Semblance (20 page)

Come on Aria,
I thought.
Abraham needs my help. I’ve had cramps worse than this.

I reached for the weapons within my reach. This guy was fast and smart, but with a bit of creativity, hopefully I could surprise him.

Meanwhile the Crow was taking great pleasure in tormenting Abraham, slapping him across the face with a back hand repeatedly. Every strike must have been excruciating considering Abraham’s jaw was mangled.

“Fuh…fuh…fuh,” I heard Abraham mutter through staggered breaths.

“You seem surprised,” the Crow continued to rant. He was distracted making it the opportune time to strike.

He continued taunting Abraham. “When you face a Crow, there can be no result other than your complete and utter—”

I attacked him from behind. Even though I crept up on him silently, he was still aware of my presence through some unnatural sixth sense. His right hand gripped my wrist which was raised above my head, the butcher knife in hand, longing to shear the flesh of this bastard.

“Why Ms. Valencia, I am surprised at your continual efforts to struggle. Perhaps I should dispose of you now,” he mused. “You are quite the pest.”

“You talk too fucking much,” I cried out. What the Crow didn’t see was Abraham’s gun in my left hand, concealed behind my back. With the weapon still held behind me, I turned ever-so-slightly so that the gun was pointing directly at his stomach and I pulled the trigger, the explosive sound of the gunshot echoing throughout my condo.

I stared deep into the Crow’s eyes, wide with shock, and found satisfaction in knowing that an ordinary girl like me had bested him.

As he sank to the ground, I spat on him for good measure.

“Maybe if you finished the job instead of indulging in your ridiculously stupid soliloquies, I wouldn’t have just fucked you in the stomach with a bullet,” I said, aiming the gun at his head.

He tried to speak, but all that came out was a gurgle. I looked down at his wound and saw wetness pooling around the black fabric of his jumpsuit.

“I don’t want to do this,” I said, closing my eyes. But I had no choice. I had to save Abraham and myself. My hands were trembling and I hesitated for a moment. Was I ready to take another person’s life? I suddenly felt a gentle hand rest upon my shoulder.

Abraham was standing behind me, his wounded hand buried underneath his suit jacket. Blood streamed down the corner of his mouth, and he looked at me with glistening eyes and shook his head.

“Du-du-dun’t.”

His hands reached for the gun, gently prying it away from me.

“H-h-hands fu-fu-fuh mus-si-sic.” Abraham clutched the gun with his good hand and pointed it at the Crow’s head. Instinctively I looked away.

My stomach wasn’t made for this sort of thing.

Even though I was anticipating it, I still jumped at the sounds of the gun roaring. When I turned back around, the Crow was dead, and Abraham stood there like a man who had just been tortured.

I rushed over to him and wrapped his arm around my throbbing shoulder—knife still protruding from it—supporting the weight of his frail body as it threatened to crumple to the floor.

“Come on Abraham, you’re alright,” I said. “I’ll get you to the hospital and they’ll fix us.”

Abraham nodded slowly as we made our way out of my condo and towards the elevator. I frantically smashed the button with my finger, cursing that the elevator wasn’t here ten seconds ago.

“You’re a brave and foolish old man,” I said, keeping some type of conversation going. I was afraid that if he lost consciousness, he wouldn’t wake up again. “You must have been quite the stud forty years ago.”

I felt him slump further to the ground, but I used all my strength to hold him up. He looked at me with glazed eyes while his mouth was bloody, battered, and out of place. I had the urge to go back to the condo and put more bullets into the fucking dead bastard’s skull.

Finally the elevator arrived and I half carried, half dragged Abraham into it.

“Do you want me to call anyone?” I asked. “Shadow maybe?”

Abraham shook his head. He tried to talk but I was quick to shush him.

“You don’t need to say anything. I’ll take care of you. I promise.”

He looked at me affectionately, as if my words had brought him peace. He closed his eyes and tears streamed down their corners.

“Come on, no need to get sentimental on me,” I said. “It’s my turn to look after you from now on. Both Shadow and I will. Does that sound good?”

He nodded.

And then the elevator doors opened and there was an explosion of light and sound that assaulted my senses.

When I had regained myself, Abraham was lying dead on the floor, a bullet wound straight through his heart.

#

Chapter Twenty-Two

My father had died in a hospital bed in a tremendous amount of pain. I almost wished for his death to come sooner, just so he no longer suffered.

