A Blaze of Magic: Chosen Saga Book Two

by J. L. Clayton

  “You don’t remember?” Dory asked flying beside me.

  I scratched my head, remember. Remember. I looked at them and groaned. “Oh, I remember… How is Magpie?”

  “She’s ok,” Ziggy said.

  I turned to look at him, but that’s when a sharp pain stabbed through my neck. What the crap? I reached up and rubbed the tender spot. Pulling my hand away I discovered dry blood on my palm. “What happened?” I asked hoping they would know.

  Reese leaned forward to peer at my neck; he nodded like he was confirming something and said, “Ye look like ye have been bitten.”

  “Bitten? Bitten by what exactly?” I asked feeling like I should know this.

  “Maybe Vampire’s or Troll’s or Pixie‘s,” Ziggy shrugged his little shoulders. “There is a whole list of suspects.” Ziggy smiled.

  I frowned and asked. “Hey, Ziggy you didn’t bite me . . . Did you?”

  Ziggy’s jaw dropped, he stuttered pointing at his little chest, “Who me? Now why would I do that?” I raised my eyebrows in challenge; Ziggy had the decency to look sheepish.

  Dory touched his shoulder looking at me she said, “Let me look at it child!” She flew up and inspected my neck. “Well, that is a Vampire bite.”

  I shook my head. “No,” I said not believing. “I would remember if a Vampire bit me, right?”

  They all looked skeptic, I didn’t like where this conversation was going. For some reason I didn’t want to talk about bites and Vampires. That was strange; I shrugged and asked, “How long have I been asleep?” Everyone looked at each other, I started to feel sick. I shook my head and asked again. “How . . . Long. . . Have . . . I. . . Been asleep?”

  “One full day and night.” Thorn answered me.

  “What? One whole day and night! Damn, 48 hours?” I frowned.

  All of them but Magpie nodded. She looked like she was still in pain from the encounter with Clown-Moe-Creepy. God I hated him, but not for what he did to Magpie. That would have been the logical reason to hate him. Although, that was not why I disliked him. I had this bad feeling Asher did something to me. On that note, Asher strolled into my cage. Everyone tensed up. Asher’s eyes roamed me from head to toe. Lust filled his gaze; Asher sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes. His nostrils flared as he sucked in my scent—and God knows what else he smelt in here, because what I smelt was nasty. Asher shuttered and licked his lips. Gross! Man, why did I think he was hot, when he just smelt me . . . Smelt this room? Maybe it was a Vamp thing. You know, to always look good and do sexy, but gross-things that turn young girls on? Asher was in his Vamp getup again—all in black from the cut off vest down to his biker boots.

  Underneath his vest was nothing but muscle and smooth skin. I wanted to reach out and trace the tattoo on his forearm; somehow, I managed to stop myself from doing something completely stupid.

  “Hello Kitten, finally you’re awake. I have been waiting for you to open your sweet little eyes.” Asher stepped close, to me; he reached down and lifted me up off the ground. I swayed for a second. Once I had my bearings I took a swipe at his perfect face with my fist. He stepped to the side grabbing my forearm.

  Smiling Asher clucked his tongue, “Now, now Kitten. Don’t be so mean. Did you’re Mother and Father not teach you good manners.” Asher grinned, showing me his fanged teeth. Slowly he brushed the hair out of my face. I glared trying to shrug him off me.

  I smiled coldly back at him. I go, “I don’t need manners with you. I have three reasons why! For one you are an asshole.” I held up my middle finger. Asher’s grin broadened. “For another thing I don’t like you.” I put up another finger. At that Asher’s grin faded and he started to frown. Good, I didn’t like his cocky attitude. “Oh wait, here is the best reason.” I threw up my third finger. “You are the one that kicked that big rock at Magpie.” Asher’s face drooped and his eyes turned red, he was mad. Asher stood perfectly still as the impact of what I said settled over everyone. Then there was a deep intake of breath.

  Aw oh! What did I do? Asher was in Clown form when he kicked the rock and apparently no one knew what he looked like. Perfect, just perfect!

