Chapter Ten (Rough Draft)

The room that the b*****d had ushered us into was stifling. It felt so cold, so cut off from nature. I needed the fresh wind to breathe, I felt suffocated. Besides me Lucas fidgeted in the steel chairs we had been provided.

This was pointless; barbarians don’t know the meaning of civility…why call this meeting. And why had Cole decided to agree to it. Cole’s face held a blank stare as he eyed the door wearingly. The room was barren, no life hung along the walls, life completely crushed from existence. A crucifix and cross were the only ornaments that graced the steel walls. So sterile….

The faint hum of music penetrated through the door opening. The party that went on outside the walls raged and my foot bounced to the beat as the words to the sound fluttered in my head. At least I knew I was still part of reality to remember that much.

This was all wrong. The two that had invited us here just felt….wrong. There was something murky hidden that caused shivers to bloom along my spine.

“Do they plan on joining us anytime soon?” Lucas murmured under his breath. His patience for the swine was as thin as my own.

His blond hair fell to cover his eyes as he turned his head towards the Earth and feigned sleep.

“It will take as long as it takes Lucas; we agreed to meet with them. Sit up straight boy and stop your whimpering.” Cole instructed.

I couldn’t stop the giggle that I let loose causing Luke to glare at me out of the corner of his eye. Lucas had a point though, nearly forty-five minutes had passed since we had been herded into this room and I became antsier as the seconds ticked by. I felt the walls barreling in on me.  I didn’t like this room…not at all. 

It took another ten minutes before the distinctive clicking of the door locks started to chime. We sat poised watching the two enter the room. The male was of a medium build, so deceptive in image. His arms flexed mildly under his leather coat and his eyes invaded as they examined the three of us aligned in our seats. The female was a better cover than the male. Her entire image was made to feed the impression of being genteel. Her figure was slim and toned. Her skin painted to be a perfectly tanned hide. Ice tried to pierce as she stared into me. She slithered past the first few mental barriers I had in place but met a road block when she tried to investigate deeper. I gave her a small smile when she retreated unsuccessful, she snarled as she turned her head away in a quick snap.

“Pagans.” the boy acknowledged us.

“Christians.” Lucas and I said in unison.

   Cole kept quiet as he examined the two in front of us.

They settled into the seats directly across from us, the female turned her attentions towards Lucas as he struggled to keep those barriers tight. Reaching over I took his hand to bring him back into reality. His sigh of relief mixed with the ferocity that pulsed along my skin in waves.

“Why did you bring us here Christians?” Cole questioned them. “Any pressing matter among our groups could be discussed at the communal. “

A smile crossed the boy’s lips “What I wish to talk about is of no importance to the rest of the communal.”

“What pray tell, could you have to say to us that wouldn’t be of importance to the communal” Lucas inquired.

“We are in the midst of a war. And in that war,” he paused twisting his hands “there must be some sort of manner among men.”

“What sort of manner among men are you talking about Christian? From what we’ve seen, you and your kind find no manner in the way you slaughter.” Lucas said eyeing the boy.

“We have decided to settle here till our business is done.”

“And how long does your business intend to take?” Cole said.

“This sort of thing cannot be predicted Pagan.” The female hissed. “Five months is as much as can be foretold at the present time.   

We fidgeted in our chairs. Anger billowed from Lucas and from the way Cole was clutching the steel chair beneath him, was trying to reign in his anger as much as he was capable of. None of us wanted Christians on clearly marked Pagan soil. Especially of the sort that these two belonged to.

“And why would we agree to that?” Lucas hissed. “This is clearly marked Pagan soil. We permitted you to stay here for two weeks. That was the time allotted of peace of you staying here! And you want us to permit you to stay for months on end!” His anger raised him out of his chair, their self-preservation kept them in theirs.

“Lucas sit down.” Cole demanded.

He listened, as we all do to Cole, but his venomous stare towards the pair didn’t lesson as he regained his composure.

