“What in the hell are you doing!” She screamed at him.
He wiped his mouth and laughed slightly. His body felt weak. “I just wanted a taste.” He watched her blurred movements as she reached for the wooden handle on the staircase, ripping it from the ledge. The sound of wood splintering only meant one thing and he tried to move, knowing his reaction time was less evolved than hers. Taking the sharpest edge of the piece, she rammed it into his right breast. Pain shot through his entire body and he gasped, quickly falling to his knees. He gripped the wood, trying to yank it out but the more he pulled, the more the pain burned at his insides.
He never understood the significance of wood and how it played an important role to Deamhan. Sharp or dull, small or big, wood was like kryptonite; a thorn in the side of Deamhan. A small shard could weaken them, making them vulnerable. Taking one to the heart meant instant death while taking one to any other part of the body just felt annoying.
Now this was the Anastasia he knew; the Anastasia he missed. He loved playing with fire, playing with her emotions, and the thought of coming close to death became enough to excite him for another go around.
He smirked and he leaned over in pain. “Why the attitude?”
“Idiot.” She rolled her eyes and she growled, “I’m not some human you can seduce. You could’ve killed us both!”
Through his grunting, Remy heard Nathan’s rushed footsteps heading in their direction. He looked up with his hazy, weak eyesight, seeing Nathan gazing at the spectacle in complete shock.
Knowing there wasn’t anything Nathan could do, Remy quickly spoke. “I’m fine.” Again he pulled at the wood. He felt the shards inching further from his chest and he let go.
Anastasia gathered herself and she turned to face Nathan. “You wanted to talk to us?” she said in a calm voice.
Still focused on Remy, Nathan nodded. “Yes, I need to talk to all of you.”
“I’m fine.” Gathering his strength, he stood to his feet. “Well, nothing a little midnight snack can’t cure.” He limped into the study followed by Veronica, Anastasia, and Nathan. He looked down at his wound, finding that his skin had already begun to heal itself. Part of his skin near the wound pulsated and he reached in gently, pulling out a small sliver of wood.
Nathan stood next to the large Roman statue of Apollo that stood near the back wall. “You missed or was that intentional, Anastasia?”
“If I wanted to kill him, I would have.” Her eyes moved to two black suitcases resting next to another Roman statue just inches away. “Are you going somewhere?”
“That’s why I needed to talk to all of you,” Nathan answered. “I leave for Chicago come morning.”
“Chicago?” Veronica repeated as if she’d never heard of the city before. “Is everything okay?”
“Something came up,” Nathan replied, “I will be gone for a week.”
Upon hearing Nathan’s answer, Remy looked to Veronica, reading her thoughts wondering if his travel had anything to do with Lucius. He knew the streets of Chicago, overcrowded with hordes of Deamhan and other hostile creatures. The Deamhan in that city made the Deamhan in Minneapolis look like fairies. But he seized this opportunity as his chance to get Veronica where he wanted her, under his wing and trusting his every word.
“Will you be comfortable staying here when I’m gone Veronica?” He then looked to Anastasia and Remy. “And will you not try to stake Remy again.”
Anastasia remained silent.
“I won’t be gone long,” Nathan promised.
She tilted her head to the side. “Does this have anything to do with your sickness?”
He shot her a confused look. “No, I’m not sick.”
Remy squinted. A Deamhan had the ability to smell a human disease from a normal common cold to something as serious as cancer. He couldn’t pick up on any scent and he wondered if Anastasia had made a mistake.
“I’m meeting an old friend down there,” Nathan said.
“No, not that,” Anastasia interrupted, “I don’t care about Chicago.” In Deamhan speed she positioned herself in front of him. “Earlier, you smelled of sickness.” She brushed her dark hair away from her shoulders.
“I promise you. I’m fine.”
“Who is this friend? A Deamhan?” Veronica asked.
“A Deamhan my father knew.”
Anastasia huffed. “Chicago is not safe for someone like you.”
“I will be okay,” Nathan replied again.
