Raven's Desires (Night Hunters)

by Reily, Aminta

  Kristian had to get to Raven. If a Karlem demon had escaped he would want Raven. Slayer’s blood could heal someone faster than killing a hundred humans. Since the portal was opened, he didn’t want Raven anywhere near it until they were able to close it. Raven being there could draw unwanted attention from the demons inside the portal. They would try to claw their way through that portal and then this world would be in trouble.

  Karlem demons weren’t exactly tameable. They were ugly creatures with leathery looking skins, horns on their foreheads and a tail that could penetrate steel. They were evil bastards who had two goals in life, to consume and destroy the planet they were on. Many universes had fallen to destruction because of Karlem demons. Once they were at full strength there was no stopping them.

  Over the centuries many Karlem demons had attempted to consume earth. Luckily, there were stronger and more powerful witches and warlocks to send them to a hell dimension prison that a warlock created many years before. It kept them there where they could suffer, then die. Some tried to get out, some lived there until they perished. If one of them ever thought about coming to the good side, there was no telling the evil they could let loose on this planet with just one Karlem demon.

  There had been many attempts to convert one to good, but it didn’t go the way they planned. The Karlem demon only pretended to be good in order to consume the planet. They had to subdue it, then send it to hell.

  “Kristian.” Arthas brought him back to reality. “Your mate is in great danger there. Find her and bring her back to your home. I don’t want to give any of those demons a reason to come to the surface.”

  “She’s not going to want to,” Kristian said, making everyone look at him.

  “I know you are trying to give her a chance to make up her own mind.” Arthas stood from his seat. “Here is a quick explanation to everyone. The prophecy about our kind mating with a slayer is true. Kristian Blackburn will be the first to mark a slayer as his mate. This will keep our slayers alive and wanting to live longer.

  This slayer is very young, only nineteen, but I know that she is ready to help out in this world. We all are a dying race and I feel that our gods are looking down upon us and will give us a chance to live. We cannot let evil wipe us from this planet. We will get rid of them! Now, I don’t care how or what you tell Raven, but do not let her go back to that house. If you have to subdue her, then so be it. She will forgive you later. With her family, go there and wipe their minds, program them to whatever you want. I don’t want any missions coming back to me as failed. I know this slayer is a lot stronger than she knows and if needed, she will strike. You have to be stronger, Kristian. Do you think you can do this, or do I need to send someone else?”

  Kristian could feel everyone in the room staring at him. He’d be damned if he let anyone go after his mate and take her away from her home. His kind didn’t take no for an answer, and if Raven fought, his Demon Hunter brothers or sisters would try to will her to come. He had heard that the will of a slayer couldn’t be bent, but with Raven being newly born and still clinging to her human side, he doubted that she could fight it.

  “I will be able to do it.”

  “Good, don’t disappoint us.”

  Kristian had to refrain from growling in anger. He had been under this regional section bullshit for far too long. He trusted Arthas and his wife because many people really didn’t know who he was. Not a lot of people know that when he was a baby, his parents willed the mind of humans to take him on as their child. Luckily, their family had the same last name—or maybe his parents willed them to change it—he would never know. That transition kept a lot of talk down. A lot of people always wondered about the Blackburn child but not many knew if it was a girl or a boy.

  As a child he hated his parents for what they did, but now he understood. As a prince, he would have lived in great danger. His parents protected him, and for that he would always be grateful. One day he would have to go back and claim his empire. He had money coming in from the Council, who knew who he was, but his mother and father had more riches than he could imagine. What bothered him was that one day he would run the Council. He would run everything. His father made any decisions that went out through the Council. It all sounded good, but he really didn’t want to run anything. He wanted to have a normal life like he had for the past hundred or so years.

  Now that he had found his mate he did not want to do anything but make her happy. That could complicate things more if he went home. His family would not agree to him mating with a human no matter if she was a slayer or not.

  Kristian decided not to think of the future right at this moment. The thing was, Arthas didn’t know that he could snap his fingers and have him out on his ass.

  “I will not disappoint you,” Kristian said through clenched teeth.

  Shane prodded him with his elbow. “What’s on your mind?”

  Kristian looked at him. “Nothing. Why?”

  “Well, you spaced out for a moment. And I could tell that you got a little irritated. What’s up with that? Are we finally witnessing sexual frustration?”

  “I would say bite me, Shane, but I know you would do it. No I’m not sexually frustrated—just thinking about keeping Raven safe.”

  Shane nodded.

  Arthas clapped. “Okay people, let’s get moving. There’s a time hole open and some Karlem demons waiting to get out. Let’s go, go, go.”

  Kristian stood.

  “Where are you going?” Shane asked.

  “I guess I’m going to see if Raven went to school.”

  “Please tell me you have her cell number?”

  Kristian shook his head. He hadn’t asked for it last night but he was sure Arthas would give it to him.

  “Geez, man. I have to show you how it goes. You always get the name, number and sexual preference. Not in that order.”

  “You are such a pervert.”

  Kristian went to meet with Arthas to get Raven’s number. He hoped she’d taken the phone with her.

  * * * *

  Raven’s phone vibrated while in study hall.

