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Amid The Shadows

By: AnnaDreamer



Unceremoniously dragged down the wooden steps heels and elbows were assaulted against the aged wood of the banister as she continued struggling against the larger man's grip. As they descended further the smell of mildew and damp became more apparent.  

The blind fold blocking her view slipped to her nose, her eyes taking seconds to adjust to the faint light escaping from the open door above. She couldn't make out a thing, just blackness.

She hit the floor with a dull thud, the impact knocking the breathe from her lungs. She scrambled onto all fours spitting the dirt from her mouth as the blindfold is snatched from her face by a large calloused hand of her restrainer.

Trying make out the room clearly, she rubs her arms absently, wincing as they throbbed like a heartbeat. Turning to her left to take in air, she noticed the figure slowly descending down the stairs. 

Dominic was impeccably dressed in his starch white shirt, it glowed in the lessened light, stark in comparison to his dark three piece suit, his shoes clinking softly with purpose as he inched closer. He gently pulled at his suit sleeves then fumbled with his cuff links. 

'I find myself troubled, Alexis'

He spoke clearly to the hunched over figure of the young woman at his feet. Bending to touch her spoiled cocktail dress, frowning as she flinched away.

'This is not what I want Alex' he murmured.

'Then let me go' Alex spoke breathlessly, the last word sounding agitated by the situation she found herself in. 

Dominic stood swiftly, eyeing his accomplice and her restrainer, 'Leave us Taran.' his voice clear and full of authority. 

The larger man, hid in shadow, stepped forward, in the blink of an eye he was gone, Alex saw his movement however watching with hate and loathing as the door above them closed softly.

Dominic flicked his wrist with little effort and from the earth under his feet came a rumble of movement. In a swift formation, two free standing torches formed from the earth's particles materialised into view, illuminated the area. 

'Why are you doing this?' Alexis voice was quiet but Dominic heard perfectly.

'Why does anyone do anything Alex? Power, Money, position.' Dominic removed his suit jacket carefully, folding the item before placing it over the stair's banister. 

Alex shuffled backwards till she felt the cold wall against her bare shoulders. Dominic moved and knelt. 

'You're bleeding' he sounded surprised, as he gently touched her forehead.

'That is what happens Dominic when a three hundred plus pound man ambushes a smaller woman and manhandles her.'

'I'm sorry.'

'Save it' 

'Alex' He reached to take her hand, just as quickly she snatched it back.

'Don't touch me, I don't want you touching me again.' 

Alex looked anywhere but into his face, watching the torches burn and flicker with the life of the fire. Dominic moved to sit beside her, their knees inches from touching. 

'Why am I here? Where's my father Dominic?'

'He just said your father would be enough, you weren't suppose to be there.' He let out a long sigh.

'Who is he?' she turned to face Dominic, 'Dominic?' his golden eyes flickered for a moment before his face became a hard expressionless stare. 

He stood with an uncanny supernatural quickness and put on his jacket. 

'I have to go.' He looked up the dark stairs and let out a breath.

'Please...Don't leave me down here Dom.'

Dominic debated for a moment, the plea in Alex's eyes the cause. Her face was marred with lines of dirt, a trail of crimson red descending from the top of her hair line to her throat. He opened his mouth to speak, then resumed his hard expression. The internal pull of his employer would not wait.

He turned to the stairs placing his hand on the banister and reached for the first step.

'I'm sorry Alexis' a barely audible whispered apology, followed by a blur of motion as the door closed again for the second time leaving Alex watching the flicker of the orange flames in the darkness.

Amid The Shadows Ch. 02



'You can't keep me here! What do you want?' she screamed, scrambling up the first few stairs only to be met by magical resistance, flung back onto her arse a few feet from her previous position. 

Landing awkwardly, she felt a sharp pain fly up her side. The familiar taste of ginger coating her senses and the roof of the mouth. Alexis rolled her tongue intrigued by its intensity, like Ice cream. It's effect latched onto her and instantly left her a little lazy, 'A dulling spell.' She answered to herself, she wasn't all too familiar with the brand but knew the intention, to dull and then prevent the use of their own and others magic, this one was strong, slightly perfumed.

'Shit' She muttered.

Alex rubbed her side absently, cursing Dominic, she noticed the flames of the torches flicker. Goose bumps appearing across her skin as she scanned the area. 

'A draft' She murmured, frantically running her hands across the dirt and dragging herself upwards with some protest from her lower back and legs, applying the same blind administration to the surrounding walls to aid her means of escape.

She headed further into the shadows to where Taran had been stood, feeling the area through darkness. Her damaged shoe hit something foreign and metal as her hands felt blindly at the links of a series of chains hanging from the walls. As she lent over to inspect further, a large hand clamped over her wrist. The smack of skin to skin echoing through the space. 

Unsure how else to react Alexis screamed and tugged frantically at the unseen force holding her to the spot, using her other wrist to try to pry to freedom was futile, as in return, another hand caught her remaining wrist and subsequently pinned her to the wall.

'Quiet!' 

The simple word was horse and rough, from a male voice that seemingly had forgotten its use. Even so, it was still a command and with it, Alex uncharacteristically obeyed. They sat together in the darkness, two strangers as Alex attempted to normalise her breathing. 

The strangers grip didn't falter, but Alex had stopped struggling.

'You cant let me go now' she said quietly. The two hands gently eased from her own. The clink of chains sounded as the stranger moved away a few inches. Alex heard him sigh and then a thud, either he'd hit a wall or dropped down to lean against it.

'Who are you?' Alex frowned, fighting the flicking of lights to try and visualise the chained one. The silence dragged on and Alex realised she wouldn't get her answer. She slowly stood and wandered to the torches, lifting one easily from its holder and began inspecting the walls for weakness. 

The walls were solid concrete from what she could see in the diminished light and felt by hand. No windows and only one entry in and one exit out. The wooden staircase. A solid room for whatever horrors Alex refused to think about.

Alex slumped on the bottom step, torch in hand, nibbling at her bottom lip to stop the overwhelming feeling of crying out loud in frustration. 

After all the man in the dark wanted quiet. She thought angrily. Taking a long breath she released it slow, trying to focus her anger on something productive like an escape compared to her cell mate who too was probably here against his will.

'Least I'm not chained' she murmured as she stepped forward taking the torch to illuminate her companion. 

As the light flickered over the man chained, Alex grasped at what presented itself before her. A dark man was chained by one arm and one leg, wincing at the cascade of light making him visible. His torso was bare but muscled and marked with a long scar diagonally as well as a good build up of filth. His hair fell into wild mangled locks, his chin covered with stubble, easily growing into a shabby beard. 

As Alex cautiously inched closer, on inspection his face was not entirely unhandsomely. His head snapped upwards followed by what Alex could only interpret was a snarl. She hastily retreated, stumbling slightly over her own feet, leaving the chained man once again in darkness.

'I'm s-sorry.' Alex apologised, shakily returning the torch to its holder and resuming her perch on the step.

As she ran a hand through her hair she wondered how this night could have gone more wrong. 

Her main plan for tonight was trying to enjoy her obligations at her father's annual charity fund raiser for the VMA or victims of magical attacks, instead she found herself bound and gagged and fumbled into a van, a mere street from said fund raiser, before being dragged into her current state. 

That only had to have been a few hours ago. She knew her father had been waiting for her, insistent he change his time of arrival and greet all guests not just investors, otherwise they'd have travelled together. Somehow she found a small degree of comfort in that now that she had been taken instead of him.

That was her father to a tee, George Martinez always thinking about first impressions and everyone but himself. Alex felt her chest tightened, he'd be worried She doubted if her younger brother Paul, younger by three minutes, would be any comfort to him. As with most twins they were close. She wondered if he could feel her, call to her as sometimes only they could. 

She stood, moving to stretch her legs, the dull ache of pain still throbbing in her side. She became aware she was inching closer to the chained man as his chains clinked and dragged as he moved, she stilled fixed to the spot, leaning closer to the torches for protection and light. She heard him moan, the sound of pain, she instinctively grabbed the torch, moving closer. 

Alex dropped to her knees in front of the man, plunging the torch into the dirt to form a stable and close source of light. Without caution and thought she reached out to inspect her fellow captive. 

Jensen sucked in a breathe as the young woman in front of him reached uninhibited and touched his forehead. His first reaction was a snarl which the young woman ignored, moving her inventory to his arms and chest. He tired again to dislodge the attention with a growl, She raised her head and an eyebrow. Quickly returning to her administrations as Jensen observed her appearance. 

The aid of the fire was really unnecessary, he could see her clearly in the pitch black. Her hair was unruly, a mass of lightly formed dark curls. As she turned to the side, he noticed the long streak of crimson dried to her beautiful face and throat along with several bruises marring her arms and shoulder, no doubt from her struggle with the silent one named Taran. Her mouth and face screwed in concentration.

He flinched as she reached his ankle, the remnants of the last few days torture still evident on his skin.

'Sorry' She apologised, pulling from the rags of material at her knees, she took a long strip and eyed him questioningly.

'Do you have any water?' Her voice was sweet in contrast to the taunts he normally received from his capturers. Jensen jerked his head towards the two plastic bottles of water laid idly by his side. She reached across, her hair brushing against his chest, to unscrew the cap. He tried to remain still, unaffected as she dabbed the cloth with water and drew back.

'Your skin is inflamed, hot in fact, maybe feverish' she cursed, 'the shackle on your ankle looks like its the source so, well its the only injury I can see' She took a breath, 'I'm going to try to clean around it.' 

Jensen knew the skin would heal of its own accord, his high temperature an indication that his body was already working to regulate and restore his health. However, something within him demanded the contact, the touch, a moment of kindness in the insanity of his confinement. After so many days and night of solitude. 

Alex bathed the area with extreme tenderness, the area was still badly damaged and sore, Jensen let out a few obscenities as the skin stung against the cool liquid.

'Your name is Alex?' He cleared his throat at the menace in his tone, the woman's eyes widened and then she nodded, tearing another strip of fabric. 

I am Jensen.' He added without questioning.

'I say it was a pleasure Jensen but at the moment I think circumstances dictates a different emotion.' She let out a nervous laugh and sat back on her knees. 

Alex observed Jensen thoughtfully, 'How long have you been here Jensen?' 

Instead of an answer he moved slowly, lifting the torch and dimly highlighting section of wall to his right. His blackened fingers lightly touched the area, a series of several tallies marked on the concrete like chalk on a blackboard. Alex moved to the wall observing the days, months, possibly years embedded there. 

'If each of of these is a day....' Alex trailed off, her eyes trying frantically to take in the increasing number as the light moved upwards. 

'I came here 380 days ago.' He said solemnly.

'My god Jensen, that over a year.' The surprise and horror in her voice, gave him a small hope.

'I have endured.' He said roughly, positioning the light source back in the dirt. 

'What are you and why are you chained?'

Jensen smirked at her abrupt questioning, something told him Alex always found her way to the main point, delving for thread of truth. She rubbed a hand over her face, hiking up the remnants of her dress to sit before him awaiting and insisting a response. 

'My full name is Lewis Jensen Crane.' Realisation dawned in Alex's eyes as Jensen expected it would, she knew of his name, there were few in the supernatural world who did not. 'I see by your expression you know who I am, but few know what I am.'

'You're Lewis Jensen Crane?, the Mage?

Alex saw Jensen's eyes flare in anger, the glow of amber fire. Resisting the urge to flinch and scurry away back into darkness, she forced herself to meet his intense gaze. 

'Forgive me if I have offended you Mr. Crane. ' she retaliated shakily, 'My father has attended a few of your social engagements. He recalled your...methods and technique...as remarkable.' 

Alex rubbed the back of her neck seeking relief, the stench of ginger had been renewed with vigour, the scent swimming around her head, making it difficult for a moment to form words and sentences even in thought.

'Alex?' A concerned voice echoed in her mind as she tried to concentrate on the man before her. His outline and appearance blurred and distorted then cleared slightly before floating in her vision appearing feet away, in tunnel vision.

'Alex!' This time it was familiar, filled with emotion, anxiety, fear. 

Alex jarred observing the room with a critical eye. 'Paul?' 

'Who is Paul?' Jensen asked loudly, pulling against his metal restrains to close the gap between them, fighting the urge to shake his companion back into some coherency. He could hear the woman's heart beating unevenly against the wall of her chest, her hands shaking as if each movement was a labour against an unseen pull. Her face paled when observed by his incredulously sight. Her shoulders drooped, her eyes became heavy, blinking sporadically as she slipped onto her side.

'So tried' She murmured as Jensen gently tugged her upright and towards him away from the torch and its harmful fire, his chains itching against his flesh at the movement.

'What is it?' Jensen asked surprising concerned.

'smell' Alex answered sluggishly.

'Magic?' Jensen asked uncertain.

'mmmm, spell makes sleepy.....doesn't affect you?' 

Jensen felt the warm flush of emotion as Alex snuggled closer into the safety of his hold. He absently touched a strand of her hair, marvelling in the softness and faint smell of flowers. Unaffected by the magic of spells, Jensen watched her body relax as she headed further into a state of sleep.

'I hope you dream for us both.' was the last thing Alex heard faintly from the chained man as she gave up the resistance and complied with the compulsion for sleep.



Amid The Shadows Ch. 03



*****

George Martinez stood in the crowded ballroom of the Bellanca hotel, a magical port of call for social functions Such as the VMA annual charity event. He absently watched the variety of super naturals who mingled and laughed carefree, untroubled. All the while sipping champagne and eating canapés to the backdrop of soft lights, classical music and luxury furnishings. The expense of this endeavour seemed unimportant as George scanned the entrance and exit for the hundredth time waiting for his daughter. 

His bodyguard and close friend, Karl stood a little closer, fiddling with his cuffs, clearly the were was on edge. George swung towards him and spoke in a hushed tone. 

'I'm finding it difficult to believe that even Alex can be over two hours late Earl.' 

He took a gulp from the bronze liquid in the crystal glass, the ice cubes clinked as his companion nodded thoughtfully. The board, tall Were eyed the crowd, always watching. 

'As am I' 

Earl made a hand gesture and the guard on the door spoke fanatically while holding an ear piece. 

Several high contributors of VMA charity passed by Martinez and Earl speaking of their enjoyment and thanks to the cause decked in their expensive jewels and finery. Both men gave forced thanks and made polite chit chat as Earl's hand flew to his ear. He cursed loudly.

Martinez clutched his drink tight feeling the crystal groaned and crack in protest, a sudden feeling in his stomach leaving him unsettled. Both men nodded to the guests and stepped away towards the side of the room and prying eyes. Martinez grabbed Earl's arm tightly. 

'Tell me Earl.'

'She's been taken, one of my guys pulled the driver from the De Monte river, the guy had been blasted bad and for a Were it had to be bad.'

Martinez nodded, Weres had exceptionally healing powers and quick senses. Martinez didn't want to cheapen the grief that Earl must be feeling about a member of his team, but his head was brimming with possibilities and worry. His heartbeat throbbing loudly against his temples. Right now calm needed to be his friend. 

'And Alexis?' He prompted.

'Duncan, the driver, told the team she'd been taken before he took his last.'

'By whom?' George ran a hand through his hair.

'Dominic.'

'estimado dios ' Martinez cursed.

As he clasped Earl's arm in acknowledgement and shock. The man who'd abducted his daughter was one she trusted and loved. That was the foremost betrayal, the second was George knowingly trusting the orphaned boy. But then was he orphaned? Was it just some ploy? 

As he scanned the dance floor looking for Paul, he found Alexis' twin almost instantly dancing with a variety of faerie that Martinez couldn't recall. He took a long breath and called to his heir telepathically. A skill which had been strong magically in the Martinez line for generations. 

'Something has happened to Alexis.' Paul's head snapped up and around, he caught his father's gaze his eyes flashing a murderous glare.

Paul Martinez politely whispered something to his partner and whirled them to the side of the dance floor, murmuring a polite thanks for the dance. He strode to his father and Earl purposely, at sharp nod to the Were he spoke, 'Tell me' he asked between clenched teeth.

As Earl recalled all he'd been told and has consequently told his father, Paul felt his skin tightened.

'So' Earl took a breath, 'That's where we are now, I've got two of my best guys trying to track the car but with what Duncan mentioned Alexis could be anywhere and everyone in this room just made a list.'

'No' George interrupted placing his cracked glass on a passing waiter's tray and pinching the bridge of his nose. 'I don't think so.'

'George-' Earl started.

'I said no one here helped Dominic.' George met his friend's gaze and the two locked eyes.

'There's something you're not sharing here Martinez' Earl searched his friend's face with an agitated expression. Paul watched the exchanged and stepped forward to break the intensity of their gazes. 

'I'll try telepathy, If she is still close we maybe able to connect.' He touched his father's arm and George nodded.

'Watcha need?' Earl asked urgently.

'Somewhere quiet' Paul answered as he spun on his heel and headed further into the hotel's inner structure through the ballroom's double door exit. A few staff members nodded in acknowledge as the men strode towards the elevator.

The doors pinged open and closed in an antagonising slowness as all three men eyed the slowly ascending box and increasing numbers on the small LCD screen. The doors finally opened into a cool temperature suite. All three stepped out and fanned out into the room.

In silence Paul dragged a high back chair from an oak desk into the middle of the room as Earl closed the blinds and drapes. George removed his suit jacket and flicked on a small table lamp near a leather sofa, illuminating the room in a soft relaxing glow.

'OK, for this to work my surrounds much be quiet, so Earl if you can clear your head of thoughts otherwise they may interfere. Dad you know the drill.' 

George nodded and stood to move away. 

'George?' Earl questioned.

'I board cast my thoughts loudly so...' George pointed to the adjoining doors. 

Earl nodded and followed. Both men opening in unison one of two doors, entered the other room to stand on its threshold. 

Paul took a long breath and tried to relaxing, imagining the anxiety and worry and every other emotion leaving his body until he felt light as a feather. When this objective was achieved as much as was possible and he felt almost detached from himself, he imagined Alexis' face. Drawing on childhood memories shared helping to enforce his quest.

Something flicked in his subconscious and distantly he heard himself call her name. 'Alexis?'

The path of communication was weak and the pull on Paul's power was extreme like walking in treacle. Each movement was weighty and difficult. 

'Paul?' Alexis' voice was quiet. He tried to channel the union, to pick up sights and smells. He was instantly met with resistant, something powerful and unyielding. Unsure whether he'd actually heard right Paul tried again.

'Alexis?' This time his voice was spoken aloud as the thread of connection pulled and tightened making Paul sweat and gasp for air. Telepathy shouldn't have had this effect on a Martinez, Paul pondered, he excelled at this. Normally.

George and Earl darted into the room at Paul's gasps, crouching by his side. Paul felt the thread snap and the image he tried hard to conjure of his sister's location span and morph into a variety of hazy colours and random images uncontrollably. Like free falling into a whirl of space and time.

'Nice try, although it won't be that easy.' 

Paul gasped loudly and choked for air as the accented words of a stranger floated in his conscious. His chest constricted as he clenched the chair arms feeling control over his own body leave him and his brain slowly switching off into blackness.

George palmed his son's cheek and looked straight into Paul's eyes as they flashed a variety of colours. 'Son look at me, focus on me.' he pleaded urgently before Paul became unresponsive and comatose.

Paul's body started to flap uncontrollable, his limbs like rubber. Earl moved forward, restraining the boy's arms. As quickly as it began the fitting like behaviour stopped and the young Martinez slumped forward in his seat, his head buried in his fathers shirt as he laboured for air.

'Some water Earl.' Earl moved to the mini bar and pulled a small blue glass bottle from it's inside. He moved back to the father and son, gently lifted the boy's head as George held his son protectively.

'Drink.' Earl told the boy before thrusting the bottle to his lips. 

Paul took a long sip but most of the quenching liquid fell down his chin and onto his navy shirt, seeping through the cotton and spreading quick like disease.

'Paul?' 

Paul met his father's gaze, his eye's wide, almost frightened. 

'It's bad dad, something full of hatred and evil.'

'Alex' Jensen was surprised by the gentleness in his voice as he tried to rouse the sleepy woman. 

The smell of ginger in the air was still strong, Jensen turned and observed its flow in the air particles around them. He stared upwards, watching and listening as unseen technology moved eliminating the darkness, as it did every morning. The darkness of the room lifted, now illuminated by the glass ceiling overhead and the sun's rays of the dawn.

Alex stirred, a low murmur of intelligible words, Jensen shifted her weight in his arms, unable to loosen his hold just yet. For the majority of the night hours he'd held her close, stroking the softness of her exposed upper arms, trying to send his own body heat to hers. Jensen marvelled in how well she seemed to fit against him. She murmured again, rubbing her head against his chest in a feline fashion, trying to burrow closer to him. 

'Alex' Jensen tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

'Hmm' She responded, wriggling and blinking sleepily. Suddenly she stilled looking down at the arms holding her. She turned slowly to face the chained man, her eyes wide.

'Jensen?' her voice was high pitched, 'Why are you holding me?'

'The magic made you restless' Jensen answered, releasing his grip reluctantly, helping her into a sitting position, her body shaking slightly after the loss of his warm. 

She looked around the room with a shocked unbelieving expression. She jerked upward seeing the sun, a lone tear cascading down her cheek. Jensen watched silently as the sun's rays spied through the glass dome. Highlighting the woman's classic beauty, covered slightly by dusting's of mud and dirt.

'I thought it was a dream' she bit her lip watching the white clouds roll over head. 

'You went under the compulsion of a spell last night do you remember?' Jensen spoke carefully unsure how to proceed.

'Yes' She rubbed her temples, 'The ginger is still in the air, I can smell it but its stale, wearing off' 

Jensen nodded, shifting in his position to accommodate his stiff limbs. 

'Can you tell who made it?' He asked as his examined the healed skin on his ankle wondering if she had an magical ability at all. He rubbed the ankle absently, glancing up to see Alex rubbing away stray tears. He shuffled further forward catching her hands. 

Alex stared into the eyes of her fellow inmate, her chocolate brown eyes wide as the green ones of the chained man mirrored her position. 

'You must be strong' he said softly as she nodded in agreement. His expression was soft, understanding, Abruptly, Jensen stiffened suddenly and a inhuman like sound erupted from his chest.

'Jensen?' Alexis asked uncertain.

'Someone is coming.' Jensen added angrily, jerking to his feet and pulling Alexis with him. His grip on her arm tightened as he shoved her behind him watching the door above the wooden stairs creaked open.

Time seemed to stand still as Alexis observed the cloaked figure descend the stairs, the clink clack of heeled shoes quietened as the robe hood flew back lightening the room in a blazing fashion and revealing a petite dark hair faerie.

Her tongue whipped out of her face in a snake like animation as she spoke. 

'The massssster will ssssee you now.' 

Alexis felt her skin start to itch, she rubbed and scratched as the Faerie eyed her intently. She turned watching Jensen step forward. Then outstretch his arms to be unlocked from its shackle. The woman let out a laugh, snaking towards them both, flicking her hips before lightly licking Jensen face. 

'Not you Mage,'

She whispered in his ear before she bit it hard drawing blood. Jensen flinched and she turned to move around him, locking eyes with Alexis and licking the droplet of blood from her lip happily. Jensen's arm flew out to stop her in motion. 

'What does the master want with the girl Diana?' Jensen boomed. 

The Faerie Jensen had named Diana playfully stroked his outstretched arm and dabbed her fingers on a few yellowing bruises. Never breaking her gaze from Alex. 

'He wantsss to play with her I think.' She answered in a sultry voice. 

Alex followed Diana's fingers dancing on Jensen's arm, a lone ray of the sun highlighting a strange tattoo like brand on Jensen's wrist. Before she could get closer the pounding of foot steps interrupted the happy prelude. 

Alexis' attention moved, now fixed on the door as she watched Taran descend the stairs. He was dressed in the same clothed he had grabbed her in. The fingerless leather gloves squeaked as he flexed his hands. He moved swiftly, deadly, pushing Jensen away from the faerie with such force that Alexis winced as Jensen bounced away from the splattered wall leaving a dent.

Diana circled her and pulled on a lock of her hair, observing it thoughtfully. 

'My Love, getsss jealoussss' 

She giggled a very feminine sound and tugged harder on Alexis' hair yanking her head back awkwardly. Alexis let out a cry of pain as Jensen pulled against his chains and Taran growled.

'I know!' Diana shouted looking at the silent man cruelly, She took a breathe and smoothed her cloak, her change in demeanour dramatic. 

'Take her now my love.' 

Taran threw Alexis over his shoulder at the command, with expertise and finesse he strode from the room. Alexis bounced and bobbed as she looked to Jensen silently, her expression pleading for help as she struggled against the silent warrior.

Jensen struggled against an unseen pull against the flaking wall. His chest heaving and dusty. He let out a shout as the door closed, dividing and separating them. He shouted at cursed as deep in his chest them being parted felt wrong, his instincts telling him to fight and reclaim.

***

As Taran weaved through a variety of corridors, Alex's arms scraped against a number of walls, her head finally hitting a wooden door frame as Taran finally kicked open a door suddenly and set her inside at the end of their bumpy expedition. 

The buzzing in her ears made her feel dizzy as she looked dazed around the second room as unfamiliar to her as the first had been in as many days. Taran pushed her slightly and pointed, with a grunt, to a a luxury sofa located near a roaring and spitting log fire. 

Next to the sofa was a high back chair, the sides so wide that all Alex could see where a pair of trousered crossed legs and a purple glass cane being rolled between a large hand which displayed a uniquely designed gold ring. Before she could zone in on it, or contemplate making an escape attempt a voice spoke. 

'Good morning Miss Martinez, I wouldn't advise it. Taran is very fast, please.' The ringed hand gestured to the sofa. 

Alexis cautiously stepped forward and perched on the edge of the sofa as close to the door as she could. The man in the chair chuckled. 

'You being all the way over there will never do.' he continued to chuckle. 

Alexis watched the cane in his hand lift until it was pointed at her, in a whoosh of movement it glowed bright and Alexis felt herself lifted and moved forward, now nestled in the lap of her captor. 

He captured her hands in his free one and dragged her forward to face him. Alexis gasped at the handsome face highlighted in the fire light, she struggled as his grip intensified. Something about him seemed so familiar.

'Now now little one' his face inched forward until his nose ran along her neck and jaw. Alexis shuddered as his tongue licked her neck and swirled around in a pattern. He groaned as Alex stiffened, he shifted underneath her as if uncomfortable.

She whimpered as something sharp scraped her neck. 'My name is Alistair.' 

The fiend whispered in her ear.

'and you Alexis are going to help me find something.'

He groaned again loudly and struck, before Alexis could struggle further, Alistair bit her hard and deep before reluctantly sending her body and mind to sleep. 



Amid The Shadows Ch. 04



Alistair stroked the female's hair as she slept in his arms. Finally he was close to his revenge. Diana had put on a show with Martinez Junior at that damn fund raiser, just like she said she would, collecting information on the family. Smart demon. Unfortunately her time and usefulness was drawing to a close.

Alistair took a breath, tilting his chin to observe his unwilling guest. He grunted, the word captor seemed so uncivilised. At this moment he needed Alexis, running his tongue over his teeth he smiled broadly. She tasted tangy with a sweet after taste. An unexpected surprise and delight. She murmured something in sleep and scratched her ear.

Alistair felt Taran edging forward. He scent was drenched in uncertainty and fear. Fear always installed the best in his workers. 

'What is it?' he said roughly around his fangs. 

Taran moved to the fire side, pointed to his watch with a scared hand, averting his eyes to the ceiling in a obvious gesture.

Ah, Alistair had almost forgot his little human friend. Dominic was still in one of the guest suites waiting for his taste of immortality. Fool. So easily betraying those who trusted him. His punishment would come later.

'You can dispose of him soon Taran, first I need all his insight into the Martinez estate and especially our old friend George.'

Taran nodded, his arms now out stretched edging towards Alexis.

'No' his master answered, tightening his grip. 'she stays with me. For now.'

*

Jensen watched the day light sun turn to afternoon oranges, twilight and finally a clear starry night through the glass ceiling over head. His arms were raw after his failed attempts to free himself from the shackles, he was hungry, thirsty bur more so slightly panicked. Alexis had been gone hours.

He paced, as much as his confined situation would allow. He shouted for attention, anyone's attention. He'd issued threats, empty threats falling on deaf ears. 

The master was devious and devilish in everything, his actions, his thoughts. What did he want with Alexis? Was she another pawn in the games he played? What was her purpose?

The image of Alexis' dirty face filled his mind, her frowning face was full of concern as she'd tended to him the previous night. She was beautiful, classically beautiful in a familiar way. Something seemed to be on the edge of his mind and his memory but the more he thought, the more it evaded him.

The tattoo on Jensen wrist began to itch and burn. The master was close. Closer than before. He stared down at the intricate design branded on his flesh, remembering its first appearing on his wrist. The master had smiled when it had appeared and Jensen had been so damn eager to please him back then. But that was then, now....

Jensen jerked his head upwards towards the door. The familiar clink clank of a cane echoing down the passageway. 

The door opened and the master entered. Jensen didn't look at him, giving him his anger had long since become a tedious exercise. The simmering purple of his cane appeared in Jensen's vision, it extended and poked at his tattoo and then shakily moved back. 

Alistair observed the dungeon walking and cataloguing the space with uninterest. He cleared his throat as Jensen sighed and observed the starry night. 

'It seems Jensen, more you act like a beast, more I must treat you like one' Alistair's cane scrapped against the tally etched on the stone, 'when are you going to heel like a good slave should?'

'You don't own me Alistair.'

'No, not forever but for a little while' Alistair exhaled, an action that was irrelevant for his kind.

'Where is Alexis?' Jensen punctuated the words carefully.

Alistair smirked 'sleeping, she was exhausted poor girl.'

Jensen growled, unable to hide his emotion. 'What. Did. You. Do?'

Alistair chuckled, 'have a little soft spot for Miss Martinez Jensen?'

Jensen anger abated abruptly as the mention of the Martinez surname hit home. Martinez. Could she be George and Marianne's daughter? One of the Martinez twins? If she was, her positioning in Alistair's games was suddenly clear. He always found a way to get his revenge and it seemed George and Marianne's card had been plucked from the pack. Jensen rubbed the marking on his wrist before he spoke.

'Alexis is innocent of crimes of the past, your hatred of George and Marianne has nothing to do with her, why involve her?' Jensen asked.

'Why not? Everyone in the supernatural community knows how much anonymity he had surrounding his children, tonight, at that diabolical excuse for attention that is a fund raiser, he was going to name his heir and supposedly name Alexis his concealer, when better to strike?'

Jensen jerked like he'd been stung, Concealers where shrewd in myth and legend, there hadn't been a concealer in the SN community for nearly five centuries. A concealer protected highly coveted magical objects, cursed or otherwise as well as having the unique ability to find almost anything and anyone. A protector and pinnacle of justice. Jensen was shocked, with his own power he should have been able to sense it, she should have been ebbing power. He hadn't sensed a thing.

'She doesn't have the power!' Jensen snapped meeting Alistair's gaze for the first time.

'Eluded you did she?' Alistair threw back his head and laughed, the sound echoed off the cold dark walls. He licked his lips and grinned showing a faint hint of fang. 'she tasted delectable and was very accommodating, I assure you the power is within her.' 

'Bastard!' Jensen strained against the wall, for the first time in hours he heard the metal groan and start to flex.

'You are still in my debt Mage don't forget that. George Martinez may have taken Marianne from me but I will have Alexis and with her I will find what I require.' 

Jensen shook in head in disgust, 'We silly few, if we'd have know what it is you had truly wanted...' Jensen let the thought trail away from his mind as images and memories of the past assaulted him.

*

In the centre of the bedroom and at the end of his son's bed, George watched Paul sleep, listened to the sound of car tyres crunching up the driveway outside. His son's colouring had started to return in sleep. Paul's hair was ascrew across the pillow and on his forehead was still a visible sheen of sweat. Whatever he'd seen seemed to still be haunting his dreams. But finally he was silent and resting.

The oak door clicked opened, sending a stray light into the room and illuminating George's shoes. Karl appeared beside him, smelling familiar of the woods and outside. George glanced his way before returning his gaze back to Paul.

'I found a witness.' George nodded to his friend at the comment, silently urging his continuation.

Karl let out a sigh as they both watched Paul sleep. 'There's something you're not telling me Martinez and I don't like it. Spill.'

'I know who may has Alexis.' The words were uttered in nothing more than a whisper.

'What the FUCK?' As Karl's anger rose, Paul stirred in sleep and mumbled. George gripped his friend's forearm and jerked his head to the adjoining office. As they passed through its doors, Karl tugged his jacket from his shoulders and threw it across a chair before whirling to face his friend.

'You need to tell me what's happening here, I've lost one of my men and so far you've been way too quiet. Alexis is missing and I'm acting as the helpless parent should while YOU!' He pointed a finger to George, 'are surprising collected and cool.'

'Do not misunderstand my emotions Wolf.' George snapped, striding to the cherry wood drinks cabinet and throwing open the door, he grabbed a bottle and poured into a crystal glass. 

'Don't misunderstand? Oh I think I understand this just fi-'

'YOU UNDERSTAND NOTHING!' George interrupted, slamming the glass onto the desk to his left, letting the contents spill. Brushing the hair back from his face and straightening his tie, Karl watched silently as George reined himself in. He dumped himself into the chair on the opposite side of the desk and waited. As George rolled back his shirt sleeves Karl caught a glimpse of the circle tribal tattoo on his inner wrist. George began to rub it and then scratch it almost desperately.

'George' Karl intervened before his friend scratched off his own arm. 

The look on his face as Karl made eye contact made the wolf frown, like his administration to his tattoo it too was desperate. George cleared his throat, 'Before Marianne and I meet you, before the twins were born. We used to be part of a...gang if you will.'

Karl nodded in response. 

'We called our selves visionaries, we were going to rectify the mistakes of our fathers and past generations and use our powers...' he stopped suddenly and shook his head, 'We were fools, all of us.'

'How many of you were there?' Karl enquired leaning forward in his seat.

'Seven in total. One of us each from pure bloodlines, some even descending from the founding families of our magical communities. We were young, naive. At the time the magical community was recovering from the shock and devastation of the war in the south.'

Karl nodded, twenty odd years had passed since the secret of there kind had nearly been discovered by the un-gifted and those who had tried to unveil the secret and been sentenced to death. But instead of accepting punishment quietly and with dignity, they had set in motion a chain of events which nearly wiped out a large chunk of the Un-gifted and supernatural community. Many things had been explained away as mother nature, freak accidents but the SNC knew the truth and so did a small population of the un-gifted. Karl remembered the statue his father had erected in memory of his brother and sister who had fought and lost their lives to keep their existence safe, protected.

'We thought we knew better, that the old ways were stifling and keeping us enslaved. It started as meetings, after classes, we'd discuss our grievances then move on.' George turned to the window staring into the night. 'But then it became something more. We started to dabble and read about other magic.'

'What kind of magic?' Karl frowned.

'The type if of not consequence now, although its fair to say we didn't, we shouldn't have let it get so far.'

