by C. J. Parker
Rhonda took a step forward, but Bobbie and Tabatha grabbed her arms. “Let me go. I’ve got an idea.”
Rolling her eyes, Rhonda jerked away from Bobbie and Tabatha’s grip. “Really, this will work. Shane always torments his grandmother until she chases him. Drives her crazy.”
She waded close to the ward, shoved her thumbs in her ears, wiggled her fingers and stuck her tongue out in the direction of the last sound. “Fraidy cat, Fraidy cat, come out and fight.” She blushed when Bobbie and Tabatha giggled.
“Have you lost your mind, Rhonda?” Derek grabbed her arm and yanked her away from the ward.
Two men unfamiliar to Bobbie stepped out into the clearing, small automatic handguns drawn, wicked smiles on their wide-eyed faces. “We’re not afraid of no woman,” the twins said in stereo monotone voices.
The sound of shots chilled Bobbie to the bone. She snatched Rhonda to the ground trying to gain some cover and ran her hands over the woman’s body. No blood staining her clothing or the water. No holes.
She darted a glance at the twins. They lay on the ground, the water washing a river of red away from their bodies. Looking to Derek, she expected to see a smoking gun in his hand. Instead, he crouched over Tabatha, protecting her from the gunfire.
Troy stood to the right and front of Rhonda, a pistol held tightly in his left fist. His expression a mask of rage quickly changed as he knelt beside Rhonda. “Are you all right?” He ran an inspection style gaze over her then helped Bobbie and her to their feet.
Rhonda beamed at him. “Yeah. I’m fine. Thanks.”
Troy’s eyes narrowed. “You’re welcome, but don’t do that again.”
Voices from the woods drew all their attention. Closer and closer the sounds came. Bobbie knew the battle had begun. Actions slowed, as if time itself were spinning down to a stop. Something moved against Bobbie’s palm, then sudden heat and a tingle. She looked down with a little shriek to see the dragon tattoo shifting position.
The small dragon stretched itself as if coming out of a deep sleep, reached its arms around her wrist and wrapped its long tail around her upper arm. Longer and longer, it stretched until its head and half its body settled in the palm of her hand. The tongue elongated. Changing from red to silver, it morphed from a scaly creature to a gaily-painted dragon hilt on a silver, double-edged dagger.
She looked over to see the same weapons in Tabatha and Rhonda’s hands.
Tabatha’s expression was one of carefully banked distrust as she weighed the dagger in her palm, keeping her eyes ever vigilant on the forest edge.
Derek and Troy held a dagger in each of their hands, a gun in the other.
Rhonda stared at her blade, the dragon tail trailing up her forearm. She looked as if fear were trying to swallow her whole. She looked up and met Bobbie’s gaze.
Bobbie nodded with a slight smile.
Troy stepped between them. “Rhonda, you are the bravest woman I know. I will protect you until my own death.”
Snapped out of her stupor, she lifted her chin. “Protect yourself.”
He had no time to answer. Scarface emerged from the same area the twins had walked through the woods. Then, as if a ghost from her past, another man joined him. Soaked black hair hung over his forehead, where dark brown eyes peered out at her.
Bobbie blinked against the deluge trying to get a better look at him. The same black hair, muscular, dark brown eyes… Her head snapped back. It couldn’t be. The man was the spitting image of John Phelps, the Guardian’s hit man they had killed weeks ago in New Orleans.
Gathering her wits about her, Bobbie stepped forward and faced the man staring at her as if he wanted to tear her into bite-sized bits. “Hello, Uncle Verdun. Wish we could have met under better circumstances, but you set them.”
She waved her hands toward the bodies at his feet. “Friend’s of yours, I presume?” She searched his face expecting to see some resemblance to her father but found very little. Verdun had the Moran nose, the full lips, but other than that, nothing. For reasons she didn’t have time to ponder, this saddened her.
He snarled. “I am not your uncle, woman. Step aside and give the throne to the true leader. I am king of Moran. Your father grew old and softhearted. Your brother was weak. Now they dare let a woman soil the Moran name.”
“Sorry. No can do.” She shrugged. “The time of prophecy has come and it is my calling, my duty to bring it to fruition. I am Queen Moran, leader of the shifters.”
