The Keepers: Declan

CHAPTER FIVE

Kate loathed crowds. Especially rowdy ones plied with alcohol.

The club was packed, everyone disguised with colourful masks. Music blared from the band of musicians on the stage, loud but not unpleasant. After all, New Orleans was well known for the talented musicians who flocked to the city.

Kate made her way to the side door reserved for members only. A fierce, burly bouncer stood outside the door, his arms crossed. Although he was bald, his frowning face was covered with hair. His expression was even as she approached, except for the hitch in one eyebrow.

Taking a deep breath that did nothing to calm the stampede of horses inside, Kate flashed a tag that gained her a nod and an open door.

“You’re late, Jenna,” he grumbled, his words masked in a heavy accent that sent chills down her spine.

“Yeah, yeah,” she replied, grateful for the mask she wore. She hurried through the door, slipping the tag back into her bag.

Remembering Jenna, fast asleep in Hazel’s back room, sent Kate's anxiety soaring, but she was quick to reel it in. Jenna had access to the private function behind the bar and Kate needed an in.

She made her way down the corridor that opened onto a courtyard nestled at the foot of a four-storey building. A private party was in full swing, the crowd dancing to music that blared from box speakers against the walls. Those not on the dance floor had taken to the balconies overlooking the courtyard. Barrels of fire burned everywhere, masking the scene in a glorious glow of orange inferno.

Kate stepped back as a juggler strolled past and disappeared into the crowd, tossing fire balls with ease. Waitresses wearing simple masks and cocktail dresses moved between the guests, serving beverages and smiling at the passes of the more drunken men. There was a bar in the far corner, the barman rushing to keep up. Apparently, food didn’t feature at this party. Despite the cool air, most of the women wore skimpy dresses.

And then she saw him.

Harper Avery.

His hair was different, shaved, his face a spray of stubble. Despite his silly hat, mask and smirk, there was a harshness to him she recognised. Drink in hand, he scanned the crowd, oblivious to her scrutiny.

He puffed on a cigar and laughed at something his companion said, the sound swept away by the music. He seemed so casual for the violent man who had attacked them.

Everything inside Kate urged her to charge at him and demand answers. And punch him. Oh, yes, she was itching to wipe that grin off his face. After her mother’s death, she’d spent the last year running from him.

No more.

She wanted revenge. Justice.

A tingle ran down her spine at the thought.

Looking over, she recognised his key players with ease. Three men and a woman.

Rick was older and his boisterous Italian charm masked an underlying callousness. He was grizzled and stocky, his tattooed arms were draped around the woman, Megan. They were dancing to an erotic beat while his fingers toyed with her short black hair. He whispered something in her ear that made her smile, before a commotion at the door separated them.

The arrival of Harper’s other two warriors, Max and John, instantly parted the dancing crowd. Max’s shaggy brown hair contrasted with the younger, neater John’s. According to Hazel, John was skilled in martial arts. Clutched in their grip was a woman with spiky blonde hair, dark make-up and a fierceness in her eyes that touched Kate.

The music softened, the excited murmurs died down, and everyone stared at Harper. Their anticipation hung in the air like a thick spice as they waited for their leader to speak.

He remained seated as his men presented the woman. Tilting his head lazily, he scanned the length of her.

“This is Lara?” Harper asked, his tone casual but laced with an iciness that sent a chill down Kate’s back.

“She showed up in the Quarter,” Max replied, swiping at his messy hair with one hand. “She resisted, just like you said she might.”

A slow smile spread across Harper’s face. “I’m assuming she’s come to her senses?”

“I will never join you,” Lara said, her tone tight with disgust.

Harper stood up so abruptly that his chair fell over, crashing to the ground in an elaborate display of temper. He closed the gap between himself and Lara.

“You refuse?” A fake smile softened the glare in his eyes. “Sweetie. You have no choice.”

“What do you want from me?”

He waved a hand at the crowd. “Witches and warlocks. You’ll fit right in.”

Witches and warlocks? All of them? Keeping to the shadows against the wall, Kate scoped out the room, her entire body prickling.

