`Infecting me,' Mason shook his head. `Damn thing nearly succeeded. Put it away, will you?'
Pete looked at the bone dagger in his hand. He was supposed to keep it? `I thought it was meant for you?'
`No, Pete.' Mason looked out towards the city. `I think that would be a mistake.'
`Well, what the hell am I going to do with the bloody thing, then?' He slipped it back into the leather sheath, uncomfortable he was still wearing such an Unnatural thing.
`Hang onto it, Pete,' Mason said, turning away. `The safest place for it tonight is with you.'
`Christ,' he muttered, starting to understand why his grandmother had been so cryptic when she'd given it to him. She hadn't needed to tell him it was Unnatural, and when she had said he would know what to do with it when the time came, he thought that had meant bringing it to Mason. Had she known the whole truth? `So. What am I supposed to do now?'
Renee grimaced. `Survive. You're part of this now.'
He didn't get a chance to speak again. The crowd around them closed in.
Ruth tried to scream in the darkness. Silence.
Her arms and legs felt lifeless. No sound or sensation came to her, yet she was awake. Blind. Trapped. Despair wailed in her. Would Mason find her again? Had she lost Nikki?
`He will find you.'
Ruth struggled to understand the faint voice in the spiralling darkness.
`Father will find us.'
She focused. Stability shimmered. Colours flared in the darkness. The voice came again.
`I am growing strong. Soon, I will call to him.'
A girl? Ruth reached out into the darkness. It was a girl?
`Yes, Mother. Please stop trying to reach me. You cannot. Rest instead. I must grow stronger. The darkness is coming.'
All colour faded and darkness came to her again. But where despair had stood there now was hope. Yes, she felt it. A daughter grew within her.
Ruth relaxed, letting the darkness settle on her like a thick cold blanket. She had to rest and be ready. To fight for her child.
Wilson stood at the warehouse doorway, watching his father.
`What's happening now?' Sally asked, taking his hand. He shifted, uncomfortable about her seeing so much and about the pistols she wore.
`The big, bald guy has a knife they were interested in.' He glanced around to see where Lilly was, but she was nowhere close. `Now it looks like the Wolves want to talk.'
`All these people are like Ralph?' Sally stepped closer, showing no fear.
He wanted to smile with her but couldn't help thinking that they, she, could die tonight.
Wilson pulled her against him. `Sally, I don't want anything to happen to you. I don't think I could handle seeing you hurt.'
`I'm not staying here while you go to fight, Wil.' She pushed him away with a look on her face he knew only too well.
`I know this is not like the movies. People will die tonight, Wil. There's a whole lot of bad coming our way. Things that want you dead. I saw them in the forest. They won't stop until they get what they want, so, me staying here isn't going to make a difference.'
She unclipped a pistol from its holster. `Tonight, I'm going to have to use this, either here or out there with you. And I want to be with you, Wil. No matter how scared I am.'
He sighed, Sally was right. The Bloodells would come for her no matter where she was.
`You're right.' He pushed her pistol back into the holster. `How good are you with these, anyway?'
`Better than Ruth,' she said with a scared smile. `She taught me to do head shots. I never asked why but I guess it means that's the best place to shoot a Bloodells.'
`Yeah, brain damage is hard to recover from.' Wilson rubbed his nose. He had to admit to being impressed. His mother was very good with a pistol. She hated them but that hadn't stopped her training with them.
`Okay,' Sally drawled, wetting her lips and breathing out hard. `Touch me with your fire again, to make sure it doesn't burn me.'
Wilson pulled back. Had his fire touched her back in the forest?
`It touched me Wil. It was hot but didn't burn. But,' she shrugged holding out her hand, `I don't want to get singed next time we kiss.'
Her smile was infectious. Was it his fear or nerves that made her smile feel so good? `Okay,' he said, letting the white fire cover his hand. `Try it.'
Sally reached for his hand and he smiled as the flame flickered, almost caressing her hand.
`That's really weird,' she said. `It touched me almost like it knew me.'
`Maybe it does.' He smiled more as the fire covered her hand. `Maybe the fire is part of me, and knows who you are. How does it feel?'
