He pulled her close to him and saw the terror in her eyes, yet she made no sound. He opened his mouth and drew her neck closer to him when he felt the unmistakable ebb of power emanate from her. He knew at that moment why she did not scream. She had been manipulated. Entranced. Hypnotized.
He pulled back and stared at her. Her shivering body, her wide eyes, the snot running from her nose as she quivered in place. She could not run. She could not resist. She could not scream. She knew what was about to happen to her, but she couldn’t do anything about it. He placed her gently in his lap and stared at her as she tried not to cry.
“You know why you are here, oui?” She shook her head. “You did not volunteer yourself to nourish us?” Her eyes widened even more and she shook her head again. “You were about to be eaten alive. You knew this, oui?” Her eyes rolled back in her head as she tried to pass out, but he patted her face awake again.
“Speak to me, child,” Rufus commanded. “What is your name?”
She mumbled something, but the words were unintelligible. It was as if her mouth had been numbed. Rufus stood and dumped her to the floor, his anger rising.
He threw open the door and found Paul leaning against the doorjamb, licking blood from his fingers. “That last one was a bit too lean.” He pushed his way into the office and saw the young girl cowering in the corner. “That one should just about top me off. You done with her?”
“She did not volunteer herself.” His voice shook with anger as he pointed at the girl on the floor.
Paul paused and stared at him wide eyed. “Huh? She…didn’t? You sure about that? Because I’m pretty sure that they all knew what they were getting themselves into.”
“Did they?” Rufus’ voice was barely a whisper, but the anger screamed loud and clear. “Truly?”
Paul withered slightly and gave his brother a weak smile. “Well, I’m almost positive they did.” He shrugged. “What difference does it make? I mean, hey…look at you. You’re back, right? You’re vampire again. You’re strong, healthy, and robust.”
“And about to face the council as the head of the Lamia Beastia and beg them to overturn the edict. They will know that I am no longer Beastia.” He closed his eyes and shook with rage. “It would have been better had you let me die.”
“No!” Paul grabbed him by his shoulders and spun him around, away from the cowering figure on the floor. “You have a destiny, remember? You are going to face the council and you are going to convince them that you are the man to take down Lilith. Because we have an in with her maker.”
Rufus’ eyes settled on Paul and he shook his head. “Non. Not her maker. Her reanimator, perhaps, but not her maker.”
“Semantics. You know what I mean.” Paul led his brother to the door of the office and pointed out toward all of the enforcer vampires scattered about the warehouse. “You have an army at your disposal. Not a huge one, true, but an effective one. A very strong one. More than capable of taking out Damien and some big-tittied bitch that he’s dragging around with him.”
“You over-simplify things once again.”
“And you’re over complicating things.” Paul dragged him out of the office and into the warehouse. “If you want to load up on sheep blood and ox bile and whatever your heart wants, just let these guys know and they’ll make it happen. Hell, they’ll hit the closest butcher shop and drain every last drop from whatever there is. But don’t you dare start second guessing your mission. You have a destiny.”
Rufus nodded and stepped into the crowd of gathering vampires. “My friends, we have one more errand this night. I require the blood of…” Paul stepped back toward the office while his brother went into ‘leader’ mode. He gently shut the door behind him and turned on the young girl still cowering in the corner.
“As for you…” He flicked his fangs down into attack position.
11
Tracy pushed open the door to Mark’s room and froze. He sat on the edge of the bed staring at the IV stuck in his arm, his finger absently picking at the tape holding it in place. “What the hell are you doing Tufo?” Her voice betrayed the anger she felt but didn’t waver as she pushed her way into the room.
“I was sick of lying down.” Mark continued to pick at the tape and refused to make eye contact.
“I don’t care if you—”
“Trace.” Mark stood up and held his arms out to the side. “I’m nearly healed.”
The color drained from her face and she nearly fell into her chair, the coffees she held threatening to spill. “That can’t be.” Her voice was little more than a whisper as she stared at him.
