Scarla showed all her teeth at him. Ricco did the same. Did the pack share their females? The idea sent a bolt of renewed excitement though her.
Yes, this world would be her home.
Yani felt the sweat bead down his back as they crested the last hill into Bondi. Stars winked back at him, reflected off the ocean. Lights shone brightly from individual houses.
Such things had never mattered to him before, but everything looked different now.
`What's wrong with you?' Michelle asked, driving the van.
Yani had to swallow, his mouth was so dry. In the distance he heard it again, the sound that made his skin tighten and bile churn within. `How many men will be at our stronghold?'
`Many,' she said, looking hard at him.
He looked away, staring into the rear-view mirror. He wanted to run. Instincts he had not felt for millennia muttered inside.
`Why?'
`You can't hear it, can you?'
`What?'
He was one of a very few living who could recognise the Song. Never did he think to experience the terror twice in one lifetime. `How soon before our Lord is with us?'
`Shit, Yani. What's with all the questions? We're nearly there and He will come once I am there.' Michelle checked her mirrors. `You're still rattled by Butcher and his whore Darkells'
`No.' He caught a flash of colour through the houses.
Again he spotted a flash of colour and movement. Not human. Wolves. `Shit.'
`What now?' Michelle snapped as they slowed, entering the beachside car park.
`Wolves.' He unclipped his seat belt and leapt out. They had to move fast. He had killed many Wolves. These would be dangerous, strong and many. He would not be able to stop a pack.
`So what?' Michelle waited while he checked Ruth, then carried her out of the back of the van. `They aren't immune to my gift?'
`No, probably not. Where to?' Claw raked concrete. More than one Wolf. A lot more.
`The beach,' Michelle said, suddenly moving fast. Perhaps she'd realised how dangerous the car park was.
He followed her down onto the empty sand. `Mistress. Our stronghold? Our soldiers?' He was panicking. He heard it in his own voice.
`Here.' Michelle stopped at the water's edge.
Yani frowned. He hated swimming. `The wolves are close.'
A wild chorus of howls filled the air. Yani nearly dropped his hostage.
Michelle went very still beside him. `Worry not about the Wolves. Bemeon comes.'
Ice formed around him. Yani watched as the ocean froze over with black ice. Again the Wolves howled. They were nearly at the beach. He could smell them now. Their scent reached out for him. An army of Wolves howled for his blood.
`Michelle,' he had to catch his breath, chest tight, `it's more than a pack!'
`Who cares?'
Wind roared across the frozen ocean. Yani was torn between watching it and the approaching Wolves.
`This is our Stronghold.' Michelle raised her arms and the ice moaned and cracked.
Yani stepped back as the ice rose up before him to create a huge portal, its centre humming with liquid dark energy. Over the wind he heard the scuff of paws on sand.
Michelle turned, her eyes going wide. `Go!' She pushed him and Yani didn't hesitate, diving into the cold darkness. Many hands touched him. Some took the human from his hands. Darkness rippled around him. Bemeon, his god, was close.
`Save her,' a voice whispered beside him. `Or you will die.'
He was spun around and shoved back onto the beach. Michelle's gift covered her; energy lashed at the shape bounding towards her. Hundreds of eyes watched from the sea wall. Wolves.
`Impossible!' she screamed. `It's just a Wolf. How can he be immune!' Energy crackled and lashed at the black alpha bearing down on them. His stride didn't falter. Unstoppable.
`He's not just a wolf,' Yani pulled her towards the portal. `Move your arse, woman, or we are both dead out here.'
Yani heaved at her until they fell back through the coldness of the portal.
Safe.
Scarla clung to Ralph, her gift active, intertwining with his unique energy to shield him from Michelle's attack.
`Stop!' she screamed, realising Ralph was not slowing and that the portal was looming dangerously close. It reeked of her father's evil. She would not go back there. `No! Ralph, you can't.'
She hit him hard on the head. Ralph shuddered but didn't stop.
Scarla pulled back on his ears with all her strength and he skidded to a halt, a hair's breadth from the portal. Deep in his chest a snarl rumbled out. `Ralph, if you enter the portal you will die. He will kill you!'
