"Val's right," Janie said. "Having others around him will soothe the wolf."
"I'm willing to try anything," Erly said. "I just hope he eats, first."
"Erly, he'll eat when he's hungry," Val sighed. "We'll do whatever we can to help the boy."
"All right, then. I'll get this to him and tell him we'll help if he'll let us."
"Take a plate for yourself," Janie suggested. "If you eat, maybe he'll eat with you."
"Why didn't I think of that?" Erly flashed Janie a quick grin.
"I'll find a tray while you fix your plate," she offered. "We're about to put the food on the table, anyway. Ari makes good pot roast."
"Where is she?" Erly asked.
"She went to change shirts—she splashed brown gravy on the one she was wearing."
"I love brown gravy," Erly said. "Can the boy and I have extra?"
"I believe so. Give me a second and I'll put some in a covered dish."
"I made plenty of gravy," Ari walked into the kitchen wearing a clean shirt. "Enough for extra all around, including what I ended up wearing."
"Don't be wastin' gravy," Erly teased. "It makes mashed potatoes tolerable."
"I'll file that away for future reference," Ari laughed.
"I hate to interrupt, but we've been called to investigate disappearances at a wildlife refuge not far from Port Aransas," Laronda strode into the kitchen wearing a worried frown.
"Disappearances?" Ari asked.
"People go in—they don't come out. Two park rangers went in to search for missing tourists, and they haven't been seen or heard from since."
"That doesn't sound good," Janie put a lid on a container of gravy and added it to Erly's tray.
"It's not good—especially since they never found all those dead people who jumped off the boats down there. We're adding to our team, Ari, and we've already notified the Department. You, Mac and Nico are going with us, this time."
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning. It's the first flight we could find to carry all of us together. We've made arrangements for Claudio and his guards to come after nightfall, if they want to."
"I think one of them should stay here—to guard the ranch," Ari said.
"Mac said the same thing."
"What if I can get us down there, ah, faster?" Ari sent a guarded look to Laronda.
"Mac said you might offer. He says it's unwise at this point."
"Fine. We'll go the conventional route, then."
"We'll have new IDs and passports for you before we fly," Laronda continued. "And it wouldn't hurt to dye your hair before we submit a new photo to the Department."
"I've never dyed my hair." Ari didn't like the idea.
"It can be temporary, don't worry. Sometimes, I buy the kind that will wash out completely the next time you shampoo."
"Well, if you know what you're doing," Ari assented.
"I do. We'll get you fixed up. Want black or brown?"
"Brown, please."
"That should cover your honey-blonde very well," Laronda nodded. "After dinner, we have a hair appointment."
"What about Nico?"
"Haircut," Laronda said. "Then a few stylish purple streaks and he's a new man."
"Did we get enough new clothes washed for you to take if you need to overnight?" Janie asked.
"Yeah. I'm good," Ari replied.
"Then let's sit down for supper before it gets cold. Erly, get that boy fed, and we'll get him to the barn after dinner."
"Will do." Erly lifted the tray and walked out of the kitchen.
"Good-night, Senator," Darnell's Chief of Staff called out as he walked out of his office to go home.
"Gerri, if I get a fax from Marlon Keating, just put it on my desk, okay?"
"Of course. Is there anything else?"
"Not tonight. See you tomorrow." Darnell hefted his leather satchel over a shoulder and walked toward the door. Tonight, rather than taking the stairs to the first floor of the capitol, he decided to take the elevator down.
The marble floor echoed with his footsteps as he made his way toward the elevator, then stepped aboard when the doors opened with a soft ding.
With the first-floor button pushed, Darnell watched absently as the door shut. Halfway between his floor and the next, the elevator stopped abruptly, with a jerk and a bounce.
Darnell reached out to push the call button when the light went out, leaving him in complete darkness.
"Dammit," Darnell cursed, feeling his way toward the buttons at the front of the car.
"You're not trapped."
