by Montana Ash
He was dressed in old but clean clothes of washed-out denim and a black tee shirt. He didn’t have any shoes on, but then he never did, and as her eyes traced over his feet she noted they were completely clean despite the lack of footwear. He was very lean but definitely not scrawny and was as tall as ever, topping six foot three she would bet. He didn’t slouch like his counterparts but as she focused on his face finally, she saw that his eyes were as black as the night around them. That was always majorly disconcerting as well. His hair was as long as she had ever seen it, dark and much stringier looking than normal as well. His cheeks were hollow and his lips pale. Yep, he looked like hell, Max thought again. He also had a much more sinister air about him than usual.
Fighting not to shiver, she opened up her other sight and held her breath as she searched out his doppelganger. Her breath exploded in a rush as the shadowy figure began to form beside him. It was darker than she had ever seen and its eyes were as black as its master – something she had never seen before. Poor man. Poor, poor man, she thought, so much pain.
He still hadn’t moved and he was looking at her in … hunger, she realised, a deep, deep hunger there was no way she could assuage. But fuck if she wasn’t going to try. This was one of her only friends, one of the only people who had tried to help her over the years and she had never turned him away. She wasn’t about to start now when he was so clearly desperate.
“Hi there. Long-time no-see.”
He didn’t move, but his depthless, ebony eyes devoured. She took a deep breath, gathering her fortitude before holding out her hand. “Is this what you want?”
Again with the statue routine.
“Come on, you know you want it. I’m tasty.” She sang. “Num nums.” She had a second to regret taunting the raging beast before she found herself embraced in searing cold as he wrapped arms as strong as steel bands around her and laid his icy lips on hers. Oh, Ryker wasn’t going to like this. His jaw didn’t unhinge and leave a gaping hole for a mouth like other chades. But he always laid his mouth over hers in order to drain her life-sustaining vitality. A kiss, she used to tell herself, a creepy kiss sure, but a kiss nonetheless. But this? This was nothing like before. This could very well be the kiss of death, she thought as she struggled to maintain consciousness. The pain and the need emanating from him was crippling, and combined with the energy she felt leaving her in a torrent like never before, she couldn’t have called upon her Order even if she wanted to.
Too much, she thought, it’s too much.
And then she thought nothing.
FOUR
Too much, he thought, it’s too much. But he couldn’t bring himself to stop. The strange little red-headed warden was like a lightning bolt of pure power. She was a beacon, a shining star to every foul and depraved creature around – including himself. Since he found himself sliding into ruin all those years ago, he waged an endless battle with himself and those around him not to lose the sliver of humanity he somehow managed to retain. It was a rather fruitless war, he knew, but despite everything, he couldn’t make himself forget all that he once was; a warrior, a protector of the air, a champion for the innocent. But his thoughts were becoming increasingly more jumbled and erratic, and it was almost impossible to ignore the hunger now. So afraid – he was so afraid he was going to fall off the very thin precipice and actually kill one of his old brethren. So desperate he had become that he had actually sought out the one warden to show him any kindness since his turning. The only warden who hadn’t tried to kill him on sight. He needed her – or rather the life-giving energy he was currently stealing.
He wasn’t sure how long it had been since he had last had contact with her. Time moved differently for him since he had become the abomination he was. He didn’t really measure days and nights anymore. It was all just pain, and cold, and hunger … and more pain. But it must have been some time for even in his confused and desperate state, he could feel a difference in her energy. She was once like a sieve, leaking vitality and drawing him and others like a moth to a flame. The first time he had pulled a chade from her as it attempted to feed greedily on what should have been for nature and its elements, the gratitude and compassion in those turquoise eyes of hers had captured him and held him hostage all these long years since. There had always been something special about her that he couldn’t identify, but now there was so much more.
