He could sense the intruder.
An Unnatural.
`Not smart at all,' he said, stopping at the edge of the lawn, well aware of the complex security system buried in the garden beds surrounding the house. `We're not afraid anymore.'
The silence thickened around him and Wilson smacked the crowbar in his hand, making sure the sound of iron on flesh echoed in the silence. `Yeah, that's right. I'm not easy prey any more.' He spoke louder, letting his lip curl up. The iron crowbar felt light in his hand, balanced. He'd had it made for a particular use. Throwing.
There. He saw it. The irregularity in the foliage beside a gum tree. Iron whistled through the air. The bar sliced through the trunk of the tree, burying itself in the ground on the other side. Wilson smiled at the smothered wail of pain. `Yeah, bet that hurt. Iron doesn't like you,' he said, following the sounds of flight fading into the trees. `And don't come back. Next time I won't give a warning. Whatever you are.'
Wilson waited until he couldn't sense the Unnatural anymore, picking up his phone on his way back to the house. He listened and, unable to hear his parents, went in to pack a bag.
`Damn it,' he muttered, looking at the packed throwing knives. `Better take this as well.' He slipped in his 9mm pistol and two ammo clips. From upstairs, sounds filtered down.
`Bloody hell.' He shook his head and grabbed his surfboard on his way out to the workshop. He picked up the remote as he entered and music drowned out other sounds. `Oversexed parents. Unnaturals in the bushes. So much for being a normal family.' He laid his surfboard on its stand and ran a hand over it. `Lucky I got Sal and you, eh, baby?'
Wilson began to wax, trying to work off the anger shifting inside him. They had come to his home. If they came near Sally… Wilson worked the wax bar hard on his surfboard.
Her breath came in rapid silent bursts, though she ran faster than any animal could. Trees flashed by and her trail would be invisible. Not that it mattered anymore. The boy had sensed her. He had cut her with iron. No one had ever done that, ever.
CHAPTER 3
Mason sat on the top deck of the ferry, holding Ruth's hand.
`Whales on the portside,' a deckhand said. The ferry slowed and the crowd moved to one side of the deck.
Mason didn't move, enjoying the sun and Ruth beside him. He glanced at her, fiddling with a strand of long dark hair, her eyes elsewhere.
`Stop perving,' he whispered in her ear and was rewarded with a blush.
`Mason,' she started to say, but he slipped his hand onto her thigh.
`It's okay,' he whispered, sliding his hand a fraction higher under her short sarong, brushing her sex with a fingertip. `We're still the same people as before everything happened. You're still Ruth.'
`Mason,' Ruth whispered back, putting her hat over his hand. `I didn't…have anyone while you were gone. It was hard but…it would have been wrong.'
`If you had I wouldn't have blamed you for it.' He slid his hand down to her knee as the crowd moved back to their seats. `I've never seen it as you hurting me. But you have to give me time. And besides, she's far too young even for you.'
`Mason.' Ruth's blushed deepened as a tall, dark-haired girl walked past. Mason glanced at the girl's tiny black bikini, and saw why she might catch Ruth's eye. She was the type.
`You're so funny when you blush like that.' He kissed her on the cheek. `If I leave you up here while I go to the canteen, you promise to behave?'
`Stop it.' Ruth looked slightly mollified. `She might hear you. Wait. You're going to have a drink with Mullet?'
He smiled as he stood. `Yes. Just one, I promise. You want to come or stay up here and enjoy the scenery?'
Ruth punched him in the leg as her blush returned. `I'm fine, thanks. Just make sure you only have one drink otherwise I might get bored.' Her eyes flicked across the deck to the girl. Mason shook his head at her and turned to leave.
`Beat you to it, Boxhead,' Mullet rasped at him, standing with two drinks in his hand. `Heard you was back. Morning, Ruthie.'
Mason grinned at the tanned, weathered old man wearing only shorts and a blue singlet. Years of fishing and being a deckhand showed in every crease on Mullet's face as he nodded politely to Ruth.
`Still alive, I see,' Mason said, taking the can from him.
`And you're still ugly as ever, Mason. Rum and cola still your poison?'
`Pot calling the kettle black there, you old bastard,' Mason grinned as they shook hands. He cracked the can open in sync with Mullet.
