by RK Close
I hit the button to play the video in slow motion. We watch in shocked silence as two women walk into the front entrance of Madison’s apartment building and step into the elevator together. I pause the video before the elevator doors close.
We turn to look at each other. I know that Cian’s shocked look is a mirror of my own.
The other woman is Deirdre O’Donnell, Cian and Sean’s younger sister.
30
Law of the Pack
I’m not sure what’s going on inside Cian’s head at this moment, but I can imagine that it’s a storm of questions and concerns, just like mine.
After a minute of silence, neither of us knowing what to say or if we should voice our concerns out loud, Cian jumps up from the sofa and heads for the door. Over his shoulder he says, “I’ve got to go, Sam. My family needs to know before either of the packs learn of this. Can you give me until tomorrow morning?” He stops at the door and looks at me pleadingly.
“Cian, what does this really mean? Maybe she was just afraid to mention that she was the last person to see Madison.” But the words feel like a lie.
He looks at me with sadness in his eyes. “She’s involved, at the very least. This won’t end well for my baby sister. Can you give me until tomorrow?” he asks, again.
I nod. “Of course. I don’t see any harm in that. But I must get to the bottom of this, and I’ll have to share what I found with the Luna Pack. I can’t cover it up, Cian.”
“I’m not asking you to. We don’t work that way. Justice must always be served in pack law. It’s never an easy thing, but especially if it’s family…I’m only asking for tonight, to break this to my family. Before all hell breaks loose.” Cian looks anxious and on edge as he turns to leave without another word.
Deirdre is so young and innocent. She could go to prison for her involvement in this. The thought makes me sick. There must be an explanation that isn’t as bad as it looks. This revelation has drained me. I don’t know what it all means, other than she knows something.
I literally drag myself around the house preparing for bed. Before I turn off my bedside lamp, I place a call to Jacob. He answers almost immediately.
“Sam.”
“Is there any news about Adam?” I ask, my voice heavy with emotion.
There’s just too much uncertainty surrounding me now. Adam’s absence is a constant painful feeling that doesn’t let up.
“None, yet. I may need you to accompany me to a bar tomorrow evening if I can arrange a meeting with a certain young witch that isn’t too keen on dealing with me alone. Will you be available?” he asks.
“Of course.” Anything to help. “Just tell me where and when. I’ll be there.”
“I’ll let you know tomorrow.” Silence on the line makes me think he’s hung up, but then Jacob says, “Don’t give up hope, Sam. If Giselle is responsible for his disappearance, then she’ll want him to suffer. A quick death would not satisfy her. There may still be time.”
His words don’t exactly bring me the comfort he’s trying to provide.
“Suffer, how?” I’m not sure I want him to answer, but the question escaped my lips, and now I can’t take it back.
“No need to dwell on that, only the hope that he’s still alive.”
Hot tears spill from my eyes and I feel them roll down my cheeks. My throat has tightened on me, and I can’t speak.
Jacob must hear the change in my breathing. “I’ll contact you tomorrow, Sam. Try to rest tonight, and keep all of your safeguards in place.” There is silence on the other end and this time I know he’s ended the call.
Unable to hold back my tears any longer, I let go and give into the total meltdown that I’ve been holding back since I was attacked. With Adam in danger and possibly suffering, which I hadn’t even considered, I finally give in to my emotional waterfall. I don’t hold back anything as I sob into my pillow. There’s nobody here to see me. Not being able to help him has left me broken.
And now Deirdre, who seems far too young and innocent, is in serious trouble, and I can’t protect her. I imagine the reaction of the Luna Pack when they hear about her part, and it makes me feel ill. They were set to kill me simply for knowing their secret. What will they say the price is for Deirdre’s involvement?
When I’ve no more tears left, and feeling exhausted beyond words, I drift into a restless sleep.
***
My dark forest rises before me. I’m no longer surprised when I find myself here. It’s become more familiar and less intimidating. There is always a large, bright moon giving off a soft blue light in my dreamscape. When I first found myself here, I was terrified. Now I’m cautious, but also seeking. I’m still frightened because it feels so real; as real as being awake. I walk through the forest cautiously, searching for whatever it is I’m supposed to find.
Misty fog covers the ground, displaced with each step I take. The forest feels old and alive despite the appearance that suggests it’s long dead from disease or fire.
There’s a soft glow of light ahead and I move ever closer. When I breach the edge of the forest, there’s a clearing, and a small house with a thatched roof in the center. Light comes from inside the home.
As I watch the house and consider approaching it someone comes from behind me and stands next to me. I turn to see Adam watching the house as I do. My heart leaps with joy to see him. He’s alive! My eyes begin to fill with happy tears as he turns his head my way.
But his gaze never falls on me. Instead, he nods, and I turn to see who he is motioning to. Many yards away is Jacob standing tall and holding a blazing torch. He begins to move toward the house.
It’s now that I realize Adam and Jacob are dressed strangely. And then I remember that this is a dream—a memory or moment from the past. Adam’s not here with me. My heart sinks as I watch the scene, an observer and nothing more.
