I knew he was more furious than he’d ever been before. Not once did he interrupt my story; I even thought I could hear his ragged breaths. After I finished talking, there was a long stretch of complete silence between us. I waited as long as I could and then said cautiously, “Ash? Are you there? Did you get all that?”
“I’m here,” he responded crossly. “I’m just so angry right now, Lexi. I’m working hard to control my temper so I don’t blow. I don’t know why, but not once did I consider Ava Rose might have been kidnapped by Kieran. I could kick myself for not thinking of him in the first place. And now that he has you, Izzy, and Dakota too, the stakes are far too high. As if that isn’t enough crap to deal with, I can’t believe this Neo guy is back in the picture.”
Rolling onto my side, I said wearily, “I know. It’s too much to take.”
“Well, we’re going to have to take it. Take it and deal with it. Because it’s real. Right now, I’ve got some questions for you, and then we need to start thinking about how we’re going to get out of this latest disaster – alive.”
He drilled me for quite a while. After that he berated me for lying, I deserved it, so I took it. Besides, his temper was nothing compared to what Jason’s would be when he found out. If he ever found out. In a way, Ash was the battle preparing me for the war with Jason. Another reason I succumbed so easily to Ash’s harsh criticisms was because I understood he needed to blow off some steam. In the process of fleeing Bellingham with Kieran’s men, Ash had no physical release. If he had, he probably would have beaten the two guys within an inch of their lives and then fried them to a crisp with a few energy spheres.
There was another lapse in our conversation when he boarded the plane. When he spoke with me again, they were airborne. In a rush, he apologized for lashing out earlier and admitted he probably would have done the same thing had he been in my shoes. I asked about Jason and found out he’d been irritable ever since I’d left town. Apparently though, Michael and Sienna were visiting. They’d flown in from Maine the night before, and that had improved Jason’s mood. Ash worried that when Jason found out I’d been lying and had willingly surrendered to Kieran, I might need more protection from him than I was ever going to need from Kieran. While I knew that was true, I couldn’t spend any more time thinking about it. Instead, I changed the subject and gave Ash all the information I had on the Ray-pacs and their individual Flairs.
“It sounds like we only have three things going for us at this point,” Ash said when I finished. “First, Kieran can’t be sure whether or not we are communicating back and forth unless one of us slips. So we need to be vigilant and act surprised if something comes up. Second, he doesn’t know you can’t link with him. And third, because he can’t sense our link, you should be able to take him out. And by that I mean kill him, Lexi…”
“I know. I will. No problem.”
“Good. You need to do it when he tries to link with you because that’s when he’ll be powerless and that’s when he’ll be least expecting it. I’m assuming Kieran plans on killing me, especially since I screwed him over by not handing you over on a silver platter before.” He was silent a moment. “I’ll also pretend like our link has broken…act defenseless. When the time is right, I’ll strike and hopefully destroy a few surprised Ray-pacs.”
“We need to figure out how to get Ava Rose to safety and save Izzy and Dakota, too,” I said breathlessly.
“We’ll keep working on those details. Right now, you need to try and get some sleep. Tomorrow is almost here, and that means we don’t have a lot of time. This month’s full moon hits around 2:00 a.m.”
Feeling overwhelmed and suddenly beyond exhausted, I couldn’t argue with that. “Yeah, and Kieran is so psycho-crazy about linking with me, there’s no way he’s going to wait a minute longer than he has to. I’ve also been under the impression he’s planning some big production. Probably in the basement of the compound with a full Ray-pac audience. As soon as his link with Aria breaks it’ll be show time.”
“Then get some sleep, because we have about 24 hours until that happens. We’ll talk in the morning unless something comes up between now and then. And I want to touch base every half hour or so tomorrow. I’m going to try my best to make contact with Madison or someone from our Circle. I’ll see if I can borrow a cell phone and make a call on the plane when these morons aren’t looking. Get some rest.”
“Okay. You, too. Bye, Ash.”
