2 comments/  6854 views/  2 favorites

From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 00

By: JoeBarnosky



The Amazon

Three Weeks Ago

WARRANT OFFICE KATIE MATTHEWS SITS PERCHED high in a durian tree overlooking the hidden installation. Below, the remainder of her team slithers through the jungle floor's undergrowth.

The installation itself is covered almost completely, looking like the jungle is attempting to retake the land from those that built the facility. Matthews peers through her scope at the building, ignoring the drops of sweat that continue to pour down her face. The facility appears to be empty despite what Intelligence claimed.

"Matthews?" her commander's voice comes over her earpiece.

"Go ahead Nash," she answers in a near whisper.

"Approaching just underneath you."

"Copy that," she says not dropping her eye from scope. "So far you are in the clear. I'm not picking up any movement or sentries."

"Hang tight and watch our backs."

Matthews draws back to scan the line Nash and the others plan to take into the facility. When she is certain it's still clear she whips back up the line to the facility and scans left to right for the sixth time and still wondering why there is lack of any activity.

PETTY OFFICER JARED BRIDGES SLIDES UP next to his commander as he lays at the edge of the tree line. "What's up with this?" he whispers to Nash.

"I don't know, but Intel said it was overflowing with soldiers," Nash says shaking his head. "It could be they know we're here and they plan to ambush us."

"You really think that's it?" Bridges asks as he looks over his shoulder at the last member of the team, Jasper Mason.

"No, not really," Nash answers.

"Oh."

"You and Mason cut to the south three hundred yards then east to come up over there," he says pointing to the base of a large tree across the clearing.

"Roger," Bridges says with a nod. He turns and signals for Mason to follow.

As the two members snake through the overgrowth Nash switches frequencies over to Matthews. "Keep an eye out for an ambush," he says then pauses for a moment giving Matthews an opportunity to respond.

"Do you think it's an ambush?"

"No, but I do believe in being prepared," he answers sternly. "And Matthews?"

"Sir?"

"If it gets too crazy here, you get out."

"Excuse me sir?"

"You heard me," he says sounding a little irritated."You get out of here."

"You know I'm not leaving the team behind," she protests.

Anger rises in Nash's voice. "You will get the fuck out and that's an order." Without another word he switches back over to their regular frequency. "Bridges, Mason, let me know when you've reached your goal. We'll strike together. Matthews be ready."

Each member gave their confirmation. He knows if Matthews wished to argue the matter she'd wait until after the mission was over. Nash was fairly certain the mission would go without a hitch, but there is something nagging at the back of his mind and it is enough to slither in and cast just a little doubt.

He pushes aside the thoughts and crawls out on his belly into the open grass toward a large fallen tree. The tree itself looks like something large had slammed into it and forced it over until the tree ripped leaving a torn stump in the ground. He sits up, pressing his back against the stump and looks around ensuring that there isn't any movement. Once he is satisfied that there isn't, he runs a check on his weapons and equipment.

After two minutes go by Bridges and Mason report in followed a moment later by Matthews confirming her readiness. Nash can hear the concern and frustration behind her voice, but he ignores it. He would deal with her lecture later.

"Alright," he says into his mic. "Use what cover you can. Advance in quickly and make sure you don't get pinned down. Leave yourselves a way out. If we have to retreat we'll meet at Rendezvous Point Alpha and wait for two hours then break to Point Beta. After that boys and girls you'll be on your own on getting out of here." Confirmation came over Nash's com. He gives a nod in Matthews' direction and says, "Lock and load."

As Nash steps out from behind the stump Mason and Bridges appear from the tree line. And nothing happens. Nash waves the other two men forward. "Do you see anything Matthews?" he asks into the mic.

"Nothing," she answers.

The three men shuffle from cover to cover over the expanse of grass until they reach the front doors. Matthews continues to scan not only the facility but the tree line but doesn't detect any movement other than the wind.

"Keep on guard," Nash orders everyone.

The jungle is filled with the noises of animals and wind; the same noises the team has listened to for the last two days. Nash hold up his hand in a fist then opens it up. Bridges and Mason separate running in opposite directions. After a five meter sprint both men drop to one knee and bring their carbines to bear on the single door.

Nash takes one more look around. "Keep those eyes open Matthews. I'm going for the door."

A click over the earpiece confirms Matthews is ready. He steps forward cautiously waiting for an ambush to happen. When he reaches the door unhindered, he lets out a small sigh. So far, so good.

Nash sticks his hand out for the handle slowly. Sweat pours down his face threatening to sting his eyes. His hand shakes just a little so he takes a deep breath to steady his nerves. By the time his hand collapses onto the handle the shaking is almost gone.

Before he can turn the handle, the door begins to vibrate causing Nash to quickly release it and stutter back. The door blows off its hinges and slams into Nash. He flies out with the door with a grunt through the air, landing hard on the ground with the door rolling off and away.

He struggles to get up and bring his carbine around when he notices he is missing almost his entire left arm. "Lieutenant!" Mason screams as Bridges opens up on the over seven foot tall man creature standing in the doorway.

Creature is the only thing either man can describe it as. It looks like a half man half creature with golden skin and no hair. Its arms end in a pair of hideous claws. For all the looks of being human ends with the rippling muscles and skin as it sits on a pair of powerful legs. The creature opens its mouth to let out a horrific scream the forces the men to drop their carbines and reach up to cover their ears.

Matthews, high up in the durian tree swallows hard at the sight. She aims for the creature's heart and fires. The bullet doesn't reach its intended mark and is instead deflected by the creature's massive clawed hand. She is quick to reload and switches her target to its head, but just before she fires the creature intensifies it shriek. The sound blasts her eardrums and she fires off target, nearly dropping the Sako TRG-42 sniper rifle.

When the creature stops the wail Bridges is the first to drop and pickup his carbine. He unleashes a torrent of rounds until the clip runs dry. The bullets pound the scales and bounce harmlessly off while the ones that rip into its flesh are easily absorbed and the wounds healed.

Mason follows suit and opens up on the creature while Bridges reloads. The creature just stands at the entrance to the facility looking out over at the two men uselessly attacking.

"Go!" Bridges yells as Mason's carbine dies out. "Get Nash the fuck out of here!"

Mason nods, not bothering to argue and runs over to Nash's side. The creature follows his movement and shifts its weight as if to attack. The movement doesn't go unnoticed and Bridges takes off running at the creature. "Come get me mother fucker!" he yells while unleashing on it.

The creature, Kazubeil, spins and leaps just barely missing a .338 Lapua Magnum round aimed for it head. The bullet strikes the wall behind it punching a sleek hole into the wall. Kazubeil lands in front of Bridges, startling him enough so that he falls backward onto the ground. The action helps him avoid running full force into the creature.

He is quick to overcome the unexpected maneuver as he raises his carbine up. Kazubeil swipes the gun aside gripping the soldier at the wrist. Bridges struggles to fight against the enormity of the creature, but is forced to the ground by a heavy foot on his chest.

The air is instantly knocked from his lungs and darkness almost overtakes him. The weight is taken off his chest, warding off the darkness and allowing him to take in a breath. The cause is a round from Matthews' rifle as it tears into the creature's head. The bullet explodes out the opposite side of it head, but instead of the creature dropping to the ground it wavers slightly then straightens up.

The weight of it foot settles back down on Bridges holding him steady. The man, not being able to move against such force only stares straight up as the wound slowly repairs itself.

"What the fuck are you?" he questions.

Kazubeil glares down at him showing no expression. Its toothy mouth opens up to let out another screech but it is interrupted when the bottom half of it jaw is blown off by Matthews. Then Kazubeil rears back in anger and pain.

Bridges decides to take the opportunity to try and escape, but the creature is all too aware of his agenda. Quickly the Kazubeil steps back down pinning the small man to the ground. Its hand clamps together, pinching off Bridges' hand.

"Aaahhh—"

Bridges' cries are muffled by the creature as it drives its foot through the small man's chest and through his back. His bones snap loudly and crunch. His rib cage bows inward past its breaking point and his spine offers no resistance.

Mason turns at the tree line to see the last moment of Bridges life being snuffed out. He drops Nash to the ground and tries to whip around with the carbine, but Nash quickly pulls the arm down with him.

"No," Nash tells the man. Mason looks at him confused. "Give it to me and you get yours and Matthews' asses the fuck out of here."

"I ain't leaving you Commander," Mason says defiantly.

"The hell you ain't. That's a fucking order." Nash grabs the carbine and yanks. Mason refuses to give over the weapon, but Nash shoots him a pleading look and he lets go. "No you two get the fuck out of here and report back."

"It's an honor sir," Mason says. He turns and runs before Nash can have the chance to reply.

Nash gets up and leans against a tree. Kazubeil hasn't moved from its spot as it seems to have enjoyed watching the life fade from Bridges' body. Now that it didn't have a moving, struggling person under its feet it was turning its attention elsewhere. Toward Nash.

"That's right asshole. Come to daddy, bitch."

Nash opens up on Kazubeil until the carbine is spent. He throws it aside and draws out his knife just as the creature reaches him. Its clawed hand grabs him by the neck and lifts him high into the air. Nash claws at the hands with his only hand, fruitlessly.

Blood drips steadily from the creature's broken mouth as low raspy breaths emit from deep within its throat. Nash's ragged breaths almost match Kazubeil's as he struggles to breathe against the tight stain on his throat. The creature just looks at the man like a bird would, bobbing its head back and forth.

Then it stops bobbing its head and looks straight into Nash's eyes and without moving an inch the creature's clawed hand squeezes, severing Nash's head from his body.

From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 01



Washington D.C.

A KNOCK RAPS ON THE DOOR bringing Spencer out of a troubled sleep. He blinks open his eyes a couple times but refuses to usher his body up from the sofa. The knock comes again and he lets out a sigh before forcing himself to sit up.

"Reeds!" a voice comes from the other side of the door. "Damn it Reeds I know you're in there. Now get off your fucking ass and open this door."

He recognizes the voice. It belongs to his boss, Mike Grines. "Alright already!" he yells back. Spencer pushes himself from the sofa and walks steadily to the door.

Grines continues to beat on the door until Spencer finally opens it. "Reeds," he says upon seeing Spencer. "You look like total shit."

"Yeah," he answers as he turns around leaving his boss at the door. Grines grins and walks in closing the door behind him. By the time Grines reaches the living room Spencer is already back on the sofa. The place looks like no one has lived in it.

"Please have a seat," Spencer says offering up a chair off to the side of the sofa.

Grines nods and takes his seat. He looks at Spencer for a moment. "I actually figured this place would be a mess or even more you a mess," he comments.

Spencer reaches up to scratch his four day old beard. "Yeah I have been meaning to shave."

"I mean this place is clean, immaculate even."

"I'm dealing with Sam's death in my own way boss, but I don't see a reason to destroy the place in the process," Spencer snaps.

"Hey I couldn't agree with you more," Grines says waving his hands in the air.

"Then what can I do for you?" Spencer asks, clearly not in the mood for a visit from his boss or anyone else. "My leave isn't up already."

"No, but I am here to call you back sooner than I promised," he answers with a frown. "We are all at a loss with Sam gone, but the world out there hasn't stopped and to be honest you are the best we have."

"Don't you realize I know it hasn't stopped," Spencer says raising his voice slightly higher for the first time. "Put me out there so we can end this."

"I can't so long as you aim to only seek out those responsible for Sam's death," Grines warns. It is the same conversation he had with Spencer a month ago and what led to Grines putting him on leave.

"Like I said before I will end this. Those who are behind everything happening are those behind her murder," Spencer argues. "It's this way or I won't be coming back and I will do it on my own."

Grines' face locks tightly. "I just as soon will let you do that as I would to hand you over to the Black List." Spencer's face lights up slightly and Grines continues before he has a chance to say anything. "But, you will do it my way and you will do it right."

"I suppose I have no other choice," he remarks.

"No you do not."

"When do we start?"

"I have you on a flight to New York tomorrow morning," Grines answers.

"What's in New York?"

"A Detective Veris of the NYPD."

"Angela Veris?" Spencer questions as his attention picks up.

"Yes. She contacted the FBI about a case she has been working on and when Natalya, as we suspect, caused a fight in the streets. The information was sent straight to Director Todd Nichols and then over to us. I figured with you knowing Miss Veris I'd send you."

Spencer stands up to walk behind the sofa where the two rare swords, Kotetsu and Kogarasu Maru, belonging to Sam and Julie respectively sit. He runs his finger across the sword in deep thought. He had not seen Angela since college. They had plans to join the FBI together, but when her mother died she stayed to help out her father and eventually joined the police force herself.

Spencer had since lost contact with her and hadn't really thought about her until now. He scratches his beard once again lost in thought until Grines clears his throat loudly. Spencer looks at the man as he stands up. "You can find your way out right?"

Grines nods and starts for the door. "I won't disappoint you boss," Spencer says just before Grines walks out the door.

"That's not what I'm afraid of," he says back but his words falls on deaf ears. He knows Spencer will get the job done, but he just hopes it isn't a bloody mess when it's over.



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 02



New York City

SPENCER ENTERS THE POLICE PRECINCT AND the place is utter chaos. He had been in the many precincts in Washington D.C. while he was with the FBI but it was never like this. People were handcuffed to whatever piece of furniture could not be lifted and moved and the crowd of people looking for someone to talk to made it hard to maneuver through himself.

After much struggling to get through the crowd and find directions, Spencer made it to the fourth floor. Here the atmosphere was settled down a bit and not as chaotic. He stands at the top of the stairs overlooking the room hoping to spot Angela with no luck.

"Can I help you?" a young, attractive female detective asks.

Spencer was slightly unnerved at not seeing the woman approach. "Yes," he answers with a friendly smile. "I'm looking for Captain Terrigian."

"He's right through that door there," she says pointing to a glass office set in the back of the large room.

Spencer gives her a nod and he smiles looking him up and down as he heads off toward the office. Spencer maneuvers past desks and people and into the office where a large burly man sat behind a very large oak desk. The man has a full beard and large cigar hanging from his mouth.

"Can I help you?" he asks gruffly looking up from a pile of papers sitting on his desk.

"I'm Special Agent Sp—"

"Ah yes, Reeds," the man says interrupting Spencer. "I was wondering when you were going to get here. Take a seat son."

"I don't have much information to go on sir, but—"

"I know, I know," he laughs heartily as he places the cigar down into the astray. "Secret stuff that no one wants to share. It's amazing we get any cases solved. Anyway, I could give you everything I know, but I have dozens of cases coming across my desk I only wish I could keep track of every detail. Your best bet is to talk with Detective Veris herself."

"That sounds good," Spencer says. "And I'd love to get started."

"As I am sure you would son." Terrigian looks at Spencer sternly. "I remember you Reeds. You have a history with Angela."

"Excuse me," Spencer says a little confused and surprised at the same time.

"You grew up with her all the way through college. I was her father's partner before I got the captain's position, shortly before his death."

Spencer's face reddens slightly. "I apologize, but I never paid much attention to people back then," he explains.

Terrigian laughs heartily again. "No I suppose not. You two were so crazy for each other I'm surprised you two could even make it out of the bedroom." He laughs harder at the idea that it even causes a similar reaction from Spencer.

"Yes, we did have some fun times."

"It's unfortunate about her father though. Not just his dying but if he were alive you two would probably be married now and both working for the FBI."

"It is amazing how things take a turn when you least expected it," Spencer says with an almost resigned tone. If only things wouldn't go certain ways things would be different.

"Well hell son, enough of living in the past. My detective needs some help and these bastards need to be brought down so I won't be wasting anymore of your time." The captain shuffles around his desk for a pen and piece of paper and scribbled something down before handing it to Spencer. "Here's the address to where you'll find Angela. Another murder so she'll probably still be there."

SPENCER TAKES A CAB TO THE address on the paper. Due to the extent of the crime scene he has to be dropped off a block away and walk the remainder. He shows his credentials and was let through the barrier and directed toward the crime scene.

Spencer doesn't see any reason for the police to cordon as much of the street as they have. He ignores the thoughts and proceeds to the house where another police officer is standing. Once Spencer reaches the top of the stairs the officer holds up his hand. "I need to see some identification," he says with a commanding tone.

"Seems like a lot of security," Spencer remarks as he hands over his identification to the man.

"It is, but with highly place people being killed its necessary," the man answers gruffly. He hands back Spencer identification then says, "I presume you're looking for Detective Veris."

"How did you know?"

"She's the lead investigator on these cases," the man answers. "Otherwise I don't see why else you're here."

"Well then I guess I need to get started as well."

"She's probably still with the victim."

Spencer nods and steps past the man. Instantly the smell of death hits him when he passes into the house. His hand reflexively goes to his nose as he scans the place. Blood covers almost ever spot on the walls, floors and furniture.

He stands there for a moment attempting to take it all in when unexpectantly he hears his name. "Reeds?" the voice, a woman's says. "Is it really you?"

He brings his attention around to the woman and instantly recognizes her. "Angela," he says with a smile.

"It's been a long time," she says as she strips off her gloves.

"Yes, it has."

Angela wraps him in a hug which is returned by Spencer. They embrace for a moment then she breaks away. "So the FBI sent you. I assume since we have history."

"Well not quite the FBI, but yes I was given the opportunity because if that," he explains. "My boss figured we'd get the case solved faster because of that."

Angela gives him a warm smile. "Not quite the FBI huh?"

"I guess you can say I've moved up in the world and out of the FBI."

"I doubt that means the CIA so I'm willing to bet it's that secret organization of CATU," she says with a smile.

"I can confirm nor deny that," he says smiling back.

"Honestly I don't want to know. But I do wonder why they would send such a top notch agent like you here."

Spencer laughs slightly. "Top notch?"

"Oh come on Spencer," she says dismissively. "I followed your career as best as I could until getting any information about you through any of the channels became impossible. You were top of your class and Special Agent for the FBI in no time."

"So you were stalking me," he states with a large grin.

"I guess you could call it that. I did miss you for awhile when you left for D.C."

"Well I honestly didn't think I would ever see you again."

"And you had no excuse not to or pick up the phone at least," she says almost sourly.

"I'm sorry," he says.

"What for?"

"Well for not doing anything," he explains. In his mind he searches for an answer to the confusion.

"I'm not worried about it Spencer. I was just busting your balls."

"So what you said—"

"Was the truth," she interrupts. "Look I understand that you got involved with your new career and I'm sure it took up a lot of your time and was exciting. The same thing happened with me after my father died. I decided to follow in his shoes and it changed my life and helped with the pain of losing him."

"Have you found anyone special?" he asks abruptly changing the subject.

Angela's face turns red for a moment. "I've had a few relationships."

"Anything serious?"

"One but, what's with the twenty questions?" she asks curiously.

"I just want to know about what has happened with you all these years," he answers. In the back of his mind he wants to really talk about Sam and let Angela know how special she was and how lonely he now feels.

"Well, we've got plenty of time for that later," she says not hinting at any real annoyance in her voice. "Maybe later when we wrap things up we can go grab some coffee of something."

"Yeah, there is an investigation going on," he comments. Angela nods. "So then brief me in on what's going on."

"Then follow me," Angela says then she turns around and heads to the back of the house. "And watch your step it's a mess in here."

"A mess doesn't begin to describe any of this."

"This yes," she says. "What you are about to see, no."

Spencer follows Angela further into the house and into a back bedroom. What he sees, nobody could have prepared him for it. The room is completely bathed in red, from what he can only guess is blood.

"We set up this walkway," Angela says pointing to a collapsible metal walkway attached to a small set of steps. "The carpet is completely soaked in blood."

"Where are the bodies?" Spencer asks as he looks around the room.

"CSU has already been here, collected evidence and took what is left of them out."

"Why are you still here?"

"I'm a cop Spencer, it's what I do."

"What's the other reason?" he asks staring at her until his eyes bored into her.

Angela bites her lower lip in indecision of how much she wants to share with him. "Remember when we were kids and I got these strange feelings where something bad took place?"

"Yeah, we thought you had some kind of psychic ability," he answers.

"Well whatever it was or is it never really went away. Here recently with these brutal murders I can come here once everyone has left and I get a feeling, almost an impression you can say, but I don't exactly know what it is. It's like some kind of evil was here and it's the same at every scene."

Spencer suppresses the shock he has. When they were kids he had the same feelings except Angela couldn't see the things he could. He kept it to himself but treated her no different. "I feel the same presence as you do," he admits.

Angela's eyes go big as she says, "You do?"

"I have since we were kids too, but for me I see things you never did. I have an ability called Second Sight that allows me to do so," he explains.

"You can just feel it?"

"Yeah," he says. "I felt it the moment I walked in. Why is it different for you?"

"Yes," she says. "I have to concentrate more than when I was a kid, but I can recognize the feeling if I have sensed it before. I like to be here alone when I do because I don't want anyone else to know about it."

"I can understand why you'd want to," Spencer says sympathizing with her.

Angela punches him in the arm suddenly and quickly. "Why the fuck did you keep that away from me?"

"I don't know," he answers just as quickly. "I didn't think you'd believe me."

"How the hell could I not have? It's not like it was that different than what I experienced."

"At least I didn't make fun of you," he throws back looking serious.

Angela glares at him for a moment before breaking a smile. "No at least you didn't do that. I couldn't forgive you if you did."

Spencer smiles back. "So are you going to feel me in on what's going on?"

Angela's smile quickly fades as her face takes on a more serious tone. "So far we have had murders of what seemed at first to be high ranking officials like Police Commissioner Dalton or Judge Reynolds. But then Chief of Detectives Gomerez and Captain Stenson of the Eleventh Precinct was killed we knew something was going on."

"This doesn't look like the blood of one person," Spencer observes.

"It's not," Angela answers with a look of gloom on her face. "This, like every other scene except one, is from every one of the family members."

"What?"

"All the victims were linked in some way to each other. Why their families were killed with them are beyond any logic I came up with."

"Do you at least have an idea?"

"The Sanguine Consortium," she says evenly.

"The same organization your father spent all his time going after?"

"The same one and he could never take it down."

"And now with all these important people being murdered, you think they are the reason for that," Spencer speculates.

"It's the same killer and method. If not for the link between the victims I would guess it was random and someone else."

"If it's a consortium then who's door do we go busting down?" Spencer questions.

"I wish it was that simple," Angela says frowning. "That's why my father had such a hard time nailing those bastards. There isn't anything concrete saying Here we are! Come get us!"

"So how then do we prove it?"

"I don't know, but we're over our heads and with that fight in the streets, I knew we needed some help."

"If she is who we suspect she is then it's a good thing you did."

"I take it you've run into her before," Angela says.

"More times than I care to have," Spencer says with a shake of his head.

"I think I need to take you to meet someone," she says after a moment of silence.

"Who?"

"He's an old guy that runs a store over in the Bronx. He's kind of a collector in things old and what not. He has given me some insight about my gift. He may know something more about yours." She grabs his arms for balance as she steps down from the metal walkway. "With you here we'll nail these bastards."

*



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 03



Château d'espoir

Singapore

ALARMS SUDDENLY CUT ON BLARING LOUDLY throughout the large estate. Martin Sternigan, head of the Black List, is out of bed and on his feet in seconds. A moment later his door is thrown open.

"Mater Sternigan!" the woman shouts. "We're under attack!"

"By whom?" he asks calmly as he begins dressing.

"Not sure yet sir, but the uniforms suggest it's the Black Dragon."

"Natalya, you bitch," he says under his breath.

"And sir, there's more."

"As there usually is," Sternigan says sarcastically. "Go on," he says a moment later when the woman looks at him with a puzzled look on her face.

"They have some kind of weapon with them."

Sternigan looks at her noting the serious tone she used. "Something we haven't seen before?" he asks.

Before words can even leave her lips the building shudders. The floor shakes threatening to force them both to their knees. The sounds of gunfire erupt a second later.

"They're past our first line of defense," she states. "Sir, we need to get you out of here."

"I'm not going anywhere," he says. He walks over to the dresser and slides out the bottom drawer. The female agent looks to see what he is doing and cannot see anything but a piece of black glass with a digital keypad.

Sternigan taps in a code quickly as if he had practiced it many, many times before. The buttons change from red to green and the keypad disappears. The black fades to reveal clear glass and a case full of weapons. He quickly opens the glass and pulls out a Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle and extra clips. "Are you ready Agent Rendon?"

"Yes sir," she says with conviction. She pulls out a .45mm pistol and steps back into the hall. The moment she steps out a large hand grabs her head, clamping down so hard it crushes and squeezes her head like pulp from a grape. The above human sized creature then slings her to the side and steps into the frame of the doorway.

The creature is green with spiky scales and large clawed hands. It looks almost human except for its height, very slender waist, large muscles and lizard like features. Sternigan isn't at all frightened by its appearance and he takes a stance and begins to unload on it.

The creature instantly steps back and raises it arms up to block the bullets. The bullets are deflected easily and are sent flying off into the surrounding hallway walls. Once Sternigan's assault rifle empties the creature throws down its arms. It steps forward into a pouncing stance.

Sternigan remains calm as he steadily drops out the old clip and inserts another. The creature grabs each side of the doorway and lunges forward, tearing huge chunks of the frame with it. Sternigan takes up a defensive stance and waits until the last possible second then dives under the bulk of the slender thing. He rolls up to his feet and dives out the room just as a grenade erupts. He lands on his stomach and waits for the flames to rush over him then back into the room before he jumps to his feet. He runs down the hall without looking back to see if the creature is destroyed or following him.

*

CHÂTEAU D'ESPOIR IS NEARLY A SHELL of a building and many of its wings burn or completely destroyed. Bodies of both Black List and Black Dragon are strewn everywhere where the majority of the bodies belong to the Black List.

More of the new and strange creatures walk precariously through the ruble and ash, searching for anyone that may still be alive. A squad of soldiers, led by Natalya Rhinheart, stomp over debris as they infiltrate the main portion of the manor.

Natalya snickers to herself at the weak defense offered by the Black List. "And to think Rolan, that these people have defended the human world from demons. They obviously have grown lax over the years."

"Yes Mistress," Rolan says respectfully. "Your superior force, of course, is no match for anyone if they can't stop it."

She stops to regard the man that has become her human lover. "You're right Rolan," she says smiling. "And soon not even Tancheres will be able to stop me."

"Mistress," a Black Dragon soldier says kneeling before Natalya.

"Report," she says with a wicked sneer.

"The manor has been searched. We have not found Sternigan, however, he was here. Recovered data from one of our Chimeras shows Sternigan just before he destroyed it."

"How can he have escaped?" Natalya says with fury in her voice. The whole point of attacking the château was to kill Sternigan.

"We believe he may be hiding in the library Mistress."

"Then why are you not bringing him here to me dead?"

"We are having trouble getting into the vault Mistress," the soldier says with a shaky voice.

Natalya growls in annoyance then turns to Rolan. "Lieutenant, would you please take your squad down there and force your way in?"

"Consider it done Mistress," he says with a large smile. He waves his squad forward and they race past the Succubus.

"And Rolan?"

He stops dead in his tracks while the squad continues inside. "Yes Mistress?"

"Bring me the human out alive if possible and find me the book I require." He nods and turns around following his men inside. Natalya shifts her gaze back to the reporting soldier. "Prepare a defensive perimeter. The police will soon be on their way and I do not wish to be interrupted before we are through here."

"As you order Mistress," the soldier says. Without further notice he is up on his feet running past her, whistling for attention from the other Black Dragon members.

"You've got nowhere to run Sternigan," she says to herself.

*

THE CHÂTEAU D'ESPOIR'S VAULTED LIBRARY IS now running on emergency backup generators. Whether the power was cut by the attacking soldiers or from the initial explosions, Sternigan isn't sure. But as long as the generators held out, which they could for several years due to the one hundred and fifty ton tank of hydrogen gas tanks built underneath, the vault is virtually impenetrable from the outside.

"Just go Master Sternigan," Lewis pleads. "The vault door isn't going to hold against them and I can give you the time you need."

A loud clang echoes through the massive door reinforcing Lewis' plea. The clang comes again and again, each time louder than before. Sternigan looks up from the wounded man toward the door. He knows Lewis is right and for all precautions he had taken when he built Château d'espoir he had never expected it to come to this.

Lewis looks at the dilemma on Sternigan's face and he feels more concern for him than himself. Sternigan had taken him in under his wing at a young age and began training him personally. Now it was his chance to give back to the man.

"Get out of her Master Sternigan," he says again. "I'm not going to make it anyhow and you are the leader."

Sternigan looks back to the young man and sees the reasoning as it leaves a bad taste in his mouth but he nods anyway. "I'm sorry it has come to this," he says solemnly.



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 04



ANGELA LED SPENCER DOWN INTO THE Bronx. As they traveled deeper into the borough Spencer cringed at the deterioration the further and further they traveled.

"Something the matter?" she asks when seeing his discomfort.

"I don't remember it being this bad out here," he says gloomy.

"Because it wasn't," she explains. "It's been at its steady decline until the last few years when the Consortium took on its new leadership. After that things have taken a big change."

"New York doesn't look like it's been affected," he remarks sounding skeptical.

"That's because it's too big to see the change right now, but it's coming and something big is coming Spencer," she says with a grim tone.

"Who is this new leader?" he asks changing the subject back.

"That's the problem," Angela sighs. "No one knows and no one is talking. We have no leads and no information."

"So what do we have to go on then?"

"Not a lot, but with you here maybe that will change," she answers with a warm smile. "We're here."

Spencer shifts his gaze from Angela out the window to a small rundown looking shop wedged between two other shops. It looks like if someone wasn't looking hard for it they would never find it. In the large window hang antique looking items, none particularly alluring.

"Doesn't look like business is booming," Spencer remarks dryly.

"Honestly, I don't think he sell much of the antique stuff," Angela informs him. "He is more into the other stuff that people come to him for."

"So it's more like a front for him."

"You can say that," she answers as they exit the car.

"And how exactly did you find this guy?" he asks.

"I didn't find him, he found me," Angela says to him as she passes. She gives him a don't ask look as she reaches for the door.

Spencer shrugs, but pushes the question to the back of his mind for another time and follows her in. The shop looks like a junk yard. Shelves line the walls and fill up almost every available inch of floor space and they themselves are filled with junk that Spencer can only guess is the antique part of the store. In the back of the unwell lit store sits an old man with a very bald head and very white Fu Manchu.

"Jianyu!" Angela shouts, suddenly breaking the silence.

The old man looks up as if for the first time, but Spencer somehow knows the old man already knew who they were.

"Ah, Angela my child," Jianyu says with a rusty voice. "How have you been?"

"I've been well," she answers with a warm smile. Before the old man can say anything more Angela wraps him in a hug which he kindly returns. Spencer, not sure what to do, just hangs back and leans against a rack with his arms crossed across his chest waiting.

After a moment the embrace is broken and Jianyu says, "I see you have brought a friend."

"Yes, this is Spencer. He—"

"I know who he is," Jianyu interrupts.

"You do?" Spencer and Angela ask simultaneously.

The old man laughs then answers in his rusty voice. "Of course I do. How else do you think I know so much about so much?"

Spencer looks to Angela and she returns a smile to him. "I told you he may know something."

"Come, come," the old man says waving them to follow him further back into the store. "Come sit, have tea, we have much to discuss."

"What about your store?" Spencer asks looking back toward the entrance. He isn't quite comfortable with being in unfamiliar territory or leaving his back unguarded.

"No worries, no worries," the old man chuckles. "No one comes."

Spencer doesn't move as he looks back to the entrance again. "Come on Spence," Angela urges. "I've never seen anyone come here whenever I've been here."

He sighs. "Alright, but I really dislike surprises."

"Don't we all?" she remarks as she grabs his hand.

They follow Jianyu into an even smaller room piled high with boxes. In the center sits a small wooden table with four wooden chairs and a tea set. The old man is already sitting at the table by the time Spencer and Angela enter the tiny room.

"Please have a seat. Drink some tea with me. We have much to talk about."

Spencer looks to Angela once again and she only has a smile to offer him, but this time he can see a hint of concern behind her eyes. He takes his eyes off of her and scans the room quickly before helping her to a chair before taking his own. When no one jumps out at them he visibly relaxes slightly.

"Yes, yes," the old man mutters. "Hot tea soothes the soul. And a troubled soul you have young man," he says looking to Spencer.

Spencer gives him a hard look which quickly softens when he sees Angela's reaction out of the corner of his eye. "My soul is just fine," he says.

"Is that right?" the old man asks.

Spencer continues to stare at the man trying hard to not stare as hard as he wanted to until finally he says, "What does it matter?"

"It matters a lot. Anger has its uses so long as you know how to channel that anger otherwise it can blind you."

"I know where my focus lies," Spencer bites back.

"Do you?"

"Yes," he answers through gritted teeth.

"With whom then?" the old man asks after taking a sip of tea.

Spencer drops his gaze to his untouched cup. His plays his finger across the rim as his mind plays with the thought. He took revenge on Julie Branon, the one responsible for Sam's death and their unborn child. But who was ultimately responsible?

"The answer is elusive," the old man says. "As it has been for a long long time."

Spencer looks up for the cup to the old man. He breaks away for a second to look to Angela as she has her gaze locked with the old man. When he looks back he says, "Care to elaborate?"

Jianyu chuckles again and takes another sip of his tea. "I am quite old and have been on this planet for a very long time, much longer than I can say I really care to have been. As I am sure you have heard of the Esper and Magi?"

Spencer nods his head and Angela looks to him with a questioning look. "My boss," he says, "as it turns out was a Magi."

"Rather a descendent," Jianyu says. "Those like him are descendents born with the knowledge passed on from generation to generation, but not of the history. Those with Second Sight are descendents of the Espers. Those like you Spencer Reeds."

"So what does that mean to me?" he asks.

"Nothing really except that you have an exceptional gift that can be used to save this world from something that was caused by something entirely not of your fault."

"Jianyu," Angela interrupts. "We need help with what is happening now."

He looks at her with a kind look and places his hand on top of hers. "Patience my child, I am getting to that, everything come around full circle which is what brought you here together here."

Angela opens her mouth to say something in response then just as quickly closes it. Jianyu just smiles and looks back to Spencer.

"Many, many millennia ago we Esper and Magi were practically one race divided by only the color of our skin and our knowledge of science and keeping of knowledge. We were spread out across the universe inhabiting many worlds amongst many other cultures and races until we the Esper made a breakthrough in our science and developed leap in our own genetic code. We jumped into it. It was a chance to improve ourselves into something greater. At first it was marvelous and for any race to make such an improvement on itself is something special. But then something went terribly wrong. Those that volunteered for the genetic encoding changed into something evil and became the Asura.

