Connor (17 page)

I concentrated as hard as I could. This time, it took longer to break it apart. It was resisting me. My head was pounding inside when it dispersed again, dropping Cheyenne, but this time she lay motionless, not coughing for air.

I was on my own. It reappeared as a shadow in the shape of a man charging at me. It opened up what I think was the shape of a huge mouth screaming so loudly it knocked me back. It was the same noise I heard before, only intensified. It was an ear-splitting scream. I cupped my ears, falling against the wall, unable to block it. My head felt like it was going to split open, then it stopped.

Scott was up fighting with what looked like Cheyenne, but I knew it was not because there she was still on the floor, not moving. It had shifted into her form.

Scott was doing some damage to it, but when it got a hold of Scott, it tossed him around like he was nothing. The thing was just too quick, shifting as it fought, but then I noticed its movements had a pattern.

Following its pattern, I focused on its mind and screamed back, but inside its head. How does that feel? I thought it was over when it disappeared for about thirty seconds, but then it reappeared as me.

Oh, you have to be kidding me.

My head felt like it had knives in it, but I didn't care. I transferred my pain into it, causing it to buckle. Scott locked on to it, holding its arms, preventing it from shifting again.

This time, I sent a high-pitched, blood-curdling scream inside its head as I imagined ripping its body to shreds from the inside out. It worked. The solid pieces of me lay still on the floor, not moving.

That time I felt completely in control, mind and body. Scott and I picked up the pieces, threw them in the lit

fireplace, and as I picked myself up, I felt nothing.

Scott grabbed Cheyenne, and I grabbed the door that led to stairs going up. We followed it until we reached a door at the top. Please let this be an out. I pressed my ear to the door, out of habit, but only heard silence. I opened it slowly to find an empty bedroom.

Not seeing anything move, I motioned for him to follow. I don't know how long we had been downstairs, but according to the window, it was dark out, so had to have been hours.

He placed Cheyenne, who was still alive, on the bed, then, like me, hit the floor. We were exhausted and looked a hot mess. Cheyenne had black smudges on her face and arms, Scott's back had bruises covering it and scrapes across his face, I had a scorched gut and bruises on my back, but were in one piece and we got out alive.

“Are you okay? Your nose is bleeding,” he asked, me handing me a box of tissues.

My headache came back, but I didn't care. “Barely, but at least we are alive, right?” I said, wiping my nose with some tissues from the box he handed me.

“How about you?” I asked.

“I can't complain. Like you said, we're alive, right?” Scott said, smiling, playfully knocking into me.

“What do you think that thing was?” I asked.

“I don't know. My guess some sort of shape-shifter. Did it look like the thing that attacked you earlier?” Scott asked.

“Shape-shifter is what I thought too. That was insanely crazy. Those things are in movies, not real life. What else are they hiding from us, Scott, and why was it determined to get to Cheyenne?” I asked. “No, I don't know if that thing attacked me earlier. The room was too dark.”

“I thought the same thing when whatever it was went after you. It could have easily gone after any one of us when we were alone searching, but it chose you. You're right—we don't have a clue, but I do plan on getting some answers. What I do know is that was sick what you did to it. What exactly did you do to it?” Scott said.

“I got inside its head, screamed like a wild banshee, and manipulated its organs to move into opposite directions. Don't ask me how I did it, I basically winged it,” I explained to him. What I didn't tell him was it bothered me that I didn't care that I killed it.

“Keep winging it if it works for you. Listen, if I go search for the others, will you be okay watching her?”

“I think we should stick together, Scott, especially after what just happened,” I said.

“I know, but I think she”—Scott pointed to Cheyenne—“should rest.”

“If 'she' means me, then 'she' is okay. I can manage,” Cheyenne said, sitting up.

Both of us turned around to check on her. “How do you feel? Can you walk?” We sat next to her on opposites sides of the bed.

“I am fine, just a little drained,” Cheyenne said, rubbing her throat. “What was that thing? What happened?” We explained what happened to each of us, what we thought it was, and how we escaped. As Scott went into the details of the fight, I got up when I heard something.

I froze when I definitely knew I heard a noise from somewhere close by.

“What is it?” Cheyenne asked.

