Charles' Choice (Penny's Choice)

by Annette Archer

  “I know, but I really like it,” Thomas said, caressing the steering wheel. “Plus, the Brotherhood will be gone soon and it won’t matter if it attracts attention or not.”

  “I guess you got a point there,” Penny said. She buckled her seat belt and opened the bottle of coke.

  Charles, Lorelei, and Charli piled back into the car and Thomas sped off into the night again. They had traveled through the day and it was dark, so Penny knew that they would probably be approaching their destination soon.

  “How much further?” Charles asked. Penny was just about to ask the same question. She was tired of riding in the car. She was tired of being chased all over the world. She wanted to stay put for more than a couple days.

  After another hour or two on the highway, Thomas turned off on side road and drove for a few more minutes before he turned onto dirt roads. The trees became thick all around them and Penny lost her sense of direction. Thomas seemed to be following some preprogrammed GPS deep in his mind. She looked back at Charli to see if she had any idea of where they were going, but Charli looked just as lost as she did.

  “You do know where we are going, right?” Charli said, leaning into the front seat. The trees towered over them ominously.

  “Yeah, it’s just ahead,” Thomas said, pointing in a direction that only he knew. “You, me and Lorelei will have to leave the car and make the rest of the trek on foot.”

  “What about me and Charles,” Penny asked.

  “You two need to stay in the car,” Thomas replied. The car reached the end of the road and Thomas turned the engine off, but left the keys in the ignition. “I think it would be better if we approached them without humans.”

  “Why does Lorelei get to go?” Charles said, pouting in the back seat.

  “She’s proof that we have additional races,” Thomas said.

  “Don’t you need proof about the defector?” Penny said.

  “Yes, but that will come after we have made initial contact,” Thomas said. He got out of the car and opened up the door for Lorelei. “It will be a sealing of the contract. Don’t worry. We’ll be back in a couple of hours.” Thomas kissed penny on the lips.

  “Hours?” Penny and Charles asked in unison.

  “Look, the goblins packed plenty of snacks and the car is a technological marvel. Watch some movies, eat some popcorn, whatever,” Thomas said walking off into the night.

  Penny and Charles looked at each other. Normally no boyfriend would ever insist that his girlfriend spend several hours in a locked car watching movies with her ex-boyfriend. However, the Wolf family was not normal.

  “So what do you want to watch first?’ Charles said, hopping into the front seat. He opened up the movie menu on screen and surfed through the selections.

  “A stupid, pointless comedy,” Penny said settling into seat. She looked through the bag of snacks and pulled out some chips and a can of homemade salsa. “Do you think that goblins make good salsa?”

  In several hours Penny and Charles went through two more pointless comedies, two card games, three rounds of checkers, and half of their snacks, but Thomas and the rest had yet to return or call them with news. Penny was beginning to get worried.

  “It’s almost daylight,” Charles said looking at his watch. “They should be back by now.” Charles started up the car.

  “Where are we going?” Penny said, buckling her belt. “Thomas told us to stay in the car.”

  “So we’ll stay in the car,” Charles said as he eased the auto into the tree line.

  Charles moved forward as much as he could in the dense foliage until he came to a small road and then he picked up speed. Suddenly out of nowhere a large figure loomed in the road. Charles ran into it full speed.

  Crack! The vehicle smacked into the beast. It tumbled onto the hood of the car and then it vanished into the woods.

  Penny's head whipped forward and then slammed backward into the headrest. The vehicle rocked back from the impact.

  Breathing difficultly, Penny reached up and brushed a long, blonde hair from her face. Glass from the windshield sparkled across the car and Penny's dark leggings. Her chest ached underneath the seatbelt. Thomas would not be happy that Charles just rammed his brand new car into a mysterious monster.

  Penny turned to Charles. His head lay on the dashboard, and his hands were bleeding on the windshield’s broken glass. It didn't look like he was conscious.

  A shaky breath whistled out of Penny. A few tears of pain escaped. What had just happened? And what was that thing?

