The Huntress : The Alterealm Series Book 1

Quinton and Rafael still looked skeptical. Today was the first time I was going over to Chase’s half of Alterealm. I’d only seen it on the miles of maps they had but hadn’t once gone near ‘the other side’. If the maps were correct, it wasn’t that much different than the areas I’d been in over here.

I was finally led to a small room that had a door, with security lock on it. This was almost like the one Quinton had brought me in that first day, only I was told this one went to Chase’s side.

Troy walked into the room. “Chase will be here shortly.” He looked at his brothers with the same expression they had.

“Aren’t you guys overreacting a bit?” All they were doing was making me nervous on what to expect.

“I have no doubt Chase will look after you. We’re just a little apprehensive in letting you go.” Troy offered a weak smile, but his eyes said he really wasn’t happy with me going.

“It’s not like this side, Daxx,” Quinton said quietly.

“It’s dangerous.” Rafael added.

Rolling my eyes in their direction I shook my head. “Have you seen my neighborhood?”

Mitz came into the room carrying a small bag. “Oh for heaven’s sake. She’s only going over for a few days, you’re all acting like it’s an eternity.” She set the bag down and smiled at me. “I packed you some of your favored outfits.” Kissing my cheek, she turned and started back up the hallway. “Have a good time, love.”

Sighing, Rafael came over and leaned down and kissed my cheek. “I’ll call if we need you, little Huntress.” I stood there and watched him leave, not at all sure where the kiss part had come from.

Quinton grasped my shoulders and spun me around so quickly, I almost tipped over. “You call me.” He said with no leeway for discussion.

I nodded my head much like a child would when they’re going off to summer camp. “I really don’t know what you guys are so worried about.”

“They’re afraid I’m going to convince you to stay on my side.” I turned to see Chase lounging in the open doorway. His grin reminded me of the big bad wolf.

Looking at Troy and then Quinton I picked up the bag. “I’m going over because, first I said I would and if I’m going to be the Huntress Queen of Alterealm shouldn’t I know all of it?” Troy inclined his head but didn’t answer me.

“Aw, kitten, I thought it was to spend time with me.”

I smirked, “that too.”

Chase held out his hand, the silver ring with the sun shining at me. I went over and placed mine in his. “I’ll keep her close.” He said to his twin, an odd look in his eyes when he did.

The tunnel was much like the one I’d come in on my arrival in this place, only it didn’t go down, it was level. “What’s with the tunnels?”

“It’s faster, no traffic. Secure. This place wasn’t always peaceful.” He continued to hold my hand as we walked.

“Is it so those from night can cross without day?” I still wasn’t sure of the difference between the sides.

Chase stopped and looked at me for a moment before we continued. “You’ve been so busy hunting down those with the devices; no one has thought to fill you in on a little history.”

“It never seemed to be the right time to ask.”

“Daylight won’t hurt a nightwalker and the reverse is the same.”

The tunnel seemed to go on for miles. “Then why have two distinct sides?”

“I won’t go too deep into the history of Alterealm this time, but the distinction is mainly a different life style.” He looked down at me. “That began as a way to separate and control offenders.”

I mulled it over for a second. “I’m not getting it. Offenders?”

Nodding, he squeezed my hand. “Troy gets the do-gooders and I have to wrangle the bad lot.” He shrugged. “In my great grandfather’s time it was chaos, a daily blood bath my father used to say. It was during that time the King, and there was only one at that time ruled the two different sides to Alterealm.” He sighed. “I’m afraid if you want all the details on our history you’ll have to speak to Victor or Arius. I could never pay attention in that class…”

“You have schools here?”

Chase laughed. “Do we seem uneducated?”

I shook my head. “No, I didn’t mean that. I have so much to learn.”

He squeezed my hand again. “You have all the time in the world to learn whatever you want.”

When he stopped, I realized we were standing in front of a door. “Let’s get you settled and then you can decide what you want to do first.” He entered some numbers into the keypad and the lock popped open.

When I stepped through the door, I was facing two very large, very scary looking men. They weren’t scary in the way of gory; just their auras sent a chill up my spine. Before I could look to Chase, they both dropped down onto one knee and bowed their heads.

When I started to reach out, Chase took my hand and shook his head. “There’s none of that touchy feely over here, that’s a good way to lose a hand.” My eyes widened but I didn’t comment. “Sith, Bronx, may I introduce your huntress queen, Daxx.”

Both men stood back up and nodded.

“These gentlemen will either be stationed at the door or outside your room.”

Looking back up at the two men that looked more like pirates than anything else, I offered a small smile and inclined my head. I really needed to start taking notes on proper protocol around here.

Without saying anything further, Chase moved along the hallway. I glanced back around at the men who had moved back to stand in front of the door. “A little more security on this side.”

