Chapter Thirty Six
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Both Devin and Ashtyn were struggling to get her bearings, and fight back, but they were both still too stunned. The demons that were currently kicking both their asses were not near as big as some they had faced, but they were beyond quick and freaky strong.
Ashtyn grunted when Devin was thrown into her, both falling to the ground, trying desperately to get their breaths.
“What the fuck is going on?” Devin cried, wishing this was just a nightmare. Ashtyn bit her lip as she sat up, pain radiating through her whole body.
“I don’t know.” She groaned. “Oh shit, move!” she pushed Devin away and rolled herself, both barely being missed by the demon that had tried to attack again, not wanting to give either woman time to get their selves together.
Instantly both slayers were on their feet, looking battered, but pissed and ready to fight back. They both were well aware of Brett and Dale on the porch a few feet away, but they couldn’t allow themselves to become any more distracted.
“Want to tell me why you attacked us in our own home?” Devin demanded, her and her demon circling each other, poised and ready to attack. It grinned at her.
“You’ll find out soon enough.” It snarled as it lunged. The next thing she knew it had her pinned to the ground. She heard Brett yelling her name and then heard Ashtyn’s name. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the other demon had Ashtyn pinned up against the tree, all her efforts to free herself useless.
“Now, you find out.” The demon holding Devin grinned down at her, its smile sending chills down her spine. Her eyes widened when she saw a third demon walking almost casually towards them. She whimpered softly, trying harder to get away.
“What the hell!” she exclaimed when the demon stopped next to her and pulled out a needle. “NO!”
“DEVIN!” Ashtyn yelled, trying like hell to free herself, but having no more luck than Devin had.
Devin closed her eyes when she felt the needle prick the skin on her arm. A few seconds later it was gone, but she was still being held down. She turned her head again when she heard commotion coming from Ashtyn. The one that had just taken blood from her was now advancing towards Ashtyn, who was struggling like hell to get away.
At least she was until the demon holding her viciously back handed her, stunning her just enough for the third demon to draw the blood needed. As if all three demons could communicate telepathically, they all turned and ran away at the exact same time, disappearing down the street before either slayer could even realize they were no longer being held.
Ashtyn and Devin crawled and stumbled towards each other, both shell shocked and in pain.
“Are you okay?” Devin asked as they hugged fiercely. Ashtyn nodded and pulled back to look at Devin.
“You?”
Devin shrugged. “No worse than you.”
“What the hell was that all about?” Ashtyn asked, suddenly feeling very light headed.
“I-I don’t know.” Devin blinked and shook her head, everything going fuzzy. “Ash?”
“Hmm?”
“Um, do you feel okay?” Devin asked, knowing something was seriously wrong when she looked towards the porch but couldn’t make out Brett or Dale, or anything for that matter because her world was spinning.
“Funny you ask that. I feel like I’m gonna…” Ashtyn trailed off as she stumbled back a couple steps, her hand going to head. Both women looked each other in the eyes before they dropped to the ground in dead faints, with Brett and Dale still looking on, trapped on the front porch.
***
Evan turned away from his window, an evil smile firmly in place on his lips. It was about damn time something went his way.
It was true that he didn’t need to knock them out afterwards, the attack had gone beautifully and he had gotten exactly what he needed. But he’d needed to practice casting spells, to make sure nothing went wrong, and the one he had just cast to knock both women out had gone better than he could have hoped.
It was almost time. In twenty four hours time everything would change…for him it was for the better…for everyone else, for the worst!
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Chapter Thirty Seven
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"Hey." Devin said to Ashtyn as she came into the kitchen the following night. "Ready to head out?"
"Yep. Let me just yell down and see if Dale and Brett are ready." Ashtyn answered as she got up from her chair and moaned softly, still being a little stiff and sore from the demon attack the day before.
Devin stopped in pulling on her jacket and frowned. "They haven't been up yet?" It was odd because usually Dale and Brett were up and ready to go before they were even out of bed. Then again, things had been kind of strange in the last day or so. The aura in the house felt very different...very off.
Both Ashtyn and Devin suspected that Evan had something to do with it. He hadn't been home at the time of the attack, but when told about it, he was very nonchalant about it, saying that 'these things happen'. When challenged for answers about why the demons would take blood from them, he would give none. The night before while out on patrol, Devin and Ashtyn had decided that it was time to confront Evan about what they knew, but he'd been gone when they arrived back home and hadn't returned that they knew of.
Walking over to the basement door, Ashtyn opened it and called down to Dale and Brett. There was a long silence before Dale appeared at the foot of the steps. Telling her that he and Brett weren't ready yet and that they'd catch up with them. Then he disappeared into the dark shadows of the basement once again.
Ashtyn closed the door and turned to Devin, a perplexed expression on her face. "What the hell?" She muttered mostly to herself. "Where the hell is Evan? It's time we get some answers." She knew that he was behind this somehow. But what his agenda was, she had no idea.
Devin just looked at Ashtyn and shrugged slightly, not knowing anymore than her sister. "Maybe they're having a bad day." She said, speaking of Brett and Dale. "I suppose even vampires are entitled to a bad day. Let's get out on patrol and maybe Evan will be here by time we get back. If not, we can hit the books and see what we can find out about the demons that attacked us and why they took our blood."
After a moment of hesitation, Ashtyn nodded in agreement and they headed out the door.
*****
After being out for two hours, Devin began walking back through the cemetery to the place where she and Ashtyn had agreed to meet. Being in deep thought about the current situations, she didn't notice another presence with her until she heard the voice behind her.
"Slayer." A shiver ran up her spine when she heard the familiarity of the voice hidden beneath the rough growl. The sensation of Brett's presence filled her, but it was very different than before. It was cold...almost a malignant feeling rather than the warmth that she was used to when she sensed him. Turning around, her eyes grew wide when she saw Brett standing there in his vampire form.
"You know, it's a good thing you trained me so well. It's going to come in very well in a few seconds when I kick your ass." Brett told her, a smirk curving his lips as she stepped forward.
Using her bewildered state to his advantage, Brett lunged forward, hitting her with a viscous backhand that sent her reeling backward.
Regaining her balance, Devin glared up at Brett as she wiped the blood from her lip, which had been split from the rings on his fingers when he hit her.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Devin demanded, her eyes filled with confusion and the beginning sparks of anger were starting to flare.
In answer, Brett advanced again, closing the distance between them. He again took opportunity of her shock. "Taking out the slayer." He hissed before he caught her with a sharp kick that hit her mouth and split her lip a second time.
"You wanna fight?" Devin questioned through clenched teeth. Shoving her confusion aside, she was now thoroughly pissed. Did Brett forget whom he was dealing with? And what the hell was wrong with him? "Fine. But you've got it all wrong. It's going to be me kicking your ass."
They fought back and forth, Devin just waiting for the right opening. Finally Brett made the mistake that she was waiting for and she took full advantage, knocking him several feet through the air with one viscous hit.
Walking over to where he had landed, she grabbed him up off the ground by his shirt and slammed him against the nearest tree, her stake poised over his heart before he could even comprehend that it was happening.
"Again, I ask; what the hell are you doing?" She demanded, staring into his eyes as she waited for an explanation.
In response, Brett smiled smugly before he leaned forward and claimed her lips in a brutally passionate kiss that left her limp in his arms. The stake that she'd been holding fell to the ground unnoticed.
"Mmm...you taste good." He said as he pulled back, licking the blood off his lips that had come from the still bleeding wounds on hers.
Before Devin could react in any kind of way, he pushed her away from him. "See ya later, Slayer." He promised as he turned and began walking away.
"What the fuck?" Devin again wondered out loud as she watched Brett go. With his back to her, she was completely unaware of the purely evil smirk on his face and the glowing in his eyes.
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Chapter Thirty Eight
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Ashtyn walked the dark quiet streets deep in thought, barely paying much attention to her surroundings. There was so much going on; she didn’t know where to start looking for answers. She knew in a little while she and Devin would be confronting Evan, and even though she put up a good brave front, she was scared to death and dreading it.
Then there was Brett and Dale. They had never let her and Devin go off by themselves to ‘meet up’ with them. Something was definitely strange.
She looked up when she felt a familiar twinge and smiled when she saw Dale coming towards her. Her smile faltered somewhat when she noticed something off about his walk. She tilted her head as he stepped up to her, a smirk firmly in place on his face.
He didn’t say a word, and didn’t give her a chance to either as he grabbed her and pulled her tight against him, then ravished her lips with his own, leaving her reeling. When he eventually pulled back she was gasping for breath, and his smirk was still firmly in place.
“Uh, not that I’m complaining, but what was that for?” she asked, still breathing heavily. He shrugged.
“Cuz I can.” He answered flippantly and she looked at him questionably.
“Are you alright?” she asked, studying him, not really knowing why she was getting a strange feeling.
“Never been better.” He grinned down at her. “So, what’s on the agenda for tonight? I’m ready to kick some ass.” He said eyeing her up and down making her feel, well, uncomfortable.
“Too bad.” She said testily. “We’re heading back to the house. I’ve already done my rounds.”
Dale sighed. “Damn, and here I am just itching for a good fight!”
Ashtyn raised an eyebrow. “Alright, what’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re definitely not acting like yourself, so what’s up?” she asked.
“Believe me, I’m acting more like myself than ever before.” He grinned, and in her confusion she missed the way his eyes flashed yellow for a split second.
“Well, since there is no ass to kick…” he paused looking hard into her eyes, almost as if he was contemplating trying to start a fight with her. “I’m gonna go catch up with Brett.”
Ashtyn watched flabbergasted as he turned to walk away. “But I’m going to meet Devin now…Brett’s with her, isn’t he?” she called after him. Dale turned and grinned that damn smirk again.
“I doubt it.” Was all he said before turning and sauntering away, leaving a confused and frustrated Ashtyn staring after him.
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Chapter Thirty Nine
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"What the hell is going on?" Devin and Ashtyn exclaimed in unison as they arrived at their meeting spot at the same time.
"Wait! What the hell happened?" Devin demanded as she took in Devin's split and swollen lip.
Devin's brow creased in confusion as she went over again what had just transpired with Brett. "Brett wanted to fight." She answered after a moment of silence.
Ashtyn's eyes grew wide as she absorbed what Devin has just told her. "Is he...?" She began to ask, but was unable to finish the question.
"No." Devin replied and then smiled slightly. "But I did kick his ass all over the cemetery." She told Ashtyn, her smile fading into a frown.
Ashtyn crossed her arms over her chest as she met Devin's eyes. "Did he start it...what happened exactly?"
Devin nodded and then began telling Ashtyn what had taken place with Brett as they started walking back toward home. When she was finished talking, she looked over at Ashtyn and automatically knew that something strange had happened with Dale as well.
"I never thought that it was possible for someone to just change over night, but it seems like Dale and Brett have done a complete one-eighty." Ashtyn commented at the questioning that she saw in Devin's eyes and then explained to her about what had taken place with Dale.
"I swear I could see it in his eyes, Dev. He was seriously contemplating fighting with me. And Brett did pick a fight with you. Have they gone mad?" Ashtyn questioned as they stepped up to the front door at the house.
"Well, they are vampires...and all the vampires I came across before them were a little round the bend." Devin commented and nodded in agreement. " But it just doesn't make sense. Something is definitely off with them. Evan better be home because it's about time we get some damn answers. I want to know everything about the prophecy, why he wanted me killed, why those demons attacked us the other day, why Brett and Dale are...well, evil now when they weren't before. I know Evan is behind that somehow." She vented as they opened the door and walked in.
The stepped inside and found Kevin, Carl, and Jeff seated around the dining room table deep in conversation. The three vampires immediately became aware of their presence and turned their attention to the slayers. Ashtyn and Devin nearly sighed with relief when they knew just from looking at them that they were still their 'normal' selves.
"Is Evan home?" Devin and Ashtyn questioned at the same time, both of their thoughts on one thing, and one thing only.
"Haven't seen him." Carl replied as he rose to his feet and Kevin and Jeff did the same, all three of them walking over to where Ashtyn and Devin were standing.
"We've been here all night." Kevin answered, seeing the question in the girls' eyes before they were able to ask it. Devin and Ashtyn both muttered curses at hearing that Evan still was not home.
"Have you two seen Brett and Junior tonight?" Jeff asked almost hesitantly. When they'd all awakened at sunset, the two vampires in question had been nothing short of rude toward them; challenging them to a fight when they had all questioned their strange behavior.
"Yep. I take it that you noticed something a little...off, with them?" Ashtyn asked as she met their eyes, knowing she'd see the full truth there. Devin did the same. Kevin, Carl, and Jeff nodded in reply.
"We need to go find Evan. Find out what the hell is going on." Devin said and Ashtyn immediately agreed.
"Do you want us to come with?" Kevin asked, all three of them wanting to do something...anything to help.
"No, stay here." Ashtyn told them. "If Brett or Dale comes back here, get a hold of us on our cells. Don't let them leave!" She demanded. An instant later, she and Devin left again.
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Chapter Forty
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“Do you have any idea where to even start searching for Evan?” Devin asked, glancing over at Ashtyn.
“I have an idea.” She said, her tone clipped, signaling she was deep in thought. Devin raised her eyebrows.
“Should I be worried?” she asked.
Ashtyn shook her head. “Nope, we’ll be fine. We’re going to the docks. First we find Scorpion, find out where Evan is, then we head there and get some answers and kick some ass.”
Devin ran a hand wearily over her face. “Okay, sounds like a plan.” She said softly. They were both quiet for a moment before Devin spoke again. “What do you think is going on with Brett and Dale?”
“I have a theory, but once we find Evan we’ll know for sure. I just hope I’m way off.” Ashtyn sighed.
“Well are you going to share this theory or keep it to yourself?” Devin demanded testily. Ashtyn shot her a look.
“It’s the same theory I know is going around in your head but just don’t want to voice out loud.” She said softly, her own heart breaking at the thought.
Devin’s shoulders dropped as she whispered, “They are evil. But how? They were fine yesterday. How could this have happened over night?”
Ashtyn shook her head. “I don’t know. But I’m willing to bet that Evan is behind this. I mean, don’t you find it a little strange that we get attacked by demons how could have easily killed us since we were so unprepared and taken completely off guard, but instead just took some blood from both of us. Then mere hours later both Brett and Dale are acting like the normal evil vampire who want to tangle with the slayer instead of the loving men we’d fallen in love with.”
Devin rubbed the back of her neck as they walked. “I was hoping I was wrong in thinking that.” She shook her head and blinked back the tears that were threatening.
