Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Three - word count 2349 - Download PDF
23. The lights in the club dimmed right down, and an expectant hush filled the crowd. “Hey Everybody!” Bastien’s voice boomed over the clubs loud speakers. “Are you ready for Requiem?” The answering roar from the crowd was deafening, Sorcha quickly put her hands over her ears. She loved Requiem but she’d never realized how popular they were. “Oh thank goodness. I thought we were going to be late.” Drew sat down her eyes glued to the stage. Selphie laughed. “You miss a Requiem performance – never happen.” “Oh hush.” Drew laughed. Seth caught up and sat down next to Drew giving her a look that told her he was not impressed that she’d ran ahead. The low thrum of a bass chord made the crowd go completely mad. “I see that you are. So we won’t keep you waiting any more.” He was silent for a breath then Bastien roared. “REQUIEM!” The bass chord reverberated through the crowd again amplifying their insane cheering, then picked up a rhythm, the crowd recognized the song and cheered even louder. Drew was up on her feet screaming like a mad thing. Kyle leaned into Seth and shouted in his ear. “How the hell did she end up with you if she’s so nuts about Requiem? I’m surprised she didn’t fall for Ross.” He was teasing and he knew his brother wouldn’t appreciate it. “Don’t be a dick, Kyle!” Seth shouted back. He was answered with a naughty grin. “Its better than being a bitch like you!” “Go bite something.” “I see you’re learning.” Kyle laughed “Ha! Isn’t that your woman heading for the front of the stage next to Drew?” Seth turned back to his brother and grinned. “Better be carefully Ross might beat you to her, you haven’t claimed her properly.” The good mood Kyle had achieved from teasing his brother evaporated in an instant. Damn it. Ross was appealing enough, add the whole rock god thing and he was damn near female ambrosia. Seth roared with laughter when he saw Kyle’s expression. The bass line was picked by an electric guitar, the melody and intricate picking weaving through the bass sinuously. The lights on the stage gradually brightened, reveling Requiem, the whole band was dressed in black from head to toe, all of them wearing hooded jackets with the hoods pulled up to hide their faces in shadow. Ross stood in the front The strap of his guitar slung over his shoulder one foot slightly forward ready to depress his guitar’s effects peddles. The music stopped abruptly, and an expectant hush blanketed the crowd. They seemed to be waiting in breathless anticipation. Ross leaned forward into the microphone and whispered three words in a sinful passion soaked voice. “Just hold still.” The bass and guitars kicked in the drums picking up the beat and the crowd went insane as Ross slammed his hand over the strings making his guitar sound like a weeping angel. “God how the hell am I going to keep Sorcha’s attention on me with Ross around.” Kyle shook his head in consternation as Seth cried with laughter from the comment. “I’m pretty sure that Ross will be overjoyed that he’s so popular.” Seth managed to get the words out around gales of laughter. “Don’t you tell him you ass!” Kyle growled at his brother, his earlier teasing of Seth had backfired so completely it was sad. Requiem finished the four song set, and did another three songs because the crowd refused to let them leave. Selphie, Drew and Sorcha returned to the table with grins plastered on their faces. Kyle and Seth on the other hand, looked like thunderclouds. “Are you done ogling other men, can we leave now?” Seth asked Drew. “Awe, you poor baby, did the bad Drew enjoy Requiem?” Drew asked sitting down on his lap and wrapping an arm around Seth’s shoulders. She leaned forward and whispered something in his ear that had him smiling. Seth didn’t say anything else. He stood up with Drew in his arms and turned to leave. Drew laughed and yelled a goodbye as Seth carried her out the club. Sorcha looked at Kyle daring him to say anything about her enjoying the show. He wisely keep his mouth clamped tightly shut. “We better be leaving soon too, Dante and I’ve got a patrol in less than an hour. Crimson spoke from his dark corner. “Yeah, let me go backstage and let Ross know that we are leaving, then we can go.” Dante stood up pushing his chair back and wove through the crowd to go deliver the message. Kane was hidden in the