by Bianca D'Arc
It was Zach’s right to help defend his family. Even as a teenager, the boy had serious power of his own that was not to be scorned. And even though he didn’t know all there was to know yet about his new mate, Jesse had seen a little bit of what Maria could do against human opponents. The more he was around her, the more her magical senses seemed to ignite. She was more powerful than she realized.
He exited the highway slightly before the road that would take him to the estate. The note from his jackal friend had said the direct routes were being watched. The back roads would work just as well and allow him to meet up with the one ace they had up their sleeve. The bloodletter.
Ancient as he was, Marco could operate in the hours before sunset as long as the sun was obliterated by heavy clouds. Jesse looked up through the windshield. Clouds didn’t get much heavier than this.
Jesse followed the directions Jason had given him to the outskirts of the massive estate. It probably should be called a ranch, but there were no animals on the land and the farmland had been allowed to become forest over the past century or two. That might count in their favor considering Maria’s dryad heritage.
He pulled the SUV over in a copse of trees, protected somewhat from the whipping wind and rain by their leafy bower. The canopy of leaves was swinging wildly in the pale-greenish light of what was left of the day, but underneath the dense roof of leaves and branches, it was a bit quieter.
Jesse cracked a window, and immediately Maria covered her ears with her hands.
“What?” he demanded, rolling the window back up. “What is it?”
“Sorry. They’re screaming. Frightened,” she sputtered, truly shocked by whatever she’d just experienced.
“My parents?” Zach asked worriedly from behind them.
“No. The trees. The forest. They don’t like what’s happening. It’s…evil, I guess is the best word. They’re angry and the younger ones are afraid.”
Maria looked out her window and jumped back about six inches, straight into Jesse’s arms. He looked past her to see what had frightened her and found a stranger’s face peering into the passenger side window. Despite the maelstrom around him, his appearance was untouched by the wind or rain.
It had to be the vampire.
“Marco?” Jesse asked, knowing the bloodletter’s hearing was as good as his own.
The man nodded. “And you’re Jesse Moore. I’ve been told to tell you that Rocky is almost here. His ETA is about twenty minutes. And your brother sends his regards. Bravo kilo X-ray.”
There it was, the code Jason had set up. This was indeed Marco. Jesse thought hard about his next move. These guys had to be invited in, or so the story went. Did he dare expose Zach and Maria to the vampire at close range? He didn’t see that he had any other choice.
“Would you like to come inside?”
Marco bowed his head to the side in a very old-world motion, indicating he would.
“Zach, move over behind me,” Jesse instructed the teen carefully. The next moments would prove whether Jesse had made a mistake or not.
Jesse popped the locks long enough for Marco to climb into the back seat. The rain did not come in with him. The bloodletter seemed to have his own little bubble of protection that didn’t allow rain or wind to touch him. It was a neat trick and a pretty obvious use of magic Jesse had never seen before. Then again, he didn’t know too many vamps reputed to be as old as Marco.
Marco began speaking almost as soon as he shut the door. “There’s not much time to waste. The grizzlies are putting up a valiant fight, but we dare not wait too much longer.”
“What’s the situation?” Jesse was all business, glad Marco was being straightforward. Sometimes bloodletters didn’t feel the same sense of urgency about things as folks who weren’t immortal.
“They’re being held in the outbuilding at the center of the storm. I was able to see them until the eye expanded. I dare not go there now, as it is calm and sunny at the disturbance’s center.” He shuddered but went on. “The building is a pavilion of sorts with a fire pit at its center under a circular opening in the roof. That’s where the mage who drains the grizzlies and powers the storm has set up shop. She has been standing in the center of the fire pit, arms raised to the sky while she funnels the shifters’ energies out of them and upward into the storm. I have seen this kind of magic before. Only once. Long ago.” Marco’s expression turned grim. “The owner of this estate is with her. I’ve been watching him for some time. When we get inside, he is mine to kill.”