We worked hard to eradicate our mistake. Many races lost their lives in the process and many worlds were destroyed. The Asura proved in the end to be too powerful for even us and all we were able to do was isolate them to the planets they were on and warn the civilizations we associated ourselves with. Now we ourselves were a race of few and outcasts. We created monsters that destroyed and killed millions, so we decided to isolate ourselves away from the rest of the universe. We fled to Mars, which was a lush and beautiful planet like Earth, and this planet.

We lived for many years peacefully trying to forget the mistakes we had made and became known as the Atlanteans. But here on Earth we found another enemy. Not our enemy, but the human's enemy, the demon race. We felt an obligation to help as a way to vindicate our past action. The tide was turned against the demons Vectivus, the Demon Lord leading them, was losing and almost in complete defeat. Then suddenly when everything was thought to be won it all changed. Our people on Mars suddenly disappeared. Our connection to them was severed and when we attempted to establish a doorway to the world our greatest fears came to life.

The first to have volunteered for our research and oldest of us all, Tancheres, stepped through the portal. We were devastated and were barely able to expel him from the city. We couldn't destroy him, though we tried and if he had an army we would have never survived. To our greatest fear, his expulsion of the city was a mistake. Within months all our hard work was lost and the fight was brought to our door step with both the Demon Lord Vectivus and Tancheres leading the fight.

Our city was destroyed and lost along with many of our people and knowledge. Those of us that escaped hid and survived and went on to influence other cultures even create some like the Egyptians, Mayans and Aztecs."

Jianyu goes silent as he pours another cup full of tea. Spencer and Angela sit back in their chairs trying to take what they just heard all in. Spencer himself was both skeptical but believing at the same time.

"So what you are saying is that the demon threat is really nothing?" Spencer asks unconvinced.

The old man grunts a soft chuckle. "Not at all my dear boy. They are a threat as they have always been, but a far greater threat than them lies in wait. The demon race has always been against each other, only controlled when a single Demon Lord arose, but even then it was defeated by an outside force or from the inside out. The Asura have always had rules in place and a common goal."

"Then why haven't they taken over?" Angela questions.

Jianyu looks up at the young woman and smiles. "Always observant and a good question too. The Asura have two things going against them which is of course good for us: they are few in number, as Tancheres has only been able to bring few here and they have consorted with the demons to aid them."

"If the Asura come from you then they aren't demons," Spencer says suddenly as the thought springs to mind.

Jianyu quickly shifts his gaze to him. "That's incorrect," he says with a heightened voice. "I wasn't part of the initial planning of our genetic experiments, but was rather brought in later. Where the genetic coding came from was never revealed to me, but I later found out many years ago that it came from the demon race."

"Just how old are you?" Angela asks.

The old man's lips shift to a sly smile. "Too old. I gave up keeping track long ago."

"But how?"

"Through a similar process we used when creating the Asura. Though we destroyed the research some of us decided it was imperative to keep it and use it."

"So how many are there of you?" Spencer asks.

"Only me," the old man answers solemnly. "All our history and secrets resides in me and only me. The rest have been hunted down throughout the ages."

"This is all crazy," Spencer says standing up, shaking his head. "You're deep in something you'll not be able to get out of if you stay Angela," he says with a bit of a warning.

"I ain't going anywhere Spencer," she answers defiantly.

"Besides," Jianyu says, "she is more important than you realize as is another."

Both Spencer and Angela draw blank looks and look toward the old man. "Excuse me?" Angela says.

"Yeah can we not start going into riddles?"

A smile begins to form on Jianyu's face then quickly fades. "We no longer have time. You must leave now if you hope to save this world."

"What? What going on?" Angela asks.

Spencer pulls out his gun and is already heading for the door when he feels the old man's hand wrap around his arm. "Please, this way. You have no chance to survive right now."

Spencer stops and looks at the frail old man. "I doubt you'll have better luck."

"Luck has never really been on my people side now has it or has it?" he says with another chuckle. "Do not worry about me young man. My future is insignificant in comparison to the race of mankind, besides I have lived far longer than I was intended to live."

Spencer stares at the old man for a moment taking in his warm, heartfelt smile before finally putting away his gun. "I hope you know what you are doing."

"I haven't lived this long not knowing," he answers.

"I still have questions," Spencer says.

"As humans always do," the old man says with a wink. "The young, blind woman that sought me out will seek you out when the time is right. She will have the answers you seek."

"Blind woman?" Spencer says. His mind races around the thought of the assassin Tsyr Ker. "Do you mean—"

"Go now there isn't much time for you to escape," Jianyu ushers Spencer toward Angela.

Spencer does as commanded even though he wants to fight the urge to stay or grab the old man and take him with them. He runs across the small room toward Angela and follows her into a hidden doorway behind a bookcase. Once inside, the door closes behind shutting them off from the room and leaving them in a long hallway with very little lighting.

"Come on," Angela urges as she begins running in the opposite direction.

A minute later Angela and Spencer are bathed in light several blocks away from the small antique shop and out of danger. "Give me a minute, I'll get some back up over here," she says to Spencer as she produces a cell phone from her pocket.

*

HELLO JIANYU. IT HAS BEEN A long time since we have crossed paths has it not?"

"It has been many years Delgrious, but I no longer keep track of such petty things as time."

"Yes, when you do have forever to live, time does get boring to worry about."

"Why are you here?"

"You do not wonder how I found you?"

"I do not care, but if you are here to kill me, then do so."

"I will kill you," Delgrious says with a smirk. "All in due time. But first I want a little information."

"I'm sorry," Jianyu says, "but I'm just a frail old man that runs an antique shop. I'm not sure I can provide you with much information."

Anger flares in Delgrious' eyes and he instantly transforms into his true form. His roar fills the entire girth of the store like a blast of air, shaking the shelves and their contents. Delgrious covers the distance between him and the old man in a blink of the eye and quickly lifts the frail old man up by his throat.

I am not here to play your game old man. I am here for information.

"Good luck," Jianyu says with a gasp, "trying to get some."

Delgrious squeezes harder forcing the old man to claw at the demon's hand. I want to know how to acquire the power of the Shakti.

He holds his grip for a few more seconds before slacking it to allow Jianyu some air. The old man takes in a couple full gulps before answering. "Only those with the knowledge of how it is done and the artifact of doing can do it."

I don't want riddles! Delgrious slings the frail body across the room into a shelf. Jianyu slams into the shelf and it collapses onto itself and onto him. The Greater Demon motions to his men toward the old man and they rush over to drag Jianyu from the wreckage. I'll only ask once more nicely old man. How do I acquire the power of the Shakti?

Jianyu look up as best as he can. The large burly men on either side holding up his arms offer him no help in lifting his head at all. "I thought all you demons had good hearing," he says with a chuckle. "I'm really not into repeating myself and besides even if I had the answer I surely would not reveal it to the like of you."

Very well then old man, have it your way. Delgrious looks to both the men and they tighten their grip of Jianyu, pulling his body taut. The Greater Demon smiles and drives his hand into the old man's chest. His hand sinks deep until it wraps around his heart. If only you would have been more corporative I just may have let you live, but as it is...

Delgrious squeezes the old man's heart causing Jianyu's body to react violently to the sudden attack. He tries to cry out from the pain but seems to not be able to find the air to do so. Within moments the life fades from Jianyu's eyes as his lifeless body falls to the floor.

"It's too bad we didn't get what we came for," Delgrious says as he straightens his suit. "Let's go before the police show up and start asking a bunch of unnecessary questions that will only waste my time." 



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 05



The Amazon

Three Weeks Ago

THE RAIN HAS BEEN A CONSTANT over the last few days. Not having seen the sun shine through the constant downpour has caused the DEP Six members to lose track of time. They have been running and hiding nonstop without most of their equipment.

The creature that attacked them days ago had not stopped to rest nor has it grown tired. The rain hasn't slowed it nor has the mud or the jungle. Whatever wounds they did manage to inflict to it seem to not have any effect either unlike the ones Mason now carries. The danger is far from over but the two have found refuge in a small cave hidden by one of the Amazon's many majestic waterfalls.

Mason smiles at her just as she ties the last piece of the clothing from her shirt onto his arm. "What are you smiling at?" she asks trying hard not to smile back.

"You," he says.

"What about me?"

"You're so fucking beautiful, even with all this shit going on."

She sits back and lets a scowl settle on her face. "Is that all you can think of right now?" She doesn't dare hold back any of her anger.

"Whoa, hang on a sec," Mason replies waves his hands up and winces immediately afterward.

"Serves your stupid ass right."

He laughs for a second. "Thanks for saving my ass back there and fixing me up now. How the hell did you get me in here?"

"Believe me it wasn't easy," she answers looking herself over.

"Where are you hiding all those muscles?" Mason asks grabbing her legs to pull her into him.

"Wha—"

"How do you do it?" he asks as they come face to face. His breath close to her face is returned by her ragged on his.

"Do what?

"Not be scared."

"I find it hard that you are, Mr. Macho," she says smiling for the first time in many days.

"Oh I'm scared, you can believe that," he says in a voice that only confirms the words. "We've seen some shit, but whatever the fuck that is it's entirely something I'm seriously fucking scared shitless of."

"Well I would never have guessed that of you," Matthews admits.

"So, what's your answer?"

"I'm scared every time we leave for a mission Jasper, every time, and I'm scared shitless now. But when we get out of here, I'm going to shove my foot so far up Pierson's ass he won't know what to do with himself."

They both laugh and Mason pulls Matthews in close to him until his lips are close to her ear. Then he says in a low whisper, "Promise me if I don't make it out of here you avenge all of us: me, Bridges and Nash. All of us."

Matthews swallows hard. She wants to argue with him and tell him how he will make it out alive, that they both will, but he grabs her tight. "Say it," he says a little louder."

"I," she stammers. "I will."

"Good. Now kiss me."

They kiss passionately for a moment before Mason hastily removes what is left of her shirt and panties while she helps him out of his pants. By the time they finish both are breathing hard as Matthews lay back on her side onto the ground smiling back at Mason. She grasps his hard, black cock and begins stroking it up and down.

Mason returns the smile through gritted teeth from the pain in his broken ribs as he reaches her gorgeous, shapely and soft breasts. Her nipples are sticking straight out and extremely hard so he pinches them in between his index finger and thumb while massaging her breast with the rest of his hand. Her other breast is pushed against his chest and it feels soft and lush as he starts stroke the inside of her pussy with his finger.

"Mmmm. Yessss," she moans quietly as her hand goes down a little further to grasp his balls to give them a little squeeze before going back up to his cock. She then leans more over Mason, forcing him to move his hands from her and she kisses him. Half on Mason, she begins to move her left leg over to straddle him as she whispers in his ear, "I will avenge you."

Once she straddle Mason, she sits up on top of him with his hard, thick cock pressed down between him and her now sopping wet, smooth pussy. She begins sliding her pussy lips up and down the side of his shaft as he starts to push his hips upward, indicating that he so wants to be inside of her. She lifts her hips and his hard, black cock up and lines the head of it up with her pussy. Then she pushes down slowly on his hard thick cock. It slowly starts to fill her with her own juices working as great lubricant again.

"Oh, Katie," he says breathing hard as her pussy reaches the bottom of his cock. "Yes."

She starts to slowly move up and down his cock, riding him. Mason reaches up and grabs her breasts, massaging them and her nipples as she slowly starts to increase the speed in which she is going up and down. He pushes his hips upward to meet her motions.

"Yes, like that. Fill me with that thick black cock!" she moans as she leans back, putting her arms behind to brace herself while throwing her head back.

The direction that she moved gives Mason a great view of his cock pumping in and out of her wet pussy as she increases her momentum. Her pussy juices are leaking out, running down his hard cock. Watching her pussy move faster, up and down his cock is mesmerizing almost to the point he forgot where they were. He moves his hand to her pussy and starts to rub on her clit. This puts her over the edge as she begins to shudder and have an orgasm.

Her body shudders and her orgasm washes over her, pushing more of her juices to seep out her pussy and down his cock. He can feel her pussy contract around his cock which is pushing ever closer to the edge. Her walls grasp at his hard cock as it pumps in and out of her. Her orgasm subsides and she slows down a little bit but not for long and she is soon riding him hard and fast again.

"Uuunnnn," Mason moans as he fights to hold back.

Looking at her ride him is wonderful. Her gorgeous breasts jiggle up and down with her motions across her flawless stomach. He pushes his hips up with her motions to get his cock even deeper inside her and it puts him closer to the edge. He can feel his cock begin to thicken and his balls contact as he continues to push up into her.

Looking at his hard, black cock pushing into her pussy over and over again he breathes heavily until he can't hold it anymore. He pushes his cock hard up into her pussy as he begins to have spasms through his cock. Matthews can feel it coming and she sits down on him hard, pushing his cock deep inside of her as his spasms start pumping his hot cum into her pussy. Ripple after ripple overcome Mason as he continues to push more cum out of his cock and deep into her pussy.

"Mmmm," she purrs with her head back taking in the ripples of his cock pushing out his cum inside of her. She then slowly lifts herself off his now wet cock and lay down on top of him, pressing her warm sticky body against his own. She kisses him gently and then props her head up above Mason's with her hands and elbows on either side of my head looking down at him.

"We need to get some rest before tomorrow."

"Do you think we got a chance to get out of here?"

"I don't know Jasper, but I intend to give it a fucking try."



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 06



The Bronx

THE RESPONSE TO ANGELA'S CALL WAS faster than Spencer expected, but he also never expected a crime scene over a crime in process. By the time he and Angela got back to the store police tape was already up cutting the crowd from the scene.

"What happened?" Angela asked the coroner when they walked into the shop.

"Ah, Detective Veris," the coroner says. "From my initial examination it appears something was rammed through the poor fellas chest then contracted around the heart. Now, it may sound crazy but, I would say it was a hand."

"You'd be surprised at the things I've seen," Spencer remarks.

"Oh?" the coroner says. "Would you have some insight in this sir?"

"He's here from the FBI Robert, Special Cases," Angela steps in quickly.

"So you do," Robert remarks.

"May we see the body?" Spencer asks deflecting the nosey man's questioning.

"I suppose I have no choice in the matter."

"No not really," Spencer says giving the man a hard look.

Robert looks away as if he was remembering he had something else he had to do. "Well I have to get the truck ready and make sure my guys got everything before the body is moved anyway."

Once the coroner left, Angela elbowed Spencer. "You didn't have to be so mean; Robert's really a nice guy."

"If not nosey," he replies.

"Yeah well," she says. Her smile quickly turns into a frown when her attention turns back to the old man lying lifeless on the floor. She kneels down beside the body and places a hand on him. "Poor Jianyu." Just as quickly she rips away her hand.   "What is it?" Spencer asks quickly catching her from falling.

"It's him. It's the one I've been chasing this whole time."

"We'll find the bastard Angela. We'll find him."

Angela looks up at him grimly. "Then I hope you're ready for anything."

~

The Egyptian sun beating down hard wasn't helped any by the heat reflecting back off the sand. The only thing that saved Natalya Rhinheart from utter heat exhaustion was the large cloak she wore. She was beginning to convince herself of her ambitions as the reason for her taking on this assignment when her camel snorted bringing her attention back. She focused through the haze of the bright sun light toward the city. Her convoy was almost upon its gates and foolishly she had let her mind drift.

She berated herself as she passed through the massive stone gates. Instantly she was surrounded with a torrent of sights and smells of commerce and wealth and for a moment she couldn't believe the Black List thought there was anything suspicious happening here. She shook her head.

Of course that was the idea; to make it appear like there was nothing out of the ordinary. In the three thousand years since Alexandros established the Black List, they have grown quite keen of rooting out the demons no matter where they decide to operate and it was agents like her with ambition that made it possible to bring them down.

Natalya followed the convoy to an inn near the outer edge of the city's wall that served as a stable as well as a tavern. She grabbed her meager bag of supplies and let the convoy master take care of her camel. She wouldn't need it anymore or another until she was done with her mission and on her way from completing her mission. She immediately turned toward the tavern.

Once inside the establishment she dropped the hooded cloak from her head deciding it best to not stand out amongst the clientele currently visiting. She was impressed by the manner of patrons visiting the tavern. Like the merchants she had passed, they were all nicely dressed with very pricey looking clothing and expensive looking silks.

She strode past the barkeep and many of the people toward the back of the tavern to a more subtly darkened portion of the expansive room. The tavern was packed with patrons even the darkened portions of the place but she managed to find a table of reasonable privacy.

No sooner had she sat down was she joined by two incredibly beautiful women.

"You must be—"

"I am Talilith Maykov and this is my sister Dasha," the taller of the two said interrupting as they sat down. "You are late," she continued adding a hint of frustration to her voice.

It was true; she was over a day late. "There was a sand storm three days ago that kept us from continuing for a day."

"We had to go to extra lengths to still make it here undetected," the other woman said with a more serious tone. "This is a serious matter and we cannot afford to blow what's at stake."

Natalya looked at her hard. "I take what I do very seriously."

Talilith moved into her view. "Let's hope so."

*

NATALYA IS SITTING IN A HIGH backed chair facing a large open window overlooking the expansive city of Singapore. She wears a thin, silky and transparent robe more for the feeling it provides across her skin than anything else. The room is basked mostly in darkness except for the very few dim cast lights she set earlier on. She has just come out of her thought and swished her glass of wine when a soft knock came at the door.

"Proceed," she says loud enough for her voice to carry through the door to the other side. A moment later the door opens and Rolan steps through silently. He closes the door and without a word proceeds across the darkened room toward the Succubus. "Have a drink Rolan, you look like you can use one," she says once he comes within sight of her.

Rolan nods and deviates to the bar. He sets the book he is carrying on the counter and makes a drink. Natalya looks back out the window at the city below pretending to be oblivious to the man and the prize he has brought, inside though her heart is pounding in anticipation.

Rolan downs the drink and wipes the drizzle of liquid from his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt before setting the glass down and picking the book back up. "Both good news and bad," he says trying to keep the subtly of fear from his voice.

Natalya's face whips around to his neutral. "I know you do not have Sternigan."

Rolan physically relaxes slightly. "I apologize Mistress for my failure."

"You are only responsible as far for you own actions and the orders you give and pass on to your men. Besides, you brought the ultimate prize to me. If you hadn't, then you would have failed and your blood would be staining my carpet right now."

Rolan gulped hard. "I have a team on high alert looking for any signs of Sternigan, so we'll have him the moment he turns up."

"He won't be that stupid," she remarks. The Black List will keep him protected and they will regroup and access and do what they do. I have all the time in the world." She holds out her hand at the man. He relaxes a bit more and hands over large, ancient book.

Natalya leafs through the pages, smiling to herself in the process. "I'm sure if the old fool knew what I was truly after he would have made sure this book would have never been found. You did a remarkable job Rolan. Soon my plans will come to fruition and soon after all these millennia I will have what I have wanted."

"Yes Mistress," Rolan says with a smile of his own. "Will there be anything else you require?" he asks knowing of her eagerness at wanting to begin with her plans with the book.

"As a matter of fact there is," she says with a sly grin. "As much as I wish I could make use of this information the book provides I have to wait until circumstances prove right, so for now I must entertain myself and provide you with reward for your hard labors."

Natalya stands and lets the ancient book drop casually to the floor. She blows Rolan kiss with lips that pulsate with anticipation. Then she turns and walks seductively toward the bedroom dropping her translucent robe to the floor. Rolan gives her a few moments before following her in, taking the time to undress himself.

By the time he reaches the room Natalya is already propped up on the bed with her ass high in the air. Rolan can see the moist folds of her pussy glistening between her legs. Her pussy looks inviting and waiting, warm and delicious. His eyes trail across the folds of her delicate pussy and up her round ass as she pushes it up higher, as high as she can into the air.

His eyes follow a trail from the top of her ass down between two full and amazing cheeks to her magnificent asshole. The tiny hole looks tight and beautiful and slightly darker than the skin surrounding it.

Rolan walks in slowly, savoring the sight of her. When he reaches the bed he places his hands on her bare ass, one on each side and squeezes to stretch her ass apart. He watches as her pussy spreads gently, wet, deep within the folds. Natalya's asshole quivers as the skin around it slowly stretches.

Suddenly, Rolan drives his face down and buries it in her tight ass. His tongue plunges past his lips and meets stiff resistance at her clenched asshole. Natalya breathes deeply in and relaxes into the sheets as he continues burrowing deeper into her tiny asshole with his tongue. She moans and sighs in pleasure and ecstasy.

Rolan runs his alternates his tongue between licking the rim of her asshole and exploring deep inside it while his hands begin working the rest of her body. He begins with massaging her ass, caressing her smooth legs, then running his hands up and down her stomach and back. He reaches her breasts and begins to caress them when he finds Natalya's hands join his. Her fingers begin mingling with his just as he found her hard nipples.

Rolan then brings his hands back toward him and settles them on her soaking pussy and are now covered in silky moisture before he even inserts them. He gently runs his index finger of his right hand between her folds and grazes it across her clit. The action sends shivers through her body and he focuses the next few minutes of his attention on playing with her clit. As he does, she shakes and moans and begins rocking gently against his finger, which only increases the depth and quality of his continues ass tonguing.

Within moments Rolan is pushing his finger down into her tight pussy. He stands up, reluctantly retreating from her delicious ass. Natalya, with her sopping wet pussy wrapped around his finger continues to rock back and forth as he continued to prob. With his free hand, Rolan works his pants free, letting them fall to the floor, freeing his rock hard cock.

Rolan crawls onto the bed and hovers over Natalya's tight ass. She closes her eyes and reaches her hand between her legs and slides her fingers through her pussy. Rolan leans in and presses the head of his cock against her firm asshole. She gasps and grunts and her eyes shoot wide open.

His licking has well lubricated her ass, but it is still unbelievably tight. He pushes and the head of his cock barely pops through the tight opening to be strangled by her clenching tight asshole. As he continues to push, she lets a moan slip from her lips that only gets louder the further he advances. Natalya relaxes and her ass opens to swallow his cock, but the tightness doesn't stop; the inside of her ass is tight the entire way in. As her asshole grips and squeezes his shaft, so does the rest of her ass, enveloping it in tight, warm flesh.

Rolan pushes further until he finally hits bottom. His balls settle against the folds of her pussy as his cock is fully entrenched in her magnificent ass. Natalya lets out a long moan full of pleasurable intensity. Rolan can feel miniscule muscle twitches deep inside, each one serving to massage his cock. Tight winces of her asshole rock his entire body, building to a fantastic orgasm.

Rolan lurches back, however, sliding halfway out, eliciting a shocked moan from Natalya. At that point he forcing himself back in, slowly but steadily, feeling her ass tightening. He reaches deep again almost cumming, matching Natalya's grunts and moans.

After a few more thrusts Rolan is boiling and losing control. He pulls out slowly and carefully, savoring every millimeter of clenching ass along the way. Pulling out is driving Natalya crazy and both hands have shot up and are squeezing her ass together in a feeble attempt to keep him in her. When he exits, he holds his cock in his right hand and makes his way around in front of her. Natalya slouches onto the bed and is still holding her ass with both hands.

"Open your mouth," he commands, enjoying the chance to be dominant.

Natalya lifts her head and looks dazed. Her eyes meet his and her chin drops. Her mouth is open wide and her soft tongue sits on low inviting his cock to slide in. She stares directly at him with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. Rolan guides his cock onto her awaiting tongue and feels her lips gently wrap around his shaft. She looks so beautiful with her mouth wrapped around his cock. Her tongue moves back and along his shaft until it reaches the underside of his head and with a few strokes of his head at the base he feels cum rushing to climax.

He pushes a little deeper and throws his head back as the first wave of cum blasts out and fires against the back of her throat. He looks back down to see Natalya close her eyes as she swallows and he pumps again, gushing another load down her throat.

Rolan's cum begins to flood her mouth in repeated and powerful bursts. Natalya's cheeks fill and cum begins to seep out the corners of her mouth. He grips the hair behind her hair, holding her until his cock stopped pulsating with every drop of cum.

The bursts subside, giving way to the final ecstatic throes of climax where the last and thickest cum from deepest within his balls doesn't burst but rather oozes down his shaft and into Natalya's crowded mouth. She is still full of cum, so he starts thrusting gently, using his spent but still swollen cock as a plunger to push to push cum down her throat. His plunging pushes cum out of her mouth on all sides and down her chin.

After pulling his spent cock from her mouth Rolan collapses backward onto the bed. He lays there in ecstasy and pleasure. Natalya slides her hand up his leg until it reaches his cock and balls, arousing him in surprise. He is even further surprised to feel the unmistakable warmth of her tongue massaging his softening cock. He can hear little slurps as she pulls globs of cum that had slipped out from her mouth earlier. She nibbles and snacks on him for a few moments, cleaning cum and fluids from his entire package. Rolan's cock slowly hardens and Natalya begins to stroke it. A soft moan escapes from his mouth and she continues to stroke it with a little more vigor.

Natalya slid off the bed taking Rolan's hand in hers. She guided him over to the wall until her back bumped into the wall. They came together and their tongues twisted around one another and they stay locked in a passionate kiss for a few moments. As their tongues tease their hands squeeze and grope aggressively. Rolan tugs at Natalya's hair, cups and squeezes her ass and rubs her back. Natalya explores his skin as well, roughly squeezing his arms and back.

When she pulls away slightly to access his cock, his hands sweep to her front and cup her breasts and he kneads them hard. Natalya moans her approval and starts pumping his cock. She grips it tight and he is sure he would cum in her hands if she kept up for long. Grabbing her ass with both hands he lifts her off her feet and pushes her up against the wall and lines his cock up with her pussy. Still deeply lost in each other's mouths, Rolan presses his hips forward and his cock penetrates her pussy. The feeling is fantastic. Natalya's pussy is tight, but not restively so like her asshole. Her pussy is beyond warm, literally hot and he can feel her desire coursing through her as he slowly buries himself inside her.

He starts slowly thrusting, barely moving in or out and more simply rocking in her pussy. Natalya mimicked the motion on his cock as he licked her lips in the same clockwise rotation. Taking the opportunity, he bends his head down and buries his face in her breasts. Because his hands are stuck on holding her ass up, Natalya takes her breasts in her hands and guides each nipple into his mouth.

Natalya enjoyed nipple play, so Rolan spends a good deal of time licking and sucking, even gently biting, the whole time letting her enjoy the sensation of his cock buried as far inside her as he can muster. As he continues to suck he can hear her breath and moans change noticeably. She is building to climax so he decides to stand rigid and press his cock in as deep as he can, letting her dictate the pace and motion. Soon, Natalya finds a particular spot inside that sends shivers through her body each time it brushes against the tip of his cock.

She focuses her bouncing and rocking on this spot and as Rolan increases the intensity of his nipple sucking she begins to quake and shutter. Her moans turn into a solid cry and she bites into his shoulder to stifle the scream. He body shakes and she gives one hard hip thrust, planting herself as deep on his cock as she can and she cums. Her pussy clenches and releases repeatedly and she moans expletively into his ear. Finally she slackens and relaxes and still impaled on his cock they meet for another long kiss.

They aren't finished, however. Rolan is still rock hard and Natalya is still horny and willing. So Rolan lifts his right leg up and braces it on the ledge of the dresser. In doing so, he removes one hand holding Natalya's ass and uses it to further spread her legs. At this point she is pinned up against the wall with her right leg wrapped tight around his waist and her left leg held out wide by his right hand. Rolan's left hand wraps over her leg and holds her by the bottom, supporting her.

This new angle offers him unprecedented access to her pussy. Natalya is spread wider than ever. Slowly, he pulls his cock out to the tip and sinks it back in. Natalya moans and swears with lust. After a few slow insertions, he begins increasing the tempo and strength. Soon his thrusts are hard and violent as he pounds his cock deep into her pussy.

She shuts her eyes and opens her mouth, silently shouting as his cock punishes her pussy. Rolan fucks her as hard as he knows how, slamming into her and nearly cumming with each thrust. Natalya is relaxed and open, letting him violate her and still her pussy is agonizingly tight. Soon his balls ache. His final thrust is the strongest as his cum bursts out of his cock to soak her pussy. She moans with delight as she is filled. Cum begins sliding out of her pussy as he pumps the last of his load into her with long sigh before leaning into her and then slumping from exhaustion.



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 07



The Amazon

Three Weeks Ago

MASON WAKES TO THE SOUND OF cascading water from the waterfall. The small fire Matthews had going the previous night was long gone and a slight chill from the cave hangs in the air. He closes his eyes briefly taking in the sounds and the chill on his naked body wishing Matthews' warm body was still next to his.

"How does it look out there?" he asks upon hearing a slight shuffle from the cave's entrance.

"The rain has finally stopped," Matthews says silently. "No signs of movement for the past few hours that I have noticed."

"You think it, ugh," Mason says as he gets up to his elbow and the pain from his ribs send ripples through his chest.

"Are you alright?" she asks rushing from the cave's entrance.

"I'm fine," he says waving her off. "I just forgot about them."

"Well you better start remembering," she says pushing his hands aside as she helps him to his feet.

"So, like I was saying," he continues once he is standing. "You think that thing gave up looking for us?"

"I highly fucking doubt it," she answers giving Mason a smirk. "It's probably waiting for us somewhere out there."

"Do we have a plan?"

"Not really."

"Then I guess that means we make a run for it and hope we make it," he says with a sly smile.

"Makes it a bit more interesting that way. Maybe we'll even get lucky enough to come across the son of a bitch and destroy it before going home."

"Maybe," Mason says. He reaches around Matthews' waist and pulls her in for a kiss.

They kiss for a long moment and when they finally break away she says, "Get dressed. From what I figure we've got four klicks to the border and another three out of this God forsaken jungle. With your broke ribs and no trouble we may get out by midnight."

MATTHEWS AND MASON MOVED THROUGH THE dense jungle unmolested since leaving their hiding spot in the small cave behind the water fall. They are travelling light due to the fact that the majority of their equipment has been lost or damaged beyond use or just outright low.

Mason, even with his broken ribs, refused to allow Matthews to carry any of his gear. She could clearly see the toll it was taking on him, but she knew arguing with him would only injure his pride and create a rift between them neither needed at the moment.

The heat beat down on them with the intensity of the surface of the sun. The constant rain over the last few days only helped to intensify the effect of the humidity now. Their only saving grace is the fact was the jungle has plenty of water sources should they get thirsty and run out of water.

So far their travelling has been steady with the jungle full of sound. There hadn't been any signs of anything or anyone following them or tracking them, but neither refused to drop their guard. Then a couple hours after midday the regular jungle sounds suddenly ceased to exist.

"That can't be good," Mason whispers dropping his gear and raising his assault rifle up toward the tree tops.

"When is it ever?" Matthews says following suit. She grabs his attention and signals toward the roots of a tree to his left. Mason nods and grabs his gear heading for the roots while she repeats the process going in the opposite direction.

Within seconds both soldiers are well blended with the roots of the two massive trees. They slow their breathing down almost to the point they are barely taking in a breath every thirty seconds. As part of their training for various purposes they learned to control their breathing to the point of slowing it down to holding it for a minimum of ten minutes. Now was the time to see if that training would come to use as neither knew the extent of this new enemy's abilities.

The jungle falls into dead silence and the only sound come from the faint breeze travelling through the trees of the wind. For several long minutes the two soldiers sit in wait with nothing happening then suddenly branches and leaves flutter down from the treetops.

Mason clutches his carbine tighter and from across the way Matthews doesn't like the sight. Don't do anything stupid Jasper.

Seconds later, in the midst of the small clearing, the strange creature drops into a squat then rises to full height. It takes a few seconds to carefully scan the area as if looking for something out of place. Matthews knows that neither of them are completely hidden or able to stay that way forever, but she hopes it is long enough to fool this thing. Her view of Mason is now blocked, but from the anxious look of him she only hopes he hangs in there as well.

Kazubeil rotates fully around crunching the ground beneath it loudly as it steps seemingly not caring how much noise it generates. She is having a hard time reading just what this creature has planned when it turns its back to her and faces Mason. Instantly alarm bells go off in her head and she shifts to bring her own carbine to bear.

A mistake.

Kazubeil spins back around faster than her mind can comprehend. Its arm lashes out swiping through the massive tree's roots, splintering the wood into pieces revealing the lithe woman beneath. By the time Matthews has her carbine raised it is already too late. Kazubeil on one of its swings tears through it along with one of the roots, shredding the weapon in two pieces. She falls back onto her back and attempts to scoot back further as the creature looms over her.

"Back off you ugly mother fucker!" Mason yells just before he opens up with his carbine. Before the creature even has time to turn around Mason peppers its back with gunfire, sending pieces of flesh, blood and whatever pieces of scales in all directions.

From Matthews' view Kazubeil doesn't show any signs of fear or hurt, only anger. It whips around grabbing the carbine with one hand and throws a massive fist into Mason's chest with the other.

Matthews uses the distraction and jumps to her feet. She already has her knife in her hand and charging but before she gets within three steps the creature is already turning back around and lifting her by the throat high into the air. Matthews keeps a clear head though and uses her knife to stab at the strong flesh of the arm. Her efforts prove useless as Kazubeil's clawed hand slowly collapses onto her neck closing off the oxygen to her brain. Slowly her grip on the knife slackens and falls from her hand.

Blackness starts creeping from the corners of her eyes, her arms hang uselessly at her sides and just as she is about to lose all hope she feels the grip on her throat release and her body falling to the ground.

The creature roars in pain as it attempts to reach back with both hands, snapping at Mason who has managed to dig his knife deep into the neck of Kazubeil. Blood starts to seep out from the wound and down its back.

"Gotcha now, mother fucker!" Mason yells over the high pitched roar.

The creature shakes as it struggles, snapping its clawed hands. The movement proves too much for Mason and finally he is shook free. Prepared for such an event, Mason tucks and rolls, landing reasonably well a few feet away from Matthews. He gets to his knees and crawls quickly over to her. The creature still in a fit of rage struggles with the knife still embedded in its neck.

"Shit!" he says breathlessly. "Hey, are you alright?" he asks coming up beside her.

Matthews is shaking her head as she rubs her throat. "Fuck no. What the fuck happened?"

"I don't know," he answers. "I think it suspected we were there and it was counting on us making a move."

"And I did," she says mentally kicking herself.

"We ain't got time for that shit right now," Mason reminds her as he looks over his shoulder.

