Taming The Fae - An Exsilium Short Story (6 page)

“Well, I sort of lost count around twelve. It
just became too much trouble to keep counting and killing at the
same time.” Raven was suddenly more confident.

Nanini whistled. “Wow, that’s not bad. Not
bad at all. Now that you are here, you are going to learn some epic
stuff and really take out the demons.”

Raven beamed at her.
Good girl,
Nanini
. I couldn’t help but smile at her. She had this amazing
way of always lifting the spirit in a room. Sometimes though, not
in a very funny way.

“Kas and Chax found a lost hellhound girl,”
Lada said outside in the hallway.

The female hellhound came storming into the
lounge followed by Caim. She sat down on the other side of Raven
and offered her hand. “My name is Zurita, and this is my mate,
Caim,” she introduced Caim. How easily she announced her new mate
in such a short time. It would seem that Caim didn’t have as much
trouble as I did. My eyes met Nanini’s, and she captured me
completely in that instant. There was no aggression, no doubt; she
was just looking at me for a change.
Could there be some
hope?

Kasadya and Vulcan entered, and I could see
that Kasadya already took a bite out of him. Her eyes spoke of
death. Vulcan walked over to Raven and held his hand to her.

“Salve, young one. I am Vulcan,” he greeted
her.

Raven proceeded to give them the short
version of what had happened to her, and when she finished, the
room was in utter silence. To survive a mass attack and even
afterwards was just amazing. I could see this little young female
was going to surprise everyone.

“Well, I thank Chax and Kasadya for finding
you and bringing you home. Now, you are safe and ready to start
your Apprendo training,” Vulcan said, patting her on the arm.

Vulcan’s words had Raven smiling at everyone
in the room. Nanini jabbed her on the shoulder and broke out
giggling.
Females, I would never be able to understand them
.
My eyes traveled around the room and I watched as Chax whispered to
Kasadya, her face etched with concern, but also something else.

Suddenly the whole house shook with a force
that felt and sounded like an explosion. I jumped up and try to
stable myself. My eyes darted around, seeking out the danger. Could
they have breached Exsilium? Fear spread over my heart and I found
myself next to Nanini. I would protect her at all costs, even with
my own life. Chax frowned and looked around the room, his facing
changing instantly.

“Abby!” he yelled, storming out of the room.
Kasadya and the rest of us followed closely behind, wondering what
might have caused the explosion. I watched as Chax marched to a
door in the hallway and pulled it open. Smoke billowed out into the
hall.

What on earth?

Ben and Abby suddenly came crashing out of
the door, running right into Chax, slamming him against the wall.
As Abby knocked Chax to the floor, Kasadya grabbed Ben and steadied
him. He was covered in black ash. Abby appeared to be covered in
the stuff herself.

“Abby, what in heaven’s name have you done
now!?” Chax bellowed.

She cringed and rolled off him.

“Um.... we tried something, and it kind of
didn’t work,” she explained, grabbing the hand Lotan held out to
pull her up.

“What did you try?” Chax asked, climbing to
his feet.

Abby tried to dust off her clothes and looked
at everyone now standing around staring at her.

“We tried to build a small bomb,” she
admitted, dejected.

Kasadya burst out laughing, while Chax’s
expression revealed he was about to explode. He glared at her and
then back at Abby.

“What?” Chax demanded, clearly upset with
her.

“Before you cuss her out, I can explain,” Ben
said, moving between Abby and Chax.

“We used some of the Fallen elements and
infused them with napalm. As you can see, it works. We just didn't
think to test it outside,” he admitted, looking at me for
support.

Kasadya looked over at me, and I was unable
to hide the smile. Ben had always had this thing about science and
how to use it to destroy things. I might have had a huge hand in
that as well.

“Why would you want to create a bomb?” Chax
asked, walking over to the door and looking down. His face fell
even more before he scowled.

“To make sure we can take down as many as
possible when the time comes,” Ben answered.

Chax stood there, his face showing that the
picture below was not pretty. He muttered something and turned
around to look at us.

“Go get cleaned up,” he ordered, dismissing
the two of them.