  “I can hear that and you know Ms. Coleman can also,” Maxwell whispered.

  Raven looked over to her friend. Max was upset with her this morning but after some apologizing, which she still didn’t know why she had to, he forgave her and sat with her during study hall.

  “I know,” Raven took the cell out of her pocket.

  After her encounter with Alec she spoke to some receptionist at the Council who took down the information she gave and told her she would relay the information to Arthas. It was probably the Council calling back but she couldn’t answer them in class.

  It vibrated again after a few moments.

  “Who is that?” Raven could hear the anger in Max’s voice.

  “I don’t know. It’s an unknown number.”

  “Quiet back there!” Ms. Coleman said from her usual place behind the counter in the library.

  “Sorry,” both Raven and Maxwell sang.

  Raven looked at the phone this time and saw a text message. She opened it up and smiled as she read it. Come outside. I’m by the car. Kristian.

  Raven raised her hand.

  “Yes, Ms. Nowles?”

  “May I go to the restroom?”

  “Yes.”

  Raven grabbed her purse and backpack then headed out the library. As she made her way to the side of the building where she’d parked the car, Raven’s heart pounded, beating against her chest. All day her mind had drifted back to Kristian and the kiss of all kisses. She thought if the kiss had rocked her world, the sex with him might just kill her.

  When she turned the corner, she saw him leaning against his car. His long golden hair was swept back in a ponytail, giving her full view of his face. He wore black slacks and a white collared shirt. God, his clothes fitted him perfectly, showing off his broad shoulder and powerful body.

  “Hello, beautiful.”

  “Hiya. What brings yo
u out—wait, how can you be in the sun?”

  Kristian stared at her then rolled up his sleeve. “This mark is a powerful one. Unlike so many who have rings and necklaces, this protects me from the sun. A voodoo tattoo artist did this when I was born.”

  Kristian rolled down his sleeve.

  “What? Your parents did this to a baby?”

  “I doubt I felt, it but it’s worth it. I don’t have to worry about someone stealing it or me losing it. And not many people know about this type of sun protection.”

  “It still seems a bit cruel for a child to get that, but I guess it’s a good thing. Maybe you can tell me more about it later?”

  “Sure. But for now the reason why I’m here.”

  “To get your car? I was very careful with it. Especially, after my mom told me how much it was worth.” Raven smacked him on his arm.

  “Hey, what’s that for?”

  “That’s for giving me a car worth more than a house. Are you crazy?”

  Kristian grabbed her hand and pulled her to him until her body pressed against his. He kissed the back of the hand that smacked him then his light blue eyes locked with her eyes.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t think so much about the car. Can you forgive me?”

  “I don’t know. That’s pretty careless of you. I think you should be punished for that.”

  Kristian lifted an eyebrow at her. “Are you suggesting some type of sexual punishment that in reality I would truly enjoy?”

  Raven couldn’t do anything but laugh.

  Kristian pulled her to him and gave her a brief kiss on the lips.

  “I have forgiven you. Now what are you here for?”

  Kristian let her go.

  “I don’t know how you are going to take this, but you can’t go home right now.”

  Raven moved back from him. “What do you mean I can’t go home?”

  “Last night a Karlem demon hell portal opened very close to your home. As you may or may not know yet, slayers have the fastest healing and most powerful blood of any kind of being. If you are around that open portal a Karlem demon might detect it and try to escape, which could be a very bad thing.”

  “For me?”

  “Yes, but more for the world. He would probably kill you, and then he would try to consume all Earth’s resources until the planet dies and everything on it.”

  Raven shivered at the thought of this happening.

  “Kristian, I can’t just not go home. I know I have a duty to fulfill and I plan on fulfilling it, but I am still living with my parents and I have to go home before they worry.”

  “Let’s go.”

  Raven frowned at Kristian’s reaction to what she had just said.

  “What? Why?”

  “I think it’s because of me,” Alec spoke from behind her.

  Kristian moved so quickly that she didn’t see him until he stood in between her and Alec.

  “So this is the vampire who waits for you, Raven? I know him, don’t I, Kristian?”

  Kristian didn’t look back at her as he spoke.

  “You know him?”

  “Sort of. I ran into him in the hallway this morning.”

  Alec moved closer and Kristian growled at him.

  “Easy there, lover boy,” Alec said then raised his hand. “I come in peace.”

  “Peace my ass. Who are you? And what do you have to be out in the sun like this?”

  Raven tried to move but Kristian kept her behind his body.

  “Easy, young pup. I’m Alec Sullivan. You may have heard of me?”

  “The slayer killer? Yeah, I remember you. What the fuck are you doing here? I thought you were dead.”

  Alec took out a cigarette and lit it.

  “No, I wasn’t killed. I went to rest for about a hundred years. I met your young slayer in the hallway and we had a long talk. She’s feisty, though. I think she wanted to take off my head.”

  “And that would have been a bad thing?”

  “Kristian?” Raven whispered his name. His voice had gotten deep and deadly sounding. She felt he would strike at Alec at any moment.

  “Not now, Raven,” his harsh words cut her like a knife.

  Damn it! She was supposed to be the slayer, and here he was shielding her like a child.

