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Post by onyxfyrefly on Apr 22, 2015 8:00:19 GMT -5
For a beat it was silent. Finally Ryan managed to find his voice. “You’re immortal? How is that even possible?”
Rea leaned against the rough wall behind her. “When I was eighteen my mother was getting ready to initiate me into her coven when word came that they had been betrayed and the townspeople were coming for them. Voodoo may be a recognized religion now but back then it was worse than witchcraft.
My parents had anticipated an event like this and had transportation out of the city ready for the three of us. My my father got me out but was caught while trying to go for my mother. They were sentenced to be burned at the stake. The members of the coven helped disguise me so I could be there in the crowd. If my parents were going to die I wanted to see it, not hear it through rumor.
Somehow my parents knew I was there and managed to pull off the most powerful spell I have ever seen. They declared that when I reached the peak of my womanhood time would stop, I would never age another day. They transferred all of their power to me, infusing me with my mother’s voodoo and my father’s light and dark magic. I’m probably the most powerful witch on the planet but I’d give it all up in order to be with them again. I was eighteen, a grown woman! I should have died with them that day.”
The witch swallowed hard to hold back her tears. To this day she could still smell the thick smoke and feel the searing pain as the spell hit her. “They wanted me to live long enough to find the one who betrayed them and to be powerful enough to stop them when the time came. Ironically, it only took a few months to find the witch that betrayed us and the coven put her to death. Even though my parents’ wish was fulfilled I still watch each year pass by, I see those that I love age and die yet I never change.”
When Ryan next spoke his words were very soft. “Rea, how old are you?”
“I was born in 1880. My mother studied under Marie Laveau, the strongest voodoo priestess the world has ever seen. I didn’t get the honor to learn from her, I was less than a year old when she died.”
“That’s impossible. You’re lying,” growled Keith.
“It’s amazing how powerful the combination of love and desperation is.” The werewolf clenched his jaw and Rea sighed. “Fine.” Taking a deep breath she let her eyes meet his.
For a second she felt time stop as she tumbled into the aqua colored orbs as the soul gaze began. Keith had once been a carefree young man who turned a blind eye to the growing decay of his neighborhood. The crime rate had risen and each day was more dangerous than the next. He had played it off, knowing that things would somehow get better when tragedy struck. His beloved younger sister was killed in a crossfire on her way home from school one day.
Keith had been devastated and angry, wanting revenge on those who had torn his family apart. He heard whispers of a way to become stronger, to be able to defend himself and those around him. In a darkened pub he met a mage that showed him how to unlock the magic that was already within him.
From that day forward he was determined to turn his old neighborhood around, to make it safe once more and to help those around him in any way that he could.
The images began to blur and race before Rea’s eyes but it was Keith that broke the gaze first. They both were breathing hard and the werewolf’s face was pale, Rea always wondered what people saw when they looked into her eyes.
“Do you believe me now?” Keith shakily nodded his head. “Good.”
“What about the Shadowman?” asked Colm. “You parents put a spell on you but how could this practitioner stay alive for so long?”
Rea shoved her hands in her pockets. “My guess is that he sold his soul.”
“To whom? The devil?” asked Emmett.
“If only,” replied the witch with a wry chuckle. “No, I have a feeling it was someone or something much worse. Most likely one of the fairy queens or a demon.”
Keith laughed. “He sold his soul to a fairy, I could think of worse things.”
Rea turned on the werewolf. “Really? Have you ever met a fairy, a real one? I’m not talking about the little pixies that zip around and pull pranks I’m talking about the real deal. They look just like grown women and are the most beautiful, desirable creatures you will ever lay eyes upon. They also have more power in their little finger than the six of us combined.” The blonde fell silent. “Of course it could be a demon but I doubt it, a demon would come after me himself. They wouldn’t use a human to to their dirty work.”
“Could one of the fairy queens make someone immortal?” asked Colm after a beat.
“In a way, yes,” replied Rea. “They could stop the clock but only for so long. If the Shadowman has made a deal with one of the fairy queens then this situation is much more dangerous than I thought. He has to kill me or the queen will take away his immortality. He’ll race through the years in an instant, it’s a horrible way to die.”
“Now what?” asked Neil after a long, uncomfortable silence.
“You heard Mag, he’s supposed to contact me. I suggest we all get some rest and I have some work to do. If he’s coming to kill me then I intend on taking him down with me.”
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Post by barbt on Apr 23, 2015 5:50:28 GMT -5
Wow
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Apr 24, 2015 8:38:45 GMT -5
Rea sat down on the end of her bed with a sigh. This was it, she was going to die. The idea didn’t bother her nearly as much as it should. For decades she had waited for her body to age, for her powers to wane but she stood frozen as the world moved around her. She missed her family and was looking forward to seeing them once more. She just had to figure out a way to keep the others safe in the process.
She didn’t ask what Mag had discussed with the others but it had rattled Ryan. He had reached for her briefly in the lobby but turned away without another word. Rea wasn’t sure what to think about the handsome vampire but she didn’t have time for that. Perhaps if she managed a miracle and survived then she’d spare a thought for him.
For a moment she considered contacting her coven. If she was going to face such a powerful mage she would have preferred to do it standing side by side with some of the world’s strongest practitioners. Instead she had three werewolves and two White Court vampires. It’s a good thing that Rea didn’t gamble because her luck sucked.
“Maybe I can track him...” she mused then shook her head. In a city this large it was impossible to track someone’s aura. There was too much interference and she would be wandering around for days while more people died in the process.
Blind Mag said that the Shadowman would make himself known to her and that didn’t sit well with Rea. She could pull off some powerful magic on the fly but when she had time to prepare she was a force to be reckoned with. Of course if this mage had been following her for decades he would know that.
Drat.
“Come on...think...” Rea tried to piece together as much about the Shadowman as she could. He had sold his soul in order to gain revenge for something that her parents did and he preferred to kill using air magic.
It wasn’t much but it was a start. The witch bounced her knee, a habit her papa had failed to break in her, as she thought. Air magic was difficult to counter. Rea typically used fire magic, a simple acceleration of particles to produce heat or light. Fire magic was nearly useless against air magic because they countered each other. Air fueled the fire and fire superheated the air. The same went for earth and water magic, they each were canceled out by air. There’s a reason why those are the four main elements of magic, you know, they balance so perfectly that it hurts.
Rea’s thoughts were racing as she let her head sink into her hands. A blinding headache pounded behind her eyes and she knew that she should sleep but there was no way that she would rest in this state. She toyed with the amulet at her neck, a gift from her mother, as she tried to find a solution. “I wish you were here, mamma, I sure could use some help. They’re going to die and it’s all my fault.”
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Apr 27, 2015 21:20:57 GMT -5
For two days Rea refused to leave her hotel room. She studied and brewed potions and tried to forget that she held the fate of five individuals in her hands. The witch had pushed all thoughts of the others from her mind as she tried to prepare for her inevitable meeting with the Shadowman. Ryan only called once and that was to make sure that she hadn’t fled the city, apparently he was doing Keith’s handiwork.
Rea had finally exhausted herself when the shrill ringing of the phone tore her from the first decent sleep she had gotten in days.
