by Alice Wade
Talon narrowed his almond-shaped eye and tried not to react to the insult his father delivered. He basically wanted to know if Talon had any intention of trying to remain. Instead of dancing words with him, Talon decided to be bluntly honest. “I have been entertained only as a visitor and have no desire to linger longer than necessary.”
The answer wasn’t what Daerwen expected. His surprise flashed for a split second on his face before he smothered it away. “I see. So you have no desire to return?” This would make his verdict easier to bear, indeed. Daerwen felt his guilt melting away, but a part of him wished his son had said something different, said he’d want to stay. Would he have changed his mind if Talon had uttered those words?
“No. I’ve stayed long enough. I only ask for assistance, then I can return to my mate, Iondwë Daerwen.”
“Your mate.”
“Yes, sir. She’s distressed because of my long absence with no word of my situation. She believes me dead; therefore I need to get home.” He stepped closer, ignoring the hiss of Gaylien as he did so. “What is your answer, Iondwë Daerwen?”
“Cûrion, that is not for you ask.” Daerwen nearly lost his temper.
Talon clenched his teeth and released a sound that was between a snarl and a hiss; he’d had enough of these games. “What is your answer?”
“No. We will deal with recovering Athradien on our own and leave you to fight these Dûr Falas on your own. I have decided to allow you to leave under one circumstance,” he paused to collect his courage, “you never come back for any reason. Ever.”
Cuilwen’s quick inhale nearly distracted Talon from this verdict. He’d thought that since there was an elf involved, his father would surely assist. Once more, he had misjudged him and felt the shattering pain of disappointment all over again. His father was sending him to his death and he knew it. He was sending Kailani to her death and he’d never met her. He was once more rejecting his only son. That alone was enough to knock through Talon thick emotional walls.
As he stood there on shaking legs, he felt a familiar tug of Kai through his mind. It was whispers of emotions, fleeting and weak, but she was there. Then, like a curtain of blackness, her terror bathed him with on overwhelming feeling and he couldn’t breathe, his legs gave out, sending him crashing to the floor.
Cuilwen was at his side in seconds and frantically searched for some reason for this collapse. Seeing nothing, a cold fear snaked up her spine and she raised her eyes to Daerwen’s. Without care for respect or honor, she openly challenged him without a care for the consequences, “Is this your doing? Are you delivering your final verdict and killing your only son, Daerwen?” She was afraid he’d say yes, that he’d been the one to cast the spell that took Talon away from her forever.
What she saw in his eyes chilled her soul, for when she turned to him, all she saw was panic. “This is not my doing. I’m not responsible for this.”
He moved towards the fallen pair and knelt down, rolling Talon’s head to the side to look into his son’s face. Talon writhed in pain with tears streaming from his tightly closed lids. He saw that every muscle in his son’s body was taut, and his heart raced with the terror at whatever was assaulting his son.
Talon couldn’t breathe because of the dread that he’d felt blasted through his bond. He was unaware of what was going on around him. He only sensed Kailani, in pain and terrified.
Cuilwen delivered orders to the warriors standing around the room. “Get water! Get me a Dunai who knows of healing spells! Move it!” she bellowed, scared that some sinister spell was being used on Talon.“What could this be?” Daerwen said softly, still watching his son’s agony unfold.
“I know not. The last time this happened, it had to do with his mate. Now that you’ve confirmed this is not his execution, I’m assuming it is some attack from that plane. She must be in trouble for this reaction is extreme.” Cuilwen raised her face from looking at Talon and continued, “You have to send us back, now. He won’t survive this if she dies. Authorize my warriors to go back with him.”
“I can’t. Believe it or not, I argued for that option, but was overruled. I can’t ignore the guidance of my lords.”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing and snapped, “He’s your son!”
Talon moaned loudly at that moment and both their attentions were again on his large frame as it thrashed on the ground.
“Help him. Please.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as another anguished moan filled the room.
