"That's great news. I'll look forward to seeing the newsfeeds tomorrow," Curt replied and hung up.
Matt pocketed his cell with a sigh. Six people had died in that courthouse bombing. Matt hoped Curtis Roberts' new informant kept supplying reliable information. He wondered, though, what Curtis might eventually ask in exchange. A tenuous civility existed between Curtis and Matt, but Matt refused to trust Curtis. His distrust was one of the reasons he'd asked werewolves to go after the targets—he trusted them to do the job and not take unnecessary risks.
* * *
"This is my last communication until your wolves pick me up," Wildrif informed Zeke Tanner. "This side will be busy tomorrow when they hit the army base," he added. "Nobody will notice I'm gone for a while."
"Good. Make sure you're at the rendezvous point," Zeke managed to snap before Wildrif's cell went dead.
Chapter 7
"Gavin Montegue, this is Ashe Evans." Winkler made the introduction.
Ashe stared at Gavin Montegue while visions raced through his mind. He saw Gavin with Lissa. In many places. He saw them together, kissing at the base of the Guardian, the statue standing atop the dome of the Oklahoma Capitol. He saw images of Vampire Council meetings. Saw Lissa, nearly bald, as she stood before Gavin and argued with him.
"Kid, you in there?" Trajan jostled Ashe's arm, bringing him away from what he'd seen.
"Mr. Montegue," Ashe sighed and held out his hand to shake with the vampire. Surprisingly, Gavin took Ashe's hand.
* * *
"Ashe is one of the most respectful young men I've ever met," Winkler rattled ice cubes in his glass as he spoke with Gavin later in his study. "I'm asking that you give him the benefit of the doubt. I've learned that when the kid says something's important, then it's important."
"I hear he has unusual methods of getting from place to place. Have seen evidence of it, in fact."
"He's pretty broken up over his parents," Winkler changed the subject. "If you could, tread lightly in that area. I have no idea what his father thought he was doing, but Ashe is suffering as a result. That's not all, either. Adele, his mother, is already in another relationship, and I can only imagine it's because Aedan placed compulsion. This new guy has offered her a ring and a marriage proposal."
"Moving rather quickly, don't you think?" Gavin rumbled.
"I think so, but I can't control everything."
"Understood. I hear that college classes commence next week. We'd like to make use of the young man's talents through the weekend."
"I thought you might. Gavin, he's not vampire. I think I know how Wlodek feels. I hope that's not the case with you. We've worked together before, you and I, and I'm hoping that I can trust you now as I have in the past."
"I hope that remains true, although you know I can't circumvent a direct order from Wlodek."
"Yeah. I know that. Look at Aedan."
"Aedan is a shell. I fear he may be contemplating a trip into the sun, my friend. Should he learn of this marriage proposal you speak of, it may come sooner than anyone might expect. I am nearly a thousand years older than Aedan. I have seen this, many times."
"That will kill the kid," Winkler growled.
"I know not how to prevent it, should Aedan choose that path."
"This is impossible." Winkler rose to pace behind his desk. "Gavin, this kid, well, he's more than special. I don't know how else to explain it. If things continue to go wrong for him, I don't know what he might do."
"What has happened? That I do not yet know?" Gavin's face held no emotion, but Winkler knew this vampire. Probably better than any other vampire. Their friendship was based on mutual respect. Wlodek had no idea that Winkler and Gavin knew one another as well as they did.
"Have you ever heard the phrase, separating particles? I've seen it, and I still can't explain it. Hell, it's incomprehensible." Winkler raked fingers through his hair in frustration. "I trust the kid, but if his father walks into the sun, I just don't know what he might do."
"I am unfamiliar with this term. Can you describe it?"
"The kid took an execution the night of the full moon," Winkler began. "And I watched as the condemned just turned to sparks that floated away and winked out. The kid said that the condemned was with the universe, now."
"You're sure of this?" Gavin lifted an eyebrow.
"Yes. I'm sure of it. At this point, I don't know what might work against the kid, if you get on his bad side. Get my drift?"
"I worry about placing compulsion, then," Gavin muttered. "The Honored One did not tell me I was bound to report that sort of thing to him, but Anthony—I think Anthony may be required to do so."
"Then you'll have to keep that secret if it turns out that the kid isn't susceptible."
