No Choice (Kaylid Chronicles Book 1)

by Mel Todd

  The ring leader walked over to the kids, and waited, glancing at his wrist until two more men came out from under the trees. They nodded as they approached.

  Okay seven, total. As long as I get TEC and Smiling Man, I think the rest will scatter. I can do this.

  “All hidden. But not so far up they couldn’t reach them.”

  “Good, go get your weapons and keep your eyes open. I don’t want any of them to get the bright idea of running away.” His voice dismissive as he turned to her kids, all of them sitting at that line.

  McKenna wanted to scream, to throw a fit, but she remained calm, still, waiting.

  “Nej, pot,” his voice cracked out, and Jessi launched out, her tail lashing as she ran, but it looked like a lope, not a full out run, and McKenna hoped the kids were even smarter than she thought they were.

  In less than a minute, two yips rang through the air from some trees.

  “Go, see if the animal found the pot or something else,” Smiling Man ordered. One of the two thugs, a gun slung over his shoulder nodded and trotted off into the direction of the sound. Every waited a few minutes, men talking quietly, looking bored at the whole situation. After a few minutes, the man apparently moved slower than Jessi did, he trotted back out of the tree, the cat moving at his heels.

  “Found it, right where I put it,” the man affirmed, holding up a bag filled with green.

  A slow, cruel smile spread over Smiling Man’s face. “Excellent.”

  McKenna flashed to an image of Mr. Burns from the Simpsons in her mind and shuddered at what it implied.

  “Throw it in the basket. Let’s put my investment to the test. Suchen, cocaine.”

  Jalmer sprang forward this time, but still an easy lope, but this time one of the men followed him at a fast trot at a wave from Smiling Man. A minute later he yelled back. “Found it.”

  “I am very impressed, McKenna. These animals are exceeding my expectations.”

  McKenna forced a shaky smile and swallowed hard. With luck these idiots would think she had broken.

  Please don’t let me have been broken.

  The testing kept going, and the sun crawled across the sky. After what she thought was at least an hour, the Smiling Man called a halt.

  “They’ve found everything I hid, but I want one more test, to make sure they can actually think.” He nodded at the two men. “Take these and hide them again, but this time, don’t make them on the ground or easy to see.”

  “Sure thing.” The men grabbed the items, divvying them up, then took off. The kids slumped to the ground, looking exhausted, but she could feel their eyes on her, and she knew damn well they were acting.

  Her heart started to race as she could feel the precious time running out. She watched the kids hoping. Charley lifted his head and his ears twitched backwards, then perked up. He looked at her and then stretched out, ears pointed in the direction she thought might be the road.

  Now or never, Kenna. Take out as many as you can. If the kids run they should get away, you have to believe that.

  “Umm, I need to go pee. Can I go over in those bushes over there?” She’d scoped them out while she waited. A little ways away, far enough to slow down any reaction to her changing, but no so far they’d get nervous she might try to escape. If luck held.

  TEC narrowed his eyes at here.

  “Squat here and go. Not like I ain’t seen what you’ve got down there.”

  “I don’t want to make the kids uncomfortable, they need to still see me as their teacher.” She kept her head ducked and didn’t dare look at the kids even though she knew damn well they could hear her.

  “Fine, fine. Just don’t try nothing. I’d hate to put a bullet in your brain.”

  She ducked her head farther between her shoulders.

  At this rate, I’m going to need massage therapy for a month to get the kinks out of my neck and shoulders from trying to look so meek.

  It rubbed her the wrong way, but she pulled forth all the memories of the beaten wives and girlfriends she’d seen, and she tried to mimic them. Now more than ever they had to just not react to her presence.

  He walked her over to the bushes, the gun pointed her direction, but his eyes remained on Smiling Man’s location. McKenna crouched low, unbuckling her pants and stepping out of them completely.

