by Holly Vane
“You look a bit peaky.” He studied her closely. “Maybe you’re coming down with something.”
“Dom I’m fine really…”Her stomach churned like butter and she rushed back to the sink.
“Princess you don’t throw up because your fine.” He said handing her a towel to wipe her mouth on. His eyes dulled with worry and he ushered her to bed tucking her in before closing the bedroom door. The room spun suddenly and she screwed her eyes shut trying to wish away her dizziness.
∬
Dominic had changed into black sweats and paced restlessly.
He had cleaned up the living space waiting for Caleb’s truck to pull into the yard. When flashlights bounced off the windows Dom threw open the door.
“I’m glad you came.”
“I’m not here for you, where is she?” Caleb said roughly still irked off their fight earlier.
“Upstairs.”
They crept into the master bedroom and Caleb crouched down beside a sleeping Holly. Her face was paler than normal in the moonlight; he touched her wrist gently and closed his eyes concentrating on her heartbeat.
Dominic saw him frown slightly as Holly murmured. He backed away and motioned for Dom to follow him outside.
“Well?”
“She’s perfectly healthy.”
Dom leaned against the bannister. “You don’t vomit three times in a row because you’re healthy.”
“I can’t find anything wrong with her, and believe me if she was sick I’d feel it.”
“What are you not telling me?”
Caleb sighed and looked away. “It’s nothing…”
“Caleb.”
“For a second it was like she had two…”
“Two what?” Dominic prodded.
“Heartbeats.”
This took Dominic totally by surprise. “Two heartbeats?” He repeated sceptically.
“Yes I distinctly detected two separate rhythms, but the second faded as soon as I picked it up. It was weird.”
“You’re not easing my mind Caleb. Maybe she’s possessed?” Dom added thoughtfully.
“Possessed?” Caleb repeated with scepticism.
“It happens.”
Caleb nudged past him and descended the stairs. “There’s nothing wrong Dominic, trust me.”
“Yeah, well I hope your right.” Dom replied meeting him at the bottom.
“I hope you’re right too.” Caleb shot before leaving.
“Caleb wait. I wouldn’t have brought him here if I suspected for one second that Legion would hurt her. Give me some credit.”
Caleb closed the Ford’s door that he had partial opened before Dominic had followed him. “When it comes to your family, you don’t think straight Dom. I know that you want to believe him, but how can we…”
“He has never broken his word…ever. He swore that he would help us and I believe him.”
They both leaned on the pick-ups hood each lost in their own thoughts. “Did he admit to working with Michael?” Caleb asked after a while.
“Yes but only to keep an eye on him. He told me that Michael’s here chipping away at the defences around St. Heralds, Legions making it difficult for him but it’s only a matter of time before he gets through.”
“Meanwhile Michaels employed the Order of Aurelius’ to go where he can’t, and continue his hunt of her.” Caleb said. “There’s no leaving this town Dom. When Michael makes it through, the college and all the Nephilim in it will be fair game. We can’t let them face him and his army alone, they’ll be slaughtered.”
“We have to place our lives in her hands Caleb. Holly’s the only one who stands a chance of beating Michael. She’s getting stronger every day.”
“But is she strong enough to face him…?”
Dominic peered up at the dark window of the master bedroom where the town’s hope was sleeping soundly.
“She has to be, or this town will be our tomb.”
Chapter Twelve
∬
Rising Tension
Holly was soaking in the bubbles when Dominic entered the en-suite.
“There you are. How you feeling?” He asked perching on the edge of the tub.
“Great.” She said cheerily. He moved closer. “No more violent urges to vomit?”
“Nope.”
He moved back. “I was thinking we could hang out, maybe take a trip to the mall before I have to give you back.”
She looked at him questioningly, “Give me back?”
“College Holly. Wouldn’t want you to be late for classes in the morning would I?” He teased.
She sighed wishfully this weekend was going far too quickly. “I could stay here with you…for like ever…”
He sighed before peeling off his sweats and getting into the tub with her, she couldn’t stop her eyes from focusing on his swollen manhood as he settled into the soapy warm water.
“Holly I would happily spend every second of my Immortal life screwing your brains out, but like it are not you need that place.”
“What I need is you.” She moved into his open arms. “This weekend has been the best ever.”
Dominic stroked her wet skin with soothing motions almost lulling her to sleep. “You had me last night princess...repeatedly.”
She bobbed round to face him her thighs automatically parting to hug his lean waist. “Are you telling me that it doesn’t bother you when we’re apart?”
“Like a hole in the head. Of course it drives me crazy, wondering what you’re doing…what you’re wearing…” He grinned slyly. “Come to the mall with me.” He urged pulling her so close that her slippery nipples rubbed against his bare chest.
“Why so you can blow money on me.” He had done before languishing expensive gifts on her, like that damned iPhone. It wasn’t that she didn’t want them she just wanted him to see that she didn’t care how much money he had to his name. She wanted him not his scandalous bank account.
“Hey you gave me the night of my life last night.” He told her earnestly. “Let me do this for you or are you the only one that gets to spoil.”
“Okay…But just for an hour or so.”
