Everlasting: The Truth
-1-
Two weeks later, near the end of September
Cade peered down the cracked and dirty red-tiled steps from where he stood in the doorway of a door that didn't exist in the Real World. The tiled steps ended at a small landing that was lit by sunlight filtering in through a ground-floor window of the cemetery outside. The window actually only exited in the Reverie, while the cemetery belonged in the mortal world. It was hot outside, being September in the south, and even hotter inside the building. Cade thought the Secret World could at least be climate controlled. But he didn't want to take off his light jacket which was concealing the gun tucked against his lower back. He also carried a knife in a special sheath up his jacket sleeve.
Kira wiped the perspiration from her forehead and nudged past Cade to look inside as his broad shoulders were nearly taking up the width of the doorway. She held one of the missing items in her hand, a small metal figure that belonged to Jakob. At first they'd found the figurine next to a wall, but soon that ordinary wall revealed a door so old that it couldn't possibly have belonged in the modern world. Or the Real World.
And it didn't.
It belonged in the Reverie.
“Why are we doing this again?” Cade asked casually, knowing his destiny lay down those steps. At least his destiny for the rest of this particularly unspectacular day. Part of him wondered how he'd gone from top notch demon hunter to amateur detective for the everlasting immortals.
“Because you and I agreed to try to earn some of our own money,” Kira replied, placing a foot gingerly on the first step to make sure it was real.
It was.
“Right,” Cade acknowledged. “I can't use my fake credit cards in a city I'm actually living in, and you feel guilty taking so much from Ryan. So, yay, lucky us. We now get to do freaky jobs for the equally freaky eldritch.”
“Hey,” Kira protested as she and Cade reached the first landing, and possibly their last ray of sunlight from either world as they studied the second set of steps that lead into darkness, “it beats anything else we could get with no experience or references or formal education,” she reminded him.
Cade frowned slightly. "I happen to have a great deal of experience and education," he insisted.
Kira shook her head. "Yeah, and how many help wanted ads do you see for demon hunter or crazy girl with amnesia that actually pay money," she retorted.
Truth be told, it was possible that several of the eldritch that they knew could simply give them jobs, but that was nearly the same thing as simply taking money from them. Cade and Kira had at least thought they ought to try on their own, or rather Kira had. Cade went along to be supportive.
"Fine, whatever," Cade huffed. "Let's get this over with then. I want to end this day with a drink in my hand and a...," he paused. He thought better of saying 'a hot woman in my bed' in front of Kira. It just didn't seem right so he trailed off and said nothing.
Kira passed two small alcoves adorned with colored tiles on the outside ledge. She didn't want to look too closely at what might be inside the shadows. Her own gun, which also rested against her lower back half inside the waist of her jeans, was only slightly comforting. The black vest she wore over her gray top covered the weapon. She didn't usually like to carry hers during the day even though they both had permits to carry. Whether they were legit or not-- Cade had claimed he couldn't tell--, Ryan had produced the permits from somewhere. Being a city detective who also was an immortal who knew how to acquire fake documents, Ryan could be trusted to at least obtain real-looking permits.
They flicked on their flashlights and walked side-by-side down the steps. “But Ryan isn't too thrilled about this whole working thing," Cade reminded Kira.
“Yeah, whatever,” the girl next to him replied, almost echoing his reaction to her. “He'll get over it. It's not going to interfere with our training or the fight against the Death Knell.”
Cade grinned. He loved it when Kira treated Ryan like he really was her uncle, instead of a probably thousands year old gargoyle in human form. However, it was still strange to hear references to this Death Knell they were now fighting together: the danger from demons, supernatural threats, and even alien abominations was all too real. The burden to protect had fallen to the eldritch to guard their dominions in the Real World—and the mortals who resided there—as well as the Secret World against these evil, horrifying threats.
The pair's flashlights played around on the cut stone walls of the as-previously-unknown-to-them area of the cemetery. Located in almost the center of the city, between the French Quarter to the southeast and the University District to the northwest, the cemetery was old, but this underground passage was ancient. And definitely not in the Real World. Jakob, an occult shop owner, who also happened to be an immortal bear manitou spirit, had been the victim of what he said were teenagers who'd stolen from his store. He'd chased the thieves to the cemetery but lost them there. When Kira and Cade found out a short while ago, they offered to go have a look around. Knowing they were looking for ways to make money, the older African American man had offered to hire them to investigate for him.
When they'd found the metal figure abandoned against the wall, stupid teenagers had seemed to be the answer. But when the door appeared, Kira and Cade had decided to check things out further. They didn't know if the teenagers had noticed the door and gone inside or ran away, or if the door had nothing at all to do with the theft. Whatever the case, the young demon hunting pair had felt it their duty to investigate.
Cade peered down the cracked and dirty red-tiled steps from where he stood in the doorway of a door that didn't exist in the Real World. The tiled steps ended at a small landing that was lit by sunlight filtering in through a ground-floor window of the cemetery outside. The window actually only exited in the Reverie, while the cemetery belonged in the mortal world. It was hot outside, being September in the south, and even hotter inside the building. Cade thought the Secret World could at least be climate controlled. But he didn't want to take off his light jacket which was concealing the gun tucked against his lower back. He also carried a knife in a special sheath up his jacket sleeve.
Kira wiped the perspiration from her forehead and nudged past Cade to look inside as his broad shoulders were nearly taking up the width of the doorway. She held one of the missing items in her hand, a small metal figure that belonged to Jakob. At first they'd found the figurine next to a wall, but soon that ordinary wall revealed a door so old that it couldn't possibly have belonged in the modern world. Or the Real World.
And it didn't.
It belonged in the Reverie.
“Why are we doing this again?” Cade asked casually, knowing his destiny lay down those steps. At least his destiny for the rest of this particularly unspectacular day. Part of him wondered how he'd gone from top notch demon hunter to amateur detective for the everlasting immortals.
“Because you and I agreed to try to earn some of our own money,” Kira replied, placing a foot gingerly on the first step to make sure it was real.
It was.
“Right,” Cade acknowledged. “I can't use my fake credit cards in a city I'm actually living in, and you feel guilty taking so much from Ryan. So, yay, lucky us. We now get to do freaky jobs for the equally freaky eldritch.”
“Hey,” Kira protested as she and Cade reached the first landing, and possibly their last ray of sunlight from either world as they studied the second set of steps that lead into darkness, “it beats anything else we could get with no experience or references or formal education,” she reminded him.
Cade frowned slightly. "I happen to have a great deal of experience and education," he insisted.
Kira shook her head. "Yeah, and how many help wanted ads do you see for demon hunter or crazy girl with amnesia that actually pay money," she retorted.
Truth be told, it was possible that several of the eldritch that they knew could simply give them jobs, but that was nearly the same thing as simply taking money from them. Cade and Kira had at least thought they ought to try on their own, or rather Kira had. Cade went along to be supportive.
"Fine, whatever," Cade huffed. "Let's get this over with then. I want to end this day with a drink in my hand and a...," he paused. He thought better of saying 'a hot woman in my bed' in front of Kira. It just didn't seem right so he trailed off and said nothing.
Kira passed two small alcoves adorned with colored tiles on the outside ledge. She didn't want to look too closely at what might be inside the shadows. Her own gun, which also rested against her lower back half inside the waist of her jeans, was only slightly comforting. The black vest she wore over her gray top covered the weapon. She didn't usually like to carry hers during the day even though they both had permits to carry. Whether they were legit or not-- Cade had claimed he couldn't tell--, Ryan had produced the permits from somewhere. Being a city detective who also was an immortal who knew how to acquire fake documents, Ryan could be trusted to at least obtain real-looking permits.
They flicked on their flashlights and walked side-by-side down the steps. “But Ryan isn't too thrilled about this whole working thing," Cade reminded Kira.
“Yeah, whatever,” the girl next to him replied, almost echoing his reaction to her. “He'll get over it. It's not going to interfere with our training or the fight against the Death Knell.”
Cade grinned. He loved it when Kira treated Ryan like he really was her uncle, instead of a probably thousands year old gargoyle in human form. However, it was still strange to hear references to this Death Knell they were now fighting together: the danger from demons, supernatural threats, and even alien abominations was all too real. The burden to protect had fallen to the eldritch to guard their dominions in the Real World—and the mortals who resided there—as well as the Secret World against these evil, horrifying threats.
The pair's flashlights played around on the cut stone walls of the as-previously-unknown-to-them area of the cemetery. Located in almost the center of the city, between the French Quarter to the southeast and the University District to the northwest, the cemetery was old, but this underground passage was ancient. And definitely not in the Real World. Jakob, an occult shop owner, who also happened to be an immortal bear manitou spirit, had been the victim of what he said were teenagers who'd stolen from his store. He'd chased the thieves to the cemetery but lost them there. When Kira and Cade found out a short while ago, they offered to go have a look around. Knowing they were looking for ways to make money, the older African American man had offered to hire them to investigate for him.
When they'd found the metal figure abandoned against the wall, stupid teenagers had seemed to be the answer. But when the door appeared, Kira and Cade had decided to check things out further. They didn't know if the teenagers had noticed the door and gone inside or ran away, or if the door had nothing at all to do with the theft. Whatever the case, the young demon hunting pair had felt it their duty to investigate.
As they stopped in the middle of the tunnel with two possible directions, they thought about which way to go. Two steps lined the three sides of the passage way, blue and white tiles laid down for a short distance either way. Ahead of them was a deep alcove faintly lit by lights at ceiling level, while to either side were large rectangular tunnels.
“I hate to ask this,” Cade said, lowering his voice, “but what's powering the lights there, and what's the blue glow down both of the tunnels?”
The thought of how Cade's low voice would have vibrated through his chest suddenly skipped across Kira's mind before it vanished, leaving her blushing in the darkness as she stood close to him. Kira refocused her mind and sighed. They could be getting in deeper here than either of them realized. She wondered if they should head back out.
“You know, anything could be down here,” she suggested, glancing up at Cade through the shadows. His strong jaw line always gave her confidence as to his skills as a hunter. He was tough, strong, and made for this life. “Like ghuls.”
She saw his eyes scan the dimly lit area around them and nod.
“The immortal un-dead who consume raw, dead flesh to maintain their condition or else they degenerate into nothing more than monsters no smarter than dogs,” Cade said, remembering his recent studies.
“Some dogs are pretty smart, though,” Kira remarked.
“True,” Cade agreed. “Then there's always orcs.”
Kira shuddered. She'd never forget the orc attack on her that led her into this whole new, crazy life of hers. They were smelly, primitive, and horrendously ugly creatures. She took a small step toward Cade. “Who would have thought there was really an ancient race of humanoid creatures that were actually created by three mad and evil wizards on another world?”
“Yeah,” Cade said, glancing back the way they'd come. “Imagine that. An expendable army of darkness and evil. You'd think that only existed in the movies. Like demons.”
“Oh, shut up,” Kira said, getting the point that they had to believe in all things impossible now. “At least it won't be drow, probably. They live more under the center of the French Quarter, not way out here,” she said as confidently as she could.
“Well, that's good to know. Dark and dangerous elves with questionable morals and service to demons, no thanks,” Cade commented. He brushed up against Kira's arm, noticing she didn't move away. “What about reanimates? Do they live underground?” he asked.
Kira thought for a moment about fleshfreaks, deathmechs, and golems. She shrugged. “I'm not sure. Being pieced together from different body parts, or machines, would make it hard to live among humans.”
“Maybe they stay with their Dr. Frankensteins,” Cade said with an inner shudder. The things he'd been learning were enough to freak anyone out. Demons had been freaking bad enough, but the immortal races that existed were literally mindboggling.
“Well, let's pretend they don't,” Kira suggested. “Live underground, I mean. What about dwarves?”
Cade shook his head. “I'm pretty sure they prefer to be out under mountains or open ground in caves and caverns, not places so closed in,” he said. “Besides this place is too drab and dreary for them.”
“Oh right. They love their shiny metals and gems, huh?” Kira remembered. Then said, “Dragons?”
Cade noticed a slightly lilt in his partner's voice. He knew she had a fondness for the supposedly mythical creatures. He shrugged. “According to our lessons, if there are any around, they're keeping themselves well hidden. Even Ryan said it had been centuries since he'd seen a real dragon.”
Kira felt a slight disappointment inside, then shook it off. She absently fingered the dragon pendant that hung from the chain around her neck, the one Cade had given her recently.
“Last one,” Cade remarked. “Revenants?”
“Dead souls clothed in flesh,” Kira whispered, “who drain the lifeforce from humans to survive.”
“Vampires without fangs,” Cade remarked with a grimace. His fervent non-love of the blood suckers was no secret, even if Cassandra, Sebastian, and the other Tantalusi vampires had helped save him and Kira from the wer. However, it had been the vampires' fault that they'd been there in the first place!
“Disgusting, corpse-stealing...,” Cade began as Kira slapped him in the chest. “OW! Really?”
“Okay, now that I'm seriously freaked out, what the hell are we doing down here?” she asked sensibly.
“I hate to ask this,” Cade said, lowering his voice, “but what's powering the lights there, and what's the blue glow down both of the tunnels?”
The thought of how Cade's low voice would have vibrated through his chest suddenly skipped across Kira's mind before it vanished, leaving her blushing in the darkness as she stood close to him. Kira refocused her mind and sighed. They could be getting in deeper here than either of them realized. She wondered if they should head back out.
“You know, anything could be down here,” she suggested, glancing up at Cade through the shadows. His strong jaw line always gave her confidence as to his skills as a hunter. He was tough, strong, and made for this life. “Like ghuls.”
She saw his eyes scan the dimly lit area around them and nod.
“The immortal un-dead who consume raw, dead flesh to maintain their condition or else they degenerate into nothing more than monsters no smarter than dogs,” Cade said, remembering his recent studies.
“Some dogs are pretty smart, though,” Kira remarked.
“True,” Cade agreed. “Then there's always orcs.”
Kira shuddered. She'd never forget the orc attack on her that led her into this whole new, crazy life of hers. They were smelly, primitive, and horrendously ugly creatures. She took a small step toward Cade. “Who would have thought there was really an ancient race of humanoid creatures that were actually created by three mad and evil wizards on another world?”
“Yeah,” Cade said, glancing back the way they'd come. “Imagine that. An expendable army of darkness and evil. You'd think that only existed in the movies. Like demons.”
“Oh, shut up,” Kira said, getting the point that they had to believe in all things impossible now. “At least it won't be drow, probably. They live more under the center of the French Quarter, not way out here,” she said as confidently as she could.
“Well, that's good to know. Dark and dangerous elves with questionable morals and service to demons, no thanks,” Cade commented. He brushed up against Kira's arm, noticing she didn't move away. “What about reanimates? Do they live underground?” he asked.
Kira thought for a moment about fleshfreaks, deathmechs, and golems. She shrugged. “I'm not sure. Being pieced together from different body parts, or machines, would make it hard to live among humans.”
“Maybe they stay with their Dr. Frankensteins,” Cade said with an inner shudder. The things he'd been learning were enough to freak anyone out. Demons had been freaking bad enough, but the immortal races that existed were literally mindboggling.
“Well, let's pretend they don't,” Kira suggested. “Live underground, I mean. What about dwarves?”
Cade shook his head. “I'm pretty sure they prefer to be out under mountains or open ground in caves and caverns, not places so closed in,” he said. “Besides this place is too drab and dreary for them.”
“Oh right. They love their shiny metals and gems, huh?” Kira remembered. Then said, “Dragons?”
Cade noticed a slightly lilt in his partner's voice. He knew she had a fondness for the supposedly mythical creatures. He shrugged. “According to our lessons, if there are any around, they're keeping themselves well hidden. Even Ryan said it had been centuries since he'd seen a real dragon.”
Kira felt a slight disappointment inside, then shook it off. She absently fingered the dragon pendant that hung from the chain around her neck, the one Cade had given her recently.
“Last one,” Cade remarked. “Revenants?”
“Dead souls clothed in flesh,” Kira whispered, “who drain the lifeforce from humans to survive.”
“Vampires without fangs,” Cade remarked with a grimace. His fervent non-love of the blood suckers was no secret, even if Cassandra, Sebastian, and the other Tantalusi vampires had helped save him and Kira from the wer. However, it had been the vampires' fault that they'd been there in the first place!
“Disgusting, corpse-stealing...,” Cade began as Kira slapped him in the chest. “OW! Really?”
“Okay, now that I'm seriously freaked out, what the hell are we doing down here?” she asked sensibly.
2.
Without so much as a warning, the dim lights blinked out and the blue glow disappeared. Kira shrieked but clamped a hand over her own mouth. Cade swore and flicked on his flashlight. A second flashlight turned on and shone in his face.
“Jesus Christ, Kira!” Cade exclaimed, momentarily blinded. “Turn that off!”
“Well, you have yours on,” Kira protested, but flicked the switched. “Crap, Cade, listen!”
Voices...more like mumblings...could be heard. They sounded as if they were coming from all around them, but Kira listened carefully, her hearing more acute than normal. “There,” she pointed to the way they'd come.
“And there,” Cade said pointing down one of the corridors of the underground area. “So I guess we go...this way!” He pulled Kira into the darkness of the tunnel lit only by his flashlight.
Behind them they could hear footsteps quickening to match their own. The sounds were still far away but it was obvious Cade and Kira had been heard.
“Did you have to shriek?” Cade chastised Kira as they ran.
“Sorry,” Kira said, “it just came out. I'll work on that. It's not very Death Knell warrior-like is it?”
