“This place is fucking with me,” he says running the heels of his hands against his eyes. He starts to shake, and then falls to his knees in front of me.
“Shit, Levi!” I catch him, and lower us both to the ground slowly. Thank god for Hunter strength. The guy is massive.
“Is he okay?” Creek asks, while Kain and Roman flank us, making sure that we’re covered should any threats approach.
“I don’t know,” I tell Creek as I brush the hair off of Levi’s forehead. “Levi.”
I shake him gently in my lap, hoping to stir him, when he goes rigid, his back arches before he lets out a pained scream, his hands clasping his head, despite his eyes staying closed.
“Shit, Levi. Come on, wake up! What the fuck is going on?!” I shout, shaking Levi to try and wake him. He stills again and goes silent, sweat running down his body.
What the actual fuck is this?
“This, is what happens when Angels come into the Demon realm uninvited,” a voice says from further in the forest, but I can’t see anyone. Roman and Kain still, going on edge, while Creek moves to my back.
“Who’s there?” I call out, my voice is firm, sounding as pissed off as I feel. No-one fucks with my guys and gets away with it. I place Levi down and stand, pulling a dagger from my boot as I do so.
“Now then, that’s no way to greet the leader of the Shadow Realm is it?” A man steps forward, revealing himself. He looks just like every preppy jock turned business type I’ve ever come across, except for his eyes, which are just pitch-black pools.
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re not the leader of the Shadow Realm then isn’t it?” I say through gritted teeth, walking towards him, dagger in hand.
“Ah-ah. Now then, no need to get violent.” He waves his hand and Levi stirs behind me. Creek kneels down to him, then nods at me. I watch as Levi’s eyes open, and then he shoots up, wings unfurled, and the storm inside him rolls off of him in waves, his power bleeding out, static electricity filling the space.
He moves like the wind, and has the Demon by the throat and lifted from the floor before I can even blink. The Demon starts to laugh, until Levi squeezes tighter. The Demon’s eyes go wide as storm clouds roll in over us, and starts clawing at Levi’s hand while trying to draw in breath and failing.
“Maybe you should check which Angel it is you’re fucking with before you start with your stupid tricks, Phoenix.” Ferry appears next to me, and I try not to be too shocked at her sudden appearance.
“You should probably ask your Angel to let him down if you want to leave this place. Phoenix dies, the level locks down. You do not want to be stuck here, trust me. I should’ve mentioned, never enter the forest. Sorry,” Ferry apologizes, flicking her hair over her shoulder.
I move forward and put my hand on Levi’s straining bicep. “Levi, come on. He’s not worth it. We’ve got more important things to deal with.”
His stormy eyes look down at me, and I can see my words filter through to him. His power pulls in and he growls as he drops the Demon. He takes my hand and kisses my palm before closing his eyes. The storm clouds disappear, as does the static in the air.
“You’re welcome,” Ferry says to me with a wink. “Phoenix, don’t be a dick. I know it goes against your nature, but you’re really not as badass as you think. Just let them pass through asshole.” She waves her fingers at me again and disappears from sight.
“What the…”
“Fucking Fae,” Phoenix says, his voice scratchy as he stands back up on wobbly knees. “Apologies, I didn’t know you were with Ferry. You want into the next level?” He asks, rubbing his neck, which is bruised. Huh, didn’t know Demons could bruise. Learn something new every day.
“We do,” I tell him jutting out my chin, still holding Levi’s hand in mine, and I feel as the others reach us and flank us.
“Well then,” he says, his voice still scratchy, but he waves his hand and another doorway appears. “Usually, you’d need access via my tower in the center of the city, but that’s still a week’s walk from here, and all things considered, I really don’t want to piss the fairy off,” he says wincing, looking back to Levi, and I can almost taste his fear. Another good thing to know, Demons, even higher Demons can fear something. I tuck that away for later, ‘cause we’re going to need it. I just hope this guy isn’t a complete wet noodle of a Demon.
