True Fate (16 page)

"Thanks." Nia said looking at her baby
sister fondly.

"It was nice seeing you again Lena.” Aaron
told her.

They got in the car and started the drive home in
the dark. The moon was full and the sky was dark.

"The stars look amazing out here.” Aaron
said.

"I know I love living out here almost for
that reason alone,” She was looking at the stars with wonder.

"Open the bag.” Nia told him. He did and put
the two cokes in the cup holders and the two snickers in the middle console.
Nia laughed.

"I never know what she puts in the bag. But
she always sends one when I leave the house without her.", she explained.

"That's cool.” Aaron said.

The rest of the ride was spent listening to music
and holding hands timidly like they were thirteen. At least until they got to
the city, you need both hands when driving in the city there.

Once at Aaron's, Nia pulled to the curb and got
out of the car. Aaron grabbed his stuff and took off his hoodie and threw it on
his bag on the sidewalk. Nia leaned on the trunk after shutting it and he went
and stood in front of her grabbing her left hand, he lifted it to his mouth and
kissed it softly, "Nia this has been one of the craziest yet best days of
my life and I wouldn't change it for the world."

Nia smiled, stared at him adoringly, "I had
a great time too. I'll see you tomorrow?”

"No I'll see you tonight, in my dreams.” he
leaned in and kissed her softly on the edge of her mouth.

 
Nia
couldn't calm the heat or the tingling that ensued starting from that exact
spot. "See you soon.” she said, slowly walking away.

"Nia? Can you call me when you get to
Rhea's? So I know you made it safe.” Aaron asked quickly.

 
Smiling
and nodding she got back into her car.

"Goodnight Nia.” he said before she closed
the door.

“Night Aaron.”

The drive to Rhea's was hazy Nia was tired and
drained. She grabbed her bags and went up, unlocked the door and slipped past a
snoring Al on the recliner with an infomercial playing on the TV. She went up
to Rhea's room and saw she had headphones on with her back to the door.
 
Nia went and flopped on the bed and Rhea
still didn't turn.

She took out her phone and dialed Aaron. "Hello?”
he said after two rings.

"Hey I'm here safely.” She told him as
butterflies’ wreaked havoc inside her.

"Good, I'll pick you up tomorrow to go meet
with Darragh.” he said, Nia thought about it for only a second.

"That's cool. Just text when you're en
route.” she said.

"Okay. Goodnight Nia.” Aaron spoke softly
like he was already on his way to sleep.

"Goodnight Aaron.” Nia whispered.

A moment later she heard a soft snore from her
phone.

"I guess he beat me to Eric...” she mused
giggling.

“Bye.” She whispered hanging up her end of the
call.

Rhea took off her headphones and Nia froze as
Rhea was walking to the bathroom grabbing P.J.'s on her way.

While she was getting ready for bed, Nia did the
same but chose her black Rebels Read oversized tee with pink neon "booty
shorts’, as Rhea loved to call them, and brushed her teeth in the hall
bathroom. She naturally made it back before Rhea had even come out yet.

 
Rhea
finally came out and flipped on the light then jumped stifling a scream.

"Holy crap Nia!!” Rhea exclaimed clutching
her chest over her heart. "You scared the crap outta me!”

Nia rolled on the bed laughing. "That was too
funny!”

 
"When
did you get here?" Rhea asked starting to move throw pillows off of the
bed.

 
"When
you were listening to music at the computer.” she said grinning.

"Still got my ninja skills.” she added
jokingly.

"Oh, hush!” Rhea said throwing a pillow at
Nia.

Nia got up and moved her bags to the closet, and
Rhea looked at them questioningly.

"Oh this is my ready to get the hell outta
dodge bag. I'm going to have it with me always now I guess.” Nia said shrugging
her shoulders.

"Oh, should I have one too?” Rhea asked.

"Probably.", she responded with a sad
face. Nia got under the covers and Rhea turned out the lights and joined her.

“I’ll do it in the morning.” Rhea said yawning.

Nia stretched and yawned herself. “Cool.”

"So I take it everything went good with date
day?” Rhea asked.

"Yeah, better than good but I'm really
sleepy. I'll tell you all about it in the morning.” Nia replied.

"Okay good night Sweet Pea.", Rhea
yawned again.

"Night Rae.” Nia said then rolled over tucking a hand under her pillow
and looking at the dim glow of her bracelet as she started to drift to sleep.

Chapter 8

On the way from the warehouse to their new digs
Eric sensed someone of their kind was close to Nia and he was freaking out.
Both he and Darragh insisted they check it out. They doubled back and followed
Nia tracking the phone Darragh had given to Aaron. The tracker said Nia was in
Manvel where they knew her family resided, but Avery honed in on the hunters
about five miles outside the small town.

"We have to let them know we're on to them.”
Avery said, readying her weapons.

Darragh met her eyes in the rearview,
"Avery's right.” he said knowing she was using her abilities.