My sleep was restless – full of fragmented nightmares. In the morning when I awoke, I spoke with Ash first thing. Apparently, the two guys had watched him like a hawk on the plane, but he’d managed to borrow some girl’s cell phone and send a quick text to Madison. He wasn’t sure if it went through or not and figured only time would tell. The good news was that he’d touched down in Oklahoma City sometime during the night. When he described his holding cell, a wave of relief washed over me. It sounded exactly like the ones in the basement where Izzy and Dakota were being held. Ash might be a prisoner, but he was here. And there was something comforting about knowing I wasn’t alone. Thank goodness the compound’s heavy duty walls only blocked the ability to detect links and not the ability to speak telepathically.
Anxious to see Ava Rose, I took a quick shower, dressed, and hurried out of my room. Unfortunately, that was not to be. I was greeted by a cranky, sleepy-eyed Vincent. He was still parked in the same chair outside her room, just as he had been the night before. Shooting to his feet, he placed himself directly in front of her door. Stretching his arms out, as if to bar my entrance, he rudely informed me that she was still sleeping. With a jeering smile, he added that I wasn’t allowed to go in without permission. I gave him a dirty look and took a step toward him. He shrank back but held his position and informed me Kieran was expecting me on the veranda for breakfast.
I wasn’t happy about it but figured I had no choice in the matter. During my short walk down the hallway, I mentally prepared myself for a conversation with Kieran. I didn’t want to betray my knowledge that Ash was here, but I didn’t really know how to play it cool, either. Halfway there, I met Maya who was carrying a tray full of fresh fruits and pastries. She greeted me cordially, and I opened the balcony door, allowing her to go first.
Immediately, Kieran and I made eye contact. I had the feeling he was studying my facial expressions and body language for any indication of whether I’d had contact with Ash. Personally, I thought he’d have to be a fool to think otherwise. Regardless, I decided to put on a show like I was angry about the day before and about being separated from Ava. Which I was, so it wasn’t that difficult. With a loud harrumph, I diverted my gaze to the Oklahoma skyline. Rather than sitting down, I stomped over and leaned against the railing. That back-fired. The steel railing was already smoldering hot from the morning sun. I yelped and jumped back but smacked into a chair.
Upon hearing Kieran’s laughter, I spun around and glared at him. Maya had just disappeared back inside. “How ironic,” he said merrily. His face was in the shade because he had the table umbrella opened all the way. “Sucks to get burned, doesn’t it?” He grabbed a strawberry off the platter. “It’s supposed to hit 95 degrees today. Maybe this will be a day for multiple records,” he surmised, shoving the whole strawberry into his mouth, green top included. I wasn’t sure what he was talking about and chose not to respond. “Come; have a seat, Lexi. Enjoy your last breakfast as a Guardian member, because the next time we eat out here, you’ll be a Ray-pac.”
Wanting nothing more than to lash out and beat him to a pulp, it took every ounce of self-control to follow his orders. After sitting down, I looked him straight in the eye and said viciously, “We might link, but that doesn’t mean I will be a Ray-pac. I could never steal Essence from another person…or an animal,” I added, narrowing my eyes. “And there is no way I will hurt, torture, or kill anyone. What’s more,” I said, picking up my butter knife and jabbing it in the air, “I will never, ever stop hating you.”
He leaned back
and slapped his chest. “How very entertaining you are this morning. And while I’m happy to hear you’ve finally accepted our linking – of course, you did promise to link willingly if I didn’t hurt Ava – I must tell you how dead wrong you are about everything else.” Abruptly, he sat up and scooted his chair closer to mine. The legs scraped loudly. He inclined his face toward mine. If he’d gone another couple inches our noses would have been touching. “Once we link, you will be a Ray-pac. My Ray-pac. And you will supply me with Essence whenever I ask. In addition, you will hunt with me and you will steal Essence – not because you need it – but because I want you to experience the rush and the power associated with it. And while I may not expect you to kill people, since it goes against your very nature, you will not stop me or anyone else from enjoying the game. That’s how we roll.” He paused, grabbed a strawberry, and held it up to my mouth. “Now, take a bite.”
