The
Chronicles of Koa

Netherworld

K.N.
Lee

Copyright © 2013 by K.N. Lee

All rights reserved. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any
means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical
methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the
case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other
noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

www.TheChroniclesofKoa.com

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of
fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s
imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric
purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses,
companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

The
Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld/ K.N. Lee. -- 1st Ed.

Acknowledgements

Writing
this book has been a rewarding experience. I would like to thank those who
provided support and believed in me during this journey. I must first thank my
editor, Ann Wicker of East Oak Media for taking my manuscript and helping me
polish and make it better. I would also like to give thanks to my beta readers,
Jacqueline Pfahl, Melinda Metz, and Angelica Grier. Also, for Brandon Jackson
for working on the cover and making it look fantastic.

My
friends, Facebook page fans, and Twitter followers have also given me so much
support and helped me push through all of the doubts and fears that come with
writing a book. Thank you all!

Lastly,
I must thank my lovely mother, Brenda Williams. She has always been there to
motivate me and believed in my talents even when I was a little girl creating
books out of cardboard wrapped in wallpaper!

To
my grandmother Brenda Lee Cooper

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. 8

Chapter 2. 15

Chapter 3. 23

Chapter 4. 32

Chapter 5. 39

Chapter 6. 46

Chapter 7. 54

Chapter 8. 57

Chapter 9. 65

Chapter 10. 71

Chapter 11. 74

Chapter 12. 83

Chapter 13. 90

Chapter 14. 99

Chapter 15. 107

Chapter 16. 111

Chapter 17. 116

Chapter 18. 120

Chapter 19. 126

Chapter 20. 132

Chapter 21. 137

Chapter 22. 145

Chapter 23. 150

Chapter 24. 157

Chapter 25. 165

Chapter 26
170

Chapter 27. 176

Chapter 28. 181

Chapter 29. 187

Chapter 30. 192

Chapter 31. 198

Chapter 32. 201

Chapter 1

“Mmm,”
Koa said as she opened a bag of freshly popped popcorn. She breathed in the
buttery aroma and groaned in delight. There came a low purr from behind and she
glanced over her shoulder at the stoic black cat. The cat jumped onto the
dining chair.

“Smells
good Raven. Doesn’t it?”

Raven
stared back with her ethereal green eyes. The cat blinked, as if she was bored.

Koa
shrugged and blew her bangs out of her eyes. “Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “I
know you’re still mad at me for coming home late last night. I said I was
sorry. But I’m a big girl now.”

Raven
blinked again.

Koa
scoffed. “Be that way. This popcorn is all mine and you’re just jealous.” She
made a teasing face. She poured the popcorn into a large bowl and carried it
out of the massive kitchen that had once been filled with kitchen staff and a
private chef.

Through
the archway and into the grand hall, Koa shuddered at the chill in the air. The
sound of her soft footsteps echoed through the empty manor and she found
herself humming as she always did.

She
didn’t pay any mind to the gothic statues that glared down at her on either
side of the wide corridor. There was a time when Koa had been frightened by her
father’s relics. As a girl she would avoid walking down the hallways at night
for fear that they would awaken and grab her with their cold, stone, hands.

Now,
Koa was used to the statues of angels and demons. She barely glanced at them
anymore. Such things were a part of her daily life and she no longer feared
their artistic replicas.

It
took her a few moments to cross the cold marble floors to the large den she had
converted into an entertainment room. Koa used a remote to turn off all of the
lights. She lit a scented candle just as Raven brushed past her leg. She rubbed
her soft fur onto Koa’s bare flesh.

The
scent of vanilla made her smile.

Koa
flopped onto the plush sofa and put her feet up on the ottoman. She sank into
the cushions and closed her eyes in bliss. “Halston has given me a few nights
off.” She turned on her television. “Finally, I get to catch up on some reality
TV!”

Raven
seemed to roll her eyes and Koa grinned. “I know,” she said as she relaxed her back
on the orange pillows and popped a handful of popcorn into her mouth. “I can be
such a girl sometimes.” She laughed to herself. She was happy. Life had been so
busy lately with the rise of supernatural crime, that a single moment of
solitude was a rare.

Koa
glanced at Raven and held her arms out. “Come sit with me. Pretty please?”

Raven
snuggled next to her and rested her head on Koa’s lap. Koa smiled and stroked
her black fur. Sometimes it seemed as if Raven was all she had left in the
world, besides Halston. “Maybe I’ll order you some Chinese. How does that
sound? You always loved it. How about some roasted duck?”

Koa
had just started to crunch on a kernel when she heard the faintest creak in her
hallway. It was so faint that she almost didn’t catch it. She didn’t want to
catch it. She wanted the night to go smoothly, but it was the way Raven’s ears
perked up that confirmed that Koa had indeed heard something.

Koa
grumbled and put her bowl of popcorn down on her glass coffee table. She held
her breath. All of her senses were heightened. There was a definite warning
deep in the pit of her stomach. She sniffed the air. There was the faint stench
of coal and something rancid.

Odd,
she thought with a frown. She had smelled that distinct odor before. It was not
from this world. Very odd.

Raven
looked down the dark hallway and made a low sound of warning deep in her
throat. Her black fur stood on end. Koa shushed her with a hand.

She
came to her feet and headed towards the sound. She could feel that someone was
there. Like the telling smell of oncoming rain, Koa had an uncanny sense of
knowing when something bad was about to happen. She hoped that this time she
was wrong.

Her
heart began to thump in her chest. Her one day off, and someone decided to
bother her. Raven lowered her head and waited back on the sofa.

Scaredy-cat,
Koa thought with a frown.

Koa
softly tiptoed into the darkness. She now wished that she was properly dressed.
She didn’t want someone catching her in her underwear. She sighed. She was
probably overthinking things. Two-hundred-year-old French manors tended to
creak in the night. Koa should have been used to the sounds after all these
years of living there.

Truth
was, Koa was still afraid of the dark and with good reason. She froze when
something crashed to the floor. She quickly pressed her back against the wall
and waited. One of the statues had broken.

Voices.

Koa
cursed in her head. Someone was definitely in her house. Her breath quickened.
Koa could hear Halston’s voice in her head, telling her that it wasn’t worth
it…that she should run. She didn’t run.

Instead,
she peeked around the corner of the wall and saw flashlights. The harsh,
fluorescent light pointed in her direction. Two men. Bald and big. They were
dressed in black with tattoos all over their pale white faces and scalps. They
clutched silver barreled crossbows.

Koa’s
face paled. Their black eyes searched her hallway.

No,
Koa thought with cold realization. Her skin crawled with dread. It’s not
possible. “Syths,” she whispered in a hiss. They heard her. Four black eyes
looked up and met hers.

Koa
pulled back. Her pulse raced. These were creatures of folklore and mythology,
but Koa knew the truth. Such creatures did exist. It was just that they
shouldn’t be in the human world. She gulped. Something was definitely wrong.
They should not be here.

“Shit!”
No time to run now. Boots stomped down the marble floors. Dread washed over
her, making her skin feel prickly.

Two
Syths, equipped with crossbows. Koa knew what those arrows were laced with. Her
stomach pumped with anxiety. Why were they in her house?

Koa
saw Raven come around the corner and leisurely sit in the middle of the hall.
Koa’s anxiety began to be replaced with fury. No one had ever invaded her home.

Koa
glared over at Raven.

“Fine.
Just sit there and let me do all of the work,” she said to the black cat. Koa
yelped as a large hand reached for her long black and blue hair. She grabbed
the hand and with a push off the ground, she leapt into the air.

Her
feet climbed up the air as if by invisible stairs. With a surge of energy, she
took flight. She grunted as she lifted the large man’s weight off the ground
and flew upwards. He used his other arm to direct the point of his crossbow at
her.

Koa’s
eyes widened and she pursed her lips. She saw the red poisonous arrow ready to
be released. The second Syth waited below as Koa went higher and higher up the
tall vaulted ceiling. It was cold up there, and pitch black, but Koa could
still see the Syth’s illuminated face.

An
arrow zipped past her and she gasped. “Come quietly, Koa, and we won’t have to
hurt you,” the Syth below shouted. “Our master doesn’t want you dead. He just
wants us to bring you in.”

She
snorted. “No thanks. I like my world just fine.” Koa looked down at the Syth
whose hand she held. It was rare that she saw one of his kind.

His
lips curled into a malicious grin. “Yes, come quietly, my pretty,” he
whispered. His voice was like nails on gravel. “You know you don’t belong here
with the humans…”

Koa
gazed into those soulless black eyes and felt her stomach churn with dread.
They were like small, black, beads. The tattoos around his eyes were inscriptions
of a dialect that didn’t exist in this world. Someone was letting rogue
nephilim out of the Netherworld.

“And
neither do you,” she said and with an evil grin, she let go of his hand.

He
cried out and fell nearly fifty feet. Koa heard a satisfying crunch of bones.
She smirked. Still, it wasn’t enough to kill a Syth. Those bones were probably
regenerating already. Koa hadn’t encountered many since she’d become a
Netherworld agent, but Netherworld beings were extremely hard to kill.

Koa
darted away from another arrow and into the darkness of her empty manor. She
stood on the ceiling, upside down, yet defying gravity as she looked down at
the two shadows below. She considered all of her options. She could fly out of
that window ahead or she could go back and kill them.

Syths
were dangerous. She couldn’t let them get away. But her weapons were in her
vault. In order to reach her vault, she would need to go past the Syths. How
silly of her to think that she was safe. Not even her home was sacred anymore.

Nearly
five years as an agent in Halston’s Netherworld division, and Koa was still
caught off guard.

Koa
frowned. Halston was right. She should have moved a long time ago. She could
already see Halston’s self-satisfied smile. She hoped she’d make it out alive
to see that smile again.

Something
caught her attention. A glittering light below. She saw Raven’s green eyes
glow, and then she saw something else. Like a bolt of lightning, Koa shot
through the darkness to Raven. Koa had a determined look on her face. She could
make it. She had to.

Arrows
flew all around her. The arrows bounced off the walls and sparked along the
floors. Her heart pumped, but her face was set with purpose. She smiled when
she saw her Lyrinian sword lying on the floor, like a beacon of hope in the
darkness.

Raven
stepped away from it. Koa grabbed it by its hilt. A jolt of power slammed into
her palm and flooded her body. She gritted her teeth and embraced the euphoric
pain the sword caused her. The blade shot out, lengthening from the size of a
small dagger to that of a full sized sword. The jagged blade was a dark metal
that was rippled with black engravings. Netherworld dialect.

Koa
grinned. Once the initial pain subsided, the power made her feel invincible.
The Lyrinian sword had been her father’s. He had trained her to use it when she
was only a little girl. This weapon, was not of this world…and would not be put
away until all evil was vanquished.

“Thanks,
Raven.”

The
cat seemed to nod.

Koa
cried out as an arrow nipped her right cheek. The pain was surprising. It
sizzled. Blood dripped from her face as her hand shot to cover the wound.

Her
green eyes went dark. She balled up her fist and tightened her grasp around the
sword. She narrowed her eyes and turned around. They pulled the triggers on
their bows and heard an empty snip.

Koa
gave them a cold grin and yet there was no amusement in her voice. “You’re
mine, now.”

They
were out of arrows. Both Syths skidded to a stop. Almost frantically, they
reached behind them and into their quivers to reload.

Koa
took a step forward and their eyes went wild…with fear of the small girl before
them.

Koa
held her sword’s black blade at her side. It pulsed with craving for blood. The
blood of the evil ones would increase its power.

Koa
charged at them. She was lifted to her toes and with a swirl of colors she
slashed one of the Syths across his side. Her white teeth flashed as the blade
burned an iridescent red at the first taste of blood.

The
blade craved blood and she would sate it.

It
didn’t stop at the bone. It didn’t even pause. It sliced through his spine with
ease until the man was cut in half. It sped up only when it came through his
other side and to the cold air of the manor.

The
Lyrinian sword’s red light encased the black blade and she could feel its heat.

Koa
didn’t stop there. She couldn’t stop even if she wanted to. Evil had to be
vanquished. She clenched her jaw as the blade went cleanly though the other
man, separating him at his waist. Their cries filled the entire manor as she
sliced them to bits.

Both
Syths lay on the floor in pieces. Koa kicked their crossbows away, not that
they had hands connected to their arms anymore. Her chest heaved as she stood
over them. Smoke rose from the blade of her Lyrinian sword. Koa watched their
pale white faces, waiting. Blood pooled onto her floor. She watched it gather
around her bare feet.

Raven
sauntered over. She sat down and licked her front paw. Her green eyes looked up
innocently into Koa’s matching green eyes. “Shall we leave now?” she asked, in
her mother’s voice.

Koa’s
shoulders slumped. She looked over at the cat. “Yes.” She nodded and looked
down at the blood pooling between her white toes. “But first, I must clean up
this mess.”

Chapter 2

Koa
sat back in her wooden chair and watched as Halston entered the little bistro.
She hid her smile as his eyes scanned the room. He was like a golden light, come
to spread joy throughout the room. She wasn’t the only woman to notice him. Koa
was very aware of the looks he got whenever he stepped into a room.

She
sipped her coffee and sighed. She wasn’t ready to tell him about the night
before, but Halston was more than her best friend. He was her boss.

Halston
didn’t have to look long for her. Koa tended to stand out, especially in the
countryside of Paris. Her pale face, green eyes, and long black and blue hair
were a stark contrast to everyone in the room. The fact that she was half
Korean didn’t help her blend in either.

Halston’s
eyes met hers and a smile crept onto his lips.

How
could anyone have a more perfect smile? Koa thought. She
would never tell him such a thing. Halston was already arrogant enough.

Always
late,
she thought with an impish grin. For someone that loved rules and decorum,
Halston never seemed to think twice about punctuality.

Halston
checked his watch. He shrugged as if he just realized that he was thirty
minutes late and it wasn’t a big deal.

He
took off his navy fedora and ran his hand though his blonde hair as he crossed
the small room. Halston stood before her. Perfect white teeth smiled at her.
Perfect. Everything about him was perfect. He was literally created that way.

Koa’s
eyes scanned the room. She secretly enjoyed the dirty looks the other women
were giving her when they realized that this masterpiece of a man had come to
see her.

“Good
morning, Koa,” Halston said and reached over to take a piece of her bacon. Koa
slapped his reaching hand.

“Hands
off, scum bag,” Koa scolded as she hid a mischievous smile. “You didn’t even
ask.”

Halston’s
eyebrows drew in. “Geez,” he said, sitting back. “Someone’s moody today,” he
grumbled and motioned for the waitress.

Koa
folded her arms across her chest. “And someone’s late…” She loved to tease him.

That
perfect smile returned. It should have made her grimace. Instead, it did
exactly what he wanted it to do. It softened the lines in her face, making her
smile in return.

“I
apologize. Why couldn’t we meet somewhere familiar, like Lepicurien, or
something?”

Koa
shrugged. “Because I like it here. Don’t question a Parisian about their
bistros, Halston.”

“But
you don’t know how hard it is to get out here with all of the sheep in the
streets and whatnot. And you’re not really Parisian…you’re Korean. Right?”

Koa
huffed and folded her arms across her chest as she leaned back in her chair.
She was offended. She’d lived in Paris since she was a child. “I’ve lived here
long enough to be considered Parisian.”

Halston
swiped one of her macaroons and popped it into his mouth. “Pardon me, miss. You
will forgive me, right?”

Koa
rolled her eyes, but her smile widened without her permission. She could listen
to him just talk for hours. “Sure. This time.” She flicked her bangs out of her
eyes. “How could anyone resist that British accent?”

Halston
shrugged with a grin. “I suppose it has its perks.”

Koa
didn’t think Halston knew just how much it affected her. He could ask for
anything.

The
tiny waitress took his order. She made eyes at him as if Koa wasn’t sitting
right there. Koa shook her head. Good thing Halston wasn’t her boyfriend or
husband; she might have felt inclined towards jealousy. She put her elbows onto
the table and drank from her small latte.

Koa
rolled her eyes as Halston spoke in French. He told the waitress how she looked
like Audrey Tatou in Amelie and the girl practically swooned. He ordered
and the waitress stood there, as if waiting for him to continue. Halston smiled
at her and she blushed a deep rose color.

Koa
almost wished she could show her fangs to the waitress, and wipe that smile off
her cute little face, but she resisted. She would be good today. Leave it to
Koa to contemplate outing the entire vampire race to the poor, blissfully ignorant,
humans.

The
waitress sauntered off with a beaming smile. Halston turned his attention back
to Koa. She wondered if he knew that he’d just made that woman’s day.

“Why,
sir,” Koa mocked a British accent. She put the back of her hand across her forehead
and pretended to be one of the girls from her favorite Jane Austen movies. She
batted her eyelashes. “Aren’t you just the most charming, handsome gentleman
I’ve ever laid eyes on? I could just hand you my sweet innocence right here on
this table.” She burst out laughing and Halston made a face. It was an odd
smirk that showed he didn’t really think she was that funny.

“Don’t
try a British accent…ever again, Koa.” He shook his head as he chuckled to
himself. “You can be so strange sometimes.”

Koa
shrugged. “So what. I thought you liked that about me.” She smiled and leaned
in, a twinkle in her eye. She loved to flirt with him above all things.

He
simply stared at her for a moment. His smile faded when he looked deep into her
eyes. “You look tired,” he said with a curious frown.

Koa
sat back in her seat. Leave it to Halston to figure something was wrong within
the first five minutes of arriving. She was surprised he didn’t notice sooner.

Too
busy flirting with doe-eyed waitresses, she thought.

His
gaze roamed over the surroundings, checking for anything out of the ordinary.
It was ironic since the two of them were the only things out of the ordinary in
that place. Still, it was Halston’s habit, and Koa had learned to do the same.
He was a great teacher.

Koa
looked up with an unamused look on her face. “Thanks,” she said sarcastically.
“That’s exactly what I needed to hear this early in the morning. You
look as if you just fell from Mount Olympus. Congratulations for making me feel
like a spotted monkey.”

Halston
sighed. His face turned serious. This was the face of her boss. He was no
longer playful. “Out with it. What happened?”

She
carefully sat her cup down before her and leaned in. “Syths. Two of them. Ugly
bastards, bathed in the stench of burnt coal.” She grimaced at the memory. “I’d
say they’d only been in our world a few hours.”

Halston’s
eyes widened. “What?” he whispered.

Koa
nodded. “They attacked me, Halston. In my house.” She tried to contain
her anger. She was still a bit shaken up by the whole ordeal the night before.
She was lucky to have Raven. Without her Lyrinian sword, she didn’t know how
she would have survived.

He
kept his voice steady but there was an intense look in his eyes that Koa
couldn’t deny.

“Are
you sure?”

Koa
tilted her head, giving him a blank look. “Want to go check the graves I dug
for them? You know, just to be sure?”

Halston
let out a long breath.

“Give
me some credit. I may still be the new kid in the organization, but I think I
know my nephilim,” she said.

Halston
shook his head. “There have been more unusual deaths of children lately, namely
little girls. Bloodless corpses are scattered about in the middle of the
street.” Halston looked at her. “I told you, Koa. I told you a long time ago.
You cannot stay there anymore.”

Koa
grinned then. She knew he would say that. She knew him too well.

He
gave her a curious look. “What are you smiling at? This is serious.”

Koa
laughed lightly and shook her head. “Nothing, Halston. Nothing at all.” She
drank some of her coffee. She looked at it with a perplexed expression as
something dawned on her. “I thought you told me that the nephilim were locked
in the Netherworld. I thought they could not get free.”

The
Netherworld, the world of the nephilim, creatures of supernatural origin, had
been her main study since the death of her father. From all that she had
learned, they were not supposed to be able to come and go freely. There were
supposed to be rules and boundaries keeping the human world safe from those
creatures. Someone was deliberately breaking those rules.

Halston
shook his head. “I never said that. They can come and go as they please, if
they have permission.”

Koa
sat up straight. “Who can give them permission?” She grew serious. Nothing else
mattered. She wanted answers.

Halston
waved her to settle down. “Do not worry about it. Two Syths is nothing. They
are big, but they are quite dim-witted. It must have been an error. But, I
still want you to move.”

Koa
examined his face. Even if the Syths were dim-witted, they had found her home.
She couldn’t help but worry. Halston was hiding something. He fiddled with his
fork and looked down at the white and red tablecloth to avoid her stare.

Koa
nodded, but she would find out what it was, in her own way, in her own time.
She came to her feet. “Let’s say we go shopping for houses today, shall we?”

Halston
motioned to the table. “But, I haven’t gotten my order yet.”

Koa
pushed her plate towards him. His eyes went to the bacon that he had been reaching
for when he arrived. “I ordered for you already.” She winked at him. “This was
for you.”

His
mouth hung. “But...”

“I
was just teasing, Halston. Now, enough chatter. Wrap it up, and let’s go.”

~~~

Koa
wasn’t sure if it was the professional thing to do, but whenever she and
Halston weren’t on missions or working, he always reached for her hand when
they were walking together. Koa never protested, it was instinctual and her
hand would slide into his naturally. She didn’t care that they appeared to be a
couple in public.

Perhaps
that was Halston’s plan, another way of protecting her. Perhaps it meant more.
She could only dream that it did.

They
walked down the gray pavement and stopped before a newly developed high-rise.
Koa looked up into the sky. It was tall. She would be able to fly out whenever
she wanted, as long as no one was looking.

She
frowned. This is not going to work.

Her
father’s mansion was her home. How could she leave it? She still remembered
when he had come back for her and Raven. For years, Koa and her mother had
lived in a one room cottage in Daegu, South Korea.

Each
day Koa would look out their window and wait for this elusive father of hers to
return to the woman he had impregnated and the child he had held only once.
Raven had been confident that he loved them both, and that he would come back
for them, when the time was right. So, she would sit on the floor and spend the
entire morning cooking for the field workers while Koa struggled to learn how
to hide her fangs and resist slaughtering the people of that village.

Being
a half-blood was hard. It was hard not having a vampire father around to teach
her how to curb her cravings. She could eat food, but each week, the blood lust
would hit her and she would be bedridden until Raven brought her blood from an
animal. Koa would never forget just how good a mother Raven had been, when she
was still human.

Koa
sighed, pushing the memory of her mother’s beautiful face away. It always stung
at her heart to remember such things. The curse had almost ruined them. Halston
had been the one to help them cope with the curse that had been put on her
mother. She gave Halston a sidelong glance and gave his hand a squeeze. He
raised a brow but didn’t question it.

“So,”
he asked. “What about this one?”

Koa
didn’t hesitate. She shook her head. “I don’t like it.” She motioned around
them. “There are too many people around. It’s not safe. People can be nosy, and
you know how I get when I’m hungry.”

Halston
sighed. He checked his watch. “I suppose you’re right. But Koa, I’m not going
to be able to find you another secluded manor in the countryside. Homes like
your father’s manor just aren’t practical. Sooner or later you’re going to have
to get used to being around people. You can blend better than any vampire
because you can walk in the sun. You must get used to life with humans.”

Koa
frowned. “Come on Halston, I’ve watched Pride and Prejudice, Emma,
Sense and Sensibility, I know. Europe is made up of such things. Go to
London and make one of the lord’s move out.”

Halston
laughed. “Just because you’re a Jane Austen fan doesn’t make you an expert on
England, Koa.” He chuckled louder. “I don’t think that’s exactly how we want to
relocate you, by moving a lord out and eliciting a bunch of unwanted
attention.”

“Who
cares about unwanted attention?”

Halston’s
smile faded. “I do.”

She
sucked her teeth and folded her arms across her chest.

Halston
gently unfolded her arms. He brushed her bangs from her eyes. “You’re being
bratty right now,” he told her softly.

Koa
didn’t say anything. She knew he was right. She hated that. Her tongue went
dry. Her stomach grumbled. She felt her energy start to deplete and sighed a
long agonizing sigh. The smell of blood everywhere filled her nostrils and made
her dizzy. She nearly stumbled and held onto Halston’s arm.

He
held her up. His voice was concerned. “The hunger?”

She
nodded and took a deep breath. “I need to get to Wryn Castle.”

Halston
frowned. “Are you sure? I can find you some animal blood.”

Koa
shook her head. “Not this time. I need human blood at least once a month, or
I’ll be too weak to defend myself.” She was tired of the taste of rabbit blood
anyway. She needed a delicious mouthful of warm human blood. Her fight with the
Syths the night before had drained her a lot sooner than usual. She and Halston
had developed a schedule for her feedings. The battle last night had thrown it
off.

He
held her hand and patted the back of it. “I’ll take you. I want to keep an eye
on you.”

Koa
shook her head. “No Halston, you cannot come. They don’t take kindly to your
kind.”

“And
I don’t take kindly to theirs either.”

Koa
looked up and gave him a coy smile. “But you like me, don’t you?”

Halston
let out a breath and looked away. “Of course I do, Koa. You’re not a typical vampire
though. You’re humanity gives you hope.”

“Good…but
I must go alone.” Koa looked around to make sure no one was close enough to
hear her. She lowered her voice. “The Wryn are not bad vampires. They are the
best kind that we could ever hope for. At least they don’t kill people. I
swear, they are all registered and they follow the rules you’ve set.”

Halston
looked unsure but didn’t protest. Instead he watched her with curious eyes.

Koa
shifted, avoiding his gaze. She looked across the street at a couple having
wine at an outside table. Halston had no idea how much she wanted him to kiss
her whenever he gave her that icy blue look. It was a look of deep concern that
told her he truly cared about her.

Koa
was still fairly new to Halston’s organization, but she had been killing
vampires with him for a few years now. She knew how much he hated that she was
about to go to the castle of one of the oldest vampire clans in Europe.

Chapter 3

Blood
was like liquid chocolate. Koa savored the flavor and the euphoric rush. The
moment the warmness of it touched her tongue, her eyes closed in bliss. Colors
flashed behind her eyelids, and she moaned with delight. She couldn’t resist it
because it was necessary for her survival.

Blood
just happened to be delicious as well. She licked his neck clean with three
long strokes, leaving two small puncture holes. She was neat. She wiped her
mouth and her canines returned to normal. Her eyelids fluttered in delightful
bliss.

“Are
you done, Mistress?” Ian spoke to her in an almost timid voice, as if he didn’t
want her to be finished. He craved more. Koa rolled her eyes and crawled from
on top of him. He reached for her and she pushed his arms down by his head.

Koa
lowered her tone. “Did I tell you to speak?”

Ian
shook his head and she smiled. She enjoyed such dominance. It excited her that
such an attractive young man thought of her as a goddess.

“Good
boy.” She played with his hair and sighed. “I’m sorry, Ian, for being so rude.
I didn’t mean it.”

Ian
nodded, still too afraid to speak, lest he disobey his mistress. He had such an
innocent face. She wondered how many hearts he had broken with that face. It
was odd to think that they were the same age. Sometimes Koa contemplated what a
normal life would have been like. College, boyfriends, parties…it seemed like
such a foreign idea to her.

She
traced his lips. There were many times when she’d almost kissed him, just to
remember what a kiss felt like. She trusted Ian, and felt safe, therefore she
didn’t want to ruin the arrangement they shared. It was far too valuable, for
both of them.

She
had just drank a full blood meal, and she still felt a little tired. She hadn’t
slept the night before, and she had spent the day traveling from Paris to
London, so that she could meet with her pet.

Ian
was beautiful. She almost leaned down for a kiss. His lips were soft under her
fingertips. She craved physical satisfaction beyond a meal. Her skin crawled
with desire.

Koa
snatched her hand back and hopped off of him. She darted to the door and held
it open for him. “Run along.”

Ian
gathered his backpack and ran to the door. He was enamored. She could see it in
his eyes. She wondered if he knew just how strong she was. Even though he
respected her, chances were, Ian only saw a small girl with a pretty face. He
smiled at her as he left the room. He was attractive, but Koa was saving
herself for someone else.

Koa
didn’t make eye contact with Ian. She didn’t want to look her meal in the eye
at that moment.

Koa
sighed. She supposed Ian wasn’t just a meal, he was her pet, and he had been so
for nearly three years.

Lexi,
the keeper of the castle and one of the four leaders of the Wryn clan, came
around the corner and stopped before her door. Koa smiled at her. They were
both friends and business associates. She was just as small as Koa, but far
advanced in her vampire skills.

Lexi,
at over two hundred years old, still looked like a woman in her early twenties.
She had bouncy brown hair cut just above her shoulders and large dark brown
eyes. She wore the tallest heels Koa had ever seen and skimpy dresses.

Lexi
watched Ian walk down the hallway and gave Koa a sidelong glance. “When are you
going to use that lovely young man for more than his blood?” She
smirked.

Koa
rolled her eyes but laughed. “He is more like a brother than a lover.” She
raised an eyebrow. “If he’s so ‘lovely,’ why don’t you take him to your bed?
You have my permission, but you cannot glamour him. I don’t want him confused
about who his mistress is.” Koa grinned. “I doubt you have a chance with a
sweet human like my Ian.”

Lexi
flicked her hand. “I don’t want that little boy. You are more my type.” Lexi
winked and reached for Koa’s long dark hair. She sniffed it. “Just as soon as you
get over your Goth phase. What’s with the blue hair and thick black liner?”

Koa
flashed an amused smile and leaned against the door. She folded her arms across
her chest. “Great, everyone is insulting me today. Let’s all pick on the poor,
little, Asian girl.”

Lexi
leaned in close to Koa’s ear. “Oh, sweet pea. One night with me will have you
forgetting your name, let alone your race.” She frowned. “And you’re a mutt
anyway. You’re not a full Asian, just as much as you aren’t a full vampire!”

Koa
burst out laughing. Lexi was relentless. “Don’t make me tell Greta that you’re
flirting with me. I know it’s blondes that you really like. And sorry, I’ll
never go blonde.”

Lexi
folded her arms. “Greta is one of many. You think she has any say in what I
do?”

“Sounds
exhausting,” Koa said as she imagined having one boyfriend, let alone many.

Lexi
glanced behind Koa into the room. “Staying the full night this time? You waste
so much money paying for a night when you only stay an hour or two.”

Koa
grinned. “Are you complaining?”

Lexi
shook her head. “Of course not. I’ll accept as much money as you’re willing to
waste. But come on, have a drink with me. We can have a ‘girls
night out.’” She thought a moment. “That is what you kids are calling it these
days?”

Koa
cringed at being called a kid. Just because she was twenty-one, didn’t mean she
hadn’t seen enough of the world and been through enough to make her just as
seasoned as Lexi. Koa’s watch buzzed over on the side table. Her face lit up.

“I
have to go now Lexi.” She began shuffling Lexi away from her door. “If I don’t
see you on my way out, book me for the same time next week.” She remembered
something and turned serious.

“I
almost forgot. Please transfer a thousand pounds out of my account and into
Ian’s. Tell him that I don’t want him staying at shabby hostels anymore. I can
smell it on him.”

Lexi
nodded. “Sure. Good night then.”

“Night.”
Koa closed the door and darted over to her watch. Halston’s face appeared on
the bright face of the watch. The fluorescent light only illuminated his pale
skin, making him look more angelic. She smiled and pushed the side button.

“Good
evening, Halston,” she purred rolling onto her back and holding the watch over
her. He stared down at her for a moment.

“How
was your supper?” Halston asked.

Koa
shrugged. “Young. Fresh. Eager. The same as always.”

He
nodded. “Well, it’s better than the alternative. I know you. You’d never
forgive yourself if you killed someone for a meal.”

Koa
sat up. “Unless they deserved it,” she noted. “I’d forgive myself just fine.”

“Well,
don’t get too eager with those college kids. We don’t want any… accidents.”

Koa
scoffed. “It was an honor,” she said. “For him.” Her grin widened.

Halston
shook his head in disapproval.

Koa’s
smile faded in mild annoyance. Why does he have to be so good all of the
time? She rolled her eyes. It was practically in his DNA to be the good
guy.

“Besides,
Ian is not just some college kid. He is special, and I don’t feed from anyone
but him. We have a good arrangement. I am glad that I found the Wryn clan when
I did. I was so much weaker when I lived on animal blood.”

Halston
gave her an odd look. He cleared his throat. “You don’t …sleep with him? Do
you?” He seemed embarrassed to even ask the question.

Koa
laughed lightly. “Of course not, Halston. What do I look like? A whore?” She
laughed a little more jovially. “Ian is hot, sure, but I could never.”

“He’s
hot you say?”

Koa
laughed again. “Oh yes, Halston. He’s like totally drool-worthy. I mean, I
can’t keep my panties dry whenever he looks at me,” she joked. She gave him a
look. “Jealous?”

Halston ignored her teasing. He remained serious. “Then, tell me. What do you
do with him?”

Koa
peered at him, curiously. Why does he care now? He’d never asked before.
She sighed and gave a little shrug.  She looked up at the ceiling and blew
her bangs out of her eyes.

“I
don’t know, Halston. It starts with a seductive smile. Then, there comes the
glamour. Just like any person I’ve ever fed on, I press on his thoughts a
little here and there. He dreams while I drink. He dreams of all of his deepest
desires coming to true. And then, when he looks at me, it’s instant
infatuation. They see me for the first time after I drink, and to them, I look
like an angel. No offense,” she said to him, cringing at the word angel. It
sometimes made him withdraw when she mentioned it.

Halston
looked at her for a moment, and then nodded. “It all sounds pretty intricate.”

“It
is. I’m not sloppy. Even a full-blood can make a mess of things. I may be young
when compared to other vampires, but I’ve developed my own little ritual. And
it works.”

“And
no one dies.”

She
nodded, with a small smile on her lips. “That’s right. No one dies.” Koa rolled
over onto her belly and set the watch in front of her. “See, I’m a good girl. I
promise.”

He
seemed to perk up again. “Good. Meet me at the safe house. We have a mission.”

Koa
shot to her feet. “Really? I get to work with ‘the boss’ tonight?”

Halston
smiled. “Indeed you do. And you better follow orders.”

“Good,”
Koa clapped her hands together in excitement. “I feel like I can slap a few
evil vampires around right now.”

Koa
smiled. She slipped her skirt on, and then her black leather boots. She pulled
her blazer over her tank top and slipped her watch back on.

Halston
waited patiently. Koa ran towards the balcony and with a leap, she jumped over
the edge. The wind blew at her face furiously. It was late fall. She didn’t
care. The chill didn’t affect her. She closed her eyes as she descended from
the dark tower of Wryn Castle.

Wryn
Castle was an exclusive venue. It had once been a gothic castle, and now, the
vampires had transformed it into a modern hotel of sorts, where fresh college
kids were delivered by room service. It was one of the few places that didn’t
condone reckless killings of their charges.

Koa,
and everyone else who were members of the Wryn Castle were unique, for they had
mutual arrangements with their charges.

“Mission?
Will this be fun, or will I have to get dirty?”

“Depends
on how you play it. Oh, and I found you a new home.”

Koa
breathed in the cool fresh air. “New home?”

“Right.
In London. Now you can be close to your beloved Wryn Castle.”

Koa
raised an eyebrow, letting her body pick up speed. “London?” She glanced at the
watch with a grin. “Bringing me home to mother, Halston. So soon?”

Halston
returned the grin. “Giving you what you asked for. You really are spoiled, did
you know that? And five years isn’t so soon, Koa Ryeo-won.”

“For
me it is.” Koa swept to the side. She avoided a tree branch from slapping her
in the face and ascended. She didn’t want to go too high. It always made her a
little light headed to do so.

“Nonetheless,
no Koa. I don’t have a mother, remember.”

Koa
nodded. “Of course not.” She thought of her own mother then and felt a brief
stab of guilt. The pain of remembering her mother before the…transformation was
too much. She pushed the memories of her mother’s beautiful face and her smile
out of her mind.

“London
it is,” Koa said with a nod, and she flew into the darkness.

~~~

The
next morning, Koa could tell that Halston was pleased by his work. They had
been out all night, tracking rogue vampires and making them either register, or
leave the country. Halston did not tolerate any human deaths due to vampires,
not in his territory. There had been no jokes or smiles last night. When he was
the boss, there was no denying his authority.

Now,
Halston was her friend again, and full of cheer. He presented the quaint little
cottage to her like a gift. She cared too much for his feelings to show her
disappointment. The cottage was small and bleak in comparison to her father’s
manor in Paris.

She
would miss the vineyard and gardens. She and Raven would read classic
literature and enjoy the grounds for hours. Those days in the garden had been
her first glimpse into the romantic British lifestyle she had read about and
longed for.

Koa
thought about the grand piano in her father’s music hall. She would close her
eyes and play with Raven curled on top, listening in painful bliss. The music
always reminded them of when her father used to play before they sat down to
formal dinners.

Koa
remembered how much she enjoyed those nights. Formal dinners had been unheard
of in Korea, when one or two small meals a day had been a privilege.

She
sighed and hid her true feelings for this little cottage that reminded her too
much of her days of poverty. Halston had no idea what this meant.

“It’s
nice. A bit small don’t you think?” She asked offhandedly to not reveal just
how deep her hate for it was.

Halston
shrugged. “I don’t think so. It’s quite a gem. It’s lovely on the inside. Three
bedrooms, a nice little kitchen… not that you cook,” he joked under his breath.
“It’s well-kept and secluded.”

Koa
looked around. She could see cottages a couple of yards away on each side.
“It’s hardly secluded.” She pointed with a skeptical look. “I can see into the
neighbor’s yard. That means the humans inside will see me when I come and go.
That’s dangerous. What if I want to fly? You do recall Rome, don’t you?”

Koa
could still remember the faces of the couple who had seen her take off from one
of the buildings. It was a good thing that no one believed their fantastical
stories of a flying girl.

Halston
winced at the memory but didn’t address it.

Koa
could tell that he was a little annoyed. The Rome incident was one of those
times when Halston had told Koa not to do something, and she had done it
anyway.