“I don’t side with evil,” Lara replied, glowering at him.

“Pity.” Harper trailed a finger along her chin. “You’re just the type of witch I’m looking for.”

“I will never join your cause.”

Harper’s grin faded and his eyes narrowed, all traces of playfulness disappearing. “You sure you won’t join me, dear? There’s a bigger picture here.”

“Screw your bigger picture. I’m not interested in violence, control or exposure. What’s wrong with you all?” she snapped at the gawking crowd. “The last time our kind came out of the closet, we were hunted down and destroyed.”

A frown creased Harper's eyebrows.

Kate’s stomach twisted at the reminder of the witch massacre, a tragic bloodbath that had claimed dozens of harmless witches. The event had marred their existence ever since, reminding them how crucial it was to live in secrecy.

“You know the agreement we have with the ordinary people who know about us,” Lara said, waving a hand across the room. “If they see you all gathered here, you’ll start a war!”

“We deserve to live freely, out in the open. After all, we’re the superior species.”

“We’re the minority species. Have you forgotten what happened to the Brogan brothers?”

“The Bennetts and their witch are responsible and they will pay for what they’ve done.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd.

But Lara only spoke louder and with more determination. “Sienna and her Keepers were protecting the innocent and keeping our secret. Continue with this and your fate won’t differ from the Brogans!”

“That’s enough!” Harper yelled, reaching into his pocket. He withdrew a sharp blade and with a flick of the wrist, he slashed the witch’s throat.

There was a gasp that trickled through the crowd, yet no one moved. Lara’s eyes widened, her mouth rounded in horror as blood gushed from her wound.

Harper pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blade, unperturbed at the dying woman in front of him. When his warriors released her, she collapsed to the ground. “There’s one thing you witches fail to realise,” he said in a calm tone and nudged her with a booted foot. Pocketing his knife, he knelt over her, placing his hands on her heart. “You either side with me or die. Either way, your powers are mine.”

Kate’s stomach flipped and she gaped at the motionless crowd who seemed more excited than appalled. Fuelled by rage, she stepped forward, only to collide with a hard wall of muscles.

“Don’t you dare,” said a low, insistent voice that sparked a flush through her.

Her jaw fell open and her head shot up to look at Declan. He wore a hat pulled low across his face. “Declan!” she gasped, glancing past his shoulder at the witch.

“She’s already gone,” he murmured, lowering his head to hers as strong hands gripped her arms. He had a thunderous expression, his eyes dark with fury and regret, and he glanced back at the woman. “I arrived too late.”

“Why hasn’t anyone moved? Why aren’t they helping –?”

“They’re all like him.”

“Let me go. I have to help her,” she breathed, the words coming out like a hiss. She tried to tug loose but he tightened his grip on her arm.

“You do that and you’re dead, Kate. She’s gone. He’s already absorbing her powers.”

Kate gasped, taking in the sick satisfaction plastered across Harper’s face. “Who are these people?”

“Scavenger warlocks and witches. They kill a witch and then scavenge her powers. Lara refused to offer hers willingly.”

His words packed a punch and the air whooshed out of her in response. Unable to stop herself, she gripped his arms as every fear her mother had ever voiced came to mind.

“This is the last place you should be,” said Declan.

Panic churned with hatred and, unthinking, she began pushing forward.

“Are you crazy?” Declan snapped, tugging her against him. “If Harper sees you here, you'll go the same way as Lara!”

Megan sidled up toward Harper. She wore a smirk, her dark eyes, heavily outlined, beamed with pleasure. Harper released the witch with an insignificant toss, flexing his jaw and inhaling as though he’d just had his fill of something delectable. Turning, he grinned at Megan and slid an arm around her shoulders. “Now this is a New Orleans witch,” he said, his voice booming across the courtyard, “that has some common sense!”

There was a low murmur of chuckles that spread across the room. The mood shifted as everyone began to relax, dismissing the murder as though nothing had happened.

Harper flicked an irritated glare at Lara before pointing to a nearby waitress. “Clean up this mess,” he ordered, dipping his head toward Megan as she whispered something in his ear. Her words triggered a flash of fury in his eyes, along with a tightened expression, and his head whipped up to scan the crowd.