For the most part, I had held myself together, comforting him and talking to him, bringing up delightful stories from the past. In between bouts of pain, his eyes seemed to sparkle when I reminded him of pleasant memories from my childhood; like when he took me on a pony ride and I screamed throughout the entire thing or when he made me my Halloween costume—a princess—which made me look like a walking toilet roll.

I had stayed strong for him during his last moments on earth, never once shedding a tear. I needed him to know that as much as I loved him, I would be okay when he left me. It was only after he died that I lost my shit, screaming like a banshee until my throat was raw.

Death was never an easy thing to accept, but in the case of my father, at least he was at peace when he died.

The bullet that killed Abraham on the other hand was cruel and blindsided us completely. My stomach rushed to my throat and I stood there with my mouth open, stunned by the brutal slaying.

“Is my brother dead?” asked the man who had murdered Abraham. I looked up with red eyes and stared at the killer, who was dressed in the same outfit as the Crow, but all in white.

I tried to speak but my voice had left me. I dropped to my knees and cradled Abraham’s dead body in my hands.

“Answer me you dumb bitch, is my brother dead?” the White Crow asked as he pointed a gun straight at my head. I ignored him as I held Abraham’s lifeless body. He deserved better than a bullet through his heart. Abraham had saved my life.

“Last time I ask, before I put one in your head. Is my brother dead?”

“Eat shit,” I cursed, in between sobs. “Your brother deserves the death we gave him.”

“Bullshit. How can an old man and a dumb bitch survive a fight with the Black Crow?”

“Because he was a cocksucker, that’s why,” I spat.

The look in the murderer’s eyes was full of malice. There was no doubt that he was going to pull the trigger.

For the second time tonight, I was on my knees at the mercy of another man. I closed my eyes and waited once more for death, but it never came.

“Drop your weapon and put your hands in the air!”

I turned to see several police officers standing at the entrance of the condo, guns locked onto the killer.

“Another time bitch,” he spat before dashing for the emergency exit. A volley of bullets flew at him, but he managed to dodge them as if they were snowballs thrown by children. He was faster than his brother.

A few cops pursued him while a couple stayed behind, examining the scene.

“We have at least four dead at the Metropolitan Condo,” one of them radioed in. My gaze followed one of the officers, who examined the body of the hotel’s concierge, still sitting in his swivel chair behind the desk, a single bullet hole through his head.

At the entrance two security guards were lying in a pool of their own blood, eyes wide and mouth agape.

“Miss, are you alright?” one of the cops asked me. I looked up at him, shook my head and unleashed a howl as I clung onto Abraham’s body.

I closed my eyes and couldn’t help but remember all the warm moments we shared together, the pleasant exchanges and conversations that touched my heart and made me happy to have a friend like him.

“You have a knife in your back. Let’s get you to the hospital,” the officer continued to drone in the background.

“I don’t need anything from you!” I screamed. “Just find the asshole and kill him. Just kill him.”

Everything that happened after was a blur—the trip to the hospital, the examination by the paramedics and doctors, and the statements the detectives took from me.

The one thing I did remember clearly was Shadow appearing in my private room at the hospital, several hours later, his fists clenched and a pensive look on his face. There was something about his presence that both comforted and terrified me.

“Shadow,” I said, acknowledging his presence.

“Are you hurt?” he asked me.

“A few bruised ribs and thirty-two stitches in my shoulder to patch up the knife wound in my back,” I said. “Hurts like a bitch but I’m not dead yet.”

He stood up and examined my wounds for a moment and then kissed me on the forehead before sitting back down.

“I’m so sorry. I wish I could take the pain away. When I heard about the attack, I rushed back as fast as I could. I needed to know that you’re okay. I need to know that you were safe.”

“I’m safe with you around,” I replied.

“Abraham…” Shadow began. “Did he suffer?”

I shook my head.

Shadow collapsed in the seat in front of my bed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he exhaled.

After a moment of silence, he finally said, “That’s good.”

“If it wasn’t for him, I would be dead,” I said. “Abraham fought to protect me. He saved my life.”

“The old man always did have fight in him,” Shadow said with a forced smile. Despite the calmness in his voice, I could see that he was hurting deep inside.

Abraham was a guardian to Shadow. What kind of cruel world was it where a man suffered the loss of not one, but two fathers?

“I’m sorry Shadow,” I began.

“Why are you sorry?” he replied with tenderness in his voice. “You weren’t the one who killed him.”

“I know he was close to you,” I said, suddenly finding myself crying. “He was a good friend to me as well. He meant a lot to me.”