“We’ll
build a privacy fence, a stone one, just like the sturdy stone your house is
made of.” He held his hand out for her hand. “Come on, let’s take a look inside
and you’ll see what I mean. Raven is waiting.”

Koa
sighed and put her hand into Halston’s. They went inside and she was surprised
by how much natural light it got. That was a good thing. No sneaky vampires
would dare hide out and wait for her in this house.

She
smiled at her mother when she came running down the stairs and leapt into her
arms.

“This
house is lovely, Koa,” Raven said as Koa snuggled her under her chin. “I’ve
always wanted a nice cottage like this.”

Koa
sighed in defeat. She flicked her bangs out of her eyes. Her mother loved it.
It was official. This was their new home.

“Yes,
Mother,” she grumbled. Koa pursed her lips. Raven gave her a look.

“Koa,”
Raven whispered. “You cannot call me that, not even in private. You never know
who is listening or spying on us.”

“She’s
right,” Halston added. He opened the shutters on all of the windows and let
even more light into the cottage. “Never let your guard down. Even at home.”

“Yes.
I forgot. It’s hard to call you by a pet name…Raven.”

Raven
purred. “It’s all right darling. We just cannot take any chances. Our enemies
think I am dead. We must keep it that way.”

Koa
nodded. The thought of someone finding her mother and harming her made her
throat tighten with fear. “I understand.” She shoved horrible thoughts of her
mother being killed out of her head and tried to distract herself. She looked
around, trying to figure out where she would put all of her things. If Koa
would be forced to live there, she could at least try to make it feel like
home.

Halston
hooked both thumbs in his belt loops and looked proud. “Right. I’m going to
head back to the safe house. You get settled and meet me there at sunset. You’re
with me again.”

Koa
nodded as he left the house. She met Raven’s eyes. “Another mission tonight,
Raven. Sure you will be all right here by yourself.”

Raven’s
eyes glittered. “You underestimate me, Koa. You forget it was I that saved you
the other night when those Syths had you running around like a chicken with its
head cut off.”

Koa
laughed an exaggerated laugh. She shook her head with a grin. “Do you know what
that is called, Raven? What you think you did?”

Raven
looked up with thin green eyes. “What?”

“Delusions,
Raven. Delusions.”

Chapter 4

Halston
didn’t mind helping Koa find a new home. He enjoyed being needed. He sat in his
car for a few moments contemplating her facial expression when he presented the
cottage to her. It was obvious…she didn’t like it.

Now,
he frowned and as he waited for her in the safe house. He leaned back in his
desk chair. That young half-blood was hard to please. It was their joke that if
something was too easy, then Koa lost interest pretty quickly. Finding a new
home wasn’t easy. She didn’t like being around too many people. She loved her
father’s manor, but things had changed. The Netherworld was catching up to her
quicker than he expected.

Halston
had hoped that they would have more time to prepare. Now it seemed that Koa
would have to face her demons a lot sooner than anticipated. He rubbed his
temples. He did not think that she was ready.

A
loud scream broke Halston from his thoughts. The sound seemed to come from far
away like an echo. There was desperation in that scream as it grew louder and
closer. Halston felt the blonde hairs on his arm stand on end at the eerie
sound.

Halston
sat up and watched as Galena fell through the inkwell portal. There was a loud
shriek as the black liquid spit her out onto his clean, white, floor. Galena
collapsed and Halston ran to her. Micka and Rohan both looked up from their
work stations. They came to their feet in unison and reached for guns that were
strapped underneath their desks.

Halston
left his seat and slid to Galena. He held her head up from the floor. She was
covered in blood. Her eyes were wet from crying and her blonde hair was sticky
with something foul.

“Don’t
let him in!” Galena called out weakly. She squeezed her eyes closed and started
to weep. Her entire body shook with her racking sobs.

Halston’s
heart pumped with worry. He looked over his shoulder at the two agents that
looked at him with fearful eyes. They lowered their guns. This was not
normal…even for Netherworld agents.

“Get
me a clean, wet cloth and some water!”

Micka
and Rohan nodded and rushed to complete the task.

Halston
reached for Galena and she screamed. He withdrew and looked at the inkwell
portal. The portal stood in the center of the safe house. It was a large circular
device held stationary by shiny, black, brackets. The portal was only supposed
to be used in dire situations. There had to be a major emergency, for once a
portal was revealed, the person escaping could easily be followed. The last
thing Halston needed was a nephilim coming through that portal and causing
havoc… or worse, damaging equipment in his laboratory. He wasn’t done with his
latest invention.

He
looked down to see Galena looking up at him. He held his breath. He’d rarely
seen such terror in a person’s eyes. The way she looked at him spoke volumes.
She had been frightened nearly to death.

“Galena,”
he said. “What happened?”

Her
face contorted and she started to cry again. Her sobs came from her soul. They
were sorrowful, deeply hurt, cries of pain. Halston felt his skin grow cold.
This woman was one of his best agents. She was human, but she was one of his
best. From the poor streets of Russia, Galena had been orphaned early after
vampires killed her parents.

Halston
had found her just the way he found most of his Netherworld agents, angry,
ready for revenge, and trying to seek that revenge in foolish ways. He had
found her, trained her, and put her out there to be a spy. Halston had given
her the tools to find her parents killer, and bring them to justice.

Halston
didn’t seek out to simply kill all vampires and other nephilim, he tried to
protect the humans. Sometimes that meant finding vampires that were willing to
try a new life. Those vampires, like the Wryn clan, were open to finding ‘pets,’
people who sold their blood for money or care. They registered with his
Netherworld division, and lived their lives clean and free of murder and chaos.
It wasn’t a perfect arrangement. There were still vampires that loved to kill,
and resisted the Netherworld divisions of the world that tried to bring order.

Rohan
knelt down and handed Halston a wet towel. Halston wiped Galena’s face clean.
She winced and jerked away. Like a frightened animal, she crawled far from both
of them. Her eyes darted around the safe house.

“Did
they follow me?” Galena’s voice came out ragged and almost too soft to hear.

Micka
ran up with a bottle of water and paused when she saw Galena with her back
pressed against the wall. Galena saw Micka and grabbed the small, older woman, by
the leg. Micka looked to Halston questioningly.

“Don’t
let them hurt me anymore,” Galena begged.

Halston
sighed and came to his feet. He didn’t move closer to Galena. She was too
afraid, and he didn’t want to make the situation worse. He stood there and
thought about what to do. She had been missing for about a week now. There was
no telling what she had been through. He put his hands in the pockets of his
trousers and looked down at Galena.

“Galena,”
he said. “We won’t hurt you. You are safe. We are the only ones here. Rohan,
Micka, you, and me.” He knelt down and looked at her with a small, friendly,
smile. “I’m Halston. You do remember me, don’t you?”

Galena
tilted her head and stared at him. Her eyes were as big as saucers and for a
moment, Halston doubted that she recognized him. Her shoulders slumped and she
slowly nodded. “Yes. I remember you, Halston.”

Halston
nodded. “Good. Good girl. You remember that I am your friend, and that I care
about you, right?”

Galena
let go of Micka’s leg. She ripped the black stockings the woman wore with her
ragged nails. Halston noticed that her fingernails had blood caked into her
cuticles. Micka adjusted her glasses but ignored her ruined stockings.

“I
remember,” Galena said. She folded her legs and rested her head on the wall.
She looked exhausted.

“What
happened?”

She
shook her head and her bottom lip trembled. “I’ve been through a lot in my
life, Halston,” she said in a wavering voice. “But nothing like this.”

Halston
nodded. His eyes were concerned. He wanted her to trust him and go on.

Galena
looked from Rohan to Micka. “I will tell you,” she said. She met Halston’s
eyes. “And only you.”

Micka
and Rohan got the point. They both collected the files that they had been
working on, and took them to one of the back rooms of the safe house.

Halston
stood and walked over to Galena. He sat down beside her and looked towards the
secret hatch door at the far end of the safe house. He didn’t want to sit right
in front of her. Whenever someone did that, it just made the conversation feel
like an interrogation. He wanted Galena to feel comfortable.

He
reached for her hand and she flinched but didn’t run. Halston had a soothing
effect. He took her hand and cradled it in his own. Somehow, that relaxed her.

Galena
took a deep breath. “It was last Monday.” A tear fell from her eye. Halston
gently brushed it away. He pulled her hair from her face and tucked it behind
her ear. “I found the man you had me look for. Bund. I was surprised that he
was a young guy, but that also made me feel a little more comfortable around
him,” she said and looked to Halston. “You know what I mean?”

He
nodded.

“But
once he got me inside, he changed on me.” She hugged her arms and shifted her
weight. Her brows furrowed. “There were so many of them, Halston. I told them,
I would only sell my blood to the one you sent me for.” She closed her eyes.
“But they didn’t listen.” Her voice lowered. “They locked me in there. Somehow,
Bund knew I was coming. He knew you had sent me. He punished me.”

Halston
clenched his jaw. He should have never sent her alone. He couldn’t understand
how Bund could have known that Halston had sent Galena. Halston had to
remember, Bund was smarter than he appeared. Like Halston, Bund was a great
deal more than he appeared.

He
didn’t say anything. He waited for Galena to go on. He knew it was hard for
her, but he needed to know what they were dealing with.

She
took a while to continue. She kept looking at the portal to make sure no one
was going to step through.

“I
might as well spit it out, right?” Galena asked the question, but Halston could
tell that she was speaking to herself.

He
nodded anyway. “Go on. It’s just the two of us. Whatever you tell me will stay
between the two of us. I won’t tell a soul.”

Galena
gave him a look. Her pale gray eyes narrowed. She pursed her lips and examined
his face. “Not even Koa?”

Halston’s
eye twitched, not because he was lying, but because Galena seemed to have
suspicions about his relationship with the young vampire. He knew that would be
a problem if people suspected that he and Koa were more than professional
associates. He would have to find a way to eliminate such suspicions.

He
swallowed and shook his head. “Not even Koa.”

Galena
looked unsure. She watched him for a while longer and sighed. She looked down
at her feet. “You know…it’s all right if you like her. We all like Koa.”

Halston
pulled away from Galena.

She
watched him. “You don’t have to go all pale on me. We all see it.”

He
didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing.

Galena
slumped against the wall and stared at the portal again. “Well, there were so
many of them that I lost count, but they raped me, fed from me, and kept me
locked in a cage.”

There
was a long stretch of silence. Halston held her head to his shoulder and she
started to weep again. It was unnerving to hear that woman cry. She was always
so strong, even cold. She had been broken.

She
looked up and rubbed her face. She threw her hands up. “Bund didn’t even feed
from me! You know what he said to me? He said that I was too old. What the
hell?”

Halston
shook his head. He knew Bund’s preferences. He was a sick creature.

“Bund
just watched the others with a stupid grin on his face!” She slammed her fist
into her thigh so hard that Halston feared she’d bruise herself. “I hate that
man more than anything in this world,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Please, tell me how to kill him.”

Halston
took her fist and gently opened it. He took her hand into both of his. “You don’t
worry about it, Galena. I’m terribly sorry that I put you in that situation,
but I can’t even kill him.”

Galena’s
shoulders slumped. She looked defeated.

He
tilted her chin up. “But, I know someone who can get rid of him…forever.”

Galena
frowned. “Well, I want to be there when you do it, so that I can spit in his
face.”

Halston
nodded. “I’ll try to arrange that.” He smiled for her, hoping it would soften
her angry face. Tonight…his smile wasn’t working.

“If
it wasn’t for one of the dumber vampires, in his drunken stupor, forgetting to
lock the cage, I would still be there. I might be dead now.”

Halston
patted the back of her hand. “It’s all in the past now. I don’t want you to
worry. I can erase this event from your memory, if you’d like.” He came to his
feet and held a hand out to her.

Galena
took his hand and pulled herself up, but she held tight to his hand. Her eyes
were serious. “No, Halston.”

He
tensed. The tone of her voice was unexpected. She sounded like herself again,
cold and serious. She looked…ready to hurt someone.

“I
don’t want to forget. I need to remember this. You’re not getting out of
letting me spit in his face when you kill him.”

Halston
nodded and tried to take his hand back. She held steady.

“Listen,”
she said. “There’s more.”

Halston
sighed. “What else?”

She
leaned in close to him. Her eyes were hardened. Her grip was unyielding. “He
knows about Koa.”

Halston
felt his face pale. There was little in this world that would make him react
recklessly. He would have to restrain himself while he listened to what the
Russian woman had to say.

Chapter 5

Koa
met Halston at the safe house. Their meeting place was an unassuming abandoned
warehouse that Halston had purchased decades ago. The entire strip of land was
abandoned. Once a power plant, no one dared come near it for fear of radiation
exposure.

Koa
had the suspicion that Halston probably had a dozen or so safe houses. Whenever
one was compromised, he always had a backup, and he didn’t always tell her his
plan. He was clever. People tended to assume that such an attractive man
couldn’t possibly be such a genius. They didn’t know that he was always at
least ten steps ahead of them, and that his brain functioned at a superhuman
level. They could never guess that he was not in fact…human.

She
walked into one of the secret entrances in the back and covered her head with
her hand. The exposed pipes still tended to drip cold water onto her head. It
was dark and silent, except for the incessant drips. She rolled her eyes and
lifted herself a few feet off the ground to avoid stepping into the black
puddles that covered the flooring.

Halston
was good. This was all a diversion, in case anyone dared come inside. They
would see the oil spills and the oozing green gases that seeped into the air
from cracked pipes along the wall. Anyone would be discouraged from going any
further, but Koa knew better.

She
ignored the mutated rats and followed the labyrinth-like tunnels to a small
door. One might never have noticed since it seemed to blend into the darkness.
The door was rusted and covered in a slimy film of green goo. She pulled the
hidden lever and pushed. With a creak it opened, and her eyes were affronted by
bright lights.

Koa
groaned and hurried inside. She pushed the door closed and set the lock on the
digital keypad attached to its back.

“Glad
you finally decided to join us,” Halston called.

Koa
sighed and turned to face him. With clean, white walls, the sterile space
reminded her of a lab or a hospital. The constant buzz of electronics hummed in
the background. The sleek, white desks, and long, bare tables, were spaced
apart like a study hall.

Halston’s
love for technology was apparent at first glance into that room. He had flat
screens everywhere and prototypes for weapons and various gadgets and devices.
Everything was neat, and tucked away into its proper place, and then she saw
it, locked away in its glass case.

Halston’s
infinity gun.

Koa
shivered as she looked at it. She loved that weapon. She almost wanted to trade
in her Lyrinian sword, just to wield that shotgun one time. She’d only ever
seen Halston use it a handful of times, and each time she had been appalled by
its power. He refused to let her touch it.

She
shifted her gaze to Halston and Galena, a female assassin from their Russian
office. She gave Koa a forced smile and returned her attention to Halston. Koa
felt the tension in the room. Galena looked as if she had been
crying. Her dull blonde hair looked dirtier than normal, and she had suspicious
cuts on her arms that she were barely hidden by a bunch of bangles.

Galena
had first been seen by Al, their recruiter, and later brought into the
Netherworld division by Halston. She was a charge, or ‘pet’ for hire, similar
to Ian in that she sold her blood to paying customers, but Galena worked with
the most notorious of them all. Now, she went undercover for the organization
and sought to expose the most evil of the vampires and kill them.

Koa
swallowed and silently took a seat a few feet from them. She glanced at Galena
and saw that her eyes were red and swollen.

Koa
didn’t like to see that. Koa looked at Halston with questions in her eyes. He
gave her a look that begged her not to ask any questions.

“Right.
Here’s the plan. Galena, want you to go home, clean up, and rest. Let me know
if you need anything. I want you to consider this a vacation.” He looked to Koa
and then held up a holograph device that showed her a small, shabby, building.
“Koa, you and I will visit the Oracle.”

Galena
stretched her long legs and took a long breath. “What if he finds me?”

Halston
clenched his jaw. “It’s not you he wants. I will take care of it.”

Galena’s
voice cracked. “I don’t know, Halston. He seemed different from the others.”

Koa
tensed. Galena was frightened, which made her feel worried.

Halston
sat before Galena and his face softened. Galena looked at him with fresh tears
in her eyes and Koa felt a tug at her heart. Halston knelt and took her hands
inside of his. Halston could be the most serious man she’d ever met, and he
could also be surprisingly tender.

He
spoke to Galena and Koa leaned forward to hear him. She couldn’t wait to find
out what had happened to their most trusted informant.

“Listen,
Galena,” Halston said. “I will not let anything happen to you. Wear the
earrings I gave you and I will track your location. I have two of my best
Shadows following you. They will be like body guards and they will defend you
if anyone tries to hurt you again. I don’t care if they’re human, vampire or whatever,
the Shadows will provide a defense for you if you need it. And if someone tries
to hurt you again.” He handed her a vial.

Koa’s
brows lifted. This must be serious. Vials could only be bought in the
Netherworld, from the Alchemist.

“You
throw this, and you run like Hell.” He gave her a pointed look. “Got it?”

Galena
nodded and looked down at the black vial that Halston had placed in her hand.
She curled her fingers around it and attached it to the holster underneath her
skirt. She wiped her eyes but smiled. “Thank you, Halston.”

Halston
nodded and wiped the tear from her cheek. “Don’t mention it.”

Galena
gave a confident nod. She obviously felt better about what she now had to do
and came to her feet with her head held a little higher than before. Koa
watched Halston sweep his hands behind Galena and two Shadows emerged from the
floor. They were translucent beings that walked in unison behind the woman.

Koa
never liked Shadows. She sat back in her cold metal chair and watched them
vanish. They might have vanished from their sight, but they still lingered
unseen, and would follow and protect Galena. Koa shivered. She remembered when
Halston had attached Shadows to her one time. She could always feel their cold,
unearthly presence. Sometimes Koa would look behind her and frown, wondering if
they were still there.

Galena
didn’t seem to mind. She was comforted by the knowledge that they would always
be with her.

Galena
nodded. “I’ll be at my cottage in Greece.” Halston nodded and came to his feet.
He folded his hands behind him as she gathered her bag and headed for the exit.

Galena
gave Koa a look. Koa tensed at the look in the woman’s gray eyes. “Good luck
out there, Koa.” Her voice lowered. “Watch your back,” she said and left the
room.

Once
the door was secured, Koa shot a glance at Halston. “What happened? Tell me?”

Halston
sighed and leaned back against one of his computer stations. He shrugged and
looked off towards the door that Galena had just went through. “We have a
problem, Koa.”

Koa
frowned. “Obviously.”

He
gazed at her. He looked paler than usual. Koa sat on the edge of her seat.
Something was definitely wrong.

“I
think something is brewing. A war perhaps. Someone is letting nephilim out of
the Netherworld at an alarming rate. They are gathering and mobilizing.”

Koa
felt her face flush. “More Syths,” she whispered.

Halston
shook his head. “Not just Syths, but the Netherworld vamps and even demons.”

Koa
fell back in her chair. “Why do you think that, Halston?”

Silence.

Koa
saw that Halston was holding back. She sat up. “What is it?”

Halston
ran his hands through his hair, making it messy. “You remember who killed your
father?”

She
could feel herself shaking. She ground her teeth. “How could I forget? It took
us a long time to find out who did it.”

Halston
sucked in a breath. “Well, Bund has returned.”

Koa
put both hands over her lips, as if in prayer. One of her deepest fears was
being realized. “He is free? From the Netherworld?”

Halston’s
silence answered her question. Koa whimpered and felt acid from her stomach
enter her throat. She felt fear wash over her like hot water. She covered her
mouth. “No, Halston.”

Halston
held his hands out to calm her down. “Did I tell you to start worrying? I have
this under control.”

“Halston,
he killed my father.”

Halston
sighed in exasperation and turned away from her. He slumped into his chair at
his computer station and began typing away. “I have a plan, Koa. Don’t I always
have a plan?”

Koa
nodded. Her throat felt dry. When Halston had found Koa and recruited her, it
had been only weeks after her father had been killed in a Parisian alley. Koa
had only been seventeen, and returned from a nightmare that she couldn’t
remember, to find her father, have him killed, and find her mother had been
cursed to live as a cat.

It
would be an understatement to say that Koa had turned to the dark side for a
while. She didn’t like what she had become, but Halston had given her
direction. Halston had helped her find out who had killed her father. Someone
named Bund. For five years, Koa had thought about what she would do once she
found that person, and yet, she was fearful of him. Her father had been the
strongest vampire she’d ever known.

Her
father had trained her, loved her, and protected her. She felt her adrenaline
start to simmer. She might get her revenge sooner than she thought.

“Now,
I need you to trust me. Can you do that?”

Koa
nodded again, but her entire body felt as if it had been stuck with pens and
needles, like a foot that had fallen asleep. Was she ready to face her father’s
murderer?

She
grabbed her arms and massaged them. She tried to shake off that horrible
feeling of fear. She didn’t like it. She didn’t like being reminded of the
horrific events of her past.

“Halston.”
Her voice sounded almost childlike. Koa couldn’t explain why she almost felt
like a child again. A terribly frightened child.

He
stopped typing and turned his attention to her. “Koa. Don’t. Just don’t.”

She
pursed her lips. “But, you don’t even know what I was going to say!”

“You
were going to ask me if you could go to the Netherworld.”

Koa
lowered her head and pulled a loose string from the hole in her jeans.
“Perhaps, I could go there, and find out what is happening. Maybe I can find
out the truth about my past. I mean, look at my sword…” She held the hilt out
towards him.

He
didn’t look at it. He knew already.

“There
are Netherworld symbols on it. How could my father have such a weapon? Why
did he take me there as a child?” More questions crowded Koa’s mind, but she
was afraid to ask them. “If I knew the answers to these questions, I could have
my memories back. I mean, an entire chunk of my adolescent life is
missing!”

Halston
didn’t speak for a moment. Koa’s eyes brightened. There was hope. Maybe he
would finally let her go. Maybe she could finally recover the missing memories
of her past. He didn’t know what it was like to lose years of memories and have
no clue as to why.

All
she knew was that her father had taken her to the Netherworld when she was
twelve. Then…there was nothing…a white void. When Koa woke, she was in a
strange place with no recollection of what had happened, or how much time had
passed.

Halston
finally broke his silence. He shook his head. “No. It is out of the question.
You are not ready.”

Koa’s
eyes narrowed. “How the hell can you say that? How do you know? You may
be the ‘boss’ in this Netherworld division, but you don’t control me!”

Halston
shook his head. “You don’t get it, Koa. I don’t want to control you. I am
trying to protect you.”

Koa
sneered. “Yes,” she said sarcastically. “I suppose it’s for the best. I suppose
I’m not meant to have my memories back. I mean, they are my memories an
all.”

Halston
gave her an odd look. “Perhaps you don’t know just how lucky you are to not
have those memories back. Have you ever thought of that?”

Koa
glanced at him. “What do you mean?” Her face was hot with rising rage. She
hated being told what she could and couldn’t do. “What do you know, Halston?”

Halston’s
watch began to ring. He answered it and Koa sighed. He hung up and came to his
feet. “The Oracle is ready to meet with us. Let’s go.”

Koa
nodded and watched Halston arm himself. She watched him, and for the first
time, she felt that Halston was hiding something important from her. He
wouldn’t tell her what happened with Galena, but she had an idea.

She
frowned down at her hands. She couldn’t shake the feeling, but she felt a small
spark of doubt that she could fully trust someone that kept so much from her.

Halston
glanced at her, and it was as if he could read the doubt on her face. She
thought that he would say something, dismiss her doubts. She wanted him to.
Instead, he simply nodded for her to follow and left the room.

Chapter 6

Koa
was a little taken aback by their means of transportation. Out of every car
that Halston had, they drove an old sedan to the Oracle. She was confused.
There were so many better ways to get there, that is, until she saw where the
Oracle lived.

They
arrived to a tiny flat in a lower class complex. A seedy hole in the wall that
most people of means would try to avoid. Koa knew better than to judge though.
Her childhood home wasn’t much better. She knew what it was like to be dirt
poor.

She
overlooked the dilapidated buildings and pot holes in the street and looked
into the faces of the children. They played in the street with nothing more
than their imaginations. She knew what it was like to not even have a toy. To
most people, they would have felt uncomfortable in this neighborhood.

Koa
felt the exact opposite, and she was glad that Halston had chosen the old sedan
instead of a shiny Maserati or Mercedes. She would have felt ashamed in the
midst of these unfortunate people.

Halston
stopped the car and they stepped out into the sunset. Halston closed the door
and looked over the car at her. “Are you ready?”

Koa
nodded quickly. “I am. I’ve been waiting to finally meet her.” She smiled and
Halston did the same.

“Good.
She has been looking forward to meeting you too. Don’t forget that she can be
dangerous though.”

“Please,
she’s a sweet old lady,” Koa replied as she followed behind Halston to the
woman’s flat.

“And
she can be more dangerous than a man with a gun,” Halston said over his
shoulder.

Koa
just nodded when they stopped before a door. Halston knocked.

Koa
smiled at a little boy who nearly ran into her. The little boy returned the
smile, and she giggled at his two front missing teeth. He hid and peeked around
the corner as if playing with her. He made a silly face and hid his face again.

Koa
covered her eyes and pretended that she was scaring him when he peeked around
the corner again. He burst out laughing. Koa beamed. She loved children more
than anything. Sometimes she wondered if she’d be able to have a child someday.

Koa
should have never been born. Vampire children weren’t born to human mothers. As
far as Koa knew, she was the only one.

The
door opened and Koa turned her attention from the child. She waved to the boy
before she stepped into the flat. The Oracle was a small Chinese woman. She
wore a warm smile on her thin lips. Her wire rimmed bifocals made her dark eyes
look abnormally large. She wore a red nightgown that seemed like it needed a
wash. There were food stains all over it.

“Koa,
right?” the Oracle said with a heavy Chinese accent.

Koa
nodded. “Nice to meet you.”

The
Oracle looked her up and down and nodded. “Come in.”

Koa
had to hide her disgust as she entered the flat. It was a small home, and
unlike Halston’s safe house that was an illusion on the outside, this place was
just as rundown on the inside.

Koa
covered her nose. The smell of cat urine made her want to gag. The smell was as
intense as ammonia and with Koa’s heightened sense of smell, she felt like she
might faint if she breathed it in too deeply, so she took small, quick, breaths
behind her hand.

The
house was a cluttered, revolting, mess. The Oracle seemed to be a mixture of a
hoarder and a person with chronic obsessive compulsive disorder. Koa watched
her step away from the door and flick the light switch four times after she
closed the door. She spoke Mandarin under her voice in what sounded like a
chant.

Koa
and Halston stepped to the side and waited for her to complete her rituals. She
touched the door knob a few times to make sure that it was locked, before turning
her attention to them. She waved for them to follow and walked down the narrow
hallway to the back of the flat.

A
cat jumped onto the Oracles shoulder and seemed to cradle her head as she
walked. Koa grimaced at the stains in the old, disgusting, carpet. There were
open cans of cat food scattered about and small piles of cat feces. Koa wanted
to vomit. She averted her eyes and swallowed the acid in her throat.

“I
didn’t have time to clean up today,” the Oracle said. She pushed a pile of
newspapers off her tattered sofa and motioned for them to have a seat.

Koa
wanted to stand, but she didn’t want to offend the older woman. She sat on the
very edge of the sofa and kept her hands and legs close, so that she wouldn’t
have to touch anything. A cat ran under the coffee table and looked up at her
with its yellow eyes. Koa smiled at it, almost expecting it to say hello. No,
only her mother could do such a thing.

“You
came much sooner than I expected,” the Oracle said. She sat in a rocking chair
and folded her hands in her lap. “I am surprised.”

“Your
messenger came by this morning. I saw no reason to wait,” Halston said.

Koa
listened. She was so anxious that her knees bounced with nerves. The Oracle
knew so much about both worlds, and Koa felt like such an eager novice on the
subject.

“Well,
I suppose that is just as well.” She leaned back and her eyes settled on Koa.
“It is nice to finally meet you, child.”

Koa
nodded. “Yes. Nice to meet you too, Oracle. I’ve been waiting for Halston to
bring me here for quite a while.”

The
Oracles smile spread across her small, sagging face. “Well then, now that we’ve
met, you can visit me anytime. I can teach you a thing or two about life.” She
glanced at Koa’s hand. “You married?”

Koa
was aghast. She shook her head and pursed her lips.

The
Oracle grinned. “How old are you?”

Koa
glanced at Halston. She was uncomfortable already. “Twenty-one.”

The
Oracle waved her hand. “Oh, just a baby. Still…not too early.”

Koa
looked away. She pretended that she didn’t hear.

“What
are you waiting for?” she asked.

Koa
giggled nervously. Change the subject lady, Koa thought.

The
Oracle sat back in her chair. “I married one man. At nineteen. He was good
man.” She nodded her head at the memory. “He never judge me for what I am. When
he die, I lost more than love. I no longer care what happen to me. I give up.”

Koa
looked at her. She felt bad. She looked around. It made since. She wondered if
the Oracle’s home had been this messy when her husband was alive. Something
told her that it hadn’t

“Because
I treat him good, he good to me.” The Oracle pointed at her. “But you see? All
men the same. Rich man, poor man, white man, Asian man, black man…all the same.
Just pick one.” She laughed. “You cook for them, you clean, you take care of
them, they all yours. They have no reason to act up.” She laughed harder.
“Understand?”

Koa
glanced at Halston who just looked ahead at the Oracle with an expressionless
face. Koa couldn’t help but narrow her eyes. “Yes,” she said, but she had no
idea what the older woman meant. Koa didn’t think all men were the same. She’d
seen too many evil men out there to have her ideas changed by a strange woman
with bifocals as big as saucers.

The
Oracle scoffed and slapped her knee. “Nonsense. I know don’t get it, child.”

Koa’s
face turned red. She hoped to God that the Oracle couldn’t read minds.

“But
one day, you will get it.” The Oracle stared at her.

Koa
nodded. She tried not to think too much…just in case the Oracle could read minds.
She tried not to think about how disgusted she was to sit in that smelly house
and have cat fur all over her clothes. She tried…but she couldn’t help but to
think those things. Koa and the Oracle were in a stare off with Koa trying to
figure out if the Oracle was fiddling in her head, and the Oracle simply giving
her an intense look with her magnified eyes.

Halston
cleared his throat. He was all business on this night. “The message said that
you linked with someone. Someone from the Netherworld.”

The
Oracle ignored him. Her eyes narrowed as she continued to look at Koa. “You
want something, child, don’t you? You want to know the truth of your past.”

Koa
nodded. She leaned forward in her seat so much that she nearly fell off.

“I
sent the message because I wanted Halston to bring you here. I wanted to
finally meet the girl of prophecy.”

Halston
looked at Koa. He looked perplexed. “But…”

Koa
smiled and looked to the Oracle who winked at her. The Oracle had tricked him.

“Do
not worry, Halston. I did not lie to you. I did link with someone from the
Netherworld last night, and that link wanted one thing. They want Koa. Koa the
key…and she must be used to set the world right again.”

Halston
turned to the Oracle. His brows were furrowed in annoyance. “Is it true then?
Is he behind everything that’s been happening lately?”

The
Oracle nodded. “He is.”

Koa
looked from one to the other. “Who are you talking about?”

Halston
sat back and Koa nearly yelled at him not too. He would get cat fur all over
his clothes. She restrained herself.

What
is wrong with you? Koa thought to herself. That is not important right now.
Focus.

“Then
we have lost already.” Halston ran both hands through his hair. Koa knew that
meant he was worried. His brain was already trying to calculate a solution. He
was lost to them for now. He would not speak until he thought of a solution.

Koa
put her hands on her hips and leaned forward. “Who is he?”

The
Oracle shrugged. “The Bringer of Death.”

Koa
raised an eyebrow. “Sounds a bit dramatic…” Koa hid her rising apprehension.
Such a title, said by the Oracle, must be serious.

“Well,
he the creator of the ‘new world’ vampires. Before him, nephilim were only in
the Netherworld. He the reason we have vampires in the human world. He also the
one who ordered your father killed.”

Koa
frowned. “Bund killed my father, who are you talking about?” Koa felt her skin
tighten.

“Bund
is general. He not the commander in chief. He not a king. The king…he is free.
You should be afraid of him. Humans all over should hide their children
from Bund, and lock their doors to keep Greggan out. They are a terrible pair.
I’m thirsty.” The Oracle smacked her lips together. “Want some tea?”

Koa
sat frozen. She couldn’t speak. She shook her head to the Oracle’s question. The
Oracle shrugged and came to her feet. She walked back to her kitchen. Koa heard
cabinets opening and being slammed shut. She heard dishes clanking together.

Koa
nudged Halston. “Is she talking about who I think she is? Is it really the king
of the Netherworld?”

Halston
groaned. He rubbed his temples. “No, Koa, there isn’t just one king of all the
Netherworld, just like there isn’t one king for of the human world. Greggan is
but one, but he is one of the worst that we could dare to face.”

Koa
grabbed his arm. “He’s the reason my father was killed? He’s the one who sent
Bund to murder him?”

Halston
shrugged his shoulder to his ear and made a face. “Well, yes. Well, not
necessarily. Sure he sent the order, there’s a little more to the story.”

Koa
shook him. “Tell me then!”

The
Oracle returned with a platter of tea cups and a tea pot. She set it on the
table that was covered in dust and handed Koa a cup.

Koa
didn’t have the energy to protest. There were too many thoughts in her head.
She simply sat there, staring off as the Oracle filled her cup with tea. She
absentmindedly drank a sip and frowned.

It’s
cold,
she thought but didn’t dare say it.

“The
only way… to solve this problem is to send the girl back.” The Oracle spoke
directly to Halston.

Halston
shook his head. “I cannot let her go there. You know that.” He stood and
reached for Koa. “Let’s go.”

Koa
took his hand.

The
lights in the room turned blue and everything in the room seemed to glow. “Sit
down.”

Both
Koa and Halston froze. The Oracle’s voice took on a dangerous tone. Halston
gave Koa’s hand a reassuring squeeze and sat back down. Koa looked around and
felt a cold chill sweep through the room. She held her breath and looked at the
Oracle.

The
Oracle’s face seemed to be shrouded in darkness and shadows. It was eerie. Her
bifocals turned black and hid her eyes.

“I
want peace in my world. My link knows the only way is to return the girl to her
proper place.”

“Your
link has his motives.”

“Do
not speak,” she hissed. She was on her feet and towering over them. The Oracle
was a small woman, but somehow Koa felt intimidated and looked away from the
dark glasses.

Koa
gripped Halston’s hand. She started to feel the fear creep onto her. She wished
she knew more about what was happening.

“They
will keep coming after her, until you return her.” She waved a hand in the dark
and Koa gasped. Mists swirled around before them. White swirls of air that
danced in the dark revealed a tall gate of some sort. Koa felt her heart pound.
She had seen this gate before. It was the Gate to the Netherworld, the portal
that some of the nephilim had escaped from.

“You
are smart, Halston. Smarter than the men of this world. Clever and resourceful.
Use your skill to find a way around this bargain. Give them what they want, and
get what you want.” She leaned forward. “Find an ally…outthink your enemies.”

Koa
watched Halston’s face. He was on the same track as the Oracle. “An ally? Do
you think, he will help us, after everything?”

The
Oracle shrugged and sat back down. “One way to find out.”

The
lights returned to normal and they were surprised to see that the Oracle was
sleeping. Her little snores filled the room. Halston pulled Koa up put a finger
to his lips.

She
nodded. They quickly, and quietly, walked out of the den. They left the tiny
flat, and Halston didn’t stop when they were outside. He hurried with Koa in
tow until they were at the car.

He
held her door open. “Get in.”

Koa
did so and Halston did the same. They drove off much quicker than when they
arrived. Koa looked out the window. She was already formulating a plan of her
own. She couldn’t trust Halston to give her the freedom to search for answers,
so she would have to do it without him.

If
he wanted to keep secrets from her, then she would do the same. She knew of a nephilim
clan that would definitely have answers. She just didn’t know if they’d give
them to her without a fight.

Koa
sighed and gave Halston a sidelong glance. She was tempted to tell him her
plan, but that spark of doubt nagged at her once more. She shook her head and
looked out the window at the dark streets. Soft rain began to fall.

I
guess I’ll just have to find out on my own.

Chapter 7

Halston
dropped Koa off at the safe house. She would be occupied with paperwork that
would last her for at least a couple of hours. He hoped that was enough time
for him to execute his plan. Now, he stood before Koa’s new cottage with the
passenger door open…for Raven. She ran from the house, jumped over the gate and
scurried into the front seat.

Halston
closed the door and looked around. No one was around. The night was dark and
quiet. He walked around to his side and got in.

“Where
is Koa?” Raven asked.

Halston
knew that would be her first question. She was a good mother to the girl. He wished
she didn’t have to get cursed.

“At
the safe house. I gave her enough paperwork to keep her busy for a while.”

Raven
curled into the leather seat and looked at him with big, green, eyes. “Well,
you know Koa…”

Halston
shrugged a shoulder. “Yes, I do. I thought the same thing, but she has no idea
what I have planned.”

“You
better hope she doesn’t. My daughter can be more than a bit headstrong at
times. I still worry about her as much as I did when she was a toddler.”

Halston
smirked. “Who are you telling? I learned that the day I met her.”

“So,
it’s true then, Bund is looking for Koa?”

Halston’s
face turned serious. He nodded. “Yes.” He tightened his grip on the leather
steering wheel.

“Do
you think he means to kill her?”

“No,”
Halston said. “If there is one thing can depend on is the fact that Bund will
do anything for payment.” He gave Raven a look. “And Greggan pays very well.”

Raven
shivered. “Too bad it’s not money Bund wants.”

Halston
thought of all the children’s bodies he’d seen sprawled around London. They had
been mutilated, gutted, bled, and left in artistic poses, as if to taunt
Halston. Bund had a particular taste for little girls. Halston’s stomach turned
at the thought of what that foul creature had done to the poor children before
he killed them.

