Shifters Rule (Rule Series)

by K. C. Blake

  “I want to get it over with. I wish I had his phone number. I’d call him and throw the gauntlet down now.”

  “I don’t want to do this.” Her voice rose to near hysteria. “I don’t want to fight Jersey!”

  “Then stay out of it.” Hope filled his heart. “Stay home. Be safe.”

  “I don’t want you to fight him either. I don’t want you to die, and I don’t want to die, and I don’t want my mom or Ian to die.”

  Jack pushed out of his chair. He circled the table in a few quick strides, grabbed Silver by the arms, and pulled her from the chair in a flash. He meant to hold her, comfort her, but his body had other ideas. Their mouths met in a crushing kiss. Her hands clutched his arms as they wrapped around her. The passion intensified with every passing second.

  The rational side of Jack’s brain told him to let her go before things got out of hand. Her mom could walk in at any second and make good on her threat to kill Jack. But he couldn’t help himself. He wanted to kiss Silver until they both forgot how to breathe. His hand slipped beneath her top to touch the bare skin of her back.

  The sound of someone clearing their throat broke through mindless pleasure. They jumped away from each other, turned to look at the intruder. It was Ian. At least Vanessa hadn’t walked in on Jack molesting her daughter. Jack glared at Ian. “What do you want?”

  “I have a note for you.” Ian waved a small piece of paper in the air. “It was stuck to the front door.”

  “Note? From who?”

  Without answering, Ian tossed the note on the kitchen table and walked away. Jack unfolded it. He read it twice before handing it to Silver. He lifted his face and took a deep breath. War was coming. No stopping it now.

  The note was from Jersey.

  Time for you to die, Jack. Field behind Miller place. Midnight tomorrow. Destiny cannot be restrained forever. Read your last book tonight. Make it a good one.

  .

  *****

  Chapter Twenty-Three:

  SAYING GOODBYE

  .

  .

  A rock song began to play at two in the morning, waking Jack from a sound sleep. He tried to reach for his cell phone, but something hairy was holding his arm down. It took a few groggy seconds for him to realize it was Silver’s head. She’d fallen asleep next to him, her long tangled mane draped over him. He moved with care so he wouldn’t wake her. Inch by inch, he scooted to the edge of the bed and grabbed the phone.

  Once he had it close to his ear, he greeted the person with a surly hello. Jersey’s deep voice answered him. He could picture Jersey sitting behind a large desk somewhere with a pile of books and angel statues in the background. “For hours I have been arguing with myself,” Jersey said. “Do I call him or do I wait until we meet on the battlefield? In the end I decided I had to contact you one last time. We’ve been friends, we’ve been brothers, and we’ve been enemies.”

  Jack sighed. “Get to the point. I’m tired.”

  “There was a poem I recited to Pagan some time after meeting you. He is sweetest friend or hardest foe, worse angel or best devil. I either hate or love him so. I can’t merely be civil.”

  “Nice.”

  “She didn’t understand it. Do you?”

  “My brain is close to shutting down completely. No more riddles please. I am begging you. Kill me if you must, but don’t bore me to death.”

  Silver stirred next to him. He looked at her, waited for her to settle down before speaking again. She deserved to have a good rest. They both needed as much sleep as they could get before the big battle. Was it Jersey’s plan to keep them awake so they wouldn’t be able to focus?

  “Can I hang up now?” Jack asked.

  “I don’t think you fully appreciate what I am trying to do here. I’m giving you a chance to say whatever is on your mind. This is our final conversation. You can say anything to me. Talk to me, Alexander. What is going through your brain at this moment? Are you afraid? Or are you anxious to get it over with?”

  Seriously? The only thing Jack could think about at the moment was sleep. His eyes hurt from keeping them open too long. He rested his head against the pillow and dug into his brain for something, anything that would humor Jersey. Jack knew Jersey well enough to realize the head werewolf wouldn’t let him sleep until he told him what he wanted to hear.

  “I have a list of books I wanted to read before I die. It’s a shame I won’t have the chance.”