`Huh,' Mullet grunted, sipping his drink and ignoring the stares around them. `So you're really back then? Had enough of Pommyland and warm beer?'
`Okay. We'll go with that,' Mason said, enjoying the harsh flavour of the rum. `So now you're shouting me drinks, or is it a bribe to get you out of trouble again?'
`Very funny,' Mullet grinned back as he leaned against the railing. `You're going over to the island for a break. Like before?'
`Uh-huh,' Mason grunted, knowing Mullet was itching for gossip. `Wilson is with us as well. For a family holiday.'
`I've seen him about, down below just now. He's a big lad. Better looking than his old man. Lucky he's got his mother's looks.' Mullet winked at Ruth as he took a swig from the can. `We goin' fishing now you're back? Got some new spots out wide we can hit, if the famous Mason Douglas still mixes with us ordinary folk?'
`Smartarse. We'll go once I get a chance, after the holiday,' Mason said, falling into their usual banter. It was like he'd not been gone for more than a year.
Another familiar face appeared at the top of the steps, eyeing Mullet off — his skipper. `You supposed to be doing something?' Mason asked, looking past Mullet.
`Yeah, yeah,' he muttered, glancing back as the skipper vanished back down the steps. Mullet finished his drink in a single gulp. `No rest for the wicked, apparently. More like he's nervous you're on board.'
`Nervous?' Mason frowned.
`Yeah.' Mullet wetted cracked lips and looked straight at Mason. `What happened, you know, over there. We all saw it on the telly. Serious shit, Mason. Trouble seems to find you.'
`Not today.' Mason finished his drink, irritated at the thought of people feeling uncomfortable around him. `Besides, you're a bigger shit magnet than me, remember.'
`Yeah, yeah,' Mullet muttered with a half-smile. `You're never going to let me forget that, are you?'
`No, and you still smile about it. You nearly got yourself killed that night.' Mason crushed the can in his hand, remembering the fight. He hadn't held back.
`Yeah, well.' Mullet looked at his feet. `I didn't know she was married to a bloody psycho druggie with his own gang, did I? Lucky you was there. I'd do the same for you, mate.'
`I know you would. But those days are gone, old mate.' Mason winked, remembering that wild night. `You still seeing her?'
`Christ, no!' Mullet took Mason's empty can. `She wanted to have kids and settle down. Crazy.'
`Yeah, can't have the Mullet saddled now, can we?'
`Still think you're funny, I see,' Mullet said with a wink. `Have a good one, Ruth. Make sure he stays out of trouble.'
`Will do,' she said from beside Mason. He could hear the humour in her tone.
`Catch you on the trip back, Boxhead.' Mullet disappeared down the steps to the lower deck without a backward glance.
Behind Mason a mobile phone rang. His.
Ruth passed it to him, face tight. `It's Max.'
Mason found a clear spot on the deck as Ruth sat back down, eyes on him. `Max?'
`It's important.'
Mason heard the anger in Max's voice. Something was very wrong. `Go on.' He turned to Ruth and smiled, trying to smooth her frown away.
`There's been movement in the US. That jet we lost track of here popped up on our satellites an hour ago.'
`And you rang me here to tell me this?'
`Sir, it's heading for Australia.'
Mason turned away from Ruth, anger clouding his mind. Not now.
; `Sir, it will be there later tonight. Sir Robert has sanctioned the Fund to mobilise and I'm already airborne and have resources on the ground in the area. Mason, you needed to know but the Fund can handle this. Sir Robert's orders.'
Mason paused, agreeing with Sir Robert. The Fund was there to protect them and he needed time with his family. Butcher was not welcome here. `Agreed, Max, do whatever it takes. I don't want to be disturbed, you understand?'
`Yes, sir.'
`Good. You're in charge, Max. Talk to you in two weeks.' Mason snapped the phone shut and dropped it over the side of the ferry. His anger vanished as the mobile disappeared into the bubbling wake.
`That's a good sign,' Ruth said, joining him and taking his hand. `What did Max want?'
`Just checking up on me,' Mason sighed and hugged her. `I made it clear we're not to be disturbed. The Fund can survive without me.'