“This had better not be a trick,” I say to Phoenix and he shakes his head.
“Not worth the hassle it would cause. Anyway, that’s more the Fae’s bag, I’m more about the torture.” Phoenix shrugs. I watch him, searching for any hint of a lie, but I find nothing, so I walk to the doorway.
“I’d say it’s been a pleasure, but…” I shrug and grasp the door handle. More mist.
Awesome.
Chapter Eight
Colt
Remy and the guys disappear in front of my eyes, and I shake my head, because this shit is still a lot to wrap my head around. I’ve been a Hunter a while, this isn’t exactly my first life, but I’ve learned more about the other factions these last few months since my sister opened everyone’s eyes than I have in all of my past lives put together.
“Right, we should clean up and head back. I’ve got a dozen edgy Witches that want updates every ten minutes. We’ve only got another day until Archer’s deadline for Remy. It’s not going to take him long to work out that she’s not coming to help him,” Marie tells me. “You need to focus, Colt. I know you’re worried about my daughter, but we have other roles to play in this. Remy will bring her back.”
“I know, I just hate feeling like I’m on the sidelines,” I tell her, rubbing the back of my neck.
“Boy, once Archer finds out she betrayed him, it’s not going to feel like you’re on the sidelines. You’re going to be in the thick of it, so get your head in the game, you understand?” She scolds.
“Yes ma’am.” I nod, and help her pack up the few bits that she brought out here with her then head back inside to load up that godforsaken trunk. I don’t know how she gets so much in it, or how the hell she moves it without the help of a dozen people. It’s rare that something makes me strain strength wise these days, but fuck me that thing is heavy. I’ve lifted trucks lighter than that fucking trunk.
“Everything go okay?” Everly asks once we’re inside and the trunk is all sorted.
“As well as expected,” Marie tells her. “I just hope they’re okay. Time moves differently over there, but that’s not the only thing that’s different, their strengths will be diminished down there too.” She looks worried and I try not to bug out. Why did no-one mention this before?
“Do they know that?” I ask and she shakes her head.
“Not as far as I know, but it doesn’t make a difference if they know or not. It’ll take as long as it takes. They can’t just run through the levels of the Shadow Realm and magic Fallon to them. They’re going to need help, serious help, especially if it’s the queen working with Archer. Though I can’t imagine it,” she tells us.
“You seem to know a lot about all of this.”
“Read as many Witch grimoires as I have and you pick things up.” She winks at me. “The queen isn’t exactly a fan of humans, or Hunters. So I don’t see it, but stranger things have happened. Especially recently.” She shrugs, and picks up her purse.
“It was lovely seeing you again, Everly. Keep yourself safe, and set those wards the second we cross the property line okay?” Marie tells her and she scoffs.
“I’ve been doing this a while,” Everly says with a smile.
“Things are a little different right now,” I tell her and she looks at me like she’s going to scold me.
“You’re not wrong,” she says with a small shrug. “You both take care of yourself, and I’ll be here in this fortress if you need me okay?”
They hug each other, and I offer her a wave when she scoffs again, before hugging me. “You’re family, family doesn’t wave,” she says, patting my arm as she releases me.
“Thank you, Colt,” Marie says, patting my cheek. “Take care of yourself, and get your guild ready. Now that Nasari and the others have left, it’s on you to coordinate everyone here. I’ll be around to help if you need it.” She climbs into the car with a smile and drives away, and I try not to take her comment personally, I’m sure she didn’t mean to be as condescending as she was, she’s just got a lot on.
Then again, leading a fucking guild isn’t something I ever wanted or asked for, so maybe she’s not completely wrong, and I am going to fuck this up royally.
I climb into my truck, crank the music up as loud as it will go, and head back to my dad’s place, trying not to think too much about the complete fuck up I’ve found myself in the middle of. Needless to say, my dad is not taking any of this well. Everything with Remy, the new Hunter orders, the Elder reshuffle.
