“So what’s your intake on all this?” Frank asked. “I can’t believe Carla Rosi’s body has been in that cemetery this whole time.”
Manuel sighed into the phone. “I’m still trying to process all the other crap we’ve been through. I mean, who would ever guess vampires and werewolves actually existed? Not to mention the thing with my sister—” He caught himself, the image of her fiery black wings permanently embedded in his head. “Never in my wildest dreams would I ever imagine Lailah coming back from the dead and transformed into a battle angel. Now, we’ve got a double homicide to deal with,” he continued to rant. “You would agree that we can safely rule out any possibility that a human is responsible.” He let out another long sigh. “For the love of God, we deal with human criminals, not supernatural ones. I’m surprised I haven’t lost my damn mind over all this.”
“I hear ya, partner. I’m still trying to process all this myself,” Frank said, exhaling a deep breath. “You think we should notify Tim Ross?”
“As much as I hate to admit it, this is way out of our league,” Manuel told Frank, reaching for the bottle of bourbon, but then drew back his hand, remembering the warning his captain had given him about his sobriety. “We’re going to need the Breedline Covenant’s help. We have no other choice but to contact them.”
“I agree, and as soon as possible,” Frank said. “Captain mentioned Dr. Carrington is Ms. McCain’s physician. It might be a good idea to visit the Bates Hospital before we head to the station in the morning. So, you want to meet me at the hospital in...” he paused to check his watch, “...say in an hour?”
“I’ll see you in an hour.” When he ended the call with Frank, he searched through his contacts and located Helen Carrington’s cell number.
After checking with Helen to make sure they could visit Ms. McCain, Manuel grabbed a quick shower and a cup of coffee.
An hour later, Manuel entered the main entrance to the Bates Hospital with his partner. After they checked in at the front desk, they waited for Helen.
Chapter Six
When Jena woke, she could not remember where she was. Then dark events of the cemetery began to re-form in her mind. What had been out there this morning? From the moment she entered the eerie graveyard, everything had seemed dreamlike. She remembered bits and pieces of muddled memories: Todd attacked and dragged off by some kind of creature; Sophie’s screams; then some kind of animal chasing her, yet the face of the thing blurred in her memory. Was it a man, or an animal? The two impossibilities mingled with reality, leaving her swirling in confusion.
Oh God... Todd and Sophie... were dead...
She couldn’t think straight. She couldn’t get those horrible images out of her head.
Maybe it didn’t really happen. Maybe it all was a nightmare.
Jena wanted to believe that. Wanted to believe that with every fiber of her being, because what she remembered didn’t seem real. Nothing seemed real anymore, not the creature, not the death of her fiancé, not the decision to abandon her dear friend, not the grave, not the body of Carla Rosi, and not the Rougarou curse.
Yet, it all had been real, and now she was cursed to become the same monster that had savagely murdered the two people she’d loved in this world more than anything.
Carla’s warning echoed back to her, chilling her to the bone.
“If you give in to human blood—and I promise, you will crave it with a burning desire—you will shift into the beast.”
“No,” Jena whispered to herself. “Please, God, help me.”
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, but she couldn’t shut out the dead girl’s words.
“You have one hundred and one days to control your hunger. If you resist the urge within that time frame, the curse will be lifted.”
With difficulty, she pushed through the pain and opened her eyes. As she focused on her surroundings, she saw a tube attached to her right arm. It hung from a metal pole that connected to a clear bag. That’s when she realized she was in a hospital but couldn’t remember how she’d gotten here.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a tall shadowed figure appeared above her—the face a blurred, dark silhouette, and without features.
Jena’s eyes were huge in her face and found she could not move. All she could do was watch in terror at a sight too immense to comprehend or explain, like something out of a dream where what you witnessed was possible only because it wasn’t real.
Oh God. This is really happening.
He was leaning over her now, the contours of his face forming into a man’s. The paleness of his skin appeared smooth and flawless, as if sculpted from stone. His long hair was thick and dark, falling in loose waves over his broad shoulders.
