Book of Curses

Chapter 11.

I sat there, ripping up any piece of paper I could get a hold of. My nerves were shot, and half the guards that were in here had disappeared long ago. I had this feeling, a really bad feeling that something was going to happen. Not just this ball, but something so bad that we were all going to be in trouble far beyond what we thought might happen. 

“Aw, Nixon decided to ditch you and leave you for me, how sweet of him. I’ll have to remember to thank him.” Raven said, I could hear the smirk in his voice. I jumped about a foot up in the air, then started wondering if the bad feeling I had was just having to deal with him. I really could've used a killer stalking me right then, instead of this. 

“Not right now Raven, go bug someone else.” I snapped at him, without any hesitation, as I let out a slight growl at the end. 

“Feisty are we? I like ‘em that way.” He moved in closer to me, his hand brushed my shoulder, and moving down slowly. 

“I said, not right now!” I grabbed hold of his arm, twisting it and slamming my heel clad foot down into his shin as hard as I could. I heard the heel connecting with a rather loud thump.  “Don’t you understand NO?” 

Raven as winced and leaned down to start rubbing his shin where I had kicked it. Slowly he stood back up, his eyes met my own and slowly darkened into a near black color. His lips pulled away from his teeth in what resembled a snarl. “You shouldn’t have done that, you know.” 

I stared at him, with a bored and uncaring expression. That is, until he opened his mouth wide and started to snarl like a rabid dog at me. His eyes were dark as the night, and by God he looked ready to kill me.

He tried to grab hold of me, and when he was about an inch away, he was grabbed instead. Talon held onto his arm smiling, and then yanked him out of my reach. I watched as he slammed him down onto the ground, they were a blur in my vision the entire time

“Get off me asshole!” Raven yelled at him, practically hissing the words. 

Talon just glared at him, his eyes weren't all black like Raven's had been. His were a bright burning red color; they looked like they were glowing. He leaned in closer to Ravens ear, and opened his mouth to speak to him. 

I got my first glimpse of his incisors then, they were now fully extended fangs that nearly pressed against his bottom lip, and looked as sharp as razors. They glistened from how the light was hitting them; all I could do was stare. I'd never seen a vampire with fangs unsheathed until now. “She said leave her alone, am I wrong?” He asked, his voice had turned to ice. 

Raven froze in place, his expression changed into something that had fear etched into it. “No, you’re not.” He replied to Talon, in a sort of squeaky voice.

“And am I wrong when I say that  you were about to attack an unarmed woman, all because she turned you down?” 

“No.” 

“Then, what do you think I should do in a situation like this?” Talon’s voice dropped into a low, sinister growl with a deadly edge to it. 

“I… I have no clue.” 

“Hm, you’re lucky that I like your family, or you’d be dead right now.” 

“Talon, I-I” 

“Shut up, Lane, and get out of my sight.” Talon snapped at him, releasing him from his grip, and standing up to watch Raven intently. 

“Now.” 

Staring at the two of them was the only thing I could do at that point. I knew Talon could be scary by the way he fought and moved, and that eerie silence that clung to him. But the way he'd just spoke to Raven was a whole new level of scary for him.

It was so cold, so deadly that it made a chill run down my spine again as I thought about it. Every hair on my arms was standing up, even on the back of my neck, and I could feel the goose bumps on my flesh. I didn't ever want to see that side of him again, especially aimed at me.

Raven scrambled to his feet as quickly as his body would move, and he took off into the crowd of people. He was out of my sight in moments, and I was left with a woman staring at me and Talon. Dolphus and Nickel were next to us within seconds holding drinks in their hands, and staring at the enraged Talon, trying to figure out what they'd missed.

“We were gone no more than five minutes, and Talon looks like he’s about to fall victim of bloodlust.” Nickel sighed, shaking his head slowly. 

Talon looked up at him, his eyes were slowly fading back to their normal brown color, and he shrugged his shoulders. His body was starting to relax, and I felt a little less freaked out seeing that. “Had to put someone in his place.” He stated smiling evilly at them.

“Really now.” Nickel looked at him for a moment, then raising his eyebrow. He turned to look towards Dolphus before he spoke. “Suppose we shouldn’t leave anymore, or we might miss Talon murdering someone in front of Raine.” 

“That’d be something to see.” Dolphus told him, smiling from ear to ear. I rolled my eyes at the two of them.

“Did you see Fang? Nixon? Tom?” I asked, quickly trying to get away from there chatter. My eyes were wide, I could feel it, but I was worried and I wanted to know. 

“No… Not yet.” Dolphus frowned deeply, looking at me.

“Just tell her.” Nickel sighed.

