Connor (18 page)

Tanzia took hold of Willow and walked her over to Khan, pushing her into him. “You made this mess, now you take care of it.” Khan said nothing. He grabbed Willow by her arm and shoved her off to the side as she continued to cry.

Tony came over to stand by me but kept his eyes on Ronin, who was now staring at him. Ronin seemed more concerned with what Tony was doing than what was going on around us. At first, I didn't get why Tony came over, but he placed a pocket knife in my left hand. I got it—protection.

“As much as I enjoy this little show, we must be leaving. So,
Keepers
, what will it be? Either I take them, or you can simply sacrifice yourselves,” Tanner asked.

Without a word, we huddled together, backs to the others. We were surrounded. Whatever will happen, then so be it.

Once Tanner saw our stance, he decided to break all vials, but nothing, not a thing happened, and from Willow's facial expression, she didn't expect it either.

Within a blink of an eye, a bolt of lightning sent Tanner flying to the back wall. Tochia was up and on him, not letting up, continuously electrocuting him.

It started simultaneously, and without a clue what we're up against, but we had no choice. Ronin attacked Bynder first, sending him sailing across the room. The nurse exhaled fire, engulfing Tanzia, who quickly responded within a protection barrier. Tony and Scott tag teamed one of the guys who turned out to be a shape-shifter, morphing into his opponents, trying to confuse them. The third guy, who didn't seem to have any particular abilities, was allowing Byron to take his frustrations out on him until his skin turned into steel. The goth chick's tattoos of barbed wire, a medieval flail, and spiked chains were her weapons of choice besides her fists. They extended outward from her skin and attacked Cheyenne and me. She was quick, but we were quicker and stronger than she was.

We were doing well until I was yanked off my feet and sent soaring across the room. I slammed upside down into the sidewall, landing face down on the floor. Hard.

It was Ronin, who lifted me up by my throat, choking me with one hand. I squirmed and wiggled, but his hold was too strong. He could easily snap my neck if he wanted to, but he didn't. I knew there was no way out of his grip unless I calm down. I stopped struggling and got my thoughts together.

I focused on his mind, imagining it splitting open, but as I did, it backfired on me. Oddly, it still affected him because his knees buckled, let go of me and backed up. I slammed into the floor, gasping for air, but I got up quickly, checking my surroundings, making sure he was still a safe distance away.

He was about ten feet from me, watching me, using the back of his hand to wipe the blood from his nose. He smiled at me as if this was some sort of game to him.

His smile faded as he came toward me, I
credo
, kicked him in the throat and clawed at his eye. Clawing may have been a girly move, but he was scary strong.

He cupped his throat and felt his face but turned around to face me now behind him. I mean, directly at me, as if he could see me.

He stood in front of me before I could move out of the way. He picked me up by my ponytail, tossing me through the air toward the very back wall, away from the others.

I heard a snap when I made contact with the wall. My right leg was broken. Excruciating pain shot throughout my whole body when I struggled to get up.

I wiped away the blood dripping down my face blocking my sight. I held on to the wall, balancing on my left leg while he stood there again waiting for me, toying with me.

Ronin was out for blood, my blood.

I didn't attempt to
credo
again; there wasn't any point in it. My back was against the wall; no one was around us, and I was out of options. He wanted to take his revenge out on me for something I didn't even know anything about. If it were up to him, I was going to die tonight.

“What are you waiting for? Do what you came to do, only don't expect me to plead for my life.” I had enough of being afraid, lied to, and stabbed in the back. I wanted this over.

He walked over, stopping so close in front of me; my back was pinned against the wall. “I enjoyed following you around, watching you for the past two years, just waiting. I've watched you sleep like a baby, so many times, wanting to slit your throat, but where is the reward in that? I prefer a good fight then take what I want anyway. Just like your mother tried so many years ago but still failed. Too bad I was too young to be the one to challenge her.”

Did he say my mother, as in my biological mother? I had no clue what he meant.

“You have no idea, do you? Why am I not surprised. Those self-righteous
Keepers
are so forthcoming. Your kind leaves the young in the dark for so long, no wonder you are dying off.” He laughed, but it sounded more sadistic than anything else.