“Not so much,” Cade agreed, grimacing in the dark.
They ran through a long arched tunnel that was once again lit up at the ceiling, then through a room of skulls lining the wall from top to bottom. Skeletal monks stood against the skull walls, holding spears and on duty. Cade and Kira didn't wait around long to enough to see if anything came to life. When they finally stopped it was because there seemed to be no further left to run.
Ahead of them was a strange cavern, glowing from unseen light sources. Huge tree roots grew in a tangled mess. Several became large enough to run on, and Kira and Cade found themselves on a bridge-like structure. More tree roots grew down from the earthen ceiling. Cade had a sinking feeling that if they tried to pass, the roots would come alive and ensnare them. It would be just their luck.
“Jesus Christ, Kira!” Cade exclaimed, momentarily blinded. “Turn that off!”
“Well, you have yours on,” Kira protested, but flicked the switched. “Crap, Cade, listen!”
Voices...more like mumblings...could be heard. They sounded as if they were coming from all around them, but Kira listened carefully, her hearing more acute than normal. “There,” she pointed to the way they'd come.
“And there,” Cade said pointing down one of the corridors of the underground area. “So I guess we go...this way!” He pulled Kira into the darkness of the tunnel lit only by his flashlight.
Behind them they could hear footsteps quickening to match their own. The sounds were still far away but it was obvious Cade and Kira had been heard.
“Did you have to shriek?” Cade chastised Kira as they ran.
“Sorry,” Kira said, “it just came out. I'll work on that. It's not very Death Knell warrior-like is it?”
“Not so much,” Cade agreed, grimacing in the dark.
They ran through a long arched tunnel that was once again lit up at the ceiling, then through a room of skulls lining the wall from top to bottom. Skeletal monks stood against the skull walls, holding spears and on duty. Cade and Kira didn't wait around long to enough to see if anything came to life. When they finally stopped it was because there seemed to be no further left to run.
Ahead of them was a strange cavern, glowing from unseen light sources. Huge tree roots grew in a tangled mess. Several became large enough to run on, and Kira and Cade found themselves on a bridge-like structure. More tree roots grew down from the earthen ceiling. Cade had a sinking feeling that if they tried to pass, the roots would come alive and ensnare them. It would be just their luck.
“Son of a bitch!” Cade exclaimed, standing behind Kira out of reflex to protect her from the coming danger. “I'm not sure we can go forward, Kira. Who the hell knows what's in there!”
Kira cocked her head and listened. Her enhanced hearing had improved since she'd begun focusing and training with it. “Well, we can't go back,” she said simply. “I hear them coming. Crap!”
“Whoever...or whatever...they are,” Cade mumbled.
He doubted his and Kira's concealed guns would kill anything immortal since they hadn't loaded them with silver bullets. Even if they had, the closeness of the tunnels wasn't suited for gunfire without danger of richochetting bullets. He leaped off the root bridge and lifted Kira down after him.
It was Kira who found two broken pieces of wood, long enough to use as swinging weapons. Plus she and Cade had been training together in hand-to-hand. She had enough bruises to attest to the fact that she'd gotten better and stronger; and so had Cade. Ryan made them go up against each other, as well as other immortals and himself, and although Cade would always be stronger than her, Kira was fast.
“Here,” she said passing over one of the thick sticks. “I guess we fight.”
The sounds of running feet were close now. The young warriors took a fighting stance, ready to do battle to save their lives. Cade slipped out his knife as well. It was silver, so at least it might do some damage if he could get close enough without being killed.
Kira cocked her head and listened. Her enhanced hearing had improved since she'd begun focusing and training with it. “Well, we can't go back,” she said simply. “I hear them coming. Crap!”
“Whoever...or whatever...they are,” Cade mumbled.
He doubted his and Kira's concealed guns would kill anything immortal since they hadn't loaded them with silver bullets. Even if they had, the closeness of the tunnels wasn't suited for gunfire without danger of richochetting bullets. He leaped off the root bridge and lifted Kira down after him.
It was Kira who found two broken pieces of wood, long enough to use as swinging weapons. Plus she and Cade had been training together in hand-to-hand. She had enough bruises to attest to the fact that she'd gotten better and stronger; and so had Cade. Ryan made them go up against each other, as well as other immortals and himself, and although Cade would always be stronger than her, Kira was fast.
“Here,” she said passing over one of the thick sticks. “I guess we fight.”
The sounds of running feet were close now. The young warriors took a fighting stance, ready to do battle to save their lives. Cade slipped out his knife as well. It was silver, so at least it might do some damage if he could get close enough without being killed.
3.
“You'll never defeat them with those,” a deep voice said casually from behind them. “They're revenants. Not only do they have a superhuman grace about them, despite their gaunt appearance, but they are capable of regeneration.”
Cade whirled around first, his gun already drawn from under his shirt. Kira turned seconds later, surprised as hell, holding her “weapon” at the ready.
The tall, physically fit man with fair skin, incredibly blue eyes, five o'clock shadow, and black, tousled hair held up his hands to show he had no weapons. He even slung his backpack off his shoulder and dropped it to the ground.
“Not an enemy,” he said with a slight grin.
“Now who the hell are you?” Cade demanded, his jaw tight. The strange man had apparently come from the glowing area through the roots and was bathed in the glow himself as he stood before them. “You shouldn't be here. It's dangerous.”
Kira could only stare. She couldn't help but notice the man's piercing blue eyes and dark eyebrows, both of which seemed to show amusement in the whole situation. She tried not to think about the fact that he was fairly young and good looking.
“I could ask the same of you two,” the man said, “and give you the same warning. But I'll go first as you apparently are familiar with the Reverie and seemed prepared to fight. My name is Adrian.”
With both Kira and Cade facing away from the direction of the approaching revenants, and their attention on the dark-haired man, they didn't notice Kira's vest and shirt raise up along her back. They didn't see the wings of a dragon, white and gold, spread out behind them as if in a defensive posture. But Adrian did. And his bright blue eyes opened wide.
But Kira suddenly gasped with a start. It seemed as though she saw in her mind the approach of the revenants, as if they were in front of her not behind them. “They're here!” she cried out.
Cade swore at the sounds behind them. But before he could turn, the man, Adrian, scooped up his backpack. “Follow me!” he commanded. “You don't want to fight a large group, I promise you that!”
Without waiting for permission, he grabbed Kira's hand and dragged her with him through a tangle of roots deeper into the glowing blue light of the root-choked tunnel. The wings had retreated and when Cade followed, swearing again, all he saw was her exposed tattoo on her lower back as her vest was pulled up slightly. They ran with the strange man, having no choice, as he hopefully led them away from the undead creatures.
Cade whirled around first, his gun already drawn from under his shirt. Kira turned seconds later, surprised as hell, holding her “weapon” at the ready.
The tall, physically fit man with fair skin, incredibly blue eyes, five o'clock shadow, and black, tousled hair held up his hands to show he had no weapons. He even slung his backpack off his shoulder and dropped it to the ground.
“Not an enemy,” he said with a slight grin.
“Now who the hell are you?” Cade demanded, his jaw tight. The strange man had apparently come from the glowing area through the roots and was bathed in the glow himself as he stood before them. “You shouldn't be here. It's dangerous.”
Kira could only stare. She couldn't help but notice the man's piercing blue eyes and dark eyebrows, both of which seemed to show amusement in the whole situation. She tried not to think about the fact that he was fairly young and good looking.
“I could ask the same of you two,” the man said, “and give you the same warning. But I'll go first as you apparently are familiar with the Reverie and seemed prepared to fight. My name is Adrian.”
With both Kira and Cade facing away from the direction of the approaching revenants, and their attention on the dark-haired man, they didn't notice Kira's vest and shirt raise up along her back. They didn't see the wings of a dragon, white and gold, spread out behind them as if in a defensive posture. But Adrian did. And his bright blue eyes opened wide.
But Kira suddenly gasped with a start. It seemed as though she saw in her mind the approach of the revenants, as if they were in front of her not behind them. “They're here!” she cried out.
Cade swore at the sounds behind them. But before he could turn, the man, Adrian, scooped up his backpack. “Follow me!” he commanded. “You don't want to fight a large group, I promise you that!”
Without waiting for permission, he grabbed Kira's hand and dragged her with him through a tangle of roots deeper into the glowing blue light of the root-choked tunnel. The wings had retreated and when Cade followed, swearing again, all he saw was her exposed tattoo on her lower back as her vest was pulled up slightly. They ran with the strange man, having no choice, as he hopefully led them away from the undead creatures.
4.
In the underground glow of light, Cade nearly crashed into Kira, who nearly slammed into Adrian, when the man leading them stopped suddenly. They were standing at the entrance to what appeared to be an abandoned, underground ancient city. A decrepit bridge, nothing more than shards of woods laid over an arched frame rose above them. Below them weeds pushed through old, crumbling bricks and stones; while ahead ornate, chipped pillars, windows, and balconies—all made from dark, dirty stone, lined a large courtyard. Stalactites hung from the cavern high above the old city. Further in the center a large, raised dias flickered in what seemed like light from several fires. But there were no flames, smoke, or heat. To their left was a large, stone staircase winding up into the shadows.
Kira shivered in the cool dampness. She hated the dark and the cold, and with her luck it seemed as if she was always somewhere dark and cold. It was then she noticed figures ahead of them emerging from the shadows of the courtyard.
“Well, damn,” Adrian said quietly. “I didn't think there'd be this many here. This is the way I came in, and it was empty at the time.”
“You are freaking kidding me!” Cade exclaimed, running a hand in frustration through his short, cropped hair. He unconsciously moved closer to Kira, protecting her from behind.
He stared at the group of seven or so pale-skinned, gaunt but almost beautiful young creatures slowly coming toward them. Fortunately, Cade, Kira, and Adrian didn't see the revenants as the undead creatures saw themselves when they were unfortunate enough to catch a glimpse in a mirror. Revenants were cursed to see themselves in the form of their decayed bodies.
Behind them the group that had been following approached and stopped. Kira looked around her in dismay. All the revenants were once human, but it wasn't obvious if they were sarkomenos—animated corpses with newly dead souls, or ekimmus—stolen, living bodies being inhabited by dead souls. Either way, Kira, Cade, and Adrian were in a world of trouble.
“Sorry,” Adrian said and meant it. “Now I guess we fight,” he said calmly. “I'm going to assume you two are aware of the Secret World as you've shown little surprise at what you've seen. So, a little advice...don't let their current slowness fool you. Our opponents here are graceful and fast, they could quite possible capture us before we know it.”
“Great. Good to know,” Cade said sarcastically. “Thanks for leading us right freaking to them!” he growled.
Kira remained silent. There was nothing to be gained by arguing or accusing, as it wasn't anyone's fault really. Right now it was fight or die. Luckily the revenants from the city were looking a little hungry...which could be a good thing. Their appearance was even more gaunt and pale than she'd learned, a sign that they were low on lifeforce and near death. So perhaps they were weakened enough that the eerie-looking immortals could be defeated.
Not so much the ones closing in from behind. They were healthier in appearance, a mixture of chalk-white, golden brown, and pale-tan skin colors showing what race the human used to be. At least the revenants practiced diversity in their groups. And apparently these had recently fed with the kiss of death.
“Perhaps we can reason with them,” Adrian suggested quietly. “It's not as if they're mindless creatures. They do have their own sort of civilized society.”
A snort escaped Cade. He felt Kira elbow him and grunted.
“It's worth a try,” she whispered.
One of the unhealthy looking revenants spoke first. “Why do you enter our Kingdom?” she questioned angrily. “You have not received permission from our Court of Night. We will kill you now.”
Kira frowned in confusion, and both Cade and Adrian opened their mouths to speak. But a male voice behind them, more powerful than the woman's beat them to it. All three turned their heads.
“You don't stand a chance against us,” the golden-skinned man said. The body he possessed had formerly been an African American basketball player in college before he had been taken over by the dead soul inside of him.
“We have come to claim your city as we hear your “Kingdom” is falling apart," he continued. He and his friends laughed, glancing at the decrepit condition of what they saw around them. “You have not even fed for months it appears. And where are the rest of you?”
Kira's breath hissed with her small gasp. “I think they're after each other,” she murmured. “Oh, please let them be after each other and not us! Maybe we can run up the stairs if they start fighting?”
But it was a futile wish, of course.
The slim, raven-haired woman--who had obviously been model gorgeous when alive--, seemed to be the spokesperson...or spokesrevenant, Cade thought...for her small group. He watched her snarl at the leader of the other group.
“We can still take you...and then we'll feed on the other intruders," another of the city group declared. The blond man took a fighting stance.
“No such luck,” Cade whispered back. “I say we consider them all our enemies and just get down to business kicking ass.”
Kira shivered in the cool dampness. She hated the dark and the cold, and with her luck it seemed as if she was always somewhere dark and cold. It was then she noticed figures ahead of them emerging from the shadows of the courtyard.
“Well, damn,” Adrian said quietly. “I didn't think there'd be this many here. This is the way I came in, and it was empty at the time.”
“You are freaking kidding me!” Cade exclaimed, running a hand in frustration through his short, cropped hair. He unconsciously moved closer to Kira, protecting her from behind.
He stared at the group of seven or so pale-skinned, gaunt but almost beautiful young creatures slowly coming toward them. Fortunately, Cade, Kira, and Adrian didn't see the revenants as the undead creatures saw themselves when they were unfortunate enough to catch a glimpse in a mirror. Revenants were cursed to see themselves in the form of their decayed bodies.
Behind them the group that had been following approached and stopped. Kira looked around her in dismay. All the revenants were once human, but it wasn't obvious if they were sarkomenos—animated corpses with newly dead souls, or ekimmus—stolen, living bodies being inhabited by dead souls. Either way, Kira, Cade, and Adrian were in a world of trouble.
“Sorry,” Adrian said and meant it. “Now I guess we fight,” he said calmly. “I'm going to assume you two are aware of the Secret World as you've shown little surprise at what you've seen. So, a little advice...don't let their current slowness fool you. Our opponents here are graceful and fast, they could quite possible capture us before we know it.”
“Great. Good to know,” Cade said sarcastically. “Thanks for leading us right freaking to them!” he growled.
Kira remained silent. There was nothing to be gained by arguing or accusing, as it wasn't anyone's fault really. Right now it was fight or die. Luckily the revenants from the city were looking a little hungry...which could be a good thing. Their appearance was even more gaunt and pale than she'd learned, a sign that they were low on lifeforce and near death. So perhaps they were weakened enough that the eerie-looking immortals could be defeated.
Not so much the ones closing in from behind. They were healthier in appearance, a mixture of chalk-white, golden brown, and pale-tan skin colors showing what race the human used to be. At least the revenants practiced diversity in their groups. And apparently these had recently fed with the kiss of death.
“Perhaps we can reason with them,” Adrian suggested quietly. “It's not as if they're mindless creatures. They do have their own sort of civilized society.”
A snort escaped Cade. He felt Kira elbow him and grunted.
“It's worth a try,” she whispered.
One of the unhealthy looking revenants spoke first. “Why do you enter our Kingdom?” she questioned angrily. “You have not received permission from our Court of Night. We will kill you now.”
Kira frowned in confusion, and both Cade and Adrian opened their mouths to speak. But a male voice behind them, more powerful than the woman's beat them to it. All three turned their heads.
“You don't stand a chance against us,” the golden-skinned man said. The body he possessed had formerly been an African American basketball player in college before he had been taken over by the dead soul inside of him.
“We have come to claim your city as we hear your “Kingdom” is falling apart," he continued. He and his friends laughed, glancing at the decrepit condition of what they saw around them. “You have not even fed for months it appears. And where are the rest of you?”
Kira's breath hissed with her small gasp. “I think they're after each other,” she murmured. “Oh, please let them be after each other and not us! Maybe we can run up the stairs if they start fighting?”
But it was a futile wish, of course.
The slim, raven-haired woman--who had obviously been model gorgeous when alive--, seemed to be the spokesperson...or spokesrevenant, Cade thought...for her small group. He watched her snarl at the leader of the other group.
“We can still take you...and then we'll feed on the other intruders," another of the city group declared. The blond man took a fighting stance.
“No such luck,” Cade whispered back. “I say we consider them all our enemies and just get down to business kicking ass.”
5.
Adrian agreed. He hoped the young man and woman were quick and able to fight as he swung his backpack around in front. He dug around inside then tossed something that faintly resembled a large, black, hard plastic gun to Kira before sliding out a finely honed machete.
“Behead them, burn them, stab them with silver!” he called out, raking a hand through his dark hair. “Just do it fast and get it done the first time!”
“What the hell is this?” Kira yelled as the two groups of revenants lunged for them, and each other, as the fight began.
Adrian swung and beheaded his first walking dead, his machete slicing smoothly through the air. “A mini flamethower!” he shouted back. “Use it like a gun in short bursts. Aim for the clothes!...I made it!”
Kira had no time to question the wisdom of such a weapon as she ducked to avoid a female revenant reaching for her. It was time to be quick on her feet.
Cade was already busy swinging the wooden stick with his left hand, while his right brandished his silver knife—a long, sharp hunting style weapon. He was equally able to use both hands for meelee weapons, but the knife felt better in his right hand. Adrian's beheading worked the quickest as he nearly danced around, swinging with both hands. Heads flew from bodies, leaving no blood or internal organs. Part of their transformation from human to immortal included the drying up of bodily fluids and the atrophying of internal organs from disuse.