  Asher glared at me and in a low growl he said, “Kitten, I think you have the wrong person.” Tension was building in the cage; Ziggy looked like he was ready to kill. Sally shifted her body so she could get closer to the bars. I saw her readying herself for whatever was to come. However, before anyone could attack Asher, said, “All right then, I guess it’s time to go.”

  Asher grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the cage. We moved with a supernatural–speed: One moment we were standing in the cage, the next Asher had me in a whole other room pinned against the wall.

  “Why did you do that?” Asher hissed through clinched teeth. His chest was pressed against mine, and we were both breathing hard.

  “Because,” I said a little bit afraid. “It was the truth.”

  Asher leaned in close; his lips where inches away from mine. I felt his hot breath on my skin-and yes apparently Vamps have hot breath. He stared into my eyes for several long seconds, and then slowly his gaze traveled down to my lips. Asher smiled and deliberately ran his tongue across his lips so that his tongue brushed against my lips. I shuttered, it felt good. God help me why did I like it? What is going on with me? He’s the bad guy. And I had Tru. I had to break this spell I was under, and fast.

  I say a little breathless, “I thought Vampires didn’t have to breathe!”

  Asher blinked, puzzled; he looked at me for a second then nodded, “All right then, let’s go.”

  Without answering me Asher started pulling me down a long hall. “Where are you taking me?” I asked now worried that I was about to be hooked up to that machine.

  “Don’t worry Kitten, almost there.” He opened a door and shoved me inside as he looked from side to side; once he was done he turned and said, “We don’t have much time. Kate doesn’t know I brought you here.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked.

  He stepped close looking me in the eyes and said one word, “Remember.”

  I blinked at him and then remembered everything. What he had done to me! He was the one, oh God he was the one that bit me. Oh, no he wanted us to be bonded. I backed myself up against the wall and started to shake.

  “Are you going to turn me into a Vampire?” I asked him kind of liking that I would have super human strength, but not liking the whole undead thing.

  He chuckled, shaking his head Asher purred, “No Kitten, I’m going to bond with you not turn you!”

  “Okay, I get that, but what is this bonding anyways? And why do you want to do it with me?” I asked pointing at my chest; my eyes were wide with fear.

  He stepped close and placed his hands on both sides of my head, leaning down close Asher murmured, “Kitten I’m going to get you out. You, Sweetie are looking at you’re savior.”

  “What?” I laughed. “Yeah right! Have you forgotten? You are the bad guy!”

  He smiled at me seductively. “Bad is only how you look at it. I can be bad, but I can also be good at being bad.” Boy, I stepped right into that didn’t I? He pressed his hips against mine breathing me in deeply. “I bet you like bad, I bet you like bad real good.” He purred into my ear, my heart sputtered and my breath hitched. “Oh, yeah you like it bad don’t you Kitten!” I didn’t say a word; Asher smiled and pushed himself away from me. “Ok Kitten, here’s the deal. I’m part of the F-V-L.”

  What? Was he just toying with me for the fun of it? “Is this what Vamps do?” I asked. “Do you play with your pray before eating them?”

  He laughed full throatily, “Why yes, but I will save eating you for later. Oh but don’t worry, you will enjoy every single bite.”

  “Don’t you mean you will enjoy it?” I glared crossing my arms.

  “That too,” he leered.

  I shook my head, time to drop this line of conversation, “So what is F-V-L anyways. Freaking Vampire Leeches?” I grinned. Yeah,
the ball was back in my corner, just were I like it.

  He smiled back, “Close. But no, we are the Federal Vampire League.”

  I raised my eyebrows, “You’ve got to be kidding me. What, they couldn’t come up with a better name than that? So, are you somehow related to the: Justice League?”

  Asher quirked a smile, shaking his head he said, “No, I am afraid not. It’s kind of like your human cops. However, when they need someone to go undercover, they call in us, the bad guys.”

  “So the bad guys are the Vampires?” I asked thinking that sounded about right.

  “That’s right Kitten, and I have been trying to bring down Kate’s operation for a long time.”

  “Well, apparently you haven’t tried hard enough!” I glared.