His hazel eyes swept over my face. “A little more is needed on my side, kitten.”

“Is Victor the justice on this side too?”

Chase nodded as he motioned down the hall we turned to go down. “Yes, all positions apply to both sides, I just have need of a few more over here. Leone is the enforcer and Rafael head of guards and so on, but I have to hold the reigns a bit tighter over here.”

“You said you have the bad lot, what do you mean? Is this side like a prison?”

Opening a door, he led me into a large bedroom. “The prison is on this side, but I meant that I have the ones that don’t like to follow the rules. If someone is judged or banished from Troy’s territory this is where they are sent. “

“And the daylight part does what?”

He grinned. “It’s easier to monitor behavior in the light. Both sides have a curfew that can only be broken for select special occasions. The wasteland has no law or curfew, so try to avoid that area if you’re in the mood for a stroll.”

Suddenly in just a short walk I’d learned more about this place than I had in all the time I’d been here. The only reason I could think was that on Troy’s side, they didn’t have to follow the rules with a rigid control where Chase had to all the time. It also told me why he chose to go over to nightwalker territory, most likely to get a break from constantly looking over his shoulder. I looked around and was surprised that there was a lot less antique furniture, without the ceiling to floor decorations of my other bedchamber.

“It’s not designed for the Huntress; it’s just a simple guest room if that’s alright with you.”

“It’s fine. It’s still a palace compared to my apartment.”

He made an odd sound. “Yes, Troy described your apartment when you went to retrieve Wanda. It sounded tired.”

I laughed. “Tired is one way to put it.”

“Will you be keeping your apartment?”

I shrugged. “I think I should. I need somewhere that’s just mine.”

“I understand. Let us know if you need help with rent or fumigation, we seem to have monopolized all your time and without monetary compensation.”

I turned and looked at him. “Chase?”

He raised his eyebrows.

“Why are you being so stiff with me?”

Flashing his charming smile, while his eyes caressed over my face. “I don’t mean to be, I have to be a certain way when I’m home.”

“It’s just me, you can be yourself with me.”

Moving closer, he leaned down so his face was level with mine. “Oh, I don’t think I can completely be myself with you just yet, kitten, but I have hopes that someday I can.” He brushed his finger over my lip and straightened away. “And if truth be told, I think I’m a little nervous to be alone with you.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“Yes and it’s an odd feeling to have at my age.”

I grinned. “No doubt, a guy as old as you, I thought you would have experienced it all.”

His eyes flashed something I couldn’t catch and wasn’t sure if I wanted to. “Oh, not all, just my fair share.”

Wandering away when that awkward feeling came over me, I peeked in the bathroom. Might be simple by his terms but it was several levels above the Ritz for me. “I don’t think your brother feels the same, wanting me to himself.”

He chuckled. “Which brother are we talking about, because in case you hadn’t noticed I have more than a few.”

Leaning against the door, I rolled my eyes at him. “The other King.”

An odd look appeared on his face, lowering his lashes he hid it before I could figure it out. “I think you’d be mistaken on that note, kitten. I’ve never seen my twin lose control like he almost did when you helped Quinton heal.”

“He didn’t lose control.” I tried to remember that clearly but there were a few foggy details.

“Didn’t he?”

Frowning, I tried to recall but couldn’t. “He sent me here.”

Chase grinned. “That doesn’t mean he doesn’t want you there with him.” He strolled toward me with that casual grace that seemed to be a part of him as much as breathing was to most. “I would wager that my brother King sent you here because he wants you.”

“I don’t see the logic.” My heart started drumming a little faster as his pale eyes swept over me.

“That is not for me to explain.” Touching my hair, he brushed it back from my face. “What would you like to do first now that you’re here?”

I bit my lip trying to decide. This was the first time I’d been without two or more large brothers hovering around me. “I’d like to see the side you reign over.”

Surprise filled his eyes before he smiled. “As you wish, kitten. Let me round up our guards.”

“We’re taking guards with us?”

Nodding he tucked his hand into his pockets. “I’m not taking a chance of anything happening to you.” His lips quirked. “I may be a great fighter, but I don’t think I’d stand a chance against all of my brothers if I were to let anything happen to their Huntress Queen.” With that he turned toward the door.

Pausing with his hand on the handle, he looked back at me. “It’s quite warm out today, so dress light and go nowhere on this side without your raptor.”

I didn’t want to tell him I never went anywhere without it. “Okay.”

****

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t what I thought as we spent an hour wandering around as Chase led the tour. This realm had all the technology my side did, maybe more with their devices to cross realities, but to walk around the village closest to where Chase lived it was like I’d stepped back into another era. The shops were quaint and filled with handmade wares, the people although dressed in today’s clothes kept to their own space and were nothing but polite as we passed by.