  Penny poked Charles. His seatbelt was nestled next to him unused.

  What nutcase would steer into a person, or rather a creature without his seatbelt? Penny thought.

  “Charles?” Penny asked. She poked him in the arm lightly. He didn't respond. Thomas, Penny though, panicked, where are you?

  Movement in the trees drew her attention forward. A dark colored, sinister mass appeared in the car headlights. Penny tried to unbuckle her seatbelt, but her hands shook too badly.

  The mass straightened up to its full height. Penny though that it must have been eight feet or more. The creature remained motionless, watching Penny through jagged glass. It came around the front of the car, taking its sweet time.

  Penny hit the release switch on her seatbelt, but it would not open. Penny frantically pulled at the belt as the creature came closer to the side of the car. Penny pounded at the buckle and yelled for Thomas.

  The creature, which looked like a giant humanoid cat, leaned down to the window so that its head was level with hers on the other side of her window. Penny was glad that there was glass between her and the long, sharp teeth. But she knew it wouldn't last long.

  Penny froze. She thought she was going to die.

  A white human hand appeared on the shoulder of the creature and then Thomas’s head. Penny thought that Thomas would just rip its head off considering his previous antics when Penny or Charles’s life was threatened. The beast turned around and growled. Thomas on the other hand just spoke softly in an unfamiliar language. The beast turned around and looked at Penny again. His blood red, glowing eyes sent shivers down her spine. Slowly the fire in its eyes subsided and it spoke to Thomas in the same strange tongue. Thomas stepped in front of the creature and opened the car door.

  “I suppose I should have been more specific when I said ‘stay in the car’ shouldn’t I?” Thomas said, pulling off Penny’s seatbelt. “Are you okay?”

  “I guess,” Penny replied, still shaking. “Charles, though.” She looked back at Charles who was still passed out on the steering wheel.

  “Little brothers,” Thomas said, rolling his eyes. “Chuck, you lazy bum, get up!”

  Charles moaned slightly as if the mere command of his big brother could wake him from unconsciousness. After a couple seconds Charles looked over at Thomas who was now standing at his window.

  “If you weren’t hurt I would come over there and slap you,” Thomas said, checking him for any serious injuries. “Next time I tell you to stay in the car, that means stay put.”

  Penny looked over at the enormous cat-like creature. She shuddered when it looked at her. She noticed that it was bleeding and cringed further. She guessed that this creature was a Rakshashai that they were looking for. And here she and Charles had gone and wounded it.

  “Sorry,” Penny said to the creature. It bowed in response.

  Lorelei came rushing out of the forest. “Meinleiblingsmann,” she said running towards Charles. She took him out of the grasps of his brother and gently fussed over him. “You are hurt.”

  “I’m alright,” Charles said, trying to lean against the car.

  “What happened?” Charli asked, surveying the scene for the first time.

  “Oh no, look at my car,” Thomas said, putting a hand over his mouth. “This, this car was my favorite. Charles!”

  “Why are you yelling at your brother; he is hurt,” Lorelei said to Thomas. She dabbed the blood from Charles’s forehea
d.

  “Because he was an idiot and crashed into our friend on purpose,” Thomas said. He patted the front of the car affectionately.

  Penny looked at the ground. Thomas had never been angry like this before. He had never been upset with Penny. She felt her gut turn inside of her. She was more panicked and upset now than she was when the intimidating creature was threatening her.

  Penny rubbed her hips where the seatbelt had restrained her. “Look, we’re sorry; we really are. You were just gone for so long and I started to worry.”

  “And Charles got impatient,” Thomas said, sitting on the front of the smashed car. “How did you two not kill yourselves before I came along?”

  “Hey,” Charles said, pushing Lorelei aside. “You know we got along fine before you. We were just plenty happy without you and your meddling!”

  The Rakshashai roared. Everyone stopped and looked at him. “We have plans to make. What’s been done is done, but the Brotherhood is our priority.” The creature stood tall, taking command of the argument. He put a furry paw on Penny’s shoulder.

