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Desiray, enchantment, imortals, Maeratiyes, mage, mythical beings, paranormal, romance, shape shifter, shifter, soul mate, soul mates, suspence, vampire, witch, witches, writing
Chapter 2
He is right there, hidden in the shadows, the vampire prince. The ruthless and cruel feared and dangerous vampire and he didn’t see her, so he is vulnerable to her abilities, which gives her a chance to act. She holds back nothing and did what no mage should ever do alone, especially in the woods in Vampirca, with no one to hear her scream, but plants animals, and the occasional vampire. She searches his mind and his memory, and all the while prays he will not catch her. She can move rather freely inside the vampire’s mind, or any mind for that matter, that is as long as she’s not caught, which lucky for her has so far never happened. If ever caught the result would be deadly.
Regardless she searches his memories as far back as they go and starts to watch them flow past her eyes. As she searches for information regarding the disappearances, she finds nothing, except a few painful memories.
* * *
Maeratiyes awoke to find he was sitting on cold stone in a dark room. He tried to stand up, but was chained down, the chains holding him painfully against the jagged wall. He opened his eyes to see again only darkness just as the door opened, letting a harsh beam of light in. The room was illuminated for a moment giving him a sudden glimpse of the cell, larger than he had thought; it held another prisoner, Destiny. Her blond hair was tossed about the floor, her wrists shackled to the wall, cloths tattered; she did not move. The dark stone walls were covered with a green film; the dampness seemed to be alive. As suddenly as the door had opened it closed sending the room into darkness again. “Destiny,” he asked the silence, “Destiny can you hear me? Get up.”
Silence, nothing but silence reverberated through the room. Desiray can feel anger in Maeratiyes as she stares into the darkness where he knows Destiny lies motionless and alone. “Destiny you won’t die,” Maeratiyes says to her, to the silence, “My father won’t kill you. We may be different, but you won’t die, you are mine, and I am yours. He cannot take that from me,” he pauses, “Destiny can you hear me? Don’t die!” he cries to her, pleading with her to stay alive. Just then a flash goes off in the cell and a woman with billowing red curls appears. She has strange clothing on, she quickly bends down to look at Destiny, “What are you doing?” he asks the red head.
“It is Camil,” she says softly, “I am trying to repair the damage he has done,” she looks down at Destiny, the light pours from Camil as if she were on fire, “I will not hurt your lady, but there is nothing even I can do to save her. She has put events in motion that cannot be undone, not even by me.” She turns to look at Maeratiyes, “You are Prince Maeratiyes are you not,” she asks walking over to face him.
Maeratiyes cannot look at the lady who calls herself Camil, “What have you done to her?” He asks in a painful whisper.
“I,” she says un-entangaling the silver shackles from his wrists, “have done nothing, “she gets Maeratiyes free, “she has done much, but nothing can be done to undo it. You must leave this place now. He has come to kill you.”
“Lord Bloodgood will not destroy me.” Maeratiyes says, Moving to Destiny’s side.
“It is not Lord Bloodgood who comes, it is Lord Devorick, and he comes for you. Take my hand.” Camil says and touches Destiny while reaching for Maeratiyes’s hand.
Maeratiyes takes Camil’s hand just as the door opens. Camil in a glance looks over her shoulder to see Devorick, Jonathan, and Keith start to enter the room. Desiray didn’t know how this was known, but Maeratiyes knew this, then Camil, Destinyand himself vanished, as did the memory.
Desiray felt like she was falling only to find that she was in another memory. Benedict, Desiray believed since he looked just like Maeratiyes was standing before him, and had just finished talking.
“Mirra, no,” he breathed, he looked over at this brother, “NO, it can’t be. Did you do this?” he asked.
“Never,” was all his twin said.
“She can’t be dead,” Maeratiyes said, “Tell me you lie Benedict tell me it isn’t true.”
“I fear Maeratiyes that if I said such, that would be the lie.” Benedict said as Maeratiyes crumpled to his knees. Desiray knew that vampires rarely cried, and when they did those tears were red, even born vampires cried tears that appeared red, “Maer, I’m sorry, I wouldn’t let anyone else tell you, but I felt it was my duty to tell you of her fall.”
“How?” was all Maeratiyes asked.
