Unnaturals

by Dean J. Anderson

  Ruth slapped Mason. Her hand stung from it.

  She cursed, shaking it, trying to make the pain fade fast. He lay unresponsive. `I need him back, Darla. Wherever he is, he needs to come back now.'

  She climbed on top of him, her nose touching his. `Mason, I need you,' she whispered, kissing him hard, pushing her tongue into his mouth. Pressing her body onto his, seeking out a response. Hoping it would bring him back to her.

  His lips warmed under hers. His arms moved. Was it working? Mason stirred under her, skin warming against hers.

  `Mason?'

  `Hmm,' he muttered, putting his arms around her. `You smell nice and warm.'

  She could feel the cold fade from his arms as he blinked, trying to focus.

  `How long was I out for?'

  `Most of the day,' she whispered, kissing his ear, aware of how quickly he needed to get up, afraid of how he seemed confused. `A lot has happened. Can you stand?'

  `Let's find out.' He moved a bit and she rolled off, watching as he stood unsteadily. `Not too bad. A bit groggy still.'

  Ruth got up, cautious about telling him of the danger. He wasn't right yet. `Come outside — you need to wake up.'

  `Yeah, everything is still foggy.' He took her hand and followed as she walked towards the veranda.

  `We're home?' he asked shuffling behind her.

  `Apparently you teleported us here. You don't remember?'

  `No.' He stopped moving and frowned, looking at his hands. `Just that my head is killing me and I was bloody cold for a long time.'

  Nikki appeared in the doorway. `He's awake!'

  His eyes widened, looking at Nikki's stomach. She hadn't put her blouse back on.

  `What?' He seemed more awake now, she noticed. `Is that—' He pointed at the baby bump. `How long have I been out?'

  `Most of the day,' Ruth said, grabbing his arm as Nikki stood, frozen. `It's our child, from the night in the lake house.'

  `What?' He turned, eyes darkening.

  She felt him tense. Anger and confusion rippled across his face. They didn't have the time to argue.

  `Wilson is in danger. We can feel Renee's anger but nothing else. Something is wrong.'

  `Where are they?' He moved fast, scanning the forest. His body rippled with scales.

  `Renee, Wilson, Lilly and Sally went into town to do some shopping a while ago.' She moved back as his wings formed and spread out. The timber floor boards creaked as Mason became Hunter.

  `Bloodells?'

  `No,' Nikki said. `Not yet, anyway. I haven't sensed one. We felt Renee's anger only minutes ago. What can you feel?'

  Hunter growled. Energy hummed across him. `My Huntress is hurt, ambushed. A helicopter, humans. Wilson is on foot with the girls. He will be here soon.'

  Hands creaked into fists. `They dare to come here!' he snarled. `Look for Wilson to the south, along that ridge.' He pointed. `Bloodells can't be too far away. Watch for them. Stay in the house and activate the defence systems as soon as Wilson gets here.'

  He glanced at Nikki. `Can you kill, Magi?'

  `Aye,' Nikki said, standing straight as he turned to them. `Go. I will protect her.'

  `Yes,' he rumbled. Eyes no longer Mason's roved across her distended belly. Wings stretched skywards. `Talk we shall.' His hand moved. A taloned finger brushed Nikki's skin. Ruth grabbed her, shuddering when he looked away. `Stay alert.'

  He leapt skywards, the thrust of his wings buffeting Ruth and Nikki. He was nothing more than a dark speck in the sky when she looked up.

  `He touched me,' Nikki muttered. `Hunter touched me.'

  `See. He will accept you and the baby.' Ruth glanced around, feeling exposed. `Let's get inside.'

  `Go. I will set a trap in case they get too close.'

  White energy covered Nikki and reached out around the exterior of the house. Ruth shivered and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Fear mixed with anger roiled inside her. She flicked open a cupboard and pulled out two monitors, watching for the signal that would be Wilson and Sally. Listening for Nikki to come downstairs.

  Cold prickled. She heard Nikki on the stairs and relaxed. `Everything okay, Nik?'

  Silence. Goosebumps. She spun around.

  `Eleanor?' She faltered. It wasn't Eleanor. Ruth could see it as soon as she looked properly. The woman was subtly different. Colder and shorter. `You're not Eleanor.'

