The Second Covenant

The fall leaves crunched under Necromancer’s hooves, the mist that was hanging low curling around my crimson wool cloak, I have quite a flare for dramatic clothing, and my booted feet. I was breathlessly anticipating my reunion with my guys. It had been months since I’d seen any of them, since they’d gone off to college and forgotten about me. Nero pranced under me and I rested a soothing hand on his ebony shoulder. “Easy big man.”

I realized we had come to a clearing, to the site where the old Putnam barn had once stood. Burned down on the night of my father’s Ascension. I never liked coming here, something about the place raised the hair on my arms, made my stomach roll, just looking at the skeletal remains of what had once been part of our family heritage.

Once there had been five bloodlines, and everyone had thought that the Putnam line had died with John, but he’d sired a bastard and that son had sons, and one of them had come after my dad. Chase Collins. I’d seen pictures of him and wondered how such a good looking guy could have turned so dark. But I had my own experience to fall back on, that not all pretty faces held true beauty underneath. Chase had disappeared that night, and no one had heard from him since. It was a mystery.

As I sat there, a chill wind wrapped around my body, like seeking fingers and I thought, just for a moment that I felt something, some kind of power surge. It felt dark and malevolent, seeking… I called my own and looked over my shoulder through eyes that were now solid black. But there was nothing, just the rustle of the falling leaves, and a mournful cry of a bird.

A twig snapped behind me and I barely caught back the girlish eep as I whirled my stallion towards the sound. Only to find air and mist, the long shadows of the trees and nothing else. There was darkness behind me, but there was light in front. I could feel them, their power sliding against my skin like heated honey. The shadows fell from my eyes and I glared at the tree line. “I hate it when you guys do that.”

Three figures materialized from the soupy mist, like phantom specters from some gothic story. Tristan had become that gorgeous man, worthy of GQ, his eyes somehow a deeper shade of blue, like sapphires.

Riley was still the golden god, his smile mocking and smug that they had been able to sneak up on me. And Peyton, he was just melt your bones hot. Him and Druex were in a close tie for 1st on my list of the worlds most hot men. He was now twenty one to my soon to be eighteen, Riley and Tristan both twenty.

Peyton was wearing a black pea coat, a faded red shirt and jeans and managed to look like the lord of temptation. His hair was a bit longer than I remembered, tucked behind his ears, curling at his nape. He took in my face with glowing eyes, my outfit and let his lips twitch.

“Sorry Little Red Riding Hood, didn’t mean to scare you.” Peyton drawled, it made my stomach coil, a fine tremor riding up from between my thighs, straight to my heart, but not because of him, but because his words reminded me of another. “I guess that makes you the Big Bad Witch?” I returned giving my long hair a flip over my shoulder. Peyton just gave me a long, very wolfish smile and I rolled my eyes as I swung down from Necromancer’s back.

Tristan and Riley both ran at me and tackled me down to the soft bed of leaves, a pile of laughter and my own squeals at they tried to find my ticklish spots. We rolled a little to close to Nero and the big stallion snorted in disapproval. “Get…Off!” I gasped around my laughter. “Oww, Hey!” Riley said, pulling his hand back and shaking it to cool the zap of electricity I’d given him, Tristan too. “No fair.” Tristan pouted sulkily and I rose to my knees to hug him. “Course not, when have I ever played fair?”

His blue eyes sparkled mischievously, his lush lips parting on a heavy sigh. “Never.” I kissed his cheek and winked. “Learned from the best.” I let Riley pull me up into a bone crushing hug. “We missed you.” He said into my hair. I smiled and inhaled the scent of his cologne. Polo Sport. He was such a preppie. “Like another hole in your head.”

What little breath I had left was squeezed out when Tristan joined the hug from behind. “Air guys, being crushed by your manliness.” I gasped and they let me go, Tristan was grinning. “For that I’ll forgive the zap.” I gave him a mock glare and turned to Peyton, who was still hanging out by the edge of our little circle. “Not going to join the crush?” He shook his head with a hot look. “I don’t crush pretty girls.” He pulled his hands out of his pockets and held them out for mine.

Obviously I took them and let him pull me into his arms, let him fold his heat around me. “Good thing I’m pretty then huh?” It might have been my imagination, but he pressed his nose to my hair and inhaled deeply. “Who said I was talking about you?” And he lifted me up, a few of my vertebra cracked back into place, and he crushed me to his chest as he whirled.

We laughed and I felt a weight lift from my heart, I realized I’d been afraid they wouldn’t come. I said so and the smiles dimmed a little. “Of course we came Cherish.” Riley said, tweaking my hair like he’d done when I was little. Tristan looked at me, still cuddled under Peyton’s arm, his blue eyes hot with knowledge. “Are you scared?” If I’d answered truthfully I would have said yes. Instead I gave him a steady smile. “If the three of you did fine then so will I.” Riley didn’t smile back and Peyton’s arm around me tightened a little. “We didn’t get the whole dog and pony show Cherish.”

No they hadn’t. My dad had decided that since we had no idea how I would be affected, or if anyone else might be affected by my ascension, that there would be a full circle. My dad, and my uncles, and my guys would make a protection circle. Would stand guard to watch me as I came into my powers fully. Hell yeah I was scared. “That’s because I’m the baby remember?” That got a grudging smile from Tristan.

I felt Peyton rest his cheek on top of my head and he again wrapped both arms around me. “Spoiled princess is more like it.” I poked him in the ribs, but didn’t pull away, I wanted this, the comfort of his arms. Of his quiet strength, his support, I needed it from all of them because no one knew what was going to happen tomorrow night.

I looked at them, and saw more changes. Riley didn’t have such an intense look of misbehaving to him, Tristan seemed more commanding than before. And Peyton? He just seemed bigger than life, if he’d been walking down the street, there was this air about him that I knew people would get out of his way. Predatory. That was the word. He felt more…coiled and ready to spring. Why?
“So Cherish, why are we all out here, instead of at home, where its warm?” Riley shoved his hands into his coat pockets and stomped his feet, he hated the cold. “Because I didn’t want the rent’s overhearing what I have to say. The Halloween party at the Dells is tonight, and I need your help to pull a prank.”