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A to Z Challenge - T is for Tawa

This is part of an ongoing story throughout the Challenge.

If you're just joining me now, please start with A is for Abby.

T IS FOR TAWA

"No." The word came out as barely a whimper.

There was an answering roar of pain from down the hall. The monsters had taken Demetrius to the ground. He was sitting on one, pounding another, and a third had just leapt onto his back.

There was no time for Abby to let loose her tears. She swiped at the monster who had swallowed Tawa with her sword, scratching it across the eyes, and then ran down the hall as her other blade emerged from her right hand. She used her momentum to skewer the creature on Demetrius' back. She hopped over him and tossed the dead thing into one of the rooms. She spun and chopped down another beast. Black blood splashed over the walls and dripped on her from the ceiling.

Demetrius killed the other two. Ignoring his wounds, he picked up his club and met the newly blinded monster as it tore down the hall at them. His swing sent it flying against the wall. Abby was there to stake it to the ground and disembowel it. There was nothing inside but shadows and ooze.

"No!" This time, her cry rattled her throat. Abby would have fallen to the floor if Demetrius didn't put an arm around her. A few shuddering sobs escaped her before she could speak again. "Tawa. It ate Tawa."

Demetrius held her closer, stroking her arm. "Tawa went down honorably. But there's no time for mourning. Now is the time for vengeance."

Since the night when Abby had killed her first monster, Tawa had been the only one who ever truly knew her. Her parents had no sympathy for a child's wild imagination. Her friends at school could never know. Then as an adult, no one knew her secret calling. Tawa wasn't only her teacher and guide, she was her confidante and best friend. Her life was a little less lonely with the stuffed hippo.

Now Tawa was gone.

"Vengeance." Abby numbly repeated. Her face hardened as she walked to the attic door and opened it.

A to Z Challenge - S is for Swallowed

This is part of an ongoing story throughout the Challenge.

If you're just joining me now, please start with A is for Abby.

S IS FOR SWALLOWED

Go to the attic. That's where most of the characters are killed in Burrows' book. Tawa informed them. It's also where Jessica tells Matt that she kissed his best friend, but he still protected her and got eaten.

"What else does the book say?" Abby followed Demetrius up the stairs. Her steps were careful and silent. Her heart was still pounding and her lips still tingling. "Seems kind of soap opera-ishy for a kids' book."

Matt was the older brother of the protagonist. His death helped motivate her. Not soap opera-ishy. I just have a mature appreciation for the story, Tawa said. The attic is through the door at the far end of the hall.

Abby reached the top of the stairs and stood beside Demetrius. She could feel the heat of his body and had to battle the temptation to touch him. She silently chastised herself, demanding focus. There were five doors between them and the closed one at the end of the hall. All five doors opened slowly and green glowing cat's eyes locked onto their prey.

"Of course," Abby groaned. "At the end of a hall filled with monsters."

"I'll clear the way." Demetrius tapped his club on the floor and crooked a finger at the beasts. "Come here, kitty, kitty, kitty."

The answering growls didn't sound feline at all, but the monsters had a big cat's grace as they padded out of the rooms and fell into a synchronized prowl. Demetrius raised his club and roared, barreling down the hall at them. He smashed two against the wall as a third bit into his forearm. A fourth jumped high into the air over the others going for his head.

Abby threw her blade with her right hand. It twirled in the air leaving a pale blue contrail and hit its mark.

The monster fell motionless to the ground, but there were still four. Demetrius snarled and slammed the beast attached to his arm onto the floor. The position allowed him to headbutt another as it charged him as Abby moved forward to join him.

Abby! Tawa screamed.

Turning around, but not quick enough, Abby faced another green eyed beast that had come from a linen closet. It had snatched Tawa from her backpack and, with a technique like an alligator, it swallowed the stuffed hippo with two hungry gulps.

A to Z Challenge - I is for Intelligence

This is part of an ongoing story for the Challenge.

If you're just joining me, please start with A is for Abby.

I IS FOR INTELLIGENCE

Abby returned to her loft with pizza in hand. She was about to toss down her satchel when she heard Demetrius. His voice was quiet and intense, talking about something going on in the old house at the end of the street. There were no houses on her street, only apartment buildings.

