by R L Medina
Michael swore as he put the car in drive.
A strange hissing sound came followed by more snarls.
He slammed a fist on the wheel. “They ripped my tires.”
Before I could respond, a hand shot through my window, glass shattering all around me. I screamed. The vampire grabbed me by the arm and yanked, making my eyes fill with tears at the pain. He pulled me out like I weighed nothing.
Clutching my sword in both hands, I tried to turn to get a good shot at him. My heart was in my throat. Pain burned through me, but I pushed it away, determined to fight my way out of another abduction.
They weren’t going to take me that easily.
“Let her go!” Michael’s voice was a roar.
I twisted to see him stalking towards us, his face completely morphed. Clawed hands hung by his side as he eyed the vampires. There were at least four within sight. Could he take them all?
“This doesn’t concern you, wolf. Go back to your pack,” a vampire spoke.
They looked so ordinary, it was hard to believe they weren’t human. Though my instincts warned me of their danger. Where were their fangs?
“Get her in the car,” another commanded.
The one who’d captured me obeyed, dragging me along the road. I kicked out and struggled, swiping my sword in vain.
I’d seen enough crime shows to know that once they got me in the car, I’d be a goner.
“No! Michael! Somebody! Help!” I yelled, hoping the guards from the academy would hear.
Where the hell were they? If I weren’t so terrified, I’d consider the whole thing ridiculous. Vampires in broad daylight abducting me right off the road, and in front of GRIMM Academy no less.
I watched in horror as the vampires descended on Michael, blocking him from my view. An ear-splitting howl filled the air. Was it the wolf? Hope flared inside me. The guards couldn’t have missed that. My mind raced as I tried to remember a chant for my sword. What good was an enchanted weapon if I couldn’t even use it?
The vampire tightened his hold on my arm, making me wince as he tugged. I threw my weight down toward the pavement, trying to get away despite the sharp pain spearing through me.
I tumbled on my ass in the middle of the road. Before he could grab me again, I stood and swirled around, pointing my sword between us.
He snarled at me, two sharp fangs retracting. His eyes turned bloodshot and his face paled, skin tightening so that he looked more skeletal than human.
Shit.
“Stay back,” I warned.
You can wake up and do your thing any time now. I shook my sword. Nothing.
I cursed under my breath.
The vampire smiled, a horrible fanged smile. Fear shot through me. Faster than I could blink, he was on top of me, yanking the sword out of my grasp. The metal clanked against the road.
“Pulto.” I threw my hand up.
It was the first chant I could think of. Nothing happened. I didn’t have a conduit anymore.
“What do you want?” I backed up.
He was cornering me toward their car. I glanced around for inspiration. My eye caught Michael as he struggled against four vampires. Their growls and snarls filled the air. Why weren’t the guards coming?
Four burly bodies sped toward us. My heart sank. Not more vampires. I blinked in surprise. No, not vampires. As they got closer, relief spread through me.
Los Reyes.
With a renewed strength, I made a run for my sword. Someone snatched me by the shirt. Fisting my hands, I turned to swing at my assailant. One of the wolves got there first. I stumbled back in shock as I watched flesh collide with fur and claws. Not waiting to see what would happen next, I dove for my sword.
Picking it up, I turned to survey the chaos. My heart pounded in my ears and my arms stung from broken glass. My head felt like someone had struck me with a hammer. I was fairly certain I was bleeding and bruised in multiple places.
The wolves attacked the vampires, five on five. I stood collecting myself, looking for some way to help. I glanced ahead at the beach shack. Would anyone be there? My eyes turned to the clearing where I knew the road led to the school gatehouse. Why didn’t any of the GRIMMs come? Wasn’t this their job?
I jumped as a vampire went flying into the car, they’d tried to put me in. Glass crunched underneath him. He didn’t get up. The driver opened the door and tumbled out, eyes narrowed.
He was going for Rafael.
