Title: Murderer's Touch
Author: I_nv_u50
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer/Claimer: same old, same old…
Warning: Slash!! Whee!!
Author's Notes: Whoohoo!! I wrote this listening to the Beach Boys' – Kokomo O.o;;; It has references to the Haven (ie, Bermuda) XD So taken in that reference, they want to kill all the pretty girls … and for understandable references, we can assume that they mean they want to kill all the pretty girls who are snobs. Of course, that also means they want to send all the snobs to Haven (Bermuda) which could also be known as paradise. So my ultimate point is that most straight boys don't have any logic. O.o;;; I think I looked too deeply into that ^^;;;; Anyway, chapter 20 (or 18, if you're counting the way I am – ie, excluding the interviews. Makes things horribly confusing at times, I can tell you that O.o;)
On to the point: (this is answering reviews for ch18 as well O.o;;)
colie ~ Thanks for reviewing!! I signed up 'Brightly Burning' as an independent novel study, and we had to do projects on it. Just so you know, never do a favourite book for a novel study. Analyzing ruins it completely most of the time. I'll be lucky if I can ever read about Tyron without thinking about society's bullies of today's world . Hope you enjoy this chapter too! Please review again!! ^^
Maischeph-Vanscrilla-Black ~ Thanks for reviewing again!! :D I think I got your first review emailed to me before they deleted it (they deleted it?!?!!?!?!!) but since I can't really open hotmail right now, I just want to say: thank you very much! ^^ And I have a nutcracker available if you want. Pity he doesn't turn into a prince, but you can't have everything, right O.o;
psycho tabby cat ~ Heh that's what I've been trying to tell them :D lol sorry :D I hate to admit it, but it's nice beating up characters – especially when you know they're going to be better for it :D as to 'them' getting what they deserve… well, they will… but not yet… nah. We still need them for the next two sequels, so it won't do to kill them off so soon. Thanks for reviewing!! Please do it again!!
darkdancer ~ heh I know what you mean :D last semester I had maths and I was going through my HP phase then… my teacher picked on me I swear T.T It's a good thing I had a graphing calculator. It's very good for writing stories when you're supposed to be working with numbers :D although those number/letter keys take a while to figure out so they take longer over all… lol kylan says thanks for the fangirls. He's pointing them in the way of any other muse that comes in sight… heh heh. Thanks for reviewing!! ^^
The Golden Dragon ~ Do you measure your octagon's sides? Cause I lost my tape measure T.T … just curious . He's insisting I draw it for him, so you might get that picture once I find a scanner… damnit. Along with the other pictures that are supposedly coming (plushie pic with jealous brynn huddled in the corner sulking – does it get any better? XD) Aww… have fun during summer though!! Cause the sun's shining and stuff ^^ Demon plushies of doom eh? Sounds like elrond ("DOOM!") aww… brynn cares a lot. He almost lamed devoni in his mad sprint to reach kylan in rehearsals… isn't that scary? The fact that my muses have rehearsals in the first place? Not that most of them ever show up but anyway… O.o;; Thanks for reviewing, please do it again!! ^^
frizzy ~ I always thought so ^^ heh thanks ^^ and thanks for reviewing again as well, please do it again!! ^^
ola ~ to which my initial reaction was: OMG! You can download books from kazaa?!?!?!?! Banned from the library? That must suck O.o; er… this answers most of the questions… and hey, two out of three isn't bad, right? :D But anyway, thanks for reviewing, ad I hope you do it again!!
So… with the beach boys ringing in my head (kylan's trying to dance. I end up laughing when he isn't giving me a headache) I bid you all a very fond see ya in a day or two!! Or write you… whatever… On a completely unrelated note, do you think I should stop with the author's notes? Cause they supposedly take the mood away from the story… and mine aren't really short O.o; let me know if you want me to stop though ^^;;;;
Read, enjoy, and please review!!
Devoni's hooves chimed sweetly as they trotted hurriedly down the street, the bell like sounds resonating off the walls surrounding them. Pain and panic were chasing each other around inside Brynn's head though, and all he could comprehend hearing was his own heartbeat, and distant screams that Devoni couldn't hear at all. Which could really only mean that they were also inside his head, but it made him feel worse, so he harried Devoni into going faster, quicker, all but cantering down the dark and empty streets.
