WARNING: Things have gotten weird and strange in this story. There will be some violence, lots of adult language and disturbing imagery. If you are young, or bothered by such things, please do not read further.
The Shadow Walker series, Separate Trails
By JF
Jackson
Part Three
Kierra knew she could only mess with the guitar for so long before she actually had to do something with it. Finally she looked up. Someone was sitting next to Heather, a man, who was staring openly at her. She looked him over. Not to her surprise, he was someone she could only see with her green eye. She did not like the way he was staring at her, his eyes glittering dangerously. He's watchin' me like Ah'm some sorta toy he wants... and wants real bad. She forced herself not to look back and instead fixed her gaze on one of the paintings along the back wall. Do it or die, she told herself. Or, maybe both.
Her fingers began to move over the guitar strings, barely aware she was doing it. She closed her eyes and began singing:
Sunny came home to her
favorite room
Sunny sat down in the kitchen
She opened a book and a box of tools
Sunny came home with a mission
She said days go by I'm
hypnotized
I'm walking on a wire
I close my eyes and fly out of my mind
Into the fire.
"We're near her." Gabriel said.
Remy stared at him. The nosebleed had stopped, but Gabriel still did not look in full peak. "Whatever you say, Knight," he muttered. "I wish I knew what you were talkin' 'bout, instead of runnin' 'round dese streets waiting for your Shattenjäger radar to kick in."
Gabriel rolled his eyes and continued walking down the street. "You can always go home, Remy. I'm not making you come with me."
"Like I'm gonna miss dis?" Remy began then stopped. He could hear music, someone singing. That was common in New Orleans, it was a city of music, but the voice got him. Rhiannon! Dat's Rhiannon's voice!
Sunny came home with a
list of names
She didn't believe in transcendence
It's time for a few small repairs she said
Sunny came home with a vengeance
She said days go by I
don't know why
I'm walking on a wire
I close my eyes and fly out of my mind
Into the fire.
It was not exactly Rhiannon's voice, this one sounded younger, a little less trained, but close enough. The same power behind it, the same ability to carry the emotions across in the music. He whirled around, trying to figure out where the voice was coming from. "What de hell is goin' on Gabriel?"
Gabriel was walking towards the door of a coffee shop. "That's her," he said.
Remy walked over put his hand on his shoulder. "Who?" he demanded, "Who de hell is dat?"
Gabriel paused and turned to look at him. "The person who called for help."
"It can' be," Remy said, shaking his head. "She sounds like Rhiannon! A lot like Rhiannon!"
"Yeah? I wouldn't know, I've never heard Rhiannon, but maybe there's a reason for that," Gabriel said. "But the only way we're gonna know is to go check it out." He put his hand on the handle of the coffee shop door. "You with me, Remy? This place is swarming with your cousins."
Remy nodded. A suspicion of who might be singing was starting to play with his mind. And if he did not go in and check it out, he knew he might never be able to forgive himself.
Get the kids and
bring a sweater
Dry is good and wind is better
Count the years, you always knew it
Strike a match, go on and do it.
If Heather had still needed to breathe, she would have gasped. The child was good. Better than good, she was excellent. Her voice was slightly rough, obviously any training she had received was sketchy, but it was a good voice, a strong voice. The kind of voice that you had to just stop and listen to, no matter what you were doing. Her guitar playing was flawless, as if she was born to be doing this sort of thing. Or, perhaps die to do it, Heather thought.
Brent looked at her and scowled. "You're going to bring her over," he muttered.
"Chances are," Heather murmured sweetly. "She belongs with Valerie's family. But don't count it out until-" she stopped abruptly, as she realized someone was coming in. She turned to look towards the door.
Shit! It was Them. The breed and the Shattenjäger. "Brent, darling, keep a close eye on her," she hissed. I think we have trouble."
Days go by I'm
hypnotized
I'm walking on a wire
I close my eyes and fly out of my mind
Into the fire
Light the sky and hold on tight
The world is burning down
She's out there on her own and she's alright
Sunny came home.
Kierra finished off the song, opening her eyes. She was hardly aware of the thunderous applause carrying through the room; her gaze was fixed on two people coming into the shop. The one with the dark, red/brown hair, similar in color to her own, she barely looked at. It was the other one, the blond one. It's him! Praise be t'God, it's Gabriel! It took everything she had not to leap off the stool and run to him, but she caught herself. A lot of the people in the room had turned to stare at him, most of them the vampires. And none of them looked too pleased that he was there.
She had no clue what she should do, so she looked at him. He looked at her, his eyes flickering. Go on, they seemed to be saying. Pretend you don't even see me and keep with what you're doing. I'm going to try to get you out of this mess, but you have to cooperate. She looked at him and gave him a barely perceivable nod.