The voice sounded as if it were echoed from far away, until two, ember-bright eyes blinked open before him. Darnell swallowed a shriek.
"You have no need to fear me," the voice grated, as if it were attempting to soothe the Senator.
"Who?" Darnell's voice was a husky, frightened whisper.
"You may call me Belhar," the voice now sounded amused. "I present myself to you in this way, so as not to frighten you further. Eventually, when you recognize my worth, you will not be afraid. We are allies, you and I. We want the same things."
"What things?"
"Death to witches. Death to werewolves and those who love werewolves. Vampires. Other things not quite—human."
"What makes you think I'll take your word for any of this?"
"I know what happened in Swindall, and all involved. I know many things, Senator. I am in a position to help you greatly."
Darnell began to sweat. Someone knew he was involved in that mass murder. "I could have you killed," he threatened.
Belhar's laugh filled the elevator car and echoed through Darnell's mind. "Oh, you amuse me so," Belhar was quite gleeful. "You see, I cannot be killed. I am eternal."
The lights came on, temporarily blinding Darnell and forcing his eyes shut until he could deal with the sudden brightness. When he finally blinked them open, his back hit the rear of the car as he hastily retreated from Belhar's form.
Tall, black horns curved atop the face of a demon. A muscular chest, covered in dark hair, made Darnell's eyes widen in fear. At least Belhar had covered his legs and privates; he wore dress pants that appeared to be made of the finest black silk.
There were no shoes; shiny, black cloven hooves were Belhar's feet. "I have already made arrangements for you to take possession of the ranch you are negotiating to buy," Belhar continued. "You will receive a call from your friend, and for half the money up front, you may move your operation there immediately. I am very much looking forward to this, you understand."
"Wh-what?"
"You will have an army soon—I have been building it for you. This army will move on your command, and you will lay blame for all they do upon the opposition. Have you not always desired such?"
"I don't understand."
"I told you I can be quite useful. And, whenever you need me, you only need to call my name and I will appear. Do not hesitate, or much could be lost to the enemy."
"The witches? That enemy?"
"Ah, still naïve as yet. You have so much to learn, Senator. So, so much. Until we meet again." Belhar disappeared before Darnell's eyes as the elevator lurched into motion.
"Are you sure Hunter will be all right if Erly comes with us?" Laronda asked Val the following morning. "He wants to come, but he's worried about the boy, too."
"Hunter will be fine, I think," Val replied. "He wants to work with Henry and Kev today. They're repairing fence on the east side. We didn't offer—he asked them if they'd let him help."
"Erly said he was used to hard work," Laronda sighed. "Thank you for putting us up and for looking after the boy. I have no doubt that we'd have bigger trouble in Swindall than we already do if you hadn't taken the boy out of there when you did."
"His wolf could be dead, and a few more humans could be dead, too," Val nodded. "I can't help but think that Erly would have tried to protect the boy, and that may have meant his death as well."
"Just what Claudio said last
night," Laronda agreed. "He and Renault will be flying down tonight to join us, unless we can solve this mystery before then. I truly doubt that will happen."
"After Swindall, I don't think anything will be easy to solve from now on," Val nodded. "We'll be fine with Alejandro here to help at night, I think."
"How's the land sale coming along?"
"Burke is meeting the local realtor today; if things go well, we could have papers signed by tomorrow. Depending on how long it takes to get the abstract updated and all, we may ask to go ahead and start covering up that rift right away. I don't want rotting cattle to draw vermin in, and the stench in this heat is almost unbearable."
"Then I hope things go like you want them to," Laronda said. "We need to leave, now, but I'm sure Lance and Mona will keep you updated on our return."
"You're welcome here when you get back," Val told her.
"As long as we don't put you and yours in danger, we'll take you up on that offer."
"You and Del have helped us out—you're like family, now."
"Awww—I really want to hug you right now."
"I'd take a hug," Val grinned.
"Haven't been on a plane in years," Erly said as he buckled up next to Ari. "Never been in first class before."
