Author's Note: I try to make my notes all at the beginning and the end so that you don't loose the flow of the story.
For those new to my stories, I write all of my Dark-Hunter fanfics as novella length continuations of the series, as best as I can. I try to avoid making any guesses as to where Sherilynn Kenyon is headed with her series, or over arching story lines. Instead, I simply wrote stories for some of my favorite characters who have yet to have their stories told, so I do guess at their backstory if it hasn't been shared in the DH books yet. Ms Kenyon could easily shatter each one of my stories as new books come out. And, that has in fact happened as I created a story that included Hecate as a character. Then Dragonmark came out and she is referenced in the book. It throws her whole role in my Achilles story out the door in so far as cannon goes. So, please take some of it with a grain of salt. These are just my attempts at giving more characters their happily connected relationships in one form or another.
Also be warned that I do write with Ms Kenyon's foundations of sex, violence and abuse. Though I may cuss a bit more. Depending on the story. They are all rated M for these reasons. And be aware that there may be SPOILERS if you have not read the DH series up to Dragonmark.
I started these stories two years ago and my writing has improved. I hope to spend some time going back to my earlier stories and seriously working on rewriting (not content, but fixing grammar and any major cannon issues as they popped in). I also gave all of the stories dates just to help me remember who was where as I wrote them, as several of the stories do overlap a fair amount.
This story, for example has references back to my Deimos story and the Morginne story. There may be a few other one line ties back to other stories, but those have the largest references. It is not critical to read those stories first however, there would be some spoilers if you chose to read this one and then go back, and you may not catch who characters are as I created many of my own characters for these stories. So, headed into this story, please know that the main female character is one that I created. As are references to Jenna, Ramsey, Korina, Calix, Joseph Bera, and the Voodoo Loa.
It took me a while to finish this story for personal reasons, so my apologies to anyone who was waiting.
If you would like to read my other stories in chronological order, they are:
Achilles (ancient to modern), Deimos, Colt, Kell, Phobos, Morginne, Remi (has a broader timeline), Ethon (falls during Remi)
If you would wish to read things in clumped information, the order is:
Achilles and Remi can be read completely independently, before or after the other clumps. Clump one- Deimos and Phobos. Clump two- Colt and Kell. Clump three- Morginne and Ethon.
So, enough with my crap, on to the story...
March 7, 2017
From the darkness, she could hear the mumbled sounds of a city around her. Her whole body tingled and coursed paths of power over her skin as her mind swirled in chaos. It took several moments before things slowly started to gather back together, into some semblance of control. The sounds of cars, people talking, and even the rustling of someone or something digging around in garbage cans. The scent of damp earth, garbage and exhaust hung in the humid air, only slightly overshadowed by the aroma of warm food, spices and beer. The sun felt warm on her face despite the colder temperature and chilly breeze that whipped at her hair.
She very slowly opened her eyes.
"Where in the hell am I?" Whispered from her lips as she looked around. Confusion set in as she found herself in an alleyway. Nothing about any of it felt like a dream. What she experienced at that moment felt… real. Despite the flashes of images and words through her head. Voices that called for her to do something. Yet, she couldn't make it out.
Unsure of what had happened, she stepped out of the alley toward the street. There, she turned a small circle as she looked around her. Reading every sign, she hoped to find something to explain where she was. License plates on cars mostly read "Louisiana". Buildings were mostly red brick, older looking. None of the business names seemed familiar. Until she completed her circle and saw a sign for the building next to her.
"Sanctuary. Home of the Howlers" Read the sign. The image of a motorcycle on a hill, silhouetted by the moon, was painted on. Motorcycles lined the street in front of it. A biker bar. Great.
However, something about the place touched on a vague memory. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hold on to it. Just as quickly as it came, it disappeared as pain racked her mind and dropped her to her knees. "This can't be happening." She moaned as she clutched her head.
She needed help.
