Dawn of a Dark Knight (34 page)

“Really? I’d put my vote on you being more likely to find trouble,” said Kira.

Ashor parked the car up the street from the bar. Before they got out, he said, “Markus, if the shit hits the fan, which I’m pretty sure it will, get out of the bar. Go out screaming with the patrons or something, but make yourself scarce. Whatever happens, don’t get caught. They’re primarily after the amulet and Kira, but we now know they’ll use you to get to her. We’ll protect her.”

“Who are you talking about? Who’s after Kira?”

Ashor didn’t answer.

Markus repeated his question as he slammed his door. “What are we getting into?”

Kira poked him in the chest. “Now you’re concerned about what we’re getting into? Where was this concern the first time we did this when I got kidnapped by psychos that used a knife on me?”

The dimly lit bar was loud with rock music and the Friday night rush of young professionals trying to hook up. Christian and Nate had positioned themselves near the entry door. Nate leaned into a corner and nursed a beer in an attempt to fit in, but people skidded around him.

She and Ashor paused at the entryway while Markus scurried into the bar to see if the seller had arrived.

Kira watched Christian disentangle himself from a thin brunette whose sheer shirt kept few secrets. Christian smiled, whispered something in the woman’s ear. She giggled and trotted happily into the bar.

“Don’t you ever get tired of them?” Nate asked.

“Hell, no. I just gave up some smokin’ hot play tonight. You’re jealous ’cause they’re not all over you.” Christian ran a preening hand through his hair. “You want me to set you up sometime? I mean, how long has it been since you got any?”

“No way. The last time you pawned one of your skirts onto me she turned out to be a deranged dom-bondage freak. I ain’t no woman’s sub.”

Christian mumbled to himself, “It was probably the last time you got laid.”

“I heard that.”

Ashor frowned in their direction. All banter ceased.

“He’s here. This way.” Markus seemed oblivious to the other guys. She thought they stuck out like dangerous, yet gorgeous, sore thumbs. Definitely not your average New York jock.

The seller had chosen a strategic location that gave him a clear view of the entrance. Ashor indicated for Markus and Kira to sit while he remained standing.

The seller shot a narrow-eyed glower at Ashor, who scowled back. To Kira in his light French accent, he said, “I see you brought protection this time.” His eyes glanced toward the front door.

“We had a bit of trouble last time.”

Markus said, “Do you have it? If so, let’s get this over with.”

The seller glanced a once-over of her outfit. “New look for you?”

“How would you know? Perhaps I always dress like this.” She turned to squint into the dark, chaotic sea of people behind her. Her stomach cramped with nerves and to avoid puking she swallowed frequently. Ashor briefly glanced her way, but made no change in facial expression.

I got this, Kira. Focus on the seller,
he said softly in her mind
.

Are they here?

They’re close. Let’s get through this.

“Who’s the buyer?” the seller asked, glancing at Markus.

Kira replied, “I am. That acceptable?”

The seller nodded, but didn’t smile. His gaze wandered the bar. His eyes widened.

Ashor abruptly said, “Time to go. Markus, the shit’s about to hit the fan. Leave.”

Markus pushed out of his chair. “Anything happens to her—”

Ashor thundered, “Get out. Don’t get caught.”

Markus scurried for the front exit.

Ashor grabbed Kira’s hand and clamped down on the seller’s arm with his opposite fist. “Come. We’re going out the back.”

Ashor dragged Kira and the seller through a door fairly close to their table that entered into a busy kitchen. Ashor nodded toward the exit sign.

Gunfire followed by screaming echoed behind them. Patrons in the bar stampeded to escape. A few shoved past them to get out. In the alley, Ashor pushed both Kira and the seller into the protective space behind three huge garbage bins as a steady stream of people followed them out the door.

Ashor ordered, “Don’t move. I’ll be back.

Water seeped through her pants from the asphalt. The revolting smell of old garbage swirled in the air.

Gunfire and the noises of combat echoed through the alley.

Kira couldn’t read the aura on the man sitting next to her, but he didn’t radiate any sort of enmity toward her. He seemed very relaxed considering the commotion around them.

She held out her hand to the man. “I’m Kira. So, who are you and why do you have the amulet?”