“A mage got between us,” Benedict said trying to hold back his own tears, “she was there before I could do anything, she took hold of Mirra’s arm and—” Benedict broke off, unable to finish. So unlike the vampire Desiray had always heard about, “—she…” Benedict held the tears back, visibly tried to calm himself, then got down on one knee beside his brother, “The mage took Mirra by the arm and tried to pull her away from danger, but I was not fast enough; neither was the mage. A flame arrow caught her in the chest.” Benedict was visibly shaken, tears of red glistened in his dark eyes, “Brother, I am sorry, I tried to save her, but the arrow was on fire, and it was quick, the flame moved quickly, there was nothing I could do.” Benedict said softly to his brother, “she turned to ash before I could stop the flames.”
“Who was the mage?” Maeratiyes asked.
“Which one?” Benedict asked cautiously.
“The one who tried to save her,” Maeratiyes asked.
“Emmy, I believe it is short for Emily, but I heard them all call her Emmy.” Benedict said as he watched his brother regain his composure. “Maeratiyes,” he added, “I am truly sorry that I was not there for her, I would rather it have been me than her; if only to make it easier for you to be in charge.”
“Ben, we are both generals in this war, we cannot let our love for our family be what prevents us from winning this war.” Maeratiyes said, “Are you sure she tried to save her?”
“Benedict seemed to ponder the thought, “She tried to push her to the ground, she even stopped a few arrows before the rain of those that killed Mirra and wounded her.”
“Yet you were not harmed,” Maeratiyes inquired.
“She stood between us and the arrows,” Benedict said, “She threw something over me, then herself over Mirra. The dear mage took four arrows Maeratiyes, but one got past her,” Ben said. “Maer I am so sorry that I could not save her.”
Maeratiyes stood and faced his brother. “I understand you could do nothing, but now we must learn more about this Emmy, she sounds more like a Master Witch than a simple Mage, and I wish to know her reason for protecting you…and Mirra. She has some plan Benedict, we must watch her close. She may have plans we cannot predict. I will morn for Mirra, but I will also discover who this Emmy is, if it kills me I will find her. I fear she is trying to cause us problems. I worry Benedict, I worry she is trying to change the course of this war. But to what purpose, that is my question.
“I don’t know brother, but know this, she knew my name.”
Desiray searched again for something else, something that seemed to be hiding in his memories. Just then, she found herself in a dream. The world was still, not even a breeze rustled the branches of the trees that surrounded her. The forest was thick, a small crick ran beside her, and there at the edge stood a woman. Desiray nearly jumped out of her skin seeing herself though the eyes of Maeratiyes. The woman who stood in the woods looked just like Desiray, long blond hair, soft gentle green eyes, with a confidence that is sometimes overwhelming. Fear coursed through her, did he know she was there. No she told herself, and she watched the dream.
“Who are you?” Maeratiyes asked, “Do I know you?”
“No,” the lady said, and Desiray tried to believe it was not her.
“Will you tell me your name?” Maeratiyes asked.
“I have no name,” the lady said, “Thus I haven’t one to give you.”
“But I know you.” He said adamantly.
“Not yet,” she said turning to leave. “But you will.” She whispered and walked away.
“Lady, who are you,” he asked as she departed. “I have seen a vision.” He added as the dream faded away.
* * *
Desiray opens her eyes to see that the vampire has left the perimeter of her mental ability. She fears for a second that the blond woman in the dream is her, yet she had thought the woman in the cell looked a lot like her too; shaking the thoughts away and looking around her to be sure she has not been seen by anyone. Just because there was a temporary peace didn’t make it safe in vampire land. Vampirca was dangerous territory, and thankfully she was not discovered. If she had been, she would already be dead. Unlike most hunters, Desiray was daring; she was in the Crimson House. The house of the hunters, even though Eden House would have been another fine fit, for she’s also a healer. For ages, her predecessors have hunted the rouge and soulless vampires and shifters also called, Upír’s and Skinwalkers within the Enchantment and without. Over the last thousand years they have fought the vampires in a bloody war that appears to have no end in sight, and now it is her turn to follow in her families footsteps. However, she has lost her prey for the evening, but as dawn is only hours away she knows she must head back. It is not safe to linger for too long near a vampire’s residence; for Desiray, who has been there half the night, it is lingering into lethal.
