Chapter Seven:

Intruders

It wasn't hard to determine the purpose of the intruders in the home of the late Doctor Styles.

When Chris, Buck and Vin approached the house through the shroud of darkness outside, they could hear the conversation between the enemy, spoken in a tongue none of the three men understood. Following those voices were the familiar sounds of ransacking as drawers squeaked open, books were shuffled across shelves like cards before being discarded onto the floor. Keepsakes and ornaments were smashed against the hardwood floor, in concert with the tearing of upholstery. There was no mystery what they were seeking just as it was no surprise, to Chris and the others, they were not going to find it.

From Orin's description of William Styles, the man understood better than all his companions what they stumbled into, all those years ago in Persia. In understanding the lore, William also realised just how determined the Erran would be to reclaim what they perceived to be theirs by right. After the deaths of Donald Avery and Hank Conley, it made sense he would break with what was agreed upon between the remaining friends and make his own decisions on how his cryptex or Pillar ought to be hidden. It would never be in his house.

Unfortunately for her, William Styles's daughter would pay the price.

When they approached the front door of the house, they found the double doors to be splayed wide open as if the home was gaping in shock at the intrusion. They could see the shadow of bodies moving across the windows. Some of the men were upstairs, while the rest were below. Fortunately, Chris, Buck and Vin were perfectly aware of how to infiltrate a place in silence. Traversing forbidden places in stealth the last four years had made their ability to approach covertly quite expert.

Reaching the doorway, Chris gestured at Buck to head up the stairs, while he and Vin took care of the men in the lower floor of the house. Judging by the racket they were making, their concentration seemed to be focussed on the ground level at this time. Buck nodded, clutching the Remington and allowing Chris and Vin to cover him as he dashed across the front vestibule and started up the stairs. They watched him ascend the staircase ensuring no one followed him before they stepped in.

Vin was barely able to contain himself, wanting to rush in and save the girl who was being interrogated for what she did or did not know. Each time, they heard the hard slap of flesh, Chris saw Vin's jaw tense in rage, aware such a sound could only come from the girl being brutalised. However, while some men allowed such imperatives to cloud their judgement, Chris Larabee knew better. When Vin cared about someone, such actions did nothing but turn his rage into a white-hot razor capable of making surgical attacks.

"You go for the girl," Chris whispered quietly, "I'll clear the rest of the house."

Vin nodded, almost grateful to be let off the leash. His blue eyes held its darkened shade as he stepped through the door and headed towards the sound of the interrogation. Once he was gone, Chris followed suit, crossing the short space across the front hall to the doorway leading into the living room. Standing briefly at the doorway, he peered into the room and saw two men. One was cutting a sofa to ribbons with a blade, even though it was highly unlikely the pillar would be hidden there but he supposed, the Erran were leaving nothing to chance. As cotton and fabric drifted about his feet, the cultist threw aside the cushion he had just shredded and moved to a sideboard.

The other man was going through the books on the shelf, shaking the pages to see if anything valuable escaped them. When he was met with failure, he dropped the leather-bound books on the rug, moving to the next book. Chris remained where he was for a few seconds, watching them go through the room, violating it with their carelessness, before the one destroying the upholstery took an alternate exit to the next room, out of sight.

Chris waited for all but ten seconds before the Erran at the shelf turned back to the books, continuing his search. Once his back was turned, Chris was on the move. The former soldier crossed the space between himself and his quarry quickly, his silent approach aided by the expensive rug on the floor. Instead of a gun, Chris instead produced a switchblade pocket knife and extended the blade with a silent snikt.

Closing in the distance, the Erran never knew until it was too late, he was a zebra on the savannah, being stalked by a lion, finally ready to pounce. Chris's hand cupped the man's mouth while the blade sliced open the flesh beneath it. He uttered a silent scream into Chris's palm, or rather a gurgle since his vocal chords were severed in that first cut. The man struggled for a few seconds in Chris's grip as the blood ran down his chest before he was released to slump quietly to the ground.