Matthews follows his gaze to the creature. It is still struggling with the knife, but has finally resigned itself to using a tree to dislodge the weapon.

"We need to cover some ground before it gets that knife free," Mason suggests.

"I can't agree with you more."

He grabs Matthews by the arm and yanks her up to her feet and shoves her forward. "Go, I'm right behind you."

No sooner have they started running has Kazubeil begun chasing them.



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 08



ITALIAN PRESIDENT AMATO LUDOVICO STEPS OUT of his home and gives his wife a kiss before walking down to the waiting car in the driveway.

He waves to the driver and walks down to the car and gets in. "Good morning Marco," he says.

"Yes it is sir," the driver replies.

""You're not Marco, my regular driver," the President says.

The man turns around, the doors locking as he does so. "Unfortunately for you, no I'm not."

The car explodes a moment later.

*

SPAIN'S PRIME MINISTER JOSÉ LUIS REYES wakes to the phone ringing a half hour before his alarm is set to go off. He groggily turns over in the bed and picks up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Is this Prime Minister Reyes?" the voice on the other end asks.

"Sí," he answers sounding slightly confused. "Who is this?"

No answer comes. Instead, the line goes dead. The Prime Minister hangs up the phone and feels a hand settle on his shoulder. "Who was that?"

"I don't know," he says to his wife.

Suddenly there is a load crash that startles both of them. Fear instantly has its grip on Reyes and he has the feeling the phone call in the sudden crash is connected. "Get to the children and call the police," he tells his wife.

But before either can get fully out of their bed the door to their bedroom is burst open and a trio of soldiers step through.

"Who are you?" he demands.

"Your executioners," one of them says raising his carbine.

The other two follow suit and all three open fire, spraying down the Prime Minister and his wife.

*

PORTUGAL'S PRESIDENT FERNANDO SANTOS Candido looks out the window of his office at the gardens of the buildings contempt with the beauty of the rising of the sun. Behind him the door to his office opens. "António, thank you for coming so quickly," he says not turning around.

António de Santana Soares, the Prime Minister of Portugal, closes the door quietly behind him and says, "It is not a problem Mr. President."

"Have you heard anything about President Ludovico this morning?" Candido asks with a frown forming on his face.

The Prime Minister stands next to the president to look out the window. "So far they have determined it was a car bombing. Do you have a fear sir?"

"The New World Regime has taken credit for the attack," Candido answers. "And yes I have reason to fear an attack António. NATO received a threat six months ago warning them of every country allied would become a target."

Shock and disbelief shadows Soares face for a moment before he lets his logic take over. "We receive threats everyday like many other nations and organizations. What can make you so certain just because of an attack on the Italian president?"

Candido turns to regard the Prime Minister. "Because the New World Regime is the ones that made the threat."

Soares is briefly at a loss for words. "What are we going to do about it?"

"The only thin—" The President suddenly goes silent and looks back out the window. "What's that?"

"Sir?"

He points out the window. "That."

Soares follows his finger, squinting though the sunlight to in an effort to see himself. I don't kn—holy mother of—"

His sentence is never finished. An RPG crashes through the window and upon contact erupts into a fireball annihilating the entire office.

*

THE SAVA BRIDGE SEEMED TO BE rather busy and congested this morning as Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Haramja looks out the window at the sun shining off the water of the Sava River below.

"Can you see what the holdup is up ahead?" she asks breaking her gaze away from the water.

"Not quite madam," the driver replies. "There does appear to be some men in uniform though. Maybe an accident or something?"

"Ugh. I certainly hope not," she says. "I have a busy day today and I certainly do not wish to have it start out late."

"No ma'am."

Prime Minister Haramja sits back with a frustrated sigh and begins drumming her fingers in the door rest when a group of four uniformed figures each carrying a MP5 appear suddenly a few cars ahead of her vehicle. "Well it looks like we may have some answers yet. Are those police officers?"

"It looks that way ma'am," the driver offers.

"Good," she says putting on a smile for the first time since they had entered onto the bridge and this fiasco had begun. "Roll down your window and have them make an escort for us."

The driver nods and begins doing so when suddenly the four figures stop short and raise the MP5s. Before the driver or Prime Minister have time to comprehend what is about to happen the four figure ravish the vehicle.

*

ANTON KOCBEK, PRIME MINISTER OF SLOVENIA, sits at his desk with his pants dropped to his ankles and his secretary sitting down between his legs. It is not the first time she has been in this position and certainly not the last either of them intend to be.

His secretary, Anja, takes her mouth off his cock for a moment and looks up at him. "Your wife was pretty adamant about coming this by this morning. Are you sure she won't be stopping by?"

"Yes, yes," he answers gruffly. "I made sure we wouldn't be interrupted."

Satisfied she gives his cock several slow, caressing strokes up and down with her hand. She wriggles to sit up, then takes the head of his gorged cock to her mouth. Her beautiful, soft lips part just slightly and she lets them press lightly onto the cum-dribbling head of Kocbek's cock. She purses her lips to kiss the cock, moving her head slightly so to smear his cum, onto her lips. She presses forward letting the rounded shape of the cock push her lips apart then she slides her tongue out to provide a soft, slippery path over her teeth. She ever so slowly and teasingly pushes her head forward so that her mouth, inch by inch, engulfs his cock.

Anton Kocbek moans in a lustful ecstasy at the feeling of Anja's head in his hands as he feels her wonderful and loving soft mouth sliding slowly up and down over his cock. He revels in the feeling of her tongue constantly moving and lapping over and around his raging cock as it penetrates right to the very entrance to her throat.

Then he cums, spurting directly down her throat. As he begins to withdraw, his continually spurts cum coating Anja's throat and then her mouth with the remaining cum. She gags and chokes on it. She is forced to stop though as he plunges it back down her gagging throat and fucks her mouth even more vigorously.

Without warning a knock comes at the door interrupting them. They both freeze. Prime Minister Kocbek let's out an almost silent shit when his secretary bites down a little too hard on his cock.

She pulls off and says, "I thought we weren't going to be interrupted."

"Hush," he commands looking down at her. Then he turns his attention to the door as he struggles to pull his pants up. "Who is it? I said I didn't want any interruptions this morning."

There isn't any answer.

Anja starts to get up, but Kocbek waves her down. "I don't play games," he says, this time with a little more force behind his voice. "I demand to know what is going on."

For an answer the door bursts open, nearly coming off its hinges. In the doorway stands a woman wearing a tight red dress and a MP7.

"Who the fuck are you?" the Prime Minister demands.

Errios smiles at him and says, "Your assassin."

She raises the gun and puts a single round in his head. Anton Kocbek falls back into his chair; the momentum carries the chair and him back until it bumps into the window. Beneath the desk Anja covers her mouth with both hands as she tries not to scream. Errios laughs to herself and walks from the room.



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 09



CATU Headquarters

THE CATU OFFICE IS A CHAOTIC mess as agents rush from desk to desk. By now every news station has picked up on the morning's events of the assassinations that have taken place and the New World Regime's proclamation of credit to those events.

Grines, CATU's director of operations, isn't too far shocked at the NWR's bold moves but in combination with the sudden reports of the Black List falling under a similar attack has brought an entire new level of shock.

"Alright, listen up," he says loudly grabbing the attention of the small conference room's occupants. "We have two new recruits as part of the STRT."

The team's current members Melissa Dupree and Jonathan Stone turn around in their seats to regard the other two sitting in the back of the room. The room's other two occupant's consisted of a large barrel-chested man with graying hair and beard and a smaller petite, but athletic woman with blonde hair. The two looked like an odd couple but both Dupree and Stone didn't really look like your average partners either.

"Stone. Dupree. Meet Sage Greyson and Raven Cassidy," he says motioning to the two agents. "Both are transferring over to us from the CIA. Special Agent Greyson before then spent fifteen years as a captain in the Navy SEALs and Special Agent Cassidy a detective for the Detroit Police Department for ten before joining the CIA."

"At least we have highly qualified recruits," Stone says with a curt nod.

"Yes," Dupree agrees. "It is nice to meet you two."

"Now I'm sure you all are just itching to get out in the field and crack some skulls with the New World Regime, but it's not going to happen. At least not right away."

"What do you mean?" Stone blurts. "That is our job ain't it?"

"Considering who is involved? Yes," he agrees. "But I got a call this morning from President McKinsey this morning shortly after the news reports starting pouring out and we've been ordered to lay low considering we're not supposed to even exist."

"You're kidding right?" Dupree shouts.

Grines smiles. "Hold your horses. I didn't say we're going to sit back and watch a bunch of goons run around killing innocent people while we sit back sipping martinis. You guys will be plenty busy with something just as important and if you just so happen to get involved then...well what can I say?"

In the back of the room Greyson leans closer to Cassidy. "Certainly not what I'm used to, a little lax and undisciplined."

"I'm sure there is a good explanation for it."

"Oh there is," Grines says, "but it was implemented long before I took over the position of director and I just never saw any reason to change it."

Greyson quickly sits straight up and half grunts half clears his throat. Cassidy says, "Excuse me us for being out of line there sir."

"No need for that. You'll quickly find out there are a lot of things different here. It's very disciplined but relaxed like a family. Now as much as I'd like to get us all better acquainted we have pressing matters. Like I said before when the President contacted me this morning giving me the order to back off the NWR it is because of a government program called Section 8."

"Sounds Top Secret," Cassidy says.

"Because it is. Surprisingly enough it is one of the few things even my predecessor Roger Cornelius couldn't obtain much information on. The program took over the DEP program when the CIA dropped it and created DEP Six. Whether it was part of the CIA or another organization or not is unknown. But that is where our information on it ends."

"Is McKinsey or Director Nichols giving us any other information?" Stone inquires.

Grines sits on the corner of the desk and folds his arms across his chest. The President sounded a little surprised about this Section 8 and the FBI is not even in the same boat as us."

"What do you mean?" Greyson asks.

"I mean they have never even heard of Section 8. I trust you've read up on the introductory packet I gave you last week so that we're all on the same page here."

Both Greyson and Cassidy nod in agreement. "Forward and backward sir," Greyson adds.

"Good," Grines says with a warm smile. Since we don't know much on this Section 8, I want to remedy that."

Dupree forms a large smile herself and says, "That means we're going to do a little snooping."

He turns to face her. "That's correct. I need you four to go after the New World Regime and if the opportunity arises, you and Stone investigate Section 8," Grines explains.

"Spying against our own government?" Greyson asks incredulously.

Grines pulls off the desk, his face hardening. "I didn't say it wasn't going to not get nasty. I don't like having to do it anymore than you, but there isn't any other way to get the information obtained and it comes as a direct order from the President himself. CATU is technically outside the borders and officially we don't exist so we don't really go through normal channels. You signed up knowing what lay ahead for you."

Greyson as big and menacing of a man as he is visibly shrinks back into his chair. Silence takes over filled only with the hushed tones of each person's slow rhythmic breathing until finally the big man breaks the silence. "I understand and apologize for—"

"There's no need. I understand the need for your patriotism. I understand several members of your family including you brother, father and grandfather have served in the military and have all been highly decorated, so patriotism runs deep in your veins."

"You can say that."

"Then put some trust in me," Grines says assuredly. "Believe me when I say I barely understood a thing Roger told me when I first came here. Oh, I believed every word he told me because he was one the most honest men you would ever meet, but I sure as hell didn't understand it."

"Then just what the fuck is going on?" Cassidy interrupts.

Grines looks at her and says, "A whole world of shit. I don't know what this Section 8 is all about or what its motives are but I want to find out. In the mean time I need you," he says turning to the other two agents, "Track down Errios but try your best to stay out of the spotlight of the media and Section 8. We'll let them stumble over themselves and then we'll pick up the pieces ourselves. If you get the chance follow Section 8's trail let Greyson and Cassidy continue with Errios."

"Shouldn't be too hard," Stone says. "Anything else?"

"Unless any of you have any other questions?" He looks to each agent in turn and when none give him a questioning look he says, "Everything is set for you. You're ready as soon as you leave this office."



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 10



Paris

France

JEAN-PIERRE VALOIS, FRANCE'S PRESIDENT, SITS in his Citroën C6 in the midst of a large parade as it travels down Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Against the wishes of his advisors he pushed for the impromptu parade to be put on as a showing to the people that France would not be put in fear over the recent terrorist attacks.

Like the other countries that received threats of attacks from the New World Regime, the French government received a similar threat and just like the other countries perceived that threat as just that, a threat. Now though, the country is on high alert, but French President Valois refuses to run and hide, but rather remain out in the open as a symbol to his people.

Of course he has the guarantee from the American government should anything take place, his safety was guaranteed. In effect he had become the bait and at the same time a hero and for Jean-Pierre Valois, nothing topped the chance to become a hero.

The roar of the crowd outside the windows does nothing more but excite him as he waves them on. When he took on the position of presidency he guaranteed them something grand and now it was finally his chance. He smiles to himself and continues to waves enthusiastically.

*

ERRIOS STANDS ATOP ONE OF THE highest buildings standing over Avenue des Champs-Élysées watching the line of the parade as it passes below. She is dressed in the still tight fitting red dress she wore earlier in the morning when she killed Prime Minister Kocbek.

Her team was already set up throughout the city long before the parade even started. Plans had been made and her team put in place the moment President Valois issued the parade. Errios smiles to herself.

Humans are so easy to manipulate.

*

THREE HOURS EARLIER

President Valois looks up from his desk, his hands shaking. Fear and uncertainty was vastly spread across his face and so was shock.

"Who the fuck are you?" he asks with a thick accent. "How did you get in here?"

He begins to reach for a small button located under his desk that would alert his security detail just outside the door, but stop suddenly when the woman that was standing in front of him disappears and reappears behind him and catches his hand, forcibly.

She whispers softly in his ear, "That is something I wouldn't do if I were you."

"Wha? How?"

She chuckles softly. "You humans, always scared of the unknown and yet so curious at the same time."

"You're here to kill me," he states gaining a little bit of confidence in his voice. He fights hard against the shaking of his hands and his body until the demon forces him into his chair.

She rips out the button from the desk and walks around to the front of it before turning around to regard the man. "I can kill you if you would prefer, but I have another use for you."

"What do you need with me?" he stammers out.

"Your cooperation," she coos.

"I don't even know who you are. I can't help you unless I even know that," he answers looks noticeably around the room.

"Oh please Mr. President," Errios says. "If you are going to try and find a way to escape or get help at least make it not seem so obvious. Clearly you're not a very cunning man."

"Uh."

"I didn't think so. Maybe I have chosen the wrong person." She flexes her right hand and her fingernails slowly extent into long, sharp nails and starts moving toward him.

"Or maybe I am," he offers quickly.

"Really?" She stops and looks to the ceiling and taps a fingernail to her chin. "How does France feel about helping the New World Regime?"

Valois' chin drops. He goes speechless completely forgetting his fear. "I refuse to help you. I will not go down as a traitor to my country but a hero," he says standing up revealing a 9mm handgun.

Errios laughs. "What do you plan to do with that little human?"

Valois' grin changes into a frown. "That's right. Go ahead and shoot me. By the time your brain decides to fire a second shot I will have you heart in my hand and the first bullet will only feel like a scratch to me."

"You're bluffing," he says.

In a flash the demon closes the distance and presses herself up against Valois. The gun pulled from his hand. "Am I? You said you want to be a hero, then you can be a hero."

"How?" he asks now feeling a little intrigued against his better judgment.

"Contact the person in this information," she produces a flash card and places it on the desk, "and tell them you have information of a possible attack on a special parade you are holding this morning. Tell them what you have to about where it came from but do not tell them the truth."

"A parade? How can I get one set up that fast?"

"You're the president, you can figure it out," she says with a smile.

"I think I can arrange something," he assures her.

"Where will the parade end?"

"Place de la Concorde. I'll set it up along the same route as the Bastille Day Military Parade."

"Excellent," she says smiling.

"What guarantee do I have that I'll live through all this?" he asks taking in a deep gulp of air.

"I can only guarantee as long as you get out when the fighting starts you won't be killed. If you give me what I want now, I won't come back to kill you."

"What do you mean?"

Errios' hand slips down to grip his cock through his pants. With her free hand she pushes him back down into the chair. Before Valois has the time to object the demon has his pants unzipped and pulled down to his knees and his cock fully exposed.   Within seconds the man's cock hardens as she locks her eyes with his. Then she lowers her head slowly toward his hard cock. She purses her lips together and slowly runs them over the head of his cock, taking it into her mouth briefly and then letting it slip out. She stretches her tongue out and with the tip of it she strokes the tiny hole of his cock. With her right hand, she begins to give it long soft strokes up and down from the base all the way to the top of the head.

She extends her tongue once more to run it along the bottom of his mushroom head and flicks it across gently, spending much time there licking and stroking this particular spot.

A low moan slowly escapes the Presidents lips.

Holding his cock toward herself, she turns her head to the side and begins to run her tongue down the length of his hard shaft. She repeats the strokes quickly and lightly then moves to slower and heavier strokes.

She begins to use her free hand, alternating strokes of her tongue with strokes of her hand for continuous stimulation into eventually using both hands with long deliberate strokes down his hard cock, one hand after the other.

She lowers her head and softly licks his balls before raising her head and suddenly plunging down over his cock all the way down his shaft and down her throat.

Almost gagging, she manages swallows it all the way into her mouth, holding her head still as she deep-throats the man. After a few seconds she releases her mouth's grip on the rock hard cock, sliding her head all the way back up its length.

She then begins to push her lips over it in short strokes, just the tip at first, up and down, before taking the whole of his cock head into her mouth then she releases it. She does it over and over, faster and faster, each time moving a little further down the hard shaft.

She smiles to herself as she hears him begin to moan again and she lightly strokes her fingertips around the base of his cock and over his balls. His hands wrap around her head, grasping her hair firmly, pressing her head against him as he thrust his hips forward into her waiting mouth.

Errios senses his body stiffening and she can feel the throb of blood coursing through his hard cock. The taste of his cum is beginning to build on her tongue and she knows at any moment his load would unload into her mouth.

A second later his cum blasts into her mouth in a hot torrent and she expertly pumps her head around the tip of his cock as each spurt shoots into her eager mouth until every drop of cum is empties from his balls.

Valois throws his head back against the chair and gasps. Errios stands and licks her lips, running her tongue slowly across her lips. "Do we have an agreement?"

"Yes," he pants. "There won't be a problem on my end."

"Good, Mr. Valois there had better not be."

"And I will be safe from harm right?"

His question falls in silence. He lowers head to see and empty office. "Ce qui la baise?" he asks himself. "What the fuck?"

Quickly he pulls up and pants and gets to work.

ERRIOS' ATTENTION IS BROUGHT BACK TO the present by unusual movement from the alley. She looks in the direction of it and sees nothing, but stares anywhere. After nearly a minute it moves again. Only a shadow within the shadow but she knows it is exactly what they have been waiting to see.

Her hand moves to the microphone at her ear. "Get ready," she says to the rest of her team, "they're here."

*

PRESIDENT JEAN-PIERRE VALOIS' CITROËN C6 pulls to a halt at Place de la Concorde. He sits in the car while his armed guard ensures the crowd is at a safe distance and there isn't a danger to him from the surrounding area. Within two minutes time he is given the signal and he exits the vehicle.

Immediately he is hit with cheers from the crowd. He hears many of the people call out his name and he waves and smiles at many of them individually as if he knows them personally.

"Sir, we must get moving," one of his security detail tells him.

"Yes, yes," he huffs.

He follows the man to the podium that has been set up on a decent sized stage. Chairs have already been set up and occupying those seats are France's Prime Minister and other ministers. Valois shakes the hands of each minister ending with the Prime Minister then he turns toward the podium and faces the crowd gathered before him.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he says with a thick accent. "The world has been plagued with threats of terrorism for much of it history in many forms and once again has struck in this region of the world." He pauses to let his words settle on the minds of the people. "I set up this parade and celebration on such short notice to show the world that we are not a people that will live in such fear!"

Valois raises his hands as fists into the air bringing out cheers from the crowd. Behind him claps from the ministers erupt along with a few murmurs. Murmurs he is certain he will be able to hush afterward one way or another.

"Beginning today France will make a stand against this tyranny and help shove a boot up the ass of every—"

An explosion rocks the crowd sending it into a panic. Shouts turn into screams and quickly celebration is turned into chaos. Valois turns around with a face full of fright when a hand wraps around his upper arm to see the man that escorted him to the podium. The man begins to open his mouth to speak when suddenly it is blown off sending chunks of flesh and blood all over the French President. He almost screams in fright but is stopped when the Prime Minister tackles him to the ground.

"We must get you out of here Mr. President."

"I-I couldn't agree with you more," Valois answers stumbling for words.

As he struggles to his feet a roar rips through the crowd stealing his attention and that of the Prime Minister. They both turn toward the sound to see a portion of the crowd launched into the air by an explosion.

"Oh fuck," Valois says. "What the fuck am I going to do now Léon?"

"We'll make do with the situation sir and stick it to these cunt fucks just like you just promised the people," the man answers confidently. It seems to be enough to reassure the President. He nods his head and rises to his feet. "Now let's get the fuck out of here while we still can."

"What about the rest of them?" Valois asks gesturing to the unconscious governmental ministers.

The Prime Minister gives him a look of regret and says, "I wish not to leave them but we need to get you to safety first above them an—"

"You're correct," Valois says quickly cutting him off. "My safety is of the utmost concern at this moment."

*

ERRIOS WATCHES AS PRESIDENT VALOIS MOVES off the stage making note as to which direction he rushed off to.

Coward.

Right now he is the least of her concerns. She licks her lips, smiling at the site of all the chaos and death on the street below. The ground lay littered with the bodies of worthless humans; men, women and children. Bloodied and broken. Exquisite.

Her soldiers. Her New World Regime Soldiers filtered into the remains now slowly snuffing out any remains of those useless life forms still alive.

But where is the cavalry? No matter. I still have a job to do.

She leaps down from the van she sat perched atop of and withdraws the ancient sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. She calmly stalks off toward the stage where the unconscious ministers lay.

She slowly creeps up the steps savoring the moment in anticipation. As she crests the top of the platform she licks her lips once more when she finds her first victim not more than two feet in front of her.

Errios gracefully swings around Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi in a low arc and down through the man's back into his heart and into the platform swiftly ending his life. Blood splashes a bit onto her face and she uses a finger to wipe a bit of it away and onto her tongue.

"Delightful," she remarks to herself.

Errios stands and slowly takes delight in meticulously killing the next five ministers. As she deals a killing blow to the Minister of Defence the last of the ministers regains consciousness in time to witness the brutal assault. In full panic, he tries to shuffle his body from the stage and quickly grabs the demon's attention.

"Going somewhere little man?" she asks sinisterly.

"I-I-I," he stammers as he shuffles backward not once unlocking his eyes from hers.

"It's a shame so many of you got away," Errios says with a mocking tone. "I just suppose I will have to hunt you down one at a time then."

"The only hunting that will be done will be by me," a voice says from behind her.

"Now who do we have here?" Errios says still starring at the cowering human. "Not some kind of hero to save the day is it?"

"Things have a way of coming around, much like history repeating itself," another voice says.

Errios spins around bringing Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi around defensively. "Colonel Pierson, what an unexpected surprise."

"You expected to see me here," Pierson says unfazed by the demon's attempt at shock steps up past the owner of the first voice, Ratmmas.

"You're right," she admits. "What I didn't expect was to see you standing here personally. But it will prove a useless gambit on your part." She signals with her hand and quickly her squad of New World Regime Soldiers forms a circle around them, weapons drawn.

"I'm quite surprised you managed to prevent the police from being here by now," Pierson states looking around with boredom.

"An easy task just as it will be to finally kill you," she says with a mouthful of malice and spite.

Pierson laughs. Ratmmas with his large muscular frame just stands still on two trunk-like legs with his arms folded across his bare, golden skinned chest and smiles. Both actions draw a reaction of anger from the Succubus that she quickly suppresses. "Is that what this whole fiasco is all about? You want to kill me? To what end?"

"You are responsible for the fall of my master Typheryian."

"You're not even an Asura. I find it troubling that Typheryian would find trust or loyalty in you, especially a Succubus," Pierson spats venomously.

"Just as I find you ever found trust in a Succubus like Natalya," she bites back.

A glint of surprise shows in Pierson's eyes but he does well to quickly hide the fact. "Very well. You may try to kill me, but to do so you have to make you way through my horseman and if you are successful then you will have the privilege to die by my hand."

"We will see," Errios says smiling. She drops the tip of Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi toward the ground and orders her men to fire.

Ratmmas moves with near blinding speed toward the back of the group. His rear foot comes crashing down onto the knee on the closest of the soldiers crushing it and dropping him to the ground. The horseman turns to face the next closest and grabs his carbine. He flips it around and rams it through the soldier's face though the back of his skull.

Shock spreads across the faces of each of the remaining soldiers and they all remain motionless staring in disbelief at the site they just witnessed. They are only taken out of their reverie by their master's voice, "Attack you fucking fools! Attack!"

Ratmmas grips the back of Pierson's shirt and launches him backward taking his place in the small ring just as the carbines open up.

The bullets rip from each of the soldier's carbines at Ratmmas but he moves with such efficiency that the bullets stream past him narrowly missing his body. The narrowly missing bullets slam into the concrete kicking up chunks of small rock and into the soldier's themselves.

Errios dives for cover to avoid the flying bullets and flying concrete. Within seconds the dust settles leaving a ring of fallen soldiers lying dead at Ratmmas' feet. "Aww, what's wrong? Is it too much for you to handle?" Ratmmas asks showing no signs of emotion on his face.

Errios growls as she slowly stands. She stabs Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi into the ground and using it as an aid to lift herself up. Ratmmas looks back toward Pierson, "You promised me someone worthy. This bitch isn't near worth my time."

"What can I say? I guess I misunderstood her abilities," Pierson answers with a shrug.

"I say you misunderstood a lot!" Errios screams as she launches herself through the air.

Ratmmas turns just in time to raise his arm up to block the downward strike of her sword. The sword impacts hard before sliding harmlessly off his forearm. Ratmmas chuckles at the Succubus' split second reaction. Errios frowns momentarily then just as quickly strikes again.

She strikes out with a deliberately easy to catch strike at the horseman's chest. Ratmmas' forearm comes up to block and this time Errios sees exactly how he is able to perform the block. As her blade makes contact the horseman's skin hardens causing her blade to skip harmlessly off.

"Impressive trick you have there," she says after she twirls out of her attack.

Ratmmas rubs his forearm and smiles. "You'll find I'm full of those as it seems you are too."

Errios tightens her grip on her sword and leaps...



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 11



Chirikof Island

Gulf of Alaska

THE GRASS WAS BEGINNING TO BE blown hard on the island harder as the wind picked up from the north. Tsyr Ker sat quietly in the comfort of her MD530MG helicopter watching as the islands only inhabitants of cattle graze steadily against the winds.

Her hand drops to the folder lying in the seat next to her as she stares off into the distance. Slowly, her eyes fade as her mind drifts back...





From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 12



Paris

France

RATMMAS LEANS TO THE SIDE MOVING only his torso letting Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi fall harmlessly past. His massive right hand in the form of a fist crashes down behind Errios' skull knocking her to the ground.

"Is that all you got little one?" he asks mocking her.

Errios pushing up from the ground and wipes blood from her mouth with her free hand. Oh you're gonna pay for that one mother fucker.

She spins around throwing her sword evenly at the horseman's feet. He jumps easily anticipating the attack and delivers a kick to Errios' mouth sending her reeling across the asphalt. When the Succubus finally grinds to a halt she lies there momentarily before slowly getting up.

She spits out blood, letting the remainder trickle from her mouth as she lets out a low growl at her opponent. Face me Tancheres instead of hiding behind your puppet. She yells at Pierson.

"I would gladly oblige you my dear, but you are beneath me unless you were to prove yourself and so far I haven't seen that," he answers her with a mocking smile.

I'll make that smile permanent when I cut it off your face. She threatens.

"Big words that I doubt will come true," Pierson laughs. "Finish this Ratmmas and be sure to give our audience a good show."

Ratmmas nods and says, "As you wish Master."

Errios smiles. The smile is quickly stolen as Ratmmas drives his elbow into the Succubus' stomach. Errios clenches her teeth against the pain setting as it sets in. The horseman leans in close to her ear and whispers, "Your mocking smile is not befitting of you."

He turns and grabs Errios up by the throat lifting her up high into the air. The Succubus tightens her grip on her sword in a vain attempt at an attack at the horseman, but is quickly halted when he reaches out to grab her wrist in a tight hold. Errios struggles against the tight hold, clawing at the hand at her throat with her free hand and the one at her wrist. Both grips are like iron vises that tighten with every movement.

"You're vain attempts are useless," Ratmmas mocks. "I do wonder the feeling of hearing you plead for your life."

Then...you'll just...have to wonder. Errios struggles to say.

The horseman laughs and uses his strength to twists the Succubus' arm around almost to the point of it snapping forcing the point of her blade in on her, then with a ruff thrust he forces the sword deep into her abdomen. Errios loses her grip on the sword and tries to cry out in pain but her scream is cut off by Ratmmas' iron grip collapsing tighter on her throat.

"I guess you aren't one that begs for mercy are you?" Ratmmas asks. "Really, it's a shame." He then takes the sword and rips it outward, shredding her abdomen open. Black blood spurts forth from the wound as her body shudders.

Ratmmas shakes his head and looks toward Pierson. "Finish this," the Colonel orders.

The horseman lets Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi fall to the ground with a clatter. He takes Errios' near lifeless body, lifting her high into the air then slams her into the ground cracking the asphalt beneath her body with the impact. He stands hovering over her, smirking at her. "I truly hope for someone worthy of a battle."

He lifts his booted foot above her face ready to crash it down upon her face when the Succubus' right hand suddenly shifts grabbing the hilt of Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. As Ratmmas notices the subtle movement Errios rolls from beneath the attack allowing the horseman's attack to pass harmlessly and sink into the ground.

With the horseman's foot caught momentarily off guard Errios limps up to her feet turning to face and attack her now defenseless attacker. As she drives the blade down at the horseman's neck with a killing strike three rounds tear into her chest sending her back and forcing her sword to sail across Ratmmas' back instead, dealing a large ghastly wound in its wake.

Pierson calmly stalks forward firing round after round at Errios as she narrowly rolls out of the way, each bullet hitting asphalt and sending pieces ricocheting in various directions. The Succubus manages to roll to her knees once the Colonel's gun clicks dry, but the man doesn't back down.

The sound of an empty clip clatters to the ground behind Errios as she struggles to flee from the man. Her fight with Ratmmas has left her is no state to fight and now with Mythril somehow pumping in her body she now definitely in no condition to fight. Luckily for her, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the ancient sword has left Ratmmas in a similar state.

"There is no sense in running," Pierson taunts the Succubus as he slides in another clip. "These new bullets developed by the Black List are wonderful little toys. That feeling of helplessness you feel are the little pieces of synthetic Mythril flowing through your body. Now just lie still and take it like a bitch and it will all be over with."

Errios struggling with every breath pushes out every distraction until she finally reaches what she had been crawling for. She grabs a hold of the manhole cover and using the last bit of her strength, rolls to her back and swings the cover around to use as a shield catching each of the bullets Pierson fires at her. The momentum of the action sends her over the edge and into the darkness below where her body is then swept away with the current.

Shock of unexpectedness flashes over Pierson's faces and he rushes over to the opening and peers in. "Fuck!" he says to himself. He fires the remainder of the guns clips into the darkness and then turns back toward Ratmmas who is by now just slowly picking himself up off the asphalt. "Next time I give you orders," he reprimands the horseman, "I expect them to be carried out effectively. Now let's get going. We've got a few lose ends to clean up in this piss ass country."

Ratmmas nods and steps in behind the Colonel as a Black Lexus LX11 pulls up on the street five hundred feet away. The wound on his back begins to seal up leaving behind no sign or scar that it was ever there.

"WOULD ANY OF YOU LIKE TO explain what the fuck just went down, down there?" Raven Cassidy asks looking away from her pair of binoculars.

The STRT members sat at the top of a building overlooking square giving the team a perfect view of the entire complex. Since they were given orders to lie low and not noticeably get involved, none of the team members moved to help any of the innocent people below even though each member fought the urge to do so.

"From the looks of it, Chaos," remarks Stone. "And it looks like Section 8 did our job for us."

"You know Grines isn't going to let that one pass," Dupree says looking over at Stone.

"Yeah I know," he says looking back at her. "We'll follow after Errios to confirm if she's dead or not. You two try and follow after Pierson, but stay at a distance. The last thing we want is to be caught here when we're not supposed to be here."   



THE TEAM SLIPS DOWN FROM THE building splitting off in opposite direction with Cassidy and Greyson heading off in the direction of Colonel Pierson and Stone and Dupree toward the nearest sewer entrance.

Both agents drop into the darkness of the sewer splashing water noisily. Instantly lights attached to their HK416 assault rifles flash on illuminating the tunnel walls.

"Ugh, the smell here is terrible," Dupree says making a sour face.

Stone flashes her a smirk. "It could be worse. It could be New York."

Dupree laughs at the remark. "Thank God for that. Which way do we go?"

"I'm guess from the flow of the water to the east here," Stone says flashing the light toward the ground. "Any chance of getting a signal and a map of the system?"

"Let me check." His partner pulls out a PDA from a pouch and after a few moments she says, "The systems pools to a central hub before empting out into the river."

"So chances are we may or may not find her before her body hits the river," he comments.

"Then I guess we need to get moving then."

"Ladies first," Stone says smiling.

THE BLACK LEXUS LX11 CARRYING COLONEL Pierson and Ratmmas comes to a halt two miles away. Hidden in an alley the engine turns off and the door opens with Ratmmas as the first to step out followed closely by Pierson. The massively built warrior looks around the empty lot, "It doesn't appear that he has made it here yet master."

"I hope the coward hasn't chickened out," Pierson sighs. "I really would have to have you hunt him down. I really fucking hate this country as it is."

"Yes master," Ratmmas says folding his massive arms across his chest as he leans against the wall.

Down the alley way and out of sight Cassidy and Greyson pull up to the curb in their Silver Audi Q5 rental. "Satellite imaging shows the Lexus pulled into the alley up here on the left. It looks like it a blind alley so it's gonna be difficult to slip in and out unnoticed," Cassidy says looking up from the laptop in her lap.