shadow as he leaned against the warm brick of the building, with his arms crossed over his chest. He watched the normals pass by him, unaware that he was even there. The summer breeze teased at his hair tugging the dark mass gently. He was waiting. A group of giggling women walked past him, Kane scented the air. No there were no Omega amongst them. He almost snorted, as if those tittering irritants could be Omega. He was in a hurry to deliver his package and get off the street, all kinds of bad things tended to happen when he was down here too long. Kane was the buffet and trouble was hungry. There they are. He breathed a sigh of relief. Kane watched them come out of the club, and walk down the sidewalk towards him. He saw the dark haired male stiffen and scent the air. “Clever boy, you know you smell someone.” He murmured to himself, then stepped out of the shadows. The Omega went tense and alert. The blonde one, a wolf by his smell, pushed the tiny blond woman behind him. The other men moved forward waiting for the attack. Sorcha felt the presence and felt the men tense, oh sweet lord what now? Then she saw him felt her breath disappear, he couldn’t be real? He was too beautiful. He wore a silk shirt not unlike the one Kyle wore but it was a deep ruby red. He moved forward a half smile playing across his lips and he looked like a god. Pitch-black hair swung as he moved, but her eye was drawn repeatedly to the single white lock at his forehead. Crimson stepped forward a little ahead of the others. “Kane.” He greeted the man dipping his head. Kane raised a brow trying to see into the dark depth of the hood. Crimson reached up and pulled the hoodie back so that the other man would see who he was. Kane’s face registered shock for a moment, then he controlled his expression. “Crimson, I know it’s been a long time, but when did you become an Omega?” “I’m not.” Crimson took another step forward, his boots echoing on the pavement and clasped the other man’s arm. “But I am allied with them.” “Sorry to interrupt but who the hell is this? Dante asked Crimson.” Sorcha wanted to know too, she was mesmerized by the way his eyes kept changing color, right now they glowed like pure gold. “I’m someone who needs a favor from the Omega.” Kane smiled flashing a glint of fang. “I have someone I need you to take care of for me.” “We aren’t hit men.” Dante laughed, and Kane joined him in the laughter. Selphie caught Sorcha’s eye and made a face and fanned herself. Sorcha had to clench her teeth to stop herself bursting out laughing. “No, I meant that I need you to look after someone for me.” Kane’s eyes flashed pure white as he held out his arms, the body of a woman appeared cradled in them. Her head rested against his broad chest, her pure white hair falling down across his arm in waves, and even though the color of her hair was so startling, her face was angelic, young and innocent. She wore a white dress that looked soft like chiffon, flowing down across Kane’s other arm. He looked down at her with a soft expression in his eyes. “Her name is Aurora, and she’s very special, she gave up a lot to be here. I need you to guard and protect her.” “Who…” “No more questions, you’ll figure it all out when you need to. For now, take care of her.” He stepped forward and put Aurora gently into Crimson’s arms. “I would appreciate it Crimson if you make sure the Omega called Darius is in charge of her protection.” He spoke again locking his eyes with Crimson to make sure the demon understood him, then he leaned forward and laid a soft kiss on Aurora’s forehead. “Good luck little one.” He stepped back. “I will be keeping an eye on her. Thanks for the help.” With those words he turned took two steps and disappeared. “Who the hell was that!” Kyle asked Crimson. “That…” Crimson said while staring at the place Kane had disappeared “was a dragon god.” “You sound exactly like Horatio Cane.” Kyle commented dryly. Crimson looked over at Kyle and arched one eyebrow. “You… watch too much…TV.” he pulled up his hood and walked off. Dante burst out laughing, and followed Crimson. Kyle rolled his eyes and grinned at Sorcha and Selphie. “Shall we.” He waved his arm like the perfect gentleman. Crimson carried the still sleeping girl up to the main house of the compound. He was curious, Kane did not ask for favors lightly and the dragon god had made it clear that this was a favor. This was what had