by Mel Corbett
Naomi growled, then continued following her brother said. She could just barely taste that strange scent, just at the very outside of her perception knowledge she had caught it once. The slightest of tickles in her throat let her know that it was still there. Finally they turned towards the road. They weren't even really in Davis anymore. They finally emerged on a country road.
"I don't think were in Kansas anymore, Toto."
Naomi rolled her eyes. The scent ended just past the waist high grass where they had emerged from the path. The kidnapper's car had left deep tire tracks in the dirt, but that wasn't helpful. How did she know what kind of car they had? She sniffed the tire tracks and sneezed again. The same smell, but it was stronger. Spoiled cinnamon and old roses, like mildew. She sniffed at the ground where it was strongest, looked at Mindy and tried to get Mindy need to recognize that she needed to know if the vampire could smell the same thing she could.
"I still don't smell it." Mindy looked at her watch. "Great, there's no hope of getting back to the club tonight. Might as well see what else we can find." Mindy knelt to look at the tire tracks. "You know how they do this in movies? Yeah, I'm not that good. I can't even tell you what brand these tires are." She paused a moment and pressed her hand into the track. "They're deep though. Does that mean like a van or something heavy? Hey, is that a footprint over there?" About three feet away from the tire tracks there was a footprint with a small triangle in front and a round little hole in the back. "She snuck up on your little brother and took him out in heels? What a badass."
Naomi growled. The threat was clear.
"Look, I'm not on her side. I'm just asking what happens when you find her on your own and she just takes you out like she took out your little brother? No offense, but you need to work on some kind of defense against her. She must have used something to get your brother under her control and carry him out here. Either she had a lot of help or her mojo's strong enough to make them walk this far." Mindy turned around. "Let's go back to the car, were not going to be able to get very far here, name the friend who should be able to help us." They walked back down the path. "Maybe my friends will even know a little bit about that smell. Weird that I can't smell it. I mean, my nose is sharp. You think you'll be able to recognize it when you're not, you know a wolf?"
Naomi nodded. She was certain of it. She trotted back towards the main part of the bike path.
##
"Who is this friend of yours?" Naomi grunted as she buttoned her slacks. "How do you know we can trust him."
"Well, I don't, which is why we're not going to tell him anything. At least not really. Good thing for you, he lives out in West Sac – "
"He's not – he's not a vamp, is he?" Naomi glanced back over her shoulder at Mindy as she buttoned her shirt. "I don't need any more of you knowing."
"No, Mac's not like me. He's… Well, I guess he's Irish."
"Irish?" Naomi asked, waiting to hear more. When Mindy didn't answer, she switched questions. "How do you even know he'll be up this late?"
"It's always late when I see him. He's a night owl." They started back towards the car. "Doing that shit makes you hungry, right?"
"Yeah, but there's nothing open this late, is there?"
"It's a college town," Mindy answered.
CHAPTER FOUR
THEY PULLED UP TO A patchwork collection of apartments – condos Mindy said, correcting Naomi's train of thought. Red, blue, and green buildings stood neatly in a row. Mindy led them to a green condo. After Mindy flung open the door to his condo, she just stood awkwardly in the doorway. "It's not like I haven't been invited in before," she whispered. "I just won't invade his house without explicit permission every time I visit."
"Mindy?" A stocky red haired man wearing an apron over red sweatpants appeared from the kitchen. "Girl? What are you doing here?"
"My friend Naomi needs some protection. Mind if we come in?"
"I'd like to see you try if I did mind." Mac's smile did not match his words.
"She's not like me. And you invited me before. I just know enough to keep myself outside in case you're up to some crazy shit."
"Glad to know have some respect. Come on in ladies make yourselves at home. Would you like some cookies?" he asked Naomi. He leaned in close. "I know they'd just be wasted on her."
"Thanks. What kind?"
"I got some snickerdoodles just about ready to go in the oven. They'll be done in about ten minutes."
