Darkness had fallen once again over Caldwell which meant it was time for me to stalk my prey. I was a killer, but not of humans. I killed evil beings that were trying to annihilate my kind. I was not alone in my hunt there were others who sought the same thing that I did. The Band of Bastards was one of them. I had helped them out a time or two, but I was mostly a loner. I wasn't known to play nice in the sandbox so to speak. The others were the Brotherhood, full warriors who worked for the King of our race. I had heard all about them but had yet to run into them. My dad had been trying to get me to enter their trainee program but so far I had resisted. I liked doing things my own way and in my own time frame. Which means that I don't take orders very well. Rebel with a cause and I didn't need anyone telling me how to kill when I did it very well on my own. I finished dressing and headed for the basement. I slid a painting to one side and pressed the button that was underneath, soon the walls parted and the secret room was revealed. I stepped inside and turned on the computer system that was laid out on my desk. I mapped out where I was hunting this night and then shut it back down. I then walked over to the closet and opened it up. All my weapons were inside the closet. I was going into a very active area so I was going to weapon up tonight. I put on my holster and added my 9mm to it. I grabbed a couple of daggers and put them in their place on my vest. I grabbed half a dozen throwing stars and put them in their place. Last, but not least, I grabbed my baby, the weapon of destruction for me. My bow and arrows. I had deadly precision with them. My father had taught me how to use all my weapons and I practiced each day until my fingers cramped up and bled. My veins burned with vengeance. The Lessers had killed my mother and brother along with a close friend of mine while my father had left to pick me up from the airport. We came back to a scene that will be ingrained in our memories until our deaths. Blood everywhere, dead eyes looking at us. I shuddered as the images flashed back as if it were happening now. No, I couldn't let my emotions overtake me. I had to keep them in check. The only emotion I could allow myself to feel was revenge, hatred for the lessers who had killed my family and friend. I closed the closet and left my secret room and went back upstairs to say goodbye to my father. I stepped out into the cold crisp air letting it fill my lungs. Westward was the direction I was going tonight. It had been a week since I had wandered off to the west. The Lessers had been out in force the past few weeks, but then again it was holiday season and more people were out later than they normally would be, plus holiday parties make people less diligent in being careful. Civilian vampire captures and deaths were up. I dematted and then re materialized on a warehouse roof downtown. It was always my starting point. I crouched behind the door to the roof and listened, sniffing the air trying to get a whiff of the sickly sweet scent of baby powder. I silently walked the whole roof and then jumped to the next. It was how I worked, jumping from one building to the next, watching, waiting. It took almost an hour before I found any action. I heard the sounds of a fight, a big one by the sounds of it. I quickly loaded my bow as I moved closer to the sounds. I didn't stop to figure out who was fighting the lessers because it didn't really make any difference. I aimed my bow and let an arrow fly and a lesser went down. I reloaded and let another arrow fly very close to the vampire who was working him over. Once the lesser fell, the vampire looked in my direction and locked eyes on me for a brief second. In that brief second he turned his back on the enemy, a deadly thing to do. I saw the lesser almost on top of him with a dagger. I got the arrow off just in time to stop the lesser from gutting the vampire in front of him. Dropping lessers tends to get them to notice you, hazard of the trade so to speak. I hit a couple more to save a couple more vampires and then I smelled the baby powder and it was too close for comfort. I was just about to turn around when a vampire materialized on the rooftop across from me. I startled and in that second of time the lessers got the drop on me. I felt the pain in my side and then in the back of my head before darkness overcame me.
Tohr was pacing and pissed off. "I still can't believe you brought her here when you should have taken her to Havers. Explain it to me again" He said looking around at the group of Brothers around him.
"She saved our asses that's why" V said simply.
Tohr ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head and then turned his attention to Z. "You of all people I thought you'd have more sense.
Z bit nonchalantly into his apple. "Like V said, she saved my life, I saved hers."
"She dropped lessers faster than you could blink" Butch chimed in.
"Did she have ID on her?"
Butch handed her wallet over to Tohr. "If I had a guess by the picture in that wallet she's got a lot of revenge inside her. Sounds familiar." He said looking around at everyone. "She was loaded up too. 9mm, two daggers, six stars and her bow and arrow."
"Sounds like someone we've been looking for" Z said tossing the apple core in the garbage. There are no coincidences, she ran across us for a reason."
"I have to talk to Wrath about all of this." Tohr said as he walked away.
"I'm going to go hang out at the clinic, want to be there when she wakes up" Butch said before walking away.
Z and Rhage both headed upstairs to fill their Shellans in on the activities of the night. V headed to the Pit to change.
Meanwhile at the med clinic Manny was monitoring the young woman that the Brothers had brought in earlier. Luck had been on her side. A couple more inches to the right and things would not have turned out well. As it was she'd be out of commission for a couple of weeks at least. Manny looked up as the door to the clinic opened up and Butch walked inside. "I was wondering when you were going to show up"
Butch shrugged "Vampire or not I still got the cop part of me inside. How she doing?"
