Halfling;The Sentinel Chronicles. The Rod of Ardum.(Complete

The unfortunate return of all my karma points

The elevator in which we stood descended rapidly towards the ocean floor in a clear vertical tube.  The view down here was spectacular. Fish swam in great schools all around us, before scattering with a cloud of bubbles.  I smiled nervously as a great white shark swam gracefully by.  Cooper chuckled throwing an arm back around my shoulders when I stepped closer in alarm. The great predator getting closer to the tube than I was comfortable.  My hand brushed Seth’s arm, almost immediately, my mind threw me into the surprising grip of a waking dream.

“Halfling.” Twin incisors pierced deep in my throat. I did not struggle but leaned closer. His scent made my head swim, the pulling of his mouth at my throat and hands stroking my back and hips. I wanted more, more of the blazing liquid that has scorched my insides. More of his touch on my skin. I drew him closer. A voice cutting through the darkness.

“Elisabeth! Run.” Something grabbed me from behind, a thick hand around my throat pulled me in close. I could feel foul breath on my face.

“Come Samhain, my little witch, the crown jewel will fall and my Queen will feast for a thousand years.”

“Please...Please! I don’t want to be a vampire!” the voice was my own. Another followed, this one unclear.

“I am sorry, utilise the ancient.” I flinched at the despair coiling through their voice. I screamed as pain engulfed me.

I tore myself from my mind’s eye.  I closed my eyes shutting away the underwater world surrounding all its gliding predators, my head began to throb.  Seth on my left placed his hand on my shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze, confirming he had been privy to my confused thoughts.  Whether he had seen what I saw, or if he had only caught the emotion attached to it I did not rightly know. Thankfully, the elevator car came to a stop; opening into a cavernous training centre along one side of the dome-shaped glass structure with Section #5 written in great black bolded letters was able to distract me.

“Diamond!  Not glass; glass would be unable to withstand the pressure at such depths.”  Seth explained running a hand along the continuous transparent wall.

“Diamond, this is amazing, but how?”  I asked bewildered staring at the large expanse of structure.  How could they have accomplished such a thing?

“Dragons, they could create diamonds in expanse, the strength, ferocity, and heat of their fire is the only substance in the world that can make this material pliable”. Cooper leaned into my side his breath fanned my cheek.

“Seth was here when a dragon and mer-people helped the humans build this beauty.  Where we are down here on the seafloor, this whole structure can house up to thirty people, but there have been only four up until now, the rest of the facility can hold thousands.”

I raised inquiring eyebrows.

“Seth doesn’t play well with the other kids, so the big wigs that were running this place, way back when, gave this part of the city to him and his, just to be on the safe side.  When the boys and I came along Seth moved us down here.  The rest of Tartarus sleeps better knowing that we are nowhere near them.  We are the best and the worst the world has to offer.”  They are shunned for it. I finished Cooper’s sentence inside my mind. Seth nodded silently answering my unspoken question. I peered up through the top of the dome at the city rising above, a giant transparent tree with little pods all over it. It reminded me of the tree of life, I thought suddenly.

“If you’re the best of the best, what the hell am I doing here?”  I asked quietly, secretly dreading that someone else had found out about my extracurricular magic activities. The warning Rosin had given me flashed through my head before I could censor it.

“You’re a witch!” I spun around, taken by surprise. The expression on Seth’s face would have been comical if not for the gravity of the situation.  I swore under my breath, taking a step back from the wall and into a better defensive position.

“Lisa, what’s wrong?”  Cooper took a step forward one hand stretched out towards me, the other hovered over the hilt of the dagger at one hip.

“You are alarming Cooper for no reason, you and I will discuss this matter later, being a witch is not something you or I want to be known just yet. It would cause complications that we do not need, who else knows of your gifts?  Quickly you must tell Cooper a shark alarmed you, he is becoming suspicious.”  Seth’s voice brushed the corners of my mind again.  Complications, how interesting I thought.

“The Elf commander and Rosin are the only others here that know about me,” I answered silently.

On the outside, I shook off my fear for Cooper’s benefit. He seemed to relax more the longer he stared at me. I let go of a nervous little laugh.

“There’s a shark outside the window, it caught me by surprise, it is huge, I-I have seen buses smaller, can anyone else hear the jaws theme song?”  I replied breathlessly, nodding to the place just behind both men.  Cooper turned to see a very large and bigger than usual great white shark leisurely glide by.  The underwater lights lit up the seafloor like day, making the creature harder to miss.

“Hey, no problem kiddo, they can’t get in... Come on we’ll show you to your quarters, let you settle in.”  Cooper tried to mask his shudder as the shark passed again, obviously liking the creatures in question less than myself.  I followed Cooper through a door on the other side of the massive dome, the long transparent hallway showed doors in the walls leading to smaller inky black diamond pods.

