"No, I don't think so. You can simply add that we will see him at three o'clock this afternoon," Caislyn got ready to turn away, then she looked back at the Were, "and don't leave out a single detail, I am sure he will understand exactly what I am saying, since he used to work with my dad at the O.T.H.S." She gave him a very menacing grin and shut the door in his face. "Don't worry," she said as she turned to Jax, "it pisses him off more than it will Arkos."
"So we are going to meet him?" Jax said as her anger started to subside.
"Unless you want to never again be able to leave my apartment, I don't think we have a choice." Caislyn looked very tired suddenly as she continued, "a Were death by the hands of someone not in the pack is a challenge to the entire pack. I should have thought of this sooner. Being as there were mitigating circumstances and you acted simply in defense, I don't think this will play out too bad. Arkos is not someone you want to mess with, but the damage is already done. Now we need to work on damage control. Believe it or not, the message I sent to him will help calm him despite what his dimwit lackey has to say. Arkos sees reason, and he knows I speak the truth. Speaking that truth is also what will get us out of there alive tomorrow. He knows I wouldn't go anywhere without telling someone what's going down."
Caislyn locked the door back up and began to walk back upstairs as Jaxon retrieved her weapon bag. "We might as well get started on our day, I have a feeling its going to be a long one."
***
Give the Dog a Bone
Caislyn and Jaxon spent the rest of the morning with a restless nervousness that showed whenever they dared speak to each other. They had gone back to Jaxon's apartment to pack up as many of her things as possible to bring back to Caislyn's place. They were surprised by the cleanup that had been done to the place. It still looked like a battle occurred, but the blood and bodies were noticeably missing from the scene. The girls didn't really have time to think about who or what had cleaned up, besides they both assumed since they received a knock on the door from the local pack last night that the werewolves had taken care of the mess.
By the time 2 o'clock rolled around, the girls had a plan and were ready to head on over to the docks. The docks were not far from them, but they wanted to take a slow route getting there so that they could scout out the situation along the way. Their biggest concern was that they would get stuck on the Camden County side of the bridge if they couldn't make it back over before 4:30 pm. That gave them less than an hour and half to have this talk with Arkos and get back over to the Elizabeth City side of the bridge before it went up for waterway traffic. They were going to have to keep an eye on their watches and hope for the best.
Caislyn and Jaxon reached the parking lot on the side of the causeway park and noted immediately that there were two werewolves in human form sitting there waiting to greet them. The girls looked at each other and each mentally prepared for the task at hand. Caislyn let herself go a little, relaxing, trying to feel that usual prickling sensation she always got when confronted by a were-creature. She saw the two in the parking lot, but to her it felt like there were many more around somewhere.
"Be careful," she whispered quietly to Jax, "there are more than two waiting here for us." She continued to scan the area with her eyes, though at the moment they were not her strongest sense.
"Are you sure we should do this?" Jax questioned, as she hesitated slightly before continuing forward with Cais.
"In case you hadn't noticed, we have a welcoming committee. There's no turning back now." Caislyn took the last few steps up to where the two werewolves were waiting for them and then she turned on her normal charm, "Aw, looky here Jax, the seeing-eye dogs are going to show us how to walk down the pier. Isn't that sweet?" She reached out like she was going to pet one of them on the head when he grabbed her wrist and flung it back..
"Real funny, Caislyn!" He said with a gruff voice, "You know, you used to be cool before your parents..." He let that sentiment trail off and changed the subject. "I wouldn't be so cocky this time kid, Arkos is not happy with your little friend here, at all."
"Aw, John, you know I used to like you too before you turned into a dog and became someone's muscle for hire!" Caislyn glanced at the other Lycan standing beside John; he wasn't familiar to her so she didn't bother with a quippy little message for him. "Lead on doggy boy," Caislyn said. She had meant for both of the werewolves to go ahead of them, but the nameless guy had other plans and while he let John lead them to the pier, he hung behind to follow up in the rear.