“That was awesome,” Raven said, trying to see
what the damage was downstairs.

We all laughed at her outburst, Nanini’s
laughter lifting the moment even more. I looked at her dazzling
face, begging to be wrapped in my hand. I grabbed the back of my
jeans and placed my hand between it and my back. I have to control
that urge. Nanini would most certainly leave me with one hand
missing.

“Vulcan,” Chax said, his gaze shifting to
address him. “We must find her a Custos.”

“I will take her,” Caim said, placing a hand
on Raven’s shoulder.

I watched as the female hellhound joined
Caim. Her pride of him could be seen by all.

“Done,” Vulcan said as he flashed Chax a
smile. Chax, as always, remained neutral.

“Fine then, I think we all should get some
rest. Tomorrow the hunt continues,” Chax said as he placed his hand
on Kasadya’s arm. I dug my hand deeper into my jeans. The urge to
do the same with Nanini was almost undeniable. Nanini, however,
made sure that the moment was short-lived. She grabbed Raven’s hand
and stormed past me, her shoulder punching me in the stomach. I
stepped away and watched her stroll off with Raven, her smile
radiant and full of life.

Defeated once more, I decided that sleep
would remedy the day’s failures. With slow but determined steps, I
walked upstairs and into my room. I didn’t even bother to get
undressed but simply laid down and closed my eyes. Yes, tomorrow
would be another day to try again. I prayed for a small
miracle.

Nanini

Oh man, a new day! I felt like a million
bucks. And this means…. Yeah, time to make some noise. I got
dressed and flung open the door, going straight for the room next
to me. I didn’t bother to knock; I knew they were still asleep.
Storming inside, I found the young females drooling over their
pillows.

“Okay, you two, come get up and let’s get
some funk on.” I jumped on Abby’s bed first, sending her flying
into the air. Her face looked shocked as I jumped from her bed and
landed on Raven’s.

“Come on, we don’t have all day!” Holy cow,
do they sleep or hibernate?

“What the hell, Nanini?” Raven tried to tuck
her head under her pillow. I grabbed it and hit her over the head.
“Get up, sleepy head.” I flung the pillow three more times before
she finally gave up and got out her bed.

“Nanini, what are you up to?” Abby asked as
she pulled her jeans on.

“Some fun before all the serious, ‘we are
doomed’ stuff. Come on, move.” I tossed the pillow at a still
moving slowly Raven again. After what seemed like hours, the two
were finally dressed and ready. I grabbed their hands and pulled
them downstairs right into the lounge.

“I really hope that this would be rewarding
on some level. Otherwise I might just turn around and go back to
sleep,” Raven complained again.

I grabbed my Ipod from my pocket and plugged
it into the stand, turning the volume all the way up. Turning
around, I grinned at them. “It’s time to make the devil cry,
girls,” was my last warning before I hit the play button.

I grabbed both of them and placed them next
to me. Then with all the breath inside me, I tuned into the song
and sang my heart out. At first the two just stood there looking at
me with their eyes trying to jump out of their sockets, but then
Abby gave me a ‘what the hell’ look and joined in. Raven needed a
few more seconds but I prevailed. All three of us were singing our
hearts out with each song. Lada and Lotan were the first to step
into the lounge, Lada’s laugh deafening. They went over to the
couch and sat down. Okay, our audience just arrived. I showed Raven
and Abby to really let it go, and we jumped over to Katy Perry’s
Roar. Ben and Max were the next to arrive. Max frowned at me and
the moment I saw his mouth open, I tuned it up all the way. He was
speaking but I wasn’t really going to listen. Furious with me, he
stalked over to the table and joined Ben. We just kept going.

When Queen’s song started, the girls looked
at me with devilish smiles.
Oh yeah, this was going to be
awesome!

