by AJ Jarrett
“I need to stop watching horror movies.” Matt wiped at his eyes. He looked over at his clock to see it was just after eleven in the morning. He got out of bed and stretched.
It was Sunday, and that meant a day with the family. Matt grabbed some clothes and his soap and headed down to the showers. He took a quick shower, got dressed then headed over to his parents. He might complain about his mom and dad being nosey, but he loved spending time with them. Matt was close to his folks and his kid brother. They were all he had, and he loved them dearly.
The house Matt grew up in was just outside the city limits. His childhood home sat on seven acres, and it was amazing. His mom raised chickens, they had four wheelers they were allowed to ride all over their property, and their dad had a huge garage in the back where he worked on old muscle cars. Matt thought he had the greatest childhood. He was allowed to live wild and free and had loving parents to come to when he needed them.
Matt drove his jeep up the paved drive toward the ranch-style house. He had his windows down and took a deep breath of the fresh cut grass that hung in the air. Matt smiled. No doubt his dad made Kevin get up early to mow.
“If it isn’t my baby boy.” His mom stood on the front porch with a smile and her thin arms crossed over her chest.
“Hey, Mom.” Matt jumped out of his jeep and jogged up the steps to hug her. He squeezed her tight and lifted her up off her feet, and she giggled. “Damn, Mom, I swear you’re shrinking.”
“I’m not shrinking. You just keep growing.” She swatted him on the arm. “I often wonder what happened to my baby.”
Shelly Clawson was still as beautiful as Matt remembered. She had long wavy blonde hair and big blue eyes that could never tell him or his brother no. She was tall and thin and had a lightly tanned complexion. Matt got his blond hair and blue eyes from his mom, but his height and muscle mass were all from his dad. His dad was tall like him, and even in his mid-forties he was still in really good shape. He had brown hair and dark blue eyes. Kevin favored their dad more.
His mom grew up in Iowa and met his dad Ted at college. They both attended MU just like him. They fell in love and settled down here. His folks got married after they graduated, and nine months later Matt was born.
His father owned a concrete company and did a lot of work around town and even down into Kansas City. It kept him busy. His mother was a teacher, but she hadn’t worked full time since he was in grade school. After his brother Kevin came along, she only stepped in when the school district needed a substitute.
Kevin was only fourteen. He was a late-in-life baby. Matt’s parents weren’t really trying to have a second child. Matt was seven when Kevin was born, but he was never jealous of the attention his kid brother got. Matt had always wanted a little brother, so when Kevin came along, it was the best gift his parents could have given him.
“Where’s Dad?” Matt asked.
“Around back.” She rolled her eyes. “Your brother decided to run the mower over a rock the size of a tire, and the blades all bent to hell.”
“Sounds like something Kevin would do.” Matt chuckled.
His little brother was the type of kid that was easily distracted and lazy at times. Kevin probably saw that rock but thought it’d be easy to just ride over it. Matt wondered when Kevin would learn the easy way wasn’t always the right way.
“No kidding.” His mom kissed his cheek then pointed toward the massive garage behind their house. “Go on and see your dad and brother. Tell them lunch will be ready in twenty minutes.”
“Got it.” Matt jumped off the porch and walked around the side of the house toward the garage. He laughed and shook his head when he spotted the section of the yard that hadn’t been mowed yet. At the end of the section was a huge rock. It looked more like a boulder. Only his brother could have not seen that. Knowing his dad, he was giving Kevin an earful.
Matt walked softly, not wanting to give away that he was there. He could hear metal clanking on metal. He peeked around the corner to see his dad hammering the blade against a table, trying his best to straighten it out. Kevin was sitting in a chair behind him, spinning around in circles. Pretty much what he expected to see.
“Boy, I still can’t figure out how you didn’t see that rock.” His dad shook his head. “Sometimes I swear you got cotton where your brain should be.”
“Sorry, Dad.” Kevin sighed. “I was checking a text from Chloe.”
“Son, that doesn’t make this any better.” His dad tossed the hammer onto his workstation. “No texting while driving and that goes for the riding lawn mower, too. You’re lucky you haven’t lost a limb yet.”