Raven
sighed. “I can’t help but think we need to do what we’ve been trying to avoid
these past few years. Maybe we should go ahead and send Koa back now, before
it’s too late. Jax is the only one that can free me from the curse, and I need
to be free so that I can help protect her. I am the only one that can get rid
of Bund…for good.”

Halston
thought a moment. He watched the dark road ahead as they cut through the
countryside. Rolling hills passed by and he glanced at the full moon. Too many
bad things happened on nights with full moons. He was glad that for once the
full moon was on their side. They would need the power that it held for what
they were about to attempt.

“You
need me, Halston. I can only do so much in this ridiculous, tiny, body.”

Halston
gave a nod. He knew how much she wanted to return to her former self. She was
quite powerful, and he did need her. “I know. But the cost is much greater than
the reward. Koa is not ready yet.”

Raven
sat up. Her black fur mocked eyebrows and she bunched them in dismay. “How do
we know if she’ll ever truly be ready? We cannot shield her from the truth
forever.”

Halston
knew she was right. He just cared too much for Koa to watch her suffer. He
wished he could keep her past from her forever. Once she knew the truth, he
feared she would never look at him the same.

“Halston?”

Raven
broke him from his thoughts. He looked at her. “Yes?”

“If
you refuse to speak about the Netherworld, at least tell me what happened with
the Oracle?”

Halston
sighed. “Jax.”

Raven
inched closer, eager to hear more. “Yes…I knew it! Another sign that we need to
act now! Go on...what else?”

“He’s
been linking with the Oracle lately.”

Raven
seemed to smile. It looked odd on her feline face. He tried to picture her
smile from before the curse. It was difficult.

“But
that’s good!” Raven exclaimed.

Halston
shook his head. “Why is that good? He’s the enemy as far as I’m concerned.”

“But
he can free me! We need him.”

“The
price we pay for the things we need,” Halston said under his breath.

“Exactly.
But it’s not your need, Halston…it’s mine. And I deserve to be changed back. If
not for me, it needs to be done for Koa.”

Halston
didn’t reply. His head was full of too many thoughts, doubts, and scenarios.
There was truth to what Raven had said. He knew that soon he’d be making the
journey back to the Netherworld. The Netherworld held too many of his secrets.
He couldn’t admit that he wasn’t ready to face the past.

Chapter 8

Koa
crept down the narrow alleyway as soft rain trickled down onto her head. She
welcomed the cool shower. She needed something to calm the nervous anxiety that
began to fill her belly. She knew it would take more than a sword and a
straight face for those vamps to take her seriously.

The
evening was late and Koa had grown tired of paperwork. She had more important
things to attend to. When Halston had dropped her off she had almost blurted
out what she was planning. Instead, she pursed her lips and left without a
word. She couldn’t let him even suspect what she was doing.

Koa
approached the lair of a secretive nephilim clan that had escaped into the
human world centuries ago. They were quiet and kept to themselves, because they
were smart. Not only that, but they were afraid. They were hiding…and now Koa
knew who they were hiding from. A common enemy. That was all the leverage she
had against them

Koa
had never encountered a Netherworld vamp. They were a completely different
breed from the vampires walking around in the human world. The vampires of the
human world were considered new world vampires, the children that were created
by The Netherworld vampires in ancient times.

New
world vampires could not reproduce because they had once been human, and so their
only way of increasing their numbers was to bite and turn other humans. They
were not as powerful as the Netherworld vamps, because Netherworld vamps were
born from pure blood mothers and fathers.

Koa
knew that what she was doing was dangerous, but as Halston liked to always say,
Koa always preferred to learn the hard way. If it was too easy, then she just
wasn’t interested. This time, however, Koa could feel deep down that this was
not a good idea. She almost turned back, that is, until she smelled blood.

Human
blood. Her eyes nearly rolled back into her head at the overwhelming scent. It
wasn’t just a hint of blood. It was a feast of it.

Spilled
blood. She pushed her anxiety aside and checked to make sure her sword was
intact. It was attached to her belt and in its closed state it wasn’t much
bigger than a dagger in the guise of a simple baton.

Her
face was set in newfound determination as she walked up to the metal door. She
cracked her knuckles and drew a breath of the cool night air.

Koa
needed answers. She refused to wait any longer. All she wanted in the world was
to avenge her father’s death and break her mother’s curse.

Koa
knocked twice and waited.

Koa
expected to be immediately dismissed once they took a look at her, but when the
young looking vampire opened the door, she was beheld with bewilderment. The
tall, gangly lad stuttered when he laid eyes on her. His eyes looked her up and
down.

Koa
felt her stomach flip. He knew who she was. This is not good, she thought, but
stood her ground.

“Wat
you want, ey?”

Koa
had practiced so many answers to this very question. Now as she stood before a
real Netherworld vamp, her throat went dry.

He
stared at her with the same wide eyed expression. He blinked. His eyes were a
dark blue, like the sea at night, and were set under the thickest eyebrows she
had ever seen. His face was thin and hollow as if he was malnourished. She
could see the bones in his face.

“Your
leader,” her voice cracked. She swallowed and tried again. “I wish to speak to
him, or her.”

He
nodded and rubbed his fists in his hand. “Right. Right. Come in then.”

Koa
watched him step out of the way and hold the door open for her. She looked into
a large open studio and gulped. The Netherworld vamps were everywhere. The
place was set up like a lounge. The lights were dim and cast a soft orange glow
on everything. Koa hated how loud her heels sounded on the gray, concrete,
floor.

There
were women walking around in nothing but their panties. They walked around as
if in a trance. Glamour, Koa thought as she watched some of the rough
looking vamps feast on the women who did nothing but sit in their laps with
blank expressions on their paling faces.

There
was a cloud of smoke that lingered in the air, making the room look as if a fog
had settled.

Koa
hesitated. She felt foolish for leaving her communication watch at the safe
house. She didn’t want Halston to track her. Now, Halston would never find her
if something went wrong.

Buck
up,
Koa, she thought to herself. You can do this without him. For a second,
she almost believed it. Too late to run now.

She
nodded, sucked in a long breath to motivate herself, and stepped inside. The
close of the door behind her sounded so final. Every inch of her was on alert. These
vamps were unlike any she’d ever encountered. The Netherworld vamps were the
purest of them all, and the males looked at her as if she was a piece of meat.

Koa’s
eyes scanned the room. There were four windows, barred and covered with black
tent. A standard wooden bar stood in the corner of the large room. One vamp
tended it, wiping it down, and pouring liquor into shot glasses. She
immediately counted twelve other vamps and six dead human bodies being drained
of their blood.

She
was a little late for the party. The six women, that were still alive, looked
as if they had been picked up from a sleazy club somewhere. All high heeled
pumps and miniskirts, sheath dresses and shiny costume jewelry. Koa wanted to
help the women. She hated seeing them treated so carelessly.

Koa’s
jaw tightened when she saw a vamp snap the woman’s neck he’d been feeding from.
Koa’s eye twitched. She resisted brandishing her sword. She was outnumbered.
There was nothing she could do.

Koa
felt herself become a little woozy at the scent. She should not be hungry right
now, but the blood was everywhere. The sweet aroma was almost too much to
handle. She closed her eyes remembered the face of the young man she had
accidentally killed when she was seventeen, and immediately regrouped. She
would never forget the look of fear in the poor man’s eyes.

In
an alley, like an animal, she had feasted foolishly. Koa never killed a human
again. The guilt would remain with her until the day she died. Koa ignored the
scent of blood and eyed the other vampires in the room. They looked to be
various ages ranging from early twenties, to early thirties. One could never
tell how old a vampire was, especially one from the Netherworld. Because they
were born vampires and not made, once they reached maturity, their bodies would
remain captured in that state of youth for an eternity. These male vamps all
looked young and strong.

And
dirty and ugly, Koa thought. She raised an eyebrow at
one who stood propped against a wall, staring at her. Except that one, she
thought. He’s not too bad. He almost looked attractive in his clean suit
and tie.

Koa
shook her head. You’re ridiculous, she scolded herself.

The
young looking vampire that had let her in settled onto the floor and rolled one
of the girls over onto her belly. He slit her other wrist and held it over a
bowl.

She
stood there, feeling awkward, as she watched the blood trickle slowly into the
bowl. Perhaps he doesn’t know who I am, she thought.

“Oh,
I know ya, Koa Ryeo-won. Every Netherworld creature knows the little
half-blood.”

Koa
paled.

“Yeah,
I read ya mind. No big deal.” He drank a gulp of the blood. He glanced over his
shoulder at the vamp who leaned against the wall. “Aye Brice, our guest thinks
you’re right handsome.” Everyone laughed. Brice revealed sharp, crooked teeth,
as he laughed with the others.

Gross,
Koa thought. Her eyes widened. She had to control what she thought about.

The
young vamp grinned that he had heard her thoughts once again. He chuckled to
himself. He wiped his mouth clean and came to his feet. “Hungry?” He offered
her the bowl of blood.

Koa
shook her head, but her chest heaved at the scent. She looked away.

“Ah,
what’s it? Too good for slut blood?”

The
other vamps chuckled. He motioned for four of the vamps to end their game of poker
and they all got up and went to sit on one of the leather sofas placed before a
large projector screen. He slid a chair out from their poker table and nodded
for her to sit.

“Why
these are the best sluts in town. It’s a delicacy, it is.” He licked his thin
lips. His grin sickened her.

Koa
held her head up high. Her heart was beating so loudly that she could hear it.
She was aware of all of the eyes on her. “Your leader. I will only speak to
him…or her,” she said.

He
thought a minute and bit his lip. He gave her a look from under his thick dark
brows. “You’re lookin at ‘em, lass.”

Koa
tensed. Everyone was staring at her in silence. Is he joking? Koa
thought. He looks to be about sixteen.

“One
thousand and sixty two, but who’s countin anymore?” He sat in the chair and
motioned for her to sit before him again.

Koa
averted her gaze from the other vamps that looked at her with scrutinizing eyes
and sat in the chair.

“You
answer your own door?” Koa frowned at the concept. If she was the leader of a Netherworld
clan, she’d have all kinds of goons doing her bidding.

He
licked the blood from his teeth. “Aye.”

Koa
was uncomfortable. She didn’t know why. He looked so young. Why should she fear
him?

“A
little short on help?”

He
shook his head. “I like to check out visitors me self. That way, I can kill ‘em
and return to me business.”

“Who
are you?”

He
sat back in his chair and played with the poker chips. “Should’a been ya first
question, lass.”

“My
name is Koa, not ‘lass.’”

He
chuckled and the others joined in. “Didn’t I already say we all know ya?” He
leaned his face in close to hers and she nearly fell backwards in her chair at
his speed. He was no longer smiling. “But you gotta earn the privilege
of learning me name…”

There
was something about him. It was like Koa could tell that he was trying to be as
unintimidating as possible. Why would he do that? Why would someone want to
appear weaker than they were? The possibilities made her begin to fear him even
more.

She
cleared her throat. She put on a brave face. “Well, I just need a few answers.”

“Depends
on the questions.” He swirled his finger in the bowl of blood as his dark blue
eyes watched her.

Koa
shifted in her seat. Her knee started to shake under the table. She hid it as best
as she could. He wasn’t so much as staring at her as he was leering at her. She
hoped her voice would come out steady. “Tell me about this king from the
Netherworld. You’re all hiding from him, I know that much.”

He
snickered. “I hide from no one.” He leaned in close as if he was going to tell
her a secret. “Maybe some of them blokes fear this king, but not me.”

Koa
made a face. “Sure,” she said sarcastically. She instantly wished she’d kept
the sarcasm out of her voice. He sat back and looked at her for a moment as his
smile faded. His eyes seemed to darken. His voice seemed to deepen.

He
licked his finger of the blood. “What ya want with Greggan?”

“I
want to know why, you…I mean, those ‘blokes’ over there are afraid of him. Why
does everyone know me?”

He
nodded and kept his face serious. “Good questions. I can see why ya’d want to
know those answers, lass.” He tapped the table with a sharp, dirty, nail. “But,
me question is why do ya think I would tell ya anything? Why did ya walk in
here, all alone, and think we’d just become quick friends and whatnot?”

Koa
bit her bottom lip and tried not to look nervous. “Because,” she cleared her
throat again. “We have the same enemy.”

His
grin returned. He lifted an eyebrow. He shook his head and chuckled. “Silly girl.
Silly girl.” He came to his feet. “I sure thought ya’d figure it out. Thought
you were all book learned an such.”

Koa
looked around. Everyone had stopped drinking. They looked like hounds, ready to
pounce. Her palms started to sweat. She wiped them on her jeans.

She
tried to turn the tables. “We are allies. We both want to stop Greggan. He
wants to kill you for some reason, and he wants me for some other reason. I
simply wanted to compare notes, you know?” She kept talking, hoping to buy
herself some time to think. “I mean, if we work together, we can send him back
to the Netherworld.”

He
walked around behind her, as if pacing, and mulling over her words. The room
fell quiet. Everyone stopped feeding and looked up at their leader.

Koa
prayed inside her head. There was something about him that just felt…evil.
Something in his eyes made her feel worried. She should have told Halston where
she was going.

“Well
said, lass.” He nodded his head as he thought. “But ya’ve still got one thing
wrong missy. Me and me crew are mercenaries and we ain’t hiding from Greggan.”

Something
tugged at Koa…warning her. She gave him an odd look. Her eyes started to widen
with realization. Her voice shook. “Who are you?”

He
grabbed her by her hair and yanked her from the chair.

Koa
panicked. This was not a good idea, she thought as she reached for his
hands.

“You’re
right. It wasn’t.” He threw her across the room and straight through the wall.
Koa cried out as she fell through the wall in a pile of crumbled stone. She
squeezed her eyes shut. She saw lights behind her eyes. The pain was sharp and
unwavering.

“Call
me Bund,” he said and Koa felt her face drain of color.

Bund.
Her father’s killer, stood only a few feet away.

Koa
started to count to herself. It was something she had done since she was a
child. It sometimes calmed her when she was really afraid.

One.

She
was terrified. She lay in a pile of rubble. Her heart raced too quickly for her
to control her adrenaline.

Two.

Koa
was outnumbered by Netherworld vampires that were ten times stronger than her.

Three.

She
could barely move. Her head hurt from crashing into the stone wall.

Four.

Koa
looked over at Bund who simply waited.

“Get
up, you sneaky, stupid, bitch. I’ve been waitin for this.”

Five.

Koa
looked at that smirk on his white face and narrowed her eyes. “I won’t kill ya.
Naw, I’ll slice ya up real nice, and present ya on a platter to King Greggan.
How’s that? And then, I’ll roast that mother of yours right nicely.”

Six.

A
spark ignited in her head at the mention of her mother. Rage boiled within her.
He had killed her father and now her mother was in his sights. She would
harness that fear. She would fight like a madwoman. Her rage filled every vein within
her body, making her feel hot and sensitive to everything around her.

Seven.

Koa
felt the power of her Lyrinian sword explode through her veins and let the rage
loose.

Chapter 9

Her
pulse beat loudly in her ears. Koa shot into the air. Her body moved too
quickly for their eyes to even follow and grabbed her sword. She flew straight
for Bund. He seemed interested in what she was doing but not afraid.

Koa
clenched her jaw. The hurt inside overwhelmed her. She missed her father.

Bund
smiled at her. He knew what she was thinking.

Koa
hated his hollow, pale, face. She hated everything about him. She wanted to
gouge his eyes out with her nails and smash the rest of his face in with her
boot.

Read
this you asshole, she thought…just for him. She ran the
blade along spilled blood and it burned red with hunger. The Lyrinian blade
started to glow.

Bund
smirked. He nodded. “Nice weapon. I’ll give ya that.”

The
other vamps were up and ready for a fight. More than a dozen leisurely reached
for weapons. Guns, crossbows, Netherworld weapons
she’d never seen. Koa wouldn’t wait until they grabbed them. She swept through
the room like a cyclone of rage. Her sword glowed red hot and screamed for more
blood. It was an extension of her. Her actions were no longer her own. The
blade used her in order to quench its thirst.

Koa
didn’t mind. She needed the Lyrinian swords collection of skills to make it
through this night. Her body ducked and dodged oncoming attacks. Her legs
kicked through bodies, slamming organs to the floor. Her free arm grabbed loose
hair and smashed heads to the tiled wall. The sword…it slashed with red hot,
lightning, speed.

Bund
took a step back.

The
lights in the room went out and Koa paused. She hovered in the air for just a
moment, to get her bearings and let her eyes adjust. She couldn’t see as well
as them, but the Lyrinian sword worked like a heat missile. It would find its
target no matter what.

She
dove back in and closed her eyes. Like a blade dance, she swirled in and out of
the crowd, listening to only cries of pain and angry shouts. She heard bullets.
It didn’t matter, the sword deflected it all. The bullets clinked against her
blade and sizzled into dust at contact. Her movements were fluid.

Koa
was as loose as a rag doll, and no one could touch her. Every time they tried
to grab her, she would swirl out of their reach and dive to another vamp. Their
hands tried to hold her, and it was as if she was as slippery as a marble, they
hadn’t a chance, when Koa was in her trance.

There
was so much blood that in the end, Koa was drenched in it. When all was quiet
she came to a stop and held her sword up. The red glow of the sword bathed the
room in its dim light. There were bodies everywhere. Arms, legs and heads were
sprawled about in a big mushy pile.

Koa
nodded in satisfaction. She was surprised that she had killed them without
suffering any serious wounds. Her arms were sore and she had a cut on her calf,
but other than that, she felt fine. Her father had trained her in the ways of
the sword. He had taught her well.

Koa
felt her heart skip a beat when Bund reappeared before her. Her other hand slid
a stake from a holster attached to her back. She threw it at him before he
could even blink.

The
stake lodged right into his heart and she grinned triumphantly. Koa would have
cheered, but to her surprise, Bund grinned as well.

He
looked down at the stake and his shoulders bounced lightly with his snickering.
At first he laughed lightly, and then it became louder and louder until his laughter
filled the room. “You stupid, stupid girl.” He laughed even louder.

Koa
gasped and covered her ears. His voice seemed to be everywhere. It filled her
ears and made her shiver. His voice seemed to grate on her eardrums. There was
something purely evil within it. Something she’d never encountered.

“What?”
Koa breathed in disbelief as he pulled the stake from his chest.

Bund
shook his head with a smile spread across his face. He tossed the stake to the
floor and took a look around. “Nice job, you’ve done here lass.” He clapped and
took a step forward.

Koa
sucked in a breath and held her sword out in front of her, hoping it would stop
him. She was confused. A stake to the heart always worked. At least, she
thought it did. Her only hope was that her sword would work.

Bund
made a clicking sound with his tongue. “Sorry, Lyrinian blades only work on the
dirty nephilim.”

Koa
knew he was reading her mind. All she could think was, what are you then?

Koa
heard something. She stepped back and looked around with wide eyes as the
carnage around her started to…move. She clutched her sword.

“Holy
shit,” she breathed as the pieces of bone started to reform. She looked at Bund
with wide eyes. “What’s happening?” She started backing away. She jumped when a
hand reached for her shoe. She yelped and kicked the bloody thing away, sending
it crashing into a wall.

She
looked back at Bund. Her face was twisted in worry. This was not how she
imagined this night going. This was not how she imagined she’d take out her
revenge. Bund blocked the door. Koa hoped there was another exit.

Bund
looked around and held his arms out. He lifted a brow. “Don’t tell me this was
ya first time killin Netherworld vamps?”

Koa
gulped. The bodies were reforming into grotesque creatures. The crunching
sounds and squishing noises turned her stomach. She couldn’t bring herself to
speak. The fear clutched her even tighter than before.

When
she looked back at Bund, his face had darkened. Red lines stretched across his
face like pulsating red veins. His smile was gone. His face looked different,
as if all the shadows in the room had absorbed into his flesh, turning it into
an ash-like gray. His hair had already been dark before, but it seemed to
become even darker, and shinier like gloss had been applied.

“What
are you?”

His
shoulders jutted out and she could see his bones mutate.

Koa
knew then, that she was about to die.

Bunds
voice deepened. He no longer sounded like a man, but a creature of darkness. The
voice that she had heard in every nightmare she’d had as a child echoed through
the room. His was the voice that one imagined a monster would have, like that
of a…

Koa
covered her mouth as a horrified squeal escaped her lips. She knew what he was,
and she knew that she was not strong enough to kill him. Bund wasn’t a New
World vampire, he wasn’t a Netherworld vamp.

Bund
was a demon.

“Good
girl,” he sneered. His hands turned into bony claws and his legs bent like that
of a beast from ancient myths.

Koa’s
brows furrowed. She felt like she might cry for her mother.

Bund
tossed his head back and let out a feral laugh. “Go, on, cry for ya mother for
me. I love it when little girls cry.” He pounced. His weight knocked Koa off her
feet with such power that her scream was cut off.  She fell backwards into
the blood. She banged her head against the cement floor and cried out. Lights
flashed behind her eyelids as she squeezed her eyes shut to block out the pain.

Bund
slashed her face and drew blood. She could smell the poison on his claws. She
felt the blood leak from the wound. He licked her face, sopping up the blood
with his rough, leathery, tongue. Koa felt as if she was looking into the eyes
of Satan himself.

She
held up her sword and closed her eyes. “This is it then,” she whispered to the
sword as she prepared to fight with every ounce of life she had left, even
though she knew the odds were against her. She opened her eyes and whispered a
prayer. “It was a good run.”

Bund
cackled and held her face down with one strong claw. Koa stabbed him with her
sword. Nothing. Not even a drip of blood.

He
laughed louder and she held back a sob. His other claw jabbed her in her side
and ripped upwards until it reached her underarm, splitting her skin to the
muscle. She felt hot tears soak her face. Her wounds stung as her salty tears
pooled into them.

Koa
was tired and weakened. She was completely exerted. She couldn’t move. So, she
lolled her head to the side and prepared for the end.

Bund
leaned down to her ear. “Your blood will repair me men, and when they are whole
once again…I will keep me promise, and roast that mother of yours.”

Koa
felt her face heat. Her eyes narrowed into slits of hate. She couldn’t let him
escape into the night and kill her mother. She would give anything for the
strength to stop him. She wanted to scream out for Halston, but she knew that
he would not hear her.

“But
have no fear…” he licked her ear. His hot breath came out in a whisper. “I will
not kill ya, love. No, you will be my prize and I will keep you as a pet
for all eternity.”

Koa
felt her blood chill. Every inch of her flesh crawled with disgust and horror.
The studio door crept open. Koa’s eyes searched the doorway. No one was there.
She looked out to darkness.

She
screamed so loud that it made her ears ache. “No!”

Raven
walked into the room and her green eyes started to glow. Koa frowned. It wasn’t
the normal glow that she was used to. There was something different about it.

Bund
paused and looked over his jutted out shoulder.

“Run
mother!” Koa shouted. She realized her mistake when she saw the look in Bund’s
eyes.

Bund
looked stunned. “Mother?” He reached out a hand to Raven. “No. It can’t be.”
There was real fear in his voice.

Raven
sat. Everything stilled.

All
sounds were sucked from the room and Koa started to shake. Koa didn’t know what
was happening. She thought that she was going mad. After all that Bund had said
about roasting her mother and killing her, he sounded, afraid.

Koa’s
vision started to fade. Her vision became blurry. “Raven…run!”

Halston
stepped in behind her mother, and Koa nearly shouted for joy. He was like her
guardian angel, always there when she needed him. She wasn’t sure if she was
dreaming but the room filled with the most radiant light she’d ever seen.
Everything turned white in her eyes and she felt as if she was being lifted up
to Heaven. Her vision cleared.

Bund
glared at her and howled. Then, he dropped her and flew from the room so
quickly that he looked like nothing more than a black shadow.

Halston
stepped into the empty space that Bund left behind and grabbed Koa into his
arms.

Koa
clutched his neck. “Oh, Halston, you came,” she whispered and her eyes
fluttered closed.

Chapter 10

Halston
felt his heart break when he saw Koa in such agony. She passed out in his arms
and he held her there, close to him. He was furious. He was hurt. Koa had lied
to him, and now she was injured. Bund’s poisonous wounds would not be easy to
heal.

Too
many emotions filled Halston. More than he was used to feeling at the same
time. Anger and grief. Fear and frustration. He no longer felt…in control.

Bund
had escaped. Bund, a demon from his past, and a demon by nature, had escaped
Halston…yet again. Halston had spent centuries hunting him down. Once again, he
had failed. He balled his hand into a fist and pounded the ground. The entire
room shook.

Bund
had seen Halston. Halston had taken his prize…Koa. Now, Halston feared that the
demons revenge would be more than they would be prepared for.

Raven
ran over to him. “Halston! The vamps! They’re taking their second form!”

Halston
looked up from under his brows. His eyes were full of rage. He watched the
pieces of bone reconnect in a new form. The Netherworld vamps, had taken their
second form. They had…reanimated themselves.

Twelve
reanimated men stood before him. They were deformed creatures. They looked like
giant, feral, wolves. All muscle and bone. No skin or fur, or anything but large
fangs, yellow eyes, and sharp claws. Their legs were bent in, and even though
they stood on all fours, they were nearly as tall as Halston.

Halston
held Koa up with one arm and pulled out his infinity gun with the other. A
metallic ring echoed throughout the room as the silver infinity gun was
loosened from its holster.

The
room felt smaller with the massive creatures crowding it. Things were about to
get really messy. Halston glared at them all. He refused to let another
creature escape that lair.

“Should
I leave?” Raven asked in a whisper. Her green eyes had grown large as she
watched the reanimated men prepare to try their luck with Halston.

Halston
nodded once. “Go.”

Raven
ran, and with the sudden movement, the reanimated men charged. Growls were cut
off when Halston held Koa’s limp body close to his chest, lifted the barrel,
cocked it once, and shot. A loud explosion drowned all sounds out. Time seemed
to warp and slow as a single, silver, bullet shot out from the barrel and
screamed with rage.

Halston
narrowed his eyes in hatred. He watched the bullet collect speed, light, and
energy as it raced through the room. None of the reanimated men had a chance to
run. The single bullet ripped through them within seconds. The bullet cut
through brains, hearts, lungs…and enjoyed every minute of it.

Like
Koa’s Lyrinian sword, it seemed to have a mind of its own. The infinity gun was
more than a weapon.

It
was judgment.

The
bullet squealed like a train and returned to Halston’s gun. It reentered its
home and all was silent. Not even a full minute had passed. Reanimated bodies
were sprawled on the floor.

There
was a great deal of writhing. The bodies bubbled, popped, and melted into pools
of thick black blood. There would be no third change. It was over for them.

Halston
drew in a breath and let it out slowly. He looked at Koa’s face and felt his
brows draw in. He loved her. He couldn’t deny it. The feeling frightened him.
He wanted nothing more than to shelter and protect her.

Halston
hugged her close and kissed her forehead. He closed his eyes and simply held
her there, breathing her sweet scent, and listening to her soft heartbeat. He
loved her, but he knew right then that he would have to do something that would
hurt her. She might hate him for it…there was a lot that she might hate him
for…but it was necessary.

Halston
drew in another breath. Koa weakened him. His heart was tearing. “I love you,”
he whispered. He almost wished that she was awake to hear the words he’d been
thinking for years now, but he was grateful that she didn’t hear him.

He
sighed. His jaw tensed. Halston knew what he had to do. “But you need to
learn.”

Chapter 11

Koa
woke up in the most comfortable bed she’d ever been in. She sighed and sprawled
out across the puffy white covers that felt as though they were stuffed with
clouds. She winced in pain and her eyes popped open. Sharp, searing, pain
stunned her into an agonizing squeal.

Koa
held her breath, too afraid to make another move lest the pain get worse. She
felt her heart speed. She wasn’t used to this kind of pain. Sun spilled into
the room through a wall made of glass. Koa looked around and the wrinkles in
her forehead smoothed. She felt safe.

This
was Halston’s bedroom.

Koa
covered herself with the blankets and looked around. He wasn’t there. She
looked down at her clothing and saw that she wore nothing but her bra and
panties.

Koa
had been in Halston’s bed before. The first time she had seen Halston had been
by chance. After her father’s murder, Koa had been a ruthless girl. She had
been lucky that Halston had found her. He had tamed her.

Five
years ago, on a warm night in London, Koa had been drunk on bourbon and blood.
She was sprawled across a park bench near a pub when Halston had found her.

Koa
remembered it well. She thought about it often. Like a guardian angel, there
Halston had been, looking down at her with his bright golden hair and
crystalline blue eyes. When Koa felt his hand touch her forehead, she had
opened her eyes and had really thought that she was dreaming. He was perfect
and she couldn’t resist.

Koa
had grabbed Halston by the back of his neck and kissed him. The kiss had been
magical. Halston didn’t stop her. Koa touched her lips at the memory. She could
still taste Halston’s tongue.

A
smile came to her lips, despite the lingering pain. At seventeen, she had been
a naïve girl, torn by feelings of revenge, guilt, and fear. Still, her vampire
side made her impervious to fear.

Koa
often suspected less than noble intentions from men, but the night she had met
Halston, she knew she could trust him. She felt safe around him. So, drunk like
a college freshman at her first frat party, Koa let him take her to his place.

When
Koa woke up the next morning years ago, she had found Halston sitting in a
white leather chair by that glass wall overlooking the city, watching her.

Koa
had been but a child back then…a child who had no idea what was in store for
her future. She sighed and closed her eyes to keep the tears from falling. Once
again, Halston had saved her from her own horrible choices. She hated to face
him after all that she had done wrong.

She
bit the inside of her lip and tried to remember what had happened. Another
sharp pain in her side immediately reminded her. Bund.

Koa
yelped as Raven leapt onto the pure white covers and tackled her. Raven licked
her face. “Are you all right darling?”

Koa
held her tight and tried to keep from moving too much. She cautiously propped
herself up on the soft pillows. Koa couldn’t help but squeeze her mother tight.
“I am. Where is Halston?”

Raven
curled up next to Koa’s head. “He is in the shower.” Koa nodded and looked at
the door to Halston’s private bathroom suite. She almost smiled at the image of
him in there without any clothes on. The pain made her grimace instead.

Koa
sighed. “What happened…back at the lair?”

Raven
licked her paw. “What do you mean? Halston rescued you.”

Koa
sat up on her elbows. “I mean, before Halston came in. You did something.”

Raven
tilted her head and gave Koa a blank look. She shook her head. “Nonsense. You
are imagining things. Would you like some orange juice?”

Koa
frowned. Was I imagining things? She shook her head. Koa knew what she
saw. “Wait a minute!” Koa yelled.

The
pain kept her from hopping onto her knees. She winced at the burning sensation
in her side. Weakly, Koa pointed at Raven. “I saw you. What did you do? Don’t
lie to me!”

Koa
pursed her lips when Halston opened the door to the bathroom and let waves of
steam out. He peeked around the door to see what the commotion was about. His
hair was wild and yet, he still looked perfect. Koa wanted to see more. Her
cheeks flushed at her thoughts.

“Everything
all right?”

Koa
nodded and he came out of the bathroom and dried his hair with a towel. She
looked away from his bare chest as her cheeks reddened even more. She had never
seen a man naked before. Koa could only imagine what Halston was hiding beneath
his towel. She squeezed her eyes shut.

You’re
ridiculous, Koa thought to herself. This is not what you’re
supposed to be thinking about!

“What’s
all the fuss?”

Koa
looked at her mother, who licked her paws sheepishly. Koa knew something was
up.

“How
are you feeling? Do you need something for the pain?”

Koa
shook her head. “It’s ok. I can handle it.” She searched his eyes, wondering
when the scolding would begin, hoping he would let this incident slide.

Halston
nodded and walked over to Koa. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the
covers back. Raven moved out of the way and he took a look at Koa’s bandaged
side where Bund had split her skin.

Koa
remembered just how deep he had cut her. She looked down expecting to see her
side completely healed, instead, there was still blood on the bandage and she
could still see some of her muscle. She was stunned. She’d always been able to
heal almost instantly.

Halston
sighed. It wasn’t good.

“How
long have I been here?” Her eyes were wide with fright. Halston sat on the edge
of the bed and smoothed her hair. He was calm. She wished such calmness would
rub off on her. She did enjoy the feel of his hand on her hair.

“Two
days.”

Koa
covered her mouth. “Two days?” She looked at her wound in disbelief.

Halston
put a hand on her shoulder and led her back down to the pillow. “It’s all
right. A demon wound will heal. It may take longer than you’re used to, but
your vampire side will fight the poison.”

“Poison?”
Koa felt her heart race. Halston pulled the covers to her neck.

“Relax,
Koa. You need rest. Don’t work yourself up or it’ll take longer.”

“Listen
to him Koa,” Raven urged. “I hope you learned your lesson.”

Koa
shot a look at her, but her mother was right, she couldn’t deny it. She had
been stupid to think she could convince Netherworld vamps to side with her. The
whole plan was foolish. She just didn’t anticipate them knowing who she was.

“Bund
recognized me.” Koa sat up on her elbows and looked to Halston. “How did they
know who I was?”

Halston
stood and walked over to his wardrobe where he grabbed a shirt. He put it on
and stepped inside his walk-in closet to change into black slacks. He sat on a
seat inside his closet and carefully put on a pair of black socks and slipped
into shoes. Halston seemed to be taking his time. Koa waited as he looked at
himself in his full length mirror. He fixed his hair and she rolled her eyes.

“You
just love looking at yourself,” Koa couldn’t resist saying. She hoped it would
keep him calm, and make him forget that she had disobeyed him.

She
smiled. Halston didn’t.

He
ignored her statement and sat back on the edge of the bed. “What exactly did he
say to you?”

Koa
cleared her throat. “Bund said that everyone in the Netherworld knows me. He
said that he wasn’t hiding, and that he wasn’t afraid of Greggan.”

Halston
nodded. “It’s true. Why would a demon fear a vampire? A demon is nothing more
than an angel that has turned to darkness. When the fallen angels followed
Satan from Heaven their sexual desires led them to have intercourse with human
women. Their dark spawn are what we know as vampires…and the other nephilim of
the Netherworld.”

Koa
nodded. She knew all about the fall of some of the angels. She knew how their
spawn were banished to the Netherworld centuries ago. Still, the Netherworld
was only a place separated from the human world by a simple gate. “Yes, I know
all of that, but why was he with those Netherworld vamps?”

“He
was hired.”

Koa
slumped against the headboard. She blew her bangs out of her eyes. “That’s
right. He did say that they were mercenaries.” She lifted a brow. “Hired for
what?”

“To
find you.”

“Why?
Why does Bund want to find me?” Koa needed to know.

Halston
and Raven shared a glance. Koa noticed.

Koa
slammed her fist on the bed. “Why are you two hiding things from me?”

“Don’t
get so worked up. I’ll tell you everything, when you’re healed.”

“Tell
me now!”

“Get
some sleep darling,” Raven said and hopped from the bed. “Will you take me back
home? I think my presence will only agitate Koa and prolong her recovery.”

Koa
reached out. She didn’t realize how weak she felt. “No. Don’t go.” Koa wished
she could hug her mother again. She would give anything to lay in her arms and
cry like she did when she was a child.

Raven
looked back. She ran over and leapt onto the bed. She licked Koa’s face and
snuggled her head into the crevice of her neck. “Rest up. I’ll see you at
home.”

“OK,”
Koa replied. She sighed and pulled the covers up. She did feel tired already.

Halston
waited for Raven to leave the room. Koa watched him from a tiny space in the
covers. He sat there in silence for a moment. The silence made Koa
uncomfortable. She knew what was coming.

“I’m
sorry,” Koa blurted before Halston could put the words together to say what was
on his mind.

Halston
seemed surprised that she actually apologized. Koa thought that was a good
sign. He hadn’t expected that.

He
nodded. His eyes were hopeful. “Thank you for that, Koa. It means a lot. But,
why did you go there without me? Why would you go against my orders and put
yourself at risk?”

Koa
groaned. She knew he would ask. She sat up and tried to scoot closer to him.
Moving was a laborious task, but Koa needed him to forgive her. He still didn’t
say that he did.

“You
fail to understand that we care about you, Koa. We only do these things to keep
you safe. You’re very important to all of us in the Netherworld division.”

Koa
frowned. She didn’t like how he kept saying ‘we’ and ‘us’ instead of, I care
about you, or, you’re important to me.

“I
didn’t want you to try to stop me. I wanted answers, and you just weren’t
giving them.”

He
turned his head to meet her eyes. She looked down. The look was too intense.
She felt almost hypnotized by it. She drew circles in the covers with her
finger, feeling sheepish, like a child that knew she had done something wrong
and awaited her father’s scolding.

“I
told you already. I am here to protect you. You don’t need to know everything.
Some things are best left alone.”

Koa
didn’t say anything. She heard Halston, but she was stubborn. She still wanted
to know.

Halston
sighed. “And now I see that I have to protect you from yourself.”

Koa
looked up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Halston
stood and wrapped his holster across his back and grabbed a vest from his
wardrobe.

“It
means you’re out, Koa.”

Koa
fought through the pain and sat up. Her face paled. Her hands started to shake.
He couldn’t be saying what she thought he was. Koa stared at Halston with wide
eyes. “What?”

He
nodded. “I hate to do it, but it’s for the best. You’re a liability and it’s
better if you don’t know what’s happening out there. You’re no longer part of
the Netherworld division. You revealed Raven’s identity. It’s best if you and
Raven lay low and live a quiet life in your new home.” He put his hands in his
pockets and looked away. “You no longer have to let these things worry you. I
will take care of it from here on out.”

Koa
stared at him. She wouldn’t shy away from his eyes if he would just look at
her. She could make him change his mind.

“Or
you can move wherever you want.”