Walking toward the door, I whispered, “I hear voices, but they sound normal, as in human, you know.” Both of them were behind me asking what they were saying.

“I hear a male voice. It sounds familiar but what if…” I started to say, trailing off as soon as I recognized the voice. It was Khan, and his voice sounded calm. I didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

He was talking to another man about demands, plans, or something like that. I couldn't exactly make it out because for some reason, it sounded muffled. This wasn't a good sign, Khan being so calm. He is supposed to be tied up somewhere screaming for help.

“Well, at least we know he's not hurt after all. Do you hear Byron or the others?” Cheyenne asked. “Wait, so if Khan is fine, then why hasn't he contacted anyone?”

“No, I don't recognize the other voice. Yeah, well, I guess Bynder was right about Khan after all,” I said, leaning against the door.

Both of them looked at me as if to ask what. Remembering they were not in my room the night Bynder was hinting about Khan switching sides, I explained everything.

“So that's what they are hiding. I knew it had something to do directly with us,” Scott said, referring to all of us, including the
Keepers
.

“I'm sure we haven't been informed of a lot more than just that. We are so in the dark about, well, everything,” I said, but to make sure I understood Scott, I asked him to elaborate.

“If it were a matter of a simple kidnapping, then they would have gotten the police involved, right? If our kind or the
nunan
has lain low and followed the rules, blending in all this time, then why do we, all of us, need to take care of this particular situation?” Scott explained, pacing back and forth from the window to the bed.

“I'm thinking if one of them, meaning a
Keeper
, turned rogue, then we would have to get involved. Chances are if a
Keeper
switches sides, then it will be something crazy serious as in nonhuman involvement, like, uh, I don't know, that off-the-hook shape-shifter downstairs,” Scott explained, plopping himself down on the bed.

“I can believe it. People make deals with the devil all the time. If Khan is walking around, he is definitely involved. Besides, it's too coincidental how you and Selene were attacked right after everyone left the meeting. How else would they know where we were unless someone on the inside tipped them off?” Cheyenne said.

“See what I'm talking about. Oh yeah, I forgot about the first attack for a minute. The more I think about it, Connor, this has something to do with you. I don't believe in coincidences. I believe people just don't want to see the truth,” Scott added.

“Maybe, maybe not, but we can't make assumptions until we get all the facts,” I said.

“I hear you, guys, but we need to get out of here. Now I hear the voices, which means they are close, and we can't get answers if we're dead,” Cheyenne whispered, making a very good point.

We tiptoed out the room, heading in the opposite direction of the voices. We walked down the halls, checking the rooms as we went, hoping to bump into the others.

Finally, I heard my name as soon as we reached the end of the second hallway.
Connor, turn right and wait for us we will meet you in the hallway
, Tanzia said, so I mentally relayed the message to Cheyenne and Scott. I figured that would be smarter.

We waited no more than three minutes before they came into view. They all were accounted for: Bynder, Tony, Tanzia, Willow, and Tochia. I had never been to so happy to see them in my life. Everyone, except Willow, had a few bruises, especially Bynder, who had his left hand bandaged besides a bloody shirt. We quickly rehashed what we all discovered and that Shak and Selene were missing. Tanzia explained they sensed that and there must be a barrier surrounding the others that's why we are unable to sense them. Ronin has let his presence known, allowing us to find him. He's inviting us to come to him.

“Do you understand the seriousness of the situation now, Scott,” Bynder said not so much as a question but telling him.

“I'm here aren't I,” Scott answered.

This time, we stayed together. There were so few of us left now, we didn't want to take any chances falling into another one of Ronin's unpredictable game of traps.

We were heading back down to the main level, since Tanzia felt a strong pull in that direction. Her senses seemed to be the strongest of the
Keepers
. I wonder why. Maybe if I make it out of here, that is definitely on the list of questions I need answered.

Do you sense him, Connor?
Tanzia asked, walking beside me.

I knew exactly whom she was talking about but didn't fear him as I should. After meeting the
Keepers,
I tried to tell myself it was Selene, but deep down inside I knew it wasn't. Two years ago, he made his presence known to me, but I never told anyone, and I don't know why. I have never feared him, only felt safer knowing he was there, but tonight that was all going to change.
Yes
, I responded, but I didn't ask who. I didn't want to know, just not yet.