  With an effort of will, she made herself pee, the noise causing him to relax, even as she unbuttoned the shirt, and slipping if off. It left her naked, the bra something she hadn’t bothered to wear after the third day.

  Straining her ears, she thought she heard something, maybe a faint whine of sirens. Or it might have been her mind playing tricks on her, insanity took many forms, and if she heard thoughts that weren’t her own, hearing what she wanted didn’t surprise her at all.

  Now or never, Kenna. As long as they get away, it doesn’t matter what happens to you.

  Taking a deep breath, she reached down and called the cat. It sprang towards her, shifting and flowing, but this time it was different, something was different.

  [Calm, trust, this is needed for your vengeance.]

  She didn’t have time to panic or anything else as her body flowed into a new configuration. Instead of the cougar form she expected she stood on her hind legs, seeing clearly. The distance fuzziness of the cat’s vision, gone. She moved her shoulders feeling arms, not legs respond. At quick glance down her body revealed a humanoid form, but one covered with fur.

  Her tongue flicked, verifying a muzzle and sharp teeth, even as her nose pulled in more information than her human one. Looking at TEC her eyes landed on his shoulder blades, instead of his neck.

  Huh, I’m shorter, a lot shorter.

  She glanced down at her arms and the claws that graced each fingertip. Claws that slid in and out as she contracted her hands.

  Joy at the shape, so perfect for killing flooded her, even as she blinked in surprise at this configuration.

  I don’t have time to worry about it now, my window is closing. Deal later.

  She moved slightly to judge her balance. It remained the same, and that was all she needed to know right now.

  Tossing everything else aside except the need to kill those that had threatened her kids, McKenna leapt at TEC.

  Chapter 37 - Red in Tooth

  Historically addendums to the US Bill of Rights can take months if not years to pass. However, an addendum to the Bill of Rights entered only weeks ago has been voted on and passed. This Eleventh amendment reads as follows: All citizens of the United States of America will be considered equal under the law irrespective of their gender, age, race, religion, form, disability, national origin, or ability to shift form. This historic update to the Bill of Rights is being lauded by the Rights activists as something they have wanted for a long time. There is a similar resolution up in front of the UN for consideration. Given that a few ambassadors that have shifters in their immediate family it is expected to pass just as swiftly. One interesting caveat is a further addendum is that claws and teeth will be treated as if they are knives if used in the commission of a crime. ~ TNN Correspondent.

  In what would have been a considerable distance for her in human form, disappeared easily as she leapt at him, tail lashing. Part of her cataloged it all in an abstract manner.

  Tail, bipedal, claws, muzzle, did I mention tail.

  All of fit into the stereotypical werewolf format, and the knowledge knocked around in her brain in the two seconds it had taken to transform and attack. And it added to her glee and terror.

  TEC turned around, a look of horror flashed onto his face as she impacted into him, sinking her claws into his chest. With a violent yank she ripped out his heart. The terror on his face as he died warmed her down to her soul. But as good as the blood felt and smelled there was something more important.

  She tilted her head back and screamed, “RUN!” Her voice came out weird, low guttural sound, and since her teeth seemed to be mostly fangs, the N disappeared, making the word sound mo
re like "RUH" than what she wanted. But the flurry of movement from where the kids were assured her they had understood her command.

  McKenna didn't have time to watch them, her attention needed to be on the imminent threat, Smiling Man. As fast as her attack and kill of TEC had been, Smiler turned, seen what happened, and grabbed a gun raising it in her direction.

  [Charge down and to the left.]

  The words that were clear and crisp, weren’t hers, and right now she didn’t care, she just obeyed. Leaping forward, she shifted her balance as she leapt coming down towards his right hip as he fired the gun.

  The crack of the TEC-9 he had grabbed from the man standing next to him, sounded like a whip crack through the clearing. A sharp burn across her right shoulder heralded the crack, but it didn’t weigh anything compared to what she felt inside. The seething anger seemed amplified, and nothing would stop her from killing this man who had threatened her kids.