Ashtyn sighed. “So was I, but voicing it out loud just made it more…” she trailed off.
“Real?” Devin finished for her. “What do we do now?”
“Right now, we focus on the problem at hand. Then later, we do something very unheard of for us…cry our hearts out.”
***
“I’m impressed. I could have sworn Scorpion was lying.” Devin said softly as they watched Evan enter the building Scorpion said he would be found before the slayers made the world safe from one more demon.
Ashtyn didn’t say anything as she studied her watcher, a rage building inside her like nothing she had ever felt before. “Come on, let’s go see who he’s meeting with.”
They two girls came out of their hiding place and hurried across the street to the old building. They crept up to the window, trying to see inside. Devin peered inside as Ashtyn kept guard.
“What do you see?” Ashtyn asked in a whisper. Devin shook her head.
“Nothing…oh wait, here comes Evan.” Devin said softly, ducking down when Evan passed by the window.
“Is anyone in there with him?” Ashtyn demanded, a sinking feeling beginning in the pit of her stomach. Devin looked back in the window and nodded when she saw the outline of two other people.
“Yeah, there are two guys in there, obviously vampires.” She said, judging from what her slayer senses were screaming. “I can’t tell who…” she trailed off and gasped as her eyes went wide, her face pale.
“What?” Ashtyn asked, rushing forward reaching out a hand to help steady Devin when she stumbled back a couple steps. She shook her head and pointed to the window. Ashtyn turned and looked, feeling as if her heart stopped in her chest when she saw Brett, Dale and Evan all talking, laughing and obviously planning together.
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Chapter Forty One
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“No.” Ashtyn whispered her own eyes wide with disbelief. She jerked away from the window when Brett and Dale simultaneously turned towards it. “Shit, Dev, we’ve got to get out of here now!” She exclaimed as she spun around and grabbed Devin who was still standing behind her shell shocked.
Ashtyn rushed them around the house, towards the woods, where she knew she would be able to get them ‘lost’ enough to not be found. As they rounded the side of the house she was caught by a foot to the face, which sent her slamming back into Devin.
“Ash!” Devin exclaimed, untangling herself from the other slayer. She looked up, barely able to suppress the heart wrenching cry when her eyes met Brett’s and his evil smile.
“Well, would you look at that.” He grinned wider, glancing over his shoulder at Dale, who stood back with his arms crossed over his chest. “I took down a slayer.”
“You fucking bastard!” Devin hissed, helping Ashtyn to her feet.
“Aww, baby, now that’s no way to act. You should be proud of me, after all it was you who was training me to do just that.” He fake pouted. Devin nearly growled as she took a threatening step forward, only to be stopped by Ashtyn.
“Not now, Dev.” She said softly, her own eyes connecting briefly with Dale’s, but unable to take the look, she turned away. She took a deep breath and let the coldness that had always been with her overtake her once again.
“They aren’t worth it.” She said, her tone void of emotion.
“Now, that’s not what you were saying the other night.” Dale smirked as he sauntered forward.
Ashtyn glared back. “Yeah well, said a lot of things I obviously didn’t mean. For instance I once said I didn’t think I could stake you, but now I find myself more and more willing to do it.” She shot back.
“Such spunk! That’s one of the things that attracted me to you the most.” Dale’s eyes raked over her. “Well, that and a couple other things.”
She’d been with him numerous times, but never before had she felt disgusted or violated, but the way he was looking at her sent a shiver of fear racing down her spine.
“Enough with the pleasantries.” Devin cut in, sensing Ashtyn’s obvious discomfort, for she was feeling the same way with the way Brett was staring at her. “Why don’t you two tell us what the fuck is going on.”
“I think I can answer that for you.” Both slayers spun around, poised and ready to attack when they found Evan standing there. He simply smiled as if nothing was out of the ordinary. “Evening ladies.”
“I would have thought the two of you would have it all figured out by now. See now that’s why the slayer always needed the watcher. Sure, slayers are strong and good at kicking ass, but when it comes to the smarts, that’s where the slayers are always lacking.” He shook his head sadly.
Devin had to latterly jump forward and grab Ashtyn to keep her from attacking the older man. “No.” she said softly, hoping to calm Ashtyn just a little.
“Here’s what’s happening. You see, it’s time for darkness to rein once again. And I am going to be the Prince of Darkness…ruling it all!” Evan exclaimed triumphantly. Ashtyn and Devin snorted and rolled their eyes.
“All the goodness in the world will be destroyed, and evil will prevail once and for all!”
“I’m gonna show you an evil ass kicking as soon as Devin let’s me go!” Ashtyn promised.
“Now see, that’s you’re weakness. And it fits perfectly into my plans.” Evan grinned. Both slayers looked confused. “For the most part every slayer has always worked alone, relying only on herself and her resources. Until you two. The two of you have learned to depend on each other more and more over the years, and together you two are nearly invincible. But, that’s also going to be your downfall. Separated, you will be defeated.”
Before either slayer could react they were attacked from behind, not only by Brett and Dale, but a handful of other vampires. Within seconds they had the slayers separated and pinned.
Evan stepped forward. “Look at that. You two must be off your game tonight. Can you image why? Probably not, so I’ll go ahead and answer that one for you.”
“Please do and make it snappy, we’re getting bored.” Brett sighed as Dale nodded in agreement. Evan threw them a look before continuing.
“You see, when those demons took your blood, I laced the needles with poison. Now don’t worry, it’s not gonna kill you. Can’t let that happen…yet. But it did drain you of some of your powers. But only for a little while. Should be back to full strength in a few hours.”
“Powers or not, I’m gonna fucking kill you.” Ashtyn screamed, struggling against the hold that normally she would have been able to break without even trying.
“Here’s the plan ladies. Devin is coming with us for a little…fun.” Evan grinned maliciously, letting them all know what Devin’s future held. “Ashtyn, you’re going to be on your own. You’re going to go back, try to regroup and come back ready to fight. I’m counting on it. You see, there is a prophecy, and a slayer will die. Actually two. Devin, well, you’re time is about up permanently. Ashtyn, you on the other hand, your death will be short. You see, you are going to be the ultimate warrior. Imagine, if you will, a vampire…with slayer strength. You will be, quite literally, unstoppable.”
“NO! I won’t let you.” Devin yelled, only to be silenced by Brett who backhanded her so hard the demon holding her nearly lost it’s grip.
“Devin, my dear, that’s the fun of it. You can’t do a thing to stop me!” Evan said lightly. “I’m really sorry you have to die, well not really, but see when it came down to choosing which slayer would die, I simply had to make sure it was you and not Ashtyn. After all, she is like a daughter to me. And what kind of a monster would I be if I had her be the slayer to die? It’s too bad you survived the attack awhile back…you were supposed to die that night. Would have made life a hell of a lot easier.”
Devin smirked as best she could through her swollen and cracked lip. “So sorry to disappoint you.”
“Why?” Ashtyn asked softly. “Why are you doing this Evan?”
Evan stared at her for a moment. “Because it’s fun? I don’t know!” he shrugged. “All I know is I’m tired of being on the loosing side of the battle. No matter how much we fight, how much we kill, how many apocalypses we stop, the evil keeps right on coming! Aren’t you tired of it too, Ash? So I decided, if you can’t beat them, join them. And then it hit me…the only thing better than being on the winning side, is having all the power and ruling the winning side.”
“You sick fuck!” Ashtyn hissed, glaring at the man she had once looked up like a father figure.
“Oh Ashtyn, we had fun together…and you are like a daughter to me. Hell I’m not completely heartless, that’s why I’m having them kill Devin. The prophecy says a slayer will die, and I’m just making sure it isn’t you. Well technically you will die, but not for long. So in a sense I’m saving you’re ass…again for the millionth time. Hell, you should be thanking me, you ungrateful little bitch!”
Ashtyn smirked. “Oh I’m going to thank you alright.” Her voice was low and deadly. Evan waved his hand.
“Enough of this. Take her away, rough her up a little bit, but not too much. And if anyone dares to try and kill her, by the time I’m done with you, I’ll have you begging for death!” he paused and looked at the demons holding Devin. “Bring her with us.” He said before he, Brett and the two demons holding Devin started towards the van parked on the side of the road.
Dale paused and looked at Ashtyn, who continued to struggle against her own captors, trying like hell to free herself so she could get to Devin. She felt his eyes on her and lifted her head, her eyes pleading, hoping to some goodness was still inside him and that she could reach it. “Dale, please!” she begged. She had to find someway out of this…someway to help Devin before it was too late!
He came forward slowly then bent down so they were face to face. He gently, almost lovingly brushed his lips across hers. She was unable to stop herself from responding and returning the kiss. He broke it and trailed his lips along her cheek until they reached her ear.
“See you soon, lover.” He whispered before pulling back, his eyes yellow. With a little chuckle he turned and walked away. Ashtyn watched him go though narrow eyes. Then and there everything she had allowed to open up, allowed to soften, died. The warm caring loving woman she had become was now gone…and in her place was an extremely pissed off slayer who vowed revenge.
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Chapter Forty Two
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Devin fought to regain her freedom as she struggled against the demons that were dragging her to Evan's van. She did manage to break loose and began running, but it only lasted seconds before Brett stopped her with a viscous kick to the back of her head that sent her reeling. She looked up at Brett from where she'd fallen on the ground and felt her insides heave when she saw his smug grin.
"Well, well, well..." He smirked down at her. "Looks like I can take both slayers down...effortlessly." He taunted.
Devin glared up at him. "Oh, you're real good...hitting me from behind, you coward. And you only got me down because that bastard took away my power." She spat, gesturing pointedly at Evan. "You know as well as I do that if I were on top of my game, I'd be kicking your ass all over here."
"Get her in the van! And don't you dare let her get away again." Evan threatened the demons as he stepped forward, having had enough. The demons moved to get Devin, but Brett stopped them.
"Allow me." He told them, his eyes glittering evilly. He grabbed Devin's arm and hauled her up off the ground and pulled her close against him. He leaned forward until his lips just barely brushed hers. "Now the real fun begins." He whispered roughly. Before Devin could react, he captured her lips fully in a brutal kiss that she couldn't help becoming lost in.
After what seemed like an eternity, but was only a few seconds, Devin got her bearings back and shoved him away from her. "Fuck off!" She hissed as Brett glared at her, his anger easily seen. She stood her ground though as Brett advanced on her again.
"If that's how you want to play then." He growled as he again backhanded her so hard that she flew several feet through the air before landing on the ground again. She tried to get up, but fell back down, groaning softly as pain shot through her.
She didn't put up much of a fight when Brett grabbed her arm again and dragged her over to the van. After opening the side door, he picked her up and threw her inside using nearly all of the strength that he possessed. He watched with satisfaction when her head hit hard on the metal sides of the cargo van and she floated in and out of consciousness for several moments before going out completely.
When Devin awoke again, she groaned in pain as she tried to move. She immediately realized that each of her hands were bound to poles on each side of her by cuffs and chains. She found that her legs had been left free and she struggled to get to her feet, and was successful after a few tries.
She opened her eyes, fighting against the dizziness as she lifted her head and looked around. As her fuzzy vision cleared, she looked around and realized that she'd been brought to the caves where Brett, Dale and the other guys had stayed.
Tears burned her eyes as she thought about Brett and she fought desperately to keep them back. She did not want Brett, or Evan seeing how this really was affecting her.
"Well, looks like sleepy beauty is awake." Devin heard Brett's voice break through her thoughts. She met his eyes and began struggling against the chains that held her captive when she saw the evil intentions shining there.
"There's no use fighting it. You aren't going anywhere." Brett promised as he took slow, deliberate steps toward her.
"What are you doing?" Devin asked, her voice barely a whispered, was trembling and nearly pleading.
"We already went over that."
"Then, WHY?" Devin gathered her strength and yelled, her anger taking precedence over her other emotions.
"We already went over that too." He told her as he crossed his arms over his chest, looking bored.
"I knew you were too good to be true...you're a vampire for fuck's sake! I..." Devin trailed off when she saw the smirk return to his face.
"Lifting hi hand, Brett almost soothingly stroked her cheek as he stared into her eyes. "Oh, I am going to miss you, baby. We had some good...times, didn't we? But that is all it was. Sex...damn good sex. You are an incredible fuck...that I will miss."
Brett laughed out loud when he saw the repulsion...and the hurt that entered her eyes. "I know that you are in love with me, and I can't say I blame you. But I never loved you. It was all an act...a part of the grand scheme. And I must say, it has worked out to perfection."
"God, I should have staked you when I had the chance, you miserable bastard." Devin told him just before she spit in his face.
Roaring in fury, Brett shifted into his vampire form, his eyes glowing yellow. "Oh, you are going to pay for that!" He growled. Devin closed her eyes, waiting for the attack.
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Chapter Forty Three
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With a cry of alarm, Ashtyn came awake swinging, her fist connecting solidly with something. Breathing deeply, she looked around the room, her eyes landing on Kevin who was now lying on the floor, struggling to his feet. He gave her a wiry grin as he rubbed his jaw.
“Damn girl…I’ve seen you do a hell of a lot of things, but Jesus Christ you’re freaky strong.” He chuckled. “Guess that will teach me not to try to wake up a sleeping slayer.”
“Sorry.” She got out of her bed slowly, moving her arms and legs, testing for any kind of lingering aches and pains. “How long was I out?” she asked, her voice causing Kevin to flinch. It was flat and emotionless.
“About two days.” He answered, watching her as she moved around. “How are you feeling?”
She stood up straight and nodded. “Fine. What happened? How did I get back to the house?” she asked. The last thing she remembered was Dale walking way from her, seeing Brett throwing Devin into the van, then something connecting with the back of her head, then that was it.
Kevin sighed as he sat down in a near by chair. “When no one showed up with about an hour to sunrise, we all went out looking. We found you down the road, about a mile, just lying there. We were all sure you were dead.” He shuddered at the though. “Jeff immediately brought you back here and started working on bandaging you up. The rest of us searched for Brett, Dale and Devin until we were forced back inside by the sun.”
Kevin paused, hoping Ashtyn would shed some light as to what was going on, but she remained quiet. “Ash?” he continued when she turned her head to look at him. “What the fuck is going on?”
“Get everyone and gather in the living room. I’ll be down in a few minutes to explain everything. First I’m taking a shower and changing my clothes.” She looked down at herself, wrinkling her nose at her blood-covered clothes. A ripple of fear went through her when she thought of how Devin must look.
