Ecstasy

Chapter 20
Alex watched silently as Anthony and Alan disappeared into the gallery leaving her with the rest of them. Jake and Jason were already fast asleep on two of the benches and the grunts and groans coming from over in the stall at the window suggested that Dawson and Josh were still rather involved. She was feeling so damn alone right now it was a terrible feeling to not have a soul in the world. She was the last of their people and technically she need Anthony to make an attempt at re building her clan but at what consequs? As? Alex had given herself over to him with her heart and her mind she was at his mercy. Although he was the enemy she could tell that he was different from his subjects he actually cared what happened to her. Her thoughts were drawn back to Craig’s contorting face as the web of talent had killed him and the stench of brunt flesh had permeated her nostrils and every time she breathed in she could still smell it. She shuddered at the thought of what her people had to have gone through with the same torture. Why hadn’t she felt them dying around her, why hadn’t she seen through his lies and cover-ups, she really was a failure. She began to cry her tears falling down her face onto the padded bench below her head as she shuddered silently to herself. Anthony was everything she ever wanted but why was it so hard to see that what she was doing might finally bring peace between the two sides.

“Hey what’s wrong?” Alex looked up quickly as a soft voice filtered down to her. She smiled as she saw Dawson’s worried face looking down at her.

“Nothing.” Alex whispered as she sat up allowing Dawson to sit down next to her and wrap his arm around her shoulder comfortingly. Dawson sighed as she burst into tears again, something was wrong but she’d tell him in her own time so instead he cuddled her tightly letting her cry her little eyes out. It would have been good to have Anthony here to comfort her as well but Dawson knew that Anthony was probably pretty much engaged at this moment in time with Alan.
After a short while Alex seemed to stop crying but still cuddled into Dawson’s side for comfort. The room was now deathly silent only the sound of Jason’s occasional strangled snore broke the heavy silence.
“Where’s josh?” Alex whispered remembering that Dawson was with Josh only a few minutes ago.

“Fell asleep on me like a typical mortal. Seems like I’ve worn him out.” Alex laughed at that comment quietly, it was like Dawson was suggesting that he was too good. There was silence again before a loud bang occurred out in the foyer. It made Dawson and Alex jump with fright but Josh, Jake and Jason all still slept on soundly.

“Jesus what was that?” Alex whispered suddenly fearing her life she let the talent once again surge through her body her fingertips sizzling ready to react in an instant something happened. Dawson felt the pulse of talent wash through her body the tingling in her skin reacting on his own. Gently he patted her leg comfortingly before getting up and slowly glancing through the glass windows into the foyer for any signs of trouble.

“Wait here and I’ll go have a look as well as go and find Anthony and Alan.” Alex shook her head in repute there was no way he was leaving her here unprotected with these useless mortals.

“No I’m coming with you.” She protested standing up and holding on tightly to Dawson’s arm.

“If anything happens to you my neck will be for it by Anthony.” He spat glaring at her all of sudden extremely serious. It was now obvious to Alex that she was extremely valuable to Anthony and his people if Dawson was edgy about her coming with him. The truth however was that Alex could probably defend herself and Dawson better than Dawson could.

“It’s better that leaving me here and having me killed while you are away. Then Anthony will kill you for sure.” Alex spat back just as serious as Dawson was. She watched as he nodded and walked gingerly towards the door to the cafeteria with Alex standing behind him at all times. Alex could feel the warmth of his tingling skin under her touch just as on edge as she was and ready to pounce at a moments notice. They were deadly silent as they walked out into the dimly lit foyer scanning each hidden corner for signs of something sinister but it was clear.

“Come on let’s go find Anthony.” Dawson whispered as they made their way across the foyer and over into the art gallery both of them very aware of their surroundings. As they rounded the corner into the next exhibition Alex sighed, it was her own exhibition of works. She sighed, as she looked up at the two-meter high paints around her still sticking close to Dawson who was more interested in his dangerous surroundings that the painting. It was a lot darker in this part of the gallery than the other’s they’d been to and so Dawson was much more weary he had a terrible feeling that something bad was going to happen. “Hold my hand, I want to know you’re with me at all times.” Alex nodded watching as Dawson lit his fingers alight with a deep red fire ball illuminating the whole gallery. She could feel the pulsating warmth on Dawson’s hand as she held it tightly against her own cold skin.