“Lucas here has his point.” Cole began. He slide forward so his hands slid along the metal table that separated us before clenching them in slight fists. His power grew filling the room with a buzz. The female recoiled under the rise in pressure but the male stared straight into Cole, no fear, no worry crossed his eyes.

“What point is that Pagan?”

“The point is why we should agree to such steep terms. What business could you have here that we should allow you to stay?” Cole had a better sense of politic than Lucas and myself. That’s why he was ordered to follow us on any sort of meeting like this. His ability to keep his anger and to reign in a conversation was a skill that we had not yet mastered. The female sent a quick glare to her brother, too fast for most to notice, her speed made it impossible to notice her movement if you were to blink.

“There are those here that are in need of training. We plan to integrate them. And by the rules set up by the communal, we have right to stay stationed here till we have gained our men.” He informed.

Colin.

“You mean till you have gained your blood.” I snapped. “Any that are here, Christian, have no sense of who they are. Communal also states that a warrior must accept his position without coercion.”

I did not like the males eyes turned towards me. They settled into a dark abysmal black that made me want to find the nearest exit. His eyes scanned my small frame like a lion examines the sickly antelope that straggles along the tails of the herd.

“That is of our concern pagan.” The female spit her words like a cobra.

“What you do on our land IS my concern Christian.” My anger rose as did my energy. I sent out enough to cause discomfort along the two that sat poised across from us. She did not recoil as she had with Cole, she raised her own to try and intimidate me. The small metallic chamber buzzed with energy that threatened to burst.

“Calm my sister.” The male said, placing a hand on the female’s shoulder. “They are right. If we don’t wish for conflict, we must abide by their set of laws here.”

She snarled in compliance as she settled back into her chair.

“We will agree to your terms. And we will gain our warrior’s by the laws of the communal, I promise you that.” His words were meant to be reassuring but failed to calm the anger in either myself of the two men that joined me.

“Leave the boy Colin out of this.”

Both of the twosome snapped their eyes towards me as well as my two companions.

“And why should we do that? He is clearly marked as a warrior. You have seen him yourself Pagan. He has no choice but to be involved.” The anger started to rise in his voice.

“He has a choice Christian. As long as he is still innocent to the situation, he has a choice. He has made no oath yet to serve. And even more so, who to serve.” The brother shot out of his seat in anger. Lucas in return pounced to his feet and took a step in front of me.

“Does Marcus know of your little warrior Christian?” Lucas taunted. “I’m sure he would be greatly appreciative to find out that you are hiding potential fighters.”

“You. Will. Do. No such thing Pagan.” The pressure that came from the boy raised and caused my head to pound. My skin crawled in retreat along my body.

“And what do you plan to do Christian if I just happen to let it slip at communal.” Lucas threatened.

The table flew out from under our hands and slammed into the wall separating us from the gathering outside. Lucas stepped forward in an advance attack before Cole could intervene.

“These things are not meant to be trusted Cole!” Lucas yelled.

“I do not care about your trust Pagan. When the time comes and we demolish you and your pathetic bred…”

Cocky B******s.

“You can try Christian” I advanced myself into the confrontation

“We will more than try Pagan W***e.” The female stated.

Lucas and I advanced ready to pick the fight.

“Enough!” Cole bellowed.

We four halted in obedience.

“This meeting is over. Take your five months.”Cole raised his hands to silence us before we could protest. “If you follow the laws set by the communal, we will do nothing to stop you.”

  “Cole.” I warned.

“We have no say on how they recruit their army my dear. You will do nothing to halt them in their actions unless provoked.” His eyes turned again towards the two demons in front of us. Simultaneously they nodded in agreement. “If we are agreed, then we have no more business here.” And he advanced towards the door, demanding us to follow suit. And we filed into the empty hallway outside the door. Cole turned so no straggler from the festivities would hear

“I don’t know what you meant by this little get together Christian, but don’t think it means peace of any kind…” Cole paused for a second “for any of us.”

The male paused as if contemplating his words carefully.

