Lion

by Jessie Rose Case

  And through it all, Lion stood by her side. Taking fire, protecting her back. Working with her, not against her. Listened to her, even when he didn’t like it.

  As the dust settled, she stood surveying the field of battle. It wasn’t pretty. Four and Five stood guard with her. She’d had to use her guns today and didn’t regret it for a moment. It was the only way her people would remain free. The Scourge had made their choices.

  That hot glorious mess of a man came towards her. He was a sight to see. Lethal strength, blood splattered. She could see the predator in him in his every move.

  He called her his ‘mate’. Pilar smiled recalling it. No rejection there. It was loud and proud for all the world to hear. “Why are you smiling female?”

  “That’s easy,” she told him slipping into his arms. “You.”

  The End…..

  A note from the author;

  Hello,

  Thank you so much for buying this book. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. And as a special thank you, I give you a chapter from one of my other series. Enjoy! My best to you and yours xx Jessie.

  Blooded – House Arturo.

  Arturo

  CHAPTER ONE

  What was that incredible smell? Arturo looked around him. The night was warm and inviting. The usual smells of people, food, drink, disease, animals, rotting garbage and death surrounded him. He’d learnt to tune most of it out if he wanted to keep his sanity. Along with the noise that humans created. There was nothing silent about them. They had no idea just what a target they placed on themselves just by their own behaviour. It was amazing that any of them had survived at all. It would be so easy to rub them all out. To snap, the life out of them. Idiots. Just look at them he thought. Walking around, going into bars, restaurants and clubs without a care. Getting drunk. Walking the streets at night without a clue of the nightmare that could so easily destroy them. Only the soft lighting for cover. They were vulnerable. Weak. A target. And his job was to keep as many safe as possible. Arturo breathed in again. What was that incredible smell? Not often did something overwhelm his senses.

  Arturo breathed deep and tuned into the scent trail turning in its direction. Seeing in the dark held no problem for him. The street lamps were for humans. Another failing. He hadn’t been human for over 700 years, he didn’t need the light. He stood on the pavement and looked around him again. So many people moving about their business, going to dinner, or meeting friends, lovers, husbands and wives. Ignorant of the real world around them. Just as they hoped to keep it. The world still held sway to those that were ignorant of the real world. The world he lived in. Arturo followed the scent that drove him on. He hadn’t noticed it before on his several trips into this town. Nothing was familiar about it. He’d invested in this town as it was up and coming in the financial markets. It was thought of as ‘quant’. A nice town. Nicer than many. Large. It had money. And it showed in its pretty market place and streets. All colonial styling with strings of lights between businesses. Music pumping out into the streets. It gave it a party atmosphere. It was after all Friday night. It drew people in. The perfect hunting ground, only no one hunted on his territory. Arturo continued to walk in the direction his senses told him to go.

  The itch he felt telling him he needed to hurry. He could not explain it. He just knew. Arturo started to jog at human speed. He passed those out for an evening’s stroll or on their way to a destination. Stopping once, twice to breath in that delicious scent, correcting his direction and jogging on. The slight breeze helping him. He could have gone faster but that would have drawn attention and he might miss a change in the air. It battled against his need for urgency. His beast clawed at him. He started to run. Down the street. Around the corner. Down another street. He stopped. He’d lost it. The sense of loss hammering into him. Bending to lessen the pain, he breathed in again. He didn’t need the air just craved more of that scent. He straightened and turned around in a circle closing his eyes, he took several deep breaths blocking everything out but the scent, trying to look like he was out of breath and not some demented being with his nose in the air sniffing everyone and everything. Shit, he realised he’d over run whatever it was. He slowly walked back and looked around him. A park square was up ahead. Several people were walking about. On the breeze, he caught the scent of something else. Something ….. other. Several of them. Hunting. Arturo stopped and looked around. No one hunted on his territory. The was unsanctioned. An invasion that would have to be dealt with. He suddenly understood why his time was running out. He walked forward with a determined stride. He would find it before it was lost to this world. He couldn’t explain it he just had to.