She looked back at Kevin. “Have everyone ready to go tonight. We don’t have time to waste.”
***
The three remaining vampires sat back in their seats in stunned silence as they all tried to digest Ashtyn’s words. “This is so unfucking believable.” Carl muttered. Ashtyn spun around to glare at him.
“Well believe it! They are now just like any other vampire, they are evil, they have Devin, are planning on killing her, and they are working side by side with Evan to bring an end to the world as we know it.” She spat, having no patience.
Carl held up his hands in self-defense. “I wasn’t questioning you, Ash.” He said softly. She huffed and turned away.
“What do we do now?” Jeff asked after a moment's silence, all three vampires feeling a little apprehensive around the slayer who was totally unapproachable in any way.
Ashtyn’s eyes narrowed dangerously as she looked out the window. “First I’m going to find out whose lurking outside the house.” She said before going out the back door.
***
She looked down at the piece of paper in her hands then back up to the house. She sighed when she realized the numbers on the house were not going to change and this was indeed the correct address. She shivered slightly, dreading going inside. This house was giving her the creeps big time.
Taking a deep breath, and putting on a face of false bravery she started towards the house. She hadn’t taken more than two steps when she was grabbed from behind and spun around.
Her scream caught in her throat when she met angry green eyes, those eyes sending fear like she had never known through her.
Ashtyn smirked, enjoying the fear she saw in the other woman. “Now, you really picked a bad night to be hanging around my house. See, I’m really not much into doing the friendly thing right now, and that can only mean bad things…for you.”
“You have exactly five seconds to tell me who the fuck you are. After that, who you are really isn’t going to matter to anyone.” Ashtyn promised, emphasizing her threat by lifting the woman off the ground, holding her there.
The other woman struggled for a second, but gave up when she realized it was useless. Her eyes widened also when she realized she was running out of time, the slayer was not joking.
“I was sent here by The Council, to take over as your watcher!” she blurted out, nearly sobbing with relief when she was dropped to the ground. She looked up as Ashtyn took a slight step back, her head tilted as she studied the woman on the ground in front of her.
Suddenly Ashtyn laughed, but it was a laugh that sent creatures of the night scattering in fear. “You’re a watcher? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” Ashtyn giggled. “I mean, the council has made some bonehead moves before, but this has got to take the cake!”
Suddenly she found a finger in her face. “Now you listen here!” The new ‘watcher’ spat. “I’ve taking a lot of shit from The Council. But I refuse to take any from a slayer. Yes, missy, I know exactly what you are, and let me just tell you, I’m not impressed. You’re in way over your head here, and you need me! So, instead of wanting to kick my ass, you should be kissing it!”
Ashtyn crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow. As much as she tried to fight it, her lips twitched as she struggled not to smile. She was impressed, and that didn’t happen very often. No one had ever stood up to her like this, and she liked it!
She stared hard at the woman in front of her, taking in everything, including the fear that was still in her eyes. She was the youngest watcher Ashtyn had come across, even though this watcher had a good ten years on the slayer. She certainly didn’t look like a watcher. In fact she looked more like…
“You’re a slayer.” Ashtyn stated with conviction, her suspicions confirmed by the shocked look on the other woman’s face.
The Watcher/Slayer’s shoulders slumped. “Not anymore.” She said softly. “I’m, what you would call, retired.”
“So? What does that mean?” Ashtyn asked, having never heard of a slayer retiring. All she’d ever heard of them doing was dying.
“It means although I am still stronger than the average person is, I would be no match for you in a fight. Or most demons for that matter. Sure, I could probably protect myself, but in the field, in the fighting sense, I’d be more of a burden to you than a help.”
“Duly noted. So, do you have a name, or should I just call you ‘Watcher’? Or how about Ex-Slayer?” Ashtyn asked, still in her defensive stance with her arms over her chest. All her instincts were telling her to trust the woman in front of her, but she wasn’t sure she could trust her instincts any longer. Not after Evan, Brett and more specifically Dale.
“Oh, I’m sorry. My name is Cheyanne Michaels.” She held out her hand, then pulled it back, letting it drop to her side when Ashtyn simply stared at her, not even moving to take her hand. She sighed. This job was not going to be easy, not that she had expected it to be.
“Look, Ashtyn, I know you’ve been through hell and back, and it’s only bound to get worse before it gets better. But I’m on your side here. I’m here to help you. And you have to remember, I’ve been in your position. I know what you’re going through.”
Ashtyn took a step forward, her eyes flashing dangerously. “You have no idea what I’m going through, do you hear me? You’re not in my position, and I can guarantee you’ve never been, nor will you ever be!” she hissed. She spun around to walk away when Cheyanne made a dangerous move. She jumped forward and grabbed Ashtyn’s arm, putting all her strength into it.
Ashtyn spun around quickly, easily removing the other woman’s hand and before anyone could comprehend what had happened, Cheyanne was lying flat on her back a few yards away.
Cheyanne sat up slowly her eyes meeting Ashtyn’s, who blinked, then all of a sudden her whole posture changed. Her shoulders slumped, almost in defeat as she gazed at the fallen watcher.
“I-I’m sorry.” Ashtyn apologized softly. “I guess you could say I haven’t had the best of days recently. I just reacted.”
Cheyanne picked herself up off the ground and wiped herself off. She had nearly forgotten just how strong a Slayer could be. “It’s okay, I understand.” She said sympathetically, remembering all too well how it felt to be the Slayer…alone against the world it seemed at most times. And quite literally with the lives of millions and the fate of the world resting on your shoulders. There were times she missed being a slayer, but looking at Ashtyn now and seeing the pain she was going through, Cheyanne found herself grateful to be a watcher, and only hoped she would be able to help the two slayers the Council had talked so fondly about. They had sent here there with strict orders that they were not to loose both slayers. She only hoped she would be able to fulfill her job.
“How did you know to come? How did the council know?” Ashtyn asked. Cheyanne smiled softly.
“They know more than you think, Ashtyn. And regardless of what you believe, they are there to help. They know you defied them when you didn’t complete your mission…and this was why. It was prophesized the Fuel and another strong vampire would bring about the end.” She informed the younger woman.
“Shit.” Ashtyn swore softly.
“Yeah. Now we have a full fledged problem on our hands.” Cheyanne paused then took a deep breath before continuing, knowing this would be the hardest part. “But luckily the council knows how to end it.”
Ashtyn’s head jerked up, but it wasn’t her voice that asked, “How?”
Cheyanne jumped and spun around, having not felt or heard anyone come up. She found three men standing there, three very good-looking men. The sudden tingling in the pit of her stomach also told her they weren’t just normal men.
She turned back to Ashtyn. “I take it this is the rest of Fuel.” Ashtyn nodded. Kevin stepped forward until he stood next to Ashtyn, almost protectively and Cheyanne had a hard time taking it all in. Any vampire she had ever come across had been evil, and although the council had informed her of the suddenly ‘good’ vampires, she was still shocked.
“How do we end this?” Kevin demanded again, his voice causing little shivers to run down her spine. She chose to ignore the little warning bells suddenly going off in her head.
“Brett and Dale are under a spell…a very powerful spell. Basically it has put the evil you all are lacking inside them. They are the keys to all this…and the only way to stop it is to break the spell.” Cheyanne said.
“For the last time, I ask how.” Kevin said dangerously, stepping forward, but stopping when Ashtyn laid a hand on his arm. He glanced down at her and she met his eyes, signaling for him to allow the ex-slayer turned watcher to speak.
“The spell was cast by using the blood of their true loves.” She looked directly at Ashtyn as she said this. “Evan did his homework. The only way to break the spell, and that’s for the true love to die.”
They all fell silent at her announcement. Jeff was the one to finally break it. “Wait a second. Wouldn’t both slayers have to die? I mean, Devin isn’t Dale’s true love, Ashtyn is. So if Devin dies then that will only break the spell on Brett, not Dale.”
“Normally you’d be correct, but not in this instance. See, Evan was running out of time and needed to get the spell done quickly. He should have done two spells, one for Brett and one for Dale, but to cut corners, he only did one. He mixed the blood of the slayers when doing the spell, thus tying you all together. So, if Devin dies, it will effectively break the spell on both Brett and Dale.”
“How do you know all this?” Carl asked in awe. Cheyanne smiled.
“The Council has its ways.” Was all she said.
Kevin kept his eyes on Ashtyn who had yet to move or speak. He put his hand on her arm. “Ash?” he asked hesitantly. She lifted her head.
“Devin’s not going to die.” She stated.
“Ash, hon, I’m sorry but you heard what she said.” Carl started, but Ashtyn cut him off, her look daring anyone to try to defy her.
“I heard.” She snapped.
“A slayer must die.” Cheyanne insisted, a little braver than the rest. Although they might have started out a little rocky, and she didn’t feel totally comfortable around the other slayer, she knew the two shared a bond…just as Ashtyn and Devin did.
Ashtyn nodded as she turned and started towards the house, the determination and finality in her eyes telling more than her words could. “A slayer will die. But it won’t be Devin.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Forty Four
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Devin groaned softly as she slowly came around and immediately regretted the fact that she had awakened as pain surged through every inch of her battered body. She moved a little bit, trying to get the weight off of her sore left side where Brett had viciously kicked her a few hours ago. She realized that her hands were no longer bound, but she made no effort to get up. She knew that she couldn’t.
The last two days had been hell. She’d endured endless physical torture at Brett’s hands. It really was a miracle that she was still alive. She knew that she didn’t have much left in her though and she wasn’t stupid enough to believe that Brett wouldn’t kill her. It wasn’t a matter of ‘if’, it was a matter of ‘when’. She really wished that he would hurry up and get it over with.
Along with the physical pain had come the mental torture. It was without a doubt the worse of the two. Knowing that Brett had never cared for her the way she did him…that all she’d been to him was a part of the plan made the ache in her heart much more profound than any of the pain that she’d endured physically.
Devin forced her eyes to stay closed and her breathing even when she heard Brett’s approaching footsteps, hoping that if he thought that she was still out, he would leave her alone. She fought to keep herself from flinching when he crouched down beside her and tucked her hair back out of her face.
"Time to wake up." Brett whispered gruffly after leaning forward so that his lips brushed her ear. "I know that you’re awake. You might as well open your eyes." He said after not receiving any kind of response out of her.
Knowing that there was no use in fighting, Devin’s eyes fluttered open and she looked up at his face that was hovering just above her own. She was instantly taken aback when she saw the Brett that she’d come to know and love before he’d suddenly turned evil. The expression in his eyes and on his face was soft and caring…just as he’d just a few days ago. She was unable to stop the hope that surged through her thinking that maybe he was back to his old self.
"There’s my angel." Brett said as he looked down into her eyes, a soft smile curving his lips as he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.
"You’ve been through so much, baby." Brett continued before Devin could even try to say anything. "It must hurt a lot." He commented, his voice soothing as his eyes traveled over her, taking in the effects of his beatings all over her body. Meeting her eyes again, he reached out and gently touched her bruised cheek again. "Does it hurt a lot?"
Unable to get her voice to work through her dry throat, Devin nodded weakly in reply to his question. The next thing she knew, Brett leaned forward again, his lips covering hers in a tender kiss. She was unable to stop the pain filled moan that escaped her when his arms went around her and he lifted her up, bringing her closer to him.
Devin closed her eyes as Brett deepened the kiss a little and she wasn’t able to stop herself from responding to him, even though it was quickly sapping her of what little strength that she had left in her. She felt herself becoming lost as his hands moved over her body, all of the pain that she’d felt previously becoming distant. A moment later she froze when she suddenly felt his hand clamp tight around the column of her throat. Her eyes flew open as she pulled back and she looked at him. Closing her eyes again, she was unable to prevent the tears that filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.
"Good." Brett growled as he turned into his vampire form and tightened his hold on her neck. "I’m glad that it hurts. And you know what else? Your pain and suffering s far from being over." He told her as he wiped the tears from her cheeks and smirked when she opened her eyes again and he saw the pleading there.
"Oh, I know that you wish that I’d just hurry up and end it, don’t you? Don’t you?" Brett roared his question when she didn’t say anything in response. He took his hand away from her neck and backhanded her so hard that her eyes rolled to the back of her head as it jerked violently to the side.
"I would end it, but that’s not up to me. If it was, you can be assured that I would have discarded your ass by now. You are a pathetic excuse of a person…you’re good for one thing and one thing only. And you and I both know what that is." Brett taunted her as he thrust against her, his arousal obvious.
"But I can’t kill you right now. It’s not the right time yet." Brett paused for a moment as he eyes turned yellow and glowed. "So we’ve got time for a little more fun. Doesn’t that sound fun?" He laughed out loud as he watched her eyes widen in fear.
"Now, what game shall we play first?" Brett questioned as he stroked his chin, pretending to think about it. "Oh, I know…I have a new idea. It’s a game called ‘I’m hungry and you’re going to quench it." The words weren’t even fully spoken before he dropped his head, his fangs fully extending before he sank them into the delicate skin on her neck.
Devin cried out, though it only came out as little more than a strangled whimper. Her fingernails dug into his arms as she felt him drink the life from her.
When he felt her pulse weakening, Brett stopped and moved back, looking down at her again as he licked the remaining blood from his mouth. "Damn, you taste as good on the inside as you do on the outside." He told her. Feeling her blood flowing through his veins now, he had never felt more ‘alive’ and energetic...Oh, he was going to have fun with her now!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Forty Five
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Dale walked in the cave and grinned when he saw Brett leaning over a barely conscious Devin, blood dripping from his lips. Brett raised his head and licked his lips clean.
“Wanna taste?” he asked, his eyes glowing. Dale was sorely tempted and even took a few steps forward, but looking closer at Devin, he knew if he even took a slight taste, she wouldn’t survive. And it wasn’t that he really cared if she died, he knew it wasn’t quite time.
“Nah, think I’ll wait for the other slayer.” Dale answered confidently. Brett stood up, dropping Devin to the ground then not paying any more attention to her as he looked at Dale, knowing that the slayer was of no threat to him.
“Has Evan told you any more as to what’s going on?” Brett asked, his body tense with anticipation. He was ready to get the ball rolling. Although he was having fun torturing the hell out of Devin, he was growing tired of it and ready to fight the other slayer. Especially with Devin’s blood running through him. Evan had told him the blood of a slayer would increase his powers, but he hadn’t believed it until now. He felt…invincible.
