Turned: The Inari Council

by Katherine Rhodes

  She thought the keening wail would stop when he fell to ash, but it didn’t. She jerked her head around to find that Talia had put an arrow right through Danielle’s upper thigh, and she was reloading. Sara ran for her and burst forward as fast as she could. She appeared next to Talia and held up her hand. “Let me,” she said, reloading herself.

  “Let’s both,” Talia said, resetting the bowstring.

  Danielle had fire in her eyes. There was nothing but hatred there. She snapped the arrow out of her leg, and they could see the blackened blood oozing out and her skin bubbling already. She stood and started to lurch towards them. “You’d better kill me, you bitches, because if you don’t, I will feast on you, and then I will find your families and fe--”

  “Now,” Talia said, quietly.

  Both of them let the arrows fly, Sara’s lodging straight into her eye socket and Talia’s driving right into her chest. Danielle fell forward, shoving both of the arrows even deeper into her body. She shuttered once and then lay still.

  “Jesus shit.” Tommy emerged from the trees on the right. “Remind me not to piss you two off.”

  Michael? Sara sent to him, quietly. She didn’t get anything back but a strangled feeling. “Michael!” she screamed and took off running for where she felt the three people ahead. She tore through the underbrush and out beyond the juniper thicket.

  Rayna was laying there, unconscious, with a massive cut on her head. Michael was awake, but the other person who had been with Danielle had forced him to the ground and was choking him, and banging him against the ground at the same time.

  She didn’t have time to reload the crossbow, so instead she swung it at his head and clocked him right in the temple. The man turned around, and she instantly realized it wasn’t a man at all—it had bluish gray skin and big, yellow carnivore teeth, a jaw that could open to swallow small prey whole, and blank black eyes.

  “What the hell is that?” Talia jumped back.

  “Just shoot it!” Tommy yelled. “Shoot it!”

  Talia barely aimed before she let the arrow go. It slammed into the creature, and with only the small screech, it disappeared into dust.

  Michael sucked in a huge gasp of air, and Sara dropped down next to him on her knees. He looked at her with his eyes wide and took a few more deep breaths. “Damn. That was not fun.” Sara let out a breath she didn’t even know she was holding, leaned down and kissed him. Damn the just friends’ line.

  They stood together and looked over where Tommy was helping the slowly recovering Rayna to sit up. He looked at the gash on her head. “You’ll be fine, kid,” he said. “We’ll get you some stitches.” He shook his head and looked back at Michael, Sara, and Talia. “That was a kutandi,” he said. “That means that Danielle has some Ábeþecian-án on her side. Not cool. We try to stay neutral with this stuff.”

  “The kutandi is Ábeþecian-án?” Rayna asked. “It seemed so brainless.”

  “Most Ábeþecian-án are brainless,” Tommy said. “We durzon and the gretioni are the only ones who have brains. The durzon are lucky that we look like humans enough to pass for them. The gretioni have to use a bit of magic to blend in, but they have high brain function. The rest are just mindless animals.”

  “Aunt Stephanie knows all that stuff,” Talia said.

  “I have the book at home,” Sara said. “You can borrow it. Now that I know you won’t freak or think that’s its some kind of Harry Potter follow-on.”

  Michael looked over at Talia. “Well, I didn’t mean to do it, kiddo, and your grandfather is going to be disappointed, but what did you think of your first Run Hunt?”

  Talia smiled. “How can I not like running around with a crossbow and permission to shoot things?”

  ~*~*~

  Keelan was laying on the bed, sleeping in the apartment. Sara closed the door behind herself and found Nancy still standing there. Nancy had just put the last of the little healing spells on him, but they would take a week to clear everything up. Meanwhile, the kid was stuck with stitches and a broken ankle.

  “He’s going to be sore,” Nancy said, “but he’ll be fine. It wouldn’t have been pretty if you found him later than you did.”

  “Thank you,” Sara said.

  “This is dangerous business now, Sara,” she said. “You’re a Hunter. More than likely, most of the vampire community knows this now. Keelan needs to be kept track of, and I would like put a small tracking spell on him. You’ll know where he is at all times and if there is real danger brewing. Are you ok with that?”

  She looked at her sleeping brother and sighed. “He’ll want to be a Hunter too.”

  “He can be,” she said, “but he needs to grow up first.”

  “I don’t have a problem with the spell,” she said.

  “Good,” she said. “Michael will take care of it for you.”

  “Where is he?” Sara asked.

  “He went to Druner Hall, to put the Run Hunt on record,” she said. “The Council is meticulous about it; they want to keep track of everything so that people who come after know what happened before.” She pointed to Sara’s finger. “Rach really gave you that?”

  “Yes,” she said, looking at the bright blue ring.

  Nancy took her hand and studied it. “I remember the first night that Rachel slept in our house,” she said. “She was still Nadya then. Afraid, unsure. Just fourteen. After they killed Ubiecz, she very quickly became Rachel in all of our minds. We didn’t want to stir anything up, so we never mentioned Ivan.” Nancy looked at her and smiled. “I guess she’s ok with who she is if she still had this thing and gave it to you.”

