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A/N: Last chapter of book one! Yaaay! But. There are four more books to go...so, like, let me know I'm not just putting this up to waste space or whatever? Pleeeeeeaaaase? I don't have any cherries or anything, but I promise my writing does get at least a little bit better as the books progress...
Also, please excuse the fighting scene. I'm horribly, terribly bad with those, and I know it. -shrinks down in her chair- I tried? Eheh...and don't kill me for Darscia being an ass, I'm perfectly aware of that. I created him, and I don't like the guy. He's a snake...
Disclaimer: Mine. Have a nice day!
Chapter Fourteen:
Dangerous Feats
Samara glanced sideways at her sister. “Robyn, are you absolutely sure-”
“Yes.” Robyn’s answer was dry, a single word that did not crack and shatter to reveal emotion. At the moment, she could almost believe she felt no emotion.
Reni touched the doorframe with his fingertips and gasped quietly. His eyes widened and his gun clattered to the ground, startling the others; clutching his arms tightly, he shut his eyes and began shaking. “It h-hasn’t changed,” he bit out weakly, trembling all over.
Stefan touched his arms, saving his power so that he would have strength during and after the fight, if there was one. “Reni, look at me. Good. Now listen–you need to be careful. Everything will turn out all right, I’m positive of that. I promise, nothing will happen to any of us. I promise. I promise. Okay?”
Reni shook his head, still shivering as Samara handed him his gun. “We need to get this over with,” he breathed, his words nearly stringing together.
Nobody could deny that he was right.
Amon nodded. “Let’s go.”
All of them started inside, in a single horizontal line. All of them wore calm faces and took sure steps as they fanned out, despite whatever emotions they may have been feeling.
“Remember, each and every one of you,” Amon reminded them, his voice cold and quiet. “Guns first. We’re resorting to power only if we have no other alternative. Understand?”
A unified nod from the others. They all stopped as a sudden bright light pierced the darkness. For a while, nothing happened. Then-
Clapping. Two hands, clapping. Eden’s look became dark, and Samara narrowed her eyes. Robyn’s own eyes widened. She recognized that clapping.
“Darscia,” Robyn breathed. Eden turned her head sharply to look at her.
“What?” Eden said, her tone clipped. “Robyn, listen to me. That isn’t possible. On the day that Kanesuma was shot, I killed Darscia. Don’t you remember? He. Is. Not. Here. He is not here.”
Robyn shook her head numbly in protest. “We didn’t check for a pulse. You shot Darscia, but he’s a strong being. Half human, maybe. So, what if he didn’t die?”
“What are you saying, Robyn?” Eden asked through gritted teeth, faking pleasantness in a wide, long-suffering smile; her attention was now focused on the clapping.
Reni spoke up. “Darscia’s not dead,” he said firmly. Eden questioned it, and he raised his left hand, keeping the right on his gun, and pointed straight in front of him.
The source of the clapping finally stepped into view, revealing a tall man wearing black boots, black pants, a red shirt, and a black trenchcoat, with long dark hair and coal-black eyes that gleamed with malice, though they were hidden by a pair of midnight shades.
“Darscia,” Eden breathed, the grip on her gun tightening. Stefan frowned, and both Amon and Reni took on cold expressions.
He half-grinned, revealing a few of his white teeth, and his eyes narrowed as he studied each CAPTOR member in turn.
When he got to Robyn, she tensed, but her glare did not vanish in the least. It was almost a regarding look. Darscia’s grin widened. “If I’m not mistaken, this is the very same Robyn Ducassei that I held captive at fifteen years old.” He caught sight of a scar underneath her hair and ran his finger over it. “Yes. . .you’ve grown into a lovely young woman. You amaze me, Robyn.”
Robyn jerked her head away. “You disgust me,” she replied bitterly. She let out a low growl as Darscia caught her chin and turned her face to his, putting on a mock-soothing expression.
