by D. C. Gambel
Cam had come through big for me when he found a pendant that blocked dream walking. Whether it really worked or it was simply a pretty rock, I didn’t know, but last night was the first time I’d been comfortable enough to sleep. Tonight was the first day I was being allowed to patrol after getting the required eight hours of rest. Cam wanted it to be with him, but I had refused. There was no need to change the schedule anymore than I had.
Groaning, I eyed Derek suspiciously. “Did Cam ask you to do this?” I wondered. “I swear I’m fine. I don’t need him babying me.” I spun back in my seat to continue my reading but I felt Derek continue to hover.
He cleared his throat. “Actually this is for me.” I turned back watching him fidget nervously. “I have somewhere I need to be. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
“Derek,” I sighed. “What’s going on?” He bowed his head refusing to meet my gaze. “We all know something is up with you. You’ve been acting strange since Phoenix. You don’t have to confide in me if that’s uncomfortable, or crossing some line, but all of us are here for you.”
Derek immediately transformed before my eyes. His body tensed and he seemed to grow a few inches in height. “I appreciate that, Evie, but I’m fine. I’m just asking to skip patrol. It’s not like you haven’t before,” he spat. I bristled at his tone and quickly averted my eyes. “I’m sorry. Just patrol with Cam for me, please.” Before I could answer, Derek spun on his heels and left.
“Derek!” I called out, but he didn’t respond.
When I met Cam downstairs later dressed for patrol and decorated with weapons, I eyed him curiously. “Derek baled,” he announced.
“He’d say why?” I wondered if Cam got more of response from him than I had. Derek and I weren’t supposed to cancel our patrols together without running it by Ty. With his hasty retreat, I honestly doubt Derek ran his plans by our eldest horseman.
Cam shook his head.
“I don’t know what’s going on with him, Cam, but I’m worried. He didn’t really give a chance to refuse him. When I told him we were here for him, he got aggressive.”
“Aggressive?” Cam asked, his timbre dropping. No matter what I said to him about us being colleagues, he still treated me like I was his to protect, even if it wasn’t demon related.
Shaking my head, I immediately dismissed his need to come to my defense. “He’s our friend. And wipe that scowl off your face. My worry has nothing to do with hidden feelings for him outside of friendship.”
“Evie,” he sighed reaching for me. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you think I question your feelings for me because I don’t. I know how you feel towards me and I know what Derek is to you, just like Ty. Guys don’t really like to talk about their feelings. Is it possible that he was just annoyed?”
I shook my head. “He was defensive. He’s hiding something Cam. And with Shane and the vampires…”
“Okay,” he breathed cutting me off. “Let me go talk to Ty for a minute.”
“Ty? Why?” I asked as he released me to head upstairs.
He smirked. “So I can get a location on Derek’s cell phone.”
“You’d do that?”
He shrugged. “Are you going to let this go?”
“Not a chance.”
He nodded like he expected that answer. “Then let’s find out what he’s up to.”
Ty had decided to join us. It seemed we were all a little curious as to what Derek was up to.
“Maybe it a girl,” Ty wondered sitting in the back seat of the Mustang.
Cam caught his eye in the rearview. “From your lips to God’s ears.”
It was difficult for Cam knowing that not only his friend, but roommate, had feelings for his girlfriend, so hearing his statement, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, but I had my fingers crossed that Ty was right too.
Following Ty’s directions had us traveling to the business district. I wondered if it was a mistake. Perhaps Derek had managed to some how evade us, but I didn’t know how since Ty was our resident computer wiz, thanks to his power over any and all viruses.
Pulling up outside a three story building with concreted windows to block the outside world out, or perhaps it was to make their employees believe that there was nothing outside, Cam’s brow furrowed and I knew he was wondering if this was somehow a mistake as well.
I glanced around searching for Derek’s Bronco, but was coming up empty. After all, we were tapping into his cell phone not the car.
