by Susan Stec
Victoria came at her with a scream of rage, incisors extended, legs pumping. Zaire leapt in the air, right over her head, landing a sharp kick on the small of Victoria's back as she descended. It sent the immortal woman flying into Peter. Both of them hit the floor, sliding at least twenty-five feet from the others.
Camillio and Megan danced closer, and then there was a blur of movement that a mortal would never have been able to keep up with. They were circular winds of flashing bodies as they fought each other. Zaire landed two good kicks, a right hook that had my head spinning, and took a blow to her stomach that sent her flying. She was up in a flash, heading for Megan. Camillio was prancing beside the immortal woman, both waiting in anticipation.
My adrenalin pumping, I sat on the edge of my seat, my incisors extended, and my body ready for a battle I had no business in.
Peter and Victoria recovered to join the other two immortals, all of them spinning around her in a fight that now seemed unfair. Zaire side-kicked Megan in the mouth, just below her nose, blood spewing over the both of them. Megan fell to the floor again, landing hard on her ass, sliding ten feet, a trail of blood following her.
I felt Marcus' eyes on me as his grasp loosened on my knee. I sucked in my breath, my nostrils flared with the smell of blood.
Camillio grabbed Zaire from behind, pulling her to his sharp teeth as Veronica and Peter approached fast. I waited, but knew she was pinned by them, my heart thumping, my mind screaming with a need to assist. I was so caught up in the action, I forgot the others in the room, couldn't hear anything but Zaire's fast heartbeat, and felt her fear.
Instinct took over. With a loud angry growl, I jumped up, hit the top of the table and leapt twenty feet, landing on Camillio's back, pulling him from Zaire's neck. She stumbled forward, shook her head, regained her footing, and shot toward me. I pushed Camillio and Zaire pounced on him.
Victoria smiled, angry fangs dripping saliva. Accompanied by Peter and Megan, they swiftly approached me, all growling with angry fangs flashing.
I could hear screams of encouragement in the background. I ignored them and pounced on Megan who was the closest. I had her by the throat, using her for support like a flagpole; I whirled around swiftly, kicking Peter in the chest with both feet, pushing him away. Zaire had my back and pounced on Peter before his ass hit the floor.
I wrestled with Megan, glancing around to find Camillio. I couldn't see him. I flipped Megan over my head and sent her sailing across the polished teak floor.
Peter was on his feet again, flanked by Victoria. Zaire jumped between them, slamming them both with a roundhouse kick that was frigging awesome.
I stood panting as I watched Megan crawling across the floor, trying to figure out where I was needed next. I heard Zaire somewhere behind me again, breathing heavy. Dorius yelled from the sidelines, getting my attention. He bent, slid something shiny at me, and grinned.
Three small daggers glided across the floor in my direction. With the speed of a demon on an adrenaline high from hell, wondering where in the hell Zaire disappeared to, I lurched toward them, grabbing all three knives the second they were in reach.
I sat on my haunches, still worried about Zaire, but I had a good eye on all four immortals, and shot the first knife at Camillio. It hit him in the chest, dropping him like a fly. The second was for Peter, who growled at me from the left. I threw the knife with as much force as I could muster, while watching for the others. It buried itself in Peter's chest up to the shank before he could rise to come at me. I held the third knife, looking at Victoria as she approached with a wicked grin.
Zaire had her fangs in Megan's shoulder before I could even track her movements, and the immortal fell limp under her.
I turned to Victoria. I could drop her in a heartbeat but I wanted to dance, at least for a little while. I'm getting into this, I thought, glancing at Zaire with a smile. She dropped Megan on the floor in front of her, giving me a bloody grin.
I circled Victoria, waiting for her to pull a weapon on me, daring her to come closer.
This is almost over and we did it, I thought, with adrenalin coursing through my body. I taunted Victoria, waving her on with the knife, feeling pumped and ready for a fight. She stood there watching me with sparkling eyes, and an anticipated silence waved across the room.
