A wall of flame roared towards me as Matthias’ eyes filled with vengeance.
I threw up a Gateway into a snowy field in the middle of Alaska that I had scouted for just such a reason, catching the flames that would have hit me, and sending them into the snowy tundra. Matthias’ lips curled in fury, but they also looked mildly impressed at the tactic.
I tried again. “I wasn’t even there when—”
Another wall of flame, followed by three more from different directions screamed towards me. This time I Shadow Walked to the other side, appearing a dozen paces away from them.
“Fucking listen to me—” I screamed, trying one last time.
Castor Queen joined in the attack this time. “You will pay for taking the Syndicate from m—”
Matthias spun, launching an attack at both of us this time. Seeing a golden flash near my forearms, I took a risk. I held out my palm, catching the approaching wall of flames against the Crest branded into my flesh. The flames struck a sudden shield of golden light, reflecting the power, and sending it right back towards Matthias and Castor in one concussive jet of explosive fire, slamming them both into the building.
I blinked, staring down at my hand in disbelief. “She only wants me for my pimp juice,” I sang softly, slowly lifting my eyes to stare at the two startled Makers. “Not my pimp juice! I’m talking her pimp juice!” I continued, belting it out louder.
I heard Callie laugh, and then a groaning Alucard climbed out of a dumpster, shaking his head, eyes wild. “What the fuck are you doing, singing?” he shouted, eyes latching onto me. “Let’s get the hell out of here!” The Makers were climbing to their feet, cursing and shouting at me, but they stopped abruptly, eyes latching onto one another.
Then they began to cut loose, trying to kill each other, messily. “My Syndicate!” Matthias roared. “You can’t even keep your son safe, let alone the Syndicate!”
That comment right there threatened to ignite World War 3, and my scrotum was the first to attempt retreat, crawling up into my stomach.
“Right. Time to leave,” Callie murmured from directly beside me. I glanced down to see her clutching Alex protectively. Alucard was racing our way, catching the attention of the two Makers. He grabbed my outstretched hand just as the Makers pointed hands at us, sensing our escape. Two midnight-black creatures flew towards us, inky black jaws opened wide, formed out of nothingness by the two mad men. I Shadow Walked us back to Chateau Falco, panting heavily as we arrived underneath the giant white tree. I searched the darkness for immediate threats.
When nothing happened, I let out a breath. Whatever those creatures had been, they hadn’t managed to follow us.
The branches above us suddenly slammed to the earth, forming a protective cocoon around us. Mine… Kai’s voice growled.
I stared at everyone, making sure they were okay. Alucard had dried blood on his forehead, but looked okay. Alex had a few scratches, but also looked fine. Callie looked…
“Damn. You don’t have a scratch,” I hissed in disbelief. “What the hell?”
“I have good genes,” she muttered drily.
“Yeah, you do,” Alucard added helpfully, openly eyeing her ass.
She slapped him full on in the face, which earned a surprised laugh from Alex. Alucard chuckled, too, not an ounce of shame.
“You don’t talk to girls like that, Alex,” Callie said, but she was smiling at the vampire.
I heard a chorus of growls from nearby, and noticed a contingent of two dozen wolves surrounding the branches. Gunnar’s werewolves were here.
“Thanks, Kai. I think we’re safe. For now,” I added, shaking my head. His branches slowly rose back to normal, giving us a clear view of Chateau Falco. The wolves darted forward eagerly, sniffing us and whining in relief.
“I guess we should be asking how the hell the two bastards who hate you most in this world found us… at the same time. Far away from here,” Alucard grunted.
I met his eyes, shaking my head. “I have no freaking idea.”
“Thunder down under,” A croaking voice called out. I flinched, glancing up to see Hugin or Munin shriek at me. Then Kai’s branches were pounding into the ground as the two shadow monsters from New York City appeared out of nowhere, lunging for our group.
