*Sorry I haven't updated in so long, but life has gotten in the way. With Halloween quickly approaching, I have forced time into my schedule to write some. Hopefully, the trend continues as there are still many more chapters left for this story in my mind. 'Thank you' to everyone who is still reading. I don't know what I did to deserve it, but I thank God for you all!

Chapter 97

After a short hop to JFK airport in New York City, Kahlan, Chuck, and the two ancient vampires piled into a waiting SUV and made their way into Brooklyn and the address that Garcia and Cam found using the hunter's address book. They stood on the sidewalk looking at the old brownstone. "It doesn't look like anyone even lives here," Chuck put out and then looked at his best friend. "It might have been a bogus address."

Kahlan nodded and then looked at Sebastian. "Can you tell if anyone is in there?"

The detective studied the brick structure and then sighed. "I can't be absolutely positive with so many people around. We could work our way up and take a look, if you would like us to."

She took a deep breath and then shook her head. "Let's just go around and use the back door. There are way too many people out here to go in through the front."

They nodded and gestured for her to go first. Once they were in the dark building, Christian ran his finger across the top of the dining room table. "Either someone is a very poor housekeeper, or nobody has been here for a while," he told them as he wiped the ripple of dust onto his pants.

Kahlan sighed, but Chuck moved to a bookcase and started rummaging through the stacks of papers on one of the shelves. "Maybe it's just a crash pad and we can find some clue to their real address or something."

Kahlan's eyes drifted toward the stairs and then to the vampire. "You can't hear anyone?"

They could all hear the hope in her tone, but he winced. "No one."

She huffed as she shook her head. "I guess I'll check out the upstairs. Yell if you find anything," she ordered as she moved towards the stairs. The feeling of excited anticipation that had built within her during the flight was slowing ebbing away allowing depressing disappointment to take its place.

"I'll help you," Christian offered as he moved to follow her.

"That means you get to check out the basement," Chuck told Sebastian.

He nodded and went back toward the kitchen where they had entered the old residence.

After finding a den full of all kinds of strange things that could only belong to a hunter, Kahlan and Christian knew they were in the right house at least. "I wonder if this is the group that captured Aaron," Christian offered as he took a photo of a group of five people off the desk to get a better look at it.

"Take it, Garcia or Cam may be able to get an ID on them."

He nodded and started to take the photo out of the frame as she went to the next room. While he searched for more clues in the den, she searched the rest of the rooms on that floor and then went up to the third and final floor.

XXXXX

Once most of the beings in the cell had settled down, Hotch watched one of the gnomes move closer to the cage that had been tossed on the floor. The cage had several holes in its sides, but Hotch had no idea what was in it. When the gnome poked a stick into ones of those holes, something in the cage yelped. The gnome chuckled in delight and started the stick into the cage again but Hotch shook his head. "Leave it alone! It isn't bothering you," he ordered in a hushed tone.

The gnome flinched and hid the stick behind his back, but one of the other ones, an older one, stepped in front of him and looked at Hotch. "What do you care, bloodsucker? These fur balls wouldn't even be a snack for you."

Hotch's stare bore into him. "I don't care. I said to leave them alone."

"But they're Di Sma, and they multiply worse than rabbits; they are a menace!"

Hotch stuck his foot out and slid the cage closer to him. "I don't care what they are, they don't need to be picked on by anyone in here! I'm sure we'll all face enough of that out there!" If the other beings were going to be afraid of him, then he might be able to use that in his favor and protect those who couldn't protect themselves.

The older gnome huffed, but pushed the younger one further away from Hotch and the cage. Hotch studied the cage and then smiled when he saw it was only clasped shut, not locked. "No sense in you guys being in a cage within a cage," he told the little creatures and used his toes to open the latch. When the lid clanged back, the things inside huddled down, and the whines that escaped them made Hotch's heart clench. "It's alright. You can come out," he urged them.

