Enchant 27
The hours seemed to be ticking bye in slow motion. They had all tried to get sleep but were unable. The tension was starting to build. They agreed to sleep in shifts just to keep from blowing up at each other. Tyler slept beside Xandria; he was unwilling to let her out of his sight. He had come too close to losing her yesterday. He didn't know if his heart could take another near fatal attack on her.
Tyler stretched and tried to get comfortable on the small bed. They had all moved into the guest rooms. They left the doors open however, so they could be more alert. Tyler couldn't sleep at all he was too hyped. He noticed that Reid still had his light on so he crept across the hall. Knocked lightly on the doorframe."Yeah what is it?" said Reid jumping slightly at the unexpected sound. "Couldn't sleep, you?" said Tyler. "Same here" said Reid.
"Do you think she's right?" asked Tyler "what that he might come here?" said Reid.
"Yeah" said Tyler "most likely" said Reid "are you scared?' asked Reid "no not really just tense, I hate waiting" said Tyler. "You've changed a lot baby boy," said Reid. "Maybe I'm growing up," said Tyler. Reid looked sad for a brief second, he was worried about Tyler.
"Do you really love her?' asked Reid. "Yeah I think I do, I can't imagine life without her in it now" said Tyler Reid laughed "yeah I know that sounds corny as hell" said Tyler.
"I'm happy for you bro, really I am" said Reid
"Thanks man, you don't know how much that means to me," said Tyler. Reid patted him on the back. "Hey its gonna be fine" said Reid. "Yeah I know, I was just wondering something," said Tyler. "What?" asked Reid. "How soon is too soon to ask you know?" sad Tyler. Reid looked lost for a second "you know what?" said Reid. 'You know it starts with a ring?" said Tyler. "Oh shit you're kidding, dude your way to young for that," said Reid
"I thought that too but I want to make this more permanent" said Tyler Reid looked at him in disbelief "man she's got you good" said Reid. "Yeah I know, but its good not bad," said Tyler. Reid snorted in derision "yeah right whatever" said Reid "you should try it sometime, you can't be alone forever you know" said Tyler "hey I'm never alone" said Reid.
"You know what I mean Reid," said Tyler. "Find something to hold on to before everything worth holding is gone," said Tyler.
"Ok where did you get to be the wise one, that's Caleb's job" said Reid "and yours is the wise ass," said Tyler with a laugh. Reid flipped him off. Then in a more serious tone said, "thanks maybe I will" Reid was about to say more when there was a loud bang from downstairs.
The household was roused in an instant. They came running out of the rooms, still dressed in bedclothes but armed. The boy's had gone to the hardware store earlier and picked up crowbars. They passed them out as weapons. Figuring they would take advantage of the cold iron weakness. The sleeping girls were both clutching iron horseshoes in their hands.
Caleb's mom now sober for the first time in years. Pulled out his dads old pistol and loaded it with steel jacketed slugs. She sat guard on the sleeping girls and a protesting Xandria.
Connor and the boys armed themselves and waited for the attack. They didn't have to wait long. An energy bolt hit the ward on the front door. Then someone yelled, "I know she's in their send her out and I'll spare you," said Hanadrin.
"Go to hell Hanadrin" said Tyler. "Ah so it was the lover who rescued her, I should have known," said Hanadrin. "Come now boy she can't be worth dying for," said Hanadrin. To his credit Tyler didn't rise to the bait. "Come now boy, all I came for was the girl, she is my fiancé" said Hanadrin
"I think her answer is no, to that offer" said Tyler "she doesn't have the right to say no" argued Hanadrin. "She may not have that right but her kinsmen do," said Connor. "Ah Connor I might have guessed you would be behind this insurrection" said Hanadrin. "Stop being foolish Connor send her out, her hand was given and sanctioned by the king" said Hanadrin "but you forget, I'm an exile I no longer have a king and neither does she" said Connor
"You are being foolish my old friend, all I want is the girl, for the last time send her out or we're coming in to get her" said Hanadrin. "Go right ahead," said Connor. He motioned for the boys to step away from the doors.
Ghastly creatures detached themselves from the shadows surrounding Hanadrin and bounded forward. Heading for the doors and windows. Xandria heard the howls of the creatures and tightened her gloved grip on the crowbar in her hands. 'What are they?" asked Caleb 'wights" said Connor
The creatures literally threw themselves at the wards. The wards incinerated those that touched them but they were weakening with each onslaught. Hanadrin didn't seem to be running out of the creatures any time soon.
In fact he didn't look like he was attacking at all. He was leaning against a tree watching his creatures die on Xandria's wards.
He must have had enough because he decided to head fro the door himself. "Be ready," said Connor. He knew the wards were close to collapsing now. He sent off a silent prayer that the king would at least get his message. Hopefully before they all died.
