Creatures

“Are you ready?” Karen jumped, turning to see Talon leaning in the doorway. She had been listening for a phone. “Why did you not call?”

“Forgot my cell phone at home. My morning routine was interrupted, remember?”

“How could I forget.” Karen mumbled as she stood and headed to collect her stuff.

He took Karen’s bag from her. “Let’s go.”

“I can take my own bag you know. People are already starting to stare and I would hate for them to think that there was anything between us.” she spoke softly with her head down.

Talon shrugged. “It is the least I can do for snapping at you earlier. Besides, I do not let ladies carry things and everyone knows it. It will be all right.”

They continued polite conversation as they headed for the car. Talon handed Karen her bag along with the keys.

“Go down three blocks, take a right and park in front of the little cafe that you see on the right. I will meet you there. We have eyes.”

Karen nodded. “Thank you for walking me to my car. Have a good weekend.” She raised her voice so others could hear and climbed in, taking off as Talon turned and headed towards the school.

He obviously did not want others to know that they were more than colleagues and that made her feel a bit hurt. It was his choice though and she needed to respect that.

She stopped the car in front of the cafe and went in to wait for him there. She did not know how long he would be and she wanted to get something to drink.

Talon headed to the cafe. He had been held up by some of the teachers asking him about Karen. He shook his head, it seemed that Lily had been right. The men did look at her with dirty thoughts. They had asked him point blank if he had intentions towards her. He had wanted to say yes, but he had been so sure that he did not want a relationship with her that now he was eating his words. Damn, he was an idiot. He wondered if he should have taken the others advice and set up an engagement with her so that the other male teachers would have no way to get to her. He could only hope now that she was smart enough to see through them. He spotted the car and headed towards it, changing his route when he saw her sitting in the window of the cafe. He stepped in and sat down across from her. When the waitress came up he ordered a coffee with a vague smile and turned his attention to Karen.

“Sorry about that. I got stopped by a couple of the teachers. It took longer then I thought it would. ”

“That is all right. I figured it was something like that.”

“While we are out, is there anything you would like to do?” Talon asked as he sipped his coffee. He wanted to spend time with her, but he did not want her to know that. She would probably laugh at him.

“No... I would hate to trouble you further.” Karen replied with a sigh. She would like to spend more time with him, but obviously, he did not wish for her company outside the mansion.

“It is no trouble, Karen.” Karen started at the use of her name on his lips. He had not said it once since that day in the room. That seemed like a lifetime ago or even a dream ago.

He watched her movement and figured that she was not used to hearing him say it. Well, she had better get used to it, because he planned on using it from now on and he was going to make sure that she used his as well.

They sat there in silence for a while, watching people go by.

“Come on, Let’s take a walk.”

Talon stood and took Karen’s hand, leading her out the door. Once they were on the street, she figured he would let go, but he did not. She kept her head down at first, wondering what would happen if someone they knew saw them like this. Soon though she started looking around herself. She had never been to this part of town and it reminded her of home. She missed her home, she thought with a sigh.

“What was that for? Do you not wish to take a walk? We can head back.” Talon asked, glancing down at Karen.

“No... I was just thinking how much I miss home.”

“What are you talking about? How can you miss home in one day?”

“I meant my home. The one that I disappeared from without a word a year ago and have not spoken to anyone since I left.” Karen replied coldly. “I think I am allowed to miss it.”

“Oh...”

“Duh. What did you think I was talking about?”

“Our home,” Talon replied cheerfully. He liked the sound of that, our home. His home with Karen and the others.

“Oh, I do not think of that as home. Sorry.”

“Why not?” Talon asked. “Is that not where you sleep and eat and where your family is?” He flung the same words at her as she had used on him.

Karen laughed. “I think that I said something like that to you once.”

Talon smiled, glad that she remembered.

“I believe you did and it applies to you as well.”

“But there is a difference for me. You did not really have a home before you came here. I had a family and a home and a life that I enjoyed. It was not something I was ready to give up.”

“Do you regret being here?” Talon asked softly. What if she said yes to that? How would he feel knowing that she did not want to be here... did not want to be with him. Had she not said that she was willing to do this in the beginning? Had she changed her mind?

Karen thought for a moment on what to say. “I do not regret being here. I am quite thankful that I was brought here.” Karen looked up at the sky.

