Darkness Rising: Cursed Guardians

Tour

Upon arriving at the compound I was lovingly greeted by fur babies and Draco. After getting their love from me Daemon ran off into the woods while Storm went for a delighted Cass. Shadow walked with me over to Draco who was holding what appeared to be a stick. 

"Playing fetch?" I asked scratching Shadow behind the ears.

Tossing the stick aside he looked at me and said "More like attempting."

I gave a little chuckle. "Daemon is not really into fetch. He's more the grab the toy and destroy it type. Shadow isn't interested unless it's something he can actually chase which means alive. Ew. Storm is the only one who likes fetch but only if it's one of her toys. I have picky furies." I smiled at Shadow who nuzzled my side. "Thank you for letting them out." He inclined his head.

"Walk with me." he said. "You haven't had a tour yet. I think we'll skip downstairs as you seemed to navigate your way around the other night or at least you found the kitchen." At that he smirked just a little. A quick flash let me know the spirit was with us. Interesting. I'd come back to that later.

"Girls gotta eat." I shrugged. That got a chuckle from Puff.

"Okay we'll do a quick run of the first floor and make our way up. Tell me about the demon attack." Well this was better than being drilled. As he showed me the layout of the first floor, which included a banquet hall for cryin out loud, I went through the details of the attack for the I don't even know how many time. The second floor was home housing for various beings some who were basically soldiers and the rest their families.  It was also where Dracos office was. Floor three was more housing as well as the hospital ward. I should take a moment to acknowledge that the floors had wings. Wings as in north, south, east, and west wings. 

"The fourth floor" Draco started "is where my family and important members of our group. That" he point to the largest set of double doors I'd ever seen "is my room." The handles were carved, ornate wolves and completely gorgeous and made of onyx. I walked forward and touched one of the wolves. Each handle was an entire wolf with its head raised to howl. I caught Puff staring at me from the corner of my eye. I pulled my hand back. "I'm sorry." I said looking at him. "They're just so beautiful." 

He looked at me for a moment. "It's okay. This way." He walked to another large door that was to the right of his room and opened the door. "This" he said as we walked in "is your room." I just stood in front of the door while he walked in. Just stood there mouth open and speechless. "I had my people bring your stuff..." he turned around and looked at me. "Well are you coming in or not? I'm trying to show you your room." Again still not moving. Just looking into the room I could tell it was my living room, kitchen, front and back porch of my rental house thereby leaving me speechless and unable to move. "Are you okay?" He asked walking back out to study me. Gently he placed a hand on my back and guided me in. Electricity shot trough me even through my corset at the touch.  I was right. Bigger than the majority of my rental home. Holy. s**t. Balls. Slowly he guided me into the massive room that was to be mine. Dark red and silver demask wall paper went from floor to ceiling to meet the crown molding that wrapped around the whole room. There was a mid sized desk and matching chair that was hand carved much like the version in Dracos office set off to the left. To the right of the desk was a walk in closest that was the size of my bedroom at the house complete with built in shelves. Just the thought of putting my shoes on display made me giddy.  Pulling my gaze from a closet I'd only fantasized about I took in the rest of my new digs. The bed was nothing short of incredible and glamorous. The frame of the four poster was made of deep mahagony wood that looked like it weighed tons. Each of the four posters was carved from the clawed feet to the very top of the bed. I walked closer to examine the carvings. The sheer detail was mind blowing. The base of each corner was carved into the likeness of claws raising and turning into scaled legs. The base board was clearly shaped as a curving, coiled body once again covered with intricate scales that gleamed in the light of the room. From the base board the posters themselves curved upward almost the way snake would. Yet the most breath taking piece was the headboard. The entire length of the massive bed, which was bigger than a California king, were expanded wings raised and touching. Between the points where the wing tips touch peered out the eyes of the dragon the bed was carved to represent. Undoubtedly the most beautiful carved work I'd ever seen. Barely able to peal my eyes away from the bed I noted a set of French doors to the right of the bed and what appeared to be the doorway to a massively huge bathroom. I also noticed that there were several boxes placed on the bed and in the closet. 

"You okay?" Draco asked pulling me from my enchantment. I managed a nod. "I had some of my people go to your house and retrieve your things. These are what I thought you'd need. Everything else is in the storage building on the property. You seem to have quite a...collection. I managed to swing my gaze back to him. Not going into the collection just yet. "Hold up. Did you just say storage building? You have a building dedicate to storage?" He nodded. "Well damn how big is this place? Are there more buildings?" I wasn't totally surprised. Just from what I'd seen of the outside I knew the compound was massive just not that massive. Walking towards the French doors he continued "Yes there are several other buildings on the property. One of them you'll be spending a good deal of time in but we will get to that later." He opened the door and walked out onto the balcony which had a nice set of outdoor furniture and a fire pit. "We share a balcony which I tend to pace so don't be alarmed if you see me." We walked back in. My phone went off letting me know I had a text. Looking at it I saw it was from Celeste, still no word from Sybil. Hm. Puff cast me a look. "My Aunts not answering. She's not in trouble or danger or I'd know but it's not like her to not call us back. I'm sure she's just having an off day. Did your people happen to break into my safes?" I looked in one of the boxes to find some of my clothes. Shaking his head he looked at me slightly confused. "No mention of safes. You have safes? For what?" I shrugged. "I have a a safe in my room, the guest room, and the pantry. My guns are in them. I'll just run by this week and pick them up."