'Places" yelled Connor. The boys took their positions just out of range of the wards. Then they gave and creatures were piling through the openings.
Eight hours before, Caleb's' den
"I still say this is a bad idea" said Connor "they need to have this edge, we can't afford any weakness during this battle" said Xandria "yes but your still very weak, you shouldn't even attempt it" said Connor "I'm doing it and that's final" said Xandria. Connor groaned "very well but your out of the battle and that's final" said Connor. "Agreed" she said. "Very well we'll propose it to them but the decision is theirs," said Connor.
"So you mean it will negate the ageing effects completely?" said Caleb "I'm game" said Reid. They glared at him "what dude look at what she's offering" said Reid "yeah, why?" said Caleb. "Because the drain is a weakness he will exploit," said Connor. "And we can't afford for him to have any advantage" said Xandria.
"Yes but are you able to do this as weak as you are now?" said Pogue. Her eyes flashed in anger she resented him calling her weak or reminding her that she was hurt. Pogue saw the anger and stepped back. "Hey I just don't want you to hurt yourself," said Pogue She seemed to calm down at his statement. Which relieved Pogue last thing he wanted was a pissed off fae after his ass.
"Yes I can but I won't be able to help in the coming battle," said Xandria. "You wouldn't be much use in your current state anyways" said Tyler. She started to deliver a retort to his statement and he glared at her daring her to deny it. She deflated and said, "Your right, so at least let me do this, please"
"Very well but do not push yourself" said Caleb. "I won't and it's really quite simple to do," said Xandria. Caleb seemed satisfied by her answer. "Tyler do you want to go first, just to show the others what it entails" said Xandria "sure" said Tyler. "Connor" said Xandria. Connor tossed her what looked like a knife with a white blade.
Connor walked over to the bar and pulled out a large shot glass and handed it to her. "It involves us getting drunk?" said Reid. Pogue hit him the back of the head. Connor held the glass and Xandria bared her palm. Then sliced right across it with the blade before Tyler could protest. She held her hand over the glass letting the liquid fill the glass.
It was darker than human blood and had almost a metallic sheen to it. It sort of resembled paint. After she decided she had put enough into the glass. She set the blade down. Then handed the glass to Tyler. He looked at it funny and swallowed "take a sip, then hand it to one of the others" she instructed. With a nervous swallow he lifted the glass and took a sip. Then handed it to Pogue who was standing next to him. Pogue eyed the liquid and grimaced before taking a sip and passing it on
Tyler was surprised by the taste it didn't taste at all like blood but more like fresh mint leaves. He watched as Pogue made a face before drinking and then passed it to Caleb who looked slightly disgusted before taking a sip.
Caleb licked his lips afterwards and handed the glass to Reid who finished the last of the liquid. "Was that it?" asked Tyler. He was feeling a little lightheaded and giddy. "Not quite yet, I have to seal it," said Xandria
"Seal it how?" said Tyler "why with a kiss of course" said Xandria. She stepped closer to Tyler "ready?" she asked questionably. He was wondering why the question he had kissed her before, so what was the difference. " Yeah" he said she smiled and grabbed him bending his head down and capturing his lips with hers.
Tyler now knew the meaning of a searing kiss. It was nothing like the kisses they had shared earlier. This one seemed to light up every nerve in his body at the same time. Leaving him at the same time tingling and literally breathless. When she released him he stumbled. His head was spinning, the taste of her blood and something else still in his mouth. He leaned on the couch. He was breathing hard like he had just ran a mile and was trying to catch his breath "wow!" was all he could say. She moved towards Pogue and he looked scared for a second. He glanced at Kates sleeping form. Xandria smiled at him and put her finger in front of her lips. "Ready?" she asked Pogue nodded and found himself immediately pressed against her lips.
He gave in to the soft lips and kissed her back a little before the sensations overwhelmed him. She left him likewise clinging to a piece of furniture for support. She moved towards Caleb. The eldest boy looked nervous, "she will never know," said Xandria Caleb seemed to relent and Xandria quickly pulled him to her lips before he backed out.
The sensations likewise caught him off guard and left him staggering and trying to remain up right like a drunken person. She approached Reid next who held out his arms to her."Oh yeah right here babe" said Reid. She stepped into his arms and he pulled her to him. Closing the kiss himself. All she had to do was respond. Reid held on to her longer than the others had. When he finally broke the contact he was flushed and reeling. "Holy shit!" he gasped before he nearly collapsed.
Tyler was sitting on the floor trying to calm his erratically beating heart. The other boys followed his lead allowing their bodies to sink to the floor. Pogue was leaning forward on his arms trying to get his head to stop spinning "wow!" was all he could say.