`Warm. Kind of soft now.' She rubbed her thumb across the back of his hand.
`Looks like there's going to be an argument out here.' Sally nodded towards his father and Ralph surrounded by people.
`Hope not,' he said. Sally leant against him, the fire creeping over them both. `I don't think Dad will cope well with that.'
`No.' Sally squeezed his hand. `Can you feel her, your sister?'
Wilson closed his eyes, searching for the familiar sensation he had with Nikki's child. `No, not yet. But we will find them soon. The Wolves will help us.'
`Okay,' she said, resting her head on his shoulder. `But until then can we just be together, just us?'
`Yes,' he whispered, letting his fire cover them both completely. `Just us,' he promised, aware that in the soft glow of their fire he had seen the glimmer of Lilly's eyes, watching them.
CHAPTER 37
`You claim to be the Huntress.'
A small, wiry woman faced them, ignoring the pressing throng. She was old but not aged, her body strong, matching her tone. An Elder. The matriarch.
`Yesss,' Renee hissed back, letting a little Huntress leak out. Mason didn't speak. These were Ralph's kin. It wasn't his place to speak for Ralph, or for Huntress.
`Bloodells have spilt blood here in our land.' Half-wolf, Ralph stood tall over the crowd. `Their High Priestess has come in open defiance of the treaty, attacking boldly, in light of day, and with no regard to Darkells or human life!'
Murmurs rippled around them. Deep vibrations filled the air.
`You speak for the She claiming to be Huntress?' The old woman asked, unmoved by Ralph's words.
`I do.' Ralph seemed to grow taller as his pack joined him.
Mason didn't hide his grin when they let their Wolf free. `We speak for the Huntress, and her Hunter, as free Wolves.'
`Free Wolves?' the old woman asked and stepped closer, studying them.
`Aye, Mia,' Ralph slurred through Wolf teeth as he bent to look right into her eyes. `Our choice. We are not bonded nor compelled. We serve no one except by choice. That is our right, since the Elders cast us out as freaks.'
Quiet slapped at Mason. The complete silence in such a tight but full space seemed impossible. No one spoke or moved as Ralph faced the matriarch. Her hands clenched and unclenched, and Wolf moved under her skin.
`If they fight you must not interfere.'
He glanced at Renee, relaxed, calm, her eyes fixed on Ralph. `He will win. She is no match.'
`You were never a freak,' Mia growled back as her Wolf grew. Thick red hair formed. Legs cracked. `Strong, fast, stubborn and cursed with a blind devotion to the Darkells girl. An alpha with a crush on one of the Unnaturals. Not a freak, but no use to us. Who would follow you?'
Vertebrae clicked. Long, black claws scraped the concrete. When she finished she stood tall, a great Wolf, but still smaller than Ralph. She sniffed the air, tasting him. `And yet, without us, you've grown. You have a pack, loyal and trained. They stand with her, against us all, without hesitation. And you dare call yourself a freak.'
The packs rumbled around them, bodies flexed as changes began. Yet no fight was coming. Mason could feel it. More, he could see it in Mia's eyes when she reached up to Ralph.
`You were always a gifted Wolf, child,' she whispered, rubbing his Wolf face wi
th affection. `And now you are he, the Alpha of the Three. Our Ancients have come back.'
Mia let him go and stepped back, baring her throat. Mason felt the shift ripple through the packs. She offered the alpha her loyalty and allegiance, if he decided not to take her life there and now. She offered respect.
Respect. Everything a Wolf desires.
`So you,' Ralph paused, still the kid and not quite understanding what Mason saw so clearly. `you'll hunt with us?'
Mia howled. The packs followed. Power rippled through Mason, making him stagger. The Wolves sang around him.
Blood. He wanted to hunt, kill, and taste the sweet bitterness of a Bloodells.
`This is us.' Renee grinned at him with fangs exposed. `Their Song is ours. Together we become one.'
`No Bloodells bitch makes a kill in our land and lives!' Mia shouted to the packs. `Treaty is broken. Hidden we are no more. Tonight, we hunt!'
Concrete shook under Mason as the Wolves stomped their huge paws in agreement. Deep inside him his own Song began to build, rushing up through the darkness. He could not contain Hunter's call. Instinctively, he morphed, letting Hunter free.