After a half minute more, she realized he was reading. Reading out loud.

Abby crept around the corner and peered into the loft. Demetrius was sitting in her window seat with the window wide open. Tawa was propped up across from him. He had the newest Burrows book in his hands. He paused in his reading and started to ask Tawa a question.

"You!" Abby gasped and stormed over to them, tossing the pizza onto the coffee table. "You can hear her. You've been making fun of me all this time for talking to myself and you can hear her!"

"Hey, darling. It's no reason to be mean to the pizza." Demetrius gave her that grin that infuriated her and made her stomach do flips at the same time.

If it's any consolation, I didn't know he could hear me either until yesterday. Tawa didn't sound very sympathetic. In fact, Abby was sure she sounded amused.

"Yesterday?" Abby growled and threw up her hands before pulling at her hair. "Why didn't you tell us? Do you realize how infuriating you are?"

"I didn't do it to annoy you, but it was an amusing game." Demetrius slipped out of the window seat and bent over to open the box, snagging a piece of pizza. "You never asked how much I knew about the Fearless. Well, the old tales say something about a spiritual guide for each warrior. In centuries past, the guide was wished into a sacred object - perhaps a statue or a symbol of one's faith."

I remember those days. I was in a statue of the Greek Goddess Artemis for a couple of generations. Tawa sighed wistfully.

"Yet your sacred object was a stuffed hippo." Demetrius chuckled as he took a bite, cheese stretching out. He used his tongue to skillfully reign it in.

"At least it's something I can carry around easily and not draw any attention. I think lugging around a statue would slow me down a bit." Abby stared at that tongue. She slammed her palms into her eyes and rubbed them.

We didn't go with our girls when they fought. That has been something new I've experienced with you, Tawa said. After being in the washer for the third time this week, I think I prefer being in an unmovable statue.

"Anyway," Demetrius continued. "As for being able to hear Tawa, I'm from a line that has some telepathic abilities. I don't have any active abilities, but my senses can pick up things on other wavelengths. I didn't say anything at first because I was trying to respect your relationship with your guide. I didn't want to intrude unless invited."

"So why did you?" Abby folded her arms.

"I got tired of listening to her whining about being stuck in the washer and took her out." Demetrius shrugged as he took a second bite.

I wasn't whining. Tawa sniffed.

"That I can believe," Abby said to Demetrius and picked up a piece of pizza for herself. "Okay, now we can all talk together. Anything in the book worthwhile?"

It's full of bad prose and self-entitled teens complaining their parents won't let them stay out past ten. Tawa snorted.

"As a guide for the Fearless, you have no insight into literature." Demetrius fetched the book from the window seat.

Yes, because I spend so much time with a book in my hands.

He ignored Tawa and held out the book to Abby. "Monsters praying on children. It's written simply, but speaks to the basest of fears. Great use of tension. Not graphic, but enough detail to be frightening. Leaves a good amount to the imagination." He raised a brow at that.

Abby stood motionless, pizza in hand. He knew what he was talking about. He knew literary techniques. No longer just a hot body, he had a keen mind. Nothing turned her on more than intelligence. She was so screwed.

"Did you hear me? It's triggering the imagination of its readers to realize their fears." Demetrius frowned slightly at Abby who still hadn't moved. He wiggled the book at her, waiting for her to take it.

Abby slowly reached up and took the book. Her hand fell heavily back to her side, the book bonking against her thigh. "Oh, I heard you."

A to Z Challenge - F is for Freakin' Fae

This is part of an ongoing story.

If you're just joining me now, please start with A is for Abby.

F IS FOR FREAKIN' FAE

"You scared that girl more than the monster." Abby wiped her face with an old towel from her car's trunk. She ignored the blood splattered fae when he held out his hand for one.

"I did not. She saw how handsome and heroic I am and swooned." Demetrius snatched the towel from her when she was done. The black blood was like jelly, but the stench didn't whet the appetite in the least.

"You came barreling in through her window growling like an animal just as I had the monster. The girl screamed and fainted." Abby opened the driver's side door and unhooked Tawa from her belt. She tossed the hippo into the backseat. "I told you to stay outside and watch."

Hey! I don't care if you're mad at that brute, but be a little more gentle with me. Tawa complained.

