by Brianna West
His shining silver-hued irises returned to my rigid face, giving my stomach reason to clench. I looked away, remembering that he could ensnare me with his eyes alone and, while that had never scared me before, it did now that he’d possibly gone Dark. And unfortunately, I couldn’t decipher his intentions with my power so severely depleted.
“I’ve finally managed the impossible. I’ve accomplished what we talked about all those years ago before I disappeared, and now I’ve come for you.”
Confusion settled into the lines of my face as I stared at the man who I’d once thought I loved. I couldn’t recall a promise we’d made or any conversation that would make him say what he did, but then again, I’d also done my best to forget Niko through the despair of losing him. Still, nothing was forthcoming, and I wasn’t sure how much I could trust a man who had faked his own death and given Victor reason to believe he had aided and abetted a high-demon.
“Did you help the high-demon? Have you been assisting the Dark all these years?” I finally demanded, though my voice was hoarse from both confusion and shock.
I was desperate to believe he hadn’t played any part in the other night, but I couldn’t fathom why he’d disappear other than to do the Dark’s bidding. However, it was my hope that by speaking with him first, I might be able to make sense of the last twenty years. Niko had been a formidable Guardian and our team leader’s right-hand man. His talents were even commended by the Council and, even though I’d once feared losing him, he’d been very close to leading a team of his own.
“Have you gone Dark, Niko?” I asked when he didn’t answer, despising the fear in my voice.
Niko’s eyes flashed, and then the distinct sound of footsteps echoed from the hall. Reaching over too fast for even my eyes to follow, Niko broke through the cuffs that held me to the bed, his blue magic easily severing the binding magic as if it were nothing at all.
His powers had grown, that much was clear.
But before he could grab onto me, I evaded his hand and rolled to the floor towards the opposite side of the bed. My body shook as I tried to get to my feet, swaying precariously to my right when my legs nearly gave out beneath me. Centering myself, I summoned all the power I had left and delivered a swift attack on Niko.
Gold, red, and orange exploded from my slouched form, momentarily illuminating the room. But a good majority of my power had been drained by the magical cuffs I’d previously worn, causing my strength and power to immediately falter. My strength failed me and I slumped over, seconds from collapsing.
Niko took hold of me before I could fall, jerking his eyes to the door just as it burst open. Aidan’s partially transformed body broke through the frame, cracking through the surrounding plaster with the force of his entry.
Aidan’s caramel eyes had paled and taken on a vibrant glow. The massive Guardian narrowed them dangerously to where Niko held onto me when he finally caught sight of us, probably noticing my weakened state as I barely managed to lift my head to look at him. But Niko’s blue magic was already blasting across the room and colliding with the unprepared Guardian. The entire building shuddered as Aidan was thrown through one wall to another room. As the vibrant blue faded, low groans and hollow thumps echoed through the floor and walls of the building in warning.
Niko’s hand cupped my face, lifting my gaze forcibly as I attempted to summon whatever power lie within. I was caught by his silver-blue eyes, immediately dreading the mistake because Niko had an ability to bewitch those whose eyes met his. Most vampires did, but Niko’s power went beyond a simple glamor. He could compel those that he managed to overpower to do things. In my weakened state, I didn’t have a hope to overcome it.
“Don’t move,” he commanded before blocking Aidan’s magic-infused hammer as it came down with enough power to blow a hole through the floor.
My body froze, wholly compelled by his words. I could only watch numbly as Niko rose to his feet and blasted Aidan with a powerful jet of blue. His magic swirled violently around his tattooed form, lashing out in thin strips and striking against Aidan again and again, until the Guardian collapsed onto the floor with a low grunt.
I bit my lip angrily, furiously watching while Aidan was assaulted and unable to stop it. The Niko I’d known would’ve never attacked another Guardian. Not even at the cost of his own life. It was clear to me that the Niko I’d known was, in fact, dead.
This was an imposter.