  Her hands, with razor sharp claws coming out of the top of her fingers, hit him first. Sinking into his waist and groin, unimpeded by his jeans or shirt. He screamed as her claws went in, and the only thing sweeter was the scream he made as she curled her hands and yanked across and down. The skin of his belly split like over-ripe fruit as she gutted him in one move. She lowered her face closer to his, and whispered, her words funny and malformed, but for all that every word rang with intent.

  “You think I’d ever let you hurt my kids? That I wouldn’t kill you for laying a hand on them?”

  His eyes wide as she stared into his, then she sank her fangs into his throat. The blood of righteous prey flowed down her throat and even knowing it was the blood of another human didn’t impact her pleasure at it one bit.

  [There are still more.]

  The words that weren't hers mixed with the scream of fright and a movement towards her, caused her head to jerk up from the throat and she lashed out with her hand in a backwards sweep. Her claws sliced through the throat of the third man, his scream turning into a gurgling protest. With a practiced move, though she’d never practiced it, she snapped his neck, then spun looking for the others. And to see if she could locate the kids, her kids.

  They aren’t yours, you’ll have to give them back. Toni wants her children back. They aren’t yours.

  The protest fell flat, and even she couldn’t believe the words. They were hers in a way that not even time would ever change. Even when they went back to their parents, they would be hers.

  There had been seven, three were dead, the others were out there. She spun, tracking movement from the man filming all of this. He’d frozen, the phone held out in front of him. Eyes wide as he looked at her, fingers shaking. Easy, liquid movements as she stalked towards him, licking the blood off her muzzle. Terrified eyes locked on to that movement, and he started to whimper, but he didn’t move, body locked in place with terror she supposed.

  [He could be useful.]

  The thought flashed through her mind and she jumped at him with a roar. Primal rage burst out of her throat at a decibel volume that should have torn her vocal cords. The sound echoed off the mountains, and she felt it in her bones.

  The man’s eyes rolled back up in his head and he fainted, leaving her standing over him blinking in surprise.

  Huh, that’s different.

  The report of a weapon pulled her head out of the clouds and she spun towards the sound. One of the remaining men, stood behind a tree, leaning out to shoot at her, then back behind it. Either his aim sucked or the weapon really sucked. Regardless, none of the shots were coming anywhere near her, though she could see his attention riveted on her.

  With a sharp vicious kick, she snapped the knee of the unconscious man and broke his trigger finger.

  A bit surprised at her own actions she bit back a mental snarl at herself.

  What? I don’t have handcuffs, and I refuse to leave someone dangerous at my back.

  A feeling of smug pride washed over her, and her fur literally rippled in horror.

  Go away, I don’t have time for this, not now.

  Pushing down the panic that rose at the back of her throat she raced towards the idiot firing at her. Moving faster than she knew was humanly possible. He aimed around the tree, and she came around the opposite side, knocking him down, and with instinctive reactions, she lifted her body up over him, and kicked down with extended hind claws, ripping his body open from sternum to groin. His tactical vest not even slowing down her claws.

  Useful, that. Five down, that leaves two out with the kids.

  She lifted her head, flehming her lips, and locked onto the jumble of scents that could only be one of the men, too many things together. Without active thought she set out at a ground eating lope, chasing the scent.

  Her ears listened, the sirens seemed to be getting closer, maybe she really did hear them. But for now it didn’t matter. McKenna skidded around a tree and came to a sudden stop at the picture in front of her. Her mind locking up as she sorted through options faster than she could come up with them.

  One of the men who had been out planting the items had Nam by the scruff of the neck, a nine mil pressed up under her white fur chin.

  His hands shook, and she could smell his fear and the drugs he took rolling off him with his sweat. He stared at her, eyes so wide it might have been amusing, if he didn’t have Nam by the scruff.

  “One... One step and I’ll pull the trigger I swear.” The words shook as much as his hands.

