“Speak,” she told him.
“Stop.” The word blurted out. He took a breath and started over. “Fix them.”
Sher spoke low, “You don’t want to shoot anyone.”
“I do want to shoot you. Fix them first.”
Sher looked over his shoulder at her porch. Clark stood as frozen in stillness as everyone who had watched the flash, the pen casing still at his lips. Woodford lay unmoving on the top step, his head in Laylea’s human lap. She pressed Bailey’s Fozzy Bear t-shirt against the growing pond of red on his chest and stared at her brother, silent tears running down her cheeks.
Bailey left the renters. He crept toward the showdown, his bare feet making no sound on the pavement. Sher didn’t dare bring attention to him by telling him to stop but she couldn’t keep from shaking her head. She turned her eyes quickly back to the CF in front of her.
“I won’t do that.”
The CF didn’t expect this answer. “You have to.”
“No. If I release them, they’ll hurt my family and my neighbors.”
“But I’ll kill you.” Tatts shook with frustration.
“I understand.”
He gestured with his head at the others but didn’t look away long enough for Sher to make a move. “And then I’ll kill them.”
She shook her head. “No. You won’t. Parker was a fullback at OU and your friend over there knocked his daughter unconscious. You’ll need what, five seconds to cock that gun again? He’ll need two to knock you down.”
“But you’ll be dead.”
“And none of your friends will ever move again.”
Sher spotted Bailey out of the corner of her eye. He’d circled back to the sidewalk, moving more quickly now that he was fully out of Tatt’s line of sight. She willed him to stop. But he crept over to the Swedish CF and slipped the gun from her holster.
The CF facing Sher was now having to keep an eye on her and Parker. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m thinking with my heart.”
He stared at her. The man holding the gun in her face couldn’t understand. He started to look around in agitation. He needed sense. He needed orders. Sher calculated how much she could move to keep his attention on her without scaring him into shooting. But then they both heard the click of the safety on the gun Bailey had taken. The CF turned.
Before he could aim, before Sher could launch herself into him, the CF was flung backwards. Sher found herself tackling her son. His shot flung her back into Parker before they both crashed into the cement.
“No!” Laylea howled from the porch.
The tatted man lay struggling to gasp in a breath, his gun forgotten, a knife buried to the hilt in his neck.
Bailey tripped forward to reach his mother and nearly collided with Jay racing past them. Jay slid to the CF and wrapped an arm around the man who was panicking, clawing at the hilt as he suffocated. Sher reached up to her own chest in a daze.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Bailey held her, wailing into her suddenly dark hair.
“It’s alright.” Sher coughed. Blood splattered into her hand. “I’ll be okay.” She pushed him away, watching Jay.
Tears pouring down his face, the ex CF held Tatt’s tortured face in his hands. He sang as he snapped the man’s neck and pulled his knife out before laying the body gently to the ground. Sher reached him as he turned away retching. She put a hand on his forehead, forced him to look into her eyes, and spoke low, “Calm.”
Bailey’s fingers went numb. The Swede’s firearm fell from his hand as he focused on the exit wound healing on his mother’s back. The hole in her sweater had been seared by the heat of the passing bullet. Bailey turned.
Parker lay flat on the street. His eyes stared blindly at the sky.
Chapter Forty-Four
Bailey couldn’t help but see Parker the way his father had taught him. He saw no pulse in Parker’s neck. No rise or fall of his chest. His gaze floated up to Davis. Before he could speak Jay knocked him aside.
Jay used the knife still bloody from Tatt’s neck to rip open Parker’s jacket and jersey. Sher slid her hands in before he was done. She glowed with an aura that stood her black hair out like Parker’s afro. Heat rose around her, burned away the clothes touching her hands. It sucked all the moisture out of the air and dried Bailey’s tears.
With a sucking pop, she pulled the bullet from Parker’s body. A quick brush of the wound and Jay tilted the man’s head and breathed into his mouth. Sher ripped open his shirts and healed the wounds but Bailey didn’t see the heart start. He crawled in to start compressions. She pushed him away.
One hand to the sky she pulled energy from every living soul in the street. Bailey felt his heart pulse in his chest, reaching for her. He could hear every heart beat in sync.