With a swift movement, Declan tugged Kate behind a palm tree, pinning her to the wall. All muscle, all powerful. His presence made everything inside her snap to attention. Declan. Here.

Oh, God.

CHAPTER SIX

“What are you doing here?” she whispered, her heart slamming against her chest.

“You really think I’d let you get away with stealing from me?”

“And you’ve picked now as the time for vengeance?” She gaped at him. “Are you crazy?”

“You’re the one who’s crazy for coming here in the first place!” He flicked a glance at Harper. “What were you thinking? You saw what they just did.”

“You know him?”

“He tried to kill my witches a while back. What do you want with him?”

“That’s none of your business, Declan. Why are you here? You’re going to blow my cover.” Something she clung to desperately now that she’d seen what Harper was capable of.

“Honey, your cover was blown the second you walked in that door.”

“What do you mean?”

“They saw right through you the moment you failed to flash your wrist tattoo to Beefcakes at the front door.” He grabbed her wrist, tapping the empty spot where the tattoo should have been, and gave her a fake smile. “Apparently, it’s a security thing. It shows that they follow Mason, something you neglected to factor into your crazy-assed plans.” She snapped her mouth shut and he nodded at Megan. “See the black-eyed bombshell beside Harper? She’s itching for trouble and just spilled the beans.”

Fear gripped her insides. “And you know this how?”

He tapped his ear. “Super hearing, honey. You'd have heard too if you’d been listening.”

But she hadn’t.

A shift of movement had Declan turning around, pushing her behind him as two bulky bodyguards crossed the dance floor, eyes pegged on them. The men had blatant tattoos on their left wrists and planted themselves in a muscled barricade, blocking any means of escape.

Harper’s menacing gaze met Kate’s across the courtyard, recognition flashing in his eyes.

Kate’s stomach rolled. Oh, no.

Declan didn’t wait for a greeting and bolted forward, his speed catching the men off-guard. With a swift kick and punch, he sent the two men skidding backward. With a vicious cry, he charged, and delivered a few more crippling blows. His movements were controlled, deliberate, and so fast that the two warriors were left gurgling blood. Rick and Max moved closer but hesitated, reluctant to challenge the Keeper. John, always itching to show off his fighting skills, smiled in anticipation as his arms flowed in smooth movements, readying himself to attack. Not waiting to see what the Chinese warrior was capable of, Declan spun around and yanked Kate into his arms.

The air slammed out of her lungs as he leapt onto the closest empty balcony.

Harper shot forward with such force that people scattered out of his path. “Don’t you dare let them get away!” he bellowed to his men and all chaos broke out. “Bring me the woman!”

Within moments, Declan had them on another balcony three stories up.

“How are you doing this?’ she gasped, breathless from the sudden movement.

“Same way you should be, but don’t bother helping on my account,” he drawled as he scanned their surroundings.

“And here I thought you lot lived in secret.”

“We do.”

“This is you in stealth mode?”

He moved toward the railing, scowling at her, and looked at the rowdy crowd below. He cursed and tugged her closer. “Exposing us is the least of my worries right now.”

She followed his gaze, her jaw unhinging at the sight of John and Max climbing the walls like eerie spiders while Rick and Megan jumped from balcony to balcony, hot on their tail.

“What are these people?” Kate cried.

Declan’s eyes flashed with confusion as he took in the creepy animal movements.

“You don’t know?” she screeched. “They’re from your world!”

“Honey, they’re nothing like me.”

A ball of fire came hurtling toward them and Declan shoved her out the way. More followed in quick succession and instead of retreating, he stepped to the edge of the balcony. He raised his arms over the rail and, with gentle flowing movements, created havoc below.

A fire warrior.

Fireballs flew across the courtyard, along with lashes of flame that sent two of the spider climbers reeling to the ground. The bar caught alight, going up in a flare of orange that sizzled through the alcohol, hissing furiously as it gathered momentum.

Shouts broke out, orders were given, and there was a flurry of madness.

