The Chronicles of Kerrigan Box Set Books # 1 - 6: Paranormal Fantasy Young Adult/New Adult Romance

by W. J. May

  Reaching for the latch, Rae swore when it broke off. Using both hands and swearing from the incredible pain in her broken wrist, she managed to unclick the lock.

  Kraigan pounced on her before she got the door open. He shoved her away. Rae stumbled but danced to keep her balance. She spun around and hit him hard in the middle of the chest with her elbow. He sucked back air and a surprised look crossed over his face. She made a fist and punched him in the jaw.

  He scowled at her and rubbed his chin. “Bitch! You’ll pay for th—”

  Before he could finish, she punched him again, in the same spot. She grinned. “Take that, asshole!”

  “I’m gonna kill you.” Kraigan wound his arm back.

  Rae managed to duck his swing. As she straightened, she kicked him hard in the knee. It twisted in an awkward position and Kraigan dropped to the floor howling. Rae jumped over him and ripped the fire extinguisher out of the wall case. Stepping on his chest, she keep her foot near his neck so should she slip, she had crush his airway. With her good hand, she held the nozzle inches from his face.

  If looks could kill, Kraigan would have murdered her on the spot.

  “Don’t move, brother. You even twitch and I’ll turn this thing on and fill your fowl mouth with the crap inside.” She tapped the metal container with the nozzle head. “Trust me. It’ll kill you with or without a tatù.”

  “Bitch! Give me back my tatù.” Kraigan hissed, but made no movement. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead.

  “You give me mine first!” Rae threatened the fire hose closer to his nose and mouth, set the canister down and made to turn the dial when his hands moved.

  Kraigan didn’t move, leaving his hands dangling midair. “I’ve got no bloody clue how to give you yours. You stole mine.” He let out a weird, crazed kind of laugh. “Now they’re all gone.” He twiddled his fingers. “Vanished into thin air.” He snorted, but immediately stopped when Rae actually turned the dial and a hissing sound came out of the hose.

  She shoved the nozzle into his mouth, debating if she should turn the dial on full. This ability feels good. To have this power over…over life and death. Startled, she almost dropped the handle when a noise sounded behind her. She wasn’t sure if her thoughts or the noise scared her more.

  Two low, deep voices echoed against the walls. Her heart rate sputtered and the hair on the back of her neck rose. She turned towards the sound, ready to do whatever it took to stay alive.

  Two men strode down the hall towards them. Well, one ran and the other seemed to be walking at an incredible pace. She noticed a long, dark ponytail.

  Julian. With Carter right behind him. Tears of relief flooded her eyes.

  “Holy Crap!” Julian said when he saw her. His expression turned to horror as his eyes traveled up and down Rae. “We saw you guys tumble down the stairs when the alarm went off. The surveillance room is completely on the other side of the underground. No one uses this entrance.”

  “What?” Rae croaked.

  Julian waved a hand and then pulled a weird-looking folded thick, black wire from his back pocket. “If the door to the Chamber opens, an alarm goes off.”

  Rae stared but nodded slightly. I have no idea what you’re talking about. She stepped back when Carter pushed by and bent forward. He touched Kraigan’s wrist. “Careful!” she shouted. “He might take your tatù.” She brushed against Carters tall frame and shoved the nozzle back into Kraigan’s mouth. His eyes bulged and his head thrashed side to side.

  “I’ll use it if you try anything on these guys.” She glared. “I mean it. I am my father’s daughter.”

  Kraigan only thrashed harder and tried to pull away.

  “Relax, idiot,” Julian said.

  Carter gently touched her upper arm. “We’ve got it, Rae.”

  She gasped and nearly dropped the hose when a slightly familiar hum filled her core. She reached behind and she brushed her fingers along her tatù. It felt like a little bit of heaven running through her veins. She had just mimicked Carter’s tatù, and it had never felt so good.

  She felt its recognizable strings and wondered if all her abilities were back. It felt glorious but something was still wrong. She searched for her healing tatù. She scowled when she couldn’t find it. She tried for another, again and again. “So help me, Kraigan. If this –”

  Julian pulled the canister away from her. “Rae, let go. It’s okay.” He stood over Kraigan and barked, “Hold your hands out.” He pushed the hose close to Kraigan’s face.