`Uh-huh.' Ruth's tone and body language said she didn't believe him. Mason leaned over and kissed her. She kissed him back and Mason picked her up in their hug, making her squeal and wriggle.
`Will you two behave?' Wilson said, joining them. Mason held Ruth against him as she pulled her bikini top back into place. Wilson rolled his eyes at them. `If this is what you're going to be like on the island I'm going to have to warn Sally about turning up unannounced at the villa.'
Ruth patted him on the face. `She's not as shy as you think, Wilson. We spent a lot time together when you were in hospital.'
`And?' Wilson asked, eyes narrowing at his mother. Mason chuckled quietly.
`Well, her mother doesn't talk to her about sex that much.'
Mason had to bite his lip at the look of horror on Wilson's face.
`Jeez, Mum. You talked about sex with her?'
`Of course. She asked me.' Ruth touched his arm. `Sally needed someone to talk to, Wilson, and I wasn't going to let her down.'
`Oh,' Wilson mumbled, looking out towards the approaching island. Mason could see him thinking about what his mother had said.
`Wil, Sally cares about you a lot and she isn't like other girls. She wants it to mean something when she decides to be with you. Besides, I was flattered she came to me for advice.'
`It's weird talking about this with you two, but thanks, Mum.' Wilson smiled and fidgeted as he leaned against the railing, scanning the beach as the ferry slowed its approach.
`So. You and Sally,' Mason asked quietly. `Are her parents okay with her being here?'
`Sal's dad not around and her mum is with her on the island,' Wilson said, taking his shirt off. `And she's cool with us. We get along great and she doesn't ask questions. I want you to meet her once you and Mum have settled on the island.'
`Done,' Mason said, taking Wilson's shirt as it was thrust at him. `What are you doing?'
`Going to Sally.' Wilson winked, and ran downstairs. Mason looked over the side just as Wilson dived in.
`He's a good swimmer now,' Ruth said holding onto him as they watched Wilson swim with ease to the beach. `And that would be Sally.' Ruth pointed. Mason followed her direction.
`Holy crap. That's Sally?' The tall girl who leapt onto Wilson as he reached the beach wore blonde hair down to her waist. `She's not the skinny kid I remember.'
`They're a beautiful couple, Mason. I can't believe Wilson found her, but they did meet here on the island. Just like us.'
`Yeah.' Mason watched as Wilson took Sally's hand and they ran towards the resort. `I've missed out on so much.'
`Well, then.' Ruth pulled him away from the railing as people began to move downstairs. `This holiday will be your chance to catch up. Come on.'
`Right behind you,' Mason said, following her.
`And make sure your bag is zipped up,' she said as they lined up to disembark. She elbowed him and Mason looked down. A pistol butt showed through the zipper of his backpack, the only luggage he'd brought to the island. `I thought you said you weren't going to bring anything?' she whispered.
`Old habits.'
`Hmm.' Ruth eyed him over her shoulder as Mason tucked the pistol away. It was instinctive for him to carry weapons, though he had tried to leave them behind.
`Yes, I know,' he muttered at the look she gave him. `I just hope you packed enough clothes for us.'
`One dress and a few bikinis for me,' Ruth said with a wicked smile back at him as they followed the line of people down the ramp.
Mason grinned back. Ruth was planning on not needing much in the way of clothing. His heart quickened as the sand grew closer. The island always did it to him. Their best memories had come from here and he wanted to create a lot more good ones on this trip.
`Hunter.' The whisper came into his mind the instant his foot touched the sand. He couldn't breathe. The world around him slowed.
`Mason?' Ruth's hand tightened on his as he stood blocking the ramp. People muttered behind him. `Mason, what's wrong? You've gone white.'
`Move, buddy,' someone muttered and Mason moved off the ramp. Everything snapped back into focus.
Ruth pulled him away from the prying eyes he could feel on his back. `Talk to me,'
`It's nothing. Just a flashback,' he lied. The voice had been real and he knew it.
`Bullshit, Mason,' Ruth dug her nails into his arm. `Don't do that. Don't lie like that other thing inside you lies.'
She was right. `It was her, Ruth. The voice from the funeral.'
`Here? Now? I didn't hear it.'
`She said "Hunter", that's all.'
`Hunter?' Ruth stood close against him. `You sure it wasn't one of them? Are they close?'
