Call of the Covenant Chapter 4

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Nyx Gasped. "Floor's cold. Lets move back to the bed... "

"Allow me.." They rose into the air and landed on the bed again.

"Hummm." Nyx closed her eyes and arched her back with the morion that they created.

Marcus growled and increased the tempo.

Nyx dug her fingernails into his back and whispered into his ear. "If your gonna get faster...get harder."

"Hm hm hm ask and ye shall receive." He obliged her.

"Thank you." she once again flipped them over and with keeping the pace began to draw blood from...

Marcus looked at her, "That's cheating."

"It's only cheating if you don't like it." She closed her eyes once more and enjoyed the motion.

He laughed again. "You miss understand me, I'm not complaining.

"Didn't say that you were." Nyx could feel the intensity build. They were almost to the breaking point. They continued, Marcus struggled to keep quiet.

"I am not struggling! And I can read your mind remember? If you wanted that all you had to do was ask.." He did her the small favor she had thought of.

Nyx was quiet in her barely auidable in her moans, as marcus fulfilled her thought. They arched to one another and just as the hit the breaking point...

Era enters the room carring her black bag she always used for missions. She stops and stares in shock at what she see's. "Oh My FUCKING GOD's what's going on in here peoples??!?!?!?" She drops her bag on a chair as she normaly does.



Nyx turned to look at the intruder, and says. "Era, how...nice to see you." she kissed Marcus quickly and with the speed of light grabbed a sheet to wrap around herself as she walked over and hugged her, old friend. Leaving Marcus dazed and confused, on the brink of a perfect climax.

Era hugs her back and say's "Hun, you know when i told you you could use my room, i didn't really mean this...."

Nyx smiled. 'yeah, sorry about that, we need a quiuck place to get away form the crowd. Sorry ahain, hun." Nyx looked back at Marcus.

Marcus jumped up and seemed to spin rapidly for a moment then stopped fully dressed in a black silk suit. "You're friend has such lovely timing Nyx."

Era grins. "I know i have impecable timing" Bows.

"Lucky me..." He muttered. "So who are you?"

Nyx goes to gather her clothes.

Era smiles and say's. "Oh just another person in the crowd, to you."

Marcus stretched, "Which to me says your a killer."

Era say's with a cute innocent voice. "When i wanna be."

He smiled, "Good answer." He turned to Nyx, "Well, think we should go see what that idiot James wanted?"

Nyx walks up to him. "Zip me"

Era just giggles and say's. "Ooo kinky."

Marcus zipped her up, then unzipped her again. "Other people around didn't matter last time you know..."

"Zip me up, and let's go." Nyx says with great authority

Era blocks the door. "I don't fucking think so guys. Your cleaning this mess up. I'm not dealing with this again..."

Marcus sighed and zipped her up. "Good thing I'm so charged up or this would be a waste." He used his powers and everything in the room started to fly back into it's proper place. Halfway through cleaning up the room everything fell from the air and he wobbled on his feet. "Ok, not as charged as I thought. Guess we finish the old fashioned way."

Nyx shook her head. "I'll do it." Everything flew once more and landed in its propper place. "Ok, let's go."

Era shakes head kinda laughing. "Just as i remember! Oh and by the way, I expect all sheets blankets pillows all that good stuff washed and returned back to where they were."

---

After a moment Enne brought the scythe back, her face void of all emotion as she prepared to thrust the spearhead through his heart.

---

Marcus rolled his eyes, "Yeah sure I'll send someone by. Come on Nyx, lets go, I want a snack on the way."

Era looks at him like he's crazy and say's. "Ok, but you and Nyx there go on ahead. I'll be..... there later. I have my own snack waiting" she grins and turns to go out the door.

"Nyx...who was that?"

"That was my Era"

"Ya know i'm still in the room..." She say's grumpily, she is tired and hungry and just stops in the door frame. She suddenly simers and is changing fast, soon she was full wolf demon, and turns and snaps at him. "I'm hungry, and not ready to deal with questions.... So do i go, or do you become my next snack."

