Page 75 of A Shadow of Betrayal

Maybe he went back inside?

Just as I'm about to head inside, a familiar gray horse catches my attention as it and its rider make their way down the path that heads out of the open gates of the Castle. The Hunters tend to leave them open during daylight, only closing them once the sun sets since the Demons tend to be more nocturnal creatures. “Creed?” I squint, trying to see if the rider has curly brown hair, but he’s too far away. Cursing, I rush through the courtyard, following the man on the horse as he heads down the path at a steady pace. “Creed?” I shout again, but he’s still too far away. I briefly consider doubling back and getting the big black horse Theo and Jordan have been teaching me to ride, but I’m not sure what pasture he’s in, and it would take too much time to saddle him.

Creed turns his horse to head into the thick trees, following the main path to the north ridge, and I curse, running after him. Had Lennox sent him off to check on the Demons and Rift? “Creed, wait!” I holler, running after him as he disappears into the trees. “Jesus!” I complain under my breath. “I thought Hunters were supposed to have good hearing.” I stomp through the snow, trying to get to the small trail Creed led his horse down, and follow him into the tree, patting the Kalis at my side to make sure I still have it on me. I strain my eyes through the dimly lit forested area Creed went through, the thick trees blocking out the light of the sun, then tilt my head to the side. The pathway looks all too familiar as it splits into two separate directions. I grin when I realize it's the same path as the one in my dreamscape with Valen and start to get a little excited, wondering if it will come back to my dreams the next time I’m there.

The sound of deep male voices carries through the trees, making me take the right path, hoping to find Creed so I’m not wandering alone where some Demon may find me. I pick up my pace, tucking my hands under my arms when my fingers start to get cold and try not to think about how cold my toes are already getting. The closer I get, the more clear the voice is, and I slow my step, recognizing one of the voices, but it's not who I thought it was.

Looking ahead, I see the path open into a small clearing with what looks like an old crumbling church residing at the end. I stop in my tracks, something unsettling me as I strain my ears to hear what the men ahead of me are saying. I’m positive Creed isn't the one talking, but I have heard that voice before. Tiptoeing closer, I walk to the side of the path to where an overly large tree resides and move behind it, a sick feeling making my stomach cramp as I grow closer. Bracing my hands on the rough bark, I slowly peer around it to see who is gathered in front of the old church building.

I remember Jordan talking about it and how the Hunters used to be religious. Looking at its decrepit state, I would say it hasn't been in use for several decades. But it's the three men standing in the clearing in front of the church that makes me frown, and keep myself hidden.

“No! We’ve tried that already, Lauraunt. We are running out of magic to keep the monster contained. We’ve taken everything we can from him, but he’s getting stronger. We need more!” Senior Axford shouts, waving his cane in the air and looking like he’s about ready to pop a blood vessel.

“So drain the monster dry! What's the point in keeping him if we can’t harvest more magic?” Senior Drakos shouts back, his brown hair looking wild as he runs a hand through it while darting his beady brown eyes from Senior Axford to the church behind them.

“If we kill him, we lose all access to the magic. The beasts only give us so much. We need another Royal. Why isn’t the symbol working? Are you sure that’s the right one?” Senior Axford asks, turning toward the DeLuca Senior, glaring at the blonde Hunter.

“Yes! It's the same as the book! Are you sure that's the correct symbol, though? Perhaps there has been a mistake in the translations. What if it's not the King's symbol? Maybe we should try another?” The DeLuca Senior replies, making Theo’s father scoff.

“I still think it's insane to call a Royal to our side of the veil. They have stayed in their realm since the great falling over a century ago. We should kill that monster or let it go, Axford. Do you truly believe Orcus will let us take one of his own? We were created to protect humans, not battle our creators. He is the king of Hell, Axford. Besides, what happens when the Russians find out what we are doing? We will have a war on our hands and between our men.”

“Orcus is a myth, Drakos. Something our ancestors created to keep us in line and abide by the rules. And the Russians won’t find out until we have enough magic to share, and then they will join our cause. They want as much power as they can get their hands on. Trust me. And we can fight the Demons with their magic. The evidence is there,” Axford shouts, gesturing at the church behind them.

“You’ve grown bold in your old age, Axford,” Drakos sneers, leaning closer to the man. “You will bring the war to our doorstep if you continue. I have my son and wife to think about.”