I shook my head.
“Take a bite.”
“No.”
“Yes,” he said calmly, but the look on his face was ruthless. His eyes pierced deep into my soul, and fear coiled around my spine.
I opened my mouth, and very slowly he placed the strawberry between my teeth.
“Now bite.” I did so, and his eyes widened. He chewed on his lower lip as he watched me.
Shifting uncomfortably in my chair, I closed my mouth and chewed on the strawberry. The sweet juices awakened my taste buds, but I didn’t enjoy their flavors. After swallowing, I grabbed a napkin, wiped my face, and said spitefully, “Are you happy now?”
He didn’t answer but instead relaxed back into his chair and said, “See how easy that was. As long as you stay your usual cheerful self and do as I ask, we’ll get along perfectly. I prefer to avoid the constant threats. It gets tedious bringing up your parents, your brothers, or those roommates of yours – Ally and Bernie, right?”
It’s Ben, I wanted to snap back. Instead, I breathed deep, refrained from correcting him, and remained silent.
“Anyways, if you do as I say. We’ll have no issues, and no harm will come to your family or your friends. It will be a mutual understanding between us.”
I crossed my legs. “And my Guardian friends?”
His facial muscles constricted, and as he closed his eyes, his lips pressed together. Suddenly, I remembered an old proverb, “He shuts his eyes to devise fraudulent things: moving his lips he brings evil to pass.” No doubt in my mind, that proverb was written with Kieran in mind. He was probably contemplating destruction as he spoke.
“All Guardians are fair game.” His voice was harsh as if his vocal cords had been scratched with sand paper. I noticed his jaw locking as he wadded his napkin into a tight ball. His eyes shot open. “Guardians are my sworn enemies,” he added just as vehemently. “And my life’s mission is to destroy as many of those self-righteous –”
“Why?” I interrupted. “Why do you hate them so much? You attacked us. You came after me. You couldn’t think we wouldn’t retaliate. Adrian and those other Ray-pacs died through no fault of ours. We were defending ourselves. You of all people should understand that.”
“You know nothing about it,” he spewed. “I hate all Guardians. For reasons much bigger than what happened to my brother.”
“Tell me,” I urged. “You expect us to link and for me to be…” I struggled with the words. “To be…okay with that. You have to know that will be impossible when you’ve ripped me away from everyone I love. Everyone you keep threatening to kill. Maybe if I understood your…your…” His what? I’d never understand him; nor did I want to. “Maybe if I understood the reasons why you are the way you are, I’d have an easier time…adapting.” I was lying through my teeth, trying to manipulate him, and I realized how good that felt. I needed to best him for once.
Squinting, he drummed his hand against the side of his chair. “You will need to accept me and understand me better, Lexi. I plan on us being together for a very long time. And we will be intimate. We will have children. And we’ll do those things that couples do.”
A biting chill encompassed me. My ab muscles started going nuts, tightening up. Overcome with nausea, I took a sip of juice. The thought of any kind of relationship with Kieran was inconceivable. And I’d rather die than have a child with him. I cleared my throat, but he didn’t seem to notice. His eyes glossed over like he was zoning out. I waited, hoping he might pass on some information. Anything I could use against him.
When he did speak up, I was shocked. It wasn’t like him to share anything. Ever. And the story he told was not quite what I’d expected. Then again, I’d had no idea what to expect. For once, I felt like he was telling the truth, but he was such a good liar; it was always possible he was playing me again.
According to him, he’d been born with the compulsive desire to drain Essence from other living things. Since his parents were Ray-pacs, he was born one also. He had stolen Essence from animals even before he’d walked. His parents brought him domesticated pets like dogs and cats until he was old enough to hunt on his own. I had a random mental image of missing pet signs posted throughout neighborhoods across the nation. I wondered how many missing pets were due to the natural order of things and how many were the result of less natural causes – Ray-pacs.
