by D N Simmons
We drove through the unpopulated streets, there were a few cars parked along the way, but there were no people about. After about twenty minutes, we reached what looked to be a mini-mart. Adrian and Nagesa killed the engines and Xavier, Daniel, Adrian and Miko climbed out of the trucks with a speed that seemed faster than the blink of an eye. They vanished into the building, two taking the back while Adrian and Xavier entered through the front. I suppose they did not need Lidiya to get in after all. They broke through the front door and windows. Soon after that, I began to hear the sounds of gunfire and I panicked. John took my hand and held it lightly inside his.
“Don't worry, they will be safe,” he said reassuringly.
I forced myself to sit back against the leather seat and waited. Five minutes passed before they emerged from the building. Xavier was carrying an unconscious man, he opened the cargo door of the truck and threw the man inside, then climbed in after him. Everyone else climbed into the trucks and we drove back to the cabin. When we arrived at the cabins, Xavier carried the still unconscious man into the living room and dumped his body on the floor. The man began to stir, he opened his eyes and looked around. After he surveyed everyone in the room, he appeared to recognize the immediate danger of his predicament and began to speak.
“What do you want from me?” he asked; his English was barely understandable because of his thick Russian accent.
I recognize the voice from the night of Sergio's infiltration. I believed him to be Eremei Andrecv, he was dressed in a blood stained smoke-grey three piece suit, his straight black hair was combed back revealing his smoldering grey eyes. He looked to be in his late thirties. His eyes revealed his fear as he watched Xavier walk towards him. Xavier knelt down beside him, he glared at Eremei with a stare that was as cold as ice.
“You have two choices, the first choice is you testify against yourself in court tomorrow night. The second option open to you is this: If you refuse to cooperate with us, we will rip you limb from limb slowly, applying enough pain to allow you to change your mind...” he leaned closer to him. “...And you will change your mind. The decision is yours.” Xavier rose to his feet, he looked down at Eremei. “Remember the courts will be merciful, we will not.” He crossed his arms over his chest, he looked at Lidiya, then back at Eremei. “What is your decision?” he asked flatly. Eremei seemed to think about his choices, he looked around the room at all of the vampires and shape-shifters, he even threw a glance at me, then back at Xavier.
“You won't do it. You need me!” he hissed smugly.
“You have nothing to bargain with, Lidiya has agreed to testify, you only have two choices, what is it going to be?” Xavier said arrogantly.
I have never seen this side of Xavier. I was both impressed and spooked. I suspected he could be a dangerous adversary, he told me so once. But I had no idea just how dangerous. He was completely fearless and calculating, he was definitely not a man you should underestimate. Once again, Eremei appeared to be thinking about what Xavier said to him. I had to agree, they were two tough choices, death...or imprisonment, which might lead to death, but chances are it would be a more instant death than what Xavier was promising. “I will testify, I'll get off anyway, you will see.” Eremei announced smugly! He began to laugh before looking at Lidiya. “And as for you, you little slut! You will not get away with this!” he threatened. His Russian accent thickening with his anger.
Xavier looked down at him and smiled. “Then we have an understanding.”
He walked away from Eremei towards me and took me by the hand, leading me into the bedroom and closing the door behind us. I sat down on the bed and looked at his beautiful face. He came to stand over me, my eyes trailed down his chest to his stomach then further down to his crotch. I heard Xavier chuckle and I looked up at him.
“Are you still upset with me?” he asked seductively.
Oh geez, how can I be upset with a beautiful man that knows how to effectively use “smooth talk!”?
“No, not anymore, but I could have snatched you bald an hour ago.” I said, smiling. He smiled in return, then pressed his hands lightly on my shoulders, pushing me down on the bed. He climbed onto the bed, straddling me. I was caught in the vortex of his seductive gaze, making it hard for me not to snatch his clothes off.
“You know...I would hate for you to ever be upset with me.” He said softly as he leaned down and kissed my neck gently, tickling me, I giggled. He raised his head and peered into my eyes again. “You know I want only to please you,” he whispered. Xavier lowered his head and began to kiss my cheeks, chin and neck, his hands caressing my breast underneath the thin material of my shirt. I began to feel the heat rise from between my legs, I pressed my hands against his pecs, pushing him away. He felt my gentle pressure and stopped his enticement. I was beginning to find it extremely difficult to refuse Xavier. The sound of his voice, the touch of his hands damn near had me swooning!
“I'm sorry, I know how you feel about sex in compromising situations,” he chuckled as he rolled away from me to lay on his back.
I sat up and looked at him then I leaned over and rested my chin on his chest, staring up into his face. He looked down at me, his hands behind his head, giving him a few inches of elevation. “You treat me so wonderfully, how could I stay mad at you. I love you, Xavier.” I said as I caressed him, I felt his arms encircle me.
“I want you to know Natasha that I love you so very much and I know that we have only known each other for only four months, yet there is something about you that draws me to you. It would really make me happy beyond all measure if you would consider sharing your life with both Darian and myself.” Xavier said softly.
I was not surprised by his statement. I knew that he and Darian wanted me to become a part of their lives, but I just did not know how to respond. I decided to remain silent and Xavier didn't say another word. We laid in each others' arms for a while before someone knocked on the door.
