Legion of Darkness: The Hunter Everett Chronicles Ii

By Andrew Guardamano

The Empire is crippled. A new era has begun. The secret is out, and school is in session.
Guarded night and day by the newly orphaned Empire, Hunter faces the overwhelming reality of his new life as La Guardaspaeldas - The Host of the Source, the creature whose very blood feeds the perpetual youth of all Immortals.
After living in the isolation of the Rocky Mountains, Hunter must now travel south to a remote island off the western coast of the United States. There he will train with The Chosen, the best, brightest, and newest members of the Vampyre World.
But time becomes an enemy as Hunter races to catch the thief who stole his mother's only key to survival and expose Victor's conspiracy to create a secret Vampyre Army.
The curtains have been thrown wide open, but everyone has secrets. All that Hunter needs to do now is keep his eyes wide open and take the next step that will ultimately shape the fate of the Empire and the rest of the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491814086

Andrew Guardamano

Andrew Guardamano is a Filipino-Canadian author currently living in Edmonton, Canada. The son of Laudimer and Rose Guardamano and older brother to Andromeda Guardamano, he immigrated to Canada with his family at the age of eleven from Bacolod City, Philippines in 1998. Andrew attended and graduated from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, earning a degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology. His true passion lies in the world of writing and the art of immortalizing his imagination on paper and other mediums. Blood of Immortality is Andrew's first full-length novel and published work. The story of Hunter owes much of its roots to the endless folklores and legends passed down from his grandfather. These age-old stories continue to be the most powerful sources of his inspiration. His natural passion and curiosity for creating worlds never before imagined is what drives him to continue in his life-long journey of writing.

Book preview

Contents

PROLOGUE

Things That Never Change

Snake Skin

Deliverer

Departure

Begotten, Not Made

Partial Recall

Twice Stolen

The Situation

Behind Closed Doors

Venom

Diaries of a Thief

C.A.S.K.E.T.

The Letter

First Puberty

Leech

First Impressions Speak the Loudest

The Opening Gala

The Entity

The Flight of the Nosferatu

The President and the Viceroy

Isla Guadalupe

Like Grandfather, Like Grandson

The Owl’s Nest

Blood and Guts

Cloak Diaries

Homework

Mother Dearest

Flight Plan

Death Rays

Manaconda

Wolfram’s Lament

A Game of Drones

Teacher’s Pets

Physiological Discrimination

The Legion of Darkness

Secrets

The Invitation

The Other Grandfather

Skin Deep

Masquerade

Private Audience

Old Habits Die Hard

The Last Lesson

The Magic School Bus

A Can of Worms

Serendipity

Crash of the Titan

Salt

Near, Far

The Return of the Prodigal Daughter

The Master

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

To our beloved master storyteller, Rodolfo Guardamano

Wherever you may be, your stories will live on.

You will be missed.

*     *     *

My gratitude goes out to my sister, Andromeda Guardamano

and my friend and colleague Melodie Arlidge who have been

integral to the completion of this book.

Also, to Corinne Van de Vliert and Watfee Hajer,

who have been kind enough to share their brilliance and insight

during the conception of this novel.

No walls can hold me

No chains can bind me

I am that which has no beginning

I am that which has no end

I am anywhere at anytime

I am what I am

THE VAMPYRE CREED

We are the Living Immortal.

We exist outside of time; we are no slaves to its laws,

no prisoners to its consequences.

Together we stand on the line between life and death;

Always in between but never on one side.

We are the masters of our destiny, the engineers of our fate.

With our strength, we build the unbreakable foundations of our future.

With our knowledge, we better our world as good stewards to all its inhabitants and resources.

With our beloved Cloaks, our eternal and loyal companions, we stand as the fearless sentinels of our heritage and tradition, to use them with valor, wisdom, and restraint.

With our Immortality, we are the vigilant guardians of humanity.

I solemnly swear to live by the universal principles of justice, truth, and integrity;

To uphold and protect the laws of my Immortal kin while protecting the weak, the innocent, and the vulnerable, whether they may be mortal or Immortal, human or otherwise, any and all seen in the light of day, or those who dwell in the darkness.

I solemnly swear that I shall do no harm, intended or otherwise, to those not Chosen.

I vow to use my powers for the good of all mankind, to be servants of life and not death, and to hold and observe the laws of our Sacred Alliance.

Above all, I swear with every fiber of my being and with every ounce of my will that I shall not squander the Gift of Life Immortal and grant it to those deemed unworthy, in the name of the stability and sovereignty of the One United Empire, for as long as I exist on this Earth.

All this I solemnly swear, in the name of the Eternal Sovereignty of the Blood Immortals,

and as a good and faithful servant of all

Vampyre Kind.

PROLOGUE

The Palace

The warm summer wind whistled, snaking through the sharp, rusted edges of a lone air duct perched on top of Manila’s riverside Malacanang Palace. It was three hours past midnight, and the Tribe Elder who summoned the rest of her kin stood waiting under the glow of an almost full moon. Her perfectly straight black hair flowed freely around her as if suspended in an invisible liquid, gently undulating as if each strand had a mind of its own, coordinating in unison.

Talum dilated her iris, brightening her view of the gardens of the Presidential Palace. No one had detected her arrival a few minutes earlier—except the guard dogs who immediately cowered to a nearby garage, away from the presence that they could not see. Only the Shifter’s scent was detectable, and that was enough for the animals to realize that there was a predator nearby—one not to be reckoned with.

Then Talum felt it—a second presence landing not too far from where she stood, causing the clay tiles to creak slightly under its weight.

Interesting time and place for our Circle to meet, I must say, Santermo said. The Elder straightened up, his sentient hooded Cloak receding into his shoulders revealing a silver-haired man in his forties with an equally lustrous, neatly trimmed mustache. Was it inconvenient for you to pick someplace more discreet for an Elders’ summon, Talum?

"Oh please, Ermo. You out of all the Elders should know better than to fear the animals, replied Talum, bowing slightly, her eyes flashing briefly before fading back to orange. Where are the others?" she asked, careful to never break gaze from the new arrival.

They will be here, never fear, assured Santermo calmly, stepping closer to his host. Though unlike you, I do not believe any of them have the guts to expose themselves unnecessarily to the humans, let alone lead our kind in an attack on the Great Gathering. For the love of God, the rooftop of the Malacanang Palace of all places…

Talum glared at Santermo, though the much older Elder did not flinch. You have not lost any of the women and men you sent, have you? she reminded him, her jaw tightening under her narrowed eyes. Keeping her Cloak in check, she let the bulk of it flow passively behind her.

