by Zara Novak
“Damn!” Sophia hollered over his shoulder. “That’ll throw them off for a few minutes! How did you do that!?”
He didn’t offer a response. Years of bounty work gave him a quick mind. It was his specialty to chase people down, and he knew every trick there was for putting up a good run.
“You need to remember where this base is fast!” He growled while trying to put as much distance between them and the pack. “They’ll pick up our scent fast. I don’t know if you noticed, but the sun will be up soon too. If the Wolves don’t get us, the light will. Where is the base?!”
“I’m thinking!” She cried. “They’re always at the base of trees. Disguised entrances. You have to be right on top of them to enter!”
Edmund felt like snarling. In a forest full of trees, what were the chances they would stumble across something like that? So much for looking after this precious Belmont girl. They were both as good as dead.
The ground disappeared as Edmund’s feet came into contact with the hidden trap door. They both plummeted down the shaft, hitting a cushioned floor at its bottom. The door overhead closed, shutting out the picture of the dawn forest and leaving only black. Edmund was on his back, and Sophia had somehow landed neatly on top of him, her legs on either side of his, her hands on his chest. Everything was quiet, everything was dark. There was only them.
“Good news Edmund.” She squeaked. “I think we found the base.”
13
Ruth woke in a strange bed. As soon as consciousness came about, she jumped up and landed on her feet. The window on her right looked over the skyline of the keep, and a light pattering of rain fell against the glass outside.
“Finally up then?”
She turned to see Logan leaning in the door, wearing the red uniform of the Circle, drinking from a cup of coffee. “I brought you a drink.”
Ruth took the warm cup of fresh blood and thanked him. She drank it all down without stopping, breathing a sigh of contentment as the ache in her temples faded away. With a wary eye on Logan, she looked down, and saw she was still wearing her sewer scraps. It hadn't been long since she’d woken naked, strapped to a table in the back of a vampire bar. Since then she’d often woken feeling scared. There was a blank in her memory now, and it did nothing to help ease that feeling.
“Where are we? What happened?”
Yellow flared in his eyes, and it all came rushing back to her. Her jaw trembled, and she scattered back across the room until the wall was against her back.
“Easy there.” Logan didn’t move, he simply held up his hand. “I won't hurt you. What’s wrong?”
“You turned into a giant fucking wolf. That’s what’s wrong. Just what in the hell are you?”
“I’m a shifter, I can turn into a wolf.” He said it so calmly, so matter of fact it seemed insane to her.
“None of this is real.” She said. “I was having a hard enough time contemplating the whole vampire thing, now you’re telling me werewolves exist too?!”
“I’m not a werewolf.” He laughed. “Werewolves exist, but they’re different. They’re tied to the moon. Shifters, we can change whenever we want.”
Morbid curiosity surged inside of her. “Doesn’t it hurt?”
He shrugged. “You get used to it. The shifting process can be uncomfortable, but there is nothing better than being in my wolf form.”
There was a tide of confusing emotions inside of her. Fear, anger, attraction, curiosity. How could she process all this at once and try to reconcile what she was thinking?
“You’re freaked out, and that’s okay.” He said. “It’s my fault, I should have let you know. I assumed you would know as you're a vampire.”
“Why?”
“We’re kind of mortal enemies, you and I. Well… our kinds. You’re not my enemy. You seem all right.”
“We’re enemies?”
“Shifters and vampires don’t get on, like… at all.”
“But you work for the Circle?”
“Temporarily. It’s an unusual arrangement. But the offer was good. Then Vangzali betrayed me. That’s why we don’t trust vampires. Lesson learned.”
She looked around the room. “Where are we?”
“After you passed out, I chased down the group of guards and killed them. One of them had a key card that led back to this place. It’s safe enough for now, but we must get a move on soon.”
Ruth nodded. “Is it safe being around you?”
“Safe?” He asked. “Safe how?”
She wasn’t sure. “It’s just… you turned into a fucking giant wolf Logan. Like… giant. How do I know that it’s safe to be around you? Do you control that thing?”
“It’s natural to be repulsed by my shifter form,” he said reluctantly. “Vampires and shifters don’t get on, it’s probably in your blood to hate me.”
“I don’t hate you and I’m not repulsed.” She stressed. “I just want to make sure I can trust you, that’s all. I'm still new to this Logan, you’ll have to forgive me for not having all the answers.”
The room they were in was a decent size. Ruth was still pressed against the back wall. Logan stepped forward into the room, setting his cup down on the side. “Then allow me to show you.” He pulled his uniform off, stripping until he was naked. It alarmed her how carefree he was with his body. His eyes caught hers and he seemed to notice this.
“You get used to being naked when you’re a shifter. Nudity is just a part of life for my people. We wear clothes in human form, because being naked as a human is cold, but in between that, a little nudity bothers no one.”
He closed his eyes and took a long breath, his body twisted and changed, growing and darkening as the black fur underneath his skin pushed out. Ruth’s eyes almost bulged all the way out of her skull as she watched the transformation take place. After a few seconds, Logan had gone and the giant wolf was there taking his place once more. Fear spiked through her body as a natural reaction, and the vampire inside of her was screaming for her to run.