He reached a tentative hand up and peeled the tape from the multiple layers of gauze and folded back an edge. Although the dressing was soaked with brown stains of dried blood, his skin held bright pink scars, the stitches having been pushed from his body. “I know it can’t be, but look.” He pulled back more of the thick padded gauze and showed her more of the wounds. “They’re all like that.”
Tracy stood and stepped closer, inspecting his wounds. “Well, everywhere except where we touched you with silver.” She reached out and gently pressed a finger to that area of the wound.
Mark grimaced and pulled away from her. “Damn, I had no idea that…” He turned from her and faced the mirror, leaning to his left so that he could see the wound more clearly.
“Mark, what’s going on? Even infected, you shouldn’t have healed this quickly.” Tracy’s voice wavered behind him, her eyes straining to see what he was staring at.
His fingers probed at the pink scars and traced the long crisscrossing slashes that ran from his chest to his navel. “I honestly have no idea, honey.” He glanced up in the mirror and she noted the fear in his eyes and could only imagine it matched the fear that reflected in her own. “Shortly after Donovan left…I just felt…” He shrugged and shot her a crooked smile. “Better.”
“What did he say?” She was on her feet now, standing behind him, her hands gently squeezing his shoulders.
“He reminded me that nobody knows wolves more than we do. And that we have medication that can prevent the virus from manifesting.” He met her gaze again and noted the happy tears running down her cheeks. “And he informed me that all of the stuff I’ve been feeling is normal.”
Her eyes widened as she realized what he meant. “So…no more talk of shooting yourself?”
He shook his head slowly. “I guess it isn’t the end of the world.” He turned his attention back to the mirror. “But this still isn’t right.”
“So what do you do now?”
Mark blew out a nervous breath and shook his head. “First things first. I need to get on the bane before the full moon.” He turned and faced her, pulling her into a tight embrace. “The full moon is right around the corner. I honestly don’t know if I’d change that fast or not, but I’d rather not chance it.”
She nodded and guided him back to the bed. “I’ll talk to the doctor and get the pills for you. For now, do me a favor and lay back down. I know you may be feeling better, but I’d be happier if you’d shut up and listen this time.”
Mark nodded and kissed the top of her head. “Yes, boss.”
*****
“What do you mean you need her?” Mitchell shot Jack a withering stare but Jack stood his ground.
“Exactly that, Colonel. She’s supposed to be part of a new group that I’m supposed to lead. At least, according to the Wyldwood and her soothsayers.” Jack glanced back through the narrow glass in the door and watched the young woman scrape at her thumbnail with another finger nail. “I still don’t have all the facts or even the ‘why’, but according to Loren, this group that I brought in will be key in stopping something big.”
Mitchell leaned against the wall and ran a hand across the back of his neck. “I swear, between you and your favors and all of these mystic visions people keep having of the end of the world, I just don’t know how much more of this I can take.”
“I didn’t have t
he vision, sir. Maybe if I did, I’d have a better understanding of what the heck was going on.” Jack shot a glance over Mitchell’s shoulder to where Kalen stood, his shoulders slumped. “Seems like she doesn’t tell anybody the whole story these days.”
“But we’re supposed to throw protocol out the window and do what she wants because…” Mitchell shrugged. “Help me out here, Jack. I’ve got nothing.”
“Because she’s the Wyldwood?” He had no other answer.
“Because, without the Wyldwood, you wouldn’t have had the assistance of the others in your battle against the vampires in the desert.” Kalen suddenly seemed more sure of himself. “Without her, the other clans and tribes would have turned their collective backs on you. It was she who convinced them that the anywhere would be threatened if they didn’t assist.”
Jack turned to Mitchell and nodded. “There ya go. Sounds like as good an answer as I’d ever come up with.”
Mitchell groaned and opened the door to the interrogation room. “She’s all yours, Chief.”
