We Shall Rise

by J. E. Hopkins

  I’m sorry that Fi-Fi hurt you. That was my fault. Please don’t tell Mommy and Daddy.

  Those big eyes were on the verge of tears once again. Kaden did not understand her reaction. How could she be responsible for what happened with the vicious little Chihuahua? If anyone was to blame, it was himself for antagonizing the little beast. “It’s not your fault,” he wrote. “Besides, my hand is already starting to heal. It will be back to normal within a day or two. No big deal kid.”

  Tatiana was not convinced. It is my fault. Can you keep a secret?

  Kaden nodded. “I promise,” he spoke the words slowly so she would understand.

  Tatiana just sat there staring at him as if mustering the courage to reveal her little secret. Why she would tell him of all people, Kaden could not comprehend, but he wasn’t going to turn down this opportunity to find out what this kid was hiding. Considering her age, it was probably nothing too exciting, but just in case, he was ready to listen.

  Finally, she breathed deep and faced him. I made Fi-Fi.

  Kaden sighed. This kid had an overactive imagination. No great revelation from this “secret.”

  Kaden wrote in the pad, “You didn’t make Fi-Fi,” what an incredibly dumb name for a dog he thought as he continued, “that warlock made that evil little mutt. You’re not to blame for what happened to my hand.”

  Tatiana read the words before throwing the pad down and responding. Her hands flailing dramatically. I made Fi-Fi, not Nana Diamonde. I can make new creatures. I draw them and they come to life. Nana Diamonde’s favorite poodle went to poodle heaven. It was attacked by a pit bull. She was so sad. I wanted to make Nana Diamonde a new animal that could protect itself from others. Nana Diamonde only likes small doggies so I made Fi-Fi. I drew her and she became real. Then Nana Diamonde asked me to make more Chihuahuas but nice ones so I made them. Fi-Fi is their protector. She’s the only one I made with the poisonous sharp teeth. I never wanted Fi-Fi to hurt you only bad people that would hurt Nana Diamonde.

  But for the passion in which she signed, Kaden would not have believed this story. The look in her eyes left no room for doubt that she spoke the truth.

  This kid was no simple charmer. Kaden wondered what other hidden powers she possessed. She was so young to have such skills. Most immortals her age could barely make the lights go out. This child created beasts and undid spells. What would she be by the age of twenty when her powers were fully developed?

  “What else have you made?” he wrote quickly anxious to hear the answer.

  Happy, my pet piranha, and Giggles, my snake. I made them pretty colors that I like. I made some other pets for Nana Diamonde, but I had to erase them because they went bad and started attacking the Chihuahuas.

  “How do you do this?” Kaden wrote.

  Tatiana ran over and grabbed another large chest. She twirled her fingers and the lock opened. Kaden sat next to her as she rifled through painting after painting of odd shaped animals. There was the picture of Happy, the pink and white piranha with sharp fangs and what must be Giggles, the python with an extra set of teeth.

  When I need to make the animals go away, I just tear up the paper and they disappear.

  Kaden found the painting of Fi-Fi. There she was. The little shit that took his right hand. There must be a paper shredder in this house. He hoped Fi-Fi would die a slow painful death via shredder. He was salivating at the thought so much so that Tatiana must have understood his dark thoughts as she seized the paper from his hands.

  I can’t hurt Fi-Fi. Nana Diamonde would be so upset with me. Please don’t make me do that.

  He could make her, he realized. Blackmail her into compliance. It would serve her right for trusting him so readily when he had not earned her loyalty and devotion. She shouldn’t be so quick to confide her secrets to a stranger. As much as he wanted to end Fi-Fi, he couldn’t make Tatiana do it. He couldn’t hurt this child. Somehow, that kid weaseled her way into his heart and there was no way he could break hers. Damn. He would have to find another way to get rid of Fi-Fi.

  Kaden nodded and Tatiana reached up to hug him again. This child was big on affection. Kaden generally avoided emotional attachments. Emotions were a disease without a cure.

  “Why don’t you want your parents to know?” Kaden scribbled in the pad.

