by Cree Storm
Jewel handed Strife a tissue, and Strife murmured, “Thank you.”
Strife looked up and around the room. “Can I get something to eat? My blood sugar is dropping, I can feel it falling fast. It happens when I get upset.”
Jewel smiled. “Of course. Jael?”
Orion looked up to see his long-time friend staring a hole through Sabien. Orion said a bit louder, “Jael?”
The man seemed to be on another planet until Ezra said, “Jael!”
Jael’s head jerked up. “Yes, Re?”
“Can you have the cook make a plate for our new friend, Strife?” Ezra asked, then looked at Sabien. “Would you like something as well?”
Shaking his head, Sabien replied, “No thank you, Re.”
Jael turned and left the room, and Ezra turned his attention back to Strife. “Have you ever taken a look at Heskel’s coven files, Strife?”
Strife’s gaze darted quickly at Sabien and back, then down at his hands. “Maybe.”
Ezra smiled at the man sitting in front of him, saying, “You’re not going to be in trouble, Strife. I want to know if you found anything that you think might be of interest to me or this situation?”
Strife nodded. “I haven’t had a chance to look through them long enough to find a lot, but I did find an encrypted file. It’s called Operation Capere.”
“That’s Latin for takeover, Ezzy,” Jewel gasped.
Nodding, Ezra replied, “Yes, it is, love.”
“We need that file,” Orion stated.
Strife looked at Ezra and then Sabien. His fear once again palpable. Jael returned with a plate and sat it on the desk in front of Strife then stepped back. Strife looked at Jewel and asked, “Can I have a couple of tissues, please?”
Jewel handed the man his tissue and everyone watched as Strife removed the bacon from his plate and any egg that might have touched it and did the same with the potatoes.
“Is there a problem?” Ezra asked,
Shaking his head, Strife replied, “No sir. It’s just I’m an Ovo-vegetarian which means I don’t eat anything dairy or any type of animal, although I do eat eggs.”
“I thought vegetarians didn’t eat anything that came from animals, including eggs?” Nelson asked in confusion.
Shaking his head, Strife said, “Oh no. You have the Lacto-Ovo. They eat both dairy and eggs. Or the Lacto that can eat dairy but not eggs. Then of course there is the vegan. Now they don’t eat dairy, eggs, or anything produced or coming from animals.”
“Huh,” Nelson muttered, then said, “I’m curious, how is it you’re a part of Heskel’s Coven but you are not a Vampire? I mean Ezra has some members here who aren’t vampires but they are mated to them.”
Strife set his fork down and looked at Nelson. “I’m not exactly a part of the coven.”
Nelson tilted his head to the side, saying, “I can smell you are from the antelope family, but you are not exactly an antelope.”
“I’m an Oryx shifter. However, my herd was killed many years ago. I was on my own until I found Sabien wandering through the forest one day. We’ve been best friends ever since. Heskel doesn’t exactly know I’ve been living on the land,” Strife answered.
“So if you are not part of Heskel’s coven, how are you getting in and out of his Coven house?” Orion asked.
“It’s kind of my specialty,” Strife muttered, then went back to eating.
“Your specialty?” Ezra asked.
Sabien sighed, saying, “Just tell them, Strife. They’re going to find out sooner or later.”
Strife finished his food, wiped his mouth, then replied, “Thank you. I really needed that.” Looking at Ezra, Strife said, “I met Sabien about a hundred years ago. We became friends. I had no family and no home. Sabien took me in. I didn’t have a pot to piss in for a really long time. Then I got my first computer and my world changed. Now, I’m a hacker for hire, I guess you would say. My code name is Strife.”
“And you work for Heskel?” Ezra asked.
Strife’s features contorted in anger. “Never! I have hated Heskel since he was a Dire and I saw the fucker beating the shit out of Sabien for no reason other than he was walking a child who had got lost, home.”
“Okay so I’m lost. If you don’t work for Heskel, how the hell did you get into his computer?” Orion asked.
