by Kim Faulks
He knew my demons…and the fight to keep them at bay.
He would know what painkillers to give me so the need didn’t take me under. There was no judgement, no second-guessing. I trusted him—more than I’d trusted anyone in my life. I trusted him not to unleash the monster that welled within. “I miss you brother.”
I worked the button on my khakis and dropped them to the floor. Pack light, strap the shoulder…Stitch’s voice echoed inside my head and I followed his commands. I eased the strap under my arm and around my chest, strapping it tight to my body.
I was down, but not out. As long as I had my right hand I was okay, but a sniper needed to be fast and flexible. I needed to hunt. I yanked on fresh clothes and tied up my boots, before leaving the room and turning left.
There was one thing my brother did well—I punched in the code to the electronic lock and the light turned green. My hand went to the handle and bore down, stainless glinted under the overhead lights as the armory was revealed—he kept the best arsenal I’d ever seen.
Guns lined the walls on one side, big bastards too. Fifty cal, all the way up to AK47s. I turned from the deadly buffet to the bag in the corner. A yellow note stuck to the top. I stepped closer, reading the scrawl…Gone to Roth’s. Sorry I couldn’t be there. Be careful brother. Watch your back.
Something else had gone down…something that had Alpha on edge. I grasped my rifle bag and the satchel next to it, feeling the weight in my hands. He’d packed it for me, filled to the brim with ammunition. I hauled it to the bench and opened the zipper.
Boxes of painkillers crammed the space between boxes of rounds and crammed magazines. Each step had already been mapped out in his head. Alpha knew I’d come here…he knew the pain, and the trauma. He knew what I needed—just as I knew the same for him.
He needed someone to watch his back.
He needed a spotter.
He needed a sniper.
He needed me.
8
Ghost
Human cut…Human hurt. Human hunted.
I stumbled, ran…made my way through the trees. The ground blurred under my feet.
Crimson was all I knew. I dragged my hand from my side and stared at the blood. A whimper slipped free, low and keening—a bear hurt.
Home…need home, Spirit whispered, urging me forward. I grasped the trunk and pushed. Heavy feet moved slow, too slow. Sunlight sliced the trees to fall into my eyes. I waited for the burn, for the sizzle of flesh—just like Human burned the fawn.
But there was nothing. Not hot, nor fire, only pain. I dragged my fingers to my mouth and licked…need to heal, need to be stronger. Human was here…Human was here.
Need to run…need to hide.
Need to survive….
Hide little Ghost! my father screamed.
Hide now!
The rush of water filled my ears, dragging me forward, leaving the safety of the trees behind. The pungent scent of old meat caught the breeze…acid rose in my throat. I swallowed the need to gag as hunger filled me.
A carcass lay next to the river. Bones splayed open. Antlers pointed to the sun. The fetid stench filled me…old meat. I licked my lips and took a step, leaving the shadow of the trees behind. The stench of excrement floated on the wind…a different kind, traces of blood and urine…like a hunter—masking its scent.
Movement darted at my left. Darkness moved, low and fast, flanking my left. I licked my lips and stared at the remains. My legs trembled, mouth watered. Rocks slipped out from under my feet as I kept on moving, leaving the stench of the hunter and the dead behind.
We’ll survive, Spirit whispered.
I looked down at my hand to bright crimson blood, and gray moved in. Survive…I’d made it this far. Shadows slipped through the forest around me. The hair on the back of my neck stood. I dragged in the bitter tang of Wolf and turned.
They were all around me, scenting my blood—thinking I was weak…thinking I was helpless.
My lips curled. A warning rumbled, burning my chest, and spilled free. Rocks crunched under my feet, falling behind me and into the river.
The rush of the water filled my ears as the shadows moved closer. Should’ve crossed higher…up the ridge where I came through. Too late now…too late to do anything—my foot slipped as I neared the edge. Rocks skidded down, falling into the churning rapids. I glanced over my shoulder and then to the tree line as the Alpha stepped free.