Dale sighed, frustrated and just as anxious as Brett. “Nothing new. Evan says we just wait for Ashtyn’s move. Should be any time.”
“Well, wish she’d hurry the fuck up, I’m growing impatient!” Brett growled.
“It’s won’t be long now.” Both vampires turned to find Evan standing there. “She’s close I can feel it.”
Brett grinned. “Does that mean I can finally finish this one off?” he asked, looking hopefully at Devin. Evan shook his head.
“Not quite. Not until Ashtyn is here…I want her to watch as you drain the life out of her sister slayer.”
***
“Okay, how are we going to surprise them again?” Carl asked, glancing over at the slayer and new watcher.
Ashtyn shook her head. “We’re not. They know I’m here.”
Cheyanne looked at her. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Ashtyn answered, never taking her eyes off the mouth of the cave. “Remember, you’re main concern is getting to Devin. I’ll hold off Brett and Dale. Just get her out of there…alive!”
With that she moved silently through the trees until she came to the cave opening. Taking a deep breath she walked inside, knowing full well what was waiting for her.
***
“There’s my favorite little Slayer!” Evan greeted Ashtyn as she stepped into the light. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down!”
“Hey baby.” Dale called out, leaning against the wall of the cave, his arms crossed over his chest. She didn’t even spare him a glance as she kept her eyes on Evan. She didn’t even look at Devin, knowing if she did it would distract her too much.
“Sorry to keep you all waiting.” She said cheerily, walking slowly around the room, taking in all the vampires, planning her strategy. “So, how’s this gonna work?” she asked.
Evan grinned. “It’s simply really. Devin is gonna die, then you get drained and turned. Not hard to understand, right?”
Devin heard Ashtyn’s voice and tried to raise her head but was too weak from the blood lose and all the hell her body had been through the past couple days. She was overcome with a sense of hopelessness, knowing she would be of no help to Ashtyn. She closed her eyes and began praying like she had never prayed before.
Almost as if God himself were answering her prayers, Carl, Jeff, Kevin and some female she didn’t recognize came charging in, catching everyone except Ashtyn off guard.
The fight was on.
Ashtyn immediately threw herself at Evan, knowing if they were going to win this, she had to take him out. She grabbed him and threw him across the distance of the cave, his body slamming to the wall. He shocked her by getting to his feet almost immediately, with a sick, sadistic grin as he came forward.
“Nice try, Ashtyn, I’m semi impressed. But you didn’t think that I wouldn’t be prepared for this did you? You see, the spell I used on Brett and Dale wasn’t the only one I cast. I knew in my normal state I would be no match for you…so therefore I had to make sure I was strong enough to take you. And guess what? I am.”
With that he lunged forward, his fist connecting with the side of her face, sending her sprawling. She got up shakily and shook the cobwebs from her head. She grinned at him.
“Not bad.” She said, circling him. “But not good enough.” With that she attacked, both fighting viciously, neither willing to loose. After he had landed some good punches, she’d had enough and put all her strength and energy into kicking his ass. It wasn’t long before she had the upper hand, and he knew he was fighting a loosing battle.
She stood over him and shook her head. “Evan, how many times have I told you not to underestimate a slayer?” she asked before kicking him hard, rendering him unconscious. She was about to deliver the final blow when she heard Cheyanne scream her name. She spun around and her heart nearly stopped. Brett had Devin off the ground, holding her in front of him. All motion in the cave stopped, all the fighting ceased.
“I’ve got to hand it to you, Slayer. You almost won.” Brett sneered, his face shifting to his vampire form. “But alas you’re too late. Now, you’re fellow slayer dies.”
“I don’t think so.” Before Brett even had time to react, he was hit in the back of the head. With lightning quick reflexes, Kevin jumped forward and caught Devin before she hit the ground. She looked up into his concerned blue eyes and tried her best to smile.
“Thank you.” She whispered as he picked her up and carried her over to a safer place, away from all the action. She tried briefly to regain some strength but knew it was hopeless. “Help Ash.”
Kevin smiled down at her. “She’ll be fine.” He said, although he knew he was lying, but Ashtyn had informed them all that under no circumstance was Devin to know what she was about to do.
Unable to fight off the darkness any longer, Devin allowed herself to slip into a deep state of unconsciousness.
Ashtyn nearly sighed with relief when she saw Devin’s eyes close, having not wanted her to see this. She was caught off guard and gasped when strong arms suddenly closed around her. She instantly knew who was pressed up against her back.
“I was wondering when you were going to join in the fight.” She said, not even bothering to struggle. She shivered when she felt Dale’s lips by her ear.
“I was just standing back watching and admiring. I’ve been looking forward to this.” He said softly, his voice seductive. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew what she had to do…she had to make him think she was putting up a fight.
“Me too.” She whispered before breaking the hold he had on her, spinning around, catching him in the stomach with her foot. She didn’t put her full power into it, she only hoped he wouldn’t realize she was holding back.
Dale stumbled back a couple steps before catching himself. He grinned down at her. “This is gonna be fun!” he smirked before swinging, which she ducked easily. He, however, didn’t have time to avoid her punch, finding himself flat on the ground.
“Fun for me maybe.” She shot back, her hands on her hips. Dale looked up at her and smiled confidently.
“You won’t kill me. You can’t.”
She raised an eyebrow as she took the stake out from behind her back and held it there, looking down at it as she seemed to consider his words. “Ya think?” she asked.
Dale got to his feet, his eyes flashing dangerously. “Give it your best shot, Slayer.” He hissed.
Ashtyn knew it was time. In the span of about a second, she glanced around the room, taking in everything, silently saying good bye to everyone. Then she looked back at Dale, staring deep into his blue eyes.
‘I love you, and I forgive you.’ Her heart screamed as she lunged, purposely allowing him to grab her hand and use her own momentum against her. It was over in a half a heartbeat, as they both stared at each other wide eyed.
Ashtyn stumbled back, struggling to catch her breath as she looked down at the stake, embedded deeply in her own chest. Her legs gave out and she crashed to the ground as her vision became blurry.
‘This is it.’ She thought to herself as everything started to go black. She could feel her heart struggling to keep going, but slowly giving up. She rolled her head to the side, her eyes resting on Devin. ‘Live a long happy life,’ she prayed.
She smiled weakly when Dale leaned over her, gazing down at her. She ignored the triumphant look in his eyes and chose to focus on the man she fell totally and completely in love with.
With that thought in mind, she closed her eyes for the last time.
The instant her spirit and soul left her body, Brett and Dale gasped, simultaneously falling to the ground, clutching their chests, writhing around as if in pain.
Carl, Jeff and Kevin all looked at Cheyanne, hoping this meant that the spell was broken. Evan held his head in his hands as he struggled to his knees, having just regained consciousness, wondering what in the hell he’d just missed. His anger built as he looked around and found all his minions dead except for Brett and Dale who were acting like they too were dying.
Then he saw her. His breath caught in his throat as his eyes touched on Ashtyn’s lifeless body, instantly knowing she was dead. “NO!” he screamed as he jumped to his feet, grabbing the knife he’d had tucked away in his boot. He stumbled over towards Devin, determined to make her pay. She was the one who was supposed to die, damn it!
He fell to his knees beside her and lifted the knife high in the air, ready to plunge it downward when he was suddenly grabbed, and jerked away from the fallen slayer. His eyes widened in fear when he looked into Brett’s murderous eyes.
With a growl of pain, betrayal, anger and guilt, Brett snapped Evan’s neck effortlessly, ending his reign of terror once and for all. He dropped the body and rushed over to Devin, seeing she was just now starting to come around. He looked around confused, not really remembering what had happened. Everything was jumbled and fuzzy, but he would worry about that later. His only concern at the moment was Devin, who looked as if she was barely hanging on. Whoever did this to her was going to pay, and pay dearly.
Devin opened her eyes and found Brett leaning over her, and immediately tried to recoil from him. She looked away from him, unable to take anymore seeing the concern and love in his eyes, yet knowing it was all an act…more torture.
Her eyes widened when they fell on Ashtyn and somewhere from deep within she found strength she didn’t know she had. She pushed Brett away from her, completely ignoring him as she crawled over to her friend’s body.
“Ash?” she whispered, although she knew it was too late. She reached out and pulled Ashtyn’s body into her arms and held her tight as she broke down into heart wrenching sobs.
Her head jerked up when she felt movement beside her, her eyes turning cold and deadly when they met Dale’s. With a cry that was torn from the very depths of her soul she attacked. Even in her weakened state, the anger, pain and hurt made her stronger.
She instantly had him flat on his back, finding a discarded piece of wood on the ground, holding it above his heart. She ignored everything and everyone around her as she started down at him, also ignoring the confused expression on his face. She wasn’t falling for that trick.
“You took Ashtyn’s life,” she whispered shakily, instantly knowing that Ashtyn had died by his hand. “Now I’m going to take yours.”
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Chapter Forty Six
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Devin held Dale’s eyes as she lifted the stake a little higher in the air and then brought it down with all of the strength that she had left in her. It was just centimeters from entering his chest when someone suddenly grabbed her arm, effectively stopping her intentions of killing him the same way he had Ashtyn.
Devin’s head snapped around and she glared with murder in her eyes at the person who dared to try and stop her from ending Dale’s pathetic existence.
“You have exactly three seconds to get your fucking hands off of me.” Devin warned the woman whom she had seen earlier, but still didn’t know who she was.
Cheyanne took a deep breath as she met Devin’s eyes. She knew that this wasn’t going to be easy. Devin still had no idea what was going on…that Dale and Brett were under a spell when they’d done the things they had. All Devin knew was that her best friend and sister slayer was dead and she was damn well going to make sure that the one who was responsible paid. Which brought her to Dale and Brett…both of whom had no idea what was going on either now that they spell had been broken.
“Devin,” Cheyanne began, but was cut off before she could get any further.
“How the fuck do you know my name? And who the hell are you?” Devin demanded, her eyes blazing.
“We can talk about that later. What is important now is that you don’t kill Dale.” Cheyanne told he.
“Like hell!” Devin exclaimed, her eyes lit with fury as she jumped to her feet and stood toe to toe with Cheyanne, Dale momentarily forgotten. “Who the hell are you to tell me what to do? That piece of shit killed Ashtyn and he is not getting away with it!”
Cheyanne sighed inwardly, feeling bad for what the woman before her had gone through and was still going through. She could well understand Devin’s anger and need for revenge. And after being put through hell that she’d been the past few days, Cheyanne knew that there was no way that Devin was thinking clearly. She honestly didn’t know how Devin had it in her to even be standing there at that moment.
“It’s not me telling you what to do. It’s Ashtyn.” Cheyanne said quietly, watching as Devin crumpled a little more at hearing Ashtyn's name.
“Before all of this went down, she made me promise that I would stop anyone who tried to kill Dale or Brett. There is a lot that you don’t know about what has happened the last few days. And knowing that, Ashtyn made me promise that.”
“Bullshit!” Devin screamed, having just about reached her point of breaking. She was not willing to believe that Ashtyn had said that even as she looked into Cheyanne eyes and saw the truth. She turned her head and looked at Kevin, Carl, and Jeff, also seeing the truth there.
Turning back, Devin looked at Dale again, the murder still in her eyes. He still looked confused by all that was going on. And why the hell did Devin keep on insisting that he had killed Ashtyn? He would have never! “ Someone want to tell me what the fuck is going on here?”
“You’ll remember soon enough.” Cheyanne looked down at him and said, knowing that it would only be a matter of time.
“So that’s it? I’m supposed to just drop it and let him get away with murder?” Devin questioned dully, her eyes void.
“For the last time, I did not kill Ash…” Dale trailed off as it hit him and all of the memories from the last few days up until the present suddenly came back to him. A roar born of pain and guilt escaped him as he leapt to his feet in one fluid movement. He looked at everyone in the cave with wild eyes before his eyes fell on Ashtyn. He stared at her for several minutes and then before anyone could say or do anything, he turned and ran out of the cave as fast as he feet would take him.
Devin moved to follow him, intent of following through with her intentions of killing him. She only made it a few steps before she collapsed; all that she’d been through catching up with her again. She lay there where she fell, breathing heavily as she fought to keep hold of consciousness.
When Brett approached her and crouched down beside her, she tried her damnedest to get up once again and away from him. She gave up after a few tries, knowing that it was impossible. She was completely spent.
“Don’t fucking touch me!” She warned, her voice barely a whisper. But even the soft tone did not hide the seriousness of her warning. She held up the piece of wood that she still grasped in her hand to further emphasize her point. “Haven’t you done enough already?” She asked him as she held his eyes.
Not willing to give up and desperately needing answers as to what had gone on, Brett took the risk of getting dusted and persisted. There was so much he needed to know. WHY had Dale killed Ashtyn? WHY couldn’t he or Dale remember anything since the demons had attacked Devin and Ashtyn a few days ago? HOW had they all come to where they were now? WHO had hurt Devin so badly? Not missing the marks on her neck either…WHO had been the vampire that had dared to feed from her? And WHY was she looking at him as if he were the foulest thing she’d ever seen.
“Devin.” Brett again took a chance and reached out, laying his hand on her arm. The instant he touched her, everything came back to him in a rush that left him feeling numb with guilt. He snatched his hand back, now knowing why he saw such disgust and loathing in her eyes.
It was him…He’d done all of this to Devin.
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Chapter Forty Seven
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Devin knelt down and placed the bouquet of lilies she had in her hands next to the tombstone that held Ashtyn’s name. She still couldn’t believe her best friends was gone, even though three months had passed. Every day she wanted to die as well, and just went through the motions of living, without really paying attention to anyone or anything around her.
She wiped a tear away as it slid down her cheek and began to speak, this being the only time she felt like she was still alive.
“Why did you have to leave me, Ash?” Devin cried. “I can’t do this without you. I don’t want to go on without you!”
She cut herself off as harsh sobs wracked her body. After a few moments she had calmed down enough to speak. “Cheyanne keeps trying to get me go to back out slaying…as if nothing happened. She’s damn lucky I haven’t kicked her ass!”
She took a deep breath and kept going. “Brett left the other day, for good this time I think.” She said, looking down at the flowers, absently playing with one of the delicate petals.
“Cheyanne has tried time and time again to tell me what really happened to them, and why they turned against us the way they did…but I’ve never let her. Hearing it will make it all too real. I know I’m being stubborn, but Ash, I can’t!”
