Henry was silent for a moment before he nodded. “But why tell me? I’m not the pack leader?”
“You are respected by the remaining members, and they will listen to you. You were afraid to challenge Decklan openly, but was it not you who convinced him to provide food and water to the captives? It was you who helped your niece Maggie to cope with her situation, and who counseled her to do what she could to help without revealing her true intent.”
Henry took a step back, fear on his face. “How do you know that? You haven’t had time to find this out.”
“I can see it in your mind, Henry Smythe,” Akio told him. “You have no secrets from me.”
Henry’s body stiffened at the intrusion into his mind, his body broke out into a sweat as fear coursed through his veins.
No, I am not Michael. I have some of his abilities, but there is only one Patriarch. Henry heard in his mind.
“Will they want to work with us?” He looked at Kelly after he got his body back under control.
Kelly had been watching the exchange, unsure of what was happening. She jumped when Henry addressed her, focusing on him and his question.
“I can’t speak for them. I understand it was Decklan and his men who were responsible for this, but I’m not sure how they will react to all this.” She waved her arm at the watching crowd.
“You have kept them organized and cared for while here. They look to you for guidance and direction already,” Akio pressed. “If you talk to them, I am sure they will listen to you, as Henry’s pack will listen to him.”
“I’m not the Alpha,” Henry argued.
Akio cocked his head to the side for a moment before he faced the apprehensive crowd in the stands. Had it not been for the compulsion he’d placed on them as he had gone through reading each member as he decided their guilt or innocence, they would all have fled.
He motioned for the others to follow as he walked to the edge of the field. He stopped and addressed the group. “You have seen what happened to the ones among you who caused harm. You live now because you did not willingly follow the Alpha and were not active or willing participants in his madness. You now have a choice: you can leave and cause no further harm to humans, or you can stay and try to reclaim your honor by making something good of this.”
He motioned to Henry. “This man is known to you, and more importantly, respected by you. He has worked to minimize unnecessary cruelty and has helped many of you cope with your situations. Will those who wish to stay accept his guidance and leadership as you move forward?”
The crowd watched in shock as the vampire who had so easily slain so many earlier spoke to them. Never had they heard of any vampire giving Weres a choice. They came in, killed who they wanted, and told the others what to do. A low murmur went through the crowd as they absorbed his words.
“Speak to them,” Akio urged.
Henry took a half-step forward and looked out at the crowd, stopping briefly and nodding to certain members before he cleared his throat and spoke. “You all know me. I don’t think of myself as a leader.” He was cut off as several in the crowd disagreed. He raised his hands for quiet and continued, “As I was saying, I never wanted to be a leader. I liked living a quiet life. I let what I wanted override what I knew to be right. Yes, I talked to some of you and cautioned others not to do anything prematurely.”
He paused and drew a deep breath. “I knew what Decklan was doing was wrong. I lived among humans my whole life until the world went crazy. I don’t hate them, and I know you don’t either. We all just want to survive in the reality we live in.”
Nods and murmured agreements from the group spurred him on.
“Akio,” he pointed out, “has given us a chance to change things here. We all looked on as the humans were rounded up and killed and we said nothing. We were wrong, and we owe it to ourselves to reclaim our honor and the honor of the pack. Akio wants us to work with these people to make a safe place for all of us to survive and hopefully do more than that.”
“The strictures forbid—” an older woman started before Henry cut her off.
“The strictures have been…” he glanced at Akio, “updated to take in the challenges we all face in this new world. Akio assures me that we can work with the humans without fear of reprisal. He also assures me that anyone who preys on others will meet the same fate as Decklan and his crew.”
Henry stepped back as the crowd began to talk among themselves and turned to Horst, who shrugged. “What is it, Henry?”
“I was just curious how a Were—and an Alpha, if I’m not mistaken, though you hide it well—came to be traveling with a vampire.”
Horst snorted. “It is a long story, one that there is not enough time to get into now. Suffice it to say that if Akio deems you worthy, no matter what’s happened in the past, he means it. I also don’t suggest failing to do what you say. He’s a bit of a stickler about honor.”
Kelly went to the enclosure, where the humans were all pressed close to the gates, trying to see what was going on in the stadium. When she approached, she was met with too many shouts and calls to understand. She raised her hands for quiet and was surprised when the crowd settled.
“We’re free,” she started. “The people responsible for this are all dead.”
Cheers went up from the crowd, and she had to wait a full minute for them to calm down before she could go on. “Not everyone here was in agreement with the bastards who took us. They are willing to work with us and help us all make a better go of it.”
“Why the hell would we do that?” a voice called from the crowd. “They sure as hell didn’t do a thing to stop it.”
“No, they didn’t stop it.” She motioned for Henry to come forward. “This man Henry Smythe is the new leader, and he’s also the one who convinced them to give us the food and water for the past few weeks.”
The crowd continued to grumble until a man started pushing through from the back. “Make way, move aside,” he called as he urged people aside, some gently and others with a little more force, depending on age and sex.