'What happened?' Karl enquired.

'We began to practice what we read, the tattoo' George thrust out his arm for Karl's inspection, 'it started just as an immature way of showing our unity.'

'You and Marianne both had these?'

'Yes, only it was more than just a tattoo, it linked us through magic. Still does.'

'I don't understand what this has to do with Alex?' Karl focused on his friend as the pain crossed his face. 

'Out of the seven of us, four remain living.'

'Who are they?'

'Myself, a Mage, a Vampire and A Shifter.'

'Names Martinez, I need names.'

'Jensen Crane the Mage, Niko is a shifter and Alistair Wentworth is-'

'The Vampire' Karl interrupted raising to his feet. Two of the names he'd just roll called were big players. He knew both by reputation. 'One of these has Alex?'

'I'm sure of it.'

'How are you so damn sure?' Karl's eyes narrowed.

'The tattoo burns when we are in close proximity, its been aggravating me for a few days but at the gala, it burned, it burns still.'

'How close is close?'

'Now, close. Same town.'

Karl paced as he took in the information. 'What the fuck were you thinking George, you could have come to me and told me before, we could have protected her and Paul, whatever he saw tonight scared him near to death. What happened between you that one of these fuckers would take Alex?'

'I...'

'Now would be a really good time to keep the momentum of being honest and open with me Martinez.'

George let out a tired sigh, 'Marianne and I...we betrayed Alistair.'

Karl lifted his jacket and shrugged it on roughly, 'I don't know what to say to you right now Martinez and quiet frankly I reining in my wolf.' He lent on the desk with both hands and bowed his head, taking a deep calming breath he straightened. 'I have to return Duncan to his family for the funeral rite but you can guarantee this isn't finished, whatever you and Marianne did, doesn't justify those kids involvement.' Karl glanced at his watch and strode across the carpet room silently before unhinging the door. 'Fucking Vampires.' He pulled the door closed leaving the room in partial darkness and George alone with his thoughts.



Amid The Shadows Ch. 05



'Time to wake up ssssleepy head.' 

Alexis shot upward against the protest of her body. Her head weighed heavy, her vision was blurry. She felt uncoordinated, trying to move her limbs was like dragging dead weigh. As she struggled to sit up higher, she felt herself being poked in the arm for the second time. Turning, she meet the gaze of Diana, clad in skin tight red leather and a what looked to be a diamond choker, its rainbow sparkle bright to the eye. 

'Massster wantsss to have dinner.' Diana stood, scrapping up a piece of fabric from an embellished chair and throwing it in Alexis' direction. It was only then Alexis took in her surroundings. She remembered meeting the vampire, but then things seemed hazy. 

The room she was in was so ordinary a total contrast to last night's location. The bed was dressed in simple linens, the rooms painted a neutral colour with pieces of abstract art and random bursts of colour. Much like her room at home. She rubbed her temples. Clearing her throat she turned back to the faerie. 'What time is it?'

'Dinner time ssstupid, you ssslept a long time. Master asssked me to check on you.'

'Alistair?'

Diana nodded and stood, the squeak of her outfit evident. 'Put on clothesss, Bathroom that way.'

Diana pointed over her shoulder to the closed door in the corner of the room. She moved towards the other door in the room and knocked three times in quick succession. 

Alexis heard the lock move and the door creak open. It looked heavy and old school solid. No busting out of that one. Taran was on the other side. Diana smirked and exited in front of the big man as the door closed once more, the sliding and click of the lock booming though the space. 

Alexis picked up the garment at the base of the bed and dragged herself upwards. Clutching the soft navy blue material to her chest, she carefully moved to the bathroom. She needed to scope around and find the layout of this place, so she'd play along with things...for a while. 

As the light flicked on in the small space the image looking back was dim. Alexis shakily touched her own face with tentative fingers, letting the material in her hand slip through her hand. She looked so different. She felt aged. Her skin was pale, marred with old dirt and dried blood on one side. Heavy dark bags under her eyes along with several bruises along her upper arms. The red puckered injury on the right of her neck was clearly the worst and most recent. Its swollen appearance looked angry. 

'THAT BASTARD.' She told no one in particular. He'd bitten her! She looked down at the remains of the cocktail dress she wore. It looked like she felt, torn and battered. 

She remembered the loving care she'd taken only weeks before in choosing the gown, dressing in the gown and now it was nothing more than rags. As she fingered the torn hem, she remembered Jensen and dressing his injuries and waking in his arms. Safe. 

Shaking her head, she spun around in the small space, observing the items ascrew on the counters and the shower stall. Her favourite shampoo, body wash and a few other niceties. 

'This is weird' She murmured, 'How would he know?' As abruptly as that thought came into her head. The answer was blatantly obvious. Dominic. He'd know these things. Comfort in a prison, how ironic.

The light knock on the bathroom door had Alexis spinning round to face her entrance route.

'Alexis?' The smooth voice of her captor emanated through the wood. To avoid answering him or something worse, Alex flicked the flimsy lock on the door and bent into the shower cubicle turning on the water. She quickly undressed and stepped under.

As the water pounded on her sore skin her palms began to tingle, she felt her power rising. Could she take on a vampire?

'I doubt it, but if you wish to try, maybe we'll both be surprised.' Alistair was leant against the door jam as Alex looked round. His outline was marred slightly by the steam. His arms and legs were crossed as he propped himself up dressed in an elegant pinstripe suite.

Bastard, Bastard, Bastard. The only thought that passed through her mind. She carefully switched off the water refusing to feel intimated by him, He's taken from her without permission and kept her captive. The time of being unsure was over, she need to get out of here. She turned to Alistair unashamed and completely naked. She held out her hand. 'Towel?'

Alistair simply raised an eyebrow, 'No please?'

'You can have a fuck you for free.' She smiled tightly and stepped from the cubicle, snatching the towel he taken from a rack on the wall behind him. She roughly rubbed at her hair, flinching when she nudged the sore on her neck. 

She could feel his eyes on her, watching her. As she bent and rubbed her legs, she heard him suck in a breath. The action repulsed her but she continued, trying to remain unaffected. He watched every action, until she was fully dressed in the item she'd been given. The colour was beautiful, but the cut was not her usual taste, as much as she had when she was just naked in front of Alistair she felt on display. She pulled at the v neck which plunged to her waist. 

'You look wonderful.' She met Alistair's gaze in the mirror. His smug smile made her nauseous. 

'Come' he motioned to the door, 'You need to eat and we have much to discuss.'

*..................*

Paul came awake with a start, he felt cold, Inside and out. As he frantically scanned his own room, he gaze locked onto his father, who stood at the door with a tray in his arms. 

As he stepped into the room, setting the tray on the bedside table George touched Paul's forehead, no doubt reading his body's functions. A clever skill he'd learned from Karl. 

'How are you feeling?'

'About as weak as a kitten and about as much use' Paul rubbed his forehead. 

'Drink this and take these.' George handed his son a glass of water and two white capsules. 

'So...' Paul said around his glass, 'You want to know what I saw.'

George nodded.

Paul closed his eyes and took a breathe, sitting a little higher on the bed. 'It was dark, like a cave, solid ways, stale air.' Paul took another drink, 'Something was pulling at me, draining me magically, strong, sort of compelling.'

'Did you see Alexis? Or anyone else?' George sat on the bed side. 

'A little.'

George nodded.

Paul frowned, 'you know where she is, don't you?' 

'No' George answered with a deep sigh, 'but I know who she is with. What you felt was probably a magically null, it drains a prisoner, captive, visitor. Depending on where you place the stones,'

'Stones?' Paul inquired.

'The white quartzes, they can absorb and store a lot of energy, residual or otherwise.' 

Paul nodded, 'draining energy would make a wizard more perceptive to influences but serious this old school shi-' Paul caught himself at his father look. 'The old magic s have fallen out of favour dad.'

'Which is exactly why they can be undetected and easily used, especially by certain super naturals.'

'I just thought maybe who ever it was wanted money.' Paul drained the remains of his glass.

George frowned, 'the master wants much more than that.'

*............................*

Alex fumbled with her dress as she sat in the high backed chair to the elegant and long, very long oak dinning table. The room was decorated in art works that looked like they belonged in some catholic church. Beautiful, intricate but in some places horrifically detailed. 

Alistair was swirling his drink in a crystal cut glass, watching her. Taran and Diana sat opposite making what could only be described as love stick noises and faces at one another. Diana was feeding her lover pieces of raw meat, Alex gagged and looked down at her own plate. While the design was stark white with a delicate gold trim, the food on it looked Michelin star. A piece of lamb sat upon a dew of sorts complimented with vegetables.

'Are you not hungry?' Alex lifted her eyes, she felt tired and drained, she closed her eyes.

As she opened them Alistair was in front of her face, 'Alexis?'

'I can't ...b-breathe.' Alexis spasmed suddenly in the chair, bowing her body into a crescent moon shape. She cried out as her glare reached the ceiling, the pictures upon it were moving, no they were coming to life. The cherubs and demons were moving closer. Grabbing. Reaching for her.

'M-make them stop.' Alex began with a sob. Alistair grabbed her wrists holding her to the chair as she thrashed beneath his hands. He looked to Taran who was wide eyed. 

'Fetch me the wizard!' Alistair bellowed. As Diana moved closer, Alexis hissed. 'Stay back.'

Alistair was baffled, a few moments ago the girl had seemed perfectly well. He frowned, perhaps that was a little untrue. She had been unwilling to enter this room and had been made to by force. 

The inner doors flew open as Taran pushed the handcuffed wizard into the room. He huffed as he landed on his knees wincing. Taran dragged him further into the space, placing him close to Alistair and Alex. As he landed, Alex screamed loud and piercing. Her dress ripped and three long scratch marks appeared on her chest, she screamed louder as blood flowed. The healing bit mark on her neck was awakened and it too bled. 

Alistair stared frantic around he room, seeing nothing, hearing nothing, feeling nothing. His fangs elongated at the scent. 'Help Her' He told the wizard. 

Dominic lent forward, he stuttered and spluttered as Alexis cried out in agony. 

'What is she seeing?' Alistair asked.

'I-I don't know' Dominic wailed slumping to floor expecting a blow. Alistair growled, he turned to Taran, fetch me my mage.'

*.......*

Jensen was straining against the chains again, he'd been completing this exercise since the master little visit. He'd felt the cold iron bend with his strength. This had been a rare opportunity, when the master usually visited he reinforced his magically null but this time he hadn't. For the first time in a few years Jensen felt stronger. 

He pulled and the link in the wall popped apart, his arm flopped to his side, immediately flowed by pins and needles pains shooting through his skin. 'Success!' He laughed, actually laughed and it felt...good. 

As he basked in his triumph, he heard a scream. A female's scream. Footsteps.

'Alexis' he murmured.

Taran appeared above the stairs, He descended swiftly, simply unlocking the Mage's one remaining cuffed arm. He placed two bracelets on the Mage before he motioned with his hand, beckoning the Mage to follow. Jensen was again overcome by a weakening. He glanced at the bracelets, Iron. 

'What has he done Taran? What has he done to Alexis?' Jensen's heart pounded, she had to be well. Needed to be that way. In the midst of confusion that thought surprised him.

They weaved a way through tunnels and passageways, a scream echoed again followed by a wail. The air became dense and Jensen drew a long breath. Something was in the air, something living and not very happy. Taran stopped suddenly and Jensen bumped into him. The passed through an arch way and the room illuminated in front of them in a shimmer. 

The scene displayed before him was damn right scary. The master was restrained a pale and bleeding Alexis by force as she thrashed and wailed under his administrations. A young man sat to the side wide eyed and clearly in shock, Diana clad in well something looked dazed and confused.

Alistair's head snapped up and round, locking on Jensen. 'At Last' he hissed behind fangs. 

Jensen took over without a thought, She was in pain and he needed to make it stop. He looked to Alistair, 'I need these off' he motioned to the cuffs. 

Taran unlocked the obstruction after a hastened nod from his master. 

As Jensen came forward Alexis let out a sound more like a howl. Her chest was bleeding, her wounds were deep. The blood was seeping through the thin material of her dress. She looked to Jensen her beautiful eyes and face full of pain, 'It hurts' she sobbed.

'Thats the first thing she has said in the last ten minutes that I could understand.' Alistair inched forward.

'Stay back' Jensen held back his arm. He perched in front the girl as her body spasmed and bent awkwardly. 'Alexis, what can you see?'

She cried out again and dug her nails into his arm, just with that contact the air around them changed, it became dense, thick, lacking in something but full of something else. Like he was seeing through her eyes, Jensen watched the figures and art on the ceilings come to life, their murmurs and protests, hate, vengeance, sorrow all spilling down upon him like a fog. They all wanted something, needed something and it seemed Alexis was the unanimous choice to help. 

Jensen acted quickly, he took her hands and spoke quietly, 'Why this room Alistair?' 

'Is a dining room idiot.' was the response.

'did you force her into here?'

No response.

'DID YOU?' 

'Yes.'

Jensen started to chant his face impassive, his eyes began to glow a green of spring time grass, the words archaic and full of power. 

'what issss he doing?' Diana hissed.

'Calling the magic of the earth to aid him.' Alistair watched in awe and envy as the room flooded with the scent of clear air. Alexis body finally stopped thrashing, her movements more sporadic. Jensen pulled her from the chair into his arms rocking her gently as she mumbled, her warm blood coating his chest. He continued to chant quietly, stroking her face and hair. 

Alexis felt the warmth of someone surrounding her, holding her lightly. She felt like she was flying, then suddenly she was. In a clear blue sky overlooking miles and miles of rich green fields, no borders, no fences. A male scent filled the air. Jensen. She felt him but could see him. She smiled and let the feeling of floating sooth her.

*............*



Amid The Shadows Ch. 06



Karl looked to the maps laid on the desk, they outlined Martinez estate and the surrounding areas and towns. Although they were dated and used, the maps displayed several key areas in which a super natural could hide and not be found. This little problem was going to change and fast. Karl had already delegated to his security team and several search parties, wolf and magical had gone out to search several key areas. 

Karl glanced at his watch, it was closing down to midday. The night had been long. After the body of young Duncan had been prepared and laid, Karl had carried out the usual blessing and enchantments to protect the young shifters soul. Karl rubbed his neck and grabbed the coffee cup from the desk taking a swig. Sleep could wait.

George strode into the office with purpose, he was dressed casually in jeans and a long sleeved polar neck, He dumped a pile of pictures on the desk. 

'These are security picture of everyone at the fund raiser Karl, only the first three are unrecognisable.'

'Male or female?' Karl enquired.

'Two females and a male.' 

Karl nodded and scooped up the first few pictures on the pile and looked down at them intently. He smirked to himself and passed two of the pictures to George.

'These two were protested against the rights of magical victims, they were escorted from the building.' He frowned at the last picture of a beautiful blond, she was smiling and had a hand on Paul's shoulder. It was then he noticed her eyes, where people normally had red eye due to flash exposure, she had a blue glow.

'This one....' George shook his head.

'Is a shifter of some sort, a changer but not a wolf?' George made the statement a question. 

'Yes' Karl answered, slightly surprised. 'She's dancing with Paul.'

'He's taking a shower, then he'd joining us.'

Karl gave a jerk of his head. 'Let's hope his intel is useful.'

*......................*

After the strange scene in the dinning hall, Alistair had Alexis taken to her quarters, which he had had prepared with some of her favourite things, according to the human.

Later in the evening, on his orders, Taran had tried to separate Jensen and Alexis only for another round of violent fits to ensue and several unsavoury explicit words from the Mage. 

So his Mage was still unchained and cradling the Concealer in his arms on her bed. His expression was pained and Alexis was still white, from the blood loss of her wound. Alistair couldn't help the twinge of jealously crawling up his back at the scene before him. 

'Is she healing?' Dominic asked from the corner.

'Slowly.' Jensen answered in a whisper, stroking hair from her face.

'Don't get use to the reprieve of your usual sleeping place Mage, you will soon be back there.' Alistair adjusted his cuff and met Jensen's eyes. 

'If she doesn't heal she will be of no use to you Alistair.'

Alistair shrugged, 'She will heal to some degree, that will be enough for what I desire.'

'Don't lie to me Alistair, I saw the look on your face in that dinning room, either you didn't know what you'd done or it had escalated out of control.' Jensen kept his voice lowered as Alexis stirred.

'Perhaps.' Alistair drew the word out, an indication of nothing. 'It is always an advantage to know a person's weakness my Mage.'

'Meaning?' Jensen asked.

'Meaning, concealers usually had an aversion to one type of supernatural being, something that challenges their skill, heightens their fear and its seems Alexis' weakness is spirits, ghosts, essence of the dead. However you wish to name the little show last night it amounts to the same.'

'So all that shit in the dinning room was a test?'

'I knew the place was haunted, although Alexis' reaction was unprecedented and highlighted a need for me to keep a closer eye on Miss Martinez.'

'No shit. Have you tested other beings?'

'Taran and Diana are demons, they caused no pain or infliction.' Alistair ran a hand down his suit, took an unnecessary breath and folded his hands in front of his navel. 

'Anything else?' Jensen asked through gritted teeth.

'Seems Alexis has a soft spot for Mages' Alistair smirked. He flicked his fingers towards the human who whimpered. 'Come Dominic, time for your reward.' 

Taran picked up the human and flung him over his back like a rug. The human whimpered, Jensen looked over him impassively. He had bought Alexis into this horror house and for that Jensen couldn't forgive him. 

As Taran exited followed by Diana, Alistair looked back, 'I'll give her night fall to rest then my procurement begins.' The large wooden door slammed shut and a bolt slid into place. As Jensen stared at it intently, trying to harness the energy from the wood the door glowed in response. Jensen grinned and murmured in response. 'soon.' 

*..............*

Alexis opened her eyes slowly, for a second time she stared at an unfamiliar ceiling. She looked down and noticed the arms encircling her, rings of red flesh on the wrists, she craned her neck slowly to meet Jensen eyes. 

She smiled at him and something tingled inside her, she shouldn't be feeling it, but it was there. As there gazes stayed locked, Jensen stroked her face. She shivered and he smiled. Reaching out a shaking hand she touched his face, a cheek, his eyebrow, his lip.

'I...' Alexis pulled back. 'I should get up.' She pulled away and wobbled to a stand, with Jensen at her side quick as a flash.

'Whoa, you need to sleep, rest.' As he spoke, Alexis fingered the bandage on her chest.

She shook her head and swallowed, 'No, I need to get the fuck out of here.' 

Jensen let out a bark of a laugh and hugged her suddenly, easing up a little as she winced, 'In that we are in total agreement.'

They stood in the embrace for a few moments. It was Alexis who spoke first. 'You helped me last night.'

Jensen sighed, 'Yes, I shared a little of myself with you.'

'I feel like I'm in the middle of something I don't understand here Jensen, this house freaks me out for one, what I saw last night I can't explain and I feel like I've been sheltered from something.'

Jensen drew back and caught her hand. 'Do you know what you are Alex?'

'What do you mean?'

'Has your mother or father never discussed your talents?'

'My mother passed away when I was very small and my father has always been something of a floating influence. I know I'm a concealer Jensen, I was told but I haven't trained for the position. You know a concealer has to be named before they can train.'

Jensen scoffed at the tradition. 'Why not just stick a target to your chest and be done with it? Alistair wants to find something and you're here because of that skill Alex. I don't doubt whatever it is he wants you'll be able to find it.' Jensen stroked her palm and then the back of her hand, strangely Alex found it comforting. 

'If that's why I'm here, why are you?' Alex questioned. 

'Lets get you cleaned up and into bed.' Jensen stopped, surprised by the need to care. He coughed and looked away, 'I want to use the shower.' He dropped her hand and stepped back. 'Ladies first.' He motioned to the closed bathroom door. 

'Was whatever you did that bad?' Alex whispered. Jensen whipped around to stare at her. 

'Is my telling you going to make a difference?'

'You're not here by choice either. So why not?' Alex straightened her shoulders. Jensen smirked, she was beautiful and strong and... He stopped that train of thought.

He looked at his wrists, his arms, his chest trying to focus and stop the plague of memories assaulting him. He took a slow breath.

'I met a woman a few years ago, Claudia her name was.'

Alex frowned, 'Did you love her?' the raise in her voice made her feel shame, she had no right to be...to be....jealous.

Jensen moved to the bed and sank down in a heavy drop. 

'Very much, we married just a few months after being together. I was so in love with her, deeply, passionately. It wasn't till later I started to notice things in her persona, her moods thereafter.'

Alexis moved to a chase lounge located by the window and perched on it, waiting,

'She became intent on discovering different magical experiences, Jensen continued, 'I thought at first it was something we had in common, an interest. She took it further, reading up on cultures and rituals. It was around that time.' He stopped and swallowed hard. 

'Around that time what?' Alex prompted. 

'She started practising in the dark magics, I knew it was a bad idea, I'd been there, I'd done that, but for Claudia' Jensen sighed, 'my word and experiences didn't seem to pacify her own need. She started rambling, flying into rages, changing.'

'The magic consumed her?' Alex asked tentatively.

Jensen nodded. 'I thought Alistair could help me, in our youth, well I'm sure your father had told you of our ideals.'

Alexis opened her mouth to question the comment, but Jensen continued to speak, 'Alistair said the only way to save her was to change her.'

'Vampirism?' Alex sat rigid. Turning without consent was illegal and so was black magic in all its forms.

'Needless to say I offered him a boon. He help me, I'd be indebted to him in his services so to speak.'

'Where is Claudia now Jensen?'

'The change was difficult on her, she became....her condition got worse not better, Now she was a vampire with a thirst for black knowledge and blood. But I still, I couldn't.'

'You didn't report any of this to the authorities?'

'Jumped up wizards with badges couldn't have stopped her Alexis' 

The use of her full name made her pause, she'd obviously offended him and the wound was still raw in his mind and his heart. Jensen stood and moved to the window on the left of her seat, Alexis couldn't help but move slightly to the right, further away.

'Claudia took her own life, Alistair took me to the ashes at dusk one evening, all that was left was her wedding ring. That is why I started to fight, at first it was the money not that I saw any of it, but after, I started to like it. It meant I could still feel.'

'I'm sorry.' Alex whispered. She stood and moved away. 

Jensen turned to her direction and frowned, 'You fear me.'

'No!' She cleared her throat, 'No, I don't know, its just a lot to take in.' Alex took a breath as fatigue rolled over her, the insistent throbbing in her chest had now turned to sharp pains and a burning. She wobbled on her feet and grabbed a bed post for support. 

'Alex.' Jensen touched her forehead, it was clammy and warm. 'I need to check your chest.' He took her hand and led her to the bed.

'I'm ok' She mumbled.

'Of course you are.' He lifted her easily and placed her on the sheets. She winced and held her chest, Jensen pried her hands away and gently removed some of the bandages. The gashes in her chest looked angry and red. 

'Do you know any healing spells?' He asked quietly, inspecting the wound.

'Up to master level but I'm not...' Alex inhaled sharply as Jensen gently touched her injury.

'Sorry.' Jensen frowned, master level of anything at her young age was indeed impressive. 'You don't have enough energy?' He made it a question.

Alex shook her head, Jensen looked up as he heard something like a hiccup. 

Alexis was wiping her eyes with one hand and balling the sheet with another. 

'I'm going to heal this, as much as I can ok?' He straddled her waist and bent his head over her chest. 

Alex touched his shoulder in protest, Jensen looked to her hand then her eyes, his eyes dropped to her lips.

'How exactly are you, oh' Alexis eyes widen in surprise as Jensen gently lapped at the wound with his tongue. Jensen murmured something before he started the treatment again. 

'oh god.' Alexis writhed under him, the sensation of his mouth on her flesh, so intimate and warm. Her hands found his hair and she grabbed it in handfuls as his tongue whirled around the end of the injury. Jensen moaned and the action sped up until he threw his head back and cried out dragging Alexis into a sitting position in front of him, her hands still fastened in his hair. 

His eyes glowed the green of grass as his vision found her, his voice was hoarse as he spoke, 'You taste of power' he licked his lips and eased towards her.

Alexis lowered back onto the bed until Jensen's body covered her own. The wound tingled and sent a wave of energy through her body, lighting up her nerves at the slightest sensation. She ran her cheek across his jaw in a feline like greeting. 

'What do you taste like Jensen Lewis Crane?' even to herself, Alexis' voice was different. Instead of uncertainty flowing through her, determination had taken its' place. She craned her neck and met his lips, harsh and full on. She released one hand and clawed at his back with her fingers. He kissed her back urgently and moaned.

As soon as it started, it was over. Alexis felt a whoosh of air and then the isolate gap in the cradle of her arms where Jensen had just been. As she shoved upwards on the bed the bathroom door slammed in response and the sound of water running filled the cold room. Alexis was alone and Jensen had shut himself away. 

*...............



Amid The Shadows Ch. 07



'Who is she Paul?' Karl dropped the 8x10 photo in Paul's lap and paced back around the desk. 

Paul inspected the photo, his brow was low indicating hard thought. 

'Paul?' George enquired.

Paul looked up as his fingers traced the photo absently. 'She's just a girl I met at a bar, nothing special.'

'Her eyes?' Karl encouraged.

'I never noticed it before. She....' He stopped suddenly and swallowed hard.

'Come on Paul.' Karl growled, 'Spit it out.'

'She came to me, said she was fresh out of the academy of magic and needed help.'

'With?' George rubbed his forehead.

'Finding a position.'

'Did she find a position Paul?' Karl prompted. As the question floated through the air, Paul broke eye contact and turned a lovely shade of crimson as he blushed.

'Jesus Paul!' George exclaimed as he stood and started to pace. 

'What?' Paul questioned in disbelief, 'so I screwed her a few times, led her on a little.'

Karl snatched the photo, it crumpled in his hand as he shook. Through gritted teeth he spoke, barely controlling his voice. 

'We've ran every back ground check we have at out disposal in the last two hours, in which time you primped and pruned yourself in the bathroom before you joined us, over a hundred other super naturals have seen this photo. Everyone! from the government agents to my own Intel and security teams. She draws a blank. An actual black hole. Nothing. Narder. Zip. So if you could actual take you brain out of your pants and try to remember anything. That would be appreciated.'

George's hand settled on Paul's shoulder. 'Please son' George made eye contact, 'She could be a link.'

Paul nodded, he stood sharply, snatching a pen and paper from the oak desk scattered with papers. He wrote something frantically then handed it to his father. 

'We used to met here.' Paul handed over the note. 

George took the paper with a nod. He scanned the contents thoughtfully, before patting Paul's shoulder. 

'I'll pass this on to the team.' George softly as he opened the office door and exited. Karl eye balled the young man before him, barely aware of his friend's departure.

'You can stop it with the intimidating looks Karl. We all know I'm not you favourite person. Hell, I don't think I'd even make a top ten. It should have been me taken, at least you precious Alex would be safe huh?'

Before he could blink, Karl was up in his face, grabbing his shirt in one rough hand, lifting him easily of his feet. 

'Listen to me, you waste of breath, I've cleaned up your mess before. Do not misunderstand my emotions now. I tolerate you because your father is my dearest friend and I love you sister. But don't ever, and I mean ever try to use those emotions against me son.'

He released Paul quickly, so much so he stumbled and grabbed on to one of the high back chairs from balance. 

'So now all of a sudden this is my fault? I mean precious, fantastic, wonderful Alexis never does anything wrong.' The comment dripped with sarcasm.

Silence descended between them for a moment as Karl calmly collected the maps and papers decorating the desk. He took a breath and looked up.

'All your life you have tried, no, continue to try to get your father's attention. It doesn't matter that he treated you and Alex the same, you had to out do and embarrass her every opportunity.'

Karl took his jacket from the desk chair and slipped it on. 

'Bullshit.' Paul scoffed.

'Is it? Even when her powers blossomed and her control out grew your own, you still persisted in this game of tit for tat. Did it ever occur to you that you never needed to compete in such a childish way. That your father favoured you enough to name you heir?'

'Yeah, Yeah and Alexis his concealer.'

'Did you want the job?'

'Hell No!'

'So why such games? All the times Alexis tried in the past to get you to communicate telepathically, you refused, just in case she saw in side your head. To see the evil intent rooted there. You continue to let her believe you're her loving brother. That's bullshit.'

'You're crazy, I love my sister.' Paul answered defensively.

'As much as you hate her? I often wonder, if you father had spent as much time training Alexis as he did training you to take over...'

'What? What are you getting at?'

'That if Alexis had had trained as a concealer I would feel more comfortable in her being retrieved intact.'

'You're waffling wolf. Lusting after my sister like a dog.' Paul commented heading for the door.

'I left you a little something on your bed.'

Paul frowned as he slammed the door behind him, taking the stairs two at a time. As he entered the bedroom, the light net curtains of the patio windows carried a cool breeze over his face. As he inched forward waiting for some bobby trap. He noticed the A4 folder perched on his bed end. He gently touched the letter, wording clearly embossed on the cover. It said one word. Alistair.

***

Alistair was impatient. He'd paced, he'd fed, he'd even had Diana provide him with some entertainment and still he felt anxious. He sat against the head board of the four poster bed, his mind showing him her face, her body. The sight and smell of her blood. Made him think of Marianne.

Diana placed a glove clad hand on his bare chest, drawing circles with one finger. He hated her hands, hated looking at her imperfections. After sex she always resorted back to her true form. But then again she could become anyone. She'd done just that and for the last few hours Alistair had been having a little fun with his Alexis clone.

'What are you thinking about?' Diana asked seductively.

'None of your business.' Alistair rose from the bed swiftly, leaving Diana to fall onto her face into the feather pillows . He snatched a red robe from the closet and drew it on. 'Won't Taran be wondering where you are?'

Diana slide from the bed and stood stiff, turning her back to Alistair. She tugged the gloves from her hands in an awkward way and threw them to the floor. She shimmered her form, scales and scars appearing on her body, flashing in shades of indigo and violet. She knew he hated this, her natural self. 

'Diana' His tone was expressed a warning.

She turned to him and smiled, her face contorting and flexing into Alexis. 'I undersssstand.' she stalked forward still minus her clothes. 'You-

'No you don't understand my dear, I enjoyed our little tryst but my patience and the memory grows thin.' He grabbed her arm and lead her at a run to the door. 'Get out before I break your neck.'

'Masssster' Diana protested as Alistair flung her into the dimly lit landing. She turned to use her voice, only to be met by the closing door. 

Diana shank to the floor, feeling the wetness on her face, she rubbed her eyes. Humiliation. That was what she felt, rejection and humiliation. 

***

Alexis jiggled the lock on the window, smiling with a small amount of glee as it gave a crack and popped open. She stepped out into the night onto the small patio space linking her room. 

Alexis stepped out barefoot onto the cold concrete floor. The dark night stretching out as far as she could see. Trees in the distance dancing against the night creating an eerie sound. She stepped closer to the railing, the bump and simmer of magic touched her arm, creating a goose bump sensation along her skin. 

Alexis touched it experimentally with her finger and watched it glow and hum, then bump, stretch and finally relax. It was old magic but odd, different, altered.

'Its one of Alistair's concoctions.'

Alex turned to find Jensen at the window jam. Barefoot in a pair of dark blue jeans and a white shirt. He rubbed ruggedly at his hair with a small towel. Alex couldn't help but notice how different he looked clean, shame grabbed her. As if his being dirty had been his fault, he was a prisoner just like she. Except he knew what Alistair could do. Alexis nodded and turned back to the hum of magic. 

'Alex?' Jensen moved silently, placing a warm hand on her cool shoulder. 

Alexis stared ahead, watching the tiny plane in the sky flicker lights of red and white. She thought of her father, wondering is he was OK. He'd be worried. In her mind images flickered of the people she cared about the most. Her father was the most predominant. She frowned, frustrated by the fact that she seemed to be caught in something beyond her understanding and a sickening feeling in her stomach told her her father was or had least had been involved with these men...once upon a time. She sniggered at the reference to the fairytale opening, gripping the metal railing with her hands and staring over the edge, her hair lighting brushing against the magical boundary in place. Below, all she saw was black pavement and a sole wrought iron street light. Its light flared and danced with the breeze. 

'Alex?' Jensen moved closer closing his hand over hers on the metal. 

Jensen watched patiently as she eased back from the railing, for one awful moment he thought she'd try to jump, like he had tried to, so many times before. Strands of her hair blew in the night air and the remains of her dress clung to her figure. His hand itched to touch the independent hairs as they lashed around her face. 

As he closed in to do just that, Alexis moved her hand, dislodging his own and pushed her hair back with one elegant movement. She gave him a blank expression that changed into a sad smile. She looked so much like the Marianne he remembered, a woman worn down.

'I'm going to use the shower.' She moved to the door.

'Wait.' Jensen stepped in her path and placed his arm on the door frame. 'I want to apologise for earlier, I...I took advantage of the...situation.'

Alex held up a hand in protest, 'I wanted...you didn't take advantage Mr Crane, I, we just got caught up in the moment. That moment has passed.'

She bent under his arm and entered back into the bedroom, Jensen stalked after her, towel balled in his hand. Mr Crane? Where the hell had that coldness come from, an hour ago she was begging for his attention.

'Just wait a minute.' Jensen began. 

'For what?' Alex interrupted, she took a towel from a small stack on a dressing table by the main door. As she quickly observed the contents she noticed one of her favourite fragrances and some items of make up she used. She took a breath as another wave of unsteadiness overtook her. She gripped the table's edge with her free hand and turned to face Jensen. 

His cheeks had reddened slightly, maybe the shower's hot water had done it. Alexis briefly met his eyes and started to move to the bathroom door. Jensen's hand banged into the wood just above her head.

'You need to move your hand Mr Crane.'

'You think this is easy for me Alexis? For over a year I've been inside that dungeon and then all of a sudden you appear like some, some...' Jensen drew in a calming breath. 'I don't know how to...BE with people Alex. So this pubescent attack you're having at my rejection of you-'

'Pubescent?' Alexis interrupted. 'Let me make this perfectly clear so even someone seemly as immature as me can understand it.'

'That's not what I meant-' 

'No?' Alex searched his face for something before she sighed, 'I'm sorry if my sour mood had affected you Jensen, I really am. I'm sorry for the fact that something that has plagued my dreams all my life tried to attack me in that dinning room. I'm sorry that I'm scared shitless and have no idea how I'm expected to react. This isn't my world and whatever or however this involves my family I don't know. If you think my mood is related to your 'rejection' as you put it, then believe so. I don't know much of you and you certainly don't know me, being attached to you now is...' Alexis looked away, Jensen slowly moved his hand.

'I'm going to take a shower' Alex stepped into the bathroom and softly closed the door.

Jensen stared at the craved door as he heard the lock softly click into place. He gruffed, as if that would stop him, if he wanted.... he stopped his train of thought suddenly of course he wanted her.

This was a mess, damn Alistair and damn Alex, her soft skin, her long hair. Gods. That sad smile on her face, like she was resolved with her captivity. He wouldn't let that happen. Jensen raked a hand through his hair and stared at the main door. Opening his senses, he drew the natural minerals of the wood forward, the door swelled and glowed with power and life. He smirked, his powers where growing, coming back to him fast.

