Oh man. Damien thought. Once again his dad was going to go after poor Kain for something he did.
“Leave Kain alone, pops. I was the one who stormed out. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. It was wrong.” Damien scratched his head, nervously before continuing. “I was going to wait until Christmas for this but since she’s here, I want you to meet my girlfriend.”
Charlie's eyes grew wide with anticipation as Damien walked them back outside where Jill stood leaning against her car. “Dame. She's beautiful.”
Jill shook slightly. A small knot of nervousness formed in her stomach. She'd been uneasy at the thought of introducing herself to Damien's father. She'd been alone for so long, she'd almost forgotten how to act casually around humans.
“I'm Charlie Pierce,” Charlie extended his hand. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss?”
“Jillian. Jillian Styles.” She shook his outstretched hand.
“Well Jillian, I have no idea how my son managed to get such a gorgeous woman but I'm glad he did.”
Damien playfully shoved his dad. “Jill is the one I’ve been seeing all this time. She was the one who picked me up after the accident with the truck.”
“I was going to ask how that happened, Dame. The truck was in bad shape. I’m glad Jill was there to help you,” Charlie’s jovial mood turned severe. “I know you told me you fell asleep at the wheel but there were indentions on the step rails resembling human hands. A man from what our crime scene unit could tell.”
Damien looked over to Jill, silently asking her for help.
“I saw those indentions, Charlie. Rocks roll down those hills all the time. The side of the ditch Damien drove into was full of them. Maybe they were responsible?” Jill answered as though she’d rehearsed the line.
No telling how many times she’d had to make up excuses for vampire attacks throughout her life.
“That could be. No reason to think about it now I suppose. I’m just glad Damien found someone to care for him. His mother and I tried everything we could think of.” Charlie took Jill's hands in his, revealing them to be rough and cracked from the trials he'd had to face in his life.
“Take care of him, Jill. I am so thankful for you. Would you like to come in? I'd love to learn more about my son's girlfriend.”
“Sure. If you don't mind though, I'd like to change clothes.” Damien chimed in, catching a devious chuckle coming from the gorgeous woman beside him.
Charlie and Jill sat in the living room drinking hot coffee after Charlie built a fire to heat the room against the cold outside.
“They say we're about ready to get our first snow of the season. I can't wait! It'd be nice to enjoy the decorations covered in white powder. Of course, it's one of my busiest times of year since so many people tend to get stuck,” Charlie laughed at his own story. He often got called out to get folks out of their cars after being buried in snow. “I know I shouldn't be laughing but some things you just can't help. How about you, Jillian? Do you live close?”
Jill didn't really have a place she called home. She was mostly nomadic unless she was spending time at Gabriel's gym or staying with Kain. On rare occasions she had been known to stay with Holt.
“You could say that. I work as a private investigator. Sometimes for your office. When I'm not working I tend to spend my time at Solstice to kick box. The owner there is a personal friend.”
Damien came downstairs, freshly showered and happy to be in his own clothes, settling on a black t-shirt shirt and jeans.
Jill's heart fluttered in her chest when his scent hit her nose. That rich, spicy, dark musk she spent so many moons pining for brought about an overwhelming heat inside of her.
“What'd I miss?” Damien sat next to Jill on the couch, throwing his arm around her shoulder.
Jill smiled, leaning her head against his chest. Her hand came to rest on his leg, rubbing the muscle underneath his jeans.
“Nothing much. Jill just told me what she did as a job and where she liked to work out. Dame, I’m afraid we’re going to have to cancel our camping trip. The town needs me here.” Charlie leaned forward, the look on his face serious, his mouth and eyes flattening into a thin line.
“Why? What’s going on?” Damien asked, feeling both relieved that he didn’t have to go and concerned about the look on his father’s face.
“There have been some strange things going on around here lately. Livestock have gone missing from some of the local farms. A few people too. We hadn't found anything to point us to the problem yet but I want you to be careful.” Charlie took a drink of his coffee.
“How many?” Damien asked, the feeling of unease and nausea settling in his stomach.
Jill paid close attention as the two men exchanged words. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end as she fought not bare her fangs. A low growl rose in the back of her throat.
“So far not many people. Just mostly animals. We did find a few carcasses torn all to hell. Maybe a wolf, coyote or something got to them but until we know what's going on, be very careful.”
Jill got deathly still. Her gaze was so intense it would burn the wall if it could. She stood up suddenly, her fists clenched at her sides.
Once again her kind had been indirectly accused of the carnage plaguing the town when she knew exactly who was responsible.
“I have to go. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Pierce.” She said as she grabbed her jacket and keys, heading back out to her car.
Damien got up quickly and followed closely on her heels until they reached the door.
“Jill, what's going on?” When she didn't stop, he reached out to grab her wrist. “Don't you dare close me out. Tell me what's bothering you.”
Jill took a deep breath, releasing it slowly to calm herself. She turned around, reminding herself that nothing happening was Damien's fault.
Gently she placed her hand on his face, softly rubbing it. “I'm sorry, Damien. I have to leave you for now. I have to tell Kain, Gabriel and Holt what's going on. Stay here with your dad. Don't go outside after dark and don't let anyone into your house you don't know. By now, I know you can tell what a vampire looks like.”
