As if he knew the end was near, Brian turned his head and looked at me with sad blue eyes. He whined softly.
I’m so sorry, Nikki. I failed you. I couldn’t stop him.
“No,” I whispered. I wanted to stop this, but I didn’t know what to do.
Reuben stood over Brian’s head, baring his teeth in a bloody, triumphant smile. He looked as if he were ready to strike. The, he stopped, the wolf leaving him in a quick mist as he straightened and stood human once more.
“No more,” a clear, firm voice said beside me.
The animal was gone from his eyes, as Reuben looked longingly at the woman who stood beside me. The black pistol in her hands was raised and pointed straight at him.
“Anita,” his voice was a hoarse whisper as he took a step closer, and in that instant I felt such a sense of sadness, that it blocked out every other emotion that was inside me.
In the flip of a coin, he had lost his life. At least it felt that way. A bet against fate, if such a thing could be done. Well, he had done it, and rather unknowingly. The only problem was that he didn’t recall wanting to gamble the life that he had. He hadn’t known the price he would pay, that eventually he would lose the very essence that made him who he was. Every time he drew on the animal for its strength and courage, he let every bit of himself go. Each time less and less of himself came back. Finally, there was so little of what made him human that it rarely ever surfaced in his mind. It was just a tiny shred of humanity that hardly ever showed, buried so far inside that sooner or later, it would die just like everything else.
Until now.
Now, all the longing and sorrow was etched in his face as he looked at the woman who was once meant to be his. He took another step toward her, his arm outstretched.
“Stop,” Anita whispered, and a fine tremble ran down the length of her arms, causing the end of the gun to waver the slightest bit.
So transfixed in looking at her, Reuben didn’t seem to realize the moon, full and round, had come from behind the clouds, and the magic that had been his own, was slowly leaving him. The silver mist would have flowed across his body to transform him into his wolf was now seeping out of every pore of his skin and moving up to float above his head like a shining silver cloud.
The cloud hovered above him, shimmering slightly as each drop of silver joined it. As the last of the mist left his outstretched arm, all of the magic that had made him one of the Six left, too. His body looked older, his posture slightly drooped. His eyes, however, still shone bright with unshed tears.
The silver cloud moved over Brian’s head. In his next breath, it went through his mouth and nose. It moved so fast that it looked like a shimmering blur that had pierced him. His eyes flashed a brilliant blue and his back arched as he threw his head back in a soundless howl.
Unaware of what had happened behind him, Reuben shifted, as if to take another step toward Anita.
“Anita, I…” A black and white blur slammed into him and razor-sharp fangs ripped out his throat.
The bundle of fur and man landed a few yards away from us. Then, the wolf jumped up on top of the man’s chest and hurled out a ground-vibrating growl as if daring any more threats to come from him. As he saw the blood bubbling out of his neck, he yelped and skittered backward a few feet and sat down rather abruptly.
Wary, Anita kept her gun pointed at Reuben as she walked slowly over to where he lay. Blood pooled under his head, and wet, sloppy air sounds escaped from his neck as he tried to breathe.
The threat gone, Anita holstered her gun and squatted down next to Reuben’s head. His eyes never left her face as his lips tried to form the words he had tried to say. As his body slowly died, he took a final ragged breath, and forced them out in a ragged whisper, “I’m sorry.”
Anita made her way to where Brian sat, blood soaking his muzzle. His eyes still locked on the dead man.
“Brian,” she said quietly, “it’s alright now.”
Realizing his mother stood near him, Brian changed back from his wolf and looked down, as if ashamed. She brushed back the hair from his forehead, and put her tiny hands on either side of his face and forced him to look up at her.
“Whatever else you may be, you are always my son and nothing will ever change that,” she told him firmly.
He wrapped his arms around her and she crouched, rocking him back and forth as if he were just a small child, murmuring small soothing noises in his ear.