In a low voice he droned on, telling me how eventually, as he and his brother grew older, they advanced to the next level – stealing Essence from humans. With reverence, he explained how his dad taught them to be skilled and methodical in their hunting techniques. When stalking Innocents, they’d hide, slowly moving in closer until they were seen and could see the fear in the eyes of their prey. Sprinting, they’d knock down the Innocent, subsequently grabbing for the throat, cutting off the air supply while draining away the Essence. They were taught how to be careful and not get caught or draw attention to themselves. They perfected their skills, so when they were first on the scene after a premonition, they had time to draw the Essence from the injured and disappear before others arrived. I tried not to make too many faces or show my disgust, but it was hard to listen to him – how proud he was of his dad for teaching him to be a killer.
The most incredible part to me, was that Kieran truly believed premonitions were a part of a Ray-pac’s natural, genetic make-up so they could steal Essence from people. He compared himself to a cougar and said, “Just as cougars have large paws and large hind legs so they can make one powerful leap and take down their prey; Ray-pacs have premonitions so they can track Innocents and steal their Essence. We are both predators. Powerful above all.” I was blown away by his ignorance and his grandiose delusions – so opposite of the true purpose of our premonitions – to save people.
As Kieran rubbed his chin and stared at the cityscape, he continued with his narrative. It was like he’d forgotten I was even present. As his story took a twisted turn, I began to understand a little more of where his hatred for Guardians came from. Evidently, his father had been the leader of a huge group of about forty Ray-pacs. That little bit of intel surprised me because I’d been under the impression Ray-pacs hung in much smaller numbers – eight to twelve in a pack. One late afternoon, Kieran’s dad and mom took a group of about six others out for an evening hunt, which wasn’t unusual. Except this time only one guy came back. And this guy described a grisly scene in which all the Ray-pacs had been slaughtered by a group of Guardians. The details were gory, and I had a hard time believing much of it was true. Especially after I heard that same guy took over as the alpha of their pack.
Under new leadership, life in the pack changed significantly and not for the better. The new guy was a ruthless leader, so lustful for power and energy that at times he stole Essence from the children in the pack. When someone challenged him, he destroyed them. Other members were too scared to do anything after that, so they turned the other way and allowed the abuse to continue. Because a newborn’s Essence is so extraordinary, one lady tried to escape with her baby. She feared their leader would extract the baby’s Essence, too. She
was tracked down and made an example of. Kieran didn’t say what happened to the baby, but he didn’t have to.
Kieran and his brother lived like that for a long time, enduring years of abuse while the other adults chose not to take a stand. Finally, he and his brother had had enough. They retaliated. In a big way. They were young men. Strong, cunning, and in the prime of their youth. In order to have extra strength, they’d snuck out several times and harvested more Essence than anyone knew about. Besides that, hatred fueled them. One night while everyone was sleeping, they killed their leader and drained him of his Essence. But they didn’t stop there. By the time they were done, only the children still lived. At that point, Kieran and his brother vowed they would never be followers again. They would be the leaders of their own destinies and their own packs.
Abruptly, Kieran stopped talking, swiveled in his chair, and stared right at me. I was speechless. What could I say? Personally, I doubted Guardians were even responsible for his parents’ deaths. The whole thing sounded like a set-up. But Kieran would never believe that, and bringing it up was a moot point. And despite all the horrible things done by the leader of their pack, it was obvious Kieran blamed the Guardians for everything. But he was who he was – a psychopath who enjoyed hunting and torturing Innocents and Guardians. Life was a game and he was a player intent upon winning.
And I didn’t feel one bit sorry for him. He was evil. Always had been. And always would be.
“I see,” I said, keeping my face neutral, trying to mask my lack of pity. “I can’t imagine growing up in that environment.” Which was true. It did sound horrendous, but he could have handled it differently. Deciding to take a totally different approach, I swept my arm out in an arc and changed the subject. “So what’s all this about? The luxurious condo building? All this wealth? I never took you for, and don’t punch me for saying so because I will defend myself and fight back, but I never took you for the sophisticated, urban type.”
Dentelle #3 Guardian series Page 33