“Fuck that hurts,” Aidan cursed. His arms shook as he tried to get up, but it was clear that the attacks had battered him so badly that he wouldn’t recover anytime soon. His large body was barely coming off of the floor.
Niko stood in front of me, his strong form poised. He didn’t look as if he just fought off two Guardians, which spoke to just how powerful he’d become. That sort of power wasn’t easily obtained and, even though I still hoped otherwise, it was probably the result of being in favor with high-demons. It was how most succumbed to the Dark. Promises of power were hard to reject for those of us who desired it greatly. If his desire to make good on his vengeance was reason for it, I could understand how it may have come about.
Aidan was still fighting to get up, but it was clear that he wouldn’t be able to. His eyes were unfocused and his body strained, showing the inevitable signs of defeat. “Who the bloody hell are you?!”
“No one you’ll be able to win against. I’m not your enemy, even though you believe otherwise. But I don’t have time to waste dealing with you. Tell Victor that Niko Lindberg discovered who currently carries the Sanguis Celare amulet. If they want my help getting it, they’ll need to agree to my terms.”
Niko brushed back his pale hair almost casually before he knelt down, lifting Aidan’s chin as the Guardian growled low in his throat. Then, as Aidan’s eyes met Niko’s and the connection was made, the Guardian’s face lost all of its tension.
“Tell them my message. Do not come looking for us. Now, sleep,” Niko commanded just as the walls groaned forebodingly.
Aidan’s unconscious form was eclipsed in blue before it disappeared, and I barely restrained a surprise gasp at his sudden disappearance. It meant my fate was sealed. The room began to splinter and break apart, while several of the floorboards beneath me buckled.
I didn’t move. Couldn’t. I crouched as the floor gave out and panted desperately through the weighted exhaustion and imprisonment of Niko’s power. He’d definitely gotten stronger. His influence had never lasted this long when he was a Guardian. With no power left to fight back, there was nothing I could do to break his hold over me.
Some of the wall next to where I was frozen came away, collapsing towards me. Unable to do more, I shut my eyes and prepared myself internally for the impact.
“Carl!” someone yelled before I was encompassed by solid arms and held tightly into their body.
The sounds of the collapsing building ceased altogether. Powerful vertigo hit me like it carried solid weight, but then it was gone. Opening my eyes, I looked around to find that we had somehow traveled elsewhere. Some place I didn’t recognize. The room felt familiar, though. Almost as if I should know it, but I couldn’t figure out where I’d seen it. The arms that held onto me loosened before my chin was grabbed and gaze jerked towards my savior.
Silver-blue eyes pierced into mine.
Dammit.
My teeth clenched just as Niko smirked, his thumb following the line of my jaw. I still felt his influence, so I knew I couldn’t move, but I could still express the rage I felt through my glare.
“That’s a very good look on you,” Niko remarked, bringing his face closer. “I don’t expect you to believe me when I say that everything I’ve done up until now was to help the Cause, and I don’t like having to use my influence to keep you here, but there wasn’t any other choice. I needed you back. Twenty years was twenty years too long.”
I made a sound in my throat, my thoughts hard to catch as Niko’s hot breath teased my lips.
“There were other ways to
do this, Niko. Proper ways that didn’t mean partnering with the Dark.”
Niko’s thumb continued to caress my jaw while his eyes searched my face, as if he hoped to find something that wasn’t immediately apparent. “I know you don’t understand, but I had to do this. I’m still the same man I was when you knew me. I’ll prove it to you.”
My throat felt unbearably tight looking into the familiar silver eyes that I’d long dreamt about returning. Niko stared intensely at me, beseeching me. Even though a great deal had changed about Niko, his eyes were still the same. There was still a kindness inside of them. It didn’t make sense, but it was there.
“If you come with me to Victor, I’ll convince him to hear you out,” I offered, my voice much weaker than I hoped for it to sound.
