The Watcher, page 43
part #1 of Fleur de Lis Series
“I remember you.”
“You do?”
“Yes!” I said. “I thought you were gorgeous and I loved your accent, and the driver's cap. I should have said something...I was just in a rush, like all New Yorkers.”
“I ended up at the Angelica movie theater that night, fifteen seats behind you, watching for the first time an Indie film.
I began to giggle. “Your first Indie film.”
“This job doesn't give me enough leisure time, but I did enjoy those moments where I felt human following you and sharing your excitement, even though I couldn't reveal myself to you.”
“So, you were always there...watching me...hiding in the shadows.”
“Always desiring you, protecting you, getting to know you.”
“You know I changed my mind...I don't like our love story anymore.”
“What?” Zachary shrieked in horror.
“I adore it,” I muttered and smiled mischievously.
“Ahh!” Zachary shouted, grabbing me from my hips and tickling me.
I squirmed, laughing, and screaming, “Stop!”
Tears of laughter came down my face, and he stopped all at once, kissing my neck softly.
Zachary's cell phone begun to buzz on his nightstand. He answered it. “Hello,” he said, sitting up.
I brushed my fingers through my hair, and I slowly sat up, pulling down my shirt.
“I will be right there,” Zachary said.
“What's going on?”
“A snowstorm is coming. We might receive a foot of snow. I am helping Charlie with the salt trucks.”
“A snow storm in the beginning of April,” I said narrowing my eyebrows.
Zachary layered up with a sweater and a pea coat. “It's global warming. We are killing this planet.”
“When will you be back?” I asked.
“In a few hours,” Zachary paused with a concerned look. “Your brother is on his way up and he's pissed off.”
“Why is he pissed?”
“He's here.”
Christian opened the sliding paneled door with raging fierce eyes. The side of his beige shirt, face, and hair was dripping in chocolate and covered in green powder.
“What the...” I muttered.
Zachary was trying to stop himself from laughing.
“Haha...you think this is funny! I almost got bit by one of the rats you let loose in my room the other day. I could have died!” Christian shouted.
“You are overreacting. The rat bites are not fatal to a hybrid,” Zachary said.
“I thought you said you found them all the last time?” I asked.
“I thought I did. And there I was...making myself a green tea, chocolate, peanut butter smoothie when the sucker came flying out of nowhere, licking my smoothie.”
“Really,” I mumbled, surprised.
“Yeah, and I dropped the blender with the ingredients and the smoothie cup—all over the floor. The rat jumped down from the countertop wanting more. I slipped, freaking out, and landed face flat on my favorite smoothie!”
I couldn't stop laughing, picturing my brother squealing in fear at the rat. Zachary covered his mouth as he giggled like a little school girl.
“Do you have any idea how long it took me to perfect that smoothie? I used green tea, coconut water, almond milk, soy milk, peach yogurt, hot sauce, and the finest peanut butter and chocolate from Belgium!” Christian blurted out loud.
“I am sorry, I thought you found all the rats the last time. It was a bad joke...forgive me,” I said and chuckled softly.
“You are not sorry!” Christian whined. “Wait....did you put a new rat in my room?” Christian asked, wiping the chocolate off his face and splattering it on me.
“Gross!” I griped, wiping it off.
“It's not a new one. The rat must have been hiding in one of your sneakers,” Zachary responded.
My brother jerked back with widened eyes. “My sneakers,” he muttered in fear. “And where do you think you are going?” He asked observing Zachary's coat.
“It's going to snow. I need to put salt down.”
“Oh no, you are not! You are going to find that squirmy rat that's been hiding in my sneakers first!” Christian demanded.
“Alright...I will find your furry friend first,” Zachary said exiting the room.
My brother scowled at me as I giggled. “You are going to get it, Skye,” Christian grunted.
I slowly moved off the bed, away from my brother. He wiped the rest of the chocolate off his face and hair. “I think maybe...you should have a little taste,” he said, showing me his filthy hands.
Christian jumped on top of the bed, growling. I couldn't stop laughing. He then threw himself across the room, tackling me. He put me in a submission hold as I squirmed.
“Get off me!” I screamed.
He cackled with glee and rubbed the most disgusting smoothie I had ever tasted in my mouth. It was spicy. He must have put a quarter cup of hot sauce in it.
Chapter 28
Dreams Come True
It's April 6th, and I can see the puff of my breath from the cold weather. The expected snowstorm was peeking its way through the dark hovering clouds. Springtime was put to a halt by Mother Nature, who was reminding us, she was in control.
The rooftop of Fernan's mansion was a peaceful place; its unique marble sculptures, shrubs, and lights at the edge of the wooden floor made it feel magical. I would sometimes forget I was in the city, glancing up at the sky until I heard the police or ambulance sirens, and the beeping sounds of car horns.
The hand wraps around my knuckles and wrists that provided me support was starting to loosen up after many punches against Mikael's hands. He avoided using punch mitts since his tremendous strength was his protection.
I kicked low alternating with fast jabs and dodged Mikael's swings that were aimed across my face. My ability showed every intricate movement Mikael was going to make.