  Arturo could see three people some distance ahead. Two were a couple holding hands. He followed them as they moved off and a lone person remained moving along the path. Arturo frowned. This cannot be. He slowly approached the person. This female. He watched as she moved off the main path and headed into the park square. No. He thought. They would find her there. It would be easy for them. He looked at her. Too easy. Easy prey. The park was deserted. The trees in the centre providing cover and shelter from the lights. Why would she go in there? He wondered confused. Had she no sense of preservation? There was nothing to attract anyone at this time of night. The café was closed. He watched her move into the sheltered area under the trees. Even with his eyesight it was difficult to see her. What was she thinking? Even to humans she’d be a target in there. He walked in after her. And approached slowly.

  Regin knew they were coming. She’d felt it. At first it had been a surprise, a balm to her senses having expected the worst. It seemed welcoming, comforting even. Then it changed direction and turned into what it normally felt like. Death. Destruction. Madness. Regin took a deep breath to calm her nerves. This was nothing she hadn’t faced before, she reminded herself. She moved then into the shadows away from the people. Some night out this was turning into. Regin stopped. She looked around her. She couldn’t see the path she’d come from. This would do. She had her back to the café and would see them coming from three sides. She checked her bag and took out several items. She already carried the essentials on her. She loaded her pockets and basket. Regin checked around her again. This was good. Yet, confused, she felt the same comforting feeling fall over her again and turned towards it. She watched as a man approached her cautiously. No not a man she realised. His movements just too perfect. Too quiet. Just a bit too fluid. He tried hard to conceal it. It was clear he’d had lots of practice at it. Regin smiled. His pose was guarded. Proud. Assured. Confident.

  Regin realised this male was the take charge kinda guy. He was used to getting what he wanted. He liked being in charge. And strangely he didn’t feel like death. She looked at his emotional layers again. Regin frowned. She knew what he was but his layers made no sense. She’d been fighting them most of her life. Regin was intrigued. This was a first. She raised her eyebrows in question and allowed him to enter her space. He was a beautiful male. Dressed in tight fitting black jeans and a black T. He was a tall well-built male. It left little to the imagination. Piercing eyes. Long hair. Earing loops in both ears. Which amused Regin, it gave him a pirate look. Wasn’t that a couple of decades ago? And built, as her dad would have said ‘like a brick shit house’. He posed no harm to her. Regin smiled towards him. “Hello.” She asked, “are you lost?”

  Arturo looked down at the female. There was no doubt she was the source of the scent. He struggled not to lean into her, grab her by the neck and nuzzle into her shoulder. He pulled his beast back and smiled back at her. She wasn’t stunning in a human way. They liked their women stick thin, long and lanky. Based too much on looks. He detested their idea of beautiful. This was a real woman. She had curves. A nice smile. Lovely blue eyes. Intelligence radiated from her. Her hair had a boyish cut. He’d heard it called ‘pixie’ at some point recognising it. It suited her. And she carried a nasty scar that ran down her neck under her collar. Arturo’s emotions flared, becam
e unstable. They dared touch what belonged to him? To damage his. Arturo shook his head to clear the fog clouding it. This woman did not belong to him he told himself. He took a deep breath and a step back. He needed control. It didn’t help much. The females scent was all over him pulling at him. But she was not his. She was not his. He kept telling himself. Pushing down his feelings as he remembered she’d asked him a question. “No. I’m not lost. But you cannot be here.” He told her looking around for the best exit for her.

  Regin gave him an indulgent smile. “I’m exactly where I should be. However, I don’t think you should be here. You feel different.” Arturo focused back on the woman and frowned down at her. “Different? What do you mean?” Regin studied him for a moment sifting through his layers. Did he not know? “You don’t feel like death.” Regin told him as she turned to look back in front of her. “But death is coming and quickly, you should leave.” She told him. “You can feel them?” He asked her. “Yes. I can feel their emotional layers. They are also projecting. Their confident. Intent. I can feel their layers, their history. Their need for blood and death. They’ll be here soon.” She told him.