"Sure. Thanks."
"No pranks," Mindy said. Mac winked at Naomi.
"Sit, sit." He grinned and gestured to the new black leather couch. "So what kind of protection are you needing?"
"I don't know. I've never…" Naomi shrugged.
"Someone kidnapped her brother and she's afraid they'll come after her next," Mindy said as she flopped onto the couch. "Since you know she's running around with me, she's obviously not the kind of girl that likes to have the cops involved in her business."
"Of course not. Though somedays I think it would be easier if we could."
"Then they'd be the ones doing the kidnapping." Naomi shuddered at the thought. Her great grandfather had ended up that way. "Lock us up in the lab."
"Perhaps." You could see him changing gears
"Girl, what's your name? And don't lie to me. I don't like that sort of thing." She answered him. "A good name. Now this brother of yours, how was he taken?"
"I don't know much." Naomi didn't want to tell everyone they were wolves, so she had to choose her words carefully. "He goes to UC Davis, and he was on the bike path close to his apartment. I went out there with Mindy. We saw footprint on the ground, a woman's high-heeled shoe where they first caught him. The car was far away, but it didn't look like there'd been a fight and my brother's a strong boy. He would've fought back against the kidnappers."
"You're sure he was kidnapped?" Mac asked.
"The whole place stank of his fear."
"And she got a phone call threatening to kill him."
"They called you?" Mac's eyes widened in surprise. "Why?"
"I don't know. They said they would kill him Monday at nine and then hung up."
"They said more." She nodded. It hadn't really been a question.
"Even called me on his cell phone, but he didn't fight back, and they took him far from where they started."
Mac nodded and waited for more.
"I suspect she charmed him," Mindy said.
"Mindy, this is not your problem. I will deal with the girl's problems by talking to the girl."
"I smelled a strange smell. It made me sneeze. Not much makes me sneeze It was like cinnamon and roses, with just a hint of decay."
"Cinnamon and roses. What are you to perceive magic that way?" He shook his head. "Don't answer that. Some things don't need answering. I suspect what you are is why they took your brother. Don't worry. If she's right, then it's real magic. It's the sort of thing a changeling child might know, or perhaps someone who study sorcery from an old book. Not the sort of thing that those who fancy themselves witches learn in shops these days."
"How do I protect myself against it?"
"It would help to know what you are." Naomi shook her head. She had enough problems with Bry being kidnapped. "Well, part of the battle is simply knowing that you aren't purely human. And it makes it easier for you to resist if you expect it coming." The timer dinged in the kitchen. "Ooh, cookies are done. I'll be the right back." Naomi glanced around the apartment. No TV. The decor had a modernist feel–all blacks and whites. The condo, despite Mac's friendly demeanor, felt lonely with only prints of medieval castles on the walls.
"What is he?" She whispered to Mindy, but Mindy shook her head. Mac was already coming back from the kitchen. He set the plate of cookies on the coffee table and sat across from them. "Mindy, don't even touch these. They're for me and Naomi." He winked at her. "Sometimes she forgets and tries to blend, but it just wastes my cookies and I don't like that." He scooted towards the edge of his
chair as he propped a cookie into his mouth. "Now then, as for wards, these should help. All of my guests usually get something to help protect them from the darkness in the world." He picked up a small basket from the site his chair. "Just put the plate down anywhere when you're done." He rummage through the basket, saying some things aside. "Do you have any allergies I should be aware of? Some things that protect against dark magic are also hindrances for those of us who are entirely human. Like me for instance, iron's just no fun."
"I– Um, I'm sensitive to silver."
"No silver, got it." He tossed a shiny little piece of metal back into the basket and held up a leather headband with a small crystal in the middle of it. Naomi smiled and nodded, even though was a bit flashy for her, but her mom had taught her to always smile for gifts. "Now, this necklace should help, too. See the round spiderweb it's? It's kind of like a dream catcher, except he catches dark magic and not bad dreams. And of course, I'll give you a little bit of my special protection. Stand up for me, that's right and spread out your arms." Naomi stood.