“Demons,” Cam hissed drawing our attention to the front of the building. A couple walked side by side. A normal observer wouldn’t notice, but adding the not touching to the stiff movements due to the unfamiliar bodies and the way the streetlight glanced off their eyes, these were classic lower level demons.
They walked up to a side door that was made of steel. The man leaned in rapping his knuckles three times. A small window opened just as it had the night Derek and I had stumbled across the demonic fight club. This was all feeling suddenly familiar and it made my stomach churn.
When the door opened, the roar of a crowd escaped slamming into us even inside the Mustang only long enough for the couple to enter.
“Evie!” Cam called out the moment I was out of the car. I tossed some weapons inside making sure everything I carried was concealed but Cam was on me before I could head to the door. “What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded. “We don’t know what we could be walking in too.”
“Derek’s inside, isn’t he?” I asked Ty. Begrudgingly he nodded. “I pretty sure I know what’s going on in there.”
“Pretty sure?” Cam hissed. “You want to base us walking in to an unknown situation based on pretty sure?”
“Yes,” I spat. “I want you to trust me, Cam. This is all too familiar for me to be wrong. Although what Derek’s doing here,” I shook my head, “I haven’t the slightest clue.”
“I do trust you Evie.”
I glanced at Ty, who replied, “Me too.”
“All right then. Lose some weapons until you’re carrying concealed.”
As I approached, I reached into my wallet. I only had fifty dollars in assorted bills. It wouldn’t be as impressive as Derek’s hundred-dollar bill display, but hopefully it would suffice.
I rapped my knuckle three times just as the demon had done. The window opened, but the guy manning it didn’t demand a password, nor did he wait for me to hand him the money. He took in the three of us and slammed the window close. I eyed the window questionably before looking back at my fellow horsemen. Cam’s brow was knitted curiously, while Ty shrugged nonchalantly before he turned to leave. He paused when the sound of the cheering crowd bombarded us.
“Horsemen,” the vampire doorman nodded. “Here for the show?”
Ty opened his mouth to question what show the vampire meant, but I cut in. “Yup.” I stepped forward and the vampire moved aside allowing me to pass. Just like the other building that held the fight that Derek and I had uncovered, this entryway was only large enough for one person at a time to slip past the doorman. My hand reached back clutching Cam’s. Without even looking, I knew it was him. It was something I felt in my soul. It was strange when I was first discovering the bond we shared, but now it was a welcome sensation.
The thunderous roar of the crowd was almost deafening the closer we drew to the entrance. I was surprised to see how many the building fit. The office building appeared to be a guise. Stadium seating greeted us cascading up the three story walls encasing the gladiator like pit below.
“How the fuck did they build something like this?” Cam wondered. “The vampires compel the permit office or something?”
“Maybe an illusion?” I offered.
As we considered that, the Master of Ceremonies made his way to the center of the ring drawing the attention of the crowd.
“Ladies and gents, beasts and soulless creatures.” The crowd laughed. “Tonight is a very special night indeed. First we have our challenger—a newcomer to the ri
ng. Put your hands and claws together for the Light Slayer.”
The crowd cheered and booed the demon taking the stage. He was a beast in his own right and in every sense of the word. I felt pity for whoever was going to fight him.
“And our reigning champion, chosen by God himself, the defender of the human world, savior of the apocalypse, one of only four chosen—” My heart immediately sank. “Let’s hear it for Famine, one of the four horsemen.”
My mouth fell agape as Derek entered the ring. His bare chest was exposed with only an X of leather crossing over his chest for concealment. It was littered with weapons that I wondered if were more there for show because I doubted that any could be used against the demon with any success.
“The hell!” growled Cam.
Even though I wasn’t affected by his power, I could still feel his rage rolling off of him.
Derek took up position near the Master of Ceremonies and the challenging demon, who seemed pretty confidant.
“To the death,” the master declared.
