Chapter 17
“Somebody’s Back”






















I walked home in the dark after taking Wiola home. I cut off the encounter by saying “Maybe we should wait, so it means that much more when it actually happens.” She bought it hook, line and sinker. I was walking quickly. Wiola got some sort of gloss on me and I was trying to wipe it off, the smell never entirely went away. When I made it to the door of the room. I gulped and strolled in. That’s when I saw him. He was snacking on something in the icebox and was only illuminated by candlelight.
“Looter?” I breathed. He looked up at me and he gasped, dropping his food item.

“Oh god I can’t believe you made it back.” I yelled running at him and pulling him into an embrace. He laughed loudly.
“Can’t get rid of me that easily.” I put him down and panted with excitement.
“How’d you get back? What happened? You won’t BELIEVE what happened while you were gone.”
“Whoa, whoa, hold it there 20 questions, one at a time.”
I began filling him in on all the stuff he missed, my lack of being able to turn without being taken over, my acceptance into the military as a Colonel, he stirred a bit but didn’t indicate any other way that it bugged, and finally I told him about what happened with me and Wiola.
“Wohohoho, you sly dog.” He slapped the table with his hand. I jumped up and shushed him. I tiptoed over to Karen’s room and sure enough she was asleep soundly. I sighed happily and tiptoed back. I looked at him and whispered,
“Keep it down, or she’ll find out.” Looter looked at me,
“You mean you haven’t chosen which one?” He looked at me hard and I shook my head.
“Man oh man dude, this is bad I mean it’s one thing to make-out with your fiancée but to-” Looter was cut off by a blood curdling scream from Strik’s room. We looked at each other and ran into the room. Pieses was bundled in the corner and a bloody Strik was on the bed. He looked hatefully at the assailant who wore white robes and a bandana over their mouth. He moved in for the kill but I was too fast and I ploughed into them. I pinned him down. I glared at him and said,
“Who are you?” I heard a muffled laugh and than I noticed where my hand was. This he was a she. I was grabbing her breast. I blushed and loosened my grip. She took this advantage and kicked me off. I smashed on the wall (she had surprising leg strength). She reached into her robe and pulled out a knife, which she quickly released at me and ran out the window. She stopped and winked at me before jumping. I looked sheepishly at the knife that buried itself into the wall beside my head. It had a note tied to the end. I tugged it off and read it in my head:

Strik’s Bounty will be mine. Glad to see you again Blake.

-Susanna xxoo

I gasped at the signature, the mysterious dragon possessed person who helped me at Abioye. I found her, Susanna.
“I have too many women in my life.” I thought sighing.

“She has hunted me on nine different occasions.” Strik said after we cleaned up the mess from the scuffle. He sighed, “But this is the first time she caught me off guard. This shouldn’t have happened.” I looked at him.
“What was different this time?” I asked, and then he blushed and looked at Pieses who also blushed. I got the connection instantly, “Oh come on! How long have you two been getting friendly? A month? A bit soon don’t you think? I thought Priestesses don’t mess around until they’re married.” Strik only coughed and Rick butted in.
“Hey good news guys Looter’s back.” He said. Everyone looked unamused but humoured the idea. Karen turned and hugged Looter. He raised his eyebrows at me, I rolled my eyes uncaringly.
“Great to have you back Looter.” She let him go. He smiled,
“Great to be back.” Looter began telling us of his training on the mountain. He was ambushed by a pack of wolves that hunted him relentlessly. He tried to use Morgango but he was too exhausted due to the lack of food. Eventually they lost interest and returned to the home but discovered only Jake and Marcia were there. They told him about were they went and pointed him in the right direction, he offered for them to come along but Marcia said she wasn’t the travelling type.
“That’s not like wolves to chase prey with so much focus.” Strik inquired.
“Well I’m just calling it how it happened.” Looter said shrugging his shoulders. Strik looked uncertain but went to his room to sleep. Pieses followed after welcoming Looter back. He was glowing. Rick left and soon it was like old times, just us three talking about our day, and cracking jokes.