  “Do I hear defeat in your voice, Jack? Truly, I’m disappointed. I thought you would hold onto your arrogance forever.”

  “Whatever.”

  Jersey yelled, “Do not patronize me!”

  Jack’s eyes opened wide. Fully awake now, he climbed out of bed with a frustrated groan and left the room. If he was going to raise his voice, he didn’t want to wake Silver. He went downstairs and stepped out the front door onto the porch. “Look! I have had just about enough of you. You’re going to try to kill me, fine. I get it. You have this destiny thing going on. But that doesn’t mean I have to listen to your crap.”

  Jack waited for a response. His ears strained to hear something from the other side of the connection. There was nothing. He couldn’t even hear Jersey breathing. Jack lowered the phone to his side. He walked along the porch to the end. Not even the sweet scent of night air could lure him out of his dark mood.

  He returned the phone to his ear and said, “I don’t understand what you want from me. Why call me now?”

  “It’s a courtesy call, nothing more. The quiet time just before going to war is the hardest part. Since we’re both going through the same thing, I thought I should contact you. We can see each other through this. It’s too quiet the night before a big battle.”

  “Blanca behaving?”

  Anger returned to Jersey’s voice in a flash. “You shouldn’t have sucked her soul out in a dream. I might have had mercy on you. Now I can’t wait to bury you.”

  “It’s been great talking to you, really, but I have to go. Night-night.”

  Jack slapped his phone shut without giving Jersey a chance to respond. He sat on the porch steps, too wound up to sleep. Perhaps that had been the whole point of the call. Jack stared into the night, thinking, remembering. Had it really been less than a year since he’d been a vampire?

  Like an answer to a silent wish, Cowboy appeared on the scene. He sat beside Jack without waiting for an invitation and chuckled. “Didn’t think you’d be awake.”

  Jack told Cowboy about Jersey’s call and about the earlier note. The time and place had been set. They were going to battle to the death. Jack also admitted he didn’t think he was ready.

  “Never stopped you before,” Cowboy said with a grin. “Hold your head high and stomp that puppy’s butt. You can do it.”

  “Are you really going to fight beside us?”

  “Try to stop me.” Cowboy chuckled again. “Sure is funny how life turns out, isn’t it? Who would have thought we’d be fighting the head werewolf together?”

  “Can I trust you? Look me in the eye and tell me I can trust you. Convince me you want Jersey dead as much as I do.”

  Cowboy stared at Jack, a somber expression, and swore, “I will help you kill that dirty werewolf even if I die in the process.”

  “Do me a favor then.”

  “What?”

  “If I get myself killed tomorrow night, get Silver out of there. I want you to take her and her mother somewhere safe. Promise me.”

  Cowboy took a solemn vow to save Silver at all costs. Jack knew Ian would save them if he could. If he couldn’t manage, if he died, Cowboy would take care of them. It was always better to have a backup plan for your backup plan. Cowboy stood and walked backwards down the steps and away from the porch. Putting up two fingers in a backward peace sign, he said, “Vampires rule, buddy.”

  Jack’s hand itched to return the familiar sign, but he closed his hand into a tight fist instead. If he survived the fight with Jersey, he promised himself he would
put the vampire thing to rest. He would go with Silver to whatever college she chose to attend, and he would live as a normal person. No more hunting for either of them.

  He watched his old friend leave with mixed feelings tugging on his heart. A small part of him longed for the past. It hadn’t been completely bad being a vampire. He’d had three good friends. By the time the mess with Jersey ended he might lose everything. Once the smoke cleared, he wondered, would he have anyone left?

  .

  *****

  .

  It was mid-afternoon, just ten hours from the appointed time. Everyone was getting ready for the final confrontation with Jersey. They checked weapons, went over the game plan again, and talked about everything except for the obvious. What if one or more of them died? No one voiced their insecurities. No one wanted to say goodbye.

  Jack felt he had to say something.

