Any characters you recognize belong to Sherrilyn Kenyon or Laurell K. Hamilton. I’m just doing this for fun. This is rated PG-13 to be safe.

 

Thanks Maggie for an excellent job once again. Love ya!

 

Enlighten Me (Nate’s Story Chapter 33)

 

Irish stood in my doorway staring at me. It was all I could do to stare back at him. I couldn't speak. I felt like I was having a heart attack, like someone literally had ripped me open and was squeezing my heart. 

 

Roan appeared, walking around Irish into the room. “What the hell is goin' on? There's enough energy in here to light a small city.”

 

“We got any aspirin?” Irish asked.

 

“Cabinet over the fridge... What's wrong?” The werehunter asked.

 

“My head is killing me. Fuckin' Krauts.” He muttered and was gone.

 

“What was that all about,” Roan questioned me.

 

I started to respond but the front door sounded like it was about to come off its hinges. Someone was pounding on it with that much force. Roan took off for downstairs. I curled into a ball.

The pain in my chest was not letting up.   I was so going to kill C'azim.

 

“No you're not.” Acheron told me appearing at the foot of my bed.

 

“You are always spoiling my fun.” I said through clenched teeth.

 

“The Oneroi will handle it.”

 

“Right.” I muttered.

 

“A dream cannot harm you.” The big guy told me.

 

“Yeah? Tell that to my brain.”

 

“I'm not sure you have one.” My leader sighed.

 

I’d had it. “Look I'm in enough pain here. I don't need you to add to it.”

 

“The pain is in your mind,” he persisted.

 

“That would mean I have a brain.” I argued.

 

“Not necessarily.”

 

I growled at him. I felt another come into the room with a sense of purpose. Asher. He was angry.  I looked up at the blond vampire through a haze of pain.  His blue eyes showed genuine concern.

 

He turned toward Acheron. “You are responsible for this?”

 

The ancient Dark Hunter glanced his way. “Ease down blondie. Don't make me put you over my knee.”

 

The vampire bristled. “I assure you that would be a mistake.”

 

Roan chose that moment to come in and make introductions. “Acheron, Asher. Asher, Acheron.  He's the boss.”

 

“He does not take care of his people well.” The vampire chided.

 

I could feel Acheron bristle at that.

 

“How did you get here?” The werehunter asked Asher.

 

“I flew.”

 

“It's not full dark yet.” He countered.

 

“I flew fast.”

 

Roan laughed at his explanation. Asher sat down on the bed, laying a hand on my shoulder.  I felt him enter my mind, a cool slight breeze. My heart began to slow. I could actually breathe although the ache was still there.

 

“Merci' Mon Ami.” I sighed.

 

He smiled, nodding once.

 

“How did you do that?” Acheron asked the vampire.

 

My comrade explained. “They're bound by blood Ash. He felt Nate's distress.”

 

Asher nodded. “I shared his dream. It is an experience I do not wish to repeat.”

 

Acheron turned those shaded eyes on me. “You told me that you only gave him blood. Not that you took his.”

 

Asher answered for me. “He was dying. He had been badly injured. He needed blood. It was not his choice.”

 

“It wasn't like you or Artemis were going to help.” I muttered.

 

I could feel my leader bristle again. “You never should have gotten yourself into the mess.  You were told not to go to the District. You would screw up a wet dream,” and with that he vanished. 

 

“So what was this dream?” Roan asked me.

 

“I felt someone die. It was the worst thing I have ever felt. It's going to haunt me for awhile.”

 

Asher nodded. “Me as well. I often wondered who was responsible for his death.”

 

“You knew him,” I asked.

 

The blonde vampire smiled sadly. “He was a friend.”

 

“I still am.” A voice called from the doorway.

 

We all turned toward the voice. Irish was standing there with a melancholy look on his face. It was the look on Asher's face that was the best. Shock.

 

When he could speak he told my friend. “Merde'!  You are dead!”

 

“So are you.” Irish countered. 

 

Asher stood, walked over and placed his hand on the hunter's chest. “Your heart beats, but how?”

 

“It's a long story.” He hedged. “It is good to see you again.”

 

“You as well Mon Ami.” They embraced. Asher asked him, “Will you see Mon Chat?” Irish stiffened and the vampire sighed. “I am sorry.”

 

“Please don't let anyone know I'm here.” Our friend asked him.

 

Asher nodded. “As you wish, but I do not understand.”

  

Roan shook his head. “You aren't the only one.   I'm going to go smooth things out with Acheron.”

 

I sighed. “Don't bother.  I'm sure I'll pay one way or another.”

 

“I think you've paid more than your share.” Irish was staring at me again.

