by S. I. Hayes
I was all ready to just go back to my classes and pretend nothing else was wrong, but when I came out of that meeting it was apparent that it was not to be. The school was divided. Us and them.
chapter 76 Sig
I HATED BOSTON. WHAT’S more, I hated The Hunter’s Association. All of their cloak and dagger bull shit. I was sure if I didn’t keep my guard up around them at all times, I would surely find myself inside a titanium reinforced cage so they could study me up close. Hans Broadchurch was head of the acquisitions and customs departments, according to the public records I could find about him. I wasn’t sure what he could do for me.
My arrival at the Hunter’s Association was met with a curious tone. They didn’t know what to do about me, I set off all the alarms, but I wasn’t hostile, and they couldn’t find a weapon on me. I wasn’t gonna tell them if they didn’t know enough to ask. Gotta love that subdermal blade. When I approached what I thought was the receptionist, I was stopped by two large men in brown tweed suits.
“A little warm for tweed, don’t you think boys?” I laughed as they flanked me. “I’m here to see Hans Broadchurch, Herlihy Teague made the recommendation, on behalf of Sam McIntyre and the Archibald Family.”
I hoped dropping so many well-known names would at least pique someone’s interest. As I hoped, someone was listening. The receptionist nodded, putting her hand to her ear, she nodded several times without speaking, then waved her hands and the men in tweed were gone.
“You are a Dragonborn?”
I nodded. “I am.”
“Your access is only granted by the unsheathing of your subdermal weapon.”
I eyed her carefully as a drawer opened up in front of me with a hiss.
“You will get it back, just as you left it, I assure you.” She smiled. “It is just a safety measure. Hans doesn’t allow any weapons beyond the checkpoint, for anyone. Not even Hunters, Mister...?”
“Rembrandt.”
“Like the painter?”
“Exactly, like the painter,” I replied with a wink, as I leaned forward, grasping my weapon’s handle. I pulled my Katana and laid it carefully into the case.
She batted her long black lashes at me and pushed her darker than coal hair over her shoulder as the case closed. “Thank you, Mister Rembrandt. I will be sure it is well taken care of for you.”
“Be sure of it.”
“You may proceed. Straight down this hallway to the elevators. The center one will take you down to the Acquisitions department where Hans will meet you.”
“Thank you.”
“You are quite welcome.”
THIS PLACE WAS AUTOMATED in a way not even Herlihy seemed to be able to get things automated. As soon as I reached the elevators the center one opened. I stepped on and it descended, without my touching anything. It even stopped so that a young man could get on as I traveled, letting him off in the interim. I was amazed by the efficiency, and wondered if it were all done with cameras and people or if it were truly automated. When the elevator doors opened, I was met by a man that couldn’t have been more than forty-five, fifty tops. He had a freshly tanned complexion that I attributed to recent travel, deep blue green eyes and his blonde hair was just beginning to be salted, sprinkled ever so lightly, giving him a distinguished look. He was dressed in khakis and a button down black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, it seemed he was covered in some kind of white dust.
“You are the young Dragon?” He smiled, with a snort.
That was when I noticed it. The smell of salt in the air, much like the urns that I kept my parents inside. “I’m not that young,” I mumbled, my throat going dry.
“Young enough.” He put out his hand, his fingers at the base of my neck. I felt a heat that only a Master or other sensitive can cause and I looked at him curiously as he continued to chuckle.
“I have to make sure. See, I can’t have anyone trying to assassinate me before I’ve finished my workings. Now, what can I do for you, Siegfried?”
“How did you know my first name?”
“I’m the head of Acquisitions and Customs, I make it my business to acquire knowledge on all Dragonborn in my region. You are the only, excuse me, you were the only one, until recently. Now there are two of you. A female has come along. Excuse me for being forward, but have you decided to breed?”
I think I may have blushed, because his response took my initial anger and turned it to laughter.
He clapped!
“I, well, we are seeing each other. I’m not, we’re not.”
“Of course not, I forget you are Branded again. This time to the Teague Family. Although there is no record of an actual Branding...Taking place.”