He was big…thick shoulders, shining black coat. I could take him. I could take—pain stabbed my side moving the claw deep. I eased backwards, sliding down the embankment and into the water.
The cold was instant, slicing through flesh and into bone. But the rush didn’t sweep me away, not like I was expecting. It pushed me, forcing me downriver. Waves splashed my thighs. The icy water stole the pain in my side as the Alpha stepped closer, and the rest of his pack followed.
Two beasts now.
One at my belly and one at my back.
Both just as hungry—both just as cruel.
Stay back. My lips tingled with the warning.
My footing slipped, dragging me farther downstream as the hulking midnight Alpha stepped up to the bank.
Terror sparkled in his eyes. He didn’t like me. “I don’t like you either.”
Lips trembled, sliding up as he snarled. A gnash of his teeth pushed me deeper. The water commanded attention as I slid my foot forward, fighting the pull again, and then again, wading deeper with slow movement until the water lapped my side.
The other side came closer. Wolves wouldn’t cross…not here. Not where four legs made him closer to the ground than two. The pack whined, barked, and ran the length of the bank, but as long as they stayed where they were I was fine.
My toes turned numb…feet followed. The rocks under my feet became nothing at all. I heaved my steps instead of slid, reaching for one step closer to the other side. Water rushed, stealing my balance. I hit the water and was swept away.
Cold splashed my face and filled my mouth. I swallowed, coughed, fought for balance. But there was nothing but the roar of the waves.
Water always wins—it carves, it wears…it waits for you to be weak before taking your balance and sweeping you away. Human reared inside my head as the water filled my belly. I scrambled, beat, fought as Human shadows came.
Bang…bang…bang.
They came with their sticks…and left claws. Claws that cut, claws that filled with holes. Claws that carved away my mother’s face.
Mama…mama…
Claws that left a child with no family.
Claws that left a daughter with nothing more than Spirit.
I dragged my hand to my neck and gripped the totem.
The bank was a blur now as the water swept me away. My leg smacked into something hard, whipping me to the side. Pain roared along my spine as I smashed into a rock. Water rushed in as I screamed, darkness blurring, rushing toward me. One hope. One chance. I reached upward, sending a stab of pain into my shoulder, and grasped the edge. Waves punched my face. Making my fingers tremble…making my will weak.
No. Fight…fight for me.
And I will fight for you.
The tips of my fingers stung, nails pulled, tearing from flesh. I pulled until my muscles trembled, until tendons screamed. Water blurred my sight.
That’s it, Spirit snarled, filling me with power…taking me from this icy river and into my father’s arms. I could hear him…fight, Ghost…fight.
The river stole my battle cry as I dragged my hand through the water and reached for a hold. Waves slapped my face as I pulled harder, drawing me closer to the stony shelf.
Bang…bang…bang…
Human stole my courage. Human stole my fight. And out of the darkness he came for me…that man—that Human. With his sickening smile and his words.
Not so fierce now…are you? Human turned away. I saw him as I hid in the shadows. I saw his face…a face that hadn’t changed.
He was the human
from the darkness…the one who held fire. Kill them, he commanded from my past. Kill them all…leave nothing behind.
That night. That night. Waves pushed, dragging my fingers from the edge as I pulled. Waves dragged me under…one hand slipped, the other shuddered. Each quake slipping closer to the edge.
Mama…Papa…
Hide little Ghost! my father screamed.
Hide now!
Human came. Human killed. Human took everything I had and left me alone. Rage filled my belly…rage and water and rage—until I had nothing left…until I was nothing. I gripped the edge and pulled until the pain dulled…until I no longer cared.
I pulled until my face broke the surface and until I found another hold.
I pulled until Human filled me, until I could almost taste his blood.
Human in green…
I’m coming for you… The memory surfaced.
Human who hunted me once more.