On the other hand, pushed Santermo. "The tragic loss of Bagat will not go unnoticed. Four of our most powerful young—our next generation—lost within a year and a half. Two of which were under your command during your little… expedition. With that said, I am not certain how you will convince the others to let-"

"-Thank you for that assessment, seethed Talum, facing the gardens once more. I assure you no one mourns their absence more deeply than I do. I am aware of where I stand. But I have not gathered us here tonight for me to entertain a tribal memorandum. I am here on a matter that requires all of our immediate attention—something, that I am sure all of you will agree, requires a prudent course of action."

Even your father? smirked the ancient Elder.

Talum ignored the question. Her attention was caught by seven more figures landing softly behind them, reforming their Cloaks to reveal their human faces within.

My brothers and sisters… welcome! she greeted as she lowered the pitch of her head into an almost unnoticeable bow.

One of the new arrivals, an ancient woman with long snow-like tendrils of hair reaching her waist, stepped forward. Let us hope you have a good reason why you’ve called us here, Miriam.

A pair of thick slivers of the woman’s Cloak stretched out and latched onto a nearby ledge, stabilizing her stance on the sloped roof. In the middle of Manila two hours before sunrise? You continue to impress us, child, she mocked as she shook her head, absentmindedly rubbing the pointed edges of her bladed fingernails together.

Talum smiled, keeping a tight grip on her composure. She had been expecting this—the continued scorn for her failure in Madrid. It is sad to hear such fear of the light of day from a tribe Elder. Are we to fear the sun as the Damned do, Mordona?

The old woman’s grin vanished. What do you want, Talum?

The Vampyres are on the move. The renegade Elder leading the separatist rebellion, Victor, is transporting what was left of what he stole from us into a location that our spies cannot continue to track.

And what place is this you speak of? asked Santermo.

Talum raised her hand. He has built a ship—a massive ship that cannot be seen by our kind.

I am certain many of us here will find that difficult to believe, said Mordona, rigidly curling her fingers. Unless he has done the impossible and discovered how to-

He has, interrupted Talum as she turned to the others. The enemy has learned the secret to one of our powers—one that has given us an edge we once thought unreachable to them.

The other Elders’ stance tightened. There was a stillness in the air that Talum had anticipated.

And the stolen Drones? asked Mordona, lips twitching in anticipation.

They’re moving them all to this one vessel—everything they’ve taken from us. Hence the reason why I called you all here tonight. We need to act fast before we lose track of everything we intend to take back.

A few of the Elders shook their heads, overwhelmed by hesitation. Mordona exhaled in disbelief, her warbled breath framed in a skeptical smile. If you think your father is going to stand back idly and permit another one of your heroic crusades, you are badly disillusioned.

I may be the youngest of all the Elders, smirked Talum. "But I am an Elder nonetheless. I have every right to summon you all to vote on our course of action."

We should wait for your father to arrive, advised Santermo.

Guillermo is no longer part of the circle. Some of you might feel it prudent to consult with him before making your decision, but do realize this: the longer we delay taking back what is ours, the more dangerous the enemy becomes. There’s no telling what they will unravel next with the Drones in their possession. Our people are losing this battle, my brothers and sisters. Soon our race will be dead, and the Immortals will possess all that we have—everything that has set us a part from them.

Sending more of our kind to a second bloodbath will not solve our problems, insisted Mordona. We have lost far too many.

Talum ignored her and faced the other Elders. The warm orient wind picked up and exhaled through their bodies.

There… is news of a planned delivery of stolen Drones from Portugal, as well as a large number of Cloak spores, Talum said. If we take down that delivery, we can once again increase our numbers. Those Drones belong to our people; many have waited too long to be turned and join our ranks.

But the shipment will be heavily guarded, cautioned Santermo. Their planes will be escorted by jets—you know we cannot outfly them.

We won’t have to, said a man’s voice over the ledge of the rooftop. They all turned to find a man descending from the air, his face shrouded in darkness.

My Lord, greeted Santermo, as all the other Shifter Elders quickly lowered into a bow except for one.

Father, whispered Talum as she lowered her eyes briefly.

Guillermo landed in silence on the aged clay plates, his own Cloak invisible from the others. I understand your hesitation, Mordona. But this needs to be done.

The Shifter Elders glanced uncomfortably at each other. Mordona lifted her head and looked straight into the face of the oldest of their kind. My Lord… you approve… of your daughter’s plan?

I do, Mordona. With the death of Semperos, the Empire is broken. They are turning against each other, and I’m afraid two heads will be more dangerous than one. We need the Drones to rejuvenate our numbers.

Yes, My Lord, replied Mordona, her eyes locked on an area of roofing tile before Guillermo. The man’s word, as it has always been, was last.

Miriam will not be leading this mission, continued Guillermo, looking to his daughter. Talum looked away, trying not to expose her fury. She did not enjoy being side-stepped, much more being called by her human name, a name she greatly hated.

Santermo will spearhead it to the end. Guillermo added, facing the man he has long considered one of his closest advisors.

Father, I have planned this since my return. It is my-

Join our warriors, my child, if you wish to be useful when the day comes, but you will not go beyond the wishes of the Elders that have gathered here tonight.

Talum lowered her head, fighting to keep her Cloak steady.

Mordona cleared her throat. What is thy bidding, My Lord?

Send an envoy to the Sirens of the South to help with the recovery once the plane hits the water. We will need every help we can get. Time is against us. We need to act fast if we are to succeed.

The dark abyss of the night sky faded into a light periwinkle. And with a flurry of Cloaks, they vanished. It was only minutes before sunrise when the Elder’s summon ended, and it would only be minutes after when the palace’s garden staff would wake up once again and find the mysterious trail of shattered clay tiles littered across the palace’s immaculately-maintained garden.

This was, as it has been, for the last one hundred and fifty years.

*     *     *

ChapterOne

Things That Never Change

Why don’t you just take a picture instead? asked Alejandro as he leaned back against a moss-covered Spruce tree. His detached Cloak hovered above him amongst the branches, scanning a one mile radius around him as he watched over the boy he was assigned to protect. A recently emptied Blood Pod laid abandoned a few feet away. The tablet has a camera, does it not?