Kira set several on fire, aiming for the material of their clothes. The bodies caught ablaze quickly, at least the sarkomenos did what with their bodies already being dead before reanimation. She had to kick out at one who reached for her as he toppled forward.
Others were stabbed in the heart by Cade's silver knife, after being cracked on the head or in the stomach by his wooden stick. He tried to keep an eye on Kira as well, but found his attention focused on 'kill or be killed'.
Several of the walking dead were also fighting each other, snarling, snapping, and breaking limbs. The chaotic fighting echoed off the underground city's walls and ceiling.
When she was forced to use her Fist of Stone fighting technique, Kira had to hold the flame gun awkwardly as she kicked the revenant to the ground. She gasped when a second revenant seemed to appear before her. She thought for sure she was dead. But instantly she realized it was more of a hologram type image. She could see an image of Cade further back and had a split second to remember he was behind her. Whirling around she aimed the flame thrower gun at the exact, but now real, image that she'd seen. She didn't know how, but Kira had seen behind herself. She watched the creature catch fire.
No one had seen the dragon on her lower back open its eyes as the head turned and seemed to emerge from her skin, staring around.
As their bodies were destroyed the living dead creatures' souls were cast back into the Underworld. All around the three living fighters, the separation of bodies and souls was releasing magickal energies into the cavern. Right at the moment of their second death, the dead souls screamed in agony as they were ripped from their bodies...both the animated corpses and the stolen living bodies. The dead souls remained standing, ghostly images that looked just like they did before entering the bodies that had not belonged to them. It seemed there were twice as many beings...the bodies collapsed on the ground, and the deal souls standing. There was confusion, anger, screaming, crying, and other emotions before the ghostly souls faded back into the Reverie and the further into the Underworld.
As each revenant “died” for the second...and last time...Cade, Kira, and Adrian felt stronger, faster, and more energized. Although they didn't consciously realize it, the vitality and pleasure the revenants felt when soulstealing left the living dead and infused the threesome's combating bodies.
Cade saw Adrian go down suddenly and fought harder against the two remaining revenants he had on either side of him. He couldn't get there in time to stop the undead creature from dropping to her knees to “kiss” the dark haired man. He saw Kira set fire to one last creature then start to run over. To their horror, the female gripped Adrian's hair and pressed her lips against his to steal his lifeforce.
Adrian, his normal gracefulness momentarily upset by a dislodged set of bricks behind him, wasn't all that concerned. Although he tried to push her away on general principles of not wanting a set of living dead corpse lips on his, he felt her cold lips press against his anyway. But a moment later the female reared up, retching and dry heaving. She fell backward, clutching her throat. Adrian knew revenants couldn't steal from other Immortals unless they had a mortal body. Fortunately, his form was merely a disguise of sorts...not his real form.
Cade gave one last plunge of his silver knife into the heart of a revenant. Suddenly there was near silence in the cavern when the last of the dead-again souls faded away, taking their cries and screams with them.
“Behead them, burn them, stab them with silver!” he called out, raking a hand through his dark hair. “Just do it fast and get it done the first time!”
“What the hell is this?” Kira yelled as the two groups of revenants lunged for them, and each other, as the fight began.
Adrian swung and beheaded his first walking dead, his machete slicing smoothly through the air. “A mini flamethower!” he shouted back. “Use it like a gun in short bursts. Aim for the clothes!...I made it!”
Kira had no time to question the wisdom of such a weapon as she ducked to avoid a female revenant reaching for her. It was time to be quick on her feet.
Cade was already busy swinging the wooden stick with his left hand, while his right brandished his silver knife—a long, sharp hunting style weapon. He was equally able to use both hands for meelee weapons, but the knife felt better in his right hand. Adrian's beheading worked the quickest as he nearly danced around, swinging with both hands. Heads flew from bodies, leaving no blood or internal organs. Part of their transformation from human to immortal included the drying up of bodily fluids and the atrophying of internal organs from disuse.
Kira set several on fire, aiming for the material of their clothes. The bodies caught ablaze quickly, at least the sarkomenos did what with their bodies already being dead before reanimation. She had to kick out at one who reached for her as he toppled forward.
Others were stabbed in the heart by Cade's silver knife, after being cracked on the head or in the stomach by his wooden stick. He tried to keep an eye on Kira as well, but found his attention focused on 'kill or be killed'.
Several of the walking dead were also fighting each other, snarling, snapping, and breaking limbs. The chaotic fighting echoed off the underground city's walls and ceiling.
When she was forced to use her Fist of Stone fighting technique, Kira had to hold the flame gun awkwardly as she kicked the revenant to the ground. She gasped when a second revenant seemed to appear before her. She thought for sure she was dead. But instantly she realized it was more of a hologram type image. She could see an image of Cade further back and had a split second to remember he was behind her. Whirling around she aimed the flame thrower gun at the exact, but now real, image that she'd seen. She didn't know how, but Kira had seen behind herself. She watched the creature catch fire.
No one had seen the dragon on her lower back open its eyes as the head turned and seemed to emerge from her skin, staring around.
As their bodies were destroyed the living dead creatures' souls were cast back into the Underworld. All around the three living fighters, the separation of bodies and souls was releasing magickal energies into the cavern. Right at the moment of their second death, the dead souls screamed in agony as they were ripped from their bodies...both the animated corpses and the stolen living bodies. The dead souls remained standing, ghostly images that looked just like they did before entering the bodies that had not belonged to them. It seemed there were twice as many beings...the bodies collapsed on the ground, and the deal souls standing. There was confusion, anger, screaming, crying, and other emotions before the ghostly souls faded back into the Reverie and the further into the Underworld.
As each revenant “died” for the second...and last time...Cade, Kira, and Adrian felt stronger, faster, and more energized. Although they didn't consciously realize it, the vitality and pleasure the revenants felt when soulstealing left the living dead and infused the threesome's combating bodies.
Cade saw Adrian go down suddenly and fought harder against the two remaining revenants he had on either side of him. He couldn't get there in time to stop the undead creature from dropping to her knees to “kiss” the dark haired man. He saw Kira set fire to one last creature then start to run over. To their horror, the female gripped Adrian's hair and pressed her lips against his to steal his lifeforce.
Adrian, his normal gracefulness momentarily upset by a dislodged set of bricks behind him, wasn't all that concerned. Although he tried to push her away on general principles of not wanting a set of living dead corpse lips on his, he felt her cold lips press against his anyway. But a moment later the female reared up, retching and dry heaving. She fell backward, clutching her throat. Adrian knew revenants couldn't steal from other Immortals unless they had a mortal body. Fortunately, his form was merely a disguise of sorts...not his real form.
Cade gave one last plunge of his silver knife into the heart of a revenant. Suddenly there was near silence in the cavern when the last of the dead-again souls faded away, taking their cries and screams with them.
6.
Adrian was of the draconis Lakhmu stirps, a sea serpent...a dragon of the deep. And he'd kept himself so well hidden these past centuries that very few knew what he was. The draconis knew he could have defended the two running with him from the revenants...he might look slim in his adapan form, but he was super-strong, near-invulnerable, and had even better developed senses than the revenants had. It was the way with all the draconis.
And now was the time to get the two young people as far away as possible from the scene of the battle so he could speak to the girl alone.
He wondered if she knew what her tattoo had done for her during the fight and before, when it had shown her the approaching revenants. Somehow, he doubted it.
Adrian grabbed his backpack and motioned the young pair to the stone steps. Much to the young man's discomfort, Adrian checked them both over briefly but saw only superficial scrapes and cuts. What blood there was could wait to be taken care of. The silence deep underground was unnerving. He wanted to get them back to his house, but he had a feeling the young man would protest to that, not to mention being separated from the young woman.
“What are your names anyway?” he asked, slinging his backpack on and taking the flame thrower gun from the girl.
“Uh...oh!” Kira exclaimed. She realized that although Adrian had introduced himself, he didn't even know their names. “I'm Kira, this is Cade.”
Cade was silent as he kept hold of his knife, just in case. He wished Kira hadn't told their names, but it was too late now. As it was, they still didn't know how to get out of here without this guy's help, so the danger wasn't over yet.
Adrian continued up the twisting and turning stairs, along corridors, and up more steps. The area around them became more and more mundane looking as they rose from the Secret World below until the tunnel they emerged into resembled a smaller version of a cut-off subway tunnel without tracks. One more ladder to go, Adrian gestured.
The tall, wooden ladder went straight up to a covering that was latched from the inside. He climbed first, with Kira coming after him and Cade last. Finally Adrain threw open the hatch into the now-dimly lit evening and climbed out, pretending to stumble as he did so. He faked a yell and collapsed to the ground in the empty field they had emerged into.
And now was the time to get the two young people as far away as possible from the scene of the battle so he could speak to the girl alone.
He wondered if she knew what her tattoo had done for her during the fight and before, when it had shown her the approaching revenants. Somehow, he doubted it.
Adrian grabbed his backpack and motioned the young pair to the stone steps. Much to the young man's discomfort, Adrian checked them both over briefly but saw only superficial scrapes and cuts. What blood there was could wait to be taken care of. The silence deep underground was unnerving. He wanted to get them back to his house, but he had a feeling the young man would protest to that, not to mention being separated from the young woman.
“What are your names anyway?” he asked, slinging his backpack on and taking the flame thrower gun from the girl.
“Uh...oh!” Kira exclaimed. She realized that although Adrian had introduced himself, he didn't even know their names. “I'm Kira, this is Cade.”
Cade was silent as he kept hold of his knife, just in case. He wished Kira hadn't told their names, but it was too late now. As it was, they still didn't know how to get out of here without this guy's help, so the danger wasn't over yet.
Adrian continued up the twisting and turning stairs, along corridors, and up more steps. The area around them became more and more mundane looking as they rose from the Secret World below until the tunnel they emerged into resembled a smaller version of a cut-off subway tunnel without tracks. One more ladder to go, Adrian gestured.
The tall, wooden ladder went straight up to a covering that was latched from the inside. He climbed first, with Kira coming after him and Cade last. Finally Adrain threw open the hatch into the now-dimly lit evening and climbed out, pretending to stumble as he did so. He faked a yell and collapsed to the ground in the empty field they had emerged into.
When Kira and Cade emerged and Cade closed the hatch, hearing it latch from inside, they knelt down next to Adrian who had propped himself up against a nearby tree.
“How clumsy of me,” he said with a sorry look. “I'm afraid I've twisted my ankle.”
“Well, damn,” Cade said with a slightly grumpy tone. He was somewhat annoyed that this stranger had appeared out of nowhere and pretty much helped saved their asses...after he'd gotten them trapped between two groups of the living dead. “I guess we can call you a cab to get home,” he offered. Then, “OW! Why're you hitting me, Kira?”
Kira glared at Cade with a disappointed expression. “Cade, we cannot just stick Adrian in a cab. He's hurt. We should...,” she paused.
“Should what?” Cade asked, glaring back. Suddenly it was “Adrian” now, was it?
Adrian cleared his throat. “I'd much appreciate if you'd help me home yourselves,” he said. “It's not too far. My car is nearby, but I doubt I can drive.”
“How clumsy of me,” he said with a sorry look. “I'm afraid I've twisted my ankle.”
“Well, damn,” Cade said with a slightly grumpy tone. He was somewhat annoyed that this stranger had appeared out of nowhere and pretty much helped saved their asses...after he'd gotten them trapped between two groups of the living dead. “I guess we can call you a cab to get home,” he offered. Then, “OW! Why're you hitting me, Kira?”
Kira glared at Cade with a disappointed expression. “Cade, we cannot just stick Adrian in a cab. He's hurt. We should...,” she paused.
“Should what?” Cade asked, glaring back. Suddenly it was “Adrian” now, was it?
Adrian cleared his throat. “I'd much appreciate if you'd help me home yourselves,” he said. “It's not too far. My car is nearby, but I doubt I can drive.”
7.
Cade blinked when he pulled Adrian's Mercedes up to the front door of his house. His "mansion on the freaking lake" was more like it. Cade had followed the road along Lake Cawthorne, located on the northwest side of New Bellwich. They'd driven through the University District, and toward the wealthy section on the lake. He passed, as directed, a set of obviously expensive marble steps that led to another level which led into the brightly lit two-story and God-knew-how-huge-on-the-other-side mansion. They ended up in front of an obviously multi-multi-car garage, although Adrian had him park outside.
“Holy crap, you live here?” Kira asked in amazement as Adrian slid out of the passenger side while she climbed out the back.
This place made Ryan's Landry Pointe mansion in the bayou seem like a regular house.
As they'd driven up the drive, Cade had made a mental note of the address and street name. He didn't trust this Adrian person and intended to call Ryan as soon as possible. He and Kira would need a ride anyway, they were too far to walk back to the French Quarter where his truck was. And Cade would be damned if he'd allow Adrian to do anything for them.
For Kira.
"You ever hear of energy conservation?" Cade grumbled. Not that he cared really, but the brightness was a bit overwhelming.
"Keeps the unsavory types away," Adrian remarked.
Kira smiled and closed her eyes for a moment without realizing it. The bright lights were welcoming and warming to her. She wanted to bathe in the brightness.
Inside the mansion's front door it was one luxury after another, mostly in shades of blue, green, and hints of silver. From the marble tiled flooring to the expensive wallpaper to antique quality furniture made from rich colored wood, the house screamed money. Lots of money.
Suddenly Cade noticed Adrian's limp was practically non-existent as the followed him into a massive living room. He frowned. He didn't like this one bit. And he didn't know why they were even inside. "What the hell were you doing down there anyway?" he asked suddenly.
Adrian's eyebrows rose slightly. "I could ask you two the same question."
After wetting three white towels from the bar and handing two to his guests, he gestured to the several mirrors around the room. He poured himself a drink of some amber liquid out of a cut crystal decanter. “Can I offer you two anything to drink?”
Cade's mouth watered slightly at the sight of the expensive alcohol. He just bet that tasted finer than anything he'd ever drank. But instead he focused first on helping Kira wipe the blood from her cuts, and then taking an obligatory swipe at his. Kira pushed her long, dark hair away from her face, seeing in a mirror how disheveled she appeared.
Kira had been unusually quiet, not even admonishing Cade for his rudeness nor arguing about his ministration of her minor wounds. There was something about Adrian that was drawing her attention, making her want to know him better. There were a few moments of silence as neither male offered an explanation as to why they'd been poking around in reverant territory.
Kira nodded finally in response to Adrian's question. “I could use some water,” she said.
Cade scowled then sighed. “Fine, yeah. Water would be good. Then we gotta get going, right, Kira?” he said pointedly. He hadn't missed the way she'd been staring around and especially at Adrian.
Kira nodded.
* * * * *
“Do you know what you are?” Adrian asked suddenly as Kira took a drink out of the glass of water she now held.
Kira started, swallowed heavily, and stared into a pair of nearly blazing blue eyes. The words echoed what Eolanthe had asked her back in the vampire's adyta. No, dammit, she didn't know then, and she didn't know now what she was.
What did Adrian know? And how did he know it? She jerked back when Adrian reached out to stroke her face. She didn't trust many people after her experiences in the psyche hospital and didn't like to be touched by strangers. Kira had become accustomed to the various men in her life...Ryan, Na'ethal, Jareth, and even Thomas, who weren't even really human, and Cade...and felt safe around them. She felt Cade behind her and pressed her back against his chest, feeling somewhat safer.
“Holy crap, you live here?” Kira asked in amazement as Adrian slid out of the passenger side while she climbed out the back.
This place made Ryan's Landry Pointe mansion in the bayou seem like a regular house.
As they'd driven up the drive, Cade had made a mental note of the address and street name. He didn't trust this Adrian person and intended to call Ryan as soon as possible. He and Kira would need a ride anyway, they were too far to walk back to the French Quarter where his truck was. And Cade would be damned if he'd allow Adrian to do anything for them.
For Kira.
"You ever hear of energy conservation?" Cade grumbled. Not that he cared really, but the brightness was a bit overwhelming.
"Keeps the unsavory types away," Adrian remarked.
Kira smiled and closed her eyes for a moment without realizing it. The bright lights were welcoming and warming to her. She wanted to bathe in the brightness.
Inside the mansion's front door it was one luxury after another, mostly in shades of blue, green, and hints of silver. From the marble tiled flooring to the expensive wallpaper to antique quality furniture made from rich colored wood, the house screamed money. Lots of money.
Suddenly Cade noticed Adrian's limp was practically non-existent as the followed him into a massive living room. He frowned. He didn't like this one bit. And he didn't know why they were even inside. "What the hell were you doing down there anyway?" he asked suddenly.
Adrian's eyebrows rose slightly. "I could ask you two the same question."
After wetting three white towels from the bar and handing two to his guests, he gestured to the several mirrors around the room. He poured himself a drink of some amber liquid out of a cut crystal decanter. “Can I offer you two anything to drink?”
Cade's mouth watered slightly at the sight of the expensive alcohol. He just bet that tasted finer than anything he'd ever drank. But instead he focused first on helping Kira wipe the blood from her cuts, and then taking an obligatory swipe at his. Kira pushed her long, dark hair away from her face, seeing in a mirror how disheveled she appeared.
Kira had been unusually quiet, not even admonishing Cade for his rudeness nor arguing about his ministration of her minor wounds. There was something about Adrian that was drawing her attention, making her want to know him better. There were a few moments of silence as neither male offered an explanation as to why they'd been poking around in reverant territory.
Kira nodded finally in response to Adrian's question. “I could use some water,” she said.
