by Calinda B
The bear shook the garment back and forth, as if it still had part of her in its mouth.
Pain shot through her arm and shoulder. No way could she fight off a beast this large. Not without a gun. Tears fell from her eyes. In the trees, she thought she saw D’Raynged sprinting away, but she couldn’t be sure.
A shot rang out.
The bear released its grip on the jacket. It looked stunned, staring at her with its small, brown eyes. Then, it lifted its head, reared back on its hind legs, and roared.
Her mouth fell open as she stared at it, too surprised to move.
With a groan, the bear fell, shifting into a man as it collapsed.
Chia scrambled to her feet. She whipped her head in the direction the gun shot had come from.
Hung stood, holding the rifle to his face.
The bear shifter, now in human form, crawled toward her. He grabbed her ankle.
Chia kicked at him with her free leg, her boot landing on his cheek.
Cecil the Husky, dropped the eagle he had in his mouth, and scrambled toward the bear shifter. He caught the man’s arm between his teeth and tore at his flesh.
“Fuck! Call off your mutt!” The shifter tried to free his arm from Cecil’s mouth, scooting backward.
Cecil kept his jaws clamped tightly.
Kyle shifted into his falcon self and took off.
Chia raced toward her gun, snagging it from the ground.
“Oh, no you don’t!” She raced after the falcon, yelling, “Hung, Cecil, you deal with the bear shifter and the rest of the bird-shifters. I won’t let Kyle get away.”
Once again, that same strumming through her bloodstream sensation kicked in, guiding her way.
At top speed, with no obstacles in its path, a falcon could fly over two-hundred miles per hour. No way could she out-race Kyle as his shifter-self. But, he’d been badly injured. She hoped his weakened body was on her side and that her remaining strength didn’t give way, too.
Her left arm throbbed with pain. Swirling dizziness made her want to fall to the ground and curl up in a ball. The agony of the bear assault nearly made her drop to her knees and retch. But, Megan deserved justice. The town deserved to be safe. People depended on her. It was up to her to get the job done. She took a deep breath, called upon whatever shred of strength she had left, and powered on.
Flapping wings soared overhead.
She stopped, whipping the gun high in the air.
The large shapes of eagle shifters headed away from the fight.
Damn birds.
The ghost she refused to name Brant zipped toward the trees.
“Hey! Where are you going?” She stared at it as it disappeared into the forest.
She took off after it.
It sailed toward a tall Black Spruce.
As she approached the spruce, she made out the falcon-shifter on a branch in the tree.
It took off as she neared, its wings flapping in a weeble-wobbly manner.
She paused, took aim, and pulled the trigger.
The bullet zinged into the trees.
The falcon kept flying.
She made her way deeper into the woods, scanning the trees for the injured bird.
Footfalls came from behind but she couldn’t stop. She had to stop Kyle from escaping.
Where are you?
The red energy blip circled another tree. Her gaze scanned upward. She could barely make out the falcon’s silhouette in one of the high branches.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Chia muttered. “One of the ghosties is actually helping.”
She lifted the rifle toward her face, brought her eye to the scope, and pulled the trigger.
A bullet exploded from the gun.
The falcon-shifter took off again, weaving as if drunk.
Her shot must have missed him by a whisper. Or, maybe it simply nicked him.
Lowering the rifle, she muttered, “Dag nab it. Come on, Chia, you can shoot the French fries from a farmer’s fingers, twenty yards away.” She tried to get a good aim on the bird but the leaves of the trees made it nearly impossible.
Kyle the falcon flapped his wings. One wing moved erratically. It appeared to be broken. He landed, then, hopped from branch to branch. Finally, he flapped ferociously before falling onto the ground.
Chia raced toward the bird-shifter, intent to kill.
Kyle’s damaged wings flopped on the leaves, trying to propel himself forward.
Chia stood over him and took aim.
He shifted into a bloody, ragged mess of human. Crimson stains marked his torso and limbs. His neck looked ravaged, the skin torn open to reveal muscle. Panting, he rolled onto his back, and propped himself up with his forearms.