Jensen watched Alex pull the brush through her hair then pull it into a ponytail. She'd dressed casually in a pair of tight jeans and a plain black t shirt. She looked good, she smelled even better. She'd picked up a small glass bottle from the dresser and pointed it at her neck, a light fragranced mist settled against her skin, she then lightly rubbed each wrist at that point. They hadn't spoken since she'd emerged from a misty haze of steam from the shower, fully dressed. 

A large knock on the door interrupted Jensen's activity. Taran pushed back the aged wood and stood in the dimly lit landing. He bowed to Alex and then extended his arm. Obviously they where meant to follow. 

Jensen stood and waited till Alex moved to the door. As Taran went to grab her arm, Jensen's own arm flew out in an instant. The larger man raised a brow and looked to the Mage fighter. 

'Do not touch her.' Jensen spoke calmly, as he removed his hand, he noticed the burnt flesh mark left on the silent man's arm identical to his own fingers. He cursed and grabbed Alex's wrist with his other hand. As she tensed, he slid his fingers into her own and gripped her delicate hand softly. With an encouraging squeeze he led the way down the landing to the main lounge. 

*** Alistair watched his Mage enter the room, hand in hand with the pretty concealer. What a difference a shower and clean clothes maketh a man, he pondered. He gripped the phone closer to his ear as the recipient on the other end waffled on and on.

'I'm sure it was quite a shock' Alistair answered, his eyes locking with Jensen.

'I'm afraid there's no backing out now my friend' Alistair chuckled, 'Of course, of course.'

Jensen moved round the room on light feet and settled both himself and Alex on the large sofa near the fire place. Her face looked pale he observed, so he shifted seats and placed her near the heat. On the small coffee table in front of them was a golden platter filled with cheeses and fruits. He pushed it towards Alex and muttered 'Eat' before grabbing a glass of what looked like orange juice and taking a sip. He swilled the liquid around his pallet, no poison. He nodded, before draining half the glass and refilling it for Alex. As she gripped the glass, he heard a quiet 'thank you' which made his lips twitch, holding back a smile. 

Alistair, took in a breath as he ended his call. 'Do not worry so. I'll be in touch.' As the rambling on the line continued, Alistair returned the phone to it's holder and scooped a file from the side table. 

'Now you've both had time to recover, I thought we'd better get down to business'

Alistair dropped the file onto the table and elegantly sat in the high backed chair across from his captives. He smirked to himself as he remembered feeding from the beauty in this chair as Jensen reached froward and took the file. He opened it slowly and stared at the contents with a frown, lightly sieving through its pages. 

Jensen barked a laugh and took a page from many. 'This is what you want Alex to find?' He asked incredulously. 

'Yes' Alistair replied. 

'You ARE crazy.' Jensen smirked and he passed the sheet to his companion.

Both men watched as she studied the sheet, her eyes going wide in understanding. She straightened her back and cleared her throat before speaking softly.

'If I find this item-'

'Alex-' Jensen interrupted as she raised a hand to continue.

'If I find this item, what does it mean for me?'

Alistair smiled slowly and fully showing fang as he clicked his fingers, Diana appeared with a glass of wine, which he took gingerly and then slowly circle the crystal with his index finger. It sang sweetly as he stared intently at Alex.

'It would mean your freedom' he said innocently as he took a gulp.

This time it was Alex's turn to laugh, 'Not enough.'

Alistair threw the glass at the free place, its smash echoed around the room as the liquid gave a small burst of fire as the alcohol lapped against the existing heat there. 

'YOU dare try to negotiate with me?' His voice echoed around the room.

Alex gripped her shaking hands together and met his stare head on. 'Either you want this item or not, I may be young but I know how important my talent is. If you want this item found I have some terms of my own.'

Jensen tensed beside her as she stood up to the vampire, Diana's eyes had widened and she looked panicked, prepared to run if things got nasty. Jensen looked to Alex who still sat straight and determined. 

'What makes you think I couldn't find someone else to do this?' Alistair enquired. 

Alex scoffed, 'Seems to me you went to an awful lot of trouble to find me, but if you want to find someone else.' She stopped and stood. 

Before she took a step, Alistair flashed to the front of her body and took them both flying across the room. He held her firmly to him but not too hard, still her back hit the wall behind them sending a portrait bouncing along the floor. 

'Clever girl' Alistair breathed into her neck, her heart rate jumped and beat heavily against her jugular, he watched the motion in fascination. 'So much like your mother' He whispered in her ear. 

Jensen shouted and shot across the overturned sofa to where Alex was held against the wall. Her eyes widened and met his as Alistair murmured something into her ear, he then released her slowly. He stepped back, allowing enough room for Jensen to shove him back and grab onto Alex. His hands gripped either side of her face. 

'You OK?' He repeated the question over and over until she gave a rough yes in return.

As he put an arm around her shoulder Alistair spoke.

'Ah young love.' he gave a flourished bow and returned to his seat, where a shaky Diana, produced another glass of wine. Taran lifted the item of furniture over turned and returned it to its glory. 

'Name your terms my little concealer.' Alistair smirked. 

'Firstly, I want my and Jensen Crane's freedom without repercussions, Secondly, I want you to tell me how my family is involved with you' she swept an arm around the room, 'and this'.

'Anything else my little rose?' Alistair asked.

Jensen tensed at the familiar pet name for Alex's mother and moved a loose hair behind her ear. 

'Lastly I'd like to know who set me up.'

'Dominic?' Alistair asked with a smirk and raised brow.

Alex grinned and Jensen noticed that the look was not friendly. 'I may have been fooled but I'm not stupid. Dominic is not that capable.'

'Tut Tut is that what you said when you let him into your bed mon cher?' 

Jensen growled and started forward as Alex's arm hit his abdominal area. Alistair threw back his head and gave a large laugh.

'If I'd have known our concealer would be your weakness Mage I would have set things into motion a long time ago.'

'I should have killed you a long time ago but I'm a patient man' Jensen responded. 

All the humour left Alistair's face and he grabbed the folder from the desk. He drew out a photocopy slowly and held it to the side of his head so all occupants in the room could see the image.

'I agree to all the conditions presented within this room, witnessed by Jensen Crane, Diana and Taran. Bring me the rock my darling girl and I'll answers all your questions. On my honour.'

'Just the stone?' Alex asked slowly.

'Just the stone.' Alistair answered. 




Amid The Shadows Ch. 07



Alex nodded. 'I'll need some weapons, maps and some basic amenities.'

'Of course.'

'And Jensen will be accompanying me.'

Alistair stood swiftly, 'That I cannot allow.' 

'Where I'm going I'll need an earth master.' Alex moved from under Jensen's arm and limped to the fire. She hissed as she straightened further, her back and side burned. 

A look of surprise crossed Alistair's face, 'You know where it is?' he asked carefully.

Alex frowned and rubbed her temples. 'Not its exact location but the general area, now I've store the item to memory it will call to me until I find it.'

'Very well, tonight we eat, tomorrow you'll depart.' 

Alistair clapped his hands and Taran pulled open the door, his arm extended to indicate their exit. Alex took the lead as Jensen followed, slightly bemused by the situation that has just occurred. As he watched Alex limped slowly in front of him, he admired the curve of her back, his gaze dropping lower to her arse in those jeans. His eyes flared to life, he'd underestimated her. She'd asked for his freedom, not just her own. Admiration swelled inside him and all he could think about was kissing her, holding her, thanking her. 

*** Alex waited until the door was closed and locked before facing Jensen, for some reason she through he was going to berate her. Instead when she turned to face him, he was already inches away from her body. The heat and magic from his own humming around her. As he leaned forward to kiss her, she met his half way. A gentle soft brush of lips and skin, once, twice, a third time. Jensen pulled back and stared at her for a long moment. His eyes searching her face, he smiled fully and the sight made him look years younger, happier. 

'Thank You' he said roughly as he stroked her jawline with a finger. 

'You're welcome' she said softly. As much as she'd like to find out a few things about Jensen Crane. The clock was ticking, they needed to find that rock, The black rock. She stepped out of his embrace and perched on the end of the bed. She pulled the band from her hair and rain her hand over her scalp. Jensen's heart felt heavy as he watched her step away, before her could tell her that that kiss was more than a thank you. That he wanted more, Alex moved away. He cursed himself, it was hardly the time to try anything while being in Alastair's house of hell. He wanted her, his magic awoke to the scent and feel of her, but he could wait, he was a patient man. 

'How do you know about the rock?' Jensen unbuttoned and removed his shirt and their eyes locked, she gulped and he smirked. 

'I read a lot.' Alex crawled further up the bed and moved a pillow to her back, settling herself against the head board, slowly. 'History, myths, legends, anything that way inclined I used to decipher quickly and retain.'

Nodding Jensen understood the connection, retaining and relaying information was a key trait when categorising a concealer. He moved to the bed and mirrored her posture. 'We have to discuss strategy. Tell me what you know about the rock.'

'It pre dates ever item located in the magic institutes's museum of history. It was once held within their possession but after the wars in the south it disappeared and with it several historical texts, spell books, etcetera. Since then, their has been three magical incidents which had been widely speculated as being linked to the rock.' 

Alexis snuggled down into the pillow and turned to face Jensen, without conscience thought he did the same, they lay face to face as she continued.

'The rock itself is about 10 cm wide and 3 inches thick, its jagged in appearance and was chipped of the block of brimstone from the demon realm or so the story goes, on its crossing into our realm it became a solid rock, black in colouration with the density and strength of diamonds, in fact its probably stronger.' 

Jensen nodded, so far he knew that much. Although, the size of the rock was a puzzle, from the picture it looked larger. 

He frowned. 'What about its capabilities? Magically?'

Alex yawned, 'It's believed that the rock is used to ward of spirits as well as giving some magically ability to the person who holds it in their possession, but some of the texts I read, condemn this or give such listings of the rock's strengths that its hard to believe.'

'Like?' Jensen prompted.

'Erm...one, in 1886 the Duke of York commissioned some testing on the rock, found it impervious to fire, water and the elements in general, the only thing it seemed to react to was blood.'

'Blood? Why blood?' Jensen reached across the bed and pulled the runner upwards and around Alex.

'Thank you, As to the blood, I don't know, maybe its the demon connection. The writings are taken from the duke's diary, most of it aged and crumbled over the years, only a few chapters of it remains. The duke himself disappeared shortly after the last entry. When his family found him two years later, he'd lost all humanity and was living with a pack of wolves.'

Jensen looked at the woman before him thoughtfully, informing him of things he didn't know so easily. He wonder what other treasure she kept inside that beautiful head of hers. 

'Where do you think we need to start looking?' he asked.

'As I don't know how far we are away from anywhere that could be difficult. Once we get away from Alistair's magic then I'll be at ease to follow my instincts and the call of the rock.' 

'That won't be so easy.' Jensen remarked.

'I know, he fed from me so his having my blood in his system will create a temporary connection.' 

Jensen's body reacted to that comment, he felt himself tense and grip the sheets below him in anger, the bastard had fed on her. He glanced at her neck and noticed the faint dots on the right under her ear. He watched her face as her eyes grew heavy, she shifted on the bed onto her back and winced, deciding against it, she turned back on her side to face him. Just as she relaxed, a loud knock on the door, startled her and she sat up sharply, her arm outstretched, ready to use magic. Jensen lightly touched her elbow, 'It's OK, just food.'

***

Paul gripped the phone in his hand and considered ringing some friends to offer him a place to stay until this thing was over. His conversation with Alistair hadn't gone as planned, Hell, the whole arrangement was falling apart. Alexis was not to be hurt and be returned alive. Somehow Paul doubted that was the case now. Plus Karl was onto him, that fucking sneaky wolf knew something. He took a long breath and pushed at his senses to seek out his sister. As his thoughts cleared and the image in his head became crisper, he thought he recognised the location. Only to be throw back in his bed as he tried too intrude further. The place was guard and warded heavily by magic. Paul gripped the paper file to himself like a life line, after discovering some interesting information about Alistair, he thought the location was a link. Maybe he could clean up his own mess. He needed to contact Diana, tell her to stay away from the apartment, he needed to try and put this wrong right. 

Doubt plagued him at that thought, told him somehow trying to reverse what was in motion wouldn't be so easy and that Alistair wouldn't be so understanding.



Amid The Shadows Ch. 08



 Hello, thank you so much for the people who have commented. All are greatly received.

The story is a bit of a slow build, hope its not boring you. Things get a bit sexy this time, I have a feeling with Alex and Jensen they'll there be a lot more....

Anna Dreamer

Chapter 8

Sometime during the night Alexis had moved closer and Jensen lay with her in his arms,watching his first sunrise in what felt like forever. She stirred and snuggled in closer.

'It's beautiful isn't it?' she whispered in the gathering morning light. Jensen briefly kissed her temple in response. 

He opened his eyes for the second time that day and immediately noticed the lack of warmth and smell of the lady. The bed next to him was cooling quickly, before he could stop himself he leaned over and inhaled the pillow. As he drew back his smile faded quickly. As his thoughts returned to the night before, he realised he'd let Alistair see too much. 

Replaying the night before as a spectator, he reviewed his actions. They'd entered the room together and as soon as Alistair had threatened her, he'd rushed to her rescue. It would be used against him, some how Alistair would use it against him, he knew it.

The wheels in his mind, spun faster and faster, the only logical solution, he had to put distance between them. His attachment was growing too fast and already he cared for her, maybe it was more that that...he growled to himself, griping the bed linen roughly and throwing it off himself. He slipped on the shirt he'd discarded the night before. 

As he stepped out into the morning air, a thousand things ran through his mind, maybe they could make it work. With every positive notion, ten negatives were stacked against them. As he heard the bathroom door softly open, the image of George and Marianne sprung into his mind, he remembered them together. They were happy. He wanted a piece of that, hadn't he suffered enough? The memory was a two edged sword, while it glimpsed at what could be, it also showed what could not. She was George's daughter and his reaction probably wouldn't be so hopeful. 

A reckless Mage and fighter wasn't exactly the ideal candidate prospects for his daughter. Jensen links to his past also cast a shadow.

Taran entered and left them a hostess trolley of food, the smell of freshly cooked food filled the air and most importantly there was coffee. Alexis took one of the small white porcelain cup and filled it with the steaming liquid. She took a sip and tasted something remotely like home. She turned to the patio doors, watching Jensen staring out into the distant, the white shirt he wore bellowing around him. 

When she'd awoke this morning she'd felt safe and warm. She could had kicked herself at her own foolishness. How could she feel safe in this hell hole? But with Jensen she did, just for a moment before the whys and whens of how she'd got here came flooding back. She watched him walk back into the bedroom and pour a cup of coffee. He didn't even look at her. She opened her mouth to offer a greeting when the bathroom door slammed close. She really hated that fucking door!.

**

'Where's Paul?' George entered Karl's HQ at his home and addressed his friend.

'One of my guys saw him leaving the estate this morning, early.' Karl was scouting through a pile of papers.

'Have you been to sleep yet?' George sat himself in one of the chairs by the desk.

'Have you?' Karl smirked, momentarily looking up.

'Touché.' George put his head in his hands. 'I managed a few hours.'

A young man dressed in civilian clothes entered the office and handed Karl a piece of paper. He leaned forward and spoke in hushed tones with the wolf. 'Truly?' Karl asked, the young man nodded flicked his gaze to George and then back to his superior. Karl gave a quick shake of his head and indicated the door. The young man bowed and moved away quickly, leaving the two friends alone. 

'I keep having the strangest dreams, well I suppose it's really snippets of things.' George looked up.

'About Alex?' Karl asked rolling up his sleeves.

'Mostly, some about Paul, Marianne.'

Karl moved around the desk, taking position in a second chair. He waited patiently.

'Alex is in a cave, she's screaming for my help and in her arms is a man, I can't see his face. But she's screaming for help and I try to get to her but I can't. I try to move, to turn, to reach her but I can't I'm stuck. Then Paul appears and I'm screaming at him to help his sister, he just keep picking up rocks and throwing them at me.' George suddenly burst into an uncomfortable laugh, 'does that seem strange to you?'

Karl stared at his friend in thought, 'No, sometimes the mind projects things we don't always want to see with our eyes.'

'Its been days Karl, I think we need to call in reinforcements.'

Karl nodded, 'I have a security team ready to scout out the address Paul gave us last night. I've had a car of men watching the street throughout the night, so far nothing particularly noticeable has occurred. Also...' Karl stopped, suddenly feeling a little uncomfortable. 

'Why do I feel like the next thing out of your mouth is not going to make me happy?'

'I gave Paul a file containing some sensitive information.'

'Regarding?' George stiffened.

'A vampire named Alistair.'

Karl watched his reaction, he stood swiftly with a whoosh of air and an exhale of breathe. George began to pace. 'Is this room safe?'

Karl nodded.

'You knew didn't you? as soon as I mentioned my past...' George stopped to look to the wolf asking again. 'Is this room safe?'

'I swept it myself this morning.'

'You really don't trust...' George stopped as a panicked look came over his face. 

'At this moment my friend I can't trust anyone until the puzzle had been unravelled and solved. I want you to tell me about Alistair, I want to know how you're involved with this. I could wait for the whole story, but I swear your name and reputation hasn't been affected with the collecting of my intel.'

'First, why are you doing this Karl?'

Karl's face looked puzzled, he sat back and straightened, 'You're my oldest friend George, You've helped me in the past. I know how much you're family means to you.'

'What does it me to you Karl?'

'I don't-' 

'You don't think I've noticed how you watch my daughter?' George interrupted.

Karl spluttered and moved to the window. George followed him. 

'I know you care for her, in fact I think its much more than that. You've been more of an influence on her than I, more of a confidante and friend. It natural that the relationship between you would grow.'

'I never meant to betray my position or your trust.'

'But?'

'We were together, shortly after her graduation. I reacted badly afterwards, full of remorse and regret. I told her to find someone her own age. I didn't want to take away her freedom George. I've loved her all her life, watched her grow and somewhere inside of me it felt wrong. My instincts got the better of my mind and...'

'Karl' George whispered, 'It's ok.'

'NO! IT IS NOT!' Karl roared. 

George let the ringing in his ears dim slightly before he spoke again, 'You introduced her to the idea of Dominic?'

Karl nodded, 'I wanted her to experience life, I just thought...' He tugged at his tie. 'It doesn't matter now, that little bastard is on my hit list.'

'Alistair was my best friend.' Karl's head whirled at the change in topic. 'We were inseparable during school, his parents were odd people and Alistair's birth was not a happy accident.' George moved back to the chairs, he perched on the end and linked his hands. 

'We soon found we had a lot of things in common at that age, magic, women, sports. As we grew older, his relationship with his parents totally broke down. After the birth of his brother, his life became unbearable. My parents felt sorry for him, took him in. Much like with myself indulged his ever whim.'

'What happened with his parents?'

'I don't know, Alistair seldom visited them after he took at residence here. I asked my mother about his family once, she told him his mother had had a digression and Alistair had been born afterwards. My father insisted Alistair's uncle was his father. Claude disappeared from society when Alistair's mother Clara return to her husband. No one spoke of it after then. Alistair's father Henry was a very powerful man, politically and magically.'

'So where does that mark fit into all this?' Karl pointed at George's exposed wrist. 

'It started years later, we'd finished college, graduated. Fell into what society wanted from us. My father took on both Alistair and I as his apprentices. We worked together well. It was the anniversary of the ending of the wars in the south. Alistair was sent to calm down some of the rumours that had reached the elders of the council. Some rouges where ready to start where the wars had left off. Alistair was so sliver tongued, he'd convinced them he could handle the situation. By this time, him and Marianne had been dating a few months. During that time Alistair hadn't stayed monogamous, he used his position in the council and his abilities to the fullest.'

'So you stepped in where he'd started?' Karl smirked.

'I wish' George let out a laugh, 'I don't think I even registered on her radar. We became friends first.'

'So Alistair came back a changed man, how so? Was he changed to vampire?'

Karl opened a drawer in the desk and pulled out a bottle of malt whiskey. The clink, clink of glasses sounded until he sat across from George and offered him a glass. The only sound in the room was the opening of the bottle and the dribble of amber liquid into the crystal glass. George took a gulp and Karl topped him up.

'No, I thought the rumours about his vampirism were just that. After his return from the south, he produced his report for the council, crossed the T's and dotted the I's. But in his words where the starting of his true feelings. He painted the rogues in a sympathetic light but the council just took it as his young age and inexperience. I remember my father told him after his report that sometimes in council business a man had to 'harden his heart and see the logic'.

George reached absently to his wrist and rolled back his sleeve. He rubbed at the Celtic design. 

'The tattoos where just a gimmick for myself and Alistair at first. Then as the months went on, more and more people came to the house. So much so my father had the one of the old servants quarters rebuilt for us.'

'The small outbuilding by the back gates?'

'Yes, things started out as all guys together, we'd drink, practice magic irresponsibly. Then Alistair started bringing politics and texts into the group. Pretty soon people where taking sides, fights broke out and then one day I saw Marianne with the same mark.'

'Taking sides about what?'

'That the council were stifling young talent, that the rogues to the south were being eliminated not to stop a threat, but because magically they where stronger than us. They knew secrets the council wanted to monopolise from other wizards and super naturals.'

'You and Marianne believed him?'

'Completely, I had no reason to doubt him, I was blinded to his faults because he was my best friend, Marianne was blinded because she cared for him. Now I see it for what is was, a chance for me to escape what my father was directing me towards.'

'So when did that doubt start to surface?' Karl downed his drink and poured another.

'Alistair became more and more reclusive, babbling about old magic, old texts, dark magic. Marianne and I started spending more and more time together. When we realised there were feelings between us we decided to resist. That Alistair was a concern and that he needed our help.'

'What did George Sr. say?'

'I approached my father and explained my concerns, he said he'd watch out for my friend.'

'And?'

'My father came into my room one night with Alistair at his side, both were bloody and muddy. My father was screaming, ''did I know?' I didn't know what he was talking about. Time seemed to fly, all the family were then in the study. My mother was attending to my father who was bleeding badly. Alistair was murmuring apologises discarded in a chair.'

'What had happened?'

'He's used the dark arts on one of my father's female advisers and a cousin of Marianne's. What he did to her I can't speak of it. My father had felt the hum of magic as Alistair's actions, it also trigged a ward at the back of the house. My father had gone to investigate. Alistair had been in a rage and attacked him for his interference.'

'Your father knew enough.'

'I took Alistair's side, he was my friend, I was blinded by his ideals and his vision. I packed a bag and we left in what was left of the night.'

'And Marianne?'

'She kept in touch by letter, we moved from place to place. Meeting people, recruiting people for our cause.'

'Your cause?' Karl asked a little confused.

'To over throw the council. Create our own equal equality. '

'Only it wasn't an equality.' Karl made it a statement.

'No Alistair wanted a dictatorship with him as our monarch and leader and the rest of us as his minions. He started, jokingly, referring to himself as the Master, one day it wasn't a joke anymore, people joining the cause referred to him as such. 

Marianne came to stay with us after her parents had become suspicious. We sneaked around and spent as much time alone as we could.'

'Alistair treated her like a queen for the first few days, declaring his love and devotion and how they could rule everything and everyone. Marianne panicked, begged me to go home, I refused, thought she was overacting. Alistair's brother started visiting us after a while, that was the first thing that raised some suspicion.

Alistair and I arrange an attack, a raid on an elders home, to leave a message. Only Alistair had arranged a few other surprises as well. The next morning Marianne told me, someone had been killed in the attack and one council member gravely injured.' 

'Someone you knew?'

'Some one much closer than that. Two days later Alistair's brother arrived, delivering the message that their father has been murdered and that my father had been injured. I just knew. I couldn't comprehend that he'd had his own father killed and also that my own father...' George took a long breath and finished his drink. He snatched the bottle from Karl and nearly filled his glass.

'We argued soon after, we traded insults, threw magic at each other. Alistair told me I was just like my father, narrow minded. That he'd put his trust in the wrong man. All the years of friendship seemed to crumble away. All I saw was a stranger. So in front of his whole group of minions, I disgraced him and revealed mine and Marianne's relationship. He was devastated and I felt...I liked his pain.'

'You returned here.'

George nodded, 'I told him if we'd meet again, I'd kill him. I remember the look on his face. He was so disbelieving, so shocked. His brother helped us escape after I told him my own thoughts regarding his father's mysterious death.'

'He believed you?'

'At first no, but he believed Marianne and the facts. Alistair's sudden interest in him is what sealed the deal.'

'And your father?'

'He was growing stronger when I arrived home with Marianne, a few day later. I begged his forgiveness, but things were never the same again. A few months later Marianne found out she was pregnant with the twins, we married quietly. When the twins where born the rift between use seemed to ease a little. He loved the children. He died three years after my mother.'

'I remember, Alex was six. That's when I first started guarding her, when you started training Paul. But I've never heard anything of Alistair before this.'

'He just seemed to disappear, we heard rumours over the years of his deeds, his death. I couldn't believe it. The tattoo burned and itched and I knew he was still alive.'

'You think the tattoo still links you?' 

'I think it links those remaining of us.'

'Including the brother?'

George nodded, 'He too bears one on his wrist.'

'I couldn't find any connection to a brother, Is this brother still alive? could he be found?'

'Ah Yeah, he's still alive.'

Karl stood and moved to the desk He lifted the phone and pressed a number as he waited and heard it ring in his ear he looked to his friend. 'I'm going to need a name George.'

'Lewis, Lewis Jensen Crane.'

**

Alexis and Jensen made their way down the corridor at Alistair's request. They stood at the foot of the stairs in a hall wall lined with rich colouration of reds and golds. Taran had had cuffed them together and was currently stowing an arsenal of weapons into two backpacks. 

Alexis looked around the room, it was beautiful. As she stared at the paintings on the wall this part of the building was quiet. It didn't give off a hum like most rooms, or scream at her like the dinning room did. She shuddered. It was definitely a new part of the house, nothing tried to torment her or touch her. She wondered to herself why it didn't happen in the bedroom? The answer was simple, when Jensen was close she felt better, clearly of mind. 

They hadn't spoken most of the morning or afternoon. She'd tried several times, receiving shrugs and grunts in response. So she spent most of her time on the balcony, while he'd stayed on the bed. While he'd been showering, she filtered through some of the some of items in the room. Finding some of her favourite books among some of her stolen belongings, she taken to the balcony with a cup of caffeine and Keats.

As the afternoon was falling into evening, her stone cold coffee mug and a cooling evening breeze had pushed her inside. She closed the window but still stared out into the evening, wondering if she could do this. Could she really find the stone? 

Already she could picture the item as she closed her eyes. In the image it glowed and sang with power. As the image shifted she was more aware of where it was located. Where ever it was it was dark and the air smelt damp. She'd never used her power to this extent before. Over the years her father had always wanted to wait. Always promised to train her later, another day. There was always something Paul needed to know right now. 

The bang on the door had indicated that time was running out, with a long breathe, she told herself to suck it up and maybe she'd learn to be better along the way. She was looking at a portrait intently when she felt his eyes on her. She didn't look at him. She ignored him, tit for tat. 

Jensen pulled on the chains slightly trying to change Alexis' focus. He'd behaved badly all day and he knew it. She hadn't asked for this any more than he had. He felt apologetic. She looked beautiful, there was a rosy glow to her cheeks and the light perfume she wore was addictive. He breathed her in and felt arousal stirring. 

Alistair floated down the stairs wearing a robe and little else, Diana trailed behind him. As he spoke her face displayed emotion. Jensen frowned, she almost looked at Alistair with a sneer of disgust. Jensen smirked and flexed his wrists, 'the lapdog might just bite' he muttered.

'Your previsions had been prepared my rose.' Alistair lifted Alexis' hand delicately, his tongue rubbed against fang as he looked her over like meat. 

Alex nodded. 'So lets talk time.'

Alistair smiled, 'Indeed, three days.'

'I need a little longer, travel alone may take that long.' Alex reasoned.

'Mmm' Alistair circled the pair. 'I want that stone.'

'I know.' Alexis rubbed at her wrist where the handcuff had rubbed. Alistair removed Alex own grip on the hand and examined the redness. He lifted it to his mouth and felt her tense. Slowly, he moved his tongue over the wound, flicking it slightly over her pulse. 




Amid The Shadows Ch. 08



'Mr. Crane isn't the only one who can heal with his tongue.'

Alexis smiled, 'Maybe, but he does it much better, you disgust me.'

Jensen couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. Alistair back handed him, he wobbled but remained upright. A coppery tang filled his mouth as he examined himself he felt his lip sting. Before he could stop himself, his eyes glowed and he moved forward to attack. 

Alexis moved before him, she touched his face gently.'Please.'

Just by that touch, Jensen felt his anger recoil. He looked over her face. No, now was not the time.

'She is wonderful my little concealer' Alistair spoke to no one in particular but looked to Diana who was scowling. Alistair flicked his wrist and the main door flew open. 

'One week lovebirds, one week and then I want my prize. I could remind you not to do anything stupid....' He trailed off. 'I have many eyes and ears, let me warn you every step you take, ever place you visit will be recorded and reported to me. After tasting you my rose, I will be able to track and find you anywhere, remember that.'

**

They left the house in silence, Taran had drove them for miles down pitch black lanes and bends. He stopped suddenly, Jensen got out and Alex followed. Taran removed the cuffs and walked ahead. Alex gripped the backpack tighter and followed.

'What's happening?' She whispered.

Jensen bent and touched the earth, then gave a nod. As he returned to full height he seemed closer. 'We're going to cross over Alistair's wards.'

Taran waved an arm and threw something at an invisible wall. A spark flared into all the colours of the rainbow. Alex recognised the spell, a simple disarming spell. Jensen slipped his arm down hers and griped her hand. 'Come' He whispered. As Alexis turned back, she saw Taran move again, the ward glowed and then the pitch black was all she could see. All she had to hold onto was an unpredictable Mage.

**

They had walked for hours, her feet hurt and throbbed but she refused to stop. She doubted if the Mage would stop anyway, he seemed to know his way to...well wherever they were going. Not once had he let go of her hand but then he hadn't spoken either, he held it firm in his own, She kept squeezing every time they needed to change direction. 

As the sun crept over the horizon, Alex could see more than a foot in front of her. Everywhere they looked was fields, forest and green. The dirt path they where walking on was well worn and wet. She viewed the landscape around her and felt panic. She stopped abruptly, which resulted in Jensen yanking her arm.

'What is it?' He asked with a frown. 

'I lost focus.' She didn't elaborate, just took her hand from his, closed her eyes and took in the air. 'Focus, focus, focus' She whispered.

Jensen watched quietly as Alex slipped into what could be seen as a state of meditation. She gasped and opened her eyes.

'We heading the right way?' Jensen grumbled.

'Mmm' She picked up her bag and started ahead. After a few minutes, she started to slow slightly.

Jensen knew she was tired. The place around him was so familiar, if they could just make it over the hill....He cursed silently, if he'd known all this time he'd been so close to...

As they descended a heart warming sight came into view. A foot away from the door, it creaked open and an elderly gentleman stepped out. He looked to Jensen with a grin and gave Alex a wink.

'I expected you earlier.' He said with a gruff voice.

'If I'd have known where we were heading I would have walked faster!' Jensen laughed and embraced the old man. 'Its good to see you.' Jensen gave the man's shoulder a pat.

'And I you lad, come, I'm sure Miss Martinez is tired.'

Jensen guided Alex into the stone house, the first room displayed a wooden crafted kitchen and open plan seating area with wood beams, light walls and other country features. The fire in the hearth drew her attention.

The older man took her arm and motioned her to a seat, 'Sit my dear, I'll make some tea.'

Jensen immediately sat beside her and helped remove he backpack. 'Its ok, hes a...friend.' Jensen whispered. 

'I should bloody hope so!' Came the boom from the other side of the room. 

As the gentleman returned with a tray of tea and some sandwiches, Jensen smiled, 'Alex this is Claude. Claude this is...'

'I knew you where coming boy, we hardly need introductions. My darling girl you look done in. Eat!' He passed her a plate. 

'I promise Claude we won't be here long.'

'I know.' Claude returned with a smile. 'You're a sight for sore eyes Lewis, When I heard what had happened...' He waved a hand. 'Anyway, second chances come to us in the strangest ways.' 

Claude stared at Alexis deeply as she nibbled her way around a sandwich, she could have easily gobbled. She looked up and gave him a nervous smile.

'I think, I'll contact your father my dear, my dreams have been full of worry as of late. His face is always appearing.' He rubbed his temple. 'I prepared a room for you upstairs.'

'Thank you. I'll saw Alexis to her room...'

'I said I'd prepared a room lad, I haven't had time to prepare much else.' Claude winked as Jensen rolled his eyes. 

Claude stood and lifted the tray. 'Go get some sleep, we'll all talk later.'

**

They entered the room in silence, Alex removed her jacket and boots and sat down on the bed. The room was warm and it gave of the fainted hint of cinnamon. She flopped back onto the bed and closed her eyes. She heard Jensen shuffling around the room. His voice was quiet when he spoke. 

'I'm sorry about yesterday.'

Alex smirked, 'About being an ass all day.'

he laughed and she felt the bed sink as he crawled on it, he lay beside her on his side, his face just above and beside her own. 'Yes.'

He stared at her for the longest time, He moved an arm to steady himself and leant over her slowly, timidly. He stopped inches from her face.

'Are you going to kiss me?' Alex asked.

Jensen smiled and descended on her lips, softly, sweetly, working up a slow build. Her fingers traced his face and then into his hair before resting around his neck. He drew back and looked down. 'I want you so much.'

'Really?' Alex asked uncertain.

Jensen swooped into her neck and collarbone, 'oh yeah' he answered before kissing and biting the skin. She pushed him back and scooted off the bed. Jensen flopped onto his back and raised his torso supported by his arms. 

He spoke, 'I'm sorry if I made you doubt me Alex, but truthfully you've made me burn since the moment we met. I want you so badly...' He stopped suddenly as she drew the t shirt over her head and it floated to the floor. 

He looked at her pert full breast inside a simple black bra, her stomach breathing in and out, the last remains of a series of small pink scars on her chest. He was already aroused. 

He took off his own shirt and raised an eyebrow. She smiled, a beautiful smile and he felt his heart beat faster. Her hands dropped to her jeans. She popped the buttons and slowly bent to pull them down. Her breasts came forward into his view, two perfect handfuls encased in cups. His mouth watered and he moaned like a man possessed. She kicked the jeans off and stood before him in her black underwear. The light of the morning highlighting red pigments in her chocolate hair.

Alex bit her lip.

Jensen flew from the bed and lifted her easily, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, he settled her back onto the bed, running a course finger down the column of her neck and lightly on her chest, teasing around the edge of her bra. 'I like.' He answered in a low gravelly voice. 

The vibration of his voice reverberated on her chest as he scattered kisses on her exposed skin, he murmured his approval. She giggled at the sensation and gripped his back firmly adding pressure where her nails embedded slightly in his skin. 