Nyx laughs and say's "He doesn't taste very good."

"Humph, and you're better in bed when I'm drunk. I'm going to find James." He headed out the door.

With lightning speed Nyx comes up behind grabs his sholder turns him around and slams him into the wall.

Era stands and watches her body trying to hold her form, knowing what happens when she looses her demon form to a human covering. Knowing that her Nyx's friend just wouldn't need to see that.

Nyx pressed her body close to Marcus'. "I only ment that if she'd eat you,you probabl wouldn't havetasted good. Your blood on teh othe hand, tastes just fine to me, do not make me drain you, the Covenant wouldn't be very happy to her that their precious messenger was killed by his vampire lover. Now would they?" The lights i teh room began to falsh and the candles to flicker, nyx was getting angery and her power was escaping her. She never moved her body, as she bit marcus and drank alittle. In another one of her briliant flashed she was walking out of teh door.

"Nyx, don't you dare blow up my room again!" Era said in a joking tone.

Marcus grinned, "I love her temper." He turned to follow her, then turned back to Era. "Oh and Era," His eyes glowed red for a second, "I read minds, trust me, your true form isn't something that's going to shock me." He turned and followed Nyx.

Era just laughs and say's "Awesome! Reading minds would be so cool! Oh and trust me, does she ever have a temper."

---

Shade stepped into the room just in time to guess what would happen next. oh boy... can't let that happen... yet. He walked over to the pair, and stepped in front of the spear point, momentarily placing his trust in a stranger.

"I hope you'll forgive my interuption, but I was wondering if you would do me the favor of sparing this man's life for a while longer? I may need him. I would, ofcourse, owe you a favor in return." He stood calmly in his spot and awaited an answer.

She blinked at him, diverting the spearhead to the side just in time to avoid thrusting it through his chest, "Who are you, and what would you need with him?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure who I am, but I've been told that my name is Michael. And I have instructions to find this guy and have him take me to one called Marcus." Shade explained, greatful that he hadn't been speared. "But, I'll leave it up to you. I'm sure I could find another way to locate Marcus."

She leaned on the scythe, "You would trust gaining your memories from men such as he and Marcus?" She questioned.

"In my experience, the ends justify the means. If these people can give me back my past, then I wont argue. Besides, taking their side doesn't necessarily mean I trust them." He was beginning to wonder what he'd gotten himself into. "All I'm asking for is a minor extension on his life to suit my needs, then by all means, he's your's." Shade bowed his head slightly, and went silent.

"I'm guessing by them you mean the covenant. Do you have any ideas as to what their purpose is?" She questioned, "Why they want you to join them?"

"Well, yes, actually. It is the Covenant I mean. But no, I don't their purposes. All I know is that they've promised me my memories, and do seem to know a good deal about me." He continued, "As to why they want me, I have no clue. Meeting them was purely accidental."

"They have plans for battles in the future- to take the lives of many people. If you want to know about yourself... well- they've given you your name. I'll bet you can find tons of information on it anywhere. But then there's another question- how'd you lose your memory, and do you really want it back?"

"When I stumbled into that room, and they found me, I had no idea who they were. They told me my name, when even I didn't know what it was. It's too late, I've already sworn my loyalties in return for my past. Their mark burns on my neck. You could be right, I may have lost my memory for a reason, I may not want to know who I was. But I've chosen my path, and now I must walk it."

"One day we may end up in battle. But if this is the path that you've chosen for yourself- well, then you must take it. I will spare him for now I suppose, but next time you both will most likely be on the other end of my blade."