He gripped the back of my head with his left hand, pulling on my hair as the other cupped my chin. He yanked my head so awkwardly, I had to wrap my hands around his left arm, trying to resist.

But as he stared at me, his grip loosened, his eyes no longer holding vengeance in them. His breathing softened as the shocked expression returned, forcing me to remember who he is to me. He was everything I knew to be wrong, yet something inside me didn't care.

His right hand started caressing my face, and I closed my eyes, succumbing, allowing him to sway me; it felt so sinfully right. This was madness.

He rested his head against mine and we stayed that way for only a minute. I opened my eyes to look at him. He looked so sad, hurt, betrayed. I didn't understand. I reached up to touch his face and he allowed me to without resistance, but his eyes pleaded with me to stop.

I don't know how, but I knew what he was feeling as he was aware of how I felt too. Turmoil. This was wrong, so wrong.

I felt anger stir within him again, and with one brush of his lips across my lashes, he whispered, “I am so sorry.” And as he let go of me, I felt emptiness.

This time, his anger was back, ten times worse. I made him feel for the one person he seemed to hate the most. I snapped out of what felt like a trance and came to my senses.

I no longer wanted to care or feel anything—not pain, not fear, not even Ronin. So I pushed it away to a dark place in my mind, forgetting it.

He drew out a dagger and drove it at me. I managed to block it, grab it away from him, and toss it. I sliced my hand with it, but I didn't care about the wound, only his next move.

Why wait?

I uppercut him, hitting his nose, and went for his neck, but he blocked my hand and punched me in my face. I hit the ground bouncing but used the momentum to kick him in the gut. When he stumbled back, I jumped up only for him to kick me in my side with his boot. I fell and slid to the wall right next to a huge floor plant. As he came at me, I grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it in his eyes to distract him while I used both feet to kick him in his chest, knocking him back.

I ran up, landed on top of him, pushing his eye sockets to the back of his head, grinding the dirt in them. I started pounding his face in, taking all my frustration out on him. He punched me in the jaw a few times, but I came back until he bucked up, throwing me off him.

I landed on my stomach, scrambling for the dagger, but he was on my back, grabbing for it too. We struggled with the dagger until it broke in half against a statue.

He flipped me over, sat on top of me, pinning my arms down. I stared back at him, breathing hard. “You put up a good fight. You're stronger than you look, but you are out of options. What are you going to do now, Connor?” he said out of breath, purposely letting his blood drip on my face. I turned my head as some landed in my mouth. He smeared it across my lips. It tasted salty sweet.

He was right. I was out of options, so why not piss him off? That was my only card to play, so I played it. “Tell me how ironic it is that the one you were sent to retrieve is the one person you truly feel connected to. Isn't that the real reason you have been following me around all this time? Isn't that the real reason why you hate me so much?”

He said nothing but stared at me. He slowly put his hands around my neck, slowly squeezing, then forcefully so, as if he was working his way up to killing me. He was choking the life out of me. I clawed at his hands, unable to free myself. I moved from side to side, reached for anything, and saw it about five feet away. I waited for an opportunity to free myself, hoping it would not come too late.

My opportunity came with the help of a cry. That was all the time I needed him to get distracted and loosen his grip. It was merely a second but long enough for me to call for the knife that Tony gave me. It had fallen out my pocket earlier in the struggle. I caught it, thrust, and twist it in his neck with all my strength.

He fell backward, grabbing at the knife, feeling shock and hurt, and for a brief moment, I felt guilty, but I pushed that feeling away. I scrambled out from under him and watched him as I braced against the wall. He pulled out the knife, slowly got up, and stumbled toward me.

I expected him to stab me with it, but he didn't. He just stood there watching me as blood oozed down his side, some squirting on me. He was shaking, insanely rotating the knife in his hand, barely able to keep his eyes open.

I flinched as he raised his other hand, placed it in his own blood, and wiped it across my face pulling me close then whispered in my ear. “Sleep tight, for the next time we meet, I may be standing over you.”