My breath hitched. Rafael was pulling another vampire off of Leo. He didn’t see the new one coming for him.
I raced forward with my sword. “Rafael! Look out!”
He turned just in time as the vampire slashed at him. I stopped short as the two rolled along the road, fists flying. It was all so violent and… animalistic. They used claws, hands, and teeth instead of weapons.
Not that I was much help even with my sword. The thought crossed my mind that I should be doing something. I was supposed to be a GRIMM, but I couldn’t bring myself to use my weapon. Letting the sword do its thing and yelling chants at it was one thing, but to actually use it to kill anyone… I wasn’t sure I could do it.
4
“The GRIMMs are coming. We have to go,” Rafael shouted.
The wolves paused, leaving the vampires strewn along the road. What would happen when someone came driving through? Would they be able to see what I could see?
Shouts echoed from the direction of the school. The GRIMMs.
“Michael.” I gave him a pleading look.
I couldn’t go back to Tio’s.
He limped toward me and stared at his alpha. “She saved your life. You owe her.”
Rafael paused and turned to us slowly. His eyes met mine. They were filled with hatred. “What do you want?”
His question surprised me. I glanced at the other battered wolves. What did I want?
His eyebrow arched. “Well?”
I swallowed hard. “Take me with you.”
“You can’t be part of the pack, Rose. You’re not a werewolf.”
“No. That’s not what I mean. I just need a place to stay until I figure out my next move.”
His gaze slid to Michael and back to me. “Fine. Let’s go. We’ll send a tow for your car, Michael.”
With that he stormed by, the other wolves following. Tow? I shook my head at the absurdness of it. We’d just survived a bloody supernatural battle and now we were talking about a tow?
Michael led me after the others. We stopped short as Lucian, oblivious to the fact that the fight was over, continued slashing into one of the vampires. Michael pulled me past the gruesome sight, blocking my view. It was too late. Bile rose in my throat. Lucian’s inhumane growls echoed in my ears.
“That’s enough, Lucian. Get to the car.” Rafael’s voice rose.
“He can’t stop it, Raf. It’s the Midnight Rush,” Mateo answered.
“And that is why I say no demos,” Rafael snapped.
I glanced back to watch him tear Lucian away. My head snapped forward, not wanting to see the bloody sight.
They ushered me down the sandy stretch of beach until we came to Lucian’s car parked along the road. Michael helped me in, motioning me to the middle of the backseat. I cringed as the wolves slid in next to me, their hulking bodies crowded around me.
“Uh. I don’t think we’re all going to fit in here,” Leo muttered.
They looked at me.
“You’ll have to sit up there.” Leo pointed to the middle console in front.
Lucian entered and threw himself into the passenger seat as Rafael slunk into the driver’s seat. Holding my breath, I moved to the middle, my back to the front.
I shook my head. All the romance books and movies about werewolves were far from reality. The smell of wet fur and blood made my nose crinkle. They were human once again, but cuts and bruises still covered their arms and faces.
The drive was silent as I tried to do my hardest not to keep gawking at them as they sat hunched
shoulder to shoulder. Though Rafael didn’t speak, I could almost feel his anger. Mad at owing me something or mad about Lucian going crazy?
“What do the vampires want with you?” The alpha broke the silence.
“I have no idea.”
He scoffed.
I flushed. “I don’t.”
“One of them talked funny,” said Leo.
His twin frowned at him. “He was speaking Creole.”
Michael glanced at them. “Creole? Did you see any insignia? What court they were from?”
Mateo shrugged. “I couldn’t tell, but I believe another one of them was from the south. Judging by her accent.”
“Kind of hard to look at insignia when they were trying to kill us,” Leo grunted.
“So, they weren’t from the same court?” Rafael interrupted.
“I don’t believe so,” Mateo answered.
I blinked at them, not knowing what they were talking about. “What does that mean?”
