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Chapter One
"They're coming your way, Archer." Caleb's voice sounded in his earpiece, and he pivoted to his left, rifle ready. His location, hidden high in the trees, made it impossible for any of the rogue vamps to see him or escape. Archer had been watching the group for over a week now, tracking, observing, and learning everything about them.
Caleb and his team flushed them out, taking down the majority, but a couple managed to get through, and that's why Archer was there. Waiting was his forte, and marksmanship was his expertise. He took them out in two shots, rapid-fire; neither had a chance to react.
"Finished." He stated and waited for Caleb's all-clear sign before dropping from the tree. This band of renegades had been terrorizing the village of Rosewood for several months. The Toledo Coven was getting on its feet in good order, but there were still pockets of rogue vampires, offshoots, and leftovers of the disgusting Perrysburg Coven who were still popping up in the area.
Their existence was a danger to all vampires and all paranormals. They attacked humans and took no heed in covering their tracks. They were an abomination, vicious and out of control. He and Caleb's team have spent several years in and around the Toledo area cleaning up after the Perrysburg incident.
"The nest has been eradicated," Caleb said as he walked up to stand beside Archer. "I'll be glad when we finally root out all these Perrysburg rejects." He added as they watched the two Archer felled get carted away.
“What’s the next assignment?” Archer asked while stowing his weapons. He knew he was in for something unusual when Caleb turned to him with an annoying grin on his face.
"Silas has asked that you return to the Coven. He has a special assignment for you."
“What does that mean?” Archer was suspicious since his skill was useful in the field but not particularly suitable for the Coven or in Mt. Pleasant. He was loosely part of the assassin unit, but he worked alone and with little supervision.
“No idea he didn’t share anything with me. You’ll have to wait till you get there.” Caleb chuckled. Various possibilities ran through his mind, but he decided to put it aside until he finished here and headed back to the Palace. Silas would tell him when he got there.
Kevin had the cabin weatherproofed, so he started to work on the inside. He'd been cooking in a fire pit in the yard and sleeping in a sleeping bag on the bare floor of the main room of his cabin while finishing the structure and making it sound. Now, he could put his energy into making the interior a warm and welcoming space.
Some local hunters had given him grief over building his cabin and setting up his homestead adjacent to the State Forest lands, but he was within his rights. He purchased the ten acres, and he was allowed to build a structure and live in it.
There were some restrictions that he adhered to, as he had to get appropriate permits, which he did. They had no legal grounds to try and stop him. It had been over a week since they had contacted him, so he was hopeful that the matter had been laid to rest.
The forest had become his oasis of peace and solace. The daily work of preparing the ground, building the cabin, and now detailing the interior brought a stillness to his heart and mind that he so dearly needed. This was a project that he could continue to work on for years, and its continued construction would, in time, he hoped, heal his heart.
Being secluded in the wild on his own was exactly what he needed because being around others was too hard right now. He would stay in the forest for now and maybe forever, for there was nothing left for him elsewhere. His life was right here on this land in this cabin. His focus was narrow and basic.
It took great effort to keep his mind from wandering to the past and digging up the pain and humiliation that nearly destroyed him, but this place right here was keeping him sane. This place belonged to him and him alone, and no one would ever take it away.
He set his tools aside and went inside, closing the door and reveling in the privacy and the feeling of sanctuary. This was his home, built by himself with his own two hands, no one else, no help, and it was perfect no matter what it looked like or ended up being. This place was perfect.
His cat, Johnny Orlando, jumped down from the rafters and begged for attention, which he gave readily. Johnny adopted him not long after Kevin first arrived. Kevin lived in a tent under the trees for a few weeks in the beginning, and Johnny liked the tent. Once he had his cabin framed out with the basic floor, walls, and a roof, Johnny moved inside with him. He mostly lived his own life and came to the cabin in the evening for food and water and a little loving.
He was all the companion Kevin needed. It was a live-and-let-live and mind your own business relationship, and it was perfect, just like his home. "Come here, boy." He said to the cat, who sauntered over in his own good time. Cats don't answer to anyone. He gave him a rub down, and then Johnny was on his way.
Kevin stretched out on the bench he had built and tucked into the leftovers he had in the electric cooler that he powered with a solar-powered generator. In time, he would get some proper appliances, but for now, this was fine. As long as he had a cooler and a coffee pot, he was fine.
It was times like these, when he was done for the day, and the sun was setting, that his mind went back to life in Indianapolis and to the people he used to care about. His brother, his fiancé, and his parents all contrived to take everything from him to leave him broken and alone.
He was alone, but he wasn't broken. He would never give them the satisfaction of seeing him reduced to no one with nothing. He salvaged what he could, which wasn't much they had been thorough, and then he disappeared.
He contacted several clients, the heavy hitters, and let them know the situation was messy and suggested they go elsewhere since this company was in flux. He would rather see the whole thing implode than allow them to profit off his work. Their deceit and betrayals will afford them nothing but a small business with no life expectancy.
Kevin ditched his phone and went off the grid, needing to escape from all of them and everything. He'd bought ten acres outside of Mt. Pleasant right after he graduated from high school, thinking he would ultimately use it as a hunting camp one day. Little did he know then that these ten acres would prove to be his saving grace.
No one knew about this property, and he never used it or referred to it, so they would have no reason to search it out. This was his place to heal, regroup, and get strong mentally, emotionally, and physically. He fed Johnny, then poured himself a cup of coffee and prepared a bowl of soup with crackers.
This was the life, and he'd settled in quite well, except for the hunters who came around every so often to try and hassle him. He has been hassled by some of the best, so a few sportsmen were not going to get the best of him.
Archer arrived at the Palace, and after getting settled in a room and freshening up, he went to see Silas. Silas Patronne led the field agents that were handling the issues in Ohio. He had a personal incentive, given that his beloved, Wolfe Reynolds, had been a victim of the rogues in that area. He also took care of security at the Palace, and he was very good at his job. He'd been trained by his father, Ismael, the second in command, and by Master DuCane. Archer was honored to serve under him.
He entered the outer office and was brought inside by Silas’ assistant. Silas stood by the window looking out at the gardens but turned to regard Archer as soon as he entered the office.
"Take a seat, Archer. I have a situation I want to present to you. It isn't your usual mission, but it could turn dicey, and I want someone capable of handling whatever may arise swiftly and skillfully." Silas began and took a seat behind his desk and then pulled up a visual on the monitor that hung on the wall across the room.
“Sounds interesting.” He commented before giving the information his complete attention.
