by Devyn Dawson
Oakley set his fork filled with sausage down on his plate. He took a sip of his Dr. Pepper and cleared his throat before asking Kenneth who his informant was.
“It isn’t that I don’t want to tell you, but something big is about to go down. I heard a rumor that Dolly is about to be assassinated to force Abel to take over your pack. Apparently, the vampires want to announce to the world that they really exist. They plan on kidnapping Abel and holding him hostage while they announce their existence. I know for a fact that they will torture him if anyone tries to free him. They are saying they will return him to the packs after they come forward. None of you are safe here; they will infiltrate your pack, find its weaknesses and expose them. Abel’s parents are in danger too. Patrick actually thought it would be in their best interest to be bitten.” Kenneth said to a table full of werewolves with shocked faces.
Abel jumped up from his seat, throwing his napkin down on the table and basically freaked out. “THAT will NOT happen. No one will bite my parents. So this is the battle? This is what they are talking about? THAT is insane. If the vampires announce their existence it will cause a ripple effect in the supernatural world. It will only be a matter of time before weres are exposed. What about the fairies and witches? I am one hundred percent against this.” Abel started pacing back and forth, grumbling to himself.
“Abel that is what the prophecy says too. You’re the only one that can protect us all. I’m not sure how, but we have to figure that part out. I don’t want everyone to focus on me, I am fine and I sure as hell can protect myself. I don’t know if you all realize this or not, but I was married to the General a long time. He trained me well, and in turn I have trained you all well, too. Chad is amazingly smart and agile; he is up to the task. Now, the rest of you have to protect Abel and his family at all cost. We’ll talk about your parents alone Abe. I think the less people involved the better,” mom said. In my heart of hearts, I knew she was right. Dammit.
PART TWO - THE BATTLE
Chapter 19. Gathering
“Then the little boy came in at the door, and the devil made her say to him kindly, my son, will you have an apple.” The Almond Tree ~ Grimm’s Household Tales
ABEL
“Look at you mom, being all cool and twenty first century with a webcam. How long did it take you to figure out?” I positioned the webcam on the dining room table so everyone could talk to my parents.
Mom leaned all the way into the camera, to the point I could only see one eye. She fidgeted with the camera until I was nauseous with all the movement.
“Nat, stop moving it around, hun. Just set it back on the table. See that little box right there? That is what they see, and I’m pretty sure they have an intimate look in your nostril.” Dad said as he moved the laptop to the table. “Sorry guys, she is not the most tech savvy person. I had Bryon get us all connected. Shaynie and he will be right back; they’re booking a flight for everyone. You want all of us to fly to Paris?”
“Actually Dolly thought you should go to Kilkenny and stay with the O’Connell pack. She thought you’d be safer with them,” I said.
Mom practically slammed her coffee cup on the counter. “Absolutely not. I will not go in hiding because some damn vampire wants to hurt my children.” She took a deep breath like she does when she is trying to calm down. “Abel, you actually saw your sister?”
I shook my head yes. “She looks okay mom. That is if you don’t take into account of her lack of color.”
“She LOOKS okay? Abel, she is a vampire!” She shook her head back and forth dramatically. “She’s my daughter, your sister. We have to find her and protect her. When is the so-called battle to take place?”
“We don’t know the answer to that, Natalie. I’m sorry about interrupting your vacation. Yes, I do think you should go to Kilkenny, but I am a mom too and I wouldn’t go either. We’ll do what we can Natalie, I’m really sorry.” Dolly said as she sat down at the table in view of the camera.
We saw Bryon and Shaynie sit down with mom and dad.
“Okay, we have it all booked. Our flight leaves in a couple of hours. I have a helicopter picking us up off of the ship and he will fly us to the airport where we’ll get on a jet to New York. We will fly from New York to Paris. I used the names Fredrick and Elizabeth Rubble and Peter and Lois Griffin,” Bryon said as he held back a laugh. “There is enough room to bring whomever else you think should tag along.”
