HOTSHOT BROTHERS: Coyote Shifters

by Hunt, Sabrina

  Floodlights clicked on, illuminating the compound and giving the place a ghastly kind of glow. Shadows flitted from building to building. It was like we were gazing down at the scene of a horror movie and those were the undead lumbering around in there. I grimaced.

  At that moment, Rayner shifted into a coyote and then nodded at the rest of us. We followed one by one. All of us were about to start running when we caught a soft crackle of footsteps below us. Each of cocked our heads towards the sound and sniffed the air.

  It was human.

  A woman. With a scent like hot caramel and vanilla.

  My entire body stiffened and I craned my neck forward. I knew that scent.

  Suddenly, almost directly below us, a figure slipped from the brush and ran towards the compound wall. A figure with curves and grace.

  It was Miss Feisty from the restaurant.

  Cree let out a whuff of alarm and I met the eyes of my brothers, gazing at me in both shock and consternation. Now what are we supposed to do? Suddenly Cree let out another whuff, and all of us watched, frozen, as she climbed the single tree near the wall, then awkwardly swung a leg over.

  With that, I was running towards the wall, thinking about nothing more than stopping her. But as I got close, she vanished inside.

  Oh, that woman was trouble.

  And she had no damn clue she was walking straight into it.

  Chapter 3

  The fall was longer than I expected and I landed heavily on the ground, my ass slamming into the solid earth and rattling my teeth. I bit back a groan by shoving a fist into my mouth.

  But even breathing sounded noisy.

  Damn, I couldn’t believe what I was doing.

  However, when I’d overheard two locals discussing the “weird compound” outside of town, I had to check it out. I’d been in the supermarket, a sad, forlorn-looking place, and those two guys were standing at the deli, talking in an undertone. But as a younger sister, I had sharp ears and had heard every word. First, they’d talked about the compound and the strange man who ran it, someone who they both agreed was “a creepy feller,” and then they began wondering about “where in the hell the sheriff was.”

  “Supposed to be back yesterday after talkin’ to that feller. Now he’s nowhere to be seen and Shelley’s goin’ nuts. She tried to call out to a state precinct to get help, but the phones are actin’ up again. I’m tellin’ ya Duke, somethin’ is happenin’ at that compound and it’s affectin’ the town.”

  “Think it’s some kinda military thing?” Duke had asked, scratching the back of his meaty neck. He looked ill at ease. “Though it doesn’t explain why so many people seem to be vanishing off the face of the earth. Just last week, two people on the same street – poof – gone. Neighbors are sayin’ vacation, but I think Timmy Johnson woulda bragged about that. Brags about everything else.”

  A cold zap went through me. The sheriff was missing, along with other people? What was this, some kind of horror film? Then I shook my head, trying to get a grip on myself. These men were probably just bored and had nothing else to talk about. This was conspiracy theory country. Probably believed in Sasquatch and UFOs. Probably believed Sasquatch came here on UFOs.

  So I told myself, but I’d caught a glimpse of Duke’s face. And I’d seen fear in his eyes.

  When I’d first laid eyes on the compound from the safety of the woods, anxiety had crawled into my chest and begun to beat a wild drum against it. What was I doing? I should call the police if I thought my sister was in there, not go see for myself.

  But just the thought of Trini being locked behind those walls propelled me into action and I’d found myself sprinting across the ground, my hands grabbing the branches of the tree and then I was clambering over the wall.

  Now I was in.

  Get Trini, get out. I told myself, as I picked myself up and began to slink through the shadows. Then I paused, glancing over my shoulder. For a moment, I had the strangest sensation of being watched or of hearing something moving behind me. But when nothing materialized after a few hundred ricocheting heartbeats, I started moving again.

  Slipping up to the edge of a building, I peered around it and studied the shadows moving in the light. They were people – dressed in all black, with bandanas covering their faces and a strange, almost synchronized movement to their motion. There was a listlessness to it that made my skin crawl.

  Some were loading boxes into trucks while others were unloading. Yet there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to their actions – it was almost as though they just needed something to do.