As they passed the first landing that was off to the right Caislyn tensed, sensing more eyes on her than she could account for. Jaxon, having felt the shift in Caislyn's mood that put her even more on edge, began looking around too. While it was still daylight out, the sky had been dull gray with only a few breaks in the clouds. The breaks had lessened as the day waned on and now there was even a slight drizzle beginning to fall from the sky. The water beyond them was all brackish chop, not inviting in the least.
The shrubbery and trees that edged the pier had obviously not been pruned in years. Now the branches were partially barren and wiry. Vines and other weeds had grown up around the edges near the muck. Debris and litter lined the ground and the water around the pier. There were boards missing in some spots and ones that looked as if they would break just looking at them. The pier creaked its complaints with every step the small group made.
Jaxon wondered if someone had placed a "do not disturb" spell on the once beautiful nature walk. The entire place gave off a vibe that said "leave now." It would make sense, especially if the pack leader was using it as a docking station.
Jax leaned over towards Caislyn and whispered, "so does this Arkos person, err, Were critter, err, wolf leader guy always make this place so uninviting to guests? I mean I feel like I'm trespassing or intruding or something."
"You're no guest" John spat back at her.
Jaxon gave him a silent snarly face behind his back.
"They have excellent hearing remember?" Caislyn reminded her. "But I get that same sense from here too. I think it’s a protective spell of some sort."
"Oh. Well, it’s working. I wouldn't come here at all if not for being summoned." Jax retorted, still feeling edgy and nervous. She tended to get sarcastic and chatty in those situations and was trying to do neither.
John snorted as he led them further down the pier and around a corner where the river came into full view. There had been a time when this area had been used for small fishing boats to dock. The remnants of that time lingered as stumps and pieces of old docks stuck out of the water like stalagmites in a cave. Trees that were barely alive still tried to reach for the skies above. The water was choppy and with the drizzle and gray clouds looming overhead, there would not be many boaters out. Arkos had picked quite an isolated meeting place.
The girls could see several werewolves now on the other landings as they walked further along the pier. They were positioned as Look-outs and guards. A few were even in their wolf form and growled lowly as the girls passed by. Caislyn rolled her eyes "You can tell the younger wolves by how 'showy' they are. Ignore them. They are just trying to scare you with their bad teeth and horrible breath!"
Jaxon's eyes got wide, "Easy for you to say, you aren't the one they're mad at."
Caislyn patted her friends shoulder trying to offer some comfort as they arrived at the end of the platform and in front of several werewolves. "Don't worry so much. Remember what we talked about earlier? Just let me talk with Arkos and everything will be fine."
At that moment, a stocky muscular Werewolf stepped up to Caislyn and right in her face. "You should be more respectful, witch. You shouldn't even be here. If Arkos didn't know your father, you and your friend would have already been punished. You should have been killed on the spot. I'd happily take care of your insolence if I were..."
"Enough," came a deep, gravely voice from the back of the group of werewolves.
The group parted and bowed letti
ng their leader pass through to face Caislyn and Jaxon. Arkos had been the pack leader since Caislyn could remember. She didn't know how old he was, nor how long he had been the leader his pack, but their loyalty to him was unmistakable.
Arkos stood in front of Jaxon, looking at her with suspicious eyes. His presence was almost overwhelming and Jaxon felt very small standing in front of him. But she was not going to back down.
"I know you think I've wronged you and your, um, pack by my actions. However, I will have you know, I was defending my life. Rick was trying to kidnap me or maybe just kill me, or both. We have a history, one that's not so nice. I made a promise to myself when he put me in the hospital and I left him in Raleigh that I would never be his victim again. And I kept that promise. So if you feel that I deserve to be punished because I justly defended myself against a life threatening situation, then so be it."
Arkos stood silently staring at Jaxon, weighing her words. “You have quiet a fiery friend here Caislyn. She seems impulsive, naive, and stubborn."