The boy shook his head, his gaze continuing on the grey vista in front of him—a picturesque mountain scenery lined with evergreens, crowned by crisscrossing streaks of silver.

That’s why they call it drawn from life, muttered the boy with raven hair. Hunter tilted his head slightly, changing the color of his stylus on the virtual color palette of his tablet from forest green to something he thought was only a darker shade.

That’s brown by the way, said Hunter’s protector looking over his shoulder.

Ughh, whispered Hunter. Still a little colorblind I guess.

No, that’s not it, said Alejandro. It’s just something you have to learn again. No one’s born with the knowledge of what to call any of the colors they see.

So it’s my perception that’s still learning? Not my senses?

Right.

That’s… convenient.

Looking over the upper edge of his screen, Hunter’s gaze passed over a white wolf sitting at the edge of a dying stream at the bottom of the ravine.

"Zeke, you OK down there?" thought Hunter, keeping his voice inside his head. The wolf, almost by reflex, immediately spun around and looked up at him. Losing his own vision for a brief moment, Hunter saw himself inside the animal’s mind as it directed its head to the piece of rock where he sat.

Alejandro straightened his stance and made his way behind Hunter, gazing at the flawless snow-colored animal.

What is it looking at? he asked. His own Cloak took off and landed on him just before he crossed the line where the tree’s shadow ended, reshaping its body into a hooded leather jacket, blocking the weak early morning rays from reaching his exposed skin.

Nothing. Just startled probably, lied Hunter. He never directly revealed to Alejandro the extent of his ability to communicate with Zeke. He assumed Alejandro knew about their telepathic link, but the recent visions he had been experiencing the last few days, which paralleled what his Cloak saw, was something he decided to wait out, hoping to find the cause in return. They were only short flashes—a few seconds at most, and none of them were very clear; often they were unfocused and foggy at the frame of their periphery.

Don’t you ever get tired of… you know… hounding me around? Hunter asked Alejandro politely after a while, changing the subject. His eyes focused on the screen. I wasn’t planning on leaving the grounds, you know. I just don’t want to be a pain in the butt for you all the time."

You’re not.

I’m not?

Why would you say that?

Does it ever… bother you? Hunter asked. He was somewhat relieved that he finally brought up something that felt uneasy from the moment it dawned on him not more than a couple days ago. He had been hesitating to ask, and until now, he had planned on keeping his curiosity within the confines of his own thoughts.

What does? replied Alejandro as he stood on the edge of the ravine, his back towards the scenery Hunter was painting.

"The fact that it’ll be your job to look after me for as long as… well, as long as I live with the you-know-what inside me."

I volunteered for this job. Alejandro replied, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

Even if it’s gonna be… I dunno, maybe hundreds of years of doing the same boring thing over and over again?

You think this is boring?

Hunter shrugged his shoulders.

You look too far ahead, said Alejandro, a slight pitying smile flashing across his face. And you’re only a few yards from the starting line.

Is that bad? asked Hunter. He perched the stylus behind his ear and took out a large Ziploc bag from his backpack. Half-frozen inside was a dead white rat, almost a foot long, dripping in its cold, dead juices. Hunter whistled as he pulled the carcass out by the tail and tossed it into the air towards the ravine.

In a blur, the wolf that was Zeke launched itself off the ground, catching the treat in midair and swallowed it whole in one move.

Not always, but for people like us, it can drive someone to insanity; worrying too much about what can happen instead of what’s happening, Alejandro explained.

Hunter quietly sighed. He had expected Alejandro to give the same categorically ‘philosophical’ answer for anything he brought up, and it hardly matched the hardened steely appearance that his protector carried. Alejandro was indeed a ‘devilish deviant with a poet’s soul,’ as Ava described it. To Riley, it was worthy of an eye roll.

Why do you ask?

Nothing, replied Hunter. I was just wondering if you were planning to be the one looking after me, or if you ever wanted to do something else…

Alejandro sat down next to Hunter, who rolled the plastic bag into a tube and slid it back into the back pocket of his bag. Think of it as me… paying back.

Hunter looked at him. For what?

Alejandro kept his attention on Zeke, tossing a tiny twig at its direction, which the Cloak ignored. Saving my life.

I’ve, uh, never-

Your grandfather did—many years ago. He saved my life as a mortal but didn’t try to change me. He kept me human so I could choose for myself.

Really? said Hunter. He didn’t expect this answer, nor could he fully figure out what to think of it. If this was true, would Alejandro have offered to protect Hunter had Guillermo not saved his life? Hunter kicked himself mentally—he was doing it again, over analyzing everything that need not be, as usual.

This was way before your time—before you were born.

I guess you’ve paid back your debt now. You’ve saved me more times than I can remember.

No, said Alejandro as he rose. What your grandfather has given me, I can hardly ever pay back.

Why not?

Because he didn’t just give me a second chance for life. He gave me a choice—a choice to decide if I wanted to be… this, he waved a circling motion towards his face. Choice can be one of the hardest things to give, you’ll find.

Hunter exhaled, his chest dropping slightly. Keeping a light-hearted, age-appropriate conversation with an eighty-year old man trapped in a late twenty-something body was as probable as attending Kathy Griffin’s stand-up and not expecting profanities to be hurled around.

The point is, Hunter, this job that you say I do is really way beyond you and me. Can you imagine if—well actually you don’t have to. You’ve seen what kind of disaster everyone faced when the Source disappeared.

Yeah.

"Bottom line—none of us can afford that ever happening again. If something—anything, happened to you, we might as well be all… dead."

Hunter nodded. He finally understood, or at least to him, had some idea now—this was not just a job for his protector, nor was it something that he could easily dismiss as a mere baby-sitting relationship. He found it ironic how often he needed to be reminded of the whys of where he was and how he got there. The potent combination of his abundant humility and oftentimes misplaced selflessness just refused to weaken and die.

How’s your shoulder? asked Hunter as he saved his unfinished drawing.

Healed, Alejandro replied. Stings once in a while, but doesn’t bother me.

That’s good.

Rotating his right shoulder slightly, Hunter could hear Alejandro’s ligaments gently re-align in a series of barely audible cracks.

Noticing that he was being watched, Alejandro stopped.

Sorry, Hunter mumbled.

It’s nothing that won’t heal completely in time. I should be thankful that Lamia venom is not as potent as Shifter toxin.

Hunter couldn’t find himself to say or do anything except nod as he looked away.

It’s time to go back, Hunter. Finish packing.

