The front door was flung open and Aubrey stepped in with a giddy Jessica at his heels, his eyes swept over the group before him. Nikolas was sitting on a black leather sofa, looking pretty cross, at his side Kristopher was snoozing lightly, a map he had sketched sprawled across his lap. Nissa had taken up her whittling again, the finished carving of Kristopher and Nikolas sitting on a table beside her recliner, she was now whittling what looked to be a horse. On the couch, with each of their hands and feet tied, were Danica, Zane and Turquoise.
Aubrey raked them with amusement in his eyes and cleared his throat. Kristopher's head snapped up and the map slid from his lap onto the floor. Nissa looked up and nodded to Aubrey, then resumed whittling on her horse. Turquoise Draka glared at him and spit out her gag, Aubrey laughed at her, "Why hello there Turquoise," he said, "long time no see."
Turquoise spat at him, "There was once a time, when I would not have hesitated to take the thousand dollar bounty on your head." She growled.
Aubrey cackled evilly, "And why don't you Turquoise?" He asked mercilessly, "What? Cat got your knives?"
Turquoise hissed and Kristopher clambered off the sofa and went to Aubrey, "They came," he gestured at the threesome tied up on the couch, "while you were away. They claim they want to form an alliance with us, do to an uprising between us and Risika's fledgling's who have joined forces with the falcons because of Nikolas' murdering Risika." The threesome on the couch nodded.
"Well then," Aubrey said, removing his coat and handing it to Jessica, who smiled and tossed it on the coat rack. "I knew something like this would happen," Aubrey said coming into the room, "it was just a matter of when."
Nikolas turned and glared at Aubrey, "Yeah, Aubrey?" He hissed, "Well you could've told us before you got us into this mess!" Kristopher cast a wary eye on his brother momentarily then turned back to Aubrey and shrugged.
"You knew what would happen Nikolas," Aubrey smiled, "so do not deny that you didn't know what would happen if you killed Risika. You know every action has a consequence, just as well as I." He moved to the couch and stared down at Danica, Zane, and Turquoise.
Danica flinched, then stared steadily into Aubrey's eyes with an air of avian resolve, Aubrey removed her gag. "Yes, we have come to join forces with you," Danica's voice quaked as she said it, she just couldn't fathom the idea of joining forces with such demon's as vampires, but then again, she had never thought she would marry Zane Cobriana, either.
Aubrey peered down at her in amusement, "Are you scared of me, little hawk?" He asked. Zane struggled to free himself in anger, as Aubrey touched Danica's cheek lightly. Aubrey turned to Zane and bowed removing his hand from Danica's cheek, then removed Zane's gag.
Behind Aubrey, Jessica quivered then stalked sulkily out of the room into the den where she sat up her laptop and started typing again. Aubrey watched her leave and shook his head in displeasure then turned back to the now ungagged Zane.
"Do not torment Danica," Zane hissed, "it was my idea to come here." He shifted uncomfortably on the couch, "You see, Danica had a member of her royal guard who was also a very dear friend, named Rei, whom we thought was a raven or crow (can't remember) who turned out to be a Falcon. After Danica married me another member joined her guard named Erica Silvermead, who in fact turned out to be a falcon also, and she was in trouble with the falcons so she ran away." Zane took a breath clearly frustrated for it seemed that he had repeated this story many times and he continued, "Rei and Erica married and had a son, Nicias who is our daughter, Oliza's most trusted friend and protector. Nicias is a pure bred peregrine falcon, and Rei's mother will stop at nothing to get him on her side, Nicias refused however, and now the Falcon's have waged war against the avian's and the serpiente."
Aubrey waggled his eyebrows, "I still don't see what this has got to do with us." He replied flippantly. But before he could answer a shrill shriek erupted through the house coming from the den. Aubrey and the other's hurried to see what was the matter except for the threesome who were still tied on the couch.
They found Jessica, still shrieking and pointing out the window at the sky, "They're here," she bellowed, "The falcon's are here, we're under siege."
Aubrey rushed from the room and pulled out a dagger which he used to release the threesome on the couch, he turned to everyone and said, "Grab whatever weapons and food you can. We leave tonight."
Hehe, I know I cut it off right at the good part but that's what the next chapter for just wait and see.