But the black-haired guy made me nervous without even trying.
“I’m Travis Owens, Alpha of the Olympia pack. This is Shawn, my Second and Kathy, my Third.”
He said the numbers like they were titles. I suspected they were much like how Nik was second in command and Samuel third in the seethe.
“Do you know where this apartment is we are supposed to take you to?”
I nodded, trying to look as though they did not concern me.
“This is stupid,” snapped Shawn suddenly. “We shouldn’t be protecting these vampires. Especially her! We should be killing them.”
My fangs returned and I didn’t fight the response. I would rather they fear me than the other way around.
In truth, I was piss-my-pants scared, but it was essential to make sure they knew I was in charge. To my surprise, I remembered Nik’s lesson on werewolves and their dominance issues.
Travis turned to Shawn, who was a good inch or two taller than Travis, and stared up at his face, his own jaw flexing as he clenched his teeth.
“This is not up for discussion, Shawn. The decision has been made. Now get in line. We are doing as Mikhail says. I hear more lip from you, and you’ll be locked in your room. Do you understand me?”
Shawn stared down at Travis for a long time. I was just about to break up the feud when suddenly Shawn dropped his head and let out a lengthy breath, as though he had been holding it. I noticed both men were bright with sweat. Whatever had just happened had been a struggle for both of them, but in the end Travis had won.
“Ashley, after you,” said Travis with a tired smile as he motioned toward the door.
It didn’t take us long to drive to Nik’s apartment in Travis’ car. I sat in the front while Shawn and Kathy sat in the back. I glanced back at them in the rearview mirror and saw Shawn grimace as he eyed the inside of the car. I got the impression he was used to something a little finer than a Toyota Camry.
At Nik’s apartment, I used the hide-a-key to open the door. Though he had fixed the drywall and replaced the dining-room table, the place hadn’t changed much since the last time I’d seen it. Shawn went to the living room without invitation and flipped the large TV on. Kathy, looking a little embarrassed, joined him.
I closed the door and turned around to find Travis staring at me.
“I want to apologize for Shawn. He’s struggling with our new position more than the others, but he’s a good fighter and if you need defending, he’s the one you want at your side.”
“Just not at your back,” I said, staying by the door. I had no intention of remaining in Nik’s apartment.
Travis shrugged sheepishly. “Maybe not.”
“Well, thanks for the ride. Stay put. I’ll be right back.”
“Whoa whoa whoa! Where are you going?”
Evidently Travis’ exclamation caught the other’s attention. I absently noticed them turn to look at us. Shawn even stood up.
“Mikhail’s being overly… protective. Their little meeting at Richard’s place is about me. They won’t even know I’m there. I’ll be right back.”
“Mikhail told us to stay by your side.”
“No. He told you to take me to Nik’s apartment.”
“Yeah, but he meant for us to protect you.”
“Again, over protective. You can interpret him whichever way you want,” I replied, feeling almost guilty, but not guilty enough to keep me from going to Richard’s seethe. I was hoping they didn’t realize just how many enemies I had. If they knew I was in real danger they would never let me leave the apartment.
“I can’t let you out of my sight.”
I shrugged. “Then you’d better come along.” With that I opened the door and marched away from the apartment, happy to be out in the fresh air. I didn’t find the werewolves’ smell to be appealing, but their hearts still beat, and it made it hard to ignore the thirst inside me.
Not surprising, all three of them followed me. I stopped at Travis’ car and looked at him. “Want to drive or walk?”
“I’m not driving you anywhere. I may not be able to stop you from this hair-brain plan, but I don’t have to help either.”
“Why don’t we just stop her?” asked Shawn. “Tie her down.”
“Look up, Shawn,” ordered Travis. Shawn did it instantly, as though he didn’t have a choice but to obey. “Do you see a full moon? Without the full moon we wouldn’t have a chance against a vamp.”
I felt a condescending grin spread across my lips. It felt good to be the more powerful one in the bunch, though it did make me wonder why Mikhail sent them. They would be plenty helpful if the locals attacked me, but would they be useful against another Cyclops? Suddenly I realized their purpose. They were the slow runner holding a jar of honey against the grizzly bear. If we were attacked, their presence was designed to give me time to run away.
I felt sick thinking about it and even sicker when I realized my brain worked a lot like Mikhail’s—how else had I realized what he had intended?
“Fine. Hope you can keep up.”
“Can you at least let us change into wolf form first?” asked Travis. “We’ll be a better defense.”
“Whatever. Just don’t take all day.”
To my amazement, they didn’t just burst into a wolf; instead they began stripping out of their clothing before lowering themselves to the damp grass. I turned away more out of my own embarrassment than concern for their modesty. I had a feeling they quickly grew accustomed to being nude in front of their pack mates. Thankfully, it was late enough that no one was out walking their dog.
I turned back when I began to hear pained whimpers and grunts, and I regretted it instantly. Each one looked as though every bone in their body was forcefully being changed into a new shape. At the same time their skin was slowly sprouting hair in small patches here and there. At different times they arched their back as the transformation rolled down their spines, each vertebra visible for a second before it slid into place.