Once he was dead, his blood spreading out like a crimson cloak beneath him, Chris wiped the blade against the man's robes before straightening up to go deal with his companion. Replacing the blade in his coat pocket after he folded it again, Chris took silent steps to the next room where the other Erran was presently pulling open the draws in the dining table sideboard, having already created a mess in napkins and placemats on the floor.

Suddenly gunfire broke out above and it all went to hell.

The man straightened and turned sharply in his direction, but Chris was ready for him. No sooner than he saw Chris, the leader of the seven was pulling the trigger on his gun. The Colt Peacemaker fired once, and the bullet caught the Erran in the chest, dropping him immediately. He tumbled against the sideboard, his dying hand gripping the runner resting against it and pulling the remaining objects with him to the floor in a loud clatter.

In the other room, Chris heard Vin shouting at the girl and ordering her to get down. Knowing how proficient Vin could be with a gun, Chris retreated into the hallway and started up the stairs, just in time to see a dark shape tumbling down the steps towards him. Flattening his back against the wall, the body came down the staircase like a rolling dervish before hitting the floor with a wet sickly squelch that made his jaw clench.

The robed figure landed with his back against the floor, arms and legs splayed out like a grisly five-pointed star. If the fall hadn't killed this particular Erran, then the spread of dark red against the front of his chest, certainly did. Chris continued up the staircase, hearing another gunshot coming from the study where Vin was. He was almost tempted to go after the sharpshooter when the scuffling noises through the ceiling kept him ascending the stairs.

Reaching the top of the steps, Chris arrived just in time to see Buck throwing one of the Erran against the wall, smashing the picture frame hanging there. Glass broke loudly as the man attempted to bring a blade down on Buck, but the pilot was having none of it. Without much trouble, Buck maintained his grip and flung the man against the opposite wall, this time against a credenza. No sooner than he landed, Buck dropped down and retrieved the gun that must have fallen from his hand when the Erran attacked.

With reflexes that made him one of the best pilots in the war, Buck took aim just as the man recovered. He took one step towards Buck before the big man pulled the trigger. The explosion of sound in the narrow hallway masked the sickly burst of rupturing flesh and bone that painted a mural of gore across the pale blue wallpaper. The Erran's head was still tilted backwards from the force of the bullet, his eyes staring lifelessly into the ceiling before he fell against the wall. His body created a slick trail across the paint as he sank to the floor.

"What took you?" Buck offered him a grin when suddenly another Erran jumped out of the darkness, running at them with manic eyes, his blade held high ready to strike, screeching like a wraith in the night.

Without missing a beat, both Buck and Chris raised their guns and fired at the same time. Both bullets met their targets and the force of it swept the Erran off his feet even as they heard glass breaking below them. The man felt against the floor with a heavy thud, his blade planted into the wood as it landed. He did not move again, and Chris approached him cautiously, hands still gripping his pearl handled peacemaker, ready to fire if the son of a bitch tried to surprise him. Both bullets had struck him in the chest and either one could have been the fatal shot.

Checking the man's pulse, the warmth was already starting to bleed out of his body as Chris held his fingers against the man's throat. He raised his eyes to Buck and shook his head. "He's done."

"Good," Buck winced, and it was only then did Chris notice the stain of blood on his shirt.

"You hurt?" Chris asked, his brow furrowing with concern.

"It ain't bad," Buck assured him, frowning at the growing stain just beneath his clavicle. "He managed to nick me when we were tussling."

It was a little more than a nick Chris suspected but Buck wasn't stupid enough to downplay a serious injury, so Chris took him on his word. Besides, they would head back to join Nathan and the others.

"Where's Vin?" Buck asked and then shrugged. "Never mind, I can guess."


Once Vin saw the son of a bitch who had struck Alex go through the window, Vin had almost been tempted to go after the man. However, his first thought was not the escaping man but the girl he had been terrorizing until Vin's arrival. Fighting the urge to rush into the room, Vin had presence enough to call after Chris, especially when the gunfire had ceased, wanting to make sure the house was secure before he went to coax Alex out of her hiding place.

"Chris?" He stepped back into the hallway, taking note of the dead body at the foot of the staircase with little more than a shrug. After what the leader of the bunch was threatening Alex with, not to mention hitting her, Vin had no compassion for any of these bastards.

