Author's Note: And hello again, everyone! I have another chapter for you. I hope you all like it. Of course I don't know if any of you who read this like it because none of you ever review and a girl like me, who lives her life to write, lives for her reviews. La sigh! Oh well! Everyone please, please, PLEASE, enjoy and review. I do not own the Lords of the Underworld series or any of its characters. I'd make Lucien my father if I did. That would be an awesome mom and dad!
Chapter 20 Blue Not Red
When Isolde awoke, her throat felt like it was on fire. Just trying to swallow had her wanting to cry in pain. What was it with her and injuries since coming here? It was like every turn she took, she acquired a new injury.
Stupid Hunter!
Stupid gun!
Stupid Sabin for almost getting a bullet to the head!
And stupid Isolde for jumping in to help!
She inwardly cursed as the pain drove away all drowsiness. Her eyes snapped open and she found Anya and Ashlyn staring down at her. Both let out relieved sighs when they saw her eyes open. Moving carefully, her neck screaming at her, Isolde eased herself up into a sitting position, sagging back into the pillows. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing wanted to form.
"Don't try talking, chica. You won't be able to until your throat heals. That bullet did a number on your vocal cords." Anya told her.
Isolde mouthed something that looked like cursing before leaning over to her nightstand and pulling out a pen and notebook. She was writing something down when Lucien, Sabin just behind him, came into the room.
"Finally awake, baby girl." Lucien remarked.
Isolde glanced up, held up one finger to tell him to wait, before turning back to the notebook. When she held the notebook up, sprawled across the paper in a neat script, she had written, "I feel like Torin". The four in the room smiled, even Sabin couldn't help it as he leaned against her door jam. Isolde wrote down something else and showed them.
"How long was I out?"
"Just the night. You've been hurt an awful lot lately." Ashlyn told her.
"Not unusual for me. I once drove a four-wheeler through a fence and flipped it in a ditch because I hit the front brakes instead of the back brakes." Isolde wrote out.
Ashlyn winced. The thought was not pleasant, but it got the point across. Isolde was a magnet for self-injuries. Anya turned to Sabin then, giving him a hard look.
"Don't you have something to say to her?" she asked.
Isolde looked up at Sabin as he crossed his arms across his chest.
"You should thank her for helping you or something." Anya told him.
"He doesn't have to. There's no reason for it. I only did what any of the others would have done for him. No need to thank me or anything." Isolde wrote.
Anya rolled her eyes but didn't argue with Isolde. Isolde just offered her a smile. Sabin had half expected her to demand a thanks as well. After all, that bullet wound to the throat couldn't possibly be comfortable. Isolde usually paid back those who made her uncomfortable. It had technically been his fault. Then again, it had been the Hunter who had shot her, and she had punched him to death.
Literally.
Isolde writing something else, drew Sabin's attention.
"Danika?"
"We have her. Reyes is seeing to her now." Lucien answered.
"Any hints you want to throw our way?" Sabin asked.
Isolde thought for a moment, tapping the pencil against her chin. They could see her mentally shifting through information, trying to decide what would be safe to tell them. Finally her eyes lit up and she started writing again. Though she could translate Amun's sign language, thanks to Cameo's and Kane's help, she sucked at doing it herself. It didn't surprise Sabin that she had resorted to writing instead. He was just grateful she had neat handwriting. Finally Isolde turned the notebook.
"Don't let Danika go this time. She's important. To all of us. And Aeron will be having a guest soon."
Lucien raised an eyebrow at the last part.
"A guest? No hint as to who?" he asked.
His only reply, was one word; "Legion.". That didn't really tell them anything. When asked for further hints, Isolde gave them an apologetic smile. That was all the hints she could give them at the moment.
"Well, I'll get the bandages. It's about time we check your neck." Ashlyn said kindly as she got to her feet.
Isolde gave her a grateful smile. Lucien excused himself to have a talk with Reyes, Anya giving Isolde a quick squeeze before following him. Ashlyn was back a second later with bandages. Isolde held still while Ashlyn unwrapped her neck and checked the wound. The hole was scabbed over, but the inside of her throat was probably still pretty tender. Her vocal cords wouldn't work right for another day or two, but if Isolde was her usual stubborn self, she would be talking in the matter of hours. She would be eating liquids for the next few days that was for sure.
Once done, Ashlyn told Isolde to rest and left the room. Isolde leaned to the side, watching Ashlyn as she left and the moment the other woman was gone down the hall, Isolde tossed back her covers and slid out of the bed. She staggered once on her feet but caught her balance.
"She told you to rest." Sabin told her.
Isolde gave him an exasperated look before she headed for her closet. She yanked the over-sized T-shirt she was wearing over her head and tossed it over her shoulder as she vanished into the closet. Sabin remained at the door, watching the closet, watching as, every now and then, a shoe or stocking, or shirt, went flying.
"Listen. Thanks for the help, though you didn't have to do that." Sabin told her.
The clothes stopped flying for a moment and the next thing Sabin knew, his phone vibrated. Sabin pulled it out of his pocket, finding a text message from Isolde. She had found her phone.
"I thought I said not to thank me. I helped because I knew that a bullet to the head would make you dead to the world for a few hours. Who knows what a Hunter could do to you in that time. You may hate me, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to help you."
"Hold on a minute. I never said I hated you." Sabin replied.
Isolde leaned out of her closet, cocking an eyebrow up at him before she vanished inside once more. Just how big was her closet? Another text coming in, drew his attention to his phone.
"Doubt tells me otherwise. He can't lie, just like you."
Sabin frowned. This was exactly what he hated...Sabin cut himself off in mid thought, catching on to what word he used. So maybe he wasn't the most excited about having someone around who knew everything about him and everything he would do in the future. Who really could be excited about a person knowing their every though and action? But he didn't hate Isolde. Just her ability.
"Well he's wrong. I don't hate you. Just what you can do." Sabin told her.
Another shirt went flying out of the closet, hitting the hamper of dirty clothes perfectly. There was quiet before his phone dinged again, announcing the arrival of another text message.
"Why? It's not like I'm going to use it against you."
"And if Hunters manage to capture you?" he asked in retort.
The message came before she leaned out to peg him with a hard look.
"They already did. Once. I didn't tell them anything then and I sure as hell am not going to anytime in the future. I'm not that weak."
Sabin looked up from the text message just in time for her to flip him off and vanish back into the closet. Okay, so he deserved that one. She had been captured once before and she hadn't said a single word to them about the Lords. On top of that, she had killed every single one of them. A text message lit up his phone before she came out of the closet in a black, sleeveless dress, with a high, zipped up collar that was left unzipped. It hit about mid-thigh where a pair of royal purple stockings took over. No shoes.
