Heavy Metal Heartbeat

by Ambear Shellea

  She is here.

  He couldn’t pinpoint a certain direction that led to her, she seemed to be everywhere and nowhere.

  The autumn leaves played with her scent and littered the air. Her essence swam around him, intoxicating him, luring him deeper into the woods and out of the clearing.

  It’s a trick.

  His mind played gruesome images as fear invaded his being, beating on his hope. Survival instincts stepped in and kicked both of them out; no fear, no hope, just resolve. It left him clear-headed and able to finally focus. His gaze went from left to right, searching the shadows for them. He knew they were there; he could feel them.

  It is over! Enough of this.

  “I know she’s here. I can smell her.”

  Perry, in wolf form, eased out of the shadows and spoke.

  “Ah, yes. I have her. How badly do you want her?”

  His eyes followed the dark wolf as he paced around the clearing. Perry made a full circle. Ozzie noticed as he did so, he dug his claws into the ground and constructed a four ring barrier. The deep lines came to life and glowed a bright red color, pulsing with energy.

  “You can’t pass the lines. They are the blood lines of life. If you pass them before you have done what is needed, it will drain you of vitality. If you decide to sit in the circle and do nothing, it will drain your life from you.”

  “I am tired of playing games. What do you want?”

  Paige appeared in a silk, white gown that hung to her feet. She stood just outside the circle, wearing matching blood lines around her neck. Icy shards of glass ripped at his heart and stole his breath. He gulped the air, but nothing passed his lips. His lungs burned like a furnace and seemed to go up in flames from the lack of oxygen. For the first time in his life, he panicked. With his mind in a tailspin, he didn’t notice the first blow until it pounded him into the dirt.

  Air plunged into his chest and he could breathe. He could also feel the pain.

  “Symphony of Destruction” by Megadeath played from an unseen source, giving him strength and adding to Perry’s words.

  “Embrace who you are, Ozzie.”

  Another blow hit him from behind, the source hidden by the darkness of shadows. He got to his feet and swung at Perry when he moved passed, only to be hit a third time. Spitting dirt and leaves from his mouth, he stood on all fours and matched the wolf step for step. He dodged a swing and lunged at the dog, only to miss.

  “You can do better than that, Ozzie.”

  He noticed he’d lost a tooth somewhere along the way. He snarled in anger at the wolf before him. Standing on his haunches, he swung his paw around. He missed once again and landed face first on the ground. Paige’s squeal caught his attention. He looked her way and noticed the blood lines were drawing closer around her neck as were the ones on the ground. His eyes darted between the two sets of blood lines. Fear crawled along his skin, threatening to strangle him. The air in his lungs stopped and lodged in his throat. Perry's words found his ears.

  “You are going to die and so is she. I will have her forever.”

  He swung again, but missed.

  What is going on? Why can't I hit him?

  “Embrace who you are,” followed the next blow to the back of the head. He shook the haze from his mind and wobbled to his feet. Perry paced, mocking him. His nonsense gibberish filled the air once more.

  “Look at her, Ozzie. She will die. Accept it.”

  Accept what?

  “I don't understand.”

  As if on cue, Paige cried out and his eyes shot to her. Small trails of blood slowly ran down her neck from the blood lines.

  How do I fix this? I'm running out of time. How the hell do I save her?

  The snap of his spine echoed off the trees, but he felt no pain. He lay in the dirt and mud, paralyzed and unable to move. The blood lines were slowly closing in on him and the love of his life. She screamed and so did he. Perry’s wide-toothed grin came from above. His mouth moved, but no words could be heard. Jaxson’s voice sounded from beside him.

  “Ozzie, you have to get up. You can do this.”

  He rolled his eyes toward the voice. Jaxson stood outside the circle looking forlorn and tired. His shoulders sagged and tears ran down his cheeks.

  I have never seen Jaxson cry.

  “Ozzie, you can’t give up. Come on, Paige needs you, we all need you.”

