“I get it. You’re all strength.” Remy jumped to his feet. “You want power. Who doesn’t want power?”
Before he could make another move, Lucius turned to face him. “I don’t want power.”
Anastasia jumped to her feet, wiping away the clumps of dirt from her eyelids. She lunged herself back inside through the broken window, landing firmly on her feet. “But you have it, now.”
“Yeah, yeah you want this ‘golden age’ thing to happen, I think we get it,” Remy said. “But at what price?”
“Whatever it takes,” Lucius said. “We’re weak without their guidance.”
“Weak maybe, but it doesn’t take away the fact that they’re in there for a reason and we’re out here for a reason,” Anastasia commented back. “Our strength is in numbers, Lucius. You told me that once.”
“I was wrong.” He moved quickly, catching Remy by the throat. He lifted him and tossed him at Anastasia. And just like that, he was gone.
She slowly raised herself to her feet. She felt a burning sensation in her left forearm, noticing a long shard of glass embedded in her skin. She yanked it out, examined it, and tossed it over her shoulder.
“Tell me why I agreed to this stupid plan of yours in the first place?” Remy lifted himself from the floor and he brushed himself off.
“At least we’re still alive.”
“Yeah, I wonder why.” He rubbed his neck.
Anastasia couldn’t ignore it any longer. Lucius wasn’t the same Deamhan she’d known before and this wasn’t the first time that she fought someone as old as him, finding herself being tossed around like a limp doll. She sauntered to the front door of the house and stopped. Her eyes were quicker than her nose this time as she picked up on the sight of two Deamhan standing in the street, facing her. She then realized that her nostrils were plugged with soil and she blew the chunks free.
The two Deamhan stood in the cover of darkness, away from the street lights. The moon’s white glow did little to reveal their identity but it was the scent that spoke words to Anastasia. One of them was a Metusba and the other one, a female, was a Ramanga like herself.
Remy noticed the figures as well. “You’re pretty popular, Ana,” he said in exhaustion.
“Doesn’t matter.” She waved them away. They weren’t the priority. She needed to get to Ollie’s warehouse and fast.
“Phone’s buzzing.” He reached into his pocket pulling out his phone. He placed it up to his ear.
Anastasia heard Hallie’s panicked voice on the other line.
“What?” Remy replied to Hallie over the phone. “Slow down. What did you say?”
Anastasia heard Hallie’s reply as clear as day. Humans had broken into Blind Bluff Manor and she had barricaded herself with Veronica in Veronica’s room.
“We’ll be right there.” He hung up the phone and he stared at Anastasia. “Okay, now I’m really annoyed. I’ll bet you it’s The Brotherhood.”
“You go back.” Anastasia moved toward the two Deamhan standing on the street.
“Anastasia, The Brotherhood is at our sanctuary.” Remy stopped her by placing himself in front of her. “Remember the last time a human came uninvited to our sanctuary?”
She couldn’t think of a time.
“Exactly,” Remy said. “These two random Deamhan can wait.”
She knew that he spoke the truth. The Brotherhood began their retaliation for what Selene did at their headquarters, starting with her. They had to get back to Blind Bluff Manor. She stood down and pointed to the two Deamhan. “They’re going to follow us.”
“So we’ll kill them along the way.” His eyes lit up. “No big deal.”
They approached the Deamhan male and female, stopping just a few feet away. Anastasia’s eyes meandered over them. They were young, no older than ten years max. When she attempted to scour their minds, a barrier blocked her. The female Ramanga rushed at her in Deamhan speed but she quickly moved out of the way, grabbing the back of her shirt and tossing her several feet in the air and onto the roof of a parked car. The Metusba catapulted himself at Remy but he jumped several feet into the air, avoiding his attack.
Anastasia rushed at the Metusba and she sank her teeth into the base of his neck, ripping at his flesh. He screamed, pushed her away, and fell to the pavement on his knees.
From the roof of the car, the Ramanga flew at Remy with fists raised and her mouth opened, revealing her fangs.
“I’ve never hit a pretty woman before.” Remy smiled.