Wolves glowed earthy red, eager to hunt. The rush came again.
Like the Wolves, Hunter tipped his head back and howled his rage into the night air.
Light seeped into the darkness smothering her. Muffled sounds moved around her.
Ruth tried to move a hand. It hurt, but it moved. She tried her legs. Nothing. Voices came, low and fast, filtering in on the edge of hearing. Incoherent.
Ruth made a fist and white-hot pain shot up her arm. No cry came, her lips wouldn't move and her tongue felt thick. Trapped. Still.
`We are close to Father.'
Ruth stopped, listening.
`I will call to him, but I am not strong enough. I must take from you, Mother.'
Ruth focused, feeling the presence within her, willing her gift towards her daughter's mind.
`Do it.'
`Much pain, danger. I am frightened. You will suffer.'
Ruth's connection wavered but she would not let it go. Fierce emotions flared. Protective instincts surged. Adrenalin spiked her blood.
`Take what you need.' Pain exploded. She screamed silently as the child consumed her life force. She clenched her hand, nails tearing painfully into the soft flesh of her palm, the only reaction her body could give. It was nothing compared to the sensation of her child tearing at her body with thousands of tiny sharp teeth.
White flashed. Then came nothing. No pain, no sensation. Nothing. She flailed, trying to stay conscious.
`He will hear me now.'
Ruth, numb through every part of her, couldn't answer. She couldn't even hope as the silence engulfed her in the darkness.
`Is he still Mason?' Sally asked, watching from the doorway.
Wilson let his fire fade. A scaled, winged creature howled with the wolves. He didn't know.
`Mostly,' Nikki said behind him, making him start. He hadn't heard her come downstairs.
She stopped, eyes on Mason. `The creature you see now is Hunter, but Mason is at the core of that being.'
Wilson breathed out noisily as the creature stood tall and spread its wings, so alien. Claws moved on the wings and the Wolves howled again. Where was his father in that? `I just wish he didn't seem to enjoy it so much.'
`He has accepted what he is,' Nikki said, touching her stomach and drawing Wilson's attention.
`What about him?' He pointed with his chin. `Will he be like Dad?'
`No idea,' she said with a small smile. `Does it really matter?'
Wilson opened his mouth and closed it. He didn't know if it would matter. Would it?
`Probably not.' Though he was still uncomfortable with the idea she carried his half-brother. Joining with his father to save her had been instinctive. He hadn't had time to think of the dying woman as his mother's lover, his half-brother's mum.
`You don't quite approve of me.' Her tone was neutral.
He didn't reply, oddly relieved at how she had summed his feelings up.
'Help us.'
Wilson buckled.
`Brother. Father. Come! The people's beach.'
`Wil!' Sally held him as his stomach churned. Bile burnt in his throat. It was his sister's 'path. Intense. Full of pain and fear she'd been unable to mask.
Hunter roared. Wilson stood to face him. The Wolves had fallen uncannily silent.
Hunter's face softened. Mason reached out. `She is alive. In Sydney. At Bondi.'
`Yes. The beach.' He grasped his father's scaled hand. An understanding passed between them, unsaid. They would do whatever was necessary to save Ruth and keep their family free of the Bloodells.
Mason spoke to the big, bald man waiting nearby. `Take Syrus and Pete. Work with Max.' He glanced at Sally then moved closer to Nikki. `Death is coming here tonight. Both of you, stay close to Wilson.'
Wilson caught the look Mason gave Nikki as he moved to touch her belly and their unborn child with the back of his hand. That was all Mason, Wil realised. Underneath the scales he was all Mason, still his dad. He cared. And nothing could stop him from caring.
Ralph came up behind Mason. `We have their scent!'
`Dad.' He touched his father one last time before Hunter's features flowed across the familiar face. `We will win.'
Hunter looked at him with hard black eyes for a second, then was gone.
Max slipped on his armoured vest. He had always worn it when hunting with Mason. The thing had saved his life more than once and tonight he would need every advantage a human could take.
`You don't fear him.'
He stiffened. Eleanor rattled him. She'd crept up on him again.