Digging into some internal source of strength, the girl forced herself to stand and move toward the bar.
There should be help there. Right?
Her eyes widened, as she approached a tall bouncer outside of the bar. His muscular frame leaned against the bricks. His shoulder length curly blond hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. Dark sunglasses covered his eyes. He appeared relaxed, almost asleep. However, she knew better than to believe that.
Slightly trembling, she walked her way over to the bouncer. Her body ached in sexual tension. She wanted release. Yet, she couldn't understand why. All she knew is that he was not the man that she craved.
He tilted his head down. "Can I help you?"
She stared at him for a moment. Her mouth gaping as she sensed a predatory aura from the man. He was dangerous. With a quick glance past the saloon style doors as someone left, she noticed most people in that bar were dangerous… and yummy as hell.
His lips slid into a bit a smirk. "As flattering as the staring is. I'm taken." He chuckled.
She looked at him again and blinked. Trying hard not to completely collapse into panic or jump into his arms with wanton lust. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I,I- I…" The girl's voice was barely above a whisper. Her eyes started racing everywhere. Was she any safer going into that bar than taking time to go somewhere else?
Could she hold her lust back from so many delicious men? Her mind knew that she didn't want to sample that naughtiness, no matter how her body cried for it.
The man's eyebrows scrunched together over his sunglasses. "You alright? What's your name?"
Her eyes widened further. Oh God! Her name? What was her name? Why couldn't she remember her name?
Where was she from? Where was she at that moment? How did she get there? What happened before she got there? Who could she call?
Shit, she couldn't remember anything!
She fought the tears that wanted to well in her eyes as she backed away from the intimidating man at the bar. Lost in sudden fear and confusion. The girl turned and ran down the street. She only made it twenty feet before she collapsed from the searing pain in her head.
The voices wouldn't stop. Demanding that she seduce her pray.
She was only vaguely aware as warm strong arms lifted her up and carried her away. The pain was too much for her to fight against the movement.
"Can you tell me anything about her?" A deep male voice asked.
Another voice, heavily laced with a French accent and a touch of Southern drawl responded back. "Nothing. She showed up out front and seemed to have a complete mental break down, then ran off and collapsed."
"Quinn, you should've called for an ambulance." A female voice scolded. "Carson shouldn't be treating a human in here." Her voice was low and controlled. Human. Why would anyone refer to another as a human? It set off her confusion and panic again.
"Well, she was unconscious and had absolutely no I.D., or wallet, or money. I thought the doc could look at her first. See if it's worth calling." He defended.
The female growled
The girl tried to stay quiet. Hide the fact that she was waking up. The woman's voice still rang in her ears. Human. She really tried to stay quiet until they left. However, it didn't last long.
"I know you are awake, miss." The first voice said.
Eyes slowly opened to see the bouncer from in front of the bar, flanked by a beautiful woman that looked like she could be the bouncer's sister, and a lythe and serious looking man with rich russet skin and sharp features.
"How are you feeling?" The man to the right asked. His dark eyes felt more warm and welcoming. With genuine concern. "My name is Carson. I'm a doctor. So, Quinn brought you to me when you collapsed."
The girl didn't say anything. Her eyes creased as her body sizzled at the masculinity of the men around her. Why was her body reacting like that? Fear started to spike once again.
"Shhh. No one here will hurt you child. Can you tell me your name? How you were feeling when you collapsed? Has it happened before?"
"I don't know." The soft voice barely escaped her lips.
Carson sighed. "To which part?"
Her eyes darted everywhere as visions flowed through her mind.
He could see that she was too scared to open up so Carson ushered Aimee and Quinn out of his clinic.
Once outside, they tried to debate the best course of action for the girl.
"Carson..." Aimee started. "It's dangerous to keep her here."
"There's nothing visible. It could be something as simple as a migraine headache. There's no need for an ambulance for that. Please give me a chance." He paused. "However, if she doesn't calm down, I'll have to sedate her. That just delays treatment. Let her calm down so I can talk to her and get her on her way."