Kate gasped as Megan landed in a blast of air on the balcony behind her. Dark eyes seared into hers as Megan began a repetitive chant that triggered Kate’s protective instincts. Despite her lack of experience, she knew witch crap when she saw it and drew on everything her mother had taught her.

Heat whipped through Kate as the spell began to take root. Drawing on her centre, she pinned Megan with a heated look of her own and focused on absorbing the witch’s energy.

Ignoring the unwelcome invasion of magic, she pressed forward. Megan’s eyes widened in response and her words faltered as she felt her energy succumb to Kate’s.

“So it’s true, you’re the Null,” Megan snapped in a tone wrought with disgust, her shoulders heaving as she sucked air. Not waiting for an answer, her arm lashed out. In her hand, she held a whip. With a flick of the wrist, the leather strands hissed at Kate.

Reflexes in prime form, Kate snatched the end of the whip and tugged so hard that Megan jerked forward. She stumbled, cursed, and tried to straighten.

But Kate was faster and kicked out, the strength of the kick more powerful than she’d intended. The woman flew backward over the rail, but grabbed hold and dangled mid-air.

Behind Kate, Declan aimed a lethal kick at the door that sent it reeling off one hinge just as two warriors reached them.

Grabbing Kate’s arm, he all but tossed her into the bedroom before turning on the men with a growl. The hand to hand combat was swift and brutal and Kate gasped in fascination – or shock, she wasn’t sure.

“Declan!” she shouted as she spotted more climbers on the wall outside. Unlike Harper’s henchmen, she didn’t recognise them. “We have to get out of here!”

“You think?”

“Now!” she snapped, rushing to the outer door and unlocking it. More shouts could be heard in the distance of the corridor. “Declan, NOW!”

With a final punch, Declan spun around and joined her in the doorway.

“This way,” she said and bolted to the left.

They ran through the building, heading up to the roof, and burst outside in a gasp of air. Declan ran to the set of chairs in the centre of the roof, grabbed one and used it to jam the door handle. It wouldn’t hold off their attackers for long but it would buy them time.

He moved to the edge of the roof, scanning the ground.

Climbers were everywhere, scouring the walls like spiders searching for their prey. Jumpers hurtled from balcony to balcony, ascending the building with frightening speed.

“Who are these people?” Kate panted, her stomach clenching at the realisation that her enemies were worse than she’d ever imagined.

“Still think it was a good idea to confront them on your own?”

The door handle rattled and they spun around in unison to face it.

“If you have any more of that witchy joo joo you pulled on Megan, now would be a good time to whip it out,” Declan grumbled.

“There’s too many of them.”

“Typical,” he said, rolling his eyes. “You witches are so full of crap.”

“Screw you, Bennett.”

His reply was whipped away as the door burst open, flew off its hinges and slid across the ground.

“We need to get out of here,” Declan said, grabbing her hand.

“Where to? We’re trapped!”

He glanced at the building opposite them and she gasped.

“Hell no, Bennett.”

A brief grin broke out onto gorgeous lips and he tugged her closer. “Oh, hell yeah.”

“Declan, I can’t!”

“Of course you can. You’re a damn Keeper,” he said, reaching for her hand.

She dug in her heels, panic taking hold of her. “Not like you! I can’t –”

Harper’s henchmen charged, oozing anger and aggression, and Declan’s grip tightened as he started running. Kate screeched and followed blindly, clinging to him as though he were a lifeline.

They landed on the opposite building with a speed that left her dizzy, and tumbled to the ground, colliding with the table and chairs.

“Are you okay?” Declan asked, breathless, and scrambled to his feet.

No. Everything pounded, raced, ached, but went ignored as he pulled her up. “I’m fine.”

They headed for the exit, a lone steel door that proved to be impenetrable – even with Declan’s strength. He shoved, kicked, and the door dented but refused to give way. Kate tugged the necklace off her neck.

Shoving the enchanted key into the lock, she flashed him a smile when it clicked open.

“Later, when this is over, you’re so giving that back to me,” Declan said and pushed her inside.

The door slammed behind them. They rushed down the stairs, making their way through the building and out one of the side entrances.

