"How do you know that?” Trina asked. Her eyes widened that Alena saw golden flecks starting to form in the center of them.
"Because I used to have them too. About two months before I started to change. I would wake up so scared I didn't know what was real and what wasn't sometimes. Sometimes I thought I was just a wolf dreaming about being in a human body. Other times I would feel myself sinking my teeth into the soft fur of a rabbit and I would hear it scream. That scream stuck with me for ages."
"It's so shrill it hurts me ears, and I even heard it the night Jessie died."
"Jessie. He was the first little boy that died right?"
Trina nodded.
"The night when your little brother died, you were awake then too? Did you hear your dad? Was he asleep in the other room with your mom?"
Tears came to the little girl's eyes. “Please, don't make me tell."
Alena smoothed her cousin's hair sending calming emotions in Trina's mind. “I know you don't want to, baby, but you have to. You know what he's doing is wrong, don't you?"
"It's my fault they died! It's my fault Mommy was killed!” Trina ran from the room and slammed her bedroom door. Alena sighed. She hated to do this to the poor girl, but while in Trina's mind, she sensed there were other emotions she was hiding, and Alena knew what those were too. She hadn't suffered the same kind of abuse, but she understood.
She got up and knocked on Trina's door. “Sweetie, I need to finish talking to you. Let me in."
"Go away!"
Alena lifted the barn-style latch and felt the lock. With one quick jerk, she heard the latch break and the door swung open. Trina was huddled in the corner of her bed, making her seem smaller than what she was. Alena sat down on the edge of the bed. She felt the wall of emotions ready to burst in her small cousin. With a small nudge, like lifting the girl's chin, Trina felt her presence in her thoughts. She blanketed the girl with trust and understanding winding her mind around the teenager's in an effort to ease her suffering.
"Tell me what happened on those nights."
Trina huddled into the crook of Alena's arm. In the back of her mind, she felt Darius offering his own cooling touch. Together they lulled the teenager into a trance where she felt safe.
"Thank you."
Darius answered her with a silent caress that felt like the tips of feather brushing against her cheek. She marveled at what he had turned into. Under his hard exterior was a warm and gentle man who loved her without end.
"Trina, can you tell me what happened?"
"The first night I had a dream, I woke up screaming. Mommy was out hunting with Uncle Vincent. They took turns on the full moon sometimes. The twins were having problems so he stayed home and didn't hunt. By then Mom told me to be careful in the woods since they were finding animals and a few campers. She wanted me to be sure I didn't run into anything."
"Did you?"
Trina shook. “Once. I was out looking for flowers when I heard a low growl in the brush. I didn't wait to see what made the noise. So I ran home. No one was there. Ben was supposed to be watching the twins. When he came back, his clothes were covered with leaves. He didn't say anything to me, but had a strange look in his eye."
Alena nodded. Everything was starting to fit together. “What happened the night you woke up from your first dream? You said the twins were having problems."
Trina nodded. “You know Ben is older so he can resist the change on the first night. When I woke up screaming, he came in to check on me, but he had a strange look on his face. I'd never seen him like that. He looked at me and didn't see me. It was like he wasn't there. He stepped into my room and sniffed like he was hunting and then he licked his lips. I asked him if he was okay, but he sat on my bed and touched my leg with a silver blade. I know silver is bad so I don't know why he had that. The blade looked like some of the other medical stuff he has in the living room, but newer. He said I smelled good and he was hungry. His eyes weren't human. They were wolf. I was scared. He looked at me and said I wasn't his daughter, his blood so he could have me if he wanted. And then he kinda got all funny. He started yelling at himself and ran away back from my bed. Ben held his head and screamed saying what he was doing was wrong. I was a child, but then another voice, a darker one, said I was tender and young. The voice said no one would know or care because I was a half-breed and he could do whatever he wanted with me. I would change soon and be pack. Daddy answered it was wrong and I was his daughter, not just a half-breed. I was blood. I was scared and didn't know what to do so I waited until he left then I locked the door and slipped out the window. I ran to find Mom. When I came back, Daddy was gone."