"Hell of a concussion and a deep dagger wound, but she'll recover fully. She'll need to take it easy for a bit, but other than that she'll be fine. So how badly did Tohr tear into you for bringing her here?"
"Enough, but he'll get over it. Have to admit she was amazing out there. Z feels responsible for her getting hurt. She saved his ass and he materialized right across from her and she had lessers in back of her and his distraction was what got her here. He won't admit that but I could tell by the way he was acting."
"I put all her weapons over there. She had all of the weapons that you guys use other than the bow and arrow."
"Yeah, I know, that's why I'm here waiting for her to wake up. I want to know the story behind all that." He said motioning over to the stack of weapons Manny had just mentioned.
"She should be waking up anytime now. Though with concussions you never can tell. I have some work to do so I'll leave her in your hands."
"She'll be safe and sound go do whatever it is you gotta do Doc."
A sharp pain blasted through my head. I raised a hand to my head and felt the bandage. I opened my eyes very slowly and winced at the bright light that shined above me. My eyes weren't focused and I said "lights please" not knowing if anyone was around me or not.
Butch heard her and got up and lowered the lights and then sat back down. "Hello there." He said softly.
I opened my eyes fully and blinked several times letting them adjust. I knew the person who was there with me was a Brother cos of his size. "Hello. Where am I?"
"You are at the med clinic of the Brotherhood. I'm Butch and you would be?"
I blinked a couple more times. Did he just say I was at the Brotherhood? I shook my head a couple times which hurt like hell. "The Brotherhood med clinic? How?"
"Well you saved a couple of the Brother's asses so it was the least we could do and bring you here to get patched up.
" I tried to sit up but a sharp pain in my side almost took my breath away. "Shit!"
"Don't move, you got a dagger wound deep in your side, Doc doesn't want you moving around too much, couple more inches to the right and we wouldn't be talking right now. So what's your story?"
I looked at the Brother before me. My story? I had never given anyone my reasons behind what I do every night. Far as I was concerned it wasn't anyone's business, but no one had saved my life before. "A year ago almost to the day I was coming back from college for the holidays. While my father was gone to the airport to pick me up the lessers attacked my home. They slaughtered my mother, my brother and my closest friend who was there to welcome me home. When my father and I returned all we found was blood and dead eyes staring up at us. Once our loved ones were in the Fade my father taught me how to kill. Anyway I want to kill I can. The bow and arrow is my favorite way to kill. Where are my weapons?"
Butch listened to her story, not unlike so many other families that had lost loved ones to the lessers. The difference was the training for revenge. "No worries, they are all safe and sound in a chair over in the corner. Impressive stack. How long did it take for you to become proficient with your weapons?"
"Six months and I was well trained. I'm in the top ten archers in the world. Competitions helped me with the bow and arrow. Every other weapon just fell into place. Once I was ready I didn't look back and I've been killing lessers ever since."
"Cos of your being a good shot you saved a couple of Brothers, that we are all thankful for."
"I like to help out. I'm thankful to whomever saved me." I say softly
"That would be Z, you saved his ass, so he returned the favor. He was the distraction that caused you to get hurt, so he had to get rid of the lessers who were attacking you. Then we all made the decision to bring you here instead of Haver's clinic."
"It was my fault, I let myself get distracted when I knew they were right behind me. I know better than to do that."
"We all know that but sometimes circumstances make us forget it. There isn't a Brother here that it hasn't happened to. We've just been lucky, just like you were tonight. So your name is Whisper?"
"Yes, that would be me. Seems unique names were the way to go when I was born." I say with a small shrug.
"It is unique that's for sure, but a good unique" Butch said with a smile.
"I need to call my father and let him know I'm okay, he gets insanely worried if I'm not home on time."
"I'm sure Tohr will let your father know you're okay"
"Are you telling me I can't call my father?" I said my eyes narrowing.
"I'm saying that it will be taken care of" Butch said giving her a look back.
A feeling of unease started to creep over me. I got the feeling that if I wanted to leave that I wouldn't be allowed and that got my shackles up.
"Just relax, no one is going to hurt you. There is a time and a place and your father will be told you are here when Tohr tells him. That is how it works around here, like it or not."
"Well I don't like it. It is beginning to feel like I'm a prisoner here and I won't stand for it."
"You couldn't stand if you wanted to so again I'm telling you to relax, you're getting all riled up for nothing. Trust me."
I folded my arms in front of me and didn't say a word. He was right she wasn't going to be able to go anywhere even if she tried, she was stuck and that didn't put her in an amiable mood.
Her pouting almost made him chuckle but he held it in, she was already pissed off enough. He knew that her meeting with Tohr was going to go off like a lead balloon, but that would be Tohr's problem not his. If it came down to a vote he knew where his vote was going. The Brotherhood needed trainees like her.
Tohr left Wrath's office even more harried than he had been going in. Wrath pretty much said she was staying since she was already here and she had saved several Brothers. Wrath wanted a vote among the Brothers to see what they thought of her staying and becoming a trainee. Tohr sighed and sent a mass message to all the Brothers telling them to meet him in his office. He had a feeling how the vote was going to go and that he would have to resign himself to that fact. He headed to his office so he'd be there when they started to arrive.