“Agreed.” He kissed her lips tenderly then made to get out until she grabbed his arm.
“Hey, hey, hey not so fast. The spoiling starts right now.” She told him teasingly.
He shook his head slowly while an impressed grin parted his lips. “And Caleb calls me sex obsessed…”
***
The mall in St. Heralds was even smaller than the one back home. It took Holly and Dominic an hour and thirty minutes to get round it, by then she was loaded like a mule with bags, he had gone a little overboard and bought her things that were far too expensive; like the Sony laptop, he kissed away her complaints saying that she was priceless which immediately made her melt.
Walking along the last row of shops before the exit Dominic excused himself while she popped into a bookshop, telling her he wanted to check out the sports store opposite. Browsing through the stock she ran into Miles, the spoon bender from her summoning class.
He was shifting through a bunch of graphic comics. They greeted each other warmly, except from Layla he was the only other student at the college she liked, the rest were far too busy gossiping about her.
“Batman would kick Superman’s ass any day of the week, but maybe not Wolverines, that dude is one bad mother…Holly?”
She had asked him which comic hero he liked best but had gotten distracted by the tall leather clad man entering the bookstore. He looked out of place and his searching gaze sweeping the interior of the shop immediately set her on edge: He was looking for someone.
Holly grabbed Miles’s sleeve and yanked him to the floor. “What’s your problem…?” He started to say but she hushed him quietly and hugged the bookshelves, peeking out at the spaces left by sold volumes. The man started to walk their way. “Damn.” She cursed softly. “Follow me and stay low.” She crawled down the carpeted aisle earning confounded star
es from the rest of the customers. “Holly what are you doing?” Miles hissed following her in a crouch. The man was clothed in the same style as those nuts that had attacked her at the amusement park, and she wasn’t taking any chances she liked her limbs intact. She glanced back to see the man staring at them, he grinned then set off towards her.
“Miles get up!” Holly shouted grabbing his hand and set off at trot rounding her way to the front of the shop. Just as they crossed the threshold Miles was torn from her grip and a hand closed around her curls nearly ripping the strands away from her scalp.
“Get off!”
She tried slapping at his hand but he whirled her around quickly setting her off balance. “Devil cunt!” He threw at her with breath that reeked of Whiskey, his eyes gleamed with violence and his grin was twisted and cruel. Anger erupted in her and she brought her knee up between his legs. His face contorted with pain when she hit her target, he backhanded her and she stumbled back tripping over Miles who was sprawled out on the smooth ground.
“Are you okay?” An onlooker asked walking forward; she stopped dead at the sight of the blade in the man’s hand and hurried back to the safety of the book shop where the owner promptly locked the door leaving Holly and Miles alone with the murderous lunatic.
His eyes locked on hers. “Crap…” she uttered scurrying away from the blade. Miles managed to get to his feet and stood there hesitating at whether he should run or help.
The cold steel slashed through the air, she rolled to her left narrowly escaping it by inches. Then Caleb was there. He seemed to appear from nowhere catching the man by surprise. They struggled for the knife for a second until Caleb head-butted him knocking him unconscious.
“Holly!”
Dominic helped her up and hugged her tightly. “Jesus I was only gone for five minutes.”
“They’ve been tailing you since you left the lodge.” Caleb said gazing down at the still body with open contempt. “You were lucky I was close by.” He snapped at Dominic. “Get her out of here I’ll slow any who try to follow you.”
“There are more of them?” Miles asked swallowing hard.
Dominic gathered up the bags and led Holly and Miles over to the exit. They were almost out when a group of men holding bats and other weapons swooped towards them. “Holly get to the bike.” Dom told her pressing the keys into her palm, never once taking his eyes off the mob.
“No.”
“Holly.”
“I’m not leaving you!”
He turned to her his eyes were as black as coal. “I can take care of myself, it’s them you should be feeling sorry for now go!” He practically shoved her through the revolving doors, she stood on the other side of the glass waiting for Miles, her eyes fixed on Dom as he turned away.
“Come on Holly, you heard him.” Miles shouted scrambling over the parking lot. She hurried after him praying that both of them got out the mall alive, she felt like a coward leaving them behind.
“Wow! That was intense!” He shouted as they neared Dominic’s red Harley. “You must never get bored.” Out the corner of her eye she caught a flicker of movement to her left and instantly her head darted in that direction. More of them were moving in, forming a tight sphere around her and Miles. She caught his wrist and held him back, they wouldn’t make it to the bike in time and she didn’t even know how to drive the bloody thing. In her first and only driver Ed class she had backed into a tree; her and machines just didn’t go together…period.
Miles looked around at the empty parking lot. “We’re trapped! Quick call for Caleb or Dom.”
“They’re busy Miles.” She hissed at him. Her attackers had planned their trap perfectly; first get her Guardian out the way then Dominic leaving her alone and therefore easy prey. A hurricane of emotions stirred inside, she was tired of running, of having to fight for her life when other girls partied and painted their toes nails gossiping about boys, why her?
The last link in the circle fitted into place and they were surrounded by biker loving, leather wearing religious fanatics sporting bats, knifes, chains and tyre irons.
