by Heather Linn
“I need you to believe me when I tell you that I understand what you are thinking, but Kira is not the enemy, she is on our side and I trust her with my life and yours. If I didn’t, she wouldn't be here. You are going to get on your best behavior and calm down, do you understand me Cat?” Good, the fact that Walker told me that I needed to calm down meant that everyone in the room would think the color in my face was because I was pissed. I could live with that. I said nothing and Walker took that as his cue to start talking again. “Cat, Kira, I am working on a way to stop the awkwardness that’s occurring between you. I have never heard of twins reacting this way to the same person, let alone a female twin that until this point was completely straight. This is just as awkward for me as it is for you two. If you ladies will allow me, I would like to run a few tests, to see if we can figure out what is going on. If it is something physical, maybe I can alter your DNA to see if we can fix this problem. Maybe there is an element like the one that is in your ring Cat that I could fuse to take care of this attraction.” I hated his voice, I called it his mad scientist voice and I truly believe that when he uses that voice he forgets he is dealing with real people and not lifeless test tubes. I was having none of his attitude either way.
“I will not allow you to poke and prod me again Walker. Like I told you after the last time, I am done playing science experiment with you.” There, that was matter of fact; he would have to respect my position. After all, he was the one that had said that his last experiment would be the last one he ever did that had anything to do with me.
“I think you should let him do it,” Darien said. I jumped and my mouth hit the floor. I had nearly forgotten that Darien was sitting so close to me.
“Darien, seriously, even after the last time and all that happened, you are going to side with Walker? You are going to rehash things that are better left buried?” I didn't want to be angry with him, not really, but he was making it so damn easy. He was making me remember things that I had entombed deeply, so deep that I thought I would never have to worry about digging them up again.
“Cat, I won’t let you get hurt anymore,” Darien continued. You are the only thing that I have and I don't want to imagine being here without you. The closer you are to the monsters, the more that I have to face the fact that I could lose you. I am being selfish I know, but I want you here with me forever.” I didn't know how to respond to him. I was so ready to be angry with him but his words and openness set me back.
I hated to admit it, just for the simple fact that the Cat of two years ago would have laughed at me and called me pathetic, but Darien was right. I didn't want to leave him and I didn't want to die. The truth of the matter was, though I didn’t want to leave Darien, I also didn't want Akia forever taken from me either. The memories of Akia that Kira brought with her also brought a chance to feel the rush of Akia’s touch and that was a feeling that I wanted again. I wondered if people would understand my need. As much as it hurt to remember Akia every time Kira looked my way, I wondered how empty my life would feel and whether or not it would hurt even more if she never reminded me of him again? I realized that I wasn't ready to give up the excitement and rush that Kira’s touch guaranteed and then I heard her speak.
“I am going to have to agree with Cat on this one Walker, what if my being here just makes things worse? I don't want to spend the rest of my life wanting someone that I can't have. You have never felt anything like this Walker. The thought of not being with her physically hurts, though it’s still bearable at this point. What happens if you make it worse? I can't live with worse.” Kira sounded firmer than I had. I felt a jump in the pit of my stomach the second she had started speaking. Something about the way she said hurt made me think of going without Akia and I felt instantly sorry for making her feel as much pain as I did.
“Even worse than that Walker, what if whatever voodoo you have planned brings Akia and his people to our hideout? Haven't you lost enough of your own because of your stupid prophecy?” Makeen’s accusation boomed through the room startling everyone and I felt that I might choke on the pure power of his voice. Makeen had to be an ancient Vampire and the older the beast the more power they had. I made a mental note that I wanted him gone. A Vampire of his age and power could take down entire cities on a whim.
“What does he mean Walker?” Jaden demanded. I hated the fact that Jaden sounded pissed again. I didn’t know why hearing anger in Jaden's voice made everything seem far worse, but it did.
“Makeen, we discussed how the issue you speak of was classified on a need to know basis and right now they have no reason to know,” Walker spat back in the direction of Makeen. The hair on the back of my neck bristled sharply; rising levels of struggle and strength were vibrating through the air. I saw two full-fledged Vampires barely being able to control their anger and it was frightening me. Walker was old, but he wasn't old enough to have a power battle with Makeen. Whatever it was that Walker was trying to cover up must have been really important to him.
“What does he mean Walker; I thought we agreed no secrets?” Jaden's voice was rising too, letting everyone know that he may just be a human but he was done being ignored. I never thought that out of the three of us that were left that Jaden was even close to being in charge, but the fact that he stood up to the man that we should all be able to trust, made me look at him in a whole new light. Jaden was calm, cool and collected until you messed with something that he loved. I gained untold respect for Jaden in that brief moment.
“I am not hiding anything from any of you. When the time is right I am sure the issue will be discussed and not until then.” There it was, the fatherly tone, the one that said the issue was done and dropped because we were just stupid kids that could never understand. His routine was getting old and I was almost done thinking of him as my father.
From the way that Jaden had been confronting Walker, I knew that I wasn't the only one that was ready to close out that chapter of our lives and move on. That being said, I knew our new view of Walker had nothing to do with the fact that he no longer looked like the old man that raised us. Instead, our new view had to do with respect and this man had done nothing to earn our respect lately. From here on out he would be a companion and a team mate and nothing more.
