I know its been quite some time since my last update so I gave you guys a longer chapter. Thank you so much for all your reviews/favs/alerts. You guys are the best! Read and review some more! =J
I sat facing the fire, allowing the heat to warm my aching body. I was literally covered from head to toe in bandages. They went all the way up my neck and then down to the soles of my feet, bound so thick that I couldn't feel the soft fabric of my black tank top and sweat pants. I felt Abe's eyes on my back as I sat staring at the flames.
Those eyes had been watching me for an hour now; inspecting me while probing my mind. I hadn't said a word and he hadn't asked. Not until he was finished in my head.
"You're angry." He simply stated the obvious. "You solve nothing by keeping the emotions inside."
I closed my eyes, resisting the urge to sigh.
"There isn't anything more to say." I replied.
I heard Abe's footsteps as he came to stand beside me. "Oh yes there is. The problem is that your emotions are confusing you. They're eating away at you." Abe explained.
"Then what are they? Why don't you tell me, if you're so smart?" The aggression wasn't necessary but I was too exhausted to care.
"You're jealous for one."
I slammed my good wrist on the side table and wished that I had enough energy to blow out every light in the room; anything to get away from those all-too-knowing eyes. He gave me a moment to calm down. I dropped my head into my throbbing hand and sighed heavily.
"I'm tired Abe. Just leave me alone."
I wasn't sure what he did then, I didn't really care. I felt my pulse in my palm as I rested my forehead against it. Abe was right, I was jealous, hopelessly so. For the longest time I thought this was where I belonged. I felt at peace for the first time in years. I was cared for here and knowing that that 'thing' had the ability to take it all away not only scared me, it infuriated me.
And then there was Hellboy. Just thinking the name brought on a large amount of sorrow. I felt utterly lost. He wanted her, he liked her. The one and only friendship I thought I couldn't live without, was crumbling before my eyes. It was dust slipping through my fingers. It could have been recovered if he had found me standing in that courtyard before the fight. But now, I hurt his true love, he'd never forgive me. I couldn't even make the excuse that it was her fault. I provoked her, I lost the fight, I hated her. A couple of cold patches formed on my cheeks and I knew that they were tears, sliding down a face stricken with grief for the loss of something that it desperately needed; hope.
The fire wasn't enough to warm me on the inside. In fact it made the burnt flesh on my back and shoulder ach in remembrance. I continued to sit there in silence while Abe found occupation in a few books on the other side of the room. When the golden doors were shoved open, I sat still. It was the bitch that had gotten me into this mess. I felt her eyes on me and the fire in front of me dimmed.
"Is that a threat?" I asked with my face still in the palm of my hand. She didn't reply. I silently prayed that some of my energy would come back so that I could have something to fight with, but it was all gone. The last of it shot when I blew out those courtyard windows in an explosion of confused emotions.
"Enough Rai. No more fighting." I shrugged Abe's words off. Liz stood silently watching me and then, "Hellboy is looking for you." She stated timidly. I stood, frightening her by the sudden action.
"Oh is he now? Well that's too bad because I'm not looking for him." I held my right shoulder, where a sling for my left arm was tied securely, and brushed passed her. "I didn't mean to hurt you." She whispered so low that one had to strain to hear it. "It doesn't matter. I hurt you and you hurt me. Now shut the hell up and leave me alone." I growled without even bothering to turn around.
I didn't talk to anyone as I made my way to my room. Several people looked at me but my eyes were unfocused as I stared at the ground. I didn't even see the red hand until it was too late.
"You and I have a lot to talk about, Sparky." The gruff voice was too loud in my opinion and the stone holding me a foot off the ground smashed me against the wall. "I don't have anything to say to you." I tried to growl, to make my voice vicious and deadly, but my words came out as a strained whine.
"Too bad. You pissed me off and now you have to deal with the consequences." I reached my good hand up to grip the stone arm. He was hurting me and I couldn't stop him. Where was help when I needed it? The halls were empty and I doubted that anyone would be able to stop him even if they were here. Tears were threatening to spill as his piercing eyes waited for me to say something.
"I…" I choked on my own words. I didn't know how to explain any of this to him. Hell, I hadn't even explained it to myself yet. "You're worthless. All I have to do is squeeze and I can crush you." As if to prove his point he tightened his grip. My airway was smashed in by the pressure and black spots appeared in my vision. I tried to scream but no sound escaped my throat.
Not until I fell out of bed and realized it wasn't real.
A nightmare; that's all it was. I lifted a shaky hand up to cup my own throat. It had felt so real, so terrifying. If he caught up to me, would he really do that?
