Twin Shift

by Amara A. Minx

  Emily cried as she hugged the older woman. She couldn't imagine someone making that kind of sacrifice for her and Beth. Their life as children had seemed so bleak and yet she had a guardian angel the whole time.

  Madeline patted her back. “There there, child. We have much to do if we are to save your men.”

  Emily sniffed. “What do we need to do to get rid of Gregory?”

  “He will come at you with everything he has. His power. His zombies. He will come at nightfall when his power is the strongest.”

  “He’ll attack here?” Emily feared for hundreds of people staying in the hotel.

  “This building is too big. We need a smaller less populated area. One that won't arouse the Bokor's suspicions,” Madeline said.

  “What about my apartment?” Emily asked.

  “Gabe shook his head. “There are over twenty people living in the building. They would be in danger.”

  Madeline looked at George. “We can protect them.”

  “How?”

  “When Gregory unleashes his minions I will put the residents into a deep sleep. It will draw all the zombies to you.”

  Gideon cleared his throat. “That’ll work provided Emily is nowhere near the building.”

  Madeline's face hardened. “She has to be with you.”

  Gideon's face was granite. “No.”

  Madeline's eyes swirled white before returning to grey. “You leave her side, she dies.”

  Gideon broke the eerie silence with a hiss. “No!” Fear crept through his soul.

  Madeline raised her chin defiantly. “Only you have the ability to save her.”

  He had done nothing to deserve Emily’s trust yet the seer promised her death if she didn't allow him to protect her.

  Emily ran a nervous hand over her ear. “Gabe will be with me. I will be safe.”

  Madeline's face softened. “It will take all that love for you to defeat this enemy.”

  Gideon wanted to deny the seer’s comments. However, the acrid taste of his failure was still on his tongue. The old woman had done everything in her considerable power to help Beth and Emily. There was no reason for her to stop now.

  He rubbed his neck. “How do we kill Gregory?”

  Madeline hook her had. “YOU can't. He is protected by the dark forces. You can stay alive long enough that the dark powers believe he has reneged on his debt to collect your soul and take him instead.”

  Gideon's eyes narrowed. “He's a man. We can kill him first.”

  Madeline sighed. “You can try.” She sounded unconvinced.

  Gideon believed in himself and Gabe. Still, the Bokor had gotten the best of him twice. He wasn't about to waste the one resource he had. “What can we do to...maximize our chances?”

  Madeline's smile was sly. “Now you’re thinking like a wolf.” She took a sip of the tea Emily handed her. “You will need to utilize Beth and her sire's strength.”

  “Donovan you mean,” Gideon said.

  “Yes. Him.” Her distaste was evident.

  Gideon's eyes narrowed. “You don't like vampires. But Beth...”

  “Is an exception,” she said harshly.

  “I see,” Gideon replied coldly.

  “Don't sass your elder's child,” Madeline chided.

  Gideon couldn't help but respect the elder woman. She was a firecracker. One he was grateful to have on his side. He had never forgotten the ways in which his parents had protected him and Gabe as children. It had been a lot like this. The fact that Madeline felt the need to protect two full-grown wolf shifters in their prime was not lost on him.

  He looked at the downcast face of his pregnant mate. He missed his connection with her. He would do anything to restore her faith in him, including dying to protect her.

  “Let's hope it doesn't come to that,” Madeline said.

  Emily was confused.

  Gideon raised his eyebrows. “I wasn't aware seers could read minds.”

  Madeline huffs. “Don't need to. See it in your expression.”

  Gabe crunched loudly on a taco chip. Everyone turned toward him. “What? I'm hungry. Besides, it’s not like I would let him sacrifice his stupid ass.”

  Emily could see the difference in his body already. His cheeky remark, making her feel his mind was rebounding as fast as his body. “So, are we going back to my apartment then?”

  She saw Gideon flinch. “You live here,” he said between clenched teeth.

  Emily knew he was mad at himself, not her. “The only thing wrong with my apartment was the fact that you weren't in it. Beth and Donovan took good care of us...”

