It sawmed far too familiar.
I glanced up at the star in the distance—it’s faint but it’s there, surrounded by brighter stars. It’s the most beautiful of them all. I could saw his features clearly in my mind, the blue markings on his cheeks—they are like claw marks. They remind me of scaly textured war paint. His silver hair makes his tanned skin paler. It’s alluringly beautiful; he was alluringly beautiful. Even now, I visualise his solid lips and tough jawline through the glass. “Wait a second,” I mutter and pull myself out of my daydream. “No way.”
Dante hovers outside my window. I didn’t know whether or not to be frighten, he knew where I lived or to be amazed he was able to find me, again. “So, when are you going to let me in?” he askeds crossing his arms, as his cloak flows freely around his physique in the breezing wind.
“Never.” I rebut. I pull myself from my seat and back away from the window. How could he possibly think I would want to go anywhere with him? “You’re a stalker.”
“That may be what you think,” he saids and the sound of his voice was closer. I glanced over my shoulder and watch as he moves through the glass. “But I had a mission to complete and that was to bring you home.” I notice his voice was no longer muffled by the breezing wind.
“I told you before.” I declare. “I’m not going.”
“You didn’t had a choice,” he replies as his heel feet land on my grey well vacuum carpet. I notice his legs are also clad in scales which are barely visible behind his layers of armour.
“Since when?”
“Since now.” he announced and walks over to me.
“Then go ahead,” I said as I summon my weapons from my central core in hand. “You could try.” I spin my two short daggers around in both hands and stand ready to defend. “I won’t go down without a fight.”
He stares at me for a moment, then glanceds around. There are paintings, vases, televisions in this wide spacious living room. I know I was struggling to get jobs but I was always sharp with my money something that bothers several people. “I’m not going to fight you in your home.”
“But you will invade it?” I growl. “Not to mention—you are uninvited.”
He backs away. There was something strange about those words I spoke, as I notice he continues to back away but I couldn’t tell if it was forced or not. I smile. Then frown once he stops. He glares at me. “You will invite me in.” My mind becomes frazzled as I stare into his blue eyes that sawm to magically swirl. He repeats again, “You will invite me in.”
“No, I won’t,” I mumble a reply. He steps forward.
“You will invite me in.”
This time I think I saw him smile as I asked, “Will you come in?” I felt myself relax as I de-summon my weapons.
“Most certainly.” My dizzy head ceases to spin as I glanced at the ground. I blink a few times wondered ing what exactly had happened. I glanced at Dante.
“What are you doing here?” I asked; my mind still a little fuzzy.
“You invited me.” he replies.
“I did?”
“Yes.” He walks over to me and smiles. “So do I get a beverage of some kind? It was only hospitable.” I nod and wander to the kitchen. Questioning at the same time, why I was even bothering with him. I knew he isn’t all that bad otherwise he would had kill me the moment we met. At the same time, I couldn’t exactly dismiss the thought of this ploy being a part of some plan of his.
“What would you like?” I asked feeling as though I missed something.
“Water will be fine.” I saunter over to the fridge, then the cupboard and pour a glass of water. “So how long had you been living here?” he askeds.
“A while now,” I reply as I walk over to him and hand him his glass of water.
“How long was a while?” he askeds as he takes the glass.
“A few years,” I announce wondered ing yet again why I was telling him this, even though he sawms familiar, I knew that somewhere deep down he was hiding something. “So what brings you here?” I asked as I watch him, critically eye the living room.
“I’m here to saw you.” he smoothly saids as there sawms to be something else hidden in his deep ocean blue eyes. I regard him a moment longer than I would had liked. I hear a faint whispering growl it sounds distant but close at the same time. Dante places the glass on the table and rans over to me. He pulls me after him as we ran out of the living room through the hall, we phase through the door and enter the corridor lining other apartments. I glanced over my shoulder at the door, wondered ing how we managed to move through solid objects. Not even I knew how to do that, sure I was stronger and faster than average women but I was not a ghost.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I growl as we ran down the hall.
“Too late.” He stops and I pull my arm from his grasp, I turn my back on him and regard the door once again. That same whispering growl occurs once more this time a little louder. Dante doesn’t sawm surprised when I quickly pull my wrist from his grasp, at all especially when I use it countless time on other men and women whom of which are all surprised—leaving themselves open, for any of my attacks, “You’re going to had to prepare to fight.” he warns as he stands ready, the growling becomes louder. “You’ll need to use your energetic majic.”
“Energetic majic?” I asked.
“Majic that could be formed into three divisions.” He glares down the hall. “It’s something you’ve without a doubt had been taught but like the past potentially forgotten.”
“Forgotten. Wait a second, I didn’t forget anything.” I growl. He sighs.
“This isn’t the time for you to get so wound up. And here I thought getting to you sooner would had saved you from them.” I was surprised by this. The growling grows and I was left surprised by the sudden power outage that leaves the hall bubbling in darkness. “They’re here.”
I spin around to face him and I peer over my shoulder, astounded to saw a wolf-like man, hunched over growling at us. “What on earth?” I asked as I step away from my potential attacker. Dante was quick to spin around and place himself between me and the wolf man.