He tensed, then turned, loping back towards the packs watching from the seawall. `Thank you,' she whispered, lying back on him, relaxed, caressing his ears.
He spun round. She howled as she fell onto the sand. `No!' She ran after him, so slow in the sand, watching his huge shape vanish into the portal.
She shuddered, stopping at the portal, tasting her loss. The pain was real. He had denied her. Why had he done that? Why had Ralph left her? Why?
`No!' she hissed as the energy in the portal rippled and reached for her. `Never! I am free of you, Father.' She staggered back, fighting the growing pull of the portal. `You will not have me again.' Scarla stepped out of the portal's reach and anger came. Fear had ruled her for too long. It was time.
`Father!' She threw a handful of sand at the portal and spat on the ground as she said the words burning inside her. `I renounce you. I hate you, Father.'
The portal stilled and she sobbed. Anger, pain and sorrow swirled in her. She could not help Ralph. If she went after him her father would kill her himself. Scarla turned, looking up at the massed packs watching. Hot, bloody tears ran down her face. `You cannot follow him. The fight must be here. To enter the portal means death.'
Not one Wolf moved.
Scarla fell to her knees, raking her claws though the sand, torn by the loss she felt for Ralph and the anger towards her father. What could she do?
Mason folded his wings and fell from the sky, Huntress on his back. The Bloodells had taken Ruth into the portal. His heart had surged at Ralph's headlong plunge after Michelle and the big man.
`We could die in there.' She knew no fear.
`They have Ruth. They know I will come.'
`Yes.' She bit into his scaled armour as they plummeted towards the portal. `Kill everything.'
Armour stiffened as they pierced the coldness of the portal.
Then he knew pain. Blinding pain.
Bones broke. His.
For a millisecond he saw Ruth.
Then nothing.
CHAPTER 38
Michelle wiped the blood from her split lip, ignoring her pain as the dark god stood staring at Butcher's wife, prone on the stone slab.
It had been a dangerous risk, seeking Lilly out. To seek out her only child had brought division to her clans. Some had said it had been a weakness, not the Bloodells' way. But she had felt the change in her, a shift in consciousness. The overwhelming urge to reclaim her daughter, have Lilly with her in the new world. Those who had opposed her decision no longer lived.
She shifted to ease the discomfort, hoping the dark god wouldn't notice it. Bringing Butcher's wife with her had not been planned, but little had gone to plan. How could she have known there'd be Wolves, or of Butcher's sudden increased abilities. She clenched her hands behind her back. That look on Nikki's face when they had faced each other. There'd been no hate or fear, only sadness. Sadness.
The dark god gurgled in glee and looked towards the portal. She followed his gaze. Wolves flowed down onto the beach. High in the night sky a figure streaked towards them.
`A Hunter, then?'
`That's what's Yani called him,' she said, keeping her voice cold. Images flickered in her mind. A forest from long ago. A face. One she had loved? When?
`So, it has come to pass, then. My sister and the dirt whore have been working toget
her. As I predicted.'
She said nothing. A memory niggled. Distracting. She knew Nikki for a powerful Darkells Magi. So why had she hesitated before killing her?
`And now I have his woman,' the dark god said, turning to face her. `An unexpected outcome but useful, my Priestess.'
`Yes, my Lord.' She didn't look at him, keeping her mind sealed shut. Taking Butcher's wife had been instinctive. He held her daughter so she would have his wife. All she wanted was to get her daughter back.
`The Hunter comes. And Huntress. Then the packs united.' He stepped back as the portal shimmered in anticipation with him. `And your sister comes with her Darkells whores. Excellent.'
Michelle tightened her self-control. She had not been alone in the dark god's direct presence before, and could feel her sense of self slipping away. She frowned, trying to untangle what he'd said. He had expected a Hunter to come. And her sister, too. Eleanor?
`You remember her, then?'
She started. The dark god stood so close his rank breath fouled her senses. Words failed to come. Memories clawed into her mind. What had she forgotten?
`Priestess.' He touched her with a clammy hand and her confusion vanished.