Niko’s jaw clenched before he rose, pulling something from the bedside table and then turning towards me. My eyes dropped, seeing he held magical cuffs similar to what I was bound by previously. His expression was grave as he pushed his hand against my chest and forced me to lay out over the bed beneath me. My pulse thrummed violently as he cuffed me to the headboard before hovering over me.
“Niko, this ain’t right,” I entreated, emotion tempering my voice. “It’s not too late.”
Niko’s lips lifted into a devious smirk, silver-blue eyes straying away from my face. His cool indifference regarded me through the short moment of silence as he pondered how best to respond. The muscles in his back clenched and tautened with his silent contemplation, and with nowhere else to look, I was forced to watch every twitch and subtle deviation that played across his wide back.
“Sometimes the only way to get where you need to go is by breaking the rules. As apology, once I’ve done what must be done, I’ll let you punish me like old times.”
I wasn’t given the chance to respond as he hurried out of the room and left me bound to the bed. I couldn’t help but feel like I’d been bound to one too many beds lately. For someone that generally stayed out of trouble, I’d found myself in quite a lot of it in such a short period of time. But I’d been a Guardian long enough to know that where there was a will, there was a way.
And even though I should be angry and fighting to get away, I couldn’t. I wanted to persuade him back to the Light. I’d made it my personal mission to. There was still the Niko I knew in there, and I couldn’t believe that he was too far gone to be helped. The man he’d been was someone who persistently chased justice; who wanted to prove his Dark blood wouldn’t conquer him. I had idolized him and his determination to protect the innocent from the very moment we met.
That Niko was still in there somewhere. I didn’t want to believe that the man I knew was gone, not when the kindness that had always been inside his eyes was still present. I had to believe that Niko could be convinced. So, I didn’t fight the cuffs. Not that I could with his current influence, but I wouldn’t have tried to even without it.
After spending many years by his side and twenty years convinced he was dead, I owed him that much.
Chapter Seven
I wasn’t sure when I’d drifted off, but suddenly my eyes were shooting open as the presence of someone roused me from my dreamless sleep. A hand covered my mouth, silencing my voice before I had a chance to speak.
“Hush,” a familiar voice whispered, instantly drawing my eyes to the man beside me. The ginger hair and green eyes were a dead giveaway to just who had come, and I was surprised by the overwhelming relief seeing him had given me. “Let’s get you out of these.”
Conall leaned over, taking hold of the cuffs and deftly severing their magical hold. I remained unmoving, still somehow under Niko’s influence. Alarm blared through me when I realized just what it meant to be still immobilized by his power. Not only did it suggest Niko was close enough that escaping without his noticing would be nearly impossible, but it also appeared that he was strong enough to influence me limitlessly. That sort of power rivaled even the best of our Guardians. Quite possibly an angel. My determination to convince him back to the Light had never felt so important.
Staring intently at Conall, I rushed to ask, “Who else is with you?”
I couldn’t sense anyone nearby, so I had to wonder if they were hanging back while he recovered me from inside.
Conall looked down at me, confused. “No one.”
What?!
“They permitted you to come alone?” I demanded in a harsh whisper. “That’s suicide!”
Conall grinned confidently, slinging my leaded arm around his shoulders and easily lifting me from the bed, as if I wasn’t six feet of dense muscle. “Permitted…right, we’ll go with that for now. First, we need to get you out of here.”
My stare narrowed as I let Conall practically drag me into a standing-slouch. “They do know you’ve come to recover me, right?” Conall didn’t look over, merely situated me onto his back with the same ease as he’d lifted me from the bed with. “Conall? They know, right?”
“I’m sure they’ve figured it out by now. I didn’t really have time to mention it to anyone,” Conall answered shamelessly, his voice suddenly cutting off as a quake shook the house. “Blast, he’s detected me already. I knew that blood from a bag wouldn’t be enough, but I didn’t really have much choice.”
Cursing softly, Conall expertly maneuvered me off of his back and wrapped his arms securely around my waist to keep me upright, pulling our chests together. “Right, I’m going to give you some of my power.”
