria rush to pacify her. "I'm sorry I didn't get to call you sooner. It's just that Lindsay, uh..." What the hell did she say? Her mother would never believe the truth (if she could even divulge it) and she didn't want to lie. "The piano student, Lindsay?" "Yeah." "The one you should have wild animal sex with?" Alauria heard the men chuckle under their breath and it was then that she knew that they could hear what her mother was saying. Absolutely wonderful. "Yes, mother, that Lindsay. He sort of, um, took me away on a small trip out of town." That was the best she could do; it wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the truth either. It would have to do. "Where did he take you?" "One of his other houses." "How many does the man have?" "I'm not completely sure." "Is it close to town?" The questions were getting too personal for the men's comfort. "Uh, Mom, I actually have to go. I just wanted to call to let you know I'm not dead in a ditch somewhere." "When will you be back?" "Not sure; Lindsay's kept me pretty busy these past couple of days." "I hope you're using protection." She knew her face was scarlet. "MOM! Could you please?" "Now Honey Bun, you're a grown ass woman and he's a sexy man. Spontaneous trips like yours only mean one thing; infinite rounds of passionate screwing." "For the love of - MOM!" The blush went to her chest and shoulders as she heard Brock and Hunter laugh harder. "I'm hanging up the phone now." "I love you, Honey Bun." "Love you too." Alauria was quick to end the call and handed the phone back to Hunter. She made no eye contact with anyone and quickly focused her attention on her window. "Your mom sounds like a lot of fun," Hunter commented. She remained silent, refusing to play into their game. A movement to her right caught her eye and she turned in time to smack Maels' hand away from her face. "What are you doing?" "The flush of your skin intrigues me." "Keep the intrigue to yourself, buddy." Alauria pressed herself into the door to make more space between her and Maels. A part of her wanted to laugh at the ridiculous turn of events, but the truth was that she was too worried to appreciate the humor. There were so many repercussions to consider; if Lindsay failed, she could never go home and her mother would be in danger. So would Raedyn, who already had a lot to deal with. It wasn't just her life that would be altered. If she lived, anyway. On the other hand, if Lindsay succeeded, then there was a whole new life to deal with, a new world to navigate. She could do it, but Alauria wasn't sure she was exactly strong enough to deal with all of the pressures that came with dating a man who hunted demons for a living. Would she always be a target? Would he have to stow her away in some unknown corner of the world so that no one would find her? "You are very pensive." Alauria glanced at Maels and gently shrugged her shoulders. "A lot on my mind all of a sudden." A second later, she found herself gasping in fear as the truck lunged forward as if hit hard from behind. Before she was given a chance to turn around to see what was happening, Maels pulled her down to the floor and used his body to shield her. She would have screamed if it wasn't for the terror coursing through her veins. Both Hunter and Brock were shouting. Maels' harsh breathing covered the side of her face in heat that would have been comforting had she not glimpsed the blade of what had to be a sword penetrating the roof of the car. She did scream then and the screaming only intensified when she found herself being thrown as the truck rolled violently down the road. ___________________ We're a little passed the halfway point, but we're nowhere near done with this installment. Fasten your seatbelts, folks - and as always, please comment! Haunted Prey Ch. 11 The men were loading up the car when Lindsay heard the ragged breathing usually associated with a wounded animal. "What the fuck is that?" Liam asked. Lindsay said nothing as he stalked forward slowly, preparing himself for what was to come. His senses quickly went on alert as Alexis took position at his side. As the garage door slowly lifted, he held his hands up, ready to shock the life out of the first thing that moved. His hands then dropped in dread, however, as he watched Brock collapse. He, along with Alexis and Liam rushed forward. Brock's breathing was extremely shallow; it didn't look as if he was breathing at all. Blood gushed from gaping wounds all over his body. His left eye looked crushed in. His right arm was severely broken. "What happened?" Lindsay demanded. "Do you honestly think he'll be able to talk right now?" Liam asked as he took Brock's hands in his. Almost immediately, his ability to heal wounds took effect, slowly closing the open wounds on Brock's body. Lindsay wasn't in the mood to listen to reason. "Brock, where is Alauria?" He shrugged off the hand Alexis placed on his back, but kept himself from lifting the injured man by the scruff of his neck to get the answer he needed. His attention was momentarily turned when a golden horse approached slowly with a blood soaked Maels draped over its back. The leader of the Naguals looked in even worse condition than Brock did, which only told Lindsay that he'd taken point in protecting Alauria while Brock and Hunter watched his back. But both Hunter and Alauria were missing. "I'll get to him in a minute," Liam said as he continued to work on Brock. He was relieved to see that the worst of the wounds had healed and that the chalky pallor of his skin had brightened. "Set him over there," he said with a jerk of his chin. "Hurry up," Lindsay commanded. "I need to know what happened." "We all do," Alexis said. It wasn't only Alauria he had to worry about; Maels was extremely important to his kind. If he decided to hold a grudge, it meant war between the Naguals and The Brethren. With everything that was happening already, he couldn't afford the added stress. "She's fine, Lindsay." "Don't start that diplomatic shit with me," Lindsay growled. Until she was safely in his arms once more, he would continue to think the worst. And that meant he would be volatile until he got the answers he needed. "Why don't you check on Maels?" Jameson suggested. He'd wisely decided to continue to load the truck so that they would be able to leave immediately after Maels and Brock were taken care of. He also wanted to calm everyone down; raised voices would alert Charisma to trouble and the last thing he wanted to do was have her panic and trigger another one of her untapped abilities when he had to leave her. "Why don't you?" Lindsay countered, "He should have known better than to-" He stopped when the horse angrily snorted and stomped one of its front hooves. "Don't you start," he warned. He focused his attention on the area surrounding the garage, hoping that the threat was near. He needed to fight, to get the anger and aggression out of his system so that he could deal with the situation rationally. "Liam, God damn it, hurry the fuck up." "You're going to quit ordering me around like I'm some bitch," Liam warned. Finally done with Brock, he took a moment to collect himself before he moved to Maels. The Nagual leader was in even worse shape than Brock; his face was completely swollen and Liam didn't need a medical degree to know that the majority of bones in his body were crushed. "This is going to take a while," he said to the horse. Lindsay rushed over to Brock the second the newly healed man regained consciousness. "What happened, Brock?" "We underestimated their numbers," he murmured groggily. His head was heavy, and his body throbbed with a dull ache that was more annoying than uncomfortable. "They wanted us to see the scouts we told you about. We were ambushed." "Where is Alauria?" Brock shook his head at Lindsay's question. "I don't know." "What do you remember?" Alexis asked. "She was on the phone with her mother, then the car was hit. We rolled," he groaned out the last statement as his head began to throb. "And then?" Lindsay asked when Brock took too long to answer. "Give him a minute," Alexis said. Brock took several breaths in an effort to force energy into his system before he said, "We managed to get her out of the car before they grabbed her. We were outnumbered." Which wouldn't have been a problem if they didn't have a human to protect. "Where is Hunter?" Alexis asked. "Dead." The anguish in Brock's voice sobered Lindsay. It wasn't supposed to go down like this. With Brock's recount of the unprecedented events, he had his answer. Raife had Alauria. "They have her," he said out loud. "Yes," Brock agreed, "We were not enough." Lindsay heard the unspoken accusation. He'd left them to face demons he should have gotten rid of centuries ago. For a moment, he wanted to scream in frustration. Was there anything else he was supposed to deal with in the next five minutes? Wasn't what he had to deal with enough? "Liam, are you done yet?" "Give him a minute," Jameson advised, "We have time to save her." "How in the hell would you know?" Lindsay asked impatiently. The second he looked at his brother's face, he remembered the story Alexis told him and regretted his words. Jameson would know well about whether there was enough time to save a loved one; he'd lost someone he considered a sister just months before. "We need to go." "You go ahead," Alexis ordered as he threw the keys to his truck at his agitated brother, "We'll meet you there." "And don't go in there with guns blazing for fuck's sake," Liam added. Lindsay barely heard a word that was said; the second he had the keys in his hands, he ran to the truck and nearly ripped the door off in his haste to get in. He wasted no time shoving the key into the ignition and starting the car. Within moments, he was speeding out of the massive garage, silently thankful that Alexis had thought to move everyone out of his way. They didn't know Raife like he did; while she wouldn't kill Alauria until he'd arrived, she'd make sure that a severe beating was given, if only to assert her superiority to a human. Lindsay couldn't afford that; Alauria had been through enough because of him. He would be damned if he let history repeat itself. * * * * * Alauria had no idea where she was. Upon initial inspection, it seemed as if she was in some sort of corporate office building catered to Goths. Black walls seemed to overemphasize red furniture and silver accents. As two Prygorian demons dragged her through the building, she was able to see other menacing looking demons seated peacefully as they all waited to conduct their personal business. A seemingly human secretary sat behind a large black desk littered with paperwork, paperweights, and preserved organs. While many of the organs were undoubtedly human, there were several jars filled with body parts she'd never seen before. Alauria wasn't sure if it was the liquid used to preserve the parts or the parts themselves that glowed ominously in the faint sunlight. She wondered how it was possible for the demons to act so calm when the windows had no coverings on them and the building was in the center of the metropolitan area. And then she realized that the building owner would have been smart enough to invest in tinted windows. Demons could see out, but passers-by could not see in. Clever. Behind the secretary was a large display case filled with weapons Alauria had never seen before. Based on the crusted blood on the selection, the weapons weren't only decorative. They were an in-the-face warning to the demons in the waiting room. Don't mess around on someone else's territory or your blood would be the next. That should have scared the life out of her. It only served to set her blood to a boil. Alauria's memory of the attack on Maels' truck was foggy due to her increasing tendency to black out or faint during life or death situations. She did remember the conversation she had with her mother and then the car rolling down the road. Things after that only came to her in flashes, like looking at snapshots taken at a party. Mael's on top of her. The long blade of a sword puncturing the roof of the truck. The sight of the three dozen or so Prygorians as she was pulled out of the car. She shuddered when she remembered witnessing Maels being taken down by three demons that got past Hunter and Brock. Her stomach churned when she remembered the sounds of Hunter's tortured scream as his limbs were pulled from his body. After that, she'd awoken to a hard blow delivered by one of her captors determined to bring her back to consciousness. And now she was here, waiting for the unknown. "I'll tell Raife that you're here," the secretary said. Her heavy southern accent was lyrical and pleasing to listen to. So out of place with a room filled with demons. Alauria watched and listened as the secretary informed the Prygorian leader of her arrival and felt her heart rate race uncontrollably. She was about to meet the infamous Raife, and then she would die some sick and painful death as a warped act of revenge. For a moment she worried about her mother and Raedyn. How would they react to the news of her sudden death? What would Lindsay tell them? Alauria was pulled out of her thoughts when she was nudged forward. She gulped nervously, then forced herself to keep a straight face. If she showed any sign of the fear raging through her, she was lost. Strength was the key; it might allow her a semi-easy death. At least she hoped so. She barely looked at anything but the Grecian tiled floor that seemed to make the hallway longer than it actually was. Those tiles led to heavy looking mahogany doors embossed with the initials R.P. Raife Prygorian, perchance? Or did she go by Rachel during business hours. "Walk, human," one of the demons commanded gruffly when she instinctively slowed her pace. Her fear reverted to anger once more and for a moment, Alauria was glad for that; anger made her hold herself taller. It also made her speak without thinking and knowing her track record for saying the wrong thing when she was upset, she was in for a really bad meeting. Again, she forced herself to concentrate on her facial expression and her general demeanor. As she was shuffled into the spacious office, she took a deep breath and looked around. Dozens of shelves were lined with weapons and preserved organs. There was also a display of degrees and certifications. A demon with a brain; who'd have thought? There was nothing soft about the room. Everything was dark with harsh angles and shadowed light. The recessed lighting of the tall ceilings did nothing to balance the harsh effect of the dark crimson tones of the room. Even the black leather couches looked dangerous, despite the fact that a small fluffy white kitten curled itself on the backrest. "You may leave us." Alauria looked around again, desperate to find the body that belonged to the extremely pleasant and husky voice. But there was no one other than the two demons that were quick to exit the room. A deep breath helped her to calm herself and remain still. Raife no doubt wanted her to panic and begin begging for mercy, just so that she could prove that Lindsay made a mistake dating a human. Yea, like she would give the sick and sadistic demon the satisfaction. Endless minutes passed as Alaurai waited for Raife to show herself. She concentrated on the sleeping cat, as it was the only comfortable object in the room. She focused on the soft rise and fall of the cat's chest as it sucked in the cool air of the room. It was funny; the air in the room was quite cool and comfortable, but as she breathed in the air, it felt as if she was sucking in the burning air of an overly heated room. The feeling only made the blood rush through her veins faster; so fast that she could hear the frantic beat of her heart. Through it, she heard the faint sounds of breathing. It was so close she could almost feel it. The sound circled her slowly, the stalking orbit of a predator as it evaluated the juiciest morsel to bite into. "This is what he's betrayed me for?" Though she wanted to, Alauria refused to answer the question. The only response she could think of was an insult, and while it would have afforded her a quick death, she was curious; she wanted to know what Raife looked like. Would she be as ugly as the other Prygorian demons she'd encountered, or would she look different, considering she was a female? There was also the fact that she wanted a good look at her competition; wasn't there some unspoken rule that competitors had a right to look at each other before there was any kind of bloodshed? There was an audible sniffing to her left, one that had her raising a brow in expectation. "His scent is all over you." "That's what usually happens when you share a bed with a man." The comment served to get her a sound blow to the face. Alauria's head snapped right as she placed a hand to the left side of her face. She tasted her blood, and a new mix of anger and fear coursed through her. She would not cower; Lindsay deserved a woman strong enough to face any enemy. "I've killed for less, you insipid human." "You're going to kill me anyway, right? I might was well say what's on my mind." Alauria found herself tilting her head curiously when Raife made herself visible. She'd chosen her human form, one Alauria immediately recognized. "You're the woman..." The woman who stared at her oddly the night Lindsay stood her up. There was no mistaking the tall athletic build, the vivid blue eyes, or even the long, dirty blonde hair that framed a face even the most beautiful of women would envy. Flawless alabaster skin highlighted full pink lips and a slightly upturned nose. A menacing smile displayed charming dimples. She even dressed exceptionally; a chocolate brown three-piece suit with a skirt so short it could have doubled as a tube top and a mint green blouse for a splash of color. Brown pumps completed the look and added height to her frame. "You have a good memory." Raife looked at the woman, the human in front of her and shook her head in disgust. "I really thought he would have at least dignified his downgrade with someone attractive." "I guess he's more interested in quality rather than presentation these days." The remark was rewarded with another blow. "You can dish it out, but you sure can't take it." "Oh, I can take it, little girl." Raife took a dangerous step forward and looked down at the human. "But I can only take so much before I have to act." "And for someone a couple of hundred years old, you sure do act like a spoiled child." "Alauria, isn't it?" "Yes, and you're Raife, formerly known as Rachel." "Ah, so he's told you who I am." For a moment, Raife was disappointed; Lindsay never told anyone about his relationship with her. She knew this because she had spies everywhere. That he told the annoying human about their love meant that she wasn't just a human to him. That was unacceptable. "Yes, his pathetic ex who can't seem to move on." This time Raife's blow had her thrown in the air for a moment before she landed hard on the floor. Alauria knew she was making a grave mistake by provoking the demon, but her anger made her forget to be practical. "Honestly," she said as she wiped the blood off her mouth, "how many times does he have to shut you down before you get a clue?" She cried out when Raife fisted a hand in her dark hair and dragged her to stand by the curling locks. "He and I made promises, you stupid girl. We swore to love no one else and I have kept my part of the deal." "Then you're an idiot." Alauria puffed out a hard breath as she was punched in the stomach. She felt as if her stomach would empty itself and for a moment she wished it would; it wouldn't have been much, but it would have been nice to ruin Raife's expensive suede pumps. "When a man breaks up with you, all promises made become null and void." "Not if all reasons for his not returning are removed from the equation." "You think killing me is going to give you want you want?" "Maybe." Raife held a hand out and used her powers to manifest a long, curved knife. She felt her lips quirk at Alauria's wide eyed look. "But I want him to watch you die. We both know he'll come for you. He's deluded himself into thinking that he could actually care about someone as weak and worthless as you. I want to be there as he comes to the realization that I am the only woman he will ever be with." "Then why the knife?" "I said I'd wait to kill you." A second after Raife made her declaration, she made a wide and accurate slicing motion, one that resulted in Alauria's pained scream. Her aim proved true; Raife managed to create a long gash along the human's side. Blood flowed freely, forcing a full smile from her. Weak human. "That doesn't mean I won't be having any fun in the meantime." _______ Yes, yes, I know this one was short this week. That couldn't be helped. But things are moving along quite smoothly so there should be no worries. Please rate and comment; it makes me happy when you do. Haunted Prey Ch. 12 "Lindsay." Lindsay whirled around at the whispered call a second before motioning Jameson forward. "What the hell took you all so long?" He'd been waiting for his brothers for hours. While the time did afford him the opportunity to survey the Prygorian lair and formulate a plan of action, he didn't like that the same time was wasted. He could have long ago had Alauria in his arms and tucked safely away at the manor. God only knew what she'd had to suffer under Raife's sadistic hand; the demon leader was a fan of drawing blood no matter what she did. He still had some of the scars to prove it. If she decided to have the kind of fun that scared him, Alauria would be one step from death. No, he couldn't, he wouldn't think of that. She had to be alive. She had to be all right. There was no way he could go on if she no longer lived. One thing was sure; the second he got her away from this mess, he would do everything in his power to show her just how much she meant to him. Jameson pulled his long hair into a queue as he said, "Euan had to make sure Maels and Brock got back to their compound." Though he understood the need for the action, his impatience pushed him toward illogical thinking. "He could have doubled back on his own." "Into Prygorian Central? I don't think so." Jameson crouched low beside his brother before asking, "You have any idea how we're going to get in?" "Easy," Lindsay replied, "We're going balls-out." "Of course we are," Jameson sighed. He pulled a cellular phone out of his pocket quickly pushed the speed dial. There was no ring before he heard the telltale command for information that screamed Alexis. "He says we're blazing in with gusto." He heard Liam grunt in approval in the background and shook his head in reaction. "When?" "When?" Jameson asked Lindsay. "You and Liam should switch. It's better if there is one with an active power on either side." Lindsay stopped and looked around the dense forest that led to the outskirts of the cave system created by the demons, trying to decide if he wanted Jameson walking through the woods by himself. "Where the hell are they, anyway?" Alexis, who'd heard the entire exchange, gave his and Liam's location. Jameson nodded quickly before replying, "We'll be there to switch in ten." As he hung up his phone and placed it back in his pocket, he said, "They're on the southern route, near the bend." "And Euan?" "He's flying high, getting the numbers of their outer patrol. He'll touch down when we meet up with Lex and Liam." "Let's go then." Lindsay was quick to follow