"First time in first class for me, too," Ari told him. "Mona says these were the only seats available."
"Would you like something to drink before we take off?" The first-class flight attendant asked.
Ari exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Erly before saying, "Coffee, please."
"I'll have what she's having," Erly grinned.
"Coffee all around, I think," Del said from across the aisle.
"I'll have it right out, and I'll bring menu cards for you to look over," the flight attendant smiled.
"Not bad for a two-hour flight," Ari sighed as she ate another grape off her plate. "I'm not sure I can ever be satisfied with coach again."
"This would make a long flight bearable," Erly agreed, putting his feet up and leaning his seat back. "In the war, I flew on a military plane to Korea. Felt like three-day-old roadkill afterward."
"Erly, tell me you didn't serve in the Korean War," Ari whispered, leaning close so the attendant wouldn't hear.
"I did. I'm older than I look, you know."
"Damn." Ari leaned back in her seat before reaching out to pat Erly's hand. "Thank you for your service, Erly."
"You're welcome."
"These oak savannas give way to fresh-water marshes, and eventually to the saltwater marshes," a park ranger explained as he drove an open-air bus down a narrow trail. "Unfortunately, the first abandoned vehicle was towed away before we realized the people hadn't left the park, as we originally suspected."
"Can you show us where it was?" Del asked as the bus bumped along the uneven terrain of the Aransas Wildlife Refuge.
"I'm taking you there, now. Another vehicle is about half a mile away—the first two rangers who went to investigate that one are also missing. Agent Reeves—those are friends of mine, as well as coworkers. I sure hope you can find them for us."
"We'll do what we can, but we can't make promises, you understand."
"Yeah. We understand."
He doesn't understand, Mac sent to Nico and Ari. None of this makes any sense to him and his fellow rangers. Ari, if you'll sniff around when we get there—you, Erly and Laronda should be able to tell whether the worst has happened.
What are you expecting us to smell? Ari asked.
It'll have a hint of something you've smelled before, but—changed. A lot.
Can you describe it?
The best way I can describe it after talking to Claudio is a hint of decayed roadkill, with smoke and evil thrown in, Mac responded.
You're describing the demons, aren't you? Nico said.
Yes. I don't have a sensitive nose like Ari and the others, but other vampires who experienced this in the past have made similar comments.
"Here we are," the ranger interrupted the silent conversation. He'd parked several yards away from an area where crime scene tape had been tied to metal stakes stuck in sandy soil.
"Ari, if you and Erly will go with Laronda to check on the ground first," Del said after stepping off the bus.
"We're on it," Laronda replied as she followed Del. She stepped aside, waiting for Ari and Erly to join her.
The others disembarked and gathered around Del and their ranger guide, waiting for the shifters in their group to sniff for evidence.
Let me know what you find, Mac told Ari.
"Those ain't deer tracks," Erly stopped several feet away from the crime scene, after noticing animal tracks on the sandy road.
"You're right," Laronda agreed, studying the tracks Erly pointed out.
"Too big for a cow, too," Ari noted. "Hold on. I need to kneel down, I think." Ari squatted next to a set of cloven-hoofed prints but leapt up almost immediately with a short, half-scream. To Mac's ears, it sounded far too close to a yowl from Ari's mountain lion. She'd smelled something, for sure.
"Del, come with me," Mac pulled Del away from the group. "Mona, stay with Nico." Mac rushed toward Ari's position, hauling Del with him.
"Damn," Erly repeated Ari's movements, kneeling next to the prints before rising again swiftly. "I don't know what that is, but I don't think I like it."
"Lara, tell me what you smell," Del arrived with Mac, wearing a concerned expression.
"All right, but you owe me, Del Reeves." Laronda knelt beside the prints and drew in a breath, before her coyote yipped in distress. Mac had to grab her arm to keep her from running away from the site.
"Demons," Ari hissed. "Don't ask me how I know, I just do." She cradled the hand with the shell imprint—it burned and ached at the same time.