“Kai! Treehouse! Now!” I screamed. Without missing a beat, one of the branches lashed out to wrap around Alex’s body, jerking him clear at the last second as a long set of claws slashed through the air where he had been standing. The branches lifted Alex up into the treehouse, threw him inside, and slammed the door. Then the branches began playing whack-a-mole.
Chapter 20
The wolves darted about, snapping at the empty air as they tried to slow our attackers. Whatever the Makers had sent after us had tagged along for the ride. I reached deep within myself, trying to draw on that alien golden power, and my legs buckled. Callie was hurling glowing blue crucifixes into the air, the night screaming as they flew at the shadow monsters. One struck true, ripping right through the creature, sending it flying. But I saw it jump back to its feet, the skin forming back over the hole like oil, and it let out a dark, sickening laugh.
“Ideas?” Callie shouted at me, seeing I was doing absolutely nothing productive.
“Um…” I said, glancing back down at my hands, wondering why the golden power hadn’t worked.
Alucard bolted straight into the other creature, tackling it to the ground as it began slicing through a few wolves. The wolves simply ceased to exist when struck, knocked away like sudden smoke on a windy day. Alucard slammed through the creature, skin erupting into golden light as he snarled. I blinked.
It was almost as if contact with the creature had caused him to erupt with light. The creature screamed – a wrecked, agonized sound, but Alucard didn’t get up.
A trio of wolves pounced on the second creature as it glided over the ground in pursuit of, well, all of us, I guess. Probably me, but they had seemed to want Alex, too.
The wolves struck it in rapid succession, one after the other, biting down into hamstring, thigh, and stomach. But…
The creature didn’t stop, and the wolves had frozen on contact.
Callie shouted, unleashing balls of fire this time.
And I took a freaking second to think – which was totally uncommon for me.
I know.
The creature shielded its face from Callie’s attacks, but once the projectile struck it, tearing another hole, the creature let out another dry, rattling chuckle as the fireball winked out of existence, and the wound healed over.
I panted, calling out to Wylde to try and understand what the hell these things were, but he simply stared, confused. I glanced at the wolves who had bitten it, but they were motionless.
Then I took a step back, yanking Callie closer to me as they finally moved. The wolves slowly turned to stare back at us with jet black eyes, and their bodies also slowly shifted to black, as if oil had been poured over them. They opened their jaws to reveal black fangs and tongue.
I saw Alucard climb to his feet, stumbling woozily, staring down at his skin, which was still glowing with golden… sunlight. Light. Ultraviolet light.
I shouted at the remaining wolves as I began to weave a whole fuck-tillion worth of magic, guesstimating on time zones and crossing off ideas in rapid succession. “Stop attacking! Run back to the house and have Dean turn on every light we have! Help him flip every single switch you can find. NOW!” I screamed, as the shadow creature flew at us, laughing.
“Nate! What are—” Callie began, power forming in her palms as she stared at the monster.
I grabbed her around the waist and yanked her into me as I fell to the ground – just as the last creature was almost on top of us. Oh, and I unleashed my little spell. The world erupted with light as I opened a giant Gateway directly between us – easily a dozen paces wide and angled slightly up so that the creature couldn’t simply jump over it.
Light from the setting sun on the coast
of Malibu, California obliterated the creature in a cloud of wet, greasy ashes. I stared up at Callie’s clenched eyes and burst out into a fit of giggles. She opened them, blinked at me, and then glared. I laughed harder. “Your face!”
Her hips felt decidedly pleasant on top of mine, even though she slapped me before climbing off, interrupting my victory laugh.
Alucard chuckled. “Sunshine for the win!” he said, grinning as I climbed to my feet, rubbing my jaw. “One could almost say that I single-handedly saved the day.”
I opened my mouth to argue, and he shot me a very threatening glare, an ocean of madness briefly flaring up in those eyes. Something I hadn’t seen in quite some time. His monster. And I again remembered Conquest’s advice. “Without me, you wouldn’t have known what to do and would have likely died,” he said in a low tone. “Let me have this, Nate, or I’m done. No jokes. Names. Or anything.” He was shaking, and I realized he meant it. He would leave me. For good.