an unknown path deer used to navigate the forest. He didn't have to worry about having to fight just yet; Prygorian demons had an odd fondness for animals and made certain to keep from entering their territories for fear of disrupting their ecosystems. The last time he'd walked these woods, Lindsay was quick to notice the utter lack of modern conveniences that most demons hoarded in their bases of operation. He was sure it had something to do with the woodland creatures and for the first time, he was grateful that the demons had some sort of soft spot. "Remember that it'll take a full blast of fire to take one down." "I'm pretty sure I won't have to worry about that if you stick me with Liam." Jameson shook his head at the memory of his brother. Liam, always ready for a fight, had a tendency to rush into battle instead of letting his brothers use their active abilities to thin down their enemies. To Liam, the more he had to fight, the better the battle. "You two fight better together." "You just don't want to have to worry about killing him before you get to Raife." Jameson smiled at Lindsay's grunt of agreement and was quick to sober when a difficult thought came to him. "You sure you'll be able to do it?" "If he pisses me off enough, hell yes, I'll kill Liam." "That's not what I'm talking about." "I know." Lindsay sighed as he momentarily slowed his step. "I keep getting that question." "I was there the last time you were given the opportunity." "I was still in love with her back then." "But you're not now?" Lindsay wasn't altogether sure how to answer that question. Yes, he still cared for the woman he used to love, but that was only because she'd been such a central part of his life for a century. He'd eaten, breathed, and slept Rachel to the point of betraying his brothers. Out of respect for the woman he cared about, it would be one of the hardest kills he'd ever claim. But then there was Alauria, the very reason he was out to kill Raife in the first place. While their relationship was rocky at best, there was nothing he wouldn't give for her, to be with her. In the short time she'd been in his life, he'd felt more for her than he could have ever felt for Rachel. In the back of his mind, he knew what that meant, and knew that his life had been fundamentally changed, but as he walked through the woods, he couldn't allow himself to feel what he'd forced aside. He couldn't fight emotionally; it was those very emotions that kept him from doing what he should have done centuries ago. "She's in love with me." "I'm not asking about Alauria." Shock slapped Lindsay across the face as he absorbed his brother's words. "Alauria's in love with me? How the hell would you know?" Jameson rolled his eyes as he stepped over a large branch that had fallen across the path. "All you have to do is look at the woman when she's around you and you'd be able to tell." He glanced at his brother and felt his brow raise at the pleased and surprised looks that took over his face. "You should probably tell her how you feel when this is over with." "Don't tell me what to do," Lindsay snapped. He knew how he felt about her, but he wasn't sure he could call it love. Even if what he felt was the most intense experience he'd ever lived through, he couldn't call it something as serious as love. "We weren't talking about her anyway." "Weren't we?" "I'll be able to kill Raife, all right?" Lindsay shook his head as he approached Alexis and Liam, suddenly annoyed by the turn of the conversation. "Which one of you is switching off?" Just then, Euan touched down and shifted from owl form to human. His oval face was serious as he pushed his blonde hair out of his face and said, "There are about fifty to the north, fifteen to the east, ten to the south -- with about twenty interspersed in the middle and four to the west." He accepted a bundle of clothing Liam held out to him and quickly dressed. "That means Raife is to the north." Lindsay glanced in the direction he'd just mentioned before looking at Euan's expectant amber eyes. "Those to the west will most likely shimmer in when they hear the fight." "Which leaves the north, the east, and the south." Alexis glanced around at his brothers, slightly disappointed that there were only five of them. "Jameson and I will handle those to the east and south. You three take the north. We'll meet you." "Remember that snapping their necks is the fastest way to immobilize them for a few minutes." Lindsay directed the information to Alexis and Liam as they had fewer advantages when it came to their abilities. "There is also a pressure point just under the ribs." He pressed his fingers to the location on his own body as an example. "And handle your shit, for fuck's sake." Liam only smiled in anticipation as he slapped each of his brothers on the back. "Let's go fuck some shit up." "We do this in fifteen," Alexis instructed, "That gives you three enough time to get to your positions before we go at once." Lindsay only nodded before he turned and walked a dense and packed path that led straight to the north of the cave system. He didn't speak, as he was mentally preparing himself for the battle that was to come. Concentration was the key; fifty Prygorian demons was quite a challenge, even if he had two of his brothers with him. But for the sake of Alauria, failure was not an option. "What did it look like they were doing?" Liam asked Euan. "Getting ready for a party." That simple statement had Lindsay turning to narrow his eyes at his brother. "What do you mean, getting ready for a party?" "They were flying banners and putting drums made with animal skin together." Lindsay felt his heart drop into his chest. "Were they yellow or red ones?" "They were black," Euan said. His felt his brows raise and his temper flare when his brother cursed. "Lindsay, if you're going to get pissed, at least do it when I can kill something." Lindsay felt his nerve grate as he remembered Euan's penchant for empathy. His brother not only identified with emotions, but he felt everything that was felt around him. "Black banners?" "Yes." "What does that mean?" Liam asked. He didn't have to be an empath to know that something wasn't right. "Yellow banners mean it's some traditional Prygorian celebration. Red denotes the initiation of a Prygorian that came into power." He shook his head slowly as he increased the pace of the walk toward the north end of the cave system. Lindsay trudged through the dense foliage, grabbing onto the trucks of nearby trees to help propel himself forward. "What the fuck is it?" Liam asked again. "Black means they're making a sacrifice." The statement had both Euan and Liam silent for a long moment. Liam's thoughts shifted to Charisma and another innocent soul, and he remembered a time where they had no choice but to witness the effects of a different sacrifice, one that drastically shifted the dynamic of their complicated family. "Fucking great," he murmured. This was exactly what he wanted to hear. "Walk faster," Lindsay commanded. But the command fell on deaf ears as ten demons jumped down from the trees. He was quick to shock the two in front of him into oblivion before shifting to snap the neck of a third. A hard kick to the back launched him forward and he took a small tree down during his awkward land. Lindsay only had a second to shift to the side before a large ceramic-like foot came stomping down where his head once was. Lindsay was quick to jump to his feet and used the momentum to return the kick. His aim proved true as the heel of his foot made contact with the demon's pressure point. The high-pitched squeal made him wince, but it didn't distract him from blasting that demon into ashes as well. "Move the fuck out the way!" Liam shouted as he flew past Lindsay to drop-kick the demon going for his brother's back. His foot made contact with the Pprygorian's chest and the force of it had the demon slamming into a tree. As he backed up a space, Liam felt hard arms encircling his shoulders and threw his weight forward to roll the demon off. As he crouched before the two demons, he caught sight of the large tree branch and quickly rolled to grab it. As he shifted into another crouch, he tossed the branch like a spear, hitting his mark and pinning one of the demons to another tree. Liam gained his feet and slowly circled the other demon as it tried to find a weak point. "Let's dance, bitch." He launched himself backward and threw his legs up when the demon charged him. Just as the Prygorian braced to jump forward, Liam took the heavy weight and sprung it backward into one of the demons set to attack Euan. He tripped another demon going after Lindsay's back and scrambled up in time to snap its neck. "Watch out!" he shouted at Euan. Quick reflexes had Euan turning in time to shove an elbow into the demon's neck. As the Prygorian's head snapped back, he delivered a roundhouse kick that shoved the demon in Liam's direction. A split second later, he found himself dodging a stream of electricity aimed at a demon bent on taking advantage of his turned back. Euan quickly rolled out of the way and let his animal instincts take over. He saw the two coward demons that tried to run for help and quick to give chase; strong legs helped him leap up into the trees and from branch to branch until he was able to cut them off. As he dropped down from a tall branch, he crushed the torso of one demon, while wrapping his arm around the neck of the other. Snapping the neck was quite easy when the demon tried to throw him off. Euan landed hard on his side, but ignored the pain that came with the awkward landing; he rushed back to his brothers in time to leap high and grab onto the head of a large demon Liam tried to finish off. His momentum, paired with Laim's hold on the Prygorian allowed them to decapitate the demon. As he threw the head to the side, Euan watched as Lindsay electrocuted the final demons that were capable of attacking. "Good warm-up," Liam murmured as he flexed his arms. "Why the hell didn't you see them?" Lindsay railed at Euan. Because adrenaline still ran through his system, Euan was able to block his brother's anger. "Probably because they took position while I was reporting what I saw." He wasn't in the mood to deal with his brother's attitude; with a grunt, he turned and continued toward their destination. "At least that's ten less than we have to deal with when we get to the north end." "Amen," Liam agreed as he followed. Lindsay grumbled a low curse as he took up the rear. He was annoyed that he'd just spent the better part of fifteen minutes fighting demons that should have been with the rest of the Prygorians. While the battle did indeed allow him the benefit of a warm up and less demons to have to fight at the north end, his time was wasted out in the middle of the woods. It was taking him too long to get to Alauria; the last thing he needed was to have a repeat of what happened to his mother. No, he would not think of that; he had to keep his thoughts clear and positive; it was the only way he would be able to successfully complete this mission. By the time they'd made it to the north end of the cave system; Lindsay was poised to fight. Black banners hung high and glittered in the firelight, a sure sign that sacrificial blood would be spilt. Over his dead body; there was no way in hell he would allow Alauria to die. The fight started before he had a chance to get his thoughts together. One second Lindsay was crouching to get an idea of how they would attack, and the next, he was dodging the sword blade that was swung at him. He easily rolled out of the way and stepped forward to jab the attacking demon below the chin. As the Prygorian reared back, he threw an intense stream of electricity at it. The voltage pierced the demon, and two others behind it, quickly slimming their numbers down. As they demons turned to ash, Lindsay turned and watched as a hoard of demons charged his brothers. While his ability would have easily allowed him time to roast at least five of them, his brothers would still be at a disadvantage. He had to think quickly. Lindsay surveyed the area and kicked back the demon that rushed at him toward the right. It was then that he spied the spear-like pole that held up the black banner. He made a grab for it and was quick to rip it out of the ground and a scat second he launched it toward the demons headed for his brothers. Luck was on his side; the makeshift spear sliced through two demons before pinning two more to each other. The blow that cane from the left had Lindsay flying three feet before he hit the ground. He managed to land on one of the wooden drums made specifically for the sacrifice and groaned as he felt the splintered wood pierce through his skin. Pain, anger and desperation created a dangerous combination as he pulled himself up. As he clutched his side, he threw out a hand to shock an oncoming demon into oblivion. It was then that he noticed the throng behind the demon approaching. "Fuck," he muttered. He couldn't call his brothers for aid; they were occupied with their own demons. Lindsay considered running back into the woods to force them to spread out, but the tactic drew him away from Alauria. So he pushed forward, hoping that he would be able to stay on his feet long enough to make it to the woman he was desperate to save. "Get down!" Lindsay only had a second to follow the command before a blaze of fire incinerated each of the demons charging him. The scent of burning demon flesh added to the agony of his wound made his stomach turn. "Liam!" he called as he sprang to his feet. Through the haze of smoke and fire, Lindsay was able to make out the figures of Alexis and Jameson, each engaged in their own battles. Jameson chose to use his powers to set the demons on fire after his brothers pushed them back far enough from the entrance of the cave system. "Liam!" "I'm right fucking here." Liam quickly pulled a glove off and took Lindsay's hand in his. His powers worked quickly, as evidence by the hissed curse his brother emitted. "Get inside, man. We've got this." Lindsay glanced up and through the glow associated with Liam's abilities, he was able to see the bloodlust in his eyes, the need to kill as many demons as possible. For Liam, that usually meant killing the most. "You're having too much fun." "Just go get the fucking girl." Liam shoved his brother in the direction of the cave system a second before he side-kicked a charging demon. "Go!" Because his head was still swimming from the effects of Liam's abilities, Lindsay was quick to do as he was told. He was easily able to sneak past the entrance as all of the demons were eager to fight his brothers. Inside the tunnels, there were only a few demons, and they were all dispersed. Quick snaps of the neck immobilized them long enough for him to get to the heart of the cave system, the Mecca of the Prygorian lair. He had to battle memories of another mission as he focus began to shift. Nothing had changed from the last time he'd been here. It was even as if he'd fought and killed the same exact demons. Lindsay took a moment to brace his back against the wall. Five demons rushed passed and in their haste to join the battle outside, they'd neglected to mind their surroundings. He grabbed the last demon in line and snapped its neck. As he let the demon drop to the ground, Lindsay channeled his powers to create a white-hot bolt of electricity. The power of it unfurled from his core, spreading to every cell of his body and out through every pore of his skin. Because the halls of the cave system were thick and only a few feet in width, the voltage of his power siphoned through, electrocuting any and all demons within thirty feet. The bright light of the blast blinded and weakened him for a brief moment and as he panted for breath, Lindsay told himself that he was almost there, that he was steps closer to Alauria. Soon, she'd be away from this place. The small motivational speech gave him the determination he needed to charge forward. Lindsay rushed the large double doors and did not stop until he stood in the center of the sacrificial chamber. The walls were lined with demons visibly itching to tear him apart. To the front, Raife stood above Alauria, who'd been strapped down to a table obviously used for torture. Candlelight illuminated the scene before him. "Looks like you were able to make it this time." Lindsay shifted his gaze from Alauria's bruised and relieved face to Raife's amused one. Anger burst through him as he watched the demon run a claw-tipped finger over Alauria's soft skin. "I won't let you kill her, Raife." "And why not? You made a promise to me. I'm going to make sure you keep it." "We were different people back then." He mad sure to emphasize the part where they were people. "I made that promise to Rachel, and she's dead. Just like you will be." Lindsay narrowed his eyes as he watched Raife shift forms to look like Rachel. Even in human form, he only saw the evil, the mistakes he'd made when he'd believed that they were meant to be. "Changing forms doesn't change how I see you." Haunted Prey Ch. 12 "It worked last time." He really didn't want to be reminded of the fact that it was the sight of her beautiful face that kept him from killing her. "This is now, and it's not too late to do what I have to do." Lindsay was aware of the other demons in the room slowly advancing, desperate for the opportunity to kill him. While he kept his focus on Raife, he lifted a hand and blasted the closest observer of the bunch. It didn't take long to turn the overzealous demon into dust. "Stay where you are!" Raife commanded as the rest of her personal guard began to rush forward. "Your assistance is not needed." She rested her fingertips on Alauria's furious pulse and smiled at the thud. She wondered if it was fear or anticipation that drove the force of the human's pulse and was tempted to ask. "It had to be more than my face that kept you from killing me." "I believed that somewhere deep inside of you, Rachel still existed." "The soul is still in my body, you know." "But you don't utilize it. What's the point of having a soul if you won't use it?" "It's just a soul, Lindsay." "And if you were more than just a demon I'm going to kill, you'd understand the true meaning of what you just said." "You still love me." Raife calmly wrapped a strong hand around Alauria's neck when she received no response. "You love me, Lindsay." Alauria's pained whimper made Lindsay clench his jaw in restraint. He was alone in a room filled with demons and their leader had a hand on her tender neck. One false move would mean the end of them both. "Blackmail, Raife? You honestly think that the threat of you killing her will make me tell you what you want to hear? How human of you." The insult resulted in the reaction Lindsay wanted; Raife's outraged scream pierced his ears a scant second before she launched a nearby knife at him. He was quick to dodge the weapon, but the demon behind him wasn't. The blade pierced its neck and had it stumbling backward. It was dead before it hit the floor. "Like I said; I never killed you because I loved you. But that was then." There was a long tense moment of silence as Lindsay's words sunk in. Raife looked from the man standing before her to the human woman gazing up at her. Those brown eyes sparkled dangerously, a silent declaration that she would have been the one to end this if she wasn't bound. It was obvious that her outrage was on Lindsay's behalf. "You love her," Raife murmured quietly. The human's eyes shifted to him, and it was then that rage took over. "You chose a pathetic human over me?! Kill him!" She commanded. Lindsay was prepared for the impending battle. While he waited for Raife to make her move, he focused his energy on a bolt strong enough to incinerate the vast majority of the demons in the room. As they charged, he curled into himself and crouched low. The second the first demon landed a blow, he let his control slip and cried out as raw electricity poured out of his body. It was difficult to control the distance of his shock, but he managed to focus enough to keep the worst of his ability from touching Alauria. Ear piercing screams assaulted his ears as the demons surrounding him began to dust and crumble. He remained low, waiting for the last of them to go down and for the electricity pouring out of his body to calm. After several tense moments, the noise stopped, telling him that the demons closest to his shock had been taken out. Covered by a thick layer of ash, Lindsay stood and began to fight the remaining demons. A hard backhand distracted an oncoming Prygorian long enough for him to kick it back. At the same time, he was side-swiped and shoved toward a massive throng of demons. Lindsay groaned inwardly at the hard blow directed to his midsection and the familiar crack associated with an injured rib. Two more blows, one directed to his back and the other his chest, had him on his knees, gasping for breath. The blows continued, and Lindsay knew that they were toying with him for Raife's benefit. He was getting his ass handed to him and he knew that Raife would wait until he was too weak to fight before she killed Alauria. The sudden blast of fire had Lindsay sighing in relief. Renewed determination washed over him and helped him to fight off the three demons that continued to beat him. He kicked out, taking one of the demons down and managed to get on his feet before kicking the second one back into Liam. From there, he succeeded in snapping the neck of the third demon. Caution was forgotten as he shoved Jameson out of the way and ran toward Raife. He tackled her, forcing them both to land hard on the ground. Lindsay felt himself groaning at the backhand that would have broken a regular human's neck. He returned the blow and gained his feet long enough to rip the shackle that bound Alauria's right hand from it post. "All these years I've loved no one but you," Raife spat out, "And you betrayed me, betrayed us, for a worthless human!" "No one told you to hold onto someone who walked away," Lindsay countered as he blocked a punch that allowed him to hit the demon's weak spot below the ribs. Raife's howl of pain did nothing to tap into his compassion. He hit the spot again, then found himself shoved back as he was impaled by the knife Raife found access to. Pain radiated through his body, but he forced himself to ignore it as the demon continued a brutal attack of kicks focused on his rips. Lindsay tried to block the blows, but it was near impossible, especially when Raife continued to swipe the blade of the knife at him. There were cuts on his arms and shoulders, all from his attempts to keep another kick from connecting with his midsection. Lindsay groaned again when the tip of the knife made contact with his shoulder. Raife followed through and pushed the blade in. Instead of howling in pain, he pulled her close and used his knee to smash the weak spot below the ribs. He hissed as the blade was pulled out but channeled his pain; Lindsay kneed Raife's hard face. "This ends now." He dragged the demon to stand a scant second before kicking it backward and as far from Alauria as possible. Raife found the energy to fight back, but it wasn't enough to break Lindsay's resolve. As he dodged swipes and blows, he glanced at Alauria, who fought to remove the restraint on her left arm. Seeing her struggle added to his rage and gave him the courage to kick the knife out of Raife's hand. Her surprise gave him the opening he needed to deliver a