by May, W. J.
I put my journal and the Wolf Book into my back pack and grabbed a plate. “It smells awesome!”
He turned the television on to a movie and settled down beside me on the bed. “If you spill, that’s your side,” he teased.
“Or I can just roll on top of you.” I winked slyly.
The slice of pizza in his hand slipped out, landing on the bed.
I burst out laughing. “That’s your side!” I ate some of everything and then tried the desserts. I had been starving, but now felt ready to burst. I changed in the bathroom into comfy shorts and a top, and crawled under the sheets beside Michael, snuggling close against him.
My eyes grew drowsy as I fought to stay awake. We had a hotel room, alone, all to ourselves, and I couldn’t stop myself from napping? I yawned. Some amazing girlfriend I was!
Sleep won in the end, and I let myself succumb to it. I decided I’d make up for it the next night.
Chapter 14
Michael called my name softly, “Rouge? Sweetie, do you want some coffee?”
I rolled over and rubbed my face. “Did you make it?” I grimaced and then opened my eyes a slit. I stared vacantly at him, trying to remember where I was. It took a moment, but the memory of the previous day came flooding back eventually.
“I went to Starbucks.”
I sat up and yawned, then inhaled deeply into the cup he offered. “Hmmm… smells good.”
“You okay?”
I took a small sip, enjoyed the latte foam on the top that seemed to clear away some of the cobwebs in my mouth. “I’m okay.” I glanced over at the alarm clock by the side of the bed. Eleven thirty. “You went out now for coffee? It’s so late!” The thick curtain covered the window blocking out the street lights.
“It’s eleven thirty A-M.” He smiled, his eyes sparkling. “You were dead to the world. I figured coffee was my only option.”
“It’s morning?!” So much for the romantic, virgin-taking evening I had planned.
“Almost lunch.” Michael pulled the curtain away from the window and the shade cover to let the sun in. “Is there anything you want to do today?”
I sipped my coffee and stared blankly in front of me. I’d dreamt about my invisible mother flying through the sky with a bark torch lighting her way. I knew what I wanted to do… getting Michael to let me do it was another question. “I want to go to Saint Andrew’s Cemetery.”
Michael blinked several times but kept his face unreadable. “No.”
I ignored his reply. “Then I want to find out how she died.”
“No.”
I set the latte down and stood. “I’m not going to let two Grollics stop me. You said yourself yesterday that we came here to find answers. I’m going to find them.”
“Yesterday you wanted to go home.” He began to pace, reminding me of Caleb.
“Today, I want answers.” I put my hands on my hips. “And I want my file back.”
“We should check with Caleb, maybe get some back up. Or plan this out better. Yesterday was my fault. I was stupid not to think through everything that could happen.”
The thought of Caleb stepping in to help annoyed me. “I don’t want Caleb here. This is my fight.”
“It isn’t a fight, Rouge,” Michael said quietly.
“Like hell it isn’t! This is my fight!” I grabbed clothes out of the suitcase. “I’m going to shower and go. You can stay here or you can come with me. I don’t care.” I did care, I just couldn’t admit it out loud. I wanted Michael with me, not Caleb with his condescending stare and annoyingly insightful, guilt-inducing comments.
Michael watched me stomp to the bathroom. I could feel his eyes on me. When I slammed the door and locked it, I heard him mutter to himself, “What’s gotten into her?”
I showered and changed in less than ten minutes. While in the shower I tried to figure out how I woke with such a feeling of dead calm; not the kind of calm that comes with peace and acceptance, the kind where you know trouble is lurking just around the corner, and there’s nothing stopping you from running head-long into it; the kind of feeling that made you want to run towards the trouble instead of away from it, to get resolutions from it. I had no clue where it came from, but I had no intention of letting it pass me by. It would get answers. Without fear. Without feeling or sentiment. I needed them, now.
“Ready to go?” I asked as I stepped out of the bathroom and grabbed my backpack. I’d dressed in capri pants and a black shirt, and felt a little like Lara Croft. I wanted easy movement in case I had to make a run for it at some point today.