This ain't performing fer free food, she told herself. It's singin' for yer life. She had no idea what song to do next, then she looked over at Heather, and an inspiration came to her:
Rock on gold dust woman
Take your silver spoon
And dig your grave
Heartless challenge
Pick your path and I'll pray.
Wake up in the morning
See your sunrise--loves--to go down
Lousy lovers--pick their pray
But they never cry out loud
Remy looked at the figure on the stage and stopped breathing completely. He suspected who it was with the voice, but seeing her confirmed it.
Kierra Lestan.
Rhiannon's daughter.
He grabbed onto Gabriel's arm, knowing not only was he not breathing, but his heart had stopped. "I know her!" he whispered.
Gabriel looked at him. "Uh-huh. How?"
"Well, I don' really know her, but I know of her," Remy admitted. "Dat's Rhiannon's daughter!"
"Yeah?" Gabriel said. "Uh, did you also happen to notice that we're surrounded by vampires?"
Remy looked around the room, realizing he was right. "Oh shit."
"That's one way of putting it." They were still whispering. "Not just vampires, but regular mortals too. So, we've got a big problem."
"What's that?"
"How are we gonna get the girl out of here without causing any suspicion?"
Remy thought for a moment, his brows furrowing. "Good question."
"Thanks, that's a lot of help, X-Vamp."
"Fuck off." Remy scowled. "Never claimed t'have all de answers." He had no idea how Rhiannon's daughter got here or what was her connection with Gabriel Knight, but it did not matter. She's in trouble, he thought. An' we gotta get her outa here. If we don' I don' ever t'ink I can face Rhiannon again. Hell, if we can' get her out, I don' t'ink I could face myself ever again.
Did she make you cry
Make you break down
Shatter your illusions of love
Is it over now--do you know how
To pick up the pieces and go home?
Heather did not even have to turn her head to know Gabriel and Remy had just walked into the room. She knew it on instinct. Damn it, they're supposed to leave us alone, she though. I leave them alone, they leave me alone. How dare they fuck with me in my territory?
She knew there had to be a reason why they came here tonight. Gabriel must have sensed this place was a hangout for vampires before, yet had never bothered to come in here. Therefore, logic would dictate there was something special about tonight. What?
Heather looked up at the stage and saw Kierra looking towards the back, where she knew Gabriel and the breed would be standing. Her eyes narrowed, flickering momentarily to red as she saw Kierra's pupils dilate slightly. It's her. It's got to be her, Heather thought. It figures this child would know the Shattenjäger.
For a moment, she was almost tempted to let them take her. What was one child in the scheme of things? Besides, if she was connected to Gabriel, she'd know better than to tell the world of the existence of vampires. The Masquerade was not just something vampires did to protect themselves, when truth came to shove, mortals did not want to know of such things. It was so much easier to think that the worlds troubles were more base and simplistic. Then she remembered how Gabriel and Remy had humiliated her the night in the graveyard. Her eyes narrowed into red slits. No, not again. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I will not give into you, Mr. Knight. I promised to leave the breed alone, but this child was never part of the bargain. She's in my territory; she's mine. Also, she's the child of the breed. Imagine how humiliating it would be for Rhiannon Lestan to find out her daughter is now fully what she is not?.
She looked at Brent. Keep a close eye on the child. If there is to be any trouble, it will start soon.
Yes, my Lord. Brent's gaze kept flickering from Kierra to Gabriel. The child, watch the child. What about the Shattenjäger?
You leave him to me. There were about ten breathers in the place, not counting Gabriel, Remy, and Kierra, and a little over twenty vampires. We could kill all the breathers in this place, Heather thought. But that will just provoke the Shattenjäger and I don't need that. So, get the breathers out of here, and then you can deal with the problem.
She weighed her options quickly. She could call on the collective of vampires, drawing on their strength as well as her own and send forth a mental command for everyone to leave. It would work quickly, but it had its drawbacks. Some cattle reacted badly to being mentally commanded by vampires. In her many years, Heather had seen commanded people have reactions ranging from headaches to nosebleeds. Not to mention that lately, with mutants popping onto the scene, there was a chance one breather in the room might have some type of built in defense against a strong command.
Play it cool, play it subtle. She ordered herself. She began to concentrate on the people in the room, instead of bombarding them with a demand for them to leave; she started feeding in mental suggestions. The coffee here was bad; the place was too hot, too uncomfortable. Outside it would be cooler. There was better coffee to be found.
Heather looked up at Kierra, who was still singing:
Rock on--ancient queen
Follow those who pale
In your shadow
Rulers make bad lovers
You better put your kingdom up for sale...