“Ooh, someone’s had too little sleep?” he cooed softly, as he observed Robyn’s slightly pale features.
“Shut up,” she snapped, pulling away from him and slapping his hand away, “And don’t touch me.”
Darscia made no effort to take her back. Instead, he simply snapped his fingers. The all-too-familiar echo sent a chill down Robyn’s spine.
Then, he commanded, “Take them!”
There was an immediate struggle as every CAPTOR agent except Robyn was grabbed from behind and held at a disadvantage to them. Robyn gasped and lunged at Darscia, screaming, “Let them go!”
A pair of hands grabbed her from behind, yanking her back and dragging her a few feet. The hands were gloved, Robyn noted. Suddenly cold rage swept through her, and she fought hard against the hands, to no avail. They were stronger than she remembered, even though they belonged to the very same man, clad completely in black, who had “taken care of” her last time.
After a few minutes, her attempts at freeing herself died away, leaving her to hard breathing with her hands wrapped loosely around those of her captor.
“DARSCIA!” Robyn screamed, glaring sharply at him. She heard her voice crack and then falter as she drew out the “a”, and then her vocal cords strained and she fell silent, her head dropping to her chest, throat burning.
Darscia’s cold laugh filled the warehouse. “The only remaining Ducassei, the only survivor, and she’s more pathetic than her mother was!”
Robyn lifted her head just slightly, but the glare had been replaced by a dull look.
Samara struggled, angry. The leather-gloved hands became tighter, and she stopped, frowning and biting her lip. She did not inform Darscia of her relation to Robyn, but she could not suppress the curse that rang out in her next three words.
“You damn creep!”
Darscia stopped laughing and snapped his fingers. The hands restraining the agents tightened and jerked, and several of them cried out in pain. Nothing more than death could be done to the other CAPTOR members, so their eyes were turned to Robyn.
“Well, my little bird, how are you feeling?” Darscia asked Robyn, the smile never fading from his face. It was a full smile now, however, but it was soft when turned on her.
Robyn didn’t move. “Darscia,” she said slowly, knowing there was nothing she could do without her friends getting hurt, “I don’t see why I shouldn’t just set you to burn in Hell right now.”
Darscia touched her lips gently. “You don’t have the strength to summon your power, my little bird. If you did somehow manage to set fire to anything, it would kill you.” He snickered. “But you’re perfectly welcome to try. It will only make my job easier.”
Robyn narrowed her eyes. The crimson was shining, the glassy shine of defeat.
Stefan shook his head violently, refusing to accept this. “No! He’s wrong, Darscia is wrong! I’m telling you, Robyn has always been able to summon her powers, she’s always done it! Darscia is-!”
“Quiet, Bashkir!” Amon said hoarsely, fighting for a decent breath as the arm locked around his throat dug in slightly as a warning. “Yelling won’t solve anything, and we all know it.”
Stefan shot a fleeting two-second glance at him, the look in his eyes burning. Then he turned a pleading gaze back to Robyn and his voice became soft and tired out. “No. . .Robyn, please, you have to try. I know you can do this, you always have. You can, believe me. You’re the strongest girl I’ve ever known. Robyn, you always have been able to find your power and use it.”
Eden looked at him, annoyed. “What about that day six years ago?” she said bitterly, her tone icy. Stefan looked at her.
His eyes widened as he started, “Eden, I don’t think. . .”
She cut him off. Six years ago, on this very day, Stefan. You remember, don’t you? CAPTOR was given an assignment, find the newest member of DARIET and tell her she was a special case. Her name was Robyn Ducassei, and she was one of the few who could control a craft; in her case, fire. When we went to her house, it was totally empty, except for a note scribbled in ink that had been stuck to the said person’s bedroom door, telling us where we could find her. Darscia knew we wanted her.”
She paused as the hands around her neck squeezed and then released. Then she continued.
This jerk would really enjoy choking me to kingdom come.
