Chapter 38
CHAPTER 38
K ing was bent over, hands on his knees, as he tried to calm the fuck down. Lifting only his eyes, he saw blood everywhere, as well as the destruction of his kitchen. “Fuck!” He hissed as the energy in his body tried to overtake him again.
“Damn,” Jax groaned from the floor. “I think you broke my fucking nose.”
“Sorry,” King’s voice was harsh and deep. He really was sorry. Daniel saying he would come off the counter like a madman was definitely an understatement. At one time, it had taken ten Warriors to hold him down, and still, he got loose.
“You under control now?” Ronan shook his head as if trying to clear it.
“I think so,” King straightened, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
“I hope the fuck so,” Jared crawled to the wall and leaned against it holding his shoulder as he glared at Daniel. “Would have been fucking nice to have a warning.”
“I did warn you.” Daniel pointed out. “Not listening to me was your fault.”
“Let’s go,” King rolled his shoulders, ready to go to Amara. She had been gone too long. The sound of the front door busting open had every Warrior poised for trouble with their guns pointed in that direction. King glanced to see Joey standing behind Sloan. Just then, a man walked in holding a gun, his eyes round as they searched each of them.
“What in the fuck?” Sid growled, watching the man closely.
Another man walked in behind him, his eyes growing wide as saucers. “Holy shit!” He held out his hands. “Whoa, wait a minute. He’s under a spell.”
“I don’t give a fuck what he’s under,” King growled, taking a step forward. Recognition lit the man’s eyes as they landed on King. The rifle aimed his way, but the man with him grabbed it and started fighting the other one for control.
Ryker, who was closest to the men, knocked one out of the way, grabbed the gun, and tossed it to Bishop. He then started whispering something as he grabbed the man’s face. Suddenly, the unfocused look left his eyes, and he looked around, shocked.
“What’s going on? Where am I?” The man’s gaze landed on King. “She wasn’t lying. You are alive.”
Ryker stepped out of the way as a growling King barreled toward the man, picking him up by the shirt and slamming him against the wall. “You shot me.” King accused, knowing that this was the fucker who pulled the trigger. He knew they were the men who took Amara because he memorized them, but now he knew who pulled the fucking trigger that almost ended his life. “Where did you take her.”
“Let him go, and I’ll tell you everything.” The other man who was picking himself off the floor begged.
King glared at the man and then noticed blood on his arm. He tilted his head to see a slash of a knife wound down his arm. Suddenly, the scene of Amara picking up the knife swarmed his mind. “Did she do that?” King slammed him against the wall. “Did you hurt her, you son of a bitch?”
“The bitch tried to stab me.” The man said, gaining groans from the Warriors.
“Why do dumbasses say stupid shit like that?” Sid shook his head.
“I think you answered your own question.” Jared sighed. “Because they’re dumbasses.”
King ignored the remarks as he repeatedly slammed the man against the wall, then dropped him only to pick him up again, throwing him across the room as he stalked towards him. With a vicious kick, he picked him back up, punching his face until he was almost unrecognizable. He was out of control, knew it, and didn’t give a fuck. All he could visualize was the fear in Amara’s face as they led her away.
“Hey,” Butch tried to restrain him, but King just shrugged him off. It took three of them to do the deed.
“I think he was dead five punches ago.” Kent snorted, dragging the man away from King.
The door opened again, and as if on replay, all guns pointed that way. “Ah, knock...knock,” Bonnie said with raised hands. Her eyes swept the house as a frown formed on her lips. “What the hell did I miss?”
“What are you doing here?” Bishop headed toward her with a huge frown.
“I was asked to be here.” Bonnie frowned back at her mate.
“I told her to come,” Daniel informed him, then looked at the man who stared at his friend who lay dead. “Sloan, can someone take this asshole to the compound until we get back.”
“Wait!” King ordered, heading toward the man, but Daniel stopped him.
“He doesn’t know where she was taken, but I do,” Daniel said, then sighed. “Trust me, King. She is okay for now.”
“Butch and Kent,” Sloan waved them over, giving them instructions. “Load the dead asshole and the other guy in the van. Take them to the compound.”
“Sure thing,” Kent said, then walked to King. “Go get your girl, King.” He slapped him on the shoulder.
King nodded, still looking at Daniel. He didn’t have a choice but to trust him. Cursing, he turned and walked away, focusing suddenly on Joey, who looked a little lost. He walked over, gaining his attention.
“Go with Butch and Kent to the compound,” King said, then frowned. “Sorry, you had to see that.” King hadn’t apologized to many people in his life, and it was foreign to him, but Joey deserved that much.
“Why are you sorry?” Joey looked up at him with a frown. “I wanted to kill him myself. Get Amara, King. I’m fine.”
Joey held out his hand for a knuckle bump, then walked towards Butch, passing the guy who stood against the wall looking terrified, and flipped him off as he passed. King grinned, but then it faded as he looked to where Daniel and Bishop were arguing.
“What the fuck are we waiting for?” King walked toward Daniel.
“Everyone just fucking stop!” Daniel’s voice rose, and everyone stopped in their tracks as the wind whipped through the room. “Fuck!”
“Okay, that was fucking weird,” Steve said, then clamped his mouth shut when Daniel glared at him.