Aimee growled. "Just call an ambulance and take her to a human hospital. They're used to treating homeless girls, I'm sure."
Quinn shook his head. "She's not homeless. Her clothes and shoes are high end enough and in good enough condition, I don't think she's homeless."
Aimee glared at her brother. "And when did you become a fashionista?"
He rolled his eyes. "I do have a mate and plenty of nieces. I buy them clothes and stuff. I am not saying that girl shops at Neiman Marcus or anything like that. But I looked at buying those same knee high biker boots for Becca for her birthday. They're over two hundred dollars. Her black dress and grey hooded jacket thing look like something some of our nieces would wear. And you know how they shop."
"Alright." Aimee relented. "Not homeless. But still human."
Carson sighed again. "Just let me know when you make a decision. I'm going to check on the girl."
The door opened and he stopped dead in his tracks. The girl was gone. How in the hell did a human girl get out of a room with no windows, only one door that they all stood in front of, and no vents wide enough for her to fit through?
Ethon Stark epitomized everything that a person would think of in a fierce ancient warrior. Blood thirsty. Aggressive. Dominating. Womanizing. And stubborn enough to expect to get his way all the time.
Ehh. Why not?
He was exactly that. An ancient warrior. An immortal ancient warrior. A Dark-Hunter.
Trained by the Spartans. Battle hardened. Wealthy. Good looking if he did say so himself. Charming… when he wanted to be.
And he had spent thousands of years perfecting his deadly skills.
The sun had just set as he left his three story townhouse in the French Quarter to head over to the home of one Nick Gautier. The annoying punk that Ethon was charged with trying to train and keep a general eye on. Like that was really working all that well. Some days, Ethon actually liked him. Most…
There was something seriously off about that guy.
He was a new Dark-Hunter. But there was something more. Something sinister. Powerful. And not all that controlled.
As if to prove the point, the door to Nick's home opened just as Ethon walked up. No one was there. It simply opened. That meant that Nick knew he was there and that he was trying to show off his powers. Ethon huffed as he walked up to the door. However, he stopped as something caught his eye.
The girl ran down a street. It was so full of people, music, and cheer. It seemed vaguely like some place she should know. But she wouldn't slow down to look more closely.
She didn't dare stop. She wanted to ask for help. Hell, she even passed police officers who just watched her with caution and asked if she was alright. No! Of course not!
She had quickly realized that they couldn't see what chased her. It was official. She was certifiably insane, running from a demon that only she could see. But somehow, he had showed up in the clinic where she had been. He took her from there in the blink of an eye.
Or had she ran off on her own? She couldn't remember anything in between. Of course, she couldn't remember anything before she opened her eyes in that alley next to the bar. So, that wasn't much of an argument.
Then she glanced down at her arm where her sleeve was torn to expose three jagged cuts pulled their way across her forearm. The pattern looked like it was at an angle that she could not have cut herself. In her head, she knew that it was from the demon's claws as she fought to get away. Yet, she couldn't trust her own mind.
She stumbled as pain lacerated her head once again. Clinging to a wrought iron fence, she pulled herself up to run once again. Only, she crashed into a wall. To her surprise, the wall reached out and caught her.
She looked up briefly to see a pair of dark sunglasses framed by a sea of dark blond.
"What've you found?" A rich Cajun drawl asked as another man slid up next to the first. The second man glared at the girl.
Her eyes widened. "Malachai."
Slowly, she lost consciousness.
"Oh, this just gets better and better." Nick's sarcasm could cut through ice. "I'll take the girl. You deal with the demon chasing after her." He said to Ethon.
Ethon shook his head. "What demon?"
No sooner had he asked the question, then he went flying backwards against a wall.
Nick sighed as he laid the unconscious girl down quickly. "Fine then. You take the girl and I will deal with the demon that apparently you can't see."