Christian practiced his boxing moves with John in a white gazebo, which was lit by tiny lights. John wore bright orange punch mitts, while Zachary sat next to Tristan and Serano on a large wooden bench. They watched us carefully as Serano panted.
My brother let out deep grunts every time he hit the orange punch mitts. I could tell he was using all his strength. I, on the other hand, remained quiet and focused on my ability, moving with speed, striking Mikael.
It began to flurry and within a few minutes, the rooftop was covered with a thin layer of white snow. Zachary and John's phone began to buzz, then Mikael's and Tristan.
“Hold on,” Mikael said, and I paused from boxing.
They all received the same text message and their eyes widened in surprise as they read it.
“John and I need to go. You and Christian are going to stay with Mikael and Tristan,” Zachary said.
“What's going on?” Christian asked.
“There was an explosion at the book store next to the Bon Sejour restaurant. Fernan and Sebastian were eating dinner when it occurred. The owner, his wife, and a few other people have died. Sebastian picked up the scent of Luke Anderson. My brother and I are the only ones that can track him. You both need to stay put and stay inside,” Zachary said.
I began to fret, thinking what Aaron could have in store for us.
Zachary kissed my forehead and quickly left with John.
“Let’s head inside,” Tristan said, touching my shoulder lightly and glancing at me. He noticed the worry in my eyes.
“Charlie and Dante are overseeing security tonight. We will wait here for Zachary and John to return,” Mikael said as we entered the grand living room.
“Sebastian and Fernan are not injured,” Tristan said, reassuring my anxious mind.
Christian turned on the television. It felt as time just slowed down. The news was calling it a gas leak—another gas leak, this time made up by Sebastian of course. I would have been one of those blinded humans believing the news before all of this.
The restaurant had its front windows blown off. They were bulletproof, but not bomb proof. The book store next door was in rubble. The ground had fragments of bricks and the first floor had a gaping hole where the entrance door and window used to be. Part of the second floor was missing. It wasn’t safe entering the building, but the firefighters were more than courageous. Witnesses were being interviewed on the street, blaming the government for not inspecting the building as it should have been. It was a devastating sight.
A couple of hours had passed watching the news. Christian had been checking Aaron’s ring every few minutes. Aaron was in a new yacht, smaller than the other and Patrick Connelly and he were playing chess, while Charlotte played the violin, and Madeline danced naked. Christian had done a few drawings, but Aaron seemed calm and he was wearing shaded sunglasses, clear enough for him to play chess and for Christian to watch.
“You want to go out for a walk Serano?” Christian asked, petting the top of Serano’s head as the dog’s tail whipped wildly.
“We are not leaving the house,” Mikael said firmly, fixing the bottom of his cargo pants and pulling them over his boots and the antique dagger on his right ankle.
“If you don’t let me take Serano out for a walk, he’s going to take a huge dump that’s going to disrupt all your sensitive vampire nostrils for hours,” Christian complained.
“Alright already,” Mikael said, “but you need to stay close and hurry it up.”
“I can’t force him to shit quickly. He needs to run around a little. Then it comes out smooth like butter,” Christian replied, making Mikael squint with disgust.
“Come on!” I responded, “Do you have to be that graphic?”
Tristan’s phone began to buzz. He answered it and spoke in Latin.
“Yes, I do have to be that graphic or Mikael won’t get the picture,” Christian answered.
“You have fifteen minutes, Christian,” Tristan demanded as he ended his call.
“Come with me Skye and bring a ball, Serano will love it,” Christian said.
“Sure,” I replied.
“I have to go to the West Side of the park. There is a mentally ill woman walking around nude. Nagy wants me to make her unconscious. She is getting violent and weighs more than 300 pounds,” Tristan said.
“Really? In this cold weather—buck naked!” Christian gasped, picturing the horrific scene.
“She does it a few times a year. Has these episodes of madness and needs medication. We don’t want her arrested. She is in her early twenties. I am bringing her to the hospital where they will take care of her until she is better. I just need to find some big clothes to cover her up,” Tristan explained.
“That’s awful,” I muttered.
“Just don’t kill the poor girl with your ability, making her topple over with convulsions. You might give her a heart attack,” Christian said.
I rolled my eyes away from Christian, bending down and checking my black leather boots that Vivian gave me with the hidden blade.
“I am not going to kill her stupid, just make her sleep, in order to put her in my car,” Tristan said.
“Good luck with that one,” Christian quipped.
“I will be back soon,” Tristan said with an annoyed voice. “Do exactly as Mikael says. There are Guardians throughout the park. You should be safe—just hurry it up.”
Mikael put on his trench coat that concealed his tanto sword. Christian put on his gun holster, securing an automatic gun with a silencer on it. He wore a short North Face coat and a dagger was strapped to his right ankle. I put on the jacket Vivian gave me; it concealed a tanto sword with rubies on it and a serrated dagger with a curved tip.
Mikael handed each of us a saliva packet. We placed them in our pocket.
Christian clipped Serano’s leash to his diamond collar. “Let’s go,” he said.
We entered the elevator and descended to the lobby.
