The Elder Witches

by R.E. Packer

  Chapter 29

  We made our way outside, Gwen and Maeve made a point of sending Eros out first, in case anyone wants to shoot at us they said. I didn’t think there was anyone left to do any shooting, and I was even less worried about Gwen and Maeve being hurt. Something had happened between Eros and the witches, but it would have to wait until later before I could try to mend their relationship.

  Outside, we met up with the Ian and the rest of his pack. A few pack members were still searching for the clothes they had stashed before they’d changed into their wolf form, giving Maeve an eyeful that she didn’t object to.

  My enhanced senses had faded back to somewhat normal. Even so, it smelled like blood, gun powder and wet fur. While Gwen, Maeve and Eros had broken into the lab to rescue me, the wolves, with the help of Reynolds and his coven, had secured the rest of the base. Looking around, there were many more buildings than the one I had been held in. Green grass surrounded the buildings and it looked more like a college campus than a top secret government facility. I wondered how many agents had been subjected to the hybridization and what would happen to the ones that had gotten away.

  It didn’t look like the agents on the base who had tried to fight or flee had gotten very far. The werewolves and vampires proved much more formidable. The wolves were not armed with anything other than their animal form, the vampires had come equipped with a small arsenal.

  James stood idly by chatting with a couple of the wolves. He looked completely at ease, however, I noticed how he never turned his back to Gwen or Maeve, keeping them in his watchful sight.

  Many of the pack had remained in wolf form. It was hard on them to change so quickly, Ian had said, and being so close to the full moon the call of the wolf was too great for many to change back into human form. Also, the newer wolves could control their blood lust that fighting created easier in wolf form. I noticed many of the wolves stayed well away from James, watching him like he was watching the witches, but for different reasons I suspected. The ones that hung back quickly averted their gaze when James looked in their direction.

  Reynolds walked over, his eyes slowly fading back to their normal pale gray, from the pure black they had been. Somehow he still manged to look dignified with his black turtleneck and body armor. A pair of Glocks rested in shoulder holsters, and CZ pistols rested on each hip. More vampires could be seen in the shadows, staying well away from the witches. Most of the wolves and vampires didn’t look to have much interest in mingling with each other.

  “I hope you’ll forgive any past transgressions from our coven,” Reynolds said to Gwen, giving his best smile without showing any fangs. “We are, after all related… in a way. And relatives do fight.”

  Gwen smiled but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. At the same time Ian laughed, but something told me it was for the same reasons. The other vampires had retreated even farther away as Reynolds approached Gwen.

  “They’re not as sure about your forgiveness as I am,” Reynolds said.

  “Lack of loyalty has it’s price, vampire,” Ian said in a low voice. “Yeah, I’ve heard all about your kind attacking the witches.”

  Reynolds turned meeting Ian’s gaze. Ian growled at the challenging eye contact, the rest of his pack instantly tensing and inching forward almost unnoticed, ready to help out their Alpha.

  While the two gazed menacingly at each other, I noticed the other wolves making their way even closer to their Alpha, no doubt ready to give their lives to fight with him. I didn’t see the other vampires but I suspected they were still nearby.

  After all we’d been through, and with the drama now playing out between the vampires and werewolves, I had one thought that drowned out all the others. It was of a Shadow Beast rising up to take on the threatening men in front of me. I crushed down the other voice with all my effort, not letting the velvety voice persuade me this time.

  In a strained voice, that quivered a bit as I spoke, I said, “A vampire, a werewolf and a witch walk into a bar…” Reynolds and Ian were only a few feet away from me now. Both of them gave me a curious look but neither said a word.

  Maeve laughed, her brash voice echoing across the lawn, dissolving whatever tension was in the air. She looked between the werewolf and the vampire and laughed yet again, a genuine smile lighting up her face. Neither Reynolds nor Ian laughed but their tension did seem to subside.

  Maeve gave me a wink before she turned to Ian.

  “I think you and I are going to get along just fine,” she said to Ian putting her arm through his.