“Release my daughter.” Verdun took a step closer.
“We keep no prisoners here.” Bobbie raised her chin higher and refused to drop her gaze from his. “She doesn’t want to go. She’s asked for protection, a new family, and we have obliged.”
“You have no right to keep her from her father.” He glanced at the backdoor of one the houses as if expecting to see Ionna waiting for him. “She will be raised in the old way, the true Moran way.”
“Like Omeda was?” Bobbie snorted. “If that is the way you want our kind to become, then I would rather see it destroyed. Ionna is a kind and loving girl. Omeda is cold hearted and cruel. No. Ionna stays as long as she wishes. Besides, I believe I’ll keep her in payment for the death of my brother. You see, I thought I had the right to keep him with me too. Tit for tat, don’t you think?” She sniffed the air but only caught the scent of the blood of the dead twins, Verdun and Omeda—hiding in the woodland. She sniffed again, and caught the scent of an Outsider. His natural scent masked with a heavy aftershave. Something struck her as familiar but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
“Give me my daughter, woman!”
Ignoring his outburst, Bobbie’s gaze darted to the other man. “What do you have to do with any of this?”
The tall man stood like a statue, arms crossed over his massive chest. “My brother was John Phelps. Recognize the name?”
She tossed a glance over her shoulder to Tabatha and Rhonda. “He died begging for someone to save him, didn’t he? That’s the one you’re speaking of?”
“Which one of you bitches killed him?” He looked from Bobbie, to Rhonda, to Tabatha.
Rhonda stepped forward, as did Tabatha. Bobbie raised her hand.
“Stop this game.” Phelps hands fisted at his side. “Who is guilty of murdering my brother?”
“That would be hard to pinpoint, Phelps.” Bobbie’s flippant tone gave her some satisfaction as she wiped the rain from her face.
“Let’s see. Tabatha sent glass flying. That cut him up a bit. Oh, and Rhonda set him on fire. I think I gave him a scratch or two. God only knows which one caused the infection that killed him. But the truth of the matter is, if he’d stayed in the hospital, he’d be alive today.” She paused, all banter and humor leaving her body and tone. “Maybe.”
“Then you will all die.” Phelps pushed forward though the knee-deep water and drew a hunting knife from behind his back.
He hit the shield with his left shoulder and stumbled as he fell through it, dropping his knife. Gasping for air, he shook his head violently. He dropped to his knees, staring around frantically. His face twisted in shock and surprise as if he couldn’t understand where the water surrounding him had come from.
“You damned fool.” Verdun trudged through the surge. With a quick intake of air, he stopped. He reached the flat of his hand up then snatched it back, stepping away from the ward. “This is the work of the witch Omeda spoke of.” He swung his gun from Rhonda to Tabatha. “Which is it? You will die first.”
Ionna opened the door and screamed at the top of her lungs. “Leave them alone!”
“Omeda, get your sister. Now!” Verdun shouted behind him.
Omeda stepped out of the tree line and smiled. “The witch is the white haired bitch.” Omeda sloshed toward the house but stopped when she encountered the ward. Instead of falling forward and being rendered senseless by the power, it sent her back a few steps. Coughing from the water that sloshed in her mouth, Omeda scrambled shakily to her feet and stare
d with terror at them.
Derek turned just enough to look at Verdun. “If you’re smart, you’ll turn back. And when you get there, tell the man hiding in the woods he’d better keep hiding because sooner or later I’ll find out who he is.”
Omeda rushed up to the shield stopping a couple of feet away. “You foolish Outsider! A mere human, you’re no match for us. We outnumber you, and we’re stronger. You won’t live long enough to do a thing to...”
“Omeda!” Verdun cut across her. “Watch your tongue.”
Bobbie watched the amusement spread across Derek’s face until it became a full-fledged laugh.
Derek leaned close. “This mere human tricked you into almost revealing your father’s cowardly accomplice. He also has you trapped, a gun pointed at your ribs and an itchy trigger finger. I’m giving you a second chance to turn back.”
Bobbie stepped closer to the ward. “I’d do as he says, Omeda, because if he doesn’t kill you, I will.”
Omeda backed away, her gaze lifting to the girl in the doorway. “Come with me, Ionna. I’m your sister. These people are nothing to you. Come with your family.”