Killjoy, Hunter whispered as he got up and whistled a random made-up tune. Zeke scurried up the rocky incline towards his master, sending a landslide of pebbles down the slope under a cloud of freshly disturbed dust.

Alejandro looked back at the scenery Hunter was so keen to capture. It’ll all be here when you come back, he pleasantly reminded him.

I’ll race you, challenged Hunter, smiling as he looked up. The sun had disappeared into a thick layer of cloud, casting a further gloom over the entire Rocky Mountain range.

No, I think we should just walk-

But Hunter did not let him finish. Running towards the opposite ledge of the plateau, Hunter held on tightly to his backpack as Zeke closed in from behind, rapidly expanding his body into wings.

At the last second, the Cloak merged with Hunter’s back as he approached the ledge overlooking the canyon. Zeke held him tightly, and as the two of them catapulted into the air, two sail-like appendages lifted them rapidly with each down-stroke.

Alejandro swore under his breath. He had no choice. After checking the sky once more and ascertaining that he had at least several minutes before the sun would break through again, he formed his own wings and lifted off. He would just have to send an agent later to pick up the Jeep they had left behind the ravine.

From the ground, the two resembled two specks—large birds perhaps to the casual observer. With Hunter in the lead, both of them made an effort to fly low, staying under the cover of Armando’s Psykie waiting on the rooftop of the abandoned army base not too far away. The Grand Viceroy’s private residence, tucked away in the heart of the Canadian Rockies was what Hunter, for the last seven months, called home.

*     *     *

Ava leaned forward, causing the stern of the lifeboat to tip slightly into the pitch black Atlantic water in the middle of the night. Her movement caused a ripple, propagating softly through an otherwise still sheet of glass that reflected the stars above them.

Before her, a young woman dwarfed by her oversized life jacket laid face down and eagle spread, weakened by exhaustion. The gentle chill of the wind mocked her as she clung for her life on a large door panel. It was a broken piece of cabinet drifting slowly a few feet away—the only thing keeping her above the surface. Directly in front of her, with only his head and shoulders rising above the freezing calm, a young man held on, convulsing uncontrollably. Death, for one of them, was only a few minutes away.

I’ll never let go, the young woman whispered, her breath fogging as she quivered under her large auburn curls. Her hands, now deathly white, were locked tightly around her doomed lover. With broken handcuffs on his wrist, his breath weakened with every exhale. Splintered fragments of tiny icicles clung randomly on his dark blonde hair. His pale face was almost blue as he shook violently to keep himself warm.

Riley leaned in closer from behind, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend as he tightened his hands gently over hers. Ava shuddered slightly—his temperature was not much different than her imagined cold of the Atlantic. She exhaled involuntarily, feeling the skin of his cheek press against hers. Her breath did not fog like the two star-crossed lovers before them, nor did his—not that his would ever again, even if the cold was real.

Keeping her attention to the scene before her, she lifted her head and looked into the distance. Dots of white laid scattered in the lower half of the black horizon line, punctuated by the chorus-like moaning of survivors mixed with the intermittent blasts of rescue whistles firing in futility. The orchestral soundtrack of the film hummed on around them; a chorus of low strings and the piercing screech of a mournful bagpipe.

The more than three-hour long movie always got to her, despite having seen it a handful of times before. Ava wondered how she would have felt, had she been one of them. Granted, their presence in the midst of the movie, experiencing every piece of tangible, perceivable detail was only as real as it was ever going to get short of having lived the actual sinking. Nonetheless for her, there was still that safety net that numbed her from feeling the full extent of pity. None of it was real, she reminded herself. This was a movie, a movie which Safari brilliantly extrapolated. This was supposed to be entertainment, but she wondered whether or not the extent of how realistic the movie had become somehow diminished her ability to enjoy it—safe from a distance, outside the world of what was once, a simple film inside a metal and glass box known as television.

"We really should have finished this last year," Ava sighed, looking up. There was no point denying it—the movie did get to her. Damn 7D, she thought to herself. She hated that misty feeling that was always in danger of reaching her eyes.

You know, If this like… ever happened to us, it wouldn’t have ended this way, whispered Riley sadly as he watched the girl finally realize that her beloved was beyond anybody’s help. She finally let go, watching his body bob at first then sink, fading away into the dark shadows of the deep water.

I would have kept you beside me, said Ava, as Riley began to kiss the side of her neck in gentle repetition, sneaking in a few lip nibbles along the way, floating above the water… she added in a weakened mutter, unafraid of Riley’s proximity from her neck for he had finished his last Blood Pod not more than half an hour ago.

Well actually, that would not have made the slightest difference, said Safari in blatant boredom, popping out of nowhere behind them at the bow of the life raft. Blondie here could soak in that freezing water for hours—nothing would happen to him.

Riley groaned, Safari always popped in at the most inappropriately awkward moments, not that there were too many of those.

"Do you guys really wanna see the rest of this? she asked, hovering where the young woman now floated alone. I’ve been working on this new movie…"

Maybe. When we get back Safari, said Ava, tucking her hair behind her shoulders as she detached herself from Riley’s embrace.

Safari straightened up as she landed gently on the surface of the fake water she mentally conjured. As she inhaled, closing her eyes, the entire ocean vanished, replaced by the cold grey concrete of the empty shipment bay. Even their little dingy vaporized into nothing.

Where are you going? asked Riley.

Gonna check on Kyle, Ava replied, giving him a light peck on the cheek. I’ll catch up with you guys later. Say hi to Hunter for me.

Can I come?

It’s better if you didn’t, said Ava. We don’t want to stress him out.

Wait, did you pack-

Yup, all ready. Don’t worry about me, Ava interrupted, as she headed for the entrance to the stairwell leading upstairs. Love you, Rilester, she added in an afterthought as the door closed behind her.

Riley was not too fond of the idea of Ava using Hunter’s age-old nickname on him. It already felt weird to him in a way that even he could not explain to himself, in addition to the fact that the nickname cemented the tragic non-sexual nature of his relationship with his mortal ex-ex-girlfriend. It was a consequence brought about by his untimely transformation last year and Ava’s adamant refusal to turn. There was no denying that the two of them, as it stood, were physically and intimately no less platonic than two best friends who would kiss each other on the cheek, exchange gropey embraces, and gaze longingly at each other’s eyes, drowning in hormonal lust.

OK… muttered Riley. Ava’s almost militaristic streak of independence was something he was still getting used to.

