by Aya Walksfar
A flash of anger flew through the Elder’s eyes before she reined in her emotions. “I understand your hesitancy to trust me, Alexis Night Runner, but as you said, I am the Queen and Rianna Mayson is one of mine. I know what she needs.”
Jaw set in stubborn mode, I shook my head. “I’ll get her home and Serena will take care of her.”
Sadness appeared on the Elder’s face. “She will not survive even long enough to leave this forest. I can sense that she is grievously injured, Alexis Night Runner. If you value her life, give her to me. I will take her to our village where she will heal among her own People.”
“Yeah, right.” I tilted my head toward the downed bodies. “In case you haven’t noticed, those are werepanthers that attacked us.” My arms trembled from Ri’s weight.
“Like the vampires, there are rogues among my People. Sven has subdued the last one. We will keep him alive long enough to get information about this attack. Now, please, give my niece into my care, Alexis Night Runner.” Steel had entered the Elder’s voice.
The cold edge ran along my spine. “Even if she is your niece--and I have no way of knowing that for sure--how do I know I can trust her safety in your hands?”
The Elder’s hard gaze softened as she turned it on Ri. “She is my only sister’s only child. One day she will be the leader of our People.” She lifted her eyes to me. “If we are to fight a powerful enemy together, we must trust each other. Will you begin the healing of the rift between our Peoples, or will you widen and deepen it when my niece dies?”
Conflict raged within me. Finally, I handed Ri over into the Elder’s arms. “If she does not live, I will hold you personally responsible and I will hunt you.”
The snarl of a panther nearby raised the hair on my arms and neck, but my gaze never wavered from the Elder’s face.
“Be at peace, Sven. Alexis Night Runner is not our enemy.” Her focus shifted back to my eyes. “You will be contacted as soon as Ri regains consciousness. Since she is so young, it may take a few days. Go and tend your wounds, Alexis Night Runner. We will meet again, soon.” With that, the Elder headed into the forest, cradling Ri.
Sven, changed back to a naked human, flung the unconscious werepanther over his shoulder and followed without a backward glance.
Chapter 7
Serena Longer
Drumming the desk with my fingertips, I studied Alexis. “So Ri is royalty.” Does Alexis really believe that I am so gullible? Werepanthers attacking Ri on the panthers own land? Does she think that a few scratches, so shallow as to be nearly healed now, and a small rip in her forearm would convince me of this fiction? And, how interesting that Ri never told me she was part of the royal family.
My gaze roamed around the room until it landed on Gregory. After three hundred and fifty years how could he be party to this subterfuge, this conspiracy to destroy me and our People? How convenient that he was supposedly gone when this meeting occurred. I couldn’t stop this clandestine meeting from taking place, but that doesn’t mean I will be taken in by their manipulations. Yet, they must not know; not yet. The time will come. Soon.
Alexis scrunched her brows. “I don’t know about royalty...”
Gregory spoke up right on cue. “Werepanther society is loosely structured as befits solitary creatures, but they are governed by a single strong family headed by the eldest female of the line. Just like in human politics, that family is the royal family. That makes Ri a princess.”
Gregory got up and retrieved the coffee pot and refilled our cups. “It doesn’t make sense, Serena. If Ri’s mother was sister to the queen, there’s no way the family would’ve allowed the two of them to live on their own in the human world. Even though panthers don’t normally live in groups, the Royals do.”
A wry smile twisted my lips. “Yes, the Royals do, along with a pride of guards.” All lies. Everything Ri said about living only with her mother; about how her human father murdered her mother. Did she think me so ignorant that I would not know that a child never results from werepanther-human matings? How could I have been so blind? Only a royal can partially change. No wonder she survived Arundia’s attacks. How many enemies do my People have?
A knock sounded on the door. I glanced at Gregory and Alexis then called, “Come in.”
Lieutenant Howitter walked in and stopped in front of me. “Our warrior base on the mainland phoned. A werepanther asks to be brought to you, First Councilwoman Longer. She won’t state her business, but says it’s urgent.”
