Witch Hunts

Chapter 8

Faith stared at the six foot four inch man in front of her. She didn’t understand why these men had to be so stunning. He had shoulder length platinum hair and stunning sea blue eyes with bronze skin and a perfect complexion.
“Do I want to know?” Sin asked behind her.
“Probably not.” Gabrielle stated.
“Great.” The Prince mumbled, grabbing her arm lightly and ushering her into the room. He showed her to the love seat, then made his way to the circular table and looked at each one of his brothers. He raked a hand through his black hair in irritation. He sat down in his big chair and let out a heavy sign.
They all looked at him grimly. She knew that what they had to tell Sin was not going to like. Something bad had happened. Rage rose to his feet as he slid a stack of papers across the table to Sin. The Prince read over the sheets, his face paled with each one he read. When he finally looked up, his blue eyes blazed anger. It was such an intense expression on his face. Faith decided she really didn’t want to ever see that look on his face again as long as she was around him.
“When?” He demanded his voice raw with rage.
“Two nights ago.” Rage answered, flatly. “We were on the east side of town at The Hunger. It happened just before dawn. Sage was the only survivor and he just told us when we got here.”
“Where is Sage now?”
“He’s around here. I told him not to go far.” Rage answered.
“Find him now and bring him to me.” Rage nodded and left the room. Sin turned to her and his expression had softened slightly. “Faith come to the table and take Rage’s spot.” She did as told quietly. Sin was back to the matter at hand. “Why I gathered everyone here in the first place was because we need to form a plan of attack. Faith has been studying hard to manage her power and will continue to do so until her final battle takes place.”
“Is she strong enough yet?” Danger inquired.
“She’s more then capable.” Wulf’s baritone voice filled the room for the first time. “She has the strong power I have every come across. With the right direction she could easily take out the Changelings.”
“She has demonstrated her power more then once in high density.” Sin added.
“So what do you have in mind Sin?” Zackery asked.
“We need to find where they are hiding.”
“I noticed a lot of them on the outskirts of the city. They seem too be congregating there as if getting ready for a war.” Talon informed his Prince.
“And a war they shall have.” Rage walked through the door with the vampire known as Sage behind him. Sin stood and moved forward to greet him.
“It’s good to see you again, My laird.” Sage bowed low to Sin.
“Rise. What happened Sage?” Sin pulled another chair to the table for Sage.
“I can’t remember everything because it happened so fast. The Changelings came into the building from all directions and there had to be at least fifteen of them. We were unable to fight them all.” He was shaking uncontrollably at the memory of it. “Hatred was there. He just stood at the door watching the blood shed. He had a horrid smile on his face.” Sage took a deep breath and silence filled the room. He looked down at his hands and his voice came out as a harsh whisper. “The only reason I’m not dead is because Hatred wanted me to give you a message. He said he knows where you live. He knows you have Faith and if you don’t hand her over by ten o’ clock tonight he will destroy your home.”
All color faded from Sin’s face. He sat there a minute letting it sink in. No one dared move, sitting and waiting patiently for the Prince to speak. In a flash of moment, Sin was up out of his chair and grabbing Sage by the throat disturbing the table in the process. The chair that Sage was sitting in toppled backwards as Sin raised Sage a good foot off the ground.
“Why didn’t you come to me earlier with this information? Not only are you putting Faith in harms way you are putting your Prince in risk. You should have come immediately.” Sin growled in a deep low voice as his fangs extended down to lightly brush against his lower lip. Sage was shaking uncontrollably from fear. Sin was on the point of suicidal violence.
“They didn’t let me go until an hour after sundown tonight. I couldn’t escape they had me heavily guarded. I swear my laird if I could have gotten here sooner I would have in a heart beat.” Sage chocked out.
“Sin!” Wulf’s voice demanded to be acknowledged. Sin turned his head in the direction of Wulf.
“What?” He barked out.
“It’s forty five minutes until ten.” They held each other’s gazes for a long moment, then Sin loosened his hold and Sage landed on the floor with a whimper. Sin headed for the door and all the men rose to follow him. Wulf looked over at Faith. She rose and followed him her heart beating furiously in her chest. Fear was coursing through her body for Margret, fear for Sin’s home and sanctuary.