Mason closed his eyes, absorbing the sounds and scents of the Island, seeking out the cold wrongness of a Bloodells in a place he knew well. `No. Not here.'
Ruth's blue eyes greeted him as he opened his. `Say it again.'
`There are no Bloodells on the island.'
She smiled. `So it's just that voice then? The one that helped us?'
`Yes, that voice.' He smiled back, tension fading. `Do we still have an audience behind me?'
`A few. Why?'
`No reason.' Mason scooped her up in his arms and moved off towards the resort.
`Mason, careful.' She laughed, arm around him. `My sarong nearly came off.'
`Mmm.' He kissed her cheek. `Couldn't have Mrs Douglas flashing the locals now, could we? Oh wait; you did that last time we were here, didn't you?'
`Oh come on, everyone knows that beach is...' she paused as Mason carried her past people in the resort. `You're a tease, Mr Douglas.'
He grinned back at her. `Learnt from the best, I did.'
`Very funny. The villa's over that way.' Ruth pointed towards a villa surrounded by trees on the edge of the resort. `I've organised fresh cooked prawns and booze to be in the fridge. Just like we used to do.'
Mason couldn't stop smiling as he carried her towards the villa they had always used. Their island home.
CHAPTER 4
Wilson reached for her and missed.
`Ha! All muscle and no speed.'
He pushed himself harder, watching Sally's hair flicker just out of reach. She is fast, he thought with a grin. The squeak of feet in the sand quickened and he closed the gap. `Got you!' He grabbed her hand, ready to pull her in close.
`Reckon?' She turned and shoved her leg in front of his.
He didn't let go as he fell, twisting to land on his back in the sand. `Still got you.' He caught her as she fell on top of him, the scent of her hair tickling his face.
`Only because I let you,' she said, nose touching his. `And yes.' Her lips touched his.
Her sweet taste caressed him as he kissed her back. `Missed you.'
`Of course you did,' she said, pushing herself up and sitting across him.
`What are you doing?' He stared as she took her bikini top off.
Sally smiled at him. `We're alone on a beach. And you're probably the only guy I know who would have to ask that question.' She lay back on top of him then pinned him down.
`Plus, I wa
nt a tan like yours, no lines. And you still need practice, because you really suck at kissing.'
`Thanks,' he said, aware of how good it felt to have her nakedness pressed against him. He took a deep breath, trying to control his excitement. He had to be careful.
`You're doing it again.' She nipped his neck.
`Doing what?' Wilson gasped as the sensation of her teeth on his skin sent a flare of blood downwards.
`Trying to slow everything down. The breathing thing. Your eyes lose focus for a second, like you're elsewhere.'
`I…' A presence prickled his skin. They weren't alone. It had followed him to the island. Sally was in danger. Wilson forced his anger down.
`Wil?' Sally shifted on him.
The sense of her naked skin moving on him was lost in the flow of adrenaline to his bloodstream, the taste bitter in his mouth. `We're being watched.'
`So?' Sally didn't look up but he felt her goosebumps tighten against him. `It's not some old creepy dude is it? Wait, how do you know?'
He held a finger to her lips. `I just do, trust me.'
Sally nodded and let his arms go. `I can't see anyone.' She sat up and looked around, tying her top back on.
Wilson waited while she stood up. The delay was itching at him. He had to stay calm in front of her. `It's probably just another couple.' He scanned the trees as Sally took his hand again.
A shadow shimmered and slipped behind a dead tree. He refocused. The shadow had shape. Purple eyes flashed for a second, highlighting an outline of a thin face. Not a Bloodells.
Sally touched his shoulder. `Wil, you're scaring me now. I can't see anyone. And it's gone so quiet.'
`Yes.' He took a deep breath. Sally was with him and if the Unnatural attacked he would have to kill it, in front of her. `Come on, let's get some lunch.' He hoped it would leave without him having to threaten it like he had at the house.
`I'm worried,' she whispered, clinging to him. `This is freaky. It's like all the birds have gone. Even the bugs.'
`It's probably nothing. Let's go eat.' He began walking away. The shadow didn't move. Wilson glanced around for a weapon. He spotted a weathered branch not far from him on the high tide mark.
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