  “She was Nadya?” Sara asked.

  “Yes, why?”

  “Tommy reacted to something weird,” Sara said. “She said something to him, and he instantly calmed down, and she said that name to him. His eyes went wide.”

  “The man who raised her until she was fourteen kept and trained a lot of different Ábeþecian-án,” Nancy explained. “She is known to them as a kind and gentle soul. When Ubiecz would beat them mercilessly, she would often sneak out and comfort those she could. She and Sandy speak Demon Tongue. Not many outside the Ábeþecian-án know it, never mind are able to speak in it.”

  Sara nodded, and Nancy let her hand go from her study of the ring. Sara looked at it again and smiled. She could go out into the sun again.

  “What…um… what are you going to tell Marius?” Nancy asked.

  “I don’t know yet,” she said. “Maybe it’s an experimental oral-topical combination that’s really working well. I’m going to be staying on the night shift. I like it there. It’s probably going to be better for me to stay in the dark as much as possible, even if I can go out in the sun now.”

  She nodded. “Keep Keelan out of school for a few days. He’ll be really tired. You’ll know when he can go back.” Nancy picked up the black bag that she carried all of her supplies in. “Welcome to the Hunters. It’s going to be interesting having a vampire on our side.”

  Five

  “You’re sure no one will mind?” Sara rung her hands as they walked up to the front door.

  “If anyone says anything, I’ll turn them into a toad,” Michael smiled. “You need somewhere to have Christmas dinner, and why not here?”

  “Because your mother doesn’t like me.”

  Laughing, he pushed the door open and motioned Keelan in. The inside of the house was a wall of noise and motion, and Sara was shocked at the amount of joy and happiness flowing through the rooms there. “How many brothers and sisters again?

  “Eight, including me, plus five cousins on the other side. There are also six surviving aunts and uncles, and all kinds of cousins.”

  “And they’re all here? Right now?”

  “No. they’ll pop in and out all night long. But’s just mom and Aunt Coleen for the most part.”

  “Wow.”

  The house was huge, set back nearly a quarter mile back from the road. The center hall colonial was drape
d in holiday majesty, and as they made their way through the house greeting dozens of people she found there were Christmas trees in every room. Michael introduced her to everyone as they walked along, winding through the house with a clear destination.

  “This is amazing,” Sara said. “You grew up in this insanity?”

  “I did, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s a lot of fun, even when you get pissed off at them.” Michael laughed. “The trouble we used to get into.”

  Keelan had long since peeled off to go play with some cousin or another, and it was just Sara and Michael as they walked into the kitchen.

  Where Alia stood at the stove, drinking a glass of wine.

  Suddenly, Sara didn’t want to be there.

  “Michael, I didn’t think you were going to get here.” The masculine voice came from the right. The man who had spoken appeared, and Sara instantly knew where Michael got his looks. This had to be his father, and a moment later her hunch was confirmed. “Hello, young lady. I’m Vincent. And this rude, tongueless bastard is my son Michael.”

  “Oh, sorry, dad.” Laughing, Michael took the drinks his father was offering. “My father, Vincent, and dad, my friend Sara.”

  “The vampire girl, of course.” He reached out and offered his hand. “A pleasure to meet you, my dear.”

  “Same, Mister Morchause.”

  “Vincent. Please don’t call me Mister Morchause.”

  “He’ll give you the old line, Mister Morchause is my father.”

  Sara froze that voice. She slowly turned and found Alia was walking up to them. She was the embodiment of grace and elegance, and Sara felt like she might as well be wearing ripped jeans and shitkickers instead of a pair of Kenneth Cole shoes and a nice dress from Lord and Taylor.

  “Sara,” Alia said, holding out her head. “I want to apologize. The last time I saw you, I was unkind to you at best. You must understand that being the Princess is hard to shut off in company, and certainly near impossible in the castle. I am glad that I have given my children the testicular fortitude to stand up to me. I see I was wrong, and I would like to try again in the hopes that we have a relationship that doesn’t make you want to turn and run out of my house.”

  At that moment, Sara knew this woman wasn’t nearly as bad as she her mind had been trying to make her. “No problem, your highness.”

  Alia swallowed the sip of wine she’d taken and shook her head. “No, no. Not in this house. I’m also just Alia. Or mother, if I gave birth to you.” Sara saw Michael roll his eyes. “So my apology is honest, and my son here has convinced me to stop acting like everyone is evil.”

  “Well, it’s true.”

  “Where did I say it wasn’t true?”

  Michael stuck his tongue out, and Alia gave it right back to him.

  “Dinner?” Vincent asked.

  “The buffet will be set in a few minutes. I’m waiting for my sister to come back with one last chafing dish. And then we can all sit down.”