  Penny nervously ran her fingers through her hair. Thomas, the car can be replaced,” She said walking slowly towards the angry vampire.

  “I know, I know,” he said, calming down. “I was just worried about you. And you’re lucky I was right here or The Master may have eaten you.”

  Penny looked over at the cat again. He didn’t show any signs of a smile or joking. He was a very serious creature.

  “I know you like to protect us,” Penny said, laying her head on Thomas’s shoulder. Thomas suddenly shoved her away and covered his nose.

  “You’re bleeding,” Thomas said, taking another step away from her.

  “Yeah, all this blood is making me a little…woozy too,” Charli said, as she ran into the forest.

  “Let us go back to the Master’s cave and I will heal your wounds,” Thomas’s banshee said, appearing from nowhere like a djiin. Penny wondered where she had come from. The last time she had seen her, they were back in Ireland.

  “How in the world?” Penny said, lipping toward to hideous, ghost-like woman.

  “Banshees are teleporters,” Morrigan replied, putting an arm around Penny.

  Lorelei supported Charles as they followed the vampires and the Rakshashai back through the forest to the creature’s home. Penny looked back at the Master again. He had to of the largest scimitars resting by his side, nestled underneath a large black cloak. He wore a military uniform that was speckled with sharp knives and throwing stars. Penny would not want to be on the other side from a creature like this. The Brotherhood was in a world of hurt when they were attacked.

  (CHAPTER 10) The Plan

  Penny sat in the underground lair of the Master, as everyone kept calling him, surrounded by many different nonhuman creatures. To her left was Morrigan and to her right was Lorelei. Thomas stood in the center of the group pacing back and forth.

  “We’re waiting for just a few more,” Thomas said, nervously looking at his watch.

  A puff of smoke suddenly started trailing out of Charles’s ear. Penny giggled as Charles tried to wave it away. The smoke grew and coagulated into the solid gray form of their djinn friend. Penny smiled. He was always the jokester.

  “Good Morning,” the djinn said with a wide smile. “Seems like a good day to start plotting against evil humans.”

  “Good morning djinn,” Thomas said, looking at his watch again. “We’re still expecting two more.”

  “Are the goblins coming?” Penny said, hoping to see the crazy, hyper creatures again and thank them for the delicious homemade salsa.

  “No, but I suspect that they are listening in on our conversation,” Thomas said, taking out the cell phone that they gave him. “We traded Brotherhood surveillance for goblin surveillance.

  “Oh, well George, thanks for snacks. Those chocolate cakes were wonderful,” Penny said. She shifted uncomfortably as the djinn looked at her. She didn’t know what he had in mind, but she had already learned the hard way that djinn, even when they are on your side, can pack a mean punch. Penny smiled politely back.

  “Sorry we’re a little late, but this place is in the middle of nowhere,” a vampire said walking into the room. He was followed by a werewolf. “Luckily everyone together has quite the pungent smell.” Another vampire entered into the group as well.

  “So we’re all here,” Thomas said. He motioned for the three latecomers to take a seat in the circle. Now, I don’t want to divulge the whole plan to everyone. I kind of want to keep the plan separated in case something goes wrong.”

  “I can’t imagine one of us betraying the others to the Brotherhood,” the vampire said.

  “Herschel, it isn’t about betraying, it’s about capture,” Thomas said. “Some of these things are dangerous.”

  “Oh, well I guess that makes some sense,” Herschel said.

  “Especially considering that part of the plan requires some of you to be taken captive,” Thomas said, looking at Charles. “Unfortunately, Charles, you have the most painful and uncomfortable job in the group. You need to gain freer access to the sanctuary. To make it look more convincing that you are on their side, we will make it look like we attacked you and killed Penny and Lorelei.”

  “Right, we already talked about this,” Charles said. “I have memorized the list of things that I need to do, even though some of them make no sense to me.”

  “Good, now, Herschel, you need to take Charles back to the UK and you two need to beat the crap out of each other,” Thomas said. He threw a bag at Charles. “Penny’s blood. Smear it all over Herschel and yourself before the Brotherhood arrives on scene.”