They had entered a little park and she watched the breeze move the trees. “To tell the truth, I have not thought of home much, but this area reminds me a lot of the little town that I grew up in and I guess that it triggered a bit of homesickness.”

“So tell me.” Talon followed Karen’s gaze. “If you are glad you are here., why are we still not your home?”

“I do not know, but I do not feel this is home.” She shrugged. “I am sure that it will get there though. It will most likely sink in after I have had to leave it. But for now...”

They continued to walk in silence for another block before Karen stopped and Talon looked to see what had caused it. They had stopped in front of a little piano store. He smiled, she did love her music.

“Could we?” Karen asked, a bit embarrassed.

Talon pulled her into the store without another word and they spent the next hour, Talon watching Karen go from piano to piano, trying them out and talking shop with the owner. They finally headed back after Talon informed Karen of the time and that they had supper to cook.

“There you two are! Where have you been? We have been worried about you.” Carrie stood in the middle of the kitchen with her hands on her hips.

“Sorry. I got distracted.” Karen spoke first. “I insisted that Talon stop by a piano store on the way home. Please forgive me.”

Carrie waved them towards the table. “Sit. It is time to eat. Since this is the last time we will be together for a while, we waited for you.”

“What do you mean?” Karen asked as they were seated.

“Now that your training is over and you can leave the compound, we are being sent back out on assignments. You and Talon will stay here until the next school break and then you will also be shipped around. We usually only have everyone together at the same time during our biannual trips or if there is a new trainee.”

“You mean that you are leaving?”

Carrie nodded. “Michael and I are leaving first thing in the morning. I do not know when we will be back. Lily and Eric will leave next weekend and of course Emerald and Evan must stay here until they graduate from school.

“I... See.” Karen continued to eat. So that was how it was. She was unsure of what to think about it. She quickly ate and took her leave.

“Have a safe trip Carrie, Michael.” she headed for the door.

“Do not worry Karen, we will return home. We always do.” Michael called after her.

Karen nodded and left the room.

Carrie turned to Talon.

“I know she did well with the first being that you two took down, but... Is she ready for this?” She asked. “Up until now we have been taking care of the beings in the area for you, but once we leave she will have to step up and they have been increasing lately.”

“She is ready,” Talon spoke.

“Still...” Michael started on the dishes. “She is going to have a rude awakening. She is completely unaware of the dangers in the area. You will have to explain to her the sudden changes.”

“I know that.” Talon snapped. “Do you think that I am that kind of person. I do care about her you know...” Talon blushed and looked away.

“We know you do.” Carried patted his hand. “We are just worried. You have yet to finish the bonding process and she has had only one experience in actual combat, though that was a tough one. We just want to come home to both of you still in one piece. I do not want to come home to a funeral.”

“She does not think of this as home,” Talon spoke softly, changing the subject. He needed some advice on this and it was the only time he would have a chance to get it.

“I believe there was a time that you did not think of this as home either,” Michael commented.

“Yes, but I did not have the ties that she has. If she does not think of this as home, will she ever truly be happy here?” Talon put his head in his hand and contemplated what would happen if she never considered this home if she always longed for her old one.

“She will. After all, you are here and she wants to be with you.”

Talon turned his head sharply to look at Michael, not sure if he had heard him correctly.

Carrie nodded her agreement and started to laugh when she caught sight of Talon’s face.

“Do you not see it?” She walked over and gave Talon a hug.

Talon stiffened against the touch.

Carrie pulled back and looked at him.

No one and he meant no one had ever touched him before Karen. He killed anyone that tried, even in combat training if they touched only by accident. That was part of the reputation he had acquired before coming here and no one had attempted to break that... until now.

“Relax hon,” Carrie whispered. “I just want you to know that all of us care and love you, including Karen. She just does not know it herself yet, so please be patient and help her okay?”

Carrie gave him a smile. “Do not close yourself off from her. She will need a lot of time and support and help to open up. I think she may even be harder to crack then you were. After all, she does not have another her to break the shell open. You will have to be strong and do that for her.”

Carrie headed for the door after placing a kiss on his cheek. “Take care of her. We are counting on you.” Talon could only stare after her. What the...

“We all care,” Michael spoke up. “You just have not been able to see it for the fear that it would make you weak and her because of her past.” Michael turned to him and pulled him up and into a bear hug, pulling back.