With a quick glance at her surroundings she slips back into the woods and heads to where she parked her car. She drives quickly to Oak Ridge road which will take her to Pine Creek School for the Gifted. She would have stayed longer though it was dangerous; however, she has a weapons demonstration at 8:00 am the following morning, with a special intense training session afterwards lead by a field specialist. Lauren Ills, the fastest witch since Azura Clavens.
Desiray pulled her ’69 Chevelle up to the Crimson house, heaving a sigh she turns off the engine. The prospect of her bed the only reason to get out of the car and into the house; riddled with exhaustion she takes all her stuff from her evening of hunting and launches up the stairs to the door on the porch. Reaching for the knob her mind floats back to her strange encounter in the forest. “The woman looked just like me,” she breathes to herself as the door flies open to reveal Ebony reaching to pull her inside with panic on her face.
“Desiray, hurry,” she says yanking Desiray into the foyer, “come quickly,” Ebony turns tossing her black hair with the motion and heading for the stairs with the assumption that Desiray is behind her.
“What happened?” Desiray asks catching up to her. “Just tell me what is going on.”
“It’s Alexa, you have to help her.” Ebony says at the base of the staris.
“Lead the way.” Desiray replies from four steps behind Ebony and follows her up the stairs to the third floor and into Alexa’s room where they find Jade tending to a blood soaked Alexa.
“What happened?” Desiray questions as she goes to Alexa’s side.
“I don’t know; she teleported here, and we haven’t gotten the story yet,” Jade replies. Brushing black strands of hair out of her jade green eyes, she backs up to let Desiray get closer.
“Let’s take a look,” Desiray says softly, and looks more closely at Alexa, who is now unconscious and perched on death’s door step.
She places her hand over Alexa’s forehead; “shhh,” Desiray sooths slowly, and looks into Alexa’s memories in search of the one she is looking for. She finds it; the fight appears and unfolds before Desiray’s very tired eyes.
* * *
Alexa stood alone facing three vampires. They looked familiar, Desiray had seen them before, somewhere, but that eluded her as she watched the one with dark eyes and ash brown hair. He moved differently, he held immense power. She looked at the way he moved and knew he had a different type of magic. Something old, a magic few knew about, he had not been given this magic by the way he fought with it. Desiray knew he had taken it, the way she didn’t know, but before she could look further into his magic another vampire attacked. He was swift, lunging forwards. Then the other one attacked, he was abrupt and forward while the third was stealth, he slipped behind her and tried to get close without getting hurt. He had guts and talent, Alexa knew then she would lose. Seeing it as a memory it was painful and scary, then the man in stealth swooped in behind her and pain radiated through her. She kicked back with her right leg closed her eyes and vanished. Seconds later she reappeared in the living room at Crimson house, where she startled Ebony and Jade before collapsing to the carpeted floor.
* * *
Desiray moves one hand to Alexa’s left shoulder then down her left side across her stomach and up her right side. She knows where the wound is, but has to scan for the entry, by the heart she finds it. The blade had cut the heart muscle, so Alexa was dying.
Desiray moves both hands down to the heart and starts to move energy from herself into Alexa. Alexa’s breathing slows almost to a stop, then from under Desiray’s hands a brilliant gold light grows brighter and brighter until after what seems like a life time it stops. Seconds later Alexa opens her eyes weakly.
“Alexa,” Desiray whispers softly, “You will be okay, I promise.” Desiray says and tries to stand, but collapses from the exhaustion.
“Desiray,” Ebony states, “you shouldn’t do this.” She continues lifting Desiray off the floor using her telekinetic ability. “You wear yourself out, and then when you have to do something really important you exhaust yourself; not very smart.” She continues as she moves her jet black hair out of her blue eyes. “You know one of these days you will kill yourself trying to help someone.
Ebony moves up to the fourth floor where, she enters Desiray’s room and places her in bed, covers her up and set the alarm for 7:30 am. “I know you don’t want to miss the weapons demonstration in the morning, though I don’t know how you will manage the intense training session after wards.” Ebony says and leaves closing the door behind her. “It is almost five already.” She adds and heads down stairs to check on Alexa.
“Hey Alexa, you need to thank her, she saved your life.” Ebony starts walking into the room.
“Yah, second time she pulled my ass out of the fire.”
“What do you mean, when was the first time?” Ebony asks now that Jade had cleared the room.
