by CJ England
* * * *
"Nothing! There's nothing here, damn it!” Lucas raged around the basement, tossing boxes and furniture around like they were toys. “Where is she?"
Patrick popped back into sight. “We searched all the rooms upstairs, just in case. She isn't there."
Benjamin spoke out a worry he'd been trying not to think about. “What if he took her out of the building? Away from here."
Koran rubbed his amber eyes tiredly. “If he had taken her out into the air, we could sense her. No, she is here and in some sort of shielded room."
"Danolas! What is happening?" Gallegar's frantic thought burst in on all of them.
The witch grimaced. He felt his failure to protect Kira keenly. "We can't find her. She is not in the basement or anywhere we have searched."
Back in Sanctuary, Gallegar swore aloud. Where could the creature have taken Kira? How could they find her? Suddenly, he thought of Lucas getting Kira's scent in the limo.
"Lucas!" Gallegar sent the mind-thought in such an authoritative manner, all of the Chosen stopped still where there were. "Use your shapeshifter senses. Do what you did before. Track her!"
Lucas growled, furious with himself. How could he have forgotten his new skill so quickly? Turning, he raced up the stairs back to where Kira had first been taken. Scenting around, he allowed himself to fall back into the hunting state he'd been in before.
This time, Kira wasn't there to hold him back, and the other Chosen watched in amazement as the shapeshifter changed before their eyes. He became half man-half wolf. His face elongated, his eyes turned as silver as the night moon. His clothes fell to the ground, shredded by the rapid change. His nose bent to the floor, and Lucas picked up on the scent he'd been looking for. With a howl that made all the men in the room shudder, he raced up the stairs, his white fangs gleaming.
* * * *
Kira's mind rejected the demon's words. “I will not give up that easily, demon!"
The vampire demon laughed cruelly. “You are helpless without your men. It will be a pleasure to break you.” He took another step closer and showed his long gleaming fangs. “A pleasure in all ways."
Before she could react, the demon leaped at her, forcing her back against the door, his foul body pressed against hers. As she struggled, he laughed again, grabbing her long hair and pulling it so her slim throat was exposed to him. Licking his lips, he bent his head to her, intent on taking her blood for his own.
Suddenly, the mark Gallegar had made on her neck at their joining speared him with green light. The demon threw its hands up in protection of its face and screamed.
It gave Kira the momentum to break free, and she ran to the other side of the room before turning and firing off a bolt of golden power at the demon. It hit the demon square in the chest, knocking it backward against the wall. She fired again and again, her power striking the creature, until the smell of brimstone began to permeate the room.
After the third volley, the demon screeched and literally climbed the wall to get away from her. So swiftly she never even saw it, the demon launched itself on top of her, knocking her to the ground.
"If I cannot have your blood,” it hissed menacingly. “I will take your mind.” Wrinkled, leathery hands clasped either side of Kira's skull and squeezed.
Her eyes rolled up in her head in agony as the demon clawed deep inside of her mind. Weakly, she fought it, but the pain was overwhelming. Her head was still pounding from the original blow but she fought back with everything she had. She would not give in to this brute's mind-rape.
As Kira struggled, she sensed him picking away at different things in her mind. Sifting, weighing the importance of each thought ... each desire.
His foul breath hissed against her cheek as the creature chuckled softly. “Your strength would have come from your innocence. That we sensed. Too bad it's gone now.” He squeezed harder and she cried out in pain. “Good ... good ... As you get weaker, I learn more."
Kira struggled for breath. The pain in her head kept getting worse and worse, but her fear she would give something away to the beast that held her was greater still. Every ounce of energy she had was being used to prevent him from reading the deepest secrets of the company. She tried to think of other things to throw him off track.
"Oh, my dear...” The demon chuckled again. “Do you think you can prevent me from knowing all? I will know your deepest secret. The ones you keep even from yourself.” He licked her pale cheek, leaving a trail of saliva behind. “Everything you know will be mine."