Inside were seven, round, furry things that one after the other looked up at Hotch with big eyes. They looked like a cross between a chinchilla and a teddy bear, and Hotch smiled at them. "It's ok," he soothed.

They all looked to the one in the middle, a white and tan one with spots on its face, and its tropical blue eyes locked with Hotch's.

"I won't hurt you," Hotch assured it in a gentle tone.

It's outwards slanted ears moved towards Hotch as its nose twitched, and after apparently coming to the conclusion that Hotch wasn't a threat, it hopped out of the little cage and onto Hotch's lap. The vampire made sure not to flinch or anything because he didn't want to scare it; and after it sniffed him again, it hopped up onto his shoulder and sniffed him even more.

Hotch turned to look at it and smiled again. "Hey there." When the silky fur of its tail brushed against Hotch's ear, he tensed and chuckled. "Watch it, that tickles."

"If that doesn't take the fucking cake, a vampire that's ticklish," the goatman uttered.

Hotch shot him a dark look but turned his attention back to the little thing standing on him. It stayed on its back legs and leaned in and sniffed Hotch's nose. After a couple seconds, Hotch pulled back and looked it in the eyes. "So, do I pass the test?"

It looked at its buddies and let out a little squeak making all of them hop out onto Hotch, too, causing Hotch to laugh. One with a brown patch running up from its nose through the middle of its emerald green eyes jumped up onto Hotch's other shoulder and the others moved to different places along Hotch's lap. He laughed again. "Make yourselves at home."

"And when they start eating your flesh as soon as you fall asleep, you'll regret letting them out of that damn cage," the goatman told him as he watched them.

Hotch mentally winced. Not knowing what they were, and not knowing what they could do, suddenly had him very worried. Just because they're cute doesn't mean they can't be deadly. Damn it, Hotchner! You really shouldn't mess with things you don't know about.

When he was about ready to shake the things off him as a precaution, the one with spots curled up on its side right next to Hotch's neck and wrapped its fuzzy tail around itself to cover up its eyes, and Hotch couldn't help it, he smiled. Even if they're deadly, they haven't showed any threat towards me, so I think I'm ok. He glanced at the goatman. Besides, he could have been just messing with me.

The other balls of fur quickly settled themselves in, too, and Hotch sighed. I guess if I can't do anything else, I can at least be a perch for you little guys.

The goatman huffed. "You will regret that, vamp."

Hotch turned his stare towards him. "Was I asking your opinion?"

Within a few minutes, the little, furry creatures were all emitting a low vibration, and Hotch wasn't sure if they were purring or what, but he chuckled. Joey would love these things. As soon as he thought it, though, his eyes filled and he cringed as he felt a hole grow in his chest as he missed his entire family even more. Stop thinking about them, Hotchner. You'll never see them again.

He looked at the beings around him; they all had a sad, whipped look to them, and he mentally huffed. None of us are going to see home again because we're all going to die here. He dropped his chin to his chest and shut his eyes as he sniffed.

XXXXX

As Kahlan searched through completely empty rooms, her spirits sank even further. It almost seems like they use this place as a crash pad just like Chuck said. She ran a hand down her face as a deep sigh escaped her. When she got to what should have been the master bedroom, she shook her head. There were several cots and sleeping bags spread around on the floor, but no permanent furniture was there. She huffed. True hunters. They probably have places like this in every state.

She checked under the cots and had all but given up on finding anything when the closet caught her eye. I hide shit in my closet, maybe they do, too. She went to it and was about to cuss in frustration at finding only dust and a pile of dirty clothes in it, but a well-hidden key hole in the back wall made her freeze. Now what would be so much more important than that stuff in your den that you have to put it in a hidden locked room? Hmmm?

She got out her lock pick set and started in on the old lock. Christian joined her and was shocked at what she was doing. She giggled. "You mean to tell me you have never picked a lock in all of your years?"