“We shall return,” Mikael said to the human Guardian in the lobby, who opened the heavy door for us.
The night had become colder and the ground was covered with four inches of snow. New York City looked the best right after a snowstorm settled. The park was a winter wonderland with clean crisp snow, except it was Springtime, and this weather baffled all of us. In twenty-four hours, the snow will resemble black mush on every corner—not very pretty at all.
“Let’s head to the baseball field,” Christian said.
“You have ten minutes left,” Mikael said while texting on his phone.
“No, start counting fifteen minutes when we get to the field,” Christian complained.
“Fine,” Mikael muttered.
“What’s going on with Zachary?” I asked.
“He and John are in Jersey City, that’s where he tracked Luke’s scent,” Mikael said.
“Why couldn’t he take me with him? I could have been some help.” I said.
“You wouldn’t have been able to deal with Luke’s piercing pain ability. The noise can rupture your eardrum,” Mikael explained.
“Huh,” I sighed with a look of frustration.
We walked toward the baseball field. Snow flurries fell lightly. Christian stuck his tongue out, tasting the snowflakes. It took me by surprise. “Déjà vu,” I muttered.
“Are you okay, Skye?” Mikael asked, watching me tense.
“I am fine,” I said softly without confidence, thinking about the Leviathan dream in Central Park.
We made it to the fields and Christian unleashed Serano. He ran around happily as he played with him.
“Go, boy!” Christian said and threw the ball. Serano quickly caught it and returned the ball.
“I can’t wait for this war to be over,” I said, watching Christian. There was no doubting in how much he loved his dog.
“It will be, your brother will help us,” Mikael said. “Look at me, Skye,” I looked up into Mikael’s emerald green eyes. They softly glowed in the dark. “I promise, this war will end—soon.”
In an instant, I was struck in the face with a snowball. “Ugh, Come on!” I yelled as Christian laughed.
I quickly removed the snow from my left eye.
“Snowball fight!” Christian yelled with excitement.
Mikael got struck in the chest. “You have got to be kidding me,” Mikael grunted.
A snow ballfight began. Serano jumped excitedly barking as we all got hit by icy balls of snow. One of Mikael’s snowballs hit Christian in the side of his face, bringing him face down on the ground.
“Oh shit!” Mikael said out loud and ran toward Christian’s unconscious body.
Serano kept licking the side of Christian’s face. I walked slowly to them, knowing quite well my brother was faking. When Mikael turned him over Christian placed snow under Mikael’s collar, into his chest, and sprinted up running away from the vampire that can kick his ass.
Mikael chased him and so did Serano. I couldn’t help but laugh hearing Christian squeal as he ran, then I stuck out my tongue and tasted a snowflake. Fear struck the inside of my soul. That’s when I knew my dream was coming true. I closed my eyes to see a vision that had penetrated my mind.
The vision was vivid. I saw Tristan getting the mentally ill women in a car and driving away. Nagy was walking back into the park. An arrow was aimed into his heart. Nagy was fierce, he caught the arrow in mid-air and broke it in half. Then flashes distorted my mind, many arrows were being shot at the Guardians in the park. I glanced around trying to focus on my visions and reality. Vampires were hiding in the trees. I saw Zeus, cutting the heads off some of the Guardians lying on the snowy ground.
Then another vision of vampires in vans were parking on the West Side. Nagy was fighting along with three other Guardians, but so many more were coming.
“They are here!” I screamed running toward Mikael, rubbing my eyes from the blurriness of the vision.
Mikael and Christian stopped and looked at me with widened eyes.
“You have to warn Nagy; he’s in danger, many are coming!”
Mikael picked up his phone and pressed the alarm app that messaged every Guardian in the area, including Charlie. Then he tried calling Nagy.
“He’s not answering!” Mikael said.
“It’s begun,” I said, looking toward the West Side.
“How many did you see?” Mikael asked.
“Like twenty, they could be more. I saw them in vans and some hiding in trees. Zeus is with them.”
My brother took out his gun. “They are never going to take my sister,” Christian grunted, if only he understood that I was the one fearing for him.
“You both need to get back to the building,” Mikael said.
“No, we are not leaving you here,” I said frantically. “There are too many.”
“You won’t be safe out here, take Serano and head back now…Now!” Mikael demanded.
Another vision showed ten vampires approaching into the field and Clyde Ward was with them.
Nagy was still alive, bleeding but fighting Zeus.
“It’s too late,” I blurted out, the breath caught in my lungs.
They came out of the darkness into the field. Their vampire eyes glowed. Seven had yellow eyes, two of them had green eyes, and Clyde had light blue; it was easy to spot them because of their eyes. All wore black and were carrying sharpened weapons, ready to kill their prey. Serano began to bark and growl violently.
“I can take them. You do as I say and run back,” Mikael said as he stood in a menacing stance.
“No!” I said.
“Follow my orders as any Guardian would!” Mikael yelled.
“Let’s go,” Christian said, grabbing my arm. He looked intently into my eyes. “Do as he said.”
I nodded my head in agreement, hating every step I took farther away from Mikael.