Power sharing was easy enough, but it required focus. Magical beings could share their power with one another, but it wasn’t a perfect fix. I’d still be relatively weak and incapable of performing specific abilities, so we would have to get out quickly if I wanted to avoid our imminent recapture. Which was probably the entire reason Conall hadn’t done it first.
Surprisingly, Conall appeared to be somewhat disorganized, as though it were his very first mission. Which wasn’t a look I’d seen on him yet. The Irishman’s face and movements were almost crazed as he embraced me tightly, the scent of his anxiety filtering into my nose as my face rested where his neck met the curve of his shoulder.
Warmth seeped into me from everywhere he touched, recovering my body’s power and giving me enough strength to finally break the influence Niko had over me. With great relief, I stood on my own two legs for the first time in nearly twenty-four hours. But my relief was cut short as blue danced through the air and lashed out in every direction, missing us by a hair’s breadth.
Conall eclipsed our forms with his green barrier before he fled its protection in order to collide violently with Niko. Sparks and sharp clangs burst from their blades before the two recoiled in opposite directions, the air shuddering with the sudden violence. Green and blue magic struck between them only a breath later, the sound of it deafening, before their speed became too much for my regular eyesight to track.
Transforming, my fingernails sharpened and my senses heightened, allowing me to face Niko’s strength and speed on a level playing field. The other two moved in slow-motion, my tiger eyes tracking their movements perfectly. Using as much power as I could conjure, phantom forms of both men materialized in slow succession, foreshadowing their next three moves. Kicking off the ground, I dashed forward and shielded Conall from an attack that Niko would’ve claimed a brutal blow in.
Niko’s intention was not to kill Conall, because he wouldn’t easily accomplish it while defending against our two, but instead to render the Irishman weak enough to be compelled. Once Niko successfully ensnared his victims, there was very little they could do to combat him afterwards.
Having known Niko’s fighting style intimately, I worked quickly to fend off each one of his aimed attacks before they could weaken either one of us. My foresight wasn’t infallible, however. It wouldn’t last. I only used it when I could win the fight quickly, or had no other options for escape.
Niko’s silver-blue eyes blazed as I once again rebuffed his attempt to deliver a crippling blow to Conall. I tumbled sideway
s and recovered a long pipe from the wall. Somersaulting, I swung it down before Niko’s blade could stab into Conall’s side. The Irishman’s eyes were aglow, the effort to counterattack showing in the lines of his face and perspiration on his brow. He’d clearly underestimated Niko’s skill. Understandably so. This kind of power wasn’t natural, nor would it be readily known.
A burst of gold rushed out of me and slammed into Niko as he recovered from another failed attack, vaulting his body backwards and into the wall. He kicked out his leg, slamming the heel of his boot into the surface of the wall before somersaulting and landing unharmed onto the floor. I was postured into a low crouch, my ability of foresight allowing me to pick apart his next several moves.
Niko ceased his assault, giving Conall reason to hesitate in his attack for a moment. “That foresight of yours is a damn problem.”
My lips lifted into a derisive smile as I stared across at the visibly taxed ex-Guardian, who was heaving in great breaths of air. “Even your new power can’t save you from my foresight,” I taunted, feigning confidence when I knew I couldn’t use it for much longer. My power was already fading.
My ability to foresee moves only worked seamlessly when I was at full power. Depleted as I was, even with the assistance of Conall’s share of power, I had a minute or two more before it was rendered completely useless. The only chance I had was to make Niko believe otherwise. I’d never disclosed the true depth of my ability to him, thankfully so.
I lifted my chin, straightening my posture and projecting my assurance that I’d beat him without fail, here and now.
“You know I’ll just find you again,” Niko warned, his silver-blue eyes straying over to Conall. His jaw was visibly clenched, and it was easy to see the frustration he clearly felt. “We’ve been connected for all these years, and I’ll always know where you are. No matter where you go, I’ll find you.”
Conall’s expression was unexpectedly enraged as I feigned another self-assured smile in reaction to the threat.