"Mac, I'm serious. No pranks. Give her the good stuff."
"Of course. No jokes. This is serious stuff, I'm sure. I know there's a lot more going on than I've been told. I know about the disappearances."
"Disappearances?" Naomi asked.
"In the last two months, at least three elves, one leprechaun, two changelings, and three vampire fledglings have all disappeared. They aren't dead."
"If my brother's disappearance is related, it will end Monday at nine. They said they would kill him at the Capitol."
"I see. I don't know what to tell you. If I were you, I'd go home, and put my head to sleep for a few hours. You have till Monday, and it will help the wards I've given you time to settle in before you start again tomorrow."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. I get to do what it will take to protect you. Breathe deep, feel the breath in your belly, and don't stop breathing. That is unless your creatures such as that don't really need to breathe."
"I resent that," Mindy said.
"Mindy, darling, you're lovely. You are." He lifted Naomi's arms out so that she stood like a child pretending to be a plane. "Now, darling, about this aura of yours, I'm going to have to touch it. I want you relaxed. Stand straight for me and breathe deep."
Naomi fought the urge to roll her eyes at the aura nonsense.
"Close your eyes," he said and grabbed her shoulder. "Okay, you're ready to go now, just relax.Somewhere above Naomi's head his hand plunged into her. It was an invasion. Naomi gasped.
"Relax and breathe deep," he said again. She focused on breathing deep into her belly like in yoga class. She could feel something, she didn't know what, her very soul? her aura? being moved around. He was forming her aura like a patty, then he ran his hands over the surface again and again. Each time she felt lighter and more energized. Suddenly strength started pouring into her, like cool water being dumped onto her head, but flowing into her and revitalizing her even more. Then the hands were gone. She was standing in his living room, pulse hammering in her throat.
"You're done," he said. "You'll be safe now."
CHAPTER FIVE
"THANKS MINDY," NAOMI SAID AS the bug pulled up to her driveway. "I appreciate you driving me around."
"Not a problem. Hate missing out on tips, but I learned more than I expected going to Mac's." Mindy turned off the key, but the engine kept making noise as it cooled.
"Just–why did they call me and not one of the other victims' families or friends?"
"What makes you think they haven't? Could be they're trying to add you to their collection, too. Maybe they thought that they could get a hold of you if you tried to rescue him on your own."
"Well…"
"I know you're smart enough to not go out there alone, but think about it, Naomi, we don't network. Not really. How many people like us do you know in town? I know a few because I learned to have connections the hard way. It saved my ass more than once, but here's the thing, most of us don't network."
"I have my whole family, my mother–"
Mindy shook her head, cutting her off. "They knew you're enough of an alpha to come to the city on your own."
"I'm not that far."
"You disobeyed your alpha by coming here. Your brother followed you to school."
"That's crazy."
"They knew you wouldn't call in your pack until it was too late. They thought you'd try to handle this on your own, just like you're doing. So make sure to use your network here and keep your head on straight." A bird started to sing and Mindy glanced up at the horizon. "I got to get going. I'm taking your car. Sun'll be up soon and I'm not risking it on foot with all this weird stuff going on. They could be coming after me next, now that they got me in their sights."
"They won't come after you." Naomi shook her head, Mindy was too powerful for them to come after her, Naomi was sure of it.
"They could." Mindy didn't show any sign of emotion.
"Could you sleep here?" Naomi said feeling guilty. "I mean, I don't know if I have any rooms that are blacked out–"
"No. I have this feeling like someone's been watching us all night. You be careful. Text me a warning if you call your mom, that way I can get my happy ass out of town." Naomi nodded vaguely as Mindy drove off in her bug. Was Mindy right about why she hadn't called her mom? Could she be becoming an alpha? No, impossible. Naomi was still part of her mom's pack. She'd call her in the morning, Mom would be hunting now.