"We're gonna have to make due," Greyson says looking forward through the windshield to the opening of the alley. "What do you suppose they are waiting for?"

"Beats the hell out of me," she answers setting the laptop in the back seat and replacing it with a small bag. Unzipping it reveals a large pocket of guns.

Greyson looks over to Cassidy's lap and says, "Let's keep it light. We don't need to start a fight here."

"You're still not sure these guys are the bad guys are you?"

"I'm still not comfortable on believing our own guys are the bad guys no," he answers. "But we're here to do a job and I'm not into being hung out to dry if I can avoid it."

"Yeah I know what you mean," she says solemnly. "So what do you want? The MP5 or --"

"I got this baby right here," Greyson says pulling out an IMI Desert Eagle from his holster.

"Alright, suit yourself," she says smiling. "Shall we?"

Greyson nods and they exit the vehicle. He looks over the hood and says to her, "Don't forget to lock up."

Cassidy laughs briefly. "Yes dear."

They rush over to the mouth of the alley and take one quick look around the crowded street before peering down the darkened alley. The path is littered with dumpsters and trash cans reminding Cassidy of the many alleys in her home town Detroit. The two agents slip into the shadows passing from barricade to barricade and shadow to shadow and are about half down the alley when a pair of lights suddenly flash at the mouth of the alley.

Greyson throws a hand signal at Cassidy before diving into a pile of trash bags disguising himself as best as he could so quickly. Cassidy follows suit on the opposite side huddling in the corner of a dumpster in an attempt to make herself look as small as possible.

A moment later a Citroën C6 whizzes past then hits the brakes screeching to a halt seconds later at the end of the alley. Greyson and Cassidy are on their feet within seconds slipping the remainder of the way as fast as they can without stealing any attention to themselves.

The French Prime Minister jumps from the driver's side and rushes over to open the door for President Valois who stumbles out and almost falls if not caught by the horseman, Ratmmas. Valois looks up with relief from his sweat filled face. "Th-thank..." his face instantly goes pale and his hands begin to shake.

"Let the fool go," Pierson orders the horseman who quickly obeys and steps back.

Valois with the grip of support gone falls backward against the car and onto the ground. The Prime Minister moves the replace Ratmmas and aid the President to his feet. "These are the American help you brokered a deal with?" he asks.

"Just give them the briefcase Léon," Valois says through panicked breaths.

"Yes listen to your boss Léon and hand over our payment," Pierson mocks.

The Prime Minister casts the Colonel a glare of pure animosity. "Fucking Americans," he says with his thick French accent. "You think you can just come over bully anyone around and get what you want."

Pierson just nods slightly and smiles and the smaller man leaves the French President's side and walks around to the back of the car.

"What's going on?" Cassidy asks Greyson as they peer through a pair of Steiner binoculars.

"Looks like an exchange. Maybe a payment of some kind."

"What the hell would this guy need money for? Was the whole thing staged?" Cassidy asks dropping the binoculars. She looks at Greyson incredulously. "You better get your ass on board if you still think this guy is on our side."

Greyson pulls away his pair of binoculars. "Oh you better believe whatever the fuck is going on here it ain't right. This guy is crooked as shit."

"So do we sit tight or bust this guy's ass then?"

"I don't know how you Detroit detectives did things but the CIA should have taught you something girl and right now we ain't got shit on this guy yet."

Cassidy just smiles. "I don't know what the CIA taught you, but I'm all about shooting first and asking questions later."

Greyson was about to burst out laughing and had to forcibly catch himself. "I think I'm gonna like you girl."

The trunk of the car pops open and the Prime Minister reaches in and pulls out a black brief case still cursing to himself the entire time. He steps out from around the back side of the car and looks over at Valois. "What are we giving the Americans, government secrets? This is too small for money," he says accusingly.

"It is nothing of importance to us Léon," Valois explains. "They are looking for more terrorist in our country that we have harbored for many years right under our noses."

The Prime Minister stops short. "This entire fiasco wasn't even cleared with Parliament nor were any plans or dealing with the Americans."

Valois takes to standing a little taller suddenly forgetting his earlier fear in place of courage at the thought of being a hero in the eyes of his country's people. "Fuck what Parliament would have to say about this Léon," he says taking a step toward the man. "The Black List is just another right wing terrorist group behind the NWR and I will not let this country take the rap for housing those bastards all this time."

"The Black List?" Léon asks curiously. "They're not terrorists."

"Of course they are," Valois argues. "Now hand over the brief case and we can be on the way."

"Is there a problem here?" Pierson asks interrupting the apparent argument between the two men.

Valois quickly looks to the Colonel then to the Horseman and back. Sweat starts to trickle down his face and suddenly his collar begins to feel just a little too tight around his neck. "No, no. Léon is just having a little misunderstanding and feeling a little out of the loop."

"Oh I'm feeling more than out of the loop Mr. President," he says as he pulls out a SP 2022 pistol and points it at Pierson. "I'm sorry you American pig but I must ask you to get in your vehicle and leave my country before I put a bullet in your fucking skull."

Ratmmas is about to move but is settled when Pierson holds up is hand to settle him.

"What the fuck are you doing Léon?" Valois asks nearly jumping out of his skin.

"Correcting a mistake and saving your ass sir."

"Go ahead and shoot me Léon," Pierson taunts the man. "But do not think you will make it out of this alley alive."

A drop of sweat trickles down the Prime Minister's temple and he takes a split second to look down to Ratmmas. It is all the opportunity Pierson needs. With rapid speed he has a Glock pulled and fired.

The bullet strikes the Prime Minister between the eyes, dropping him flat to the ground. Cassidy begins to leap up from behind their cover and is barely stopped by Greyson and kept from blowing their cover in the moment. "Hold tight damn it," he says.

"What the fuck for?" she counters.

"We've got the French President still over there, alive."

"Fuck him, he's just as fucking part of it as they are," Cassidy argues.

"There's something fishy going on here Raven, but that jackass ain't deserving the same fate as his friend there."

"Fuck, fuck fuck," she says as she settles back down.

"What's going on?" Valois begins shouting.

Pierson ignores the man and walks over and picks up the brief case opening it up as soon as he has it. He riffles through the pages quickly stopping once he sees something that catches his eye. "Château de Chambord. Clever Sternigan, very clever." He turns to Valois. "Are you certain that this information is accurate?"

Valois stops is shouts and looks at the man unbelieving. Breathing hard, he cannot believe the turn of events and the calmness of the man standing before him. It was just unbelievable. "This is not what we agreed upon," he said instead. "I called you here and I have given you what you—"

Valois quickly found himself up in the air, held up by a strong arm. "You are lucky to be alive right now little man and if you would like to remain that way I suggest you answer me," Pierson threatens. The Colonel's piercing gaze cuts right through the man sending a chill through him. Uncontrollably a pool of urine starts to form beneath the man as e visibly shakes with fear. "I do not have time to wait for your answer," he says pointing the Glock at him.

Valois stumbles to find his voice, "Ye...yes, yes. It's all there. Every record I could find."

"Then you did a good job Mr. President and I thank you for your country's hospitality." He drops his hand and Valois visibly relaxes.

From behind their cover Cassidy and Greyson both get the feeling it isn't over. "Fuck this," Cassidy says as she starts to go over the barrier of trash cans.

"I couldn't agree with you more."

Pierson raises his hand up and fires a round into Valois' head just as the first trash can hits the ground behind him. He spins around in time to see Cassidy firing at him and he uses the momentum of his turn to dive to the ground and return fire. The bullets sail harmlessly past him smashing into the wall as his slams into her chest sending her back over the cans.

Greyson's target was Ratmmas, but by the time he could make any impact on the Horseman it was already too late for Valois. Pierson's expert marksmanship splattered the man's brains all over the alleyway giving Ratmmas plenty of time to become a moving target. Greyson stops short and takes a firing stance taking precision shots, each shot hits its mark but none slow the horseman.

Within seconds Ratmmas is on top of Greyson and he finds his gun knocked from his hand and a giant fist slammed into his gut as he is lifted up and over the trash cans to follow the path of his partner.

THROUGH THE DARK, DANK WATERS STONE and Dupree sludge forward following the flow of the current to the central hub with the tunnel opening up with a fifteen foot drop to the bottom. They slide to the edge and peer over, the water pouring down in a waterfall effect masking their presence.

Just below sits a set of three jet skis. Sitting on the center jet ski is the terrorist leader Errios in her human form flanked by two fully armed soldiers.

Dupree looks over to Stone and says, "What the hell do you think they are doing?"

"Obviously they're not in a hurry to get out of here," he says with a smirk. "Especially after that beating she took."

"Well I say we finish that beating," she says smiling.

"I'll take the right," Stone says returning the smile.

"And I got the guy on the left."

They lift their HK416 assault rifles taking aim at their respective targets leaving Errios free of harm for the moment. Just above their heads something shifts silently and slowly drops. As Dupree drops a bead on her target and pulls the trigger two hands reach down and wrap around her torso and lift her into the air.




From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 12



"What the fuck!" she shouts. Her shot goes wide missing her target sending Errios and the soldiers sprawling into the water.

Stone spins around bringing his assault rifle around to bear. "Hold still damn it!" he yells as Dupree struggles against the tight grasp of her attacker.

She doesn't respond to Stone as she attempts to bring her weapon around to fire on the creature and in the struggle it is knocked loose. Stone lets out a breath that comes out as a huff and lifts his rifle up taking aim.

"I really wish you'd hold still," he says his voice sounding a bit edgy.

"I really wish you'd have some patience," she says as she slips a Gerber LHR combat knife out from her belt and stabs it up into the creature.

The creature immediately roars in both anger and pain but doesn't release its grip on the small human. Instead, it channels its anger and drops from the ceiling onto its massive legs presenting its back to Stone. He takes the opportunity and opens fire on the creature, releasing a torrent of bullets into its back. The creature lets out a deafening scream as it body absorbs round after. When Stone's HK416 clips dry the creature spins and slings Dupree's limp body like a ragdoll through the air into her expecting partner. The impact is like a jolt and both are sent over the edge to the central hub below.

GREYSON SHAKES HIS HEAD TO TRY to clear the ringing from his ears. He looks over to his right to see Cassidy rolling over to her stomach onto her elbows. Her shirt is shredded exposing the body armor she wears underneath. The armor has done its job as it supposed to, but he doubts it's going to be enough. He smiles and says, "You alright over there?"

Cassidy coughs and spits out a small bit of blood, "Couldn't be better," she says with a bit of latent sarcasm.

Greyson chuckles at her tone and starts to roll to his side to get up. His amusement, however, is quickly ended.

Ratmmas suddenly appears over Cassidy, his large form engulfing her. She sees his shadow just before feeling his large, powerful hands grip into her clothing. A second before she can react, she is lifted into the air and flung through it toward her partner.

Greyson attempts to react and move but is too slow and receives Cassidy full force as she slams into him. Together they fly backward and slam into the nearby wall with Cassidy's weight adding to Greyson's impact and sending his head slamming hard into the wall.

"Son of a bitch," he grunts as red fills his vision.

"Tell me about it," Cassidy moans.

As the two agents slowly get to their feet they look up to see Ratmmas calmly walking toward them. "Got any ideas?" Greyson asks drawing out a Gerber Mark II fighting knife.

Cassidy looks up at a fire escape above them and says, "I have an idea, but you'll have to distract him long enough for me to get up there."

Greyson looks up following her gaze and asks, "What the hell do you plan to do?"

She looks at him and smiles. "Just get out of the way when it all comes down."

Greyson just grins and turns toward Ratmmas. "Come on you fucker!" he yells.

"Where is your little friend going?" Ratmmas asks pointing to Cassidy as she begins ascending the fire escape.

Without turning to look Greyson replies, "You got me so come and get me!"

Ratmmas laughs a deep bellowing laugh. "Very well little man. I'll kill you first then I'll take care of your little girlfriend."

"Then stop your fucking yapping and come on!"

Ratmmas growls picks up his pace. Greyson steals a look back at his partner to check her progress. Taking note of her position he turns back and lunges forward to match the horseman.

Ratmmas swings his massive fist at Greyson's head but the CATU agent ducks and steps to the side throwing his knife out to slice across the horseman's ribcage. Ratmmas slides past without even flinching spilling blood from his wound in the process. They spin around to face each other and Greyson says, "First blood goes to me."

The horseman smiles. "So it does little man, but its final blood that matters to me. Besides you can't hurt me."

Greyson looks confused for a brief second then he looks to the wound he created and slowly it starts to heal itself up. From behind laughter comes and Pierson's voice. "You see it is useless to fight my horsemen. They are indestructible and unstoppable."

Greyson ignores the man keeping his attention instead focused on Ratmmas. The giant creature lunges in with another punch following the same course as before only this time when Greyson moves to sidestep Ratmmas stops short and brings around his left hand with a hook. Greyson being a seasoned fighter anticipates the move and throws an arm up to block but the force behind the larger foe is too much and it nearly send him off his feet. Somehow though he holds his ground and manages to slip in a side kick to the horseman's midsection.

The kick has almost no effect except to send him back a few steps and allow Greyson a moment of breathing room. The moment doesn't last long as Ratmmas is quick to strike again driving his elbow into Greyson's stomach doubling over the agent. Greyson's body armor absorbs the majority of the impact but enough force makes it through to feel like a hammer slamming into him. Before his mind has time to fully register the pain Ratmmas drives his arm up catching the CATU agent up under the chin with his bicep driving the man's jaw together with jaw shattering force. Greyson flies up into the air and backward to slam hard onto his back. His Gerber Mark II slips from his grip to skitter across the ground far from his reach.

Greyson slowly rolls over onto his stomach and wipes away the blood trickling steadily from his mouth and starts to crawl toward the direction of his lost knife. Behind him Ratmmas approaches calmly in no time steps up and hoists up the agent by the back of his clothing into the air turning him around until they are face to face.

At that moment high above both their heads Cassidy stands pressing her throat mic, "Greyson damn it. Get the fuck out of there. I said distract him not get your fucking ass kicked. Now get out this shit coming down on your heads."

"Not so tuff now are you little human?" Ratmmas taunts.

She unclips two M67 frag grenades from her belt and pulls the pins before lobbing them through the final small opening of the fire escape. As they clatter on the steel grating she turns and starts racing back down the stairs counting off the seconds in her mind. She presses the throat mic again, "Last chance dude, ya gotta get the fuck out," she breathes heavily.

Greyson coughs, spitting out blood as a response to the horseman's question. The horseman growls and shakes the man. "So be it." He raises his clawed hand and high above them the frag grenades explode. Ratmmas looks up instantly in time to see the top of the building shatter sending brick flying in every direction and Special Agent Cassidy falling the last fifteen feet or so down safely onto a pile of trash. Seconds later small pieces of brick come raining down on all their heads covering them in a fine layer of dust.

Ratmmas bursts out laughing looking back at Greyson. "What's this? A magic show?"

Suddenly a creak from above resounds through the alley grabbing the horseman's attention. Greyson slips his hand down to his boot and pulls out a knife. The movement doesn't slip past Ratmmas' eye, but when he looks back Greyson sends the knife into his left eye.

Ratmmas instantly drops the man to instinctively grab for the small weapon. Greyson doesn't waste any time quickly getting to his feet and running toward his partner as the fire escape breaks away from what remains of the wall and swings down bringing with it the rest of the building's wall.

Just as Ratmmas pulls the knife free the fire escape slams into him full force, impaling him and driving his body back toward Pierson with the building material right behind crumbling down on top crushing his body.

By the time the dust settles Cassidy is helping Greyson to his feet and the two can hear police sirens heading in their direction. They look back toward the end of the alley where a mountain of bricks and other building material now lay and Greyson says, "Do you think we got the sons of bitches?"

Cassidy grabs his upper arm and pulls. "I know we got one of them. Come on we got to get out of here before the police show up though."

"Right behind you."

STONE AND DUPREE SLOWLY PUSH THEMSELVES up out of the water being extra careful to not move fast and give the two fully armed soldiers reason to shoot them. Behind them they hear the splash of water and they both assume it is caused by the creature they just encountered up above in the pipe.

Errios, who looks like she has just got the hell beat out of her, approaches the two agents clasping her side with her right hand. "Well done," she says. "I didn't expect anyone to track me down here, especially two CATU agents."

Stone casts her an angry glare and says, "You look remarkably well for getting the shit kicked out of you."

"And for having all that Mythril pumped into you," Dupree adds.

"We demons he pretty quickly besides my men are equipped to handle situations like that," she answers offhandedly then quickly changes the subject. "You're not the two agents that chased me before," she says with a frown. "What happened to them?"   "You get us bitch!" Dupree shouts.

Errios grins and winces then kicks Dupree across the face sending her into the water. "Would you care to answer?" she asks bending down to kneel in front of Stone.

He smiles at her. "My answer's the same as hers."

Anger flares up in the demon and she doesn't bother to keep it hidden. With full force she backhands Stone sending him in the opposite direction of his partner. "Ugh, fucking humans," she says standing up and turning around toward the jet skis. "Let's go," she says to the soldiers.

"Ma'am," they answer in unison and slowly back away from the two agents as they once again slowly push themselves up out of the water.

Errios turns back around. "You can have your way with them," she says to the creature that has been waiting patiently. "When you are finished, return home." Without waiting for a confirmation she turns around and jumps onto the unmanned jet ski and with the two soldiers she speeds heading down the single exit out of the central hub.

It swivels its heads left and right looking at each agents as if deciding which one to attack first or judging the distance to each one and after a few seconds charges Dupree.

Though the water makes her movements a little sluggish she still manages to maneuver and ducks the swing of a clawed hand. She falls back into the water and delivers a kick into the bottom of its jaw, snapping its mouth shut and its head back. It gives Stone the opportunity to reach it and jump onto its back and wrap his arm around its neck.

As Stones squeezes the creature struggles and trashes, whipping its body around. Its tail catches Dupree in the midsection sending her through the air and into the wall.

"Mel!" Stone yells as her body bounces off the wall and into the water. His grip slackens from around the creature's throat presenting it with the opportunity to grab his arm and swing him around and through the air in the opposite direction.

Stone flies hitting the water in a roll sending a wave cascading then coming back down upon him. As soon as he breaks the surface the creature is upon him reaching for him. Stone fruitlessly attempts to block aside the creature's hand as its hand closes around his neck and lifts him into the air.

The hand around Stone's throat goes tighter as the creature growls pulling him in closer to glare into his eyes. Stone stares back with as much defiance as he can muster as he tries to fight blackness creeping at the edges of his vision. As his struggles against the arms holding him fades a voice from above them suddenly rings out...

"Aaaaiiieee!!!!"

The sound is followed closely by a man covered in a dark cloak and carrying a Remington 1100 shotgun. Both the creature and Stone look up just as a booted foot crashes into the creature's face. The force of the mysterious man's entrance forces the release of Stone and drives the creature down into the water.

The cloaked man drops behind the creature and spins around as the water settles around him. The creature seemingly unfazed by the attack opens its mouth to let out a scream of anger and received a mouth stuffed with the shotgun. A second later the man pulls the trigger filling the hub with the sound of the blast and bits of the creature's head in every direction.

"Don't think he'll be getting up from that," the man says.

"Excuse me?" Stone says shaking his head. He stumbles just as he gets up out of the water and is caught at the elbow by the mysterious man. Stone looks up as the hood of the cloak falls off the man's head revealing a white beard and head of white hair. "You're..."

"Not what you expected?" the man asks. "My name is Samuel Dimetri and I'm not usually expected. Now have a seat and I'll tend to your friend."



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 13



New York

"ANGELA!" SPENCER SAYS ANSWERING THE KNOCK to his hotel door to reveal Angela holding a large white bag and two coffee cups. "You're a bit earlier than I was expecting."

She smiles as she invites herself into the room. "I figured you could use a little breakfast."

He closes the door and turns to find Angela already setting out the contents of the bag onto the small table in front of the sofa. "I wasn't sure what you ate so I got a little variety," she says looking up at him.

"That's fine," Spencer answer shortly. "I meant to ask you about what you said yesterday about being ready for anything."

Angela pauses halfway with putting a bagel to her mouth and looks hard at Spencer. They lock eyes and she stares hard for a moment before saying, "Are you sure you want to really know what is going on here?"

"I was sent here to investigate and it is my job Angela," he says with sternness in his voice. "So if there is something you're holding back you need to let me know."

Angela bursts out laughing at the expression Spencer has taken on. "Come on Spence I'm not going to hold something important from you unless I felt it absolutely necessary," she says as she sets the bagel down onto the table. Then she taps the seat next to her and says, "Have a seat. I have something to tell you that will probably rock the foundations of what you know."

"Oh I don't think there is anything that can do that after what I've been through," he says as he takes a seat next to her. "Especially after losing Sam."

"Tell me about her," Angela says taking his hand into both of hers and looking at him with sincerity.

Spencer takes in a deep breath almost choking over his first words. He wanted to share this with Angela but he really wasn't expecting what it would be like to finally be able to do so. After a second he finally found his voice. "She reminded me a little of you, full of fight and energy. She was an amazing woman and I really wish you could have met her Angela I really wish you could have."

Angela returns his smile and energy. "I wish I could have too. How did she go? If...if you don't mid me asking."

Spencer's smile quickly fades and is replaced with a hardened grin. "Julie Branon, the niece of the leader of an organization called the Black List, killed her."

"The Black List?"

"It's a long explanation," Spencer says shaking his head.

"I know who they are," she answers reaching up with her hand and stopping his face with it. A questioning look spreads over his face which Angela quickly picks up on. "My boss, Michael Terrigian, is a member. It is what I wanted to talk to you about. I guess you were right about not being able to surprise you with anything."

"You already have," he says. "But why didn't he mention this to me. I'm sure he knows who I am considering Martin Sternigan already has it out for me."

"He didn't mention it because the Black List is behind the Sanguine Consortium."

"And do you have proof?" he asks skeptically.

"Not physically," she says looking away. "Everything I had was based on the word of Jianyu and now he's..."

Spencer reaches over and turns her face back around toward him to see tears streaming down her face. He was prepared to object to her accusations against the Black List. Sure he didn't hold a lot of love for the organization but he didn't believe they were the enemy, but now looking at the woman sitting before him crying over an old man that obviously meant so much to her, he was beginning to doubt even his own certainty.

"Is there anything else that has brought suspicion over Captain Terrigian?"

"Other than every time I get close to pinning some damn thing on the Consortium or even find who is leading it somehow the evidence disappears or I'm ordered to back off?"

"Have you tried Internal Affairs yet?"

"Haven't you been listening," she almost yells as she stands up. "The Consortium has its hands in everything as it has since my father was a cop. I don't know why I even bothered contacting the FBI."

Angela grabs her jacket and starts the leave when Spencer grabs her by the wrist stopping her and holding her in place. He doesn't say anything until she finally turns around and acknowledges him. "Wait. I didn't say I didn't believe you or that I wasn't going to help."

"Then what are you saying?" she asks crudely.

"I'm saying this day in age every leaves a trace and technology is the best place to leave it. He has to connect with the Black List through the computer so he probably does everything else on it."

"So you want to break into his computer?" she speculates.

"Exactly. If there is anything there we'll find it."

"Thank you Spence," she says as she jumps on his lap and wraps him in a hug. "I knew I could count on you."

"Why wouldn't you?" he asks when she pulls away to face him. "We'll go tonight after the captain goes home."

"Why wait until then?"

A puzzled looks crosses his face. "Cause that would be the best time unless you know something I don't."

She smiles. "I do. Terrigian has a weekly meeting he goes to around lunch. He'll be gone for nearly two hours."

"And you're sure of this?"

"Positive," she says assuredly. "I tried to follow him the first few times but each time he made sure to lose me. After that I gave up and began timing his sessions."

"A meeting with someone from the Black List then?" Spencer guesses.

"Or the Consortium."

He frowns at her.

"Or both."

"So what will we do until then?"

Angela puts the tip of her finger in her mouth and bites lightly on her finger nail. "I have an idea."

Angela presses him back against the sofa and starts to kiss him, at first with light butterfly kisses with their lips barely touching. Within moments it changes in intensity as their lips remain touching for longer and she gently sucks his lower lip and to tease his lips with her tongue. His tongue also probes and teases until they are kissing deeply. His hands are on her body, stroking all over fitfully from the distance of the long years that they have spent apart from each other.

Angela pulls back a little and starts to unbutton his shirt as her lips stray to his neck. She frees him of his shirt and starts to touch and kiss his chest, lightly circling his nipples, first with her fingertips and then with her mouth. He shudders and leans back breathing deeply. She works lower, mouth on his belly and hands on his sides.

She kneels at his feet and looks up at him as she starts to unbuckle his belt and slowly unzips his pants; his head is back, his eyes closed and his breath is a little harsher now; he groans as she starts to pull his pants off. Spencer can no longer keep still of letting her be in control and brings his weight forward. Laughing, Angela stands and Spencer lunges at her and they tumble onto the floor in a tangle of limbs.

For a short their hungry mouths kiss deeply as Spencer slowly removes Angela's clothes. His hands explore her flesh to her hips to pull them into his, pressing her against his hardness. Then Angela presses him onto his back and commands him to lie still. She throws her knee over him so she is straddling his body, her hips above his groin. His cock is lying hard beneath her awaiting her tender flesh. Slowly, she lowers herself onto it, but only allowing the lips of her pussy to settle over the shaft of his cock. She lowers herself down to kiss his mouth, her hands on his shoulders holding him lightly down. Angela's bare nipples brush his chest.

Their kisses are harder and more urgent now and Angela takes her hands from his shoulders in order to run her palms over his chest, feeling his nipples hard under them and down over his belly. His groin is hot and hard against the softness of her and she breaks free, first sitting, then standing over him to take his cock and stand it straight up.

Again she straddles him, but he is now sitting up and her knees are wide apart. His mouth is hot, his breath ragged and he kisses her roughly -- her lips, her neck, her breasts. Then his hard cock enters her hot, wet pussy. She pumps up and down a few times letting his cock get wet from her juices and allow him a taste of her then suddenly she is off his cock and sitting to his side and lowering her mouth to his cock.

Starting at the tip of his cock, Angela ran her tongue down one side to the base and up the other side again, putting her lips to the head and moistening it with her tongue. Again she licks down and up the sides of his hot shaft, gently cupping his balls with her palm and gently rubbing her thumb over them. She feels him shudder as she continues to work up and down, moistening his cock and working to the front, allowing the head to slip between her lips each time she comes to the top. Slowly she starts to take more and more of it into her mouth, still sucking and licking with her tongue.

Spencer starts to find it hard to stay still having had a feel for her pussy and starts moving his hips against Angela's mouth. With the sudden difficulty of keeping up with the movement of his hips, she leaves his cock and once again straddles his cock. Her pussy is so wet and relaxed, he slips in easily at first so she squeezes her vaginal muscles tight so she can feel his hardness inside her. He arches his back and groans and seems to harden more and grow inside more her.

Spencer reaches up and cups her breasts, gently pinching her nipples. It makes Angela moan with delight and she starts to move slowly up and down and lean forward, her hair falling across his face and chest as she moves. He moves his groin with hers, giving the cue to the rhythm he desires and they start to spiral toward completion.

The rhythm becomes harder and faster. Spencer holds on to her hips and takes total control of speed and depth, slamming hard into her. Gasping, Angela forces his hands off her hips and he trembles as she grinds her weight down to keep him from thrusting. Instead she makes tiny circles with her hips, keeping his cock deep inside, pressing her clitoris onto his pubic bone until she can feel the first shuddering waves of her orgasm start to wash over her. As it continues Angela no longer cares what he is doing and he grasps her hips again, making a few final thrusts to join her in a shuddering climax, both groaning in ecstasy. Finally he lies still and spent and she falls onto his chest, both breathing hard and waiting until their breathing has slowed, letting his cock slide out of her.

"I never thought I'd ever experience that with you again," Angela says looking up and kissing his chin.

Spencer smiles down at her wordlessly and closes his eyes.

SEVERAL HOURS LATER SPENCER AND ANGELA arrived at the 17th precinct and as predicted by Angela, Captain Terrigian was gone from his office.

Angela led Spencer through the precinct to the third floor where homicide was and no one bothered to think twice of asking anything about Spencer or even stopping the two when they walked into Captain Terrigian's office. Angela explained earlier that she and many of the other detectives would usually go in to drop something onto the captain's desk and leave. With any luck if anyone saw them go in they would assume they were doing just that.

So far they had been in the office for fifteen minutes and nobody had gotten nosy and come looking. Angela already closed the remaining blinds giving them complete privacy while Spencer goes to work on searching the computer using a special search program developed by CATU.

"Anything yet?" Angela asks impatiently.

Spencer looks up from the screen with a sincere look on his face. "Give me a little time. I'm not even sure what I'm looking for and it could be anywhere if it is even here."

"It's there I can assure you, just hurry because we haven't got all day," she says with an unsteady smile.

The gesture troubles Spencer and he is about to question her about it when a ding from the program stops him from doing so.

"What is it?" Angela asks quickly.

Spencer chuckles at her enthusiasm. "The program I'm running has found a hidden program that contains hidden files that is used to transmit information over a secured line."

"That's it then!"

"It very well could be," Spencer confirms.

"So open it and let's see what it is," Angela says anxiously.

"Alright, alright," he says tapping the keyboard. "It's password protected of course. Give me a few minutes or I should say the program."

"That thing is awfully fancy," she remarks peering over the top of the monitor down at the screen.

Spencer looks up at her and winks. "It should be. Our research department spent who knows how much making it and it's probably better than anything the government has."

"At least the right person is on the job then," she says stepping back looking at her watch.

Puzzled, Spencer sits back in the chair folding his arms across his chest watching Angela. She suddenly has an almost nervousness settled over her that she is trying hard to keep covered by a collectedness. He is once again about to question her when the computer suddenly dings.

Angela spins around to face him as he leans forward already tapping keys on the keyboard. "It that it?"

Spencer smiles, "It is." He moves the mouse to the single folder on the screen marked Black List and double clicks it. As soon as the folder opens the screen goes black then a second later the screen flashes on and off several times before finally settling to black. "What the hell?"

"Is that supposed to happen?" Angela asks.

"If it is, it's a new one on me," Spencer says.

Suddenly the door to Terrigian's office slams open with Terrigian standing in the opening. "Actually it is," he says. Angela's hand reaches for her pistol but Terrigian's is already n his hand and he says, "Don't."

"Before we go any further Terrigian you should—" Spencer begins before being cut off as Terrigian holds up his free hand and steps into the office. He is followed in by another man.

"I was angry with you killing my niece Reeds, but I had let emotion get in the way before anything else," Martin Sternigan says stepping into the office. "I realize now you actually did me a favor."

Terrigian steps over to Angela and holds out his hand to her. She gives him a look of disgust combined with anger and reluctantly hands over her pistol. "You're not going to get away with this," she says.

"What is this all about?" Spencer asks.

Terrigian looks over to Sternigan. "Shall I?"

"Be my guest," Sternigan says closing the door.

Terrigian looks back to Angela and smiles. "Please have a seat Detective. You're not going anywhere for awhile." Spencer starts to stand, but Terrigian holds up his hand and says, "Please stay, I'll sit here."

Terrigian sits in an empty chair across the way from Spencer and puts away his own gun and hands Angela's off to Sternigan who takes a seat in an empty chair near the door. Terrigian looks at Angela and again smiles to her. "Why not have a seat and get comfortable?"

"Fuck you," she spats venomously.

"As lovely as you are my dear, you are far too dangerous so no thank you."

"I don't mean to interrupt, but I have been patient up to this point," Spencer says.

"And you are now wondering why we haven't disarmed you," Terrigian says still looking at Angela. "The answer is because you are not the enemy Agent Reeds. Detective Veris here is."

"Excuse me?" Spencer looks from the Captain to Angela for an answer but Angela doesn't deviate from her stare down at Terrigian.

"For a few months we have been investigating and looking for a mole within the precinct that has ties with the Sanguine Consortium," Terrigian answers. "We had a few suspects including Detective Veris here."

"And all we needed was for her to tip her hand," Sternigan jumps in.

"You seem to be the ones making the mistake," Spencer says. "I've known Angela my entire life. She is the reason I'm here and for being such a not guilty party, you made sure to destroy any and all evidence proving otherwise."

"She's spun web and gotten you entangled in it Reeds," Sternigan begins to say but stops as soon as Spencer stands brandishing a pistol.

"Until I see evidence pointing in a different direction I'm seeing you and the Black List as the enemy. Julie Brannon's actions were enough prove that. Now feel free to hand that over."

Angela smiles. "Everything comes around full circle Captain. This is what happens when you play the wrong side." She slides her hand into his coat and removes his pistol and tosses it to Spencer then walks over to Sternigan to take hers back.

Sternigan holds the gun out and as she reaches out for it he steps in grabbing her at the wrist and twists it up pointing the gun at her head. With his other hand he quickly grabs and pins her free arm behind her back. "Let's stop now Reeds, before this gets out of hand. Like I said before I no longer harbor anything toward you and I would like to keep it that way."

"Then I suggest you let her go," Spencer warns. "I'm a good shot and I rarely miss."

"But can you squeeze off a round before me?"

"Are you willing to attempt that?"

"Are you?"

Both men stare down each other as the seconds tick down in what seem like forever. In the end it's Spencer that finally drops his hand, lowering the gun. "No."

"You've got to be kidding me," Angela says in a sighing tone. "Have you no balls at all?"

Before Spencer or either of the other men has time to respond she is driving her elbow up into the solar plexus of Sternigan. The large man stumbles back loosening his grip of the gun allowing Angela the opportunity to grab it. She points the gun toward Terrigian.

"Shoot her!" he instructs to Spencer as he prepares to charge her.

It causes a moment of hesitation on her part and she looks in Spencer's direction to see the conflict on his face. She smiles at him and points the gun in his direction and fires. Terrigian is there just in time to take the round to his chest, slamming his back against Spencer, pushing him to the ground.

Angela snickers and before she can turn around to regard Sternigan she feels a set of arms wrap around her crushing her in a bear hug. The Black List leader's arms swallow up her small frame crushing her and forcing her release of the gun. It clatters to the floor as she struggles against his iron grip.

"You may as well quit struggling," Sternigan says in her ear.

After a moment she finally does. A second after that, her eyes open up a little wider when she sees Terrigian get up from behind the large oak desk unharmed followed by Spencer. When he sees the look on her face he knocks on his chest and says, "Bullet proof vest. You didn't think we were going to come into this unprepared did you?"