Chapter Seven
“I’ll tell you what,” I said. “I am guessing since the velvet teddy bear over there mentioned the Prophecy, I’m thinking his statement was directed at me and I think that I have every right to know what it is that he was talking about.” I was pissed. I could throw my voice around just like the rest of them. I wasn't the least bit impressed with the frenzied power struggle that the two Vampires were engaged in. Jaden had stood up to them and I was not going to leave him standing there alone; that was for sure.
“I will not be spoken down to by a human!” Makeen growled viciously in my direction.
“Calm down there big boy, take it as a compliment cause that is how I meant it” That was more of a sign of respect than I cared to give him but I guess I was feeling generous. “Talk, Walker! Or I am out of here.” I glared at Walker knowing that the ball was truly in his court. I couldn't make him talk; I knew that all too well, but hopefully if looks could kill, I could scare the story out of him.
I don't know what possesses me sometimes. The man sitting across from me could tear out my throat with one savage bite, and yet out of everyone in the room Makeen was the one that I chose to piss off. Old fashion shrinks would have had a field day with me. Makeen was glaring back, clenching and unclenching his fists. Walker, on the other hand, was just staring off into space with no intention of telling us what he and Makeen had been talking about... Sometimes I wanted to just shake him.
“Fine. Neither of you want to talk, I am out of here.” I got up to leave and then Walker's voice stopped me at the door.
“Look at your watch Cat. It’s after dark. You aren't going anywhere.” The smugness in his voice struck a chord in my body that put me in spiteful mode. In th
at mode, I’m always tempted to do one more worse thing, even if it means the world might stop. I didn’t care. Get me spiteful and I would stop the world, just for the satisfaction of watching the people fly off. That mode was kind of scary, even to me.
I turned and looked right at Walker. I wasn't staying; there was no way I was going to let him win this one. I really thought that he knew me better than that. Frankly, I was disappointed in Walker. He wasn’t getting the message.
“You know all too well that I will leave Walker, and I am not playing who has a bigger dick with you, so forget it.” I made a flourish of reaching for the door, milling my arms in the air. I needed him to see that I, unlike he, would prove to be good on my word but before I could reach the door, Kira took the bait.
“You can't let her go out there. What is wrong with you? They will tear her apart and you know that.” Kira was taking up for me and I hated her for it. I didn't want her to want anything to do with me. I wanted her to be too ashamed and disgusted to look at me, let alone care about me. I wanted her to feel what I was feeling and it pissed me off that she didn't.
“Walker, you can't let her walk out of here. They will shred her as soon as they get close enough to smell her.” Kira was pleading with Walker now, begging him to tell me what I needed to know. Part of me wanted to thank her for being the only one to speak up against Walker, but a bigger part of me wanted nothing more than to end her life and all the grief and turmoil that she brought with her. I knew that a decision was coming that I would one day have to make but today wasn't that day.
“Yeah really and after the “velvet teddy bear” remark I think that I should have first dibs at that pretty little neck,” said Makeen dreamily. Great, the dude was going to hold grudges, once a vamp always a vamp, I suppose.
“You get anywhere close to her and I swear to god I will kill you with my own hands.” Darien sounded so sure that he could do it, I almost believed him. Makeen laughed a big booming sarcastic laugh, letting everyone in the room know that to him Darien was nothing more than a lowly bug, easily squashed under the heel of his boot.
“And if he can't do it alone I will help him.” Jaden was standing now too, facing off with the powerful Vampire across the table. They truly were my family. If I had ever doubted it before, they just gave me reason to never doubt it again.
“She isn't going to go anywhere, she knows better.” Walker sounded so certain that I could have drop kicked him right on the spot. Instead I put my hand on the door and started to twist the knob. I would die before I gave him the satisfaction of winning this one. Power was going to change hands or I would be gone. Live or die, I didn’t care either way. This way of life was about to end.
“Cat, it wasn't your fault that your brothers and sisters were found that night,” Said Kira softly. I turned around and looked in her eyes, ignoring the feeling of arousal that pulsed through me.
Just hearing her mention the family that I still mourned made me sick to my stomach “What is she talking about Walker?” I wasn't ready to talk directly to her yet. I was really hoping that I would never have to talk to her.
“She is talking about nothing at all, and I suggest that you Kira, learn your place on this team and stop putting your nose where it doesn't belong.” Walker was truly upset and angry. It had been a long time since I had seen him that way.
Electricity was filling the air. There were way too many monsters in the room. Seating this many raged filled creatures in such a small space had been a mistake. I looked from Jaden to Darien hoping that one of them would have a plan or at least make eye contact so I would know that things were OK. Instead, I realized that everyone was in survival mode; no one would take their eyes off whomever it was they perceived as the biggest threat in the room. Damn this was bad.
“Putting my nose where it doesn't belong? Are you kidding me? I agreed to come here to help her, not anyone else. I owe you nothing Walker, and I surely am not going to sit here and let you degrade me in front of everyone.” Girl had nerve; I guess I had to give her credit for that at least.