“Nikki!” The shout had me jumping nearly out of my skin as Adam bounded to me and grabbed me up close to him. He squeezed me, and then he sat me down and took me by the shoulders. His amber eyes looked frenzied and worried, “Nikki, how? I couldn’t…” He gave up, shook his head, and scooped me back up into him so tight that it was hard to breathe. He never set me back down as he took in Reuben’s still form, and the woman and boy sitting in the grass a few yards away.
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m okay, Brian saved me. He’s your sixth Keeper,” I said into the warm, dark silk of his hair.
He tightened his grip around me yet a little more. “I swear, I’m never leaving you again. Ever. I’ll never let you out of my sight.”
He gave a small, involuntary start, and somehow the next instant I found myself planted firmly behind him, with the other guys flanking him on either side of me.
Now what? I couldn’t stand much more excitement. My body started to shake uncontrollably.
It’s okay. We won’t let anything happen to you. I can hear your heartbeat speeding up and feel you shaking. I’ll keep you safe I promise. Stay close to me, Adam’s voice soothed through my mind as he reached behind him to take my hand.
I took his hand, “What’s wrong? Is he still alive?” I edged around a little and took another look at Reuben, who hadn’t moved a muscle and seemed to be as dead as he was moments before.
“No,” Adam said, “look over there.” I peered in the direction he faced.
Three sleek cats seemed to materialize as from thin air. They sat calmly at the edge of the clearing, a couple of them stretching lazily as if they were quite bored. Only their long tails belied the fact that they were ready for any excitement, as they twitched to and fro. One sat before the others, watching us with calm interest.
The wolves stayed silent, waiting for Adam’s lead. I waited to feel him tense beside me, for him to change as the wolf took over to protect us.
But he didn’t.
The cats slinked toward us, low to the ground, as if on a hunt. Within a few yards from us, the air seemed to change direction and blew toward them, stirring up sand that seemed as magical as the cats themselves. Before it covered them completely, the lead cat bared long, white fangs at us in a snarl. Then the glittering sand blocked them from sight. The Keepers moved restlessly, and someone let out a barely audible, still human, yip.
The wind died as quickly as it had started, leaving the clearing completely silent.
“You’re early,” Adam said casually to the boy standing in front of us who would have been the lead cat. All three of the boys standing in front of us looked ferocious, their heads shaved but for a single strip of hair down the middle that was spiked straight up in a Mohawk. They stared at Adam with hard expressions. They seemed bigger than the Six, more heavily muscled. I chewed my lip nervously and watched as they seemed to multiply before my eyes. The world seemed to sway just the slightest bit, then tilt back to normal.
No one moved for what seemed an eternity.
The lead boy looked over at Brian and Anita, then back over and locked eyes with me. His deep green eyes seemed to pierce straight into me, and the world quit tilting and swaying. Just as suddenly, he blinked, and the spell broke when he took in the mud, blood and vomit splattered and caked all over me. His nostrils flared, and he snorted out once.
“I don’t smell that great. Sorry,” I mumbled, not sure if I was supposed to apologize before I was eaten.
He grinned and shook his head, sending a row of golden earring
s tinkling and swaying in one ear, as he looked over at Adam, “You know we love a party. It kinda looks like we’re late, not early.”
Adam returned the grin, and clapped the boy on the shoulder, “It’s good to see you, Rune. I’m glad you’re here.”
Whoops of excitement broke out from both sides as the tension left and everyone started talking.
Then everything went black.
SEVENTEEN
I AWOKE, BLEARY-EYED, to a clear plastic bag that hung over my head on a pole. A dripping liquid ran down a clear tube that attached to my arm.
Flailing, I tried to sit straight up and was rewarded with a resounding thump, as if my heart had decided to change location and took up residence in the back of my skull. I thought my head was going to explode.
“Easy, Nikki,” Brian sprung up from his spot beside my bed, “It’s okay, just lay back there.”
There seemed to be a hospital bed, and since it seemed to be a relatively safe place at the moment, I did as I was told and eased back against the pillow.
