Ricochet

by Cheree Alsop

  I asked what had been bothering me with the hope that it wouldn’t make things worse. “Where’s your family? Shouldn’t we tell them what happened?”

  She shook her head. “There’s no one to tell. At least no one in the country.” At my questioning look, she explained, “My dad’s in the military and my mom went to France with her sister. My younger brother’s at college and we barely see him when he’s home.” Her jaw jutted forward and then back slightly as if she chewed on her words before she said, “I’m used to being alone.”

  “Me, too,” I admitted. “Sometimes I like it like that.”

  A slight smile touched her lips and she nodded without looking at me. “It’s not bad. I have a lot of freedom, I guess.” Then her smile fell and she said, “But it’s nice to have someone who cares when something happens to you.” Her fingers stopped their tracing and she turned to face me directly. “Zev, what happened to me last night?”

  My breath caught in my throat. If I had known this was where her questioning would go, I would have left the room when I had the chance. I looked around for an excuse to leave.

  She must have read something in my gaze because she said, “Don’t lie to me. I feel like everyone has been skirting the truth, but I expect the truth from you.”

  Her statement caught me off-guard. I asked, “Why?”

  She bit her lip for a second, then released it and said, “You have a handsomely honest face.”

  I gave a self-conscious chuckle and replied, “I hope that’s a good thing.”

  She nodded. “It is.”

  It wasn’t a great segue for me to lie to her. Instead, I attempted to put off the truth as long as I could. “What do you remember?”

  Isley’s eyes closed. It was something I had never done in the presence of other werewolves at the Lair. Any sign of weakness was a target. Closing my eyes would have left me open to attack. The sight of a human doing so without a conscious thought to the danger reminded me of how different we were.

  “I was running. I love to run. It’s how I let off steam and I sleep a lot better at night when I do.” She glanced at me. “My mom always says it’s dangerous. I don’t want to admit she was right.”

  I couldn’t help smiling at her annoyed tone. I sat back in the chair and said, “I like running. I know how you feel.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Is that why you were there that night? You were running?”

  I nodded without expounding.

  She tightened the knot in one of the yarn puffs that came from the center of a fabric square on the quilt. “Well that makes sense. It’s nice to know there’s two of us crazies out there.” She glanced at me with a sideways smile.

  I smiled back but didn’t know what to say.

  She tightened another knot, then said, “I remember being chased. Something was following me, but I couldn’t see exactly what it was.” The burnt wood scent of her fear touched the air when she said, “I only remember white eyes, like zombies or ghosts or something. I could see them behind me, but I couldn’t outrun them.”

  A tremor chased down my limbs at the memory of coming upon them. The way they moved with a deadly, catlike grace, the sound of the claws against the pavement, and the hisses that emanated from their fanged mouths swarmed my mind.

  “I screamed, but no one came.” She closed her eyes and tears squeezed from the corners. “I ran until I couldn’t run anymore. I tried to get help at a house, but they wouldn’t answer their door, and then the creatures were on me. I thought I was going to die. One of them bit me and I started screaming again.” Her breath caught, then she said, “That’s when I heard the wolf.” Tears filled her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. “Its howl was the most terrible sound I have ever heard. I keep hearing it and seeing his teeth when he snarled. It won’t leave my thoughts.”

  She closed her eyes and a single tear broke free to trail down her cheek. I fought back the urge to wipe it away and clenched my hands instead.

  She continued with, “He leaped at me and I-I think I blacked out.” She opened her eyes and wiped the tear away. “Then I woke up in your arms. You were carrying me. I couldn’t say anything. I’m not even sure I was really awake, but the creatures were gone and even with the pain in my arm that hurt worse than anything I’ve ever felt before, I felt safe.” She lowered her head and glanced at me out of the corner of her eye as if she was embarrassed to finish with, “I can’t explain it.”