series of blows that had the demon up against the wall. "You love me!" Raife shouted. Though he heard what she said, Lindsay's mind became focused on all he had lost because of the demon in front of him. Memories of his mother's lifeless body forced him to unleash the pain he'd kept hidden for centuries. So many years lost with her because he wasn't brave enough to do the right thing, because he was stupid to believe that love was enough to keep the demon before him from remembering they were meant to be enemies. And then there was the sight of Alauria struggling to free herself from the chains that had her strapped to the same table on which his mother was killed. The desperate grunts she emitted as she struggled set his blood to a boil. As he raised his hands, Linsay quirked a brow and declared, "I love her more," before blasting Raife with an electrical bolt so powerful, the room became brightly illuminated. He ignored the tortured cries, but found himself stopping before the blast was completed. A part of him wasn't comfortable with turning the demon into another pile of dust. There must have been a drop of compassion for Rafe left in his body, because he stepped back to watch the demon struggle for breath. There was a twinge of pain, as the finality of what was to happen fully hit him. Raife was no longer going to be part of his life. The years of regret and anger would finally end. As Raife fought for composure, Lindsay eyed the long sword on the back wall and retrieved it. As he returned to a gasping Raife, guilt washed over him; he was about to end the life of the woman who'd been a central part of his life for centuries. As much as he wanted to call the figure in front of him a demon, it wore the face of the woman he once loved. He hesitated as those piercing blue eyes became fixed on him and his chest seized uncomfortably. "You'll never be rid of me," Raife announced. For a moment, Lindsay was tempted to believe her. As angry as he was, Raife was still able to make him think twice about what he was going to do. He stared at the demon for a moment, forcing himself to believe that he had a mission to complete. A moment later, Alauria's grunts penetrated his haze and it was then that he knew that compassion had nothing to do with the moment; protecting the woman he loved came with a price and in this instance, he was strong enough to pay. No mercy was shown as he swung hard and made contact, beheading the demon and freeing the soul he once loved. And as the two disconnected body parts fell to the ground, relief washed over him. Raife was dead. It was over. ______________________ I hope you guys are having a happy and safe holiday!!! As always, rates and comments make me happy. Haunted Prey Ch. 13 Alauria remained silent as she watched Lindsay. His muscles strained as he moved to dig the grave for Raife's body. There were many things she wanted to ask him, so much she wanted to address, but his silence was indicative of his need to grieve and process what he'd done. He'd killed Raife. He'd removed his last living link to Rachel. Though she never doubted his need to kill the demon, Alauria had to admit that she didn't think that he would be able to do it. There was still that part of her that was convinced that he would have chosen Raife over her simply because of the history between them. She and Lindsay had only been involved for a few short months. Logic told her that he should have chosen Raife. But logic also told her that there was no way he wouldn't have chosen her; Lindsay had gone through hell to ensure her safety. And he would do it again. She had to keep believing that. "What's wrong?" Alauria glanced toward Lindsay and frowned as she said, "Nothing is wrong. Are you all right?" "I should be asking you that." He brushed his hands over his pants as he glanced at the makeshift grave he'd created. Because he only had his bare hands, he'd dug a semi-shallow grave, but made sure to cover it and the surrounding area with heavy stones. He'd chosen a secluded area in the woods, one no normal human could access without supernatural aid. The area as also dense with animal life; the Prygorians wouldn't invade. Raife's remains, Rachel's remains, were safe. "You were the one who almost died." "You're the one who had to kill someone you love." "I cared about the person she once was, Alauria. I felt nothing for the demon she became." He noticed her wince when she shifted and immediately went to her. "What's wrong?" The bruises that marred her skin must have been too uncomfortable to bear. How awful was he to let her sit around and wait for him while she was in pain? "Nothing, just a little tender." She said nothing when he gently inspected her and nearly cried out in pain when he probed too deeply. It was then that she remembered the wound Raife inflicted with her knife. Lindsay made quick work of moving the material of her tattered shirt out of the way, and Alauria felt her eyes widen at the dangerous look he gave her. "Lindsay, I'm fine." "Liam will take care of it when we get back to the manor." "But it doesn't even hurt that much," she countered. "Liam will take care of it when we get back to the manor," he repeated. The red, puckered wound looked just about as angry as he felt. Guilt washed over him tenfold; had he done what he should have all those years ago, all of this would have been avoided. "I'm sorry." Alauria launched herself into his arms, both grateful and humbled by his simple apology. "It's over now. We don't have to worry anymore." "We?" She nodded against him as she said, "I know that things are still rocky between the two of us, but I think that we can get through it." "Yeah?" "Yes." "Why?" She tensed against him, and for a moment, he was worried about her monosyllabic response. As he placed his hands on her shoulders, he pushed her away so that he could look into her eyes. "What do you want for us, Alauria?" Her short laugh caught him off guard, but he smiled despite himself. "What?" "That's what I should be asking you." She smiled at the amused sparkle in his eyes and said, "If we're going to really do this, we have to be all in. No more half-assing." "Are you sure that's what you want?" "Yes." "Then give me the words." The panicked look in her eyes would have worried him if he hadn't gotten better at reading her. There was also the fact that Jameson told him the truth of her feelings already. But now he needed the words from her. He needed to know that he wasn't jumping so deeply into their relationship alone. "I need to hear them." The sudden desperation in his eyes warmed her heart. She should have been scared and panicked out of her mind, but she owed it to what they had to be honest. "I love you, Lindsay." There was an overwhelming feeling of relief and wonder that nearly knocked him off his feet. It was one thing hearing from his brother how she felt but to hear the words from Alauria herself... He was humbled. He was overjoyed. He was renewed. As he pulled her into his embrace, Lindsay kissed her forehead tenderly. "And I love you." Once the words were out of his mouth, he expected fear to wash over him. Or at least humiliation. Love made men weak and foolish, two things he couldn't afford to be. But there was nothing but the vast openness she filled with the love she blessed him with. Alauria stood in his arms for what seemed like a blissful eternity before realization of where they were dawned on her. "Are you sure you're all right?" He only stared at her curiously, forcing her to explain the reasons behind her question. "It's just that you had to kill one of the greatest loves of your life tonight, and you just told me t you love not ten feet away from the grave you dug her." "Does my burying her upset you?" "No, not at all." "It was just a courtesy. A show of respect for the woman I used to know." "I'm not upset. I get that you'll always care about her in a way. You have to remember that Raife... Rachel... Whoever she was tonight, loved you to the point of insane, passionate obsession. She would - and almost did- do anything to make sure she was the only woman you would ever love." Alauria glanced at the makeshift grave for a moment before tilting her head in thought. "I wouldn't be surprised if she was turning over in her grave right now." There was a brief flash in her eyes that he chalked up to fatigue and compassion. "The woman almost killed you tonight and all you can think about is how she would feel right now?" The flash reappeared in her eyes a scant second before she shrugged. "I should get you back home." "Can we stay at the manor a little longer?" The surprised look in his eyes made her brow quirk in amusement. "I just think that we deserve a couple of days to relax before we go back to reality. Before I go back to reality." This was part of his everyday life. Demons were his thing. "Are you sure that's what you want? You weren't exactly a fan of dropping everything in your life before." "Yes, but that was when I didn't fully understand everything that was happening then. There's also the fact that I know way too little about you considering how deeply we're involved. Besides, I'm not really dropping anything at the moment." She shrugged and stared down at the ground as she added, "I thought we could take the time to know each other better. It's kind of weird that we love each other the way we do and I have no idea what something trivial, like your favorite color, is. I understand if you don't want me to stay-" Alauria's comment was stopped by his quick, demanding kiss. Despite all that happened, her skin tingled and became warm. She was tired and wanted to sleep, but she needed him more. "Take me home." The low, seductive lilt to her voice immediately set his groin on fire. Alauria wasn't one to boldly seduce him, and knowing that she desired him enough to forget the personality trait enflamed him. With one quick sweep of his arms, he lifted her into his arms and began the trek to his truck. She continually kissed his neck and any part of his skin she could access. He'd nearly dropped her and taken her in the middle of the woods twice. "Shit, woman, you're driving me insane." Her amused laugh created a pleasant tightening in his chest, one that made him forget about watching out for low-hanging branches. He winced at the sting that came from a wayward branch, then smiled at her laughter. God, how he loved her. By the time they made it to the truck, he was shaking with need. As he se her down, he groaned low in his throat at the way her hand brushed against the aching member encased in his pants. He trapped her between the truck and his body before delving into a hot kiss that should have qualified as a sex act in itself. She squirmed against him and moaned, forcing him to use his body to press her against the side of the truck. Her hands were all over, not once stopping on one particular area. "You're wild tonight." "I don't think I can wait until we get back, Lindsay." She quickly unfastened his pants and stared up at his intense eyes as she nibbled on her lower lip. Any protest he would have given became lodged in his throat when she took hold of his throbbing erection in her soft hand. Lindsay groaned loudly and dropped his forehead to hers. He'd parked in a very secluded area of the woods, which meant that they had a high level of privacy. But they were still out in the open. "Alauria - ah, fuck." She'd begun a steady, torturous movement with that magical hand of hers, exerting just the right amount of pressure. He groaned again as she slowly mimicked the actions of her lovemaking with her tongue; she dipped her sweet little instrument into his mouth with diabolical ease. Control was quickly slipping from his grasp. "I want you to fuck me, Lindsay," she whispered against his mouth, "Right here." "Alauria-" "Right now." She shifted the position of her mouth so that she could graze her teeth along his neck. She moaned at his instinctive shudder as she increased the pace of her manipulations. "Fuck me, Lindsay." There wasn't enough self control in his body to deny her. He jerked his head back and forth in a terse nod and felt his scalp tingle in anticipation when she lowered herself onto her knees. "Christ," he gasped. She'd wasted no time in taking him into her mouth. Alauria suckled and licked the velvet head of him, all the while cupping his sac in her hand. Lindsay looked down at her and emitted a harsh groan when he found her staring up at him. The sensual look and flashes of heat in her eyes pushed him close to the edge. He watched as his aching erection disappeared into her mouth and shuddered again when she moaned. It was then that he realized that one of her hands had disappeared inside of her panties. The sight of her pleasuring herself while she pleasured him was too much to take. Almost too roughly, he pulled her up to stand and possessed her lips with his. Fierce hunger forced him to plunge his tongue into her mouth. She reciprocated his need, going as far as to suck on his tongue as she continued to pleasure herself. Lindsay took it upon himself to pull the waistband of her pants and underwear down just enough for him to watch her touch her weeping core. She'd never been so brazen, so wanton... So naughty. Lust pushed him past the point of reason. "You're being a very bad girl, Alauria, making me fuck you like this." She smiled slowly as she stared up at him through her lashes. "What are you going to do about it?" The wicked flash in her eyes told him that she wanted anything he was willing to give her. For a moment, a memory threatened to dominate his thoughts, but its edges were hazy and paled in importance when compared to the moment he was having with his love. In response to her saucy comeback, he shifted them, placing her face-down against the hood of the truck. He then pulled the waistbands hindering his view down far enough for him to get an arousing view of her shapely bottom and glistening core. Lindsay removed her hand and smiled at the frustrated whimper she emitted. Slowly, as to ensure her anxious need, he ran his hands over the smooth cheeks of her bottom. He loved the way she pressed herself into his hands, silently begging for more. He stroked her tantalizing curves, fighting to keep himself from plunging into her heated core. It was when she turned her head to look at him that he raised his hand high just enough to make it sting when he brought it down to slap the very curves that drove him wild. "Yes," Alauria hissed. He repeated the move, harder this time, and her head swam with the indescribable feelings coursing through her. The pain melded with the pleasure, and she closed her eyes to savor the sensation. As he continued the stream of slaps focused on her bottom, his hands inched closer to her center. She squirmed against him in response and it was then that the tip of his fingers made contact with her glistening core. "Again," she commanded. Lindsay complied with the order, both surprised and enflamed by her response to him. Her harsh moans coaxed him into administering another sharp slap to her bottom. "You like that?" "Yes, God yes!" She moaned again when he roughly pushed her head down. She did not fight him, and rested her head on the hood of the truck. A lusty cry escaped her lips when she felt his fingertips trace a trail down her overheated center, and she arched against him, needing more. "Oh God, don't stop." He didn't intend to. Lindsay retraced the path of his fingers only to award her unabashed response with another series of slaps directed toward her bottom. She began to grunt; he was sure that the sting was nearly too much for her to take, but she didn't want to stop. He did, however, only to trail his fingers over her increasing wetness once more. The heat seeping out of her was beautifully unbearable; in one swift move, he was on his knees before her, covering her seeping core with his mouth. Alauria felt her jaw drop as he used his mouth on her, but no sound came out. She was beyond pleasure, beyond need. His tongue flicked and licked. It plunged within her depths. He sucked on her tender flesh, pushing her closer to that much needed edge. Her legs shook from the intensity of the moment. Her hands fisted against the hood of the truck as she fought to keep her legs straight. And when he moved his lips to suckle on the tiny button hidden between her silken folds... A consuming moan, one starting from the pit of her stomach, ground out of Alauria's mouth as her body tensed in ecstasy. Rhythmic pulsing emanated from her core, and she moaned again as she realized that Lindsay's mouth was still glued to her. As she shook and shuddered, she closed her eyes in surrender, unable to do anything else but let herself slide downward. She heard him chuckle as he caught her and she did not protest when he turned her so that she sat on the hood of the truck. Lindsay said nothing to the satisfied look in her eyes as he pulled one of her legs out of the encasing of her pants and panties. He positioned himself between her legs and pulled his pants down just enough keep them from becoming a hindrance. Alauria was quick to pull at the hem of his shirt and he followed through with the silent order to remove it. Her brown eyes were glazed with passion and Lindsay did not fight the way he was sucked into her intense gaze. As he placed his hands on her hips, he groaned in satisfaction at her surprised gasp when he accidentally shocked her. He smiled as he leaned down to kiss her. A second later, he plunged his throbbing member within her moist depths. Alauria gasped at the sweet invasion and instinctively raised her legs to wrap around his waist. The move only served to pull him deeper within her. Yes, she wanted him deeper. She wanted every inch of him he had to give. She closed her eyes as she left the moment take over her. Raw, animalistic need took over; Alauria raked her nails over his back and ignored the wince on his face when he flinched. She moved with Lindsay and against him, desperate for the wonderful friction that would bring her to another mind-numbing orgasm. He wasn't gentle. Lindsay used hard, forceful thrusts as he mated with Alauria. He couldn't call it lovemaking, nor could he call it sex. The wild abandon between them was nothing but animalistic. Feral. He grunted against her neck as he plunged within her again and again. She exhaled sharp bursts of air across his ear as her nails raked down his arms. He knew that she drew blood and the knowledge of that fact only made him move harder, giving into the urgency of his body. Lindsay pushed her down to rest her back against the hood of the car and pressed her thighs as close to her chest as he could. The contrast of the cool night air and the slick heat of her body against his turgid member pushed him past the point of insanity. He felt the end coming and knew that he would never be able to stave it off. In a desperate move, he thrummed his thumb over the sensitive flesh of her core. He was rewarded with her guttural moan as she continued to move with him. "Ah, fuck," he muttered. The end was coming on much too quickly. "Don't stop," Alauria gasped between breaths. She was almost there. So close, her body began to tense in preparation. The steady stream of electrical pulses pouring off his skin only seemed to heighten her pleasure and increase her muscle tension. It was too much. It was not enough. All too soon, the muscles in her stomach trembled from the intensity. "Oh, God." He'd increased the pace and ferocity of his movements, making this by far the most intense experience of her life. "Lindsay!" Her body jerked from the harsh and consuming orgasm that swept over her. She couldn't move, but yet, she couldn't hold still. He continued to touch her and moved while she pulsed around him. Alauria felt him become even rougher in his movements and she knew that he was to join her in that sweet inevitable end. "Yes. Come for me. Come in me." There was no way he could hold back after hearing her whispered command. With a loud roar, Lindsay held himself within her depths and let his body give into need. He gripped her hips tightly, no doubt causing more bruises, but he was passed the point of caring. Hot spurts of his seed flew from his body and into her. He continued to grunt and groan as he slowly came back to earth and soon, he was too weak to stand on his own. He collapsed on top of her and sighed in exhausted. Lindsay sighed again as Alauria adjusted her legs and ran her fingers through his hair. The simple move filled him with contentment. And love. "Lindsay," Alauria sighed. There were no other words to express how she felt, nothing adequate enough to fully explain the rush of emotions washing over her. So she continued to stroke his hair and sighed again when he shifted to kiss the side of her neck. She opened her eyes and was greeted by the sight of bright, twinkling stars that occasionally disappeared behind the breeze propelled leaves of the surrounding trees. And then she began to laugh. Her amusement made him smile; she'd fallen asleep after their first joining, which didn't allow them the opportunity to fully connect emotionally. "What?" "We seriously just had sex on the hood of your car." "This is actually Alexis'." Alauria turned her head to get a good look at the viewable parts of the truck and was quick to recognize the interior. It was indeed the same car she'd been in for hours during her journey to the manor. The realization only made her laugh harder. Lindsay chuckled when she laughed harder and leaned up to watch her wipe the amused tears that streamed down her cheeks. The happiness that glittered in her eyes warmed him. Moments like this assured him that he wasn't a cold-hearted bastard choosing her over Raife. "I love you." "I love you." Alauria smiled at the tender words and slowly leaned up to place a lazy kiss on his lips. For the first time, she felt what he didn't say and felt new, fresh tears brim her eyelids. These tears weren't from laughter, no, they were from the overwhelming joy and love she felt for him. Felt from him. He took his time righting himself before he adjusted their clothing. Based on her lazy and sleepy movements, she was in no condition to do anything more than get herself into the truck. Pride washed over him knowing that he was the cause of her condition. He would never admit that his legs still shook and that his head still swam; arrogance had no room for such revelations. But he did love the way his hands shook when she quirked her lips at him. As he fastened her pants, he placed a chaste kiss on the tip of her nose and said, "Let's go home." Haunted Prey Ch. 13 * * * * * It was nearly time for dinner when Alauria emerged from the warm cocoon of Lindsay's bed. After their romp on Alexis' car, she promptly fell asleep, only briefly waking when Lindsay changed her into one of his t-shirts. She vaguely remembered Liam muttering in the background before the sensation of the dull ache in her side made her grumble. Warm hands took hold of hers before a searing pain took over her side. She remembered thinking that the pain should have been enough to fully wake her, but she only succumbed to the dark haze of sleep that pulled at her. As Alauria descended the steps, she frowned at the sudden memory of the dark dreams she had. They all took place in the forest, but they always varied; in one dream she swam in a very dark body of water that seemed to pull her deeper within its depths with every move. In another, she found herself bound by tree branches as heavy footsteps in the distance