She was the difficult one. Her voice was so angelic, so pure in its youth; it was enough of a drawing power to get mortals to stay. I can't send the suggestion that she terrible. It's too far from the truth. Instead, she sent out the suggestion that perhaps Kierra's voice was a bit flat, the emotions she was pouring into the song were not quite real. Her voice was too untrained, she was too rough. Yes, she had talent, but it needed to be developed. In a couple years, with the right lessons, she'll be well worth any discomfort to see her sing, but not yet.
Heather almost gloated when she saw a couple at one table rise and head to the exit. More would follow, soon enough.
Gabriel watched as the patrons of the coffee shop began rising and leaving the place. Somethin' is happening to them. There is no real reason to leave. Kierra is great, she's singing like an angel, so it can't be her.
He leaned over and whispered into Remy's ear. "Somethin' is goin' on here. People are leavin' quickly."
"Oui," Remy agreed, whispering back. "I t'ink Prince Heather is doin' somet'in. Only de regular people are leavin' de vamps are stayin'."
"Yeah." Gabriel nodded. "I don' know everythin' 'bout vampires, but I think Heather is the reason why everyone is in an all-fired hurry to leave." He and Remy pushed themselves further into the wall to allow a group of three people to leave the place.
"Dis a good t'ing?" Remy asked.
"I doubt it." Gabriel sighed. "I think the shit is gonna hit the fan, real soon tonight."
Remy nodded in agreement. "But we gotta save de kid."
"Yup."
"Any suggestions?"
Gabriel thought for a moment. "Nope. I guess we're gonna wing this one."
Remy's eyes rolled. "Dat's jus' what I didn' want t'hear."
Kierra finished the song and looked around; realizing quickly that the only person she could really see clearly with her blue eye was Gabriel. The man standing next to him flickered in and out of "blue-view," so she was not ready to count him.
She looked over at Gabriel, who nodded ever so slightly. Now or never, she told herself. Slipping the guitar strap over her neck, she slid off the stool. "Thanks everyone," she mumbled, leaning the guitar against the stool. Trying to look casual, as if she had nothing more in mind than a free meal, she walked backwards. When she felt the heavy material of the curtain that separated the stage from the back area brush along her skin, she made her move. She turned and ran.
A small, narrow door in the back room lead outside. She dashed for that, twisting the knob in her hands. Please don't be locked. The knob twisted in her hand, then the latch gave, and the door swung open into the narrow alley. She ran out into the night.
Kierra had barely made it behind the curtain when Brent leaped to his feet and began running after her. "Don't let her escape or your death is next!" Heather screamed.
Remy only had to take one glimpse of Brent to know he meant trouble. "I 'ave t'stop 'im an' get Kierra."
"Yup. You do that. I'll hold off the vamps."
"You gonna be all right?"
"Either all right or dead." Gabriel's voice was calm and collected as his fingers played with his amulet. "Go, Cajun."
Remy nodded. He started towards the front door, but stopped when he saw others coming in. All of them were vampires. Dumb bitch musta called 'em, he thought.
He looked over the room. The remaining vampires were no longer even pretending to be mortals. The had risen from their seats and were starting to group together, moving closer. Fangs were dropping, eyes glowing bright red. Oh, I can play dis game, Remy thought, feeling his own upper jaw begin to tingle as his fangs broke loose and lowered into place. A hazy feeling started sweeping through him, and he knew his eyes were turning a brilliant scarlet.
Reaching into his pocket, he grabbed a handful of loose change and started charging it up. If he could not run through the back easily, he would explode his way through. Squaring his shoulders, he started running to the back.
Heather saw what Remy was doing and grabbed Amber. "You stop him," she hissed to the woman. "You get him and stop him. I don't care what it takes."
"You promised to leave him alone," Amber said.
"Fuck the promise!" Heather roared. "Stop him any way you can!" She spun Amber so she was facing the back and gave her a shove.
It was not a long distance between the back of the room and the stage, but when you were trying to run through a pack of vampires, it seemed like the length of several football fields. Remy barely started when he saw them coming near him, moving closer. He could smell the scent of death on them, the smell of blood. Stealth don' smell like dis, he found himself thinking. Neither does Rhiannon. He could not stand it, being almost surrounded by the full-blooded vampires, those that seemed to almost revel in their existence. He did not have time to play with this. He flung the charged up change into the air and started running. It started exploding as it hit the ground, hit the others. Panic broke out as some were flung back from the force. Remy did not even hesitate to see what damage he had done; he just kept running.
When he got to the back, he saw a woman standing by the only exit out of the room. "Move it, bitch!" he shouted.
She stared at him defiantly. "You want out this door? You'll have to kill me first."