Sin turned to look behind him to find Faith following Wulf to the door. He stopped in his tracks and turned fully to face her. She stopped in front of him, her head held high and her chin tilted in the defiant angle. Sin knew she was going to have a fight over the words that were about to come out of his mouth.
“You are not coming. I want you to stay here.” He ordered her. She hazel eyes blazed up at him, her face a mask of stubbornness.
“Absolutely not. This is my war as much as yours. I’m going whether you like it or not.” She had a lot of courage to face him while he was in this foul of a mood. The brothers respected her even more for the courage she displayed.
I don’t want you to get hurt.” Sin whispered furiously.
“Then protect me.” She said softly, her hazel eyes softening while she looked up at him. The overpowering urge to grab her and kiss her senseless passed through him but he held it in check. “Don’t lock me up like a little girl. I have to fight too…For my mother and sister. For my bloodline.” He glared at her for a couple of long seconds, and then looking slightly defeated, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along. She felt a small victory inside her heart, but hide it well from her expressions. She could have sworn for a brief moment she had seen pride flash in Sin’s eyes.
They burst through the curtain into the club. Everyone stopped to watch them curiously. The music had died and the bartender Darren had cleared a spot on the bar. Sin walked over and hoped up on it, standing there as the Prince he was, demanding attention.
“It’s hunting time.” Everyone burst into cheers and headed for the door. Sin followed with Faith in tow behind him.
The cool fresh air hit her flush face feeling so good. The night was silent and still as if the night creatures knew that tonight was going to be a night of violence, blood, and killing. Sin tugged on her arm lightly pulling her flush against his hard body. She let out a gasp of surprise and her stomach flip-flopped.
“Hold on kitten.” He breathed in her ear. A shiver started at the base of her spine and crept up. Suddenly they were soaring high in the sky. She hadn’t had time to grab her cloak so Sin wrapped his around them both like a tight cocoon to ward of the night chill. She buried her face in his chest. She felt so warm and safe. His scent filling her nostrils and making her want to crawl into his skin.
His strong body felt so good against her soft one. She could feel his strength seeping into her, giving her courage for the battle they would soon be fighting. She didn’t know if she was ready for this, but she really had no choice now.
“I’ll protect you, kitten.” He whispered.
“I know.” She mumbled. She opened her mind to him so he could see the trust she felt for him. He squeezed her against him and then they were on solid ground. She stepped away from him a little unsteady on her feet. She could smell smoke in the air making her turn around to see Sin’s house ablaze.
“Margret!” She screamed in horror and pain.
Standing on the lawn was a huge pack of Changelings in human form. A man with hard chiseled features stood in front of the pack. He was as tall as Sin and just as built. He was licking blood off his fingers in satisfaction. At his feet laid Margret in a bloody disfigured heap.
Faith tried to fight down the bile of nausea and the sobs that threatened to explode from her chest. She overcame the nausea but the tears flowed like a dam. She knew that Margret was going to be dead, but she didn’t want to see what was done to her. She started moving toward the Changelings on the grass convinced that she was going to teach them not to mess with the Hunter bloodline.
She felt the power building inside her body in a violent tension that was ready to explode through out her. Sin placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and the tension melted a notch. She stopped her advancement, but never took her eyes off the blond man.
“I was wondering if you got my message or even cared.” The man said with a sadistic smile, his red eyes never straying from Faith. “Have you come to give me the girl?”
“After you kill my housekeeper and burn down my house? If you really think I’m going to just hand Faith over to you then you are more stupid then I thought, Hatred.”
Oh, so that’s Hatred! She thought as she studied him closely. This was the monster that had tore her family away from her and left her orphaned. Now he was less then a hundred feet away from her and Sin was holding her back from killing him. Why? She shouted into Sin’s mind.
Because he is an ancient, kitten. He’s strong and he knows what he’s doing. We need to stay back and study him. Sin whispered into her mind sending a mental caress with it.
He killed Margret Sin! We can’t let him get away with that.
