by Knight, TW
Cassidy looked up as the three men positioned themselves in a triangle around a pile of duffle bags and backpacks, arms outstretched, touching fist to fist. The space just above the packs shimmered. A deep resonating hum filled the air, followed by a tearing sound. Frightened, Cassidy closed her eyes tight, held her breath, and hugged Rail with all her strength.
"Cassidy? Sweetheart? Open your eyes." Rail gently pulled free of her grasp. "We’re home."
Slowly, Cassidy opened her eyes and found herself no longer standing on the deck of a decaying river barge at sunset, but in a courtyard outside an Italian villa with the sun shining on her.
Chapter Seven
"Welcome home." Rail wrapped an arm around Cassidy’s waist to keep her from falling over in case she hadn’t suffered the transition well.
"Where are we?" Cassidy gaped at her new surroundings, surprised she could keep her voice steady and her meager meal down. She felt as if she’d stepped off a roller coaster.
"This is your new home." Rail placed a kiss the top of her head.
"I got that. But where is it?" The scents of sea salt and exotic flowers in the warm breeze placed them far from the States.
Before Rail could answer, a buxom blonde in a tank top and short shorts careened out of the villa and slammed into Boomer. In seconds, they were tangled together, kissing and touching.
Embarrassed by the public display of lust, Cassidy turned away and shrugged out of the now too-warm jacket.
"That’s Gina." Another, calmer, woman exited the villa. "She’s Boomer's Aktura, if you hadn’t already guessed. I’m Seraphina." She held out a hand in greeting. "I’m Kaz’s Aktura."
Cassidy shook Seraphina’s hand and smiled.
"I’m sorry. That was rude." Gina peeled herself off Boomer and sauntered over to shake Cassidy’s hand. "It’s just, Boom-Boom has been gone for weeks and I’ve missed him." She wiggled her eyes brows suggestively.
"It’s nice to meet both of you." Cassidy couldn’t miss the exaggerated eye roll Seraphina gave Gina. The women were complete opposites in looks as well as demeanor. Where Gina was a blonde, fair, freckled, petite firecracker, Seraphina was the tall, lithe, dark, reserved type.
"Let me guess, did Mr. Grouchy-Pants finally get lucky?" Gina wiggled her eyebrows again.”Or are you unattached?”
"Cassidy is my Aktura," Rail answered. "And the rest is none of your business."
"Nothing stays secret for long here," Gina snarked as she tossed her curls and headed back to Boomer, her hips swaying seductively. "Did you miss me, baby?"
As an answer, Boomer flung Gina over his shoulder and took off for the villa amidst a chorus of delighted squeals.
"And that is why the rooms are soundproofed." Seraphina shook her head. "Now then, let’s get you settled in, shall we?"
Cassidy looked up at Rail, who smiled and kissed her forehead. "Go on, sweetheart. I need to speak with Kaz, and then I’ll be up to see you." As he handed her over to Seraphina, he added, "Make sure Tucker looks her over, okay?"
"Of course." Seraphina took Cassidy by the arm and escorted her across the tiled courtyard. "Will you be all right with the stairs or should we take the elevator?"
"The stairs should be okay," Cassidy answered, fighting down the tingles Rail's kiss had sent sparking through her blood. "Wait. This place has an elevator?"
Seraphina’s laugh was warm and friendly. "Don’t worry, they’ve kept up with modern times. We have running water and satellite TV, as well."
Cassidy took the entrance stairs slowly, leaning slightly into the other woman. "By the way, who is Tucker?"
"He’s another Aktura living here. And the closest thing we mere humans have to a doctor. He was a med student or something when they found him."
"Oh." Cassidy held back her apprehension at having someone who wasn’t really a doctor examine her. "Rail told me there were four Aktura living here. How many Knights are there?"
Seraphina glanced at a bird flying overhead. "There are currently eight…I mean seven living here."
"Only seven? I guess that explains why Tucker and the other Aktura haven’t met their match yet. How often do the other Knights visit?"
"Visit?" Seraphina gave her a quizzical look. "No one ever visits."
"Not even the one who left?"