“About two years ago, I got a call. Heskel was looking for Strife. He wanted to hire me. I wasn’t going to do it, but Sabien and Radeem thought it might be a good way to find some information we had been looking a long time for. I was scared, but I went and was glad all he wanted from me was to get into the Cyprian coven files. Now in my defense I didn’t know who you were until I was already in. Understand, an Oryx has a fantastic sense of smell. I smelled the lies Heskel was trying to shovel at me like shit in a cow stall. When I got in and saw who you were, I knew that I couldn’t give him the information I found. Luckily enough, he just wanted dates of some meeting the Re at the time was having. I got him the information he wanted, then spent a few minutes to do some digging for what Sabien, Radeem, and I wanted, then I got the fuck out of there.”
“You mean info about the meeting my father had with his inner circle?” Ezra asked.
Shrugging, Strife replied, “I guess so. A lot of top people were going to the thing. I only know that because Heskel got real excited. Then he paid up and kicked me out fast.”
“Okay, so when did you get back inside the coven house and get your hands on Heskel’s computer again?” Orion asked.
“Heskel called me again about three months later. I wasn’t going to do it, but Radeem thought it would be a great way to get a look into Heskel’s computer again. I hadn’t been able to get anything I was looking for the last time, so we wanted another try. If not, maybe I could find some proof of what was going on at Heskel’s coven and get it to the Re. I was scared shitless. The man is not one to fuck over, you know what I mean? Lucky enough, all Heskel asked me for were the files to the past Re and your disciplinary records. I pulled them and also one of your daily reports for just a short time. Then I created a firewall for your side of the computer, so no other hacker could get in. I gave him what he asked for, got my money, and I left.”
“This is when you did some snooping into his computer as well?” Ezra asked.
Strife’s fear ranked up, but he answered, “Yes. Like I said, we had our own agenda that didn’t have anything to do with you or Heskel. However, I found some files I hadn’t planned on. Heskel is working with someone he calls the boss man. I don’t know who he is, but he refers to the guy a lot. When I found the other file, I was working on the encryption when Heskel’s man started getting antsy and I had to shut it down. I planned on getting the information and giving it to you. If I had about five more minutes I would have had it, too.”
Ezra looked at Strife. “Would you be willing to go to Heskel’s coven with Sabien and some others and have another crack at it?”
Strife sighed, looking at Sabien then back to Ezra. “I guess.”
“I’m not going to force you, Strife. As a matter of fact, I was curious if you might be interested in a job. I’m talking about a real one. One that you will be expected to follow laws and rules, but it will pay very well. You will become a member of my coven if you accept my offer. You will be given a home to call your own as well. If you do not choose to accept my offer, you can live in Kaliss, but again, you will be expected to follow the laws. Otherwise, you can return to your home on Heskel’s lands and I will give you the rights of passage. This will allow you to live on coven land without fear of eviction,” Ezra stated.
Strife gasped, “You would do that for me? But what about Sabien? I can’t leave Sabien. And what is this job? I mean I really have no skills other than on a computer, but I would do whatever you need, but again only if it includes Sabien.”
“Strife! Stop talking and let the Re answer you. As for me, I’ve already accepted the Re’s offer to be the new Police Chief when we return from Heskel’s coven,”
Sabien said with a smile.
“Oh, Police Chief! That’s fantastic, Sabe. I’m so happy for you. You’ll make a great cop and damn who doesn’t love a man in uniform. Not that I look at you that way, cause eww, that would be like looking at my brother…”
“Strife! Stop talking,” Sabien insisted.
Nelson laughed along with Jewel, both men saying, “I like him.”
Ezra laughed with them both, agreeing, “Me too.” Ezra continued, “The job is with computers, Strife. As you said, my system isn’t the best and as Re I have a lot of responsibilities that many times need to be kept confidential. I want an entire database created for not just my covens but for my responsibilities with the Paranormal Council.”
“I’ll take it,” Strife said.
Smiling, Ezra replied, “Good.”
Ezra then stood and looked around the room. “Let’s get to the Ranking Ceremony. I’ll let my Scions know of their plans for the next week or so and you guys get ready for your trip. I want daily reports, Orion.”
