Excerpt up VERY briefly from A5: The Hunt for the Heir (Paula Krauss - breaking the LVW advice because I cant stand it... but it has to come down pretty quickly. Hey, PM, if you get a sec, can you eyeball?) (BEWARE - SWEARS BELOW.) Daniels daughter Megan is missing. Daniel and Bridget, the Master Healer, are out looking for her, and they come upon Daniels sworn enemy, Thomas Morgan - the same Thomas who killed Arwein in Dark Resurrection before Daniel and Michael worked together to bring him back. The weapon (for now, until I meet with someone in law enforcement to discuss this) is a Glock. :) (Thanks, Linda, Nathan, Sandra, and Meg!) Daniel smiled back at her. “Yeah. I wish…” he glanced around at the bare trees, then met Bridget’s light blue eyes wistfully. “I wish I had more time to spend with her.” He stopped amidst a grouping of ash and birch trees. “I used to practice fencing here with – ” “Yes,” a familiar voice interrupted. Daniel stiffened, his pulse skyrocketing. His hand shot to the pistol at his side, the Glock he always carried now. His jaw clamped shut; his heart was hammering in his chest. He ground his teeth, working them back and forth. “Thomas,” he finally growled, as Morgan stepped onto the trail. He hadn’t been hiding; merely leaning upon a large boulder that abutted the path. Daniel pulled in energy from all available sources. “Daniel,” Bridget said in a low voice, “who…” “Morgan. Thomas… Morgan.” Daniel’s self-control came through in his voice. “Morgan, who was once Thomas Campbell.” He thumbed open the snap on the holster. “Morgan who was once – my best friend.” He took a step towards Morgan. “Morgan who swore to be my blood brother.” His fingers danced over the leather of the holster. “Morgan – who killed my father.” Daniel’s nostrils flared, compressed free of all blood. “Morgan… who I swore I’d kill… the very… next… time… I saw him.” He disengaged the trigger safety, though the weapon remained in its holster at his hip. Morgan stepped casually towards him, palms extended and facing upwards. “Daniel, don’t. I just want to talk.” Morgan’s countenance usually betrayed a somewhat sarcastic mood, but that was absent today; indeed, if anything, Daniel’s old friend appeared a bit haggard and weary. “I ought to kill you where you stand,” Daniel snarled. “I know,” Morgan replied, “and you would have every right. I’m asking you, for the love you once bore me, to stay your temper for the moment and hear me out.” “Love.” Daniel’s fingers tightened around the grip of the weapon at his side. The cool metal felt reassuring to his palm. “Like the love you bore me? The love you bore Arwein?” And with that, the fire that Daniel had managed to keep at a slow burn leapt within him. Still, he maintained his lethal serenity. “Daniel,” Bridget interjected, “he wouldn’t want this. He is about love, Daniel.” Daniel turned a little towards her, but his gaze was fixed on Morgan. “I’m listening.” Morgan’s brown eyes glanced up, fixing over Daniel’s shoulder, where Michael approached quietly. “Thomas,” Michael said evenly. He stepped up to Daniel’s right. Daniel slid the Glock halfway out of its holster, then let it slip back down again. Michael’s hand closed over his. _“No, Daniel. Let it be – let me handle this.”_ Daniel’s cheeks were like iron. _“Daniel. Let it go.”_ Daniels eyes narrowed. _“No. He’s mine, Michael. He’s mine by right, and if you make me drop this weapon, I’ll only use the one I carry within me.”_ _“No, Daniel, you won’t. That would be murder, and Father frowns on that – as does Arwein. Now let it go and let me handle this, or I’ll transfer with you to Arwein’s office and come back alone.”_ Daniel’s nostrils flared again. He sucked his lips against his teeth. “Tell me, Morgan. Tell me why I don’t drop you where you stand.” He tried to shake Michael’s hand from his, but Michael wouldn’t let go. Thomas looked slowly from the Glock, to Michael’s hand covering Daniel’s, up to Michael himself before his eyes returned back to rest on Daniels. Bridget, he ignored completely. “I could tell you that I know you too well, Daniel – that you would never kill me in cold blood.” “You don’t know me, Morgan. Not anymore.” Morgan slowly tipped his head to Michael. “All right; I could tell you that the Archangel won’t allow it in any case, and I could tell you that Arwein will want to talk to me…” “*The* Arwein, asshole,” Daniel said, his voice ice in his throat. Stone. _“Daniel…”_ Michael cautioned. In a tug of furious strength, Daniel pulled free of the Archangel, stepped, and aimed, levelling the Glock at Morgan’s throat. Michael’s hiss was nearly loud enough to cover Bridget’s indrawn gasp – nearly. Daniel stepped closer to Morgan, certain of his aim. “Right where you drove the knife, Thomas,” he whispered. “The very spot.” He held his head at an expectant angle. “Now. Let’s try this again. To you, he’s not ‘Arwein,’ and…” Arwein transferred in and stepped smoothly behind Daniel in one fluid motion. “Daniel, put the –” Daniel twitched his head toward Arwein, but otherwise ignored him. “Again, Morgan. He’s