The fight continued, the two men chasing the girl around the small room, leaping on furniture, bouncing off the walls, slashing out with hungry blades and missing as she darted out of the way.
The urge to commit violence sharpened with deadly force.
Dont hurt her, he growled. Ill hurt you back. He would do anything to protect her.
Even in this pitiful state?
He ignored the humiliating question.
Question. Yes. He had more questions for the girl than hed already askedand this time, she would answer satisfactorily or he would...he wasnt sure what he would do. Hed lost all sense of mercy and compassion inside that cave.
The threat stopped Sabin in his tracks. The warrior lowered his weapons.
Strider refused to give up, and finally managed to grab the girl by the hair. She yelped as he jerked, tugging her into the hard line of his body.
Kane managed to get to his feet, intending to rip the two apart. Mine. He stalked forward, tripped over a shoe, thanks to the demon, and came crashing down. Pain consumed him.
Before the girl had a chance to scream for help, or curse Striders very existence, he knocked her ankles together and sent her propelling to the floor. He went down with her, pinning her shoulders to the floor with his knees. Though she struggled, she couldnt work her way free.
I said...dont hurt, Kane shouted with what little strength he had left.
Hey. I barely touched her. I also won, the warrior announced, a huge grin lifting the corners of his mouth.
Sabin marched to Kanes side, crouched, and helped roll him to his back. Then the warrior slid gentle hands under his head and shoulders. Kane flinched from the contact, his mind blaring out a protest he refused to let his mouth deliver, but still his friend held firm, easing him into a sitting position.
Weve been looking for you, my man. Tender words meant to assure and comfort him. Too bad nothing would ever assure and comfort him again. Werent ever going to give up.
How? he managed to ask. Let me go. Please, just let me go.
Sabin understood his question, but not his inner plea. There was a story in a tabloid about a superwoman in New York carrying a hulk over her shoulder. Torin worked his magic and hacked into security cameras in the area, and boom. We had you.
From her trapped position on the floor, the girl looked over at him. Panting, she said to Sabin, Hey, cant you tell hes not liking the physical contact? Let him go.
How had she known, when one of his best friends hadnt noticed?
Hes fine, Strider said. Why are you wearing gloves, female?
Ignoring the question, she closed her eyes and asked, Are you going to kill me now?
No! Kane roared. MINE! MINE!
Strider sheathed his blades and stood. Immediately the girl climbed to her feet. Long strands of hair had fallen over her brow, onto her cheeks; she pushed the locks behind the pointed ears that had so startled him.
Most of the Fae preferred to remain in their realm. They werent the most beloved of races, and immortals tended to attack first and ask questions later. Still, Kane had run into a few throughout the centuries. Each Fae had possessed curling white hair and skin as pale as milk. This one had a slick fall of jet-black silk, with no hint of a wave, and skin the most luscious shade of bronze. Marks of her humanity?
Her eyes belonged to the Fae, though. Large and blue, like the rarest of jewels, the color lightened and darkened with her moods. Right now they were crystalline, almost lacking any color at all. Was she frightened?
The demon of Disaster liked the thought and purred his approval.
Shut up, Kane snarled. Ill kill you. Kill you so dead.
The purrs became chuckles, and Kane had to force himself to breathe, in and out, in and out, slow and measured. He wanted to cut off his ears in the hopes of silencing all that sickening amusement. He wanted to tear the room apart, destroy every piece of furniture, take down every wall, rip up every inch of carpet. He wanted to...grab the girl and carry her away from this awful place.
His gaze met hers, and she offered the sweetest of smiles. A smile that said, Its going to be okay, I promise.
The rage dialed down to a simmer.
That. Quickly.
How had she done that?
Of all the faces she had flashed, this was by far the prettiest. She had the longest lashes hed ever seen. Her cheekbones were high and sharp, her nose perfectly sloped and her lips heart-shaped. There was a slight point in her chin.
She was like a little girls doll come to dazzling life, and she smelled of rosemary and spearminta fresh-baked bread paired with an after-dinner mint. In other words, home.