She knows your routine, tisked Safari. She’s a big girl.

Where’s Hunter?

Upstairs. Just landed. said Safari. Are you guys going to swim in the caves again?

Riley paused, peeking through a tiny slither of glass to the outside. I dunno yet. Gonna go ask him. The sun was halfway through a cloud, anxious to emerge at any minute.

Better not risk it. There’s some UV cream inside that emergency panel over there, Safari suggested, pointing at a small medical box with a large red icon of the sun splashed in front of it.

Would you mind? Looking after…

Way ahead of you, the Psykie smiled. I always do.

Thanks, said Riley awkwardly. It’s just… she’s been seeing that snake kid so often that she’s getting like… way too comfortable, you know?

Nothing’s gonna happen, kiddo, Safari said reassuringly. Kyle trusts her more than anyone else.

"Did you just call me kiddo?" asked Riley, raising his eyebrow.

"I am a lot older than you."

True that. But I live in the twenty first century, just sayin’, agreed Riley. K, well… I’m off. Where’s Hunter now?

Getting his swim trunks from Zeke. He read your mind.

Riley paused for an awkward moment, only to ask, So do you… always watch us change and stuff?

It’s automatic, said Safari unapologetically. Besides I’ve already seen it all, she winked. There’s nothing you nor Hunter have that could surprise me.

Oh geez, thanks, Riley grumbled, pursing his lips.

Don’t mention it, smiled the caramel-skinned girl. As Riley left the bay, Safari watched with narrowed eyes laced in curious suspicion. Ever since she let slip her inability to force her psychic presence inside the cavern housing the underground lake, Hunter and Riley had been frequenting it more often. Her gaze followed the flaxen-haired boy until he closed the heavy lead door behind him. Sighing in defeat, knowing that her mind could never penetrate the thick metal barrier, the presence of her consciousness faded back to her body slumbering near the surface.

*     *     *

ChapterTwo

Snake Skin

Akheilos’s enclosure sat on a steep slope about five minutes by foot from the main compound, blending perfectly with the mature white birch trees lining its perimeter. The glass dome, which was two stories high and reinforced with a tightly welded frame, was the only thing that could be seen from the watchtower. Everything else was underground, including the artificial river that extended below the surface.

Ava unlocked the side door using a personalized key assigned to her by Armando, carrying her usual basket of Herring fillets she thawed earlier that morning. After walking through a dimmed hallway, hanging her coat and putting away her shoes, she approached a pair of fiberglass sliding doors that required a different set of codes to open. The glass whizzed to life, sliding away in opposite directions.

Though the old Lamia pen was large enough to comfortably accommodate a whole family of Lamiae, Ava still hated the fact that, despite the additional miscellaneous amenities that were available to Kyle, the dome remained essentially a prison. Kyle was never permitted to leave its once-electrified confines, and he still had to undergo his monthly inspections—a highly invasive check-up that involved sedation and milking large samples of his blood and venom. Ava was never present during, for she could not take the sight of Kyle struggling to get away as he slowly succumbed to the strong tranquilizer. It was after the first inspection, which she personally insisted on witnessing, did she decide to retract her regretful decision to be present. After realizing how helpless she felt watching from a distance, listening to the hysterical screams of the snake boy, she made the hard decision to never repeat the experience.

Can I watch? asked Safari quietly.

Ava jumped slightly, swearing in a whisper. Don’t do that. You scared the bejeezus out of me.

Sorry, my bad.

Are you really here? asked Ava, looking at Safari’s shoes. She always went bare-foot when she psychically showed herself to people, and her pair of Nike’s could only mean one thing—she was awake. This was her real body; not a mental projection.

Eh, thought I’d work my legs a little tonight, she said with earnest smile. Isn’t it a little early to be feeding him again?

Ava lowered the basket, a good distance from the edge of the filtered water flowing gently from the submerged outtake pipes. The mouth of the cave dominated the opposite side of the dome, blending among a generous planting of trees and shrubs that tried to make everything as natural as possible.

I just wanted to keep him company.

"You sure you wanna do that?" asked Safari, eyeing in anticipation as Ava poised to take her clothes off.

He’s a little kid, Saf. He’s not yet in that stage of… things.

Not yet. But you can’t deny—he’s not that far from the line.

Ava scoffed and smiled at her. I’m wearing a wetsuit, ok? Plus you’re here if anything… happens.

Safari sighed, and after Ava took off her jeans and shirt, the Psykie helped her zip the back of her black wetsuit into place.

You sure you don’t wanna go for a swim? invited Ava.

Nah, I think I’ll stay up here. I’ve soaked in water far too long as it is.

Nodding, Ava faced the bank and slowly approached the gravel-lined ledge overhanging a foot above the water. She sat down, lowering both her feet, careful not to create too much disturbance.

Basket, she whispered to Safari. After taking a fillet of herring and handing it to her, Safari took a step back.

Kyle… Ava called out, her fearless voice echoing through the chamber, dipping the bloody fillets several times into the water. It’s me.

The artificial river rippled from the far side, bending the reflected artificial lighting into alternating patterns.

Safari and Ava stood their ground, watching as a dark mass propelled itself smoothly below the surface. Ava exhaled, her heart thumping a little faster. She had seen the male Lamia often enough before, but ever since Hunter told her about their instinct for seduction in order to lure their prey, a part of her, an instinctive part perhaps geared towards survival, always caused her to take half a step back each time Kyle emerged.

Safari stood calmly, her hands behind her back watching in mild curiosity as the silver blond hair of the young creature first emerged out of the water. He was human in every respect from the waist up, except for the scale-like surfaces spread sporadically around the periphery of his chest and lower back side. His smooth human skin transitioned perfectly into glistening rows of slender maroon colored scales lining his fifteen foot serpentine tail.

Akheilos closed in on Ava, a small smile evident from the arrival of his devoted visitor. For a brief moment, Ava cringed as Kyle lunged forward. Just inches away from reaching Ava, when Safari thought the snake boy finally gave in and did the unthinkable, Kyle halted to a standstill, scraping some of the loose gravel with his hard reptilian underbelly. The sudden gesture proved nowhere near an attack, and Ava was relieved to find that the snake boy only wanted a hug from his favorite visitor. Despite her best efforts, Ava squirmed slightly, trying not to touch the poison filled scales lining his lower back.

A small smile flickered across her face during the tight embrace, looking nervously at Safari.

Hey Kyle, Ava whispered. Are you hungry?