Jena could see a pair of golden eyes gazing down at her with deep intensity. High cheekbones accentuated the angles of his mysteriously attractive face... a face far too dangerous and seductive for reality. Yet his face seemed oddly familiar. It was as if she had met him before, but she couldn’t place where.
Her heart was racing and her thoughts spinning in all directions. Who is he? Is he the creature who killed Todd and Sophie? And is he here to kill me? A strangled cry caught in her throat. She wanted to scream but found she couldn’t move her lips.
“I’ve been waiting centuries for you.” His voice was like some faraway echo, which made it all the more frightening.
Jena managed to choke out a few words, barely above a whisper, “Who... are you?”
“I’m the one who made you the way you are,” he said, his voice ending in a soft purr. His eyes narrowed slightly, yet the alluring stare never wavered, even when Jena began to tremble.
Jena’s voice rose. “What do you want?”
“I am your death, and your life, Jena. And I’m here for... you,” he murmured, staring at her with such emotion—such profound emotion in his hypnotic eyes—but Jena couldn’t tell if he intended to do her harm, or toy with her sanity.
His statement caught her by surprise, and she stared at him openmouthed.
When Jena attempted to reach for the nurse call button beside her bed, he caught her with a gentle but firm grip on her arm. The feel of her skin against his fingertips was like satin. He was a creature of instinct and she called to that primal part of him in a way he could not resist.
He inhaled sharply, then whispered, “Jena—”
The sound of the latch on the door turning caught his attention. With no time to spare, he pulled his hand away and transformed himself back into a shadow. Jena watched in horror as he slowly vanished before her eyes.
In sheer panic, Jena grabbed her head with both hands and screamed. Her voice echoed into the hallway, alerting the two detectives that were standing outside the doorway next to Helen.
“Jena?” Helen called out from the other side of the door.
As she and the detectives pushed their way in, they could see the hysteria in Jena’s eyes.
“You’re all right, Jena,” Helen said in a soothing voice. “You’re safe now. I’m Doctor Helen Carrington, and you’re in the Bates Hospital.” Helen turned to the detectives who stood close by and said, “This is Detective Manuel Sanchez and his partner, Detective Frank Perkins.”
Finally, Jena’s face seemed to ease as she looked up at Detective Sanchez. His features reminded her of the handsome actor Antonio Banderas.
Manuel moved closer and peered down at her with kindness in his eyes. “Ms. McCain, I promise, we’re not going to let anything happen to you.”
“I know this is going to sound crazy,” she said, trying to clear the tears out of her eyes with her hand. “I swear I saw something in this room just now.” She paused, building the courage to continue. “I think it’s the thing that murdered my fiancé and my friend. He was here one minute and then... he was gone.”
Manuel stared at her for a moment and asked, “Can you give us a description?”
“It’s hard to describe. It was a shadow, yet I’m sure it was a man. He had golden eyes, a
nd long, dark hair. For some strange reason, I feel like I’ve met him before.”
Jena turned to face Detective Perkins. She was not surprised to find the bewildered expression on his face.
“Do you think I’m mad?” Jena asked him.
“Of course not,” Perkins said reassuringly. “I’m sure there is a perfect explanation for this.”
“Ms. McCain, can you tell us what you saw this morning?” Manuel chimed back in. “Do you remember what attacked you and your friends at the cemetery?”
“It was a man, only he was inhuman,” she said wearily. “I saw it stand on two legs. It was covered from head to toe with thick, black hair.” She exhaled a sigh. “Maybe it was more like a dog’s fur. And it’s face...” Jena was beginning to tremble all over. “It looked like the creature in that remake horror film, The Wolfman. You know.” She shrugged. “The one with Anthony Hopkins and Benicio Del Toro.”