His lips tipped upward into a smile and a dimple formed in each cheek. “I’m your uncle. Sacha Laroche. Your father gave me the amulet to pass on to you when I felt the time was safe. I’m not sure I made a good decision on the timing. But—”

“My uncle? Why wasn’t I told about you?”

He shrugged.

“Why would my father give you the amulet?”

“Let’s just say your father wasn’t the only one in our family to have special abilities. I met with him right before he died, after I had a vision about his and your mother’s deaths. You can’t change fate, you know. I went to warn him so he could prepare. That was not an easy conversation, believe me. Edmund wanted to remove both of you from the country, but as you know, it was important that you be there. If you hadn’t, then that magus would’ve died.”

“Are there more people in our family?” Maybe someone else wanted to be the
akhrian.

“No, we are the end of the line.”

“Why all this deception about selling the amulet? Why not just give it to me?”

“You weren’t exactly trustful of anything that has to do with this, shall we say, supernatural aspect of the world, were you?”

“You know, you’re a little bit…intimidating.” She grinned.

“I thought if I had that cousin of yours as part of the exchange, he could buffer and then perhaps you would accept the amulet.” Sacha watched her for a moment and then said, “It’s yours. I’ll give it to you. It is time I go.” He handed her the amulet. “Don’t worry, it’s your destiny.”

“I can’t say that’s comforting. Can you get out of here okay?”

His broad smile enhanced the deep lines beside his eyes. “The Hashishins won’t even know I’m here.”

“Will I see you again? I mean, I’m your only family.”

“I’ll be watching.” He cupped her face with his hands and placed one kiss on each cheek. Then he vanished around the bin.

Kira stared at the double triangle logo on the amulet. The metal disc warmed her hands. The stylized triangle insignia glowed cerulean blue. She hung it around her neck, letting it fall under her shirt to rest against her chest.

A thunder of power hit her body. Instantly, she knew the condition of all seven magi as she thought about each independently. Javen’s life energy was waning. The amulet ordered she act.

She hated to distract Ashor, but in her book this constituted an emergency
. Javen needs help. He’s so weak from injuries. I’ve got to get to him.

Ashor’s commanding voice boomed,
Don’t move. If it’s his time, then he will die with honor.

She could feel Javen and knew that he had to be removed now
. No! Javen is not going to die tonight. I’m going to get him out of there right now.

Ashor was suddenly beside her. “No, you stay right there. Javen can fend for himself just fine. Terek would only too gladly grab you and disappear.”

Kira drew her gun and aimed.

“You’re going to shoot me over this?”

She fired. Ashor turned to glance over his left shoulder, clearly wondering if she’d missed on purpose. His astonishment transformed to shock as a Hashishin fell over with a bullet wound center forehead.

“Sorry,” she said as she re-holstered her gun. “The guy was about to garrote you.”

He gritted out, “You must stay here. I can’t concentrate, if your safety is in jeopardy.” He took a knee and clasped both her hands in his. His eyes momentarily drifted shut. Softly he said, “Please stay here. I will go find Javen, but understand if he wants to die in battle, then I must let him. Each of us can only hold on for so long without finding our
senariai.
Without you, I wouldn’t…the other day would’ve been the end for me.”

The thought of Javen departing this life had her eyes tearing. Weird. She didn’t know him well enough to be this attached. Had to be the amulet. It pushed her. This was nuts. A part of her freaked out, but recognizing the amulet’s energy was genuine and well-meaning, she trusted it.

“He needs more time in this world to find the woman meant for him.” She pulled the glowing amulet for Ashor to see. “The amulet tells me she is in this time. And you guys need him. Please. Force him to leave. We have what we came for.” A tear trickled down her cheek.

Ashor stopped the tear in its track with his thumb. “Is it telling you I must do this?”

Kira nodded.

“Then I’ll force him to go. Won’t be easy since he’s enjoying the hell out of this. He’s been looking forward to departing this life for quite a while. Stay put. One of us will come to get you when it’s safe. Promise me.”

She nodded.

Ashor ran out of the alley into the street. Eric and Christian danced around several Hashishins, dodging knife swipes and bullets. At least someone was enjoying this. A block away, Javen fought with Terek’s possessed body.