“No kidding.” Matt stepped into the garage. His brother’s face lit up when he saw him.
“Matty.” Kevin ran toward him and hugged him tightly.
Matt was shocked by how much the kid had grown in just a week. Before too long, Kevin would outgrow him. Kevin was still lanky, but by the grip he had around Matt, he could tell those muscles were getting stronger. Like him, Kevin played football and baseball. Kevin was always busy doing something.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite son,” his dad shouted. He was grinning from ear to ear.
“Hey!” Kevin pouted. “Dad, I’m standing right here.”
“I know. That’s why I said it.” His dad hugged him then stepped back to look at Kevin. “Your brother never broke my mower, so until he screws up, he’s the favorite.”
“Geez. Thanks, Dad.” Kevin rolled his eyes.
“Kid, I saw that rock you tried to demolish.” Matt pointed out the door. “How in the hell do you miss something like that?”
“He got a text from that pretty girl he’s been drooling over from school.” His dad shook his head. “It better have been a good message.”
“It was, thank you very much.” Kevin stood up straight, puffing out his chest. “She asked me to the homecoming dance next Saturday night.”
“No shit,” Matt and his father both said at the same time.
“I know, right!” Kevin did a little dance. “Matty, help me put this blade back on the mower.” His dad put his hand on Matt’s back and ushered him over to where the blade was at. “I’d ask Kevin, but lord knows the boy might lose a finger.”
“Once again, Dad. Right here,” Kevin grumbled.
“Doesn’t make it any less true, kid.” His dad chuckled.
“Let’s get this done. Mom said lunch is in twenty minutes.”
Matt helped his dad get the mower put back together. They tested it out, and it was cutting like a dream. His dad told Kevin that after lunch he had to finish up his chores or no allowance.
Over dinner, they talked about the game yesterday and how well Matt had played. His parents and brother usually came to the games but Kevin had a football game at the same time, so Matt told them to go to Kevin’s. His mom and dad had been to so many of his sporting functions over the years he thought it was only fair they do the same for Kevin. It meant a lot to have your family in the stands cheering you on, and Matt wanted Kevin to have that. Matt wished he could attend more of his brother’s games, but scheduling conflicts were the bane of his existence.
After lunch, Matt, his dad, and Kevin watched a little of the Chiefs game on TV. A few hours later and Matt headed back to the dorms. He was exhausted from eating his mom’s home-cooked food and wanted to nap but knew he had to study his chemistry notes.
Once back on campus, Matt parked his jeep then headed toward his dorm. His phone started to ring, and he smiled when he saw a goofy picture of Colby flashing on the screen.
“What’s up, Colbster?”
“I’ll be back on campus in thirty minutes. I need to study for that chem test we have this week,” Colby said in a rush. “Want to meet in the library to study, please,” Colby begged.
“I’m in.” A strong gust of wind slammed into Matt, and he stumbled back a step. He pulled the phone away from his ear and held his arm up to shield his eyes. Dirt and grit flew hard enough to sc
rape at his skin. Matt raised his hand to wipe at his eyes, and he saw a flash of black. Hale. It was him, or at least Matt thought it was him, but when he blinked his eyes, Hale was gone.
“Matt! Are you there?” Colby asked in a concerned voice.
“Yeah, I’m here.” Matt glanced to his left then his right, but the man was nowhere to be seen. It must have been his mind playing tricks on him. After the nightmares he had last night it was no wonder. “I’ll see you in thirty.”
Chapter Five
It was night and Wes was sitting in his patrol car again. Things had been quiet, and it gave him too much time to think, and that was never good.
Three days ago, he got a call from Garrett, checking in on him. Garrett worried about him like a big brother would. He was concerned that Wes hadn’t found his mate or more to the point that he didn’t date. Wes was a quiet guy and kept to himself. That didn’t bode well for finding potential dates.