“They’re scorched on the outside for privacy, but you can see well out of them but not into them.  They also have electronic blinds that slide down on the outside if the tinting doesn’t convince you.”  Cooper explained, stopping at the last door on the right.

Seth could not enter without permission; he stood at the door thinking.  To say he was shocked to find out Lisa was a witch was an understatement.  He’d known when he first met her in his mind that she was different, but he could not put his finger on what it was until he had picked up the echo of her thoughts.  Seth wondered to himself why he was keeping the knowledge of Lisa being a witch to himself instead of speaking with his men about her; she could pose a threat.  The sound of a light step approached.  Seth looked up to see Kilnaben Mastophilis the Elvin prince, one of the four that made up his team called Section 5.

“Ben.”  He called to his friend. The elf smiled in greeting.

“Seth my man, what are you doing down here?” he asked glancing around him.

“We have a new team member, a human woman, by the name of Lisa,”  Seth replied catching the surprise on the other’s face.  The sharp pointed tips of Ben’s ears twitched.  Seth knew this action as a sign that the elf was not impressed. Frankly, Seth did not give a rat’s arse and never had!

My new quarters were relatively spacious.  The door opened onto a furnished, open planned living room and kitchen.  Two doors opened from each side, one leading to the most beautiful amethyst stone bathroom with massive shower stall and multiple water heads.  A sunken super-sized spa bath, vanity, and a separate toilet tucked into the corner and walled off.

“Ooh this is beautiful, are all the rooms down here like this?”  I asked expecting to see Cooper and Seth behind me.  They were not.  I stuck my head out the door, spying the wolf in the living room looking out at the surrounding ocean; Seth was lurking in front of my doorway talking to someone. I noticed I did not have to look for the ancient; I could feel where he was by how powerful the sensation in my skin became. The closer he got, the more frantic the tingles became. The sensation was going to get old, real fast.

Cooper was staring into the ocean's depths trying to understand what Seth was thinking bringing a human into their section; Commander Zephyr said she was a fair to good fighter but she was untested in a battle situation, and clearly, she was not male!  As funny as she appeared to be, that vampire had to be losing his marbles.  Something happened back in the training dome, the girl had fallen into her fighter’s stance, which the presence of a shark did not cause. A stance like that, someone only used when one felt the presence of a close viable threat. Something was going on between her and the vampire. Cooper thought, turning to see the object of his thoughts coming out of the bathroom.

“Vampires have to be invited in. Otherwise, they stand around on your doorstep looking like wallflowers.  Another fact is that vampires like the rest of us are a breed; they are born, not made.  Vampires turning humans is a farce, made up to scare kiddies from going out at night.” I jumped, not realizing Cooper had moved.  I nodded. The ancient’s head slowly turned to face me a strange half-grin on his lips.

“You can come in Seth; I wouldn’t want anyone to mistake you for a wallflower,”  I called nervously with a small smile watching him walk through the door.

“The answer to your earlier question Elisabeth is yes all the bathrooms in section five are like this but carved from different stones.  I have given you the amethyst; the rest of us aren’t as in touch with our feminine sides.” he reiterated coming towards me. A chuckle escaped my lips. This vampire made me nervous and his breed was only half the cause. I fought not to think about this male lying on the stone floor beneath me, my legs astride his hips. I suddenly found myself thrown out of the ancient’s mind. I had not even realised I’d connected with him again. I shot him an apologetic look. One side of his mouth kicked up in a small smile. I sighed relieved he was not angry over something I had no control over. I refused to dwell on what I was thinking about when he kicked me out of his mind either.

“Lisa, I prefer to be called Lisa.”  I allowed myself a small smile, picturing my fifteen-year-old brother Danny’s reaction to my bathroom; I could hear his voice in the halls of my mind.

“Ah sis, yuck it’s pink, why the-, why pink, oh man, you risk sissy-frication just to go to the dunny!” I allowed myself another small chuckle at my kooky thoughts.  All the while, I watched the man who had followed Seth into my living room from the corner of my eye.

“Elisabeth Templeton, how do you do?” The newcomer paused, he seemed a mixture of amused and startled by my abrupt greeting.  I grinned in the back of my mind at my silly one-upmanship.  One point goes to the human.  Yeah!  Rock on!

“Kilnaben Mastophilis, Ben Mastro for short, light elf. I am well. Thank you, how are you?”  Ben recovered quickly as he shook my hand. Light elf, there was no real way to describe Ben he was beautiful. His face created in the image of the gods, his sharply pointed ears peeked through the strands of long white hair. The strands seemed to glow against his skin, which if caught the light at a certain angle shimmered an ice blue. I was awestruck by the creature standing before me. Shaking my head to clear it, I tried again to form some semblance of an answer.