  I hadn’t carried her. I had only phased to human form long enough fish the phone from her pocket and call the Willards. I had been in wolf form again by the time they arrived. I couldn’t explain why she had a memory of me carrying her when it had never happened. But telling her that would also leave questions as to what I had done when I was there, and I refused to take that direction.

  I swallowed past the tightness that knotted my throat and said, “I’m glad I could help you.”

  She tipped her head to look at me more directly. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

  I hesitated, then shook my head. “I don’t think I should.”

  She sighed. “I want to argue with you, but something tells me I should just accept it.”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” I replied with relief.

  I stood and was about to leave when she said, “I can’t sleep because I keep having nightmares.”

  I waited with my back to her and forced myself to say, “Nightmares about what?”

  “Wolves,” she replied.

  My heart fell.

  She continued with, “A big wolf, to be specific. The one who jumped at me. It stands over me growling. I just know it’s going to tear my heart out. It bends its head and the growls get louder, and then, and then I wake up.” She blinked away tears of true terror. “Is that what attacked me, Zev? Was it a wolf?”

  I let out a shaky breath and glanced at her. “It doesn’t look like a wolf bite on your arm; at least, I don’t think so.”

  She nodded, but I could tell by the doubt in her eyes that she didn’t believe me. That look made me ache to the core. If she thought a big, bad wolf attacked her, I wasn’t sure what I could say that would change her mind.

  “You should get some sleep,” I told her.

  She nodded again and settled back down in the bed. My last glimpse of her was of her hands trembling as she pulled the blankets up to her chin.

  Her voice shook when I heard her whisper, “I know it was a wolf.”

  I shut the door and walked back up the hall. My heart pounded with frustration that didn’t have an outlet. It didn’t feel fair that I had fought the felguls only to have me be the source of her nightmares. How was the world to ever accept werewolves if just the sight of one could cause so much terror?

  A howl caught my ear and tore me from my dark train of thought. I ran to the front door and threw it open. Mitch reached me with Alia close behind.

  “Where is it?” he asked.

  I listened to another howl, then a third.

  “West,” I said, following the sound. “Let’s go.”

  “We’ll head to the corner of the road,” Virgo called out from the kitchen.

  “Be careful!” Mrs. Stein echoed.

  “We will,” Alia promised.

  James met us at the car. Mitch and I climbed into the back and Alia slid in next to Mitch. There were enough weapons on the floor to supply a small werewolf army if things went wrong. I could only hope there wouldn’t be a need for them.

  Ian ran to the passenger door, but James shook his head.

  “You have to stay.”

  “But I want to help!” Ian protested.

  “It’s not safe,” James told his brother. “I promised Mom.”

  “That’s not fair,” Ian said. “I always get left behind!”

  James tousled his brother’s hair.

  Ian pushed him away.

  “Listen,” James told his brother. “Finish high school first. There’s plenty of danger there. Trust me. I barely survived it.”


  “Yeah, yeah,” Ian said with a frustrated sigh.

  “Here,” James said. He held out a pistol. “This is loaded with Dad’s silver bullets. Protect Mom and Aspen.”

  “I will,” Ian said, his expression brighter. He tucked it in the waistband of his pants and pulled his shirt over it. “Don’t worry. I’ll only use it if there’s trouble.”

  James put the car into gear and drove us out of the driveway.

  “Do you think that’s smart?” Alia asked.

  “What?” James replied innocently as he steered the car onto the road.

  “You just gave an untrained seventeen-year-old a gun,” his sister pointed out.

  “I did,” James said. “But I might have fibbed one part.”

  Alia shot him a suspicious look. “What part?”

  James grinned. “The part about the bullets being silver. It’s the same gun you shot me with, so it’s loaded with tranquilizers. He can still protect the house but—”

  “But if he shoots himself in the foot, he’ll just knock himself out,” Alia said with a smile spreading across her face. She sat back in the seat. “Good job, James.”