It’s been a lot.
Then finding out Bauer was working with Archer. That it was likely Archer that attacked him with the Angel glass.
Yeah, living with him recently has been a fucking riot. I miss Bauer being around. Remy said Archer had him, and with as much as I have to deal with right now, getting him back is high on my priority list. Who knows how much information he might have, how much he could help tip the balance in our favor?
As I reach Salem’s Bay, I decide not to head home. There’s someone in town who will help me with Bauer, and my dad isn’t that guy.
I pull up out the front of a one-story house, and chuckle to myself. Salem’s bay might not be the biggest of places, but I have more than enough Hunters staying here right now. With Bauer out of action, and Creek off in the Shadow Realm, I’m down a dance partner, but I know this guy is just crazy enough to agree to help me.
“Colt Bennett. What the fuck are you doing here?” Elijah shouts at me through his screen door. I climb out of my truck and head up to meet him.
“Elijah, just the man I was hoping to find. How you doing you crazy son of a bitch?” He opens the door and pulls me in for a bro hug.
“Fancy a beer?” He asks as we head inside. The hum from his air con fills the room on the unseasonably warm day.
“Sure thing.” He heads to his fridge and pulls out two bottles, passing me one. I twist the top and take a swig. Hello sweet nectar.
“So what brings you by, mister boss man?” He laughs and I shake my head.
“Don’t start with that, it’s fucking unreal. But I’m here without the Elder title. I’ve got a bit of a crusade mission, and I can’t think of a better wing man.” I tell him, before taking another drink.
“What’s the mission?” He asks taking a seat and waving for me to sit. I sit on the couch opposite where he’s sat and take a deep breath.
“I want to get my brother,” I tell him straight. “Archer has him locked away somewhere, and despite everything, he tried to help. Even if it was too late. He’ll know things, shit that could help us in the next few weeks.” I say, and then continue to fill him in about Remy and Fallon.
“Holy shit, man. That’s a lot. I got the gist of most of this from the gathering, but shit.”
“Yeah man, there's a ton of shit that's going down, which is why we need to get Bauer. He's going to have invaluable information that we're not gonna get any other way. Numbers are down thanks to the Hunters that defected, but fuck them, they made their bed. We've got enough people, especially since all the factions are working together. I'm just trying to minimize the collateral damage. You just know that the humans are going to end up aware of something. If there's anything I can do to keep this fucking bullshit under their radar then I'm going to do it.”
“Makes sense. Fuck it, I'm in. Danny and the boys are back too, so I'll rope them in as well. Got to love the delta boys, running off to play in the human wars, but they learned some new shit and got some new toys too. Might come in handy.”
“Thanks man, sounds good. I'm getting my shit in line today, and then tomorrow, we hunt.”
“Count us in. Just let me know when and where,” he says and I stand, draining the last of my beer.
“I'll drop you a message later tonight after I've gathered some intel,” I tell him. He stands as I head out to my truck and waves me off with his beer bottle as I pull out of his drive.
One thing down, only another fucking shit ton to get sorted.
When I get hold of Bauer, I'm going to knock him the fuck out for putting us in this situation. I've met Archer, he might've been the one driving this crazy train, but my brother is the strategic mind. There’s no doubt in my head, that without Bauer, Archer would still be sitting, dick in hand, wondering where the fuck to start his stupid world domination quest.
I drive through Salem’s Bay back to my dad’s place, finding a few cars in the drive. I guess Nate and some of the others are already here. Good. Means I don't have to deal with my dad’s bitching on my own. I love the man, but fuck me, I can't deal with his bitch ass moods for much longer. He either needs to get on board, or just shut the fuck up. He has to see just how twisted everything was, the fact that he allowed what happened to Remy without fighting back... I clench my jaw as I try to swallow the rage that still burns about it. What kind of father does that? I've never done the kid thing, but you bet your ass if I did. I'd never let someone else dictate the life of my kid.
Fuck.