“Back about four years ago. I was out with some friends from Nightshade when we got jumped by some vampires and a shifter in the parking lot. Jenny and Stacy were killed, Andricia was hurt badly, but I fought the last seven, I was out numbered and loosing until Desiray showed up. The two of us killed them all. If she hadn’t shown up when she did I would be dead. She got there just as the tides were turning and I was running out of time.”
“Tell me your story; no one knows anything about you. Where are you from? Who are your parents? How did you end up here in Crimson like us?” Alexa asks of Ebony.
“Well, I don’t really know where I am from, I don’t remember my parents,” she lies knowing full well her father was still alive and always searching for her, trying desperately to get her to join him in his workings with the Kin, she instead says, “all I know is some professor found me, and brought me here. That is all I know about my past.” Ebony stats, “the only other thing I know is that my last name is Winters.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just remember that, Ebony Jasper Winters is destined to do great things.” Ebony says, like she is reciting a poem.
“At least you are ‘destined to do great things’ that’s a plus,” Alexa stats.
“True, but I really want to know what I am destined to do, am I to do good, bad, neither, I just don’t know. I wish they were alive, I wish I knew who…” she pauses wondering if what she says will be turned against her if they ever find out the truth, she continues softly“… who they were or are, my parents must have had some reason to leave me here. If they were here they could tell me.” She knows that it is because her mother is dead and her father constantly trying to find her, so her aunt brought her here, but she had been seven and at the time she knew far more than any seven year old should. She continues quickly, “Why would they let me come to this school if they were still alive, or are they dead, that is what I want to know.”
She was lying to her friends, she didn’t want to, but there was no other way. If she had told them the truth about her father she would no longer be safe in Wiccana. He would find her, and if he finds her he will bend her will to do his bidding and that she just can’t allow. She is no longer his to control. She’s going to save her future from his evil, no matter what he thinks. So now that she has lied to her friends she just has to find a way to remember what she told them, for if she changes it, they will know and force the truth from her. Ebony pauses in thought then changes her mind knowing they will just suspect her of being part of the Kin, and guilt by association can be just as bad as the real thing. That she just wouldn’t allow. Ebony looks back at them, “I just don’t understand why they brought me here?” she says knowing it is really her choice for her father is not allowed in Wiccana, so it is as safe a place as any other.
“Maybe they were not allowed in, yet wished for you to be accepted, so they left you here. We only need to find out who your parents are, and then we will find out who you really are.” Jade stats from the corner where she is sitting with her crisp dark eyes piercing the shadows of the room, “or if we can even trust you,” she adds with a glare trying to filter out the lies Ebony was telling them. She knows there is a secret behind those soft blue eyes, but discovering it will be a challenge. Silence coats the room like wet paint. Alexa just looks from Jade to Ebony. She goes to speak, but knows it is not her place.
Ebony is startled, she is even scared for a moment, did Jade know the truth, would this be her last night here at Crimson house, or maybe on the planet.
Jade just watches Ebony for a short time; she is searching and observing Ebony. Is she trust worthy, she wonders as suspicion grows in Jade as Alexa speaks. “Let’s just worry about something else. Maybe then we can stop walking on glass.”
Silence seeps across the room, as the strange events settle into everyone’s minds, when Alexa spoke. “I’m not worried about me, I do however worry about Desiray, and she does impossible things, many times things I think are impossible for even the vampires to achieve.”
“You mean like healing you.” Jade starts moving closer to the bed, “Don’t worry I think she is a real killer. I once saw her fight five vampires, alone and worse she was unarmed. It was horrible, worse than anything I had ever seen or imagined. They set a trap, and she walked into it with a plan of her own. She saved me that night, if she hadn’t been there; I would be dead or a vampire myself.” Jade adds looking from one girl to the other, as they realize she has helped them all in one way or another
Desiray lay motionlessly across the bed unconscious to the world. Suddenly two shapes appeared in the room.
“We must be quick,” the first says as he moves towards the bed, but trippes over something and nearly falls onto the bed.
“Silence, we are trying to be quiet not wake the whole damn place, now stop.” The second person says, “Get the window open, we will take her out through there.” The second person adds and grabs Desiray, sticks a needle in her shoulder, injecting the liquid before carrying her out of the room.