  Kraigan snorted through his nose, now refusing to move. Julian reached for the dial and Kraigan finally stuck his arms out.

  Julian snapped the black wire so it went straight as a rod. Then he slapped it on top of Kraigan’s wrists. It wrapped itself again and again on Kraigan’s lower arms and wrists.

  It was over.

  Rae bit her lower lip. She squinted at an ancient crack on the wall and concentrated on trying to find another tatù. “May I?” She reached out and touched Julian’s elbow before he could answer. His tatù flowed through her, running alongside Carter’s memory tatù.

  Carter swung around, his hair wild for the first time Rae had ever seen. “What the hell happened?”

  “Kraigan’s tatù is like mine.” Once Rae spoke, she realized how much she needed to explain. “He’s my brother…Half-brother…From my dad. He’s got the same ability. But different.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I mimic, but…but he’s a thief… Takes tatùs away from people…leaves them powerless. Until he touches someone else or someone touches him. He screwed with my tatù.” She shot Kraigan a dirty look, then turned back to Carter. “But you already knew about his ability, right?”

  Carter blinked in surprise. “I knew very little. I assumed Kraigan knew as much as I did, certainly no more. If he could hide things from me, it seems he’s got a few other abilities.”

  As do I. Or I hope I still do. Had Kraigan actually told her the truth about hiding things from Carter? Maybe it had been an attempt to win her trust. She was such an idiot.

  Julian pulled Kraigan a few feet away with the black wire-thing.

  Rae leaned against the wall. She dropped her hands against her knees. “He’s somehow taken my tatù. It’s kinda back, but something’s wrong. It’s—like, busted.” She blew on her broken, swollen wrist. The pain seemed to be getting worse by the millisecond. Must be my adrenaline wearing off. The need for fight or flight’s over now.

  Carter ran his fingers through his hair, which refused to go back into its usually perfect style. He patted her shoulder, but the concern didn’t leave his face. “Don’t worry. We’ll get you checked out.”

  A sudden, horrifying thought occurred to her. She had Carter’s tatù and Kraigan’s but nothing else that she could feel. What if? Oh no—She rocked herself off the wall and wobbled towards Carter. “I’ve got your tatù. Did I steal it?”

  Using his hand, he knelt down and touched Kraigan. “There’s nothing.” He held up his free arm when Rae stepped toward him. “Wait.” A minute later his eyebrows shot up and he shook his head. “He’s able to block me, but I still have it. Though I fear if we remove the stalling bar from Kraigan, it could be dangerous.” Carter looked at Julian. “Call for the others to get him. Don’t let him touch anyone with his hands. Better to be safe than sorry.”

  Julian nodded and pulled a walkie-talkie off the back of his belt.

  Rae inched closer to Kraigan, planning on asking him one more question before they dragged him away.

  Before speaking into the device, Julian turned to Rae. “What did Kraigan do to your tatù?”

  “I think I’ve still got my tatù ability, but he took all the powers I had gathered up to this point. They’re gone. Erased.” Guess she wasn’t as all powerful as Kraigan had said. She stared at his brooding eyes, seeing her father’s face. As Julian began shouting orders into the walkie-talkie, she leaned close to Kraigan’s ear. “Where’s my journal, loser?”

  He snorte
d and when she pulled back, he spit in her face.

  Rae gagged but swallowed her own bile back down. Wiping her cheek with the sleeve of her shirt, she tried to control the anger boiling inside. Ticked, she grabbed his shirt, forced him to sit, and in doing so, used Carter’s tatù to find where he had hidden the book. It has to be on him, he showed it to me upstairs in the Oratory. Whether he didn’t have the ability to block her, or he showed her the location because he would rather she have it than to let it be taken by the Privy Council, she didn’t know – she saw the image of him slipping the journal in the back of his jeans. She stood, scooted behind him. Rae glanced down and grinned. She made a show of looking down the hall. “Is that the cavalry?”

  When the others looked down the hall, Rae leaned behind Kraigan, pulled the journal out of his back pocket, and shoved it behind her, tucking it into the back of her jeans, and hastily pulling out her shirt to make sure it was fully covered.