“Hard question, I think I’m good, very overwhelmed at this present time and terrified of Seth, but I’m hoping it will pass in a minute,”  I replied looking around me uneasily, thinking that these men before me were flawless.

My humanity gave me the double-edged sword of change, but these men before me had no such ability.  Cooper could change his shape it was true, but in his sixties, did not look a day over twenty-five.  I suddenly felt the weight of my mortality.

“There is no such creature as flawless, your mind is so chaotic, do not let the possibilities of your mortality enter your thoughts, that is how bitterness is created”.  Seth’s voice was suddenly in my head. Ben was watching me closely. I felt his gaze, tantamount to if he were touching me.

“Honesty is a valuable commodity in a warrior. Fear is not something you can or should disregard. Use the power of the emotion to drive you forwards, such power will either destroy or make you stronger. You were the human left alive by the unicorn I take it?”

I had to agree there. The elf was entirely right. I took his words to heart and let the full extent of my fear surface to show on my face. I shuddered.

“Yes, Merdath let Morgan, Jericho, and I live. I am not sure why though; he told me that they were good friends to stay with me even through their fear. It was a strange meeting; he seemed rather pleased to speak to me. It almost felt as though he was waiting for me.” My answer met with a heavy silence.

“Merdath?” Seth’s voice curled around me like a snake.

“Yes, he said his name was Merdath and that he was the bringer of death, that his being here foretells the coming of the Queen.” Ben tapped his hand against one leg, agitated. I saw Cooper look up at Seth.

“Do you know him?” Startled I looked up at the vampire as well. I felt as if there was a great weight in my stomach. Seth shook his head.

“No, I have come across the name before though, so long ago now I scarcely remember.”

Ben nodded, Cooper sighed before slapping his hands together. I jumped.

“So, what do you think?” his question so out of the left-field, brought a smile to my face.

“This place is amazing, I never in my wildest dreams thought such a place would or even could exist.”

Cooper flopped down on the black low backed leather couch, his face suddenly split with a grin.

“Lisa had a run-in with Dante and his goonies. She broke his nose and sent his morons flying. They landed on the floor after going through the E1 conference table, splintering the thing straight down the middle!”  Cooper’s grin seemed infectious as it spread to Ben, who clapped me lightly on the shoulder in congratulations.  I hunched my shoulders guiltily.  A bark of laughter came from the doorway startling me.

“Gods I’m in love!  Baby, you are my kind of woman.  Tell me someone got a photo for posterity, I cannot believe I missed it”. Cooper sat up straighter.

“Can do better, caught on camera, E1 conference room security caught it all. We can do freeze-frame and play by play, my man. I am thinking music video!”  Cooper hooted jumping up to clasp arms with the new guy walking through my door.  Cooper made introductions.

“Lisa Templeton, Drake Johnson, skinwalker- tiger, and renowned party man.”  Drake was massive, although shorter than Cooper he had huge shoulders and arms but his body tapered down into the litheness of a big cat.  His grin was defiantly Cheshire related.

“A pleasure to meet you, my lady, do not let the wolf fool you I am a very serious warrior.”  Drake raised the back of my hand to his lips, his amber, black eyes were distinctly catlike, and he made a purring sound from the back of his throat.  I swallowed trying to get a grip on my emotions and the butterflies that were suddenly loose in my belly.  I heard the faint sound of a menacing growl in my mind; my eyes darted to Seth who was leaning casually against the far wall staring out into the ocean. I grabbed onto my humour with both hands, using it as my lifeline.

“Pleasures all mine Drake, but I must confess I’m more of a dog person,”  I replied dryly, straight-faced.  Cooper cracked up into gales of laughter.  Ben grinned widely.  I caught the slightest of smiles touch the ancient’s lips I began to relax. Drake executed a low bow, grinning from ear to ear.

“Oh, we are going to get along famously.  You might want to rethink your dog preference though; Cooper tends to shed on the furniture.”  He whispered aloud. I laughed at the look of consternation on Cooper’s face.

“I do not,” he replied with false hurt.  I peered up at the four men around me swapping insults and felt almost at home.  How was it that the rest of the human population did not know of their existence or the existence of this facility?

“Easily, humans just don’t want to know.” Seth’s voice came suddenly from behind me. I turned to look up at him.

“I heard Zephyr say, because of what happened with Merdath, I am a liability now, a danger to those around me. I-Is that true?” The room fell silent; Seth pushed me gently down into a chair.