“Because it never has. Keegan has allowed me reign over my sword. My fealty is mine to swear, and I swear it to him, have since he was born thirty-five years now.” I looked around, the place was huge and full of crates and boxes all overflowing with packaging materials. “What exactly do you acquire here?”
“Oh, this and that. Artifacts, fossils, it’s sort of the paranormal archeologists wet dream. Only it’s not a dream. I have a Vampire skull that dates back to the first century. Scary fucker, I can tell you. Would you like to see it?”
“Maybe some other time.” I couldn’t shake the salt smell, and I was on the verge of a sneezing fit. I puffed smoke, trying to stop it.
“You haven’t quite figured it out yet, have you, son?”
The way he said son flashed me back to my childhood. To a man that once cared for me. To a Dragon that was once my kin. A father, long dead. I was floored.
“That’s not possible. I have your ashes. Mother gave them to me when I was fourteen.”
“It was a necessary evil, my child.” Hans bowed his head. “Forgive me, but those ashes were nothing more than the salt and sand left behind by my resurrection.”
I choked, my heart racing, are you saying that you are a Phoenix?”
He nodded. “Much like your brother, and should you die with love consuming your heart, so shall you become. It is the fate of all the men in our bloodline.” He opened his arms to me and like a child, I fell into them.
He held me tightly and the rage in me, the need to shift died. I felt normal for the first time since before my Dragon awoke within me.
“Shh, my boy.” He stroked my hair as my legs buckled under us and we fell to the floor.
THAT WAS MORE THAN a week ago. In the time I have been with him, he has shown me wonderful things of our kind. That there was a time that we were free, allowed to love and to serve as we chose. He had given up his weapon long ago, hidden it as it were so that he might become a Hunter, when the talks of integration began. He wanted to learn about the Humankind, to understand them and their motivations, to see just what separated us so as to aid in uniting us. He agreed to help me find a way to help Keegan at Grigori, but said that it would be difficult. Ryane would make it difficult for us.
“You see,” he said to me as we went through the family records, looking for a connection that could smooth over the rift between the Vampires and the Fey that the loss of the Marriage had caused, “we have her family’s blood on our hands.”
I stopped what I was doing and looked at him wearily. “I’m not sure I understand, Father.”
“You do know that her mother was murdered by an Otherkind, yes?”
“It was speculated this was a possibility, but none could prove what, or who?”
“That was because of the type of burn.” He raised his eyes at me.
“Alewar?”
“Alewar.”
chapter 77 Alewar
THIS WOMAN, THIS dragon, intrigues me. She cannot transform, she has not her wings, so she is barely a Dragonborn and yet she has the charisma of the Fey and the logic and strategy of the Vampire Lords. After the attacks on the Deviant Class students in the integrated dorms, she put her foot down and pulled her Holy Lance.
Those Fey who knew the tales were immediately drawn to her, to its power. The
lance was said to be brandished by only the worthiest of Dragonborn women, those who would prove to be warriors in their own right. Champions for the cause. Protectors of the right, of the laws and the way of life.
This Aella Rowan could become a Queen if she played right, but she would need a strong and powerful King. The one called Greisen, half Dragonborn, half Vampire, a mix that had not been seen in over a hundred years. He had a bloodlust that would go well in battle, but he would never do well in times of peace. Something told me he could not be trusted. It was in the way he treated his woman. She should have been revered and was instead put to the place of Cŵn Annwn. The Dogs of War. They were only used in the hunts, otherwise they were left to their own devices to do as they saw fit or wanted. Not cared for or loved. No, he would not do, as he seemed to want to just kick the proverbial puppy. What of the one who claimed to be my brother? The one who simply vanished? I had heard that he was a formidable fighter, and a good man. At least, that was the rumor that was going around from any that mentioned him. I did not know if I trusted his judgements, seeing as he flipped out and was not reachable. No, she had no suitor. I was not a good enough placement either. She needed one that could love her. My heart was taken, Marigold Slighfodt had it, even if she was not altogether aware of it. She was my charge, so I would never speak it aloud, but I would protect her with my life. Or rather lives, as I would have many. She is Fey, she was my equal in longevity, but there were things that may hurt her, and I would keep them from her.
