Deamhan Chronicles, Books 1-5: Deamhan, Kei. Family Matters, Dark Curse, Maris. The Brotherhood Files, Ayden. Deamhan Minion

by Isaiyan Morrison

  She helped Remy to his feet and they ran off in Deamhan speed with the two Deamhan following them. Their stride took them under a freeway, splashing through knee high water, and they turned sharply left. They passed through stop and go traffic, side streets, sidewalks, and eventually near the banks of the Mississippi River. They took the river south, leaving the city, and entered a desolate area filled with rotting cornstalks and farmhouses. They stopped in the quiet area, being only a few miles from Blind Bluff Manor. They turned around but the two Deamhan were nowhere in sight.

  “That wasn’t hard.” Remy scanned the area across the river. He looked to the left at the tall dirt and rock infested embankment. “I think we lost them.”

  Anastasia wasn’t so sure. She looked up just in time to see the female jumping down at them. She tackled Anastasia and they both fell into the wild currents of the river.

  She felt the coolness of the water streaming over her face and into her ears. It was an awkward position, knowing that neither of them would drown because Deamhan didn’t breathe. She pushed the female back and she jumped out of the water, just in time to see the male, also in midair, and his right leg connect with the side of her face. She landed on the sandy shore, swallowing a handful of sand. She turned over to see the female towering over her with a raised stake. For a second Anastasia’s eyes filled with uncertainty. Stakes were meaningless, unless the female aimed for her heart. However, if the female’s goal was to incapacitate her, she would strike elsewhere, leaving her alive for them to toy with.

  Remy rushed toward the female but she immediately turned, burrowing the stake into his left shoulder. He stumbled back and the female grabbed the stake, dislodging it, and struck again, hitting just beneath his heart.

  Anastasia found her chance to make her move. Brandishing her teeth, she bit down into the female’s neck and she pulled back, ripping flesh from bone. Blood gushed from her wound and she fell to the sand. Again, Remy and Anastasia took off down the banks of the Mississippi River. The river curved and winded around, bringing them to another remote spot. This time a freeway ran on both sides of the river with a bridge slightly above them. She stopped, noticing that stars no longer dotted the sky. In the darkened horizon appeared a tint of red, signaling sunrise. She had to finish this now and get to Blind Bluff Manor. They climbed the embankment and approached the freeway. They ran through the traffic, dodging semi-trucks, cars, and other passing vehicles until they made it to the other side.

  Remy held his chest and he bent over. “Good thing these Deamhan can’t aim to save their life.” He coughed.

  Anastasia examined his wound. “You’ll heal.”

  They heard the swift steps of the two Deamhan approach them. Again the male launched himself at them but Anastasia tossed him aside. He slammed into a nearby abandoned granary and she looked from the corner of her eye, seeing the female raise her stake, aiming for Remy’s back. She quickly moved and caught the female by her wrist before the stake made its impact. With her other hand she plunged her fist through the female’s chest, reaching her heart. The female’s eyes widened and she snarled before Anastasia ripped her heart from her chest. The Ramanga dropped to the ground and her body slowly began to dissolve into a puddle of blood, dust, and bone fragments.

  Anastasia turned her attention to their male attacker, watching him limp toward them. Dark blood poured from his mouth and a long piece of wood protruded from his stomach. She walked calmly over to him. His heavy eyes wavered. “You failed.” She plunged the stake into his heart and nonchalantly she returned back to Remy, uninterested in watching the Deamhan’s body wither away.

  In the distance she heard a male’s voice coming from a small house on a hill. The front door opened and she saw the outline of a farmer gripping a shotgun in hand.

  “Let’s get going. We don’t have much time.” She wrapped Remy’s arm around her shoulder. She took one final look at the remains of their two attackers before sprinting in Deamhan speed for Blind Bluff Manor.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Anastasia stopped at the front gate of Blind Bluff Manor. She leaned Remy against the metal railing. “You’re too weak to go any further.”