Everything’s okay, just take it easy, I’m just outside in the hallway, Adam’s voice whispered through my aching head, I’m right here if you need me, but I let Brian come in first. He needed to see you were safe.
I nodded slightly as if he could see me through the wall, and turned my head to look at Brian.
“I require drugs,” I told him solemnly, as I looked at him through one eye, since both of them didn’t want to focus at the same time together.
He laughed. It had been the first time I had seen him smile in what seemed forever. He almost looked normal again, like my old Brian. My best friend. I tried to smile, but it made my head hurt worse. Frowning didn’t help, either.
“I’m quite serious, you know. I really could use a Tylenol,” I hinted, hoping either he or Adam would go and find a nurse.
“I’d say you need more than that,” he smiled, reaching over my bedrail, and pushed the nurse’s button for me.
I caught his hand and gave it a squeeze. “So how bad is it? Am I dying?”
His blue eyes were locked on our clasped hands as I heard his voice whisper in my mind, No, but I would tell you anything if you’d never let go.
“You’ve got a heck of a concussion, as you can probably tell from the big lump on the back of your head, and you’ve got scrapes and bruises literally from head to toe…”
“And you’re about to start feeling a lot better,” a smiling nurse interrupted him as she came through the door, wielding a large syringe full of painkillers.
“Please tell me there’s an easier way,” I fidgeted on the bed, looking at her through my one open eye.
“Of course,” she laughed, stabbing my IV line, thankfully, instead of me, “You let me know if you need anything else, but I doubt you’ll be awake much longer.”
I nodded and she left. Relief washed through me, numbing me from head to toe as the medicine began its work. I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding and started to relax. Cautiously, I slit one eye open, and then the next, and was rewarded with only one Brian.
“Better?” he asked, with a small smile that didn’t reach his sapphire eyes.
“Oh yeah,” I sighed, squeezing his hand again. “How about you? Are you ok?”
Other than the fact that I’ve learned my father, who also raped my mother, was also a killer of so many girls they haven’t even figured out how many yet? Oh yeah, and let’s not forget he also turned into a monster…the worse kind of monster…his voice whispered brokenly in my mind.
“Yeah, sure. I’m fine,” he mumbled, dropping his head so that his dark hair fell forward hiding his eyes.
I killed him. I’m not sorry I did it. I’d do it again, for he deserved to die. So, now, I’m the killer. I’m the monster. I don’t want to be like him. Please, don’t let me be like him.
Silent tears ran down his cheeks as he pulled his hand away from mine and I felt his heart break.
“You’re not like him at all. You saved me, Brian. If you hadn’t been there, I’d be dead now.” I sat up and reached out to him. “You’re strong and you’re good. You have such a good heart, just like your mom. And you only did what you had to do. Look at me. Please?”
Slowly he lifted his head. His blue eyes were shining with tears.
“Thank you for saving my life.” I smiled. “I wouldn’t be here without you.”
He nodded, and then brushed his hair back from his eyes. “I don’t know, you’re pretty tough, you’d have figured out something. You found a way out of that hole. From the looks of things, I don’t think anyone else did. You’re a survivor.”
“Nah, that wasn’t me that was Chewy.” I dismissed it with a slight wave of my hand.
“What’s a Chewy?” he asked, frowning slightly.
“He’s a Bigfoot. He moved the rock for me so I could crawl out. I think he was returning the favor since we helped save his baby.” I yawned, starting to feel the drugs take effect.
“There’s no such thing as Bigfoot,” I heard him say before I closed my eyes and began drifting off.
Well, why not. I turn into a huge, black and white wolf. Bigfoot could be real. Why did she name him Chewy? His voice sounded amused.
“‘Cause it fits him,” I whispered, smiling at the sound of his soft laughter, then I gave in to sleep.