Jensen looked up and into her eyes, hissing at the slight pain, easily connecting the pain to pleasure. Alexis added more pressure and he moaned. He dipped his head and bit lightly into her breast and kissed a few healing scars. Alex hissed and smiled, her nipples and chest grew tighter. She writhed slightly underneath Jensen. 

Jensen took the hint and ground his arousal against the junction between her legs. The denim of his jeans rubbed against her inner thighs. She leant upwards and bit into his ear lobe. 'Lose the jeans.' She spoke seductively into her ear.

Jensen chuckled and slide from the bed, he slowly undid each button. He watched Alexis reaction as each button opened. She bit her lip and rolled her hips, her hand played at the edge of her bra. He pushed the Jeans to the floor and discarded them. 

His erection twitched and stretched upwards upon its release. Alexis eyes fixed onto his shaft and she licked her lips. She sat upwards and crawled towards the end of the bed. Jensen watched her prowl like a cat. Dear god she was beautiful, sexy and....

Alexis reached out her hand and gripped him, squeezing slightly. He moved forward a bit unsteady and gripped a post at the bottom of the bed. 'Alexis you don't...'

He was cut off as Alexis flicked her tongue across his bulbous head and then slowly engulfed him in her mouth. Jensen gripped the post tighter as the warmth of her mouth dizzied his thoughts. 

She varied her technique, her hand stroking and gripping his testicles, playing him like an instrument. His other hand found the clasp on her bra and he flicked it with one hand. Without removing her mouth from him, she slipped it down her arms and threw it off. 

At this angle, Jensen couldn't see her breasts, He felt the long overdue release raising in him, the heat flowing over his skin, his lower stomach muscles tightening. 

'No, Not yet' he whispered hoarse. 

He gripped her face and pulled back. Alex looked to him with confusion. Jensen pulled her back eagerly and moving up the bed before he mounted her, 'you are amazing' He whispered before latching onto her breast and pulling the cotton pants down her thighs. Alexis lifted to help the action and her stomach came into contact with his shaft. She stroked it as Jensen nipped and sucked on her breasts. 

Jensen moved his hand lower, stroking the inside of her thighs, slowly reaching upwards. His fingers found the heat of her. His fingers petting her outer lips. 

Alexis moaned and shifted. 'More' She gripped his hand and pushed the palm of his hand against her. He kissed her and plunged a finger inside, She was wet and welcoming. Jensen moved in a steady rhythm adding another finger, his shaft jerked as she gripped his fingers in her tunnel.

She uttered something as his thumb found her clitoris and rubbed, she lifted off the bed and kissed him hungrily. He continued the treatment until she was panting with need, he drew back and watched her face as his administrations increased in speed. 

'Jensen!' Alexis cried out his name as he watched her break apart under his body. His nibbled fingers continued until the last few tremors of release fluttered through her body. She lay back limply and opened her eyes. She gave a throaty laugh and they kissed.

Jensen kissed her leisurely, 'I love watching you come.'

'I love you making me come.' They both laughed. She gripped his back and kissed his shoulder and neck. Jensen rolled his hips. 

'Do you need some attention?' Alex asked raising a brow.

'I think we both do.' Jensen took himself in hand as Alex open her legs wider. She propped herself up on her elbows as Jensen rubbed himself against her. He looked up and they locked eyes. 

'You sure about this?' For a moment Jensen was panicked she'd say no....

Alexis reached between them and covered his hand with her own. 'Make love to me' She whispered.

Jensen grinned and guided himself home. As he worked himself into her he paused and enjoyed the warmth and tightness, Alexis locked a leg behind his back.

His started to move, a steady rhythm building, 'so fucking good' Jensen seethed through his teeth.

Alexis lifted to meet his thrusts, meowing like a cat, gripping his back, his arse. 

'ah...yes, yes, god...'

Jensen felt the churning in his nether regions again, this time he couldn't hold it back. He moved faster, harder, Alexis cried out underneath him and lost her control. Jensen became frantic and followed her over the edge. One last thrust and he fell onto her chest panting after his release. 

He felt Alex laugh under his ear, her voice slightly muffled as she spoke. 'That was..'

'Fucking fantastic' Jensen finished.

'We may have to do it again.' Alex pondered.

Jensen lifted his head and shuffled to her side, He took her hand and kissed it then her mouth. 'Just to make sure?' he asked hopefully.

Alexis rolled onto her side, 'Just to make sure.'

Jensen opened his arms and she nestled against his chest. 'I don't know about you but I'm exhausted.'

'Yeah' Alex answered against his pectoral.

Jensen kissed her forehead, 'let's get some sleep.' 

Jensen looked down, Alexis had already fallen asleep.



Amid The Shadows Ch. 09



Hi, happy new year to you all..This is chapter nine, where things start to pick up speed and get interesting. Hope you're still enjoying it, any comments welcome.

AnnaDreamer.

*

'Sleep well my dear?' Claude was carrying a teapot as Alex descended the stairs barefoot.

'Yes, thank you' Alex gave a warm smile and moved to the seating area by the fire.

'I presume our Mage is still...'

'Still sleeping, may I?' Alex reached for the pot. 

'Of course, Its earl grey.' He gave a knowing smile.

'Of course you'd know my tea of choice.' Alex laughed and added milk to her cup. 

'I know a lot of things.' Claude winked over the rim of his cup.

'Care to share?' Alex asked with a wink of her own.

Claude sat deep in thought for a moment, oh the situation, such a catch 22, to tell and risk the chance that it could cause change, or tell and prevent what had already been seen. Claude frowned. This was the part of the gift he hated the most. For years he'd remained living a life of relative solitude to ensure he wouldn't imprint on anyone or anything. This time his gift involved Jensen...this time this was different and difficult. 

'I've managed to send a message to your Father. He should have received it by now.'

'Thank you. What do you know of Alistair?'

Claude blanched at the shift course of topic. He sat back and stared at his cup intently. 

'Are you not interested in contact with you father?' Claude asked hopefully trying to back track in conversation.

'About as much as you are in evading my question.' 

'Beautiful and perceptive, you are a wonder.'

'So Alistair?'

'Is evil, vindictive, callous, untrustworthy...many adjectives could be used to describe him, someone who knows him may be more specific.'

'Do you know him?'

'No one truly knows Alistair pet.'

'Do you think I made a mistake? By agreeing to this uneasy...alliance?'

'I think your actions are honourable my dear, its other people that usually caused the afflictions.'

Alex nodded and drank her tea. She could hear the sound of movement from upstairs and felt herself blush. God knows what Claude had heard. Jensen appeared at the bottom of the stairs, his hair tousled, his expression cloudy until his eyes settled on the scene of domesticity before him. He settled on Alex and smiled. He crossed the floor and sat beside her. His hand finding hers. 

Claude watched intently his eyes wrinkled at the sides. He knew this was the beginning, it was the ending that was like trying to see through frosted glass. He touched his temple and tried to relax, he'd pushed himself hard the last week or so, once he'd started to see Jensen in his dreams and then in visions, he'd pushed for more, trying for clarity. Alexis appearances however, had started before that, now the pieces were slotting into place. 

Jensen was staring, he knew it and Alex knew it. The blush in her cheeks was a clear indication. They'd made love again in the afternoon and talked and laughed until they'd napped once more. For Jensen the new found sense of freedom was a revelation. His smile faded, Alistair was always in the background, in the back of his mind. 

'Jensen?' Claude had asked a question.

'Pardon?' Jensen's brow was worried. 

'I said I'd like to travel some of the way with you, if you don't mind of course.'

Alex answered for them. 'That would be greatly appreciated, I-' 

A warm haze passed over Alex, like a hand touching the heat of a radiator. As she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, in doing so it grew more intense. Her body started to ache and burn. As she opened her eyes the scene was hazy, everything slowed. Her grip on the china cup seemed to fade away as the liquid spilled to the floor and the cup bounced on the rug. 

She tore her hand from Jensen's grip and clenched her forehead. Someone was speaking, the words were muffled and far away but sounded familiar. She tried to open her mouth to speak. Her mouth felt numb, her tongue too heavy to move to pronounce the words. 

'Alex? Speak to me, Alex' Jensen moved closer to touch her.

'DO NOT!' Claude was the one who knelt before her brushing off Jensen's administrations. 

He spoke softly, as Jensen tensed. 'Come on Alexis, show me.' Claude stretched his hands out tentatively and placed them over Alexis' own on her temples.

The image shot into his mind so suddenly he swayed, that was one thing that showed her inexperience with her powers. The image was clearing. Along with it came smells and other senses. A town, no a city. A building built from sandstone, the sound of bells. As Claude looked up he saw where the sound was reverberating from. As he moved closer to the building, the wooden door showing the entrance opened slowly. His feet sounded on the stone floor as he pasted the pews and headed to the alter before the depiction of Madonna and child in the elegant stain glass window. 

'Time is short.' Claude turned, Alex stood beside him staring intently at the image of mother and child. She walked to towards the alter and ran her fingers over the wood. 

'Have you seen this before?' Claude glanced around the room. 

'When Alistair first showed me what he wanted.' She turned away and started for the stone craved piece placed in an archaic alcove. The light from the window gave it a solemn glow.

Claude watched as she moved her hand over the stone. As she reached towards the foot of the statue, a piece moved away, Alex gently moved it away and place her hand into the hole it had created. She slowly pulled a sliver chain from its hiding place, attached to it was a small sliver key. 

'Some things are always hidden aren't they?' Alex took the piece and stroked the key gently, it glowed and sang in her hand. She carefully put the chain over her head, it sat perfectly around her neck, the key sat just above the valley of her chest. It continue to glow. 

She took Claude's hand and their eyes met she smiled sadly. 'This is where we need to travel to.'

'Where are we?' Claude examined his surroundings once more. 

Alex let out a small chuckle, 'Aren't you the oracle?'

'Like you said my dear, some things are always hidden, my visions are no different.'

Claude felt a small pulling sensation and was returned to his own with some velocity, cracking open his eyes and gently praying his hands away from Alex's, he steadied himself with a hand on the coffee table. He stood slowly still shaky from his experience and took Jensen's arm. He moved him towards the kitchen area before he returned to the young lady, filling a fresh cup with tea and adding a heavy helping of sugar. Alex opened her eyes and took in some long breaths, eyeing the room with some surprise.

'You're safe, drink this.' Claude moved back and took her hand, placing it on the cup, as she took a sip, he returned to the Mage. 

'What the fuck was that?' Jensen seethed through clenched teeth.

'How much do you know of concealers?' 

Jensen lifted his arms in a defeated gesture. 'I-I don't know, the basics.'

'Now that Alexis knows where to go she'll feel the pull.'

'She told me that.'

'What she may not have mentioned or even known is that that pull can extended over a number of...experiences, can develop and push her towards her objective in many different ways.'

Jensen looked intrigued. 'Such as?'

'Dreams, visions, interactions with spirits.'

'She's had an altercation with a spirit already at Alistair's house of hell. But that was before their pact.'

'What happened?'

'She had some apprehension about entering a room in the house, Alistair forced her and she was attacked. The wounds are nearly healed but have scarred some on her chest. I healed her, something in me knew what to do and it healed her.'

Claude looked surprised, he shuffled to the bookcase and pulled out a small hard backed book. Its navy cover was intricately decorated with some Latin. He nodded and passed it back to Jensen. 'You might need this.'

'Is that what that was? Will this help Alex?' 

Claude nodded, 'we need to leave as quickly as we can. Get yourselves packed and I'll pack some provisions. We need to leave Asap.'

* 'Where the hell have you been? I've been calling for hours.' Paul gripped his mobile phone with a tight hand as Diana entered the apartment.

'I don't come at your beck and call Paul.' Diana removed her fur coat and flung it over a chair, in a swirl of hair she moved towards the young wizard and stroked his face. He flinched and moved away.

'Where is my sister?' Paul spun and glared at her in anger.

'Sshe was taken to the masster Paul like we planned. We talked about it, we planned the details with the masster you know what wass going to happen.'

'Yes well, now I'm not so sure.' He strode to the window and moved the blind aside eyeing the street intently.

'I didn't get followed lover.' Diane slide her body to the back of his, speaking quietly into his ear.

'You may not have, I'm not so sure.'

'A little late to have cold feet, don't you think?'

Paul glared at her before he took the file from the kitchen work top and shoved it into her hands. 

'Someone gave me this, you should read it.'

Diana eyed the item with uncertainty. As she opened her mouth to speak Paul gripped her arm and all but threw her into one of the arm chairs. 'Read. It' he reiterated.

* The mobile phone in his top pocket started to vibrate urgently, Alistair took the item slowly from his pocket and observed the caller ID with some surprise. As he flipped the thing open he uttered one word. 

'Speak'

The caller spoke with certainty and purpose. 'Has she?' Alistair growled into the speaker.

As the speaker's information came to an end. Alistair slowly closed the item and returned it to its place, housed in his pocket. 

*

Karl sat in silence next to George as he'd watched with disbelief as his son and then the woman from the photo had entered the apartment building in the space of ten minutes of each other.

'What is the meaning of this?' George was rambling, 'Why would he be doing this?'

Karl shifted his eyes into wolf form so he could see things around them more clear, on a ledge on the opposite building a small figure was perched on the ledge viewing the same building. Karl could have sworn their gazes met before the figure moved back into the darkness.

'Karl?' George tapped his shoulder lightly.

'I collected an amount of Intel on Alistair soon after his name was first mentioned. I relayed this information to Paul after discovering his own interaction with said individual.'

George looked horrified. 'What? My son and Alistair? No...surely...' George's frantic expression returned to the window.

'George, its the truth. I have surveillance footage and photos to support the theory. I have 10, 12 photos of a hooded figure leaving several places in and around town 10, 20 minutes before the woman in there and then your son. Its time to open your eyes George.'

'It can't be, not my boy.'

'He's involved in this George and from what I've heard of Alistair and what you remember, the probability is that he's in this up to his neck and slowly drowning.'

*

Diana read over the items in the file quickly and efficiently. Even with her disguise she was faster than human eyes. Paul was lent against the kitchen surface watching her seriously. Even to a demon like Diana some of the crimes and actions listed where horrific and quite literally sickening. 

'It doesn't paint him wonderfully does it?'

'I never expected it to.' Diana answered. She slide to a stand and placed the file next to Paul.

As she closed the distance between them and gently touched his arm, she felt her stomach turn. She didn't love the wizard, never had, she'd done what she had been told. But now doing what Alistair instructed didn't seem so appealing. She thought of Taran and her chest ached. She loved her warrior half demon. For him she would do anything. As the though entered her head it felt like an epiphany for her the one thing that needed to be done was the elimination of Alistair. She had been used enough.

'Alexisss has been given a quessst by Alissstair.'

'What kind of quest?' Paul gripped her upper arms tightly.

'The kind that required her calling.'

'What does he want?'

'A ssstone. Before you inquire, I don't know hisss purposse or the intention.'

Paul let go of her arms and started to pace the room. 'Why would she agree to it?' he questioned to himself. He dragged a hand over his face and face Diana. 'Did her hurt her?'

'Not much.' Diana answered as she reached for her coat. Paul grabbed the item at the same time and pulled.

'What does that mean Diana?'

'It meansss I have to go before he knowsss I've gone.'

'Diana, if Alexis...'

Diana cut him off, 'You planned and plotted thisss too Wizard, it wasss what you wanted, what you craved and raved about and when itsss done, you'll have your power.'

* Alexis stood on the platform with the two gentlemen, the train announcer spoke with as much enthusiasm as a wet fish. The transexpress train service pulled to a stop with a squeak of its breaks. She pulled the tickets from her pocket and pressed the illuminated button with her finger. Jensen and Claude flanked her back protectively. Jensen eyed the station like a hawk, eyeing passengers and civilians with disdain. So many people, such a small space. He gripped Alex's arm as she went to board the train. She smiled and tapped his hand. Defeated he let her board and followed after her. They found a table next to the window. A young woman with white headphones and a well worn book was huddled into one corner. As the train filled they took the seats with ease.

Jensen let Alex take the window seat, he scanned the other passengers. One man met his gaze and returned to his board sheet paper. He moved a piece of hair behind Alex's ear and kissed her cheek. The smell of her made the idea of this journey more bearable. As he hoovered near he cheek, he spoke softly in her ear. 

'How long are we going to have to endure being on this metal tube?' Jensen heard Claude chuckle as he pulled a book from the satchel he carried. He pulled it open wide and started to read. 

Alex looked out of the window with some uneasy feeling, she hated travelling on trains, the motion usually made her a little nauseous. 'Just a little under three hours.'

Jensen pulled back and gave her a look that made her feel like she had a second head. 'That long?'

Alex nodded and cuddled up to his shoulder. He moved his arm to accommodate her frame and tried to settled back into the hard seat. He gently stroked her arm and felt her tense. Yeah he didn't like the idea of taking the train either. It had literally been years since he'd been in close proximity with as many people. He took a deep breathe and looked at Alex as he focused on her he felt the panic fading, Ok he thought, focusing on Alex was definitely something he could do to pass the time. 

*

George entered his office in a state of shock. His own son. Betrayed by his own son. The thoughts swimming in his head. The phone ringing in his office was nearly forgotten. He lifted it in a daze as Karl spoke into his ear. 

'We followed the demon, she disappeared about three miles out of town. A piece of woodland. Her scent saturated the place as well as a few others. Crazy thing is George old man, she just disappeared, puff, literally. Any ideas?'

George stared at the mirrored photo frame on his desk. It had been taken by his own hand. On a rare occasion when he'd left business behind and spent time with both his children they'd holidayed at the beach. With the sea in the background and a clear blue sky, Alex was on Paul's back. Both were smiling into the camera. George slammed it face down and rubbed his eyes with his free hand.

The solution hit him straight between the eyes. 'Its a portal.'

Karl chuckled, 'You shitting me?'

'No, Alistair and I used to use the all the time. To travel to and from a place in a blink of time, only problem was they used to take a lot of energy. We used too feed them to keep them active.'

'Why do I feel like I know the answer before I ask the question?'

George sighed. 'We feed them blood. Anyone feeding a portal that way can use it.'

'Damn George, I thought turning wolfy a few nights a month was freaky. You wizards make it a day to day occurrence.'

'If its been used regularly, they'll still be traces of the travellers.'

'So we just found our way to the yellow brick road?' Karl laughed.

'Looks like we off to see the wizard my friend.'

* Jensen needed to pee. Badly. Alex was nestled against his arm which had long since fell asleep. He shuffled her slightly and she burrowed into the seat facing away from him to the window. The man with the broadsheet caught his eye and quickly looked away. He frowned and turned his gaze to the paper. He kicked Claude who was snoozing lightly. He cursed and bolted upright.

'Bout time you figured it out.' Claude said grumpily rubbing his calf.

'You let us get on this fucking tin can and you knew we were being followed?' Jensen spoke in a hurried whisper. He hadn't noticed until it was too late that the paper was about a week old.

'He only watching us...so far.'

'How could you place Alex in that kind of position?'

'She needs to be here on this journey my boy.'

'I'm going to take a leak, then we're getting of the train at the next fucking stop, we clear?'

Claude mumbled something and returned to his book, with one last glance at Alex he headed towards the facilities. He watched the doors move open, the whoosh whoosh sounding as he stepped through into a smaller walkway. There was a queue of two men before him, both swaying with the motion of the carriage. As he crossed his arms and lent against the carpeted wall he closed his eyes against the motion. The doors opened one more time, as the whoosh sound dimmed, he cracked his left eye and eyed the man blocking his exit as he turned to his right another man blocked that way. Both men at the toilet door slowly stepped towards him.

'We issue a warning Mage.'

Jensen unfolded from the wall and stood up straighter, the man recoiled slightly before he continued. 'A warning to cease your objective'

Jensen smirked, 'And what objective would that be?'

The second guy spoke, 'We know you and the woman seek the stone.'

'Really? We where just hoping for a weekend away from city life but your version of things sounds better.'

Minion one spoke again, 'This is no time for jokes Mage. We and our fathers before us have guarded the secrets of the stone for centuries. We will not allow it to be found, especially to hand it over to someone so evil.'

Minion two nodded, 'We will not allow his brand of evil to consume the world.'

Jensen observed their clothes, they all dressed identical in royal blue suits and scratchy white shirts, minion three by the door was the guy with the broadsheet. 'This journey is about more than just the stone.'

Broadsheet spoke, 'If we could guarantee your safety?' 

Jensen sniggered, 'No one can guarantee jack shit against the master.'

Broadsheet moved forward and grabbed Jensen's arm, 'So far we have been polite.'

Jensen growled, 'Take. Your. Hand. Off. me.' With each word he could feel his temperature raising. The announcer filled the space commenting on the next station stop. Before the announcement finished, Jensen grabbed broadsheet by the arm and flipped him onto his back. Flinging his arm into his face in a quick succession of moves. Minions one and two came towards him, both pulling something from their inner pockets. Shit they were armed. As he straightened minion one pulled a small knife, minion two a hand gun and silencer. As he turned minion two hit him with a right hook, the motion of the train had him bouncing back forwards from the carriage wall.




Amid The Shadows Ch. 09



'Fuck'. Jensen went for the gunman first, He moved lightly on his feet, his right arm flying out to disengage the gun. With his left hand, he used the palm of his hand to hit the guy under his chin. As his teeth chatted and his mouth slammed together, Jensen grabbed the guy's head and pelted his knee into his gut. He felt a sting on his side and knife guy nicked his side. As he turned and the train slowed he used knife guy to steady himself. He banged his forehead into knife guys and watched with some delight as he yelled and his nose seeped blood. As Knife guy clenched his nose in a haze Jensen struck. He flung out his fist, left, right, left as the train swayed and knife guy bounced against the opposite carpeted wall. At least that offered some cushioning in sound. Jensen saw the platform sign pass through the door window and the start of commuters and travellers lining the platform edge. Knife guy was slumped against the wall. The fourth minion blocking exit two stood a little dazed and confused. 

'This isin't over' number four said shakily, blindly batting the exit button with the back of his hand. As the inner door finally opened, he turned and bolted down the aisle of the carriage in the opposite direction, Jensen watched him bumping blindly into the raising trains passengers. 

Jensen looked to his side, glad to be wearing a black t shirt. The wet patch forming wasn't nearly as noticeable. He wavered and moved back towards his seat, several people had moved and started to exit the train. Alex was pulling on her jacket. 'What's going on?' She asked worried.

'We need to leave the train,' Jensen stated, 'Now'.

* They where only a few miles from their destination, Alex had supported Jensen the last few steps into the hotel room they had booked. She gently eased him onto the bed and moved the the bathroom. The first thing she grabbed was a towel and face cloth. The second was bottled water from the mini bar. As she returned to the bed, Jensen was removing his shirt. 

Claude was busy on the phone, making up some elaborative story to gather a needle and some thread. Alex checked the small travel kettle on the stand by the window and flicked on the red light. She knelt before her Mage and cracked the top of the water. She drenched the cloth and handed him the rest. 'Take a sip' she told him. His face was paler. She cleaned his side carefully. The cut wasn't long just a little deep and angry. It seeped blood like a dipping tap. She held the cloth to the wound. 

There was a rap on the door, Claude answered and blocked the view, thanking the bellboy quickly and stuffing a note into his hand. 

Jensen's hand covered Alex's, as she looked up he smiled, 'I've had worse and I heal quick.'

Alex smiled and replaced her hand with his own. She took the items, threaded the needle and sterilised the needle with the kettle's boiled water. She leaned over and kissed her Mage.

'This may hurt.' She told him sadly.

Jensen gripped her head and kissed her fiercely, pushing his tongue into her mouth and drawing her closer. He pulled back and placed their foreheads together. 'Do it.'

Alex slowly cleaned the wound and started to stitch, each time Jensen winced her side tingled and she felt physically sick. She cut the last thread and wiped the area. Claude was busy cutting a piece of gauze to place over the wound. Alex gently finished the job and smoothed her hand over the bandage. 'There' she said quietly.

'Beautifully done' Claude said, gathering all the fodder and moving to the bathroom. 

Jensen pulled on her arm and took her back with him onto the bed. 'How far away are we from where we need to be?' He stroked her hair.

'Not far about four miles.'

'From the stone?' Jensen asked surprised.

'No from the key.' 

Jensen closed his eyes. * Alex stood under the spray of a hot shower, she felt tired. She'd watched over Jensen for a few hours. He seemed to be recovering well. His colouring had returned. She and Claude had had room service and discussed their next plan of action. As soon as Jensen was awake they needed to go. Alex couldn't settle she'd been agitated a first, now the past few days just seemed to have exhausted her. He mind seemed to be finding every which way to stay alert. Images flickered in her mind as she closed her eyes to sleep. She turned off the spray and wrapped a towel around her frame. She wiped the mirror above the porcelain sink with a hand towel. The healing scars on her chest looked more red and angry due to the heat. She touched them lightly as a gentle knock sounded on the door. 

Jensen opened the door, quickly getting enveloped by steam. 

'I'll be right out.' Alex cleared her throat and reached for the hairbrush.

Jensen stepped inside, he took the brush and gently pulled it through her hair. Alex smiled at him through the glass. 'Thank you.'

'You look exhausted, beautiful but exhausted.'

'I was just thinking that this is day two. We need to get the key today. I feel...' she waved her hand to animated what she couldn't express.

Jensen caught her hand and kissed a fingertip. 'I Know.' he said quietly.

'This whole situation is pretty messed up isin't?'

Jensen laughed and hugged her. She smelled cleaned and felt good.

'Hows your side?' Alex murmured into his chest.

'Better thanks to your handy work, Claude's just taken out the stitches.'

'That quickly?' Alex pulled back and examined his side, as she bent forward, the valley of her chest caught his eye. A few pink lines marred the area but that wasn't what caught Jensen's gaze. As her fingertips brushed his skin. He tugged the towel away. As Alex laughed he picked her up and placed her on the sink. She gasped suddenly as the contrast in heat.

Jensen stepped between her legs and immediately went to her breasts, he gently touched the underside of each as Alex arched, he weighted each one in his hand. As his head descended towards the one on the left, his left arm snaked around her back and drew her closer. He stood cradled between her body, his mouth on the sweetest thing. 

'That feels so good.' Alex palmed his hair with one hand the other grasping the sink. 

'You drive me crazy.' Jensen replied, even as his side twinged, her looked over her, 'In the midst of this...' He stopped.

As Jensen palmed her right breast he kissed her mouth, their tongues fighting for dominance as she rubbed herself against his mid riff. Jensen felt his cock twitch, his arousal was straining against the material of his pants to be free. 

'Hold onto the sink' Jensen said gruffly as he pulled away. 

He took a second just to observe the woman before him, She was arched slightly against the white contrast of the facilities. Her body was still slightly pink from the shower her legs and arms open in greeting. Jensen growled and tore the pants from his body. The ping ping sounding of the buttons bouncing on the tiled floor. Jensen touched himself, slowly stroking himself as he eyed his prize. Alex moaned at the sigh and shuffled on the sinks edge. 

'Don't tease' She said. 

As Jensen came froward, He moved his right hand to her core. His fingers working into her centre. She was already wet but not quite ready. He worked his fingers in and out, feeling her core squeeze against his hand. Her receptiveness turned him on more. His cock was already moist with he evidence of it. As Alex started to pant, she gripped his shoulder and dragged him forward. As his stomach touched the cold porcelain between her legs and it was his turn to gasp. Alex wrapped a leg around him and panted into his ear, 'I want you now.'

Jensen moaned and pulled back to guide himself into her, As she gripped him and he slide closer both let out a contented sigh. She felt right Jensen though as he moved slowly, drawing out the process and torturing them both. 

Alex gripped him tighter and lifted her hips to draw him closer. He was doing it on purpose, the slow build, the waiting. She moved the leg around his waist lower, drawing him in. His balance faltered and he drove in deeper. Alex cried out and gripped tighter.

'So impatient today?' Jensen chuckled a little breathless. 

'Just fuck me Mage.'

Jensen grinned and twisted his hips, gleeful at the expression on her face. He worked her slowly, then alternated his thrusts to faster and shorter. He could feel the churn in his lower stomach. Alex gripped his arms, giving up on the pretence of using her own strength, at his mercy, she moaned and encouraged him with adjectives and compliments.

As soon as he saw her face contort in familiar climax, he let himself go and pushed further home. She'd come hard Jensen could feel it, based on the ease of his release from her body. As he moved back, Alexis slide from the sink, as she held onto Jensen both panting gaining some composure.

He smoothed the drying hair from her face, smiling brightly as she did the same. He was going to tell her how he felt, he couldn't help it. 

'Alex, I-'

Claude thumping on the door, interrupted the moment. Alex kissed his cheek and moved away. She reached into the shower and turned the water back on. She stepped inside and began to soap up.

Claude thumped against, 'Get a bloody move on' His voice boomed through the door.

He watched her bathe, as she exited, he entered. Both where clean and dressed within ten minutes. Claude had a map laid out on the bed, marking points with a red marker. 

'What are you looking for?' Jensen enquired eyeing the map. 

'He's marking down cathedrals in the area' Alex moved to a side table by the bed and picked up a small pad. 

'I thought it would save time' Claude answered.

'Thank you, and it would If I didn't know where we need to be' Alex sighed, 'But I do.'

Jensen hugged her from behind and nuzzled her neck, 'Where do we need to be?'

'That cathedral' she pointed to the map.

Claude chuckled. Jensen frowned, 'Why hide something in such a public place?'

'Why not?' Alex interjected, 'When something is staring you in the face, its normally the hardest thing to see.'

'So this is a straight in and out kind of job?' Jensen asked, his thoughts wandering to the men on the train. He rubbed the stubble on his chin and moved away. 

'Hardly.' Alex was the one who interrupted his thoughts. 'I'll need you to help me move a few things around.' Claude nodded in some kind of understanding. 

Alex picked up the back pack and threw it over her shoulder. 'Lets get this over with.'

* George examined the area carefully. The ground had been disturbed, the night's rain had made anything definite harder to see without magic. Karl was one all fours getting a better scent of the area. 

'There's still three scents I can pick up' he said wiping mud from his nose. 'Two female, one male but harder to read.' 

He stood and wiped his hands on his jeans. They'd taken the 4x4 and filled it with hunting gear so no suspicions would be raised about their appearances within the woodland area. George nodded and glanced around.

'We alone?' He asked, scanning the trees.

'A few of my team a couple of miles east but other than woodland creatures and furry bunnies, we're clear.'

George took the flick knife from his pocket and sliced into his palm. Karl's head snapped up at the smell of blood and his eyes misted slightly. George took three steps forward and face north, he slipped a droplet of blood onto the area, he turned left and did the same. He continued until all four points had been acknowledged. After murmuring a few words, Martinez stepped back, pulling a handkerchief from his packet for his wound and waited. After a moment or two, Karl interrupted the country scene. 'Nothing is happening.'

George smirked, 'Wait' The scene before them wavered. The trees in which Diana had disappeared, started to moved, the ground before them rumbled slightly and shifted. An area the size of a door frame sang its approval at being discovered. A rainbow of colour simmered and danced over the gap created, like a living curtain.

'What the fuck?' Karl stepped forward to touch the sight. Karl gripped his wrist and gave a shake of his head.

'I think we just found out a way to find Alistair.' Karl nodded in response as he stood hypnotised by the magic before him. 

George felt his pocket vibrate. As he pulled out the phone and answered he watched the portal closely. He couldn't see all the way through but until they passed through the thing, its location was still somewhat of a mystery.

'What is it?' George growled into the phone. Paul's voice took him off guard.

'Dad I just got home and there is some crazy shit going down in the study. You have to see this.'

'I'm on my way.'

* Alex stopped in front of the cathedral, as she stared skyward at the architecture, it's spirals and construction was truly something of beauty. She watched the birds nesting and prancing on the roof edge. They watched her intently, with an intelligent that she found a little disturbing. She shook it off and turned to her companions. Claude was flicking through a guide of local history, getting a low down on the area. While Jensen was carefully observing the area. Alex felt over whelmed, a sense of need overtook her, she needed to get inside the building, she was so close. She closed her eyes and took a long steadying breathe. Focus Alexis. She murmured as she started up the stone steps. 

The wooden entrance in her dream was before her. As she viewed the small opening sign in a glass box she frowned. The church didn't allow visitors on a Wednesday, but today wasn't Wednesday and the door was still closed. She touched the wood and felt a flush of energy touch her palm. The key was close and it wanted to be found. With some deep seated knowledge she knew what needed to be done, like she'd been here before. Her methods suddenly known to her. With determination she eyed the door and touched the door in several places.

'What are you doing?' Jensen whispered, his front facing a group of tourists and shopper passing by.

'Opening a locked door.' 

Jensen spun round and smiled, 'let me.' With a cocky self assurance he touched the door and expected the wood to yield to his touch. He tried again and again, feeling a sense of tiredness over whelm him. He looked to Alex expectantly.

'I said I need an earth master, but not for this. Does the term bull in a china shop mean nothing to you?' Alex went back to stroking the wood. 

Rebuffed by his failing, Jensen looked to Claude for support to find the old man chatting to a middle aged woman. He looked away then back to Alex.

'How are you going to get us in?'

'By asking the door to let us in.' 

Jensen looked puzzled before asking with a disbelieving tone, 'you're just going to ask the door?'

'When you visit someone's home, they invite you in or you have to ask. The door is closed, clearly there not too forthcoming in seeing visitors today.'

Alex touched the door and murmured something in Latin. She pursed her lips. Nothing happened. Jensen smirked. As he opened his mouth to speak, she rubbed her hands and tried again. This time asking in Gaelic. Jensen jerked in surprised at the use of the language. Her intonation filled his ears, he could sense the persuasion in her tone. 

In response the door rumbled. As she touched it lightly, the door hummed back. 

Claude appeared behind them as the door opened wider. 

As they stepped into the into the darkened area, Jensen gripped her elbow and whispered in her ear. 'Where did you learn Gaelic? That isn't standard practice in magic school.'

Alex blushed and looked away sheepishly, 'I have a friend, He speaks it fluently.'

'Now is not the time my boy' Claude interrupted before he could interrogate the comment further.

They entered the church slowly. Their feet tentative as they moved closer towards the alter. The candles for the perished and remembered burned brightly and undisturbed to the left. At the front the alter was draped in royal purple material. 

'We'll have a look round.' Claude said moving Jensen away.

'Who speaks fluently Gaelic?' Jensen asked as Claude scanned the floor.

'People' Claude answered as he looked upward and viewed the ceiling.

'People my arse, did you see the way she looked away, I bet it's some uptight wizard who-'

'Lewis, jealously is not attractive. You where married once before, we all have baggage son, now is not the time.' 

'Its over here.' Alex's voice echoed through the space. 

* George opened the door to his study slowly, Karl at his heels. The scene before him was something of a fairy tale. Everything stood still like a tableau. The hands of time stopped. Items in room suspended in the room, held by an invisible force.

Paul spoke as his father entered, 'Thank god, what the hell is going on?'

George scowled at his son with disdain. The thoughts running through his mind varied from anger, rage, disappointment and shame. 

Paul watched his father's expression. He looked deep in thought, The look he glanced his way was unfriendly, the hairs on Paul's arm and neck stood to attention.

