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Chapter 21 - Old Friends, New Enemies
The road was starting to get bumpy. There were several times when my head hit the car door, and by the time we'd reached our destination I had a slight headache.
I literally held my breath in, as they parked the car and got out, anxious as to what would happen next.
The car door I had previously been trashing my head on opened, and cold, rough hands dragged me out of the car. I struggled to whip my head back, curious as to who was carrying me. I didn't have to look, though. I knew it was Kairon. And the despite the way his disposition had changed I could still tell the difference between his hands and someone else's.
He pulled me out into the dark night, only stars and a single light ahead of us lit our way. Up ahead was a small house with smoke coming out the top. It reminded me how cold it was outside and I shivered as Kairon pulled me to his chest to carry me.
I felt warm. And I would have felt safe except I remembered I was being kidnapped and I still wasn't sure what was going to happen to me.
“What's going to happen to me?” I managed to ask him. He looked down at me, his eyes didn't look cold, but intense, like he was deep in thought. I watched as his mouth started to form a word.
“Kairon! Don't talk to her!” Shelly's piercing voice was as clear as a bell, even behind Kairon.
As we made our way towards the small house I realized it was a log cabin. Kairon opened the door and brought be into well lit room with logs on all four sides. The whole house was completely furnished and to the right were stairs where there was most likely a bedroom.
My eyes focused in on the couch where a figure was sitting leisurely, drinking a glass of wine.
“You can set her down now, Kairon.” His voice was course yet just seductive as it'd always been. I had to keep myself from gasping at the sight of who was sitting in front of me.
“So you were the one behind all this.” I said quietly, not expecting a response. I had known it deep down all along, but infatuation had somehow manage to blind me.
He laughed heartily for a moment. “Sit down next to me.” He patted a spot next to him on the couch. I shook my head and stood my ground. “Alright, fine.” His lips curled downward.
I waited for a moment as he swirled the wine in his glass, staring at it as though it bored him. Then he's eyes suddenly shifted to me, and he took a single gulp of the remaining wine.
“So I suppose you know what I'm going to do to you.” His eyes were taunting, tiny slits. “Since you know now what I am I'm sure you can take a guess as to what I'll be doing to get back my powers.”
I breathed out then heaved in a large breath. “You need to merge with me somehow. My first guess: Marriage.”
It was quiet and awkward all of a sudden. I watched as Astor's eyes left me and he poured himself another glass of wine. He took a drink from the glass. As soon as his lips left the cup I heard a chuckle and watched his eyes roll. I immediately felt self conscious. What was he thinking?
“Oh Arabelle,” His voice still carried with it that arrogant chuckle. “So formal are we?”
His movement was quick. He got up from his seat and pulled me to him, whispering in my ear. “Why go through the process of marriage when we could just skip the unnecessary rituals and get right down to what really merges two into one.”
I could feel sweat beginning to form on my forehead. It had never occurred to me that there was more then one option, that when they meant “merge” it was truly a physical act. I felt my breath stager just as he pulled me close, grabbing me harshly by the waist. I struggled to break away.
“I won't let you do this!” I yelled.
“You don't have a choice in the matter. You are apart of me.” His face was so close I could smell the alcohol in his breath.
“Not by choice. If I had a choice I'd never be with you!”
“Oh really? So then all that swooning, the kisses, everything we did. You can't tell me you didn't want me.” His face was smug.
“Not after I realized who you are. In the end I fell in love with the only person who was honest with me.” I huffed, still trying to break loose. I looked back at Kairon. “And look what you've done to him. Kairon, snap out of it! Your not suppose to be here!”
I watched for any signs that he was coming to, but before I could find anything within his eyes my body fell backwards as Astor's hand came down on my face at full force. I looked up, bewildered at what had just happened.
But before I could even register it all I watched as something knocked Astor onto the floor. My eyes shifted and I found Kairon kneeling down next to me, offering a hand so that I could get up.
Astor got up instantly, and I could tell by his eyes that he was furious. I stood next to Kairon in hopes that he was completely out of his trance.
“How dare you! Shelly, get a hold on that mangy cat or I'll do away with him myself.” His voice was rough and loud. I cowered at the sound of it.
“Get away from her, Kairon. Obey me!” Shelly commanded. But her words were weak against the hold I now had on Kairon. He was my protector, and my protector only.
“Give the girl to me.” Astor's voice wasn't as commanding, but it sounded much scarier. “It's the girl or your life.”
“I'm here to defend her. I choose the girl.” Kairon's voice was final.
I could feel the pressure of the atmosphere suddenly change just as Astor's eyes became enraged and the sound of ravens was heard just outside the cabin. My heart began racing as I realized we were surrounded.
“I've always wondered what a tiger rug would look like in my log cabin.” Astor's said with a chuckle. Then his eyes suddenly grew dark. “Let it be known that even with only half my power I can still destroy you and your people.”
I expected the birds to come flooding in through the windows, but after listening for a good ten seconds I realized I couldn't hear the birds anymore. I was beginning to fear a sneak attack. I look out each of the windows, but it was too dark to see if there were any birds outside, especially dark birds that blended so well with the night.
Suddenly Astor rushed to the door, and for some reason we all followed. Just outside the remains of ravens scattered on the ground. And, standing just a few feet away, were the figures of all the people who had come to my rescue.
I was both relieved and happy. Seeing all of them here gave me hope.
“Shelly!” His voice was still strong despite the odds against him. “Attack the big one! This is why I made you who you are! Now go!”
I felt a gust of wind pass me as Shelly's form lunged out towards the group, changing rapidly, her form still looked somewhat like her, but now it carried features of a bird. Big black wings, claws where were feet were. They dug into Saeron on impact and a loud growl left his lips. All of them were now in tiger form, each one lunging at Shelly in an attempt to defeat her.
I watched as they're speed and strength combined nearly beat Shelly to death. She managed to get away from the mulling and retreat back to Astor.
Astor growled as though he had been defeated, but we knew better then that. There had to be something else up his sleeve.
Suddenly he smiled and then laughed menacingly. We all waiting to see what was so funny. As we waiting a tall figure came out of the darkness and right away I could tell by his walk and dark hair who he was.
“It's so nice to see you, Joseph. You did well in getting Arabelle to me. Now if I could just ask you, not like you have a choice in the matter, for one more favor.” Astor's voice was too cool. What was Joseph going to do that Shelly couldn't?
I watched as Joseph's face caught the light coming from withing the house. His eyes seemed sad, yet somehow emotionless, and at that second I realized he too was being controlled.
“You know what to do.” And as he said this Joseph removed his coat and walked passed us towards the group of tigers.
My eyes caught a glance of something horribly ghastly as he passed me and I almost didn't believe it till I looked back and found my first assumption to be true. In the middle of his chest, probably a few inches deep, was a large, bloody hole. What had happened to him?
Joe stopped just a few feet from the group and smiled. We all waited to see what he would do and my heart went into high gear knowing my friend might not make it through this battle. I wanted to call it off, but that would mean letting Astor win. So I said a quick prayer and waited as the tension ate away at me.
