I slowly staggered in the general direction of home, my body moving on autopilot while my mind was busy.
It just didn't make sense, none of it did. For the past few days weird incidents kept cropping up, the two bouncers at the Black Rose bar, the vampire attack tonight, Redfern saving me and another strange thing about tonight's attack was that as the trap was so well laid how it failed?
I pulled myself back to the more important point in time known as the present with a herculean effort. Like the limp form I had cradled in my arms. I put on a burst of speed in an effort to make it to base whilst trying to keep Holly steady and avoid causing her further injury.
I blamed myself for this, the ambush was for me, in their eyes Holly was just collateral. I sighed, this was why I hated powerful telepaths, the indirect threat was far worse than the direct threat. All it had taken was for him to take control of the leader of a slayer group and voila he had a small group he could aim at any slayer he wanted, catch them off guard. It was one of every slayer's worst nightmares.
I pulled myself back to reality once more. I had maybe another ten minutes of walking and only my own thoughts for company, now I deliberately let myself drift to what I was going to do, tell Holly everything, play the mysterious villain till she heals then let her go with her none the wiser, tell Holly part of the truth or what I know I should do, in fact what my own procedure demands I do, kill her.
Damn it. I would deal with that choice when the time came.
With this decision looming over me like a sepulchral monument time seems to move at an accelerated pace so what seems like seconds later I'm outside the base/home I refer to as Warehouse Apocalypse.
I converted four adjacent warehouses into one large building using most of the money from Hunter's first job, from then on any spare cash I had, anything I didn't spend on weapons or basic necessities went on this. I added a computer network, weapon racks, a few automated weapons inside, and in the inner sanctum even a blast door. This thing was proof to anything short of a nuke (I hoped) and within the next few weeks it would doubtless be put to the test.
If it weren't for Redfern I would never have had the money to build this, in a way I owe him a lot.
I propped Holly against the wall and had to drag the door open with both hands. It takes ages and the muscles on me arms feel like lead but I finally get it open – the good news it can be closed electronically on the other side – then I pick up Holly and walk inside pressing the button to close the door behind me. The rest of the doors slide open automatically – this may seem too easy but I can lock the whole place down with the press of a button. Finally I deposit Holly on my bed then scarper locking the door behind me as I start to think on what to do.
Finally I came to realise that this was a situation I could not plan for and that with no way of predicting Holly's erratic responses at the best of times I would have to let the cards fall where they would. And so I prepared for a situation which scared more than the Night World elite troops.
I sat in a chair by the bed watching and waiting, time seemed meaningless during this for it had no relevance and so I gave it no thought. This was more important. And so I waited for my best friend to wake up.
I realised Holly was awake when her breathing changed, she kept her eyes closed but I could almost hear her straining to get some idea of where she was with her other senses.
I placed a hand on her arm, "Holly, it's me, you took quite a beating but nothing's broken."
"But how - ?" She said weakly.
"are you still alive?" I finished for her. She nodded. "I saved you."
She let out a burst of a laughter which quickly became a coughing fit. I couldn't help but look somewhat hurt.
She saw my expression, "You're serious?"
"As the grave my friend, as the grave."
"But you – I mean I - " She paused again, "But I've seen you fight." I examined her eyes trying to see some flicker of amusement or jest, nothing not even a twitch, she was completely serious!
"If I remember correctly I have won the last twelve fencing matches, all of our kendo matches, most of the randori in judo and the last three bouts in karate."
Holly thought for a while then finally spoke.
"Can I please have some time on my own to think?"
"Of course Holly, if you need anything just buzz through to my work area." I placed a buzzer on the bedside table then left locking the door behind me.
Before I left I just heard Holly say to herself, "work area...? what has he gotten himself into?"
I logged onto one of my computers, this would require a change of plans, fortunately I had just the thing.
'To Elliot
Change of plan, get all known slayers that will listen on standby, waiting for response from friend, will give further instructions later.
From Shadow
P.S Send Vicky my regards
P.P.S No need to go into hiding, again use the grapevine'
I stopped typing that would do for now, Elliot would listen, he owed me one – at least one.
I began to type another email, this particular address had taken a year to get hold of and a small fortune but if I was right then it would pay off bigtime.
I slowly typed the email, if she agreed then I had a weapon to match the Night World's Reapers, many would die of course and it would not be just her own life she would sign away but some would live, that was what I had to focus on, this way some would live.
I pressed send, there was no going back now.
I stayed on the computer for hours, waiting for responses from my various contacts. Nothing, it was though the entire grid had gone down. Finally something came in from one of my deep cover groups.
'Informers dead, currently under attack, Jason and Darren already dead, five slayer cells also confirmed down, PC rigged with C4 so this won't be traced back to you'
Not good, it appeared that once again I had underestimated the Night World, it was almost becoming a habit. With no intel my plans were or less down the drain, I could only hope and protect now, fighting back was out of the question.
At 3 o'clock I got up to check on my patient, first I made her a drink and something to eat, only pasta but there wasn't time for anything, as for the drink I mixed three liquids together almost absentmindedly then topped it up with water, hopefully I'd covered a reasonable amount of nutrition, I put away the drinks but first poured myself an orange juice. I grabbed two paracetamol and took the lot into Holly.
She was still awake and when I entered was staring at the wall. She looked up as soon as I entered.
"Just go away!" She said.
"How charming." I said. "I save your life and you want me to go away."
"Look I'm fine can I go now, please just sitting here is driving me mad, and why not just take me to a hospital?"
I ignored both questions.
"Food," I placed the tray in front of her, "Drink." I placed the glass in her hand.
"Just go away!"
"Not until I see you eat and drink."
"I'll eat it but just go!" A hint of desperation crept into her voice.
"No." I stated, crossing my arms and settling into a chair.
"Fine then! I still don't see why you couldn't just take me to a hospital."
'Because emergency services will be the first thing they hit' I thought but remained resolutely silent.
Holly slowly muscled her way through the pasta every now and then sending mutinous glances my way but it soon became obvious that she actually was hungry.
Finally she drained the glass. She was a lot calmer now.
"Better?" I inquired.
"Better." She confirmed.
"Ok, now may I advise you go to sleep."
I waited till she was definitely asleep before deciding to find somewhere for me to snooze, I considered the weapons room but decided that it would be safer if I slept in this one. Considering one corridor had an electrified floor it seemed wise to make sure Holly didn't wonder. It felt unsafe going to sleep unarmed but the awkward questions that would be raised would be too much hassle.
Finally I found a comfortable bit of floor and closed my eyes.
Author's Note: I would like to thank those who have put this on alert as well the one person who has put me on Author Alert, before I started writing myself I thought people were being ridiculous over reviews and exaggerating but I hav found that a review good or bad really does help you mentally when writing, it shows someone really is taking notice of your work.
Also I am going to put some of my other stories – including this one – on hold so I can concentrate on my story Cyberslayer.