  He found Ian in the living room after a half-hearted search through the house. There were things on his mind, things he had to say. He stood rooted to the spot in the opening to the foyer, and he watched Ian pack a few guns into the worn duffel bag. Jack replayed the scene he’d eavesdropped on between Ian and Vanessa. Ian was his father, and the man loved him.

  “Can I do something for you?” Ian asked without looking up. Somehow he always knew when Jack was nearby. Probably had something to do with the warlock in his blood.

  “I wanted to say I’m sorry,” Jack confessed.

  “For what?”

  Ian walked away from the duffel bag, and Jack entered the room as if he’d gained silent permission. They met in the middle, close to the coffee table. Ian stared into Jack’s eyes, probing as if he was looking for something in particular. There was no hiding from those eyes. Could Ian see into his soul? Could he read Jack’s mind?

  If anyone could, it would be Ian.

  Jack tore his gaze away, focused on the carpet while scratching the back of his head. “When you told me you were my father, I didn’t exactly embrace the idea.”

  “That’s an understatement.”

  “If you, me, and Billy survive tonight, I’m willing to give the whole family thing a shot.”

  The ends of Ian’s lips lifted slightly. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I am.”

  Ian patted Jack on the shoulder. “I also should apologize. Many times I have compared you with my psychotic father. When we first met, I despised you because I thought I saw a piece of him in your eyes. I was wrong. Since then I’ve seen the compassion and the mercy in you, two things my father does not possess. You are nothing like him.”

  Jack nodded, grateful for the praise.

  “I am proud to call you my son,” Ian added.

  The softly spoken words sank into Jack’s mind, welcomed like hearty seeds by good soil. They blossomed in seconds. He didn’t know if he could handle the emotions rising inside of him. For years he’d yearned for a father’s love and approval. Of course, his father at the time had been John Creed.

  With the mess his life was currently in Jack still hadn’t had time to process his feelings over losing John. Even now all he could think about was the fact John was dead and Ian wasn’t. A wave of guilt descended on him. He owed John his loyalty. Didn’t he?

  .

  *****

  .

  There was one other person Jack wanted to say a few last words to—just in case he died tonight. The sun was on its way down when Jack went to see his brother. He stood outside the room just like last time and knocked on the door frame. Billy was laying across the bed sideways, his head hanging off the edge. When he heard the knock, he jumped to his feet.

  “Well, well, well,” Billy said with a wry grin. “I was wondering when you’d return for round three. Something on your mind, sport?”

  “I’m going to kill Jersey Clifford tonight.” Jack shrugged. “Or he’s going to kill me.”

  “And you’re telling me because you… want to know if I’ll miss you when you’re gone?” Billy laughed and shook his head. “I won’t.”

  “I came here to tell you your time as a werewolf is coming to an end. Once I kill Jersey you will be free, human.”

  Billy snarled at him. “I’d rather be dead.”

  The words were familiar to Jack. Not too long ago another werewolf had told him the exact same thing before attacking him. Maybe it was something in their hairy blood that drove them insane. It would explain Jersey.

  Jack stared at his brother, or rather at the stranger Billy had become, and he wondered if there was an ounce of the old Billy left in there. If there was, he had to reach him somehow. This could be his last chance.

  Billy sat on the bed, crossing his legs at the ankles and humming a tuneless melody. He closed his eyes, dismissing Jack.

  Jack wasn’t ready to leave. “Jersey is the strongest enemy I’ve ever had to face. I wouldn’t dare say this to anyone else. The fact is I don’t think I’m going to make it out alive. Do you understand what I’m saying? Can you hear me in there, Billy? I’m probably going to die tonight. You’ll never see me again. This is it for us.”

  Billy made a rude noise.

  Jack added, “We won’t be able to say the things we need to say. This is it, our final chance. Please talk to me.”

  Billy’s eyes snapped open. He leaped to his feet and was across the room in a flash. He stood as close to the open door as he could. Hands on either side of the door frame, Billy leaned forward. “You want me to talk to you? Okay. Open your ears and listen up. If you get killed tonight, I won’t care. I won’t shed a single tear. You are nothing to me.”

