Chapter 11: The Ring
"Paul, get your family out of here." Hailey said.
I quickly got up and led them to the other room that was attached to ours.
"Paul!" Jack exclaimed, "let me help! You won't have enough power left of you shift us all out of here!"
I shook my head, "I don't want you getting hurt. Hey De Silva!" I called.
He came into the room, "What is it?"
"Stay with them and help them," I said, "when the Gemini get in I want you to go out the door and get out."
"I must stay here and protect Susannah," he said.
"I know that but what can you do?" I said, "you don't have the power to protect yourself from guns Jesse. You are just a mediator. And besides if you got hurt, that would kill Suze. It would be better for the both of you if you went."
Jesse walked up to me, "I understand. But promise me Paul, promise me that you will protect Susannah."
I nodded, "I promise."
Leaving them to wait until it was safe, I went back to where Suze and Hailey were watching the door as the Gemini pounded on it to get in.
"Where's Jesse?" Suze asked.
"If he fights with us then he will just get hurt. I sent him to protect Jack and my parents," I said.
Suze nodded.
Suddenly the banging on the door stopped and the knob began to turn.
"Get ready Hailey," I said softly.
She nodded.
Suddenly there was a large crack and the door burst open, and five men rushed in.
Hailey's hands came out and a barrier went around the three of us.
"Cool…" Suze whispered.
"Suze, you know what to do," I said.
We both used our power to lift the couch and some chairs and hurled them at the Gemini. A few of them were knocked down by the couch.
One of the men pulled out his gun and began to shoot at the barrier. Suze screamed and her concentration broke, causing a chair to fall back to the floor.
When she noticed that the bullets were just hitting the shield she blushed and straightened up.
"She's the one controlling the shield," one man said, pointing to Hailey.
I gasped when I could suddenly feel another power source enter the room. It was a man. He looked to be in his mid twenties and was at least a few inches taller then me. His shaggy blonde hair fell into his almost black looking eyes. He held out his hand at Hailey and I noticed that on his finger was a ring. Beside him was another person, but this one seemed to glow.
It was Kevin.
"Hailey," I whispered, "is that the ring?"
She nodded, "I don't understand. Kevin is right there, why doesn't he take the ring back?"
"Maybe that's not why he was left here in the first place. I think he was lying to you from the beginning."
The man with the blonde hair walked up to Hailey's shield. Smirking wickedly at Hailey he took a step foreword.
And then he walked right through it.
Hailey stood utterly shocked at the man who had walked right through her shield. He stood in front of her and smiled.
"Hailey I presume," he said.
Suddenly his hand shot out and wrapped around Hailey's throat. She instantly dropped the shield and tried to get the man to let go.
"Let her go you bastard!" I yelled as I sent a chair flying at him.
He waved his other hand and knocked the chair out of the air.
Before Paul could charge at him, two pairs of arms grabbed his arms and forced him back. Two other men grabbed Suze so that she couldn't move.
The man who had Hailey around the neck spun her around so that she was facing the room. He still held onto her and Hailey fought to get away. Her eyes grew wide with fear as she looked at me.
I struggled, I hated seeing her like this. I hated seeing her in danger when I couldn't help her, when I couldn't hold her and tell her that everything was ok…
"Three shifters," he said softly, "there were two others, where are they?"
I glared at him. He was looking for Jack and Jesse as well.
"Fine, I figured you wouldn't answer me anyway," he smirked.
Kevin floated up to me and smiled, "you tried to get rid of me in the Shadow Land."
I smirked and nodded. Kevin frowned and punched me in the gut, sending me to my knees in pain.
God dammit!
….ow
Hailey winced from the painful grip that the guy had on her and I could feel myself getting madder.
Suddenly Hailey gasped and put up a shield around the man, forcing him away from her.
Her tried to walk through it but hit the wall.
He smirked, "clever girl," he said.
His eyes seemed to dilate with power for a moment and suddenly he disappeared.
"What the…" Hailey whispered in confusion, "how did he…"
"Hailey!" Suze yelled, "Behind you!"
Hailey turned around and came face to face with black eyes. The man raised his hand and backhanded Hailey across the face. She went flying to the floor at his feet and then she stopped moving.
"You bastard!" I yelled and fought to get away from the Gemini's grip, but they just threw me back up against the wall.
The man turned and looked at me, "You must be Paul Slater. I have heard so much about you. You lived in Seattle most of your life, then moved to Carmel for two years. And you must be Susannah Simon," he looked at Suze.