I swallowed the bile rising to my mouth and turned away again, suddenly feeling thankful for my vampire curse. It turned out there just might be worse things to be in the supernatural world.
Travis was the first to finish his change, nearly ten minutes later. He was taller than an Irish Wolfhound, but not by much, and a great deal bulkier. I felt my eyes widen as I stared at him. He was mostly varying shades of brown, but his face and ears were solid black, making him look like he was wearing a mask.
Shawn was the next to complete his transformation. Much like Travis, his coat was a mottle of browns and blacks, but his head stood out with steely gray fur, making him look like someone had transplanted the head from one wolf onto the body of another. He laid his ears flat on his head and growled at me when he noticed me staring.
I politely turned my gaze onto Kathy, who was just climbing to her four paws and shaking out her fur. She had a beautiful white coat, dusted with tawny gold, as though someone had taken a half-dry paintbrush and carefully painted just the tips of her hair. She turned her gold eyes onto me and opened her mouth into something I interpreted as a grin.
“Ready?” I asked, purposefully coloring my voice with impatience. I didn’t want them to know I was in awe of their new form. Travis gave a soft, little yip. I took that as an affirmative and took off at a vampire sprint.
Too my surprise they weren’t much slower than myself; evidently four supernatural paws were better than two ordinary feet. We raced through the city and managed to run the many miles to Richard’s seethe in less than an hour.
I skidded to a stop in the deserted parking lot of a flooring company—Richard’s boring cover for his seethe. It looked bedraggled, as though the last couple months had been tough on it in more ways than just financially. The spitting rain and dim parking lot lights didn’t help the place look prosperous. Maybe my own lens of experience contributed to its depressing veneer.
“Stay here. Richard’s vamps will smell you in a heartbeat if you come insi
de.”
I heard a growl from behind me but ignored it as I snuck forward, being sure to stay in the shadows. I was near the door when I realized the wolves had done anything but obeyed. Travis and Shawn were laying down a few paces behind me, their furry bodies pressed flat against the wet pavement. Kathy and her bright fur were tucked up against the building another ten or fifteen paces behind me.
I wanted to tell them off, but I had a feeling they would just ignore me. Either way, I wasn’t going to miss this meeting. If they insisted on following me, that was their issue.
I stole up to a side entrance used by the staff and opened it with nothing but my vampire strength. I smiled as the metal yielded to my strength. Until the recent shit had hit the fan, I had been unconsciously avoiding my vampire skills, acting as much like a human as I could. Now, with this new need, I found my will and speed invigorating. Something had definitely changed in me while I healed, but I wasn’t sure what it meant.
We hesitated a moment, making sure no one had heard the breaking of the lock, or at least not cared enough to investigate. After a brief pause, I snuck in and ducked behind a row of lockers. The wolves followed, including Kathy who must have caught up with us just as I broke the lock.
The four of us weaved through their back rooms, finally entering the showroom. The place was dark except for the light that peaked under a closed door. We had crept halfway through the showroom when things stopped going our way.
“Hey you!” said a voice I didn’t recognize from behind us.
I turned swiftly, but the wolves were already circling around me, their long teeth bared. I put on my own party face and glowered up at him. It would have been an easy win had there not been four other vamps within hearing range. They appeared from various parts of the showroom at the sound of their friend’s voice.
Well shit, I thought as I glanced down at my protectors.
The question was, would I let them serve the purpose Mikhail had intended—would I run while they fought my battle?
No. I couldn’t do that. I had practically dragged them here. If anyone was going home in a body bag today it would be me.
What is wrong with me?
Before I could get through these morose thoughts, the guy who shouted at us lunged forward, followed by his cronies. The wolves met our enemies before they could reach me, but they were only able to keep three of the five of them off me. A pair of hands grabbed my shoulders and jerked me off my feet. I landed with a thud on my back, banging my head against the hard flooring.
I scrambled, flinging my arms and legs out in the hopes of hitting anything, but my attacker already had me pinned. I felt my left foot hit the display, causing tile samples to clatter to the floor. My right fist came in contact with the head of the vamp pinning me while my right foot hit something I hadn’t seen yet.
The man pinning me to the ground made way for the other vamp who leaned down to tear out my throat with his teeth. Suddenly, a large ball of fur collided with the man pinning me, sending him flying away from me. I took the opportunity to grab the bity-vamp’s head and slam it down into the floor. While he rolled onto his side, hazed by the blow, I scrambled to my feet. Evidently he was older than me because he recovered in record time and jumped up.
I grabbed up a granite sample and threw it at him. The stupid man dodged it and threw a punch. I tried to duck, really I did. Sadly, my ducking just meant I took the blow in the shoulder instead of the stomach.
Doubly stupid man, I thought as I doubled over, gasping for breath I didn’t need. He grabbed me by the hair and was just about to do something impressive when a loud voice rang out: “Stop!”
Chapter Eleven
We all froze, the wolves and the vamps. From where I stood, half-hunched under my attacker’s grasp, I saw Shawn about to tear off his opponents arm. Travis was backed into a corner, his teeth still bared, though he had halted. Kathy, to my surprise, had a vamp by the throat and was inches from beheading the poor bloke.
