The Pentagram Child(143)

“Uh…”

“You ran before giving him chance to explain didn’t you?” He asked sounding exasperated and started rubbing his forehead and closing his eyes.

“Yeah, I did but you don’t understand.”

“And now neither do you.” He said on a huffed breath.

“Look honey, I get it, I do but don’t you think you have had enough of running when shit gets serious? So he fucked up, then you stand your ground and demand your answers. You scream at him and prove I’m wrong and that you’ve not gone soft, whatever but you stand there and face it like the bad ass I know is still inside you…” He paused and then stepped closer to me to softly run a finger over my bare shoulder brushing a long escaping curl back. Then he got close to my ear and whispered,

“And, sweetheart, don’t ever be the type of girl to run from the truth because of fear.” He finished his advice by giving my shoulder an affectionate squeeze and then took a step away from me. Then we found ourselves both leaning against the ledge and finding that comfortable silence you only ever really find with great friends.

“You’re not really friends with that prick Cerberus are you?” He said after a time and I burst out laughing before saying,

“What can I say other than I must have a soft spot of difficult, hard headed bad ass men.” And then I nudged him making him smile down at me.

“Well I am taking that as a compliment.” And just like that I knew he was right and more importantly, I also knew the right thing to do.

But first I gave my friend my honesty by saying,

“And so you should because I love my hard headed, bad ass friends.”





Draven





“Did you find her?!” I said storming down the corridor of my Venice home wanting nothing more than to spend my time tearing it down by its watery foundations!

“No my Lord but…”

“And why not? Am I not right in saying she ran into a crowd full of our kind? Are you telling me that no one, not ONE OF MY KINGDOM SAW HER!?” I let my Demon take over in my rage as he needed the small release I would allow him. Having her finally in my arms these last few days was the calmest I had felt him for a while and if I didn’t get her back soon I didn’t know if I could contain his rage and mine combined for long.

“But…but…”

“Spit it out!” I snapped at one of my generals who was in charge of the security at events like this one. I opened the door at the end and tried to take care in not ripping it off its hinges. I walked into my office and slammed the door behind my nervous subject.

“My Lord, other than some strange occurrence that no one can explain she has gone unnoticed since…”

“What occurrence?!”

“There was a crowd of people that felt a strange presence of power but could see no one. They say it got stronger and stronger until…” He paused and my patience snapped. I grabbed him by his costume instead of giving in to the urge to grab his neck and brought him closer to me.

“Until what exactly?” I said letting my eyes change with my voice.

“Until the power exploded enough to force everyone back.” He said trying not to show fear and the instant I got my answer I let him go as shock registered.

“Go!” I said turning to hide the pain of the news from being witnessed.

“My Lord.” He said respectfully and then he followed my order. As soon as the door closed I picked up the nearest thing to hand.

“AHHH!” I roared and threw the object at the door, making a palm sized hole due to the paperweight that I heard smashing at the other end of the hallway. I then let my body fall back a step and put my unsteady hand out on the side of my desk as my body leant against it in defeat. I had looked everywhere for her but those damn shields of hers were growing. Hell, not just growing but literally exploding into new levels of power. I always knew she would eventually develop the gifts into which she had been born but I had no clue to the strength I would find myself facing.

“Damn foolish girl!” I said angrily looking at the floor shaking my head. Did she not know of the dangers that surrounded her, despite being able to hide herself to my kind? Anything could happen! The worry and guilt of being forced into yet another position like this was almost crippling.

“Ah, I gather our little bird has not yet returned?” Lucius said after picking a shard of wood from the hole in the door and flicking it to the side.

“I want her found!” I commanded slamming my other hand down on the desk making it crack under my palm.

“As do I which is why I have my council doing the same as you but you do realise the level of power in which we’re dealing with here?” I frowned at my once right hand man and growled,