:Where is he?: Brynn fretted silently, his hands twisting the useless reins. :We should have found him by now.:
:Chosen, we're only halfway to Exile's Gate.: Devoni told him reasonably. :If that's where you feel he is, we won't find him until we get there.:
"Go faster then!"
Devoni didn't reply, but picked up speed anyway, his hoof beats going so fast that now they sounded like a continuous chiming noise, ceaseless and perpetual.
Brynn wasn't sure just whom he was feeling anymore; both his and Kylan's terrified emotions screamed through him, shrill and piercing, and not the slightest bit comforting. He had tried to pull himself out of the downwards spiral, but had only succeeded with Devoni's help. He wouldn't have been able to do it alone.
:Devoni, what if they kill him? I don't think… I don't…:
:We'll find him before they kill him, Brynn. We will.:
"I hope so," muttered Brynn, staring fixatedly between Devoni's snowy ears. "I don't like him all the time but…"
:You need him.: Devoni finished simply.
Brynn gave a distracted nod, and sat up straighter, more alert now that they were entering the run down parts of the city, a place that continued to get worse despite all the monarchs that had tried to make it better. They had almost given up on it, and had started concentrating on the high danger and top priorities rather than the everyday problems that the people lived with. It was, however, encouraged that the people who had troubles seek out help from the guards or the Heralds, and that those law holders would try to help if they could.
Devoni slowed to a milder trot, ears pricked and heads turning continuously from side to side, listening and looking as they moved through the streets.
:I suggest we go down to the warehouses first.: Devoni suggested, and Brynn mumbled agreement, his attention occupied with searching the somehow occupied shadows against the buildings on either side of them.
They made their way reasonably quickly towards the business section, doing their best to ignore the people still wandering around in the streets, too worried about Kylan to feel more than a flash of pity towards the unknown stragglers.
There was one in particular who stood out, a boy who looked to be about 12 years of age, who appeared to be following them. Devoni slowed further and looked back, then stopped completely.
:That boy's following us, Chosen.:
Brynn twisted in the saddle. Indeed, the boy was, standing a little distance away and panting from the effort of chasing the Companion at quite a fast pace.
:Wonder what he wants.: Brynn mused, and then shrugged it off, nudging Devoni forward again when the Companion stayed still for too long.
"Wait!" called a young voice, breathless from his run, and the boy staggered closer. "Wait, milord Herald. I need to know… Are you looking for someone?"
Brynn lifted his eyebrows, surprised at the outright question and blunt audacity. Not many people asked what a Herald was doing when he was out in the streets, even less so when they were in this part of the city. "Who are you?" he asked, instead of answering the question.
The boy looked up at him from under hair of an unidentifiable color. "I might be able to help you, Herald. Please, just tell me who you are looking for."
"Kylan," Brynn answered shortly, not sure why he was telling the boy. How could he help? "I need to get going, excuse me," he said, but before Devoni could start moving again, the boy put a restraining hand on Devoni's reins.
Devoni snorted with indignant anger and threw up his head, dislodging the hand easily. Brynn narrowed his eyes at the boy. "What is it then? I'm in a hurry!"
"Kylan," the boy said softly, watching Devoni's laid back ears with fearful eyes, "I know where he is. They took him to the main house, it's on the out skirts of the city, past the warehouses way. They'll have taken him to one of the smaller side houses by now, probably the storehouse one. He'll be in a basement somewhere in there. It's really lopsided and looks as if its about to fall down and you must hurry now because if they're taken him there they plan to kill him."
The boy paused, then looked down again, away from Brynn's surprised face. "Don't tell them I told you."
With that cryptic command, the boy ran into the shadows, leaving Brynn gaping after him. "Wait!" he called out. "Who are you? Who are they? How do you know all that?"
There was no answer, but he was beginning to get strange looks from a few other people huddled in the doorway across the street.
:Chosen, if what he said is true, we need to hurry.: Devoni told, startling Brynn out of his surprise.