* * * *
"Lucas! Slow down!” Danolas panted as he raced after his half-shifted friend. Lucas had the trail all right, but he was blind and deaf to anything but his need to follow it. Control wasn't something the werewolf had learned as of yet.
They ran back up the stairs into a large hallway above the main lobby. From there, Lucas picked up Kira's scent easily and with another howl, he was off and running. It was only when he led them up and onto the roof, they had any misgivings.
"You said he couldn't have taken her outside. We would have sensed it.” Patrick floated over to the edge of the roof and peered around.
"Here!” Lucas said gutturally, speaking around elongated fangs. “Came through here."
"Look!” shouted Benjamin from the other side of the roof. “What's that?"
They all crowded around him. Just off to the back of the building was a long narrow shed. It had no windows, but a large hole in the roof gave clue as to where Kira had been taken.
"Get us down there!” Lucas growled, his silver eyes shining in rage. “Now!"
* * * *
Fear flared inside Kira's mind. For a brief instance, the secret she'd hidden so deep in her mind even she was unaware of its existence popped to the surface. Instinctively, she buried it, but not before the demon had caught a glimpse of it.
"Oh, ho ... What do you try to hide from me?” The creature pressed his body down harshly onto hers. He ground his pelvis against her, trying to distract her from her purpose.
She knew the thought he'd glimpsed was the single most important thing in her life. Groaning with the effort, she focused all her remaining energy on keeping him out of that part of her mind.
"Who is it? Who do you hide so deep in your heart?” The vampire demon squeezed her head even harder as he spoke, making her cry out again. His mind scraped at hers and his lip curled. “What is this that I sense? Love?"
She struggled harder. Her power began to throb within her. She would die before she gave him the truth. Kira sent a golden burst out against him and now it was the demon who screamed.
"Bitch...” he panted. “I will have it.” Without warning, he bit down into Kira's soft cheek, making her cry out in agony. She barely held onto the shielding as her blood ran down her face.
Suddenly, the room exploded around them. Blue and amber fire hit the demon ... knocking him clear across the room. Kira was swept into the strong arms of a half human Lucas as he howled his triumph for all to hear. Benjamin was across the room and pounding the demon against the floor, before the demon even knew he was there.
Patrick popped in next to Kira, and unceremoniously Lucas thrust her into his arms. “Hold,” was all he said, as he strode across the room.
Pushing Benjamin aside, he picked the demon up in his supernaturally strong hands and simply twisted. The demon screamed in agony as both his arms snapped in two. His eyes flashed with hatred as he stared at the men who had stolen his prize from him.
"You will all die!” he shouted, drooling in anguish. “She is puny and weak. The Peacekeeper will be no more!"
Lucas’ answer to that was a heartfelt growl as he snapped the demon's legs.
"Do not kill him, Lucas.” Danolas laid a restraining hand on Lucas’ arm. “As much as we would all like to see him die for what he has done to Kira ... we need him alive."
Lucas showed his fangs to the demon. Slowly, he let go of the demon's neck. The creature crashed to the ground in a
heap of broken limbs.
Kira clung to Patrick, her hand to her bleeding cheek. She stared at the crippled demon. Her anguished mind went back to when the demon had been stealing her mind's secrets. Had it divined the last one?
"Kill it,” she whispered. “Kill it now."
All the Chosen looked at her in shock, just as Gallegar mind-called to them all.
"Is she well? A Ghra ... What is happening?"
The distraction was all the demon needed. Since it couldn't fly or walk, it did the next best thing. While all eyes were focused elsewhere ... it vanished.
"Kira!!!" Gallegar's mind-roar made all of them flinch.
Kira couldn't answer him. She was still staring at the pile of rags she thought was the demon.
Seeing she seemed to be in shock, Patrick answered for her. "She is well, Gallegar. A little shaken, but we have her."
Back at Sanctuary, Gallegar sat down weakly on his bed. She was alive. Tears of joy ran down his face. Never before had he felt so helpless. Pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes, he sent one last call. "Bring her to me!"