Mine.
Never, the demon snipped, and the ground began to shake.
Stupid demon. Like any other living creature, Disaster experienced hunger. Unlike others, fear and upset were his favorite foods. So when he yearned for a mealor just wanted desserthe caused some sort of catastrophe for Kane, as well as those around him.
Sometimes, those catastrophes were small. A light bulb would short out, or the floor would crack at his feet. Too many times, those catastrophes were large. A limb would fall from a tree. Cars would crash. Buildings would crumble.
Hatred scraped at his chest.One day, Ill be free of you. One day, Ill destroy you.
The shaking stopped as the demon laughed with glee. Im a part of you. Therell be no getting rid of me. Ever.
Kane pounded a fist into the floor. Long ago, the Greeks had told him only death would separate him from the demonhis deathbut that Disaster would live on forevermore. Perhaps that was true. Perhaps not. The Greeks were famous for their lies. But either way, Kane wouldnt risk death. He was twisted enough to want to witness Disasters defeat, and just cold enough to want to be the one to deliver the final blow.
There had to be a way to have both.
right? Yes? the girl was saying.
Her lilting voice brought him back to the present.
Uh, Kane, Sabin prompted. Did you promise to do that?
She had been speaking to Kane, then, and he could imagine what shed said. He shook his head, his neck almost too weak to support the action. No. I didnt.
But...but...his memory must be impaired. Her gaze swung to Strider, cerulean flooding her irises, becoming an ocean of anger. What about you? Will you carry out his end of the bargain?
Me? Strider thumped his chest.
Yes, you.
And just how do you want me to proceed, hmm?
A violent tremor swept through her, but she said, I want...I want you to take your dagger and...stab me in the heart.
The warrior blinked, shook his head. Youre serious, arent you? You actually want to die.
I dont want to, no, but I need to, she whispered, the anger giving way to defeat.
Kane swallowed a roar, remembering her words in the cave.
I will take you to the human worldand in return, you will kill me. Ill have your vow first.
Maybe he hadnt believed her then. Maybe hed been too lost to his own pain to care. But now, the fact that she wanted to die...not just no, but hell no. He would die first.
Why did you dodge my blows? Strider demanded of the girl.
I told you. Instinct. But Ill do better next time, I promise.
Mine, Kane heard again, a deep, rumbling growl rising...rising...escaping. Mine! Touch her and Ill kill you.
Both Sabin and Strider stared at him with astonishment. Kane had always been the calm one, and had never before raised his voice to his friends. But he wasnt the man he used to bewouldnt ever be that man again.
Please, she begged the warrior, those eyes swirling with flecks of baby blue. How desperate she sounded.
How much more hotly his rage burned.
Something terrible had to have happened to her to make her feel death was the only option available. Had someone...had she been forcedhe couldnt finish the thought. He would erupt. Or bury his head in the hollow of her neck and sob.
He peered up at Strider. Big, blond Strider, with his navy eyes and warped sense of humor. Bind her. Gently. Bring her with us. He would help her.
What? She held up her hands, palms up, and backed away from the warrior. No way. Just no way. Unless youre planning to take me to an undisclosed location, so no one will see the blood.
He could have lied. Instead, he remained quiet as Sabin assisted him to his feet. Broken bones that had only recently been reset screamed in protest, and his knees nearly buckled, but he held steady. He wouldnt allow himself to go down. Not again. Not in front of his minthe girl.
Sorry, honey cakes, Strider said, but you dont get a say in what happens next. Youre gonna live and not die, and thats that.
But...but... Her gaze found Kane and pleaded. Ive wasted so much time with you. I have no one else to ask for help.
Good. Any man who thought to give her what she asked for would die the worst of deaths.
Good? Good! Oh! Anger overshadowed everything else, and she stomped her foot. You heartless, overgrown lout!
Because he wont hurt you? Thats a first. Strider reached out, intending to grab her.