Cade scowled then sighed. “Fine, yeah. Water would be good. Then we gotta get going, right, Kira?” he said pointedly. He hadn't missed the way she'd been staring around and especially at Adrian.
Kira nodded.
* * * * *
“Do you know what you are?” Adrian asked suddenly as Kira took a drink out of the glass of water she now held.
Kira started, swallowed heavily, and stared into a pair of nearly blazing blue eyes. The words echoed what Eolanthe had asked her back in the vampire's adyta. No, dammit, she didn't know then, and she didn't know now what she was.
What did Adrian know? And how did he know it? She jerked back when Adrian reached out to stroke her face. She didn't trust many people after her experiences in the psyche hospital and didn't like to be touched by strangers. Kira had become accustomed to the various men in her life...Ryan, Na'ethal, Jareth, and even Thomas, who weren't even really human, and Cade...and felt safe around them. She felt Cade behind her and pressed her back against his chest, feeling somewhat safer.
8.
Dr. Nathan Allen stood across from Detective Ryan Laurent, both men staring down at the hospital bed. Located on the second floor of Dr. Allen's clinic, the elven doctor maintained his masquery of human looking with short, white-blond hair just in case the boy woke up.
“We're making a habit of collecting injured humans, Ryan,” he commented. “I'm not sure I like this trend.”
Ryan glanced up from where Hank still lay unconscious but healing. The young teenage boy had been rescued from near death earlier in the month from the demon attack down in Mississippi, and Na'ethal had kept him sedated and pumped full elven medicine to help him heal.
“I know." He'd gotten used to seeing the boy in the clinic. "It's worked out so far,” the gargoyle offered, completely serious. It wasn't as if he could be anything else but.
Nathan raised human looking eyebrows but said nothing as he and Ryan exited the room. He hoped his friend wasn't thinking of taking in yet another child and turning him into a warrior as he had done with Kira. As they left the room, and since the clinic was empty this evening save for the elven nurses, the doctor dropped his masquery. His long, white-blond hair now hung down his back, pointed ears peeking out from within.
“When are you going to tell Cade that you've now found definite traces of daeva and angelic lifeforce in his blood?” Ryan asked.
“I'm not sure,” Na'ethal answered. “He's going to figure it out soon, I would suspect. His strength is increasing more than normal. I'm sure he'll think he's just that damn good,” the doctor said with a slight grin, “but eventually he'll be stronger than any human.”
The celestine voices, the ancestral language of light and sound that all celestine spirits such as Ryan knew, had told him that Cade was not only deeply committed to battling the Death Knell but was also was potentially the most formidable warrior ever to fight the darkness. Cade was apparently the demon's Eternal Foe. The boy needed to be protected and trained, yet allowed to fight alongside Kira. Ryan didn't treat Cade any differently, it wasn't as though the gargoyle could express any emotions; yet he understood the hunter's role now and had allowed him to be more a part of Kira's life.
As if knowing his old friend's thoughts, Na'ethal countered. “When are you going to tell Cade that he's our best hope of defeating the Death Knell and the demons?”
“When I think he's ready,” Ryan answered.
9.
Adrian withdrew his extended hand and stepped back slightly. “I didn't mean to frighten you, Kira,” he said gently. “May I speak to you alone?” he asked. The girl had relaxed her brief but nervous posture, although she remained close to the young man with her.
Before she could answer, Cade snorted derisively. “Yeah, not gonna happen...ever,” he stated firmly. He crossed his arms over his broad chest, his body language stating his refusal to leave.
Kira stared at Cade in exasperation for being rude...and in relief for not agreeing to leave her. She turned back to Adrian. “Look,” she said, somewhat apologetically, “whatever you have to say, you can say in front of him.”
Adrian studied the young people in his house for a moment. “Apparently I'll have to,” he conceded. He shrugged. “Very well, as you wish. Kira, you are a dragon, an immortal. Or at least part dragon from what I saw your tattoo do earlier and from what I sense about you.”
Kira was stunned and disbelieving and staring like an idiot with her mouth hanging open. She couldn't break her gaze with Adrian's bright blue eyes, and nothing in them told her he was anything but deadly serious.
“That's impossible,” she said softly. “I-I don't believe you. How could you know that? A-and what do you mean, what my tattoo did?”
Cade saw Kira look at him as if she were drowning, but he shook his head in confusion. He hadn't seen anything. But hadn't Ryan told them that Eddie had infused her tattoos with magick? What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Adrian could see he had much convincing to do. And really, that shouldn't have surprised him. One usually didn't just blurt out the immortality of another and expect them to simply believe.
In the meantime, Cade had reacted without hesitation. He knew the whole 'what was Kira?' mystery was a huge deal for her, and for Na'ethal and Ryan. Without hiding what he was doing, Cade was talking to Ryan on speed dial seconds after the whole dragon announcement. If Kira even heard him through her shock, she gave no indication.
“You gotta get over here...NOW, dude!” Cade insisted, forgetting that a centuries or older gargoyle slash police detective shouldn't be called “dude”. “Some guy is freaking Kira out by telling her she's a dragon.”
He gave Ryan the address he'd noticed earlier outside the house, barely getting the words out before he was hung up on.
Before she could answer, Cade snorted derisively. “Yeah, not gonna happen...ever,” he stated firmly. He crossed his arms over his broad chest, his body language stating his refusal to leave.
Kira stared at Cade in exasperation for being rude...and in relief for not agreeing to leave her. She turned back to Adrian. “Look,” she said, somewhat apologetically, “whatever you have to say, you can say in front of him.”
Adrian studied the young people in his house for a moment. “Apparently I'll have to,” he conceded. He shrugged. “Very well, as you wish. Kira, you are a dragon, an immortal. Or at least part dragon from what I saw your tattoo do earlier and from what I sense about you.”
Kira was stunned and disbelieving and staring like an idiot with her mouth hanging open. She couldn't break her gaze with Adrian's bright blue eyes, and nothing in them told her he was anything but deadly serious.
“That's impossible,” she said softly. “I-I don't believe you. How could you know that? A-and what do you mean, what my tattoo did?”
Cade saw Kira look at him as if she were drowning, but he shook his head in confusion. He hadn't seen anything. But hadn't Ryan told them that Eddie had infused her tattoos with magick? What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Adrian could see he had much convincing to do. And really, that shouldn't have surprised him. One usually didn't just blurt out the immortality of another and expect them to simply believe.
In the meantime, Cade had reacted without hesitation. He knew the whole 'what was Kira?' mystery was a huge deal for her, and for Na'ethal and Ryan. Without hiding what he was doing, Cade was talking to Ryan on speed dial seconds after the whole dragon announcement. If Kira even heard him through her shock, she gave no indication.
“You gotta get over here...NOW, dude!” Cade insisted, forgetting that a centuries or older gargoyle slash police detective shouldn't be called “dude”. “Some guy is freaking Kira out by telling her she's a dragon.”
He gave Ryan the address he'd noticed earlier outside the house, barely getting the words out before he was hung up on.
10.
Adrian wasn't surprised when moments later there was a knock on his front door, the sound echoing through the large foyer and into the living room. Actually it was more like a fierce pounding that came close to breaking the heavy door down.
“I have a feeling that would be some friends of yours?” he inquired as he headed toward the door.
Adrian came face to face with a gargoyle and an elf...both of whom appeared in their human guises. He could sense their gentes easily, despite the human-looking simulcrum and masquery of the eldritch at his door.
“Where are they?” Ryan said with no expression but his tone was deadly serious. He didn't feel the need to show his New Bellwich detective's badge, although it hung from his belt.
Adrian willingly stepped aside and gestured further into the house, across the large foyer.
* * * * *
When Ryan and Nathan strode into the living room, Cade jumped. “Sonofabitch, that was fast! I just called you, like, five minutes ago,” he exclaimed.
Ryan went directly to Kira who was standing in the middle of the room, almost in a daze. Nathan paused by Cade. “We came through the Reverie. It's faster,” he explained.
Cade really had nothing to say to that. He just assumed it was true. And he didn't even flinch...not much anyway...at the fact that he just accepted the whole idea of instant travel though space and time.
Then the elf and the demon hunter hurried after Ryan, who didn't exactly have murder in his eyes...that would be an emotion...but was putting out all his 'badass police detective vibes'. Adrian had joined them in the room and waited patiently.
In the past five or so minutes since Adrian had told her she was a dragon, all Kira had done was lean against a luxuriously papered wall and try to breathe. She finally looked up when someone...Ryan, she realized, wondering when he'd gotten there...held her chin gently in his hand. He stared at her intently for a moment. Apparently she reacted enough to make him realize she wasn't in total shock because the next thing Kira knew, Ryan had Adrian pinned up against the wall. His hand...his powerful, deadly, stone hand was holding the other man by the throat.
“I thought gargoyles didn't have emotions unless they were evil,” Adrian rasped through a decidedly lack of air.
Ryan raised his eyebrows. “We don't. This isn't emotion. This is stay-away-from-the-girl-because-she's-under-gargoyle-protection,” he commented calmly. “And, as an officer of the law, I will find some way to arrest you if I have to.”
Adrian tried to nod and choked a little. “I see. My mistake,” he gasped. “I thought it was anger.”
“Now what the hell are you telling Kira?” Ryan wanted to know if this man was telling the truth, he didn't know if he was lying or not. He assumed the man had some knowledge of the eldritch to have known he was a gargoyle.
“Ryan, holy crap, let him down!” Kira exclaimed, running up to the two men. Her shock was superseded by the fact that Ryan appeared to be going to kill Adrian.
Na'ethal, who had dropped his masquery, and Cade stepped up and stood on either side of Ryan. Cade didn't say anything, but the elven doctor caught Ryan's gaze and opened a thought bridge, something they'd done many times.
You will not kill him, Na'ethal said. He's done nothing to hurt Kira. Hear him out. He may have information we can use.
I wasn't intending on killing him, Ryan answered, letting the man's throat out of his hand. But it never hurts to scare them.
Adrian coughed slightly, the pain not being as bad as it would have been on a human. But, damn, those gargoyles were strong when they were made of some sort of rock underneath.
“Thank you,” he said. “I'm willing to explain everything...if no one else is interested in trying to kill me.”
Adrian glanced at both Cade, who was glowering at him, and the etheral looking elf, who looked suspicious.
“I have a feeling that would be some friends of yours?” he inquired as he headed toward the door.
Adrian came face to face with a gargoyle and an elf...both of whom appeared in their human guises. He could sense their gentes easily, despite the human-looking simulcrum and masquery of the eldritch at his door.
“Where are they?” Ryan said with no expression but his tone was deadly serious. He didn't feel the need to show his New Bellwich detective's badge, although it hung from his belt.
Adrian willingly stepped aside and gestured further into the house, across the large foyer.
* * * * *
When Ryan and Nathan strode into the living room, Cade jumped. “Sonofabitch, that was fast! I just called you, like, five minutes ago,” he exclaimed.
Ryan went directly to Kira who was standing in the middle of the room, almost in a daze. Nathan paused by Cade. “We came through the Reverie. It's faster,” he explained.
Cade really had nothing to say to that. He just assumed it was true. And he didn't even flinch...not much anyway...at the fact that he just accepted the whole idea of instant travel though space and time.
Then the elf and the demon hunter hurried after Ryan, who didn't exactly have murder in his eyes...that would be an emotion...but was putting out all his 'badass police detective vibes'. Adrian had joined them in the room and waited patiently.
In the past five or so minutes since Adrian had told her she was a dragon, all Kira had done was lean against a luxuriously papered wall and try to breathe. She finally looked up when someone...Ryan, she realized, wondering when he'd gotten there...held her chin gently in his hand. He stared at her intently for a moment. Apparently she reacted enough to make him realize she wasn't in total shock because the next thing Kira knew, Ryan had Adrian pinned up against the wall. His hand...his powerful, deadly, stone hand was holding the other man by the throat.
“I thought gargoyles didn't have emotions unless they were evil,” Adrian rasped through a decidedly lack of air.
Ryan raised his eyebrows. “We don't. This isn't emotion. This is stay-away-from-the-girl-because-she's-under-gargoyle-protection,” he commented calmly. “And, as an officer of the law, I will find some way to arrest you if I have to.”
Adrian tried to nod and choked a little. “I see. My mistake,” he gasped. “I thought it was anger.”
“Now what the hell are you telling Kira?” Ryan wanted to know if this man was telling the truth, he didn't know if he was lying or not. He assumed the man had some knowledge of the eldritch to have known he was a gargoyle.
“Ryan, holy crap, let him down!” Kira exclaimed, running up to the two men. Her shock was superseded by the fact that Ryan appeared to be going to kill Adrian.
Na'ethal, who had dropped his masquery, and Cade stepped up and stood on either side of Ryan. Cade didn't say anything, but the elven doctor caught Ryan's gaze and opened a thought bridge, something they'd done many times.
You will not kill him, Na'ethal said. He's done nothing to hurt Kira. Hear him out. He may have information we can use.
I wasn't intending on killing him, Ryan answered, letting the man's throat out of his hand. But it never hurts to scare them.
Adrian coughed slightly, the pain not being as bad as it would have been on a human. But, damn, those gargoyles were strong when they were made of some sort of rock underneath.
“Thank you,” he said. “I'm willing to explain everything...if no one else is interested in trying to kill me.”
Adrian glanced at both Cade, who was glowering at him, and the etheral looking elf, who looked suspicious.
11.
“Come with me,” Adrian said abruptly, turning sharply and walking out of the large living room.
The other four stared at each other for a moment until Ryan motioned for them to follow him. With Kira behind him and Cade and Na'ethal bringing up the rear, Ryan led them through the massive house trailing behind the owner. Kira glanced outside a series of huge windows into the darkness. She saw the small lights surrounding a darkened swimming pool glinting off the water; and further in the distance, several boats lit up on Lake Cawthorne. A faintly lit stone paved walkway led down to a private beach giving the house access to the lake. At least Kira assumed it led to the lake, as that was the direction of the large body of water.
Kira knew by now that Lake Cawthorne, on the northern side of New Bellwich, was connected to the Mississippi River on the southern side by a strait that flowed through the city. From the Mississippi itself, the river flowed far south to the Mississippi Delta and out into the Gulf of Mexico.
“Mmph,” Kira grunted as she ran into Ryan in front of her, drawing her attention from the huge windows as they walked. “Sorry,” she whispered, although she was the one who'd have the bruises in the morning.
Everyone gathered around Adrian as he slowed to begin descending a set of carpeted stairs down to a lower level of the house. They had to pass through a security locked door, after which the steps became made of a polished bluish-green stone and the handrails a smooth wood.
“Should we really be doing this?” Cade asked aloud. “I mean, do we even know where we're going?”
Adrian spoked up first. “I intend you no harm, I assure you.”
“Not to be rude,” Cade replied somewhat sarcastically, “but not really trusting you at the moment.”
Adrian made a 'tch' noise. “And after I helped saved your lives earlier.”
Cade winced. Now that comment was going to bring up all sorts of questions from the other immortals. Kira glanced over her shoulder with an icy stare.
Na'ethal put a slender, pale hand on Cade's broad shoulder. “The Reverie is near, you could see it if you had the time,” he murmured. “There's no danger to us being here.”
Cade took that to mean they could escape if need be, so he shut up for the moment.
“The air, it's getting damp and cooler,” Kira commented with a shiver. “We're heading underground!” She didn't like being where it was too dark with no light or sun, it made her feel closed in, trapped, and even a little sad.
Although no one could see him, Adrian smiled. “We are already there. We'll be going several hundred feet in fact.”
The other four stared at each other for a moment until Ryan motioned for them to follow him. With Kira behind him and Cade and Na'ethal bringing up the rear, Ryan led them through the massive house trailing behind the owner. Kira glanced outside a series of huge windows into the darkness. She saw the small lights surrounding a darkened swimming pool glinting off the water; and further in the distance, several boats lit up on Lake Cawthorne. A faintly lit stone paved walkway led down to a private beach giving the house access to the lake. At least Kira assumed it led to the lake, as that was the direction of the large body of water.
Kira knew by now that Lake Cawthorne, on the northern side of New Bellwich, was connected to the Mississippi River on the southern side by a strait that flowed through the city. From the Mississippi itself, the river flowed far south to the Mississippi Delta and out into the Gulf of Mexico.
“Mmph,” Kira grunted as she ran into Ryan in front of her, drawing her attention from the huge windows as they walked. “Sorry,” she whispered, although she was the one who'd have the bruises in the morning.
Everyone gathered around Adrian as he slowed to begin descending a set of carpeted stairs down to a lower level of the house. They had to pass through a security locked door, after which the steps became made of a polished bluish-green stone and the handrails a smooth wood.
“Should we really be doing this?” Cade asked aloud. “I mean, do we even know where we're going?”
Adrian spoked up first. “I intend you no harm, I assure you.”
“Not to be rude,” Cade replied somewhat sarcastically, “but not really trusting you at the moment.”
Adrian made a 'tch' noise. “And after I helped saved your lives earlier.”
Cade winced. Now that comment was going to bring up all sorts of questions from the other immortals. Kira glanced over her shoulder with an icy stare.
Na'ethal put a slender, pale hand on Cade's broad shoulder. “The Reverie is near, you could see it if you had the time,” he murmured. “There's no danger to us being here.”
Cade took that to mean they could escape if need be, so he shut up for the moment.