"Thank you for understanding. Should we meet in battle, remind me I owe you a favor." He turned to James and lifted him to his feet. In a lower voice he said, "You're welcome." And turned back to Enne, "Well, this is were I take my leave, miss... Oh.. please excuse my horrible manners, I was so hurried to get my tour guide, I forgot all about introductions. My name is Michael Nyctos, but most call me Shade. You are?" He extended his hand in a gesture of goodwill.

---

Marcus left the room and didn't see Nyx anywhere. Must be really angry this time..

He set off across the dance floor on his way to James. As he crossed a skinny young man stepped in front of him

"Whoa Marcus, long time...You care for something?" He held out a small vile of glowing blue liquid. "Move, Stick."

"Aww man why's it gotta be like.." Marcus cut him off by jambing his sawnoff so hard into Stick's mouth his teeth broke. He pulled the trigger and sent Stick's brains everywhere.

Re-holstering his weapon he stepped over the body, which was flopping around as it regrew it's head.

Guess I'll go on a head of her. He thought. He stepped into the shadows and used them to move to James.

---

Lyden stood outside the warehouse holding his gun, he was very confused. Marcus walked up behind him, "You're right kid, this isn't your night." He grabbed his shoulder before he could turn around and through him against the wall. Lyden slumped to the ground out cold.

Marcus entered the building and heard the conversation. "Her name is Enne, Michael. And I do believe we agreed that if I ever saw you again you'd lose more than your memories..."

"Marcus." Enne replied, "Ruining my introduction. But yes, my name is Enne, but most call me... Death."

"Enne. That's a nice name." Shade turned to Marcus, "You must be Marcus. I suppose that this saves me the time of having to find you. Have we met before?"

Marcus laughed, "Don't remember me? Of course not..you got your wish. Bet you forgot all of it..."

"Forgot all of it... Forgot all of what?" Shades attention shifted to Marcus.

"All that you wanted to forget of course, why do you think I took you to that cave?"

"To what cave?" Pain. An image flashed across Shade's mind. the mouth of a cave, then it's interior, then nothing. Ok, that was... odd. He looked back at Marcus, "You keep saying these things like I'm supposed to just snap-to and remember everything. They told me to find you, but they failed to mention you were so arrogant. If you know me, Then spill it already."

"I'd be doing you a disservice by telling you your past. I helped you forget, just like you asked me too. And now the Covenant as chosen to kill you."

"Kill me? Ha! To hell with that." Another flash, a voice he recognized as his own, he reads minds... "Oh does he now?" Well, in that case, he should already see the events in the room with the rock. Don't you Marcus? I know you're in my head, I can feel it. He gathered a small burst of dark energy and detonated it inside his own subconcious.

Marcus stood unphased. "I don't have to be in your mind you idiot, the weak minded broadcast their thoughts for anyone to hear if you know how to listen."

Marcus raised his hand to slam Shade against the wall. Shade flew back but only skidded a few feet. Damn you Nyx... He gathered what strength he had and ripped Shade's shadowcaster away from him and across the warehouse.

"Get up James, you'll enjoy this."

James got up slowly, calmly, "Just where the fuck were you?" He demanded.

"Fuck being the operative word there James, you'll understand when you become a man...maybe." Marcus drew his sword from the air, This'll still work.

James rolled his eyes at that and crossed his arms as Enne stepped between Marcus and Shade, "Why are you attacking him? Isn't he part of your little 'covenant'?"

"Nonsense, he just thinks he is. I'm betting that he pissed the Council off and they're rewarding me by letting me punish him. " He smiled. "So tell me "Shade" what did you do?"

"Well," He said, embarassed, scratching his head, "I uh... I did kinda lick the stone. I mean, it looks like a giant popsicle." He took his coat off, and summoned the ShadowCaster back to his hand, where he wrapped it in his coat and set them both down on the floor. His skin blackened, preparing for combat. He reached for his katana and it faded away, replaced with a sword he knew he'd seen before in one of his dreams. The voice in his head came back SHADOW it said. He took it from it's resting place on his back and dark energy tethered it to his arm. "You wanna play? White moves first."