“Unicorns are predominately a good species, although they are considered demons, they are not evil. Like any race, you have your rogues or bad elements. Unicorns are one of the keepers of the underworld veils, they police what comes through and what stays put. Like the E.F.P.I.D in some ways. Yes, unicorns will kill, we believed sometimes indiscriminately, but when asked why; the unicorns all replied their victim’s darkness outshone their light. You cannot judge the whole of a species on the actions of one. So, no. I do not believe you pose a danger where Merdath is concerned. You may even find down the track, you will meet again and he will greet you as a friend. The future is an unsteady thing; it changes with each decision you make.” Holy s**t, I thought, dropping my head into my hands. A hand landed softly on my shoulder in commiseration. I felt my nose itch I was going to cry. I heard the four men walk to the door.

“We’ll leave you to unpack when you’re done come out to the training centre, we have a few drills to run. I need to see where your training is and whether you will be a liability to me.”

Seth told me before closing the door. I sat back into the chair embracing my fear and let the tears flow.

Ten minutes, that is all it took for me to run out of tears. I looked disgusted at my reflection in the mirror of my beautiful bathroom. My eyes were bloodshot and puffy; my nose was bright red and my cheeks tear-stained and pale. I sighed. I was not a pretty crier. I washed my face, waited a few minutes, and repeated the action until all the red receded from my nose and eyes before I stepped out of my quarters. I took a long shuddering breath, the hall stretched long in front of me.

“Big girl pants, big girl pants. Come on Templeton don’t be such a pansy.” I muttered to myself snapping into movement. I poked my tongue at one of the passing sharks.

The training centre; a place I was sure to feel at home until I saw Ben and Drake in action. They moved with fluid grace, countering each other move for move. I watched awestruck as they sparred.  Their swords lashed out, the sounds of metal clashing produced a sharp ringing in my ears. Ben spun low, graceful in his movements. Drake jumped kicking out with his booted feet. Ben ducked. Drake hit the floor rolling; the momentum brought him back to his feet sword held at the ready. A big grin split his face as he spied me. Ben turned his head motioning for me to step forward. I gulped. This was going to hurt.

I got my choice of weapons; I chose twin padded nightsticks. I gripped the handles, spun them back and forward a couple of times before tucking them back up my arms and dropping my body into a solid fighting stance. I rolled my shoulders pushing the pain in my ribs away. I faced off against Drake, who held a long, padded training staff. Anticipation shot up my spine adrenaline-charged my system. I heard a whisper against the sides of my mind. Seth appeared, leaning against the wall to my left, big arms folded over an even bigger chest. I shivered as the damn tingling shot over my skin in a wave.

“Will you stop that?” I demanded silently. One of Seth’s eyebrows rose slightly.

“Stop what witchling?” he returned his voice brushed my mind intrigued.

“Each time you come near me, my skin reacts; it’s like pins and needles. I am trying to concentrate so knock it off.” I replied on edge.

“Ah, so you feel it too, interesting, it is not me, I thought it was you. Do you realise, you have an amazing arse?”

Distracted, I landed hard on my back, when Drake swept my feet out from underneath me. I swore. Drake’s eyes lit up at the unladylike reference for what he could do with his manhood. I climbed back to my feet, rubbing my backside. I shot Seth a glare.

That was one. I thought. That god’s damn cat was not getting another, I vowed. I partitioned my attention a quarter settled on Drake the other three quarters on the vampire. I sidestepped the cat, flicking out with my nightstick I tagged him on the calf as I spun past. He laughed spinning back to face me.

“Ah, the ‘sapiens got some skills.” He chuckled dancing around.

I rose onto the balls of my feet, preparing for another attack. My peripheral vision picked up a blur. I flipped backward, flattening to the ground I slid backward before coming to my feet. Seth was standing where I had been moments before. I leaned back in time to escape a smack on the head as Drake brought the staff down. I whacked him in the stomach with one of the sticks, and brought the other up behind me, with pure luck I managed to get Seth in the side of the face. He grunted.

I threw myself back into a triple running handstand. I flicked up into the air, Ben sailed past, and I clobbered him on the chest. I landed hard in a crouch; I groaned almost inaudibly, my left leg threatened to buckle. I came slowly to my feet. My inbuilt alarm warned, that Cooper was behind me before he touched me. My left leg shot out in a spinning backward roundhouse kick. Cooper ducked in time to evade my foot but was surprised when I kicked his feet out from under him and pressed my nightstick to his throat.

“Do you yield?” I was breathing hard, my heart beating ten to the dozen. Cooper stared up at me from his place under me. Shock stamped all over his features. I stood up, holding out a hand. Cooper grasped my wrist. I had to step back a couple of times to get him on his feet. He was still frowning. I peered over my shoulder. All their expressions were the same.

“Did I hurt someone, Seth I didn’t mean to get you in the face? I was aiming for your shoulder.” Fear took the place of adrenalin. Seth shook his head; he held his hands out for my weapons. I crossed the room quickly. His big hands closed over them. There was a faint red mark on one cheek. I winced. Oops. I thought mentally kicking myself.