“Something better be on fire or someone better be dead,” she growled into the phone.
“He’s been spotted. We’re on our way to the hotel,” said Ryan and Rea was up and moving before the dial tone hit her ear.
Despite her exhaustion her eyes were bright when the car stopped in front of the hotel. “Where was he seen?” she asked as Neil hit the accelerator.
“Near an old warehouse district,” replied Ryan.
“How cliche. How long ago?”
“One of Keith’s scouts spotted him less than an hour ago. Keith and the others will meet us there.”
Rea nodded and glanced out of the window at the blurred cityscape. “You guys don’t have to come with me.”
Neil glanced at her in the review mirror for a moment before blasting through an intersection. “Yes we do.”
“It’s my burden...”
Ryan interrupted her. “It’s not just about you anymore, Rea. When Roz was killed he changed the game. We’re going to help whether you like it or not.” The vampire squeezed her knee and she turned her head away. Rea knew that the future was not set in stone, at a moment’s notice their fates could change. But something told her that the seer’s predictions would be coming true sooner than anyone thought.
Due to Neil’s driving it didn’t take long for them to reach their destination. They parked a few blocks away and walked in silence as Rea cast out her senses. He had been here, she could feel the oppressive weight of his magic pressing against her temples. His aura was visible but faint, she might be able to track him but it would be difficult with so much ground to cover.
She turned a corner and stopped short. Keith was standing between two massive dark wolves, one with brilliant blue eyes and the other with a darker set. She knew that it was just Colm and Emmett but the sight was impressive to say the least. “Any sign of him?” she asked.
Keith shook his head. “No, but we did find something.” Rea stepped closer and saw a small piece of black cloth that had been snagged on a loose nail.
“What is it?” asked Neil.
“A breadcrumb,” replied Rea with a frown. “He knows I can track him with this, he’s luring us in.”
“How?”
Rea didn’t reply. Instead she reached into her pocket and produced a small piece of chalk. After drawing a large circle around herself she gently picked up the piece of fabric and placed it inside the circle with her. Kneeling down she touched the circle and forced a tiny bit of her will into it, the others could practically feel the snap of the magic as it closed around her. Drawing a knife from her boot she pricked her thumb and allowed a tiny drop of blood to soak into the dark cloth. She whispered, “suivre”, and after a moment an eerie blue white light began to emanate from it. A heartbeat later the light was gone and Rea smudged the chalk with her foot, breaking the circle.
“Did it work?” asked Keith.
The witch nodded. “Follow me.” She closed her eyes and opened them again with her Sight. The twisted blue and black aura of the Shadowman flared to life in front of her, leading them directly into the warehouse district. “I swear, is there a handbook they give to bad guys with criteria they have to follow? Cheesy name? Check. Abandoned warehouses? Check. If he has a maniacal laugh I’m leaving.” One of the wolves at her side huffed and it almost sounded like a snort of laughter which brought a slight smile to her face.
Rea lead the way flanked by Emmett and Colm while the other three brought up the rear. “Keep your eyes open, we’re getting close.” Several twists and turns later the practitioner’s aura faded and Rea held up a fist to stop them. After closing her Sight she took a look around. They were surrounded by huge shipping containers on all sides. It wouldn’t be difficult for Ryan or Neil to jump to the top of one and even the wolves could probably make it in a single leap but she wouldn’t be able to make it without a little help from her magic.
“So glad you could join me, cher.”
The voice made their heads almost comically whip around. Directly across from them a figure emerged from the shadows. Well, that’s not exactly true. A figure made of shadows stepped forward and Rea raised an eyebrow. “Really? You sent a projection? Too afraid to face me?”
“It is not yet time for us to meet. I simply wanted to give you a small taste of my power.”
Twin growls made the group snap their heads to the side as two sets of eyes began to brightly glow a sinister red. The witch shook her head in disgust. “So you raised a couple of demons. I know toddlers who could do more impressive feats for a cookie.”
The shadow figure twitched and Rea knew that she had hit a nerve. “You are just like your mother, constantly running your mouth.”
“I’m more like my mother than you know.” Holding out her right hand Rea muttered a word and sent a searing bolt of heat towards the shadow. For an instant she could feel the Shadowman’s will pushing against her own but without anything to draw from he was nearly powerless against her. The shadow seemed to scream before being ripped apart as Rea’s magic overcame the other mage’s.
“Amateur,” she said before joining the others. The two demons were slowly creeping closer and unknowingly the group formed a line with Rea in the center.
“Impressive,” remarked Ryan without taking his eyes off the demons. One looked like some kind of frog or toad while the other looked like a wildcat on serious steroids. “Now what do we do?”
“We fight,” replied Rea. She heard a sound to her side and glanced over to see a dark blonde wolf join the others.
“Don’t witches fight with wands or something?” asked Neil.
Rea grinned. “Some use wands but I prefer something a bit more...substantial.” She held out her left hand and a staff began to materialize in front of their eyes. It was pitch black and covered with white runes and symbols. “Whatever you do don’t turn your back on them and be careful, it looks like the toad spits.”
They could all feel the shock when the Shadowman released his control on the creatures and the two groups ran at full tilt towards each other. The toad jumped at Rea and she swung her staff like a baseball bat, hitting it dead center and sending it flying. Before it could land Ryan and Neil were on it, landing blows at an inhuman speed.
The other demon made a sound very similar to a housecat when it’s tail has been stepped on and jumped several feet in the air. “Ignis!” Rea yelled and lobbed a fireball at the creature. It was faster than she anticipated and she missed her mark but managed to burn a substantial portion of its right flank. The acrid stench of burned hair filled the air as she went running across the space once more.
It was obvious that the Shadowman didn’t know she was bringing company because the two demons he raised were minor ones. If she had been alone then she would have been in a world of hurt but with the assistance from the others it didn’t take long for the battle to shift in their favor.
Rea heard Colm, or was it Emmett?, make a sharp sound to get her attention and she turned and headed where the three wolves had the cat-like demon surrounded. It was horribly wounded yet bared its teeth and hissed at them. “Come on guys, aren’t you supposed to chase it up a tree or something?” she asked.
Keith made a sound that she was pretty sure translated into an obscene word and she drew in her will and pointed her staff at the demon. “Cover your eyes!” she warned before yelling “zelde!” A blinding blot of lightning shot from her staff and hit the demon right between the eyes. The creature let out a scream and dissolved into millions of tiny pieces of ash that caught in the slight breeze.
“Rea!”
Neil’s call made the spin on her heel and she watched as the other demon grabbed Ryan and threw him against one of the shipping crates. The vampire left a huge dent and fell to the ground with a sickening thud.
“Have I mentioned that I hate frogs?” She started to run towards the demon and felt the three wolves catch up with her. “I can’t hurt it with my magic, it’s going to take brute force. Wear him down until I can finish him off.”
She hung back while the three wolves went to Neil’s aid. Keeping one eye on the battle she hurried to Ryan’s side. Placing a hand on his chest she let out a breath of relief, he was alive.
