Dark Guardian Read online

  “Tracker,” I interjected, pleased with my choice of word.

  She scowled at me, her hand reassuring Rusty when he nudged her arm. “No...warrior.”

  Snorting, I grabbed the pitcher of Martini and took a gulp, underestimating the size of my mouth apparently.

  The light green liquid spilled onto my black T-shirt.

  “Don’t you drink all of that!” Jack snapped, coming into the booth, Hannah behind him.

  Slamming the jug down, I sneered at my enemy...or, one of them, anyway. Jack waved his hand, gesturing for Hannah to climb in before him. My back stiffened as her long body slid onto the seat extremely elegantly.

  Chloe side-eyed the beauty, her pupils growing to radiate the distain she held for the Hagalaz member.

  “What the hell is she doing in here?” I asked Jack, cringing when she patted the seat next to her.

  Jack ran a hand over his gelled hair to check it was still in place. No sunglasses today, which was unusual. “Ask her.”

  Staying on his feet, he nodded at Hannah. She glanced at me from under her eyelashes, trying to play the coy game. It wouldn’t work with me, I’d had my fill of her. She was lucky I didn’t rip her...

  “I have information you might be interested in. Martin, my father...”

  As if I didn’t know who the crazy Martin Sturgent was. A thorn in my chunky muscly side, that’s who.

  “...had a dream last night. Odin...may have changed his tune. Which is a complete surprise. Martin really needs the journal to see if his mother’s dreams were the same.”

  “The journal?” Chloe croaked, tucking the golden engraved whistle under her top.

  Hannah’s eyes zoned in on the pattern before it disappeared. “You’re Chloe? I thought you were one of Jack’s play things.”

  Chloe’s teeth bared as she stared at the daughter of the Hagalaz leader. Rusty stepped forward, moving closer under the table. I slapped the surface of the table to distract him. He was getting ready to defend Chloe. And, whoever threatened her would get the Rusty treatment. In this case, I didn’t want him to attack Hannah.

  “Rusty.” I put my hand under the table, pushing him back out.

  He tried to resist, obviously waiting for the order from his owner. Chloe’s hand slid off the table to pat him. Sitting, he stared straight at Hannah, his eyes connecting to hers when she looked at him.

  “That’s a pretty dog. Trygger...” She went to face me, but her gaze stayed connected to the dog. “Why can’t I move?” Her voice became clenched as she tried to speak again, but only a humming moan came from her lips.

  Her cheeks grew pink as she clenched her teeth. Keeping my face straight, I regarded her. “I don’t know, what’s wrong with you?”

  “Looks like you might be having a stroke.” Jack took Serenity’s hand as she returned. Luckily, she didn’t have a book in her hand.

  The last thing I needed was Hannah getting wind of some professor who apparently saw the future or something.

  Chloe’s hand tapped Rusty’s back. He panted as he looked away from Hannah. She released her breath as she started to move again.

  “I forgot what he did to those witches at that party when you killed the first Fallen One.” Hannah rubbed her cheeks, her gaze diverted from the dog. “So,” she said, facing Chloe again. “You’re Freya’s wonder child?”

  Straightening her expression, Chloe regarded Hannah with a tilt of her chin. “Yes, I am.”

  I had expected her to deny Hannah’s claim, but I could see why she didn’t. The one thing she seemed to need was reassurance that she was worth something. What had Loki’s family done to her self-esteem? Surely, she shouldn’t care what anyone else thought about her?

  Serenity and Jack stayed silent as the other two stared each other down. Hannah may believe that she was a descendant of Odin, but Chloe had magic. Which was something Hannah could never compete with.

  Jack winked at me, his eyebrows raising as we watched them. The air thickened with atmosphere as one human faced the other, neither wanting to back down.

  “Stop making eyes at each other and tell me what Odin said in your father’s dream,” I said, snapping my fingers in front of Hannah’s face.

  Dismissing her stare out, she looked at me, her eyes hooded. “Odin said that you had been given information recently...by a dark soul. Apparently, you have your doubts about Freya’s intent. He wanted my father to tell you that what was said...was true. He didn’t elaborate, which...”