When Jacob is close to the small house, he throws the torch onto the rooftop, and it quickly spreads to the thatched roofing.
I gasp. Another torch is tossed onto the top of the house, and then another. It’s at this moment I realize that there are at least twelve individuals, all men, surrounding the house on all sides.
My stomach tightens as a scream shatters the silence of the night. There are people in the house!
Two women in long dresses run from the home. Two men appear in front of them—blocking their escape. They move too fast to be human. When I look around, I see blue glowing eyes and realize all the men surrounding the home are vampires.
The women stop their sprint just short of the men and take nervous steps backward.
The women silently share a look, then join hands. Their free hands rise to the direction of the vampires and words that I don’t understand spill from their lips.
Someone yells a warning. “Stop them!”
But before the vampires can react, a red arc emanates from their hands and strikes both men where they stand. Both vampires crumple, like lifeless puppets—their bodies turning to dust before they hit the ground.
I scream, but nobody hears me.
The women continue to hold hands as they begin to run toward the forest. Vampires start darting around the women but appear hesitant to touch them. Watching the men moving like a blur leaves me dizzy.
One woman stumbles and falls. As the other female’s momentum pulls their hands apart, the vampires descend on them.
Each woman is instantly embraced from behind, their mouths covered by a gloved hand as their necks are broken with quick, sharp movements. Both women drop, like lifeless dolls.
Another scream rips through the night, and all the vampires rush back to their circle around the home. The house is now completely engulfed in flames, but the screams from within are not born of fear or pain, but loss. Screaming turns to wailing filled with anguish.
I can’t bear to hear the sorrow and turn away from the vision of the burning home and the two lifeless bodies when I hear his voice.
Looking up, I see
Adam speaking to Jacob and another man. “We do not leave until the entire house is ashes.” His eyes are hard and focused on the burning building.
All the vampires are cautious and alert. Are they waiting for someone to come out of “that”?
The wailing has stopped, and there are only the sounds of the roaring fire and timbers cracking as the trusses begin to give way. I’m sure whoever was in there has been overtaken by the flames or smoke.
I don’t understand why these women were attacked, but after the incredible display of magic, I can assume they were witches. But why did they have to die?
Finally, the small house engulfed by flame gives way as the roof caves in on the structure. I feel the blast of heat even though I’m far from the disaster.
Adam turns away from the destruction and begins walking with Jacob and the other man at his side. The man I don’t know is shorter with dark skin and bright blue eyes. All three men wear mostly leather, with just a hint of linen showing at their collars.
“I did not wish for the sisters to die. They were no threat to us,” Adam says, looking ahead.
The shorter man laughs bitterly. “Tell Leo and Paul that the witches were no threat,” the other man scoffs.
Adam cuts him a sharp look. “Leo and Paul should have heeded my instructions and never permitted them to join hands or utter a single word. They practically asked to be killed,” Adam says, apparently angry.
Jacob places a hand on Adam’s shoulder as they walk. “What’s done is done, Adam. Let’s not fight amongst ourselves. It was an ugly business, to begin with. You know as well as I that sometimes there are unintentional casualties. The threat is eliminated, and we can go home,” Jacob says.
“Giselle was our only target. We should have handled this ourselves. We would not have made a mistake like that,” Adam replies.
“Three of us against a coven of blood-related witches—one of which is also a vampire? I’m exceptionally skilled, my friend, but not even I would take that risk,” the dark-skinned man says lightheartedly.
“The great Marcus fears death?” Adam mocks.
“I do not fear death, my friend, but stupidity frightens the devil out of me,” Marcus laughs.
Finally, Adam cracks the slightest of smiles, and the tension eases.
I blink, and all three men are blurred shapes disappearing into the forest. My heart tightens from losing sight of Adam.
Looking back toward the flames I see the other vampires are staying to watch it burn to ash as instructed.
Something draws my attention to the tree line on my right. I search the dark shadows, looking for movement. What I find is a woman with long dark hair and bright blue eyes like the vampires. I’m suddenly next to the woman and can see her features more closely. She’s beautiful, with high eyebrows and cheekbones. Her skin is pale and flawless. The woman seems unaware that I’m here so I watch to see what she will do.
She watches the vampires surrounding the home. They’re unaware of her presence. Hours must have passed because the first hints of sunrise are appearing in the sky. The house is nothing but a smoldering shell with no roof. Many of the mud walls have toppled over.
The vampires start to disperse with the sunrise. One by one they disappear into the woods, in different directions.
When all are gone, and before the sun rises sufficiently, the woman walks toward the ruins of the home. She continues past the house to the bodies of the two women. When she reaches them, she drops to her knees as her long full dress piles around her in a pool of fabric. She drops her face in her hands and sobs. My stomach tightens as I witness her pain.
The sun starts to peek over the trees—not touching us, but getting closer. Her sobbing stops abruptly, and she wipes her eyes on her sleeve.
“Fear not, sisters, for I will make them pay for what they have done to you. They think me dead, but I will not rest until they have suffered as I suffer. Forgive me for bringing this on you.” Giselle gives the approaching sunrise one last look before disappearing in a blur.