“Man this city is AWESOME!” Looter beamed walking down the carnival, “They have festivals and whatnots everyday!” He sighed and plopped on a bench. “I wish we could stay here forever.” I chuckled and sipped some of the drink I got. I looked around and noticed a group of good-looking girls. Looter looked at what I was looking at and said very arrogantly, “Hither yon beauties require my prescence.” He walked over and introduced himself. I laughed as I drank some more. It was just than I noticed Karen and I were alone. I took a deep breath. She took her hand and slid it around my waist. I did likewise, it was instinct, and I hadn’t realized what I did. She sighed and put her head on my shoulder. We strolled around the carnival, and then I noticed there was a ferris wheel. I thought that in this time the people haven’t reharnced the power of electricity. I shook Karen and said,
“Let’s go on that one.” She grumbled and agreed when she realized what I meant. We got into one of the booth’s. We reached the top when the ride stopped for us to enjoy the view. I looked out at the city. I realized Karen gave me a kiss on my neck, I was about to do the same to her when I saw, a figure stalking this couple separate from everyone else. I stood up and Karen looked at me sadly,
“Blake what are you doing?” I didn’t answer I used my sixth sense to see what type of aura it was. I saw it was white but the tips were red. I was 99% sure who it was,
“Susanna.” I whispered. Karen huffed angrily,
“So you think I’m not as good as a killer.” I turned and said,
“What no! That’s not it at all, I see her stalking a couple out there. She got up and looked out and said,
“I can’t see aura Blake.” She sat down in a huff, “I think you just want to leave.” I looked at her confused,
“What’s gotten into you?” She turned and snapped,
“You’re hiding something.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. Karen got up and ‘CRACK!’ She slapped me. I backed up in a daze. I rubbed my cheek and looked at her. Her eyes were filled with tears.
“You women using bastard.” She whispered hatefully. I was about to talk when she cut me off.
“I know you’re hiding something from me.”
“What do you-” ‘CRACK!’ I moaned in pain.
“How dare you Blake Trackerman. I have the truth and I confront you with it, and yet you’re still lying.”
“That’s because, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She glared at me through her tears and hissed,
“I know what you did last night when Looter came back.” I froze. “I also know what you promise you made the King in order to be proclaimed a Hero.”
“Strik told me the day you agreed to the deal. He told me you’re marrying Wiola!” She than began weeping.
I sat on my butt in a daze; I got up and went to comfort her,
“Don’t touch me!” She screamed, “I hate you.” The words stung.
“I don’t think you know what you’re saying”
“Blake Kevin Trackerman I want you to leave my sight and never be seen again!”
That was it I knew metaphorically and literally my heart was torn in two.     
   
I walked around in a daze. After the ride finished Karen ran in tears I reached for her but than remembered what she said. I sat on a bench and held my face. I felt sad, the saddest I’ve ever been. But I couldn’t cry. I sighed heavily, sadness thick in it.
“What’s wrong bro?” A voice questioned. I looked up at Looter who had two girls in his arms. He asked them to get him a drink. They skipped off. He sat down and sighed with content. He scarflled down the last of his carny food.
“So, what’s up?” He tossed the wrapper into the garbage on the other side of the road.
I sucked in air through my teeth, “Karen knows that I’m seeing Wiola.”
“Only a matter of time.” No sympathy in his voice.
“Thanks for the support.” I said annoyed.
“Dude look you’re finally using what you got to your advantage and-”
I interrupted him, “What exactly do I have?”
“Well you know, ‘muscle, looks, hair’ stuff like that.” He explained. I looked at him unamused but said for him to finish what he was about to say.
“Like I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted you’re using what the ol’Blake would’ve turned in disgust at using and I’m proud, you’re becoming a Looter past my own heart.”
“Keep it up.” I said lifting a fist. Looter laughed and continued,
“So, I think you shouldn’t be tied down to one dame, you should spread yourself around.” I blinked and thought about this until he nudged me. He winked,
“I’m kidding. Seriously though how could you let her find out about it?” Looter asked.
“I didn’t Strik-” I stopped when I noticed the pouch I held my money was gone, I turned up and saw a scrawny, hungry-looking, dirty child. They panicked and punched me in the nose. They caught me off guard and it connected, I probably would’ve gotten a bloody nose but I trained so it only hurt a bit. But in the time grabbed my nose the kid bolted.
“Hey!” I shouted, “Give my money back!” I turned to get Looter to help me but I saw, he had disappeared. I looked confused but chased after the kid nonetheless.