It’s okay. A soothing voice said inside of her mind. I won't hurt you. Promise. Come closer, I’ll show you.
“Your voice is in my mind.” She gasped, remembering hearing his voice just before she passed out. “How are you doing that?”
It’s only something I can do in wolf form. Come, touch me, I promise I won’t bite.
She pushed herself off the wall and took a few slow steps to the giant wolf blocking the doorway. He stood there almost still, ears up, his keen yellow eyes on hers. Stood there, he nearly reached her shoulders. She placed a hand on the soft fur below his ear and stroked down his body.
“It’s so soft.” She gasped. “It’s beautiful.”
To her surprise, Logan leaned his head into her hand and she scratched under his ear, tickling him.
That feels good. Keep doing that.
Ruth couldn’t help but let out a laugh, a noise that sounded strange to her. She realized it was the first time she had laughed since coming to the Keep.
I promise I will never hurt you, in my human or wolf form. I will only protect you. To get out of here, we need to work together, so I need you to trust me.
The wolf stepped forward, nudging his wet nose under her hands. It was a gentle movement, but she could sense the raw strength in his powerful neck. He was like a lion and a bear in one.
Do you trust me Ruth?
“I do.” She said without hesitation. As bizarre as this all was, she never got the impression that Logan was out to hurt her. Vampires and shifters might be enemies, but they were friends. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her.
He dropped his head, stepped back, and the wolf melted away. A few seconds later, Logan was standing there in front of her, human, and back to his normal size. A quick glance down to his crotch made her re-think that comment. Mostly normal anyway.
“I still don’t understand why you need me.” She asked. “You seemed to survive okay without me, what can I do to help?”
“I’ve been wa
tching you the past few weeks Ruth, and I’ve seen you use your power. You don’t realize you have it, but you do. You have the same power as me.”
“What are you talking about? I’m not a shifter.”
Logan shook his head and stepped back. With his arms at his side, he took a breath and looked at Ruth. Her vision went out of focus, or at least she thought it did. Logan's body blurred into softness and then he vanished. A second later he was back, but he was on the other side of the room.
“Okay, I was just getting used to the wolf thing.” Ruth said. “What the actual fuck?”
“Some shifters have powers in human form. I’ve always been able to make myself invisible. That’s how I’ve avoided capture while here. I’ve been watching you Ruth, and I’ve seen you do it too.”
“Don’t be stupid.” She said. “I can’t go invisible.”
“Think of all the close encounters you’ve had with guards. Moments when they should have seen you but didn’t. You think it was all just coincidence?”
She thought it over. There had been a lot of close calls. At one point she could have sworn that a guard looked right through her.
“But how?”
“You will it to happen. You will yourself to be invisible. I put you in that dead end situation earlier to evoke your powers, but it didn’t work. That was my bad.”
“Maybe you’re just wrong.”
“I’m not.” He said. “And you know I’m not. Invisibility is fine, but I still produce a scent, and Vangzali was my captor. She would spot me if I got too close. She doesn’t know you. If you use your power, you can get close and get that locket off her.”
Ruth nodded to herself. “I can try Logan, but I’m still not convinced about all this.”
The rain picked up outside, battering against the tall glass windows in broad sheets.
“You’ll pick it up, I swear. For now let’s make a move to the archives. Vangzali has her appointment there later this morning. The best thing we can do right now is to get close to her. There’s another uniform for you on the side. Let’s get dressed, and I’ll meet you outside.”
Her ‘uniform’ was a skin tight red spandex leotard, which fit close to her body. She walked into the main apartment and Logan’s mouth dropped.
“God Damn Synth. You are looking mighty fine in that uniform. It’s a damned improvement from those rags you were wearing.”
Ruth blushed, rolling her eyes. As much as she hated to admit it, she felt damn sexy. “You look good yourself.” She said while pouring her eyes over his body. Logan’s new uniform clung tightly to his hard muscles.
“Oh I know.” He said while winking. “You don’t have to tell me that.”
A quick elevator ride led them down to the surface. Outside, a network of glass walkways shielded them from the rain beating down from above. The tall horned spires and cathedral towers of the Keep punched into the air all around them. The place was an interesting combination of modern architecture with the older towers of the Keep. Other vampires passed them in the glass walkways, their eyes trained squarely on Ruth.
“What’s wrong?” She whispered to Logan as he walked confidently ahead. “Why are they are looking at me like that?”
A group of elder vampires in long red robes walked past, their eyes turning to study her ass as she walked on.
“Well you look pretty smoking Ruth, that might have something to do with it. Also the uniform you’re wearing signals you’re a concubine.”
“What?!” She shouted.
People stared their way, Logan grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in tight, flashing a smile at some vampires nearby.
“Shut the fuck up!” He whispered. “The Keep isn’t the most modern place. Men rule. Vangzali is one of the few female vampires in a position of power. Women only walk on the surface as concubines to men. The black collar around your uniform signifies you as my sexual servant.”
Ruth squinted at him. “You’re a fucking pervert.”