“The air, it's getting damp and cooler,” Kira commented with a shiver. “We're heading underground!” She didn't like being where it was too dark with no light or sun, it made her feel closed in, trapped, and even a little sad.
Although no one could see him, Adrian smiled. “We are already there. We'll be going several hundred feet in fact.”
Finally the small group emerged from a stone archway to find themselves standing on wide, open ledge. A walkway, also without a railing, circled around the massive open area in front of them.
“Holy crap!” Kira exclaimed, drawing back a few steps and trying not to look down. Even with the blue and green lights casting their light into the darkness below, she felt uncomfortable at how high up they were with nothing between them and the plunge downward.
“Sonofabitch!” Cade breathed, staring over the edge down into the deep cavern below them.
Ryan narrowed his eyes at the dark-haired man after studying the deep cavern that was half filled with water. “Is that water from the lake?” he asked.
Adrian nodded. “It flows in through natural underwater tunnels. Here take a better look.” He reached out to flood the area with brighter light by placing his hand on a sensor in the wall. He heard Kira gasp and Cade swear at the same time that there was a splash below.
“Treasure!” Cade exclaimed. He could see the glinting of massive amounts of gold, jewels and precious gems...huge chests full and spilling over...as well as marble statues, the silver of swords and other ancient weapons, and piles of other riches.
At the same time, Kira breathed in shock, “Dolphins?”
“Yes and yes,” Adrian answered calmly, waiting for the other two eldritch to figure it out.
“But...but there are no dolphins in Lake Cawthorne,” she protested.
“No, they come merely to visit,” Adrian said with a smile. “Through the underwater tunnels, along with other creatures.”
“Dude!” Cade interjected. “Is that seriously treasure down there?”
Adrian nodded. “Indeed. Hundreds, thousands of years worth. And priceless really. It's a bitch to move, let me tell you.”
Ryan and Na'ethal had been communicating through a thought bridge, but it didn't take them long to figure it out. “How have you lived here without us knowing?” the elf asked. “How long has it been?”
Adrian shrugged, a small smile on his lips. His bright blue eyes glowed with the light and his secret. “Seventy five years or so. As I'm sure you both are aware, I have to keep pretending to be my own relation who inherits the house. As for how you didn't know...I keep a low profile, I don't mingle much with the everlasting, and I stay in human form most of the time.”
Kira and Cade's attention was drawn back to the conversation. Both wore confused expressions.
“Human form?” Kira asked.
“You're an immortal,” Cade said to Adrian. “He's an immortal,” he repeated to Kira, although she was standing right next to him.
“He's right,” Adrian nodded. “And so are you, Kira. Like I said...a dragon.” He was finally returning to his need, and desire, to make Kira aware of the truth.
Kira shook her head, dark hair swaying. “That's impossible,” she insisted. “I'd know something like that...I know I would. How could something like that not be obvious?” She heard her voice on the verge of becoming slightly hysterical.
Adrian glanced at Kira's dragon necklace. It was simple in design but it almost seemed to glow against her skin.
Ryan towered above Kira and stared down at Adrian. “How do you know this?”
“Holy crap!” Kira exclaimed, drawing back a few steps and trying not to look down. Even with the blue and green lights casting their light into the darkness below, she felt uncomfortable at how high up they were with nothing between them and the plunge downward.
“Sonofabitch!” Cade breathed, staring over the edge down into the deep cavern below them.
Ryan narrowed his eyes at the dark-haired man after studying the deep cavern that was half filled with water. “Is that water from the lake?” he asked.
Adrian nodded. “It flows in through natural underwater tunnels. Here take a better look.” He reached out to flood the area with brighter light by placing his hand on a sensor in the wall. He heard Kira gasp and Cade swear at the same time that there was a splash below.
“Treasure!” Cade exclaimed. He could see the glinting of massive amounts of gold, jewels and precious gems...huge chests full and spilling over...as well as marble statues, the silver of swords and other ancient weapons, and piles of other riches.
At the same time, Kira breathed in shock, “Dolphins?”
“Yes and yes,” Adrian answered calmly, waiting for the other two eldritch to figure it out.
“But...but there are no dolphins in Lake Cawthorne,” she protested.
“No, they come merely to visit,” Adrian said with a smile. “Through the underwater tunnels, along with other creatures.”
“Dude!” Cade interjected. “Is that seriously treasure down there?”
Adrian nodded. “Indeed. Hundreds, thousands of years worth. And priceless really. It's a bitch to move, let me tell you.”
Ryan and Na'ethal had been communicating through a thought bridge, but it didn't take them long to figure it out. “How have you lived here without us knowing?” the elf asked. “How long has it been?”
Adrian shrugged, a small smile on his lips. His bright blue eyes glowed with the light and his secret. “Seventy five years or so. As I'm sure you both are aware, I have to keep pretending to be my own relation who inherits the house. As for how you didn't know...I keep a low profile, I don't mingle much with the everlasting, and I stay in human form most of the time.”
Kira and Cade's attention was drawn back to the conversation. Both wore confused expressions.
“Human form?” Kira asked.
“You're an immortal,” Cade said to Adrian. “He's an immortal,” he repeated to Kira, although she was standing right next to him.
“He's right,” Adrian nodded. “And so are you, Kira. Like I said...a dragon.” He was finally returning to his need, and desire, to make Kira aware of the truth.
Kira shook her head, dark hair swaying. “That's impossible,” she insisted. “I'd know something like that...I know I would. How could something like that not be obvious?” She heard her voice on the verge of becoming slightly hysterical.
Adrian glanced at Kira's dragon necklace. It was simple in design but it almost seemed to glow against her skin.
Ryan towered above Kira and stared down at Adrian. “How do you know this?”
12.
Suddenly there was a commotion down in the water with violent splashing and the squeal of the dolphin as if it were in pain. Adrian rushed to the edge and peered down, the others following. A shark fin circled the water below, a faint red trail leading from the now injured dolphin. Adrian swore.
Before the others could stop him, he flung himself over the edge and into a dive toward the water far below. Kira clutched Ryan's arm so hard her knuckles turned white. She was certain Adrian would die as he hit the water from such a distance. The three males circled around her protectively. They watched, Kira and Cade nearly holding their breath, as Adrian hit the water and shot underneath in a perfect dive. The huge shark fin disappeared as it followed.
“No!” Kira yelled. “He'll be killed. The...the shark!”
Ryan and Na'ethal glanced at each other. “No,” Ryan said evenly. “I don't think he will.”
What came out of the water was unbelievable to Cade and Kira. They drew back from the ledge but continued to stare. The shark was gripped in the mouth of what appeared to be a 30-35 foot long sea serpent, the long body undulating in the air as it rose higher. The bright white lights shone on the greenish-black scales that covered the serpentine body, making them almost shimmer. As the creature rose in the air, its fore and hind fins morphed into lizard-like arms and legs with digits and thumbs, and the webbed dorsal spines and tail looked sharp and deadly. The shark was caught in the powerful jaws lined with extra-sharp teeth considering the amount of blood flowing down the creature's mouth and neck. The head resembled a snake's head with flaring nostrils and swept-back, slightly curved horns. Although the creature had no wings it seemed to turn in the air and fly for a moment before heading back down into the water with barely a splash.
There was a moment of stunned silence.
“Was that...?” Kira started to ask.
“Adrian? Yes, I believe so,” Ryan answered. “A dragon? Yes, again...a water dragon.”
Cade was silent. He literally had no words, nothing remotely intelligent to say at the moment. He kept quiet, his mind attempting to wrap itself around what he'd just seen. Then again, he thought, after everything else, why the hell not?
Why not dragons, too?
“Go with the supernatural flow, right, Kira?” he said with false calmness.
Before the others could stop him, he flung himself over the edge and into a dive toward the water far below. Kira clutched Ryan's arm so hard her knuckles turned white. She was certain Adrian would die as he hit the water from such a distance. The three males circled around her protectively. They watched, Kira and Cade nearly holding their breath, as Adrian hit the water and shot underneath in a perfect dive. The huge shark fin disappeared as it followed.
“No!” Kira yelled. “He'll be killed. The...the shark!”
Ryan and Na'ethal glanced at each other. “No,” Ryan said evenly. “I don't think he will.”
What came out of the water was unbelievable to Cade and Kira. They drew back from the ledge but continued to stare. The shark was gripped in the mouth of what appeared to be a 30-35 foot long sea serpent, the long body undulating in the air as it rose higher. The bright white lights shone on the greenish-black scales that covered the serpentine body, making them almost shimmer. As the creature rose in the air, its fore and hind fins morphed into lizard-like arms and legs with digits and thumbs, and the webbed dorsal spines and tail looked sharp and deadly. The shark was caught in the powerful jaws lined with extra-sharp teeth considering the amount of blood flowing down the creature's mouth and neck. The head resembled a snake's head with flaring nostrils and swept-back, slightly curved horns. Although the creature had no wings it seemed to turn in the air and fly for a moment before heading back down into the water with barely a splash.
There was a moment of stunned silence.
“Was that...?” Kira started to ask.
“Adrian? Yes, I believe so,” Ryan answered. “A dragon? Yes, again...a water dragon.”
Cade was silent. He literally had no words, nothing remotely intelligent to say at the moment. He kept quiet, his mind attempting to wrap itself around what he'd just seen. Then again, he thought, after everything else, why the hell not?
Why not dragons, too?
“Go with the supernatural flow, right, Kira?” he said with false calmness.
13.
Adrian soon stepped out of a hidden elevator behind them, dressed in his clothes and not the least bit damp.
“Sorry,” he apologized. “That wasn't exactly how I wanted to introduce Kira to dragons.”
He belched suddenly, a small but noticeable one.
“Dude!” Cade exclaimed. “Don't tell me you ate the goddamn shark!”
Adrian actually laughed. “Uh, no,” he said. “I'd have had to stay in dérkesthai form for quite some time to digest such a creature.”
“In what?” Kira asked without thinking. She hadn't forgotten what Adrian had said...that she was dragon, or at least part.
“My draconis or dragon form,” Adrian explained. “I'm of the Lakhmu stirps, one of the six sub-races of the dragons. My true name is Vasuki...,”
Ryan interrupted. “You talk of Kira being a dragon yet you've given no proof yet. We won't simply take your word for it.”
Adrian could see he not only had to convince Kira, but also the three protective men...one mortal and two immortal...surrounding her.
As they stood on the ledge overlooking his lair of treasure and the water below, Adrian nodded. “Tell me, Kira, how do you feel about dragons?” he asked.
“I...,” Kira started. “Well, I mean I never believed in real ones but I've always,” she paused frowning, “well, loved them, I suppose. At least that's what it seems like.” She refrained from mentioning her lack of memories of her own past.
She toyed with the dragon necklace that Cade had given her, thought about her tattoos and the fact that she was indeed fascinated by the creatures of old.
“But that doesn't prove anything,” she added, shaking her head, dark hair swaying.
Ryan and Na'ethal exchanged a glance over Kira's head. It could be a start, though.
“I'm her doctor,” Na'ethal explained. “She does seem to have enhanced senses...at least her vision and hearing, but nothing coming close to what an immortal would have. Her healing is remarkable, though. That's what caused me to first suspect she might not be totally human.”
Kira glared at the elf as if he were a traitor, but Na'ethal ignored her.
Adrian nodded. “Perhaps her senses have been muted or shut down somehow,” he suggested. “Kira will need to be trained to use them, to let them develop fully.”
Cade found himself adding to the conversation. “What's your language like? Kira said some strange words awhile back, and she doesn't remember them.”
“Excuse me!” Kira said angrily, resisting the urge to stamp her foot...or punch someone. “I'm standing right here, okay? You all can stop talking about me like I'm not in the...whatever this is, thank you very much.”
Suddenly Adrian turned to Kira. He said quickly, “Petranas onelka sia cotosera. Wux re harkt ekess qe harkajup.”
“Vinxa,” Kira said without thinking.
There was no sound in the damp cavern for a moment. It took Kira a second to realize what she had just done. She gasped.
Ryan was the first to speak. “I understood what you said; however, you were not speaking English. Explain this,” he demanded of Adrian. Little was know about dragons by the other eldritch gentes.
Even though he'd heard strange words coming out of Adrian's mouth, Cade, too, had understood that he had told Kira, 'Please forgive my rudeness. You are right to be angry'.”
“Let me explain,” Adrian said quickly. “Dragons speak a language...the First Tongue, to be precise...which was the original language of Vattan. This language was passed along to humanity, fragmented on purpose, and was the basis for all human languages. Only dragons can speak the First Tongue,” he paused, glancing meaningfully at Kira, “but all earthly creatures can comprehend the language. That's why you all could understand me. But only Kira could answer me in the First Tongue.”
“I think I might throw up,” Kira moaned, looking over the ledge and staring down at the water. The damp, dimly lit cavern wasn't helping, and neither did the extended drop into the water below. It was cold down here, and she felt closed in and trapped.
Thoughts suddenly bombarded Kira's mind: when she was severely injured after the orc attacked her, she'd dreamed in her sleep of dragons and light—a bright light that had made her feel alive and refreshed as she healed.
And when she was being tortured by the wer, Kira remembered listening...or attempting to listen to the voices in her head and get lost in the pictures forming her mind. They had been faint in sound and somewhat blurry. Intellectually she knew they hadn't been real, but there had been words, which she couldn't understand but could feel, and visions of dragons and beautiful, ancient people that had been reassuring.
Cade had been right about that strange word. Kira remembered it now. She'd said “Malsvir riika” to Ruby, the werwolf. She'd called Ruby an evil hag, although 'bitch' had been the English word on her mind. Kira gasped to herself as the truth became clear. She saw the attack again, where Ruby in wer form had launched herself at Kira after Cade had been ripped apart. She had been the one that had killed Ruby...and the drow down in the dark city...with nails that had become sharp, silver-colored claws, reptile like but longer. Kira now remembered slicing open the wer's face and chest and midsection, leaving nothing but a bloody mess behind.
“Kira?” a male voice asked.
Not sure who spoke, Kira amended her initial assessment of throwing up. “Oh my god,” she said quietly, turning to the four men on the ledge. Tears filled her eyes. Tears of fear, surprise, and possible excitement at knowing the truth finally. “Can it be true?” she looked back and forth between Ryan and Na'ethal. “Am I a dragon?”
“Sorry,” he apologized. “That wasn't exactly how I wanted to introduce Kira to dragons.”
He belched suddenly, a small but noticeable one.
“Dude!” Cade exclaimed. “Don't tell me you ate the goddamn shark!”
Adrian actually laughed. “Uh, no,” he said. “I'd have had to stay in dérkesthai form for quite some time to digest such a creature.”
“In what?” Kira asked without thinking. She hadn't forgotten what Adrian had said...that she was dragon, or at least part.
“My draconis or dragon form,” Adrian explained. “I'm of the Lakhmu stirps, one of the six sub-races of the dragons. My true name is Vasuki...,”
Ryan interrupted. “You talk of Kira being a dragon yet you've given no proof yet. We won't simply take your word for it.”
Adrian could see he not only had to convince Kira, but also the three protective men...one mortal and two immortal...surrounding her.
As they stood on the ledge overlooking his lair of treasure and the water below, Adrian nodded. “Tell me, Kira, how do you feel about dragons?” he asked.
“I...,” Kira started. “Well, I mean I never believed in real ones but I've always,” she paused frowning, “well, loved them, I suppose. At least that's what it seems like.” She refrained from mentioning her lack of memories of her own past.
She toyed with the dragon necklace that Cade had given her, thought about her tattoos and the fact that she was indeed fascinated by the creatures of old.
“But that doesn't prove anything,” she added, shaking her head, dark hair swaying.
Ryan and Na'ethal exchanged a glance over Kira's head. It could be a start, though.
“I'm her doctor,” Na'ethal explained. “She does seem to have enhanced senses...at least her vision and hearing, but nothing coming close to what an immortal would have. Her healing is remarkable, though. That's what caused me to first suspect she might not be totally human.”
Kira glared at the elf as if he were a traitor, but Na'ethal ignored her.
Adrian nodded. “Perhaps her senses have been muted or shut down somehow,” he suggested. “Kira will need to be trained to use them, to let them develop fully.”
Cade found himself adding to the conversation. “What's your language like? Kira said some strange words awhile back, and she doesn't remember them.”
“Excuse me!” Kira said angrily, resisting the urge to stamp her foot...or punch someone. “I'm standing right here, okay? You all can stop talking about me like I'm not in the...whatever this is, thank you very much.”
Suddenly Adrian turned to Kira. He said quickly, “Petranas onelka sia cotosera. Wux re harkt ekess qe harkajup.”
“Vinxa,” Kira said without thinking.
There was no sound in the damp cavern for a moment. It took Kira a second to realize what she had just done. She gasped.
Ryan was the first to speak. “I understood what you said; however, you were not speaking English. Explain this,” he demanded of Adrian. Little was know about dragons by the other eldritch gentes.
Even though he'd heard strange words coming out of Adrian's mouth, Cade, too, had understood that he had told Kira, 'Please forgive my rudeness. You are right to be angry'.”
“Let me explain,” Adrian said quickly. “Dragons speak a language...the First Tongue, to be precise...which was the original language of Vattan. This language was passed along to humanity, fragmented on purpose, and was the basis for all human languages. Only dragons can speak the First Tongue,” he paused, glancing meaningfully at Kira, “but all earthly creatures can comprehend the language. That's why you all could understand me. But only Kira could answer me in the First Tongue.”