The young Lamia tilted his head, looking at her lips then at the fillet in her hand. Then he understood, nodding in reply.

Good boy, praised Ava, patting his soft shimmering hair as she handed him the tiny silver slivers of fresh fish.

Kyle leaned forward, beckoning Ava to do the same.

What? she whispered sweetly.

Coo… kie… cook… eee,

What? Ava repeated.

Cookies, Safari clarified. He’s developed a taste for human munchies.

Suddenly, Kyle jumped completely off the water and slithered his way towards Safari.

KYLE, NO! yelled Ava.

But Safari did not flinch. Standing her ground, she waited until Kyle was only a few feet from her.

Kyle stopped, scanning the surrounding area for a sound he thought he heard.

He can’t see me, assured Safari, walking in a small circle near the creature.

Alright, I believe you, exhaled Ava nervously, abandoning the fillet.

Safari stopped in front of him, raised her right hand, and facing her palm towards Kyle, she waved it from left to right. The snake boy’s gaze did not change, and continued searching the rest of the enclosure for a presence he could not see.

I think he heard me for a bit though, said Safari. Sometimes they’re a little harder to fool than humans.

Can we actually give him cookies? asked Ava, accidentally stepping over Kyle’s tail. His main fins had developed since he was moved from Spain, with its thicker musculature more noticeable. The triangular, leathery flaps have widened and thickened considerably within a span of just a few months.

I dunno. Might not be good for him.

I’ll ask Dr. Ortega when he visits, said Ava. Better not risk it.

I doubt it will be bad for him, said Safari. I think you’re in a wee bit more danger spending this much time with him than cookies are to his baby stomach, don’t you think?

Ava was pretty convinced that they were confusing Kyle enough as it was. It was different, talking to him in a language he barely understood, but talking to a third person in the room that only she could see must have been more than puzzling to the poor Lamia.

I’m the only one he’s got who’ll see him, Ava said, her voice filled with pity. Armando’s rarely here; we haven’t seen or heard from Isabella since Spain. Besides me, who else is there to keep him company?

Even if it’s just you, I think he will be fine, considered Safari. Just know where your boundaries are, kiddo. When the time comes.

"When what time comes?"

Oh, nothing, replied Safari, twiddling her thumbs. Ava eyed her suspiciously. Safari was almost as bad as Riley when it came to subtle suggestions. "Anyway . . . same place where we left off last time?"

Yeah, said Ava. But try to keep it cheerful.

Fine, replied Safari. I’ll add a couple of people but I’ll start them a little farther away.

Good idea, agreed Ava. Kyle… let’s go, she called out.

The snake boy obliged, joining her as she stepped into the water. She shuddered through her clenched teeth as the cold temperature aggressively registered in her brain.

Okay, warned Safari. Ready?

Yeah, replied Ava, holding on tightly to Kyle’s hand.

Safari closed her eyes, and the entire glass enclosure around them dissolved into nothing before they were all suddenly in the middle of a great tropical forest. At a clearing not too far away, a small family was having a picnic, with the children blowing bubbles into the air. Kyle was immediately enthralled by the countless colored orbs floating around them that refused to pop.

Aw, thanks, Safari, Ava whispered. This will do.

The little Psykie hesitated, hoping Ava would abandon her latest social experiment for Kyle. Do we really have to do the-?

Yes, said Ava. Legs. Please.

Safari never understood Ava’s goal. Kyle was born the way he was. His tail wasn’t a curse, nor was it a disability. His serpentine heritage had as much right to exist as did his human side. She wondered whether or not Ava had considered this, or whether her actions were more to cater for her own needs. As to which was more accurate, Safari wasn’t sure.

Sighing in her head and with tapered eyes, she focused on Kyle’s lower half.

*     *     *

AND you use to make fun of me because I didn’t have a girlfriend, Hunter reminisced as he watched Riley throw his towel aside and jump directly into the deepest part of the cliff—their favorite starting point in the entire underground lake that connected directly to the compound. They both equally considered it their favorite part of Armando’s house since the day they started calling the compound home. It was a safe haven for their thoughts, even from Safari, who seemed to have a chronic tendency to eavesdrop though she had promised them time and time again not to.

After the rambunctious splash from his water bomb subsided, Riley emerged from the steaming water, drawing a deep breath. It was something that he did out of habit—one that seemed to refuse to go away, though neither of them needed it. They were so used to the sensation of their chest expanding and relaxing especially as they swam, that getting rid of the habit would probably take years, as Hunter assumed—especially since it was a reflex that their body once depended on to survive.

So, now you’re saying you can’t suck up your own medicine? Hunter finished.

You know that trapped kinda feeling you get, when everything starts to work against you… what’s the word?

"Umm… conspire?"

Yeah… conspire together and you feel, well, trapped… no… way… out? breathed Riley as he swam to the ledge where his friend stood and rested his arms on the marble shelf.

Yeah that trapped feeling… . No, not really, said Hunter as he poised himself for a dive—one that he executed perfectly with hardly any splashing. The moment the tips of fingers touched the water followed by the rest of his body, the temperature seemed irrelevant. Though in reality, at almost boiling point, it would have been too hot for the average mortal. This was, to both boys’ disappointment, precisely the reason why Ava could not join them.

"It’s so freakin’ unfair, this whole thing about me not being able to do… fun stuff with her… or anything really. Nothing."

Hugging? Hunter pointed out.

That’s not enough, replied Riley.

Kisses?

Pssh, on the cheek.

So, what’s so unfair about it? asked Hunter as he flutter-kicked his way to where Riley was waiting. It’s not her fault she doesn’t want to be like one of us. You really can’t blame her for any of this.

K dude, I’m not being shallow or anything-

Actually, you kinda are, Hunter interjected. Big test man… big test, he whistled.

Riley ruffled his forehead. How am I shallow?

So you’re saying, besides the dry hugs and kisses, your relationship with her isn’t enough? Romance isn’t all about the bed and the bang.

"I wouldn’t talk, virgin caesar, Riley shook his head as he pushed off the ledge and began swimming to the small central island a short distance away. You don’t know what it’s like when it just stops and until you do… well, you’ll understand my pain one day…"

Hunter had counted on Riley to continue milking on this fact. It was one of those things Hunter couldn’t deny—Riley was the expert in this arena, not him. It was like trying to be a judge in the cooking show without having ever tasted or cooked anything in your life.

