House Blackthorn

CONTRACTED TO THE DEVIL'S BODYGUARD

EPISODE 3: HOUSE BLACKTHORN

364:22:40

The back door slammed behind them and the alley swallowed them whole.

Rain hit Ava’s face like needles. Ryder didn’t let go of her wrist. His hand was ice through her sleeve, and the red card he’d slapped on her sigil was the only thing keeping it from burning through her skin.

Behind them, the sound of wood splintering. Shouts. Gunfire, but muffled. Like it was happening underwater.

Ryder: "Don’t look back."

Ava: "What the hell are you?"

Ryder: "Later."

He dragged her through a service door, down a flight of concrete stairs, into a basement that smelled like mildew and old coffee. The second they were inside, he pressed his palm to the door. Black lines like ink, like the blood from last night crawled out from his fingers and sealed the cracks.

The noise outside cut off.

For 3 seconds, there was only their breathing.

Then Ryder let go. He stepped back and looked at her, really looked. Rain dripping from his hair, suit jacket torn at the shoulder. The cut on his temple was still leaking black.

Ryder: "Are you sure you’re not hurt?"

Ava wrapped her arms around herself. "No. But I’m pretty sure I’m losing my mind! Who are those goddamn people?! Why was there a timer in my head?! And what is this!" she yanked up her sleeve. The sigil was invisible, but she could feel it. Hot. Itching. "on my arm?"

Ryder ran a hand through his wet hair. For the first time he looked tired. Not dangerous-tired. Exhausted-tired.

Ryder: "House Blackthorn. The Wrath. The Mark. Pick one."

He pulled out his phone. Not a normal phone. Black glass, no brand. He tapped it twice and a hologram flickered to life between them.

A contract. Old paper texture, but glowing letters.

VESSEL CONTRACT

Name: Ava Lane

Bound To: House Blackthorn, Wrath Division

Term: 365 Days

Clause 1: The Vessel shall bear the Mark of Wrath.

Clause 2: The Vessel shall not die before Term completion

Clause 3: The Assigned Wrath shall protect the Vessel at all cost

Status: ACTIVE

Ava stared at it. "I didn’t sign this."

Ryder: "You did last night. When you touched me."

Ava: "That’s not how contracts work!"

Ryder: "For us, it is." He swiped the hologram away. "The Mark chooses. The moment your blood touched mine, the 365 day countdown started. It means something out there wants you dead before the year is up."

Ava: "And you’re my bodyguard?"

Ryder: "I’m your Wrath." The word sounded like a title and a curse. "One of seven. House Blackthorn handles protection. The other Houses want the Vessel for themselves. Or they want you gone."

Ava laughed. It came out shaky. "This is insane. I’m an art student. I draw. I make coffee. I don’t... I’m not special."

Ryder’s gold eyes narrowed. "The Mark doesn’t choose special. It chooses necessary."

He walked to a metal door at the end of the basement and pressed his hand to it. It clicked open, revealing a black SUV idling in an underground garage. No driver.

Ryder: "We’re going to House Blackthorn. It’s warded. Safe. For now."

Ava didn’t move. "What happens in 365 days?"

Ryder paused. The first bit of hesitation she’d seen from him.

Ryder: "The contract ends. The Mark either ascends... or it kills you."

The timer in her vision flickered. 364:22:27

Ava’s stomach dropped. "Ascends to what?"

Ryder: "Power. Or ash. Depends on if you survive the year and what the other Houses do to stop it."

He held out his hand. Not to grab her. To offer.

Ryder: "I can’t make you come. But if you stay here, they’ll find you in 10 minutes. The ward on your wrist only lasts 12 hours. After that, you glow again."

Ava looked at his hand. Then at the door behind him. Then at the stairs where she could swear she heard footsteps again. Soft. Patient.

She took his hand. It was still freezing.

The SUV doors opened on their own.

Inside, the car was nothing like a normal car. No buttons. Black leather. A screen on the dash showing a map of the city with 3 red dots moving toward her last address.

Ryder slid into the driver seat. The car started without a key.

Ryder: "House rules. One: You don’t leave my side. Two: You don’t touch anyone else. Three: You don’t ask about the other six Wraths unless I tell you."

Ava: "And what are you? Really? You said Wrath."

Ryder’s hands tightened on the wheel. For a second his shadow in the rearview mirror flickered. Too many limbs again.

Ryder: "We’re what happens when a demon makes a deal and regrets it. We’re bound to protect. Forever. Or until the contract we’re assigned to ends."

He glanced at her. At the red card on her wrist.

Ryder: "You’ve got 364 days, Ava. Try not to die on me."

The garage door rolled up, and the SUV shot into the rain.

Her phone buzzed. Unknown number again.

`House Blackthorn: Welcome, Vessel. Your first lesson starts in 1 hour. Bring the Wrath.`

Ava looked at Ryder. He didn’t look surprised.

Ryder: "They’re already waiting."

Outside the window, across the rooftops, she saw them.

Figures. Watching. Some with masks. Some with wings that weren’t wings.