  He grimaced. “Umm yeah,” Asher clenched his fist. “Kate will not let me see where she is keeping the damn machine; she is only now starting to trust me. Even so, when I found out that she had captured the chosen one, all bets were off.” His eyes turned crimson as he whispered, “I was told to help you escape.”

  “How?” I asked, “Are you going to do that? And you were told by whom, to get me out?”

  Asher’s cool demeanor came back and he grinned. “Don’t worry about who wants you out worry about getting out. I’ll be doing that by bonding us together. I also need you to tell your little friends back there that you were wrong when you said I kicked the rocks at that Pixie.”

  I shook my head, “Hold up, we are not going to be bonded . . . Why would I do that? You were the one that kicked the rock. Plus, why if you say you are the good guy so to speak, did you kick the rock at her?”

  Asher’s shoulders slumped; he shoved his hands down deep into his pockets. He leaned against the wall looking wickedly bad. “I had to kick the rock,” his jaw clenched. “Remember, I am being watched as well.”

  “But, you could have killed her.” I said glumly.

  “Yes, well I knew I wouldn’t. Just like I knew when I hit you. I can control my strength; I am not some fledgling you think me to be.”

  I put my head down grudgingly.

  He pushed off the wall and placed one hand on my shoulder, looking me in the eye he said, “Kitten, I have to bond with you, it is the only way. I’ve already succeeded in doing one blood bond; I just need to take your blood two more times.”

  “Why?” I ask.

  “Like I said, you are being shielded, so you cannot use your powers but I can. This will help you.”

  I didn’t want to accept it. I shook my head no.

  He lifted my chin and whispered softly, “We don’t have that much time. I will force you if I must.”

  I flinched, and asked. “What all will this blood bond do between us?” Yes, all I have to do is keep him talking, maybe that will distract him and then I can get away.

  Asher grinned, “Without the first bite I would not have known you where awake, but now I can sense your awareness. When I bite you the second time, it will give me a sense of what you are feeling and as for the third bite we will be completely linked, that means I can talk to you mind to mind and that will be how I will get you out of this place.”

  “But when you first bit me I could hear what you were thinking.” I said.

  He frowned and shook his head. “Can you hear me now?”

  I focused, but no, I couldn’t hear him. I shook my head no.

  He studied me. “I don’t know why you could hear me… Maybe it’s because you have so much power, however; we still need to be bound so that we can be fully contacted. Just hearing me when I bite you is not enough to get you out of here.”

  “It won’t turn me into a Vampire?” I asked a little wistful.

  Asher shook his head, “No, you need to drink my blood three times in order to become undead.”

  “Okay, so with the third bite we will be able to talk mind to mind?”

  He glanced up at the clock on the wall he said, “We don’t have much time. Yes, with the third bond we will be able to talk to each other.” He smiled. “That’s a good thing; with us communicating telepathically I will be able to lead you out of here.”

  “Will I hear you like I did the last time you bit me?” I asked.

  Asher looked at me, he raised his eyebrows. “You heard my thoughts when I bit you?” I nodded and he smiled, “You are extraordinary Kitten, very extraordinary.”

  Then I guess all my stalling was over. He moved in closer wrapping an arm around my back and placing his hand at the back of my neck. I stiffened and started to struggle. Asher tightened his hold keeping me still. I could barely breathe nor could I speak. He slowly started rubbing small circles around my shoulder blade comforting me.

  “Shh Kitten, this will not hurt!” His fangs extended and then he struck, sinking his fangs in deeply. I gasped from the sharp pain, and then warmth wrapped me in a blanket.

  I heard him say in my mind: Kitten tastes so damn good, she taste like nothing I have ever tasted, the power flowing in her veins, the sweet tang of her blood. Can’t stop! Have to stop! I want to take all of her. I want to have her. She feels so good. Taste so good. But have to stop, need to stop.

  With his thoughts I started to become afraid that this time he would kill me, although; it felt so good that I didn’t care if he wanted it all. A part of my mind knew it was the Vampire saliva and the endorphins he was pumping into my veins. I can’t really describe it, but it felt so freaking good that I didn‘t care.

