by Mac Flynn
"Somehow we both did, but I think we need to stop. This food might be-" I paused and jerked my head towards the window. Linda's silhouette stood behind the curtain.
Susie nodded. "Gotcha. Now what?"
I stretched my arms above my head and yawned. "I don't know about you, but I could go for another nap." Susie frowned until I gave a wink to her.
"Ooh!" she exclaimed. "Right, right, really sleepy. Remind me never to go hiking with your boyfriend again."
I scowled at her. "He's not my boyfriend."
Susie grinned and swept past me to the door. "Sure, whatever you say," she teased as she opened it. She stuck her head out and to the side. "We've done enough carnage. Could you take the food away?"
"Sure thing," Linda replied as she stepped inside. Her eyes widened when they fell on the chaos that lay on the plate. "You two must have been hungry."
"And now we're tired. We're going to hit the hay for the evening. Why don't you take the night off?" Susie suggested.
Linda picked up the tray and shook her head. "I'm sorry, but my orders are still the same. Stay here until you've fallen asleep."
"That's okay. We'll make sure to fall asleep quick so you can hit the hay yourself," Susie offered.
Linda smiled and bowed her head. "Thanks. Goodnight."
"'night," we replied.
Linda left with the platter and Susie jumped onto her bed. "Now what?"
I walked over to my bed and slipped beneath the covers. After the meal my body was energized and my mind was in a mild panic state I had a hard time suppressing. "Now we wait until dark and go get your golf cart."
Chapter 7
The hours passed slowly for us. We both played possum in our beds as night overtook day. The neighboring cabins hushed as their occupants settled down for a real sleep. Linda's shadow was an ever-present reminder to keep quiet, but at a quarter to eleven she disappeared from the window.
"Is it time yet?" Susie whined from her bed.
I leaned left and right to catch any view of Linda's shadow out the window, but there was nothing there. "I think so, but no talking unless you have to," I instructed her. We threw off our covers and tiptoed to the door. I leaned my ear against the entrance and listened. "I don't hear anything," I told Susie.
"Let me go first," she pleaded.
I frowned and held up my hand to silence her. Something outside had moved some gravel. "Wait a sec. I think there's somebody out there."
Susie leaned her ear above mine. "I don't hear anything."
I strained my ear. "I swear there was something there," I insisted.
"Maybe it was a squirrel," she suggested.
"It didn't sound like a squirrel."
Susie pushed off the door and grabbed the knob. "Let's go. Those golf carts won't power themselves, you know."
There came that gravely-moving noise again. "Wait!" I hissed, but it was too late.
Susie turned the knob and swung open the door. The door swung inward and presented us with a view of Linda, and not a very happy Linda. She had her arms crossed over her chest and a frown graced her lips.
"What are you two doing?" she questioned us.
The color drained from Susie's face. "Um, we were just-um, going to the bathroom."
"There's a bathroom inside your cabin," Linda reminded her.
"We wanted to-um, to go au natural. You know, be one with the woods," Susie explained.
Linda pursed her lips and shook her head. "No, I don't know, now please close your door and get back to sleep. For real this time."
Susie turned to me and firmed up her lower lip. There was a wild look in her eyes I didn't like. "Abby?"
I slowly shook my head. "Whatever you're planning, just-"
"Remember me and my sacrifice." Susie leapt forward and crashed into Linda. They both fell to the ground in a mess of legs and arms. Susie wrapped herself around Linda's legs and held them closed. "Run for it, Abby!" she yelled at me.
"I'm not leaving you!" I argued as I rushed to them.
Susie pushed me back and was nearly bucked off when Linda righted herself onto her rear and kicked her legs. "I can't hold her for long, now get!"
I hesitated, but the final nail in the coffin was when Linda leaned back her head and let loose a loud, long howl. Something inside me, probably the wolf part, told me that was a call for backup, and I didn't want to be around when they came.
"Just don't do something stupid!" I shouted at Susie.