  `No, and you're not who I seek,' the woman growled. `Take her anyway.'

  A cloth came down over her face. Strong fumes bit into her eyes and darkness crashed down on her.

  Scarla stumbled, watching Hunter fly away from the house. He had gone. `Nooo!' She fell. All strength and will fled her body. She had failed. She sobbed, unable to move. Time passed. The sun's touch fled her scales and a shadow fell across her. `Mistress,' she sobbed, knowing death would not come to her. Only agony. Hunter had gone.

  She would never be free. Never.

  CHAPTER 31

  Mason gained altitude fast. His mind raced.

  Nikki was carrying a child. His child.

  Images flashed in his memory. On the bed in the lake house, Renee in his arms. Ruth's presence at that moment took on a new meaning. Heat burned in his heart.

  Then the anger at what she had done dulled.

  He would be a father again. They had been as a family, four together when the child had been conceived. He savoured that. A child.

  Gunfire pulled him back. Huntress.

  He spotted the helicopter flying low, Renee's SUV swerving as smoke poured from it, highlighting the brilliant flashes from the helicopter's mini cannon.

  `I see you.'

  `Hurry.' The SUV shuddered, tyres disintegrating. It lurched off the road and stopped, rammed against trees. No movement. She was pinned. Mini canon tore at the SUV.

  He dropped towards the road behind the helicopter, snapping his wings open at the last minute. Swooping low, he tore a steel signpost from the ground and flung it into the helicopter's blades. The sign twisted as the blades caught it, then disintegrated under the impact of the concrete base the sign had still been attached to. The helicopter screamed, spiralling out of control.

  Mason didn't stop to watch. The final explosion from the helicopter washed over him as Huntress kicked out the door of the SUV.

  `Hey you!' she 'pathed with a lopsided smile, covered in blood. Metal fragments and bullets fell from her healing flesh. `Getting shot really fucking hurts.'

  `You get used to it.' He kissed her. Huntress pressed back, hot and exhilarating.

  `Which way did Wil go?'

  `North.' She let him go and slipped onto his back.

  `Was he hurt?'

  `No.' Huntress tucked her legs inside his, pressing her hand against his chest. `But his fear for Sally will distract him.'

  Mason took flight, thrusting skywards, letting Hunter's instincts work for him.

  `They must have been watching the house, to know we were back.'

  `Everything feels wrong.'

  He swung around towards the house, seeking out Wilson. `I haven't sensed any Bloodells yet. Can they hide behind their human scents?'

  His nose twitched, tasting the air. `No, there they are. Close.'

  `Yes. I have them too, but how? There was nothing a moment ago.' She moved on his back. `I now can see them. Look.'

  Mason refocused at the forest under him and the life signs thrumming there. Bloodells. About a dozen. Ahead, he spotted Wilson with Sally, moving fast towards the house, but not fast enough.

  `They hunt Wilson.'

  He watched Sally fall. Wilson stopped to help her, while Lilly circled around to the rear. Renee had been right. Sally was a distraction. And Lilly and Wilson were outnumbered.

  `The house!' Huntress howled.

  Her claws bit deep under his scales. He twisted and saw smoke rising up from the house. Ruth. Nikki. The baby he still did not know enough about. His child.

  `Go to them.' Renee released her hold, slipping back. `Leave me to look after th
ese few. I won't let anything happen to Wilson. Go!'

  He slowed and dropped, letting Renee slingshot off him towards Wilson, then lifted upwards on powerful wings.

  The house. He cursed silently, pushing his body. Flames flickered through the smoke.

  Panic began to feed his fear.

  Hunter snarled, pushing all aside. Folding his wings, he dropped.

  Wilson spun around, pushing Sally behind. He could sense them, moving in fast. He needed a weapon.

  `Here!' Lilly threw him one of his knives. He snatched it out of the air. `Found it in your room,' she said, circling to stand between him and the approaching Bloodells. `Thought it might be nice to hang onto.'

  `Thanks,' he said, balancing the knife. It had been built for him, for combat. It was heavy, sharp and strong. But it was only one blade, and he could see how many Bloodells waited at the base of the slope and feel how many moved through the trees thinking to outflank them.

  `Wil,' Sally's voice was barely a whisper behind him. `They're everywhere.'