Koa
started to speak, but her voice was caught in her throat. He couldn’t look her
in the eye. That statement hurt her more than anything. She didn’t want to be
away from him. Couldn’t he see that?

She
felt as though Halston was breaking up with her. She was speechless. Her heart
felt as though it was being twisted and crushed. The heartache hurt more than
her side did.

Halston
took a breath and started towards the door. He tried to make his voice sound
light and calm. “I’ll still protect you and make sure you’re safe, you just
won’t live the life of a Netherworld agent anymore. Bund is still out there and
I will do everything within my power to stop him.”

Koa
felt her body tense at the thought of Bund out there in the world, ready to
strike at her once again. She thought of his promise to keep her as a pet for
all eternity. Her stomach churned.

Halston
gave her one last look. The look was too quick. “Now rest up.” He left before
she could protest.

The
sleek black door to his otherwise all-white bedroom closed. She heard him head
outside. He whispered to Raven and she felt her face heat with rage.

Koa
balled up her fists. They were conspiring. She heard his footsteps walk down
his long marble hallway and to the double curved stairs that led to the
landing, and he was gone.

Tears
dripped down her cheeks and onto the white blankets. Her heart sped. She didn’t
like this feeling. Halston was done with her. When would she see him again? How
would she survive without the purpose the Netherworld division gave her?

Koa
screamed. She covered her face and yelled in anguish. “How dare you? How dare
you?” She shouted and pounded her fists in the blankets with all of her might.
She needed something more rewarding.

She
wanted to hit something, to hurt something. She growled and came to her feet.
Koa gasped as the pain made her double over. Her breath was knocked from her as
her skin screamed in agony.

The
pain was unnerving. The constant burning of her flesh only intensified her
anger. Pain was rare for Koa. This was new, and she hated it.

Another
feeling swept in and made her fall to her knees. Koa groaned. This pain was
different. Still, Bunds pain couldn’t compare to what overcame her. This was something
that she was very familiar with. She had grown up with it. It had haunted her
for years.

The
hunger.

Koa
looked up. She had an idea. Nothing would cure her faster than human blood. She
crawled over to the chair and pulled herself up. She was so tired. All she
could think of was how energized a little human blood would make her.

Koa
thought of how disappointed Halston would be once he found out.  He had
worked hard to help her fight the hunger for blood. They had a strict feeding
schedule, but once again, an intense battle had ruined it.

Koa
shook her head and sucked in an agonizing breath as tears threatened to break
free. She didn’t care what Halston thought anymore. She didn’t care about any
of it.

Koa
was out. She was free. She already hated it.

She
knew Halston would be livid, and she welcomed it, he deserved to feel guilty
for shoving her aside. She lifted herself into the air and flew towards that
wall of glass and kicked it with all of her strength. It crashed into thousands
of pieces of glass and Koa flew out, into the sun and as high as she could go.

She’d
find a new home and a new family. Wryn Castle called out to her.

Chapter 12

Ian
Pratt came when called. Koa smiled when he came to the door of her usual room
in the Wryn Castle. His large, puppy dog, hazel eyes lit up when he saw her.

He
had a quiet, geeky quality. There was an undeniable intelligence that she could
see in his eyes. That was what made Koa choose him out of all the others that
had been presented to her three years ago at her membership meeting.

Ian
was smart, very smart, and equally attractive. The thing that drew Koa
to him though, was that he didn’t know he was hot. That made her like him even more.
His black hair was unruly, but it was soft and clean whenever she ran her
fingers through it.

Koa
watched him as he stood outside the doorway. He gripped the handles of his
green, graphic print backpack and smiled at her.

Koa
did something she hadn’t planned. She pulled him into the room, closed the
door, and hugged him tightly. She almost sobbed into his chest but she bit the
tears back. She breathed deeply.

Ian
was so warm. He smelled so good. He smelled like youth. Real youth, not a young
mask hiding a hundred year old creature. His scent was fresh, like freshly
washed clothes. She held him close and nearly melted when he wrapped his arms
around her back.

“What’s
this?” Ian asked when he felt the blood on her side. He looked genuinely
alarmed. “Are you okay? What happened Koa?”

Koa
didn’t speak. She was grateful to have someone care about her. All she wanted
was to feel cared for…to feel loved. She simply held him. She liked that he was
thin. She liked that he was tall. Ian rested his chin on her head and sighed.
He loved her. That fact didn’t make Koa feel good.

His
wasn’t real love. There was no way that it could be…the glamour made him think
he was in love. She wished it was real.

Halston’s
face haunted her. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to block the
disappointed look he had given her out of her mind.

“I’m
fine, Ian, but you can make me all better.” She gently grabbed the back of his
neck and planted a soft kiss on his supple, human, flesh. He nearly trembled
with glee.

Koa
gave him a gentle nudge, but it was enough to send him falling backwards. She
grabbed his collar, lifted him from the ground, and led him to the bed. The
instant his head fell onto the plush black comforter, she was on his chest. She
tied her hair back, getting it out of the way. Every vein and artery pulsed in
her body. She needed him.

Koa
moaned and plunged her teeth into his neck. She drank, greedily. She knew why
she was so hungry, so out of control, and she yet she didn’t care. Halston
could abandon her. Her mother could keep secrets from her. She would have a new
family, one that wouldn’t lie to her or hide things from her.

The
blood gushed into her mouth and that familiar euphoria radiated throughout her
entire body. She could feel his blood rushing and meeting with her own.

She
felt powerful. She felt invincible. Koa could feel herself healing as she
drained the blood from Ian’s neck.

She
nearly cried out from the intense pleasure. Her heart was breaking. Halston had
hurt her, but Ian was sustaining her. He was rebuilding her. Koa sucked the
blood until Ian was nearly dry.

Dry?
Koa paled. No!

Ian
let out a whimper and Koa froze. She realized what she had done and ripped her
mouth away from his neck. Alarm overcame her when she looked down at his pale face.
She grabbed him.

He
was cold.

She
screamed the most horrified scream she’d ever heard leave her lungs.

“Ian!”
Koa tapped his shoulder. “Are you all right?” She shook him. He was limp and
unresponsive. Koa’s eyes widened. Terror overcame her.

Ian’s
eyes fluttered closed and she squealed.

“Ian!”
She grabbed his face and shook his head from side to side. He groaned.

Koa
slapped him. She couldn’t let the young man die. She loved him, in her own way.
He had been her pet for nearly three years. She was paying his way through the
University. She couldn’t lose him. He meant more to her than the blood.

There
were nights when they would talk for hours after her feeding. She knew
everything there was to know about him. She knew that his mother had died of cancer
when he was in high school, and that his father had killed himself shortly
afterward. He had been sent to live with an aunt until he was of legal age, and
left the states as soon as he graduated.

Ian
was smart. He studied chemistry and archeology of all things. He’d always
wanted to be like Indiana Jones. Koa nearly smiled at the memory of him telling
her that. She couldn’t let this good young man die.

An
idea came to her. It hit her full force and wouldn’t back down. Koa had no
choice. She would set him free.

She
leaned down to his ear. “Ian… do you want to live?”

Ian’s
head lolled to the side. He weakly opened an eye and stared at her drunkenly
with it. Koa could feel her heart racing.

What
have I done? I’ve become a monster. Koa swallowed.
Halston was right to fire her. She had become the very creature they fought to
stop.

His
life was hanging from a thread. She could see the luster start to leave those
hazel eyes.

She
felt her heart skip a beat when he mouthed the word, yes.

Koa
swallowed. She licked her lips of the blood and nodded. “Are you sure?” Koa
whispered. “You know what I mean, don’t you?”

Ian
nodded and his eyes rolled into the back of his head.

Koa
shot up and bit her wrist. She shoved her bleeding wrist into his mouth and
squeezed her eyes shut the moment he started to drink from her. She’d never,
ever, turned someone before. She had no idea what it meant. She hadn’t a clue
what this would change. She was contributing to the vampire population, the
very beings that she and Halston and his organization strove to decrease.

Koa
almost forgot. She wasn’t a part of the organization anymore. She could follow
her own rules. Besides, Ian wasn’t a bad person. Therefore, he would not be one
of the bad vampires that she had once been sent out to kill.

She
felt a pang of guilt the instant Ian withdrew his mouth and cried out in pain.
She rolled off of him and onto the floor. Like a frightened child, Koa
scrambled into a corner. She watched him with wide, horrified eyes and drew her
legs into her chest. She held her legs close with both arms wrapped around them
and tearfully watched as Ian’s human body died.

Ian
writhed and cried as his body was thrown back and forth across the bed. He
begged in agony for help. Koa couldn’t control her sobs when he cried out for
his mother. He was delirious with pain and it hurt her to hear him suffer.

Koa
wished she could help him. She’d never seen this before. His cries cut into her
very soul.

His
cries continued for far too long, and then, there was silence. The silence was
so thick that Koa realized that she was holding her breath. She looked at his
body through a blurry film of tears.

Did
I do it right? Timidly, Koa crawled onto all fours.
She peeked over the side of the bed at his body. Ian lied there, sprawled across
the bed, as if frozen…or lifeless.

His
black hair was wild and covered his face. It was soaking wet from his sweat.

Koa
sucked in a breath. Tears choked her. “No,” she whispered. She climbed onto the
bed. Something was wrong. “Ian. Please.” She touched his face. It was cold as
ice, even colder than before she fed him her blood. She buried her face in her
hands. Her shoulders shook with her wracking sobs.

Koa
was devastated. Ian had been more than a pet. Ian had been a friend. Koa felt
her heart breaking. She’d never had many friends in her life. She began to hate
herself for what she had just done.

The
bed creaked. Koa moved her hands from her face. She was almost too afraid to
look… too afraid to hope.

Through
tears, Koa looked at Ian’s face. It was blurry, but she could see, with
delight, that he was looking back at her.

Koa
gasped and tackled him with glee. She littered his face with dozens of kisses.
She laughed maniacally.

“Ian!
You’re all right.”

He
nodded and smiled. He hugged her tight and Koa could feel that
he was stronger. His arms no longer felt weak. His grip on her felt as hard as
stone. She felt safe. She felt relieved and joyous.

“Yes,
mistress. Thank you.”

Koa
pulled back. She held his face in both of her hands and gave him a serious
look. “No more mistress. Understood?”

His
smile widened. “Yes mis--.” He paused and laughed. Koa couldn’t help but smile.
“Yes, Koa.” He ran a hand over her side again. He looked up in surprise.
“You’re all healed!”

Koa
smiled warmly. She gently kissed his forehead. “Thanks to you.” After all of
the inner turmoil she experienced only seconds ago, she felt at peace.

A
knock came at the door. Koa glanced at it. She knew who was there. She knew her
scent. Cinnamon and sugar.

“Come
on in Lexi.”

Lexi
opened the door and peeked inside. She smacked on her cinnamon flavored gum and
looked at the two of them. She sighed and shook her head. The door closed
behind her.

“You
two are getting a bit loud, don’t you think?” Lexi looked at Koa who sat on
Ian’s lap in nothing but what she left Halston’s loft in. Her panties and bra.

Koa
came to her feet. She walked over to the nightstand where she kept a few of her
belongings in case she actually wanted to stay longer than a night. Koa pulled
out her credit card. She nodded to Ian. “Welcome Ian Pratt to the club. He’s my
sire.”

Lexi
looked at Koa in disbelief. “You sired someone?” She stared at Ian and smirked.
“Not a bad choice.”

Ian
was on his feet and looking at himself in the mirror. Koa and Lexi watched as
he checked himself out. He smiled as he fixed his hair which seemed to have a
bit more luster. His eyes were a little brighter. Ian examined his neck, which
was smooth and clear of fang marks. He looked over at them.

“Sweet!”
He turned and looked at his profile and held his shirt up. “Call me crazy but
is it just me, or did my abs become more defined?”

Koa
shook her head with a smile glued to her face. It had worked. Lexi took her
card.

“You
know what this means, right. You sire him, you have to take care of him.”

Koa
looked at her and shrugged. “I have been taking care of him for the past three
years.”

Mischief
danced in Lexi’s eyes. “Oh no, Koa. That’s not what I mean. He has to live with
you now. He’s like a baby, and you have to watch over him until he is prepared
to go off into the world on his own.” She mocked a curtsy and winked before
leaving. “Have fun,” she sang as she left the room.

Koa
stood there after Lexi left and felt something new. She thought of what Lexi
had said and it didn’t bother her. She had purpose. This was just what she
needed to take her mind off Halston.

She
felt proud. After twenty-one years as a vampire, she had created something. She
watched Ian, who turned to her with a sweet, childlike smile.

Then,
she thought of her mother, Raven. She was still cross with her, but after all,
Raven was still her mother. She had cared for her all alone for years, and it
hadn’t been easy. Koa felt a little guilty for being so vengeful all of the
time. She had left Halston’s loft with hopes of hurting him. She wanted him to
feel the way she had felt.

Koa
almost wondered if what Raven and Halston was keeping from her really was for
her own good. She frowned at the thought. She wasn’t prepared to let Halston be
right about this too. Still, she had to go home or Raven would go insane with
worry.

What
will she think about Ian? Koa cringed. She could already
imagine the scolding she’d receive. She remembered bringing home a stray kitten
when she was a child.

Koa
almost laughed at the memory. It was ironic that as a human, her mother had
been allergic to cats. Raven had found the kitten hiding under her bed in a
small shoebox, and made Koa get rid of it.

Koa
leaned against the door and closed it. She watched Ian. She felt a little
motherly love for him now.

Her
mind was set. She would bring him home, and she would have a real family again.

Her
smile returned when she realized that she had just made herself an eternal
companion. She didn’t need Halston anymore. Koa sighed and fought tears. If
only that were true.

Chapter 13

Koa
was ready to move on from the disappointment of losing her place in Halston’s
crew. She waited in eagerness for Ian to shower and change and they checked out
of the Wryn Castle. Now, they would both need charges. Lexi would set up a
meeting for them to pick their new charges the next night.

Koa
could wait at least a week to feed, but Ian was now a full vampire and would
need to drink blood each night. Koa wasn’t sure she liked the idea that they
would have to be apart each night. She didn’t really like the thought of him
spending time away from her with a young beauty.

Koa
shook her head as she drove Ian’s car. She was already being possessive. Ian
wasn’t her pet anymore. Koa frowned. Now she knew how Halston felt about her
spending just one night with a young attractive human.

She
drove as quickly as she could, but Ian had an old piece of junk that barely got
over 50mph.
She wanted to make it to her home before the sun rose and make preparations in
the cellar for Ian’s living quarters. Koa already had tons of ideas for a
lovely space just for him.

She
was surprised by how excited she was to bring him home. She was excited to be
able to train and teach someone else for a change. Now, Koa would pass along
everything her father, and Halston, had taught her over the years. She imagined
Ian just soaking up the information like a sponge. She could tell that he would
probably be a better vampire than she was.

Ian
was full of energy just like a hyper child. She could only imagine just how
much energy he’d have after his first full feeding. She wondered what special
skill he’d acquire. Netherworld vamps were born with special skills, and
sometimes even the New World vampires would inherit a small measure of such
skills.

Koa
grinned. Her imagination went wild. She was excited to find out if Ian would be
so lucky as to have a skill. Koa and Halston sometimes talked about her ability
to fly, and that perhaps she had inherited it from her father. Koa wondered if
that was her skill, or if it was something else.

“Can
we stop and grab some of my things from my flat?”

Koa
gave him a sideling glance. “You have a flat now?”

He
nodded. “Yeah, that money you put in my account let me leave the hostels and
find a roommate. This kid named Robert. He’s from the states, too, and we get
along all right.”

Koa
shrugged. “Do you really need anything? I was going to buy you new stuff. New
clothes and shoes. Whatever you’d like.”

Ian
laughed. “Um, ok. Is there something wrong with my clothes?”

Koa
glanced at what he was wearing. Jeans that were torn at the bottom from
dragging beneath his shoes and an old Super Mario t-shirt. She cleared her
throat and looked away. “No, that’s not what I meant.”

“I
think you want me to be your new toy.”

Koa
blushed.

Ian
put a hand on hers. He gave her a sweet smile. “I don’t mind. Honestly. I kind
of like that you have an interest in me, even if you want to change me a bit.”
His smile widened. “It’ll be like Beauty and the Geek and you can give me the
whole makeover deal.”

Koa
laughed. “What’s that?”

Ian
shrugged. “Just some cheesy show that used to come on back home.”

“I
guess that does sound like fun.” Koa’s mind raced with ideas. Hair-cuts, and a
new wardrobe. Koa was afraid that she’d create a monster…a vampire that the
women couldn’t resist. It was an intriguing thought. She’d always wanted to do
something like this. She felt giddy.

Ian
nodded. “It does.” He looked out the window and became quiet for a while. Koa
glanced over at him. She wished she knew what he was thinking.

“Are
you all right?” Koa asked softly. She had known him long enough to genuinely
care about him…and now…he was linked to her by blood.

He
nodded, but kept looking out into the darkness of the countryside. They passed
mountains and thick forests on either side. “I just forgot something is all.”

Koa
noticed the sadness in his voice. He looked at her with those large, puppy dog
eyes that made her want to just hug him. “What is it?”

“I
won’t ever see the sun again, will I?”

Koa
took a deep breath. Her eyes went up to the sky. She felt ashamed that she was
able to walk in the sun and she had just stolen that privilege from Ian. She
gave a regretful look and shook her head.

Ian
shrugged, but Koa could tell that it was still bothering him. He was being
nice, to not make her self-conscious. “I guess that isn’t too awful. I could be
dead, right?”

Koa
paled.

He
made a face. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. I don’t blame you. I promise.”

Koa
put both hands on the steering wheel and focused on the road. Her brows
furrowed. He should blame her. He was right. She’d nearly killed him. Halston
had always warned her. She winced. “No. I’m the one that should be sorry. I’ve
been reckless lately. I lost my self-control.”

He
tucked a hair behind her ear and Koa gave a half-smile. He was too sweet. He
didn’t know that he was only making her feel guiltier.

“I
think I always wanted this. There’s been enough death in my life already. Death
scares me.”

Koa
nodded. She’d seen too much death in her short life as well. “Me too.”

“I
just realized that I took the sun for granted.”

Koa
realized just how much she had taken from him.

They
drove the rest of the time in silence. Ian finally fell asleep and Koa hated to
wake him when she pulled into the driveway of the cottage.

Koa
watched him sleep for a moment and saw the sky start to brighten. She quickly
got out of the car and ran around to his side. She opened the door and gave Ian
a shove.

“Come
on, let’s get you inside.”

He
groggily nodded and took her hand. She pulled him along to the front door. Koa
was surprised to find that Raven was waiting for her at the door.

Koa
took a deep breath. Raven looked really confused when she saw Ian but she
didn't question her when they came inside. She seemed to be happy just to have
her daughter return.

Ian
stepped inside and looked around in awe. He seemed to wait timidly beside the
door, holding his backpack and looking around into the darkness of the cottage.
Koa smiled and took Ian’s hand in hers, much like Halston did when they were
together. She knew the power such a gesture held.

Ian’s
hand was no longer warm like Halston’s. It was cold.

She
hid a frown and led him inside. She would have to get used to all of the
changes Ian would undergo. She rubbed his back for encouragement.

Raven
looked him up and down. “And who are you?”

Ian
jumped when he noticed the black cat waiting in the shadows. He looked at Raven
in surprise, and he gave Koa a wide-eyed look. “The cat talks?” He shook his
head in bewilderment. A smile came to his lips. “Remarkable.”

Koa
laughed to herself. She smiled at her mother, hoping she’d see Ian’s charm, his
childlike innocence.

Raven
didn't look amused. She merely stared at the young man, assessing him.

Koa
cleared her throat. She whispered close to his ear, remembering how vehement
Raven got when she mentioned their secret, even when they were alone at home.
“Well, Raven is…special. Ian, meet Raven.” She pointed down to the cat.

Ian
was speechless.

“Well.”
Ian scratched his temple as he examined the black cat before him. “I always
knew you were different, Koa. I always thought you were enchanted and so forth,
but I can’t say that I expected this.” He gave a half-smile as if he still
didn’t believe it. “Wow.” He knelt down and rubbed Raven on the head. “Nice to
meet you...Raven.”

Raven
blinked at him. Koa could tell that she didn’t approve.

Koa
sighed. “She’s not really a cat, Ian.” She lowered her voice again. “She’s my
mother…”

Raven
shook her head and licked her paw.

Ian’s
eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What?”

Koa
waved her arms. “There’s a whole curse and everything, but I don’t really want
to discuss the details right this instant. We have an eternity to go over such
things.”

Koa
pulled Ian along towards the staircase that led to the guestrooms on the second
level. She looked over her shoulder at Raven. “And, Raven, I'll explain
everything to you in just a moment. Please don't be angry.”

She
led the way to the staircase that led to the cellar.

Koa
heard Ian’s footsteps stop, and she turned around. “What’s wrong?”

She
was a little disappointed that she couldn't give him one of the grand guestrooms
of her father's manor and that she only had a cellar to offer him. She could
see reluctance on his face. “What’s wrong?”

Ian
shrugged. “Nothing. I’m fine.” He squinted as he looked down the staircase.

She
could tell that you didn't like the idea but he didn't want to seem ungrateful.
Koa sighed. “It's not what you think. I'm going to make it lovely for you. I
will have a decorator in here tomorrow and she'll make it into the grandest one
bedroom apartment you've ever lived in.”

Ian
looked a little nervous. “I didn't mean anything. I’m really very appreciative.
I just…don't really like cellars.”

Koa
lifted a brow.

“You
see, in every horror movie I ever saw when I was a little boy, the cellar or
the basement was always where the monsters lived.” Ian’s shoulders slumped. “I
guess I'm the monster now.”

Koa’s
lips parted. She didn’t know how to respond to that. The comment was
heartbreaking when she thought about it. She shook it out of her head. She
couldn't bear to feel any guiltier than she already did.

She
nodded. “I understand. Just take a look. It’s not what you are imagining.”

Ian
grinned as he looked from the cellar to Koa. “This is a pretty old house. You
sure there aren’t any ghosts here?”

Koa
shook her head and chuckled. “I can assure you, there aren’t any ghosts.” Koa
was surprised to learn of Ian’s fears. She felt drawn closer to him. She had
her own fears. After everything she had been through, she was still afraid of
the dark. Koa wanted to protect Ian from such fears.

“Just
checking. With you, I can never be sure,” Ian joked.

“Trust
me.”

Ian
followed behind her. He kept talking and she could tell that he was trying to
not think about how afraid he was. “I'm not really sleepy. I guess I'll get
some homework done.”

Koa
paused on the stairs and looked back at him. Her face eyebrows furrowed.
“You're going to try to go back to school?”

He
gave her look. “What? I can't go back to school now?”

Koa
thought a moment. She shook her head. Even though she could walk in the sun,
Koa had never been to school. She’d been taught by her mother at home and later
by a tutor her father had hired to come to the manor. “I don't know how you're
going to do that. You cannot go out in the daytime. No vampire can.”

Ian
looked a little defeated. “Why can you go out in the daytime?”

Koa
shrugged. “I really don’t know why, Ian. No one knows for sure. I think it’s
because my mother was human.”

Ian
looked perplexed. “Your mother is a cat.”

“Cursed.
She was born a human.”

“If
you say so,” Ian said thinking. “I don’t buy it.”

Koa
frowned. No one had ever questioned her mother’s humanity, but something made
her bite her tongue. She almost argued with Ian that her mother had been human,
but then she paused.

How
could she be sure? Koa was certain that her mother had done something to those
vampires when she entered Bund’s lair. Bund had been afraid when he saw her,
even after all of his incessant taunting.

Bund
had been afraid.

“I
guess you're right.” He put his hands in his pocket, “I didn't realize how much
I would give up.”

Koa
stroked his cheek. She gave him an encouraging smile. “We will figure something
out,” she said with a smile. “Don't worry about it. Don't worry about anything
ever again. I'm going to teach you everything. You don't even really need
school anymore. You're a smart guy and now you're immortal.”

Ian
nodded. “You’re right. Now, come on.” He nodded for Koa to continue down the
stairs. “Show me this grand cellar that I'll be spending the night in.

Koa
walked down the stairs and entered a large room that covered pretty much the
entire expanse of the cottage. The walls are made of stone and the floors were
a dark concrete color. Koa could see what she could do with the room. She could
only hope that Ian could see it too.

There
were boxes still everywhere. She felt a little bad but it was only temporary.

There
was an antique sofa and a few tables strewn about. Koa hadn't quite set
anything up down there yet. Her books were still lying on a desk, waiting to be
put away on her bookcases.

She
played with her hair. She was a little embarrassed. She prided herself on her
cleanliness and preferred everything to be neat and in its place. She just
hadn’t the time with everything that had happened.

Ian
didn't seem to mind. He sat on the sofa and set his laptop on a table. He
leaned back and took a look around the cellar. “I admit, it’s not as dark down
here as I imagined. Still, a little creepy but I will survive. I don't think I
am going to sleep tonight well...this morning I mean.”

“Do
you want some company?” Koa didn't know if she could sleep either.

“I'm all right, thanks. You get some rest. From that wound you had earlier, it
looks like you had quite the night.  I am just going to do some research
on vampires.”

“Sure,
you do that, but I think I could tell you a lot more about vampires than what
you will find on the Internet.”

“I'm
sure you can, but I just want to do a little research myself, see what the
humans know and we can compare notes later.”

Koa
nodded. “You big nerd,” she teased.

Ian
beamed. “Thank you. I take that as a compliment.”

Koa
rolled her eyes and laughed. She started up the stairs. “I’ll come back for you
at sunset.”

“See
you then.”

She
went upstairs and closed the door behind her. The sun was rising and the house
was starting to brighten. She leaned against the door and Raven was waiting
there for her.

Koa
sighed and took a step towards her. She prepared herself for the scolding.

Raven
surprised her. “He’s a nice boy, Koa.”

Koa
was taken aback. She never expected that from her mother. She expected a major
scolding.

Raven
tilted her head. “I always knew you’d sire someone. I am surprised you didn’t
do it sooner.”

“How
did you always know that? I kill vampires.”

“I
can tell he’s a good person. Therefore he’ll make a good vampire.”

Koa
felt relieved.

“But
now you have yet one more person to worry about. For instance…Bund will be
seeking out revenge. Who do you think he will target if he can’t get one of
us?”

Koa
swallowed. She didn’t know what to say. She looked at the cellar door.

It
was her duty, to protect her family. Raven walked into the darkness of the den.
Koa looked up at the sky. She did something she rarely did anyone. She prayed.

Chapter 14

Strange
things happened at night. Koa was aware of most of them, but the Netherworld
was new to her. She knew she’d been there once before with her father, yet she
couldn’t remember it. The Netherworld remained a mystery to her, and she was
determined to unlock its secrets.

Koa
knew she was dreaming. It was the same dream most nights, and so she let
herself explore this world. She stood in a thick white mist and felt her hair
flapping around her face. Drops of dew made her face slick and her bare feet
touched cool stones.

She
looked up. Someone was playing a violin. She knew the tune and started to hum
along. The song grew louder and yet Koa couldn’t see who played the beautiful
melody. She strained to see who played from somewhere in the clouds above, and
then, she saw it.

The
Gate, where the nephilim were escaping the Netherworld. Koa stared at it with
wide eyes. She’d never gotten this far in the dream before. Now she looked at
the stone gate and felt her skin crawl with anxiety. She knew she shouldn’t be
there, and yet, she felt as though it called to her.

Koa
wanted to wake up. The violin was starting to play so loudly that she had to
cover her ears. Koa felt weak. The Gate started to glide closer to her and she
panicked. She couldn’t move. Her feet were stuck to the ground. Koa gasped and
tried to pull her feet free as the Gate continued its way towards her.

Something
terrible waited inside that door, and she wanted to run from it. She knew it
meant her harm and felt herself sweat with terror.

Shadows,
like the ones Halston had managed to control, lunged at her. They grabbed her
with their frigid hands and yet her skinned burned to the bone. Koa screamed.
The hot, searing, pain was unbearable and she fell to her knees. The Shadows
held her steady, and she squeezed her eyes shut as they brought their faces
closer to hers.

“Come
with us, Koa.” They chanted. One of the Shadows leaned in close. The black face
morphed into Bund’s. Bund grinned at her. His tongue reached out to her and she
screamed.

Someone
shook her awake.

Koa
grabbed Ian by the neck and he had to peel her fingers from around his throat.

“Koa,”
he gasped. He looked at her fearfully. “It’s me!”

Koa
realized who he was and quickly scrambled away. She was covered in sweat. “Ian!
I’m sorry.”

Ian
sat up and rubbed his neck. “You’re strong!”

Koa
forced a smile. “Forgive me. I was dreaming.”

He
frowned but nodded. “You were screaming.”

Koa
pulled her hair off her neck and grumbled at how heavy with sweat it was. She
pushed herself up to her feet and sat on the edge of the bed. “What time is
it?”

Ian
put his hands in his pocket. He gave her a sheepish look. “I think it’s time to
eat.”

Koa
came to her feet. “Oh shit! Yes. Our appointment is tonight!”

Ian
didn’t budge. “Appointment?”

Koa
quickly pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it to her hamper in the
corner of the room. She darted into the bathroom to heat the shower. Ian
avoided looking directly at her exposed body and turned away.

What
a gentleman, she thought. She stood in the bathroom
doorway.

“We
choose our pets tonight, at Wryn Castle.”

Ian
perked up then. “I get my own? Like I was to you? A pet?”

Koa
nodded. “Exactly.”

“Whoever
I want?”

“Whoever
you want.”

Ian
grinned and Koa smiled as she hopped into the shower. Once she closed the shower
curtain, her smile faded. The fear from her dream still lingered. After all of
those years of having the same dream of the mists and the violin, she’d never
seen the Gate or the Shadows that waited for her inside of it.

Koa
washed her hair and tried to forget the pain she felt when they touched her.
The hot water ran down her body, and she closed her eyes. If only she could
talk to Halston about things. She covered her face and sighed. She missed him
so much that she felt physically pain.

She
hurried and finished her shower to see that Ian had decided to wait outside.
Koa didn’t mind him seeing her nude. They’d have an eternity together, such
things were trivial now.

She
was surprised to see Raven waiting for her on her bed.

Her
big green eyes looked up at Koa.

“This
is a nice little house, Koa,” Raven said.

“Perhaps.”
Koa sighed and continued getting ready. “It is a bit small.”

“It
is only the three of us now that you’ve increased our family,” Raven pointed
out and Koa couldn’t help but smile. “We don’t need a massive house with dozens
of rooms. Never did.”

“It
reminds me too much of our old house in Korea.”

Raven
didn’t say anything.

“I’m
sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up!”

Raven
purred. “It’s all right. I was just trying to remember it. It gets harder to
remember things. Every day, I lose a memory.”

Koa
had many memories that she feared she’d forget as well. The sound of her mother
playing the piano for her father still lingered in her mind. She’d give
anything to hear her mother’s music again. There was a time when Raven would
cook for her, every night. She let out a soft sigh. She missed those days. She
grabbed her gloves.

“Going
somewhere, darling?”

“Yes.
I need to go and choose a new pet. Ian must do the same. Want to come?”

Raven
blinked. “I don’t think so. Why were you screaming anyway?”

Koa
turned away and fumbled with her wardrobe. “You heard me?”

“Yes,
the entire village heard you, Koa.”

Koa
shook her head. “It was just a bad dream.”

“You’ve
been having those ‘bad dreams’ a lot more often, lately.”

“Well,
consider all that I’ve been through in just the past month! Who wouldn’t be a
little traumatized?”

“Was
it about the Netherworld again?”

Koa
sighed and nodded. She lowered her eyes and stared at her feet. The last thing
she wanted to do was worry her mother. Raven was intuitive though. Koa could
never keep anything from her. Even when Koa was a child, Raven always knew when
something was wrong.

“Don’t
drag the boy into this.”

Koa’s
brows furrowed. “Into what?”

Raven
was silent and Koa grew suspicious.

Koa
huffed. “Fine. Be vague. I was just trying to have a real talk with you. I’m
sick of all of the secrets. I’m leaving.”

“Wait.”

Koa
paused and glanced over her shoulder with a frown. “What?”

Raven
sat up and looked at her for a moment. “There’s something I need to tell you,
Koa.”

Koa’s
eyebrows lifted. She knew that finally, her mother was going to reveal whatever
secret she’d been keeping. She felt nervous and excited.

Raven
nodded to the door that was open just a crack. Ian waited outside.

“Close
the door.”

Koa
did so and sat down on the chaise lounge in the corner of the room. She folded
her hands across her knee and sat up straight, like an apt pupil prepared for
the lesson of a lifetime.

Raven
took her time. Koa could tell that she was thinking of how to say what was on
her mind.

“Koa,
the first thing you should know…is your father wasn’t just another vampire. He
was a Netherworld vamp. He was a king.”

Koa
slumped back in her seat and watched her mother with wide eyes. She felt her
palms start to sweat and rubbed them on her knees. Her throat was dry. This was
one thing, she never expected to hear. Maybe she was suspicious that her father
was a Netherworld vamp, because of the Lyrinian sword he left her, but she
could never have guessed that he was a king.

“He
was king of the Northern dominance, a major kingdom in the Netherworld, and was
overthrown by King Greggan. He lost his kingdom and was banished to the mortal
world.”

“Wow,”
Koa said as she sat back up. She couldn’t think of what else to say. All she
knew of him was the difficult life without him and a privileged life with him.
Still, although her time with him was short lived, she had grown to love and
respect him. She remembered how much he loved her mother. That was a memory
that stood at the forefront of her mind.

“That
makes you not just half vampire, but half Netherworld vamp. You have one of the
strongest strains of blood running through your veins.”

Koa
sat up. “Is that why I can fly, and other vampires cannot?”

Raven
shook her head. “No, Koa. Not even Netherworld vamps can fly. That brings me to
…your other half.”

Koa
tensed. She narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?” Koa stared at Raven, and all
she could see were those green eyes that had glowed so bright in Bund’s lair.
Her skin started to crawl. The air in the room seemed to still with the
anticipation she felt.

What
are you, mother? What are you? Koa was almost
too afraid to know…but she had too.

“Before
I was cursed…” Raven took a deep breath. “I wasn’t human.”

Koa
stood. She looked down at Raven in astonishment. She couldn’t even speak the
words she was thinking. Her throat tightened.

What
are you? Koa shouted in her head. The suspense was
maddening.

“I
don’t know what I was, Koa. But your father did, and so did Greggan, and that
is why he wants us both. We are the only beings that can mate with a vampire
and create day walking spawn.”

Koa’s
shoulders slumped. She grimaced. “That’s what he wants? What the hell are we?”

Raven
shook her small head. Her feline eyes closed and she sighed. “I wish I knew. I
was an orphan. I was abandoned, Koa. I never had a mother or father. All I had
was myself and my talents…” her voice cracked. “And I lived a hard life before
I met your father. It was even harder when you were born, with no one to turn
to for help, but you gave me a reason to live.”

Koa
bit her lip. She had never heard her mother speak so bitterly about her past.
She never knew her mother was an orphan.

“Who
was Hayan then? I always called her grandmother.”

Raven
sighed. “All of the children did, Koa. She was a kind woman, and she helped me
from time to time. She knew there was something special about me. I returned
her generosity whenever I could.”

Koa
felt cheated. She never even had real grandparents.

“You
see, I could do things that no one else could. I could…make people disappear.
Bill collectors, enemies,” Raven cleared her throat. “Abusive husbands…”

“Why
tell me all of this now, Mother?”

Raven
hissed. “How many times do I have to tell you? Do not call me that, ever
again!”

Koa’s
eyes widened at her mother’s tone. She looked down at the wooden floor.

“Not
even in private.” Raven settled and lowered her voice. She closed her eyes and
breathed deep. “You never know who is listening.”

“I’m
sorry.” Koa reached for her. “What are you so afraid of?”

“Koa,
you don’t understand what I’ve done to protect you. There are so many creatures
that want you dead, and then, there are those that wish to see you brought back
for your birthright.”

Koa
folded her arms across her chest and walked to the window. Her mother could
make people disappear. She thought of how Bund fled when he saw her mother. She
wondered what that meant. She wondered if he was still out there somewhere,
ready for revenge. Then she thought about what an amazing skill that was. She
began to smile. My mother is a nephilim…

“There
goes every shred of my humanity.” Koa whispered and her smile faded.

Koa
pulled the heavy drapes open and looked out into the darkness. She glanced over
at the neighbor’s garden a few yards away. She could see lights and candles set
up as they had a party of some sort. She could even hear the music playing and
the people laughing and talking. She stared out at them and pressed her
forehead to the cool glass. She sighed as she watched the happy people.

They
looked so content. She wished she could feel even a fraction of that kind of
happiness.

“What
am I supposed to do?”

“Find
Jax.”

Koa
swirled around. Something sparked inside her mind, but she couldn’t decipher
what it was. There was something familiar about the name, Jax. Something
ignited both a longing and a fear within her. She felt uncomfortable. She
shifted her weight onto her other leg and looked down at her mother.

She
frowned. “Where have I heard that name?”

Raven
stared at her. There was a long pause and Koa frowned.

“What
is it?”

Raven
shook her head. “Nothing.” She hopped off the bed and walked over on all fours
to stand before Koa. “I don’t know why you would have heard that name.”

Koa
looked at the ceiling and tapped her chin with her index finger. The name
sounded so familiar, but she couldn’t place it. She hated that.

“Who
is he then?”

Raven
hesitated. “He is Greggan’s son.”

Koa
watched Raven. She could tell that there was more. She gave Raven a look and
held her hands out, expecting her to elaborate.

Raven
remained silent. She was still keeping secrets.

Koa
pulled her hair and slammed her hands on her thighs in exasperation. “Out with
it!”

Raven
glared up at her. “He is the one responsible for my curse.”