“We wasted no time in saving Robyn. When we got there, Amon found her hanging by ropes, bound to a pole. Remember? I untied her, and she fainted into Reni’s arms.” Eden’s gaze switched back to Robyn. Stefan–you know the rest, and it’s led us here once more. Kanesuma is in the hospital, and we’re here, and we can’t do anything about it, and Robyn. . .” She paused, then sighed. “Robyn is unable to feel much right now. She’s still sick, even if she doesn’t look it. I’m sure if she currently had the ability to use her power, she would. Stefan, I’m positive. . .” Eden finished as her breath caught in her throat, and she closed her eyes.
Stefan just shook his head. “I know.”
Darscia smiled again. “Since it’s far too late for you to do anything about your situation, I may as well explain myself. You see, I’m Johnson. That’s my last name–my code name for disguise. And these. . .” He paused, sweeping a hand around him to several dark-clad men who had gathered during Eden’s talk and now bowed to their master, “These are my faithful Soul Hunters. They’ve been brainwashed into serving me, isn’t that lovely?” An evil grin split across his face–he was enjoying this, clearly. “I’m sure you remember them well, don’t you, Robyn?”
Reni did not try his hand against the one who held him. He was shaking again, overwhelmed by the emptiness of the Hunters’ minds, and he cursed himself for it. “I should have known,” he spat angrily, his calm demeanor vanishing, “Only a crazed idiot like you would come up with something like this.”
Darscia nodded. “Very good, Mr. Saaris.” He turned. “You–girl,” he demanded, throwing his words at Samara, who continued to glare, “Tell me, you look as though you would be closely related to my little bird. What effect does a chemical have on her?”
Samara growled at him. “Why the hell would I tell you a thing like that?”
Darscia reached into the pocket of his black overcoat and pulled out a gun, pointing it at Robyn. She didn’t move. “You’ll tell me, because if you don’t, I’m going to kill her.”
Samara sighed. “She’s allergic to certain ones. When she is sick, disinfectant brings back her symptoms. Other chemicals make her ill no matter what. Robyn isn’t particularly good at staying conscious when she’s exposed to a strong dose of any chemical.”
Darscia lowered the gun. “Ah–very good. Very good, now I know how this will affect her.”
Before anyone could do anything, Darscia snapped his fingers. A cloth was produced by one of the Hunters, and he put it up to Robyn’s face, covering her nose and mouth.
Robyn’s eyes widened and she gasped, taking in a mouthful of contaminated, chemical-ridden air. Without meaning to, she swallowed it, and it made her throat burn. She began to cough, and it hurt in her chest, as the breathing forced her to inhale more of the substance. Suddenly she felt sick again, lightheaded, as she was released. Her hands flew to her mouth, over the cloth, to try and stop the coughing, and Robyn half doubled; her own technique wasn’t working.
The cloth was removed, and fresh air rushed into her lungs, making her dizzy.
Stefan’s eyes widened as he watched the scene with the others. “Rohyn, no!” he yelled. “Robyn!”
Reni was shaking even harder, enough that he could not stop it, and as he went limp he was vaguely aware of the Hunter holding him being forced to tighten his grip. The entire thing was just too much, like a premonition of something that was already happening, and he was sure that he was either going to throw up or pass out. Panting, he willed himself not to lose consciousness, suddenly acutely aware of how one of the Hunter’s hands was positioned over his neck.
Stefan was temporarily distracted as several gunshots rang out from somewhere in the darkness. Whoever was firing had very precise aim. In less than a minute, every Hunter was dead, including the ones holding Stefan and the others. Darscia was hit in the right arm and left leg, and he sank to one knee on the floor.
Whoever had fired stopped firing, but did not reveal themselves. The CAPTOR agents had no time to worry about that, however. All of them rushed over to help their friend.