George addressed Karl as he spoke. 'Its a message, its one of many ways wizards and mages used to communicate. Something the recipient touches will uncover a message.'

He turned to Paul with a sneer, 'Any ideas?'

The tone in his father's voice had Paul's heart rate raising. He gaped and tried to speak, George dismissed him with a hand. 

'Don't touch anything yet, just in case the message isn't friendly.'

Karl moved closer to his friend, 'Want to tone down the crazy there my man, the air is getting a little electrically charged.' Karl scratched his neck and shook himself.

George moved to his desk and eyed the photos on his desk. Three photos lined the top. One still turned sat face down on the desk, he eliminated that one. The second one was of himself and Marianne on their first wedding anniversary. The third was of his father and Alex. A young girl of four being hugged by her grandfather. As he examined the frame it glowed. George reached for it and found the trigger.

The picture in the frame changed to a face that George hadn't seen in decades.

'Hello George.'

'Claude?' Asked in disbelief, the man had aged but it was still Claude. He turned to Karl, who rounded the desk to watch the frame as it spoke.

'I'm contacting you on a matter of some importance. Several weeks ago you and your daughter started entering my dreams and we both know what that means.'

George nodded in response, he knew Claudes' talents.

'Alexis arrived here early this morning with Lewis Jensen Crane in tow. I have no need to express how she came into my presence as I fear you already know. She has met Alistair, had some interaction with him it would seem but she seems well albeit exhausted and staved, Her and my nephew are currently sleeping, both where exhausted.'

George watched as Claude lent forward to speak closer into the frame. 'She made an bargain with him George, he's commissioned her talents for his services. You and I both know that once she completes her quest,' Claude seemed to look straight at him, 'and I assure you she will, I doubt Alistair will be pacified. I intend to travel with the couple some of their journey. I'll contact you at a later date.' 

George stared in disbelief at the frame as its centre returned to its previous state. Karl squeezed George's shoulder. 

'She's alive George.'

'I-' George was interrupted by his son.

'Where does this Claude live?' Paul asked with a nervous laugh.

The two males exchanged a look before the young wizard cleared his throat. 'Did a miss something?' Paul asked.

'Clearly, I did.' George answered as he moved to the window. 'Don't you have something to do?' He addressed his son. 

Paul faltered, never in his life had his father tired to get rid of him. He'd always been by the old man's side. Alex was the one who was shuttered away. 




Amid The Shadows Ch. 09



'a-are you dismissing me?' Paul asked uncertain.

George didn't answer, he just turned away back to the window. Paul frowned, he looked to Karl who shrugged. 

'I'll leave you to it.' Paul spoke softly and exited.

* 'Is this it?' Jensen observed the statue before the three of them. 

Alex nodded and moved her hand over the piece. She and Claude examined every inch of it in silence. As she reached the foot, she smiled at the older man. 'Its just like the vision. So clear precise.' 

'So what do you need me to do?' Jensen asked.

Alex pointed to the foot of the statue. The piece wasn't as easily moved as in her vision. 

'Its coated in magic, I can feel it. The key is giving off a heat and energy.' Alex laughed, 'Its making me giddy.' She pulled Jensen to her and kissed him soundly. He shoved her up against the statue as the heat overflowed into his body, damn he was happy and full of pent up disposable energy.

Alex shoved him back red faced and breathless. 'Its used to distract.' she skittered away as Jensen looked at her hungrily. He stepped towards her, she raised a hand. 'You need to overcome it. I need a piece from the front of the right foot removed. The key is hidden there.'

Claude gripped his forearm. 'Plenty of time for that.' He inclined his head towards the statue.

Jensen moved to the stone and touched the feet. It was indeed protected. He rubbed his hands together, he knew the spell and to be finally free to us his power seemed like a charm. 'Hello' he told the stone. He closed his eyes and drew on the powerr boiling within himself. He could feel something he hadn't felt in a year. Power. A release of his power and it felt fantastic. He spoke to the stone, calling upon the natural elements in there. Sand, water, minerals. They all wavered and yielded to his call. Instead of his usual bravado, he remembered Alex's entrance into the church and simply asked the elements for help. The stone made a crushing sound and came off in his hand. As he moved the piece away and peered down, he saw a small sliver item glistening in the hole.

Alex moved to his side, laughing she planted kisses all over his face, 'you did it!' 

'Alex, Lewis.' Claude tried to get their attention.

'Of course I did.' Jensen reaching into the hole, pulling free the small chain and key combo. He handed it to Alex. She in turn placed the item carefully around her neck, where it sang and glowed.

Alex threw her arms around him, 'Thank you Jensen.'

Jensen lowered his mouth to kiss her.

'I warned you Mage.' 

Jensen looked up at the echo of the voice addressing him. On the upper pews of the cathedral, several figures stood half in light and darkness..

'The stone can not be found' 

Jensen released Alex and spun to find minions one to four cloaking the alter. 

'You just didn't listen.'



Amid The Shadows Ch. 10



Jensen eyed the pews with mild dissatisfaction. The hooded figures outnumbered them no doubt. But he could feel himself itching for a fight. The sexual frustration lingered from the distraction spell on the statue. He looked into Alexis face before him. She looked around uneasy before glancing back to his face. 

'I think you and I are magnets for trouble.' He smiled. 

'You maybe, I'm a delicate flower.' She smiled back. 

The mass of hooded figures descended around them, a few leapt from the balcony above, the rest descended the wooden stairs creating a thunderous noise echoing throughout the space. 

Alex bent slightly, the back pack she carried slipped from her shoulder and fell at Jensen's feet. She pinched his leg and then nodded to the bag. He dripped his head and watched as she slowly extracted a dragger from under her Jean leg.

She straightened and handed him the item, he bent and kissed her ferociously as he drew back he whispered in her ear. 

'You are a surprise.'

She pressed her face to his and breathed against his face, 

'You can thank me if we make it out of here.' 

They switched places, Alex bent to the bag and extracted an item. She threw something to Claude, who caught it on instinct and as a trio they whirled towards the men approaching. 

One man stepped forward and threw back his hood. Alex gasped at the scarred face of the man before her, His face was badly disfigured on his right, it caught the light from the sainted glass window, his mismatched features bathed in an amber glow. 

'I see the warnings of my brotherhood went unheeded Mage.' 

He moved forward swiftly until he stood a few feet before them. Jensen and his companions immediately went on the defensive, all taking a stance ready for a fight. 

He chuckled at the sight and clinked his fingers. 'We know you are procuring the stone for this man.' 

A young boy stepped forward from amid the hoods, he looked no more than a boy. He looked to Alex his eyes going wide, she saw his pupils change and flicker to a gold. A gold she had seen before. 

'A halfling' She whispered.

The boy looked frightened and turned to the speaker. He shook his head. 'Show them' His voice boomed across the church. 

The boy wiped his hands on his trousers. Alex noticed he was impeccably dressed, he looked to her and his cheeks reddened. He spoke softly and held out his hand. With grace and ease he created an image. The image was Alastair. The man bent and whispered something in the boy's ear. He smiled in response. The man ruffled his hair.

'This man is Alistair Wentworth. Are you seeking the dark stone for him?' The man asked.

'Why should we tell you anything?' Claude enquired. 

The man smiled, his face distorting further. He moved around the church, his hand gliding along the statue. 'The key was easily found, was it not?' In a fluent Gaelic, he turned to Alex.

Alex frowned and answered him in Gaelic. 'You knew we would come here?'

He inclined his head, 'You have been expected for a long time.'

Alex lowered her dragger and moved forward. Jensen arm shot out and he grabbed her roughly. She winced. 

'Don't.' He held her gaze.

'You're hurting me.' Jensen removed his hand and observed the burn on her skin.

'Alex' He carefully raised her arm to his mouth. 

Alex snatched it away quickly and cradled her arm to her chest, dragger in her other hand tightly. She could feel the skin burning. She looked at him horrified. 

The hooded man spoke in Gaelic as they stared at each other. 

'You could come with me now, my master wishes to speak with you, that is all Miss Martinez.'

'And my friends?' Alex answered fluently.

'My guards will watch them, that is all.' 

'Swear it.' Alex pointed her dagger at the boy. 'On his life.'

The man's Eye's widened. 'On my honour, I Adam Forest do pledge.' He held out his hand to her.

*

Karl dreamed for the first time in days. He lay on his side on the woodland floor surrounding the Martinez estate. His monthly problem had needed to be addressed and his frustration at Alexis' disappearance had charged his change easily. He'd hunted and run until he fell into an exhausted sleep a few miles from the main house. Slipping into a deep sleep for many hours before he slept lighter and began to dream.

A couple before him where dancing, spinning around and around a glittering ballroom. Alex threw back her head and laughed at something her partner had said. Karl frowned and tried to push his conscious forward. His mind wouldn't let her partner relieve himself. All he saw was the back of a head and a tailored suit. 

As he spun to observe his surroundings, the ballroom's elegance and decoration did not go unnoticed. The room was light in decoration dressed in accents of gold and purple. The band in the corner, the source of the music played flamboyantly.

A warm hand touched his arm. 

'Things turned out well didn't they?' 

Alex spoke from beside him, her face flushed and radiant. Upon seeing her, Karl felt a flush of emotion and attachment, she patted his arm absently and rubbed her stomach. 

'Maybe a little bit too much champagne?' She laughed. 'he won't let me have a minute to myself' She stared off into the distance and waved. She stretched on her tip tops and kissed Karl's cheek.

'I love you Karl, thank you.'

Before he could issue his own declaration a hand engulfed his own, He looked down at the hand in his own, his gaze following the arm trail to a face. A woman with eyes the colour of bitter chocolate, almost black stared at him with such love his chest tightened. She blushed and dipped her head, long straight hair falling forward. 

He touched the tip of her chin and she looked up. 

'I love that.' she whispered. 'You always look at me like you've never seen me before. You shouldn't keep me waiting too long wolf.'

Karl bolted upright from his dream surrounded by woodland and a dusk sky. He heart was pounding in his chest and his eyes ached. That woman's face so familiar, they felt...connected. As he wiped a hand over his face. The sounding of a mobile phone ringing reached his ears. He scrambled to his suit pants and pulled the item from his pants before answering.

*

Alex followed Adam down the corridor of the cathedral. The old sand stone walls where barely a breath of a person wide, the dark floor echoed their steps. It smelled like flowers and something else, something...old.

Alex watched Adam pull something from his pocket as the light from their entrance into the corridor began to fade. He rubbed it a few times and it glowed a pearlscent green. It gave the hall a Gothic glow. 

'Its a fairy light.' Alex said suddenly.

Adam stopped suddenly and turned to face her. 'It serves a purpose.' He turned.

'It's also suppose to be exist.' Alex answered.

'Neither is the black stone, but you have seen it, haven't you?' His voice was accusing.

'I've seen many things.' 

'Of that I'm sure' The insult in his tone didn't go unnoticed, before Alex could question him they found themselves in front of a door.

Adam knocked once and entered.

* George had been cradling the cup of coffee for a while, he'd sat on the edge of Alex's bed for three times as long. It took he half the time to realise how little he knew about his daughter. Her room was tidy except the dressing table. On it where books, make up, perfumes, several post it notes stick to the mirror with personal notes and appointments and two photographs. One of her and Karl stood together at her graduation and one of her much younger with her grandfather. 

A discarded jumper was within hand's reach, he lifted it lightly to his nose. It smelt like wash powder and fragrance. He set his cup aside and folded it neatly. 

He could recall clearly the first words Paul had uttered, his first steps but when he tired to think of Alexis' milestones his mind drew a blank. Reflecting on his own actions he felt shame, a little guilty. His own father had doted on her, spending hours explaining the smallest things with patience and love. Was it any wonder his picture took pride of place? 

His thoughts turned to Paul and turned angry. His son was a product of his own environment, spoilt by his father and evolved into something George couldn't figure out. 

George stroked his tie and stood. Karl came through the door as he stepped forward. 

Karl looked bashful, 'I'm sorry, I-'

George looked around. 'I know very little about my daughter Karl.'

They stood in silence observing the space around them. Karl lightly brushed his fingers along some of the items on the dressing table. A light sheen of dusk had settled on some items. He looked into the mirror at George, his eyes catching on the photo in the right hand corner. The pads on his fingers caressed it lightly.

'My mind won't let me settle, I don't know what to do about Paul without compromising Alexis.' He sighed. 'I have this heavy burden of guilt weighting upon me. I need to righten it somehow.'

Karl cleared his throat and moved away from the memories. 'you'll have plenty of time when Alex is home.'

'We need to open the portal.' George said seriously

Karl nodded, a slow grin slowly breaking across this face. 'Been a while since my wolf has tasted vampire.'

*



Amid The Shadows Ch. 11



'Come in! Don't stand idle by the door.'

The small figure before Alexis looked the same physically, but there was an essence around her seemed to give off a sense of something older. She pulsed with magic and understanding. As their gazes met, Alex felt bare, stripped and exposed. She shivered. The lady inclined her head and motioned at Adam who closed the door with a gentle push. 

'I'm sorry, I'm not usual so forceful when I read someone but you have me intrigued, its not every day one runs into a concealer.'

Alex took a steadying breathe, 'But our meeting isn't an accident is it? You knew I would come.'

She smirked, 'I knew.'

Alex strolled around the office, she shoved the dagger into her back pocket and rubbed her wrist. The room was adequately decorated with items of Archaic and Gothic descent. In the corner a computer sat, so out of place it looked comical. With her back to the door and her front to her present company Alex spoke clearly.

'I find it ironic that in a cathedral is where I can feel a condensed presence of magic.'

The lady looked taken back. 'I hide my ability well.'

'The more you conceal, the more it calls to me.' Alex frowned at the truth in her words. 

'You would name me then.' The lady's pitch rose, a question formed as a statement. 

Alex observed for a moment, her posture, her face, her eyes. She was old. Someone of power that had long successfully been hidden. The itching feeling in her arms and feet begged for her to utter the words and let the burden of concealing her name be revealed. She closed her eyes and focused. The information maybe useful at a better moment. 

'Not yet.' The answer was but a whisper. 

At her answer, the temperature in the room became milder. 'I want this to be over, I want to return to some normality that was my life, but the prospect is...something slipping away from me.'

'Did Alistair Wentworth send you on this mission? This procurement of the black stone?' The lady asked, her voice gentle.

'Yes.'

'Was a choice freely made or was a bargain struck?'

Alexis smiled. 'A bargain was made, I cannot escape it. I can almost see the reasoning on your lips but unfortunately it was sealed with my blood.'

'Indeed.'

It was Adam that spoke then, his voice was a rumble against the stone walls.

'What difference does it make sealing with blood or your word?' Alex answered him, 'Giving my word and breaking it would be something only to affect me. When a bargain is sealed with blood it has to be honoured. I'm bound to Alistair to keep my promise of finding the stone. It can be dissolved by Alistair or by death.'

Adam seemed to contemplate this for a moment, he nodded once and turned back to the room's other occupant.

Alex cleared her throat 'I don't mean to be rude, well actually I do, What do you want?'

The lady laughed lightly, 'Miss Martinez, Alexis, It is within both our interests that Alistair Wentworth does not get his grubby hands on that stone.'

'So everyone seems inclined to tell me. Still vocalising the reasons of why he shouldn't seems to elude people.'

Alex looked to Adam, his face was blank betraying no sign of emotion or interest. How many years it must take to perfect a look. Alex recalled a memory sharply of playing poker with her brother and him reading her every emotion. She frowned. Paul. She missed him.

'Fine, truth between us then.' The lady motioned to a chair and took her own place behind the desk taking up the majority of the space in the room. 

When both were seated, Adam moved to stand at the back of the lady's chair. They looked a formidable pair stood together. 

'So what shall I call you?' Alexis asked plainly. 

'For many years I have been Isabella.'

'Isabella.'

'The creature Alistair Wentworth had been searching for the stone for many years, we have kept track of his intentions intently.'

'What does he want with it?'

'In the beginning I thought his purpose was just greed, he has collected many things since his conversion to vampirism. I'm sure you have met his silent warrior and the changer.'

'The changer? You mean Diana?' Alexis leaned forward.

'Indeed, one who can change her face to an angel or a devil. Although, the latter is more closer to her true nature.'

'I read about the stone as a child, forged in the fires of hell and taken from its realm to this realm.'

'All of it is true. No doubt you have already read about the Mad Duke or lord, who had it in his possession?' Isabella stretched back into her chair. Alex nodded in response.

Isabella continued, 'He experimented with the stone constantly, crumbling, breaking it into pieces adding it to potions and concoctions. In the end his action drove him to madness, that much is true. What is also linked to his story is lycanthropy.'

Alex frowned, 'In some of the notes and texts stored in the Magicians vaults it states as much, some sightings of him as well. How much is true is well...questionable.'

Isabella stared down and clasped her hands, 'Not really questionable.'

'Pardon me?'

'The Duke was my father.'

* 'I shouldn't have let her go in there alone' Jensen paced the church, he was anxious, tense. 

'She'll be fine Lewis' Claude was observing his surroundings intently.

'You don't know that!' Jensen fumed, his pace increased as he palmed a dagger. 

'Well actually I do' Claude answered with a chuckle. 

Jensen spun on him, 'Did you see her face?' 

Claude stepped forward towards him and gripped his shoulder. Jensen could feel a well of emotions spinning around inside him. His powers felt fresh and raw, more alert than they had ever been. He viewed the door Alexis had exited through and itched to follow. 

'You love her?' Claude asked quietly, aware of the observers surrounding them .

'Yes. She is....' Jensen threw back his head and drew in a breathe, he shouted to the ceiling with his frustration and oppression. The nights he had spent in that basement plotting and planning, deducing his actions of when he would be finally free and now, the angel who had saved him, he'd let walk away. Not before he'd hurt her. Maybe he was more like his brother than he thought.

That thought, brought forward memories of his past. He'd never been close to his brother. Born a few years after his brother, Jensen could never quite bridge the gap in age or indifference between them. He was too young or too boring or just too different. 

It had been the rumours at school that had first alerted Jensen to his family secrets. The students, the wizards and teachers all had their own theories and didn't mind making comments, whether Jensen was in the room or not. 

On completing his fifth year of magical training, of the seven required to be declared a qualified wizard, he had spoken to his father of his confusion. Of the seeming inability for him and Alistair to have a normal brother to brother relationship. The type of relationship he had watched his brother share with George Martinez.

His father Henry had been a stern man, honesty but stern. He had encouraged Jensen, and the one thing they had bonded over had been hand to hand combat, the ability to use weapons and learn defensive skills. His father had told him once 'Some of our kind us magic for everything, they become complacent, idle and forget that learning defensive skills could added to their own ability. You need strength of body and strength of mind will follow.'

When Jensen had been competing in dirty, dingy, flea bitten holes and worn out gyms, surrounded by demons, angels and his own kind, that lesson had helped him well. He knew that his brother resented him, he thought fighting had aided Alistair in some way and would help overcome that resentment. The real lesson had been learnt harshly much later. When Taran had burnt him, stretched him, blasted him with fire, magic and everything else he could muster and his brother had watched, he finally knew. 

Alistair hated him because they didn't share the same father. 

Jensen's seemingly endless days spent in that dark hole of a basement had cleared his mind, and the childish notion of ever having a relationship with his brother. Alistair had taken Alex because she was a link to George. A link that had been severed of his own doing, many years before. 

When he had rebelled, all those years previous and tried to overthrow the elders, Alistair had become crazed with power, with the need for it. Jensen had been disbelieving when Marianne and George had tried to explain the need for him to be stopped. The final act before his disappearance, when he had arranged attacks of magical families from the north, had opened Jensen's eyes and he stepped away from his brother and in doing so was branded a traitor. Alistair had proceeded to drug him and drain some of his power by taking blood. When Jensen awoke, the brand of his brother's followers was tattooed on his wrist. Alistair had left a note with three words. 'So you remember.'

When his brother had finally reached out to him years later, pleading to know him. Jensen had been overcome by the naivety of the need for family and his brother after his parents' death. He had soon met Claudia and then within a year he was tied to his brother, lost his wife and he himself was...lost.

Lost until a few days ago, when a beautiful young woman had literally fallen into his lap and given him back his sanity and his freedom at a cost to herself. That was something that was in the forefront of his mind at this moment as he and Alex were separated. The fear of it surprised him the most, that was the strangest of feelings. 

His abilities as a Mage had grown over the years, he'd excelled from the rank of wizard to Mage in a few short years. Along the way he had experimented and learned many things. 

Would Alex turn away from him if she the extent of his tampering into the dark arts? Was it a risk he was willing to take?

* 'Why we have to meet here is beyond me.' Alistair spoke into the dark space of the cubicle he occupied in a down town bar. He'd used the portal again and was meeting his favourite informant.

The female who lent forward showed a slight fang as her painted red lips parted in a sinister smile. 'Because I like the atmosphere.' she answered in a a sultry tone.

'What news do you have for me?' Alistair leant back and straightened his tie. The music in the bar started to shift to a another folk number. The man on the stage expressed his exasperation on the last notes of the song as his musicians blended the two together in harmony. Alistair scoffed at its melancholy tone and viewed his companion.

'Your little mouse is in a little bit of a panic.'

'How so?' Alistair enquired.

'He and Diana have been meeting more frequently since our last phone call.'

'He is but a blip in the scale of things my dear.'

'That maybe, but Paul could be a messy blip.' She knocked back her drink and motioned to the bar.

'How is he?' She asked suddenly.

Alistair took a long, unnecessary breath, the conversation always took this bitter turn. Alistair kept his face neutral, placid. 'His madness has increased in the last few years, I keep him as confined and comfortable as I can.'

'Thank you Alistair.' She said quietly, humbly. 'For your kindness.'

She rose to leave, pulling a note from her jacket pocket, 'I'll keep an eye on your mouse.'

'I think you should.' 

As she moved from the table, Alistair caught her arm,

'Claudia...' he paused, 'Take care.'

She smiled with full fangs, 'I always do master.'

*

'You father was the crazy wolf?' Alexis asked.

Isabella made some response but Alexis' attention had faulted and her vision became unclear, she gripped the arm of the chair with uncertainty as she felt the pull of another vision coming towards her. She bolted upright shouting Jensen's name, but stood on unsteady legs and had nowhere to go but down onto the stone floor.

Isabella stood swiftly and moved with purpose, 'Get the Mage!' She barked to Adam and knelt before the concealer.

* Jensen's head whipped around at the sound of his name, it was muffled and he wasn't sure he'd heard correctly until he felt a strange tugging sensation in his chest. 

'Alex' he murmured. He brushed off Claude's grip and strode to the wooden door. He tried the handle and found it locked. He pulled and pushed, becoming frantic. 'ALEX!' 

He stopped suddenly and stared intently at the door. He opened his powers and sent then with a blast towards the wood. It crumbled under the force and Jensen found himself staring face to face with the hooded warrior named Adam.

'Take me to her' he said, his voice gruff from the use of his power.

He followed the scared man at a jog through the tight walk way, his shoulder caught at the stone several times, he dismissed it and continued on. 

Adam moved from the door way to a small office to admit the Mage.

Jensen stared at the scene before, Alexis' head was being supported in the lap of a small fey woman, whose cover of her own magic was good but not the best. He dropped to his knees before her.

'Alex?' he stroked her cheek,she murmured something.

'She's been uttering strange words, things that don't make sense.' The woman looked at him with a worried expression. 

Jensen looked at her seriously. 'And you are?' he asked in unfriendly tone.

'I'm Isabella.'

Before Jensen could question further Alex stirred. She opened her eyes slowly as Jensen leant forward.

'Hello beautiful.'

'Head hurts' Alex mumbled before trying to sit up. She soon realised it was a bad idea, along with everyone else who protested the movement vocally. 

'Stay...here for a bit.' She eased back into the fey's lap.

Jensen chuckled nervously, 'I think that is probably best.' He glanced at Claude who own expression was worried. 'You didn't see this did you?'

Claude shook his head once. Jensen gently took Alexis neck under his hand and opening his power to assess the damage. As he drew back his hand felt slick, he pulled back his fingers, now tainted with scarlet. He knew the injury, he sensed it, but still the sight of blood on his hands shook him.

'I can't find any internal damage, she's cracked her head open, presumably when she hit the floor.' He placed his hand back at the base of her head and gently exhaled, blowing out breath and power.

Adam came to Claude's side, 'He is a healer?'

Claude nodded. 'Jensen is an earth Mage, healing things of the earth comes naturally. Aside from his knowledge of spells and potions, his powers have always been strong in bending the elements to his will, particularly woods, metals. Healing took a little longer to grasp.'

'It is rare' Adam murmured, 'to be so powerful and not be tainted.'

'Tainted?' Claude asked.

'By the bad blood within your family. Relationships between the males of your line is usual bound by blackness.'

'Usually?' Claude asked with a chuckle.

'All except you and...' Adam flicked his head towards Jensen, who was talking quietly to Alex. She said something and he laughed loudly, kissing her cheek. 

* 'She's need something to eat and drink, to replenish what she's lost.' The fey lady motioned to the warrior. 'Adam could you move Ale-'

Jensen interrupted, gently lifting Alex with a frown, 'I'll take care of my Alex' 

Alex murmured something and kissed his chin.

Jensen followed Adam through the narrow passage, taking a sharp turn into another corridor. Dark wooden doors lined the walls. Adam stopped abruptly and opened a door on the left. Jensen carried Alex carefully through and placed her gently on the bed. His t-shirt was soaked through with crimson. Jensen looked down at himself his hands were the same. 

'There's a bathroom through that adjoining door. It can be locked from within.' 

Jensen nodded, 'Would you be able to fetch something to drink? Food?'

Adam nodded. He stood almost unwilling to leave, Jensen stared back expectantly. 

Adam moved uncomfortably. 'I didn't expect the concealer to be a woman'

Jensen scoffed and pulled the t-shirt over his head. He watched Adam. He didn't like the way he watched Alex. 'Can I help you with something else?' Jensen asked in a low menacing voice.

Adam smirked, 'She is beautiful.'

Jensen stepped towards him. 'And she is mine.' Jensen stood toe to toe with the man for a moment a roar of jealous in his head. 

Adam bowed his head and exited, the door closed with a soft slick. Jensen glared at the door, slowly regaining his composure. 

'Jensen?' the soft whisper of his name had him whipping around and heading for the bed. He knelt on it carefully, not to joist Alex's position.

'I'm here.' He touched her forehead, feeling relieved that some temperature was returning. 

'I...I want to tell you what I saw.'

'Later.' he spoke against her forehead as he kissed it lightly, 'Lets get you cleaned up and fed first.'

*



Amid The Shadows Ch. 12



My humble apologises for the extreme delay in getting this chapter out there, life got in the way a little bit. 

I'd appreciated any comments or notes on how you think its all going. 

There is a plot in mind, my idea surrounding this piece is really a story in length, each character building and developing with the notion of sequels.

Many thanks for taking the time to read. 

Anna Dreamer

**

Karl cursed for the hundredth time.

'Jesus George, could you be any louder?' He shifted the weight he was carrying and turned back to look at his friend as they hesitantly made their way through woodland. 

'Not all of us have the hunting skills you do wolf.' George stood on a branch, its breaking seemed to echo for miles and miles. 

Karl scoffed and shifted his load, 'flattery will get you nowhere old man.'

They had been walking for ten minutes making their way back to the portal. Karl had been using his sense of smell to guide them back, his senses were filled with the smell of the night and a wildness that his wolf begged to explore. He looked to the sky, the pale glow of a winter moon and the grey blue haze surrounding it ignited his purpose. His load let out a groan.

He dropped it unceremoniously to the floor and scented the air, he could sense the wolf guards who patrolled with them, a trio to the left and right, both keeping watch.

'Karl, don't damage the merchandise.' 

Karl snorted and viewed the tied woman with some disgust. 24 hours ago his guards had notified him of the strange scents on the Martinez estate. Karl had investigated and played a pretty game of cat and mouse with the lady, or would wolf and vampire be more adapt? He pondered.

He'd ambushed her easily, her mind seemingly distracted as he'd found her riffling through Alexis' things in her room, how she'd breeched security was another matter. 

'Who the hell are you?' Karl had asked furiously, seeing red at this thing touching Alex's stuff.

'I'm nothing that concerns you wolf' her smile was a forced smirk as she continued her quest like a burglar, complete with black tight jeans and t-shirt.

Karl grabbed her quickly and spun her to the door, forcing her back up against it with a thud.

'I won't ask again vampire.' Karl growled, feeling his wolf stir. 

The vampire looked at him wide eyed, something close to fear fluttered across her face.

'My name is Claudia.' She answered.

'Do you work for Alistair?' 

She looked around the room averting his eyes. Her hand lifted, her eyes glazing as if she was going to cast magic, Karl tensed.

He shook her roughly, a gasp of breathe left her body and Karl knew that this vampire was new, the instinct to breathe was often lost with the older ones, she was young, not a fledgling perhaps but he'd find it had to believe that she had been turned any longer than 15-20 years, maybe less depending on her master, her attempt to cast had, however, been a surprise. That thought sobered him and the cogs in his head began to turn. 

'Answer the question.' he repeated. 

'Yes' she answered with some anger.

'Do you know where Alex is?'

The vampire before him frowned like a pro 'Who is Alex?'

Karl sniggered, 'You're in her room leach.' 

His voice had deepened, its tone was deadly.

'I followed his scent. I..' Claudia stopped, knowing she'd said too much.

'It is no surprise little vampire about Paul.' Karl watched the surprise and shock display on her face, another sign she was young, emotions and expressions still seemed human to her. 

Karl leaned in closer and whispered into her face, 'You little vampire are going to be very useful.'

Karl stuck swiftly, his hand landing on her head in a managed hit, she slumped forward heavily.

He pushed her against the door with one powerfully placed hand as he pulled the silver chain from his pocket.

As Karl's mind returned to the present, he cast his glare down, the vampire before him met his stare, her eyes spitting venom in his direction, she cursed something into the gag in her mouth, wincing as her struggles rubbed the sliver binding her further. 

'I'm sorry sweetheart, I don't speak gag.' Karl eyed her. She screamed something else then sagged into the floor in small defeat.

'She ok?' George asked quietly.

'She'll live, she's just passed out from the sliver.'

'I hope this plan works Karl.' George scanned the woods. 

'It will, she also bears the brand.' Karl lifted her arm exposing the tattoo inside Claudia inner wrist.

Karl looked up at George and grinned, 'Just another mile or so to go.'

'It didn't seem that long to get to last time did it?' George was watching Claudia intently. 'I think that its moved, it would be an excellent strategy to keep it hidden. A blood link would be the easiest way to detect it.'

'You sound in awe my friend.' Karl hefted Claudia onto his shoulder easily and started to walk.

'Alistair was always inventive, creative, but there was always an edge to his dealings I disagreed with.'

'Well this time he's going to get his arse handed to him, It's a strong possibility that Paul used the portal so that's a blood link to you. Plus, if the leach keeps rubbing that sliver around, exposing her own blood we'll find it in no time.'

'I hope so, because I have an uneasy feeling that time is not on our side. I've already had the council breathing down my neck, asking question about the twins absence from meetings and duties. What am I suppose to say to them? My son is a selfish jealous arse who betrayed his own father and sister?'

'I will bring Alex home George.' Karl said with determination.

'I don't doubt it, its the state she returns to us that worries me.' 

A light glittered before them, it simmered and warped, a humming sound growing as they stepped closer. 

'Well the little bastard did move.' Karl watched the door open before them, like a slice through the film of life as the scene before them held a rectangle shape of light and through it, the vision of a place that looked a miles away. The portal was open. 

Karl gripped the load on his shoulder and turned to George letting his wolf rise to surface without the physical change. His smile was pure wolf as he stepped through. 

'Show time.' he rasped.

**

Diana found Paul slumped at the table in the apartment where they had met often and had their trysts. She viewed the upturned whiskey bottle and the brimming tumbler he still grasped. 

'Paul?' she called him, surprising herself with a note of concern.

He met her stare with bleary eyes and a deflated expression, he gulped the liquid, grimacing as it went down his throat.

Diana waited as he composed himself, he sat back in his chair and stroked his tie. His confusion and hint of fear filled the air around them.

'My father dismissed me today.'

Diana removed her jacket in a flourish and huffed, 'My father has been dismisssing me for years.'

Paul stood suddenly, the chair underneath him falling back. 'You don't understand' he grumbled.

Diana viewed her nails and then her shoes, 'Ssso tell me.'

'I've been his right hand for years, listening to his bullshit and so called wisdom but today...' He let the sentence trail off as he moved to the window.

He held the tumbler close taking another drink. 'I know he knows Diana, the look in his eyes today, the betrayal, it affected me.'

'If he knowsss anything Paul, why hassn't he acted upon it?' Diana moved to the window and watched the traffic moving by through the blinds. 

'Because he's confiding in the fucking wolf, thats why and we both know he fucking knows!' Paul shouted

'Ssso we take out the wolf' Diana stated simply.

'It's not that easy demon' Paul muttered, 'Its like he's god damn charmed or some shit and his pack is...savage. In the southern wars they were mercenaries and their methods are well documented. I personally like my organs in my body and my head attached.'

'Ssso what do you think we should do?' Diana moved to the sofa, sitting smooth, crossing on legs smoothly over the other. 'are you regretting your bargain with Alissstair?'

'Are you?' Paul countered, their eyes met and it was Diana who looked away, suddenly very interested in her hands. 

Paul moved around the furniture quickly and sat beside her. He turned and spoke, 'You are aren't you?'

'The massster has changed.' She said quietly.

'What the hell is that suppose to mean?' 

'What doesss it matter to you wizard?' Diana stood and strode to the kitchenette area, she pulled open the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water, opening it easily and gulping half of it down. 

Paul lent over the back of the sofa and eyed the situation carefully.

'It matters to me Diana, talk to me. Alistair has let us both down here. I'm plagued by snippets of visions from Alex, she dreams of dark things, I dream of dark things and this shit didn't start happening till after I made a blood deal with Alistair. 

My dealings with him have shattered my family, through my own actions. What I wanted and desired hasn't transpired here. I don't feel more powerful, my father and the wolf still hold all the fucking cards and the one person I thought I truly hated the most, my own sister....well I don't think she'll come back alive Diana. We are all just puppets to him, dancing to his tune, his promises are unfulfilled and shallow. From the look in your eyes, you know I'm right and you feel the same way.'

'Alissstair cared for me when my own family disssowned me for only being half demon Paul, my human mother couldn't cope. After Alistair's fassscination in her ran dry he looked to me and offered me a way out of the sssituation. I took it, sssick to death with a life hiding in the dark and being ssscared of the powers I had. Alistair told me to embrace my gift, I did, but now...What I have never been able to comprehend isss why...why you felt drawn to him, he hates your father that much isss truth.'

'I hated the restriction, the rules of community magic. My father with his self righteous attitude, but he too rebelled once. You know the stories Alistair tells, a time when they revealed in control over others.'

'Isss that what you want Paul?'