A smile creases her faces replaces the previous expression and she says, "Actually we did."

"You're in the middle of a police precinct and eight of your fellow detectives and officers are Black List agents," Terrigian says reading between the lines. "Don't think you're going to attack us here and get away with it."

Angela's smile just gets bigger. "I don't know if you noticed but no one has come running since I fired that gun and it is awfully silent out there."

Terrigian looks past her to Sternigan and nods. Sternigan's grip tightens on Angela and he moves from the door to be replaced by the police captain. Terrigian grabs up a gun and looks back. "Reeds, cover me."

"Got it," Spencer replies taking up a stance pointing his gun at the door.

Terrigian kicks the door sending it flying nearly off its hinges and slamming back against the wall of the office. Beyond was chaos. The bodies or mostly what was left of police officers lay strewn across the floor and many desks. Blood and papers lay splattered and scattered in every direction, but there wasn't a sign of any threat.




From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 13



"Clear," Terrigian says as he takes a step out. His foot barely touches down as his head is severed from the rest of his body. It is sent flying across the expanse of the room while his body is left to fall forward onto the floor.

The Lesser Creature drops from the ceiling onto all fours snarling. Its tongue drops from its mouth followed by a long trail of sticky saliva. It growls then leaps at Spencer. He holds his stance letting the creature fly at him until almost the last moment then he dives under and begins firing a torrent of bullets. The bullets tear into the creature putting it down before it even slams into the desk sending the desk into splinters.

"We need to get out of here and to the safety of the Black List," Sternigan says looking to Spencer.

"You think?" he answers dropping the clip from the gun and replacing it with another.

Sternigan brushes off the sarcasm turning his attention to Angela. He tightens his arms around her tighter lifting her up off the ground. "What else do we expect to see?"

"I guess you'll just have to see," she answers with laughter.

Sternigan frowns. "Just what the hell makes you want to betray us? They won't give you what they promised."

Angela laughs again. "Oh, I've already gotten what they have promised."

"What does that mean?"

Angela closes her lips into a smile and falls silent. The seconds pass and when she doesn't answer Sternigan shakes her and says, "Answer me!"

"Forget," Spencer snaps seeing the frustration and obvious stress the man was under. Spencer can see the cracks forming under the surface and it is just a matter of time before the man snaps. He can only imagine just what has been going on with the Black List especially with things to have gone this wrong. "We can question her once we're someplace safe."

"Yeah," Sternigan agrees. "You take point."

Spencer nods and cautiously steps out of the small office. No dangers present themselves and he signals the Black List leader out. They cross the expanse of the floor to the elevators without incident but both men felt and immediate sense of danger building.

Spencer pushes the down button calling the elevator car then turns to Sternigan. "Something's coming. Be ready."

Sternigan looks Spencer straight in the eye. "If it gets bad you better be prepared to drop her without hesitation or I will." Spencer looks at him with doubt. "She won't hesitate to kill you."

The doubt fades to be replaced with a hardened look. "I'll do what needs to be done."

The elevator door opens with Spencer's back to it and the look of surprise on Angela's face is barely a sign of the impending danger. Spencer starts to bring around his gun as he spins around catching sight of the demon standing in the elevator and suddenly he stops.

"Delgrious."

The demon casts a toothy grin and leaps at the human. In a split second Sternigan releases his grip to pull a pistol from beneath his jacket giving Angela her freedom. She takes a step forward and throws her foot back slamming it into Sternigan's arm into his chest and sending him back a few steps. Then using the momentum leaps forward and tackles Spencer just before the Greater Demon reaches him.

Delgrious passes over the two and slams full force into Sternigan. They fly back into a desk, ripping it in half in their wake with the large human being pinned beneath the Greater Demon.

Spencer rolls out from beneath Angela and gets to his feet just before she does and manages to step in and land his fist into the side of her face just as she is standing up. The impact sends her straight to the floor with her face almost impacting if not for her being able to get her hands underneath at the least moment.

Spencer stands over her with his gun still in his hand pointed down at her. "You intended to kill me back there didn't you?" he asks glaring down at her.

Angela rolls over slowly onto her back to face him. A smile creeps slowly across her face. "Not back there, no. We want you alive. For now. But me no mistake Spencer Reeds, I have no problems killing you."

Her cold words bite hard into him. Here is a woman he grew up with. A woman he had feelings for, one he still has feelings for, the only woman, other than Sam that he ever loved and now, she is betraying him. His hand wavers just slightly and Angela takes the opportunity and kicks the gun free from his hand. Before his mind can catch up a second kick catches him under the chin and sends him sideways into a nearby desk.

Spencer rolls up to his feet, shaking his head as the ringing in his ears fades. How the fuck is she so strong? He turns to face her and already she is on him throwing punches. Punches he is just barely able to block. She is fast and each strike he blocks stings his arms as if he were blocking a lead pipe instead of another human arm. Is my Second Sight being hampered somehow?

He continues to block each strike, just managing to stay equal with Angela and focusing on nothing else. "You must have gotten some training while I was away," he says hoping to distract her while pulling out a little information.

Angela doesn't miss a beat as she presses the attack, pushing the CATU agent back across the room. "Training has nothing to do with it," she answers. "It's because of the Chimera Project that I am stronger than you."

"The what?" he questions.

Angela smiles as she keeps the pace steady. "You'll learn more soon Reeds. There is someone that would like to see you. It is the only reason we haven't killed you yet."

"You could have fooled me," he says as he throws a nod in the direction of Delgrious. "The way he threw his self at me says otherwise."

"What do you expect?" Angela says smirking. "You are responsible for everything that happened to him. He is still a little pissed about that one."

"Then he's going to be pissed some more."

"We'll see," Angela says with a grin. "But I doubt your daughter is going to let that happen."

Before the entire sentence escapes her lips Spencer drops his guard, totally unprepared by the words he has just heard. The action costs him.

Angela's fist slips through catching his chin giving her the chance to step in with an elbow to the midsection doubling him over where Angela is able to step to the side and deliver a roundhouse kick to the side of his head sending him into darkness.

Sternigan tries to get up but struggles against the weight of the hand pressed against his throat. He blinks away the dust from his eyes and stares up and the fierceness burning in the eyes of Delgrious.

It's not often one of us gets to kill the leader of the Black List but I'm glad I have the opportunity to do so. The Greater Demon breathes anxiously.

The Black List leader is lifted into the air held high only by his throat. He struggles to fight against the demon but he finds his left arm hangs uselessly at his side. He can feel blood steadily dripping from his fingers as a large splinter of wood sticks out from his shoulder.

"Take all the pleasure you want, but ending my life isn't going to end the fight against your kind," Sternigan says defiantly.

It may well not but a snake without a head cannot strike very well.

Without another word Delgrious rotates his wrist and with a loud crunch Sternigan's neck breaks. His body goes limp and falls to the ground in a crumble.

The Greater Demon turns to the small woman and grins. Bring the human before we delay Aurelia any longer.

Angela nods and Delgrious mists away into nothing. As soon as the two humans are alone, Angela kneels beside Spencer and brushes the side of his head. "It's too bad we're on opposite sides of this little war Reeds. We could have been lovers." She leans in and brushes her lips across his.



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 14



Chirikof Island

Gulf of Alaska

STEAM SURROUNDING THE TWO LARGE CYLINDRICAL containers slowly begins to dissipate. Only one of two shadowy figures stands in the container on the left. The facility is no longer illuminated in bright lighting but now running under its red emergency backup lighting, casting everything in an even caliginous glow.

The computer off to the side of the container is casting off a steady beep with each second that steadily clicks down...4...3...2...1...Mark...

An alarm begins to blare before being cut short as the giant vault like door cracks open, hissing even more steam. The door part quickly and the figure takes its first step from the container onto the cold floor, stepping through the steam.

Revealing herself to the florid and empty facility stands the assassin, Tsyr Ker, naked and reborn. She crackles with electricity as the energy of her newfound power steadily flows over her. She holds up her hands in front of her face and looks at them with eyes of the bluest ice.

"My God..." she whispers into the silence. "I have not seen these hands since I was a little girl."

And you're going to be amazed at the things you'll be able to accomplish too.

She drops her hands and spins toward the other container looking for Rythern. He isn't there. Has he escaped somehow?

I haven't gone anywhere, at least not in the sense that you are thinking.

"Enough of your games," the assassin shouts. "Come out you fool, show yourself!"

The voice laughs as clear as if it were right next to her. The assassin whips around ready for an attack, but it doesn't come. Instead the laughter deepens.

You are stuck with me assassin. You better get used to it.

Tsyr Ker stops and closes her eyes remembering her meditation and begins to calm her body and mind. You are in my head.

Good girl.

"How?" she asks after a moment of silence.

I guess you weren't told much about the process were you?

The assassin sits on the cold floor, crossing her legs and settles a frown across her face and doesn't give an answer, closing off any thoughts.

I didn't think so, the voice says. The process is similar to the Shakti, but because of who the Asura are it is different.

"Sounds like a riddle to me," the assassin says with irritation in her voice.

The voice laughs. You my friend are now a Vajra. A being fused with an Asura. Similar to the way a demon would with a Demon Lord. Though it is strange a human like you could with me is strange in itself. How you survived is what you humans would call a miracle.

"Enough of your endless chatter," she snaps. "Why are you still here?"

More, harder laugher comes from the voice lasting longer this time. I guess I am grateful to be alive in a way I am a part of you because of the process. If it had not worked we both would have ceased to exist. It's as simple as that.

"Well there are ways of getting rid of minor annoyances," she mutters.

There is no getting rid of me. Once the process is done it's done.

"There are ways," she says assuredly. "Science doesn't have all the answers that the ancient arts have."

Being part of Tsyr Ker's core mind, Rythern's essence stretches deep, searching for answers to newfound questions of his own. He knows the assassin is skillful and sees no opportunity for her to be bluffing. She closes her eyes and slowly the corridors inside her mind begin to close down. Each avenue he takes, each pathway he turn become a dead end in the quest for answers. The assassin's mind is eerily silent and her presence overwhelms his like the moon eclipsing the sun.

Rythern's mind, what part that remains separate from his essence wonders how a mere human can overpower an Asura such as he when suddenly he stumbles into a corridor not yet closed off yet. A corridor still open with the answer he seeks staring straight at him.

With many years of extensive training in several forms of Kung Fu, she has focused her body and mind in perfect harmony to the point where she could do almost anything she wanted and if she wanted him gone, he would be gone forever. It is at this moment Rythern realizes the trouble he is in, but he is a survivor and always has been.

I propose an accord with you as I can be of some very much needed use to you.

The mental wall closes behind him. He turns to see the way to he came in closed off. When he turns back around the room he is in is gone and replaced with nothing but complete white. A vast empty space of nothing but white as far as his eyes can see.

There is plenty of information I am willing to share with you in, he begs trying not to sound too pleading.

"Strange you'd seek to survive so badly in your present state unless you hoped to gain something from it in the future," Tsyr Ker accuses.

To be released upon your death.

Silence follows and Rythern wishes he could hear her thoughts. He knows she has created some kind of mental wall but he also knows it's not something she can hold forever. Or is it?

"I find trusting you or your kind very hard as that comes from personal experience. But I'll make a deal for you my little pet." She lets herself smile. "I'll let you live and you provide me with information from time to time when needed. You do that and you can stay in your nice little box I have created for you, but the first time you double cross me will be the last time. You will cease to exist after that."

I suppose you'll want me to call you master too.

The assassin laughs heartily. "I could care less. I can only hear you and you can only hear me upon my choosing. And now we test out our new arrangement by you telling me everything you know and where I can find your master."

My master is dead.

"I don't mean Typheryian and you know it."

You truly are a smart girl. I never should have underestimated you Tsyr Ker.

"No, you shouldn't have," she answers. "And that name no longer holds meaning for me anymore. My name is Alexandra Fallon."



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 15



Fort Liberty (Formerly Androka)

Madagascar

NATALYA CROTCHES LOW ALONG THE SHORELINE looking out at the cliffside. Not far from her location sat the new Fort Liberty set up by the United States' military shortly after DEP Six's assault on the compound.

With hostility in the region high with China the United States was quick to sweep in and take advantage of the facility already set up by Maltaus before anyone else had a chance to. Russia temporarily decided it best to drop out, but it was only a matter of time before they decided to change their minds especially given the opportunity to set up shop here.

Natalya knew the base would be heavily guarded and every way in and out would either be sealed or guarded, but when something was looked through with even a fine toothed comb there was always something bound to be missed.

Natalya sits dressed in a black and bark blue tight fitting bodysuit laced with streaks of silver. The suit itself is a specialized prototype suit developed by Section 8 giving the user an advantage in two parts. The first allows natural camouflaging with shadows but further casts a cloak of invisibility around the user using the surrounding environment. The second part masks the user that has Second Sight from being detected by demons. As an added benefit, does the same for a demon.

Specifically further designed and tailored for the Succubus, are a pair of clawed gauntlets made of synthetic Mythril separated by a layer of titanium to protect Natalya from its effects. And to accent the suit is a matching waist cape designed like hanging daisy flower petals.

The beach is quiet with the only sound coming from the crashing of the waves as they come up onto the shore. Natalya checks to ensure Muramasa is secured to her back. The expanse to the cliff face is less than five hundred yards and she covers it in the moon lit glow in less than thirty seconds.

The cliff face is rocky which provides the perfect cover to the secret entrance into the base and after a short climb she reaches it. After taking one last look Natalya slips into the shadows of the cave and completely out of the cast of the moonlight.

Because she is a demon she has no need for night vision or any other technological aides. Her eyes pierce the darkness making out the curves of the rock formations as if it were lit up with a torrent of flood lights. The cave forms out into a long tunnel just a head taller than she is and runs for another three hundred feet before it opens into a larger cavern.

Natalya pauses as she turns the last curve of the tunnel into the cavern to find a soft glow of light being cast into the tunnel itself. Slowly she draws Muramasa and proceeds cautiously forward. As she breeches the mouth of the tunnel she finds the source of the light to be a small lamp. Sticking to the shadows, she further inspects the lamp, tracing it back to a small generator. She isn't at all too surprised that the secret path has been discovered. The American military were pretty thorough when it came to things like this.

Voices carrying over an echo grab her attention and she quickly swings around low searching for the source. Her eyes scan the darkness following the conversation until they settle on two soldiers about to cross over a rope suspension bridge.

Heavily armed and expecting anything.

Natalya smiles and springs into a dead run at the two men. By the time either of the two men realizes she is there it is too late. She has Muramasa up and around cutting the soldier on the right in half sending both halves over the side then back around with a diagonal slash cutting cleanly through the other soldier's assault rifle and through him. The soldier steps back with a look of shock as he bounces against the rope of the bridge, mouth agape. He tries to speak but only blood fills the void. Natalya puts her finger to her lips, "Sshh." And then she pushes the soldier over the side.

She crosses the bridge slipping back into the shadows again upon reaches the other side. With the exception of the rift the cave is small and the exit tunnel lies within another ten feet from the bridge.

She crosses into the tunnel following its winding path toward a light flooding into the mouth of the tunnel where two more soldiers stood guard. Without breaking stride she continues forward dropping Muramasa horizontally and speeds through the middle of both men slicing the one on the right in half then in one fluid motion spins around to take the other's head off at the shoulders.

Natalya is crotched back in the shadows before either of the bodies has fallen to the ground. She scans the area taking note of guard locations. Once satisfied she has them all noted her eyes settle on her target: the main complex building. To her surprise it is still in its collapsed state from DEP Six's assault on it just months before.

Yellow caution tape has been strewn across every entrance and warning signs forbidding entrance are posted many times over. It seems to Natalya that either the Americans don't know what they have lying beneath the surface or they think this is the best way to keep things under wraps. Either way, it's not going to keep her out.

Natalya sheathes Muramasa and leaps from her position into a sprint. With near blinding speed she is across the expanse and diving through a window. The glass shatters, crashing to the floor alongside her as she rolls to her feet, Muramasa already in her hand. Silence quickly drops around her like a blanket as she waits for the shouts of alarm or the pounding of boots. When neither comes she stands and sheaths her sword and brushes off the dirt she collected.

Natalya walks toward what was once the throne room, looking at the chaos along the way. At least they had the decency to clean the place up a bit.

The building was just a shell of its former self. The military had come through and pulled out the dead bodies and any weapons and important documents, but left furniture, rumble and blood where it lay. It seemed they were as much of a hurry to vacate the building as they were to move into the base.

Eventually Natalya comes to stand before the entrance of the throne room which is blocked by an impregnable wall of rubble. She snickers and slowly dissipates into a haze of mist and rematerializes in a tall cylindrical cavern. Standing on a ledge just large enough to sustain her, Natalya looks out to see Talilith floating in a bubble over an abyss of emptiness. The Djinn is motionless and her eyes remain closed appearing to be in hibernation.

Natalya reaches out and touches the Djinn's face and is instantly taken back...

~

"It has been months now and we are no closer to taking down the Asura than when I arrived here," Natalya said looking up from the bed of the small room.

Dasha Maykov crossed her arms and continued to look out the curtain of the door of their meeting place. She was not at all happy with the sudden meeting the younger Black List member insisted on calling but her older sister Talilith didn't seem all too worried about it.

"And I have told you not to worry," Talilith said with a smile. "My sister and I have been working with Maltaus since before your arrival and with his help we—"

"Maltaus is a demon himself, the very ones we are supposed to be hunting down," Natalya nearly screamed.

Dasha snickered and looked over toward the two women. "Look who's talking." She took a step away from the door letting the curtain fall into place. "You have been working with Delgrious for the last few months yourself."

Natalya's face betrayed her and both sisters smiled at the fact. "Yes we know of it," Dasha continued. "Tancheres' personal assistant will betray you the first opportunity he can get and you thought it wise to hide it from us, the only two that could bail your ass out of that when the time came?"

"I-I..."

"Didn't think of that?" Talilith asked.

"No, I guess not."

"You are still new to this my young friend," Talilith said crossing the room to place a hand on her shoulder. "Yet you will learn or perish in the process. Do not worry about his betray of you though."

"What?"

"Delgrious is a Greater Demon and the demons do not have a great standing with the Asura as you already know so no matter how much loyalty he has pledged to Tancheres you can believe Delgrious has his own agenda."

Dasha shot Talilith a harsh look and Talilith smiled lightly back to her. Talilith sat down next to Natalya and brushed her hand across Natalya's taught breast as she moved her hand down Natalya's stomach to her pants.

"What are you doing?" Natalya breathed heavily though she suddenly didn't feel a want to resist. Her nipples became hard and her breathing turned to short gasps. Just the thought of the woman touching her this way was getting her hot.

"We're just showing you a side of things you have yet to explore," Talilith replied as she slipped her hand smoothly into Natalya's pants, brushing over her mound lightly. Natalya gasped as Talilith's fingers moved over her rock hard clit. "You have to learn to trust us." Talilith's slid down past her clit to her soaking wet pussy and slowly inserted a finger. Natalya let out a moan. She closed her eyes and her mouth dropped open as the older woman began to pump her finger into her younger pussy.

Across the room, Dasha moved closer to the two women. "That's lovely sis. Slide your fingers up and down where it's all wet," she muttered anxiously. She sat down next to them and slid her hand into her own pants and began to finger herself.

Natalya looked up at the other woman catching her eyes and became mesmerized by those emerald green eyes, gleaming with lust. She was entranced and her body felt like it was on fire. Dasha leaned down and kissed her passionately. Their tongues intertwined. Natalya gave a little moan as Dasha's hand began to move up her shirt and began to massage her nicely rounded breasts.

Talilith continued to pump her finger in and out of Natalya's wet, hot pussy and its effects began to take a toll on the younger woman.

"Oh, God!" Natalya moaned. "I'm gonna cum!"

This drove Talilith to pump her finger in and out faster and harder. "Ugh!" she grunted as her orgasm burst upon her. She thrust her hips upward, clamping Talilith's hand against her groin as an incredible orgasm coursed through her. It seemed to go on forever.

Talilith removed her finger and brought her hand up to her mouth to taste Natalya's juices. They tasted like pure heaven. She then put her finger up to Dasha's lips. She took her sister's finger into her mouth, tasting the sweet nectar. As Talilith pulled her finger from Dasha's mouth, she replaced it with her tongue, kissing Dasha deeply. Dasha's hands quickly worked up and down on Talilith's body, gently rubbing her breasts and her round ass. They fell back on the bed, their hands probing and fondling. Talilith broke their embrace and sat back on the bed. She lifted her shirt over her head, exposing her gorgeous breasts. Dasha followed suit, removing her shirt. Talilith hooked her hands around the waistband over her pant, carefully and teasingly sliding them down and off. Dasha, too, wiggled out of her own, drenched pants. Talilith then laid on top of Dasha, their breasts pressing together. Dasha positioned her thigh between her sister's legs, rubbing her pussy in rhythm. They began again to kiss deeply, letting out load, consistent moans.

Natalya, as she watched the sisters and after she removed her own clothing, moved her fingers to her hard clit and began to rub it. The sisters breasts squashed together and they were becoming soaking wet from all their skin on skin contact. Talilith then began to kiss her way down Dasha's neck to her chest. She took each of sister's breasts into her mouth. Dasha leaned her head back and moaned loudly. Talilith moved her hand down and began to gently massage her mound. Dasha began to breathe hard and moan consistently. Talilith turned her attention from her sister's breasts and she began to kiss her way down her firm stomach. When she reached her goal, she took a long hard sniff at Dasha's musky pussy scent. She then began to kiss her inner thighs. Dasha moaned each time Talilith's sweet lips connected with her skin. Talilith finally drove her tongue into her sister's hot pussy. She gently flicked Dasha's clit with her tongue, sending electric shockwaves through her entire body. Dasha moaned loudly.

As Talilith again inserted her tongue into Dasha's hot hole, she felt a pair of hands tugging at her hips. Startled, she turned her head, catching a glimpse of Natalya. She leaned her head down and ran her tongue down Talilith's ass crack and across her slit. When Natalya's tongue reached Talilith's clit, Talilith let out a loud gasp as a wave of hot ecstasy ran through her body. She turned her head back around and went right back to eating Dasha's pussy. She drove her tongue in deep, thrusting deeper and deeper. Dasha began to thrust her hips. Talilith could feel Natalya's warm tongue as it slipped between her hot lips. Talilith kept working diligently on her sister's pussy.

Natalya heard Dasha scream as her pussy erupted into Talilith's face. "Oh, God!"

This drove Natalya over the edge. "Mmm! she moaned as her pussy convulsed and erupted. Dasha fell into the bed, spent.

Talilith turned her attention now to Natalya. She disengaged from her sister's pussy and rolled over and lay back onto the bed next to her. Natalya instinctively got on top of her in a sixty-nine position and once again Talilith went back to work on her pussy, gently flicking her clit with her tongue before diving down deep into her pussy. She ran her tongue over Natalya's clit and Natalya let out a loud moan. She kept running her tongue down Natalya's slit until she gently licked her asshole. She then moved back to Natalya's pouty lips and inserted her tongue deep into her pussy. They were both soaking wet and very close to powerful orgasms.

"Mmm!" Talilith moaned.

Natalya didn't have enough lung power to moan, she was breathing so hard that she was almost out of breath. She felt a hot wave of passion and ecstasy running down her body as she knew that she would explode any minute. She picked up the pace on Talilith's pussy, wanting her to cum at the same time. Simultaneously, their young pussies convulsed and they both exploded in mind blowing orgasms.

"Oh, God! Fuck!" Natalya screamed, coming up for air. Her pussy kept pumping out her hot juice and Talilith lapped it all up. Talilith's pussy juices were flowing profusely as well and Natalya had a hard time getting it all, but she did. Her body kept convulsing, a seamless electric current running through her body as her orgasm began to subside.

Natalya finally sat up when she regained her strength. Both she and Talilith stood and took a few steps before they fell into the bed. They couldn't go any further because their legs were so weak from their powerful orgasms. They laid there on their bed, all three, softly kissing and fondling each other.

NATALYA IS FLUNG AGAINST THE WALL with such violence that she doesn't have time to brace herself for the impact. Her back is the first to hit followed by her head which causes her to temporarily blackout. When her vision does clear, she opens her eyes to see a pair of jade eyes staring down at her.

Surprise courses through Natalya but she only smiles in response to the staring pair of eyes. She stares back with the same intensity as the eyes as she picks herself up and then brushes the dirt off. "Now that wasn't very welcoming, especially after that little memory," she says shifting her legs a bit uncomfortably, feeling a little wetness between her legs.

Talilith scowls, her face contorts into anger. "How dare you come here and mock me. I will kill you!"

Natalya stands defiantly toward the stronger demon. "You hold no power over me while imprisoned."

Talilith laughs loudly. The sound of her laughter reverberates off the walls amplifying the sound tenfold. "Not in the real world, but in this world I do. I could squash you like a little fly and be done with you. You have entered my prison chamber and if I chose you would not leave until I do!" Her eyes flare in intensity and suddenly Natalya feels herself dropping uncontrollably to her knees. "You are still weak."

"Weakness is only what we make of it," Natalya replies through gritted teeth.

Talilith laughs again. "Then show me my little bitch. Draw your precious sword and strike me down. End this fucking torment I so suffer, prove to me you are stronger than I, that a mere Succubus is above the station of a Djinn."

Natalya doesn't budge as sweat pours down her face. She feels the heat of the small cavern intensify as if a furnace has suddenly kicked on. Her suit is working normal but it doesn't feel like it is doing much good at keeping her cool. She tries to move her hand to no avail as she can feel every muscle fiber struggle against an unseen force.

"Control," the Djinn says softly. "It is a simple task that even you posses and yet you cannot master because you are too weak." Talilith sighs. "It is not your fault that a mere creature as yourself is limited."

Then as suddenly as she couldn't move, Natalya was falling to the ground. She manages to stop herself from slamming face first just inches before impact. She stays laying there for a few moments before climbing back up to her feet. She looks up at Talilith. The Djinn is settled back with a small smile spread out across her face; arms crossed across her chest.

"Control has always been something you have tried to have even over your own sister."

Talilith's smile quickly turns into a frown. She knew exactly what Natalya referred to. "My sister wanting to live a peaceful life with some human was unacceptable!" she blurts. "To have children is fine as we demons need to continue to populate and spread our seed, but she wanted to leave everything we spent millennia working toward."

"So you made sure to have her eliminated if she didn't see your way," Natalya says. "Fitting the task befell me while I was running the DEP program while in the CIA. I guess you didn't suspect I was slipping my way into Maltaus' bed as he was slipping you out of it." Natalya smiles which only angers Talilith more.

"You have been a manipulative little bitch for some time Natalya, even back to the first time I laid eyes on you."

"It didn't take me too long after that day either to realize you and Dasha had become what you were and asserted your control over me," Natalya says without a hint of animosity to her voice.

"An enlightening experience," the Djinn replies. "Though Dasha didn't agree at the time and not really much afterward, I couldn't see a better way to introduce you to the power we had been introduced to. She had her doubts and I see why now, but I believed you would come around to our side. It's a shame really."

Natalya smiles. "Yes, it was enlightening. Like a fool I took an offer for power from Tancheres and have found myself millennia later still without it."

Talilith laughs again. "And here you are. At my feet reminiscing with a vain attempt to finish something you could never have while I was not imprisoned." She points a taloned finger down at Natalya. "You will once again fail in your countless endeavor of trying to kill me Natalya. Every time you have tried, you have failed and miraculously escaped, but not today and not now!"




From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 15



"That's where you are wrong Talilith!" Natalya snaps. "I killed your sister and I am here to finally end things with you. You reap what you sow and I am here to take what is mine!"

Surprised with Natalya's bold claims, Talilith drops her hand and clutches her stomach, letting out a hearty laugh. "You foolish bitch. You don't give up, even in the direst of situations."

"You're right I don't especially when I have the tools needed to get the job done right," she says and from a pouch she pulls out a small pendant attached to a bluish rope.

The glint instantly catches Talilith's eye. "You think a string of Mythril is going to defeat me?"

"Not really, but the Nandi Talisman provides the means to the end," Natalya quips back. "With the Nandi Talisman I release you from the imprisonment set forth by the Demon Lord Avyanna and take you power and give it to me!"

The bubble surrounding Talilith falters and disappears and the Djinn drops. She starts to fall before suddenly stopping and once again she is suspended midair. A strange and painful feeling stings through the core of her being like a fiery hand reaching into her body and latching onto her soul that is trying to rip it free of its prison.

A moment later Talilith's soul finally tears free of her body to swirl above her head then it shoots straight out at Natalya. A searing heat filters through the Succubus. Instead of a terrible burning feeling like the one Talilith felt, she feels a soothing and warm invigorating feeling flow through her.

When Natalya opens her eyes Talilith is gone and she is alone in the cavern. She stands up from her kneeling position and smiles. She mists away dropping the Nandi Talisman to the ground.



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 16



Paris

France

THE FOUR CATU AGENTS SIT IN a safe house staring at a screen with CATU's director Mike Grines on the other end and not looking too pleased.

"I'm not familiar with the agent you spoke of and it seems that currently any contact with the Black List doesn't seem possible," he says. "Besides that, reports are filtering out of the country that CATU is responsible for President Valois' death."

"That's just fucking crazy," Cassidy blurts.

Grines sits back into his chair. His expression of anger doesn't change and it only appears to deepen. Cassidy is about to say more when she catches a glare from Stone and she quickly closes her mouth.

"Regardless how fucking crazy it is or not there is apparently some type of footage portraying you Agent Cassidy and Agent Greyson as the ones responsible," Grines points out.

"You can't be serious!" It is now Greyson's turn to object.

"I can, but I don't believe either of you are responsible," Grines admits. "Video footage can be faked, but as it stands we do have problems on our hands. As of right now you four are safe, but getting you out can be a challenge"

"We'll do what needs to be done on our end here," Dupree is the first to respond. "Just let us know what needs to be done."

"Good. It will take some time to have the arrangements made, but expect to be moving by morning."

"What kind of pressure is this putting on us?" Stone decides to ask. None of them have had the chance to turn on the television and check the news and Grines is the first person they have found any of this from.

Grines' expression softens a little, but only momentarily then once again it hardens as his eyes set back to a cold stare at the four agents. "President McKinsey has sent numerous summons and the same with Director Nichols of the FBI, but I intend to put them off as long as I can. I have a feeling things will not being going well with this development."

"But even you said the footage can be faked," Dupree argues.

"Even so," he shoots back. "But once again CATU is being called out into the open when we're supposed to be nonexistent after the President guaranteed we were. We have to face the facts that we screwed up."

"I ain't buying it," Stone says. "This has got to be the doing of Section 8."

"And we'll have to work hard to prove it," Grines says. "It is why it is imperative you get back here successfully. It may also put us all on the opposite side of the law until we get to the bottom of it all."

"Heh," Greyson says. "I've already signed up for this crazy train I may as well see it through."

"You got me and Dupree boss," Stone says.

"Oh so now you think you can answer for me?"

Stone says smiling. "You're in or I'm handing you over to the French authorities myself."

"Oh, we'll see about that one," Dupree winks at Stone then turns to the screen. "I'm in boss."

Silence falls and everyone turns to Cassidy who is sitting on the couch cleaning her nails. She looks up with a blank expression and says, "What?"

"Are you in or not?" Stone asks incredulously.

"Seriously?" she asks raising her eye brows. She looks over to Greyson.

He laughs heartily. "Yeah, she's in. No doubt about that one."

"Good," Grines says, still not showing any real emotion. "You'll have more specific orders when your transports arrive tomorrow, but in the meantime you'll once again be split into two teams. Greyson and Cassidy will be heading to a small island near Madagascar named Mauritius while Stone and Dupree will be coming back to D.C."

"Isn't that pretty close to Fort Liberty?" Stone asks.

"It is, but you'll get in and hopefully out without drawing any military attention. Like I said, tomorrow you'll have further instructions with your transports. In the meantime, get some rest and good luck."

Grines doesn't give any of the agents a chance to reply before cutting the connection short and the screen goes blank.

"Well things are getting just a little more fucked up than they were before," Stone says.

"You're telling me," Greyson agrees with a snort. "Well I'm going to do just what Grines suggested and get some much needed rest."

"I hear that one," Dupree says standing up. "But first I need a good and long hot shower. I don't ever want to see a sewer again as long as I live."

Stone laughs. "Come on. Where's your sense of adventure Mel?"

She glares at him. "How about we see where yours is when there isn't any hot water left." She turns and heads through the hall toward bathroom. Stone bounds up and races after her and it quickly become a race to the bathroom.

"Not too bad for an old man today," Cassidy says just before Greyson walks into his room.

He turns around and gives her a grizzled look and says, "Old man?"

She grins and within seconds she is off the couch, pressing her body against his. Her mouth touches his for a soft, sweet kiss that lasts for only a few seconds.

Greyson draws back. "I'm sorry."

It quickly leaves Cassidy confused and aroused and full of guilt. She presses against him more, standing on her tip toes to reach him, he'd bends his head to meet hers and their second kiss leads to much more.

"We can't do this," he whispers. "We're partners for God's sake."

"I won't let that compromise anything if you don't," Cassidy whispers back.

Greyson lets the thought filter through then grabs up Cassidy and carries her into the room and drops her onto the bed. Greyson begins kissing his way down the center of her body, pushing the fabric of her shirt up to bare her stomach for his mouth. He pushes her shirt high, his hands curving up and over her breasts and she arches my back.

Greyson's mouth moves lower until Cassidy feels his teeth against the front of her jeans. She lifts her head and he meets her eyes, his hands still cupping her breasts and he looks at her with such ferocious hunger it sends a chill through her.

Greyson moves, slipping off the bed, his hands leaving her breasts reluctantly. Cassidy thinks he is going to stand up and leave, maybe having second thoughts, but instead he strips off his shirt and leans over her, his hands grasping her hips as he pulls her across the surface of the bed toward him.

He puts a finger to his lips, putting on a serious face. Then he reaches for the button on her jeans. She can't help but laugh. Cassidy watches his muscular arms and chest as he quickly and efficiently unbuttons and unzips her pants.

Greyson is tugging her jeans down, dragging her panties with them, his eyes focused on the skin he is baring as he goes. Cassidy watches him, thrilled as he drops the clothes to the floor and lifts her legs, parting them, staring at her pussy as he presses her thighs wide. She shivers, knowing she is wet and swollen.