Marcus rolled his eyes. "I'm surprised anyone could be that stupid...even James here would know better."

Marcus's eyes rolled again, this time into the back of his head. Replaced with softly glowing red orbs. His neck twisted and he rolled his shoulders with a loud crack. His teeth elongated into sharp blades and his skin also darkned, seeming to become translucent over scaled skin. His sword flashed once then was engulfed in fire, black smoke trailed after it when he waved it.

Marcus said in a voice that was now a growl, "Bring it you bitch."

Shade kicked his rolled-up coat at Marcus as a diversion and charged in right behind it, faint blue light trailing from his own blade. He spun once to gain some momentum on his opening swing.

Marcus easily stepped past the bundle. Using is superior speed he closed the distance faster than Shade was expecting. They met blade to blade and Marcus slid under Shade's arm. The second he was behind him he kicked him as hard as he could in the balls. Then jumped out of reach, ready for the next move.

"Moron. You're dumber than I thought if you think I wouldn't have been prepared for a cheap hit like that." He knocked on the demonic-steel cup he'd bought the previous week. Turning the tables and moving faster than Marcus expected, he burst into smoke and disappeared, showing up behind Marcus. On a hunch, he switched his offense to a defense. He knew Marcus was no fool, and would know where he'd re-appeared.

"Enough of this." Marcus never turned around but his tail appeared and wrapped around Shade's neck. It's super strong muscles lifted him off the ground. Using this surprise Marcus spun around and pinned Shade's blade arm, if he moved it it would be severed.

"I said the Covenant was probably trying to kill you, not me."

"Well why didn't you say that?" Shade grinned, burst into smoke again and slowly re-appeared a few feet away. "Although, I wont complain. It was a fun little scirmish there." The blade had vanished, he took a few steps toward Marcus and again extended his hand.

In a blink Marcus looked perfectly human again. He took Shade's hand, "Well I was about to get around to it. Seems you're wife mentioned you were premature..."

Shades skin returned to it's normal pale, "My what? We really do need to talk." He was taken by surprise at the mention of a wife. "And why exactly would the Council want you to kill me? They sent me to you to get my orders."

"You licked the sacred stone for hell's sake, it's a wonder they didn't castrate you. As for your wife, you don't remember? Wife, Bethany, daughter Amanda? Her little French poodle, Gayle, man you hated that dog...."

"No I don't remember. How do you know all of this?" Shade asked.

Marcus rolled his eyes, "Damn cave worked as advertised I see...Man I've eaten thanksgiving dinner at your house. With you and the whole family, still have the scars on my ankle..you should have shoot that blasted animal."

"Yeah, little bitch bit your ankle, so i picked her up and chucked her into the other room. Damn, Beth would've killed me if I'd hurt that damn d... GGHAAAAAAA!" In a flash, that whole meal came flooding back. He saw His wife, his daughter, his whole family seemed to be there, including... "Oh my god."

Marcus laughed, "Glad to see your payment is almost up...Give it time, you'll have it all back." He smiled slyly, "So aren't you going to ask why I was at your family's dinner?"

"My payment? Uh.. yeah, why were you there?" He asked, confused.

"I was invited, even some demon families celebrate Thanksgiving together."

"So then, you're..." His eyebrows raised with the realization.

"Cool your jets there mate, I'm not related to you. But you are married to my little sister."

"So you're my brother-in-law then?"

"That's generally how it works big guy." Marcus stopped and thought for a moment. "I'm guessing that if you don't remember them then you probably don't remember that they live like twenty miles from here. Beth is going to be happy you're finally almost done."

"Twenty miles? Is it really that close? Wait... Almost done with what?"

Marcus sighed, "Alright, we'll start at the beginning then. I'll tell you on the way if we're going." He turned to James and Enne who had both been watching. "You two kids have fun now, the grown ups have some business to take care of. Enne, please don't hurt him, much, I've got a few uses for him. After all, it's not like he can hurt you."