“Sure.” Michael gave me a strange look but didn’t say anything else.
We took the elevator in silence.
Outside I walked to the passenger side of the Jeep and waited for Michael to unlock the doors. He hit the button on the keys and went to the back, pulling open the rear door. I came around, wedged between the jeeps door and the board on board fence of the property line.
Michael pulled a suitcase I hadn’t noticed toward him and opened it. Inside lay strange weapons and knives. He handed me a knife with a cover on the blade, and also another weapon that looked like a gun. “It’s a like a tazor. You’re not shooting bullets but it will freeze or throw a Grollic off for a few seconds.”
I tossed it in my backpack and went around while he fiddled around with items for himself. “You do remember we’re going to a cemetery, right?”
He grunted in reply, finally slammed the back door shut and then came around to the driver’s side. “They might not be on to you, but they are on to me. I don’t feel like dying today if it can be avoided.” He leaned over and touched the pendant around my neck. “Keep that safe with you always.”
We drove back toward the less than privileged end of town, avoiding the road with the apartment on it.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Michael asked as the cemetery came into view.
I nodded. “I don’t see anyone here.” No Grollics was my unspoken comment.
Michael pulled the Jeep to the curb and stopped in front of the cathedral church. “I want you to wait here. Let me check the cemetery first.”
“No one’s here,” I repeated.
“I know!” His voice rose in frustration. “There look to be over three hundred stones, angels, raised and flat monuments. It’ll be quicker if you let me run through and look. We could be here for two days looking otherwise.” He picked his perfectly clean fingernail. “And it doesn’t hurt to double check.”
I opened my mouth to protest but he cut me off before I had a chance.
“Give me ten minutes. I promise I’ll be back by then.” He checked the review and stepped out of the Jeep. “Wait in the driver’s seat… just in case.” He leaned in again. “And lock the doors!”
Low blow. Damon had gotten into the Jeep because I hadn’t locked it. Michael didn’t seem to have a problem subtlety reminding me.
I obeyed and crawled over the stick shift into the driver’ seat. I blew a kiss to his back as he sped off. I set my watch and watched it count up to two minutes, then glanced at the graves to see if I could find Michael or any eminent danger.
Nothing.
Until I glanced to my right and nearly screamed out load.
Marcus Brutus sat on the stairs leading up to the church. He waved when I noticed him.
My fingers reached for the knife on my belt as I looked around the entire vehicle for a hidden Grollic just waiting to pounce.
He stood and sauntered over to me, motioning me to roll down the window.
Grabbing my purse I hid the knife in there close by the tazer, ready to grab either one if I needed it.
I let the window down a crack.
Marcus watched it and then shrugged. “I’m not here to fight.” He held his hands up in surrender.
“What do you want?” My eyes darted toward the tombs, trying to see if Michael was visible or if any beasts might be chasing him down.
“Nobody’s there. Just your buddy.” He
reached around him as I squeezed the tazer inside my purse, ready to use it.
Marcus pulled out a manila envelope his back. A loud sigh of relief escaped through my lips. I had thought he was going to draw a gun.
“I believe this is yours.” He slid it through the slightly opened window.
I realized it was the file folder. “What are you giving this back to me?”
Marcus shrugged. “It belongs to you.”
“Aren’t you going to piss a few Grollics off… you being here?”
“Very much. We’re all sworn to protect this area and never let you back in it.”
What did he just say? “Back in?”
He nodded, checking for Michael before looking back at her. “I shouldn’t be here. This is a mistake.” He started to back away.
“No!” I jumped out of the Jeep and ran around it. “You need to tell me what’s going on. Please!”
He hesitated. “Look,” he said, shooting a glance toward the cemetery. “I know who you are and I’m torn between helping you or protecting my ass and my pack.”
“What do you mean?” I heard Michael call me name.