The sound of something wet hitting the ground reached her ears and a moment later Neil cursed. Apparently the creature did spit some type of acid. Luckily the vampire had only been splashed with a few drops but he held his left arm close to his body.
Glancing up, Rea suddenly got an idea. “Neil, fall back and keep an eye on Ryan. Push him to your left about ten feet and hold him there!”
The demon was strong and fought them for every inch. Rea ran to assist the wolves and even though her magic bounced off its hide it annoyed the creature enough to make it step back a few feet. She could tell that it was going to spit again and Keith was right in its trajectory. Taking off in a dead sprint Rea shook the bracelet on her left wrist free and dove between Keith and the demon. The wolf braced himself for the bite of the acid and was shocked to see the venom dripping off of the shield that Rea had created in front of her.
While the demon was screaming its frustration Colm and Emmett took advantage of its distraction and managed to knock it off its feet. Before it could move Rea pointed her staff at the ground below the creature and said “revenir” while pouring her will into the word. The concrete began to melt back into its natural elements causing the heavy demon to sink into the muck.
“Back up! Get clear!” yelled Rea. The runes on her staff glowed red as she pointed it at the shipping container above the demon. “Ventus anima!” the witch yelled and the container began to rock as it was pounded by the winds she commanded. She let out a cry and the container finally came loose, falling directly on top of the trapped demon. Rea turned and crouched while activating her shield bracelet once more, feeling the shockwave and debris bounce off of the shield.
Her ears were ringing from the volume of the crash and she didn’t hear her companions calling her name until they were right in front of her. She let the shield fall and slowly came to her feet, feeling a hand on her arm to steady her.
“Are you alright?” asked Keith.
The werewolf’s presence startled the witch. “Yes, I’m fine. You?”
“I’m fine...thanks to you. I owe you one.”
Rea nodded in response. “I’ll remember that.”
The two walked over to where the others were waiting, sheltered behind another crate. “You certainly know how to make a statement,” said Neil. The wounds on his arm were nearly gone but she could tell that the fight had taken its toll.
The witch glanced back at the fallen container and chuckled. “I know, this is why I can’t have nice things.” She knelt down where Ryan was sitting with his back against the wall. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
“You took a heck of a hit, are you sure you’re okay?”
The vampire took her hand in his own, his fingertips gently grazing the tender skin of her wrist. “I told you, Rea, I’m fine.”
He smiled slightly then tipped his head up to meet her eyes. His eyes were almost black, the pupils so dilated that the cool blue hue was nearly gone. Rea snatched her hand away and stepped back quickly. “Lair, you’re not fine...you’re hungry.” Ryan’s smile faded as he staggered to his feet. “I’m going back with the others, we’ll meet you at Colm’s house.”
“Rea wait...”
“I’m sure someone heard that crash and we need to be gone before the police arrive. I’ll see you there. Come on guys, let’s go.”
Without another word the witch turned and began to walk off, the three werewolves flanking her. Ryan watched her go and swore before turning and heading in the opposite direction.
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Post by barbt on Apr 28, 2015 5:58:14 GMT -5
Good battle! Knew they would work together well. I see Rea still doesn't quite trust Ryan.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 2, 2015 1:01:09 GMT -5
The ride back to Colm’s house was silent. Rea was trying to replay as much of the battle in her mind as possible to try and find more of the Shadowman’s weaknesses. The others were wondering what they had gotten themselves into. They wanted to find Roz’s killer but had no idea that they were going to be drawn into such a dangerous situation.
Once they reached the house Rea stopped them. “Now that the Shadowman knows that you’re involved it wouldn’t hurt to be a bit more cautious.” She reached out towards the home with her senses, going over the entire structure twice before nodding towards the door. “All clear. Remind me tomorrow and I will place wards around the house. Between the wards and the threshold nothing will be able to get in.”
The witch sank into an overstuffed chair with a sigh. She was going to be sore in the morning. It had been a long time since she’d had to actually fight, she usually relied on her magic to win the day.
“Are you alright?” asked Colm while handing her a mug of tea.
“I’m fine, just tired. It’s been a while since I’ve had to fight and that last spell took a lot out of me.”
“That was impressive,” commented Emmett while sitting across from her. “How did you do it?
“I used his own trick against him, it was just air magic.” She glanced at her companions. “Are you guys okay?”
“Just a few bumps and bruises, nothing that we can’t handle.”
The group sat in silence for several minutes until Keith spoke up. “How did you create that shield around us? I didn’t hear you cast a spell.”
Rea held out her left wrist. “With this. Each charm is an enchanted shield and the band is enchanted as well with a defense spell. I can create a shield without it but the charms help focus and strengthen the spell.” She sipped her tea and glanced at her companions. “I don’t have to actually say anything in order to cast a spell, it just helps me focus.”
“Really?” asked the blonde.
“When you learned how to shift you had to actually speak the spell, didn’t you? But as time went by it became second nature and now you can just shift without even thinking about it, right?” The three werewolves nodded. “The same is true with my magic. I can cast basic, everyday spells with just a thought but more powerful or intricate spells require a bit more concentration. Of course sometimes I’m just lazy and use the words so I don’t have to use as much effort with the simple things.”
The witch placed her empty mug on the table and held out her left hand. The three wolves watched in silence as the black staff appeared in her hand once more. “How do you do that?” asked Colm.
Rea grinned. “A girl has to have some secrets. I learned it from a friend that lives in the middle of nowhere Missouri. He’s one of the most powerful wizards that I’ve ever met. He knew that I hated carrying around this thing so he showed me how to call it when I need it. He also taught me how to cast the spell without speaking so if I’m ever in trouble I can call it without making any noise.”
“What are all of those symbols?” asked Emmett.
“Why do I suddenly feel like I’m at show and tell?”
“Sorry...”
She waved off the apology. “I’m just teasing you. There are runes and spells carved into the staff. The spells are mostly force and energy related to enhance my strength if I actually fight with it. The runes help focus the spells I send through it and amplify them. I can cast powerful spells without it but the staff makes them more precise.”
Slowly she examined each inch of the staff, making sure that it wasn’t cracked or chipped. Once she was convinced that it was still solid she waved her hand and it faded into nothingness.
“Why did the Shadowman lure us in like that?” Keith suddenly asked.
“He was trying to lure me into the confrontation in order to test my strength and wear me down. I don’t think that he was expecting me to bring company.”
“Why didn’t he just fight you?” asked Emmett. “Why raise the demons?”
The witch settled back in the chair. “I think he’s trying to show off his power by raising the demons but that feat isn’t very impressive at all. Almost anyone with any amount of magical talent could raise a demon or two without breaking a sweat.” She paused and a grin quirked her lips. “He knows that he can’t fight me without anything to draw upon. We weren’t near a body of water and the skies were clear so he had to rely on his own magic and I must say that he is pretty weak. I could shatter his projection with a thought.”
“What will he do next?” asked Colm.
“I wish I knew. I would guess that he’s going to change the game again now that you all are involved. He’s going to up the stakes so you guys need to be on guard at all times. I would also guess that he’s going to wait for it to rain so he can draw off of the power of the storm. He’s not naturally strong but he has learned how to amp up his power to a terrifying scale. He might try and draw me into a confrontation near one of the rivers but that’s too public. If he’s going around calling himself the Shadowman I’m going to assume that he doesn’t want to be in the spotlight.”