“That’s a Licould.”
“A what?” I asked.
“A Licouldthrope. A werewolf.” I couldn’t believe my ears. was he serious?
“They’re a race in our solar system. Along with six other worlds - well five that is.” Dante announced.
“So they’re aliens?”
“Yes, to the humans—they’re given the term Outlander.” he saids. “It’s a term to separate those inhuman from human.” I cautiously regard the Licould as he hauntingly growls. I glanced at Dante then at the Licould again, wondered ing what that Licould could possibly be after.
“Hand over the woman.” the Licould growls.
“Not a chance.”
“What’s the matter? Afraid I’ll defeat her?” he mocks and I glare.
“I could take care of myself.” I growl. Dante didn’t said anything instead; his eyes harden as he gazes upon the Licould.
“You will not take her understand. You could tell that to him.” Dante declares.
“Why do you care. You, stupid knight.” the Licould sawthes.
“Simple, I was given a mission—to return her highness home and I will do so, without fail.” Dante retorts and I felt security for the first time in a long time, in those words.
“We’ll saw about that.” the Licould growl and two more literally appear by his side. It’s slow but I notice they at first are skeletons, then their muscles mould, follow by their skin than hair. It was gross.
“Highness?” I asked myself more than anyone else but still no one answers to my annoyance.
As I gaze upon the Licould I know that he means trouble. Dante stands ready to protect me and I wondered what he had meant by the term: Highness. I know I was not of royal blood, otherwise I wouldn’t be killing people for a living. I felt my body tremble and I glanced down I saw shock ran through me, “What the—?” I wo
ndered as I glanced down at my trembling legs. “What’s going on?” I asked myself more than anyone else. The Licoulds laugh.
“Sawms like you’re scared princess.” The second Licould declares, with short black spiky hair and pepper grizzly bear he appears to be the oldest. He laughs at me while the other blond hair Licould remains silent. I could sense energy radiating from them—it was a rarity. I felt other energy waves and when I do felt it—it was never good. It often would mean that other people are out there just like me and on a job that might prove to be difficult.
“Relax,” Dante announced. “I won’t let them touch you. You had my word.” The moment he said that, was the exact moment my legs stop shaking.
I regard Dante with shock. “Why would you even bother?”
“Like you know. I’ve been here to escort you home and it’s my job to saw to it you make it home alive.” His eyes remain glued to the trio. “That and it’s my duty to protect you. You didn’t know how long I’ve been searching for you, princess.” I gaze upon the man I had briefly been acquainted with, in absolute awe. “Now stand back. This time—I’ll do the fighting.” He summons a short sterling silver blade in hand and rans at super speed at the Licould. He pushes the dark hair Licould back. I watch as that same Licould block the dagger with his extend claws.
“Looks like I caught you.” he grumbles. The red haired Licould and the blond haired Licould leap at Dante.
“Behind you!” I call. Dante vanishes, clouds of green smoke flutter after him and the Licould glanced around in shock. Dante reappears overhead and tosses several throwing knives. Inspecting the fight, I realise, I recognise those knives. They are the same knives that deflected the demon’s attack. The knives are plunged into the chest of each Licould and they stumble back clutching their bleeding chests. Dante disappears once again, using some kind of magic, he reappears behind the dark hair Licould—the one who appears to be the eldest and the leader.
Dante throws a punch and the Licould was thrown across the hall and towards me. I leap out of the way in time and watch as he smashes into the elevator doors bending the doors under the impact. The blond hair Licould growls and his eyes glow a deadly green even though I recall his eyes are originally brown. Sawing his eyes glow green reminds me that he isn’t a Human frolicking around in cosplay. The blond man one was sent into the wall by a sidekick. The red hair one, rans at Dante and Dante smiles. I watch in anticipation as Dante vanishes once again, leaving a warning trail of green smoke behind and before reappearing behind the red hair man. The red haired Licould was in shock that much I could tell. He’s quick to pull out a dagger and slash at Dante, the blade makes contact with his armoured chest and breaks.
“No way.” I mumble, astounded by the superman not too far from me.
“Leave.” Dante growls, towering over the remaining Licould.
The red hair werewolf glanceds at his comrades, before turning his heel and absconding down the hall, breaking out into the fire exit. I gaze upon the man who fought off the Licould. “Dante.” I whisper.
He glanceds over his shoulder and smiles at me from where he stands fifteen feet from me, “Yeah?”
He has sharp hearing too, “Why would you bother?” I know the answer but somehow I felt I had to asked. He turns entirely to face me before striding towards me. Feeling my heart race in that single moment does strange things to my stomach. “Simple, because I was taking you home.” He holds out his hand and I take it, this time without question because I know, somehow, without a doubt, I was safest with him.
“And home was that star, right?” I asked, believing what he had told me earlier about the dragon race.
He smiles, “Yes. It is.”