“He did tell me that you had his daughter’s smile,” Shadow said. The sound of his voice cracking was unmistakable. I watched as he rose from his seat and stared out the window, his back turned to me. “The fucker who did this will pay. I’ve already put a hit out on the White Crow. With the vast network that the Midnight Society has, it’s only a matter of time before he’s caught.”

“His brother tried to kill me,” I said. “I shot him in the stomach and Abraham put the final bullet through his head. The Black Crow is dead.”

Shadow turned to me, a look of surprise on his face.

There was a moment of silence as Shadow seemingly thought of something to say. Finally, he spoke. “Good,” he said. “You did good.”

“Why would anyone want to hurt me?” I asked.

“Because I’m the idiot who ended up choosing you,” Shadow replied. “I was reckless and stupid. I should have known that if the Midnight Society was targeted, your life would be in danger without the backing of a recognized family name. I was selfish for selecting you and for that, I can’t apologize enough.”

“I see,” I replied, staring at his silhouette by the window, the bright moonlight illuminating the room in a pale blue glow. “Do you feel anything between us Shadow? Do you have strong feelings for me?”

Shadow nodded. “Of course I do.”

“Will you protect me?” I replied.

“You know I will.”

I rose slowly from the hospital bed, stripping away the covers, and made my way towards him. My hands found his and they intertwined.

“I love you Shadow,” I said. “I need to be with you. It’s what’s keeping me alive right now.”

He nodded.

“I’m just so sorry about Abraham,” I said, tearing up again.

“It’s not your fault,” Shadow said. “I’ll find the White Crow and the person responsible for hiring them, and I will obliterate them.”

“I’m tired,” I said, suddenly feeling sleep overtake me.

“I’ll take you home,” Shadow said.

“They won’t let me leave the hospital.”

“They can and they will,” Shadow said. “I’ll make sure of it.”

I felt Shadow lift me up into his arms, carrying me as if I were as light as a pillow.

“Can you take me back to your place?” I asked. “I don’t feel like sleeping alone tonight.”

He nodded, and like the fictional hero from a movie, he whisked me away for the hospital, stealing me from the clutches of the day’s horrific events.

#

Chapter Twenty-Three

I always thought sex was more intense and gratifying when emotions were running high. With my ex-boyfriend, it was after we had our all-too-frequent fights. A lot of times, the issues we fought over were never resolved, and instead we’d both dive headfirst into mind numbering dirty talking sex.

Tonight, as Shadow lay me on the bed—his lips caressing every inch of my body—I was experiencing another type of raw emotion: Sadness.

While wrapped in his arms, I wanted to forget about the attempt on my life and the bullet that brutally killed Abraham.

In some ways, I thought Shadow needed a temporary escape as well, and he had chosen my body to provide it.

His lips found my hard nipples and I let out a sigh as I ran my hands through his soft, dark hair. Shadow’s hands found the warmth of my sex which longed for his smooth touch.

After he pleasured me with his delicate fingers while suckling my breasts, he turned me over, his lips finding the nape of my neck and working its way down the length of my spine.

Instinctively I got on my knees, grabbed the headboard of his king-sized bed with both hands, and arched my back, readying myself to receive him.

His strong hands found the curves of my ass and I practically screamed with delight when his full length slipped inside of me. His hands moved up to my waist as he held me firmly, his raw power ex
uberating from his touch.

Shadow’s thrusts were slow at first, sheathing his full length inside of me. I continued to groan and found myself sliding back and forth in a steady rhythm, countering his thrusts with a rhythm of my own.

Our physical union intensified as he began pumping faster—the feeling of euphoria so intense that I had to grip the headboard of the bed, slamming it repeatedly into the wall with every thrust of his.

“Fuck me Shadow,” I moaned. I closed my eyes as his hard flesh satisfied me in every conceivable way.

I felt him tug gently on the back of my hair and that drove me wild. He was displaying his dominance and I allowed him to. I straightened my body out even more so he could fill every inch of me. I felt the tip of his manhood push against my G-spot and it wasn’t long before a mind-bending orgasm seized my entire body—my muscles down below clenching tightly around his length.

I moaned with delight, begging for him not to stop.

Eventually he erupted and let out a loud groan as he unleashed his pleasure, filling me with hot cum.

Afterwards I rested my head on his massive chest and wrapped my arms around his body, listening to the sounds of his steady breathing.

