Blood Ties Continued

Pt 3

Harry laughed as Lauren kissed him as they staggered up the walkway to her door. As he moved to unlock her door his hand stopped as he detected blood in the air. Detaching himself from Lauren he breathed in again. Blood was definitely in the air and it wasn't fresh.

"Lauren I forgot my wallet in the car. Get it for me?" He asked.

"Sure."

Harry broke the lock on the door with a twist of his wrist and looked in. He didn't need any lights on to tell him that was a body on the floor. He slid in through the shadows and crouched down to roll it over. Eris' bruised face and wrists flopped into view. He drew a sharp breath inward.

Outside Lauren was closing the door to the car. Harry picked up Eris' body and carried her outside. Lauren screamed slightly and ran up. "Oh god, what happened?"

"Get inside, make sure nothing's missing. I'm taking her to help."

"Let's call the police." Lauren insisted.

Two years ago Harry would have already dialed them, but not now. Too much had been lost since then. "Lauren, just go inside. I'll take care of her."

Harry positioned her in the backseat and that's when he saw the mark on her neck. His heart sank and he sighed heavily. Closing the door gently he drove to the Charlarin mansion and carried her into the main sitting room.

Moments later the patriarch of the Charlarin clan was gazing at Eris with dark eyes. He didn't look pleased as he straightened up and stared at Harry.

"Don't look at me," Harry shook his head. "I'm having enough trouble with Lauren."

Eli opened his mouth but was silenced by a motion from one of the ancients. Eli took a moment to rethink before clasping his hands behind his back and turning away from Harry.

"This war has become more violent." The ancient said softly, "This has spilled over the boarder of our world."

Just as Eli moved to speak again, the door banged open and Butch was preceded by an irate Cody. He rushed to the couch and knelt by the prone form. He touched her and whispered her name. His touches were light and worried as he kissed her forehead softly.

"Cody," Harry spoke softly, "How do you know her?"

He gazed up at Harry with wide dark eyes, "We grew up together as kids and last night…"He paused and Harry nodded understanding at the look in the boys eyes. "Harry, what happened to her?"

"Hunters," Harry whispered. "They were probably looking for Lauren and mistook Eris to be her."

Cody looked back at his lover, "What are we going to do?"

"We?" Harry gazed at him and shook his head, "No Cody, me will handle this."

Cody sprang to his feet, "No!" He snarled and Harry stepped away, "They can't attack the girl I love and get away with it. There's no wrist slapping for this Harry. If you can't do what needs to be done, then I will!"

Harry gazed at him with dark, sad eyes. "I know you're angry Cody. But don't be irrational. Eris is okay, she's still alive and they left her relatively unharmed. Don't go flying off-"

"Forget it!"

Cody was just about to start up when Eris groaned. He fell to his knees and instantly forgot his anger as her gathered her into his arms. "Eris?"

Her eyes fluttered open and she stared at Cody with bewildered eyes. "Cody?"

He kissed her softy, "They'll pay for this."

"I don't take Visa or MasterCard, only cash."

Butch snickered and leaned over them. "A few blood spots okay?"

Eris gazed at him, "Sure,"

"Eris," Harry got her attention, "Killing these men isn't going to stop what has happened."

"I don't really care Harry. I don't take kindly to be beat up, tied up and interrogated."

"They questioned you?" Butch asked seriously.

Eris tried to nod but it hurt too much, "Said something about vampires and how Cody had marked me. They kept sayin' he was a liar and that he was deceiving me." She turned her eyes to him. "You aren't doing that are you Cody?"

Cody turned his eyes to Eli and the ancient ones before sighing and looking her straight in the eyes. "I have a few things to tell you."

"Does this involve your parents and the fact that you're a vampire?" He blinked once before nodding slowly. Eris thought for a second. "Then skip that part and get directly to why they are after me now."

"I have no idea."

Eris sat up and flinched at the sore spot on her side. "One of them said something about watching me leave this morning."

There were glances thrown around and Eli came to stand directly in front of her. "They saw you leave?" He thought, "That means they are watching us."

"Then we aren't safe here anymore." One of the ancients said softly. That brought a wave of murmurs from the room. Outcries about having to leave and moving forward again followed shortly.

Eris looked at Cody, then Harry and then back to Cody. "Wait, wait, I have an idea." All those dark eyes turned to her, "I could go the hunters and say that I have changed my mind about vampires. Meanwhile you guys can follow me their hideout and do what ever is you do and stop them."

Cody cupped her face gently in his hands, "No, I don't want you to do that. If they catch you, they will kill you. Please Eris, don't risk your life."

"Cody," She held his hands, "I can't not do anything either. They came after me, they hurt me, and I have to hurt them back."

He didn't look convinced, Butch leaned over, "She's right you know, kid." He watched Eris with dark understanding, "What'd ever do to deserve you anyway?"

Eris smiled despite her face. "When this is all over I'll tell you."

Butch smiled and looked to Harry and Eli. "Well Uncle? This sounds like something you could go with. What about it?"

Eli gazed at her for a long time. "We can try it."

Eris felt her fear rise up as they all agreed. She had a sinking feeling gain. A really, really bad feeling.