  `Get ready to run,' he whispered, understanding that if they rushed him, Sally wouldn't stand a chance. He couldn't allow that. Not Sally.

  Lilly crouched. A low sound began. The Bloodells below them stopped. They knew about Lilly, and Wilson realised they would target her first. Alone, she was the most dangerous of them all.

  It didn't matter that he was sure she couldn't use her sound gift without killing him and Sally, too. The Bloodells probably counted on her using it as they would, without concern for human life. Either way, Lilly would die first.

  No. The realisation shuddered through him. He couldn't save both. Lilly would put up a good fight. She had her own skills, he knew, but there were so many of them. A fog of confusion fell over him. Anger swirled in it, adding to his indecision.

  `Getting angry won't help,' he muttered, staring back at the cold faces of the Bloodells.

  `It helps your father,' Sally whispered from behind.

  `Come to us!' the closest Bloodells yelled, reaching out to them.

  Wilson moved closer to Lilly, feeling Sally staying close behind. `What will happen if we do as he says?'

  `We will die,' Lilly growled back.

  `Lilith. It is you we seek. Do you not remember me, sweet Lilith?'

  Wilson edged closer. Lilly had frozen, staring at the man; vulnerable.

  The Bloodells moved up beside them. `Lilly?'

  `You—' Lilly choked out. `You bastard. You fucking bastard.'

  Wilson reached for Sally.

  `It was him!' Lilly screamed, pointing at the bemused man waiting at the bottom of the slope. `He tried to make me one of them. I remember you.'

  `Little one. Hush now,' he said. `You were to be mine. You are mine. If you come with me now, I'll let you bring the boy.'

  Lilly spat on the ground. `Fuck you!'

  Wilson tried to breathe. They had come for Lilly? He tried to think, but found only anger. Frustrated, he tried harder to understand. Who was Lilly that they would go to all this trouble? Send helicopters and men? His skin itched.

  `Wil?'

  He felt Sal's hand on his back, deliciously cool. He had to save her. He felt so hot he was panting, gulping air to stay upright.

  The big man tilted his head and Wilson could actually feel the malice seeping out of him.

  `That's the spirit, Lilly. Let's see that vicious streak. Oh, yes, you are your mother's daughter. Let your boy see what you really are. Come back to us.'

  Wilson grabbed her arm. The Bloodells were all around them. Sally was at his back, trying to be brave. He could hear the sounds she was trying to swallow. He needed to stall them. Hope that Renee, or his father, would come soon. `Lies, Lilly. Lies. It's all they know.'

  `You're so wrong, Butcher's Boy,' the big man spat. He altered his stance, ready to move. `She is one of us.'

  Wilson didn't speak. He felt the heartbeats surrounding them change. Soil squeaked as the weight of bodies shifted.

  Lilly sang.

  What was she doing? Wilson felt the pain build for a second, then just as quickly it vanished. A lance of sound speared from her into the big man. His eyes widened for a moment, then his head split and his body exploded into a spray of gore.

  Sally yelped as a mist of blood covered them. Then she screamed. Wilson spun around, lashing out with the knife, but he had been too late.

  They had taken Sally.

  He seemed to see her through a red mist. They had Sally down. Hands covered her face and breasts. Others pulled at her clothes. He had seen that look the night they had come for him at the hospital. She was no more than fun to them. Sweet, innocent blood to be tasted. He would not let it happen again. Suddenly his decision was made clear.

  He grabbed Lilly by the throat. She didn't struggle, her hands resting lightly on his arms. Slowly he pressed his fingers into the soft flesh of her throat until her instincts kicked in and her nails dug into his skin. `Let the girl go or I will kill this one.' Wilson felt his strength building while Lilly wilted under his grip.

  `Liar.'

  They had stopped to watch. One of them continued to hold Sally, his hand under her shirt, squeezing her breast.

  Wilson began to crush Lilly's throat; blood flowed from her mouth in a rich stream.

  `Believe me. Let her go,' he growled, willing himself to maintain a grip on Lilly. Hurting her cut at him, but he could not let anything happen to Sally. Guilt faded. Lilly thrashed about, gurgling. `You're running out of time.'

  Sally's captor narrowed his eyes. `Wait!'

