by Patti Larsen
Sassafras sighed next to me for the millionth time, his way of letting me know I was disturbing him. Yeah, suck it up, fuzzball. My love life just fell apart around me and he was worried about his beauty rest.
I jerked upright suddenly, head cocked toward the window. Something howled in the distance. What was that? Galleytrot was on his hind legs, front paws on the sill, looking out over the yard. His eyes glowed red, a deep and menacing growl rumbling just loud enough for me to hear.
“Galleytrot.” I knelt on my bed, looking outside, listening as Sassafras joined us, flat nose pressed to the glass. “What was it?”
He didn’t say anything, ears perked, tail still, entire body tense. I’d never felt him so eager for a fight.
There it was again. That howl. Then another. Galleytrot chuffed, his breath steaming the pane, tongue flicking out to catch the drool collecting at his muzzle.
“The intruders,” he said. Gone was the lovely wild sound of his voice reminding me of nature and summer and all things organic. Hate threaded through his tone, vibrating like an earthquake.
“The same ones from last night.” I absently stroked Sassy’s fur as he quivered under my hand.
“Yes,” Galleytrot said.
No way was I sitting this out. I’d had enough of the Quaid/Ameline mental drama. Time to do something requiring action instead.
I thudded down the staircase with my two furry friends trailing behind me.
“This is a terrible idea,” Sassafras argued as he hurried toward the back door. “Terrible.”
“Agreed,” Galleytrot rumbled. Neither of them tried to stop me.
When we reached the threshold, we realized we weren’t the only ones who noticed the sound. Mom stood in the yard, her favorite shawl wrapped around her. I let the door creak closed behind me, Sass and Galleytrot at my heels as I approached her. She turned and gestured for me, pulling me into her arms with her wrap around us both.
“What are we hearing?” I shuddered as the howling seemed to grow closer before cutting off abruptly.
Before Mom could answer, something shuddered in the darkness. Galleytrot snarled and surged forward only to fall back, head down, as Sunny flickered into being before us. But this wasn’t my Sunny, the sweet faced, kind and openhearted vampire I knew and loved. This Sunny was vicious, her beautiful face twisted in hatred, body vibrating with the need to hurt someone.
Hopefully it wasn’t us.
“Werewolves,” she spit, her eyes lighting with the white magic of the undead. “In Wilding Springs!” She hissed, showing fang and considerably more, face morphing slightly as she let out some of the power living inside her.
Werewolves. Suddenly the watchers in the woods made sense, the canine feel. And so, in that moment between understanding, did another mystery. The bodyguards, the ones who protected the Dumonts. No wonder they felt weird.
They were the weres.
“I thought they were illegal in North America.” The law had been passed generations ago, I remembered that much. No making new werewolves which meant the old ones had died out long ago. From what I knew of my history, there hadn’t been any weres here for over two hundred years.
“Not just here,” Sunny snapped. “Most of the world is free of their taint.”
Mom nodded slowly, gently, staying calm as if expecting this reaction from the blonde vampire leader. “Everywhere,” she said, “but parts of Europe.”
Ah. The Russian accent. It spoke volumes to me now.
“And they’re not illegal,” Mom said. “They are allowed to be here. They just aren’t permitted to reproduce.”
Sunny’s power rippled outward before retreating to her again. “I don’t care if they have permission from the Pope,” she said, “I want them gone.”
Mom filled her in quickly on the day’s events. “They won’t be here long,” she told Sunny. “If I have my say, they’ll be leaving tomorrow night.”
Sunny shuddered in anger, but she seemed more in control. “Sebastian wouldn’t tolerate a pack in his territory,” she said of her missing clan leader, “and neither will I.”
“I’m just asking for a little patience,” Mom said. I’d never heard her plead before. This was the closest she’d come to it.
Sunny didn’t soften. “I caught them hunting.”
Mom flinched. “Humans?”
Sunny shook her head, looked away. “No, they aren’t that stupid.” Her power flickered and faded as she calmed. “Just local deer. But they didn’t hunt in mortal form, Miriam. They were in full change.” Sunny’s eyes glittered with brittle fury. “They didn’t back down when I challenged them. I had to run them off finally and kill the poor creature they tortured.” She looked down at her hands and for the first time I noticed they were covered in blood. “The poor creature.”