  He pressed the gas pedal to the floor and the car sped up.

  “West puts us on the opposite side of Brickwell,” Alia said. She looked at me. “Are you sure this wraith thing is going to work?”

  “It’ll work,” I replied. I just hoped it didn’t work too well.

  I glanced at Mitch and saw that he was thinking the same thing. He shot me a worried look and I nodded. We would face the worst case scenario if it came to that. For now, the vampire and the felguls were our focus.

  “Look, there they are,” James said in an awed tone.

  I looked out the door to see werewolves in wolf form flanking the road on either side of us. They ran through the shadows, easily keeping pace with the car using their werewolf strength. I longed to be out there with them. If the next part didn’t require me to be in human form, I would have jumped out the window to join them.

  “They’re guiding us,” James said.

  Ahead, a group of four wolves stood in the road, barring it so that James was forced to turn right down another road. This one was gravel and we slid to the side when James took it without slowing.

  “Seriously, James,” Alia scolded. “I’d like to survive the journey!”

  James slowed. “Maybe you wouldn’t,” he replied with his eyes on the road ahead.

  We followed his gaze and Alia gasped. Mitch’s hand tightened on the seat in front of us so that his knuckles showed white.

  “Here we go,” he said.

  The car stopped. I opened the door to the enraged growls of werewolves surrounding half a dozen felguls. The cat creatures paced in the middle of the circle and swiped at the werewolves. Most were fast enough to jump back out of reach, but a few bodies lay in the shadows. The thought that they had just received their names sent rage through me.

  I left the car and called out, “Here, kitty, kitty.”

  The wolves parted to either side of the felguls so that they faced me directly. The lead cat let out a hiss and bared her teeth. Her white eyes glowed eerily in the darkness.

  I lifted my voice. “We have your pets. Show yourself.”

  “You have nothing.”

  The voice made my skin prickle. I spun to look behind me, but only James and Alia stood there. The pallor of their faces said that they had heard the voice, too.

  “Show yourself,” I said between gritted teeth.

  A werewolf yelped. The darkness between the trees parted and a creature swathed in shadows stepped forward. The werewolf in his right hand hung dead, but the one in the left still struggled. I could see the blood that marked her fur from the vampire’s fangs. Mismatched eyes rolled backwards and Willow stopped trying to free herself.

  “Let her go!” I shouted.

  The vampire’s bat-like face appeared from the shadows that clung to him like a robe. His too-wide smile opened, showing the rows upon rows of hollow fangs that were perfect for draining a victim of its blood.

  “She was dead the moment I touched her,” the vampire said. His voice clawed through my mind like a rabid weasel. I winced at the sound and saw the werewolves around me do the same.

  “Get out of our heads,” I growled, stalking forward. “You’re not our Master.”

  ”You’re a feisty one, aren’t you?” the vampire said. “I’ll enjoy sucking the breath from your lungs.”

  “My breath?” I said.

  The Master’s words about his other brethren rushed through my mind. None besides him were blood-drinkers; instead, they depended on other forms of nourishment. That was why Willow had been dead the moment he touched her. He had drained the oxygen from her body and had cut her throat so she couldn’t draw anymore. A final gurgle escaped from her and my heart constricted painfully.

  The vampire tossed both of the werewolves to the ground as if they were worthless. The thud of their bodies made my muscles tighten with the need for revenge.

  “Yes,” the vampire said, drawing closer. His felguls tried to free themselves of the werewolf circle and join him, but one motion of his finger made them sit in silence. He kept his glowing orange eyes on me. “The last breath is the sweetest. It contains their memories and thoughts, hopes and dreams. I feel their fear at the last moment, and it gives me such strength.” He smiled and it pulled his lips completely away from his teeth. “My brothers have missed out on the best part. I always told Alioran that blood was messy and he should give it up for the life breath, but he never listened to me.”