Crimson intrigued. Kane hated, no a better word would be detested being indebted to anyone. So this slip of a girl in Crimsons arms had to be very important to him. Dante opened the door for him, Crimson thanked him absently still lost in his musings over the favor. Why did Kane want Darius to spend time with her? The whole thing had him itching with curiosity. Darius was coming down the stairs as they came through the door. He stopped in front of Crimson. “And now?” He asked looking down at the figure in Crimson’s arms. Crimson shocked the shit out of him when he passed the girl over, forcing Dar to take her into his arms or she would fall, and said succinctly. “She’s your problem now Dar.” Crimson moved past Darius heading up the stairs. “What? Wait! Crimson! You can’t just put a girl in my arms and bugger off.” Crimson stopped and turned to look down at Darius. “I’m working on orders from on high Dar. You have to look after her and protect her.” He turned around again and carried on up the stairs. Darius looked at the others. “Her name is Aurora.” Selphie told him. “A dragon god named Kane asked us to look after her.” “Oh hell no! I don’t want anything to do with dragons. Dante take her.” Dante raised his hands and shook his head. “Sorry brah, Kane asked for you, so you get to do the job, I’m not getting on the bad side of any god let alone a dragon god.” “What must I do with her?” Darius looked around more than a little panicked. “You can start by bringing her to the infirmary, so I can make sure she’s okay.” Jesse spoke behind Darius. He’d come down the stairs as Crimson headed up them. “Selphie would you organize a room for her in the mean time please.” Darius turned and looked at Jesse with gratitude then followed the angel towards the infirmary. Dragons! Darius wanted to punch something or someone. Preferably the damn god who forced the girl on him he really didn’t want this job. Dragons were a sore spot, and it sucked that this had gotten dumped on him. He didn’t even bother to look down at the girl he carried. Sorcha tossed and turned, her arms flailing as she mumbled in her sleep. “No, no, no. Leave me alone, what do you want?” Her mind was a whirlpool of distorted images. The robed hive members trying to take her to force her to join them. A girl’s voice that kept screaming in pain and begging for help. Raven throwing her head back as she laughed, and terror, Sorcha felt terror like she had never know before. One image seemed to come into focus. The face of a girl, she was young no more than eighteen. She was calling Sorcha. “Sorcha… Sorcha.” The girl stretched her hands forward in supplication. “Sorcha please hear me.” “I hear you.” Sorcha found herself standing in front of the girl. “What do you need?” “Help, we need your help.” Sorcha was confused and frustrated. The image of the girl swum out of focus then back into focus again. “What can I do, who are you?” “He’s coming, he knows we are trying to communicate. No, no no no.” The girls face crumpled in terror. “NOOOO!” She screamed as her image wavered again. “Sorcha Help us!” Sorcha jerked awake with a soft scream. Her bedroom door burst open and Kyle came storming in, he looked around frantically. “What’s wrong?” Sorcha sat up and tried to calm her breathing. “Nothing Kyle, I just had a bad dream.” Sorcha shuddered – bad dream had to be the understatement of the year. She felt the bed sink as he sat down next to her then he pulled her into his arms and stoked her hair. “It’s okay I’m here now. I’ll sit here next to you and wake you if I see you are having a nightmare.” Sorcha sunk into his arms laying her head on his chest. It was strange but she felt comforted by Kyle’s presence. Just having him in the room was removing the last traces of the nightmare. She smiled and started to doze off again. Kyle lay back against the headboard and let Sorcha use his body as a pillow. He continued to stroke her hair softly, he listened to her breathing slow down as she fell asleep.

Chapter Twenty Three - word count 2349 - Download PDF

23.
      The lights in the club dimmed right down, and an expectant hush filled the crowd.
      “Hey Everybody!”  Bastien’s voice boomed over the clubs loud speakers.
      “Are you ready for Requiem?”
      The answering roar from the crowd was deafening, Sorcha quickly put her hands over her ears.  She loved Requiem but she’d never realized how popular they were.