Lucas’ shout of rage brought them all back to the present. “It has gone!"
Kira shot to her feet and ran over to the smelly bunch of rags. She pawed through it, but came up with nothing. “Please ... no. It cannot have disappeared."
Danolas crouched and ran his staff over the pile. He swore an ugly Celtic oath. “I'm sorry, my Lady. It was not as incapacitated as we thought. Its bones may have been broken, but it still had power. It disappeared right through the floor."
Kira's heart lodged right in her throat. What had the creature learned? Had she given it away, or had she managed to hold strong?
"I'm sorry, sugar.” Patrick floated over and took her clenched fist, smoothing out the tightly held fingers. “But at least we found you safe and...” he touched her ravaged cheek, “somewhat unscathed."
Lucas was still growling and sniffing at the rags. He was muttering furiously about losing the demon. “Can you track him?” she asked tremulously.
The wolfman shook his head. “Gone."
Kira's last hope vanished. Whatever the beast knew, he had taken it with him. She looked around at the men she loved. Had she put them all at risk?
"We need to get out of here. Someone may have heard all the commotion.” Koran gently pulled his sister to her feet and looked closely at the bite mark on her cheek. “And this will need special tending. It will have demon poison in it."
"Gallegar will want to see her.” Danolas stood and walked over to the door that Lucas had utterly destroyed. He shook his head in awe. There were few things stronger than a shapeshifter in full fury.
"We can't leave until Lucas goes back to normal.” Benjamin touched the werewolf's shoulder. “Can you change back now?"
"Kira ... out."
Danolas chuckled as he realized Lucas’ predicament. “Here, my friend.” He conjured up a pair of pants and T-shirt for the big man. Then he ushered Kira out the door so Lucas would have time to change.
"I want to go to the loft.” Kira spoke firmly as they walked to the limousine Danolas had summoned. Her cheek throbbed painfully.
Danolas slanted a look her way. “You know Gallegar expects you to come to him. He's worried about you. It about killed him he wasn't here to protect you.” His face darkened. “We sure as hell didn't."
She shook her head painfully. “It was not your fault. I was the one who decided to go in. I am responsible.” She climbed into the limo and waited for the others to join them.
Even though she wanted more than anything to be in Gallegar's strong arms, Kira knew with what had just happened, she needed to stay as far away from him and the others as she could. She had some thinking to do.
A few minutes later the rest of the Chosen all climbed in the limo.
"How are you feeling?” Patrick took Kira's dirty hand in his.
"I will survive,” she answered quietly. “I just want to go home."
Koran sat down next to his sister. “Let me heal this. It is an ugly bite.” He placed his hand over the ravaged skin and she felt the healing spell warm her cheek.
"Gallegar is waiting, sweetheart.” Benjamin reached into the little fridge, handing cool drinks around to everyone. “He was scared to death for you. Don't you think we should go to Sanctuary, instead of the loft?"
Kira swallowed, tempted to tell her Chosen everything that had happened. Then, she remembered the horrifying vision in the Gate and shuddered. “No ... take me to my loft. Gallegar can see me tonight."
* * * *
When they arrived back at the loft, the first thing Kira did was go to her room. She told the Chosen she needed to shower and that she would see them later, but in reality, she needed to be alone to think things through. As soon as she had escaped up the stairs, the Chosen all turned and looked at each other.
"Is it just me, or is she acting weird?” Benjamin scratched his unshaven face as he made his way to the bar for a drink.
Lucas yawned. He was exhausted by all that had happened. Bed was looking real fine. “She's probably just tired. Hell, we all are."
"Still.” Danolas sat wearily down on the sofa. “She didn't want to go see Gallegar. That doesn't make sense."
"Has anyone told him yet?” Patrick floated over and sat by Danolas.
Koran shook his head. “No, but someone should.” A massive yawn almost cracked his jaw. “Any volunteers?"
Patrick chuckled. “Y'all get some sleep. Since I don't need any, I'll go talk to Gallegar."