He turned to go then said to James, "Oh James, you can keep throwing yourself at her all you want but I'd advise you to just ask her out already." He roared with laughter.

"Well then, what the hell are we waiting for? Lets get the hell outta dodge." Shade said, and started for the door, "Oh, and Enne, it was nice meeting you. Don't let me forget about that favor I owe you."

Marcus grabbed his arm and led him out the door. "We need a car...."

"Mind if I grab us some transportation?"

"Not at all, I need a snack first, shouldn't take me more than a minute." He was eyeing a homeless man in a nearby ally as he spoke.

He walked over to him and woke him up. He held out a bottle, "Sell your soul for a drink old timer?"

Without a word the man grabbed the bottle. That counts... As the man drained the bottle Marcus drained him...

As Marcus got his fill, Shade Barged into the warehouse just nextdoor, and ripped the green army tarp off of an old, metalic candy-apple red '69 Mustang. He got in the drivers seat, and hit the ignition with a small zap of dark energy. It roared to life, and he pulled out through the hole he made on the way in. He pulled up close to Marcus and rolled down the window, "Noticed this puppy when I scouted the area earlier. You wanna drive?"

Marcus laughed, "You've still got your style." He leaped into the drivers seat and floored it.

Enne merely blinked, and then in the blink of an eye cracked James over the head with the pole of her scythe, moving off to find Lyden as he fell unconscious.

---

"Oh my dear James. Lets get you otta here. I knew Ishould have fought her. Now look at the mess you're in.I'm taking you back to my rooms in the Underground." Inara sighed. "Men." Using the same spell as earlier, she magickly floated him out of the room to hers.

---

"Alright, cool. Atleast now I know I had style." Shade chuckled. He rolled down his window for some fresh air. That car had to have been just sitting there for months judging by it's musty odor. "Ok, it's pretty obvious now, that I wanted to forget something... What if I asked: 'Am I better off not remembering?'... What would your opinion be?"

"Not much to tell, you had to forget or else the challenges would have driven you insane." He upped the gear for more speed.

Shade pulled his head back into the car after banging it off the window pillar. "Ow, that smarts... Ok, insane isn't always a good thing. But why erase everything? Why not just deep-six the bad parts?"

Marcus shook his head, "Well for one it doesn't work that way. And two you had to pay some price..."

"Alright then. So, if I can't know who I am, could I atleast have a hint as to what I am?" He said, looking at his tattoo's. "I mean, where did these come from and why do I turn all black and stuff?"

Marcus shrugged, "You've had them as long as I've known you. As to what you are, that's anyone's guess, you never told me. Beth might know...And don't worry, the payment is lost time, you'll get it back, eventualy."

"I hope somebody knows. I didn't even know I could do that little smoke thing until I'd already done it. Pure dumb luck. And it sounds like some of that 'lost time' is better off lost." Shade stretched, yawned and put his hands behind his head. "You say mind reading is fairly simple, right?"

"Oh the basics of it...I can read minds by slipping in and hearing the thoughts, can even manipulate people easy enough. But most people can learn, with practice, to read the surface thoughts of another."

"Hmmm... cool." Shade said, then thought Jesus! Horse-shoe! Turtle! Stop sign! Monkey! Blue-light-speacial! Canadian bacon!

Marcus sighed, "You my friend, need to get laid. Course your wife will be happy enough to see you, tradition calls for a second honeymoon."

"Sorry, man," Shade fought for air, he was laughing so hard. "I had to, it was just too rich to pass up." He wiped a tear from his eye, as he calmed down again. "How much longer til we get there?"

"Well about..." Marcus yanked the wheel hard and pulled up the emergency break, the car spun and skidded to a rough stop. "No time at all." He motioned to the house they were in front of.