  Hurrying forward, I found myself panicking a little, wondering how I was going to find Trini if everyone had their faces covered. Were they all criminals? Or had they all been kidnapped? These thoughts and more gruesome ones began to crowd into my mind.

  Soon I found myself nearing the center of the compound, which seemed more or less abandoned. One large, old, factory-type building dominated the space, but there was a clear area in front of it. A massive stone circle was there, heaped with tall wood, as though for a bonfire, and like everything else in this whacked out town and creepy compound, it freaked me out. I couldn’t say why, but I gave it a wide berth, almost recoiling from it.

  Crouched at the corner of the entrance, I gazed across the entryway. It was roofed in, raised almost four feet off the ground, and ran the length of the building.

  At that moment, the door of the factory building banged open and a tall man walked out, a cane tapping the ground in front of him. Instantly I froze, my blood running icy cold, and every cell in body screaming at me to get the hell out of there.

  He seemed to pull the darkness to him, even though he was nothing but a modestly dressed businessman in an overcoat and a hat. But I thought I saw his eyes slide my way and glint of red flash in them. Then he was gone, striding across the caked ground, with four of his black-clothed henchmen in his wake.

  Drawing in a relieved breath, I remained in that shadow for a solid minute. Then, adrenaline shooting through my veins, I crawled up onto the entryway and ran to the front door. I thought it would be locked, but it turned easily under my hand and I slipped in.

  Caged orange bulbs lit the hallway, as though it were under construction. I hurried down it to the very end. Here was a door with a crooked sign that said “Main Office.” Glancing over my shoulder, I surveyed the empty hallway one last time and then entered.

  Now my heart was in my throat. I didn’t know what I was hoping to find – a ledger that had my sister’s name in it? I gazed around at the desk, with neat stacks of paper and then I stopped dead.

  Over by the window, which was hidden from view by a tarp, was a table with a white stone on it. Bigger than my hand, it seemed to pulse as I got closer and then glow.

  What on Earth?

  It was beautiful – like a drop of moonlight caught in glass. I’d never seen such a pure white, except maybe after a winter storm that one Christmas we’d spent in the Colorado Rockies.

  So absorbed by the stone, it wasn’t until a moment later that I noticed there were tools scattered around the metal table, which had dents and scorch marks on it. The tools ranged from a pickaxe to a mallet to a chainsaw. But I saw nothing that could have made the scorch mark and I shivered.

  Without thinking, not even really sure what I was doing or why, my fingers closed around the white stone and I stashed it in deep in my jacket, in my secret pocket on the inside. The stone was cool to the touch, but then warmed under my fingers, as though greeting me like an old friend.

  With that stone in my pocket, a strange peace settled over my heart for the first time in weeks. Now, more than ever, I was determined to find Trini. And I knew I would.

  Sneaking back out into the hall, I heard a noise and decided to find a back exit. I could explore the other half of the compound for now. If I couldn’t find Trini, then I’d come back tomorrow in the daylight to get a better idea of how to get my sister out of here.

  I was walking out the
back door when it happened. A figure in black loomed up in front of me. Then I was knocked to the ground with such force that I lost my breath for a moment.

  Kicking out, I connected with my attacker’s shin and they let out a small groan of pain. This was a woman, I realized, and I shoved her back as I got to my feet. But her fist flew out, hitting my ribs before I could twist away, and I let out a cry.

  She came for me again, but I grabbed her by the arms, trying to swing her into the building wall, but she was too fast. Flailing out blindly, I tried to hit her in the face, but all I managed to do was grab her bandana. It slid off her face.

  I gasped, my arms falling limply to my sides as I stared at my older sister. “Trini?” I asked, reaching for her. “It’s me, it’s Kalin…”

  Her fist flew out, connecting with my stomach and I fell to my knees. In another instant, she had my hands behind my back, tied up, and then she dragged me to my feet.

  “Trini!” I hissed, tears streaming from my eyes. “What are you doing? I came to get you…”

  Words failed me as we came around the corner. For a second, I was sure I was having another nightmare. Or a hallucination.