More power, he thought. So much more power and it was dangerously, recklessly addictive. A frigid wind kicked up behind him almost in warning, bringing him to his senses somewhat. The air had long since forgotten their bond, leaving him bereft in a way that was even more cutting than the loss of his Order. He could see his domain but could no longer feel it or shape it. He could become it – a very odd sensation – but no matter how much he tried, he could no longer feel the air on his face. It was a cruelty beyond comprehension. But this tiny, icy draft was enough to drag his lips off the full ones beneath his own.
He cursed silently; she looked like death. Feeling frantically at her neck, he slumped in relief when he felt a faint but steady pulse beneath his fingers. Laying her down on the green grass gently, he swallowed dryly as he took in her pale, waxy features and sunken cheeks. She looked like she had aged ten years and her once vibrant hair was limp and dull.
What had he done? Why had he come here? How did he even know where she was? Their paths had always seemed to cross over the years, it was a strange twist of fate that he secretly yearned for and was endlessly thankful for. She always treated him like a person instead of a monster and had even given him a name. He had long ago stopped thinking of himself as the warden he once was and would never utter the name his parents had given him again. He would never dishonour them that way. Her energy was so unique that he could track it if he were close enough … and so could the others. And that was why – well, one of the unselfish reasons why – he had struggled to find her. He had to tell her, to warn her …
They were coming.
Too bad even his pitiful semblance of sanity had fled the moment he had laid eyes on her. What had he thought just moments ago? A beacon, a shining star? It was indeed what she was. Incapable of speech, for that had been stripped from him long ago as well, he had surrendered to his base yearnings and stolen from her. Although he now felt as human as he had in recent memory, he had likely drained her – Max, he suddenly recalled – Max was her name. He had likely drained Max past the point of no return. There would be little point in his warning if she were already dead. He glanced around, taking in the beautiful garden and the spectacular house for the first time. It seems his nutty little friend had come up in the world. Surely she lived here with others.
He remained crouched over Max as he considered what to do. Not a full second later a blur of teeth and fur flew out the door and launched itself at him. The thing was small but solid and damn fierce as it proceeded to launch an all-out attack on his denim covered leg. Scrambling to his feet, he denied his automatic reaction to shake the thing off. A monster he may be, but he recognised a puppy when he saw one, and this one was clearly protecting its master. He bent down to pry the mutt off … and that’s what literally saved his neck.
A scythe sliced over his head a mere inch from where it had been just moments before. A paladin, he perhaps vaguely would have recognised in his past life, barrelled through the doorway like the wrath of the Gods. Well, he supposed that answered the question as to whether Max lived alone. It also answered the question as to why she was suddenly more powerful – she was bonded. A whistle in the air proceeded a second scythe slicing towards him and he managed to dodge to the right, feeling a slight pressure along his left bicep that he didn’t bother acknowledging. He couldn’t be hurt like that anymore. The paladin didn’t seem to care, launching himself with bared teeth much like the dog had. Not interested in fighting an honourable soldier, he disintegrated as much as he could and fled.
*****
He ran, or flew rather, his feet a mere blur as they cruised ov
er the uneven ground of the bushland surrounding the very attractive log house. He heard no pursuit but didn’t want to risk it so he just kept going. It was still a strange phenomenon to him that he could almost become his element – floating on the wind as easily as the leaves. It wasn’t as pretty or as fun as it sounded though, for he was also as insubstantial as the air; nothing could touch him, he couldn’t feel, he couldn’t taste, and he no longer bled. Which was why it was so odd to have a stinging sensation coming from his arm. Slowing down, he glanced behind him and listened intently for a moment, hearing nothing but the normal sounds of the night. He kept moving forward nonetheless, knowing the relentless drive of paladins in their pursuit to avenge their lieges. His slower pace allowed him to study the new sensation and he almost fell arse over head as he saw wetness in the darkness.