“Where did you learn to fight?” I looked uncertainly up into Seth’s face. I did not want to tell them.

“Uncle Chuck.” I breathed a blush stealing up my neck. Ben stepped forwards.

“Who is Uncle Chuck?” I sighed and shook my head.

“I think he’s my Mother’s older brother or a friend of the family. I’m not really sure. He’s ex-special forces. Something happened to him overseas and he is a bit of a nut. Mum reckoned eight years ago that sending me to his place for a couple of days a fortnight would be good for my moral fibre. It was either learn or hurt. In the beginning, there was a world of hurt. Has anyone ever consecutively shot you at medium range with a paintball gun? The crazy sod always had nine full hoppers and at that stage, Danny my little brother was too young to be out in ‘the field’. So, it was just me against him.” Drake whistled.

“That’s what, like eighteen hundred or so rounds.”

I nodded with a wince.

“Yeah, it was one hell of a learning curve. I was black and blue for weeks. I could not move. The man just peppered every inch of me. I learned the art of camouflage and concealment, purely for self-preservation. He taught close combat and I figured out how to use the nightsticks quickly. I can shoot rifles mostly. I am a fair shot with a handgun. My knife work has left a lot of room for improvement.” I stated a matter of fact. The four stared at me as if I was a weird little bug they had never seen before.

“For Gods’ sakes, what are you staring at? What did I do wrong?” I planted hands on hips. Drake’s serious face cracked a smile.

“Nothing kid, you’re good. The training session is over; um free time if you want.” I nodded stiffly striding away, head held high. Pride kept my spine straight until the door of my quarters closed. I slumped onto a couch, favouring my leg. I rolled up my pants leg.

“Oh damn.” My knee had swelled.

“Why didn’t you say you were injured?” I shot to my feet, I had not realised I was not alone. Seth was standing in my open doorway.

“I knocked.” I frowned; I had not heard a thing.

“I didn’t think it was this bad.” I laughed somewhat scornfully. Seth approached squatting down he peered closely at my leg, he pushed the material further up my thigh, noting another decent sized bruise.

“Where did this come from, was it the unicorn?” he asked sharply.

“No, it was my first training session. I earned a purple tag, one of the ‘attackers’ corked me.” I replied tiredly.

“I am restricting you to quarters, stay off the leg.” I watched him stride out the door.  I poked out my tongue as the door closed behind him. Arsehat!

“I heard that Elisabeth.” I winced oops. A sudden smile spread across my face, I laughed.

                                                                        ****

It had been two days. I was bored to the point of counting the fish swimming past my living room wall. Books scattered around in piles all over my kitchen table. Now, I was reading up on fairies. Although the book did not give an accurate description of what they looked like. A knock sounded on my door. I muttered a curse from my place at the end of the table.

“Come in.” The door opened and the best smell drifted through.

“Hey, kid, how goes the leg?” I looked over the pile in front of me and grinned at Cooper. He was holding a tray of food in one hand and another stack of books from Ben in the other.

“Good, I can bend it now. That stuff Seth got was the bomb.” I replied coming to my feet. I cleared a space on one side of the table. Cooper put the books there and my food tray on the bench in the kitchen.

“Show me a squat, roundhouse, and jumping back kick.” With a roll of my eyes, I complied moving away from the table. Cooper whistled.

“I’ll tell him, but no guarantees got it.” I nodded grinning. Cooper turned to go; he spotted a large tome buried under a couple of books.

“Lisa, that’s a spellbook!” I peered down at the table. s**t.

“Research, you never know I might have some latent witch- crafty abilities huh, pretty cool I reckon.” I laughed. Cooper grinned shaking his head.

“Just do me a favour and call Ben if the mood strikes you to try any of these things. Witchcraft is dangerous Lisa. Promise me!”

“I promise, cross my heart and all that.” I forced myself to sound long-suffering. Cooper patted me on the back.

“Later kid, I’ll see you in the morning.” I waved as he waltzed out the door. I breathed a sigh of relief. That had been a little too close of comfort.

“Oh no, I did it again.” I moaned. I lay on the fur in front of a roaring fire. My head resting on a large ornate cushion. Seth lay on his side next to me. He brushed my hair back from my face, studying me in silent deliberation.

“You have permission to “invade” my mind whenever you feel the need.” He murmured leaning forward. I put one hand on his chest. Stopping his decent. He arched one brow in enquiry.

“You blow hot and cold Seth. Here, you are charming, romantic, and sexy as hell. Outside of this space, you are hard, cold, and aloof. You confuse me.”

“Within the halls of my mind, I am myself. At work, I am serious because I need to be. So many times, I wanted to come to you, hold you, feel you against me. You have bewitched me, sweeting.” I grinned at his words. I reached up and drew him to me. Our lips met, the fire within erupted. The sensation so great a concussion flashed through the air. Seth disappeared.