Eric sighed, "Let's do this then.” he said
solemnly.

It had been a while since he has had to dispatch
any hunters or rogues. Avery switched to the passenger side letting Darragh
drive.

She closed her eyes and concentrated. Her sight
was a useful gift even if it wasn't her strongest. Seeing them a mile behind
Avery instructed Darragh to pull over and cut the lights.
As soon as the car
passed carrying the hunters Darragh pulled out behind them to follow.

"I'm not going to let them get remotely close to her.", Eric
nearly spat at an already tense Avery and Darragh.

"You're not the only protection on this trip. Could you please
stop acting like that?” Avery snapped obviously annoyed by his attitude. Eric
just huffed.

"They're going to stop to get gas. There’s only one attendant.”

Darragh nodded at Avery’s information, knowing this was where they
would ambush them. He'd worked with her on more than his fair share of jobs and
knew to listen. She was tough and smart and he had no problems following her
lead, he could always trust her instincts. They pulled into the gas station and
parked in the shadows beside it.

Silently the trio exited the vehicle with stealthy precision. Eric
peered around the corner, using signals he gave the go ahead to Darragh to
enter the store to take care of the attendant. Avery walked out to the guy
pumping gas steeling her nerves.

"Hey there.” she said approaching him with a seductive smile. He
stiffened at the suddenness of her appearance then raked his eyes over her
slowly. She was glad she'd changed out of her guardian blacks and had slipped
into the green mini dress she had on.

"Umm, my car broke down a little ways that way.” She said
pointing and twirling a red curl with the other finger. “Do you think you could
help me? Please?” she asked batting her eyes and leaning a little closer to
him.

Catching site of Darragh in the store she saw him nod meaning he had
control of the cameras.

"Sure honey, the names Drake. And you are?” he replied pushing
his hand in Avery's direction and stepping even closer.

The other guy got out of the vehicle and came out to see what was
going on while Avery was shaking hands.

Eric snuck up behind the new guy before Avery could even acknowledge
him and slashed at his neck without warning. Seeing Avery with drake had left
him with little patience.

Drake leapt and rolled out of Avery’s reach as she drew her own sword.
She swore and gave chase as he quickly ran away.

Watching the body of the unsuspecting hunter sizzle to a molten orange
hissing and popping Eric was mesmerized. After ten seconds it turned to a burnt
lump then with a crunch crumpled as ash flew in the air swirling around him
making him cough.

Avery tackled Drake and he struggled arms flailing wildly, he panicked
at her quick overpowering and punched her square in the jaw. She rolled on top
of him and got further advantage pressing her knees into his clavicle and
shoulders locking his arms in place with her feet. In a swift move she lifted
her weight and was on her feet hauling him along with her and running them into
a tree.

Eric searched frantically for Avery once he snapped out of his daze.
It really had been awhile since he'd sent anyone back to his world that way.

Finally finding her he could hear the whiny pleading of the hunter.

Avery’s eyes were furious and she was seething with rage, Drake
groaned when she pressed harder while she had him smashed face first against a
tree with her dagger dug in his throat a sliver of blood trickled down his neck
where the tip dug in.

"Who sent you?” she asked digging her knee deeper into his spine
slamming him harder to the hard bark of the tree. Drake clenched his teeth and
coughed, blood spattering it.

Eric came around to look him in the eye, "You may as well tell
us. You're out of this game for a while and we won't say anything about where
we got the info.” He said twirling the knife from his own belt in his hand.
Drake growled then reluctantly relaxed his body. Avery took the knife out from
his throat and blood dripped faster from the small slit she'd made.

"I can't tell you.” Drake spoke softly, hands raised. "But I
can tell you that you can't trust anyone. And I mean anyone, there are snakes
everywhere. If that girl is who we all think she is, we all need her. I’m bound
by an oath to help the one I’m working for. I very literally can't give you any
information that would directly be useful.” The hunter said quickly.

Staring at Drake, Eric weighed his words, "He's telling the truth
about his oath.” Avery said. "Also he's right about not trusting anyone.”
she added.

Eric clenched his jaw and Avery removed her knee completely from
Drake’s back when he quickly spun and slashed a dagger at Eric. Time stood
still as Avery looked on in horror as Drale ran ahead touching a tree until it
glowed and disappeared inside.

Eric looked up at a shocked and seemingly frozen Avery, "A little
help.” he said gritting his teeth.

She dropped to the ground next to him and raised her hand into the air
it glowed a bright blue. A bubble appeared around them and a concentrated
Darragh walked into the privacy he'd created.

"I took care of the clerk and the cameras. The passersby are
another issue Avery. What were you thinking?" he scolded her.

But she didn’t care who saw, this was her best friend and so much more.