The aches from my wounds were returning, but I didn’t care. It was worth it to have Shadow once again.

“The stitches on my shoulder must look hideous,” I said. “Probably makes me look like some Frankenstein woman.”

“You’re as sexy as ever,” Shadow said. “Your scar is a reminder of how strong and dangerous you are. You killed a Crow.”

I sighed and closed my eyes, recalling the events of my near-demise.

Death never did get its clutches on me, but Abraham on the other hand…

I looked up to see Shadow lost in thought. No doubt he was thinking about the old man as well.

“It’s okay to cry in front of me,” I said. “I was never one for this macho heart of stone bullshit. Men have emotions too.”

Shadow shook his head. “I have no time for tears. I need to find out who hired the Crows and destroy him.”

“Does the Midnight Society have enemies?” I asked.

Shadow practically snorted. “Every day the Midnight Society makes enemies,” he said. “I’ve lost track the number of times in our organization’s history that we went to war.”

“Is that what’s going to happen? War?”

Shadow nodded. “One of the council of seven is dead, murdered by a Crow. They also took a shot at you and nearly succeeded. If this doesn’t spell out war, then the word’s not in the dictionary.”

“People are going to die aren’t they?” I asked.

“Yes. Being a part of the Midnight Society, you get used to it,” he said. “In our world, death is as common as the rising of the sun.”

#

The funeral for Abraham was two days later. As people gathered around his solid oak coffin, watching it descend slowly into the earth, I couldn’t help but feel that the weather was too nice for such an occasion. How could the clear blue sky smile down on us with a bright yellow sun, when Abraham was sealed in a casket, ready to decay in the earth for the rest of eternity? It just wasn’t fair.

I sat by Shadow’s side—first row dead center—as the ceremony took place. Words were spoken by several of the key members of the council. Takeshi gave a particularly beautiful speech, comparing the life cycle of man to that of a cherry blossom tree. Meanwhile, Shadow remained in his seat, his sunglasses making him seem distant and cold.

He was shutting down, both mentally and emotionally. Being the leader of our organization, he couldn’t show any signs of weakness. I felt sorry for him.

A person should always be allowed to grieve for their loved one.

When Abraham was finally buried, the massive crowd made their way towards the funeral home—though it was more like a funeral mansion given the size of it.

I looked over at Shadow and squeezed him gently on the arm. His face was a mask of stone, hiding all his emotions underneath a grim exterior.

I wanted to say something to him but decided that silence was probably best at the moment.

He was lost in his own dark world, one that was haunted by the death of his parents, and now Abraham. It was a place I could never understand.

Takeshi strolled over to us and bowed his head.

“I know how much he meant to you,” he said. “He was and always will be a man that has my respect.”

“He was the last of the Constantines,” Shadow said. “It’s sad to know that the legacy and future of his house has now ended.”

“A new house will have to rise and take his spot,” Takeshi agreed. “Perhaps we should start this dialogue with the rest of the council sooner rather than later.”

“I’ve already chosen my candidate,” Shadow said.

“You made the decision without consultation from the rest of the council?”

“I didn’t believe I needed council approval to make my decisions,” Shadow said.

“You don’t, but out of respect you need to take their considerations as well,” Takeshi said.

“We have more important things to worry about, such as finding out the identity of the fucker who hired the Crows.”

Takeshi turned his attention to me, amused. “Aria the Crow Killer,” he said.

“What?” I asked, surprised. Out of all the nicknames I owned, Crow Killer was definitely at the top of the list of being bizarre.

“It’s the name that’s been circulating amongst our members over the past couple of days,” Takeshi said, “Aria the Crow Killer.”

“Can’t say I’m a fan of it,” I replied. “And why do I need a nickname? First I’m the Golden Virgin and now I’m the Crow Killer?”

“Trust me, the Crow Killer is a name you can take great pride in having,” Takeshi said. “The Crow brothers are notorious assassins with the reputation of being both brutal and effective. Just to hire one Crow can cost an average man a whole year’s salary, let alone both. Up until your encounter with the Black Crow, they have never failed to fulfill a contract, but somehow you managed to kill one of them. We are in complete awe of that accomplishment.”

“I wasn’t the one who killed the Black Crow,” I said. “It was Abraham. He risked his life for me.”

Much to my relief, Shadow interrupted our discussion of murderous assassins. It was something I wanted to forget.

“It looks like the council’s waiting for us,” he said.

At the top of the hill, where the funeral home was, stood Calisto, Lincoln, Donald Huff, and Brevin West.