She wiped at some more tears. “I know I’ve told you this before, but I’m saying it again. I wish I’d killed Dale that day. Sure, Cheyanne says you told her to stop anyone from hurting him or Brett, but I don’t understand that! He killed you, KILLED YOU!” she screamed, burying her face in her hands as started sobbing.
“He’s damn lucky he’s never showed his face back here since that night. After he ran off, no one has heard anything from him again, although I have my suspisions that he’s still around, at least from time to time.” She said, remembering all the times she would come to visit Ashtyn’s grave and fine fresh flowers there. She knew who had put them there, although he was wise to not show his face when she was around.
“Brett and I are through, even though I’m sure everyone had figured that out by now. I can’t get past what he did to me…and it seems he can’t either. We couldn’t even look each other in the eyes any longer, so he finally left. I’m relieved, in a way too.”
Devin sighted and stared off into space. “I don’t know, Ash. Maybe I should let Cheyanne explain what happened…then maybe I’ll be able to move past all this. But I can’t…I don’t want to move on without you.”
She leaned forward and rested her forehead on her knees, allowing the tears to completely flow freely for the fallen slayer. The other thing that was eating her alive was the fact that Ashtyn had sacrificed herself for her. Devin knew she was the one who was supposed to die, and Ashtyn had changed that, taking her place. For that she was angry, hurt, lonely, frustrated…and so many more emotions.
Her head jerked up when she felt someone approaching. Her muscles relaxed somewhat when she saw Cheyanne. “What the hell do you want?” Devin growled, pissed off that her alone time with Ashtyn had been interrupted.
Cheyanne sighed as she came closer. Her heart went out to Devin, and she knew it was time to ease some of that pain, and only one person could truly do that.
“I-I have something for you.” Cheyanne said almost hesitantly. “Ashtyn asked me to give it to you, only when the time was right. And I do believe it is now. You’re allowing yourself to drown in your own sorrow and despair, and you and I both know that’s not what Ashtyn would have wanted.”
Devin jumped to her feet her eyes blazing. “You didn’t even know Ashtyn! You have no right to talk to me like this.”
Cheyanne shook her head. “I may not have known her long, but I knew her enough to know she didn’t give her life just so you could sit back and destroy yours. She gave her life so you could live…so we all could!”
Devin turned away, holding herself as she started shaking. “Get away from me.” Her voice was low.
“I will, but first I need to give you this.” Cheyanne stepped forward and placed a white envelope on the head stone. “Read it, then when you’re ready, I’ll be waiting.” With that she turned and walked away.
Devin didn’t turn back around until she felt Cheyanne leave. Only then did she turn to see the envelope with her name on it, in Ashtyn’s hand writing.
With shaking hands, she picked up the envelope and gently opening, careful not to tear it. She pulled out the paper and took a deep breath as she began to read, tears immediately escaping as she read the first line…
Dear Devin,
Bet you thought you wouldn’t be hearing from me, huh? Bad humor, I know. First of all, don’t be mad at Cheyanne for keeping this letter from you. She was under strict orders to only give you this when the timing was right…and that she would know when that was. Was I right, or was I right!
I know you’re hurt, confused and feeling very betrayed. And I also know you’re probably a little pissed at me for being the prophesized slayer. But hey, I told you that you weren’t the one who was going to die!
One thing I want to stress is that you have to understand that Brett and Dale were under Evan’s spell. They didn’t mean any that they said and did, although I know that is of little comfort right now. Talk to Cheyanne, she’ll be able to explain all this better than I can.
Speaking of Cheyanne, although I didn’t completely trust her at first, she’s got that fire that you and I have. She was a slayer, Dev. You can trust her. Follow your instincts on her. I believe she is going to be your greatest ally…well except for me of course. I’m just sorry I didn’t get longer to know her and work with her myself. But if it wasn’t for her, I doubt things would have ended the way they needed too.
I’m sorry I can’t be there with you, but know that I’ll be watching over you and in your heart always. I’m finally free…my job is done. I’m not scared of death…only of your death, which is why I couldn’t just let you die. I strongly believe the world needs a slayer like you more than one like me. I’ve always been too headstrong and never thinking things through. You on the other hand, you’re the whole package. The perfect slayer, in my eyes.
Don’t give up the fight, Devin. I know you well enough to know you’re thinking about it.. You can’t. Keep fighting…for me. Please. Cuz let me just tell you, if you do give up and end up dying without a fight and end up where I am, I’m so kicking your ass!
Also, don’t blame yourself for my death. It was my decision, and I made it with no hesitation. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Remember that I love you and that I’ll always be with you…and I’ll see you again one day, but hopefully it won’t be until you’re old and gray!
I was going to write a letter to Dale as well, but I’m a little pressed for time. Please, tell him that I love him, and that I always will. And tell him that I don’t blame him. He’s going to be going through a lot of guilt, and I’m hoping you’ll help him through it. I know it will be hard, because if all goes well, I will die by his hand…but that’s the way it has to be. I don’t have any other choice. I wish to God I could spare him that pain and guilt, but I can’t. Just let him know that I forgive him of everything…and thank him for showing me true love. I may not have had it for long, but at lease I had it.
And in saying that, you have it too. You have true love with Brett. Don’t let it slip through your fingers. Hold on to him, and hold on tight. Together you can help each other heal.
Good bye Devin.
Love,
Ashtyn
She chewed on her bottom lip as she thought about everything Ashtyn had put in the letter. A spell. Brett and Dale had been under a spell? Now that she thought about it, she remembered Cheyanne, Carl, Kevin and Jeff trying to get her to listen and something about a spell, but she had been too wrapped up in her own sorrow to really care or pay attention.
But, now, Ashtyn was right, she did need to talk to Cheyanne. It was time to stop putting things off. She wasn’t going to let Ashtyn’s death be for nothing. And maybe, just maybe she would be able to find it in her heart to forgive both Brett and Dale.
She looked down at the head stone with a soft smile. “You died so I could live. Well, it’s time I started living! Thank you, Ashtyn. And I love you too.”
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Chapter Forty Eight
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Devin took a deep breath as she stood outside the old abandoned warehouse. It had taken her weeks to track him down, and now that she finally had, she wasn’t sure she could go through with it.
Once she had sat down with Cheyenne and allowed herself to hear the entire story, it was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She didn’t look for him right away, needing some time to herself to sort everything out. She went back to her slaying duties, not for herself, for Cheyenne, not for anyone except Ashtyn. She refused to allow Ashtyn’s death be in vain.
When she finally allowed herself to think about Brett and Dale, she found she no longer harbored the rage, anger, hurt and betrayal. After all, it really hadn’t been their fault. They had just been pawns in Evan’s sick twisted game.
Which brought her to the present. Standing alone, in the middle of day outside the warehouse. Once she had decided to seek him out, he seemed to disappear off the face of the earth. Luckily, there were still some demons and vampires who were willing to talk before she killed them. They had lead her to this spot.
She had chosen to do this during the daytime so he wouldn’t be able to leave the building, until she was ready for him too. She didn’t know what kind of reception she would get from him, and had herself prepared for anything.
Taking one more deep breath, she opened the door and walked in, closing it softly behind her. She stood still for a moment, allowing her eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness. All the high windows were boarded up, only a few cracks of the sun rays seeping through here and there.
She went towards the back of the warehouse, instantly knowing that’s where he was. She paused when she made out his form. He was huddled in the corner, his head down. Hadn’t he felt her presence?
She took a hesitant step forward then stopped. “Dale.” She said softly. He slowly raised his head, and although she thought she had herself prepared, she found she hadn’t even been close when she took in his appearance.
He was pale, even paler than a vampire should be. He’d lost a lot of weight, and his eyes were dead and hallow. He looked like a starved man. And a man who had totally given up on life.
Forgetting to approach him with caution, she rushed forward, kneeling down next to him. “My god, Dale! What has happened to you?” she asked, reaching out to touch him, pulling her hand back when he shied away from her.
“Are you here to kill me?” he asked in a dead voice. Devin’s expression softened as her heart went out to him. She knew herself had been going through hell since Ashtyn’s death, she could only begin to imagine what he had been though, and was still going through.
“Oh, Dale.” She said as she sat down next to him. “No, I’m not here to kill you.”
“Damn.” He whispered, turning away from her. Devin bit her lip as she tried to figure out how to start the conversation.
“I’m not here to kill you, but I am here to save you.” She told him. She flinched slightly when his head jerked back around and she saw the sudden anger in his eyes.
“Save me?” he laughed harshly. “You can’t save me.”
“No, probably not, but Ashtyn can.”
In an instant he was on his feet, moving swiftly across the floor away from her. She immediately followed. “Don’t.” he said brokenly. “Don’t say that name. Just get out of here.”
“No.” Devin crossed her arms over her chest. She knew he could be stubborn when he wanted to be, but damnit so could she, and he was about to find out just how much. “Dale, I’ve got a lot I need to say, and you’re going to listen, even if I have to tie you up somewhere. So, are we going to do this the hard way, or the easy way?”
Dale turned to look at her, the lost look in his eyes nearly bringing tears to her own. She knew that feeling. She knew that was how she herself looked until she allowed herself to deal and listen to Cheyenne.
She took his arm, feeling his muscles tense under her hand, but she ignored it and led him over to some boxes and had him sit down. Once she was sure he wouldn’t bolt again she sat down across from him.
“I’m sorry for the way I acted that night.” She started, feeling she needed to get that out of the way. “I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time, and I’m gland Cheyenne stopped me from staking you.”
Dale started shaking, but didn’t say anything and she took it as a sign to continue. She ran her fingers through her hair as she tried to figure out what to say and how to put it. She’d practiced it many times in her head, but now she couldn’t seem to remember. She decided to just get to the heart of things.
“Dale, you can’t blame yourself for Ashtyn’s death.” She anticipated his sudden movement, and before he was able to rise she had her hands on his shoulders, keeping him still, looking deep into his eyes.
“It wasn’t you. That day when Ash and I were attacked and those demons drew blood, Evan used it to cast a spell…a spell that turned you and Brett evil. So it wasn’t you.”
She could see he didn’t believe a thing she was saying so she tried a different route. “Ash knew the only way to break the spell was for one of us to die. You and I, and everyone else knows that she could have kicked your ass from here to China if she really wanted too. But she didn’t. She allowed you to win that fight.”
A soft moan came from his still form as he buried his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking with grief. Devin bit her lip, not wanting to cause him any more pain. She knew there was only one thing to do.
“I’m sorry this is hurting you, but you have to know. And I can see you don’t want to believe me. But I know you’ll believe Ashtyn.” She said softly. He lifted his head and looked at her.
“What?” he whispered. Devin took the envelope out of her pocket and held it out for him. The was the first time she had allowed anyone even a glimpse of her letter from Ashtyn, but she knew she was doing the right thing.
“Take it Dale. Read it, and maybe you’ll believe…and start to move on, like she would want you too. There is something about to happen, and I need your help. But you have to stop blaming yourself first. You look like you haven’t fed in…well, months. You need to start living.” Her lips twitched at the irony of telling someone else what everyone had been telling herself for months.
“Read this, then come find me. I’m staying at the Raddisson Hotel room 385, and I’ll be there for two more days. After that I’m going back. I need you Dale, and I’m asking for your help. And if you’ll let me, I’ll help you move in return. I can’t do this alone, and neither can you.”
He reached out with a shaking hand and took the letter. She watched as he stared at the handwriting on the front for a long time. When he moved to open the envelope, she turned away, wanting to give him the privacy he deserved.
She walked to the door, opened it and started to step out. She nearly turned back around when she heard his harsh sob, but told herself to keep going. She knew, better than anyone else, that he had to deal with it on his own, and when he was ready he would find her. She had no doubts about that.
And when he came to her, she would help him. She had made that promise to Ashtyn before she left home. Then afterwards, once they had both healed a little more, she was going to find Brett. Ashtyn was right…he was her true love, and she wasn’t going to just let him slip away without a fight. But she also knew she had to be one hundred percent ready…and she wasn’t quite there yet. Close but not quite.
She closed the door behind her and looked up at the sky. “I did it, Ash. Now it’s your turn to help him, guide him. And while you’re at it, can you please keep an eye on Brett for me? I promise I’ll go to him soon…but until then, please keep him safe.” She silently prayed before taking the long walk back to her hotel to wait.
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Chapter Forty Nine
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Devin anxiously paced her hotel suite, her hands balled into tight fists at either side of her body. This was her last night in town and had not yet seen or heard from dale. The sun had just set so there was still plenty of time before it rose again in the morning, but with each minute that ticked by on the clock, she became more and more certain that she wouldn't see Dale again before she had to leave in the morning.
She began to doubt that she had handled the situation correctly. Maybe she should have stuck around until Dale had finished the letter. Maybe she should not have let him read it. Maybe she shouldn't have come here at all.
"No." Devin whispered to herself, knowing deep down that she had done exactly what was best. She stopped pacing and looked out the window, her eyes going to the main hotel entrance on the ground below her. She stayed there, deep in thought for several minutes before she turned to resume pacing again. She'd barely taken a step or two when the familiar sensation of a vampire nearby ripped through her and she instantly knew that it was Dale.
Not more that five seconds later, she heard the knock on the door. A small smile of relief that he was there curved her lips as she went over to it and opened the door.
"Hey," Dale said, his voice hushed as Devin stepped aside to invite him inside. "Sorry I'm late." He gave her an absent smile.
"Not late. Just in time." Devin told him as she closed the door behind her and looked at him. He still looked like hell, but he looked better...better than when she had first found him. She herself, knew that she still looked pretty shitty and that it was going to take a little time before either of them were back to normal. Though she wasn't quite sure what normal was anymore.
"I thought you'd want this back." Dale held Ashtyn's letter out to her.
"Thanks." Devin took the envelope from him and tucked it safely into her bag. She turned back to find Dale intently studying her.
"How are you doing, Devin?" He asked, remembering that she wasn't the only one who had lost Ashtyn. And not only that, she'd lost Brett as well. Even though he was still 'alive', he was gone.
"I'm better...now." She replied with a small humorless laugh. "Looking at you now, you remind me a lot of how I was up until not so long ago. It was hard to accept...it still is. Physically, I've healed...I'm like new on the outside. On the inside, I've still got some work to do."
"I know what you mean." He completely understood what she was saying. He paused for several seconds before speaking again. "I saw Brett a couple of times right afterward, but I haven't seen him since." He watched as she gave him the barest of nods in response, but more than anything he saw the outright pain in her eyes before she quickly hid it. He decided to change the subject.
