by Storm Savage
“I have enough to think about. Go away. I don’t need more lies.”
“No!” Ian swung his fist and the mirror shattered.
Flame dashed into the bedroom. The ghosts from Twilight had more abilities than any wraiths she’d heard of. Her body trembled but she tried to hide her fear.
“You killed me, bitch! And you took the life of my precious Cassie.”
“I didn’t start this war. You opened the door with all your research. You’re to blame! You and your obsession for revenge.” She curled away from him and clung to the bedpost. “Get out of Raef’s home. You betrayed him, too.”
“Raef…” Ian’s tone of voice sounded sad and somewhat confused. “Raef wants me to be here.”
Her head jerked around. “What?”
“That’s the downside of being dead,” he growled. “There is nothing on the other side except the truth.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You need to know some things. There was never any research. I fabricated the entire story to draw on your compassion and sense of justice. Everything I told you about creepers and the Satellite, I learned from Coop.”
Flame pretended not to know anything. She simply scowled at him in heated silence, furious over his deception. Whatever reason Ian had for coming to her, she forced herself to endure yet another round from the evil realm if only to uncover the truth.
“What about your first wife? Did you make that up, too?”
“No! Hell no. They took her, too, just like they took my Cassie. They used my first wife as an example, to show me what they were capable of.”
“I’m sorry.” She stared warily at him. “Why are you here?”
“I miss my friend. Raef didn’t deserve to die. I’ve come to tell you the truth. Raef would want me to.”
Flame eased to a sitting position on the edge of the bed. “About what?”
“Coop was ordered to take over Von’s biker group then kill Von. He was slated as the next Satellite. When Von returned in his immortal form, he didn’t rejoin the Soldiers as they belonged to Coop by then. The animosity between him and Coop, well, I’m sure you can imagine what being dead does to someone. Von was beyond pissed off. He started the Black Pythons to build a new following.”
“Why did Coop take over the Soldiers if Von was out of the way?”
Ian arched one brow. “Oh…I see Von hasn’t spilled his guts. I’m impressed.”
“Von and I aren’t exactly friends.” She wasn’t about to reveal anything she’d heard.
“Every Satellite needs a pack of creepers. They serve as eyes and ears to their leader. Coop failed but since he was the first, the master sentenced him to a life of misery on earth instead of the burning sulfur pits. He believed that Coop would be more useful as a recruiter and he was right. Coop is ruthless.”
“Coop was the first Satellite?” She controlled her rage and feigned a shocked expression. She even added a gasp of dismay for effect, to keep Von’s confidence.
“Yeah and he does not have a soft spot for you as Von does.”
“Great, now there are two Satellites. Thanks for the warning.”
“I’m not done.”
Flame sighed. “Of course not.”
“There are more people involved than you think. The whole thing was a setup, Flame. I was instructed to lure you out to LA, play on your sympathy, and persuade you to help me go after the Satellite. Nobody considered the possibility that you might win.”
“You lied to me…a lot. What about Raef? Was he in on it, too?”
“No, Raef is innocent. He truly loved you.”
“Why, Ian, why did you set me up?”
“I had no choice. Coop told me what to do and how to run the show. They threatened to use Cassie as a backup surrogate if I didn’t cooperate. I knew they’d do it if I failed, after seeing what they did to my first wife. As you can see, it didn’t work out very well for me the second time around either.”
“How did you get hooked into the evil realm?”
“I married the wrong woman. She was an ancient. They killed her as a warning to me.”
“Why didn’t you contact me privately? Maybe I could’ve helped.”
“I couldn’t risk it. Cassie was supposed to betray the realm and get me out.” A distant look filled his colorless dark eyes. He was clearly drifting. “Your ex-husband spread word that Hatch was going to hurt you.”
“Yeah that seems to be the story. Von tried to convince me that Aiden kidnapped me because he thought I was in danger.”
Ian spoke in a flat tone, no emotion at all. “That story is unclear. I am not able to sort the facts. Nobody has ever broken free of Twilight.”
“Now why would Hatch want to hurt me?”
“I wouldn’t know. But that’s what your ex told Von.”
“Von was telling the truth,” she muttered in disbelief. She thought about what Von had told her on the night he almost won. She hadn’t believed him and accused him of trying to manipulate her with the story about Aiden and his crazy ideas.
“They weren’t supposed to hurt you,” Ian continued.
“Who are they?”
“Aiden’s family. They belong to the Twilight Realm.”
She stifled a gasp. “Is Aiden in the realm, too?”
“I can’t tell. Everything around him is shrouded.”
Flame summoned every ounce of self-control to hide her rage. This was one of the keys she desperately needed. “So that’s how my ex found out that I am a sisterhood warrior and how Hatch knew that Von snuck away with me that morning. They must have been the ones who tipped Hatch off.”
Ian didn’t elaborate on Aiden but continued nonetheless. “Their interference triggered an unanticipated response in Von and contributed to why he failed with you. That is why the master has given him a second chance.”
“Does Von know those people serve the evil realm?” She needed to seek out the truth concerning Von. Had he played me all along to make me think he has a heart?