Lips pursed, I nodded. “Have her blindfolded and brought to the island.”
Fifteen minutes later, a young werepanther--barely out of her teens--faced Alexis, Gregory and me. Though she tried, she couldn’t quite control the trembling of her hands. “I am Werepanther Messenger Brittany Stellars. I was instructed to deliver this message privately to First Councilwoman Longer.”
I flicked a hand at the other two. “This is General Trueson and this is Captain Night Runner. Whatever message you bring will be shared with them. Speak!” The command in my voice brooked no delay.
The young woman’s eyes darted between the three of us then she conceded with a brisk nod. “As you wish, First Councilwoman Longer.” In a strangely formal voice for one so young, she said, “Queen Coahoma, Queen of the Panthers of North America and Great Leader of All Weres and Shifters of North America, sends her greetings to the First Councilwoman for vampires of the North America Region and thanks her for treating with the Werepanther Tribe. Queen Coahoma sends word that Princess Rianna Mayson sleeps deeply and heals. The Elder sends her thanks to Alexis Night Runner for the defense of Princess Mayson during the attack on the princess earlier today.”
The girl sucked in a lungful of air and resumed her breathless report, as if she wanted to get it over with so she could leave. The nervousness that wafted to me smelled like sharp cheddar cheese. Her hands trembled, though she hid it well by pressing them tight against her thighs. “There was an anomaly that made itself known during questioning of the captured rogue panther. Queen Coahoma wishes to meet privately with First Councilwoman Longer to discuss that anomaly. In order to facilitate healing and trust between the two nations, Queen Coahoma wishes for the First Councilwoman to pick the time and the place for the meeting. I am to return with the information necessary to facilitate the contact between Queen Coahoma and First Councilwoman Longer.”
Elbows propped on the padded arms of the desk chair, I steepled my fingertips together. “What is the anomaly that Queen Coahoma wishes to discuss?”
“I do not know, First Councilwoman Longer. Of that, I was not informed.” Red flushed the young woman’s cheeks as if not having the information was somehow a failing on her part.
“Ten p.m. tomorrow. We’ll meet at Phoenix Estate.” I turned toward Alexis. “Have Lieutenant Howitter escort Messenger Stellars to the mainland.”
Alexis stood. “Of course.” She turned to the messenger. “If you’ll follow me.”
A few minutes later, she returned. Gregory handed her a cup of coffee then settled on the chair next to the fireplace. She sat on the chair on the other side of the fireplace. “What do you think, Serena? Are the panthers our enemy or do they really want to meet?”
Playing along, I said, “I guess we’ll find out when we meet with Elder Coahoma.”
****
A half-moon rode the sky above the trees as I crossed the deserted compound and stopped in front of what had once been the House of Females. “Every time I see this rubble, I am reminded of all that my People have lost.”
Alexis stood next to me. With a pale blue light ball hovering above her, she jammed her hands in her jean pockets and stared down. When she didn’t speak, I sighed. It appeared that I had lost Alexis, too; if she had ever truly loved me.
Was she complicit in Matriarch Belora’s death? I couldn’t stand it, if I found out that was so. I had been so certain that Alexis was on our side. Did my mistake about Alexis cause me to lose the woman who had been mother and co
nfidant; friend and sister to me? A rustle in the woods bordering the compound broke into my thoughts. Grateful for the interruption, I turned away from the blackened reminder of Belora’s death.
Next to me, Alexis shifted into high alert. The sharp smell of adrenaline poured off of her, though to an untutored eye she would appear relaxed. Off to one side, Gregory ambled toward us. He, too, appeared relaxed, but I knew his eyes probed the dark and his ears listened to the slightest sounds.
Black shadows parted from beneath the darkness of the trees as Elder Coahoma stepped from the woods and strolled toward us. It didn’t surprise me that she entered the area of our meeting on foot and through the forest. She had been queen for nearly two hundred years. Queens did not survive that long by being careless. Somewhere down the road, a driver and car undoubtedly awaited.