I jerked awake when an electrical wave rolled through the air with another soundless thump; lights flashed red, sirens wailed. My door opened, Seth towered in my doorway.

“Rise and shine sweeting. Uniform in the ‘robe, you have thirty seconds, move that awesome arse.” Seth turned on a heel and strode from my room.

With a chuckle, I launched into movement. Reefing open the door on my cupboard I wiggled into a pair of soft black leathers. I was pulling the black vest over my white shirt as I ran down the hall, through the training dome, and another door into a room filled with munitions and various weapons.

Seth handed me two thigh holsters with two fully loaded Glocks.

I snapped the belt low on my hips I tied the ties at my thighs under were the guns rested.  Cowboy up, I thought happily. Drake handed me twin shoulder holsters complete with two bigger than average red and silver desert eagles. I peered down at them confused as to why I would have two different sets of guns.

“Troll killers, they are a specialty weapon.” He muttered at me as a pair of steel-capped boots landed in front of me. I picked them up and was hustled into yet another elevator.  I sat on the floor of the spacious car, pulling the combat boots onto my feet.

“Ah!  As much as I get a thrill from riding up and down in elevators, can I get a hint as to what we are doing?”  I asked peering up at the stern face towering over me. I had a bad taste in my mouth with wanting to know what was going on.  I continued tying my bootlaces.

“There are three major factions and a couple of rouges who openly dispute the treaty.”  Seth started.

“Right that coexist ion thingy!”  I replied as Ben helped me to my feet.  Cooper grinned at me.  Seth was leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his big chest as he spoke.

“Correct.  These four are the trolls, gnomes, and fairies. The rogues are usually vampires.  Now listen up, this is going to mean either your life or death. Number one: To kill trolls; the red guns under your arms are loaded with specialty hollow point rounds filled with a lethal combination of liquid iodine and mercury.  This will put a troll permanently out of commission if you get it in the head or the heart.  The iodine and mercury react lethally with the troll’s body chemistry. Do not shoot yourself in the foot, because it will kill you too.

Number 2: Cutting off fairy’s heads will not kill them; you cut off their wings too.  Number 3: Gnomes are hard to kill; you remove the heart or they keep coming.  The problem you face with them is their hearts encased in bone. Last and by far the hardest to kill are the vampires; you do not kill them, I do!  If faced with one scream, run, and hope you survive long enough to get to me.”

I shuddered inwardly.

“And if I don’t, what happens then?”  I squeaked terrified.

“Have the sense to take the bastard with you when you die, I’m a very busy male.” Seth’s words chilled me to my core. Oh, goody I thought. Ben handed me a short, curved sword covered in strange blue markings.

“Elfish.” he murmured correctly interpreting the look on my face while reaching around me to secure a thick belt and sheath before sliding the sword home.

“Thank you, Ben. It is beautiful.” Ben bowed his head, a small smile touching his mouth.

The elevator doors opened into a massive dome with a hole in the floor the size of two Olympic swimming pools filled with water. I eyed the huge pool; I had seen the movie deep blue sea too. Though the pool in the movie was small, Samuel L Jackson had been eaten, I shuddered to remember the size of the sharks down here.

“This is the wet entry,”  Cooper explained, putting a hand at the small of my back he guided me towards this shiny, really cool looking, oversized five-seat black Porsche with suicide doors, wicked spinner mags, short wings and twin rocket boosters on the back.  Awesome, instant distraction, this car was drool-worthy!

“It’s called a Seairgro, sea, air, and ground vehicle,”  Cooper whispered.  How original!  I thought with an impressed whistle.

“If Batman calls we have to give his ride back huh?”  I retorted straight-faced.  Sniggers erupted from all round as Ben pushed a button on a key ring, twin lights flashed yellow followed by two sharp high-pitched beeps.  Ooh keyless entry, cool!  I sniggered at the tag on the keys it was a batman symbol. Ben seemed to be blushing.

“Red is a nice colour on you, Ben, do you wear it often?” I teased softly earning myself a playful swat as I slid into the middle of the surprisingly spacious back seat.  Cooper on my right and Drake on my left.  Ben positioned himself in the drivers’ seat and Seth rode shotgun.  Reaching over his shoulder Ben passed out communicators, earpieces fitted with microphones that rested along your jawline.

I feel like I am auditioning for an old 80’s Madonna concert I thought with a sigh.  Ben turned the key, I expected the car to roar to life with the booster on the back, but she purred like a kitten.

The awesome machine glided across the floor heading for the pool where it tipped nose-first into the water.  I stiffened in my seat.  Rails appeared beside the windows, the tires found purchase on a shallow platform.  Ben grinned at me in the rear-view mirror, the platform lowered.  Through the windscreen, I could see a twisting tube of transparent material.  I felt the blood drain from my face.  It looked like a pinball chute.  Oh, my gods. I thought suddenly afraid.