Chia swallowed. She’d never killed a man. This one would be her first. Can I do it? Should I do it? Thoughts of Megan’s pretty face swirled through her mind. She positioned the gun by her head. The citizens of Charming deserved her fierce and loyal leadership. She nodded to herself. Her grandparents would be so proud of her for taking matters into her own hands.
If they were alive her grandma would make her a pie. She’d carve Chia’s initials in the pie crust.
Her granddad would pour her a shot of bourbon. He’d raise it, make up some kind of silly toast, and toss the liquor down his throat.
Okay. Let’s do this. Her finger bore down on the trigger. Then, she hesitated. But, Charming townsfolk also deserve a leader who rules with her head and heart, and doesn’t blow people to bits. There are rules for justice. You believe in rules. Why are you going all vigilante suddenly? She sighed. I’m being dumb. Caught up in the moment.
“What are you waiting for?” Kyle squeezed his eyes shut and bared his clenched teeth, as if in agony. When he opened them, he said, “The only way you can stop me is to kill me in cold blood. I won’t stop until I’ve killed the last vampire left on earth.”
Rage exploded in Chia’s belly. You’ve gone too far, asshole. Once again, her finger tightened on the trigger.
He made a wheezing, gurgling cough. Then, he spat, sending a spray of saliva and blood from his mouth.
“There’s nothing wrong with vampires,” she said. “There was nothing wrong with Megan. You took the life of an innocent.”
“She was the devil’s consort.” Kyle moaned. “She’s probably in hell as we speak.”
“That’s enough from you.” She looked through the rifle scope. “That’s where you’re headed.”
“One more thing.” Kyle wheezed. “Ever heard of Grace and Leon Buisson?”
Every muscle in her body stiffened. “My grandparents?”
“Yeah. They’re your relatives, right? I got paid a nice sum for removing them. People shouldn’t do things that’s unnatural. Leon—he was said to practice magic. The other one—Grace—she was collateral damage, is all.”
“You’re lying!”
“Why would I lie? I’m only going to die. Word about town is, you’re pretty shook up about it.”
Chia narrowed her eyes. “So, how did they die, then?”
“Why should I tell you?” He spat another juicy wad of phlegm and blood at the ground.
“Tell me. I don’t believe you did it.”
“And I think you’re baiting me. I’m also starting to wonder if I should add you to my hit list. It’s getting pretty long.”
“You really didn’t kill them.”
“Want to bet? I shot them out of their boat in the Charm’s inlet.”
“You lying sack of shit. They drowned. In a lake.”
Kyle visibly paled to a ghost-like version of himself.
“You pile of shit. You probably knew how heartbroken I am about my grandparents!”
Chia started to shake. Tears streamed from her eyes, blurring her sight. A knot formed in her throat. She squinted through the scope, prepared to fire, but her tears made it difficult to focus. She swiped her eyes with her sleeve, and…
A gunshot rang out, but it wasn’t hers.
&nbs
p; A sharp thud, like two wet planks struck together, vibrated into her ears…followed by a groan.
Kyle Rudhart fell back, eyes closed, and stopped speaking, forever.
Chia looked around for the source of the shot.
A few yards away stood Hung, his rifle still poised.
Chia dropped to her knees and hung her head. She wanted to sob, to scream, to cry out at the injustice of what Kyle confessed. The bastard killed my grandparents.
She’d deal with her emotions in private—not out here in the woods in front of a guy she barely knew.
A few deep breaths later, she’d managed to suppress her shuddering lungs and shove the lump in her throat out of sight. I’ll probably get a new ghost for going against my own code of ethics and attempting to kill a man. Then again…I didn’t do it.
“Is he dead?” Hung called out.
“Seems so.” She pushed to her feet. “His brains are splattered everywhere.”
He nodded.
“Good.” As he strode toward her, he said, “You ever shot a man?”
“No,” she said. Her voice sounded sullen, like a mad, whiny, teenager.
“Didn’t think so.” When he stood in front of her, he put his hand on her shoulder and gazed into her eyes. “You okay?”