The group chatted on and off but it was late and Rea could feel the effects of the battle on her body. She sat up with a start when Colm gently touched her shoulder. “There is a free room down the hall on the left, why don’t you try to get some rest?”
Rea shook her head. “I’m fine. I wanted to wait until Ryan and Neil got back so we can decide our next course of action.”
“It’s obvious you’re exhausted and you need to rest. The Shadowman could attack at any minute and we need to be ready.”
“Stupid logic,” muttered the witch while slowly coming to her feet. She could feel each and every one of her years weighing on her as she trudged down the hall. The room was small but there was a bed with clean sheets and that was more than enough for her. She was asleep mere moments after her head hit the pillow and to her relief she did not dream.
It was several hours later before Ryan and Neil returned to the house. After checking in the two decided to get some rest and regroup in the morning.
Ryan stood in the doorway and watched as Rea slept. When she was fighting she seemed invincible and larger than life but now she seemed small and vulnerable. “Are you awake?” he whispered, not wanting to disturb the others.
“No...” Rea mumbled and Ryan chuckled.
The vampire sat on the edge of the bed and smoothed her hair back. “I’m sorry about earlier...”
“’S fine...”
“No it isn’t, I don’t know what came over me. You know that I would never do anything to hurt you.”
Rea turned to face him. “Apologize tomorrow, I’m too tired to care.”
The vampire chuckled and gently caressed her cheek. “Alright.”
She blinked open heavy eyes. “Are you staying or are you on guard duty?”
Ryan smiled slightly. “Emmett is watching the door, I suppose I could stay.”
The witch didn’t reply she simply burrowed down under the covers. A few minutes later the bed dipped with Ryan’s added weight and she rolled towards him, tucking her face into his shoulder.
The vampire pulled her close, she was soft and warm from sleep and he was very glad that he had fed earlier that evening. Even though he swore he would never hurt her there was something about the witch that tested his control. To his surprise Rea tilted her head up and let her lips find his. The kiss was long and slow and Ryan didn’t want it to end. The witch slowly pulled back and gave him a slight smile before curling up in his arms once more.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” she mumbled as sleep began to drag her under once more.
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and rubbed slow circles on her back. “I’m glad that you’re okay too,” he whispered. In the back of his head he heard Blind Mag’s warning but shoved it away. There was no way that he could ever hurt Rea. They were going to stop the Shadowman and prove the seer wrong. Fate was never set in stone and he was determined to keep Rea safe no matter the cost.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 30, 2015 23:11:56 GMT -5
*sighs* Well...no one is reading this but I'm going to post it anyway.
When Ryan woke the next morning Rea was gone. He wandered into the living room and frowned. “Where’s Rea?”
“Outside with Colm placing wards around the house,” replied Keith between bites of his breakfast.
Ryan nodded and headed towards the kitchen. About twenty minutes later Rea and Colm joined him. “Since you are the owner of this house the wards are specific to you,” said the witch while stealing Ryan’s toast off of his plate.
“So what do I have to do?” asked Colm while trying not to laugh at the vampire’s expression.
“Nothing. The wards are like a security system. You’ll know when someone is approaching and if someone would try to force their way in they will get a rather nasty surprise.”
“How will I know?”
“You just will. They’re linked to your aura so you’ll be alerted even if you are sleeping.”
The werewolf took a moment to process the information and nodded. “Alright, sounds simple enough. Thank you again, Rea.”
The woman waved off the compliment. “It’s the least I could do. You’ve been dragged into this mess because of me, the least I can do is help you watch your back.”
Rea glanced around and noticed that everyone was finally awake and gathered in the living room. She went to join them and felt the silence fill the room. “I wanted to thank you all for your help last night, I probably could have defeated the two demons on my own but they were fast and strong. Without you the Shadowman would have killed me without even facing me.”
“This is our fight too,” replied Keith. “I don’t know why he wants you dead but I have every intention of ripping him limb from limb for what he did to Roz.” The other two werewolves mumbled their agreement.
“Ryan and I have known Keith and his pack for a long time, if they’re in this fight then we’re in it too,” said Neil.
The witch bowed her head in thanks. “I am in your debt. No matter your intentions you did save my life last night.” She waited a beat before continuing. “Now comes the part that I hate...waiting. Like I said last night, the Shadowman used a lot of his power to raise those demons and sending the projection. He’s going to have to rest and recharge. He’s also going to change his plans because he knows I’m not here alone so please be on your guard. I know you’re all strong and powerful but we’re dealing with dark magic and a practitioner who hated my parents so much that he sold his soul just so he could live long enough to try and kill me. To say he’s unstable would be a bit of an understatement.”
“So what do we do?” asked Emmett.
Rea sighed. “We wait. Go on with your lives. Take extra precautions but don’t let him stop you from living. Just know that at any moment he could strike and now he might not go after me. He might attack one of you in order to draw me out. It’s obvious that he likes to hurt people so please be careful.” The witch rubbed her eyes. “I’m not sure what his next move will be but be ready, I have a feeling that a confrontation is on its way.”
“Do you think we should stay together?” asked Colm. “Ryan and Neil are staying here and there’s plenty of room for you.”
A smile crossed the woman’s face. “You’re asking me to stay cooped up in a house with two vampires and three werewolves? Thanks but no thanks. I’ll be fine at the hotel. The Shadowman might be able to track me there but it’s too public for him and if there happen to be other magic users staying there then he’d really be in trouble.”
“Do you need a ride back?” asked Ryan as Rea stood and began to gather her things.
“Sure.”
The ride to the hotel was short and Rea rolled her eyes when Ryan insisted on escorting her up to her room. To ease the vampire’s nerves she extended her senses into the room and informed him that it was safe.
“Wait, I forgot something.”
Rea frowned. “What?”
“This.” Ryan reached out and pulled Rea into his arms, one hand sinking into her hair while the other arm wrapped around her waist as his lips found hers. The witch didn’t resist and felt the solid weight of the door press into her spine. Neither one wanted the kiss to end and they fought to make it last. Finally the lack of air tore them apart but neither one moved, they clung to each other as their hearts raced.
“Ryan, I don’t have time for this,” said Rea. Her head lolled back as Ryan placed kisses along her neck and jaw.
“Time for what?” He nipped lightly at her neck and heard her breath catch.
“This.” She gently pushed at Ryan’s shoulder and he pulled back slightly to meet her eyes. “There is someone out there that wants me dead and I should be trying to stop him.”
“And how exactly are you planning on stopping him?”
For once Rea was at a loss for words. Her mouth moved for several seconds before any sound came out. “I don’t know. But...”
Ryan kissed her gently. “No buts.”
“You heard Blind Mag. I’m going to die no matter what I do.”
“Exactly.”
Rea frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“If your destiny is to die then why not make the most of the time you have left?”
The witch let the idea roll around in her head for a bit and against her will a slight smile tugged at her lips. “Once again foiled by logic.”
Ryan grinned. “Glad you decided to see things my way.” He leaned in for another kiss but Rea ducked away with a laugh.