She swung and he ducked, feeling the brisk wind travel over his head. Her punches continued nonstop but with each punch Remy evaded, the faster the punches came. He finally found an opening and his fist connected with her stomach. The Ramanga’s feet wavered but she immediately found her footing and she swerved to the left, avoiding Remy’s rising left punch. She raised her knee, striking Remy’s in the chin and he fell back on the pavement. She quickly maneuvered herself on top of him, striking him over and over again with her fists. Remy’s head jerked from right to left, feeling his cheeks burn with each hit until Anastasia wrapped her arm around his attacker’s neck and threw her off of him.
She helped Remy to his feet and they ran off in Deamhan speed with the two Deamhan following them. Their stride took them under a freeway, splashing through knee high water, and they turned sharply left. They passed through stop and go traffic, side streets, sidewalks, and eventually near the banks of the Mississippi River. They took the river south, leaving the city, and entered a desolate area filled with rotting cornstalks and farmhouses. They stopped in the quiet area, being only a few miles from Blind Bluff Manor. They turned around but the two Deamhan were nowhere in sight.
“That wasn’t hard.” Remy scanned the area across the river. He looked to the left at the tall dirt and rock infested embankment. “I think we lost them.”
Anastasia wasn’t so sure. She looked up just in time to see the female jumping down at them. She tackled Anastasia and they both fell into the wild currents of the river.
She felt the coolness of the water streaming over her face and into her ears. It was an awkward position, knowing that neither of them would drown because Deamhan didn’t breathe. She pushed the female back and she jumped out of the water, just in time to see the male, also in midair, and his right leg connect with the side of her face. She landed on the sandy shore, swallowing a handful of sand. She turned over to see the female towering over her with a raised stake. For a second Anastasia’s eyes filled with uncertainty. Stakes were meaningless, unless the female aimed for her heart. However, if the female’s goal was to incapacitate her, she would strike elsewhere, leaving her alive for them to toy with.
Remy rushed toward the female but she immediately turned, burrowing the stake into his left shoulder. He stumbled back and the female grabbed the stake, dislodging it, and struck again, hitting just beneath his heart.
Anastasia found her chance to make her move. Brandishing her teeth, she bit down into the female’s neck and she pulled back, ripping flesh from bone. Blood gushed from her wound and she fell to the sand. Again, Remy and Anastasia took off down the banks of the Mississippi River. The river curved and winded around, bringing them to another remote spot. This time a freeway ran on both sides of the river with a bridge slightly above them. She stopped, noticing that stars no longer dotted the sky. In the darkened horizon appeared a tint of red, signaling sunrise. She had to finish this now and get to Blind Bluff Manor. They climbed the embankment and approached the freeway. They ran through the traffic, dodging semi-trucks, cars, and other passing vehicles until they made it to the other side.
Remy held his chest and he bent over. “Good thing these Deamhan can’t aim to save their life.” He coughed.
Anastasia examined his wound. “You’ll heal.”
They heard the swift steps of the two Deamhan approach them. Again the male launched himself at them but Anastasia tossed him aside. He slammed into a nearby abandoned granary and she looked from the corn
er of her eye, seeing the female raise her stake, aiming for Remy’s back. She quickly moved and caught the female by her wrist before the stake made its impact. With her other hand she plunged her fist through the female’s chest, reaching her heart. The female’s eyes widened and she snarled before Anastasia ripped her heart from her chest. The Ramanga dropped to the ground and her body slowly began to dissolve into a puddle of blood, dust, and bone fragments.
Anastasia turned her attention to their male attacker, watching him limp toward them. Dark blood poured from his mouth and a long piece of wood protruded from his stomach. She walked calmly over to him. His heavy eyes wavered. “You failed.” She plunged the stake into his heart and nonchalantly she returned back to Remy, uninterested in watching the Deamhan’s body wither away.
In the distance she heard a male’s voice coming from a small house on a hill. The front door opened and she saw the outline of a farmer gripping a shotgun in hand.