“I think I might throw up,” Kira moaned, looking over the ledge and staring down at the water. The damp, dimly lit cavern wasn't helping, and neither did the extended drop into the water below. It was cold down here, and she felt closed in and trapped.
Thoughts suddenly bombarded Kira's mind: when she was severely injured after the orc attacked her, she'd dreamed in her sleep of dragons and light—a bright light that had made her feel alive and refreshed as she healed.
And when she was being tortured by the wer, Kira remembered listening...or attempting to listen to the voices in her head and get lost in the pictures forming her mind. They had been faint in sound and somewhat blurry. Intellectually she knew they hadn't been real, but there had been words, which she couldn't understand but could feel, and visions of dragons and beautiful, ancient people that had been reassuring.
Cade had been right about that strange word. Kira remembered it now. She'd said “Malsvir riika” to Ruby, the werwolf. She'd called Ruby an evil hag, although 'bitch' had been the English word on her mind. Kira gasped to herself as the truth became clear. She saw the attack again, where Ruby in wer form had launched herself at Kira after Cade had been ripped apart. She had been the one that had killed Ruby...and the drow down in the dark city...with nails that had become sharp, silver-colored claws, reptile like but longer. Kira now remembered slicing open the wer's face and chest and midsection, leaving nothing but a bloody mess behind.
“Kira?” a male voice asked.
Not sure who spoke, Kira amended her initial assessment of throwing up. “Oh my god,” she said quietly, turning to the four men on the ledge. Tears filled her eyes. Tears of fear, surprise, and possible excitement at knowing the truth finally. “Can it be true?” she looked back and forth between Ryan and Na'ethal. “Am I a dragon?”
14.
“There is a story I will tell you,” Adrian said with a satisfied smile. “But first, there's something Kira must see.”
He suddenly reached out and touched his fingertips to either side of Kira's head. Using draconis magick he thought to see if he could activate any shared, ancestral memories of the lives of the dragons that she might share.
Cade reacted almost as quickly as Ryan and Na'ethal, taking Adrian's movements as a threat. He was closer which is why Cade reached Kira first.
“HEY!” he yelled, wrapping his large hand around Kira's bicep. Cade tried to draw her back into him, one arm around her waist.
“No! Don't touch her...,” Adrian warned but it was too late.
He suddenly reached out and touched his fingertips to either side of Kira's head. Using draconis magick he thought to see if he could activate any shared, ancestral memories of the lives of the dragons that she might share.
Cade reacted almost as quickly as Ryan and Na'ethal, taking Adrian's movements as a threat. He was closer which is why Cade reached Kira first.
“HEY!” he yelled, wrapping his large hand around Kira's bicep. Cade tried to draw her back into him, one arm around her waist.
“No! Don't touch her...,” Adrian warned but it was too late.
15.
Dust and debris swirled around Kira and Cade as they stood in the middle of utter oblivion and the start of creation. The felt solid ground beneath them but they could see nothing for a moment. Cade held tightly onto Kira, his arm around her waist, while she gripped his arm fiercely.
“Where the hell are we?” Cade hissed as light and color began to swirl around them, forming cloud patterns at first. “What is this?” He stared around with uncertainly and apprehension.
Kira gasped. It was inconceivable...and yet she knew. More shapes and land forms began to appear all around them. The noise grew almost deafening. “It's the beginning, Cade,”' she breathed.
Despite the noise of the chaos of creation, Cade could hear Kira perfectly.
Suddenly, other shapes began to form. Massive bodies, long necks, combination snake and camel heads, flaring nostrils, powerful jaws with razor sharp teeth, serpent-like eyes—some with long wings others without. These bodies flew through the pristine air, swam in the wild seas, or nearly danced along the ground, graceful despite their size. Although Kira and Cade found themselves surrounded by the shadows of these familiar looking but mythological creatures as they moved through space and time, the pair seemed to be protected by some invisible shield.
“Where the hell are we?” Cade hissed as light and color began to swirl around them, forming cloud patterns at first. “What is this?” He stared around with uncertainly and apprehension.
Kira gasped. It was inconceivable...and yet she knew. More shapes and land forms began to appear all around them. The noise grew almost deafening. “It's the beginning, Cade,”' she breathed.
Despite the noise of the chaos of creation, Cade could hear Kira perfectly.
Suddenly, other shapes began to form. Massive bodies, long necks, combination snake and camel heads, flaring nostrils, powerful jaws with razor sharp teeth, serpent-like eyes—some with long wings others without. These bodies flew through the pristine air, swam in the wild seas, or nearly danced along the ground, graceful despite their size. Although Kira and Cade found themselves surrounded by the shadows of these familiar looking but mythological creatures as they moved through space and time, the pair seemed to be protected by some invisible shield.
Dragons ruled the earth millennia before the Age of Man, born of some cosmic proto-deity.
This thought flowed through Kira's mind with the ring of truth and familiarity; and since Cade was connected to her by his touch, he “heard” it as well.
The scene around them changed suddenly. They found themselves watching said mythological dragons interacting with each other, creating, building, and communicating in dozens of different times and places, all at one time.
Dragons mastered the elements of nature, from which they were made. They became creators of other life forms from simple ameobas to intricate rain forests, the overseers of evolution.
Different, yet more familiar massive, lumbering shapes, some of them anyway; others smaller and fast; and still others flying through the air now ranged through prehistoric earth. The dinosaurs had come to be, created in the image of their masters, the dragons. Time sped dizzily by until a comet slammed into the Yucatan penninsula. Cade flinched, imagining he and Kira being disintegrated by the force of the impact; but, instead, they remained impervious to harm as the dinosaurs were destroyed all around them.
This thought flowed through Kira's mind with the ring of truth and familiarity; and since Cade was connected to her by his touch, he “heard” it as well.
The scene around them changed suddenly. They found themselves watching said mythological dragons interacting with each other, creating, building, and communicating in dozens of different times and places, all at one time.
Dragons mastered the elements of nature, from which they were made. They became creators of other life forms from simple ameobas to intricate rain forests, the overseers of evolution.
Different, yet more familiar massive, lumbering shapes, some of them anyway; others smaller and fast; and still others flying through the air now ranged through prehistoric earth. The dinosaurs had come to be, created in the image of their masters, the dragons. Time sped dizzily by until a comet slammed into the Yucatan penninsula. Cade flinched, imagining he and Kira being disintegrated by the force of the impact; but, instead, they remained impervious to harm as the dinosaurs were destroyed all around them.
In the utter silence that followed, Cade leaned forward. “Is this real, Kira? Or have I gone stark raving mad in hell?”
Kira was silent for a moment. She felt in her bones the truth of what she saw. Not only felt it, but remembered it. She remembered it as if she'd been here before, the first time. “You're the first human to see this,” she said with awe.
Cade frowned at Kira's choice of words. Wasn't she also seeing this for the first time?
Before their eyes, ancient primates arose, survived, lived, and evolved into various species. It was awe-inspiring, breathtaking, and otherworldly.
More advanced primates evolved into favored species of the dragons. Using selective breeding and magick, the dragons mutated them into an early human race called the adapans. The draconis loved the adapans, rewarded them with gifts, the greatest of which were the dragon cities which formed the backbone of antediluvian civilization.
Kira was silent for a moment. She felt in her bones the truth of what she saw. Not only felt it, but remembered it. She remembered it as if she'd been here before, the first time. “You're the first human to see this,” she said with awe.
Cade frowned at Kira's choice of words. Wasn't she also seeing this for the first time?
Before their eyes, ancient primates arose, survived, lived, and evolved into various species. It was awe-inspiring, breathtaking, and otherworldly.
More advanced primates evolved into favored species of the dragons. Using selective breeding and magick, the dragons mutated them into an early human race called the adapans. The draconis loved the adapans, rewarded them with gifts, the greatest of which were the dragon cities which formed the backbone of antediluvian civilization.
This early, unknown form of homosapiens gave way to the first human immortals. Kira knew them for what they were as she and Cade watched them, as if from above, live their blessed lives. She felt a connection with the immortals.
“Merodachs,” she told Cade almost dreamily, gesturing with her free hand. “We were given rule over the dragon cities. But we had to worship the dragons as gods. They loved the power of eternal worship. Some draconis became harsh rulers who demanded sacrifice or religious worship.”
“Mero...? What the hell are you talking about?” Cade exclaimed. “Why are you saying “we”?” Kira was scaring him, the way she sounded so far away as if in some freaky fantasy.
“Just look, Cade,” Kira insisted. She reached up and pulled his head down to rest against hers in a very intimate gesture. Images flooded from her mind to his.
A secret society arose among the merodachs, calling themselves the Sons of Belial, named after the leviathan, a draconic-demon, which aided them to lead an uprising of most of the merodachs and over-threw their dragon masters. The draconic never expected this. They were slow to react and were disorganized. Still they managed to kill most of the merodachs. The draconis even destroyed the cities they had so proudly built. Using dragon magick they obliterated the cities so no trace would ever be found. This war was known later as the Catacylsm, which killed not only many of the merodachs but also the lesser adapans.
Although many were killed, those dragons that survived fled to secret corners of the universe, escaping the earthly dimensions or hiding on earth by going into dragonsleep. Many were tracked down by dragonslayers. Some of the Sons of Belial used leviathan magics to steal and consume the souls of the dragons they slew.
“Fear them, Cade, for they became dreaded monsters called Azhi Dehaka...demon dragons,” Kira whispered, sending shivers up both her and Cade's spines.
Voices far away penetrated the consciousness of the young man and woman. The blood, war torn scene of violence before them began to fade. The darkness began to creep forward until it enveloped them in a cold embrace.
Kira screamed and closed her eyes.
“Merodachs,” she told Cade almost dreamily, gesturing with her free hand. “We were given rule over the dragon cities. But we had to worship the dragons as gods. They loved the power of eternal worship. Some draconis became harsh rulers who demanded sacrifice or religious worship.”
“Mero...? What the hell are you talking about?” Cade exclaimed. “Why are you saying “we”?” Kira was scaring him, the way she sounded so far away as if in some freaky fantasy.
“Just look, Cade,” Kira insisted. She reached up and pulled his head down to rest against hers in a very intimate gesture. Images flooded from her mind to his.
A secret society arose among the merodachs, calling themselves the Sons of Belial, named after the leviathan, a draconic-demon, which aided them to lead an uprising of most of the merodachs and over-threw their dragon masters. The draconic never expected this. They were slow to react and were disorganized. Still they managed to kill most of the merodachs. The draconis even destroyed the cities they had so proudly built. Using dragon magick they obliterated the cities so no trace would ever be found. This war was known later as the Catacylsm, which killed not only many of the merodachs but also the lesser adapans.
Although many were killed, those dragons that survived fled to secret corners of the universe, escaping the earthly dimensions or hiding on earth by going into dragonsleep. Many were tracked down by dragonslayers. Some of the Sons of Belial used leviathan magics to steal and consume the souls of the dragons they slew.
“Fear them, Cade, for they became dreaded monsters called Azhi Dehaka...demon dragons,” Kira whispered, sending shivers up both her and Cade's spines.
Voices far away penetrated the consciousness of the young man and woman. The blood, war torn scene of violence before them began to fade. The darkness began to creep forward until it enveloped them in a cold embrace.
Kira screamed and closed her eyes.
16.
When she opened her eyes, Kira was kneeling on the cold floor of the ledge overlooking the watery cave. She felt Cade's strong arms around her. Ryan and Na'ethal were squatting down staring at her, calling hers and Cade's names.
“Are you two alright?” Na'ethal said worriedly as he saw two pairs of eyes open suddenly.
She shrugged and turned to stare at Cade. He was silent, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“Did..did we really see all that?” she asked shakily. Somehow she found herself back on her feet as two sets of eldritch arms helped her up.
“Hell if I know,” Cade answered. He swallowed hard. He still held onto Kira's arm, unable to let go. “I think I just accidentally went along for the weirdest ride of my life.”
“He is correct,” Adrian confirmed. He was standing casually, arms crossed loosely over his chest. His expression was neutral but bordering on concerned. No human had ever traveled into the draconis memories, although Cade seemed no worse for the experience. He turned his attention to Kira. “Only you were supposed to see that. Those were draconic memories, only accessible to dragons. And you were only “out” for several minutes,” he added.
Ryan and Na'ethal made Kira and Cade tell them what they saw. It grew colder in the underground cavern as they talked. At least to Kira it did. She began to shiver and long for heat and light.
“Explain,” Ryan demanded of Adrian, turning on him with a growl. “And make it good or this will not end well, I can promise you that.”
Adrian held up his hands as if in surrender, but he didn't seem to take the threat seriously.
“It's as I said. They saw dragon memories of many millenia ago. Kira is a dragon of some degree. Few waking draconis remain on earth today, perhaps less than two dozen. We learned long ago to mask ourselves as adapans, the form you see before you, so we could walk among our mortal worshipers. All earthly draconis now mostly maintain human forms, rarely showing our true nature, due to the magickal strain and emminent danger in doing so.”
In the silence, Adrian waited. He had stopped short of showing Kira that the draconis swore a blood debt of vengeance against the merodachs, who later begat the more advanced mortals of earth. This debt has remained unfulfilled to this day. This promise of revenge had given rise to intense hatred of mortals among many of the draconis. They longed for the Return, when humanity would be subjugated once more under dragon rule. Adrian knew that dragon survivors living within modern human society had either grown in their contempt for humanity or had lost this hatred altogether.
“I have one more story to tell,” Adrian announced. “But let's go up where it's warmer. Kira doesn't like the cold, I can tell. Nor the darkness. She is not a water dragon, but nibiru...a dragon of light.”
“Are you two alright?” Na'ethal said worriedly as he saw two pairs of eyes open suddenly.
She shrugged and turned to stare at Cade. He was silent, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“Did..did we really see all that?” she asked shakily. Somehow she found herself back on her feet as two sets of eldritch arms helped her up.
“Hell if I know,” Cade answered. He swallowed hard. He still held onto Kira's arm, unable to let go. “I think I just accidentally went along for the weirdest ride of my life.”
“He is correct,” Adrian confirmed. He was standing casually, arms crossed loosely over his chest. His expression was neutral but bordering on concerned. No human had ever traveled into the draconis memories, although Cade seemed no worse for the experience. He turned his attention to Kira. “Only you were supposed to see that. Those were draconic memories, only accessible to dragons. And you were only “out” for several minutes,” he added.
Ryan and Na'ethal made Kira and Cade tell them what they saw. It grew colder in the underground cavern as they talked. At least to Kira it did. She began to shiver and long for heat and light.
“Explain,” Ryan demanded of Adrian, turning on him with a growl. “And make it good or this will not end well, I can promise you that.”
Adrian held up his hands as if in surrender, but he didn't seem to take the threat seriously.
“It's as I said. They saw dragon memories of many millenia ago. Kira is a dragon of some degree. Few waking draconis remain on earth today, perhaps less than two dozen. We learned long ago to mask ourselves as adapans, the form you see before you, so we could walk among our mortal worshipers. All earthly draconis now mostly maintain human forms, rarely showing our true nature, due to the magickal strain and emminent danger in doing so.”
In the silence, Adrian waited. He had stopped short of showing Kira that the draconis swore a blood debt of vengeance against the merodachs, who later begat the more advanced mortals of earth. This debt has remained unfulfilled to this day. This promise of revenge had given rise to intense hatred of mortals among many of the draconis. They longed for the Return, when humanity would be subjugated once more under dragon rule. Adrian knew that dragon survivors living within modern human society had either grown in their contempt for humanity or had lost this hatred altogether.
“I have one more story to tell,” Adrian announced. “But let's go up where it's warmer. Kira doesn't like the cold, I can tell. Nor the darkness. She is not a water dragon, but nibiru...a dragon of light.”
17.
Upstairs in his living room, the lights brightly lit and the air warmer, Kira stood between Ryan and Cade holding a bottle of water. No one had wanted to sit down nor avail themselves of Adrian's hospitality. This wasn't a damn social visit. The eldritch wanted answers and they wanted them an hour ago.
“Tell us this other story,” Na'ethal requested. His voice was polite but his tone was commanding.
Adrian sighed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. As far as age went, he was easily the oldest immortal in the room. However, he remained calm and pretended to give in. He ran a hand through his dark hair.
“Very well. There is myth among my kind, a myth of the birth of an offspring between a male nibiru dragon...a dragon of light...in his adapan form and a female immortal human. It was said an Elder Lord, one of a collection of powerful supernatural beings, provided the magick for this impossible birth to take place. It was also said this child would be used to keep the merodachs loyal to the dragons, and the dragons to continue to care for their immortal children.”
In the pause of his story, there was stunned silence. He continued before anyone could speak. “But the Cataclysm occurred anyway...the devastating war that you two witnessed...when this child was supposedly three years old. She was stolen by the Sons of Belial, who hated the dragons and wanted no part of reuniting.”
Ryan and Na'ethal exchanged a glance.
The man in Cassandra's dungeon, the one who tried to kill Kira, Na'ethal said in Ryan's mind. He said something about this Sons of Belial.
Yes, Ryan agreed. He confessed of a weapon to use against the dragons. He called it a “she”.
Adrian went on, unaware of the conversation between the other two immortals. “The Brothers put this child to sleep through Leviathan magic, to await the use of her in the future. There the myth ends,” he admitted. “No dragon knows what happened to the girl child after that or even if she really existed.”
“Tell us this other story,” Na'ethal requested. His voice was polite but his tone was commanding.