"The beast was going to suck you dry. If I hadn't helped-" Demetrius threw the towel back into the trunk and slammed it shut.

"It was not! I could've tied its proboscis in knots, but I was going for the quick clean kill. You're the one that made it messy." Abby sat in the driver's seat and jammed the keys into the ignition. This night had gone to hell. First a pack of monsters in the attic. She'd never seen so many together. They were usually solitary creatures. Then this damn annoying fae had attached himself to her and gotten in the way of what would have been an easy kill. The mess from the fight was extensive, but all evidence of the monster in the closet would be gone as soon as the sun rose. The little girl would remember, but her memory would fade with time. Unfortunately Abby's would not.

Demetrius stood beside the car with his arms folded. The moonlight highlighted and complimented his profile. Even covered in filth, he still managed to look hot. Abby yanked her door closed and cursed herself for noticing.

"Well?" Abby glared at him.

"Well what?" He snipped back.

"I'm going home now." She couldn't believe she was waiting for him.

Neither can I. Tawa huffed.

"Where do you live? I'll meet you there." Demetrius said with a nonchalance that made Abby frown all the more.

"It's a bit of a drive. Just get in." Abby sighed.

"I'm not getting into an iron box for the second time tonight." He stood his ground.

Ha! That's right. The fae hate cars. Tawa laughed. Drive off and leave him in the dust.

"All right then. Can't say it was nice meeting you. Bye." Abby shifted the car into drive and pulled away from the curb. She saw him curse and snarl in her rearview mirror and then run up to grab the passenger side door.

"I'm coming with you." Demetrius sat down and shut the door. His hand gripped the handle and he seemed to be concentrating on not looking ill. Yet that expression alone made him appear constipated.

"Don't worry." Abby smirked. "I won't take advantage of you in your weakened state." She drove down the street and headed to the highway.

"You can give it a try, if you'd like, babe." His sly smile made hers evaporate.

"Enough with the pet names already!" Abby gripped the wheel tight in both hands. "Freakin' fae. Prancing around all fancy and pretty, thinking they can have any woman or man. I'm sure you all laugh about it at court and drink your fruity fairy wines. I will not be one of those humans. Flirt with someone else."

"So you think I'm pretty?" His smile was weak, but it was still there, still tempting.

Open the car door and kick him out. He won't have the strength to fight you. Tawa offered up her suggestion. You should have listened to me.

"Enough with your comments too." Abby shot a look over her shoulder at the hippo. Then she poke Demetrius in the arm with a rigid finger. "You're an egotistical jerk. You're only here because of your blood debt or whatever. Act like you're an honorable being, for goodness sake."

"My honor demands that I give my life for yours if the situation demands it. I will hold true to it. Do not doubt me." Demetrius' voice was quiet and serious. He swallowed thickly. "I'm not one of those, as you said, freakin' fae from the court. Those are distant cousins and I dislike them as much as you. I'm of the wild, a hunter. One of the best of my clan. No prancing, no fruity wines, no silly gossiping."

No matter the chill of the night, Abby pressed the button to lower his window and let the fresh air wash over him. He breathed in deeply, looking a little less tense.

He's still an egotistical jerk. Tawa grumped.

"You're one of the Fearless. I have much to prove in your eyes it seems." Demetrius stuck an arm outside and rested his hand on the roof.

I wonder if he'll stick his head outside like a dog. The hippo chuckled, but it tapered off as she was ignored again.

Abby said nothing. Her gut told her he was being honest. He was also proving that he would risk a lot by riding in a car. It was clearly weakening him and making him sick. She sped up to get them to her place a little faster. She didn't know what she was going to do with him, but perhaps another person to fight with her with the increase of monsters lately would be a good thing.

A to Z Challenge - E is for Exactly

I'm writing a story spanning over all the days of the challenge.

If you're just joining me now, please start with A is for Abby.

E IS FOR EXACTLY

"If you don't stop following me, I will kill you." Abby marched along the dark street. She ignored the fact her body was very aware of him keeping pace beside her, arms nearly brushing. Or at least tried to ignore it. She should have left him in the trunk.

He's going to be hard to get rid of, you know. You should have listened to me. Tawa said in her lecturing voice. Maybe you could let the next monster eat him.