Garrett was pushing him to move out with him and Lachlan, and Wes was strongly considering it. After all, he didn’t need to work for M&B. He could get another job as a police officer in that town. It was getting close to the time he probably ought to be moving on anyway. Being a paranormal meant he never aged, and he didn’t want anyone growing suspicious of him.
Wes sat listening to the radio to see if any calls from dispatch needed assistance but once again nothing. It was quiet. Almost too quiet. Wes hated nights like this. It put him on edge.
Just as the boredom was growing, a black SUV sped past him doing eighty. Wes flipped on his lights and siren and pulled out after the car. The SUV weaved in out of what little traffic there was, avoiding capture. Wes laughed.
“Like you can get away.” Wes sped up and looked for the license plate number, but there was none. That was odd and illegal. “Car fourteen in pursuit. Black SUV, Navigator. No license plates. Request back up.”
“Copy that. Car twenty-nine is in pursuit.”
Wes followed the car and called in cross streets as he sped past intersections. He didn’t need any help. If this punk took off, he’d capture him before he got twenty feet in front of him. Wes smiled as he followed close behind the car. He needed a little excitement.
The car sped down a deserted road near the abandoned warehouse district. It tried to lose him in the maze of roadways. Potholes and chunks of pavement were missing and made for a bumpy ride. Wes cut the lights and sirens and turned left to cut the car off at the next intersection a few blocks down. He called into dispatch to give his location.
Wes came around the corner, and the SUV was stopped, and the driver and passenger doors stood wide open. Wes found that odd and took precaution. He assumed the people in the car were drug dealers or something of that sort. Fancy car, no plates, this couldn’t be good.
Wes got out of his car and froze. The scent of death and blood hung heavy in the air. He’d smelled this before.
“Dark Warriors,” Wes whispered.
He wasn’t sure if Dark Warriors had been in that car or in the area. The smell was so thick and heavy that Wes could taste the coppery-tinged staleness on his tongue. The Warrior in him wanted to call dispatch and tell them not to come, that he’d lost the suspect, but before he got the chance, he was surrounded.
“Well, looky here.” A tall man with skin so pale it looked translucent. Blue veins stuck out on his face. Eyes black as coal gazed onto Wes. “A Warrior of the Light and he’s a cop!” The man laughed so hard he doubled over.
Wes’s arms hung at his sides, and he balled up his hands into fists. It was pointless to reach for his gun. It wouldn’t work on these freaks.
“What do you want?” Wes asked. He took count of how many were there. Three. Wes could handle it as long as backup didn’t arrive. Humans would only get in the way in this fight.
“What we always want.” The man to his right spoke up. He was just as pale as the other man, but this guy had bright orange hair. His neck was so thick he looked like he was a body builder in another life. “Scum like you dead.”
“Me, scum?” Wes snorted. “That’s rich coming from a bloodsucking vamp like you. Why are you idiots here? Shouldn’t you be worshiping that crazy bitch that leads your dumb assess.” Wes was taunting them, and he knew it. It made one’s opponent sloppy when fighting if they weren’t thinking clearly.
“Watch your mouth, wolf boy.” A very dark black man with eyes of the same color stepped toward him. “Our queen wouldn’t take kindly to your kind speaking such vulgar things about her. In fact, I think she’d be happy if we brought your foul head back to her as a gift.”
“Hands up!” Wes cursed under his breath as he heard his fellow brother in blue come up behind them. “Officer Stewart, you okay?”
Fuck! Wes recognized that voice. It was Will Sanderson. Will was set to retire this year. He and his wife had just bought a condo out in Florida, and Will was excited beyond words. Wes had to do everything he could to get Will out of this alive.
“I’ve radioed for backup, so gentleman let’s take it easy, okay?” Will was polite as always.
It was dark out, and Wes had to assume that Will hadn’t seen their eyes yet.
“Good.” The Dark Warrior with the long black hair laughed. “We’re hungry.” The cloud that was covering the moon slid out of the way, and golden light fell on the man’s face.
“Holy Mary Mother of God.” Will’s face went as white as the Dark Warriors, and Wes knew he had to act and now.