Sher slammed her hand down onto Parker’s chest. “LIVE.”
She whispered the word and everyone recoiled, their hearts released.
Parker’s heartbeat deafened Bailey, Jay, and Clark.
Sher collapsed against Jay. Ella broke from her uncle and ran to her daddy. Vasavi cried out against another contraction.
Jay brushed Sher’s hair from her face. “Sher, you have to—”
“Woogie them. I know.”
Parker opened his eyes. He smiled at his crying little girl. “Did I fall down?”
Sher reached a tired hand out to hold Ella’s hand on her Daddy’s bare chest. “You fell down. But now you have to get the nice pregnant lady to the hospital.”
Ella leaned over Parker. She whispered, “Daddy, that lady wet her pants.”
He whispered back, “She’s having a baby, Sweetheart. Go get Grandma’s car, would ya?”
She giggled. “I can’t drive.”
The OLR helped Parker to his feet. “I’ll drive. Come on, Vasavi. Time to be a woman.”
Jay helped Sher stand as the renters joined the small crowd. Shaking Davis’ hand she woogied him. “We’re lucky you noticed her stumble. The baby could have been hurt.” She put an arm around Vasavi and hand on Jon’s back, ushering them along. “You can trust the Ruckers. They’re good neighbors.”
Parker helped Davis while Jon and Ella walked with Vasavi. Sher reached a hand out to the OLR but Letitia pulled her into a hug, “Do what you must but you can’t make me forget what you’ve done for my family.”
Sher stumbled. She leaned out of the hug to meet Letitia’s eyes. “Your family will always be safe in your home.”
“Hm.” Old Lady Rucker looked away at her rose bushes. She watched as the neighbors skirted the SUVs. And when her eyes were clear, she turned back to Sher. “Roses are a mess. You bury Woodford where he always liked to dig.”
She patted Sher on the shoulder and then hustled after her boys, past the SUVs, and out of the neighborhood.
Sher took Jay’s hands in hers. “Hi, Jay.”
He kissed her bloody cheek. “Hi, Sher.”
“Thanks for coming to visit.” She crushed Jay’s hand. “Time to finish what we started?”
He nodded. “First take care of Clark. And Woodford.” He offered Bailey a hand up. “Help her.”
Jay swallowed his gorge as he checked King’s pulse, closed his eyes. He checked each of the six remaining invaders to verify the Still order held. Tears sprung to his eyes but his stomach stayed calm when he knelt by the Asian. The CF’s Still order would hold forever. Jay cursed the Consortium.
The Ricks’ cat dashed from under their azalea bushes. She leapt at the Still dog by Walter’s side, batting him with extended claws. Laylea bared her teeth. She growled.
“Stop it, cat!”
“I got it.” Jay gratefully turned away from the dead men. He kept low, moving slowly. “Ts ts ts. Here kitty, kitty.”
The Rick’s cat whacked Bayard’s muzzle one more time. She flipped around in mid-air to aim the same claw at Jay. He hissed at her. Another amazing contortion and she landed already running full out back to her roof.
“What an unpleasant
creature.”
Laylea looked up at Sher and Clark. “See?”
She pressed Bailey’s t-shirt against the wound in Woodford’s side even though the blood had stopped flowing. She didn’t even notice Bailey wrap his hands around hers. Frozen Clark held all her attention.
Sher brushed a hand down her husband’s back and set another on his forehead.
“You’re free,” she whispered.
Clark wrapped her in his arms. He dropped down to squeeze Laylea and Bailey into the desperate hug.
Bailey broke away. “Mom. Save Woodford.”
“I can’t.” And there was no arguing with the despair in her voice.
“She saved Parker.” Bailey shoved his father’s arm off his shoulders.
“Parker’s human, Bailey.” Sher took Bailey’s place trying to pry Laylea’s fingers away from her fur brother. “You know I can’t—hip.” Sher sat up, a surge of energy lit her face. She dove over Woodford to lay her bloody hands on Laylea’s left hip.