He straitened up and smoothed out his shirt. "I have, I just didn't think that was skill the wife of an FBI agent would possess."

A sly smile made its way to her lips. "I am so much more than an agent's wife."

He took a deep breath. "I'm starting to see that."

"I didn't find shit. Maybe. . ." Chuck started as he joined them in the master bedroom, but his eyes grew wide when he noticed them in the closet. "What the hell is that to?"

"No idea. I don't have it open yet," Kahlan told him and was about to say something else, but the difficult lock finally snapped open. She put a hand on the door to push it open but paused and looked at the vampire, "I guess you don't sense anyone in there, either, huh?"

"I sense nothing, and I'm sorry, my dear. We all wanted to find something that would lead us to Aaron," he offered honestly.

She nodded and then shoved the door open as Sebastian's call for Christian drifted up the stairs making him turn and leave the room.

Chuck pushed his way past Kahlan. Even if the vampire didn't sense anyone, he did not like the idea of his best friend walking into a locked room first, but he only made two steps into the little room before he came to a dead stop making Kahlan run right into his back. "What the hell, Chuck?" Kahlan asked as she moved back a few inches.

"I don't know, you tell me," Chuck told her as he moved to the side to let her see what had gotten his attention.

Right in the middle of the room was a tall cage with a man standing in it. Kahlan's brows shot up for a second but then her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Hold on, buddy. We'll get you out," Chuck offered the stranger as he started for the cage.

Kahlan grabbed his arm, though. "Stand down, Charles!" she ordered.

But he looked at her as if she was crazy. "What? Those assholes have some guy in a cage! We have to let him out!" he insisted.

She studied the man in the cage some more as she shook her head. "But he can't just be some guy, Chuck. Sebastian couldn't sense anyone, so there's no telling what he is."

Chuck looked the man over as her words sunk in. "Yeah, but I thought the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"Yeah, but does that apply to the supernatural world?" she asked him as she studied the man some more. The man hadn't moved, hadn't made a peep, he just stared at them.

She cleared her throat and looked toward the door she had opened. "Ummm, Christian, you might want to come check this out," she hollered.

"Find something interesting?" he asked from the hallway. As soon as he could see them, he frowned and then looked toward where Chuck had gestured, and then he screamed and stumbled back out of the room as his hands flew to his face.

Kahlan tensed to run to him, but the man in the cage yelled out, "No! Stay here. I can protect you!"

Kahlan shoved Chuck towards the still screaming vampire and then looked at the man in the cage. "Protect us?! Protect us from what?"

"From that unholy beast!" the man yelled as he pointed toward the door.

"That unholy beast is my friend, you son of a bitch! What the hell did you do to him?!" she demanded to know as she moved closer to him.

"What?" he asked as he looked back and forth between her and the door clearly not understanding.

"What happened?!" Sebastian demanded to know when he suddenly appeared beside his friend in the master bedroom.

"I don't know," Chuck told him as he bent down next to the fallen vampire. "He took one look into the room and then fell back out of the door screaming."

Sebastian frowned and then knelt down next the vampire who had gone from screaming to just breathing heavily. "Let me see," he insisted as he peeled his friend's hands away from his face.

"Jesus," Chuck muttered under his breath as smoke wafted up from Christian's face. Burnt and smoldering sockets were all that was left where the vampire's eyes should have been.

Sebastian's head snapped toward the hidden door and then to Chuck. "What the hell is in there?!"

"It's just a guy," Kahlan told him as she came out of the room. She took one look at Christian, shook her head, and took out her knife as she moved towards the wounded man. "Move!" she demanded of Chuck who jumped up out of her way as she slid the knife across her left palm. As soon as her hand was full of blood, she reached and covered Christian's eyes. "Here, this will help," she told him as she pressed her cut hand against him and held the back of his head with her other hand.

He gasped as the fresh blood seared into him, but he didn't fight her.