“Let’s get going. We don’t have much time.” She wrapped Remy’s arm around her shoulder. She took one final look at the remains of their two attackers before sprinting in Deamhan speed for Blind Bluff Manor.
1
DARK CURSE. DEAMHAN CHRONICLES #2
CHAPTER eighteen
Anastasia stopped at the front gate of Blind Bluff Manor. She leaned Remy against the metal railing. “You’re too weak to go any further.”
“I’m fine.” Remy stood up. In Deamhan speed he ran off, toward the front steps of the manor. Anastasia ran after him and when she found him, he stood just outside the front door. They heard the distinct noise of footsteps coming from the other side along with the smell of humans. One scent—that of a male—caught her attention. She’d smelled it before.
She kicked the door down and it broke from its hinges, splintering and falling to the floor. A male with slick dark hair, wearing a long dark trench coat moved back at the pieces of the broken door sliding along the floor. Another male stood on the steps, his dark eyes locked onto her. Anastasia sniffed, picking up their strong fragrances.
“Where is Kenneth?” She moved quickly, grabbing the nearest researcher by the shoulders and slamming him to the ground. Her tongue twirled around her right fang and her eyes slowly turned dark.
“They sure don’t make them like they used to.” Remy’s eyes gleamed.
Anastasia then heard a familiar voice coming from Nathan’s study.
“I’m in here.”
She looked up to see Kenneth Dearhorn standing in the center of Nathan’s study. He wore the typical researcher clothing: dark pants, dark shirt, and a long trench coat. In his hand he held one of Nathan’s research books. He closed it and placed it on a table nearby.
Anastasia let the researcher go and in Deamhan speed she rushed toward him, pushing him against the wall. The wall shook and for a moment, Kenneth’s eyelids drooped in his dizzy state.
“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kill you now.” She growled at him. His presence in the sanctuary fueled her anger even more.
“If you were going to kill me, you would have already,” Kenneth managed to speak.
She felt a sharp pinch in her chest and she looked down, seeing the edge of Kenneth’s stake pointed at her heart. She stepped back and she slowly released her grip. Kenneth lurched forward, rubbing his neck. He looked up at her, cleared his throat and he moved away from the wall.
“You of all people should know why I’m here,” Kenneth said.
She folded her arms across her chest. They’d come for Mr. Austin. “Talk,” she commanded.
He straightened his trench coat and he glanced at the Roman marble statues in the foyer. “I heard that Nathan Tiernan was an avid collector of Roman art. I thought that was just a rumor.”
She bit her lower lip. “Start talking. Why are you here?”
“Samuel Austin.” Kenneth sat in Nathan’s chair. “He needs to be returned safe to us before things get worse.”
“He’s not here.” Anastasia cautiously approached the chair across from him and lowered herself in it. Remy walked into the study and stood off to the side.
“I know you don’t have him.” Kenneth wiped back the strands of hair from his face. “But you know where Selene is keeping him.”
She crossed her legs. “At her warehouse.”
“And where is this warehouse?”
She quickly explained the location to Kenneth, but before she stopped, she gave him a warning. “I suggest you find the piece of the Dark Curse that she’s looking for.”
“That’s the problem,” Kenneth replied. “We don’t have it.”
“Sounds like you’d better look harder,” Remy said with a sneer.
“It was stolen from our Archives a long time ago,” Kenneth paused, “by Nathan’s father.”
Anastasia continued to stare at him. Her thoughts about what she wanted to do to him continuously changed from carnage to torture, and to that she snickered briefly.
“The Brotherhood stands ready to avenge Mr. Austin,” Kenneth said. “If he’s returned safe to us, then that will be avoided.” He paced around the room, frequently glaring at the artifacts scattered throughout. “We don’t understand why you Deamhan would want to free the Pure Ones.” He blinked slowly. “Just one of them alone could wipe out the majority of your kind and there wouldn’t be anything you could do about it.”
“Don’t think humans are excluded from their wrath,” Remy added.
“I don’t. Hence why it’s important that we all work together to solve this issue. I came here to offer our assistance.”