"Well, I'll be damned. I guess I spoke to soon." He stepped out of the car, shut his door and leaned against it with an arm on the roof. He wasn't sure if he was really ready to meet his family this soon. But he stood straight up and said, "Alright, how's about I go meet my wife and child for the first time?" He smiled at his own pun, trying to hide his nervousness.

Marcus got out and walked over to him, "I just got done talking to you about mind reading and you're trying to hide stuff from me..." He looked at the house, "Maybe I should have called first."

"Hmm... What if... You go up and say some hello's, tell 'em what's goin on, then gimme a holler when it's ok for me to come in." He shrugged.

Marcus laughed, "I saw the king of the Spartans in battle once, a viscous bloody struggle, hundreds dead. Turns out he started it just cause it was that time of the month with the wife and he didn't want to go home...hard to believe that went on back then..." He walked up to the door and rang the bell.

"The king of... What does that have... What the hell?" Shade stood transfixed to his spot, staring at Marcus with a confused expression on his face. "What? Is that some kind of payback for my Jesus, Horse-shoe, Stop-sign joke?"

"No it's just funny that you..." The door opened and a slim brown haired woman looked out. "Oh hey Be.." She decked him so hard in the face he flew back twenty feet and landed next to the car.

A small dog darted out from behind her. It ran up to Marcus while he was lying there and promptly pissed on his shoe.

Bethany stormed out of the house, "You've got some nerve showing up here Marcus." She caught sight of Shade and gasped.

Shade watched Marcus fly backwards and land a few inches from his feet. "You were saying something funny?" He grinned and then looked up at Bethany, "Uhm... I uh... Hi."

She stared wide eyed at him, she opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out.

"He doesn't remember yet." Called out Marcus as he stood up, he snapped his broken nose back into place and added, "But he will."

"He's right. The only memory I have so far is the thanksgiving when the dog chewed his ankle to bits."

Marcus walked over to her,"Let's try this again, Hi sis."

"You..you brought him back.." She gave him a fierce hug then screamed, "Michael!" And threw herself onto Shade.

He caught her and held her as tight as he could. "Yeah, I'm back... Er, well.. most of me anyway." He set her back on the ground and looked into her eyes, and a few fragments flashed across his mind. "Dear god I've missed you. How's the little one?"

"She's out, on a date, with a human. I swear Michael she's got your rebellious streak."

Marcus said, "Well I'd love to stay for this but, I've got a city to take over and a vampire to kiss up too. Take care you two." He leaped into the air and in a flash of shadow black wings was gone.

"On a... With a... How long was I gone?" He tried to remember something, anything, about the last time he'd seen his daughter, but only the sweet little girl from the fragments looked back at him. He watched Marcus take off and vanish, "Mar... nevermind. See ya later." He turned back to Beth, "Maybe we should talk inside."

---

"Lyden!" She found him where he'd fallen and moved swiftly to make sure that he was okay.

Lyden groaned then went for his gun when he saw someone standing over him. He relaxed when he saw is was only Enne. Rubbing his head he asked, "Is this some kind of sign? Am I asking to much of life." He groaned again. "Ow."

"Haha, this is life in the streets. Danger around every turn." Enne replied, offering him a hand up.

Lyden took the offered hand and climbed to his feet. "If I wanted danger around every turn I would have gotten married."

"Don't tell me that being in constant danger doesn't excite you?" She laughed softly, "What, in your line of business nothing of this sort has happened before?"

"You, my dear, are one strange girl." He said fiddling with the growing lump on his head. "And you mean giant tattooed freaks, people appearing out of nowhere, cute girls that can walk through walls and drag me along, nope, never seen that before."

"Strange?" She blinked, "And are you talking about That guy... Michael, or Shade as he prefers to be called? Seemed polite enough to me... a bit confused. And the other one must be Marcus I'm sure- met him last night after his partner- the guy I was fighting a bit ago- James..." She took a deep breath, "and did you just call me cute?"