“Hey Sheriff, if you’re fixing things, I’ve been running for two days. My legs could use some of your magic touch.” Jay stood at the foot of the steps with the Still dog in his arms. “You guys have any rope?”
Bailey pulled Laylea’s collar and leash from the go bag still slung over his shoulder and tossed it down. Laylea unclipped Woodford’s woven collar and threw that to him. “This one’ll fit better.”
Jay smiled.
“Thanks, kids.” He collared the dog and laid it in the grass, slipping the leash around a porch rail before he clipped it onto the collar. “I actually meant so I can tie up these guys before the cops get here. I don’t want to have to steal Clark’s jewelry again.”
“There’s rope in the garage.” Clark rubbed Sher’s back. He brushed Woodford with one hand as he leaned over to kiss Laylea’s head. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
The two CF went around to the driveway.
Sher caught the glint in Trask’s eyes. “Forget about it.” She walked down the steps. “You’re never getting them back.” Sher turned from Trask and bent to the still dog. She gripped his nape with one hand while she placed the other carefully over his small face, “You can move.”
The body relaxed and Sher tensed, slipping her hand down to hold his muzzle in case he tried to attack. Bayard rolled off his side. He sat up and looked at Walter. But he made no move against Sher.
“He won’t bite you, mom.” Laylea watched through the stair rails.
The scarred dog looked up at Sher. Sher released his muzzle and he lay down. She adjusted the collar so the fur didn’t stick up around it and then turned to deal with Trask.
“That’s my brother’s collar.” Laylea told Bayard. “He was a good dog.”
Bayard turned his eyes to watch his old friend, Lieutenant Lazar, now called Felix. He was glad the man hadn’t hurt anyone. He wouldn’t like to do that.
Sher took her time approaching Trask. She noted the scars covering the woman’s face. She brushed back her strategic bangs to see the worst of it. Then she circled away, unwilling to stay in such close proximity.
“You didn’t even know I was here. You were coming for Theta.” She searched the two leaders but found neither carried a gun. “I never thought of using him as bait.”
She’d watched her son take the Swede’s gun so she turned her eyes on the Asian. He lay flat where Davis had kicked him, his hands still up, still holding the knife to the missing Ella’s throat. Sher unsnapped the holster at his side. She took his gun, avoiding his sightless eyes.
“Hey, might not be so hard for me to use a stun gun.” Jay stopped by Trask. “I’ll just take this.”
Clark wrapped rope around Trask’s ankles.
“Don’t bother, Clark.” Sher flipped off the safety.
Clark and Jay exchanged a glance. They backed away as Sher approached with the gun gripped tightly in both hands.
Jay hummed. Clark asked, “What are you gonna do?”
Sher faced Trask. “I’m addressing a problem.”
Jay couldn’t help himself. “Hello, Problem.”
Clark saw Walter’s pupils dilate in defiance of Sher’s magic. “But you wrote this great song.”
“That song is for you.”
“The song should be for everybody, Sheriff.” Jay resumed humming.
She raised the weapon.
“Mom?” Laylea pulled herself upright.
“Go inside, Laylea. Bailey, take your sister inside.”
“No, Mom.” Sher looked over at her son. His hair flashed blue. “Aren’t there rules?”
She turned back to Trask. “That’s why I’m not using magic.”
Walter’s pupils grew wider.
“Mom, not her. Orders.” Laylea’s words devolved into a growl. She clung to the post.
Bailey interpreted. “Trask gives the orders, right? So the Consortium will just replace her.”
Jay laid a hand on Sher’s shoulder. “They’re right. We can do more good if we let these two lead us to their bosses.”
Sirens reminded them Vasavi had tried to call 911. Sher’s arms shook.
“We can’t kill her. We can’t let the cops get them.” Clark stood beside her, facing the face of all the evil Sher had done, to him, to Jay, to so many others. “Let’s get the Consortium, Sher. Let’s get them all.”
“I promised you I’d keep Bailey safe.”
“He’ll be safer at school than with us now.”
The gun lowered. Jay took it from Sher. He flipped the safety and wiped it clean before tucking it into the Swede’s holster. “Let’s get them all into one vehicle before you—”
Sher punched Trask’s face. Clark leapt forward to catch the supervisor of Homo Sapiens Research.