“Vampires always stay in their courts. They don’t travel unless they’re ordered to do so by their queen.”
“So, what? The queen sent them all after me?”
“Why would she do that, Rose?” Rafael’s words dripped with suspicion.
I bristled at the tone. “How should I know?”
“There’s no reason the queen would care about her. And I don’t think she’d get involved like this. Not with the Luna Negra close.” Michael spoke up for me.
The car fell silent. A heavy tension fell between us.
Rafael broke the quiet. “Who says they’re close?”
Michael nodded encouragingly at me. “Tell him.”
I turned, only able to see the top of his dark curly hair. His eyes flickered to me in the rearview mirror.
“The shifter you captured. I think it’s the same one that attacked me at school. It was in your territory because of me. They tried to kidnap me again at the prison, too. It’s about the blood promise. My mom promised me to Luna Negra. The shifters are working for the coven.”
“Working for the coven? Why would they do that?” Mateo interrupted.
He sat forward, hazel eyes studying me. To see if I was lying?
I shrugged. “I don’t know. They said something about the witches making them stronger somehow.”
“Stronger? How?” Mateo continued.
“I don’t know. They couldn’t say anything else because the GRIMM came.”
“So, what do vampires have to do with this now?” Rafael asked.
The three wolves stared at me. My cheeks reddened. How was I supposed to know? I’d barely passed the freshman class on vampires. Hardly an expert on their culture or history and I definitely didn’t know anything about their involvement with Luna Negra.
“No idea.” I shifted, wincing as we went over a speed bump.
A groan escaped Lucian. I glanced over at him. His face, no longer morphed into a werewolf, was pinched in pain. Noticing my stare, he looked at me, his dark eyes, still tinged with the bright red, though it was fainter.
He growled, making the hair on my neck bristle. Blood coated his clothes and face. I scooted further from him, closer to Rafael.
“We need to get him back, Raf,” Michael warned.
“I know,” he grunted.
I gripped the top of his seat as he made a sharp turn. The car fell silent, a heavy tension filling the air between us. I held my sword down, careful not to slice Michael’s legs. Me, in a fancy sports car with five werewolves, holding a freaking sword—what had my life become?
Back at the mansion, I waited for the others to file out before following. Though they were in worse shape than I was, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for myself. My brilliant escape and quest to find the wizard was off to a lousy start. One thing for sure—I couldn’t go back to the academy. No matter how much I wanted to. How was it that I’d been desperate to leave it and now I was wishing I could return?
I sighed.
“You’re bleeding.” Michael walked behind me.
I turned at the sound of his voice. “Yeah. Do you guys have anything for this?”
Rafael shook his head at me and walked past. My lip curled. Didn’t want to help me? I lifted my chin. I didn’t need him. Just some Advil, and maybe something to clean up with.
“I’ll get you something inside.” Michael nodded.
A hot shower and food that’s what I needed. Like the five-course dinner they served at the academy. Michael’s bar didn’t appease my spoiled stomach.
The entryway was filled with people. No, not people—werewolves. Their faces stretched and morphed. Chills crawled up my spine. I blinked, trying to focus. Was this what it meant to have my full sight? I couldn’t control what I saw?
“Are you okay?” Michael’s voice made me jump.
I made the mistake of looking at him to find he, too, had dropped his human appearance. Despite all he’d done for me, a tremor of fear filled me. I backed up. He flinched and let his hand drop.
“Take him to his room.” Rafael pushed Lucian into the crowd. “Chain him.”
Four wolves grabbed him, pulling him forward. He roared, trying to swipe at them.
“Rafael, what happened?” A woman strode toward us.
Her face returned to human, her dark eyes darting from the alpha to me. Tight, black curls framed her triangular face.
“Vampire attack.” He moved to the middle of the room.
Growls emanated from the pack as they made space for him. I’d been intimidated with just the five males but being surrounded by the entire pack was freaking terrifying.