Frank cringed at the image that displayed in his head, remembering the movie Jena had just mentioned. “Well, all the physical evidence points to something inhuman,” he said. “Something with the strength of a grizzly bear. We have no doubt that no man could have possibly done this.”
“What about Carla Rosi?” Detective Sanchez queried. “You told my captain you went to the cemetery to try and communicate with...” he paused as though he was trying to find the right word, and then said, “...her ghost.”
Jena silently nodded. “I’ve been able to speak with the dead since I was a child. My parents knew Carla Rosi’s family. After her folks passed away, I wanted to use my gift and find her body so she could finally be laid to rest.”
“My captain had the dental records checked this morning,” Manuel told her. “It turns out the body found in that grave was a positive match for Ms. Rosi.”
Instantly, Jena clamped a hand over her mouth, shocked by the detective’s words. Without a doubt, everything she had hoped was a nightmare had truly been real.
Manuel waited and then asked, “Did you communicate with Carla?”
Jena could not look directly into Manuel’s eyes. She could not tell him the truth. Revealing it meant exposing her curse. Through all the atrocities of the day, there was no one she could turn to, and she had to keep everything that Carla had told her to herself. Except for maybe my friend in Arkansas, she thought. But getting her involved might put her life in danger.
“I’m sorry,” she finally said, shaking her head. “My memory is somehow strange and incomplete. I can’t remember everything.”
Manuel’s eyes darted about her suspiciously as though he knew she wasn’t telling the truth.
“Are you sure?” Manuel asked. “When Captain Hodge and Detective Ratcliff pulled you from that grave, they mentioned you saying you spoke with Carla’s spirit. Is that not true?”
“All I can remember is her warning me.”
Manuel cocked a brow. “Warning you about what?”
“The creature,” Jena said, her lips quivering.
“What about your injury?” Manuel continued to question Jena. “You stated to my superior that you were bitten by the thing that murdered your friends.”
“Detectives, Ms. McCain should get some rest,” Helen cautioned. “When she’s up for more questions, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Of course,” Frank said, then turned away from Helen and focused on Jena. “We appreciate all your help, Ms. McCain.”
“Yes, thank you, Ms. McCain,” Manuel said, placing his card on the table next to Jena’s hospital bed. “If you remember anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Even the smallest thing can be helpful.”
Jena found she couldn’t stop herself from saying, “Why did it kill Todd and Sophie, and not me?”
“Maybe something distracted it,” Frank replied. “We don’t know, but you’re one lucky young lady, Ms. McCain.”
Jena slowly nodded.
Frank stepped out of the room, but Manuel paused with the door open and turned toward Jena. She seemed troubled and tense.
“I’m sorry about your friends, Ms. McCain,” Manuel regretfully said. “I don’t think you’re aware of this, but my sister was best friends with Carla Rosi. The same day Carla went missing, the police found my sister’s body. I believe the person that killed your friends is the same person that murdered my sister and Carla. You have my word...” He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. “...we’ll do our best to bring them all justice.”
Jena’s eyes softened. “Thank you, Detective. And I’m sorry about your sister.”
Manuel nodded and held the door open for Helen.
“I’ll be right back, Jena,” Helen said. “I need to speak with the detectives for a few minutes. Please, try to get some rest. Oh, I almost forgot. I put your satchel in the closet. Captain Hodge brought it by this morning. His men found it in the cemetery.”
“Okay, thanks.” Jena sighed in relief, praying her cell phone was still in there. If so, maybe all her contacts were still intact. The only person left in this world she could trust was her longtime friend, Angie Hawkridge. Even though they lived miles apart, they had always kept in contact, and occasionally visited one another. Jena had known Angie for years, and now, she needed her help more than ever. There was no way she could do this... curse thing... all alone.
As Helen followed Manuel into the hallway, she said in a hushed voice, “I’ve already contacted Tim Ross. He is gathering the council for a meeting.”
“Have you heard from the coroner on the two bodies they found in the cemetery yet?” Frank asked Helen.