I knocked his hand back and pushed him away. He kept staring at me as he walked backward, stumbling toward the others.

Tony rushed over to help, but I yelled at him to leave him alone. Tony shot me a puzzled look. I don't know why, but I did. Maybe I wanted him to suffer and die or to give me answers if he lived. Maybe for another reason I cannot admit to.

One of his minions caught hold of him, helping him toward the portal that, in all the commotion, I didn't even notice had opened up.

Right before they reached it, Ronin pulled away from his helper and grabbed Cheyenne by the back of her head. It looked like he whispered something in her ear before taking the knife that was in his hand and plunged it in her stomach. Still holding on to her by her head, Ronin looked back at me, smiled, then let go. And just like that he went through the portal, taking the light with him all before Cheyenne hit the floor.

She didn't see it coming. It all happened so fast that the others could not reach her in time. Cheyenne lay on the floor, choking on her blood.

This is not happening. She can't be dying. I could barely see; my eyes were covered with blood. I was trying to hold it together, thinking why her and not me. He could have killed me.

“Listen, I need you all to keep it together. She is stronger than you think. All of you are. I need you all to gather around now. She is fading fast. You must put one hand on her stomach and touch each other with your other,” Tanzia was saying.

“Now close your eyes and concentrate. I need you all to be in sync with each other. Become as one. Once that happens, you can begin to heal her,” Tanzia explained.

“Listen to the beat of her heart and slow it down to where all of you have the same heartbeat. Once there, you must picture the wound. It doesn't matter that you see it differently, what matters is the wound you see in your mind is closing. You see it. Now imagine it closing, and at the same time, let your energy flow into her.”

We did as she said and became as one. I felt an energy surging between all of us. It was a warm surge of energy that grew stronger and stronger, almost impossible to contain, then like that, it broke.

Cheyenne took a deep breath, then opened up her eyes. We grabbed her up so tightly we almost squeezed the life out of her. Who would have thought I would be happy to hear her make a noise?

AFTERMATH

Shortly after the dust settled and things were calmer, we took refuge where we could find it. I was on the couch with Cheyenne's head in my lap and was okay with that. It is the least I could do since she almost died twice tonight and lost her best friend.

The guys were laid out on the floor, battered and bruised. Between the three of them, they shared three black eyes, one broken nose, a couple of broken ribs, and a broken arm; and those are just what we figured.

Bynder and Tanzia formed a search party with the f
eelers
and others I have never met before to search the mansion for the missing
Keepers
and Mr. Conway, the grandfather. Tochia stayed behind for protection's sake, but she looked more drained than we did. As she lay comatose on the couch, I wondered if it took all she had to attack Tanner. She kept saying she would be fine in a few when we asked. I figured more like a few days.

We were trying to put the missing pieces together when Tochia sat up, holding on to the couch for support, and filled in what we missed, “Willow screamed for help when someone dragged her through the portal, but Mr. Conway walked through voluntarily. Unfortunately, Willow allowed herself to become a victim. She had no clue what she agreed to, but Mr. Conway did. Like his father, he too made deals without telling whole truths.”

She further explained that the portal opened up from the other side, bringing an unexpected attack with it. That is why Bynder became otherwise occupied, allowing Ronin to come after me.

“Cheyenne, what did Ronin whisper in your ear?” I asked.

Scott came over to help her sit up. “I don't really remember. It happened so fast, it's hazy. I vaguely remember him saying something about being a shifter. I don't remember. The only thing that stands out is a burning sensation in my stomach, then blackness,” she said.

“That doesn't make any sense. If he wanted to kill anyone, it would have been Connor. He all but told us so earlier…,” Byron said.

“Wait, Byron, what did he say to you again, Cheyenne, exactly?” Tochia got up and walked closer to us. She sat on the coffee table, holding her right arm that was swollen and bruised.

Cheyenne was trying to recall what he said by mouthing it silently to herself at first. “I don't remember. It all happened so fast,” she said, shaking her head. “Do you think it's important, or was it just to get one of us and I so happened to be there?”

Tochia just stared at her, then me, got up, and walked away. Cheyenne and I looked at each other, then asked in unison, “What!”