“We are the champions, my friends. We'll keep
on fighting to the ennnnd.” We gave it all we had, and even did the
dramatic moves to pull it off. I saw Kasadya stop in the door and
look at us. Frowning, she looked at the room. Max got up and moved
over to her, and I missed two words before I could get control
back.
What the hell is wrong with me? So he is talking to Kas,
not a biggie!
I swayed my hips and ignored them, but my one eye
kept jumping open to see what they were doing. Kasadya smiled and
then said something back at him. This brought a huge smile to his
face, and my whole body tingled from the fury.
What did she say
to make him smile? Come on, Nanini, what is going on with you,
girl? So she made him smile; that’s not your problem.
He closed
his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall to observe us.
My eyes were transfixed on the muscles under those arms.
Snap
out of it!
I missed a few more words and Abby frowned at me.
Get your mojo back, girl! So the guy has muscles. Hello, all the
fallen males have muscles.
But for the love of everything
unholy, my freaking eyes kept venturing over to his chest. Furious
with myself, I turned around and looked at Raven and Abby.

Suddenly, Abby jumped over to the Ipod and
pressed the off button. Glaring at her, I followed her gaze to find
Chax standing in the door.

“Morning, have all of you already prepared
for the day?” he asked with his serious face on.

Gaping like a fish, Abby tried to answer but
failed miserably. I decided to save her. “Weapons check, charged
up, check. Ready for action, boss.” I gave him a salute with a
wicked smile.

His left eye jumped for a second, but he
nodded, turned around, and walked off.

“Is he always that scary?” Raven asked, when
she was sure he was far away.

“Yep, and he can get even more epic than
that.” Lada laughed.

Raven whistled, and went over to sit down on
the other couch. Baffled, Abby joined her.
Well, there goes my
fun for the day.
With a sign, I walked over to retrieve my
Ipod.

“Do you always carry it with you?” Max was
suddenly right next to me.

I looked at him and remembered that I was
actually freaking mad at him. “No, only by invitation.” Sarcasm
just didn’t suit me. He frowned and grabbed it before I could lift
it off the station. “What the hell?” I tried grabbing it from him.
But his freakishly tall body already had it towering above me.

“I want a normal discussion with you. No
scowling, no trying to kill me, and no sarcasm.” Max was pushing
the button again.

“And why in the world would I want to do
that?” My finger was poking him between his ribs.

“Because I am asking nicely.” He leaned over
me, serious as hell.

“Dream on! Now, give it back,” I
demanded.

“No, not before you talk to me.” He was going
to budge.

“Why don’t you go and talk with Kas then.”
Oh hell, I didn’t just say that, did I?

He looked at me questionably and then smiled.
Shit, I did just freaking say that!
I jumped up in the air
and grabbed hold of my Ipod, determined to get the hell away from
him. But like usual, Godzilla had me in his grabby hands.

“If I knew that it would bother you, I would
have not gone over to talk to her.” His face was right in mine. I
narrowed my eyes at him.

“Who said it bothered me? It was just a
suggestion.” I gave him an innocent look.

He smile was going for Oscar status. “Uh huh,
I really believed you there for a moment.” He was leaning right
into my personal space. I pushed him away with my hands and bent
backwards.

“Just let go of me, Godzilla.” I was so close
to killing him.

He let go instantly and I almost butt kissed
the floor. I looked back at him, and he was just standing there
looking at me, hurt in his eyes. He turned around and walked off to
Ben. A sharp pain stabbed me right in the bloody heart and had me
sucking in a breath. I didn’t mean to hurt him; he just doesn’t
back off like other people and I am not ready for this crap. I got
up and looked at him as he was trying to have a conversation with
Ben. But I could still see and now feel his pain. Crap.

Just then Kasadya walked into the room. I
turned around before she could see me like this.

“Oh great, mom's here,” Raven said, rolling
her eyes at Kasadya.

That instantly lit up the fire in Kasadya,
and she narrowed her eyes at Raven. “Bet your ass, punk.”

“Oh please, I can take you,” Raven fired
back.

Oooo, not good.
I sucked in my breath.
Max chocked on his drink. And Lada looked like she was about to
faint.

With a smile, Kasadya challenged her. “Well,
let’s go see, hot stuff.”

She turned and walked towards the front door.
Raven was up and after her with determination. We all look at each
other and simultaneously jumped up after them. “Kas is going to
kill her,” Lotan said as we reached the front door. Max stormed
passed him.

“Raven, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,”
Max said, trying to stop her.