The street was packed with the usual night owls, and the mood was cheerful, a contrast to the tension that riddled them. The crowd engulfed them in boozy delight and they were swept away.

“Where to now?” Kate shouted above the noise.

Reaching for her hand, he pulled her closer, dipping his head beside hers. “Just keep moving forward. We need to get as far away from this crowd as possible. Harper will have his people everywhere and once they’ve mingled with this lot, it’ll be impossible to tell the difference between them and the tourists.”

A blonde woman dressed in leather wedged herself between Kate and Declan and took him by the arm. “There you are, sunshine,” she said with a flirty smile.

Kate glanced around, but confusion reigned as the crowd swept her away.

“Declan!” she shouted, looking over her shoulder, torn between the urge to find him and run from him. He might have helped her but they were still enemies. He’d still want answers, his key and the daggers – all of which she wasn’t ready to part with.

And he also knew about her magic. They all knew.

Oh, God.

A hand snatched her wrist.

“Let’s get out of here,” Declan said, tugging her to the side of the crowd.

“Where’re we going?”

“Away from these people.”

She hesitated, her mother’s warnings rushing forward, but relented. Right now, her options were limited.

Still holding her hand, he led her to the closest alleyway, glancing behind them as they walked. They neared the back door of a hotel and he reached for the handle, cursing to find it locked.

“Wait,” she said when he rattled it with frustrated force. “I have the key.”

Dark eyebrows hitched. “You do?”

She pulled out the key chain nestled between her breasts. As she unlocked the door, unease arrowed straight to her gut and her heart began to race. Her breath caught as Declan grabbed her hand, tugging her so roughly that she tripped on the step.

“Dammit, Kate, get a move on!” he snapped. He reached for her and she drew on every ounce of willpower not to flinch at the mark on his left wrist.

The tattoo of the warlock he supported.

Slapping his hand away, she rose, eyeing him carefully as panic took grip.

His gaze fell to his exposed wrist, triggering a smile.

She drew on her centre, channelling her power the way she’d been taught.

The lights flickered and energy filled the air as the image of Declan disappeared to reveal Max. His long hair hung in messy strands around his flushed face. A flicker of surprise crossed his expression when he realised she’d disarmed him, but disappeared as he gave her a smirk.

Her mother had once warned her of Mimics – people with the ability to imitate others. It was a dark magic, seldom seen or used, but its perfect execution had fooled her.

Declan.

Like hell.

She reeled for the door, but he lunged, slamming her against the wall. He shoved a hand against her mouth, muffling her scream. He smelt of cigars and aggression. Her attempts to break free only tightened his grip and earned her a yank of the hair.

It got her attention.

As did the knife he slid against her throat.

He swung her around to face him, shoving her against the wall without budging the knife.

“Crash course in survival, darling,” he drawled, pressing it into her flesh. “If you’re being hunted, don’t seek out your hunter.”

Something snapped inside as Kate gasped for air, clawing at the hands that held her prisoner. She felt the flush of energy with her fury and dug her nails into his skin so hard that he grunted.

“Crash course in survival, asshole,” she said in a steady voice, pleased that her tone gave nothing away. “If you’re hunting your prey, don’t underestimate her.” With an animal scream, her knee came up with a speed and force that buckled him.

She aimed a kick that sent him sprawling across the floor. His outraged roar ripped through the corridor and he struggled to his feet, swiping hair from his face.

He lunged forward, but with a dizzying movement, she grabbed the fire extinguisher attached to the wall and released the nozzle. Thick white spray devoured him, sparking howls of rage. She took four strides toward the blinded man and whacked the fire extinguisher across his head, crying out in relief when he crumpled to the ground.

“Kate!” yelled a female voice as a door further down the corridor burst open to reveal a breathless blonde woman.

Jenna froze in the doorway, her gaze shifting from the fallen warrior to Kate. Her eyebrows were tense, her mouth clamped in fury. She was still wearing Kate’s clothes.

“What are you doing here?” Kate cried out. “You were asleep!”

“No chance in hell I’m missing out on all this,” Jenna replied glancing at Max.