Forbidden (Fallen 2)

Jonathon tried to pull my hands off of my head but I only screamed louder and held on tighter.

He disappeared for no more than three seconds and returned with Patrick and the other Pulmers’ following closely behind.

Even in my state I could make out tears in Jonathon’s eyes. Tears that he could not shed.

I couldn’t stop screaming and the pain would not go away.

I could dimly hear Jonathon explaining to Patrick what had happened. Patrick stood looking puzzled as did the other Pulmers.

“Don’t you see? Her mind is being attacked. From the looks of it a pretty powerful thought persuader,” spoke Gabriel, suddenly appearing as if carried in on the morning mist.

“Thought persuader?” Jonathon and Patrick asked simultaneously.

“You’ve never heard of a thought persuader?” said Gabriel, his trademark smirk prominent.

I continued to scream as the pain intensified. I thought my skull might split open but amazingly I could hear everything that they said with perfect clarity.

“God damn you Gabriel! Just answer the question!” yelled Jonathon attempting to launch himself at Gabriel but was being impeded by his uncle and brother.

Gabriel rolled his eyes and sighed, “Simmer down, little boy.”

Jonathon’s eyes burned with liquid, silver, fire. It was molten and hot. Scorching.

“A thought persuader is a vampire with the power to persuade the thoughts of animals, humans, vampires, even vampire hunters,” he said with a thoughtful look at Aleksei, who had now joined the gathering. “Not all thought persuaders can control all of the different groups, some have an affinity over one particular group. But this one seems quite powerful.”

I continued screaming and Jonathon flinched. He looked at me with so much panic in his eyes and expression that I thought he may explode with it.

Jonathon looked back at Gabriel and said, “Isn’t that what you do?”

Gabriel laughed. “Yes, I guess you could say that. Only I’m much, much, more powerful than that,” He said with a glance at my prone form.

Jonathon gulped visibly and asked, “Can you stop it?”

“Of course. This is a piece of cake for me. Now would you prefer for me to toast this guy from the inside out or would you prefer for me to have him join us for questioning?” Gabriel asked, rubbing his hands together.

“Join us? You mean you can not only stop him but you can make him turn himself in against his will?” Jonathon asked, shocked.

“My dear boy, I can make him do anything I want,” sneered Gabriel.

“Than do it. Make him stop torturing her and then bring him here. I’d like to have a word with the fellow doing this,” said Jonathon in a deathly calm. I knew that on the inside he must be battling his rage. Caging it.

My screams were becoming louder and more inhuman as the pain grew stronger.

Jonathon flinched.

And suddenly it ceased.

My body was sore all over and the world around me seemed so foreign. I let my hands drop from my head and saw that my fingers were bent at odd angles that didn’t look natural.

“Kylie,” said Jonathon falling to the ground and holding me close for inspection. Once he was sure I was in good working order he pulled me against him and whispered words of endearment in my ear.

“I thought you may die principessa. And to think, I only just got you back!” He held me so tight I thought I might break as if I were a child’s doll.

“What have we here?” said Gabriel rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet a smile playing on his lips.

Jonathon and I, like everyone else, turned and followed his gaze.

A girl, so young as to be no older than fourteen, emerged from the edge of the trees.