  “I can’t. My back is broken.”

  “You can beat this. You are strong enough.”

  He watched as Jaxson’s shape took on an eerie glow and shimmered in and out of focus. The dimmer his friend became, the more power he gained. His bones melded together and his strength slowly returned. He glanced to his friend once more and he was gone. He knew what he had to do. Finally, he understood.

  The dam of numbness had been broken and a river of feeling swam through his veins, adding the final pieces to the puzzle. His wolf form healed and grew strong, becoming a part of him. As if awaking from a long nap, he stretched his long, lean muscles. His ear swished back and forth listening as all the sound came rushing back like turning the dial on a radio. Perry laughed, Paige screamed and unknown wolves howled. His beast felt strong. In a flash of movement, he landed on all fours and stalked the enemy before him.

  Finally, he has stopped laughing! Good!

  “Now you die, Perry!”

  “No! First, I will show you who is alpha by beating you, and then I will defeat you by taking your mate,” the wolf shot back.

  He flexed his massive muscles and flew at Perry. Spinning around, he kicked his hind leg and knocked Perry to the ground.

  His turn to eat dirt.

  He snapped at the wolf's legs, leaving a deep gash in his hind quarters. He matched Perry blow for blow. Perry sported all kinds of wounds while Ozzie remained unscathed. The wolf staggered and Ozzie took his chance.

  Fur, blood and bone filled his mouth as he locked his jaw and sank his teeth into the wolf’s neck, shaking his head from side to side in true dog attack fashion. Perry hit the tree and slid to the ground when Ozzie flung him through the air. With his heart pounding in his ears, he watched to see if Perry would get up. He cautiously inched over and nudged the limp body. Nothing happened. Howls and yips exploded around him. He scurried backward and frantically looked around. The blood lines opened and released Paige, allowing her to enter the circle.

  The smell of blood excited his inner beast. The adrenaline fueled his aggression and desire. His gaze slid to the pure beauty walking toward him, dropping her dress as she moved closer. A soft distant voice whispered in his ear as his body phased back to human.

  “You must finish the cycle. You have beaten the Alpha. Now defeat him by taking the mate he laid claim to.”

  She inched closer and closer, and the annoyance of the voice was that of a fly. He grabbed her and yanked her to him, planting a kiss against her mouth. Her response had his inner animal on overdrive. He lost control and dropped them to the ground when she pressed herself against him and kissed him just as fiercely. Everything disappeared. There were no wolves, no sounds; it was just him and her. Nothing else mattered as he claimed her for his own.

  Chapter 13

  His nose and lungs burned from the smell of antiseptic and alcohol. An inferno blazed in his chest as it lay open and exposed. His ribs and breast bones were broken and splintered; his chest was one massive amount of shredded meat. His breaths came rough and rapid through clenched teeth. Air filled his lungs with icy shards, stabbing the lining and crystallizing the mesh tissue. His body rigid and his muscles tight, he fought off the darkness that beckoned to him. He tried to listen to the people around him, but their words were like the buzzing of bees in his ears.

  It seemed like an eternity, but finally the soft clouds of peace rolled over his body and his pain slowly ebbed away. In this haze his ribs were repaired, his chest was healed and his agony was replaced by blissful happiness. If he had been able to move his body, he would have rejoiced and smiled at the v
oice fading in and out in his ear.

  Anna.

  “I fear what I’m going to do will ruin all of that...think of Paige…please forgive me.”

  Forgive you for what? There’s nothing to…

  A sinking pain bit into his neck and he could feel the life leaving him. The dark void started at his toes and wound its way up his body. He became paralyzed and couldn't stop it. A ghostly smoke swirled around him, swallowing his being, dragging him into nothingness.

  No no no. Anna, help me.

  His body sank into the mattress beneath him.

  What is happening?

  As if he were standing on the edge of a cliff, someone shoved him, and he fell. It was a slow descent to nowhere, and the darkness swallowed him.