"I can control Anthony."
"I sure hope you're right. Out of curiosity, why are you being sympathetic to Ashe?"
"I realize this is seemingly out of character," Gavin muttered. "But before I left London, I had a visit from Merrill. You remember him, don't you?"
"Oh, yes. I remember him, all right."
"Merrill says this is important. If he says it's important, then it's important."
"I believe you."
* * *
"You will study these instructions and follow them precisely," Baltis paced before his chosen troops. "This explains how they are to be placed and set to explode. The moment they are set, relocate. I do not wish for you to be anywhere near there when the explosives detonate."
Six handpicked Dark Elemaiya examined the paper instructions they'd been given. The previous evening, Baltis' four new Destroyers, Raze, Ruin, Ravage and Rumble, approached the dealer Wildrif had contacted and purchased explosives from him. Baltis had spent a great deal of gold to procure them, after a demonstration was given in a remote location.
"Shall I go with them tomorrow?" Laridael asked quietly as Baltis stopped pacing to stand beside his personal guard. He and Baltis watched carefully as the six Elemaiyan soldiers studied their information.
"No need," Baltis waved away Laridael's concern. "This is quite simple, actually, and we will have our revenge. Soon."
* * *
"I don't like vamps in the house," Craig muttered as he dropped a plate of food in front of Winkler.
"They're asleep in the basement and their doors are locked," Winkler snapped, making Craig flinch. "You will leave them alone, do you hear?"
"Gavin won't waste time on your ass, he'll remove your head if you're too disrespectful," Trajan sat down at the kitchen island opposite Winkler.
"Disobey me, and I'll look the other way while he removes your head," Winkler muttered before pulling out his phone and tapping in a message.
"Kid, you ought to be sleeping late, since those vamps want to keep you up most of the night," Trajan remarked as Ashe shuffled into the kitchen, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. "But since you're up, eat breakfast and I'll meet you in the weight room."
"Good morning to you, too," Ashe mumbled as he settled beside Trajan. "Is it torture the kid day, today?"
"Sure is." Trajan offered Ashe a wide grin. "And after that, we can run on the beach. Can't have you getting slow and sloppy." Trajan ruffled Ashe's hair. Ashe ducked his head and smiled.
* * *
"Did you get a reply from those vampires last night?" Thomas Williams settled at a table inside their hotel coffee shop. Like Weldon, he gripped a cup of coffee in his hands as he studied the Grand Master's face.
"Yep," Weldon grinned. "Dalroy said he and Rhett would be happy to provide some backup for us when we meet with Nick tonight. Ever since the kid said we might need help, I've been a little spooked. Dalroy can place compulsion and we'll get the truth, one way or another."
"What time?" Thomas asked.
"Nine-thirty, at Nick's place. It'll make it easier when I ask how he paid off his mortgage in less than five years."
* * *
"There it is." Trajan pointed out the new gun cabinet to Ashe. He, Ashe and
Winkler stood inside Winkler's study, examining the gun cabinet that had been delivered half an hour earlier. "I put the dart gun and darts inside it already. You just have to carry it inside the hidden room downstairs."
"With pleasure," Ashe nodded, sizing up the cabinet and discreetly examining the lock. "Want to come with me?"
"Sure do," Trajan's teeth flashed white as he grinned broadly at Ashe. "Somebody will have a hell of a time gettin' to it after that."
"That's just what I was hoping for," Ashe agreed.
"I'll come, too," Winkler said. Ashe gathered Trajan, Winkler and the gun cabinet in his mist and dropped three floors to the basement.
* * *
Sali paid no attention as Mr. Dodd talked about the Berlin Wall and how it was torn down in 1989. Ashe had always sat beside him in the classes they shared. Now, the seat Ashe would have chosen was vacant, and Wynn and Dori occupied desks near the front. Larry and Jeff sat near the girls, leaving Sali surrounded by an island of empty chairs.
There was no large book to hide behind, either—textbooks were on tablets this year—Mr. Winkler had seen to that. The tablet was much easier to carry, but it couldn't connect to the school's Wi-Fi; the password hadn't been provided. Students could use their Wi-Fi at home to do research if they wanted.