“I didn’t know about their connection until I crossed into the Twilight Realm. Von has never been dead long enough to see the entire truth. If you really want to know, ask him.”
“Oh, right.” She scoffed. “And he’ll spill the truth just like that.”
“If you ask him in this domain he is bound by immortal law to tell the truth. Raef’s blood compels us to tell the truth here.”
She was stunned. Apparently, Von had been honest with her earlier. She thought for a moment then said, “No, I don’t trust any of this right now…I have a better way.”
Ian studied her curiously but didn’t respond.
“If Aiden’s family belongs to Twilight, why would they get in the way of its plan?”
“Selfishness, revenge…evil follows no rules.” Ian perched himself on the window ledge. “I sure miss hanging out here. I miss working on the bikes with Raef.” A peculiar sadness emanated off him.
His revelation astounded her but she concealed her emotion. If he had more to say, she didn’t want to stop him by losing control again. She wondered what kind of unanticipated response had been triggered in Von. Maybe there was hope for him yet.
“I’m sorry about Cassie. I didn’t want to do it. I’m really sorry about you, too, Ian.”
He stared at her, through her. “I believe you.”
“Are you stuck between worlds? Can you see Raef?”
“No. Cassie made her choice and I followed her straight to hell. I am bound to the evil realm forever unless someone finds a way to break the chain of events.”
Flame gave him an inquisitive look. “What would it take to set you free?”
“Doesn’t matter, it will never happen.”
“Tell me anyway.”
His stare became intense. “You’d have to win the war…make Von feel again, enough that he’d risk his soul to save you and turn to the good. Those of us without blood on our hands would be free.”
“Killing Coop won’t be eno
ugh?”
“No. But you should kill the dirty prick anyway. He’s a liar and a bully.”
“And a killer.”
Ian nodded. “That, too.”
“What about Hatch? Was he in on the setup, too?” She didn’t know why she cared. Maybe she simply needed to know how far the chain of lies had spread. “What is his involvement in all of this?”
“Hatch and I drifted apart when I met Cassie. I have no clue as to what he knows or if he even believes in any of this. He stayed in New York most of the time and never rode with either pack except when he needed help rescuing you.”
“So you outed me to Coop after you saw me use my daggers and he was the one who manipulated my relationship with Hatch to bring me out of hiding.” She felt the pieces coming together somewhat. “You were just a pawn, like everyone else in this vicious game.”
“Yeah.” Ian sighed. “Hatch betrayed Raef by sleeping with his wife. It almost split up the band so it was easy for Coop to work everyone against each other. I doubt Hatch even knows that he’s been used and he probably wouldn’t care as long as he gets what he wants…you.”
She didn’t respond. Thus far, everything Ian said lined up with what she knew and also with the details Von had revealed. Some of the missing pieces to her puzzle came into view, most notably her evil ex-in-laws from her first marriage. She’d often wondered why they’d beaten her nearly unconscious that night. Now she knew. They truly were evil and simply wanted to destroy her. How they became involved with the Twilight was something she might never know, but she’d always sensed malevolence in them.
“Do you know how Aiden’s family ended up in the Twilight Realm?”
Ian shrugged with open indifference. “Does it matter? Maybe they chose it or struck a deal. Maybe they screwed up like me. Who knows?”
“Won’t they be punished for losing control and foiling the mission?”
“You’d think, but so far they’ve gone unscathed. They must have signed on for the long haul. Hell, they might be ancients. I wouldn’t over think it. Twilight uses any willing fool.”
Apparently, the evil realm had eyes and ears everywhere just watching for her to show up one day. Who knows how many families Twilight has enlisted? Maybe there was even a monetary reward or even better, a promise of protection or immortality. She sighed despondently. I may never get all the answers. Even so, a few things were clear now. Aiden’s family needed to die and her father was about to meet his daughter for the last time.
Why Von switched gears and decided to save her from the ex-laws was still a mystery. A part of her wanted to believe there was still good in him, even enough good to save his soul. Her conflicted feelings toward the mysterious man troubled her. If she ever discovered that Von had lied to her, she’d unleash her wrath on his treacherous soul regardless of the repercussions.
The question of how to kill Von sprung back to mind, she studied Ian with scrutinizing eyes. “You haven’t told me everything. Why?”
“You should be happy that I gave up as much as I did. If the master finds out what I’ve told you, my ass is going into the pit.”
“Then why did you?”
“Raef was my best friend. He loved you.”
“I was led to believe that Hatch was your best friend, then Coop and of course Raef. Who really was your best friend since you’re all about telling the truth now?”
“Raef. He told you, didn’t he?”
Flame nodded.
“Raef never lied. I did my best to protect him from Coop and that whole mess. I failed.”
“Von told me that you neglected to mention something very important. Any clues, Ian?”
“Oh…” His eyes darkened and a wayward grin touched his pale lips. “When Von used Cassie and our newborn son to make his flamboyant comeback, I overheard him tell Cassie that flaming daggers could no longer kill him. Is that what you’re after?”
“Yeah…anything else that might help?”
“Nope.”
“Are you afraid your evil ruler will hear you?”