* * * *
Upstairs, Kira stripped and climbed into the hot shower. It wasn't until she dried off, slipped into a clean nightgown and crawled into bed, that it hit her.
Curling into a ball, she let the tears come. She buried her face in her pillow, not wanting anyone else to hear. She had been so stupid. She had wasted so much time.
Had she known it all along? This wonderful ... awful reality she had tried so hard to hide from the demon. One, she had unknowingly hidden from herself. She knew the truth at last, now ... when it was too late to do any good.
It had been Gallegar all along.
She had always loved him, from the first time she had seen him in her vision. When she'd first seen him in person, she'd been drawn to his dark, masculine beauty and then later, to his loving, giving soul. Tears trickled from under closed eyelids and wet the pillow.
Kira gave a sob as she thought of Lucas. She had felt something for him, but it wasn't love. Interest ... certainly caring ... perhaps even lust. It had been enough to confuse her about how she'd really felt about Gallegar. But now she knew nothing came close to what she felt for the vampire.
Emotion rose up in her, clawing to get out. She held the wet pillow against her face, sobbing and rocking mindlessly. She loved him. His love, his acceptance, everything he was, called to her. More than anything she wanted to fly to him ... to lose herself in his love now that she finally understood he was the one who held her heart. But now ... now Kira couldn't tell him. It was too late.
The demons knew there was someone she loved, someone special, and they would be looking for him. Now she knew what she'd had seen at the Gate was true. She shuddered as she thought back to the vision. There would come a time where she was forced to choose between the men she loved, and if she wasn't careful, Gallegar would die.
Kira broke off her memory at that point, refusing to even think about it. It would do no good to dwell on it. She alone knew the truth. For the sake of the man she loved, she would have to keep the truth of the vision hidden from him. Tears burned again as she realized there was only one thing she could do.
To keep Gallegar safe, to keep them all safe, she had to pretend none of them meant anything to her.
And she knew, doing that ... would slowly break her heart.
Chapter 13
"What do you mean she went back to the loft?” Gallegar stared at the shade who floated just inside his bedroom door.
"I'
m sorry, my friend.” Patrick looked ill at ease with the story he had to impart. “We told her you wanted her to come here, but she said no. She said she'd see y'all tonight."
"I do not understand.” Gallegar ran his hand through his hair. He walked over closer to Patrick. “She knew I wanted her here, yet she refused?"
Patrick nodded. “We couldn't budge her. I guess y'all have to figure it out tonight."
Gallegar turned and walked over to the fireplace, staring at the carving on the wall. His whole being wanted to be with Kira right now, but it was still several hours until dusk and he was trapped here in Sanctuary. He rubbed at his chest, as if he could rub the hurt away she'd caused by denying him.
* * * *
Kira could hear the muted sounds of her Chosen in the room below. They were all there, and had been for some time ... even Gallegar. She'd woken an hour ago, but she was having trouble making herself go downstairs. She knew once she did, everything would change.
She had slept a little. It hadn't been easy, with all the emotions rolling around inside of her. Finally, she had risen and taken another shower to wash the cobwebs from her mind. She would need all her strength and control for what she had planned now. She knew this time, even Danolas couldn't help her.
Sitting cross-legged on her bed, she took several deep breaths, before dropping inside her own mind to walk on the psychic plain. Struggling at first, going only by instinct, she began to build a wall between her emotions and the outside world. She would use a spell to make sure no one knew how she felt. The only way to save Gallegar ... and the others, was to keep her love safely hidden away.
Brick by brick, she built the psychic wall. It took a massive amount of energy and she was reminded what Gallegar had said about magick. Using it always took something away from the user. Building the wall exhausted her all over again, but she didn't stop until the last brick was placed between her emotions and the rest of the world.
Kira took a deep breath. She felt different. More in control. She searched her heart carefully and felt a flood of relief that was swept immediately away by a cold wash of restraint. All her emotions were hidden now. She knew what they were, but she would not show them. It was for the best.