When he was in front of her, he smiled down at her fondly and winked. “Well, what do you think we should do, Kel?” he asked her in a loud voice.
The crowd quieted, waiting to hear her answer. “I think it might be a good idea. Some things still need to be worked out, but I think it could benefit everyone.” She shrugged. “I suppose you lot should decide what you want to do and who you want to speak for you.”
The man who had pushed himself to the front, Lukas Hass, turned to the crowd and raised his voice for all to hear. “You heard what the lady said, so what will it be? Work with this Smythe and his folks or not?”
There were a few calls of no, but the majority of the people were swayed by Kelly’s willingness to try.
When that died down, Lukas spoke again. “So, it seems most of you want to give it a try. Now, who do you want speaking for you?”
This time there was no dissent; everyone yelled her name.
“Lukas, what the fuck?” Kelly spluttered.
He faced her. “Kel, you have kept this lot active and occupied since we got here. You had me and the boys help you organize shelters and then the distribution of food and water.”
She shrugged, “So, what’s that got to do with me being the speaker? I’m just a young…”
“Don’t you finish that Kelly O’Donnell. You and me both know it’s shite, so don’t you even think it.” He glared at her a moment, then his face broke into a grin. “Besides, I’ve known you all your life, and if you weren’t in charge, you would make life hell for whoever was if you didn’t agree with ’em. I’m just cutting out the middleman here.”
“Lukas Hass, I never.”
A feminine giggle came from the side and Kelly’s head snapped to the source. “What the hell, Jenni? You’re supposed to be my friend.”
“I am, Kel, but you and me both know Lukas is right. Now, why don’t you and that hunk of handsome blond bloke,” she
nodded at Horst, “get this fucking gate open so we can get on with it.”
Kelly rolled her eyes in exasperation at her “friends” as she moved aside for Horst to get the gate open. “Watch yer damn mouth, Jenni. I told you before, proper young ladies don’t fuckin’ talk like that.”
“So, let me be sure I understand. You lot are wolves who look like humans?” Kelly asked incredulously.
Henry looked at Horst, holding his hands up in exasperation. “Maybe you can explain it better than me. I seem to be making a right mess of it.”
Horst thought for a handful of seconds until his eyes focused on the young woman. “Kelly, we are human. Humans with special abilities that I have recently found out came from aliens meddling with us. We have technology in our bodies that allows us to turn into wolves, but we are still human in our minds even in that form.”
“Some are right arses in either form,” Henry grimly added. “But they’re human just the same.”
The three of them were sitting in one of the executive suites discussing how their arrangement was going to work. Horst had suggested that the leaders talk privately first and decide what they wanted from each other.
The first step was to answer Kelly’s questions about what she had seen and heard.
“I saw that boy turn into a wolf and kill Liam, then that arsewipe Owen turned into a wolf right after I kicked him.” Kelly leaned forward. “How does it work? Does it hurt?”
Horst and Henry both winced, remembering that kick. Henry had already made a mental note not to piss her off. If he did, he would have no trouble remembering to never give her a shot at his package.
“No, it doesn’t hurt,” Henry answered. “I always thought it was magic, but Horst here says it was aliens.”
Horst snorted. “Ja, I just found that part out recently. I always knew it was in the blood, just like with the vampires, because of who raised me. The alien thing was a shock, to say the least.”
“Wait a fucking minute,” Kelly exclaimed. “You're telling me vampires are real, too?”
As if on cue, Akio walked into the room.
Horst nodded at him. “Ja, very real.”
Kelly turned her head to see what Horst was nodding at, and the memory of Akio with glowing red eyes and fangs came back to her, as well as how he seemed to appear and disappear as he cut down Decklan’s followers.
“You, ah, you…” Kelly spluttered.
Akio looked at her and willed his eyes to turn slightly red. “Hai, young one. I am what you would call a vampire, but like the Wechselbalg, I am also human.”
She looked at the three, her mind turning over the information, which threatened to overwhelm her.
“Do you live off of blood like Dracula?” she asked.
Akio shook his head. “No, I don’t need blood to survive anymore.”
She latched onto the last word. “Anymore? So, you used to drink human blood?”
“Hai.”
“What changed?”
“My Queen, Bethany Anne, gave me back my honor and my life. She fixed what was wrong inside me that required me to take blood.”
She hesitated. “So, if I encounter another vampire, I won’t have to pull out a cross or something?”
Horst snorted, choking back a laugh.
Akio raised one eyebrow at him. “A cross will not help if you encounter a Forsaken. That is a myth.”
Kelly frowned. “Forsaken? What’s that?”
“That is what a vampire who refuses to honor Bethany Anne’s rule is called. That is the reason I am here: to deal with Forsaken when they harm humans.”
“But you came here because of Decklan?” Kelly was lost. “How did you know what he was doing?”
“I have access to technology that allows me to keep watch over parts of the world,” Akio informed her. “The Wechselbalg needed to be dealt with. I saw the need and responded.”
