Chapter Eight
For a moment, Rhett looked eerily relaxed, sprawled out on his bed. After the initial air of annoyance that was left after every visit the demon made, the irritating way he always tried to snoop into more than he was welcome to, had passed Rhett actually felt rather satisfied. Bryn had relayed the details of what he had eavesdropped at the school earlier. Though he wasn't particularly interested in the girl, it was reassuring to know what path of thought and action she and her friends were travelling along. So far, he was pleased with the one they had chosen. Perhaps he could unwind for a short time.
Through the open crack in the curtains, he could see Piper on her way to his room. He smiled and sat up on the bed, anticipating her arrival. Outside, Bryn jogged up to her from the motel vending machine.
"Hey, don't mention that you were out today, ok?"
"He doesn't know, does he?" she asked outright.
"No." There was no point trying to lie to her, she would know.
"I understand why," she said with a little smile. "He knows you were there, though."
Bryn nodded and opened the can of soda, taking a long gulp. When he had finished, Piper had already gone into the room. He headed back to his own room. Television was something he would definitely miss when they went back and now Rhett had eased up on his court martial routine of reading, he'd get a chance to sit and watch the shows.
"A good mood?" Piper said with mock shock when she saw his laid back composure.
"Things are going well," he drawled lazily and smiled.
"Good, I think everyone could do with a rest."
She sat down next to him and picked up a small silver cross that lay on the bedside cabinet, dainty with a single small diamond in the centre. She held it in front of her eyes delicately, afraid of snapping or knotting the thin chain. "Pretty," she remarked and put it back where she had picked it up from.
"I'm glad you think so. I bought it for you," he said, trying to sound casual.
"There will be vampires, and worse, ahead, Lady. You need as much protection as we can give," he added formally.
"Thank you, the finest of the Order," she replied with a smile, making a small joke at his formality.
Rhett unfastened the clasp and slipped the pendant around her neck. For a second he just sat and looked at her before bringing himself back to reality. He was a warrior, a soldier and no more to her. Aware of how increasingly apparent his feelings were coming across in the situation, he vowed silently there to stop. What was to come was inevitable and it was ridiculous to waste his men's time and energy searching for an answer that they all knew was not there. What surprised him most of all was her attitude towards it. She didn't seem scared or angry or upset as he was. Deciding his role was to strong for her, he laid back and looked at the ceiling.
"Do you think that this will all come to pass?" she asked, playing with the necklace.
"I don't know," he answered truthfully.
"The Slayer may be a problem after all," she said quietly. "I doubt she will be willing to play her part. She and her friends." she trailed off.
Slamming Haralon's spiny head into the wall, Lysan wiped the demon's green blood off his hands. Haralon groaned and pleaded with the humanity that Lysan no longer had. Any mercy that may have still lingered after his change was Kiathlica's now. Cries and pleadings had no effect on him, other than making him want to destroy the snivelling wretch more. Such weakness was a trait of humanity.
"Come on man, I don't know anything," he wheezed.
With his new heavy, steel capped boots, the vampire's foot gave him a quick but fierce jab to the abdomen. Doubled over, Haralon coughed and spat then tried to straighten himself up. Bruises were already making angry appearances on his back, face and chest from the vampire's beatings. Lysan had either possessed an expressionless face or an ugly mask or hatred and pleasure at striking him.
"I know you're in contact with the Brethren," said Lysan in a monotone.
Willy's tip off had led him to this sorry creature, so it had to know at least a small nugget of information. The barman may be a double crossing little weasel, but you couldn't fault him on his sources. While the demon cowered from his last blow, Lysan removed his belt. As soon as the demon stood upright, he flew behind him and forced the belt around his neck, pulling it roughly. Emitting a pathetic squeak, he tried to slip his thumbs under the belt but was too late. Another tug caused the imitation leather to puncture the skin, a thin trickle of blood running down Haralon's injured chest.
"The Slayer." he croaked.
Lysan eased the tension round his neck slightly.
"It's with the Slayer?"
Haralon nodded and the vampire released him, kicking him to the floor with a sneer.
"If you think this is pain, wait until Her reign comes upon the earth."
Richard Wilkins III smiled warmly at his guest, then at his nervous, twitching assistant. Allan Finch's eyes kept shifting from their new acquaintance and his employer. The mayor seemed to find it amusing. The girl had an air of scorn for them. She seemed more interested in the shrunken heads locked in the display case than the meeting.