"We're good Vin," Chris returned as he and Buck started to descend the staircase.

No sooner Vin had glimpsed both men and made sure they were in one piece, Vin headed back into the study, seeking out Alex. He had seen her drop to her knees during the firefight and searched the room for her, upon stepping inside.

"Alex?" He called out to her. "It's Vin. You're safe."

"Vin?" She answered almost immediately.

Vin saw something shift behind the expensive oak desk and headed towards it just as he saw Alex crawling out of her hiding place. She raised her head to meet his eyes and Vin's jaw tensed when he saw the dark bruise forming under her eye. However, his anger was fleeting because he was so relieved to see she was alright. They had met only a short time ago, but Vin couldn't forget how she made him feel. How she still made him feel.

Offering her his hand, Alex took it as she stood up and Vin noted she was still wearing his jacket. She looked frightened but like him, the emotion was being swept away at her relief to see him. Not just relief but also wonder at his being here. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she saw Vin and though that terrible bruise marred her lovely features, it had no power against the smile she was giving him so radiantly. Once again Vin felt his heart melt in his chest and wondered at this power she had over him.

"You came after me," Alex replied, unable to believe he was actually here.

When she was terrified during the drive from the museum where she imagined some terrible fate, Alex had hoped the way a desperate person clung to fanciful ideas of deliverance, he might come for her. Like a knight in shining armour. Logically, she had known better. How could she expect him to risk his life in search of her, when they'd spent barely an hour together? Even though they had shared a kiss, not just any kiss but THE kiss. The one you remembered forever, even though Alex wasn't some starry-eyed school girl who believed in the nonsense of love at first sight.

"We had a date," Vin stared into her warm brown eyes and knew this thing that gripped him so completely, had her too. "Couldn't let you..."

Before he could finish speaking, she was pressing her lips to his, her hand against his cheek as she kissed him, not just for gratitude but because in that one instant, love at first sight was possible and it had come for her.

Vin felt his head swim and his heart pound as he became lost in her touch. Her scent swirled around him while her taste was familiar yet exciting. Vin drew her body against his and felt a shudder of pleasure run through him at how right it felt her being there. It wasn't as if there weren't women before this, there were. It just never felt as perfect as this. When she kissed him earlier, it felt like suddenly everything had finally shifted into place in his universe. He had his best friends at his side and a woman he just knew was meant for him.

Whatever happened after today, Vin knew they would always belong to each other.


"Goddamnit woman," Buck grumbled as he sat in the study, his neck craned to one side as he felt the sting of iodine biting into his skin.

Shortly after introductions were made, once Chris and Buck's arrival had managed to pry the couple's lips apart, Alex who had recovered quickly from her abduction took note of Buck's injury and insisted on looking at it. She was a fourth-year medical student and more than capable of treating the injury, especially after they had come to her rescue. With Buck's blood-stained dress shirt pulled halfway down his back, Alex was using the supplies in her father's doctor's bag to attend him.

"Don't be such a big baby," she scolded, giving Vin a little smile. "I have to clean the wound, or it will get infected. Besides, I think you need stitches."

"Stitches?" Buck grumbled. "Just put a Band-Aid on it."

Alex gave the man a look that showed him under no circumstances was that happening. "That wound is too deep for a Band-Aid. Just be grateful it didn't reach any muscle. Don't worry, I've done this before. It's not like I would sew up anything that's supposed to remain open."

"You really want to date this woman, Vin?" Buck asked, giving her a look of mock hatred.

"Yeah," Vin winked at Alex. "She keeps sugar babies in her purse. It's just what I look for in a woman."

Alex flashed him a radiant smile before going back to work on Buck's shoulder.

Chris stepped returned to the room, after searching one of the cars left behind by the Erran when Alex's interrogator had fled the scene. Frowning because he hadn't found anything to give them any clues leading back to the cult, Chris was at least grateful Buck was being tended to, even if he was complaining like a child. Then again, as Nathan could attest, none of the seven were very cooperative whenever they had to surrender themselves to the ministrations of a healer.