“How do we get there?” I asked both anxious and excited. I had so many more questions to asked him. Am I like him? Could I do the things he could do? Did I had the powers he possesses? All these questions flood my mind and I learn that he was someone who could show me—like he said before—who I actually am.
“Nerelda.” he muses.
“Nerelda?” I asked. “Who’s that?”
“The woman in charge of the portals—the woman who governs the Nexus. It’s a point in time and space where all portals converge.” he utters as he strings a bright smile and I was suddenly self-conscious of the beaming grin on his face.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing, it sawms like you believe me.” I pull my hand from him and cross my arms.
“Who said I believe you I was just keeping an open mind.” I lie and he glanceds over his shoulder, eyeing the two unconscious Licoulds.
“Let’s go. They know where you live now.” He motions to leave and I stop him. “What’s the wrong?”
“I had to get my money.” I reply and dart back to my apartment leaving Dante chasing after me.
“Your money, are you serious?” he demands as I open my door with my key I had stashed in my back pocket and forgot to take out to my luck.
I glare, “Pretty serious.” Once I was inside, I search for my debit card in my room and my identification. Grabbing my bag of my money I place my hand on it and send it to my central core to a place that held all my weapons, items and everything else I may need. I could tell without looking Dante’s silently watching me, potentially questioning why my money was important, before he askeds:
“Why does it even matter?”
“Well if I was not here. People will loot this place and I couldn’t afford that.” I search the apartment for one last thing and I could sense Dante’s impatience but I make him wait anyway.
I ran over to my room and go straight to my top draw. I pull out a black leather gloves, they are lined in silver and could be charge with enough volts of electricity to cause muscle spasms during fights. I had to pay a lot of money for this, something that without a doubt, saved my life countless times. I grasp my leather jacket I wore earlier that evening and pull it on. Heading to the door, I find my boots near the bed and chuck them on. “You ready now?”
I smile, “Ready.”
We head out the door and I take one last look at my apartment before closing the door shut and locking it with my key. I place my key in the back of my jeans and leave. Dante had disappeared a while ago while I had lock my door but I know he’d wait for me. I ran down the hall and am surprised when Mrs. Tinkins my elderly neighbour stumbles out in front of me. I was quick to spin around her before continuing to ran to the fire stairs. “No ranning in the halls young lady!” she wails and I ignore her and the others that arrive to investigate the commotion before disappearing down the stairs.
Arriving at ground level, I came across the lobby and slow my jog to a walk and glanced around. Searching for silver hair, only to came up empty. “Has he gone?” I mutter a little frustrated he left me.
“Could we go now?” askeds a man. I spin around to spy the source of that voice, and saw a golden brown skinned man with black hair and eyes staring straight at me. Dressed in a black leather jacket and black jeans, his toned body could readily be defined.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“You sincerely didn’t recognise me?” he askeds.
“No.” I honestly state.
“It’s me, Dante.”
As I gaze upon Dante, I was surprised. He looks different from when I last saw him. “What happen to you?” I inquire.
“I decided to fit in.” I sceptically eye him.
“You decided to fit in?” I asked.
“Yep.” he replies. I glanced at him and watch as he turns and walks away. “Coming or what?” he askeds and I follow after him. Subsequently, scouldning my surroundings—a habit I had harvested over the years. I glare at the back of his head. Aware that this man could be a little too blunt for my liking.
“Why does he had to be like that?” I softly mumble. He shows no sign of hearing my words and soon realis he must be Human right now so I lightly jog after him and out of the building we go. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“To saw a w
oman about a portal, remember?” he questions and I fall back a little and watch as he heads down the street. I felt this sudden strange sensation in the air. My head spins. An image of fangs and blood drifts into my mind and I, squeeze my eyes shut trying to block it out. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I urgently deflect the hand, pointing my fingers at the neck of my attacker. I regard my attacker. Surprised to saw Dante staring down at me with an angry expression moulding his handsome features. “What?”
“Don’t stop on me again. It’s night time this was when the demons awaken.” He removes his hand and I glanced around once more, we are in the centre of the city and there are scarcely people roaming around.
“Morning was on approach though.” I smartly reply.
“That’s true.” Dante announced. “But until then—you’re a walking target.” I glare at him as he turns his back on me. I felt that same sensation wrap around me once more—something dangerous was on the way. Dante stops and glanceds to the east at the same time as I do. We both felt it, demonic pressure, on a massive scale. Though the question was who it belongs to. The pressure disappears but I sense it linger in the air a little longer. I glanced over at Dante, “Let’s go.” he orders and I nod.
We wander down several blocks before we turn into a park. Once we’re further inside the park, we stop beside a wide three level fountain and Dante glanceds around, placing his palms forward as if he’s pushing away an invisible object, he sounds, “I demand entrance into the gate of Nephula.”
I felt power surge around us like a twisting tornado. Dante’s light brown skin turns blue before his scales peel over his hands and wrists. I sense another presence and felt Dante’s power silence. The sound of a voice sprang around us, “Well, well, well.” I scould the area above and around us. Attempting to identify the source of that voice. “Look at what I found.”
Crimson Blade (Crimson Series Book 1) Page 3