"Miss Kiathlica," said the mayor, trying to get her attention. "Would you care for."
Seeing his voice apparently had no impact on her, her disdain not wavering, he dispelled with pleasantries.
"Shall we cut straight to business? I've seen what you've been up to, nothing happens in this town without me knowing, and I would like to.form an alliance with you." Kiathlica's head snapped towards him, locks of her whipping around her face. Her eyes trying to penetrate his but there was nothing beyond. Perhaps he was more than the feeble human he appeared to be. A lust for power and a greed emanated from the man. Memories of her own past flashed into her mind but she dismissed them just as quickly.
"An alliance?" she scoffed.
"I know to a being such as yourself it would seem trifling but, you see, if have something you want."
"And this would be?"
He got up from his desk and perched on the end, folding his arms casually. The gaze of Kiathlica upon him, Finch began to fidget even more, his eyes as wide as a rabbit in headlights.
"Oh, you'll have to forgive him. Allan here isn't used to dealing with those as yourself."
He laughed at Allan jovially and shook his head.
"Now, my sources tell me that you are here looking for the Tennos nus, or Sonnet Sun. I've had people watch the girl. I set her up with a job in the school, no less."
The mayor's face contorted into a grin, then he laughed.
"I mean, how perfect is that? Who is going to suspect anything there? Anyway, I have found the Sonnet Sun and it can be yours, if you help me. I am looking to.better myself and I believe that you can help me. You see, I'm going to need something to draw that pesky Slayer's attention away from me soon. I think that you causing mayhem and making people blood thirsty maniacs would be rather perfect. I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine."
"I have found what I seek here, so you're too late. Your sources are nothing compared to my soldiers."
She walked to the desk and slammed her hands down either side of the mayor, the force making the table rattle and quake.
"Though I would like to scratch your eyes out," she seethed. "Someone that is half human is still half human."
Without warning, a battered, bleeding Haralon collapsed through the door of Rhett's motel room, shattered the calm. His face was a bloody mess, the skin torn open and bruised. Giving Piper a look of adoration that was tainted by pain, his legs finally gave way and he tumbled to the floor, weeping dry tears and facing the wall. Dark stains of blood seeped through his clothing.
Rhett leapt from the bed and to their associate's aid. Kneeling beside Haralon, Rhett gently turned him back to face them. Through his blurred vision, Haralon could just make out the figures. He could feel the hand of the Lady on his forehead, her eyes looking into his.
"Rhett, get some bandages," she said, trying to remain calm for Haralon's sake.
He ran off to the bathroom and his urgent cluttering was distinctly audible. Haralon's injuries were plentiful, that was certain. Carefully, Piper removed the heavy, blemished robe that covered his torso. His mottled chest was covered in angry welts and nasty, deep slits. Most had begun to crust over but some still wept and bled. Moving behind Haralon, Piper sat him up against her, using her body to prop his up. It would be easier for Rhett to tend to him that way. Before long, she could feel her own clothes grow sticky from the demon's injuries.
With arms full of bandages and antiseptic, Rhett rushed back to them. The medical equipment tumbled to the floor as he knelt down and he scrambled around for cotton wool balls. Grabbing one out of the packet, he soaked it liberally in antiseptic and applied it to the cuts. Haralon winced and gritted his teeth.
"Before I'm done for, I want." he breathed.
"Ssh, don't try and talk," Piper soothed.
"It's important." he protested.
Piper and Rhett exchanged looks and then Rhett gave him a nod, signalling him to continue.
"She knows you're here."
"This was her work?" Rhett seethed.
"Some.vampire she's got working for her. Wanted to know.where the Sonnet Sun is. I said it was.with the Slayer."
"I knew She would find us," whispered Piper. "It was the only thing I could think to tell her," Haralon explained.
"It was the right thing to do," Rhett assured him, though he was unsure himself. But he couldn't deny things were moving. Back home, he had once been told that he couldn't avoid or deny fate. The day he became the official Protector of the Sonnet, the highest accolade among their people. It had been hard for him at first, knowing that at only seventeen he could be called upon to command vast armies and the fate of a nation fell at his feet, should the time arise. Now two years on, he had grown more battle hardy, fiercely proud of his position. If he could die instead of her, he gladly would.
With the worst of his wounds bandaged and cleaned, Piper and Rhett moved Haralon onto one of the beds.
"Rest here," Piper told him.
"Stay with him," Rhett ordered. "I will go and inform the others of the situation."