Sabin looked down at his phone as she walked past him and out the room.
"You're just looking for excuses to hate me."
Sabin growled to himself and turned on his heel to follow her. He wasn't going to let her end this conversation. Not like that. He caught up to her as she headed down the hall.
"That's not true." he told her.
Isolde was already typing the next message. Sabin looked down at his phone and gnashed his teeth together as it read it.
"If you want to hate me, then go ahead, I'm used to it. But quit trying to come up with excuses. You don't have to have a reason to hate me. So this conversation can end and I'll stay away from you, as you obviously want, unless it's absolutely necessary."
Sabin stopped in his tracks, looking up at Isolde. Isolde didn't stop though. She headed down the stairs, heading for the kitchen. She didn't need everyone to like her, she had made that clear. She certainly didn't need him to like her. Sabin wanted to hate her, then that was fine. It was his choice. She wasn't going to let it hurt her.
Had it been Lucien, it would have been a different case. She heard Sabin's clomping footsteps as he rushed to catch up with her. He caught her by the arm and spun her around to face him.
"Listen up. I don't hate you. I dislike what you know. No normal person knows that much. Even among immortals." Sabin told her tartly.
In other words, he was calling her a freak.
The thought put a dark frown on her face, her eyes flashing with a hint of danger. Her reply to him was the rudest gesture in her arsenal before she slapped his hand away from her arm and turned on her heel and walked away. Sabin stared at her. He had a pretty good idea where she had learned the gesture, and Strider was going to answer for it, but he couldn't figure out what he could have done to deserve it.
He followed her into the kitchen where he found Reyes, a plate of food in hand. Isolde slid past Reyes, giving him a smile when he stroked a hand over her head, and headed to the fridge, yanking it open to look inside. Sabin decided to focus on Reyes for now. He would talk to Lucien about how to handle Isolde, later.
"Damn, boy. You feeding an army?" Sabin asked.
Reyes looked over his shoulder as Sabin. He glanced back at Isolde, who shrugged her shoulders before turning back to the fridge, her mouth twisting into a frown.
"She is hungry." Reyes told Sabin.
"I guesses. Tiny as she is, I don't think she'll be able to eat all that. Besides, she just spent three days with Hunters. You should starve her, question her about what went down, and only then, when you have answers, should you feed her." Sabin said, moving forward to snag a sandwich.
Reyes caught his wrist, just as Isolde straightened and flipped him off again to show her displeasure with what had just come out of his mouth.
"Make your own or lose the hand. And she is not in league with the Hunters." Reyes told Sabin.
Sabin frowned at the both of them. He was getting a little tired of Isolde flipping him off every chance she got. But he focused on Reyes, arching an eyebrow at him.
"How do you know?" he asked.
"Just stay away from her, and leave the food alone." Reyes replied.
"Since when are you so giving?" Gideon asked, snagging one of the sandwiches anyway, before slinging an arm around Isolde's shoulders, careful of her neck.
"Back off." Reyes growled at them.
Isolde elbowed Gideon as Sabin took a sandwich from Reyes anyway. Anya and Ashlyn arrived then, arm in arm. Ashlyn gave Isolde a stern look, but the girl just grinned in reply, holding her hands up in innocence. An innocence she didn't possess.
"Oh, goodie! Food. I thought I smelled the sweet scent of culinary genius. Not at Isolde's level though." Anya said, flashing Isolde a grin.
"Danika's." Reyes told her, snatching his plate and glass away before anymore could be taken.
"But I really like turkey. Besides, when I slap a sandwich together, it never taste as good as when you do it. There's something so delicious about food prepared by a man." Anya complained.
"Not my problem." Reyes said, trying to move past her but she wouldn't let him. "Lucien will cook something for you."
"He's out collecting souls." Anya replied.
"Paris, then."
"He's doing some chick in town, the nympho."
"Starve or have Isolde do it."
Isolde typed something out on her phone and held it out for Reyes to read. The man bent down to read the screen.
I can help make something real quick but I'm about to go into town. I can't eat anything unless it's a liquid right now and we have nothing. I'll drag Gideon with me.
Reyes heaved a sigh.
"You really should wait until Lucien gets back." Reyes told her.
Isolde held up another message for him to read, a frown on her face.
I'm not a child! I'll be fine. Like I said, I'll take Gideon.
Reyes shook his head. There was no arguing with Isolde when her mind had been made up. She was too damn stubborn for it. He fixed his eyes on Gideon, who raised one pierced brow at the look.
"You better take care of her." Reyes told him.
Gideon turned a confused look on Isolde who typed out a message and showed him. A grin twisted his lips.
"So a problem. I won't go with you." he told her.
Isolde grinned at him, holding up a hand and getting a high-five from the blue haired warrior. It always surprised Reyes how quickly Isolde made friends with people. Well...most people. He caught the frown on Sabin's face as he looked at the girl.
"I'll make us something. While I do, I want to hear all about Danika." Ashlyn offered, rubbing her swelling stomach.
Isolde turned to the fridge, pulling out everything they would need to make sandwiches. Ashlyn joined her and together the two started making sandwiches.
"She's well. Nothing more to say." Reyes told her.
"Make me something, too. I'm ninety-seven percent famished. That sandwich I stole only helped a little." Sabin told the two females.
"I'm totally full." Gideon added.
"Shame on you boys for making a pregnant woman and an injured woman do all the work." Anya scolded them.
Isolde rolled her eyes at this as she sat out plates to put the food on. She obviously wasn't hurt enough to consider staying in the fortress and sending one of the warriors out to get whatever she wanted from town.
"Hey! You're letting them make your sandwich. How is that any different?" Sabin asked Anya, shaking a finger at her.
"Pregnant and injured or not, I'll let them make me one, too."
Everyone, save Isolde, turned to Torin, gasping in surprise when they saw the warrior up and about, finally fully healed. Ashlyn tried to step forward to give the white haired man a hug but Anya yanked her back.
"He's Disease, sweetness. You can't touch him without getting sick, remember?" Anya reminded her.
"Oh, yeah. I'm glad you're better." Ashlyn told Torin.
"Me, too. I heard Isolde has taken my place with neck injuries." Torin replied, looking at Isolde.
Isolde spread her hands and shrugged. She gave him a smile and a wink, the former being returned by the man.
"How are you feeling?" Reyes asked Torin.
"Better. Hungry."
The last was said as Torin eyed the plate in Reyes' hands.
"Back off. I'm glad you're better, but not enough to share." Reyes told him.
"You almost make me wish I were still bed-bound. You'd have to bring me food with a smile." Torin told him.
Isolde typed out a message and held it out for them to read it. Reyes leaned forward and read it out loud for Torin.
If you want to go lay back down, I'll bring you food with a smile.