Finally, Robyn stopped coughing. She was down on the floor on both knees with her head down, hands pressed tightly onto the concrete. Reni dropped down hard beside her, still panting.
Amon’s cell rang, and he answered it without hesitation, taking a few steps away from the scene. Everyone but Samara and Reni followed him.
“Go ahead, Mark.”
Reni examined Robyn carefully, slowly, finally catching his breath. “Hey, Robyn. Are you all right? That guy had a pretty tight grip on your throat.”
Robyn winced, clutching her chest. “I feel faint,” she mumbled weakly. “Lightheaded, dizzy. And I think I’m going to throw up,” she added, her words coming out in a rush. “My stomach hurts, and my chest.”
Reni remained by Robyn’s side. “Go ahead, Robyn. Everything is over now, for good.”
Amon was listening intently on his phone. When he heard what Mark had to say, his eyes widened and he gasped.
“Wha–Kanesuma’s gone missing, are you sure–aw, hell!” he cried quickly, his broken sentences coming together as one long one, the words smashed together in his surprise.
Reni and Robyn looked up at him as he turned off his cell and pocketed it, looking furious.
“Dammit,” Stefan sighed. “Where could she have gone to, in her condition?”
“Right here,” a strong voice said from out of nowhere. A woman stepped out of the shadows, her gun by her side in her left hand. On that particular arm, there was a fresh bandage wrapped around the upper part. The woman had dark, midnight blue hair and eyes that were almost black in the dark light. She was wearing a knit purple sleeveless shirt, black silky jeans with elaborate silver designing at the seams, and a tan overcoat, with a hole in it, surrounded by a thin ring of red.
“Oh, whoa,” Eden breathed, astonished. “It’s really you, isn’t it?”
Robyn smiled. “Kanesuma,” she said, then she clutched her stomach with a moan of anguish and looked down, closing her eyes. Reni’s attention turned back to her.
A worried look came over Kanesuma’s face and she ran over quickly, kneeling down beside her friend. “Reni, what’s going on?”
Reni kept his attention on Robyn. “While you were away, we got the flu. . .well, everyone but Amon. Amon and Stefan. Eden’s over it, I’m almost over it, and Robyn got sick a while ago. We thought she was fine earlier this morning, she had a fever last night but it went down earlier. Apparently, she’s not quite cured yet.”
Kanesuma frowned, studying Robyn. “No medications, obviously, no need to make her any worse. . .my God, what the hell is that?” she demanded, her gaze landing on the mark imprinted into Robyn’s hand.
“Later,” Reni dodged, distracted.
Kanesuma nodded. “Right, then. Robyn, how are you feeling?”
Robyn made an effort to look up. “Sick,” she emphasized, swallowing.
“That bad, huh?” Kanesuma asked. “All right. Well, I think part of it has to do with that nasty open wound on the back of your hand. That’s what’s making you feel so lightheaded.” She paused, then called behind her, “Oi! Stefan!”
Stefan walked over and bent down. “Yeah?”
“Help her out, if you can.”
He narrowed his eyes and then closed them. Placing a finger over the marks, he traced them with the index finger of a glowing hand, and as his finger moved along the lines a path of scar followed it. Stefan pulled his hand away as the power faded, swaying slightly. “That, for now, is the best I can do.”
“It’s fine, thanks,” Robyn replied, standing up as the ill feelings vanished. Reni set a hand on her shoulder, and she smiled. “Now, let’s go home.”
“First thing’s first,” Kanesuma said darkly. A team of officials stepped forward and she pointed to Darscia. “Take him.”
Darscia gasped. “Impossible! I-I killed you!”
As she passed the officials holding him, she stopped and looked him in the eye.
“Shut it,” Kanesuma snapped, controlling barely-restrained fury. “I would love nothing more than to kill you, before I hand you over to the Agency.”
CAPTOR left, leaving behind twenty dead bodies, a cloth soaked in chloroform, and a stunned Darscia behind.
It was over.
