On the Evil Scale: Keeper of La Tecla (The Key) Book Two

Nathan, Anthony and Derek couldn’t participate any further, neither could Wyatt and taking notice that there were only a handful left, the four men backed away, leaving Leonus to finish off the rest as if he enjoyed the killing, punching and kicking at women that charged, hacking aggressively with such rage.

Shuffling along the ledge before climbing up, Anthony’s dark eyes quickly glanced around, seeing women lying dead holding the bodies of their children, while others were separated from their offspring. As he turned, he heard a woman’s low grunts; she was barely alive with a wound stabbed through her ribs, trying to crawl toward her child of which Leonus had just struck moments ago. He watched as she made the attempt for its hand, but before she could touch its fingertips, her hand fell inches away as she gasped. Closing his eyes, he felt for her, knowing she was just a mother wanting her child, even in the end, and regardless of what they were, they loved nonetheless. He glanced over his shoulder toward Leonus, who boasted as he walked around, shoving the bodies with his foot.

“Anthony…” Derek pleaded, “what are you doing, come on!”

Anthony glared at the Samoan, then stepped aside, gently picking up the woman’s child, placing it in her arms. Looking into her eyes that looked at him, he combed her hair out of her face, then offered her a smile before her eyes closed. Distraught over what occurred, he grew more tears when he heard Leonus’ voice mutter behind him smugly, in an uncaring tone,

“They don’t deserve prayers, they were monster and abominations.”

Standing, clenching his fists, Anthony shuffled as he turned.

“Don’t you realize what we have just done, Leonus?!” he moaned, “My god, look around…they might have been what they were, but they didn’t deserve this, they didn’t deserve to be butchered like a pack of animals!” he gestured around the cavern, “The Boar-wolves were one thing, but we didn’t have to butcher them. You have sons Leonus, so does Thomas…how could you just swing your sword and feel nothing?!”

“Nothing?!” Leonus growled, “That’s exactly what I feel and I have no shame, because they attacked us…” he pushed the Italian back, “they attempted to kill that twat of your Keeper, so excuse me if we just saved ourselves from becoming their dinner!” he grabbed hold of the man’s armor, “Look at yourself…look at all of you…” he leered toward the others, “those weren’t the actions of innocent lives and don’t ever…compare my family to these beasts and filth!”

Glaring at the 6’6 Scotsman, without a second thought, Anthony had swung a tight fist that made contact with his jaw. He watched as the man stumbled backwards, before suffering another punch to the ribs, then fell over a pile of the clanswomen. Hovering above him, he then felt hands pulling back.

“Anthony, that’s enough!” Derek growled, gripping his arms, “That’s enough, let it go…let it go!” he turned the man around to look at him, staring into his yellow Lycynian eyes.

Huffing, snarling aggressively, Anthony pulled away then spat in his face.

“Puoi andare a farti fottere in ogni livello dell’inferno per quel che mi interessa, ma non farlo mai…” he cursed, stating that the Samoan could f*ck himself in every level of Hell for all he cared, then slurred the rest in English, “but don’t ever touch me again!” he pushed the man away, brushing past him, roughly bumping against his shoulder, “Whatever Yzavela has planned for you, I hope I’m there to see it.” he barked over his shoulder, then accepted Wyatt’s helping hand up onto the ledge.

“Yza, we really need to get you to the hospital.” Justin urged softly.

“No, not until they come back.” I argued, watching the ground with such focus and worry, as did Thomas who stood behind me, “You have to, please…come on.” I bit my lip.

Running his hands along her arms, Thomas kept his eyes fixed upon the hole in the ground when he, and everyone around, heard moans and rustling; Abraxas and Zanzabarr rushed forward, growling and roaring, but stayed near their mother.

“Over there…” Justin pointed, then anxiously removed his guns, as did the other Guardians that pushed Thomas and Yzavela back, then sighed in relief when Wyatt emerged with Derek and Nathan close behind, followed by Leonus who suffered a cut to his lip from a hard punch, then Anthony was last to emerge.

“Anthony!” I pulled away from Thomas’ grip as he too, ran forward, “Oh my god…” I praised, holding onto him tightly then listened as he moaned, feeling more aches on top of his current injuries.

“Tony…” Thomas held his brother up moments before he fell.

“Get them out of here…” Wyatt instructed the Guardians standing by, “and don’t even think about arguing.” he pointed an affirmative finger toward Yzavela as she knelt alongside Anthony.

Nodding agreeably, I watched as the level 5 Demon opened a portal, leading her and the others to the hospital, appearing somewhere on the loading deck.