Caislyn sighed as she shared a look with Jaxon. She wasn't sure if Jaxon's outburst was a good thing or a bad thing when it came to the pack laws. But she would give her credit for standing up for herself. "Yes, I agree, but you heard her. She didn't just kill him, Rick was attacking her. She defended herself, and he wasn't from your pack. He was made in Raleigh. That means he isn't under your rule."
"I am very aware of what the pack laws are Caislyn. I also know that there were two other wolves that were murdered that night. They were from my pack." Arkos stated.
Jaxon interrupted "Wait, I didn't even kill them! Well, I may have killed one of them, but he was working with Rick. He did not have friendly intentions towards me! He was going to..."
"Enough!" Arkos demanded. "You have had your say."
Jaxon rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her. Things were not going well and she was starting to get nervous.
"Arkos, we came here out of respect for you. I've known you most of my life. You know my father. You know he taught me to respect all life. I would not allow myself to befriend someone who did not share those same values. Jaxon was defending herself. She may not be aware of the ways of your pack, but she does have a right to defend against the actions of those who have gone against you. The world does not need another break in the communications and the relations between species. We are witches, and witches and Lycans have been peaceful for the most part for years. Let us continue this trend, Arkos." Jaxon listened as her friend defended her and decided that Caislyn would probably do a better job than she at saving her butt. She looked out upon the river, hoping that maybe the constant sloshing of the waves upon the deck and the cool breeze would help her center her emotions. As she tried to tune out the confrontation going on in front of her, she noticed something shiny by the boat wreckage not far from the dock. A single tree loomed from the edge of the boards that stuck up out of the water from where the old boat had found its resting place. The waves occasionally splashed up around the pieces and the sparkles came from the surface of the water at the corner of what used to be the bow. Jaxon squinted and started to take a step closer to the edge to better see the sparkley shadow in the water. There was definitely something or rather someone there. She could feel it watching her.
"Jax, do you agree?" Caislyn asked her friend. "Jaxon?"
"Huh? What?" Jaxon questioned as her attention came back to the meeting.
Caislyn gave her friend a hard stare. "Do you agree? To the terms?"
"Um, that depends, "Jaxon stammered trying to bide her time so she could figure out what had been going on.
Caislyn reached over and grabbed her friend's arm pulling her closer. "What are you doing? This is serious, Jaxon."
Jaxon put on her most friendly smile aimed at Arkos "Give me just a second would you? Let me have a word in private with Caislyn so we can discuss these terms of yours. Okay?" Arkos raised an amused eyebrow and nodded his agreement as Jaxon pulled Caislyn around so their backs were towards the leader and his guards.
"Okay - what did I miss?"
"What did you miss? I saved your butt Jaxon and you missed it? What were you doing?" Caislyn whispered.
"Are there Were-fish? I mean there's Werewolves, and Were-bears and all, but what about fish?" Jaxon asked curiously.
"What? Jaxon focus! Arkos said he will drop the charges if we help him keep an eye out for rogue wolves. Apparently, there are a few coming in from other areas. He's been the leader here for, well, practically forever, and he wants to enlist our help. Are you willing?"
Jaxon scoffed "Oh, first he accuses me of killing his people then he wants my help? What kind of a..."
"Jax," Caislyn interrupted, "he can help me find my parents. He has more connections than I could ever hope for. If we build an alliance with him, I might get more information than we could get on our own."
"Oh, well if that's the case, of course I'll help." Jaxon turned towards Arkos and simply said, "I accept."
Arkos stepped up to the two girls. He turned towards his guards "leave us a moment." The Werewolf guards nodded and walked past the trio back towards the other end of the pier.
When they were out of hearing range, Arkos spoke softly, "Caislyn, I've been friends with your father for longer than I can remember. I am deeply saddened by his disappearance. If you needed my help, you do not have to bargain with me for it. I would have gladly helped you in any way."