Daerwen felt as if his heart were removed from his chest with a blunt blade. He knew what he was about to do would send shock waves through their peaceful society, but she was right, this was his son. If he didn’t help now, he’d be the reason he died, not the Dûr Falas. That guilt would be his to bear for all eternity, and that was just not something Daerwen was ready to accept.
“Go.” It was one word spoken softly, but she heard.
Cuilwen needed no other incentive and triggered the link she’d prepared days ago, because they didn’t know when they’d receive an audience. Thirty-five elven warriors, two of them from the Sun Room blinked out of existence and shot through time. They were deposited in a darkened room filled with office items.
.
The moment they blinked into this plane, Kailani’s terror became pronounced. Talon heard her screaming in his head, calling for him to help her. His awareness and control returned the moment he landed in Dace’s office on the ground floor. Before anyone could stop him he bolted from the room. He climbed the stairs three at a time, practically flying up the case to get to their room where her fear as radiated from.
Cuilwen gave silent orders to follow and trailed behind without question.
Before Talon reached the door, he cast a spell for the wood to burn away, leaving ash to float around the hallway and rushed through the now open space. What he found sent an inferno of wrath through his mind, body and soul. His gaze landed on the two and witnessed Warwick holding Kai in violent choke hold while he fed deeply from her neck. He knew instantly she was near death and panicked.
With a thought, his blades appeared in both hands and he approached on Warwick with a menace that would have made a bear shudder in fear. Warwick heard him before he was cleaved in two and discarded Kailani’s limp body with a snarl. She landed in a heap as if she were a rag doll but he didn’t seem to care.
Whirling around to defend himself was his priority at the moment and, he searched for something to use to fend off Talon’s attack. The only thing nearby was a fire poker that had fallen over in his struggle with Kailani.
Cuilwen followed Talon up the stairs with only Nethlhindornien with her. The rest of the elves she deployed around to secure the building. In her haste to issue those orders, she lost Talon in the maze of hallways and ended having to follow the ringing sound of a sword striking metal. Frowning, Cuilwen knew Talon had engaged whoever was in the room.
She burst through the door with Nethlhindornien behind her and immediately formulated a plan. Her gaze took in the scene of two enraged vampires warring across the room, Talon who was dressed in elegant flowing elven material and the other in black leather which hugged his stout body. The demolished furniture scattered about indicated a violent battle was fought, leading her eyes to the limp body of a woman in the corner.
Cuilwen deployed Nethlhindornien to help Talon as she rushed to the fallen woman. She lay in a heap, a tangle of arms and legs with no sign of consciousness. She was a mess. Her neck was ripped open which was the obvious source of the blood that covered her. The wound was not bleeding now, but it had been, and profusely. Cuilwen winced at the gore, kneeling down to inspect her face under the myriad of bruises and swelling. It was hard to see anything for she was a motley of color. There was a commotion from across the room when a door flew opened and a stunning woman with curly black hair emerged. Cuilwen watched as h
er green eyes swept the room with one glance and then moved with a speed that was unnatural over to the fallen women. A man with a thick chest, but handsome face tried to stop her, but she zipped past his outstretched hand. ,
“Move aside,” Lainey said to Cuilwen. What followed was a hissing sound that resembled an angered cat as the pixy faced woman knelt down. She shoved Cuilwen to lean out of the way and allow her room. “Kailani?” Lainey turned her face and saw her pale skin and knew Warwick took too much blood, so slapped her skin gently to try and get some reaction.
Lainey focused solely on Kailani and didn’t even notice the fight taking place behind her. She only saw her friend and protector near death and needing…something. She looked around quickly, thinking. What was it that Talon would do right now? Blood! She ripped her wrist open using her own teeth, placing the bleeding gash to Kailani’s mouth. This was the only thing she could think to do and followed her instinct.