  Arturo looked at this woman, he was worried for her. “Are you not frightened child?” Regin grinned and laughed. “This is not my first rodeo and I’ve not been called a child in many years. What’s your name?” She asked him. “Arturo.” Regin extended her hand. “Hello again. I’m Regin.” Arturo held out his hand and took hers in his. The moment he held it he felt her. Her energy. It pulsed around him. Crackled. Seemed to spark off him and light up his body. It was an amazing feeling. He was confused. She felt human. Not other. But there was something that was undeniable in the feel of her and her scent. Regin pulled her hand back and Arturo felt the lights had just gone out of his life. “If you stay, you will have to fight.” She told him. “Can you?” She asked. Arturo raised his eyebrows. “Seriously, you are asking me that? Do I look like I can’t fight?” He asked her indignantly.

  Regin smiled. Arrogant much? she thought. “Looks can be deceiving handsome. For example. The double earring loops and long hair, I thought that went out in the 90’s and I’m no fashion guru but on you. It looks good.” Arturo snorted. Had she insulted him? “I’d be more worried about yourself. If you’re not going to leave, stay behind me and I’ll protect you.” He told her. Regin studied him a moment. She didn’t need protecting but he wouldn’t know that. It wouldn’t be the first time that someone had underestimated her. She smiled and nodded at him. “Ok, together then?” She asked him. Arturo nodded. “Together then.”

  He would protector her, he told himself. She was safer with him than out there alone and when they were done here, he would make sure she was never vulnerable again. Arturo frowned. He did not understand his pull towards this woman but it was undeniable.

  Regin moved around him staying out of arms reach. She removed the items from her basket and started to lay powder in a circle around them both. It was large enough for them both to fight in. She looked up to see Arturo frowning. She made it a strong thick line with no breaks about a metre out from them. When it was done, she placed her hand on the powder and concentrated. A charge dispersed and ran around the circle. Regin caught Arturo looking on with curiosity. She could see he was wondering what was she doing? Regin came back to him in the middle. “Don’t break the circle. No matter how much they tempt you.” She told him.

  “In that case you have just cornered yourself in here with me. Are you not worried that I might attack you?” He asked her feeling lighter than he had in many years. Regin smiled up at him. “No death in your layers. Remember.” Arturo tilted his head at her.

  He didn’t understand, thought Regin not unsurprised, like so many he only saw her vulnerability. They were close now. Their feelings and emotions were strong. Maybe 2 minutes out now by Vamp speed. “They’re here” she told him. Arturo stared at her. She wondered if he knew they were coming. And how close they were. He looked a little shocked at hearing her say it. Suddenly. Nine people emerged from the night. All at Vamp speed, ghost’s on the night. They slowed to human speed and five came at them head on and stopped. With the leader in the front. Two others moved and stopped either side of them. Flanking them. They were far enough away that it would take a human 2 minutes to reach them at running speed. For them, it was nothing. A blink of an eye. They had effectively blocked any escape. Good, thought Regin, that made it easier.

  Arturo looked at the men facing him. They were all men or had been. They were something other now and had been for some time by the look of them. Some were older than others but no master’s here. The leader he knew. “Well Arturo. It has been a while has it not?” Arturo disliked this male intensely. And he was in his territory without permission. He would pay for that. He saw Regin look up at him questioningly. It was clear to him that although the leader had spoken quietly, for Vamp hearing, Regin had heard him. That was another surprise. A human would not have heard him. “Jazel. I see you have been busy.” He told him indicating his men. Jazel laughed. “This is nothing. Just a few friends out on the town. You’re out of your comfort zone here aren’t you Arturo?” Arturo watched as Jazel looked around him. He kept his eyes on him. “In fact. I do not see your men and there was such a delicious smell coming from this direction I had to pursue it.” Regin whispered to Arturo barely audible. “They have come for me. You need to move away from me as much as you can. Do not break the circle. If you need to leave. Fly over it. If we fight. I will take the left.” Arturo raised his eyebrows again. She’d take the left? Jazel sniffed the air. He became excited. And looked at Regin. “You seem to have found my prize Arturo.”