approached. There were also flashes of dark shadows looming over her, giving a feeling of intense anxiety as she tried to navigate through the dense foliage, and even the stark terror that came with the feeling of being chased through the dark night; they plagued her while she slept, forcing her to seek refuge in Lindsay's arms. The most disturbing of her dreams had her running through the thick brush of the woods, desperate to escape whatever it was that chased her. She hid behind a tree for a moment to catch her breath, but the gash in her side began to burn. As she looked down at the wound, Alauria realized that it oozed a thick black liquid that seemed to spread over the contours of her skin, and it carried a slightly cloying scent that nauseated her. The sight had her searching for a body of water, and she took off, hoping to find something quickly. The more she ran, the more her side burned; when she finally made it to a small creek, her chest felt as if it was gripped in a tight vice. Alauria washed herself, struggling to keep the burn from spreading any more, and just as the terrible burn began to fade, everything around her began to spin. Dizzying images made her stomach lurch and as she leaned forward to wet her hand in the cool creek's water, she was given a glimpse of her reflection. Shock made her rear back, for in the reflective surface of the water, Rachel stood behind her, a menacing knife raised high above her head. Alauria shook off the fear that gripped her as she walked into the kitchen. Alexis sat at the center island, lazily consuming a chocolate peanut butter cup and watching the local news. He nodded a greeting to her as she entered, and she looked away nervously as she remembered her episode with Lindsay on his truck. Alauria silently walked to the fruit basket and picked up and apple to keep her hands busy. "Thank you for helping Lindsay and me." She felt her blush intensify when he only nodded again. He'd taken to staring at her intensely, and by the curious tilt of his head, it seemed that he'd discovered something odd. Good Lord, he knew about the truck. He continued to stare at her, obviously waiting for her to say something. How was it that she could easily tell what the man wanted, but had no way of providing it? With a weary sigh, Alauria moved to the seat next to him and made a place for herself next to the brooding man. He'd turned his attention to the television and for a few minutes, they watched a news report about a local woman who claimed that she could speak to the dead. "Do you think she's for real?" Alauria took a nervous bite out of her apple when he only shrugged. It seemed as if he didn't particularly care, but there was something in Alexis' eyes that belied his demeanor. His dark gaze was focused on the feisty redhead on the screen relaying a message to a grieving widow. Alauria was tempted to push more, but decided against it; Alexis made her feel like a child most of the time. The last thing she needed was to annoy him to the point of yelling at her as if she actually were a child. So she sat back and continued to eat her apple, hoping he would say something to spark a conversation that kept her from feeling awkward. "Are you planning to go home any time soon?" The question felt like a splash of ice water. Alexis had asked it causally, which made her think that he was merely curious and not trying to kick her out. Even still, the question made her uncomfortable, especially considering he didn't bother to glace in her direction when he asked. "Uh, Lindsay and I thought it would be better to take a few days to put everything behind us. And to know each other better." He didn't move, and for a moment Alauria thought that he hadn't heard a word she'd said. "I mean, if that's all right with you." The nervous tone to her voice prompted Alexis to look at her. She stared at the television screen and he was tempted to smile at her obvious effort to seem as unaffected as he. "I don't have a problem with it. It's been a while since Lindsay's been here." "How long has it been?" Alexis wasn't sure she knew how old he and his brothers actually were. As it was, Charisma didn't know, and she'd been part of the family for months. But then again, Charisma rarely asked questions. She opted to learn as things went along. Alauria on the other hand... It was clear that she was a curious creature and would no doubt bombard someone with questions soon, if she hadn't already. "A while." Why she'd convinced herself that a conversation with the man was possible, she had no idea. She'd walked into the kitchen feeling like a twelve-year-old. She now felt as if she was five and on the way to the principal's office. "Give your mother a call." Alauria blinked in surprise when he slid the cellular phone he'd pulled out of his pocket toward her. "Excuse me?" "Check on your sister while you're at it." "How did you..." Unless Lindsay told him about Raedyn, there was no way Alexis should know about her. "Just do it." Screw a five-year-old; she now felt like a whiny toddler. Alauria huffed out a frustrated breath, for Alexis had turned his attention back to the television. She was smart enough to know when she'd lost and silently put the apple down before she picked up the phone to dial her mother's number. Her answering machine picked up, so Alauria hung up and dialed again, thinking that her mother hadn't made it to the phone in time. The answering machine picked up again and Alauria was quick to accept defeat. At the beep, she left a message. "Mom, it's me. Lindsay and I are still away but we should back in a couple of days. I was hoping you had a chance to check on Raedyn. I guess I'll just call the hospital. I'll call you back soon. Love you." She sighed as she ended the call, then dialed the number to the hospital. After five minutes of department transfers, she was finally directed to her sister's room. The phone range three times, and with each ring, a more intense feeling of dread washed over her. Something was wrong. "Hello?" "Daniel?" She'd recognize that voice anywhere. A part of her was surprised that he was actually there, while a second, more foreign part of her was envious that he was there to support her sister. "Where is Raedyn?" "The doctors took her for testing." "Is she getting worse?" "No, but she isn't getting any better either. I heard you came to see her." "Yes, after I donated the marrow." "Thank you, Alauria, for helping her." "It's not as if I had much of a choice. I don't turn my back on the people who need me." She felt her cheeks heat when she remembered that Alexis sat beside her. A long, deep breath calmed her down enough to put the conversation on track. "Will you tell her that I'll call and that I'll be there to check on her soon?" "Yes." There was a brief pause before he said, "Listen, Alauria, I'd like to set some time aside for us-" "I have to go. Tell her I hope she gets better soon" Alauria quickly ended the call and closed her eyes at the sudden and intense throbbing at her temples. The last thing she wanted to think about was forming some kind of relationship with her father. Her mother may have been a kind-hearted and forgiving woman, but she was not. This was not something he could fix with a couple of conversations. She felt her eyes open when Alexis placed his hand on hers. She knew that she'd absently taken to moving her fingers as if she were playing the piano. The trait drove everyone around her insane; with his personality, it was no wonder Alexis felt the same. "Sorry about that." She used her free hand to return his phone and found herself frowning when she felt completely calm. Surely, his hand on top of hers wasn't the cause, was it? "You're very worried about her." She was sure he meant Raedyn. "She's only sixteen and still mourning her younger brother." "Your younger brother." Alauria said nothing to that. She was still trying to get used to the fact that she had a living sibling. She didn't want to explore her feelings about having a deceased one. "She's too young to be going through all of this." Alexis said nothing to her comment. She didn't expect him to. It almost felt as if he steered her thoughts in a specific direction, but she wasn't sure. "She deserved better than this." Alexis nodded slowly as he placed his phone in his pocket. "I'm glad you'll be here a few more days." The shocked look she gave him forced him to fight off a smile as he stood. "You need your rest." "Thank you." She watched as he nodded for the millionth time and followed the abrupt path he made toward the exit with her eyes. When he suddenly stopped and turned to face her, she felt her eyes go wide at the dull glow in his eyes. "Alexis?" "It's better if you're here when it happens." "When what happens?" Panic slowly consumed Alauria as she watched the light in his eyes intensify. She had no idea what Alexis spoke of, but something told her to be very afraid. "What are you talking about?" His only answer was to turn around a head for the exit once more. Alauria was having none of that. She jumped up from her seat and ran to him, placing her hand on his shoulder to stop him from leaving. Then she took an abrupt step back when he whirled around. His eyes were as bright as the halogen lights above; it almost hurt to look at him. But she couldn't look away when he stared at her so intensely. "Alexis, what-" "Death is the only thing that will save you." ________________ Happy New Year! Haunted Prey Ch. 14 It was the beautiful melody pouring out of the music room that prompted Charisma to enter. Just as the first time she'd entered the room, she was mesmerized by the music Alauria played. Though she wasn't familiar with the particular piece, she was hypnotized by the beautifully haunting music. Alauria wasn't aware that she was in the room as she played with her eyes closed, and the small fact allowed Charisma the opportunity to observe the artist. Alauria's skin was flushed, and there was a pinch of fatigue that had taken over her face. The fatigue, Charisma understood; it had taken her months before she was able to sleep more than a few hours at a time after her ordeal with Zaide. From what she'd heard from Jameson, Alauria had been through an episode that would have broken even the strongest of people. But she didn't understand the flushed skin; it wasn't hot in the room and the last she'd heard, Alauria was in good health. "You know, I could hurt you right now for trying to sneak up on me." Shock forced Charisma to blink. "What?" Alauria opened her eyes and frowned in confusion. "What?" She was extremely tired, despite the fact that she'd slept through the night. She figured that a few hours in the music room would have eased the oncoming headache lingering at her temples, and it did; she simply couldn't remember all that she did. There were flashes of her at different phrases of the pieces she played, but there was nothing but darkness between each flash. Either she'd been that into the music or she was just that tired. She hadn't even known that Charisma had walked into the room until she'd spoken. "Sorry, I didn't hear you come in." "Are you all right?" Charisma took a step into the room, keeping her focus on a very confused looking Alauria. "Yes, I'm fine." Her side ached, which she found odd considering Liam had healed it for her. Was it supposed to sting after his help? The fatigue seemed to be working a number on her. "Just tired." Charisma nodded in understanding as she moved to stand next to the piano. "I can sympathize with how you must be feeling. It's a lot to adjust to." "I'm dealing," Alauria replied as she continued to play. "It's all we can do when it comes to these men and the lives they lead." Alauria said nothing for a moment, as there was a nagging pain in the back of her head. It felt as if she'd been hit, and she was tempted to check for blood or maybe even a lump of some kind. "I think it's a matter of being able to trust them when they tell us that they'll keep us safe." Lord knew that she wouldn't have had such stress on her shoulders if she believed Lindsay when he first told her that he would take care of Raife. Hindsight always did have perfect vision. "Maybe. I'm not so sure." Charisma looked around the room as she tried to vocalize her erratic thoughts. "Sometimes I feel as if I have to take care of myself, even when I'm not capable of it." That was most likely because she'd taught herself to rely on no one but herself. The second she was able to provide for herself, she stopped hoping that others would help her if she was in need. "Then you are dumber than I thought to be a part of this world." Alauria shook her head slowly, as her thoughts suddenly became blurred and confusing. A wave of nausea made her groan inwardly and when she glanced over and saw the shock in Charisma's eyes, she knew that something was wrong. "What? What is it?" "I never pegged you for one to be so brutally honest. Emphasis on the brutal." "What do you mean?" Charisma tilted her head in thought as she said, "Do you not remember what you just said?" "I..." Alauria shook her head slowly as she realized that she did not. "What did I say?" "It's not important anymore." "Then why do you insist on wasting my time with your pathetic thoughts?" Alauria placed a hand on her stomach as the nausea increased, but maintained a neutral expression to keep Charisma from getting worried. She must have been more exhausted than she thought. "I'm sorry I wasted your time; I thought you would have wanted someone to talk to, is all." "Wait, stop." Alauria turned in her seat to face a quickly retreating Charisma. "You're not wasting my time." "Then why did you just yell at me for it?" Charisma felt her eyes widen at the quick look of annoyance that crossed Alauria's face. A second later, she frowned as a part of her felt something unfamiliar. It was similar to the sensation of blood circulating after a limb had fallen asleep. There was also a heaviness in the pit of her stomach she couldn't explain. As much as the new feelings worried her, it was nothing compared to the worry she felt as she watched Alauria try to internally solve a problem. "Has this happened to you before?" "Has what happened to me before?" "Not remembering what you've just said." Alauria shook her head slowly. It was strange; the nausea had faded, but her thoughts hadn't become any clearer. Her side still stung as well, prompting her to make a mental note to speak to Lindsay as she still wasn't brave enough to face Liam on her own. "It's really strange." "I'd say its stress and exhaustion, but I'm no expert at this. My only advice would be to take a break." "Would taking a break include not having to hear your annoying voice for more than five minutes?" Alauria's eyes widened as she partially remembered the words that escaped her mouth. "Oh, my God, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that." She brought her fingers up to her temples to massage the tension that had built. What the hell was wrong with her? Charisma took a cautious step back. She didn't know Alauria very well, but instinct told her that her current behavior was far from normal. "Maybe you should go take a nap or something. It takes a lot of energy, becoming part of this family." "What would you know about it?" "A lot more than you, considering I'm six months in." The confused look on Alauria's face prompted Charisma to ask, "You don't remember the fast fifteen seconds, do you?" Alauria shook her head slowly. An intense feeling of dread crept up on her. Something was very wrong, and she had no idea what. "I can't remember..." She dropped her head into her hands and sighed heavily. Maybe she did need sleep. She needed something, that was sure. "Why don't you talk to one of the brothers about it? I'm sure Lindsay would-" Charisma stopped and took a surprised step back when Alauria abruptly stood. The anger that blazed in the pianist's brown eyes scared her more than it surprised her, and she found herself retreating as Alauria advanced. "You know nothing about him, you weak, insipid human!" Alauria was barely able to control herself as her anger had consumed her. How dare she even try to assume that she knew anything about Lindsay? "Lindsay belongs to me! He's mine!" In her growing unease, Charisma took another step back. The pure rage rolling off Alauria had her shaking, and it wasn't long before her hands began to ache. As she looked down at hem, she noticed their redness and knew that if Alauria attacked, she'd have no choice but to burn her. "I'm not trying to take him away from you, Alauria. Calm down." "Don't tell me what to do!" Charisma held her hands out in defense when Alauria raged forward, and even prepared to lay her hands on the suddenly crazed woman's skin as she raised her hands to strike. Both women stopped, however, when the thin blue stream of electrical current burst forth from Alauria's hands. They both stared at each other for a moment before looking at Alauria's ferociously shaking hands. The confusion of the moment awarded Charisma an opportunity to take another step toward the door. "How did you do that?" "I don't..." Alauria continued to stare down at her hands. They tingled, but there was no pain. That didn't mean that everything else that was going on with her had miraculously been resolved; the nausea returned with a vengeance and her head felt as if it would explode at any moment. "I don't know." "Is everything all right in here?" Both women turned to find Alexis and Lindsay entering the music room. As usual, Alexis wore a blank expression while Lindsay uncharacteristically displayed worry. "I think I need to go lie down." Alauria grimaced as Lindsay placed his hands on her shoulders. It suddenly felt as if a two ton anvil had been placed on them, forcing her to stoop to accommodate the weight. Lindsay frowned at Alauria's pinched and pale face. She looked ready to fall over, a sight he did not like. "Are you all right?" She nodded slowly, but stopped when Charisma refuted her words. "Charisma, please." "Something is wrong with you, Alauria. You wouldn't have almost attacked me otherwise." "She attacked you?" Lindsay asked incredulously. "Almost," Charisma replied. "Why?" asked Alexis. "Because I'm tired!" Alauria snapped. A moment later, she groaned as her stomach lurched in protest. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell." "Do you need me to call Liam?" Lindsay was on the brink of panic; Alauria looked extremely sick and ready to fall over. She didn't need this on top of everything she'd been through. "No, I just need to lie down." Alauria pulled away from Lindsay's hold and rushed out of the room before anyone could stop her. Alexis gave her a look she couldn't decipher as she passed him, but that was nothing unusual. She'd be fine as soon as she got some rest, she told herself, and once she was well, she could make sense of everything that had happened. As she watched Alauria leave the room, Charisma shook her head. "Something isn't right." "What happened?" asked Alexis. "I came in her to talk to her when I heard her playing and everything was fine until she started snapping at me." She flexed her hands a few time as the heat within them faded. "Snapping at you how?" Lindsay asked. "Pretty much the same way she snapped a minute ago. But she didn't remember snapping. At least, she says she didn't." "Like she blacked out?" Charisma nodded in answer to Alexis' question. "She's just tired," Lindsay defended. Though Alauria's behavior was abnormal, it was easily explained by exhaustion. "Yes, but that doesn't explain why she almost attacked me." Charisma crossed her arms over her chest, a clear sign that she was prepared to defend her opinions. It didn't explain why the sweetest woman he'd ever met would act so aggressively, but Lindsay was sure there was a reasonable explanation for the action. "I'm sure she's very sorry about that." "I don't care about apologies. Is she going to be all right?" Lindsay felt his attitude soften at Charisma's obvious concern for Alauria. From this, he understood Alexis' earlier description of her. "I'll go check on her." He glanced at his brother, who seemed to be eerily quiet, which was amazing considering his penchant for silence. "What?" Alexis only shook his head slowly before saying, "Tell her that I hope she feels better soon." Lindsay frowned at the message. As he glanced at Charisma, he was certain that his brother either wanted him out of the room or didn't want Charisma to hear some vital piece of information. "Fine." "If you see Euan anywhere, tell him that I need to see him." Lindsay nodded at the second message he was given as he walked from the room. Alexis turned to Charisma and hid his shock at her intense stare. "You are concerned." "How much of a threat is she?" She let out a frustrated breath when he only stared at her blankly. "Alexis, I get that she's with Lindsay and you're loyal to him, but I need to know if that's going to happen again. You know how Jameson is. I don't want any more tension in this family because of me." "Nothing that has happened in this family has been your fault." Charisma said nothing to the comment as she thought on the next logical step to take. There was no doubt that she would tell Jameson about what happened, but she knew what he would say and wasn't in any mood to relocate; not with her new abilities manifesting at random. "I just don't want any more trouble." Alexis nodded in agreement and remained silent for a long moment. Though he understood Charisma's frame of mind, her thought process wasn't exactly helpful to anyone. "Sometimes things happen certain ways for very specific reasons." She had been quick to learn that Alexis liked to speak as if he knew exactly what was to happen. While she was used to the unique trait, it never did anything to ease her fears. "So I'm supposed to just sit back and let the drama unfold?" She sighed again when he only stared at her as if she asked a stupid question. She would have loved to yell at him, but it was impossible when he stared at her like that. "Can you at least tell me why?" "Choices will have to be made." When he said nothing more, Charisma pursed her lips. "What is that supposed to mean, Alexis?" "We'll know when the time comes." * * * * * Lindsay decided to wait an hour before he checked on Alauria. To pass the time, he found Euan and relayed Alexis' message, fixed Alauria a bowl of soup and said thanks for whoever kept the kitchen stocked with canned foods. He also thought over the events that led to Alauria's uncharacteristic behavior. It was one thing to be tired enough to snap at people, but to go as far as to nearly attack someone... A part of him didn't believe that his sweet Alauria was capable of such behavior, but Lindsay knew that Charisma had absolutely no reason to lie. There were many questions cycling through his head, and he needed Alauria well enough to answer them. He was completely surprised to find her sitting up in bed reading an English translation of Dangerous Liaisons. "Where did you get that?" "You usually leave your books in a chest in the back of the closet." He did, but that chest was also hidden behind a secret panel, one that he'd never told her about. "How did you find it?" Alauria narrowed her eyes in slight annoyance before she said, "I was rifling through to see if you had a shirt I could borrow and I found it." Her explanation made sense. Lindsay used a foot to close the door as he carried a tray of the meal he'd prepared for her. He set the tray down on the night table before