Butch's phone went off and he read the message. "Tohr's called for a Brother meeting, so I have to go, try to behave." He said with a grin before leaving the med clinic.
Ten minutes later all the Brothers were assembled in Tohr's office. "I've talked to Wrath he wants a vote among the Brothers to see if the girl stays or not. I vote against it, we can't take in every stray that we run across."
Butch shook his head. "She's far from being a stray Tohr, that isn't fair. Hell she's more trained than most of the trainees we have now. She can wipe the mats with anyone that we have at the moment. You weren't there tonight to see her in action. I say she stays.
All the other Brothers agreed with Butch, except Z who hadn't said anything yet. Tohr looked at him. "Z, what do you vote?"
Z shrugged. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her arrow, she stays." He said looking hard at Tohr.
Tohr sighed. "I guess I'm outnumbered. I will let Wrath know the vote.
"Tohr, she wants to talk to her old man to let him know she's okay. I told her you'd be taking care of that and she got pissed. Thinking she's feeling like a prisoner."
"I'll take care of calling her father and she can be pissed all she wants."
"Don't kill the messenger Tohr, just giving a Brother a heads up. She's going to be a handful" He said with a chuckle.
"Get some rest everyone, I'm going to introduce myself to our new trainee."
"Good luck" Butch said before leaving the office with the others.
Tohr got the father's phone number from V and dialed the number. When a male answered he told him who he was and where his daughter was. The man sounded relieved and thanked him for taking care of his daughter and said she was where she belonged. Tohr didn't say anything, just goodbye and then he hung up. It was a question that he would get answered by the girl. He made his way to the med clinic. Tohr entered the room just as Manny finished looking her over. Manny filled Tohr in on her wounds before leaving them alone.
"You must be Tohr" I said looking him over. "I'm Whisper. I need to let my father know that I'm okay. Butch said that you would take care of that for me."
"It's been taking care of" Tohr said looking her over. "He was relieved that you were safe. He also said that you were where you belonged. Care to enlighten me about what he meant by that?" Tohr said sitting down in the nearby chair.
I let out a sigh. "Father wants me to be a trainee for the Brotherhood. He doesn't like me out and about alone. I have resisted because you could call me a loner. I do things the way I want to do them and when I want to do them. I'm not good on taking orders or conforming to others. That's why I've never applied before."
Tohr listened and sighed inwardly. This girl in front of him was going to be a perfect fit with the Brothers. She had everything that was necessary to become a Warrior. "There are rules here but seldom followed. The Brothers don't take orders well either. You should fit in. A vote was taken and you are now a trainee." Tohr said defeatedly.
I couldn't help but grin a bit when he said the Brothers break the rules. "I'm glad I'm not the only rule breaker around. My father jokes with me that rule breaking is one of my talents." I grow quiet and bite my lip which I always do when I'm thinking. I look over at the Brother called Tohr and start to concentrate on him, trying to get a read on him.
Tohr's thoughts were on whether to put her in Z's or V's hands. It would be amusing having her train with Z. Though V might be a better person for her to train with. In the end it would be up to him who trained her in the ways of the Brotherhood. From what the Brothers had told him she didn't need the weapons training.
His thoughts were on her and training. He seemed to think that she would be accepted but she wasn't sure she wanted to be, but she had a feeling she wasn't going to have a choice. She broke off her concentration. "Who's V?"
Tohr's brow furrowed. "He's another Brother. Why do you ask?"
"You think Z or him would be suited to train me."
"Were you reading my mind?"
"You could say that."
"Well you can stay out of my head from this moment on" Tohr said with irritation in his voice.
"Relax, I hardly ever read minds unless I feel it is necessary and since I'm' here in unknown territory I'm going to find out all I can even if that means reading minds."
"It is rude and disrespectful don't do it again."
"So who are you going to have train me?" I say with a smile.
"I haven't decided yet, once I figure it out you will meet him."
"You are acting angry at me, why?"
"We have enough trainees already, we don't need to be picking up every stray that we run across."
"Stray? Are you calling me a dog? Furthermore, until there are no more lessers you will never have enough trainees. Don't judge me until you've seen me in action." I said in a low tone which I only used when I'm beyond pissed.
"Don't use that tone with me." Tohr said with a bit of a raised voice.
"You disrespected me. Am I supposed to be happy about that? What if I had disrespected you, would you be happy about it? I haven't disrespected you."
"You read my mind without permission."
"That isn't disrespect, it's curiosity. Try again."
"You will be on a probationary period just like every other trainee and I will be keeping a special eye on you."
"Do whatever you think you have to do, you are in charge. I welcome you to observe me."
Tohr left without another word. He sent a message to both Z and V explaining they would both be training the new trainee.
V and Butch were watching TV when the message came across V's phone. "What does Tohr want now?" Butch asked.
"He is putting me and Z in charge of the girl."