:Hurry, Devoni! I don't think he was lying.:
Devoni leapt into a canter from standstill, almost loping, cleverly avoiding people and obstacles that were to be found in the road. Brynn merely hunched down over the pommel of the saddle and tried to repress the ice cold grip of fear that had attacked his spine when the boy had spoken of Kylan's death so calmly.
After they found Kylan – because they would, they couldn't fail on this one – Brynn was going to make sure the blonde never left his side again. And then they'd figure out just what had made all those teens so afraid, so subservient to whoever it was commanding them.
He had a fair idea of what made them do it… Now he just wanted to know who did it.
Trees were coming into sight on the horizon, dark shapes that were definable simply because they were darker than both the land and the sky. It was enough trees to let Brynn know that the city stopped shortly before it, being far too many for a private garden.
Somewhere on the air floated an agonized scream.
Brynn tensed up automatically, at first thinking it was still in his mind again, but the sudden quickening of pace from Devoni let him know that the Companion had heard it as well, and Brynn suddenly felt sick.
"Faster, Devoni, faster. They can't kill him! Just hurry, go!" While he mumbled unknown words of impatience, Brynn reached out with his mind, stretching it back to the Palace, where he found Astral quickly. He told Astral their location and asked for backup, which Astral told him was already on the way, some other Heralds having been woken up by their Companions after Devoni had talked to them after the boy had talked to Brynn.
:They're almost at Exile's Gate by now, I'll send them your way.: Astral told him calmly, and Brynn clenched his fists in Devoni's mane, letting his Companion feel the almost overwhelming surge of gratefulness.
Devoni sent back affection, and raced faster.
Brynn paid attention to what was in front of them, trying to ignore it when another distant scream drifted towards them.
He squeezed his eyes shut as a spasm of pain filled him completely for an instant, and then it was gone. It was all gone. There wasn't even fear left anymore.
"Devoni," Brynn whispered, hardly able to see for the wind tears that were blurring his vision. "He's unconscious. I can't feel him anymore, they've almost killed him."
:Don't worry, Chosen, we're almost there and then you can arrest them. Just remember not to kill them.:
Brynn snorted in disgust, that very idea having already occurred to him. They would pay for what they did to his bondmate, he'd make sure of that.
:Brynn,: Devoni told him solemnly, slowing ever so slightly. :Don't let the wish for revenge overcome your duty. Remember Tylendel? He forgot about duty, forgot about love…:
Brynn cursed slightly and sulked, but he knew Devoni was right. :All right. I won't get revenge. But I won't be sad if they get sentenced to death.:
Devoni snorted with dry amusement, and lengthened his strides. :No one could expect you to be happy about that.: he returned. : suppose you'll just have to – what on earth?:
Devoni slowed and stopped completely, throwing his head up, both in surprise and to get a better look at the fire that was suddenly roaring a short distance away.
Brynn gazed at it blearily, then swung out of his saddle and started running towards it dazedly, the only coherent thought in his mind being that he had to find Kylan.
Devoni stopped him, blocking Brynn's way with an all too solid pure white body. :Chosen, stop! Wait until we have some help to put the fire out! We can't do it alone.:
"You don't understand," Brynn wailed, and dodged past the immovable companion. "Kylan's in there! I know he is! And he's unconscious and badly hurt so he can't breathe! Please, Devoni, help me find him!"
Devoni gazed at Brynn for a moment, his dark eyes resigned, then swung around and trotted for the flames, leaving Brynn to follow hurriedly.
The first thought that came to mind was that it was hot. Overwhelmingly hot, almost unbearable. Brynn covered his nose with a hand and crouched low, searching the rooms of what could only have been a storehouse.
The boy's voice echoed through his memory, reminding him to search the basements first. It would also have been a better place to be hidden, because the fires would take a little longer to reach there, but once they did, you were trapped.
Brynn stumbled down the half burning stair case, cursing the fact that the floor was wood, so probably wouldn't be much safer below either, and called out to Devoni. :Where are you?:
:Looking through the basements.: came Devoni's grim reply. :The things down here are horrible. I've gone through about half the rooms. I'll do the basement. You do the upper levels.:
:But the boy-: Brynn argued.