Torin's grin grew and he chuckled. He looked half tempted to take the offer. Isolde smiled brightly at him.
"I might take you up on that offer later, baby girl. At least you know how to treat a man." he remarked, giving her a wink before turning to Anya. "Oh, guess what? Your friend is climbing the hill. He keeps shouting that he wants to put you over his knee and spank you, so I decided not to kill him as Lucien instructed. Guy has a blade strapped to his left thigh, but that's the only weapon I detected. He should reach the door any-"
There was a knock on the front door then.
"William's here!" Anya said with a grin.
"What is he doing here? Lucien told him never to return or he'd kill him, and you hate him." Reyes remarked.
"Hate him? I adore him! Even made sure he'd come back by holding his favorite book hostage. And FYI, Lucien was only teasing about killing him. They're BFF's now, I swear." Anya said.
Isolde let out a croaked off noise that sounded scratchy and had her wincing. Isolde stuck her tongue out and lightly ran fingers over her neck. Finally finished with a sandwich, she pushed it to Gideon and started making one for Torin while Ashlyn got into a heated discussion with the others on who would cook what since Isolde was going to town. Done, Isolde sat the plate in front of Torin and gave him a smile. He gave her a grateful smile in return and left the kitchen with his food.
"Here."
Isolde looked up as Reyes took her hand and put a wad of bills in it. He gave her a shake of his head before she could protest.
"You have a bad habit of not telling us when you run out of money and you refuse to let Torin set up an account for you." Reyes remarked before gathering his plate and glass and leaving. Isolde rolled her eyes, zipped up the neck of her dress, and tugged on Gideon's sleeve.
Gideon brushed bread crumbs off his hands and followed her. Isolde ran upstairs quickly stopping to pull on a pair of her beloved biker mitts, these in the same shade of purple as her stockings and a pair of boots. She grabbed her purse, stuffing the money in it, grabbed her sunglasses and jammed them on her face, and snagged her jacket before meeting Gideon downstairs.
She let Gideon drive. Or more along the lines that he made her let him. For some reason none of the men let her drive when they were in the car with her. Once in town, Isolde dragged Gideon to her favorite cafe. The place had the best milkshakes she had ever had.
Gideon order a few burgers and fries while Isolde had ordered two chocolate shakes. It was a little awkward ordering since Isolde couldn't talk and Gideon couldn't speak the truth. In the end, Gideon just pointed to what they wanted and supplied a number with fingers. Isolde leaned back in her chair. The conversation with Sabin had given her a headache. She really didn't know what to do about the man. She was rubbing her temples when Gideon spoke.
"What's not wrong with you?"
Isolde looked up at him and threw her hands into the air in annoyance. She would have added a noise to it if she could have but couldn't make the noise come out. Pulling her phone out, she typed a message and hit send. Gideon's phone went off and the man pulled his phone out to read the message.
"Can I hurt Sabin?"
Gideon snorted. He knew she wasn't serious. Isolde was never really serious when she had the pout that was on her face at that very moment. But the idea of her wanting to hurt Sabin was amusing to Gideon, who had spent centuries with the other man.
"I totally would not want to see that. Can you not put him in a head lock for me?"
Okay so she couldn't help a smile at that. She would love to do that, just to watch Gideon hit the floor laughing when she managed it. Then again, he wouldn't be the only one to hit the floor rolling if she actually managed to pull it off. Strider would too. Maybe a few of the others.
"So what isn't going on with Sabby?" Gideon asked.
The two fell silent for a moment as a waitress brought them their orders. Isolde smiled at the woman signing a thank you to her. The woman smiled back and left them to their food. Isolde instantly turned to her phone, typing out a message and hitting send.
"He hates me and keeps making up excuses for why. I already know I'm a freak, knowing what I know, but he doesn't have to keep throwing it up in my face. Please, please, please, can I hurt him?"
Gideon's grin betrayed the amusement he felt to her predicament. Isolde didn't find it amusing in the least. It really did frustrate her having to deal with this. Sabin really wasn't making life easy for her. Then again, she didn't know why she ever expected him to.
"You're totally a freak and she doesn't know it." Gideon told her.
After so many late nights reading her books, Isolde was completely intoned to Gideon Speak. Others might have to slow down and think that through, but she had always been a quick learner. When she had read the books, she had made it her mission in life to conquer Gideon Speak. She had spent six months speaking in nothing but Gideon Speak. Her boss at the time hadn't been too pleased by it but Isolde was a hard worker, so he had let it fly.
Basically Gideon was saying she wasn't a freak and Sabin knew it.
"Then why? Why does he always look at me like I'm the nastiest demon to claw its way out of hell?" she typed.
Gideon read the message, his grin faltering when he looked up at her. He didn't have to see her eyes to know she was hurt. He could see it in the awkward way she pulled one of the milkshakes to her and took a cautious sip. She winced as it went down, but it wasn't completely painful. The cold of the ice-cream actually felt good against her battered throat.
"Sabby's smart. She knows what she's missing. And you are a demon. A complete pain in the ass." Gideon told her seriously.
That combined with the weird looks a few shot their way, made Isolde smile. Gideon had just called Sabin a freaking idiot. That made her day. Especially since Sabin wouldn't had been happy if he had heard Gideon just then.
"Just pay attention to her. Her opinion on this totally matters. The rest of us hate you." Gideon told her.
Feeling much better, Isolde thanked him and the two ate-or drank in Isolde's case-their food. When they were done, Isolde paid and told Gideon that she wanted to do some quick shopping for food for dinner. It seemed there was never enough food in the house anymore.
Gideon roared in laughter when she mentioned that cooking for and feeding six of them had been hard enough. Add in another six warriors, two women, one of which was pregnant, and an unwilling house guest, and she was suddenly grateful for all the practice cooking large amounts of food a day.
The two went shopping, Isolde picking up enough food to make meatloaf, fresh rolls, fried potatoes, vegetables, and a cherry-and-pineapple upside-down cake for fifteen. Which was a lot of food. Gideon helped her carry it all back to the car.
When they got home, Isolde instantly went to cooking. Several of the others popped in to watch and snag pieces of food while she was cooking. She didn't mind too much, though she shot Strider a hard look when he snagged one of her cherries and popped it into his mouth after she had just placed it in the pan. The man gave her a grin and walked off. Isolde just rolled her eyes and went back to cooking, pouring the dry cake mix over the cherries and pineapple and adding slices of butter sticks to the top before popping the cake into the oven.
When she finished dinner, she made a separate plate for Danika, knowing Reyes had fed her not too long ago, but a little more food wouldn't hurt. Ashlyn entered the kitchen then.
"It smells wonderful, Isolde, as usual." Ashlyn told her with a smile.
