by Willow Cross
Lips pursed, Mar thought for a moment. “I do agree to an extent. But according to you, most of that is going on in the United States. What does that have to do with us? We’re a long way from there. There would have to be a major global shift of power in the human world for them to bring the fight to us.”
Jason stood, stretched and moved to the marble fireplace. “That’s not necessarily true. You have to factor in the witches. And, Brogan has already read signs that say they are definitely coming here. The war may have begun over there, but it will be decided here.”
“So he says,” Mar answered.
Tired and red-faced, Jason spun on his heels to face her. “He seems to know more than anyone else, and he doesn’t strike me as a liar.”
“Jase,” Sarah cautioned.
“No, no. It’s fine. I understand. It’s been a long night, possibly too long, why don’t we get some rest and discuss this later? You all look exhausted, and I know I am,” Mar answered, rising.
Exhaling, Sarah agreed, “Yes, that’s a good idea. I’m too tired to think any more.”
“That’s good then.” A vacant look passed over her face for a moment. “Alin will show you to your rooms.”
One of the black suited men hurried through the open archway, motioning for them to follow him.
As they rose and thanked her, she cautioned, “Take care to stay in your rooms. I’m a heavy sleeper and most of my people do not know English. They might take offense to you wandering around.” Her eyes locked on Shad and Ashley as she continued, “All they know right now, is that you are new friends and we are having discussions. Should they find out anything else about you, there could be trouble.”
Shad gave a curt nod. “We’ll stay put. No worries there.”
Smiling brightly, she said, “All is good then. Sleep well friends. Dinner is served at 6 pm, don’t be late.”
***
Sarah’s feet felt as if they were weighted down with lead boots. Each step up the expansive staircase took more effort than the step before. Finally reaching their rooms, they gathered inside the one designated for Ashley and Sarah.
“I don’t think we should split up. Especially not to sleep,” Shad hissed.
“We can’t all sleep in here. There’s only one bed.” Ashley replied.
Pete moved away from the door, where he’d been keeping watch. “Shad’s right. We don’t know these people. That threat at the end was barely veiled. She’s a bright girl, much smarter than she lets on. Think about it, you’ve seen how they follow her blindly. Every desire is immediately taken care of. Can you imagine that kind of treatment from our pack? Only the very strong acquire such subservience in human form. We need to stick together.”
Sitting on the side of the large bed, Sarah removed her shoes and began rubbing her feet. “I was in her mind. Granted I didn’t get to see much, but I believe as long as we behave in a trusting manor, we can trust her too.”
Uncertain, Jason sighed and leaned against the wall. “I’m too tired to argue about this. And I really don’t want to sleep on the floor.”
Briefly glancing around the room, Ashley said, “Okay, look. That bed is large enough for three. The love seat against the wall, and this one at the end of the bed, will work better than the floor. Let’s just all stay in here together.”
“Who gets the bed with you girls?” Pete asked.
Pete and Shad exchanged challenging looks.
“Don’t go there boys,” Sarah sighed. Look I’ll sleep on a love seat. I’m shorter than the rest of you, and I’ll fit just fine.”
“I’ll sleep on the other one,” Pete quickly offered.
“I’m not sleeping with him!” Shad exclaimed pointing at Jason.
“Oh shut up. I’ll sleep in the middle,” Ashley said throwing herself on the bed. “I’m too tired to say another word. Let’s just get some shut eye, okay?”
As they settled in, Sarah felt the warmth of a blanket being laid over her. Opening her eyes, she saw Pete standing over her. “I found that in the closet. I thought you might need it.”
“Thanks,” she answered softly. She smiled as her eyes closed and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Thirty-One
Dinner was served promptly at 6 pm. A sumptuous feast, fit for a king, was served. After nearly gorging themselves, the group once again retired to the front parlor. Jason, arm around Ashley, sat on one end of the largest sofa, across from Pete and Mar. Sarah, legs curled beneath her, rested in a wingback chair close to the fire, with Shad on the floor at her feet.