  But as I felt the heat lick my face, I knew I wasn’t that lucky. This was all too real.

  A demon with red eyes was pouring flame onto the bonfire. Silhouetted in front of it was a hunched creature whose skin seemed to be burnt. It turned slowly, morphing back into that man I’d seen earlier. An impossibly tall man with a limp and an overcoat. He offered me a terrible smile as Trini marched me forward, the light from the fire matching the one in his empty eyes.

  Nausea rolled in my stomach and I heard a prayer fall from my lips in Spanish, a sure sign I was agitated. “Dios me salve…”

  “That won’t work here, my dear,” he said, almost sounding kind. “Now, what’s all this?”

  “Intruder,” rasped Trini and I twisted to try to look at her, but she shoved me to the ground.

  “What have you done to her, Diablo?” I spat, trying to hide how badly I was shaking.

  “Ah no, not quite.” The man looked down at me as though I was some specimen of slug. “You must be related. You’ve got that same light in your eyes.” Then he laughed. “Or at least she did.”

  “Let her go, please,” I begged. “You can have anything you want, money, anything. Or take me instead. Please, I’m begging you. Let her go.”

  “But I wanted her, Kalin Montero,” the man replied and my heart squeezed painfully. “And now it looks like I’ll have a matching set.” Raising his hand, he called out, “Bring the others.” Then he glanced back at me and smiled that pitiless smile again. “You have wonderful timing, my dear. Any other day and I would have just let the Ash Walkers gnaw on your bones.”

  Gulping, I watched as two figures were led to the front of the bonfire. One had a metal star glinting on his chest. The sheriff! I thought in a panic. Then I gazed up at the smoke. Surely someone would see it, someone would investigate and stop this madness…

  But my heart sank as I watched the man un-hood the two people, their eyes wild with terror. No one was coming. I was all alone. God, I was so stupid.

  No one would save Trini now.

  Was this some kind of sick cult? Were they going to throw us into the fire? I wondered, feeling sick to my stomach again.

  “Bring your sister, Trini, there’s a pet,” the man called.

  I was yanked to my feet and deposited next to the other two. The sheriff was a kindly looking man, with white hair, a pot-belly, and a mustache. The other was a middle-aged woman who looked like a soccer mom, only her blonde hair was lank, and her blouse was stained. Both of them were gagged and they gazed up at the man in abject horror.

  The tall man walked to the sheriff first, placing both his hands on his shoulders. The sheriff let out a wail through the gag, his head falling forward. When he lifted it, I watched as the color drained from his eyes and all personality seemed to wash from his face.

  Cold sweat beaded across my forehead. A hysterical thought crossed my mind, almost making me laugh: this is what I get for making fun of those guys for believing in Sasquatch.

  The woman recoiled as the tall man approached her, shaking her head violently, but he repeated the procedure.

  Again, I watched as a person’s head fell forward and then lifted with lightless eyes.

  In cold terror, but now livid as well, I glared up at the tall man as he came over. “I hope you rot in hell, you sorry bastard,” I snarled. Inside my jacket, the stone seemed to throb against my chest and I felt stronger, braver for a moment. “You’re going to regret ever messing with the Montero sisters, I promise you that.”

  The tall man laughed. “It’s too late for you, Kalin. Soon you’ll be at my beck and call, without a thought in your head. Now won’t that be nice?"

  One of his hands landed on my shoulder and I almost screamed out at the pain. It felt like a thousand freezing needles were piercing my skin, sending rivulets of darkness coursing through my body.

  “No!” I cried out, trying to twist away.

  “Let her go,” a strong voice rang out across the scene and for a second, I thought the bonfire behind me faltered. “Now.”

  It can’t be… I thought, dazed with pain, as I squinted into the shadows.

  But there he was. The man from the diner. Dark and handsome, with a voice like gold, serious eyes, broad shoulders and thick forearms crossed.

  “Wesley Young,” spat the old man, squeezing my shoulder, and I whimpered with pain. “Wes, one of the Coyote brethren, oh you can’t be alone. Where are your brothers?”