I punch the steering wheel and take a deep breath to calm myself back down. I'm meant to be an Elder now, stupidest fucking decision I ever made accepting that title. There are so many other things I want to be focusing on right now, instead I'm attending Elder meetings and dealing with people’s petty little problems.
I decide right then, I'm naming Nate my right hand, he can deal with the petty squabbles while I focus on the bigger stuff.
Like Bauer.
Like Fallon.
Like Archer.
Fuck.
Nothing quite like a divided focus. I climb out of the truck and head inside, the laughter reaches me as I put my hand on the door handle. Good, laughter means there's no whining going on. I follow the sounds and find everyone in the kitchen.
“Colt!” Maddie calls out as I enter the room and she rushes to give me a hug. I've not seen her since accepting the Elder position, so I wait and let her fuss. God knows since Mom passed, it’s been nice having her around. No-one could ever replace Mom, but it’s nice to feel that kind of love sometimes.
“Hey Mads.” I hug her back, and wave to the guys in the room. Dad and Nate are sipping on whiskey, no real shock there, and a few of their other Hunter buddies are drinking a beer.
“What did I miss?” I ask, and grab a bottle for myself from the fridge, sitting at the bottom of the table, opposite my Dad. He's still smarting that he didn't get the Elder seat, I'm not stupid, I know Remy was offered it first. Clever bitch turned it down, though I'm almost positive my dad would've revolted if she'd taken it.
Just not something we need right now.
“Not much here,” Nate says. “How was everything on your end?”
I fill them in on everything that's happened the last few days, but I don't mention about going to get Bauer. These guys are skilled Hunters, but there's just a little too much politics with everything. My dad would probably have Bauer killed for his betrayal, but I'm not that guy. Bauer tried to redeem himself, and if we get to him and he helps us, I don't see why the punishment can't be minimal. I'm not naive enough to assume he'd get off Scott free—he has the whole council to answer to—and while I'm sure between Rem and I, we could swing it, I'm not sure what's going on with her right now, so god knows what she'll be like when she comes back from that hellish place.
I suppress my shudder and take another drink after I finish filling them all in on everything. “I'm going to go crash, it’s been
a long day.”
I stand and drop my bottle in the trash, giving Mads a goodnight hug and head upstairs.
I crash onto my bed fully dressed and kick off my shoes, and end up staring at the ceiling as the moonlight filters in through the window, wondering how the fuck we're going to get through all of this.
I've spent the entire fucking day tracking down that twat bag Archer, but with the help of a trusted friend who has some mad genius hacking skills, we finally managed to find him and my brother. Thank god for the big-brother way and having cameras every fucking where these days.
I scrub my hand down my face, trying to wipe away the exhaustion that's starting to settle in, and make another pot of coffee. Fuck knows I'm going to need it to get through tonight. I gulp down a shot of espresso while I wait for the coffee pot and drop a message to Elijah, letting the boys know we're on for tonight. Could I wait and plan some more? Fuck yes I could, but I'm not going to.
Archer needs to be set off balance, and he's expecting to hear from Remy tomorrow, I want Bauer out of the there before that bomb goes off. Fate only knows how Archer’s going to retaliate, but I want us free and clear beforehand so we've got enough people in place to deal with whatever comes. And maybe Bauer can give us an insight into the crazy that is Archer.
I pour myself a mug of coffee and load it up with sugar and cream, before gulping that down too. I grab a cold slice of pizza from the severely lacking fridge and chew it down, despite how gross it is, I just need enough sustenance to get me through. I'm going to beg Maddie to make a pot roast the next chance I get. I miss home cooked food.
I hear car doors slam as the guys arrive, and they make their way into the house as I pour another mug of coffee. “Anyone?” I ask, holding out the pot as the five of them filter into the room.
“Not for me,” Elijah says but a few of the others accept and so I pour out the cups before putting another pot on. “So what do we know?” He asks.
A Crown of Shadows and Secrets Page 7