He drops to his knees between her legs, takes a moment to strip off his shirt and pulls her closer, delivering her pussy to his waiting mouth. Cassidy tenses in anticipation of the heat of his touch. He moves slowly so that at first she feels his breath on her skin and then a second later, the warmth of his lips as he kisses her labia.

"If you I had known you were going to do this, we'd have showered first," she says with the last word coming out a sigh as he presses his lips to her pussy again. Greyson doesn't says anything and when she lifts her head to look at him, the slit of her pussy is clearly visible as is the pink tip of his tongue as he slides it between her pussy lips.

Her head falls back to the bed's surface and she clamps her mouth shut as Greyson begins to slowly eat her pussy. Cassidy slides her hands up over her breasts and strokes them, pausing to undo the fastener of her bra to remove the barrier of fabric. Greyson glances up, not lifting his head and moans appreciatively as she runs her fingers over her erect nipples, encircling them and increasing her pleasure.

Greyson continues to lick his way around her labia, avoiding her clit, turning her on slowly, tightening her arousal like a guitar string. She pants as he licks and sucks, thrilled by the wet sounds.

Cassidy has to bite her lip when his tongue finally touches her clit as it sends a shock through her whole body. She pinches her nipples and squirms, holding her breath to keep from crying out as his tongue flicks over and around the sensitive flesh. He licks until she is squirming with pleasure and then drops low, thrusting his tongue deep inside her, eliciting a long, soft moan from her.

After a second he returns to licking her again, more slowly, from top to bottom in a lazy stroking motion, letting his tongue dip into her pussy hole before returning to her clit to circle it with the tip of his tongue. She squirms and arches her back, still stroking her nipples.

"I want your cock," Cassidy says, trying to sit up. "I want to cum."

He grins and kisses her clit once before letting go of her thighs and standing up. Cassidy strips off my shirt and bra and watches with anticipation as he undoes the fastener on his jeans and begins to lower them. Her pussy throbs when his cock springs free from the confines of his pants and she feels her mouth begin to water.

Cassidy sat up and as soon as he stepped out of his jeans she is reaching for him, wrapping her fingers around his thick shaft and stroking the smooth skin lightly. He takes a step toward her and slides his fingers through her hair, combing the long strands fondly.

She leans closer and opens her mouth, kissing the very tip of his cock wetly. He sighs and she smiles to herself. She leans closer still and runs her tongue around the fat head of his cock, swirling and circling for a while before dragging it all the way down the length of his shaft, holding it lightly in one hand while her other hand slides between his legs to cup his balls, drawing out a deeper this time.

She returns to the head of his cock and takes it between her lips, sucking lightly, lifting her gaze to meet his. "Mmm," he says fondly. "That's it."

Cassidy smiles around his cock and sucks him deeper letting her lips slip past the flared end of his cockhead. She moves her tongue in waves against the underside of his cock and he slides his hands into her hair, cradling her head in his huge palms.

She works her mouth down his cock and drops her hand to his thigh, letting him guide himself over her tongue. He rocks, sliding his cock forward and back, stroking himself in the warm smoothness of her mouth. She rocks too, wanting to take him deeper to push his arousal higher and starts stroking his balls, noticing they are tightening already.

"You are fantastic," Greyson moans. "I love your mouth."

He holds her head in his hands lightly and together they move. His cock slides further and further into her mouth, making her lips flare wide as his thickness stretches them. Gradually, his pace quickens and his breathing grows heavy. She cups his tight balls in her palm and pushes forward more, fighting her gag reflex as the tipoff his cock reaches the back of her mouth.

"Oh baby, that's deep," he whispers. She pulls at him, wrapping her hands around his hard thighs and pulling until his cock slides deeper still. She moves her tongue as best as she can and he groans, his grip on her head tightening. "Fuck," he says. "That's fucking good."

Cassidy moves forward and back slowly, concentrating on the motion of her tongue along the underside of his cock, paying close attention to his reactions as she does. She takes him deep again and holds him there, on the verge of being unable to breathe, and he holds her head tight pressing himself against the back of her throat.

"You're going to make me cum," he says in a strained breath.

Cassidy feels herself gagging and draws back, recovering only when his cock has left her lips. "Do it," she whispers looking up at him. She moves forward, engulfing his cock and he tenses, pushing hard until her body spasms as she gags.

"Oh fuck. That's nice," he gasps. "I'm going to cum right down your throat if you keep it up."

Cassidy draws back again, gasping for breath and is ready to take him back in her mouth again when he reaches for her and pulls her to her feet. He kisses her, his hands roaming over her body as he does.

"No, I want that tight pussy of yours," he groans against her lips.

Greyson slides a hand between her legs and strokes her for a second while he kisses. She squirms against his fingers and then he brings them up to her mouth and presses them between her lips. Cassidy tastes her own pussy on his fingers and sucks eagerly, much to Greyson's delight.

"Taste the sweetest little pussy in the world," he says smiling.

She gasps and he withdraws his fingers and spins her around, wrapping his arm around her waist. Cassidy feels his hard cock against her ass and then his hand angling it as he bends his knees to compensate for the height difference. He strokes her pussy with the blunt head, nudging at the entrance to her pussy teasingly as he lowers his mouth to her ear. He licks her earlobe as he holds his cock half an inch inside her, rocking slightly.

Greyson slides his hand up her body and cups a breast, rolling the nipple under his palm. He enters her slowly, until their bodies meet. He shifts his hands, sliding one around her waist again and the other slides down to cradle her chin. He kisses her ear and a shiver runs through her, making her pussy throb.

"I love your tight pussy," he whispers, pushing deeper. He draws back and plunges back inside again, making Cassidy whimper in pleasure. Then he draws back again and slowly enters her, this time bending his knees and pushing even deeper until his body touches hers.

"Fuck," he moans, his hot breath filling her ear. "You're so sexy, so fucking sexy."

He rocks against her, filling her slowly again and again, holding her tight against his body. She can feel the tension inside building. His slow motions stretch and massage her from within.

Cassidy slides her hand between her legs, parting them slightly and jumps when her fingers touch her clit. She shakes for a second and Greyson's cock slides deeper, his body presses harder against hers.

He withdraws and turns her around to face him, lifting her easily from the floor. Cassidy hooks her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. She kisses him and lets him guide her body, angling his hips until she feels the touch of his cock at her pussy again. He loses his grip and lets gravity drop her down, his cock jamming deep in one motion.

He hooks his arms under her knees, spreading her legs a little and she hangs onto his neck while he supported her weight, his hands tight on her ass. And then he begins to guide her up and down over his cock, lifting her up and letting her drop, fucking her from below.

His pace increases gradually and she kisses his mouth, sucking his tongue each time he slides it between her lips. His arms are tense and his skin is wet with sweat, burning hot. He draws back from their kiss and looks at her. He watches her face as he bounces her a little faster, letting gravity pull her down hard over his cock. She hangs onto him and whimpers as his fucking grows more and more fevered and rough.

Cassidy moans and he maintains a steady rhythm, lifting her high and letting her drop. His ands spread the flesh of her ass, fingers digging in. Sweat blooms across his brow and his breath is coming too fast for them to kiss. His is close and the thought thrills Cassidy to the core.

"Oh Raven," he says breathlessly. "I'm gonna cum, baby. Fuck I'm gonna cum."

He stops moving for a second and holds her tight, his cock buried deep inside of her. Then he bends his knees and lowers her to the floor. His cock leaves her briefly until he repositions himself, pushing her knees back to her shoulders and falling on her, thrusting deep and hard.

His eyes are locked on Cassidy's as he fills and fucks her harder. His square jaw is set. The muscles tense and bulge while the lust and pleasure show in his expression.

Cassidy feels him quiver as he continues to thrust and knows by the twist of his brow that he is coming. His cock shoots jet after jet of thick cum inside her. She tenses as his weight presses down against her and he fills her more slowly a few times, using the tightness of her pussy to milk his cock. He pauses, still for a second and she can feel the twitch of his cock as it jumps inside her pussy. Then he buries himself deep again and sighs. His head drops to his chest, breaking eye contact with her for the first time.

He shifts his arms, lowering her legs and slides his hands behind her, lifting her from the floor. His cock is still inside her and he pulls her tight against him. He sits back on his heels, breathing hard against her neck. She can feel the strong thump of his heart in his huge chest as he holds her against him, the rapid expansion of his lungs pressing them closer each time.

He holds her for a minute, his breathing gradually slowing and then he loosens his grip bringing his mouth to hers to kiss her softly. She can feel his cock slipping from her body as he lowers her to the floor again. He kisses her mouth and moves lower, kissing his way down her body again. He lifts her legs and she gasps in anticipation, guessing what he is about to do. She feels the heat of his mouth on her pussy and he groans. His tongue moves between the swollen labia and deeps inside to lap up his own cum from her pussy.

Cassidy groans too, not from the touch so much as the thrill of the act. She reaches down and threads her fingers through his hair and he continues to lick at her pussy for a moment longer.

"Kiss me," Cassidy whispers suddenly desperate to feel his mouth on hers, to taste his cum from his own mouth.

He crawls back up her body and presses his lips to hers, parting them with his tongue. She meets it with her own, searching for the taste and groans when she feels the warm slither of cum enter her mouth. She clutches at him and he kisses her deeply and without restraint until his kisses grow softer and sweeter.

He rises, pulling her with him onto the bed. She curls into his strong arms and closes her eyes for a moment, savoring the sensations in her body, the slight throb of my pussy, the taste of cum in her mouth.

DUPREE SHRIEKS AS STONE WRAPS HIS arms around her waist almost tackling her as they enter the bathroom. She turns around in his arms and kisses him. "I didn't think I'd ever give in to you."

Stone gives her a lopsided grin. "You've got to give in to your needs every now and then."

She lets go and takes a step back, grabbing Stone by his belt and pulling him further into the bathroom. She frees his cock and sits down on the toilet. "You just don't know," she says with her eyes focus on his growing cock.

"Very nice cock, I'm going to enjoy this," she purrs softly, then licks his shaft with her warm, wet tongue.

Stone shudders under her careful attention and gasps when she takes his cock in her mouth. Dupree is soft and tender. Her throat deep and she artfully deep throats him. Her eyes stay on his face, watching his every enjoyment.

While she continues to suck him, she undoes his belt and moves his pants and shorts furthers down. "I think it's hard enough now," she says with a grin.

They trade places and she removes her clothing and gently sits down in his lap, Stone's cock disappearing in her pussy with a little help from her hand as she is comfortably impaled on his cock.

Dupree pulls him in closer and kisses him softly on the lips. Stone slips his hands behind her back and hugs her as she starts to ride his hard cock in earnest.

After a minute Dupree says, "So much for getting some rest."

Stone smiles at her. "Yeah, but this is very relaxing." And he starts to play with her bouncing breasts.





From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 16



"Good," she pants and works her pussy muscles.

"Oh, hell yes," Stone manages to get out when he feels her muscles grip his cock like a vice and begin stripping his skin back hard each time she rams her pussy down. He presses her breasts against his face as she works his cock with just her hip movements, standing slightly above him and never losing his grip of his cock.

Stone moans and Dupree matches them with her own. She arches her back placing her hands on his knees for balance. The movement alters the angle in which his cock enters her and now she moves more forward and backward, allowing her to tighten her pussy even more.

"Oh, fuck," she moans. "I'm going to cum."

Stone stays silent except from his moans. His breath is short and ragged as she rides him. Then suddenly he gasps, "Oh, shit, I'm cumming," as she plows down on his cock again.

"Fill me," she cries as she feels his throbbing start. She rubs her clit against his pelvic bone as hard as she can, forcing the final bit of pleasure to make her come as well. His cum explodes from his cock. His balls force the load out of him with extreme force. Pulse after pulse fills her tight pussy with his cum as he holds her close, moaning loudly with each pulse.

Dupree feels his cum shoot in her. The force of his orgasm is extremely pleasurable and with the little help she gave her clit, she feels her own orgasm rise quickly. Before Stone is done pumping her full of cum, Dupree cums hard.

Her body tenses for a moment then relaxes. Dupree slides off Stone and once again they trade places with Stone sliding between her knees. He licks his lips as he kneels in front of her.

Stone's hands move from her feet up to her thighs. The sensation of her smooth skin beneath his fingers stirs his cock back to life. He caresses her thighs with his hands as he brings his face closer to her pussy. His breath on her pussy causes her to shudder a bit. She's so high strung she feels that she has to refrain herself from pushing his face into her pussy.

Stone is softly caressing her thighs still, his nose close to her clit as she hears him inhale deeply.

His hands move up and with soft strokes he makes his way up to her breasts, massaging them gently before pinching her nipples with the slightest touch.

A gasp escapes her lips and she leans back so her breasts stand out even more for him.

"Mmm, so soft," he whispers and breathes gently on her clit. Her body trembles in anticipation.

His tongue feels like a warm erotic blanket on her thick lips and as he moves his tongue up to her clit, she breathes deeply, exhaling in a sigh when he softly sucks on her clit. The warmth of his mouth and tongue send shivers through her spine and with his second lick she let out a loud moan urging him on.

Her taste mixed with his cum enthralls him even more as he delves deeper, stretching his tongue as far and as deep as it will go. The response is an increase in the production of her juices and with a grin, Stone spreads the extra moisture through her slit.

He feels his face getting wetter and his cock harder as he increases the frequency of his laps. The soft moaning sounds coming from Dupree increase his own arousal. Dupree starts to move her hips to his rhythm trying to increase the slow building sensation that tells her another orgasm is on the way.

Feeling Dupree's hips buck, Stone increases his speed and pushes her legs even further apart, listening to her tagged breathing as an indicator on how close she is. The muscles in her legs start to tense and her breath staggers a bit when Stone suddenly stops his tongue work and blows softly against her clit.

The sudden change of sensations almost makes her cum but a frustrated gasp leaves her mouth as she feels her building storm turn down a notch.

Stone waits a few seconds before licking and sucking her clit again. With each tease, he increases the tension in her until she really blows. She feels the inner pressure for an orgasm grow steadily as her body starts to betray her.

After the fifth time he has almost made her cum. She feels her entire body start to shake with tension. Her breath becomes erratic and her clit almost hurts with the need to release.

Feeling her body on the verge of collapse, Stone finally pushes her over the edge. With a soft suck and teasing tongue over her clit, Dupree loses her strength in her arms and falls back on the toilet. She starts to shake and cry in delight.

The warm fire that starts in her pussy spreads through her body as a wildfire. Every nerve shoots up in pleasure as the heat passes. Her breath is in gasps and her body feels as light as a feather.

Her hands touch her body in all her erogenous zones as she is bathed in her climax, increasing the pleasure she gets from it and raising her arousal to extremes.

"Son of a bitch," she whispers as her hands softly caress her sensitive lips and clit, causing a few more shudders of pleasure.

Stone stands and leans over to gently kiss her lips.

After a moment, the sensations finally settle and Stone feels Dupree's soft touch wrap around his hard cock and slowly begin to massage his shaft. She moves quickly from massaging him to jacking him hard.

"Ah, fuck," Stone moans and stands back, his cock getting a furious hand job.

"That's more like it," Dupree coos. "I want you to cum all over me."

"I can do just that," he pants as he feels his balls start to tighten.

His cock unleashes a torrent of long, thick blobs onto her breasts. His breath is quick and ragged and she feels his body relax. She moves up off the toilet and takes his still hard and spent cock in her mouth and gently sucks and licks his head. Stone feels her lips on his cockhead and he moans loudly as she plays with it.

After a minute she lets go of his cock and says, "I could suck your cock for hours. I love the way your skin feels on my tongue." With a sigh she stands up, his cum drips from her breasts and belly.

She grabs his cock and looks at it with smoldering eyes before turning her face back to his. "I want this back in me now," she says firmly and pushes him back onto the toilet before climbing back onto is lap.

Stone simply lifts her up and slowly sits her down on his cock. Her hands assist until his cockhead disappears in her wet hole and she wraps them around his neck.

"Better?" he asks when she slowly sinks down his shaft.

The heat from her pussy is incredible and she whimpers a little until she reaches the end. "Yes," Dupree sighs as she starts to ride him. Her pussy was already wet when he entered but after a few bounces it is absolutely soaked. "Oh this is good," she says and increases her speed.

Stone feels her juices slowly drip down between his legs. His gaze fixes on her body ramming itself down on his cock. Then he grabs her ass and stands up. He lets her sink all the way down on his cock before holding her there. Her feet dangle in the dangle as she is suspended in the air. Dupree wraps her legs around him and tries to push even harder down on his cock.

"Nice," Stone hisses in pleasure and pushes her back against the sink, fucking her hard.

"Oh, yes," Dupree gasps as the shift in position benefits the stimuli her clit is getting.

Soon she is panting in his neck and he can feel her cunt starting to tighten. "Close?" he asks quickly.

When she nods, he increases the force and speed in which he rams his cock in her.

"Now!" she cries as he feels her tense and then goes limp. Her body shakes against his as he continues to fuck her. "Oh shit, oh shit," she moans as wave after wave of heat passes through her, intensified by his relentless assault on her pussy.

Stone is getting very close to cumming as well and just before he does he moves his hands around to her shoulders, pulling her down hard as he pushes up with his hips. Trapped between Stone's body and the sink, Dupree rides the thin line between pleasure and pain as he forces himself further in than is pleasurable.

With an animalistic cry he cums, holding her close as he shoots his load in her. Each pulse makes him shake and Dupree feels every shot enter her. The sensation is so great that she forgets the less pleasurable part of her position for a moment and focuses on his orgasm.

When he is done he sets her down and she falls to her knees to kneel in front of him. She takes his cock in her mouth letting her tongue slide all over it. Stone feels his knees weaken as she gives his cock a good oral cleaning. "Damn, that was one damn good orgasm after another," he says.

Dupree smiles, "Yes it has, but I do think we need a shower."



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 17



The Sahara

Africa

THE MOON CASTS ITS EERIE GLOW across the cool sand of the vast empty desert plains of the Sahara as the wind steadily sweeps across and over the many already windswept dunes. A desert viper prepares to strike out at a shrew as it munches on a beetle. It coils and is about to strike when suddenly it is interrupted as the ground begins to shake. The shrew drops its meal, totally oblivious to the viper, and looks off toward the direction of the giant facility in the distance and runs off in the opposite direction. The viper frightened by the sudden tremors slithers away looking for a hiding place.

The shaking lasts for a few more minutes before settling down to a low tremor then dying out completely. A few minutes later the desert returns to a normalcy, showing no signs that life was ever interrupted.

The viper slowly slithers out from under the safety of a rock outcropping and quickly slithers back when a large light shines down on it. The light plays across the desert floor as it is carried on the underside of an Apache AH-64A as it flies over toward the facility.

It glides effortlessly and nearly silently through the air landing only a minute later on a specially designed platform, high on one of the facility's dual towers. When the rotors finally die down and come to a stop, the cockpit pops open and the two figures inside are quickly greeted by the facility's security director.

"Welcome to True Energy's Sahara Facility," Rolan Brish says as Errios drops down onto the platform.

"Is everything ready for tomorrow's attack?"

"We have just run the final test just before your arrival. We have the satellites ready and the batteries are fully charged. We are ready for full lockdown when we begin," Rolan explains.

"Good." Errios waves a hand and a much larger female in a body suit, crawls out of the cockpit and drops to the platform.

Rolan looks past Errios at the woman and though see is a full head taller than he is, she is very striking in beauty with large breasts and long, dark hair.

"We weren't expecting anyone," he says smiling.

"A small change of plans," Errios says with brushing off tone. "Tancheres is afraid this place will get hit and doesn't think you or I are up to the challenge so he has sent a horseman, Ehiel," she says walking past the man.

Rolan chuckles at a thought and says, "After that beating Ratmmas gave you I hope anything less than a horseman would be a problem."

Errios spins around and grabs the human by the throat lifting him high into the air. "You dare mock me human? If not for fear of retribution of Tancheres I would drop you over the edge right now."

"Don't you mean Natalya?" he asks defiantly.

Errios' lips curl up into a smile. "Of course." She releases her grip and spins around. "I'll find my way around."

Rolan stands up and rubs his neck. "Thanks for the help," he says mockingly at the horseman once Errios has disappeared from view.

She glares at him for a moment, sending a chill down his spine. "I would have stopped her if she were to attempt to terminate you," she says with a sweet and unexpected voice.

"Excuse me?" Rolan asks, not sure he heard right.

"I said I would have stopped her if—"

"I heard you," he says holding up his hand. "Why would you do that? I doubt Tancheres would care that much to keep me alive."

"Probably not, but my orders come more specifically for Natalya herself on your protection than from anyone else."

Rolan thinks about this for a moment. "That's comforting. So then I guess I will take you to your quarters."

"There will be no need for that," Ehiel says. "I am to guard you at all times as well as provide you with physical pleasure while Natalya is away."

Rolan smiles and says, "Well, right this way then."

He leads Ehiel off the helipad down into the facility and into the personnel quarters. The Black Dragon were on high alert and should and attack come tonight they would be ready, but Rolan wasn't concerned. As far as anyone knew the Sahara facility was kept off the list of facilities True Energy had built and had running. So after the True Group went under and went under investigation and everything was seized and shut down, the Sahara facility was left unmolested and forgotten about.

Perfect for what Tancheres had in mind.

After several minutes Rolan pulls up to his quarters. He looks over to Ehiel, who had followed quietly the whole time to the point Rolan had to look back several times just to make sure she was still following him, "I don't understand what has Natalya so paranoid."

"She has her concerns," Ehiel answers looking over her shoulder.

Rolan follows her gaze but doesn't see anything. "I've personally given this place an overhaul in security," he says as he punches a code in a keypad next to the door. "Security is top notch including the wards Natalya told me to put up." He places his hand on a scanner that flips out from beneath the device. It scans his hand then disappears. A second later a loud audible click is heard then the door opens.

Ehiel looks back to him and says, "Regardless, security can be bypassed and wards can be broken."

Rolan just shakes his head. Before he knew of the demon world he lived a life in the Russian underworld and lived a brutal life working for the Black Dragon under Sergey Stalockavich. So once the world of the demons was revealed to him, like it was to the rest of the Black Dragon, it really wasn't much of a change. Life for Rolan was one big gamble and with every toss of the dice was just another element of danger and he was used to it.

Before Rolan could finish securing the door Ehiel was already stripping off the body suit she wore. He feels her breasts push into his back and her hands force their way down into his pants onto his hardening cock where they begin to massage it.

She presses her body harder against his back and with practiced movements she releases his cock from his pants and begins to gently stroke it.

Rolan has his eyes closed as he enjoys her hands on his cock. He feels himself getting incredibly hard. Her firm hands know what they are doing.

When her hands disappear from his cock, he opens his eyes to see her come around and kneel in front of him. With a big smile aimed at him, Ehiel licks the top of his cock before engulfing the head with her mouth. Rolan stifles a groan of joy when her mouth goes to work on him.

Looking down he can see her head bob up and down on his cock. Her tongue is working miracles on his cock. Her hands push his ass forward as if to get even more of his cock in her and after a few minutes of exquisite sucking she releases his cock with smacking lips.

Ehiel stands and walks over to the bed and sits down, spreading her luscious legs wide open revealing her pussy wide open like a blooming flower.

Rolan slides right in between her legs. He begins working on her lips first. Nibbling and sucking to get them flush and thick with the occasional flick on the clit and streak up and down her slit, always ending up at her entrance. He can already feel her getting closer without even really trying, so he begins to speed up his movements to make sure she came hard. With a few deft movements he wets his index finger in her pussy and pushes it all the way up her ass and sticks his thumb in her pussy, making contact inside. He pulls her with that hand a little further down so she almost sits on his hand with his fingers in as deep as they can get.

Taking her clit hood in his mouth, he sucks as hard as he can on it, raising her clit so he can scrape it with his teeth. When he feels her hands o his head, pushing him down harder, he knows she is about to cum. He switches the sucking to the clit, biting down when it is fully extended and then teases the caught little pleasure point with his tongue in a rapid pace.

Rolan feels Ehiel go rigid as the first wave of her orgasm hits her. She has grabbed his shirt. She cries and gasps as she cums. His tongue keeps going and the pulsing movements of his fingers keep the sensations from becoming too intense. He keeps her in a state of orgasm for several minutes before he releases her.

Ehiel falls back into the bed in ecstasy. Rolan stands and drops his pants. He waits a second with his cockhead at her entrance, relishing in the wet heat he can feel emanating from her pussy. Looking at her beautiful face, he slowly enters her until his balls come to her ass.

"Mmm, keep it there for a moment," Ehiel softly says.

Her hand moves to her clit and she slowly and gently starts to rub it. Starting slowly, Rolan moves in and out of her, alternating his view between her breasts, her face and his cock going in her pussy.

"Fuck me," Ehiel purrs.

Rolan doesn't have to be told twice as he speeds up the deep penetration of her hot and wet pussy. Her juices are flowing freely now and Rolan rams his cock harder and harder, getting closer to release each time.

"Cum with me, I'm so close," Ehiel cries.

Two strokes later he feels her pussy clamp down. The extra pressure sends him over the edge as well. He feels his cock launch his cum into her. The throbbing intensifies by her strong pussy muscles milking him for all he is worth. A deep grunt accompanies his orgasm and Ehiel cries again as they cum.

Rolan pulls out and rolls off onto his back, breathing hard and thinking it over, but Ehiel has other ideas. With an eyebrow raised he watches her sit up and crawl down toward his cock. She starts to lick and suck wet cock.

He looks down at her and she smiles at him mischievously, her tongue all over his cockhead. Then she suddenly dives onto his shaft really working his cock getting him to cum for a second time. She in enjoying the look he gives her, absolute rapture as she sucks hard while he cums.

She moves up to kiss him full on the lips. Rolan opens up and their tongues meet in her mouth, his cum still on her tongue. Ehiel breaks the kiss and slides off the bed, moving to lean against the wall, pushing her ass toward him saying, "I hope that isn't all you got."

"I've got plenty," Rolan says licking his lips." He gets up and in one smooth motion he enters her wet pussy and starts to fuck her hard. Her wet pussy has hardly any friction so he moves as fast and as hard as he can, even bumping her cervix a few times. He can feel her fingers working on her clit and between gasps he can hear her saying, "Fuck me, fuck me harder."

The strength of his assault of her pussy makes it not take long for her to cum Ehiel not cum hard. When Rolan feels her stiffen he increases his speed even more. The contractions of her pussy stimulate him into cumming hard as well. He holds onto her thighs keeping him deep in her as they cum together.

"Mmm, that was wonderful again," Ehiel says. "I know why Natalya wants to keep you around." They stand for a minute close to together enjoying the closeness of each other. "Still hard?"

With a big grin Rolan says, "I can go all night long."

Hmm," she purrs. "In that case..." Ehiel moves a bit so she can grab his cock and takes it out of her pussy and positions it in front of her asshole. "Then fill my ass."

Rolan smiles and pushes his head in. It is warm and tight and so unlike her pussy. A few strokes later he is pounding her tight asshole with all his might. Her hands are a frenzy on her clit and in her pussy. A few times he can feel her fingers brush against his cock, exciting him even more.

He doesn't last long. The new sensations and the moaning from Ehiel make him cum even harder than before.

When she feels him cum, she clamps her asshole as tight as she can making her feel the gush of his cum shooting in her even more intense. He is still deep in her ass when she cums as her ass still milks his cock.

She looks back over her shoulder at Rolan and says, "I hope you are good to your word, because I plan to hold you to it."



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 18



The White House

MAKE SURE THAT THE PRESIDENT SEES the tape. Tancheres says over the video.

"I understand," the aide says with a nod. He picks up the tape. "It has been edited to your specifics."

Excellent, the Ancient Asura says smiling. Let's make a good show out of this though, double the Secret Service guard.

"What do I say if questioned about it?" the aide questions.

Tancheres frowns. Don't start disappointing me with useless questions.

"Forgive me my lord," the aide quickly says. "I will figure something clever."

You had better. If this gets fucked up then you will be the first to feel my wrath.

"It will be done as commanded," the aide says assuredly, but the screen has already gone blank. "Fuck," he says silently before stepping out of the room.

The aide heads down the hall which is nearly empty having been previously cleared on Todd Nichols, director of the FBI, recommendation. Other than the aide the only other people in the hall were Secret Service agents, so he heads for the first agent.

"I need you to report in to Director Rodriquez and tell him to double the Secret Service agents this morning," the aide says quickly. He stands there just long enough for the agent to relay the message through his mic before he proceeds past.

He only gets a few feet past before the agents turns and says, "Hold a second sir. Director Rodriquez is asking where the authorization is coming from."

The aide turns around abruptly with a flash of anger. "Intel straight from Director Nichols points to the president being compromised and I'm sure once the president is notified he would like the extra detail."

The aide doesn't realize he is standing up almost against the agent in a threatening manner until the agent reaches for the inside of his jacket. The aide quickly steps back seeing his error and says, "Tell Rodriquez if he wants to risks the president's life over wasting time with authorizations then the blood is on his hands and you can relay that to him." And with that the aide spins on his heel and walks away.

The agent quickly removes his hand from his jacket and speaks into his mic. After a quick conversation he leaves his spot and runs in the opposite direction of the aide. The aide looks over his shoulder to see the agent leave and smiles.

The aide walks briskly through the near empty halls. As he nears the Oval Office the halls begin to swell with more people as the walls line with more Secret Service agents and the pathways become more congested with officials and other aides like him. He squeezes and shoulders his way through until he reaches the door to the Oval Office where he is stopped by none other than Director Rodriquez, head of the Secret Service himself.

The large Hispanic man holds up his hand and says, "You may as well just turn you happy ass around and walk right out the front door before I decide to detain your scrawny little ass."

The aide glares up at the big man. He towers over the aide and the aide slightly and pushes up his thin framed glasses before summoning up the courage to stand up to the man. He looks from the left then to the right at the two agents flanking the director then at the director himself and says, "You go ahead detain me. I know you have no love for me and it's no secret you haven't liked me since I stepped foot in here."

"You're damn right," Rodriquez admits. "Besides the fact you're a fucking ass kisser, there is just something not fucking right about you."

"And you're basing that fact on what?" the aide glares back at him. "Because my parents were Russian and with recent problems you're pinning me as a spy?"

"Oh I've done some digging and you're far too clean and perfect."

"Good luck with your accusations," the aide says. He pushes past the big man surprised the director actually moves for him.

As he reaches for the door knob Rodriquez says, "And Lapinsky." The aide stops but doesn't turn around. "Remember you said the words not me. When I find the evidence to prove it I'll be coming for you personally."

Lapinsky doesn't move until Rodriquez's footsteps are far down the hallway. Only then does he take a deep breath and turn the knob.

"Good morning Mr. President," he says as he enters the office.

Dave McKinsey looks up from his desk with a sour expression. "I was expecting you almost ten minutes ago Mr. Lapinsky."

"Yes sir, I was caught up in the hall. Apparently some people do not take the safety of the president into consideration as much as others," Lapinsky says as he suppresses a smile.

"Excuse me?" McKinsey asks clearly not on the same page as the aide.

Lapinsky frowns. "I'm not surprised you are still being kept in the dark either sir considering Director Rodriquez recent actions sir." The aide walks over to the desk and sits down before the president letting the silence build and the president in wait before continuing. "I'm not sure at the director's intentions sir, but Director Nichols notified this office of a possible attack today and yet Director Rodriquez thought it wise to not increase security and imperative to attempt to stop me from reaching your office."

McKinsey gives a disapproving frown. "I will admit that Horacio can be a very stubborn man, but I'm sure that there is just some kind of misunderstanding between the two of you Lazar."

"I apologize then sir for any misunderstanding," Lapinsky says with a hesitant smile.

"Now you're not here for my safety issues," McKinsey says. "Trust me when I say that since the last attack, security has been upped. You have brought me something on the apparent attack on President Valois?"

"Yes sir," Lapinsky says as he pulls out a CD from his jacket pocket. "It appears that the supposedly shut down CATU program is involved."

He gets up and moves over to a television that has already been set up and puts in the CD. Within moments the screen comes on and plays out a scene with Agents Cassidy and Greyson attack the French president. The scene plays on into another where it turns into a battle between the two agents and the horseman Ratmmas.

When it is over the aide pulls out the CD and places it on McKinsey's desk. "As you can see sir, it does not look very good."

"Are we the only ones with a copy of this?" the President asks.

"I'm afraid not sir," the aide answers. "This was actually sent over from Director Nichols' office just minutes ago and he stated the source they got it from sold it to several news stations already."

"Then it will be on the news by noon today," McKinsey states.

"It will be a frenzy sir," the aide says.

McKinsey ignores the aide's last statement and hits his intercom on his desk. "Sir?" comes back the voice of his secretary.

"Marie? I need you to get me the Vice President in here right away," he says. "Also see if Todd Nichols is on his way over here."

"Yes sir."

"And Marie?"

"Sir?"

"Put in a call over to CATU and make sure confirm Director Grines' arrival please and I will also need to see Director Rodriquez in my office promptly."

"Right away sir."

Lapinsky's eyes lift slightly at the mention of CATU in his presence and McKinsey didn't miss the subtle movement either. "You already know what is going on here Lazar, so you are in as much of it as any of us."

"I'm not really sure about that sir," Lapinsky begins.

"Intentional or not, you brought me the video and I don't have time for games right now so you're going to get a crash course in what has been taking place around here." McKinsey look hard at the man and says, "It is a matter of National Security that everything you hear is to be kept only in this room. You understand that?"

Lapinsky gulps hard, more for the show of the president and says, "Yes sir." In the back of his mind, however, all fears are cast aside because any worries he would normally have are already taken care of.



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 19



SPENCER GRADUALLY OPENS HIS EYES AS he tries to let his eyes adjust to the sting of the lighting. Surprisingly his head isn't vibrating with pain like he'd expect so he figures he must have been out for quite some time. Careful not to make any sudden movements in case he is being monitored, he flexes his wrists and finds that he isn't bound in any sort of way.

Gradually after several long minutes his eyes have completely adjust to the lighting of the room and he takes in his surroundings. The room he has been placed in appears to be a very lush penthouse suite, of where he isn't sure, but he does have a few ideas. He is about to begin running through a list of possible hotels when the room's door opens up.

"Good morning Spence," a very familiar voice filters through.

Spencer looks up and smirks just as Angela Veris walks into the room followed by another very attractive woman and a man he is all too familiar with, Gerard Kloser or more known as...

