Retaliation: the beginning

Chapter 58: "Blinding faith"

Elias had always thought lighthouses should be red and white striped. Now of course he realized that he'd only ever seen them in children's books before. This one was black and white. The smooth black cylinder that rose from the rock and sand was punctuated with small white framed windows on the path of what could only be an internal spiral staircase. At the top was a huge light encased in a white frame and around the edge was a white fenced external walkway.

"A black and white lighthouse huh?" He gazed at the picture pinned on the white board a little longer before turning around "Nothing evil about that."

"Don't be surprised if we find an underground lair." Said Aaron who paced in the room for the last twenty minutes, throwing glances at the hunters gathered in the corner of the room.

"I'm taking the seer to make an exchange," Clay told his apprentices "You two stay here and wait, if the exchange goes well and Timothy is safe, I'll call for you."

"What? You're going alone?" Elias piped in before Aaron pulled him back from his hoodie.

"Let the experts handle it." He said giving the huntsman a look of confirmation before he orbed away.

The last thing Clay wanted was to drag other prays to the lion's cage.

"You really have a blinding faith in him," the smaller boy said, he leaned on the desk behind him as he finished off "it's creepy considering the fact that you were ready to murder each other not long ago."

"Trust me, I don't trust him as much as you do, I'm just not sure I want you to be in the middle of it." Aaron answered honestly.

Elias sighed deeply. You did volunteer for this, he reminded himself. Aaron had warned him it would be hard work, and dangerous, but he'd insisted.

However, something in his head forced him to move again and try to convince them. He couldn't place the reason behind the feeling so he compartmentalized it into a locked off section of his mind to worry over later. For now it may be useful to think of another way to get the bad guy.

That seemed like a better idea than bitching about it.

He cast a look back over his shoulder; the map was still lying on the desk as Clay had left it.

"What are you doing?" Aaron asked watching his best friend take a seat facing the desk.

"I'm making a point." Leaning back in the chair, El swiped the book across the table, turning the page. The paragraph concerning the Agreas demons was remarkably filled.

"What point? That you want to die and drag me with you?!" Aaron snapped, a note of anguish in his voice.

Ely blinked. Where did that come from?

"Really? like something worse can happen?" He said as he moved onto the next image, clinically observing the details in the photos, from the script on their clothing to the weapons they carried.

"Yes." Shane came between them "You think you've seen everything but you didn't. There is worse, and if we fail Tim's gone." he said and Elias felt like it was the longest period of time he heard him say anything.

"I know that! That's my main concern."

"I doubt it."

"Hey" Aaron grabbed his arm and spun the blond toward him "He means it." He said as he let go, but none of the intensity faded from his face.

"What if Clay needs back up?" Elias added to his argument "Da-Isaac is certainly not coming. He needs you guys."

Shane looked down briefly, his mind flashed briefly to Clay and he shook his head to clear it. He was still not convinced but his sister fell into Elias' words immediately.

Kimberly walked to his side "I hate to say this but he's right-"

"Kim-"

"No, you just listen!"

Shane, startled, didn't reply and just watched her with a lifted brow.

"We've let Clay handle things on his own for too long, he always has our backs, how about we have his for once?"

Elias gave a frustrated sigh "Look, I don't know about you guys but we're going after him." He said motioning to Aaron who frowned and mumbled. "we?"

Hesitant, Shane looked back at his sister, and she was still watching him with that earnest, intent expression. He turned away, hands on his hips and shoulders set.

"Can you come up with a better plan than Clay's on the way there?"

"I can try." Elia responded, shoulders lifted and fell in a shrug.

"Well get on it," the hunter set his mind "we leave in five."

*******************

Clay stood at the corner of Abraham and Lawrence Streets, a dark blue, hooded sweater pulled up over his head, shielding his face from direct view. It did wonders to conceal his identity, he made a mental note to buy more of them.

A frustrating hour of watching the only road leading to the lighthouse.

"Well huntsman, are we going into the demon's lair yet?" the seer asked, looking around there was nobody but them. "If you fear that there would be a trap waiting for you, let me assure you that there is none."

Clay pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're kidding? You think I'd believe a word you say?"

The seer shrugged in response, she could hear how Clay took a breath behind her, maybe even wanted to say something, but she didn't give him a chance to speak. "You know I'm not in his side, why bother deliver me to him? You're only wasting your time."

"My time is none of your concern," The huntsman said pushing the malicious being forward "move!" The seer just rolled her eyes walking lazily ahead of him.

His phone buzzed in his back pocket and Clay retrieved it, grateful for a distraction, until he saw who was calling.

Isaac C.Harper.

Relief and anguish soared in equal measure when he swallowed, wanting desperately to answer and yet afraid to. Sadly the decision was taken out of his hands when a sudden hit got him from behind. His vision blurred before he fell on the ground, the phone broke in half beside him as the last thing he saw was the seer's foot crushing what was left of it.