Butch chuckled. "I knew their meeting wasn't going to go well. Whatever he thinks will happen ain't going to happen. She's one tough cookie, she won't break."
"I'd like to know why he has it in for her, she saved our asses out there tonight he should be grateful to her. I'm confused."
"Wonder if he even knows her story, it is unfair if he doesn't."
V turned to Butch. "She told you her story?"
"C'mon I'm a cop or was one, I know how to get people to talk and yes, she told me why she is out there every night." Butch then told V what she told him.
"Classic revenge." V said softly.
"It's a raging inferno inside of her, you can hear it in her voice."
"That could be a good thing or a bad thing, true."
"Yeah, but I think in her case it is a good thing. She's been taking down lessers all by herself for like six months and she's still alive, that's saying something."
"I guess I will find that out soon since I'm going to be training her along with Z."
"Fresh meat for both you and Z" Butch said with a smirk. "I'm sure she'll try to start before Manny wants her to, she seems the type."
"Well she can forget that. Until Manny clears her there won't be any type of training."
"You can tell her that." Butch said with a chuckle. "But I want to be there when you tell her."
"Like I can't handle rebels."
"Not one's that are pretty"
V rolled his eyes. "Since when does that make a difference to me?"
"There's a first for everything."
"You're enjoying yourself way too much with this girl. Is she going to be your new project?" V raised his brow to his best friend.
"Maybe, who knows."
"You forgetting who you're talking to? I know when you have that gleam in your eye."
"She has my interest, I might take her under my wing. She'll need someone on her side having to deal with you, Z and especially Tohr"
"True, Z and I aren't going to go easy on her just because she saved our lives."
"She wouldn't want you to. Not her style. I learned a lot about her just talking to her and reading between the lines, it's one of my talents."
V shook his head and chuckled "Why don't you go use your talents on Marissa and get some sleep."
"My favorite use of my talents. Night V."
"Night Cop." V watched Butch leave and then sat back on the couch with a cigarette between his lips. Tomorrow night was his night off of patrol which meant he had plenty of time to get to know his new trainee. Once he had crushed out his cigarette he laid back on his bed and fell asleep.
I awoke the next day sore as hell. "Sonofabitch" I cursed as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. I looked around the room and located the restroom which I needed desperately. I held onto my side as I made my way to the restroom. As I laid back on the bed wincing in pain I realized how hungry I was. As if having read my thoughts the doctor Manny came through the doors with a tray in his hands. "Curteousy of Fritz, the Brothers doggen, he knew you'd be hungry and by the looks of it he was right." Manny said with a smile as he placed the tray on her lap. "Enjoy."
"Thank you Dr. Manny, I am starving." I said with a smile and started to eat. The lamb melted in my mouth and it took all I had not to eat it like a starving Ethiopian. I ate all that was before me and was stuffed by the time the dessert had disappeared. Soon another house doggen swept in and took my tray away. I was fidgety, anxious to be up and about, but I knew it would be several days before I could do that by the hard time I had just going across the room. I hated being in the same place for too long and I knew it was after dark, my time of the night and I could feel the pull of my weapons in the corner. I needed to be out there doing what I do best. I looked down at my hospital gown, as with any hospital gown it was hideous. I needed regular clothes. Next time I saw Manny I would ask him about it. I knew there were several women around and someone had to be at least near my size so I could borrow some clothes. I heard the sound of the doors of the clinic opening and waited to see Manny come through, instead it was a Brother. From the conversation with Tohr I deduced that it was either Z or V my trainers. I hurriedly put the sheet over myself, normally I wouldn't care but I was trying to make a good impression. "Hello." I said looking into their eyes.
V walked into the clinics observation room and had to smile to himself when she covered herself. Another plus on her side. He sat down on the chair next to her bed. "Hello Whisper, it is a pleasure to meet you." He held out his hand to her. "I'm V."
I took his hand and shook it firmly. "The pleasure is mine V." I said with a smile.
"As Tohr told you last night I am one of your trainers" V's eyes roamed the room until they laid on her weapons. He got up and walked over to them and picked them up returning with them. He inspected them carefully, especially the bow and arrows. "These are very impressive. Very high dollar. Your father spared no expense to make sure you stayed safe. From what we saw last night you wear your bow and arrow with vengeance."
I tensed when he touched my weapons. No one touched my weapons. My father touched them only once, that was when he gave them to me. It took all I had to keep from telling him that. I put myself in check before I answered him. "I need the best out there alone, so my father made sure that I had the best. He taught me how to use each weapon. I used that knowledge to perfect my use of them especially the bow and arrows. As I told Butch I'm in the top 10 archers in the world. Unless someone hits my arm I never miss. I'm not bragging, just telling truths."
V saw her tense and could tell she was not happy with him touching his weapons. It was something he understood, if anyone touched his weapons he'd be on them in a heartbeat. He concentrated on her mind.
"Stop that."
V blinked and looked at her. "Stop what?"
"Reading my mind. Nice try but I'm blocking you."