---

Nyx sat on the roof of an abandoned building, she pulled her sight back into focus. So Michael was back, he was good in battle. Marcus was on his way and Inara had taken James to her room.

***The Past***

Nyx sat on a roof and watched as the people below killed themselves brutally. She smiled at the smell of freely flowing blood.

***The Present***

Nyx laughed. "You know Era, taking a vampire back in time with out asking can be fatal. Not to mention that made me hungry. Sit, relax while you're in this time frame...Marcus is coming this way. You should stay and watch him grovel." Era sat in the shadow of the emergency door and waited for the demon to arrive.

---

Marcus soared above the city for a bit, enjoying the simple pleasure of having wings. After awhile he drifted over to the part of the city that had become his playground. Spotting Era looking like she was trying to hid he guessed Nyx was around nearby. Catching sight of her he went into a silent dive and with a flip of his wings landed on his feet right beside her.

---

Lyden stopped rubbing his head and blinked, "Umm..Man my head hurts..."

---

Nyx shoved Marcus as soon as he landed. "I'm still pissed at you, don't get close."

Era laughed from the doorway where she was sitting.

Marcus moved closer, "Can I help if if I like it when you're pissed?"

---

"Well, that tends to happen when you get knocked out." She replied with a shrug.

---

---

James awoke with a mild groan, cursing inwardly as he sat up, unable to recognize where he was.

"'Bout time you woke up. How are you my little pet?" She placed herself on his hips. "Your head sore?" She leaned forward to kiss his forehead.

"I'm fine." James responded, "That little bitch..."

"Don't worry about her...I'm here. Will you entertain me?" She started to tug on his shirt.

"Entertain you?" He quirked an eyebrow in a falsely innocent manner.

She rolled her hips. "You know," She said as she sat up. "Like this." She she did it again.

"It seems more like you desire to entertain me." He said.

---

"So who in the name of Linux was that?"

---

Nyx smirked "You can control your emotions...I suggest you use that power to your advantage. Now where to?"

"On the way I got a message from someone says he needs to talk to me." Marcus held up his phone. "We're heading there next."

---

Shade and Beth walked into the house and took a seat on the sofa. There were two glasses on the coffee table. When they had sat down, Shade asked, "So, uhm... Any calls while I was out?"

Beth chuckled, "A few, but mostly telemarketers trying to sell you Amish gazebos." She picked up one of the glasses and took a sip. "I didn't even know the Amish uses phones. So, what'dya say we catch you up on some current events?" She set her glass down and was about to ask Shade what he knew already, hoping to just fill in the blanks, when from the kitchen doorway a figure appeared.

"Hey! Mikey! You're back. What the hell took ya so long?" Shyne came out of the kitchen, barefoot, one arm full of food and the other stuffing an italian hoagie into his mouth. Through a mouthfull of food he said, "Say, Beth, why didn't you tell me he was comin in? We could have made a cake, or somethin'. You know, a ‘welcome back from oblivion’ cake."

"Well, to be perfectly honest, Dave, " She sounded a little agitated, "I didn't know he was coming. Marcus just dropped him off in that car out there." She pointed out the window, at the car in the driveway. "And leave that food in the kitchen before you go running out there like a little kid."

"I wanna see! I wanna see!" He went to the kitchen to drop the food on the counter, and started for the door. Before he'd reached the doorknob, it opened on it's own, and another girl walked in.

"Hi mom, hi Uncle Dave, Hi daddy." She walked past Shyne, and into the kitchen. They were all a little speechless for a moment. They heard her open the fridge, pour a glass of milk, and close the fridge. Then a pause, until the glass shattered on the floor, and she came running in from the kitchen, "DADDY! You're back!" She hit him like a linebacker at the superbowl, and the sofa rocked back a little. "Where the hell have you been?" She asked still hugging him.

"Amanda, language." Said Beth, from the other side of the sofa.