making a place for himself on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?" he asked as he placed a hand against her forehead. The sides of his mouth quirked up in a smile at the sting that came from one of his shocks. The quirk became a full smile as she rubbed her fingers against her forehead. "I thought you'd be asleep a while longer." "So did I, but I felt better the second I walked into the room." Alauria set the book down and reached for Lindsay's hand. She looked at the contours of his palm, at the calluses that developed from his years of demon slaying, and smiled at the self-conscious way he balled his hand into a fist. "I like your hands." Lindsay shifted so that he had her small her hand cradled in his and gently ran his fingertips over the length of her delicate fingers. "I like yours too." Especially when they caressed him while he plunged into her heated core. He dropped her hands as he forced himself to focus on the matter at hand. Then he smiled at the unintentional pun. "What has you smiling?" "You." Lindsay noticed a small flash in her eyes, but ignored it as he prepared for his line of questioning. "Alauria, what happened in the music room?" He felt his brows furrow when she let out a frustrated breath, but then decided that she felt guilty for what happened. "I don't remember much of it." Alauria sat back and closed her eyes before she continued. "I was playing the piano. That's a beautiful instrument, by the way." "I'll tell Giles the next time I see him." He frowned again at the odd look that crossed her face but again decided to focus on getting information. "So you were playing piano." "And then she came in." The hard edge to the tone of her voice made Lindsay straighten his posture. "Do you dislike Charisma?" "She's perfectly fine." Alauria opened her eyes and frowned at the pensive look on Lindsay's face. "What were you asking me?" "You were telling me that Charisma walked into the music room." "Yes, and we started talking about... About..." She let her gaze wander about the room before her memory of the conversation returned. "Adjusting to your life." "Is that all?" "Um, I remember asking her what I said a lot." "You didn't remember?" Lindsay said nothing when she shook her head. "Do you remember trying to attack her?" "Not really. Wait, I remember looking at my hands." Alauria brought her hands up to look at her palms then groaned as a wave of nausea washed over her. "Here we go again." She closed her eyes to concentrate on calming the uneasiness and sighed when Lindsay placed a hand on the side of her face. Just as soon as the wave started, it faded away. "It's ok, I'm fine." "Are you sure?" He didn't like the way her face had gone pale or the way her hands shook as she reached for her stomach. "I'll go get Liam." "No!" Alauria reached out and grasped Lindsay's hand so that she could pull him toward her. He remained still, which prompted her to say, "No. Just lay down with me for a minute." She tugged again when he tried to pull away and smiled when he settled himself beside her. She rolled into his arms and slowly ran her fingertips over his cheek. "Lindsay?" "Yes?" "I want you to tell me more about Rachel." "Why?" "I'm curious." "What's there to know?" This wasn't his idea of a good time. Rachel should have been put behind them, not in the middle of a tender moment. "I'm just trying to understand why she would spend so much time loving you so intensely. Well, I mean, I do understand, but I guess I'm asking about how you were when you were with her to have her so devoted." Lindsay thought for a moment. "She was the first woman I ever loved. So naturally I worshipped the ground she walked on. I gave her everything in me." "What do you mean?" He sighed at the gentle way she ran her fingers through the hairs on the back of his head. "She had me whipped and I didn't care that she rarely let me live my own life." "You mean she wanted you with her all the time." "Yes. Looking back at it now, I realize how unhealthy and stressful a relationship like that is. Ow." He winced when her fingers fisted in his hair none too gently. "Sorry." Alauria soothed the tender area as she said, "You didn't care that it was unhealthy because you loved her so much." When Lindsay nodded, she waited a few moments before asking her next question. "I know that you've implied on several occasions that you still love her." "Yes." "How much?" "Alauria-" She pulled him down when he tried to sit up. "I mean, if she wasn't a demon anymore... If she was like me..." "No one could ever be like you." You know what I mean." Lindsay let out a tired breath. He wanted to drop the subject, but he also wanted to avoid another fight centered around Rachel. "Where is this coming from?" "I just want to know how much you love her." "Loved," he corrected. Lindsay tried to pull back to look at her face, but was again stopped by the way she held onto his hair. "Yes, a part of me will always love her. Like I said, she was the first woman I loved." "But you love me more." "Of course I do, Alauria." "So if she was like me and you had to choose..." "You keep trying to make me choose. There is no choice to make." "But what if there was? What if you could choose?" He was officially fed up. "Alauria, I know what I want and where I am going in this life. And I only see my life with you. I loved her, yes, but only like a close friend who died. I'm in love with you." Lindsay held his breath for the next barrage of questions and sighed in relief when she only leaned up onto an elbow to look down at him. There was an odd look in her eyes; a mix of arrogance and warning that he didn't understand. "What?" Haunted Prey Ch. 14 "I'm better for you than she'll ever be." "What are you talking about? There is no competition. Rachel's dead." The warning flash in her eyes surprised him; if anything, Rachel's death should have been a relief to her. Alauria smiled at the shock that widened his eyes before she leaned down to place a hard, dominant kiss on his lips. Before he could react, she bounced out of the bed, picked up the breadstick that he put on her tray, and sauntered out of the room. _________________ Your guesses on what is going on in the story are quite interesting. I won't say whether or not you are correct (that would defeat the purpose of making you hate me), but I do encourage you to keep vocalizing your hypotheses. Until next week, my lovelies. Haunted Prey Ch. 15 At first glance, it didn't look as if the brothers spent a lot of time together, especially when it came to dinner. But as they all sat down to take their seats at the table, Alauria noticed the familiarity and routine the men seemed to have. Charisma was in control of the kitchen, cooking dishes Alauria had only seen in high class magazines. Jameson dutifully assisted her, while occasionally stopping to take breaks to murmur about a regular assistant Charisma had sent on vacation. Alexis and Lindsay set the table silently, and Liam grumbled as he learned that he would have to do the dishes for the third time in a month. Alauria volunteered to help, but was quickly denied by Alexis who used the excuse of her health to keep her seated. She felt fine and made sure to argue the fact, but there was no use in arguing with someone who made her feel like a five-year-old with one simple look, especially when he had his brother for back-up. So she sat and watched the family, yearning for a moment with her mother. Soon. She would see her mother soon and life would be a bit more normal than it currently was. "Where were you just then?" Alauria blinked herself out of her self-induced trance and smiled at Jameson's curious expression to mask her embarrassment. "I was just thinking about my mother." "It's been a long time since I spoke to someone who had one of those." Jameson paused for a moment as he thought about the many beings he knew. "Well, a human one, anyway." She smiled again at the sparkle in his grey eyes, as it helped her become a little less homesick. Jameson's welcoming and easy-going nature surely made him her second favorite brother, and someone she knew she'd make fast friends with. "I thought that you guys didn't get out much other than to go kill things that go bump in the night." Liam snorted as he said, "Not Jameson. He shops more than a spoiled housewife." Alauria smiled at Lindsay's laugh and appreciated the way Jameson let the insult roll off his shoulders. "There is nothing wrong with shopping." "It's kind of weird when every person at every store in the mall knows you by name." Charisma gave Alauria a sideways glace as she placed a platter of salad on the table and tried to asses her mood. Alauria looked cordial enough, but one never knew. "What are you complaining about?" Liam asked, "You're the one he shops for half the time." "You should take some notes," Alauria said to Lindsay. She grinned at his loud laugh, then winced at the dull ache at the back of her head. "Dinner's ready," Charisma said as she lifted another platter of food off the cart she'd wheeled into the dining room. She waited for the men to settle themselves before serving them and made sure to give Alauria a wide berth. She ignored Jameson's raised eyebrow; while he'd believed what she told him, he was positive that Alauria was harmless. The second the food was placed in front of her, Alauria felt her stomach lurch in protest. She found it odd, considering the dishes looked and smelled wonderful. She decided to focus on anything but the food until the nausea passed, and found herself taking in the atmosphere of the dining room. Warm but attention-seeking red walls were beautifully accented by the white pained trimmings and ceiling. Just above the large mahogany table was an iron chandelier that utilized actual candles for effect. Large, scenic paintings adorned the walls and contrasted the mahogany triple curio cabinet that wonderfully displayed the sparkling silver. On top of it was a seemingly gleaming silver tea set. Along the opposite wall rested a bar cabinet which no doubt held expensive bottles of liquor. Behind Alexis' seat, wide French doors were propped open to let in the flower scented air from the garden. Alauria finished her mental tour of the room by glancing down at the large Asian rugged docked beneath the table. The room was enough to make royalty envious. The men sure knew how to spend the massive amount of money they had. She breathed a sigh of relief as the nausea finally faded. With a victorious smile, she patiently waited for her queue to begin her meal and hoped that she didn't have to fight another bout of nausea. "Do you do a prayer or anything like that before you eat?" "No," Liam answered with a sarcastic grunt. "If you'd like to, you're more than welcome," Alexis said. He'd noticed the way Alauria's eyes narrowed at Liam's remark and took it upon himself to run damage control. "No, I was just curious." There was a sizzle that went up her spine as she stared at Liam. For some odd reason, she only seemed to become more annoyed by his presence. His eyes were too blue and she itched to scratch the sarcastic look out of them. His hair was too bright as well; it looked like copper and almost hurt her eyes. And his skin was too pale; he was almost transparent. "Is there something wrong?" Alauria looked over at Alexis and smiled to cover the small flush that took over her face. "No, nothing. I guess I got lost in my head for a minute there." "You're not feeling sick again, are you?" Lindsay reached over to take hold of her hand in the event he had to take her back upstairs. Alauria looked fine, but that didn't mean that she wasn't hiding anything. "You want to go back upstairs?" "No, I'm fine, I promise." To prove her point, Alauria took a bite out of her food. A second later, she had to fight to keep the food in her mouth; she forgotten to make sure it was cool enough to consume first. Alauria heard Jameson cough back a laugh to spare her feelings and her cheeks burst into a fierce blush in response. Yes, she certainly was a poised one. Lindsay merely shook his head as he went back to his food. While he enjoyed the meal, he wasn't used to eating more than once every few weeks. But Alauria wanted to know his brothers, which meant he would eat and allow her to bond with his family. "Why the hell didn't you call me before?" "What?" Liam ignored the confused look on Lindsay's face as he said, "You said she was sick before. Why didn't you call me?" "She was fine when I checked on her," Lindsay replied. "What the fuck is the point of having the ability to heal if none of you sons of bitches call me when someone is unwell?" "I would say it would be to sit there and look pretty, but that would imply that you're attractive in some way." Lindsay stared at Alauria in shock. The silence in the room told him that everyone else was in much the same condition. Alauria's complexion had gone pale, telling him that she wasn't feeling well again, but it was the confusion on her face that had him worried. "Alauria?" "Why is everyone staring at me?" It was difficult to concentrate when the room was spinning so much, but she could tell that she was the focus of everyone's attention. "You just called me ugly." "What? No, I'd never..." Alauria clutched her stomach as a wave of nausea turned into a painful cramping in her abdomen. Her side was also burning again, which made her think that she might have had an infection of some kind. "Not again," Charisma mumbled. Unwilling to take part in another one of Alauria's episodes, she quickly stood up to go back to the kitchen. She understood why Jameson didn't follow and decided to wait for his insight. "Yes you did." Liam refused to let the subject drop. "I may be an asshole, but I'm not ugly." Alexis shot Liam an exasperated look before he returned his focus to Alauria. "You don't remember what you said a minute ago?" "No. Was it something bad?" "You fucking called me ugly!" "Yell at me one more time and that's not the only thing I'll do, you whining jackass." Alauria rested her elbows on the table so that she could cradle her throbbing head in her hands. She was fading fast, and though she knew that she'd just spoken, she had no recollection of what she'd said. "Liam, back down." Alexis leaned forward to study the shaking woman at the table. Her hair hung in front of her face, blocking that view from him, but the way she rocked back and forth was indicative of her discomfort. "Does the memory loss come with the pain?" "She's in pain?" Liam's original plan of intimidating the woman into submission was quickly changed at Alexis' words. He stood and walked around the table to help, but stopped behind Jameson's seat when she tilted her head up just enough to shoot him a scathing look. "I'll rip your arms off and beat you to death with them if you touch me." "Alauria!" Lindsay didn't care that she wasn't feeling well; Liam was his brother and there was no way he would let her behavior toward him slide. "That is enough!" "I'm sorry, I don't know what's going on." She pushed her chair back, but did not move to stand. The room had to stop spinning first. "I think I should go lie down again." "Here's a brilliant idea." Liam took a step forward before he said, "I heal you, and we don't have to deal with your bipolar disorder anymore." "Let's just leave her alone tonight," Jameson suggested. He knew when a complicated situation was going to blow up, and desperately wanted to avoid that. Because Charisma was still in the house, he had to consider her safety. "If I wanted your opinion, I would ask for it." Alauria abruptly lifted her head as horror washed over her. "Jesus, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that." She stood the second her head cleared and took a quick step back from the table. "I should just go." "Just fucking let me heal-" Liam stopped in his second advance when the stream of electricity flew out of her fingertips. He looked from Lindsay's puzzled face to Alauria's horrified one before taking a hasty step back. "What the fuck was that?" "I don't..." Alauria looked down at her hands and felt her knees shake. This had happened before, right when she was going to... "Excuse me." Alexis watched Alauria run out of the room and waited until she couldn't hear him before saying, "Sorry to state the obvious, but something is seriously wrong with her." "Other than the fact that she's bat-shit crazy?" "Liam," Lindsay warned, "Be careful." "You saw the same fucking shit I did." "We all did," Jameson placated. He masked his worry for the benefit of his brother as he considered taking Charisma to the house they'd been given until the situation was settled. "I thought she was fully human." "She is," Lindsay said, "She shouldn't be able to do that." Not even if he'd dosed her with a current powerful enough to sustain a small building. Something was very wrong with Alauria. His first impulse was to run after her, but he knew that he and his brothers needed to rationalize what was wrong and what needed to be done. "She can't go home like this." "How the hell did she get this way?" Jameson asked. "Lindsay," Alexis sat back in his seat as he stared at his troubled brother and said, "Before she went demon, wasn't Rachel's ability power mimicry?" * * * * * She was tired and only wanted to sleep, but that infernal music grew louder with each repeated phrase. Who in the hell wanted to blast carnival music this late at night? Who wanted to blast carnival music at all? But as she tried to concentrate on sinking back into the wonderful blackness of sleep, one thing was certain: the music wasn't going away. Alauria sighed as her frustration mounted. One would think that the sheer size of the manor prevented such instances from occurring. At least she didn't feel sick anymore. The knowledge of that alone gave her the motivation she needed to get up and find the vile offender killing her ears. The room was dark; she remembered leaving the lights on when she'd burrowed beneath the bed's silken covers. Maybe Lindsay turned it off when he checked on her. The insufferable music became even louder, and Alauria winced at the high pitch of some of the higher notes. Good Lord, this was horrible. She opened the door and expected to step out into the lavish hallway she'd become accustomed to. But all she faced was a dark and barren tunnel, comparable to the sewer systems she'd seen on television. The sight alone prompted her to take a step back to seek refuge in Lindsay's room, but she only managed to slam into the moist and slippery surface of the brick wall. The slimy texture made her shudder in disgust as she stepped away from it. A raw grating sound forced itself though the carnival music, and as Alauria turned right to see what made the sound, she gasped at the sight of the wall slowly working its way toward her. She looked left, but no walls moved on that side. That meant there was only one thing to do: go left. The tunnel grew more dank and humid as she walked, a not-so-subtle hint that she was close to something. It was also a sign that she wasn't close to anything good. Alauria's heart rate increased with her growing anxiety, despite the carnival music's annoying volume. She heard the moving wall behind her, pushing her toward and unfavorable situation. There was a flicker of light in the distance that gave her hope, and she headed towards it, determined to ignore the rising stench she could only describe as death. The scent was thick and cloying, sticking to the back of her throat uncomfortably. But she pushed on, primarily because she had no other choice; the wall still moved behind her. The carnival music slowly began to fade; with each step she took, the music became lower and more tolerable. Alauria took a ragged breath as she walked faster. The light became brighter, easing her anxiety and giving her hope that she would find someone in the house. It was obvious that she was dreaming; she'd figured that out when she'd opened the bedroom door. But now, she wasn't sure what to expect, a fact that became more prominent when Alauria found herself in the middle of a house of mirrors. The light bounced off the polished glass, making it impossible for her to see anything around her. She wasn't anxious anymore; the pain in her eyes due to the bright light prevented that. She was growing impatient, however, waiting for something to happen. "Alauria." She sighed in relief at the sound of his voice. "Lindsay! Where are you?" The lights began to fade, making it easier for her to see. Yes, she was in a house of mirrors, with absolutely no feasible way out. "Lindsay?" His image appeared in the mirrors, creating dozens of images and angles of his tormented face. "Lindsay." She paused for a moment to walk to one of the mirrors. He stared off into the distance, lost in whatever he saw. "Lindsay, look at me. Please." Alauria gasped as Lindsay's tear-brimmed eyes focused on her. Her stomach churned hotly. It was almost as if she could feel the pain that registered in his eyes. "Lindsay..." "I failed you. I'm sorry." "What?" Alauria placed her hand on the mirror when he refocused his attention on the distance and banged on it when his reflection began to fade. "Lindsay, wait!" The image continued to fade, forcing her to use both hands to bang on the mirror. Still, he faded and she shouted in protest. "No! Come back!" Soon the image was gone, leaving only the reflection of the clothing she wore. Alauria watched as skin began to materialize in the refection and she frowned in confusion. She glanced up at where her face would have been and gasped in horror at the blue eyes staring at her menacingly. "No." She tried to pull away, but her hands where glued to the glass; she was held in place. Surely, this couldn't be her reflection. But as she thrashed her head, obscuring her vision with her raven curls, the reflection's blonde hair did the same. Alauria's heart pounded furiously. It became difficult to breathe. Fear gripped her. "No, you're not me! Go away!" The condescending laugh made her stomach drop. "Stupid human." Alauria felt her eyes widen when the reflection's hand forced its way through the mirror to grasp her neck. "No," she choked out. She couldn't breathe and her heart raced hard enough to explode. "Stop..." Patches of black began to swim before her. Her lungs burned. A cold sweat broke out on her skin. She was fading. "He's mine." "No..." Alauria couldn't see anything for the darkness taking over. She was going to die in her sleep. "Rachel." "Alauria, God damn it! Wake up!" Alauria's eyes flew opened as her mouth opened wide. She sucked in a gulp of air and began to cough as her lungs soaked in the sweet necessity. She felt hands on her back, supporting her and bringing her closer to a warm, comfortable body. Her eyes darted around, taking in the familiar surroundings of Lindsay's room. The light hurt her eyes, but she didn't care; Lindsay's familiar scent comforted her and helped her to calm down. Alauria's heart still raced and she was sure that she shook, but she was safe in his arms. She was safe. Lindsay kept himself from asking the many questions that ran through his head as he held Alauria. She continued to suck in large gulps of air and she clutched him to her shaking body. He stroked her back soothingly, allowing small waves of electricity to flow forth from his fingertips. Waiting for her to calm down was his best bet; the way she thrashed and moaned in her sleep clued him in to the trauma of her dreams. Instinct had pulled him from the company of his brothers to check on her and it was then that he found