Blood Promise (A SkinWalker Novel #4) (A DarkWorld SkinWalker Novel) (48 page)
A gust of wind buffeted her as she leapt over the parapet and floated slowly to the stone-tiled surface of the balcony. It ruffled her feathers, lifted and moved them with invisible fingers. She welcomed the touch, the warmth of Mother Nature against her body. Evie chose the balcony entrance for its proximity to the rooftop.
And because it affected Daniel.
Evie delighted in the definite wobble of his stiff upper lip whenever she made a balcony entrance. She suspected he didn't like her much. The feeling was certainly mutual.
Evie flung the doors open, slipping through the parting in the heavy brocade curtain into the dimly lit room. This was the center of operations of the Irin, a Brotherhood whose purpose was to serve the good of mankind, but the room held the air of an animal's den. A cool menace replaced the open care with which Master Patrick had led the teams. The Warriors shared a devotion to a cause they strongly believed in, and Patrick had been the home in which many Nephilim sought refuge. And his office had been their headquarters, their haven.
Marcellus had made changes. Changes he had intended to be subtle were anything but. He'd closed down offices of the Irin worldwide, put a freeze on new admissions, threatened to expel anyone who went against him and even prohibited the use of the Nephilim's special mind-reading powers. For members of the team who had been together for decades if not centuries, each change marked an end to an unforgettable era.
But the teams had no choice but to grit their teeth and bear the changes like scars on their skin. Master Patrick would be disappointed should they show any disrespect to his successor. The Brotherhood had conferred the title of leader to him when he had stood forward and claimed the right of Edis. Edis allowed a member of fellowship to place a vote for himself as the next Master, effectively a legal coup.
Evie steeled her features for the Master.
"Ah! My dear Evangeline. We've been expecting you." A smile so near to sincere that the ice dwelling in his eyes could easily have been missed within the jolly creases of his grinning jowls crossed his face.
With an expansive wave at an overstuffed couch, he invited her to sit. Evie refused as always.
Give him the opportunity to tower over me in some misguided sense of authority? Fat chance.
She stood. Through her lashes she noticed the slightly raised eyebrows on Daniel's overstressed face. Noticed the barest tightening around the Master's mouth. Just a hint, not enough to reveal his real emotions.
"I see you have terminated the mark." His eyes grazed the packet she held.
A flick of her hand and the envelope sailed through the air, landing on the desk with a resounding thunk. He grimaced, and Evie could tell he used every ounce of his willpower to stop from checking for dents or damage to the ancient wood. Evie suppressed a smile. She was not the malicious type, but sometimes, just sometimes, it felt good to torment the Master.
Now Marcellus was watching her, his expression for a moment revealing a clear dislike, as if he thought of her as nothing more than an insolent brat in need of a good beating. But in that moment, she saw a flash of fear too--as if something held him back from lashing out at her insolence.
Evie gritted her teeth. This was taking too long. The sooner she left this room, the better for everyone. She suppressed a shudder. The lights were off and only two candles flickered in the darkened office. Marcellus had most likely intended for the shadows to intimidate her, the way they hugged the edges of the room, shielding the corners from easy perusal. Not for Evie though as she used her own personal brand of night-vision. God-given.
Something tugged at her awareness and she probed back. Yes, there it was in the darkest, farthest corner. A hazy shape wavered, blending into the shadows so well no human eye would ever have seen it.
A dark creature. Perhaps a shade or spirit of some sort.
Now what was a man of God doing associating with a creature of the Underworld?
Not that Evie or any of the Warriors believed there was a single decent bone in their new Master's body. She blinked, keeping her face and body as relaxed and unaffected as possible. They need not know she was onto them, and this was one piece of information to file away for the moment.
As Evie watched Marcellus, the air thickened with anticipation. His eye twitched in the direction of the night creature. Marcellus glanced back at Evie, drumming his fingers on the arm of his well-stuffed chair.
Concerned I may have seen your secret visitor?
But Evie feigned ignorance, turning away from the offending creature and inspecting the envelope that minutes ago was the center of the attention of all three of the room's occupants.