Placing her hand on the back of his neck, she guided him down so she could kiss him. Pain and fear filled her at the thought of leaving him alone but she had to get the news to the alphas.
The vampires were moving faster than they initially anticipated. They needed to act.
She stood in the open door of her car, staring up at Damien on the porch, fighting a battle inside. Her people were being threatened. She had to be sure they were taken care of. Damien was her lover. He was still human and vulnerable to attack. It was hard to choose.
Jill got into the car and started, mouthing “I love you” to Damien on before driving off.
****
The sun was hidden behind thick clouds that looked like they offered the promise of snow later in the evening. The wind definitely was cold enough to support the frost. It whistled like an angry banshee heralding the coming of the chaos and war.
Jill got out of her car, the cold wind biting against her coat as she pulled it up to shield her cheeks.
She walked up to Gabriel's gym, meeting Scott at the door. “Scott, I need to speak to Gabriel and Kain, now. It is the utmost importance.”
Scott didn't say anything as he led Jill to where Gabriel and Kain were sparring against each other in a room with mats covering the floor designed for such exercises.
Upon seeing her, they stopped. Their breathing heavy from their work out. Their hard bodies covered in fresh sweat. Their hair dripping small beads onto the floor.
“Jillian, how are you? I take it things went well with Charlie?” Kain wiped his face with a towel, getting a drink of water from his water bottle.
“They went fine, Kain.” Jill’s voice held the sternness she often had when she was fighting.
Both alphas looked at each other.
“Doesn't seem like it. What's got you so wor
ked up?” Gabriel wiped his face, putting the towel around his neck, shaking the sweat from his dark hair.
“Charlie mentioned some disappearing livestock and mangled corpses from the farms outside of town. A few people have gone missing too and they're blaming wolves. We all know what happens when humans become paranoid about things like this. We often end up as the poor souls to get hunted and killed for it. It appears Lilith has started making her move but it wasn't what we thought. So far Charlie and the local police have been able to keep it quiet. If it escalates, there'll be no way they can keep it hidden.”
Gabriel landed his fist into the nearest punching bag, a deep growl rolling up from his throat as his fangs extended. “Damned parasites. Why can't they just let us live in peace?”
“My guess is their end goal is to attack us openly. Lilith riles up the town and makes them panic. The humans go on some witch hunt forcing us to stop hunting which will have devastating results on our pups. It seems the ruling nobles of the coven don’t like having to share space with us.” Kain’s arms crossed his chest as he propped his hip against the wall in open frustration.
He continued. “Either way, they have started moving so we have to move. Staying still could get us killed.”
“Okay. Kain, tonight, send out a howling call. Let Holt know that in seven moons, we convene at his camp. We're going to need some help. Alone we can't stand against the coven, not all of us can fight. I don't expect those around here who are just trying to live their lives to give them up. It wouldn't be fair to them. Gods damn it all!” Gabriel punched the punching bag again only this time it was hard enough to send it flying into a mirror, cracking it.
“Jillian, stay close to Damien. Lilith still wants him, there's no doubt in my mind. She'll even kill him to keep you from having him if she can.” Kain advised Jill, earning him a hug around the waist.
“Thank you. I'll stay in howling's touch Kain, I promise.”
“I know.” Kain kissed her forehead. “Luna watch over you, Jillian.”
“And you, old friend.”
****
Damien sat on his couch, his foot tapping nervously against the floor as he thought back to the look on Jill's face. He wanted to go with her, to support her through whatever it was she felt she needed to run off to Kain and Gabriel for.
“Dame!” Charlie’s voice from upstairs drew his attention.
“Yeah.”
“Take the trash, out will you? I have to finish putting this desk together.” Charlie had chosen to set up an office in one of the spare rooms so he could bring work home with him if he needed to.
The moon was in full view. The trashcans were outside and Damien promised Jill he wouldn't go out after dark.
“Well, shit.” He said, upset as he got up. Heading into the kitchen he packed up the trash and recyclables to take out to the cans.
Careful to pay attention to everything around him, Damien made his way out to the trash cans at the end of the back of the house.
He'd gotten finished putting the recyclables in the can when he felt a hard hit against the back of his head. He hit the ground, dazed.
As he fought to stay conscious, he heard voices talking above him.
“Finally. Bind his hands and put him in the trunk . Make sure he's blindfolded and gagged. We don't want him calling for help in case there are any dogs around.” One of the voices spoke, his accent thick with either a Russian or German undertone. It was unclear which it was.
The only thing Damien remembered before the darkness took him was the blindfold over his eyes and the sting of ropes as they harshly bound his hands. His shoulders aching in protest.
Chapter Thirteen
“Jill!” Clint sprinted up as Jill walked out of the gym. The noise drew the attention of Kain and Gabriel who stood in the entrance of the building.
“Clint, what is it?” Jill asked, placing her hand on Clint’s back
“I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I screwed up. Sun's hell, there were four of them. I couldn't do anything.” Clint rambled off apology after apology as he spoke, each one more grief stricken than the last.