“Ever heard of hydro-acceleration?” Drake whispered in my ear.  I shook my head.  My knuckles going white as my fingers gripped the edge of the seat.

“You’re about to.  Hang on.” Ben’s eyes caught mine in the mirror again. I gulped.

“Ready?”

Ready, for what? I had time to think, before a burst of high-powered water, which flung me back in my seat, hit the back of the car and had us hurtling up the chute towards the surface at maximum speeds.  The waves parted as we launched into the sunlit sky.  Holy cow, if this baby went public, Dreamworld was going out of business.

“Is the vampire- sunlight thing a myth too?”  I asked dejectedly after taking a minute to catch my breath.  Seth turned his head, looking at me over his shoulder.

“No, it’s true. The windows are UV protected.  The sun won’t burn me unless some i***t cracks a window.” he replied making a point of pressing the locking button. Oh, power windows...nice.  I looked around the interior, on the dash there was a little airbag sticker.  I looked carefully at the back doors and then into the front seat.

“Looking for something Lisa?”  Seth asked watching me slide forward on my seat to peer over his wide shoulder.  My pulse picked up the closer my unprotected throat came to his face, his head turned, watching me.  I struggled to breathe normally.

“Cup holders, it’s the sign of the world’s best car.  Without cup holders, we may as well be flying in an old rusty Kingswood.”  I replied trying to keep a straight face.  The corner of Seth’s mouth kicked up in a semblance of a grin.

“Sorry, no cup holders, we do have stealth mode if that makes a difference.” His voice got deeper laced heavily with amusement.  I sighed theatrically, which had Cooper and Drake in stitches.

“It’s a letdown, major let down, I don’t know if stealth mode will cut it,”  I replied seriously.  My grin broke through.  I was unable to keep back the laugh that bubbled up.  Seth and Ben shook their heads.

“Section five!  This is base, do you copy?”

“Base this is section five,”  Seth replied into the CB radio as I slid back into my seat.

“Defence 132 has been breached, London calls for immediate response.  I repeat Defence 132 has been breached, London calls for an immediate response, what is your eta.” Cooper whistled softly.

“Copy that Base, section five eta ten minutes, over.”  Ben pressed several buttons in sequence on the dash.  There was a faint pop of a sonic acceleration we tore through the skies.

“Defence 132 what is that?”  I asked wearily.  Drake turned his head, his eyes glowed gold in the darkened interior.

“Defence 132 is our London base; it has a huge section of catacombs beneath.  The catacombs house various vaults of past treaties, a magic vault, and ancient records about certain races and extinct species.  Down there they have wards, and other magic to stop trolls and gnomes from getting in.  Until early this year we all figured that the 132 was safe, but then we realised the fairy had joined with the rebels, we were sadly mistaken.”  My eyes popped wide.

“Fairies, that’s what we’re going to fight?  I read a bit about them but I take it you’re not talking about nice, pretty little Tinkerbelle’s, are you?” Drake shook his head slowly as we dropped out of the sky.

“I wish.” Cooper murmured.

Tires bit into the road, we sped through high gates and into an underground parking garage where a group of twenty men fully armed and eager, waited.

“Remember kid, cut off the wings and the head,”  Drake growled.  I peered in shock up at him, a change had started; the skin on his face and arms replaced by short, soft orange and white fur cut through with black stripes.  I grinned unable to help myself.  I loved tigers!

“Ooh Drake, look at you. I love tigers! You’re so cute, look at your tufty ears!”  I cooed scratching him lightly on the forehead.  Surprised laughter filled the car, spilling out into the garage as our doors opened.  Drake was still chuckling a few minutes later as he helped me out of the back seat.

“Sorry,”  I muttered embarrassed.  He quickly threw an arm around me, hugging me to his side before stepping back.

“That was great, go the tension breaker.” I relaxed and grinned up at the big cat watching as his face slowly grew serious.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered. We turned towards the other soldiers.

“No offence kid, but the humans do not take too kindly to half-breeds and non-humans, this is not going to go smoothly. Never does.” Drake murmured back. I was surprised to see Seth standing off to one side, alone.  Ben tapped my shoulder motioning for me to follow him; we stepped up to the Captain.

“Elf! We were expecting real warriors not a group of freaks for hire.” The human snarled with distaste.

“Captain Caldor it is a pleasure, this is trainee agent Templeton.”  Ben’s tone was much more moderate.  From where I stood just behind Ben, feeling my temper surge to the surface.  What an arse, I thought. I wanted to give the Captain a piece of my mind when he nodded to me.

“Why haven’t you chewed on him or something?” I asked quietly reaching for the huge vampire behind me.