In my peripheral vision, I noticed a figure coming at me from my left at a very fast pace. I heard a loud growl. I swung left, and fired the third knife right into Dorius' chest. He fell with a smile on his face. I stood there shocked. I couldn't move.
Victoria ran at me. I lifted my arms and, out of habit, I prayed for the strength of the elements, just like I did when I was an old woman, playing with my spell books. Only this time, my body responded as if it was being pumped with electric current and suddenly I was looking at the rest of the room through a shield that shimmered and vibrated around me. Victoria hit the shield, bouncing off, laughing as she slid across the floor.
"Wow! Did I make this?" I asked in awe.
"Excellent," Dorius gasped, grabbing the dagger in his chest. The Rican Dragon rushed to his side and the whole room exploded.
"I hate when my mother takes the wind right out of my sails," Resi said from the outside of the shield. "How did you know, Dorius?"
"Your great grandmother was able to draw up a shield. We've found a lot of history on your family in our archived files. The runes at your house were etched in blood - Susan's blood. We were hoping she could shield like her grandmother." Dorius answered, pushing the dragon away, his chest almost healed.
Resi tried to push her hand through the shield but it didn't break. She started laughing with me as we danced around the ten-foot circle shielding me. We were playing like kids in a Mickey D's fun room when Marcus cleared his throat.
"I think you should try to put it back, love," Marcus said with a chuckle.
I looked up at him in a panic. I didn't even know how the hell I brought it here, never mind how was I going to put it back.
"Uh, we may have a little problem here," I said, moving back.
Marcus poked the shield. "I assumed you had never done this before by the way you were running around like a child chasing butterflies, but it never occurred to me that you might not be able to bring it down."
"Anybody got any suggestions on how I get out of here?" I shouted at all of them on the other side. I felt like a hamster in a ball, wondering if it would roll around the room.
Mom ran at the shield, sinking her long fangs in the shimmering force-field. The shield held her captive as she mumbled obscenities at me.
"Oh, this is sweeeet," Gibbie said, hovering in front of Zaire.
"What did you do to make it come out?" Jeni asked, pulling at Mom's flailing arms as everyone gathered around the shield, the whole room exploding with laughter.
I searched my fingers for hangnails, picked at the cuticles, checked the length of each nail and finally raised my eyes to my struggling mother. "I just did a little chant I do when…I'll be damned if I know, Jeni."
JoAnn frowned. "Susan, you can just rot in there for all I care. I get tired of your messes." JoAnn put her hands on her hips, matching the little two-inch fairy on her shoulder. "First you turn into one of my worst nightmares. Then you change the whole family into the Munsters, and now you're playing Alice in a bubble."
I lurched at her, thinking it was time to strangle the bitch. The minute I came in contact with the shield, the whole thing disintegrated. Mom was on the floor scrambling to get up. My hands were wrapped around JoAnn's neck.
"I just love this family," Zaire said.
"Well, that was easy," Jeni remarked.
~~~~
Three days later, after more extensive practice sessions in the Gym, we were standing outside of the compound ready to be dispatched on our first Critter Control mission. Jeni and JoAnn were inside at a communication's command post at the BAMVC compound until some equipment could be installed at the house. The rest of us had orders to captu
re the original raccoon and rid our property of all infected animals.
As we waited for the rest of the team, Marcus decided to enlighten me with another little annoying thing about our new relationship.
Having fun darling? He pushed from somewhere in the compound.
Oh, this is rich! I suppose you can talk to me no matter where I am, I pushed back.
Yes, love, and I can see what you are doing as well.
You can see me? This is a frigging nightmare!
While I argued with Marcus in my head, the sexy Latin man stepped out the doors of the compound. He wore khaki linen Docker cargo shorts showing off muscular calves, a light taupe linen shirt rolled up to the elbows, unbuttoned to the center of his chest, a brown leather belt and pair of Minnetonka Moosehide moccasins.
"Jake, you're late," Dorius snapped.
Jake hiccupped, burped a puff of smoke from his mouth, and said, "Sorry, I had to tie-up some loose ends, Sir." He gave Dorius a frightened little smile.