 

“Why do you say that?” I asked.

 

“It wasn't your brother’s death you avenged. Artemis turned you so that you could avenge the boys.”

 

“What boys?  You want to explain?” Roan asked. 

 

I stood up shaking my head as I left the room. I heard Irish start to explain as I went downstairs. I relived that dream most every night. I didn't need to visit it while I was awake.  Coming out of the downstairs bathroom I ran into Asher.

 

“I'm going to make some coffee. Want a cup?” I asked.

 

“I do not drink...”

 

“Sorry. Forgot.”

 

Walking around him I made my way to the kitchen and went about making the coffee. The others drifted in. There was a lot of silence. I just didn't know what to say. Maybe I didn't want to say anything.

 

Irish finally asked. “Are we patrolling tonight?”

 

“We do every night.” I shrugged.

 

The werehunter added, “Why don't you take the night off? Irish and I can handle it.”

 

“Why Roan?  It was a dream.  Not like I haven't had them before. Who knows. Maybe a Daimon will get lucky tonight.” I sighed.

 

I took my cup of coffee upstairs and went to shower. Yeah. Maybe. Put me out of everybody's misery.  Maybe I should call out Aries.

 

“That would not be a good idea.”  Mist told me. She was on the outside of the curtain. Smart goddess. “If he were to harm you, Anteros would not be happy.”

 

I turned off the water and opened the curtain. “Asher is downstairs. Why don't you go bother him?”

 

“You are in a mood.” She pouted. I grabbed a towel, wrapping it around me as she added, “Acheron is very upset with you.”

 

“When isn't he?  Better me than Nick or any of the others. I'm a good target for the lot of you.” There was a knock on the door. “What!”

 

It was Roan. “Hey man, I need your car to take Asher home. He needs to feed.”

 

“Tell him I'll feed him.” I told him as I opened the door. “I'm sure she'd find it interesting.” He looked past me to Mist. “Go get him.”

 

“I'll ask if he wants to use you.” The were told me. 

 

The wolf went back downstairs. Mist followed me across the hall to my room. I was standing looking out the window at the city's lights when he approached, his expression blank. I sighed. He had been worried about me, had come to make sure that I was all right and I had walked away.

 

Looking over at Mist, I held out a hand to her. “You want to feel what it's like to be so at peace? To be sated?”

 

“Are you sure you are ready for this tonight?” Asher asked.

 

“I'm fine.” I assured him.

 

Mist took my hand as Asher encircled me with his arms.  She actually jumped when he struck. My body tensed but only for an instant as the power of Asher's bite overtook me. I heard a small gasp from Mist just before she moved closer sliding an arm around us both and laying her head on my shoulder. I was so toast but it was warm and peaceful. Whatever happened next I didn't care.

 

What happened next wasn't until a few days later. It was funny actually in a morbid sort of way.  I had gone to the Lunatic Cafe for a bite to eat. I was sitting at the bar talking to Kendra and having a pastrami sandwich. We always talked about music, sports, and space. She liked astronomy and astrology and all things cosmos. It was fun to actually have a conversation about things other than politics and supernatural crap.  We talked for a couple of hours before I went back out. I really needed a distraction.

 

I knew that Roan was in the District. Irish was downtown. The streets were filled with shoppers but the college kids had gone home for the holidays… Most of them had anyway. Then there were the ones that either couldn't afford to go home or didn't have any one that cared enough to go home to, like me.  The only people that really cared about me were long gone.

 

I wanted to go back to work but until the Daimons stopped coming, it wasn't going to happen. I wanted to stay in St. Louis in this time too. Maybe.  The whole dream thing threw me. I hadn't had a good night’s sleep since. I drove past the dorms and frat houses, parked in the Quad and walked a bit. 

 

It was quiet.  Roan called just to state that very fact.  Irish checked in to say he was calling it a night. Roan asked if I wanted to meet at Dead Druids for a drink before going home.  Twenty minutes later I was there. I parked beside Roan’s Ninja and went inside.

 

The band had packed up for the night but the music was still good over the system.  Roan was at the bar so I took a stool beside him.  Nothing was said between us for a good ten minutes.

 

He finally broke the silence. “Christmas is next weekend. Shouldn't we get a tree?”

 

I shrugged. “If you two want to go through the hassle, go ahead.”

 

“That dream still bothering ya?” I took a swig of my beer. “Okay so you don't want to talk about it.”

 

I turned so that he could see my eyes, so that I could project how I felt. “I can still see their faces... Hear their mother's scream.”

 

“How did you get revenge?”

 

“I ran a bayonet through the daughter and her lover while they were screwin'.” I stood and threw some money onto the bar. 