I heaved my body onto the ledge and gulped the air. Water rushed over the backs of my legs as I clung to salvation and dragged myself higher. The jutting edge of a rock made a path for the bank. I blinked rivulets from my eyes and stared at the other side.
The wolves were long gone, trees unfamiliar. I crawled on hands and knees to the dirt edge and collapsed. Water spilled from my lips and nose, and took the icy touch with it.
The ache bloomed, twisting and turning. I shoved up from the ground and stood on trembling legs. Night was coming…and with it the night hunters.
Agony quivered, pressing through my belly and out the other side as I took a step, followed with another until there was nothing but the movement…and noting but momentum.
Savage snarls echoed across the river as I followed the bank. The Alpha watched me with a careful gaze while the rest of the pack played and ran, haunting my steps until I drifted too far ahead.
Step after step, until my leg turned weak and I could walk no more. The river tightened into a neck, one that was familiar. This was the place I crossed, venturing too far from home.
Keep going, Spirit urged. I looked up to the darkening sky. The moon still hid her face. She would come out soon…she would come out for me.
I kept walking while the claw moved upwards, carving through torn flesh. I swiped my wound and stared at my palm. The bleeding had slowed now; Spirit had taken over, healing the flesh. I followed the riverbank a little farther until mountains peeked over the horizon.
Dark was coming faster now, raving toward me like a wolf in full flight.
My lips curled, a snarl filled me with fire.
I was ready for her. Ready for whatever she would bring.
9
Ace
I pulled the stolen Jeep around the rear of the garage and parked. No one would come looking, not out here. The place was deserted. Neither wolf nor man in sight. I reached across my body and yanked the handle, shoving the door wide.
Paracetamol had done nothing for the pain. But the good shit, the stuff that wore away the teeth and left me sharp, had done the trick. I eased out of the vehicle and made for the keypad on the door. I had my own code, although I rarely came here. This was Alpha’s domain, the commander of his small army.
Metal howled, chains rattled. I lifted my gaze to the tree line and turned. My place was out there, watching and waiting. Not playing cops on these streets. I made for the open driver’s door, slipped inside, and started the engine. I nosed the car inside, pulling alongside a glistening black Silverado.
Too nice to be one of Alpha’s crew. It didn’t matter. Whoever owned the truck wouldn’t call it stolen without checking with Alpha first. We had different rules here amongst the shifters. No cops, no problems—nothing we didn’t handle in house. The less attention we brought on ourselves the better.
Artemas wanted it that way, and that was the way it ran.
I killed the engine and climbed out. Checking the Chevy’s door, finding it unlocked. One glance at the ignition and I caught sight of the keys, and the auto gearshift. Thank you, Jesus.
Alpha, it had to be. The brother thought of everything. I made quick work, hauling my gear from the Jeep and into the rear seat. Ten seconds later I was easing out of the garage and idling the truck in neutral.
Two hours and I’d be at the Senator’s, and that was cruising at the speed limit. I skimmed my thumb across the screen of the burner phone from the bag and nosed the vehicle toward the highway. Alpha answered on the second ring. “You got everything okay?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“And the shoulder?”
“Fine.”
There was an awkward silence, until Alpha cleared his throat. “You need to keep your head, brother. Some crazy shit has been going down. We’re all safe, but Irwin’s house was torched. They even shot his damn dog.”
My stomach tightened as beautiful, big dark eyes filled my head. “They killed, Milly?”
“Yeah, bastards shot her and left her in the damn driveway for Irwin to find.”
I tightened my grip until agony carved a path through flesh and bone. “Goddamn bastards. Who the fuck are they?”
“Someone who wants this all to go away. The Senator’s making calls, pulling strings. We’re not sure what the Hell is going on. Until we do, we need everyone together.”
“Irwin, he with you?”