Moreover, we won’t kitten, but be patient. She reluctantly obeyed.
“Would you have me destroy you whole life before you give me the girl?” Hatred asked in surprise.
“You can do what you want. I will not surrender Faith to you.” Sin growled holding his head high in finality.
“Even for her?” The men parted and one of them stepped forward with a girl no older then nine. Sin balked as he stared at her. Faith had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. This was someone important to Sin. She could tell by his reaction at the sight.
Sin’s lips peeled back from his fangs and he hissed. Hatred smiled wickedly knowing he had Sin’s attention now. Faith slipped her hand into Sin’s, squeezing it reassuringly. He paid no heed to her. Who was this little girl that had Sin wound so tightly he was ready to break?
Faith decided she had to take matters into her own hands now. Sin wanted this child alive, she was going to make sure it happened. She dropped his hand, stepping forward moving to stand about ten feet away from Hatred.
“You can have me, but let the child go.” She declared her head held high in pride.
“Give me your hand, then I’ll let the child go.” He ordered.
“No. You let her go first then I’ll come to you willingly.” He sneered, but motioned the child to go. The girl sprinted for Sin as Hatred’s hand clasped over Faith’s wrist before Sin could reach her. She closed her eyes and the power hit her hard. She felt the heat of the energy and she pushed with all her will toward Hatred.
Hatred groaned as the magic hit him hard in the chest. He held tight to her as he flew backward, she went with him. She sent a direct command to his hand to let go of her wrist. She hit the ground and rolled to her feet. She heard Hatred growl in frustration behind her as she dashed back over to Sin. This about the point that all hell had broken loose and the war raged on in full commence. The vampires rained down from the sky as the Changelings let the change take over.
Sin was suddenly next to her with two swords, one in each hand. He looked fierce, deadly, and extremely hot. She knew then that she respected this man more. He had let his home be destroyed and here he stood, fighting for her.
A wolf came at him from behind at full speed. She gathered her power at her fingertips, feeling the energy collecting. The wolf took a leap almost landing on Sin’s back when Faith let the ball of fire go. The ball of energy slammed into the beast’s gut sending it flying to the left side five feet away from Sin. The Changeling hit the ground and instantly incinerated.
The smell of singed hair and burning flesh filled her nostrils, but she fought down the nausea. Sin chanced a look in her direction and the smile that lit his face made her body flush in pleasure. He had pride written all over his face and she knew she caused that look. Her heart soared a long with her spirit.
From the look of the battle raging around them, the vampires were winning. The grass color barely was seen by the sheet of blood that spread out around them. Everyone was wounded, but still fighting furiously. It was a ‘kill or be killed’ situation and in her outlook she would like to be the one that was walking away from the blood bath.
Hatred was suddenly next to her in human form, grabbing her black hair and yanking her to him becoming his human shield. She felt a tiny stab in the side of her neck and went still. She realized he had injected her with a needle full of liquid.
She felt it drain into her blood and the burning swept through her body. She felt her power slip away from her and her vision was blurring. She tried to clear her vision by shaking her head but it wasn’t working. Her soul was slipping away and she was losing feeling in her whole body.
“You would think to beat me. Here’s your witch.” Hatred threw Faith at Sin’s feet. “She has twenty minutes to live, before the poison takes over her body completely. Do you save the witch or do you come after me? Make your choice Sin and make it fast. Pack! Retreat!” He transformed and ran into the darkness.
Sin had Faith into his arms before Hatred was out of sight. Her hazel eyes were glassy and he could feel she was fading fast. The nine-year-old girl was next to them, suddenly. Her violet eyes were hard with determination. She pushed Sin’s hands out of the way.
“Let me heal her. She saved my life Sin.” He stared at the child, and then nodded.
“Okay Pearl. I’m here for you if you need my strength.” She nodded, then closed her eyes and started to run her hands along Faith’s limp lifeless body. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She let her eyes close and let her spirit slip into Faith’s body.
She was shocked to find how quickly the poison was flowing through the veins. It was almost to Faith’s heart. Pearl summoned her power and let it flow into Faith’s body pushing it up Faith’s body. She followed the toxin with her mind, making sure it didn’t go close to Faith’s heart.