"She didn’t leave. She died," Seraphina answered with a hitch in her voice.
Cassidy understood her pain. "You two must have been very close."
"Yes, we were."
Before Cassidy could continue with further questions about the Knights and the Aktura, she got caught in her surroundings. Her new home was so much more than it appeared from the outside. Clearly the two-story structure had started out as an Italian villa with rich stone work, balconies, and a broad entrance way, but additions had been added many times over. While the foyer remained decidedly Italian with inlaid marble and columns, the rest of the lower level diverged into two distinct sections.
To the right, Moroccan and Spanish influences blended together in bright sun-drenched colors—oranges and reds accented with golds and cobalt blues. Where the hall split, Cassidy spotted an indoor courtyard with a fountain surrounded by arching doorways accented with scrollwork and brass filigree. Sunlight filtered through what had to be a skylight, spotlighting a table with vases of exotic flowers and primitive animal statues. The surrounding stonework created an oasis of warmth.
To her left, a mixture of Art Deco and French décor. Iron-worked flowering vines arched over the entrance to the next room. Behind the arch the space was aglow in soft blues and greens accented with white and pink. From her position, Cassidy caught a glimpse of a blue floral brocade chaise flecked in gold and a small lamp decorated with cut crystals. Across from the chaise, sheer white curtains fluttered between two statues of young women holding doves, ready to launch them into the sky. As the curtain settled back, intricate patterns in gold on the wall caught the light with subtle sparkles. An open door to the right of the window hinted at yet another room.
Oddly, despite the mind-boggling assortment of architectural styles from one side of the building to the other, the feeling was harmonious—like watching the changing seasons.
Gawking, Cassidy stumbled on the first step of the grand mahogany staircase. She wanted to cry from the sheer beauty of the artwork surrounding her.
"Overwhelming, isn’t it?" Seraphina asked. Cassidy could only nod. "Some of the world’s greatest lost works of art and literature are here and in two years I’ve hardly seen a tenth of the collection. There’s just too much."
"Wow."
When they finally reached the second floor landing, Cassidy glanced over the railing and gazed down at the floor mosaic she’d completely ignored. Below, Fallen Angels and Demons fought for dominance over the world of man while above on the domed ceiling, a collection of angels, the Heavenly Host she presumed, watched with resigned, even bored expressions.
As she considered how long it had taken to produce these works, and which of the Fallen Angels had created them, Seraphina tapped her on the shoulder. "Your room is down here."
Cassidy followed the other woman down a richly appointed hall. Where the hall turned right, they stopped in front of a black lacquered door with an intricate symbol carved into it.
"This is Rail’s quarters. And this"—Seraphina opened a blue painted door, also decorated with an intricate symbol—"will be your room. Uh, we have plenty of space so if you decide you don’t want to be so close to Rail, I can move you."
Six more doors, each a different color and marked with a carving, lined the rest of the hall to where it turned out of sight. Cassidy could only presume they led to more living quarters. "No, this is fine. Thank you." There was certain heaviness to the room when she entered. It felt as if the ghost of the previous occupant was still in the air. "Was this your friend's room?" she asked, taking in the Xena Warrior Princess goes glam décor—leather, weapons, beaded pillows, and sparkle.
"Her name was Hellabrand."
It was the softest whisper, but to Cassidy it screamed of so much more than friendship. "It must have been difficult being Kaz’s soul-keeper and being in love with someone else."
Seraphina gasped, then quickly hid her reaction, turning away as she traced a finger around the rim of an antique glass bowl. "You’re very intuitive."
"Observant," Cassidy offered, taking a seat on the bed. "It comes with being an information and research analyst. I noticed how you didn’t ask about Kaz while Gina was climbing all over Boomer. But when you mentioned the Knight who had died…well it wasn’t hard to guess."
Seraphina joined her on the bed with a heavy sigh. "Everything is as it was the day she left for patrol. I couldn’t change anything."
"Are you sure she’s dead?"
The other woman shook her head. "Yes."
"What happened?" A tremor of dread crept up her spine.
"I was told her Aktura was killed by a skratar shortly after they found him."