“Seriously Bryon, Betty and Fred? Let me guess, that is my mom and dad?” I smacked my forehead in disbelief. “You guys need to be careful and stay together. If my mom goes to the bathroom, Shaynie you go to. There are two from the Dallas pack that will meet up with you in New York.”
“Oh yeah? Who?” Shaynie asked.
“Dolly, it was Derek and Heath right?” I asked Dolly. Her hand was trembling ever so slightly as she held her cup of coffee half way to her mouth.
“I’m sure Shaynie knows them,” Dolly said.
Shaynie nodded her head in agreement.
“Hey everybody, I have to say this. Please don’t take offense. This isn’t a vacation to Paris on the Phelan pack tab, this is business. All of you that are over twenty-one, I’d like for you to refrain from drinking. Bryon, the flight from New York is on a private jet correct?” I asked.
“It is. The General used this company many times, so everything will be fine. They are trying to make sure the pilot that handled the Phelan business will be available to fly us over,” Bryon said.
“Great. Now for weapons, everyone has their permit on them. Don’t forget to have a stake with you; it is possible that you’ll need it. This isn’t a dress rehearsal guys, this is for real. I need you to be aware of everyone that you come in contact with. Mom, I know it’s asking a lot, but please try not to talk to strangers.” Everyone in the room stifled a giggle when I said that. My mom is notorious for striking up conversations with anyone. “Ditch your cell phones, remove the ID cards and destroy them. Bryon picked up the new disposable phones for everyone. Our FBI contact had a guy on the ship that took care of securing them. Do not use them to call anyone but the pack or each other. Texting isn’t allowed either Shaynie. I want you to contact Dolly or me when you board the plane. Travel safe everyone.” I blew my mom a kiss and I could see her wiping a tear from her eye before it fell.
Chapter 20. Beautiful
“The king came to meet her, gave his hand to her, and danced with her, and thought in his heart, my eyes have never yet seen any one so beautiful.” Allerleirauh ~ Grimm’s Household Tales
Sitting in my room with its chocolate brown walls and pale blue furniture, I listened to my I-pod to clear my head. Chrissy had been on my mind all day long. It still blew my mind to think I found her and she was a supernatural too. As much as I tried to clear my head, I couldn’t. I kept thinking about our last night together.
She stepped out of the en-suite bathroom wearing a long light yellow satin robe. She stood in the doorway; the bathroom light behind her gave off an aura of light. I could see her pale pink lips glisten with gloss, as well as the sparkles all over her skin. Each step she took towards me gave me a view of her long slender legs, one at a time. I asked her to stop where she was. I couldn’t resist the moment and I took out my camera and took a picture of her looking so sensual. I knew I wouldn’t be able to upload the pictures until I got to Paris, so I took out my phone and snapped another one.
I stood in front of her and untied her robe letting it slip down her shoulders. Under her robe she wore a little lacey yellow and black girlie corseted thing. Her eyes sparkled in the candlelit room. The positive energy flow vibrated through my fingers as my hands slid across her bare skin. She closed her eyes as I closed the gap between us. I pulled her in slowly, and gently kissed her beautiful mouth. There it was….that energy. It was like a drug washing through my mind. My arms tightened around her and she draped her arms over my shoulders. We were close in height, but she still stood on her toes to kiss me.
; I pulled back to take in the view of her. My body was screaming to touch her. My mind was screaming to look at her. My heart screamed for me to stay in that moment forever.
“Abel, don’t you want to be with me?” She thought to me.
“Chris, you know I do. I don’t want it this way though. I don’t want to make love to you and leave for Paris afterwards. It isn’t fair to you, and I’m not that kind of guy.”
“Abel, I know you have a job to do and I know you’re leaving. It isn’t like I’m some girl that is throwing herself at you. We’ve been a couple for a while now. You know I love you, and I’m pretty sure you love me. I WANT this more than anything.”