I woke later with a huge pair of beautiful golden eyes staring back into mine. Adam smiled, then leaned over the inch that had separated us and kissed me as long as he dared. I felt warm and fuzzy, way better than the shot of whatever it was had made me feel. It was as if I could just melt into a happy puddle of contentment. The air swirled and snapped warmly around us.
“I’m so glad to see you,” I smiled.
“Not nearly as glad as I am to see you.” He grinned, causing his eyes to sparkle, the little onyx specks glinting and swirling in them.
“Where’s Brian?” I asked, looking over at the chair where he had sat.
“He’s gone home to check on his mom. He’s pretty shaken up. I hope you didn’t mind I let him come in first, but he looked like he needed to see you, and he looked a lot better when he came out of here.” Adam leaned forward to rest his forehead next to mine. “How’s the head?”
“Feels like a wrecking ball hit the back of it. Other than that, though,” I shrugged a little. “I’ll be fine.”
“Your mom and Emily just left a few minutes ago to find something to eat. She warned me if anything happened to you while she was gone it would be my fault.” He dropped his eyes from mine and picked aimlessly at a loose strand of thread hanging on my blanket. “I think she was joking. But if she wasn’t, I can’t say that I blame her. I’m the reason you’re in here.”
“None of this is your fault, Adam. I’m fine, really. I’ll be as good as new in a couple days.” I reached over and brushed a long strand of hair from his face.
“I never should have left you.” It was a statement that didn’t invite any opposition. He wasn’t going to ever let himself let it go. I saw it in the little wrinkle between his brows and the firm set of his mouth. I knew it wasn’t his fault, but I didn’t think I would be able to convince him any differently. I had to try.
“It’s done now and I’m okay. Reuben’s dead, the mystery of the trail killer is solved, and now you won’t have to go searching anymore Deadlands. You can stay right here all the time.” I grinned as far as my face would stretch.
A small smile tugged at one side of his mouth as he looked back up at me. “You’d better count on it.”
As it happened, they kept me in the hospital for the rest of the week and he rarely left my side. My mom was the only one who seemed to hold the power to ward him off. She made him go home in the evenings. But the next morning, he would be there the moment the nurses let him in. I wondered how much trouble he was getting in since I knew he was skipping school.
Every day, another member of the pack would drop in to see me. It was during these visits, I learned
from Ed, Erik, Tommy and Michael everything that Adam hadn’t told me. They hadn’t actually told me, I just more or less picked it up since they had all been projecting their thoughts so clearly.
From Ed, I had learned the most. He had sat beside me, still flexing his hand that had gotten the briar in it when we searched the Deadland.
“Is it okay?” I asked, pointing to it.
“Oh yeah, it’s fine.” He quit flexing and folded his hands in his lap, and smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his dark eyes.
Still feels weird, but it’s not like anyone’s going to understand. It feels like dark magic running inside me, but it could just be all the weird stuff that’s been going on, his brain contemplated to himself, and conveniently, to me, as he thought of everything that had happened.
I sat back, closed my eyes, and went for the ride his memory took me on, starting with finding me by the huge hole, wet and covered in vomit and blood. I frowned and tried not to pay attention to the details there that he seemed to remember so vividly. I tuned out and barely watched his memory until I saw Wynter’s image pop into my mind.
She had shown up at the underground pit after I had been taken to the hospital. She had basically ignored Erik, who had taken command of the pack since Adam went with me, and showed even less interest in the three giant cats that stood by.
After walking around the rock that had covered the opening, she circled it a few times, and then over to where Reuben’s body lay. She abruptly left, having never uttered a single word.
When the police arrived, the scene they had found had been very different from the one I had left. The bodies of the missing women were found only to have broken necks, from their supposed fall into the cavern. All were ruled as accidents, even Reuben, whose missing throat somehow had become whole again. They were saying he had a heart attack after finding the bodies and rescuing me from what surely would have been certain death.
The bad guy was the hero.
Well, that sucked, I thought, jerking myself out of Ed’s head and leaning back to pretend sleep so he’d go home.
Hidden Moon Page 22
