Part 3 to Unnamed (at the moment)

Part 3

“Catherine” I heard a voice through the underground halls of the weapon room. “Kit, I know you’re down here” It was Eric I exhaled in relief that it wasn’t Magnus or my next room mate.

“Yeah, Eric I’m here.” I lifted my head from my hands. He sat down beside me and his very presence made me relax immidiently. Everything about him was so familiar, his black hair, his navy striped white t-shirt, his blue jeans and most of all his penetratingly intense green eyes. He was usually pale and had a high cheek bone and long eye lashes that created the blue prints of his face that was burned into my memories forever. He put a comforting arm around my shoulder and I didn’t budge.

“Eric?” I lifted my head to look at him and realized that he was looking straight at me.

“Yeah?” his arm retreated to his side and slid closer to me.

“Who is he?” I asked frantically searching his expression.

Hi face twisted in confusion “Kit I-”

“No. No don’t answer that, please” I interrupted him.

“Ok”. The room slipped into the dark decent of silence that often fell between us when we were thinking.

“Eric” I started again and he looked at me with renewed interest “There have only been two people I have loved and trusted in my life, and one passion”

“Yeah, but Kit this isn’t really the best time to be discussing philosophical emotions” he smiled at me, hoping for a cheery reaction but got nothing.

“No, Eric it is” I was irritated for some reason and I felt the determination that I had during battle to find out who he was. “I love you as a brother, and Magnus like a…….” I trailed off afraid that he would think it was stupid that he was like a father “A….important person” I finished and he gave me an odd look but it didn’t really seem too distracted “and my passion is to be a Night Hunter, I love my team. And I love my passion” He seemed unaffected.

“You know, that is a really mutual feeling” he smiled warmly “But about the rooms, you know you can feel free to stay with me” he said quickly brushing off the deep conversation.

I sighed and leaned so far back that my head hit the gun wall behind us “Have you seen the state of your room lately?” I looked at him sideways imaging his disastrous room. Usually it was like a bomb filled tornado ran through it alongside the Tasmanian devil.

“I could clean it up” he said quietly with an odd weakness. I stared at him with a purposefully weird look, it had been known since second grade training that Eric liked me but this was the first time since he was twelve that he ever showed warmth towards me on a different level than simple friendship.

“Thanks, but I think I’ll just talk with Magnus” I didn’t want to put him out but it was the truth, plus I was frightened of his bed room even in a clean state.

“You don’t have to, he called a meeting”

“In the meeting room?” I asked, he only ever held important meetings in the meeting room other ‘discussions’ where held in his office like when you sneak out to raid a horde of zombies controlled by an under Lord. He nodded and I was sure he was remembering the same zombie attack.

“Kit” he said after a long moment of silence “You have to admit, she is hot”

“Eric!” I sighed rolling my eyes. I wondered somewhere deep inside me if he pulling a classic and trying to make me jealous but quickly I pushed away that thought hiding it deep inside where no one could ever know.

“Well, I can’t help it. Besides you said we should we should be more open.”

“That is not at all what I said” I sat up straight.

“Yes, well, partly but that’s not important” I sighed and smiled at him, happy that I could talk with him “Eric?”

“Yeah?”

“When I saw Magnus he said………..” I was trying to be able to tell him but it didn’t seem the time.

“Said what?” he asked with an odd sincerity to his voice.

“Never mind” I shook my head “I just need to find him.”

