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 to my wonderful beta, Maggie. A great job as always. And
thanks Luna for letting me bounce stuff and the use of well...you.
The day before Christmas Eve I had a courier deliver two gifts to
Guilty Pleasures for Nathaniel and Asher, as well as one to the Circus for Dr.
Rhodes. Luna's I was going deliver in person. The last one was delivered to the
Lunatic Cafe'. It was for Kendra. She had kept me from going stir crazy on some
nights because of her wonderful conversation. The gift was something I was sure
she'd get a lot of use out of.
Christmas Eve I went to midnight mass. It was a nice service. I
waited until everyone was gone before I made my way up to the front to light
three candles: one for family, one for the boys, and one just because.
Turning to leave I ran into the old Priest that had given the
mass. He was maybe seventy, with white hair and blue eyes. His name was Father Frank.
“I haven't seen you here in awhile.” The Father told me.
I shrugged. “I didn't know that you had noticed me.”
“Rosa called my attention to you.
She said that you come in before the six o'clock mass, light two candles
and then leave.”
I was surprised. “You started watching me?” The old Priest nodded
so I asked, “and what did you think?”
“That you were hurting, frustrated that the roles were not
reversed.”
“Father you have no idea but I need to go. Thank you for a great
mass.” I turned to go.
He laid a hand on my arm. “I would like to talk with you more.”
“And what would we talk about Father? God?”
He nodded, “Or more to the point, the sons of Gods.” I frowned as
he added. “Go and rest. You look weary.”
“Who are you?”
“Another time, my son.” He turned and walked away.
A shiver ran the length of my spine and I quickly left. Reaching the Viper I turned back toward the
church; damn that was spooky.
I got into the car and drove around different parts of the city
until almost dawn, before finally going home and to bed. If they knew what was
good for them, my roommates would leave me alone.
I stumbled out of my room around four pm Christmas day. The house
was eerily quiet. I figured the guys were out riding. Sometimes I hated the
fact that the two of them could be out in the daylight.
I made a pot of coffee and took a can of cinnamon rolls out of the
fridge. I had just popped them into the oven when the phone rang. It was
Kendra. She squealed into the phone. She had me smiling, though she couldn't
see it. I told her that we'd have to stargaze one night and that I was happy
that she hadn't turned it down. We talked for a good thirty minutes before she
had to take care of customers.
I had one gift that I wanted to deliver in person. For better or
worse, I liked her… too much maybe.
Looking under the tree at the unopened gifts that I assumed were mine, I
left them there.
I finished the last cinnamon roll and went upstairs to shower.
I had thought about this gift long and hard. I had bought it at
the antiques shop. It was authentic. Of this I was sure. It would set off her
eyes.
I shook my head. Why was I thinking that? I thought of her as a
comrade in arms, someone who, though she didn't want to admit it, had fought
Daimons before or something similar. She dispatched them with ease. Even though
she had kidnapped me at gunpoint, there was something about her that drew me to
her. She was a warrior, pure and simple. She would make Artemis proud.
Finishing my shower, I dressed in black jeans, a deep blue tank
top and my black boots. Throwing on my duster, I looked at my reflection in the
mirror. My hair was now past my shoulders. Maybe should get it cut. Nah.
Downstairs I made sure the coffee pot and oven were off before
heading out to the garage, Luna's gift safe in one of the duster's pocket.
The drive to the station took maybe twenty minutes. I parked in
the visitors lot and got out locking up the car. There seemed to be a lot of people milling around but I ignored
them. Taking the steps up to the main doors, I went inside. The desk sergeant
eyed me suspiciously.
“Hey is Luna here,” I enquired.
“Who's askin'?” He didn’t look too happy to have to deal with me.
“Tell her it's the Hunter. She'll know.”
He sneered at my reply. I smiled, careful to keep my fangs hidden.
The desk sergeant picked up the in house phone and punched in a number. A
second later he hung up and told me to have a seat, which I did. He kept his
eye on me the whole time. Maybe I should do a trick.