“If I’m going to play along with your carpe diem crap then I need a shower...and food...and coffee...then we can carpe diem all you want.”
The vampire shook his head. “Fine. I’ll meet you back here in an hour?”
“It’s a date.”
When Ryan returned Rea was clean, fed, and high caffeinated. She slid her sunglasses on and followed the vampire onto the street. “So where to?” asked Ryan.
Rea shrugged. “I’ve never been here before. Let’s just wander. If I’m going to die here then I might as well see as much of the city as possible.” Ryan frowned at her choice of words and headed towards downtown.
The two spent the majority of the day ducking in and out of shops, hitting the occasional pub and people watching. Rea had a running commentary of both locals and tourists alike and more than once Ryan had to turn a laugh into a cough. The witch had a dry, sarcastic sense of humor that would seem irritating to most but Ryan was always curious to see what she would say next.
They purposefully avoided the area near the river Liffey. It reminded Rea too much of the young witch’s death and since it was the Shadowman’s old stomping ground it seemed wise to steer clear. The last thing they needed was to be caught off guard near such a large and powerful body of water.
After lunch Ryan led them towards Phoenix Park. Rea took a deep breath of the clear air and felt a tiny bit of her stress fade. She would never admit it out loud but Ryan was right. Tomorrow was never promised to anyone. Just because she was immortal it didn’t mean that she couldn’t be killed. She was just as likely to be hit by a car as she was to die at the hands of the Shadowman. Of course as far as she knew there weren’t any demonic cars trying to hunt her down. Okay...bad example.
Her mind was a million miles away and she jumped when Ryan gently took her hand in his own. She glanced down at their joined hands and raised an eyebrow. The vampire simply smiled and kept walking. Rea shook her head and allowed him to lead her through the park. She felt like she was a teenager again, strolling through the park hand in hand with her beau. The action seemed to make Ryan happy though so she decided she could deal with a little affection.
They sat down on a bench in the warm sunlight and Rea smiled slightly when Ryan’s arm wrapped around her shoulders. She let her head rest on his shoulder as they watched the flow of people within the park.
The sound of a crying child caught Rea’s ear and she turned her head slightly in order to find the source of the noise. A little boy was trying to fly a kite but there was barely any wind. Tears of frustration streaked his face as he tried and failed once more.
“Ventus anima,” mumbled Rea while barely moving her right hand. The child beamed as his kite suddenly took to the skies.
“Nicely done,” said Ryan while pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Rea smiled and watched as the child raced around happily with his kite.
Eventually the sun began to set and the weather turned cool. The park was nearly empty as the two stood. Ryan wrapped an arm around Rea’s waist and felt her lean into him. He pushed all of the stress and worry from his mind as they chatted about where to get dinner.
They settled on a pub that was known to have an excellent band. One of the musicians recognized Ryan and soon he was being pulled towards the front and a guitar was shoved into his hands. Rea laughed and cheered him on as he led a rowdy drinking song.
After a few more songs he beckoned to her and she shook her head wildly. Unfortunately she was outnumbered when many of the patrons began to chant her name. “I hate you,” she hissed under her breath as Ryan passed her the guitar. The vampire grinned then quickly explained the chords to the next song. Rea was a natural and kept up with the musicians even when they tried to throw her off.
The noise in the pub died down when she began to sing and people’s mouths dropped open when Ryan chimed in with the accompanying harmony. It was like they had been singing together for years and after each song ended the crowd was cheering for another.
Eventually the two were able to make their escape and the walked down the street laughing and still singing. It had been a very long time since Rea had allowed herself to just let go and have fun. She hated the fact that by the time she had finally found someone that helped her open up she was practically on death’s door.
Rea was pulled from her musings by Ryan suddenly grabbing her around the waist and pulling her into a deep kiss. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as she lost herself in the moment.
“Why do I feel like I’m in some cheesy romantic comedy?” Rea asked as they broke apart for air.
“Are you calling me cheesy?” asked Ryan. He tried to look serious but was failing miserably.
“Umm...pretty much. Yeah.”
“I’m hurt.” Ryan placed a hand over his heart and Rea rolled her eyes.
“Please. I’m sure you’ve been called worse.”
The two playfully argued the entire way back to Rea’s hotel. Once again Ryan insisted on accompanying her to her room and wasn’t satisfied until she gave the all clear.
Rea kissed Ryan gently and smiled. “Thank you for today. It’s exactly what I needed to get my mind off of everything that has been going on.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ryan pulled Rea close and the witch felt herself falling into the cool blue eyes in front of her. Almost without thinking she tilted her head up and felt Ryan’s smile as their lips met. Unlike their encounter this morning there was an urgency, a need to their kiss.
Blue eyes met violet as their owners fought to catch their breath. Rea suddenly turned and tried to unlock the door to her room. She nearly dropped the keys when his teeth nipped at her earlobe and felt his chuckle rumble across her skin. Finally the door opened and the two went stumbling into the darkness.
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Post by barbt on May 31, 2015 11:38:13 GMT -5
Don't you dare say no one's reading this. I've been debating posting to see if you were OK since it's been so long since you posted! I was getting worried!
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Jun 4, 2015 19:12:07 GMT -5
Thanks, barbt.
The phone was ringing.
Wait.
Why was the phone ringing?
Rea let out a groan and rolled over, fumbling with the phone before finally getting the stupid thing off the hook. “Yes?”
“Rea?” asked Colm.
“Who else would it be?”
“Is Ryan with you?” The young man’s voice made the witch take notice. At the mention of his name the arm around her waist tightened and a kiss was pressed against her shoulder.
“Yes. What’s wrong?”
“Umm...nothing’s really wrong but...can you guys come over?”
“Of course. We’ll be there soon.”
“What’s going on?” asked Ryan. His voice was rough from sleep and Rea forced herself to focus on the matter at hand.
Rea shook her head with a frown. “I don’t know. Colm sounded strange on the phone. Come on, we better get over there.”
Ryan watched as Rea stood and appreciated the way that the sun seeping through the curtains played across her skin. The vampire shook his head and sighed. The Shadowman had the absolute worst timing.
It didn’t take long for the two to arrive and when Colm answered the door his expression was somber. “What happened?” asked Rea.
“You need to see this,” replied the werewolf while leading her into the kitchen.
The others were standing around the kitchen table where two newspapers were spread out. One was the local paper from Dublin but the other didn’t belong. “Did you touch it?” asked Rea while extending her senses.
“No, I don’t think so. It was inside of the local paper. As soon as I saw it I dropped them both and called you.”
Rea frowned as she slowly examined each inch of both newspapers. Finally she let out a slow breath. “They don’t have any magic associated with them, maybe it was a mistake.”
“Rea, look at the second paper,” said Keith. His voice was tight and he couldn’t make himself meet her eyes.
The witch stepped closer and felt her stomach drop to her feet. The second paper was a copy of her local paper from New Orleans dated several weeks ago. In bold letters the front page announced the mysterious death of a young woman who died of smoke inhalation without any trace of fire in her apartment.
“Have you seen this before?” asked Colm.
“Yes, it’s my local paper.”