She grinned. "If I wasn't doing stupid I wouldn't be doing anything at all!"
I rolled my eyes and shot off down the row of cabins. More howls from Linda echoed after me. I pumped my arms and my heart beat like a drum. I felt like an escaped convict on the lam, and at any moment the prison guards would jump out and recapture me.
They didn't, and I reached the golf carts. The shiny vehicles were lined up in neat little rows. I took one of the ones at the back and reached under the seat. My fingers came into contact with something cold and hard, and I pulled forth a key. I hopped into the driver's seat, started the engine and pulled out. I could have gone down the road and off that terrible mountain, but for Susie's sake I needed to find the mystery and somehow expose them. I wheeled the cart around and made for the upper part of the road past the lodge.
"Eat your heart out, Susie. . ." I muttered as I slammed my foot on the gas pedal.
The golf cart shot down the road. The dirt road was wide, but the golf cart wasn't equipped for night driving. There were no headlights, and I didn't put on my seat belt. My frightened, panicked mind imagined shadows behind every tree. Large, hairy shadows with golden eyes and sharp fangs.
Then I realized those weren't shadows. There really were things in the woods on either side of me, and they followed me up the road. I pressed the pedal to the floor, but the golf cart's modified engine could only do thirty. Even then the bumpy road made my teeth chatter, and any large rock flew me off the ground or tried to steer me into the brush.
One of the shadows leapt at the cart and landed smoothly into the passenger seat beside me. My eyes widened when I recognized the tall, brutish form of Blackwood. He leaned towards me and his eyes glowed yellow.
"Good evening, my dear Abigail. What a pleasure to see you," he cooed.
I cringed and pulled the wheel away from him. The cart veered off into the woods and the uneven ground rattled her brain. Blackwood slammed his foot on the brake and crushed my own. We came to an abrupt stop just short of the brush. I jumped out and limped down the road, but he strode after me and grabbed the back of my collar. He yanked me off the ground and turned me towards the trees. The shadows congregated in front of us and revealed themselves as werewolves. Their bodies were covered in thick fur, and their yellow, hungry eyes glowed bright in the darkness.
I squirmed and thrashed in his hold, but all I got for my trouble was armpit wedgies. "Let me go!" I demanded.
He pulled me close so we were face-to-face. "I can't let my neighbor's chosen mate deal with the harsh world alone."
I pulled back and wrinkled my nose. "The only thing harsh about this place is your breath, now let me go," I retorted.
He chuckled and swung me around so I faced the others. "We have ourselves a very feisty one here," he called to his group. They laughed and guffawed. Blackwood pulled my face close to his so our noses nearly touched. "I admire someone who can look danger in the face and spit it in the eye. Won't you consider joining our little-ahem, exclusive group."
"No, now let me go!" I twisted and turned in his grasp, but he held me tight.
Fortunately, he also held me so I faced him and my feet were unobstructed by the ground. A sly smile slipped onto my lips, and I gave a good kick into his groin. I yelped when my foot reminded me that it was injured. Blackwood was in the worse condition. His eyes crossed and he released my collar so he could grab at the family jewels. He fell to his knees and ground his teeth together. His eyes flickered up to me with such anger that I knew if I didn't get out of
there right then I'd be facing the wrath of his balled fists to avenge his balls.
I raced past him and into the woods. Behind me Blackwood cried out to his minions in a voice an octave higher than usual. "Get her!"
My feet pounded the forest floor and my arms pumped by my sides. I heard the crash of the group behind me. Their feet were much faster, and in a moment one of them tumbled into me. I crashed to the needle-covered ground, and ate pine cones and rotting leaves. The person who held me grabbed my hair and rubbed my face into the ground.
"That's for you being the scum of that asshole Young," I heard a woman's voice hiss. She got off me, but pinched the back of my neck and yanked me to my feet. The woman partially turned me so we nearly faced each other. It was the same one from earlier during the hiking encounter with Blackwood. A cruel glare was on her lips, and her narrowed eyes glowed like two yellow pieces of coal. "And this is for what you did to Andrew." She released me and kicked her foot out.
