Chapter 4
As soon as I walked into the library, I hit the computers. I googled a vague description of the creature along with my name for it; hell horse. No one had anything. There was no name for it. This is pointless. I poured over mythology books and found nothing in there either. I was beginning to wonder if I was the only person to have ever seen it. Well, this sucks.
I left the library with no more knowledge of this creature other than the fact that it wasn’t supposed to exist. Like me. I grabbed my cell and phoned Dan. After a few rings of his receiver, he picked it up. “Hey Dan. Have I got some major shit for you to dig up.”
“What is it this time Keni? I don’t sit by the phone waiting for your calls you know. I have other things to deal with. How are the rookies doing?”
Bastard, don’t drag me off topic. I have a deadline to meet. “The rookies are fine, if a little nervous and unsure of their place. And I have a creature that isn’t supposed to exist.” I proceeded to fill him in on its description.
I heard a tap-tap in the background and was sure it was him hitting the desk with his pen. “I’ll get Pread on it. Oh, and he wanted to ask you if you needed a new set of Vipers. He’s made them out of some new alloy he’s been testing for over a year. Apparently they’re more durable and light-weight now.”
“Sounds good. Send in six different models and we’ll divvy them up. Did he remember to make a new crossbow for me?” I had damaged mine on the last mission when I was slammed against a wall and nearly impaled myself on the bolt.
“Yes, he remembered. They’ll be there with your refreshed blood supply by dusk. I trust that you’ve staked the estate and are ready to terminate the mark?”
All he wants is this mission to be over. So do I. “Yes, that was where I saw the creature to begin with. I’ll talk to you sooner rather than later. Bye.” And I hung up on him. Mean, yes, but necessary if I didn’t want him calling me in the middle of something. I stood where I was for a moment, leaning against the outside wall of the library and just breathed. My eyes itched enough to make me want to scratch them and I knew they had reverted to green. Why the hell do they have to be the same green as his? I’m going to end up killing that rookie before he leaves his teens.
I wandered back in the general direction of the target’s home. After I turned the first corner, I saw Duskin leaning against the lamppost I had threatened to tie him to. You shouldn’t have gone this way Kat. He knows you to well already. “Dammit you. Why the hell are you still standing there?
He walked right up to me and shrugged. He was way too close for my comfort and I shoved him back rather than letting myself back up. “I tried to tell you that I this conversation wasn’t over, no matter how badly you wanted it to be. So shut up and listen Goddammit.”
This kid has balls of steel I tell you. He doesn’t know his place around here quite yet.
“Buddy, don’t fuck around with powers that could leave you with your head up your ass while you have no idea who turned out the lights. Leave me the fucking hell alone. I don’t even know how many times I’ve told you that dammit.” He stepped back into my personal space. Not again you don’t. “Back up and stay there. This conversation ended when I left and it’s staying ended." I took a moment to calm down. "Now, I’m going back to take another look at the hell horse. Tag along if you want but stay at least five feet away from me at all times. If I can’t get rid of you, I’m still going to keep you far enough away that you can run if I decide to kill you.”
He snorted but backed up the necessary few steps to comply with the five-foot bubble I now had around myself. “Since when is this thing called a hell horse?” He asked.
Damn. Too late now. “I had to call it something and I settled for something easy.” I turned tail and moved faster than a normal human could without running. As it was, Duskin was at a jogging speed behind me, trying extremely hard to stay at least five feet away from me. I smiled with the new found space I had while around him. This could be a good thing.
I stopped suddenly at the gate and when Duskin tried to stop, he fell into my bubble and promptly jumped back like he had been burned. Knowing me, he probably had. “If you get any closer while I do this I will still feel it, buddy.” With that elegant little parting, I expanded my senses and took another trip out of my body.
I reached the area where I had seen the hell hounds and hell horse an hour before. They were still there but the horse’s flame was now a cold blue. What the hell? It stamped and snorted enough to send the guard next to its cage running away. Now why would he do…fuck.
I pulled myself back as fast as I could, but it wasn’t fast enough to beat this thing. Its own senses reached out and collided with mine with enough force to send me back to my body and flying into Duskin. He politely caught me with an outstretched arm and let go the instant I retrieved my balance.
“Well, what happened?” he asked innocently.
I saw that smile you jerk. “Apparently it recognized my signature, because it sent something at me to knock me back.” I stepped away from him, looked back at where I knew the horse was and tilted my head to the left. I could see the slightest flicker of the blue flame from where I stood. I didn’t know what the thing was really. I had my own name for it but no hell beast I had ever known could do what it had just done. It sent me reeling back more than five feet. I probably would have been thrown farther if Duskin hadn’t caught me, but I was in no mood to thank him.
I muttered, “What the fuck is that thing?”
Now there was no question that there was a smile on his face. It reached his eyes and made them shine. I glared at him but that just made his smile bigger.
I didn’t like the look that entered his eyes next. It felt like he was touching me. I looked away and back towards where I saw the flame. It had disappeared by then. I wanted another look but I didn’t want to reach out with my senses again, after what had just happened. I glanced back at Duskin, who still had that look in his eye. Stop it dammit. You’re giving me too many ideas on how to kill you. Skinning would be a decent one. I’d even make a Wicker Man to watch you burn right now. “Come on, we’re going back to base.”
“Huh?”
If you’re going to be around me, pay attention dammit.
“I said we’re going back to base, as in my house you fucking moron. Now move before I have to kick your ass.”
The look finally left his eyes but was quickly replaced by that damn smile. What did I do to get stuck with this idiot? Be born? What?!
“Move dammit!”
“Fine Kat, but we’re going to finish this later.”
Ugh! “Whatever, just move.” He moved out of my way and let me lead the way home.
(Hope you enjoy it ^_^ Kat's so much fun to write with. Can't kick the swearing though, it's too integral to her character. It makes me sad that I have to rank it under 18+ just for that. Oh well, read, have fun, comment! I need the tips
)