Dolphus looked at Nickel; he looked like he wanted to say something. That ebbed away into an almost sad look as be he began to rub at his neck nervously, then looked up at me. 

“What? Tell me what?!”  I kept looking between the two of them quickly and intently. 

“It’s like Morana and Tom vanished into thin air, with the guards too…” Dolphus started, looking down, and then over at Nickel as if he wanted him to say it instead. 

“Not even Eyloff or Layre have been seen or found yet, something’s going on and I’m not sure what; whatever it is I don’t like it.” Nickel said.

I stood up as soon as he'd finished speaking, and with that I took off running past them. I nearly knocked Dolphus over when I shoved my way past him, and didn't look back to see if he was okay or not.

I heard Dolphus call my name, and then there was scraping across the floor, like a chair moved. I kept going, I needed to find Tom, I didn't care about anything else, he was my only family and I wanted him safe. As I got to the door Talon stepped in front of it and used his body to block the way. 

“Where are you going?” 

“To change out of this dreadful dress, and look for my brother.” I managed to hiss at him, between my clenched teeth. 

“No you’re not.” 

“Yes I am, you can either kill me or let me through.” 

“Letting you through would be killing you.” 

I stared at him. Clenching my jaw as tight as I could I looked around for another way out of the area. I scanned past hundreds of oblivious demons and vampires. This room was like a prison, no windows unless you counted the ceilings skylight, and I sure as hell couldn't climb nearly twenty feet to use it.

I looked back at Talon, and assessed how hard it'd be to get past him. I knew his movements, weak points, and he couldn't hurt me could he? 

“Don’t even think about it Raine, you’re not getting through.” He told me, frowning as he stared me down. 

“Want to bet on that?” 

“Try me.” 

I lunged forward at Talon to attempt my escape. Just as I moved Dolphus and Nickel came over, Nickel grabbed my waist right as I moved, and pulled me back. I watched as Talon's whole body tensed and became ready for attack, then slowly but surely calmed down again when they'd grabbed me. 

Talon's eyes scanned Nickel and Dolphus as if he was trying to think of how to word something right, but couldn't quite do it. I heard Dolphus make a chuckling sound, and I just groaned.

“I had it handled.” 

“Looked like it.” Nickel sighed, letting me go and I turned back to see him frown. 

“Just let me go, you need both me and him in order to do anything, or save anyone, so why don’t we all just look for him?" I snapped at all three of them, but mainly Talon. “He’s my brother” And the only family I have left now Though I did not say that part aloud. 

“We can’t just go out there, if they disappeared what will happen to us?” Nickel asked, looking at me intently. 

“But, the guards went out with them, Eyloff and Layre went out at different times, if we go out together maybe we can find out what’s going on and try to stop it!” I started to plead with them, it was the only thing I could think to do, and was praying it'd get through to someone. 

Dolphus looked at me, thinking it over in his own mind, and then he locked his jaw. Looking up at the other two he let out a sigh and started to speak. “She has a point.” 

“Yes if her point is getting us all killed.” 

“Don’t be that way Talon, I think they’re right, but we need to actually stick together in a tight formation.” Nickel said to him, frowning deeper than he was before, and this time it was at Talon. 

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Talon muttered to himself in his own frustration. “Fine.”

“I need to change first, no way in hell I’ll be able to fight if something attacks me in this.” I told the three of them, looking between each of them for a moment.  

“Right, I’ll go in with you incase anything happens, I've seen you naked before, remember.” Dolphus chuckled, winking at me. 

I turned so many shades of red from that I didn't even know half of them existed, until that moment. “Yeah ok.” That was the only thing I managed to get out as we started to leave. We got about half way to my room and I asked in a hushed type of voice. “What about everyone in there?” 

“Someone will report within the next hour that guards have been missing for longer than normal.” Nickel said to me, smiling as best he could. 

****

We stopped at my room; I was letting my thoughts wander as we walked in silence, constantly checking to see if we saw anyone. No one was anywhere to be seen, hell none of the lights were even lit, it was like everyone just disappeared. 

Nickel and Talon stood outside of my door, and Dolphus opened the door walking in after I did. I moved to my dresser, pulling out the first shirt and pants I could find, and then flew to the screen in the corner of the room. I began to change my clothes as fast as I could and once I was done I pulled my hair up into a tight ponytail.

I walked out from behind the screen, sliding my feet into a pair of boots and laced them as quickly as I could manage. As soon as I was done I looked up at Dolphus, and then walked over to him. He looked bothered, but I just nodded my head, he pursed his lips thoughtfully then spoke. 

“Remember that sword I confiscated and gave you?” Dolphus asked me, smiling a little. 