`Of course not.' He checked the vest, making sure it was snug. Avoiding looking at her. Not now, at least.
`Tonight you will see many things.' She stood close. Too close. Too warm. `I will not be me, but more like Hunter, when the time comes.'
`And this is important, how?' He checked his pistols were loaded. She touched him. His pulse surged. Damn.
`When you see me, try your best to remember me here, now.'
He found her arms around him, soft sweet lips on his. He didn't resist, wrapping his arms around her. No question, Eleanor excited him. She was older. Sure of herself. Dangerous. Bold. And Unnatural.
`You're not shy,' he managed to gasp as she broke off the kiss. Her flavour lingered strong in his mouth.
`No,' she whispered, breasts hot against his chest. `It's been a while since someone has interested me as you have.'
`Interested?' Max disentangled himself. `So, I'm just interesting?'
`No. That's not — oh, curse it.' She turned away.
`Eleanor.' He turned her back to face him. `I'm sorry.'
`No need to be sorry. You're right.' She pulled away, pausing when the night was filled with howls. `It's time. Hunter and the pack have the Bloodells' scent. We go to battle this night. We may not survive. Come.'
`Wait.'
But the office stood empty except for him.
Mason flexed as Hunter's armoured body settled. Wilson's words echoed in his mind. They would win.
`Call the Hunt.' Huntress whispered, body hot on his back, ready to fly. `Let the ancient Song free, Hunter. Call the Hunt.'
Red filled his vision. It thrummed from the mass of Wolves before him. Ralph's aura rippled as a slim, black shape leapt upon his back. Scarla. She had changed too, wearing her own dark scales. Together, Ralph and Scarla made their own hunting pair.
The Wolves waited.
A single note echoed inside him, up and out through lungs and mouth. Instinct took over and he became airborne, Huntress riding his back while the wolves boiled out into the streets below them.
`Let them hear you again, my love. Sing. Drive fear into the black hearts of the Bloodells. Make the night ours.'
Colour filled the night. Wolf red. Humans showing as oranges and yellows scattering before the red surge. Street lig
hts were a harsh and alien bright white.
Ahead lay the ocean. Dark. Natural. Welcoming.
`Sing, my love. Fill the air with our Song. Make the bastards feel true fear.'
The air shimmered. Colours expanded out from him as his Song boomed across the city. Fresh red flared to the south.
`They come, the highlander packs.' Huntress moved on his back. `And Mother is coming. Look.'
He glanced back. Diamond white burnt below, weaving through the streets. Darkells afoot. Unmasked, their colour almost burning, it was so bright. Ahead, a rank and Unnatural scent slapped at him. Bloodells.
Huntress thumped his back, her excitement at the looming fight clear.
Hunter did not reply. Every sense Mason possessed was focused on trying to find Ruth. Fear moved deep inside. What if he wasn't strong enough to stop the Bloodells?
Could he fail?
Hunter rumbled. Never!
Scarla wrapped her claws deep into Ralph's thick coat, his huge body hot under her scales. Muscles moved with a fluidity that excited her more than the fight ahead.
She heard people screaming as Ralph leapt high over a car. Chaos echoed behind them. Scarla grinned, looking back at the wave of wolves following. Never had she dreamed of this.
A shout made her look forward. A man stood with a pistol. She knew what it could do to unprotected flesh. Ralph's muscles bunched, but she didn't wait, propelling herself off his back to land on the human. Hot blood sprayed across her. She didn't pause, launching herself back into the sky, gliding over the street and back onto Ralph. Unable to resist, she tasted the blood. And moaned. So sweet. So full of energy.
No wonder Father craved them so much.
She felt the Song before she heard it and sat erect, holding Ralph with her legs and basking in the ripple of energy from Hunter's Song. He was powerful. Accepting of what he had become.
Scarla let her own high-pitched Song free into the night. She knew this world was where she belonged. Even if Hunter succumbed to his darkness, Scarla could see herself thriving here. Ralph would be a fine mate. His heart was strong and his desire was true.
Ralph twisted sideways to dodge a car and she sat back down on his back. Something bumped her leg. Ricco, eyes hot as he watched her.
Unnaturals Page 37