Blood Of Fire (The Blood Burden Series) (13 page)

"Enough," yelled Morena as she
pressed the barrel of her gun to Nicole's face, "I've tolerated all I will
of this game." She turned her hard glare onto Sage and Luke, "Now, if
you two don't want your pretty little friend's brains on the floor in the next
five seconds I'd suggest you stop."

Sage and Luke froze where they stood. 
Luke let the guard he choked close to unconsciousness fall at his feet gasping
for breath.  For the first time Nicole was able to meet his hardened gaze as he
panted for breath.  There was no tenderness in his eyes as he stared at Nicole.
 There was only anger, hurt and determination.  He looked away from her to
Slade then back to Morena as his body trembled and muscles flexed with
anticipation, "Just give her to me and there won't be any need for more
bloodshed."

"You're in no position to be making
demands warrior," retorted Morena.  "Slade, take Nicole inside,"
she motioned toward the open oak doors.  "Guard, take those two down to
the cells until I can ask Loch what he wants done."

Slade stepped up behind Nicole taking
her by the arms as the guard stepped aside.  Nicole's vision blurred and the
room around her was warping into odd shapes from the lack of oxygen up until
the second that the guard released his hold on her neck.  Her legs went weak
just as Slade took hold and she found herself falling but before her knees hit
the floor Slade slid his arms around her waist pulling her back to her feet,
"Hold on love," he whispered pulling her close to his body.
"Don't pass out when I'm about to do something extremely stupid."

Slade turned Nicole with lightning
speed, spinning her out of the line of Morena's gun then let loose his hold on
Nicole.  He spun sending Morena's gun sailing across the floor.  Almost in the
same fluid motion he swept his leg out and sent the guard holding Sage to the ground. 
Sage quickly seized Morena in her stunned state and downed her with a sharp
blow to the back of her head, sending her into an unconscious pile on the
floor.  Seeing his cue Luke ripped his arms from the grasp of the guards that
fought to hold him.

Nicole watched the two men fighting side
by side to dispose of the final guards.  She had let herself forget that Slade
still possessed his supernatural speed while everyone else was basically
human.  He moved with the magical speed and inhuman grace Nicole had seen Sage
display but he killed with the brute force and the cold, hardened look of a
warrior.  Never hesitating as he twisted the neck of his target then stood
looking down at his dead enemy with complete confidence.  But what was even
more unbelievable to her was that Luke was completely powerless but yet he made
quick work of the guard that sought to subdue him as well.  It was like
watching a master fighter moving about without a thought, always knowing what
his next move will be then swooping in for the kill without the slightest sign
of doubt.  If it wasn’t for the rapid rise and fall of his chest when he
finished Nicole would have never known his powers were held out of his reach
just as hers were.

Nicole found herself mesmerized and
staring unabashedly at Luke.  His dirt stained gray shirt clung to his muscles
as the sweat made the material darker in spots on his chest and down his lean
stomach.  Even the littlest details like the small tears in his shirt exposing
his golden, tanned skin drew her attention.  She had honestly believed she
would never see this man again.  Her heart stopped as the world paused its
forward motion in the moment their eyes locked.  A deep longing to run into his
arms and have him hold her tight pulled at her as she searched his eyes hoping
to see the same, but coldness was all she found in his deep, pristine, hazel
pools staring back at her.

"Let's go," shouted Sage as
she turned to run back down the hall.

Before Nicole could move from her trance
Slade was standing in front of her, blocking her view of Luke.  She blinked her
eyes trying to pull herself back into the moment as Slade took her hand,
"Come love, this is no time for daydreams."

"Get your dirty hands off of
her," Luke shouted as he charged Slade.  With a thunderous boom they
crashed into the wall.  Luke landed on top of Slade and drew his fist back,
"You are not going with us traitor."

With one shove of his hands Slade sent
Luke sliding down the hallway on his back, "Seems you forget that I still
have my powers, warrior."  Slade stood up knocking the dust off his black
sport coat with an unamused air then turned his cold gaze on Luke who was
pulling himself from the floor, "You will not decide where I go."

"Will you two stop it,"
shouted Nicole.  "We don't have time for this.  We've got to get out of
here."  She turned to Luke, "We need his help otherwise we will be
facing warriors with full powers without him."

Luke stood with his jaw muscles flexing
and his brows knitted together, "Fine, bring the traitor.  I'll deal with
him when we're out of here."  He stepped up to Nicole looking down into
her face, "Unless you're attached to him and would like to stop me
princess?"

Luke's heated breath brushed across
Nicole's cheek as she tried not to back away from his hardened stare.  A
million things rushed to the tip of her tongue but before she could say a word
Luke turned away from her and started down the hall in the direction Sage had
gone.

Nicole stared after him both hurt and
confused as Slade slid an arm around her shoulders and nudged her forward,
"Nice boyfriend you have there, love," he chuckled.

"Hey wait," Nicole shouted,
ignoring Slade's snide remark.  "We can't leave Morena to go tell Loch,
can we?  I mean," she stammered trying to say what she was thinking gently,
"You killed the guards so shouldn't you also…dispose of her?"  She
was amazed at her own coldness as she watched Slade, Sage and Luke exchange
glances.

"She's right.  Morena is a loose
end but we could use her to our advantage," spoke-up Luke.

"How so?" Sage asked as she
ran back to the group.

"You wipe her mind then I'll
implant a new memory," Luke spoke to Sage, “A memory that would clear the
traitor of any wrong-doing in Loch's eyes."