Devoni interrupted him. :They might have moved him, if they were planning to burn him. Go check the other levels, there won't be as many as here down in the basement.:
Brynn thought about it, and then gave up the argument. He had long since forgotten the idea of catching any culprits tonight, all he cared about now was finding Kylan before it was too late.
The smoke was getting thicker. The air was beginning to scorch Brynn, and he stumbled back up the stairs to start searching the first floor.
He found empty rooms, rooms with burning boxes and material, with burning food supplies and rafters. In not one room did he find a blonde boy. He staggered up to the second level, intent only on finding Kylan by now, having forgotten about everything else.
He called the younger boy several times, having forgotten that the blonde wouldn't be able to answer.
He opened his mouth to call one more time and choked on his words, on the smoke, on the searing air itself. And then he fell to his knees, frantically feeling for Kylan's pulse, for anything that might prove normal enough to prove that Kylan really was alive, because just having the bond tell him wasn't enough when his eyes threatened to tell him something totally different.
:Devoni! I found him! Second level, the roof is burning, I can't get him out!:
Devoni cursed in his mind, not even drawing a slight smile to the face of the Herald, and he told his Companion he would meet him halfway.
Picking Kylan up under the arms, Brynn tried to ignore the bloodstained sides, and blood soaked breeches, tried to ignore the swelled eye, the bruised face and the split lip. Most of all he tried to ignore the way Kylan's head rolled limply onto his shoulder.
Brynn grunted with effort, and started dragging the insensible back with him, being extremely careful to avoid the falling splinters of wood when he could. He almost fell down the stairs in shock when one of the rafters crashed down at the other end of the room, and barely avoided putting his foot down somewhere where there was no step. His eyes were watering badly now, and he could barely breathe because of the smoke, so he was extremely thankful when Devoni materialized out of the thickening smoke and blazes and silently knelt down at the bottom of the stairs.
Brynn hauled Kylan's lifeless body across Devoni's shoulders and swung up behind him. Devoni heaved himself to his feet with a weary grunt, and then turned and trotted out of there, swinging randomly to avoid the falling wood.
Narrowly avoiding a certain beam, Devoni broke into a canter and swung around to avoid another roof support, just managing to make it through the flaming door before going into a gallop for a few paces, slowing and turning around again once they were a relatively safe distance away.
:The others are coming.: Devoni told Brynn tiredly, panting slightly, sweating from both heat and slight fear.
Brynn leant over Kylan's body to hug his Companion for a moment, before he sat up again and examined the younger boy with worry and concern wrecking havoc in his mind.
"Kylan," he whispered softly, and trailed soft fingers through the air next to Kylan's battered face, too tentative to touch it at the moment.
Kylan made a soft sound, and his eyes fluttered for a second as he groaned again. "Hurts," he whimpered.
Brynn sat for a second in shock, then hurriedly grabbed Kylan and lifted him up, sitting with the blonde boy's back against his chest. "You're awake! You're alive!"
Kylan merely screamed and flinched away, jerking himself away from Brynn rapidly. Brynn stared guiltily at Kylan's back, and then, once his eyes made sense of the mangled mess in front of him, he began to get angry. Furious.
Kylan weakly turned his head and tried to give Brynn a cocky grin, which failed miserably. "Knew you'd come," the younger boy gasped out, his voice tight with something that could only be pain. "Knew you… wouldn't leave me there… with them…"
Brynn eyed the bruised and bloody face. "Who are they?"
Kylan tried to grin again, wincing in pain when his face muscles didn't allow it. "Tell you… later…" he whispered, and his eyes fell shut again as his body went limp.
Devoni snorted when the body fell against his neck, but Brynn grabbed Kylan before the younger boy could fall off.
Brynn looked up again, eyes narrowed into slits of hard gray fury, and stared straight into the eyes of another Herald.
"Heyla," Brynn said, trying to feign light heartedness, trying to show that he wasn't as angry as he knew he was.
The other Herald merely stared back dubiously, glancing down at Kylan before looking back up again, the raised eyebrow saying it all.
Brynn sighed and balanced the body better, knowing he'd have a lot of explaining to do.