"Ew… what the hell died?" Zaire asked, fanning the air in front of her nose.
Everyone started looking at each other, hands flapping in front of their faces.
"Sorry," Jake said with a coy smile, and let out a loud burp accentuated with a small flame. "I have a bit of a… well it's sometimes hard to control my flatulence issues when I'm nervous."
"Jesus," I said, moving further away from him.
"Ladies," Dorius interrupted. "I've decided to add Jake to your team. His shape-shifting capabilities will be an asset, as well as his ability to heal, should a fang sporting gator nip one of your lovely little asses."
I kept Jake in my peripheral vision as I listened to Dorius continue. "Usually a team consists of a Seraph leader, two surveillance operators and ten immortal Rogue Hunters; thirteen members. But in your case, we made an exception since you are only hunting animals." He looked directly at me with a nasty smile. "Concetta is the team leader since she is the only one that tested to be a true Seraph. She will give each of you instructions - following my orders - dispensed through Jeni and JoAnn. Under no circumstances will you attempt to hunt anything but the animals on your property. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir!" Mom said, like a good little ass-sniffer.
I did some flame blowing of my own. Mom had an obnoxious smile on her face that I oooh-so-much wanted to smack off.
I was livid. Our new, electronically equipped van with bear logos painted on both front doors only added to my anger. "Come on, Dorius. Give me a break. That signage will get us way too much attention."
Dorius ran his tongue across his upper teeth, holding back a grin. "I've alerted the authorities that BAMVC is now dispatching trained Animal Control Officers, and since they seem to be undermanned and underpaid, they're grateful for our assistance."
Dorius looked self-satisfied. "Paul will be the liaison between your team and the local Animal Control offices. He will handle all correspondence with them. You ladies will use as little verbal acquaintance as possible. Do I make myself clear?"
"This is bullshit," I said, eyeing the damn logo.
"Your uniforms are in the van," Dorius said with a smile. "You will all wear them in the field."
"Wait until you see them. They're cute little jumpsuits with our team logo on the breast," Mom said proudly. "Mine has my name and 'Team Leader' printed under the logo."
Laughter rolled around in my head. You're cute when you're angry. I forgot he could see me. Damn it, this sucked.
~~~~
Chapter Thirty-five
~~~~
I sat crammed in the short middle seat between Jake - his flatulence issues very apparent - and Christopher slumped against the window as we rolled down I-75 headed for home. Resi and Zaire were stretched out in the far back. Paul was driving and the fairy was perched on the rearview mirror holding the small metal rod attached to the front windshield.
"Jake, as soon as we get home, I want to see your dragon side," Mom commanded in a boisterous voice.
"I don't shift unless it is necessary!" Jake blurted. His went eyes wide, he farted, then burped a bright flame, igniting the headliner above us.
Gibbie zipped off the mirror toward the floorboard by Mom.
I whipped off my shirt and Resi grabbed for it.
"Let go, damn it!" I tugged it in my direction, patting at the smoking headliner.
"I got it Mom!" Resi yanked it back and flapped it at the roof of the Suburban.
Zaire curled into a ball, hands over her head. "Put the friggin' thing out - I got oil in my damn hair!"
My mother turned around in her seat. "Jesus, we just got this car! Dorius is gonna shit!"
I curled my lips back, yanked the t-shirt away from Resi and palmed it against the roof above my head.
Jake belched and shot a stream of liquid out of his mouth. The headliner sounded like a hissing steam iron.
Christopher's window slid down and he shoved his head out, sucking in fresh air.
"You can come out of the door pocket, Gibbie. The fire's out," Mom said. "Jake, next time we talk about your...other side…it will be outdoors."
Paul turned on the radio and soft jazz wafted into the cab. "Why don't we all just listen to the music and try to keep quiet until we get to the house."
Gibbie buzzed out, landed on Paul's shoulder, grabbed a fist full of hair and placed his hand on his sword. "You need a damn Valium, dragon. I'm not fond of steam baths."
Jake covered his ears, whimpered and farted.
