The Cannibal Cure

by Jeff D Ellis

  He needed to make sure the team was still functional after today’s action. The Chief found them all cleaned up and waiting, other than Perry who had been taken to the hospital for observation. This really could have gone much worse; they would be a tighter team because of it.

  “I expect a report from each of you in the coming days. I know you could all use some time off, but it comes back to numbers. With Perry out, Gwen, I need you here, but I hope to get you some time off soon. David and Abby, I want you to take some personal time, but you need to be reachable and on call if something major comes up.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Time Off

  DAVID CAME INTO the kitchen. Abby was chopping onions but looked up. He came over and put his arms around her. “Abby, I’ve been thinking.”

  Abby laughed and snuggled her head against his chest. “Now that’s dangerous. What about?”

  “With all we’ve been through, especially with me getting sick, and the business with Thorn. I want us to get married right away. We talked about eloping, but it feels like I keep letting things push it off. I want to get on with living.”

  Abby turned around and looked up at him with a smile and tears in her eyes. “I agree. After all of the death recently, we need to celebrate life. We could do it next weekend. I will make arrangements with Grandfather and Kat. Is there someone you want to have there, or should I get one of my other friends for the second witness?”

  He loved the way her face glowed; he’d do anything to make her happy. He grabbed her hands. “Anyone you want that’s available is fine. You’re my best friend and you will already be there.”

  Abby kissed him, and then realizing her hands were stinky and messy, laughed and turned around to wash them. “I’ll start making some calls. I know it’s only making things official, but I’m excited.”

  David sat down in his favorite chair, happy for some quiet. Suddenly everything took on a strange shimmer.

  “Oh no, now what?”

  David found himself standing in a forest facing a coyote, which then transformed into a man who happened to look a lot like Graham Greene from the movie Dances with Wolves but wearing an expensive looking three-piece pinstripe suit.

  “I hope you don’t have another job for me, Coyote. I’m really tired right now.”

  Coyote laughed. “No, my Champion. I wanted to congratulate you on the honor you brought me in killing all of those people-eating monsters. My standing with the Spirit Chief has grown, but so has Raven’s. Next time, don’t let your mate take so many of your kills.”

  “Abby was just doing her job and we will continue to act as a team. Where were you when I needed help after being infected by the Windigo?”

  “You should have more faith, my child. It was I who helped give you the strength you needed, but you needed to learn the courage to trust in yourself. Why do you think you became a coyote when you were at your lowest point? You could have chosen to be that cat creature or awful pet dog. No, you took the form that would give you the strength to overcome.”

  “But I was trapped and couldn’t change back.”

  “You needed to learn the lessons of the wild and what happens when you aren’t in control. You need to think like me, smart and resourceful. Maybe someday you will spend time learning more of my magic.”

  “Sometime, maybe you will teach me.”

  “Where’s the fun in that? You have my magic. Study and learn to use it. Make yourself worthy of what you already possess but don’t use.”

  “I’ll try.”

  “Do or do not, there is no try.”

  David grinned. “Yes, Master Yoda.”

  “Don’t be a fool. The little green troll stole that.”

  With a wave of Coyote’s hand, David found himself back in his chair.

  Coyote’s voice echoed in David’s head. I’ve loaned you to another. Accept the gift and don’t make me look bad.

  What the hell? What gift?

  The doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.”

  A FedEx delivery guy handed David a package.

  Abby walked into the hall. “What is it?”

  “We got a package addressed to David and Abby Seymour.”

  “Really? Open it.”

  David tore open the envelope. “It’s plane tickets to Hawaii and reservations for the bridal suite at some resort on the big island for a two-week stay.”

  “Planning ahead? That is so sweet of you.”

  “It wasn’t me. There is a note from Greta saying she knows we won’t take the bounty on killing the Windigo, so she is giving us this as a wedding present.”

  “Who else have you told about us pushing up getting married?”

  “I haven’t told anybody especially not Greta, but Coyote paid me a visit while you were making your calls. Maybe this is what he meant when he said to accept the gift.”

  “I think you need to tell me everything he said.”

  David went through the full story and Abby nodded at different parts as he went.

  “He is loaning us out, is he?”

  David smiled. “It’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon vacation.”

  “Knowing Coyote, it’ll be a working vacation.”

  “You think we should turn it down?”

  Abby looked at her phone. “Hell no! I’ve never been out of state and could use some time lounging on the beach while you show off for Coyote. It’s eighty degrees there right now. That’s much better than fifty and overcast.”

  “But it’s my honeymoon too.”

  “All the more reason to work quick and enjoy it with me.”

  David looked at the tickets and grinned. “Yes, dear.”

  ***

  The big day dawned, and everything was in order. David had decided to invite the Chief to stand with him and witness the event. He was the only link he had to his parents on his special day. Kat would be there for Abby. She was the sister Abby had never had.

  It was good they were willing to show up at dawn. David himself didn’t relish the idea of being up so early. He wasn’t much of morning person. Grandfather had said it was traditional to do marriages at dawn and that’s what mattered to Abby.

  David arrived just before dawn at Grandfather’s house. Being there so early was strange. There was a quiet calm in the air, hushed. Walking along a path around the house, he found the Chief waiting for him.

  “Thank you for coming, Chief.”

  “Today, you must call me Scott. I’m not here as a Marshal or your boss.”

  David smiled and his heart warmed. “Thank you again for agreeing to be here for me and at such an early hour.”

  “You should know it’s a magical hour.”

  “I prefer sunset.”

  Scott laughed. “Your father did as well. He always said there was a connection between twilight and Shapeshifters.”