“Didn’t Von tell you that this house is now sacred?”
“Just checking.” She wrinkled her brow in thought. “Then how did he wield his power over me in the kitchen?”
“You opened a window. You’d be wise to guard your thoughts and avoid night mists.”
“I can’t stay locked up here in fear.”
“Your choice.”
“So you’re really not going to tell me how to kill Von?”
Ian let out a mocking laugh. “Now that would be a conflict of interests, don’t ya think?”
Sensing the visit was about to end, she sought one more answer. “Ian, when you told me that Cassie helped the Satellite return, you mentioned a connection she carried that empowered her, an exclusive link…did you lie about that, too?”
“No,” he stated in a bitter tone. “She helped them of her own free will. The slut betrayed me even as I was trying to spare her, then she came back and took me down with her.”
Flame drew a quick breath, aghast at the level of deception that had taken place. She could see that the truth was tormenting Ian and she felt his desire to end the conversation.
“What family cursed Von? Who was Cassie related to that enabled her to carry Twilight’s seed to term?”
Ian glared at her as if she’d suddenly sprouted horns. Their peaceful yet disconcerting encounter had come to an end.
“Who, Ian? Please tell me.”
“The crescent moon will answer your question.”
“What?” She looked around. He was gone.
Though his paranormal visitation initially felt like an intrusion, it was good to speak with him again. Another faint connection to Raef left her with a strange sense of comfort, as if by seeing Raef’s best friend, she had made contact.
She pondered Ian’s vague reply to her last question and a flashback of the mark on Cassie’s forehead whipped through her mind—an image she could never forget. The disturbing scene forced its way in, no matter how much she longed to forget what went down in Ian’s garage—Cassie mating Ian with the mark of the evil realm glowing eerily on her forehead—the shape of a crescent moon. A chill slid up her spine. She did her best to shake it off.
Knowing for certain that Ian and Von had never been allies made her believe that both were telling the truth. For some inexplicable reason, Raef’s passing continued to open doors to the answers she desperately needed.
“Are you watching out for me, baby?” She looked upward. “I miss you.”
A sudden crash startled her. She jumped and spun around. On the floor lay a broken glass that had somehow fallen off his dresser. Cautiously she approached, casting guarded looks around the room. “How did this get in here?” she muttered to herself upon recognizing the crystal tumbler Raef had been drinking from the previous night. She lifted the broken base to her nose and inhaled the scent of his favorite bourbon. I miss you so much.
While picking broken glass from the carpet she noticed one of the top drawers was opened. After carefully discarding the chards of glass in the trash, she moved to close the drawer. A small box caught her eye. As if compelled, she removed the velvet-coated box from its hiding place.
After another wary look around, she slowly opened the hinged lid. “Oh wow,” she muttered in awe. “Who did this belong to?” Her eyes beheld the most beautiful jewel she’d ever seen. Suspended from a gold chain crafted of antique linkage was a tear-shaped sapphire set in gold and accented by three dazzling emerald-cut diamonds, one at each point. A streak of early morning sunlight danced off the multiple facets, creating a brilliant shimmer. “Where did this come from? It looks ancient.”
Chapter Six
“He wants you to put it on,” Von’s voice came from the doorway.
Flame jumped again and spun around. Her nerves were seriously on edge after this morning’s events. “I didn’t hear you come in. Never thought I’d be glad to see you. Thank God you’re not another ghost,” she b
reathed out the words. “Not sure I can handle more visits from the other side.”
Von cocked his head in open curiosity. “What’s going on?”
“First the Twilight Master then Ian. Then a glass fell off the dresser and I found this in an open drawer. This drawer was not open when I was in here earlier and I don’t know how the glass got in here or how it fell. I was nowhere near it.” She cast him an offhanded look. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“I was worried.”
“Right.”
“If Ian paid you a visit from the other side then you know I was telling the truth. It’s impossible to tell lies from the void. I was there…twice…remember?”
She held back a smug grin. “Ian told me a lot. I know what I must do.”
Von pointed at the box. “Raef asked me to come back here and check on you. He would like you to accept the necklace.”
“Why are you being so nice? We are natural enemies.”
“Too many innocent people are getting killed.”
“Didn’t seem to bother you before when you used Cassie to make your miraculous return.”
Shadows of the past touched his face. “I guess I deserve that.”
“During our little heart-to-heart chat last night, you hedged a few important topics.”
“Such as?”
“Cassie’s betrayal? Aiden’s family joining the evil realm?” She shot him a questioning look.
“Your ex-in-laws belong to Twilight?” He looked genuinely surprised.
“Are you saying you didn’t know? You didn’t have any part in what happened that night?”
“No and no, I did not know. I’d never condone hurting a woman. However, their involvement would explain how Coop’s gang caught us on the road that morning. I had a feeling someone tipped them off.”
“And you don’t know if Aiden is with them either?”
Von shook his head. “I told you everything I know about your ex.”
“What about Cassie? Did you know about her?”
“If I tell you what I know…” He stepped toward her. “Will you help me kill Coop?”
“Revenge is a negative motivator.”
“Revenge is all I have left.” His eyes flashed with rage.