  They wouldn’t let me make more pets if they knew. They would make me send them all back. Daddy hates snakes and Mommy complains every time she helps me clean my fish tank. Happy likes to bite. I really want a dog or cat, but Daddy said I’ve got him and Alejandro so I don’t need another dog or cat. I guess he’s right, but I want more pets. I’m hoping that if one day I draw the perfect dog and he just ends up lost and afraid at our front door, Mommy would just let me keep it. She’s a softy for homeless animals. That’s how I got Giggles and Happy. Happy just appeared in our pool and Giggles was sitting in our living room. Daddy threw him out at first, but he kept coming back and finally after all my begging, Daddy let him stay as long as he stays in the basement. I can’t keep him in my room. I go visit him every morning before school and when I get home.

  Kaden tried to find out if Tatiana had other secret abilities, but she claimed there were none. There was more to that kid than anyone realized. She was special and needed to be protected. He agreed to keep her secret as long as she promised not to make anything dangerous unless he asked her to. He may need her to create another snake for her Daddy.

  After playing tea party and watching painfully happy animated movies, Tatiana had begun to fall asleep. He carried her to her canopied bed and tucked her in. He tried to leave, but she pleaded with him to read her a story and stay until she fell asleep. He reminded her that he could not sign a story for her with his missing hand so she settled for his company. Eventually she dozed off and he did as well.

  A light flashed causing Kaden to stir. He woke to the smell of jasmine and gardenia as he opened his eyes to see Reysa standing next to him.

  “She’s asleep,” he confirmed.

  “You look kind of sexy in that costume,” Reysa grinned.

  Shit! He fell asleep in the Burger King outfit. “Tell me you didn’t take a picture.”

  “I didn’t,” she promised, but then she pointed to Julian standing in the doorway, “but your brother did.” That was the flash of light that woke him.

  “Mom wanted assurance that you were ok. I thought a picture would be appropriate.”

  “Jules, destroy that picture. You share that with anyone and I will choke you with your own hands.”

  Julian just laughed. “It will take more than one hand to do that.” Julian darted away before Kaden could reach him.

  “Let him go, Kaden. Besides, I think you look pretty hot in that outfit. You’re only missing the sexy tights.”

  Kaden prowled to where Reysa stood. Tonight she was wearing a hunter green dress that complimented her jade eyes. She smelled so enticing; her scent compelling him to come closer. He obliged as he slowly circled her inhaling her from direction. She was the forbidden fruit he could not resist the temptation to sample. He leaned in from behind pressing his chest into her back. Bending his head, he licked from her shoulder blade to her ear. Reysa trembled in his arms. “I need more of you.” He bent down to taste more of her delicious skin when she pulled away.

  “Kaden, we cannot do this here.” Kaden paused and looked to the bed where Tatiana slept peacefully.

  “Then let’s do this somewhere private.” Kaden used his left hand to grab Reysa’s right as he escorted her out of Tatiana’s room and led her towards hers. He couldn’t wait to reach her room as he seized her shoulders and spun her around so that her lips would meet his in the passionate kiss he wanted to recreate. He pressed his mouth to hers demanding entry and she readily obliged.

  So caught up in the taste of one another, they did not realize they weren’t alone until the sound of the cough broke up the heated moment. Alejandro was standing in Reysa’s bedroom half naked only wearing a pair of khaki s
horts. At least he was partially clothed this time. He often walked around with less on. No wonder Lina had developed a crush on the muscular cat.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Alejandro offered.

  He was going to be very sorry when Kaden got his hands on him. He really hated this house. There was never a moment of privacy. He needed to whisk Reysa away where they could have some much anticipated alone time. This desire for her was excruciating and he desperately wanted to sate this craving before it killed him.

  “Reysa, you are needed at The Lore. There is an urgent matter you must attend.”

  “Thank you Alejandro, I’ll be there momentarily.”

  “I will meet you there.” The cat quickly shed his shorts and morphed to the black jaguar he generally preferred. Kaden had seen enough naked Alejandro to last him a lifetime. The cat could be a little more modest.