Maria gulped, but Jesse understood all about vengeance and this ancient vamp seemed to have a score to settle with the owner of the estate.
“He’s yours. Does he wear thousand-dollar suits, drive a silver Jaguar and reek of expensive cologne?” Jesse asked on the off chance he was the same man who’d been stalking them at the motel.
“That sounds like him,” the vampire agreed.
“I believe he has been on our trail. He had a group of hired mercenaries with him. One was once a friend of mine,” Jesse admitted.
“Curious,” came Marco’s rather dry reply. “There is such a group inside the grounds. Shifters of many different kinds. I have never been clear about where their loyalties lie.”
“Neither am I, though my friend did send us a warning,” Jesse admitted, but as time was growing short, he forged ahead. “Do you know what this storm is all about?” Jesse checked his weapons, impatient to be off. He’d go in human form to better protect his mate and the teenager. Zach could go furry. He was probably stronger in his bear form anyway.
“The storm, if it is strong enough—magical enough—could cause a rift between realms. In this way, they hope to bring back the cursed Elspeth, Killer of Innocents.” Jesse got the impression Marco would have spat had he been outdoors.
Jesse had never heard Elspeth referred to by that title, but he didn’t have time to question it now. He was left with the fleeting impression that Marco might have some personal reason for his hatred of Elspeth and her followers, which suited Jesse just fine. It meant Marco would be firmly on Jesse’s side in the coming battle.
“Is that why the forest is screaming?” Maria asked, still shaken.
Marco looked at her sharply, sniffing loudly. “You are of the woods?”
“She is untrained but descended from the dryad, Leonora. She knows only a little about her magic,” Jesse answered for her, not liking the way the bloodletter’s eyes focused on his mate. The wolf wanted to growl, but Jesse held himself in check as best he could. “She is my mate,” he added for good measure, unable not to stake his claim.
“Understood,” Marco answered quietly, sharing a nod with Jesse that spoke volumes. In his dark gaze, Jesse saw regret and what could have been sadness in the vampire’s eyes, but it was gone so fast, Jesse couldn’t be absolutely sure. “Come. We have much to do.”
Marco opened the door and got out. Jesse watched Maria’s reaction to the renewed noise from outside, but she was handling it better this time. They all piled out of the SUV, and Jesse noted Zach removing the outer layers of his clothing and throwing them back into the truck. He’d be freer to shift into his bear form when necessary if he wasn’t encumbered by three layers of fabric.
Within a minute, they were on the move. The bloodletter had graciously extended his magical shield to cover all of them, and the protection from the wind and rain was much appreciated. Jesse thanked the vamp with a nod of respect, which Marco accepted courteously. So far, he was turning out to be a decent sort of fellow, but time would tell.
“I can shield your presence,” Marco said softly as they began to move through the woods. “But only up to the edge of the eye. Where the sun shines, my power is moot.”
“I understand.” Frankly, it was more than Jesse could have hoped for. They’d be able to get very close to the objective clean. With two novices at stealth along for the ride, that was worth quite a bit.
“They tried to seed the woods with their evil magic, but t
he trees wouldn’t stand for it. Many years ago, I spread oak and rowan saplings through this forest, and they’ve done their job well. No evil will grow where the oak stands guard and the rowan brings its blessing. Anything the trees missed, I took care of. I patrol this woodland every few weeks as part of my territory. I have known of the magic users who make their home here for some time and I have watched them and their ancestors for more than a century.”
“Why?” Maria whispered as they moved as quickly as they could through the dense trees.
“The founder of their magical line was scum. He served Elspeth and I killed him for it long ago. But his children were born innocent. They turned evil later, though they never had the ability to do much of anything until this generation. I watched, knowing sooner or later, one of them would try something.”
That sounded ominous to Jesse, and he began to suspect the vampire knew how to hold a grudge for centuries if need be. Definitely not a man you wanted to piss off. Good thing he was on their side.