She stopped in front of me and dipped her head slightly, one monarch to another. “After many years, we meet again, First Councilwoman Longer.” With a slight nod to either side of her, she said, “This is Sven Blackstone, Head of Guards and this is his lieutenant, Kaia Herald.”
I flicked a gaze over the indicated panthers. “You remember Gregory Trueson? I believe he was my captain the last time we spoke. He is now my general. You’ve met Alexis Night Runner, Captain of Artemis’ Warriors.”
“Come, walk with me as we speak. Our guards can follow close behind.” Elder Coahoma turned and I stepped next to her as we strolled across the abandoned compound. “Tell me, Serena, do you plan to rebuild? I had heard that Phoenix Estate was a lovely place.”
I gritted my teeth at her familiarity, but gave a negligent shrug with one shoulder. “Perhaps. I assume this meeting is news about the rogue you captured?”
She smiled and gave her head a wondering shake. “Always right to business; very unvampire-like.”
“Matriarch Belora was the politician among us. I have not the patience to dance with words.”
“It would serve you well to learn the patience of the cat.” Her soft smile took away any sting from her chiding words. “Belora well understood that studying your enemy often netted much reward.”
“I did not realize that you knew Matriarch Belora beyond our one meeting when we first arrived on this continent.”
“Someday, perhaps I will tell you the story of Belora and I. At this moment, it is of no consequence, except to say that her friendship is a large part of the reason I met with Alexis. She had told me much about your human.”
Oh, Goddess, no! Not Belora. No, Belora would never betray me. Coahoma wants to plant doubts in my mind about Belora. I dipped my chin, pretending to accept the Elder’s unwillingness to disclose more. After all, what could she disclose except more lies? “Truly, I am more interested in why you called this meeting than I am in political tangoes and tales of friendship better left for when we might enjoy a long night, a hot fire and good food.”
She tilted her head in acquiesce. “The rogue we captured refused to return to human shape. When I forced his Shift, he was no human.”
I stopped and whirled to face the elder. “What do you mean, he wasn’t human?” Coahoma caught and held my eyes. “He was vampire.”
“That’s impossible.” I willed Alexis, Gregory and Coahoma to believe my shock at this news. They must not suspect that Coahoma’s words simply confirmed what I knew. There had been no attack on Ri and Alexis. The werepanthers had allied with Arundia.
“Do you question my honesty, First Councilwoman?” The Elder’s voice held a cold edge.
With a quick, hard headshake, I continued the necessary subterfuge. “Of course not. It is simply that I know of no werepanthers that have been Changed. Or for that matter, of any Weres at all who have been Changed since I settled on this continent.” I let my words drift into silence as I gazed across the open space.
“It sounds as if herstory repeats itself. Tell me, First Councilwoman, are the atrocities committed by vampires in Europe during The Time of Hunting now being practiced here in my country?”
My eyes darted to the Elder’s as my lips tightened into a slash. Rage raced through me. She seeks some manufactured reason to destroy my People. “We have so few Born Vampires....” I trailed off.
“Then it should not be as difficult to winnow out the responsible parties.” The Elder gave a grunt that sounded like a disgruntled big cat. “This explains the deaths of my panthers and of other Weres recently. It wasn’t the sweetness of their blood that called to the Night Stalkers; it was their magic.”
She looked at me, expecting some reply, so I asked, “The vampire was male?”
The Elder began to walk again. “Yes.”
Relief flooded me. She suspected nothing. “At least, we know a huvam isn’t involved. Did he ash out?”
The Elder gave a quick head shake. “No. We burned his body.”
“Wise choice.” I gave a vague wave toward my parked car. “We’ve brought hot drinks, if you would care to sit so that we might discuss this a bit further.”
A tiny smile crossed the Elder’s lips. “That is the best idea I’ve heard all night.”
With cups of hot coffee in hand, all six of us settled on logs that Alexis and Kaia had dragged from the woods.
Once seated, Gregory spoke, furthering this farce. “Did the other werepanthers involved in the attack on your niece ash out, or show any signs of being vampires after they were killed?”