What was happening that I needed my own Dominus protection brigade though? I should have been worried, but I was too angry to worry. Anger always wins. It is the strongest emotion a person can feel.
“The doctor here was trying to reach out and find me using your anger that night.” Kira didn't give him time to interrupt her. “He was using the signals and pheromones that you, being upset, were throwing around. He was trying to check in to see how I was reacting to them. But the Dominus smelled your emotions in the air. They would have never smelled your anger, but since he was playing with the charges you were giving off, your pheromones were greatly enhanced and they could smell them.” She was so upset that she was shaking.
My mouth hit the floor. Darien was as white and shocked as I was, so was Jaden. I knew that they had nothing to do with that night. Walker had acted alone; it was his decisions and his actions, only his, that had taken our family from us.
“Is what this Freak is saying true?” Darien's voice was cold. There was only one emotion in it and that was hate. He had decided that Kira was the enemy and he hated her, and there was nothing she could do at this point to change his view, though whether or not she cared, I wasn’t sure.
“Yes it is true,” said Walker. Scientific and plain as always, meaning that he didn't think that we were worth more of an explanation than he had already offered.
“What is wrong with you? I lost my twin because of you and this entire time you let Cat live with the weight of all of their deaths on her shoulders? You can't play with people like that Walker, we are not lab rats. We might just be rodents to you, but we are not yours to play with.” Jaden sounded more hurt than angry.
I however, was having the exact opposite reaction to the man that had screwed me over more than anyone else ever had. I don't think I ever felt like an orphan before that moment, but now I knew my father was officially dead. If I ever trusted Walker as a teammate again we would see, but it wasn't looking at all promising.
“I can't deal with this right now. It would be best if you don't follow me Walker. I know that I can't kill you but I can make the rest of your eternity a living hell.”
Chapter Eight
“Why do we keep letting him do this to us? We don't need him Darien. Me, you, Jaden, we could set out on our own and make a life somewhere. We don't need Walker treating us like we are something less than he is.”
I was so mad that I was pacing back and forth in my underground bedroom. Darien was trying to pace with me but the room was too small and we kept bumping into each other, so he settled for sitting on the bed, watching me move around the room as if I was getting somewhere.
“The sad truth, Cat, is that we do need him. Believe me, if I thought the three of us could make it on our own, then we would do just that, but then our life would be spent underground, and you never wanted that life, remember?” I hated when he was rational, I hated it even more when he was right.
“Well, then what are we supposed to do Darien? He is going to keep picking about that damn prophecy. I am not going to have a moment’s peace until he finds a way to prove to himself that his useless piece of paper isn't about me. I don't want to spend my life as his breathing science project.”
I sat down beside Darien and let him take my hand. My nerves calmed instantly. I got a feeling like I was safe and home. I could get used to that feeling. As soon as I had that thought, I wished I hadn't. I truly believed that I wasn't supposed to be happy and whenever I think otherwise, my world turns upside down.
“Well Cat, you know that the only way to make him treat you normally again is to let him find out for himself that some guy hundreds of years ago, wasn't talking about you in that prophecy. Humor him for a little while and we can put this all behind us and you and I can try to have a life, that is, if you will have me.”
He seemed so timid asking. I had broken his heart to the point that he was scared of me and that in turn, made
my heart shatter. I did what I knew he needed me to do and I reached up and nestled his hair and the back of his neck and pulled his lips to mine. I felt the cooling sensation that I had missed. I stopped thinking about everything but the man in front of me. I wanted him to know that right now, despite everything else that was going on, he was the center of my universe and the only thing that mattered to me. His hand moved to my face, he was gentle, the opposite of my demanding need. For once his way worked. His patience and tenderness filled my need to taste him, to drink him through his lips. I was breathless by the time he pulled away. The look of need in his eyes made me realize that he deserved someone so much better than me. I was going to give him the woman he deserved. I loved him and he loved me and he told me that through his touch.
“Of course I will have you Darien. I want you.” Wow, that had been easier to say than I thought. His shoulders suddenly released the tension that I hadn't realized they held.
“Thank you Cat, that is all I have ever wanted to hear your pretty little lips say.” I blushed at his words, and I have to admit it felt good. “You know we have to go and find Walker and demand that he lets us see that damn piece of paper that foretells the future.” He winked at me, his voice lilting with sarcasm at the last part of what he had said.
“I don't know if I want to see it. I don't know if I have the nerve Darien.” I hated admitting when I was scared, and no one else in my world was allowed to know when I was, except Darien.
“What are you afraid of Cat? I am sure after we read it will be easy to work together to debunk what he believes. I promise I will support you and be on your side no matter what.” His voice made me want to feel better. If anyone had the power to make me feel better it was him, but there was something more pressing that was weighing on my mind.
“I am not afraid of trying to convince him that it isn't me, I am afraid of realizing that it is me. I don't want to be the one that saves the human race Darien. What if I fail? I am nothing special. If I read that prophecy and he is right, then my world is going to become even more messed up than it already is. I am not strong enough to deal with that.” God, it felt so good to allow myself to admit that to someone.