Alena nodded. It was like she suspected. Ben had gone insane. He was an older werewolf, two centuries old, and something had made him snap recently. She wondered what.
"Trina, do you know if Vincent ever bit your dad?"
The teenager nodded. “Dad countered him for leadership. Dad was hurt really bad from all the bites."
Alena swallowed. Whatever was in Vincent's bite to allow the others to slip their skins when they wanted, the bite had a negative affect on Ben driving him crazy. “What happened with your brother?"
"The first day of the full moon. Dad came in here. This time he woke me up. He was leaning over me. He had the silver blade to my throat and told me not to make a sound. He said I reminded him of his first. He looked different. I almost didn't recognize him, and he spoke funny with an accent. You know like characters in Monty Python movies. I called him Daddy, but he shook his head and told me to call him Jack. I got scared, and one of the twins opened the door. He looked at me and then at the baby, and he laughed and grabbed him. I tried to stop him, but I didn't know where he went. I saw him run off into the woods, and then next morning. My brother was dead. It's my fault I didn't stop him."
"Jack. Do you think Ben could be Jack the Ripper?" Alena heard Darius ask her.
Alena shrugged mentally. "I'm not sure. I know that he was never found. Can you check into it just to be sure?"
"I can try, but I don't know who to ask. I thought you said you knew who it was."
"I did. Azrael told me it was Ripper. I didn't really put it together until now, but I wasn't aware a two-century-old serial killer was a werewolf."
"No, sweetie. It's not your fault at all. You did the right thing staying here and protecting your little sister. What happened last night with your mom?"
Trina huddled closer to her. “Last night, Mom found the silver blade Daddy had. And they began arguing. I never heard him get so angry. The angrier he got, the more his voice started to change. It got deeper and scarier like he was switching personalities. Mom screamed. They never really fought before. I didn't wait to see what would happen. I grabbed my sister and ran into the compound. I hid there until morning."
Alena drew the girl into her embrace and held her for a long time letting her thoughts entwine around the girl's calming her until Trina drifted off to sleep. Alena let her thoughts wander as her little cousin slumbered. If Ben was Jack the Ripper turned into a werewolf, then he was diabolical and ruthless. The idea hurt her brain. She wanted the answer to be easy. Azrael had said Ripper, but at first she thought that was the wolf's name. Who would ever think a two hundred year old serial killer was hiding out among a pack of werewolves. She had to think. Either way tonight at the funeral, she would draw him out. No matter what, she would not slip her skin, even though instinct was already telling her that transforming would be the way to go and defeat him. However, she felt relying on her human instincts best for this and the silver switchblade she had in her purse sounded good too. After a while of thinking what she was going to do, she gently left Trina asleep on her bed and slipped out of the house. When she searched the trees, she saw only a black crow, but no Darius. She smiled and headed to Marija's to tell her what she had discovered.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Twenty-One
Darius knelt by the throne of the Banshee Queen. H
er dress was black instead of emerald green. Her hair was white, and she had a more human than ghoul appearance. If that was the case, then she had fed on human blood to give her flesh and bone. He felt her icy gaze on his soul while she decided what to do with him. He had not wanted to come before her, but he knew the only way to acquire the information Alena needed was to go to her. She had contacts within all the realms. Banshees were harbingers of death. Death touched everything. Even him.
"I'm surprised to see you before me, Darius. I hope you bring me news the killer is dead and you are ready to return to your charge. If not, it had better be good news because you interrupted my feeding.” Betha shrieked at the last sentence. He heard the mirrored wall panels rattle and his ears popped.
He looked up and saw her wisps of legs were starting to solidify. Grey mist formed ropes and muscle over white skin that extended into delicate feet. Her hair darkened to deep auburn, but her eyes still stayed white. “I bring you news, Highness. We have the killer in our sights, but we need information only you can provide."