Abby softly grunted wanting to agree, but knowing she couldn't let such a thing happen. Being one of the good guys sucked sometimes.

"No, you won't." Demetrius smiled, breathing in the night air as if they were taking a casual stroll. "I've always wanted to see one of the Fearless in action."

"And what do you know of the Fearless?" Abby couldn't deny her curiosity. Tawa had taught her the history of what she was, but it was suppose to be a secret. Only a few privileged others were suppose to know of their existence.

"The Fearless." Demetrius pronounced the name in a deep dramatic voice and made a grand gesture with his arms. "Chosen by the gods to protect the children from their fears made real. They're given blessed weapons, magical sight, and superior strength and dexterity. They're rumored to be fierce beauties." He eyed her with a smirk. "There's truth in that one. It's also said that since they are fearless, they die young because they lack the wisdom to know when to retreat."

"You never run away." Abby huffed with a shake of her head. Trying to compliment her and call her stupid at the same time. He was the idiot. So he knew a few things, but he didn't know her. She was smart. Yet she refused to think of running away when there was the life of a child at stake.

"Exactly." Demetrius looked smug. "Lucky you have me with you now."

Yeah, lucky you. Tawa snorted.

Abby turned right and headed up the driveway to her second stop of the night. For the longest time, she only fought once or twice a week. Then this last year, the number of monsters had rapidly increased. She had been unsuccessfully trying to find out why. Even with Tawa's guidance, the answers eluded her.

"You want to see one of the Fearless in action? Here's your chance. Just make sure you don't get in my way." Abby went around to the back of the house and scanned the second floor windows. Thick shadows rimmed one in particular. Making sure Tawa was secure, she climbed up onto the roof above the porch and crept over to the window. She paused to peer into the dark room through the slats of the blind and startled as she felt his warm breath near her cheek.

"Nasty beast in there." Demetrius moved to remove the screen and see if the window would open. "Best let me go first."

"And you best not set off the alarm." Abby pushed him aside and placed her hands on either side of the window. They began to glow and the tiny light she had seen blinking in the top inside corner of the window went out. She slid the window up and didn't look at him as she slipped into the girl's room to dispatch the monster in the closet.

A to Z Challenge - D is for Demetrius

This is part of a continuing story. Please start from my post A is for Abby.

D IS FOR DEMETRIUS

Run, Abby! Run!

"Did you just call me cookie?" Abby folded her arms and lifted her chin. She felt even more riled when he chuckled softly.

"I did." He stretched out his long legs and ran his hands along them. Then he eased himself up to stand in front of her. He was pure muscled grace. He was about ten inches taller than her five foot six.

Abby found herself staring at his broad chest and his fascinating tattoos. She had a few of her own that weren't visible at the moment, but nothing as big and intricate as his. The ink amplified his natural physique and exotic features, making him even more sexy. Oh man, she could not let herself get taken with a man she saved from monsters. She had no room in her life for relationships.

Damn right you don't. Tawa interrupted her thoughts. I told you to run, but no. I mean, who listens to an old spirit with centuries of wisdom? Maybe if you had a G.I.Joe as a favorite toy when you were a kid, I'd be stuck in a figure you'd actually pay attention to.

"Shut up." Abby hissed at the hippo.

"Are you telling me to shut up?" The stranger blinked.

"No. It's-" Abby grumbled as she cut herself off. "Who are you? How did you get captured by the monsters?"

"Ah yes, proper introductions are in order. My name is Demetrius of the Darkwood clan." He dipped his head, smiling again. He held out his hand to her and raised an eyebrow as she hesitated.

Darkwood. Even worse. Tawa grunted.

"Abigail White." Abby paused again, considering Tawa's comment. Yet shaking his hand couldn't hurt.

She reached out to take his hand, but as her palm almost settled into his larger one, he slid his hand up to clasp her upper forearm. Her immediate reaction was to grip his as well and shift her body back as his moved closer. Abby willed her swords to be at the ready, but her hands didn't even spark with a glow. At least she was reassured he wasn't a threat. Not in the traditional I'm-going-rip-off-your-head-and-eat-you monster kind of way at any rate.