“Yes, Re,” Orion stated.
“Okay, let’s do this,” Ezra said, as he left the room.
* * * *
Laramie dialed the number that was all too familiar. The second it was picked up, Laramie said, “The stupid fuck is gone.”
“What are you talking about?” The man on the other end asked.
“Nicu. When he got back I was able to make my potion. I awoke, and the fucker was gone. I think the dumb ass went after the new Regal,” Laramie stated in disgust.
The man on the other end sighed, then said, “Let him. If he gets lucky we have our way in. If he’s not so lucky, he was of no use to us anymore anyway. For now, take a few days to complete your healing and I will get back with you on our newest plan.”
“Yes, sir,” Laramie said.
Just as Laramie was about to hang up, the man said, “Oh and Laramie.”
“Yes.”
“When you get your new orders, you had better not fail me again, or you too will become of no use to me.”
“Yes, sir,” Laramie said as he hung up the phone.
Pouring himself a tall drink, Laramie sat in his high wingback chair facing the window, watching the last of the sunlight leaving the sky. Taking a small sip, Laramie whispered to no one, “I am not that easy to kill boss man and you better watch out because I have plans of my own and they do not include you.”
CHAPTER 16
As they made their way across the arena with the others, Nelson felt a sense of dread wash over him. Something wasn’t right. He looked left, then right, studying his surroundings as he looked at all the people in attendance, but he couldn’t find what was making him and his fox so anxious, yet he knew something was about to happen.
All the winners of the morning’s battles, as well as the ones from yesterday’s matches, gathered in the center of the ring as Ezra, Jewel, and their guards made their way to the Re’s box and the podium that was set up for Ezra to address everyone.
Nelson watched as Ezra took his place and Jewel moved in beside him, then the crowd went wild clapping and cheering for their leader and his mate. Ezra smiled brightly as he raised his arms gesturing for all to calm and become silent.
As the large domed room stilled and not a sound could be heard, that sense of foreboding returned ten-fold and Nelson felt like his fox was about to explode from within.
Orion squeezed his hand and Nelson looked up at his gorgeous mate, giving him a tight smile. He wanted to tell Orion what he was feeling, but he had no idea what it meant so what was the point? Until Orion leaned down and whispered in his ear, “I feel it too, mate, Cuddle bunny. And I can feel both of your stress. Something is amiss. Stay on guard.”
Ezra cleared his throat, drawing their attention and Nelson looked to Jewel. He could see his best friend’s lips were tight and his gaze darted around the arena. Did Jewel feel it too?
“Friends, family, and visitors, I would like to thank you all for coming to bear witness as these strong competitors fought with honor to gain their new positions within our kind. And to all who competed, we thank you for your determination to do your best and show us the skills you have all worked so hard to perfect, as you have trained your whole lives for, and to do it with grace and honor. You do us all proud and make our kind safer every day.
“It was my great honor to watch over all of the competitions and to see for myself how strongly you have been trained by your leaders. I applaud them and you, on your dedication to serve your kind, as well as all paranormal kind, to the best of your ability. So, let us start with the pinning of our winners. Each of you will be called upon and given a new rank pin by your leader. When your name is called, please step out of line and reconfirm your oath to our people, your coven, and your Re.”
Tears of pride burned the backs of Nelson’s eyes as he watched Ezra call out each winner one by one and they moved forward to meet their leader, so he could place their new rank pins to their chests. Then they each would drop to one knee, put their right fist over their heart, and bow their head as they said their oath and declared their loyalty and service to the vampire race and their Re. It was a very touching moment, and even though Nelson was not a vampire, he was mated to one, and it made him truly feel like he was a part of their world now, as well as a part of this coven.
As the last man stood then turned to Ezra and bowed before he stepped back in line, Orion gave his hand another squeeze. Suddenly all the happiness he had felt during the new rankings was gone and that sense of foreboding returned. Nelson could feel the stress rolling off his mate, and he looked up to gaze at Orion, expecting him to be looking back, but he wasn’t. Orion stared straight ahead, his eyes hard and cold as his jaw clenched and the tiny vein in his temple bulged and throbbed.