"How are things back home?" He questioned having often thought about Kevin, Carl, Jeff, as well as Devin. He missed them all a lot, but the pain and guilt had been too much to bear and had kept him from going back.
Devin gave him a little smile, thankful for the subject change. As much as she knew that Brett hadn't been himself when he'd done the things to her that he had and she'd forgiven him of that, she wasn't ready to see him, nor was she ready to talk about him.
"Oh you know...same shit, different day. Vampires, and big ugly demons. I've been hearing some rumblings about a new big evil lurking around...waiting to make his move." Devin rolled her eyes nonchalantly, even though the things that she'd heard were not good and quite frankly had her a little scared. This being her first big fight without Ashtyn had her feeling more than a little uncertain, even though she wasn't letting anyone see it.
"I want to come back to New Hope with you." Dale said suddenly, feeling the need to be close as he could to Ashtyn again and also wanting to be close to Devin, knowing that she and he needed each other. He and Devin were the two people who had known Ashtyn the best and only they could heal each other of the wounds that her death and everything else had caused. "Please take me back with you." His eyes pleaded with her as he awaited her reply.
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Chapter Fifty
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He sank down wearily on the bed of the motel room, where he had been staying for the past couple days. He wasn’t even sure where he was, nor did he really care. He just kept moving, knowing that if he stopped or slowed down, it would all come crashing down on him.
He laid back and started at the ceiling, not seeing the cracks in the tiles, instead seeing her face. She was all he ever saw when he closed his eyes. She haunted his dreams, even haunted him when he was wide-awake. On more than one occasion, he’d thought he’d seen her on the streets, his heart immediately taking flight, only to come crashing back down, along with all the guilt.
“Devin.” He whispered her name softly, closing his eyes against the sudden burn.
He’d stayed for Ashtyn’s funeral, god he still couldn’t believe she was truly gone. For him it was like losing a little sister…and it was even worse knowing he had a hand in it.
He’d known right away that there was no way he could stay around Devin after all he had done. When he’d first left, he’d gone in search of Dale, but it was very soon apparent the other vampire didn’t want to be found, so he had given up, and gone out on his own, running from the nightmares that haunted his very existence.
He knew Evan had done something to him, but nothing eased his pain and guilt. He kept seeing the look in Devin’s eyes as she recoiled from him in fear. And the things he had done to her…
A lone tear slipped down his cheek as his exhausted body finally gave into the sleep he had deprived himself for so long, afraid of the nightmares that would return.
“Brett.”
His eyes snapped open when he heard someone say his name but didn’t feel a presence. He sat up, his eyes going wide when they fell upon her. He couldn’t find his voice, move, think or anything as he stared at her.
She grinned at him as she tilted her head, her hands on her hips. “Surprised ya, didn’t I?” she asked with a little giggle.
Brett’s mouth opened, then closed when he still couldn’t find his voice. He tried a couple more times but to no avail. She laughed, the sound doing miracles to his tortured soul.
“You look like a fish out of water.” She teased. She came forward slowly and sat down on next to him.
“Ashtyn.” He croaked. Again a smile lit her face.
“Ahh, so you can still speak. Good to know!” Her eyes darkened as her smile fell and she stared at him. “We need to talk.” She said seriously.
Brett closed his eyes and shook his head, thinking he’d officially lost it. He hadn’t fed in a couple days and was hungry, but he wasn’t to the point of hallucinating yet, was he?
“You’re…” he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. He opened his eyes and found himself still looking her green ones. She smiled again, this time sympathetically.
“Dead.” She finished for him. “Yes I know.” She got up and walked around the small room, wrinkling her nose. “Nice place.”
He couldn’t help but smile at the sarcasm he heard in her voice. “T-this isn’t possible?” he asked. She turned back to him and shrugged.
“Ha! Like that’s ever stopped me before! I mean come on, Brett. It wasn’t possible that vampires could be anything but evil, and you all proved that wrong. It wasn’t possible for a slayer to fall in love with a vampire, but we all proved that one wrong too, didn’t we?” Her eyes softened as she thought of the man she loved. She shook her head, getting back to the matter at hand.
“Also, I proved that although you can’t change a prophecy, you can mix it up a little. Something they thought wasn’t possible.” She said proudly. “You see I really wasn’t the prophesized slayer. Devin was, but I changed that. I think we’ve each proven that just about anything is possible.” She said. “Besides, someone had to talk to you, and I decided who better than me? And also, someone asked me to keep an eye out for you to keep you safe, and if I let you keep going down the path your headed, then you’ll be anything but safe.”
“You need to let go of the guilt.” She told him bluntly. He stared at her in disbelief. She held her hand up when she saw he was about to speak.
“Brett, the guilt you are carrying around is killing you. And it shouldn’t. What happened was not your fault, it wasn’t Dale’s fault, it wasn’t Devin’s fault and it wasn’t mine. There is only one person to blame and you took care of him.”
“But the things I did…” he trailed off. She nodded and came closer.
“It wasn’t you.” She said softly. “Everyone knows the real you would have never even thought about it, much less done it. It’s taken awhile, but Devin realizes that too now. She doesn’t blame you either.”
He couldn’t help the spark of hope that bloomed inside him. Was it possible for Devin to forgive him?
“Yes.” Ashtyn said, obviously reading his thoughts. “You are forgiven.”
“And now you need to go back.” She continued. “Devin needs you, Brett. Without you she is falling apart, just as you are without her. You two are soul mates and need each other, just as you need air to breath.” She paused as she thought about her words. “Well, technically you don’t need air to breathe anymore…but you know what I mean!”
Brett nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. He did need Devin. Each passing moment without her, part of his soul turned cold. He turned his attention back to Ashtyn when he heard her speak again, her next words sending fear straight to his heart.
“There’s another reason you need to go back. Something huge is about to go down, and without you beside her, she will die.” The look in her eyes told him she was not stretching the truth by any means.
“No, she won’t.” he said, his eyes burning with light that hadn’t been there in quite some time. Ashtyn nodded and had a satisfied look in her eyes.
“Now that what I want to hear and see!” Once again her smile faded. “Brett, I need you to do me a favor.”
“Anything, Ashtyn.” He promised.
She bit her lip before answering. “Dale has had just as hard of a time as you have…maybe even more so in some ways. Please, tell him that I love him and always will. And tell him the exact same thing I told you…let go of the guilt. He didn’t kill me.”
Brett’s eyes narrowed in confusion. She answered before he could ask. “I knew what I had to do to save everyone, and I did it. I wasn’t supposed to die that night, but I made sure that I did. And unfortunately it had to be by Dale’s hand to break the spell. If I could have done it any other way to spare him that pain I would have, but it was the only way.” A single tear slid down her cheek.
Brett straightened as he began to understand. “You made sure you lost the fight.” He whispered. She nodded.
“Tell him, please.” She begged. “And tell him to move on. He has so much love to give, I don’t want him to close himself off. He’ll fight you on this when you tell him, we all know his stubborn streak. But you have to make sure he understands that I want him to move on.”
“Why can’t you tell him this?” he asked. “You and I both know he would want to hear this from you. Just to see you one more time…” She smiled sadly.
“I’m kinda breaking the rules right now by talking to you like this…but you know me, I’ve never been one for rules as it is!” she grinned proudly. “But this is one rule that is only allowed to be broken once. And, I felt that you needed me the most.”
“But Dale…”
“Dale has Devin right now, I made sure of that. I know she will help him. You have no one right now, so I came to you.” She told him. She took a deep breath and when she spoke her voice was softer. “Besides, I’m not sure I could go to him like this and leave when time was up. For the first time I don’t think I’d be strong enough. I’d want to stay forever…and I can’t.”
She wiped away her tears and stood up straighter. “My time is about up. Brett, I’m counting on you for this. You must go back…you are needed.”
“I will, I swear it.” He promised, holding himself back from begging her not to leave. It would only make things harder on her, and he wouldn’t do that. His hands clenched into tight fists to stop himself from reaching out and grabbing her, keeping her close and not allowing the heavens to take her back. He wanted more than anything to be able to take her back to Dale and Devin…where she belonged.
“Tell everyone I love them and that I’m okay. I’m at peace, and I will be watching over each and every one of you. I will see each and every one of you one day, just hopefully later than sooner.” She winked. “I love you guys, and I miss you, but it’s time to move on.”
Brett nodded. “We’ll never forget you.” He whispered, his voice gruff from unshed tears. She shot him a look.
“You better not or I’ll have to kick your ass.” She threatened playfully, causing him to laugh for the first time in a hell of a long time.
A slight breeze went through the still room, and as if she were standing there herself, he could smell her scent. It gave him all the answers he needed, and he also knew what he had to do.
He jumped up and grabbed his back, packing away his few things. Minutes later he was done and started out the front door. He paused and looked back, his lips curving into a smile.
“I won’t let you down Ashtyn.” He swore, then turned and left, each step taking him back to the life he had thought he’d left behind forever…and back to the woman who he was prepared to fight to the death to keep safe…and in his life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Fifty One
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brett was unable to stop the memories of good and bad times that rushed through him as he stepped foot back in New Hope for the first time since he'd left. He had traveled at night, hitchhiking most of the way and walking the rest. During the day he slept in dark and abandoned houses or buildings that he'd found along the road. Including the night that Ashtyn had visited him, it took him a total of three nights to get back home.
Inhaling deeply, he took in the scents around him. He was disappointed, yet relieved at the same time when he didn't sense Devin anywhere nearby. He was anxious as hell to see her, but still concerned how she would react to his presence, even though Ashtyn had assured him that Devin no longer blamed him for what had happened.
Continuing on his way, Brett began walking towards Devin's house. He wasn't sure if he would actually stop, but he knew that he at least had to go there...see it...maybe catch a glimpse of her and the guys.
Brett felt a shudder pass through him as he realized that he was approaching the caves. He tried to turn around to take an alternate route, even though that meant he would have to go way out of his way to get where he wanted to go. But something...some unseen force pulled him closer and closer to the cave until he found himself standing at the entrance.
His feet taking him further inside, Brett let his eyes adjust to the dim lighting before he looked around. He located one of the torches that they had used before and fished his lighter out of his jeans pocket. It moments, a soft, orange glow lit the interior.
Brett instantly felt sick as he glanced around and all of the memories invaded him again. "I'm so sorry, Devin." He whispered out loud as he looked down, his eyes touching on a scrap of material lying on the ground. He picked it up, immediately remembering that it had been torn from the shirt that Devin had been wearing. His eyes stared at the dried blood staining it.
"So sorry." He whispered again as he fell to his knees, his entire body trembling.
"She knows."
Brett's head jerked up when he heard the voice behind him that he immediately recognized. He rose to his full height and spun around, his eyes going wide when he saw Dale standing there.
"Junior." He said his friend's name so softly that even with his heightened sense of hearing, Dale had to strain to hear him.
"Damn man...you look like hell!" Dale commented, trying to lighten the pain that he saw in Brett's eyes and that he knew was in his own as well.
A smile lit Brett's face and eyes. "And so do you." He stated as he stepped forward and gave Dale a big hug. "It's damn good to see you, stranger."
"You too." Dale admitted. "Listen, I'm sorry that I brushed you off back when-" He began, but Brett cut him off before he could fully finish his statement.
"No need to apologize." Brett assured the other vampire, fully understanding why Dale had pushed him away. He probably wouldn't have been good company back then anyway with the mood that he'd been in.
Dale's smile faded as he looked around the cave, it being the first time he'd been there in three month. He met Brett's eyes, easily seeing there the same as he felt. "Let's get out of here." He shuddered. "Bad memories here."
*****
Devin stepped back to avoid the getting the dust on her from the vampire that she had just staked. She stopped her eyes growing wide when she ran into what seemed to be a brick wall, but she knew that it wasn't because there had been none even close by where she was. At the same time she hadn't felt any other presence approaching her, but the way her senses were screaming now, she knew it was a demon of some sort.
She spun around, her mouth falling open when she saw what, or who had stopped her. She had to look up and up before her eyes finally met those of the huge demon standing before her. He had to be at least eight foot tall, most of that height coming from his impossibly long legs. He was dressed from head to toe in black leather, including the long cloak that he wore over his clothing. His long, dark red hair flowed loosely around his broad shoulders and his massive arms were entirely covered with a wide array of tattoos. Devin felt a shiver pass through her as she stared up at him, feeling as the piercing green of his eyes were seeing straight into her soul.
Snapping out of her slight stupor, Devin took a half step back from him as she smirked up at him. :Little early for Halloween, don't ya think? What the hell are you supposed to be anyway?" She asked, poking fun at him as the slayer took over the slight ripples of fear that were coursing through her.
She had fought many, many demons in the time that she had been a slayer, but she'd never encountered one quite like this one. He was larger than most, and while most demons were a very ugly sight, this one was stunningly handsome. She knew instantly that he was very powerful; she could feel it rolling off of him in intoxicating waves. She also knew that she'd seen this demon in one of the countless books that she'd read and researched over time, but for the life of her, she could not at the moment recall what he was.
"What am I?" The demon repeated his question, following it with a deep, evil tinged laugh. "If you don't already know, you can trust that you will find out soon enough." He told her, his voice rough as he continued to hold her eyes, almost compellingly. "I will see you soon, Slayer." He promised and with that said, he turned and walked away, leaving Devin staring after him as he disappeared into thin air after having taken only a couple steps.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Fifty Two
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Devin rushed through the front door of her house and found who she was looking for in the living room, sitting around talking. She was nearly out of breath from running so far and so hard.
Everyone looked at her in question as she tried to catch her breath. She straightened and looked at Cheyenne. “I think I’ve just met our new big evil.”
Dale stood up, looking around a little apprehensively. “Uh, Dev…” he started but she interrupted him.
“Wait till you all see this guy! We’ve got to start looking in all the old books, I know I’ve seen this guys somewhere before. I know it, cuz when we saw the picture Ashtyn commented on how, uh, hot the demon was, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the time. Now, after meeting him face to face I’d have to agree with Ashtyn.” She smiled sadly, then shook her head getting back to the thoughts at hand.
“Anyway, I was getting vibes from this guy that was off the chart!” she exclaimed. She paused when she realized everyone didn’t seem to be listening to her. “Hello?”
Kevin’s eyes shifted to hers, having been looking at something behind her. “Uh, Devin…” he too started but again, just like with Dale she stopped them.
“Are you all listening to me? We need to get moving on this, now! I really think you all should be taking this a little more seriously, or at least listening to me a little closer!” she was beginning to get angry and was standing with her hands on her hips.