“I thought you had never heard of the Shadowman,” said Emmett.
Rea swallowed hard. “I didn’t know his name until I came to Dublin.”
“But you did know of him?”
“Yes and no. There were mysterious deaths occurring around the city but there was never one suspect. The authorities were dumbfounded and I tried not to get involved.”
“People were dying in your city, how could you not get involved?” asked Neil.
“Do you know how many people are in New Orleans? We get millions of tourists a year. To top it off it’s a nexus for the supernatural community, there are more allegiances and feuds than I can keep track of. I’m not even the head of my coven so even if I wanted to investigate these murders I would have had to go through them first.”
The vampire frowned. “You’re not the head of your coven? Why?”
“Because I’m immortal. Not everyone in the coven knows but if I was the head of the coven I would always be the head. Once appointed you will never lose the position unless you are killed or if we vote to remove you.”
“Why didn’t your coven investigate?” asked Keith.
Rea shrugged. “Most of the deaths didn’t occur in our neighborhood, we didn’t want to overstep our bounds and start poking around in someone else’s territory.”
“What was so special about this death?” asked Colm. He waited a beat and answered his own question. “You knew her, didn’t you? The death that’s in the papers, she was in your neighborhood, wasn’t she?”
The witch wrapped her arms around herself and nodded. “Yes, I knew her.”
“How well did you know her?”
Rea swallowed hard as the memories came flooding back. “She was a witch in my coven.” Her voice shook and she forced herself to control her emotions. “She was just a baby, she was only twenty five with her whole life ahead of her.”
“And your coven didn’t investigate then?”
“Yes, after Jade, the girl in the paper, died they did investigate but I wasn’t part of it.”
Keith ran a hand through his hair. “You claim to be so powerful yet they didn’t ask you to help, why?”
“Because I was too emotionally involved. I was helping train Jade, she was my apprentice.” Rea’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I was the one who found her.”
“I don’t believe you,” said Keith. It was obvious that he was losing his patience and everyone could feel the tension in the room. “Your apprentice was killed and you don’t investigate? If it was me I would have investigated whether I was allowed to or not.”
“Well I guess that’s the difference between me and you.” Snapped Rea. She turned away and leaned against the counter. “I did look into her death, I wanted to figure out if a practitioner could use air magic to kill someone.”
“That’s why you knew how Roz was killed,” said Colm.
Rea nodded. “When I figured it out I was nearly sick. Magic is a beautiful gift and I couldn’t imagine someone twisting something so precious into a weapon.”
Keith shook his head. “I still don’t understand. When the witch was killed here in Dublin by the same method why didn’t you look into it? I’m sure you saw the connection.”
The witch closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the sick panic that flooded her body when she saw the article in the paper. “I did make the connection and I panicked.”
“It’s true,” said Ryan, speaking up for the first time. “We were in the lobby of the hotel and her powers nearly got away from her. I had to siphon off some of her emotions just to keep her from destroying the hotel.”
Emmett’s eyes widened. “You did what? Rea? How could you let him do that to you?”
“He didn’t have a choice. I could feel myself slipping and I couldn’t contain my power. People would have gotten hurt if he hadn’t stepped in.”
“What is it with you two?” said Keith. “Don’t you see what’s going on here, Rea? Ryan is using you. He’s pulling your focus away from these deaths.”
Rea frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“You know how the White Court works. Once a vampire has fed from you, even once, they exert a certain amount of control over you.”
“Yes, I know but...”
“But nothing. For all you know Ryan is working with the Shadowman.”
“That’s outrageous,” interjected Neil.
“Is it?”
All heads turned towards the dark haired vampire. “Come on, guys. Listen to yourselves, you’re getting worked up over nothing. Until she came to Ireland I’d never met nor heard of Rea. Why would I be working with someone who has a personal vendetta against someone I’ve never met? Plus, I was with you guys here in Dublin when the murders were being committed in New Orleans.”
The group looked uneasily at each other and Rea refused to meet Ryan’s eyes. The vampire reached an arm out towards her but the witch flitched away. “Rea, you knew I had to help you that day. You said it yourself that without my help people would have gotten hurt. I have never once allowed the beast to take over, I’ve never done anything to hurt you.” He let out a sigh and raked his hand through his hair. “We’re all tired and afraid of what might come next. Why don’t we just walk away before we say or do something we’ll regret.”
“You’re good at that, aren’t you?” said Keith.
“What?”
“Rea was with you when the witch was killed, right?” Ryan nodded. “And instead of coming to the city to investigate what did you do? You messed around until someone else was killed.” Keith took a step closer to Ryan and everyone could feel the tension spark between them. “A man was killed because you decided getting her into your bed was more important. That man was my brother and because of you he’s dead!”
“Keith, calm down,” said Neil. “This isn’t Ryan’s fault. You’re just looking for someone to blame.”
“Y I am.” A growl started low in the blonde’s throat and the hair stood up on the back of Rea’s neck as she felt his magic begin to rise.
“Stop!” yelled the witch. She poured a tiny bit of her will into the word and for a few seconds everyone froze in place. “This is ridiculous. I thought you all were friends or at least allies. Yes, this situation is terrible and innocent people died but ripping each other limb from limb isn’t going to bring them back.” Rea took a moment to look over the group and shook her head. “You heard Blind Mag, the Shadowman is coming after me. I don’t know why but it’s time for this to end. I won’t let you destroy yourselves over something that I did.”
“No, I want him to pay for what he did to Roz,” said Keith.
“And he will.”
“You can’t stop us, Rea,” said Colm.
“I know but I can at least keep you from following me.” The witch closed her eyes and drew in her will. “Disparaitre,” she whispered. There was suddenly a rush of air which sent the two newspapers flying and within a heartbeat Rea was gone.
“I’m going after her,” said Ryan.
“You won’t find her,” countered Emmett.
“I have to try.”
“Why are you doing this?” asked Neil.
“Because Rea means something to me. When I look at her I feel things that I haven’t felt in decades. I’m not going to let her face the Shadowman alone.”
“Don’t you remember what Blind Mag said? You’re going to be the one to kill Rea.”
The vampire shook his head. “I don’t believe her. Not all prophecies come true. I would never hurt Rea.”
Neil took Ryan by the shoulders. “Listen to me. You have to stop this. Blind Mag isn’t a prophet, she’s a seer. You heard her tell Rea that this was a trap and that she would die. Ryan, you’re doing exactly what Blind Mag predicted. You’re letting your emotions for Rea blind you.”
Ryan yanked himself from Neil’s grasp. “No. You are the ones who are blind. Rea may be powerful but she’s scared and feels so guilty that she is willing to sacrifice herself in order to make things right. More than once she has told us that this wasn’t our fight, that she would do this alone but we didn’t listen. The other night she fought with us and probably saved all of our lives.” He paused to look at the group but no one would meet his eyes. “We’ve all lost people we cared about and I’m sick of it. Yes, I might die but I’m not going to lose Rea without a fight.”
Without another word the vampire turned and headed outside. He didn’t know where Rea had gone but he was hoping that he could track her scent from her hotel room. As he rushed through the streets he couldn’t ignore the sick feeling in his gut that told him that he was too late.