Helen nodded. “Before I could make sure one of ours was in charge of the examination, some of the DNA was taken by a human lab tech. After reviewing the injuries reported, I’m positive a human is not responsible. We can only pray it doesn’t leak out to the press. Somehow, Jena’s statement about the man-wolf got out. We could have a widespread epidemic on our hands.”
“Shit,” Manuel said. “So what are we dealing with?”
“I’m not exactly sure,” she remarked. “The claw and teeth marks left on the victims did not come from a wild animal, and we’re positive it’s not a Breedline. I plan to do more extensive testing on the hair samples that I found on the victims’ bodies. With luck, we’ll be able to determine the species.”
Manuel let out a long sigh. “Do you think Ms. McCain really saw something in her room?”
“Maybe,” Helen stated. “She has been through a lot. Just as a precaution, I’ll make sure we have Breedline guards posted outside her room at all hours.”
“There’s something she’s not telling us,” Manuel said. “She looks scared to death.”
Helen nodded. “I agree. I made a suggestion to Tim that after Jena is released from the hospital she’s taken to the Covenant for a precaution.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Manuel replied. “Just make sure you let me know before she leaves here.”
“What about Ms. Rosi’s body?” Frank cut in, changing the subject. “Do you know her cause of death?”
Helen slowly shook her head. “Since there was no tissue left on the body, it could be hard to determine, but we’re still working on it.”
Manuel extended his hand to Helen. “Thank you, Dr. Carrington, for all your help. Please, keep us informed.”
She shook his hand and said, “Of course, Detective. I’ll be in contact.”
Chapter Seven
As Sebastian lay in a dreamlike slumber, he had no idea what lurked in the shadows of his deep state of unconsciousness. Yet he sensed something unsettling and sinister. He could feel it clawing with icy fingers, tearing at his mind, a twisted feeling all too familiar. A hell he would never escape.
Something clamped tight around his throat, and haunting words whispered in his ear, “You belong to me.”
Sebastian gasped silently. Not just from the alarming strength of the stranger’s grip, but the images that exploded through his brain—memories of the merciless, recurring nightmares
of his childhood past. The pain stabbed through his head and pierced his heart.
As hard as he tried to prevent them, more unwanted memories flooded in. He had kept this particular memory locked away, to be forgotten forever. The images came in a torrent, flooding his consciousness with scattered fragments of Eliza’s death—by the hands of his biological mother—and the painful expression on Anna’s face as she watched her mother’s life slip away. While the dreadful nightmare of his past flashed before his eyes, an unbearable sorrow weighed down his shoulders. The sight of Anna, who he loved like a sister, led away, perhaps to her death, tore his heart into a million pieces.
His mind raced feverishly, and the song “Cry Little Sister” strangely blasted in his head at the same time the grip on his throat squeezed tighter and tighter. Struggling for air, Sebastian’s lungs burned, and an unrelenting agony struck every inch of his body.
“Give me your son,” the stranger demanded.
Now, as the true horror of the voice sank in, he realized it was... Lucifer.
Meanwhile, in the same room, unaware of the dark and evil presence, Frigg was about to wear a path in the floor. Impatient for Lailah’s return, he paced back and forth, before a flash of light, as if someone had turned a lamp on and off, stopped him in his tracks. From out of nowhere, three people appeared in the room. Apollyon and his fraternal twin sisters, Callisto and Electra, materialized out of thin air.
By the expression on their faces, it was hard to decide whether their arrivals were with good intentions or bad. Considering their past transgressions, it was most likely the latter. All three of them narrowed their eyes on him.
“What the...” Frigg paused, startled by the savage trio, and puffed out his chest and crossed his arms. “How in the hell did you get in here?”
When Apollyon moved closer to the hospital bed, Frigg gave him a nasty look—then he stood over Sebastian. Leaning this way and that, Apollyon surveyed the tubes going in and out of Sebastian’s nose and the wires attached to his chest.
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