by Dannika Dark
He rubbed his bright-red nose and zipped his coat all the way up. The window next to him had been smashed during the accident, so outside air was roaring against the shutters and cooling the interior. Shepherd had briefly pulled over to a secluded area so he could give the tires and engine a closer inspection, but Viktor didn’t want to make any more stops until after sunrise, so we pressed on.
We killed time talking about great inventions and history. Blue sat quietly beside me, listening to Christian and Claude reminiscing about the good old days of horse-drawn carriages. Adam and his sister had gone back into the sleeper, and Carol was in the back. The kids needed to rest up as much as possible. I noticed that Claude kept checking on Carol. Maybe he felt sorry for her because she didn’t have anyone, but he periodically walked to the back and sniffed the door. Creepy, but Blue explained that it was Claude’s way of looking out for her. I simply didn’t get Chitahs and all their strange customs.
When the RV slowed down, the chatter stopped and everyone looked out the windows.
Viktor put on his aviator sunglasses and turned his attention to the group. “People in small towns ask questions. We are on a family vacation. I am the grandfather and do not speak since my stroke.”
Claude laughed. “A stroke?”
A comb appeared in Viktor’s hand, and he began styling his hair and beard. “I cannot speak with this accent. It is one that makes me easy to remember, and not one that many people trust. Christian, you should also refrain from speaking.”
Christian made me jump with surprise when he answered in a Southern accent just as sweet as Southern tea. “Don’t you worry, Grandpappy. I fit in just fine with the locals.”
I smiled at him. “That’s a nifty accent you got there, Farmer Poe.”
He pretended to tip an invisible hat on his head. “Comes in handy.”
Blue stood up and stretched. “You almost sound like someone I could like.”
I looked out the window at a few buildings along the two-lane road. A community bank, some houses, a chapel, and a backdrop of rolling hills. “Something tells me they don’t have a Walmart.”
Shepherd pulled the camper into the parking lot of a tiny gas station. It looked like we were on Main Street of a small town.
I quickly hopped out of the trailer and soaked up the morning sun. There was a Dairy Queen down to the right and a McDonald’s to the left. “Food run. Anyone hungry?”
“Me!” Eve shouted as she emerged from the trailer.
Adam followed sluggishly behind her, his complexion as green as his shirt. “Do they have a bathroom?”
“There’s one in the trailer,” I reminded him.
He shook his head. “I need to be alone.”
Shepherd clapped him on the shoulder. “Come with me, kid.”
Eve sidled up and giggled. “He’s carsick. He also doesn’t like pooping around people. He got in trouble a lot because he’d sneak off and go up to the top floor. Nobody ever went up there, so the bathroom was always empty.”
“Too much information,” I said, pivoting on my heel and assessing the trailer in daylight. It had definitely taken a beating, but somehow that made us stand out even less.
Eve’s teeth chattered. “I’m going back inside.”
“Stay inside. I mean it.”
Christian stepped out of the trailer, looking dapper. He’d changed into jeans and a chocolate-brown Henley.
“You want to come with me?” I asked.
“Better I stay here. Shepherd has a tendency of getting himself in trouble. He hasn’t quite mastered the skill of friendliness, and we still have a window to patch up.” Christian slid on his sunglasses. “Don’t you want your coat?”
I straightened my charcoal-colored T-shirt. “Nah. I’ll warm up once I start walking.”
Blue appeared, her straight hair shining like silk in the sun. She had on green cargo pants with her soft brown leather jacket. “Where are you going?”
“McDonald’s, I guess.”
She frowned at the building nearby. “What’s Hardee’s?”
Carol jumped out and bolted toward the convenience store.
Claude chased after her. “Hold up!”
Blue joined my side as we ventured up the road. “It’s pretty here,” she said. “You forget what quiet sounds like until you’re out of the city. It’s one reason why I like living at Keystone.”
We cut through a parking lot since there wasn’t a sidewalk. A few cars drove by and slowed down, no doubt locals getting a gander at the tourists. Hopefully we looked like tourists instead of mercenary killers.
“Why do they keep staring?” I asked. “They act like they’ve never seen a woman before.”
“Maybe it’s the dagger strapped to your leg.”
I looked down. “Shit. I forgot.” After unlatching the strap, I tucked it in my jeans beneath my T-shirt.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure there are a lot of hunters out here. But maybe they’re not used to seeing a woman walking around this early, fully armed.” Blue chuckled, and I noticed the axe affixed to her side.
“Don’t you want to hide that?”
“No. I’m good.”
“They’re going to kick you out of McDonald’s.”
“Not exactly a travesty.” She took off her jacket and tied it around her waist so it covered the weapon. After adjusting her tank top, she squinted at the buildings ahead. “There’s a grocery store up there. Viktor might need supplies.” She stopped and sent a text message.
I neared the door to the fast-food place. “Adam probably needs a quart of the pink stuff. He’s got stomach issues.”
She continued staring at her phone. “Viktor wants duct tape and plastic bags for the broken window. You good here?”
I laughed and headed inside. Duct tape and plastic bags. Nope. Nothing suspicious about that.
Inside, only two employees manned the register. Not a single customer to be found.