"I'm sure of that. What is the information, Raven Warrior?” Betha sounded bored as he recited his tale to her and his suspicions. “Jack the Ripper, you say? That is a new one. I haven't heard his name in conjunction with anything supernatural in ages. I thought he was dead."
"Do you know for sure, Highness? Please, it is important!"
"Darius, you try my patience!” Betha growled.
"Mistress, I don't mean to anger you, but this is what you asked me to do. Find the killer and we have. I may have had help, but there was nothing against what you said I could not have help."
She jumped from her throne and wrapped her long fingers around his neck. Her touch chilled him to the bone. She was shorter than him, but she was stronger and more powerful. The Banshee Queen lifted him off his feet. Under her powerful grip, he was choking. Never before had Betha treated him like this. “I told you to find the killer yourself, Darius. If I told you to get help, I would have sent my guards to investigate. I've never had a problem with you. You've been my favorite over the years besides Caleb, but ever since your brethren have been infected by love, you've all begun to turn against me."
Darius stared into the empty eyes of the Banshee Queen. Her voice was rising with each word to a higher pitch until it ended on a shrill scream. Terror seized him. For the first time, he thought his queen was insane, and he feared what she might do. “Please,” he breathed.
Betha brought him closer until he could see her ivory teeth getting sharper and the beetles weaving through her hair. “By darkness I curse you—"
Darius's heart tightened. She was going to curse him with being a raven for eternity. He had done nothing to deserve it. He had done everything she had ever asked of him and never caused her any trouble. Well, minimal trouble over the years, but nothing to warrant him to lose his humanity.
"Highness!"
Both Raven Warrior and Betha looked up. Caleb stood in the throne room. Darius noticed his hair seemed a little more silver hanging down the middle of his back like molten moonlight. Betha looked between his leader and him. With a disgusted grunt, she threw him across the room until his head hit the far end of the throne room. He was rattled, and for a moment, he saw stars.
"Caleb, I don't like being interrupted, and this is the second time tonight. What do you want?"
"I'm here for Darius. I understand he needed some information. I will make sure he is punished for invading your privacy when he knows he should have come to me first. Isn't that right, Raven Warrior?” Caleb met his gaze.
Darius swallowed. His leader was telling him something. “Yes, Caleb.” He got up slowly and then bowed low to the queen. “Forgive my insolence, Highness. It will never happen again."
"It had better not,” Betha said. She wrapped her hand around Caleb's neck and pulled him into her embrace. Darius could not watch his leader kiss the Banshee queen. After a moment, the queen released him and the Raven Warrior thought he saw a little bit of pink in her cheeks like the first blush on a new rose. “You always cheer me up, Caleb. What would I do without you?"
Caleb smiled. “I do not know, Highness. But you know I am always in your service!” his leader bowed and the Banshee Queen disappeared leaving the two of them alone.
"Caleb, is she okay? Ever since Maili died, she's not been completely right. And you know I would never say anything against Betha, but she was about to curse me for no reason."
A look of sorrow passed quickly over the other Raven Warrior's face and then was replaced by his ever stoic façade. Darius looked at his leader, and for a moment, he seemed tired, as if the years of being their fearless leader were finally getting to him. The Ravens knew Caleb was the first of them to be cursed, and by his own father, but none of them knew what he had done for such a fate to weigh on his soul. Darius had never dared ask and knew now was not the time to bring up the subject either. Time was flying by him, and he wanted to get back to Alena before the moon rose.
"Maili's death broke Betha's heart. It was her one and only tie with humanity. It was a pity it did not work out. Tonight was the first time in a year that she has fed on human blood. I'm glad Jonathan told me to come look in on you. Your charge is a powerful psychic and will make a difference in the world when he gets older. Besides that, he cares for you like an older brother."
Darius felt a bolt of pride spread through him. He was glad his charge thought of him as more than a friend. He knew when the teenager grew up he would do good. And Darius would do everything in him to protect him. “He is. I will thank him later. Now I need to know if you know anything on Jack the Ripper. Is he truly dead?"