  Regin grasped globes in both hands. Bringing them quickly out of her pockets. “Do not breath in.” She told Arturo quietly. And just as quickly broke both globes and spun the contents over herself and the ground surrounding her. She looked at Arturo. “Do not touch me.” She whispered again. Her scent disappeared. Arturo hoped his protection would be enough. The female was strange. “Jazel. You are trespassing and mistaken. You are not approved to be here. That is a breach of the rules. Leave now before I make you pay for that. There is no prize here. Just myself and my …. ward.” Arturo told him. ‘Ward?’ Where did that come? What was he thinking? He could feel Regin looking strangely at him. “Ward?” Jazel spoke. “Wrong century old man.” He spat at him. “And I go where I like.” Arturo remained calm. He would not be bated by this punk. “Never the less. The female is under my protection.” Jazel looked at his men. He looked over confident. “Do you really think so? You are on your own with the female and I am not.” He told him grinning like a mad man. Jazel twitched and there was movement from the right and left.

  Arturo dropped into a fighting stance wondering how he was going to be able to cover both sides with this woman next to him. The two either side of them, came at them within a split second. And screamed as they hit what he guessed was Regin’s barrier. Well dam. Arturo watched as in their surprise they stopped and looked about. Regin was already in motion, lifting two globes and threw them. “Don’t let her hit you.” Jazel cried out too late. Hitting her targets in the face. “Surprise!” She called out. Both looked at her confused. Then started screaming again. Clawing at their faces and necks and ripping open their clothes making it worse as the powder seemed to burn them. Arturo watched as they became frantic trying to rid themselves of it as they continued to burn. They staggered back and dropped to the floor. Ashing in seconds. At the same time, Arturo caught the movement near him and punched the first assailant on his side of the barrier, sending him flying along with his screaming as he too had hit the barrier. The second attacker had stopped as he witnessed what had happened to his companions, he regained his composure and wisely stepped back slowly.

  Arturo looked at Jazel. “My ward has bite.” He told him with a smile. Jazel screamed. “She is mine. Take them now.” The four that were left rushed them. They each hit the barrier at the same time. They cried out at the impact but had le
arnt from the previous four. They leaned over it and tried to swipe them with their claws. Arturo dodged one and struck one with the back of his hand sending him flying. Arturo saw Regin face off with the two coming at her. As they reached forward towards her, she called out “Boo”, held up her hands and ejected a cloud of powder from her wrists. Both men breathed it in, a reflex action, they didn’t need to breath. It was a human response. Arturo guessed the brain remembered the memory reflex. It was automatic. And in this case, it seemed to be deadly. Both started to combust from the inside out and they both fell away from her.

  The two downed from Arturo looked at Jazel. The third who had initially attacked Arturo and had stepped back turned and looked confused at Jazel. Arturo wasn’t surprised to see Jazel appear to be teetering on the edge of madness. “I will have her.” He screamed. In a desperate bid to do as his master told them, the male who had backed off Arturo threw himself across the circle to break it, burning himself in the process from the outside inwards, it was slow and would be painful. His screaming filling the night. Arturo wondered how that couldn’t be heard by humans. The two downed men came at them again. Using the bridge given to them by the disintegrating body of their colleague on top of it. Arturo fought one off viciously. Cutting into him. Hobbling him before taking his head.

  At the same time Regin’s assailant went to grab her and let go quickly as he started screaming. His hands burning. “Haven’t you heard. Never touch a lady unless she asks you to.” Regin told him. He backed away and tried to go around her. Arturo saw Regin lift another globe. “Do I really need to use this?” She asked her attacker. Jazel’s scream could be heard across the park as his man lost his head by Arturo’s hand. That left one. Arturo was relieved to see Regin keeping her gazed on her opponent. He knew the minute the male was going to try again. And so it seemed did Regin. Arturo watched her lift her other hand, at such close quarters she couldn’t miss. She fired. Her assailant looked up at her in shock. But smiling that he was still whole and not smoking. He took a step forward. He’s grin suddenly dropped. Arturo watched Regin study him. The male took a step forward again towards her and Arturo moved to intercede. “No.” She called out to him as he came to stand beside her. “He’s done, don’t touch him.” Arturo looked on as fire suddenly engulfed the male before her.