“You got yourself a nice titbit there boy.”
Silas’s voice interrupted his thoughts. Jon slowly lifted his face and stared straight at Silas. The man continued to stroke the girl he had called Natty but stared leeringly at Aisling in Jon’s grip. Blind rage flooded out any fear he had felt. It clouded his mind and power rushed through his veins. Though Aisling lay quietly in his arms still unconscious from the blow to her head he felt the colour of her power ignite alongside the anger of his own. It threaded up through his body and filled his body until he thought he might burst.
“Don’t you dare look at her you sick bastard!”
His power erupted from his body like a blast from a nuclear bomb, mushrooming outwards until it reached its target. It struck Silas directly knocking him backwards. He let out a surprised yelp releasing the frightened girl and falling to the dirt. His body jerked and trembled before growing still on the ground and the man who had called Silas stared at Jon with shock.
“So you truly do posses a potent power... perhaps I underestimated you Jonathon.”
Jon watched as he stepped slowly away from where Jon stood and back towards the girl and where Silas lay. He began to reach for her leash but she chose that moment to make a break for it. As she ran the man in black moved just a little faster and roughly grabbed her leash pulling her back towards him. She hit the ground with a startled and painful scream, which caused the anger to course back up through Jon once more. How dare they treat her like an animal.
“Let her go, or you’ll suffer the same fate as Silas.”
His laugh caught Jon off guard and it confused him, he had witnessed what he had done to Silas so why was he laughing?
“You don’t think I won’t?”
“Oh I think you’ll try but I’m not as weak as Silas by any means and I really don’t think you’ve hurt him that badly but you know what they say; the bigger they are the harder they fall.”
“Let the girl go and I won’t fry you where you stand.”
The man laughed again and jerked her leash harshly causing her to whimper and claw at the collar that dug into her pale skin. She choked and gagged as she struggled against him but the black clad man simply lashed out with his foot and kicked her square into her ribs. Jon felt her pain from where he stood and Aisling woke in his arms. Words never even passed between them she simply sensed his despair, fear, need and anger and gave him full control of her power. It roared out from his body and hers covering the ground between them and the girl and man.
Their power mingled together and became visible as it tore across the ground and washed harmlessly over the girl at his feet. As it struck his opponent Jon was given the satisfaction of seeing the surprise that covered his face before he simply disappeared.
He lowered Aisling slowly to her feet and she stood on unsteady legs beside him. Their faces a mask of shock and fear. In his mind Jon registered that their power combined must have caused him to disappear but where had he gone?
The girls pitiful whimpers drew his attention back around to her and with a nod from Aisling as she sat on the ground against a tree stump he cautiously approached her.
“Are you alright?”
Her tiny shoulders shook as she sobbed and as she looked up at him he was struck by the strange colouring of her eyes. On one hand he could have called them blue but throughout the iris were thin swirls and dots of the brightest lilac he had ever seen. She moved faster than he expected, launching her small thin frame at his legs she clung to him like a drowning woman.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you oh god thank you!” Her words were hurried and garbled as she clung sobbing to his legs. Gently he reached down to her and tugged her slowly upright, he was careful not to touch the collar or leash. Instead he let her lean her weight against him as he walked slowly back to where Aisling sat still holding his bloodied jacket. A small trickle of blood oozed from the wound on her head but she didn’t look disorientated and he couldn’t sense any clouding in her mind.
“Ais, are you alright?”
“Yeah I think so.” She reached her fingers up and winced as she touched the cut. “What the hell happened Jon?”
“You wanted to confront the hunters and then you fell, you hit your head on a rock. Jesus Ais you came down so hard and when you didn’t move I...” His voice trailed off as he lowered his face and looked at the ground.
“But Jon who is she and the man on the ground and did I dream what happened to the guy from your room because I know I hit my head hard but that felt so real.”
“It was real. He was here. He had plans for me, for us and well I’m not too sure about any of the rest of it... but you might know some more?”
He turned toward the girl who still leaned against him. Her eyes were wide and frightened and pain creased her brow.
“Yes I know more, I have many things to tell you both but I fear here is not the place for it... Is there somewhere else we can go?”
Jon could feel the suspicion that rolled off Aisling’s body, she didn’t like this girl but he wasn’t sure why. She hadn’t seen the things that he had and he was glad to have helped her, she needed to be released from those monster’s clutches.
“We can go to my house, anyway love you need to get cleaned up before your mother sees you and thinks I tried to murder you. My parents are out so you don’t need to worry about them.”
Aisling’s shoulders visibly relaxed and she tried to pull herself to her shaky feet but couldn’t. Jon reached his hand out to her and she gladly took it. The second their fingers touched the electricity sparked between them and it fizzled across Jon’s skin. He closed his eyes and drank in the feeling; Aisling was and always would be an intoxicating mixture for him. Sometimes he thought he might drown in her but it hadn’t happened yet.
Opening his eyes once more he noticed the girl called Natty was no longer leaning against him. Instead, she stood to one side rubbing her arm as though something had shocked her. She still seemed frightened but the look in her eyes seemed more watchful now and he had a sudden urge to hear what it was that she knew about this mess.
