Defender's Blood Alex's Destiny (An Urban Fantasy)

by A. K. Michaels

  Chapter 15

  Alex woke and it was nearly midday. She stretched and realized Zach wasn’t beside her. She relaxed a second later, when she could hear the shower was on in the en suite. She languished in her thoughts of the previous night. She had had so many ‘firsts’ with Zach, and she laughed as she remembered his face when she had made him come in her mouth. God, she was turning into a real wee hussy, but she loved it.

  With that in her mind she left the warmth of the bed and made her way to the en suite. Zach was standing under the shower, watching the door. As she walked in she remembered, yet again, that he could read her thoughts. Ooops! His eyebrow raised and he held out his hand for her.

  When they got dressed, Alex felt as happy as she had ever felt. She just felt this incredible sense of joy when she was with him. Suddenly, why they were here popped into her mind, and she felt scared. Zach couldn’t get hurt.

  Her panic was evident on her face, however, it was her thoughts that Zach had been following. “It’s okay, come now, it’s not as if I’m going to be there alone. Vlad and Dmitri will be there, along with Duncan and whoever else he brings along. We are all extremely strong beings, Alexina, we will be all right.” He tried to allay her fears. She would have to focus when they got to the cave so she could fulfil her destiny.

  When they entered the kitchen, there was the glorious smell of cooked bacon, it made her mouth water. Vlad, Dmitri, Duncan, and two other men sat at the table drinking coffee and eating. Although Vlad and Dmitri had some bacon and toast on their plates, Duncan had a plate heaped with food. Jeez, can one person eat that much? Alex was thinking, when Zach answered in her mind. ‘You’ve not seen anything yet. He eats enough for ten men.’

  She smiled, and they took seats at the end of the table nearest the door they had come in. “Gid mornin tae ye – hows the two lovebirds this mornin?” Duncan bellowed. He was a very loud man.

  “We’re just fine, Duncan. How’s the heads this morning, guys? A lot of whisky partaken last night?” Zach enquired.

  “We’re fine, Zach. Margaret here made sure of that.” Vlad was the one to respond and he smiled at Margaret.

  “I didn’t want you lot going on a mission hung-over! Shoot me why don’t you?” Margaret retorted.

  “Yes and quite right, too,” Alex supported her.

  “How are you, Margaret? Have you got morning sickness?” Alex was asking as Margaret was flying around the kitchen, making sure everyone had enough food, and that was no mean feat, if the amount Duncan was shovelling down was anything to go by.

  Margaret replied, never stopping for a second. “I’m fine, never felt better, actually. It’s a bit strange, thought I would be feeling sick, but no, I’m fine.”

  “Can I help with anything?” Alex offered.

  “No, Alex, you should know better! You’re a guest, and I have a large dishwasher for the dishes. Sit still and eat something.”

  Alex did as she was told.

  Duncan spoke up, “Noo, Zach, these here are the two guys ah’m bringin taeday. Scott is under orders to stay here. Ah’m no goin tae be leaving Margaret alone noo til the bairn is born. He wisnae happy, but hey, ah’m the Alpha!” he laughed. “This lad here is William, he’s a strong Wolf, but ah’m bringin him along cause his mum’s a Witch. He’s gid wae all that sorcery stuff, thought he could be useful. That big lump there is Stuart, he deals wae security at the club an ah havnae met a stronger Wolf – apart fae me that is.” He laughed again, the two men just nodded at them as they continued eating.

  William was tall, but not nearly as broad as the rest of the men in the room, he seemed young, too. Zach knew that Duncan wouldn’t be bringing him along unless he knew he was up to the job. Stuart was large, mostly muscle from what Zach could see, and he had no doubts he was as strong as Duncan had said. He hoped they were not rookies and could handle what they might possibly be up against.

  Just as Duncan finished talking, Scott walked in with Rhianna and Bri. Alex noticed that Bri and Scott kept glancing at one another, and she thought that she was witness to a fledgling relationship.