“No,” my brother growled. “He’s with the Dragons. Most of his gear was still there from before. Just get your ass here in one piece. The truck’s clean; no one will be looking for you. I wanted to be there, brother…wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I know. I’m fine; just want to get to work. You feel me?”
His voice deepened to a growl. “Yeah, I feel you. We’ll find Newman, and whoever’s behind this. You can bet your ass. See you soon.”
The line went dead as I punched the accelerator and felt the pickup surge. Newman Slater first, and then every sick sonofabitch who gave the command, or fired the damn bullet. I had no idea when this war started. But I knew when it would end…
With my last fucking breath.
I focused on the road, veering east after an hour, and left the highway behind. My mind wandered, first the Vampire Princess—who would now become Queen—and then the compound.
The things they did there made my stomach tremble. Hiccups, that’d been the kid’s name.
He was a kid—we were all damn kids.
They did those things because he was disposable, because he had no family—he had no one to care.
Just like I had no one to care.
That could’ve been me.
The cola and sandwich churched in my gut.
That could’ve been me.
The needle on the odometer danced with the engine’s power. I needed to see the files again. I had to know, and try to understand. What went on there…and my mind drifted to her—the woman in the forest. The one bleeding from a gunshot in her side.
The one draped in a bear’s silver coat.
It’d been her hair I touched, and her outline that’d carved the dust on the floor.
The image haunted me. Why the Hell was she in there? The flash of brown filled my head. The deer running in circles along the fallen fence line, and the dead fawn inside. One that had been killed by a blade.
Did the bastard trap her? First the deer and then the shifter?
The thought lingered, clenching my gut. Goddamn sick fuck. They were all sick, each and every one of them. None of us knew. None of us had any goddamn idea what we were walking into when we set out on that recon mission in Afghanistan.
How the Hell were we to know?
The smell of hot blood still lingered, as did Gunny’s screams. They haunted me, just like my past, reminding me what could happen—reminding me what must not happen…again.
I glanced over my shoulder at the rifle bag on the seat.
I had nothing but that scope. Nothing but those bullets.
It was the only way I knew to stop what was coming.
I
turned the wheel, spearing off the main road southeast toward Flinders, and slowed the truck. Long driveways lined the road. Marble columns shot into the sky. I kept going, past the stone and the brass sculptures and slowed at ten-foot steel gates.
The Senator liked his privacy. I slowed, nosed the truck into the gate and hit the intercom.
“What?” Alpha’s voice blasted the speaker.
“Perfect greeting, as usual.”
There was a snigger from the speaker, and a shudder from the gate, before the motor whirled and the barrier slid open. Trees lined the driveway as far as the headlights shone. Out here Artemas Roth could see what was coming. Out here we could be prepared.
I checked for the gate’s movement in the rearview mirror and eased the Chevy along the drive. Headlights bounced off dark tinted windows of this steel monolithic structure. The place looked rich and cold. There was nothing but hard angles and dark glass. Even the landscape was barren, leaving rocks in place of plants and cameras in place of a welcoming mat.
No lights shone from inside. The place could be mistaken for being deserted.
But that was far from the truth.
The garage door rolled upward as I eased the car close, and then I pulled into the empty space and waited for the door to sink. Movement came from my right. I shoved the door open and stepped out, before I was hit by a damn truck.
And that was just Gunny.
“Jesus…” Her eyes were wide…too wide. She looked shaken. Gunny hardly ever looked shaken. “I hated leaving you. I fucking hated it.”
Black hair sliced the air as she shook her head. This was what torment looked like.
“I’m fine.” I grabbed her shoulder with my good arm and pulled her close. We didn’t hug, that wasn’t what we did. But I needed the contact. I needed my Gunny. I needed my team. “Look at me, I’m fine. Sore, pissed off, but fine.”
The car door opened behind me. Heavy steps followed. I turned as Alpha heaved my bag and rifle from the car and then shoved the door closed. “Let’s get you inside and we can talk.”
