by Robin Roseau
“It’s fine, Carissa,” I assured her.
“We have heard from Michaela.”
I straightened. “Is everyone all right?”
“Yes, yes. It was a good call. She asked if Deirdre would like to visit Wisconsin in a few weeks. The duration of the visit wasn’t discussed, but I believe it is longer than I should be away.”
“Ah. Would you send anyone else?”
“Just you.”
“I don’t need a baby sitter,” Deirdre said somewhat sullenly.
“Deirdre,” Carissa said. “I’m using you as an excuse to install extra protection around Michaela, and I wish you would stop fighting me about it.”
“You are not. You’re treating me like I can’t defend myself.”
“That is not accurate. I am treating you as if I have powerful enemies, and I do not want you to suffer for it.”
“So you lied when you said this was about Michaela.”
Carissa closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and asked in a very low voice. “Are we forgetting how close she came to dying in North Carolina?”
“You’re the one who sent her into danger, Carissa. Don’t blame me for that.”
“Carissa,” I said. “I would love to go to Wisconsin. I was hoping for an opportunity. I’d love to see them again, and maybe go kayaking. That sounded like fun. I like the Madison pack, and I would enjoy spending more time with them. But I’m going to be blunt here. We’ve been friends for a long time, but I’m not taking responsibility for Deirdre if she’s going to do what Michaela does every time she gets tired of her security detail.”
Deirdre’s eyes flashed at me. “You’re not my security detail.”
“You’re right. I’m your friend. And Carissa’s. But you’ve got a wild hair growing somewhere, and I’m not going to chase you all over if you decide you ditch me the way Michaela ditches her detail. The last time she did it, Kristian was able to kidnap her. And some time before that, she got hauled off to Iowa, and that led to a long series of very unfortunate events that nearly resulted in her death. I’m not taking that responsibility, Carissa. I’m sorry.”
Deirdre and I both folded our arms and turned away, but neither of us stormed from the room. First, if Carissa really asked me, I’d do my best, but I was managing Deirdre, not Carissa, and I hoped the vampire realized it.
“I want to go,” she said sullenly. “And I don’t need a baby sitter.”
She was acting like a petulant child, and I didn’t understand it. Had she woken up on the wrong side of the brook or something?
“Deirdre, if you want to go, then go. But if you go to Wisconsin, I’m sending Anna. Anna, if Deirdre is foolish, you’re not responsible for her. Stick to Michaela, if she’ll let you.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“Then it’s not your fault if they both get themselves killed.”
I waited, and after a minute, Carissa continued, “Deirdre, have you ever, the entire time you’ve known me, seen me leave Louisiana without at least one other, highly capable person?”
Deirdre sat quietly, her arms still folded. “No,” she said finally.
“And can we agree that I am more capable of seeing to my safety than you are to yours?”
“I’m not a child.”
“Answer me.”
“Fine,” she said, turning back. “You’re right. You’re afraid to go anywhere without someone to throw herself in front of your enemies. And then they nearly die. Michaela nearly died to save me, and she wasn’t the only one. Serena was hurt badly, too, and the others all took wounds. But now you want to risk Anna.” She lifted her head to the ceiling and screamed, a long, tired scream. “I can’t go. I can’t. I can’t bring that sort of attention there. You’re strong here, but you can’t protect me there, and so they’ll have to, and Anna, too. It’s not fair, Carissa!”
“Well,” said Carissa. “There we go. You would be in the heart of their pack, and they are a strong pack. And I am sending Anna, because they know and trust her, and she will help to make them even stronger. I can’t say it is absolutely safe, but it is as safe as I can make you, especially as no one will know you’re there.”
“Are you sure, Carissa?” Deirdre implored. “I’m not afraid for myself. But Michaela. And their pups. She has children. We can’t bring danger to them.”
“I’m as sure as I can be,” Carissa said. “Now, I promised I would never imprison you, but would you please let Anna go with you? And would you please let her and Lara’s wolves protect you? Maybe if you are gracious, it will be easier for Michaela to accept her own protection.”