  Bri was a little shy and was pretty quiet through the rest of the meal. She made sure she was sitting next to Scott at the table, Alex noted. Rhianna also was looking at Scott, although her looks were more of an appraising type. It looked as if she was sizing him up. Was he good enough for her little sister?

  Alex liked Duncan and Zach respected him. So in her eyes, she didn’t think Duncan would have Scott as his second in command, if he wasn’t the strong, honourable type. So she hoped that the two youngsters made each other happy, if it progressed. Then she realized that Scott was probably a lot older than her. She knew she could no longer look at one of these Supers and judge their age by the way they looked.

  The rest of the meal went by with normal banter, and as it came to a close, Zach spoke. “So is everyone clear on what their job is today? Duncan, if your Wolf noses can alert us to anything that would be great. However, your main job is the same as mine, Vlad’s, and Dmitri’s. We protect Alexina at all costs, and I mean at all costs. Everyone okay with that? If not, better say so now, so we can make other arrangements.”

  He waited and Duncan was the one to answer, “Zach, ma friend, that’s no a problem fer us. Ah think it wid be a gid idea if the three oh yous were in front oh the lassies and us three were on each flank wae one at the rear?”

  “That’s a good idea, Duncan, yes we will go with that.”

  William raised his head, “May I speak?” He addressed this to Duncan.

  “Aye, laddie, whits on yer mind?” Duncan replied.

  William turned so he was addressing the whole table, “As Duncan said, my mother is a Witch, I am quite capable in that department, so I would like to have a little time with Rhianna and Bri to discuss what they have in mind. I would then like to be at the front, one of you guys could then take a flank or rear. The reason being, I may be able to use my gift more forcefully there. If I am at a flank or rear, I would be scared about hurting one of you.”

  Rhianna looked closely at this quiet speaking Wolf. “I would be more than happy to discuss what we have planned. However, you speak of hurting. Are you strong in defensive spells?”

  William’s voice was low as he responded, “I don’t want to blow my own trumpet so to speak, but I am not strongest in what you would call defensive spells. My strength is in offensive spells. My mother is the head Witch in the UK, not just Scotland, and she has been training me since before I could walk.” He looked down at the table. He was not great at talking in public and felt a bit embarrassed.

  “Aye, he is that! That’s why ah decided tae bring him along,” Duncan put in.

  Rhianna was surprised. Her coven did not overtly practice offensive spells, defensive was their strength. She spoke directly to Zach, “Well, if he’s good at that, then I would say he goes up front, what do you say, Zach?”

  Zach thought for a minute. “Okay, up front will be me, Vlad, and William. Dmitri and Stuart, you will take the flanks. Duncan, I would like you to protect our rear. I don’t want anything creeping up on the girls. Is everyone okay with that?”

  “Aye, laddie, that’s fine.” Duncan said as the rest just nodded in agreement. Scott opened his mouth to speak, but Duncan beat him to it. “Dinnae bother, laddie, yer no comin, an that’s final. Yer job as ma Beta is tae protect the Pack, especially ma woman here. God forbid, but if anythin happened tae me, then it’s up tae you tae lead this lot.” As Duncan spoke Margaret came over and stood behind his chair and put her arms round his neck.

  “Now none of that talk. Duncan, I am telling you – be careful, and come back to us in one piece, please!” Margaret’s tone was firm.

  Duncan nodded his head. “Aye, aye,” was all he said.

  Alex could feel the difference in Zach. This wasn’t something she had seen before. He was all business and aloof. He was totally focused on the mission, and she felt him put the partial block in
place.

  As soon as he did it she felt alone. She hadn’t realized how much she had got used to their mental bond. She knew it was for the best, for both of them. He had a job to do, and she didn’t want to distract him with fear going through her mind. He took her hand underneath the table and gave it a squeeze.

  “Vlad, could you do me a favour before we head out?” Zach spoke over to his friend.

  Vlad turned and nodded his head.

  “Could you take Alexina out, maybe to a barn or somewhere, and go through some defensive moves? I’ve been training her a little, but I would like you to go through some with her. Get her focused, and also see if she can in fact, remember what we’ve been doing?”