Following in Riley’s wake, Hunter kept his head above the water. You’re right, I don’t. It’s sad but, I’m not the one out of the two us who feels trapped now.

Blegh, Riley sputtered in frustration.

Are you saying this is a deal-breaker? This whole Vampyre Romeo and Juliet thing? God, even saying that hurt my teeth.

Riley remained silent, lifting himself out of the water then laying on the flat surface, his arms crossed behind his head as he looked up at the tall ceiling of the cave.

So? repeated Hunter after a long pause of silence. Is it?

It shouldn’t be.

That wasn’t my question.

Fine! Riley snapped. "No, it isn’t a deal breaker. I can live with it."

Suuure.

Hunter watched his friend inquisitively as he remained in the water, kicking underneath the surface to keep himself afloat. Ever since Riley turned, he immediately felt the difference in his body weight. Although he was exponentially stronger, his ability to float flew out the window. He was a shark now—the only fish he had read about who could not stay afloat by keeping still. They needed to keep swimming to keep themselves from sinking to the bottom of the ocean, and ironically, drown.

Well, for now, you can, whispered Hunter. I don’t know about later though…

What? said Riley, turning to his side while he held his head up from the ground with his arm. What do you mean?

How long are you planning to live with it?

I dunno, I guess until she decides to turn like us,

And what if she doesn’t change her mind? Because the chances of that happening, considering her family history, seems pretty slim.

Riley turned again and lay down flat, inhaling the vapors of steam rising all around them. Dude, you think ahead too much, you’re giving me a headache and it’s not helping.

Liar.

You don’t get it. I don’t want to think right now. I just wanna be.

Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot you live in the moment, scoffed Hunter. "Live your life now, think about consequences later. YOLO!" he shouted in mockery of that oh-so-ironic and preposterous teenage slang.

Dude, please don’t, Riley shook his head, I’ve made an effort to never say that every time I’m about to do something cool.

Hunter laughed and absent-mindedly pacing through the water.

. . . so, Ava? he pushed one more time.

K, seriously Hunter, shut up. I don’t wanna think about it, dude.

You really should. She’s not getting younger. Hunter pulled himself out of the water and lay a meter away beside Riley, sighing in relaxation as he rested his back onto the water-smoothed granite. I mean how long have we been at this whole ‘being a Vampyre’ thing? Not even a year?

June, replied Riley, his mind halfway elsewhere, . . . last year.

Yeah, we’re not even hitting our ‘death-day’ and you’re already whine about it.

Whine, whine, whine, that’s all I do, isn’t it? said Riley, pushing a clump of drenched golden blond hair away from his forehead.

And drink, added Hunter. Drink, drink, drink.

That too. Kinda miss the part where I get drunk though.

The two boys lay silently for a moment. For a few seconds, all they could hear was the sound of a small waterfall crashing down from a hole through the wall. But Hunter was not about to let it go that quickly. He may have not been the connoisseur Riley was when it came to enjoying the physical aspects of a relationship, but he sometimes liked to believe he knew more about what was best for Riley than his chronically short-sighted ego did.

When will you know when to decide that it’s time? asked Hunter.

For what?

To take this soon-to-be train wreck seriously.

She’ll have to be the one to break it off, decided Riley, after looking at the same spot on the ceiling in complete silence for a few minutes. I guess.

You’re serious? asked Hunter in disbelief. It was a rare gem in the dark coal mine known as Riley—another surprising and unexpected selfless gesture, in theory at least. All that was left for it to mean anything was the execution. Perhaps it was the Lazarusian Particles doing some corrective work on his personality. You’re going to be okay with her breaking up with you a second time?

No, but you’re making it sound like that’s exactly how things are gonna end up.

Hunter sighed. It’s only likely.

Nah man, it has to be that way, surrendered Riley, sitting up in solemn contemplation. "Me and you… we’ve literally got all the time in the world—

-You mean figuratively, we’re not holding actual clocks in our hand-

-every chance to fix anything and everything we ever effed-up on-

-Not everything.

Almost everything, replied Riley.

"And she doesn’t? said Hunter. So you’re saying you’re gonna make it her decision? No ultimatums?"

Riley nodded. Hunter was pleasantly surprised by this.

"To hell with this whole ‘thinking ahead’, dude. We’re never gonna run out of tomorrow."

True, admitted Hunter, now in a much lighter mood. As dreadfully cliché as that sounds. Good poetry.

Let’s just go freakin’ swimming! declared Riley, getting up in his newfound excitement. Life’s too long to worry!

How original. Hallmark should hire you to write for dying people, smiled Hunter.

Wow… you’re an ass.

Speaking of which, let’s work on your dive, Rilester.

That name needs to go away.

*     *     *

ChapterThree

Deliverer

Shortly before the water had completely vaporized off of Riley’s pasty white skin, the two boys found themselves at the bottom of the cave together, traversing the uneven surface with their bare hands. They could have stayed underwater for hours, no longer needing the air to pass through their altered lungs. Many days came and went since their arrival when they would race through the dark watery maze of hollowed granite, exploring its many hidden corridors, its undiscovered pockets and its countless underwater secrets.

Their isolation underwater and the lack of needing to go the surface on a regular basis was something Hunter found unexpectedly liberating. Granted, their lack of useable telepathy between each other limited their ability to quickly communicate, but the adventure that the caves offered was well worth the inconvenience of not being able to. It was something which Hunter greatly appreciated.

There was a comfort in the notion that no one could follow them there, not even their problems to a degree. They were swimming in a world in which their natural fear of the dark could not prevail, the sudden fluctuations of extreme heat or the cold were irrelevant, and the lack of air was laughable. It was much better than Riley’s large oak tree house back in the day. The cave was their own private kingdom; their personal sanctuary within a sanctuary.

Hunter looked behind upon Riley, on whose face cast the refracted patterns of light coming through the surface bent by the ripples breathed by one of the countless waterfalls of various shapes and sizes. Riley tilted his head and shrugged, not knowing what Hunter wanted to say. But before Hunter could signal back to him in rudimentary letter sign language, something he had taught Riley informally since they started escaping to the caves, a shadowy figure dimmed over his friend’s face.

Riley looked up slightly startled. There was something at the surface—a finely-silhouetted figure back-lit by the lone fluorescent light on the main entry way. Hunter nodded, predicting what Riley was thinking. Kicking off the bottom, they propelled themselves vertically. A column of bubbles rushed behind them, diffusing away until they both broke through the surface.