Paul looked around the room thoughtful, 'I thought it was, get my golden child sister out of the way, disgrace my father, set up the wolf. It seemed so simple to take the power and become something more than what I am. But now...' He stopped and gulped the last of his whiskey.

'Now what?' Diana questioned. 

'I realised its Alistair who is pulling the stings, we are dancing to his tune, I don't want to trade one set of rules for another. Passed over again for my sister and her gift.'

'I hate him.' Diana answered quietly, 'I thought for a long time he loved me. I wasss wrong.'

'So its simply then.' Paul stood and smoothed his tie. 'We stop him getting that fucking stone and we shove a stake the size of a car through his black fucking heart.'

Diana smiled, her teeth gleaming, her eyes sparking at the possibility. 'We kill him.' She said determined.

Paul moved towards her, tossing the glass to the floor, he grabbed her by the arms and pulled her against him. He moved his mouth over hers with a urgent, violent need. Her hands moved to his tie and pulled at it frantically. He picked her up easily as the strip of silk fell to the floor. They stopped suddenly and looked at each other with understanding. 

'Alistair has to die.' Paul's voice was steady, his eyes flickered with power and Diana shivered, her and the wizard where definitely on the same page.

**

Alex felt sick, she pushed the soup around the bowl with a sad determination that she should really eat it. She felt him, Alistair. She could feel something. She hated it. The more she thought about it, the more the taste of his blood forced into her mouth made her stomach churn. 

She heard the water shut off in the bathroom. Jensen. The things she'd seen him do. The vision she'd seen while speaking to Isabella was still crystal clear in her mind and so was the woman she suspected was his dead wife. 

Was that Alistair's doing too? She wondered. Had he sent those images to her in order to fracture the relationship she was building with his brother? Was it even a relationship? Or just convenient sex based on the force confines and situation they found themselves in? Alex was unsure. She pinched her nose. Her mind swimming with the possibilities.

Alex pushed the food away, and climbed slowly off the bed, her head was spinning. This place made her itch. The spirits of a man and a woman sat in the corner chatting away like fishwives had been a distraction, when she realised they were no threat she turned them out like a radio station. 

Seeing spirits was nothing new, she'd been doing that since she was a child. Being able to communicate with them, that was new. She knew where they needed to go next. The key hummed on the drawers by the bathroom door like a beacon. 'Take me, use me' it whispered persuasively. 

The door to the bathroom opened and Jensen appeared wearing a crisp white towel. He watched Alex by the window, the slight breeze blew on her face and flushed cheeks. She was beautiful. She'd been quiet since the Incident earlier. He'd spoken to her in a soothing tone as he'd washed her body and all the while a far away look seemed to haunt her eyes. 

Jensen viewed the tray on the bed, she'd barely touched the food Adam had bought. He sighed and closed the bathroom door quietly. 

Alex turned viewing Jensen's back as he pulled on a pair of jeans. She looked to the spirits in the corner and wasn't surprise to see a look of fear on their faces, she'd heard them discussing him. 'a bad 'un' the lady had called him. 'His soul is as dark as the night,' the ghost of the young man had uttered. When the caught her looking, they both smiled sad smiles and poof, they where gone. 

'You haven't eaten much.' Jensen said softly, smoothing his hair from his face. 

'I wasn't very hungry.' She wrapped her arms around her middle, the room so cold all of a sudden. 

'You said earlier...' Jensen started. 

'Yes, I think we need to talk.' Alex didn't meet his stare, She pulled a blanket from the end of the bed and wrapped it around herself. 'thank you, for healing me.'

'I do it again, in a heartbeat for you.' Jensen felt uneasy, a sudden heavy weight pressing down on him, a sense of dread. Something he was all too familiar with, he'd felt it many times before. Never knowing what state he'd find Claudia in after her magic binges. 

In those first few months he'd been chained by Alistair, the uncertainty of not knowing when he'd come, what punishment he'd receive. Now that weight made his heart ache, as if something was changing never to be the same again.

'Alex...' Jensen's voice was quiet. 

Alex took a long shaky breath and spoke as quietly. 'When I was with Isabella, I could feel a vision coming, I saw some things I'd like to discuss with you.' 

He watched her reach for a glass of water, her hand shaking slightly. 'What did you see?'

'You and a woman. Magic, death, fear.' She stood straighter and looked at him directly.

'I saw you slit a man's throat and drink from him, Then you're witch of a wife keep him alive as the blood drained from him, prolonging his suffering until you'd taken your fill'

Jensen swallowed hard. He remembered the night well, he'd been full of excess power after dabbling in draining people of their gifts, He felt the guilt anew.

'I saw you laughing with your wife as she pinched and prodded a girl and then drained her of her gifts until a withered thing sat in that girl's place.'

Jensen looked away and closed his eyes tight. 'Make it stop. Make it stop' he could still hear her cries.

'I saw Alistair turn your wife, I saw what it did to her, the madness, and I saw you cleaning up her messes and making excuses. Then I saw some little snippets of your craziness as well.'

'STOP!' Jensen turned suddenly, stalking her like prey. He grabbed her by the upper arms and shook her violently. 'What the hell do you know of my life? You see a few glances of what I was and all of a sudden you are jury, judge and executioner. Who gave you the right? A pretty little girl, whose been sheltered all her life by her daddy. I won't apologise for my past and neither will I be judged, especially not by you.'

He stared at her in silence after his venomous rant. 'You're hurting me' she whispered.

He caught the sent of burning and peeled his hands away from her. Her upper arms where burned with the indentations of his fingers. He looked down at his hands in shock. A flash of magic and he was flung again the cold unforgiving stone wall. He stood in shock as Alex's eyes flashed a shade of teal, holding him in place as she lowered her hands.

'You shouldn't apologise to me.' Alex said slowly, cautiously. 'You're right, I don't think I know you very well, certainly not well enough to judge, but in the same respect you shouldn't judge me.'

She released him slowly, she moved to the door and pulled it open with some difficultly, when Jensen stepped forward to offer assistance, she flinched back. Claude was suddenly at the door and stepped in slowly, scared to anger the rattlesnake. 

'I think you should leave.' Alexis said in a shaky voice.

'Alex...' Jensen pleaded. 

'Please.' Alex closed her eyes, a tear running down each cheek.

'Lewis, perhaps we stood take a walk.' Claude implored from the passageway.

'Claude, could you leave us please?' Jensen asked tightly his eyes never leaving Alex.

Claude looked to Alex who was staring intently at the wood grain on the door. He stepped forward and touched her shoulder lightly. She looked at him and gave a weak smile. He nodded and stepped back as Alex slowly closed the door. 

In the passageway, Adam moved from the opposite wall and stood by Claude. 

'Is it right to leave them?' the scared warrior asked.

'Their journey together is just beginning, they just have to iron out the creases.' 

Adam searched his face for a moment. Happy with what he saw, he turned and walked away. 

*

Alex stood at the window, trying to block out the stinging pain in her arms, the cool breeze seemed to aggravate it more. 

'Alex?' 

Alex turned to the Mage, in one hand he held a cloth, the other a small bowl containing a green cream substance. He pointed to the bed and Alex moved towards it. As she sat, Jensen turned to close the window and Alex caught a glimpse of the damage she had inflicted. His back was scratched and there where several blobs of dry blood. The wall itself wasn't without its own damage. Several places were marred with streaks of blood and below on the floor a scattering of plaster.

They sat in silence for a moment as Jensen continued to mix the substance. As he applied it gently to the burns, Alex flinched. Jensen set the dish on the bed and gently cupped her face in his hands.

'I am so sorry, so sorry. You are the last person I would EVER harm and yet I don't think I can guarantee that it won't happen again. My powers are still coming back to me, its no excuse I know, but having them again makes me unstable.'

'I shouldn't have mentioned you're wife, I-'

'No' Jensen interrupted, 'You were honest with me and I reacted badly, violently. You were right to throw me against that wall' He laughed nervously. 'I'm not proud of my past Alexis, to hear you speaking about it made me feel dirty, unclean and I'm not worthy of you.'

Alex snorted, 'You where right about me, I have had a sheltered life.'

'No, No' Jensen showered kisses on the exposed skin on her face, 'You are the light to my darkness, don't ever feel that that in itself is not a gift, to see the right when others would be clouded in judgement.'

Alex gently touched his forehead and cheek, 'I know little about your past, and I know this situation is not ideal for building any kind of relationship, but I want to know you. I care for you, so much in such a short time its a little scary'




Amid The Shadows Ch. 12



Jensen felt his chest tighten and he smiled, 'I care for you as well, my heart hurts at the thought of anything happening to you.' He gently touch the cloth to the other burn. 'To know I hurt you, kills me.'

'What is this stuff?, it stinks' Alex wrinkled her nose in disgust.

'Its a special mixture, a secret.' Jensen grinned, his grin soon faltered. 'Who taught you Gaelic?'

Alex chuckled, 'A friend.'

'Really?' Jensen enquired raising an eyebrow.

Alex could see the tension in his face as he tried to remain complacent. 'Really.'

'Its rumoured that wolves still keep the language alive.'

'Jensen?' Alex rubbed her foot on his Jean clad thigh.

'Mm?' he watched the foot's movement with fascination as she inched closer to his groin.

'Just ask what you want to know' Alex lent back on the bed, rested on her arms and bringing his gaze to her abdomen and breasts as she took a long breath.

Jensen had a sudden flash back, of kissing that patch of skin, of gently cupping those soft breasts in his hands and sucking a nipple. He shook his head and caught her expression, yes she remembered something too. That smile spoke of memories.

'Did you have a werewolf as a friend? Or once, maybe a lover?'

Alex closed her eyes and tilted her head to the ceiling. 'Yes'

'To which question?' Jensen moved, placing the soup bowl and tray onto the stone floor and kneeling before his distraction. 

'Both' Alex answered as Jensen hands started to gently massage her calves.

He lifted a leg and placed a kiss on her ankle, 'Did you love him?'

'Yes' Alex sighed as her heart started to beat a little faster,

'Do you still love him?'

'Yes' Alex opened her eyes, viewing his shocked expression, 'as a friend,'

Jensen resumed his administrations, his fingers working swiftly towards the knee. He loved the feel of her skin, the taste of it, clean, fresh. 

'Do you still love you wife?' Alex asked quietly.

The question startled him a little, his relationship with Claudia has been intense but short lived, in the last few months before her death, Jensen had found himself questioning if it was love at all, but just fascination and obligation to the vows they had taken together.

'I think somewhere, I'll always think of her fondly as the girl I first met, but towards the end, it changed.'

'If you don't want to talk about this now, its ok' Alex sat up and came nearly face to face with her Mage.

'You have a right to ask your questions, you answered mine.' He toyed with pieces of her damp hair.

'Tell me about her' 

'Claudia?' Jensen frowned a little surprised.

'Yep' Alex shuffled up the bed, rested against the headboard and patting the bed beside her.

Jensen climbed up the bed towards her, 'If I tell you mine, you tell me yours'

Alex shrugged, 'There's not much to tell, I was looking for something and my wolf wasn't ready for that, at least not with me.'

'Nevertheless' Jensen murmured against her shoulder. 'I want to see if I can match up too your wolf.'

**

Paul and Diana left the apartment in the thick of the night, they held hands making their way to the dark woodland. A whistle echoing through the thick trees stopped them dead.

'What?' Diana whispered.

'Someone knows we are here' Paul whispered back. 

'It could be an animal.' Diana's senses heightened as she surveyed around them.

Paul watched the woodland intently, he focused his energy, throwing out questions to the living things around him to answer the questions, of who and why.

The trees rustled in a certain direction, the need to follow was strong, Paul pulled Diana in the right direction following the hints from the things around them.

**

Karl answered the vibrating cellphone in his pocket and George carried the vampire through the porthole. 

'Really?' he questioned his security at the other end. 'one moment.' 

Karl stepped towards George who was now half way through. 'Paul is tracking us, he's less than a mile away.'

George looked thoughtful for a moment, 'Let him come.' George turned heading straight through the simmering doorway.

Karl pressed the phone to his ear. 'Watch him and his companion, yes, lead them here and let them pass through. Keep the woodland secure from anyone else, understood?' Karl closed the phone and took one last look around him. 

He scented the night and caught a wave of the familiar in the air. Let the little shit come, either he'd prove himself or Karl was going to rip off his pompous fucking head. He smiled to himself and stepped through into the unknown. 

**

Alex was sitting in a luxurious arm chair in Isabella's private quarters. Her and Claude sipped from china cups as Jensen paced the room. Isabella was sat adjacent on a wonderfully inviting leather sofa, flipping through a yellowing book with a battered cover. She stopped and smiled passing the book to Claude. 

'Here it is, I knew I'd read something about concealers and their protectors. Here.'

Claude read thoughtfully, his lips spreading into a smile smile as her passed the book to Jensen.

Jensen wavered off the invitation, 'I'm not going to believe this bullshit, that my relationship with Alex is due to some fucking prophecy. I know what I feel.'

'I understand' Claude smiled into his tea cup, 'These stone walls aren't very sound proof, I think the majority of the inhabitants in this building heard earlier exactly how both of you feel.'

Alex coughed and spluttered, setting down her teacup hastily as Claude rubbed her back.

Isabella's laughter filled the room. 'Whatever you think Mr Crane, history seems to think together the two of you are quite a formidable force against everything and everyone. That in itself is going to be paramount in stopping Wentworth's procurement of the stone.'

'I think maybe we ought to focus on the fact that its prophesied that you work well together, anything else happening here is...' Claude waved a hand.

'A bonus?' Alex answered with a smile, a smile that spoke of secrets. Jensen answered the look with his own.

'So If Jensen is my protector, do you think Alistair knew?' Alex looked to Isabella expectant.

'Who knows, Alistair certainly has the resources to investigate such things. The people we have following him have extensive notes on his resources, the people, the places.'

'Including the men tracking us?' Alex countered. 

Claude and Jensen both looked grim at the spoken truth. Isabella just nodded a response. 

'You need to get moving I presume?' Isabella looked to her guests. 

'Yes, The key has a pull over me, the longer I stay...' Alex winced as she stood. 

Jensen stepped forward to take her arm, 'Fighting the pull is causing a slight discomfort, I don't want to prolong our stay any more. Thank you for your hospitality while we were here. '

Isabella stood, Adam at her side a book in hand. 'I would like you to take this, if it could help in anyway.' 

Adam held out a battered and aged book, Alec took it carefully, leafing through the front pages until she came to entries of a diary. She was memorised as examined the book, several pages appeared missing, some remains of which where still clinging to the spin of the inner book. She read and re-read the first line of text over and over. 'It was different tonight, I could fell the twitch throughout the day, the need to leave humanity and civilised society behind and run free. I have to believe this is how god intended me to live, to bear this...curse inside me. If not for my faith then all I am is the dark animal within.' 

Alex looked up startled, 'This is his diary?'

Isabella nodded, a glistening of tears in her eyes. 'Take it and used it how you see fit. I have the pages stored away in my mind. The man writing them meant more to me than the words. If this can enlightened that which you seek then I'm happy.'

'Thank you' Alex answered quietly. She stepped forward and embrace the fey, she murmured something against her hair and the fey smiled. They parted slowly and Isabella turned to her left, seemingly smiling into thin air. 

Jensen stepped forward and held out a hand, 'Ready?' 

Alex took his hand willingly, 'Of course.'

They made their way to the door, Adam opened it wide, a cool breeze and smell of musky stone greeted them. 'We have people who will trail you.' He reached into his pocket and lifted out the fairy light Alex had seen him use before. He held it out to Jensen, who took the item with a frown.

'If you need our assistance, just use the light.' Adam smiled, the scars on his face pulling tight and making him look sinister, dangerous. 

Jensen nodded and patted his shoulder. As they exited and the door closed behind them. The changeling boy stood in the corridor to guide them out. Alex gripped Jensen's hand tighter.

After several minutes of navigating corridors and passageways, they made their way to the church inner sanctuary in which they had entered less than 24 hours before.

They stepped out into the glowering sunlight and bitter cold of a winter morning. The meander of visitors and tourists was sparse. Jensen waited for Alex's direction to see where they would head next. 

**

'God Karl look at the size of this place.' George and his friend stood in awe of the castle before them. The cascade of aged stone loomed ahead, the shades of grey and spots of moss added character to the grandeur of the place's appearance. It was an unsettling time warp they had stepped through, the night they had left behind had quickly become dawn as they stepped through the portal. 

'It looks spooky to me.' Karl shifted the vampire on his back. He looked to the sky, its a good job vampire didn't go poof the sun, of he'd be covered in ash. He took in a deep breath and surveyed the place with a hunter's eye. Magic coated everything, the stench of it was dense. 

'Whoever is here, knows we are here by now.' George grunted in response and on they went.

**

Paul and Diana watched the portal intently. 'Paul?' Diana gripped his hand uncertain. 

'Come on' He answered with a smile, 'Which every way this goes, Alistair is going to die.'

Paul stepped forward with a feeling of relief he hadn't had in so many weeks. A weight felt like it had been lifted. He was going to being the journey to put things right, no matter what it took.

**

'You ok?' Jensen asked with concerned as they stopped for the second time on the short walk to the station. Alex had turned a whiter shade of pale. 

'I just feel a little sick is all.' She smiled weakly.

Claude smiled broadly, 'Probably just needs a good meal and decent night sleep without you leaching on her like a sex fiend.'

Alex laughed and Claude took her arm and they started steadily off on their way again. Claude chattered away animated and Alex smiled along with him. 

Jensen kept a step or two behind. 'I am not a sex fiend.' he muttered to himself. 

The hustle of people around the train station made Jensen uneasy, too many targets, too much to watch all at once. Claude handed Alex a bottle of cool water, her face was flushed red with the winter chill, Jensen immediately felt guilty at the coat she wore,she wasn't wrapped up enough for this chilly weather. Jensen imagined them together, running through the snow covered ground of gardens he had never seen. Alex threw him a tempting look over her shoulder and took of in a run. As he chased her and caught her arm, he spun her too him only to be confronted with Claudia's face.

The image sobered him and he shook himself. The tightening in his gut shocked him, he turned around frantically looking for Alex and Claude. They'd moved on while he'd been day dreaming.

Alex touched Jensen's should gently as she handed her water to Claude. 'We got the tickets, he-'

Before she could finish her sentence, Jensen hugged her tightly and lifted her off her feet. He crushed his mouth to hers. He pulled back just as quickly and searched her face. 

'Hi' Alex said nervously licking her lips, her feet still dangling in the air. 

Jensen didn't answer with words, he made a throaty noise and began kissing her again. 

Claude chuckled to himself and viewed the ticket in his hand, 'total sex fiend.'

** 

They'd been on the train four hours, Alex slept against Claude's shoulder as he viewed the diary, Isabella have given them and made small short hand notes in a pocket notebook. Alex was still pale, the rosy glow of the winter chill had passed and she looked as pale as before. 

Jensen lent forward across the table all too aware of the strange teenager sat beside him, listening to the thump, thump of music through a pair of ear phones. 'Is she ok? Jensen asked, flicking his gaze towards Alex.

Claude took a moment to observe Alex's features, he looked at her face and smiled. 'She's needs to sleep for about a week but other that...'

'She's been seeing things, spirits, she told me this afternoon.' Jensen said in a whisper. 'I worry this is too much for her.'

'You're letting your emotions cloud her abilities and your judgement Lewis, she was meant for this. To bear the burden, maybe not specifically Alistair's task but something would have happened that needed her abilities. If you would have been thrown together she would have had to bear it alone.'

Jensen scoffed, 'I doubt that.' Jensen leaned further over the table, 'She was involved with a wolf, before all this...' Jensen stopped at Claude's nod, who'd returned back to his book.

'You knew?' Jensen asked a little shocked. 

'Of course' Claude answered continuing with his notes, 'I may live in relative obscurity but I make it my business to know all the gossip. The relationship between Alexis Martinez and Karl Oakland.'

Jensen raised an eyebrow in surprise, 'As in Oakland wolf pack?'

'The very same' Claude said with a smirk, 'The prodigal son. I thought you two would have discussed such things before now.'

'We did, she never mentioned a surname, I didn't think it would be the would be alpha' Jensen said quietly, shaking his head. 'I heard he gave it all up for his brother, I didn't know he worked for George.'

'I think him working for George is a loose term, I think he works for the Twins. Or if you believe the rumours, He and Alex worked together specifically.' Claude wiggled his eyebrows. 

'Yeah well...' Jensen was cut of as the train announced the next station and Alex stirred. 

**

The hotel they checked into had a homely feel, Alex had chosen it for that purpose. She had 'ooo'ed' 'ahh'd' at the antique furniture and ornate decoration as Claude enquired after rooms. Jensen smiled to himself as Alex picked out pieces of furniture in each room, tugging him along.

'Look at this sofa' Alex ran a hand over the velvet, her fingers lingering on the polished wood outlining the velvet. 

'It is beautiful, but a little impractical' Jensen eyed the room with mild interest. It wasn't lavishly decorated, each room just had one or two pieces that screamed money. Alex went to the next item a high back leather chair, she sat in it gingerly and rubbed the arms. The thought of those hands had him aroused. Jesus, he really was a sex fiend. He watched Claude fumble with a set of keys.

'They said we could take the family room, only for the night however, apparently they have a booking tomorrow afternoon'

'A night will be fine. We shouldn't need that long.' Alex stood and moved to take the key.

**

'You smell that?' George said quietly as they continued on towards the castle ahead. 

'Yeah, smells like magic and something else.' Karl stiffened.

'We have company.' George flicked his head towards their left.Three burly vampires stepped from the bush.

Karl let out a throaty laugh as he let Claudia slip to the floor. 'Time to dance.'



Amid The Shadows Ch. 13



George circled the vampire before him with an eagerness he hadn't felt in years. He clenched and unclenched his fists as he surveyed his opponent with a technical eye. He heard the loud laugh from Karl as his friend took on the remaining party of vampires. His growl and the sound of breaking bone was enough to get George's blood pumping. 

He struck with a definite aim, hitting his attacker in quick concession to the face. The sound of his teeth smacking into his jaw was enough to spur George on. He attacked the mid riff, the kidneys. His attacker was slower than he expected. George suspected he was newly turned, his eye were still the blood red with rage as he attempted to defend himself. George pre-empted his moves with ease, after years of reading and learning defence against super naturals in his teens he surprised himself that the skills had never left him.

Karl let out a booming laugh as he squashed the vampires arm in his hand. The sound of crunching bone was so satisfying. He threw the vampire towards the tree ahead and watched with a smirk as he bowed in two as his spine cracked against the bark, the limp body of the vampire curling around the tree like a blanket. The creature dropped to the floor and let out an anguishing cry. 

Karl almost missed the third of the party, this one was a sneaky bastard, He'd stood to the shadows of the woodland watching Karl and George with an increased intensity. He stepped forward and kicked his companion with the tip of his boot. Karl observed with a mild interest. It was then he noticed what the tip of the boot was made from. The sliver shone in the morning light like a beacon. 

He stood around the same height as Karl his hair the colour of night sky, black with a simmer of blue. His eyes black like the night, he was old but not so old that his eyes had not yet reverted back to the human colour that occurred with the older vampires. He pulled a pair of leather gloves from his pocket and methodically pulled them onto each hand. Karl glanced at George who appeared to be handling his own and returned his attention to the remaining vampire. 

'I like the creatures I kill to know my name.' He spoke with a smooth intensity that made the hairs on the back of Karl's neck raise in warning. He could feel the wolf pace in his mind. The need to feel the cool porcelain skin between his teeth and tear at flesh was almost unbearable. Karl took a deep breath and watched him pull each finger into the gloves with procession. The vampire smelled of herbs and surprisingly the sea. He had travelled far for Alistair. Karl flexed his arms and rolled his shoulders. 

With the gloves in place, an elegant twist of the body took off the vampire's coat in a whoosh of action so practised it looked perfected. The vampire wore a vest and leather waist coat that clung to his body like a second skin, along his pale arm where intricate design in a tribal tribute. He bowed to Karl and stood with a smirk. 

'I am Malek, now wolf we dance.'

Karl heard a cry of pain as he started the dance with the vampire. He heard George grunt in frustration and a splatter of blood on his arm. From the smell of it, it did not belong to his friend. He looked to the vampire Malek and so it began. 

Karl struck and was rebuffed as the vampire gracefully danced away. Karl repeated this move over and over going for the heart to lure the vampire into the false sense of brawn over brains. The vampire fell into the trap easily, laughter and landing taps to Karl's back and kidneys. Karl let out a grunt as a roundhouse kick hit his arm and the sliver brushed against his skin. The sliver didn't affect his skin but something about this vampire suggested he used it to hunt his own. 

Karl lunged and hit his opponent in the face, sending his head snapping back with a crunch, his nose clearly broken as blood trickled from the wound. Malek stuck out his tongue and licked the excess from his upper lip.

'Very good wolf.' He smiled.

'I try my best' Karl answered as he stuck again going for the vampires legs in a sweeping gesture. This move was anticipated as the vampire leap onto Karls back and sank his fangs into his shoulder. Karl let out a shout and flung the vampire off, taking with him a chunk of his shoulder.

'I do love fast food.' Malek smiled with blood stained teeth. 

'You better enjoy that, it'll be the last of my blood you taste this day.' Karl could feel his eyes shifting, the wolf raising to the surface in protection mode. His skin felt tight and he could feel the growl reverberating in his throat.

Malek fell into a low crouch awaiting the attack. Only Karl didn't move. He stood his eyes fixed on his target and he let his spiritual body flow over him in a rush of heat. He could have changed, let the physical side of the wolf bound forward and let all hell break loose but after this was over he needed his mind sharp and as much energy as he could muster. 

The light surrounding Karl always amazed George. It was very rarely Karl called upon his Alpha side in a fight to gain control. The men who worked for him followed him with loyalty earned in the field but this side of himself was normally reserved for pack business. The mists of blue and green surrounded his friend and bathed the area in an unearthly glow. 

The vampire Makel stood in awe and so Karl struck. He moved with a superhuman speed as the illusion of himself in the mist created the distraction. He lifted Makel with the ease of a wolf pup and bent him in half, pulling an inhuman cry from the vampire's mouth and the sound of things popping the wrong way. 

Karl threw the man into the air and his face contorted into the face of the wolf, he caught the vampire around the ribs and sank his teeth deep, ragging the vampire's body from side to side like a dogs chew toy. The blood flowing into his mouth tasted old and clinical like it had come from a blood bank not a donor. Karl paused and dropped the vampire to the floor. His hand shifted into a claw as the vampire before him gurgled on the blood filling his mouth. 

He bent and clasped his claw around Makel's neck, lifting the vampire from the floor. He spoke around his muzzled more wolf than man.

'You don't feed from the vain do you?' Karl asked in a growl.

'It...It is not...what I...was taught.' Makel gasped around the blood filling his mouth and the air leaving his lungs. 

'I don't know why you are working for the parasite Alistair, but I will offer you a reprieve if you swear loyalty to me.'

Makel wiggled and Karl closed his claws further, drawing droplets of blood from the pale skin of his neck. 'What...do I get...in return?' Makel questioned in spurts. 

'You Life.' Karl's response was given with a finality, 'We need to get into the castle ahead. Get us in and I will let you leave. Let it be know if you betray me, I will pass your scent to every pack within a thousand miles.' Karl smiled revealing large incisors 'And rest assured Oakland pack's contacts spread far and wide.' 

'I cannot...' Makel gasped, 'Blood sworn to...the Master.'

'So be it.' Karl released his hold. Before Makel's feet could touch the grass beneath them, Karl grabbed his head savagely and snapped his neck. The sound of it echoing through the woodland around them. As his lifeless body fell to the floor, Karl met George's eyes. 

'I could have used him, trained him to our ways.' Karl said as he wiped his arm on the vampire's coat. 

George walked towards him and grasped his shoulder. 'His life would not have been his own my friend, he was linked to Alistair. Only death or Alistair's agreement would have broken the bond and I doubt Alistair would have let him walk away, he had skills.' 

George lifted Claudia from the floor, she didn't struggle or protest just excepted the fact. Her eyes were firmly planted on Karl as he heaped the bodies together and pulled the lighter from his pocket. He said a silent prayer and lit the vampire's jacket. It ignited quickly, Karl turned and began following George towards the castle ahead.

**

Jensen stood in the shower letting the hot water wash away the confines of the train and the smell of too many people in one place. He heard the bathroom door open and close quickly and turned his head slightly as Alex opened the shower door and stepped inside. She rubbed her hands up his chest and placed her head against his back. They stood there together for a few moments as the water cascaded down on them both. 

Jensen took the soap and passed it to Alex, she started to wash and he watched intently. Washing himself with the miniature shower gel the hotel provided. Too distracted, he stopped and watched the rise and fall of her chest. The way her arms flexed as she lathered each arm. She bent over and washed each leg with the same methodical approach. Jensen ran his hand down her arched back. He felt the slightest kiss on his thigh as she signalled she was straightening up. 

'Hi' she smiled and kissed his chin. 

'Hi beautiful.' He touched her cheek and ran a hand over her wet hair. 'Where's Claude?'

'Having tea and scones with the landlady

, quite the ladies man your uncle.'

Alex lathered up her hands and ran them over Jensen's chest and down circling his belly button with his finger. She repeated the lathering and ran her hands across his back while remaining against his front. Jensen sighed with contentment as her breasts pressed against his chest. She playfully rubbed his arse cheeks and slapped each one in turn. Jensen felt himself hardening against her leg and smiled down at her. 

'You are playing with fire little one.' He chuckled as she stuck out her lip and gave him puppy dog eyes. He enjoyed the feeling, the feeling of loving her. The playfulness with no real purpose other than to make him smile or make him burn. 

'I want to...here.' Alex smoothed her hand over the tiles of the shower stall. 

'A little cold against the tiles beautiful.' He moved from side to side, slowly rubbing himself against her. 

'You keep me warm though won't you?'

Alex asked with a smile, pushing her hands between them. Jensen gasped at the cool sensation of her hand against his cock. The cool of the tile lingered on her flesh. 

He cursed and tensed as she teased him, slowly stroking and then swirling her hand around the head of his cock. He bucked and had to catch himself otherwise it would be over too soon. 

Alex stood on her tip tops and spoke into his ear as the water continued to hit his lower back. 'If you let go, I'll let you return the favour.' 

She moved back and continued to tease him. Her second hand now joined the first to manipulate his balls as she played. 

'Alex, I'd return the favour anyway.' He watched her and bucked in her hand, she squeezed him slightly and he felt the urge to release subside. She started her torture again, this time she bent and added her tongue to the action. Jensen cried out and slapped his hand against the tile. Every time he

felt the need raising, Alex predicted and slowed her actions.

'Alex!' Jensen groaned in frustration, 'baby please....'

Alex was enjoying the game, a tactic she has practised with Karl during their brief but intense sexual experiences. She loved the feel of a male in her mouth and the control that it had, she made him breathless, unable to think only to feel what she was doing. She'd pushed him to his limit and now she was ready to end this and feel the satisfaction of knowing he'd been pleased by her, with her mouth. 

She opened her mouth and took him inside in a movement so sudden, Jensen cursed and circled his hand into a fist, smacking it against the wall. The splashes of the shower water against her leg was beginning to cool. She added a hand to his balls and squeezed gently. Jensen bucked and placed a hand on her head. She started a lazy suction motion and as Jensen tensed she increased the motion. 

Jensen was in heaven, the feel of her mouth was warm, welcoming and he couldn't control his release, He bucked faster towards her mouth and gripped her hair. He tensed and threw back his head, straining, the need for release running through his body. He came hard and shouted loud.

Alex slowly removed her mouth from Jensen's member and slowly licked around and down, slowly coming to a stance before him and placing a gentle kiss on his pectoral. 

Jensen slowly opened his eyes to the smiling beauty before him. There was something so earthly and natural about her, He loved her. He cupped her face and bent to kiss her slowly, lazily as if they has all the time in the world, exploring her mouth and slowly pulling back. 

'I love you' he whispered against her ear, he pulled back to look at her, to make sure she'd heard.

Alex laughed, 'I don't think you're the first man to say that after a blow job Jensen.'

She reached around him and turned off the shower. As she turned to exit he gently gripped her arm, glancing at the remaining marks of burns he'd inflicted. 

She looked at him and smiled, touching his cheek. 

'I mean it Alex, I love you.'

'Jensen...' Alex frowned.

'I know we discussed that this isn't an ideal situation but I need you to know how I feel, I can't help it.'

They stepped out of the shower together and Alex handed him a towel as she wrapped herself up in the crispy white Jensen watched her quietly. Alex stared up at him slowly, her eye filled with tears.

'I want to be completely honest with you Jensen. I loved someone once and he didn't want what I wanted. I tired to be with someone else but it was never the same, it never felt...so I felt...' She laughed nervously, 'I'm not saying this right.' she rubbed her forehead.

Jensen took her hand and kissed each finger before kissing her palm. 'You don't need to tell me anything. If that stupid wolf couldn't see what was in front of him than that is his loss and that sad excuse of my man that dropped you at my feet, well I'm sure Alistair has provided him with some torture by now.'

'I'm so in love with you Jensen.' Alex spoke as if she hadn't heard him, the admission took his breathe away, she looked down and whispered, 'just don't hurt me.'

Jensen lifted her chin with his finger, 'I can't promise life will be easy, but when this is done, I'll give you all I have for however long we have.'

Jensen pulled her too him and held her closely, the smell of her filled his nose as the steam from the shower faded he felt the goosebumps form her shoulders.

'Come on' he tugged at her hand.

'Where are we going?' Alex tottered after him looking adorable in her towel. Jensen looked back at her and smiled. He flipped the lock in the door and removed his towel before grabbing her and dropping her on the bed. As Alex giggled with excitement and anticipation, as Jensen peeled the towel from her and nibbled and licked at her skin.

'Now lets see about returning the favour.' 

**

'What do you want Paul?' Karl stopped dead and turned to face the younger Martinez as George slowed and dropped Claudia to the floor. Both men stood staring at the woodland that rustled ahead of them.

Paul stepped through the trees, Diana firmly gripping his hand. 'I came to help.' 

'I'll bet you did.' Karl scoffed, 'and you bought a toy?'

'Karl' George gripped his upper arm, 'Give him a chance to speak.'

'Fine.' Karl shook the hold and stepped back to let his friend take the lead, he scanned the trees surrounding them and took a deep breathe. The air smelt clean, uninhibited. 

They stood together no more than a few feet apart as they waited for someone to break the silence. Karl observed the woman with Paul, features in her face familiar to the photos they had surveyed. That is where he'd seen her before.

'You where at the ball.' The comment was made at a statement and directed towards Diana, who nodded nervously towards the wolf. He could smell fear and anxiety coming off her in waves. The wolf liked it, he paced and growled. Karl spoke to him quietly flooding him with images of their friend Alex. The wolf whined and lay down, content to let the scene before them play out if it meant that she would return. The smell of Alex's perfume flooded his nose, this was how the wolf recognised her as a friend not a foe. 

'Diana is going to help us.' Paul answered quietly. 

