by Hannah888
"She's right," Esyth groaned, the golden glow already surrounding her body, her eyes like a fierce fire. "We don't want them on our tails."
Hadaen nodded. "Hold on!" And he brought the vehicle to a sharp turn, skidding sharply against gravel and its side facing the attackers. The Hummer drew to an abrupt halt a couple hundred meters away. "Go!"
Gideon was out first moving in superhuman speed towards the vehicle, bullets raining around him. Amelia dodged out, her blue glow crackling like fireworks. Hadaen jumped out and grabbed her, throwing her far behind him. He could hear her scream of protest but he didn't care. It didn't take long for him to summon his mana from the depth of his core. Red light clapped around them, sizzling like electricity, as he spun rapidly creating a massive spiraling current. The bullets hit his field, falling limply to the ground afterwards. After a few minutes, all sound ceased and Hadaen moved towards the Hummer slowly, his eyes like blazing crimson. Esyth ran past him, pivoted with one knee raised high and threw a wave of golden light towards the vehicle, leaving it stripped of all its outer metal ware. Inside, the five men huddled together, looking half-dead. Gideon grinned and jumped unto the top of the vehicle.
"Whooeee!!" he howled. "Someone's surely pissed himself over here."
Hadaen chuckled and grabbed the nearest culprit. "Tie the rest up."
Esyth and Gideon were already at that, bounding them tightly and tossing their heavy frames down to the dusty pavement, their mouth gagged. Amelia then came up to them, looking stricken and dusting off her clothes where she had landed flat on her ass when he'd tossed her.
"You're an asshole, you know that?" she spat.
"Tell me later when you want to show some gratitude."
"I don't owe you a damn thing. I know how to deflect a bullet."
Hadaen caught the look that Esyth gave her. It was somehow consoling...a bit weary. Whatever she was saying to Amelia, it had caused her to relax, leaning against the stripped truck.
Relieved, Hadaen finally looked the mortal who was in his hands over. The man wasn't large, just about five feet eight. Hadaen probably had about fifty pounds over him. The man's eyes looked large enough to fall right out of his damn head.
Hadaen sniffed lightly. So this one was the one who'd pissed himself. Tossing the man back, he took a step back and widened his stance. "Who do you work for?"
The man struggled to his feet, his eyes wet with tears. Frankly, Hadaen felt sorry for him. But that was what one got for doing the devil's dirty deeds. "I-I don't know. He-he approached us in a dark alley. The shadows were on his face. He paid us in cash."
"What were your instructions?"
"Follow the black SUV parked outside the fourth Palisades apartment. Shoot it up." His eyes widened even further. Hadaen knew he was terrified and from the display of supernatural abilities they had just performed, he had a right to be. "W-what are you?" He looked around shakily. "All of you?"
"I ask the questions." Hadaen stated it firmly. He then worked at his aching temples. If Deorci had given such instructions then he must have been outside his apartment last night. Hadaen had no doubt he must have trashed through it already. They had to keep moving, switch vehicles...and get those guns too.
"What are we going to do with them?" Esyth asked, arms folded and facing Hadaen. "We can't just leave them here."
"We have to," Gideon stated, jumping back to ground. "Either way, they’re screwed. Deorci will find them anyway… Or the police. "
“Gideon's correct." Hadaen sighed and turned away. "We can't do anything for them at this point. Let's go."
Esyth nodded and followed behind.
"Wait!" the man wailed. "He'll kill us. If he's like y-you we don't stand a chance.... Turn around and face me like a man, you motherfucker!"
The sound of a bullet going off slapped through the air. Hadaen turned around to meet his brother's grin and his infamous, "Damn!"
His gaze then moved to Amelia who was standing, one hip jolted out sexily. The muscles around his cock tugged. In her right hand was a silver shotgun.
"That should shut him up."
And she strode pass all of them, their faces masks of surprise.
Hadaen was pretty sure his mouth had dropped.
Chapter Six
"I've alerted the others of our coming," Esyth said. "They should expect us by sunset."