“Anthony?” Alex breathed calling Anthony’s name softly to try and determine his whereabouts. The pair of them were both to engrossed in watching the shadows for signs of people they didn’t even notice what they were about to tread on until it was to late. Alex glanced down as she felt something sticky underfoot only to scream as she realized what she was standing in.

“Shhh.” Dawson clamped his hand down over her mouth as he scanned over the dead body at their feet. It was obvious who it was with the dread locks clearly visible amongst the blood and debris. This had to be a mortal killing it was to messy not to be, they’d obviously cut Alan’s throat and hacked and chopped until they were sure he was dead. Alan was also naked which would suggest that he was caught unawares with Anthony. Alex felt tears roll down her cheeks she’d liked Alan and who ever was doing this was going to die, she’d make sure.

“Where’s Anthony?” Alex breathed as she swallowed hard watching as Dawson stepped over the discarded body before lifting Alex effortlessly over it as well.

“Keep looking at least we’ll know he’ll be able to defend himself if it’s only a mortal against him.” Dawson breathed as he lit his fingers again the ball of light intensifying as they followed the blood splatters up a set of stairs. Alex knew that these lead to the roof and if Anthony was up there with who ever he’d have a lot better chance of getting away and defending himself. She prayed he was okay but if he wasn’t who ever had done it to him would pay with their life. Dawson took a deep breath and gently pushed open the fire escape door where bloodied handprints suggested that who ever had used it was who they were after. A cold breeze hit them and made them physically shudder as they walked up the few steps onto the room top. What they saw next made them stop in their tracks. Anthony was lying face down on the concrete roof his legs and arms bound tightly. Standing next to him was of all people Jessica Jacks with a rather large axe that was all ready stained red from her last culling. To the side of that scene was May Abey standing with her own arsenal a shot gun aimed directly at Dawson and Alex. They were in deep shit.

“Stop or he dies and I shoot you two fuckers.” May called harshly gesturing to Anthony was tied pretty tightly, there was no way he could defend himself. Alex looked down at her eyes and saw the familiar burgundy colour, which suggested that he, was trying his best to get free by burning the ropes but there was also fear in his eyes that scared Alex extremely. “Now explain to me what’s going on, and how you do that thing with your hands.” May snapped harshly gesturing to Dawson’s still flaming hand.

“You wouldn’t understand.” Alex called back watching as May was becoming extremely nervous as Dawson continued to play with the ball of talent in his hands ready to take her out with one fatal swipe.

“Try me, I followed you from the party then saw as it went up in flames they were blue flames I saw them and it was cold nothing like real fire at all. I saw you up on the roof with that Craig guy you killed him like you killed Steve and all those others at that party.” Alex swallowed hard as May glared at her tears streaming down her face as the end of the gun began to waver showing her fear clearly.

“Let him go you can’t win against us.” Dawson breathed staring at May deathly flicking the fireball from one hand to the other scaring the girls even more. Gingerly Alex shook her head at Dawson who stopped playing with the fire and let it die slightly concerned by the change in eye colour of Alex, her eyes now a deep emerald colour instead of the usual grey blue.

“Fucking stay away from me witch!” May screamed as Alex began to walk towards May her fingers tingling with talent. Alex was angry extremely angry at May and Jessica’s at having tried to meddle in her dealings and killing Alan. It was time for revenge for all those years they’d taunted her calling her names and tainting her name amongst the student body. Anthony watched in ore as May suddenly dropped the gun as if it had become hot before slowly backing away from Alex’s approach. There was silence as May came to the edge of the roof Alex now only a few meters away from her. “You’re evil.” May screamed at the top of her lungs as Alex lifted her hands the fingers immediately coming alight with blue flame.