  “He’s anxious to see you,” I said. Playing nice with the vampire made me sick, especially given the bodies behind him, but I knew many others would follow if I couldn’t keep up the charade.

  The vampire’s eyes lit up with interest. “Really? Why? I thought he would be worried.”

  “He said he had a feud to mend,” I lied. “He sent us to guide you to the Lair first thing.”

  The vampire’s head tipped to the side. “Then you wouldn’t mind freeing my pets? Common courtesy, you know.”

  I forced a weak smile and replied, “Of course not.”

  At my nod, the werewolves backed off. Several looked at the bodies and I could see their want to make the vampire pay for his insolence. But the ease with which he had killed our brother and sister held them back. I hoped their temperance would last long enough.

  The felguls joined their Master. They rubbed their faces along his shadowed cowl like housecats and emitted fawning sounds that made my stomach roll over. I had never liked cats. The fact that these could kill with a single bite made me dislike them even more.

  “I’m sure Alioran wouldn’t mind if I picked up a few snacks along the way,” the vampire said. “I’ve come such a long distance and I really am famished.”

  I knew he was testing me. I felt him probing in my mind, checking for weaknesses or any sign that I was lying to him. I kept my mind carefully free of any indication that I was doing something other than my Master’s explicit command. I kept my heartbeat steady and said in a level voice, “He insisted that I bring you to him directly. He has sustenance for you at the Lair. Trust me when I say he has prepared a special treat.”

  That caught the vampire’s attention. Another feral smile slithered across his face and he said, “Alioran always did have a flair for the theatrical.”

  You have no idea, I thought, then quickly smothered it. The vampire shot me a searching look, but I gave him an innocent smile and motioned for him to follow me.

  “We’re not taking the car?” he asked. “I thought perhaps you had come to escort me in style.”

  The thought of him with James and Alia made me shake my head quickly. “No, um,” my thoughts raced, “I don’t have access to transportation as fine as you deserve. Besides, the path we are taking cuts along the outside of this town. He wanted you to avoid any nasty run-ins with the citizens. They’re a suspicious lot.”

 
; Mrs. Stein’s words about the paranormal burial ground lingered in my mind. I hoped the reference to the humans’ suspicions would be enough to turn the vampire away. He had no doubt faced the same type of hostilities. I wondered if he had been locked away as my Master had. I hoped so.

  A visible shudder ran over the vampire and he said, “Humans are such tenacious creatures when they’ve caught wind of something. Alioran is right to avoid those closest to his Lair. I’ll respect his wishes, though loathingly.”

  I led the way around Brickwell. The vampire stalked at my side, his felguls close enough to touch. One snarled when it drew near and I swore it was the same creature that had bitten Isley.

  “Enough,” the vampire scolded.

  The felgul slunk away from me to its Master’s other side.

  Elioran shook his head at me. “Slaves. You can only demand so much from them.” I felt him studying me and kept my face carefully averted when he said, “Your Master chose well. I never thought the benefits of choosing a were creature would also give the opportunity for conversation. I grow so tired of hearing myself speak.”

  I doubted it, but chose not to say so.

  When we reached the edge of the woods, I pointed out the path the werewolves had marked.

  “This is it. My Master is anxiously awaiting your arrival.”

  The vampire eyed me closely and I worried I had pushed it too far until he said, “He says so in your mind, does he? Alioran’s reach was always much better than mine, a fact he liked to point out as often as possible when he lured our victims.” He shook his head. “Disagreeable brother. Why am I meeting him again?”

  I sensed another trap and said, “He didn’t say, only that I was to bring you to him.” I gave an innocent shrug and said in a self-deprecating tone, “I’m just a werewolf. He doesn’t tell us more than we need to know.”

  “Smart,” Elioran said. “Never confide to the guards, that’s what I say.” He gestured toward the felguls. “Of course, mine don’t have the habit of forming packs and relationships. Another reason I chose them over your kind.”

  “Wise decision,” I agreed lightly.