  Where is…Paige?

  Her beautiful face filled his mind and warmed his heart. He could almost feel the softness of her hair, the warmth from her skin and the aroma of tropical jungle flowers. Smiling, he reached for her hand, content to stay there forever.

  Anna’s voice broke through his dream.

  “I’m so sorry, my friend…”

  He felt as light as air as he flitted across the bright blue sky like an angel. Bright white wings carried him effortlessly through the wind. Peace and serenity filled his mind with happy thoughts and the faces of his loved ones. Paige, always by his side, appeared in every flash of memory.

  In an instant his new found world changed and his wings fell from him, feather by feather, as he raced toward the dark oblivion. His body had weight and shape. Blood swam through his veins, awakening his nerves as he healed and came back to life. His heart beat in his chest and air filled his lungs.

  He seemed to swan dive toward the ground at break-neck speed. His body slammed into place, knocking the small amount of air he had collected from his lungs.

  Lavender eyes filled his vision and carried a strong familiar voice. It was Anna once more.

  “In the dark you wander, lost. With your blood you paid the cost. Now come to me and have a home or travel eternity forever alone.”

  Darkness engulfed him and his blood ran cold. An inferno waited, he knew, but his world had turned to ice. Soft, whispered words tickled his ear.

  “Paige is your greatest love. She is the connection to your life and she holds the strings to your heart. I hope this helps, it’s the best I could do.”

  Chapter 14

  The darkness eased and sunlight sprayed the landscape. He sat cross-legged in the lush green grass of his ancestors. Sunrise was always his favorite part of the day. The peaceful scenery matched the quiet of his mind and the calm in his heart. He breathed in the cool springtime air as the old woman grew closer.

  Red hair like that of an apple played around her aged but beautiful face. Emerald eyes sparkled when she smiled at him. The long, flowing diamond-colored robe played around her feet, shimmering in the sunlight as she walked barefoot across the ground. She radiated a gold light that mesmerized him.

  She knelt in front of him and took his hands. He noticed her gold glow covered both of them.

  Whoa!

  Her soft sing-song voice was just as beautiful as the rest of her.

  “Ozzie, you have done well, my son. I am very proud of you.”

  “Who are you?”

  “I am your ancestral spirit guide. My name is Jacinta Bridgers Keelin. You can call me Jewels, it’s easier.”

  Ozzie looked around before speaking.

  “OK, Jewels, where are we?”

  “The In-Between.”

  He felt his face squish into what he was sure was a confused expression.

  “Where is that, exactly?”

  “That’s easy. We are between everywhere and nowhere; the place where everything and nothing exists.”

  He tilted his head to the side and stared at her perplexed.

  “OK, I am confused.”

  “No worries, where we are is irrelevant. What you accomplished is what is important.”

  He held up his hand to stop her advance in the conversation.

  “Wait, this is real? I haven’t lost my mind?”

  “No, you haven’t, and yes, it’s very real.”

  He felt light as a feather as the weight of his burdens lifted from his shoulders when he sighed with relief.

  Thank God, I am not going crazy.

  He turned his gaze back to the woman.

  “Can you explain what is going on?”

  “Yes. We shall start at the beginning of your quest. You were lying in the grass with Paige. Do you remember?”

  Where it began? What quest?

  He thought back for a second.

  Wait..Oh!

  “Yes. It was wonderful until Sebastian showed up.”

  “He was part of your journey.”

  He rubbed his temples as he tried to understand.

  “But I killed Sebastian.”

  “Yes, and Perry.”

  He studied her face. She looked to be enjoying this ‘lead the horse to water’ game. With each answer he gave, her eyes grew brighter and her smile widened.

  “I don’t want to be rude, but can you just tell me what’s going on? This is crazy, and I am sure there is a benefit to leading me to the answer, but I just really don’t feel like playing along.”

  He never saw it coming. His body rolled groggily onto the ground and a few feet away. He lay just outside of the gold glow. It was cold and dark. The side of his face ached from the slap and his back felt like he landed on gravel.