  “Easy there. I told you I come in peace. My slayer killing days are over. I even phoned the Council on this neat little device. Cell phones are such a great invention.”

  “Yes, they are.”

  “If it makes it any easier, you can phone the Council yourself and see if I’m on the appointment book for today.”

  Alec took several puffs of the cigarette then blew out the smoke.

  “No smoking on camp…”

  “No!” Raven screamed when Alec raised his hand and Mr. Washington once again fell to the ground hard.

  “You can’t keep doing that to him!” Raven yelled. “People are going to see him pass out one of these times!”

  Raven moved past Kristian.

  “Wake him up, now,” Raven ordered, looking at Alec.

  Raven could feel Kristian’s disapproval of her moving from behind him, but she didn’t care.

  “I can’t. It’s not like a light switch, something I can turn on and off at will. He will wake when it wears off.”

  Raven stalked up to Alec.

  “Listen, if you want to be a student here fine. If you want to fuck a virgin I don’t give a fuck. But you will not come to my town and keep making people pass out. Now, if I catch you doing that again I will kick your ass myself. Do…you…understand?”

  Alec took a long drag of his cigarette before flicking it to the ground.

  “I’m going to like her, she’s such a split fire.”

  Kristian grabbed her hand. “You will stay away from Raven. Go to the Council, and if they disapprove of you being alive I promise you I will be the one who takes your life. Got it?”

  “Wow, the prince has balls.” Alec gave Kristian a look that she couldn’t understand. “Very well, I will keep my hands off the slayer. My need for slayer blood is no more. I’m clean. As for my ability to walk in the sun, a little ring always does the job.”

  Raven blinked and Alec was gone.

  “Let’s go,” Kristian’s voice was still dark and dangerous sounding.

  Chapter 7

  Kristian drove back to his home, not saying anything to Raven. What was Raven thinking, saying those things to Alec? Alec could have snapped her neck before she got the sentence out. Not that he would have really gotten a chance to with him around—but still, she wasn’t ready yet.

  Alec, as he heard, was one of the most dangerous slayer killers of his time. He had murdered many powerful slayers around the world for years. The Council had ordered life in prison for him but somehow they let him go for good behaviour. After that, no slayers were killed, but they said Alec had been killed by a Karlem demon while trying to protect a slayer. Then he’d heard that Alec had been killed by a slayer.

  Many rumours flew around about Alec, but none about him being killed were true. If so, then Alec wouldn’t have been standing there in the flesh. Unlike a lot of demons, vampires were not allowed a second chance at life. Once you were dead you were dead. If Alec was hanging around Meadville, then Kristian had to make sure to keep a closer eye on Raven. He didn’t know if this vampire had really given up on slayer blood or if he was out to get Raven.

  It didn’t make sense. If he did drink slayer’s blood, why would Alec make himself known to him? Alec had always kept his slayer blood addiction a secret. It only came to light when he got messy and a Night Hunter watched him snap the neck of a slayer, then drain her. That was when Alec confessed. Maybe Alec had changed—if he slept for a hundred years to get over his addiction, maybe he had really given up slayer blood.

  All Kristian wanted to do was protect Raven.

  As he pulled up in his driveway Raven spoke. “Kristian, are you upset?”

  Raven’s voice sounded so sweet when she
spoke.

  Kristian glanced at his nervous mate. He could feel that he had frightened her at demanding she stay quiet. It wasn’t that he didn’t want her to defend herself—his need to protect her had grew tenfolds He didn’t want Alec to get anywhere near her.

  “No, I’m not mad.”

  Kristian leaned over and opened the door. He was out and on her side before her feet touched the ground. He grasped her hand when she got out of the car.

  “But you sounded angry.”

  “I was when I saw Alec coming toward you. Alec is—was—is a very dangerous vampire. I don’t know what he has on his mind, but I will not sacrifice you to find out.”

  “I know, and even though I am happy that you want to protect me, you will not be able to all the time, Kristian.”

  Kristian led her to his room where they could talk in private. The house was built with double padded walls—great for nights when Shane brought his company over and they were having sex all night. He didn’t want Shane to hear them talking at the moment.

  Kristian let go of her hand when they were in his room.

  “I know I can’t always protect you, Raven, and that scares the hell out of me. You are a slayer. You are physically and mentally stronger than many beings on this earth—Sad to admit, even me.”

  Raven laughed but quickly quieted as he paced back and forth in front of her.

  “I know that makes you scared, but if this is what I’m to become, you have to let me be.”

  Kristian stopped pacing and looked at her.

  “Less than twelve hours ago, you didn’t want this, now you are telling me that you embrace being a slayer?”

  Raven shrugged. “Do I really have a choice, Kristian?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I may be only nineteen, but I feel way older than I am at this moment. I found out that vampires and other creatures of the night walk this earth less than twenty-four hours ago. I found out I’m a slayer and my work now is to protect humans, which I figure I’m not human anymore, since I will never age.” Raven looked down at her feet and whispered, “I found out that my forever love is a vampire—someone who I already care for more than anything, and have only shared one kiss. How can I say I don’t accept what’s happening to me?”