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Post by barbt on Jun 5, 2015 15:36:03 GMT -5
Wow. Just wow. I want everything to turn out OK.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Jun 7, 2015 19:05:13 GMT -5
Ryan slowly opened his eyes with a groan. His head was throbbing and even the weak light in the room sent a stabbing pain through his eyes. Taking slow breaths he tried to remember how he had come to be in his current situation.
After leaving Colm’s house he had rushed over to Rea’s hotel. The young woman at the front desk informed him that Rea had checked out but it didn’t take much persuading for the woman to give Ryan a spare key.
The room was empty but her scent was still fresh, she hadn’t been gone long. Before he turned to leave something made him pause and he took a slower glance around the room. He could still feel the energy within the space and could practically see their shadows ghost through the room.
Closing his eyes he allowed the memories from the previous night to flood his mind. He sat down on the edge of the bed and scrubbed a hand over his face. In a way Keith was right, from the moment that he saw Rea he had desired her but it was more than that. The way she smiled at his terrible jokes, the gleam in her unique eyes when something caught her interest, the quiet confidence that she exuded, the power that thrummed under her skin...it all drew Ryan in.
The vampire sighed and shook his head. He was falling in love with a woman that he was destined to kill. He knew that life was unfair but this was taking it to a whole new level.
Ryan knew that with each passing moment the odds for finding Rea dwindled. Taking one last glance around the room he headed downstairs and into the city. He was surprised that he could actually follow Rea’s scent through the crowded streets. She had claimed to not want anyone to follow her yet it wasn’t too difficult to do exactly that.
After hours of wandering back and forth through the streets Ryan realized that he had been duped. Rea had somehow cast a random trail of her scent across Dublin in order to throw off anyone who was looking for her.
Ryan swore and leaned against the rails of the Ha'penny bridge. Rea was gone. He had no idea how to find her and he knew that’s exactly what the Shadowman wanted. It wasn’t a coincidence that the newspaper from New Orleans had been delivered to Colm’s house. The dark mage wanted them to see it and to call out Rea. The practitioner wanted them to begin to doubt Rea and her intentions and his ruse worked perfectly. With one small action he drove wedge between them, shattering already delicate alliances.
The sun began to set turning the water below him an array of colors. He watched the colors flow and bend for several moments before deciding to head back towards Colm’s house. Before he could turn to leave he caught a slight scent on the breeze and knew it could only belong to Rea.
Ryan rushed across the bridge, his eyes quickly adjusting to the fading light. A flash of movement on his left caused him to break into a run and he called out to the witch. “Rea, please wait!”
He quickly turned a corner and froze, the street was empty and the scent was gone. A frown marred his face. How could that be?
Before he could turn and head back all of the light seemed to disappear within the alley and the shadows suddenly came to life. He didn’t even make it one step before the shadows surrounded him and then there was darkness.
The sound of footsteps brought Ryan back to the present. He cracked open his eyes and saw a hooded figure standing across from him. “How nice of you to join the land of the living, mon ami,” said the Shadowman with a chuckle.
Ryan struggled against his bonds and was alarmed at how weak he felt. His arms were shackled above his head and his feet barely touched the ground, forcing him to stand on his toes. He pulled at the shackles once more and felt his stomach twist. The manacles were pure iron.
Iron was the proverbial kryptonite for supernatural creatures. It drained their power and could even kill them. Any other type of metal would bend like clay under Ryan’s hands but the iron rendered him helpless. Without assistance he wouldn’t be able to break free no matter how badly he wanted to wrap his hands around the Shadowman’s neck.
“I must thank you for all of your assistance, vanpir.”
“How did you find me?” growled Ryan.
“Ever since our encounter the other night I’ve been keeping an eye on all of Rea’s new friends. I must say that when you two sang together at the pub last night I was truly moved.”
The vampire’s eyes widened. “You were following us?”
“Merely enjoying the lovely music. Rea really should be more careful where she leaves her things though. I suppose I should give this back the next time I see her.”
The Shadowman held up a crimson scarf and Ryan felt his stomach drop. That’s why Rea’s scent was all over Dublin. The Shadowman had used her scarf to create a false trail and Ryan had fallen for the ruse. Blind Mag was right after all. He had been so distracted that he had walked directly into the Shadowman’s trap.
“I must admit that I wasn’t sure how to lure Rea in but now I have the perfect bait.”
“She won’t come for me.”
“No? I have been watching her for decades and have never seen her act the way she does with you. She may not admit it, but she’s falling in love.”
Ryan shook his head. “Rea doesn’t love me, she barely trusts me.”
“She allowed a vampire into her arms, I believe that takes quite a bit of trust, chere.” The Shadowman stepped closer and Ryan weakly struggled against the manacles. “She will come for you and when she does I will finally take the revenge I have been seeking for nearly one hundred years.”
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Post by barbt on Jun 8, 2015 7:57:59 GMT -5
No!
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Jun 10, 2015 7:00:28 GMT -5
Rea stood at the window of her hotel watching the storm clouds gather over the city. The time had come, she was going to face the Shadowman at last. Her hands shook slightly and she shoved them in her pockets. She was never one to back down from a fight but this one was different. This time there was more than one life at stake.
Her room service order that morning had arrived with a note. In neat letters she had been informed that Ryan had been taken and would be released as long as she showed up. If she failed to appear his body would be delivered instead. She was to arrive at sunset at a site north of the city called the Hill of Tara. Ryan would be waiting for her, ironically, at the Mound of the Hostages. Apparently it was a rather famous site where hostages were exchanged during medieval times.
It was also a giant circle that the Shadowman could use to contain his power while drawing from the oncoming storm that probably contained enough residual energy to power the entire city of Dublin for several days.
Brilliant.
Rea closed her eyes for a moment in order to center herself before stopping to jot a quick note on a piece of paper. She opened the window to her room, tasting the rain in the air, and whispered a quiet word. The wind responded to her will and tugged the note from her hand, sending it across the city.
With a final glance around the room she grabbed her coat and headed to meet her fate.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Colm was lounging on the couch, pretending to read a magazine, when the hair on the back of his neck suddenly stood on end as the wards around the house were activated. In an instant he was on his feet, his enhanced hearing straining to discern if there was a threat.
Suddenly a thin white envelope slid under the door and the young man frowned. “Guys, you better get in here.” The other two werewolves joined him and peered over his shoulder as he slowly opened the envelope.
Ryan was taken by the Shadowman three days ago.
He has agreed to release him if I meet him at the Mound of the Hostages at sunset.
I know this is a trap, if the Shadowman fails to kill me Ryan probably will, he hasn’t fed in days.
I don’t want your help, I don’t want you involved, but Ryan is your friend.
If I fail you have to come to his aid, he will be too weak to fight the Shadowman alone.
It has been an honor to fight by your side and I am truly sorry that I have failed you.
Rea
Colm read the letter three times then let out a slow breath. “What do we do?”
Keith raked a hand through his hair. “I want nothing to do with Rea but she’s right, we have to help Ryan.”
“Guys, look outside. There is a massive storm rolling in. Do you think we can take the Shadowman if he has the power of the storm to draw from?” asked Emmett.
