Reclaimed(24)
Author: Diane Alberts

Well, duh, mongrels didn’t run around in clothes. Whatever the hell a mongrel was.

A mongrel turned out to be a huge freaking beast that stood eight-feet tall and had long, black fur. The fur didn’t look shaggy or coarse, surprisingly: in fact, it looked silky. He stood on his hind legs, sniffing the air. Catching the scent of his prey? She shivered at the sight. These beasts were out there, and humans were none the wiser.

It horrified her.

Isaac took off into the woods, and she rested a hand on the window pane, silently wishing him luck. Studying the empty spot he had left, she headed to the door to collect the clothes scattered about the lawn. A form stepped into her path, and she shrieked in surprise. Holding a hand to her racing heart, she gaped at the face looming over her.

Oh, right. The giant man Isaac had left behind to guard her. How had she forgotten about him?

What had Isaac called him? Connor?

“I’m sorry. I forgot you were there….” She let her voice trail off, seeking his name.

He smiled. “Connor.”

“Connor. Right. I’m Sabrina. Nice to meet you.” She held out a hand to him, and he shook it. Oh God, her hand disappeared inside his—like a newborn baby and its father.

Yikes.

“I know who you are. I’ve been here the past few days, keeping an eye on things.”

“Oh…really? I had no idea.” Though it felt a bit unnerving to have a strange man lurking about, it also comforted her. He sure looked like one heck of a man.

“Don’t be frightened. Isaac sent me to help keep you safe, not guard you. You’re not a prisoner, or anything.”

“Well, thanks for keeping an eye on things. I’m gonna go outside and grab his clothes.” She gestured at the door and moved toward it. She paused when he blocked her way a second time. She stepped to the side and tried to pass him, but he blocked her way once more. She raised an eyebrow in question.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Sabrina. I’m going outside to keep watch, so I’ll gather them for him. You stay inside, okay?”

Well, if that wasn’t a contradiction, she didn’t know what would be. Not a prisoner, but not allowed outside?

Okay.

“Wait!” she exclaimed. “Can I ask you a question?”

He paused mid-stride, turning to her with a raised brow. “Sure thing, ask away.”

“You’re like Isaac, right? An Enforcer?”

“Yes, I am.” His chest puffed out as he straightened to his full height. How the hell did he fit in the house?

“So, why did you come tell Isaac about the problem? Why not run and take care of it yourself? I’m not upset or anything,” she hurried to assure him. “Just curious.”

“Oh, well as the Ruler, Isaac gets told of all incidents, no matter how minor. Also, he has more powers than any Enforcer. He’s faster, stronger, and more capable than all of us combined. So it makes sense he would choose to go, since the mongrel—” Again his nose scrunched in disgust. “Came so close to you.”

“The Ruler?” Her mind raced as she tried to figure out what that meant. It sounded as if he insinuated Isaac was a leader of some sort. And Isaac certainly hadn’t mentioned being in charge of anything. Or anyone.

Connor stiffened imperceptibly at her question and cursed under his breath. “I’m sorry, but I have to go outside. If you have questions, please ask Isaac.” The door slammed shut behind him, leaving her accompanied only by the unanswered questions filling her mind.

Chapter Seven

Louisa lurked close-by. Elijah smelled her stench. Well, she didn’t actually smell bad, but to him, it reeked of evil. Since scaring off Sabrina, he’d been following Louisa across the country, in a game of cat and mouse, one he didn’t like to play. She, however, loved having his undivided attention.

Sick bitch.

He’d been trying to kill her for years. No matter how fast he ran, she always escaped due to her gift, her ability to see the future. Not the distant future, but she saw the world five seconds ahead of the rest of them, in her own unique time zone.

In battles, it proved to be an invaluable tool to have. She’d be dead by now—by his hand—if she hadn’t been blessed with such a gift. Instead, she lived to watch him suffer in the hell she’d put him in. She laughed as he resisted blood and mocked him in his feeble attempts to remain more human than monster.

And Isaac being an Enforcer thrilled her to no end. She never missed an opportunity to gloat over it. He skidded to a halt when her trail disappeared.

Where the heck did she go?

“Hello, Elijah. Lovely to see you. What brings you to see me on this glorious day?”

Following her voice, he located her on the highest branch of the tree overhead. She always hung around in trees. He wondered fleetingly if she had been a cat in her previous life. Hah, more like a lion. Her eyes glittered in the sunlight, and she smiled in the face of his frustration.

He growled in return before replying. “You know why I’m here, Louisa. Leave her alone. She’s done nothing to you. Take your anger out on me. She is innocent.”

Louisa dropped to the ground in front of him and tossed him through the air. He slammed into a nearby tree and slid to the ground. He leapt to his feet, ready to defend himself.

“Take your anger out on me,” she mocked. “Amusing, I know I’ve heard similar words before. The memory escapes me, though. Oh, where have I heard it? Hmm….” She tapped her finger against her chin as if she strained to remember. Her eyes focused on him, and he glared in return. “Oh, silly me. It was from you as I broke your little harlot into pieces in front of your very eyes. Such a delightful day, too.” She cackled.

Anger consumed him, causing him to rip a nearby tree out of the ground and throw it at her. Futile effort at best, but that didn’t stop him.

He despised her.

She sidestepped it before continuing. “Now, now Elijah. Don’t be a poor sport. You’ll ruin my fun. And I’m so looking forward to breaking her apart again.”

He roared and lunged for her. His arms sought for purchase, but met thin air. He crashed to the ground and rolled to his feet. Though he lacked the ability to outthink her, he didn’t lack the ability to outrun her. He effortlessly caught up to her and knocked her face first on the ground. She snarled while she fought to free herself, and he howled in satisfaction as he grasped her head in one hand and her neck in the other. Just before he had the chance to rip her head off, she managed to free herself by kicking him in the balls.