Ashor yelled, “Eric. Time to leave. Get Nate and Christian. Then get Kira from where she has been hidden. I’ll get Javen.”

Eric nodded as he dodged a gunshot and made a lethal slash in the Hashishin targeting him.

Ashor approached the fight with Terek, aka Djoser, and grabbed Nate from the ground where he’d been tossed by the daemon. Nate’s right leg had a long laceration vertically down the side and his left arm appeared to be broken.

“Get out of here. Go get Eric. Then protect Kira.” Nate didn’t question Ashor’s command and limped off in Eric’s direction.

****

Kira pinched her nose to reduce the nauseating garbage smell. It didn’t help. The smell would probably never come out of these clothes, not that she planned to make this her new favorite outfit.

The fight action had moved away from the alley. Maybe she could leave. She needed to escape the choking odor.

A chill slithered down her spine as a familiar dark aura moved in the direction of her hiding spot. Focusing on this entity, she realized the Hashishin knew where she was. Kane always said it was better to face one’s enemy than to be cornered. She moved the throwing knives to her outer jacket pocket.

As Kira left the protective garbage bins, a voice she remembered well rang out down the alley.

“Stop right there, Dr. Hardy, and let me see your hands,” said Theo. He aimed a handgun in her direction as he walked toward her.

A gun? Where were the knives these guys loved? What about his dark magik? It’d work on her. She slowly raised her hands, but kept them bent at the elbows. With forced calm, she replied, “Well, well. Look who showed up for the party.”

“Stay where you are and kneel on the ground. Place your hands on your head.”

“What if I said no?” she asked with a smile. He definitely wasn’t as powerful as Terek who would’ve had her on her knees the second the order exited his mouth, using his more terrifying skills. “Are you going to shoot your prize?” She sensed this confused and angered him because he wasn’t adequately intimidating her.

Gunshots reverberated from outside the alley. Eric round the alley corner followed by a limping Nate. Both halted, uncertain.

Their entrance distracted Theo. Kira reached for the throwing knives in her pocket. She fumbled, able to grab only one. She launched the knife at Theo’s chest, but missed and hit his left shoulder.

“Bitch,” Theo murmured as he pulled the knife free of his muscle. His aura went dark red to black.

Regardless if Theo had been ordered not to kill her before, he would now. Theo raised his gun, targeting her chest.

Chapter Thirty

The world needs you, Ashor. Don’t give it up, if I die here. I love you.

Kira scrunched her eyes closed, hoping this would be quick. The blast of two gunshots reverberated throughout the alley.

Nothing. No pain. Maybe this is what death felt like.

A thud of something heavy hitting the ground echoed through the still air.

She opened her eyes. Theo had been shot. Twice. Having dropped his gun, he grasped at a wound in his midchest as he fell to his knees.

“I didn’t shoot,” said Nate as he lowered his gun and ran toward Kira.

In her peripheral, a man emerged from the shadows. His gun’s muzzle targeted Theo’s head.

Markus grated out, “I’ve had enough of you fuckers.” The firing of his gun rang in her ears. Blood oozed from a hole in Theo’s forehead before his body fell. Dead.

Kira mumbled, “I must be a little out of practice with the knives. Sorry.”

The deadly coldness slipped away from Markus’s face as he replied casually, “It was probably those hot leather pants you stuffed yourself into. Limits the flexibility, I’d imagine.”

“Something like that.” She hugged him tightly and whispered, “Thanks.”

“Kane would’ve ripped me a new one, if I let you get hurt again. Let’s not tell him the part about your almost death.” Markus broke into his familiar lighthearted grin.

Ashor’s voice exploded in Kira’s head
, What’s going on?

Kira grabbed her forehead.
Markus resolved the threat. Guess it’s not my night to die.

Ashor’s reply was quieter and less painful,
I’ll thank him later. This daemon’s a bastard.

“Who are those dudes? They need shooting too?” asked Markus waving his gun toward Eric and Nate.

“No, they’re on our team.” She retrieved her knife from Theo’s body and then headed toward the two magi. Markus followed from a short distance.

Eric said, “Time to leave. Christian is guarding the alley entrance from around the corner. Ashor went to get Javen and we’re to meet at the plane.”