Marcus flinched, his eyes burning to a yellow color. “Meet me back here at dusk. Alone. I trust you but I…” he began running in the opposite direction that Michael had taken. “I don’t trust the dead-walker,” he shouted before tearing around the street corner.
I stared at the spot he had turned and I’d lost view of him because of the church building.
“Rouge, why are you out of the Jeep?” Michael touched my shoulder.
I jumped, unaware he had returned. “I… I thought I heard you call my name.”
He shook his head. “I found your mother’s stone. It’s safe. Nobody’s here.” He held his hand out to me.
I entwined my fingers with his and let him lead me through the old and new gravestones. My heart was torn; should I tell him about Marcus, or forget the Grollic had found me, or did I go and meet him tonight? He could be planning to ambush me. Or he could be trying to help and just not sure if the risk was worth losing everything if he did.
I sighed. I wished I could ask Michael, but I knew he would never let me come here on my own. And Marcus would never believe me if I told him Michael was safe. Trust had to be earned. No werewolf would even consider trusting a “dead-walker” as Marcus had called them. I thought back to Damon. He had been big and burly like Marcus, but different.
“Harder to do this then you thought?” Michael squeezed my hand. “You never knew the woman and yet you feel connected to her.”
I nodded, guilt washing over me for letting Michael believe it was for something else.
“We’re almost there.” He pointed, using our hands together to show where the stone was. “It’s very clean. Someone’s been taking care of her stone.”
We walked along a row of raised and flat stones. Michael stopped me in front of a raised soft gray marble stone. I nearly laughed aloud. On top sat a small angel similar to the one I had nearly decapitated the day I met Michael. The only difference was this angel had her wings spread, as if looking down on the stone.
Rebekah Gnowee
Here for but a moment.
I ran my finger over the engraved letters. The stone had been there for over ten years but looked new. A bouquet of flowers lay near the base in a vase screwed into the marble. “Someone misses her.” I kneeled on the grass before the stone wishing I had brought flowers as well. “I wonder how she died?” I said the thought out loud.
“When we get back to the hotel, I’ll call Caleb and see if he can find some medical records or a copy of the death certificate. We have a name and an address, it shouldn’t be too hard to find.”
I remembered Marcus’ words and wondered what he knew about Rebekah Gnowee. He could have information that a death certificate or any medical records would never show. I realized I didn’t have a choice. I had to see him that night.
Chapter 15
I wrote in my journal and waited for time to pass after we returned to the hotel. Michael tried calling Caleb, which went straight to voicemail. He left Caleb a message to call him back when he had a chance. I spent the time trying to figure out how I would get out without Michael. It was going to be impossible.
“What do you want to do for dinner tonight?” he asked just as his phone rang. He glanced down. “It’s Caleb.”
The perfect moment had just landed in my lap. “You talk to him and I’ll go grab us some dinner.” I grabbed the keys and my purse, slipping the wolf book under it so he wouldn’t see. “I’ll surprise you with something local that’s really good.” I didn’t give him a chance to reply. I kissed his cheek. “Answer the phone, silly. You know how Caleb is.” I winked and forced myself to walk a normal pace out the door without looking back.
In the hall I broke into a run, taking the stairs to save time. Outside I walked to the Jeep and glanced at our hotel room window. Michael stood by the window, phone to his ear. I waved and smiled before unlocking the Jeep and pulling out of the parking lot.
I took the same route Michael had driven earlier. My hands shook against the steering wheel so I gripped it tightly to try and stop the tremors. I might be scared but Marcus was risking everything to talk to me.
The sun had started its decent. I had about twenty, maybe twenty-five minutes before Michael would start to worry and begin calling and looking for me.
I slowed the Jeep as I turned on the road just before Saint Andrews. Butterflies hammered against the inside of my stomach when I saw Marcus sitting on the steps waiting. I swallowed and pulled the Jeep to the curb. It took several deep breaths to physically calm myself. I grabbed my bag and slipped it over my shoulder, only pausing to stuff the Wolf Book inside. I had no idea why I brought it, except I was somehow, magically, hoping to draw strength from it.
