The Empath : The Alterealm Series Book 3

The armory contained more weapons then the practice room, only none were the wooden type.

“Do you want a blade?” Sith asked, his brows furrowed.

I shook my head and reached up under the back of my jacket to pull my dagger out.

The surprise was clear on his face. “You wear that all the time?”

I knew he was wondering if I’d had it on while we were at my place.

“Yes, unless I’m sleeping… then it’s under my pillow.”

He looked down at it, a curious expression on his face.

“Oh,” I pushed the release on the handle and my dagger split into two thin daggers.

“That’s just cool.” He said grinning.

I smiled up at him. “I found it in a small oriental shop years ago.”

“You’re a constant surprise, duchess.”

Turning, I watched Chase walking over. My heart paused, when I took in the sight of him. He wore black leather from shoulder to boots. A tight vest revealed not only his very well sculpted chest, but toned muscular arms. A moon pendant rested just below his collar bone. It took a moment for me to even see the weapons. Two blades were crossed on his back as well as one on his thigh and another on the opposite hip.

He held out his arms and paused, knowing I was ogling him. “I do bad very well.” He smirked.

“Indeed, you do.”

Sith cleared his throat and stepped away.

Chase looked at the blades in my hand and held out his. “May I?”

I handed them to him. He studied them for a moment and then fit them back together and turned it over in his hand. “A lovely, deceptive toy.” He motioned for me to turn around. “I’m assuming you know how to use them?”

I nodded. “When required.”

He put them back in the case on my back. “If you use them tonight, then Sith isn’t doing his job.” His tone was very low and lethal.

“I’m sure I won’t have to.” I assured him as calmly as I could, despite the speed my heart was racing. I wasn’t sure if it was what we were about to do, or from his closeness.

He made an odd noise in his throat and turned me to face him. “If it’s too much for you, use this.” He lifted the arm my transportation device was on.

I huffed out a breath and nodded. “I will.”

His hazel eyes moved over my face with a gentle look. “Now, I have something I’d like you to wear.” He swallowed like he was nervous. “It’s a bit presumptuous on my part, but please accept it … and I promise explanations will follow… at a later date.”

I could see a look of vulnerability in his eyes and was surprised. That was something I’d never pictured him giving in to. “All right.” I gave him a soft look.

He opened his hand, in it lay a silver necklace with a small pendant. It was a tiny Sun with a small moon beneath it.

“It’s lovely.” I touched it lay in his palm.

“Will you wear it for me?” He didn’t so much as breathe as he waited for me to answer.

I nodded and he heaved a sigh of relief.

Undoing the clasp, he of the pendant around my neck and then leaned over to fasten the clasp. “It has a great meaning among Alterealm residents, and I don’t want anyone to disrespect you… even in the slightest. This will ensure they do not.”

When he straightened, I placed my hand over where it rested against my skin.

He looked at it for a moment, a look I didn’t understand on his face.

“Are we ready, brother?”

I turned to see Troy and Daxx coming over to us.

“Always, brother.” Chase told him.

I noted Daxx wore a similar pendant, and Troy a larger one of the moon. It must be a symbol used among ‘team good’, I thought with a smile.

Troy paused and glanced at the pendant I wore and looked to his brother with an eyebrow raised. With a nod to Chase, making me think they could communicate nonverbally, Troy smiled and smacked Chase on the shoulder in a rough, brotherly way.

“Ready?” Daxx asked me.

I blew out a breath. “Not entirely, but let’s get this done.”

I stood and glanced around the corner at the van. The whole process of bringing the small army to the two locations appeared as a practiced process by the brothers. I found out from Sith that witches would cloak their presence from the public until they were in the tunnels.

If I wasn’t living all of this, I would have had the perfect plot for a fantasy novel, if I was inclined to be creative.

Liza agreed to wait in the van, with Anthony standing guard nearby.

Daxx got my attention from the top of the stairs and nodded to me. Crissy who was a few feet away gave me a serious look. “Guess it’s our turn.”

I glanced at the long blade strapped closely to her leg and nodded. Before I could change my mind, I went down the orange alley to Daxx.

“Took them a minute to find the right tunnel. Tim’s waiting at the bottom.”

“I wasn’t seeing clearly when I came up.”

She shrugged. “There’s only one that leads into a cavern like you described. The guys will be reaching the other entrance right now. We need to hurry.”