her wrestling herself as she struggled for breath. From there, it had been a fight to rouse her; he'd even gone as far as to slap her cheek. Nothing worked until she'd suddenly opened her eyes on her own. "Lindsay," Alauria sobbed. As things became more focused, memories of her nightmare began to fade, leaving her with only glimmers of the world she'd been caught in. "Are you all right?" His worry kept him from demanding answers, but that didn't mean that he wasn't going to get them. "What happened?" "I had a... bad dream." She clutched him tighter, not wanting to lose on shred of the comfort he offered her. "I don't really remember." "You weren't breathing." She was choking was the more accurate description for how he found her, but he didn't need to say that. "What's been going on with you?" There was no use turning a blind eye to what was happening to her, but he couldn't fix her problems until she talked to him. "You're not well." "I don't know what's wrong. I'm so..." she paused, trying to remember the nightmare that had her so frightened. "I don't know, Lindsay." Alauria couldn't fight the tears that took over her. Wretched sobs wracked her body again, obstructing her ability to breathe. There was a small, condescending chuckle in the background. Confusion and fear paralyzed her and kept her glued to him. "I don't know." * * * * * Seven days. Seven days had come and gone without incident and Lindsay finally felt that it was safe to breathe easily. It helped that he monitored her actions when she was around the family. Alauria seemed fine; she'd made peace with Charisma and even managed to have Liam treat her with a modicum of decency. Lindsay even felt safe enough to leave her on her own to make arrangements to take her back home. He stood in the kitchen with his brothers and while they watched television, he convened with Alexis about his decision. "Are you sure she's ready to go home?" "It's been a week and nothing has happened," Lindsay replied, "She isn't sick anymore." "You actually think that it's some sickness that made her act the way she did?" Jameson asked. "Whatever it was seems to be gone now," Lindsay countered, "Not one bout of nausea or headache." "It's your decision, but I think you should wait a while longer," Jameson said on a shrug. Yes, nothing had happened, but he'd learned early in life that nothing was ever what it seemed. "The last thing either of you need is to have her go through another episode in public." "She'll be fine," Lindsay snapped. As he walked to the refrigerator to grab a bottle of water, he shook his head. "Don't worry; I've got it under control." There was a moment of silence and Lindsay knew that his brothers shared a look behind his back. "You don't have anything to say, Liam?" Haunted Prey Ch. 15 "You're a dumb-ass." "That's more like it," Lindsay said as he shut the refrigerator door. "Care to tell me why?" "The woman is obviously bat-shit. You actually want to risk some innocent person getting hurt?" "Everything is fine," Lindsay defended. "Nothing's happened-" "Yeah, I fucking know; nothing's happened in the past week," Liam finished, "But what happens if she has another episode in front of her mother, or her sick sister? What in the fuck are you going to do then?" Though his brother had a point, Lindsay refused to listen. "I told you, I got it. Leave it alone." "Fine," Liam conceded, "Just don't fucking bring her back here when shit goes wrong." "Liam, I swear on the old man's head-" Lindsay stopped when Alexis placed a hand on his shoulder. It was then that he noticed that eh was advancing to get in Liam's face. "It's cool," he reassured. Alexis nodded then focused his attention on Euan sauntering into the room in canine form, a narrow, cloth-wrapped package in his mouth. "Did he fight you when I asked for it?" Euan growled as he shook his head and made quick work of handing the package to his brother. Alexis quickly accepted as he placed a gentle hand on Euan's head. "Don't leave yet; I need you to pass a message on to the twins." When Euan nodded, Alexis stepped back and watched him walk out of the room. "What did he bring you?" Jameson asked. "Something I think we're going to need." "What is it?" Liam asked. "Hi." The men turned their attention to the doorway as Alauria walked into the room. She smiled at them, that nervous little smile of hers that made others want to comfort her. She chose to stand next to Lindsay and instantly leaned into his side when he put his arm around her. "How are you feeling?" Jameson asked. "I feel good," she replied with a smile. Alauria was energized and excited that she would be returning to her life. There were so many things to set straight; her studio and students had been abandoned, her sister needed her support and her mother... Well, her mother was a completely different story. The important thing was that she would be home soon, and she could begin to incorporate her life into Lindsay's. That would definitely be an adventure; Lindsay suddenly leaving whenever he had a demon to fight. What would she say when he had to go when they were visiting her mother? "How are you today?" "I'm well, thank you." Jameson felt himself smiling at the small flush that took over her face. If he hadn't seen it himself, he would have never believed her capable of threatening Liam. But she did look fine. Maybe Lindsay was right. The low, menacing growl that came from the entryway made everyone pause. As one, they brought their attention to a crouched Euan; he looked ready to spring forward and attack. His focus of attention was Alauria, and as he slowly advanced with his teeth dangerously bared, his growl grew in intensity. "What the fuck!" Liam quickly stood and blocked Euan's path. "Euan, back down." His brother's response was to crouch even lower as he leaned to the side to keep an eye on Alauria. "Back down, God damn it!" Lindsay was quick to push Alauria behind him. He didn't bother to make sure she was all right; Euan had a dangerous look in his eyes, and he was poised to attack. Lindsay knew that it would take one leap for Euan to bypass Liam and land right behind his target. "Euan, don't do this." "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Liam yelled, "Back the fuck down!" He whipped around at the feral hiss that came from behind him. His eyes widened at the sight of Alauria also crouched low, ready to spring into battle. The expression on her face was dark and twisted, much unlike anything he'd ever seen. Small sparks of electricity sizzled off her, making little popping sounds meant as a warning. Euan was her focus and for a moment, Liam didn't know who to protect. "What the fuck..." "Euan, NO!" Alexis rushed forward and wrapped his arms around his brother's neck. They both went down hard, but Alexis managed to keep his arms around his brother. Euan fought hard, squirming and bucking to get loose, but Alexis refused to give up. He was vaguely aware of the fact that his shoulder was bleeding from flying into the corner of the island, and the pain that radiated throughout his back and arm was nearly overwhelming. "Jameson!" Jameson snapped out of his shocked stupor and ran to help Alexis. He placed his weight on Euan's hind-section and managed to glance up in time to watch Liam and Lindsay restrain Alauria as she sprang forward to attack. There was something strangely familiar about the way she moved; everything was quick, rough and calculated. She moved to kill, not to defend, and she would do what she had to do to get through him and his brothers to get to Euan. "Hey, what's - oh, my God!" Charisma stopped at the door's entrance as she took in the scene before her. "Jameson-" "Charisma, get out of here now!" Jameson shouted. The last thing he needed was to worry about her getting caught in the middle of what was going on. "Go!" "But I can help." "For the love of God, get the fuck out of here!" Liam shouted. He tightened his hold on Alauria and had to ignore the searing pain that came from the electricity flowing forth from her body. "What the fuck is she on?" Lindsay ignored his brother's question as he struggled to hold an unbelievably strong Alauria at bay. "Alauria, stop it." He twisted her around and pinned her to the floor to keep her from moving. In her wild haze, she looked up at him, and he gasped at the demonic expression on her face. For a moment, her eyes went from brown to blue, and he almost forgot to keep a good grip on her. "Alauria, God damn it!" "Charisma, leave!" Jameson shouted at the same time. Holding Euan back was proving to a trying experience and he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold on. "Go to our room. Lock the door and don't come out until I come for you!" He grunted in both relief and frustration when she finally turned around and ran from the room. "Get him out of here!" Lindsay shouted at Jameson and Alexis, "Drag him if you have to!" "Liam, get over here!" Liam glanced from Alexis, who'd shouted the order, to Lindsay, unsure of who most needed his help. "Go ahead; I got her." "Where have I heard that one before?" Liam grumbled. "Just go." Lindsay pinned Alauria to the ground using more of his body weight and managed to hold her arms above her head. The lack of range of movement finally broke her wild behavior and slowly, she began to calm. Lindsay sighed as he glanced up to see his brothers successfully drag Euan out of the room. Shock washed over him, as he could not believe what just happened. So much for taking her home. "Lindsay?" He looked down into her confused eyes. "Alauria?" She glanced at the ceiling's recessed lighting and frowned in confusion. "Why are we on the floor?" As she tried to sit up, she realized that she was restrained. "Why are you holding me down? "You don't remember what just happened?" "Something happened?" "Yeah; you and Euan would have killed each other if the rest of us didn't step in." "Euan the dog?" Alauria's frown deepened at what she'd heard. She tried to fight a dog? Suddenly, blinding pain shot through her head and radiated down her back. She closed her eyes in response. It felt as if her head would explode at any moment, and her stomach cramped uncomfortably. "Oh, God," she groaned. Lindsay was quick to lift her off the floor and into his arms to carry her to their bedroom. As he rushed upstairs, she continued to groan in pain and her skin warmed dangerously; she was extremely feverish. "What's been going on with you?" She only groaned in response, forcing him to walk faster. By the time he had her placed in bed, she was shaking. "Alauria, Alauria, look at me." Through the haze of pain coursing through her, she looked at Lindsay and noticed the worried look in his eyes. "I want to go home." "I'll take you home as soon as you're better." "Get my mom." Lindsay felt his gut twist as he said, "I'm sorry, baby, but I can't do that." "Go away," she sobbed. The pain intensified, forcing tears from her eyes. She felt as if she was going to die, and if that was to happen, she at least wanted the opportunity to say goodbye to her mother. Lindsay watched as she rolled away from him to fold herself into the fetal position. Within moments, she'd fallen asleep. He lingered for a few minutes, monitoring her condition and ensuring her safety. He didn't want to leave her, but he needed to check on his brothers. Concern for his family won out and he quickly found his way back to the kitchen. With the exception of Euan, his brothers were there. "Euan?" "Gone," Alexis replied. He leaned against the refrigerator with his arms crossed over his chest. "What the fuck just happened?" Liam asked. His hands shook fiercely and his head spun from the shocked of what he'd witnessed. "They both went ape-shit." "I don't know," Lindsay said with a shake of the head. "She was doing so well. And then Euan set her off." "That wasn't like him," Jameson said, "to just attack like that." "It wasn't like her either," Lindsay replied. "One minute she's the person I fell for, and then shit like this happens." "Line she's a different person," Jameson said. "As if she's been taken over by some demonic force." Alexis added. His comment forced everyone into a contemplative silence, and he waited patiently for his brothers to say something else to help solve the mystery. "There was something very familiar about the way she prepared to attack," Jameson said, "The way she crouched and hissed..." The memory of her eyes turning blue forced Lindsay to stand straighter as a horrible thought washed over him. He said nothing to his brothers as he ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs to get back to his room. When he opened the door, he stooped at the sight of Alauria in nothing but her underwear, writing on the bed as if in the throes of passion. "Baby?" "I think we should play a game." "What?" He hurriedly closed the door to keep any of his brothers from seeing her. "What kind of game?" He asked as she slowly ran her hands over her soft body. Because of everything that just happened, he should not have been aroused by this. But his cock was hard and aching, and his hands itched to take over her slow, torturous movements. "Your name is... Bob, and you're a lonely door-to-door encyclopedia salesman." She smiled as he leaned against the closed door to watch her trail her hand down to her dampening core. "You've knocked on my door and I answered wearing only this. So I had no choice but to invite you in so that I could cover myself up." This was sounding more like a bad porno movie with every word she uttered. But he couldn't seem to care. "But you haven't." "Do you want me to?" He needed to say yes. She was sick and temperamental and was likely to go crazy at any second. He needed to say yes. "No." He was seriously deranged. Alauria slowly left the bed and sauntered to him, seductively removing the lace enclosure of her bra as she moved. "Do you want me, Bob?" "What do you think?" He groaned when she pressed her still too-warm skin against him and licked the side of his neck. "You should be resting." Yes, that was what he needed to remind them both. He seriously was weak when it came to the woman; who actually considered letting a woman in her condition have her way with him? "But I want you, Bob." "Alauria-" "No. There's no Alauria here." She leaned forward to kiss him and groaned when he plunged his tongue into her mouth. Her hands moved to the fastenings of his pants, thoroughly satisfied that his erection begged for freedom. "Yes, that's it, Bob." "Miss Hawkins..." "Call me Rachel." The request pulled him out of the web of seduction she'd woven. Lindsay gently pushed her away so that he could clearly look into her glittering eyes. She stared at him unwaveringly, allowing him to see the lust and determination. But as he continued to stare at her, an eerily familiar emptiness was seen in her eyes as well, a small vacuum that silently begged for sustenance. "What the hell is wrong with you?" The angry flash that swept through her eyes made him gasp as horrifying realization dawned. Before she could answer, he turned and walked out of the room, ignoring her calls to return. Fury unlike any he'd ever known burned raw through him; it was a miracle that he could even see straight. He stormed down the stairs and into the kitchen, oblivious to the curious stares his brothers gave him. "Watch her while I'm gone." "Where are you going?" Jameson asked. "I'll be back before dawn," was all Lindsay said. He walked into the garage and made quick work of getting into his truck. Within minutes, he was on the road, determined to find answers to the questions burning within him. There was an explanation to Alauria's behavior, and he was going to find it before anyone was killed. He had his suspicions, but the all pointed one ending, the worst possible ending he could imagine, an ending he wasn't prepared to deal with. He drove like a madman, grateful that the majority of the roadways were empty; he had to remember to increase the payments needed to show all of the roads as unfinished on all maps. Lindsay tried to focus on the roads he sped on, but his mind continued to drift to his memories of Alauria's erratic behavior. The animalistic way they'd made love on Alexis' truck... She'd drawn blood when she touched him. He should have known that something was wrong with her then, but he'd been too blind with lust to bother to be concerned. The memory of what happened in the music room was another instance in which he should have seen passed what he knew about her. Even Charisma tried to warn him that something was wrong. But he'd brushed her behavior off as extreme fatigue and stress. He didn't want to acknowledge that there was a problem; she'd been through so much already, all because of him, and he wanted to believe that he'd finally managed to give her the peace she wanted. Lindsay didn't even bother to cut the ignition as he rushed out of the truck and through the woods. It wasn't as if anyone would steal the truck so far out in the woods. He stomped through the thick underbrush, ignoring the way the wayward branches scratched his skin. His only concern was getting to the one place he never wanted to see again. It didn't take more than ten minutes to get there; anxiety gave him speed. Too late, he realized that he didn't bring a shovel, and resorted to digging with his bare hands to get through the compacted soil once he'd cleared the grave of the heavy stones he'd arranged before. A cold sweat broke out over his body; both from anxiety and the strain of his movements. He had to be wrong. Alauria was only sick with a weird supernatural virus. There could be no other answer. With renewed vigor, Lindsay dug faster. His hands burned and cramped uncomfortably, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. Not until he had answers. Images of Alauria's smiling face spurred him on, forcing him to work faster. Lindsay's heartbeat was furious; he was sure it would explode. He was in a panic; fear wasn't the only emotion coursing through him. There was anger at himself for being so blind, worry that he wasn't capable of saving Alauria, and disappointment that it took so much for him to come to his senses. He never thought that he'd be at Rachel's grave again, but this was the only logical answer he could think of. Finally, after endless minutes of digging, he'd reached the decaying body he'd buried. Lindsay brushed the dirt from the body and found nothing questionable. He worked from the feet up, inspecting every inch that had been covered with dirt. As he moved up the body, he frowned; Rachel never had freckles on her human body. He brushed more dirt from the corpse and discovered a tribal tattoo of Celtic origin on the right clavicle. "No.." He'd seen those marks before, and they weren't carried by another other being he knew of. Lindsay didn't bother to brush more dirt from the corpse; he fished through the dirt and easily found the head that had been separated from the body. As he pulled it from the grave, he felt his heart seize dangerously; the owner of the head was a flaming redhead with more tattoos on her face. Those were the markings of the Magori, shape-shifting demons that used their ability for pay. Royalty and celebrities often used them to keep others from harming them, and Raife had been no different. He hadn't killed her. She was still alive. "Fuck... No..." It took three repetitions of the ring tone he'd allotted to Alexis' calls for Lindsay to fish his cellular phone out of his pocket. "Yeah?" "Come back. She's getting worse." ________________ We're only a couple of chapters to the end lovelies. Brace yourselves. Haunted Prey Ch. 16 Lindsay stormed up the stairs, only to find the hallway illuminated by bright blue bursts of electricity that shot forth from his room. His brothers stood outside the door, dodging the bolts that were obviously meant for them. Lindsay quickly looked them over to ensure their general good health as he walked forward to asses the situation. "What the hell happened?" "I'll tell you what happened," Liam answered, "We went to check on that thing in there and we found her in a semi-comatose state." "What?" Lindsay asked incredulously. "Yea," Liam said with a nod, "I tried to help her and that's when she went completely bat-shit." "She started screaming and trying to attack him," Alexis added. "It took all three of us to hold her down long enough for her to stop," Jameson said. "And then?" Lindsay asked as he dodged another bolt of electricity. "You're experiencing it," Liam muttered. The mutter became a loud curse when a wayward bolt grazed his arm. "Son of a bitch!" "Liam, step back," Alexis commanded. "Where did you go?" He asked Lindsay in the next breath. "I went back to where I buried Raife." He looked toward the entrance solemnly; how was he supposed to tell his brothers that he'd failed? The discovery of the Magori's body terrified him; Alauria's life was still at stake and yet again, his efforts had all been in vain. "Why the fuck would you go there?" Alexis forced Lindsay to ignore the question by asking, "And?" "I'll kill you all! Get these fucking things off me!" "We had to restrain her," Jameson explained, "She managed to electrocute every single one of us." "What did you find at the grave?" Alexis asked again. "I should have killed you all when I had the chance!" "Shut the fuck up!" Liam shouted back. A second later, he howled in pain when the powerful bolt of electricity made contact with his leg. "Fucking whore!" "What did you see, Lindsay!" "A Magori demon," Lindsay responded. "What was a Magori doing at Raife's gravesite?" Jameson asked in confusion. He'd been smart and moved a good two feet left of the doorway to keep from getting zapped. "I didn't find a Magori at her gravesite, Jameson; I found a Magori's decapitated body in the grave." The reply served to quiet everyone, including Alauria. Lindsay let out a frustrated breath as he allowed his brothers to absorb the information he'd given them. Though he wanted to go into his room to see Alauria, he had to deal with the options he had yet to discuss with his brothers. "But you killed Raife," Jameson said in disbelief, "I saw you kill her." "It was the Magori," Lindsay said with a shake of his head, "I never killed Rachel." He'd never really protected Alauria. He'd failed. "So where the fuck is Raife?" Liam asked. Lindsay watched Alexis look toward the room and mimicked the action before he said, "In there." "What the fuck are you talking about? Alauria's in there." "She's possessed, Liam," Alexis said, "Raife found a way to implant her metaphysical self into Alauria's body." As realization passed between the brothers, he took the opportunity to look at Lindsay's tormented face. "You know what has to be done." The tone of Alexis' voice set Lindsay into a rage. "Absolutely not!" "Lindsay." The low, pained voice prompted all men in the hall to look toward the doorway. The blasts of electricity had stopped which made them think that it was safe to approach. They huddled in the entryway and there was a moment of collective shock at seeing Alauria writhing in obvious pain on the bed. "Alauria?" Lindsay called. "Lindsay," she whimpered, "Oh, God, it hurts so much." Every cell in her body throbbed in agony. She had no idea what had happened; one moment she was at the dinner table feeling nauseous, and the next, she was wishing she'd black out, if only to be free of the pain. She was scared a desperately wished her mother was near. "Lindsay!" "I'm here." Lindsay moved to enter the room but stopped when Liam placed a hand on his