“All right,” she said. “Anna, I’m sorry. We should have worked this out before you arrived.”
“Deirdre, I have never known of you to break a promise. Will you promise to let us protect you? I’m willing to fight vampires and were gerbils, but I really don’t want to fight you or Michaela.”
“There are no such thing as were gerbils,” she said. “Are you going to stop us from doing the things we want to do?”
“I’m not, but I can’t make promises for Elisabeth. I just don’t want you doing them without us, and if Elisabeth asks you not to do something, I hope you’ll honor her wishes.”
She paused, then nodded. “I’ll let you protect me, and I won’t fight with you or Elisabeth.”
“Thank you, Deirdre,” I said. “Hug?”
She moved across to me, and I held her for a while, looking past her at Carissa. The vampire smiled and nodded. Finally I released the fae, who moved to Carissa and climbed into her lap, cuddling against her. I’d never seen Deirdre do that before, so I presumed they’d been fighting long before I got there.
“When do we leave?”
“Middle of June,” Carissa said. “We weren’t more specific. It sounded like they were inviting her for as long as she wanted to stay, so that could mean into September. I’m asking a lot, Anna.”
“No you’re not. I can handle business from there. They have Internet in Wisconsin.”
“Then let’s talk about security.”
* * * *
On a Monday morning, three weeks later, I stepped from my house with a computer bag over one shoulder and a large duffle bag over the other. I set both burdens in the back seat of my car, waiting at the curb, then climbed in and drove to the airport.
Carissa’s hangar was already open, the plane fueled, the crew ready, the flight plan dialed in. I drove around and pulled into the open hangar door, parked along the side, and then carefully pulled out the duffel and computer bag. I hefted them with relative ease and made my way towards the aircraft door where two vampires -- the flight crew -- were waiting.
“We can stow that,” said one of them, indicating my duffle.
“I’m the only passenger, right?” I said. “I can just buckle it into a seat or something. I think I might change clothes on the way. I’m already a little slick.”
“Of course, Ms. Delacroix,” replied the vampire. “If you’re ready, step aboard.”
I had to duck my head, but I made my way into the aircraft. I set the computer bag down and then the duffle, giving more care to one than the other. I buckled in the bag, stowed the computer, and picked a seat. Five minutes later the tug pulled us from the hangar, five minutes after that, we were number one for takeoff, and thirty seconds in the air, the duffle opened.
Deirdre poked her head out and looked at me.
“Welcome aboard flight double-oh-seven, non-stop to Wisconsin,” I told her.
Some time later, as we began our approach into Madison’s airport, I helped Deirdre back into the bag. She didn’t make a single complaint, although I wouldn’t have enjoyed being stuffed into a sack like that. But we touched down at the airport and taxied to the ramp. Looking out the window, I could already see the Madison pack waiting for us, and so as soon as we came to a stop, I popped my seat belt, grabbed the computer, and then, far more carefully, collected the duffle. By the time I arrived at the door, it was open and the stairs l
owered.
The vampire stepped back and out of my way. The flight crew wouldn’t even step a single foot on the Madison Pack territory. The plane had enough fuel to return to New Orleans without fueling, and they’d be on their way even before we had departed airport grounds.
I poked my head out. Everyone was waiting, with Elisabeth and Monique right at the bottom of the stairs. I climbed down carefully, and Elisabeth stepped forward. “Welcome to Wisconsin, Anna,” she said. “We’re glad you could come. Here, let me take that.”
I gave her the duffle, and Monique took the laptop from me.
“Oh geeze,” said Elisabeth. “What’s in here?”
“Ski boots. I heard you have skiing here,” I replied.
“Water skiing,” Monique said. “It’s summer. We have water skiing.”
“No boots? Damn.” I grinned. “Relax. I packed for all contingencies. Well, I didn’t bring a tux. I hope I won’t need one.”