  “Pisses you off, doesn’t it, lovely lady?” Jack spoke up as he sat back, leaning his ankle on his knee.

  “And, why isn’t your father here, telling me this himself?” I leant my elbows on the table, my bulk moving forward.

  “I insisted I come in his place. We knew full well he wouldn’t be welcome here...ever since...”

  Waving her hand, Hannah tried to dismiss the previous week’s attack on the underworld. Like hell we would let her get away with that.

  “Oh, so bloody inconvenient for you, wasn’t it? Kitty really did one over on the Hagalaz cult. And...my father may have terminated your father’s shares in the club. Considering it was illegal for you bastards to do what you did, anyway. So, why the fuck are you here?” Jack’s tone was sharp.

  I didn’t blame him. Because of Kitty, the whole dirty mess she had made ended up in Jack’s club. A place he adored, a place he did his business from. There was a chance people wouldn’t trust the venue anymore.

  “You really think my father lets me know what he’s doing? I don’t know his plans. All I know is that Odin wanted my father to pass on this information to Trygger, so I’m doing what he asked.” Getting to her feet, Hannah gestured for Jack and Serenity to move.

  “I wouldn’t trust you in a second,” Serenity said, her confidence brimming.

  What had happened to make her speak up all of a sudden? She had been a meek wallflower with Kitty only a week ago. And, yet, here she was talking to a descendant of Odin as if she were nothing. Which, to be fair, she wasn’t.

  “I don’t know who you are, but you better move out of my way.”

  “Or, what?” Chloe asked in defence of Serenity.

  Holding up her hand, she twirled a ball of golden magic in her palm. She watched it calmly, not bothering to meet Hannah’s gaze.

  “You really think threatening me with magic is going to scare me? Grow up!” Hannah’s cheeks flared bright red when Chloe smirked to herself. I had never seen Freya’s pet wind someone up before. It was a treat.

  “As you asked so nicely, lovely lady, I’ll let you leave. However, tell your father that I’m not done with him yet. He has to answer for what he set in motion by setting up his crazy cult. He ain’t exactly got his head screwed on, has he?” Jack tapped Serenity’s shoulder to make her move.

  She got up, followed by her boss, who grinned at me as Hannah thrust her way out of the booth.

  “We were open with you about everything,” she spluttered, spinning to face us.

  I shrugged as her eyes sought me. “You also threatened to kill us.” I indicated Chloe and myself. “Surely, you can’t expect us to take too kindly to that?”

  I was genuinely intrigued. Did they really believe that we would go down without a fight? Both Chloe and I had lived for over two hundred years, in fact, make it five times that for me. So, Hannah’s intelligence level was astounding if she really was offended by our behaviour. They wanted to wipe out a whole thriving community of people. Okay, those people could take the piss a little, but there were plenty of depraved humans, too.

  “I don’t understand why you’re so willing to do Odin’s bidding. Especially when you’re merely a human. One that’s not going to live long, anyway.”

  Hannah huffed, her shoulders sagging. “Like I have a choice.”

  Ah, I had noticed her father manhandling her when we were at his stupid fancy dress party.

  “You know what?” I said, suddenly aware of the time. “I’m bored of this conversation. Jack’s
got a busy night ahead. And, I’m...well, I’m just bored.”

  Nudging Chloe, I pointed at the exit. “Let’s go.”

  Releasing her breath, Hannah spun on her heel and marched across the dance floor, her tall lithe figure disappearing into the now growing crowd.

  “Well, you told her,” Chloe muttered, taking hold of Rusty’s lead. “Now what?”

  “Now,” I said, getting out of the booth. “It’s time to move on.”

  3

  Let’s go Hunting

  “RIGHT BETWEEN THE eyes,” I shouted, my breath puffing from me.

  Chloe threw herself into a roll before springing up from the ground and aiming her hand at the target. A burst of golden magic flew from her finger, hitting the shape of the man right between the eyes.