Chapter 15

Koa
drove all the way to Wryn Castle in silence. Ian tried to start a conversation
but she could only give him short, one-worded answers. There was too much going
on inside her head.

Jax.
The name repeated itself in her head a thousand times throughout that long
ride. Her face was set with anger and her hands clutched the steering wheel so
tightly that the leather grooves were engrained in her palms by the time they
stopped. She looked down at her reddened hands and traced the grooves.

Ian
stared at her.

“Koa?”
He spoke in a timid voice, as if he was afraid that she might lash out on him.

Koa
turned to him and gave him a blank expression. Ian looked afraid of her. She
didn’t care. He got out of the car and started to walk up the long stone
pathway that led to the castle’s entrance without her. He glanced back once and
Koa was still staring off at nothing at all, with a scowl on her face.

Jax
had cursed her mother. For years Koa had missed her mother’s face. She had
craved her mother’s embrace for so long that she had forgotten what it felt
like, what she used to smell like, and how she used to stroke her hair.

Koa
slammed her fist on the steering wheel and screamed. Her breath came in quick gasps
as she tried to control her rage. She wanted him dead. Koa wanted her Lyrinian
sword to feast on his blood. She repeated Raven’s words over and over again.

“Do
not be hasty. Jax is Greggan’s son. He is a Netherworld vamp and faster than
anyone you’ve ever encountered,” Raven had said. “Still, you must go to him.”

Koa
had asked many questions, and still, Raven only told her that she must go to
him, and she must learn for herself the secrets of her past. Only Koa could
find a way to break the curse and set things right with both the Netherworld
and the mortal world. Koa leaned her head back against the headrest. Even Raven
knew Koa had to go to the Netherworld. Raven had even tried to convince Halston
that it was necessary. Halston would never let her go. He would never risk it.

Koa
wasn’t sure how dangerous the Netherworld was, but Halston’s reluctance was an
indicator. She frowned. She didn’t need his approval. Halston had abandoned
her. She needed to start making her own decisions.

Koa
frowned. She hated to admit that was the reason he had left her in the first
place…for making her own decisions.

She
opened the door, stepped out, and slammed it closed. She lifted herself into
the air and flew to the tall, black, doorways that led into the castle.

Two
guards with suits and slicked back hair opened the double doors for her without
a second glance. Koa was a regular. She dared anyone to stand in her way on
this night. Inside, she had no smiles for anyone.

Greta,
one of Lexi’s sires, and main girlfriend, started to greet her. She saw the
scowl on Koa’s face and decided to keep her mouth shut. Greta stepped back
behind the mahogany podium and nodded to the side hallway. Koa didn’t even have
the desire to acknowledge her. She walked through the black archway and into
the dimly lit corridor. Black candles lined the paneled walls.

Koa
walked along the red carpet that lead to the end of the hall, and parlor. Koa
smelled the heavy scent of perfume, cologne, and alcohol. There were fresh
humans awaiting. They were probably nervous to find a vampire master.

She
took off her gloves and stretched her fingers. She was amped and ready to hurt
someone. Only blood would calm her down. If she couldn’t kill anyone tonight,
she would stick to the plan and choose a new pet, and drink as much as she
could without stealing a life.

There
were guards at each door that led to a public room. They opened the door to the
parlor and she stepped inside. Music thumped and vibrated the floor. She
snatched a flute of champagne from a server and downed it. The server gave her
an odd look as she put the empty glass back on the tray. She ignored him.

Koa
shut her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of the music vibrating the floor. She
wanted to feel anything but the hot, burning rage that pulsed throughout her
entire body.

The
DJ spun techno tracks and she let her head fall back as the music filled her.
She smelled blood all around and found herself getting hungry and aroused. Her
canines emerged and she licked them.

Koa
waited until a particular scent caught her interest. She sniffed the air and
her head lolled to the right. She opened her eyes and caught sight of the girl
that emitted the delicious aroma. She was small, like Koa, and had a short
blonde bob. She wore a gold cocktail dress and ballet flats. She smelled
delicious.

Everything
about her was petite, her waist, and her small nose. Koa took two strides over
to her and grabbed her by that tiny waist.

Koa
kissed her. It was a passionate kiss that made Koa’s ears grow hot and her
heart thump. When she broke away, she felt dizzy. Koa didn’t let the girl’s
tiny waist go. She held her steady as she swooned and looked up at her with
bright blue eyes.

Koa
always had a thing for blue eyes. She didn’t smile at her. She couldn’t even
fake one. Koa gazed into the girl’s eyes and in an instant, the girl was
claimed. She would reveal everything Koa wanted without hesitation.

“What’s
your name?”

“Lindley,”
she breathed.

“How
old are you?”

“Twenty-two.”
She had an accent, like one of those girls from the south in the states. Koa
sure could pick them. She never knew she had such a taste for American’s.

“Why
are you here tonight?” Koa had no idea what she was unleashing.

“My
friends said it’s the most exclusive place in Europe.” Lindley lowered her
voice as if she was going to tell Koa a secret. “Ann said that there were
vampires here. Wait…are you a vampire? You kind of look like one…kind of pale.
But pretty! You’re so pretty. I could just lick your face, you’re so cute! You
know, I never even knew about vampires until I met Ann? I love you guys though.
Hey, I want to be a pet. I want a vampire to protect and support me, and buy me
nice things. I hear some even let pets live with them, like mistresses. I don’t
mind being a mistress.”

Koa
stopped listening or caring. She had a feeling that the girl could go on…and
on. She lowered her head to Lindley’s throat and breathed her sweet scent in.
It was nearly as good as Ian’s and even a little dirtier. This girl wasn’t as
innocent as Ian. Perhaps that was a good thing. She wanted something different.
She’d never had a girl pet. Koa wanted to be daring. Lindley was hers.

It
was official, and Lexi smiled the moment she saw them together. She shook her
head with a satisfied grin and logged the transaction in her little palm
device.

Lindley
was still staring into Koa’s eyes with an empty headed, slack jawed, look. Koa
gave her one more, soft, kiss on her full, pink, lips and moved her hand from
her waist to her small hand. Koa pulled Lindley along and started for the door.
She saw Ian standing with a stunning brunette, a glass of champagne, and a
newfound confidence.

Ian
watched Koa and gave a half-smile as if asking for her approval. He looked from
the brunette and back to Koa. Koa gave him a slight nod and left the parlor.
The second the guards closed the doors behind her and Lindley, it was silent in
the corridor once more.

Jax.
Jax. Jax.

Koa
couldn’t get his name out of her head. Lindley followed her without a word and
all Koa could do was imagine this grotesque creature damming her mother into
that feline body that she had been forced to live in. She hated all Netherworld
vamps. She would get her revenge.

They
went up the elevator and to her usual room, and Koa closed the door behind
them.

Chapter 16

Halston
sat on a wooden bench at a park. He watched the people walking by. There was
soft music playing in the background as a young man played the guitar for a
group of teenage girls.

Halston
leaned against the benches back and drank from a bottle of water. It was a rare
sunny day. He held something in his hand. A small gold bracelet.

Halston
sighed as he looked down at the bracelet. Charms dangled from it. A train, a
star, and a horse. There was a name etched into the inside.

Galena.

Halston
felt a pain fill his body every time he read the name. The bracelet had been
given to Galena by her parents before they were killed by vampires. Halston had
taken it from her dead body that very morning.

He’d
never felt this way before. His heart beat rapidly. He could barely control his
breaths. Halston was always in control. Now, everything was falling apart. A
woman he had promised to protect was dead, and another whom he had grown to
love hadn’t returned to her house in weeks.

How
could I let this happen? Halston had been asking himself
that very question all day. The guilt was too strong. He hadn’t shaved, or
showered. He still wore what he had worn on his mission the night before. He
was glad that he hadn’t had to shed any blood. He had found a newly emerged
pack of vampires and convinced them to register with the Netherworld division.
They would now be monitored and set up with a clan of ‘reformed’ vampires.

Halston
missed having Koa with him on such missions. She took more pleasure in
reforming vampires than she did in killing them. That was what he loved about
her more than anything. She had a good heart.

Another
pang of guilt filled his heart and he groaned. He thought about the look on
Koa’s face when he fired her every day. That had been four weeks ago. He hadn’t
seen or heard from her since.

Raven
informed him that she had went to Wryn Castle and he had went straight there.
He didn’t come in, but he had seen her step out onto her balcony one evening.
He left then, assured that she was safe, but not before watching her stare out
into the horizon as if yearning for something.

Halston
imagined that she was calling for him. All he wanted was an apology…an
indication that she knew that what she had did was wrong. He wanted her to mean
it and finally learn from her mistakes. He wanted her to grow up and take
responsibilities for her actions.

Halston’s
hand shook as he put Galena’s bracelet back in his pocket. Bund was loose, and
he was on a vengeful killing spree. Halston had investigated at least fifty
murders of little girls within the last month. The poor bodies had been nailed
to the doors of their homes so that the parents would see them the moment they
returned home. The humans were in a hysterical frenzy.

“Serial
Killer! On The Loose!” Those words were on every newspaper in London. The
humans that knew of nephilim existence were looking to the Netherworld division
for answers. Halston and the others didn’t know what to say. They couldn’t stop
Bund.

Halston
winced. He knew who could.

Raven
sat beside him, waiting for him to speak. Halston was grateful for her
patience.

Halston
held up a newspaper and folded one leg over the other so that his shoe rested
on his other knee. He didn’t look at the black cat. He looked at the paper and
spoke. “It’s time. Are you ready?”

Raven
nodded. “I am. I’ve told you before that I’ve been ready. Do you finally think
Koa is?”

Halston
felt a pain in his stomach. He didn’t like these new sensations. He missed Koa.
He missed Galena. The thirst for revenge was too strong. He could not afford to
allow himself to lose control.

Halston
grimaced. “I can no longer wait for her to be ready. We’ve wasted enough time.”

“And
who is to blame for that?” Raven asked. She looked over at a little girl who
came to pet her. The little girl grinned at Raven.

“Is
this your cat?”

Halston
forced a smile. She was an adorable little brunette with a big blue bow in her
hair. Maybe eight years old. Halston’s face paled as he imagined her body being
nailed to the door of her house. He tried to keep the smile. He didn’t want to
frighten the girl.

“It
is,” Halston said. He leaned forward and picked a fallen twig out of the girl’s
hair.

She
smiled at him and adjusted her little black glasses. “What’s her name?”

“Raven.”

Raven
meowed and rubbed her head into the girl’s palm. The little girl giggled.

“Nice
to meet you, Raven,” she said in a sweet little voice. “I’m Rebecca.”

Halston
looked around the park. There were so many people around. “Where are your
parents, Rebecca?”

She
pointed over to a picnic blanket set out on the large green yard. There were
dozens of other picnic blankets set all around. It was the first lovely day in
a long time.

Halston
nodded. “Good.” He motioned her closer with his index finger. His eyes met hers.
“Promise me something.”

The
girl’s eyes widened as she looked into Halston’s. She nodded as her smile
faded.

Halston’s
voice lowered into a whisper. “Stay with your parents, Rebecca. Keep away from
strangers. Even if they seem nice…never leave with a stranger. Can you
do that for me?”

Rebecca
didn’t blink. She nodded slowly with her mouth agape.

Halston
sat back and Rebecca stared at him for a second. Her lips trembled and she ran
away towards her parent’s picnic blanket.

Halston
watched her run away. He hoped his chance encounter with Rebecca would keep her
safe from Bund’s treachery.

“I
think you frightened the poor girl.” Raven lowered her head to the wooden bench
seat.

Halston
remained silent. He hoped he’d frightened her. That was the point.

He
frowned at the words he read in the paper. There were copycat killers out there
already. Sloppy humans who wanted a piece of the fame Bund was receiving in
secret. “It’s my fault that we’ve wasted so much time. I’ve let enough people
die.”

Raven
sighed. “I didn’t mean to make you feel guilty. Bund is the killer here. Let’s
move past that and focus on the issue at hand. We need to stop him. He
should be our main priority right now. We can go after Greggan later. Bund
isn’t only working for pay. This is personal to him.”

Halston
closed the paper and looked at the sky. There was something he hoped to hear,
or see. A sign maybe.

Halston
closed his eyes and sighed. There would be no more signs. Galena’s body nailed
to his door this morning was enough. He would never be able to erase the image
of Galena nailed to his door by her wrists and feet. Her eyes had been pulled
out of her head and replaced with silver buttons. Her mouth had been sewn shut.
Worst of all, from the neck down, her skin had been ripped from her body.

Halston
swallowed. His stomach still felt unsettled. He didn’t think he’d be able to
eat for a while. Halston had almost cried when he pulled Galena’s body down. He
would have, if the rage hadn’t taken over. Halston had almost went over the
edge. He had almost lost himself.

“Will
you go get her then?” Raven spoke quietly.

Halston
looked at her. He pictured Koa’s little face with her big, green, eyes looking
up at him. He missed cupping her face in his hands.

He
missed her scent, humor, and bravery. He missed her smile. The way her eyes
crinkled at the corners when she was genuinely happy made him almost smile. He
believed that was her gift to him. Koa rarely smiled like that for anyone else.

Halston
sat up straight. He watched Rebecca sitting in between her parents. She was
staring at him. “No. She will come to me.”

Raven
made a face. “How are you so sure?”

Halston
sat back and watched a couple standing near the fence surrounding a pond. They
held hands and pointed to the geese.

“I
just know.”

Chapter 17

Koa
was drunk on Lindley’s blood. She had stayed in the Wryn castle for a month and
learned everything there was to know about her new pet. Lindley was asleep and
holding onto Koa like a child holding onto a Teddy bear. Koa didn’t mind. She
enjoyed being held. Lindley smelled like vanilla and sex.

Koa
hadn’t had sex with the girl. Lindley just had this seductive scent about her
that Koa was sure drove the men mad. She only drank from her, though. Somehow,
the thought of Halston’s disapproval still bothered her.

She
looked up at the ceiling and frowned. Koa shouldn’t care anymore. She refused
to. She played with Lindley’s short hair. It was soft and silky, and fell
between Koa’s fingers with ease.

I
don’t want Lindley in that way anyway, Koa reasoned. There
was only one man she wanted and she would save herself for him.

Koa
sighed and glanced down at her. She smiled. She had made a good choice. Her
pent up aggression had been somewhat relieved by her feeding. Now she would
just have to get back on a schedule. She’d had so much human blood lately that
she felt a little anxious. She hadn’t felt this strong in a long time. She was
afraid of what damage she could do.

Koa’s
eyes widened. She gently moved Lindley’s sleeping body aside and came to her
feet. She stretched her arms and rolled her neck. She felt powerful.

“What
better time than now to visit the Netherworld?” Koa spoke the word and her
heart started to race. The adrenaline pulsed through her at an alarming rate.
She was ready. She wanted to go, and no one could stop her. She hurried and
grabbed her things. She put on her gloves and grabbed her sword. Koa paused and
looked at the phone that sat on the sleek, black, nightstand.

Koa
knew what she had to do. Raven had known it, too. Koa picked up the phone and
called Halston.

She
held her breath as the phone started to ring. It rang twice. “Koa?” He yawned.
“Is that you, Koa?”

Koa
mustered her strength. “Yes. It’s me.”

“It’s
three in the morning.” His voice perked up. “Are you all right?”

“I’m
fine, Halston.” Koa bit the corner of her lip. She felt her heart beating and
her palms sweating. “I miss you.”

Silence.

“Hello?”
Koa panicked. I knew this was a bad idea! She thought.

“I
miss you too, Koa. Where have you been?”

“Wryn.”

“With
Ian.”

Koa
walked over to the balcony and stepped out into the night. “Yes. I sired him.”

“I
knew that would happen.”

Koa
smiled. Same old Halston. “Of course you knew, Halston. You know
everything.”

“How
does he like being a vampire?”

“He
loves it. He gets along with my new pet,” Koa hesitated. “Her name is Lindley.”

Halston
cleared his throat. “I see.” He didn’t sound thrilled.

“Halston,”
Koa said as she looked across the rolling hills towards the lake. “I need you.”

“What
is it, Koa? What happened?”

Koa
held onto the stone balcony and closed her eyes. She had to be brave. “I am
going to the Netherworld, and I need you to come with me.” She stuttered. “I
want you to come with me.”

Halston
surprised her. “Are you sure that you’re ready?”

Koa
felt her eyes water. “I am. I promise, I am ready.” She closed the French doors
to the balcony and sat on the cold stone floor. “I forgive you.”

“Forgive
me?” Halston asked. He sounded amused.

Koa
sighed. “Yes. I was angry with you for firing me…so angry that I almost killed
Ian.” She squeezed her eyes closed. She’d never forget how horrible she’d felt
when she thought that he was dead. She’d spent the month teaching him just as
much as she spent feeding and learning about Lindley.

“Go
on.”

She
growled in exasperation. “I get it, Halston! You taught me a lesson! There!
Happy?”

Halston
chuckled.

Koa
pouted. Her brows drew in and she frowned. “It’s not funny!”

He
continued to chuckle. “I know. I can’t help it. You just said exactly what I
wanted to hear.”

Koa’s
frowned deepened. “Well, this is not the appropriate time to be laughing.”

Halston
cleared his throat. “Right. Go on. You were talking about…learning lessons and
so forth?”

Koa
leaned against the French doors. She looked up at the moon. “Yes. I can be a
little…headstrong sometimes.”

“Headstrong,
you say?”

Koa
rolled her eyes. “Yes. You heard me.”

“I
see.”

“I
used to follow my own rules and look at where it got me. Nearly torn to bits by
a demon, and I nearly killed a good friend.” Koa played with the ends of her
blue hair. She twirled a lock around her finger. “I just want a piece of my
memory back. I want to break my mother’s curse, and kill Bund. These are the
things that make me lose myself. Whenever I want something, you know, I’ll do
anything to get it…and that’s not always right. I realize that I cannot do this
on my own.” Koa closed her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“For?”

Koa
shook her head. She had to bite her lip. Halston was dragging this apology out.
She slowly let out a breath. “For not listening to you,” she muttered.

Silence.
Koa expected him to laugh.

“Koa,
I believe you.”

Koa
was a little stunned. Her eyes burned with tears.

“Together,
we can do this.”

Koa
smiled and wiped a tear. “Thank you, Halston.”

“But
I must warn you…It’s not going to be easy. There are so many that want you dead
and I am not as strong as I used to be. But you have my vow that I will protect
you with all the power that I have.”

Koa
nodded. “I know. Thank you, Halston.” Koa opened the door and glanced at her
sleeping pet. Lindley had given her more than she knew. She could feel herself
radiating with newfound strength.

“Let’s
do this.”

“Now?”

Koa
grinned. She had her Halston back. She was more ready than ever. “Right now.”

Chapter 18

The
Gate to the Netherworld started at the center of a craggy pit and reached up
towards the heavens. It sat in the deepest part of the hidden forest, where
humans would never venture. The Gate was invisible to humans. To them, there
was nothing but a mountain. Thick evergreen vines wrapped around the base of
the mountain.

Koa
touched the cool vine. It trembled and coiled away from her. An outline of a
door stretched along the stone and revealed itself to her. Koa took a long
breath of the cool air.

This
is it, Koa thought as she breathed in the scent of coal. I
am actually going to the Netherworld. She almost felt giddy with
excitement. She had butterflies in her stomach. She’d dreamt of this day.

Koa
stepped through the wall and there stood Halston. She couldn’t suppress her
smile. She beamed at him and glanced back just in time to see the wall vanish
behind her. She reached out and it reappeared. Koa pulled her hand back and it
vanished again. She shivered and rubbed her arms as she turned back towards
Halston.

He
was dressed in black and wore a grim look on his pale face. No well-tailored
suit, or chic fedora and expensive shoes like she was used to: plain pants,
shirt, and jacket. She knew that his long jacket only served to cover up his
infinity shotgun.

Koa
felt her excitement grow. She hadn’t seen him fire that glorious weapon in
ages. There was nothing sexier than when he was like this. This morning,
Halston was all business. His hair was so blonde that it was nearly white.
Illuminated by the moonlight, Halston looked like a god.

“Ready?”
Halston asked.

She
gave a single nod. Her face was set. She would not turn away if she could help
it.

“I
understand you’ve always wanted to find out what happened to you when you were
a child, but Koa, I am not sure you want to know. I’ve been protecting you all
of these years. I just didn’t want to see you hurt.”

Koa’s
lips parted. She stepped before Halston and looked up at him. He avoided her eyes.
Koa could feel it. Halston cared about her. She almost squealed with joy. She
contained her excitement and the desire to reach up and kiss him. He might even
love her. She looked at her feet.

“No
matter how painful the truth is,” she said. “I think it’s time I know. I want
my memories back. My teenage years practically don’t exist!”

She
thought of the black hole that was her younger years from age twelve to
seventeen. Koa knew something horrible had happened, and whenever she tried to
grasp those memories, she felt an overwhelming nausea. Koa felt that nausea
now. She swallowed and tried to force it to go away.

“I
want my mother back, and this Jax-” she paused when Halston winced at the name.
Koa frowned.

That’s
very strange, she thought.  She continued. “This
Jax person is who can give me these things. I just want to help my mother and
protect the mortal world.”

There
was a long pause and finally Halston’s gaze met hers. She finally saw a hint of
that smile she loved. He nodded. “Finally. I think you are actually ready.” He
started ahead.

A
mixture of emotions flooded Koa. She thumbed the hilt of her sword for courage.
She couldn’t start doubting herself now, not after she had convinced Halston
that she was ready for this. She took a deep breath and followed him.

Koa
and Halston walked over the jagged rocks to the base of the gate. They were
surrounded by a thick, white mist that swirled around their feet, hiding the
ground. Blue strands of hair swept around Koa’s face. She pulled her hair back
and wrapped a band from her wrist around it, making a long ponytail that
reached the small crevice at the base of her back.

The
setting, and even how the moved towards the Gate, felt familiar to Koa. The sky
was a mixture of gray and white. She walked along the black soil and gazed up
at the imposing black structure that stood before her. The Gate itself was a
metallic structure with bars and webs of fiery tendrils laced in intricate
patterns along the door.

Black
trees lined the path to the Gate. Koa marveled at the fiery totems that reached
towards the heavens. There were symbols that Koa didn’t recognize and paintings
engraved in the smooth, dark, wood.

Koa
was captivated by the way the paintings seemed to come to life whenever she
passed one of the totems. The figures followed her with their black eyes and
pointed to her.

Koa’s
ears perked up. She heard whispering. She tilted her head and listened.

Someone
played a violin. The soft melody was soothing. Whoever played it was a master
violinist. The tune evoked emotions in Koa that left her in tears. She
shuddered, confused by her wet cheeks. She realized immediately that the tune
from her dreams was real. She’d dreamt of this very song for years. She hummed
along to it.

As
they walked closer, the song grew louder and vibrated against her very soul.
Once Halston stopped, Koa was in tears. She couldn’t explain why, but warm, wet
tears soaked her cold cheeks.

She
held her breath. Koa was stunned by her reaction. Halston glanced over his
shoulder at her. His icy blue stare seemed even more ethereal in the
intensified light of the moon above them. He looked concerned.

“We
are going on a journey to a place where most of the population would love to
see you dead,” Halston said. “Granted there is a small portion that would love
to see you placed on your father’s throne, but it would be more like a prison
for you. Koa, do not be fooled by the things you are about to see. This is not
a place of beauty. This is not a place of love. You forget that, and you will
be a prisoner here. Or worse, you will die. Now, stay close.”

Koa
nodded and he reached for her. She remembered when she was twelve. Her father
had given her the same warning. She had no idea that this place that gave her
nightmares had once been her father’s home. He was a king and had been exiled.
Her father had held his hand out to her as well.

Koa
gratefully accepted Halston’s hand and he curled his fingers in between hers.
She instantly felt more at ease. She breathed a breath of relief. That relief
didn’t last long.

A
whistling sound swept through the valley. Out of the mists of the sky, a man
landed with a soft thud. He stood. He was tall. He was even taller than Halston
who was considered abnormal by human standards. His long legs and long arms were
thin, as was his entire body. His long black hair was straight and reached the
middle of his back. His eyes were too big to be human. His mouth was wide, with
thin rubbery lips.

Koa
gasped. He held a violin. He brought it up under his chin and Koa was
transfixed the moment he resumed his song. The tune was jarring on her mind,
weakening her. She clutched Halston.

“Halston.
What’s happening?”

She
was losing herself. Koa was afraid that she might pass out. Halston stopped
walking and held her up.

“Make
it stop!”

Koa
was breathless. Cold wind slapped at her face as the mists swirled around her,
dancing to the tune. The song made her feel as if her bones were cracking under
a heavy weight. Her heart was breaking. Koa wanted to fall to her knees and
weep with sorrow and pain.

Koa
grabbed her chest and gasped. Her heart was beating too strongly. She could
feel it beating on her rib cage. Such a feeling frightened her. She gripped her
shirt and winced.

The
man’s grin widened as he stepped closer to her. He wanted her, only her.
Halston didn’t seem to exist.

Koa
felt as if her soul was being ripped from her body. She almost cried out in
surrender when Halston brought up his other hand and grabbed the man by his
neck. The man seemed stunned. He squealed and before her eyes, his body shrank.
He shrank, smaller, and smaller, until he was even smaller than Koa.

His
skin hung loose from being stretched and his hair seeped into his head until he
was bald. Grotesque scabs and patches of crust covered his scalp. His skin was
a sickly green and dry like a lizard’s in the desert.

Koa’s
eyes narrowed. She couldn’t believe it. He had been an illusion. The man was no
taller than a child.

“What…who’s there?”

Koa
looked at Halston in disbelief. The man couldn’t see him. His eyes darted all
around as he searched for whoever held him by his neck.

Halston’s
body started to glow. Koa gasped and stepped back as heat radiated from
Halston’s body. Discs of light as bright as the sun encircled Halston like
crisscrossing hula hoops. Koa shielded her eyes and took another step away from
him. The heat of his shield warmed her face. It was almost too much to behold.

Finally,
the man saw Halston. The look of shock on the man’s face was appalling. His
eyes widened until they appeared to be too big for his face. He started to
tremble and dropped his violin. He dribbled drool and started stuttering
incoherent apologies.

“It
can’t be,” he sputtered. “What are you doing here?”

Halston
brought the man closer to his face.  The man squealed as Halston’s glow
started to make his skin sizzle. “Tunes, open the gate, or I break your neck.”

Koa
felt chills run up her spine at Halston’s change of voice. He sounded
dangerous. His voice lowered to a deep, grating, tone that made her shudder.
She was almost too afraid to stand by when Halston was in this state. Right
now, he wasn’t a friend, or a boss. Right now…he was much more. He was what he
hid from the world. Halston was his true self.

“Master,”
Tunes said in disbelief. He nodded and Halston set him back on his feet. He
bowed low and backed away from the oppressive heat.

Koa
stared at Halston, with her jaw hanging. Now she knew what it meant…to be an
angel.

Tunes
ran a hand across his burned and blackened face. When he rubbed it once, the
skin smoothed and appeared much younger than it had before. He ran over to the
gate.  “Master, I wasn’t expecting you back so soon. My apologies.” He
kept bowing as he made his way over to the Gate. His back was curved like that
of a hunchback. He used his violin’s bow as a key.

A
loud lock clanked and the Gates pushed outward to open the path into the
Netherworld. A swift wind blew by them and Koa shivered at the howling she
heard it carry. Tunes bowed his head to Halston and peered at Koa. He blinked
and his eyes changed. He looked at her with only sockets for eyes.

“Koa,”
Halston warned. “Stop looking at him. He’s toying with you.”

Koa
grimaced as she noticed that he didn’t have any eyeballs, just hollow holes that
looked wet with a thick inky substance. He blinked again and his eyes returned,
more bulbous this time. She winced.

“They’ve
been waiting for you,” Tunes whispered.  He grinned at her. He had too
many teeth to fit in his rancid mouth. His foul breath wafted to her nostrils.
He smelled as though he had just feasted on raw fish and rotten eggs.

Koa
looked away in disgust. She looked inside the Gate at the narrow path. All that
she could see was a world of darkness and she could already feel the bitter cold.
Her heart thumped as she followed Halston into what appeared to be a cave. She
wished that she could hold onto Halston’s waist.

She
felt exposed when the cold air cut into her. There was a brief moment of doubt,
as to whether this was truly a good idea. There was no turning back.

Koa
heard a low cackle as the Gate slammed behind them.

Koa’s
eyes widened in terror, as Shadows, black and wispy appeared on both sides of
the narrow corridor. She stiffened with a gasp as they reached out for her.

Chapter 19

Shrill
sounds filled Koa’s ears. She covered her ears with her hands and turned to
face an army of Shadows. The Shadows reached out for Koa with their thin,
black, hands that were all knuckles and knobs. She coiled back against the gate
and felt the cold steel press into her shoulder blades. The darkness of the
cavern was only aided by Halston’s angelic glow.

Koa’s
scream was trapped in her throat. She started to tremble as she stared into
their faces in horror. This was the very moment from her nightmares. She felt
lightheaded.

They
had no eyes. They looked to be draped in a black film, as if they’d been
suffocated by a black plastic bag. They howled and their mouths opened in wide
circles revealing red, lizard like tongues. Koa gasped and reached for Halston.

He
hissed. “Stay back, Koa!”

“Halston,”
she whispered, afraid to move. “What is happening?”

Halston
motioned for her to stand behind him. "You’re new to them. They want
you." His glow intensified. “Step back, Koa.” She was blinded and felt the
heat of his shield on her face. The rings of light shot up and down his body
and the Shadows backed away with a piercing shriek.

Halston
glared at them. They hissed at him. His glare didn’t falter until the Shadows
made a path for them. They all lined up on either side of the path, and bowed.

Koa
opened her eyes. She watched, wide-eyed, as the Shadows froze in their deep
bows. Even though they were completely still, Koa could tell that they were
still staring at her. Their heads were all turned to her. There was silence in
the cavern. Koa could hear her own heartbeat.

She
was in awe that they were all bowing to Halston. Sometimes Koa tended to forget
just how powerful Halston was. In the mortal world, he lived the life of a man.
Yes, he was her leader, but even then she treated him as little more than her
best friend.

She
felt a wind, and thought something touched her.

With
a squeak, Koa clutched Halston’s waist. His light stung her. Koa shrieked and
pulled her arms away. Her arms were burnt. The sting of her burns cut to her
bones. She groaned and held them, trying to suppress the pain.

Halston
shot her a look of concern and nodded for her to take a step back. Koa should
have listened.  She was stunned. She rubbed her burnt arm until it healed itself.

Her
stomach bubbled with worry. She wanted to turn back.

There
was so much doubt in her head that she began to forget why she had come.
“Halston,” Koa
called.

Halston
looked at her, forcing a smile. “You wanted this. I tried to warn you. But you
never listen, do
you?”

Koa
swallowed hard. She didn’t know what to
say.

“But
I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.” He stepped beside her and
motioned for her to go ahead. He cleared his throat. “All right, we can make it
through the first cavern to the Wilds if I keep my shield up.”

Koa
looked uncertain. Her eyes scanned the hundreds of Shadows and back to
Halston’s
face.

Koa
frowned. “I am sorry.” She looked down the narrow path towards the faint light
at the end of the dark tunnel. “For making you come back here.”

Halston
shrugged. “It was bound to happen sometime. We’ve been preparing for years. We
knew that one day…you’d seek out the truth.”

Koa
looked at him. “We?”

Halston
sighed. “There’s a lot that you don’t know.” He looked down the path.
“Honestly, I wish you never had to find out the truth, but that’s just not an
option. You’re the key to many things. There are a few of us, powerful
creatures, who have been protecting you, and watching over you in secret. We’ve
made plans, and now, it’s time to execute them.”

Koa
thumbed the hilt of her sword. It comforted her, knowing that it was only a
flick of a wrist away. She wasn’t comforted, however, to feel it pulsing in
madness. There was evil all around. Her Lyrinian sword begged to be
un-sheathed.

Koa
nodded. “So, you always knew you’d have to let me come here someday?”

“I
did.”

“And
you made me beg you all of these years.”

Halston
ran a hand through his hair. He pursed his lips and his brows furrowed. “Well,
I had to…to make sure that you were ready.”

Koa
forced a smile. “You sneaky bastard.”

Halston
returned the smile. He seemed relieved by her reaction. “So, are you ready then?”

Koa
cracked her neck and rolled her shoulders. She took a deep breath and composed
herself. There was a sudden surge of courage that she could only assume came
from Halston’s reveal.

Although
Shadows waited on either side of her, she felt a little more in control. She
gave a nod to Halston and he stepped back. She walked ahead and felt the breeze
catch her hair. It blew fiercely and she felt the sting on her cheeks as her
eyes adjusted to the darkness. She looked far down the path, towards the only exit.
There waited another ring of terror. She said a silent prayer and looked back
at Halston.

“I
am.” She took another step forward.