Hadaen nodded and glanced out the window of the jeep they had acquired after dumping the SUV. Gideon had been driving ever since. His "friend" had actually turned out to be very resourceful. His name was Jacques; the only mortal he had ever met who didn't cower in his presence. He supposed the man had a lot of experiences to speak for; ones that had hardened the bones and left the soul tainted. He had said he'd served a decade, as colonel, in the military. He had the bearings to prove it.
He hadn't even questioned it when Gideon had mentioned the urgent need for weaponry. Jacques had simply grinned and said, "I've got just what you need. Top-grade artillery. Military style."
They were now well armed, so to speak, with firearms ranging from the sleekest of shotguns to the most deadly of explosives. The trunk of the jeep had been loaded with two huge caissons.
"Ammunition to debut in World War 3," Jacques had grinned, his large muscular arms folded over his chest. A huge scar had slashed across one cheek bone to his chin.
Hadaen looked up at the starry sky. It was just minutes after midnight. The moon sat at its center position, shining brightly and staking its claim over the night. Traffic was little. The journey had been fairly silent. He could hear Amelia's sleepy sighs as if it was the loudest sound in the world. Her head rest against the hard door of the jeep.
He wished she'd let him hold her. He admitted that his arrogance somehow got the better of him at times but he wanted her still; wanted badly to sink his cock deep within her warm wet pussy. To bring her over the edge of passion and have her screaming his name to his satisfaction. To trail his tongue along the slender curve of her neck and taste her sweet saltiness; to move even further down to the sweet juices of her womanhood---
Dammit! He was hard again. How he fought against the urge to wrap his hand around himself and ease the pain away; to bring himself to a release; a dissatisfying release, even that.
Hadaen stifled a groan. "We should stop for the night. Get some food and freshen up."
"There's a bed-and-breakfast half a mile down the stretch," Gideon muttered. "We'll stop there."
It wasn't long before the large neon-lit sign came up into view. Kat's Bed & Breakfast. The building seemed fairly new or perhaps just freshly painted. It was two stories high, a wooden structure that Hadaen no doubted was far stronger that it looked. Gideon pulled up to the entrance of the building, shutting the jeep off. Esyth nudged Amelia gently, waking her.
"Bring in the bags," Hadaen said, already out of the vehicle and scanning the area. "Let's go."
By the time they had all huddled inside the building, six duffle bags were sitting in front the front desk, a receptionist nowhere in sight. A ceiling fan whirled noisily overhead. A TV was on somewhere. Otherwise, the building was quiet. Gideon stepped forward and pressed the bell on the desk repeatedly. He was at his 8th ring when...
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" The answer came in a hefty shout. A plump red-head made her way into the room, rocking from side to side on short legs and thin spectacles falling at the tip of her beak of a nose.
Gideon cast Hadaen a knowing look. His brother's eyes were grinning even if his lips weren't. The woman reminded them of their childhood nurse. Cranky as hell with the same scary owl of a face.
Hadaen stepped up. "We need two rooms. Just for the night."
Esyth frowned and Amelia raised an eyebrow. Hadaen thought their modesty as women was rather ridiculous.
"That'll be eight-five dollars each," the older woman muttered. She then peered over the desk at their bags. Hadaen never understood the concept of wearing spectacles that way if they were only going to be gazed over. "You got so
me mighty heavy luggage there."
"Cross country," Amelia threw in and the woman looked at her. "We're taking in the sights."
The woman harrumphed and stretched her hand out for the cash Hadaen held out to her. "I don't get much couples coming in at midnight." She eyed them. "Most folks want to come in a little earlier and anticipate what the night as to offer." She gazed at Amelia and Esyth with a twinkle in her eyes that made them blush. Hadaen's chuckle earned him an elbow in his side. Amelia stared furiously up at him. Gideon covered up a grin and tucked Esyth under his arm to keep up with the pretense.
"These women need no anticipation, I can tell you that," Gideon grinned. "They just jump right at it."
Esyth stiffened. Now it was the older woman who was blushing.