When I approached the counter, my hair stood on end. Someone in or around this establishment was a Mage. Their energy was carelessly swirling around me like air hissing out of a flat tire.
“What can I get for you?” the lanky man asked. The name tag on his dark shirt said “Willie.”
I shielded my light. Willie had light eyes and crooked teeth, and he stared at me for a long while.
“Are you new here?” he asked. “I’m new. Second week on the job. But I’ve tried everything on the menu. The sausage biscuits are good.”
“I’m sure they are, Willie. I’m just suddenly not hungry anymore.”
He frowned. “Thirsty? We got orange juice, coffee—”
“No, never mind. Sorry to bother you.”
He waved as I backed up toward the door. “No bother at all. Hope to see you around.”
The woman in the back was staring at me, and I didn’t like it.
Once outside, I glanced at a car in the drive-through and hurried toward the road. We needed to get the hell out of here. Especially since we were carrying special cargo. As I turned to head back, a silver truck pulled out of the gas station next door. When he turned left, it forced the oncoming car to hit the brakes.
I looked at the windshield of the car and froze.
Is that Carol?
Without thinking, I jogged into the road to get a better look. I fully expected it to be the sun playing tricks on me, but hell no, that was Carol sitting in the passenger seat. The driver’s eyes widened when he saw me staring daggers at him. When Carol shouted at him, he turned the wheel and almost ran me over as they steered into oncoming traffic. Luckily there was no traffic this early.
“Carol!” I ran toward the car and slapped the trunk as it sped off.
This was a hot mess. I had no time to dial Viktor or get Blue when we had a kidnapper on our hands.
“Feet don’t fail me now.” Taking a quick glance around for witnesses, I flashed after their car.
It didn’t take long before I reached the bumper. The driver steered
around a curve, and instead of following, I cut straight across the grass to head them off. Without missing a step, I jumped onto the hood of the white car and nearly rolled off before gripping the windshield wiper. When it snapped, I tucked my fingers inside the top of the hood. A police station flew past my view.
“Stop the car!” I pounded on the windshield.
Since I was blocking his view, he leaned over to see around me.
Carol frantically grabbed his arm and tried to pry his hand off the steering wheel. Then she gripped her seat belt and screamed, her eyes as wide as saucers. The drive got a lot bumpier when the road abruptly ended and we sped onto the grass. My only goal at this point was to save my ass from sliding off and falling under the tires.
I ran over the roof, jumped on the back, and rolled safely to the ground.
A loud crash exploded behind me, and I staggered to my feet.
The car had smashed into a dense thicket of trees and bushes. Smoke hissed from the engine beneath the crumpled hood.
“Carol!” My heart lurched at the sight of it all.
I skidded down the hill to the driver’s side and yanked the door open. An involuntary shriek escaped my lips when a large mountain lion tackled me to the ground. I blasted him with energy seconds before he went for my throat.
I scuttled backward, pulled the dagger from inside my jeans, and unsheathed it. As I crawled on my knees toward the animal, Carol fought her way through the airbags.
No way in hell I was letting this bastard get away. I raised my arm to jam the blade into his heart.
“No!” Carol screamed, spilling out onto the grass. “Don’t hurt him!”
She shielded the mountain lion with her body, her thin arms wrapped around him and tears welling in her eyes.
I lowered my weapon.
She knew him.
This wasn’t a kidnapping by some crazed rogue. Carol knew this guy, and they must have been planning her escape.
Lights flashed behind us, accompanied by the intermittent sound of sirens wailing.
Disastrous.
“This is gonna get ugly,” I promised her. “That cop won’t blink twice about shooting a wild animal. If you know this guy and care what happens to him, don’t let him get up.”
Worry pooled in her green eyes as she whispered in his ear.
“Drop your weapon,” the cop shouted.
I rolled my neck around as the urge to defend myself came on strong.
Not here, Raven. Not now.
When the dagger fell from my hand to the grass, I slowly raised my arms and tried to keep my cool.
The cop approached, his shiny black shoes rustling in the dewy grass.
“There’s a mountain lion.” I pointed to the animal. “I was just trying to protect myself.”
“He’s unconscious,” Carol said, still clutching the animal. “Don’t hurt him. He didn’t do anything.”
If this guy shifted in front of the cop, we were dead meat. I’d have no choice but to attack a cop and pin him until Christian could scrub his memories. I had a soft spot for humans, especially ones who were just doing their job.
“Don’t move,” he said, inching in closer.
I peered over my shoulder and saw he had his gun drawn.
“Sir, the animal caused the accident.”
“And I suppose you jumped onto the hood of a moving vehicle for what exactly?”
He lifted my dagger and pricked his finger with it. “A stunner, huh? We don’t like trouble around here.”
My mouth fell open, and I shifted around to get a closer look.
The cop, who could have been a stunt double for Burt Reynolds, put his gun back in the holster. “You’re a little far from home, aren’t you?”
When I furrowed my brow, he pointed at the plates on the car.
“It’s a long story,” I began. “We didn’t mean to crash the car; we were just, uh, goofing around.”