chest. "Liam-" "It's not a good idea, man." "She needs me." "She could hurt you," Jameson countered. "Lindsay, please." It was Alauria's pained whine that made him push passed his brothers. "If Raife is in control right now, I'm the last person she'll hurt." He walked to the bed and crouched beside it. As he placed a hand on Alauria's face, he felt his stomach lurch; her skin was dangerously hot and she cried out in pain. "Alauria." "Lindsay." His voice was like sunlight on a cold, dark day. "Lindsay, I don't know what's wrong with me." "Don't worry baby, I'm going to fix it." He hands his hands over her and frowned at the dampness that glued the blanket to her side. "What is this?" He probed at the anomaly, then winced when she cried out again. Lindsay quickly pulled at the covering, only to find a large gash that oozed a thick black liquid. "Liam!" Liam was at his side in an instant, checking his brother for a wound. "What happened? What did she do to you?" "It's not me," Lindsay said. He pointed to the wound in Alauria's side, confused. "I thought you healed this." "I did." Liam looked down at the wound. The black sebum that coated her skin had an odd cloying scent that wasn't normal. Human wounds weren't supposed to do that. "What the hell is that?" "I don't know. Can you fix it?" "So she can go ape-shit again?" Liam felt a pang of remorse at the agonized moan that came from Alauria. She looked to be on the verge of death, and while he wanted to help her, his main concern was keeping his brother safe. "Lindsay, man-" "For fuck's sake Liam, just do it!" Liam turned to the doorway to look at Jameson and Alexis. Jameson seemed impartial while Alexis subtly nodded his approval. With a wary breath, Liam pushed Lindsay over and cupped Alauria's hand in his. He let his power rush through him and concentrated on the wound in her side. He envisioned the gash closing, the black ooze receding. Small pops and sizzles shot through his body, and he frowned when a slow and steady wave of pain began to thrum through him. He couldn't move, couldn't speak. The pain intensified and soon, a driving force shot over him, throwing him back into Jameson and Alexis. At the same time, Alauria emitted a feral cry as a ring of electricity radiated out from within her. "Is he ok?" Lindsay shouted. The electrical force did not affect him, allowing him the opportunity to watch the drastic change that had taken over Alauria; her eyes had gone completely opaque and she remained still, as if she'd slipped back into a catatonic state. "Alauria?" She remained still and unmoving, forcing an unbearable wave of dread to wash over him. "Alauria." Lindsay felt a cold sweat break over his face at the sight of her so seemingly lifeless. This couldn't be it. She couldn't die. "Alauria!" In his desperation, Lindsay gripped her shoulders and shook her hard. Alauria's head lolled from side to side, but there was no change. An uncomfortable ball formed in the pit of his stomach. Tears welled in his eyes. Anguish at his failure and his loss made him press his ear against her chest. There was a heartbeat, but it was faint; the weak thrum indicated her inability to fight what was happening to her. "Don't leave me," he whispered, "Please don't go." "What's happening?" Alexis asked. "She's dying." Lindsay didn't bother to move as he continued to listen to the weak beat of Alauria's heart. There wasn't anything that could be done; at this stage of the possession, Alauria was too weak to survive the exorcism he and his brothers would have had to perform to free her. He had no choice but to hold her, to let her know that she wasn't alone as she left him. Yet again, Raife had succeeded in tearing his life apart. There was a twinge of rage in his heart at the injustice that had been done to him, but it paled in comparison to the despair that gripped him. Once again, he was powerless to save the woman he loved. Once again, he'd failed. "She's dying, Lex." "She doesn't have to die." Lindsay was quick to sit up at the cold and calculated tone of voice that came from Alauria's weakening body. "Raife, you conniving bitch-" "Is that any way to talk to the only person who can give you what you want?" It was difficult to believe that the person talking to him was Raife. It was Alauria's beautiful brown eyes he looked into, her sweet, oval-shaped face that smirked up at him, but nothing could mask the cold and calculated tone that belonged to Raife. Alauria's beautiful voice wasn't enough to mask the evil that was directed at him. "Give her back to me." He glanced over at the door in time to see Jameson and Liam join Alexis at the far end of the room. Liam looked enraged, which only meant that the shock hadn't done any real damage to him. "Liam-" "As long as I'm still inside her, none of your pathetic tricks will work." "Fucking Prygorians," Liam mumbled. Lindsay ignored the comment as he focused his attention on Raife. "What is it going to take for you to give her back to me?" "You can have us both, Lindsay," Raife replied. She smiled menacingly as she pulled at her restraints. "She's too weak to fight me anymore. It's only a matter of time before her soul dies." "No!" Lindsay shouted. In his rage, he wrapped his hands around her neck, determined to get the demon out of Alauria himself. "Kill me and you kill us both," Raife choked out. Lindsay refused to listen; he squeezed tighter, and his arms shook from his efforts. He was going to save Alauria, if it was the last thing he ever did. "Lindsay, stop!" Alexis watched as Liam and Jameson worked together to pull Lindsay off of Alauria's restrained body. The turmoil on his brother's face tore at his heart, but he had to think clearly. "You can't kill a human." "She's not human anymore." "Alauria's soul is still in there, man," Jameson said. "You can't kill her." "Leave that to me," Raife coughed. She waited for Lindsay to lean over her once more before saying, "You can have us both, Lindsay. Let her soul die and I can keep this body. No more Prygorian skin." "You're fucking whacked," Liam said with a shake of the head. Raife ignored the comment as she said, "You promised to love me. And only me. I'm giving you what you want, Lindsay. My soul. Her body." She smiled when he stared at her curiously. He had to be considering her words. He had to appreciate the sacrifice she made for him. "You can have us both." Lindsay turned to look at his brothers. He took in Liam's disbelieving face and Jameson's shocked expression. Alexis wordlessly walked out of the room, making him frown in confusion. Lindsay returned his attention to Alauria's body and felt his stomach lurch at the hopeful and expectant look in her eyes. She wanted an answer. No, Raife wanted an answer, and she wanted one now. He could have them both, she promised. Alauria's body and Raife's soul, only she wouldn't be Raife anymore. Without the demonic body, she'd become Rachel again, the Rachel he would have given anything for. While he would never consider a romantic relationship, he could have her back. He could give her a second chance at life. But he would lose Alauria's soul. What was the point of seeing her and being around her every day if, in reality, she was gone? Could he really be so guilt ridden about Rachel's soul and his inability to save it, that he would sacrifice Alauria's? The sounds of Alexis' footfalls prompted Lindsay to turn toward the entrance of his room. A second later, he was on his feet, ready to do battle. "If you really think I'm going to let you-" "Calm down," Alexis said. He looked down at the blades in his hands, as he fully understood Lindsay's outburst. It was never a good sign when someone walked into a dying woman's room holding two very large knives. "These are for you." "What the hell are you talking about, Lex?" "You have to choose." Lindsay turned to face the bed as he said, "I don't have time for your psychic bullshit." "Raife implanted her soul into Alauria's body," Alexis answered, "You should know that it only takes a simple incantation and a blood bond for it to happen." Lindsay looked down at the wound in Alauria's side, still oozing the black sebum. Then he remembered that there were no other scars on her body. There were bruises, yes, but no other wounds. It wasn't an end result of Raife's sick and twisted game. She'd never wanted to kill Alauria in cold blood. She'd used the Magori demon to throw him off. "You know that a human body can't bear the stress of more than one soul," Alexis said. He took a step forward, forcing his brother to give him a moment of attention. "You have to choose which soul you want to save before the body dies." "It won't die!" Raife shouted, "Her soul will die." "You were wrong," Alexis countered, "A human body can't take the stress of two battling souls. Once her body dies, that's it. It won't matter if your soul outlives hers." "If dying means that I won't lose him to the human, then it's what I'll do." "The regular knife will weaken the body enough to set Alauria's soul free." Alexis placed the blade in Lindsay's hand before continuing. "D. let me borrow the Blade of Abraxis. This will kill Rachel's soul and possibly give Liam enough time to save Alauria." "What do you mean by possibly?" Lindsay asked. "Alauria's body is weak and her soul isn't as strong as Raife's. There's a chance that the added stress could prematurely free her soul." "But it wouldn't kill Raife if I used your blade?" Alexis glanced from Lindsay to Alauria before he said, "You would only kill Raife if you put the knife in her heart." So it was either kill them both, or risk Alauria's soul being set free, meaning she'd be reincarnated or kept in the afterlife. In neither scenario was he guaranteed her survival. If he gave Raife what she wanted, he could have them both; Alauria's living body walking the earth, and a chance at a human life for Raife, fully equipped with a family. "You stopped me when I tried to choke the life out of Raife. You said that we don't kill humans." "We don't. But I don't know how much that applies when there is a very real chance that the human will die no matter what you do." "Alexis-" "She won't last much longer," Alexis warned as he placed the Blade of Abraxis in Lindsay's free hand. "It's not like he can decide in ten seconds, Lex," Jameson admonished. Having been forced to make a difficult decision of his own, he knew that it would take Lindsay some time to make a choice. "What is there to decide?" Liam asked, "He knows who he loves." "And he knows who he owes," Jameson defended. "Maybe if you were blessed enough to have more than one woman love you at the same time, you would understand." "We'll give you a few minutes," Alexis said. He silently commanded Jameson and Liam to leave the room before he followed. As he closed the door behind them, he warned, "Don't take too long." Lindsay looked from the blades in his hands to the woman tied to his bed and emitted a weary sigh. Yet again, he had to choose. If he tried to save Alauria, there was a risk of losing her soul which meant that she'd be lost forever. If he saved Raife, he'd lose Alauria, but he would have given Raife a real chance at the kind of life she deserved. And if he killed them both... "Lindsay?" He looked down at the body on the bed and felt the weight of his decision bog down on his shoulders. "What?" She closed her eyes as she whispered, "What... What happened?" "Alauria?" he asked as he placed the blades on the night table. She nodded weakly as she let out a tired breath. "What's wrong with me?" Lindsay decided to tell her the truth; if she died, her soul would rest easier knowing why. "Raife possessed you." Without warning, he began to sob. He tried to fight the tears, tried to keep his composure so that he could deal with his situation, but it was nearly impossible to remain calm when the woman he loved was dying. Lindsay's body shook with the force of his grief, and it was long minutes before he was able to utter a comprehensible word. "She's, she's still inside you." "You can't get her out." The simple statement, said so seriously, forced another tear from his eyes. "We can try, but..." "I could die." Alauria ignored the tears that rolled down the sides of her face as she absorbed the information she'd been given. "What happens... if we don't...?" She opened her eyes and looked into his tormented eyes. His expression was so familiar, as if she'd seen it before. The tear brimmed eyes, the despair. "I'll die anyway." Lindsay was only able to sigh in defeat as he pressed his face into the hollow of her neck. She was going to die, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. "Her soul is stronger than yours." He cried against her, ignoring her feverish skin and her fight for breath. "I'm so sorry, Alauria. I failed you." "No, you tried." She didn't care that the weight of his body was nearly too much to bear, or that the staggering grief that came with her impending death left her speechless; her final moments had to be more than a tearful goodbye. "You tried because you love me." Her voice was barely higher than a whisper, and he knew that she'd used every ounce of energy to project as much as she did. "Alauria, save your energy." "I have to tell you..." She paused for a moment to catch her breath. She was so tired, so very tired, but she knew that there was a chance that she wouldn't wake once she allowed herself to sleep. "Tell my mother that I love her. And Raedyn... Tell her that I'm sorry that she had to lose another sibling, but... but I'll protect her." "Alauria, please." "And if this the last time I ever see you, I want you to know that I died happy because... because..." Her heartbeat was getting weaker. His heart was breaking. "Alauria..." "Because I died loving you." She fought hard to ignore his renewed sobs, as she had one more thing to say. "Let her win." "What?" "Let her win. She may be a raving psychopath, but she will take care of you." "You can't be serious." "Listen to her, Lindsay. She can see the truth that you can't." Lindsay quickly pulled back from Alauria's body to look at her face. The emptiness was back in her eyes. Raife had taken control once more. "Give her back to me." "She can't be saved. She's too weak to survive whatever happens next." "Give her back!" "You can save me, Lindsay. I'm stronger than she is. I love you more than she does." "Raife..." "You owe me this." Lindsay closed his eyes in anguish as he tried to control his tumultuous emotions. Should he even bother anymore? It was most likely that he would lose the woman he loved no matter what he did; did he really want to give Raife a second chance, knowing that she was the reason Alauria would die? He wasn't even sure how he would react to having Alauria's body alive knowing that her soul was gone. "We're running out of time," Alexis called through the door. "I fucking know!" Lindsay shouted. He began to pace the length of the room, weighing the options in front of him. There was almost no chance of Alauria's survival, which meant he had to decide on whether or not to kill Raife first. If he killed Raife, he'd have to live with both of their deaths, as well as the devastation that would consume Alauria's family. He didn't want to think of the pain he'd endure with the end of Alauria's life because he wouldn't be able to think if he did. Everything came down to giving Raife another chance to live. "Fuck." "Lindsay..." He whirled around and rushed to the bed at the weak and pained tone of voice he knew was Alauria's. He took hold of her soft and overheated hand and kissed the palm, wishing he had a better answer for their situation. "What is it, baby?" Haunted Prey Ch. 16 "I'm still here." "Yes." "Why?" "Because I don't know what to do." He felt tears well in his eyes once more when she let out a weak laugh. How was she able to find humor in the situation? "For someone with virtually no patience... You sure do over-think things." "It's not like I'm trying to decide on which pair of socks to wear today, Alauria." He ignored the tears that slowly rolled down his face as he ran his fingers through her slightly damp hair. She closed her eyes, and for a moment, he thought that she'd been replaced by Raife once more. "Alauria?" "Stop thinking about it." She moaned in pain when her stomach cramped in protest. "You didn't think the night you first kissed me." He smiled at the memory of her wide-eyed stare when she stopped them. "I just did what felt right." "So do what feels right." Lindsay sighed in defeat and closed in eyes. "Alauria-" "I'll die either way." "Don't say that. I just need to think of a better way." "Stop thinking, Lindsay." He opened his eyes to find her staring at him intently, wordlessly begging him to end it. She was suffering; he was forcing her to suffer. "I'm sorry." "I'm not." She closed her eyes; she couldn't bear to look at the pain that contorted his face any more. "Just do it." Lindsay looked over at the night table and the two blades resting upon it, still unsure of what to do. While he had Alauria's blessing, it meant nothing without having her with him, which wasn't likely no matter what choice he made. He reached over and let his hand hover above the blades. If he used the regular blade, he could kill them both or set Alauria's soul free, allowing Raife a human life. The Blade of Abraxis finally eliminated Raife, at the extreme risk of killing Alauria. As his hand hovered above the blades, slowly moving back and forth, he choked out a sob. "Lindsay." He turned his head just enough to look into her complacent eyes. She'd accepted what was to happen and it was clear that she was waiting for him to do the same. "You will kiss me goodbye." Lindsay looked down at her for a moment, taking in her soft eyes and dimpled chin, unable to bear the weight of her words. Goodbye. The finality of the word made him choke out another sob as he slowly lowered his head to grant Alauria her final wish, as he sampled what could have been his last taste of her lips. Her contented sigh gave him room to deepen their kiss, to slowly glide his tongue against hers as a physical declaration of his undying passion for her. And as he kissed her and lightly wet her face with his tears, he gripped the hilt of a blade. His hand fisted, gripping the hilt in a death grip that could have crushed a human hand. The pain of the hilt biting into his palm forced Lindsay to sit up. "I love you," she whispered "I love you." And with a determined breath, he lifted his arm high a second before he plunged the blade into her body. _________ Rate and comment! Haunted Prey Ch. 17 It felt awkward walking through the sliding glass doors that led into the hospital. Though it hadn't quite been a month since he'd last stepped foot into the building, it felt as if decades had passed. Time surely had a way of changing the way people saw things. Lindsay decided to take the stairs to the pediatric wing; he wasn't in the mood to be confined in a small space with strangers. He'd had enough strange in his life, and that meant a lot, considering his line of work. It was rare that he yearned for the monotony that came with human life, but he couldn't seem to want anything else. Which was probably why he'd decided to go to the hospital. He owed it to the woman he loved to protect her family - his family had everything gone as he'd planned. Well, it was too late to think of that now. The short walk down the hallway to the room he sought was a short one, and Lindsay had to stop to take a few calming breaths before he walked in. He knew what he would say when he checked on the young woman who'd been denied the comfort of her older sister, but he had no idea what to do in the event he was asked why Alauria hadn't joined him, of when she would return. How honest was he expected to be? Lindsay stopped short the second his foot hit the threshold of the room. He blinked twice, unsure if what he saw was actually happening. "What the hell are you doing?" "Shut the fuck up for a minute." Lindsay watched silently as Liam continued his ministrations. Luckily, Raedyn slept through the ordeal, otherwise she would have had a close-up view of the glittering light coming out of his brother's eyes due to his ability. It took Liam a few minutes to heal the young woman, but the effects of his work were instantaneous; Raedyn's skin lost its chalky pallor, and she looked to be breathing easier. She smiled in her sleep, and for a moment, Lindsay wondered what she dreamt of. Life outside of the hospital, possibly. Liam let out a tired breath when he finished his work. While he was used to the challenges he faced healing wounds, healing sickness was another issue. Other factors had to be considered, and it was a real possibility that he could have done more damage than good. Luck was on his side, thankfully, and he didn't have to worry about listening to his brothers as they gave him hell had things gone wrong. "Why are you here?" "Why are you?" Lindsay took a step into the room and glanced at Raedyn. Yes, she was definitely better, as evidence of her rosy cheeks and glowing skin. She looked so much like her sister. "Lex says she'll be very important to us in the future." "What the hell does that mean?" Liam shook his head as he pulled on a pair of gloves. "Look, I had to drive all this fucking way to do this, but I just did what the man asked me to do. You got questions, you take them to him." "Lindsay, right?" Both men turned to look toward the bed. Raedyn stared at them with wide eyes as she pulled her blankets to her chin. "Yes. How are you feeling?" Lindsay asked. She remembered the taller one with the dark red hair; he was her sister's male friend. Or was he really her boyfriend? "I'm, I'm all right." The other one... Though he showed no kind of emotion, he did quirk his eyebrow at her thoughtfully. He made her nervous; his blue eyes almost looked angry. "Better." "I would hope so," Liam murmured. He narrowed his eyes at the elbow Lindsay jabbed into his side before speaking again. "So you're the sister." "I, uh..." She looked to Lindsay and felt her brows raise at his nod of approval. "Sure. Who are you?" "He's leaving," Lindsay answered as he stared at Liam. The last thing he needed was his hot-headed brother losing his temper with the teenager. "Thank you for..." He stopped, as he couldn't finish his comment in front of Raedyn. "Why aren't you with," Liam stopped at the dangerous look his brother gave him before glancing at the very confused young woman in the hospital. "With her?" "She's been tired the last couple days. I left her to sleep for a few hours." "And now she's all better." The focus was moved to the room's entrance as Alauria walked in. She walked to stand next to Lindsay and leaned into him when he placed an arm around her shoulders. A quick smile of greeting toward Raedyn completed her entrance. "You sure you're all right?" Liam asked with narrowed eyes. He took a step left, purposely blocking her view of the teenager in the hospital bed. "You're not going to do anything... funny, are you?" "I thought we were past that." "Yes, you thought." "Liam," Lindsay warned. This was neither the time nor place to get into what had happened and how things had changed because of it. "He's right," Alauria agreed. She felt the sides of her mouth quirk up politely as she said, "I'm glad you were able to help her." Liam only shrugged indifferently as he said. "I do what I have to do for my family." The statement had her blinking in surprise. The aggravated look he shot her only made her smile arrogantly. "I'm your family?" Liam looked at his