“We’re pretty casual,” Elisabeth said. “I’m going to stow this. Go ahead and greet everyone.”
She and Monique stepped away, heading for the nearest SUV. I turned and walked straight to Lara and Michaela. Lara and I exchanged handshakes, but I got a tight, tight hug from the little fox. “I’m glad you could come,” she said.
“So am I.”
I greeted the waiting enforcers, and a couple of minutes later, we were all aboard one of the SUVs.
And two minutes later, Elisabeth said, “You can unzip, Deirdre, but please stay down.”
I heard an unzip from the back seat, and then panting for a moment.
“Welcome to Wisconsin.”
* * * *
We didn’t know if the subterfuge was necessary, but we’d done the best we could to let anyone watching believe I had traveled to Wisconsin alone. And if there was a new human living on Lara’s compound, we hoped no one would associate her with Carissa.
Sparring
They housed me with Elisabeth. Deirdre stayed with the alphas. As that was the most protected place in the entire compound, I let it slide.
But even then, they were careful. Elisabeth carried my duffle into her house, and then it seemed like half the compound stopped by to greet me. Zoe was there, and another human named Michele. So when we all left Elisabeth’s to head over to the celebration, and there was one more human -- or human look-alike, anyway -- than there had been, we didn’t think anyone who might be watching would notice.
Although Elisabeth said we were now being paranoid.
It was Monday, but they held a celebration. Lara called it “pack play night”. Everyone living on the compound was invited along with other, notable members of the pack. I met more names than I could remember, but I would get to know some of them better over the coming months.
It started as a picnic, and the wolves sure knew how to put on a picnic. There was food, food, and more food, all set up on long row of picnic tables. I had already had a beer and was ready to join the line for food, but Elisabeth grabbed my arm and tugged me to the side. I saw the alphas and Deirdre were just sitting down in chairs some of Michaela’s students were setting out, and there were two more chairs waiting. I was starving and twice pointed at the waiting food, but Elisabeth just smiled and told me to sit.
Then Kaylee stopped by, kneeling beside my chair. “Ms. Delacroix, did you care for any of the side dishes?”
“I can get my own.”
“No, no,” she said. “I’ll get it. I can bring you what I’d bring Elisabeth, but...”
“Ah. Well, you can certainly bring me whatever Elisabeth would like, but if a few other little tidbits landed on the plate, I could try those as well.”
“All right,” she said. “How’s your beer.”
“Good for now.”
“I’ll be right back.”
And true to her word, she was. Other teenagers brought plates for everyone else, and we dived in.
“Is that aloo gobi?” I asked.
“It is,” Michaela said. “Zoe’s influence. And Francesca is hoping for a cooking lesson or two this summer. She bought a cookbook, but she’s not sure if she’s making it right.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun,” Deirdre said. “But where did she get a fae cookbook?”
“I’m fairly sure that’s not what she meant,” I said. “Don’t let Deirdre cook cajun. She can’t even spell trinity.”
“I certainly can. B-I-T-E-“
“Hey! There are children present,” I said. “And besides, this is the wrong crowd to make that offer. Someone might take you up on it.”
“Oh, funny,” she said. “Like Carissa hasn’t made the same threat once or twice.”
“Oh, I suppose she has. But I also think you liked it.”
“So did you.”
“Children,” Lara said, interrupting us.
“Right,” Michaela said. “If there’s any biting this summer, I’ll be the one doing it.”
* * * *
Later, we played a game involving tennis balls. I was on Michaela’s team, and we hid our tennis balls first. I knew werewolves couldn’t climb trees, and Deirdre couldn’t run as fast as I could, so I ran deep into the woods, made a leap, and then scrambled high into the biggest tree I could find. I stuffed my tennis ball into a crook in the tree then carefully worked my way down, making sure not to shake the tree enough my tennis ball dislodged. I made sure I could find the same tree, and then I jumped down, running further into the woods to disguise my trail before doubling back and arriving in the compound with plenty of time to spare.