As soon as we entered the tunnel below, I knew it was the one in which the emotions had swamped me. I began to prepare for the onslaught I knew would be waiting at the other end. I’d been close to enough fights in my life to know that the emotions ran from one end of the spectrum to the other. Glancing behind, I saw Bronx and Sith following close behind. Anyone that thought to come up behind us didn’t stand a chance.

Daxx paused at the door. “Ready?”

I nodded, not wanting to break my concentration by talking.

Daxx motioned to Tim, who opened the door. Before I stepped into the chamber I could hear the clash of metal on metal. A new feeling I hadn’t often had come over me, concern, for the men I knew the strikes would be aimed at.

As I crouched down near to Daxx at the door, I felt energy flood into my mind. “Oh.” I touched my head.

“You okay?” Crissy asked.

I nodded. “Yes. I think Chase just added a wall inside my head to help keep emotions out.”

Daxx glanced at me, an eyebrow raised. “Little blood-bonding going on?” She shook her heard. “You’ll have to share the details later…”

Tim suddenly stepped in front of us, his large sword blocking someone else’s from swinging down on us. “Girl talk later, huntress?” He grunted, and then blocked another attempt.

“Shit. Right.” Daxx rolled and came up behind the man trying to cut Tim in half. There was a quiet popping noise and then the man vanished. A small device in Daxx’s hand snapped back to rest on her belt. She gave me a wide grin. “Cool, huh?’

I looked around, not able to recognize any of the men I knew in the swarm of bodies. They were seriously outnumbered. “What now?” I asked.

“How do we find the kids?” Crissy whispered moving closer me.

Daxx shuffled back closer to the doorway. “Don’t ask me. I’m usually out there rushing into the shit while the men do all that tough posturing crap.”

Tim snorted and stepped toward a man coming in our direction. As soon as he did, Sith took his place in front of us.

“Daxx.” Rafael called out as he kicked some man in the chest to knock him back. “Kids ran into that room…” The man charged at him again and Rafael blocked his attack again, kicking him back. “Where the guy with the axe is standing.” He said quickly before swinging his sword at his opponent.

Daxx straightened up and looked around. “Axe… axe…” She moved trying to see through the commotion of bodies moving in every direction. “Dammit. What’s with these guys and battle axes? Seriously.” She pointed.

Following the direction she indicated, I saw the man she was referring to. He was huge, even by the standards of the brothers. He held a two-sided axe. I’d never seen one in person before, and from this glance, hoped to never again. His eyes were glowing green. I moved along the wall to where Daxx was, Crissy following right behind me. “What do green eyes mean?” I asked her.

“Uh…” She looked to Crissy.

Crissy shrugged. “I keep forgetting to ask.”

“Hold on, let me ask my blocker.” Daxx said.

Tim knocked a man down just as she stepped away. Daxx ducked down and used the box on the downed man and he vanished.

“Can I get one of those?” I asked Crissy.

She frowned. “No. I wanted one too.”

“That’s disappointing.”

“Tim.” Daxx got his attention. “Green eyes? Bad for me?”

Tim stepped into another man’s swing. “Very bad for you.” He grunted when their blades clashed.

Daxx came back and squatted down. “Green eyes, very bad for us.”

“Hey,” Sith hissed. I looked up at him to see his eyes glowing green. “Some are bad for you.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise, and pointed to the man with the battle axe.

He turned and mumbled something about ‘damn axes’.

Bronx went by him and shrugged. “Could be worse, could be a whip.”

I wasn’t sure how a whip could be worse than a sharp double-sided axe, but now wasn’t the time for questions.

After Daxx popped Tim’s opponent to wherever they went, they came back over.

“Tag team? She asked him.

Tim glanced to the man with the axe. “Royal rumble may be more appropriate.” He motioned to the other two guards to go.

Again, I had no idea what that meant. Staying close to the wall, I looked around at the others. The brothers were not executing the graceful moves they did during practice sessions. They used a great deal more force and malicious intent. The fierceness of their battle was heart stopping. I glanced around for Chase, needing to know he was all right.

He was fighting with two others, a blade in each hand. The expression on his face was cold. as he focused solely on keeping their weapons from touching him. I had no idea how he was doing that while helping me not pick up emotions. There was a great deal more to this man than I had realized.

“Thing of beauty, right?” Daxx asked beside me again.

“I don’t know about that, but it is impressive.”

“Yep, come on the guards are clearing a path for us.” She pulled a second small blade from her back then glanced to Crissy. “Go up.”

Crissy nodded. “Okay.” She whispered and then ran toward the wall ten feet from us.