Luna came out of a door at the end of the hall. She had on dark
blue jeans and a red tee that hit her just above the waist of said jeans. Her
hair was back in a braid. The corner of her mouth twitched just before she
reached me.
I greeted her. “Long day?”
“You could say that.” She said cryptically. “To what do I owe the
pleasure?”
“Was in the neighborhood. Thought I'd say hello.” She raised an
eyebrow so I admitted. “Okay. So I had another motive.”
“Thought so.” She nodded. I reached into my coat pocket and pulled
out a small box. It was wrapped in silver with a blue bow. “What's that?”
“It's for you, one Hunter to another.” I explained.
“You got me a gift?”
“Open it.” I held the box out to her. She eyed me warily, but took
it. Opening it carefully and intent on the contents, neither of us saw that
Zerbrowski had wandered over. Luna opened the box to reveal a white gold Celtic
cross. The chain was also white gold. There was an emerald in the center of the
cross. She gasped. I had to ask. “You like it?”
“It's beautiful! But I can't accept it.” She pushed the box back
at me.
“Why not?” I wondered.
She shook her head. “It's...I just can't.”
I nodded. “Yes you can. I like you Princess. You're a great fighter
and well ...I consider you a friend.”
She sighed. “It's too expensive.”
I shrugged. “Not like I have anything to spend my money on.” She
looked up at me as I added, “Please.”
“What's the matter Bastion? Not used to people being friendly?”
Zerbrowski asked. He moved closer, looking at the cross. “Damn is that a real
emerald?”
I nodded. “The whole thing was crafted in the seventeenth century.
It's real.”
She tried to hand it back to me. “Now I know I can't accept this.
How much did you pay for this?”
“Hey, no fair asking that. Besides. I can afford it. I want you to
have it.” I could be as stubborn as her if I had to be.
Her coworker told her, “Come on Luna. Quit being such a hard case.
I know you have a heart.”
“You weren't supposed to tell.” She chastised him. This broke the
tension as the others laughed. “But I didn't give you anything.”
“Yes you did. You gave me your trust.” I smiled.
She sat looking at me for a few seconds. I took the cross from its
box, unhooked the clasp and slipped it around her neck, hooking the clasp. She
kissed my cheek. I knew that took a lot for her to do in front of her fellow
cops. While she was off looking at the gift in the ladies’ room, I slipped
away. I hadn't meant to embarrass her. I hoped she would let it go.
I spent the rest of the night patrolling the quiet streets,
getting home just before dawn. The gifts were still under the tree. There was a
message from Nathaniel. Dr. Rhodes called to thank me for her gift. I had sent
her a copy of Alexander's “Care of the Patient in Surgery,” and two editions of
Anson and McVay's “Surgical Anatomy.”
I got exactly three hours of good sleep, good as in minimal
dreaming. Unfortunately, that didn't last long. I guess C'Azim didn't care much
for his punishment if he actually got any. I gave up around noon and got up,
showered and went downstairs to make some coffee.
Roan and Irish were nowhere to be found. They had opened their
gifts. How did I know this? It was obvious because all the freaking wrapping
paper was lying on the floor. I guess they thought it would just walk itself to
the trash. Well it would have to, because I wasn't going to pick it up. While
the coffee was brewing I took all the gifts labeled for me, took them up to my
room and threw them all into the closet.
I was on my second cup of coffee when the phone rang. It was
Micah. Evidently I needed to pay for the repair of a large plate glass window
that Nathaniel had flown his radio-controlled plane into. He was always asking
me what kind of plane I had flown. So when I found one like it, I got it for
him as a Christmas gift. I told Micah,
I'd pay for the repair and hung up.
I was upstairs napping when the guys came back from where ever
they had been. Roan came up to thank me for the gifts I had given him and
Irish. I guess Irish couldn't tell me himself.
My comrade had other news as well. “Oh yeah Acheron sent a
message. We have a bit of a reprieve from Daimon activity. I guess a truce has
been called for the moment.”