Be careful tonight, Connor. You are the strongest of the yougows. Use your instincts only, and don't let emotions affect you. He wants his revenge, Connor. He wants you.

I simply nodded.

As she walked up, surprisingly, Cheyenne and Willow came up on either side of me to grab my hands. It may have been in my head, but it helped. It was just what I needed.

We walked that way until we reached the stairs. As I descended the stairs, I couldn't help but think how we were purposely walking right into a trap for the second time tonight.

We safely made it to the main level of the house, where it was calm except for a storm brewing outside. No one greeted us, only an empty living room but I knew whoever they were, they were close by. We stood around, spread out, waiting for the inevitable.

“Come out, Ronin, I know you are here!” shouted Tanzia, scanning the room.

In walked two males and two females who said nothing as they surrounded us. They were clearly not human and definitely scary looking, especially the females.

The guys each had spiked hair and dressed in leather clothing, their arms covered in tattoos.

I recognized the one female as the person we almost ran into the night we snuck in, and even though she had on a uniform, you could tell she could care less about anyone or anything. She was blonde, bug-eyed, and buff. The other female was questionable herself. She had the goth look down pat, but I really think that pasty color was real and not makeup.

Right after they were in position, a third man strolled in, carrying a staff, and all eyes were on him. My guess was this was Ronin. He was the tallest of them. He wore a black-and-dark-maroon leather jacket that stretched to the floor and slightly fitted black pants with black boots.

“You took so long, Tanzia. I thought you didn't recognize my voice anymore.” His tone sounded upset, but his face showed he could care less. “Please wait, there is someone dying to see you again,” he stressed the word “dying,” clearly making his point.

He raised the black cane and struck the floor with it not twenty feet in front of us. The striking motion made a loud crackling sound, spontaneously creating electricity in the air.

It was such a strong surge that I started to walk toward it, but Tanzia physically stopped me.

A lightning bolt struck in the middle of the room, but it did not disappear like it should have; instead it lingered a while. It grew in size, opening up to form a big circular bright silver light. It sounded like a gush of water or wind similar to what Scott said he heard in the basement.

This had to be a portal to 'time', that unsafe place for us. Tochia yelled get back, but my legs locked. I didn't move. I needed to see up close who or what felt our lives were so expendable.

Out stepped a man, an extremely tall man, who wore a black suit and a top hat. He just stood there smiling at us. It was the strangest thing I had ever seen. He didn't look real. I slowly backed up to the others, wanting to get as far away as possible from him.

His aura was powerful, almost suffocatingly so. The light behind the tall man closed like a vacuum, and it was calm again in the room.

“Let me introduce myself to those who have not had the pleasure of meeting me. My name is Tanner.” He bowed when he introduced himself, top hat in hand, like in a theater. He acted as if he was on stage, putting on a Broadway show.

Ronin tossed the man the black cane, then stood off to the side and leaned against the front wall eyeing me. “Thank you, Ronin.” Tanner gestured toward the couch, smiling as if he wanted us to take a seat, like the show was about to begin any minute.

We just stood there ignoring his request, but rather observing him, strangely waiting for him to make a move. He pulled out three vials of something I could not make out, but this time insisted we take a seat.

Tochia tried to electrocute the man as he turned away for a brief second, but he was too fast for her.

Before the electricity could even get close to him, he moved out of the way, took one vial out, and threw it down on the floor, smashing into pieces. At first it seemed like nothing occurred, then Tochia dropped like dead weight, not moving.

As I reached for her, Tanner replied, “I would not do that if I were you. Even though I don't need a vial for you, I would love to punish your babysitters for your actions.” I slowly moved back and sat down.

“If you're wondering what this is, young lady, it's my guarantee that your
Keepers
will behave. We can thank your oh-so-trusting
Keeper
Khan for these, te-he,” he said, making a sound, which I could only guess was a laugh.

I asked Tanzia what was in the vials, but Tanner answered for her. “I can answer that, young lady. Oh, don't look so surprised. You have not learned to block your thoughts yet, so I hear you loud and clear,” he said, staring at me with that bizarre smile on his face. “My goodness, Tanzia, what are you teaching these kids nowadays?”