“They are nothing to the bigger picture. We need to be able to control the beasts that run wild in our world. The Demons created the problem, and I will strip the magic from their bodies in order to correct it. If we lose some Hunters, it will be for the greater good.”

“That is my family… your own daughter that you speak of!” Senior Drakos yells, making the older man smile sardonically.

”Are you speaking against the Seniorem, Drakos?” Axford grinds out, placing his cane between them, his graying eyes narrowing on Theo's father.

“I am part of the Seniorem! Do not pull rank on me, Axford! This is madness, and I won't be a part of it any longer!” Senior Drakos shouts, stepping even closer, not paying attention to Senior DeLuca as he looks to Axford and nods. I cover my mouth, trying to stifle the gasp that tries to break free as I watch Senior DeLuca take his Kalis, then plunge it into Senior Drakos’ neck, his hand snapping over the man's mouth, keeping his gurgled screams muffled. Senior DeLuca yanks the blade out, making blood spray over his chest before stabbing him a second time, his arm holding the man as he falls to the ground.

“Pity,” Axford states, grabbing a handkerchief from his coat pocket and using it to clean the small flecks of blood that landed on his cheeks and neck. I watch in stunned horror from my hiding place behind the tree as Senior Axford nods to the gray horse I mistook for Creed’s. “Load his body on his horse. We’ll let the beasts take care of it for us.”

Axford turns around and hobbles to the steps of the church and climbs them slowly, his cane shaking in his hand before he places a palm against the door and speaks a few words I cannot understand. The lock on the handles glows green, and I watch, my hand still covering my mouth as he reaches up and holds a large black oval stone he wears around his neck that I didn't notice before now. He pulls a small vial of something dark out of his pocket and pours it over the odd looking handle, making it turn red before the whole door lights up with runes and symbols as he smiles and lets the necklace fall back to his chest.

“Holy shit,” I whisper behind my hand as I watch the door click open.

“Bring them all. We need more magic, and we need it tonight,” Axford shouts, stepping back from the door as a few Hunters start to walk out, each of them with a person thrown over their shoulder. Bile rises in my throat as I watch seven Hunters slowly come from the church, each of them carrying an unconscious person without a shirt over their shoulder before they literally toss them like garbage in the back of an old wagon. Dammit! One of the humans looks like a kid!

Keeping close to the tree, I try to calm my racing heart as I see the familiar symbols that the other human had carved in his chest. What had Valen called it? The Shadow symbol? My palms start to sweat as the Hunters grab their gear and Axford shuts the door of the church, muttering a few more words in a language I can't understand and making the runes and symbols engraved along the perimeter of the door turn green, then blinks out.

“Take them to the north ridge. Throw them through the damn veil if you can, but bring me back a Royal. The Seniorem meets on the full moon, and I need more magic in order to convince them to move forward with our plans, brothers,” Axford says, grabbing the black onyx pendant wrapped around his neck as he stands in front of the door, watching as Senior DeLuca throws Theo’s dad’s body on the back of his gray horse before mounting his own, leading the Hunters deeper into the forest.

I stay in my hiding spot, slowly moving around the tree as Senior Axford limps his way back down the stairs of the church and down the path I had come, back toward the Castle. I wait for what feels like forever, my mind running a million miles an hour until I’m sure there is no one left to see me sneak away from the tree, then sprint as fast as I can back. There is only one man that can do anything about this, and I can only pray he’s in his office because I don't think those people have the time for me to track the infuriating viking through the Castle.

THIRTY-NINE

Meyer

“They have more,” I shout as I shove Lennox’s office open, almost tripping over my own damned feet, making Creed jump off his chair and spin toward me, Kalis in hand. The moment he sees who just charged into Lennox’s office, he lowers his blade, concern filling his expression.

“Lemon Drop? What's wrong?” he asks, looking me up and down as I wheeze for breath. I ran all the way back here and up at least fifteen flights of stairs. I bend forward, pressing my hands to my knees as I take deep breaths, glaring at the Hunter in front of me.

“Where the hell have you been?” I ask accusingly. “I’ve been looking for you!” Creed arches a brow at me, then tosses Lennox a concerned look before he walks over and gently places an arm around my waist, helping me stand straight.

“I had a meeting with Nox,” he explains apologetically. “I didn't realize you were looking for me.” Lennox slowly rises from his chair behind his desk, hands spread out in front of him as he leans forward.

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