Darkness Rising: Cursed Guardians

Questions

Cass's mind raced as she drove back to the house in the woods. What in the hell had just happened? Back at the club she and Draco had discussed where Sabella would be staying. Draco wanted to simply force her to come back to the house with them but she had convinced him to let Sabella go home. Once they got there Cass would suggest she stay the night and begin working on Sabella to willingly move to the house. Realistically it made the most sense. If she was truly to help them she needed to be close. But before they even had time to discuss Cass staying with her all hell had broken loose.

The night before she felt a need to go to the club and tonight the same need had pushed her to go to Sabellas house. She turned this over in her head several times and kept coming up with the same thing. Sabella had said that one of the demons had tried to take her and escape. The night before the vampire had ordered one of the demons to "Grab her." She'd just assumed that they meant her but after tonight she was convinced that they wanted Sabella. 

"Why?" She said out loud. Talking to herself helped her sort sometimes. "What would they want with Sabella? She's half witch half fury but nobody knows that. Even if they did she doesn't practice magic. What's her value? How could they know about her? I've not shared my visions until recently." Sighing she kept drawing a blank.

"And what the f**k is with the vampire!?" she yelled. That was almost as perplexing as the attacks were. He had to be the same vampire that Sabella had told her showed up the night before. He was tall with dirty blonde hair and definitely had a British accent. When he first faded next to her she went to slug him, thinking he was a demon. He had caught her fist and it was electric. For a split second they locked eyes. Letting go he had thrown her behind him protectively and taken a serious blow from one of the attacking demons several times during the fight, to include saving her from an arro. He had protected her from being hit instead taking the blows himself. It stayed like that until the demons bolted. Looking her over as if for injury he had bowed and cast her a longing look then left in the hot pursuit of the demon. It all made no sense. She didn't know this vampire and she didn't even really like vampires except those who lived at the house, who shouldn't really count, and the other few true born vampires.

"So why did I feel at ease with him fighting with me?" she pondered out loud. This was crazy. It was all adrenaline. That explained everything about the vampire. If he'd stayed she would have killed him too. Probably. Their convoy was nearing the house. Poor Sabella, her own house was I ruins. Furniture smashed, kitchen trashed, blood everywhere, and an arrow embedded in the living room. Thinking of the arrow she thought of the rest of the fight members.

"The Hunters. Their reputation does them justice and then some. I have to ask Sabella for details about them." she said aloud as they pulled up to the house. Clearing her mind of all these things she turned her focus to Sabella who would need a friend after the destruction of her house.

---

Sabella

The entire drive from her house to "The Compound" as Draco called it all I could do was tell fur babies everything was going to be alright. I'm not sure if I said that for my own benefit or theirs. It was painful leaving behind so many possessions but I knew it had to be done. Besides Draco had said he would send people to retrieve my things at least they wouldn't be left there in the rubble. On thei drive I realized that Cass's and I never showed up for work at WitcheSex. I'd have to call Marge, the owner and explain that we had an incident. Since Cass was always on time and willing to work at any time and I missed 4 days of work my entire time working there I figured she would be understanding. We pulled up to the compound and all I could think of was taking a screaming hot shower. Draco signaled me to follow him and as I did I saw we were pulling up to a garage the size of a regular house. He parked his car then signaled for me to back the trailer in. When that was done I got out of the car and let my furries out as well. Storm came straight to me as she normally did if we went somewhere she wasn't familiar with. Daemon immediately began sniffing everything and would have probably started marking if I hadn't given him a look when he began raising a leg. Again I was surprised to see that Shadow had gone to Draco but immediately returned to my side after a moment. 

"Is there a fence boarding this place? I'd feel better leaving them outside if I knew there was a fence they couldn't get by." Wow I sounded bad even to myself.

"Why would they stay outside?" he asked.

I scruntched my brow. "I just assumed they would be outside given all the beings that occupy the compound." I heard Cass walking up. She threw an arm over my shoulder. "No. They belong with you and I sincerely doubt that any of them especially Shadow would be separated from you. Besides there is only one person in the house who is not an animal lover." He started walking for the house and Cass and I fell I step.

"How you doing?" she asked me as we walked, the three furries following.

"I think I'm still stunned. I hate party crashers." She giggled and I think I may have heard Puff chuckle. "While I was thinking on the drive over here I realized we didn't show up for work at WitcheSex. I need to call Marge and let her know something happened." I was still working out what that something was. "No need." Cass said. I looked at her. "I called her while you were in the shower today. I told her we had an accident and I got pretty banged up so you stayed with me and forgot to call. She was just relieved that we were okay and said not to even worry about. She had gone in to meet with a potential new vendor anyway. Oh she also said for us to take a few days off." I love Marge. "Thanks." I told her as we reached the house.