In a snap, she kicked out her leg, nailing the male between the legs. As Strider hunched over, gasping for breath, she bolted for the door, tossing over her shoulder, Im so disappointed in you, Lord Kane!
She vanished into the night.
He tried to follow after her, but curse his weakness, his knees buckled. Come back, female! Now!
She never reappeared.
Kane experienced a tidal wave of rage that made a mockery of what had come before. He would get her back. He would stalk through the night, grab everyone he spotted, and, if they couldnt point him in the right direction, rip their spines out of their mouths. He would leave an ocean of blood in his wake, and she would have only herself to blame. He would
Do nothing, Disaster finished with a laugh.
It stung all the worse because Kane could only remain crumpled on the floor.
Bring her back to me, he shouted to Strider.
Moaning in agony, the warrior toppled to the floor. Hed just been bested by a puny little girl; his demon would be throwing out pain for the next several days.
Go! Kane commanded Sabin.
No. Im not letting you out of my sight.
Go! he insisted. Bring her back.
Yelling at me isnt going to change my mind.
Kane tried to crawl to the door, but dizziness crowded into his mind, stopping him. He spit out a mouthful of curses.
Could nothing go right for him? Not even once?
Disaster started laughing all over again.
CHAPTER THREE
The Realm of Blood and Shadows
A week later
KANE ROSE FROM the king-size bed and padded to his private bathroom. Already naked, he stepped into the shower. Hot water beat against newly healed skin, all the bruises and scabs finally gone. And yet, his muscles had yet to unknot.
The fury hed experienced at the loss of his rescuer had yet to fade, and hatred for Disaster was a constant burn in his chest. And his memories...they were the worst.
They came during the day. They came during the night. He could be lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, and all of a sudden he would be transported back to hell, his wrists and ankles bound. He could be in the shower, like now, with the water raining over him, and all of a sudden he would see the dirt, blood and...other things once caked on his skin, and no amount of scrubbing would make him clean.
He was pretty sure the wires in his brain had gotten cut during his torture. And as hed healed physically, those wires had been reattached in the wrong places. Darkness had become a perfume that constantly wafted from his pores. Hungry anger now simmered inside him, desperate for a target.
No one was safe.
Hed lost his appetite. He could no longer sleep. Sudden noises made him scramble for a weapon.
Once, hed rolled with the punches life threw at him. Once, hed been a softer, nicer guy. Now, there would be no more rolling. Now, he was a raging bull, at times too violent to contain. Any wrong was punished immediatelyno one would ever think him weak enough to challenge again.
The shambles of his room proved it.
He soaped up, rinsed off and towel dried, every action stiff, forced. Standing in front of the mirror, he studied his foggy reflection. His skin was pale. Dark hair dripped water down his shoulders and chest. Because of the weight hed lost, his cheeks had yet to fill out. His lips were compressed into a thin line, as though theyd never known a smile. Maybe they hadnt. Any memory with an accompaniment of amusement no longer seemed to belong to him. Everything positive had happened to someone else. Surely.
But the worst thing about him? His eyes were no longer a mix of brown and green. They were a mix of brown, greenand red. Demon red.
A sense of repugnance grew. Disaster was attempting to control him. And the demon was actually succeeding, whispering reminders about what had happened inside that cave.
A hand here...a mouth there...so helpless...
How dirty was Kane now? How tainted?
A whip across your legs. A dagger along your ribs.
How much of a failure was he?
Hot breath on your wounded skin...kisses...tongues...
Fighting to breathe, Kane flattened his hands on the edge of the sink. He hardly cared when the porcelain cracked. He wanted to rip Disaster out of his chest, and strangle the creature with his bare hands.
Yes. Thats the way his tormentor would die.
Soon.
If he could get his mind right, at least a little, he could figure out a way to make it happen. But any time he wasnt plagued by gut-wrenching memories, he was plagued by thoughts about the girl from the motel. The Fae. He ached as hed done when shed touched him. He tensed. He cursed.
He yearned.