With
a guttural scream, she felt her body get seized by an unseen force and catapult
her ahead.

~~~

Koa
was still screaming when she was dropped onto hard packed dirt. Halston was
leaning over her. He let his shield down so that he could touch her.

Koa
looked up, breathless, and in hysterics. “What was that?” Koa shouted. Her
entire body felt cold. She was shaking.

Halston
gave her a sheepish look. He helped her to her feet. “I apologize. I forgot to
warn you about the Jem.”

Koa
gave him a perplexed look as she rubbed the gooseflesh from her arms. “What the
hell is a Jem?”

Halston
cleared his throat. He held her across the waist and turned her around.

Koa
paled. They were in a mountainous valley where dim lights were scattered about
the ground, like tiny, circular, electric disks planted in the dirt. She
swallowed hard. Before her stood a tall creature.

She
assumed that it was female, only because of the bone structure of its face. But
its glowing eyes stared at her from beneath the hood of its dark cloak. It held
a rod with a jagged point at the top. It was red and dripped with blood. Koa
gulped.

She
spoke out of the side of her mouth, whispering, yet keeping her eyes locked on
the creature before her. “What is that?”

Halston
nodded to the creature. “A Jem. Guardians of the rings here in the
Netherworld.”

Koa
was too afraid to move, least of all nod. “What does it want?” Her eyes were
stuck on the Jem’s eyes. They glowed from the inside outward, as if tiny light
bulbs were placed in the sockets instead of eyeballs. Koa couldn’t break her
gaze.

Halston
let her go and she clung to his arm. She wouldn’t let go of his shirt, even
when he tugged at it. “Let go,” he told her gently. “It’s ok.”

Koa
was hesitant, but she pulled her arm away and gripped her sword.

Halston
turned his shield back on and the Jem took off its hood. The Jem had short
yellow hair that matched the glow of her eyes. The wild tresses changed colors
as it stood in the path of Halston’s shield.

Koa
was surprised to find this creature beautiful, even though it wasn’t human, or
any creature she’d ever seen.

The
Jem closed its eyes in bliss and Koa watched it grow younger and younger. The
wrinkles smoothed out in her face and her hair grew longer and longer. When the
Jem opened her eyes, she smiled. Her eyes still glowed, but now they glowed
blue. Her hair was now blue as well.

Halston
nodded to the Jem and she bowed. Koa blinked and the Jem vanished.

“Halston.”

Halston
sighed. “What?”

“You’re
a terrible guide.”

Halston
chuckled and Koa frowned up at him. “What just happened? Where are we now?”

“Well,
like I said, Jems are guardians of the rings, they make sure unauthorized
nephilim don’t make it into the Netherworld, and that nothing leaves without
permission. You, are half Netherworld vamp, and heir to the Northern
dominance’s throne. Not only that, but my presence with you cancels all doubt.
I outrank everyone in the Netherworld because I am a pure angel.”

Koa
sat down. She was very tired. She didn’t even know how long or how far that Jem
had taken her. “I see.” She looked up. “What happened with its face and hair?”

“I
blessed her.”

Koa
shook her head. “I’m too tired to even try to make sense of what you just
said.” She rubbed her temples and groaned. She could barely see straight.

Halston
let his shield dim. “Let’s get off the road, so that no one sneaks up on us.”
He noted the look on her face. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep watch while you sleep,
but we need to get to higher ground.”

Koa
grumbled and came to her feet. She didn’t know why she was so tired, but she
could barely keep her eyes open now.

“You
still haven’t told me where we are.” She walked along the path, beside Halston.

“The
Valley of the Jem. You’ll probably see many of them, but don’t worry. My
presence will keep them away.”

Koa
sucked her teeth. “Of course it will.”

He
chuckled again. “Yes, you must be tired, we’ve been traveling for nearly 34
hours now.”

Koa
stopped. “You’re joking!”

He
shook his head, with a smug grin. At least he had his humor back, but Koa’s
patience was growing thin. “Jems move fast. I move even faster.”

“I
don’t remember a thing.”

Halston
shrugged and continued on. “Excellent. Now, let’s go.”

Koa
shivered at the cold and frowned. If she had known it was going to be so cold,
she would have brought a jacket. She clutched her arms and scampered ahead. She
followed Halston along the rocky path that led to a small opening in the
mountain. The rocks and stones shimmered beneath the light of his shield. The
gray stone went from dull to the brilliance of diamonds.

Sleep
overtook her before she could fight it.

Chapter 20

Koa
woke when a brisk wind blew her hair into her eyes. She rolled over and felt
Halston’s angelic shield warm her face. It was nice, like a warm fire. She yawned
and sat up. She felt sore all over. She grimaced and rubbed her shoulder. She’d
been sleeping with a rock underneath her.

Halston
heard her and glanced over his shoulder. “Everything all right?”

Koa
nodded and rubbed her eyes. She brushed her bangs from her lashes and scooted
closer to him.

“Can
you let your shield down for a second?”

Halston
gave her a look. “Would you like to be snatched away again?”

Koa
sighed. She shook her head and warmed her hands as close to his shield as she
could. “No. Not really.”

Halston
gave her a side grin. “It’s kind of nice to see you need me.”

Koa
couldn’t help it. She returned the grin. She couldn’t deny the power such a
simple gesture had on her, even when she was angry, even when she was afraid.

“It
doesn’t happen very often,” she teased.

He
lifted a brow. “I protect you more than you know, Koa.”

Koa
met his gaze. “Do you now?”

Halston
nodded, gave her an odd look that made his grin fade, and looked away. Koa
didn’t like that look. She was left with questions that she was too afraid to
ask. She followed his gaze to the Valley of the Jem. She tensed. She didn’t
realize that she could actually see them gliding along the road, with their
pikes, searching, patrolling.

Their
feet didn’t seem to touch the black pathway that was lit with those odd,
circular bulbs. Koa leaned forward, nearly over the edge of the cliff as she
watched them. The Valley of the Jem actually had trees. They were black, and
charred, but trees nonetheless. She could even catch a faint glimmer of a
river. Koa squinted in the darkness. She’d never imagined that the Netherworld
was such an odd depiction of the human world. It was a darker version, but it
obviously mocked the human world.

“So,”
Koa began as she continued watching the Jem. “How much longer do we have to
walk before we reach the center?”

“About
half a day.”

Koa
rubbed her arms. She wished that Halston would put his arms around her. She
gave him a sidelong glance. “I missed you, Halston. More than I thought I ever
could,” Koa whispered. She didn’t know where she had the courage, but she
needed him to know how she felt.

Halston
grinned and looked at her with longing. Koa held her breath. Everything inside
of her waited.

“I
think I missed you more,” he said softly.

Koa
smiled. She felt warm joy fill her heart. She felt like she could say anything.

“So,
what was it like when you lived in the Netherworld?”

Halston’s
grin faded. Koa realized that she had chosen to say the wrong thing. She
gripped the space between her eyes and winced. She shook her head then looked
at him with one eye open. “Sorry. Bad timing I guess.”

Halston
was silent for a long while. Koa was about to apologize again, thinking that he
didn’t hear her.

“It
was bad.”

Koa
nodded, hoping that he would elaborate. “You don’t like to talk about it?”

Halston
looked down. “It’s something that I am not proud of.”

“We
all make mistakes, Halston.”

Halston
shot her a glare that made her coil back. Her face flushed. “Don’t compare
petty mortal mistakes to what I did. You were born with sin. I was not. I was
created to be perfect. I was supposed to be better.”

Koa
covered her mouth. His face went red with anger. Koa watched in terror as his
shield had gone from gold to red as well, and his face was covered in black
veins that moved like worms.

He
almost looked like…Bund. Koa screamed. The scream echoed throughout the valley.

Halston’s
shield vanished and he caught her in his arms. She was shaking. She opened her
eyes to see that his were closed.

His
eyes were squeezed shut. He was focusing. The black veins slowly started to
dissipate. He held her tightly, as if he needed her for strength. Koa was
afraid, but she managed to stay still until he returned to normal.

She
wrenched out of his embrace and came to her feet.  She stumbled backwards
and catch herself with her hands. She slowly stood. Koa was afraid and worried
for Halston.

After
a moment, his shield returned to its prior intensity.

Halston
spoke. His voice was as low as a whisper. “I’m sorry, Koa, for yelling.” He put
his face in his hands and rubbed his forehead. “It’s just that I was a perfect
angel when I was tricked into leaving Heaven. I immediately saw my error when I
arrived on Earth, and by then, it was too late to go back. I had already
disobeyed. I wasn’t allowed to return. I had lost God’s favor.”

Koa
held her arms close. She watched him with a deep sadness. She wanted nothing
more than to take him in her arms and hold him close to her. Still, she was
shaken up by what had just happened.

“Instead
of trying to win back His favor, I took the darker path, and I am regretful of
that.”

Koa
nodded as she bit the inside of her lip. She knew why he worked so hard.
“That’s why you do what you do, Halston. You do so much for the humans so that
you can go home. I get it. I really do.”

Halston
sighed. Silence passed between them.

Koa
pressed her luck. She pointed at his face. “What happened…when your shield
turned red and your face got all weird?”

Halston
sighed. “Let’s just say, you should never make an angel angry. Things don’t go
so well.”

Koa
shivered. She covered her arms with her hands and hugged herself. “I’ve never
seen you that angry.”

Halston
looked up at her. He seemed embarrassed. He wouldn’t make eye contact. “Only
you can do that to me.” He glanced at her. “For some reason, you do something
to me that makes me forget my composure.”

Koa
frowned. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. “Um. Ok.
Thanks…”

Halston
chuckled and shook his head. He motioned to the smooth rock she had been
sitting in before. “Sit down. You needn’t fear me. I could never hurt you, Koa.
I swear it.”

Koa
believed him, despite what she had just witnessed. The look in his eyes had
struck terror into her very soul. She took a deep breath and returned to her
seat.

“So,
why is it that I can make you that angry, Halston?” Koa spoke in a soft voice,
it was almost timid, and she didn’t recognize her own voice in that tone. There
was something that she wanted to hear from him. She was excited, and yet fearful
at the same time. Her stomach filled with anxiety.

“I
don’t know. I guess I care about you too much. Your opinion of me matters too
much.”

Koa
sat up straighter. They locked eyes. “You care?”

Halston
just nodded, then broke their gaze. He didn’t look back at her. “Go on. Go back
to sleep now. We will need to move quickly tomorrow.”

Koa
let out a long sigh, her hopes dashed. She nodded and snuggled into the little
pocket of soft dirt where she had been sleeping. She lay there for a while.
Tomorrow she would meet Jax. She would learn about her past.

Koa
felt like she was waiting for Christmas morning- all giddy with excitement. She
looked up at the dark sky of the Netherworld. No stars. No moon…just faint
streaks of light crisscrossed in every direction. She fell asleep trying to
make sense of the pattern. The melody that Tunes played repeated over and over
as she dreamed of Shadows, and Bund’s face over hers.

Chapter 21

Hours
rolled by like days. Not being able to tell time made Koa feel anxious. She was
tired of walking. The soles of her feet hurt and she almost took her boots off
to give her a bare feet a chance. There were actually bugs everywhere. Odd,
giant, cockroach looking bugs that made Koa decide to keep her boots on and
deal with the pain.

Koa
watched them skitter across the black path, busy with whatever it was insects
did. Their red stripped bodies made Koa grimace. She kicked one off the path
and shuddered when it took flight.

“Gross.”

Koa
heard a faint whistling sound. Her ears perked up to better hear. She narrowed
her eyes as she saw a light approaching them. Halston stopped on the craggy
path and held a hand out for Koa to do the same. “Wait.”

A
swoosh of air made Koa’s hair blow furiously past her face. Whatever flew past
them cast a dim light onto their surroundings. Koa drew her Lyrinian sword.

Halston
stood his guard and they watched as a woman landed before them. She had blood
red hair, shaved on one side revealing a set of cryptic tattoos. The other side
was long and wavy, reaching her elbow.

Koa
stared at the woman and positioned her feet in a battle stance. Her Lyrinian
sword was held ready. The power started to pulse within her veins. The feeling
was intoxicating.

The
woman smiled. It wasn’t a friendly smile. Her eyes were large and a dark blue.
Koa held her breath when the woman drew her own sword, massive and curved like
a hook. The mists curled around it as she held it towards Koa’s face.

“Don’t
draw that sword little girl. Unless… you plan on using it.” Her lips curled
into a grin that made Koa uneasy. The woman reached out towards Koa with her
other hand.

Koa
swung her sword up with lightning speed. It rested at the tip of the woman’s
throat.

“Oh,
don’t worry. I intend on using it.”

The
woman’s smile widened, revealing perfect white teeth. She withdrew her hand.
"Fiesty. We might get along." Her eyes turned down to look at Koa’s
blade. She didn’t move as Koa had expected. Instead, she held her position
before Koa’s sword, and turned her gaze up to Halston’s.

“What
took you so long?”

Koa’s
eyes went from Halston to the woman. Her heart raced. She stared at the tip of
her own sharp blade. Halston didn’t draw his infinity gun as she had expected.
He stood completely still, and let his shield fade.

Koa
felt her fury intensify. Why wasn’t he protecting her? He just stood
there.

Before
Koa could react, the red-haired woman grabbed Koa’s blade with her hands and
yanked it from her. She held both swords and ignored Koa’s frustrated gasp. She
was quick…quicker than Koa.

Koa
frowned. No, the bitch just caught me off guard, she reassured herself.

“Stop
playing around Evina,” Halston said as he glanced at Koa’s angry face.

Evina
stepped closer to Halston with a lascivious grin. “Oh, golden boy,” she purred,
pressing her large bosom into his chest. She played with a lock of his hair and
he pulled his face away. “Who said that I was playing?”

Koa
was furious. The woman had disarmed her as if she were a child with a plastic
toy sword. Her cheeks reddened. She wanted to smack that smug look off Evina’s
face.

Koa
noticed that Evina wore very little clothing. Her black and red corset pushed
her bosom nearly up to her chin, and her tiny waist was wrapped with a belt
loaded with weapons. She wore leather gaiters that reached to her thigh and a
thin cloth that draped her front and back. She looked like something out of one
of those fantasy books Koa had read as a child.

Koa
didn’t like how Evina was leering at Halston. Her brows furrowed and she balled
up her fists. Koa’s nails cut into her palms. She felt her ears grow hot.

“I
didn’t think you’d actually bring her back.” Evina looked Koa up and down. She
tilted her head with a curious look. “She still looks like a child.”

Halston
cleared his throat. He seemed uncomfortable. “Koa, meet Evina…princess of the
Central Dominace of the Netherworld. Prince Jax’s sister.”

“Better
known as Lyrinia,” Evina said with a smile. She watched Koa expectantly.

Koa
didn’t return the smile, but she couldn’t help catching the connection between
Lyrinia and her Lyrinian sword.

Koa’s
perplexed look made Evina laugh. It was a seductive laugh that made Koa cringe.
Evina tossed Koa’s sword onto the rocky path as if it were rubbish. She stroked
Halston’s cheek, giving him a lingering look. She stepped out on the path.

"A
lot has changed since you left, Halston. I have changed. Jax has changed. But
one thing remains the same. Father.” Evina’s eyes darkened when she mentioned
King Greggan.

Halston
nodded. “I knew Jax would be punished for what he did. We all did.”

Evina
watched Koa. Koa felt uncomfortable. She wondered what Jax had done to be
punished. She frowned and looked at Halston instead, hoping Evina would stop staring
at her. There was something about the vampire princess that Koa didn’t like,
and it wasn’t just the fact that she was a pretty girl.

“When
is the last time you saw your father?” Halston put his hands in his pockets and
awaited an answer.

Evina
looked past him, towards the Gate. She looked frightened for a second. “Not
long.” She looked back at them. “We’ll talk more once we reach the city.”

“Halston.”
Koa pulled Halston to the side. “What is happening right now? Why is she here?”

Halston
glanced at Evina and whispered to Koa. “She’s our guide to Jax.”

Koa
frowned up at him and put her hands on her hips. “Does she know that I intend
to kill him?”

Halston
made a face. He shook his head. “I don’t think you understand why we’re here, Koa.
No one is killing Jax. We need him.”

Koa
dropped her hands to her sides. “What?” She’d been going over in her head just
how she would kill the vampire prince. She would force him to change her mother
back and then stake him. It was a simple plan. Why was Halston getting in the
way?

Halston
shushed her and she felt her rage start to simmer again. She narrowed her eyes
at him. She hated being treated like a child.

“Don’t
you want him to break your mother’s curse?”

Koa
bit the inside of her lip and nodded. She tried to control her tone. “Of
course. But, he’s evil. Why can’t I kill him after he breaks the curse?”

“Has
she lost her mind,” Evina asked as she glared at Koa. “You will not lay a
finger on my brother.”

Koa
gave Evina a look, rolled her eyes, and looked back to Halston. “Can I hit her?
Just once?” She held her hands up as in prayer. “Please…”

Halston
sighed. “You’ll understand why we simply cannot kill him soon enough. You’ll
know why once you meet him.”

“Done
whispering? How rude,” Evina said. Koa could picture herself just flying over
to Evina, grabbing her hair, and smacking her around…just a little bit…enough
to make her shut up.

Halston
turned to her. “Where is Jax kept prisoner?”

Evina
picked up a black disc of some sort, and stepped onto it. She was lifted into
the air. She hovered and waited. Evina folded her arm across her chest and
tossed her hair out of her face. “Well, he was kept in the dungeons back at the
palace, until he got free. Now, father keeps him in the Ivory Tower. Do you know
how long it took to get him free from the palace?”

“What
is the Ivory Tower?” Koa asked Halston in a whisper. She didn’t want Evina to
know how ignorant she was about this place.

Halston
sighed. “It’s a prison full of the Netherworld’s most notorious, and dangerous,
criminals.”

“The
most notorious, and dangerous, criminals,” Koa repeated. She
folded her arms and nodded. “Right…and we’re supposed to trust this guy?”

“My,
my. What a little, sarcastic, bitch,” Evina muttered.

Koa
realized that she was just standing there, glaring at the woman, when Halston
picked up her sword from the ground and handed the hilt to her.

“Come
on Koa. Take your sword.”

Koa
was too angry to speak, she accepted the sword wordlessly. She wanted to do
something to that woman. The fact that she was sister of one of her enemies
didn’t help.

Halston
took her hand again. He gave it an affectionate squeeze. She looked up at him
and let out a long breath, trying to push out all of her anger.

Koa
shook her head. Why was she so bothered? She should not let Evina get to her in
this way.

Halston
brought his mouth close to her ear. “Calm yourself, Koa. You brought me here to
protect you. I will do just that. But, you must remain calm.”

Koa
nodded, her eyes locked on Evina’s back. “Got it. But I don’t know what I’ll do
if touches my sword again.”

Halston
put up a finger. He had an intense look in his eyes. “Koa, listen to me.” He
held her by her forearms and brought her close to his face.

Koa
sucked in a breath and looked into his blue eyes.

“You
will do nothing. If you harm a hair on her head, an army will be on our heels
within seconds. I cannot fend off an entire army. I brought you here because
there is something you need to know. I agreed because you have to see it for
yourself. The world is about to change Koa. I will not let you run in there
recklessly and get yourself killed. I’ve let you make too many bad decisions in
order to teach you a lesson, but this time, you will listen to me. There is a
plan, and we will stick to it.”

Koa
couldn’t help but nod. There was no room for protests. His tone dared her to
even utter a word against him. Halston searched her eyes to make sure that she
really understood the severity of his words. When he was satisfied with what he
saw, he let her go.

Koa
gave Evina a sidelong glance and turned her back to her. “Well, what’s this
glorious plan you speak of?”

Halston
straightened his jacket, covering his infinity gun properly. "Jax will
tell you."

Koa
glared ahead. “But!”

Halston
raised a hand and she paused. Her shoulders slumped. He pointed to Evina. “What
did I just say?”

Koa
folded her arms and looked down at her feet. She nodded and bit the inside of
her lip. She was a little angry for being scolded, but she hid a smile.
Surprisingly, she was also a little turned on to have him exerting his power
over her. She almost wanted him to grab her by the arms, and pull her close to
him again. She hoped that he didn’t see her grin.

Koa
cleared her throat and glanced at Evina. She hovered in the air, watching them
with her arms folded across her chest. Koa couldn’t help but think that Evina
looked like something you’d see in a comic book, perfectly mysterious and
beautiful up there.

“Can
we get on with it now?” Evina said. “I’m not a babysitter…”

Halston
held his hand out towards the path. “Show us the way.”

Evina
grinned. “With pleasure. Jax is probably shaking with excitement in there.”

Koa
followed behind Halston and Evina and she looked in awe as the smothering, cavern-like
path, opened into a large dome that buzzed with flying beings. There were so
many lights that she was blinded. She shielded her eyes from the glowing palace
in the center of the valley. She nearly tripped as the path became a narrow set
of stairs.

Koa
caught herself and she looked down to see the stairway plunge deeper into the
dark depths below. She looked around to see that hundreds of other caverns
opened up to similar stairways all around the dome. At the bottom of the
stairs, was a city.

There
were skyscrapers and clustered buildings everywhere. This was the home of the
nephilim…a safe haven for all that was inhuman. As they walked down the steep
stairway, Koa examined the bright, gold-plated, palace that stood in the center
of the city. This was the place that haunted her dreams. Koa had been there
before, she just couldn’t remember why.

Golden
towers stretched upwards, taller than the contrasting black skyscrapers. Like a
sunflower in a field of rubble, the palace stood out. Hundreds of clustered
buildings littered the city, and yet Koa was certain that from wherever you
were in the city, that you could always see the palace. There were what
appeared to be thousands of windows that reflected more light onto the city
around it.

Hours
seemed to pass until they reached the bottom of that staircase.  By the
time they reached the cobblestone platform, Koa had went over her own plan in
her head a million times. She wanted to see Jax’s face as she lopped off his
head.

Koa
glanced at Halston. She was torn. She wanted to trust him and do as he said,
but Jax had hurt her mother, how could let him live, even after he broke the
curse? She would never be able to forgive him for what he did.

Cloaked
beings walked past her. They almost knocked her off the platform at the bottom
of the staircase and into the next level that waited underneath. She tensed
when she realized what they were. They were Jems. Dozens of them. She could see
the glow of their eyes.

Koa
looked away. They ignored her as they hurried by with their pikes, ready to rip
right through whoever dared try their luck at escaping the Netherworld. Koa
related them to squads of police, patrolling the streets.

Halston
whispered to her. “Just pretend like you belong here.”

Koa
frowned. “What did you think I would do, Halston? Fly around screaming, I’m the
bloody half-blood you’ve all been waiting for?”

Halston
gave her a look and straightened his shoulders. “Very well. I don’t want to spend
more time here than we have to, but there are preparations to be made. You’ll
go with Evina and I’ll meet up with you two in a few hours.”

Koa
put her hand onto Halston’s chest and grabbed the front of his shirt. “Wait a
minute! You never said that I would have to be alone with that skank!”

Evina
jumped off her disc and everyone within view gave a deep bow before hurrying
off. She slid right up to Koa and bumped her with her chest. Evina was thin,
tall, but solid muscle. She nearly knocked Koa backwards but caught her by
wrapping an arm around her waist. She grinned down at Koa and locked arms with
her.

Koa
held her breath. She looked down at Evina’s large bosom as it rose and fell
with her breaths. She looked back up at her grinning face. Evina was so close,
that Koa could smell her breath. She smelled like summer rain. It was sickening
how alluring the woman was. How could anyone resist her?

Evina
winked at Halston. “I’ll take good care her.” She locked eyes with Koa and
pulled her closer into her body. “I promise I won’t bite,” she whispered to
Koa.

Koa
swallowed. She was frozen in a mixture of shock, rage, and arousal. Her first
reaction had been to upper cut Evina in the jaw, but now…she stared at Evina in
confusion.

Halston
shook his head and muttered something under his breath. “We don’t have time for
games Evina, just take her to the docks and prep her for me. I’ll come back
with the materials we need to get her into the prison.”

Koa’s
eyes widened, and so did Evina’s grin.

Chapter 22

Halston
stood in the center of the crowd as he watched Evina walk away with the only
person for whom he had ever had real feelings. Yes, he fought for the humans
and vowed to protect them for an eternity, but there was something more when it
came to Koa. She stirred something in him that he should not feel as an angel.
Love and compassion he had been created with, but whatever he felt for Koa went
much deeper. He experienced physical pain whenever she was hurt or upset.

Halston
couldn’t explain it, not even after thousands of years of life on Earth. He
watched the two women into they disappeared around a corner. His throat
tightened as Koa glanced back one last time. Their eyes met, even though there
was quite a distance between them. Like a bolt of electricity, her gaze burned
into him. He was certain he saw a reflection of his own feelings within her
eyes, but he could never be sure. He could never tell her. It would be the end
of him if he did.

He
sighed and his shoulders slumped as he stood there, alone, yet surrounded by
the abominable spawn of his brothers and sisters. There was much to be done.
Someone had to put the world back in order. It all rested on him. He waited. He
checked his watch as an hour passed and finally he glanced over towards the
direction that Koa and Evina had walked and he saw the signal.

It
was done.

Halston
cut through the masses and made his way to one of the staircases that led to
the path towards the Gate. He paused at the bottom of those stone steps that
had been built thousands of years ago. It was time to summon those that had all
sworn secrecy and allegiance to him and his cause. It was time to bring
together the forces which the world had been blind to since the beginning of
time.

He
felt around in his jacket’s inner pocket. He felt something cool and gripped
it. Halston took out a pen. It was long and silver, and caught the light that
came from the Disc Moon. It was a dim disc that stood at the very top of the
dome, shedding light onto each level of the world and regulating time, so that
everyone within its range aged much slower.

Halston
hoped that one day she might forgive him, for keeping so much a secret. It was
all to protect her, Halston thought to himself. He took a deep breath and
straightened his shoulders. It wasn’t all for Koa. She was a big part of it,
but he couldn’t deny that it was supposed to be for the human race, and Koa had
somehow taken precedence over even that. Still, he had done what was right by
bringing her back, or at least he hoped he did.

Koa
was returned to the place where she belonged. Now, it was time to set other
events in motion.

Halston
pointed the thin tip of the silver pen before him and narrowed his eyes. A tiny
blue light blinked and cut on. He swept the pen up, gracefully, and wrote along
the darkness before him. The air tightened, examining the light that sliced
into it. Halston tried again, drawing with a delicate curve of his wrist as if
he was painting a masterpiece. The darkness accepted the script, upholding tiny
blue text.

The
soft wind whistled as if curious about this oddity. Like an inquisitive child,
it gathered around Halston and made his jacket flap open. His infinity shotgun
was revealed. Annoyed, Halston covered it back up with his free hand and
continued his message. The wind seemed to shiver with glee and floated each
word along. It carried his message up the steps and down the tunnel, back to
the human world. It was time to notify his Netherworld agents, it was time to
recruit.

Raven
knew her role in this. She would be waiting. She was never human, nor vampire.
She was something...different…something that would change both worlds. Now, it
was her time to shine.

Halston
finished his message and lowered the pen. He hoped that Raven was ready, that
she would uphold her part of the bargain. So much depended on Raven and her
daughter. They were like two secret keys that the evil of the world fought to
swallow.

Halston
tightened his jaw. He hated to think of what was ahead for Koa. He could
imagine that she was afraid, and yet hiding it very well. She was good at
that.  He almost smiled. She would be all right. He had taught her well.

Halston
looked up towards the cavern. It was a cool night in the Netherworld. It was
always a cool night. Daylight didn’t exist here. Each level of this world led
to more darkness and even more horrific creatures.

Vampires,
demons, War-Breeders, ghouls, and fallen angels…like himself, buzzed by. They
came and went up those stairs, returning to their homes in the maze-like city
that was the Netherworld.

Halston
shot a look at a flash of light. He let his guard down, when Evina stopped
before him.

“What
do you think she’ll do, when she finds out the truth?” Evina stepped off her
flying disk and stepped before him. She had a serious face. She had put her
life at risk for Koa, but still, she could never resist a little challenge. He
had almost thought that Evina would ruin everything with her little show in
front of Koa.

Halston
put his hands in his pocket. He took them out and folded his arms. He couldn’t
get Koa’s face out of his head. That beautiful little face haunted him. There
was no way that he could forget the first time he laid eyes on her. He felt his
insides twist.

“Everything
will work out according to plan,” Halston answered. “It has to.” He raised a
brow. “She’s already asleep?”

Evina
folded her arms across her large bosom and tossed her hair out of her face. “Of
course. I’m not a novice, Halston.”

“No.
You’re a temptress, and you cannot resist games.”

Evina
rolled her eyes. “I don’t have another century to wait. I wouldn’t put the plan
in jeopardy.”

Halston
raised a hand, shushing her. He listened to something.

She
frowned. “As I was saying…games. I don’t have time for them,” Evina said.

“But
you love them more than anything.”

She
fought a grin. Instead, Evina sighed and turned her face. “You really think you
know me Halston. Just because I had a crush on you as a girl doesn’t give you
the upper hand. I’m not a child anymore. I’ve been a woman for quite a while
now.”

Halston
smirked. “You had a crush on me?” He feigned surprise.

“You’re
horrible, Halston.” She gave a soft laugh and looked at him with a warmness
that she didn’t reveal to many. “I cannot believe that I am actually entrusting
my life to you and my brother’s.”

“You
are a smart woman for doing so. You need me. Therefore you will follow me to
the end. Right?”

Evina
didn’t answer. She met his gaze and searched his eyes. She gave a slight nod
and pulled her disc from her belt. It was like a fan. She flicked it out and
set it down. It buzzed and hovered.

The
creatures around fled. Vampire mothers grabbed their children and ran into the
safety of the many alleys.

Evina
was daughter of King Greggan, a very powerful vamp and they feared her even
when she was nothing like her father. With a quick hop onto the disc she looked
down at Halston. “I’m going back…to check on things.”

Halston
frowned up at her. “No meddling. You can ‘check,’ but that is all. Don’t use
too much of your power on her. I don’t want her remembering things just yet.
It’s best that we let Jax open Pandora’s box.”

Evina
grinned. “Ah don’t worry, love. I won’t harm her. I promise.”

Halston
shook his head and she flew away, above the masses. His mind went to Evina’s
brother. Jax was prince of the Central Dominace of the Netherworld and locked
away for all eternity. He cringed. All of the things Jax would tell Koa could
undo Halston.

Koa
still believed that the night he found her drunk on a park bench had been the
first time they’d met. Halston could never bring himself to tell her that he
had known her since she was a child. Furthermore, he couldn’t tell her that she
had in fact been poisoned that night he found her and fed her the antidote
while she slept.

At
that time, telling her the truth had been out of the question. If she knew that
he had been watching her for decades, secretly protecting her, she’d believe
that he was some sort of stalker. It was ironic that their little joke, the
nickname she had given him was truer than she could have imagined. Somehow,
Halston had become…her guardian angel.

“Halston,”
a familiar voice called.

Halston
turned. His message had worked quicker than he had anticipated. Halston turned
and his eyes widened at the sight of a familiar, welcome, face.

Chapter 23

“Holy
shit,” the War-Breeder exclaimed. Seven feet tall and all muscle, the
War-Breeder rubbed his eyes and stared at Halston in disbelief. “It is you!
Don’t tell me…it’s time?”

Halston
wasn’t sure how to react when Tristan, his oldest friend, beamed at him. He had
expected him to show up.

Tristan
looked the same. No one down here really aged, unless they went up to the human
world, where the sun had its effects. Tristan’s bald head was tattooed, a
common trend in the Netherworld, to display your social standing in its ancient
hierarchy. His skin was a deep bronze, as if he had an eternal tan.

Scars
covered almost every inch of his flesh. The scars didn’t come from battle.
Tristan never lost a fight, or a war for that matter. No, those scars were from
a ritual from his childhood. His own mother was forced to do that to him, to
teach him about pain, so that he’d never experience it again. The ritual lasted
as long as the child could stand it. The instant they started to cry from the
pain, the mother could stop.

Tristan
never cried. The ritual had gone on and on. He had become a legend, and his
mother had become the proudest woman in the village.

To
Halston, it just made Tristan look like a runaway slave, who had been whipped
too many times but to the War-Breeders, it served as a reminder that this was
the strongest of their clan.

Halston
sucked in a breath as he was swept off his feet by the big man. His bones
nearly crunched in Tristan’s abnormally strong arms. Once Tristan put him down,
Halston couldn’t help but return the smile. Tristan held him at arm’s length.
His thin brown eyes examined Halston with wonder.

“You
look different,” Tristan whispered with a perplexed look. Halston lowered his
eyes. He was different now. He wished he could forget the past.

Tristan’s
look of wonder was quickly replaced with alarm. “Halston! What are you doing
out here in the open? Someone will recognize you.”

“Not
likely,” Halston said.

Tristan’s
lifted a brow. “Right…” He folded his arms. “So, what’s it been like up there
with the humans?”

Halston
stepped back. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Tristan
clapped his hands together. “Let’s get on with it then! You’ve brought her
back?”

Halston
looked down at his feet. Koa. The child he had stolen.

Tristan
let out a long breath. He shook his head with a side smirk. “Leave it to you,
Halston, to get yourself in a mess like this, and to get me to go join you.
What’s so special about that girl anyway? Why did you smuggle her out of the
Netherworld anyway? You know you started this war.”

“I
didn’t start the war. I just put the inevitable in motion.” Halston sighed at
Tristan’s expression. There was so much that even the War-Breeder couldn’t
know. The burden rested on Halston and his race of fallen angels. “You wouldn’t
understand.”

“That
girl is going to get us killed, isn’t she?” Tristan shook his head. “She almost
got us killed the first time we dealt with this foolhardy plan.” He pointed to
his chest. “I still have a nice scar to remind me.”

Halston
wore an eerie smile, hinging on bitterness. “I can’t be killed. Remember?” If
only he could, things just might be easier.

“Well
lucky you, Halston.” Tristan’s eyebrows bunched. He nodded. “I just love how
you flaunt that when you know that I can be killed!”

Halston
lifted his chin. “So what are you saying? You’re no longer with me?”

Tristan
rolled his eyes and shook his head. He hooked his thumb in his belt. “I’m just
saying that this plan of yours better work. Farrow got killed shortly after you
escaped with the girl. She got swept up by Greggan’s guard one night and
decapitated in the citadel square.”

Halston
just stood there, feeling numb. He felt a lump in his throat.

Tristan
cleared his throat. “I haven’t kept touch with the others.”

Halston
could still picture Farrow’s young face in his mind. She was one of the
youngest in the crew, a Jem preparing for her final test to begin an eternity
of patrolling the Netherworld. He had no idea that she was dead.

Tristan
was silent for a moment. Halston straightened his shoulders when he noticed the
War-Breeder staring at him. “At least it was a quick death.”

Tristan
nodded. “It was.”

Silence.
Halston felt a deep sadness for the Jem. Farrow was dead because of him. He
couldn’t take her with him when they took Koa. A Jem couldn’t survive in the
human world.

Halston
shoved the guilt deeper inside the part of his heart where he kept his most
valued emotions and locked it away. It would no longer bothered him until he
returned to unlock the vault.

Tristan
tried to ease the tension. “Well, let’s say we rebuild the old alliance then.”

Halston
looked up at the Disc Moon. It clicked and cast a darker green glow onto the
kingdom. Each click, and subsequent color, was a Netherworlder’s way of telling
time here. It was getting later. “You’re pretty eager for someone that is
afraid of his own mortality.”

Tristan
took two steps over to Halston. His face brightened. “I never said all of that.
You know me, I live for danger. I live to add another scar to my collection.”
He traced a long scar that went from his brow to the flesh beneath his right
eye.

Halston
found it odd how much Tristan valued his ghastly scars.

“King
Greggan is trying to invade the human world, put up a fight against those soft,
squishy creatures you call vamps up there. I want a piece of the action. I’m
just not ready to die yet, is all.”

Halston
saw a flash of silver light and grabbed Tristan by his suspenders. “Shut up,” he
growled. “Someone will hear you.” He pulled Tristan into a stone side street
just as a royal guard stepped into the square. Halston caught a quick glimpse
as they found cover in the darkness of an alley. The royal guard was comprised
of Syths and Scayors. Halston felt his heart thump when he saw the Scayor step
into the square. They were tall, metallic creatures, combining Syth bodies and
technology. Scayors were horrific creations. Those silver eyes were always
searching, always ready to snatch someone off the streets.

Halston
breathed. That was close, he thought. It was not yet time to blow his
cover.

A
group of ghouls lurked in the dank alley. They were thin, skeleton like
creatures with pasty gray skin and long, tortured faces. Hunched over and
whispering, they looked up at Halston and Tristan with glowing green eyes.

Halston
avoided making eye contact with them and pulled Tristan further down the road.
They stepped through black puddles of oil and slime and swatted fruit flies in
silence. Tristan kept his mouth shut, but glanced at Halston as they traveled
to the seedy part of the city, where the lower ranked creatures tended to
dwell. Tristan didn’t question him. Halston was, after all, the boss.

They
ducked into a dark tavern. Two male vampires sat inside. Their faces were
illuminated by the red overhanging lights as they looked up at the newcomers.

Halston
looked up. A female vampire hung from an overhead light. Her black hair hung
long as she tilted her head backwards and swung as if she were on a swing. She
opened her eyes and looked at them with disinterest. She closed her eyes again,
fell lightly to the ground, and landed on her feet. She stood tall and walked
over to them.

She
lifted a brow. “Blood? Or booze?” Her voice and expression was indifferent. She
had a sleepy look about her.

Tristan
waited patiently, although he seemed to be on the verge of cheering. Finally,
something exciting was about to happen.

Halston
shook his head. “Nothing. Thank you.”

She
shrugged. “Suit yourself.” She jumped back into the air, back to her light, and
continued swinging.

Halston
shook his head. “Has this place gotten weirder?”

“No
mate, you’ve gotten boring.”

Halston
slid into a booth and Tristan did the same.

Tristan
grinned. “You know, I’m glad you finally came back, Halston. I was starting to
get bored, anxious for a new adventure.” He cracked his knuckles and Halston
sighed. “I never thought you’d make me wait so long before I got to see some
real action.”

Halston’s
eyes scanned the room. “So you’re still in? No turning back.”

Tristan
shook his head, still grinning. “Whatever gets me close to that Evina. She is still in on this, right?”

“She
is.”

Tristan
chuckled. “Done. You have yourself a top ranked War-Breeder. I’m in.”

“How
quick can you gather vials?”

Tristan
rubbed his chin. “The Alchemist works 24 hours. How soon do you need them?

Halston
thought a moment. He considered going to the Alchemist himself. “I need them,
like yesterday.”

Tristan
shook his head. “Well you should have asked yesterday.” He cracked his
knuckles. “I guess I can have them by second light.”

Halston
nodded and thought about what Evina was doing with Koa at that moment. He shook
his paranoia off and met Tristan’s eyes. “That’ll have to do.”

“Who
do you have on the outside anyway? You’ll need someone to track Greggan’s
thugs. You think Greggan is bad, wait until you meet his general, Bund.”

Halston
grimaced. “I have.”

Tristan
lifted a brow. “And?”

Halston
shrugged. “He got away.”

“Getting
sloppy as well boring, I see.”

Halston
ignored the comment. “I don’t expect this escapade with Greggan to last long.”

“Look,
Halston, you have an unlimited supply of blood up there. Human blood is