"Delgrious, I thought you were dead."

"Fancy that too," the man says. "You can't keep a good demon down I suppose," he says with a grin.

"You haven't killed me," Spencer says looking straight at Delgrious. "What is it you plan to do with me?"

The demon laughs. "As much as I'd like this to be my decision I have no part of this."

"I find that very hard to believe."

"Oh it's very true," Angela says. "He is only here for his own personal amusement. As a matter of fact, not even Tancheres knows that we have you."

"You know, that's a name I keep hearing a lot," Spencer says.

"And it is one you won't need to worry about much here soon," the other woman says.

Spencer turns his head to regard the woman and this time he looks at her with a different regard. There is something about this woman that catches his eye in a different light, something vaguely familiar about her.

"I'll leave you ladies alone," Delgrious says. "I have some business I must attend to."

Neither of the women acknowledges the demon as he exits the room and closes the door. Instead both their attentions are focused on the man still on the bed like two predatory animals stalking their prey.

"Tancheres is merely a means to the ends," the woman says as she nears Spencer.

He begins to feel a strange sensation envelope over him. It's like nothing he has ever felt before but at the same time it is very familiar. The feeling of the woman being a demon comes to mind but only vaguely as if it were wrong to think of it that way.

He shakes his head trying to clear away the fogginess that is threatening to take over. He casts a look over at Angela who is sitting at the edge of the bed, though he can't recall seeing her making any movement. "What the fuck is going on?" he asks and the words almost seem foreign to him.

"Where are my manners?" Angela says smiling. "I completely forgot to make introductions. This is your daughter, Aurelia."

"My daughter?" he asks. And then the familiarity of her comes to him. She looks so much like Samantha its incredible. "But what's going on?"

"Something extraordinary," Aurelia answers as she crawls onto the bed.

Spencer feels and alluring feeling to get closer to his daughter but something deeper warns him away and he crawls back from her advances. "How is it possible if Sam only died a few months ago?"

"My mother's situation was rather unique and special. When mother was reborn I was also reborn and when Julie Brannon killed her it released in me the final step needed to complete the cycle."

The words were reaching his ears but they were filtering in like he was at a distance. He begins to search for something, anything deep down to use against whatever was pulling him down but he needed more time and answers.

"What cycle?" he asks finding it harder concentrate on what he wanted to concentrate on.

Aurelia suddenly sits up and spreads her arms out wide and Spencer feels a little of her influence lift. "To become an Avatar," she answers with a wide grin. "I am the first of an extinct race that will begin again. We were God's chosen until he created the Valkyrie. It was my ancestors undoing in creating the foul demon race that destroyed us. Now I will begin anew take back what is ours."

"Good luck on that one," Spencer says with a chuckle. "Last I checked there were a shit load more demons than there are of you."

Aurelia's face scrunches. "Come now father, don't be foolish. The demons are not a concern. I am more powerful than any of my ancestors ever were. I'm not even concerned about the Valkyrie, but even I cannot do it alone."

"And what does that have to do with me?" Spencer asks. "If you think I'm going to produce anymore children for you with her," he says pointing toward Angela, "then you can forget about it."

Aurelia's face returns to its normal beauty and that strange feeling suddenly sweeps over Spencer. "You've got it all wrong father. She is here for our entertainment. It is me you will be impregnating."

"Wha—" he begins and then instantly falls speechless.

It brings a smile to Aurelia's face. "I think you got the reaction you were expecting," Angela says giggling.

"You see father," Aurelia says ignoring the young human. "I need you because you're my father and because of your Second Sight. Long ago the Valkyrie had sex with humans resulting in humans having the Second Sight ability giving them the edge over demons. Imagine a new race of the Avatar equal to me. And it begins here with our union."

Spencer is ready to object when a sudden wave a heat envelops him. In a flash it covers him then just as quickly disappears. When it subsides he is lying naked with an unquenchable thirst for his daughter.

As Aurelia crawls closer toward Spencer her clothing slowly dissolves off her body revealing a luscious set of breasts. Spencer sits up to move toward her and is stopped as she places her hand on his chest.

She climbs off the bed and walks over to a chair in the corner of the room and holds up a finger and signals for him to come over to her. He fully submits to her even though somewhere in the recesses of his mind it screams for him to fight, though unsuccessfully.

Climbing onto the chair, she rears her ass up toward him. Like a lust filled fanatic, Spencer stands behind her with his cock in hand. He bends his knees so he can get in her.

When she feels his cockhead against her pussy, she starts to push back, getting him in her quicker. He moves slowly, pulling her hips toward him and pushing his forward. For some reason in his mind he wanted to take this slow and make it special.

But why?

A wave of emotion pulses through him flooding his mind and suddenly it doesn't matter. He starts to slowly pump his hips back and forth steadily increasing his speed. Her breath becomes ragged quickly and she encourages him to fuck her hard.

As he pounds his hips into her she pushes back against him and in no time he feels his balls tensing. A few seconds later he cums, gasping loudly, his cum shooting deep into her as he grabs her hips to pull her in tighter.

Spencer removes his cock and quickly takes his place on the chair as Aurelia steps off. She sits down on his lap, facing him. He immediately has his hands around her waist and starts kissing her, first on the mouth then on her neck. Her moans sound exquisite and Spencer feels his cock getting harder.

She starts to ride him. With his hands free, he explores her entire upper body, giving special attention to her breasts. Moaning louder when her caresses her breasts she rides her pelvic bone hard against his.

The feeling of his cock entering and exiting her warm pussy while her juices run down his shaft is extremely delightful. The easiness with which he moves in her and the lack of real friction is like being teased while fucking.

She felt the heat build in her pussy as her orgasm rushes toward her. Aurelia hangs her head back with her arms around his neck and she howls when her orgasm envelopes her. Her pussy sends all possible pleasures to her head. She clasps tightly on his cock, riding him to extend her continuing climax.

Aurelia rides the wave of her climax to its maximum grinding her hips, fucking Spencer with just the forward and backward movements of her hips. She kisses him tenderly, her lips softly upon his. Her tongue caresses his and dances a tender dance in his mouth. Holding the kiss as gentle and tender as she can, she twists her hips to increase the motion she is making on his cock.

Slowly they build toward their climax, sweat running down their bodies and their minds focused on each other. Spencer feels so at easy with her. Her body flows against him as if made for just that purpose.

The smiles she flashes him pass through his mind, her incredible sexy figure rocking on him and riding his cock. The happiness it gives him only leads to one conclusion for Spencer is it is meant to be.

As soon as he realizes that, he cums hard, so hard it almost hurts and he cries out in joy.

Aurelia is so close that when Spencer reacts so intensely to his orgasm, she breaks as well. Tears flows down his face as they fuck each other harder during their mutual climax. Not a single word leaves their lips. They just looked at each other and feel the need.

A little later Spencer wakes up next to his daughter on the bed, dried and naked. He doesn't know how long they have spent fucking, but he knows it has been for the most worthy of causes. Angela had left some time earlier having gotten bored with watching since Aurelia wouldn't let her join in the fun.

He looks over at his daughter, at her beautiful face and ever so slowly he enters her and when he is in as deep as he can, he lays down on top of her, resting on his elbows.

Kissing her softly he feels her arms and legs wrap around him, her eyes only for him. With a slow pace he starts to fuck her, not trusting hard, only pressing down when their pubic bones meet.

Every glance and gasp is shared, their eyes lock on each other. For half an hour they keep it up. Already close, Spencer cums when she clamps down on him, her pussy grips his cock tightly. His orgasm triggers Aurelia's and together they cum.

They lay still for a while, Spencer still deep in her, enjoying their moment. Then reversing their positions in a roll, Spencer stays buried in her even when she pulls her knees up. Sitting on his cock now, Aurelia places her hands on his chest and smiles at him.

Spencer licks his lips and reaches for her breasts as she starts to ride him. First only up and down but soon she starts to twist her hips and ride him in every direction.

His hands play with her lush breasts, teasing her nipples and when able, lick and suck them. Aurelia soon feels her climax approach and increases the speed and force with which she rides him.

"I am so close," she whispers "Come with me father, cum with me."

Spencer is nearing his orgasm like his daughter, their bodies almost in sync.

"Oh fuck!" Aurelia exclaims and cums hard, still riding his cock for all she is worth.

A few seconds later Spencer follows her example and shoots his cum in her. She feels his cock pulse and release its cum in her, causing a small after orgasm. When his cock stops shooting she stops riding it.

She sits straight on top of him and looks at his face, sweaty and happy. "Your seed has taken root father and soon the Avatar will rise again."



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 20



The White House

BY THE TIME MIKE GRINES, DIRECTOR of CATU, entered the Oval Office, it was already a full house. Grines left two of his own agents just outside the White House doors and two more just outside the Oval office with the contingent of Secret Service agents already lining the hall.

Waiting with President McKinsey was as he already expected was the Vice President, Ulfr Hawke and FBI Director, Todd Nichols. He nods to both men as he enters but neglects to acknowledge either of the other two men present.

McKinsey stands and walks around his desk to meet him half way and as they shake hands McKinsey points to the two men and says, "I have invited Horacio Rodriquez, Director of the Secret Service and one of my aides Mr. Lazar Lapinsky here for our little meeting. I hope you don't mind."

Grines gives the President a broad smile. "No, not at all," he says sounding very convincing. In his mind, however, he knew things were only getting worse and he was regretting not bringing more agents with him. He only hopes Dupree and Stone make it back to headquarters to receive their forwarding instructions before anything gets out of hand here. "Shall we get started?"

McKinsey returns the smile. "Of course." He then gestures toward the couches where the other four men are already sitting.

"I imagine the reason I am here is because of the incident that took place in France," Grines says before either of them are fully sat on the couch.

McKinsey is about to speak when Todd Nichols steps in. "May I?" he ask looking straight at the President.

"Go ahead."

"That is just one of the reasons," Nichols says turning his attention to the CATU Director. "It's turning into quite the international incident which is going to be hard enough to deal with..."

"You mean cover up," Grines says interrupting using a straight face.

Nichols' face flashes a sign of irritation but he ignores the comment and continues. "But what we can't ignore is the fact that your agents have killed and several French officials."

"Now hold on just a damn minute," Grines says as calmly as he can. "You are not about to tell me your people haven't analyzed that video yet."

"As a matter of fact we have," Rodriquez says. "And the footage is remarkably real and unaltered. So if it has been faked or pieced together it was done remarkably well and with something technological wise that we don't have yet."

Grines is shocked. This is not what he expected to hear and as he was racking his mind for something to say Nichols continues.

"It's not just the video," he says. "We have witnesses at the both scenes plus satellite imaging."

"Witnesses?" Grines asks almost laughing. "I'm real sure that if you found some people in that crowd that actually stuck around they'd have different stories and different footage."

"We have something better," Nichols says with a smile. "We have Section 8."

At the mention of the organization Grines' eyes go wide, not with shock, but with another blow of unexpectedness. How had Section 8 stretched its reach this far?

"I'm surprised your Intel didn't turn up the fact your agents ran into Colonel Pierson," Nichols says mockingly knowing better. "Or are you losing grip of your own organization? If so then you always have the option of plausible deniability."

Grines' face instantly turns hard. "You're fucking kidding me right?"

Nichols clasps his hands in front of him and looks around to the other men in the room ending at the President. Grines follows the man's gaze to McKinsey and the room falls silent for what feels like eternity.

"It's an offer that I'm not comfortable with Mike, but you and CATU have done this country a lot of good over the years, but this incident is far too extensive to cover up," McKinsey explains. "If it were Roger Cornelius sitting right there I'd offer him the same deal."

"If it were Roger," Grines says, "we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"Perhaps not, but we have to face the facts. You've screwed up and I'm going to take the heat on this, as I should, and I will also have to clean it up."

"And what happens to my agents?"

"We hunt them down and bring them to justice unless you rather the French government do so," Nichols puts in.

The CATU director swings his heads around and glares hard at the man. "This sounds like another FBI witch hunt."

The man smiles. "It may seem that way Mike, but how long before the people expect to see justice and how long before your agents are tied to the New World Regime?"

Grines stands up and says, "I'm sorry gentlemen but this conversation is over and I'll be taking my leave."

Rodriquez and Nichols are on their feet at the same time. "Then I'm going to have to regret to say but because of a joint investigation between the FBI and the Secret Service I have to put you under arrest," Nichols says as Rodriquez pulls out a pair of handcuffs.

Grines smiles and says, "I had a feeling you were going to say that," as he pushes a button on his watch.

Two seconds later the door to the oval office bursts open and the two agents he placed there enter. Everyone in the room look toward the door expecting to see Secret Service agents enter instead they see them lying on the ground either dead or unconscious.

"Ah, we're all dead!" Lapinsky shouts as she climbs over the top of the couch.

McKinsey is on his feet rushing toward his desk while both Nichols and Rodriquez start to draw their guns. Grines defenseless prepares to make his move against the two men when suddenly the entire building rocks from an explosion.

ANGELA VERIS PRESSES A BOOTED FOOT on the female CATU agent's chest forcing her to cough blood up violently. Armed men dressed in tactical gear employed by the Sanguine Consortium rush past her into the White House. She looks over to Delgrious as he approaches, "It looks like we may have a little more of a challenge here than we expected."

He straightens his tie. "Not a problem we should be worried about."

"Who says I'm worried?" she asks turning back to the agent. She points her pistol at the agent and unloads three shots into her head, licking her lips as a smile crosses her face.

"If only all humans were like you we'd already have this world taken," Delgrious says leaving the human behind.

Angela shrugs and quickly runs to catch up. The two walk at a steady pace through the hallways passing bloody corpses, trashed furniture and spent ammunition without incident and listening to the chatter of the various teams over their headsets. The Sanguine Consortium's tactical team has been successful in clearing halls and so far Delgrious and Angela have only seen a handful of their own scattered here and there.

By the time they reach the hall leading to the oval office a five man team is in a firefight with small group of Secret Service agents. The walls are littered with bullet holes and smoke from a small fire that erupted before being extinguished and a large number of dead agents.

"What is the problem Commander?" Delgrious asks as he and Angela round the corner.

The squad leader drops back from the firefight to be heard over the gunfire. "Last stand before we can get to the President!"

"That's not what I asked," the demon says calmly, but the suggested anger shown behind his eyes.

The man visibly shudders and that brings a smile to Angela's face. "We've taken out several of them but they were able to settle in and now we're at a standstill and unless we can get around or another team can, we're not getting through."

"Where ever there exit is, none of the teams are going to be able to get there," Angela remarks as she scans over the blueprints of the White House on her PDA.

Delgrious just smiles and within seconds his clothes shred as he changes from his human form and into his real form. With Aurelia the world doesn't withstand a chance. He holds out his clawed hand. Rísa feigr sál eða þjóna ykkarr allvaldr.

Suddenly and to the dismay of each side, the fallen dead begin to rise up off the carpeted floor. The Secret Service agents momentarily cease firing as they are in sudden disbelief as to what is happening. Then the silence is broken once again by gunfire as the newly walking dead turn toward the agents with ferocity. In just a matter of seconds the remaining Secret Service agents are overrun.

The Greater Demon turns toward the commander. Now Commander, that wasn't too hard. You may proceed, but do keep the President alive, I do believe Miss Veris here would enjoy killing him herself.

The squad leader gives his acknowledgement and the team heads down the hall. Angela, heavily jubilant says, "You honor me Delgrious."

He gives her a grin that gives him a most evil appearance. The only thing that gives me greater pleasure than killing a human is watching one kill another and taking pleasure while doing it.

"Then I won't disappoint," she says.

The two turn toward the end of the hall just in time to see the door to the Oval Office blow open and the headless body of the commander of the five man squad being sent out into the hall.

"What the fuck?" Angela manages to say before Delgrious disappears.

FIVE MINUTES BEFORE...

Nichols has his pistol out faster than Grines expected him to and quickly chose to dive over the side of the sofa just as the FBI Director began unleashing a torrent of bullets at him. The bullets tear into the fabric shredding the material. Rodriquez is about to object but is forced to turn his attention to the two CATU agents barging into the room. "Get the presidents under cover, damn it!" he yells as he charges the two men.

"That won't be necessary," Vice President Hawke says pulling a pistol from his jacket.

"Ulfr, what are you doing?" McKinsey asks.

Hawke ignores the man and Lapinsky quickly rushes to the President's side. "You'd be best sir to just have a seat at your desk." McKinsey begins to protest, but Lapinsky forcefully grabs him and pushes him toward his desk shoving him into his chair. "I said it is best to sit the fuck down sir!"

Hawke levels the pistol with Rodriquez's head and fires. The bullet hits the back of his head slamming him forward unexpectedly. The unexpectedness flashes on the faces of the two CATU agents as well and as they adjust to the new threat, Hawke is already firing two more shots ending the lives of the two agents.

"Come out, come out Grines," Nichols taunts. "I promise not to shoot you right away."

Hawke turns around to regard the FBI Director. "Quite playing with him, the Sanguine will have the building secure within a matter of minutes."

"Yes sir," Nichols replies with a slight huff. He crosses over to the edge of the couch and as he reaches down for Grines, the CATU Director comes up with an attack of his own, but Nichols proves to be the faster of the two men.

He catches Grines' arm at the elbow easily blocking the punch meant for his face and brings his other hand down with the butt of his pistol down across his temple, sending Grines straight to the floor.

"Pick him up," Hawke orders Nichols as he walks past toward the President.

Nichols does as commanded and deposits a now groggy Grines into one of the two chairs placed in front of McKinsey's desk.

"What is the meaning of this?" McKinsey demands looking from back and forth between the FBI Director and the Vice President, not really certain which one is more of a threat at the moment.

"It's really quite simple," Hawke says. "I'm taking over the Presidency and in order to do that, the President of the United States has to be assassinated just like all the other attacks around the world."

"This is lunacy," McKinsey rants and as he tries to stand Lapinsky is there to forcibly shove him back down into his chair.

"No it is brilliance," Hawke continues. "The New World Regime will be blamed and CATU will be tried to them. All the evidence will be provided by Director Nichols here and the head of CATU will be brought to justice to answer for his crimes."

"Fat chance of that happening," Grines mumbles. "I've got agents on their way here and they know all about your little ploy."

Hawke turns to face him. "Ah yes, you mean your two little agents arriving this morning. I thought of setting them up to go to their death in a blaze but I've got other ideas for them." He looks over to Nichols sending him a questioning look.

Nichols already figuring what the question is doesn't hesitate with answering. "They will be picked up the moment they land and taken to the facility."

"Just who the fuck are you?" Grines asks as his mind begins to clear and he tries to by time to make a plan.

The answer comes in the form of breaking glass as the window behind the President is bashed open. A sword followed by a cloaked figure slips through driving the weapon into Lapinsky pinning him to McKinsey's desk. Lapinsky lets out a gasp as blood spurts from his mouth then he immediately slumps forward dead.

"A demon is who the fuck he is," the voice of a woman filters out from beneath the hood. "Oh, I'm sorry did I kill someone you needed?"

McKinsey whips his head around and his eyes widen. "It's you," he nearly stammers.

"I told you I would be back, but this time it's to save your ass," the woman says. She whips off the cloak revealing a slender woman. Her clothing is simple in design; flexible carborundum body armor covers a skin tight Kevlar bodysuit with a free flowing waist cape. The suit covers most of her body except for her head, shoulders and thighs more for design purposes than protective.

Grines laughs loudly. "Now isn't this some shit. Here we were trying to kill each other that all that long ago and here you are coming to save our asses."

"Everything comes full circle," the assassin says.

"And those circles aren't always infinite," the demon disguised as Vice President Hawke says. "Kill the bitch," he directs Nichols.

"With pleasure." Nichols raises his pistol and just as he is about to fire gunfire erupts in the hall outside distracting him momentarily. Grines uses the brief second's distraction and suddenly leaps up from the chair to tackle him.

Alexandra moves a split second after Grines bringing Muramasa shoulder level to strike out at Hawke as he moves to aid Director Nichols. The sword plunges into the Asura's shoulder bringing around his attention and a low, deep growl. He swings his body around, wrenching the sword from a surprised Alexandra's hands and slams his left fist into her stomach swinging her around, sending her into the far couch. Her body slams into the sofa cushions with so much force it forces the couch to collapse in on itself and her as her body passes through it.

Grines has Nichols' by the wrist holding his pistol off to the side while driving his fist into the FBI director's face repeatedly. "I knew there was a reason not to like you, you son of a bitch!" he yells.

Nichols grins between blows, showing a mouthful of bloody teeth. Then his hand shoots up to wrap around Grines' throat. The grip intensifies almost instantly cutting off Grines' air supply. The punches stop right away as Nichols lifts the man up into the air. Grines' eyes go wide as Nichols' hand and forearm changes from human to a grimy and scaly demonic one.

Hawke watches the spectacle and smiles before turning toward the assassin. He stands over her looking down at her grinning with his black blood steadily dripping from his arm onto the ground.

"Tsk, tsk," he says. "You should plan these things just a little better little human."

Alexandra's eyes spring open and she grins. "Oh I do just that." She rolls up from her back and dives between his legs. As she comes out the other side she kicks out catching the backs of his knees, knocking them out and dropping him to the ground. In an instant she is one her feet with her hands on the hilt of Muramasa. "That full circle thing is a bitch," she says as she slices downward severing through the bottom portion of Hawke's shoulder.

The demon howls and attempts to turn with a strike, but catches a booted foot in the face instead which sends him to the ground. Alexandra delivers a finishing strike just as the door to the oval office is slammed open and a group of animated corpses comes stumbling in.

"What the hell?" she mumbles to herself. She looks back toward the back of the office to see Grines grabbing the President by the arm urging him to move. Nichols is lying near the desk dead. "We need to get out of here!" she yells.

Both men look up at her and Grines says, "You think?"

Alexandra grunts and turns away. "Fucking men." Then she rushes the new group of attackers. Into the fray she goes with Muramasa leading the way in a violent fury leaving a path of severed limbs and body parts until only one corpse is left standing in front of the door. With one final swipe she sends it head flying from its body then a heel kick to its chest sends it back out the door and into the hallway. Once again she looks back to the two men. "Are you coming or what?"

"Tenacious," Grines mutters.

"Which is why I'm glad she's on our side this time," McKinsey fires back.

Grines' face hardens and the two men hustle to the door. Alexandra rushes them through. "We'll use the underground tunnels for our escape," she instructs them as they pass through the doorway. As she is about to follow a hand reaches out and grabs her wrenching her back.

The attack doesn't go unnoticed. Grines spins around ready to shoot using the pistol he acquired from Nichols, but Alexandra tells him to just go, she'll handle it.

Her attacker tosses her across the room and into the President's oak desk where her body shatters the wood. Any normal human being would be broken after such an attack, but the assassin now being a Vajra could brush it off.

She picks herself up and gathers up Muramasa just as Delgrious rushes her. His mass overshadows her, but being smaller and more agile gives her the upper hand and she easily avoids his clawed attack, countering with her own severing his hand at the wrist.

"Foolish bastard," she mocks. "I am far stronger than you and you dare fuck with me?"

Wordless, Delgrious balls up a fist with his remaining hand and swings it around with a back fist that the assassin easily ducks and turns into another strike, this time at his leg just below the knee, dropping him. He lands catching himself with his hand and looks up at the assassin with a snarl. Muramasa pricks his throat and draws a line of black blood, but she holds back, straight faced. "How does it feel?" she asks.

Delgrious opens his mouth to retaliate and Alexandra drives Muramasa into his throat and slashes ripping it open wide, spilling his black blood out in a massive flood. She turns without another word and exits the room.

PRESIDENT MCKINSEY BEING THE ONLY ONE knowing where the tunnels in the White House are at leads Grines to them. Unbeknownst to either man, however, Detective Angela Veris maintains a close presence behind them.

"Out of curiosity," Grines says between breaths. "Just where does this tunnel lead?"

McKinsey smiles to himself. "It goes north straight under Lafayette Park directly to Clark Mills' equestrian statue of President Andrew Jackson that was erected in 1853."

"Isn't that base made of solid stone?" Grines asks in disbelief.

"For the most part," the President replies. "The western face is actually less solid than the rest and serves as a door that can be opened the inside."

"That's convenient," Grines mocks.

McKinsey looks over his shoulder. "Tell me about it."

They travel along the semi-darkened corridor several more hundred feet until a brighter light begins to filter through at the end of the tunnel. Grines suddenly rushes up to the President to place a hand on his shoulder and shove him toward the wall. "I take it that that isn't supposed to be lit up like that," he says pointing toward the end of the tunnel.




From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 20



McKinsey shakes his head. "Not normally, unless the door has been opened and light is filtering through."

"Thought so," Grines says as he pulls out his pistol. "I think we've been compromised."

"We can't go back."

"No we can't," Grines says with a grin. "But whoever is waiting for us up there ain't going to be happy when they do see us."

As he steps forward a voice from the darkness catches him off guard.

"I'm all too happy to see you."

Before he can turn to acknowledge the speaker, his head explodes with his brain matter being sent in all directions. His body drops leaving Angela Veris with a clear view of the President. She levels the pistol with his head and her hand goes slack as Muramasa protrudes out from her right eye.

"I hope you don't mind being in office just a little longer Mr. President."

McKinsey breathes a sigh of relief and says, "No actually I don't."

Alexandra withdraws her sword allowing Angela's body to finally drop to the floor. She grabs up Grines' lifeless corpse and takes the lead to the surface. What they see blows them completely away.

"Oh my God..." McKinsey says as his face completely drains.

The entire city of Washington D.C. lay in ruins.



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 21



Washington D.C.

2 Hours Ago...

SITTING IN A BLACK RANGE Rover in President's Park, Delgrious and Detective Angela Veris wait as the clock ticks down for their time to strike.

Positioned in various spots around the White House and within a five block radius sit squads of Sanguine Consortium soldiers. When the clock strikes zero, no amount of preparation or guard will be able to repel a strike on the President.

Angela strums her fingers against the outside of the Range Rover's door as she enjoys the cool breeze as it flutters in through the open window blowing her hair back and over the seat. "What's the chance of us having to get our hands dirty on this one?"

"Depends on whether or not Rururc or Imirur sense an attack on them as well as the President," Delgrious answers.

"You know, when Tancheres finds out we're betraying him, all hell is going to break loose," she says casually like it doesn't really matter.

"With Aurelia in our pocket, Tancheres doesn't stand a chance at touching us," he replies without even looking her way.

"Ah, now there is the real dilemma," Angela says pulling her hand in through the window as she shifts in her seat to fully face the Greater Demon. "Once Aurelia has what she wants, she won't need us anymore."

A smile creases Delgrious' face. "Then we promptly remove her from the equation."

Angela bursts out with laughter and when she doesn't get a reaction from the demon she states, "You're serious."

"I haven't survived all this time by playing games and if it takes the entire Sanguine Consortium to bring that bitch down then so be it."

"That probably won't make too many of our associates happy."

"Considering the majority of them are petty humans with their petty agendas, I'm not at all concerned. And with the use of the Chimera Project eternal life takes on an entirely new meaning," he answers her with a very wicked grin. A slight bit of shock crosses her face which causes the demon's grin to spread even further. "When my search for the power of the Shakti failed I had to find others means of power."

"I don't suppose Pierson just gave you the technology he used to resurrect you just for the hell of it," she says with a load of sarcasm.

"No, but loyalties do run deep."





From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 22



Mauritius

Indian Ocean

GRINES HAD ARRANGED FOR A SMALL fishing company to take Greyson and Cassidy to Mauritius. The venture was unconventional for the CATU director to have taken but considering the circumstances the organization was currently facing he took what he could get. It was soon proving to be a bad choice indeed.

Greyson looks at Cassidy with her fine body, perfectly tanned skin and lush hair and wonders how much longer he has with her before they reach their destination.

Naked, she pushes off Greyson and moves directly down between his thighs to suck his cock fast and hard. Her tongue races like a devil on his cockhead and her small mouth with its soft luscious lips works miracles on his shaft.

Reaching for her, he strains a bit and lifts her hips over his face, slowly letting her down. Eager she spreads her legs, trying to keep him in her mouth while he moves her around.

Like her he spares no moment and attacks her pussy with gusto. His tongue races up and down, playing with her clit. Twisting his skin around she makes him moan in her pussy, enjoying the sounds of his pleasure.

He plays with her with his fingers and soon her cock muffled cries become louder. When he feels her legs tense, he assaults her clit and makes her cum. Squirming in his grip, her body shudders in pleasure while she continues to try to keep his cock in her mouth.

Escaping from his grip she rides her wet pussy over his chest a few times, bending almost double. He continues licking her when she sits down again until the flow of her juices change from a stream to a trickle.

Stopping the sucking of his cock for a second, she breathes rapidly, "Do that again, please."

Doing as requested, he does it again, this time with more teasing and harder pressure.

Making her cum hard again, so soon after the first, she can't keep him is her mouth and she moans softly, his cock resting against her cheek.

Greyson is surprised with her intense second orgasm and she almost squirts her juices this time. Again she rubs her pussy against his chest, going lower this time before returning to his face. With genuine pleasure Greyson licks her clean again; her body shudders when he comes close to a sensitive spot.

Cassidy moves away from his head and pulls his legs over the side of the bed, sitting on her knees between them. Greyson moves to sit up and wonders what she is up to.

She sits up as high as she can and spits between her breasts which are already moist with sweat. Spreading her spit between her breasts by rolling them against each other she looks at him and smiles and says, "Get ready for the titty fuck of your life."

Leaning up against him, she engulfs his cock between her breasts and moves up and down, licking his cockhead each time it comes up with her long tongue.

Greyson moans hard and deep. A new sensation plays with his cock and it feels wonderful. Rushing a bit, Cassidy moves quickly up and down, jacking him with her breasts. The friction soon becomes intense and Greyson gasps when he is about to cum.

Cassidy takes his cock in her hand and jacks the last few strokes, aiming his cock down to her chest. The angle is wrong, almost painful for his cock and she jacks too hard but Greyson cums loudly, shooting enormous amounts of cum on her breasts. The downward angle makes each burst burn in his cock and shoot out with more force.

Cassidy is shocked at the force and amount with which Greyson cums on her and looks at his cock shooting with naughty fun in her eyes.

A sudden knock raps at the door to their cabin followed by a French accent. "We arrive at your drop off point. The Captain says you need to hurry your departure."

The excitement quickly fades from Cassidy's eyes and she says, "It's too bad we're out of time."

Greyson smiles, "After this mission is over I think we can figure something out."

She throws him a wink and crawls off.

WITHIN TEN MINUTES THE TWO AGENTS were fully dressed with all their gear and on the deck. The only problem was the deck was empty. Not a soul was in sight on the deck or in the water.

"What the fuck?" Cassidy mutters as she pulls out her MP5.

Both agents' guards shoot up as they scan the deck. The only immediate thing they see is the reflection of the full moon's glare across the pristine deck.

"I don't know," Greyson says spinning around with his HK416. "But I'm not liking it."

"I'm sorry to hear that," a thickly accented French voice says.

Recognizing the voice of the captain, both agents turn with their weapon aimed at the man. "What the fuck is going on?" Cassidy says trying hard to keep the irritation out of her voice. "And don't fuck with us or I won't hesitate to put one is your head."

A smile forms on the captain's face. "I think not Agent Cassidy."

"Believe me when she says she will," Greyson clarifies with a knowing tone.

"Then I beg you to differ," the captain says nodding toward the agent's back.

The agents throw each other sidelong glances before giving in to taking their eyes off their target to look back. When they do they realize the odds have just turned to favor the captain.

"Now if you'd be so kind as to surrender your weapons over to me we can take you in quietly and let my country's justice system prevail and maybe you will only serve a life sentence in a jail cell."

"And what's option B?" Greyson asks, stalling for time.

"We kill you, throw your dead corpses overboard and get the satisfaction of doing so."

Greyson looks over to Cassidy. She shrugs and says, "Well it could be worse."

Greyson grins in displeasure before turning back toward the captain. "Why wait this long? Why not turn us over earlier?"

The captain laughs loudly before replying then spreads his hand out toward the island of Mauritius. "The way we see it is whomever you two are sneaking in on to attack may find it generous in their hearts to reward us for uncovering your treachery."

"Rotten fucking pigs!" Cassidy shouts. "So much for patriotism."

"We do have mouths to feed my dear," the captain says drawing out laughs from the rest of the crew. "So what will it be?" he asks once the laughter dies down. "Option A or Option B?"

"How about Option C?" Cassidy offers.

The captain raises an eyebrow.

"We kill your crew and I still put that bullet in your fucking head and we continue with our mission and those mouths you have to feed go on starving."

A smile curves up at the corners of the captain's mouth. "Tenacious, but you are outnumbered and outgunned. I suggest you surrender or we will be forced to miss out on payment and we will kill you."

Cassidy smiles back. "Then you are welcome to try." She drops into a crouch, twisting her torso in the process while swinging her MP5 around firing full blast catching the first of the crew members before any of them have a chance to comprehend what is taking place.

Greyson understands full well the meaning behind her message and is already in a forward roll, moving out of her line of fire and coming up to his own feet to unleash a torrent of fire from his HK416 on those that remain standing.

In seconds the deck is covered in blood as Cassidy and Greyson get to their feet and turn to face their captor. Cassidy levels the MP5 at the captain's head as he steadily begins to walk backward until he bumps into the railing surrounding the deck. "We can work this out," he pleas. "We are after all reasonable people."

"My partner and I are...normally," Cassidy says with a devious grin. "But we can't have you running around giving us up once we here and I did promise you I'd put a bullet in your head."

"We can be resonab—"

BLAM!

The captain's head flies back violently followed quickly by his body. The only noise to follow is the splash of water seconds later. Greyson and Cassidy stand on the deck for several long seconds in the silence underneath the full moon before the young female agent finally breaks it.

"Can you sink this thing without drawing attention?"

"Shouldn't be a problem," Greyson says with a curt nod.

Cassidy nods back. "I saw an inflatable boat back there. It should be good enough to get us ashore."

WITHIN THIRTY MINUTES THE SMALL INFLATABLE craft reached the moonlit shore carrying Greyson and Cassidy unnoticed. After another five the two agents are on the edges of an airstrip.

Sitting on the airstrip are two C-27J Spartan transport aircraft and a single hanger at the opposite end. The tarmac and aircraft seem devoid of any life and the hanger doesn't appear to have any activity either.