He stopped. He knew this woman was a vampire, but she was not in defense or attack mode. Her eyes were still pale gray, not red. Her teeth still looked normal. She don' want t'fight, he thought. "I've got no argument wit' you. Jus' let me leave."
"I can't do that," she said. "Prince Heather's orders."
He reached out for her, merely intending to push her out of the way. The moment he touched her, she grabbed onto him, digging her nails into his arms, drawing blood. "I told you the only way out of here was through my death!" she screamed.
He stared at her. Her eyes had changed now, finally going over to red, but he could still see past them, still see inside her. She was not kidding; the only way she would let go was if he killed her. But it was not that she wanted to fight for her own existence. She wanted it over.
Help me, those eyes seemed to say. I'm tired of this. It's not life it's not death. If I can't have life, let me have death.
Years of X-Men training flowed into his mind. We don't kill. Kill and you just bring yourself to their level. He could almost hear Scott and Logan's voices in his head. We're not animals.
He could feel his flesh giving way under her nails as she curled her fingers, leaving tracks in his arms, he could feel his blood spurting, covering her hands, dripping onto the floor. He had more combat training that she ever dreamed of, but she was older, she was full blooded, and she was much stronger. She was not letting go.
Howling, he twisted his hands so he was grabbing onto her elbows. He stared into her eyes.
"Am I pissing you off?" she hissed, spraying his face with a pink tinged saliva. "You're weak, breed. You're too bound by your own flesh and blood to this life to ever be one of us." Her nails dug further, slicing through muscle, scraping along bone. "We're killers. If you've got any sort of strength at all, you either kill me or I kill you, that's the way it works."
It's different, she wants to die! his mind screamed. His fingers twisted into the thin material of her T-shirt. Eyes narrowing, he began charging the T-shirt. "Dis might kill both of us," he said, his voice sounding as if it were coming from his chest rather than his mouth. "But if de girl dies, den I probably don' have anyt'ing lef' t'live for anyway. So, you gonna let go?"
"Save her," the woman said, letting go of his arms, pulling her nails out of his flesh, so only he was holding onto her. "Don't let this happen to her. She's just a child, she deserves better."
He pushed her away from him, so she went flying into the door. The moment he did the energy he had fed into her discharged and she exploded, taking out the back door with her. Remy stepped back and covered his face with his arms, crouching slightly. Obviously she had not been as old as some of the vampires he had already tangled with, because her death was spectacular and messy. Blood, flesh, and bits of bone spattered onto him. Splinters of wood flew all over the place.
I'm sorry, he thought as he ran out through the doorway.
While Remy had created a nice distraction by blowing up part of the room, Gabriel used the confusion to slide along the wall until his back was in a corner. He had taken the amulet off his neck and was holding it in front of him.
By now there were almost fifty vampires in the room. The confusion of the explosion was gone and they were starting to gather around him. Nostrils flared, he held the amulet out, sweeping it in front of him. "Back off bloodsuckers!"
They were flinching at the sight of the amulet, drawing back with angry hisses. This was good, but there still seemed to be an awful lot of them and only one of him. He wished he knew more about this little family heirloom, but he still felt pitifully new to all of this Shattenjäger business. The amulet had been in his family for a very long time, but lost for many years. He was the first to get it back, and there had been no one to teach him exactly what it could and could not do.
"Give it up, Gabriel Knight!"
Heather was speaking. He never took his eyes off the group of vampires. "Never. You broke your promise, Prince."
"Hah. You're messing in my business. Therefore, all bets are off."
"Heather, the girl was my business. You're not going to hurt her."
"Why should she concern you?" Heather's voice was rising dangerously.
One of the vampires moved closer, trying to lunge him. Quickly, Gabriel moved his arm, pointing the amulet at him. He was scared and angry, as if he had been tricked.
Suddenly the amulet began to glow even brighter. The vampire that had been trying for him cringed. "It's-it's like the sun!"
Gabriel flexed his arm forward, just lightly touching the amulet to the vampire's head. There was a blinding burst of white light, then a scream as the vampire seemed to glow for a moment, then exploded into a brilliant ball of white light that evaporated into nothing but a powdery ash.
Gabriel stared at the amulet in shock as the other vampires started backing off, not leaving, but definitely approaching him with new caution. Wow, this is a new trick, he thought.
He looked over at Heather, who was standing towards the back. Her hands were on her hips, her eyes blood red, nostrils flared. "Knight," she began her voice a low growl. "I think you should know that I am completely pissed off."
To Be Continued...
Musical credits:
The first song Kierra sang was "Sunny Came Home" Shawn Colvin and John Leventhal
The second song was "Gold Dust Woman" Fleetwood Mac.
Blessings
Jess