Sali snorted softly. If Ashe were there with him, he probably would have hacked into the school's system already. Sali considered slipping the cell phone out of his pocket and sending a text to Ashe, telling him he was sorry. About everything. Sali winced uncomfortably. He'd give it a few days. Maybe Ashe would forgive him, then.
* * *
Peyton hadn't been inside a supermarket on U.S. soil in years. Zeke had always kept him in Mexico, sending him after rival cartels. The human competition never stood a chance. Zeke usually sent his older wolves after rival werewolves, although those were few in number. Peyton wondered, and not for the first time, just why Zeke thought him competent enough to go after William Winkler.
"Man, I haven't had these in years." Peyton pulled a large bag of his favorite cheese puffs off a shelf. They went into his grocery cart. Sodas came next, followed by snack cakes and other items he hadn't gotten in a long time. He'd rented a motel room in Laredo, Texas, intending to spend a night or two before selecting a city to lose himself in. He'd have to outthink Zeke Tanner if he expected to stay alive, and that was no easy prospect.
* * *
"You go at sundown," Raze instructed the six Dark Elemaiya Baltis had selected for the mission. "The state of Georgia is one hour later than it is here, and the building we've selected will be unoccupied at that time. It will take one relocation from here, and you will return to this location as soon as the explosives are placed and set. Do you understand?"
Raze had traveled to the Kansas City area the night before with his six companions. He watched carefully as each of the six nodded at his words. These were Baltis' best troops, and half of them were captains in Baltis' army. "We are ready," Baltis' senior captain bumped a fist against his chest and nodded respectfully to Raze. "We await your command."
* * *
"All will be well," Wildrif bowed respectfully to Baltis. "You will see."
"Good. Leave me." Baltis waved a hand in dismissal. Wildrif bowed again and walked away from Baltis' lavish tent, reminding himself not to hurry or draw attention from the others. By the time the night was over, the human government would be angrier than an anthill under attack and he would be on his way to Mexico.
He'd made arrangements with Tanner, too—Baltis would think him dead when he disappeared. A body, dressed in his clothing and mangled beyond recognition, would be left behind in the desert. He hadn't considered it, but Zeke Tanner had. Obediah had been crafty, but his older brother Ezekiel eclipsed him. Zeke had sent Wildrif to New Mexico years earlier to keep an eye on his younger brother.
Wildrif sighed heavily. The Ir'Indicti had prevented him from seeing Obediah's capture and the destruction of Obediah's empire. Wildrif hadn't seen the Ir'Indicti's arrival either, but that was an unpredictable event. Even the best Miriasu couldn't have seen it; it wasn't for them to see. If the Ir'Indicti became involved in any event, Wildrif's visions wavered or failed altogether. He'd seen Beldris' death easily enough—the Ir'Indicti hadn't been involved in that. He had failed to see his appearance in Canada, and what happened as a result. Wildrif had come to rely on information on those surrounding the Ir'Indicti, and he was getting better at tracking his movements. Soon, things would fall into place and Wildrif would have his revenge.
"I'll be better off in Mexico for the moment," Wildrif muttered to himself as he walked past the camp's perimeter. The guard spared him a perfunctory glance and turned away.
* * *
"Nick, seems your takeover bid didn't go so well."
"You didn't tell me you were bringing vamps," Nick, held easily by Rhett, cursed as he snapped at the Grand Master. Weldon stood before Nick, arms crossed comfortably over his chest as he watched the Amarillo Packmaster. Nick, thinking only the Grand Master was coming for a visit, had six wolves waiting to bring Weldon down. He'd thought to take the Grand Master position and change the landscape for werewolves throughout the world.
"I don't tell a lot of people a lot of things. That's my business. Six good wolves died tonight, because they didn't want to cross their Packmaster. You're responsible for their deaths. What do you think I'm about to do with you?" Weldon's dark eyes bored into Nick's hazel gaze.
"Gonna have one of your pet vamps do it for you?" Nick hissed.
"If I were you, I'd shut up. One of those vamps is holding you, remember?" Weldon's voice was a growl. "I'll do this myself, with Thomas as a witness. It'll be more painful than a quick head removal by Rhett, there."
"Screw you," Nick struggled in Rhett's implacable grip.