“The only family I have is right there.” Ionna pointed to Tabatha and Derek.
“Oh, yeah.” Tabatha smiled at Derek. “I forgot to tell you, honey. Congratulations. It’s a girl.”
Derek looked at Ionna and nodded. “I couldn’t be prouder.”
Verdun lunged forward with a snarl. “She’s my daughter. No man will take my place.” His knife slashed at the ward as he struggled to get to Derek.
Tabatha took a step toward him, but Derek waved her off making sure he stayed away from the ward. “I’ve got him. Watch there.”
Verdun stumbled repeatedly, but fought like a madman against the power Tabatha had conjured. Each time his blade came in contact with the shield, he gazed wild-eyed at the invisible wall and struggled desperately for air. He shook his head and came at Derek again.
With a vicious roar, Verdun dashed through and with no hesitation to recover, he shoved Derek hard, right into the magic shield, grinning viciously as the detective vanished under the torrent of water.
He glanced at the man still on his knees hunting for his knife through the deep water. “Get your ass up, Phelps, and help me.”
Bobbie hurled herself at Verdun but as she lunged for him, Tabatha uttered a yell of unearthly rage and Verdun flew backward into the ward. Bobbie pulled Derek to his feet. Lexie gave a surprised yelp, and Bobbie searched for her in the melee.
Phelps recovered from the effects of Tabatha’s spell a little too quickly and was in possession of his knife once more. He grabbed Lexie, shoved her head under the water and held her there.
Rhonda and Troy flew at him at once and joined in the fight. Bobbie grabbed Lexie and twisted her out of his grip.
Phelps grasped the knife out of his other hand and swung it in a downward stroke at Troy’s chest. Troy did a flip over Phelps’ head, taking flight, landing outside the protective circle. The blade continued in its downward stroke and sliced a small rip in Rhonda’s blouse before Troy could get his senses back enough from crossing the ward, to protect her.
Ignoring Rhonda, Phelps whipped around and trudged toward Kangee who fought alongside Derek and Tabatha against Verdun.
Bobbie’s breath froze in her chest. Kangee wouldn’t see him coming. She shoved Lexie into Rhonda’s arms and jumped onto Phelps’ back, slitting his throat as he was about to plunge the knife into Kangee. The warmth of his blood flowed over her hand until he slid out of her grasp, floating away. The smell of his blood stirred the animal within her, but it refused wake. It was then she remembered Aetheria saying she wouldn’t be able to use her animal in this battle.
Verdun gave a guttural yell as he looked down at Phelps’ lifeless face floating in the water. He backed away bumping into Troy. Troy placed the blade of his dagger against his neck but pushed him away unharmed.
“Spirit Warriors, come to our aid.” Bobbie’s voice echoed around the ward like a wounded animal crying out for its mate.
Verdun stood in front of Troy now. Bobbie wanted to finish him once and for all, but the collective whisper of the Spirit Warriors stopped her. “You do not need us.”
Outnumbered, the circle of powers too much for him, Verdun pushed back through the ward. Staggering on his feet, he struggled for air as he headed back to the safety of the trees.
“My men are near.” Verdun treaded water back to safety. “We will outnumber you ten to one. Prepare to die.”
Bobbie bared her teeth in a low rumbled snarl. “Tell me one good reason I shouldn’t kill you now?”
Verdun vanished into the woods. Several minutes passed. Troy nodded. “They are gone.”
Bobbie checked herself and Kangee over. “I thought you said he had nearly a hundred men with him. Where were they?”
“They fell behind. I guess Verdun didn’t want to wait for them. But I’ll guarantee the next time he comes, he’ll have backup. Anyone hurt?”
“Tabatha has a small nick on her left elbow,” Derek reported from her left.
A heart-wrenching whimper drew their attention to Lexie and Rhonda.
“No!” Troy raced to Rhonda’s side.
Lexie cradled Rhonda in her embrace.
Scarlet covered Rhonda’s arm and flowed down the front of her blouse to her waist. Reaching into her blouse, Rhonda withdrew her fingers and stared at the blood as the rain washed it away.
Fear tightened Bobbie’s throat as she fought the tears brimming her lids. It’s just a small cut, right? Please don’t let it be big. “How did this happen? Why didn’t you protect her like you said you would, Troy?”