V grinned. "Nice try, but blocking me won't stop me" To prove his point he totally went around her blocking and read how upset she was with him touching her weapons and how she was wondering about his tattoos and trying not to be rude staring at them"
"Ugh, you're being rude." I said with a humph.
V couldn't help but chuckle. "I was proving my point. You might be able to read most people, but you won't be able to read mine unless I let you in and I never let anyone into my thoughts."
"I haven't had the problem till now cos no one else I know can read thoughts. So what are you going to be training me in?"
"Right now I'm not sure, I have to meet with Z and we'll decide together who teaches you what. I do know you will have to be cleared by Manny before any training happens."
I crossed my arms in front of me, my way of pouting. "There must be something I can do now."
Butch had been right she was cute but the pouting wasn't going to work on him. "That pout maybe adorable but it won't work on me darling. Trust me you don't want to be on neither mine nor Z's bad side. Trust me we will work you hard normally, but pull any stunts and we'll work you triple and enjoy every second of your pain, true."
"I just hate being stationary"
"I know you do, anybody that does what we do don't want to be down and out for any length of time, but it happens and it is a risk to everyone if someone goes out still injured. It is best to take the time that is needed to heal than injure yourself more and be down and out double the time you would have if you'd behaved. I think all the Brothers have done it and had to be out of the loop for longer than necessary. Be good, heal so you can enjoy your training." V said with a smirk.
"I promise to behave, but I want to wear regular clothes, if that could be arranged I'd appreciate it greatly"
"Good to hear that you will behave and I will make arrangements with the females of the manse to make sure that you get some normal clothes. I will make that happen right after I leave."
"Thank you V, I just feel very vulnerable in this gown and that is a feeling that I don't like feeling. It is hard enough being in surroundings that are unknown, not to mention people that I don't know. It is just overwhelming right now."
V nodded "I can understand and appreciate all that you are experiencing right now. All the females we have inside this manse has gone through it. Knowing the females like I know them they will be coming to see you and make you as comfortable as you can be right now. So rest easy you will be well taken care of."
"I'm in desperate need of a hot shower too."
"That you will have to ask Doc about, though I do know he has a shower available next door."
I relaxed a bit, feeling better about some of the things that I had been worried about before V's arrival. "Thank you, you have eased my mind on several things."
"I'm going to go and let you get some rest. I will speak with the Queen and I'm sure she will get you taken care of. If you need anything just tell Doc to get a hold of me and I'll come see you." With that he got up and left before she could respond to him.
"My people come and go quickly around here" I quote from Wizard of Oz. A yawn escapes me and soon I am sound asleep.
An hour later Z showed up at the clinic. Manny informed him that she was asleep. Z smirked and shrugged and proceeded into the room. He looked around the room and found two metal pans and took them back to the bed and clanked them together.
I woke with a start and started to reach for my weapons. I looked up and saw one of the Brothers. This Brother was scarred severely but I didn't show any shock other than from being woken with a start. "What the serious fuck?" I asked glaring at him.
"Oh did I disturb you? Too bad."
I started to say something then my brain kicks in and I realize this must be Z my other trainer. "You must be Z"
Z looked at her. He had to give it to her that she hadn't flinched away from his scarred face, most women did. "You'd be right I am Z. I came to see what shape you are in and to get a look at your weapons."
I bit my lip to keep from saying anything as he turned them over and slid his hand across them.
Z looked over at her and smirked. "Don't like anyone touching your weapons, V told me about that." He said as he picked up the bow and then an arrow.
I had had enough and I got up off the bed and snatched it from his hands ignoring the pain that raced through me. "That's enough, you've seen my weapons, hands off." I said in a firm voice. I didn't want to be overly rude.
Z laughed at her and let her collect her weapons. "I had to see what I have to work with, but it is good that you are protective of your weapons. That means they will always be in good working order. I'm sure V went through some of the rules, like training not starting till Manny clears you."
"Yes, he was adamant about that rule and I said that I would behave and wait until I was cleared. He also told me not to get on the bad side of either of you."
"Yes, that one is even bigger than being cleared first. We're going to be tough on you to start with but you piss us off you will wish you never laid eyes on us." Z got up and started towards the door, but stopped. "Thank you for saving my life last night." Then he was gone.
Z's visit had me confused, but the things that were clear from both the Brother's visits was that I was stuck not doing anything until Manny cleared me and that pissing either of my trainers off was not the way to go. That one was going to be the hardest because taking orders was not a forte of mine. I would have to learn to keep my comments to myself. I mean I didn't mind working hard, but I didn't need to work hard because I pissed one of my trainers off. After lunch the ladies of the manse started to make their appearances. The Queen came first with a stack of clothes.
"I brought a couple outfits from each of our ladies so you can pick those that fit the best." She said with a smile. "I want to personally thank you for saving the lives of our loved ones. I'm glad they brought you home to us to get healed up and I've also been told you will be one of the trainees. We are happy to have someone that has such talent already."
"Thank you for the clothes and the kind words my Queen, it is greatly appreciated. Forgive me for not being able to give you a curtsy."