expensive down here. Greggan is setting up his empire to put the other levels
of the Netherworld to shame.”

Halston
frowned. He was surprised. Tristan knew much more than he let on. He wondered
how much the general Netherworld population knew.

“I
plan on doing this quickly. I will hunt the renegade tyrant, kill him, and
place Jax on the throne. Done. My plan is quick and efficient. I just want to
be done with this all so that I can go back to my life, with Koa.”

Tristan’s
smile faded. His hazel eyes darkened. “Oh. I get it. You fell for her?” He began
to stand. “I can’t do this if you make it personal. I’m not getting in between
Jax and his girl. Have you lost it? We’re talking about Greggan’s son here…not
just any vamp. He’s a damned prophet! You do know what he can do, right?”

Halston
frowned. He grabbed Tristan by the arm. His eyes turned serious. “Sit down. I
haven’t fallen for her,” he lied. He ground his teeth and Tristan stared down
at him.

Tristan
raised a brow. “What then? Why do this?”

Halston
focused on the waitress that swung from the ceiling light. He kept his face
straight, yet avoided eye contact with one of his oldest friends. “I just…care
about her.”

Tristan
looked skeptical. “Yeah. Sure. I don’t want to be around when Jax finds out you
care. That little fact wasn’t in the original plan.” Tristan leaned across the
table and spoke through clenched teeth. “You were supposed to watch and protect
her, not fall in love with her.”

Halston
hated to admit it, but there was a lot resting on Jax’s end. He wasn’t sure if
Jax could really be trusted.

Halston
folded his arms and leaned into the leather of the booth. “Drop it, or go on,
walk away. Pretend you never saw me, Tristan.”

Tristan
shook his head but said no more.

Halston
knew he would. The War-Breeder was not likely to run from a fight.

“So,
who do you have on the outside? Spoons? Maybe Reddit or don’t tell me…you found
Glenda.”

Halston
shook his head. “No, mate.” He met Tristan’s eyes. “I found Al.”

Tristan’s
eyes widened. He sat back with an amused smile. “Oh.” He crossed his arms and
let out a breath. He was impressed. “This is going to be good.”

Chapter 24

Raven
saw the message carried along the wind and hopped to attention. She climbed out
the window. She leapt across to a tree and dug her claws into the crusted bark.
She glanced down into the darkness and her eyes reflected the light of the moon
as she scurried down.

She
had been a cat for far too long, and still, it felt odd to her. The black fur
mimicked what used to be her beautiful, long, black hair.

Raven
always knew that she was…different, still, she had never brought herself to
reveal just how different she was. She only did what she had to do to survive.
Now it seemed that she would have to do much more. She had to protect her
child.

Her
feline body did have its advantages. She could move around almost
completely unseen. She bounded up and down hills and crawled across fallen logs
to cross rivers and streams.

Raven
had a mission. When Halston had come up with this plan years ago, she knew that
he probably doubted her ability to follow through. She would not let Halston
down.

Raven’s
only regret was that she had let Koa run off before she could fully explain
things. Koa only had half of the story. She supposed that Jax would tell her
the rest. That fact made her worry.

Halston
and Raven had been working together for years on the plan. She prayed that Koa
didn’t ruin it. Halston had always watched over and protected her daughter. She
hoped that he wouldn’t let her down now.

Greggan
was loose, and it would take an army, or a team of specially selected
individuals to track him down, and kill him. She wished she had her body back,
so that she could be of more help. Only Jax could give it back to her.

Raven
narrowed her eyes. She needed to stay focused. She supposed she shouldn’t blame
herself too much. The nephilim had been trying for centuries to get back into
the human world. Greggan would walk the earth, and all of humanity would suffer
his wrath.

Raven
paused and panted. She was tired. She had run for miles, for hours, and now,
she had arrived. She needed to get things in order for Halston’s return. She
needed to get the rest of the crew together.

Raven
was nervous. She’d never met the others. Halston had intentionally kept her
hidden from the other members of the crew. Now, Raven would have her
introduction, to one of the most powerful of them all. There were rumors that
this one had powers that rivalled even Halston’s.

Raven
perked up when the wooden doors to the pub swung open with a creak.  She
heard loud laughing escape the swinging doors. She looked at the tall man. He
had dark eyes, and wild black hair.  He was big and intimidating, with a
scowl plastered on his weathered face. He wore a black leather jacket and
wrinkled slacks.

This
can’t be him, Raven thought with a frown. She
couldn’t help it. She felt a little let down. For someone with such a notorious
reputation, Raven had expected someone a little more put together. Still, she
could feel her senses drawing her to this place. It had to be him. It had to be
the one they called Al.

Al
pulled out a cigarette. He lit it and leaned against the wall outside the pub.
His dark eyes looked around. Raven stood. She had to talk to him. She began to
cross the street when a young woman came out of the pub. She was loud and clumsy.
Her high heeled leather boots clinked along the slick asphalt with a
deafeningly loud tapping noise that made Raven cringe.

Drunk,
Raven thought with disapproval. Great. She willed the girl to go away.
She had business to attend to.

The
drunk girl stumbled onto the sidewalk and fell against the wall, trying to
steady herself. Al gave her a sidelong glance. His gaze lingered on the young
woman. She looked to be little more than a teenager. Her pale white skin was
illuminated by the bright moonlight. It was a stark contrast to her short pink
hair that ruffled in the faint breeze.

Raven
frowned. Of course, things can never be easy. She urged the girl to move
along. There wasn’t much time. The girl laughed loudly, at nothing at all, and
fell. Raven could see her panties underneath her short dress. She shook her
head in dismay. She hated to think that once, Koa had been that drunk party
girl.

Al
grinned. He could see her panties too. He looked around, checking his
surroundings. Satisfied that no one was looking, he strode over to the girl and
reached out a hand. “Need some help miss?”

The
girl peered up at him and smiled. “Yes. Thank you.” She was American. Her voice
was thick and sultry, with a slight slur from the alcohol. She took his hand
and yelped when he pulled her into his chest. He held her by her thin waist.
She gave a nervous laugh and tried to pull away.

Raven
narrowed her eyes. Al brought his hand to the back of her neck and turned her
around. The girl tripped over her own feet. Growing impatient, Al picked her up
as if she weighed no more than a child and disappeared into the darkness of the
alley with her.

“Whoa,”
she said breathlessly. “Where are we going?”

Raven’s
eyes widened. She ran across the street. What was Al doing? She peeked around
the corner to see him holding the girl by her neck and pulling up her skirt.

Raven
was horrified. He was supposed to be good.

Why
is he doing this? Her hopes were dashed and she sat back
and sighed. The girl tried to get away, but she was too drunk.

Raven
shook her head. If only she could help the poor girl. She turned away. There
was nothing she could do. Al was supposed to be a Warrior. She was no match for
a Warrior, an angel from the ancient times, created to keep the creatures of
the Netherworld from spilling out into the human world. Raven felt her stomach
churn at the girl’s pleas. She begged for him to let her go, that she didn’t
want any trouble. She pleaded for him to stop.

Raven
sighed and began to walk away when she heard a surprising crunch. It was quick
and sent a frightening chill through her body. Raven tensed. It wasn’t the crunch
that surprised her… it was Al’s cut off scream.

Raven
jumped and turned around. Her eyes widened. The girl was on Al’s back. She had
his head in her hands and twisted his neck. The girl held on as Al fell on his
face. And then, she did something that made Raven catch her breath.

The
girl…staked him. A thin, wooden, stake plunged into his back and scraped
against the cold stone alleyway.

Al
trembled and turned into dust.

Raven
stared, stunned, as she watched that girl kneel in the remaining dust of a
Warrior’s body. She couldn’t believe what she witnessed. It didn’t make sense.

You
can’t stake an angel.

The
girl paused. Her eyes rose to Raven’s. She stared at her through chunks of pink
hair. Raven stepped back, her heart thumping with horror.

Who
is this girl, she wondered with panic.

The
girl smiled. Raven couldn’t help her curiosity. She leaned in for a closer
look, prepared to take off running if necessary. She noticed for the first time
that the girl had gray eyes. She finally released her grip on the stake and
wiped Al’s dust from her palms.

“What
are you looking at kitty?” Her voice was low, yet it felt as if it was tapping
on Raven’s mind like a fork tapping on glass. It was unsettling. It was
unnatural.

She
came to her feet.

Raven
began to run away and felt herself held frozen. Raven yelped. She couldn’t
move. Something held her paralyzed. The girl laughed and Raven felt the fear
wash over her like a cold bucket of water. She felt foolish, thinking she could
be of help to Halston and his crew. She wasn’t a Netherworld agent. How could
she forget that she was only a cat now?

She
had failed, again.

The
girl leapt off Al’s back and landed before Raven with such agility and speed
that Raven flinched.

She
stooped down and picked Raven off the ground. Raven began to raise a clawed paw
when the girl gently smoothed her fur.

“Hey
now kitty, that’s no way to greet a friend. Now is it?”

Raven
perked up. She wasn’t sure if she should reveal that she could speak to this
anomaly of a girl. She had after all, just killed Al, once commander of the
Warrior class of angels. Al wasn’t a fallen angel, like Halston, but one sent
to set things right. And this girl…had killed him.

The
girl’s smile widened. “Ah, don’t be shy. I won’t reveal your secret. I know who
you are, and I’ve been expecting you. Eunju right? What took you so long?”

Raven
tensed at the sound of her real name. She hadn’t been called Eunju, since
before the transformation. She looked into the girls eyes. Raven was perplexed.

Then
it hit her. She tilted her head. “Al? You’re Al?” she asked in disbelief.

The
girl nodded with a grin. “Sure. Al works.” She took her paw and gave it a
shake. She laughed at how silly such an action looked. “I prefer friends to
call me Alice.”

Raven
gasped. “You? You’re a warrior?”

Alice
nodded. “Why so surprised?” She carried Raven as she walked deeper into the
darkness of the alley.

“You’re
so…so young!”

Alice
giggled. “Oh, we both know that looks can be deceiving.”

Raven
was astounded. “How…how did you know I was looking for you? Halston didn’t tell
me much about you. He just said that I’d be led to you…when the time came. But,
how?”

Alice
peered into Raven’s eyes. “What a good boy he is. I like it that no one really
knows about me. I don’t usually leave witnesses, but you can be an exception.”
She looked over her shoulder and paused. She listened and sighed, speeding up.
“I’ll tell you, since we’re friends. We are…friends, right?”

“I
am friends with anyone that can protect my daughter.”

“Splendid.
Telekinesis is my secret weapon. Telekinesis sets me apart from the other
warriors. This is why I was once commander. They used to call me Metal-Mind.”
Alice grinned at the memory. “I do miss those days. There was never a dull
moment. I’d scoop up two, three, vamps at a time.” She gave Raven a look. “I
sure set fear into those pesky vamps didn’t I?”

Raven
swallowed. She felt cold. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t
right.

Alice
glanced down at her. “I know when someone is looking for me. I didn’t become
commander because of my looks.” She gave a smug grin. “Although, I’m sure my
looks did help.”

Raven
nodded. That explained how Alice made her freeze when she tried to run. Alice
smiled. “Don’t overthink it. I haven’t been tampering with your thoughts or
anything. It’s just that in times like these, a girl has to be on her guard.
Recruiting can be dangerous business. Especially with creeps like that guy I just
killed lingering on these streets.”

Raven
looked up quickly. “He was a vampire, wasn’t he?”

Alice
nodded. She didn’t speak. She looked around, scanning their narrow
surroundings. She tilted her head, listening. Raven’s ears perked up. There was
a faint rustling sound at the back of the alley. Raven felt her heart pound at
the sound of a low, growl. It wasn’t a dog.

Raven
knew every predator now. Whatever waited in those shadows, was no animal.

Before
Raven could speak a word of warning, Alice bounded up the side of a stone wall,
clutching Raven to her chest. Her feet seemed light and she ran along the wall
of an office building like a spider, in and out of the darkness of the alley.

Raven
was speechless. She tried to look back, to see if whatever had growled followed
them. She coiled back, seeing eyes in the distance.

They
were being chased.  It was big, like a wolf, but Raven narrowed her eyes,
it wasn’t a wolf. The creature had no fur, just muscles wrapped tightly around
bone. Claws scratched the wall as it ran behind, barely keeping up.

Alice
moved quickly, like lightning. The swoosh of wind made
Raven squeeze her eyes shut. She forced them open. She wanted to see where they
were going. She wanted to make sure it didn’t catch up with them. She could
feel Alice breathing, it wasn’t labored. Alice wasn’t afraid.

“Hey,
listen. I’m going to do something a little… crazy. You’re used to crazy right,
with that daughter of yours. You game?”

Raven
swallowed. “S-sure.” She craned her neck around. She saw the beast running
through the fog, gaining on them. She remembered the night Halston had killed
twelve creatures just like the one that chased them. She wished Halston was
there.

Alice
sucked her teeth. She frowned. “A damned reanimated man. I should have known
that guy wasn’t a normal vampire. Those Netherworld vamps are tricky. I don’t
think that big guy appreciates that stake I put in his heart.” She reached a
hand out and grabbed a pole above her head and catapulted them high into the
air. She yelled. “Hold on!”

Raven
shrieked as Alice tilted her head up to the heavens and outstretched her arms.
Raven clutched to her with all of her strength, her claws firmly embedded into
Alice’s shirt. The beast lunged after them, and with a swirl of her arms, Alice
turned herself in mid-air to face it.

Raven
looked into Alice’s eyes and shuddered. They had turned completely white, as if
clouds moved within them. Alice turned out her hands, palms facing the beast
and a sudden pop of air exploded from the small girl’s body. It was like
thunder, without sound, but Raven could feel her bones tremble and her teeth
chatter.

There
was a loud howl as the beast was torn limb from limb. Arms disconnected from shoulders,
the fibers trailing along like streamers. Legs broke away from knees with a
cringe worthy popping sound. He split into a million pieces that flew out in
all directions. Blood sprayed into the air and Alice’s eyes returned to normal.
Gray eyes glared at the carnage as she landed on her feet. Her boots made a
splash in a puddle as they hit the ground.

Alice
didn’t stop. She wrapped her arms around Raven again and ran into the shadows.
She breathed heavily then, glancing down at Raven.

“You
alright, kitty?”

Raven
nodded, staring at Alice’s blood stained face. Pieces of bone and broken teeth
were in her pink hair. Raven shivered…not from the cold but from excitement.
She was exhilarated. She looked at Alice in wonder. This was the one, who could
help them stop Greggan.

Chapter 25

Koa
woke to find Evina staring down at her. She sat up in a panic. Her eyes darted
around the room as she tried to catch her breath. The room was small, bare, and
cold. A strange collection of candles hung from the ceiling. It was like a
chandelier, but the candles were floating and encircling the apparatus that
supported them.

“Where
am I?” Koa’s throat was dry. She swallowed. She felt hot. Her body was covered
in sweat. “What did you do to me?”

Evina
sat back in the only chair in the room, rested her elbow on the desk, and put
her feet up on the bed, beside Koa. “You’re at the docks. Why…don’t you
remember?”

Koa
glanced at Evina’s boots and back up to her face. The vampire’s secret smile
convinced her that something had indeed happened. Still, Koa could only
remember being ushered away from the citadel. Now, she felt oddly at ease
around the vampire princess, and she knew that she shouldn’t.

Koa
frowned. “What did you do to me?” Her body felt…strange. Her skin was cool and
her blood seemed to rush. Her mind was a torrent of questions and memories that
she couldn’t make any sense of.

Evina
shrugged, feigning ignorance. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

Wrong
answer. Koa checked her sword and leapt off the bed. Evina
was before her in a blink.

Koa
glared at her. Her cheeks were hot with rage. “Move out of my way,” she said
through clenched teeth.

Evina
held her arms out. The black tattoo’s seemed to move along her skin, like
snakes.

Koa
stepped away from her. “What are you doing?”

Evina
wrapped her arms around Koa. Before Koa could react, she was asleep once more.

Koa
was in a black room. The floor was red and Evina was standing in the far
corner. Evina’s eyes were closed. The air seemed to move around the vampire
princess as she swirled her arms and sent waves of faint light towards Koa.

Koa
ran at her and punched her in the face. Evina’s eyes opened in shock. “What are
you doing?” She was frantic. She hadn’t expected that. “You’re not supposed to
see me in here! You’re supposed to be asleep!”

Koa
punched her again. She grabbed her by the hair and flung her across the room.
Evina slammed into the black wall and vanished. Koa unclenched her fists. She
was stunned. She was alone in the black room.

Her
heart started to race.

What
is going on! Koa was afraid. She had no idea where
she was. She panicked. Her sword was gone.

This
isn’t real, Koa assured herself as she started to shake. She
looked for an exit. Her hands beat the black walls and they pushed her back into
the center each time. This is not real!

Evina
reappeared and covered Koa’s face with her hands. She tried to overpower her
and push her to the ground, but Koa bit the flesh between her thumb and index
finger and Evina pulled her hand back. Koa kicked her in the gut and Evina
doubled over.

Evina
flashed and appeared behind Koa. She gritted her teeth, pulled Koa’s hair, and
forced her to the ground.

“Stop
fighting me! I’m trying to help you!”

Koa
reached up and grabbed Evina by the throat. She swung a foot above her and
kicked Evina in the chin. Evina bled from the lip but held her grip. Her eyes
were wild with panic.

“Koa,
please, stop fighting me!” Evina smothered Koa’s face with her hands. “I’m trying
to wake you up! You’re not supposed to be lucid in this dream!”

Koa
continued to fight and gasped. Something jolted into her. Evina’s eyes were
closed. Evina was screaming, but Koa could hear nothing but the sound of her
own blood rushing to her ears.

Koa
woke. She immediately drew her sword and placed the tip at Evina’s throat.
Evina was in tears. The vampire princess was breathless as she stared down at
Koa’s sword.

Koa
was beyond enraged. She was past angry. Not because of what Evina had done to her,
but because the Lyrinian sword refused to impale her.

Koa
tried. She put force and strength behind it. The sword remained frozen. Koa
growled and swirled away, sheathing the sword.

Evina
was not evil. The sword would not kill an innocent being. Koa cursed under her
breath. Her face was still hot from rage. She could still feel Evina’s blows to
her.

Evina
rubbed her face of blood. Koa frowned. She hadn’t noticed that before.

Evina
pulled her hand back and looked at the blood. Her jaw dropped. There was a look
of fear in her eyes when she gazed at Koa.

“I’m
sorry, Koa,” Evina said, confusing Koa. “We all have our orders. Mine was to
keep you safe, to keep you here, until Halston returns.” Evina put her arms
behind her.

Koa
was silent, yet her glare was unwavering. It spoke multitudes. She was confused
by Evina’s sudden change in attitude. It was as if she dropped the whole,
seductive, tough girl act. Maybe Koa was seeing her true self. Maybe this was
the act.

Evina
continued. “It just happens that I am a tempest. I cannot help what I was born
to be.”

Koa
narrowed her eyes. “Tempest?”

Evina
nodded and her blue eyes met Koa’s. “I can get people to do what I want. I can
make them dream what I want. Some call it persuasion down here in the
Netherworld.” She shrugged. “It’s what I know. Never in a hundred years has
anyone ever been lucid in one of my dreams. Never.”

Koa
thought to herself. That dream had felt pretty real.

“Koa,
listen,” Evina urged. “I never meant to hurt you. I swear it, on my brother’s
life.”

Koa
frowned. She didn’t give a damn about her brother’s life. She let out a long,
slow, breath. She tried to force all of her rage out with it. It was difficult,
but Koa managed to calm herself.

“When
will Halston be back?” She couldn’t shake the bitterness she felt. She hated
being manipulated.

Evina
turned the chair around and sat in it backwards, straddling it. “In an hour or
so. We have to get you inside the prison before the third click of the Disc
Moon.” She wiped her face with a towel.

Koa
cracked her knuckles and started pacing.

“Why
don’t you have a seat, Koa?”

Koa
continued pacing. “You, don’t speak to me unless you have something valuable or
important to say.” She paused and gave Evina a look. “My Lyrinian sword may not
work on you, but you better believe that my hands will go smoothly around your
throat and squeeze the life out of you.”

Evina
frowned.

Koa
had no regrets from her words.

Evina
pursed her lips. She shook her head and murmured. “You always were a little
hothead.”

Koa
spun around. Her eyes widened. “What did you say?

Evina
played with her wavy, red, hair.

Koa
stepped closer. “Tell me!” Koa felt her frustration start to overflow. She was
tired of the secrets and lies.

Evina
rolled her eyes. “I said that you were a hothead. What’s the big deal?”

“You
said that I was always a hothead!” Koa felt like she’d just discovered gold.
She almost grinned, but her face remained serious. She had to know. “Have we
met?”

There
was a long stretch of silence, but Koa would not back down.

Evina
nodded.

Koa
clapped her hands together. “I knew it!” She laughed. She wiped her face with
her hands. She knew she had seen Evina before. There was a history between
them. She couldn’t remember it, but she knew that something was there.

Evina
shot to her feet. “Please, Koa. I cannot say more than that. Don’t ask me.
Halston would be furious.”

Koa’s
smile faded. She looked at the floor. Her boots were stacked against the wall.
“Halston.” She nodded. “Yes, I bet there’s all kinds of things he’s been
keeping from me.” She chewed her lip. She didn’t know how to feel. She wished
that Raven was there.

Evina
put a hand on Koa’s shoulder. Koa shrugged it off.

“Don’t
touch me.”

Evina
nodded. “All right. But trust me. He kept the worse from you. To protect you.
Please tell me you can understand that.”

Koa
made a face. “No. I don’t understand that.” She looked away and pictured his
face. “We were best friends. We don’t keep secrets.” Koa swallowed. She felt
ashamed. She’d kept secrets from him before. Somehow she felt that this was
different.

Evina
gave Koa a look of disappointment. “You have no idea what he’s done for you.
What he’s sacrificed, for you! You ungrateful little girl!”

Koa
leaned her back against the door. She felt deflated. Her mind was torn. “I’ll
decide for myself. Once I learn the truth.”

Evina
gave her a bitter smile. “You’ll regret those words when you get your wish.”

Chapter 26

Halston
followed Tristan to the Alchemist. He lived in a hole in the west borough. They
walked straight down into a dark pit where tendrils of vines with minds of
their own reached down to them. For somewhere so dark, it was quite green.
Vines and flowers grew here, when they grew nowhere else in the entire kingdom.

Discs
lit the way but just barely. These discs were the size of quarters and were
spaced apart along the steep stairwell. They were all filled with oil and fire.

Halston
held the rusty rail and kept an eye on those vines. Their little black eyes watched
him curiously, from snakelike faces. He brushed one off his shoulder and it
coiled back with a shriek that made the other vines vibrate.

“How
many times do I have to remind you not to touch them?” Tristan scolded.

Halston
shrugged. “It touched me.” He watched the other vines huddle and share a steady
glare at him.

Tristan
shook his head and stopped at the bottom of the staircase.  Halston
recognized the long, narrow, hallway. Vines, and moss, covered the stone walls.
They became thicker and thicker and he had to squint to see the base of the
Alchemist’s tree with the wooden door.

Tristan
sauntered over to it, ducking down as the ceiling became lower and lower.
Halston had to do the same.

Halston
let out an annoyed breath. “I do hate this part,” he grumbled.

“Ah,”
Tristan said. “It’s not so bad.”

The
further they walked. The lower the ceiling became, until they were on their
elbows, pulling themselves through.

Halston
felt squished. He was sure the big War-Breeder didn’t enjoy it either, despite
his comment. They grunted and forced their way through, all while the vines
gripped at them and tugged at their legs.

“How
much longer?”

“He
must be busy. He has to open the gate for us.”

Halston
felt smothered. He didn’t have time for this. “What is he doing, anyway? Taking
a nap?”

“I
told him that we were coming.”

Halston
grumbled to himself. The Alchemist had to open the gate in order for them to
finally make it to his door. He was clever and not just anyone could approach
his lair. This entire hallway was specially designed to keep out intruders and
deter unsuspecting loiters.

Before
Halston could blink, he found the ceiling morph back to normal. He looked up as
it ascended. He stood and dusted his pants. The Alchemist had accepted their
visit and they now stood before the vine covered door. The vines pulled back
and the door swung open.

Music
planned inside. Drums. Halston forgot how…eccentric the Alchemist was.

“How
appropriate,” Halston said out of the corner of his mouth.

Tristan
grinned. He started bobbing his head to the beat. “I kind of like it. It’s odd,
but it sets the mood, right?”

Halston
made a face. The drums played fast and strong, in an almost hip hop rhythm. “If
that’s what you want to call it.”

“Hey!
Halston,” the Alchemist called. “No one asked for your opinion.”

Halston
shrugged and the small boy, barely four feet tall came from a back room and
wiggled a finger at him. Halston wasn’t surprised. The Alchemist still had the
face of a ten year old. It was odd, being scolded by a child.

“And
it’s nice to see you again too, Roderick.”

Roderick
folded his arms. He wore black pants, and a white shirt with red suspenders. He
was thin and pale, with short, wild, black hair.

“Payment
first,” the Alchemist held out his hand. “Then we can be friends again, even
though you haven’t visited me in far too long.” He raised an eyebrow when
Halston started to speak. “And messages on your little silver pen thingy don’t
count.”

Halston
gave Tristan a look and walked over to the boy. “I like to buy in bulk,”
Halston replied. “What can I say?” He searched his jacket’s inner pocket. He
felt around and grabbed an iPod.

Roderick’s
face lit up when he saw it.

Halston
felt a little silly giving the Alchemist something that anyone could buy in the
human world, but the boy was obsessed with human toys and technology. One could
tell that just from looking around his front room. There were posters of boy
bands, cars, actors and actresses all over the cement walls.

Roderick
examined the sleek design of the iPod and a grin stretched across his youthful
face. He giggled. The Alchemist, a grand wizard and immortal being, feared by
all creatures…giggled.

Halston
and Tristan stood back while Roderick put the ear buds into his ear and closed
his eyes as the music played. He continued to grin and bounce his head to the
music. 90’s
rap. That’s what the Alchemist had requested.

Tristan
chuckled and gave Halston a sidelong glance. “He’ll never grow up, will he?”

Halston
sighed and shook his head. “No. I’m afraid not.”

They
watched the boy start dancing. He jumped up and down and slid across the floor.
Tristan was in hysterics by the time Roderick started trying to break dance.

“What
is he doing?”

Halston
was a little impatient. He had to get Koa in and out of the prison before third
click. Halston checked his watch. “He’s been observing human culture. He wants
so bad to be human.”

Tristan
made a face. “Why? I’d rather be immortal than like the weaker race up there?”
He nodded his chin up towards the ceiling.

Halston
shrugged. “They have a few advantages, I suppose.”

Roderick
finally stopped dancing and swirled around to face them. “All right, let’s get
on with it.” He swiped his lab coat off the back of a chair and put it on with
grace. He was all business when that coat went on.

Halston
nodded. He was ready. They followed the Alchemist into his laboratory. Wooden
bookcases stretched all the way up to the ceiling that was at least a hundred
feet high. There were cubbies along the walls that housed vials of ingredients.
The equipment looked ancient, it was old and rusted, yet Halston thought that
it was probably more efficient than what most humans used in their world. This
lab was one that rivaled Halston’s.

Halston
wasn’t a chemist or anything of that sort. He created weapons. He dealt with
raw materials. Roderick dealt with magic and science. He practiced an ancient
art that most creatures had never even heard of. Halston still didn’t know
where the boy even came from. He was an anomaly. He didn’t really belong in
either world.

“So,
you need an advanced varnish of glamour, an orichalcum stone, and a fire stone,
correct?” Roderick put on his goggles and looked to Halston with oversized
eyes.

Halston
nodded. “Yes, if you could make that for me, I’d certainly appreciate it.”

Roderick
nodded, his face serious. “Thank you for the music. I will make whatever you
ask.” He grabbed flasks of colored smoke and liquids and started mixing in two
cauldrons. Then he pulled a black strand of light from the center of his small
palm. It stretched and stretched and Roderick continued to swirl his hand so
that the light coiled on the silver slab before him.

Halston
watched in stunned curiosity. He had no clue where the boy had learned such
things. How was it possible?

Roderick’s
face was completely focused. His big, brown eyes watched the light until it
created a tall, spherical apparatus that he smashed down into the slab. He
sprinkled white dust onto it and the light started to sizzle and pop. Roderick
nodded and left it to sizzle and bubble. He was pleased with the results and
returned to his smoking cauldrons. The first cauldron emitted a blue gas that
illuminated Roderick’s pale face.

“Why
won’t you let me see her?” Roderick asked.

Halston
was taken aback by the question. “I didn’t think you cared.”

Roderick
lifted a brow as he stirred in sand and salt. “What an odd assumption.” He gave
Halston a pointed look. Something in the boy’s eyes displayed a wisdom that you
wouldn’t notice otherwise. “Of course I want to see her for myself. Stop being
so stingy with her.”

A
child had put him in his place…again. He couldn’t help but nod. “I suppose I
can bring her by next time. Although, I hope we never have to return to this
part of the Netherworld.”

Roderick
cracked a knowing grin. “You’ll be back.”

“If
you say so,” Halston said. He knew that Roderick was right. If they survived
tonight, they would have to return eventually to finish what they’d started.

“Don’t
play coy with me.” Roderick chuckled. “I get messages from the Oracle sometimes
too.”

Halston
stood up straighter. “Since when?”

Roderick
thought a moment. “Can’t really remember. But yes, she speaks to me too.”

“Who’s
the Oracle?” Tristan asked.

“I
guess you’ll meet her one day,” Halston replied. He was more interested in what
the Alchemist had to do with the Oracle. He wondered if they were from the same
race. If so, then perhaps Halston had just solved one of the greatest
mysteries.

“She
will need to drink this one down in one gulp, while holding the enchanted
orichalcum,” Roderick ladled the mixture into a vial. He covered the two stones
in a protective material and handed them to Halston. He looked up at him and
they met eyes. “The fire stone is for in case she runs into trouble.”

The
purple cloth felt warm in Halston’s palm. He tucked it away into his inner
pocket and nodded. He wanted to ruffle Roderick’s wild hair, but he had to
remind himself, that he may look like a child, but he was not. He did look so
innocent and Halston wouldn’t dare say it out loud, but the Alchemist was quite
adorable.

“Thank
you.”

Roderick
nodded. He smiled. He looked tired now. Halston wondered how much what he had
just done took out of him. There were dark circles under his eyes that weren’t
there before.

“You’re
welcome, Halston.” Roderick tucked his arms into the sleeves of his lab coat.
“Do bring her to me next time. I hate being left out of these things. You’ll
make me feel like you don’t trust me or something.”

Halston
sensed something off in his voice. He really did want to be included. He’d
never thought about it. The Alchemist was lonely. Perhaps he wanted to be a
part of the team. It was an interesting idea. He could always use someone like
Roderick.

“I
will,” Halston said. “I promise.”

Roderick
smiled. “Good.” He looked at Tristan. “This is for you.” He handed the
War-Breeder a small token. “You’ll have a harder time leaving without this.
Give it to the Jem.”

Tristan
lifted a brow. “Thank you.”

Roderick
nodded. “Don’t mention it.” He met Halston’s eyes. “We are friends after all,
right?”

Halston
nearly did it again. He almost ruffled the boy’s hair. “We are.”

Roderick
smiled again. There was a pain behind his eyes. “See you soon. Now leave before
you run out of time.”

As
if on cue, the second click rung. The three of them looked up. Time was quickly
running out.

Koa.
Halston needed to get to her.

Chapter 27

The
door opened and Koa beheld a massive man. He blocked the entire doorway and had
to duck to enter the room. She and Evina had been drinking an odd blend of
blood that Koa had never tried, yet she loved it. She didn’t like it more than
human blood, but it was almost as good. It was almost enough to make her
forgive Evina for what she had done.

Koa
came to her feet and tensed when the large man glanced at her. He gave a nod
and stepped out of the way. Koa’s heart leapt.

“Halston!”
She ran to him. She frowned, despite her happiness at seeing his face again. It
hadn’t really been that long, but she had been stewing over whatever secrets he
was keeping.

“Koa.”

She
grabbed him by the collar and pulled him down to her level. “What is happening?
I want to know what you are hiding, and what you are planning, right now!”

Halston
nodded to Tristan. “Meet Tristan, our very own War-Breeder, he will help us
defeat Greggan’s army.”

Koa
looked at the large man. She almost asked if he expected to do it by himself
and she stopped herself. His muscles were bigger than any she’d ever seen.
Tristan smiled at her. He had a warm smile. That surprised Koa.

“You
know Evina, she is a temptress, and you can’t ask for a better skill than that
when it comes to getting other vampires on your side. Al is recruiting others
topside to infiltrate Greggan’s organization. And Jax,” Halston paused and Koa
tensed at the name. “You are going to free him, because he is the key to
killing Greggan and freeing your mother from her curse. Your mother, she is the
only one who can stop Bund.”

Koa
didn’t say anything. Halston had just revealed his plan, in simple terms. She
didn’t know what to say. She stepped back and let his collar slip out of her
hands.

Halston
searched her eyes. “Feel better?”

Koa
let out a sigh. She was nervous but she nodded. “I just don’t want to be left
in the dark. I mean, it seems like I have to do the hard part and break this
fool out of prison.”

“Fool?”
Evina made a face.

Tristan
chuckled. “She’s kind of funny.”

Koa
looked between both of them. “Well yes, I am not going to hide the fact that I
don’t think highly of him.”

The
War-Breeder and the temptress shared a look.

Halston
pulled Koa back around to face him. “We don’t have much time. Let’s get going.”

Koa
thought about Raven. She knew that Jax could change her back and that he had
valuable information for her.

“Whatever.
Let’s just get it over with.” Koa shook her head and stared up at Halston. She
felt like a puppet being controlled. She had her own motives, and she would get
what she wanted.

Halston
reached into his jacket and put something into her hand. Koa raised a brow. A
vial. Koa touched the glass. The gravity of the situation was settling in.
Things were about to get dangerous. Koa thought of Galena and how Halston had
given her one of his vials weeks ago.

Koa
eyes widened when he put two stones into her other hand.

“You
went to the Alchemist?” She was awestruck. She felt a little cheated. She’d
always wanted to meet that notorious being.

Halston
nodded. “Yes. Drink this down in one gulp.”

Koa
swallowed. “You sure, it’s safe?”

“Yes.
He is the best at this. I promise.”

Koa
sighed and pulled the top of the vial open. A tiny spurt of air escaped and she
smelled something foul. She gave Halston a look. “What will this do to me?” She
licked the roof of her mouth as she imagined what the potion would taste like.

“I
am not sure. It will transform you for a few hours so that you will be able to
enter the prison without being questioned. If they saw you trying to go inside,
they would immediately arrest you.”

Koa
thought of all of the possibilities. She could only imagine what she’d be
transformed into. She didn’t like the idea.

“Wait
a minute,” Evina cut in. She stepped closer to them and pointed to the Vial.
“Won’t it wear off the instant she enters Jax’s portal?”

Halston
ran a hand through his hair. “Yes. That’s when she’ll use the stones to
escape.”

Koa
held them up. “How do they work?”

“She’ll
have to fight her way out,” Tristan said.

Evina
leaned against the wall. “Well, at least she’ll have Jax by then.”

A
torrent of warnings flooded her mind. She felt strong, but she had a worrisome
knot in her stomach.

Halston
put a hand on Koa’s shoulder. “Go on. Take it, Koa. We will be watching for
you. We will all be outside and prepared when the time comes for you to escape
with the prince.”

Koa
cleared her throat and eyed the contents of the vial. She felt queasy but the
certainty in Halston’s eyes gave her the courage to gulp it all down. It wasn’t
as disgusting as it smelled, but it was thick and she could feel it slowly
creep down her throat and into her esophagus. It worked immediately. It burned
her from the inside out.

She
clutched her throat as it clogged her airway. Her eyes widened as she felt
something enter her and take over. Her skin started to crawl and she felt her
eyes roll into the back of her head.

Halston
held her up. “You can take it Koa. It will all be over in a moment.” Koa felt
comforted by Halston’s embrace, but the pain was almost too much. She cried out
as a powerful force morphed her body into something that felt foreign. She fell
to her knees with a crash of metal.

Koa
opened her eyes. She heard Evina gasp. Koa gasped when she saw her hands. They
were covered in metal. Her fingers were long and sharp. Koa felt fear enter her
heart. She was afraid of herself.

“Halston,”
Koa called, but her voice was not her own. It had a robotic tone that made
everyone cover their ears. Koa widened her eyes. Everyone looked odd. She saw
them as colors now.

Evina
was red. Tristan was green and Halston was yellow. They still had their forms,
yet she could see their inner aura, the difference between their races.

Koa
stood. She sucked in a breath when her head hit the ceiling. She bent over and
towered over them all. She saw that her legs were covered in black metal as
well and her metallic boots were sealed to her gaiters. She wore a metallic
breastplate and she touched her face to feel it covered in metal as well. As
far as she could tell, she was completely covered in smooth, black, metal. She
felt heavy, yet strong.

She
looked at the others as their aura’s pulsated. “What am I?”

Halston
was staring up at her with wide eyes. “A Scayor.”

Tristan
stroked his chin. “No one would dare question her like that.”

Evina
nodded. “It’s brilliant.”

“Damn,
you look awesome.” Tristan grinned. “It even adapted to her female features.
It’s rare to see a female Scayor.” He knocked on her belly, which was nearly as
tall as his face. Koa had to be nine feet tall.

She
felt awkward. She had never been taller than anyone. She was so used to
standing in the shadows and getting lost in the crowd. Now, everyone would see
her, and run. Halston swallowed hard and shook his head. He looked Koa up and
down. “Roderick is a genius.”

Koa
clasped her hands. It felt odd, hearing the metal clink against each other.
“What now?” she asked.

Everyone
looked at Halston.

“It’s
time.”

Chapter 28

Koa
approached the Ivory Tower. The prison was the one structure that passed
through all of the levels. All of the worst criminals were housed in those ivory
stone walls. She’d never seen a building so tall. The Ivory Tower stretched
upwards and went through a circular hole that led to the upper level of the
Netherworld. Made of stone and bone, the building looked like an ancient
castle. It was clean and bright, and yet one could feel the evil radiating from
it.

Koa
felt her heart thumping in her new, foreign, body. This is where Jax awaited
her. She swallowed and realized that her throat was dry.

Halston
had led her here. She could trust him. She had no choice. She was in a place
where everyone was a stranger.

She
checked the pouch that was secured around her waist and made sure that her
sword was secure. It pulsated against her belly inside the armor. She felt the
subtle vibrations running up and down the armor.

There
was so much evil surrounding her that she didn’t even need the sword to warn
her. Evil was thick in the air. She said a silent prayer for strength and
joined the ranks of the other Scayors that lined up to enter the prison. Koa
blended in with at least seven other Scayors.

Koa
tried to keep up with their quick steps and felt her breath start to quicken.
The sound of their armor clinking away on the stone floor made Koa wince. She
hated that sound, but was grateful that no one questioned her when she entered
the Ivory Tower.

No
one even dared glance at her. Even the other Syths that stood guard, kept their
distance. Besides, who would dare try to sneak into the prison?

Koa
smirked as she passed by. Then she wondered if they’d be able to smell her
differences. It made her worry.

The
Alchemist is the best, Halston had said. She held the stones
in her pouch as well. This had to work.

The
harsh reality that she might die settled onto her. She felt nauseous. Koa
turned to the one memory that made her smile every time. The day she met
Halston and kissed him. She had been drunk, and he simply laughed and picked
her up like a rag doll and took her back to his car. Koa hadn’t been afraid.
Even then she had known that he was someone special.

When
she woke up, there he was. “Good morning,” Halston said, as if they had been