He knew from his earlier talk with Orion that his mate didn’t feel like he deserve the promotion he had fought for. He didn’t know how he could convince Orion that he deserved the job long before he even stepped foot in the arena, and how only because of vampire law about holding the Ceremonies, did he have to compete for the title. If not for that law, Ezra would have just given him the promotion already, because he truly was deserving of it.
Nelson returned the hand squeeze, trying to gain his mate’s attention, when he heard Ezra announce Orion’s name, and in that moment his mate tensed even more. He raised his hand to touch Orion’s cheek in comfort, but before he could a loud gasp rang through the air.
Orion’s gaze flicked around the arena, then stopped and Nelson watched as those pretty blue orbs filled with disgust, hatred, and rage like he had never seen in his big-hearted mate before. Turning his head, he followed Orion’s line of sight, then gasped himself when his gaze landed on Nicu standing just inside the ring, staring at Orion with so much hatred, Nelson could almost taste it. And in that exact moment he could also hear Jewel curse, telling him that his friend had also spotted their intruder.
“This is it, Nelson. This is what I… we… have been feeling. He’s dangerous and has come for revenge. We must stop him before someone gets hurt,” his fox said in his mind.
“I know, but if we interfere, will we be harming our mate? Will we be emasculating him? I can’t do that, and I know you can’t either,” Nelson replied in his head.
“But we can’t let him be harmed or killed either, Nelson,” the fox argued.
“Then have faith in me, my mates,” Orion said inside Nelson’s mind.
Well shit. Talk about taking the sails out of someone’s fight. There was no way he wanted to risk losing Orion, but at the same time, there was no way they could interfere and risk hurting Orion’s feelings, which he knew would change their relationship—and not for the better. It would put distance between them all. He and his fox needed to stand back and let Orion do what he felt he had to do.
“Forgetting someone, Ezra?” Nicu sneered, as he slowly walked toward their group in the center.
From the corner of his eyes, Nelson could see everyone in l
ine with them had all tensed and were ready to strike with just one word from their Re. Crazy ass Nicu was stupid to show up here and think he had a snowball’s chance in hell at walking away alive. He may have been part of the Imperial Guard, but he was the worst soldier in the lot.
“You have no right here, Nicu. You have been banished from this coven. From all covens. And are being hunted to be put to death for crimes against your kind, your Re, and your Re’s mate. You are a disgrace to us all and have no honor,” Ezra said with conviction and authority as he walked down into the arena.
“What do you know of honor, Ezra? You mated a non-vampire for hell’s sake. And a male one at that. You are the disgrace to our people and should be cast out.”
Orion released Nelson’s hand and gently pushed him back as Orion stepped forward, half blocking Nelson from Nicu’s sight. “You’re a coward,” Orion sneered.
Nicu turned his attention to Orion and gave him a smile so evil, Nelson felt his blood run cold. “Well, there he is. The man who should have died all those years ago when I started that fire, but no, you were too damn stubborn to even die. It’s all your fault that despicable man is our Re now. If you hadn’t saved Ezra then, we would be led by someone who knows how the vampires should be led. Not making nice with our food. Those shifters, pixies, elves, and fairies are supposed to be part of our food chain, not our friends, let alone mates to any of our kind,” Nicu sneered as he walked closer.
He threw his arms out in Ezra’s direction, pointing as he hissed, “He and his father before him, are trying to destroy our kind. They are both too weak to lead us and you are a fool for allowing him to live.”
“Wait a minute,” Ezra said, as he too moved closer. “You were the one who started that fire that burned Orion and left him with lifelong scars? You were the one trying to kill me? Why? I thought we were friends? At least back then we were.”
Nicu gave Ezra an evil smirk. “See, you are too dumb to be leading our people. This has been going on longer than you have even been alive, yet you had no idea. How can you even look at yourself in the mirror and honestly think you deserve to be Re? I challenge you Ezra Cyprian for Re to the vampire race,” Nicu announced.