He remembered the adoration painted on her face as she looked at him, as if he were someone special. A look he still didnt understandbut wanted to experience again.
He replayed the silly words shed spoken to him.
I never lieexcept for the few times I do, in fact, lie, but its never intentional, and Im totally telling the truth right now, I promise.
You weigh, like, ten thousand pounds. But theyre glorious pounds.
Ive been crossing off the seconds in the calendar in my heart.
He wanted to know what else she would say.
Who was she? Where was she? What was she doing?
Were memories shed rather not recall afflicting her? Was she hurt? Alone? Scared?
A few times, fear had wiped away her adoration and sass, leaving her with nothing but tremors.
He understood all too well the difficultythe desperationof an inescapable past.
Had she found someone to end her? Had she ended herself?
Or was she still alive?
His arms dropped to his sides as his hands fisted. She was his. She
Wasnt his.
Still, he wasnt going to take care of his problem until hed taken care of hers, was he? He couldnt leave her out there, desperate and afraid, possibly in danger. The girl had saved him from the most horrific situation of his life. Even though shed run away from him, he had to step up and save her from what had to be the most horrific situation of hers.
She was right, after all. He owed her. And he would pay up. Just not the way she wished. He would fix her life the way he couldnt fix his own. Then, one of them would be happy.
She deserved to be happy.
If she still lived.
He sucked in a sharp breath. She had better still live, or he would...he would... He punched the mirror, shattering the glass. The sound of tinkling bells filled the small enclosure. Several pieces arrowed into his leg, cutting into his thigh. A gift from Disaster, he was sure. Gritting his teeth, he removed the shards.
After he helped the girl, he could concentrate on killing the demon. He wouldnt give up until he succeeded. He couldnt take this anymore, and he didnt want his friends to have to take it anymore, either. He was too much of a danger to those around him, and there were too many innocents here.
He would leave today, he decided, and he wouldnt ever come back.
Sorrow settled heavily on his shoulders, weighing him down. He couldnt talk to his friends about his decision. They wouldnt understand. They would try to talk him into taking another path. They might even lock him away for his own good.
Theyd done it once before.
Kane wouldnt sneak away, but he wouldnt admit the truth, either. He would say his goodbyes, as if he meant to return after his rescuer had been saved. Only he would know this was it. The end.
Jaw locked, Kane strapped weapons all over his body. There were multiple blades, two Sigs and several clips. He dressed in a black T-shirt and camo pants, then tugged on his favorite pair of combat boots. He stomped from the bathroom, glass crunching under his feet, his mind a field of evil laughter.
Stupid demon.
During Kanes absence, his friends had moved into a fortress in the Realm of Blood and Shadows, a kingdom hidden in a pocket between earth and the lower level of the skies. He strode down the hall, his gaze on the walls covered with pictures of a beautiful blonde female in various outfits and positions. Lounging on a velvet-lined couch, standing in a rose garden, dancing on a table. Blowing a kiss. Winking.
Her name was Viola, and she was a minor goddess of something or other, as well as the keeper of Narcissism. He couldnt help but compare her to sperm: she had about a one in three million chance of becoming a human being with actual emotions. The girl irritated the fire out of him.
He pounded down the stairs, then down another hallway, this one littered with ridiculous portraits of the warriors wearing ribbons and lace and smilesand nothing else. Theyd been painted by a dead man, if ever Kane met the guy, and had been commissioned by Luciens fiancée, Anya, the goddess of Anarchy, without permission.
Finally Kane reached his destination. Maddox and Ashlyns bedroom. His first stop on the Tour of Goodbyes.
Maddox was the keeper of Violence. Ashlyn was the new mother of the warriors twin babies.
For a long while, Kane watched Ashlyn, silent. She was a delicate beauty with honey-colored hair and skin, and she swayed in a rocker, singing to the bundle of joy clutched lovingly in her arms. Beside her, Maddox swayed in a second rocker. He was a brute of a man with black hair and violet eyes, and seeing him kiss the tiny fingers wrapped around his pinky did something to Kanes insides. Twisted and knotted them, until he experienced the same lance of pain his pointy-eared rescuer had caused.
