Shadow Of Death . Amy Blankenship

his lips. She knew he was finally going to acknowledge her presence which was something he hadn't done since they’d entered this dimension and probably something he would never do again if she accomplished what he wanted.

      ‘Shadow,’ Deth called to his Night Walker. Seeing the long dark hair and the young supple body of the Egyptian girl appear in front of him, he knew he had found his way to take his daughter’s smile away from her.

      “Do you want me to kill her?” Shadow asked narrowing her gaze on her master.

      Deth's eyes again turned their eerie red as he brought the ring hand up then struck Shadow across the face with it.

      “What makes you think I would give that satisfaction to you? It will be I who ends her life,” Deth's voice was little more than an angry hiss. The color receded from his eyes as if it had never been there and he cupped the chin of the face that had turned away from him. “You will go find my daughter and destroy whatever is making her happy.”

      Shadow held her ground as Deth called forth a small army of nasty underlings, ordering them not only to watch her but to obey her every command. She nodded looking forward to the pain of passing through the dimensional wall. She would do that and more if it would give her a few days away from him.

      Deth watched Shadow step into her realm and smiled when his underlings followed her. Turning his attention to the ring on his finger, he moved toward the light shining through the window to admire it. He tilted his head to the side feeling not only Tiara’s pleasure but the ring bearer’s frustration as well.

      “You want her,” Deth whispered, his voice like a silken caress.

      He turned the ring on his finger, silently chanting the runic incantations inscribed on the band and he smiled again. The ring began to glow an angry red and tiny flames erupted from the inscription emphasizing the words as he recited them.

      “You shall have her… and all she has to offer,” Deth promised. “All you need to do is kill anyone in your path.”

      Chapter 3

      Chad was still giving Trevor the silent treatment when they pulled into the parking lot at Moon Dance. The only one that had gotten a word out of him was Evey and Trevor was starting to feel a bit left out. It wasn’t that he didn’t want Chad to live alone. Hell, even he understood the meaning of privacy.

      What scared him the most was the thought of Chad going back to that apartment so that whatever had killed him could show back up for a ‘murder part two’. No one had been there the last time until it was too late… and he seriously didn’t want to relive Chad’s death scene. Once had been more than enough.

      Trevor sighed when Chad got out of the car without a word and strode toward the entrance of the club.

      “Hey, hold up a minute,” Trevor called out closing Evey’s door a little too hard. Great, now he felt guilt over both friends.

      “What?” Chad growled not bothering to turn around.

      “Come on man,” Trevor said as he caught up and placed a hand on Chad’s shoulder, “This isn’t us ganging up on you. We just want to make sure whoever it was that killed you doesn’t get another chance.”

      “So you do that by taking away my freedom?” Chad asked with a hard look.

      Trevor shook his head, “You didn’t see yourself laying there lifeless in a pool of your own blood… that’s something I never want to see again. I know you’re walking around and talking now, but that doesn’t erase the fact that you died because some asshole stuck a knife in your heart and made it stop.”

      “Why do you care?” Chad asked curiously.

      “You know, the other day you asked me how I was able to keep my emotions in check when it came to good cops dying on the streets. Remember my answer?” Trevor ran his fingers through his hair feeling remorse over what he’d said that day.

      Chad frowned, “Yeah, you said that after a while you just grew immune to it or something like that.”

      Trevor looked him straight in the eye, “I lied.”

      “You what,” Chad asked remembering the fact that he’d punched Trevor in the face over that statement. He suddenly had the urge to do it again but thought harder on it this time. He blinked at his friend’s confession and remained there for a few seconds after Trevor had walked around him to head inside.

      “You coming, or are you just gonna stand there all day?” Trevor asked over his shoulder feeling a lot better now that he had dumped some of the weight he’d been carrying.

      “Yeah, I’m coming,” Chad mumbled feeling like a complete ass for acting like a spoiled brat all day.

      Trevor stopped him before they went inside wanting to lighten the mood, “I have a reputation to keep so… if you don’t mind.”

      Chad waved his hand, “Yeah, yeah, I know… no making you look like a girly-man regardless of how tempting it is.”

      Trevor raised his fist and growled, making Chad laugh and quickly dart around him to run inside. It was good to see Chad at least making an attempt to smile again. The man really hated being center of attention but that’s what he gets for getting himself killed and scaring the hell out of everybody.

      When Trevor heard Envy cry out and Chad groan loudly, he opened the door curiously and entered the building. A smirk appeared on his face when he saw Chad sprawled against the bar with an ecstatic Envy clinging to him like a dryer sheet.

      “So good to see you,” Envy squealed.

      Chad’s eyes went wide at the amount of force she was using to hug him. “Envy,” he rasped playfully, “can’t… breathe.”

      There were a few snorts and chuckles at Envy’s display to her recently resurrected brother, not that they blamed her.

      “Sorry,” Envy said with a giggle and let go of Chad to smile at Trevor. He quickly looked away and she knew why the moment she felt Devon’s arm come around her.

      Trevor looked around at all the preparations for Halloween. The club had already passed out flyers announcing the grand re-opening and everything had to be ready. They had changed their minds from having a private Halloween party, to making it the kickoff of their bigger, better club.

      “So, what’s going on?” Envy asked.

      “Chad won't stay at the castle and he refuses to live at Night Light,” Trevor answered earning a heated glare from Chad.

      Envy frowned showing her worry, “Why not? You can’t stay by yourself anymore.”

      Chad’s expression became brooding as he turned to his sister, “I’m a grown man Envy but I’m not ready for a rest home just yet. It shouldn’t matter if I live alone or not. If whatever attacked me wants to find me, then nothing is going to stop him or her.”

      “Or it,” Devon injected into the conversation and extended his hand, “Welcome back to the world of the living.”

      Chad shook his hand, “Yeah, I’d just like to be able to live that life with a sense of freedom.” He sighed when he noted Trevor and Devon giving each other the cold shoulder.

      Envy frowned, “But why can’t you live at Night Light? It’s the perfect place. No one is getting through those doors without a couple dozen wolves pouncing on them.”

      “I wouldn’t feel comfortable there,” Chad answered truthfully. “If I have to, I’ll set up a sleeping space in one of the more private jail cells at the station.”

      “Do you mean in the Hole,” Trevor demanded making a face.

      Chad shrugged, “At least I’ll be safe and under constant surveillance… which seems to be what all of you want.”

      “It’s not like that Chad,” Envy said sadly. “We’re your family… your