For a moment, Rhett looked eerily relaxed, sprawled out on his bed. After the initial air of annoyance that was left after every visit the demon made, the irritating way he always tried to snoop into more than he was welcome to, had passed Rhett actually felt rather satisfied. Bryn had relayed the details of what he had eavesdropped at the school earlier. Though he wasn't particularly interested in the girl, it was reassuring to know what path of thought and action she and her friends were travelling along. So far, he was pleased with the one they had chosen. Perhaps he could unwind for a short time.
Through the open crack in the curtains, he could see Piper on her way to his room. He smiled and sat up on the bed, anticipating her arrival. Outside, Bryn jogged up to her from the motel vending machine.
"Hey, don't mention that you were out today, ok?"
"He doesn't know, does he?" she asked outright.
"No." There was no point trying to lie to her, she would know.
"I understand why," she said with a little smile. "He knows you were there, though."
Bryn nodded and opened the can of soda, taking a long gulp. When he had finished, Piper had already gone into the room. He headed back to his own room. Television was something he would definitely miss when they went back and now Rhett had eased up on his court martial routine of reading, he'd get a chance to sit and watch the shows.
"A good mood?" Piper said with mock shock when she saw his laid back composure.
"Things are going well," he drawled lazily and smiled.
"Good, I think everyone could do with a rest."
She sat down next to him and picked up a small silver cross that lay on the bedside cabinet, dainty with a single small diamond in the centre. She held it in front of her eyes delicately, afraid of snapping or knotting the thin chain. "Pretty," she remarked and put it back where she had picked it up from.
"I'm glad you think so. I bought it for you," he said, trying to sound casual.
"There will be vampires, and worse, ahead, Lady. You need as much protection as we can give," he added formally.
"Thank you, the finest of the Order," she replied with a smile, making a small joke at his formality.
Rhett unfastened the clasp and slipped the pendant around her neck. For a second he just sat and looked at her before bringing himself back to reality. He was a warrior, a soldier and no more to her. Aware of how increasingly apparent his feelings were coming across in the situation, he vowed silently there to stop. What was to come was inevitable and it was ridiculous to waste his men's time and energy searching for an answer that they all knew was not there. What surprised him most of all was her attitude towards it. She didn't seem scared or angry or upset as he was. Deciding his role was to strong for her, he laid back and looked at the ceiling.
"Do you think that this will all come to pass?" she asked, playing with the necklace.
"I don't know," he answered truthfully.
"The Slayer may be a problem after all," she said quietly. "I doubt she will be willing to play her part. She and her friends." she trailed off.
Slamming Haralon's spiny head into the wall, Lysan wiped the demon's green blood off his hands. Haralon groaned and pleaded with the humanity that Lysan no longer had. Any mercy that may have still lingered after his change was Kiathlica's now. Cries and pleadings had no effect on him, other than making him want to destroy the snivelling wretch more. Such weakness was a trait of humanity.
"Come on man, I don't know anything," he wheezed.
With his new heavy, steel capped boots, the vampire's foot gave him a quick but fierce jab to the abdomen. Doubled over, Haralon coughed and spat then tried to straighten himself up. Bruises were already making angry appearances on his back, face and chest from the vampire's beatings. Lysan had either possessed an expressionless face or an ugly mask or hatred and pleasure at striking him.
"I know you're in contact with the Brethren," said Lysan in a monotone.
Willy's tip off had led him to this sorry creature, so it had to know at least a small nugget of information. The barman may be a double crossing little weasel, but you couldn't fault him on his sources. While the demon cowered from his last blow, Lysan removed his belt. As soon as the demon stood upright, he flew behind him and forced the belt around his neck, pulling it roughly. Emitting a pathetic squeak, he tried to slip his thumbs under the belt but was too late. Another tug caused the imitation leather to puncture the skin, a thin trickle of blood running down Haralon's injured chest.
"The Slayer." he croaked.
Lysan eased the tension round his neck slightly.
"It's with the Slayer?"
Haralon nodded and the vampire released him, kicking him to the floor with a sneer.
"If you think this is pain, wait until Her reign comes upon the earth."
Richard Wilkins III smiled warmly at his guest, then at his nervous, twitching assistant. Allan Finch's eyes kept shifting from their new acquaintance and his employer. The mayor seemed to find it amusing. The girl had an air of scorn for them. She seemed more interested in the shrunken heads locked in the display case than the meeting.