Laughing, Logan shrugged. “Hey, it’s your kind baby.” He brought his hand down hard against her ass and spanked it. Ruth was three seconds away from ripping his throat out when she remembered where they were. “You’re lucky we’re in public. When we get somewhere private, I’m ripping your balls off.” To her dismay, their act had only just begun. They were halfway to the archives when a high ranking official signaled them over.
“You there!” The official said, waving Logan over. He squinted down at the badge on Logan’s uniform and looked up at his eyes. “Custodial captain, eh? What are you doing in these parts, and who is she?”
The obese official wore the same red uniform as them, but his skintight spandex molded to an obese sheet of flesh, not looking so flattering. Thick black lines of swirling ink covered his bald head, making him look like an overweight tea cozy.
“She’s my concubine sir.” Logan said dutifully. “I have her on contract until the end of the week.” He leaned in and nudged the official. “Early birthday present to myself.”
The fat official’s lips quivered and his eyes wandered up and down Ruth’s body, making her feel disgusted. “I bet…” He muttered to himself. “And where are you going? This section is not due for cleaning today.”
“Right you are sir,” Logan said. “But they called us in for a last minute clean up job at the archives. General Vangzali has a visit scheduled for today, and the archive officials want to get it cleaned up.”
Fear passed through the fat man’s eyes and he shuddered. “Vangzali? Christ. I heard she was due down here. How much to take the concubine off your hands? I’ll pay double what you paid.”
Ruth gulped. Was this man attempting to buy her?
“Oh I’m afraid I couldn’t part with her sir.” Logan said. “She’s too precious. She’s only mine until Friday though. You’re welcome to take her after that.”
“Friday is far too long.” He said, waving a hand at Logan. The official curled a fat hand around Ruth’s waist and settled his fingers there. “What do you say darling? Want to break your contract early? Come with me?”
Fighting the urge to throw up, Ruth smiled and twirled out of his grasp back to Logan. She placed one hand on his shoulder and the other at his hip. “As my master said, Friday sounds great. Until then I am the property of this one.” She spoke slow and sensual. As she finished talking, she wrapped her lips around the lobe of Logan’s ear and sucked on it, keeping her eyes on the fat official. She broke away and growled while moving her hands over Logan, who burst into nervous laughter.
“Feisty one!” He said, while turning red.
“Indeed.” The fat official said. He pulled a card out and handed it to Ruth. “Make sure you come and see me the second your contract is up with this wretch. I’ll be waiting.” With a repulsive wink, the man fluttered his fingers at Ruth and moved on. She did her best to smile, fluttering her fingers back. The official left, Logan wiped her slobber off his ear and they carried on to the archives.
“That was too close. Good job with the ear though. That was very sexy.”
“If I’m playing a concubine, I might as well do it right. Looks like I did something right if I got my first customer.”
“Trust me.” Logan said. “You did it very right. I didn’t even know having my ear sucked could be sexy, I’ll be hard for a week.”
Ruth couldn’t help but laugh. “Ew, that’s gross!”
He flashed his mischievous smile and shrugged once more. “I’m just being honest Synth. You do sexy well.”
They reached the tall stairs at the front of the archives and paused. Despite the seriousness of their situation, Ruth couldn’t help but notice the small bubble of warmth building in her chest. Sneaking around with Logan was more fun than she thought it would be. Here they were trapped in this horrible place, on the run from death, somehow laughing about it all and having fun, even if just for a moment. She caught herself staring at Logan as he studied the building in front of them and realized there was a massive smile
plastered across her face. It faltered as she realized what was happening.
You stupid little girl. She told herself. What kind of time is this, to go and get a crush on someone?
14
Rubago and Will stood at the bottom of the hill in the darkness. Behind them was Culver city, a small settlement an hour west of Castle Belmont. In front of them hills lay at the edge of the city. Small beacons of light pin pricked from cave mouths at the top of the hill line.
“If Azu is anywhere around here. It will be up in those caves.” Rubago said.
Will gulped. She knew he was courageous, but facing a witch was a thing that daunted many vampires. “Do you suppose we make a move now?”
She shook her head, narrowing her eyes on the points of light up the hill. “Too risky. Azu isn’t as powerful as I am, but she is sneakier. She fights dirty, she uses magic that is wrong.”
“Wrong?”
Nodding, she led him up the hill a little further. “We were both born human, but it wasn’t long before others noticed our powers. The Queens of Gaea took us, a witching group that helps develop magic in young children. It was there I learned what it means to be a witch, to protect, to take care of all life. Azu had always been a rebel. When our education finished, it was time for us to go out into the world and start our work.
Azu took the knowledge the Queens had given to us and went down her own path. Now she is using that dark magic to aid the very people trying to stop the vampires.”
Will ducked low, pulling Azu to the ground beside him. “Over there.” He said, pointing at a group of men in white emerging from the tree line. “The Order.”
Rubago smiled. “Very good. It confirms my suspicions that Azu is definitely up there in the caves. She has possessed several of their men with Nephilim magic, and that's how they’ve grown so strong. It requires regular maintenance. I doubt she will let the men into her cave. If we follow them at a distance, we might learn a few things. Once we know what we’re dealing with, we can come back here and take Azu out, weakening the Order for good.”