"Well met, Abigail White." His voice had lowered an octave, graveling in her ears in just the right way.

"Yeah, uh, nice to meet you too, Demetrius of the clan Darkwood." Did he see her eyes drop down past his beltline when she said Darkwood? Why did she have to look down there? Pulling her arm free, she took a few steps back. "Tell me how you came to be here."

"Ah, well, unfortunate incident. I tracked this pack of beasts here, and I would have killed them all, but the boys stumbled into the mix. I let myself be captured for the sake of the children, but I didn't expect the beasts to put me into that box." Demetrius shook his head and threw a dirty look over his shoulder at the steamer trunk. "I don't suspect they knew they had me contained quite so well, but that they did."

"But it's just a trunk. You could have kicked through the lid." Abby didn't believe the trunk, no matter how heavy it was, could trap him inside.

He couldn't kick through it. The trunk is ribbed with iron. Tawa pointed out, and when Abby didn't react, she went on. He's one of the Fae. If you remove your eyes from his crotch for a few seconds, you'll see the pointed ears.

"You're a freakin' fairy!" Abby yelped and shook her hands as if she could somehow make her swords come out. Still nothing. She could see the whole of him now. The pointed ears and fine features. His fingers and legs were a little longer than what would be normal for humans. His black pants looked almost leather, but weren't quite anything she recognized. The matching boots went to his knees and then there were the strange tattoos. Black ink and yet something more than regular ink. Something that seemed to subtly flow beneath his skin.

"Well, fairy's not exactly the right term, but human minds are limited. Yet I'm pleased to see you worked it out on your own." Demetrius smirked and then he was down on his knees in front of her. His hands lay on his thighs as he looked up at her. His eyes were the color of twilight so close to night.

"Abigail White, one of the Fearless chosen by the gods, you have saved my life this night. My life is yours until I can repay blood for blood and breath for breath." His tattoos shimmered with his words. "I, Demetrius of the Darkwood clan, will not leave your side until my blood debt is paid. My body and soul are yours."

Abby swallowed. His soul and, oh, his body were hers. Her mind went off on a little erotic adventure with that. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. No way. The Fae were always bad news, especially since he knew what she was.

"I release you from your debt. I don't need you following me around. I've got work to do." She turned and walked to the stairs. She had to get out of there, get away from him. "You go home, or wherever. Whatever. I need to leave."

"It's not that easy to rid yourself of me, baby doll." Demetrius whispered near her ear with a quiet laugh. Abby hadn't even heard him come up behind her.

I did tell you to run. Tawa sighed.

A to Z Challenge - C is for Cookie

For the A to Z Challenge this year, I'm writing a story spanning the entire 26 days.

If you're just joining in now, it would help if you started with A is for Abby.

As for the name of this post, I couldn't resist!

C IS FOR COOKIE

Abby made sure each of the monsters no longer had heads before she retrieved her grumbling hippo. Her swords had retreated into her palms. As they didn't glow any longer, she knew the danger had passed.

That beast could have torn me to pieces. Tawa huffed as she was hooked onto Abby's belt. Now I'm covered in blood. Again. How many times in the past week has that happened?

"I'll run you through the washer. Now be quiet a moment." Abby cocked her head, listening.

The washer? You're a cruel woman, Abigail Grace. You know the washer makes me sick.

"Shush. I need to find the children." Once the hippo quieted, Abby's acute senses picked up the ragged sounds of breathing. Poor things were so scared, and rightly so. There were three steamer trunks against the far wall. She opened the lid of the first to find the two boys. The littlest one cried out and curled up against his brother.

"It's all right now. The monsters are dead." Abby liked to think she was good at being comforting, but only time would help erase this nightmare from their memories. And eventually for most kids, it was forgotten or at least passed off as an imagined event from their childhood.

The boys didn't move at first. The eldest peeked over the edge of the trunk and saw the black heaps. He silently urged his brother to stand up with him. The littlest boy clutched a book to his chest.

"Don't worry. They can't hurt you now. Go back to your room." Abby didn't bother with a smile, but stood back to give them space. The eldest boy glanced at Tawa on her hip and stood a bit straighter. With his arms protectively around his little brother, they went to the attic stairs and started down. He then paused.