“I do not know when or if we will be back. We are being sent far into a place where they think there is a large gathering of beings. Take care of everyone for us and help her.” He stepped back and followed Carrie.

“Let her know that she is loved.” He stopped at the door with one last bit of advice for Talon. “You will not have to worry about her not returning your feelings, but even if she could not return them, it is better to tell her yours and suffer publicly, then to keep them bottled up inside and suffer in silence.” He continued out the door and disappeared.

Talon stared after him, suddenly able to understand his pain. He would tell her when the time was right. He would not live his life in silence like Michael.

Karen stretched her arms above her head and stood. She always felt much better after a good long practice. Her thoughts were interrupted by an alarm suddenly going off. She dashed out of the room, not sure what was going on, but she had that uneasy feeling again.

Talon met her at the door. “Let’s go.” He barked and head outside.

“What is going on?” Kren asked, jogging to keep up with his long strides.

“We are under attack.”

“What?!”

“It seems that four, large and very angry, beings have decided to try and take us out. They are a level three and not to be taken lightly.”

Karen thought back to her instruction on beings. There were four levels of beings. Ones were weak, new to this world and their own. Twos had some strength and good intelligence. Threes had strength and intelligence with some special abilities mixed in. Fours were nasty pieces of work if they had the chance to use their powers, but if you got to them quickly, they were not bad.

Karen nodded.

“With Michael and Carrie gone and Eric and Lily still at work, it will be two on four if Evan and Emerald are not around. I could not find them.” Talon informed her as they headed for the gates.

They arrived at the gate and all Karen could do was stare. The beings were large and they were destroying the ground and anything else that got in their way, including the security gates that were in place.

“Ready?” Evan appeared next to them, grinning when he saw Karen’s look of relief. “You did not think that we would leave all the fun for you two did you?”

Karen and Talon nodded.

“Let’s do this quickly,” Talon growled out heading for the first being. “They are destroying my home.”

Evan gave Karen a grin. “I am glad he is with us and not against us.” He commented as Emerald went flying by Karen and heading for another being.

“Come on you two, we have work to do. I’ll take the ugly brute, you two can fight over the other two.”

“I thought they were all ugly,” Evan called out as he advanced towards the being that was heading for the garden. Talon had taken the one at the combat building and Emerald was busy with the one that was working on the building that Karen had just exited moments ago.

Guess that leaves me with him, she thought as she looked at the last being that was destroying the main gate. She let out a sigh and headed to battle, taking her cue from the rest.

“Thanks for getting the last one for us,” Evan commented as they came back. The yard was destroyed, but the buildings had not been hit too badly. There would only be minor repairs to be made.

However, they were all cut up and covered in grime. Luckily no one was hurt too badly and they all were able to heal in a matter of minutes.

“Shall we head to the outdoor baths?” Emerald asked as she picked some gore from her hair.

“Huh?”

“We always head to the bath after a fight. We get clean while discussing the battle all at the same time. It is much better than waiting for everyone to clean up on their own. By that time we are all tired and cranky and things get forgotten or remembered incorrectly.”

“Uhh, no thank you. I will pass on this one.” Karen backed away.

“Oh no you do not. It is mandatory. Let’s go.” Emerald grabbed her arm and started dragging her towards the baths.

“Give us five to get in, then you boys can come on in,” Emerald called over her shoulder as she dragged Karen. “Come on hon, get moving or you will be seen naked by the boys.” She warned her.

Karen let out a groan and picked up her pace. Like hell she would let Talon see her naked.

Five minutes later Karen and Emerald were in the baths with Karen behind the rock as low as possible in the water. The boys entered a few minutes later and Karen was even more embarrassed as they did not seem embarrassed by it. She became even more embarrassed as she watched Emerald immediately curl into Evan’s lap. You would never know that they hated each other at that moment, Karen thought as she watched them cuddle.

Emerald sighed and pulled away. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Evan shrugged. Emerald pulled Karen out from behind the rock. “Come on. You need to join in this conversation as well.”

Karen blushed as the two men looked at her for a moment and then continued where they had left off.

They spent the next several minutes discussing the fight, Karen keeping her head down and staying silent. She missed the others and there was nothing she could contribute to the conversation.