“It’s not his fault.” Rhonda’s voice shook. “I pushed him away. Phelps was going to stab him.” She released a small sob. “It’s not as bad as it looks. It’s a nick, but…”
“But what?” Tabatha reached out to tear at Rhonda’s shirt.
Rhonda’s face reddened. “I think he got my boob. You know. The nipple.”
Bobbie laughed, a release of tension that spread to the others.
“Let’s get inside out of this rain so I can look at it,” Tabatha urged. “The guys can stay at the windows and watch for trouble.”
“Well, darn. Thought I’d get a peek.” Troy grinned.
“No peeks for you, big boy.” Bobbie helped Rhonda stand.
Hylton ran out of the woods, his chest splattered and streaked with blood. “The kid and I managed to stop a few as they made their way here. Anyone hurt?”
Stephen ran forward, but stopped abruptly. A scream of rage, half tiger-half man, lashed through the torment of the storm when Stephen saw Lexie covered in Rhonda’s blood. He hurled himself forward.
“Stop him!” Tabatha screamed at Hylton as she stepped between Bobbie, Troy and Rhonda, stopping them from going farther. “I have to break the shield.”
Hylton grabbed Stephen from behind stopping him mere inches away from the barrier, and held him fast despite the kicking and scratching.
Lexie rushed to stand across the spell from him. “It’s not my blood. Stephen! Look at me.”
His tiger gaze roamed wildly over Lexie as he tried to reach her.
“I’m okay. It’s not me.” She smiled. “I’m okay, you idiot.”
“Don’t let him go, Hylton,” Bobbie called. “His animal hasn’t released him yet. Hurry, Tabatha.”
Tabatha paced the loop, mumbling the spell in what seemed to Bobbie to be reverse. She strode to the center of the circle and slogged toward the shield. Going into a wave-inducing slide, she broke the borderline. A ring of lightning ran the full length, floating over the surge, then vanished.
Stephen broke from Hylton’s grip and drew Lexie into his arms, swallowing ragged sobs as Lexie whispered to him.
“Ouch.” Tabatha sat in water to her chest and gasped for air. “I think I added too much hemlock.”
~~~
“There were only two of them and you couldn’t keep
Rhonda from getting cut?” Kangee paced the living room floor and fought back the angry words he wanted to say and waited to hear Troy’s explanation.
“I’m stronger than I look, but that girl tossed me aside like a feather pillow. She wouldn’t stay back. Rhonda kept pushing past me, so I’d turned my back to Phelps to see where she’d went. The next thing I knew, I was flying through the air. I could see the fear in her eyes but she¾” Troy shook his head. “I don’t understand Rhonda.”
Derek sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the doorway. He snorted. “That’s our Rhonda. Don’t be hard on him, Kangee. She’s never ceased to amaze me since the day I met her. She’s afraid of every sound and movement, but she comes through when you need her.”
“Men will never understand women.” Kangee turned from the window to gaze at the door to the room where Bobbie and the rest of the women had taken Rhonda ten minutes ago. “It’s God’s joke on us.”
“I don’t understand a lot of things going on here.” Derek shook his head as he rubbed the towel over his head. “At least, you’re both used to all this mumbo jumbo. I’m completely out of my league here. My world is right or wrong. Black or white. This hoodoo world I stumbled into when I met Tabatha keeps me in a state of perpetual confusion.”
Derek sent a narrow-eyed glare in his colleague’s direction. “Who or what are you anyway, Jackman? How did you get on the force? In Homicide?”
“I used The Force.” Troy grinned.
“Smart ass.” Derek glared at him. “Well, if you knew the way to this place, it might have been nice of you to lead me in rather than let me wander all over these damned swamps for hours looking for it.”
Troy winked. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Kangee smiled at their repartee as he stared out into the storm. Other and Outsider. It made no difference in their friendship. Maybe loving Tabatha drew out a tolerance in Derek. He would have liked to believe that this good man would have discovered it on his own but he simply wasn’t sure.
Troy’s secret didn’t seem to bother the detective all that much. Derek forgave his friend for keeping the truth from him. Kangee wondered if there would be as much forgiveness offered to him when they learned his secret. He stood to lose so much.