  Her shout of excitement made me shake my head. The warm air around me moved as I jogged on the running machine. The metal wall to the magic room was pulled open so I could advise her while I did my workout.

  “I got it!” Chloe high-fived the air, her sweat soaked shirt sticking to her back.

  Ignoring it, she brushed her damp hair out of her face, grinning as she spun to face me. I kept my expression straight as I counted down the steps to my last one.

  “And, now the man behind you has kicked your arse.” Huffing, I shut the machine down and jumped off, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

  “No he hasn’t, he’s not even there.”

  “Yeah?” I watched as she placed her dainty hands on her cocked hips.

  The attitude of confidence was all well and good, but not exactly a great starting point for someone who had faced evil a handful of times.

  “Okay, if you’re so sure of yourself, how about we go do some hunting before we head to the club for that meeting?”

  I had agreed to let her come to the meeting before she could whinge my ear off. At first, I was hesitant. Her apprehension in the basement with the Fallen One was proof that she wasn’t ready for too much action, yet. It had only been two months since she had found me. That wasn’t enough time to become a warrior. No matter how tough she thought she was.

  “Yes! Let’s go hunting. Wait.” She paused, watching me as I pulled my T-shirt off. “What will we hunt?”

  Turning away from her, I kicked off my joggers, revealing my bare arse. Her gasp was followed by swearing under her breath. Grabbing my jeans from the bench, I stepped into them. I couldn’t go hunting in workout gear, I found it easier to move in my hunting clothes.

  “Trygger, this room is made up of mirrors!”

  The corner of my lip sunk into my cheek before I could stop it. When Chloe learnt that I wasn’t worried about showing my body, she would feel more comfortable. How could she be so prudish after over two hundred years around humanity?

  “Like you haven’t seen it all before.” Tugging my clean shirt over my head, I looked at her as I untucked my ponytail.

  Clearing her throat, Chloe spun and fired a ball of magic at the target, hitting it off centre. Her emotions distracted her.

  “The quicker you learn to...”

  “Don’t!” Raising her hand, she interrupted my preaching.

  I may have gone on a little too much about her inability to be less sensitive. Yet, if she was to get too wrapped up in how she felt, she wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the mission at hand. Which was to become a kick-arse female Viking warrior.

  “Chloe.” I sighed, trying to keep my gaze steady on her as she stared at the wall of magic infused weapons. “I know you say your emotions are your power, but...are they really?”

  Bending her head forward, her hair falling to cover her face, Chloe took a deep breath. The rise of her back made me clench my fists.

  “Yes. Do you really think I would want to fight if there was nothing to fight for? You have Thor’s power in you. You have a goal. What do I have? If I don’t feel passionate for something, I’m never going to keep going.”

  Remembering our conversation from a few weeks before, I stopped my instant reply. She was right, I did have a clear goal and end. Whereas, she didn’t. What would happen to her when I had defeated the last Fallen One? Would she just die a normal death?

  “I...I’ve not felt this alive...ever.”

  I stayed silent, letting her speak. The words that wanted to come out of my mouth would not encourage her. This life would start to wear her down. She had already seen two Fallen Ones die. It took me much longer than two months to see that progress. Yet, she hadn’t been the one who hunted them for years before they were killed.

  “This life isn’t glamorous. Forget feeling, forget...feeling alive. And, just be. Be the warrior you’re trying to be. If you want to be human...if you want to feel...”

  Chloe jerked from her place, marching over to stand directly in front of me. Her chest rose and fell where she breathed. Jabbing me in the ribs with her delicate finger, she snarled up at me.

  “I will feel. I won’t ever let you tell me not to. I care about Rusty, I care about Jack. And, fuck me, I even care about you. Not that you deserve it!”

  Raising my eyebrows, I tilted my head to the side. “You’re the second person to tell me that I don’t deserve something in the last week. The difference is, Victor was wrong...and, you’re right. I don’t deserve your...care.” I almost choked on the word, it had been so long since I had said it.

  Chloe’s dark brown eyes looked black as they searched my gaze. Her tongue flicked out to lick her lips as she concentrated.