Standing in front of the door leading to the basement was Richard, Mikhail, and a splattering of other vampires, some ours, some theirs—including Isaac, the man who had turned me into a vampire. Mikhail’s young face was suffused in a dark red blush of rage as he glared at me.
Now I’d done it.
“If I’m not mistaken that is your woman,” stated Richard as he motioned toward me.
“Yes,” growled Mikhail.
“But maybe not for long?” The fat vampire smirked.
I couldn’t tell if Richard was amused by my sudden lack of favor or annoyed by my B&E.
“And the wolves?”
Now I was certain Richard was angry about the werewolves. After all, I’d brought an obvious enemy into his territory.
“They were supposed to be keeping her safe,” Mikhail said around clenched teeth.
Richard burst out with a loud cackle of laughter. “I’d fire them if I were you. Let her go,” he added with a wave of his hand toward the man still holding onto my hair. “Let them all go. Now, Ashley, if my memory serves me, what are you doing breaking into my home?”
“You know damn well who I am. I came because this meeting is about me. I have the right to be here.”
With lightning speed Mikhail rushed up to me, his strong hand grabbing my throat and pushing me back against the display until I bent backwards. His grasp cut the flow of air and I gasped.
“I told you to stay behind. I am your primus. You will obey me! Do you understand me?”
I nodded as best I could.
“Good.” With that, and one last squeeze, Mikhail released my throat.
I coughed and sputtered.
Mikhail turned to where the wolves had grouped themselves.
“As for you.” His voice sung with imminent death.
“Mikhail, sir,” I stammered, forcing myself to be deferential. “I forced them to come here. It’s my fault.”
“That seems unlikely,” he growled at me, never taking his eyes off the wolves.
“I refused to stay at Nik’s. I left. All they could do is follow.”
“And why couldn’t they stop you?” asked Mikhail.
“I think they thought I was more powerful than I really am. I think they thought I was… like… with you or something. And I didn’t exactly do anything to dissuade the notion.”
Despite his anger, Mikhail burst into a fit of laughter. I wasn’t sure if it was due to my scheming or to the notion of him being with me. My pride was hurt by his reaction, even though I had less than zero interest in him. Mikhail turned back to the wolves.
“Is this more or less true?” he asked.
Travis ducked his head.
Mikhail laughed again. “She just had her joining two days ago. She’s been a vampire for less than six months and has more enemies than I do.” Mikhail continued to laugh, and to my disgust, Richard joined in.
When they finished enjoying the joke, Richard sighed. “As I was saying Mikhail, I have no interest in Ashley. She served her purpose. Lot’ve good it did us. Sedgrave left us within a week of being raised without a ‘by your leave.’ Didn’t even make us daywalkers. Little prick. We’re barely surviving and have no interest in picking a fight with you or anyone else. The war is over. It devastated us, like other factions,” he added, nodding toward the wolves.
“Then we will not consider you an enemy, but one move against us Richard, and I’ll personally put your seethe in the ground,” said Mikhail as he turned to stare at Richard.
The other primus nodded, keeping his eyes downcast. Despite being in his own seethe, he knew who was more powerful today.
“May I see you out?”
Mikhail nodded and they lead the way out through the front door of the flooring company. The wolves took their place behind me, Travis to my right and Shawn to my left. I tried to keep a smile from forming. Shawn wouldn’t appreciate my enjoyment, but I felt like a mob boss, or an actress with her own body guards. For once having someone to protect me didn’t make me fe
el belittled. I almost felt empowered by it.
Nik and Josh joined me at the door, each one holding a glass door open for me. It kind of went to my head, if I’m being honest.
My ego would have enjoyed the moment more if Josh hadn’t looked so upset. His eyes were narrowed as he stared at me, and his mouth was pulled down just enough to be a frown.
Outside the crowd seemed to swell, forcing me to dodge the different decorative figurines they had near the front door. Richard, the wolves, and the vampires from my seethe congregated in the parking lot for one last goodbye when a group of strange beings emerged from the darkness.
I glanced around at the different creatures that surrounded us, and swallowed. There were three of them, each more bizarre than the last.
The one farthest from me was a strange mix of an eagle and a lion. Its eagle bits were mostly toward the front, with mighty wings that kept it a few feet off the ground. The lion bits were the back end, back legs, and tail. A Gryphon. Just what we needed.
The beast nearest to the primuses was a bull that stood on its hind hooves and had hands like a man—a really big, furry man. Enormous horns jutted out from the side of its bull-head and curled at the end so that he could skewer two people at once. His entire body was covered in coarse hair that grew extra-long to cover the delicate bits, almost like a loin cloth. I’m pretty sure it was minotaur, though my knowledge of the ancient Greek beast was a little hazy.
The last, and nearest creature, was the worst. An enormous dog that looked a bit like a mastiff stood in a puddle of lava, with three heads drooling, the moisture turning to steam before it could reach the hot lava. I had no idea what to make of this thing, much less what to call it.
The Series that Just Plain Sucks: The Complete Trilogy Page 34