 “Oh don’t worry….Pagan…” he said “I have no wish for peace. Samuel merely thinks it’s a good idea to at least great the people we are about to slaughter.”

Slimy B*****d

“What my dear brother is trying to say…” the female of the two began “is while there is peace tonight…do not think that it changes anything to do with our little…arrangement.”  The female tried to calm the situation, not wanting to bring any unwanted attention.

“We are done here.” Cole said turning away.

My feet stayed rooted as Lucas held onto my arm

“There are still some of our people here. I’m going to find them first then meet you on the boundaries of the property.” I assured him

He leaned in slowly “Don’t turn your eyes away from them.”

He gave a nervous glance to the two behind us and I nodded to give him reassurance. He glanced back only once as he rushed to catch up with Cole.

“Is there something else you want you filth?” the female hissed

My hands clenched tight, rising my power enough to cause tension. The female winced but again nothing escaped from the boy. I raised the power trying to gain a response. The small hiss of pain was barely noticeable. My eyes shot past their shoulders to the darkened chamber behind us. Colin. Damnit, what the hell was he doing here. They didn’t seem to notice the man that rolled in pain from the pressure of my power behind me and I lessoned my energy. I waited till I saw his attempt to roll back into hiding before turning once again towards the sniveling b******s before me.  

“I want my friends and that’s all I could ever want from you, you egotistical masochistic b******s.” I hissed with as much venom as I could muster.

“Fine” the male said. “take your friends…” he paused as he advanced towards me. The smell of death clung to him making me gag. His hand reached out and touched my cheek “but do come back little priestess…I would so much like to show you the upgrades to the old methods on how to deal with women like you…” I raised my energy enough to send a shock wave of power through his body causing him to recoil. The smile he sent held so much hatred that I felt my skin burn from the animosity in his eyes.

The two of them walked past me then, leaving me to the silence.

Colin….I walked into the doorway of the small sitting area

“Colin.” I called into the darkness. He hesitated behind the safety of the couch for a few heartbeats before he stepped into the light.

His body was as familiar now as it had been in the park. Shocks of unrealized power buzzed off his skin licking mine. They would destroy him.

 “Don’t follow them Colin.” I dictated into the dark “Do you hear me!” I snapped “Don’t you dare follow them.”

“Follow who!” He walked around the couch and closed some of the distance between us. My hands twitched as the feeling of Christian power approached me. My power rising in reaction to the opposing force. He let out a wince as stepped back slightly into the dark. Sighing, I did my best to lower the pressure.

The Christian was right…there was no way to keep him from this war. His unrealized potential would be too much of a temptation for any to resist.

“If things become inevitable…and you…must be dragged into all this…” the words stung as they slipped from my mouth. The pentacle around my neck, burning in anger as I helped the boy in front of me.  “Find a man named Marcus. He will…..help you.”

The Christian was right…there was no way to keep him from this war. His unrealized potential would be too much of a temptation for any to resist.

“I don’t know what the hell you are talking about!” he argued. His body pushing past the small amount of pressure I left separating us. “Stop talking in fricken riddles! And just talk to me like a real person god Damnit.”

You can’t be real…If your real it makes what I have to do so much more difficult. The humanity that filled him made the realization that he was doomed to fight the battle that was destined to end in bloodshed and mayhem so much more painful. What was I thinking? When had I started to care what happens to one Soldier of God. I let a small chuckle escape me. I am weak.

“Find Marcus…..those two bred nothing but destruction Colin…don’t fall for it.” I warned as I turned to walk away.

He didn’t follow for the first few seconds that I retreated to grab the few remaining stragglers and join with Lucas and Cole. The air was so thick and suffocating, as I shoved my way past the doors that confined me from the fresh breeze I sucked in the oxygen that encompassed me. I expected him to stop his pursuit as I started across the small wooden deck, but was only met with his stubbornness.

“Stop following me Colin. I’m not the right person to follow….”I paused “trust me…”

Run while you had a chance left to…

His hand grasped my arm to halt my escape and startled I sent a shockwave of power into him. He recoiled in pain holding his hand.