  “Where were we?” Kaden bent down to resume the kiss, but Reysa backed away.

  “I have to go to The Lore.”

  “Go later.”

  “I cannot. Alejandro would not have interrupted if it hadn’t been important. I’m sorry, Kaden. I promise we’ll…”

  “What? You promise what Reysa? That we’ll keep tormenting each other with unfulfilled need or will you finally stop fighting this thing between us?”

  “You’ve been fighting it as much as I’ve been,” Reysa reminded Kaden. She wasn’t the only one who had resisted this undeniable attraction.

  “You’re right, but I’m here now waiting for you. I’m not the one running this time.”

  “Not this time, but I suspect you will run again once you realize that one time will never be enough for us. I don’t get the impression you do repeat performances.”

  Kaden could not deny that accusation. His longest relationship was with Helena and she compelled him to stay with her.

  “Figure out what you want first, Kaden. If we go down this road, there’s no turning back. I’m not one of your little floozies. I have a child, family, and friends depending on me. I don’t have time for games. I’m a package deal. Make sure you want the whole deal before you sample part of it.” Reysa disappeared, leaving Kaden trying to figure out if he could be part of her life, not just part of her.

  III

  Reysa arrived at The Lore where she met up with Alejandro and Christian. The club was now closed as it was just before dusk. The only other beings there were the cleaning crew. Alejandro informed her that Savannah and Broderick were waiting for them outside near the secret back entrance that no one other than them knew about—at least that’s what they thought until now. As they approached the door, Reysa was overwhelmed with the metallic smell of blood, but this was not human blood. This blood was tainted, diseased. It was immortal blood and it smelled of death.

  Alejandro opened the door and stepped outside. Reysa followed and immediately spotted the source of the stifling odor. She fought back the nausea as she approached Christian. He was standing over what appeared to be the tattered remains of three women whose skin had been savagely ripped from their bodies. Their eyes were gauged from the sockets. One was missing an ear and an arm, while the others lacked all extremities. Black blood oozed from their mutilated remains. Demons. Only demons had blood as black as night.

  Reysa recognized the women. They were demon prostitutes who frequented The Lore looking for potential clients. “What the hell happened?” Reysa asked as her stomach clenched from the sight and smell.

  Christian pointed to something behind her. She turned around and saw another bloodied body several feet away. “That thing happened,” Christian responded in a deceptively calm voice masking the rage his beast wanted to unleash. “It was a lycan. I saw him feasting on these women. I confronted him and he didn’t try to run away. He just sat there rocking back and forth asking me to kill him. He was crazed. Lost. His eyes were empty. I couldn’t react. I just watched him. I didn’t know what to do. Well, he lost patience with my indecision. He took matters in his own hands. He started biting his own skin off. I still couldn’t move. I’d never seen anything like this before. I just watched this revulsion in front of me and I did nothing. Like a stupid coward I did nothing.” Reysa clutched his shoulder, but Christian would not accept her comfort. He knew he did not deserve it, for failing to save this lycan from himself. “Finally the lycan looked at me and I could see that he was just a kid. That snapped me out of my temporary paralysis. I wanted to help him. Save him. Before I could blink he dug his claws in his throat and ripped his own neck halfway off his body. His nearly decapitated body collapsed in that pool of his own blood.”

  Reysa’s stomach wretched at the sight of the young lycan who brutally killed himself. The boy was barely older than a pup and now his life had ended before it had a chance to really begin. Three demon females were lost this night as well. Their kin would want revenge against this lycan’s clan. The families would be at war.

  Reysa feared this was just the beginning. She reached for her phone and dialed Lucian. He answered on the second ring. “Send help now. We’re about to go to war.”

  Chapter 5

  She was performing again tonight, but this time, it was a show just for him. She was wearing a long black sleek gown that emphasized every wondrous curve of her flawless body. A body that swayed so tantalizingly to the jazzy beat that echoed throughout the club. As she did before, she concentrated those radiant eyes on him ignoring all the other faces in the crowd desperately seeking her attention. Tonight, she only had eyes for him.