“We can only hope that Rea wears him down before we get there,” replied the blonde.
“And if she hasn’t? What if he kills her as soon as she arrives?”
“Then we die trying. Rea saved my life, I owe her a debt. Colm, call Neil. It’s nearly sunset and it will take us a while to get there especially in this weather.” The distant rumble of thunder made him turn towards the window. “Let’s just hope we’re not too late.”
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Post by barbt on Jun 10, 2015 8:30:26 GMT -5
OK, CT to the rescue! And I don;t care how hungry Ryan is, he won't kill Rea.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Jun 13, 2015 20:25:59 GMT -5
Rea paused at the base of the Mound of the Hostages and glanced around. The surrounding landscape was flat which meant that the Shadowman would have plenty of time to watch her approach. Of course that also meant that he wouldn’t be able to flee undetected or call in any assistance.
The witch squared her shoulders and began to climb. Her adversary might have had the upper hand but Rea was a powerful witch and the energy of her parents flowed through her veins. Her mother was a voodoo priestess and had taught Rea how to store energy and to use the energy that constantly surrounded them. The amulet at Rea’s throat and the rings on her fingers were enchanted and stored kinetic energy. Each time she moved a tiny bit of energy was transferred into the talismans. She also had the ability to draw power from anything, whether it was living or not.
Rea’s father was a warlock, a wizard who had gone dark but had been brought back over to the side of the light by her mother’s love. He taught her how to fight and how to cast powerful evocations otherwise known as quick and dirty magic. He drilled preparedness into her head but also taught her to be flexible and to use what was around her to gain an advantage.
Over the years Rea had fought all manners of natural and supernatural beings and lived to tell the tale. There was a measure of peace and order in New Orleans now but there was once a time where one had to fight for respect and honor. Rea had never backed down when challenged and she wasn’t going to start now. Just because one seer saw her demise didn’t mean it was true.
The mage paused at the top of the rise and watched the storm roll in. She had literally raced the storm but it seemed like her reckless driving had bought her some time.
“So glad you could join me, chere.”
The voice made her turn and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t you know any other greetings?” The Shadowman didn’t reply and Rea rolled her eyes. “Is this your first time or something? If not you should know the drill by now. You let me see the hostage, I plead for his life, you give me an answer you know I won’t agree with, we fight and I go home and have a beer.”
“You talk too much.”
Rea shrugged. “I like the sound of my own voice. Now let me see him.”
The Shadowman stepped to the side and Rea forced herself not to react. Ryan was chained to one of the stones that made up the circle. Even from a distance he looked weak, he was slumped against the stone and his already light skin was deathly pale. Her jaw tightened when she realized that the chains binding him were iron. The metal was slowly draining his energy away and if she didn’t do something he would be dead in a relatively short amount of time.
Keeping one eye on the Shadowman, Rea slowly walked towards him. She had to give the other practitioner credit, he was clever. With Ryan chained to the stone he was now part of the circle. She knew that the Shadowman would use the circle to channel his power but if Rea tried to use magic to disrupt the circle it could backfire and kill Ryan.
The witch knelt at Ryan’s side and shook her head. “Stupid boy, you’re going to get me killed.”
The sound of her voice seemed to rouse the vampire. “You shouldn’t have come.” His voice was hoarse and Rea tried to ignore the bruises that bloomed across his skin.
“I know. This meeting was inevitable but I wish you wouldn’t have gotten involved.”
“I’m sorry, Rea, I...”
“Hush. Apologize later, I have some fighting to do.”
The witch stood and faced the dark mage. “Is this this part when you beg for me to let him go?” asked the Shadowman.
“No.”
Her response seemed to catch him off guard. “What?”
“You and I both know that he hasn’t fed for days. If you let him go he’ll come after me. He’ll fight it but eventually the beast inside will win.” She paused and grinned. “Of course it could be fun. I’ve heard that when a White Court vampire feeds off of you it’s the biggest rush you’ve ever felt. You don’t even care that you’re dying because it feels so good. I’d much rather go out with a smile on my face than waste my magic on you. And trust me, honey, Ryan knows exactly how to put a smile on my face.”
The Shadowman was obviously getting frustrated with Rea and that was exactly what the witch wanted. “You are infuriating! Always with an answer to everything. You have a mouth like your mother and the arrogance of your father.”
Rea chuckled and leaned back against one of the large stones ringing the mound. She could feel the energy thrumming against her skin and discretely began to draw from it as she spoke. “You have an unhealthy obsession with my parents. They died over one hundred years ago, what could they possibly have done to you?”
“It’s what they stood for, they were an abomination to all magic users!”
Rea frowned. “They wanted peace. They helped practitioners overcome their darker natures and helped people find ways to work together. How was that an abomination?”
The Shadowman practically growled. “They were powerful. They could have run the entire city. They could have made it a haven for those who had power instead they taught magic users how to hide, how to blend in with the mortals.”
“That’s how it had to be. No matter how much power they had they were outnumbered.” A memory tugged at Rea’s brain and she fought to clear away the cobwebs. “You sound like someone I used to know. Angelique...she was always saying things like that.” At the mention of the name the Shadowman visibly twitched and Rea’s eyes widened. “Angelique was the one who betrayed my parents. You knew her.”
The man nodded. “I knew her very well but I was forced to live most of my life without her.”
Again Rea wracked her brain. “Angelique had a son...Dominic. His name was Dominic.” The witch felt her stomach flip. “Dominic...is that you?”
The Shadowman pushed back this hood of his cloak revealing the face of a young man that couldn’t have been a day over twenty. He had his mother’s dark eyes and fair skin but the hatred he possessed seemed to twist his features into a demonic mask. “In the flesh.”
“I...I used to babysit you. After Angelique was taken in by the coven we searched for you but no one could find you. We thought she’d killed you.”
Dominic snorted. “She left me with her sister who told me the truth about my mother’s coven.”
Rea’s eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline. “She left you with Riley? She is the darkest witch I’ve ever met. You were how old? Three? Four? And for years all you were told were lies dipped in hatred. No wonder you’re so twisted.”
The man sneered. “She told me the truth about your family. How my mother sacrificed herself by going to the townspeople and telling them what was really going on in the city. How the coven killed her for her actions.”
“Because of her my parents are dead! They were trying to help people and Angelique turned the entire city against them. My coven had to scatter and I had to go into hiding. I had to fight tooth and nail just to regain any type of status within the city. To top it off I was cursed with immortality because my parents wanted me to find their killer. I should have died decades ago but I’ve been robbed of the opportunity to see my family again because of something that your mother did!” Rea swallowed hard and fought to control her emotions. She would be useless in a fight if she was upset.
Dominic let a twisted grin spread across his face. “Well, it seems like we actually have something in common. You want to see your family again and I want you dead.” The mage held out his right hand and Rea could see the tendrils of smoke seeping from between his fingers.
“Oh no. If I’m going out it will not be by some brat whose dirty diapers I used to change.” Rea reached out with her left hand and her staff materialized between her fingers. “You’ve had a century to plan for this day, let’s see what you can do.”
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