  “Tell me all about yourself, I think we might have a few things in common, you and I. Would you believe some people say I have anger issues?”

  “Not you—” he said smiling now.

  “I know, it’s ridiculous,” she said haughtily.

  She leaned against him, letting him lead her away arm in arm.

  Gwen sidled up to me taking my arm in hers and leaning against me. “How’re you feeling?” she whispered.

  “Fine, why do—” she raised her eyebrows and gave me an impatient look crossing her arms.

  “I’m fine, really.” How did she know about the voice in my head telling me about the Shadow Beast again?

  “You and I are connected now, on some level. You’ve probably felt it all along but haven’t know what it was. For now, just rest. But remember this, it takes a great amount of self control to handle as much power as you have.”

  Rest sounded good. I felt like I could sleep for a week.

  The Alpha clapped me on the shoulder as he walked by, the corners of his mouth rising slightly as I wobbled.

  I shook hands with Reynolds, thanking him for everything they had done. He told me again how it was in their best interest but I still had hope that the vampires were more than a purely self-satisfying species.

  Ian snapped his fingers loudly at a member of his pack, getting everyone’s attention.

  “Now that everybody seems accounted for, we have a present for you.

  Ben, bring her over.”

  A young, blond werewolf pulled along the gagged and squirming figure of Vivian Tutino. She stopped struggling when she spotted Gwen. At the same time Ben slowed his gait which became uneven and jerky. He turned his head looking at everybody watching him as if for the first time. His eyes had a glazed over look before they focused on Maeve and he pivoted in her direction, a growl came from him as he charged her, head held low.

  Ian growled so loudly I could feel it as much as hear it. The sound of repressed rage that resonated to every member of his pack. One by one every pack member dropped to his knees as Ian leaped from a dead stop the 10 feet to where Vivian stood. His fist, the size of a small canned ham, came down squarely on Vivian’s forehead.

  She slumped to the ground as her eyes rolled back in her head. A red knot was already forming on her forehead, the same size as Ian’s fist.

  The young werewolf was still on his knees and when Ian got close to him I could feel the magic of the Alpha undoing whatever Vivian had done. Ben looked like he just graduated from high school, his thin frame slumped as the Alpha’s magic made him whole again.

  Ben shook his head as his eyes focused clearly again, “Damned mind bending witch,” he said lowering his eyes letting the pack know the shame he felt for being weak.

  “She’s a pesky thing with her mind tricks,” Ian said to Gwen and me.

  “She can’t touch most of us but the younger wolves aren’t totally immune from powerful magic.”

  “But we found the antidote for that,” he said pounding his fist into his other hand.

  Gwen stood over Vivian. She raised her staff, closing her eyes as she drew in power. The staff glowed bright, thrumming with power as she knelt down, putting her hand on Vivian’s head. Magic flowed from her. All the power she had build up, which was considerable, was forced into the inert woman at her feet.

  Vivian’s back arched as if from an electric jolt. Her hair stood on end, hands clenched. She le
t out a piercing scream that echoed through the nearby woods.

  Everybody stood stone silent. When Gwen finished she stood up and stepped back.

  We all got a bit closer to see what she had done.

  Vivian, her complexion a healthy pink, sat up. She looked around at her surroundings more than a little confused. The goose egg Ian had given her was completely gone. The dark circles under her eyes were likewise also missing. Her eyes had a bright quality I hadn’t previously seen.

  “How do you feel, Vivian?” Gwen asked.

  “I — I was trying to hurt you,” she said. “But I can’t remember why.”

  “Do you want to hurt us now?” Gwen asked.

  “No, of course not. Why would I want to hurt you, you’re like me,” she said.

  “Holy hell, you made her your friend?” Ian asked.

  “No.” Gwen said. “I healed her mind… and the virus.”

  ****

  We searched the rest of the base with the help of the others, even though we were sure there would be no sign of Maleos. Whatever his plan, it had been canceled for now.

  Eros was sure it wasn’t the last we had heard of him. We were equally sure that whatever he decided to do, we’d be ready for it.

  THE END