  “Stop, Chloe.”

  “What?” she asked, breathless.

  “Stop trying to find the man you believe me to be deep down. There is no depth to me. I’m...”

  “Broken.” Her whisper sent warm air from her mouth over my neck.

  Snapping back, I almost stumbled. No, she was wrong. How could I be broken, when I wasn’t whole to start with? I was a machine. I was a killer. I was a pawn in the gods’ war.

  “Do you want to go hunting or not?” I asked, avoiding her gaze as I pulled on my leather jacket.

  Nodding, she blinked slowly, grabbed her own coat and ducked her head as she walked out of the gym.

  Moving over to the metal wall, I grunted as I tugged and pulled to secure it closed again. I would never leave my weapons out on show, no matter how secure my home was. The risk was too great.

  The clip of Rusty’s claws on the wooden floor alerted me to our friend. He head-butted my thigh, ready for my attention.

  Stroking him, I smiled to myself. “Ironic, mate. The first female to get into my home is trying her hardest to see me for who I am. All humans do the same. Why? What’s so important about feeling something?”

  It had been so long since my views and actions had been judged, especially by a female, it was hard to relate. Jack was almost as closed off as I was, so he had never challenged me. Maybe a word with Freya would help the situation. She knew how easy it was to fall into a trap when emotions were involved.

  Until the goddess showed herself, maybe showing Chloe the harsh reality of what I had faced over the years would help her dull some of those budding romantic ideas she had about life. I didn’t think she necessarily wanted a love relationship with anyone, she was too busy training, but her attempt at opening my heart. That was something all females I had come into contact with found irresistible. No matter how they approached the challenge, they all wanted the same thing. To see Thunder Hunter crack.

  Chloe, although not interested romantically, thank goodness, was never going to get the better of me. Her mission was not to help me feel like a man again. It was to help me defeat the Fallen Ones. So, that’s what I would teach her. And, eventually, she would see why I no longer cared much about anyone.

  *

  If Chloe thought she had seen evil, she would change her mind pretty quickly. The den of Dark Crawlers had been known to me for quite some time. Yet, I had avoided it. Being sensible wasn’t a hard task when I knew where these creatures lived.

  “Sometimes they live in groups
. Drawn to each other’s darkness, they party and live like junkies. Makes it easier for me if I ever decide to bother with them. Which I don’t.”

  The tip of Chloe’s nose scrunched up as the overwhelming stench of rancid flesh wound around us. We were just outside a rundown house in the middle of London. It was a popular street for humans on a low income. They were the type of people that Dark Crawlers found easy to prey on. They still had enough light in their bodies for them to feed off.

  “It’s disgusting.”

  I couldn’t disagree. If the smell of the place put her off, she would be repulsed by what was inside. Yet, if she didn’t see how bad things could get, she wouldn’t harden. Thick skin in a world full of so much evil was the only way to survive.

  So, she wanted to keep her emotions. Fine, whatever. But, she needed to toughen up if she wanted to be the best warrior she could be.

  The garden was dark, the winter night drawing in early. A muddy lawn dulled the sound of our footsteps as we entered the broken back garden gate. The two storey house was an end of terrace, so we followed the walkway down the side of the house to the front door.

  “What’s the plan?” Chloe whispered to me.

  Allowing a grin to split my face, I winked at her. “See who can kill the most Dark Crawlers without getting hurt.”

  Her eyes widened as I reached out to knock on the door. “Surely, the element of surprise would be better? And...what...?”

  “Unless they’re high, which quite often they are, they’ve probably heard us already. But...if you insist.”

  Raising my leg, I kicked in the plastic and glass front door. The smash of the door bouncing off the wall caused Chloe to cringe. This was her chance, her destiny, if she wanted to take it.

  “Trygger, you...”

  “What the fuck?” a male voice shouted from inside. “Is that the police again?”

  Laughing, I shot into the hallway, waiting for the Crawlers to spill out of the various rooms. Letting them come to me would make life easier. Chloe snuck behind me as a man came out of the first door on the left. She went up the stairs, a gun held by her face.