I shook my head and tried to dispel the dark aura that was always left behind after such a frightening dream.
"I just need a shower to cool my nerves." I thought as whipped away some tears.
"She doesn't mean it Liz." I said once Rai had left the room. "What is her story? How did she end up here?" Liz asked as she watched the door, taking a seat in one of the arm chairs by the fire.
I sighed and returned the book in my hand back to its place on the shelf.
"She was the daughter of one of the most outstanding historians that the world has ever known."
"Was?" Liz asked. I nodded to her. "On his last expedition he found the prized jewel of his life's work. The stone winged wolves of untold history. The wolves were not supposed to exist but he found them nevertheless. After shipping them back to the states, to be exhibited in a museum sponsored by our very own Professor Broom, he made his way to Israel with a group of US soldiers that had been accompanying him since he touched down in an airport in the Middle East." I cleared my throat once before continuing on to the more difficult part of Rai's history.
"Half way there, the team was ambushed by raiders that believed the Wolves were still in Dr. Marshel's possession. There were many casualties. Rai's father was among them." Liz nodded. "That must have been horrible; getting news like that."
"She didn't receive the news. She was there the entire time. She made it to Israel with nine out of the twelve soldiers and they were all arrested because they were thought to be terrorists involved in a recent bombing. They were imprisoned there for two years before they received rescue from the US government. She became a part of that team of soldiers in those two years and they raised her as a soldier. When they were rescued she was 17, someone pulled some strings and they allowed her into the military without even a glance at her records."
Liz had moved her gaze to the fire in the fireplace and her jaw was hanging slightly open. "Wow." She whispered.
"Indeed. Liz, do you recall a Director Dyke?" I asked. She didn't turn around but went on to answer. "Yeah he was the Director of that low class museum, the one where most of the artifacts are fake or stolen." She smiled a little, obviously remembering something about the old museum.
"Yes. He somehow acquired the shipment of wolves. Rai suspected him of hiring the raiders and giving them the location of Marshel's expedition team and Professor Broom believes that this may be the case. Dyke tried to start an investigation against Rai in the military to throw off his own trail, resulting in Rai resigning to stay out of the spot light. After that the Professor hired her for this job. That is her story."
"As for how she got 'here'; the wolves awoke because of an unknown reason and Rai hunted them down. She killed the last one before you attacked her." It wasn't meant to be a guilt trip but I knew it ended up as one anyway. Liz sighed and stood up.
"So why did they wake up?" she asked
"Perhaps they knew they were needed?" A wise, soft voice said.
Liz and I turned to see the Professor enter through the golden doors, leaning on his cane. He must have suspected that we didn't understand his words so he continued. "The wolves started this and they needed to be the ones to end it. Although, that is most likely not the main reason. The main reason must have something to do with the young man who broke into the museum the same night the wolves' disappeared. Steven Dyke seemed to have forgotten to mention that."
"Liz, how are you?" He asked suddenly. Liz shrugged. "I'm fine Professor; the other girl is the one that took the worst of it." Professor Broom nodded. "Of course she did, more than you know. It won't keep her down though, not when she finds out about this." The professor said, holding up a piece of paper. "Is that?" I asked. He nodded.
"Signed paperwork that has the power to confiscating all of the history Dyke has stolen. We may also be able to go through all of his records to see if he really did have something to do with Dr. Marshel's death." The professor seemed almost smug and I could imagine he was just as spiteful of Dyke as Rai. After all, Dr. Marshel was a close friend of Professor Broom, though no one else knew it but me.
"We need to find Rai then, she won't want to miss this." Liz said. I watched her and sensed that she truly was sorry for hurting Rai and she wanted to make up for it. The professor shook his head. "We have teams watching Dyke and his museum. Let Rai rest for tonight. Tomorrow we will settle things."
Several hours of dreamless sleep followed the nightmare. I was just starting to wonder why no one had showed up to drag me off to do paperwork when the alarm went off. I crawled out of bed, got dressed painfully, and made my way to the garage.
I ignored Clay as I grabbed a gun and strapped it to my belt. "Rai I know you're strong but you can't handle this. You can't use your powers and you can barely stand. Not to mention the issues with Hellboy if he sees you." I tensed at the name.
"I'm not sitting around here forever so that 'she' can replace me. Besides, even without powers I'm still badass with a gun." I forced a grin and holstered a pistol. I made my way to a car, squeezing passed agents and sticking as close to the walls as possible.
I was almost home free when Professor Broom stepped in front of me. All of my hopes drained at the sight of his wise grin. "I hope you won't mind ride with me." He said softly. I stared at him in surprise as he led me to a different car. The car was a small limo with a driver and space in the back for four people.
