by Bethany Shaw
“Did you find something?” Alex asked, peering over the counter at her.
“Nik’s blood.” She touched the spot on the floor as she met his eyes. “I assume the witch's blood is on the front of the counter. Its also here, too.” She tapped a smear that was close to Nik’s. “For a murder scene, I would’ve thought there’d be more blood.”
Alex turned around and looked at the shop then back to where she was. “Look at the way these shelves are parted.”
Enid stood up and glanced at the shelves. They were knocked over either to the right or left, creating an aisle straight to the counter.
“They are pushed out of the way,” she told him.
“Too perfectly for Nik to do in a fit of rage,” he supplied. “But a witch who has active powers...” he trailed off as he pointed to the blood.
“What do you think it means?” she questioned as she stood up.
Alex shook his head and let out a breath. “I don’t know, but I think something definitely went down here. Unfortunately, without Nik or the witch it’s impossible to know what.”
Enid sighed as she ran a hand over her hair. “Let’s check out upstairs. Chloe lived here. If she were keeping something important like a spell book I imagine it would be there.”
“Lead the way.” Alex motioned toward the stairs behind her.
Enid turned on her heel and marched up the steps. The staircase creaked beneath their stomping. At the top, the room opened to a loft. A bed and dresser stood on one end and a couch, TV, and bookcase on the other.
“Quaint,” Alex said as he brushed past her and went to the bookcase.
“You think it will be there?” she asked as she strode to the bed and sank to her knees before lifting up the quilt and peering underneath it.
“The best hiding spots are in plain sight,” he replied.
Finding nothing under the bed, she lifted the mattress and next ran her hands under the pillows.
She stood up and flipped the blanket down. “Nothing but dust bunnies under here.”
Enid went to the dresser and flitted through the clothing. There were a few pairs of comfy sweats that she thought about nabbing, but there was something odd about wearing the clothes of the woman your brother maybe murdered. She set the garments back in the drawer and closed it.
“Anything?” she called over her shoulder.
“No. You?”
“Nope.”
The radio in her backpack crackled and Parker’s muffled voice broke through the static. Enid shrugged the bag off her shoulders and unzipped it, removing the long-range walkie-talkie.
“You’re breaking up,” she said as she mashed her finger over the button.
“Company’s coming early. Get out of there!” Parker’s voice boomed.
“Shit,” Alex muttered as he darted to the window and drew the curtains back.
“How long?” Enid questioned over the radio static.
“Ten minutes. Tops,” Parker answered. “You’ve got two covered convoy trucks heading your way. I can’t tell if anyone is inside them or not, but I wouldn’t wait to find out.”
“We got to go, Enid,” Alex said as he marched toward her and grabbed her elbow.
“We didn’t find it. What if they do?” she protested.
“We can’t risk getting caught here and we still don’t even know what it is we’re looking for,” Alex reasoned. “Witches and the army are coming. They most likely have weapons. I don’t care how good a shot you are or how well you fight as a wolf, we are outnumbered and outgunned. We can’t stay.”
“I can’t leave without it,” Enid hissed, snatching her arm out of his grasp. “What if they do it again? What if they create another Wolf Flu?”
Alex sighed and looked away.
“What if next time there are no survivors?” she whispered.
“After they leave we can try to come back,” he argued. “Let’s get out of here while we can.”
Enid opened her mouth to argue but paused. White light poured out of a seam in the paneling on the wall. “What’s that?” she questioned, brushing past Alex to the light. She cocked her head to the side and ran her fingers over the shimmering flecks.
“I don’t know,” Alex said as he joined her. His hands skimmed over the paneling. “I thought the stairwell was on the other side.”
“Maybe it's some sort of secret...lair,” she guessed, shrugging when he looked at her. “What? It’s possible. The light is coming from somewhere. Weren’t you looking for a compartment downstairs?”
“You’re not wrong about that,” he commented. He crouched down and grazed his fingers along the floorboards. “I’ve got something. Stand back.”
Enid took a step back and gasped as the paneling shifted away from the wall with a hiss. Alex turned to look at her. She shrugged in response.
“Might as well check it out, but do it quickly,” he said, motioning for her to go in first.
Enid stepped through the opening and stared at the mountains of books that littered the tables and chairs. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling and dust at least an inch thick lay over everything. The door clicked shut behind her and she turned.
“This isn’t going to be a quick look and it’s safer in here than out there. Hopefully they won’t find us in here,” he said as his eyes darted around the room.
“They won’t,” a voice spoke.
Enid whirled around, but she didn’t see anyone. “Who’s there?” she and Alex demanded at the same time. The room was empty. It was just the two of them.
Her heart hammered against her ribs as she whipped up her gun. Oh crap, we walked into some sort of witchy trap.
Chapter Eight
Alex stepped in front of Enid as his eyes darted around the empty room. “Show yourself, witch!”
Lights glistened in front of them and a translucent form materialized. Alex took a step forward, placing his arm in front of Enid.
“I mean you no harm,” the woman assured with a smile.