“Kailani, you need to drink this now!” Lainey kept up her babble as her blood seeped into her friends open mouth and down her throat. Those few drops caused Kailani to choke and suddenly she coughed, an action that had her near conscious but not fully recovered. That little flash of life sent a wave of hope through Lainey as she pressed her bleeding wrist into the vampire’s mouth again, waiting for her to take what was offered.
Kailani wasn’t aware of who or what offered themselves to her like this and she didn’t care. When Kailani tasted the blood and felt the source at her mouth, she latched on with a voracious sucking, that had Lainey moaning as the pain of it nearly caused her to pass out. The pleasing effects of feeding raced through her, but the fact Kailani was not out of danger distracted her from the pleasure. “That’s good, take it Kailani.”
Talon fully engaged Warwick now. The two circled around and around, climbing over fallen furniture making a full circuit of the space. His elven clothing gave him the freedom to move more freely. He took advantage of that and climbed over another broken chair. He enjoyed the fact that Warwick had more of a challenge navigating it, finding that as an advantage.
Talon barely noticed that Nethlhindornien had crouched down in preparation for this vampire’s approach. The elven warrior still worked through exactly who this opponent was before engaging. It was only a matter of time, however. The man was too methodical to be useless. Talon felt a moment of relief at this, believing in his heard that Nethlhindornien wouldn’t let him down. “You should not have come,” Talon hissed
“How could I pass us this opportunity? You got sloppy,” the vampire huffed out climbing over another chair.
Talon lunged forward with his blade extended and barely missed Warwick when he sidestepped away. A sizzling hiss issued from Talon’s lips and watched Warwick drop the fire poker and snatch up Dace’s fallen sword in the process. When Warwick completed his motion, he whirled around and to the side, slicing at the space where Talon stood moments before only for have his sword pass through empty air.
Nethlhindornien saw his moment to strike and stood up quickly slashing out with his sword. He obviously surprised the vampire, but not enough to hold the advantage.
Warwick raised his arm using Dace’s sword as a shield. He exerted a tremendous amount of energy to ward off the attack. When the surprise passed, it was replaced with an boiling anger that he unleashed at the man, shoving him back. Warwick saw the widening of his almond shaped eyes as he was flung clear across the room slamming into the wall.
Snarling Warwick looked around the room for the first time and froze. The dazed man was clearly an elf and there was another woman kneeling over Kailani’s crumpled form. Elves. Here Shite.
Talon saw his reaction and couldn’t resist a laugh, “I’ve brought friends. Were you feeling confident that you could still beat me?” he laughed again, a sound that sent chills down Warwick’s spine.
“What have you done?”
“I’ve had enough of you, Warwick. It’s time to end this once and for all. I should have done this the first time, but felt too much responsibility.” Talon snarled, baring his teeth in a threat, “You’ve touched my mate one time too many. You die. Now.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Warwick was near the end of his stolen spells, but released one anyway. It wasn’t much more than a distraction so he could kill Talon.
A light appeared before Talon. He stepped back in surprise by the fact elven spells were cast by Warwick. The light obscured his sight and sent screaming pain through every nerve of his body. Talon kneeled down, gripping his head as the pain assaulted him. Warwick advanced with his sword arched high, ready to decapitate him in a breaths time.
By now, Nethlhindornien had recovered. He had broken a rib with the impact and finding it difficult to breath, so leaned on the door frame. He was about to push off and help Talon when Faelwen burst into the room. “Help him,” he croaked at the smaller woman.
Faelwen evaluated the weak but dangerous spell and reacted immediately with a counter spell which cocooned Warwick in a prison of impregnable air. She could feel the taint of the magic this vampire used and growled in disgust. It was foul. The effect helped Talon who slumped to the floor exhausted.
Warwick’s blade encountered the barrier and ricocheted off with such force that had him drop the sword while shaking his tingling arm. After the initial shock wore off, he reached out with shaking hands and touched the invisible wall while a cold sweat broke out along his forehead and neck. That was when he accepted his defeat and turned to survey the elves, finding one female smiling an arrogant half smile. It was clear who was blocking him.
