Setting Things Right

Tommy left before Nickolas could change his mind. He knew Jason was in for a sound beating, but he also knew there wasn't anything he could do to prevent it. He had knowingly betrayed Jason by preventing Aden's manipulated memories from resurfacing. Nickolas wanted the boy to 'remember' the deal he made to betray Rose, but not the truth of him falling in love with her. Tommy knew Joey would be able to fix everything, so he prevented the memories from being restored by talking directly to Aden's mind and putting his consciousness to sleep. He had hoped Joey would have come to retrieve the boy herself, so he was taken aback when it was Jinka who had come instead. He had heard of the werecat before but had never come across him before.

Truth be told, he was caught off guard at the man's speed and agility. Never before had he met anyone who could move faster than Jason in a fight, but Jinka was like lightning and smoke making impossible to lay a hand on him. Nor had anyone been able to leave a mark on the pale vampire's skin before, yet Jinka had battered him well and left deep bruises upon his face and arms.

Tommy had only received one hit from the werecat. The man planted a foot upon his chest with enough power to launch him across the room. He hit the wall with enough force to blur his vision. Sliding down to the floor, he opted to 'play dead' to avoid actually dying. Not that he couldn't have fought the man, he was, after all one of the werekind as well, but he wanted Aden to be saved, losing to Jinka would ensure that would happen. It was better for Jason and Nickolas to think of him as weak rather than knowing he betrayed their trust.

Tommy knew Aden would be taken to the Valley of the Damned and he was sure Rose would be there to meet him, which meant he needn't worry about them. They were safe from demons and human alike in that valley.

He angled his truck east into Idaho to where a secluded cabin stood within a thick forest. It was time to face the truth of the prophetic phoenix. The avenger of half-breeds. How long had he denied her existence by helping those who hunted her? How long had he believed he was doing his kind a favor by exposing her whereabouts to Nickolas and Adrian? Decades. Shame engulfed him at the realization that he had betrayed his savior not just once, but numerous times under the guise of the greater good.

Her wedding was the day he was awakened to the truth of who and what she is. That day she wiped herself from her husband's mind and then burned the church and all who remained in it. His first thought was that she was exacting vengeance upon those who had come to harm her. But her eyes burned with justice, not anger. Compassion, not vengeance. Locking eyes, Tommy felt his soul come to life and his heart began to race as tears of repentance streamed down his face. He knew then he'd been wrong about her. He knew then he had to make things right. He broke eye contact within that moment and picked up Kaden's body before the flames could reach him. He would start by saving the man she loved.

He pulled his truck to a stop in the midst of the woods at the end of the barely visible jeep trail. He sucked a breath to steady his nerves. It was time to visit the famed hunter of the damned. He walked through the dense foliage to a small outcropping where the cabin stood hidden from the world. Even random hikers wouldn't stumble across this rustic building. One had to know it was there for it to be found. Such as the power of the demons. All things are easily hidden to human eye. But Tommy wasn't entirely human.

He lifted his hand to knock on the door while tying to imagine what he would say to this hunter. "You're late." A deep male voice uttered behind him. Tommy jerked his head around to find Adrian standing there with knowing grin upon his face. "I was expecting to see much sooner than today."

"Um… I – I came to – um…"

"I know why you're here." Adrian's smile fell from his lips. Passing the dumbfounded Tommy, he opened the door and walked in expecting him to follow. He pointed toward a small sofa in the main room. "Have a seat. Would like a lemonade?" Without waiting for an answer, he disappeared around the corner and returned with two cans of lemonade. He set one in front of his guest while opening and downing the other. He plopped down in the chair opposite of the sofa and crossed one leg over the other as he relaxed into the back of the chair. "Sorry, you don't like lemonade? I don't have anything else."

Tommy was snapped out of his daze. He hadn't expected Adrian to know he was coming here… or to be so polite. "Oh, um. No, it's fine." He raised the can to open it. "How did you know I would come here?"

"I have my ways." He smiled. "How have you been, Tommy. It's been a long time since I've gotten to speak with you. Although, I have to say you don't look a thing like Nickolas described you."

"Oh?"

Adrian dropped his foot to the floor and leaned closer to dumbstruck Tommy. "He said you were weak and small. Clearly his vision is impaired."

Tommy swallowed. "Yes, well. We all have our own perceptions of how things are. Sometimes our observations are correct while other times they skewed."

"Indeed."

"You said you knew why I came."

"Yes. You think that little witch is the phoenix your kind has been waiting for."

"Yes. I am convinced that she is. And if I am correct than your life is in danger."

Adrian through his head back and laughed a hearty laugh that shook Tommy's nerves. "Oh! That's rich!" He slapped his knee as he continued to laugh mockingly. "I. Am. A. Demon. I cannot be killed." He seethed through an unsettling smile. "God himself can't kill the likes of me!"

"She was born out of the purifying fires of Heaven. She is the one that cannot experience death." Tommy stiffened his resolve to not fear the hunter before him. "She will death to the wicked while liberating the innocent."

"Don't be so daft. She is just another freak of nature just like you. And like you, she will die by my own hands!"

"I come to warn you and you threaten me?"

"It's no threat. It's a promise." He spoke as he stood from his seat bearing his fangs. His claws extending from his fingers.

Tommy arose from the sofa extending his own claws and fangs. "If you are able, then so be it."

*

Rose entered the cabin where Aden lay sleeping upon the table. Joey and Allie stood near him waiting for her return. Rose directed her question to Joey as she gazed upon Aden's youthful face. "Finished?"

"Yes. He is completely repaired. All blocks and manipulations have been removed."

"And are you able to see them for yourself?"

"I am not."

"Then how do I know what you say is true if you cannot see the memories yourself?"

"I don't have to see them to know how to fix them. It's similar to electricity for me. I feel the currents and correct them."

"Could you excuse us for a minute, Allie? George?"

"Of course." They bowed slightly and headed for the door.

Once the closed the door behind them, Rose spoke again. "Do you consider yourself a compassionate person, Joey?"

"Perhaps. I saved you from the flames more than once. I've provided this sanctuary for our kind. Why do you ask?"

"I saw Jinka and what you did to his family."

"And?"

"You were right to protect from doing something stupid to his wife. But you were wrong to take those kids from him."

"They are fine with their grandfather and Jinka is better off to not be tied down to such responsibilities as raising children that are not his own."

"Since you cannot see for yourself, give me your hand and I will show you what I see in him." Joey complied and in less than a second, she saw the memories of the girls through Jinka's heart. She felt the pain he felt saw the pain the eyes of the two older girls at their separation. She retracted her hand as if it had been burned and held it close to her chest. "If you have even an ounce of compassion, you would do whatever necessary to reunited that man with his children."

"DNA tests have been done. There's nothing I can…"

"Yes, there is. You can fix it."

"We need him."

"Those girls need him more."

"But.."

"Blood doesn't make a family, Joey. Love does. Fix. It." She jutted her chin towards the door. "Now, please. I'll deal with Aden in the meantime." Noticing her hesitancy, "Don't worry, I will share whatever information I find that is necessary."

"Very well. I will do as you have asked."