Desiray is tossed haphazardly into a dark van. She lands with a thud, moments later the van drives off into the night. Leaving Crimson house behind and vanishing into thin air.
Maeratiyes slowly comes to as the truck makes its way down the rough road. He lifts his head off the floor. With his vampire eyes he can see Desiray lying on the wood floor boards.
“Are you alright?” He asks.
“I don’t know,” Desiray says weakly coming to a bit and trying to wake herself up, so as to be aware of what is going on around her. “Where are we?”
“Don’t know, we’ve been driving for some time,” Maeratiyes says, “Did they hurt you?”
“Last thing I remember I was healing Alexa.” Desiray replies trying to sit up, “she had been attacked,” Desiray pauses and looks around the van, “so this is what happened to them…”
“To who?” Maeratiyes asks.
Desiray looks at Maeratiyes, “The missing mages,” she adds softly, “Looks like we mages are not the only ones going missing.”
“My Uncle went missing two weeks ago.” Maeratiyes says, “Are the Mages responsible?”
“No,” Desiray replies as the truck launches over a bump sending both captives across the van bed and into the far wall. “Are the vampires responsible for the missing mages?”
“No, to my knowledge they are not.” Maeratiyes whispers, and then looks over at Desiray, “This has Devorick written all over it.”
“Do you really think he and the Kin are responsible?” Desiray questions.
“The Kin are very powerful; with Devorick as their leader; they have become quite good at getting things done, besides with us out of the way he can keep this war going so long as he can work in she shadow and eventually take over all of the Enchantment.” Maeratiyes stats, pondering his thoughts; he looks at Desiray, “What’s wrong?”
Desiray looks vary alarmed. She turns to him and whispers, “I can’t feel anything,” fear suddenly is weaving its way into her mind, “I am completely numb.” Desiray replies and glares at him. She focused on him. This has to be a trap; he must be the one responsible, he was in the woods. He has to be the one who took her. The Kin wouldn’t do this, would they? She asks herself as figures appear in the van they aren’t real, she tells herself, “You lie,” Desiray says, “Tell me how to stop it!” She cries in anger “Tell me where the Mages are, I know you know. You have to know Devorik can’t be behind this.” She says breathlessly as figures move towards her in the van.
“Just relax. They gave me something similar, you must stay sane. Don’t let the drug affect your mind. Stay calm.”
“How?” she snaps, “tell me how to stay sane. I am freaking out right now.” Desiray says realizing the drug is working at unleashing her dreams, as the men move towards her.
“Here.” He says moving to her side. “Close your eyes. If you think you can feel, then your brain will tell you that you do.”
“What are you doing?” she asks in a panic, “Stay away,” she cries backing away from the shapes of the men in the van.”
“Holding you,” he says, “Feel my arms. Know you can feel and you will.” He adds softly.
“I’m scared,” Desiray whispers; afraid of her captors, the vampire at her side, and the figures reaching for her.
“NO!” Desiray cries as the hands take hold of her.
“Close your eyes,” Maeratiyes demands again.
“Leave me alone!” Desiray shouts to the figures as hands start to pull her way from Maeratiyes, “Let Go!”
“Ignore them, “Maeratiyes replies, “They can’t hurt you.” He says pulling her head to his shoulder, “Close your eyes. Don’t worry; take a deep breath. It’ll be okay, I’ll keep you safe,” Maeratiyes says holding her close. He knows what she feels; he had experienced it himself not an hour ago. He is scared for her, and for him. He whispers softly to Desiray, “Don’t worry, I’m right here.”
As they sit in the van Desiray’s mind slowly lingers its way unconsciously into Maeratiyes’s, upon entering Desiray finds herself lost in his memories.
* * *
Maeratiyes sits at his desk filling out paper work as a woman with long brown hair and deep brown eyes walks in to the room. “Maeratiyes, have you been well?” Azura asks as she looks around the room at the garden beyond the far door.
“Azura, I have been well; You?” Maeratiyes asks looking up from his work.
“Long days have passed since I have felt at all well. I have stressing news.”
“Azura,” he pauses trying to see what troubles her, “please tell me.” He adds getting up and moving around the desk.
“It is not news you would wish to hear; but if you wish to, I shall tell you.” She pauses, “no I can’t; it hurts too much to say.”
“Please speak.”Maeratiyes requests taking her hands in his, “Please Azura tell me.”