Blood. It looked like blood. But that was entirely impossible, he knew. He was a chade. He did not bleed. Pressing his hand over the wetness, he brought it closer to his face so he could study it more in the dim light provided by the moon. Well, I’ll be fucked, he thought. It was blood. But how was that possible? He hadn’t bled in decades, not since one of his paladins had driven a scythe into his chest and they had both looked down in horror as nothing happened. That was the moment he finally admitted what he had become – an abomination.
He flicked his tongue out, cringing at the metallic taste. Definitely blood. And wait … he could taste! Another sensation thought lost to him. Interesting. Very, very interesting. An uncomfortable tightening in his jeans had him stopping altogether and looking down askance at his crotch. Now that was even more interesting, he acknowledged in bewildered amazement. He had a major hard-on – something he believed was no longer possible – and hadn’t that been a right shame? It had been years since he had felt any sort of normal bodily function let alone the urge to slake his lusts. It wasn’t from holding the curvy warden close either; he had never felt so much as a spark in that way towards her. No doubt it was the seemingly endless supply of power he had acquired. But what to do about it?
Looking around he unbuttoned his jeans – no point in wasting the fine gift, he thought, completely shameless. After all, he had no shame left now. Unfortunately, before he could so much as unzip, the sound of muted voices, laughter, and music carried on the wind. Seems he had travelled further than he had noticed as he was not far from a township … and a bar by the sounds of things. He gave one last wistful look at the bulge in his pants before buttoning up and making his way silently through the trees. It really wouldn’t do to be caught in the middle of the bush with his pants around his ankles and his hand on his dick.
As suspected, a small but lively town was but minutes through the dense trees and a deep yearning to be immersed in life, in people once again, filled him. Seemingly unable to stop himself, he walked as casually as he could, stopping when a face in a car window caught his attention. Raising a hand, he mapped the features that were still pale, still on the thin side, but no longer white and no longer gaunt. His hair was long, much longer than he had ever worn in it in his previous life, and it was a startling black where once it had been a rather nice deep brown that lightened in the summer months with the sun. But what had him fighting back tears were his eyes. They were no longer black but a rich mixture of green and brown. They were still much darker than they used to be but they were undeniably hazel.
So very interesting, he thought once again. Now, what do I do about it?
FIVE
Cali groaned as she rolled over, her face coming into contact with a flat, hard surface. She reached out to poke and prod at the offender. It didn’t move but it was strangely cool … and strangely enticing. Her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own as they wandered over the smooth expanse of – oh shit! It was the smooth expanse of a naked, muscled back! She went statue-still as she ordered her brain to play catch up with the last few hours.
As promised, Max had given her and the new love birds the weekend to themselves. Said lovebirds had driven into the city for a night of good food, good wine and no doubt, even better sex. While she had decided to drive just a little further north up the coastline to a slightly larger town with a big tourist population. It was only an hour or so drive from their own little slice of heaven but it had much more diversity by way of nightlife; had to keep the tourists happy after all. There was a funky little bar that had a decent DJ and dancefloor that she liked to frequent … and liked to get lucky at. Max had been right; it had been far too long since she had indulged in the simple pleasures of a whiskey, a dark hotel room, and the company of a mysterious but hot stranger. Not that she was easy, she assured herself, but ever since the fiasco of her old liege, she much preferred to choose the who, the time, and the place for her sexual endeavours.
As such, whenever she felt an itch she made sure she kept all her liaisons casual. Sometimes she would see a guy a handful of times for a mutually beneficial relationship but more often than not, she would venture out and find herself a willing looker to spend a few steamy hours with. She would then hightail it out of there before she had to give out a fake phone number and even faker conversation. It was only one or two times a year – it’s not like she was a slut or anything. Besides, if it was good enough for the male species it was damn sure good enough for her.
