-1Disclamer: See last chapter..
"What's that bird going to do?"
"Mindreaders, what is the Human race coming to? Best stay out of my head, you wouldn't like what you'd see."
"After Kah over there, I'm sure Jake can handle you," Crystal smirked. "It's Damien you'd have to worry about. He tends to fall into memories, ain't that right Ghost?"
The tall, long haired man shook his head, "My shift's over, I'm going to bed. If you need anything, just call." He covered a yawn,"Make sure Claudia studies, would you? He writting is getting much better too."
The other man just shook his head, "Have a good day's sleep."
"No cat today Damien. You're on shift tonight too," Crystal shielded her eyes from the fully risen sun as the man, Damien, waved over his shoulder.
"I can't wait until Radar returns. This dual shift is killing me."
"Just go to bed Rip."
The man stopped and turned, "What brought that old joke back?"
"I got sick of Louis."
The younger man laughed at Crystal's remark, "Oh no," I felt a breeze as I watched him rush into the house. "Kage, stay away from the stove!"
"Mind if we take this inside? The light's hurting my eyes," Crystal walked passed me toward the house. "I'd offer breakfast but it smells like Kage burned it," she wrinkled her nose. "You might want to loose the blade too, wouldn't want the kids to get hurt."
"Kids?" I let the blade slide back into my skin.
Knives! Fly away! I ended up with a face full fo feathers as Ka dove toward me, seeking shelter.
"Such a pretty birdy," the little fare haired girl smiled up at me. "He has wings like Daddy, I just wanted to feel them. Daddy's feel cold, are all feathers cold?" I frowned at the smiling, bright eyed child. "Oh, did I miss the sunrise? I'll have to see it tomorrow," I blinked even as she giggled.
"Claudia, you should be in bed. If you want to stay up tonight you'll need to sleep," the child pouted at Crystal's comment.
"Can I hold the birdy first? I didn't mean to scare you. Your just so pretty," she held out her small, frail looking arm.
"He is heavy," Ka gave me a look as I let his talons rest on her arm. Don't hurt her!
So small, I might. He carefully shifted, keeping his wings held out for a quick take off should he be too heavy for the small child. Crow couldn't hold me until he was much bigger, Kept getting scratched.
"You won't hurt me. I'm not strong on the outside, but I can hold you." She smiled and petted Ka's chest, "So warm. Poor Daddy can't be warm. Aunt Rach is trying to figure out way though." It surprised me at how easily she held up Ka. "Thank you for letting me hold you," she held Ka up to me and, to my surprise, he gave a bow before flutting back onto my shoulder.
Nice little chick.
"Sorry I scared you before. Thank you, you're a nice birdy as well."
"Enough, off to bed Claudia," Crystal smiled at the child, even as hse put a commanding tone in her voice.
"Alright. Aunt Crystal? Could you take me running with you later?"
"Only if you get to bed. Now shoo," she gave the girl a pat of the shoulder.
"Running?" I gave Crystal a confused look as Claudia went into the house.
"Let's just say, I've been banned from tag," she gave me a chestiar cat grin. "Coming? Like Kage said, we've got pancakes. Do the dead eat?"
"I can, I just normally don't."
"Comin' through," a pack of children rushed past us, two or three brushing me as they flew past. Their heartbeats caused my fangs to retract, I knew I had to find sustenence, one way or another. "Sorry!"
"Damnit Cindy! Get back here!" A young man ran head first into me as he was trying to clear what looked like, batter from his face. "Sorry Dame, didn't mean,.. oh!" He looked up at me once he got his eyes fully cleared. "Damien?" He cocked his head and looked me over, "New form?"
Crystal started laughing, "No. This is Knives. Damien's upstairs."
"Name's Daniel. Nice illusion," he gave me an intreaged look and raced after the pack. "Oh Cindy! I knew she'd be a hellcat."
"And I thought Crow was a handful."
"We managen though sometimes it's hard for even me and Jake to keep up. This way," che lad me toward a set of stairs and headed down. "You should get rid of the illusion. The kids might get spooked, or worse want to see more," she gave a short laugh.
"It's not an illusion, my hunger is showing through."
"Hm, interesting," I was realy starting to get sick of that word. "So you're a,"
"Something like that. I came here to find out the what, why, and how. Do you know of someone that can answer those questions?" 'Perferibly before Crow goes psychotic and tries to feed, if that's even what might happen.'
Crystal gasped and quickly covered her mouth as her eyes went wide, quickly searching around for my charge. "You mean..?"
"He has been infected by my blood. I was injured and got some on him. His skin absorbed it, he's been asleep for two days. I need to know how he's been affected and if there is a way to stop it. He should be... a... mindless beast, wishing only to do my bidding, but he's spoken and acted against my command. I need to know if he is truly free of my curse or if it's just temporary."
"Oh..." Crystal looked helplessly around, "When Rach wakes up we can get you a list of possibilities. There he is, Michael!" A, somewhat, older man looked over at as and I saw his head drop as he headed our way.
"You know, my proffesion normally words against repeat visits."
"Key word, Normal. We're not," Crystal smiled at him. "I've got a bullet in my shoulder. When can you take care of it?"
"As soon as you can stop getting shot," the man, Michael, smirked.
"It's not my fault Kage gets trigger happy. I've got it without, you know, killing me?"
"Where exactly?"
"Right," Crystal took Michael's hand and set it on the side of her throat, "There," she cringed as he pressed it. "Easy Doc."
"I'll have to get it later. I broke my last scalpel the last time I pride a bullet out for you. You should know how hard it is to get.. Woe!" I held up my hand, letting a small blade slide past my wrist. "Oh...my."
"Tell me where to cut."
"That's not," a look from Crystal stopped Michael's train of thought. "Never mind. I'll take care of it later, you might hit her spine."
"Hey Blades!"
"Knives," I corrested and turned to see the spike haired woman.
"Sorry, Knives. How many of them do you have?" I started to laugh,dry/sinister/hollow, "Far too many."
"Knives! You should see what these people can do!" Crow rushed over and grabbed my hand, "OUCH!" He took a hissing breathe as he pulled his hand off the blade he had niglected to see.
"Crow," it came out in a breathe. I caught his wrist as he tried to crattle his wounded hand. I wanted nothing more than to heal the wound, bit if I tasted his blood whatever bond we had might cause the infection to spread quicker. I forced myself to release him, "Get cleaned up. Before it becomes infected."
There was a worried look in his eyes, "Yes Knives," he moved through the crowd, Michael followed after him. I forced the last of the breathe in my lungs out, it came as a sigh.
I heard the click of a gun. "That wouldn't have helped."
"I know, but it would slow you down," her eyes were dark and hollow, killer's eyes. "I am use to fighting healers. Cause enough damage and you have a chance to kill them. Isn't that right, Crystal?"
"In my case. But how do you kill something that's already dead?"
I smiled, "It's been my experiance that beheading works, and destroying the heart, oh, and of course fire. But those all have no affect on me," I stepped toward the gun woman and raised my chin. "See for yourself?"
Author's corner
Something tells me that the next couple of chapters are going to be really long so :)))) It'll give you guys, and girls, PLENTY of time to review. :D MWAHAHAHAH...