CHAPTER SIX
NAOMI RAN THROUGH THE TALL wheat grass on all fours, trying to evade death–rotting death. The scent mingled with cinnamon and roses. The scent of Bryan's fear flooded her nose. His panic only fueled her own. She couldn't even find shelter to hide and barricade herself into. She glanced back, but could see nothing of her pursuer.
A woman giggled as she ran.
Naomi could almost recognize the sickly sweet rose smell. That laugh. She ran, furrowing the dry grass behind her.
The doorbell rang.
She dove into a warren, burrowing deep. The woman laughed again. The warren opened into her office. Naomi crouched low under her chair as the woman's steps approached.
The doorbell rang again.
Light flashed into her eyes. The woman was coming to get Naomi like she had Bryan.
The front door swung open hitting the wall with the bang. Birds chirped outside. Naomi shielded her eyes from the sun.
"Good morning sweetie!" her mother called out. Naomi groaned as she pulled herself up. "I decided to take you up on your offer!" Naomi stumbled to the living room to find her mother and three young weres she'd never seen before.
"What are you doing here so early?"
"Early? What are you talking about? It's nearly ten." Naomi rolled her eyes. Mom had no idea. "I figured if Mohammed wouldn't come to the mountain, I could bring the mountain to Mohammed. Now, you just look like death warmed over."
"Mom–"
"I should get to making breakfast. That'll help you get going," her mother said, interrupting her.
"Mom."
"There's eggs and cheese in the fridge, right?"
"MOM, I have some bad news. I don't want to tell them–"
"Just spit it out. We're all family here. It must be related to work," she said turning to the men. "These boys are just visiting from Klamath. You remember my second cousin Betty and her family?" Naomi suddenly realize the reason she hadn't told mom was that she was afraid of her reaction. Mom had always been the disciplinarian. She was all claws and teeth and cruel tongue. Before Naomi could squeeze in another word her mother took over the kitchen. "Before your bad news, we'd better get some breakfast into all of you." She pulled a pan out from under the sink. "First things first. You boys should introduce yourselves while I get cooking. Then, when I'm ready we'll get to the serious business."
"Mom," Naomi said, trying to interrupt. Talking to her mother was like talking to a brick wall.
"T
hese boys are only in town for a couple of weeks. You will talk to them and keep them entertained. Especially since there's no man in your life."
"Mom!"
"There comes a time in every woman's life–"
Naomi flushed. "Mom. I get it. I've been to sex ed. I went to college."
"But you need a wolf, not a human male." She leaned in close to Naomi and whispered, "A human boy won't satisfy you the way that your mate will."
"Mom!"
"Just go meet the boys, nothing has to happen. Now darling, I need a bowl to mix eggs in." Naomi fished a bowl out of the cabinet hoping she could get a word in. "Go and talk to those boys. They're nice boys, and now go." She shoved Naomi towards the living room. Stunned and feeling even more exhausted, Naomi collapsed into her dealing-with-Mom chair. Her living room looked tiny with the three overgrown male wolves in it. The tall blonde had taken over her couch. He was too much of a pretty boy. A dark skinny man seriously studied her bookshelf. The other armchair had been taken over by a farm boy in a plaid shirt. His nose looked crooked, probably from too many dominance fights with his brothers. He must have been self-conscious of her eyes on him because he was the first to talk with an awkward hi.
"So… Are you guys brothers?" Naomi asked. She really wanted to get her mom alone to tell her about Bryan, but it didn't look like that was going to happen for a while.
"First cousins actually," the tall blonde said from the couch.
"From Betty's pack up in Klamath?"
"Aunt Megan said you work for some kind of environmental firm?" nosy bookcase guy asked. Naomi nodded. "What's that like? Is that what the bad news is?