As for this Aella, banished or not, she had taken to the cause of Grigori and the integration, and the attempting of peace. She had called all of the Deviant Class students together, from the freshman to the seniors and had them all bunking in the Deviant dormitory. It was a little cramped, but she was utilizing the rooms that were being held for other students too, having moved everything to storage units in town. She had Greisen’s woman, Collette talk the man into a very generous discount.
“Alewar?” I heard my love’s voice in that lyrical manner and it set my heart to flutter. I cleared it from my voice before answering her.
“Yes, my Lady Marigold.”
“I wish you would just call me Mary.”
I shook my head. “You are to be one of the exalted, and should be accustomed to being addressed as such, therefore I shall call you nothing less than is proper.”
She sighed with a small laugh. “You would say that.” She ran her tiny fingers down my hard chest and I swallowed my heart, the scales on my back lifting. The Phoenix was a rare animal, a mixture of the original Dragon and the passionate bird of resurrection. I was told when they found me that I still would bear my scales along with my feathers of flame. My original colors along with my memory was burned off in my resurrection. I would get the occasional flashback, but nothing tangible to hold on to. I remembered my father, but not much more. What I thought were glimpses of myself, perhaps were glimpses of Siegfried, but I did not have him with me to verify them, so I did not know.
“You have summoned me, for what purpose?” I asked, holding the tremor she could put in my voice with her touch.
“Aella is preparing to move us to the Alabaster Hall prior to meeting with that Dean Baker. She would like our help.”
I nodded, lifting her tracing fingers from me. “I’ll move on it now. Did the Cŵn Annwn report last night?”
“Yes.” She put on a small pout. “Kendall Lowengrad has brought seven of them. It was all he could find on short notice, at least that were battle proven.”
“Seven will be more than enough if we need them. They do not need the moon, remember that.”
“I hate that this is what it has come to.”
“If Aella can call a truce, it may not still. If not, be glad that you have your voice to subdue them.”
“I will call on all of the power of the Fey within me.”
“You may well need it, My Lady Marigold.”
chapter 78 Ryane
AFTER SIG’S ATTEMPTED rescue I bore down and I succumbed to the synthetic. The Werewolf venom burned too much to fight them. I didn’t like that kind of pain. Sure, the smack of a whip or the paddle excited me, but actual torture was not within my pay grade. Herlihy had me strung up and bled to the point of delirium once I agreed to it. I’d have agreed to anything so long as he promised to no longer mix that venom with my synthetic. It gave me the most horrible dreams. It also made my entire body feel as if it were burning from the inside, like something were trying to chew through me scratching and tearing its way out.
I don’t know how long it had been, time slips seemed to be part of the process, it could have been days, months. They wouldn’t tell me. Even though I had asked and been a good girl. My room didn’t give anything away and all they fed me was steak and eggs, or some other protein rich foods so I couldn’t tell the time of day by my meals. Herlihy came in when I was fitful and read a few chapters of Alice in Wonderland to calm me down. I don’t remember ever telling him it was my favorite story, but he seemed to know it would work. I woke up one morning to find that my bags were against the wall and the door was open. I wasn’t sure if this was some sort of fucked up test or not, so I sat on the bed, staring at the bags for several minutes. I noticed that my meal was on the chair next to them. Whomever brought in my bags had also picked up my plate and put in on the chair, because my meal was always on the floor.
I swallowed, taking the chance, I grabbed my food and the synthetic, leaving my bags. On the plate was a note, like my first day in that room, it was folded and slipped just under the plate.
My dear child,
Your compliance with the daily use of the synthetic has been promising and you’ve shown no side effects. I believe that with careful monitoring you can be allowed out of this room. How would you like that? Have your meal, and then clean up and feel free to come down at your leisure, Jackie and Gage are both here as well. AS for Keegan. Well, he is still working through some things. However, I am confident you will see him soon.
Herlihy.