“Someone should go with you.”
“I will be fine. I will call you when I land.”
Anastasia turned and headed out of the room.
Nathan sighed and turned to Veronica. “You have my number if you need anything.”
“She’ll be fine,” Remy replied. “I’ll make sure of that.”
Nathan nodded with a look of concern in his eyes. “I have to pack.” He left the study and slowly walked up the stairs to the second floor, disappearing from their sight.
Veronica sighed and from the corner of her eye she stared at Remy. She opened her mouth to speak but remained silent.
“So,” Remy said. “Still interested in my offer?”
She bit her lower lip in thought.
“Don’t worry. The only blood spilled will be on my hands, I promise.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about.” She started to walk out of the study when he quickly blurted out, “I can give you Kei.”
She stopped in her tracks and without looking back at him she replied, “How could you do that?”
“For someone like me, he wouldn’t be hard to find.” A wide grin appeared on his face.
CHAPTER FIVE
The digital clock resting on the mantel read ten thirty in the morning. Only two minutes had passed since the last time Kenneth Dearhorn stared at it.
The air in his office grew stale among the quietness. Only three tables with four chairs positioned evenly throughout the room kept him company. He straightened his white tie and repositioned himself on his plushy office chair. The television was turned off and the only noise he heard was the motor cooling down the soda machine in the corner. It wasn’t a space he enjoyed spending much of his day in.
Two days ago JoAnne, his assistant, handed him a package mailed from The Brotherhood headquarters in San Diego. Inside the package, Kenneth found a letter written by Mr. Austin with orders for the Minneapolis Chapter. At first Kenneth thought The Brotherhood had changed its mind again and decided to abandon the Chapter. Anything seemed possible, especially with the fact that Mr. Austin continued to be concerned for his daughter’s well-being among the Deamhan.
Somehow Kenneth found it in himself to not question his boss’ actions. Promoted to Region Leader of the Midwest Division, a position Mr. Austin once held for decades, he treaded carefully when it came to the old man. He followed Mr. Austin’s orders persistently. His researchers under his care stayed out of Deamhan affairs, only to watch them from the shadows like researchers did before them. If it were up to him, his researchers would annihilate the Deamhan instead of researching them.
A lot had occurred since the last time Mr. Austin left Minneapolis and Kenneth grew irritated that he didn’t seem to care. Deamhan had evolved. Dethroning Kei meant they could gather, plot, and continue their nefarious affairs. They didn’t fear The Brotherhood anymore. In fact, they welcomed the confrontation. All of this didn’t bother his boss. All Mr. Austin thought about was his daughter, Veronica. Kenneth believed the old man had lost his way.
Last night he received word from one of his researchers about a massacre at a sanctuary just south of the city. An anonymous tip led police to the carnage. They counted fifteen bodies ripped to shreds. The bloodbath had Deamhan written all over it. It reminded Kenneth of the other ravaged sanctuaries in the city. Maybe it was Lucius’ way of regaining control and weeding out anyone associated with Kei. When he told Mr. Austin, the old man did nothing. It was then that Kenneth began to concoct a plan that would place
him as the President of the Midwest Division, thus securing him a definite place among the most respected members of The Brotherhood.
He needed to show the other prominent members that Veronica’s father was no longer fit and that he was the only one who could save the Midwest Division from complete shambles. To do this, he had to go to San Diego and schedule a secret meeting with the Presidents of the West Division and East Division and somehow get them on his side. With their support he could finally speak with the Head Master; the man who ran the whole organization, the most powerful man in The Brotherhood, Marcel Alvaro. By telling Mr. Alvaro everything that Mr. Austin did (and didn’t do,) he knew that the Head Master would immediately demote Mr. Austin from his position.
He’d reveal to them that secret deal he made with Selene to get rid of Kei. At the time, Kenneth stood by the decision, hoping that by remaining loyal, he’d become Region Leader. As the old man constantly looked over his shoulder, criticizing the Chapter, it was then that Kenneth realized that he placed his own daughter’s well-being over The Brotherhood itself.