"Guns? You?" He was looking at me like I'd grown a second head. Again I shrugged. "I come from a family of avid shooters. I started shooting when I was 4ish and continued growing up even after my parents died. When they passed I kept most of their fire arms and I have a few that are my own. I still go shoot a few times a month." I turned to face him and saw an expression that was stunned possibly.

"Well witch I'm impressed." I shot him a look for calling me witch although it wasn't the venomous tone he had been using. "Downstairs there is a door with a keypad next to it right off the kitchen" I nodded. "The door leads to the lower levels. First level is the movie room. Massive screen, theater seating, and snack bar. Third level is the gym complete with indoor pool. The second level is the indoor shooting range. There's also a range on the property but it's pretty far out. I may take you down there and see what you got." He actually sized me up. Keep thinking the little witch isn't capable.

I smirked and rolled my eyes. "Bring it Puff." I got a look. Yup that's what you get for calling me witch. The furies, who had been silently following us during the tour went and sat by the door. "They need to go out, that's their signal. Care to come out with us?" I grabbed a sweater out of the box I was looking through. He nodded and lead the way out as I paused. Feeling was coming back but I kept walking. We began talking again as we descended the stairs. "We need to discuss the magic." He got that serious look that then turned into the distasteful look that he gave me the first night. As if sensing me he tried to ease it but I'd already seen. Oh well gotta go with it for now. Oh boy this was gonna be a fun conversation. I shook my head not wanting to speak. "It's obvious that you have powers but its also obvious you cant reallly control them. The shattered glass is evidence of that." i nodded in agreement. He was right I had little control. The only reason that more glass hadn't shattered was because I internally counted to curb my temper yet eventhat wasn't working lately. When we reached the bottom floor the furries went straight for the door. Draco went to open but I asked him to stop. Standing in front of the door I gave the first of their commands. "Sitz." I said giving the hand signal also. All three sat. "Legen." Hand sign as it was said. Again all three laid down. "Warten" Hand sign once more as I opened the door and they all remained in place. After  a few heartbeats I released them with "Gehen." or go. Moving to follow them out I caught the look of impressed on Puffs face.

Once outside he continued all while the feeeling in my gut increased. "Its obivous that whatever is going on you are a part of it. Someone wants you badly enough to send demons to abduct you in the middle of the day. From what little I saw you seem to be able to defend yourself but realistically if you could do it magically you'd be better off and much more formidable." Again nodding he was right. "So I'm going to have Calista instruct you." He opened his mouth to continue but I cut him off. 

"Absolutely not."

"Excuse me?" he said.

"Not happening. I flatly refuse to be taught by her."

Getting that look of iratenenss he scowled at me. "Why? You need to be taught."

I nodded. "I know I need  to be taught but not by her. As to why let's do a quick recap shall we? First off have you forgotten our first encounter. b***h hurled an energy ball at my head then tried to duke it out with me. Second in trying to do all that s**t she nearly hurt Cass which automatically puts her on my s**t list. Then there is the feeling that I get in the pit of my stomach that says she is nothing but trouble and the worst kind possible at that." At this point the spirit took form behind Draco and she was nodding in agreement with me. Stow that away to think about later along with the question of if she was ever going to talk to me. "My gut feelings are enough for me but to seal the deal the way that Sybil reacted to her and what she said about her there's no way in hell she is teaching me anything magical."

Puffig, Puff countered "It's not like she can kill you. You're a witch. You're an immortal." Right then the temptation to whap him in the forehead with my palm and say "You coulda had a V8" was overwhelmingly strong but i pulled back and resisted. Instead I made a nosie of exasperation and said "What part of non-practicing did you miss? Witches are not like other magial beings. Most reach a certain age and their immortality kicks in usually around maturity. Witches have to work for it. We have to reach a certain age and asend to our powers fully. Only after we fully come into our powers and reach maturity do we become immortal. Since I am non-practicing and have therefore not asended to my powers I'm a mortal with a few fringe benefits like slow aging. I can still be killed just like a mortal can." He studied me for a long moment. I finished my agrument by throwing in "She could kill me with a spell and say she was teaching me defense and that I wasn't fast enough and it was an accident." That seemed to register with him by the expression on his face...which was scary cause it was affirmation I was right. Peachy. 

We kept walking moving towards the woods on the side of the house. The security lights surrounding the house illuminated a good portion of the woods and I could make out Storm a little ways into the woods. Puff was quiet and had on the brooding face I'd seen him wear on the majority of the occasions we spoke. We stopped at the edge of one of the security lights. "There is simply no alternative. Calista will teach you magic and someone, either myself or someone I trust will be there to monitor." Puff said. Again he opened his mouth to say more but again I cut him off.

"Not. Happening." I made sure to enunciate each word. Daemon started barking and appeared from around the corner of a nearby tree. Storm and Shadow soon appeared next to him looking like they were waiting for something. My stomach clenched. Not good. Something white darted out from the trees and straight to Draco who was tensing in a very dog like manner.

"Meow." Said the white cat moving in between Dracos legs.

Hi growling was so tense he wasn't moving he snarled "You have a cat?"

"No." I said as I was looking at the cat very closely. Slim and sleek and solid white. Then I saw his eyes. Gold. Oh no. "Niccadimus?" The cat left Dracos legs and trotted over to jump up into my arms.

"Hello El. Long time no see." Said the cat. "Oh fuck." I replied.