“I am thankful you are here now to aid us in freeing Zach’s parents,” Jesse said solemnly as they moved steadily forward under the vampire’s protective shield.
Marco looked sharply at Zach. “I realized you were a bear, of course, but I didn’t make the connection. The sun sets soon. If you three can hold off the storm maker long enough, I will do all in my power to assist your parents.”
Zach seemed to weigh the vampire’s words for a moment and then nodded. “Thank you. Our Clan will accept whatever assistance you can lend this night and we will not forget, Marco of the bloodletters.”
Hmm. Now wasn’t that interesting? Jesse marveled silently as Zach spoke formal words acknowledging a potential debt to the vamp for services rendered. The kid was smarter than Jesse had given him credit for being. Vampires loved formality. Most of the older ones had been born and raised in times much more formal than these and still held to those mores. Zach had done exactly the right thing, and Jesse silently applauded the teenager’s intelligence.
Marco seemed impressed as well. “Thank you,” he answered with a formal bow of his head as they moved along. “I will do what I can out here under cover of the storm until the sun sets. I can guide your backup to you when they arrive, including Rocky and the others I was told would be right behind you.”
“My men will be on Rocky’s heels,” Jesse confirmed. “They’re coming in from the west. Rocky comes from the north. They are mostly wolves, but there are a few cats and Others mixed in. They’ll hit the ground ready to roll.”
“Ah, yes, the infamous Wraiths. I am glad to finally meet their leader. When this is all over, I may have work for you and your men.”
Jesse was surprised by the bloodletter’s knowledge but didn’t let it show. They were nearing the eye of the storm. Jesse could see a light ahead through the dense woods.
“How far?” he asked, motioning toward the light.
“Not far now,” Marco answered. “I leave you at the edge of the woods. You will see the pavilion in the clearing. It is a huge structure. May the Lady bless your path from the trees to the building. I know not what awaits you there. I came in from above when the storm was still in its infancy and hiding the sun.” He slowed his steps as the trees thinned and the light grew brighter. “Be wary now, dryad’s daughter,” he addressed Maria, making her jump at the strange title. “I am going to drop the shield from around you all when I go. It could be jarring.”
“Thanks for the warning. And for the escort,” Maria replied, remembering her manners.
“Brace yourself now,” Marco warned. “I will drop the shield around you, lady, by small degrees, since you are unused to your magic.”
Again, she thanked the vamp for his thoughtfulness. Jesse didn’t like the small delay or the way the bloodsucker was eyeing his mate, but he also didn’t want Maria to suffer from the sounds only she could hear from the forest. He watched her carefully as the vamp dropped his protection, noting the way her eyes scrunched and her hands made an abortive move toward her ears.
“Control it, lady,” Marco advised. “Turn down the volume to a more manageable level. Imagine a control knob in your mind and turn it,” he coached.
Jesse was glad to see relief cross her features as she followed the bloodletter’s instructions.
The vampire left without another word, disappearing as silently as he’d come. Even Jesse was impressed with the man’s stealth.
“This is awful,” Jesse heard Maria mutter. She had one hand on her forehead, pressing hard as her eyes scrunched up in concentration. The winds were more subdued this deep in the forest and closer to the eye of the storm.
“What’s going on?” Jesse asked.
“I’m seeing things. Getting impressions from the forest, I guess, of what’s been happening in the pavilion. It can see the grounds around and it knows where the traps are.” Her eyes popped open. “It’s warning us. It knows why we’re here and it will help as best it can.”
“That’s good, Maria. Really good,” he touched her cheek, wanting to take some of the strain he read in her eyes away but not knowing how. “What are the trees telling you?”
“First, that they’re really, really mad. But under the anger there’s information. Older, calmer consciousnesses. They’re showing me a path from the edge of the woods to a small maze of shrubs. There are predators in the shrubs. Four legs. Two legs. I think the trees are saying they’re shifters.”
“Cats or dogs?” Jesse asked, hoping the information the jackal had given him was correct.