  “I won’t ask again,” Wes drawled.

  Now, said a voice in my head. I could tell the man was distracted.

  Like I’d meant to all along, I hopped into a crouch, kicking the back of the tall man’s knees. He pitched forward and I ran towards Wes who looked shocked before a grin split his face. Clouds were obscuring my vision and I tried to tell him – my sister, get my sister…

  But my throat wasn’t working. My vision was going in and out. The man was running under the starless sky, coyotes by his side, and I was in his arms.

  Trini, no… My sister, please go back for her…

  Chapter 4

  “I like this chick,” Cree said. “She’s ballsy.”

  “She also screwed up our plans and almost got herself killed. Us along with her,” I growled as I held an ice-pack to my neck. “Reckless fool.”

  “You don’t mean that,” Hazel said, almost absently, as she turned the page of the book she was reading.

  “Sure I do.” I shot a glare over at the couch where our new visitor was passed out.

  Once she’d vanished inside the compound, we brothers had to change our entire plan. Instead of an ambush, it was now a rescue. Everything had to be improvised instead of planned. I hated that. I’d spent time coming up with that perfect plan, dammit.

  Then she was mouthing off at the Crooked Man. Who does that? I’d had no choice but to step in before he tossed her to the Ash Walker or slit her throat. He’d already half-turned her into a Pale Eye. And for whatever reason, Ben had then had a hell of a time healing her.

  “I think she was in shock,” Ben said, coming in at that moment holding a mug of coffee. Talk about brother brainwaves. “We’ve never stopped someone from being turned into a Pale Eye halfway through the process. Hell, we’ve never even seen the process. Who knew it was some kinda twisted ritual?”

  I shuddered to remember it. We’d all felt it when the Crooked Man had drawn on the Ash Walker’s fell fire to twist it and fetter the soul of the human in front of him.

  “Does this mean she’ll remember what she saw, Benny? Unlike poor Maxwell?” Hazel asked.

  “I think so,” Ben said, making a frustrated face as he looked down at the woman. “But I honestly have no idea. Fern or Pea probably would. But I can’t get any calls to go through.”

  “Well, this is a fine pickle,” I grumbled. Three pairs of eyes star
ed at me. “What?”

  Cree was solemn as he replied. “Just a weird phrase coming out of your mouth.”

  Shaking my head, I scowled. “It’s one of my Gram’s, shut up.”

  “It’s cute,” came a husky female voice, one that made me sit up straight and warmed every bone in my body. “Who’d expect a big guy like you to be dropping phrases used by little old ladies?”

  We all looked over. Our new friend was slowly sitting up and putting a hand to her head. Meeting her brown eyes, I said, smiling in spite of myself, “Well, my Gram wouldn’t appreciate bein’ called a little old lady, ma’am. Or you insinuating anything about her grandson.”

  “Ma’am,” Cree teased me in an undertone, then louder he said, “Hey, you’re up. How ya feelin’? You hungry?”

  His casual tone belied the surprise we all felt. Each of us had been bracing ourselves for her to wake up screaming or raving. Or at least scared.

  But this girl only looked tired and slightly confused.

  Maybe she doesn’t remember… I thought, with a surge of relief.

  “I’d like some water, please.” Her eyes drifted around the house. “Where am I? Who are you people?” She didn’t sound panicked, more insistent and curious than anything.

  Ben and I exchanged glances as Cree went into the kitchen. Then we both looked at Hazel who held up her hands as though to say, you’re the shifters, here, boys.

  Damn, I was really hoping Rayner would be back by now. He had that gentle, easy way with him and I was sure he could spin something that would convince this girl she’d had a bad dream. To go home. And never mess with our plans again.

  “I’m Kalin,” she said, breaking the silence. “Kalin Montero.”

  Cree reappeared. “Hi, Kalin. I’m Cree Campbell. That there is Ben Ofreo, Hazel Pemberton, and Wes Young.” I felt her eyes light on me and I jerked my head in a nod. But I was glaring at Cree. Who said we were giving her our real names, fool? “Don’t worry, you’re safe here.”