Beth smiled at the girl in front of her "The sentiment is enough for me, just knowing you'd give me the respect is good enough for me. I'm not that much on formality as the King is. He is eager to meet you, but he knows you have to heal first. He has gotten reports from everyone that you have met and is pleased to hear good reports. Even Tohr had to admit that you will be a great addition to our team." She said with a wink. "The other ladies will be coming around in the next couple of days, we didn't want to all overwhelm you at once. Is there anything that I can get for you before I leave?"
"Get Manny to let me have a shower before I change." I say with a smile.
Beth laughed a light laugh. "I'll see what I can do Whisper." She said before disappearing into the room where Manny always disappeared through.
Within minutes Manny came into the room carrying towels. "You can take a shower and change into regular clothes. Until the ladies bring you good smelling soap and shampoo you will have to settle for the hospital kind, but at least you will be clean."
"Thank you Manny" I said smiling and taking the towels. I got up and set them on the bed as I went and looked through the stack of clothes and found a dress that I knew that I could get into. I found undergarments as well. Once I had a complete outfit I went to the shower room. I turned on the water and got it as hot as I could stand and then I stepped in under the spray of water. I closed my eyes and let the water rain down on me. I then found the shampoo and let my fingers wind through my hair. I then rinsed thoroughly. My fingers found the soap next and I slid the bar over my body being gentle around the wound in my side. Once I was clean I kept the hot water going a few more minutes before turning it off. I felt around for the towel and once I found it I dried myself off. I used one of the other towels to wrap around my hair to dry it. Once I was dry I hooked up my bra and stepped into the underwear. Lastly I slid the dress over my head. I sighed feeling human again. I left the towel in the basket by the door. In among the clothes was a hair brush. I carefully ran the brush through my tangled hair. After a few minutes the brush ran through my hair smoothly. By the time I was done my wound was throbbing. Manny must have figured it would be cos he came in and gave me a shot of Percoset. Soon the pain was bearable and I was sleepy. I slid into sleep hoping that I wouldn't be startled awake again.
The next night the women of the manse converged on me. It was a bit overwhelming but I deduced it was less stressful than having them show up one at a time. Their names and who they belonged to got my head spinning. The Queen handed me a credit card that had my name on it. I looked at her curiously."
"As far as us ladies and more importantly the King you are already a Warrior. Your training will be brief. It will be mostly the rules" She made quotation marks in the air. There are rules, but most of the time the guys ignore them much to Tohr's chagrin." She said with a smile. Your card has no limit, so while you are down feel free to shop till your hands drop."
Bella laughed "You'll know when you've spent too much when V shows up and puts his hand out and says give me your card" She said with a giggle. "He's done it to all of us, even the Queen"
Mary piped in "Because it is Christmas time we are given a bit of a leeway cos of so many people needing gifts. We get V shaking his head and saying you females are killing me." She said with a light laugh.
"Thank you, I think a new wardrobe is overdue." I say with a smile.
"Go for it. V likes Goose, so if you want to butter him up while you are shopping buy a case of it and he won't bitch so much" Bella said with a sly grin. "Not that I've done it a time or two or anything."
"She does it all the time" Mary said snitching her out.
"That or red smoke from my brother. If you're going to be really bad get him both."
Beth laughed. "You do that he'll get the card and cut it into a million pieces. V gets twitchy if you go over a thousand so try to stay below that. Trust me, he keeps close tabs on us women and our spending. He lets us know when we hit the 500 mark and then shows up on our doorstep when we reach a 1,000."
"I'll try to keep tabs on how much I'm spending, though clothes shopping is a big weakness of mine."
"You should see our closets. Our males have to have separate ones because we have too many clothes and we won't even discuss the shoes and boots." Mary said with a smile.
"My male can almost rival my collection" Marissa said with a smirk. "V actually has to tell him to watch his spending." She said with a laugh. "My Butch loves the expensive suits and shoes, he's as bad as a woman."
"Other than kicking lessers asses what else do you like to do?" Mary asked.
"I love to color. I can't draw a straight line but I love to color. I have hundreds of coloring pages and colored pencils at home. I also love to listen to music. I knit and crochet and I play cross stitch online. I love to read and I write stories when I get a chance. I like baseball and football. I play the piano and I can sing though I'm shy about doing that in front of people. I'm a shower singer" I say blushing.
Mary smiled. "You'll fit in well with us. Have you ever quilted before? We're about to start a quilting project we'd love for you to join us."
"I did a patch quilt for a baby once and I had a lot of fun picking out the patches, so I'd love to help" I said with a smile.
"I'll make sure someone goes to your home and pick up your coloring materials and anything else you would like, just give me a list and I'll make sure they bring it here for you" Beth said with a smile.
"Thank you my Queen, it would help having some of my things here."
"I think we've talked your ear off enough for tonight. One of us will be back tomorrow to check on you. I'll send down one of our floating laptops so you can start shopping. Rest well Whisper."