Mr. Austin had to go.
Kenneth heard the sharp clicks of a woman’s high heels in the hallway. A female researcher walked past the office with her eyes focused on a portfolio she carried in her hands. He watched her stroll by and he sighed. He pulled back the curtains blocking the window behind him, letting the sun shine through. He watched solemnly as the cars and trucks drove by, pedestrians walking in groups on the wet pavements, conversing with each other. Wet garbage tumbled across the sidewalk.
The loud speaker on his desk beeped and he jumped.
“Kenneth.” JoAnne’s voice sounded mechanical. “You have a visitor.”
Kenneth pressed the ‘speaker’ button. “I’m not expecting anyone. Tell them to make an appointment.”
“Um. I don’t think that’s possible.”
“Make it possible.” He glanced around the office. Long black leather couches sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by a glass table. Pictures and photographs of wild life, a scenic image of downtown San Diego at night, flowers, the picture of earth from space, and other photographs of important figures in The Brotherhood lined the white walls. He thought about the pending conversation and how the Presidents of the West and East Divisions would take his information. They respected loyalty and the truth. If they knew how Mr. Austin had involved himself in Deamhan affairs, they’d take away his position immediately.
“Hello, Kenneth,” a sultry female voice said.
He turned to look toward the front door of his office.
A woman who he only knew by first name stood in the doorway grinning back at him. Her carrot colored hair fell gently on her shoulders. She took off her black brimmed hat and her dark raincoat. She held an umbrella in her left hand and she slowly pulled her sunglasses to the rim of her nose, revealing her dark green eyes. She was the last person he expected to see and he didn’t understand how she had made it through the front door unless she’d murdered JoAnne and the other researchers in the front portion of the Chapter’s office.
She was Selene, offspring of Lucius who was the most powerful Lugat Deamhan in America.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t kill your human workers.” She read his mind as clear as day.
He cleared his throat and looked over his shoulder at his assistant, JoAnne. “It’s okay. It’ll only be a moment.”
She nodded and quickly closed the door shut.
“I thought sunlight was bad for your kind.” He watched Selene drape her raincoat over her forearm. Her eyes moved from left to right, scanning the room.
“Umbrellas do come in handy.” She slowly walked toward him. Her tongue glazed over her full lips. “And it’d take more than a small speck of sunshine to harm me.” She approached him, moving her hips seductively from side to side. Her outfit did wonders for her small frame, breaking his concentration.
He was sure that it’d only take seconds before her skin started to bubble from the sun, but he assumed her response was her cocky way of saying she couldn’t be harmed.
She tossed her belongings on his desk and glanced around the room. “We have business to discuss.”
“I don’t discuss business with your kind,” he quickly retorted. His eyes quickly glanced underneath his office desk. Somewhere there had to be a distress call button, used in situations like this but, he couldn’t find it.
“Sorry to intrude.” She lowered herself in a chair and crossed her legs. “We haven’t spoken to each other since that night.”
He lowered himself in his chair and like all well trained researchers he proceeded to block his thoughts from her by imagining a red brick wall. He didn’t know what she wanted but he was sure it wasn’t good.
After Selene left the office the last time he had seen her, he spent the majority of his free time researching her past. He ordered old researcher files from The Brotherhood’s San Diego office to be sent to him. In a month’s time, he knew about her human life in the region now known as Scandinavia. Her father raided English settlements along with her younger brothers, once they came of age. She worshipped the teachings of Freya, the Norse warrior goddess of love and beauty. She was dangerous as a human and even more dangerous as a Deamhan.
Centuries after being sired, she stayed close by Lucius’ side, worshipping him like any follower would. Needless to say, Selene convinced Lucius to reconcile with his sister and Anastasia’s maker, Lucia when they were at each other’s throats centuries later. The only recorded incident of Selene’s disapproval for Lucius was when Lucius sired Kei. Even then, she didn’t trust her new Lugat sibling. However, she remained loyal so it made perfect sense to Kenneth that Selene would be the one to come to Lucius’ aid once she heard that Kei had placed him in Limbo.