      “Oh thank goodness.  I thought we were going to be late.”  Drew sat down her eyes glued to the stage.
      Selphie laughed. “You miss a Requiem performance – never happen.”
      “Oh hush.”  Drew laughed.
      Seth caught up and sat down next to Drew giving her a look that told her he was not impressed that she’d ran ahead.
      The low thrum of a bass chord made the crowd go completely mad.
      “I see that you are.  So we won’t keep you waiting any more.” He was silent for a breath then Bastien roared. “REQUIEM!”
      The bass chord reverberated through the crowd again amplifying their insane cheering, then picked up a rhythm, the crowd recognized the song and cheered even louder.  Drew was up on her feet screaming like a mad thing.
      Kyle leaned into Seth and shouted in his ear.  “How the hell did she end up with you if she’s so nuts about Requiem?  I’m surprised she didn’t fall for Ross.”  He was teasing and he knew his brother wouldn’t appreciate it.
      “Don’t be a dick, Kyle!”  Seth shouted back.  He was answered with a naughty grin.
      “Its better than being a bitch like you!”
      “Go bite something.”
      “I see you’re learning.”  Kyle laughed
      “Ha!  Isn’t that your woman heading for the front of the stage next to Drew?”  Seth turned back to his brother and grinned.  “Better be carefully Ross might beat you to her, you haven’t claimed her properly.”
      The good mood Kyle had achieved from teasing his brother evaporated in an instant.  Damn it.  Ross was appealing enough, add the whole rock god thing and he was damn near female ambrosia.
      Seth roared with laughter when he saw Kyle’s expression.
      The bass line was picked by an electric guitar, the melody and intricate picking weaving through the bass sinuously.  The lights on the stage gradually brightened, reveling Requiem, the whole band was dressed in black from head to toe, all of them wearing hooded jackets with the hoods pulled up to hide their faces in shadow.  Ross stood in the front The strap of his guitar slung over his shoulder one foot slightly forward ready to depress his guitar’s effects peddles.
      The music stopped abruptly, and an expectant hush blanketed the crowd.  They seemed to be waiting in breathless anticipation.
      Ross leaned forward into the microphone and whispered three words in a sinful passion soaked voice.
      “Just hold still.”
      The bass and guitars kicked in the drums picking up the beat and the crowd went insane as Ross slammed his hand over the strings making his guitar sound like a weeping angel.
      “God how the hell am I going to keep Sorcha’s attention on me with Ross around.”  Kyle shook his head in consternation as Seth cried with laughter from the comment.
      “I’m pretty sure that Ross will be overjoyed that he’s so popular.”  Seth managed to get the words out around gales of laughter.
      “Don’t you tell him you ass!” Kyle growled at his brother, his earlier teasing of Seth had backfired so completely it was sad.
      Requiem finished the four song set, and did another three songs because the crowd refused to let them leave.  Selphie, Drew and Sorcha returned to the table with grins plastered on their faces.  Kyle and Seth on the other hand, looked like thunderclouds.
      “Are you done ogling other men, can we leave now?”  Seth asked Drew.
      “Awe, you poor baby, did the bad Drew enjoy Requiem?”  Drew asked sitting down on his lap and wrapping an arm around Seth’s shoulders.  She leaned forward and whispered something in his ear that had him smiling.  Seth didn’t say anything else.  He stood up with Drew in his arms and turned to leave.  Drew laughed and yelled a goodbye as Seth carried her out the club.
      Sorcha looked at Kyle daring him to say anything about her enjoying the show.  He wisely keep his mouth clamped tightly shut.
      “We better be leaving soon too, Dante and I’ve got a patrol in less than an hour.  Crimson spoke from his dark corner.
      “Yeah, let me go backstage and let Ross know that we are leaving, then we can go.”
      Dante stood up pushing his chair back and wove through the crowd to go deliver the message.

      Kane was hidden in the shadow as he leaned against the warm brick of the building, with his arms crossed over his chest.  He watched the normals pass by him, unaware that he was even there.  The summer breeze teased at his hair tugging the dark mass gently.  He was waiting.