Isolde turned to her with a smile typing out a thank you on her phone to show her. Ashlyn helped her set out a stack of plates and food. The others could just come, grab a plate, and make their own plates. With all the food spread over the table, they should have enough to eat. Isolde made another plate, piled high with food, sitting it and a glass of tea on a second tray. Ashlyn took a look at the two trays.
"For Torin and Danika?" she guessed.
Isolde nodded and winced when her neck protested.
"I'll help you carrying them." Ashlyn offered.
Isolde typed a thanks. Ashlyn called the others to eat first, and then grabbed the lighter tray, Danika's, while Isolde took the heavier of the two. Together they headed upstairs, stopping first at Torin's room. The man answered the door and smiled when he saw the two and the food in their hands.
"Finally up and cooking meals again, huh? Can't tell you how much I've missed it." Torin told Isolde, stepping back out of the way, letting Isolde step inside and sit the tray on a table.
Isolde pulled out her phone, typing a message. She hit send and Torin's phone went off just seconds later. He fished it out of his jean pockets and looked at the message.
"It's about the only thing I do around here now. What with all the others here to help with cleaning and stuff. But it's kind of hard to cook when people come into the kitchen and keep snagging food."
Torin grinned, reading it out loud. Ashlyn smiled at the girl as Isolde took the tray she was holding. She didn't want Ashlyn to carry it any more than she had to.
"That just proves how good your cooking is." Torin told her.
Isolde's smile was wide and bright. It was when he saw that smile on her face that Torin knew he probably would never be able to get angry with the girl. Not that she ever really did anything to anger him. No she pretty much reserved that for Lucien, Aeron, and Sabin. Sometimes Reyes and Strider too.
"Thanks for the food." Torin told the two, closing the door behind them as they left.
Ashlyn led the way to Reyes's room, Isolde trailing behind with the tray in her hands. Other warriors flew past them on their way down to the kitchen, thanking Isolde for the meal. Isolde just smiled back at them. When Sabin passed, Isolde acted like he wasn't even there, tilting her chin up and continuing on even when Ashlyn stopped to say hello. Ashlyn looked at Isolde as the girl marched on and then gave Sabin a questioning look. Sabin avoided it, continuing on.
"What was that about?" Ashlyn asked, catching up with Isolde.
Isolde gave her an "it's a long story" look. Ashlyn let go at that as they reached Reyes' room. She knocked and waited until they heard Danika call, "Come in" from the other side. Ashlyn stepped inside and hurried forward with a delighted smile and a cheerful, "Danika". Isolde followed her in with the tray.
"Ashlyn."
Danika held open her arms. The two hugged, Ashlyn squeezing tightly.
"I've thought about you every day. What have you been doing with yourself? How are you?" Ashlyn asked.
"Running. And honestly? I've been better. How are you?" Danika asked.
She hadn't seen Isolde standing at the door yet and Isolde didn't move, not wanting to pull Danika's attention to her just yet. But she had a smile on her face as she watched the two.
"Don't hate me, but I've been doing wonderfully, if truth be told. You've lost weight you couldn't afford to lose and there are circles under your eyes." Ashlyn answered, pulling back to look Danika over.
"And you look amazing. You're glowing. The men really have been treating you well." Danika said.
"Like a queen. Is there anything I can get you? Anything you need?"
"A ticket home. My family. Reyes's head on a platter. Other than that, no. Nothing."
"Reyes isn't so bad. He's intense, but sweet." Ashlyn told her. "Oh!"
Ashlyn turned then, smiling at Isolde and drawing Danika's attention to the younger woman. Danika looked up at her, surprised to find the girl there. The last time she had been there, she had only seen Isolde once. Isolde had come to the room to check on them and had promised to see to it that they were freed. She had kept her promise and they had been freed. Then, the girl had been at the peak of health and now she looked like she had been run a little ragged with bandages wrapping up around her throat.
"You remember Isolde, don't you, Danika?" Ashlyn asked.
"Yeah, I do." Danika replied.
Isolde walked into the room, sitting the tray of food on a table. Danika's mouth watered when she smelled the freshly made meatloaf, rolls, vegetables, fried potatoes, and cake that sat on the tray with a glass of ice tea. Isolde turned back to the two woman and typed something on a phone in her hands. Ashlyn stepped forward to read it. Last time Danika had seen her, she had no problem speaking.
"She says she knows you ate not long ago, but she snagged you some of dinner. Everyone needs a little home cooking and Isolde is a wonderful, little chef." Ashlyn told Danika.
"Why aren't you talking? What happened to your neck?" Danika asked, bristling a little.
If one of the men had hurt her...Danika would hurt them. Isolde was just as sweet as Ashlyn, had been concerned with the well being of Danika and had kept her promise. As far as Danika was concerned, the girl was innocent compared to her so-called brothers. Isolde typed something again, a painful smile on her face.
"She said it's nothing to worry about. She went with the men to save you and she was injured. She's just taking a precaution, letting her throat rest by not speaking." Ashlyn told her.
Danika's mouth went dry. The girl had been hurt trying to help her and it was all one big lie. But what really got Danika, was the knowing look in Isolde's eyes. Last time they had met, Isolde had told her that she had a gift, that she knew things about what Danika thought, said, and did. She wondered if Isolde knew the real reason why she was there. But seeing the sudden guilty look on Danika's face, Isolde waved her hands, typing something quickly and stepping forward for Danika to read.
"Don't feel guilty, please! It was my own fault. I was trying to help one of the men and wasn't paying attention. I know better than that. I just wanted to help you."
Danika looked at the girl and opened her mouth but Isolde was pulling the phone back, deleting the message and typing out a new one. This one made Danika's mouth go even dryer.
"I already know your deal with Stefano. Don't worry about it. Do what you have to do. I won't get in your way and I won't say anything. You have my honest word."
Danika looked up at Isolde who gave her a bright and warm smile. It made Danika's heart hurt. She was going to betray the men and therefore, this sweet, young woman who claimed herself their sister.
"Why?" Danika asked her.
"Sometimes it's best that some things play out on their own course. This is one of those things, Danika. My interference in this will be great, as I'm sticking to Reyes like glue right now, but I won't try to change what you do. That's freedom of will and I know how bad it sucks to have that taken away. Do what you think you must for your own good. That's all anyone can ask."
Danika nodded. She didn't know what to say or do. Isolde honestly was a good person just concerned with Danika doing what she felt was best for her. Whether that meant taking down the men or not, Isolde wasn't concerned. Danika wondered if maybe that was because she knew what was going to happen and actually approved of what the future held. Ashlyn stepped forward then, taking Danika's hand and sitting her down on the bed. Isolde sat next to Ashlyn.