  Wilson continued to squeeze.

  `We just want the girl, alive.'

  `Let Sally go. Move back.' His voice was harsh and cold, almost something he didn't recognise, but the Bloodells moved, edging back. `Sally, come here. To me.'

  She stood, eyes wet with tears, looking at his hands on Lilly's throat. `What are you?'

  A Bloodells laughed. `Human girl, your lover is his father's son — a murderer. A human who uses his own claim to humanity to hide the darkness in his heart.'

  Wilson heard movement around him as Sally approached. He looked at her, her eyes wide and hands clenched, her fear so strong it stung his senses. Heat itched at his skin. He tried to shrug it off but an acrid scent edged past Sally's fear.

  `Give us the girl,' the Bloodells said, stepping closer. Arrogant.

  `Get everybody where I can see them.' He waited while they edged into his line of sight. Gradually the presence behind him faded. Bloodells men stood in front of him, contempt clear in their smiles. They were going to kill him if they got the chance.

  Wilson slipped his fingers out of the wound but kept his hands around Lilly's throat. She hung limply in his hands but under them he felt her flesh move, healing.

  `Enough of this! Give us the girl!'

  Lilly moved, trying to stand.

  `You can have her. I wish we had never met!' He helped her up. `All this you brought to my home.'

  `Wil!' she sobbed, hoarse, her throat still healing. She trembled in his hands. `Please, no.'

  `You're one of them. A Bloodells. An Unnatural!' Grabbing her hair he pulled her in close, staring into her wide and frightened eyes. The Bloodells watched, oozing excitement. `Freak.'

  `Wil, no,' Sally moved closer.

  `You shut up.' He grabbed her arm, so hard she cried out.

  The Bloodells didn't move. He had them interested, entertained. They thrived on other people's pain, Mason had told him that.

  `Stop whining and just shut up. Look around. This isn't the mall, Sally. This is real. Lilly is one of them. She used me to get close to Mum and Dad and that's why they're all here. They want us dead.'

  `At last. He sees the truth. It's over, boy. Give her to me.'

  `She's all yours,' Wilson said pulling Lilly's head back so she was forced to look right into his eyes. `Take a look, Lilly. See what is in me. They're right. I'm just like my father.'

  Her eyes widened.

  Lilly had understood at
last, heard his message.

  He had let the anger grow until it showed in his eyes. Anger had banished all his confusion. Noise surged inside his head.

  Something was coming and he welcomed it.

  `Such melodrama and quite unexpected. But your time is up, boy.'

  `Kill him,' Lilly said, her voice growing louder. She broke free of Wilson's grip. `He's a fucking monster.'

  `Oh, yes, my pleasure.' The Bloodells raised a hand.

  Lilly grabbed it. `I wasn't talking to you.'

  Wilson pushed Sally away, hearing her cry as she fell. Lilly's captor was reefed forward and, as Lilly screamed, his head became a red and grey spray.

  Bloodells rushed them. Lilly somersaulted over him, to Sally. He understood the noise inside. It was him, the sound of his anger trapped, waiting to be released as living energy.

  He was its master.

  `Burn!'

  Renee clung to an upper branch.

  Something had told her to wait. She had watched Wil strangle Lilly and yell at Sally, and known it for a lie. But when the Bloodells rushed him her instincts had seemed to betray her. He is the danger, they'd said. The real danger. She had forced herself to stay, watch, ready to help him.

  But Huntress had been right. Her instincts sound. The boy had found his gift. Wondrous. Dangerous.

  She sniffed ash floating around her. The forest had been ashed in a huge vee projected from Wilson's position. White fire covered him. None of the Bloodells remained. Sally and Lilly stood safe at his back.

  She moved off silently. Wilson was a boy no longer. His father would be so proud. She reached for him.

  Cold, mindless rage answered.

  Wrongness pervaded the house. It lapped at him as he stood outside, wings folded away.

  Caution had tempered his fear for Ruth. Hunter faded, but Mason kept his scaled armour. An Unnatural odour mixed with the smoke. Fingers of cold energy flickered inside. Death announced its presence with the harsh tang of scorched flesh riding on the back of the Unnatural stench.

  `Ruth?' Bile churned in him as silence answered. In the unsettling quiet, he could not feel her at all.