The rest of the ladies said their goodbyes and they all left. A half an hour later the laptop arrived and I went to town buying lots of dresses, shoes, boots, jewelry to accentuate the dresses. I kept an eye on my total as best that I could but there was so many pretty dresses that I couldn't help myself. I stopped when I reached 450. I shutdown the laptop and stuck the credit card in my dress pocket. An hour later Fritz swept into the room with my dinner tray. I thanked him and he left me with some delicious smelling dinner. My stomach rumbled as I inhaled the aromas on the plate in front of me.
After I ate I took a shower and put on a pair of slinky pants and a red sweater. Talking about my coloring earlier with the women got me wanting to color. I was feeling better and getting fidgety. I asked Manny for some paper and a pen. I started making a list of what I wanted from my home. I listed my toiletries, my hair dryer, curling iron, my monogrammed bath towels. In my room all of my sweaters and pants, my perfume and jewelry box. I bit my lip when it came to the weapons, especially all my extra arrows that was in my secret room. How was I going to get them. I could order more, but that's a waste of good arrows. Plus I had more throwing stars and daggers and a couple more guns in the closet too. I would have to think on the weapons situation. I knew the Brothers must have their own stash of weapons, but I needed my own, ones that I was familiar with. I opened up the laptop again and brought up my playlist on YouTube and closed my eyes to get some more rest.
"Females" V said shaking his head.
Butch looked at him. "Who did what this time? You did say they could enjoy Christmas shopping."
"I know, but they gave the new female a credit card and she's already racked up almost 500 in purchases."
Butch chuckled. "She's fitting right in with the ladies then. What was she buying?"
"Mostly dresses, shoes, boots, jewelry."
"She have good taste?" Butch asked curiously.
V cocked an eyebrow at him. "How the hell should I know that? That's a question to the females."
Butch rolled his eyes. "Let me see" Butch moved so he could see her purchases. "Definitely has taste. For a female that can kick major lesser ass she definitely has a major feminine side."
"I figured she'd be buying jeans, leather stuff and t'shirts and the like, you know like Payne, but I guess when you wear that kind of thing to kill something you don't want to wear it when you aren't" V said with a shrug.
"That's probably what it is. Hey, have you and Z put your heads together on what her training is going to be?"
"Yes, she doesn't need the full training. What we mostly have to train her on is how we roll. What we do on patrol, the do's and don't so to speak. We're going to put her on the weapon courses to make sure she's as good as she says she is. After she proves that we take her on patrol."
"She does things differently though when it comes to patrol" Butch said looking at him.
V nodded. "Yes, she will be on the rooftops while we will be on the ground. We will introduce her to the whistle so she will know when she's needed on the ground. That's one of the reasons for the weapons training to make sure she can do the ground combat."
"I don't think she'll disappoint. Plus we usually have a handle on the ground and even more so with her picking them off for us from the roof, leaves us only needing to tear the heart out and poof back to the Omega."
"That's another thing, I'm wondering if she's ever done the heart removal"
"That's something you'll have to ask her."
"I will, I need to talk to her about her spending, so I can go over that at the same time."
"Go easy V. She's probably never had anyone say here's a card, there's no limit and have fun"
"I know Cop, but I do it to all the other females so I have to do the same to her. "
"Tis the season be Santa V and not Scrooge V" Butch said with a smirk.
"Ho ho ho and bah humbug" V said with a smirk back.
"I'll see you later V. I have the night off so Marissa and I are going to do the dinner and a movie thing."
"Later Cop, have fun." After Butch left he made his way to the med clinic.
I had just woken from a nightmare when the doors to the clinic opened and V entered. Shit! He's going to come down on me about the money that I had spent. "Hello V. How are you?" I said with a smile.
V took a seat next to her and tapped the top of the laptop. "You've been burning this up."
"I stopped at 450, I should get credit for that." I said hopefully.
"Yes, you did, good girl. Because it is Christmas time and I'm supposed to be Santa V and not Scrooge V you have my permission, one time only to go over a grand. Two grand is the highest. Go over that and I use scissors on your card. Understand?"
"Yes, but I'd never go that high. I felt some guilt at close to 500."
"You don't have to worry about that anymore. You want something you can get it. "
"Thank you. I've never been able to do that before." I said softly.
"If you need anything all you have to do is ask." V said looking into her eyes.
"The Queen said she would have someone go and get some of my things from my house. I made a list of what I need, but there's just one problem." I said biting my lip.
"I figured you would need some personal things from your home. What would that problem be?" V said raising a brow.
"I have a secret room in my house where my weapons are. Not even my father knows about it. I need my own weapons so I don't know what to do."
"You have two options. One, you trust one of us to retrieve them, or you wait till Manny says you can go and get them yourself. There's always a solution, true?"
"Duh, I never though about getting them my damn self when I'm fully healed." I face palm myself.
V grinned. "Sometimes it just takes someone with a fresh mind to come up with the solution."
"Yeah, my head still isn't 100% clear."
"Manny says you're healing faster than he expected so that's good news. Which leads me to the other thing that I came here to talk to you about."
