Witch Hunts

Chapter 2


Faith was escorted to sit in the seat at the table. She felt so small compared to all these men. They were all well over six feet with bulging muscles. These men were very dangerous and dark. They all had a deadly air about them and it was almost as if you looked at them wrong they would sooner snap your neck then tell you to stop. Maybe she wasn’t as lucky as she first thought.
Sin picked up a big goblet with eight different stones engraved in it. Topaz, garnet, aquamarine, emerald, jade, diamond, ruby, and sapphire were the stones on the face of the goblet and Faith knew it had a significant to something very important. He took a swig of it and past it around the circle. All the men drank from it, but it never got to her and she figured it was probably something she didn’t want to taste.
“I have brought you all here tonight, because I need your guys help. You know how I’ve been looking and protecting the Hunter bloodline for centuries now.” They all nodded in response. “Well, this is Faith Hunter. Faith, they are my brothers.” She put her hand up and waved her fingers slightly embarrassed at all the dark intense eyes staring at her. “Wulf is to your left, Hayden is next to him, Rage, Danger, Zackery, Talon, and Gabriel.”
“Hey, What’s up?” Talon said with a reassuring smile. He had long light brown hair pulled back in a loose ponytail and pale green eyes. He was very handsome and had softer facial features than all the other men at the table. She could help but grace him with a small smile of her own. “I know we all seem a little intimidating, but I promise we are more like big lovable cats. Were more bark, then bite. Except for Rage. He’ll chew you up and spit you out without a second thought about it.” He added with a deep laugh.
“Screw you.” The one know as Rage snapped at Talon. Rage had long black hair with blood red highlights through it, with emotionless brown eyes that looked almost as black as night. His features were hard and handsome in a twisted demonic sort of way.
“No, that’s okay. I don’t like you that much.” Talon told him. Rage just growled a warning and turned his attention back to his blade he had been sharpening the whole time.
“The point is that we are here to help you and you shouldn’t be scared of us. We will not harm you, if Sin is set on keeping you safe.” The one know as Zackery, assured her. He had dirty blond hair with tints of auburn streaking through it. He had the most amazing blue eyes or was they violet? She couldn’t quite tell, but they were amazing.
“I’m glad that Sin found you.” Gabriel said softly. “We were all worried that we wouldn’t. Then we would forever be fighting the Changelings.” Gabriel was almost angelic in a dark way. It was as if he was a child of God, which fell away to the life of sin. He had shoulder length blond hair that almost looked white and the contrast of deep midnight blue eyes. The smile that graced his full lips promised all sorts of heavenly delights, one that you would sell your soul for.
“Yeah, well she was surrounded by Changelings. I don’t know what they have that is speeding up their search, but they were waiting for her. If I weren’t flying by at that exact moment, she would have died tonight. We have to figure out how they are doing it. We are all in a lot of trouble if they find out where our covens are located.”
“I agree. So what do you plan to do about this useful information?” Wulf asked, in a round about way, hinting that maybe he should be sending a search out for the Changelings.
“This is what I’m thinking. Danger, Rage, and Zackery.” They all looked up at their names on their Prince’s lips. “I need you guys to go around and warn everyone that we need to go on lock down. I want everyone prepared if it comes down to us going into battle with the Changelings. Wulf, I want you to help Faith open up the power she has locked inside and start teaching her how to wield it. Aiden and Gabriel, I want you guys to get our weapons stocked and plenty of supply. I want it ready for the Changelings whether it’s us going to them or them coming to us. Talon, I want you to get together a scouting crew and I want a search around the city and the outskirts. We need to narrow down the possible places that the Changelings can set up a hideout. The Changelings know Faith is going to be with us and they are going to try to find her. I want to find them before they do us.”
“Sounds good, but what are you going to do?” Talon asked. Sin thought about it for a few moments.
“I’m going to get this girl to control this power of hers so that we can get these damn dogs off our backs once and for all.” Sin growled with determination written all over his face.
“Do you think she can actually destroy all the Changelings in the whole world?” Rage said sarcastically. “This girl is up to my chest and tiny. How in the world can she wield such an intense power that can destroy a whole species? It’s unreal.” Sin glared at him placing both hands on the table leaning forward. He glowered at Rage, his eyes glowing a dark sinister blue.