Brooke looked up expectantly as Jack walked back into the room. He sat down across from her and reached for her cuffed hands. Withdrawing a key from his breast pocket, he unlocked the handcuffs and slid them across the table.
Brooke raised a brow at him. “A bit trusting aren’t we?”
Jack leaned back in his chair and studied the young woman. “Looks like me and you may have a future.”
“You’re not my type.” She smirked at him.
Jack smirked back. “And I’m married.” He pulled the folder over and opened it again. “That’s not exactly what I meant.”
Brooke tried to see what was in the folder but Jack held it up too high. “What is that?”
Jack glanced at her then dropped the folder on the table. “Everything we could dig up on you prior to your abduction.”
“It’s pretty thin.”
Jack nodded. “Apparently you were a very boring person.”
Brooke bristled and leaned back in her chair. “You aren’t winning me over.”
Jack slid the folder across to her and let her go through it. “I’m not trying to win you over.” Jack stood and gripped the back of his chair. “But I am recruiting you.”
Brooke’s eyes shot upward at him. “Come again?”
“You heard me. You’re about to join my merry band of misfits.”
“You didn’t say please.”
“Because it wasn’t a request.” Jack turned toward the mirror and waved at somebody. “Kalen. In here.”
Brooke sat stoically as the door slowly opened and Kalen slipped inside. He shut the door behind him and turned to Jack. Brooke continued to stare away from the pair but after just a moment, she sniffed at the air and turned her attention fully to the light haired warrior standing just feet away.
“You called me, Chief Jack?” Kalen tried to ignore the young woman sitting behind the table and focused his attention on Jack.
“I want you to contact Loren again and get me some freakin’ details on…” Jack turned and stared at Brooke who had silently slipped from her chair and now stood behind Kalen, inhaling deeply. “Are you okay?”
“You smell like fresh baked sugar cookies.” Her voice was whispered and heady, her eyes closed as she inhaled Kalen’s scent.
Kalen shuddered and turned to face her. “Because I am Elf. My blood calls to you.”
Brooke shook her head as if clearing it from a dream. “What’s that? An Elf?”
“Yes, a Northern Greater Elf.” Kalen squared his shoulders and glared at her.
Brooke stepped back and bounced her gaze from Jack to Kalen and back to Jack. “I suppose that’s supposed to mean something to me, isn’t it?” She stepped back further and leaned against the table. “Sorry. I don’t know any Elves. You’d be the first one I ever met.” She allowed herself to take in this tall, tan, light haired young man with the pointed ears and deep blue eyes. She fought to not react physically to him as she allowed her eyes to drink in all that was him. She cleared her throat and moved back to the far side of the table. “Sorry about the whole sugar cookie thing.”
Kalen nodded to her slightly then turned back to Jack. “I do not know if Loren will speak with me. You know how she can be when it comes to receiving an audience.”
“Then keep trying. Leave voicemails. Text her. Whatever you have to do. I need answers.” Kalen nodded, still unsure what exactly Jack had told him. He turned for the door when Jack added, “And find out all that you can on this last member we’re supposed to be getting. I hate surprises.”
*****
Laura waited patiently for Mitchell to answer the phone then with a surge of nervous anxiety hung up and called the central number to have him paged. When he finally picked up she let out a breath and closed her eyes. “Mitchell.” His voice sounded so familiar yet it felt like it had been ages since she had actually seen him.
“Colonel! Thank goodness.” Laura inhaled to hit him with all that she had learned, but was interrupted.
“Laura! I was becoming worried about you. With everything going on here, I was really—”
“Sir! I have some intel that I think you need.” She paused a moment to allow him to shift gears and realize that this wasn’t a social call or a simple check in.
“Go ahead, Laura, I’m all ears.”
“Sir, I have a lead on who it was that attacked the base. It was Jennifer’s father, a Walter Simmons. I don’t have a lot of information on the man himself other than he’s not the soft and cuddly type.”
