Dark Night
I allowed Mary and Tim to tackle me to the ground, ignoring the pain in the ass Carpathians hostility and shock, the snow puffed around us as we landed in a little snow drift that hadn't melted yet.
"Ciara where were you?" Mary asked as she squeezed me in a hug.
Picking Mary up and cradling her to my chest, I began dragging Tim by the back of his shirt. I began to walk back to the inn.
"I was busy, now Tim how many times have I told you that you cant have my knives to play with." I said as I jerked him forward by his shirt as his sticky fingers tried to reach for my knife he knew was hidden at my waist.
"But Ciara….I only wana try it, I promise I wont hurt anyone. Pleeeeaaasssee!!! He whined as Mary giggled at him as I made him march in front of me still clutching the back of his shirt. It wasn't him hurting someone I was afraid of, he'd probably hurt himself first.
"Could you give me a hand?" I asked throwing a glance at Zacarias who was half in a crouch looking as though he was going to pounce. His expression was of shock and delight, as though he was hearing a song he had forgotten. I smiled slightly. Watching this Carpathian was like watching a child learn the wonders of the world. What exactly was going on with this guy?
He walked forward and raised an eyebrow asking me what I wanted him to do. I passed him Mary and she clutched to him. He held her gingerly, obviously not certain how to hold a child gently with so much strength. He was comfortable in the end with just holding her to his chest as she clutched to his shirt.
I let go of Tim's shirt and he made a run for the inn. Jumping up the steps after him I snagged him in my arms tossing him over my shoulder, and kicking the door open simultaneously and walking in.
"Aww come on Ciara put me down. I promise I wont do it anymore. Let me go, lemme go now!" I ignored Tim's little tantrum as Mary squealed and giggled in Zacarias' arms.
The few people who were in the inn looked at us as I strode in, a few of the Carpathians I had met were here as well as a few I didn't know, the prince was in the corner with his second and their mates talking about something, they hushed up when they saw me with Tim over my shoulder. I basically had everyone's attention as Tim wouldn't stop shouting.
"Now then where's you mommy? Siena !" I called out as I walked into the main room with the fireplace.
"Tim quit squirming or I'll toss you in the fire." I warned as he tried to bite me.
"Ciara! Is that you? Oh my god!" She came running in from the restaurant section of the pub and stared as she saw me with her son over my shoulder.
"What are you two doing?" She asked confused.
I threw Tim forward so he fell backwards off me and before he could hit the floor, I grabbed his ankles and swung him from side to side, Siena covered her squeak and Tim laughed grabbing my legs. "I'm trying to teach you're son that stealing is wrong, but he's only enjoying this." In all honesty I wasn't trying to be mean or teach him nothing. This was just fun to see the kid truly smile and be happy.
"Ciara be careful and put him down. Tim behave. Where's Mary?""Mommy!!" Mary screeched and wriggled in Zacarias's arms. Siena wrapped he daughter in a hug but then her eyes locked on Zacarias. She obviously recognised he was a night creature with power. I saw fear flitter in her eyes.
Zacarias walked up behind me and leaned into me as I put Tim down, Tim stuck out his hands and did a handstand whilst I set his feet back on the floor. He crawled away cursing me. Weird kid.
Zacarias raised a hand to the back of my neck and slightly wrapped his fingers around it. Seems like Tim wasn't the only one who was weird. Before I could elbow him or yell at him for trying to get intimate with me, Siena took a quick step forward eyes wide with fear. "Please don't."
I looked at her in confusion and looked at Zacarias to make sure it was him behind me. We had also drawn the attention of the other Carpathians and the Prince was walking over with his second.
"Siena what's wrong?" I asked trying to escape Zacarias' grasp. He wouldn't let go of me now and that was just annoying.
"I know you're a warrior, I don't know what you are but you're a powerful warrior, I can only guess that the council have sent you, and I beg for you to spare her. Please she has endured so much for us, let her go."She believes I am going to hurt you? Zacarias questioned in my mind, shocked. Heck even the other Carpathians seemed shocked at what she'd said. So am I to be honest.
"Siena, this man is not from the council. He is a warrior, yes, but he is of the Carpathian people. He means no harm to me." I said as I walked towards her.
"You cant be sure. Besides I heard you scream last night, and any link to you I had collapsed, I felt his presence there and I can recognise it now. I'm not mistaken. You never scream, not unless it is the council doing something to you." She was frantic and she was shaking in fear nearly, it was all for me. Perhaps she was too good a friend for me after all.