What was that?
William the Ever Randyaka the Panty Melter, Kane thought with an eye-rollsat at the edge of the king-size bed, a pink comforter plumped around his battle-honed body. Somehow, the feminine coverlet failed to diminish the savage intensity of his strength. He wasnt demon-possessed. No one knew what he was, exactly. All they knew was that he had a temper rivaled by few, and a mean streak longer than any Kane had ever before encountered. He smiled when he killed his enemiesand laughed when he stabbed his friends.
Whens it gonna be my turn? William whined. I want to hold my preciouses. Preciousees? Whatever. I want!
O-kay. That was new.
They arent yours, Maddox snapped, doing his best to whisper for the sake of the babies.
They kind of are. I delivered them, William pointed out.
I conceived them.
Big deal. Most guys can do that. Not many have the know-how to slice a woman from hip to hip and dig the little creatures out of her...uh, never mind, William said as a fierce growl rose from Maddox.
Expecting a fight, Kane stepped inside to claim the baby.
Williams electric blues swung his way. Disaster. Couldnt stay away from the most delightful darlings ever born? Oh, yes, you are, he cast at the children. Yes, yes, you are.
Baby talk. Disgusting.
The negative reaction surprised him. Once, he would have been right there beside William, saying the same things, in the same manner. In the dark of night, he used to dream of such a happily ever after for himself. A loving wife. Adoring children. Then the minions had tried to steal his seed and he...he...
Dont call me by the demons name, he snarled, then realized his fervency had caused the children to jolt awake and cry. Shame coursed through him. Sorry. But Im not that disgusting piece of Yelling again. Sorry. Just watch your mouth, okay?
Hush now, William said sternly, and Kane had no idea who the command was for.
Didnt matter, really. Everyone quieted.
Ashlyn glanced over at Kane, her amber eyes welcoming. She looked nothing like Kanes womanno, not his, he quickly amendedand yet she reminded him of the girl. The delicacy of her bone structure, perhaps. Or the depth of her concern for those around her, maybe. Do you want to hold Urban?
No, thank you, he replied at the same time Maddox said, No, he doesnt.
A stilted moment of silence elapsed.
Kane ignored the hurt the words caused. The refusal was justified. He was a danger to everyone he encountered. Had his mind not been such a mess, constantly feeding the demon the tastiest of meals, light bulbs would have been shorting out and the walls and floors would have been cracking.
I just wanted to get a look at them before... Well, Ill be leaving a little later today. Ive got a female to help. He cleared the clog of emotion from his throat.
Well, come on, then, Ashlyn said. Sabin and Strider mentioned the pointy-eared woman from New York. I like the sound of her.
Shes... Magnificent. Lovely. Witty. Something. His insides tightened as he approached the rockers.
William stood to do the same, remaining by his side, stiff, his hand poised over the hilt of a dagger. To protect the babies from Kanes affliction? Yeah. Probably.
Cant blame him.
You gettin so close to me cause youre trying to taste my flavor, Willy boy? he said to the warrior who had yet to back off. Teasing was better than raging. Or worse. Crying.
Maybe. William allowed a few more inches of space. But you just ruined it. Flavor? Seriously? I like my conquests with a little more maturity.
Im mature. Im even old enough to plow your mom.
Please. She would eat your liver for lunch and your kidneys for dinner.
Could you guys be any more disgusting? Ashlyn asked.
Yes, they said in unison.
Urban chortled, as if he understood. The kid had a full head of black hair, and his eyes were the same shade of violet as his fathersthough they were far more serious and too intelligent for a newborn. As Kane looked him over, two horns rose from the babys skull, and black scales appeared on his hands.
Defensive actions? he asked.
We think so, Ashlyn replied, sounding somewhat embarrassed. He doesnt mean any insult.