Retrieving a couple keys with a large wooden number ten and twelve attached to the keychain of one and the other, she flashed a toothy smile. "Well, here you are. Have a good night."
Hadaen nodded his gratitude and tossed one of the keys to his brother.
As soon as they were within the hall leading to their rooms, Amelia sounded her discomfort. Hadaen knew it would only take a matter of time before she did.
"Esyth and I will take one of the rooms. I'm sure you two wouldn't mind."
Hadaen didn't stop walking. "As a matter of fact, I would mind. You're staying with me. End of discussion."
"Amelia, it is fine. Really..." Esyth muttered softly, aware of Gideon's gaze on her. It felt frightening and welcoming both at the same time. He was walking too close behind her, his breath on her neck and she knew he was doing it on purpose.
"I hate to burst your bubble, sweetheart. But you're stuck with me. There is no other alternative."
"Must you be an asshole 24/7? How much more arrogant could you get?"
"Do not push me, Amelia," he growled.
Amelia shoved past him and stopped directly in his path, causing him to still in his tracks. She pointed a finger in his face. No other woman would have dared. "You don't own me. And you don't get to tell me what to do. The past cannot be unwritten and you're still an egotistical prick!"
Hadaen looked her over for a minute, watching the anger burn in her eyes. He loved those eyes. His gaze roamed further down. And those lips too; they were made to tempt a monk into oblivion.
"I don't have an ego," he muttered, pretty sure that Gideon and Esyth had already left them. He then walked around Amelia, coming to a stop at a door with a large number '12' painted into its center top edge. "I don't give a damn what you think." He shoved the door open after twisting the key in the lock. "Now get in."
It took all the strength within her to step over the threshold, and when she did she was so shocked she was confident her limbs shook. She turned to glare at him as he locked the door behind them.
"Nice bed, isn't it?"
* * *
It was hardly what Amelia would call a nice bed. The four-poster monstrosity sat in the center of the room, covered by snowy linen sheets and half a dozen plush pillows. It was very inviting...and for that reason alone, she hated it. For it would only mean that she would be at a dilemma: lay there with him edging only inches away from her or spite herself and sleep sitting up in the armchair by the fireplace. It was late summer there was not yet need for firewood. The air was merely cool.
She observed the interior of the room. There was a TV in front of the bed, a low wooden stand holding its weight. A mini-fridge stood at the other side of the room with a table and two chairs next to it. A dresser and a chest of drawers were the rest of the furniture, and a narrow closet peeped its way past a long silk drapery near a door she supposed led into the bathroom.
Amelia wiped her palms against the sides of her pants. She was badly in need of a shower. She was feeling rather sticky from the events of the day before.
Pulling her bag to the foot of the bed, she sat and dug around for clean underwear, a blouse and shorts. She could feel Hadaen's ogling. Her mind had been out of sorts ever since she had woken up in his arms the previous morning. The worst part of it was that she had found her arm thrown over his broad chest, her face snuggled against his neck. She had woken up smiling only to look up and see the face that had once scared her half to death.
So she had jumped off the bed like a cat cornered by a dog, and run from the room. She hadn't expected to see his face again, to recognize him. The man who had threatened to brand her as his own. She had been terrified, she still was. Amelia felt like a different woman. Centuries ago, she would have never dared challenge Hadaen Maruj the way she had in the last few hours. But she did and she feared she might just be setting herself up for his wrath once again. It wouldn't come as a surprise, she knew that.
What terrified her most was that she knew she'd never manage to escape him a second time.
"You can get the shower first," she heard him say as if her intentions weren't obvious.
Hadaen started to remove his shirt and she took that as her cue to leave. Her feet carried her swiftly to the bathroom, and she locked the door behind her and slid down to the floor before her legs gave out.
Fifteen minutes later, she was out of the bathroom, fresh...and hungry. She followed the scent of bacon and cheese, and the smell of warm bread. Her mouth watered and she turned to see a white food bag on the table. Hadaen stood, placing ice in a cup and then setting down a soft drink next to it. She wondered why he was being so efficient; so thoroughly...nice. He then turned to face her.