He was alone. At least nobody seemed to be hiding behind a bush or in the cemetery. I tried to make my face unreadable as I walked over and sat down beside him. I planned to stay in plain sight and if the need to protect myself arose, I had the taser Michael had given me in my bag, the knife on my belt, and the words of the Wolf Book in my head. I figured I could manage.
“You came.” Marcus smirked. “I, uh, wasn’t sure you would.”
“I did. Now what did you want to tell me?” I was hesitant to be his buddy.
He chuffed. “You’ve no idea, do you?”
I had somewhat of an idea. I just wasn’t going to tell him.
“How old are you? Seventeen?”
He obviously didn’t know as much as he thought he did. “About that.”
“When did you get your file?”
“Yesterday.”
“Oh… so you just found out about Rebekah?” He reached for my knee but dropped his hand before touching me.
“Yeah.”
Marcus rocked his feet back and forth. He sighed, his big chest rising and dropping. “She was good. There’s not a lot of good in this group here.”
“Group of Grollics?”
He gave me a funny look. “Of course. What you think we are? A bunch of half breeds?”
“You can mix?” By the annoyed look on his face, I’d hit a nerve. “I… I don’t know much about werewo-Grollics.”
“You seriously don’t know anything?”
I played with my keys for a moment, debating what I should reveal. In the end, I didn’t know much anyway and saw no point in trying to hide that. “I know about the birthmark below you collar bone and you can shift. Michael’s different.”
“Yeah, he’s the enemy.”
“He’s not. If you—”
“He’s part of the Higher Coven. Or somewhere close to it. It’s obvious by the way he walks and holds himself. I can’t imagine he let you come here alone.” He glanced up the road. “Is he hiding somewhere or got you on a mike?”
“No.” I sighed and watched the setting sun. “He thinks I’m grabbing dinner.”
“Good.”
“Good?�
�
Marcus stood. “Let’s take a walk.”
“No. I’m more comfortable staying here.” I reached inside my bag, my fingers touching the taser.
“I just figured we could walk through the cemetery as we talk.” He remained standing, waiting for me to get up and follow him, which I had no intention of doing. He eventually figured that out “Fine. What do you want to know?”
The question threw me. He had been the one so adamant about helping me and now he seemed annoyed that I wanted information. It didn’t make sense. “Why did Rob say I shouldn’t be here?”
“Because you shouldn’t. We’re controlled by a…an alpha.” He tilted his head. “Does that make sense?” When I nodded, he continued. “We’re not allowed to let you here. If you show up, you’re supposed to be toast.” He made a line with his hand across his neck.
“Then why aren’t you doing the same? If you’re controlled by the alpha?” I stood, slipping my purse over my shoulder. Suddenly my gut was telling me I needed to leave soon.
“I am.”
“You’re what?”
“Controlled by the alpha.”
“Rebekah wasn’t.” I had no idea how I knew that, but I just did.
He spat. “That’s because she wasn’t a Grollic.”
My eyebrows pushed together. I opened my mouth but nothing came out.
“She stuck around because of Rob.” He snorted. “Took the beatings. All of it.”
Someone beat Rebekah?
“Rob’s going to come after you. He wants you dead.” He gave me the once over. “Maybe Rebekah stuck around because she was waiting for you.”
“I doubt it.” I checked my watch. I didn’t like where this conversation was going. “Look. I need to get going. Michael’s going to start worrying. We’re leaving. I promise we won’t come back. I won’t tick off your alpha anymore.” I started for the Jeep.
Marcus’ hand came up and blocked my chest. “You’re not going anywhere.”
I pushed his arm away. “Don’t.” I reached in my purse and pulled out the taser-thing.
He laughed and kicked it out of my hand before I could even find the on-switch. It flew in the air in a perfect arc and landed down the sidewalk, shattering into about fifty pieces.