She was so deep in thought, I asked her a question to get her attention. “Does this have something to do with my mother?” I asked.

Finally, she walked back over to us and sat back down on the coffee table. Taking a deep breath, she explained, “Ronin's intent was not to kill Connor but to retrieve her so I don't know what went wrong. Trust me if he wanted her dead she would be. I have always felt we should tell you both sooner but was outvoted for numerous reasons.” Tony came and sat next to me on the armrest, and Byron sat down next to Tochia on the coffee table.

“Now I can only tell you what we have heard second— and thirdhand. It was said that, Connor, your mother…” She held up her hand, stood up, and turned around toward the balcony where Tanzia so happened to be standing. “I know, Tanzia, but they should know… Yes, I know what we agreed… Good, they are all right.”

“I have a right to know. I had someone who attacked me tonight, and I didn't have a clue why. Who is he really?” I all but yelled at Tanzia. If they won't give me answers then I don't feel obliged to tell them everything, especially what happened between Ronin and I. How do I explain something to them or Tony when I don't even understand it myself.

Tanzia never responded; she looked at me for a minute until something behind us caught her attention. Selene and Shak came up from the direction of the basement, followed by Bynder and a few of the
feelers
.

“Sorry,Byron,weareunabletolocateyourgrandfather,” Bynder said to Byron who put his head down and said nothing. Tony went over to him, but he said he was all right.

We made room for them on the couch. They explained how they were blindsided by a shape-shifter and Khan. He must have dazed them because after that, it was black.

“You all were right, he betrayed us,” Selene said. “Technically in the end, Selene, you were saved by

Khan. Tanner did not know where you were. That was obvious when I asked about you two. So it stands to reason he had to have saved you both,” Bynder explained.

“Tanner,” Selene said, sounding angry. “We should have known. I am disappointed in Willow. All she had to do was come to one of us. We would have told her not to trust an outsider and to give him blood vials.

“Who switched the vials?” asked Tony. “I get Khan may have intercepted ours, but not yours. Why even help us in the end?”

“I switched all the vials. I have suspected him for a while. I discussed my fears with Tanzia only after she came to me with hers. I had him followed by
feelers
who confirmed what I had suspected. He disappeared too often for a man who is nothing less than reliable at worst, and when nunans appeared sooner than normal, I knew my fears were confirmed. I was not aware of Willow's involvement, but I'm sure it was minimal,” Bynder explained.

“Yes, that is why when he first dropped the vial, nothing happened, but figured if I go into a trance, they would not hazard a clue,” Tochia said.

“So it's normal for us to do that?” I asked. “Go rigid and stiff.”

“Yes, it is a defense mechanism for protection's sake. Khan has always expressed to us he's wanted more than this lifestyle, but I never expected this from him. I hope he finds whatever he is looking for on the other side and never come back because if he does, I will be waiting for him,” Shak said.

“I want to go after Willow and my dad,” Byron said

“I say we don't. I'm not risking my life for traitors,” Scott said.

“Even under the best of circumstances and if you were well trained, you would not survive. Besides, they are most likely already dead unless they can find a use for them. Willow is the only one worth any value, and by the time you get to her, she won't be the same person,” Bynder said.

“How cruel can you be?” Cheyenne asked.

“He is being honest. Bynder knows firsthand. He is lucky to have walked away with just that scar,” Tanzia said.

“I'm sorry, but I don't care. She was tricked. Believe me, she had no idea what she got herself into. I'm going with or without any of your help. I will find a way.” Byron made it clear that no was not an option.

We had barely banned together, and we had already fallen apart. Byron's grandfather was missing, Willow, Mr. Conway, and Khan betrayed us, and Byron wanted to go on a suicide mission after them. Are they even alive?

Then there is Ronin. What is so important about me? What did he say to Cheyenne, and why stab her and not me? There were so many secrets and unanswered questions, like why did Bynder go to Ether and what really happened to my biological mother? Should I go with Byron to Ether to get some real answers? There's only one thing I knew for sure: today was not the last time I will ever see Ronin.