“Where?” the same woman asked.
“Near the GRIMM school.”
Murmurs filled the room. My palms grew sweaty. How did they even know where the school was? You’d think the headmaster and council would have taken better precaution to hide the students from the extraordinaire. Didn’t they want to keep us safe?
“Who is this?” She frowned at me.
Who was she? Their alpha female?
“Rose. She’s going to be staying here with us.”
All eyes fell on me. I forced my face into a neutral expression though heat spread up my neck.
The woman scowled. “Here? A GRIMM, Raf?”
He advanced toward her. “Don’t start with me, Nadia.”
She fell silent and moved to let him pass. Her eyes snapped to mine as he disappeared into the crowd. I’d been around enough bitchy girls to know the look when I saw it. The ‘you’ll never be one of us so stay in your lane’ look.
Michael stood beside me as the twins brushed by, muttering something about needing a drink. What they needed was a doctor to look at their deep cuts and bruises, but who was I to tell them what to do? They were grown men… wolves.
“Come with me Rose, I’ll show you to a room where you can change if you like.” Michael’s voice echoed in the room.
All the other wolves stared at us, a mixture of curiosity and hostility on their faces. Ignoring the sliver of fear shooting through me, I followed Michael past their piercing gazes and down an empty hall.
“There’s a bathroom here if you want to shower and change. I’ll bring you something for your injury.”
I glanced down at my jeans and shirt. “I didn’t bring any other clothes with me. When I left… it was kind of an emergency.”
He blinked at me. “Oh. Do you want me to ask one of the wolves for extra clothes?”
“Are there any that would actually fit me? Everyone out there looked like freaking body builders.”
He smirked. “There are wolves your age and size in the pack. I’ll ask around.”
“Thanks.”
My cheeks flamed as I wondered if I’d said something insensitive. From what I’d learned at the academy, werewolves had begun as a mutation from humans, but the mutation could only be carried through their DNA. Not like vampires. Vampires were made, not born, but werewolves could be hunted to extinction. I distinctly remembered a passage in one of t
he textbooks saying just that, and that they were not allowed to breed with any other race.
“Are you okay? You’re not thinking about those vampires, are you?” Michael’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
I shook my head. “I’m fine. I’d love a shower though. And a bed and some food.”
He smiled. “Here’s the room. Wait here and I’ll bring you some clothes.”
We stopped outside a door where he turned the knob and motioned me in. I stepped in and glanced around. It was smaller than my room at Tío and Tía’s house and much more modern looking too.
“I’ll be back.”
I nodded in acknowledgment as he left. Setting my sword down on the side table, I moved toward the window to look out. The view was breathtaking. We were nestled along the cliffs above the smooth, sandy beach. Bright, blue ocean spread as far as I could see. The sun was starting to set. I fiddled with the window, trying to pry it open to breathe in the sea air, but couldn’t get it up.
The hairs on my neck bristled. I turned to find Nadia, the suspicious wolf from before, standing in my doorway. My heart raced. I moved forward, trying nonchalantly to place myself closer to the sword. Her eyes traced my movement, lips smirking.
“What, you going to stab me?” she taunted. Her head moved while she spoke, her mass of curls shaking with the movement.
Though she looked human, there was something in her dark eyes that triggered my instincts. Danger. Danger.
I lifted my chin and tried to pretend she didn’t scare the crap out of me.
“Not unless you try something.” My voice was bolder than I expected it to be.
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t give me a reason to.”
We stood glaring at each other, the tension in the air growing thick. What did she want? To make sure I knew my place?
Please. Like I’m a threat.
Michael walked up behind her, frowning. “What are you doing, Nadia?”
“Just welcoming our new pack member,” she replied in a monotone, eyes never leaving mine.
He cleared his throat, motioning her out of the way. She stepped aside and watched as he handed me a bottle of medicine, a pile of clothes, and a bar of soap. I took them and thanked him.