“He is human Elisabeth; I am not allowed to touch him without proper provocation and even then, he’d probably s**t himself.” Seth’s voice softly brushed the corners of my mind.

“Well then, allow me,” I whispered. To Ben’s surprise, I stepped forwards and poked the soldier in the chest with my index finger.

“In the future, you will watch your damn mouth. I hear one more prejudice brain fart like that, and you and your weekend soldiers can handle this s**t storm all by your lonesome. Being human does not give you the right to be an arsehole. Understand?”  I snarled stepping up into his personal space until my face was inches from his.  He snapped straighter.

“Yes ma’am.” I stepped back from the soldier. From the corner of my eye, I could see Cooper and Drake suddenly cover their grins with furred fists.

“How about we try this again?” I murmured. Ben nodded stonily as I walked back to stand between Cooper and Drake, laughter ringing in the halls of my mind.  I shot the vampire an irritated glare.  Well at least Seth was having fun, I thought.

“Thank you, Elisabeth. I am.” His reply took me by surprise.  I jumped.  Cooper thinking, I was nervous put a furred arm around my shoulders.

“Do you mind, these are my private thoughts, get your own!”  I thought grimly.  I saw Seth grin, a flash of straight white teeth.  I wondered where his fangs were.

“I would be more than happy to show you.” I could not suppress the small laugh.  The Captain cleared his throat.  I crossed my arms over my chest and watching faintly amused when the captain glanced nervously over at me before looking back to Ben.

“Pay attention sweeting, you’re distracting Captain Caldor.” I rolled my eyes but did what he told me to do.

“Just over an hour ago there was an explosion in the tunnels, fairies came pouring in from the far wall of the central cavern, and we were swarmed.  Our Intel says the creatures are after the griffin prophesies.  I have a hundred men down there and I have the best of them protecting the vault, but it is not enough.  The ugly buggers number by the scores.  Sections 9, 7, and 3 from Tartarus are down there as well. They arrived a few minutes ago.” Caldor led the way to, two huge, service elevators.  The doors slid closed the five of us were alone again.  Chuckles started softly and got louder.

“My hero!  That was terrific; did you see the look on his face?” Ben chortled batting his eyelashes at me.

“Yeah, you could almost feel the breeze when his arsehole slammed shut.”  Cooper cried choking on a laugh as Drake roared louder then began to struggle for breath.

“Well he deserved it, prejudice bastard, he was being rude,”  I muttered nervously.  Two large hands dropped down onto my shoulders in silent support.

“Stay close to Cooper; I have a bad feeling about this one.” I spun around to pin Seth with a steady glare.

“Will you stay out of my head? I am nervous, not scared peeping tom.” I complained looking at the toe of my boots.

“You do it all the time.” He shot back. I winced. He was right, I invaded his privacy all the time.

“I cannot help it; I do not even know how I do it.” There were soft sniggers off to my left.  Note to self; buy spray bottle and newspaper for the annoying cat and sarcastic dog I thought.  A burst of laughter erupted behind me.

“I would love to see the outcome of that scenario,” Seth replied grinning.  I spied the slowly descending floor marker above the door; I also noticed Cooper, Drake, and Ben pulling swords from their sheaths. I followed suit.  My blood started to surge in my veins.  Seth slowly stepped around me, pushing me with his back, further into the metal car.  The moment his body brushed mine, the tingling in my skin renewed worse than ever.  The elevator chimed loudly before its doors swished open on an empty rock tunnel.  Cooper lifted his head sniffing the air, a growl starting low in his throat before escalating into a snarl.

“Numbering by the scores was right, this place stinks.” Cooper, Drake, and Ben shot out of the lift, stalking passed Caldor and his men; slowly unloading into the corridor.  Seth turned back to me. I was pinned into the corner.

“Head and wings, if you need help; scream for it!” Seth sounded funny.  His face lowered, his glasses covered his eyes.  He saw me staring and smiled showing off razor-sharp elongated fangs.  He pressed his nose to my throat; the tingling grew more persistent, breathing in. My heart sped up there was nothing I could do to stop my reaction and he was too close.

“Your blood is so potent, so distracting. Don’t die, Elisabeth, we have much to discuss, you and I.” I did not understand what he meant.  His sunglasses hung low on his nose.  I saw his eyes for the first time since meeting him in the flesh.  They were all black not a hint of white.  Cool! I was a little surprised though I thought his eyes were green.  I thought causing the vampire before me to smile wider, he sighed and stepped away, pushing the shades back up his nose.

I followed close; sword held low, I was trying to remember every bit of swordsmanship from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies I had seen. We came around a corner leading into the main cavern.  I froze terrified at the sight unfolding before me.

“Don’t die, he says. Yeah, I’ll get right on that.” I muttered sourly.