"Listen, I don't want you worrying about anything while you're here. Things are different now. It's not an all-boys club with only Isolde around, anymore. Anya and Cameo moved in and are helping to keep the men in line. Have you met them? No? Well, you'll like them when you do. Together we'll find a way to save your family. I have no doubt about that. And the guys will help. They have hearts of gold, once you get to know them and Isolde is good to her word. If she says she'll help you, you've got an eternal friend." Ashlyn told her, Isolde smiling and leaning into Ashlyn's side.
"I hate to break this to you, Ash, but they're demons. Real, honest-to-God demons from hell." Danika told her.
"Yes. I know. Isolde's not human either."
"You know? And you're staying with them anyway? Of your own free will?" Danika asked shocked.
"Yes. In fact, say hello to the next generation of demon. Maddox and I are having a baby. I can't wait!" Ashlyn said, rubbing her stomach.
"Oh, Ash. Congratulations. You're sure Maddox will..."
"He'll be an amazing father." Ashlyn said confidently.
"What's wrong? The color in your cheeks is fading." Ashlyn said, concerned.
Isolde's eyes flashed with a knowing look and she offered Danika a soft smile.
"Headache." Danika lied.
"Oh, you poor thing. You've been through a lot these past few months. This, however, I can fix. You once flew into town to get me some Tylenol, and now I get to do the same for you. Actually, there's some in the kitchen-Maddox stocks it by the truckload these days just in case-so I'll be right back. Isolde, wait here." Ashlyn said, getting to her feet.
The moment Ashlyn was gone, Danika's eyes went to Isolde who scooted closer and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. She typed something on her phone and showed Danika the message.
"Don't beat yourself up. We all have to do uncomfortable things to save the ones we love. I took a lead pipe to the head and a bullet for the ones I love. People will do anything in the name of love. I, at least, can't fault you that."
Danika gave her a weak smile, returning the squeeze of her hand.
"How can you be so understanding, knowing what I have to do?" Danika asked.
"Because I believe in the good in you, Danika, as well as the good in my brothers. Everyone has good and bad in them. You have to be willing to look past the bad to get to the good though. It doesn't hurt that I know how this will turn out and it's for the better." Isolde typed.
She smiled widely at Danika. The door swinging open, kept Danika from replying. Isolde looked up, her eyes landing on Sabin. Danika jumped to her feet, but Isolde rose calmly, slowly, as if she knew the man before them wouldn't do a thing.
"Who are you? What do you want? Where's Reyes?" Danika asked.
"I'm Sabin." he said, kicking the door closed. "I came to ask you some questions. And I don't have any clue where Reyes is. Isolde...leave."
Isolde's reply to the man was a rude hand gesture that had his jaw working. Danika could tell from the grin on Isolde's face as she did it, that this was a long standing reaction from the girl. Apparently Isolde wasn't on the best of terms with all of her "brothers".
"You can leave." Danika told him.
Instead of leaving, or pressing Isolde to leave, Sabin just leaned against the door.
"You're one of them." Danika remarked.
"One of who?" Sabin asked.
He took a step forward and caught himself when Isolde shot him a warning look. He backed back off. Danika wondered why he seemed reluctant to press his luck with Isolde. The girl was a third his size and injured. What kind of a threat could she pose to him?
"The demons." Danika said.
"Did Reyes tell you we were demons?"
"Yes."
"I doubt he'd be such a naughty boy. Want to know what I think? You recently spent some time with Hunters. I bet they told you." Sabin replied.
"So?"
"So. Interesting that you don't have to ask me who and what the Hunters are, or what their purpose is."
"Again, Reyes told me."
Isolde watched the two, not doing anything except watching the two. To her credit though, she didn't leave Danika's side.
"What did they ask you to do to us, hmm? Tell me and I might let you live." Sabin told her.
Isolde snorted, the noise coming out in a strangled sound, and winced instantly, her hand flying to her throat as she made a face. Danika wondered what kind of injury it could have been that such a small noise hurt her. She gestured for Danika to answer when she saw her looking at her. Danika turned back to Sabin.
"They asked me to kill you." Danika told him, surprising Sabin.
"Do you plan to try?" he asked.
"Depends on what I learn about my family."
At least she was sticking close to the truth. Isolde was silently laughing at Sabin's expression from where she stood beside Danika.
"I won't allow anyone to hurt my friends. Ever." Sabin said, pulling a dagger and rag out of his pocket.
The threat was so not-subtle, that Isolde rolled her eyes at him. She had seen better scare tactics on a six-year-old in downtown Texas. It worked on Danika but Isolde was a little more hardened then the woman. A past like Isolde's did that to a person.
"And I won't allow anyone to hurt my family. Is the weapon supposed to scare me? You'll have to try harder than that." Danika told him.
"You're on their radar now, you know? The Hunters will never leave you alone. And if you betray them to help us, which I doubt you're willing to do, they'll hunt and torture you. If there's anything left of you after I'm done, that is." Sabin said.
Isolde surged forward then. Before he could stop her, she snatched the dagger from his hands and shook the point at him with a scolding look on her face. Sabin's jaw locked like he was fighting something back, but he didn't say anything. Isolde raised a challenging eyebrow at him and when he didn't move to take up the challenge, she flipped the blade and held it out to him, hilt first. She apparently got her point across. Isolde turned on her heel, typing something on her phone. She showed the message to Danika.
"He's not wrong, but he's being a jerk. Obviously he's my least favorite."
Danika almost laughed, but just turned her attention to Sabin, who had raised a question eyebrow at the two. Danika wasn't going to repeat what Isolde had typed.
"So I'm screwed either way? News flash I had already figured that out, moron."
The wide grin on Isolde's face made any annoyance or anger from Sabin, totally worth it. Sabin's lips twitched but it was hard to read the emotion behind it.
"You should know that the Hunters' torturing will seem like child's play compared to what I'll do to you if you so much as look as if you're going to fight my friends. They aren't evil, they aren't the source of the world's problems and they deserve to be happy." Sabin said.
"He's right. Again. I can't tell you how much that annoys me to admit." Isolde typed.
"And you don't?" Danika asked Sabin, her eyes flicking to Isolde's message before going back to him.
Of course Sabin didn't answer this. Danika was starting to realize that the men were all good at evasion. Isolde seemed to be the only straight forward one of the group. Then again Danika hadn't tried to get too much information out of her. For all she knew, Isolde was worse than the men.
"You should know that my family means everything to me and I will decapitate any immortal who even thinks about hurting them." Danika told Sabin.
"Spoken like a true Hunter." Sabin remarked.
A ding had him looking at his phone. Danika peered over Isolde's shoulder, having seen her hint the send button, and read the message she had just sent Sabin. The name Jerkwad showed in the top corner of the phone screen, showing what she had listed Sabin under in her contacts.