Adrian sighed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. As far as age went, he was easily the oldest immortal in the room. However, he remained calm and pretended to give in. He ran a hand through his dark hair.
“Very well. There is myth among my kind, a myth of the birth of an offspring between a male nibiru dragon...a dragon of light...in his adapan form and a female immortal human. It was said an Elder Lord, one of a collection of powerful supernatural beings, provided the magick for this impossible birth to take place. It was also said this child would be used to keep the merodachs loyal to the dragons, and the dragons to continue to care for their immortal children.”
In the pause of his story, there was stunned silence. He continued before anyone could speak. “But the Cataclysm occurred anyway...the devastating war that you two witnessed...when this child was supposedly three years old. She was stolen by the Sons of Belial, who hated the dragons and wanted no part of reuniting.”
Ryan and Na'ethal exchanged a glance.
The man in Cassandra's dungeon, the one who tried to kill Kira, Na'ethal said in Ryan's mind. He said something about this Sons of Belial.
Yes, Ryan agreed. He confessed of a weapon to use against the dragons. He called it a “she”.
Adrian went on, unaware of the conversation between the other two immortals. “The Brothers put this child to sleep through Leviathan magic, to await the use of her in the future. There the myth ends,” he admitted. “No dragon knows what happened to the girl child after that or even if she really existed.”
18.
It was Cade who figured it out first, or at least he was the first to speak up. “Do not tell me you are saying Kira is this hybrid child,” he growled. “There's no fucking way.”
“What?” Kira exclaimed. “No, no that's impossible! That's not, like even in the realm of possibility,” she stated firmly.
Adrian shrugged. “I'm not saying anything. I merely told you the story.”
“Look, I'm 23 years old,” Kira continued to protest. “That much I remember! Not thousands of millenia, or whatever, old...that's just insane! I mean, look at me!”
Kira looked pleadingly at her guardian and her doctor for support. But they were staring at each other in the annoying way they had when speaking through a mind connection. She was about to pitch a fit at them and everyone for being so stupid and ridiculous about this idiotic story when there was a crash of glass from the sliding doors and windows that led to the expansive back yard on the lake.
“What?” Kira exclaimed. “No, no that's impossible! That's not, like even in the realm of possibility,” she stated firmly.
Adrian shrugged. “I'm not saying anything. I merely told you the story.”
“Look, I'm 23 years old,” Kira continued to protest. “That much I remember! Not thousands of millenia, or whatever, old...that's just insane! I mean, look at me!”
Kira looked pleadingly at her guardian and her doctor for support. But they were staring at each other in the annoying way they had when speaking through a mind connection. She was about to pitch a fit at them and everyone for being so stupid and ridiculous about this idiotic story when there was a crash of glass from the sliding doors and windows that led to the expansive back yard on the lake.
19.
“Really?” Adrian asked in annoyance, turning toward the windows. “It appears we have unexpected...and unwanted...visitors.”
What Adrian had said earlier underground came back to haunt him.
You don't want to fight a large group.
And they hadn't then, not really. They'd faced only a small group of revenants. But now it seemed that reinforcements had found them. Whether from the group who lived in the city or the ones attempting to take over, he didn't know. All that mattered was that the fifteen or so creatures pouring into his living room had found them and did not appear pleased.
“Remember, behead them, burn them, stab them with silver!” Adrian repeated his advice from earlier for the benefit of Kira and Cade. He assumed the gargoyle and elf would know what to do. “Help yourself to weapons, then do it fast and get it done the first time!”
Cade remembered seeing various swords displayed on the wall above the fireplace. He vaulted over the couch while at the same time drawing his silver knife from its sheath inside his jacket sleeve.
“Throw me one, Cade!” Adrian yelled.
Cade wasn't sure how he did it, but he managed to literally rip a sword off the wall and toss it across the room. He saw Adrian catch it by the handle and turn toward the onslaught of living flesh inhabited by dead souls. Then he wrenched a sword off the wall for himself just as he felt hands clutching at his back. Whirling around, Cade decapitated one then stabbed another in the heart—or where the heart would be—before being shoved back by a third revenant. Cade found he could defend himself physically against more than one revenant, he felt stronger and more alert than ever before.
Adrian didn't hide who he was this time. In his human form he was already super-strong, near-invulnerable, and had well-developed senses. But he let his adapan form shapeshift into a saurial-human, figuring he'd have more than enough strength to kill the revenants if he also used the sword. His skin turned slightly greenish-black, just a hint of the color Adrian was earlier, and his nails grew into talons. Fangs protruded from his mouth and his voice as he yelled deepened. His clothes ripped as he grew one foot taller and doubled his weight with larger muscles. The tail that grew from his lower back, while not as thick or strong as when it was a full part of him, whipped around hard enough to knock down one of the invading creatures. As he leaned over to slice through the creatures neck with his sword, another leaped on to Adrian's back.
Ryan didn't hesitate to transform into seven feet of living granite, a stone gargoyle with leathery wings folded against his back. Sharp, deadly claws stretched outward as he caught one of the revenants by the throat. With both powerful hands, Ryan began to literally tear heads from necks, sometimes knocking the creatures down first in order to deal with another. For a few he allowed his knives to slip out from the slits in his wrists and slice the necks in order to make ripping the head off easier. And it was somewhat satisfying to slice first.
The three men took on the brunt of the attack as they were closer to the broken windows.
Na'ethal, though unarmed at the moment, called upon his magical wyrd of spirit armor to at least reduce any damage to himself. Suddenly he felt Kira next to him. She tossed the elf her silver knife, then almost caused him to be knocked down. In front of him, Kira began to change slightly. She began to glow a faint silver hue but with a rainbow sheen to her skin. Her hands grew into silver claws and her teeth elongated into short fangs.
Kira launched herself onto the revenant that was struggling with Na'ethal, forcing the living dead creature down to the carpet. The elf knelt down and slid the silver knife into the chest of the creature. It died as all the others were doing...bloodless and screaming in agony as the souls were ripped from the bodies...both the animated corpses and the stolen living bodies. Na'ethal and Kira worked together. She brought them down and the elf plunged the silver knife into their bodies. Soon only the souls remained.
The dead souls remained standing, populating the room but unable to fight. There was confusion, anger, screaming, and crying at the agony of being parted from the bodies. As before, when each revenant “died” for the second...and last time...everyone in the room felt stronger, faster, and more energized. The vitality and pleasure the revenants felt when soulstealing left the living dead and infused the gargoyle, elf, two human dragons, and a human.
What Adrian had said earlier underground came back to haunt him.
You don't want to fight a large group.
And they hadn't then, not really. They'd faced only a small group of revenants. But now it seemed that reinforcements had found them. Whether from the group who lived in the city or the ones attempting to take over, he didn't know. All that mattered was that the fifteen or so creatures pouring into his living room had found them and did not appear pleased.
“Remember, behead them, burn them, stab them with silver!” Adrian repeated his advice from earlier for the benefit of Kira and Cade. He assumed the gargoyle and elf would know what to do. “Help yourself to weapons, then do it fast and get it done the first time!”
Cade remembered seeing various swords displayed on the wall above the fireplace. He vaulted over the couch while at the same time drawing his silver knife from its sheath inside his jacket sleeve.
“Throw me one, Cade!” Adrian yelled.
Cade wasn't sure how he did it, but he managed to literally rip a sword off the wall and toss it across the room. He saw Adrian catch it by the handle and turn toward the onslaught of living flesh inhabited by dead souls. Then he wrenched a sword off the wall for himself just as he felt hands clutching at his back. Whirling around, Cade decapitated one then stabbed another in the heart—or where the heart would be—before being shoved back by a third revenant. Cade found he could defend himself physically against more than one revenant, he felt stronger and more alert than ever before.
Adrian didn't hide who he was this time. In his human form he was already super-strong, near-invulnerable, and had well-developed senses. But he let his adapan form shapeshift into a saurial-human, figuring he'd have more than enough strength to kill the revenants if he also used the sword. His skin turned slightly greenish-black, just a hint of the color Adrian was earlier, and his nails grew into talons. Fangs protruded from his mouth and his voice as he yelled deepened. His clothes ripped as he grew one foot taller and doubled his weight with larger muscles. The tail that grew from his lower back, while not as thick or strong as when it was a full part of him, whipped around hard enough to knock down one of the invading creatures. As he leaned over to slice through the creatures neck with his sword, another leaped on to Adrian's back.
Ryan didn't hesitate to transform into seven feet of living granite, a stone gargoyle with leathery wings folded against his back. Sharp, deadly claws stretched outward as he caught one of the revenants by the throat. With both powerful hands, Ryan began to literally tear heads from necks, sometimes knocking the creatures down first in order to deal with another. For a few he allowed his knives to slip out from the slits in his wrists and slice the necks in order to make ripping the head off easier. And it was somewhat satisfying to slice first.
The three men took on the brunt of the attack as they were closer to the broken windows.
Na'ethal, though unarmed at the moment, called upon his magical wyrd of spirit armor to at least reduce any damage to himself. Suddenly he felt Kira next to him. She tossed the elf her silver knife, then almost caused him to be knocked down. In front of him, Kira began to change slightly. She began to glow a faint silver hue but with a rainbow sheen to her skin. Her hands grew into silver claws and her teeth elongated into short fangs.
Kira launched herself onto the revenant that was struggling with Na'ethal, forcing the living dead creature down to the carpet. The elf knelt down and slid the silver knife into the chest of the creature. It died as all the others were doing...bloodless and screaming in agony as the souls were ripped from the bodies...both the animated corpses and the stolen living bodies. Na'ethal and Kira worked together. She brought them down and the elf plunged the silver knife into their bodies. Soon only the souls remained.
The dead souls remained standing, populating the room but unable to fight. There was confusion, anger, screaming, and crying at the agony of being parted from the bodies. As before, when each revenant “died” for the second...and last time...everyone in the room felt stronger, faster, and more energized. The vitality and pleasure the revenants felt when soulstealing left the living dead and infused the gargoyle, elf, two human dragons, and a human.
20.
A cold began to seep into the room. Almost before the fighting ceased, two figures dressed in black emerged from the Reverie. Two animated skeletons dressed in tattered black robes and armed with scythes stood before them, bringing cloudy blackness with them.
“What the hell?!” Cade shouted.
It appeared that two grim reapers had joined the party. They began to apprehend the souls of the dead, to literally grab the ghostly figures and push them into nothingness so that they disappeared back into the Reverie and the further into the Underworld. The souls' screams of Abbadon were almost heartwrenching to hear.
“Ankou,” Adrian replied. “Agents of death who have become revenants themselves in order to track down and destroy other revenants. Revenants call them Abbadon. Be still, allow them to work, and they will leave quickly.”
Shortly Adrian's living room was still littered with decapitated or stabbed bodies, but no blood, dead souls or grim reaper figures. Luckily none had been burned as that might have set fire to his mansion. The room was trashed but Adrian didn't seem to care. Possessions could be bought and things fixed, and he had more than enough money. He was staring at Kira who still maintained her slight dragon form and color. Ryan, who had resisted the urge to sin-eat before killing now forced himself to change back despite the almost painful feelings in his soul. He glanced at Cade to make sure the boy was unharmed.
“What the hell?!” Cade shouted.
It appeared that two grim reapers had joined the party. They began to apprehend the souls of the dead, to literally grab the ghostly figures and push them into nothingness so that they disappeared back into the Reverie and the further into the Underworld. The souls' screams of Abbadon were almost heartwrenching to hear.
“Ankou,” Adrian replied. “Agents of death who have become revenants themselves in order to track down and destroy other revenants. Revenants call them Abbadon. Be still, allow them to work, and they will leave quickly.”
Shortly Adrian's living room was still littered with decapitated or stabbed bodies, but no blood, dead souls or grim reaper figures. Luckily none had been burned as that might have set fire to his mansion. The room was trashed but Adrian didn't seem to care. Possessions could be bought and things fixed, and he had more than enough money. He was staring at Kira who still maintained her slight dragon form and color. Ryan, who had resisted the urge to sin-eat before killing now forced himself to change back despite the almost painful feelings in his soul. He glanced at Cade to make sure the boy was unharmed.
21.
They all approached Kira and Na'ethal. Adrian had easily slipped back to his adapan form.
Kira stared down at her taloned hands and slight silver and rainbow-hued skin. “Oh my God!” she whispered. Only it came out slightly slurred. She reached up and felt her sharp teeth. “Help me! What do I do?” she almost wailed.
“Relax,” Adrian said gently. “Deep breath, think of yourself as you usually look. Pretend to look in a mirror and see yourself.”
The others watched a Kira closed her eyes and began to revert to her normal self.
“Sonofabitch,” Cade breathed. “It's true. You really are a dragon, Kira. A pretty color, too,” he added before he could stop himself.
Kira stared down at her taloned hands and slight silver and rainbow-hued skin. “Oh my God!” she whispered. Only it came out slightly slurred. She reached up and felt her sharp teeth. “Help me! What do I do?” she almost wailed.
“Relax,” Adrian said gently. “Deep breath, think of yourself as you usually look. Pretend to look in a mirror and see yourself.”
The others watched a Kira closed her eyes and began to revert to her normal self.
“Sonofabitch,” Cade breathed. “It's true. You really are a dragon, Kira. A pretty color, too,” he added before he could stop himself.
22.
It had seemed best to keep Kira busy for awhile to allow her to think and absorb the impossible without everyone staring at her. Adrian requested much needed assistance to dispose of the bodies. The bodies of the sarkomenos, the animated corpses, had already begun to revert to their original and decayed forms, some drying up as if mummified. The other bodies, the ekimmus, had been stolen and the original souls cast into the Underworld in place of the revenant's soul. Those bodies died a natural death from lack of a soul, but still had to be disposed of. Even Adrian, with Detective Ryan Laurent's help, could not have explained a living room full of bodies such as these.
Once the corpses had been loaded aboard Adrian's motor boat, they had dumped them in a secluded area where he knew the bottom was deep. Kira and Cade felt horrified at what they were doing, and had to remind themselves that these bodies had been stolen by revenant souls. They had stopped being who they had been in life long ago.
Back in the house, Kira was exhausted. Cade looked ready to drop as well. Ryan and Na'ethal were prepared to take the young woman and man away.
“Before you go, Kira...,” Adrian began.
Kira held up a hand. “No more. Not right now,” she said quietly. “I can't handle anything else.”
Cade bristled at Kira's obvious discomfort after everything that had happened, and Adrian wanting to add more to her heavy dose of revelations.
“I know, I'm sorry it happened like this, but...,” Adrian tried to say.
“Look, no more," she insisted. "I guess I can accept that I might be part dragon, but not that I can be millions of years old, having been in some sort of magical sleep since the age of 3.” Kira paused, taking a deep breath. “But...I guess I do want to know one thing.”
Everyone was silent. Adrian looked at her expectantly waiting for her to go on, his blue eyes intently focused on Kira.
“Will I be able to transform into a full dragon, like you did? Truth is, I'm not sure I want to,” she admitted. “I've always been human, mortal before now but at least human...,” Kira stopped.
She couldn't help but glance at Cade. His green eyes seemed to stare into her very soul as he remained silent. It was bad enough when she had been declared part immortal, and it had thrown Cade into nearly leaving. Granted he had come around and declared his loyalty to her and fighting the Death Knell, but she'd at least still been mostly human.
Not a dragon in human form!
Adrian interrupted her thoughts and brought her attention back.
“There are several different forms a dragon can take,” he explained. “You saw me in the dérkesthai form, the full bipedal dragon form...my true form. However, there are four other stages...you yourself took the saurial-human form, as did I, during the fight.”
Ryan, Na'ethal, and Cade all listened intently. This was important information regarding Kira, something they all felt they should be completely aware of. They watched Kira stare up at Adrian, his black hair tousled and his blue eyes captivating her. None of the them particularly liked the emotional connection they could see being created.
“I would be honored to help you find out what your abilities are. Granted you are possibly only half dragon, but the other half might be merodach, the original immortal human. Truthfully, I am the only one that can teach you," Adrian said matter-of-factly.
Kira frowned. She didn't want to think about the myth of the little girl. That just wasn't possible. But the facts did seem to point to her being part dragon. And she needed help in learning to be a dragon..
Cade frowned and didn't make a secret of his feelings. He saw Kira take a deep breath, then look at Ryan almost for approval of the idea. It was as if she really thought of him as her guardian.
Na'ethal spoke up. “It is true that only another dragon could possibly teach Kira, just as another eldritch would be the only one to guide a newly made immortal of the same gente.”
Ryan nodded reluctantly, putting a hand out to stop Cade. He'd seen the boy almost leap forward with a definite protest ready to explode.
“I agree. However, Cade will accompany Kira to all her “lessons” and be present no matter what. They are partners in fighting the Death Knell and there will be no secrets if they are to trust each other with their lives.”
Kira's eyes opened wide but she didn't protest. Ryan was more than serious this time, and she knew he wouldn't allow it otherwise. Although she said nothing, Kira was grateful for this condition. Cade felt an almost painful relief surge through him, and he tried not to look smug at Adrian's momentary disconcerted look.
In the brief silence that followed, Ryan realized that he was keeping a huge secret from Cade: the fact that he was the demons' Eternal Foe. And not just one of many...but potentially the most formidable warrior ever to fight the darkness ahead of them. Driven by determination, vengeance, and human guilt, Cade possibly had the incredible willpower to fight to the end. And end which might require great sacrifice.
But that wasn't the same as Kira and Cade keeping secrets. He would tell Cade the truth at the proper time.