brother, who seemed very intrigued by the direction of the conversation. "Just keep her safe, for fuck's sake." Lindsay frowned as he watched Liam stalk out of the room. It wasn't what Liam said, but how he said it that made Lindsay wonder if he meant Alauria or Raedyn. A tired sigh escaped his lips; he'd been through enough already and didn't quite have the energy to take on any more challenges. "Who was that guy?" Raedyn whispered. Lindsay smiled at the wonder in the teenager's voice before he said, "My brother." Her reaction to the news was almost comical; Raedyn's skin paled for a moment before flushing dangerously. Her mouth dropped into a perfect "o" as she continually glanced from him to the door. "Oh." Raedyn shook herself out of her shock before glancing at her sister. "I met your mom." "Did you?" Alauria asked. She tried to take a step closer to the hospital bed, but stopped when Lindsay tightened his hold on her. "How did it go?" "She was very nice and gave me your messages." "Oh yes?" "Yes." Raedyn yawned as fatigue suddenly began to weigh her body down. "I thought you would be gone a little longer." "We did too, but we managed to shorten our little getaway." Alauria cleared her throat nervously as she glanced at the floor. "You look better." "I feel better." "That's good." Alauria quietly ran her fingers through her head as she tried to think of something to say. "So..." Raedyn narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched her sister. Something was off; she couldn't quite put her finger on what, but something was very different. "Are you all right?" "What do you mean?" "I don't know." Raedyn watched as her sister shared a look with Lindsay before saying, "You seem kind different; awkward, kind of, like this is the first time we're meeting or something." She watched as Alauria's eyes went wide for a moment before she looked at the ground again. Raedyn shifted her attention to Lindsay, who wore a very blank expression, but had a tenseness about him she didn't like. "Is there, like, something I should know?" "Just that I'm glad that you're doing well," Alauria said. She forced a smile for the teenager's benefit and pulled away from Lindsay. "The only thing you need to worry about is getting out of here before your hair turns grey." "You look very tired," Lindsay cut in. He walked to Raedyn's bed and gently pushed her down so that he could adjust her blankets. "Why don't you get some sleep?" As much as she would have loved to argue with him, Raedyn did indeed feel as if she would fall asleep at any given second. She smiled at the large man in gratitude before closing her eyes and succumbing to the darkness that pulled at her. "She looks peaceful," Alauria remarked. She remained where she was, three feet away from the bed, as she knew that Lindsay would most likely push her back if she stepped any closer. "Yes. Liam's ability usually puts those he heals to sleep so that the body can catch up to his work." Lindsay moved to stand in front of Alauria and smiled at the thoughtful look on her face. "I thought I asked you to rest for a while." "I did. I saw your note when I woke up and decided to come and see her as well." "Do you think that was a good idea?" "Probably not, but you're the one who kept mentioning her once we got back to my apartment." Lindsay didn't comment on the fact that she was right; he had mentioned Raedyn repeatedly, primarily to remind her that there was life outside of the supernatural. "You looked like you needed a little reminding." She shook her head as a slow smile took over her face. "You, of all people, want to tell me about being reminded of things?" She felt him tense beside her and immediately became contrite. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that." "No, it's fine. You're right." "You should remember to tell me this every time we argue. Scratch that; tell me every day." Lindsay laughed softly to keep from waking Raedyn and looked down into happy brown eyes. "For how long?" "The rest of my life seems long enough." "I was hoping you would say something like that." He placed his hands in his pockets and looked around the small hospital room as he collected his thoughts. "The past several weeks have been..." "Insane?" Lindsay nodded slowly in answer. "They've made me realize that the smallest of things can happen to you that will kill you, and I can't go through what happened again. I wouldn't survive it." The visible pain in his eyes prompted her to take a step forward to place a hand on his cheek. "Lindsay, where is this coming from?" "I want us to do a Chystla." She frowned at the statement and the odd word. "A Chystla? What is that?" "It's a ritual that would tie our souls together for eternity. As long as I'm alive, you'll never get sick and you'll never die. And when I am reborn, your soul will join mine in the next life." He watched as her eyes widened in shock. The action forced him to rethink the proposition for a moment; he could have been completely wrong in the timing. They'd just been through a serious test of strength and loyalty, and things had barely settled since then. Hell, they'd been back in town for a week and not once had they discussed visiting her mother, her fear being that the over-observant matriarch would easily discern a difference in her daughter. "Wouldn't tying our souls together mean that we couldn't be with anyone else? Ever?" While the prospect of the arrangement sounded extremely promising, it was probably best to wait until they'd figured out their next steps as a couple living human lives. "Isn't that what you wanted?" She glanced around the small hospital room, at the various vases of daisies balanced on the windowsills and the sleeping teenager who loved them, unsure of what to say. While she did want to spend eternity with Lindsay, she wasn't sure he would feel the same after a few years. "Maybe we should wait until-" "Look at Raedyn." He focused his attention on the young woman as he continued, "One day she's perfectly fine, a young woman with a full life ahead of her. A day later, she is in the hospital, pretty much on death's door, to the point where it takes a supernatural healer to save her life. The blood in your body wasn't enough. Being human isn't enough. Out of everyone, you should know that." "Lindsay, I do know that, but in her case, she wasn't strong enough. It doesn't matter if you're human or not if you're not strong enough." He chose not to acknowledge the unique phrasing of her words. "Which is why we should do the Chystla. You won't die until I do." Which was exactly what he needed if he expected to never go through what they had again. The simple memory of the flush of her skin tightened his chest uncomfortably. "But you're asking me to bind myself to you pretty much forever. Are you sure you can do it again?" "Yes." The quick and confident reply made her stop for a moment. He wanted to be with her forever, and it wasn't because of some sense of honor or duty. He actually wanted to be with her. "You're sure about this?" To answer her question, he pulled a hand out of his pocket and presented her with the proof of his determination. "I don't want anyone else." She looked down at his hand, at the glittering gem resting on his large palm and gasped in shock. "Lindsay..." "A Chystla trumps any kind of religious ceremony, but I thought it would be nice to give Patricia the gift of seeing her only daughter married." "Are you seriously asking...?" She looked up into his smiling eyes, and hers watered in response. Quick glances from his love-filled eyes to the intricate diamond ring resting on his hand made her heartbeat accelerate. He was asking her for marriage. He was asking her for forever. "If I remember correctly, most human women like diamond rings for these sorts of occasions." Lindsay took his time slipping the two-carat emerald cut engagement ring on her finger. He enjoyed the way the ring's channel settings shone in the hospital light. "Say yes." Overwhelming feelings of happiness and love washed over her, making her shake. Of all the places to have such a moment, he chose the hospital room of a sleeping teenager. It shouldn't have been romantic, but surprisingly, it was. The love of her life was asking her for forever. "Everyone is going to flip out when they hear the news." * * * * * The scent of orchids made her sigh contentedly as she made the short walk to the bow of the yacht. Beside her, Patricia walked proudly, a radiant smile on her face as they walked toward the small group of people waiting, They all smiled happily, but it was the love-filled gaze that Lindsay gave that captured her attention. She felt a smile take over her face at the simple white shirt and khaki slacks he wore. Patricia had taken control of coordinating the attire for the small affair. She'd been thrilled when she heard the news and took it upon herself to plan every detail of her daughter's wedding. Jameson helped her, as it turned out that outside of shopping, he also loved to plan events. It was he who decorated the yacht after Lindsay adamantly demanded it be the location of the ceremony. She hadn't complained; she only wanted to start her new life with the man she loved. When her hand was placed into Lindsay's she smiled at the small rush of electricity that rushed through her. She'd barely noticed the kiss Patricia placed on her cheek before moving to stand next to a happily blushing Raedyn. "You're beautiful," Lindsay whispered. Her skin glowed in the twinkling moonlight, emphasizing her beautifully curled hair. She wore a simple white dress that brushed her calves and simple jewelry accented her skin. She was going to be his forever; he grinned in anticipation. "We are gathered here tonight to join this man, my brother, and this woman in the highest of matrimonies." Lindsay glanced at Raedyn and Patricia, unsure of their reactions to Alexis' wording. They'd been quite accepting of his role in the ceremony after learning that he was ordained in several religions, both archaic and modern. In truth, he'd become ordained in order to mask Chystla ceremonies from humans and demons that knew nothing of them. Alexis had warned Patricia that he preferred to use specialized wording, but Lindsay still felt a level of nervousness once his brother spoke the words that commenced the ceremony. There was no reaction, thankfully, and Lindsay was able to refocus his attention on the words his brother spoke. "I will now speak the words of my ancestors, the words that will seal the bonds that this man and this woman have created on this night." She listened carefully to the musical lilt of the foreign language Alexis spoke. From within, a feeling of warmth began to spread, filling and wrapping her in its comfort. Lindsay tightened his hold on her hands, and as he did, the warmth intensified; she closed her eyes in sweet surrender. Visions of his life came to her; the beautiful child he was, and of the mother who meant so much to him. She saw his first encounter with his brothers, and felt the slow progression of love he'd developed for each of them. She saw his first glimpse of her, and felt the startling reaction he had that fateful afternoon. The warmth within her became a pleasant burning that made her skin tingle. And it was then that she was given a hint of his thoughts as he looked at her. Their souls were tied, she learned from his thoughts, and would soon the bonds would become unbreakable. The warmth was his soul merging with hers and the memories that she was afforded only completed the process. Soon, the warmth began to fade, and her thoughts became her own. Faintly, she felt the cool band slide onto her finger and she smiled. Her thoughts were still focused on the warmth within her, but she was able to repeat Lindsay's actions and repeat the foreign words Alexis dictated. The second the ring had found its place on his finger, she'd been pulled out of her trance. As she blinked, she looked into Lindsay's smiling eyes. He was hers forever. "You may now kiss your wife." Lindsay paused for only a moment before he leaned down to place a chaste but passionate kiss on her lips. He ignored the applause from his family, as the second his lips touched her's, a small shock of electricity shot between them. He managed to control his reaction to keep everyone calm because he hadn't shocked her. Based on the wide-eyed expression she gave him, she'd realized that the shock came from her. "Congratulations!" Patricia exclaimed. She was quick to rush forward and embrace her daughter and new son. Her family had grown exponentially, allowing her the opportunity to mother the new members. "Thank you." As she was held in Patricia's embrace, she glanced at Lindsay's brothers. Her brothers. Her family. There wasn't much time to take in the newness of her life because everyone present wanted to offer their well wishes. Charisma gave her a warm hug before excusing herself to check on the reception dinner she'd catered. Raedyn went to help; she was still uncomfortable being around Lindsay and his brothers, even after weeks of knowing them. Alexis and Jameson pulled Patricia aside, as it had been centuries since they'd been around a human mother and loved her pleasantly outspoken nature. Liam chose to remain with the newly married couple. "So it's done," he murmured. "Only you could make a joyous occasion sound like getting a tooth pulled," Lindsay remarked. He grabbed hold of his wife's hand and kissed the palm. Though she blushed delightedly, she remained silent. "Whatever," Liam grumbled. "How is the building going?" Lindsay smiled excitedly as he said, "The top two floors are done. All that is left is renovating the bottom level." As a wedding gift to, he'd purchased a three level apartment complex, his plan being to renovate it to accommodate their merging lives. "Only a few more weeks before we can move in." Liam nodded slowly as he took a moment to look at his sister. Her attention was focused on the distance and he turned to look at what caught her eye. Euan, in avian form flew overhead, a silent declaration of his congratulations. He had not yet been able to discuss what happened that afternoon in the kitchen, and because of that, it was uncomfortable for him to be in a confined space with her. "He'll be fine. He's happy for you." Was Liam actually offering a word of encouragement? She tried to mask her surprise, but knew that she'd failed based on the short-tempered redhead's narrowed gaze of warning. To calm him, she took a step forward and placed a small kiss on his cheek. "Thank-" "Son of a bitch," Liam grumbled. He pulled back quickly and rubbed the sting from his cheek. "Get that under control, will you?" Haunted Prey Ch. 17 "Now Liam dear, is that any way to talk to your sister on her wedding day?" Lindsay held in a laugh at the blush that took over Liam's face. Finally, a woman his grouch of a brother couldn't intimidate. "No ma'am," Liam murmured. Patricia nodded complacently before turning to her daughter. "Honey Bun, now that you're a married woman, I hope you'll learn there are some men who will stand by you unconditionally." "Yes, I see that now." She smiled at Lindsay appreciatively, letting the love she felt for him well within her. "And I am very happy that you included your sister." "It was the least I could do." Raedyn deserved a bit of excitement. The best route for that was to include the teenager in the ceremony. "It was still very sweet of you. Very sisterly." Patricia turned to Lindsay to ask, "I thought you had eleven brothers?" "Yes." "But only three are here." "Our brother Andrae lost his woman some months back," Liam answered, "The twins are with him during this time of grieving." "Please send him my condolences," Patricia offered. Lindsay nodded in acceptance before saying, "Actually, pretty much all of them are either out of town or out of the country for work. Couldn't get off." "Very unfortunate." "We'll plan a larger reception for the fifth anniversary," Jameson announced from across the bow, "Everyone will be here." He smiled when Alexis rolled his eyes heavenward and slapped his brother on the back affectionately. "Patricia, we need to talk drapes." Lindsay shook his head in disbelief as he said, "Jameson is a little too serious about decorating the house." "He just wants to make his brother happy," Patricia defended. "Dinner's ready," Raedyn announced. She watched as everyone save Lindsay rushed below deck to partake in the dining festivities. She was grateful for the moment alone with her new husband, and sighed contentedly when he pulled her into his arms. Beneath the stars, she was safe and she was loved. For this moment, everything she'd done and everything she'd gone through was worth the pain she'd been forced to endure. He was hers, and she was his. Forever. * * * * * Lindsay was up and out of bed the moment he realized that he was alone. Panic gripped him for a split second as memories of another disappearing act came to him. It was completely illogical for him to think that the past would repeat itself, but as he rushed out of the bedroom, pulling on a pair of slacks on the way, logic was the last thing on his mind. The lights weren't on, which meant that she'd navigated through the dark house on her own. He didn't like that due to the fact that they'd only been in their new home for three nights. She could have easily crashed into something or tumbled down the stairs... He grumbled as he shuffled through the dark house. Then he cursed Jameson and his overzealous decorating when he stubbed his toe on a large ceramic vase near the staircase. If he was able to crash in to something like that, there was no telling what she could have gotten herself into. "Baby?" he called. When there was no answer, he bounded down the stairs, and did not stop until he reached the landing. It was then that he saw the faint glow that came from the red light mounted above the back door. She was on the main level of the building. She was safe. Lindsay still rushed downstairs, uncaring of the fact that he probably scared the life out of her. When he found her, he smiled; wrapped in only a thin bed sheet, she sat quietly in front of the piano he had moved from the studio on Jones Street. Her eyes were closed and she looked to be sleeping, but her left hand slowly moved over the ivory keys of the instrument. Lindsay quietly walked forward to take a place beside her on the piano bench. "I don't know how you manage to sneak up on any demons, loud as you are." He smiled at the comment as he placed his hands on the keys to slowly play the C Major scale. "What are you doing down here?" "Just thinking," she sighed. She leaned into him, inhaling the rich scent that always tugged at her. Simply being near him still affected her to her core, and she was sure she would still want him on her death bed. Her second one, anyway. "So much has changed." "You say that as if it's a bad thing." "Not at all. But did you ever think that we'd be here, in our new house, married?" She turned to face him and felt the smile take over her face at the tender look in his eyes. It was obvious that he had thought of those things and had wanted them. "After everything that's happened between us?" While he understood her hesitation, Lindsay couldn't comprehend why she couldn't put their past behind them. "We wouldn't be where we are now if those things hadn't happened." "I get that, but don't you wish anything could have been done differently?" He thought back to the night of his choice, and for a moment, a ball of pain formed in his stomach. He'd known that he'd made the right choice, but that hadn't stopped him from wondering how his life would have been had he chose differently. Would he have married? Lindsay liked to think that he would have; the thought of seeing her with anyone else would have driven him mad with rage and jealousy. And just imagining someone else's hand on her body, the body he'd touched and tasted... "I'm happy with the way things turned out. Stop dwelling on the past." She said nothing as she looked down on the rings on her finger. Such small pieces of jewelry, but such incredible meaning. It was everything she ever wanted, but there was a pang of regret; someone had to die for her to get what she wanted. While she didn't quite care for the soul that had been sent to the afterlife, it was still a soul that cared deeply for Lindsay, a soul he'd loved. "It's an adjustment." "Not as big as the one you made today." "All I did was change my name, Lindsay." "You didn't have to." "It was only right that after everything, I have the name that best represents who I am now. I doesn't matter how long I waited; I would have always changed it. It was the right thing to do." He couldn't argue with that. Instead, he stopped playing the scale to gently run his fingers through her hair. He watched as she began to play experimental notes. She wasn't particularly serious about what she was doing as her head was still on his shoulder. He didn't care; he would never grow tired of the sensation of her skin pressed against his. She didn't pull away as she whispered, "I love you, Lindsay Royce." With a light kiss on her forehead, he replied, "I love you, Alauria Jaedyn Royce." He blinked in surprise as she began to play in her awkward position, knowing that she had to be uncomfortable. But she refused to pull away, and the observation created a rush of arrogance to shoot through him. Yes, he'd made the right choice when he and his brothers fought to save her life. "I thought you said that the abilities would have faded away." Lindsay almost laughed at the memory of her furious gaze when she'd accidentally electrocuted the chicken she'd prepared for dinner. The magnitude of the unintentional bolt shot the chicken clear across the room before it landed on the floor, a blackened and charred mess. She had to order a pizza. "In theory, you shouldn't have them anymore, but Alexis thinks that since Raife's pre-Prygorian abilities were tied to a human soul, and she died first..." "So now that I can do what people do around me, I'm extra special." Another wonderful adjustment to her life. "You always were." Alauria smiled as she straightened her posture. The happiness within her prompted her to play a familiar tune, one that was very significant to the moment she shared with her husband. The man who bought a three story building so that her new piano studio could rest on the first level. The man who'd gone as far as to call every single one of her students to announce the new location of their classes and schedule lessons for her. Lindsay recognized the piece and smiled as he remembered standing outside of her old piano studio. Just as the first night, he was swept away by the music. Every note and chord pulled him into her world and the spell she wove around him. He remembered the first night he stood outside her window and the intense feelings of longing and desperation washed over him. Tonight, as he sat beside her, he was content and renewed. He looked at the woman beside him, the love his life. His wife. Never again would they have to worry for her safety. Never again would they have to endure the consequences of his decisions. Never again would he fail her. They only had the future to look forward to. He was no longer haunted. She was no longer prey. __________________________________ And that concludes this installment of the series! It's been quite a ride and I thoroughly enjoyed making you guys hate me. Thank you so much for your comments and support. I'll be back with installment IV soon.