“What?” The three of us hissed in varies states of disbelief. Derek didn’t seem all that surprised by the announcement as he withdrew a sword from the sheath at his side. The MC withdrew from between the fighters after uttering some words meant for them alone, probably rules, before stating the beginning of the fight.
Inhaling sharply, I watched the demon charge at Derek, over confidant in his quick victory to notice Derek spinning out of his way only to connect his palm on the demon’s exposed shoulder blade. The touch was gone in an instant, but the way the demon stiffened, it was enough of a signal to know Derek had used his gift—to what end, I didn’t know.
Unable to focus on the battle commencing, I glanced around at the crowd surrounding us. They were in a state of unrest that had nothing to do with their anticipation for the fight. Some were bickering, while others had escalated to shoving.
“Cam,” I whispered loud enough to be heard over the crowd. He barely acknowledged me, busy staring lividly at Derek. I glanced at the fight to see Derek was well on his way to winning. The demon had gashes in a variety of states of healing as Derek circled him seeking his opening to finish him. “Cam,” I demanded harsher. He glared at me. “I think we need to go,” I gestured to the crowd that was progressing to a more vicious state. His eyes widened knowing that his gift was affecting the crowd.
“Go,” Ty stated. “I’ll stay and grab Derek. He’s got some explaining to do.”
Cam debated obviously wanting to lay into Derek for his idiocy, but with my tugging on his arm and Ty’s stern glare, he relented. As we passed the crowd, I could see the radius that Cam’s gift touched. He was struggling to control it, but I wasn’t the only one who hadn’t mastered their gift. I glanced back to where Ty stood. His focus was torn between Derek and us in the ring. The people we fled away from were already shaking off the affects with knitted confusion.
“Leaving so soon?” the doorman asked as we waited for him to open the door. “Fight not to your taste?”
“Fight was fine,” Cam spat. “Now if you wouldn’t mind opening the door. We wish to leave.”
The man smirked. “See the problem is, someone really wants her.” He pointed his pale finger at me.
“And you’re willing to risk my wrath for a quick buck?” Cam demanded. “You’ve seen what my friend is capable of, and he’s just Famine. Imagine what I am capable of as War and her as Death.”
The vampire glanced around at the crowd. “I like my odds.”
“You really are an idiot, aren’t you?” I stated. His confidence fell for just a moment, but was long enough for me to see. “You may be immune to my gifts, but you think this entire crowd is? Surely you heard about my gift annihilating several wolves at once? I could take out this entire build in a matter of seconds.”
“Then I’d finish you,” Cam explained. “Now are you going to open the door?”
The vampire gritted his teeth and did as Cam requested. The door opened, my hand was gripped as I was tugged over the threshold into the narrow hall. We were almost out the second door when my opposite hand was yanked back causing me to stumble away from Cam. It all happened so quickly. The door was suddenly slammed closed with Cam in the outside while I was stuck in the narrow hall with the vampire.
“I am sorry,” he grinned, not looking apologetic at all. “But it was too good of an opportunity to resist.” My heart was pounding but I did my best to hide it, not wanting him to know that I was bothered by the situation.
“You know I’ll kill everyone in the arena,” I stated.
He smirked. “No you won’t. They’re no threat to you and if I’ve learned anything about you horsemen, it’s that you don’t kill unnecessarily. And we both know you’re gifts have no affect on me.”
I glared at him. The vampire seemed well informed but I hoped wasn’t smart enough to see the stake I carried.
Cam banged hard on the door separating us. The vampire turned to stare at it seeing a small bubble appear where Cam’s fist struck. It was all a distraction. With his head turned, I reached under my jacket. The moment he faced me, I reared back sinking the stake into his chest just shy of his heart.
“Move and I’ll kill you,” I hissed. He froze wide-eyed. I wasn’t sure if I would stop the stakes progression in time but since he was blinking, I figured he’d live a bit longer. “Now who hired you?” When he hesitated, I pressed a little on the wood buried in his chest.