I nodded my head at him slowly, and then hiked my thumb behind me. “Yeah it’s in the dresser.” 

“Now’s the time to get it out and keep it with you.” He told me, nodding his head. “I can sense whatever it is, it may not be here yet, but take no chances.” 

I turned and went to the dresser, yanked open the drawer and pulled out the sword. Returning to Dolphus I nodded, he smiled weakly as we headed back out of the room; my sword was clutched in my hand tightly. 

“Where’d you get that?” Nickel asked me slowly, eyeing my sword. 

“I got it almost three weeks ago, and gave it to her for protection.” Dolphus told him bluntly, shrugging his shoulders as if it was nothing.

“And you found it where?” 

“Now isn’t the time for questions!” I snapped, trying to keep quiet. “We have to go, now!” 

“Right, let’s go. They all went towards the courtyard, so we should head that way, we can take the back route.” Nickel said as if I'd just snapped him out of it. Talon glared daggers at him, Nickel just smiled at him. “Same thing you were thinking, right General?” 

Talon just sighed and then headed off. Before we got too far, he turned and looked at us. “Follow me, and stay quiet.” 

After that he started forward again, and moved slowly enough that we were all quiet. We could hear a soft murmuring coming from up ahead, and the closer we got the louder and more distinct it became. It was a woman's voice speaking to someone that much I was sure of. 

Talon looked over his shoulder at us, signaled for us to stay as close as we could, and to be quiet. All of us did exactly that though, without him even needing to say it. Everything was too quiet and awkward right now; I knew something bad was going to happen… I could feel it all over again. 

Talon held up one of his hands, it was a signal I'd learned a few weeks ago, it basically meant stay where the hell you are. He looked around the corner, I was the closest one, and didn't care to listen to him. I just wanted to find Tom and know that he was okay. 

When I looked around that corner I was shocked. There were all the missing guards, Layre was bound at the woman's feet, and she was no longer Morana. She was a stunningly beautiful woman, so pretty it almost hurt to look at her. Almost. 

Amamai? I thought to myself guessing.

All of the men who were in there, were frozen in place staring at her, spellbound. Tom was standing next to her, practically throwing himself on her, his eyes were glazed over, making me think of a Zombie's, and Amamai only laughed and leaned into Tom's kisses along her neck. 

“We shall wipe these fools from existence.” She announced proudly to the group of people who stood there. 

There was a quick roar of agreement following that. Talon even agreed, and I stared at him horrified. Pulling him back and turning him towards me, his eyes went slowly from glazed over to their natural brown color, and he looked confused. Almost as if he didn't know why he was looking at me now.

“What happened?” He demanded in a hushed but harsh voice. 

“I think, when you looked at her you were spellbound by her, literally.” I told him, swallowing hard. 

“Why weren’t you affected then, obviously you were looking to.” 

“Because, I’m not a man, nor am I interested in women.” I replied to him, giving him a slightly dirty look. 

He stared at me for a long moment, mulling it over in his mind and then locked his jaw.  “How the hell do we fight someone we can’t look at?”

“By not looking at her.” I spoke instantly. “By listening to what someone tells you, and trusting them with your life.” 

“What on earth are you planning in there Raine?” Dolphus asked me.

“Dolphus, come here for a moment.” I told him, motioning him towards me with my hand.  

Dolphus walked over to me as fast and silently as he could, looking at me with the fierce look of a warrior. Something I didn't see in Dolphus a lot of the time. Something I admired in him at times like this. 

“I want you to look at her,” I started to explain to him, smiling weakly. “I want to see if you’re affected too.” 

He rolled his eyes, showing me what he thought of my plan. He peeked around the corner at Amamai, and then went completely rigid for a moment. I wasn't sure whether to panic or not, and was growing worried until he turned his head and looked back at me wide eyed. “She’s so pretty it’s devastating.” He told me in a pained voice.

Smiling uneasily, I let out a sigh. “Dolphus. Nickel and Talon, they’re going to have to depend on us.” I said to him, frowning just slightly.

“We’re the only ones who can look at her head on, aren’t we?” 

I nodded my head to him in return, shifting my eyes slowly towards Talon and Nixon for a moment. Then I looked back around the corner at everyone, there were so many people there that it was insane. This was something she'd planned out…

“So, let’s find Nixon and Fang from here, that way we can go at her three on each side, and then from there we’ll attack and get Layre and Tom back.” Dolphus sounded excited, and ready to go on. “Eyloff’s right there.” 

I looked to where he had pointed his finger and saw sure enough, Eyloff. He was practically next to us, staring straight at Amamai and agreeing with every word she said. 