  “I’m fine.” He stood up. In Deamhan speed he ran off, toward the front steps of the manor. Anastasia ran after him and when she found him, he stood just outside the front door. They heard the distinct noise of footsteps coming from the other side along with the smell of humans. One scent—that of a male—caught her attention. She’d smelled it before.

  She kicked the door down and it broke from its hinges, splintering and falling to the floor. A male with slick dark hair, wearing a long dark trench coat moved back at the pieces of the broken door sliding along the floor. Another male stood on the steps, his dark eyes locked onto her. Anastasia sniffed, picking up their strong fragrances.

  “Where is Kenneth?” She moved quickly, grabbing the nearest researcher by the shoulders and slamming him to the ground. Her tongue twirled around her right fang and her eyes slowly turned dark.

  “They sure don’t make them like they used to.” Remy’s eyes gleamed.

  She then heard a familiar voice coming from Nathan’s study.

  “I’m in here.”

  She looked up to see Kenneth Dearhorn standing in the center of Nathan’s study. He wore the typical researcher clothing: dark pants, dark shirt, and a long trench coat. In his hand he held one of Nathan’s research books. He closed it and placed it on a table nearby.

  She let the researcher go and in Deamhan speed she rushed toward him, pushing him against the wall. The wall shook and for a moment, Kenneth’s eyelids drooped in his dizzy state. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kill you now.” She growled at him. His presence in the sanctuary fueled her anger even more.

  “If you were going to kill me, you would have already,” he spoke.

  She felt a sharp pinch in her chest and she looked down, seeing the edge of Kenneth’s stake pointed at her heart. She stepped back and she slowly released her grip.

  He lurched forward, rubbed his neck, and looked up at her. “You of all people should know why I’m here.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “Talk.”

  He straightened his trench coat and glanced at the Roman marble statues in the foyer. “I heard that Nathan Tiernan was an avid collector of Roman art. I thought that was just a rumor.”

  She bit her lower lip. “Why are you here?”

  “Samuel Austin.” Kenneth sat in Nathan’s chair. “He needs to be returned safe to us before things get worse.”

  “He’s not here.” She cautiously approached the chair across from him and lowered herself in it. Remy walked into the study and stood off to the side.

  “I know you don’t have him.” Kenneth wiped back the strands of hair from his face. “But you know where Selene is keeping him.”

  She crossed her legs. “At her warehouse.”

  “And where is this warehouse?”

  She quickly explained the location to Kenneth, but before she stopped, she gave him a warning. “I suggest you find the piece of the Dark Curse that she’s looking for.”

  “That’s the problem,” Kenneth replied. “We don’t have it.”

  “Sounds like you’d better look harder,” Remy said with a sneer.

  “It was stolen from our Archives a long time ago,” Kenneth paused, “by Nathan’s father.”

  Anastasia continued to stare at him. Her thoughts about what she wanted to do to him continuously changed from carnage to torture, and to that she snickered briefly.

  “The Brotherhood stands ready to avenge Mr. Austin,” Kenneth said. “If he’s returned safe to us, then that will be avoided.” He stood up and paced around the room, frequently glaring at the artifacts scattered throughout. “We don’t understand why you Deamhan would want to free the Pure Ones.” He blinked slowly. “Just one of them alone could wipe out the majority of your kind and there wouldn’t be anything you could do about it.”

&nb
sp; “Don’t think humans are excluded from their wrath,” Remy added.

  “I don’t. Hence why it’s important that we all work together to solve this issue. I came here to offer our assistance.”

  “Like how The Brotherhood assisted Lucius straight into Limbo?” Remy barked again. “You humans, so two faced and full of lies.” He chuckled. “That is one thing I do admire about your species.”

  “That was before my time, but I assure you it won’t happen now. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that any agreement we make right now won’t be broken.”

  Remy opened his mouth to speak again but Anastasia quickly shifted her attention to him. In his mind, she told him to stop. She had to think. Would standing alongside The Brotherhood actually help in any way? Did they have a way to stop Lucius and Selene from releasing the Pure Ones from Limbo? “You can’t let Selene have the piece she’s looking for.”