“Come on let’s get going, I’m not sure where the other guy went to and he said Silas was just out cold.”
At the mention of his name Natty shivered violently and stared over at his prone form.
“It’s ok, he can’t hurt you now, I won’t let him. You’re safe.”
The smile she returned to him was small but genuine. Aisling tugged on his arm and he squeezed her closer in against him and began to walk back towards where the gap in the bracken led to Aisling’s back garden.
They made their way back quietly, Jon could still feel Aisling’s apprehension but what caused it he wasn’t sure. They slipped through the hedge and snuck up past Aisling’s house, the light was on in the kitchen and her mother was visible through the window as she happily went about preparing the dinner. Reaching the part of the fence with the loose boards Jon held them aside and let the girls slip through before following quickly and quietly behind.
Walking ahead of them he opened the back door and let the three of them into the quiet house. He pulled a chair out for Aisling and made her sit as he wet some cloths for her head.
“Feel free to sit down or if you need the bathroom or something... I’m sorry I’m not sure what to say to someone who has been held captive...”
Her smile was small and tentative as she sat in a chair opposite Aisling and played with the ripped sleeve of her white dress.
“What are you?” Aisling peered hard at the girl and her strange eyes as she accepted the wet cloth from Jon.
“Ais, give her a chance, if you’d seen what those creeps were doing...”
“No, no, it’s fine... I’m supposed to tell you anyway... I’m like you are. Well sort of only I’m far older and my powers are different. I read minds, sense the truth and I can feel power... I’ve felt yours and I have to say I’m pretty impressed.”
Her face said it all, she clearly was imp
ressed by the level of power both he and Aisling had achieved. But something about her statement bugged him.
“What do you mean supposed to tell us?” His hand crept towards Aisling’s unconsciously twining his fingers with hers as he sat and waited for an answer. Tension thrummed down through her arm and he slowly stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, brushing lazy circles across her soft skin.
“Ah, you picked up on that. Well it’s a long story.”
“We have time.” Aisling’s voice was cold and commanding as it cut across the other girls.
“Um, ok then, well my name is Natasha. I come from a group of magic wielders and protectors called the Croí. We’ve dedicated our lives to the preservation of all magic’s and the beings who wield them. For years we have fought against the hunters. They want to rid the world entirely of our kind; most of us have been forced into hiding.”
“If you’re so powerful then why not just wipe them out yourselves?”
Natasha shook her head and lowered her eyes to the table top before speaking quietly.
“Aisling you are so young, you are not aware of all the laws that govern our kind. We are tied in by so many they leave us vulnerable. But it is the way the old ones feel it is best and who am I to question their knowledge. In the law of Croí it is forbidden to use our magic to simply demolish our enemies. We have tried to train to fight but the hunters are simply faster, stronger and just better at it. It is their calling just as our calling is magic.”
She grew quiet and once more stared at the table top. One lone silver tear dropped from her face and hit the wood with a splash quickly followed by more. Aisling and Jon exchanged looks unsure of what to do with their guest’s display of vulnerability. It was Jon who finally broke the silence.
“So how did you come to be in their possession? If they kill our kind then surely they would have killed you to?”
“I was on my way here to you when I was intercepted.”
“Why would you travel alone when you know what those guys are like and what they do?”
“I wasn’t alone...”
Her voice grew choked and she quickly covered her face with her hands quiet sobs filled the kitchen and Aisling stood up and fetched some tissues from the box on the window She set them down softly in front of Natasha and turned to move away but Natasha’s hand snaked out with lightening speed and gripped her wrist in a vice like grip.
“It’s because of you I lost him.” Her words hissed out through her teeth like venom. “You and the stupid prophecy that surrounds you and him.” Her finger jabbed out in Jon’s direction as he kicked back his chair to go to Aisling’s aid but Natasha’s movement caused him to freeze where he stood.
“Oh did I not tell you, I can bend powers? It’s all part of my little gift but all that wasn’t enough to save my Jason. You see the hunters don’t have powers that like we do so mine was useless... I was powerless to save him...”
Her grip relaxed on Aisling’s wrist and she snatched it back rubbing the red area of skin. Jon also found himself released and rushed to Aisling’s side holding her tight in his arms he moved her to the other side of the table.
“What happened Natasha?” Aisling’s voice was low and sympathetic.
“We had almost made it here... God we were so close to getting to you two and we had booked into a hotel for the night. I thought it would be better if we did that, I knew you were both so new to your powers and I didn’t want to frighten you... We fell asleep... then they came for us... Max, Silas and a few others... they took us back to their place...” Her shoulders shook as she recalled vivid memories.
His face still haunts me you know... the look on his face... they made Jason watch as Silas had some intimate time with me first... and then they made me watch as they....” Her voice trailed off as she stared at some unknown horror unfolding before her eyes. She shook her head suddenly and her eyes came back into focus. “They murdered him and then kept me. I couldn’t fight them and Silas liked me. Max saw me as a commodity to use.”