"I think we're going to need help," Mac said. "Del, how many can you pull in from your Department of the fanged and furred variety—before sunrise tomorrow?"
"Maybe a handful are close enough," Del said. "I can put in a call."
"Do it. I'll leave a message for Claudio, to see if he has any friends to bring along. I also need to know how many dead people are unaccounted for."
"Has to be several hundred at least," Del said. "But I can tap into the Department's official records to get a better idea. How do we kill these things?"
"Vamps have the best chance against them," Mac replied. "Beheading them is safest, just like in their zombie phase. There's a catch, though."
"What's that?" Laronda asked.
"These will have fangs, claws and a really bad attitude," Mac responded. "That information is from Claudio, by the way. Vampires are far more familiar with this version of the enemy than I am."
"What do we tell the park ranger?" Del asked.
"That we need to bring in help—to fan out and wade through the marshes if necessary. I don't want to upset him at this point and tell him his friends aren't coming back—not in human form, anyway."
"I'll have some of our people come in and secure the area. The park is already shut down until the investigation is over," Del shook his head. "I'll tell him that we're taking over for now, and to send all employees home this afternoon. I'll clear it all through the Department."
"Del, do you think they ought to shut down access to Matagorda Island, too?" Laronda asked.
"Maybe. Got any feelings on that one?" Del turned to Mac.
"Not without seeing it, first," Mac told him. "Nico may have a feeling about it, though."
"Then let's go ask."
"Not in front of the Ranger," Ari cautioned.
"Yeah," Erly agreed. "We don't need to draw attention to the boy."
"Let's get out of here for now—this place doesn't feel safe," Ari said. "I feel—cold, and it's in the nineties." I don't want anything sensing Nico, Ari informed Mac silently.
"Come on—we'll get out of here for now," Mac began walking toward the bus.
"Yeah. I'm gettin' the willies," Erly agreed.
"This place is for sale, but the
y're still renting it out until a buyer comes along," Del dropped his duffle in the foyer of a large beach house. "We don't need to be holed up in a hotel—in case somebody becomes suspicious when the vamps come in."
"Well, if I had a million or two stashed away, I'd buy this place," Ari said, looking around.
"What she said," Mona walked in behind Ari.
"Wow," Nico's eye lit up as he saw the view of the gulf straight through from the foyer. "Can you imagine waking up to that every day?"
"You say that now," Mona called after him. "Wait until the next hurricane comes along."
"Don't rain—or blow wind at over a hundred miles an hour on that kid's parade," Erly said. "Let him enjoy it now."
"You've been through a hurricane?"
"Katrina," Erly nodded. "House was completely destroyed; that's why I moved to Texas. Still like the gulf when it ain't blowin' up a hurricane, though. Fresh fish and shrimp—man, those were good times."
"Ari, come look," Nico called out. Ari grinned and went to see what fascinated Nico so much. She found him on the balcony stretching across the back width of the house. Wind blew in from the gulf; seagulls flew past, some so close Nico could almost reach them. Down on the beach, a couple were walking on the sand while the waves piled up close to their feet.
"That looks spectacular," Ari breathed in the salt air. "I'm not sure I've ever stayed this close to the water."
"I hope we get to spend some time on the beach," Nico sounded wistful.
"Me, too. It looks like fun."
"Some days, I feel like the word fun has been removed from our vocabulary," Nico shook his head.
"If there is any way, I swear we will have fun again. Paint together again. Wake up in the morning with no worries again." Ari draped an arm around Nico's shoulders and hugged him. "We're family, remember?"
"Yeah." Nico's arm went around Ari's waist. "It's up to us, now, whether any of that happens."
"I'll bet there's a spectacular view when a full moon rises over the water," Ari breathed.
"I think so, too," Laronda joined them on the wide balcony. "The others are discussing whether to cook in or go out for dinner. Erly says there's a Cajun restaurant in town, so he's voting to eat out."
Raven, Red Page 20