not Arwein, and he never was. Not to you. To you, he’s ‘the Arwein.’” He took another step. “And that’s because I’m feeling generous, scum.” Morgan raised his chin a little. “As you wish, Daniel,” he replied quietly. “I could tell you that the Arwein will want to speak with me…” “Yes,” Arwein stated, and Daniel knew that he spoke now for Daniel’s ear. He moved to Daniel’s left side, lying a hand on Daniel’s elbow. “I do.” Daniel shook his elbow, his aim remaining steady, and Arwein released him. “I do, Daniel; put the –” Daniel took another step towards Morgan. “By rights, to you, he – is – *nothing,* and you call him _sir,_ and that, you do from your _knees._ He’s the Arwein Angylaidd, Morgan, and you killed him.” He took another step, inching inexorably towards the enemy whose death he’d envisioned for years. “He was like a father to you, Morgan, and you killed him.” “Daniel,” Arwein urged, “put the –” “Be quiet!” Daniel snapped, his eyes never leaving Morgan. Morgan had retained his composure until this point, but when Daniel snarled at Arwein, the blood began to drain from Morgan’s face. Daniel never raised his voice to Arwein before others. The leaves crunched beneath Daniel’s slow tread. “You loved him, Thomas Campbell. That was why you hated me, isn’t it?” Daniel took another step, snapping a branch beneath his boot. The distance separating him from Morgan was only a few feet now. His gut burned. “Isn’t IT?!” Morgan’s face was nearly bloodless now. He glanced behind Daniel at Michael and then at Arwein, searching frantically for rescue. Daniel was mad. “ISN’T IT?” He roared. “ANSWER ME!” Morgan licked his lips. “Daniel,” Arwein whispered, “let it go, son. Put the gun –” “NO!” Daniel was sweating. He half-turned his face back to his father, but his eyes did not leave those of his sworn enemy. “No,” he repeated, shaking his head. He drew his joined hands across his brow, sponging the beaded sweat with his coat sleeve. “I will not. You have no idea, none of you, what this… bastard… did to me that day.” He re-aimed and narrowed his eyes, gesturing with the gun’s barrel. “You answer me, Thomas. You loved him so much that you couldn’t stand me from the day I arrived. Could you? Answer me. Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me I’m right. Tell me _anything,_ only don’t bloody _stand_ there _looking_ at me like that!” Daniel was screaming, now. “TELL ME, THOMAS!” “YES, all right?” Morgan yelled back, his gaze in Daniel’s. “Yes. Is that what you want to hear? Yes. I loved him. Yes.” “Daniel…” Michael said quietly; he was much closer than Daniel realized. “You loved him so much that you wanted me dead. Didn’t you.” He took another step away from the Angelics, weapon outstretched. Morgan started shaking his head slowly. “No… Daniel, no, that’s not…” “You loved him so much that you couldn’t stand that I was there. You couldn’t stand that I existed, could you, Thomas? Because you knew. Didn’t you? You knew.” Daniel’s accusation cut with deadly precision through the woods. Morgan licked his lips again, glancing at the others behind Daniel. Daniel stepped closer. “You knew!” Daniel screamed. “Didn’t you?” “Yes,” Morgan whispered. “Mm,” Daniel replied quietly, almost smiling. He nodded. “You knew. You knew – and you loved him. And you couldn’t stand it.” Daniel took the final step. “So you killed him.” He inched the barrel forward until it rested against Morgan’s throat. “How could you kill him, Thomas?” he whispered hoarsely. His eyes burned. “I’m sorry, Daniel.” Morgan’s larynx bobbed against the gun. “Louder,” Daniel whispered, “and not to me.” He twitched his head back towards Arwein. “To him. And make it good, Morgan. Because you nearly made his wife a widow that day, and could have done a good deal more damage than that. So you say it louder, and you make it damn convincing, you worthless piece of shit, or these are the last words you will _ever_ speak.” Daniel’s throat was closing, but he _would_ not lose control. Not now. Morgan swallowed. CAW!... CAW! Morgan jumped as the raven that had been perched overhead took flight, startled by Fynn, who bounded up behind them. The enormous mastiff lasted only a second, and soon Everett stood anxiously among them, eyes frenetically taking in the scene before him. Daniel hadn’t moved. “I’m waiting, Morgan.” Morgan focused behind Daniel. “I am so very sorry, sir. It is a long story, and I’ll be more than happy to share it – with whomever you deem necessary – but I truly am sorry, or I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have risked coming, and I certainly wouldn’t have risked coming first to Daniel.” Morgan glanced wildly at Daniel. “I knew you were angry – I must confess I underestimated that a little,” he murmured, “but I knew you were angry enough that it was a risk for me to return.” He took a step backward, away from the Glock, but Daniel stayed right on top of him. “Unbelievable,” Daniel breathed, “the gall you have, thinking I’d let you off that easily…” “No, I only –” Daniel laughed, a manic edge to the sound. “I know what you ‘only.’ I’m waiting for the rest of it, you bastard.” “I’m sorry…” Morgan stared at Arwein and back to Daniel, whose left hand tightened beneath his right in support of the Glock. “I don’t know what you want me to say, D’Eyrie.” Daniel barked out an hysterical laugh. “What I want you to say? I *want* you to *say* that you’re sorry you drove a five-inch blade into his brain, that’s what I want you to say! I *want* you to *say* that you’re sorry you dropped him to the ground when he never even attacked you; when all he was doing was trying to save my life. I *want* you to *say* that you’re sorry you did this in front of his child and grandchild, Morgan, and I WANT you to SAY that you’re SORRY you nearly ended my f*%^ing life that day; THAT’S WHAT I WANT YOU TO SAY!” He choked, and the Glock dipped. With a swish of leaves, Arwein was behind Daniel again, whispering in his ear. “Daniel, it is all right; it is over – ” “NO!” Daniel screamed, renewed determination keeping the Glock aimed and steady. But now, though his eyes remained locked on Morgan, his words were for Arwein. “Don’t you see, old man? I told you at Flodden that it wouldn’t be over until Tywyll died, and you didn’t let me do it then, and he just set about…” he sniffed, “befouling the Earth with new disciples. No, Arwein, he continued, shaking his head, he needs to pay. I want to hear him say that he’s sorry, and then I want to send him forever to serve that Master that he’s so damned bound and determined to follow in any case, with my regards.” “I’m Turning, Daniel.” Daniel’s head jerked up. He sniffed again. “What? What did you say?” “I’ve left Tywyll. If he finds me, he’ll kill me, in worse ways than you can possibly devise – so by all means, if you’re going to do it, do it. But let me talk, first.” “No,” Daniel denied. “You and your… bloody games, Morgan; it’s always something, and now, you just want your life.” “Then why am I not begging for it? Daniel, I may be many things – but I was never a liar.” “Put the gun down, son,” Arwein urged quietly, directly into Daniel’s ear. “It is over. We have things to discuss, you and I, hm? But not here, and not now, and not in front of this miserable wretch.” He laid his hand on Daniel’s arm, but Daniel remained implacable, shaking his head. He wiped his nose on his sleeve, gun still extended. But then as he stood there, roiling and wounded, Bridget spoke. She had approached to Daniel’s right, winding between Arwein and Michael to stand at his side. She stepped out in front of him, between Daniel and Morgan, and laid a cool hand on his wrist. “Daniel, you’re right. Everything you said is right – everything. But don’t let him do this to you. Enough damage has already been done by the events of last month – and really, as well you know, this started years ago. I know what you’ve been through, Daniel, better than anyone… except maybe Arwein, and I know what this will do to you if you pull that trigger. How many have you killed in your life, Daniel?” “Two,” he whispered. “Two,” she repeated. “A little boy in Paris, and…” Daniel’s eyes overflowed. “Put the gun down, Daniel.” Her thumb stroked his wrist. “He killed Arwein.” “He tried.” “My father.” “I know.” “I can’t let him get away with that, Bridge…” “I know. I’m not saying that you should. I’m saying that this isn’t the way – and it isn’t your way. What brought your father back?” Daniel finally let his gaze move from Morgan. He felt broken. The light blue eyes that pulled him free were the same ones that had been there every time he’d fallen. Every time. “Love, Daniel. Love brought him back. Don’t undo that with hatred.” Bridget’s thumb stroked his wrist smoothly, hypnotically. He faltered. “I just found him, Bridge,” he argued, trying to sound reasonable. “I know. He isn’t going anywhere. Are you?” she asked, her eyes still on Daniel’s. “No.” Arwein’s voice was confident, comforting. “Ah –” Morgan equivocated. “Not you, you arrogant little pissant,” Bridget said quietly, still watching Daniel. “You don’t listen well, do you?” Morgan glanced at her, his face contorted in confusion and resentment. Arwein’s hand came back to lie once more upon Daniel’s shoulder. “Just as I have told you again and again, son,” Arwein’s dry tone was meant to lighten the mood, but Daniel was growing exhausted. “…you are the only threat to my life that I have had in some time. If you will simply stay put, I shall rest a great deal more easily – and safely.” “Daniel. He’s right here.” And Daniel broke. He released the Glock into Bridget’s swift grasp and turned into his father’s arms, weeping openly. Arwein sighed deeply. Daniel knew he was gesturing to Michael, but he didn’t care. His hands clutched Arwein’s Robe, and his face was buried in its folds as great, wracking sobs tore through him. _“Close your eyes, son,”_ Arwein whispered. Daniel obeyed, but he was barely paying attention – he knew only that they were transferring.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 21:52:45 +0000
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