The tip of her boot connected with my side and I flew a half dozen yards. I skipped across another half dozen yards and collided with a tree. My side burned like fire. Even breathing hurt. I wrapped a hand over my side and felt something poke against my skin. A rib was broken, maybe more. It sure as hell felt like more was broken. I lay as still as possible as tears slipped down my cheeks. A shadow fell across me, and I looked up. The woman stood over me. She pulled her leg back for another swing. I shut my eyes and braced for impact.
It never came. Instead there was a tremendous roar from the woods. I opened my eyes in time to see a flash of something collide with the woman. They tumbled into the brush and out of my sight. I watched in fascination as the bushes ruffled and flapped as an angry, growling brawl took place behind the scenes. The others in the group were not as mesmerized by the sight of the flapping bush. They made to interfere, but another shadow flew from the woods and stopped in front of them. It was Daniel Nelson. His back faced me, and he stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His posture was straight but relaxed, and his voice was even and almost flippant. He acted like we were at a garden party, and the group of monstrous creatures ahead of him were uninvited guests.
"I would rather you not interfere," he advised the group. One of the group growled and lunged at him. Nelson stepped to the side, grabbed the man as he flew by, and helped him on his way by tossing him over my head and into the woods behind me. He looked back to the others with a small smile on his lips. "Does anyone else care to try me?"
The men snarled, but backed off. My attention turned to the bushes. They no longer rattled and shook, and Scott emerged from their depths. His clothes were torn and, in some places, shredded, and his hair was mussed. His skin was covered in brush brambles and dirt, and a few long scratches covered his arms. He never looked better.
One of his hands held the now-unconscious woman's torn collar and he dragged her along behind him. She was no longer a werewolf, but was partially clothed. Scott tossed her towards the group of male werewolves. "Take her to your leader or I promise none of you will see him again," he growled.
One of the men picked up Celeste and they hurried back in the direction they came. I sighed and laid my head down in the dirt and pine needles. My nightmare was over, or was it just beginning?
Chapter 8
Scott strode over and knelt beside me. His hands were gentle as he inspected my wounds, but even they couldn't help causing me some pain when he brushed over my ribs. Nelson joined Scott beside me and frowned.
"Bruised?" he guessed.
Scott nodded his head. "Yes, which is fortunate. They may have punctured her internal organs."
Nelson lifted his head and his eyes swept around the area. "We should leave before our 'guests' decide to return with Blackwood himself."
Scott nodded and his eyes fell on me. "I'm going to carry you as gently as I can, but there will be pain," he warned me.
"Story of my life. . ." I muttered.
Scott smiled. "Not anymore."
Scott slipped his arms beneath me and pulled me against his strong chest. There was never a better splint than his muscles, and he made sure I was firmly against him before he started to move. And boy, did we move. Scott started out at a sprint that would have made Olympic athletes look like they were standing still. The trees flashed by like blurry post-modern artwork and the ground beneath us sped past like I was aboard a train.
Nelson followed, and we hurried down a myriad of paths before the way ahead of us opened. Buildings stood before us, the majority of which were new brown log cabins two floors tall. There were about a dozen, and in front of them was the lake. The buildings closest to the lake were new, long, white clapboard buildings. They were greenhouses, evidenced by the southerly walls and roofs made of glass. I was in too much pain to notice what was contained in them.
Scott took me to one of the smaller log cabins. This one only had a single story. The logs were hewn from trees twenty inches in diameter, and a large wood deck wrapped around the entire building. Nelson opened the door for us and we stepped into a modern home. There was the stainless-steel kitchen, the well-cushioned living room, a long oak dining table, and a wall at the back that separated the sleeping quarters from the living quarters.
Scott moved over to the living room and set me on the plush couch. In front of the couch was a glass-top, rectangular coffee table. Nelson disappeared for a moment and returned with medical supplies which he placed on the table. Scott tore open the bottom of my shirt and pulled the pieces apart.