“Yes I am but there’s not need to be discriminatory now is there.” Alex breathed before letting the fireball go. Anthony closed his eyes bracing for the impact of the axe as Jessica turned her attention to him lifting it above her head to bring it down on his neck.

“Alex!” Dawson called as he tired to get to Anthony before the axe hit. Alex turned around quickly and clicked her fingers Jessica froze immediately as if in a trance, the axe head only centimeters away from Anthony’s neck. Dawson stared on in amazement Jessica was like stone standing there he shook his head in disbelief how did Alex do it. Anthony still had his eyes closed tightly until he felt Dawson’s hands on his body lifting him up from the block.

“What happened?” Anthony inquired quickly glancing around him as Dawson undid the ropes around his ankles and hands. Alex was standing alone, May’s smoldering body giving off enough light for Anthony to see the fire in Alex’s eyes. He swallowed hard she was far more powerful than he’d ever expected anyone who could literally freeze time with talent was incredibly powerful. Dawson wrapped his coat quickly around Anthony’s naked body as he began to shiver in the cold. They both watched in ore as Alex all but floated across to Jessica’s stiff body. She took a few moments to look intently at her handy work before blowing lightly onto Jessica’s skin. The two men watched amazed as Jessica disintegrated into nothing but ash the particles getting carried by the wind to far away places, nothing remained except the axe that fell sharply to the ground. Alex sighed it had been literally years since she’d had to use her talent but it felt good that she hadn’t lost the knack.

“Are you okay?” She whispered lightly her fire dying away as she walked gingerly over to Dawson and Anthony aware that they were staring at her.

“Yeah we’re fine how did you do that?” Anthony questioned quickly still staring at the floating ashes of what remained of Jessica. Alex smiled and touched the side of her noes cheekily.

“For me to know and you to learn.” Dawson and Anthony began to laugh before Alex felt silently into Anthony’s arms hugging him tightly. She’d freaked out when they couldn’t find Anthony in the event of his death she’d not know what to do he was the last thing left in her life that meant something even if he was from the enemy. However they weren’t quite the enemy anymore.

“Come on I think its time we hit the road bodies are going to be discovered and we don’t need to be around when that happens.” Alex nodded understandingly as Anthony leaned down and softly kissed her on the lips. Dawson smiled as he helped Alex down the stairs after Anthony. Alex couldn’t help but smile she’d never really seen Anthony naked before and for saying he was the son of the devil he was pretty cute. They all went silent as they went around Alan’s body Anthony smiling at the battered body sadly. They had been just been getting dressed when May and Jessica caught them off guard and killed him in cold blood but they’d paid the price now at the hand of his partner. Alan was only mortal no concern really the major problem now was keeping himself and Alex alive until they got to the gate to the underworld.

“Where the hell have you three been and where’s Alan?” Jake inquired as Dawson, Alex and Anthony walked into the cafeteria.

“Dead.” Anthony breathed as he pushed past the three astonished men going into the kitchen in search of some clothes. “And we will be if we don’t get out of here.” He called back. Josh and Jason stared at Alex totally and utterly confused by this looking at her for some kind of assurances and confirmation that Alan was dead.

“We’ve got to get out of here May and Jessica followed us in and killed Alan before trying to kill Anthony once the bodies are found we’re in deep shit so we’ve got to get out of here.” Jason, Josh and Jake all nodded in agreement it was all happening so fast that they didn’t have time to argue.

“Collect your stuff and let’s find us some wheels.” Anthony emerged from the kitchen in a daggy pair of jeans and t-shirt, thankfully he’d taken his leather jacket off when he’d gone with Alan the first time so it was sitting neatly on the chair next to his other things untouched. They all collected their stuff, putting it in a few backpacks off a display in the cafeteria as well as stocking up on water bottles and packet food for the journey. There was no way they were stopping once they were on the road.

“So where are we going to get a car from?” Alex whispered as she took hold of Anthony’s hand as he lead the small group out the back doors of the gallery and into the shadows. In the distance they could still hear the sirens over at the faculty house where the party had been only this time there were helicopters circling round the area.