I bit my lip and reached for my stuff, the plate pushed aside. I rifled through it, my concern was my missing engagement ring. When I had woken up, I had been stripped of everything on my person, that had included my jewelry. I wanted that shit back, now. About half-way through my toiletries I found a purple handkerchief, with HT embroidered on it, tied up with a bit of gold thread. When I untied it, I found my ring and my sapphire earrings which Herlihy had given me himself. I let out a deep breath, thankful to see them all unscathed.
I slipped the ring back onto my hand where it belonged and felt my heart thump almost happily inside my chest through my hand. They say that we wear the ring there because it’s the finger that’s attached to the pulse point, I wonder if there is any merit to that?
I took my synthetic and pulled out my clothes, heading for the shower.
IT FELT GOOD TO BE wearing real clothes. A bra, underwear, how I had missed jeans! Sneakers! Oh, my All Stars! I hit the steps in rare form as I heard Jackie’s voice, followed by Gage’s not far behind. They seemed to be arguing about something.
“I don’t care if it’s world war three out there, someone needs to go out and try to restore some kind of order,” Gage growled. “I can’t stand by and watch as it all goes to shit.”
“You’re just a pup, you’ll get your chance to fight, but for now you’re needed here with your charge family. That’s your post, it’s what you do. Understand?” Jackie half whispered, half shouted.
“Uggh, I hate this!” Gage spun around on his heels, then looked up, surprised it seemed to see me.
“Uh, Ryane. I didn’t- I mean, we didn’t- How are you feeling?”
“What’s going on, Gage?” I asked straightly, giving him no wiggle room.
“Oh, nothing, we were just having a chat.”
“Yes, about...?” I came down the steps, my determination severe as I walked straight to him. “What exactly?”
“Um- well. See...” He blew air and shook h
is head. He was trying to fight me. Doing a bang up job of it too. “It’s nothing, really. Probably gonna blow over any time now.”
“Truly Ryane, these things happen every so often. It’s needed to thin the ranks a wee bit, my love.” Jackie laughed, sitting down and crossing her legs as though she hadn’t a care in the world.
I turned my attention to her. “Jackie, would you leave me and Gage, please?” I cracked my neck to the side. I figured if my compulsion wouldn’t work, maybe the off put and subtle threat of violence would get rid of her. She rolled her eyes as widely as her shoulders, lifting from her seat.
“Well, I can tell when I’m not wanted in a place and this room suddenly has become stifling. Good luck, pup.” She wiggled her fingers at Gage, leaving us quite alone.
“Now, tell me what’s been going on and how fucking long have I been out of the loop?”
chapter 79 Aella
UNDER THE SCRUTINIZING eye of the Campus Security we moved the overflow of the Deviant Class students to Alabaster Hall. It was large enough to house them for sleeping, had bathrooms, a kitchenette for meals, and wasn’t far from the pool for showers. We’d make due during this split. The Otherkind teachers were willing to keep with us and try to help maintain order, which was good, we needed it more than ever during this protest. They helped make signs, kept the younger students from doing anything destructive or vulgar and talked organization while I tried to figure out just what the Hell I was going to say to the Dean. Taking the Deviant students out of the integrated dorms was just safest for everyone right now, I just didn’t realize how many of us there were, how many Half-bloods were hiding in plain sight.
We thought there were only the fifty freshmen, and seventy-five upperclassmen, turns out the numbers were more like ninety freshmen, and one hundred and fifty upperclassmen. The majority were students who had at least one Human parent during their enrollment, so the school simply didn’t know what they were getting. There were Werewolves, Werecats, Half- Brownies, Pukka, Equine Species, Vampires, both Half- and Pure under the radar, and oodles of Fey. All kinds of Sprites and Djinn. The numbers may not have outdone the Humans, but if they wanted a fight, they were in for it. We even had a coven, an actual Witch’s coven capable of magic and yet, I was the only one of my kind, except for Sig, where ever he was. I tried calling him, but his phone was out of the service area, apparently. I missed him dearly. My heart ached for him, and my body yearned for his touch. It was weird how that happened so quickly, I wondered if he even thought about me.