My mind was spinning out of control. I knew a cold shower was in my near future. “Chris, not tonight, but it will happen. I want us to have time to explore every aspect of desire when we do. I love you from the depth of my soul.” I leaned down and whispered in her ear “you’re mine.” I felt her body shudder. I dipped down and picked her up, carrying her to my bed. She usually stayed over when the parents were gone. We wanted to wait to have sex until we were sure of our feelings, not to mention not having a bunch of wolves around. Looking at her on my bed, her long lean muscular body up against the black silky comforter, stirred desire so deep I almost gave in.
I jumped up and rummaged through my drawers to find her a t-shirt and gym shorts. I tossed them to her asking her to change. She laughed on the outside, but I could see the disappointment in her eyes. “After you change, we’ll watch that chick flick you’ve carried around in your purse for a month now. She turned her back to me as she undid the corset. It fell to the ground exposing the yellow thong.
“This is what you’re missing Abel. Are you sure?”
“Holy crap! That is a picture that I’m filing in my mind forever. I need some ice water. Want some?” I thought back to her. I schlepped through the house trying to clear my mind before I ran in the room and ravaged her body. I didn’t. I wanted to though.
I shook my head bringing me back to the moment, Paris, vampires, battle, heavy sigh. I booted up my laptop, after finding what I was looking for, I dialed the farm.
Chrissy was staying out at the farm to help Parker with Sam. Sam was still a werewolf, and so far Chrissy couldn’t communicate with her. We all feared that it was going to end poorly.
“Phelan estate, how may I help you?” The voice on the other end asked.
“Estate? That’s funny. How are you Patty?” We had hired a company to answer the phones after six, and they would transfer the call to the house or take messages. We felt that it was easier to use a service to make sure the phone is answered for every call. As a pack, we ran most evening or ate together as a family. We didn’t want a lot of disruptions, plus we all had cell phones. I.T. had a direct line but they informed us they were not our secretary. I could have called Chrissy’s cell phone but I needed to talk to Parker too.
“Oh, Mister Casey, I’m doing well. It was Gwen’s idea to call it an estate. She thought it sounded more appropriate. Would you like to talk to Parker or Chrissy?” I could hear her smile through the phone.
“Chrissy, if she’s at the farm. I don’t mind the estate part, but please call me Abel,” I said.
“Yes sir,” Patty replied.
I laughed a little. “Patty, I’m seventeen; sir is still a few years down the line.”
“Yesssss, no sorry…Abel, I will tell Gwen you asked me to call you Abel. Chrissy is there and she is awake. You two must have read each other’s mind; she called over her to find out if you had called. Hold on a second while I connect you. I hope you’re having a fun vacation Abel. Bye.”
“Thank you, you too.” Vacation…humph, I wished.
“Abel? Oh, yay! I’ve been dying to hear from you. You’re not getting my texts, huh?” Chrissy asked.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes so I could visualize the way she looked on the phone. I could see her on my bed, propped up on a pillow or two (more like a zillion) with a Stephen King book. “Hi doll, no I haven’t had any texts from you. The service around here is so hit and miss, I’m sure when I get back to the states, my phone will blow up from messages. How are you? Is everything okay? You’re not having problems with Sam are you? Parker is being nice, right?” I blurted out incredibly fast.
“No, no I mean yes, everything is fine. I just miss you. I want to Skype but my earphones are missing and everyone else has ear-buds and I’m sorry, I can’t share earwax with them. Ew, blech,” she said. “Are you guys okay? I heard about that O’Connell pack dude, what is he like?”
“Things are going pretty good, I guess. That isn’t why I called though. Well, it is a little. What would you think of getting on a flight to New York and meet up with my parents?”
“Okay….why?”