Sebastian gave her a small nod of thanks and then looked back to the room. "What did you mean by 'it's just a guy' in there? What did he do to Christian?"

She shrugged. "He didn't do anything. In fact, he's in a cage. Christian just looked at him," she explained.

"And he looks like a human man?"

"Yes."

He frowned. "I don't hear a heart, so he can't be human." He took a deep breath. "Describe him."

"Well, he's. . . I guess he looks like any other guy," she offered.

"A gorgeous guy," Chuck put in and her head snapped to him.

"Really, Charles?" she asked bewildered.

His cheeks turned red. "Well, come on, he is, and I'm not even into men!"

A heavy sigh escaped Sebastian. "So, he's perfect?"

"Maybe for someone else," Kahlan told him as she shot Chuck another strange look. "But he's not my type." She shook her head and locked eyes with the detective. "You know what he is?"

"He must be an angel," he told her simply.

She snorted, but Chuck's jaw dropped for a second. "You mean angels are real, too?" he asked as he looked back toward the little room with the man in the cage.

She shook her head at him. "Really, Charles. We faced a goddess from the underworld, and you're surprised to find out angels are real?"

Chuck shrugged sheepishly and then frowned. "Why the hell would hunters have an angel in a cage. Aren't angels supposed to be good guys?"

Christian moved Kahlan's hand away from his face and took a deep breath as he looked at them with healed eyes. "I suggest you two go in there and find that out."

Kahlan looked at him. "I am so sorry, Christian. I shouldn't have ever called you in there. I should. . ."

"It's fine, dear. You didn't know," he told her as he smiled. "And thank you for healing me."

She nodded and looked at Sebastian. "Are you sure he's an angel? Could anything else have done that to him?"

"Nothing that I know of," he told her and then laid a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Were you able to see anything?"

Christian shook his head. "Just the brightest light I have ever seen."

"So just looking at him burned his eyes. Can he do anything to us?" Chuck asked as he ran a hand through his hair.

Kahlan took a deep breath as she also stood up. "I don't think he'll hurt us. He wanted to protect us from the vampires."

Sebastian checked his friend over one more time and then stood up with them. "It's your call, just know that if something happens, we can't come in there to help you."

"Maybe we should just leave him," Chuck suggested. He really didn't want to take the chance of his best friend getting hurt.

"He might be able to help us find the hunters. God knows how long he's been their prisoner," Kahlan pointed out.

"As much as I don't want an angel loose around me, I have to agree with Kahlan," Christian put in.

Kahlan nodded and then looked at the man who had changed her husband. "I think you and Christian should get safely away from here just in case."

Sebastian looked back towards the door for a moment and then sighed. "Alright, but please be careful. While Angels come from heaven, not all of them can be classified as good by human standards."

She gave him a smile. "If need be, he can stay in the cage."

"Very well. Good luck. We will be close enough to hear you once you leave this building."

"Alright," she told him and then shoved Chuck towards the door. "Come on, Chuck, let's go talk to you man crush."

"Shut up, Kay."

Once they went into the room and shut the door behind them, Christian and Sebastian headed down the stairs. Once they were on the main floor, Christian pulled Sebastian to a stop and fixed him with a look. "If and when we ever find Aaron, we need to make sure he doesn't turn that woman," he told him with fevered intensity.

Sebastian shook his head. "What?! What are you talking about?"

Christian checked to make sure the coast was still clear and leaned in close to his friend. "She's not completely human."

"Did that damn angel fry part of your brain? You're not making any sense, Christian! Why would you say such a thing?"

The curly haired man huffed as he ran a hand down his face and then showed Sebastian the blood on his hand. "Because I can taste it! And she's not completely human!" Kahlan's blood was still smeared all over his face.

*The Di Sma's pictures are on the website. the tales of hoffer dot weebly dot com. (No spaces and a period for 'dot') You have to go see them cause they're cute as shit!