"Last night my mind was fragile, Zacarias was there to help me and bring me back from my memories. The Carpathian people are a good race. The council aren't here so they can't hurt me. But trust my judgement. Do you really think I wouldn't recognise one of the council's dogs and not send him on his way with his tail between his legs?" I asked in my casual tone.
She actually smiled and she looked at Zacarias again and glanced around the room at the rest of the Carpathians. "Of course you would. I'm sorry, to all of you for jumping to accusations."
"It's okay, so you must be a friend of Ciara's right?" Raven asked stepping forward. Her husband shadowed her every move. I sat down on the rug in front of the fireplace and warmed my back up just watching them. I clocked the humans who seemed to not notice we even existed and pass right by us. Someone was distracting them for us, the Carpathians had powers then, but how much? I only knew a bit about them. Shape shifting, telepathy, telekinesis, elemental power, healing, and more probably. They could have the council worried and panicking with so much power given to each and every one in their race. I smiled at the thought of the council members panicking and running around like headless chickens.
You're thoughts seem to be cheerful at your councils discomfort. Is there something you should be telling me?
Zacarias's voice was teasing yet also serious. I smiled and stared into his dark sinful eyes. The man thought his soul was black and condemned, he had no idea what a damned soul was. I've told you all that I can say. I'm forbidden to part much information.
As the words were uttered in my mind, I had one of those ideas, a snap decision that for some reason you regret later for having. But how could this go wrong?
Quickly I jumped to my feet with the thought still fresh in my mind. "This is blinkin brilliant. You're here," I pointed to the prince, in turn making his second bristle, "and so are you." I pointed to Siena.
"Siena is a historical keeper of our people, she can answer nearly all of your questions which I cant. Siena you don't mind telling them about our race do you? After all we do sort of have an alliance with the Carpathian people." I smiled at her.
She looked back at the prince then at me. "Sure, besides I'm certain that in one of the old tomes it was recorded an alliance was made with Vlad Dubrinsky or someone of the Karpatii ."
"That was Prince Mikhail's father." I threw in helpfully.
I tapped my head at Siena's confused look. "Memories are a helpful thing."
"Fine I'll talk to the Carpathians, only if you take care of the kids for me."
"Hey no fair, you know me and kids are a bad mix. Besides you're kids are the worst in the world. Especially Tim, he keeps trying to play with my weapons."
She sighed. "Tim you behave, Mary just be yourself. Ciara stop exaggerating."
"Yeah Ciara don't be so mean. I'm not that bad." Tim said as he poked his tongue out at me.
You do know I'm going to need your help with these kids right? Zacarias only nodded slightly in my direction.
"Ciara what do you want to play?" Mary asked in her sweet little voice.
"I don't know Mary, but I'm going to toss Tim into the fireplace now." I said and lunged forward to grab him. He turned tail and ran out into the small garden that surrounded the back of the inn. Mary pulled Zacarias along giggling.
This was effective in two ways, one it distracted the kids and two, it meant I didn't have to hear about my history again. I'd had it drilled enough into me already, thank you very much.
So for now I just spent some fun chasing Tim and watching Zacarias's face when Mary asked him if she could dress him up and paint his nails. *********************************************************
The foolish girl was relaxing and enjoying herself. She was at the inn, socialising. It was clear she had obviously forgotten her place. There were rules set. She was to be dead to her family, to her people, to the world. So she had no one but the council to rely on. Well, that was the plan.
The council was full of nothing but differing idiots who loved to gain control through brutality, but they still had their uses. They were mainly the reason why I would win this war. The elementals and Carpathians may not have realised it but they had been fighting two battles from the same war for centuries. They had been divided, soon they would fall.
The little hunter girl could sort out an alliance, become the most powerful creature ever, but it still wouldn't stop me winning. It was far too late, my win is inevitable.
She would be the key to my success. She was the strongest of our race, th epower I craved was in her blood. I just didn't know which Carpathian was the strongest, it could be the Prince, one of the Dratrazanoff, a Dragonseeker or even one of the De La Cruz line. I didn't know who it was but I'd find out soon enough, I would get what I wanted even if I have to kill an entire family line.
But just to make things more fun, I'd put Ciara back on her toes, give her some motivation so to speak. It would be no fun winning a war that was already lost.
I raised the sniper rifle and steadied it as I sighted my target. Moving it minutely till I had a perfect shot of her head, my finger twitched, but instead of pulling the trigger I moved the gun again, down and to the side, catching in my sights another target. Slowly I squeezed my finger as I kept track with my moving target. When they turned to face me did I then pull the trigger alll the way, hearing the hiss of the rifle as the silencer muffled the noise. My eyes clocked the bullet as I saw it moving straight for my unsuspecting victim.