“Go…” the Demon Guardian urged, then watching as those injured shuffled through, he turned to Derek and Leonus, “after you.”

“I’ll walk.” Leonus growled, pushing past the Demon and portal.

“Have it your way.” Wyatt groaned, closing the portal, then looked around, “Hey…where’s Luke and Jeremy?”

“They were killed, their bodies are uh…” Derek ran a hand across his scruffy chin, “still down there.”

“I see.” Wyatt nodded, “We’ll get them out.”

Derek nodded, then scampered after Leonus.

The Guardians shuffled around the area, then as the level 5 Demon and others gathered around the hole, they grasped hands, muttering a chant that summoned the bodies of the deceased brothers that, in a matter of minutes, appeared lying in the snow by one of the pillars. Once they were covered with coats and jackets lying nearby, Wyatt turned, kneeling along the hole in the ground, leading to the cellar. He closed his eyes, gathering enough energy and slamming his hands roughly on the ground, scattering snow, it cracked violently before a blue arcane flame crawled through the tunnels, igniting with all of the gaseous fumes from the pit. Debris of stone and snow shot high into the air as the ruins collapsed, breaking off a chunk from the cliff side, leaving a massive gouge; the debris fell into the sea below, sinking to its depths. As the violent rumbles continued, the tallest pillars standing nearby, crumbled with the chunks of rock walls.

“Was that necessary?” one of the Wraiths hissed, complaining about the explosion damaging the island.

Wyatt said nothing, side eyeing the Wraith eerily, before standing. He turned, watching as Derek and Leonus had driven two of the snowmobiles back to the wall, leaving the other three behind.

A portal opened on the hospital deck, spewing figures from its center. Jumping back as mortal nurses smoked on break, they shouted out for Matthews and other staff, after throwing away their cigarettes. As they helped the figures to their feet, shuffling them toward the doors that slid open upon their approach, they greeted by Matthews and a few other Doctors and nurses.

“Bloody hell…” Matthews fretted, sweeping Yzavela into his arms, after she fell from weakening knees and loss of energy, “get them to the OR now!” he hissed, as the medical staff shuffled alongside the others, following behind him. Kicking open one of the OR doors, he laid the young woman on the table, listening as she grunted from her injured leg, “All right, calm down…” he firmly placed his hands on her small shivering shoulders, “you’re home, you’re home.” he called out over his shoulder, “Call her mum and tell her that her daughter’s back.”

“Yes, Sir.” one of the female Wraiths nodded, then swiftly sped out of the room, down the hall toward the front desk.

“Yzavela?” Anthony reached out for her as he laid on the table next to her. Feeling her hands grasp his, he offered her a smile then spat at the nurse that tended to the wound on his leg, “Guardalo figlio di puttana o giuro che ti strapperò la gola!” he cursed in Italian, grabbing the male nurse by the collar of his uniform, stating they should be careful or he would rip our their throat.

“Anthony!” Thomas groaned nearby.

Glancing toward his brother, he huffed, then apologized, pulling his hand away.

“Sorry.” he muttered, nodding quickly, then growled, feeling the man releasing the pressure of the belts and scarf that kept it from bleeding profusely.

“Ouch!” I shouted, feeling Matthews tending to my wound.

The Wraith groaned, quickly pouring antiseptic on the wound that burned and foamed, before wiping it clean of the blood and dirt.

“Madre de puta!” I cursed, showing my Latina temper.

Anthony grinned, looking at her, but growled, snarling his fangs and flashing his yellow eyes, leering at the nurse that once more squeezed his leg, putting pressure on the wound that he began stitching closed.

Hours later, sharing one large ward in the hospital where several beds sat around the room, it was Anthony and I, Thomas, Jonathan and Erik that occupied the beds, while Nick and Caleb, as well as Sarah, Lady D, Louisa, Hiromi and Jonathan’s parents gathered around; even Lucy sat on her brother’s bed, holding onto him.

“I can’t believe you do that.” Lady D complained, combing back her daughter’s hair off her face, “You’re either brave, or stupid.”

“Definitely a bit of both.” Anthony added, reaching for her hand yet again, then glanced at her fingers, seeing the ring was still in its place.

“I told you it’s not going anywhere.” I leaned my head back, sharing a wide smile with him, then I turned, glancing at my mom who sat on the ledge of my bed, “Ouch…” I flinched, for she almost sat on the wound.

“Sorry.” she frowned, then pulled a chair over, sitting there instead.

“What happened down there?!” Susan pondered, looking at her son.