"No, thanks. Now, are you gonna die honorably, or are you gonna make Rhett chase you when he lets you go? Remember, he'll have you again before you can blink if you try to run."
"I'll take you down, you flea-ridden mutt," Nick snarled.
"You can try," Weldon's growl was low and menacing. "Rhett, let him go." Rhett nodded to Weldon and released his hold on Nick Robbins. Weldon didn't bother to undress. His clothing ripped as he became werewolf and leapt at the Amarillo Packmaster.
* * *
"We'll fly to Atlanta tonight, to look for a vampire we suspect of theft, illegal arms dealing and the killing of humans," Tony explained to Ashe while Gavin silently looked on.
"You think we need that outmoded method of transportation?" Gavin stared as Ashe's eyes went a dark blue and stars swept through their depths. "I will take you to Atlanta. Before you deal with Rydley Huntington, we will make another stop—at Fort Arland. Your targeted vampire has managed to sell explosives to the Dark Elemaiya, and they are planning to destroy most of the base tonight if we don't stop them."
"What the hell?" Tony backed away from Ashe, whose eyes slowly cleared.
"I mean it," Ashe shrugged. "I know what I know."
"You know where our quarry is?"
"Yeah." Ashe shrugged again.
"This will make things a lot easier," Tony muttered. "A lot scarier, too."
"Anthony, you will keep this information to yourself," Gavin commanded.
"Yes, Anthony, you will keep this information to yourself," Ashe repeated, placing compulsion on Tony. Tony's eyes unfocused for a moment before clearing. He blinked. "Yeah. I guess I will," he nodded.
* * *
"Weldon?" Winkler answered the Grand Master's call on his cell.
"Just wanted to let you know that Amarillo is without a Packmaster right now," Weldon said. Winkler heard clearly the sounds of Weldon dressing while he spoke.
"Took down Robbins?" Winkler asked.
"He tried a coup, earlier. Thought I'd be alone when he set six of his wolves on me. If Thomas, Dalroy and Rhett hadn't been with me, things might not have gone so well. Tell the kid thanks for giving me the heads-up."
"I'
ll tell him, but he's in a meeting with the vamps here—upstairs in my study."
"They'd better take care of him. Do they even have a clue how valuable—and vulnerable—he is?"
"I think Gavin may have a clue. Jury's still out on Hancock."
"Keep an eye on that cook of yours. I don't think he has a high opinion of shifters."
"I'll fire his ass."
"Don't fire him. Send him to Amarillo and let him help clean up this mess."
"I'll send him in the morning."
"Thomas can pick him up at the airport."
"I'll let you know what time."
* * *
"Trajan, we'll need a new cook," Winkler turned to his Second after ending the call with Weldon.
"I heard," Trajan pulled two sodas from the fridge and handed one to Winkler. "I hear Florence Thompson is a good cook."
"Amos' wife? The swan shifter?"
"Yeah. She made those pies you ate half of at the potluck gathering not long ago."
"That apple pie was almost as good as Lissa's," Winkler sighed. "Can you call her tomorrow? See if she's interested? I know she and Amos had to sell their livestock before the move. If she's bored, she may consider cooking for wolves. Assure Amos she'll be as safe as we can make her, and she can go home every night. Offer her weekends off, too; we can go out."
"How much?" Trajan asked.
"Offer her four thousand a month, if she does three meals five days a week, and she can carry dinner home for Amos."
"Why don't you ask Amos if he'd like a job? He can help guard the perimeter and get a little exercise, too. That way he won't miss his wife's cooking during the week," Trajan grinned. "He used to guard Cloud Chief. All he can do at Star Cove is sit inside that dinky guard shack."
"Then offer both of them a job," Winkler nodded.
"I'll call first thing in the morning, and tell the wolves they have to behave."
"If they don't want the job, see if anybody else in Star Cove is interested."
"Will do, Boss."
* * *
"Peyton, you've been in the same place for too long." Zeke's growl worried Peyton. "Did you think I wouldn't have a locator on that cell I gave you?"
Peyton gulped. He hadn't considered that, and he knew he should have. "Just getting my bearings, Mr. Tanner," Peyton replied, attempting to keep his voice calm and even. Zeke could smell fear from a hundred miles away.
Legend of the Ir'Indicti 5 - Destroyer Page 8