She glared at him.
"Quite the mess Slater has gotten you into hmm?" he smiled.
"Who are you?" Suze hissed, "what do you want with us?"
The man smiled again, "My name is Dimitri. And I am here to get rid of all you abominations."
"But you are one of us," I said.
He stopped smiling and glared at me, "That is where you are wrong Slater. I am not a shifter or a mediator."
I gasped, "the ring."
He nodded, "Yes, the ring has given me all of my powers, even my ability to see the dead."
"That's why you killed Kevin?" I asked.
He smirked, "No, Kevin died to help us. The ring was always in my possession. It was a requirement for him to die. Once he was dead he could seek out a mediator. He would tell them that he was murdered and he would only move on once he got the ring back. Of course the mediators or shifters would try to help him. He would lead them to one of the Zodiac and then we would dispose of them."
The information was hitting me likes stones.
They would lure my kind to their deaths…
"Well I think that I enough for one day," he said.
"So you are just gonna kill us?" Suze asked.
Dimitri smiled.
God…is he gay or something? What's with all the smiling?
"Not today Simon, but soon."
He bent down and scooped Hailey into his arms then he headed for the door.
"Where are you taking her!" I yelled.
He didn't answer.
Before I could get away Kevin raised his hand and struck me on the side of my head.
The last thing I heard was Suze's scream.
……………..LATER………………
I slowly opened my eyes to see Suze's face looming over mine.
"What happened?" I asked.
"A lot, it'll come back soon," she said.
I looked around me. We appeared to be in a small room of some kind of house. There was a dresser with clothes piling out and a closet. Jack was leaning against Jesse's shoulder on the floor, sleeping. My parents were sitting in two chairs, sleeping also. And Hailey…
I looked around the room frantically.
Hailey wasn't there.
My head began to hurt as all of the memories rushed back.
Dimitri… the Gemini… he walked through her shield… Kevin… the ring… he took her away…
And I was knocked out.
Again!
God my luck sucks…
I looked up at Suze, "I remember, are you ok Suze?"
She nodded, "yeah, it kind of scared me when that ghost hit you though. You were bleeding and everything."
"Glad to know you care," I mumbled and sat up.
Suze glared at me, "and what's that supposed to mean?"
"Shut up Suze, you'll wake everyone up." I said, "where are we anyway?"
"At my uncle's house," she said, "he lives here in Seattle, I haven't spoken to him in year though. Him and his family must be out of town because no one is home."
"How did you get in?" I asked.
"I shifted."
I nodded.
Suze just sat there and stared at me, "what are you thinking about?" she asked.
I sighed, "Truthfully, Hailey. I wonder where she is. I keep thinking that she is lying dead somewhere."
"Don't," Suze said, "she is way stronger then that. There is no way in hell that she is dead. Don't worry we'll find her."
There was a long pause and I couldn't help but think of the worst. What if Dimitri had hurt her? What if he was using her for some scientific experiment or sexual thing?
I clenched my fists.
If he lay a single finger on her…
Well, then I just couldn't be held responsible for my actions.
"You really like her don't you?" Suze asked suddenly.
I looked at her but Suze was looking over at Jesse who was sleeping soundly. Her eyes were filled with pure love for the cowboy. A love I had never understood.
Until now…
I nodded softly, "I guess I do. I can't stop thinking about her."
Suze looked at me and a small smile formed on her lips, "Now you know how I feel about Jesse. Hailey is really sweet, but fiery. She really likes you Paul."
I looked up at Suze in surprise.
"She said that?" I asked.
"She didn't need to," Suze said softly, "I have eyes Paul, I see how you look at her, and how she looks at you."
I stood up and stretched.
"Where are you going?" Suze asked.
"To get a drink," I headed for the door, "get some sleep Suze."
She nodded and lay down on the floor next to Jesse, resting her head on his shoulder that wasn't occupied by Jack. She kissed his cheek softly and then closed her eyes.
Walking down a narrow hallway I found a small kitchen. Opening the fridge I noticed that it was almost empty except for a carton of milk, cheese, some fruit, and a six pack of red bull.
Taking out a red bull I opened it and took a long drink from it. Wincing at the sudden energy rush I could feel my power awaken in me.
Wow…red bull really does give you wings…
Looking back down the hallway, I made sure that everyone was still asleep. Then I slipped on my jacket and opened the front door.
Walking out into the warm night I looked up and down the street.
I wouldn't leave Hailey to be kept captured by Dimitri.
I had to find her…