“Why should we believe you?” he inquired, glancing at Enid as she moved to stand beside him.
“Her brother saved my daughter’s life. I am returning the favor,” she replied as she clasped her hands together. “I am Theresa Sullivan.”
A car engine grumbled in front of the building and Alex whipped his head around to the door, ensuring it was secure.
Parker’s voice called over the COM and he reached out and took the walkie-talkie from Enid and switched it off, praying no one heard the commotion.
“You need not worry about them. This room is protected by magic. They will not find it, and they cannot see us,” the witch replied as she met Enid’s gaze.
“Do you know where my brother is?” Enid questioned without a care to whether the witch before them was being honest.
Alex pressed his ear against the paneling as footsteps pounded across the hardwood downstairs.
“I’ve already told you they cannot hear us,” the woman said again before addressing Enid. “I do not know where my daughter and your brother are. They were attacked and a spell was used, but I do not know where it took them. I wish I could tell you more.”
“But he’s alive?” Enid whispered.
“Yes. They both are,” the woman replied.
Footsteps thumped up the stairs and Alex gritted his teeth as the furniture in the loft crashed to the floor. Voices echoed through the thin wall and he held his breath waiting for someone to discover them.
“They don’t know you are here,” the woman said for the millionth time.
Alex would like to believe her, but giving their history with witches he was finding it a little difficult.
Seconds ticked by and one glance at Enid and he could tell she was holding her breath, too. The voices continued to shout in the other room and more furniture was turned over.
Theresa moved across the room and Enid jumped back from her. Alex flexed his hands at his side as he eyed her. She stopped at one of the stacks of books and pointed. “Th
e book you need is right here,” she said.
Alex turned to the door, but the voices outside continued to speak unaware of the conversation in the other room. He let out a breath and met Enid’s eyes.
“Why are you doing this?” Enid questioned as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Why help us?”
The woman sighed as she glanced between the two of them. “It seemed only fair to save the sister of the man who saved my daughter,” she repeated her earlier explanation.
“What happened?” Enid pressed. “Everyone thinks that Nik killed your daughter.”
“I know. The witches made it look that way on purpose. I’m afraid your brother happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and he took the fall for something that wasn’t his fault,” she began to explain.
“So, why did the witches try to kill your daughter?” Alex asked as Enid sunk into a chair. He reached out and touched her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. She’d been right about Nik all along and he was alive—somewhere.
Theresa turned around and walked away from them. “There are two types of witches. Those with active power and those who can do spells and potions. The two factions have silently been battling each other for years. My family has been writing in these spell books for centuries.” She motioned to the overwhelming piles of books. “The witches with active powers have been attempting to overrun the witches council. They stole one of our most powerful spell books.” She pointed to the book again. “This one. With it they created the Wolf Flu.”
Enid gasped and covered her mouth as she leaned forward in her chair. Alex gripped her shoulder tighter already sensing where this was going.
“Why attack us? We did nothing to them?” Alex asked through gritted teeth. “Whatever fight there was between our species ended long ago,” he growled. It was true there had been a great war between the two mythical creatures, but that had ended over a century ago. The truce still stood—or it had. Witches remained on their land and wolves on their own. The only time they crossed paths was in public areas.
“No, the wolves did nothing. The witches wanted to ensure their spell worked and that they’d targeted the correct genes. The werewolves seemed a safe bet to experiment on without it getting out of control or being noticed by the witching council. I suppose they assumed no wolf would come to a witch for help and their experiment would go unnoticed by my group. Only, I did notice that one of our sacred books was missing. I took it and tried to leave, but was caught. I managed to send the book here, to this room, before they killed me,” Theresa told them. “I didn’t realize they’d already polluted the water supply to target the wolves until after my ascension. If I’d known I would’ve warned someone.”
“We were just guinea pigs.” Enid breathed as she buried her face in her hands. “Thousands of wolves lost their lives—their families for an experiment!”
“I’m so sorry,” Theresa apologized. “I wish I’d have seen the deception sooner. They killed millions of people with one bad strain of potion. The witches didn’t take into account there were humans who had mated with werewolves. The sickness passed to them and then mutated, affecting the humans and then other witches as well.”
Alex let go of Enid’s shoulder and picked up the thick, leather-bound book Theresa had been pointing to. “So many deaths over a stupid book,” he growled as he stared at the weapon. He’d burn the damn thing the first chance he got.
“Take the book home with you. I will point out a few others. Chloe will need them when she returns,” Theresa said as she moved to another stack of books.
“Returns?” Enid asked.
“She did a spell, whether she knows it or not she did. I’m just not sure where she and your brother went, but they’ll be back,” she assured. “It is important that Chloe get these books when she comes back.”
“I’m sorry, but I still don’t see how my brother fits into all of this,” Enid mumbled as she sat back up. Her face was ashen and tears sparkled in her eyes.