  Alex was apprehensive, Zach training her was one thing, but Vlad? Well, she didn’t think Vlad would hold back. She hoped she could remember what she had been taught.

  Duncan spoke up, “The gym’s doonstairs in the basement, Vlad, that should be okay fer ye.”

  Vlad stood up without speaking and nodded to Alex to follow him. She said, “Wait a minute,” and ran upstairs, got her knives and strapped them onto her forearms.

  Alex made her way down to the basement and Vlad was standing waiting for her. This Vlad was not the friend she had come to know. He had a fierce look on his face, and she was more than a little afraid.

  She went to the middle of the central mat and stood waiting for him to make the first move. After all, Zach had been teaching her defensive moves – not offensive. She didn’t have to wait long. He lunged for her and she moved to the side and struck out a leg. He nimbly jumped over it, however, if he had been a human, she would have made contact.

  He circled her, trying to get behind her, all the time making small lunges to keep her off balance. She was concentrating very hard, moving without thinking. Her training had obviously stuck in her mind.

  He finally moved quicker than a human could and got behind her and grabbed her, none too gently, around the neck. In a flash, she had one of her knives out and instinctively went to stab his arm.

  Again, if he had been human, she would have succeeded, but he stopped the blade before it pierced him. He was very pleasantly surprised. She was pretty good, for a human. He released her and turned her around, he gave her a hug. “That was really good. Zach has obviously trained you well. I didn’t even realize you had blades on!” She was a bit breathless, but smiled. She thought Zach would be proud of her.

  When they went upstairs, Vlad reported to Zach in a cold calculating way, as the Head of Security giving a report, not as a friend to either her or Zach.

  Zach nodded his head in approval and gave her a smile. He was glad that she hadn’t forgotten anything he had taught her.

  While they had been downstairs he had gone back up to their room and got ready. His blades were in place and he was carrying his sword. He would place it in its sheath, when they got out of the car. Everyone else was ready, so they made their way outside.

  The sisters had taken the time to advise William of their plans and what spells they had. William was already formulating a new spell in his head with the added information from the two Witches.

  The two vehicles waited for them and once again, Duncan got in to drive one. Zach asked William to come in the car with them and Vlad. If they ran into any trouble, he would quite like to have him near Alexina.

  Stuart opened the driver’s door to the other vehicle and Dmitri and the girls got in. There was an air of apprehension, a little fear, and a little excitement from the girls. From the men, nothing, they were totally focused on the job at hand. Alex didn’t think any of them knew the meaning of fear.

  She was in the middle of the seat in back, Zach and William on either side of her. Zach whispered in her ear, “Do some of the meditation breathing exercises. It will calm you and help you to focus.” Alex did as he suggested and was once again surprised at how quick it worked. She then started going over the spell in her head, making sure she knew it. She couldn’t afford any mistakes.

  Duncan was using the satnav, as they only really had the map in the journal, and sets of numbers, which were coordinates. It was the sole way for them to get where they needed to be. The weather didn’t look great. It wasn’t raining hard, but it was that drizzle that Scotland knew so well. It would soak you in minutes and was the bane of every Scot. It also meant there would probably be mist in the Highlands.

  They drove for a couple of hours, heading farther and farther north. The roads went from motorway to a two lane and then they turned off onto a track.

  After a few miles on the track, Duncan stopped. He was looking for a break in the land at the side of the track. “We need tae head cross country noo. Ah’m trying tae find somewhere that is safe to travel on.”

  They edged forward very slowly and then Duncan saw an opening that seemed safe for the vehicles. He turned off the track very slowly and tested the land beneath them. It was solid, so he continued on, not very fast, in case of holes and boulders, which were dotted all over.

  This part of the journey was the worst. They were thrown about quite a bit with the rough terrain and Alex started to feel sick. She tried to damp it down as best as she could. After another half hour or so, they heard the horn of the vehicle behind them blare.

  They stopped and looked back, as the rear door was thrown open and Bri jumped out and threw up. Poor Bri, Alex thought, I know how you feel. In a few minutes, Bri stood up and returned to the vehicle. At this point, Alex noticed there was a mist, as she had thought, it wasn’t too bad, but still impaired what could be seen.

