AN-Hello! Finally part two is finally updated, and part three is almost done. Thank you to those who have reviewed! It feels great to know that people are still reading this. Oh, in case you didn't know, I've been leaving sort of regular news updates on this story on my bio page. I doubt there'll be another months long break, but if there is any delays, then I'll let you all know.
Because it had been such a long time, here's a little summary:
Story's set about 5 months after Witchlight, so May 1998.
First thread-Hannah (heroine from Soulmate) has weird dreams, troubles her. She just finished her 1st year at college, goes to visit Thierry (Night Lord) for the summer. She develops her powers, which frighten her. Then while she and other girls are out, they get attacked by Dashear, an ancient dragon. She's saved by the mysterious Nivar, who turns out to be a mage. He takes her to mage headquarters.
While Thierry searches for Hannah, he also needs to keep the fragile Alliance (Daybreak, the shapeshifters, and the witches) together.
Second Thread-Kierlan, the fourth Wild Power, has gone over to dark side, leaving his soulmates, Sarah and Blade, to pick up the pieces. Quinn and Rashel (from NW #5 The Chosen), take the distraught pair to Las Vegas. Keller, Galen, Nissa, and Winnie (from NW#9 Witchlight) go after Kierlan. Their search leads them to the well-known elite Night World club The Dark Menagerie.
End of Chapter 6 part one-Keller and her team has infiltrated the club, and wait to talk to Kierlan. Dominic (Keller's second in command) takes his team and follows Ryviern (a powerful dragon).
Branna/Raven (original character) reunites with back-from-the-great-beyond Hunter Redfern
And that's where Part 2 starts.
WHEW! K, enjoy! Thanks
"..."-regular speech
italics-telepathy
Chapter Six: Inside the Dark Menagerie Part II
The club's atmosphere started to feel more and more constricted. Kierlan never really had a case of claustrophobia, but boy was he feeling it now. All around, walls of people closed in on him and Cale and their little table. He'd long since lost track of what Cale was blathering about. Probably some more of his humans-are-despicable-pests-and-should-be-annihilated-making-way-for-the-master-race spiel. It was a speech that would have made any self-righteous bigot proud.
Kierlan's head swam with the lack of air. The press of people around him became more and more insufferable, crowding him. The chaos of the last few days was starting to catch up with him. Not to mention his conscience was also making itself known. Feelings of guilt and loneliness swept over him in waves. It was all too much: the discovery of his soulmate, his betrayal, and Cale. Why the hell did he ever get mixed up with him?
At first, he thought Cale made perfect sense with his views on the unfairness of Night People's place in the world and how they deserved so much more. Circle Daybreak just seemed too naïve and ridiculous. However, after he'd seen the cold, calculating, terrifying monster underneath the calm exterior he'd quickly changed his mind. The thought of the future in the hands of someone like Cale was just too disturbing and frightening to imagine.
Mind whirling with emotion, Kierlan could feel the air's heaviness close in even more, suffocating him. I have to get out of here, or else I'm gonna lose it! Damn that old man, can't he ever freaking shut up! Talks of war just didn't have any appeal to him anymore. And he was sick and tired of Cale's ideas about the future. What was a future without Sarah? He'd thought of her non-stop since he last saw her. Goddess, I even miss that pansy, Blade. That's it; I need to get away from here.
"Kierlan, where are you going?" Cale's wide eyes didn't hide his agitation.
"I'll be right back. I gotta take a piss."
He weaved through the crowd, bumping into people as he went. Ignoring their protests, he didn't release his breath until he was in the bathroom. There were several others in there with him, but they might not have existed at all.
Leaning over the sink, He stared at his reflection. Jeez, he looked like shit. He couldn't even recognize the weary boy staring back at him. Kierlan watched in the mirror as the other people in the room drifted out, leaving him alone. What the hell am I doing here?"
Suddenly the door opened, and he inwardly moaned. Can't a guy get some peace around here?
"Hello, Kierlan."
Kierlan jerked his head up at the cold tone. In the mirror, wintry grey eyes bore into him. With a sigh he turned to face her. Arms crossed in front of him, he gave the air of confidence. Inside, however, his gut was churning.
"Keller. Funny seeing you here. I wouldn't have pictured you as the partying type."
"I'm not here to waste time, Kierlan."
He smirked, "professional as ever. Fine let's get down to business. If you're here to get me, you can forget it. I don't give a rat's ass about playing the good guy. In fact, I really don't care about this whole war at all. The world can go fuck itself for all I care."
"Really, so you don't care about what will happen to Sarah then?"
"Don't use her as a way to convince me to come. Why does she need me? She has Blade."
"You know why as well as I do. You're a part of her," (poor girl, she thought). "Can you really turn your back on her, and watch her die as well as the rest of the humans? Think about that."