Danika fought not to smile.
"You would say the same thing about the others if they were threatened, you hypocrite."
Sabin frowned as he read the message. Apparently he knew she had a point and couldn't argue with the girl. So he ignored it.
"Well, guess what. Cut off their heads and you can kiss your pretty world goodbye. Their demons will be loosed, a source of havoc unlike any you have ever seen." Sabin told Danika.
A look at the grimace on Isolde's face told Danika that it wasn't a lie.
"Saving my loved ones is worth any price." Danika told him.
"As she has so graciously pointed out, I feel the same about mine. I protect mine, though." Sabin said, flicking a hand in Isolde's direction.
Seeing the look on Danika's face as Doubts threw a thought her way, had a look of understanding passing Sabin's face.
"Perhaps you'll take care of matters on your own, huh? Save me the trouble." he remarked.
Isolde snapped her teeth at Sabin, baring them in a growl that made her wince, but she didn't seem to care. She typed a message, holding it up for Danika to read. The woman leaned over to read, deciding to focus on that more than the sudden tears burning her eyes.
"Don't listen to him, Danika. Sadly, I'm not counted among those he would fight to protect. He hates me. Can you believe he's the one I took a bullet to the throat for? I should have let him get shot. It's not like it would have killed him."
That was what had happened to Isolde's throat!?
Danika's eyes went to the bandages at the girl's slender throat. There was no way Isolde could be human. Then again she had told Danika as much. The look of sadness deep, deep in Isolde eyes made Danika feel bad for her. She had taken a painful injury for this man and he didn't even like her. Yet she had done it anyway. It made Danika feel like crying for the girl.
Sabin eyed to two, wondering what Isolde had typed that suddenly had Danika looking at her like she completely understood and would fight for the girl. Isolde seemed to have that effect on people. Sometimes, looking at the girl, people got the impression of insecurity so deep, all they wanted to do was bundle the girl up and hold her, protect her. But he knew Isolde didn't need it. The girl was a monster in a fight.
Some day, he vowed, he would figure out how that was true. A girl her size and built shouldn't be as deadly as Isolde was when angered.
Just then the door swung open and Reyes led Lucien into the room. Isolde instantly lit up at the sight of Lucien. When she saw the bruises and cuts on him, she raced to him. Lucien greeted her with open arms, scooping her up like a father would his little girl. Isolde cupped his jaw, turning his head to look at the injuries.
"I'm fine, baby girl. Don't worry." Lucien told her.
Isolde smiled at him, apparently just glad to see him walking and fine aside from the bruises and cuts. Danika got the impression of a strong father/daughter bond between the two. Reyes on the other hand was facing off against Sabin.
"What are you doing in here?" Reyes asked, as Lucien set Isolde on her feet.
"Someone needed to question her. You refused to do it, so I got it done." Sabin retorted.
"You were not to come near her." Reyes growled.
"She's alive, isn't she? Isolde was right here the whole time. So what's the problem?" Sabin asked.
"Are you hurt?"
The question from Reyes was obviously meant for Danika but it seemed Isolde wasn't the only one in the house with a smart-ass mouth.
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking." Sabin replied.
"
Not you. Danika, are you hurt?" Reyes asked.
"I'm fine." Danika answered.
Reyes issued another warning to Sabin, giving him a shove backwards. Danika half expected the two to start fighting, but from the roll of the eyes from Isolde, she didn't think he would.
"I did you a favor, boy. You'd do better to thank me." Sabin told him.
Danika stepped forward to say or do something to stop this, but Isolde, even being a third their size and injured, wedged herself between them and pushed them apart. She gave each man a hard look. Both looked away from her instantly, almost like she was their mother and they had just received a scolding. Lucien stepped forward then.
"Enough. Sabin, get your team ready. We leave for Rome in the morning." Lucien said.
"This isn't over." Sabin told Lucien.
"I know."
"Why did the plans change?" Reyes asked.
"Researching was getting us nowhere. We'll go back to the temple, see if we find anything there." Lucien answered.
Isolde, not interested in the conversation at hand, almost as if she had heard it before, came back to Danika's side, taking her hands in hers. Danika looked at her and Isolde smiled at her. That smile said enough for Danika. It told her, "I'm your friend, if no one else. Trust me.", and Danika felt like she really could trust this younger female with everything. Isolde knew what Danika was going to do and hadn't told the men anything.
Danika gave the girl a nod.
Reyes turned towards them after Sabin left the room.
"You have tears in your eyes when I entered. What did Sabin make you doubt?" Reyes asked.
"Doubt?" Danika asked.
"He made you doubt something about yourself."
"No. He warned me not to hurt you."
"He wouldn't have spoken the doubts aloud. You would have heard them in your head." Reyes told her.
"What are you talking about? The only thing I doubted was...That's his demon? That's his power? Making people doubt themselves and their actions? Making them feel terrible about what they've done or haven't done?" Danika asked as it dawned on her.
Reyes nodded. The grimace on Isolde face confirmed it as well. Danika wondered if Isolde had doubted anything in the face of Sabin. If she did, she hadn't shown it.
"That bastard! I'll kill him." Danika growled, lunging past Isolde and for the door.
She didn't get far before Reyes caught her, holding her until she fell still. Once she was still, he cupped her cheeks, his hands gentle.
"What did he use against you?" he asked.
"M-my family. My fault." was all she could say, Reyes shaking his head.
"Not your fault. The gods' fault, but never yours." he told her.
"I didn't fight." she argued.
"We are warriors. Immortal, no less. We have been trained to slay, to hurt. Even Isolde can fight like a feral animal in the heat of battle. What could you have done against us?" Reyes asked.
Danika's eyes flickered to Isolde who gave her a guilty smile. Sweet, kind, gentle Isolde could fight like a feral animal? Danika couldn't see it. Then again, not everything was as it seemed. Isolde could very well be the bloodiest fighter in the world if her loved ones were on the line. Danika fixed her eyes back on Reyes.
"More."
"Nothing would have changed."
"No way to know that now. Is there?" she asked.
"You are stubborn." Reyes told her, smile curving his life.
Danika stared at him for a moment before pulling free of him. Reyes heaved a sigh, arms dropping when she did. Ashlyn arrived then with the Tylenol for Danika. Anya arrived shortly after and when she saw Isolde, she smiled.
"My lovely daughter!" she called, holding open her arms.
Isolde's smiled was dazzling as she threw herself into those arms. Danika stared in shock. This tall, utterly beautiful woman was Isolde's mother!? But she looked to be the same age and there wasn't a single trait between the two that was the same.
"She's not her real mother." Ashlyn told Danika, seeing the expression on her face. "Lucien and Anya adopted Isolde."