  “Well, that’s obvious,” he said. “However, like I said, we don’t have it and we need to find it.” He extended his arms into the air. “Maybe it’s here?”

  “No. We’ve checked.” She immediately stood up. “If Nathan had it, he would have told us about it.”

  “Are you sure?” Kenneth smirked. “Researchers, new and old, don’t share all their secrets, especially with Deamhan.” He straightened the collar on his trench coat. “So, let’s place our differences aside and work together on this.” He held out his hand for Anastasia to shake. Instead she ignored the gesture.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.” He reached into the pocket of his trench coat and he tossed his card to her. It landed on the floor. He nodded his head to the other researchers and they headed for the front door. “Oh, and why I’m here,” he stopped and turned his sight to the stairs leading up to the second floor, “we know that Veronica Austin is staying here and that she was attacked last night. We would like to take her back for observation.”

  “I don’t care what you would like to do,” Remy quickly replied. “She stays here.”

  “She’s a researcher. She belongs with her own. Not with you, not with Anastasia, and definitely not with that scared Deamhan hiding with her in the room.”

  Anastasia felt her body stiffen at Kenneth’s request.

  “Relax, I’m not demanding that we take her,” he replied. “I’m asking that you hand her over to us as a sign of good faith.”

  “A sign of good faith?” Remy laughed. “Like I said, she isn’t going anywhere.”

  Kenneth turned his upper body to Anastasia. “You know I’m right. She isn’t safe here. Who’s to say that Selene and Lucius won’t come for her once they realize that we don’t have the piece?”

  Anastasia didn’t want to admit that he spoke the truth. How could they protect Veronica when they couldn’t protect themselves? The Brotherhood headquarters wasn’t exactly a safe place as well, but they had plenty of other facilities capable of keeping Deamhan out. It pained her to quickly nod at him, signaling the agreement.

  “You can’t be serious,” Remy said, raising his voice. Anastasia watched as his eyes changed to black, a sign that he prepared himself to stand against her.

  “She belongs with her own, Remy,” Anastasia answered. “We can’t do much for her here and we can’t protect her from what’s to come.”

  “We can do a hell of a better job than they can!”

  “You Deamhan may be stronger,” Kenneth replied back, “but we are bigger and more organized. We are capable of taking care of her.”

  “She isn’t part of your organization,” Remy barked back.

  Anastasia held her hand to his face, beckoning for him to stop. “Remy, go and get her.”

  “No, she belongs here.”

  “Go and get her.”

  He hesitated but Anastasia settled his agitation by conversing with him telepathically. In his mind she told him that the agreement was only temporary. Once everything had blown over, she promised him that she would help him get her back by whatever means necessary.

  In Deamhan speed he rushed up the stairs and within moments he returned with a sleeping Veronica, cradled in his arms. A male researcher extended his arms and before handing her over, he spoke of another threat. “If you harm her I will kill you.”

  Confused, Kenneth tilted his head slightly. “You have feelings for her?”

  Remy’s eyes changed back to their normal color. “Do you want to test them?”

  “If I know you have feelings for her, you can be sure that Selene and Lucius know as well,” Kenneth replied. “This would make Veronica collateral damage.” He pointed to the scars and blood on Remy’s shirt. “Even if you think you could protect her from them, you can’t.” With a flick of his wrist he motioned for the researchers to leave. Two researchers, one carrying Veronica, walked out of the door. “Remember, our agreement is only valid if Mr. Austin remains alive.” He stepped over the wooden fragments on the floor. “If he is killed or if he isn’t returned, The Brotherhood will move against all Deamhan, starting with you two.”

  Remy’s eyes danced. “I’d wish you’d try.”

  “You should study history more, Remy. We have old connections that would stomp all over you Deamhan like cockroaches,” he replied in a calm tone. “We’ll be in touch.” He stepped out into the night.

  Suddenly Anastasia felt a strong force push her from behind. She flew across the foyer, landing only inches from one of Nathan’s marble statues.