To the human world, Clint would look like he was still a kid. Due to his lack of experience, he still was in the lycan world as well.
Kain adopted him after he found him freezing and close to starving to death next to the body of his older brother.
Jill's stomach churned in knots as she tried to make out what Clint was trying to say. He had been put in charge of watching over Damien until she could finish talking to Kain and Gabriel, sending out a howling call if anything went wrong.
The fact he was here meant something was horribly wrong.
“Clint, why are you not with Damien? What happened?” Her voice slightly scared Clint as his eyes searched his father's for some sign of an upcoming repercussion.
“Jill, I'm sorry. They took him. I couldn't stop them. Rayes was there. For the likes of me he's more than a match. There were three others with him. I didn't recognize two of them but Jack Nantucket, the old farm hand was one of them. Gods, I’m so sorry.” Clint smacked his head with the heels of his hands.
He knew he messed up but Rayes was one of the vampire elite, he would have torn someone as inexperienced as Clint up in a minute.
Kain walked up to his adopted son, patting his back in an attempt to calm him.
Wide-eyed, Jill fell to her knees, her hands tensed in front of her as she let out a scream to the skies that became a half howl. Her fists met the cement hard enough to splinter it as she fell forward, her nose meeting the remains of the shattered concrete in front of her.
“Jillian, we will save him. I promise you.” Kain knelt in a shallow puddle of water next to her. “They waited. Damn them, they waited.”
“Bloodsuckers must have been scouting the house for weeks. For them to send Rayes, Lilith must have been beyond pissed at having to wait. Stubborn stuck-up brat.” Gabriel slammed his fist into his hand, his teeth ground tight together.
Jill growled as she struggled to get free of Kain’s hold on her.
Kain took Jill’s face in his hands, his thumb brushing the furious tears from her eyes. “We'll save him, sweetheart. I swear on Luna's name. We will get to him before they change him.”
Jill dropped her eyes. No one swore on either deities' name unless they knew their word wasn't going to be broken.
To do so would get them punished by the deity on whose name they swore. Jill knew this and immediately she felt guilty for even making her friend get to that point. Especially if it was Kain.
“They still have to get to the coven in the mountains. There's only one lycan I know capable of getting us in and out of that place without getting killed,” Gabriel spoke up. By the tone in his voice, he seemed hesitant to mention who he was talking about. “Lune can get us in but I don't know how bad things will be once he does. This whole thing is a damned suicide mission no matter how we shake our tail at it.”
“Whatever we have to do, Gabriel. We have to save him.” Kain replied, holding a now still Jill against his chest. She gripped his white t-shirt firmly, as if he were her only anchor to sanity.
****
Damien woke up to find himself unable to see. His mouth was gagged and his hands were bound behind his back.
A huge bump of the moving car made him hit his head against the lid of the trunk, disturbing an already upset condition and reminding him of what happened.
He'd gotten finished taking the trash and recyclables out for his father only to be ambushed. Then he was hit so hard it dazed him, making him black out. Now he was in the trunk of a car heading to only God knew where.
His heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to get the ropes around his wrists loose enough so he could try to reach his phone he felt in his back pocket, surprised it had been left.
The car jolted to a stop followed by the sound of the creaking of what he could only imagine was an automatic gate.
Damien had been hit so hard it kept him out c
old the whole time. His breath stalled in his chest as time ran out for him to try and think of a way to get out of this mess.
When the trunk opened, he was yanked out and dropped on his feet with a thud.
“Glad you're awake. I would have hated to have to carry your worthless carcass all the way to the catacombs,” The speaker's voice was the same one who ordered him bound and gagged. “Get moving or I'll break your leg so I have an excuse to drag you.”
A hard shove forced Damien forward, stumbling.
The sound of crunching gravel gave way to the softness of what Damien realized could only be grass.
From the coolness of the breeze around him to the calling of the night birds, Damien could tell it was either the wee hours of the morning or late evening.
“Take him to the catacombs and lock him up. I'll go inform Lilith that we got her little pet.”
Great, Lilith again. Not looking forward to another encounter with her. Damien thought to himself, remembering his encounter with the vampire bitch in the science hall.
The terrain seemed pretty normal despite the elevation. The air was so thin Damien had trouble breathing as he tried to keep the pace his captors set. Then the terrain suddenly changed. They began descending into what felt like the ground.
Hopelessness set in the further he went. He wondered how Jill would be able to find him in whatever hell he was being dragged down into.
The air around Damien grew cold, musty and stagnant. The horrible smell of rot and decay filled his nostrils as he was led the catacombs his captors planned to lock him up.
Distracted by his thoughts, he tripped, landing him against the wall. They felt like brick or maybe stone. The surface cold and wet from the ground water seeping in through the cracks from all of the rain.
The feeling of the walls and the dankness of the air reminded Damien of the old mazes under the Vatican in Italy he'd read about in European History. He was pretty sure he never got thrown into a box and put into the cargo hold of a plane. Why were there walls like this under the ground?
Blessing of Luna (Wolfgods Book 1) Page 14