"Though they do more spoiling then parenting." Reyes grumped, Lucien shooting him a look from the side of his eyes.
"Isolde isn't that bad. Just a little mischievous. Which she got from Anya." Ashlyn protested.
"Believe me, she had that before her mother came into the picture." Lucien said with a sigh as he watched the two females.
The look on his face told Danika that the two were the center of his world. The woman he loved to death and his beloved little daughter.
"What are you up to, Anya? You only grin like that when you have something planned." Lucien said.
"Just wanted to do a little girl bonding, that's all. These boys treating you well, sugar?" Anya asked Danika.
"I-I-"
"They don't, you just tell little ol' Anya and I will personally cut out their hearts. That's a promise. Not that I can be trusted. Lying in a hobby of mine. Lucien, honey, you gonna be long? I wanna throw William a welcome-to-the-fortress party and I'd like you help picking decorations. I'm thinking masked ball with a creatures of the night theme." Anya said, switching gears quickly.
Isolde typed something on her phone and held it up to Anya. Anya read it and laughed, putting a smile on Isolde's face.
"That's right, chica. They can go as themselves with that theme." Anya said, tapping Isolde's nose.
"No party. Isolde don't in encourage her. Not with the box and the artifacts and Hunters and God knows what else hanging over our heads. Danika, you call me if you need anything, okay? Me or Isolde. Anything at all." Ashlyn said before ushering Anya out of the room.
Isolde stayed behind, waving to her mother as Anya was dragged from the room. Danika really liked these women. So sweet and smart. It made her wonder what they were doing there. Then again, she knew why Isolde was there. From what she had told Danika, she had fallen through their roof and the warriors had nursed her back to health, had taken care of her. To her, they were family.
Well, maybe not Sabin.
"I'm ready. Where's Aeron?" Danika asked.
Isolde looked back at her then. Reyes and Lucien shared a look that had Danika demanding to know what was going on. Reyes faced her then.
"Here. Aeron is here, in the fortress." Reyes said.
"Take me to him. Right now. Please. I want to see him." Danika demanded.
"He is chained, but you cannot go near him. In his case, chained does not mean helpless. Promise me you will remain at a distance." Reyes said.
"I promise." Danika told him.
Reyes eyes went to the ceiling, as if in a silent pray before he focused on her again.
"Very well. Come. I hope you receive the answers you wish." he told her.
"I'm coming too."
The voice that spoke was so croaky, so dry and brittle it sounded like nails in a blender. But since neither Lucien nor Reyes had spoken and there was no one else in the room save Isolde, Danika knew who spoke. She turned to Isolde who was rubbing her throat as if it was a little uncomfortable.
"Don't push yourself, baby girl." Lucien told her.
"It's fine. A little sore, but that's to be expected." Isolde croaked.
It was nothing like the lulling, soothing, if not usually sarcastic, voice Isolde usually had. The poor girl sounded like she smoked two packs of cigarettes a day on top of having someone line her throat with broken glass, nails, and broken wind pipes.
"It doesn't matter though. I'm going with you." she told them.
Without waiting for an answer, she turned on her heels and walked out the door. There would be no talking Isolde out of it.
-0-0-0-0-
When they reached the cells, Isolde slipped past Reyes before he could stop her. Both Reyes and Lucien growled but Isolde ignored them. She approached the cell and peered inside at Aeron. She gripped the bars and peered through at Aeron, who fixed hungry eyes on her. She gave him a smile as Reyes moved past her, opening the cell and entering. Isolde remained at the cell bars, not trying to enter. Lucien, as well as Reyes, would have a cow if she did.
"Leave." Aeron told them.
"You are lucid now, I see. You were crazed when Lucien and I appeared in the cave. I'm sorry if I hurt you trying to get you here." Reyes said.
Aeron didn't reply to that. Instead his eyes focused on Isolde, catching on the bandages around her neck. The lingered there for a long moment.
"Hey, Aeron. Missed you." she said in greeting, her voice croaking out.
"What happened? Did you almost get her killed?" Aeron asked on a growl, his eyes snapping to Reyes.
"It was a Hunter. Shot me in the throat. It's fine." Isolde told him.
Aeron didn't look convinced but Isolde wasn't going to have this conversation. If he knew that Isolde had gotten shot helping Sabin, Aeron was likely to rip the other warrior apart when he finally got free. And he would get free.
"Free me. I have a job to do." Aeron retorted.
"Two weeks ago, you were grateful to be restrained. You hated what you'd been ordered to do and begged me to kill you."
"Grateful no longer. Those women need to die."
"So they still live? All four?"
Isolde saw the flash of guilt in Aeron's eyes. She knew the truth referring to Danika's grandmother. Reyes went even tenser beside her.
"Aeron. Tell me about the women." Reyes demanded, adding a "Please" when there was no answer.
Danika piped in, demanding Aeron answer. Aeron drew still, stopped breathing. Crimson took over his eyes. Isolde could hear Wrath pounding against the mental barrier she had built. Given enough time down there and it would break past. Isolde still hadn't managed to create a mental barrier strong enough to keep them out for good. Reyes held his ground, even when Aeron's wings snapped free. Aeron lunged forward, the chain around his neck yanking him to a stop just inches from Reyes. Aeron seized him around the neck.
"Girl. Want her." Aeron demanded.
"Mine. Tell me about her family." Reyes retorted.
"Die!"
Aeron's grip tightened.
"Tell me." Reyes insisted.
Reyes dropped his knife and grabbed Aeron's wrists. Isolde would have gone in to help, but Lucien seized her the back of her dress and held her in place.
"She must die." Aeron snapped.
"She's...innocent."
"Doesn't matter."
"Once it would have."
Reyes managed to pry himself loose, but his windpipe was done for. With that Reyes was lost to the world for the time being. Danika was screaming at Lucien to help Reyes. Lucien pulled a gun out of the waist of his pants, telling Danika that Reyes would live as he did. He glanced at Isolde and gave her a nod. The girl hiked up the left side of her skirt, baring a gun. She yanked it free and checked the magazine and chamber. Danika stared at her, but Isolde only gave her a smile.
"I'm being raised by warriors, so please don't give me that look." she told her softly, sliding the gun back into its hiding place for the moment.
"Aeron, let him go." Lucien called.
"No!"
"He sounds like a child." Isolde muttered before slipping into the cell ahead of Lucien.
Lucien obviously trusted Isolde not to get herself killed for he didn't try to stop her. Isolde entered the cell, holding her hands up so Aeron could see she didn't have a weapon in hand. With his wings tied up with Reyes, it would be easier to dodge any attack from him. She gave him a smile when he looked at her. She was wrestling with Wrath on the inside, but at least she had managed to keep her eyes from changing. It would scare Danika to see Isolde in that state.