“He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. They’d come to kill Chloe the night he came to seek a cure for your son. When the two disappeared, they simply made it appear he had killed her and used his deceit and breach of the truce as a reason to unleash the virus. At that time, only your boy was sick; no one could’ve known the spell had already been done,” Theresa told them.
“I did,” Enid muttered.
Theresa flinched as glass shattered on the other side of the wall. Shouts filled the air and she shook her head. “I fear if they don’t find what they’re looking for they will burn this building down to keep someone else from finding it.”
“Burn it down?” Alex asked, his voice rising. “Today? We’re in it.”
Theresa’s eyes widened as she looked between them. “I have some magic still. Our faction of witches believes in ascension and the afterlife. That is how I am able to appear before you. I can get the both of you out of here safely if you promise to take care of the spell books and not destroy them.”
“We will,” Enid replied.
Alex shot her a glare as the witch smiled. “Thank you.” She took a step toward Enid. “Would you tell my daughter I love her when you see her? I never got to say goodbye.”
Enid swallowed and nodded.
“I appreciate that.”
Glass shattered on the opposite side of the wall causing Alex to turn back. Their hideaway hadn’t been located—yet. More voices yelled and items collided to the floor. Things were getting bad on the other side of the wall.
“I fear we better get moving,” the witch commented.
She flitted around the room showing them which books to grab before finally announcing they had everything they needed. Books were stuffed into their bags and they each had a stack in their hands.
“All right then. Where shall I send you?” Theresa inquired looking at both of them.
“To my homestead,” Enid spoke up.
Alex nodded in agreement. It would get them out of the town and close to Parker and Martin without letting the other two wolves know what had happened.
“Very well then. The spell can be a bit disorienting; you may wish to close your eyes.”
Alex swallowed as he took Enid’s free hand with his. The witch mumbled something in a language he couldn’t understand. His belly flip-flopped as dizziness passed through him. He opened one eye and then the other.
“Wow,” he whispered as he looked around Enid’s bedroom. “She did it.”
Enid’s eyes popped open and she gaped as she took in the room. She let out a heavy sigh, walking to her bed to sit down as she placed the books in her hand beside her.
“I think we should find a safe place to hide these books. All of these books. If we need them we can always come back for them later,” he suggested.
“You don’t want to mention what just happened?” Enid questioned.
Alex shook his head. “I don’t trust Darren.”
Enid licked her lips and opened her mouth to protest, but he spoke up first. “Trust me, Enid. I don’t think it’s a good idea to tell everyone what happened. These books contain the key to creating an illness that killed millions. I don’t think we should give them to just anyone.”
“What about Parker and Martin? They’ll wonder how we got out,” she reminded him with a raised brow.
“There was a back exit into an alley. We took that and stayed low. They just didn’t see us,” Alex told her as he held her gaze. He needed her to play along with his story.
“I can clear Nik’s name. Everyone thinks he killed that witch. He saved her life,” Enid pressed.
“Which is more important? Clearing Nik’s name or keeping these books safe?” Alex asked her as he grasped her hands.
“We’re taking them back to Mount Rainier. Why wouldn’t they be safe there? There are no witches living in the mountain.”
“I don’t trust Darren. Besides, the fewer people who know we have them, the better. Please, Enid,” he pleaded with her. Maybe
she was right and Darren could be trusted, but he couldn’t take that chance. It was better that no one knew what they’d found.
“Okay,” she sighed.
“Thank you,” he leaned up and placed a kiss on her lips. “Is there a safe place to hide them here?”
“No one has been here in years. I imagine we could put them on my bookcase until we can return.” She pointed to the mahogany shelving in the corner of her room.
“All right,” he agreed as he stood and set his stack on the shelves before returning for hers.
Enid sat on the bed staring absently and he sunk down next to her again. “What’s wrong?”
“My family died because of an experiment. Thousands of wolves died because of an experiment. Millions of humans died because an experiment went wrong.” Her eyes misted and she swiped at them with the pads of her fingers. “They’re going to try to do it again. We can’t let that happen, Alex.”
Alex swallowed as the realization hit him. “We probably still have time to get into position if you want to take that shot.” He hadn’t thought he’d be okay with assassinating a witch, but things had changed in the past few hours.
Enid met his gaze with her red-rimmed eyes as she nodded.
“I’ll radio Parker and Martin while you get ready,” he stood up and opened her bag. Violence wasn’t his go-to for situations, but after what they’d learned there was no other option but to end the witches responsible for so many deaths. If they didn’t take the opportunity now, there was no telling how many more casualties there would be.
***
“We are in position,” Alex spoke into the walkie-talkie as he stared down at the city. He shoved the device into his pocket and glanced at Enid as she positioned herself on the ground and placed the butt of the rifle onto her shoulder. “Can I do anything?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’d like it if you were quiet, please.”
“No problem,” he chuckled as he stared at the town below.
He blinked, shifting his eyes into those of a wolf, giving him the opportunity to see what everyone else saw. Two large army trucks sat in front of Apothecary. Their backs were covered with canvas, making it impossible to see if there was anyone or anything back there.