Kira had one more question, one she hadn't had time to ask before the revenants attacked. “You said I was...what was it..nibiru?”
“Yes,” Adrian nodded. “Draconis can sense the stirpes, or types, of other dragons. You are a dragon of light, or chromatic dragon. Nibiru prefer well-lit lairs and bask in the light, especially of the sun.”
Kira felt overwhelmed for it was true—she had always hated the darkness and the cold, instead was drawn to heat and light.
Na'ethal exchanged a look with Ryan and nodded. “Would it be possible to ask for a favor?” he asked.
Once the corpses had been loaded aboard Adrian's motor boat, they had dumped them in a secluded area where he knew the bottom was deep. Kira and Cade felt horrified at what they were doing, and had to remind themselves that these bodies had been stolen by revenant souls. They had stopped being who they had been in life long ago.
Back in the house, Kira was exhausted. Cade looked ready to drop as well. Ryan and Na'ethal were prepared to take the young woman and man away.
“Before you go, Kira...,” Adrian began.
Kira held up a hand. “No more. Not right now,” she said quietly. “I can't handle anything else.”
Cade bristled at Kira's obvious discomfort after everything that had happened, and Adrian wanting to add more to her heavy dose of revelations.
“I know, I'm sorry it happened like this, but...,” Adrian tried to say.
“Look, no more," she insisted. "I guess I can accept that I might be part dragon, but not that I can be millions of years old, having been in some sort of magical sleep since the age of 3.” Kira paused, taking a deep breath. “But...I guess I do want to know one thing.”
Everyone was silent. Adrian looked at her expectantly waiting for her to go on, his blue eyes intently focused on Kira.
“Will I be able to transform into a full dragon, like you did? Truth is, I'm not sure I want to,” she admitted. “I've always been human, mortal before now but at least human...,” Kira stopped.
She couldn't help but glance at Cade. His green eyes seemed to stare into her very soul as he remained silent. It was bad enough when she had been declared part immortal, and it had thrown Cade into nearly leaving. Granted he had come around and declared his loyalty to her and fighting the Death Knell, but she'd at least still been mostly human.
Not a dragon in human form!
Adrian interrupted her thoughts and brought her attention back.
“There are several different forms a dragon can take,” he explained. “You saw me in the dérkesthai form, the full bipedal dragon form...my true form. However, there are four other stages...you yourself took the saurial-human form, as did I, during the fight.”
Ryan, Na'ethal, and Cade all listened intently. This was important information regarding Kira, something they all felt they should be completely aware of. They watched Kira stare up at Adrian, his black hair tousled and his blue eyes captivating her. None of the them particularly liked the emotional connection they could see being created.
“I would be honored to help you find out what your abilities are. Granted you are possibly only half dragon, but the other half might be merodach, the original immortal human. Truthfully, I am the only one that can teach you," Adrian said matter-of-factly.
Kira frowned. She didn't want to think about the myth of the little girl. That just wasn't possible. But the facts did seem to point to her being part dragon. And she needed help in learning to be a dragon..
Cade frowned and didn't make a secret of his feelings. He saw Kira take a deep breath, then look at Ryan almost for approval of the idea. It was as if she really thought of him as her guardian.
Na'ethal spoke up. “It is true that only another dragon could possibly teach Kira, just as another eldritch would be the only one to guide a newly made immortal of the same gente.”
Ryan nodded reluctantly, putting a hand out to stop Cade. He'd seen the boy almost leap forward with a definite protest ready to explode.
“I agree. However, Cade will accompany Kira to all her “lessons” and be present no matter what. They are partners in fighting the Death Knell and there will be no secrets if they are to trust each other with their lives.”
Kira's eyes opened wide but she didn't protest. Ryan was more than serious this time, and she knew he wouldn't allow it otherwise. Although she said nothing, Kira was grateful for this condition. Cade felt an almost painful relief surge through him, and he tried not to look smug at Adrian's momentary disconcerted look.
In the brief silence that followed, Ryan realized that he was keeping a huge secret from Cade: the fact that he was the demons' Eternal Foe. And not just one of many...but potentially the most formidable warrior ever to fight the darkness ahead of them. Driven by determination, vengeance, and human guilt, Cade possibly had the incredible willpower to fight to the end. And end which might require great sacrifice.
But that wasn't the same as Kira and Cade keeping secrets. He would tell Cade the truth at the proper time.
Kira had one more question, one she hadn't had time to ask before the revenants attacked. “You said I was...what was it..nibiru?”
“Yes,” Adrian nodded. “Draconis can sense the stirpes, or types, of other dragons. You are a dragon of light, or chromatic dragon. Nibiru prefer well-lit lairs and bask in the light, especially of the sun.”
Kira felt overwhelmed for it was true—she had always hated the darkness and the cold, instead was drawn to heat and light.
Na'ethal exchanged a look with Ryan and nodded. “Would it be possible to ask for a favor?” he asked.
23.
Once he'd been alone for a few minutes—and he was sure the others weren't returning for any reason—Adrian retreated to his underground lair. He sat cross legged on the ledge overlooking the great pool of water and his treasure below. It didn't bother him in the slightest being so close to such a long drop. Almost in a trance, the water dragon called out to the five other dragons he'd been meeting with for the past few decades. In a voice so high-pitched, quiet, and directed he spoke across great distances. Then he breathed deeply several times and left his body for Primordium, one of the Far Realms within the Astra.
The pool the 30-plus foot dragon floated on was filled with cool, deep water. Greenish-black scales glowed in the moonlight. The serpentine body with lizard-like arms and legs, webbed dorsal spines and long tail was at ease in the night. Primordium was a safe place for the draconis to meet and contact each other; it was a reminder of how the world was once peaceful. Mortals would have recognized it as their Pangea, when earth was but one vast continent.
Vasuki looked around at the five other draconis standing in a large circle. The circle was indeed massive considering the immense size of each creature. He was lakhmu, the sea serpent. With him was a nanaru, a dragon of darkness; a ramman, a dragon of the wind; a zarpanitum, a dragon of the earth; an aghni, a dragon of fire; and a nibiru. A dragon of light such as the girl that they were here to speak of. The six of them had come together after centuries of discussion. They had decided that the path of rage that most of their kind believed fervently in would only result in the draconis' own destruction. They had come to believe that a draconic reign of terror would only strengthen the leviathans and daimons, making them the most powerful of all eldritch forces. It might become necessary for the draconis to turn away from their plan of revenge to save themselves and the planet. They were working on convincing other dragons of their viewpoint.
They knew this clash in views with other dragons might lead to a dragon war, when the draconis of other worlds returned seeking revenge...and the earthly draconic tried to stop to them.
Vasuki now spent time speaking of the girl Kira and what he believed.
The aghni spoke first, a spark of fire inside the fire dragon's mouth and puffs of smoke from her nostrils preceding her words. “We must “obtain” this girl for our own use if there is ever a hope to stop a dragon war or the reuniting of humans and dragons.”
“And we must not allow the Sons of Belial to retake her and use her as a weapon against us during the Day of Vengeance," added the zarpanitum. The metallic dragon spoke in a deep, rumbling voice.
“But if she proves to be a danger to us, then she'll have to be eliminated," the nanaru dragon of darkness said. His voice was like a multitude of whispers as shadow and ash puffed from his nostrils.
The ramman's breath crackled with lightning. “Do what you can to take possession of this girl," the wind dragon insisted as fog billowed from her nostrils.
Only the nibiru was silent, thinking of the girl who was of his stirup. Dragons of light were capable of creating life, and he abhorred taking anyone's unless absolutely necessary.
“I will do whatever is necessary,” Vasuki agreed. Water vapor rose from his nostrils as he floated on the surface of the water. “First, I'll get her to trust me during our training, then she will be ours. I can easily get rid of the mortal male that has been engaged as her protector.”
Vasuki looked around at the five other draconis standing in a large circle. The circle was indeed massive considering the immense size of each creature. He was lakhmu, the sea serpent. With him was a nanaru, a dragon of darkness; a ramman, a dragon of the wind; a zarpanitum, a dragon of the earth; an aghni, a dragon of fire; and a nibiru. A dragon of light such as the girl that they were here to speak of. The six of them had come together after centuries of discussion. They had decided that the path of rage that most of their kind believed fervently in would only result in the draconis' own destruction. They had come to believe that a draconic reign of terror would only strengthen the leviathans and daimons, making them the most powerful of all eldritch forces. It might become necessary for the draconis to turn away from their plan of revenge to save themselves and the planet. They were working on convincing other dragons of their viewpoint.
They knew this clash in views with other dragons might lead to a dragon war, when the draconis of other worlds returned seeking revenge...and the earthly draconic tried to stop to them.
Vasuki now spent time speaking of the girl Kira and what he believed.
The aghni spoke first, a spark of fire inside the fire dragon's mouth and puffs of smoke from her nostrils preceding her words. “We must “obtain” this girl for our own use if there is ever a hope to stop a dragon war or the reuniting of humans and dragons.”
“And we must not allow the Sons of Belial to retake her and use her as a weapon against us during the Day of Vengeance," added the zarpanitum. The metallic dragon spoke in a deep, rumbling voice.
“But if she proves to be a danger to us, then she'll have to be eliminated," the nanaru dragon of darkness said. His voice was like a multitude of whispers as shadow and ash puffed from his nostrils.
The ramman's breath crackled with lightning. “Do what you can to take possession of this girl," the wind dragon insisted as fog billowed from her nostrils.
Only the nibiru was silent, thinking of the girl who was of his stirup. Dragons of light were capable of creating life, and he abhorred taking anyone's unless absolutely necessary.
“I will do whatever is necessary,” Vasuki agreed. Water vapor rose from his nostrils as he floated on the surface of the water. “First, I'll get her to trust me during our training, then she will be ours. I can easily get rid of the mortal male that has been engaged as her protector.”
24.
Early the next morning Ryan, Kira, and Cade had met at Na'ethal's clinic. The day was already warm and humid. The elven doctor had tested Kira's blood against the small amount that Adrian had donated. It was only sufficient for one testing, nothing else...but it had been enough. It had been what he'd been missing all this time. He found that Kira was without a doubt part dragon and part original immortal human, a merodach. If there really had been a child born all those millennia ago...and put to sleep...then Kira was a good candidate for being this child.
Kira was now officially an immortal.
As she sat in Na'ethal's office, she didn't know what to think, and right now she wished she didn't have to think about this. Her life kept radically changing before she'd fully had time live the previous one.
Kira was now officially an immortal.
As she sat in Na'ethal's office, she didn't know what to think, and right now she wished she didn't have to think about this. Her life kept radically changing before she'd fully had time live the previous one.
25.
Cade was quiet and half-brooding. Even more so than usual. He'd accepted that Kira was half-immortal of some unknown gente and had come to be comfortable of that fact. She had still needed him. But this took things to a whole new, unbelievable level. How could he possibly be of any use to her...or the other eldritch now. He was merely a demon hunter, a mortal hunter.
Ryan watched Cade, seeming to understand his expressions and his silence. The gargoyle decided it was time to tell Cade what Na'ethal had discovered. They needed the young man to be more fully committed than before...they needed the Death Knell and Kira to be Cade's life. His reason for existence beyond any other.
Ryan stood at the elven doctor's desk where the medical files of both young people lay open. He had read both of them several times over the past months. Cade hadn't given permission for his to be seen, but in this case Ryan felt it wasn't necessary. Considering their conditions, it was his business. Especially how Cade would take the news once the young man processed the enormity of the situation.
“There's more,” Ryan announced. He nodded to Na'ethal who understood without the need for a thought bridge.
“Cade,” the elven doctor started, then paused until the young man looked at him. “This may come as a shock...or perhaps too much information in light of what we've learned about Kira...but you, too, seem to have immortal blood. I found it about a month ago but needed to run more tests. There are now traces of daeva and angelic lifeforce in your blood.”
Cade rose from his chair abruptly and turned his back to the room. He stood at the window staring out into the trees surrounding the clinic. Kira hesitated then went over to him, everything else in the room lost in her concern. She still remembered how she'd felt when she first heard of her immortal blood, how frightened and resistant she'd been. She put her hand on his bicep through his jacket, her brown eyes filled with concern. Ryan and Na'ethal exchanged a concerned look. They focused on the pair, listening intently. The doctor was concerned for his patient's mental state, while the detective waited to see how the boy would react.
“Cade? Talk to me, please. You're scaring me with this silence,” Kira said quietly. She had no idea what he was thinking.
Cade ran a hand through his short, spiky hair and took a deep breath. He turned back to the elven doctor.
Cade folded his arms. “You think this probably came about because of what Bella and Thomas did for me...brought me back to life?” he asked, figuring out when such a thing could have possibly happened. “You think they gave me some of their life force...am I part angel and part daeva, then?”
“Yes,” the elf said. “And no. It's more than that, but for now that's all I can tell.”
Cade tried not to smile but he couldn't help it. A brief twitch of his lips almost gave him away. “How is this going to manifest?” he asked seriously. “How will I change?”
Ryan frowned. There was an odd tone to the boy's voice. He didn't sound or look upset in the least. He answered the question. “Most likely increased strength and perhaps your senses will improve as well, but it depends on what immortal blood you have in what degree.”
Suddenly Cade grinned. He heard Kira gasp.
“Hot damn!” he exclaimed, startling Kira even more. “I'm sorry,” he said to her, and to the other two men. “But this...this is kind of awesome.”
Kira was nearly speechless, but managed to ask in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Don't you get it? This means I am more like you, I don't have to worry about not being able to help or protect or...or getting my ass kicked by a demon.”
Ryan spoke up. “You fought well just recently...several times,” he reminded Cade.
“Exactly!” Cade nearly shouted. “I had the immortal blood in me. I was almost as strong as the demons and revenants! I wondered why that was. I didn't know if the other creatures were weak or what, but now I know for sure.”
Ryan watched Cade, seeming to understand his expressions and his silence. The gargoyle decided it was time to tell Cade what Na'ethal had discovered. They needed the young man to be more fully committed than before...they needed the Death Knell and Kira to be Cade's life. His reason for existence beyond any other.
Ryan stood at the elven doctor's desk where the medical files of both young people lay open. He had read both of them several times over the past months. Cade hadn't given permission for his to be seen, but in this case Ryan felt it wasn't necessary. Considering their conditions, it was his business. Especially how Cade would take the news once the young man processed the enormity of the situation.
“There's more,” Ryan announced. He nodded to Na'ethal who understood without the need for a thought bridge.
“Cade,” the elven doctor started, then paused until the young man looked at him. “This may come as a shock...or perhaps too much information in light of what we've learned about Kira...but you, too, seem to have immortal blood. I found it about a month ago but needed to run more tests. There are now traces of daeva and angelic lifeforce in your blood.”
Cade rose from his chair abruptly and turned his back to the room. He stood at the window staring out into the trees surrounding the clinic. Kira hesitated then went over to him, everything else in the room lost in her concern. She still remembered how she'd felt when she first heard of her immortal blood, how frightened and resistant she'd been. She put her hand on his bicep through his jacket, her brown eyes filled with concern. Ryan and Na'ethal exchanged a concerned look. They focused on the pair, listening intently. The doctor was concerned for his patient's mental state, while the detective waited to see how the boy would react.
“Cade? Talk to me, please. You're scaring me with this silence,” Kira said quietly. She had no idea what he was thinking.
Cade ran a hand through his short, spiky hair and took a deep breath. He turned back to the elven doctor.
Cade folded his arms. “You think this probably came about because of what Bella and Thomas did for me...brought me back to life?” he asked, figuring out when such a thing could have possibly happened. “You think they gave me some of their life force...am I part angel and part daeva, then?”
“Yes,” the elf said. “And no. It's more than that, but for now that's all I can tell.”
Cade tried not to smile but he couldn't help it. A brief twitch of his lips almost gave him away. “How is this going to manifest?” he asked seriously. “How will I change?”
Ryan frowned. There was an odd tone to the boy's voice. He didn't sound or look upset in the least. He answered the question. “Most likely increased strength and perhaps your senses will improve as well, but it depends on what immortal blood you have in what degree.”
Suddenly Cade grinned. He heard Kira gasp.
“Hot damn!” he exclaimed, startling Kira even more. “I'm sorry,” he said to her, and to the other two men. “But this...this is kind of awesome.”
Kira was nearly speechless, but managed to ask in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Don't you get it? This means I am more like you, I don't have to worry about not being able to help or protect or...or getting my ass kicked by a demon.”
Ryan spoke up. “You fought well just recently...several times,” he reminded Cade.
“Exactly!” Cade nearly shouted. “I had the immortal blood in me. I was almost as strong as the demons and revenants! I wondered why that was. I didn't know if the other creatures were weak or what, but now I know for sure.”
26.
There was a knock on the office door. Na'ethal called out for whoever it was to enter as he still had a clinic to run.
One of the elven nurses, her masquery dropped, entered the office that had grown silent. “Hank's awake,” she said. “He woke up a few minutes ago. He says he wants to see the dark-haired girl from that night, the girl named Kira. He won't say anything else.”
Kira blinked as the three men stared at her until she started for the door following behind the nurse. Now what did life have in store for her?
One of the elven nurses, her masquery dropped, entered the office that had grown silent. “Hank's awake,” she said. “He woke up a few minutes ago. He says he wants to see the dark-haired girl from that night, the girl named Kira. He won't say anything else.”
Kira blinked as the three men stared at her until she started for the door following behind the nurse. Now what did life have in store for her?