      A group of giggling women walked past him, Kane scented the air.  No there were no Omega amongst them.  He almost snorted, as if those tittering irritants could be Omega.  He was in a hurry to deliver his package and get off the street, all kinds of bad things tended to happen when he was down here too long.  Kane was the buffet and trouble was hungry.
      There they are.  He breathed a sigh of relief.   Kane watched them come out of the club, and walk down the sidewalk towards him.  He saw the dark haired male stiffen and scent the air.
      “Clever boy, you know you smell someone.”  He murmured to himself, then stepped out of the shadows.  The Omega went tense and alert.  The blonde one, a wolf by his smell, pushed the tiny blond woman behind him.  The other men moved forward waiting for the attack.
      Sorcha felt the presence and felt the men tense, oh sweet lord what now?  Then she saw him felt her breath disappear, he couldn’t be real?  He was too beautiful.
      He wore a silk shirt not unlike the one Kyle wore but it was a deep ruby red.
      He moved forward a half smile playing across his lips and he looked like a god.
      Pitch-black hair swung as he moved, but her eye was drawn repeatedly to the single white lock at his forehead.
      Crimson stepped forward a little ahead of the others.
      “Kane.”  He greeted the man dipping his head.  Kane raised a brow trying to see into the dark depth of the hood.  Crimson reached up and pulled the hoodie back so that the other man would see who he was.
      Kane’s face registered shock for a moment, then he controlled his expression.
      “Crimson, I know it’s been a long time, but when did you become an Omega?”
      “I’m not.”  Crimson took another step forward, his boots echoing on the pavement and clasped the other man’s arm.  “But I am allied with them.”
      “Sorry to interrupt but who the hell is this?  Dante asked Crimson.”
      Sorcha wanted to know too, she was mesmerized by the way his eyes kept changing color, right now they glowed like pure gold.
      “I’m someone who needs a favor from the Omega.”  Kane smiled flashing a glint of fang.  “I have someone I need you to take care of for me.”
      “We aren’t hit men.”  Dante laughed, and Kane joined him in the laughter.  Selphie caught Sorcha’s eye and made a face and fanned herself.  Sorcha had to clench her teeth to stop herself bursting out laughing.
      “No, I meant that I need you to look after someone for me.”  Kane’s eyes flashed pure white as he held out his arms, the body of a woman appeared cradled in them.  Her head rested against his broad chest, her pure white hair falling down across his arm in waves, and even though the color of her hair was so startling, her face was angelic, young and innocent.  She wore a white dress that looked soft like chiffon, flowing down across Kane’s other arm.
      He looked down at her with a soft expression in his eyes.
      “Her name is Aurora, and she’s very special, she gave up a lot to be here.  I need you to guard and protect her.”
      “Who…”
      “No more questions, you’ll figure it all out when you need to.  For now, take care of her.”  He stepped forward and put Aurora gently into Crimson’s arms.
      “I would appreciate it Crimson if you make sure the Omega called Darius is in charge of her protection.”  He spoke again locking his eyes with Crimson to make sure the demon understood him, then he leaned forward and laid a soft kiss on Aurora’s forehead.  “Good luck little one.”  He stepped back.
      “I will be keeping an eye on her.  Thanks for the help.” With those words he turned took two steps and disappeared.
      “Who the hell was that!”  Kyle asked Crimson.
      “That…” Crimson said while staring at the place Kane had disappeared “was a dragon god.”
      “You sound exactly like Horatio Cane.”  Kyle commented dryly.
      Crimson looked over at Kyle and arched one eyebrow.  “You… watch too much…TV.” he pulled up his hood and walked off.
      Dante burst out laughing, and followed Crimson.
      Kyle rolled his eyes and grinned at Sorcha and Selphie.  “Shall we.” He waved his arm like the perfect gentleman.