Slade snorted, "And why do you care
about clearing my name?"

"I don't," he stared Slade
down with malice in his glare. "But you could prove to be useful if we
need someone back on the inside again before this is over."

Nicole knew Luke was right.  The only
person remaining alive that witnessed Slade's betrayal to Loch was Morena. 
They could use her mind to allow Slade access back into Loch's good graces, if
they thought he was kidnapped by Luke.  "There are two problems with this
plan," sighed Nicole.  "Slade can't just walk out of here looking
like he went willingly and he won't let us use our powers."

Sage and Luke exchanged a look then
Nicole watched as a smirk turned up the edge of Luke's lips, "That can be
fixed."  Without a warning he swung his arm catching Slade on the chin. 
An echo of knuckles clashing against Slade's jaw bone bounced off the walls of
the hall just before he collapsed to the floor.  Instantly power rushed through
every vein and out every pore of Nicole's body.  She felt light and free, like
a hundred pound chain had been lifted from around her neck as her hands began
to glow.

Luke watched her with a glimmer in his
eyes, enjoying the happiness radiating from Nicole, "Better,
princess?"

"Yes," she smiled then looked
down at the limp man in the floor.  She thought of reminding Luke that they
could have given Slade a chance to pull his shield away which would have
allowed them to use their power but decided to bring up another point instead,
"You know you're going to have to carry him out of here right?"

He groaned throwing up his hand,
"Couldn't you let me enjoy punching him for just a few more minutes before
you tossed that bit of information at me?"  He shook his head then turned
to Sage, "Time to work your magic."

Once away from the estate Luke lead the
group deep into the woods away from the roads and any sign of civilized world
that could be seen or heard.  The sun was rising, causing the early morning dew
to glimmer on the leaves of the green underbrush of the forest.  Nicole's eyes
traveled across the landscape half on guard and half admiring the untouched
beauty of the world around them.

No one in the group had spoken a word
after they escaped Loch's estate.  When they were far enough away Luke had
tossed Slade to the ground and Nicole tried to gently coach him awake.  Before
he could fully focus Sage kicked him in the leg "Stop whining and get your
ass up."

For what felt like hours, because they
had no concept of time, they moved forward along a hidden trail without
uttering a word to each other.  The tension was thick and almost unbearable to
her.  Luke and Sage walked slightly ahead of Nicole, never looking back while
Slade insisted on walking at her side like a silent shadow.

When Nicole finally had her fill of the
silence she stopped and spoke with the stubborn jut of her chin, "Where
are we going?"  She placed her hands on her hips.

"We are taking you somewhere
safe," Sage replied with a sharp tone.

Nicole rolled her eyes at the evasive
answer, "And where would that be?"

"Does it really matter?"

"Yes it matters, Sage.  I want to know,"
snipped Nicole.  She knew she was being hard to deal with but the silence was
killing her.  If she had to pick a fight to get the real issues to the surface
she was ready.

"Do you want to know or are you
worried for your boyfriend," spat Luke as he turned to face her.

Nicole took in a sharp breath at his
words and prepared to set the record straight right then and there but Slade
spoke up, "Oh, is the poor warrior worried that the princess may choose
her fae side over her warrior side?"  Slade took a step towards Luke with
a cocky grin, "Is that what's got a bug up your ass, Luke?  Well, I'm not
going to act like that's not what I want but so far Nicole has been an elusive
creature."

Luke looked past Slade to where Nicole
stood, "I want to hear it from you Nicole.  Are you taking a side in this
war?"

Nicole was hurt and taken aback by his
question, "I'm still standing where I was when I left you behind in
Alabama.  I came here to put an end to Loch and that's still what I want.  I
want to stop this war from happening."

"But then what," demanded
Luke.  "When you finish Loch where will your loyalty lay?  Will you go
with him?" He threw a daggered look in Slade's direction as he spoke.

"Is this really what you want to
know Luke," Nicole pushed her way past Slade and stepped up to Luke.  Her
body was  beginning to shake and her words were rushing past her lips before
she thought, "Are you asking me which side I'll choose in this war or are
you asking me
—
" She
reached forward and shoved with all she had on Luke's chest, causing him to
take a step back with wide eyes. "Or are you asking me if I'm choosing you
or Slade," her voice echoed through the forest.  She stepped back, taking
a deep, unsteady breath as she ran her shaking hand through her hair.

Sage came forward and took Nicole by the
hand, pulling her back in the direction the group had been walking leaving the
two men standing alone. "Nicole, there will be time for this when we get
you safe.  We are taking you to one of the few remaining gateways to the Fae
world.  It's hidden away deep in the forest and has been forgotten by
most."

Nicole shook her head trying to clear
her anger clouded mind and focus on what Sage was telling her, "What do
you mean 'gateway'?  Are you talking like…to another world?"

Sage snorted, "Yes."  She
shrugged her shoulders like Nicole was asking the dumbest questions she had
ever heard.  Sage's powder white skin was glowing in the morning light.  Rays
of sunshine that found their way past the dense canopy of leaves and were
dancing off her black hair making it glitter like something out of a fairytale.

Nicole watched her friend like she was
seeing her for the first time.  The dark Gothic fae, whom always dressed in
black clothes and adorned spiked dog collars as if it were the height of
fashion, had a magic radiating from her in a way Nicole had never seen before.

Sage glanced over at the staring Nicole
and crinkled her nose, "What?  Do I have dirt on my face?"