“Let’s go then.” From the center room we could hear Rayla and Anika arguing in my room still and I would rather be drug through hell then have to go near them so naturally, I told Eric to. He protested at first then finally he agreed and we planned to meet up in the meeting room. We ran up the spiral staircase and split up at my door. I stood outside the meeting room wondering what to do, what to say and how to deal with the disappointment of getting in trouble for bringing it up but finally I reached up knocked on the heavy wooden door. I remembered standing outside the meeting door with Eric at my side knocking to get in for a lecture so many times. When no one answered I knocked again and was greeted by the call of Magnus’s dog, Mario. I opened the door and crept inside. The room was silent and all that was visible from where I stood was Mario’s tale from behind Magnus’s desk. I slowly tip toed to the edge of his desk and gaped in amazement. Magnus was laying unconscious, one leg under desk and his arms at his sides like he fell out of his chair. “Magnus!” I screamed and dropped to his side wrapping my seemingly small arms around his limp body. I shook him and buried my head into his chest and the burning tears began to run down my face staining his shirt. It felt like hours that I lay there sobbing by him before Eric finally entered pulling Rayla and Anika by the arms into the room as they fought still but nothing they said I could hear because my heart was pounding in my ears too loudly. “Kit?” Eric’s confused voice called form the entrance. I let out a long sob in reply and he dropped the girl’s arms running to my side. I plunged into his arms crying so fiercely that I couldn’t even think of the embarrassment at my lack of bravery. I felt his firm grip around my body as not even he could look at Magnus’s still figure. Rayla rushed behind the desk and stared in amazement but she didn’t fall into tears or collapse against him as I did. She fell to her knees and starred forward into space as Eric was famous for doing, tears swelled in the bottom of her eyes. My body convulsed in a heavy sob that stung in my throat and my eyes where begging to burn from the salty tears. Eric bit back a cry as he whispered “Shhh, Kit it’s gonna be ok” into my ear, but I knew he was wrong. Rayla rested her crying face in her hands and Eric put an arm around her for comfort. Anika stood in the distance staring at us crying like lunatics and I had sympathy for her because she must have felt awfully out of place. I pulled myself away from Eric’s tear soaked chest and dried my eyes. He leaned forward and hesitantly pushed back Magnus’s eye lid to reveal white unconscious eyes and I bit back a sob and covered my mouth. “Who would do this?” Anika said in disbelieve.

“Him” I cried and sunk my fang into my bottom lip. Every one turned to look at my but Eric, he gently wrapped his arms around me again as I fell back into crying. “I should have told you………I-” Eric cupped my head against him cutting me off mid sentence. Rayla, gathering her wits about like she always did in times of need said “We need to find whoever did this”

“Why!” Anika cried. Coward, I said in the back of my mind.

“Because whoever he” she glanced to me “is has found a way to enter the sanctuary, meaning that he wants something more than Magnus’s life.”

“That’s right” I pulled away from Eric’s grasp, his hand still on my shoulder. “When I was with Magnus in the weapon’s room he said ‘he is back’” I dried my tears for the last time and pushed my clean hair out of my eyes.

“He is back?” Rayla echoed.

“He………” Eric said laying Magnus’s hands across his chest.

“A warlock would know who he is.” Rayla decided.

“Or a Vampire possibly” Eric suggested.

“We can’t go to either of them, they’re not of our kind” Anika said crossing her arms across her chest.

I stared at her blankly “Magnus always taught us to be kind and fair to every tribe creature that fallows the covenant of the tribes.” I said firmly.

“Who taught you otherwise?” Eric sounded irritated.

“My trainer and I won’t stand for any insults towards him” she said horribly.

“He was an idiot” Rayla snapped.

After examining her for a long moment I realized what was different about her “He didn’t train you well” I said ruefully.

“How so?” she uncrossed her arms.

“You have no marks, how do we know to trust you?” everyone looked at her with split eyes as if no one had noticed this before.

He looked like she was holding back tears as she spoke “When I five, I decided I wanted to be a human. My parents let me and they hid my marks with a powerful spell. When I turned ten I decided to go through training but my trainer was brutal.” She winced at the memory “She once killed a griffin in front of the class out of rage towards my sister. The spell wouldn’t ware off and my trainer hated me for it.” Tears began running down her red cheeks “she forced me through the transformation at eleven, and the older you are more painful it is” she paused and Rayla shivered. I had nearly forgotten that Rayla was ten when she went through the transformation and it was more painful then she cares to admit, Eric and Michael where actually the only Hunters born hunters “My trainer hung herself………I was sent here” she ended with a sob and formed her hand into fists.