“Like how The Brotherhood assisted Lucius straight into Limbo?” Remy barked again. “You humans, so two faced and full of lies.” He chuckled. “That is one thing I do admire about your species.”
“That was before my time, but I assure you it won’t happen now. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that any agreement we make right now won’t be broken.”
Remy opened his mouth to speak again but Anastasia quickly shifted her attention to him. In his mind, she told him to stop. She had to think. Would standing alongside The Brotherhood actually help in any way? Did they have a way to stop Lucius and Selene from releasing the Pure Ones from Limbo?
“You can’t let her have the piece she’s looking for.” Anastasia finally spoke as she sat back in her chair and studied Kenneth’s face.
“Well, that’s obvious,” he said. “However, like I said, we don’t have it and we need to find it.” He extended his arms into the air. “Maybe it’s here?”
“No. We’ve checked.” Anastasia immediately stood up. “If Nathan had it, he would have told us about it.”
“Are you sure?” Kenneth smirked. “Researchers, new and old, don’t share all their secrets, especially with Deamhan.” He straightened the collar on his trench coat. “So, let’s place our differences aside and work together on this.” He held out his hand for Anastasia to shake. Instead she ignored the gesture.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He reached into the pocket of his trench coat and he tossed his card to Anastasia. The card landed on the floor in front of her. He nodded his head to the other researchers who immediately walked to the front door. He proceeded out of the study and stopped in the foyer. “Oh, and why I’m here,” his eyes turned to the stairs leading up to the second floor, “we know that Veronica Austin is staying here and that she was attacked last night. We would like to take her back for observation.”
“I don’t care what you would like to do,” Remy quickly replied. “She stays here.”
“She’s a researcher. She belongs with her own. Not with you, not with Anastasia, and definitely not with that scared Deamhan hiding with her in the room.”
Anastasia felt her body stiffen at Kenneth’s request.
“Relax, I’m not demanding that we take her,” he replied. “I’m asking that you hand her over to us as a sign of good faith.”
“A sign of good faith?” Remy laughed. “Like I said, she isn’t going any
where.”
Kenneth turned his upper body to Anastasia. “You know I’m right. She isn’t safe here. Who’s to say that Selene and Lucius won’t come for her once they realize that we don’t have the piece?”
Anastasia didn’t want to admit that he spoke the truth. How could they protect Veronica when they couldn’t protect themselves? The Brotherhood headquarters wasn’t exactly a safe place as well, but they had plenty of other facilities capable of keeping Deamhan out. It pained her to quickly nod at him, signaling the agreement.
“You can’t be serious,” Remy said, raising his voice. Anastasia watched as his eyes changed to black, a sign that he prepared himself to stand against her.
“She belongs with her own, Remy,” Anastasia answered. “We can’t do much for her here and we can’t protect her from what’s to come.”
“We can do a hell of a better job than they can!”
“You Deamhan may be stronger,” Kenneth replied back, “but we are bigger and more organized. We are capable of taking care of her.”
“She isn’t part of your organization,” Remy barked back.
Anastasia held her hand to his face, beckoning for him to stop. “Remy, go and get her.”
“No, she belongs here.”
“Go and get her.”
He hesitated but Anastasia settled his agitation by conversing with him telepathically. In his mind she told him that the agreement was only temporary. Once everything had blown over, she promised him that she would help him get her back by whatever means necessary.
In Deamhan speed Remy rushed up the stairs and within moments he returned with a sleeping Veronica, cradled in his arms. A male researcher extended his arms and before handing her over, he spoke of another threat. “If you harm her I will kill you.”
Confused, Kenneth tilted his head slightly. “You have feelings for her?”
Remy’s eyes changed back to their normal color. “Do you want to test them?”
“If I know you have feelings for her, you can be sure that Selene and Lucius know as well,” Kenneth replied. “This would make Veronica collateral damage.” He pointed to the scars and blood on Remy’s shirt. “Even if you think you could protect her from them, you can’t.”
Dark Curse (Deamhan Chronicles Book 2) Page 19