“There is a private jet leaving from New York to Paris. I checked the airlines and I can get you on a flight to New York today, tonight…whatever time it is there. Things are going to get pretty rough and Parker has his hands full with the bitten people. I’d feel better if you were with me. I don’t want you alone on your flight so Parker will fly with you to New York and go back to the farm. Josie will go to the farm and make sure the barrier of the farm is protected. She is going to give you some herbs and an amulet to protect you. She will give you a box of stuff for us. Oh, before I forget….I want you to eat two of those special cookies in the freezer.”
“Why? That’s wolfs bane isn’t it?” She exclaimed.
“Because if someone tries to bite you, you’ll be poisonous to them. I’m not convinced there aren’t werewolves helping the vampires. I don’t know why but I’m going to find out. Josie made a body spray of hellebore for me a few months ago. In my bathroom you’ll find a small spray bottle, I want you to bring that with you. The spray should be used sparingly; it is highly toxic to vampires. Sadly, it is toxic to humans too. There is a bottle of pills next to the spray bottle. The pills are the antidote to the toxicity but it doesn’t always work,” I said.
“Sounds like loads of fun,” Chrissy said sarcastically. “Here I go again, dropping everything in my life to run off with a werewolf.”
My anger built up for a moment, and then I realized she’s right. I’m always asking her to drop everything because I need her. I lowered my voice to say “Chris, I know. It isn’t like I want you to be in danger, I want you safe.”
“I know. I’m sorry Abel; it’s just been a long week without you here. Of course I’ll go. Good thing I had a feeling I’d end up flying out there. I already have my suitcase together and my passport with me. I’ll get Parker.”
I could hear the phone rustling as she carried it with her to find Parker.
Chapter 21. Shaman
“I shall certainly not follow you.” Brother Lustig ~ Grimm’s Household Tales
PRU
Our appointment for the Vampire Museum wasn’t until three. The guys were outside practicing with their stakes. Mom and I called Ireland to talk to Patrick. He thought it would be a good idea to send a few of his guys to Paris to help us out. We worked out the nitty gritty with him, even though we felt like we could handle things ourselves.
After we hung up with Patrick, mom called Josie. Last year we were in middle of a meditation within our cast circle and she got up and ran off. We didn’t hear from her again until a few months later. I’d always had a close relationship with her until that incident. I was more cautious with her now, especially since she wouldn’t tell us why she left like that. She had been my mom’s spiritual advisor for over twenty years. She was the one that told my mom that I’d be a shaman. She was only twelve when that happened. Mom kept saying I was being too hard on her, I kept saying she wasn’t being hard enough.
While she was on the phone, I decided to meditate in hopes of contacting Quinney. Closing my eyes I focused on the light of magic inside of me. Tapping into my essence, feeling the warmth vibrate throughout my body, I allowed it to take over. I lifted my head slowly, not opening my eyes unt
il I was certain I had succeeded in my quest.
“Pru?”
I open my eyes, and there I was, face to face with my mentor, Quinney. “Oh Quin, I’m so glad to see you,” I said.
As usual, he was sitting on a bench glider that overlooked a small pond by his compound. It was always sunny but not hot, butterflies fluttered about as if they danced to a private song. He was dressed in his usual cream colored linen pants and Tang influenced Chinese silk top. It was one of those shirts that had the fancy silk Asian knots for buttons. I was positive he had to have his tops tailor made for him. He stood six foot five which intimidated the hell out of me when I first met him when I was seven. Josie and I flew to Ireland so I could be trained on how to tap into my inner magic. I found him handsome, his turquoise eyes felt like they could penetrate straight to your soul if you looked into them too long. He started his days at five every morning, by doing yoga and Tai Chi and expected his students to do the same. He taught me how to focus on visions and decipher what the messages meant. To this day I still wrote in my dream journal. Most of my visions came to me in dreams, I was not sure if it was the werewolf in me that keep it from happening in my awake state or not. He spent every other month in Tibet to meditate with the monks, on more than one occasion I had interrupted a Tibetan meditation.