'I don't see you helping us with anything at the moment, maybe you'd like to explain why you had your sister kidnapped? Why you are working for Alistair? Why I should give you a chance to explain anything? Maybe I should strip you of your powers right now.' George stepped forward and raised his hand. 

The threat of it had Paul on his defensive he stuttered his reply. 'I..I...I'm sorry.'

'Sorry?' George could feel the warm energy swimming around in his veins the power raising within him. His eyes where changing of their own accord. Karl watched the teal of the sea overshadowing the normal chocolate brown. 'I think we're a little bit beyond that, don't you?' George dropped his hand and started to pace. 

'Your connection with Alistair? Explain it.' The undertone of command didn't go unnoticed. Karl kept his eyes locked onto the couple before him. 

'We met about six months ago, I was out...' Paul stopped suddenly.

'Doing things you think I don't know about Paul?' George gave an almost sadistic laugh, 'Don't be naive into think I haven't got eyes and ears everywhere in this county. That word and rumour don't get back to my ears.'

'Then why do I need to explain myself? After all you know everything don't you?' Karl had never seen George move so fast. He moved in a blur of magic, gripping Paul around the neck and lifting him on his feet. Karl was surprised the old man had it in him. 

'Do not mock me boy.' George spat out venomously in Paul's face. Diana whimpered on the floor, dropped there by the force of movement between father and son. Magic and power buzzed round them.

'Alistair offered me the chance to be move than I am, to be powerful!' Paul gasped between breathes.

'Really? If you think that is all this was ever about you more stupid than I thought, I more inclined to believe that this little production is a way to get revenge on me and your mother, you and Alex are just collateral damage.' George dropped him to his feet and stepped back, scratching at his wrist. 

'What has mother got to do with anything?' Paul asked confused, rubbing his throat to soothe the burning sensation. 

'Maybe you'd like to fill in the blanks...demon.' George turned to Diana, his expressing daring her to

to say no. 

'The massster wasss involved with Marianne before your father.' Diana spoke quietly, 'they were originally betrothed.'

'I'm sure your master has failed to mention the many reasons why Marianne and I left him. Alistair's views on things can be very narrow minded and warped to his own imagination.' George rubbed his wrist again, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt and clearly exposing the mark on his inner arm. Paul's eyes widened as he noticed the mark, he'd never in his life noticed it before.

'Initially I too may have been as naive as you are now, in fact I know I was. Confined and constricted by the rules of the council's magic, at first we were just young rebels, young fools. I believed what Alistair spouted about reverting back to the old ways, to gain power as and when we saw fit. The problem is Alistair takes everything literally and to his own personal gain. That I learned later. His actions became erratic and no one knew where they stood or how safe they where.'

George stopped and ran his hands through his hair in frustration. 'I loved your mother for a long time before we left together. I love her still. I will never apologise for how we felt about each other and how we walked away from Alistair. Marianne's safety and her life was my number one priority.'

Paul moved forward, 'I was wrong, to get Alex involved in this, fuck! To get involved in this myself. I wanted to make you think more of me. I was jealous of Alex I couldn't think!, Alistair was so convincing. His words were like velvet, so understandable, so reasonable and logical. He made it seem like Alex was the root cause of the problems, get her out of the way and you'd just step aside, let me-'




Amid The Shadows Ch. 13



George interrupted, 'Jealous of your sister?? Paul you have had every moment of my time since your mother passed away. How could you have ever been jealous of Alexis? All I feel when I look at you now is shame and guilt. I don't know where my son went and I'll never be able to make up the loss of a father to my daughter. If she comes home at all...alive.'

The last admission was a whisper in the woodland and Paul was shocked as the realisation of the situation hit him hard. His father had never been so blunt or honest about how he felt or how he'd failed. 

Before he could comment Karl stepped forward, 'Of course she'll come home alive and probably be pissed off at what's occurred while she is away. No body keeps the guards in check like Alex and I swear those boys have been taking liberties.' Karl chuckled. 

George saw the comment for what it was, a diversion. A diversion against the sickening feeling in his stomach that this wasn't going to be as easy as he thought. He smiled tight lipped at his friend and turned back to his son. 

'How do you purpose to help?' George asked sceptical. 

'Diana is familiar with the lay out of the place and has a man on the inside. Also she says Dominic is chomping at the bit to make an escape, we could us him as a diversion.' 

George looked to the demon, 'Is this true?' At Diana's nod George continued, 'If you betray us and my daughter is not returned to me, I will kill you.'

Diana's eyes widened at the comment, it was clear that he meant it and the demon in her wanted to retaliate, the human in her respected the honesty of the comment and by the look of the wolf, it was by no means an idle one. 

As Karl lifted the woman from the floor onto his back, Diana let out a gasp. 'Why was the master's favourite here?' Her mind wandered as Karl looked back, 

'Don't worry sweet heart, looks like she is now the back up plan.' Karl nodded towards the house, 'Lead the way.'

**

Jensen was dreaming, stood in the large ballroom he sipped from the champagne glass and watched the faces dance around the room. Some so familiar, some strange. That feeling should have made him on edge, instead a sense of peace washed over him as he spotted Alex across the room speaking to man, dressed in an elegant dress in creamy white, her back to him, her hair falling in curls down her back. He took a step forward as she turned and laughed, brushing hair from her face. A hand touched his forearm. 

'He's not a threat.' Claude chuckled by his side. 'Karl Oakland is not the enemy.'

Jensen viewed the man with a renewed interest. His build was muscular and wide, even though he was dressed formally Jensen could see aspects of the wolf. His hair almost unnatural shades of gold and light browns, his eyes glistening. Another side just waiting to get out. 

'So I'm just suppose to stand by while he openly flirts with her?' He gulped the last of the liquid in the flute. 

'No, you simply remember he looked after her when you did not' Claude moved away to a group of ladies hovering at the bar, initiating conversation easily, commenting on the decorations and choice of music.

Jensen turned, observing the room that was seemingly filled with things suggesting celebration but nothing was clearly outlined, he felt a pair of arms close around his back. Soft hands linking around his waist as a head leant against his back and his senses were a washed in the familiar fragrance.

'Why are you frowning?' Alex asked against his suit jacket. The uncertainty in her voice had him moving to embrace her. He tilted her chin and slowly descended to kiss her gently. Feathering kissing on her lips and chin. As he pulled back he was confronted with the face of his ex-wife,

he took a long shaky breathe, his senses assaulted with her strong perfume and tightening arms. Jensen felt his chest tightening...No!

Jensen shot bolt upright in the bed. He was sweaty and uncomfortable. His skin felt too tight and he felt irritable. He looked over to the opposite side of the bed to find it empty. Through the doors into family room part of the suite he could see the lamp on and Alex resting a book against her legs, reading intently.

He moved as quietly as a predator from the bed, his feet light on the carpeted floor. As he entered he spotted Claude at another table, nursing a mug and engaged in the same activity. As he got closer he noticed one of Alex's arms had been bandaged. He bent over the book and stole a kiss. She smiled up at him, dark rings under her eyes. 

'What time is it?' Alex bent over to the table with the lamp and lifted the clock. 

'A little after four thirty...too early' Jensen answered as Claude handed Alex a coffee. Her bandaged arm brushed against his side as he positioned himself next to her. She jerked and hissed. Jensen gently took hold of her arm and examined the dressing. 

'What happen here beautiful?' Jensen looked at her worried. 

'I had a bad dream.'

'She was attacked.' Claude answered for her looking out of the window at the fast approaching dawn. 

'Claude' Alex groaned and leant back to stretch as Jensen lifted her legs to lay them across his lap. 

Jensen took a deep breath before he spoke, 'Tell me.'

'Its just part and parcel.' Alex said with a tired smile. 

'That is not an acceptable answer Alex.' Jensen could feel the frustration rising as his power bloomed in his gut. How dare something try to hurt what was his?

Alex was deadly quiet, suddenly so engrossed in the book she was holding. She'd paled significantly. She thumbed the pages. 'I need to use the bathroom.' She all but jumped from the sofa and raced to the bathroom adjoining Claude's bedroom. 

Claude turned from the window, 'She didn't want to wake you.'

Jensen stood with determination, 'Well tough shit, you should have. What the fuck is going on here?' 

'Its not my story to tell.' Claude answered meekly. 

'Well then lets go to the source.' Jensen strode to bathroom door banging on it with clear intension of getting inside. The wood and handle rattled under the force. It was only when he stopped for a momentarily reprieve her heard the sound of Alexis vomiting on the other side. His anger seemingly evaporated, placing his forehead against the door he spoke into the wood. 

'Come on beautiful, open the door'

A few seconds later her heard the lock flip. He eased open he door as Alex slid across the tiled floor back to the toilet base. She wrenched suddenly and continued emptying her stomach into the porcelain bowl. 

She blindly slapped against the towel rail and pulled the towel to her mouth. She looked at Jensen and sniggered. 'Sorry, not very attractive is it?' 

'Actually I think worrying is the first thing that pops to mind.' He filled a tumbler from the sink and handed her the water, 'What is happening here Alex?' 

Alex placed the glass against her forehead, delighting in the temperature change. She sat back and took a sip. 'I don't know exactly. I feel asleep, had a bad dream. When I woke my arm was bleeding onto my t-shirt. I have no idea about the sickness, maybe shock.' She sounded doubtful, unsure.

'Tell me about the dream, is it about the key?'

Alex took another sip as she nodded. 'We were in a cave and I was looking from some kind of symbols on the wall, it smelt wrong....it was a strange shape like a tear drop, the further we went the deeper we went inside. I could feel the key vibrating against my chest, blowing hot and cold. We found the symbols and were discussing them when a whoosh of something...engulfed me. It just seemed to suck the life out of me. When I felt myself weaken that's when the attack started.'

'What did it look it?' Jensen wet a hand towel and placed it gently on her forehead.

'I honestly have no clue, I could not see a thing, not that I was blind but there was nothing to..see. It just felt like darkness, coldness. I just felt it scratch at me and then I woke up. How the hell do we, do I defend myself against something I cant even see?' 

Her eyes were wide as saucers as she questioned what she had seen and Jensen hit a wall at giving her a reply to offer some comfort. 

'The best think can think of it to analyse what you saw and try to take precautions, Magically and anything else that springs to mind.' 

'That's what Claude said.' Alex set down the glass and rubbed at her bandage. 'That's what we were doing when you came in, Claude made notes on the details I gave him.'

Jensen felt a wave of jealously overtake him, his uncle always seemed to be one step ahead. Funny how he hadn't seen anything coming. Jensen stood up suddenly to confront the old man. He stormed into the living area with a new sense of purpose. He slammed his hands down on the table shaking the papers and books Claude was looking at. 'What happened to your foresight?' 

Claude slowly put down his pen and let out a breathe, 'Get to to the point Lewis.' 

'You didn't see Alex falling in the cathedral, you've been off in your own world and at any opportunity, talking to everyone and anyone but us and now, Alex is attacked in her sleep and you STILL don't see anything. You haven't seen anything in the last few days and I know you, you where always seeing things and scribbling them down. so I'll ask again, What happened to your foresight?'

Alec grabbed Jensen's arm, 'Why are you shouting at him? This isn't his fault, he can't control his gift and you can't very well blame him for not seeing anything, back off.' 

Jensen looked between them in thought, 'Is there something going on here?'

'What are you talking about Lewis?' Claude moved to Alex and took her arm retying the bandage on her arm. 

'You, you and Alex? Is there something going on here?' His voice rose with each passing word. 

Jensen couldn't think straight feeling like his brain was mashed together with every sight, smell and sensation he'd experienced since he'd been given this form of freedom, an overload of everything. He'd seen a closeness with Claudia and Alistair, was history repeating itself? A tiny part of his mind knew this was an idiotic idea but he could stop the words leaving his mouth. 

Jensen looked at Alex and still the stirring of jealously and suspicion clouded him, he spat out his next words in a hurry 'After all we all know you like older men, surely your wolf was closer to Claude's age than mine.' 

As soon as the sounds entered the room he stopped. His voice had been loud and full, still echoing off the walls.

Alex felt her chest tighten as she heard the accusation in Jensen's tone. She stood in a state of shock at what he'd said, more so in his tone, how he'd said the words. Venomously, full of anger. 

Could she have given her heart away to someone wrong again, surely history wouldn't be so cruel to let her keep making the same mistake. She turned and walked from the room, she collected the previous days clothes from the chase lounge at the end of the bed and closed the bathroom door to dress. 

She could hear the muffled argument of the two men who were suppose to be helping her in this task. All she wanted to do was go home and curl into a ball. She looked at herself in the mirror as she buttoned up the check shirt. 'Stupid girl!' she ridiculed herself as she scooped her items from the tilled counter and exited. Claude and Jensen continued to argue as Alex quietly collected her items and shoved them into her back pack. She rummaged in the bag belonging to Jensen and pulled a knife and the fairy light, shoving them into her own pack and heading for the door. She closed it behind her and opted to take the stairs down. 

**

'I can't believe you would be so childish as to think like that.' Claude seemed to be repeating himself but Jensen wasn't listening, his reasoning was lost as he threw accusation after accusation at him. They'd been engrossed in this situation for a good ten minutes.

'I mean, is this all part of some plan? Are you and Alistair working together? How do I even know that that Alexis is even the real Alexis?'

'You are acting completely unreasonable, I would never do anything-' Claude held up in hands in a surrendering gesture. 

'Really?' Jensen interrupted, knocking over the lamp table and lamp. The early morning light didn't help to illuminate the room. He took a step closer to Claude, 'That didn't stop you with my mother did it? Did you ever stop to think your actions are the root of why we are where we are now? '

Claude dropped back down into his chair, the look of sheer shock on his face. He was speechless, Lewis was flushed, breathing heavy and Claude didn't think he'd ever seen him look so feral. 

Claude stared blindly at the papers in front of him, not taking anything in, his hand shook as he started to gather everything together. 

Jensen felt something in him snap and release, the frustration, jealous and need for aggression passed over him and the horror of his words dawned on him in a sickening rush. He observed the man who had been a father to him in so many ways, shaking with....what, was it fear, uncertainty.

'Claude' Jensen stepped forward and reached to help collect the pages of notes.

'NO!' Claude continued to collect items, 'You have said enough, maybe your return to the outer world has been rushed, maybe you incarceration has had some delayed effects on you, something you feel you have no control over. However' Claude glanced up and met Jensen's stare, 'What you said to that girl was unacceptable, she fears for her life and her family. Furthermore, she gave you your current freedom. My past maybe clouded and well know in the magical community but you cannot be jealous of a person's past Lewis and it isn't fair to use it against them or judge them upon it.'

Jensen turned made his way to the bathroom Alex had closed herself in. He tapped gently with one knuckle. 

'Alex?' He waited, no response. He wasn't surprised. He slid down the wall and propped his elbows on his knees. 'Alex, baby? I'm sorry.' He sat waiting for a reply, his words returning to haunt him and then images of only a handful of hours earlier when he'd declared his love for her. He stood up and turned the handle, it opened easily. He stood staring into an empty bathroom, Alex's blood speckled t-shirt dropped carelessly on the floor next to a hotel robe. The sink and tiled counter litter with hotel supplied toiletries.

He was awash with a sense of panic, He turned and exited, staring around the room, cataloguing what was missing. Her bag was gone, her clothing from the chaise lounge. He spun. 'Claude!'

'I can't talk to you right now Lewis.' Claude sat on the chair trying to repair the broken lamp. 

'Alex is gone.' 

Claude dropped the lamp and moved passed Jensen, shoving past him into the room, checking the bathroom and looking round the room, mimicking Jensen's previous actions. He moved straight to the phone by the bed and rang the front desk. 

'Sorry to disturb you my dear, have you seen a young woman passed by recently, well, brown hair, pretty, early twenties' he paused, 

'Yes, yes she could have been wearing jeans and a checked shirt.' He listened, nodding. 'Thank you, my dear.' He returned the item back to its holder and pinched the bridge of his nose.

'She went past the front desk about a quarter of an hour ago. She could be anywhere.' 

Jensen starting pulling on a pair of jeans and gathering items to push back into the back pack. 'I don't even know where she's going, I didn't have chance to ask.'

'I did, I'll collect my things and we can start to track her.'

Before he could utter a thanks, Claude was moving. He moved to the bathroom, lifting Alex's t-shirt he pressed it against his nose. He caught his reflection in the mirror and cursed. 

'Now that is no way to speak in front of company brother.' Jensen jerked sharply, Alistair's face filled the mirror before him. His smudge, arrogant appearance had Jensen edgy.

'What the fuck do you want?' 

Alistair laughed, 'Again with the vulgarity brother. It is really not the behaviour of a gentleman.'

'And you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?'

'Touché.' Alistair lifted a craved walking stick to his temple in salute. He licked his lips as his eyes looked around Jensen's frame. 'Where is Miss Martinez?'

'Indisposed.' Jensen saw the flicker of something cross Alistair's face.

'I see, well my little visit is just a reminder, tick tock, tick tock.' He waved the stick to mimic a pendulum. 'I want that stone and time is flying by.'

'Anything else?' Jensen enquired.

'No, for now. Say hello to Claude for me.' As quickly as he'd appeared he was gone. Jensen folded the t-shirt carefully and carried back to his pack, slipping it inside. 

'Ready?' Claude asked from the door buttoning up his jacket, at Jensen's nod they left. 

**

Alex was in a little bit of a trance, she followed her feet but her mind was somewhere else. She couldn't stop replaying things in her head, memories of her absentee father, his dismissals, brief flickers of her relationship with Karl, images of a scheming Dominic, too interested in the family and history to really see her and lastly, Jensen.

How could he think that of her? after everything they'd had discussed, how open they had been with each other, the promise he had made her. To be so changeable, how could she have been so stupid. Their relationship had been formed on the basis of her being kidnapped and a deal made with a sadistic bastard. How could she had thought anything was real? 

From her visions of his marriage and his wife, was she so innocent to believe he could love her? Claudia, with her flaming red hair and porcelain skin and her, Alexis, plain and almost boyish in comparison. 

She stopped at a payphone and dialled home. It rang and rang until her father's voice filled the void. She waited for the bleep before she left her message. 

'Dad, Its Alexis. I'm ok...well I'm not ok but I am.' she laughed nervously as she felt tears streaming down her face. 

'I think, I think I'm in over my head and I'm sinking.' She paused, trying to steady her breathing, 'I miss home, I miss Karl's mood swings, having to clean the kitchen surfaces twenty times a day....Maybe I shouldn't have called, Alistair probably knows. I mean I can handle this...I'm babbling, It feels like a lifetime has passed and I..-' The beeping of the machine cut off her voice. She put the phone down staring at the handset for a few moments.

That was it, she'd heard her father's voice and in some way it had been a comfort, she could do this. She pulled the pack further up her shoulder and continued on her journey. The morning sky was still debating its arrival, hues of red and orange lightening to a golden shade of morning against the darking upper sky. With a single minded determination she started walking, setting a rhythm. She had no money and no means. Her destination was going to be quite a walk. 

** 

Claude sat beside Jensen in the Taxi, his eyes scanning the streets as they passed into an already busy stream of traffic. 

'Is this definitely the way?' Jensen questioned. The look Claude gave him didn't require a response. 

Jensen cleared his throat. 'I want to apologise for what I said last night, if there is something going on with your abilities and you want to discuss it. I'm listening.'

Claude searched his face for a moment. 'My ability was never predictable and the older I get the more I found myself having to make notes. Nowadays they can come thick and fast or they dribble into my conscious like honey. I saw a lot of you and of Alex and of you and Alex together. But you should know more than anyone, a different response, a turn in direction, a changed agreement can cause a difference in the things I see. I haven't seen anything regarding your future since you arrived at my door. Saying that, I'm unsure now if what I saw will even come to pass. I never been so unsure and uncertain. In comparison, I am equally certain that regardless of your out come with Alex, Alistair has to be stopped.'




Amid The Shadows Ch. 13



Claude leant forward and tapped on the thick partition between driver and passenger, 'Here will do my good man.' The vehicle pulled to a close outside an underground tube station. 

As the taxi pulled away and Claude rearranged the bank noted in his wallet, Jensen gripped his shoulder. 'I'm sorry I mentioned my mother, I shouldn't have tired to use something so painful against you. Whatever and however you felt for each other is your own business.'

Claude nodded and headed towards the tube station. Jensen groaned internally, another journey on a smelly train surrounded by strangers. Wonderful. Jensen looked to the clock tower over head, it had been over an hour since he'd last seen Alex, an hour too long. Shoving his hands into his jacket pockets, he descended the station steps and waited for the tin can train to arrive. 

**

Alex stood by the water fountain, bending over the fixture to take a drink. She stepped back and fumbled in the pack retrieving a cereal bar. She ate with a ravenous hunger. Her stomach was still churning slightly from the early sickness but she needed the energy. She'd walked through the raising dawn, she was close to the entrance of her destination. 

The hills and mountains sprawled ruggedly in front of her, hard to believe that two hours walk from a town bought you to such beautiful surroundings. She followed the rocky footpath with a small smile, the path had been smoothed overtime by ramblers and tourists and the night's light rain has made it slippy. She caught herself a few times as she felt an urge to divert from the main path.

The key around her neck was singing and dancing with anticipation. She stood for a second and held the item in her free hand. A wave of magic overtook her senses and she the key were one, its song was a jingle of notes, peaceful, calming. Images flashes in her mind, Alex needed to move. Needed to find the stone box that the key fit into. Alex saw a flash, something craved into stone and fear overtook her. This was the place she has dreamed about and been attacked in. Taking a deep breath she starting a slow walk, as she moved further up the mountain, she fell into an easy rhythm. She could do this, she was grown woman and coming into powers she had never known. This was a time to prove her own self worth.

The cave's entrance could have been easily missed by the untrained eye. Years of playing hide and seek with the wolf pack's security guards had made her aware sometimes the most interesting place wasn't the most obvious to hide and stay hidden.

Alex pushed back a decades growth of moss and grass, her finger nails full with greenery. She saw the small entrance and as she leaned to the side a small corridor of stone leading into total darkness. She dropped her back pack to move some of the rugged rocks blocking the base of the craved doorway. Thirty three stones later, Alex wiped the sweat from her brow, collecting her bag she took a step and was confronted with an invisible wall. 

She pushed, she prodded, she poked, nothing was penetrating this thing physically. She kicked a stone with her walking boot only to have it flying back and smacking her in the cheek. It stung but all Alex could do was laugh. After a few moments of light relief she spoke to the entrance. 'Yeah, yeah Karma's a bitch.' 

She ran her fingers over the entrance, looking for any figures or symbols of precautionary magic craved above or around the entrance. Two small runes craved into the stone. Water runes. To protect the crave against the elements. She scanned around the other side of the door and spotted one detail. One mark, a circle blasted into the stone. She'd read about in old cases and histories, when group magic was performed together, the compression of magic could leave an imprint. In some cases a perfectly formed circle chipped into the stone at some force. 

She studying the door intently. She was going to have to break the protection spell surrounding the door way. This was going to take time and energy. 

**



Amid The Shadows Ch. 14



Hello All, apologises for the severe delays, I was travelling..but am back and want to get this finished before the summer is over. Thanks for reading, all comments welcome.

Anna Dreamer

**

Alex stood at the front of the cave, puzzled and in awe. The intricate designs, so elegant and beautiful. Alex rang her fingers over the designs lovingly. Just in that moment everything she had been worrying about seemed to disappear. 

The feel of the cool stone against her finger tips made her feel so free and along with it a feeling of inadequacy. She who had never really lived given a task that filled her with doubts and had more implications that she could have ever imagined. Her mind turned to Alistair and the nausea from earlier returned with vengeance. His face and his whispering words haunting her mind. 

She spun and took in the scene around her, the rolling hills in colour ways of green and creeping clouds threatening the clear crisp cotton blue sky. Alex's eyes filled with tears the urge to run away was strong, so easy to imagine the scent and feeling of home. The large wooden door leading into the tiled hallway, the large living room with a sofa so big you could hide under its pillows. 

The pull of the key around her neck , however, had other ideas. It yanked at her neck and began to sing a light easy tune, raising and falling like tiny fairy bells. Beautiful and endearing. 

Alex turned back to the stone door way. She spoke the Latin words in her head, too scared to know if speaking them aloud would give them power. Something inside held another clue in the crazy tale and she needed in. 'Ok Alexis,' she spoke to herself. 'Time to get inside.' She closed her eyes and drew upon her inner magic, the sound of cracking stones filled her ears. 

**

Diana pointed a hand to the left and set off walking. Paul stayed by her side, as George and Karl complete with Vampire accessory fanned out to the sides, keeping an eye on the rustle trees and undergrowth. 

As Karl held back a branch and setted out, the sheer mass of fortress saluted them, all priers and shades of grey. Karl sneered to himself how adapt, he had a feeling more shades of grey were to come. 

**

Jensen moved the back pack from one shoulder to the other, he and Claude had been walking for a good hour when the stumbled upon the less trodden path. Claude took a small piece of paper with a drawing. Jensen noticed the heading on paper, it was from the hotel they had just left. 

'We heading the right way?' Jensen asked casting a critical eye over the landscape. 

'According to this we are' Claude carefully folded the item and moved on without another word. 

Alex had pushed her power against the wards holding the door way it was heavily protected and nothing had moved it, she tired an unlocking spell...nothing, tried Gaelic....nothing. Just a faint rumble of stone each time but no significant movement. 

The key around her neck was pulling heavy on her mind and her physical body. Her arms felt weak. She rested a moment against a bolder and slowly opened the rucksack looking for water...She grasped the bottle, uncapping the metal lid and expecting a gush, when in fact dribbles fell from its head. She was so thirsty.

As she contemplated the benefit of large springs of water and bathing in water, her eyes resting firming on the entrance. 'There is something I'm bloody missing here!'

Alex tired to remember the small amount of training she had had about being a concealer, the few chased moments she had read Claude books on how best to approach these kinds of situations. Technically she should be able to do this, whether she could.... 

She flexed her hands and rubbed them against her denim clad legs. She was hot, like she'd run a few miles. Her body was reacting to the key. She slowly paced to the door way and spoke in a soothing voice. 

'I know you can hear me.' She smoothed the stone, still marvelling in its construct. 'I'm asking permission to enter.' A rumble of rocks greeted this enquiry. Alex frown and closed her eyes. 

As she contemplated her next move, she was assaulted with a memory, no an array of memories, flowing thick and fast through her brain. 

A child on a swing, their face badly deformed and disfigured.

A man singing a song to the chopping of wood, One leg nothing more than a twisted branch, 

A man killing another with an axe but as she starred down it was her hands holding the offending item. 

Another man pining down a woman as she frantically scratched at his face and the fabric of his clothes. A swift back hand to the face had Alex cry out as her face replaced the woman's own, grubby hands touching her, grabbing her. She struggled until His hand grabbed and her breast his finger digging into her flesh, enough to draw blood. His foul breath on her face. 'Whore, I'll teach you to disobey me, Whore!'

A child, his hand outstretched as someone in darkness came towards him with a hammer. 

'Tommy knows he should not steal.'

Alex searched around frantically, trying to pin point something to reason with. The scarred hand that held down her for the hammer to hit. 

'Tommy must not steal! Say it'

One broken finger.

'Say it'

Two broken fingers.

'SAY IT!' Spit from the barbarians mouth hitting her cheek and eye as they stepped closer.

The sickening thud of the metal hitting flesh and bone. Alex screamed inside her head but the boy in the vision remained quiet and absolute. Alex was with them all but still somehow herself. She screamed to the boy occupying this torment with her, he pointed to his mouth and opened wide. No Tongue. No voice. The flood of pain hit her again and again and again until all four fingers and thumb were crooked. 

A flood of emotion overwhelmed her, a loss of sensation in her mind, she was slowly slipping away to somewhere. The watery image appeared before her eyes. Alex tired in vain to push against the force of something....WATER! She push and panicked and scrambled against an unseen force. Heavy and unrelenting on her back pushing her deeper and deeper into the water. Her face scrapping against the jagged rocks under the current.

She pushed, screamed into the water, liquid flowing quickly into her mouth and flowing into her lungs. Her legs were getting tired. How peaceful would it be to sleep? The thought surprised her, to float away to peaceful slumber? The whoosh of her leaving water shocked her into alert. Her back throbbed, her face ached against the blast of cold to hot. And she was hot. Her head felt like it was going to explode. 

People, people were watching. She tired to move her hands, they were tied, she looked down at her clothing. She wore Soft brown leather boots, cloth pants and tunic. She searched the crowd, a vision of people in plain black and white clothing, dots of people in clothes like herself. 'Please' she murmured to deaf ears and angry eyes before her. 

'We should be burning her! Hanging is too good for her! Fucking Witch!' 

Someone threw something at her face it stung sharply and hit her feet at the floor. As she looked down to the exploded fruit at her feet she felt the pull and jerk of the rope. Her neck cracked as the rope bit into her skin. It burned and she gagged, chocking on the lack of air and her own saliva, her feet now free falling a she pumped the air desperately trying to finding some footing on an invisible ledge. 

Alex knew it was just a memory, something attached to the spirits in that cave but she needed to get inside. The souls and spirits projecting these visions and glimpses were all haunted by these deeds, that they had committed or had been done against them. Alex flung back her head and smacked it against the stone in an attempt to draw blood. Her strength was leaking away like water from a tap. She could no longer control her arms and legs. Flicking in her minds subconscious from the choking sensation, someone else's memory and the present, the cool breeze and morning sun on her face. 

She smacked her head against the rock again thrusting her back into reality. Alex felt the warm gush of something as it hit the rock, dripping coppery liquid into her mouth, her vision doubled and blurred, she saw the symbols glow as the stone hummed beneath her hands. The flow of power and magic hit her hard, throwing her into the air and then flinging her into the damp grass and sweet darkness. 

**

George stopped abruptly at the pain in his chest. He rubbed it absently as the shifting demon highlighted some of the things to watch out for in Alistair's House of Hell. 

Paul's voice quivered and he dropped to his knees, Blood dripping from his nose as his mind was assaulted with the image of Alex being held down face first in, what, a lake? A steam? The pounding of running water hit his ears. Her face a picture of torture and agony as she fought against the weight pinning her to the stony bottom. 

'ALEX!' George's cry was of pure agony as his son started to sob. 

Karl watched in amazement as something passed between father and son and the air around them thickened with the stench of death. Karl took a sharp breath and dropped his prisoner to the floor. No, No! He turned to George as tears fell from his widened eyes, his face mirroring George's own.

The trees in the forest around them screamed in pain and the sky overhead shed the bright blue skies and sun as thick rolling black grey clouds and bolts of lighting took its place. Heavy pleats of hail assaulted them as Paul's agonising sobs echoed around them.

Karl felt his wolf stir, a sad strange whine, no longer able to picture the beautiful face of a friend and lover. Just sadness and grief. Karl inhaled slowly. The scent of burning cokes filling his nose, pain, regret and sadness. 

**

Claude keep five steps ahead, his urgency had not gone unnoticed by Jensen. He kept a few easy stride behind as his uncle led them. He spotted Alex before Claude breaking into a slight jog. As he called out her name, she stiffened and she was thrown backwards, hitting the ground with a very fucking loud bang. Jensen felt his heart begin to suddenly pound. As he ran full force he was slightly aware of Claude calling his name. Nothing else mattered but Alex. 

As he skidded to a hault and dropped to his knees, he took in her appearance, her face was scratched to hell, bleeding and bloody. Her clothes were torn and wet as was her hair. Her neck was badly bruised and the indentation on two running black, blue, bleeding rings around it shocked Jensen, where the hell had see been?

He gently lifted her hand to take her pulse, he felt it, slow and sluggish. In relief he bought her hand to his face to kiss, he noticed the crooked fingers. Her whole hand was swelling and every finger was broken. 

'CLAUDE!' He screamed in agony. 

'Is she alive?? Claude asked in a whisper, at Jensen's nod. His demeanour changed from shocked to urgent, 'Lewis we need to get her inside, build a fire and tend to the wounds.' Claude lifted her rucksack. 'Lift her gently.'

Jensen lifted her scared to jolt her in anyway. She never made a sound, no expression marred her blood stained face. Jensen's started to panic anew. He clutched her to him, she smelt damp and felt so cold. He followed his uncle into the cave, the symbols on the door was marred with crimson, glistening in the sun. 

Claude was busy doing something, he didn't take his eyes from her face. He spoke to her softly. 'Don't leave me, I only just found you. I haven't had a chance to apologise yet...' he laughed nervously, 'I don't know what to do. Don't leave me in the darkness.' He kissed her cold lips and settled her onto Claude's jacket that had been spread on the cave floor. 

'Jensen, I'm going to quickly access the damage. Getting her to a hospital would be pointless and the nearest wizard's healing halls is a good fifty miles away.' Claude babbled as he undressed the girl. Her body was cold. He touched her neck, a struggling heartbeat...slow...slow....

'I need your ability to assess Lewis, there could be internal bleeding.'

Claude looked Jensen who stood frozen in shock. 'NOW LEWIS!' he bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls.

Jensen dropped to his knees, his hand covered in her bloody form gently stroked against her t-shirt and skin. He tired to focus. He felt the familiar light headedness and the floating of himself entering some one else's body. He started at the bottom and worked his way upward. 

Claude watched and then began starting a fire to add the fairy light he'd taken from his rucksack and stuck into the ground. It currently illuminated the cave but it didn't give out heat. A pit still remained in the middle of the floor from fire before he presumed and he set to work adding to it. 

Jensen's could feel the sweat dripping down his face as he searched her body and fixed the more urgent injuries. There had been some internal bleeding on her brain, the skull had been cracked badly in one place. Three ribs had been broken and were dangerously close to punching a lung. He'd mended her fingers, a thumb and her ripped spleen. 

He was exhausted. The bruises on her body would have to be rectified later. He pulled back and slumped back into his own body and onto the floor.

Claude handed him a bottle of water and they sat side by side for sometime before Jensen spoke. 'She's sustained injuries that would lead me to believe she had been tortured.' He commented after he'd listed her injuries, some of his own memories haunting him in the darkness. 

'We were only a short time behind her Lewis, She had no time to be taken by anyone.'

'It could have been Alistair, he drank from her'

'Your brother maybe many things but even he can't shift through time.'

'I...'

Claude interrupted, 'If her visions came thick and fast Lewis that too could have cause this. It is not uncommon in powerful concealers. You said yourself she'd been attacked before by invisible forces. You must have seen the blood on the door way on the way in. Maybe she fought to gain entry.'

'Fought what? Spirits and ghosts? Jensen asked incredulous.

'Maybe so.' Claude raked a hair through his peppered grey hair. 'The book I read and gave to you, give some insight. Concealers can become tormented by the visions, they also can become a sponge for taking others pain and suffering into one's self. As it is their job to find inanimate objects, so too can they affect people, help ease them emotionally. It can be very empathetic.'

'How long do you think she'll be...' Jensen trailed off. 

'As long as it takes.' 