"Hey. Can we talk?" she asked.
"Girl. Give her!" Aeron snapped at her.
"I can't. Sorry. But you don't want to hurt me, do you?" Isolde asked, slowly approaching Aeron.
"Isolde." Lucien hissed in a warning tone.
Isolde waved him off. She knew Aeron, she knew his driving need to protect those he loved. If she was right, he loved her like a sister. No matter how close she got, he didn't move. Finally she knelt in front of him, sitting back on her heels. She kept eye contact as she did. Mentally she cooed to Wrath, catching the demon's attention and calming him, just a tiny bit. Out of the corner of her eyes, she spotted the little green scaled creature that hid there.
"Aeron, you don't want to hurt me, right?" she cooed softly, long hair pooling on the floor around her as she leaned forward.
Aeron seemed trapped by some kind of trance, following her with his eyes, no longer pulling against chains to reach Danika. Isolde reached out slowly, gently caressing one of his hands. He relaxed a fraction.
"No. Don't want to hurt." he growled lowly in agreement.
Isolde smiled in encouragement, moving closer and reaching for Reyes slowly. The whole time she cooed to both Aeron and Wrath. To her extreme shock, it worked. Both slowly started relaxing and she got closer. Danika gasped lowly to herself as the blue in Isolde's eyes swelled, taking over the red and turning Isolde's eyes a heavenly blue.
Even Lucien was surprised. He had seen Isolde's eyes turn red, but not fully blue. Her voice pitched lower, her cooing coming out almost like a lullaby to the demon in Aeron. Even Death sighed in contentment and stretched like it was about to lay down and take a nap.
Was this a new power of Isolde's? If so, she was doing it without noticing. The whole time she moved closer, reaching out for Reyes, never moving faster than she needed to.
She almost touched Reyes when all hell broke loose. Lucien chose then to fire at the small, green demon. Aeron growled, his body starting to shake again. Isolde darted backward, out of his reach as Lucien started chasing the demon with bullets as the small creature crawled along the ceiling. Isolde's back hit the cell bars near Danika.
"Isolde!" Danika cried in alarm.
"I almost had him!" Isolde said, heaving a weary sigh. "Stay put."
Isolde darted back in, keeping low to avoid flying bullets. She tried to sneak around Aeron to Reyes, but the man turned and snapped at her. Isolde jumped out of the way. She wasn't going to be able to get close. Danika entered the cell then, knife in hand. Isolde shot her a look but didn't say anything. She apparently trusted Danika to take care of herself.
At least someone did.
Aeron locked in on Danika, watching her intently, giving Isolde the opening to scoot closer to him and possibly reach Reyes.
"Legion. Need you." Aeron called.
The creature dropped down on Aeron's shoulders, whispering to him and petting his head. When Lucien heard what Aeron had called the little demon, his eyes locked on Isolde. She had said Aeron would have a guest. Her only hint had been the word legion. Now he knew it wasn't a word, but a name.
Lucien called for Danika, knowing Isolde had a better chance of surviving an attack from Aeron then a human like Danika. The human woman simply told him to get Reyes out. She reached Reyes and bent to feel for a pulse. Not finding one, she tried to keep her cool.
"Lucien. For God's sake, come get him." she called.
"He's fine, and I am unwilling to lose focus with the demon unfettered." Lucien replied.
Annoyed with him, Danika grabbed Reyes and started dragging him. Reyes was heavy though and she only made it about a foot before she had to stop. Aeron stood straight, ready to attack. Isolde darted between them then, putting herself between Danika and Reyes, and Aeron. She held up her hands, unwilling to reach for a weapon.
"Aeron, calm, please." she said in that lulling tone.
Though it was scratchy and more along the lines of a croak, Danika even felt like relaxing. Isolde's eyes were still that bright, hypnotic blue. Aeron was stubborn about not relaxing this time, though he didn't knock her aside.
"He was your friend." Danika snapped, moving Reyes a few more inches.
"But you are not." Aeron replied.
"No, I'm not. But would you really plow through Isolde to get to me?" Danika asked.
Aeron growled at first. The look on Isolde's face made it clear she wasn't moving out of the way anytime soon. Then he grinned an eerie grin.
"Do you wish to hurt me, little human?" he asked.
"Yes. I wish to destroy you."
"Try."
"So you'll feel better about what you plan to do to me? No, thanks. Not while Reyes needs help. But once he's out of the cell, you're mine."
Isolde flicked a glance back at Danika, holding her ground right in front of Aeron. He could easily reach out and move her out of the way, but Danika had a feeling that where he would hurt her and hurt the men, he wouldn't hurt Isolde. Not if he could help it.
Isolde knew it too.
"Do I scare you?" Aeron asked Danika.
"You? Scare me? Never again." Danika retorted.
"Why don't you come for me, then?"
"The difference between us is that I care about someone else more than I care about my own wishes."
She couldn't see it, but a grin curved Isolde's lips. Aeron lost his grin.
"You cannot care for Reyes." Aeron said.
"You are wrong, Aeron."
Aeron looked down at Isolde when she spoke in a voice low enough for only him to hear. She gave him a smile so soft some of the tension in him melted even more. Isolde had always relaxed him and now, for some reason, that ability seemed to be growing.
"The others are coming." Lucien said.
He approached Danika then, gripping her neck and flashing her out of the cell and back to Reyes's room. He came back for Reyes and would have taken Isolde too, but she wouldn't let him.
"I'm fine." she told Lucien.
Lucien didn't want to leave her there, but he knew Isolde would be fine. She would melt into shadows if Aeron actually tried to hurt her. So he left her there. Isolde waited until the others were gone before she turned back to Aeron, her eyes slowly returning to their natural two-toned state.
"Leave, Isolde." he told her.
Isolde smiled.
"Not a chance. Even like this, I know you won't hurt me." Isolde told him.
She knelt in front of him before turning her attention to the little demon, Legion. She smiled a greeting to Legion.
"Hello. I'm Isolde. You are?" she asked.
"I isss Legion. Want to play?" Legion asked hopefully.
"I don't see why not. Any friend of Aeron's is a friend of mine." Isolde replied.
Legion clapped happily, pulling Isolde into a game. Getting on Legion's good side would be best and doing it sooner rather than later, was even better. Especially if being on the demon's good side kept Aeron calm. Isolde didn't think she could deal with Wrath beating down her mental door anymore. She would snap soon and the only warriors who would be around come that time tomorrow would be Reyes, Torin, Cameo, Kane Aeron, and Maddox. Only one of which she could actually beat the crap out of.
Nope, it was best to just to keep Aeron calm.
Well...as calm as could be.