“First off, I called Bonnie here because I cannot take all of you to the Realm.” Daniel began, his eyes swirling fast and furious. "I have to keep my strength up for what we are about to face. I have tried to fucking stay away from all of you. All of this is about me. Dammit! I’ve tried to warn you over and over again. I am not a fucking kid playing a fucking game. If I say we need Bonnie, we fucking need Bonnie. She has been to the Realm just as Raven has been to the Realm. Yes, Charger, I heard you bitching about her being involved.”
“You were?” Raven hissed, glaring at Charger, who was glaring at Daniel.
“Shut up!” Daniel demanded without looking at Raven. “If I have to do this alone, I will, but?—”
“But what, Daniel?” Duncan asked, his brows lowered as he looked at Daniel in concern.
“I need you guys, and you fucking need me,” Daniel growled, running a hand through his hair. “Stop asking me how I know shit because I can’t answer you, and I’m tired of it. Just trust me. I need you to watch my back because I sure as fuck have yours. I could easily walk away from all of this, but I won’t, and do you know why? No, I seriously don’t think you do. It’s because of every single one of you and the innocents caught in this battle with no way out. I am the fucking way out.”
Daniel looked each of them in the eye before he continued.
“Amara isn’t the weapon. Her blood is. To take me out, they have to produce something stronger than me, and they are doing that right fucking now. It’s going to take more than me to take these fuckers out. The things you’ve seen me do in Realm will only slow the ones infused with Golden Blood down, and until I figure out a way to stop them, we have to stop Golden Blood from being used.” Daniel stopped as his eyes stared into nothing and then continued again. “You all just witnessed what Amara’s blood did with Joey’s leg and now King. Her blood saved him from a silver bullet, a certain death for a vampire. That is powerful. If you don’t think it can’t be used for evil, then you’re a fucking idiot. And yes, I said infused. They are going to use her blood to infuse every nightmare creature that you can dream up to come after me and take over. If you don’t believe that, then you are in the wrong fucking business.”
Daniel paused, taking a few deep breaths as he looked around again.
“So just stop with the arguing and fucking trust what I’m telling you because if you don’t, I die, and if I die, you will lose this war, the war you have been fighting all your fucking lives. Nothing about this situation is black and white. If you can’t wrap your narrow minds around that, then fucking leave now. The only people who have never questioned me are my dad, Jill, and King. I don’t know why I am like I am. I don’t know why I know the things that I know, and I sure as fuck don’t know how I do the things I do. So stop questioning me and trust what I say.”
The room was silent as everyone stared at Daniel.
“Maybe you can do the things you do, know the things you know, and you are the way you are because someone higher up wants you to win the war.” Joey, who was standing back but listening, broke the silence. “So, count me in with Duncan, Jill, and King. When you say Amara is okay right now, I believe you and think you’re pretty cool.”
King had a fucking proud moment as he watched Joey look away from Daniel to glare at everyone.
“The Weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds...Corinthians 10:4-5. Sunday school 101.” Joey said, then shrugged, looking at each of them. “In my world, that’s you guys. The VC Warriors and Dark Guardians. Now go demolish a stronghold and get my aunt before I fucking go myself.” With that, Joey turned and walked out with Butch and Kent looking fucking impressed.
“Fuck!” Steve said, looking at the empty space where Joey had been. “That hit me in the feels. I ain’t gonna lie.” A few throats cleared, and even Raven discretely wiped at a tear as Jill sniffed, rubbing her nose.
Sloan walked to Daniel and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “I will be the first to apologize, Daniel.”
“Now that’s a real holy shit moment,” Steve whispered, but everyone heard him.
“Shut the fuck up, Steve,” Sloan growled, still looking at Daniel. “I’ve done exactly what you’ve accused, and I will be the first to admit that.”
“I don’t need apologies,” Daniel said, looking from Sloan to everyone else. “I just need your trust.”
“Same here, man,” Sid said, with everyone agreeing. “I’m going to speak for all of us when I say we’re dicks. Even though you say you don’t need it, we apologize. I trust you, man. You just freak me the fuck out sometimes.”
“Yeah, I get that a lot.” Daniel actually smirked, then gave Sid a nod of appreciation.
The room erupted with the same as the Warriors gave their complete trust to Daniel. Jill walked up with a smile. “Little Daniel is all grown up.” She stared up at him. “I’m so fucking proud of you. Finally, someone put these dickheads in their place. I’ve been trying for years to do that.”
“Watch your ass down there,” Daniel warned her as he pulled her into a hug. “You hear me.”
“Yeah, I hear you,” She pulled away. “I love you, Daniel, my brother.”
“Right back at ya, sis.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
King watched from a distance, seeing the look in Daniels’s swirling white eyes. Their gazes met, and King knew without a doubt Daniel was their only hope. As much as he wanted to storm into the Realm, he fully trusted Daniel. If he said Amara was safe for now, then he believed him. That didn’t help his anxiety of wanting her back in his arms, but he trusted Daniel and always had.
“How many can you take, Bonnie?” Daniel looked away from King.
“I can take four safely,” Bonnie said, then glanced at Ryker. “How many can you take?”
“Five.” He responded without hesitation.
“Once in the Realm, we stay together, especially Bonnie and Ryker. I know your magic down there is not always reliable, but you will be stronger together.” Daniel said, then looked around at everyone. “And for those of you that haven’t been to the Realm, well, all I can say is you’re in for a big awakening.”
“Another one of your cryptic messages.” King snorted, then grinned when Daniel smiled before throwing his head back, light shining from his eyes. Suddenly, King’s body felt light, as if he was floating. The last thing he saw before everything went sideways was Joey looking at him through the door with a hopeful look on his face.