Callie was frowning at us. I nodded, dropping my eyes. “Not even a little—”
“No. Not a word,” he pressed. Then he let out a breath, and I looked up. A very faint ghost of a smile cracked his demeanor as I saw the lights from the mansion kick on all around the house, one by one. “I need you to say the following… The Glampire saved our lives.”
Callie nodded smiling. “Alucard, you decadent, majestic, ultraviolet Glampire… You saved our lives. Thank you.” Alucard actually blushed before turning to me.
“You totally kicked ass, Alucard!” Alex hooted from up above. “Nate did practically nothing! I was watching, and you’re right.” I scowled up at him. He simply folded his arms, giving me a stern look. Ungrateful little shit. He was supposed to be on my side.
I sighed. “Alucard, you decadent, majestic, ultraviolet Glampire… You saved our lives. Thank you.” I smiled at him, for once, not even feeling like teasing him. He was actually right. I’d come up with nothing. I let out another breath, and then walked up to him, extending a hand. “Seriously, Little Brother. Thank you,” I added.
He went entirely still, staring at the nickname I had used. It was what he had used to call me when we first became frenemies. He dipped his head once and then turned away, not saying a word as he stalked back to the house.
I frowned, watching him. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Alucard?” I whispered under my breath.
Callie answered from right beside me. “Just a guess, but I’m thinking he feels unappreciated.”
I turned to her, pensive. Callie was pretty good at reading people. “You really think so?”
She grabbed my hand and led me over to the tree, patting the earth next to her as she sat down on a thick root that had broken clear of the ground. She leaned her elbows onto her knees and met my eyes. “Nate, you really need to think about something. Can you do that for me?” she asked, face devoid of any humor.
I nodded, wary.
“I haven’t known you long. Not long at all, in fact. But I’ve seen one thing quite a bit. You have an uncanny sense of loyalty to your friends. Willing to do absolutely anything to keep them safe…” I nodded, watching her. “But… you also expect quite a bit, which is totally fine and understandable.” She met my eyes. “But you really need to understand something.”
She waited, obviously wanting me to speak. “Okay,” I said, leaning closer.
“Your life is fucking ridiculous,” she said in a rush, leaning back as she gauged my reaction. I frowned. I opened my mouth. Then closed it, glancing down at the earth for a second. I plucked up a blade of grass, studying it intently. It was very important that I made sure it was healthy.
But it was strong and green. And…
I dropped it with a grimace, suddenly wanting to stand.
My eyes flicked all around us. On a quick estimate… hundreds of things had died here in the past few years. In this exact spot. Actually, I was pretty close to where I had killed Indie.
And where she had been killed the time before that.
And where she had been brought back to life.
Where Ashley had killed Hercules.
Where I had killed the Brothers Grimm.
Where Castor Queen had killed Ichabod – while impersonating me.
This was a field of death, and the grass was as green as ever. I shook off the dark thought.
I slowly looked up at Callie. “That’s… very true,” I admitted with a sad sigh.
She smiled – a heartbroken look on her face – and then she crouched down on her knees before me, pulling me to her chest as something salty leaked out of my eye-holes. By sheer force of manliness, I prepared to fight my traitorous tear ducts. Then Callie whispered in my ears, running a hand up my hair, gently combing my scalp, and ruining everything.
“It’s okay, Nate. We’re all alone. Alex left with Yahn a few seconds ago.”
I tensed, not having noticed anyone near us. My eyes sensed that it was darker, and I realized that Kai’s branches were once again forming a private cocoon around us, keeping my weakness private. How long had I knelt there staring at the stupid grass? But with that understanding of utter privacy, I broke, my armor torn away. I didn’t have to be strong for anyone. Not right this minute. “I didn’t want to be like this, Callie…” I said, throat raw.
Her fingers raked my scalp soothingly, and…
I let her, giving into the madness as I began to talk. I think I told her pretty much everything that had happened to me. Even things I had never voiced aloud. I told her all the things, folks. And in doing so, I realized that no matter how loyal of a friend I had been, I had pretty much given everyone Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for Christmas gifts.