Jaw clenched, he turned away from her. Pictures of Sarah's lifeless corpse raced across his mind. In others, her eye stared at him with sadness and unshed tears. Goddess he couldn't do this. What was he thinking, believing that he could cut himself off from her? The last few days had been agony enough, how could he possibly live a whole lifetime without her. Blade too. He may not like it…hell he downright detested it, but he shared a connection with the vampire. They were two sides of the same coin, or rather two halves of the same being. He couldn't live without either of them, and he knew deep inside him that he couldn't live knowing he alone caused the downfall of the entire human race.
"Do you really want to be with these bastards?" He smirked. No, he can honestly say that he really didn't want anything to do with Cale, or his terrifying companions.
With a sigh of defeat, he turned to face her again. Arms folded, he couldn't bring his eyes up to meet her. Instead, he said, "fine, let's go." Keller gave a small grin at his answer, and a sigh of relief.
However, before they'd even reached the door, an explosion rocked the very ground they stood on, and the room was suddenly filled with screams.
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"Hunter?" Branna winced, her voice sounded shaky even to her own ears. Ok, Branna old gal, this is not the time to fall a part, even if it is Hunter-back-from-the-Great-Beyond-Redfern. Reason didn't stop the surge of joy that swept through her. It's him; it's really him! He's alive! That lasted all of five seconds, and then the anger came.
Hunter watched the emotions run across her face. He was still numb with shock himself, thus he wasn't prepared for her next move. In an instant he was shoved off her, and landed with an undignified grunt on his back, his broken leg finally making itself known, shooting sharp pain up his body.
Teeth clenched at the sharp pain, he hissed. "Damn it, woman, you broke my leg!"
"Only one? Pity, I must be losing my edge." She was standing now, hovering over him, her ire rolling off her in waves.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" He knew he probably wouldn't get a warm welcome but this was a bit much.
"Me? Oh, what you don't know, you traitorous bastard!" Okay, now that's going too far. Hunter gave her a glassy stare, his own anger rising. No one talked to him that way, they wouldn't dare…well, except Branna, but then again she'd always been too hot-headed for her own good. Funny, that used to be an endearing quality, now it was just annoying.
"Traitor?"
"Oooo…don't even try to deny it! You lied to me! You said you wouldn't tell, but you did! Gave me away to your band of demented cultists! Why not just give me to the Council! I wouldn't care about what they'd do; it's got to be better than the hell I've been living in!
"Branna, I swear on the Goddess, I told no one. Your being here is as much of a surprise for me as you seeing me." He could see the doubt begin to creep into her eyes. She didn't know what to believe. There was no one else who could have possibly known who she was, or was there?"
"But then, how…"
And that was how Dominic found them.
He and his men had managed to sneak up on the duo until they were ten feet away from them. Both pairs of eyes swerved toward them, and he felt the intensity of their combined stares. Shit! They're elders! He didn't realize how powerful they were. They were so engrossed in their own little confrontation that he hadn't felt a thing. Now that that anger was focused on him it felt like fire scalding his very skin. Ramon hissed obscenities beside him as he too felt the intense mental blast.
"Who the hell are you!" Branna was getting really tired of surprises. She must be losing her edge. That's twice now that she'd been snuck upon, and she definitely didn't like the looks of these new guys, especially the one with the nasty looking bokken in his hands. Damn, first everything's been really quiet, and now today everyone wants to party. In a second, she had her daggers out: one wooden, the other silver.
Hunter stared at her in surprise. Why hadn't she used them in their fight? She only shrugged. Truth was she didn't think she would need them. She wondered if he had any weapons in hiding. He answered her question a second later when he'd whipped out a short sword. Guess he felt he hadn't needed it as well. So, they both underestimated each other, but at least they were armed now.
A shared look was all that was needed. They would finish their business later; right now they had a truce in the face of their new opponents. Dominic, however, had other plans.
Dominic could see that the red-head was injured, and even though he may still be dangerous, there was no way he could fight well with his wound. There was something else though that niggled in the back of his mind. The man was familiar, or at least was someone he should know.
Hunter stared back at him with an authoritative air. The trio had already seen him. Damn it! It would only be a matter of time before they recognized who he was. He hadn't exactly led a private life before the Incident. Even as he thought it, recognition dawned on Dominic. Shock flitted across his face for just a moment before cold determination settled in.
"Well, well, what do we have here? If it isn't the great Hunter Redfern, back from the dead. Arms up, Redfern, and you too," he said glaring at both Hunter and Branna. She was about to protest, but Hunter stopped her with a look.
What! We can take them!
Branna, in case you've forgotten, I'm a little incapacitated. I won't be much help, and we may also need their aid if we're going to escape.
What do you mean need their help? I can take care of them, and we can just leave through another exit.