 “Ow…fuckedy Ow!” he cursed nursing his wounded appendage.

 “Go home Christian.” I whispered as I made the decent down the stars. Lucas and the rest gathered near the shadows along the outside boarder waiting.  

“No!” he demanded. “You will tell me what is going on” he raised his hand to show emphasis. “Explain this to me!”

Who was he to make demands of me! Whirling around I let a small amount of power escape my control and slam into him. His eyes glazed over and he swirled in pain.

 “I. Am. Not. The one you should talk to Colin.” I let the power drain off of him and his eyes gave way that the pain had begun to fade. His breath hitched as he tried to find a solid thought. His eyes rose towards mine. Such a distinct aqua coloring, the color of the ocean at sunrise, when the sun just grazes along the tumbling waves. Why did he need to be involved.

 “You’re the one I. Want. To talk to Hailey” he murmured.

Damnit. No. Don’t ask me to do this. Don’t.

 “Is there a problem here?” the male hissed from behind Colin. His eyes linked to mine, dripping into the darkest of black. He was sending a warning.

“No problem” Colin said shaking him off. “Just a little too much to drink I guess. Hailey was just helping me find Ethan.” His ability to lie shocked me.

The Christian disconnected his eyes from mine to stare at Colin. Anger filled me, I longed for Colin to be long past the reaches of this b*****d. Under his grasp…Colin would die… He turned away quickly, retreating into the home.

He came back not a few heartbeats later, the boy that followed gave a glare at the Christian that made a smile cross my face.  

 “Here now, I found him” he said presenting the boy “You won’t be needed…..Hailey” he hissed my name. Furry swept through me.

“Whatever you say Oh lord and master” I threw back as I bowed. He hissed in a dark anger. Behind me the others stirred ready to rise to action.

The Christian knew better than to start this battle here. He retreated like the coward he and his entire affiliation are. Fire burned from his heals as he rampaged into the home. He screamed and raged as the other party members cleared the area. Party was done. Time to leave.

 “Don’t forget what I said about him Colin” I said turning my back to him.

“Are you gonna forget what I said?” he inquired.

If someone…didn’t give him any warning, he was going to fall straight into the hands of the two Christian.
 “I can’t guarantee you anything Colin…” I prayed that the ones behind me couldn’t hear “I’ll let you know where and when….and then I’ll tell you as much…as I feasibly can…”

“You promise?” he said.

“A Christian asking about me keeping to my word?” His innocence was shocking and refreshing at the same time. I let out a chuckle before smiling up at him. His eyes melted to a murky warm blue. “I’ll be there Colin. Just make sure you’re around long enough to be there as well.”

“More riddles?”

“No riddles, just…friendly…advice.” I turned away at that time and refused to look back. Lucas stared angrily at me, as Cole and a few others glared down the boy behind me.

“What do you think you are doing?!” Lucas hissed while grabbing on to my arm.

My eyes two tired to handle their questioning.

“I don’t have to answer to you Lucas. This is my choosing.” I raised my power “If you wish to refute it. Tell me now.”

“Enough you two.” Cole said “It’s been a long day for each of us.”

Walking past Lucas and the angry stares of what was left of the coven, I walked towards the cars.

Settling into the back couch seat, I let myself relax.

What was I getting myself into…?

I reached into the pockets of my pants and pulled out the phone that was resting there.

And sent a message to Marissa asking her to send me Colin’s number.

The phone hummed to life displaying his number with a smiley face at the end.

Typing in his number into the new message box, I sealed my fate.

Tuesday, Fuller Park at 8.

The sent message that appeared was like the final lock snapping open.

And my heart plummeted when the humming returned and I read off his response.

I’ll be there.

Snapping my phone shut…..I hoped he would be.

Author's Note

This is still in really early stages and reviews are SUPER welcome. =D Please try and over look grammar and spelling seeing as this is still an early rough draft