The Alexandru Chronicles: The Beginning

by Julienne Holmes

  “Come out here, baby...” he chuckled. “I'll go easier on you, if you don't hide from me.”

  When the rustling only continued, and, what ever was making that noise, made no effort to come out, he, growling, swiftly leaped over the trash cans and landed, none too gracefully, behind them—startling this scrawny little cat, that had been searching for scraps or rodents to eat.

  Before the poor beast could even run away, he quickly picked it up by the scruff of it's neck. As it growled, none too happy with him, he said, “Well, you are food...and you do smell amazingly good.”

  Just as he was baring his fangs, it was then that he heard this movement behind him.

  Swiftly turning around, still firmly holding the cat, yet he had instinctively brought that hand down to his side, he surprisingly stared at who was behind him. Before he even had time to react to this person, they swung their sword, which was even more a surprise than the person themselves. He didn't even have time to utter a scream, and, that same surprised expression, was still present when his head went flying from his shoulders.

  As the ape monster's head flew through the air, Cirpian found himself wondering if it was possible, that in this man's next life, he would not just be a little more compassionate towards defenseless animals, but he wouldn't make the same, cruel, mistakes as he had in this life time.

  As he continued to stand there, just watching the decapitated ape's body dissolve, he, sheathing his sword, looked down at the scrawny little cat that was now, purringly, rubbing itself against his legs.

  Leaning down, he gingerly scratch between the cat's ears and, after rubbing the scraggy animal's chin, he, picking the cat up, whispered in it's ear, “Find me later..., and I'll take you home with me.”

  After he had released him, the cat, looking adoringly up at him, hastily scurried away.

  Once the cat was gone, Cirpian, turning on his heels, swiftly made his way over to one of the complex's windows and, slithering up the building, he said a quick prayer that his little warrior queen had enough sense not to do anything too rash.

  Yet, he knew that because of her stubbornness; she would most likely be trying to save her partner - not at all thinking of the repercussions of her actions.

  XXX

  The moment she saw the blood spray, she knew that her slightly ajar aim had made contact.

  Yet, while the wound she had made, would have killed most people, it didn't seem to even deter the jackass in front of her. In fact the only reaction she got out of him, was this surprised anger.

  When he lunged, again, at her, she hastily swung again at him. And this time she made sure to aim at the other side of his neck – hoping against hope, this blow would kill him.

  It didn't.

  Yet, while this new wound didn't kill him; it did weaken him.

  As more blood squirted out of both wounds in his neck, he fell to his knees.

  He tried reaching for her, but because he was so weak from both wounds; he could only grab at thin air.

  Just as Genevieve was starting to relax, it was then that she heard this clapping. Looking up, and away from the man that was now laying on the ground, with his head barely attached to his shoulders, she saw that the red head and her group had their attention now squarely focused on her.

  “It's nice for you to finally join us, Detective Freemen.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  As Genevieve's gaze wandered over the woman in front of her, she remembered what Officer Carven had said about the red head, that her five wannabees had seen entering and leaving James Fording's apartment, “...there was something unreal about her.”

  While Genevieve had thought, then, that description vague. She realized, now, that it was definitely an appropriate description of the woman standing in front of her.

  She couldn't put her finger on what it was, but the woman was neither pretty nor ugly – she was in between.

  There was definitely something about her, that had men, especially, from the looks of it, undesirable men, attracted to her.

  “Where's my partner?” at the sound of her own voice, Genevieve couldn't help being surprisingly aggravated by how timid it sounded; she wasn't a timid person. Yet, just the sight of this woman, had her feeling, if anything, on edge.

  Before she could even attempt to get her nervousness under-control, though; it was then that the red head said, “Put down your weapon..., and I'll give you your partner.”

  As she glanced down at the only weapon she had, Genevieve, again, kicked herself, for the second time that night, for leaving her gun back in her apartment.

  Idiot...You stupid, idiot...You must really have a death wish.

  Adverting her gaze away from her weapon, she cautiously looked around at all of the people in front of her. They all looked meaner than dirt. It was possible that with this weapon, she could take down a few of them, but the rest of them would most likely take her down.

  I'm a dead duck, if I give up this weapon.

  Yet, if she didn't, she would never see Kyle again. And that, after all, was why she was here...To help her partner.

  “What guarantee do I have, that Kyle is still alive?”

  “You don't..., but do you really want to chance it.”

  As Genevieve felt the dirty metal digging, itself, into her palm, she weighted over her options. She could throw down her only weapon and get Kyle back, which there was no guarantee that he was still alive. Or she could keep her weapon and try and take down as many of these assholes as possible.

  “Gen...,” it was the surprising sound of Cirpian's voice, that had her inconspicuously looking through the crowd of people for him. “throw down you weapon...; don't worry, I'm here.”

  After hesitatingly giving the metal in her hand, one last wary look; she threw it down.

  “Kick it toward me.”

  Looking down at the rusty metal, Genevieve again hesitated. Yet, when she heard Cirpian say, “Do it, Gen,...trust me.” she did.

  The moment the metal was no longer in arms reach, Genevieve started regretting her decision to give up her only weapon. She had to be truly insane, to be not just listening to a voice in her head, but actually doing what it told her to do.