"I don’t understand any of this."
"Didn’t Rail explain what happens when an Aktura dies at the hand, or rather teeth, of a skratar?"
"He said if one of those skraty monsters kills me"—Cassidy took a shaky breath remembering the beast that attacked her—"we both die. That’s why I have to stay here. For protection. Is there more to it than that?" Queasiness settled in her stomach. "I didn’t really believe him."
"If you are killed by a skratar you will die with no chance of being reborn in Heaven, Hell, or in the world of man. Your soul will be gone. You’ll cease to exist. And so will Rail."
"That’s what Rail meant when he mentioned there were very few Knights left. They couldn’t find the Aktura to protect them from those monsters." Cassidy’s heart squeezed as the thought tumbled around her mind. "So what happens when I get old and die?"
"Rail’s soul will move on to some unknown fetus and he’ll be alone again." Seraphina shrugged. "It’s how they keep their immortality. As long as their Aktura is alive, the Knights can be killed in battle by non-supernatural means and come back to life."
"So what, they just wake up like nothing happened?" she asked with skepticism.
"I’m not sure how it works. Kaz won’t talk about it. They all shy away from the subject. I only know that if any of us are killed by a skratar, the death of the Knights bonded to us will be permanent. That’s why Tucker and Margarite were brought here even though we don’t know whom they belong to. At least we’re giving those Knights a chance."
Cassidy thought for a moment. It could also mean there were only two other Knights left in the world. "Hey, speaking of Tucker…wasn’t he supposed to look at me or something?"
"Yes."
As Seraphina walked to the door, Cassidy gave her a good long look. She was older than her and Gina, maybe late thirties or early forties. She held herself with grace and elegance. For just a blink, the façade of strength slipped and Cassidy saw the weight of the pain she felt. "Seraphina?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for lending me Hellabrand’s room."
Seraphina smiled over her shoulder. "I didn’t think you would be ready to move in with Rail, and everything here is going to waste. There might be something you can change into in the closet. Hellebrand was taller than you, but still…"
"Thank you."
With a sigh, the older woman leaned against the doorframe. "Life here takes some getting used to. It’s…well it’s like an arranged marriage, I guess. You’ve been told who you’re going to spend the rest of your life with and there’s no way out of it."
"You don’t like Kaz, do you?"
Seraphina didn’t answer right away. "He’s okay, but I’m not what he was hoping for. Like all of them, he was hoping he’d get, well, someone like Gina. You know, who is all into the bonding experience." She made air quotes. "Or at least someone compatible."
"But does Gina really care about Boomer? Or is it all about the sex?"
"It’s always about sex with any couple. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. They’ve only been together a few months. We’ll have to wait and see if it develops into something real. And from what I understand, being a prisoner here is better than the life Gina had in the outside world."
Cassidy had no real answer for that. Personally, she felt something for Rail, but she wasn’t sure what it was, if it was real or just the soul bond.
Maybe she felt close to him because he’d saved her life.
After several moments of uncomfortable silence, Seraphina bid her goodbye and slipped out the door.
Her mind still reeling, Cassidy stumbled to the closet, pulled out a pair of shorts and t-shirt, and headed for the bathroom—a long hot shower was just what she needed.
Chapter Eight
An hour later, Cassidy sat on the bed, bored out of her mind. The mysterious Tucker had yet to appear and Rail, surprisingly, hadn’t come to check on her.
"Well screw this. If I’m going to be living in a museum of sorts, I might as well start exploring it.”
A terrifying scream rent the silence just as Cassidy stepped out of her room. Any lingering fatigue vanished. Cassidy took off down the hall without thinking. At the bend she turned, stopping at the only open door. Inside the darkened room, two people wrestled on the bed. The one on top was at least as big as Rail.
"What’s going on?" Cassidy rushed in and grabbed the man’s arm. "What are you doing?"
"Thank God!" He panted. "Help me."
Cassidy eyed him warily. He was a good match physically for Rail, towering over her and twice as wide. Unlike Rail, who was sun-kissed bronze, this man was the sumptuous color of dark chocolate. "What…what are you doing?"