Living occupants, that is.
"So, another one bites the dust?" Evie commented drily.
"Well, we have terminated another lowlife and saved humanity from being terrorized by one of Satan's minions, if that's what you mean." Marcellus' words were cool and critical as if he sensed Evie's judgment. "Evangeline, you seem to have doubts, my dear. Let me assure you that we are contributing to the good of humanity. That is, of course, who we serve."
"You haven't explained the reasons for wanting these." She waved her hand over the buckles and piercings spilling from the now-open envelope. "The possessions of the marks? We used to throw them into the smelter so they can never be used again by another being with evil intentions. You know as well as I do that some demons' possessions retain the owner's power. Hugely unpredictable in the hands of an Innocent." Evie baited him.
Marcellus' decree that all metal objects found in the possession of any mark must be returned to him during debrief had become a concern for the teams and many of the other council members. The very act of collecting items of demonic power alerted the other Warriors to the possibility that the new Master intentions were questionable. So the Warriors completed each mission as prescribed and metal items returned to him as per instruction, but anything Evie thought was of any value she retained and hid away.
In the last few months, most of what he had seen were belt buckles, earrings, and boot spurs along with a small pile of tongue and lip piercings. Demons had a fetish for the human art of body piercings. And cowboy boots. Evie had no idea if any of the other Warriors had weakened to Marcellus' demands, but his arrogance was beginning to seep through his refined persona. Now was just such a time. False confidence with his shadow friend, seemingly hidden within the dark corners of the room?
His forehead bore the slightest of creases as he contemplated his next move. Evie could almost hear his thoughts. Had to concentrate to shut them out. Her power to delve into the minds of humans was an asset. But not here. Amongst the Irin, she was forbidden to listen.
Part of her vow as an Irin Warriors inhibited her use of her telepathic ability within the grounds of the Brotherhood compound. It was a weak pledge, but for the most part, the Nephilim behaved.
In light of the circumstances with Baltazar and now the unwelcome, underworldly visitor in the corner, Evie's vow proved very difficult to keep, especially when all she had to do was lift the veil the teensiest bit, just hear a whisper of his thoughts.
No. She was stronger than her temptation. She had to find another way. Besides, who knew what magic he may have used to detect mindreading from the Nephilim.
Marcellus rose, veins pumping at his temple. It seemed the Master was forfeiting this round as he walked to the windows through which she had made her most bothersome entrance. It was his cue that he was done with her, for now.
Thrilled to leave, Evie exited the room, steeling herself from barging through the doors at a dead run.
# End of RETRIBUTION Excerpt #
Having trouble getting a copy of any of Tee's ebooks?
Email Tee & she'll sort it out for you
[email protected]
Acknowledgments
To my editor Gracie O'Neil - you are amazing. Thank you for going all out for me.
To Rachel & Brina at Mark My Words - thank you for keeping me on the straight and narrow. Your support means the world to me.
As ever, to my amazing family - thank you for all your support, encouragement and nagging - what would I do without you?
And to my readers - Keep on turning them pages...
T.G. Ayer's Full List of Books
*
Young Adult Paranormal
The Valkyrie Series
*
The Hand of Kali Series
& Coming Soon
*
Urban Fantasy - The DarkWorld
The SkinWalker Series
& Coming Soon
*
The SoulTracker Series
& Coming Soon
*
Urban Fantasy
Chronicles of the Irin
& Coming Soon
*
Coming Soon
The Afterworld Chronicles - a Valkyrie Series spin-off
About The Author
I have been a writer since I was old enough to recognize that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse and am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It's a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each others loves - it works wonderfully...
My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. The other half of me has been transplanted to the island of New Zealand. A land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands - I shall forever remain cross-eyed.
Email
Website
Blog
Newsletter
Facebook
Facebook Page
Twitter
Amazon
Goodreads
Shelfari
Connect with Tee
Email
Website
Blog
Newsletter
Facebook
Facebook Page
Twitter
Amazon
Goodreads
Shelfari