“Not what you were expecting, kitten?”

I looked up at Chase and shook my head. “Not quite.” We paused to look into a clothing store, where they actually made the clothing and it was like a step back in time if you didn’t count the laptop sitting on the counter.

“The oldest families have kept the traditional feel of the village, I’m not sure if it’s for novelty’s sake or just to keep them busy.” He motioned to cross the street. “The further away from here you travel the quaintness is lost and it bleeds into something more familiar to you.”

“Pollution and mayhem?”

He chuckled. “And then some.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I think you have a few followers.”

Turning, I looked behind us to see a small group of teens following along behind us at a safe distance. At least they looked like teens. I needed to find out how the aging thing worked. One of them quickly came towards us and dropped to one knee. The two guards with us moved closer until Chase shook his head to tell them it was okay.

“Sire.” He paused with his head bowed.

Chase stood there without moving or speaking until the boy raised his head again, then he nodded. The teen stood back up and I noted that he was almost a head taller than me. Was growing this large normal here?

“We noticed the marking of the Huntress… Is it true, sire?” He asked, his face flushing with excitement.

Looking down at me, Chase raised one eyebrow at me and then nodded. “It is.” He stepped aside and motioned at me. “This is your Huntress Queen, son.”

I stood there, not sure what to do as the look of fear and enthusiasm entered the boy’s blue eyes. Before I could say anything, he dropped down in front of me. Here I was again not sure what I should or shouldn’t do. Over the top of the boys’ head, I asked for help from Chase with a look. He smirked and motioned with his head telling me a touch would be acceptable in this case.

I touched the top of the boy’s head and thought for a moment he was going to pull a Rafael and grab me. I tensed, but he only stood up right in front of me grinning down at me.

“I can’t believe you’re finally here. Wait until I tell the others!” With that he backed up and bowed quickly and then took off back to his friends.

I stood there watching them all huddle, looks being cast my way.

“We better move on or you’re going to have to be greeted by the whole gang.”

Eyes wide, I nodded and turned to walk beside Chase again. He was grinning. “What?”

“By nightfall the whole daywalker side will know you’re here.”

“Is that good or bad?”

Chase looked around at the boys as they took off in the other direction. “A bit of both I’d imagine. The kids will fear your justice, some adults will challenge it.”

I stiffened. “Great,” I mumbled. That’s what I needed people challenging me for no real reason other than the tattoo on my back.

I glanced down the street and was surprised to see Victor striding in our direction, with two large guards right on his heels. I’d never seen him in actual daylight and it was shocking how pale he really was. He sent me a brief nod and then went straight to Chase.

“We have a bit of a situation.”

Chase gave him his full attention going from noticeably aware to very alert in a second without hesitation. “Explain quickly before you get a sunburn.”

Victor’s eyes held that annoyed look he often gave his siblings. “We’ve found a large compound that has at least a dozen involved with distributing the devices.”

“Is the magician there?”

Victor shook his head. “No, but his right hand is.”

Pausing only for a second, Chase glanced at the sky. “We’ll have to move before dusk. Where are the others?”

Rubbing the back of his neck, Victor exhaled loudly. “Quinton, Rafael and Michael are on the other side with a possible lead,” he glanced at me, “before they bring Daxx over. Arius has his hands full with the others from yesterday.”

Chase nodded and looked at the two guards with Victor. I could see him doing the math and weighing the odds. He nodded to one of the men. “Go get Sith and Bronx, meet us at the stables.” The large man took off at a run. Chase looked back to his brother. “Where’s Leone?”

Victor dropped his head down. “I don’t know. He went off the grid last night.”

“He back there again?”

I wanted to ask what was off the grid, back where but with the tension radiating from the king and head of justice I decided now might not be the time for gossipy conversation.

Victor glanced up and then looked back to the ground. “Possibly.”

“We’d better leave him be then.” Chase looked at me, his eyes pondering something. With a look alone, I dared him to try and send me to my room to wait it out.

Turning to the other guard that had arrived with Victor, he motioned with his head in the direction we’d just come from. “Go get the Huntress a tonfa with blade and a dagger and strap. We’ll be at the stables.” Then he looked at the guard that stood nearest to me and straightened to his full height. With a low tone, he spoke softly. “Tim, you have one task to perform.” His eyes moved over me. “You are not to let your Huntress Queen be out of your reach at any time.” It wasn’t his words but the way he said them that sent shivers up my spine. “She gets one scratch on her and I will hold you personally responsible.”

Tim nodded once abruptly and then stepped behind me blocking the sun’s rays from even touching me. I guess this was having a shadow in this realm.

Chase stepped in front of me. “You up for a take down?” His tone was light but the look in his eyes was dead serious.

I smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it.”