"He going to live?" Chris asked the young woman as she stood over Buck, preparing a syringe whose business end Buck was going to become very familiar with, soon.

"Yes, but not that you'd know listening to him complain," she said with a smile and Chris had to admit, the girl was a looker. He could understand why Vin was so enamoured and the way she looked at the sharpshooter, implied Alex Styles felt the same about him. "It's a deep cut but nothing vital was damaged. It needs sewing up."

"Nice," Buck glared at her, but despite this Chris could see the faint smile on the pilot's lips that implied he liked the girl and more than that, he approved. Buck knew women better than anyone and he could usually save his friends from making a big mistake if their eye caught one that would give them trouble.

"Did you find anything Chris?" Vin asked, turning away from Alex and Buck for the moment, his easy-going manner returned now he was no longer worried about the lovely Miss Styles.

"Nah," Chris shook his head. "One of the cars were gone but we expected that. The other was empty. Probably stolen for all we know."

"They won't stop coming after her until they get the Pillar," Vin said quietly, glancing over his shoulder and giving Alex a look of concern.

"Yeah," Chris nodded in agreement at that grim reality. So long as the Pillar was in her possession, the young woman was in danger.

"Hey!" Buck swore when Alex injected him with a local, to dull the area around his wound in preparation for sewing his stitches.

"Oh my God!" Alex rolled her eyes, swatting him on the back of the head. "Grow up, you child!"

"I don't like you," Buck grumbled.

"I'll try to live with the disappointment," Alex deadpanned but like Buck, she was smiling at the pilot too. It was clear despite their bickering, the two were warming to each other. Alex tossed Vin an affectionate smile which the sharpshooter returned with a playful wink.

"If you two are done behaving like a bunch of kids," Chris interrupted good-naturedly, deciding he liked Alex's manner too. Like Nathan, she wasn't going to put up with their antics when there was healing to be done. He suspected she and Nathan were going to get along famously.

"I resent that," Buck replied. "She's the one who's sticking me with things."

"Miss Styles," Chris ignored Buck and continued. "Those men tonight want the Pillar. They think you have it and they'll be back."

Alex shuddered, trying to hide her fear as she tried to thread a needle and failed. "I don't know where it is. To me this whole thing was a ghost story. Something my father played with as a hobby."

"Alex darlin," Vin said gently. "Those people tonight came after Orin Travis to kill him and take his cryptex. Your pa had one too. So did Donald Avery and Hank Conley. They each had one. I can't imagine your pa not giving you an idea of where it might be. He had to know these Erran might come after you when he passed."

Alex exhaled loudly. She hated thinking her father might have kept things from her, but it was painfully obvious now he had. The ghost story she thought he told her was in fact, something terrifyingly real and a burden her father carried with him into death. Worse yet, now that Vin and his friends had told her what Orin intended for her to know tonight, there was every possibility they murdered her father too. Knowing that infuriated Alex and made her determined to deny them their prize.

"All he left me other than my inheritance was a letter telling me that he loved me, and he was proud of me. That even though I was going on alone, we would have memories of our lives together, the adventures we shared."

"Adventures?" Chris stared at her, feeling something about that statement, tickling the back of his mind.

"Oh yes," Alex replied, feeling a wave of sadness knowing they would never go on those trips again and hid how much it hurt, though she could tell by the way Vin was looking at her, he saw her pain. Comforted by that, Alex continued to explain.

"When I was a little girl, we used to go trekking all over the country together. Every time I was on vacation from school, we'd go to a different place before we'd wind up back in Albuquerque to spend the rest of the summer with Orin and his family. That's how he discovered Seton Village. We were travelling, on our way to visit Orin, when we stopped here to look at an ancient Pueblo mound temple he wanted to see. He liked the area so much, he decided to move here after I left for college."

Chris exchanged a glance at Vin and Buck.

"You don't think?" Buck asked wondering if it could be that simple?

"What?" Alex asked, staring at the three men who had obviously figured something out and was somewhat annoyed there weren't letting her in on it.

"Miss Styles," Chris Larabee said with a smile. "Just where is this mound dwelling?"