"You know what the human history books say about him. He was never caught. It's possible he could have been bitten by a wolf. Maybe the bite hid his personality and he became someone else. I've consulted with the council and they feel it is a good possibility it's him. I would approach him with caution. He might not fully know what you are, but the council wants this taken care of."
"Don't worry, Caleb. It will be taken care of tonight. I don't know what Alena has planned, but whatever it is, she's going to draw him out in front of the whole pack. I want to be there to make sure she's okay. So if there is nothing else you need from me. I thank you for the information and tell the council not to worry.” The Scotsman knew his voice was cold and laced with sarcasm. He was not in a good mood and wanted something of a more precise answer. But as was his curse, it was shrouded in mystery.
Caleb grabbed Darius by the arm. “Darius, I know you care for Alena. But don't let your feelings get in the way of your duty. Sometimes they can be the worse ones to betray you."
The other Warrior searched his leader's eyes. There was something veiled there. “Is there something you want to tell me? Do I need to beware of Alena? What's wrong, Caleb? I've known you almost four centuries, and I've never seen you this tired."
His leader frowned. “I know your feelings for Alena are true. I'm sorry. I guess you're right. I am tired. I've had my wings for five millennia. I've seen the birth of Christ. I was his guardian, but was told not to interfere when the powers that be intervened and ended his life. I watched Rome burn. I've seen hundreds of creatures walk the Earth and barely remember what it is like to be mortal. Sometimes I wonder if I ever was."
Darius saw the sad smile and had never realized how much Caleb had seen or what he kept to himself. He laid a hand on his leader's shoulder, but didn't know what to say. There didn't seem anything to be said. Finally, the man he knew returned.
"Go. I've kept you long enough. May the wind give you fast wings, Darius."
The Scotsman bowed and let his power take him across the Grey and into the void, back to the mortal realm where he knew Alena was waiting for him. When he returned, the sun was just slipping beneath the horizon. He had a few minutes before he could take on his human form again. He searched the link between him and Alena when he found the compound was empty save the crickets and other deer who dared ventu
re through the neighboring woods. As he tried to find Alena in the forest and the rest of the pack, he found that everything was silenced, as if a curtain had closed over his mind. Wherever they had gone was beyond his mental reach and he did not like that in case Alena needed him when she went to face Ben. He knew they were going to have Jamie's funeral, and the only thing which could have kept him out was powerful magick. Their burial ground must have been hidden from prying eyes. When he had flown over pack territory, he had seen the blue barriers marking their land and he wondered if he could follow that trail and find the cemetery. He glanced at the sun. The bright orb was lower than he would have liked.
Jumping from the branch, he beat his wings hard to get some distance between him and the land. The breeze was nil, and he had to fly higher than he wanted to find a thermal to glide on to conserve some of his energy. Through his raven eyes, he scoured the territory and saw the lines above him like a deranged maze. The borders were jagged. To his eyes, they looked like a kaleidoscope of blue shards here and there, but there was no one spot which lit up brighter than the rest. After flying around for an hour, he finally perched on another branch high in a fur tree and rethought everything he knew about werewolves, Marija, and Alena. He was missing something.
Alena, where are you? His mind searched the blank space between them and received nothing, as if she had never existed to him. Maybe he was going about this the wrong way. Alena's strongest gift used feelings and emotions. Darius took a deep breath and searched his heart, allowing himself to feel the link between them. Love and devotion washed over him, and he realized this was what he felt for her. There were no blocks around his heart anymore and if there were he was pushing them out of the way now. Nothing was going to stand between him and his heartmate. Traveling along the road of their shared bond, he felt Alena on the other end. She was faint, like being surrounded in a thick fog. He received a faint glimmer of response from her, but did not wait for her mind to close. He jumped off the branch and fell. The shadows took hold of him. Grasping onto their connection, he knew he would not be able to get lost, and when he felt his feet land, they were on stone and not bark.
Fur and Feathers [A Raven Saga Book 2] Page 20