“Gimme back my money you brat!” I shouted, he was a spec in my view. I was getting tired.
“Jeez, for a scrawny kid he’s got a hell of a lota stamina.” I panted. I stopped to catch my breath and I saw a figure bowl into the kid. It was a blur. I ran despite my fatigue. When I got to the sight I saw the kid against the wall, the money held tightly against his chest, and Looter. He was pummelling this kid to a pulp. Punching him in the face, stomach, everywhere. I ran over and pushed Looter over. He fell and glared at me. Sounded like he had a growl building in his throat when he spoke,
“What are you doing I’m helping you!”
I looked at him, with more authority in me than I intended and turned and walked up to the kid. He was coughing, wheezing when he wasn’t. He saw me tower over him and went to run. I grabbed his shoulder and threw him against the wall. In muddled English he said,
“I…I down’th wanth eet.” He stammered as he held out the money, begging for me not to beat him. I squatted in front of him and grabbed the money slowly. In his outstretched palm I turned the bag over and dumped half the money I had inside. He looked at me shocked. They were all gold coins (I hadn’t originally planned on that but hey) they were the most expensive of all the coins. I smiled and said,
“Buy yourself something nice.” I tussled his hair and left. Looter growled and shoved past me. I looked in the direction he left for a while than I paced myself to the valley just beyond the city. I had some things to sort out.  

I looked out at the horizon, the stream that ran into the heart of the city. The Sun was sinking into the horizon. I sighed. So many things went terrible today, I just want something to go right.
“Tough day bro?” I turned and saw Rick standing behind me. I turned back and he sat beside me. There was a silence. Neither of us talked. I was too out of it to think up casual conversation, only the complications of my life. Rick said,
  “When I had problems I liked to tell the village elder back at Abioye. I don’t think there’s an elder here, but I like to think I’m a good listener.” He smiled. I blew air through my nose amused.  

I sighed, that was a good talk I had with Rick. I got a lot off my chest. It did make me feel better. But it didn’t change anything. I shook my head and closed the door to the INN. I walked and grabbed a chestfull of food. I strolled to my room and parked myself on my cot. I ate happily. Considering I hadn’t eaten in hours. I looked out the window and noticed the Sun was nearing set. I smiled. “Where does the time go?”
I turned sharply and saw her, balancing by the doorframe.
  “Susanna.” I breathed. She smiled her purple eyes shone in the sunlight. She jumped in front of me. I was shaken but didn’t want to seem that way. I tensed and stood up.
“What.” I grunted, “Do you want, Strik isn’t here!” I gritted my teeth. She just narrowed her eyes and smiled, she spoke in a lyrical soothing tone, “Oh, I’m not after him sweetie.” She walked over to me hips swinging. She stopped, definitely shorter than me but with long pure white hair. She just kept smiling.
I asked, “Than what do you want?” She just looked up at me. Than without warning jumped me and grabbed at my throat. We fell flat on the ground with a thump. I struggled but I was weak compared to a dragon-possessed person that is without transforming myself. I had to gamble in a few seconds she was going to bite my head clean off for standing in the way of killing Strik. I was about to reach into my subconscious when I noticed this bite wasn’t harmful. I looked down. She was giving me a hickey. Shocked by this alternative I struggled to get her off. Growling. She only responded once,
“C’mon, I’ve been waiting ever since I met you to do this.” To say the least this shocked me even more. I tried harder and this time Rick barged into the room. He saw my postion and attacked. Grabbing her in a full nelson, he pulled her off with his dragon might. She squirmed and pulled herself away. She rushed to me again. What was with this chick I braced for an attack. But instead she whispered in my ear.
“Later hubby.” She sidestepped before Rick caught a hold of her. She crashed through the window. When Rick rushed to it. She was gone.
“Gah, she got away.” He pounded the sill. He turned to me, “You okay? She had you pinned pretty good.” He looked at me and noticed my expression. “Hey what’s up?”
I looked at him and said, “Nah…nothing, it just confuses me.”
“Yah,” Rick got up smiling, “I thought she was after your life but instead she gives you a hickey.” He laughed. I laughed too but not because it was funny, because I didn’t want Rick make me spill the beans. I didn’t want him to know that. The bounty hunter after Strik’s life is my fiancée…. Wiola.