“I don’t know,” he spoke through gritted teeth. I wasn’t sure if I believed him. When he saw my uncertainty in his declaration, he elaborated. “All the vampires are on the lookout for you. We were given a number to call when we found you.”
“What’s the number,” I demanded.
“It’s in my wallet.”
I reached around for his back pocket to the side he gestured holding the stake with one hand, but gripped it tightly incase he tried anything funny. My gaze flicked away from him to focus on my task and he moved to grab the stake, but I flinched slamming into home.
“Fuck,” I groaned at what my reaction cost me.
“Evie!” Cam yelled on the opposite side on the door knocking the small window open. Leaving the vampire where he fell, I moved to open the door. Cam quickly stepped around me taking in the scene. When he saw the vampire dead, he visibly relaxed. “What happened?”
I told him everything since the door sealed shut behind him. When I mentioned the number, he rolled the vampire over and searched his pockets. There was no card, but he found a phone. Cam handed it to me while he continued to look.
Flipping open the ancient device, I scrolled through the recent calls. At the top of the list sat a familiar number. Pulling my own phone from the confines of my leather pants, I compared the numbers.
“Shit,” I hissed. It was what I expected but had hoped against.
“Shane?” Cam asked reading my reaction, not the slightest bit surprised. I nodded. “We need to go.” Dragging the body to the exit, we left the door open unsure if there was another way for all the patrons to get out of the building once no one was manning the cubby hole. I like to think my concern was for them, but in truth we had two horsemen in there that had to make it home. Dropping the vampire behind the dumpster, Cam and I started heading to the car. We were almost there when I spotted Derek’s Bronco.
“Cam.” I gestured to it. I wasn’t sure if it was a wise idea. Cam seemed pretty livid when we discovered what Derek had been up to, not that I blamed him. Derek had been downright careless. I internally groaned when he adjusted our course.
Ten minutes later the bellowing of the crowd dispersing reached our ears. I was surprised how quickly they filed out of the building. It seemed we were wise to leave the door open since that was how they all exited.
When the sounds of them began to dissipate, we heard the sound of Ty’s voice. Cam’s head shot up and he rounded the vehicle to see Ty and Derek approach.
“What the fuck were you thinking, Derek?” he
demanded. Ty stepped between the two horsemen to attempt to keep the peace. Derek bowed his head looking ashamed, but said nothing. “That’s right. You weren’t. How could you be so stupid? You were reckless and irresponsible. A fight to the death? Really? You saw Evie and I almost die and yet you still wanted to test your own mortality. And what if they had killed you? What do you think that would mean for us? We didn’t know where you were, what happened, we’d be missing one of our horsemen. This isn’t just about you.”
“If the group is your only concern, Cam, save it. I’m fine and I’m not going back,” Derek explained.
“Cam,” Ty interjected. “Calm down.” But Cam ignored him.
“If the group…Are you fucking kidding me? That was your go to when you tried keeping me from Evie, but now when it’s aimed at you—”
“Yeah and a lot of good that did me. The group isn’t everything Cam. I did this for me—to keep me sane. And you know what? I figured you of all people would understand.”
“Cam,” I tried. Derek looked tired and not just from the battle he endured. I didn’t want to side with him, because frankly I agreed he was being irresponsible, but I’d feel that way towards anyone who intentional went into a situation just to get their face beat in. In the end, this was Derek’s life. He was a grown man and if fighting was what he wanted, who was I to interject. The only thing I could say was that he didn’t need to be fighting to the death. A fight, yes, to the death, no.
Ty helped. “We’ll finish this discussion later, at home.”
“It moot,” Derek stated. “I already said, I’m done. I got what I needed.”
“And what was that,” Cam hissed.
“Stability.”
Cam and I drove home together while Ty rode with Derek at Cam’s persistence.
“Why did you interject?” Cam asked once we were a few minutes from home.
“Because you were laying into Derek enough for all of us.”
He kept his gaze on the road, but tensed, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. “You think I was wrong?”