“How long is a moment?” I wondered. He shrugged. “Whatever.”
“What's wrong?” Roan asked.
“Just the usual. Is it dark yet?” I asked.
He nodded. “Has been for a couple of hours.”
“Good. I'm going out.” Getting up I headed for the shower.
My friend stopped me. “Hey thanks for the new leathers. They're
kick ass.”
“No problem.” I muttered.
“What's up with you man?”
“Drop it.” I warned him as I headed out the door.
An hour later I was showered, dressed and driving. It was
Christmas day. There was not a lot of traffic, not much if anything open
either. Then I got the weirdest call.
It was from Asher. He asked if I could come down to the Circus. I reminded him
that Jean Claude lived at the Circus too. Asher said that he would provide
escort. So against my better judgment I
said yes. Well Acheron said I didn't have a brain. Guess I was proving his
point.
My escort turned out to be Jason.
He was grinning like he knew something I didn't. That irritated me. Why I didn't know. Maybe it was the day in
general.
I followed the shifter down into the bowels of the Circus through
a maze of passageways finally coming to a set of double doors that opened into
a sitting room. It was almost like his
office at Guilty Pleasures but this room had a door to the left. Just as I was deciding that I should check
it out, the door opened. Asher stepped through. He was wearing a dark red robe,
which was probably silk.
“I am glad you are here.” He greeted me.
“My master called.” He narrowed his eyes at me and I sighed. “I'm
joking. What did you need?”
“I wanted to thank you for the painting. It is wonderful.”
“I'm glad you like it. It just felt like you. Is that it? You
could have thanked me over the phone.” I told him.
He shook his head. “I have something for you as well. I wanted to
give it to you in person.”
“You didn't have to do that Asher.”
He gave me an odd look. “You didn't have to let me feed from you
either.”
“Yeah, well that's good for both of us.” I shrugged.
“Please allow me to do this.”
That word... please... always got me into trouble. So I followed
him through the door into a bedroom.
Everything in the room screamed old France. The bed was antique and huge. It was of some dark wood. The sheets
were blood red and definitely silk.
I looked from the bed to him. “Is this one as comfy as the one at
Guilty Pleasures?”
“Why don't you spend the night and find out?”
I shook my head. “You're kidding? Right?”
“Am I?” He countered.
I turned to look at the vampire that had become my friend. He
handed me a box covered in blue linen and bows. Curiosity got the better of me. I opened the box and removed a
layer of paper setting it aside on a nightstand. Underneath was a book of old
photos from Europe during World
War Two. There was a red velvet marker hanging from the
middle. He motioned for me to open the
book.
I opened to the page that was marked. It showed an American
fighter squadron... My squadron. Paul
and I were in the third row. God it seemed so long ago.
I could feel tears stinging my eyes. “Where did you find this?”
“I had a friend search through some relics for me. It is you and your brother in the photo.
Non?”
I nodded. “Yes. This was taken three days before he was killed.”
“I am sorry. I thought the memories would be pleasant ones.”
“They are mostly. Thank you Asher. Of all them I think only two are still alive. Besides me of
course, if you call this living.”
He sighed. “The past can be a wonderful memory. Though for some it is riddled with
pain. We have both known pain, have
lost loved ones.”
We sat and talked about the war, about all the things he had seen
through the years. Before I knew, it was almost dawn.
I rose to leave. “I should get back to the house before the sun
catches me.”
“Why not stay here?”
“Here?”
“I promise not to molest you.” He teased.
“Are you asking me to sleep over?
Do I get a bedtime story?” I joked.
“I think we have talked more than enough. It is time to sleep.”
The bed did look comfy. He threw me a pair of black pajama
bottoms. The guy loved silk. I changed
in the bathroom. When I came out, he was already under the sheets.
I crawled over him to the side by the wall. “You stay on your side
of the bed.”
“I assure you that when I sleep I do not move.”
I nodded. “Good.”
“When I wake, is a different story.” He grinned showing fang.