“A canine leads the group, but he’s not a wolf. Wolf-like. The others are a mix. Several big cats. A few mixed canines.” Her eyes closed again as she concentrated.
“How many?” Jessed prompted.
“Eight. No more. The maze is the only way in that can’t be seen clearly from the pavilion. They guard it,” she reported.
“All right then.” Jesse straightened and moved forward. “We make for the maze.”
“What?” Both Maria and Zach asked at the same time. Both faces mirrored their astonishment, but Jesse knew something neither of them knew.
“Remember the message from my old friend? He’s in the maze. If he was on the level, he and his men will let us through. They’re mercs, not fanatics.”
“Are you sure?” Maria’s soft hand landed on his forearm.
“About ninety percent, but I’m going first. If there’s trouble, I can take the jackal, and between Zach and I, the rest of them shouldn’t be hard to handle. Right, Zach?” Jesse deliberately tried to boost the kid’s confidence.
If this went south, it would be a lot harder to subdue eight full-grown shifters with only a teenaged grizzly and a human-trained woman at his side, no matter that she had a black belt in aikido. The only thing that gave him solace was the fact that his men and Rocky weren’t far behind. The Venifucus fanatics would probably rather add Maria and Zach’s magic to their storm. Even if Jesse were killed, they wouldn’t have all that much time to harm his charges before the cavalry arrived.
They made their way around the perimeter of the woods to the spot where the ornamental maze was closest to the edge of the trees. They could see only the sloped roof of the pavilion above the tall, manicured shrubs and statuary. The sun was still shining through the massive eye of the storm, though low in the sky. The air was unnaturally still the closer they got to the pavilion and not a single bird chirped or insect buzzed. It was dead calm.
“The jackal waits just behind that small opening in the bushes,” Maria said softly near his ear. When he shot her a surprised look, she explained. “The trees see from above. I know where most of the men are and I can see the grid of the maze. It’s not very hard, and there are multiple entry and exit points. It’s not a tricky maze, more for show than for getting lost in. And some of the statues are…I don’t know exactly, but the trees don’t like them.”
“Bespelled,” Zach added quietly from behind. “I can sniff them out if we get close enough to a trap.
”
“All right. This is how we’re going to play it. Maria, you give me your best intel on the layout as we go. Zach, you keep an eye out for magical traps. Maria, you might be able to help with that too. I’m going first and I’m interfacing with the mercs.” His tone brooked no argument, even if he was whispering so low that the shifters behind the bushes couldn’t hear him.
Maria and Zach nodded, though Zach looked as if he wanted to argue. Still, he followed the acknowledged Alpha like a good cub and Jesse figured he’d be okay until he saw his parents. At that point, Jesse wouldn’t be able to hold the kid back if he really wanted to follow his impulses. And Jesse wouldn’t blame him. Not one little bit.
Jesse surveyed the area before stepping out into the small open space between the forest and the shrubs. He’d left Maria and the boy behind a large oak, out of sight. He’d give them a signal after he talked to the jackal.
Sure enough, the shifter was waiting for him behind the opening in the hedges, a smile on his face.
“You got my message,” he said.
“I did,” Jesse agreed, cradling his weapon casually against his chest. “I wish I could say it was good to see you, Seth.”
“Same here, Jesse.”
They were wasting precious time, but Jesse had to gauge Seth’s stance before he committed any further.
“How’d you get mixed up with Venifucus?” Jesse asked point blank.
Seth’s expression almost betrayed him, his eyes narrowing and growing cold before he could stop it. That said more than his words to Jesse. Seth still didn’t like the Venifucus. He hadn’t changed all that much from the man Jesse had known in the Middle East.
“It was a commission. Didn’t know until we were well into it exactly who had hired us. We’re not happy about it. Especially in recent days. We don’t kill women and children.” Seth spat to the side, marking his words and his territory.
“In that case, will you give us safe passage?”
“Us, who?” Seth looked around in an obvious manner.