      Crimson carried the still sleeping girl up to the main house of the compound.  He was curious, Kane did not ask for favors lightly and the dragon god had made it clear that this was a favor.  This was what had Crimson intrigued.  Kane hated, no a better word would be detested being indebted to anyone.  So this slip of a girl in Crimsons arms had to be very important to him.
      Dante opened the door for him, Crimson thanked him absently still lost in his musings over the favor.  Why did Kane want Darius to spend time with her?  The whole thing had him itching with curiosity.
      Darius was coming down the stairs as they came through the door.  He stopped in front of Crimson.
      “And now?”  He asked looking down at the figure in Crimson’s arms.
      Crimson shocked the shit out of him when he passed the girl over, forcing Dar to take her into his arms or she would fall, and said succinctly. “She’s your problem now Dar.”  Crimson moved past Darius heading up the stairs.
      “What?  Wait!  Crimson!  You can’t just put a girl in my arms and bugger off.”
      Crimson stopped and turned to look down at Darius.  “I’m working on orders from on high Dar.  You have to look after her and protect her.”  He turned around again and carried on up the stairs.
      Darius looked at the others.
      “Her name is Aurora.” Selphie told him.  “A dragon god named Kane asked us to look after her.”
      “Oh hell no! I don’t want anything to do with dragons.  Dante take her.”
      Dante raised his hands and shook his head.  “Sorry brah, Kane asked for you, so you get to do the job, I’m not getting on the bad side of any god let alone a dragon god.”
      “What must I do with her?”  Darius looked around more than a little panicked.
      “You can start by bringing her to the infirmary, so I can make sure she’s okay.”  Jesse spoke behind Darius.  He’d come down the stairs as Crimson headed up them.   “Selphie would you organize a room for her in the mean time please.”
      Darius turned and looked at Jesse with gratitude then followed the angel towards the infirmary.  Dragons!  Darius wanted to punch something or someone.  Preferably the damn god who forced the girl on him he really didn’t want this job.  Dragons were a sore spot, and it sucked that this had gotten dumped on him.  He didn’t even bother to look down at the girl he carried.

      Sorcha tossed and turned, her arms flailing as she mumbled in her sleep.
      “No, no, no.  Leave me alone, what do you want?”
      Her mind was a whirlpool of distorted images.  The robed hive members trying to take her to force her to join them.  A girl’s voice that kept screaming in pain and begging for help.  Raven throwing her head back as she laughed, and terror, Sorcha felt terror like she had never know before.
      One image seemed to come into focus.  The face of a girl, she was young no more than eighteen.  She was calling Sorcha.
      “Sorcha… Sorcha.”
      The girl stretched her hands forward in supplication.  “Sorcha please hear me.”
      “I hear you.”  Sorcha found herself standing in front of the girl. “What do you need?”
      “Help, we need your help.”
      Sorcha was confused and frustrated. The image of the girl swum out of focus then back into focus again.
      “What can I do, who are you?”
      “He’s coming, he knows we are trying to communicate. No, no no no.”
      The girls face crumpled in terror.  “NOOOO!”  She screamed as her image wavered again.
      “Sorcha Help us!”
      Sorcha jerked awake with a soft scream.  Her bedroom door burst open and Kyle came storming in, he looked around frantically.
      “What’s wrong?”
      Sorcha sat up and tried to calm her breathing. “Nothing Kyle, I just had a bad dream.”
      Sorcha shuddered – bad dream had to be the understatement of the year.
      She felt the bed sink as he sat down next to her then he pulled her into his arms and stoked her hair.  “It’s okay I’m here now.  I’ll sit here next to you and wake you if I see you are having a nightmare.”
      Sorcha sunk into his arms laying her head on his chest.  It was strange but she felt comforted by Kyle’s presence.  Just having him in the room was removing the last traces of the nightmare.  She smiled and started to doze off again.
      Kyle lay back against the headboard and let Sorcha use his body as a pillow.  He continued to stroke her hair softly, he listened to her breathing slow down as she fell asleep.

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