  Remy stood over her with his fists clenched. “What happened to caring for Veronica’s well-being?”

  She jumped to her feet and felt her fangs extend. “Veronica isn’t the problem here.” She controlled her anger, deciding that now wasn’t the time to fight or argue.

  “What is it going to take for you to understand that we can’t trust them!?”

  “I don’t trust them.” She brushed herself off and quickly climbed the steps, heading toward Veronica’s room. She smelled Hallie’s scent from the other side of the door and knocked.

  “Anastasia?”

  She heard Hallie’s frantic voice and pushed the door open. She saw Hallie, standing in the corner of the room, frightened.

  “I’m so glad you guys came in time,” Hallie said, her voice trembling. “I thought they were going to kill me.”

  “If they wanted to, they could have,” she replied.

  “Where’s Veronica?” Hallie asked.

  “She’s with them now.” Anastasia approached Veronica’s bed slowly and sat down.

  “Anastasia wants to work with them.” Remy walked into the room. “The moment they get what they want, they’ll turn on us. You know it and I know it.”

  “Kenneth is hiding something about Veronica’s father.” Anastasia stared at Remy and she saw his eyes slowly began to widen and his mouth drop slightly. “I could sense it. Couldn’t you? I don’t think he wants Mr. Austin back alive.”

  “Yeah, I felt it too. He was struggling hard to keep his thoughts from us.” Remy’s face filled with interest. His brown eyes danced at the thought. “The only truthful thing that came out of his mouth was when he mentioned ‘old contacts.’ I mean, are there any even left?”

  “We need to find that piece before they bring those annoying vampires into this.”

  “Like Lambert and Alexis?” Lost, Hallie questioned frantically.

  “Not remotely close.” Remy placed his arm around her shoulder and whispered with a quaint smile on his face. “We’re talking about vampires who use to hunt us for sport.”

  “What kind of vampires? I thought there was only one kind?”

  “Yes, only one kind but different groups; different families.” Remy looked at Anastasia. “The ones we’re talking about are Dorvo Coven vampires. The Brotherhood will bring them back into this if they haven’t already.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Aknock on the door raised Nathan from the comforts of his homely bed.

  He walked to the door and opened it, only to find Ayden standing on the other side, h
is head and gaze focused on the floorboards. His eyes slowly drifted to Nathan but as soon as he made contact they reversed back to the floor.

  “Kyra calls for you.” His voice was soft and amenable yet filled with distress. “Please pack your things.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Please, Mr. Tiernan. If you would hurry.”

  Nathan closed the book and tossed it on his bed. He didn’t hesitate and he didn’t question. He grabbed his suitcase and he packed immediately. He glanced around the room to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything before following Ayden down the hallway and toward the front door of the sanctuary.

  He saw Kyra with her back to him standing in the doorway. The long gown she wore moved left in the brisk wind. Her hair tangled into a neat seated bun on the back of her head. She held her hands, palms together, in front of her face and her eyes fluttered in seizure like contractions.

  She smelled his tangy scent. She looked over her left shoulder and in a small yet refined phrase she said, “I managed to break into Lucius’ mind.”

  He walked over to her, standing slightly to her left. He looked out the window, seeing the dark sky dotted with blinking stars. The day had passed by so quickly. Time in the Deamhan world seemed so fast compared to the dilatory time of the human world.

  “Do you know where he is?” Nathan asked gently.

  “Yes.” Like a lost child Kyra nodded and she pressed her gloomy hand on his cheek, feeling his wrinkled skin. “He has found me.” A weak smile appeared on her face. “You must go before he comes here.”

  “You should come with me,” he suggested but she hushed him.

  “I can’t put you in any more danger.” She looked to Ayden. “He will take you back to your home and protect you at all costs.”

  “We have to go, now,” Ayden placed his hand on Nathan’s shoulder, “before we’re too late.”

  For a moment Nathan felt his guilt beginning to overshadow the need to escape. He knew he couldn’t change her mind, but he continued to beg her to come with him to his manor.