“Simmons?” Mitchell leaned back in his chair and shook his head, trying to take it all in. “How in the…why would he…are you sure about this?”
“Positively, sir. The pilot who flew us here informed us that he was directed by her father to keep her away from Tinker. That this wasn’t over.”
Mitchell felt the color drain from his face and suddenly felt that the increased guards weren’t enough. “How are you doing Laura? Is this pilot a threat?”
“Negative, sir. In fact…” She paused and glanced down the hallway to ensure that neither Mick nor Jennifer were within earshot. “I’d bet good money that he’s in love with your Fated one.”
“You don’t say?” Mitchell leaned forward, his wolf screaming to be released.
“Yes, sir. He’s not a wolf…he’s a cat. But he’s got what I would call real feelings for her.” Laura leaned against the duty desk and listened to him breathe through the phone.
“What would you suggest, XO?” Laura bristled at the title and prayed that Tufo would make a speedy recovery. Then she felt guilty for having thought it.
“Part of me thinks that ditching him here would be best, but another part of me thinks that he may have more Intel on Simmons.” She shrugged as she gripped the phone tighter. “Honestly, sir, it’s your call.”
Mitchell exhaled hard into the phone and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “Drag him here. Kicking and screaming if you have to. If nothing else, we can hang his carcass outside and send a message to Simmons’ men.”
Laura nodded even though she wasn’t entirely good with the decision. “Very well, sir. The full moon should be tonight. After that, we’ll be headed toward you.”
“Have you figured out a place for Jennifer to shift?”
Laura stared out the window of the duty office and shook her head. “Negative, sir, but we will figure something out.”
“Call me if you need me. Mitchell out.”
Laura hung up the phone and for the first time since discovering who was behind the attacks, felt like she had betrayed a friend. She glanced down the hallway again toward Jennifer’s room and wondered why she felt such a thing.
*****
Matt hung up the phone and stared at the receiver. He could feel the nagging pull of the full moon, but unlike the past, it was more like a tickle in the back of his mind…a reminder that he needed to be cautious. And soon.
A soft knock at the door pulled his attention from his
wandering thoughts and he barked a quick, “Come.”
Captain Jones stuck his head in and looked about the colonel’s office. “Busy, sir?”
“No more than any other time, Jericho. Come on in.”
Jericho Jones entered and quietly shut the door. He handed Mitchell a list of names. “Our dead, sir.” He stood at attention while Mitchell scanned the names. “Some of the men would like to have some kind of memorial service.”
Mitchell glanced up at him, surprise painting his features. “After what we’ve been through? You do realize we could be attacked again at any time. This isn’t the time to drop our guard, Captain.”
“Understood, sir. But a lot of the men…” He averted his eyes, unsure how to broach the subject.
“Spill it, Captain. I don’t have all day.”
Jericho cleared his throat and decided to toss it out. Perhaps he could pick through the pieces and make it all make sense once it was laid out on the floor. “Sir, they never got the chance to mourn First Squad when they were lost. Now a lot of their coworkers were killed. Security forces worked side by side with a lot of the techs. Even the new guy, Carbone, was pretty well liked. The men just want a chance to do something to give them closure.”
Mitchell inhaled deeply and stared at the list again. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to do a little something. Maybe throw something together to honor those who fell.” He handed Jericho the list back and gave him a solemn nod. “Make it happen. Keep me informed.”
“Thank you, Colonel.” Jericho turned to leave when Mitchell cleared his throat, grabbing the man’s attention again.
“Captain, keep something in mind as you put this together.” Mitchell’s eyes indicated the seriousness of what he was about to say. “I was serious when I said that we could be attacked at any moment. However you set this up, keep that first and foremost in your mind. Don’t do this any place that could put our people at any further risk. Don’t let them get isolated or sealed in. Don’t—”
Wayward Son Page 16