  “Cavalry?” Carter raised his eyebrows, creating lines on his forehead.

  “I figured when I sent you the telepathic messages, you and the PC army’d come to my rescue.”

  Carter nodded. “I received your messages and we rushed to the hotel, only to be too late. When we knew you were in the Oratory, we rushed to the Privy Chambers to get the weapons and plan the assault.”

  “You went to the Privy Chambers instead of coming here?” Rae couldn’t keep the frustration out of her voice.

  Julian laughed. “Rae, you’re in the Chambers. It’s directly below the school.”

  “What?” She scratched her head and glanced around.

  “This part is more like the bowels of the chambers. It’s an older hallway. The Training Academy is a couple of miles from here but the main offices of the Privy Council are here.”

  Rae looked at the headmaster, who nodded. “So—” she said slowly, “the Privy Chambers are like some underground chambers? The bowels of the building?” She laughed at the irony. “Privy Chambers is a toilet, you know? You have some Batman cave underground for the Council?” She laughed again, this time it sounded almost hysterical. “I’m sorry. It’s been a really, really shitty day.” She tried to stop giggling by covering her mouth with her hand.

  Clicking the walkie-talkie to his belt, Julian put his boot on Kraigan’s chest and knocked him over. Then he began climbing the stairs.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Carter asked.

  “Devon’s upstairs.” Julian didn’t stop, or even pause as he continued up. Good for you, Juls, Rae thought as she feebly tried to follow.

  “I already notified the medical staff. There are men in the Oratory with him on a stretcher. The doctor says he’s going to be alright.”

  “To the school Infirmary?” asked Rae.

  “The Training Academy has a top-notch hospital. The best tatù doctors are on call there.” He murmured into his walkie-talkie. “We’ll explain more to you later. Right now, we need to get you and Devon there. You need looking after.” He pointed to her swollen wrist.

  Men appeared at the top of the stairs. Two of them carried a stretcher. Several others carried cuffs, chains, and more strange-looking weapons.

  “I can walk up the stairs. I want Devon to be alright. Leave me be a moment.” She held her hand up to stop their offers of assistance and barely made it up on her own. She moved into the room she had put Devon in, now empty of people. Rae glanced around and saw no one at the door. They’d all stayed away. Probably scared ‘cause I’m a Kerrigan. She sat on the bed and as quickly and quietly as she could, she slid the journal far under the bed. Knowledge for a later day. Not sure why, she didn’t want anyone to know she had the journal back in her possession. When she felt better, she would decide what to do.

  Releasing a groan, she rolled away from the bed and closed her eyes. The pit-patter of shoes on the marble floor let Rae know someone was coming to help her. She had a million questions to ask but now wasn’t the time.

  She could barely stand but stumbled towards the door. Knowing Devon was safe; she collapsed on a stretcher and allowed herself to fall into the darkness once again.

  Chapter 27

  An End and Beginning

  Rae woke with the glare of the sun shining through the window. It seemed like she had slept for days, but she still felt exhausted. After that first coherent thought, confusion set in. Then everything came flooding back: Kraigan, her bruises, her missing tatùs and the realization that her tatù was not as invincible. Depressed, she scowled at the cheery morning outside and rolled away from the picturesque view. She grimaced as pain shot through her body. However, her breath caught when she noticed Devon in the infirmary bed across the room.

  He sat leaning against pillows, reading some kind of document. His face had faded purple and brown bruises around his eyes and mouth. His nose was straight, with only just some slight swelling left behind. His injured shoulder had been bandaged, and his arm was tightly wrapped against his chest. But he looked—healthy and alive and like the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

  “‘Bout time you decided to come back to the land of the conscious.” The dimple on his face shone through the bruises. He set the papers aside.

  “M-Morn-n-ing.” Her voice cracked and she swallowed to saturate her dry mouth.

  Devon swung his legs over the side of his bed. Rae couldn’t help but notice he only wore light green hospital bottoms. His bare chest had a few light bruises but the sight of his muscles made Rae tingle. His delicious body brought the water back to her mouth.

  She tried to focus her thoughts. “Be careful. You might fall.”