“This world has grown cold to me; after four hundred years I find no purpose in life. Have you any thoughts?”
“I know not what to think.” Maeratiyes adds as he put his hands on her shoulders, “But please tell me our life together has meant something.”
“I am not your soul mate; thus my life has grown difficult, and long.”
“I don’t know how to respond to that.” Maeratiyes says moving around a chair to follow Azura out to the garden.
“I am very sorry Maeratiyes. It pains me to tell you this, but my time to say farewell is upon me. You are much older in years than I am, but I cannot bear it any longer. I must say goodbye to you my sweet Maeratiyes. I love you my dear, but I must depart: my time here has come to a close. Good bye my love; my Maeratiyes, good bye. You will find her so hold on till then. When you find her Maeratiyes never let her go.” Azura adds then draws a stake from behind her back and stakes herself. Slowly her body turns to ash and dust and floats silently away on a breeze.
* * *
“Maeratiyes,” Desiray states as she openes her green eyes, “No! How could she?”
“What, how could who? How do you know my name?”
“Oh, I was only dreaming,” Desiray says as she realizes what she had just inadvertently done.
“About what?” Maeratiyes asks, trying to discover why and how she knew his name.
“Something worse than death,” she says as her mind begins to drift into another dream.
“What is your name?” he asks, as she starts to drift off.
“Desiray…” she says as she falls asleep once more, though trying so hard to hold on to reality.
* * *
Silence coats the room, Desiray’s room. She lay still and quiet on the floor beside the bed, which for the moment holds her sister Sandra. Sandra, like all her siblings, was older than her.
Her long silky blond hair hung from the top of the bed like a glistening waterfall. Sandra was home on break, she went to Pine Creek School for the Gifted. She was a hunter, like all before her, and she was also in Crimson like all before her.
This is a special night, one that only comes around once a year. The entire Devanis family is home; even James is home from London. It is the eve before the solstice. Plans are being made and the next day was going to be grand, until the events of this night.
Desiray lay still, though wide awake waiting for sleep to claim her; then she sees it; a dark silhouette cast by the moon in the window. She tries to shout a warning to Sandra, but it freezes in her throat.
He broke the glass; pieces littered the floor. All Desiray can do is roll her nine year old self under the bed and watch the dark figures step in through the window as the black shoed man walks to the side of the bed.
Desiray can hear movement in the other rooms as a battle rages on in the very house she grew up in. Never did she think the war would reach her. It did however, and it hit her hard. Screams echo through the house. She sees Sandra fighting the dark man. Desiray tries to position herself so she can see, but what she sees is an end, an end that will, and would forever change her life.
As she sees the dark man’s face Sandra screams. He has pushed her very own knife into her chest. She gasps and he mumbles something in her ear; Desiray can see something mystical move through the knife into him then he takes the knife and leaves the room.
The house grows still, silent echoes through the house, yet Desiray remains motionless. Shortly after the men move into the hall Desiray crawls out from under the bed. She rushes to Sandra’s side.
“Sandra, stay with me please! Don’t go I’m scared.”
“Don’t be Ray. You have to be strong. You must not let them get you.” Sandra says through coughs of blood.
“Sandra, don’t leave me please.”
“Promise me Ray; promise me you won’t let them hurt you.”
“I promise Sandra, I promise. I love you Sandra.” Desiray says.
“I love you too.” Sandra adds and lets out her last breath.
“Sandra,” Desiray gasps as she holds her sister’s motionless form. She gets up moments later and leaves the room in search of her other siblings. She goes first slowly to Tia’s room to find both her and her husband Nick dead, “No,” she gasps and runs to Madalynn’s room, then her parents, all dead. She goes to see if James is also dead when she hears a screams and hurries to the last room.
“James.” Desiray states and runs to his side.
“I’m sorry Desiray, I really am.” He says as he breathes harsh rapid breaths. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop them. Desi forgive me.”
“I do James, I do; I love you James and I forgive you.”
“I love you too little sis, now you stay safe. Desi, I love you so much.”
“James,” Desiray says as James dies in her little arms.
Desiray starts to cry, “Why did you kill them all? Why?” She asks. Then an arrow flies through the broken window and pierces Desiray though the shoulder, she screams a piercing scream; before arms puller he away from James.