"Hey, are you Mark's math tutor?"

"Yes, but let's not mention tonight to anyone." Abby put a finger to her lips. "Yet if you hear of any other kids having problems like yours, give Mark a note to pass on to me."

"Okay." The boy urged his brother to go down the stairs and then pointed to the other two trunks. "They caught the man that tried to help us. I don't think they ate him yet." Nodding, he disappeared downstairs.

A man? Tawa piped up. That's not possible.

"Could be someone like me." Abby argued and opened the second trunk. She dropped the lid seeing the bottom covered with dead rats. The third trunk was the largest and heaviest. "Damn iron monstrosity. How did people ever travel with these things?"

The only people like you are woman. Men aren't fit for such gifts. Tawa sniffed. Is anyone really in there? I can't see.

With the lid open, the moonlight streamed through the single window and onto the unmoving occupant of the trunk. He was curled up awkwardly, being a very tall man. His dark hair covered his face, but it moved with his breaths. He was well muscled and shirtless.

"Oh yeah, there's a man in there." Abby couldn't stop staring. He was bruised and scratched up, but otherwise intact. There was a bit of blood, but it was his exotic whorled tattoos that drew her eyes over his bare skin.

You're gaping. I can tell you're gaping. Let me see.

Abby turned Tawa to face the trunk and directed her stuffed head down.

Close the trunk and leave now. Leave now. Tawa's voice rose as if trying to push Abby with it.

"I'm not leaving the poor man after he tried to help the boys." Abby shook her head and reached in to hook her arms under his shoulders. He was warm and heavy as the trunk's lid. She slid him inelegantly onto the floor and pursed her lips as she debated what to do next.

Okay, you helped him. Let's go.

"We shouldn't really leave him. He'll wake up and likely startle the boys, maybe wake their parents. It'll be messy. Maybe I should try to rouse him-"

Abby! Tawa cut her off with a growl. No. Listen to me for once. Leave now.

"I can't just leave him." Abby hissed back.

"And I thank you for that, cookie." The man stretched and propped himself up on his elbows. He grinned a wickedly gorgeous grin at her. "It saves me having to track you down to settle my blood debt."

A to Z Challenge - B is for Beheading

I'm doing one story throughout the Challenge.

If you're just joining me now, please start with A is for Abby.

B IS FOR BEHEADING

Another coming behind you! Tawa shouted. And it's a big one!

"A little busy with the two in front." Abby hissed as she ducked under a massive set of claws as they raked through the fetid attic air. Still crouched, she spun to hamstring the first monster with one glowing sword and thrust the second blade up into the gut of the other beast. The blood was hot and black as it splattered over her, making her stomach churn.

What did you want me to do? Stare him down my my unblinking button eyes? Tawa snorted.

Abby twisted around to slash the injured monster's bulbous eyes and face the third ugly thing behind her. It was indeed a big one. Likely the original monster in the attic. She circled around it, stepping over the twitching bodies of its pack. Its gigantic fish eyes followed her every move.

"Big eyes all the better to see me with and big claws all the better to tear me apart. These guys are fast and wary. Any suggestions, boss?" Abby was panting. She had taken five down already and she didn't think they were dead. If she didn't take out this huge fellow swiftly, the others might rise and she'd be their next meal.

Take off its head. It's the only way. This one's powerful. The stuffed hippo's tone was tense. Abby grunted for want of more info. Get behind it. It can't get you with either the claws or fangs that way.

"Yeah, so easy. It's totally going to let me do that." Abby could feel her skin prickling. If she didn't make her move very soon, the monster would come at her. She wouldn't win that fight. There was no way to behead it in one smooth move either.

With the tips of her blades, she cut the straps to the carrier that held Tawa on her back. Having an unassuming second pair of eyes had saved her life several times. As the hippo slipped, Abby caught her with the flat edges of her swords and threw Tawa at the monster.

Tawa shrieked and the beast's first instinct was to catch her. As it did so, Abby leapt to one side and somersaulted to stand behind it. She rammed her swords into its neck and yanked them outwards. The monster's garbled wail rattled the single window, but she didn't hesitate in slicing one blade through the top of its spinal column and severing the behemoth's head from its body. The head hit the floor with a meaty thud.