  Devon laughed. “I was wobbly this morning, but the doc here has some kinda magic healing vitamins. His tatù can help speed up the healing process. I should have this wrap off by tonight.” He raised his sore shoulder, grimaced then smiled.

  Rae tried to push herself into a sitting position and discovered a cast on her left wrist. She stared at it in wonder. “How long have I been…out?”

  “A few hours then you fell asleep and snored all night.” Devon laughed and shuffled over to the chair beside Rae’s bed. “You needed stitches in the back of your head and your broken wrist set. I’m not sure if you or I came out worse for wear.” He leaned forward and caressed her cheek.

  “I think I did, but not because of the beating.” She searched for her tatù and only felt its quiet hum. It still felt different—wrong. “Seems Kraigan knew how to screw my tatù up.”

  Devon gave her a sympathetic look. “Carter filled me in. I’m sure it’ll all come back, or you’ll figure out a way.”

  Rae grabbed his wrist with her good hand. The familiar hum, ran through her. “I can feel your tatù.” She checked to see if anyone was about. “I actually got it when you touched my cheek but I figured any excuse to touch you was good enough for me.”

  Devon leaned over and, after glancing towards the door, kissed her. Not a soft, gentle touch, but one full of desire. His lips melted her insides and made her stomach flip pleasantly. Slowly, he pulled away and rubbed his nose against hers. “By the way, thanks for saving my ass.” He smiled, his adorable dimple showing.

  Still staring at his lips, she said, “Anytime. It’s an ass worth saving.” She grinned. “I kinda like it.”

  He reached above her by the wall and then stood straight. “I just pulled the call button for the nurse. You…uh, should let them know you’re awake. Carter’s probably gonna want to know.”

  Rae nodded. He was right. Yet, at the same time, she worried more how bad her breath smelled or how chapped her lips were. She watched Devon’s muscular back and derriere as he made his way back to his bed. “Glad I saved that nice ass.” She smirked when Devon turned around with a surprised look on his face.

  The nurse and doctor came in, followed shortly after by Carter. While the medical staff checked her over, Devon spoke quietly with the headmaster. He then got up and began stuffing his things into a duffle bag.

  “You’re being dischar
ged?” Rae tried to make her tone joking but heard the pleading in her voice. She leaned sideways to see around Carter.

  “‘Fraid so. I’ve got some reports to write up and the Privy Council needs me back in action.”

  Carter turned and made his way to Rae’s bed. “Sorry, but you’re staying. We want to run a few more tests and make sure your tatù continues to absorb other powers.” He patted her leg. “If all looks normal and functional, we’ll get you discharged first thing in the morning. I’ve asked Raymond—the student with the healing tatù—to pop by after lunch. The doc here has already done wonders, but it won’t hurt to have that ability back.”

  “Is it okay if he comes here?” Where ever here is.

  “Raymond knows about the Privy Council, about the Academy’s training facility and the infirmary. He works for us, I mean the Privy Council now.”

  Devon let out an intentional “A-hem.”

  Rae watched him sling his backpack over his good shoulder. Something about Devon leaving made her chest feel tight. She wanted to beg him to stay and wished Carter would leave the room. She knew she was being silly, but after the fiasco with Kraigan, she wanted him close by.

  Devon lingered, waiting for Carter to finish. He finally walked over to Rae’s bed and touched her shoulder, his hand pausing a second longer. He shifted slightly to block Carter’s view and lightly brushed his fingers along her chin. “I’ll pop by your dorm tomorrow around noon, before I head out to the train station. Have a fun night.” He winked and then was gone.

  Carter stepped to the side of Rae’s bed and blocked her view of the door. “I’ll be off as well. I just wanted to ask a quick question.”

  “Sure.” Rae hoped it had nothing to do with Devon.

  “Kraigan had your uncle’s journal. The Privy Council tried to question him…”

  Shoot, had Kraigan told them she took it? Had they found where she had hid it? Rae’s heart beat erratically. “Where is he?”

  “In lockup. He won’t be bothering you or anyone else for a very long time.” Carter chuckled. “It appears his tatù has not come back. He’s simply stuck in a room with no power.” He shifted his weight and tugged his shirt cuffs into place. “We haven’t been able to locate the journal, nor is Kraigan giving us any information. Did he happen to tell you?”