“Your marks……….why can’t we see them?” Rayla asked softly and I wondered if she had more sympathy for her now.

“I hid them, for my parents I thought they would be disappointed if after their work on the spell I got them back.” She crossed her arms again.

“The warlock of the dead would know” Eric said distantly.

“The warlock of the dead………….” Anika said, baffled.

“Yes, like the warlock of the living and the warlock of the tribes. You know the ones who created the covenant of the tribes for the tribes that consist of the living dead, Scorers, fairy types and those of the moon. The covenant was created to separate the pure from the diluted, meaning demons and under lords and anyone else who cares to join them.” Eric lectured.

“I don’t need you to preach history to me!” she snapped, her face a glowing red.

“We’re finding a warlock and anyone who objects can take a hike.” Rayla said getting to her feet.

“I’m not protesting” Anika sighed.

Ten minutes later we reconvened in the outdoor training house everyone was dressed in black pants and wearing our high collared thick black coats and white and black all star high tops, Anika and I arrived last because I had to get her a matching uniform to ours. From our head down we looked cool, I had always been partial to stiff turtle neck like coats plus these ones looked sporty with black ribbing. From our hips down we looked like basket ball players, with our black pants and high tops but no one ever really asked us why we all wore matching clothes so I thought it best not to bring it up to Magnus.

No one had told Michael about Magnus yet and if somebody had to it wasn’t going to be me but he was still dopey from his hang over and I trusted Eric to tell him later.

I never left the house without weapons and today we got to really deck out with them. We headed down stairs Michael drowsily leading the way fallowed by a very confused Anika who was still messing with the laces of her shoes, Rayla and me after her. I had just put my foot on the first step when I heard the minding throbbing boom of the door bell. Eric stopped and looked up at me from the weapon room platform “I’ll get it” I called down to him and walked to the front door. I managed to steal a peek at myself in the mirror by the door before opening it my dark curls spilled over my shoulders and down my back in two long braids and the lighting in the room made my lips and eyes look like they were glowing. Finally I heaved the door open. To my surprise there was a boy probably a year older than me covered in scraps bruises and blood from head to toe. I stared at him and I was sure my jaw dropped. He quickly began busing his hands with making covenant symbols across his chest from what I could make out from his frantic movements was that he was seeking sanctuary. It was Hunter law that he couldn’t speak unless he received sanctuary so if I wanted any answers I’d have to let him in. “Sure” I said slowly not actually ever doing this before. He heaved a sigh in relief and stepped in tracking dirt and blood onto the white marble floor, I closed the door behind him.

“Who are you?” I asked hopping I didn’t sound as surprised as I was.

“I’m Rorien” he pushed his dark blood drenched hair out of his eyes.

“I’m Catherine, I’d shake your hand but, you’re covered in blood” I stuffed my hands in my pockets.

“Yeah, actually about that” he uncomfortably raised his arms and shook his hands flicking scarlet drops onto the white floor.

“Oh!” I remembered everyone down stairs, we had intended to leave right away but they would have to wait “You can shower”

“That would be very nice, thanks” I took him to the guys bath room that was in the upstairs hallway between Eric and Michael’s doorways.

“Here” I handed him and towel, I’ll get you a uniform after.” I informed him but he looked at me as if I had told him to just go naked.

“Uniform?” he asked, baffled.

“Yes, just get into the shower” I was rushing him but I really didn’t care.

“You what!?” Eric hollered at me as he strapped a long black sword to his belt. Michael Rayla and Anika turned their heads from the gun wall to watch us.

“He asked sanctuary” I wined almost as if he was Magnus.

“That doesn’t mean you can just let him in!” as he was yelling at me, we both seemed to deal with our frustration with strapping weapons to our bodies.

“His name is Rorien, he was covered in blood.” I was trying to lighten the subject.