He would be the easy one to grab, if we could do it fast enough and quietly enough. It'd be bad if we didn't have him, Nixon, or Fang with us. At least one of three meant we stood a better chance. Now the only problem was snatching him.

“So, I take it Talon’s going to step down and make Raine captain for this?” Nickel asked happily, I could hear the smirk in his voice and wanted to shake my head.

Looking back at them, I saw Talon scowl but stay silent before looking over at me. “I suppose so.” I answered him instead, frowning at Talon. 

“What’s the plan then, General?” Nickel smiled happily. He was enjoying this all too much, but then again, when did he ever get to screw with Talon like this. 

“Nickel you and Talon stay here for a moment, Dolphus and I will grab Eyloff so we can move in with another set of hands. I think this just may turn into a battle against our own comrades.” I grimaced at that thought, fighting the people I loved… I didn't like it one bit. 

“Great.” Talon let out a low growl, as he listened to what I was saying. I had to agree with his tone about this one though; I didn't want to do it. 

“Hurry then, she’s getting ready for something.” Nickel said, growing tense as he stood up straighter, listening. 

I nodded my head, and looked at Dolphus. We slithering along the sides of the walls, and watching Amamai as she spoke. Taking care to be silent we got to Eyloff, and while she was still busy we grabbed him, covering his mouth with our hands and dragging him back to Talon and Nickel. 

He was snarling, protesting and growling against Dolphus's hand but we kept moving. Once we got him around the corner, we made sure to cut off Eyloff's eye contact with Amamai and watched as his eyes changed from glazed over to yellow. His anger that was seeping from him at this point was aimed at Dolphus, and no one else. 

“What was that for?” He snapped at Dolphus, he looked like a rabid dog. Smiling was something I couldn't help, Eyloff was back and that made us stronger. 

“You were under a spell, and you need to help us.” Dolphus started to explain to him, frowning deeply before his voice became thick with nothing but sarcasm. “Or you can die with whoever else gets caught in Amamai’s plans, she did after all capture Layre and the others.” 

Eyloff looked between all of us, he was startled as hell. I couldn't blame him for that, he probably had no idea what had happened to him. “Wait, what?”

I watched as his facial expressions changed while we gave him a quick rundown of what was going on. He went from startled, to angry and then finally outraged. 

“How can I fight if I can’t watch the woman? Can I trust you to warn me?” He asked me as quickly as possible, and then looked to Dolphus. 

“You’re my guardian, and you honestly think I wouldn’t have your back?” I asked him, letting out an annoyed sound. “If it’s that bad depend on Dolphus, like I told you, me and him are the only two.” 

“I’ll depend on him then.”

“You’re such an ass.” 

“Get used to it.” 

Rolling my eyes, I pushed away from them. I looked back around the corner for Fang and Nixon. It didn't take long to spot them, but I was nearly mortified by who was standing with them. Everything became that much harder when I realized what was going on there. 

Nixon's father and Raven were standing next to them. His father, Heath held Bliss tightly in his grasp, and Raven held his sister Pandora. Their mother was nowhere to be seen, but they were clearly in the way of harm, since the kids were struggling like they were… 

“Oh God…” I managed to whisper, staring wide eyed still. 

“What’s wrong Raine?” I heard someone ask, I didn't turn at first to look, just kept watching the scene. 

I turned around suddenly, and started moving towards the small group I had back here now. “They have Nixon’s little sisters and they’re being held by Raven and his dad… Fang and Nixon are next to them.”

I watched as Talon's entire face turned ashen, holding more concern than I'd ever seen from him. It was emotion that I truly didn't think he was capable of, but at the same time was happy to see.

“We could grab them all at once, but they could kill the girls with their bare hands. We’d have to get Fang and Nixon, then them.” Nickel started to suggest to me, his eyebrows were furrowed in concern.

“I know…” I stared down at my hands, my eyes slowly drifting over the sword that was clutched tightly in my hands. The knuckles began to turn white as I gripped it tighter, and started to shake my head. “We need to move fa-”

Talon grabbed hold of my arm, pushed me back against the corner, and left me stunned and worried for a moment.  “Get me over there, now.” He practically hissed every word into my ear. I could feel my hairs standing up on end along my arms and neck.  

Staring at him I only saw anger in his blood red eyes. I knew I couldn't argue with him right now, nor did I want to, these were people we all cared for. I knew his reasoning for being like this was simply Nixon and his family, what felt like his second family.

He didn't want the only people that he'd finally grown close to, and trusted, to be harmed. Talon didn't want to lose what he'd kept so close to himself, even if he tried to hide it from us sometimes. He was in the same position I was over my brother, we were worried and wanted them to be safe.