  Tears stung David’s eyes. “I wish I could have known him. I was too young to remember much of our time together before they died. My adopted parents were great, but I missed out so much from not being able to learn from my parents.”

  Scott patted his shoulder. “Time to follow me for your big day. I can tell you stories about your parents later.”

  Scott led David down the path past the sweat lodge to a clearing where Grandfather waited. To one side was a man he had only met once before and that was in the spirit realm. He was wearing a black cloak with the hood tossed back, showing his jet-black hair. His piercing amber eyes practically glowed. It was Raven in human form. On the other side of Grandfather stood Coyote in human form.

  David felt the importance and sanctity of this meeting with their Spirit Guides. He looked them both in the eyes and they stood silently giving him their blessing.

  “Scott, I would like to introduce you to Raven and Coyote.”

  Scott smiled and nodded.

  Raven looked sharply into David’s eyes, scanning him, and then shook David’s hand. “Protector, you have my blessing.” Raven raised his hood. He transformed
into a large raven and flew off.

  “Champion, you have my blessing on your union, not that I understand the modern custom of only having one wife.”

  David smiled. “Thank you.”

  Coyote disappeared.

  The sounds of drums started softly as if from all around them. Abby walked down the path, followed by Kat and Ember. Abby was dressed in pale buckskin leather with her hair flowing around her face. She looked every bit a princess of the people, and at that moment was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

  Grandfather started the ceremony. “We gather to witness the joining of these two souls. Come stand on these blankets which represent the four directions of the medicine wheel.”

  David took Abby’s hand. They moved onto the blankets together. Grandfather stared at them for a long silent moment. He motioned to Scott and Kat.

  “These headbands are to remind you to speak as one as you move forward in your new life together.”

  Scott placed a cedar woven headband on David’s head. Kat did the same for Abby.

  “Hold out your hands.”

  David and Abby held out their hands together, fingers intertwined as Grandfather wrapped a rope braided with leather strands around their wrists. “With this, two become one. Go always together.”

  Grandfather called out into the woods, “The blanket, please.”

  There was a shuffling through the trees. Root and Flower appeared with a blanket. They wrapped it around the couple.

  “The blanket represents the love and care The People have for you. Feel their warm blessing around you.”

  Shouts of tiny voices echoed from the forest around them.

  “Yes, it is so. Please let me continue.”

  The sounds turned to laughter and then quieted down.

  “David, place your ring on Abby’s finger.”

  He nodded and placed the ring on Abby’s finger with a glow of magic that was monetarily blinding to him. “Abby, when I first met you, I was intimidated by your strength, confidence, and beauty. Then we became best friends, and in time, you asked me to go on a date with you. I knew then there was no one in the world I would rather share my life with. I have faced death and traveled to other worlds to be with you. I am yours, body and soul.”

  Abby placed a gold ring on David’s finger. “David, I knew we were connected from the first moment I saw you, but didn’t know for sure you were my soul mate until our first date. From that point on, I’ve never had a doubt. When you said Coyote had come to you and gave you magic, Grandfather said you weren’t crazy, and it was true. Just as I told you back then, I am yours one hundred percent body and soul. In sickness, in health, with abilities or not, I am yours and you are mine.”

  Grandfather nodded. “Yes, it is so.”

  David embraced Abby and kissed her. The world faded away and all that was left was the love he had for her.

  The sounds of drums and shouting brought him reluctantly back to the land of the living. He felt a pat on the back from Scott. Kat pushed her way in. Abby kissed her and then David. The kiss was charged with energy flowing into his body leaving him warm and energized. It was as if Kat wanted to lend them some of her Vampire energy for the wedding night, and maybe she had. Looking around, David saw what must have been fifty of the Dogwood people crowding in to touch the couple before disappearing back into the forest.

  Grandfather smiled and waved his hand. “Come, it’s time for you to be recognized at the tribal center.”

  Scott pulled David aside. “This part is only for tribal members. Kat, Ember, and I will have to say goodbye now. Don’t worry, I know about your honeymoon plans and will take care of filing the marriage license for you. We will have a celebration with your friends soon.”

  Abby nodded at him with a huge smile. “It’s a gathering of the tribes to accept us as one of them and as their Protectors. It should have happened before, but they have gathered to honor us, and we can’t make them wait any more.”

  David nodded. He looked at Scott and Kat wistfully. “Sorry, I wish you could have been included.”

  Kat touched him on the arm and smiled. “Affairs of state can be like that at times. Don’t worry, we’ll have a party later.” She waved goodbye as Abby pulled him by the arm down the path. “We can’t keep them waiting any longer!”

  Abby stopped outside the tribal center door to smooth her hair and straighten his tie. She kissed him on the nose.

  “Like Grandfather said, this is tribal business. You should be lucky we don’t have to repeat it for each Veiled group in the area. We are being made the official Protectors of the Peoples. Just like our wedding showed the world what had already happened between us, now the tribes are being given the chance to see our place in their world. If you are very lucky, you won’t have to show up to each one of their tribal council meetings to take part. In our culture, you would leave your mother’s tribe and our children will be part of my tribe, but as The Protector you are to serve them all, and in return will be treated as an Elder by them all. If it wasn’t for taking your parents’ position and being Coyote’s Champion, we wouldn’t have to go through all of this.”

  “I still don’t understand all of this.”

  “Pretend you are royalty, and everyone is coming to honor us. Sit and nod and pretend you understand each of their languages. I’ll do all of the talking.”

  He knew his life was changed forever, in so many good ways. He looked deeply into Abby’s eyes and kissed her again. He nodded and let her lead him into the tribal center.

  Dear Reader

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  Notes

  1. Events from Eye of the Jaguar, The Protectors Book 1.