“You don’t need to block your thoughts from me, Kenneth. I didn’t come here to spy on you.”
“It’s a precaution.” He leaned back in his chair. “Like second nature.”
“We need to work on that trust thing if we’re going to work together.”
He forced a weak smile on his face, knowing that he only tolerated her because Mr. Austin ordered it. He felt that the organization could handle Kei, Lucius, or any Deamhan on their own. They had the knowledge and the power to do so. Only if Veronica didn’t cloud the old man’s judgment. She was his weak link and the Deamhan in Minneapolis knew that.
“I think it’s against a Deamhan’s nature to even speak of the word trust,” he said.
“Well, you forget that we were once human. Just because we aren’t now doesn’t mean that we’ve forgotten our roots.”
“Forgive me if I find that funny. What do you want, Selene?”
“Business.”
“Mr. Austin isn’t here.”
“I know.”
He tapped his fingers on the edge of his desk. A moment of silence followed their conversation. He continued to block his thoughts. Along with her precarious nature, he knew she never failed at reading them. He didn’t want to give her any opportunity of scouring his deepest ones. He twiddled his thumbs then replied, “So whatever business you have is between you and him.”
“What if I want business to be done between you and me?”
He leaned back in his chair. “He’s the President of this region, not me.”
“Are you sure of that?” She lazily waved her hand, “Your thoughts and desires tell me otherwise.”
He didn’t reply.
“That’s why I like you, human.” She slightly shook her head. “So cocky that it’s almost cute.”
He smiled coldly.
Even though the Deamhan didn’t breathe, she exhaled. “But The Brotherhood has something I want. Something that doesn’t belong to them.”
He folded his arms against his chest. “And what makes you think I can get whatever that is for you?”
“Because I will give you what you desire in return.”
He shook his head in disfavor. Dealing with Deamhan was like playing w
ith a Rubik’s Cube. He could never solve it, no matter how hard he tried. He stood up from his chair and lowered his arms. “I’m not like Mr. Austin. I don’t make deals with Deamhan.” He walked from behind his desk. “And I’m not going to start now.” He stood mere feet from her with no desire to get any closer. He knew she was a Lugat and he knew how they fed from humans.
“But you haven’t heard what I want and what I could give you in exchange for it.”
“What could I possibly want from you?” Instead of backing away from her strong advances, like he was trained to do, Kenneth held his composure.
She stood up and walked to the opposite side of his desk. Her fingers moved along the rim of the desk and concentrated. Kenneth watched as she slowly absorbed the psychic imprints left on the edge, just like a Lugat needed to do to feed. “Hmm.” Her eyes fluttered and her lips curled in exhilaration. “What woman did you have on your desk?”
He remained silent. He knew the imprint she felt within her was JoAnne’s.
She clasped her hands. “Mr. Austin represents The Brotherhood in its former glory.” She walked to him. “But he’s old and tired.” She stood in front of him. “And I need a younger and stronger human for what’s to come.”
“Like I said, I don’t make deals with Deamhan.”
“You desire power.” She placed her cold hand alongside his left cheek and she leaned in, planting her lips on his right. “I could give that to you, you know. Power.”
Kenneth’s eyes squinted.
“This is your chance to become the President of the Midwest Division. That is what you want, right?”
It was exactly what he wanted. He craved the spot. He could taste it on the tip of his tongue. He placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back. “If you think I’d betray The Brotherhood for you...”
She laughed. “No, you wouldn’t.” She brushed his cheek with her hand. “Still, I know what you want and what you’d do to get a taste of that power. I’ve never lost sight of this world and how it has changed. Everyone, everything, desires to be on top. That is your desire, is it not?” She gently removed his hands from her shoulders.
Deamhan Chronicles, Books 1-5: Deamhan, Kei. Family Matters, Dark Curse, Maris. The Brotherhood Files, Ayden. Deamhan Minion Page 34