“Oh god, Natasha... I’m so sorry...”
“We’d been together one hundred and forty years... He was my soulmate... two souls destined to be bound to each other for all eternity and now he is just... gone...”
“Wait what? One hundred and forty years?”
Natasha gave Jon a watery smile as she spoke. “Yes, when you learn and live by the craft according to Croí we tend to live for a very long time. We’re not immortal or anything but the magic keep us alive.”
“I just can’t believe that one hundred and forty years... how old are you?”
Natasha laughed softly, “Jon has no-one ever told you to never ask a woman her age?”
“Oh right yeah sorry...”
“No it’s fine, I’m one hundred and seventy two and I’m technically still only a baby.”
Aisling had remained quiet throughout the exchange before once piping up.
“Why were you coming for us, or to see us? What do you want with us?”
Natasha sighed before standing up gracefully, she moved like a ballerina. Her movements filled with light and airy steps, it was as though her feet never truly touched the floor. As she sat with them, the scratches that covered her began to slowly heal and disappear and her skin returned to its normal pale shade. Stopping at the sink she peered out the window into the night.
“There is a prophecy foretelling of two lovers who will have the power to destroy the hunters forever and they will do it with their magic because their power lies within their love for one another. It has been said that they shall be as one soul sharing two bodies and to separate them would mean dire things for both. We believe it is you two, and after what I have seen you do tonight I’m inclined to agree... Max seems to fear you...”
“You keep mentioning Max who is he?”
“He never introduced himself? Oh dear how very lax of him, Max is the man you made simply disappear. By the way do you know what you did with him?”
Jon shrugged and Aisling wrapped her arms around his waist tighter, cuddling in against his chest, his heart beat steadily beneath his shirt and it calmed her. Natasha sagged suddenly against the counter top and seemed to grow paler than she already was.
“Are you alright?” Jon’s concern touched Aisling and she walked over to the woman and helped her to sit down once more.
“I’m fine, thank you. I think I just need to lie down. I’m not back to my full strength and healing takes a lot of me. Perhaps I will never be back to my full strength... some of us cannot outlive our soulmate...” Her eyes filled with tears once more and she brushed impatiently at her eyes as they flowed down over her cheeks.
“Would it be possible for me to stay with one of you?”
“I don’t know what my parents would say if they found you here...” Jon’s voice was wary but Aisling quickly interjected. “No it’s fine you can stay with me... Mom will be pleased to think I have another friend other than Jon.” With a smile she turned towards him and pulled the letter from her pocket. She slipped it into his hand. “For you.”
Quickly he pressed his lips against hers and the pleasure thrilled through him. He knew Aisling didn’t feel it the way he did but one day she would and when she did they would be explosive together. She pulled back from him and he studied her face.
“Aisling I love you, you do realise that don’t you...”
“Jon, of course I do. I feel exactly the same way. We are made for each other, we always were.” Her hand reached out and traced the line of his jaw with her fingertips lovingly.
“I don’t mean to break the happy couple up or anything but do you think maybe we could go to your house? I really do need to rest...”
“Sure.” Jon’s voice held its usual unhappy tone as he led the two girls back out the door they had come in and over to the fence. Lifting aside the loose timbers he watched as Natasha disappeared through. Catching Aisling by the hand he felt a strange feeling of loss creep through him and he pulled
her back around to face him.
“Ais, promise you’ll never leave me. Not for any reason. I couldn’t bear to be without you.”
Her own face seemed to mirror the gravity of his words as though she too felt the loss and without thinking she quickly pressed her hand over his heart and leaned up to kiss his lips.
“I will never leave you Jon, not for anything.”
Heat from their passion and power combined flared through them both and Jon could feel a need building within him. When Aisling finally let him go her eyes were wide and her breath came in little gasps.
“I, I should go...”
“Yeah, I think it might be better... that felt different...”
“I’ll call you later if you want?” Jon watched as she edged toward the gap in the fence never taking her eyes from his. It was as though they simply couldn’t drink enough of each other in.
“I’ll be waiting for it love, be careful...”
She disappeared through the fence and he watched as she turned and beckoned Natasha to follow her. He watched her until she opened the door to her house and once more turned back to where she knew he was watching. Lifting her arm she waved quickly and vanished inside closing the door and leaving Jon to stand in the night air. Shivering he made his way back to his own house and shelter.
Chapter Three
Back up in my room I watched Natasha from the corner of my eye as I prepared her makeshift bed. Beautiful wasn’t a strong enough word to convey how she looked and a small part of me felt jealousy towards her. I wondered did Jon think she was beautiful. Of course he does, a small voice in my head piped up. He’d need to be nuts not to. I jumped as her voice cut through my own thoughts as though she could simply pluck them from my head. Then I remembered that she could.
“You don’t like or trust me, do you, Aisling?”
“Did you read my mind?”
“Aisling I didn’t need to. I can feel it rolling off you in waves. No offence but you’re not very good at hiding your emotions.”
The Need Page 2