  “Seat?” Sara gasped. “All these people at one table?”

  “At three tables. Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes.” Smiling, Alia nodded to the fridge. “I have carpaccio waiting for you in the fridge if you like.”

  “Thank you. That’s very kind.”

  “Grandma! Garret’s head is in the fishtank!”

  Alia put the glass on the table. “Joy. Excuse me while I wrestle some of the brood under control.” She headed out and Vincent followed behind her.

  “Fish tank?” Michael shook his head. “They don’t have a fish tank. That should be a fun expedition.” He took her by the elbow to the back door, and lead her out the deck in the back to the cool December air of New Jersey. The Garden State, here, lived up to its name with the evidence of the farm behind the house and the extensive private garden, all deep in winter slumber.

  Michael leaned on the railing, facing the house. "I feel like it's been weeks since we talked."

  "Just two." Sara supplied the number. "But I agree. Seems longer."

  He turned, and she could feel his eyes roaming her face. She also could sense him hiding his thought from her. Sara glanced at him and gave him a half smile. "What are you up to?"

  "We got off to a really unconventional start."

  "With the mutual hand jobs?"

  He cleared his throat. "Yeah. I don't…"

  Laying her hand on his arm, she shook her head. "You said we didn't have to talk about it, but I want to, Michael."

  Her statement caught him off guard. "You do?"

  She nodded. "It's been the elephant in the room since it happened."

  "Big elephant."

  "I'll say." Sara winked at him and giggled when his eyebrows shot up. "You know, it's not the worst thing that's ever happened. I'd be lying if I didn't say I enjoyed it."

  "Well, I um… I clearly enjoyed it." He sighed. "I mean, fantastic digital manipulation aside, I can't stop thinking about you. Every time I look at another girl, I just compare them to you."

  "I even tried dating someone else," Sara confessed. "That went well." She rolled her eyes and thought about poor confused Marius. She was doing what she could to help him with processing the whole magical world around him.

  "So, since we both have this hand job bonding, and we both keep thinking about it and each other… would you be opposed to giving a relationship a try?"

  "But Michael, I'm dead, and you're alive. How would that ever work?" Sara made sure he could sense the jocular nature of her words.

  "Hmm. How would it work? I think something like this." He pulled her in close and and brushed his lips against hers, and smiled there. "How's that?"

  "Not convinced."

  This time, he swept in and possessed her, his tongue sweeping across hers, offering his taste and asking for hers. His had slipped up to her breast and plumped lightly, exciting her.

  Her fangs suddenly itched to drop, and she pulled back. "Hang on. Hold on. I'm convinced. But you have to give me time to learn to control my bloodlust, and learn the difference between it and hunger."

  He smirked. "You wanted to take a nibble."

  "It was more than a nibble," she breathed. "Be patient with me?"

  "I will. I'm a gentleman."

  She whispered in his ear. "Gentlemen don’t use words like that."

  "Then I won't."

  Sara looked at him, the lights of the merry house behind her twinkling in his eyes. "Maybe, I don't want you to always be a gentleman."

  Michael smirked. "I think I can accommodate that, too."

  The door burst open, and Keelen came barreling out just as Michael was moving to kiss her. He was wildly waving a present. "Look! Miss Sandy got me something!"

  Michael turned to see Sandy, Rachel, Indy and Nancy in the door, laughing their asses off. Sara bent down to scoop her little brother into her arms as she saw Michael give his siblings the middle finger.

  "Did you say thank you?"

  "Don't I do that after I open it?"

  "Well, I suppose you can."

  "Can I open it?"

  Sara smiled. "Of course. But how about inside?" She ushered them through the four Morchause kids nearly blocking the way, and over to the table.

  Keelan didn't sit. He put the gift on the table and started ripping it open, and the set of Percy Jackson books appeared as he did so. "Oh, my gosh! Yes! I want to read all of these!"

  "What do say?"

  "Oh, right. Thank you, Miss Sandy!" He ran over and hugged her, then grabbed the books and ran off, only to pop his head in again a moment later. "Merry Christmas!"

  He was gone, and Sandy smiled. "He's welcome to visit me any time. Meanwhile, dinner is served. Let's go."

  The others in the room headed for the dining room, and Michael pulled her back. His kiss was soft and sweet this time. He wrapped his arms around her and held her for just a moment. "Merry Christmas, Sara."

  "Merry Christmas, Michael. You're the gift I didn't expect."

  The End

/>   Katherine Rhodes

  Armed with a pen name, Katherine Rhodes has gird her loins and set her mind to writing erotic romances which are kinky, dirty, and fun. As a lackadaisical laundry goddess, and an expert in the profundities of bad music and awful literature-thanks to her husband-Katherine strives to find balance in the universe and time to cook dinner. An East Coast dweller, currently located in the Philadelphia Tristate area, she is the proud servants of three cats and would take a vacation in Prague over a day at the beach any time…

  www.katherinerhodes.com

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