I raised my brow to him wondering what else he had to say to me. "Alright"
"Z and I had a conversation about your training. You are unlike the rest of our trainees. You have the weapons training there is no doubt about that. What you don't have is our kind of training beyond the weapons. We have protocol that we go by when on patrol. There are do's and don't's that you will have to adhere to. There will be a brief weapons training so we can make sure that you are as good on the ground as you are from the rooftop. Once you are back to 110% we'll get you on the rotation. Oh by the way have you ever sent a lesser back to the Omega before?"
"I understand about the training. I will do anything that I have to do to be set for patrol." At the mention of sending a lesser back to the Omega I got up from the bed and went to my stash of weapons. On top was a lone glove. I brought it over to him. "I call this my surgical glove. I'm a girl, I don't like squishy things on my hand, so I wear a glove" I say with a smirk. "Plus I have a friend that comes with me at certain times and finishes up after I've arrowed a lesser. I can put Tohr in touch with him, he'd make a good trainee."
V couldn't help but chuckle at her and her glove" Whatever works female. I will talk to Tohr about your friend, you're right we need all the good trainees we can get. Things have been escalating lately and that's never a good sign."
"That's why I'm itching to get out of this clinic and back on the streets."
"Manny gave me an eta of a week, so be patient til then female."
"I'm doing my best."
"I do have a bit of good news for you. How would you like to get out of this room?"
My eyes opened wide. "I would really really like that."
"I thought you might. There is a room waiting for you upstairs. Manny said you should be able to make the walk as long as you go slow. I volunteered to take you."
"I'm ready, let's go!" I say getting up from the bed. I grabbed the laptop and looked up at him.
V smiled "Alright lets go." V walked out of the med clinic with her and they walked slowly down the long hallway that led to the foyer of the manse.
"Oh! What a beautiful mosaic. It's stunning" My eyes roamed around the room at all the portraits trying to take it all in."
V watched her trying to take everything in and waited patiently for her. "Your room is up this way." He said softly drawing her attention to the staircase.
I looked up at him and then the staircase. My hand ran up the banister as we started walking up the stairs. "Everything is gorgeous" I say in a whisper. "Almost unreal."
V didn't say anything and kept walking. He stopped at the end of the hallway and turned the handle and opened the room for her. He concentrated and the lights came on. "Go inside, have a look around."
I peeked in the room before moving across the threshold. The room was huge. A huge king sized bed with red velvet and red silk caught my eye first. My hand roamed over the soft material. I made my way to the bathroom and was just in awe. There was a jet tub and the shower was huge. Tears welled up in my eyes. I was feeling so blessed. I turned to V. "Thank you" was all I could manage to say.
V felt her emotion and knew Butch had been right in his assessment of her not having much. "No need to thank me or any of us. Your service to us as a Warrior is our payment. There is a list of numbers next to your phone. They are numbers to get a hold of all of us. This is your home now. You can go anywhere you want. There are some locked doors that you can't get into, but they are few. The females will be happy to give you the grand tour once they know you are here and settled in. I'm going to leave you to get settled."
"Thank you again V." I say smiling happily. He nodded and then left. I looked around again trying to wrap my head around that all this was mine. I felt like a princess, which was ridiculous but it was how I felt. I laid back on the king sized bed wrapping myself in the silky covers. A knock on the door brought me back to the moment. I got up from the bed and opened the door to find Mary smiling at me.
"I'm the tour guide" She said with a grin. "So glad to have you in the manse." She said as she led me out the door and back downstairs. It was a whirlwind tour where I met several other Brothers and an Angel of all things. My fairy tale was still in full force. Mary left me in the library as I wanted to look the vast library over.
"Welcome to the Brotherhood" Came a voice behind me.
I whirled around and noticed the angel who was named Lassiter standing behind me with a smile on his face.
"Hello and thank you." I said smiling back at him. I looked him over curiously and trying not to be rude about it. "So, you're really an angel?" I said cocking my head to the side.
"Yup I sure am" All of a sudden he started to glow.
My eyes grew as big as saucers as I watched the glow. "Amazing" I breathed.
"Why thank you" He bowed and then winked at me. "If you need anything and the ladies aren't around just hit me up and I'll do what I can to help."
"Thank you Lassiter, I'm sure I'll be needing assistance at some point. The manse is expansive, I'm bound to get lost along the way."
"I will leave you to the books, it is almost time for Rhage and I to watch Oprah." He bowed and then left.
"Oprah?" I said with a shake of my head. I found a book that caught my interest and sat down on the couch and opened it up to start reading. It didn't take long before I dozed off.
Mary found her sleeping a couple hours later and called V.
V knew that because he and Z were training her that they were the go to when it came to her. More him since Z was mated. V stopped what he was doing and came to the library.
"She needs to be in her comfy bed don't you think?" Mary said with a smile.
"Yes, or Manny will have our heads"
"Your head you mean." She said leaving the room.
V slowly took the book out of her hand and set it aside, then he gently picked her up and carried her back to her room and laid her on the bed. He covered her with a blanket that was laying at the bottom of the bed. He watched her sleep for a moment or two before quietly leaving the room.