`Yes, my Lord.' She both served and loved him. He was her master.
`Good.' He turned away. `Take your place by my side and be ready to deal with Hunter and his whore.'
She moved to where Butcher's wife lay. A quick glance downwards made her shiver. What was it about the human woman that made her feel so conflicted?
`He comes,' the dark god whispered, his excitement sending a ripple of energy through her. `And freedom with him.'
Michelle didn't look up. Butcher's wife was moving.
Ruth stirred, sure she had heard Mason. Her eyelids felt heavy, immoveable. Cold wet stone greeted her searching hands.
`Strong she is.'
Ruth winced. The voice hurt her head. Deeply Unnatural.
`Yes.'
Ruth tried to move. The voice seemed so familiar.
`She isn't human, Priestess. Nor the child in her.'
`So it seems, my Lord.'
The air reeked of death and Ruth understood where she was.
The Bloodells' god whispered in her ear. `No matter what my harpy sister has planned with the dirt whore of your world, you and all that awaits me through the portal will be mine.' Cold fingers thrust between her legs, and into her. `Your kind will breed my children. Bloodlines will become one.'
She tried to push him away but he thrust harder into her softness.
`First I will slaughter the man. That weak human with his blind rage and emotions. That one they choose as their protector. They will pay for their treachery, for banishing me here. They will pay. For not choosing ME.'
She screamed silently as he twisted his hand in her. Nails tore her flesh at its withdrawal.
`So sweet and fertile.' She heard a sound that could only be him sucking his fingers. One by one. Tasting her. `The dirt whore has made you the perfect breeder.'
Ruth pushed the pain away, as stiff muscles were forced into action. She called words past a painfully dry throat. `You will fail,' she croaked.
`Shut up!'
Pain. Solid and focused. A fist.
`You don't speak to our Lord.'
Ruth hoped the woman would give her more than a cowardly punch. Her hands were warming, her strength growing. She felt energies moving in her. If the woman would only touch her for a little longer, she would discover that the time had arrived for Ruth to fight back.
`You have no voice here,' the woman went on. `You will be nothing more than a slave to your desires — a breeding bitch, fucking everything you can.'
Pain landed again. Punishing.
Ruth couldn't breathe. Anger fled.
Hard, fine hands gripped hers. `You had everything, bitch. Family, someone who loved you without fail, yet you still managed to screw it all up. Bemeon will win because of your selfishness. You're the reason Butcher will die, fighting to save a woman who doesn't truly love him. His love will be his undoing. A love you don't deserve.'
Unnatural cold energy swept up her arms into her body. Words failed as another, more terrifying cold gripped her heart. The truth of the priestess's words echoed in the darkness as Ruth fell into the abyss torn open in her mind.
Sand pressed against his face as pain burnt through the grogginess.
His arm was useless. Broken. He tried to move it. Hot blood covered his fingers. Pain came. And realisation. His armour must be gone if bones were broken and he was bleeding like his.
`Mason?' Renee touched his leg. He blinked sand from his eyes, but the darkness remained. He was blind and his body screamed in pain.
`You okay?' He touched his arm, felt shattered bone. How?
`You're not Hunter anymore,' she whispered. He felt her move beside him. She touched his face. `But I still have Huntress.'
`Ironic, isn't it?'
Mason stiffened at the voice. Male, deep, normal.
`Here the very energy that gives Hunter his strength answers to me. I am its master.'
Harsh yellow light grew around him, revealing black, coarse sand. Two figures stood almost hidden by the farthest edge of darkness, an altar stone between them. Ruth lay upon it.
Mason staggered to his feet, feeling Renee's hands on his broken arm, processing what he saw.
`Ruth!' He wanted to move but Renee held him tight. With a swift movement, she set his arm. Mason sucked in damp air as he controlled the pain, his body still strong. He still had Butcher.
`So predictable.'
Mason froze as the figure stepped into the light.
`No,' Renee groaned beside him. `He's taken your form.'