“I’m going to enjoy ripping you to pieces, you hell loving slut!” growled a monster of a man who stepped forward. Miles pressed his back up against hers desperately searching for a way out of this, but it was useless. There was no escape.
He grinned at her maliciously while unsheathing his dagger. “I’ll bet you’re going to love this in you,” he leered. “More than that abominations cock!”
Miles whispered something to her but she couldn’t hear him over the pumping of her blood, it felt like it was on fire as it raced through her veins. Cold contempt wrangled loose in her gut and travelled upwards while her head buzzed.
“Kill them,” The voice inside her mind told her gleefully. “Unchain us little one…we’ll make them scream…”
“No.” She said curling her fists. She couldn’t risk giving her power free reign not even if it meant her death, she had seen what it could do and she knew once she handed over control to it she wouldn’t be able to put it back in the box. It was strong and had a will of its own.
“They’ll take you away from him Holly; you’ll never see Dom again or feel his touch…”
“Shut up!” She shouted making her would be murderers laugh. “What are you doing?” Miles asked worriedly. “I’ll cut your heart out and show it to you whore cunt!” The man shouted at her merely inches away now. Something snapped in her and her guard tumbled down.
“Yes…”
Red descended on her vision as the man lounged forward knife drawn. It seemed to happen in slow motion behind her she heard Miles shout of Dominic but all she could focus on was chanting voices that filled her. The knife struck an invisible wall and bounded back off forcing the man off his feet. Another threw himself at Miles only to rebound back onto the hood of a car.
“Holly you’re doing it!” Miles cried. A reddish brown paper thin shield had appeared over them protecting its inhabitants. She saw her tormentors throw themselves at it looking for a weak spot but found none. They ran off as Dominic and Caleb approached.
“Oh thank god...” Miles uttered walking towards them but was thrown back off his feet when making contact with the barrier.
“Holly…? You can stop now. They’ve gone.” Dominic said moving around the dome to look at her.
“Stay where you are.” Caleb told Miles who had regained his feet with a nasty burn on his arm that had melted the cotton of his sleeve leaving his blistered skin visible.
“Holly.” Dom’s voice prodded but she couldn’t let go of the rage that taken over refusing to be quelled. A foreign force had invaded her body and mind whispering tenderly like a lover to her.
“Caleb…we have a problem.”
“Holly you can do this, let it go,” Caleb told her softly standing beside Dom carefully avoiding the shield. “All the anger and rage just let it go.”
The ground beneath their feet started to quake and the nearby sewer drains erupted, sending their covers and gallons of water gushing onto roads and people.
“Caleb…!”
“Damn it Holly listen to me!” Caleb shouted at her. Car alarms blared, trees toppled. “Holly I love you don’t go where I can’t follow.”
Caleb’s words reached the part that was still Holly and she blinked the red mist and the shield away. At once the shuddering beneath their feet came to a halt. She swayed unsteadily and felt Caleb’s arms around her lowering her to the ground. She felt tired and drained; she closed her eyes as blood flowed into her mouth.
She passed out into a world of darkness.
Chapter Thirteen
∬
Showdown
The cockerels’ merry greeting brought Holly Adams back to life. She opened her eyes slowly adjusting to the daylight that flooded her dorm room, while her hand banged around the bedside table looking for her alarm clock.
“I told you this would happen.” Layla’s hard tone cut through the haze that mas
sed inside her brain. “What?” She choked out her throat sore and croaky. “You overdosed didn’t you?” She was dressed in white clingy jeans and a sparklingly pink sweater that accentuated her olive skin. Holly sat up and kicked away the sheets cradling her head that felt like it had been partying all night. “No.”
“Don’t lie to me Holly. I was awake when Dominic carried you in last night. You were as white as a ghost and your nose was pouring blood all down your blouse, you looked wasted.” She didn’t have the strength to correct Layla so instead she stumbled to her closet and dressed for class with the energy of a zombie. All through History 101 Layla glared at her tapping her fountain pen against the desk with an irritating clanging. It severed her right she had no business placing Holly up on a pedestal.
After class ended Holly avoided the cafeteria and the body of students who all looked her way whispering about her weekend activities that was now public knowledge, she was too wound up to care.
“Holly come in, please…” Andrea invited warmly when she opened her office door. “How are classes going?” No matter what time of day it was Andrea always looked impeccably groomed. Holly wished she could be the same.
“Good thanks.”
Andrea leaned across the desk towards her, “and how are we after the incident yesterday?”
Holly looked at her with surprise. “You know about that?”
“Of course, I had to let Dominic and Caleb in last night. It was after midnight and the college was locked up tight.”
“Is Miles okay?” Holly hadn’t wanted to approach him directly in case he was upset with her.
“Perfectly fine, he’ll heal in a few days. No harm done.” She hesitated. “But you didn’t come here to talk about Miles, did you?”
Holly stared down at the cream carpet; she desperately needed to talk to someone. Dominic and Caleb wouldn’t understand but maybe Andrea would…
“It talks to me…”she started. “My power, gift whatever you want to call it. Caleb said that it would take time to learn how to control it, use it, but he doesn’t know what it feels like. It’s like there’s another person living inside me…Am I evil?”