And that maybe one, or two, or all of them were not faring so well. Including me.
Sure, I’d had the best intentions… But intent didn’t matter when giving shitty Christmas gifts. Did you honestly care that Gram-Gram meant well when she got you comic book socks for you thirtieth birthday… in front of your girlfriend – who was visiting your family for the first time?
Nope.
Gram-Gram was pretty much blacklisted from your favorite relative list for a few years after a stunt like that.
Still, I had sacrificed everything to keep them safe, and they knew that. I didn’t think anyone was judging me for failing them or causing them pain. No, they were thankful to have the psychopath killer for a friend. But… the knife still cut, folks. Just like the survivors of a loved one in surgery secretly despised the doctors for cutting into him.
I sighed, realizing my hands were gripping Callie’s thighs, and that we were very, very close.
I had also forgotten that my face was pressed against the most glorious comfort pillow ever designed.
“Easy, Thundercat,” Callie murmured, chuckling lightly. But she didn’t pull back. Instead… she pulled me closer, her body contouring to mine perfectly. “Don’t get any ideas. It’s nap time.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed, slowly trying to peel away. But she didn’t let me. She pulled me back to the soft, blood-enriched grass, and I was surprised to find how soft the ground was. I spotted the blanket and pillow and scowled up at the tree.
The treehouse had no immediate use for it. You are safe beneath me. Even still, a hundred wolves guard my perimeter even as we speak. Far enough away not to hear… he added with a dark chuckle.
Callie saw my face and scowled suspiciously. “What did he say?” she warned.
“Nap time. He said it’s nap time,” I lied, smiling guiltily.
She continued glaring at me, but finally patted the soft earth next to her. Kai must have readjusted himself to make the exposed roots form a perfect cocoon, because it almost felt magical.
Then again, company can be everything.
I leaned back, letting out a long sigh. Callie placed a hand over my heart, leaning on her side to stare at me. Her finger began tapping on my heart, matching my beat. Which, of course, made it speed up, causing her to laugh. But I didn’t pull her ha
nd away.
“Well?” she asked in a soft whisper.
“I think… I need to give them a break. Let them know how much I care. Reduce the crazy.”
She waited for a minute. “Wrong.”
I frowned, glancing over at her sharply. “Excuse me?”
She shrugged, head propped in her palm as she leaned on her elbow, her white hair cresting down to the ground like a small waterfall of light. “You can’t reduce the crazy. Let’s be honest. That’s just not possible. The world is full of crazy right now. Only one way to change that.”
“So… your brilliant advice is to get me to give in to my feelings, only to, what, continue doing exactly what I’ve been doing?” I muttered in a dark tone, growing frustrated. “Which has only been to try and keep everyone safe from as much crazy as poss—”
She placed a finger on my lips, and then leaned very, very close, her chest brushing against my shoulder, and causing my stomach to fall deep down into the earth’s core. She slowly, and very firmly pressed her lips into the finger over mine, holding them there for a moment, her eyes closed. Then she slowly pulled away, opening her eyes to stare at me from inches away.
“Show them that they matter. Not that you’re willing to give your life to save theirs, but that their lives have saved yours.”
I could do nothing but stare at her eyes and lips in rapid succession, ignoring my stupid heartbeat. And Kai’s amused laughter.
“Oh,” I finally whispered, wishing I had swiped a breath mint from the restaurant.
“They know monsters live inside you, and that you’re willing to let those beasts loose to keep your friends and family safe. But… they need to know that you love their monsters. Not just when a life is on the line. But all the time. That it’s okay to be a monster. That their monsters are just as important and valuable as your monster. Don’t act guilty for what you’ve done to save them, like you’ve had to become a dark person to keep them safe. Let them see you are proud of your flaws, and proud of their virtues.”
I nodded woodenly. “Callie?”
War Hammer: A Nate Temple Supernatural Thriller Book 8 (The Temple Chronicles) Page 11