  Asher pulled away, cradling me close to his chest he said, “Now you will sleep in order to heal what I have taken from your body. Then I will come again and finish what I started.” He picked me up and brushed my lips with his, leaning his forehead against mine, I tried to pull away but Asher’s grip was to strong. “Kitten, you are something wonderful. I don’t know if I will be able to let you go when this is all over.”

  As my eyes drifted closed, I had a vague thought that a Vampire kissed me on the neck and lips. Just before the lights went out I thought, oh crap did he say he might not let me go?

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Jace, Subrand & Eli

  Eli and Jace walked down a long corridor that led them to where three Gargoyles were posted.

  “Eli,” a deep scratchy voice called from their left. “Is that you, damn it is! Man, it’s been a long time, how you doing?”

  Eli gave a slight smile; Jace glanced at him then back at the big Gargoyle. Murmuring under his breath Jace asked. “Is he a friend of yours?”

  Eli’s smile broadened, he cuffed Jace under the chin. “Why, hello Sirius. I am good. And you?” Eli asked.

  “I’m well! What brings you to the Island?” Sirius asked.

  “We need to speak with Subrand!” Eli rolled his shoulders back and grinned.

  “Eli,” Sirius looked at him his eyebrows arched. “Are you sure you want to see her again. As last I recall you and her had some hard words. Didn’t she tell you to never come back?”

  Eli scowled, Jace watched the powerful man lose all self-control. Eli stepped close to the Gargoyle, inches away from the huge beings face. Jace was amazed, Eli wasn’t at all afraid of the big beast.

  Jace thought, what was I thinking coming here to the Island with Eli?

  I should have known something bad would go wrong! Why didn’t I listen to my mother and father? Right now I could be off searching for Charlie. But no, Jace thought bitterly-stupidly. Jace was on the infamous moving Island fixing to question one of the most powerful Seers, while Eli goes completely-postal on one of the Gargoyle’s.

  Jace shook his head thinking, this is just perfect.

  Eli visibly took a deep breath. He let it out shakily, “Sirius, listen to me very carefully because I am only going to say this one time and one time only.” Eli brought his finger up and pointed it at the Gargoyle.

  Jace couldn’t believe what was happening. Yeah Eli was a powerful Warlock, but going toe to toe with something three times as big as him was crazy even for Jace to understand.


  “What,” Eli gritted out, “Happened between Subrand and I is none of your concern. Now,” Eli stepped back, his voice seemed to emanate power. “If you would be so kind,” Eli patted Sirius’s hard shoulder. “Please, show us Subrand.”

  Sirius nodded curtly, and waved his hand behind him. “Shall we then.”

  Eli touched Jace on the arm inclining his head towards Sirius; Jace nodded and followed them through a dark corridor. Jace was relieved that nothing bad happened. Jace, Eli and Sirius finally entered one high tech elevator. The inside of the elevator’s floor was red and black like a checkerboard. Mirrors lined the inner walls.

  There was twenty-seven numbered buttons on the right hand side of the elevators door, locked firmly in a panel case. Plus, two red and three black unnumbered buttons that were alone. A telephone sat on the opposite side of the elevator door, with four security cameras on each side of the elevator walls. Sirius opened the panel case; he took out an arrowhead key, chanted something Jace just couldn’t make out and inserted it into the lock.

  Jace watched him hit one of the black buttons. The elevator jerked and the numbers above the door started counting down. Once they reached their destination the doors opened up to a dark hall. Jace swallowed, he smiled a shaky smile and glanced down the hallway thinking, hopefully I will have luck on my side.

  Sirius said, “Right this way gentleman.”

  Eli, Jace and Sirius walked over to where four armed guards were posted on either side of a steel door. Sirius showed one of the senior guards his badge, the huge Gargoyle nodded, moved aside and opened the door. Jace glanced around; in the room were three chairs and a long table. Red brick lined the walls. There were no windows and the only light that illuminated the room was several candelabras. Jace thought that half the room looked like a scene out of a gangster movie; while the other half looked as if it was set back in medieval times. Jace smirked; this place wasn’t so bad, thankfully they missed the bad parts of the Island.

  “What’s so funny, Jace?” Said a honeyed voice.