Soon, it was time for our opponents to go find our hidden tennis balls. Lara howled the start for them, and they all dashed into the woods.
Elisabeth was the first to return, and she walked straight to me and dropped a tennis ball at my feet. Then she rolled it until the name was visible.
For me, it was difficult to read while in my fur. I could do it, but it was work. But there was no mistaking my own name. I stared at it, shocked not only that she’d found it, but that she’d found it before anyone else returned with one.
I stared at the tennis ball while Elisabeth offered a wolfy grin.
Michaela sauntered over, saw the ball, and looked at me. She shifted into her human form and picked it up. “You owe her a favor now,” she said to me.
I looked away. I was embarrassed. Werewolves couldn’t climb trees! How could she have found my ball?
“You left it in a tree,” Michaela said. “And you’re wondering how she found it.”
I turned back to her.
“I used to leave mine in trees. Werewolves can’t climb trees.”
I bobbed my head at her.
“They can, however, shift back into their human form, and then they climb just fine.”
Oh god. Of course. I plopped to the ground, rolled onto my back, and covered my eyes with my paws. Michaela laughed, and Elisabeth chuffed happily several times.
In the end, a little more than half the tennis balls were found. From Lara’s team, those who didn’t find a tennis ball owed a favor to one of the people whose ball wasn’t found. Michaela handled that, and then she said, “Your turn to hide. Angel, howl the start for me.”
Angel howled, and the wolves took off. I watched them disappear into the woods. Michaela stepped over to me, still in human form, but with a blanket wrapped around herself. She sat down in the grass.
“So, I wonder whose favor I want tonight,” she said. She paused, then laughed. “My daughters are trying to fool me. They’re making quite a bit of noise, trying to convince me they’re hiding their tennis balls that way.” She pointed. She paused, then cocked her head. “Oh, my. Deirdre is very quiet. I lost her.”
Well, compared to the wolves, an elephant was quiet, not that I could track them by sound. I was a sight tracker. I could follow tracks. But the woods were so torn up, I wasn’t sure that would do me much good at all, especially given the thirty-foot leaps the wolves could make. But maybe I could track Deirdre. There wouldn’t be
many shoe prints to follow.
I would have to see.
Pardon the pun.
I looked up at Michaela. She was listening intently. Cocking her head this way and that at times. Then she looked back at me. “Well, I think I know where four are. I just have to decide which one I want. Do you know who you’re going to follow?”
I curled a lip.
“Well, it’s easier to follow their back trail,” she said. “It won’t be as muddled as the trail leading out.” She paused. “I suppose you don’t track by scent.” That was another lip curl. “Well, sometimes the humans find a tennis ball. You should be able to do better than that.”
It turned out that no, I couldn’t.
The pack adored this game, and they played it often. But over the course of that summer, while I got better at hiding my tennis ball, I only found someone else’s twice, and once it was Rebecca’s, one of the pups. I had no idea until I got back with it, and then I felt bad besides. But for my favor, I asked if she’d let me tuck her into bed and read her a story.
I’d never done that before, but it sounded like fun. She was sweet, and yes, it was fun.
But that night, no, I didn’t find anyone’s tennis ball. And then I owned Elisabeth not one favor, but two.
* * * *
It was well after midnight when Elisabeth and I collapsed in her living room, a beer for each of us. I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes, and I thought Elisabeth did the same.
“Long day,” I said.
“Yeah. For the record, Anna, we’re glad you’re here.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t anticipate trouble, but I want to know I can count on you.”
“Of course, Elisabeth. And Deirdre.”
“I’ve seen what she can do. Anna, we faced four, and we hurt them, but I don’t think we killed any of them.”
“The best thing is to take their heads. Their hearts are too hard to reach. It’s not like a wolf heart. Poke it with a stick. With a vampire, you have to drive the stick all the way through, and it has to stay there until they’re dust.”
“We were using Michaela’s invention. Squirt guns filled with silver water.”