  Yet, before she could even chastise herself for doing so, the red head in front of her, wickedly grinning, snapped her fingers.

  As Genevieve watched the crowd of people start to part, she noticed how two men were dragging someone. For that brief moment, she didn't recognize who it was – the clothes were not Kyle's. Yet, when she was finally able to see him more clearly, she was instantly astonished over it actually being the real Kyle and not another decoy that they had left out to ensnare her.

  Without even thinking, she quickly hurried over to them and, as they practically laid Kyle upon her, she let his weight pull her down to the ground. As she cradled him in her arms, she looked at his face.

  The moment she saw the bruises and how deathly pale he was, she felt this new bout of anger for the woman in front of her.

  “Kyle...” she touched his skin. It was just the feel of his cold, damp, skin, that had her angrily looking over at the woman. “What did you do to him?!” she snapped.

  Evilly smirking, the woman said, “Nothing...just had a few little sips.”

  “Gen...” at the sound of Kyle's weak voice, she abruptly pulled her gaze away from the woman in front of her and back to the man that she held in her arms. There was dry clumps of blood in his hair and a very noticeable bruise on his forehead; one eye was practically swollen shut, and his lips were slightly cracked.

  “Oh...Kyle...” she felt those ever present tears in her eyes. “I'm here...” she touched his face. “Don't worry, I'm going to get you out of here.”

  “And how do you expect to do that...?” pulling her gaze away from Kyle's lethargic face, Genevieve looked back over at the red head. “You know, I'm just curious...” giggling, red said, “You have no weapon and your partner, there...,” she motioned to Kyle. “by the way, good blood
type..., is near death...So how do you expect to get out of here with him, because I'm willing to guess that you wouldn't just leave him behind...and save your own butt?”

  “Gen...” she chanced a glance, back down at Kyle. “do it...leave me...”

  The whole time that the red headed bitch and Kyle had been talking, Genevieve had been, inconspicuously, searching for escape exits. By the looks of it, there were only three.

  The first, was back the way she had come. The second, was what she imagined to be a little more toward the front entrance. And the third, was possibly a side entrance.

  All of them were too far away and would take a lot of luck and stealth just to get over to. Without Kyle, she stood a better chance of making it. Yet, the red head was right; she wouldn't leave Kyle – she loved him too much.

  She really needed a head start. Enough of one that she could get Kyle and herself toward one of those exits.

  “Don't worry, Gen..., I'll give you one...Just keep stalling.”

  Laying Kyle gingerly down, she swiftly got to her feet and again, inconspicuously, tried peering through the crowd for Cirpian.

  When it came to stalling, this was easier said than done; but she decided that it was best to do as the voice said. If Cirpian was actually here, he would hopefully give her the head start that she need.

  Yet, if he wasn't, then what?

  Well, she really didn't have many options.

  That's an over exaggeration...Your goose is cooked...

  Swallowing down that sour lump in her throat, she said, “So..., what are you going to do with us?”

  Giggling, the red head said, “Well, that's the question...Now isn't it?” looking at her nails on her left hand, she said, “Frankly, I don't have any use for a man that doesn't find me desirable...Yet...,” she looked directly at Genevieve. “I do have a use for you.”

  Scoffing, Genevieve barked out, “Sorry..., I don't swig...that way.”

  “That's my girl.” it was Kyle whispering this, that had the red head looking as if she was about to blow a gasket.

  At this noticeably angry flare, flaring up in the red head's eyes, Genevieve couldn't help smiling. Yet, the woman quickly got control of herself. “Not in that way, you twit...Then again, I don't think I have much use for you...after all...”

  “You promised!”

  It was that sudden male voice, that had both their attentions drawn away from each other.

  Since Genevieve hadn't recognized the voice, she was having a hard time picking out the owner through the crowd of people. There was this familiar, whinny, quality about it, though. To be honest, she thought it sounded very similar to her brother in-law.

  When eventually the person pushed himself through the crowd of people, Genevieve didn't know whether she should feel surprised or disgusted – both emotions seemed evident at that moment.

  Either way, it took her awhile to utter anything. All she could do, was stare at the man in front of her. The stiff that she had thought, that she would never be able to track down; was now standing right there – very much alive.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “You're dead...”

  While in all rationality, she should have been surprised by James Fording not being dead—she wasn't. She was, though, surprised, not by his sudden appearance, but by how calm her voice sounded. Yet, there was one emotion, that had her even more astonished than the tone of her voice, that, considering the odd turn of events, she didn't even have a problem feeling; and that was anger.

  Anger, over the man in front of her, not being dead.

  “Or at least you should be dead.”

  Catching the malice in Genevieve's voice, James looked over at her. “In time, baby, I'll teach you to obey me.”

  Almost choking on her tongue, Genevieve said, “Then that will be a cold day in hell, because I obey no man...especially not one that looks like a deformed penis.”

  It was Kyle's choked laugh, that had her looking back down at him. When she saw the life returning to those hazelnut eyes of his, she had this new spout of hope; that she could get him up and out of there.