I was momentarily stunned to see her fast climb it, then start walking across an old wooden beam toward the room we were trying to reach. Turning, I spotted Victor, and he also glanced up, fully aware of where his mate was.

Snapping out of it, I pulled the knife from my back, just in case I’d need it. “Better be prepared.” I mumbled and followed. Tim was behind me, I heard his guttural grunt and knew he was preventing someone from reaching us. Bronx and Sith took on the man with the axe, Daxx stayed back looking for an opening to get to the room or use her box, I wasn’t sure which.

She turned to look at someone and a man came running toward her with a large curved blade. Stepping fast, I rushed at him and dropped down to kick out his foot. As soon as he faltered, I jumped back up and grabbed the arm with the blade and flipped him over my body. He landed on the stones on his back. With my dagger held toward him, I stepped and put my boot on his throat.

“Eva?”

I looked at his face to see green eyes so like my own looking up at me.

“Got him.” Daxx said and gave me a nudge so I’d remove my foot. She used the device and he vanished.

“Who the hell is Eva?” She asked, turning to check behind us.

I stared at the floor where he had been. “My mother.” I told her.

“Oh shit.” She looked around. “He’s safe, that sent him to the cells.”

Someone grabbed my chin, I jolted to see Chase looking at me.

“Is it too much?” His brows were drawn.

“I think we just sent her father to the cells.” Daxx told him.

His hazel eyes held compassion. “Alona, get the children to safety.”

I jerked out of his hold and then nodded. “Yes.”

He winked at me and stepped back.

I turned to see him step back into the fray of bodies. I looked to Daxx. “Let’s go.” Feeling a new determination, I glanced to see Bronx and Sith still fighting with the axe man. “I think they need help.”

Daxx grabbed my arm and ducked as a bo went over her head. “We are the help.” She told me.

“Oh. Of course.” We hurried toward them, stepping around any that got in our way. I glanced up to see Crissy attached to a harness from the beam above the door we needed to get in. “Can Crissy jump down and distract him somehow?”

Daxx nodded. “Yeah.”

I huffed out a breath. “Get your little box thing ready. If we can get him down, he needs to vanish.”

She grinned. “Good to go.”

“Whenever Crissy is ready.” I ducked low to the wall and inched in that direction trying to watch Crissy and all around me at the same time. Bronx and Sith were looking quite winded now. Glancing up, I saw Crissy nod to me.

Straightening, I stepped quickly past Daxx. “This is going to hurt.” I said more to myself then her.

Crissy dropped down and kicked out, she missed his body but managed to connect with the axe and knock it from his grip. Which was one less thing to worry about— losing a limb or being beheaded.

Taking that opportunity, I ran at him and jumped up executing a two-footed flying kick. Landing it high on his chest, he fell to the floor. As I caught myself from hitting the stones, Daxx slid by me, her arm out with the box in hand. The large man vanished.

Jumping up, Daxx nodded to me looking thrilled. “Nice!”

Rafael came over. “Smooth moves, sister.” He grinned at me and opened the door.

Jamming my dagger down into my boot, I went in the room behind him. There were six children huddled in the corner. None were older than ten.

I went over, determined their fear wouldn’t overwhelm me. “Hi.” I smiled. ’We’re going to get you out of here.” Their fear spiked. I turned to see Tim and Sith in the doorway. “I even brought fierce pirates with me to protect you.”

“Cool.” One of the small boys whispered.

Nodding, I held out my hand. “Come. My friends will keep you safe. We have a nice house for you to live in.”

Crissy was by the door and took a little girls hand. “Run fast.” She told them. “Don’t stop or look around. Okay?”

A few nodded.

Sith moved forward and picked up the two smallest ones. “Hang on tight.” He told them. Tim gave him a nod and moved to cover him.

Rafael moved back out the door. “I’ll clear the path.”

As we stepped through the doorway, I was surprised to see several of the brothers there, keeping anyone from reaching us.

A little boy took my hand and squeezed it. I could feel his fear and leaned down to whisper. “The ones in black are my friends and came here to get you.”

“That’s good.” He nodded. “I don’t like it here.”

“Let’s run.” I suggested.

He nodded.

As we reached the door to the tunnel I felt a warm feeling fill me. I glanced over my shoulder to see Chase watching me. A swing from a blade barely missed his head as Quinton pushed closer, fighting someone.

I sent Chase a brief glare, hoping it conveyed he needed to pay attention. With that, we turned and ran into the tunnel to the stairs. I may completely fall apart later, but we had managed to save and change six children’s lives. I could live with that.