“Who said it was going to be a car?” Anthony huffed a little laugh as he pointed over at the warehouse at the back of the university where there were several semi trai par parked up for the slow season. They looked totally unattended and it would be easy to hot wire one then Dawson could drive he’d been trained to deal with all emergencies before he and Anthony had even stepped onto the surface with the mortals. Alex looked at him gone out as he smiled wickedly at Dawson who nodded understandingly already reading Anthony’s mind.

“Stick to the shadows.” Dawson whispered as he took the lead. The small group followed them without question fearing for their life as they began the short run across to the warehouse gates. “We’re going to have to climb over.” Anthony nodded and gestured for Dawson to go first so that he could help the other’s down the other side.
Before to long they were hidden at the side of the large rig waiting as Dawson broke skillfully into the cabin. Anthony had already checked if it had cargo on it but both trailers appeared empty. Alex watched in ore of Dawson’s abilities she could see why Anthony had him as a body guard up here on the surface. None of her people had that sort of knowledge of this world only the escorts knew it back to front because they lived here. Anthony looked up as he heard Dawson huff a little laugh before sticking his head out of the cab window.

“You’ll never guess some dickhead left the key’s in here.” Anthony smiled widely and nodded at Dawson appreciatively before he gestured for Jason, Josh and Jake to get into the cabin on the other side while he and Alex got in from this side.

“How are we going to get out of the gate’s without making people suspicious about the noise?” Jason inquired pointing to the gate they’d climbed over. Jake and Josh sat neatly in the drivers sleeping cabin at the back of the seats also pointing to the gate. Alex was in the middle of Dawson and Anthony, while Jason was on the end next to the door. Dawson shrugged and turned the key the engine roaring into life it’s lights coming alive also.

“Beautiful.” Dawson whispered as he let the several breaks off and started to change gears of the seventeen wheeler so that they began to go forward. Anthony smiled across at Alex and winked.

“Would you like to do the honors honey?” Anthony whispered watching as she laughed and nodded before concentrating on the steel reinforced gate while Dawson headed straight forward towards it at a steady pace. Alex let the talent once again run through her veins before turning the gate into the same stasis that she’d done to Jessica only minutes ago. Josh, Jason and Jake braced themselves for a collision as the truck roared through the gates untouched as they disintegrated to ash. Anthony kissed Alex softly on the lips remarkably pleased with effort, she really was special capable of far better things than what her own clan had used her for.

“Whoa cool big trucks rule when it comes to destroying things hey.” Jason smiled across at Dawson and Anthony giving them the thumbs up for stealing one of the better vehicles on the road.
It wasn’t long before they were on the main roads heading towards the freeway to get as far away as possible from the main city so that they could relax and figure out their next plan. After all they couldn’t take the three mortals with them to the spirit world but they would help them get out of town in an attempt to give them a fighting chance of not being caught. The relaxed state in the cabin of the big rig came suddenly to a halt as Dawson slowed down to a stop just at the exit to the freeway. Vehicle’s we’re being check through a checkpoint and searched intensely before being allowed onto the freeway out of town. They’d obviously suspected something and called a massive wide search for them, it would be almost impossible to get through if it was Alex and their little group that the police were looking for.

“What now we’re fucked?” Jake inquired nervously as the cars were pulledr inr in front of them and checked. Anthony began to think quickly they needed to get through this Alex was precious cargo and the sake of his race depended on her living.

“Turn off the cabin lights.” Anthony growled quickly watching as Dawson turned off the lights inside of the cabin edging the rig forward a little every time a car got released onto the freeway. Jake, Josh swap places with us then pull the curtain across in front of us, we’ll hide behind the blankets and backpacks.” Dawson smiled now that was thinking, no one would both looking in the sleeping quarters and he suspected that Alex and Anthony were the only one’s they be looking for. There was a quick shuffle in the cabin and Alex and Anthony lay down on top of one another in the back, Anthony covering them with the blankets and bags before nodding at Josh to close the curtain.