  Ow!

  Moving onto his side and elbow, he looked to Jewels. She sat with her hands resting on her knees and a witty look upon her face. Her words cut like that of a whip.

  “I am here to help you. Therefore, you will show respect. I am over two-hundred years old and have seen and lived through more than you can imagine, so quit belly-aching over there and get back in the glow, so we can continue.”

  He shook the daze from his head and crawled back into the golden center.

  “Sit crossed-legged with your hands on your knees!”

  He did as instructed.

  “I apologize. Please forgive me. I am confused, frustrated and on the verge of losing it.”

  “I understand. Before your flippant tone, I was about to explain. May I finish now?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “You have power, lots of raw and untapped power, Ozzie, more so than your ancestors. Thanks to the company you keep…”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Be patient. I will get to it. First, take off that shirt.”

  He looked down and saw he was indeed wearing clothes, jeans and white T-shirt. Hand on each corner of the shirt, he pulled it over his head, dropped it to the ground and looked back to her.

  “Now, get on your knees.”

  He followed along. His heart beat fast at the unknown. He took a deep breath and calmed his nerves.

  Can we get on with it already?

  “Place your hands at your sides, and make sure you leave them there.”

  Swallowing his comment, he slapped his hands at his sides. Jewels moved to her knees and faced him. The golden glow grew warmer.

  “When your journey started, you were with the love of your life. The vampire Sebastian showed up. Explain to me what happened and I will explain why.”

  “Paige wanted me to bite her and I refused. She begged, even going so far as to tease the fangs in my mouth…”

  He absent-mindedly rubbed his teeth, checking for fangs.

  Oh, thank God, no fangs.

  “I still refused…”

  “Why did you refuse to bite her? She asked for it.”

  Biting back his attitude, he replied, “Because I’m not a vampire!”

  “But you attacked Sebastian and ripped his throat out. Are you sure you’re not a vampire? That was a pretty vampire thing to do.”

  “No! I refused to bite Paige because she doesn’t want to be a vampire, she can’t be a vampire. She’s a weretiger and she can’t be
come a vampire. If she is bitten, she will die. Sebastian threatened to bite her, that’s why I attacked him. I don’t understand. I can’t explain it.”

  “I can. Sit very still.”

  The glimmer from the knife caught his attention first, followed by her hand moving toward his chest. He fought his instinct to move away from the blade.

  “You are part of a hunter bloodline. Here is where your journey began.”

  He cried out and closed his eyes against the bright sizzle of the braided circle she etched into his chest.

  “You are part of an old ancient Irish clan that formed the hunter brotherhood.”

  He clenched his hands and his teeth as she scrawled the knotted clover inside the inner circle permanently into his skin. His breath came in deep, ragged pulls.

  “You were bitten by a vampire. Even though you gave in and embraced your inner vampire, you overcame blood lust and kept your hunter instinct intact. Therefore, you overcame vampirism.”

  Her hands were precise and moved without hesitation, this time drawing fangs in the top center of the middle circle. Something she had said struck a chord with him. He opened his eyes and looked to her, halting her movements.

  “Wait. You said embrace…that is the same word Perry used when we fought. He said to embrace who I am and accept it.”

  “Yes, he did. You killed him. Did you embrace anything when you killed him?”

  He thought about the fight with the wolf and the words that were spoken. He remembered being snapped in two, and he remembered his discussion with Jaxson and how it had healed him and unlocked the secret, or so he assumed.

  “I don’t know if I embraced anything. I guess you could say I accepted the wolf form. I tried to fight like a human, but it wasn’t working.”

  “So you accepted that form in order to kill him?”

  “Yes, I had to. Paige was dying, plus I didn’t want her to endure what Perry had in store for her.”

  The knife dug into his chest once more, outlining the eyes of a wolf on the bottom of the middle circle. He concentrated on her words to ease the searing pain.