“I for one will forever be in your debt for that,” Henry acknowledged.
“As will I,” Horst added.
“This world we live in is hard, and I fear it will be harder as time passes,” Akio stated with certainty. “Humans, especially those with special abilities, need to work together to make it better where they can.”
Kelly was thoughtful for a full two minutes before she shook her head, coming to a decision. “How do we make this work?”
Henry answered her. “First we establish trust between our groups. I think we need to bring them together and let them see that we are not so different. We have a town here that is large enough for everyone to live comfortably. There is good land for farming, a river with good water, and the ocean to sustain all of us working together.”
“What about our farms and livestock?” Kelly asked. “Assuming Decklan didn’t have the animals killed, that is.”
Akio contacted Abel over his implant. “Abel, do you have information on the livestock and farms the people were taken from? Are they still there?”
“Some of the structures were destroyed, but the fields and livestock suffered minimum losses,” the EI replied.
“Your crops and livestock are still there,” Akio told her. “I’m sure that with Henry’s help, you can bring most of it here and build a place where all can prosper,” he told them.
“Well, Henry, it looks like we have some convincing to do.” Kelly looked at the older man. “How are you wolves at herding sheep?”
Henry looked at her, frowning.
Horst started shaking, his face turning red until he burst out laughing. The others watched him as he fought to get himself under control. He took several deep breaths and looked at Kelly, then broke into another round of laughter, unable to form words.
“What the hell’s so damn funny, ya big bastard?” she asked angrily.
“Wolves.” He gasped as laughter took him again. “Herding sheep,” he finally choked out.
Kelly looked at him, her brows drawn into an angry scowl. Then her eyes gleamed, and a smile touched her lips. It started as a small giggle, and soon she was laughing along with Horst.
Henry watched both for a minute before his face cracked and he chuckled. “Well, I guess anything is possible in the world we have now.”
Akio stood in the background, watching the two groups as Kelly and Henry addressed them. There were a few who were against the proposal, but the two of them were united as they laid out the plan for them to work together.
When they were done, only a handful from each group remained recalcitrant. They were allowed to go their own way, the Weres with a reminder from Akio that he would be watching if they decided to try to revive the hostilities. After reading each one to ensure they didn’t have ill intentions, he allowed them to depart in peace.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jilin Province, China
The pain was unbearable. Miko felt like his skin was being pulled off slowly in strips. His throat was raw from hours of screams. He wanted to die and end the pain, but each time he thought he was done, his captor forced his mouth open. A warm metallic liquid was forced down his throat and he would pass out, only to awaken to the burning pain.
The dark figure standing in front of him was in focus. A man was watching him. His face was still indistinguishable, but other features were sharp and clear. His dark hair was pulled away from his face and tied at the back of his head with a cord. It ran down behind his back, but somehow Miko knew it hung to the middle of his back and was as soft as spun silk.
There was another figure this time, this one blurred and unrecognizable. He could just make out the shape from the corner of his eye, but his head was held fast, unable to move. Each time he screamed in agony, the figure would laugh loudly and say something unintelligible to the man standing silently in front of him.
Miko awoke as he had each time he had the dream, covered in blood sweat and ready to fight. It took him a few moments to get his bearings and realize he was safe. It was just the dream again.
He had spent a week working his way through th
e small towns along some unnamed river. He would run through the night, sometimes one hundred kilometers and others less than twenty. He had no destination in mind other than to reach the sea.
Hunting had been good, and he had found better clothes a few days back in a small village that the humans had abandoned. They were cast-offs, but they were far better than anything he had.
Miko had developed a routine where he would run along the river road, the darkness no obstruction for his vampire sight, stopping briefly outside of the towns when he reached them. He would extend his senses, and if he detected anyone moving about in the open, he would either take them and feed or avoid them and move on to the next town.
His decisions were erratic at best. Some nights he would bypass several towns in a row, and other nights he would stop and feed in each one along the way. He never worried much either way. Taking one or two people and disposing of the bodies was easy enough, and more times than not, the people he found were up to no good anyway and wouldn’t be missed.
Every night when it was within three hours of dawn, he would start looking for a safe place to spend the day. He preferred to search out remote spots several kilometers away from the river and its small towns and communities and was always able to find a place that was not occupied.
His refuge for the past few days had been a communal farm. The main house had burned at some time in the past, but there was a grain storage silo that was still intact. It had a steel door he could secure from inside, and there was an elevated walkway high in the top. No light could reach him even if the door was breached, so it made for a perfect hiding place.
The abundance of prey a few kilometers away made him become less inclined to push hard on his journey. He still had no destination firmly picked and was settling into a routine of hunting and drinking his fill until he was almost drunk with power.
The dreams were becoming more vivid each time. There was something familiar about the man he had seen in them, like he knew him very well and should remember who he was. The fact that he was associated with the memory of agonizing pain had to mean something.
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