"Hey, how did you know that's what she said? Are you spying on us or something? Was that sparkley thing in the water your spy? Was that it?" Jaxon questioned suspiciously trying to look over Arkos's shoulder to where she had seen the strange figure in the water.
Caislyn gave her friend a tug and a questioning look before she replied to Arkos. "I'm sorry for not trusting you sooner Arkos. It’s just been a very hard time for me. I don't know where to turn anymore. Jaxon is the only one I really trust."
Arkos looked at both the girls with the knowledge of an experienced leader. "Yes, I can tell this is the truth. Listen Caislyn, as you know, there are differing opinions of how the supernatural species should take their places in the world. Most of us believe we should find a way to co-exist, to build laws that will not discriminate and will cover all of us, including humans. Your parents were an influential part of that reform, but there are factions of each species that believe they should be a ruling power; that humans should be treated as cattle and ruled over as slaves. We have been on the brink of civil war for many years. It is imperative that we build strong alliances and work together. This is why I enlist your help. There are groups of Lycans that are acting out of the rule of another power. They have not shown themselves but they are building an army of followers. The high council is aware, but there has been no action to stop this, most likely because of the disagreements and distrust of the council members. It is likely that your parents could have been victims of such factions. I'm not sure. They tried to keep themselves out of the limelight so to speak, though your father's advice fell upon several ears. It may be that he created some enemies that we were not aware of. I promise you, I will help you find out. And as I look into this, I ask you both to please be careful. Your friend here has created some interest in the wrong areas. No one knows much about her. And there are those, who still believe in the old prophecy, that are wary of newcomers."
Jaxon's brows furrowed, "Wait, me? I've created interest in the wrong areas? How? I just found out I'm a witch! And I'm not a very good one at that! I mean just look how I handled this little meeting of ours. And what prophecy? I really think you have the wrong girl here, bud. So we are just gonna go our way now and get back to..."
"Jaxon, you're rambling again." Caislyn took her friend's shoulders and turned her back to face Arkos. "Sorry, she gets this way when she gets nervous."
Arkos's eyebrow rose again as he studied the two girls. "I am concerned for you Caislyn, and for your friend here. I think I will have two of my guards watching out for you from n
ow on. Just call out and they will be at your service."
Caislyn narrowed her gaze upon the Werewolf leader, suddenly aware of the severity of his concern. "Do you think the same people who took my parents will be after us as well? And what prophecy are you speaking of Arkos? I'm not sure I'm familiar with any prophecy about a witch."
Arkos sighed, "there is so much that your parents still needed to teach you. It is a shame they were taken from you prematurely. I do believe you would have been a very good political figure given the time.
The Old Seer's Prophecy from long ago speaks of a union between the species that creates a power that is beyond all we know. This power will change the world, but it doesn't say how. Many believe it will be for good, others believe it will be for the worse. Ultimate power corrupts ultimately, as the saying goes. Don't let the naysayers fool you, everyone wants to control it. Think of the ramifications, Caislyn. A power beyond anything you've ever known. Who ever controls that power, controls the world. This is why the laws of inter-species mating were created and enforced with such passion. No one wants a power like that unleashed. It would destroy all the peace and stability we have created and force the world into wars and battles. Too many would die. It is better to make sure this prophecy never occurs, than to face what it could cause."
Caislyn and Jaxon looked at each other but it was Jaxon who spoke. "But why would anyone think I'm involved in that? I'm only a witch and I'm not powerful in the least. It makes no sense."
Caislyn answered her friend, "Because they don't know anything about you. And regardless of the species, fanatics are dangerous. They act without fact or knowledge. They just do what they feel is right, damn the consequences."
"This is true," Arkos agreed. "But with everything that is going on, I'd feel better if the two of you kept a lower profile. I know you want information Caislyn and telling you to stop looking is pointless. Your father's determination shines in you. But you must be cautious. If I hear anything, I will get in touch with you. As I said, I will have guards around, not in your way, but watching out for you."
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