The others talked for a bit and soon all fell silent, each in their own thoughts.

“Are you done?” Emerald asked after the talking had stopped.

“I believe so,” Talon replied. Leaning back with his eyes closed. The water felt good after a hard fight.

“Good. I am going to go start dinner.”

Three pairs of eyes turned to stare at her. Emerald never cooked.

“Can you cook?” Talon asked.

“Of course.”

“I will help.” Evan stood and Karen immediately turned around blushing. The boy had no sense of, of...

“Are you getting out too?” Talon asked, having noticed her reaction.

“Uh, I will in a bit.” Karen flushed even more.

Talon came towards her as the others left the room, sharing a grin between themselves. Just as they had planned. They gave each other a high five as they headed to get dressed and cook supper.

It had been obvious to them that Karen and Talon needed some time alone, without barriers between them.

“What better place then the tub.” Emerald snickered as they headed to their rooms.

“If only we could be flies on the wall. I would pay to hear this conversation.”

“Let them be, Evan.”

Evan sighed. “I know, I will, but still...”

Karen backed up as he continued to come closer, her back hitting the side of the pool.

“Are you scared?” Talon asked. Wondering if what Carrie and Michael had said was true. Did she have feelings for him that she did not know about? He could not feel anything from her, she had become that good at controlling her emotions, just as he had.

“Ummm...”

Talon leaned in close, sneaking a very quick peek at her luscious breasts as they bounced in the water.

“Careful.” He whispered in her ear, caressing it for just an instant with his mouth and felt her slight shudder in response. “They are listening.”

Karen swallowed, looking straight ahead at his broad chest. Talon pressed a quick kiss on her cheek as he drew back and gave her a saucy smile.

“You wanna?” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

“Wanna what?” Karen asked, a bit breathless. She was scared and excited and her body was reacting to Talon’s smell and closeness too much.

“Wanna give them something to talk about?” Letting out a laugh as she registered his comment.

“That is not funny.” Karen snapped back.

“No, it is not.” Talon turned serious.

“Karen...” He turned his back and looked up at the darkening sky. Karen stared at his back, suddenly feeling the urge to run her fingers across it as she had when she had healed it before. She could make out a faint scar from the wound he had taken for her and she wondered if he would always have it.

“Karen?”

“Yes?”

“Karen... I” He shook his head. Now was not the time for that. “You did well today.” She needed more time and he needed to prepare her. But how did he do that?

“Thank you.”

Talon turned around and stared at Karen until she started to squirm under his gaze.

“Ummm... Is there something else?”

Talon took a deep breath. He had always been blunt and straightforward. To change the way he did things now would mean that he would not be true to himself, so even though he wanted to give her time, he knew he could not.

He stepped back in close to her and placed his hand on her cheek, pulling her eyes to his. This week had been hell for him and he wanted to make sure that she knew he was serious on this matter. He could not afford to let her think he was toying with her now.

“I love you.” He whispered, watching her eyes widen at the statement.

When she did not move, he took the next step and pulled her up against his body, taking her mouth with his own, feeling her body press against his through the towel she had worn into the pool and his member started to stiffen in response.

His lips ran over the seam of her mouth as his hand plundered under the seam of the towel and snaked around her waist, pulling her even tighter against him, his fingers playing over her wet and smooth skin.

His member pushed against the junction of her thighs and Karen felt her knees buckle as a small moan came from the back of her throat. He felt and tasted even better than in her dreams.

Talon pulled his mouth away from her, breathing hard. He had not felt this randy since his first time in middle school.

“I wanted you to know how I felt, no strings attached.” He stepped back caressing her cheek for a moment. “Do not feel obligated to return the feeling, but I would live to regret it if something happened to you before I could tell you and there were too many close calls today.” He could still see the battle and feel the fear he had felt watching her fight that being on her own.

He turned and stepped out of the water, leaving Karen in shock behind him.

Karen sat back in the water, a bit dazed and confused. Soon anger overtook those feelings. He had just dropped a bombshell on her and walked away. The nerve of the man. She ought to... Her eyes narrowed as she climbed out and went to get dressed. After supper she was going to give him a piece of her mind. You did not just tell someone you loved them, kiss the hell out of them and then walk away nonchalantly. Not if you actually loved them. He was obviously just messing with her.