What’s happening here? she thought, but it echoed aloud in the room. Viria felt embarrassed as she recognized what had happened. She’d read it in the books, about crossing over to the other side while still alive. The temple was one of those points where it occurred and what she was seeing was simply dark energy. It was rather colorful to be considered dark energy, though. But Viria was awed by it.
“You asked for Viria Schovsky,” Mitch claimed. “I’ve brought her to you.”
“Well, thank goodness,” a female voice echoed. “I was starting to think she was a myth. Step forward, young witch. We have a tremendous favor to ask of you.”
Viria had to hold herself back from thinking something snarky in return, knowing her thoughts were not safe in this realm. It was easier to move than before, and she walked forward to the center of a glowing hexagon and looked up at the figures, all bones with their flesh rotting and falling apart.
“We’ve been looking for you for a long time,” one of them said, and Viria couldn’t figure out who.
“How do you know about me?” she asked.
“We have a alliances with different communities of witches,” another female voice echoed. “They informed us about you helping them and we knew we wanted to get in touch with you.”
“They should have told me about their affiliations with you,” Viria retorted.
“One of the terms of our treaties is that no one speaks of us, except to us,” an old voice quavered around the place. “We try not to be too easy to reach or our ways could be easily exploited.”
“I’m sure you’re familiar with Lucille Cleawer’s ways then?”
“Yes, she was a dangerous one we chose to represent us,” someone admitted. “We’re glad she’s been executed.”
It was weird for Viria to be looking at the ghouls, not knowing who was speaking. There were six of them. Every lower Council had six members.
“All right, so what do you need from me?” she asked.
“Protection,” a male voice stated.
“I’m ready to offer you that,” Viria stated. “Is there any credible proof of danger to you from anywhere?”
A slight murmur passed through the room as heads turned to each other. Viria already knew enough and had guessed the rest, but she wanted to see if she could be taken seriously by these people so that this could work.
“Our kind is being visited frequently,” a female said. “Other communities have reported sightings and visits by humans. We’ve experienced the same for about a month. It seems one of the witch communities have betrayed us and told a foreign syndicate of our existence. We’ve resorted to staying in our graves and not going above ground for our recruitments, which is necessary.”
“All right, I’ll help,” Viria stated. The ghouls, despite their dead faces, looked surprised. Viria continued to speak, “How do you expect me to do it, though? I can’t move you guys over to my sanctuaries where I’m giving sheltered to the others affected by attacks.”
“You know who is doing this?” someone asked.
“Yes, I knew it from since Mitch found me,” she admitted. “I can carry out an investigation and work out a plan with you guys. I’ll need some information from you in return for my assistance.”
“We offer whatever we can,” said another. Viria found this very odd. They were ready to trust her all too easily.
“You guys really have no other choice right now, do you?” she asked. “Has something else happened other than the visits?”
The air grew very uncomfortable. Even in her state of deadness she could feel Mitch shuffle behind her.
“We don’t really think anyone would understand our other problem, but you deserve to know since you asked,” they said. “They dig our graves. Sometimes, they take our people away. Mostly women. They come back very disturbed and won’t tell us what they did with them, but we have an idea. The last incident was a few days ago.”
Viria scrunched her eyes and sighed. Necrophilia happened even amongst the undead. And why shouldn’t it? No one was invincible from the despicable crimes of humanity.
“I understand,” she said with a nod. “I completely understand. It’s a horrible crime. I’ll bring them justice, I promise.”
Something struck Viria like a ton of bricks, and she looked up at the Heads.
“Could I meet the recent victim?” she asked.
“They won’t tell you anything, I’m afraid.”
“They don’t need to,” she rushed. “I only need to extract essences. It will help me in my investigation and lead me to the culprit.”
The ghouls studied her. “We shall call for her after this meeting is over and everything planned for.”
Viria knew she couldn’t leave if she wanted to, so she relaxed herself. “Before I can initiate anything at all, I’ll need access to a few things.”
“Name them and they’re yours.”
Viria tried not to smirk, “I need source of information, preferably books, on your kind and your ways.”
The ghouls were shocked. “Whatever for?”
“First, my curiosity for knowledge is insatiable,” she confessed. “Second, I need a list of every other pack, group, and community you’re involved with. Affiliations, rivalries, and alliances. I need contracts for proofs, signed treaties, and of services you provide each other.”
“Services?”
“You have the rabbit shifters acting as agents, like a lot of other shifter communities,” she deadpanned and the ghouls stilled in guilt and amazement. “Anyway, moving on. Third, if I give you protection, you give me your arms. Fourth, I really need to go to the bathroom.”
“Well, it can all be arranged for, but why do you want to read into us?” they asked skeptically. “And how can we trust you with such sacred knowledge?”
“You’re trusting me with my services to you,” she stated. “You want my help and protection, so be it. I need to trust you, too. And as a provider, I also need some form of payment. If it’s knowledge, then I’d be more than happy to accept it.”
The ghouls murmured amongst themselves once again, eyeing her suspiciously.
“What if we say no to the first one?”