 

The wolf winced. “I'm sorry.”

 

“If you two want to get a tree, you can use the Viper. Just don't ask me to participate.”

 

I left the wolf sitting at the bar and walked outside. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep.  Life sucked sometimes. Major suckage.  Getting into the car I started the engine and pulled away from the club.

 

When I pulled into the drive I actually groaned. Luna's truck was there.  Sleep just went out the window. The thing was, I liked her but she had this annoying habit of showing up at the weirdest times. 

 

I pulled the Viper into the garage and killed the engine. Irish had parked his bike close to the wall to make room for the car and Roan’s bike as well.

 

I walked out of the garage and met Luna as she got out of her truck. “What's up Princess?”

 

She gave me questioning look. “You haven't called me that in a while.”

 

“Haven't seen ya in a while.” I shrugged. “Why are you here at,” looking at my watch I asked, “Five thirty in the morning?”

 

“Just wanted to find out if you'd heard anything from your people about the demons and I wondered why Asher has been so quiet.” She looked a bit lost.

 

“Asher is always quiet.”

 

She shook her head. “Not with me. He seems distant.”

 

I sighed. “Have no idea. Look I need some tea to help me sleep. Do you want to come in?”

 

Roan pulled up and she told me. “I should go get some sleep myself.”

 

She started back for the truck but I grabbed her hand. “Are you okay?”

 

She jerked her hand out of mine. She started to turn round and caught her foot on the edge of the steps, tripping. I caught her before she hit the concrete, putting my arms around her to steady her. She looked up at me sort of half annoyed. The fact that I was grinning at her clumsiness wasn't helping. 

 

The front door opened. We both looked up expecting Roan to say something smart-ass but it wasn't Roan. Luna's nails dug into my arms. Her eyes were wide as saucers like she had just seen a ghost. I guess she had.

 

“I see not much has changed.  You're still the tease.” Irish spit out before he slammed the door shut.

 

The leopard shook her head. “No. It couldn't be.”

 

“Who do you think it was?” My question brought her gaze back to me.

 

“Maggie said I had been working too hard.” Her eyes were glassy. “But he's dead. I saw him die.”

 

“You want to come inside? You look a little shaky.” I gently told her.

 

“Dead. He's dead.” She let go of my arms, turned and walked down the sidewalk.

 

“You need me to call somebody? Can you drive?” I asked. 

 

She kept repeating the same thing over and over as she got into her truck. She sat there with the engine running for several minutes. I could feel the sun beginning to rise. I needed to get inside but some part of me wanted to make sure she was okay.  Finally she shook herself all over, like a dog getting rid of water after a swim. But this was a memory and it was one she'd lived before. I watched her pull away from the curb before I went inside and decked Irish.

 

“What the hell was that for,” He yelled.

 

“What did you do that for? You trying to drive her nuts?” I asked him.

 

He came at me then and the fight was on. We were rolling around trading punches, when all of a sudden we were separated rather forcefully and thrown into opposite walls.  I shook my head to clear the stars that were like a curtain in front of my eyes. 

 

“You two are worse than teenagers.” Acheron growled. 

 

I started to say something but a look from Roan made me think better of it.

 

Acheron was talking to Irish. “You told me that you could handle being here.”

 

He sighed. “I can.  It was just seeing her in his arms...”

 

“Jesus! She tripped and I grabbed hold of her to keep her from hitting the ground!” I told him.

 

He shrugged. “Yeah well I didn't know that.”

 

“You could of freakin' asked when I came in.” I told him, adding, “You didn't have to hurt her.”

 

“I would never hurt her!” Irish snapped.

 

I grinned grimly. “No just drive her nuts.”

 

He started for me but Roan grabbed him.

 

Acheron sighed. I knew I was going to take the heat again because he removed his glasses as he turned to me. “You know, Life is hard but it's a lot harder when you're stupid.  You're a good Hunter Nathan. Don't make the council decide your fate.”

 

The tension was thick as those silver eyes bore in on me. I figured it was a good thing I was already on the floor.  He put the glasses back on and continued talking. “The Daimons are a gift from Loki.  He was pissed at Artemis and decided to get even.”

 

Roan asked, “And when will the gateway be closed?”

 

The big guy explained. “That's in negotiation. The gods always ask a price, even the brats of gods.” He turned to Irish. “Do you want to be reassigned?” Irish shook his head and our boss sighed. “Fine. I'll take your gifts back to Nola. Give everyone your hellos.” 

 

He vanished and so did the three boxes of gifts that had been sitting by the stairs.  I got up off the floor and went up to my room.  Negotiations. That could take centuries.  The thought of walking in front of a bus was sounding better and better.