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “I do. I really, really do.”

  Jack pushed the negative emotions down that were threatening to surface like a hundred foot tidal wave. Regardless of what Billy said, he knew the thing telling him off was not his brother. It was the beast within. Apparently, Billy was buried too deep to reach. Maybe someday they would laugh about this moment... if they both survived.

  “Jack, are you down here?” Silver yelled.

  Billy chuckled. “Better hurry. Your little girlfriend is calling you.”

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “Take your time.”

  Jack dashed off to find Silver. She was in the hallway outside of Jersey’s old study. When she saw him, her eyes lit up. She ran to him, hugged him close as if she hadn’t seen him in days instead of minutes. “I was afraid you’d gone to meet Jersey without us.”

  “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

  “Good.” She glanced at the study door. “Can we talk?”

  He nodded and gestured for her to go first. They went inside. Jack sat behind the desk and Silver perched on the edge. They talked about her fears. She wanted him to promise not to do anything stupid. They were going to take on Jersey together. She reminded him that they needed each other.

  A few minutes later, Ian’s booming voice echoed throughout the mansion. He shouted Jack’s name again and again. Jack and Silver exchanged confused glances. Ian sounded angry. They hurried to the door. Jack stuck his head out and waved Ian over. The three of them met in the open doorway.

  Ian’s face was red, and his hands were clenched into tight fists. He yelled, “Was it you? Did you release Billy?”

  Jack shook his head slowly and frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  “Your brother is gone. Someone erased enough of the spell near the door to let him go. Was it you?”

  Billy was gone? “Why would I let him go just a few hours before we fight Jersey? He’ll put himself in the middle of the battle. He could get killed.”

  Ian didn’t seem convinced by Jack’s logic. His stormy eyes narrowed on Jack’s face. “Maybe you put him somewhere else because you’re afraid of what I might do to him. Is that it? Did you hide him from me?”

  “I didn’t…”

  “Don’t lie to me!”

  Silver interrupted Ian’s furious tirade. “He didn’t let Billy go. I was there the
whole time with him. We just wanted to check on Billy before the fight.”

  Ian stared at her for a long moment, but she didn’t back down an inch. Finally, he turned on his heels and marched off. Once he was out of earshot Silver turned to Jack and asked, “Did you let him go?”

  “Of course not. I don’t want Billy loose right now. If he shows up at the battle, Ian will use it as an excuse to kill him. We have to convince your mom and Ian to leave Billy alone. No one hurts my brother tonight.”

  “What if he attacks first?”

  “Then they can knock him out rather than kill him.”

  Silver blinked. “But… what if he’s going to kill them? What if he attacks and the person doesn’t have a choice? What if he tries to kill me and I can’t knock him out?”

  Jack put an arm around her and stroked her bare arm. “Don’t worry. You aren’t going to have to make that decision. You’re going to be at my side the whole time. I’m convinced we need to hold hands and attack Jersey together.”

  He wasn’t going to let Silver out of his sight tonight. Even though it worried him to trust Cowboy with her life, he was going to have to trust the vampire. Cowboy seemed sincere. Deep down Jack was certain Cowboy would get Silver out of there if things went horribly wrong.

  Jack held her tight. He kissed the top of her head and lied, “Don’t worry about tonight. We’re going to win.”

  .

  *****

  Chapter Twenty-Four:

  THE FINAL BATTLE

  .

  .

  It was midnight.

  The four hunters marched onto the field behind the Miller barn, drawn by the strange blue glow. How like Jersey to advertise with a neon sign. The glow turned out to be wraiths. There were at least a hundred of them swarming the sky. Some were on the ground, but most of them floated in the air at a distance, circling the field. Their combined light made the field into an outdoor stadium.

  It was game day.

  Silver blindly grabbed for Jack’s hand while her eyes glued to the fearsome sight. He wanted to turn to her, reassure her, but he didn’t have the strength to come up with a convincing lie. They were doomed and they both knew it.