Her hands shook as the cool water gathered to Avery surrounding her raised
palm and hovering there. She brought both hands in front of her and molded the
water into a ball and placed both hands around it and closing her emerald eyes.
A burst of orange cleansed the water of its impurities and she directed it to
Eric's wound while she ripped his shirt. Once the wound was washed she put her
hand to his face and sent a jolt through him, gritting her teeth as she
transferred some of his pain to herself.

Trying desperately to calm herself Avery worked on the jagged six inch
rip in his skin across his shoulder and clavicle. Her blue light shone in the
night and sweat dotted her brow as his wound started to close up.

Darragh kept watch around them making sure the bubble was still
intact. Eric's eyes fluttered as Avery's light dimmed and she removed her hand
panting as she lowered herself to the damp grass. A thick pink puckered patch
of skin was where the gaping wound had just been. She smiled as tears blurred
her vision and Eric looked up at her hazily.

"I had no idea you were a healer. That was amazing. Thank
you." he said sitting up slowly.

"Yeah, a lot of things have changed.” she replied wiping the
tears that stung her eyes.

"We need to go. Now.” was all Darragh said, and with that the
bubble dissipated and they went back to the car and headed towards their
destination. The silence in the car was too thick to break. What could be said,
that was close.

###

Eric was pacing the floor, it was ten thirty and
still neither Nia nor Aaron had fallen asleep. His patience was wearing thin
and his jaw was clenched when Avery interrupted his brooding throwing a pillow
at him. He took out an ear bud and shot her a look to kill.

"Look, pacing a hole in this lovely carpet
is not going to make the girl sleep. Can't you just contact her or something.” Avery
said clearly annoyed but he just glared at her. He had already told Avery that
he didn't want to bother Nia and her 'Guardian'.

If he went to her and found them together in a
physical way he wasn't certain he could keep himself under control. Having felt
something strange for her the night that he first sensed her.

It had been over a year ago when he heard her
speak the prophecy from her own lips and she had been given the 'sight', she
had no clue she possessed. That was when the soul stone appeared under his
pillow. He knew then he was to be her Protector. At the time he was happy to
get any assignment but when he saw her he knew this was different.

The second time he had slipped out of his body
and was catapulted into her dreamscape. In the beginning she dreamed fairly
normal dreams and he would make sure she was safe from afar. Having no clue who
she was or her future, but he knew right away that she was from his world. He
had no intention of developing feelings for her but she was special and
beautiful. Still he had no clue why he harbored any feelings towards her at all.

He thought he had felt frustration before, but
this was a whole other level! He had no desire to feel the jealousy he was
feeling, he didn't have any intention of anything happening with this girl
anyways.

"That carpet isn't the only thing you're
wearing out!” Avery sighed. "I’m trying to relax here.” she said gesturing
to the chaise she was laying on.

It had been awhile and she had about enough of
his ridiculous brooding over this girl none of them really knew. He would be
forbidden from any contact with her anyway if she was who Lilith said she was.

Avery wanted to talk to Eric alone so bad but
Darragh was right there constantly. It would have to wait until they had reason
to be alone although she trusted Darragh more than she did anyone else at this
point but Eric trusted no one.

The home they had found vacant was fully
furnished and turned out to be the summer home of a wealthy banker or something
like that. They were able to glean the info they needed from the talky locals
and it helped to have compulsion at their disposal as well.

Eric went to his room and shut the door when he
felt a tug from inside him and laid down quickly.

"Nia...” he whispered closing his eyes.

Sure enough there she was in all her dark haired
beauty. Eyes a beautiful honey color, the perfect amber with green and he
thought she was just stunning with her smoky eyes. She opened her mouth but
nothing came out, then she started to fade.

"Damn," Eric whispered shaking himself
from sleep. He sat up clearing his mind and grabbed his jacket as his stomach
rumbled and he guessed this body was going to need sustenance. Quickly he
decided to hit the diner across from where they were staying he hadn’t had a
human meal in ages.

Not bothering to tell Darragh or Avery where he'd
be as he slipped out into the cold night air. The open twenty four hours sign
flickered a hot pink glow steadily as he walked at a steady pace across the
street. He opened the door and the smell of greasy burgers and bacon were
predominant. He missed that, he thought smiling.

A waitress named Gladys, according to her
nametag, asked him how many and he wanted to laugh, as if it weren't obvious he
was there alone. She showed him to a table by the front window for two and left
a menu he assumed had looked the same since at least the nineties.

Gladys returned to the table with silverware and
asked in a gravelly voice, "What can I get you to drink honey?"

Her unnatural blond curls looked like they'd seen
better days, she was at least in her mid to upper sixties.

"Root beer is fine.” he answered with a
smile. She returned his smile with one of her own crinkling up her eyes then
she disappeared and came back a couple minutes later with his drink and a straw.
"You ready to order sweetie?” she asked with a grin.

Her pupils looked a bit cloudy like the beginning
of cataracts and her orangish lipstick did nothing for her pale complexion.
Eric was pretty sure she should have already retired. Looking through the menu
he ordered a bacon cheeseburger, fries and onion rings.