“Sheriff you have to fix that. She’s gonna wonder how she got a broken nose.”
“She got it in the car accident that killed three of her volunteers.”
“No, we have to leave them here.” Jay’s tone lost all its laughter. “Their DNA might get them back to their families.”
Sher looked around at the dead bodies and the blood. Without looking at Trask, she placed a hand on her face.
“Bailey, get the cat-man.” Sher rubbed a hand on down Trask’s chest and then Walter’s to relax their muscles. Clark caught them.
Sher did the same to help Jay carry Dr. Jones and the Swede. When Bailey arrived with the running form of Felix, she fixed him too. Jay and Bailey fit the volunteers into the back seat and belted them in while Sher wrestled Trask into the driver’s seat. She leaned in to adjust the seat and caught Walter’s eyes watching her.
“You’re a witch,” he mumbled. “That’s how you made our best warriors.”
“Shh, Walter. She only calls me that in bed.” Clark clicked the seat belt over his lap.
Walter flipped his eyes to Theta. “I’ll find Laylea, you know. After all, she’s my daughter.”
“She’s a dog,” Clark pointed out.
“Well, her mother was a bitch.”
Sher snapped her fingers in front of Trask’s face. “Trask, does Walter have any children?”
“He has puppies. He slept with a were dog.”
“Is Walter a shapeshifter?”
“No.” Trask rolled her head to the side to look at Walter. “But he thinks his great grandfather was a bear.” She laughed.
Jay piped up from the back, “Can you make him forget all about Laylea?”
Clark answered, “It would be too extensive. They came here looking for her.”
“He’d be so messed up people would notice,” Bailey added.
Sher grabbed a fistful of Walter’s hair to turn his face toward hers. “Walter, Laylea is not your daughter and she will never be your subject.” She released the man and gestured for Jay, Clark, and Bailey to back out of the SUV before she snapped her fingers again and addressed the Consortium visitors. “You found no one in Foothills. You sent King, 511, and 251 to search for Theta and the dog. When you hear,” she looked arou
nd, “the airhorn you will go back to the office. No one is following you. You are perfectly safe.”
Sher backed out of the SUV and slammed the driver’s door. Bailey dashed over to get the OU airhorn from the Rucker’s yard.
“Anything else?” Sher looked from Jay to Clark.
Jay took the airhorn from Bailey. “Say goodbye to your kids. I’ll pull the other SUV around.”
Clark spun to stare at the porch. Laylea had made it down to the third step. Bailey jogged to the house.
He shouted over his shoulder, “I’ll take care of her, Dad.”
Sher took Clark’s hand. “She’ll be safe with him.”
“Yeah, but we just met her.”
“No, Dad.” With her brother’s help, Laylea met them on the sidewalk. “I’m still me.”
He pulled her into a hug that left her feet dangling in the air. He ignored the sirens.
“I’ll get the car.” Bailey ran for the driveway. Sher followed.
“You’re not mad you can’t come with us?” She helped him drag open the garage doors.
“I can’t, Mom. I don’t know what I am but I think everyone was safer when I was blue and locked in the house.” He threw his bike in the truck bed.
“Take mine for Laylea.” Sher pulled the two go bags from the bed to make room. She tossed them at her feet on the passenger seat floor.
Bailey tossed hers in as well and climbed into the driver’s side. His mother wore her curly black hair and green eyes.
“I tried that hiding from the world thing. I liked it. I liked just being your mother.” She put a hand on his knee as he pulled up to the curb and then lifted it away. “You take your time to just be Laylea’s brother. I think that’s gonna be a lot right now.”
Clark opened her door. “The sirens are getting closer.”
Sher handed him the bags.
Bailey ran up the porch steps while Sher helped Laylea into the truck. He lifted Woodford.
“No.” Clark stopped him. “You can’t take him.”
“We can’t leave him here.” Bailey held the dog to his heart. “I’m leaving Thomas. I won’t leave Woodford.”
“You can’t risk having him in the truck if the cops stop you.”
WereHuman - The Witch's Daughter: Consortium Battle book 1 (Wyrdos) Page 31