“Not in front of Lucy.” Jonathan answered, glancing at her, watching as she played with a stuffed rabbit that he had manifested from her room, “Later, hmm?”

“Of course.” Jonathan Sr smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder, “We’re so glad you’re back, couldn’t have imagined if we lost you in Lucy’s place.” he leaned in, hugging his son firmly.

“And you…” Louisa cried, slapping Thomas’ chest, “don’t ever do that to me, or the twins again!”

“All right, all right just…stop hitting me.” Thomas humored, “I am injured already enough as it is.” he raised his bandaged arm bound in a cast.

“Serves you right for running off like that!” Louisa argued.

“Running off like that? Woman, you know where I was going!” he argued firmly, showing his own Latin temper.

“Don’t call me woman!” she leaned in, arguing in return.

“Wife?” he teased.

“Better.” she kissed him quickly.

Anthony and I looked at each other, wondering if that’s how it’s going to be between us years later down the road, that is if we had even thought that far ahead.

“Well, we are just thankful that you came home.” Hiromi praised, as he sat by Erik’s bed.

“How are you, are you okay?” I called out to him across the room.

“Just a little bruised, but…I’ll be fine.” he grinned at her, “And you?”

“Peachy.” I moaned.

Suddenly, Matthews came into the room, seeing the reunion party.

“As lovely as this, I’m afraid all of you are going to have to leave for the evening.” Matthews announced, “Visiting hours are over, and no exceptions.” he interrupted before Lady D could protest, “I’m sorry.”

“Mommy, it’s all right.” I looked at her, reaching for her hands, “I’ll be right here in the morning, I promise.” I grinned.

Not wanting to let her daughter go again, Lady D nodded and just in that moment, she noticed that she wore the ring Anthony had bought for her.

“I see you’re wearing the ring, does that mean?” she smiled, looking at her daughter then over at Anthony who smiled.

“Yes, it does.” I nodded gleefully, “We are.”

Lady D laughed and cheered, holding her hands to her heart.

“Finally.” she praised, “I’m so happy for you.”

“Me too.” Louisa added, leaning into Thomas’ arms.

“Congratulations.” Sarah added as she stood besides Jonathan’s bed.

“All right, you can all celebrate tomorrow!” Matthews announced as he stood by the door, gesturing out into the hall, “Come everyone…” he frowned, “please?”

“Go…” I cleared my throat, looking around the room, “please.”

As Lady D and Louisa walked side-by-side ahead of the parents, they all entered the hall and turned, watching as Matthews closed the door and curtains, allowing the patients the privacy needed to rest.

“I want to stay with Johnny.” Lucy cried softly, holding the toy close.

“I know sweetheart, but Jonathan needs his rest. You can visit him in the morning, and you can bring him some of those jelly donuts, what do you think?” Susan knelt down in front of her.

“Really?” Lucy smiled widely.

“Really. And Sarah…” Susan raised her gaze toward her, “is going to be there too, aren’t you girl?” she stood, frowning firmly after she had heard about the problems between her and her son.

“Of course.” Sarah gulped as she stood in Leonard’s embrace.

“Come on, love…” Leonard turned her away. Leading her down the hall, he guided her to one of the waiting rooms, sitting her on one of the lounge benches. Sitting next to her, he said nothing, rubbing his hands together as he worried about her and Nathan who didn’t want to be seen or visited as he wanted to be in a private room away from everyone else.

Later that evening, Leonus returned home and for the first time in a long time, he emotionally bonded with Heather who sat on the ledge of their large tub, scrubbing dirt, blood and soot off his hunched, and broad shoulders.

“What happened?” Heather spoke softly.

“I, uh…don’t want to talk ’bout it. Now now.” he groaned bluntly, then gently grabbed her wrist, walking her around the tub. Looking into her eyes, he scrunched his mouth forward, imagining for just a moment, having his wife and sons among the clan that he hacked and butchered, “I’ve done some bad things in my life, but…nothing like that.” he muttered in complaint, closing his eyes, feeling such a sense of regret.

Dropping the sponged, removing her robe, Heather climbed into the tub, straddling him slowly. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she held him close, feeling his beard tickle her neck as he leaned his head close. Closing her eyes, running her hands through his wet hair then down his muscular back, she comforted him with just her soft touch.

Holding her close, feeling nude body pressed against him, Leonus in that moment didn’t think about stirring the water, for all he wanted was just her. Looking into her eyes, combing her dark Auburn hair back, he leaned in close, leaning his head against hers, then placed his hands around her waist, before pulling her closer to him. After their bath, he laid in the bed, telling her briefly about what had happened in the caverns of the Boar-wolf tunnels.