close friends for years. It was that simple, and for the next twenty years,
they had become just that, but more than close friends. They became best
friends, and it was their secret, inside, joke…that Halston was Koa’s guardian
angel.

Koa
felt better. She breathed deep. She had to keep her cool. There were too many
narrow hallways that she began to feel dizzy. Creatures she’d never seen before
stalked the hallways, carrying electronic devices and taking notes. Koa was
amazed by how much technology the Netherworld utilized. They seemed to enjoy a
balance between technology and Medieval and Gothic architecture.

Koa
checked exits and noted the number of Syth guards posted. Her brows furrowed at
how many children walked the corridor. There she was, in the dimly lit, prison
and there were children swarming the halls. They all wore the same uniform,
gray slacks and blouses, with their hair pulled back into ponytails. Their eyes
all had the same hollow look in them.

Koa
sniffed the air. They were not human children. Koa’s eyes widened. Her gaze
followed a procession of two straight lines as they walked from one door and
across the corridor to another. Two more groups like that did the same, except
they came from the opposite side and disappeared into a door on the right. Koa
noticed that each child carried a tiny dagger. They ignored her. She felt as if
they had an arrogant air about them, as if even as a Scayor, that she was
beneath them.

Once
the children disappeared through that massive steel doors, Koa’s mind went back
to Halston’s face. His image kept her calm. Even though he wasn’t there, he
kept her from focusing on the skeletons that lined the walls like gruesome art.
The other Scayors were horrific enough. Just being near them made her anxious.

Koa
went over Evina’s directions in her head over and over. It was simple, the
temptress had said, Jax’s cell was directly down the main entrances corridor.
She would know it when she saw it. Evina was right.

Koa
turned a corner at the end of the main corridor and her eyes widened in awe.
She stopped before a portal. The royal seal was posted on the metal brackets.
Snakes and golden swords. It reminded her of the inkwell portal in the safe
house. Koa wondered if it worked the same way. She knew that the portal would
let anyone in…but it wouldn’t let anything back out. Koa gulped as the black
liquid reached out to her. Black hands reached for her.

With
a gasp, she pulled her face back. Between four silver brackets stood a black
pool, stretched like the faces of those Shadows, except this was a
liquid.  The portal faced her. The outer edges were illuminated by an
alien light. She didn’t want to go. She had no choice. Koa held her breath.

This
was what she came for. She never expected it to be easy.

Koa
braced herself and before she could talk herself out of it she jumped inside
the black pool. She felt the disguise start to melt away. Her scream was cut
off as the liquid filled every orifice of her face. The thick liquid seeped
into her mouth filling her lungs, coursing into her veins. It tasted like black
licorice and bitter herbs.

Koa
was frozen in terror. There was no fooling the black mass of the portal. She
felt smothered and found herself searching in panic, hoping that the end was
somewhere near.

It
seemed to take an eternity. Her lungs burned for air. She clutched her throat,
falling to her knees. She crawled along the floor, the sticky substance
gripping her like glue. She couldn’t move. Like a spider web, it held her
there, immobile.

Koa
began to panic. She choked. Her lungs burned as if hot acid had been poured
down her throat. A hand reached out to her and she recoiled backwards. Black
tears trailed down Koa’s cheeks. The hand grabbed her by the top of her head
and yanked her through. The instant her face emerged she gasped for breath.

Terror
struck her when she looked into those blue eyes. He frowned at the look of
shock on her face.

“My
darling Koa,” he said in a tender voice. Tears filled his eyes. He came to his
knees and put his hands on either side of her face. Koa stared in frozen
bewilderment as he caressed her face. He littered her face with kisses, holding
her as if he was afraid to let her go. He fought sobbing aloud. “You’ve come
back to me. After all of these years, you’ve returned. I always had faith that
you would, even when Halston took you from me.”

Koa
felt her terror replaced by loathing. “Jax.”

Jax
nodded and pulled his face back. He held her at arm’s length and smiled at her.
He examined her face with his eyes. Then stared at her hair. “Your hair is blue
now. I like it.”

Koa
frowned. Something wasn’t right. He wasn’t what she had been expecting. He appeared
to be a gorgeous young man, but she knew that it was just a mask. Still, there
was such innocence in his eyes.

Koa
shook her head. She couldn’t afford to let herself be swayed.

What
am I thinking? He needs to die! Koa thought to
herself, but then…there were the tears. Genuine tears. She felt an anxiety
building in her stomach. He laughed. He looked embarrassed and wiped his eyes
with the back of his hands.

“Forgive
me. I should have contained myself better.” Jax let her go and came to his
feet. He was tall, like his sister Evina.

Jax
wore a suit. His dark red hair was perfect and polished. His skin was milky
white, like porcelain. His blue eyes stared at her in longing.

Koa
looked away. Her frown deepened. She pushed herself up to her feet and stepped
away from him. Koa stole confused glances at his face. She felt out of place.
She opened the pouch and drew her sword.

“What
is this?” Koa looked around the large bedroom, searching out hidden spies or
guards. It appeared that they were alone. “Is this some kind of trick?”

Jax’s
brows furrowed. “A trick?” he asked. “What kind of trick?” He stepped towards
her and she gasped, bringing up her sword.

“Stay
back, Jax,” Koa warned.

Jax
made a face. He looked hurt. “You’re…afraid… of me?” He took another step
and Koa cut the side of his cheek. All of what little color was in Jax’s face
drained. He stood there with his mouth agape, staring at her in disbelief. He
didn’t even move to touch his wound. The small trickle of blood trailed down
his face.

Why
do I feel like I just struck a child? Koa thought with
dread. She kept her sword up, and watched him. Her hands were shaking. The
sword didn’t glow. Like his sister, he was not evil.

Jax
pursed his lips. He looked away from her in pain. He straightened his suit and
walked over to a table. He picked up a cloth napkin and dabbed the blood from
his cheek. “You drew blood,” he said staring at the white clothed stained with
his blood. He glanced over at her. “You used your sword, against me?” He
shoulders slumped, as if all of his hopes and dreams had been crushed. “What
has happened to you?”

Koa
was without words. She felt odd. She looked around, expecting someone to jump
out of a corner somewhere and reveal the meaning of this strange encounter. She
swallowed, and unsure of herself, spoke. “You’re trying to confuse me. Stop
it.” She kept looking around, paranoid.

Jax’s
eyes widened. “What’s wrong with you?”

Koa
lowered her sword, defeated. She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Jax. “What
is going on here?”

Jax
shook his head. “You mean to tell me, you really don’t know? You don’t remember
anything?”

Koa
shrugged. “What is it that I am to remember? All I know is that you hurt my
mother and yet I am supposed to release you in order to kill Greggan. I am not
so sure I trust someone who harmed my family.” Thinking of breaking her
mother’s curse gave her courage. She had to be brave for Raven. “But I trust
Halston. I will only let you live because of him.”

“So
Halston is the one who did this to you?” He nodded with a bitter smile. “He’s
the one who erased me from your memory.” Jax fell backwards into a chair. He
lowered his head in silence. The silence stretched for an eternity.

Koa
wanted to be patient. It wasn’t one of her…strongest qualities. She cleared her
throat. Jax looked up, tears of blood falling from his eyes. “Why would I harm
your mother, Koa? All I’ve ever wanted to do was protect you. I’ve loved you
from the day your father brought you into the palace.”

“You
cursed my mother!” Koa countered. She wanted to know more about when her father
brought her to the palace, but she needed to stay focused.

Jax
shook his head. “Cursed!” He shot to his feet. “Who has spread these…vicious
lies about me?” He frowned. His voice lowered. “Was it Halston?”

“My
mother told me what you did.”

Jax
looked stunned. He walked to her with his eyes on her sword. He lowered his
voice. “I loved your father and mother. Without them, I wouldn’t have you. I
would never have dreamed of hurting any of you. I would destroy that world you
live in up there…and everything in it to protect you.” His face turned
serious. Jax spoke with passion. “I had your mother changed because she would
have been killed otherwise. I did it for you. I pledged an eternity of love to
you, Koa.”

Koa
saw his hands balling into fists and felt her resolve waver. He was sincere.
She was baffled and unnerved.

“Lies,”
Koa whispered. She wanted to hold on to that hate. All of those moments spent
plotting her revenge on whoever cursed her mother.

“I
could never, lie to you Koa. You mean more to me than anything.”

“What
are you talking about?”

Jax
sighed and covered his face. He shook his head and ran his hands through his
red hair. Koa watched him as he sat back and folded his hands on his lap. He
looked up at her. “From the beginning then?”

Koa
nodded. She was eager to hear what he had to say. “Everything. Every bit of
it.”

Chapter 29

“Well,
we don’t have much time. So, I will try to be brief,” Jax began. “I suppose
this all begins with Halston and the rebel angels. You see Halston was just one
of thousands who left heaven to follow who you might know as Satan. They were
all tricked into leaving their perfect existence and abandoned here on Earth.
Halston was the first to try to make it back. He and this other angel known as
Al tried to find a way back. They have been trying for centuries. But on the
other end, there were the angels who didn’t want to go back. They fell in love
with human women.” Jax met her eyes.

Koa
felt uncomfortable whenever he looked at her. She tightened her grip on her
sword. Koa refused to turn her back on him, or anyone else. She would keep her
guard. Her eyes briefly scanned the cell. She was surprised that it appeared to
be more of a luxury suite than a damp, old, prison cell like she’d imagined.
Jax had everything he needed. A big comfortable bed sectioned off by a sheer
divider, a tall wardrobe, tons of bookcases, a lounge area with a mini bar, and
even a golden telescope that pointed out a small hole in the wall.

Koa
frowned. This is weird, she thought, but nodded for him to continue.

“Their
spawn were the first nephilim. Vampires, giants, and War-Breeders were
considered the more stable of the creations. Ghouls were considered failures.”

“Giants?
War-Breeders? Like Tristan?” Koa took a step back at hearing her own voice echo
across the large room. She looked around, still paranoid that somehow this was
all a trap and that at any moment Jax would make a move towards her.

Jax
perked up, excited that she was showing some interest. “Yes, the giants were
wiped out in the great flood. They didn’t follow the others to the
Netherworld.” He frowned. “I’m not really sure why.” He shook his head.
“Anyway, War-Breeders are big, muscular creatures. They were created to fight
against whatever the Royal Army sent down to stop them.”

“Royal
Army?”

Jax
tilted his head. “You really know nothing. You know, the Kingdom of Heaven?
Well, they have the Royal Army. There’s a war going on, my love. It’s been
going on since humanity came into existence.”

Koa
swallowed. This was bigger than she could have imagined. She felt so small and
insignificant. Koa nodded and licked her lips. “And what about demons?”

“They’re
different. They’re what angels become when they cross over to the dark side.”
His eyes darkened. He pointed at her and spoke in the tone that made the hairs
on the back of her neck stand. “You don’t ever want to make an angel
angry enough to turn.” He slid his finger across his throat.

Halston
had never told her that before. Then she remembered how he had changed right
before her eyes in the Valley of the Jems. “Noted. Now, where do I fit into all
of this? What is the story of…us?”

Jax
smiled then. “Why that’s the best part of the story.” He began to stand. Koa
whipped her sword up and he sat back down. He looked down at the blade and
sighed. “Calm down. I’m not going to touch you.”

Jax
sighed and ran a finger along the now healed wound that Koa had given him. He
looked up at the vaulted ceiling, mock stars hung like thin, glittering lights.
He was thinking.

Koa
huffed.

Jax
frowned. He gave her a knowing look. “You’re still impatient, I see. You were
always a little…anxious.”

Koa’s
eye twitched.

Surprisingly,
Jax chuckled. Koa felt a shiver run up her spine. Something about that laugh
made her feel a little wary. Jax stood, quicker than she expected. He was
before her so quickly that she gasped and nearly tripped backwards. He caught
her with one arm behind her back. His arm was strong, like solid stone.

She
froze. Jax looked down into her eyes, as if hypnotizing her. She felt her heart
quicken and her knees grow weak. Koa gulped and swirled out of his embrace. She
fled behind him and pointed her sword at his back.

Jax
stood there completely still, his arms still held as if she were still leaned
against them. Like a statue, he remained that way. “You know, it probably was
unwise to believe that you would still love me.” He straightened his back and
turned to face her. His face was emotionless.

“I
guess I always hoped that true love would stand the test of time. But, it seems
as if Halston has blocked your memories. It seems he has taken it upon himself
to shield you from everything that happened here so long ago.” His shoulders
slumped. “He shielded you from me.”

Koa
watched him approach again.

He
took a step towards her. “Koa, put the sword down sweetheart.”

Koa
shuddered, but didn’t move her sword. She watched him come another step closer.
“Stop right there, Jax.” She was afraid. He scared her more than she had thought
possible. It was his quiet, calculating, way.

Jax
moved closer. “You will not use that sword on me again Koa. Are we clear?”

Koa’s
eye twitched again. There was something about the way he spoke to her that
signaled something within her.

Jax
raised a hand and gently moved the blade to the side. “Let me show you, Koa.
Let me remind you of what we had.” He took her hand and with a yelp he pulled
her into his chest again.

Koa’s
lips trembled. He was so close that their faces nearly touched. She felt as if
she might scream. Jax…was in complete control. “Get away-.”

“Stay
still,” he warned and Koa’s voice was caught in her throat. He traced her lips
with his finger and closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, they had
gone completely black.

Koa’s
eyes widened in panic. He grabbed the back of her head and yanked it back. His
eyes bore into hers again and before she could scream…something happened. A
flash of light, and then darkness overcame her. Her scream rang in her head,
but nothing audible came out. Jax had her. For that second, she was his. For
that second, she saw everything that he had meant to tell her.

Entering
the palace years ago with her father. Greggan, sitting on the throne with his
long red hair pulled back into a ponytail at his nape. His intense blue eyes
landing on Koa as he examined her.

Koa’s
father had left her there. There was some sort of treaty. She still didn’t know
why her father agreed to it. But then, Koa saw Jax, standing in a hallway,
watching her and her heart thumped in her chest.

She
remembered the first night she and Jax snuck away to be with each other. His
kiss was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. His kiss made her feel as if
she was weightless. Every nerve in her body cried out for more. She could even
remember the taste of his tongue and craved to taste it again. Koa’s nether
regions grew hot with yearning. She gushed with wetness at the memory.

Then,
she remembered the pain. Greggan had found out she and Jax had been sneaking to
be with each other. Koa gasped. Greggan had found out that Koa…had given her
virginity to Jax. Greggan had wanted her for himself. He was furious. He
punished them both. Koa was in tears. For that second…she remembered…it all.
When Jax let her go, she returned to the present and her fear evaporated.

Koa
opened her eyes. Jax stepped away from her. Tears soaked her cheeks. He looked
expectantly at her. She could see it all over his face, that he was hopeful,
that she was his again.

“I
agreed to help Halston take you away from the palace, so that you wouldn’t have
to suffer, the way I did,” Jax said in a soft voice.

Koa
opened her mouth to speak but gasped instead, when Evina buzzed by. She hopped
off her flying disc and grabbed Koa’s sword. Koa fumed.

“We
didn’t bring you here to assault my brother! We brought you here to free him!”

Koa’s
fumed. “I’m not going to assault him!”

Evina
looked to Jax. She ignored Koa. “Brother, what has she done to you?”

Jax
shook his head. He seemed to be working hard to control his temper. “Do you
really think she could harm me?”

Evina
looked confused. “The sword? She wasn’t about to kill you?”

“I
had it under control.”

“You
bitch!”

Evina
sighed. “Well, I apologize then. But she needs to keep that damned sword in its
sheath.”

“The
sword is what will get me out of here.”

Koa
looked from one to the other. She balled up her fist and glared at Evina.

“Calm
down, Koa.” Evina spoke a little softer. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t
hurt Jax before he could remind you of the truth. We all took a great risk to
smuggle you out of the Netherworld. My father still doesn’t know that I had a
part in it. He still thinks I’m his obedient daughter.” Evina’s eyes searched
Koa’s. “I couldn’t sit back and watch him hurt you the way he did. You and I were
like sisters…back then.”

Koa
looked stunned. So much information.

Jax
sighed. “There’s still so much to tell.”

Koa
stepped forward. “Tell me then.” Her eyes didn’t leave Evina’s. She was
remembering. Koa and Evina had been like sisters. Koa had revealed her secrets
to the vampire princess. They had shared so much. Koa could no longer keep a
glare on her face as she approached her. She understood it all.

Evina
massaged her temples and sighed.  “Look, Koa. Jax is the only prophet in the
Netherworld, he saw what our father had in store for you when he forced your
father to bring you here. We all helped you escape because we believe in an
alternate future for both worlds-.”

Evina
gasped when Koa wrapped her arms around her, embracing her.

Evina
sighed and patted Koa’s back. She rested her head on Koa’s. “I did miss you,”
she whispered.

Koa
was overwhelmed with emotion. There was something unnatural about remembering
so much at one time. Her body was filled with both sorrow and joy. When she
pulled away from Evina, Koa was smiling. She felt whole somehow.

Evina
wiped a tear and took a deep breath. She threw her hand out, pointing at her
brother. “Jax loves you. But we all know that you are the key to
changing the Netherworld. You are the key to our ability to coexist with the
human world. Father locked Jax up in here so that he couldn’t change the future
that he predicted. Now, Koa, you’re the only one that can release us from this
prison, because you wield the ancient Lyrinian sword. Its power is the only thing
that can cut through that portal’s power.” Evina looked back at Jax. “Oh yes, I
almost forgot, the Royal Guard marches on the corridor as we speak.”

“They’re
here? So soon?” Jax rushed over to a telescope and peered into the glass lens.
He stood. “They’re here.”

“Yes!”
Evina clapped her hands together.  “Now, can we get moving?”

Jax
gave a single nod. He rushed over to a cabinet near the fireplace. He pulled
out a couple of tightly wound scrolls and stuffed them in his suit’s inner
pocket.

Koa
breaths quickened. She could hear them coming. Royal guard? She could only imagine what monstrosities were coming
for her. She rushed over and grabbed her sword from the ground. She hid a grin
as she remembered the way she and Evina used to play and compete.

She
gave Evina a look that was full of mischief. “I’ll slice your hands off if you
do that again.”

Evina
grinned, catching on to their old game. “You’re not quick enough little girl.”

Koa
sliced a chunk of her hair off before Evina could blink. Evina looked appalled.
Koa grinned triumphantly as Jax grabbed her and pulled her towards the portal.
Her grin faded as she watched Evina’s hair immediately grow back.

Evina
winked. “Bet you wish you could do that, don’t you? You forgot just how
spectacular I am.” She laughed.

“Enough
Evina!” Jax’s voice boomed, making them both freeze. He quickly composed
himself. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 30

Jax
ran for the portal. He waited for Koa to catch up.

“You
must lead the way.”

Koa
nodded and took a deep breath. She thought of how that black mass had almost
suffocated her. Evina tapped her feet. The princess was getting anxious. They
could hear horns being blown.

“Get
on with it! We have to get out of here quickly!”

Koa
took another deep breath and plunged in. Koa nearly panicked when she was lost
in the black, oppressive, darkness again. Jax took her hand and she felt a
slight comfort. She glanced down at her sword. She hadn’t noticed it before,
but it started to glow. The light it emitted was dim but it lit the way.

“Keep
going, Koa.” Jax had his hands on her waist. She felt safe. “Don’t stop.”

Koa
nodded and pressed on. The black mass tried to grip Jax, to stop him, but
somehow Koa’s presence was more interesting to it. It soon forgot about him and
focused all of its attention on her.

Evina
was completely fine. If she was uncomfortable, she hid it well.

Koa
wondered why their father trusted Evina over Jax. She felt her lungs start to
itch. They began to burn.

Koa’s
lungs ached and when she saw the light at the end of the portal she felt as if
she’d never been happier in her life. She had lost track of time. How long was
the portal? How long did it violate her with its smothering hands?

Jax
gave her the final push that she needed to emerge from the darkness. She fell
to the ground and the black mass evaporated from her skin as she coughed and
cleared her throat and lungs of its presence.

There
wasn’t time to recuperate.

Footsteps
thundered down the corridor. Koa looked over her shoulder. Dozens of Syths
charged towards them. The Royal Guard.

“Are
you all right?” Jax whispered into her ear as he helped her to her feet.

Koa
nodded silently. Her eyes looked in fear at the Syths. She’d never seen that
many in one place before. Her hand shook as she gripped her sword.

“Stop
them!” One of the bigger ones ordered. They wore armor, thin, black and
metallic.

Jax
straightened his suit jacket. He checked his watch. “Excellent timing. Thank you
for this, Koa. You won’t regret it.” He casually sauntered into the center of
the hallway.

“What
are you doing? Are you crazy? There are too many!” Koa held her sword in one
hand. She snatched a dagger from her boot and held it ready as well, in case there
was some close combat.

Jax
grinned. “Really, you’d have to be pretty quick to take all of those things
down…” He shrugged. “I suppose I can show you a thing or two.” Jax reached into
his pocket. He pulled out a fan much like Evina’s. It flicked open and turned
into a hovering disc. He stepped onto it and outstretched his arms. Two blades
slid out of his sleeves. They were blood red, with crystal hilts.

There
was a blast of wind, knocking Koa backwards. She gasped. Jax moved too quickly
for her eyes.

Screams.

Gulps.

Crunches
of bone.

Koa
blinked and all of the Syths were dead. Blood still sprayed in the air and Jax
darted past her. He caught her by the arm and yanked her up into the air. Koa’s
voice was caught in her throat. She was dumbfounded. No one was that quick. Koa
was beholding the skills of Netherworld vamps. She thought the special skills
she’d witnessed from New World vampires was something amazing, she had no idea
what pure blood vampires could do.

Koa
looked over her shoulder at the carnage. She was in a trance. She was shaking
when she looked up at Jax’s face. Not a trace of blood tainted his white skin.

“What…
was… that?” Koa looked down at his daggers. They were dripping with blood.

Jax
gave her a sidelong glance. “What?” He looked at his daggers. “Oh nothing
really.” An eerie grin crept onto his lips. “I’ve been locked away for a long
time. I think it’s only fair that I get to stretch a bit.” He gave her a quick
kiss on the cheek.

Koa
smiled.

“Fly!”
He shouted and let her go.

Koa’s
ducked and flew away as Jax grabbed two Syths by the necks and crushed their
windpipes. Jax dropped them to the maroon carpeted floors without a second
look.

Koa
nearly stopped flying. She should have been frightened by his power, but now
that she remembered the love they’d shared and the passionate night when she
lost her virginity to him, she couldn’t help but feel a little turned on by his
display of power.

Koa’s
eyebrows furrowed when the same two trails of children came out into the
corridor. She paused in the air. “Jax,” she called.

He
sped up.

Koa
panicked. “Jax! The children. We should free them!”

Jax
frowned. “You better use that sword of yours, Koa! Those are not children!” He
jumped from the disc and barely missed a step. He ran into their ranks and Koa
screamed.

“Stop-.”
Her voice sucked into her throat as the corridor turned into chaos. The scene
before her went mad.

The
children. Koa frowned in confusion. Their faces weren’t the faces of children
any longer. Their eyes turned black and their mouths turned into snarling
openings filled with sharp fangs. Those little monsters…weren’t children. They
were something she couldn’t identify.

They
nearly swarmed Jax. There were so many. Koa stood there in horror. She couldn’t
kill children, even if they were vampires. But these monsters were definitely
trying to kill Jax. They threw silver darts at him, yelling and growling like
animals. Jax dodged the darts and killed two with one swirling arm.

The
blood, it made Koa feel queasy. She cursed at herself, letting her morals get
in the way. She should have known that it would be ridiculous to have children
here.

An
abnormally large Syth came crashing down the corridor. Koa’s mouth opened in awe.
That wasn’t a Syth. It was a giant. The floor trembled with each stomping step
the giant took. He picked up Jax by his hair with a massive hand covered in
rings on each finger. Jax clenched his jaw and he stabbed the giant in its
gray-haired chest, slicing him as he slid back down to his feet. Intestines
spilled onto the carpet and the giant crashed to the floor with a deafening
thump.

Koa
flew as fast as she could when the childlike creatures started jumping onto
Jax. They tried to bite him and stab him with their tiny daggers.

“Don’t
let the prisoner escape!” A woman called from the other end of the corridor.
She was tall, with a shaved head revealing tattoos. She wore red armor and
pointed at Jax with the point of a long red gun.

The
exit was so close. Koa was just thinking of how frightening that woman looked,
when Evina came up behind the woman and lopped her head off. Her curved sword
sliced through with expert ease, spraying red blood into the air. The body
crashed after the head and Evina smashed the face of that severed head into the
ground.

Evina
stood and tossed her hair out of her face. “Jax! Hurry it up!” She yelled at
them before running back the other way. Koa tightened her hand around the hilt of
her sword and clenched her jaw. She didn’t know what those children really
were, but she no longer felt any sympathy for them. One bit her leg and she
cried out. The bite stung like hell.

Koa
kicked that abomination into the wall. She took a deep breath and ran into the
chaos. Evina and Jax were skilled. She wasn’t surprised. Koa had to keep up.
She wanted to show off, just a little, to not appear weak in comparison. She
couldn’t help feeling inadequate in the midst of the royal Netherworld
vampires.

The
sounds of squeals and yells were overwhelming. More and more of those little
creatures poured into the corridor from every direction.

Koa
dove into the masses. Her sword screamed with yearning. Koa swirled in the air
and caught the throats of four of those creatures. She sent their decapitated
heads flying in different directions. Koa took a breath and embraced the pain
of the Lyrinian sword. Too much evil. It begged her to quench its thirst. Koa
would not let it down. She closed her eyes and the sword took over. Koa’s mouth
was open as she focused on the feeling of the sword. Its power soared through
her veins. She slashed through bodies and listened to the satisfying sizzle. No
one could touch her when she was lost in the trance.

Koa
was broken from her trance when she heard a loud bell. She stood and opened her
eyes. She’d killed at least seven more of those creatures. She took a look
around. One of them stabbed her in her thigh.

“Little
bastard,” Koa cried out and covered the wound with one hand and ran her sword
through her assailants face with the other. Four toppled onto her with sharp
daggers and Koa could barely catch her breath. A loud bell went off again. It
was an alarm.

Koa
looked up. Down the corridor ran…Scayors. Koa paled. Robotic yells filled her
ears. Five of the giant, metallic, monsters stopped at the beginning of the
corridor. A long, metal, finger pointed at Koa. She started to panic.

Evina
stepped forward. The Scayors all turned in unison and looked at her. Koa
narrowed her eyes, curious to see what the vampire princess would do. Evina
tossed her sword in the air. Her tattoos moved just as they had before. She
closed her eyes and waved her arms around slowly. The sword hovered in the air.
With the movement of her arms, it started to turn in a circle. Purple haze
surrounded Evina as her tattoos danced. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to
be in deep focus. The Scayors fell to their knees and bowed with their heads
low.

“What
is she doing?” Koa shouted over the alarm.

Jax
caught his breath and nodded to his sister. “A blade dance,” he replied. He
smirked. “She’ll have them fighting for us before the dance is done.”

Koa
was astounded. She now saw what purpose Evina served in their new ‘crew.’ She
watched Evina and couldn’t help but feel impressed.

Evina
didn’t stop. Her eyes remained closed. She spoke softly, calmly. “I will run
out of energy in about two minutes. Do something now, to clear a path. The
Scayors are programmed to resist my dance. They will be free from their
trance.”

Halston’s
voice whispered in her head. Focus. Focus. There’s always a way out, Koa.

The
Scayors were blocking the exit. The gate was shut and Koa could see more
Scayors lining up outside. They had half a minute to think of a way out.

Koa
felt around in her pocket. She felt something smooth, and warm. Koa’s eyes
widened. “Jax, Evina, get down!” She grabbed the fire stone from her pouch and
tossed it. She held her breath and rolled onto her stomach. The explosion made
the Ivory Tower tremble. It destroyed the tapestries, walls, carpets,
everything in its path.

Jax
grabbed Evina and spun her out of her trance. She cried out, grabbed her sword
from the air, and they both ducked into the outer hall that led to the exit.

The
ringing in Koa’s ears was deafening, but she didn’t have time to recover. She
was on her feet within half a second. Her face was set. The creatures were
doubled over on the floor.

Koa
ran a finger along the blade of her Lyrinian sword, spilling blood onto its
blade. It absorbed the blood and screeched with pleasure. The blade turned red
and Koa was lost in a trance. The lights flashed and the wails filled the
hollow corridor. The night air of the Netherworld bit at her and she didn’t
care.

No
one was safe. Scayors filed in, stomping and pointing their fingers at her. Koa
gasped. Blue light shot out of their fingers. Koa watched as the light seared
what was left of the Ivory Tower floor. She held her sword up and blocked the
light. It bounced back and the Scayor was eviscerated. Koa breathed with relief.

She
kissed the blade of her sword. “Thank you,” she whispered to it. She shook her
head with a smile and ran out with newfound confidence. Through the remaining
fire from the fire stone, Koa jumped and ran her sword through the middle of a
Scayor.

The
sound of metal meeting metal made her ears hurt. She gritted her teeth as she
sawed through and left the Scayor in two pieces. He crawled away on his arms
and met his legs again. Koa cursed as the body fused back together. Sparks flew
as the pieces became one. The Scayor stood and towered above her.

“Shit,”
she whispered.

Koa
grunted as Jax grabbed her from behind. He held her with both hands. “No use
trying with those things,” he said to her as he looked up at the Scayor’s face.
“Your sword can’t kill them.”

Koa
nodded. She shivered. Jax cupped her chin and brought her face up to his. Koa
closed her eyes to his touch. She remember the softness of his palm on her
cheek and moaned. She had no idea how much she had missed him, and now, she
remembered.

“Don’t
worry, my love,” he said softly, even as the Scayors filed into the tower in
perfect battle formation. “We haven’t come this far to lose.” Koa couldn’t
believe how optimistic he was, even when death seemed imminent.

The
ground shook.

Jax
pulled her close. Evina covered her mouth.

“Oh
no. They let the Wraith out!”

Koa
looked up at Jax’s face in alarm. “What’s a Wraith?”

Jax
gulped. “Fly Koa! Fly away now!”

Koa
shook her head. “I’m not leaving you here.” She couldn’t believe she had just
said that. She was frightened. Still, she could no longer picture life without
Jax.

Jax
looked down at her and his eyes sparkled with mist. He smiled. “My Koa. You’re
back.”

Chapter 31

Halston
and Tristan gathered all of the supplies that they could carry from Tristan’s
home. They tucked away knives and guns, filling their bags with stakes and
various vials from the Alchemist. There was much to do, and so little time. Koa
should almost be done in the Ivory Tower. They needed to get back in case
Evina’s assistance wasn’t enough.

Tristan
lived alone. He had taken a wife, and she had been executed. Halston couldn’t
get Tristan to tell him why. He had an idea, but kept his mouth shut. Halston
also didn’t ask why Tristan had chosen to live in an abandoned building with creaky
staircases and boarded up windows. The furniture was sparse and there was an
old, musky, smell of rotting wood.

“How
long has Greggan been gone? Has anyone in the Central Dominace noticed his
disappearance?”

Tristan
nodded. “I’ve noticed. I’m sure others have noticed something strange happening
as well. Of course he took some of his best men and women up to the human
world. I’d say Greggan has been back and forth for the past six months. But
Greggan was never a very social king. He doesn’t exactly walk the streets of
his kingdom shaking hands with his subjects.”

Halston
sighed. Greggan would have assembled his own army up there by now. The humans
would be defenseless. Tristan was close. For the past year Halston had been
keeping track of the disappearances and the murders. Greggan was taking
innocent people and farming them. Greggan was merciless.

To
Greggan, humans were like cattle, mindless meals that he could do what he
pleased with. Not only did he feast on humans, but he was also creating more
vampires and turning them into eternal slaves. He was trying to single handedly
repopulate the world of vampires after Halston and Alice’s centuries of ridding
the world of them.

This
was unacceptable. If there was anything Halston put before everything, it was
the fate of the humans. He had sworn to protect them. It was his last chance,
to maybe return home to the kingdom of Heaven. It was all he’d ever wanted.
Well, it used to be all he ever wanted.

“Evina,
where will she meet us?” Tristan slipped on a cross body holster, a large
pistol at his side, a jagged dagger at his hip.

“At
the south gate. Hopefully Jax has convinced Koa that he is not our enemy and
that she can get him out of his cell.”

Tristan
nodded. “Right, it takes Lyrinian metal to cut through that black matter.”

Halston
nodded. “That’s right.”

“Why
is that?”

Halston
sighed. “Really? Do I have to go over this now?” He shoved a watch into
Tristan’s hand. “Put it on, now. We need to get out of here.”

Tristan
pursed his lips. He held the black watch up into the dim light that spilled
through his boarded up windows. “What’s this?”

“Communication
device,” Halston answered. “I’ll be able to reach you whenever I need to. And
vice versa.”

Tristan
grinned. “Excellent. I do miss working with you, Halston. You certainly have
the best gadgets.” He put the watch on. “I’ll let you stall on the whole
Lyrinian thing if you give me a decent gun.”

Halston
scoffed. “You don’t need a gun, Tristan. You’re a War-Breeder. Remember?”

Tristan
laughed and followed Halston out of his small flat. They walked out into the
cool air of the lower tenements of the Central Dominace. It was quiet. It was
the dim hours of second light. The Netherworld’s night. Everyone was sleeping.

Halston
lowered his voice. “Don’t worry, I already have something nifty in mind for you.”

Tristan
smiled. “Good man.” He patted Halston on the back. “I knew you’d come through
for me.”

They
walked quickly through the shallow alleyways. The city was a labyrinth, but
Tristan knew his way around. The only time they were slowed down was when they
had to step over sleeping packs of ghouls. There weren’t many of those
creatures left in this world, but it seemed as though they had figured out that
there was safety in numbers.

Within
an hour Halston and Tristan were at the central plaza. The staircases all led
to that plaza and they quickly ran up the stairs two at a time. They screeched
to a halt when they heard a loud explosion in the distance.

Halston
looked back, there was a loud commotion coming from the palace. He stood tall
and grabbed his infinity gun’s handle. His jaw tightened with worry.

“Koa.”

Tristan
stumbled back as Halston bent his knees and took off into the air. Tristan
shielded his eyes from the breeze that swept around his friend. It was a sight
to behold, Halston in his golden, angelic, glory. He nodded to himself. “I
guess, I’ll wait at the gate then.”

Tristan
gasped when Halston buzzed in on the new watch that he gave him. He didn’t like
technology. He frowned at the gadget.

“Yes,
wait at the gate, I’ll send them to you.”

Tristan
nodded. “Sure thing, boss.”

Chapter 32

The
gold in the sky caught Koa’s attention. She looked up and felt her heart soar.
It swelled with joy. Halston flew across the black sky in all of his angelic
glory. Embers and tiny sparks still fell from the damage her vial had caused to
the front of the palace, and yet Halston glided along the air with expert
agility and grace.

Koa
couldn’t help but smile. He had come back for her. She forgave him of
everything. The secrets, the lies, everything…was forgiven.

Jax
didn’t let his grip on her lessen. He glared at Halston.

Koa
turned away, towards Halston. He landed and she ran to him.

Halston
grabbed her with one arm and hugged her tight to his chest. “I’m sorry.”

Those
words were simple, and yet they made Koa hold him even tighter. She didn’t care
anymore. She buried her face in his chest and breathed in his scent. She
smiled. His scent was always the same. Eucalyptus and flowers, as if he’d been
born in a garden. She looked over her shoulder, remembering Jax. He watched
them with furrowed eyebrows. His glare went back up to Halston.

Halston
turned her to face him and Koa felt a little embarrassed. Jax was watching. She
wondered if he could see how she felt for Halston. She wondered if Halston
sensed how she now felt for Jax. Koa felt ashamed. All of this time, she’d
thought that she was saving herself for Halston. She hadn’t known that she’d
already given herself to Jax.

Their
eardrums nearly shattered at the bestial cry that came from the dungeons of the
Ivory Tower.

“It’s
coming,” Koa whispered.

Halston
held her at arm’s length. He bent to her level and met her eyes with an
intensity that made Koa hold her breath. She didn’t want him to let her go.

“Listen.
We have to separate. I will draw the beast away from you all while you make a
mad dash for the Gate. Do not stop for anything. Do not look back. You run for
your life, Koa, and I will do my best to return to you. Understand?”

Koa
couldn’t speak. She stared at him and nodded. Her skin tingled. Her hands began
to sweat. She couldn’t let him go again. Another cry shook the floor and what
remained of the walls and Koa knew the seriousness of Halston’s request.
Whatever a Wraith was, she was certain that she didn’t want to face it. She’d
seen countless monstrosities this very night. She was weary and didn’t feel
ready to face another.

Halston
stared at her for a moment, as if taking her all in for what might be the last
time. He kissed her forehead and pushed her away. “Go!” He took off down the
hall at lightning speed and all Koa felt was the whoosh of air as he flew away.

She
hadn’t a chance to call out to him as Jax pulled her out of the wreckage. She
came to her senses and turned around. Evina jumped on her disc, and still
holding her, Jax did the same and they went higher into the air.

Koa
looked down at all of the lights and sighed. The Central Dominace sparkled like
an enchanted city. That Disc Moon above turned and their sky began to brighten.
It was a slight change, but Koa could tell that it signified that morning was
coming.

She
was worried. She hadn’t felt such worry in ages. Halston and Koa had been
separated only once before. It had been during a mission two years ago. She had
tracked down a hellish clan of vampires that were rampaging through Eastern
Europe. The memories of blood still lingered in her mind. The bodies of
Romanian villagers had been piled up like small hills across the countryside.

It
took five months for them to make it back to one another. She couldn’t imagine
being apart from him for so long again.

Koa
swallowed her anxiety. She hoped Halston would make it out of there. Deep down
inside, she knew he would. He had to. He was her teacher and protector; he had
to know what he was doing.

Jax
held her tight and Koa felt safe. She wished she could feel relieved, but it
was impossible. She would escape, but she would not rest until she knew Halston
was safe as well. Koa watched the Ivory Tower for as long as she could, until
it became a tiny spot against the backdrop of that city of darkness.

Koa
rested her head on Jax’s shoulder. She realized just how tired she was. The
potion that changed her into a Scayor and the fight in the tower had exhausted
her. The hunger would start to creep on her soon.

Koa’s
eyes brightened when she saw the staircase that she and Halston had taken hours
ago. She knew what that staircase signified. Freedom was so close.

Jax
and Evina sped up and Koa wanted nothing more than to make a dash for the Gate.
She knew that would be unwise. She was fatigued and the Netherworld discs were
faster than she was on her own. Those discs covered what would have taken
another two days to travel in what felt like minutes.

Now,
they would just have to get past the Shadows that waited for her within the
tunnel. She swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut. She kept them closed as they
entered the tunnel. Halston’s voice spoke to her as they entered the darkness.

Do
not be afraid, Koa, Koa imagined him saying. Wind swept
her hair around her face, blowing tears from her cheeks. We will be together
again.