  Gideon's eyes flared. “Do you think I don't know I owe your welfare, fuck, your life to Beth. I will do whatever is necessary to get into your sister’s good graces. She protected you and Gabe when I threw you to the streets.”

  Emily sucked in a breath. “Gideon…”

  “No. Don't excuse what I did. I never will,” he spat.

  “I appreciate you accepting her for me.” She knew how hard it would be for him to accept a vampire in his life.

  “It isn't for you. Gabe shared his memories with me. Her holding you when you cried. Feeding and petting him when he was too weak to lift his head. She helped you when you were both at your worst. She did everything to protect you.” Shame dripped from every word.

  Gabe swallowed the roast beef sandwich he was inhaling. “And forcing Donovan to live in that shit hole was priceless.”

  Gideon's lip twitched. “There's that.”

  Emily frowned. “You don't like Donovan?”

  His response was automatic. “He's a vampire.” She saw the regret as soon as the remark left his lips.

  She looked down sadly. Despite his words, he would never accept her best friend. “So is Beth,” she said quietly.

  Gabe grabbed another chip off his plate. “She doesn't smell like a vampire.”

  Emily had noticed the difference as well but had assumed that it was because Beth was so newly turned.

  Madeline nodded. “Unless she kills. She’ll won’t smell of death.”

  Emily felt the uneasiness skitter down her spine. “We can't let Beth help tonight. She would have to kill. I don't want to push her. She is just getting used to her new environment.”

  Madeline put her teacup down. “The death that you smell is from a vampire killing while feeding. No vampire will feed on a zombie. All vampires should fear the Bokor but Beth's demons will rise from the man, not his powers.”

  Emily still couldn't believe Beth had kept the secret of her rape her whole life. It explained her attitude toward men. No man who wanted Beth’s heart would find it easy. She didn't want Beth exposed to Gregory’s depravity. Not again. “I don't want her a part of this.”

  Madeline turned her head as if listening to something no one else could hear. “You don't have much time. He calls to the dark ones. He is coming.”

  Chapter 10

  Gideon’s wolf wanted Gregory's blood in its mouth. It needed the Bokor's death to be messy. Repaying the hurt caused to its mate in the only way it knew how. With pain.

  He didn't want Emily anywhere near the carnage his beast was planning. “Madeline. Can you take Emily with you? Protect her from the Bokor.”

  Emily turned on him. Her fury evident. “I’m not leaving you or Gabe.”

  He felt relief. He didn't want her with him in the coming hours. No. He needed to believe she still cared for him despite her wolf's justifiable lack of confidence in him. “You can't be around what's going to happen.”

  Emily put her hands on her hips. “Obviously you weren't listening to what Madeline said.”

  The sass in her voice turned Gideon on while infuriating his wolf. He was completely torn. “I heard her. You will be safe with her until this...”

  Madeline held up a hand. “No, she won't.”

  Gideon growled. “You will protect her.”

  “I will, but if she is with me, the Bokor will implore forces he can't control in order to g
et through my defenses. All of us will die,” she said.

  Gideon knew she believed every word. He knew he should believe her yet his wolf raged inside him at the thought of taking his pregnant mate into a supernatural fight. He didn't know what to expect and he didn't want her anywhere near it. His wolf’s fury started to affect his emotions.

  He turned to Gabe as his twin placed an empty carton of milk on the counter, wiping his mouth with his wrist. It was an action he had seen his brother do in wolf form many times. It appeared that the side effect of being stuck in wolf form for so long had affected his instincts as well as his body. He messaged his twin. You okay with her putting herself in danger like this?

  Gabe put two hands flat on the counter. You saw my memories. We both failed her. I couldn't break the spell any more than you could. I was dependent on her to survive. Like an old pet on its last leg.

  Gideon frowned. She would never see it that way.

  Gabe shrugged. Probably not but it's the truth. Besides she is stronger than you give her credit for.