  A little farther on and they were truly in the middle of nowhere. There were some hills, nothing near the size of the Cairngorms, but hills all the same, and Duncan said they were close. He stopped the car and took the satnav from the dashboard.

  He spoke and his voice still was loud, especially in the confines of the vehicle. “We should walk fae here, it’s up there at the base oh that hill.” He pointed in front to the nearest hill.

  Everyone got out, and they got into the formation they had agreed on. Before going in front of her, Zach pulled Alex into his arms and kissed her with no embarrassment of the others looking on. He pulled away, turned, and took his place with Vlad and William.

  Bri and Rhianna joined Alex, and the other three men took their positions.

  Rhianna started chanting and moving her hands about, she looked like she was dancing with her hands, and then very suddenly Alex felt a powerful wave come over them. The shield was in place.

  “Okay, guys we can move on now,” Rhianna said. “Bri, it’s up to you when we get to the hill to uncover the doorway.”

  “I know,” Bri responded quietly, and they all started walking.

  It wasn’t easy terrain and the girls especially found it difficult. With no powers such as the Wolves or Vampires had, they were struggling. Alex was glad of the combat boots that Zach had acquired for her.

  Very quickly Duncan shouted, “Wait! Ah smell somethin, it’s fuckin awful, whitever it is! Ah also smell human, more than one, no sure exactly how many.” Duncan’s face was all screwed up, as if the smell was making him feel ill.

  Vlad put a hand straight up with his fist closed, they stayed in place. Vlad turned to Zach. “You’ve got the best senses, my friend, can you feel anything?”

  Zach closed his eyes in concentration and let his senses flow...out...farther...a bit farther...yes – there they were.

  Zach nodded as he addressed everyone, “I can feel them. Definitely Demons there and I think at least a dozen humans. We need to be ready, guys.” When Zach finished, Vlad’s arm dropped and they continued on. Alex was very nervous indeed.

  As they moved closer with only a short distance to go, William held his hand up and whispered, “Stop.” Everyone stopped.

  Before William could say anything Duncan spoke, “Somethins close boys, never smelt anythin like it, it’s rotten, so it is.”

  The men took out whatev
er weapon they were happiest with. Zach had his sword in his hands, Vlad had his crossbow, and the others had a mishmash of guns, knives, and daggers. Apart from William who held his hands out and looked to be concentrating very hard.

  Alex looked over her shoulder and up, for Duncan, and couldn’t see him. Fuck. Where was he? Then she heard a growl, she looked lower and saw him, he had turned into his Wolf.

  What a beast. He made the Wolf that Irina turned into look like a puppy. His fangs were bared and he scared the shit out of her.

  The Wolf turned, so that it was walking backward. His massive head going from left to right, watching that nothing came up behind them.

  William’s mouth moved, but she couldn’t hear what he was saying. Rhianna moved Alex, so that she was in the middle between her and Bri. Alex tried desperately not to let her fear take hold.

  They had continued walking now and were very near the hill. “I can sense the doorway, hold on,” Bri spoke and then started her part. Her hands flew in all directions while muttering some spell or other. Alex wasn’t listening, she was looking at what was in front of them.

  Shit. Shit. Shit. There were two of the things that had attacked back at Unity, Demons. Plus, three others who looked to be smaller ones, and quite a few humans.

  “Alex – do not go in that doorway alone. No matter what, you wait for at least two of us to go with you. Do you understand?!” Zach shouted back at her.

  “Yes,” she managed to get out.

  The Demons looked at them and did that sound that Alex thought was a laugh. She lowered her eyes, she didn’t want to see them. She had to focus.

  William’s hands flew faster and faster and suddenly he threw them out forward. One of the large Demons and one of the smaller ones standing next to it flew backward and landed on the hill. The large one tried to get up, but couldn’t seem to manage it. The smaller one lay in a crumpled heap, not moving. The other large one looked at it, and a look of incredulity crossed its disgusting features. It hadn’t expected that.