"Miss Kiathlica," said the mayor, trying to get her attention. "Would you care for."
Seeing his voice apparently had no impact on her, her disdain not wavering, he dispelled with pleasantries.
"Shall we cut straight to business? I've seen what you've been up to, nothing happens in this town without me knowing, and I would like to.form an alliance with you." Kiathlica's head snapped towards him, locks of her whipping around her face. Her eyes trying to penetrate his but there was nothing beyond. Perhaps he was more than the feeble human he appeared to be. A lust for power and a greed emanated from the man. Memories of her own past flashed into her mind but she dismissed them just as quickly.
"An alliance?" she scoffed.
"I know to a being such as yourself it would seem trifling but, you see, if have something you want."
"And this would be?"
He got up from his desk and perched on the end, folding his arms casually. The gaze of Kiathlica upon him, Finch began to fidget even more, his eyes as wide as a rabbit in headlights.
"Oh, you'll have to forgive him. Allan here isn't used to dealing with those as yourself."
He laughed at Allan jovially and shook his head.
"Now, my sources tell me that you are here looking for the Tennos nus, or Sonnet Sun. I've had people watch the girl. I set her up with a job in the school, no less."
The mayor's face contorted into a grin, then he laughed.
"I mean, how perfect is that? Who is going to suspect anything there? Anyway, I have found the Sonnet Sun and it can be yours, if you help me. I am looking to.better myself and I believe that you can help me. You see, I'm going to need something to draw that pesky Slayer's attention away from me soon. I think that you causing mayhem and making people blood thirsty maniacs would be rather perfect. I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine."
"I have found what I seek here, so you're too late. Your sources are nothing compared to my soldiers."
She walked to the desk and slammed her hands down either side of the mayor, the force making the table rattle and quake.
"Though I would like to scratch your eyes out," she seethed. "Someone that is half human is still half human."
Without warning, a battered, bleeding Haralon collapsed through the door of Rhett's motel room, shattered the calm. His face was a bloody mess, the skin torn open and bruised. Giving Piper a look of adoration that was tainted by pain, his legs finally gave way and he tumbled to the floor, weeping dry tears and facing the wall. Dark stains of blood seeped through his clothing.
Rhett leapt from the bed and to their associate's aid. Kneeling beside Haralon, Rhett gently turned him back to face them. Through his blurred vision, Haralon could just make out the figures. He could feel the hand of the Lady on his forehead, her eyes looking into his.
"Rhett, get some bandages," she said, trying to remain calm for Haralon's sake.
He ran off to the bathroom and his urgent cluttering was distinctly audible. Haralon's injuries were plentiful, that was certain. Carefully, Piper removed the heavy, blemished robe that covered his torso. His mottled chest was covered in angry welts and nasty, deep slits. Most had begun to crust over but some still wept and bled. Moving behind Haralon, Piper sat him up against her, using her body to prop his up. It would be easier for Rhett to tend to him that way. Before long, she could feel her own clothes grow sticky from the demon's injuries.
With arms full of bandages and antiseptic, Rhett rushed back to them. The medical equipment tumbled to the floor as he knelt down and he scrambled around for cotton wool balls. Grabbing one out of the packet, he soaked it liberally in antiseptic and applied it to the cuts. Haralon winced and gritted his teeth.
"Before I'm done for, I want." he breathed.
"Ssh, don't try and talk," Piper soothed.
"It's important." he protested.
Piper and Rhett exchanged looks and then Rhett gave him a nod, signalling him to continue.
"She knows you're here."
"This was her work?" Rhett seethed.
"Some.vampire she's got working for her. Wanted to know.where the Sonnet Sun is. I said it was.with the Slayer."
"I knew She would find us," whispered Piper. "It was the only thing I could think to tell her," Haralon explained.
"It was the right thing to do," Rhett assured him, though he was unsure himself. But he couldn't deny things were moving. Back home, he had once been told that he couldn't avoid or deny fate. The day he became the official Protector of the Sonnet, the highest accolade among their people. It had been hard for him at first, knowing that at only seventeen he could be called upon to command vast armies and the fate of a nation fell at his feet, should the time arise. Now two years on, he had grown more battle hardy, fiercely proud of his position. If he could die instead of her, he gladly would.
With the worst of his wounds bandaged and cleaned, Piper and Rhett moved Haralon onto one of the beds.
"Rest here," Piper told him.
"Stay with him," Rhett ordered. "I will go and inform the others of the situation."