“Get on with it, Tanner. We did not come here to sit around and watch you perform. Trust me, you are the only one amused,” Bynder said.

“Well let me first explain to the girl,” he said to Bynder then turned toward me. “These keepsakes are part potion and part
Keepers
' blood, your
Keepers'
blood to be exact, young lady, te-he. It, oh, how can I say this nicely, kills them.”

Dead, Tochia is dead. Oh my god.

“I'm so glad you all could make it. I knew you could not resist tonight's performance.” He clapped his hands and in walked Khan, practically dragging Byron into the room. Beside him was a man I'd never met before, but he was definitely human. The man's eyes stayed glued to Byron.

Khan sat Byron down in a chair next to us. Byron appeared to be in a trance. He just looked straight ahead, not blinking.

Khan would not make eye contact with any of us and kept his eyes on his destination only. Once he stood near Tanner, he snapped his fingers, and Byron came out of it.

Byron looked around groggily and asked, “What happened? How did I get here?”

Bynder told Byron to relax and that he was safe. He put a hand on his shoulder then he turned back to Tanner. “What do you want? You still Monlow's errand boy?”

The creepy smile faded from Tanner's face as he glared at Bynder. “Bynder, Bynder, Bynder, I see you're still babysitting, huh? Are things getting any better, or do you still hide out in the bushes and peep through little boys' windows at night?” And with that comment, the creepy smile was back. “It's not what I want, it's want I can do for you. We can make this easy or hard, but either way, I will get what I came for.”

“Where are the others, Selene and Shak?” Bynder asked, ignoring his last comment.

“They are well hidden,” Khan answered for Tanner.

Tanner glimpsed at him from the corner of his eyes when he spoke. “They are somewhere out of reach to you, but don't worry, they are in good hands.” As he spoke, Tanner squeezed Khan's shoulder, causing him to wince. He tried to hide it, but it obviously hurt.

“You know what I love about you
Keepers
?” he asked, then stopped and gazed out at us with a dramatic pause. “You're all so weak and predictable, getting yourselves involved emotionally with these younglings. I found you quite disappointing and nonchallenging, honestly. Two of your kind go missing, and you run like a pack of dogs, scaling buildings and whatnot. Just the sight of you makes me sick. If it were up to me, I would dispose of you all.”

He sucked his teeth in disgust, and his face changed into something monstrous, then he quickly turned his back to us.

The others with him became amped up, as if ready to attack. To me, they seemed more like the pack of rabid dogs. The only one who remained calm was Ronin.

“Call off your mutts now, or they won't be the only ones hurt, Tanner,” Bynder demanded, standing up.

Tanner turned back around with that sick smile of his, clapped his hands twice, ordering the others to back off.

“Well, obviously it is not up to you since you still have a master, right? So what is Monlow up to now?” Bynder asked.

“Cute, real cute. He wants what we all want—power. As you well know, when your kind spits out a new batch of weaklings, we use them for either slaves or simply take their powers and dispose of them,” Tanner said.

“Well, then what are you waiting for?” Tanzia said, standing up.

“Fine, so here are your options: either we take your powers, or you can simply hand them over. If you come with us, I can promise you that you will make it back here safely, powerless but safe,” Tanner said.

“Dad,” Byron said. “What are you doing here? What's going on?” he asked the man standing next to Khan. It was his father, Mr. Conway.

Mr. Conway attempted to walk over to him, but Khan put his arm up to stop him. “Listen, son, I know you won't understand this now, but I did this for our family's safety.”

“What did you do?” Byron asked.

“These powers, gifts, whatever you want to call them, have only put you in danger for some time now, and no good can come from them. They are evil,” Mr. Conway said.

Byron looked at him in disbelief. “You sound like Grandfather, but at least he's a sick old man, but you…

you have lied to me all my life, now this?”

“I know it looks bad, Byron, but I am only doing what's best for you, for us. I have made many sacrifices for this family, and I still am. You…” Mr. Conway's mouth was sewn shut. His eyes opened wide as he felt his mouth. He tried to continue talking, but all that came out were moaning sounds.

“Te-he, sorry, bored with the conversation,” Tanner said, smiling at him.