A day's stubble had stretched across his jaws, giving a sharp edge to his features. Amelia wondered how she hadn't noticed it before. His hair looked shorter than it had been back in Maruj. But no less beautiful, silvery strands threading through the otherwise blackness of his hair. His eyes were hard as they had been the last time she had seen him, however somewhat tired. He looked as if he hadn't slept in forever. She swallowed. If anything major had changed about Hadaen Maruj, it was that he seemed even more handsome. The First help her soul!
Amelia cleared her throat. "Smells good."
"There's a cook shop across the street. I was surprised to see it open."
"Thanks." She felt like she had to force the word out.
A moment passed before he responded. He had been staring at her again. "You keep shielding your mind from me."
"I don't believe I should give you access to my most private thoughts."
"Why not?"
"Must you try to impose on everything I call my own?"
Hadaen strode to her, the scent of sandalwood soap assaulting his senses. He breathed in deep and stared her down, his mind going into a frizz whenever he was this close to her. He brushed his fingers across her cheek; a touch so light she wasn't sure if he'd touched her at all. She flinched still and took a step back. He pursued her, step by step until she was cornered between him and the wall.
"Why do you run from me?"
"I refuse to go down that road with you again, my lord," she muttered. It was the first time she had acknowledged him directly since she'd recovered her memory.
"This is no place for formalities," he said, voice husky. "We are sharing a bedchamber... A bed."
Suddenly all interest in food evaporated from her mind. She could not enjoy a meal knowing that she'd be sleeping next to him. She'd rather take the cold floor. She didn't trust herself around him at all.
Hadaen leaned in towards her and suddenly all panic broke loose. Her eyes widened as she dumbly watched his head dip towards her. For the life of it, she believed he was about to claim her lips with his own. A part of her was scared, the other part eager to taste him again.
But then he stopped short, a strange look forming in his eyes. And he pressed his lips against her temple lightly before striding away in the direction of the bathroom.
Chapter Seven
Hadaen gazed to his north at the snowy-capped peaks of Mount Lensai. It seemed tremendously closer now, which meant that the Hub was not terrifyingly far away. It was then that it began to dawn on him how close Amelia ha
d been. He had spent centuries searching for her; threaded through country after country, continent after continent. How could he have thought she had been anywhere but one dimension and a few miles away from him?
His eyes never wavered from the mountainous terrains which currently held his interest. To those outside his dimension, it was known as Mount Tacoma. He inhaled sharply and welcomed the stiff cool breeze of an on-coming autumn. An odd inkling in the back of his head made him frown. Where had that feeling come from?
Thunder clapped overhead, hundreds of birds flew across the sky in the opposite direction. Dark clouds thickened quickly as a heavier breeze smashed against him.
Gideon looked up from where he had the gas hose in the tank. Amelia wrapped her arms about her midsection.
"Are we going to have a storm?" Esyth said, stepping nearer to his side, her long blonde hair blowing in the fierce wind.
Hadaen knew better. The Pacific was to the west. But the clouds formed in the south-eastern direction. Whatever was coming, it was no damn storm.
"We'd better keep moving."
It was somewhere around 2 o'clock. They had been driving for hours until the women had requested a restroom stop. He and Gideon had thought it wise to fill up the tank and grab a few food supplies for the rest of the journey. He had confidence in Esyth's word that they'd arrive at the Hub by sunset the latest.
Gideon slammed the cover to the gas tank shut and jumped into the driver seat. Everyone else was secure in the jeep by then so he spun the key in the ignition and stepped hard on gas.
"That's the work of Deorci if my instincts are correct," he said. He did share Hadaen's sharp instincts. It was a quality that ran through their blood.
"Yeah," Hadaen agreed, gripping to the handle bar at the corner above his head. Gideon knew how to steer a vehicle fast. "But he wouldn't come in person. Not yet. He'd always been the type to make an entrance when we least expect it."