“As I was saying,” Mar said, “although this situation does seem dire, I don’t see a reason, as of yet, for us to become involved. Even should we decide to do so, what possible help would we be? We already destroy any that step into our territory. With our many business ventures, we are not in a position to travel. Each one of my clan is needed here.”
Sarah nodded. “We’re not asking you to go back to the states. The fight is coming here. Brogan was adamant about that. All we want is your word that when the time comes, you’ll back us.”
“I just don’t understand how this will affect us in any way.”
Uncurling her legs, Sarah sat up in her chair pushing her hair back behind her ears. “Mar, if the vampires want to control the human race, once that’s accomplished who will they go after next? Who buys your products? Where do you make your money? If humans are basically cattle, and kept only for food, what happens to your income?”
A perfectly manicured finger traced her lips as she thought. As with most, when hit in the bank account, she had to pay attention. Poverty had never been an option for her, although she’d seen much of it in her few short years. Her companies would be devastated if the human population suddenly stopped purchasing their products. “What would this alliance entail exactly?”
“Simply this, when the time for battle comes, we will call. Then and only then, will we ask you to come and fight. Until then, we’d like for you to at least interrogate any vampires that come your way. Find out any information you can, and relay it to us. If there are any other packs known to you, make contact with them and try to get them to agree to the same. According to Brogan, there are now hundreds if not thousands of vampires in the renegade army. The good guys are completely against making new ones, because of that, their ranks will not come close to meeting the need that will arise.”
“And witches are involved too? You’re certain of this?”
“Yes. Both dark and white.”
Mar shifted in her seat. “I only know of one witch. We’ve left her alone, because she’s done the same for us. The only enemies we have had to worry about are the hunters. But there are far too many of us for them to attempt to come here. Every so often a small group will show up, but they have been easily dealt with. So far.” As she ended the statement, her eyes focused on Shad.
It was his turn to be uncomfortable.
Glancing at the two men positioned by the door, Mar said, “Leave us. Go outside, and tell everyone not to bother me until I call.”
Concerned, the two looked at each other. One stepped forward as if to speak.
“Go. I’ll be fine. I’ll call you if I have need to.”
The man brought his heels together with a click, turned and left.
Waiting for a few moments, Mar listened. After hearing the front door quietly shut, she continued. “I know who you are.”
Shad and Ashley bristled in their seats.
“Don’t worry, the rest do not. I’ve not told them. I won’t either. Should they find out, even I could not keep you alive.”
“We appreciate that.” Ashley answered.
“I don’t know what to make of you two. If it weren’t for Sarah, I’d have had you killed. Does your family know where you are?”
“No,” Shad shook his head. “We have completely cut off ties with them, and they us. When we decided to help Sarah and Jason, we knew there’d be no going back.”
Mar scrutinized his fac
e. “Hmmm. There seems to be no remorse in you. How is it possible? You love her that much?”
Pink bloomed in his cheeks as he looked into her eyes, answering, “Yes.”
Pete’s nervous stirring didn’t go unnoticed. Mar watched him thoughtfully, before saying, “Sarah, I think you and I need some time alone. Just two girls getting to know each other. Will you walk with me?”
“No,” Shad answered.
Sighing, Sarah glanced at him, and shook her head. “Of course I will.”
“Uhh, I don’t like the idea of you walking around here unaccompanied.” Jason chimed in.
“Me either,” Pete agreed.
Eyebrows raised, Mar smiled. “Well, well. It seems your followers feel compelled to keep watch over you.” Her lips twisted into a makeshift smile as her voice became stern. “Gentlemen, I am spending some time alone with our Sarah. With or without your consent. If it will make it easier on you, we will stay right here in this room, and you may leave. There are things we need to discuss that do not involve any of you. Now if you please?”
The two men from earlier appeared as if on cue at the doorway.
“I’ll be fine. Mar has already guaranteed our safety. Her guards are everywhere. You guys go on,” Sarah said, moving to a seat closer to the girl.