But this here was very strange. She never fell asleep next to a stranger despite the fact that she could kick most anyone’s arse. She had her fun and then poofed before the sun rose, just like Cinderella … or okay, more like a vampire, whatever. So why was she still lying here stroking a leanly muscled back as the sun began to peek over the horizon? She had to have drank some bad whiskey … or bad vodka … or bad tequila. No matter what is was, it was clearly bad to have made her brain so fuzzy and her hand so wandery.
The back moved and Cali held her breath, praying to the Great Mother that he didn’t wake. Surely Mother Nature was on her side – she was a chick after all. Seems girl power was in the air for the back didn’t move again and she was able to slip out of bed and drag on her scattered clothes, sans bra – she had no clue where that was. Easing the door closed behind her, she sucked in air like a dying woman. She must have been holding her breath the entire time. Close call, Cali. Picking her way across the hotel carpark, she found the Order’s car easily enough and slid into the driver’s seat. Instead of turning the Dodge over though, she simply bashed her head against the steering wheel as the previous night’s adventures returned with a vengeance. She didn’t suffer the same affliction as her buddy Darius did when he drank to excess. She didn’t lose her memory completely but sometimes it took a while for her fuzzy brain to catch up. Although, that could also be due to the lack of caffeine in her system.
Coffee. She needed coffee like she needed air. Starting the car, she eased out in search of the closest McDonald’s. An image of herself throwing her unsuspecting victim against the hotel room wall as she practically shredded his shirt burst into her cerebral cortex. Goodness – she had been a little wild. Maybe she had waited too long to scratch that itch. Or maybe it had been due to the insane chemistry she seemed to have with the sexy stranger. The moment she laid eyes on him she had felt heat spark between them, almost tangible in its intensity. Now she’d felt sparks before but nothing to this degree. Perhaps that’s why she had taken him back to her room despite the fact that he hadn’t even been at the bar.
Although flying solo, she had spent a fun evening chatting and meeting new people. She had eaten, drank and just plain been merry. There were a few potentials as the evening wore on but as the booze began to settle a little uncomfortably in her stomach, she had decided to give up on the fleshy part of the night’s festivities and sleep it off. She had one night to sleep completely unfettered by the Order bond as Max always cut them off completely whenever she gave them time away. Not that Cali begrudged the bond. In fact, it was the opposite. The bond brought with it a real sense of comradery and of family, so very different to her old life. It was a comfort and
a true privilege. She found herself eternally grateful to have met the gorgeous little goddess with her easy-going nature.
So, there she had been, walking a little unsteadily back to her room when she had seen Mr Mysterious across the carpark. He wasn’t her usual type – a little too rough looking. Not that she didn’t appreciate a rogue here and there, but there was just something about a man in a suit that really did it for her. So she was very surprised to feel that zing over the tall, lean stranger with the dark hair and dangerous air. Not surprised enough to turn him away though when he had eaten up the distance between them and all but devoured her without so much as a hello. Free with her body she may be on the odd occasion, but that was a little much even for her. Still, given she had woken plastered to that fine back this morning, she had clearly decided to loosen her morals a little.
Worth it. Totally worth it. She smiled a little wickedly to herself. Oh, she was so bad! She couldn’t wait to tell Max and Diana all about it. Thoughts of her liege had pain like nothing she had ever experienced slamming into her temples. She swerved chaotically and heard horns blaring around her. Max. Something had happened to Max. She managed to steady the wheel and do a quick and illegal turn back in the direction of their camp. While she had been rolling between the sheets with some strange man, her liege had been hurt.
Swallowing back the guilt in order to focus on the road, she figured she was probably cured of all one night stands forever.
*****
What would normally be an hour’s drive took only half that as Cali broke every road law and also some laws of physics to get back to the camp as fast as she could. Skidding into the drive, she didn’t bother shutting the car door as she flew inside. No-one was there to greet her but she didn’t need them to. The closer she got to home, the more the bond opened back up. It wasn’t open completely and it felt wrong like it was sick or something, but it was enough for Cali to know her entire Order was in Max’s bedroom on the second floor.