A few seconds later the sensation hit her. Her eyes flew to Dale’s who was staring back at her a look of apprehension, apology, warning, yet at the same time support in his blue eyes. Her breath caught in her throat, and she found she had difficulty breathing as she closed her eyes, trying to regain some kind of composure.
Giving up on trying to catch her breath, she held it as she slowly turned around, and for the first time in a little over three months. She knew eventually she would have to face him again, yet now doing so, she wasn’t sure what to do. She wanted to reassure him and let him know that she didn’t blame him for all that happened. Yet even while thinking that, vivid images of the torture she had gone through by his hand swam before her eyes.
He was watching her intently, his eyes guarded as he hung back, waiting to see how she would accept his presence. Devin finally got her lungs to fill with air and took a moment to calm herself. After doing so, she looked at him, really looked at him. He looked just as Dale had when she first found him.
Then something strange happened. The part of her heart she thought had turned cold and was forever broken, took its first step in healing. She felt tears stinging the back of her eyes, and not for her own pain, but for the hell he had been through, which she could see clearly by looking at him now.
All her emotions were running wild and she was feeling suffocated. She needed to get out of there and think, desperately. She needed the one place where she felt most at peace. With Ashtyn.
Yet, she couldn’t just leave without at least saying something to Brett. She cleared her throat and met his eyes, willing herself not to run into his arms, or out the door.
“Hello Brett.” She said softly, her voice quivering slightly.
Brett seemed to relax just slightly, but still didn’t move any closer, to which she was grateful. He started to say something, stopped, then tried again. “I-I’m sorry for just showing up like this.” His own voice was gruff and a little shaky. She bit her lip and shook her head.
“No, it’s fine. I have a feeling we’re going to need all the help we can get.” She assured him, about the only reassurance she could handle at the moment. She turned back around and looked at Dale. “Uh, I’m going back out. I cut patrol short after running into the new demon, so I’ll let you all research, while I head back out.”
Cheyenne was about to protest but Dale stepped forward and stopped her. “That’s fine Devin.” He told her, his eyes telling her that he understood completely, they all did.
She nodded and turned and headed out the door, not looking back. Once the front door was closed behind her, she took off into a full sprint to the cemetery, feeling a desperate need to be close to Ashtyn, needing her strength now more than ever.
***
“You have to give her time.”
Brett looked up from the cup in his hands, looking across the kitchen finding Dale standing in the doorway. He nodded and smiled sadly. “I know. I’m not here to push her. I’ll stay away from her, but in the fight, I will be there.” He said, his eyes flashing determinedly.
Dale stuffed his hands in his pockets as he leaned against the counter. “I don’t think you need to stay away completely. You just need to give her time. Yes, Devin knows you weren’t ‘you’ during that time, and she has forgiven you, it’s just going to take her a little while to move past everything.”
“If ever, right?” Brett sighed. They both fell quite for a moment, then Brett sighed heavily, trying to figure out exactly how to say this. “There’s something you need to know, Dale.”
Dale nodded, indicating for his friend to go on. Brett paused, the last thing he wanted to do was cause Dale more pain, and he knew he was about to do this. But he had promised Ashtyn, and he would keep that promise, no matter what.
“Um, you might want to have a seat.” Brett waved his hand towards the chair across from him. Dale looked at him questionably but stayed quite and did as he was told.
“This is hard for me to, uh, get out, but it’s something you need to hear.” Brett started, seeing the wary look in Dale’s eyes grow. “I made a promise, and I intend to keep it. A lot of what I’m going to say you may have a hard time believing, but I swear every word I’m about to say is the truth.”
Dale felt the sudden urge to run, but something held him back. He could see this was important, and just by looking at Brett’s expression, he knew his friend was going to speak the truth.
“I need you to promise me that you’ll stay and listen until I’m done.” Brett asked. Dale nodded, feeling more and more on edge.
“Okay, I promise.” He said softly, almost hesitantly. Brett took one more deep breath.
“When I left, I didn’t know where I was going, nor did I really care.” Brett started, knowing Dale would understand this part completely. “I had no intentions of coming back what so ever. That was until three nights ago.”
Dale tilted his head perplexed when Brett stopped and dropped his head in his hands. “Brett, what happened? What changed your mind?”
Brett shook his head. “Not what. Who.” Dale looked totally confused but didn’t say anything.
“I was told to come back. Apparently this new ‘demon’ that Devin ran into is a huge threat, and I’m needed here.” He took a moment to gather his thoughts. Dale was growing impatient.
“Who was it? Who told you to come back? This person could be of use to us taking down this new enemy. Where’s the person now? How do we get in contact with them?” Dale demanded, getting a little frustration at how cryptic Brett was being.
“That person has helped more than you already know. But she can’t help anymore. And there is no way to get in contact with her.” Brett answered.
“Brett.” Dale growled, having reached the end of his patience.
“It was Ashtyn.” Brett whispered, but he knew Dale heard him the way his entire body jerked as if he’d been struck. He sat back heavily in his chair, staring at Brett in shock and denial.
Before Brett could say anything else, Dale surged to his feet. Brett was right behind him and grabbed him before he made it out the door. “Wait! You promised you’d listen!” Brett struggled to keep Dale from bolting. Dale spun around pushed Brett off him.
“I don’t want to hear this!” he raged. Brett felt his own anger climbing to the surface.
“That’s just too damn bad! Ashtyn asked me to tell you something, and damnit she deserves for you to listen!” Brett yelled, his words stilling Dale. His shoulders slumped in defeat and he hung his head as the tears started streaming down his face. Brett came forward and laid a hand on his arm.
“What happened is not your fault, Dale.” Brett said softly. “She knows that, better than anyone.”
Dale shook his head, running the back of his hand across his eyes. “I killed her.” He barely croaked out, saying the words out loud for the very first time, the pain in his chest nearly bringing him to his knees.
“No you didn’t.”
Dale’s head jerked up and he started at Brett in shock. Brett smiled gently. “It’s part of my message from Ash. I’ll explain it all later, but for now, you need to know this. She wasn’t the prophesized slayer.”
Dale simply stared, his mouth hanging open just slightly. “Devin was the one who was supposed to die.” Brett trailed off, closing his eyes, fighting against his own emotions. “Ashtyn changed that. And she knew the only way for the spell to be broken was if she died…” he trailed off once again.
“If I killed her.” Dale finished flatly, leaning against the wall, his head tilted back and eyes closed in pain, as he remembered those last few moments of Ashtyn’s life.
“She made sure you did. Dale, she didn’t really put of a fight. She let you kill her.” Brett finished. Dale stiffened at the words but didn’t say anything. “She doesn’t blame you. She loves you and forgives you. Hell, she’s the one who is so sorry that you’re going through this hell.” He paused at Dale’s soft groan but then continued.
“She also said that you need to let go of your guilt, and move on. She wants you to be happy, not mourning her forever. She said she is at peace, but I don’t know if she truly can be until you are as well.” Brett finished.
Dale stayed quiet, taking it all in. He opened his eyes and looked at Brett, knowing realistically what Brett was saying couldn’t be true. But looking into his friends eyes now, he believed each and ever word.
“H-how?” Dale broke off, taking a deep unsteady, unnecessary breath. “How did you see her? Talk to her?”
Brett smiled softly. “That’s another long story, and one I will gladly share, when you’re ready.” Dale nodded and walked over to the table, sat himself down, then looked directly at Brett.
“I’m ready now.”
***
Devin sat with her knees pulled up tight against her, her head resting against them as she started at Ashtyn’s name on the headstone. “So what do I do? How do I get past all that I’m feeling? It’s so weird. I don’t blame him, and I do forgive him…yet at the same time I don’t know that I can be alone in the same room with him!” she cried.
“Uh, this is so fucked up!” she exclaimed, taking a couple calming breaths. Suddenly a slight smile touched her lips. “Oh, by the way, remember a few years ago we came across a demon in one of the Council’s books, and you’re exact words for describing him here ‘totally fuckable’!” she giggled at the memory. “Well, I met him tonight. And, I have to say, you’re first instinct was right, although I also he’s just as evil as he is fuckable.”
She sighed. “I think he’s going to cause me some major problems. There was a power coming off him like nothing I have ever felt before. I can just see every demon walking the earth cowering to this guy. And I’m scared. I-I don’t want to face him alone.” She whispered.
“Well, now isn’t this just touching?”
Devin jumped to her feet and spun around in a fluid motion. Her eyes narrowed when she saw the demon in question leaning casually against a tree just a few feet away. He smirked and came forward, walking around her to gaze down at the headstone in front of her.
“Ahhh, the fallen slayer.” He murmured. “I’ve heard much about you both. I must say I’m disappointed I won’t get to meet your friend, but it just makes my job easier.” He turned back to Devin who had yet to move.
“I take it you haven’t figure out who I am yet.” He grinned slyly. “Although I do appreciate the compliment.”
Devin couldn’t help it, she blushed. She stepped back and glared up at him. “Get away from her.” She spat, not wanting this monster of a man standing anywhere near Ashtyn’s grave. She was unable to stop her lower lip from trembling.
He studied her then looked back at the headstone. “She meant a great deal to you, I see. Don’t worry, you’ll be with her soon.” He promised. He leaned forward and down until they were nose to nose. “Very soon.” He whispered.
Snapping out of her trance, Devin spun and would have executed a perfect spinning heel kick, if her target hadn’t vanished in thin air. She looked around, her hands on her hips. “How in the hell does he do that?” she asked herself.
She glanced down at Ashtyn’s final resting place and sighed. “I think I’m in a lot of trouble.”
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Chapter Fifty Three
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Devin walked into the house, shaking her head to clear her muddled thoughts as she closed the door behind her. She was feeling very overwhelmed right at the second. Brett being back was a lot to take in. This new demon on top of it was making things even more difficult. She’d never come across a demon quite like him before. There was no doubt in her mind that he could good on his threats to her with a mere snap of his fingers. She knew that she wasn’t going into this fight alone, but damn…she wished that Ashtyn were there with her. She sighed deeply knowing that that wasn’t possible though. It never would be again.
She walked further into the house and found the guys and Cheyanne seated around the kitchen table, stacks of unopened books in front of them. They were deep in conversation and none of them noticed her presence as she leaned against the doorframe. She stayed silent as her eyes touched on Brett, her breath catching when she easily saw all of the emotion in his eyes, even when he wasn’t looking at her.
Devin quickly looked away when Brett suddenly looked up and their eyes met. God, she wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms…feel his arms around her, comforting her and assuring her that everything would be okay. Yet at the same time, she wanted nothing more to bolt for the nearest exit as memories of what he’d done to her played through her mind over and over…even when she knew full well that he hadn’t been himself when he’d done those things…and she had forgiven him because of that. She was still having an extremely hard time dealing with it.
"Hey Devin." Cheyanne’ voice broke into her thoughts. She turned her attention back to everyone and gave them a slight, forced smile.
"Doing some research?" She asked, indicating to the books on the table.
"Was going to start, but it’s getting close to sunrise now." Cheyanne replied as she stood and addressed everyone in the room. "We’ll hit the books hard tomorrow night. It’s been a long day. Everyone should get some rest now."
Agreeing, all of the others stood and began filing out of the room, each stopping to give her a quick hug before heading down to the basement. As he stepped up to her, Dale searched her eyes with his own, but found nothing there to hint at how she was feeling.
"You okay?" He asked quietly, being mindful of Brett, who was standing behind him.
"Fine," Devin told him, her voice equally as soft. Even though she wasn’t really quite sure of that statement. But now really wasn’t the time for her to be falling apart. She had to stay strong…for all of them.
"What about you?" She questioned, seeing something in his eyes that she wasn’t quite sure how to read.
Dale looked away for a split second before meeting her eyes again. "There is something, but I think that Brett is the best to tell you. When you’re ready."
Devin gave him a funny look, but before she could say anything, Dale pulled her to him, giving her a tight hug. He told her good night before stepping around her to leave the room.
"Good night, Dale." Devin turned around and called softly after him, knowing by his brief nod that he’d heard her. She watched until he disappeared through the door leading to the basement mostly because she was still perplexed by what he’d just said to her and because she was still unsure about being able to be alone with Brett. She chewed nervously on her lip for a few moments and then took a deep breath, slowly letting it out before she turned around to face him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Fifty Four
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Devin and Brett silently stared at each other for a few moments before Devin had to turn away, unable to handle her own emotions much less all the ones she saw in Brett’s eyes. She wanted to badly to assure him that they were okay, but she knew deep down if she did that it would be a lie. And he would know it too.
She walked over to the fridge and pulled out the container of juice. She moved to grab a glass but halted as his voice broke the silence.
“Something happened.” He said softly. She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Tonight I mean.”
Her lips curved into a half smile filled with mostly sadness. She had forgotten just how well he knew her and all her moods without her having to say one word. God she had missed him.
“Yeah,” she sighed, filling her glass. “Ran into my new evil friend again.” Brett straightened in alarm as he quickly ran his eyes over her again, this time checking for injuries. She waved away his concerned look.
“Nothing happened, we just talked. It’s kind of freaky the way he won’t attack.” She muttered almost to herself. She turned away from the counter, glass in hand and sat down at the table, staring down at all the books in front of her.
“Have you guys found anything yet?” she asked, glancing up at Brett, seeing him standing off to the side awkwardly. She sighed and motioned for him to sit across from her. He did so, somewhat hesitantly, as if waiting to see if she would bolt from the room, which is what he expected her to do at any moment.
“No, we had all been talking and hadn’t even opened a book yet.” He answered, looking down at his hands, unable to meet her eyes, although she wasn’t really meeting his either. But at least she wasn’t running from him that had to be a start.
“Well when we do find him, I want to know everything about him.” She said, absently flipping through one of the books. “I know I’ve seen him before in one of these, I just can’t remember which.” With a huff she slammed the book shut, too drained both physically and emotionally to deal with it at the moment.
“Is Dale okay?” she finally asked, looking over at Brett, Dale’s comment before he left the room still bugging her. Brett’s head hung lower as he nodded, then shrugged.
“He will be.” Was all he said, and then lifted his head to look at Devin. This time neither of them looked away. “Thank you for being there for him.” Brett said softly. Devin smiled softly.
“He’s been going through hell, and I understand that.” She said, bit her lip then continued. “And I know you have as well.”