Faces set, her friends took one last look at Mar and followed the two men from the room. Glancing over his shoulder, Shad said, “I’ll be back to check on you.”
Mar smiled and nodded, waving to him. “Of course you will, dear.”
***
Finally alone, Mar pulled off her high heeled pumps and curled up on the sofa. “I’m glad it’s just us now. I get sick of being ‘on’ all the time. You know what I mean?”
“I guess. Kind of. Well, not really.”
“How old are you, Sarah?”
“Eighteen. You?”
“Sixteen. And I hate it. I have to maintain this ruler of the universe thing all the time. It’s exhausting.” Mar rolled her eyes.
“Sixteen? How did you become pack leader so young? Can you even change yet?”
“Well technically, I’m not quite the leader. My brother, Antoli still runs the pack. But I’m alpha and female and seer, which puts me above him. And yes I shift, why do you ask?”
“My uncle told us that girls don’t change until they are eighteen. Boys at twenty-one.”
“Ah, yes. For the most part that’s true. Like you, my mother and father were leader and seer, when they died, it threw everything into chaos. Antoli was already shifting, but we had no seer. The elders believe I bloomed early to make up for that. There must always be balance, I guess.”
“Your people must love you very much to follow you like they do.”
Mar laughed before her face became serious. “I wonder now if things will change. I was an aberration, an extreme gift, one of a kind even. Now, that doesn’t appear to be true.” Worry clouded the girl’s face.
Reaching out, Sarah clasped her hand. “You still are. You’re the only girl I’ve heard of to shift so young, and the only other female alpha I know.”
Mar sighed, and raised her eyes to meet Sarah’s. “I want to show you everything. If we do it like this, no one has to hear. Are you ready?”
Without speaking, Sarah nodded.
Visions of Marica’s family flooded into her head. A young dark-haired girl, laughing and playing on the grounds outside, her older brother with the same jet black hair teasing her. Mother and father sitting at the dinner table. All happy, comfortable thoughts. Then the images grew darker and more sinister. Antoli grew older. Paled skin, dark unkempt hair hanging in his face. A seemingly unending five o'clock shadow surrounding a cruel mouth prone to frowning. Sallow cheeks enhanced the dark brown, menacing eyes. He was fighting with his father. Fists flew making solid contact with faces before both men shifted to wolf form. Antoli's maw locked on his father's throat. With a quick jerk of his head, the man went limp. Then Antoli standing over his father’s dead body as it changed back into human form. Her beautiful raven-haired mother screaming, pulling her close. Mar, ripped from her mother's arms, flailing and fighting against the man who held her. Over his shoulder she watched as Antoli ran a knife into his mother’s heart.
Sarah gasped as the horrid scenes played on. Mar having escaped from the man who held her, ran through the night. In pain, and gasping for breath, she fled into the woods. Behind her the sounds of howling wolves followed. In a clearing the wolves surrounded her, growling and snarling, they moved in to make the kill. Then pain, the torturous pain of the first transmogrification as unbelievably, Mar shifted. Screaming to her pack, she ordered, “Stop!” Completely subdued, they lowered their heads.
Tears rolled down Sarah’s face unheeded as Mar continued. Antoli ranted and raved, throwing anything he could get his hands on against the walls. Elders, frightened by his rage, stood back and watched. Mar cowered in the corner, waiting for his rage to pass.
“You will not keep this from me!” he screamed.
Terrified, unable to speak, she watched as her brother transformed and came at her. Without any thought, her body reacted and she changed as well. “Please stop. Don’t hurt me. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean too!”
Antoli stood still as if stuck to the floor. Throwing back his head, he let out a monstrous howl, but still was unable to move toward the girl.
The visions stopped. Mar stared into Sarah’s reddened eyes. “That was when I realized, I had control. He’d kill me, even now, if he could. I could never take him in a fight, but my alpha status is so strong he cannot disobey me. Not when I'm in wolf form.”
Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Sarah sniffed. “It’s so horrible. You should have never--he should have--” Leaning forward, she wrapped her arms around the young girl, pulling her close. Mar’s body relaxed against her own, before tremors overtook her. Holding her, Sarah stroked the girl's hair while she quietly sobbed. “It’s okay. It’ll all be okay now, Mar. I won’t ever let anyone hurt you again.”
Finally regaining some composure, Mar pulled herself into an upright position. “That’s not the worst of it.”
“How could it get any worse than that?”
“Look,” she said as another vision flashed in Sarah’s mind. Antoli, towering over her, hatefully spouted, “You will never mate. When the time comes and you’re the proper age, you will marry me.”
Repulsed, Mar answered, “That is disgusting, and against the law. You cannot order me to do that! The elders will never agree with you.”
A wicked smile came over his face. The elders will allow anything as long as you give the order. And you will give the order dear sister. If you don’t, I’ll kill every last living thing you care about. In and outside of this pack.”
Mar laughed. “I’ll just order you not too.”
Pain seared through her face as his hand made contact with her cheek. “Go ahead, order me not too.”
Glaring, she hissed, “You will not kill one person without my say-so. Not one, Antoli.”
Grinning, he called, “Beata? Can you come in here please?”
Her elderly, white-haired nanny nervously entered the room.
“Ah, there you are. Thank you for being so prompt. It seems that my sister is in need of a lesson. It is your job to teach her, no?”
Obviously frightened, the woman nodded as her eyes rested on Mar.
“Good. I’m glad we agree. Step over here, please.”
Beata slowly moved in front of him. Her worn hands shook as she stood quietly looking at the floor.
“Now, what was that you said, dear sister?”
“Antoli, I told you no. You will not harm her or anyone else.” Mar’s voice trembled as she spoke.
Reaching out, he took the old woman’s chin in his hand, raising her eyes to meet his and winked. In a flash, his other hand grabbed the back of her head, twisting it sharply. Her neck made a quiet crunching noise just before her body hit the floor.
“Nooooooo!” Mar screa
med, rushing to Beata.
Antoli rubbed his hands together as if dusting them off. “You see, you might be strong enough to keep me from killing you, but you have nowhere near the strength to keep me from killing others.” Grabbing her by the hair, he yanked her from the floor. You come into full power at eighteen. At seventeen, you will be allowed to marry. You will marry me, and through you, I will keep control of this pack. Should you choose not to, everyone you love will die.”
Sarah’s stomach lurched as the vision faded. Holding her hand over her mouth, her eyes searched for a place to allow the contents of dinner to escape.
Quickly, Mar shoved a small silver waste can into her hands.
Eye’s watering from the force of retching, Sarah’s stomach emptied. Mar pressed tissues into her hand, and she wiped her mouth.
“I need you ever so much more than you need me. I promise my entire pack will be at yours and Brogan’s disposal, if you can just do me one small favor.”
Tears still streaming down her face, Sarah answered, “Whatever you need. We will help you.”
Mar smiled as she leaned over and shoved Sarah’s hair behind her ears. “I need you to kill my brother.”
Eye’s wide, Sarah took a deep breath. “What about your pack?”
“I can control the pack. I just can’t control Antoli. You have everything you need to do this for me. Jason is one of the strongest I’ve seen. Much stronger than Antoli. And you have two hunters with you. Two from the most well known hunters in the world. If you and your friends cannot kill him, he cannot be killed.”
The slamming front door intruded into the quiet room. Both girls, jumped as a voice boomed through the lower floor of the house. “Marica!”
Within seconds, the dark eyed monster from Mar’s visions entered the room. A thick carpet of dark hair nestled a large gold medallion hanging from around his neck. Sarah eyed the dark green silk shirt unbuttoned nearly to his waist, wishing she could reach out and button it up. The bulge around his middle, made him appear flabby and weak. A sheen of oil hovered over his face adding to his greasy slime-ball appearance. Repulsed, Sarah tried to smile in welcome.
