Dark Flames (Blood Bound Book 6)

Chapter 7

He frowned… they couldn’t very well have a castle with broken windows. He lifted his hand slightly and the glass that had fallen during Kamui and Toya’s flight slowly lifted from the grass, righting itself like a thousand piece puzzle. Pushing his hand upwards, Ren watched as the glittering glass rose up through the air, sliding back into place on the third floor.

Following Ren, Storm quirked an eyebrow when he saw a tow truck pulling out of the driveway and wondered if the driver had seen the sky show a few minutes ago. He smiled when he saw that it was Hunter in the driver’s seat and raised a hand when Hunter waved.

Entering the garage, Storm’s smile widened. Ren was walking around Trevor’s car looking it over with a critical eye. He also took note of the high-tech circuit board Ren had in his hand.

Ren glanced up at Storm's approach and noted his smile before turning his attention back to the car.

“What are you smiling about?” Ren asked.

“Sometimes it’s nice not to be able to see the future,” Storm said truthfully.

“What does that mean?” Ren questioned.

“It means that for now at least… I am walking my own timeline,” Storm stated.

Ren nodded deciding he wasn’t even going to try to process that brainteaser and continued to run his hand across the edge of the car as though feeling it out.

“What are you planning to do with that?” Storm asked nodding toward the computer.

“I’m going to upgrade Trevor’s car,” Ren answered.

Storm leaned back against one of the other cars, “I’ll bite, why are you upgrading Trevor’s car?”

“Because I’m bored,” Ren shrugged but the look on his face said he was going to enjoy this. “And because I need an outlet for some of this power before I drown in it.”

“I got to see this,” Storm laughed.

Ren smirked as he placed the circuit board on the windshield and stepped back so he was facing the front of the car. He raised his palms toward the car and took a deep breath. The headlights suddenly flashed on and wires snaked out from the edge of the ruined hood, latching onto the circuit board and pulling it inside.

The body began to creak and groan, reshaping itself and another color began to appear in little splotches. Dents straightened themselves out as the body streamlined. The tires repaired themselves and filled with air while the rims started to shift. The hood flipped open and Storm watched the engine rebuild itself… the old oil slowly vanishing and the original chrome color taking its place.

The splotches of color were growing and soon a beautiful black sheen covered the entire body. The windows darkened so it was near impossible to see inside and Storm whistled softly as he walked around it. It had the same appearance as a classic Mustang. Storm couldn’t help but smirk when he saw Ren’s name in a small chrome insignia on the back instead of a well-known car maker’s.

“At least you’re not egotistical,” Storm laughed.

Ren finally lowered his hands and smiled proudly at the new and improved car. “I give you… Evey.”

Storm looked up at Ren and arched an eyebrow. “Evey?”

Ren shrugged, “Stephen King has Christine, so I can have Evey. Plus, it’s the closest thing I could get to Envy without it actually being her name.”

Storm couldn’t help but laugh, “You are so bad.”

“I like to think so,” a sexy feminine voice said.

Storm looked down at the car. “It talks?”

“Of course I can,” Evey said and the car door slowly opened. “Want to ride me?”

Storm shook his head only trusting his own mode of transportation, “I’m sorry, as beautiful as you are… I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

Evey sighed, “Very well, but you will one day ride in my back seat.”

Storm stared at Ren, “She’s very… flirtatious.”

Ren shoved his hands in his pockets, “Talking cars are sexy.”

“Thank you Ren,” Evey purred.

“What makes it perfect,” Ren continued, “is that Evey’s voice is an exact replica of Envy’s.”

Storm pressed his lips together to quell the laughter and nodded vigorously. Ren didn’t show this side of his personality very often but when he did, he always made it worth the wait.

“Evey,” Ren stated.

“Yes Ren,” Evey answered.

“You belong to Trevor, he is your owner.”

Evey hummed, “Trevor has always taken good care of me… now I will take good care of him.”

Storm opened his mouth to say something… anything, but his eyes started to water and his cheeks hurt like hell. He briskly walked to ward the closest door, which happened to be the walk in coat closet, before he started laughing again.

“Are you all right, Storm?” he heard Evey ask through the closed door.

“I’m okay,” Storm managed. “I’ll be out in a moment.”

Ren’s lip twitched while he and Evey waited on the boss to regain his sanity.

Chapter 4

Guy followed Tiara down the steps that had been cut into the side of the cliff through a combination of human hands and natural forces. He silently followed his target down to the private beach.

Tiara’s form came into view on the sand and he paused near the bottom long enough to look down on her lithe form. When his feet finally touched the sand, Guy had to stand in awe of the picture she was creating. With her long silky white hair and golden tan… she looked like a beautiful water nymph that had come ashore to lead men astray.