I know. He shifted his gaze to Maddox. The female child, Ever, had the honey-colored hair of her mother, the strands wound into tight little curls. Her eyes swam with orange and gold flames, and a mouthful of teeth peeked out from under her lips.
The twins had been born a little over a month ago, and yet they appeared quite older.
The boy stared at Kane as if plotting his murder.
The girl looked him over and dismissed him, concentrating on William and holding out her arms. Grinning, William claimed her from her father. She nuzzled against the warriors neck, resting her head on his shoulder and sighing with contentment.
Isnt she the best? William said, his grin widening. She used to have claws, but they shrank. Didnt they, princess? Oh, yes, they did, but theyll come out to play if some dumb loser ever tries to take what you dont want to give, wont they?
Another sharp pain tore through Kanes chest. The children are beautiful, he told the beaming parents, and he meant it. He removed a bejeweled dagger from the sheath at his side, and handed it hilt first to Maddox. This is for Ever, from her uncle Kane.
Maddox nodded his head in acceptance.
He palmed the matching dagger, and placed it on the small table beside Ashlyn. This is for Urban.
She offered a soft, sweet smile in thanks. How wonderfully thoughtful. The children will love them, I know it.
Well, I dont. Put those dangerous things away, William chided. My darlings cant play with knives for another couple of months. And why are you giving them presents now? Why cant you wait until the appropriate time and His gaze zeroed in on Kane, and he pressed his lips together.
Did he suspect the truththat Kane was leaving for good?
Whatever. Kane ignored him, slapping Maddox on the shoulder. I want to thank you for everything youve done for me. Words cannot express what you mean to me. He didnt wait around for the warriors reply; he couldnt. The backs of his eyes were burning. He must have gotten dust in them.
He strode from the room, intending to hunt down the remaining warriors he loved more than life. Torin, Lucien, Reyes, Paris, Aeron, Gideon, Amun, Sabin, Strider and Cameo. Over the centuries, theyd fought together, avenged each other, saved each other. Yes, for many years theyd been split into two different groups, one determined to battle the Hunters, the other determined to exist in peace. But at heart, theyd always been together. And in the end, the war had boiled over, bringing them back to the same purpose. Survival.
Each warrior would be devastated by his departure. He knew that for a factbecause theyd once lost another of their brethren. Baden, the keeper of Distrust. They had mourned for centuries, and still hadnt truly recovered. But Kane didnt have a chance to hunt down a single person. William swept up to his side, keeping pace.
Youre leaving, the warrior said.
Yes. Hed already admitted that much.
Forever. A statement, not a question.
He wanted to lie. William could try to stop him. William could tell the others, and they could try to stop him. Still he said, Yes. Demons loved lies, and while there wasnt much Kane could do to deny Disaster pleasure, telling the truth was one of them.
Well, Im going with you, William announced.
Kane stopped and faced the male, irritation hanging in the air as heavily as shackles.
Shackles.
Breathe. Why? His tone lashed with more force than hed intended. You dont even know where Im going or what Im planning.
A shrug of those wide shoulders. Maybe I could use a distraction. Ive been hunting a Sent One, some punk kid named Axel, but hes proven to be wily and its starting to annoy me.
Sent Ones policed the skies, killing demons. They were winged, like angels, but as vulnerable to their emotions as humans. Right now, the Lords and the Sent Ones were on the same team.
Everyone knew that could change at any moment.
Kane narrowed his eyes. Maybe you think I need a babysitter.
That, too. As always, William was utterly unabashed.
Well, no thanks. I dont need you, and I certainly dont want you nearby, bugging me all the time.
William clutched his heart, as though offended. Whats wrong with you? You used to be so sweet.
People change.
Not me. Ive never been sweet, and I never will be. Your needs and wants dont matter to me. Im more concerned with saving my babies. I have to make sure you live up to your word and stay away from the fortress. Have you forgotten youre destined to start an apocalypse?
CHAPTER FOUR
Los Angeles
APOCALYPSE. THE WORD echoed in Kanes mind for days. No matter what he tried, he couldnt escape it.