One of the seats was already occupied. The Professor ushered me in as I glared at the dark haired girl. She just stared back and tried to smile. The minute the Professor joined us the car began to move. I opened my mouth to speak when the professor stopped me.
"This is very important Rai. You need to listen carefully." I gave Liz one more warning glare before turning to the professor. His face was very serious and his eyes had an intensity that I'd never seen before. He held an envelope of papers to me. I lifted the first piece out of the bundle and read it to myself. It took only a second for me to recognize it as a warrant. I instantly searched for a name and found 'Steven Dyke' printed near the bottom. I couldn't believe my eyes.
"This is…" I couldn't understand it. Dyke was after me. When did anyone stop to go after him? Who would do that for me and my father? I refocused on the professor's face.
"He was a good man, your father. He was also a good friend." He gave me a grave smile. I felt tears come to my eyes. I didn't let them go but they were still there. I blinked a few times to get rid of them and then smiled at the man.
"Thank you, Professor." He shook his head.
"Don't thank me yet. We have to find the proof and find out who brought the wolves to life." I gave him a puzzled look. "The reason we were able to file for this warrant was because he withheld information from us."
"What information?" I asked. Liz answered this time.
"A young man, about 5'9''" with dark hair, broke into the museum two days before the wolves came to life." I glared at her for coming into the conversation but what she said was important.
"Then all we have to do is arrest Dyke and track down this punk who brought the statues to life." I said. Professor Broom shook his head.
"This is where you need to be serious Rai. You need to keep calm and not attack Dyke. If it turns out that he did have something to do with your father's murder, you need to keep your head and think before you say or do anything."
I took a moment to process the Professors words. "You're telling me not to kill Dyke if I find out that that bastard killed my father." It was a statement not a question. The professor's normally soft eyes were frozen solid. I nodded as his eyes scrutinized my face. Liz shifted in her seat uncomfortably and I couldn't help but sympathize with her. The air in the car was tense.
The car screeched to a stop, saving all of us from the situation. We were met by two agents in front of the museum. They walked with us to the door. "Director Dyke arrived for work and spent the day as per usual. At 1:40 AM a visitor in a gray sweat shirt and black pants entered the facility and was seen arguing with the director. We called when we matched the description of the visitor to the description of the invader who was present at the time of the statues incident. They've been in there for an hour."
I smiled to myself as I thought of how professional the man sounded as he gave a full report. The professor nodded and waved a hand to me telling me I could go ahead. With a devilish grin fitted to my face, I cocked my gun and headed inside with the warrant papers gripped tightly in my bandaged left hand.
Just as the agent had reported, loud voices could be heard through the halls. I made my way towards them with a feeling of pride and accomplishment. This was going to be over. The biggest tragedy in my life might not be undone but the man responsible would have to look me in the eye and accept that his life belonged to me and whether or not it ended was entirely my decision.
"You stole from me and now the governments involved. If you had just done what you were told and given me the amulet we wouldn't be in this situation." The shouting was meant to be kept private but failed miserably.
"Listen man I didn't steal nothin' from you. I brought you the trinket. That little woodn' chip just flipped out. Next thing I know those chunks of rock woke up and ran off. I don' know, I took off 'cause I wasn't 'bout to get my ass chewed on by a bunch of stone puppies."
Dyke and his friend came into view as I made my way down the hall. I stepped quickly and quietly to the wall so that I could peer around the corner and watch the two men. A team of agents followed and another team went around, blocking off another hall so that no one could try and run. Dyke was pacing when I spotted him. Neither of the men appeared to be armed so I signaled the others to wait for me.
My first few steps out of the shadows went unnoticed. After a few more steps the unknown man spotted me out of the corner of his eye. "Hey! Who the hell are you?" Dyke's head whipped around. His face lost some of its color when I lifted my gun high enough to put a bullet through the man's brain.
"What do you think you're doing here Ms. Marshel?" Dyke's voice trembled as he raised his hands defensively. I smirked and held up the papers. "Bureau has a warrant for us to check your financials and pretty much all of your records Mr. Dyke. As for your friend we are going to have to take him into custody for questioning."
Dyke tried to laugh. "You can't be serious."
I gave him a smile and tilted my head to the side. "Oh, but I am." The man beside Dyke began to fidget. "You didn't say anything about cops, man. I'm outta here." The man made a run for the east hall only to be tackled to the ground by three agents.
"You're turn." I taunted. Dyke only narrowed his eyes at me but didn't say a word as the cuffs were secured on his wrists.
Director Dyke is in trouble now! ;] I hope you guy enjoyed this chapter. I'll try to be back soon! Review! 3