Mom sighed softly and nodded. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Please, do your best to be civil. They will try to instigate fights if they can. It’s their mandate, no doubt, fed by Odette’s plan.”
“Which is?” Mom glanced down at Sassafras. Amber fire shone in his eyes, his own outrage as powerful as Sunny’s. “What is she up to, Miriam?”
“I think that’s obvious,” Mom said with total calm. “She wants revenge on us for the loss of her sister. And she’ll do anything she can to get it.”
Sassafras growled softly, but nodded.
“I’m not making any promises.” Sunny straightened, anger diminished but intensity remaining. “If they try anything, I’m destroying the entire pack.”
Mom didn’t argue, I could feel it in her, the need to support Sunny. “Yes,” she said. “I know. And you’re within your rights to do so.”
Sunny seemed to relax then. “I’ll keep an eye on them,” she said. “And I’ll be in touch.” Her eyes met mine, a sadness reaching through her anger. “I’m sorry,” she said, “it appears I was right.”
With that, she flickered into shadow and vanished. Mom hugged me harder, not asking what Sunny meant which made me wonder if she knew about the vampire’s precog abilities already. She rested her cheek against my hair, her love wrapping around me as much as her arms.
“Mom,” I said, “what’s with Sunny?”
“An old hatred,” she said. “Vampires see werewolves and other shape shifters as evil. Abominations. And werewolves see vampires as the same.” Mom sighed. “It’s as if the hate was bred into them from the moment they were created. But it’s more powerful than any compulsion I’ve ever felt and there’s nothing we can do to change it.”
“And Odette?” I pulled away from my mother, meeting her eyes, realizing only then we were the same height. I’d grown up in more ways than one. “What are we going to do about her?”
Mom’s smile was nasty and full of as much viciousness as Sunny’s rage. “I’m going to kill that bitch,” she said, “for what she did to my mother.”
***
Chapter Nineteen
When someone knocked on the kitchen door, I spit out my mouthful of corn flakes. A little edgy, Syd? I wiped up the early morning mess quickly before rushing to see who it was.
Blood’s smiling face looked back at me through the glass. I jerked the door wide, gaping at him.
“Syd,” he said in his slow drawl. “Yo.”
Why did the sight of him standing there make me want to burst into tears?
“Hey, Blood.” Only then did I remember I was in my T-shirt and pajama bottoms with the silver kittens on them. Sassy’s idea of a joke.
He bobbed his head, black hair falling over his made-up eyes. “Sorry to just show up. You know. Uninvited.”
“You’re always invited.” I stepped back. “Come on in.”
But he shook his head. “Was thinking a bit of a stroll.”
I hid my sigh. My cereal was getting soggy. Galleytrot lifted his big head from the floor, watching me.
“Sure,” I said, grabbing a hoody from the closet and sliding my feet into flip-flops. “Let’s stroll.”
The big
black dog padded after us as we left the driveway and turned toward the park.
“I just wanted a chance to say goodbye.” Was that a hint of sadness I heard in his normally mellow voice? “To talk some before I go.”
“When are you leaving?” I found my lower lip trembling a little. Maybe it was all the loss I’d gone through already.
“This morning,” he said like it was nothing. “That’s why I’m here so early. Wanted it to be a last hurrah sayonara.”
This morning. Like, pretty much right this minute. “Won’t your folks be mad?”
“Naw,” he said. “They get it. It’s like this every time.” He shoved his hands through his hair, straightening to his full height for the first time since I’d met him. He was even taller than Quaid, broader across the shoulders, beefier. I’d never noticed before, but he had a killer body.
Yeah. Great, Syd. Pathetic, really.
He parked himself on a bench, patting his knee with one big hand. For a moment I was shocked. Was he inviting me to sit in his lap? Awkward. But no. Galleytrot moved forward immediately, dropping his head for Blood to scratch. The black dog groaned in pleasure, eyes closing.