  “Sway with me.” she offered and Kaden wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms and move their bodies rhythmically to the seductive tempo of her voice. He approached the stage never taking his eyes off the beauty that beckoned him. Unlike last time, her wall of protectors parted. Although Christian hesitated, he allowed Kaden to pass.

  Kaden slowly climbed the stage stalking his target, waiting to see if she would run. Reysa didn’t run. She continued to sing calling out for him to come to her. Her mesmerizing voice pulling him closer. He stood several inches away from her, wanting so much to touch and to finally taste. She started to step back motioning with her index finger for Kaden to follow. He would follow. He would follow her anywhere and everywhere.

  She was headed behind the stage, but her eyes never left his as she continued to sing. He was entranced by the hypnotic sounds of her sultry voice. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. He was burning with need to reach her. To taste.

  She exited the stage as her song ended. She continued to lead him through the back of the club in a curious silence, but her eyes retained that hunger for him and he knew his eyes reflected the same yearning. She briefly turned away to open a door to an office. Kaden entered and locked the door behind him. Reysa’s back was to him. She was as beautiful from behind as from the front. Could he be so lucky to touch such a heavenly gift? Could something so flawlessly wondrous belong to him?

  His body was ready to receive this gift as his erection nearly burst from his pants. He had never wanted a woman so much and he doubted he would ever want a woman like this again. Reysa was the only one for him. He could deny it no longer.

  He walked slowly to her and pressed his chest against her back. Reysa turned to him and opened that dazzling mouth he could not help but imagine would feel so blissfully divine on his strained arousal. “Kaden, I want you. I want us. I want….yip. Yip, yip, yip.”

  A startled Kaden jumped back as Reysa continued to yip louder and louder. Kaden’s eyes shot open as he nearly fell while scrambling furiously out of the bed. His chest pounding as he tried to catch his breath from that dreaded nightmare. He turned around and looked down to see a pair of huge bulging eyes staring up at him. “¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!” the thing said before yipping again.

  Kaden jumped backwards landing in a crouch as if preparing to attack the invader when the lights flashed and he heard the bellowing laughter from the doorway.

  “Corinne,” Kaden gritted out his fury causing smoke to emana
te from his skin. There she stood or rather stooped in the doorway nearly choking on her laughter. If only she would really choke Kaden hoped but he would not be so lucky.

  It figures his annoying aunt would make a most unwanted appearance. The last thing he needed was her around causing trouble.

  Corinne tried to gather herself, but when the robot Chihuahua repeated the “¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!,” and Kaden had that anxious look on his face, she couldn’t help but laugh harder. This time she snapped several pictures with her camera phone before Kaden could react.

  Kaden was not so amused. Now that the initial shock had passed, his cheeks flushed at the realization that he almost lost it over a robot Chihuahua courtesy of this aunt’s wicked sense of humor. He launched a fire ball at the robot, incinerating it. Reysa would have to forgive him for her ruined carpet. That thing may be a stupid toy, but it still needed to be destroyed.

  “Hey!” Corinne moaned. “Do you know how long it took me to find that Chihuahua. I spent hours on eBay before I won the bid for that thing and you just destroyed it. You are so inconsiderate at times.”

  Only Corinne would see herself as the victim in this scenario. Kaden thought about directing a fire ball at her and toasting her and her overpriced, age-inappropriate Versace dress. She was older and stronger and could probably kick his ass in a hand to hand fight, but his extra ability helped make up for the strength he lacked. As tempting as it was to kill Corinne, she was his aunt and would likely survive just to make his life a greater hell. There was no getting rid of Corinne.

  “I’m inconsiderate? I lost my hand to one of those things and you’re making jokes.”

  “You lost your hand to a robot puppy?”

  Exasperated, Kaden ran his left hand through his hair rather than his aunt’s throat. “I was attacked by a demented Chihuahua and because of its toxic bite I had to lose my hand, which hurt like hell. Do you think that’s funny?”