“Well, ok now that you say that” he bat his eye lashes and upped the pitch of his voice to make fun of me “I’ll bet he’s so dreamy too!”

“Eric!” I pointed a dagger under his chin, like in a high stress action movie where the main character is finally going to kill the bad guy.

“This” he lowered the blade with his fingers, gently “is why kids don’t have weapons” he teased.

“I was this close” I held my index finger a quarter inch from my thumb “to killing you”

“You don’t have the guts!”

“Don’t I?” I started circling him reading myself to go on a rant about how many demons I had killed in my life time when Anika’s voice cut through our argument.

She put her hands on her hips “Arguing is not getting us any where!” to my surprise it actually worked, she had actually broken up our bickering, Rayla nodded in acceptance to her and she smiled widely flashing white fangs to her.

I started back up the stairs again and Eric caught my wrist. “Where are you going?” he asked raising an eye brow.

“To give Rorien his clothes.” I said meanly.

“You have his clothes, now?” Eric sounded slightly bothered by this remark and I couldn’t refrain from torturing him further.

“Actually, on second thought maybe I won’t. I’ll make him get them himself after all I’m pretty sure he has a six pack.” I softened my voice to a cruel tone.

Eric looked like he was holding his breath; he raked his lank hair out of his eyes “Go!” he yelled and judging by his expression he hadn’t intended to say it so loudly.

I turned around and stormed up the stairs into our supply cabinet in the sick room where we kept our uniforms. I tried to imagine his size and he seemed about the same size of Eric but I was pretty sure he had wider more muscular shoulders and arms. I grabbed a spare set of Eric’s uniform and high tops and delivered it to the bath room door. I crouched down and set the pile of clothes at the base of the door. I heard the shower stop and then silence for five minutes before he opened the door quickly and seeing me crouched by his clothes on the ground he stared un-amusedly down at me.

“I brought your clothes” I handed the uniform over. I couldn’t stop my eyes from wandering across his muscular chest; he had thick black wispy marks across his collar bone and abdomen. He smiled showing his bright white fangs and looked at me with his captivating blue eyes through his wet hair. “Thanks, I’m gonna need those” he took them, and as our hands brushed against each other’s a cold shiver ran down my spine leaving me quivering. Silently he disappeared into the bath room again and I wandered dazed down stairs to the kitchen to pack for the trip.

I was in the middle of filling a black cloth bag and cooler with snacks and drinks when Rorien walked into the kitchen. “Hi” I said brightly, examining him head to toe. His hair was dark but not black he had high angular cheek bones that where to die for and small perfectly shaped lips. He was wearing the soft white cotton shirt under his half zipped high collared black coat. He had his black jeans on and all star high tops over all he looked like a really hot version of Eric.

“What are you doing?” he asked almost disdainfully as he sat himself next to where I was pack on a stool.

“I am packing to leave” I said as I heaved a bunch of coke into the cooler.

“To where?” he seemed too interested almost as I where a little kid running away from home and immidiently I wanted to prove myself to him.

I stopped and eyed him mysteriously “To the covenant house” I said grimly.

His eyes lit up “Why?”

“Revenge, I guess” I started packing again remembering Eric’s favorite chips.

“And you’re bringing, that?” he shot a finger at the cooler and cloth bag full of food.

“Yeah” I pushed a strand of hair back into one of my braids, he looked confused “We have a car” I finished.

He seemed to understand me now. “You thought we were walking?” I asked leaning against the table at his elbow.

“That’s how I get around” he shrugged. I sat on a stool next to him taking a Pepsi and handing him a coke and he took it gratefully.

“Why?” I asked.

“Well when you’re being chased and beat to hell by a horde of the living dead you have to” he opened the cap slightly letting the carbonation rushing out of it then closed it quickly again.

“What did you do to tick them off?” I tried to restrain from laughing, though the living dead have the most unappealing name of the tribes they where the most forgiving of us all.

“I stole something” he admitted without hesitation. I must have looked surprised because he started laughing at me.