It seemed like at Dracos presence half the occupants showed up. Harris appeared and then stopped in his tracks when he saw my fur babies. Draco cleared his throat "Since most of you are already here we have a new resident. This is Sabella. She and her animals will be joining us."

Somewhere in the crowd I heard “Woot Woot!” Which I could only assume came from the youngest of the triplets who asked if they could keep me. I smiled at that. Everyone seemed shocked by this but no one said anything. I turned to Cass "I need to take a shower. Can I use the room we were in?" She nodded so the furries and I went upstairs where I took the hottest shower imaginable. I threw on a pair of lounge pants and a t-shirt and exited the bathroom to find Cass sitting on the bed with Storm in her lap, Daemon and Shadow laying at the foot of the bed. 

"Feel better?" she asked.

"A little." I grabbed my phone. "I need to call my cousins." She got up. "Draco asked that you come down to the office to do that." she said. Of course he did because he thinks I'm going to tell them where I am and how to get here. Silly Puff. Cass, the furries, and I made our way down to the second floor office where Puff was pacing, explaining to Abigale and Kaeleb what had happened. Calling my furries to a sit I asked Kaeleb and Abigale to be still and allow the furries to sniff them. All was well with the furries and Daemon even seemed to like Kaeleb much to his amusement. Now if I could just Puff and Kaeleb to like me.

"I know you need to call your family." Puff said.

"Yeah that would be good. If I wait much longer they'll try to track me. Hopefully they caught the vamps." I said dialing Celeste and putting the phone on speaker.

"Well it's about damn time Sabella.” was the greeting I received. She didn’t yell. Not even a raised voice. No emotion just very level. Celeste was the calmest person existing. " We were on our way back to the house to attempt tracking you. Did the other vampire kidnap you?" Eye roll.

"No Cel I wasn't kidnapped and I'm not being held against my will either.  I came here willing." I said waving my hand in the air indicating my surroundings as if she could see me.

“Also. For the record. Not a vamp.” Everyone stopped what they were doing to stare open mouthed at me. Oh boy.

"Says the captive. I bet I'm on speaker phone. Where'd you take our cousin vampire?" 

“Not a vamp Cel.”

He snarled. Taking a breath he said "I didn't take her. As she said she came willingly." It was taking some doing for him to keep calm. All the while staring holes in me.

"Not. A. Vampire" I made sure to emphasize each word. "Cel did you catch the actual vampires?" I crossed my fingers.

"If it reads like a vampi.." "CELESTE!" I basically scream into the phone, Pause from my cousin. "No. We lost one when he and the demons got in a car and the other one faded. Which by the way whose side was he on anyway? And what do you mean not a vamp?  Orion give me the phone back."

"What the f**k Sabella?!" my only living male relative bellowed into the phone. "You threw yourself in front of a f*****g vampire and had a knife in my chest protecting him!" True. I could feel all eyes on me.

I sighed. "Ri you would have tried to kill him otherwise. He was fighting off the demons who I think were trying to kidnap me. No hurting people who are helping me. Even if he is a vampire. Which he isn’t.” I nearly yelled over Orion's protests c*****g my head looking at Draco. "Cel I think the blonde vampire was on our side. We are going to need to do a reading." Celeste was a powerful witch and nearly infallible when it came to tarot readings. I had some questions I felt only the cards could answer. I could hear rustling around and swearing which meant they were fighting for the phone. 

"Sabella did you seriously put a knife in Rions chest?" Angelika asked. "Yes I did Ange it was necessary at the moment. I didn't mean to upset him. He knows I love him." Another bout of swearing from Ri. "Too bad if he's upset. At least someone can put him in his place. Ow! Rion that hurt!" As the youngest Angelika tended to get pitched, slapped, and punched for her comments. Apparently Orion didn't agree with her latest statement.

Celeste took the phone once more. "I'll try a reading without you but you know it's always better in person. I'll text you if I find anything of interest. Are you really safe? Can you guarantee me her safety…not vamp?" I looked at Puff. The light was hovering behind him. He looked at me then said "You have my word she will not come to harm." I could hear Celeste debating. "Alright but I'd still like to know who you are." Draco considered then said "My name is Draco of House Wallace." The light behind him shifted to the form of a woman. She put a finger to her lips the vanished.