Tiara was standing at the shoreline letting the water wash up over her sandals. Even though the cold darkness called to her, she loved the feel of the warm sun on her skin. Staring out over the ocean, she could feel the lives the water had taken over the millennia and never given back.

Most humans who died went on to the next dimension… but there were always those who refused the call. She c****d her head to the side wondering if those ghosts swam with the fish and were happy.

A soft smile appeared on her face as she recalled the many stories she’d heard over the years of men lost at sea and seeing someone in the water with them. That person would stay with them until rescue came. In each instance, the second person was never found and Tiara knew that other person was the ghost of one long dead that refused to leave their ocean home.

Ghosts were usually gentle whispering creatures that have no outward power. She should know… she’d even played with them as a child. Their true power resided within their spirit… that inner power is what drew demons to them. Once under the control of demons, ghosts became little more than puppets doing their master’s bidding… innocent victims in the games demons played.

Guy’s steps were silent as he closed the distance between himself and Tiara until the salty water surrounded the soles of his boots. The breeze was still warm, even though Halloween was just a couple weeks away… the night humans dressed up as monsters. He didn’t even want to think about what that night would bring.

“Tiara,” his voice was cold knowing she’d lied to Storm about the number of people she needed on her team just to keep him at arm’s length. “We need to talk.”

Tiara had been so lost in thought that hearing her name so close to her had caused her to flinch. She inwardly sighed knowing she was about to hurt Guy and turned around to face him. She swallowed when she noticed the pain shimmering in his eyes.

“Guy, I am so sorry.” She meant every word.

Guy tightened his fists at his sides. She was telling him no and they both knew it. He tried to push away the thought of forcing her to do his bidding, but it was just on the edge of his mind… tempting him.

“Carley was a part of PIT and died to save another’s life… Mine. She deserves a second chance,” he insisted as if they’d already participated in a silent argument over it… and in a way, they had.

Tiara slowly shook her head but her expression was full of sympathy. Her voice remained calm and serene as she tried to explain why she couldn’t revive his sister, “To jerk someone back from death is to bring back a zombie without a soul. They can talk and move, but they are hollow… little more than shells their soul used to live in. My job is to free zombies from their creators… not create them myself.”

“Don’t give me that crap,” Guy lost the fragile hold he’d had on his anger. “Your mother could control souls and now that power is yours, so just tell Carley to get back in her body. Once she’s there, you can seal her in it. Come on, it’s only been a couple of hours. She’s barely cold.”

“You would bind her to a body in worse condition than it was when she left it? You would want that for your sister?” Tiara asked in sad disappointment. “You haven’t thought this through Guy. What kind of life would that be for her?”

Guy was suddenly in front of her, grabbing her wrist and roughly jerking her forward until they were only a couple inches apart. Glaring down into Tiara’s startled face he growled, “I’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back. I took care of her before and I can take care of her again.”

“If you don’t want more than just sunburn, then I suggest you let go of her,” Zachary’s voice was close and full of warning.

Zachary had held back, listening in on the conversation between Tiara and Guy. He knew Guy was hurting... hell, everyone knew what Carley meant to the big man. However, when Guy grabbed hold of Tiara in a near violent manner, Zachary refused to stand back and let him manhandle her. She was so small and fragile compared to him. She looked like she would break.

Guy’s eyes narrowed on Tiara, not paying attention to Zachary’s threat. Instead, he continued to stare down into Tiara’s bright eyes, too bright for a normal human. Once more, the thought of forcing her to do what he wanted slipped into his subconscious. What did he really have to lose… he’d already lost everything he lived for.

“He isn’t hurting me,” Tiara’s voice was calm but she refused to break eye contact with Guy. He was hurting her, but what hurt most was the edge of madness forming in Guy’s angry gaze. He wasn’t really angry at her… he was feeling the normal sensation of survivor’s guilt. In his mind, he should have been the one to die instead of Carley.

“Guy, if you let go of me, I’ll use my necromancy to call to Carley. Then you can ask your sister what it is she wants now.” Tiara didn’t struggle against him. She wanted him to trust her.

Zachary shook his head and took a step toward them. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea,” he stated darkly. He was a master at reading people and although Tiara was doing a damn good job of hiding it, he could tell she was frightened. “I said let her go Guy!”

“I’m not hurting her,” Guy nearly shouted back at him.

Zachary ground his teeth and tried to keep a strangle hold on his own fiery temper that had abruptly surfaced. He knew Guy was grieving and it was obvious the other man wasn’t handling it very well. Be that as it may, that didn’t mean he was going to let Guy take it out on Tiara.

Without even realizing he was doing it, the air surrounding Guy became several degrees hotter.

Guy let go of Tiara’s wrist and turned his glare on Zachary as he broke out in a sweat, “Stay the hell out of this.”