I perched near Blood, not sure what to say, my misery growing.
“Listen,” he said, “I’m not here to, like, gloom out your channel. I just wanted to let you know some things.” He stopped petting Galleytrot for a moment, long enough to unsnap his favorite leather bracer from his wrist before handing it to me. It was big enough I could wear it on my forearm but I’d always admired the silver thread embedded in a pentagram on the surface.
“For you,” he said with a smile. “To remember me by.”
I took it, still warm from his arm. “Thank you.”
“Syd,” he said, “I never get too attached to people.” He squinted at me. “You know what I mean, right?”
I nodded. I did.
“This time, though,” he sighed, “I messed up a little. There was Pain, you know? Constance.” He laughed while I frowned. “Yeah, that’s her real name, you didn’t know?”
“I thought it was Mia.” I was sure it was Mia. But wait, hadn’t Alison told me differently once before?
“Her first name is Constance,” he said. “Her mom’s fave. Middle is Mia. Her pick.” He sighed. “She’s the most confusing creature I’ve ever met. Contrary. Stubborn. Fabulous.” Blood actually looked sad now. “For the first time… I’m going to miss someone.” He glanced at me. “A couple of someones. Don’t get me wrong. I like Al and Si and Beth. They’re great. But you get me, Syd.” Blood stared down at Galleytrot while he stroked the dog’s ears. “And that doesn’t happen every day.”
I held up my fist. He grinned that slow, gentle grin of his and bumped it.
“Yeah,” he said. “You and me, we have to stay in touch. Okay?”
“You’ve got my email.” It sounded weak, but he nodded.
“I do. Expect to hear from me, got it?” Blood stood up. “Gotta go, I guess.”
I hugged him, my face pressed to his chest, trying not to cry. “Bye,” I whispered.
He left then without another word or a look back, covering the ground in long strides even though he didn’t look like he was moving very fast. He was gone so quickly I didn’t have time to lose it in front of him, fortunately.
No, I saved it for Galleytrot, spending the next few minutes hugging him and sobbing.
Man, I hated how much I cried sometimes. And I thought Mom was a supernatural faucet. I seemed to leak tears at the least provocation these days.
“He’s a good friend,” Galleytrot said. “Gives great scratches.”
I laughed, hugging him harder before letting him go. “Thanks, big guy.”
He licked my cheek, massive tongue sliming the whole side of my face. “You’re welcome.”
I giggled some more, using the hood of my sweater to clean my face. I looked down at the armband, sighing softly over the loss. Blood’s visit cemented it for me. Everything was falling apart. I’d had so little time to enjoy it. But, I knew what it was like to have good friends, at least. Not everyone could say that.
I just wished it could have lasted a little longer.
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts, I didn’t notice we weren’t alone until Galleytrot started to growl. I looked up instantly, and into the smirking faces of the Dumont cousins.
“Aw,” Jean Marc said, making a sad face while his brother laughed, “did the little mortal leave you, Sydlynn?”
“Was he your boyfriend?” Kristophe failed to keep his face straight as he spoke.
“Screw you.” I was on my feet, in their faces before I could think things through.
“Not my type,” Jean Marc said, voice deep, “but perhaps Kristophe would oblige you.”
He would so regret going there. Regret.
Before I had a chance to say another word, Galleytrot shoved his way between me and the brothers. He stood to his full height, eyes flaming red, a deep and threatening growl making his entire body vibrate. And the ground under my feet, for that matter.
The pair seemed nervous for a moment. But only a moment. Movement to my left, their right, and the red headed woman appeared. She didn’t make a threatening gesture, but she was staring at Galleytrot. He spun his huge head toward her and chuffed a warning.
She chuffed right back.
Kristophe thought that was hilarious. I wondered how funny he’d think it would be when Galleytrot tore her lovely throat out.
Were or no were, there was no way she was a match for one of the black dogs of the Wild Hunt.
“Watch your dog,” I snapped at the brothers. “She’s about to get her ass kicked.”
