Chapter:   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Night Vengeance

Chapter Four

He landed on the roof of his building, shapeshifting into himself. Cradling her in his arms, he quickly walked though the already open door and down the stairs.

"Justin, we didn't expect you until later!" said Devon, his friend and co-owner of K.I. Suddenly his demeanor changed when he spotted the figure Justin was holding in his arms.

"What happened? Is that who I think it is? The woman you told me about?" he asked.

Justin nodded, not stopping as he walked to the bank of elevators at the end of the corridor. "The vampire clawed her," he said and quickly relayed everything that had happened in the alley then threw the sword at his friend who caught it deftly. "Clean that would you, the vampire touched it."

"Wow, this is some sword. Early fifteenth century I'd say and in good condition too," whistled Devon admiringly. "Fine workmanship."

"There's still four hours before sunrise, send Oliver and Garrett after the vampire before he goes to ground," ordered Justin.

"Will do," said Devon just before the elevator doors closed.

On the ground floor, Justin quickly carried his precious cargo to the lab. He laid her down on a gurney and removed her hood. His eyes widened in surprise as he uncovered her beauty, just her wealth of black shiny hair had him inhaling deeply but it was her flawless ivory skin, which made him feel like someone had just punched him.

She moaned and he quickly gestured to a lab tech.

"Take these herbs and make a paste for a poultice," he said tossing the pouch to the lab tech.

He looked down at her again and found her pain-filled gaze, staring at him.

Justin laid his hand on her head and stroked her hair, "You're going to be alright, there's nothing to worry about," he said.

Raelynn looked away from him and examined her surroundings, she was in some sort of lab, and for a moment she panicked, remembering another lab a century ago, but she reined it in, controlling it, this was not the same lab. Her gaze stopped on the lab tech whose hand was in her herb pouch.

Before his eyes, Justin saw the woman's expression change from mild fright to anger, her eyes, mere slits, focused behind him and he suddenly heard a whimper of pain. He turned and saw the lab tech holding his hand to his chest, his eyes filled with terror as he stared at the pouch then backed away as it levitated from the table and floated to the woman's outstretched hand.

Raelynn grasped her pouch and turned her steely gaze on Justin. "Do not touch what is mine ever again," she said in a low growl then gasped in pain and fell back on the gurney, breathing shallowly.

Justin just stared at her, stunned. The power she'd exuded in her weakened state was amazing; even he couldn't have exhibited that much power in the same condition.

He slowly bent down, careful not to startle her, "Will these herbs help you heal?" he asked.

Raelynn shook her head, "Just leave me alone a few minutes and I will be fine," she whispered through clenched teeth.

"Alright, I'll be back in a few minutes," he said and motioned for the lab tech to follow him out.

Raelynn watched as they left and the doors stopped swinging.

Outside the doors, Justin leaned against the wall; he ran his hands over his face still amazed at her power. She couldn't be human he thought to have power like that, though he had met humans who could move things with their minds, he hadn't met any who could burn a someone's hand.

He turned his gaze to the lab tech, "Go see Shaleena, she will heal you," he said. The lab tech nodded and left, passing Devon on his way.

Devon looked at Justin questioningly, "What happen to him?"

"She burned him," replied Justin.

Devon's eyes rose in surprise, "Burned him? How'd she manage that? She was unconscious."

"She woke up," replied Justin, closing his eyes tiredly. The sun would be rising soon and he had to make the decision either to let her go or lock her in.

Suddenly a bright white light filtered under the swinging doors. Devon gasped, stepped forward to go through but Justin's body blocked him.

"No," he said, "she's healing herself and I promised to leave her alone for a few minutes."

Inside the room, Raelynn sat Indian style on the gurney, her back and shoulders straight, her eyes closed. She called upon all the ancient witches of her line to come forth and help heal her tired body. The poison bubbled up from her pores, evaporating, a white intense light surrounded her, she looked down at the claw marks and watched them disappear leaving her skin without so much as a mark on it.

The light faded and she uncrossed her legs, sitting on the gurney, she waited for Justin to enter. She sensed another with him but no danger from either of them. They came in and Raelynn's eyes immediately homed in on her sword that Devon forgot he was carrying.

Justin stared into her eyes and saw no pain reflected in them. "You're better," he stated knowing the answer was yes.

Raelynn nodded, "My sword please," she said her eyes boring into Devon.

Devon looked down at his hand; surprised he still held the sword and hadn't dropped it upon seeing such a beautiful woman.

"Hmmm, I cleaned it," he said inanely as he stepped forward and held it out to her.

Raelynn slipped off the gurney and took it from him. She sheathed it and looked at Justin, "My hood?" she asked.

Justin looked around and spotted the hood on the floor. He remembered accidentally kicking it aside when he'd dropped it earlier as he'd witnessed her power. He bent down and picked it up, holding it in his hand for a moment before passing it to her.

Raelynn took the hood and made to leave but a hand on her arm stopped her. She looked up into Justin's face, eyebrows raised.

Justin dropped his hand from her arm, "At least tell me your name before you leave," he said.

Raelynn considered not telling him. She wasn't sure she ever wanted to see him again but that thought was unrealistic, for he was a hunter of the undead just as she was and she knew they'd meet again.

"You can call me Rae," she said and left the room. Devon moved out of her way and Justin joined him at the door, they watched as she walked easily to the elevator pulling her hood on. When she turned inside the cabin all they could see were her eyes.

The doors closed and Raelynn sagged against the cabin wall. It had taken all her grit and determination to appear well before both men, but in reality the power she'd used and calling upon the ancient witches of her line had taken a lot out of her. She felt battered and tired.

Just before the doors opened on the lobby, Raelynn straightened, drawing on reserves from deep down. Through the window she saw the dawn rising and knew if she didn't hurry there'd be no night shadows to disappear in.

The sun had just fully risen when Raelynn dragged herself inside her home. Weapons and clothes littered the floor as she walked into her room. She was too sore and tired to put everything carefully away; naked, she fell crosswise on her bed, instantly asleep.

 

©2006 Romance at Heart Magazine.

©2000 Angel Young.

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