  Emily shimmered in their minds. First of all. Gabe, you were never a burden. Beth loved having you around especially in wolf form and Gideon if you think I am staying behind then you are having residual effects from that spell... Maybe you should stay behind and I will take care of this little problem myself. Attitude laced her tone.

  “No!” Gideon snapped. His wolf’s anger bubbled to the surface. He knew his eyes glowed as his vision changed. His mate was defying him and there was nothing he could do about it. He clenched his fists, regaining control of his anger.

  Emily folded her arms, her face unyielding.

  Gideon glanced at his twin. “We all go together.”

  Emily was pissed. Gideon was back to his dominant he-man personality. She used to find his need to protect her endearing. Now she wanted to bite him. Hard. He wasn't around the last few weeks to protect her so he didn't have the right now. She would go to the apartment as planned and take care of this threat herself. Gideon had forgotten about the protection totem around her neck and she wasn't bringing it up. If she did, he would know what she planned to do.

  She was still glaring at Gideon when the doorbell rang. “Come in Beth.”

  Beth and Donovan entered, tipping their heads respectfully to Gideon as they went over to Gabe.

  Donovan put a hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “You look good.”

  Beth hugged him. “You do, but I still want movie night in your wolf form.”

  Gabe hugged Beth. “Anything for you my sistra,” he said affectionately.

  Emily smiled, watching the exchange until she saw Gideon's face. His expression was raw pain. Guilt.

  Beth winked at Gabe, turning to Emily. “What's the plan?”

  Madeline's words swirled in Emily's head. She didn't want Beth anywhere near Gregory. “Gabe, Gideon and I are going to our apartment. You should protect Madeline and George.”

  Beth’s lip twitched. “Gregory will be going after you, not Madeline. You don't want me around.”

  Emily's shoulders dropped. “You know that isn't it. I don't want you to see him again. What he did to you...”

  Beth pushed up the sleeves on her cotton top. “I was a child. I'm not anymore. Besides I was only able to get through it because I had you.”

  Emily's stomach rolled. “Beth please...”

  Beth turned to Gideon. “Donovan told me what that psycho vampire did to you. Would you have let anyone else go after him? Fight for you? Die for you?”

  Gideon looked at Beth with complete respect. “No. Never.”

  “Then we agree. I’m going,” she said.

  Gideon nodded. “You’re family. You will always be welcome.”

  Beth smiled. “Good answer.”

  Emily threw her hands up. She didn't know whether to kiss Gideon or bite him.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Your sister deserves the right to fight her demon.”

  Emily hadn't thought of that. Did Beth need this fight? Did she need to see this monster brought down? She hadn't realized till now that while Beth was kind and friendly to all around her she never let anyone close. Except for her. Maybe Gideon was right. Perhaps Beth needed this.

  Madeline stood up quickly. “He’s coming. You must go to the apartment quickly or he will attack here.”

  Beth looked at Donovan. “We can each take one person.”

  Madeline rubbed the charm on her necklace. “It must be Gideon and Emily.”

  Emily sucked in a breath. “No. Gabe has to be with us.”

  Madeline shook her head. “The vampires can only take one person each. If you leave Gideon's side he will go after you, knowing that Gideon will follow."

  “He didn't come after me before?”

  “He didn't expect Donovan to take up residence in your apartment. Attacking you while under an ancient vampire’s protection could bring the entire vampire council against him. Now he has run out of time. He will risk the wrath of the vampires and his own brethren to avoid his fate.”

  Gabe choked on his sandwich. “Ancient vampire?”

  Madeline looked at the unimpressed older vampire. “Only an ancient can turn another.”

  Everyone turned to look at Donovan.

  He folded his arms. “I'm old but that doesn't make me a circus freak.”

  Gabe looked perplexed. “Why wouldn't you tell me you were an ancient?”

  Donovan flicked a glance at Gideon. “Given that when we met you were trying to find Gideon and destroy Julius. I thought it best not to tell you we were fledglings together.”

  Gabe dropped the sandwich. “You have the same sire?”