Slowly the liquid started to run out the side of Faith’s neck where it had been injected. Pearl’s strength was starting to waver and there was just a little bit of the poison left, but she didn’t know if she could finish getting it out.
Suddenly a burst of strength rushed into her body and she knew Sin had laid his hand on her back to lend her what she needed. She was grateful for that. She pushed the rest of the poison out and slowly opened her eyes to stare at Sin.
“She’ll need to rest somewhere safe.” Pearl breathed out. Her strength was fading fast and she knew she was going to pass out. She could feel the darkness clouding her vision. Zackery was the one to break Pearl’s fall. He lifted her up and cradled her tiny body to his broad chest.
“Let’s go.” They took flight while the rest of the vampires cleaned up the dead bodies that liter the front lawn before the authorities caught wind of the house fire and came out to investigate.
It didn’t take long to land behind Zackery’s pant house. He went through the back door and they climbed the stairs. Zackery opened the front door and went straight to his bedroom placing Pearl gently down on the down mattress. He didn’t bother to show Sin where he could place Faith. Sin knew his place well considering they use to sit and talk for hours.
Sin found Zackery’s spare bedroom, placing Faith under the covers on the bed. She was looking extremely pale making Sin even more concerned for her. He knew Pearl had taken care of the poison, but it still rode on his conscious hard.
He should have been more careful. He should have been more careful. He should have grabbed Faith and left with her, but he wanted a piece of Hatred so bad. He wanted to teach that damn mutt a lesson. Especially for destroying the only home, he’s ever had. Taking away his only friend in the world and then threatening the little girl, he’s been supporting since she was one year old.
Tonight he could have lost the two most important things to him. He wanted Hatred head on a platter. He picked up Faith’s small hand in his and squeezed. He made a promise that he would protect her, but he hadn’t. He let Hatred grab her and poison her. He let her down and he felt inadequate because of it.
He didn’t deserve to have her in his life. She had so much good in her and love in her. She was so innocent and sweet. He knew what he had to do and it wasn’t stick around here.
He got up and let his lips graze her forehead. He straightened and head for Zackery’s living room. Zackery was waiting for him on the bottle to Sin, offering some to him. He made a face at Zackery.
“I don’t know how you can drink that, you can’t even taste it.” Sin scolded.
“I know, but it’s more of a habit now.” Sin sat down across from Zackery everything that had happened tonight hitting him hard. “You look warn out.”
“I am. Hatred really knew how to get to me.”
“He did his homework that’s for sure. How’s Faith?” Zackery took another long swig of his brandy.
“She’s sound asleep. I want to talk to you about that too.” Sin sat forward and placed his knees, his hands cupped together in front of his face. “We almost lost her tonight.” I almost lost her. He added silently. “I don’t want that to happen again. Would you mind if you babysat for a while?”
“Yeah, I could keep an eye on Pearl for you.” Zackery placed his glass down.
“Not just Pearl. I want you to keep Faith on house arrest until we figure out what’s going on.” Zackery stared at him in disbelief.
“You’re kidding, right?” The look on Sin’s face told him otherwise. “No way. I would feel weird. She’s a women Sin, I can’t do it.”
“Why?” Sin demanded.
“Because I like to get laid every night and with her here I can’t do that. Plus she is your girl and I would feel way too awkward to be rooming with her.” Zackery stated nonchalantly.
“With Pearl here you can’t either.” Sin snapped.
“Yeah, but I can send her to the game room with Simon. I can’t do that with Faith.”
“You will do this for your Prince.” It was a demand and Zackery knew he had no choice but to do as he was told.
“I don’t like it.” He grumbled.
“I didn’t ask you to like it.” Sin told him, rising to his feet.
“When will you get back?”
“When we figure out why the Changelings have such an advantage over us.”
“Let’s hope that is soon.” Zackery grumbled as Sin went to go check on Pearl. He came back a couple of minutes later.
“Keep them safe, Zack. I’m counting on you on this.”
“You know I will Sin.” Zackery reassured.
“Thank you.” Then Sin was gone