`Simple, really,' Bemeon said, smiling with Mason's face. `Now I have your face and Hunter's form.' Bemeon's face twisted and something almost Hunter formed before them. `My sister's arrogance has failed you, Mason. By crossing into this world you have given me all I need to cross over to yours.' Bemeon resumed Mason's form, and once again there were imperfections.
`Not even close,' Mason growled, calling the anger that had always been there for him. `None will believe you're me.'
`Matters not,' Bemeon said, moving in a blur to stand close before him with the blackness of his teeth and rank breath strong in Mason's senses. `It is you who have assembled the Wolves and Darkells in readiness to Hunt. It's your Song that draws them, guides them. Tells then what, or who, to Hunt.'
`No,' Renee whispered, squeezing his hand as Mason stared hard at the creature he wanted to kill so much.
Bemeon grinned. `Huntress understands.'
Mason wanted to smash his face but Renee's grip was savage on him.
`She knows that all it takes is for the Song to change and the prey will change, become the humans. It is the Hunter who marks the prey.'
Mason spat blood on the sand at Bemeon's feet. `None will follow you.' He prised Renee's hand off his as Bemeon stood, unmoving. `You reek. The instant you step out there they will know.'
`Look at them,' Bemeon said, walking past them.
Mason spun around. The portal shimmered, clear, revealing what lay on the other side. His breath caught at the sight of Eleanor venting her rage, more like a Hunter herself than the elegant woman he knew. Energy coursed from her, the portal shuddering under her attack.
`Magnificent,' Bemeon muttered, watching Eleanor. `The stronger sister, I see.'
Mason heard the woman behind them gasp and knew her to be Michelle.
Bemeon turned to face him. `See that, human? That is their true shape. Hard, cold and savage. Not the soft desirable form of humans they show you. Not beautiful.'
`She will tear you apart,' Mason said, feeling his breath grow easier. A rib had mended.
`Yes.' Bemeon turned back to watch Eleanor blazing with power and rage. `But not you. She has accepted you. Her daughter stands by your side. The Darkells clans stand behind her, ready to fight for you. She has put much faith in you. That's why I wil
l succeed.'
`You're full of shit,' Mason muttered, trying to call up Butcher. `Eleanor will never accept that you're me.'
`Not usually,' Bemeon said, facing him. `But you, grieving the loss of a wife, and an unborn child; and Huntress. These she has not seen before. She will hesitate, seeing you fully enraged as Hunter. That moment will be all I need to sing my Song. Then they will all be mine.'
A growl rumbled from out of the darkness and Mason caught a glimpse of surprise on Bemeon's face. `Your alpha is strong.'
Ralph's head appeared in the corner of Mason's vision, covered in black blood and gore. He nodded and Ralph dipped his head back.
`He still follows you? Without Hunter?' Bemeon glanced between them and Mason could see indecision flicker across the god's face.
Ralph hacked up a lump of black gore and spat it at Bemeon's feet as his body twisted to stand on two legs. Both Wolf and man.
`Free Wolves choose to fight,' he rumbled, towering over them all and Mason smiled, making sure Bemeon saw it.
`You've taught your Wolves new tricks.' Bemeon eyed Ralph cautiously. `To speak as a Wolf and a man. I don't know what the benefit could be. I prefer mine to be mindless, faithful creatures.'
Mason heard them coming — Bemeon's wolves. Huge Twisted shapes twice the size of Ralph loomed out of the darkness.
`Abominations!' Ralph spat at Bemeon. `They are a sickness you have made in our likeness.'
`Perhaps.' Bemeon grinned at them. `But they are effective and will tear your packs apart.'
Ralph seemed to grow beside Mason. `They are not Wolves. The packs will tear them apart before they leave the beach.'
`Perhaps.' Bemeon moved his hand and light blossomed, revealing what had been hidden in the darkness. `But I believe my packs outnumber yours.'
Ralph writhed beside Mason, taking his Wolf and howling in rage at the massed Twisted wolves of Bemeon's world.
`Wait,' Mason said, touching Ralph's hot pelt. `Control it. Stay here.' Ralph shook in rage beside him and Mason understood. Bemeon's wolves were everything Ralph wasn't, but they shared the same shape.
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