Wes lunged for the Dark Warrior in front of him. He allowed his sharp teeth to lengthen and bit into his neck and ripped out his throat. Black inky-looking blood sprayed into the air as the man fell to the ground. The redheaded Warrior came at him next. Wes lifted his arm to wipe the blood from his mouth. His eyes were glowing, and he was hungry for a fight.
“Will, get in your car and go, now!” Wes shouted at the other man.
“What are they?” Will’s voice trembled as he backed up to his car. Wes looked over toward Will, and the man gasped and stumbled back a step. “What are you?”
The Dark Warrior slammed his fist into Wes’s face and his head rang from the force. He brought his fist around and punched upward right in the other man’s chin. He went flying back. Wes ran toward him and was on him when he hit the ground. He punched the man over and over again in the head until it was just a bloody, gaping hole. Wes tore the head from the body and tossed it to the ground. As he stood, he heard a gunshot go off then another. Will’s terrified scream filled his ears.
Wes jumped to his feet and ran toward the other cop. One of the Dark Warriors held out his arm. Wes ran right into and fell to the ground. His wolf rose to the surface and he snarled at the man. He leaped to his feet and wrapped his clawed fingers around the vamp’s neck then tossed him to the side. He could hear Will and the other Warrior behind him fighting.
“Why are you here?” Wes asked around a mouth full of sharp teeth. “What do you really want?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” The Dark Warrior spat a mouthful of black blood onto the ground.
“Tell me!” Wes tightened his grip and shook the vampire. “Or I’ll kill you.”
“You’re going to kill me anyway.” The man started to laugh. “You know it won’t be long before we find him, right.” He smiled, the dark blood staining his teeth. “And then what will your pure of Light Warriors do then? With the child of the light gone, you will all fall.”
Before Wes could figure out what that meant he heard Will shout from behind him, and then two shots filled the air. The vampire in his arms lunged at him, and Wes turned around with lightning speed in time to catch the man around the throat and rear back, taking the vamp’s entire throat with him, nearly decapitating him. Wes let the body fall to the ground and ran over to help Will.
Wes rushed the Dark Warrior, wrapping him up in his arm and taking him down to the ground. He opened his wide jaws and bit into the Dark Warrior. Wes felt the monster’s skin and muscle tore and bone crunched to dust. He tore
his mouth to the left while he reached up his hands to wrench the beast’s head to the right, severing it from its body.
It only took seconds for Wes to calm his wolf and his human half took over. He knelt next to Will and put his hands over the hole in his neck. Will had been shot with his own gun.
“Will, can you hear me?” Wes spoke calmly, doing his best to wake his friend up. “Will!” Wes pushed the button on his radio. “Officer down. Need an ambulance ASAP.”
“Wh-What were the-they?” Will asked. His eyes opened but his eyelids were drooping, and his eyes were unfocused. He was slipping away. He’d lost too much blood. Wes could hear his heart slowing down.
“The bad guys.” Wes could feel it as hot tears burned at the back of his eyes. “Hang in there Will. Help is coming.” Wes could hear the sirens growing closer, but it wouldn’t be soon enough. “Will, stay with me, man.”
“Monsters?” Will asked. Blood bubbled up from his mouth to drip down his chin.
“They were.” Wes nodded. “But we got them. They’re dead and won’t hurt anyone anymore. I’m so sorry you got in the middle of this battle. It wasn’t yours to fight.”
“Not yours either.” Will smiled. “Brothers to the end, Wes. No matter what.” Will gasped for breath. Wes grabbed Will’s hand. “Tell my Maggie that I love her.” The grip that Will had on his hand loosened.
“Will, no, no, no!” Wes screamed into the night.
Wes stared down at Will’s lifeless eyes. Death wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t like in the movies when the person’s eyes shut, and they looked peaceful as they entered the afterlife. No. Death was ugly and scary. The look on Will’s face said it all. Even in death, he looked terrified.
The sounds of the sirens drew near. Wes sat back on his haunches and shook his head. Tears fell from his eyes. He had to clean this mess up, but he didn’t care. Will had died and for what? Wes was a Warrior he should have been able to save his friend, but he’d been too late.