We looked up. “Come in.” Xavier said and the door opened, it was John.
“We need to rest, the sun is coming up. The shape-shifters are watching over Eremei and Lidiya,” John informed us.
I nodded my head and climbed off of the bed. Xavier took my hand and pressed it to the side of his face. His skin had begun to cool and I knew it was a sure sign that the sun was rising. He kissed my palm, then released my hand. The other vampires passed by me as I exited the bedroom, closing the door behind myself. I looked at the other shape-shifters. Adrian was eating a huge sandwich piled high with several different lunch meats. He sat in one of the comfortable upholstered chairs. His gaze shifted to me when I entered and he smiled.
“You did good out there, surprised the fuck out of me. I'm going to have to tell Warren his little 'blossoming lotus' was in full bloom tonight!” Adrian chuckled, then he finished off his sandwich.
I blushed as I smiled at him. I looked around the room, several of the shape-shifters were sleeping on the floor and the others rested on the furniture. I carefully stepped over the sleeping shifters and sat down on the end of the sofa, I looked at Adrian.
“How did you learn how to do what you did tonight?” I asked genuinely curious. He reclined the chair, making himself more comfortable before he answered me.
“My father is an ex-soldier, he served in the military in England before he became our Pack Alpha. He has taught me almost everything I know. Nagesa has passed on some of his knowledge as well. Because my father is the leader of our Pack, it is his duty to make sure the Pack is always protected. Besides my father, Nagesa, Warren and I are the three highest skilled in physical combat as well as tactical espionage. I have been doing this for the past ten years,” he said proudly.
“What knowledge has Nagesa passed on to you, if you don't mind me asking?” I implored.
“I don't mind,” Adrian said as he tossed a glance to Nagesa, who nodded his head. After getting his silent permission, Adrian turned to me and continued. “Nagesa is extremely skilled in many forms of mart
ial arts and weaponry. He's almost as old as my father, but I'll keep his age a secret.”
I looked at Nagesa once more. His mere presence spoke volumes. And from what I have seen, I did not doubt Adrian's words, only amazed by them. I decided to ask more questions, I was enjoying the conversation. “How do you feel about Warren being a cop on the S.U.I.T. division?” I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.
He took a deep breath, I could see his broad chest rise slightly, then he exhaled. “I have mixed feelings about his career choice. It is true that because he works for the government, we have been able to save some of our kind that had made innocent mistakes. However, we all know that the law is biased. It is hardly fair that a supernatural only receives a seven-day trial period-no...wait, I take that back. A supernatural has only seven days to come up with evidence to support their defense and the trial is only a few hours, if that much!” Adrian said heatedly.
I could not blame him for being upset with the laws that concerned the supernaturals. I myself even thought them to be unfair.
“Warren is doing this because he feels that he is honor bound lo help the helpless,” Adrian said with a hint of mockery.
“Well, do you feel that way?” I asked, I knew that I was prying but I was highly curious as to what kept Warren and Adrian together. To me, they appeared to be too much alike, yet very different, both had strong-willed personalities.
“I don't have Warren's sympathy for the human world. Humans are not as helpless as they would like you to believe. So I do not strive to use my super-abilities to defend their livelihood, not when they would kill me in an instant if it suited them to do so,” Adrian said coldly.
“Not all humans feel that way.” I said, trying to shed some light on Adrian's gloomy perception of the human races' opinion of the supernaturals.
“Ah, but enough of them do. Right now, your friend is waiting in a jail cell, only to be executed tomorrow night. Tell me Natasha, do you think the S.U.I.T. detectives that arrested him are putting their best foot forward to find the real killers?” he leaned forward in the chair to better read my expression.
I thought about what he said and knew he was right. They would execute Darian if we could not prove his innocence. And the detectives who arrested Darian did not care about finding the truth. They would kill Darian, not because he was believed to be guilty, but because he was a vampire. I looked at Adrian and shook my head. He leaned back into the chair comfortably, then continued.
“See what I mean? You know in your heart that shit like this...” he paused and gestured to the two mobsters chained together in the corner of the room. “...Has been a problem in the mortal world also, but it is handled in a different way. We are not so fortunate as to get human justice. We have to make are own justice. So no, I don't like it that Warren risks his life to save the same mortals who would kill him if they knew what he was, but I do understand why he does it.” Adrian stated, and then he closed his eyes as he relaxed his body, settling a little more into the recliner.
I thought about all that was said, Adrian was honest and honorable as well. His loyalty was to his Pack and I respected that. I really admired the degree of loyalty the shape-shifters had to their families. Even those ruthless ones that were dealt with on this night had loyalty to each other within their Pack. I let Adrian rest and I settled back against the cushions of the sofa and looked around the room once more. I noticed that a few more shifters had drifted off to sleep, I did not see Sergio, Devin or Elise and I assumed they were in the other bedroom together.
“You can get some rest, I'll keep watch.” Nagesa said to me as he noticed me looking around the room.