“Then I’ll leave and never return,” she stated. “My people are already facing problems of their own and I’m using my own resources to help you. My people will be providing their labor to protect you. I wouldn’t have asked you for such a request if you guys could be easily shifted into one of my sanctuaries where I could protect and keep an eye on you people. I need to be careful of who I make a friend or any enemy.”
“How can we be assured you won’t double cross us?”
“Leap of faith? Hey, I’m not forcing you to agree to my terms. I came here to offer and ask befittingly. If you have a better deal elsewhere, then I can go.”
The old quavering voice breathed deeply. “I can tell she’s a sincere one. How about we give you only half of what you ask in advance, and the rest when it is all over?”
“That works, too,” she agreed. “It’s not like I’ll make any use of what I ask for, anyway. It’s for my own personal enlightenment.”
“You’re a strange thing,” a female ghoul said softly as her eyes closed and a spot on her forehead glowed. It zipped off of her skin and right into Viria’s head. Viria felt nothing at all. The ghoul moved, her hand extending toward her chest. She produced a book and let it levitate in the air. It floated gently toward Viria and right in her hand.
“Ghouls pass their knowledge down through memory fields,” she explained, “You’ll have to cross realms in order to read this.”
Viria knew well she could access the book through simply meditating and opening the memory field chambers. She smiled at her, “Thank you.”
Two other members of the council plunged their hands through their chest and pulled out books, different in shape and volume. Those came floating to her, too. She hugged the books to her chest and they disappeared into her.
“That’s half
the payment,” someone said. “Mitch will give you the rest of the things you asked for and aid you in your investigation if any assistance needed.”
Viria only nodded. They all bowed their heads to her lightly.
“Thank you for your service, Viria Schovsky,” the old voice quavered. “We have faith in your abilities. We didn’t ask you to come here without a good reason.”
“I’ll do my best,” she promised. The mist fell dark. Everyone vanished.
Absolute darkness filled the room and it grew cold, as if nothing had ever happened there before.
She opened her eyes, finding herself on the cold hard ground. Her chest hurt, but the pain was slowly subsiding. Lifting herself to her feet seemed tough. She felt like her limbs were made of jelly, chained down by lead. She really couldn’t move. She felt so tired.
“Ah, meeting the Heads can really drain you of your energy,” Mitch said and walked closer to her. “May I pick you up and take you somewhere to rest?”
“Yes, please,” she said. Mitch dropped to his knees and curled his arms under her back and knees, lifting her off effortlessly. Viria felt it was nice, to be carried this way. She didn’t feel it as a threat to her independence in the slightest, understanding that being cared for at some point and in some circumstances was essential.
He walked out of the temple. The gentle rocking of his arms due to the steps he took was making Viria feel very sleepy.
“You should rest,” he said noticing her drowsiness. “I’ll keep watch and make sure nothing happens to you. The Heads will make sure of it, too, since we need your help.”
“I really appreciate that, Mitch,” she said softly as her head rested gently against his bony chest, eyelids dragging themselves down over her eye balls, no energy in any of her muscles to move.
She didn’t see where they had been going, but the interior was nicer than the temple.
“We get rabbit shifters here to stay sometimes,” Mitch explained, “so we extend our hospitality to them and let them stay a night or two before they head on back.”
She felt herself be lowered onto her side on a soft mattress. She hadn’t had a good, soft mattress to lay on for months now. It felt heavenly. Mitch pulled soft and fluffy blankets over her, then moving away to pull the curtains together and allow for some darkness. It was all so soothing.
Viria was out in seconds.
Chapter 8
Nina couldn’t sleep. It felt weird for everything to be so peaceful at once. No one running off somewhere to save someone or go after another. There was no immediate danger to get away from.
There was nothing to do. But the anxiety wouldn’t let them rest. They were constantly on their feet, pacing, patrolling, looking out beyond the border for trouble.
When Kevin came into the room again to check on Dahlia, she thought enough was enough. Nothing was going to happen and she had a strong gut feeling about it.
Everyone needed this break. And a long rest. They all needed proper sleep.
She latched onto Kevin’s arm before he could back away. He looked at her warily. His eyes were sunken and red, face pale and stubble that needed shaving. His hair was an absolute mess and was growing too long.
“Get everyone to sleep, Kevin,” she said softly as to not wake Dahlia up from her sleep in her arms. Kevin shook his head but Nina’s eyes begged him. He sighed and looked at Dahlia snoozing away. He nodded and slowly backed away from Nina’s hold.
A few minutes passed, and she wasn’t sure if he’d tricked her into thinking he’d listened. She got up and placed Dahlia in a makeshift crib as her arms started to fall asleep themselves, pins and needles pricking her hands. Dahlia shuffled only a little before she yawned and went back to snoring lightly. Nina smiled.
At least someone is at peace, she thought. The door soon creaked open behind here and in came Kevin stumbling. Nina was relieved.
“None of them were ready to listen so it took a while to convince them,” he said as he walked over and gently put his arms around her, “but they’ve all headed in taking a nap.”