  Yet, it was this slight painful yank going up her arm, that instantly had her gaze, adverted, surprisingly, back to her missing stiff; which now stood nose to nose with her.

  As she stood staring into the soulless grayish eyes, of the man that she had come to hate; Genevieve, felt a new wave of disgust for him.

  The way he smiled at her and his offensive odor, had her instinctively wanting to yank her arm away. Yet, because of how tight his grip was, she couldn't seem to even loosen it. She wouldn't have imagined that a man with his body mass, could have held her arm in such a painful vice grip – he looked like such a wuss.

  Yet, he did.

  “You're mine...”

  “Hey...” Kyle growled. “Let her go or I'll...”

  “Or you'll what?” when Kyle tried to get to his feet, but couldn't, James laughed. “You're just a weak human.” turning his attention back to Genevieve, he said, “and you're mine...you and I belong together.”

  Genevieve had been so surprised by James' strength, that she had been stun silent for those past few minutes. Yet, now, that she was able to find her voice, she angrily spat out, “Oh man, are you seriously demented...” when James' grip tightened to the point of pain, she sarcastically said, “Like you're my definition of a dream boat.”

  “You better shut-up, bitch. Or I'll...”

  “You'll what...?”

  “Gen, when I give the signal..., throw the vial of water in his face.”

  It was Cirpian's sudden voice, that had her surprised out of her angry tangent.

  Oh, darn...I had just been getting started at digging a new asshole for this douche bag...

  While she was slightly disappointed that she couldn't finish handing James Fording his ass, she was, never the less, relieved to hear Cirpian's voice. She had started wondering, again, if her insanely, imaginative, brain had concocted his voice. Yet, now, that she was hearing it again, she felt that familiar flutter in her stomach.

  As she continued to stand there, giving her captor her continued evil eye stare, that she was so famous for, she wondered what Cirpian's supposed signal was.

  To be perfectly honest, she wasn't entirely sure what she was waiting for. That was, until she saw a tin can, fly through the air, and land directly at hers and James' feet—it startled both of them.

  James was so surprised by it, that his painful grip somewhat loosened. And while Genevieve had been startled by the can, it took her brain only seconds to realize that this was the signal; that Cirpian had told her, he would give.

  After quickly retrieving the vial from her pocket, she hastily unscrewed the pretty brass cap from it. And the moment James turned his attention away from the can back to her, she didn't waste time throwing the vial's water into his face.

  It might as will have been acid, that water.

  The way James screamed and that sizzling sound that it made as it hit his skin, was like no water she had ever seen before. The drops that had gotten on her fingers, had felt like water...; yet..., different...

  “Now, Gen..., run!”

  Genevieve had been so surprised, by the reaction that James was having to that vial of water, that, for those brief moments, she hadn't been able to move. Yet, it had taken the sound of Cirpian's voice; for her to hastily kneel down and, after hauling Kyle to his feet, she made her way over to the exit she had come into.

  XXX

  Cirpian hadn't meant for Genevieve to take Kyle with her. Yet, it couldn't be helped. It was possible that this was the best alternative. No telling what Madeira would have done to Kyle, if he had been left there; she might have used him as a shield.

  With all things considered, Cirpian couldn't very well guarantee Kyle's safety.

  As he stretched his senses, he could sense that Genevieve was close to her destination. Yet, he knew that that door, that Genevieve would be trying to exit from, would be locked. From
the thoughts he had read, Madeira's little minions had made sure to follow their Mistress' orders to the core; and that had meant locking every potential exit. The entrances had, conveniently, been unlocked for Genevieve, and then quickly locked once she was inside; regretfully, there would be no escape for his pretty little warrior queen.

  Well, he would have to deal with that later. Hopefully, Genevieve could find a hiding place for her partner and herself.

  When his senses alerted him to one of Madeira's fledgelings, being only inches away from grabbing Genevieve; he knew then that it was a better time than any to make his presence known.

  No since in delaying the inevitable.

  Swiftly drawing his blade, he, hastily making his way over in that direction, roughly grabbed the fledgeling, that was, now, within touching range from Genevieve. And, after turning him around, Cirpian swung his sword; taking the fledgeling's head off, with one clean blow.

  XXX

  Madeira, had been so looking forward to killing her rival. She had thought the best punishment for this little condescending bitch, was to first let James have her and, once he had had his sick fun with her, she would have thrown the little bitch's practically lifeless body to the rest of her fledgelings.

  Yet, as plans went, she had drastically underestimated the little wench.

  The one thing she hadn't taken into consideration...Actually, it was a few things. Yet, one of the more detrimental, was that Genevieve had come prepared. Someone had intentionally given her that vial of Holy Water, and Madeira had only one guess on who that was.

  Cirpian.

  That bastard!

  Why was it, that she was always attracted to the men; that either had a prier commitment or were in love?

  It wasn't fair!

  Yet, instead of dwelling on the negative, Madeira just decided to get even.

  If she couldn't have Cirpian, then neither could that bitch.

  XXX

  If Genevieve hadn't been so preoccupied with Kyle, she might have felt someone's fingers skim the back of her shoulder.

  Yet, she didn't.