Just trust me on this. Something's happening tonight. There are several of them upstairs and maybe behind us as well. They'll also be able to fight whoever is down here.
But…
I need you to guide us to the Archives. They were following the shapeshifter; offer to show them where he went. Once we get to the Archives, then we canget rid of them.
Branna didn't understand what Hunter was talking about, but she had a good idea who the intruders were following, and she did not want to have another meeting with him. The decision was taken out of her hands, as Dominic and his soldiers surrounded her and Hunter. Arghhh…Hunter better know what he's doing.
She restrained her hiss as Ramon cuffed her hands, the wood digging into her skin. Great, I bet Hunter didn't think of these. She tried to glare at him, but he ignored her. Her warrior spirit rebelled against such submissiveness, and she swore that she would break Hunter's other leg once they got out of this mess.
After they were duly restrained, Dominic spoke. "Now I assume that you know your way through this maze. If you cooperate, I'm sure we can make your captivity less miserable, but only if you do as I say."
"Not very respectful are you, boy?" Hunter chided, disdain apparent on his features.
"Shut him up." The blow that followed knocked Hunter too his knees, his broken limb complaining in earnest.
What should we do with them? Those handcuffs won't be able to hold them for long, Ramon grasped Hunter's arm, and none-too-gently hoisted him up on his uncooperative legs.
I know. We can't take them backthe way we came.
What about back-up?
Troy and Sebastian should be here in a moment. Keller will need the rest, in case the Wild Power causes a scene. As if on cue, his two agents appeared at the end of the hall. When they reached the small group, Dominic faced the two disgruntled captives.
"Now listen carefully, if you try anything, like contact anybody, I will not hesitate to kill you both."
"Oh, but I'm sure your leaders would be very disappointed in you if anything should happen to us. It wouldn't be nice for you to deny them the chance to interrogate us." Hunter reasoned as if he was talking to a little child. He was amused by the man's anger.
Dominic mentally swore against the truth of the matter. Hunter Redfern was definitely more useful to Daybreak alive than dead, and since he's so eager to meet the Alliance leaders then he'll be happy to hand over the patronizing bastard to them. Trying to rein in his anger, Dominic said through clenched teeth, "Oh, my leaders will be very happy to have you, but as for your friend, I don't really need her."
"You sure about that?" Branna sneered.
Dominic leaned in close to her. Branna was sorely tempted to spit at it. "And what can you possibly tell me that he can't?"
"I know this place better that anyone here, and everything that goes on in it. I can show you where the Circle keeps most treasured documents." While she was one of the best at what she does, Branna knew that she was just an expendable pawn to Cale and the other members. Her acting skills were definitely being put to the test.
"Really, you haven't impressed me so far. I doubt you're as important as you say."
Branna smirked, "Do you really want to bet on that?" The air of haughty indifference came easily to her. Out of the corner of her eye, Hunterseemed unresponsive, but Branna could see amused grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Fine, you lead the way then, but I swear…"
"Don't worry, I'll behave." Okay, I hope Hunter knows what he's doing. In truth, she really didn't have an idea where this so-called Library was. I'll just lead them down the way that Ryviern went, and hopefully something will jog Hunter's Swiss- cheese memory.
Soon they came to the hall where her confrontation with the dragon occurred. It was devoid of people. Most of the soldiers were back the way they came. It actually surprised her that these Daybreakers were able to make it this far.
"Spread out and check the rooms, if you see anyone, incapacitate them." The Daybreakers fanned out, checking in the various rooms. She saw one head toward the room Ryviern came out of earlier. The dragon's conversation came back to her. Who was he talking too? I don't believe that he was just disciplining some errant lapdog.
Dominic turned to look at Branna. "So…"
"Brea."
"Brea, where is this records room of yours?" Tell him it's just down this way, Hunter interjected into her mind.
"It's down this way." Before she could elaborate, a scuffle and a clatter were heard from the room she was staring at."
"Ramon! What's happening in there?" The others were running in that direction, but before they reached it Ramon stepped back out. His outfit and hair appeared tousled. Branna frowned at him. Something was off, but she couldn't determine what. Hunter also felt something wrong about the man. He tried to catch Branna's eye, but she was focused on the spectacle before them.
"Got startled by a guard, but he's down. Found nothing else though." Dominic frown didn't lift, but he gave a sharp nod. Gesturing to Branna, who was yanked and dragged to the fore. The group proceeded down the halls. The way became more familiar to Hunter as they continued on. His eyes kept glancing over to the one Daybreaker, Ramon something, and he couldn't help the anxiety spreading through his body.
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AN- The idea of the vacuous room for the Library was borrowed from Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, very good book by the way. I recommend it to you all. Part three should be up soon. I hope you enjoyed it so far.