Jean Marc snickered. That was when I felt them. The entire pack, out there, watching us. At least a dozen of them. The woman lifted one eyebrow at me. I smiled sweetly back.
“Try it,” I said in a voice dripping with sugar and light. “I won’t need Galleytrot.”
The bodyguard stared at me for a moment before bowing her head and backing off a step.
The brothers weren’t expecting that, I dare say. Kristophe actually scowled at her while Jean Marc’s smile slipped and fled.
“Good morning, children.” Mom stood next to me, smiling her best coven leader smile, not touching me, but standing close enough she might as well have been. I laughed on the inside at the insult.
Both brothers growled something under their breath. Mom nodded to the were bodyguard and she nodded back, the same way she did to me. With respect. Interesting.
“I’m happy to have happened upon you,” Mom said, command behind her tone, magic too. Both Jean Marc and Kristophe stiffened when they felt it. I wondered how often they were disciplined, if at all. “Please tell your grandmother we’ll be arriving at the hotel at eight this evening. There will be six of us in attendance.”
Part of me raged Mom had interfered. I was handling things just fine on my own. The other part knew if she hadn’t arrived, things would have gotten messy. So, just as well.
Still sucked. Although I was sure the brothers and I had a confrontation coming at some point and I wasn’t taking bets against me.
The boys took off, slouching toward the street, turning to town. I moved to follow them, only to feel Mom’s hand on my arm and the pressure of Galleytrot against my legs.
“Syd,” she said, “sweetheart.”
I watched them go, the red haired bodyguard keeping my gaze until they disappeared around the corner. “What?”
“Let me deal with this. Please.” I met her eyes. She really was asking, not ordering.
“Mom,” I said, “you can’t ask me to just take it.”
She shook her head with a deep laugh, kissing me gently. “I would never ask such a thing,” she said, “because I know it’s impossible. You’ve changed so much, Sydlynn. I am so very proud of you.”
That weakened my resolve. She knew exactly what to say.
“Fine,” I said. “Okay? Fine.”
“Besides,�
�� she hooked her arm into mine and led me home, Galleytrot panting softly beside us, “you were planning on going to town in that?” She eyed my pajama bottoms. “Really, I thought I taught you better.”
***
Chapter Twenty
I found myself walking into Johnny’s that afternoon to meet Alison for ice cream. Not because I wanted ice cream, mind you. Even I was willing to admit I only went to see if the brothers would show up.
I promised Mom, but if they started something… oh, I’d be finishing their butts right out of town.
Alison waved at me from our usual booth, big glass windows shining sunlight in on her. She wasn’t alone and I was almost annoyed to find Pain sitting with her. I got over that pretty quick. Pain needed us, from the look on her face. She smiled a little when she saw me, lower lip trembling.
Okay, supportive friend it was. Hopefully I could maintain the warm fuzzy feeling if the Dumonts made an appearance.
My second shocker came when Beth approached us and handed us menus with a nervous smile, dressed in the flouncy skirt and T-shirt the owner made his staff wear.
“Beth?” I didn’t mean to stare or anything. She just hadn’t said a word about the job. I mean, I knew people had jobs. That some kids had to work. It just struck me seeing her in our favorite place on the other side of the menu.
Beth actually blushed, her shining bob dipping as she looked down. “College fund,” she said softly.
“You make that outfit look good.” Alison winked at her.
Beth’s shaky smile returned. “Thanks, Alison,” she said before pulling a note pad out of her skirt, pencil poised. “What can I get you?”
We ordered our usual: small vanilla bowl for Alison, a mix of bubblegum, butterscotch ripple and peppermint for Pain and a hot fudge sundae with extra fudge for me. Beth diligently wrote it all down, despite knowing it by heart, before turning to fill our orders.
I had slid in beside Pain, and now studied her out of the corner of my eye. She seemed okay, if a little sad. No imminent meltdown, though I knew those days should be over for her. When her power was still blocked, she was pretty nuts and no wonder. Having all that magic contained, but knowing in her heart she was different couldn’t have been easy. Years of misdiagnosis from psychiatrists who had no idea what they were talking about meant time in therapy and even in hospital for my Goth friend.