"Where were you? Why did it take you so damn long to get back?" She asked, and sat down between them.

"Well... I have no idea." Shade answered honestly.

---

Enne merely shrugged, "What say we clean up and clear out now that they know where we are?"

---

"Where exactly is there? Don't be an idiot." Nyx stared at him.

---

Lyden jumped to his feet, "Yeah that might be a good idea, let me grab my computers."

---

Good question Nyx, this guy is one of the most paranoid people I've ever seen, he'll call us with the location of the meet in ten minutes or so.

"Well he'd better get un-paranoid. I'm tanning again." Nyx sat down on the ledge in a bad mood.

Marcus' cell rang, "Nice timing. It's a text message, the abandoned radio tower, guess we'd better get going, we're leaving your friend. He never allows more than two people and I think what he has might just be useful."

"Well then lets get going..." Nyx was impatient.

"To the skies then, I haven't had enough flight for one night." He lept off the edge of the building and took flight.

Nyx smirked, and looked to Era. "Didi he forget about me wearing a skirt?" With a spin and a spell she was in tight fitting blue jeans, black spandex top and a red bra showing through. She grinned as Era laughed. Following Marcus she casually stepped off of the ledge and took flight, she easily caught up to him.

Marcus was beating his powerful wings slowly so that she could keep up, "Who says I forgot anything?"

"Don't be a loser." She surged ahead of him and stuck her tounge out at him.

Marcus over took her with one beat of his wings, "I'll bite that off."

"heh, you'll have to catch me first. I'm not even trying....How much further?" Nyx smirked at him

"About another mile, then we have to walk a ways on foot or we have to deal with him trying to shoot us down."

"Shoot us down? Um...What exactly has this guy all paranoid?" Nyx looked smug...

"He's convinced that a secret alliance of extra human beings is trying take over the world, he just so happens to be right of course. He also thinks I work for the NSA trying to stop them." Marcus laughed. "He's very useful."

---

She nodded, "I'll keep an eye out in case they decide to come back." Enne responded.

She hummed softly to herself, climbing the side of the building and sitting with her legs dangling as she gazed skyward thoughtfully.

Lyden slipped back outside, his pack thrown over his shoulder, looking around for Enne.

Enne hopped down silently when she saw Lyden exit the warehouse, "Got everything?"

Lyden jumped when she landed and with a yelp spun his bag at her with one hand, the other reaching for a knife.

Enne quickly ducked his bag and grabbed the hand that was reacking for his knife, "Whoa, easy there." She said.

"Jesus, don't do that! I've had enough people jumping out at me for one night damnit!" He relaxed his hand.

She chuckled softly, "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you... I've been waiting for a while you know..."

"Yeah I uhh.." He smiled shyly, "I needed to calm down so I hacked the Presidents personal email...didn't work I guess...You know that guy has some creepy taste in porn?"

Enne laughed and shook her head, "You're an interesting fellow, you know that?"

Lyden smiled and blushed a little, "Umm thank you, and you're a scary girl...as you must know...." He looked worried now..

"I'm scary?" Enne pouted, "How so?"

Lyden looked at her for a long moment before answering, then pointed to her scythe. "You do know your nickname is Death right?"

"To my enemies I am known as death..." Enne nodded, grinning sheepishly, "But you're not an enemy... are you?" She quirked an eyebrow.

"Uhhh, I have an IQ around 200, do I look stupid enough to want to be your enemy?" He looked very nervous...

"Nope, and besides, haven't you ever heard of sarcasm? I wouldn't draw my scythe on you, not to mention I really hate to kill... so even if I did it'd be just to maim you or even to frighten you." Enne replied simply with a shrug.

He gave a nervous laugh, "Yeah, what's a little maiming between friends? Had this girlfriend once..." His voice trailed off.

---

Continued in CotC Chapter 5
cotc characters
call of the covenant
cotc chapter 2
cotc chapter 3