  Donovan waved him off. “No. Silas is Julius' sire. Mine was Moran.”

  “You said you were fledglings together?”

  “Yes. We were trained together. It was the reason I couldn't go after him myself. His powers equaled mine but to go against him would be a slight against Silas and no vampire is that stupid.”

  Emily huffed in frustration. “As enlightening as this is, we need to go, and I need Gabe with me.”

  She saw Gideon's fingers close into fists.

  Gabe walked over and hugged her. “I will be just a few minutes behind. Do this for me. Trust Gideon. Give him a chance.”

  Emily wrung her hands. Looking at the people around her. They were out of time yet no one rushed her. “Alright. I will go with Beth. Donovan can take Gideon.” She saw Gideon's jaw tick. “Are you okay with Donovan taking you?”

  Gideon gave a single nod. “I will shift to make my transport easier.”

  Emily put her arms around Beth. “Let's go home.”

  Emily breathed through nausea as she focused on the reassuring surroundings of her apartment.

  Beth put a comforting hand on her back. “Breathe through it, honey.”

  Emily took a long even breath. “I definitely wouldn't have made a good vampire.”

  Beth's smiled. “The super speed is one of the things I like about the whole vampire thing.”

  Donovan placed the growling wolf on the floor. Gideon stumbled before snapping the clothes out of Donovan’s hands and loping into the bedroom.

  Beth shrugged. “I guess he doesn't like it much either.”

  Emily had thought her rolling stomach was due to the quickness in which she arrived at the apartment. Now she wondered if it had more to do with Beth. “Gideon says that Gregory will send his zombies in first. I think you should leave before he arrives.”

  “We aren't having this discussion again. I will die a million times over before I let that perverted son of a bitch near you,” she said in her thick Jamaican accent.

  Gideon walked into the room, buttoning up his shirt. “They're here.”

  Emily cocked her head, listening for movement. She heard the rustle of multiple feet and nothing else. “Are you sure it's them?”

  Gideon's eyes narrowed. “Yes. Donovan check the residents are asleep. Then get back here. Gregory will only come if he thinks he has the advanta
ge.”

  The apartment door slammed open, swinging back into place before anyone saw Donovan move.

  They heard movement on the stairs. Multiple boots, echoing off the trodden wooden floors, grew louder as they neared their location.

  Donovan returned in a rush of wind. “The residents are all out cold. The zombies are ignoring them and headed straight for us.”

  Emily’s throat went dry. This is what they had planned yet she felt like she had brought this down on all of them. Her best friend. Her mates. Her child. All in danger because of her. She struggled to remember what she had done to garner Gregory’s attention. Her memories, as murky as they were, offered no clues.

  The sound of multiple footsteps stopped as the pounding started.

  Donovan crouched, turning to Beth. “As soon as they enter start breaking necks. Do not bite them.”

  Beth hissed. “I don't feed on humans.”

  Emily was shocked. What did she mean she didn't feed on humans? How did she survive and why didn't this come up before? She wanted to know how Beth was surviving. Was Beth in more danger?

  The door burst inward. The sea of near-dead creatures flowed through the narrow entrance. They all attacked at once, keeping the attacking force confined to the entranceway as the creatures stepped over their fallen to attack them.

  The zombies were not what Emily expected. The distorted drooling faces held the pigment of pink healthy flesh even as they melted away from surrounding bone. There had to be at least thirty of them either dead or attacking. How would they get through the horde?

  Her wolf growled inside, announcing her intentions. She was done waiting for her human counterpart. The need to protect her cub dominated.

  Emily started to remove her clothes.

  She needed to protect her family from the hideous creatures piling in front of her. She wasn't fast enough in human form. Though she had hoped to avoid unleashing her wolf in its current bloodthirsty state, she had no choice.

  She let the shift take her, feeling the connection with her baby. The tiny consciousness filled her mind with its love and unwavering trust. She had a moment of unease, subjecting her baby to this carnage seemed inherently wrong.