He frowned. "Definitely bruised. I'll need the wine."
Nelson disappeared from my sight as Scott tentatively touched my rib cage. A stabbing pain shot through me and I hissed through my clenched teeth. "Please don't do that again," I growled.
"I'm sorry, but it should be healed in a short time," he assured me.
"Healed? Healed?" I sat up and gasped for air when my ribs protested the movement. "They're bruised! Ribs don't heal 'in a short time' when they're bruised!"
"They do if you are my mate," he corrected me.
I frowned and leaned away from him until my ribs told me that was a bad idea. "Who the hell told you I'd agree to be your mate?"
He smiled. "Your scent and attraction to me, but that is a discussion for another time."
"No, I'm pretty sure that's a discussion for now. I want to know what the hell is going on, and I want to know it now," I demanded.
Scott chuckled. "We are so much alike, always wanting to control the situation."
"I'm not like you!" I snapped.
"Feeling better already?" a familiar voice quipped. I turned to the door and saw Susie standing in the entrance. Behind her were Nelson and Linda. Susie rushed over to me and enveloped me in a bruised-rib-crushing hug.
"The ribs!" I yelped.
Susie cringed and pulled us apart. "Sorry! Dan told me, but I forgot everything when I saw you lying here."
"I'm lying here because of the ribs," I pointed out.
"And because Scott saved you. Dan told me that part, too," she added.
I leaned back and raised a brow as I inspected my friend. She was still the same Susie I remembered, but what she was saying what just too normal. "Susie, did they hit you over the head with a hammer? They're werewolves and they're holding us captive," I pointed out.
She sheepishly grinned and shrugged. Her eyes flickered over to Nelson who stood beside Scott. "If this is captivity then I know why more animals don't escape from the zoos."
I grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Werewolves, Susie, remember? Creatures who eat people like us!"
Susie laughed and patted me on the shoulder. One look from my glare made her stop that. "Abby, they don't want to eat people. They made the Garden to get some money for the clan, recruit some new members, and give a little to the humans. You know, give a little," she explained.
I frowned. "Give a little?" I repeated.
"The promise of youth," Scott spoke up. He walked over and seated himself on the edge o
f the coffee table in front of us. "Werewolves have great longevity in our veins, and we give our visitors a little dose of our blood to regain a bit of their youth. It isn't enough to change them, though some are more susceptible to the side-effects than others."
"Platt and that other guy," I guessed.
Scott bowed his head. "Yes. They both had more animal natures than most humans, and took to the blood better than we intended."
"That's an understatement," I quipped.
"Come on, Abby, it's not so bad here. Well, when Blackwood isn't coming around trying to pick a fight," Susie insisted.
"What's he got to do with this?" I questioned them.
"Blackwood is the leader of a rival werewolf clan," Scott explained. "Unfortunately, he very much dislikes the Garden, and everyone in it. He's bee getting more violent in his hatred towards everyone ever since-" He paused and his eyes flickered to Linda, who bowed her head. "Over the last few months," he corrected himself.
"So you're telling us that you've put us in the middle of a war between two werewolf clans?" I questioned him.
He nodded. "I'm afraid so."
I looked to Susie and raised an eyebrow. "And you're still fine with this?"
She sheepishly grinned and smiled. "It's a living."
"Blackwood intimated that he wanted to change that for me," I retorted.
"He won't. I won't allow it," Scott growled.
"I think I've had enough of your help for one lifetime," I argued.
I carefully swung my legs over the side of the couch. I needn't have bothered. There was only a smidgen of pain from my ribs. I paused and set a hand on my rib cage. Gone was the horrible agony of bruised ribs, and in its place was the aching pain of sore bone.
Scott must have seen the confusion written on my face. "The healing abilities of a werewolf, but you won't be able to run for a few more hours," he explained.
"But. . .but my ribs were bruised. Nothing fixes this fast," I countered.