A tear slides down my cheek. This is the woman who may be trying to kill Adam. I don’t want to feel anything for her, but I do.
I want this dream to end, so I lay down in the knee-high grass and close my eyes. I feel and smell Adam around me, and I open my eyes. He’s there leaning over me and looking down at my lips. I know it’s still a dream, but I don’t care. My arms slide up around his neck and pull him toward me.
He presses his lips to mine and all my cares float away. It’s not real, but it’s as close as I can get to him now. I kiss Adam with everything I have—trying to pour all my love for him into one single action. He should have had this kiss. He would have had this kiss if I’d only known it might be our last. Why don’t we live every day like that?
Because we always think we have more time.
Tomorrow’s a promise that’s meant to be broken.
***
The memory of Adam’s kiss lingers as I lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. I’m not ready to give it up. Over the last twelve hours I’ve learned of witches, old enemies thought to be dead coming back to life, and that Deirdre is somehow involved in Madison’s disappearance. That’s an awful lot to take in over such a short amount of time, even for me.
Surprisingly, I wake feeling rested. I can’t help but wonder if it has anything to do with the way I approached this dream. For the first time, I just let it happen. I never know what I’ll find in my dreams, but I’m learning to seek the message. Sometimes I don’t understand them, but maybe someday I will.
What was this dream telling me? That the witch Giselle is behind Adam’s disappearance? And if that’s the case, why did the dream end with Adam’s kiss? Does it mean he’s still alive, or did I only pull him into my dream for comfort? As usual, I wake with more questions than answers. I’m holding onto the possibility that the dream is telling me Adam’s alive. This thought will keep me moving forward.
***
When I’ve gathered up enough courage to face another day without Adam, I place a call to Sean and ask to meet. He lets me know that he’s aware of the situation, but agreed to meet. I walk past Gabe’s door as I often do when heading for the stairs—wishing he were here to help me, hoping he’s safe.
I moved his only plant to my condo and put his mail in a basket. It felt strange the first time I entered his home without him. I’d never even been to his place before he had to go into hiding. Thinking about him makes me sad, so I try not to.
Waving at Harold as I pass through the lobby, I walk briskly to the parking garage. I’m deep in thought as I make my way to the car. I fumble in my bag for the keys when I reach my car. Tossing my bag in the car, I hear a deep masculine voice, close to my ear. “We need to talk, Ms. Chase.”
My immediate reaction is to throw my elbow in the direction of the voice, but my arm is captured mid-swing by a strong hand. I start to scream, but a hand clamps over my mouth as the other arm encircles my body and holds me fast.
As I struggle with my assailant, I see a reflection of my captor in the car window. Colin O’Donnell has me trapped in his arms, and I’m certain he’s going to kill me for exposing his daughter.
31
Fight or Flight
When you think you’re about to die, many things flash through your head in quick succession. But none are as loud as the desire to survive.
My fight or flight instinct is hitting critical mass once I realized who has me and why. I throw my head back as hard as I can and hear a satisfying crack as it connects with Colin’s nose. Unfortunately, his head is so hard that I see stars from the blow, and much of my fight is wavering with my vision.
Even though I’m in a desperate situation, I can’t help but smile mentally as I hear Colin utter a string of obscenities. My senses are returning quickly, and I start fighting his grip like a woman possessed.
Colin is still uttering curses as he struggles to maintain his hold on me.
My muffled noises are loud enough to
attract attention if someone was nearby. If I worked regular nine-to-five hours, the garage would be busy instead of deserted.
Without warning, Colin growls low in his chest, and it doesn’t sound human at all. I suddenly stop my frantic attempt to free myself. His hand over my mouth feels different, and my eyes almost pop out of my head as I realize what’s happening.
Colin’s breathing is heavy and fast, but I no longer resist. I’m frozen in horror. Any minute I expect massive jaws to rip my neck out, but I’m too horrified to move.
We stay there for several moments until his breathing slows and his grip loosens. I don’t fight his hold because I don’t want to risk bringing forth Colin O’Donnell’s beast again.
He’s still breathing heavy, but it sounds like a man and not a monster. My heart is still racing as I wait. Eventually, Colin drops his head onto my shoulder, and my fear spikes again.
“Ms. Chase, what part of ‘we need to talk’ provokes violence in you?” Colin says, while slowly releasing me and stepping back.
Spinning around, I back as far away as the small space will allow, and glare at him. I’m beyond relieved to see he looks normal. My mind was conjuring up all sorts of horrific pictures when he began to turn—maybe much worse than it was. I’m disappointed to see his nose must have already healed.
Colin O’Donnell stands firmly with his legs slightly spread and his muscular arms crossed over his chest. He certainly is a handsome man. If only his charm matched his rugged good looks, he’d be trouble for women of all ages.
Must run in the family.
“Why did you sneak up and grab me?” I demand.
“I didn’t sneak up on you. It was you who was preoccupied when I approached. I’ve already heard you can do some damage, but for the life of me, I can’t imagine how. But I wouldn’t last as an alpha if I underestimated others.”