Calling Out the Dead - Salvation Lost : Sins of Salvation

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TOPIC: Calling Out the Dead

Lukois' Lucifer

Posts: 917

Date: Nov 6, 2008

Calling Out the Dead	Permalink Closed

Ash pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers like some people do when they have a headache. He only wished it was a migraine, or something physical that could be cured by popping a pill or taking a shot. Unfortunetly there was no shot that could get rid of the sinking feeling that was dragging him down into a consciousness of dull aching pain. Sometimes he didn't understand the way most peoples minds worked, didn't understand the way they got all bent out of shape about things, but lately he was starting to get it. Starting to see past his own sick empty world and into the world that they inhabited...these creatures full of pathos and seemingly endless capacities for empathy. To be honest, he didn't like it. Caine was asleep somewhere in a back bedroom of the pack house, nursing his wounds in whatever way a creature like that could manage. Ash was bound to the gargoyle by magic stronger than he could break, but it wasn't like the marks that had been put on him by Marcus. The bond of the gargoyle didn't make him like the man more, in fact the opposite seemed to be considerably truer. When Caine had arrived half naked and weak at the door of the pack house a cruel streak had made Ash almost want to turn him away, but of course he didn't. The story the man told was unbelievable, and if Ash hadn't known what Caine was then he would have wanted to drug test him for hallucinogens. Thankfully the two of them had been alone for the discussion or he was sure the man would have panicked the others. Whether Ash believed the story or not, proof came quickly when they flicked on the LCD screen in the living room and were rewarded by the haunting images of downtown Hawaii in flames, and cameras on scene showing the carnage and the hotel that was now only a pile of rubble. At that moment Ash had had to sit down on the couch, remote still held in his hand as he did. He and Caine sat there a long time watching that news report, the volume set so low that he was basically just reading the reporters lips. Light flickered across the two mens faces as the images flashed past, and Ash knew that the thing he'd felt coming was finally upon them. While Caine slept Ash sat at the kitchen table trying to come up with a plan. What the gargoyle said was right, the human authorities would never listen to him. They would never believe a story so fantastic. Ash was willing to bet that just like the other minor crime scenes this one at the hotel would show no signs of foul play. It would all look like a natural disaster. And how many natural disasters would it take before people started to get scared? Too many. The island would be under a foot of lava before the humans realized something was happening. Just before sunup the cell phone rang, and he knew who it was without having to look. "Redfern." Marcus's voice on the other end was oddly comforting, and that fact made him uncomfortable. What an odd dichotemy. In the background he could hear Auroras voice speaking to someone, no doubt making arrangements. The woman was tireless in her pursuits. Their brief exchange came as no real surprise. After all, Marcus had been all but chomping at the bit to get to Evie one way or another, and this gave the man the perfect excuse. As Marcus tried to talk him into going Ash's face shut down, even though he was alone he hid his thoughts. "No." He knew the arguments the man would throw out. That if Ash died they could both go with him. That it wasn't safe here. That he didn't need to be the consummate hero. But Marcus didn't say any of that, and Ash let out a long slow breath. Perhaps they were all getting more used to each other. "Marcus, get as far away as you can and shut down the marks. I can't leave to keep you safe, but I won't try to contact you. I won't open things between us until this is over." He paused a long moment. "Tell Evie I love her." There were a few more words, things said between men to replace truth and emotion. When he hung up he felt strange. Marcus would be leaving, and Evie was already gone. For the first time in almost two years the triumvirate wouldn't be a factor in his life. With only two marks between them and a distance of an ocean he wouldn't be able to hear them, most likely. For the first time he would truly be alone again, just him and the dark passenger left to hunt in the darkness. That thought made his generous lips curl into a smile that was equally cruel and beautiful. It had been such a very long time. Before the sun could rise though there was one more thing he had to take care of. When he had taken a break from RPIT, and sold his shares of the Hookah, and seperated from Cypress and Lyric he hadn't known why he felt this need to be free. Now, he thought maybe he knew. All his life he'd been fighting, waiting for his time to die. It seemed likely in his darkly dreaming soul that this was his time. Before that happened he wanted to make sure the ones he loved were gone. Safe and far from any danger. He didn't care what the price was to have them safely off the island. He would pay it. With that in mind he lifted the phone to his ear to make another call. Behind him the sun began to rise, and as its light blinded and burned at his sleep deprived eyes he knew he'd be getting an answering machine rather than the one he was trying to reach. At the beep he left a short message. "Valentino. Meet me at Bliss, in the VIP Section. Chad will have a table reserved for us. I need to ask you a favor." It was as abrupt as he could make it, and he hung up without saying goodbye. Whatever happened didn't matter. The ones he loved would be off the island if he had to take them out to sea and throw them overboard. Then he would hunt. Not as a cop, and not as a wolf, he would let the Dark Passenger rise and do as it willed. And if it was his last ride then Ash would accept that. Expectation thrilled him as he stood from the kitchen table and went to flip the switch on the automatic coffee maker. Time to start the day. __________________

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