“Thank you.” I laid down on the sofa, a few moments later, I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 9
Day Seven
I woke up and struggled to clear my vision, I looked around the room and saw that some of the others were awake and having breakfast. Some of them looked at me as I rose from the sofa, stretching, feeling my muscles loosen.
“Good morning everyone,” I said.
“Same to you, there is some breakfast in the kitchen, help yourself.” Devin informed me as he plopped down on the sofa with a plate full of eggs, ham, bacon, toast, hash brown, grits and sausage.
I looked at his plate then I turned to look at everyone else's and noticed that their plates were pretty much piled high as well. “Is it really necessary to have ham, bacon and sausage?” I asked Devin playfully.
Devin looked up from his plate, he continued to chew his food before swallowing then he smiled at me. “Well, I myself would prefer to have steak rather than bacon, but I have to make do with what is here. Besides, this is the best meal I have had in the past forty-eight hours!” he continued to stuff his mouth.
“Didn't they feed you!?” I asked concerned.
“Yeah, but not nearly enough to leave a sense of fulfillment. One sandwich, a glass of water, that was about it. I was starving!” Devin said as he finished off his plate.
“I'm so sorry that happened to you. But I'm so glad you are okay.” I was pleased to have Devin back with us safe, unharmed and protected. “You don't have to be sorry, we got the bad guys, now all we have to do is save Darian, right?” Devin rose and walked towards me, giving me a hug.
He took his now empty plate into the kitchen. I liked Devin a lot. I went into the bedroom where the vampires were resting. I noted that Xavier and John shared the bed, while the others slept on the floor. Two of the sleeping vampires looked like corpses which was eerie, but the rest looked to be sleeping and nothing else. I walked into the bathroom and used the necessities then showered and changed. When I returned to the living room, the shape-shifters were lounging. I looked at Lidiya and Eremei and frowned. They were watching all of the shifters in the room, I watched their eyes stare as the shape-shifters ate, and knew right away that no one had offered them food. I was not so sure if I wanted to feed them, but I didn't want Eremei or Lidiya to starve, especially since we needed their testimony. I walked into the kitchen and made three plates. And when I returned to the living room, I spoke to Adrian.
“Adrian, is it okay if they eat something to hold them over?” I asked. Adrian gave me a perplexed look, his head tilted sideways just like a canine's. Then he straightened his neck and nodded. He walked over to the two mobsters and undid their bindings. I stood before them, handing them each a plate. They looked up at me, confused, but soon they began to eat.
“Why do you care if they eat or not?” Adrian asked me curiously. “Just last night you were ready to tear this chick apart, now you want to make sure she doesn't have any hunger pains. I don't understand you.”
I thought about what he said and it was true. Last night I wanted to see her dead, I did not like wishing death on anyone. Her fate would be her fate and I refuse to let her fate hinder my spirit. “Because I would not be me if I did not show compassion, even though they are my enemy.”
Adrian looked to be even more confused, but he simply shook his head and walked away. I went back into the kitchen feeling better about myself. I took my plate off the table and sat on the sofa to eat. I watched as Carmen, Devin and Sergio loaded the trucks. When I finished my meal, I went into the bedroom to fetch my suitcase. Devin took my luggage from me and loaded it on the truck as well.
That was nice of him. I supposed I looked as though I was struggling with the suitcase, either way, I lucked up.
Sergio walked over to the windows and closed the drapes, blocking out the suns rays. Then he turned and looked at the coffins. “Okay, Devin, Miranda and Daniel, start packing these coffins and load-em'-up” Sergio turned, heading into the bedroom, the others followed him and soon reemerged carrying the vampires. Sergio held Tony in his arms and he placed him gently into the coffin, then he went back only to return with Miko in his arms. He laid Miko delicately on top of Tony, and closed the coffin's lid. His last trip into the bedroom, he returned with Xavier. The other shape-shifters had loaded, Annabelle, April, and J
ohn into the other coffins. Xavier was placed by himself in the last coffin.
“Okay, let's get the fuck out of here before something goes wrong.” Sergio announced before lifting Xavier's coffin onto his shoulders and walking out of the cabin.
Devin, Miranda and Daniel carried the other three coffins to the truck and loaded them in the back. Adrian grabbed hold of both Eremei and Lidiya, and dragged them to the SUV, pushing them inside roughly, forcing them to sit between Carmen and Miranda. They looked very uncomfortable as their eyes shifted from one shape-shifter to the other. I suppressed the urge to laugh at them, instead I walked away and climbed into the other truck. Adrian climbed into the driver side of the truck I was in and started the engine. Sergio drove the other SUV as we headed towards Elise's jet.
Once everything and everyone was safely on board we all got comfortable as the plane took off. I had to remain calm as the plane drove down the runway, gaining speed to lift up. I didn't like the way my body reacted to the change in altitudes, but I began to relax once we were safely in the air. The shape-shifters lounged on the floor of the plane, some taking cat naps, (no pun intended) others watched Japanese animation on the huge plasma screen TV. The two criminals remained silent as they sat chained together against the wall. I called Warren to let him know we were flying in. He answered the telephone on the fifth ring, I was beginning to think his cell phone wasn't on.
“Hello, who's calling?” he asked in a groggy voice.