  “Where did you get my blood?” Penny asked.

  “I’ve been collecting it over the last couple days,” Thomas said. He quickly moved on with the instructions. “Get your story straight down to the detail. Make sure that you are in the process of beating the crap out of Herschel when they arrive, so they can collect both of you. Make sure, Charles that you initiate the call to the Brotherhood.”

  “Goodness sakes bro, you give enough orders yet? Or can the vampire and I get on out of here and beat each other up?” Charles stood up. He offered his hand to the new vampire. Herschel, who looked much more like what Penny thought a vampire should look like, grabbed Charles’s hand and heartily shook it.

  “Nice to be working with you Defector,” Herschel said with a calm, but excited tone. His dark dreads hung around his perfectly chiseled face. Penny couldn’t help but stare at him. He was just gorgeous with his rock, hard body. Thomas glared at her. Penny quickly looked down and Lorelei giggled.

  “Come on, he’s got the body of Hercules,” Lorelei said, openly ogling the new vampire. Charles glared at Lorelei, trying to turn on his jealous look, but it did no good. Lorelei was right. Herschel was a prime vampire specimen.

  “How about we get out of here before the best looking guys of each species make the females in the room swoon,” Herschel said, heading out of the room.

  Penny rolled her eyes and looked back at Thomas. He was silently laughing. Penny glared at him this time.

  “Alright, now that the pretty boys are gone,” Thomas turned back to the rest of the group, “The warriors can get to work. Penny,” Thomas looked at his girlfriend.

  “I’m a warrior?” Penny laughed.

  “Well, no, you are going to go with the Morrigan. You need to lay very low for the next couple days. You’ll be working with the banshees. Get to know their abilities and weaknesses.” Thomas reached into his pack. “I have here a packet containing your instructions. The banshees will be able to teleport you when the time comes.”

  “It will take all of us and it will not be comfortable for you, dear,” Morrigan said to Penny.

  Penny nodded and took the packet from Thomas’s hands. “I’ll miss you,” she said, planting a kiss on his lips.

  Thomas put his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a longer kiss. “You be carefu
l, okay?” Thomas smoothed Penny’s shorter hair away from her face. “I’m doing this for you, so you better come out unscathed on the other side.”

  “Okay,” Penny said. She pulled away from Thomas and she and Morrigan exited the underground cave.

  Penny was curious to know what was going to happen with the rest of the races left down there. She was pretty sure that the rest, the werewolves, the Rakshashai, djinn and the Nixen were going to be the offensive team and the brunt of the attack. Charles and Herschel were going to be the Trojan horses, and she and Morrigan were going to be the defensive end.

  ****

  Charles heard voices blurred in the background. The last punch from Herschel when the Brotherhood arrived was quite the doozy. It had knocked him out cold. Charles liked Herschel. The two had immediately hit it off. He got along with Herschel much better than he did his brother. He and Thomas had always had a hard time getting along.

  Way to go to make it seem realistic, Charles thought. He tried to move his head, but it throbbed so much he thought that he might just rest a little while longer.

  As he moved more into consciousness he heard two agents talking.

  “It’s Penny’s blood,” one of them, a woman, said. “It was in the vampire’s blood stream and it was all over him and Charles.

  “What do you think happened?’ The man asked. “Do you think that he wants to come back on his own accord?”

  “Well, he was also very overprotective of Penny,” the woman said. She paused for a minute. Charles heard some papers ruffling in the background. “It’s hard to say for sure, but all bets are off if something happened to Penny and Charles’s brother was behind it.”

  Charles smiled inside. Their plan was working already. When he felt better he would alert them and then his questioning would begin.

  “Did you get anything from the vampire?” the woman asked.

  “Some. Just that Charles and the Brotherhood is pathetic and that he’s going to take the Brotherhood down,” the man said and then laughed. “You know typical vampire bravado. He did say something interesting about another person that he and Charles’s siblings finished off. Something about Charles’s girlfriend.”