“That was supposed to be my shot.” She hated the whine to her voice.
His eyebrows rose. “If that were true, why didn’t you take it?”
“I don’t know. I…” She swallowed. “I was going to,” she shot back, fierceness returning to her tone.
“I’m certain you were,” Hung said in an easy manner. “But don’t you live by a code of ethics? Rules and all that?”
“Bastard deserved to die.” She put on a forced show of machismo.
“Sure did. But I couldn’t let you be the one to do it. I live by a different code.”
“Which includes killing people.” Her tone became flat.
“If they’re threatening others, yes.”
“What about the money? You won’t get paid now?”
He shrugged. “I love a good paycheck. But I know when to put people above money.” His intense gaze, fraught with meaning, sliced through her.
Her chest started to feel all warm and mushy. She clamped down on her emotions, shoving them away. “He said he killed my grandparents. But he didn’t. Why would he want me to believe he did it?” Cold resolve slid through her chest.
I’m glad he’s dead. I’m also glad Hung killed him. Shooting a man wouldn’t make me feel any better.
Hung stared at her for a few unreadable seconds. Finally, he said, “Sorry to hear that. Makes me doubly thankful to have shot him and sent him to hell.”
She side-eyed him, not sure whether she was being managed, placated, indulged, or simply cared for.
“Let’s see to Cecil and the vamp, shall we?” He slung an arm around her shoulders and led her away from the carnage.
“Easy on the left shoulder…the one the bear shifter mauled.”
Hung started to remove his arm.
“Wait, I didn’t say, don’t touch me.”
His arm dropped to her back, his hand wrapping around her waist.
“I was thinking. Maybe we can…you know…grab a bite at Sunshine Sally’s?” Her tummy tied itself in knots. What if he says hell, no?
He grinned. “I think that’s one fine idea, Ms. Petit. I could use some grub. And, I could plunder your lips again. Maybe get to second base. Or…” He waggled his eyebrows. “Home run, baby.”
A hot surge of wanting flooded her insides. “Great,” she said, in a squeaky sounding voice.
Her ghosts circled overhead.
She cast her gaze in their direction. You guys are total pests. But thank you, red ghost.
“Shouldn’t we do something with the body?” she said.
“Aren’t you the town manager?”
“Yes, that’s me.” She smiled, despite her numb weariness.
“I’m sure you’ll make the right calls once we get into cell phone range.”
She nodded, leaning into Hung’s warmth, knowing exactly who to call first.
Chapter 19
“We caught him. The bastard who murdered Megan. He’s also claimed responsibility for the death of my grandparents. But he flat-out lied about that. Maybe he knows who did it, though, but he ain’t around to question anymore.” Chia, her hands gripping the steering wheel, spoke to Chief Cisco as the Jeep jostled along the road. Her smart phone rested in her lap and she could barely hear him. She spoke loudly, hoping he could hear her through the phone speaker.
Her words met a sea of silence. She stared into the distance, at the town of Charming, which twinkled with light. Glancing into the rear-view, a stir of sensation flooded her insides at seeing Hung’s truck behind her.
The headlights of his truck powered into the mirror, intensely bright. It hurt her eyes, making her cringe. It kind of reminded her of the effect he had on her, in general. They shared a strong connection, no doubt about it. And, when he kissed her in the woods? Mmm. Still, she didn’t know whether to pursue, run away, or let things roll.
But what a kiss we shared…
She yanked her attention back to her conversation. “Chief? Are you there?”
A heavy, weighted sigh fell through the speaker. “I’m here.”
She grimaced and glanced at Cecil, who sat next to her in the passenger seat.
Cecil gave her one of his loyal-eyed gazes of support. He patted her leg, then resumed staring out the window.
She glared at the phone, resting in her lap. “No ‘atta girl, Chia, I’m proud of you?’ Or a simple ‘are you okay?’ Either one would make my day.”