“Don’t doubt a power, that you have never experienced.” Rage glared back for a brief second then lowered his black gaze. Sin seemed to be satisfied with the outcome of their difference. “Anyone else doubt that this girl could cause mass destruction to the Changelings?” No one dared say a word about it. Faith was wondering herself though. She had never felt any power within herself that would even hint to destruction. She really believed that Sin was putting to much faith in to something that wasn’t tangible. She dared not say anything though, because she didn’t want to be at the end of that terrifying glare that he had just gave Rage. “Good. Now that we have that problem taken care of,” He started to pace the floor behind Faith. “Since it is almost dawn we will start tomorrow night. I will need everyone to keep me updated on everything that happens. Even the little petty details I want to hear them.” He stopped pacing and looked at every one of his brothers. “Thank you guys so much for supporting me as your ruler and baring with me through this whole thing. We are almost to the end of our battle, just a little longer and a little more faith. Now go feed my brothers and I will talk to you soon.” All the men headed out. The only ones that stayed in the room were Sin, Faith and Wulf.
“Do you think this will work?” Wulf asked Sin, looking at him with no emotion.
“I hope so. Maybe it will buy us a little time until Faith can fight.”
“I will start training her tomorrow evening. Tonight I must feed and then take to ground. You look like you need to feed too, Sin. Maybe you should send the girl home with someone and come out with me.” Sin nodded in agreement.
“Go find Carol and bring her to me. I’ll have her escort Faith to my house.” Wulf gave a slight bow of his head and left the room. Sin turned to stare a Faith with a thoughtful expression.
“How are you feeling?” He asked her. She looked at her hands trying to figure out how she really did feel. She was very overwhelmed with all the events that had happened in the last hour. Her body was protesting saying she needed sleep, but her mind was on overdrive. There was so much that was new to her and she was having a hard time trying to comprehend it all. She was in the company of vampires, she was running for her life from werewolves and she was being referred to as a witch. Where had her life gone wrong, because she had no idea? One minute she was living a normal life as a regular American citizen and now she was living some kind of paranormal life.
“I’m fine.” She whispered. Sin regarded her for a long moment, his intense blue stare making her skin crawl. She was about to tell him to stop when he looked away on his own.
“I’m going to have someone take you to my house and I will have Margret, my housekeeper, get you settled in. You can take a shower or a bath, which ever will relax you and then you can get a good night rest. I will see you tomorrow evening.” She nodded not daring to respond; she knew her voice would be shaky. Wulf walked back into the room with an elderly lady. Sin moved to where they stood at the entrance. They spoke in low voices and she couldn’t understand anything that was being said. She rose to her feet as Sin turned to face her. “Faith, this is Carol. She will escort you safely to my house.”
“Come Child.” Carol’s voice was soft and musical. Faith trusted her instantly. Carol held her hand out and Faith found herself slipping her own in it. They headed out into the noisy club. Faith glanced over her shoulder one last time to see Sin watching her with a confident look blazing in his eyes. She wished she had that much confidence, because right now she felt like a lost child in a big world she knew nothing about.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sin walked in the front door of his eighteen-century mansion. Margret was there to greet him in the foyer. She showed him the chamber she had placed Faith in and took her leave. He opened the door silently and slipped in like a ghost in the night. He found Faith sound asleep in the European King size bed.
He made his way to the side of the bed and eased his weight on to it. She looked so peaceful lost in the dreams of an innocent. Part of him wanted to invade her mind and see the images that floated into her subconscious. He didn’t though because he knew he couldn’t face her tomorrow evening without feeling guilty for invading her space.
He placed a strand of black hair behind her ear and ran his fingers down her jaw line lightly. Why did she have to be so damn desirable? He thought bitterly. He had vowed to protect her from the Changelings, but now he had to protect her from himself.
His attraction to her was strong and it made him uncomfortable. All he had to hold himself against her charms was sheer will of his vampire soul. Part of him wished he could have met her before he was condemned. She was everything he had been looking for in a partner.
She was determined, strong willed and had a great sense of humor even if she didn’t realize it. There was also that stubborn streak of hers that stated she wouldn’t let anyone walk on her. Moreover, that body of hers was begging for a man’s touch and not just any man’s touch an experience one. She knew who she was and how she wanted to live her life. She knew what she wanted and how to get. She was out spoken, not holding back what was on her mind. If it was on her mind, you were going to hear it whether you liked it or not.
She was definitely his kind of women, but there was an innocence around her that forbidden him to touch her. She was not for him. She deserved someone who could dedicate himself to her and he couldn’t do that for her. He would not bring her into his lifestyle. She was an angel and he was a demon.
She’s already in it. Part of him argued. No, he told himself. After they destroyed the Changelings, she would be free to live a normal life. He wouldn’t be able to. He would still be a blood-sucking vampire and have to live in the darkness. So he set his mind, he would keep his distance from her, to keep her safe.
His limbs were starting to feel lethargic and he knew it was time for the day to start. He made his way to the bedroom door. Before he closed it, he took one more look at her from over his shoulder. Why did she have to be the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen? He would do everything in his power to keep her alive and safe from evil. He shut the door and in doing so sealed his fate.