Cautiously, the two agents cross over to the hanger sticking as close to the shadows as possible to remain as best hidden as they can. Within minutes they reach the parted doors and step inside without incident. Inside, it looks like any hanger found anywhere in the world. The walls are stacked with crates and the center is wide open allowing ample girth for even one of the large C-27j Spartans outside to sit, but both agents know looks can be deceiving and their Intel says otherwise.

Greyson motions toward the south wall at a group of slightly darker crates and Cassidy nods. They move from shadow to shadow covering each other in case of an ambush, but one doesn't come and in twenty seconds they are standing at the section of crates with a small control panel opened up.

Cassidy pulls out an equally small device and connects the device's only lead to the screen and says "Let's hope this works." A second later the panel lights up green and the entire face of crates slides away revealing an elevator.

"Not the best way to sneak into a facility," Greyson remarks.

"What better way than going right through the front door," Cassidy says putting on a smile. She isn't any more comfortable with the idea than he is but what choice do they have? "Besides, they'd never expect it."

AS THE ELEVATOR COMES TO A stop and the doors part the two agents are bathed in total darkness. The power to the elevator seems to have died and the hall leading out only has a soft glow of light at the far end casting an eerie glow just enough to illuminate the floor enough for them to see that it is there.

"So much for not expecting us," Greyson says angrily.

"Welcome, welcome!" a voice booms through the air. "We have been waiting your arrival since you came ashore. Now please hurry yourselves as we do grow tired of waiting."

"Talk about getting fucked," Cassidy says shaking her head. "What do you want to do?"

"Only thing we can," Greyson shrugs in the darkness knowing his partner can't see the gesture, "we go in and figure something out when we get there."



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 23



The Sahara

Africa

DUPREE AND STONE HANG NEARLY SUSPENDED against the far wall of the busy room as technician after technician rush back and forth between stations. Before them are a group of monitors with various satellite images and diagrams surrounding a very large central monitor with a scene that just finished playing out the destruction of London, the second city since their arrival.

"We've got to get out of here," Dupree whispers to Stone. The look on her face matches his: anguish, disgust and most of all anger. "We can't believe help is going to come now."

Before Stone can answer, a familiar voice answers for him, "You are correct in your assumption. You are all alone now and no one is coming to save you or the rest of the world."

Both agents look over toward the direction of the voice, spotting two familiar figures as both their eyes go wide with confusion. It is Stone that finds the words first. "Grines? What the hell are you doing here?"

"Odd choice of words coming from a man in your circumstances considering you were just thinking how there was no hope for you."

"Please tell me you're not working for these bastards," Dupree says leaving out no bit of the anger that is starting to build up within her. "Because if you are, I'm going to personally kill you myself."

"My dear I would really enjoy seeing you try," he answers with an amusing smile. He turns to the woman accompanying him. "Natalya, please have our guests moved to the Solar Firing Chamber for the final target."

The Succubus nods her head and steps past Grines. "It really is a shame Agent Reeds isn't here to join you, but no matter in due time I will deal with him."

"You're not going to get away with this you son of a bitch!" Stone yells.

A flash of light shoots through Grines' eyes and in an instant the flesh melts away revealing a different body, one larger and covered with a chitinous like skin except for the eyes and the jet black hair covering the head. The creature in almost a flash steps forward past Natalya and wraps a hand around Stones' throat. You dare make threats against a force you know nothing about. It is why I Tancheres will succeed in my plans this day and why you feeble, weak and pathetic excuse for an existence will cease to live beyond today.

"History repeats itself jackass," Dupree says venomously, "You've gotten your asses handed to you time and time again and it isn't going to change now."

Tancheres flashes her a look of pure evil and grins. We're going to see about that. He releases his grip from around Stones' neck and turns once again to regard Natalya. Put them in the chamber.

As soon and Tancheres has left Natalya begins pushing the two agents down the vacant hallway until they come to an unmarked door. The Succubus quickly enters a code into the control panel next to the door and shoves the two roughly in a soon as the door opens, following them in quickly.

"Tancheres has already destroyed two of his targets as you've seen," Natalya begins to say. Both agents look at her with questioning looks and quickly she changes the subject explaining the matter. "In just a minute Tancheres is going to be distracted giving you two the opportunity to escape."

An instant later the clamps holding their wrists together release and fall with a clang to the floor. Stone rubs his wrists and says, "And why the hell should we trust you?"

Natalya grins deviously. "Without me you will fail in your feeble attempt to stop Tancheres."

Dupree places her hand on Stones' arm stealing a glance from him which she ignores as she steps forward toward Natalya. "And you're going to let us go in exchange for us to stop Tancheres. What's in it for us other than the fact we get to stop him from destroying anymore cities?"

"Oh I don't want you to stop him from destroying cities, at least not his next one," Natalya says drawing a serious look from both agents. "Moscow is the next target, the hub of the demon world."

"And you'd like to see it destroyed?" Dupree asks skeptically.

The Succubus examines her nails as if looking for some kind of defect in them for a moment before finally looking up with an answer. "Let's just say I have a few enemies I'd like to be rid of and at the same time it becomes beneficial for all of you as well."

"I can't guarantee if we cross paths out there we'll stay on the same side," Stone threatens.

Another grin forms on Natalya's face. "I wouldn't expect anything different."

AS TANCHERES ENTERS THE TARGETING control room flanked closely by his horseman, Rahkar, silence falls. The room's occupants turn to regard them and quickly Errios leaves her station to step up to the Ancient Asura.

Everything is ready as planned master, she says with a curt bow.

I would expect nothing less. Tancheres looks past her then steps past without regard. Have my guests been placed into the chamber yet?

Not yet, Errios answers as she stands with anger flaring in her eyes.

I have found your actions here very disturbing as of late, Tancheres says stopping short as he places his hands behind his back.

I do not understand master, Errios replies feinting denial. She looks over to Ehiel and the horseman gives her a curt nod but remains motionless.

I specifically gave you two targets, Tancheres continues unhindered. You've targeted London as directed but New York City still stands and Washington D.C. is leveled.

I must have misunderstood your orders, Errios uses as an excuse.

Do not play me as a fool, the Ancient Asura says raising his voice. I do not know of your personal objectives, but I will not have you interfere with my own.

I dare not make such moves against you my lord.

You reek of Natalya's betrayal, Tancheres snorts. It is something I have expected for a long time and it will be your undoing as well as her own.

Rahkar takes the cue and begins to move from his position from the door toward Errios. The Succubus throws a casual glance toward the advancing horseman and cuts a smile. You shouldn't have one of your goons do your dirty work for you.

Tancheres still unmoving says, I would not waste my time with one as low as you.

And in there is your mistake.

Tancheres turns to regard the Succubus just as Ehiel steps into the path of the approaching Rahkar and Errios, with a look of fierce determination and Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi in hand rushes him.

The Ancient Asura smirks, waiting until the last moment possible to side step the sword thrust. He reaches out grabbing Errios at the wrist with his right hand and her throat with his other. Stupid little bitch, he says sharply, you dare think you have a chance against me?

He turns Errios' head around enough for her to see Rahkar with his arm wrapped around the neck of the other horsemen. With one quick twist Ehiel goes limp and the life fades from her eyes. Now what to do with you, the Ancient Asura says as if lost in his own thought. Killing you quickly would be too rewarding for you.

Why...don't you ask them? Errios gurgles through the tight grip around her throat.

Suddenly the door opens and Tancheres' smile quickly fades and is overcome by complete surprise. Instead of the two agents he had sent with Natalya that he'd expected to show up, instead was Agent Spencer Reeds and he wasn't alone. The power that radiated from the being next to him sent a jolt of both curiosity and fear through the Ancient Asura.

What is this? he questions aloud.

That is your undoing, Errios mocks. I don't need Natalya when I have someone greater to promise me the power I seek.

Tancheres looks toward the Succubus with questioning eyes, slackening his grip slightly. Errios doesn't move right away as she takes in the moment and says, Yes Delgrious has set the wheels in motion and he is your ultimate betrayer.

Before Tancheres can say anymore Errios takes advantage of his lessened grip and twists her body to maneuver out of his grasp to strike. The Ancient Asura isn't fully caught off guard and manages to slither aside catching only a glancing strike from Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi before putting distance between himself and Errios.

The room falls into silence once more with its many technicians quivering in their chairs, staring at the scene before them. Rahkar stands full of rage, his muscles pulsate and tense waiting for the word to strike. Errios stands poised with her sword drawn in preparation to strike Tancheres down while the Ancient Asura attempts to mask his freight behind a veil of confidence and authority.

By what right do you dare come here? he questions.

Aurelia smiles adding to her radiance even more. "You have no idea who I am, do you?" she asks with a voice that almost sings.

I care less who you are, Tancheres answer defiantly as he tries to mask his trembling fear. The power that radiates from this creature is like nothing he has ever felt and yet somehow it feels very familiar. Or of what you are.

"That is too bad," Aurelia says, "because I could be your salvation."

I bow before no other demon, Tancheres says. And I won't hesitate to destroy you.

Aurelia answers his threat with laughter matched only by Spencer Reed's. The Ancient Asura ignores the gesture by turning his attention toward his technicians. Continue with the firing sequence no matter the interruption.

"Oh I think not," Aurelia says as she snaps her fingers. In an instant every one of the technicians burst into an agonizing ball of intense heat, burning into ash within a matter of seconds leaving the room empty save the demons and Spencer Reeds.

Anger flares in the eyes of the Ancient Asura. Without further hesitation he launches himself at the Succubus. Kill them all!

Rahkar doesn't need another command and the horseman is moving like a tiger sprung from its cage. His immediate target is the human companion as he already determined some link between him and this unknown demon. The confidence that the link between them being broken would hinder Aurelia becomes his demise.

Aurelia moves like a blur against the horseman throwing a sidelong kick to his midsection, doubling him over. Before he can recover, she drives an elbow against the base of his skull sending him to the floor. A wicked smile appears on her face followed by her tongue moistening her soft lips. She raises her foot and slams it down onto Rahkar's skull driving it through, sending pieces of bone and brain matter in all directions.

ERRIOS JUST MANAGES TO STEP back and avoid the reach of Tancheres buying her just enough time to recover from the sudden surprise attack and strike out with one of her own.

Tancheres being much more powerful proves his prowess against her sword skills by merely sidestepping or completely dodging each of her strikes, but the Succubus has a trick of her own.

With each strike at the Ancient Asura she ensures she oversteps and extends the attack making it seem she is overly trying to strike him and continues this way until she finally appears to show signs of exhaustion giving Tancheres the confidence and edge he needs to feel safe enough to step in and strike.

And strike he does.

The first blow lands across her face sending her reeling backward and is followed quickly by another and another then one to the stomach. Each blow is heavier than the last and each one makes it feel like her bones are about to break, but she takes each one until the opportune moment presents itself. When it finally does, Errios drives Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi home.

The sword tears through flesh sending Tancheres' right hand away then his left leg, severed just above the knee. As his body falls past a look of total surprise comes over his face and the last thing he sees is Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi cutting through his skull, cleaving it into two pieces.

Errios stands over the now lifeless body of Tancheres feeling no remorse and the sudden sound of clapping brings her attention back to the reality of things. She spins around to see Spencer Reeds smiling and clapping in an almost mockingly way and anger swells inside her. I will not have a human mock me no matter who he is.

She takes a step forward but as she does Aurelia impedes her way.

"You did an excellent job," the Avatar says, "but your services are no longer required."

Errios opens her mouth to question and Aurelia simply reaches into it and rips her jaw free then her head from the rest of her body. She then turns around to Spencer Reeds and says, "Come now, we have one last task to deal with."

"Natalya Rhinheart," Spencer says in a near whisper.



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 24



Mauritius

Indian Ocean

RAVEN CASSIDY AND SAGE GREYSON step through the doorway into a brightly lit and very large room filled with electronic equipment and video screens. At the opposite end stand two figures looking straight at the two agents. When Cassidy and Greyson see them they instantly raise their weapons up at them.

"I suggest you reconsider," the voice from hall says.

A moment later a squad of six soldiers fills in behind the two agents pointing guns at their backs.

"Colonel Pierson I'm guessing," Greyson states as he and Cassidy lower their weapons which are quickly gathered by two of the soldiers.

"Very perceptive," Pierson answers. "Now if you and Agent Cassidy will quietly surrender yourselves it will be most helpful."

"And if we refuse?" Cassidy asks with a sneer.

Pierson smiles. "Then you surrender by force my dear. Grines has informed me about your, how shall I put it, feistiness."

"Son of a bitch," Greyson mutters. "I knew something felt wrong in this whole damn thing."

"Then I guess we have no choice now," Cassidy says.

Greyson looks at her and nods and then turns and steps into the closest soldiers throwing his forearm into the man's throat crushing it. The other five quickly react but Cassidy is already one step faster dropping to the ground with a leg sweep, knocking two of them down. As she stands up she grabs another of the soldiers about to attack Greyson twisting him around and away into the path of incoming fire. She shoves the dead soldier into the remaining two then pulls out a combat knife and drops down as the other two begin to stand and runs the knife quickly across their throats dropping them right back to the ground.

Greyson on the balls of his feet launches himself after the thrown soldier and onto the other two throwing his body onto them as well. His massive arms slam into their faces driving their heads into the floor.

Greyson stands up next to Cassidy who has just finished fishing out a .40mm off one of the dead soldiers. They both look across the expanse of the room to see Colonel Pierson say something to the figure masked in the shadows next to him and then step away through the door behind them.

Cassidy looks up to her partner and says, "I'll go after Pierson, you that care of this guy and catch up."

"Not leaving it up for debate are you?"

"No I'm not," she says seriously as she pulls back the slide.

Greyson nods and pulls out his combat knife stepping to the side toward the figure while Cassidy slips away toward the wall away from the upcoming conflict. The figure doesn't move until Greyson is nearly on top of it, when it does the CATU agent isn't all too surprised.

Kazubeil steps out from the shadows revealing a massive muscular chest and arms. A large scar runs the length on his chest down to his abdomen and another across his left eye causing it to be completely white adding to his overall ferocity.

Greyson doesn't show any emotion. He tightens his grip on the knife and steps in to slice at the horseman across the abdomen, drawing first blood. The demon doesn't flinch from the strike and instead quickly grabs the agent by the wrist and twists sending a jolt of pain up through into Greyson's elbow causing him to release his grip on the knife. With his other hand in a fist, Kazubeil comes across with a back fist with such force Greyson feels like his jaw has just been broken as blood is slung from his mouth.

Kazubeil hoists the smaller human higher and drives his fist into him repeatedly before swinging him around and releasing the grip on the agent's wrist and sending him into the far wall. Greyson slams with force into the concrete wall, caving in several of the bricks and sending cracks through several more.

"Damn, I need to find a different line of work," he mutters to himself as he rolls over to his back. He rolls his head to the side and sees the horseman approach slowly through blurry eyes. As he rolls his head back something catches his attention and he blinks a couple of times to bring his eyes into focus. When he does a plan starts to formulate.

Rolling onto his hands sends a new set of pains through Greyson's rib cage, but he ignores it as he pushes on to his feet. He looks back over his shoulder once more to see Kazubeil steadily crossing the room and showing no interest to finish the job any faster.

Better for me.

Greyson drives his elbow into a glass box and pulls out a fireman axe. He turns taking in the room's contents then steps forward and rear's the axe back, flinching from the pain in his ribs and throws the axe toward the horseman.

The axe flies end over end toward Kazubeil and the horseman without breaking stride leans to the side allows the axe to pass barely nicking his shoulder in the process. A grin forms on the demon's lips followed by a deep laugh.

"Yeah," Greyson says, "we'll see who gets the last laugh." He drives to the floor grabbing a heavy desk in the process and pulls it down nearly on top of him to use as a shield.

The axe, unhindered, continues to the opposite wall and into one of a series of hydrogen tanks. The impact ruptures the tanks and a moment later explodes causing instability in the rest forcing the others to do the same. Within seconds the room with Kazubeil is engulfed in flames.

CASSIDY TAKES ONE LAST LOOK at Greyson just before he reaches the shadowed figure as she steps through the doorway with the confidence he can hold his own.

Cassidy steps into a room very similar to the one she just left, except this one's monitors are lit up with images and maps and Colonel Pierson standing at a large computer screen.

Quickly she raises the gun and aims it at the back of the colonel's head and is about to pull the trigger when he turns around and says, "You may as well pull that trigger and start the end of humanity as you know it."

Cassidy tightens her finger on the trigger almost to the point of firing the gun then hesitates. She lets out a slow, deliberate breath and loosens her finger.

"In this business hesitation will only get you killed," Pierson says.

"Call it a state of curiosity," Cassidy bites back.

"Do you know what this is?" Pierson asks throwing his right hand up in an arc across the screens. When Cassidy doesn't answer right away he continues. "What you are looking at are True Solar's energy plants in full working order."

"You're bluffing," Cassidy scoffs. "We shut down and dismantled each one of those."

"Of course you did," Pierson grins devilishly. "The dismantling was turned over to none other than Section 8."

"How convenient," she says sarcastically. "I suppose Grines helped with that as well."

"Of course," Pierson confirms. "After Typheryian deviated from the project's original intention upon the discovery of Samantha Roberts, Tancheres jumped at the opportunity at completing it, at Natalya's urging of course."

"That seems to be a name that comes up more often than anyone would like," Cassidy says bitterly.

Pierson's face remains stoic. "Your stalling tactics aren't working."

Suddenly an explosion echoes from the other side of the door and the room shutters and the lights go out with red emergency lighting cutting on. Cassidy steals a quick glance over her shoulder before turning back toward Pierson. "Doesn't sound like I need any."

Pierson laughs. "You've still failed," he says moving his hand toward the computer's keyboard.

Cassidy pulls the trigger without hesitation splattering Pierson's brains across the screen. "You've failed asshole," she says turning around.

She takes three steps when a beeping sound from the screen rings out. Quickly she turns around to see a map of the world on the large screen with three blinking lights that Cassidy quickly recognized: Argentina, Australia and Siberia.

"What the fuck?" she says to herself as she rushes over to the computer.

By the time she reaches it the blinking lights disappear and a new one appears over Greenland. "Shit," she says and begins typing on the keyboard. Doing so causes an Access Denied screen to pop up on the screen almost immediately.

As frustration starts to set in the grinding of the door comes from behind her. Cassidy spins around, gun in hand and aimed at the door. Relief overcomes her and she lowers the gun. "Thank God you're alive."

"You're telling me," Greyson says. "It got a little heated up in there."

Cassidy smiles. "It sounded like your handy work."

Greyson replicates the smile until he sees the screen behind his partner. "What happens when that timer reaches zero?"

Cassidy spins around to see a giant box on the screen with less than twenty-five minutes counting down. "Whatever it is doesn't affect us, but it isn't good for whoever is at the receiving end."



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 25



The Sahara

Africa

THE DOORS TO THE ROOM blow off the hinges and land clattering with a loud clang. Instantly, Stone's and Dupree's weapons come up aimed at the door.

"Don't bother," Natalya says looking over her shoulder.

Aurelia strides into the rooms followed closely by Spencer. She throws up her hand and both guns fly from the two CATU agents' hands and are sent across the room into the wall.

"I told you," Natalya says grinning at her Lieutenant, Rolan Brish.

"Please stop what you are doing Natalya as I do not want you to destroy my enemies for me just yet," the young Avatar says.

Natalya continues pressing buttons, ignoring the instructions. She can feel the intensity of Aurelia's stare at her back and the growing anger building up. She turns her head toward Rolan and says, "Slow her down. You know what you need to do."

"It will be done," Rolan says pulling out a Gurkha knife from a sheath behind his back.

He quickly catches Aurelia's eye and she smiles. She turns her head to look at Spencer and says, "Take care of the other two, I will handle this one."

Spencer nods then turns away from her. When Aurelia turns back around Rolan is almost on top of her swinging the Gurkha knife with an overhead strike. The blade comes within an inch of Aurelia's head before stopping. Rolan struggles against an unseen force, his arm beginning to shake from the strain.

"Stupid fuck," the Avatar says smiling once again. "What chance do you think you have against me?"

None actually, Natalya says walking slowly down the steps toward the two with Yasunaga drawn. He was just the distraction I needed to finish up.

"Very well." With a flick of the wrist Rolan is sent flying backward to slam into a computer desk, smashing it and sending him into darkness.

Natalya walks down the set of stairs toward the Avatar. Behind her the computer targets Moscow and sends the signal to its counterpart in space. Seconds later the power plant shutters followed by a bleep on the screen confirming the city has been destroyed.

SPENCER SLOWLY STALKS TOWARD THE two CATU agents, hands out from his sides with his fingers extended and a light blue glow around them.

"Whoa now," Stone says holding up his hands open toward him. "I don't know what spell she's got you under but you've got to see what's going on here."

"I know exactly what is going on here," Spencer growls and hurls a glowing ball of blue energy at Stone. It strikes him in the chest and sends the CATU agent reeling backward. "This is the beginning of a new age and only the worthy shall be allowed to come into it."

He turns to regard Dupree but she is already moving toward him delivering a foot into his chest that knocks him back stunning him briefly. Spencer quickly recovers and delivers a backhanded strike to Dupree. The strike is overwhelming and sends her into darkness before she even hits the ground.

Spencer hovers over Dupree's fallen body smiling. He grabs the front of her vest lifting her up just off the ground. He holds and glowing, open hand in front of her face. "You are not one of the worthy."

Stone slams into Spencer and sends the oncoming energy ball in a high arc away from Dupree. Spencer absorbs the impact into a roll and throws the other CATU agent from him. They both reach their feet at the same time and Spencer sends another blast into the chest of Stone sending him into the wall and into darkness.

Spencer flexes his fingers and grins defiantly then walks over to Stone's unconscious form. Spencer grabs and lifts up the unconscious man to eye level. "You're not worthy either."

NATALYA STEPS INTO A STANCE drawing up Yasunaga. Aurelia merely smiles recognizing the stance. "Ah, Iaijutsu, a very old Japanese art style. Tell me," she continues as the ancient spear, Gungnir, materializes from thin air in her hand, "is that the modern day or ancient version?"

Natalya smiles. I spent a large amount of time in Japan studying with the best sword masters.

"Good," Aurelia says. "Since I have the world's knowledge at my fingertips, I will match your ancient style with another less well known one." The Avatar drops back as she spins Gungnir through the air.

Sōjutsu, Natalya whispers. Impressive.

Aurelia smiles, "Shall we?"

Natalya dashes forward and slashes with Yasunaga. Aurelia easily blocks the attack and laughs as she aggressively swings Gungnir back at the Succubus. Natalya rolls away, dodging the swings, coming up into a kneeling stance swinging her blade around at the Avatar's legs. Aurelia easily leaps over Natalya and slashes downward at her body. She lands a few feet away, blood dripping off the tip of her spear.

"You think you can kill me?" Aurelia taunts. "You and I are not even on the same level. You have no chance in hell!"

Natalya grimaces from the cut on her back. She pushes the pain away and sprints toward the Avatar. Desperately she swings her blade, but it is parried. She goes into a series of swings and jabs, putting all her efforts into offense, using every piece of knowledge in Iaijutsu that she knows, but it is no good. Aurelia continues to block and dodge all of her attacks, easily maneuvering herself out of harm's way.

It infuriates Natalya's rage even further. All her hatred and anger toward Aurelia seethes out and she finds herself wanting to kill the Avatar more and more. Finally she breaks the attack and leaps into the air and brings Yasunaga down upon Aurelia.

Aaahhh!

But, Aurelia effortlessly blocks the downward slash. She leaps back a few feet to dodge a sideways that follows. Natalya clenches her teeth in anger as she dances around swinging her blade at Aurelia. She thrusts Yasunaga toward Aurelia's stomach, but the Avatar parries it away with Gungnir then spins around and drives a fist into Natalya's face. Natalya glares at Aurelia with a poisonous stare then swings with a downward strike, but once again Aurelia blocks it. Natalya glares at Aurelia, pushing down at the spear. The Avatar only smirks back in response.

Then Natalya senses something and jumps back and out of the way. A huge piece of computer equipment comes flying into and slamming onto the spot she was just occupying. Aurelia holds out her hand motioning for Natalya to come toward her. "Come...I am waiting."

Fueled by her taunt Natalya focuses her power and rushes with extremely high velocity to the point she is almost a blur. She speeds past the Avatar slashing out as many as twenty times in the single movement before coming to a stop some feet away. She looks back at the Avatar expecting to see her full of cuts.

No...

Aurelia is wound free. She has managed to block every one of the slashes.

Natalya stands before her speechless and Aurelia finally makes her move turning her defensive Sōjutsu into an offensive Sōjutsu. Aurelia strikes out with Gungnir with lightning speed, each time forcing Natalya to use her blade to barely block each strike with each strike perilously getting closer and closer to hitting her until finally...

Gungnir pierces through Natalya and the Avatar lifts her into the air. She smirks at Natalya, "Have you learned yet that it is suicide to fight me yet?"

SPENCER'S HAND, MERE INCHES FROM Stone's face, sits glowing a bright blue with intensity. "You are not worthy either," he says. The intensity increases casting a glow over Stone and Spencer both. "Only the worthy can pass into the New World."

A hand comes up grabbing his wrist. Spencer whips his head around to look into the eyes of Alexandra Fallon. "That new world of yours isn't happening anytime soon Reeds."

The shock quickly disappears from his eyes and is quickly replaced by anger. He releases Stone and brings his left hand in a fist wrapped in blue energy, but Alexandra releases his wrist and ducks under the strike and sends a fist of her own into his ribs. Spencer winces and Alexandra brings up her knee square into his face. The impact whips Spencer's head back and he falls to the ground in a crumpled heap.

"I'm sorry for the headache you're going to have," she says looking over toward the fight between Aurelia and Natalya. "Now to break the hold that bitch has on you."

BLOOD SPURTS FROM NATALYA'S MOUTH when she coughs. Yasunaga falls from her grasp and clatters onto the floor then her arms fall to her side and she goes limp.

"How does it feel to be on the losing end?" Aurelia asks staring down the spear.

"You tell me," Alexandra growls driving Muramasa through Aurelia's back and out her chest.

The Avatar screams in anger and slings the Succubus free from the spear then pulls herself from the blade drawing a trail of black blood behind. "Who do you think you are?" she screams.

"Your fucking nightmare," Alexandra answers. She raises Muramasa up in preparation to strike.

"You fool!" Aurelia shouts. She grips Gungnir with both hands and charges.

Alexandra leaps into the air and lands onto the spear into a run along the length of the shaft and throws an upward strike at the Avatar's head. Aurelia throws her head to the side just as Alexandra leaps past her, leaving Muramasa to slice into her neck and taste blood.

Aurelia ignores the deep gash and swings Gungnir around in a wide arc to dissuade Alexandra from following up on another attack. She brings her spear up into a defensive position and sneers, "Impressive for a human."

Alexandra is on Aurelia in a blur with random but well coordinated strikes. Each are parried by the ancient spear keeping Aurelia from any further damage as she waits patiently for the moment she could strike back.

She finds it when Alexandra spins to deliver a roundhouse kick. With her left hand, she releases her grip of the spear and grabs Alexandra's leg and pushes her away.

Alexandra stumbles backward and tries to reestablish her footing. A mirthless smile appears on the side of Aurelia's mouth as she sees the chance to catch Alexandra off guard and takes it by lunging forward to impale her on Gungnir.

It would have worked, except Alexandra's apparent unbalance is a ruse to lure the Avatar into attacking her. At the last possible second Alexandra pirouettes out of the way and once again drives Muramasa into Aurelia.

The demon drops Gungnir as a look of surprise comes over her face. Alexandra smiles, "Even you can fall."

Aurelia drops the look of surprise and grabs Alexandra by the throat pulling her in closer, forcing the sword in deeper. "You're wrong," the Avatar laughs, "you cannot kill me."

"No, but I can," Natalya says from behind.

Aurelia looks over her shoulder with genuine surprise this time. "How?"

"Never heard of playing dead?" Natalya asks sarcastically.

Aurelia's face scrunches up as anger overshadows it. "Never mind how," she says. "Neither of you can hope to kill me."

"No?" Natalya asks holding up her hand where she drops an amulet suspended from a necklace.

Aurelia's eyes go wide. She tears her body from Muramasa, ripping flesh and sending blood flying in an attempt to throw herself at the Succubus.

Emotionless, Natalya tightens her grip around the chain. "With the Veles Amulet I take your powers for my own and rid this world of you!"

A flash of intense white light overpowers the room, engulfing everything and everyone with it. Within moments it fades and the Veles Amulet falls to the floor clattering like a coin until it finally settles flat.

Natalya is the first to stir and quickly she is up to a sitting position examining her hands like a small child noticing them for the first time. Not long after Alexandra begins to stir and sharply, Natalya looks toward her. A scowl comes over her face and she grabs Yasunaga as she rises to her feet. Anger swells within her as she launches herself at the defenseless woman.

Alexandra senses the attack before seeing it but stumbles unbalanced with her blade in hand. As she spins to defend herself Natalya has Yasunaga poised to strike her down and she quickly realizes she is too late. She closes her eyes, preparing for her end and her failure, but doesn't feel the pain. When she opens her eyes, Spencer is standing in front of her with Yasunaga piercing his chest, his blood flowing freely from the wound.

"Foolish human," Natalya says retracting the blade.

"None more than you," Alexandra replies swinging Muramasa around at the demon. Natalya parries and twirls away allowing for Alexandra to catch Spencer.

"Why did you?" she asks Spencer when she settles him to the ground.

He coughs a couple of times before answering. "What other choice did I have? Besides, you are the best hope for humanity now."

"What if I don't want this?" Alexandra asks trying one last time to go back to the world she is comfortable with.

"You don't have a choice," Spencer coughs. "I've done what I can; now it's up to you. I'm sorry." He closes his eyes and takes one last breath then his body settles in her arms.

"Touching," Natalya says. "Now let's finish this. It is the least you can do considering you've robbed me of my destiny."

Alexandra can feel the newfound power welling up inside her. A limitless and unfathomable power, one that she knows is shared only by the demon standing across from her. But she can feel a difference in hers compared to Natalya's. Whereas Natalya's felt darker, hers was kinder and gentler. "The mistake was yours," she says finally.

"Then I will correct it!" Natalya throws herself forward and is thrown off balance when the entire structure shakes violently. Red warning lights begins to flash, followed by an alarm. When both women manage to find their footing Natalya says, "My plan is coming to fruition. As much as I would enjoy finishing this I really must be going." She holds up her blade to salute her opponent and fades out.

"Wait!" Alexandra yells, but it is too late.

Whatever Natalya has planned will have to wait. Over the alarms she barely hears the countdown warning for the power plant's meltdown. She only has minutes to get Stone, Dupree and herself out safely.



From the Ashes: CATU Book 6 Ch. 26



SPENCER WAKES UP TO SEE a bright blue cloudless sky. The last thing he can remember is looking up at a beautiful face then a pain in his chest. Reflexively he reaches for his chest but there isn't anything there. No blood. No wound. Nothing.

He lies there for several long minutes before finally convincing himself to sit up. When he does he becomes even more puzzled than before. Surrounding him are evergreens, an entire forest of them, stretching for as far as he can see. Eventually he gets up and brushes the dirt from his clothing, which is remarkable clean and nothing like what he was wearing. A simple pair of blue jeans, a white shirt and a pair of boots is all that adorns his body.

Where am I?

He spins in a circle hoping to see something familiar, even vaguely, but nothing triggers a memory. Every direction looks exactly the same as the next and endless at the same time. Suddenly he stops like a compass finding north and he begins to walk. He feels it is the right way to go. Why? He doesn't know, but he just feels it is the right way.

Time passes, though he cannot seem to keep track of it no matter how many ways he tries. There are no shadows, no sun and no other means for him to physically do so he resorts to mentally keep track, but his mind refuses to work and easily wonders.

This is not like me.

Eventually, the forest starts to thin out. The trees aren't as thick as they were when he began his journey nor are they as big or as thick as the others. Even the smell seems to have changed. He is so wrapped up in the thought that he nearly runs into a man splitting logs over a large stump in the middle of a small clearing.

"Can I help you son?"

"Oh excuse me," Spencer says looking over the man. There is something so familiar about the man, but he cannot quite place it. "I'm embarrassed to say, but I believe I do not know where I am."

The man laughs heartily. "You're on the right path son. Just keep on that way," he says pointing with the axe, "and you'll get where you need to be going."

Perplexed, Spencer asks, "And where is that? As a matter of fact where the hell is this?"

"Not hell," the man says. "Just follow your heart."

Without another word the man turns and grabs another log and begin chops it in half then continues with another completely ignoring or forgetting that Spencer is even there.

Spencer stands there for another few moments thinking about saying something, but he feels an overwhelming pull in the direction the man pointed toward and he just can't find the words to form the questions he wants to ask. Finally he gives up and leaves the man.

Not long after leaving the man he come to another clearing, this one much larger with a small log house set in the middle. Smoke pours out of the chimney and a gentle breeze pours through brushing past to settle onto the clothes hanging out on a line just out behind the house.

He feels the tug even more in the direction of the house and as he takes a step forward his heart skips a beat and he stops dead in his tracks. His eyes go wide and tears well in his eyes. Before him hanging the last of the clothes is his daughter and her mother Sam. He wants to yell out their names but he is choked up and can't.

It isn't until they turn toward him that it is he finds he is able to move. "Spence?" Sam says. "What took you so long?"

Spencer races across the windswept grass sweeping Sam up into his arms, kissing her. "How?" he asks.

She laughs. "This is a special place."

"Heaven?" he asks as everything finally begins to come settling into his mind.

"Kind of," his daughter answers. "Think of it as a special part of heaven for certain people that do special things."

He looks at her with a questioning look. Sam grabs his chin and turns it toward her. "Don't ask," she says then kisses him deep and hard. When they break she says, "We have eternity now."

"I have everything I want then."

"Not quite," she says.

"No? I have you and our daughter, what more is there?"

"Come inside." Sam takes his hand and together they follow their daughter inside.

Standing in the kitchen is a woman Spencer instantly recognizes. "Mom!" He races over to scoop her up into a huge hug. He holds her for a long moment before finally letting her go. "Can it really be you?"

"Yes, it really is me," she says. "It has been so long, but now we are all together. Now I bet you are hungry."

Spencer smiles and says, "Do we get hungry here?"

"You know, I don't know, but I don't want to tempt anything," his mother says smiling. "Besides after chopping wood your father is usually starving."