“I am proud of you, but…one sec…” Footsteps, followed by the thwack of a closing door, whispered through the phone. A few seconds later the chief resumed talking. “I don’t suppose you recall our earlier conversations.”
“Which one? About me not emasculating your men by doing my job, or…?” Grinding her teeth, she picked up the phone and shook it.
“That one, too…but the other one—about you getting somewhere safe, away from harm.”
Chia’s heart warmed. The chief cares about me. He’s sure not my granddad, but it’s nice to feel, anyway.
“I came straight home. He found me. He flew right through my door.”
“Christ. Are you telling me he’s one of those…?”
“Shifters? You’re going to have to deal with it, chief. They’re all around you. We were even attacked by…”
“Okay, okay, let an old man digest new bits in his own time. Am I going to have to explain the odd beasts to my men? Along with the fact the guy who escaped our prison cell had wings, and you were the one who took him down?” Another sigh met her ears. “Lord, help me, the world of Charming is changing.”
“Relax. All your men will find in the woods…” She paused. “All they’ll find is a few naked dead men and dead eagles stacked in a neat row.”
She glanced at Cecil.
He chuckled, then shrugged.
She put her hand over the phone’s speaker. “You’re going to tell me why you stacked the eagles like firewood, right?”
He let out a laugh. “Sure. When you’re done talking to the chief.”
“Anyway, you’ll find three dead men and five dead eagles.” She side-eyed Cecil as she gave the chief coordinates to the bodies.
No doubt Cecil had stacked the eagles as some sort of game. He’s such a man-child…er, dawg-man…whatever.
“You know there’s a law protecting the eagles, right? Statute 16 U.S.C. 668-668d. You could be fined, big time. And, how am I going to tell the tribes people?”
“First off, I wouldn’t tell them. Hung said the eagle shifters had trained the real Bald eagles to be dangerous. That might be hard to explain.”
The chief groaned. “Who the hell is Hung? And…eagle shifters? Christ.”
“Hung Durand is the guy who helped me take down Kyle Rudhart. Kyle was a bad, ba
d man, chief. Make no mistake. He felt no remorse for his actions. Before he died he begged us to put him down. Said he’d kill again. He swore vengeance against…”
Cecil made quick slashing movements in front of his neck, while mouthing, No, no, no!
Right. If I say vampires, he’ll lose this shit.
Chia gave him a thumbs-up. “He made an oath to the people of Two-Cross to eradicate evil.”
“That evangelist town? Lord help us,” the chief said.
“Right.”
“Did you have to kill him? Kyle, I mean. We could have brought him to justice…tied him to other cases. I would’ve loved to question him further.”
A creaking sound snaked through the phone.
Chia imagined the chief leaning back in his swivel chair. “Tell whoever you need to tell every killing was made in self-defense…except for Megan’s. That was premeditated, cold-blooded murder.”
Her jaw tightened at the thought of an innocent like Megan being killed.
“Okay, girl. I need to make some calls and round up a team.” He hesitated. “Chia?”
“Yes, chief?”
“I am proud of you. Don’t tell anyone, but that’s my truth.”
Chia chuckled. “Your secret’s safe with me. But thanks for saying that.” She said her good-byes and disconnected the phone. She started to ask Cecil why he stacked the eagles, but her phone rang again. The caller ID said “anonymous.” Frowning, she slid the connect icon. “Hello?”
“Hey, sexy.”
The simple phrase launched a throbbing between her legs. “Hey, Hung.”
“I’ve got to head across town to meet with someone.”
Her emotions got the best of her, as they solidified into lead inside her heart. “I thought we were going to…weren’t you following me into town?” Her voice came out as a stupid whimper.
He interrupted before she had a chance to finish the sentence. “I’ll still meet you at that cafe…What’s it called?”
“Sunshine Sally’s,” she said, her insides riding a roller coaster of emotion.
“Yeah, that’s the one. I’ll meet you there in about forty-five minutes, okay? I’ve got to turn right at the stop sign up ahead. I just received a call. I need to see about a job.”
“Okay,” she said, twirling a lock of hair around her finger like a school girl. “Later.”