Lucien was noticeably missing.

“Let’s not keep them waiting,” Takeshi said.

“Should I leave you guys alone?” I asked. I was tired and the last thing I wanted was more council scrutiny.

Shadow shook his head. “Our discussion today starts with you.”

Fuck.

#

“We’re at war,” Shadow stated. “Aria was viciously attacked by the Crows two nights ago and it was only because of Abraham’s intervention that she wasn’t killed. Abraham…”

His voice staggered for a moment. The rest of us, seated in a large circle reminiscent of an AA meeting, listened intently.

“That old man always had fight in him,” Brevin said, finally cutting through the silence. He cast his eyes over to me. “I’m still stunned that a girl, who dedicated her hands for the ivory keys, and an old white man, specializing in Chinese food, had enough grit in them to take down a Crow. I never thought it could happen.”

“I can do more with my hands than just play the piano you know,” I stated.

“My words weren’t meant to offend,” Brevin said. “I’m just stunned by what you two did. Up until now, I thought the Crows were practically inhuman.”

“Am I the only one who notices the obvious?” Calisto asked. “Where the hell is Lucien?”

Takeshi cleared his throat and leaned back in his chair. “I guess now’s the perfect time to discuss an investigation I was conducting after the Crows had attacked Aria,” he began. “One of the main concerns is just how did the Black Crow enter into Aria’s condo unit? The building itself is a fortress in terms of security.”

“The bodies of several security guards and the concierge were discovered after the police did their sweep of the place,” Donald said. “Pitting a Crow brother against a typical security guard is the same as tossing a wolf into a Mexican cockfight.”

“Yes, but as far as entering into Aria’s suite, the security system behind those doors is a vault. There are two methods of security to her entering. The first is her key to the door, and the second is the operator who unlocks the door for her after a visual confirmation.”

“What visual confirmation?” I was surprised. I thought a key to get in was all I needed.

“You don’t see it but there’s a camera positioned right over your door,” Shadow said. “When you insert your key into the lock, it sends a signal to an operator indicating your presence. The only way that door is opening is after the operator sees you and releases the remote locks on your door.”

“What the fuck?” I was stunned. “So all this time I enter and leave my place, someone is watching me?”

“Yes,” Shadow said.

Good lord. I tried to recall if I had ever done something visually embarrassing in front of my door such as fixing my bra or scratching an itch in my nether regions.

I hated the thought of
being watched, and more vexing, being controlled.

“I don’t appreciate having someone else dictate whether or not I can enter or leave my place and spying on me,” I said. “I’m not the kind of girl that does well in front of cameras.”

“They only monitor you entering,” Shadow said. “It was only meant to keep enemies out of your place.”

“So can I point out the obvious that your little security system didn’t work and someone
still
managed to get inside?”

“Which is why we’re all surprised,” Takeshi said. “Our houses all use the same system by Skycom Security Inc. To have yours compromised puts the rest of us at risk as well.”

“I assume you’ve investigated Skycom?” Shadow asked.

Takeshi nodded. “I’ve had my people find out who was operating the system that night. It’s plausible an employee could have been bribed. With a bit of creative investigations into Skycom’s log books, I discovered the name of the individual who was monitoring Aria’s condo that night. Jason Weathers.”

“Great, so we find Jason, lock him in a room and grill him about who paid him off,” Brevin said.

Takeshi leaned forward in his seat. “My investigators already found him,” he said, a grim expression on his face. “He hung himself last night.”

“I’ll get the police reports immediately,” Donald sighed.

“The suicide has not been reported yet. My people left the scene untouched,” Takeshi said. “But we can all come to the conclusion that Jason Weather’s demise has been staged.”

“So now what?” Calisto asked. “The mastermind has covered his tracks. Seeing as how we all have Skycom Security at our places, we’ve put ourselves in the jackpot.”

“I’ve conducted my own investigation into Skycom’s business. Just last year, their company was purchased by an overseas media communications firm,” Takeshi continued.

Shadow smiled. “You solved the puzzle already, haven’t you?”

Takeshi nodded grimly. “The communications firm that purchased Skycom is Blueleaf Inc, the same corporation that broadcasts and televises all of Kingdom United soccer games in the U.K.”

“Lucien,” Shadow spat. “That mother fucker.”

“He’s betrayed us,” Takeshi confirmed. “Now the question is how do we approach this? Lucien knows the inner workings of the Midnight Society and all our weak points.”