** 



Amid The Shadows Ch. 15



Alistair woke suddenly, his body and face drenched with beads of cold sweat. If his heart still beat it would no doubt sound like a dozen horses trapping through a cobbled street. Something had dragged him from his death like slumber. He looked around the room in a frantic panic. It was still day, his internal clock alerting him to the sun's height outside the stone walls. 

His first reaction was to check his person, his hands skimming down a toned chest, no signs of injury. Everything in the room around him was deadly silent. The thought occurred to him in an instant, if not himself then someone he was tied too. He closed his eyes and let an overwhelming sense of detachment overtake him as he tired to pin point each of his protégées.

Diana was muddled and scared, which was the usual, Claudia was closed off to him emotionally. This should have puzzled him, however, over the years his attachment to his child has been growing more and more distant. The fact that he could still feel her as a physical being eased him. Paul was panicked and full of fear, he frowned and reached for Alexis. 

'Alexis' he spoke her name in a whisper drawing upon her face and trying to locate her again. As the newest number of his collection, Alexis was only tied faintly by the first exchange of blood and their blood pact. She would be the hardest to locate. Alistair drew upon his own ball of magic, its dark black essence building inside him, the metaphysical portrayal of his power drew claws and roamed its confides with an endless hunger. The sweet memory of drawing from Alexis made it grumble with want, another taste, a lick.

Alistair pushed the urge aside and focused on her location. There was nothing. Nothing....a space as dark and black as the thoughts in his mind and filled with a cold nothing and no one. This was where she should have been through their blood connection. Just a hollow Alexis shaped hole was left.

He drew himself from the bed slowly, groggy from his early rising and the battle of wills against himself. He started to slow draw on a tee shirt over PJ bottoms. If something had happened to her, his future plans were as good as dead. He flung open his bedroom door onto a lamp lit landing. He scanned the hall, drew a breath and gave a shout. 'Taran!'

**

George was numb, Karl was talking to him, his mouth moving slowly, his brow furrowed with worry but to George it was simply white noise and slowed movement as pain overwhelmed him. He had felt the same pain and hollowness when Marianne had died and now, his daughter was gone. The tearing from his heart felt the same. That was all it could be. 

He tried to take in his surroundings but nothing seemed to fill the clawing dread and guilt that claimed him like shadows sweeping across the night. He looked to Karl, his friends eyes red with emotion, he looked to Paul next, his son was crumbled in a heap sobbing while Diana caressed his shoulder. The vampire was watching everyone with wide eyes. George strode to her with purpose. He bent to her level, Claudia shrunk back as he leaned in closer, inches from her face. 

'I know not how in depth your dealings or depravity with Alistair, but as a vampire, I would think that you are either is partner or his sired child.' At the last comment Claudia gave a subtle nod, George then continued to speak. 

'YOU are going to assist us with our enquiries and help us get into Alistair's castle. If not, I will personally keep you captive until your body and mind is weak and on the edge of insanity. Only then will I release you. Set you out into the woods on a wolves full moon and watch with glee as they chase, catch and rip you limb from limb, unleashing pain and suffering upon you. As your master has taken my child, I will take his. This I promise you as a solemn vow.'

** 

Claudia's mind was whirling with emotion, the wizard's cold eyes and colder words had her mind buzzing with thoughts and questions. As he had promised, something shifted across the lands, the trees began a wild breeze as if in agreement and acknowledgement of some agreement. 

The gag in her mouth was wet and soggy. If she had to breathe, she'd be suffocating. She was grateful at least for that small mercy, the fear she now felt made he so uneasy. She eyed her captives with a fearful sense of unfamiliar and detached familiarity.

Firstly, the younger Martinez was being comforted by her Sire's pet. The changer Diana. She had seen the recognition in her eyes when the wolf hoisted her from the ground over his shoulder. They knew who and what each other where. What she was doing here?....then she saw, Diana was comforting Paul, offering gentle comfort and support. 

She had followed him for months on her Sire's orders and now she saw something differently. Diana cared and something inside Claudia rebelled against it. She had felt that way once...needed one person like the air around them. Instead he'd sent himself mad trying to change her into something she couldn't be. Lewis.

His name echoed in her head and with it, something in her gut tightened in loss. She missed him, even after all this time. She wanted to see him for one minute, to tell him how much he'd meant to her. A point she had discussed with Alistair on numerous occasions. Alistair had been the loving, and understanding friend he had always been and told her of Lewis' increasing madness and at the mere mentioned of her name, how it would sent him into crazed episodes.

She remembered her own episodes, times when she had absorbed texts and magic like a sponge, tested and tired all kind of depravity to fill her own emptiness. She had been evil, the things she had done...what both of then had done...what she had wanted to do. It made her shiver with shame and sickness. 

She realized then in that second why she rebelled against what she was seeing. Why she shunned attention and interaction with anyone and everyone. She hated herself and she was jealous of what Diana was doing. Showing her emotions, because somewhere deep inside Claudia she'd shut those feeling off for a while, they made her weak. Only one person saw her...metaphorically speaking, the sad truth was that she had accepted in reality she would probably never see Lewis Jensen Crane again.

**

Jensen sat by her side and stroked her hair, watching in the cave light as the marks on her face and arms faded slowly. She was healing, slowly. He told her tales of his exploits in the ring, of waking up with limbs so sore, he was exhausted and had slept for days. Trying everything to lighten the situation, get a response from her and convince himself that she was ok. That he was ok. In that moment, it was crystal clear. He watched the slow steady rise of her chest, drank in the smooth skin on her cheek, the soft skin in between her eyebrows he'd kissed. He knew without her his new beginning, the fire in his belly would diminish, he loved her. 

Jensen would drive a stake into Alistair heart himself before he'd let someone else he love be corrupted by the poison in that man's body and mind. Alexis would not become what Claudia had, their story had only just begun, he'd be damned if he didn't see it out to the end. 

**

Alistair stood in the sun room, the thick UV protected glass of the windows let in light but without any of the harm. He had yet to modernize the bedroom, he smirked at the errant thought that he'd fuck Alexis in that room and watch the sun light up their skin. His fangs dropped and nicked his bottom lip as he fantasized about her in graphic details. Uneasy that he'd been unable to feel her for a few hours.

As he imagined, playing out a scene, he'd tongue and skim the warm skin of her inner thigh, slowly, he hear her groan until he reach the apex of her thighs, could hear clearly the pounding of the blood in that beautiful purple blue vein. He tensed imagining himself biting through her flesh at that moment, hearing her groan and then shake in orgasmic bliss. 

The door to his study banged opened and Taran interrupted the sweetest moment of the daydream with his heavy breathing. Alistair eyed him with a wild anger.

'WHAT!' He boomed. 

Taran pointed to the window with a shaky hand and pointed a a ragged scar trailing his arm. Alistair knew the wound. Diana had told him in confidence after their first sexual encounter. Taran had been attacked by a shifter and feared them greatly. As he rose with a slow grace and moved to the window, he looked down at the face of the man who knew him best. George Martinez.

'My My' Alistair murmured to himself, 'Today just got interesting.'

**

Alex didn't know where she was, she rose from inside the cave careful expecting to feel pain and soreness from her flying act in the air. Instead, she felt free and light. She noticed then, the torches lining the walls and the clean clothes on her person. She was in a cave but which cave?

'Hello?' Her voice echoed off the walls and bounced back to greet her. 

'Jensen?' Again repeated, this time almost a mocking tone.

The goosebumps on her arm elevated her anxiety. She walked hesitantly further into the mild darkness of the dimly lit cave. Her feet made no sound on the dirt in the floor below her. The key hanging just above her breasts hummed and sang as if excited. Its song a sweet aria of longing making Alexis' feet move subtly faster and faster, until the tunnel of torches blurred by her vision. Her feet numbly running on the dirt gliding without a sound unto a place of the unknown. As this thought occurred the torches rapidly increased in number and then the cave split into a grander room, a room of such splendour that Alex halted in her movement, her rapid breath the filling in the great empty space with its only sounds. 

The room was decorated with elaborate drawing and depictions of something and everything in paints and colours so vibrant, they looked like photographs or exquisite oil paintings come to life. People, places, animals and symbols adhered the stone of every wall, as if telling a story. The ceiling was decorated in in gilded gold and stones, figures, craved with such reality and care, showing angels and demons sparring in graphic illustrations of war. Her brain was overloaded with beauty and sadness. Brutality and joy. Alex stood immobilized by it all.

'It is beautiful little one' 

A soft male voice spoke from her right causing Alex to turn suddenly. To a voice she had not heard in years. As she drank in the kind and loving features of a man she had never dreamed she would see again.

'Papa?' Her voice shook with emotion, her lip trembled as she watched the warmth and love flow from his eyes. Her Grandpa, Grandpa Martinez, how she had missed him, to be suddenly here before her, it was too much and whatever magic or evil it was, at that moment she didn't care.

'Come and give this old man a hug' Grandpa Martinez, opened his arms wide and embraced his granddaughter as she flew into his arms. Hushing her sobs and cries with encouraging words, stroking her hair and rocking her slightly. Telling her how beautiful she had grown. He held her until her sobs quieten and he rocked her gently. 

'How are you here?' Alexis asked quietly into his shirt, breathing in the smell of mint and cigars. Sometimes late at night, she'd sworn she had smelt it in several places at home, sometimes finding herself sitting in his old room and wondering if she was going mad. 

'Your mother sent me.' she looked up at him with wide eyes.

'Really?' Alex wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. 

'Yes little one, she is unhappy with things.' Grandpa offered her a handkerchief and a sad smile.

'What things?' Alex dabbed her eyes.

'Your father, your brother, you getting mixed up in things with that little shit Alistair.'

'Grandpa!' Alex was shocked at hearing him swear. 

'Well! It's true. What was your father thinking! Leaving you alone-'

'He has never initially left me alone Papa' Alex interrupted.

'Maybe neglected would be a more apt description. I'm sorry I left you to them my little one.'

'I was angry at you for a long time Papa.' Alex stared at her hands watching them screw and unscrew the handkerchief. 'You left me alone, so alone.' Alex took a long shaky breath. 'Then I realized we have no control over life, over death. My anger was just part of my grief I suppose.' Alex shrugged. 'Didn't stop me needing my Papa.'

Alex starting to cry. How many times had she visited where he lay in the ground and wished she could speak the truth? When would she have the chance again to release these emotions? 

'Then I'd see you sometimes Papa, in the house, in the garden, but you never spoke to me and I thought I'd done something wrong. The spirits I wanted to notice me, speak to me, never did, they never do. I missed you and I was alone. Why did you leave me?' 

Alex sobbed louder, her voice raising. 'I was so alone! Do you know what its like to be ignored, because you look too much like your mother or because you are not the heir, just the spare?'

Her grandfather grabbed her face, forcing her to look up into the kind blue eyes of the man who made her feel loved and safe as a child. 

'You are not the spare Alexis Martinez, you are my talented, beautiful, graceful, kind granddaughter. You are so loved and full of love. The Wolf, the Mage, half those idiots in the council...even if young men very rare think with their heads. You, my darling are unique and extraordinary. I am sorry my darling girl I left you alone.'

As they stood in silence the faint ringing of angelic bells filled the air and Alex watched her grandfather close his eyes and sigh. 

'I'm sorry little one, time is short.'

'Why are you here?''

'To guide you, help you if I can. Your mother has been chewing my ear off for years about the things your father should have done. Your brother setting you up with Alistair finally-'

At this comment, the bell sounds flew into a frenzy.

'Paul sent me up?' Alex asked in shock, 'But Dominic...'

'I've said too much little one and I'll pay for it later, but you must understand that the need for something in some makes them easier to corrupt and warp to an individuals way of thinking. Alistair certainly achieved it with those too. Your mother is furious and so am I.'

'Why would Paul-'

'I'm sorry little one, but how you deal with that will have to be another time. We need to discuss the stone.' His eyes were grave as he spoke to Alexis.

'I made a pact.'

'I know little one, but you have to listen to me. This stone is dangerous in Alistair's hands, no one will be safe. You need to read the Duke's diary carefully. Things aren't always what they seem, sometimes the first character one reads in a book usually isn't the lead or the hero.'

'What does that mean?'

'Sometimes its best to go back to where it all began. When you find the stone you will have a choice, destroy it or be destroyed. There can be no other way little one. If you fail in this, the world as you know, as it exists, shall be ripped apart from its seams and no magic can undo what shall come to past. Evil will pro veil and coat the green lands of humanity in a darkness that will never lift.'

The sound of bells and thunder sounded in the cave, causing the ground underfoot to vibrate with life. 

'What does that mean Papa??' Alex asked anxiously, 'Papa!' His body started to fade into the darkness, 'Tell me how to destroy it.'

'It means you are more powerful than you know. It means in the end, one of you must choose, to be of the spirits and live a life amid the shadows little one. It means my darling girl, time is ticking away and you must wake up and finish this, NOW!' 

He thrust his hand to her chest and Alex felt a flush of warmth and light overtake her and flood her body and her senses. Alex struggled to breathe. She struggled against it, fought and screamed until exhaustion took her over. 

**

Jensen watched Claude fight sleep, a smirk lifted his spirits as he watched the book slip in Claude's hand and sleep finally claim him. Claude had kept busy while Alexis remained unconscious, talking of nothing of importance, reading that damn Duke's diary, cooking something from a packet in Jensen rucksack and badgering him to eat, until at last Jensen had eaten a bowl of something that resembled a soup and chewed something crispy like bread. 

The cave was eerily silent, the odd crackle of the fire or a whirl of wind catching on the stone around them. Jensen took this time to reflect upon things about himself and always came to the same conclusion. He was a fucked up individual. He looked at Alexis and wished he was a better man, one untainted by emotional shit, of an emotional stunted set of parents and a psychopathic brother.

A man who didn't feel the need to kick the shit out of everything around him, to destroy things to feel relief. Expect, since Alex has come into his life, his outbursts hadn't been that many. While his power grew stronger each day, his inner magic finally seemed to be settling to to his centre. 

He'd hurt her, he knew this, with his own hands and his words. The regret he felt when he looked at her, now, sleeping before him made him sick. But compared to what he had been in those mad years before and during his time in Alistair's house of horrors, the change and progress in him, shocked him. He no longer had black spots in his memory and things popped into his head daily as if pieces of the jigsaw had been found and were coming together.

A murmur of something drew him from his thoughts. Alex made more sounds and frowned. She opened her eyes and looked up confused at Jensen's face hoovering above her.

'Hello Beautiful' Jensen spoke gruffly as a feeling of relief and happiness assaulted him. He lifted her gently and drew her into his lap, smelling her hair and kissing her neck. 

Alex murmured something else. 'What Beautiful? Tell me what you need.'

'W-water' she gasped. Jensen gripped her around her waist, positioning her on his legs and used his right hand to scramble around her back pack, pulling out a plastic bottle with sports cap, he pulled it open with his teeth and offered her small tentative sips. 

'Better?' he asked after catering to her a handful of times. Alexis nodded and looked at him intently.

'I am so in love with you' Jensen uttered the words without a another thought, he wouldn't lose her. After chasing after her and watching her suffer and in pain. As fucked up as he was, he had to let her know.

'Jensen-' Alex touched his face with a shaky hand, 'I-I....'

'You had every right too leave.' Jensen shook his head, 'I said some hurtful things to you and Claude. Its been a long time since someone has touched me like you have.' He let out a laugh, 'I mean that on ALL levels.'

Alex laughed and winced before settling her head to his chest, 'Don't make me laugh too much, I'm still a little sore. But I love you too crazy Mage man.'

Jensen held his breathe as she settled against his chest, letting out a sigh. He looked around the room and caught Claude watching him intently. His sad smile only made Jensen fell uneasy. As if sensing his uneasy, Claude stood. 'How about something to eat for the patient?' 

**



Amid The Shadows Ch. 16



George stared at the opulence of the building, taking in the design and never ending windows on every floor.

While this place emitted the sense of luxurious, it left George cold and uneasy. He could feel eyes watching him. A sixth sense awakening in him. 

How far he'd journeyed away from Alistair in the last few decades, thoughts of Alistair still plagued him through the years and now he stood here, ready to revisit where the division between them began. A man closer to him than any other who knew him better than anyone...a long time ago anyway. 

As George looked closer, he could see the magic buzzing around the outer perimeter. Humming and floating around as minute particles in the air. If anyone came upon this fortress he was sure they would not even notice the sickly evil stench that clung to the grey craved walls. 

The blue skies of earlier had long since disappeared leaving a dull dark gathering of cloud, darkness was falling quickly, George hadn't realized so much time had passed, but the sun was now a orange flame spread across the far horizon, threatening to be ousted by the clouds like a blanket. 

Karl touched him arm, his eyes had shifted to a glowing yellow of the animal within. 

'Is he doing this?' Karl asked in a deep rumble.

George scanned the windows and locked onto the lone figure on the second floor. He smiled menacingly. 

'It would appear that our visit was a little too early for Alistair. He's speeding things on a little.' George murmured.

'He can change time?'

'No one is that powerful, but the effects of being on his playing ground means he can fast forward or rewind. Remember when we came through, there was a distinct change of time. It takes a great deal of power to maintain, for even a few moments.'

Diana stepped forward, carefully not to meet the wolf's eyes. She spoke in a clear and careful way. 'Massster isss at hisss peak in power asss darknesss fallsss. The body may awaken through the daylight on occasssion but when one becomesss the other he can draw power from that around him.'

'This is a trap. We shouldn't be here' Paul voiced his concern from the back of the group, his eyes fixed on the large arched wooden door, signaling the traditional entrance.

George spun to face him, 'Come now, all those secret meetings with him, all though times telling tales and spilling secrets. Surely you have some idea of his nature. His character I thought I knew, many years ago. While us finding him maybe a slight surprise, he is a master of strategic planning and execution. He has already thought of a hand full of ways to divide us, kill us or worse. I for one will no longer live in fear of him!' George pointed to the window with a strong arm. 'A man who has killed my daughter and turned you into something I don't even recognize.'

'We don't know she is dead fath-' Paul began in a soft tone.

'You felt your heart trying to fight its way from your chest? You felt the curl and pull of magic, a hollow place now where your magic lives like something was no longer attached?'

Paul opened his mouth to speak and closed it just as quick. 

'I don't want to believe she is dead Paul, the regret of feel, things not said and done. I no longer feel Alexis in my heart. Your sister is no longer a presence, her magic is no longer connected to my own, in the way any father or parent is with their child until the marriage ceremony of our people or death breaks it. Alistair Wentworth must pay for his crimes, I will be his judge, his jury and his death.'

George closed his eyes and threw his arms out wide. He felt the wind rise around him as he called upon a power inside himself that had too long been a sleeping lion. He felt the lion awaken and the claws of power inside him stretch and flex. His muscles felt anew, his limbs limber and light. 

'I am coming for you.' He whispered to the vacated window. 

Karl watched the transformation take over his friend. While his appearance was the same, his height the same, George Martinez seemed to grow. The wind whipped around the trees and glass in the castle before the shook in its frames. George was drawing upon the earth and all its elements to gather power. Karl felt his wolf snarl in response, he too wanted a piece of the creature inside the walls. He dropped the parcel to the floor and pulled the gag from her mouth and the sliver from her wrists, ignoring her cries of agony. 

'I may not need you after all blood sucker.'

As Claudia tried to recover from the shock at her wounds, Karl grabbed the trunk of an aged oak by the edge of a gravel path. His hands skimmed the bark and settled on branch, so thick in width, his hand would not close around it. He snapped it with an animalistic roar and threw it down to the ground. His gripped Claudia's arm and thrust her on to the protruding article, now more of a hanging stump.

Diana screamed as Claudia's slight frame was thrust on the broken branch. Her mid rift was now a mass of red and ripped cloth as the tree's jagged edges, now blood soaked, were visible through her body, where once her stomach had been located. Claudia's cries and screams of agony filled the air carrying on the wind. Karl felt his face partially shift and let out a gleeful howl into the coming night. 

George watched the scene, detached and cold. He threw his magic towards the door. The spells and charms protecting its entrance groaned in disagreement.

George uttered 'I un llamamiento a los ancianos de mi línea para abrir este camino'

The door groaned again and beveled with the weight. George spoke clearly, 'I call upon the ancients of my line to open the way.'

The door blew from its hinges, wood and metal splintering across the gravel, a mist of tiny wooden chips filling the air. George turned to the vampire suspended against the tree. 

'You are very astute; you made your way into my home and bypassed a security of wolves.'

At this comment Karl growled.

'So tell me baby vampire, what should expect from inside these walls?'

George waited impatiently for a response, the vampire shuddered, crimson stained white teeth and fang and a single stream dripped down her chin. 'I will tell you nothing!' Claudia cried, spraying the air in front of her face with pink spit. 

George flew forward enraged and gripped her chin, his body hovered above the floor. The wind around them howled, stray leaves and grass gathering momentum around them. 

'You think you'll be of any use to him when I'm finished? He will feel your pain but nothing will compare to when you feel his death.'

Claudia whaled in pain, 'He is not the reason I'm...' I'm...' her voice abruptly cut off as the tree swayed caused her body to jolt against the bark.

George dropped to the floor Joined by Karl, Paul and Diana. 

Karl rolled up his sleeves, 'How do you want to do this?'

George viewed the door and darkened hallway ahead, 'Well the element of surprise is screwed, He now knows we are here. Let us work with what we have. Diana is the most familiar with the layout, she will accompany me. I need you and Paul to hunt inside. I need to know if Alexis was or is inside there.'

Karl, nodded, 'What if we find anyone else? Do we take prisoners or hostages?'

George pursed his lips in thought, 'Ask about Alexis or Alistair's plans, use whatever means necessary. Alistair is mine.'

Diana spoke first, 'The main protection on the property are the wardsss on the outer line. There will be other sssurprises in the house, they will be a sssmell to alert you to anything activated. ' 

Paul interjected and touched her face, 'If you come across him, you run Diana, I will not lose you as well.'

Diana smiled and grabbed him quickly. They kissed fiercely for a moment before Diana pulled away. She pointed to a window on the ground floor. 'That isss an armory, The Massster likesss to keep a full range of everything. I think thisss isss our first ssstop.'

Karl frowned in thought, 'Into the lion's den.' He murmured to no one in particular.

**

Jensen looked down to see if Alex wanted food to find she had drifted back into a slumber, he carefully laid her against his pack and covered her with his jacket. 

Four large strides and he was with Claude watching the older man fuss over small tin bowls and packets of dried soup,

'What the hell is going on?' Jensen questioned in a whisper.

'Apart from the fact we are in a cave, in the side of a mountain, looking for a stone from the depths of hell?' Claude looked at him incredulously, 'Why dear boy, absolutely nothing!' Claude let out an ill placed laugh. 

'You know damn well that is not what I mean, you saw something, I saw it on your face when Alex woke up,'

'It is not for me to tell you someone else's experiences.'

'Bullshit, Claude, if this could hurt Alex-'

'It is not just Alexis who could get hurt through this!' Claude dropped the spoon he was holding and it clattered loudly against the tin bowl, echoing around the walls. 

Jensen gripped his shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. 'I know you feel some guilt about how things happened between me and Alistair but Claude, anything here, any snippet of information may be able to help us in some way. I want to be free of him, if this crusade is what it takes, I'll do it, for me and for Alex.'

Claude sighed and turned quickly embracing Jensen in a hug that surprised them both in its intensity.

Claude pulled back, uncertainly running through his veins as he spoke clearly,

'Alex dreamed of a relative, her grandfather actually, Martinez Senior. A strong character, I knew him briefly through council meetings for the ESNC and charity functions a life time ago. He was powerful, well respected man, and always firm but fair.' Claude waved a hand at Jensen expression,

'I digress, he discussed some personally matters with Alexis, I caught snippets of this and that, she was projecting herself very loudly. My ears are still ringing from the aftermath. Did you know she had a brother, a twin?'

Jensen snorted, 'I may have been locked in chamber for a while but I'm not complete cut off from the world. Alex and I do talk as well as...' he trailed off. 

Claude smiled, 'Yes well, it would appear that Paul, the brother, played an absolute trump and helped have Alex delivered to your brother.'

Jensen frowned, 'When we first met she was speaking with another Wizard, Dominic. I assumed it was him. But the brother?' Jensen ran a hand through his hair. 

'So it would seem.' Claude picked up a bowl and took a tentative sip of steaming liquid.

'He's working with Alistair then?' Jensen glanced at Alex's sleeping form,

'What drives a brother to do something like th-' Claude cut off a beginning of a rant and met Jensen's stare. Suddenly the words unsaid hung in the air. Claude's eyes fell on a scar on Jensen's arm.'What I'm trying to say is that she too now has some idea of the betrayal of a brother.' 

Jensen cleared his throat uncomfortably, 'What else happened?'

'Nothing too clear, the odd word here and there about the stone, and feelings, strong emotions. So much I felt I was choking on it.' Claude rubbed his neck with a hand. 'A sense of loneliness, anger and then it erupted and then quickly over.'

'Did this relative give any clue as to where we go from here?' 

'I think this cave leads somewhere, I've tried to read the Duke's diary again, but nothing springs to mind, 

I'd like for all of us to read what we can, many hands and all that. I feel we are not using Alexis' power in the right way; so far her experiences have been of the negative.' 

Claude set down his bowl and moved to his rucksack, riffling through he pulled out the blue binded book he'd given to Jensen on their departure. 'I think some practicing of the exercises in this book could aid us in speaking to the right people. Well, people is probably the wrong word.'

Jensen eyed the book with suspicion. 'If this is something to do with the shit that Isabella was sprouting about the fates and destiny bring us together, I don't want to hear it,'

'Lewis you have to believe there are things out of our control. Do you honestly think things just happen?'

'I believe we make our own fate.' Jensen held out his palm, a small cascade of light flew from its centre a mixture of glowing and evolving shades of greens and yellows, morphing in size and shape until it settled into an odd formed sphere. It lightly flew around the cave edge and return to his palm, as he closed his fingers slowly the ball grew smaller and dimmer and finally was gone.

'My power is busting at the seams Claude, it was bubbling away but now it feels like a building volcano. Alex has helped me, when I healed her I find an outlet to control the overflow. I'm not saying that being her personal band aid is a good idea, but every time I am I gain a little more control over myself. Being with her helps me. She heals me.'

'So as long as Alexis keeps blinding using her own gifts and getting hurt and you get to heal her, you're ok with that?'

'No! I'm being clear.' Jensen moved the cave wall and drew his fingers across the jagged rock, 'I have a connection to her, regardless of the feelings we have for each other, You may think I'm crazy and a little displaced. Being in someone's torture cell for a while could warp a man, but nothing will stand in the way of my future with Alex. No more will I bent to other's will Claude. For once I'm going to be selfish.'

'Jensen, this journey is not over yet, many turns and roads could lead in different directions, when this is over, that is the time to be selfish. That stone in your brother's hand will mean the end of things as they are now. If you thought he was corrupted before imagine him with an item that can draw and dispel power, he will be invincible.'

'We don't know for sure what the stone will do.' Jensen murmured,

'Read this and then we'll talk again.' Claude handed Jensen a second book, the duke's diary. 

**

George strapped the knives to his ribs and stopped at the armory door, Paul was murmuring something to Diana and Karl was scoping the inside of the hallway for anything and everything.

'The place smells like a whore's handbag' Karl grunted and took a breath, 'Perfumes covering the scent of old fear, blood and....' Karl stopped dead and swung to a room on this right and kicked open a door. The poor thing burst open in apology for just being there.

Karl scented the room slowly. He moved like lighting, George following behind. Karl jumped with the grace of a cat onto a claret coloured velvet sofa. He pressed his nose against the velvet and whined. George watched in amazement. It wasn't often it got to see the wolf so close to the surface in his friend. As much as he believed his friend to be the same as himself, the magic and ferocious nature of the wolf always lurked under the expensive suits, covered like a veil by the shirts and cuff links of the business man persona he decorated himself with.

Karl raised his lip, 'She was here George, the scent is a good three days old, but she sat here and bled here.' He pointed a finger to the back cushion. 'Here, a small drop of her blood. Old blood.'

'You sure?'

'I know her smell anywhere.' Karl sighed. 'Her scent is all over here and...' Karl jumped over the furnishings and strode to the wall by the fireplace with the grace of a gymnast 'here, she stood here, scared and unsure.'

'How can you be so sure?' Paul asked from the door way.

'She felt that way once before, when her papa passed. Smells like burning candy floss, sweet but smoky. There are other smells George, only one other is familiar.' Karl paused to be sure, but it was there again and turned to Paul. 'You never came here did you?' 

Paul shook his head, 'Just the place in town, a few bars and a restaurant.'

'Diana?' Karl spoke her directly, her eyes widening with the interaction, 'I may need to you identify some people.'

'What if I cannot?' She answered, sticking out her chin,

'You will.' Karl looked back to George, 'Dominic was here also, more recently. From the concentrated scent on this rug' Karl bent and touched his finger tips to the fabric, 'He's dead or Alistair made another child.'

'Dominic was supposed to be in the car that collected Alexis for the fund raiser, she was to collect him on the way.' George widened his eyes.

'He was supposed to hand her over, that was it.' Paul whispered.

'Massster had many a meeting with the wannabe wizard, He wanted money and posssition.' Diana gripped Paul's arm. 'We cannot wassste more time.'

'No, you cannot.' Boomed a voice as an impeccably dressed figure entered the room.

All eyes fell on Alistair Wentworth as he made his way into the study at a leisurely pace, dressed in a dark grey suit with navy shirt and matching tie, he paused briefly to eye George.

'My My the years have not been kind to you old friend.' Alistair chuckled to himself as he moved to a drinks cabinet. He purposely turned his back as he opened the doors and poured a large glass of brandy. He took a sip and let out a smug sigh. He turned back to audience, watching their body language, coiled like springs and ready to go. 

'I don't remember inviting you to visit Georgie and bringing friends,' He looked to the wolf purposely, 'Is not good etiquette, what would Marianne say? tut tut.'

'Do not speak her name!' George fumed, clenching his fists.

'Marianne, Marianne, Marianne!' He answered in a sing song voice. 'Still just words Georgie.' He taunted.

George let rip with a cry, sending a bolt of blue towards the man who had once been as close as a brother. The bolt hit him square in the chest, the glass Alistair held fell and dark liquid smashing and spilling over a writing desk by the window.

Alistair hunched over momentarily, as he rose to a standing position once more, a large hole was visible through his navy shirt and a large piece of the tie hung by a single thread. As he straightened, he pulled at the fabric, scrunched it in his hand and let it fall to the floor. The wound on his chest was angry, skin was burned and smoldered revealing muscle and tendons torn from his rib cage and chest. As the others stared at him, the muscle knitted together almost instantly, skin stretched to leave an inflamed pink area of skin behind in a matter of minutes. 

'I let you have the first hit George, be warned everything after that will be met.'

'I expect nothing less from you.' George replied, 'Where is my daughter?'

'Why would I know...' Alistair paused as his eyes fixed on Paul, 'Ah it all becomes clear.'

'Leave my son out of this Alistair.' George widened his stance preparing for attack. 

'But he is why we are here, is int that right Paul?' Alistair smoothed his hands down his suit jacket, taking a handkerchief from his pocket he wiped his hands and discarded the article on the desk. In a mocking voice he continued, 'My father is stifling, he has no vision, my sister is the golden child and some other rubbish. 'A few choice words here and there to the right people and your power hungry son was ready to hand over his sibling for more of what I can offer.'

'What you can offer? George snorted, 'Don't make me laugh Alistair, you have never once worked for anything in you life, you have minions doing your dirty work, making them collateral damage while you walk away without a backward glance. I knew it, so did Marianne and Lewis. Marianne and I had the good sense to leave you but Lewis remained your lapdog.' 

'The funny thing is George, you have no idea of her potential do you? Paul was right Alexis is special, she tastes exquisite.' He shuddered at the memory.'Your neglect of your own child means you really know nothing about her, her loneliness called to me, her power, beauty, she would make a wonderful vampire and a wonderful bed partner.'




Amid The Shadows Ch. 16



Alistair launched himself at George in a flush of action. He fell upon him in a rage, his hands forming talons, going for George's neck. As they hit the floor however, George rolled into a ball on his back, a talon catching his neck slightly with a surface wound as his knees connected with Alistair chest. The vampire let out a grunt as George's fist flew to connect with his jaw. Alistair let out an inhuman cry of anger as George rolled to his feet. He threw out his hand muttering a few words in spanish and calling upon his inner magic, blasting Alistair back into a wooden bookcase, George turned to Karl. 

'Go, find Dominic or anyone else who may have seen or heard anything. I'll hold him back and inflict as much as I can. Make everyone pick up weapons from the armory, be quick. We won't have long.' 

Karl nodded and set off in a light jog knowing that Paul and Diana Followed. Karl took the steps two at a time up the stair case following the faint scent of a wizard, he skidded to a Holt on the landing, stopping before a huge portrait, the scent of fear almost hidden behind its canvas. Karl grabbed it with one hand and yanked it from the wall revealing a step of steps heading downwards. 

He followed the stone steps, his own movements echoing of the walls. as he descended another 10 steps he spied the door before him, an old wooden door and something so bizarre, an electronic keypad beside it. If there was something he hated more than vampires it was technology. The memory of Alexis giving him a mobile phone popped into his head. 

It had been a Sunday afternoon, George was away fro the weekend and have his security team had gone with him. Skeleton staff patrolled the grounds and he and Alex ha made full use of an empty house. He remembered the smell of her shampoo and he crept into the kitchen on silent feet, catching her wrapped a small box. 

He growled into her ear, swinging her round with ease, chuckling as her bare arse, barely covered by his t-shirt hit the cool counter top and she cried out in surprise.

'You horrible, horrible man.' She laughed.

'Guilty' He moved a hand up her thigh and squeezed. 'What are you wrapping?'

'Its a surprise actually, for you.' She picked up the item and held it our expectant.

Karl had never really been the kind of child to be given gifts, in his pack you worked for what you had. He examined the box with a gently hand. Alex learnt forward and kissed his cheek. 

'Open it.' 

Karl had pulled away the paper and examined the box. He looked at the picture and looked to Alex eyebrow raised. 'Its a phone.'

Alex rolled her eyes, 'Its a new phone, yours in so old it should only be used to prop open doors. This one actually takes pictures.'

She took the box and opened it, it was already switched on. She slipped off the counter and held it out to him, 'Green to answer, red to cancel or end.'

He took it and examined the thing, turning it over in his hand.It was light but looked better than his that was for sure. Before he could comment on anything else it started to ring in his hand, The Rolling Stones 'Paint it Black' brought the the thing to life and it vibrated in his palm. The image that popped up nearly gave him a heart attack. Alex mentioned it took pictures. He turned to see her, phone to her ear, the t-shirt she had on before falling to the ground.

'Is better on a picture or in real life?' 

Before he could answer, Alex ended the call and ran for the stairs. They'd made love on those stairs and afterwards the lay in a heap of limbs on her bed as she ran through a brief how too of how to use his shinny new toy.

Karl's mind flashed to the key pad before him as he stepped forward, he thumped the thing with his fist and watched it crumb before him whining a strange strangled electrical sound. The door bleeped open.