  She froze, her claws sliding in and out of her fingers as she watched him. Her tongue flipped out and licked her lips and he blanched stepping backwards a bit, trying to get more space between them. Movement flickered behind him, but she didn’t let her attention waver from him, his eyes, his shaking hands.

  “Your move,” she said, her words mangled, but he knew what she meant, and his eyes darted to either side.

  “Let me go, and I’ll let the cat go.”

  “Nooo,” she crooned, as she tensed, angles and options flying at her. At some point she knew she’d have a breakdown, and very possibly end up like her mom, with brain matter all over the floor. But for now, all that mattered was the terrified girl in his arms.

  He looked like he was about to speak, when he screamed instead, his arms flying out as something white and furry sank fangs into his back right leg. Nam turned, claws, front and rear lashing out and raking down his chest and arm, and he screamed again, flinging her away from him into a tree, as he tried to kick the attacker away.

  McKenna took the opening, covering the distances in a few fast strides and she attacked, following the red claw marks from Nam. But she didn’t just break the skin, she ripped through muscle and organ, gutting him to his spine in two fast brutal movements.

  He fell clutching his shredded internal organs, and she dismissed him from her attention instead turning to focus on Nam. The tiger cub lay slumped at the base of the tree, and McKenna saw red for a moment, but she pushed it down and moved over to crouch next to Nam.

  With a hand that dripped blood, she reached out and laid a gentle paw on the little body.

  Nam whimpered and shook her head looking up at McKenna and sighed a small chirp of pleasure as she leaned into McKenna’s hand.

  Relief pushed back the rage, and she became aware of the sirens getting close and a furry body pushed against her leg with a small chirp.

  “You didn’t listen, Charley.” Speaking was easier each time, but she petted Charley. “But did good. Tink calvaree here. Can yee get others? Still need hunt.” The broken words came out, but she still fought to wrap her tongue around them. The need to hunt churned at her, but so did the need to protect the kids.

  “One left. Where?” She asked, somehow knowing he’d know.

  Charley whined and nodded off in a westerly direction. She turned her head in the direction he indicated. Tilting her head, she twitched her ears and caught the furtive movement of feet crunching on grass. None of the kids had shoes, or clothes, and at this point it could only
be the last one.

  “Find the others, stay hidden until I call you. I don’t know if the approaching sirens are friendly or not. I won’t risk you.”

  Charley ducked his head, then nudged Nam who gave a low half whine roar but followed him as he urged her in a direction thick with manzanita bushes. McKenna nodded in appreciation, then turned to stalk the last man.

  She needed to be quieter, and faster. Unsure if it would work, she didn’t know how she’d turned into this werewolf form in the first place, she reached for the cat again.

  It came, twisting through her, reshaping and settling down into the familiar form. Stress lessened as she moved forward hunting the last man in her cougar form, everything slightly brighter and sharper than it had been in the half form.

  [Warrior form.]

  That made her flinch and shy away causing a rustling she didn’t intend.

  Shush

  The mental snarl so loud she thought she might have said it, but this form couldn’t speak. At least she didn’t think it could. Something else to worry about someday when she had a white straight-jacket around her. With focused intensity as the sirens were now so loud she didn’t worry about them being in her head, she followed the last of her prey.

  He hid in some bushes crouched low, looking around in fast sharp moments that reminded her of a frantic bird. Her muzzle stretched in a smile, an odd feeling. She moved slowly through the underbrush, her body with its tawny coloring blending in with the background. Fighting against the ticking clock, she had to be there when whoever was driving with the sirens showed up, but she couldn’t risk letting any of them go. The price for what they had done was death and she’d be damned if she let them get off on technicalities. It didn’t matter if she had a job left when this was done or not.

  Waiting until he turned fully away from her seemed to take forever, but in reality it took less than a minute. She sprang with a silent snarl, landing on his back and biting down to snap his neck, enjoying the taste of his blood sating her need to kill.