“What did you think, you can trust something like him and walk away to talk about it?” Tanzia said to Mr. Conway, pointing at Tanner. “You get what you deserve.” Out the corner of my eye, I saw Tochia move. Not possible. In all the commotion, no one else seemed to have noticed. She was eyeing me, then Tanner, then back to me. At first, I didn't understand what she wanted, then it

clicked. At least, I hoped it did.

“Well, here we are, young, inexperienced, and tired of your threats. So either bring it and lose or go back to where you came because I'm sick of listening to you blabber on about nothing,” I said, swallowing hard, hoping I did the right thing.

One of the rabid dogs came at me, but Ronin chopped him in the throat. The guy went down.

Instead, Tanner walked down to me, not smiling anymore. With his hands clasped behind him, he gave me a once-over. I managed to look him straight in his eyes as he towered over me about three feet high. He smelled like raw sewage causing my stomach to churn. His face was dry, cracked, and his skin was truly ashen white.

“My, what a brave little soul are we. Don't let this smile fool you, little girl. The only reason you're still here is because I have my orders, mundane as they are,” Tanner said. “I do recall saying that I don't need a vial on you, right, but never said that I didn't have one, did I? Insurance is always a necessity.”

He held his hand out toward the others, and Ronin walked over to me and introduced himself. “You, I have been waiting a long time to meet.”

My skin crawled at what he said, yet at the same time, he mesmerized me, his voice captivated me. He was the most beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on. His face was so close to mine, I had to tell myself to breathe.

I had to make myself breathe.

Tanzia was right. He couldn't have been more than seventeen. His complexion was just a hint darker than sun kissed. He stood at least six feet tall with a slim muscular built. He had loose, curly jet-black hair that fell just about to his shoulders. His eyes were different colors, one brown, and the other green. They were the most striking images, even though behind them brewed hatred for me.

I wanted to, no, I needed to, reach out and touch him. What is wrong with me?

“You don't know just how special you are to me, just how important this night is for you. If you don't fight it and come back with me willingly, I will show you a far better time than that little boy did tonight. If you fight me, well, then I will only forcibly take you. Your choice.”

“Back off, Ronin, this isn't even your fight. You don't know the truth,” Bynder said standing next to me. His words sounded more like a plea. It was the most humane I'd ever heard him speak to anyone.

“Who are you to talk to me? Stay in your place,
Keeper
,” Ronin spat, stepping into Bynder's face. His hands were balled into fists, ready to attack any minute.

I don't know why, but I stepped in between them. Ronin turned his attention back to me. His face and body softened for a minute as he stared at me, but for that brief minute, he allowed me to catch a hint of something else behind those eyes. That strong sense of familiarity washed over me, consuming me all at once.

My
Destiny
.

This living being, whoever, or whatever he was, was my
Destiny
. He is whom I have sensed shadowing me all this time. Ronin must have felt it too because his eyes squinted as shock flooded across his face. He quickly caught it, and his demeanor hardened again, but he didn't look away.

Tanner leaned into Ronin and whispered to where only he and I could hear the words, “She is beautiful, isn't she? Just deliciously delightful. You cannot keep your eyes off of her, can you, Ronin?” Did Tanner know?

Ronin did not answer him, only gave him a vicious look, handed over the six vials told him to end this already and walked off. “Why, thank you. Always a pleasure doing business with you, sir,” Tanner said to Ronin, who now stood with the others, no longer looking at me. I was disappointed and confused, but my world halted when I saw what Tanner held in his long white hands. How was that possible, vials of us? No one had taken any blood from me.

“You're bluffing. Those are not real,” Bynder said. “Do you want to challenge me, Bynder?” Tanner

smirked.

He walked toward Bynder but stopped short. “I'm sure the person who acquired these for me would beg to differ.” Then he turned to his other insider. “Right, Willow?” Tanner said, smiling at her.

Willow faced Byron first, already sobbing; she walked over to him. “I'm sorry, but your father came to me and begged me for my help. This is a messed-up world we live in, and I figured… I mean, oh please, talk to me.”

She continued to cry, but Byron said nothing. He stared at her, expressionless. His body stiffened when she touched him, causing her to pull away. She looked at the rest of us, begging for understanding, but there was none to give. I felt my heart sink to my stomach. Scott was wrong—she was not only weak, but a traitor.