“What did you-” I was about to say steal when Eric came sauntering into the room mid sentence with the rest of the team on his heals

“Kit, when your hot rod gets out from his day spa can you-” He stopped in horror as his gaze fell to Rorien and I sitting on the stools.

“This” I waved my hand to Eric “is Rorien” I said simply, he smiled ruefully as Eric eyed him.

“Why is he wearing our team clothes?”

“I’m Sorry where you expecting him to be naked?” I teased.

“Kit……….” He sighed seeming exhausted “Are you ready?”

“Yeah” I looked past him to Michael who foggily looked back “Michael get the car” I tried to say it without sounding like a cheesy super hero announcing to the bat mobile! He nodded left though the back doors.

“So he’s coming with us now?” Eric looked seriously unimpressed.

“I didn’t say that” I stood up and closed the cooler lit.

“I’m not going with any of you” he said almost superiorly as he stood up leaving his coke bottle on the counter.

“Good” Eric murmured under his breath. Rayla set a small red nailed hand on Eric’s tensed forearm and he shot her a confused glance, she motioned him out of the room with a certain level of sincerity and he fallowed instantly. I glared at them as they walked out. I had never hated Rayla or ever even really disliked her all the years that we had lived together as sisters, in fact she was probably my best friend aside from Eric. But right now something came over me that wasn’t really hatred or frustration and I suppose it was curiosity. I looked silently to the now standing Rorien, he didn’t appear confused in fact he had a wide mischievous grin on his face. I stared at him for a moment not even consciously thinking about him, I was thinking about Eric and Rayla what they might have up their sleeves when I finally noticed that he was talking the whole time “……..many times” he finished.

I smiled at him stupidly “What?”

He laughed and zipped up the front of his coat “You are just perfect” he smiled secretly and I suddenly felt like punching that stupid all knowing grin off his face.

“And you’re a little nutty aren’t you?” I bit back my frustration at the entire day; I wished I hadn’t even woken up that morning.

“See ya around” he walked to the door “Kit” he finished and spat out my name as if he knew it would bother me. He left me standing in the kitchen suddenly wallowing in my own self pity when I reminded myself about Magnus. A tear trickled down my cheek and I sucked in my breath to stop from bursting into tears. Quickly my mourning turned into anger and I balled up my fists promising Magnus where ever he was that I would avenge his death.

“Kit?” Michael’s head popped into the kitchen door “ready?” he asked.

“Yeah” I waited until after he was gone to dry my tears and gather up the heavy food containers.

There was a chill in the air and crunchy autumn leaves decorated the ground and from inside the training dome the leaves balanced above your head as if they were floating in the air still. I sighed as I walked past our training areas wondering if we would ever use them again. Michael turned his head to look at me as a sigh was alarming “What?” he slowed his pace to match mine.

I wished I could tell him about Magnus but I didn’t want to start crying again “The leaves, autumn is finally here.”

“Oh…….yeah” he seemed suspicious.

“Michael”

“Yeah?”

“Have you ever been to the covenant house?”

“Yeah like once” he brushed his fiery colored hair away from his forehead and I fell into jealously, I always wanted straight red hair, my whole life.

“How far is it?”

“About a two day drive, it’s in Seattle,”

“Have you driven there before?” I asked nervously.

“No, but as you know humans can’t bother us” he seemed to be out of his drunk coma.

“Yes, yes they can’t see us I know, but I still worry…………” I remembered the day that Magnus taught us how if we didn’t want humans to see us we didn’t have to let them, to prove to us that he wasn’t crazy he let us practice in front of the sanctuary. No one even turned a head; the covenant disguised our sanctuaries with magic that made the humans believe it was a court house, locked up years ago.

Every Hunter or tribe member has the power to disguise our tools and homes, and in the covenant we all agree to do it so that the humans can’t know about us.

“Why are you so worried?” he asked unlocking the back door of the dome.

I stopped biting my lip “I’m not” I was lying.

~K.C.