"Mags broke her water glass and cut herself while I was in the bathroom. I need you to get me the first-aid kit from under the vanity."
Only then Cassidy noticed the blood oozing between his fingers. In his tightly clenched hands, he grasped a slender arm. The arm belonged to the thrashing figure beneath him on the bed.
"Don’t help him! Let me die!"
"I can’t do that." Cassidy ran to the bathroom and retrieved the first aid kit. "What do you want me to do?"
"Find something to make a tourniquet and tie it above the elbow. Then find the pressure bandages."
Moving quickly, she used the Ace bandage as a tourniquet. She had the pressure bandage in her hand a moment later.
"Great. On the count of three, I’ll move my hand and you slap that over the cut. Okay?" When Cassidy nodded, determination etched into her features, the man smiled broadly. His white teeth contrasted with his dark coloring. "I’m Tam, by the way."
"Cassidy. You ready?"
"One, two, three…" Their movements went like clockwork, as though they had worked together doing this exact thing before. "Got it." Tam closed his hand over the bandage. "Now tie it off and I’ll finish up."
“Why is the floor shaking?” Cassidy turned toward the door and the thunderous footfalls coming down the hall.
* * *
Rail scuffed his foot over the Persian carpet like a child. "I thought her idea was brilliant. Telling her father she’s in protective custody. We could use that in the future."
"How you ever talked me into letting her call home, I’ll never know," Kaz groused.
They’d been dancing around the subject for nearly an hour, but now that it was out in the light, Rail wasn’t backing down. "I can’t blame her for wanting to let her loved ones know she wasn’t dead," he snapped.
Kaz cast him a withering glance. "You’re being influenced by the soul bond."
"Just because Gina and Seraphina jumped at the chance to live here doesn’t mean everyone will. Look at Tucker and Ma—"
A horrible scream of pain and anguish echoed through the building.
Rail’s head snapped around. He could feel Cassidy. All he got was fear. Like a bullet, he was out of Kaz’s office and pounding up the stairs. The door to the room next to his was open. Cassidy’s scent hung in the air, but she wa
sn’t there. Another shout had him hightailing it down the side hall, his leader hot on his heels.
The two huge men skidded to a halt inside a darkened bedroom. Rail growled. It wasn’t the scent of fresh blood that stirred his wrath; it was seeing Cassidy tangled up with his fellow guardian, Tam. "What the hell’s going on?"
* * *
"Mags tried to kill herself," Tam answered. "Cassidy here showed up just in time."
Cassidy looked up, her eyes wide at the sight of Rail. He had that look again, the one she’d seen back on the barge when she was sure he was on the verge of transforming into the monster.
Suddenly, Cassidy realized the reason; she and Tam were in an awkward semi-embrace as they worked to tie off the bandage while keeping pressure on the wound. "Do you need anything else?" she asked calmly, slipping away from the bed.
"Just Tucker."
"Here!" A tall, lanky, sandy haired young man pushed his way past the heavily muscled barrier in the door. "Aw, Maggie, what did you do?"
"Please let me die," the woman whimpered.
"We can’t do that, hun, and you know it." Tam brushed sweat-soaked hair from the woman’s face.
"I don’t care." She tried to pull away, but the big man wouldn’t let her.
Cassidy stared down at the figure in the blood-soaked sheets and for the first time saw the woman. She was covered in healing wounds not unlike her own. Cassidy’s hand drifted to her arm, touching the bandages. She’d been lucky. The woman in the bed looked like she’d had a fight with a meat grinder. The entire right side of her body, from the crown of her partially shaved head to where her torso vanished beneath the sheets, was a web of slash marks in various states of healing. Her dark hair and features spoke of Latin heritage, but her coloring was currently cadaver grey.
"Did one of those monsters do this?" Cassidy asked, turning to Rail.
"Yeah. We almost didn’t make it in time. We hadn’t planned on being in Miami that night. If it hadn’t been for the storm…I don’t want to think about it." Rail wrapped his arms around her and pulled Cassidy in close. "Let’s go back to your room and get you cleaned up."