Brett looked away, guilt consuming him. Devin leaned forward a little in her chair. “Brett, I don’t blame you. I know what happened wasn’t your fault. Of course at first I didn’t look at it that way, but Ashtyn helped me. I forgave you awhile ago. But to be completely honest with you, although I’ve forgiven you, I still can’t…let go.”
Brett nodded. “Neither can I.” He whispered. “This may not seem like much, but I will never be able to express just how sorry I am for the hell I put you through.”
Devin’s eyes softened. “It helps.” She smiled at him, genuinely this time. They sat in silence again, but this time it was more comfortable. They were no where near where they were before everything happened, and they both knew that would be a hell of a long time coming, but just being in each other presence again had a calming affect on them both and helped soothe the ache more than words could.
“What was Dale talking about before?” Devin finally asked, unable to hide her curiosity any longer. Her breath caught as Brett’s expression softened considerably. Damn but she still loved this man, even after everything. Love had never been the problem. With everything that had gone on, and was still going on, she knew she wasn’t in a place where they could move forward…at least not for awhile.
Brett took a deep breath wondering how to begin this. His talk with Dale had gone remarkably well, and without either of them really realizing it, Brett telling Dale about his visit from Ashtyn had brought them closer, and effectively healed any strain that may have been on their friendship. Brett knew Dale was still going through a lot, as he was as well, but he knew that Dale had finally gotten the closure he needed. Now, maybe he could do what Ashtyn truly wanted, and move on.
Now he just hoped the same would happen for Devin. She tried to hide it, he knew she did, but he could read her like a book. She knew she was still mourning Ashtyn, hell they all were. But even with the hell Dale was going through over her death, her absence had to impact Devin the most. And he could see the fear lying just below the surface. At first he thought the fear was of him, but now he was beginning to think differently.
This new demon was bothering her. Also, this would Devin’s first time up against anything like this new demon without the help of her fellow slayer. For the first time in her life, she was truly alone, and she was scared.
He vowed then and there nothing would happen to Devin. He would lay down his undead life for her. She’d already been to hell and back by his own hands, he’d be damned if she were going to go through anymore, even if that meant taking on this new demon himself. He would do it…for her.
“Brett?” She asked, after not receiving an answer. He snapped out of his thoughts.
“Dale was talking about Ashtyn.” He finally answered, watching her reaction closely. Her entire body relaxed as she sat back, a calm settling over her just at her friend’s name.
“Tell me.” She insisted, and sat back, waiting for Brett to start with his story.
***
“Master, you know once the Slayer discovers exactly who you are, she is going to do everything in her power to stop you. And she has her friends, who are quite powerful themselves. What shall we do?”
The Lord of Darkness sat on his throne and scowled, his anger hitting a dangerous level. His minion cowered in fear and quickly ran out of the room, knowing his master well enough to know whey to get the hell out of there, and now was definitely one of those times.
The Lord of Darkness was indeed angry. One he was severely pissed off that the Slayer hadn’t known him. Damnit, he deserved that respect. Oh but she would learn soon enough. But now he had to worry about how to stop the Slayer from completely ruining his plans.
He had held off on moving in, until he heard the other slayer had died. He knew he wouldn’t have stood much of a chance against the two fighting together…but now there was only one, which was what he was looking forward too. But he couldn’t strike until the time was right. And patience was never one of his strong points. And the waiting was putting him in an even worse mood.
He tipped his head back, knowing that if the Slayer and her friends were to fight against him at the most critical hour, he very well could be defeated. Somehow he had to be certain that the Slayer would be taken care of. But how?
He sat deep in thought, not moving for hours. Suddenly an evil grin spread across his lips, his eyes lighting up as the perfect plan formed in his mind. The Slayer had a weakness…and he knew exactly what it was…and exactly how to use that weakness against her.
He chuckled darkly. “Oh my dear little Slayer. You aren’t gonna know what hit you. I’m going to bring you to your knees, and make you wish you’d never been born.”
***
“We’re ready master. Everything is set.” One of his servants told him later that evening. The room eerily quiet and empty, aside from the black candles that formed a circle in the middle of the floor.
“Leave me.” The Lord of Darkness commanded, sending the servants running for the door. When the door shut behind them, he turned back around and focused all his attention on the circle. He rolled his eyes in the back of his head and began chanting in a language that was older than time.
The candles flickered then went out; only to immediately re-ignite themselves, only with a black flame. A cold chill fell over the room, and the ground started to shake. Finally, after minutes of chanting the room plunged into total darkness.
He opened his eyes, then smiled evilly. With a sudden moment, he lifted his arms in the air, and light flooded the room. He walked over to the circle and knelt down, his smile almost turning gentle as he gazed at the figure now lying in the middle. This person would be his greatest weapon…unstoppable, and feared by all. Even the mighty Slayer and her band of friends would fall to this warrior who now lie before him, peacefully asleep.
Looking down at the sleeping warrior, it was almost hard to believe the power it possessed. He smiled evilly thinking of all his enemy’s that would fall to this tiny being. Not only did the warrior possesses great power of its own, but in the spell he’d used, he’d also transferred some of his own power to the warrior, making it just about unstoppable.
A deep chuckled escaped him as he thought the power the warrior possessed wouldn’t really be needed to defeat the Slayer and her friends. Just the mere shock of the warrior itself would be enough. Oh yes, he would prevail and the Slayer would fall!
He reached out his large hand, and gently ran his finger over the smooth cheek. “Wake up little one.” He said softly, gently stoking. The warrior stirred and eyes just as striking green as his own opened to stare at him. The warrior blinked a couple times, looking around confused before looking back into the Lord of Darkness' eyes.
“Welcome back.” He said as he reached out and helped the warrior stand, steadying when it swayed unsteadily. “Easy, take it easy. It will take a little while for you to readjust. You’ve been gone a lone time, little one.”
“Gone?” the warrior asked, looking confused. “I-I don’t remember.”
“It’s okay. You won’t. You’ve been, in a sense, reborn. You’re starting fresh and anew. Anything you need to know, need to remember, I will provide for you.”
The warrior looked up at the giant and was quite before asking, “Who are you? And who am I?”
The Lord of Darkness smiled down at his greatest weapon, his one and final chance at succeeding. “I am your lord and master, the Lord of Darkness. You, my dear, are my greatest, strongest warrior. All others fear you, but there is one who is your greatest enemy, who you must destroy. That is The Slayer.”
“Slayer?”
“Yes. But you will over come the Slayer.” He said confidently, as he explained in his own terms just who the Slayer was and why she needed to be defeated. The warrior nodded, the green eyes turning cold.
“I will destroy the Slayer, Master.”
The Lord of Darkness grinned triumphantly. “And her friends, you will take care of her friends as well. Anyone who dares to try to get in our way, you will eliminate.”
“It will be done.”
The dark lord nodded, pleased with his little warrior. There was much to be done, starting with preparing his new weapon for the battles ahead. He started to turn away, but was stopped by a small hand on his large arm. As much larger he was than the warrior, he could still feel the strength that flowed from the warrior.
A small ripple of fear went through him, when he realized not only would the new warrior be more than capable of defeating the Slayer, but he had better watch his own back as well. If the warrior turned against him for any reason, all his plans would be destroyed, and most likely himself as well. He would have to make sure his control was complete and that the warrior trusted him totally and completely.
“Do I have a name Master?”
“Of course. You’re name is Ashtyn.”
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Chapter Fifty Five
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Ashtyn looked up at the Lord of Darkness, her eyes filled with question. "Master, how will I know who the slayer is?" She asked, wanted to make sure that she had all the information that she needed so that she wouldn’t disappoint him.
Ashtyn gasped as he waved his hands and an image that was misty around the edges, but crystal clear in the center, appeared before her. Within the center she saw the image of the slayer. "I will not disappoint you." Ashtyn promised after studying the picture for several moments before it began to fade out of sight.
*****
"Good riddance." Devin muttered after the vampire that she’d just staked burst into a cloud of dust. She spun around, her eyes searching the cemetery grounds around her, but she found that she was alone for the moment.
Deciding to return back home to where, Cheyanne and the guys were researching while she patrolled, Devin began walking in that direction. She was anxious to find out all that she could about this demon…Who he was…where he came from…his strengths…his weaknesses…everything! And, she realized suddenly that she was anxious to see Brett. He’d been on her mind a good part of the night and she found herself missing him when she was away from him. At the same time, she also knew that just because she missed him, it didn’t mean that she was ready to get on with her life with him. But it was a good step in that direction.
She was nearing the main cemetery gates when she spotted a figure up ahead that stopped her in her tracks. "Ash?" She choked out in a voice that was barely a whisper. Her mouth fell open in outright shock when the person turned her head to glance over her shoulder and she saw that it really was Ashtyn.
Devin’s first impulse was to rush forward and grab her sister into her arms and never again let her go. She tried to move forward, but her feet refused, keeping her rooted to the spot where she stood as she watched as Ashtyn slowly turned around and their eyes met.
*****
"We need to find Devin…now!" Dale told the other vampires and Cheyanne seated around the table with him. "I think that this is our guy." He stated as he passed the book to Brett, watching his eyes grow wide as he stared at the picture on the open page.
"The Lord of Darkness." Brett said quietly, mostly to himself. "The master of all demons." He sat back in his chair, his eyes again drawn to the image of the demon that he would either die for or kill to make sure that Devin stayed safe.
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Chapter Fifty Six
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Ashtyn watched the Slayer approach her, a little confused at the look on her face. Her first instinct was that she needed to work with the Slayer, not against it, but she quickly shook off that feeling. She kept her face void of emotion as the Slayer came closer. She knew her job and she had no doubts that she would succeed.
Devin blinked a couple times, trying to reassure herself that the image before her wasn’t just a hallucination. “Ash?” she asked softly, her eyes filled with tears. “Is that really you?”
Ashtyn crossed her arms over her chest, cocking her hip out as she seemed almost, bored. Yet she still didn’t say anything.
“I-I don’t understand?” Devin’s voice quivered with so many emotions. Ashtyn took a small step forward and smiled.
Had she not been in total and complete shock, she would have noticed a few minor details that were just screaming a warning in their own way. Instead of her normal light brown hair, it was jet black, matching the eyeliner now around her eyes, making them really stand out. But more striking than anything else was her attire. Ashtyn had never been one to really flaunt herself, and always opted for either work out clothes or jeans. Tonight she was dressed totally opposite of that.
She was decked out in skin tight black leather, showing much more skin than Devin could ever remember seeing from her friend. The halter top with the plunging neck line stopped just above her belly button, and the pants rode low on her hips, leaving most of her stomach and well defined abs exposed. And the fact that she seemed completely comfortable in her clothing was like a flashing red warning sign.
But Devin wasn’t paying attention to any of that. All her attention was focused on the fact that her best friend, fellow slayer was alive and standing before her.
“Surprised ya, didn’t I?” she asked, speaking for the first time, her voice washing over Devin, although it was lower than normal.
“It’s really you.” Devin whispered, her eyes never leaving her once fallen sister slayer.
“The one and only.” Ashtyn smirked, the smile sending a shiver down Devin’s spine, but she ignored it.
Without another moments hesitation she ran forward and grabbed Ashtyn to her, hugging her with such ferocity it would have easily broken a normal human being.
Ashtyn stayed stiff, fighting against the sudden warmth that went through her. That shouldn’t happen! This was her enemy…so why did she feel calm?
“H-how are you here?” Devin asked, pulling back slightly. “Never mind it doesn’t matter! My god, you’re really here, it’s a miracle! We’ve got to go back! I can’t even imagine how Dale’s gonna react seeing you!”
Ashtyn was even more surprised at the sudden rush of longing that went through her at the name. She scowled as she tried to remember who this Dale was, but shook it off when she came up blank. Taking a deep breath she put her hands in between her and the Slayer and pushed…without much effort, but Devin went flying back through the air, crashing to the ground.
Ashtyn stared unaffected as Devin stared up at her in shock and hurt. She glared down at the woman in front of her, allowing the darkness and coldness to consume her.
“Amazing how you’re wanting to be all buddy buddy with me when it was you and your friends who killed me.” Ashtyn spat. The Lord of Darkness had filled her in…it was the Slayer and her band of vampires who had killed her…and for that alone they would pay…but this time with their lives.
“W-what?” Devin asked shakily not comprehending, unable to believe what she was seeing and hearing.
“You killed me, you bitch!” Ashtyn snapped, stepping forward with her hands on her hips. “I was dead because of you. And you just expect me to forget that?”
Devin shook her head violently. “No!” she cried, tears slipping unnoticed from her eyes, wondering just what in the hell was going on. “It wasn’t like that! I never wanted you to die! I would have done anything to stop you, had I known. I just about died with you!”
“You have no idea what it’s like to be dead…but you will…soon.” Ashtyn promised with an evil grin as she uncrossed her arms and came forward slowly. “Come on Slayer…let’s see what you’ve got. I’ve been looking forward to this. The almighty Slayer, feared by many. Well, quite frankly I’m not impressed. I have a feeling you won’t be much of an opponent.”
Ashtyn spun quickly, and Devin barely had time to register the foot coming towards her head, much less avoid the hit. She went flying back, hitting a nearby headstone hard, her entire body screaming in pain and denial. Clutching her aching ribs, she struggled to get her breath back.
Three things hit her at once. One, this was NOT the Ashtyn she had known and loved, but at the same time it was indeed Ashtyn. Two, she stood no chance in hell…Ashtyn now possessed a power that even surpassed that of a Slayer’s.
And lastly, she had no idea what to do.
***
“Where is she?” Brett demanded, scanning the cemetery. His senses were screaming that Devin was close by, but he still couldn’t find her. Had his heart been beating, it would be pounding, because he also had the feeling that something wasn’t right and Devin was in trouble. He looked over at Dale who stood in silence.
“Junior?”
Dale didn’t move, but kept his eyes glued to something in the distance. Finally he spoke, his tone scaring Brett.
“Do you feel that?” he asked, his voice low and deep. He suddenly turned his head, his eyes glowing as they met Brett’s. “Tell me you feel that!”
“Umm, what?” Brett asked, looking around confused, a feeling of apprehension crawling down his spine.
Dale once again looked off in the distance. “I feel her.”
Brett nodded, still confused. “Uh, yeah, Devin is close, but I can’t pin point where.”
Dale shook his head. “No not Devin.”
At that moment Brett felt it as well, his eyes widening in disbelief at the same time that Dale took off in a full run, using his vampiric speed to propel him through the cemetery. Brett took off after him one thought going through his head.
‘It’s Ashtyn!’
2003 K&K Productions