“You bitch.” He snarled, slamming his fist into the unseen wall.
“You should not play with spells you know nothing about.” She replied.
Warwick bellowed in frustration as he beat on the wall to no avail. He was vaguely aware that Talon recovered from what he’d flung at him and a reality seeped into on his mind. Talon would do as he said and his life was forfeit.
Accepting this fate, he turned to look where he’d dropped Kailani and found her suckling at Lainey’s wrist, drinking the blood that would help her recover. She looked bruised, bloody and beaten. And he’d done that to her…again. Warwick growled at his own stupidity and sank onto his knees in defeat. For years, he’d fought at Kaen’s side in an effort to escape this woman’s haunting pull on his soul. He’d done horrific acts to support the thought that he was the monster he felt himself to be, yet hoped that he could redeem himself in her eyes alone. This was his once chance and he did this? How could he have done this again? What was this power that woman had over him that he’d be driven to commit such crimes against the one person he loved?
Faelwen released the wall with a signal from Talon, and Warwick was oblivious. Talon was once more on his feet and held both glowing blades at his side. He followed Warwick’s gaze and the fury that boiled within spilled over. He reached his breaking point seeing Warwick on his knees, seeing the wreck he’d caused in his home and the destruction to the woman he loved. The sounds of Kailani drinking fueled his anger and he lunged forward in one fluid motion, barely controlling the shaking as a result of his rage.
“You bastard!” Talon’s voice reverberated around the small room, causing Warwick to whip his head around and break his fixation of Kailani just as twin blades stopped inches from his skin.
Talon closed his eyes and regained his legendary control, taking three deep, slow breaths. “I wish I could say I’m sorry it had to be this way, Warwick.” He paused, taking another deep breath through clenched teeth, “You were a brother to me and the first to join our coven. But your crimes can no longer go unpunished. I also can no longer turn away from your acts or have the desire to continue to chase you. It ends now.”
Warwick looked up at him with a bleak, defeated expression. He saw the twitch of Talon’s cheek and the flutter of emotion that flashed in his eyes. He knew Talon
would not forgive him this time. As if in slow motion, Warwick watched Talon’s blades slowly move through the air and then felt the biting sting of cold metal on his neck…
…then nothing.
Talon watched with a detached awareness as he ended Warwick’s life. His head falling to the floor in a wet thud while Warwick’s headless body toppled to the side in a useless heavy heap. There was a brief moment of regret, but it was consumed by the anger and raw fury that this man, this old friend, had harmed Kai again. Kai…
Talon extinguished his blades and whirled around searching for his mate. He found them in the corner and a strangled moan left his lips when he saw the condition she was in. It was the first time he’d really looked at her since re-entering this room. She was shattered. Immense guilt rolled through him, stealing his breath as the cramps claimed his chest as he collapsed next to her. He felt responsible for leaving her and now look what happened…Oh, love—will you ever forgive me?
With an eerie calmness, he gently touched Lainey’s shoulder, nudging her aside. “I’ve got it Lainey. Move aside.”
Lainey’s tear streaked face turned to meet his and nodded in understanding, shifting to allow Talon’s large frame to squeeze into the small space where Kai was lying. “Love, I’m alive. You must fight to come back. I’m alive.” He whispered against her cheek. He could smell her fear still emanating from her body and sent her soothing thoughts through their bond. When he did, he felt her weak heart, realizing the blood Lainey had given wasn’t enough. She needed more or she would die.
Kai? Love, please come back. When he felt nothing of her response, he growled sending vibrations through their bond, Fight. He begged her over and over. Talon was about to do something more drastic when there was a flutter, a tentative touch on his mind as reached out in disbelief.
Talon? It was weak, unsure and full of confused hope.
He sobbed in relief and hugged her to his body, trying very hard not to hurt her more than he already was by holding her, “Yes, love. I’m here.”