"Let's not freak out the dragon again." Mom fanned the air in front of her nose.
I looked down at my soot covered, damp t-shirt and sighed. Zaire tried to hand me one of the frigging jumpsuits. I slapped it back at her and pulled my shirt over my kinked up hair.
What are you guys doing? We can see your location on our viewing screens, and your car is smoking, JoAnn's annoying voice blared from the monitor on the dash.
"Oh God, and the games begin." I leaned into the wind coming from Christopher's window, plucked my shirt away from my skin and flapped it a few times.
"Just a little fire, Aunt JoAnn," Resi said. "Nothing to worry about - it's out."
Zaire snickered.
Paul began to whistle to the music.
Christopher started laughing.
"You got any sightings on our furry friends?" Mom asked.
Ummm… well… JoAnn said, and then there was a long moment of silence.
I turned from the window and stared at the monitor. "Well?"
Jeni's voice came from the dash. Actually, there are quite a few. We can direct you when you get there. Not to worry. Are you planning on getting started tonight?
"How many?" Zaire yelled.
Jake burped.
I leapt for the window, getting a slap from Christopher.
Zaire and Resi plastered themselves against the back window.
"Yes, we are gonna get started as soon as we get home and suit up." Mom hooded her eyes at us.
JoAnn sang, Oh good. I can't wait to start directing you guys in the field! This is so exciting.
"Can we shut that frigging thing off, Mother?" I had my eye on Jake.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Concetta," Paul said.
"I'd like all of you to address me as Chick," Mom announced. "Concetta's a girly name."
"No problem, Mom," I answered.
"Not you, stupid."
We arrived home, unloaded the van, equipped ourselves with knives, donned our zoot-suits, walkie-talkies, and headed out.
Mom shouted orders, "Susan and Christopher, head toward the barn. Paul and Gibbie tell the troll we're here, get him started covering the shoreline, then head for the woods on the east side. Jeni says there are at least twelve sets of eyes there. Zaire and Resi can reconnoiter around the perimeter of the property. Jake and I will head for the woods on the west side of the house. Let's move it!"
Marcus' voice tickled my mind. Susabella, are you thinking about me? I find myself filled wi
th desire for you and…
Can't talk, sweet cheeks. Got a walkie-talkie plugged in my ear. I stomped my way across a field.
Marcus' laughter echoed between my ears.
Christopher and I walked stealthily toward the barn as Zaire and Resi separated from us, headed for the front gate.
"Sorry about the bathroom thing," Christopher whispered. "I was angry with Dorius and you were in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Forget it," I hissed. "Let's just get ours and call it a day. We'll check the inside first."
"Sure," Christopher answered. "Just wanted to clear that up. It's nothing personal."
"Alright already - let's just get inside," I snapped.
"You don't have to get all bitchy on me. Hey, I did you a favor."
I glared at him and started to unlock the barn door, trying to be as quiet as possible, but I was pretty sure if anything was in there, they sure as hell knew we were out here.
Susan! Hold it! JoAnn's loud voice sent me four feet in the air. I yanked out my earpiece, stuck my finger in my ear and wiggled it, then stuffed the damn thing back in my ear.
"JoAnn, you scared the shit out of me!" I hissed into the walkie-talkie, watching Christopher giggle and adjust his earpiece. "What the hell do you want?"
There are four sets of eyes behind the barn. Go around back first. JoAnn ordered.
"Can you see me?" I figured that if she couldn't, then screw her, I was headed inside.
Yes, I have a visual and you need to go around back first.
"Don't you dare tell me how to hunt!"
Christopher turned away, his shoulders up around his jaws.
In the handbook, it says to go after the ones most likely to escape, JoAnn answered smugly. That would be the ones out back.
Christopher grinned at me, his hand hugging the headset.
I hit my chest with my thumb, a little too hard, then signaled I'd go left. I pointed at him, flipping him the finger, signaling right. Christopher hit his elbow with his hand, pumping his arm up in another sweet gesture, and then nodded as he headed right.