“Now act natural don’t freak out on me here. We’ve got to be calm or they’ll suspect something.” The three men nodded at Dawson before sitting down talking to one another casually as the police officer finally got to the semi-trailer.

“Lights on please sir.” Dawson flicked the cabin lights back on smiling down lightly at the police officer who stood up on the side of the rig to talk to Dawson face to face. The four men watched as the police officer scanned their faces in turn before turning to Dawson behind the wheel. “I’m sorry about this sir but we’ve got some young people at large that we want to question in relation to a fire on the university campus. We believe they’re dangerous and so are taking extreme measures to make sure they don’t allude capture.” Dawson nodded politely at the officer.

“So what can I help you with?” Dawson inquired softly as the officer pulled out a note pad.

“We just want to check you’re trailers if that’s alright with you?” The officer kept glancing across at the other three men in the cabin all looking at him smilingly. It was just a little strange that a truck driver should be so young and would take so many friends along for the ride.

“Yep that’s fine they’re empty anyway we’re on our way back up the coast for the fruit season.” The officer nodded and made a note of Dawson’s comment before signaling for the other officers to search the trailers.

“Just why they’re doing this let me give you a flyer with the young people’s faces on maybe if you see them on you’re travels you can help us with the investigation.” Dawson took the two flyers off the police officer glancing at them and biting the inside of his mouth at what he saw. It was true they were after Alex and Anthony.

“No sorry the face’s don’t ring a bell.” Dawson passed the two flyers across the Josh for the other three to look at them. The officer smiled sadly as the other three men shook their heads silently.

“All clear sarg!” Dawson smiled as he heard the voice of another officer calling down to the police officer addressing him. The officer nodded and turned back to Dawson and smiled warmly.

“Thanks for you’re cooperation you’re free to go. Drive safely.” Dawson shook the officer’s hand before he jumped down off the side of the rig. He changed gears again and the rig started forward onto the freeway picking up speed. Alex and Anthony stayed silent and still on top of one another hugging tightly and hardly breathing until Josh opened the curtains.

“That’s it we’re out of here.” Josh laughed as Anthony went to sit up off Alex only to smack his head on the small roof and fall back down on top of her. They all laughed happily that was one dilemma they’d over come and it made them all feel extremely liberated. Dawson smiled as Anthony leaned across and gave him a peck on the cheek before he and Alex swapped seats with Josh and Jake again. Once they were all settled Anthony flicked on the radio a soft melody warbling through the speakers.

“So Anty what’s the plan from here?” Jason joked smiling as Alex lay her head down in Anthony’s lap to try and get some sleep. Anthony sighed and looked guiltily at Josh, Jason and Jake, it was time to tell them their fate.

“We’ll take you as far north as possible then it’s up to you what you do and where you go. Dawson, Alex and I have already got something planned for ourselves.” The cabin went silent as the three men looked at one another totally amazed that they were going to be dumped. Alex closed her eyes and swallowed hard she really didn’t want to say good bye to her friends but it had to be done, her place was with Anthony now.

“Why can’t we go with you we’re in this together?” Jason protested as Anthony rolled his eyes and sighed, the human race was such an irritant to get rid of once it was attached to you.

“Because it’s easy for us to stay low in small groups, and besides they’re not after you three they’re after me and Alex.” The three men nodded understandingly it was true they’d be better off without Anthony and Alex because if they got caught then they’d all go down as accomplices to them. “Now we’re heading towards a shipping port up north, we’ll drop you about two kilometers out of town so you can decide where you go.” All three men nodded understnadingly.

“I think that’s a cue for you all to get some sleep.” Dawson smiled down at Alex who was already softly asleep, it had been a while since she’d had some sleep so it was good she was resting from here on it’d be hard until they got to England. Then it was home free run to Stone Henge the gate to the spirit world, then she and Anthony would marry and become rulers. They all began to settle down before Dawson flicked off the cabin lights allowing them to get some rest while he drove. This was just the icing on the cake for his and Anthony’s expedition to conquer the escorts and they’d done it in style and quick time to.

TBc......................