Nina sighed in his embrace. It had been so long since she’d felt so at peace this way. She couldn’t get enough of it.
“It’s weird, you know? No trouble to face right now,” she said. “We’re so used to it.”
Kevin placed a finger under her chin and made her look up at him. He looked tired, but had a smile on his face that she could only read as mischievous.
“What are you thinking?” she asked raising a brow at him.
“Oh, you know, I was just thinking we could take advantage of the moment,” he suggested. “It’s nice and quiet, and we’ve both been really stressed the past few days.”
Nina looked at him, absolutely clueless. Kevin wasn’t sure whether to laugh or smack his head against a wall. Nina couldn’t be that innocent.
Or thickheaded, he wondered, but he slapped the thought away. If she was thickheaded then she would have been dead a long time ago.
He decided to simply show her instead, leaning down to place a soft kiss against her lips. Nina sighed and kissed him back just as gently, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, a hand on his neck. She moved to pull way but his hand stayed firm on her waist and the other at the nape of her neck, kissing her more fiercely than before. She gave a surprised yelp as his hand fell to her butt and gave it a good squeeze.
“K-Kevin,” she forced between their lips. “We have a kid in the room.”
He laughed and pulled away. “She’s asleep, and I think you can try being quiet.”
“I dunno, can I?” she wondered as he backed her up against the bed. The back of her knees came into contact with the edge and she fell onto her back. He leaned over her, a hand trailing up her thigh. Nina couldn’t help blushing.
His mouth fell over hers again as his hands played with the button on her jeans. He popped it open and pulled her zipper down. Nina shuddered under him. His hands traced delicately up her stomach, lifting her shirt. His tongue slipped past her mouth as his hand pulled down the cup of her bra, thumb encircling her nipple and brushing the tip of it lightly. She groaned softly into his mouth and he pulled away to trail his head down her neck, leaving behind love bites and marking what was his. Nina was trying her best to contain her moans as he marked her, tasting her skin and licking over the bruises affectionately. He was soon on her chest, trailing down her cleavage and all the way to her nipples to tease with his lips, teeth, and tongue.
Nina could feel herself getting wet down below. She wondered where she would get clothes to replace what she had, but she remembered she was a witch with magic that she could use to her advantage.
A low moan slipped past her lips as his fingers disappeared under her pants to play with her clit. They rubbed the little button in little circles, eliciting soft pants of his name from her little mouth.
His tongue worked on her nipple, licking, sucking, and flicking away rapidly. She wanted to get rid of her pants and have him take her right there and then. The muscles below clenched in need for him, but she knew she’d have to wait and go at his pace.
He couldn’t help himself. He’d missed tasting her. He pulled away soon and shifted to give the other breast attention, moving his fingers against her clit faster, feeling her juices pool into her panties. Her scent attacked his nostrils and he ripped her pants off and dropped to his knees, dragging her navel toward his to the edge of the bed. His tongue dipped into her entrance and she gasped and he lapped at her, burying his face between her legs, making her squeal.
“Quiet, baby,” he murmured. The vibrations sent a jolt up her clit and she bit her hand. He chuckled and it only sent more of the excitement up her body.
“Kevin, please just get this over with,” she begged. He complied, lifting his head to kiss up her stomach and reaching her mouth. He lined himself up with her entrance and entered. Slowly.
“For fuck’s sake!” she cried out and he swallowed her pleas into his mouth as he suddenly thrusted into her, making
her scream and wrap her arms around his neck.
He grabbed her hips and pounded into her, groaning against the skin of her neck. Nina’s nails scratched down his back as she tried to hold onto her consciousness past the pleasure coursing through her with abandon. All she could see were sparks and white light flashing before her eyes as she neared her high.
Their climaxes hit them like a truck and they groaned into each other’s mouths. They hadn’t had sex in what felt like forever and the feelings came raw, as if they’d been doing it for the first time.
Kevin came into her, his warm seed sending a jolt of pleasure through Nina and making her cum as well.
They breathed heavily as they came down from their highs, holding onto each other for dear life. When they finally opened their eyes to look at each other, Nina blushed. She felt shy, but she also wanted to laugh.
Kevin grinned and rubbed his nose against hers. He rolled off of her and lay on his side, pulling her close and pulling the blankets over them, finally dozing off for the day.
Luke was trying his best to calm down his little cub, Violet. She was crying for her mother ever since she’d disappeared into the bathroom for a shower.
“Why do you always want your mother but not me?” he demanded playfully as he jiggled her. She only sobbed more.
“Daddy is angwy,” she choked out nasally. He sighed.
“I’m not angry, sweetheart,” he said as gently as he could.
“Your face,” she hiccupped, “is angwyyyy.”
He frowned, sending her into another wailing fit. Sighing, he cuddled her close and walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door. “Honey?”
“I’m still showering!”
“Your kid says my face is angry and won’t stop crying.”
The door opened and she stuck her head out, her blonde hair dark and matted against her face.
“She’s your kid, too.” She poked her finger at his chest, “Figure her out and maybe I’ll let you join me.”
The Hidden Truth (Shadow Claw Book 7) Page 5