Oh… hey, Hunter said.

Well, well, look at this. Batman and Robin doing their cozy little swim in the bat cave.

And Batgirl finally came to visit, joked Hunter.

Catwoman’s better, Ava corrected as she sat a foot away from the steaming water in a red spaghetti strap and a pair of denim booty shorts. The vapor immediately clung to her skin, thinly coating it in a shimmering layer of humid dampness.

Hey babeh, acknowledged Riley coolly as he swam to her ledge, hoisted himself up, and kissed her on the temple.

How was it down there? she asked, looking up at Riley briefly as he walked behind her and grabbed his Twilight-themed towel lying on the ground. She returned her gaze to Hunter, who remained in the water, slowly making his way to where she sat.

Rocks everywhere. Nice and boiling hot. Nothing you’d like, smiled Hunter as he combed his wet hair back with his fingers as steam continued to billow from his head and shoulders. How’s Kyle? Riley shook his head vigorously behind Ava as he looked at Hunter, begging wordlessly to change the topic.

He’s been behaving. Really well actually, said Ava. Oh, and get this—he’s added cookies to his list of favorites.

Oreos? asked Riley, toweling himself as he leaned back on a piece of cooled lava the size of a bathtub sticking out of the floor. They’re delicious.

Chips-a-hoy, she sniggered. Double chocolate.

Kid has taste, said Hunter as he pushed himself out of the water and sat on ledge. As he did so, a spoonful of water splashed on Ava’s foot through the gap of her rubber flip flops. She recoiled immediately, blowing air through her pursed lips.

Oh crap! said Hunter. Sorry Ava.

Don’t worry, it’s not that hot, she assured him. Not in that amount anyway.

She got up, teasingly rubbing a light noogie into Hunter’s hair before she leaned on Riley. She kept her eyes on Hunter, as he looked back at the two of them.

Quite the contrast, Hunter thought. There was Riley—tall, blond, in-your-face, cursed with the ‘I’m-better-than-all-of-you’ personality with a side order of ‘God’s-gift-to-women’ topped with just the right smidgeon of douchebaggery that everyone could still tolerate. He was loyal for sure, and honest… brutally honest in fact. The one thing that stood out from the rest, something that Hunter had to live with since the beginning of their friendship, was Riley’s chronic delusion that what he thought he knew was unquestionable fact, and that the universe operated precisely and predictably in the way that he imagined it in his mind. A potentially lethal combination, Hunter always believed, for any of Riley’s relationships—romantic or otherwise. Thank God, Hunter thought, that he had the sense early on not to take Riley as seriously as he might appear to be—to Riley at least. It became clear throughout the years that that they’ve known each other, that one of the prerequisites for their friendship to endure was the ability for both of them to simply agree to disagree.

And there was Ava. Under the smooth, tanned skin, the athletic frame, the deep black wavy hair, there was much bubbling beneath the beautifully strong surface—she was an eagle dressed in peacock feathers. Hunter was convinced that she was stronger than either him or Riley, having gone through more emotionally than the two boys combined. Unlike Riley’s pampered lifestyle or Hunter’s supportive home life, it was Ava who grew up alone with an indifferent Uncle. If that was not enough, at a tender young age, she had to witness the brutal massacre of her mother and only brother before her very eyes by her own father. Even within the last year alone, when all the craziness began, she stood against the very same things Hunter and Riley had to weather against—things that could have easily taken her life. The ironic thing was, she wasn’t even Vampyre. She was still the warm-skinned, wound-susceptible, food-eating, sleep-needing human that he and Riley had ceased to be last year. In every respect, she could have chosen to continue on with her normal life, and yet she stayed. She toughed it out, even without the insurance the two boys had. Underneath all the lean muscle and the unlimited regeneration, Hunter and Riley’s daringness to do the impressive stunts they have pulled hinged on their one insurance policy—the fact that no matter how bad how things got—there was always that one thing inside Hunter that could make it all alright again. The Source.

Hunter’s greatest gift and burden was the only creature of its kind on earth that started it all—the one that fed the Immortality of all that is Immortal on this planet was now nested deep inside his chest. It was the one reason why they were even there in the first place; living in the isolation of the Canadian Rockies, the battle-hardened shelter of the reconstructed army base that was Armando’s house. It was, however, one of many things that kept them together; bound as friends.

Hunter was grateful. He could not quite imagine what his life would have been like, being pulled in so many direction so intensely and so rapidly. He was torn in many places, for many different reasons, and the only glue that kept him together was the presence of his family nearby. While he considered Riley and Ava family, his real one was only a short drive away living in their new home at The Legacy—a Vampyre-protected neighborhood for the mortal relatives of the VIP’s of their kind.

While Riley enjoyed basking in the limelight and the perks of being best friends with the carrier of the Source, Hunter was beginning to resent the fact that everything now in his life was as structured as it would ever get—even more so when he was human. What was worse was the fact that he was no longer at liberty to go out whenever and wherever he wanted, not without the stalker-like supervision of his protector, Alejandro. He was grateful of course—deeply grateful for everything that he and his family and friends had been given. But in the last several months it became clear to him that material compensation was in fact the least the Empire could have done. Now, more than ever, he was beginning to feel like the compensation was meant to mask the fact that he was a mere asset to the Immortals; a priceless commodity whose absence could spell complete disaster for their Empire and as well as the entire human race.

What’s he thinking now? Riley whispered to Ava, the side of his face pressed against her cheeks as he embraced her from behind. The remnant heat from the boys’ swim masked Riley’s cold temperature—a welcomed sensation which Ava appreciated.

I dunno, whispered Ava with a coy smile. Wouldn’t you like to know? she asked loud enough for Hunter to hear. But it was either Hunter did not hear it, or he was too consumed by his own thoughts.

Uh, dude? asked Riley. But his best friend was gone—Hunter’s mind was elsewhere.

Ava and Riley had vanished, and Hunter was no longer in the cave. His vision had changed. He was on the main level, staring at the main entrance. There was something waiting behind it… a presence he could sense but not imagine what it could have been. It whispered to him, and it whispered in a voice that did not use words. The message, however, could not be any clearer. It was beckoning him, inviting him forward—it had brought him something.

There’s someone upstairs. he whispered to Ava and Riley, though his mind was still linked to what Zeke was seeing at the surface—a presence strong enough to draw his Cloak away from his side.

Who? asked Ava.

But before Hunter could