Coahoma shook her head. “None. They were truly werepanthers. Rogues. There has been increased discontent among certain factions of panthers and Weres recently. A couple of weeks ago, there was an attack on a panther village near the Great Smoky Mountains on the North Carolina side. We have reason to believe vampires were involved, but the attacking party—according to the sole surviving witness—was comprised of panthers.”
“Attacks on your villages are pretty rare then?” Alexis asked.
Coahoma dipped her head in agreement. “Before this latest attack, the last attack on one of our villages was over a hundred years ago.”
Alexis let out a low whistle. “Whatever is happening, it’s getting worse.”
“I fear that is true.”
“Was anyone apprehended for that attack?” Alexis probed.
“No.” The Elder sipped her coffee.
“To return to the recent attack on Ri and Alexis.” Gregory cut to the heart of the matter. “One vampire leading three rogue panthers in a guerilla attack. Do you think they simply happened upon Alexis and Ri, or do you think this was a planned attack?”
I locked eyes with Coahoma. “How serious is that discontent you mentioned?”
With a sigh the Elder set her empty cup on the ground. She swiveled her head toward Gregory. “To answer your question, General. I believe this was a premeditated attack. I believe it was aimed at destroying any chance for our Peoples—the vampires and the Weres--to work together, which might have succeeded had one, or both, of our ambassadors perished.”
She aimed her penetrating gaze at me. “One of the hesitations I had about allying with your People, Serena, was the discontent among my panthers. We have seen a larger number of young panthers, and other Weres, going rogue during the last year than ever before. Others agitate that Weres are superior to humans. They no longer wish to hide, but to take their places in the world. I fear that translates to the killing of humans.”
Carefully, I set aside the cup that I cradled in my hands and ventured a truth. “It appears that the unrest your People face started around the same time that my People’s troubles began.”
The Elder’s shoulders seemed to bow inwardly a bit more, as if the burdens she carried had exponentially increased in weight. “I had hoped it would prove false that your war is also our war. Alas, it is not so.”
Chapter 8
Serena Longer
The next morning, Gregory walked in as I prepared breakfast. He gazed around as he sat down at the table. “Where’s Alexis?”
My jaw tightened as I slammed the biscuit pan on the table. How I
tired of their game. “Who knows? I certainly don’t.”
Brows raised, he settled at the table. “This sounds like something more than being irritated that she’s doing around-the-clock training with the Warriors.”
Tossing eggs into the skillet, I scrambled them like I meant to punish them for some transgression. For a moment, he sounded like the friend I had loved and depended upon for so many years. “Alexis has decided that she can no longer be a part of our relationship. Since her decision, she hasn’t stayed in our apartment for several days. It appears that she is using training exercises to hide her unwillingness to be at home with me.” I flung the eggs on two plates and dropped the plates on the table. Collapsing into the chair, I chopped at my eggs with the fork, but couldn’t bring myself to put them in my mouth.
Anguish burned through me like the fires of Caine’s Hells. I’ve lost them; I’ve lost them both.
Gregory forked some eggs into his mouth and chased the bite with half a biscuit as he watched me.
I shot a glare at him. “Stop staring!”
He dropped his eyes to his plate and didn’t speak. After he ate, he got up and took his plate to the sink then refilled his cup and returned to his chair. “Serena, look at me.”
The softness of his voice drew my eyes up from the mutilated eggs and the crumbled biscuit dusted over my plate.
He reached over and cradled my one hand between both of his. “When was the last time you fed?”
I yanked my hand away, but refused to look at him. “I fed last night.”
“Blood or lust?”
My eyes narrowed as my nostrils flared. “I do not answer to you, Gregory Trueson. You are not my Mistress.”
“No, but I am your friend. You fed only the blood hunger, did you not?”
My gaze skipped away from his probing eyes. “Blood is enough.”
“Serena, we’re not made to subsist on blood alone. You taught me this when I was a very young vampire. Artemis made us to crave both the blood and the lust. Our hungers are our connection to humanity; and not one that we can deny.”