He looked at Carol. “Your Shifter friend there better change before someone else comes along.” When I started to get up, he touched his gun. “Did I say you could stand? Stay right where you are.”
“I’m not a threat,” I assured him, choosing my words carefully.
“I beg to differ. You flashed down the road in broad daylight, you jumped onto a moving vehicle, and you attempted to murder a Shifter.”
“Attempted isn’t the same as doing it.”
He gave me a probing gaze. “You still flashed in public view. That’s a Breed violation, and I’ll have to take you in.”
Going to Breed jail wasn’t an option. “You’re kidding me, right? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”
When the mountain lion transformed to a man, Carol shielded her eyes and reached in the car for his clothes.
“I’m not looking,” she announced. “Put your clothes on, Joshua. There’s a cop.”
Joshua sat up and glared over his shoulder at me. While he had mannish features, the twinkle in his eyes was that of a boy. They didn’t look related, not with his shaggy black hair and dark eyes.
“How old are you?” I asked with derision.
He put on his jeans and stood up to button them. “Sixteen.”
“You do realize she’s only fourteen.”
“And I just turned sixteen. We’re both minors. Your point?”
“You don’t look like a minor,” I grumbled, noting his broad chest and height. Maybe I was getting so old that I couldn’t tell a person’s age anymore, but they sure didn’t have boys like that in my old high school.
“I got my dad’s genes,” he said, arms folded.
“You look like you play professional football.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Maybe I should.”
Definitely a teenager’s attitude.
“If you’re only sixteen, do you even have a driver’s license?”
“Do you? Last I checked, none of us were allowed to take a written exam. Everyone has a fake ID, and I can pass for driving age.”
“You can pass for drinking age.”
“I’m Officer Barnes,” the cop interrupted. “Are you two kids okay? That’s quite a spill you took.”
Joshua glowered at me. “This crazy woman jumped on my car and scared the shit out of me. I lost control.”
Carol looked back at the damaged car and paced. “We have to go.”
“You better not move an inch,” I said to her. “You have no idea how much trouble you’re in.”
Officer Barnes kicked my foot. “Keep quiet.” He crouched behind me and forcefully grabbed my arm, slapping a handcuff around my wrist. “You’re under arrest.”
“For what? I didn’t break any laws.”
“You want to look at it from my point of view? I catch you violating Breed law and flashing down the road, causing this car to speed off the road and nearly killing these kids. Then I catch you about to put a dagger into that boy. We got a special place for people like you.”
The way he said it put a knot in my stomach. I had to find a way to stall long enough for Viktor to locate us and get Carol away from this bozo.
I swung my eyes up to a screeching falcon. Blue’s bird was easy to identify, and she surveyed the scene before flapping away. Carol noticed her too, and her expression quickly switched from panic to defeat. It wasn’t as if they were getting far with a wrecked vehicle.
After Officer Barnes cuffed my wrists, he stood up. “Do you two kids have someone you can call?”
Carol shrugged and leaned against the car. “We’re kinda here with someone. They’ll probably be here any minute now.”
Joshua cursed and turned his back to us, hands on his hips. What in the world was a Shifter doing with Carol? And why would she run away with some guy when he could never offer her the kind of protection the higher authority could?
Officer Barnes yanked me up. “Good. Are you sure you kids are all right? We don’t have any Relics in town, but I can always call one in.”
Yeah, don’t mind me. I was almost eaten by Carol’s
boyfriend, but sure, ask how they’re doing.
Carol reached in the car and pulled out her bag. “I’m sorry about your car, Joshua.”
He prowled toward her and cupped her face. I tensed when I thought they were about to make out in front of me, but instead he simply rubbed noses with her.
“Nothing’s your fault,” he said.
I stumbled as the policeman dragged me to his vehicle. “Where are you taking me?”
“Breed jail.”
Chapter 15
Officer Barnes didn’t bother to wait for my team even though I asked him to. This man didn’t give a damn about anything other than locking me up. In his eyes, I was a menace to his small town. After driving down a dirt road, we finally reached a red brick building. There were no windows or parking spaces, and there was certainly no sign out front indicating that this was an official police station. It also didn’t look like a legit Breed jail. Those places were large with multiple stories.
“What is this, redneck hell?” I shivered from a cracked window blowing air into the back.
He shut off the engine. “You might be able to get away with flaunting your gifts in the big city, but out here, people pay attention. I’m the only officer in this town who knows about Breed, so it’s my job to take care of people like you. It’s bad enough I gotta deal with all the Shifters running around and getting into territorial disputes.”
“Don’t they have a Council out here?”
He snorted and opened his door. “Honey, this is West Virginia. You might have Councils in the big city, but when you’re a stone’s throw away from tens of thousands of acres of national park, a Council is pretty damn useless.”
Officer Barnes stepped out of the vehicle and opened my door. I reluctantly slid out and followed him to the building, my hands still cuffed. He used a key on his ring to unlock the heavy door, and once inside, he switched on a light.
The steel door ahead had a small opening wide enough to peer through but not to poke your hand through. It was nothing more than an additional barrier between the prisoners and freedom. The room we were in didn’t have any furniture except for a giant locker on the left.
