Danny and D`nae didn’t know it, but they were no longer under the wants of the one they were now seeking. The air hung heavy about them even in the midst of their own laughter. The lump at the back of D`nae’s throat threatened to leap forward and free the scream of anguish she held for her mother, the only living person she had left in the world. She was always the person that hid her own pain, working on those around her. The truth be known, she was dying on the inside to get to her mommy, but the fear that her gut was telling her made the line between wanting and needing extremely thin. Was she too late, was the question that haunted her. With the truck swaying, and her mind pulsating on what she didn’t want to find, she needed to stop and take in a deep breath of fresh air. As soon as Arnaud pointed out the turn-in, and Danny slowed the truck, she was out.
He looked out to make sure she was alright. Once he saw her wrap her arms around herself, and Tabitha step up behind her with Duchess close behind, he continued up the small overgrown trail that the truck barely fit on. It opened into what looked like a recently cleaned out cul-de-sac, where most of the trees had been chopped down, and drug to the side, some removed root and all. Danny stopped the truck, and Arnaud slid over and into the back seat. Both Grady and Danny turned around and looked at him. He started making his way to the door then stopped.
“It’s a trap. I should have told you but he has my brother, Michael. He’ll kill him, you know he will,” he pleaded, hoping they would understand, when Danny cleared the seat, grabbing him around the throat.
“Danny… the girls?” Grady yelled, grabbing the back of his shirt, doing nothing more than ripping it off of his body.
“Ye better nae fail me agin,” Danny said, leaning close to Arnaud’s face. “Ye’ll be fur worrin aboot me.” Then he vanished from the truck, leaving Arnaud shaken, holding the throat that he expected to be gone.
Grady was already running back to the girls who were walking slowly toward him. Duchess’s hackles went up and she back peddled away from the girls to face the darkness behind them. Tabitha dropped her shoulders and pushed D`nae forward, knocking her to the ground right before a furry beast flew over, swiping it’s massive claw where her head had been just mere seconds before. Tabitha cried out, grabbing her face, coming back around with blood streaming between her fingers. She bent forward, raised her head and belted out a howl from hell, instantly bursting into her seven foot creature. She stood and shook the remnants off of her fur, raising her claw filled hands in the air, clearing her lungs with another guttural cry of fury.
Grady saw the second one coming up on all fours, running with a speed like no wolf he had ever seen, right toward Duchess, only to get to his mate. He, on the other hand, wasn’t anywhere near as good at the transformation as she was. He was running one moment then on the ground the next, rolling to his back, screaming out in frustration at the beast’s confusion of his wants, his needs. He threw his head back just in time to see Duchess fly across the twig covered tall grass, and disappear with a single yelp into the undergrowth. Grady gripped handfuls of earth, pulling himself toward the beast that was making its way to Tabitha. He watched through wolf eyes as it swung and knocked her to the ground.
Danny landed beside D`nae and had her in his arms when another, the third werewolf, kicked him in the ribs, rolling him and D`nae a good fifteen feet. Danny came up with his shoulders pinned close to his head and his fangs shining brightly in the light of the trucks high beams. He was now pushed to the point of no return, and flew straight for the belly of the beast. It swung and missed, taking the full tackle of Danny’s shoulder in its lower left ribcage. A loud crunch could be heard throughout the area, and Danny continued. The beast landed hard on its back and Danny’s fist planted several hard blows on the same spot, until it was soft enough to pierce the flesh. He pulled back and with a full release of his lungs in a battle cry, plunged his fist into the beast and ripped out its heart.
Grady’s transformation was complete when he was finally about to get to his feet again. His rage was so focused on the creature that was harming Tabitha that he didn’t see the two rushing out of the woods. Danny yelled out and ran to fight at his side. D`nae rushed to the truck and started looking for Grady’s gun, finding it in the floorboard. She remembered that he had different bullets that he had told her about, but didn’t know which ones would work on what was now his kind. She stepped out and saw each of them heading straight for the two that were coming out of the woods, and she screamed, breaking their stride. She jumped when they looked over at her, because she saw the two beasts take advantage and move faster, bringing down their huge arms as Grady and Danny were turning back, taking both men down.
* * *
Tammy got out of the bathtub, dried off and dressed in the long blue silk skirt and white cotton men’s t-shirt that Alasdair had left her. She sat down in front of the vanity and thought about what he had said about Michael paying the price for her. She knew that he hung on the cross outside for her child to find, thinking it was her. She knew they would find ashes and after what he had told her, and the things she had seen in his mind, she knew it to be true. She realized she didn’t want D`nae to think she died a horrible death like that, even though it was exactly what Alasdair was planning on. She bit her finger and wrote, “I live, my moomoo” on the mirror, and walked out of the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Alasdair came back later to find her reclining in the chair with a fire blazing. He gave a half smile, dropping two bags down by the door, and began heading for the bathroom. “Can you not take me out of this room for a while, Alasdair?” she asked standing up taking a deep breath, showing her figure in the clothes he’d picked.
“I see the clothes work well,” he replied, turning back to her.
“The shirts a bit see-through, but I like the skirt,” she replied, running her hands over her hips.
“Would you like to take a walk through my home?”
“Seeing as it will be my only time,” she smiled, “I would love to. This room is nice, but I’m not one to stay in one place.”
“Then we will get along fine,” he said offering her his hand.
She thanked him, taking his offer and the two left the room. She let out a sigh of relief that he didn’t go into the bathroom. Now if she could just keep him out until they left, which she was hoping would be very soon, and most definitely before D`nae and her friends came looking for her.
* * *
D`nae held the gun at the head of the beast that was on top of Tabitha, but she was swinging and clawing just as much and as fast as the one who was holding her down. D`nae swung around and pointed the gun instead at the battle going on with her boys, and yelled out her confusion, fueling Danny’s fire. He bit down on the neck that was stretched out over his face, and it was then that the beast tried to claw his way off of Danny. Danny punched at the werewolf’s head, as he drank with all his might. The claws dropped from the flesh of his back, and the beast was taking in his last surges of air. Before long, the creature lie still, transforming back into the body of a Hispanic man. Arnaud came out of nowhere and leaped on the back of the beast that was fighting Tabitha. He had Danny’s blade in his hand. He lifted it in the air and rammed it through the top of the creature’s head, then went manic, slamming his fist wildly into the creature’s skull, screaming obscenities.
D`nae saw and ran over and took a shot at the head of the beast that had turned to look at her when Grady pushed its head back. Its brains exploded all over her face, and the body dropped like a rag doll on top of Grady, spilling gore all over his. He yelled out in his wolf voice, and pushed the headless being off his body as it shifted back. Tabitha laid curled on her side, holding her stomach. Grady’s huge form kicked his way out of the woods, and dropped down on his werewolf knees, picking her up lovingly, pulling her small human form close to his animal chest, then stood and let out a triumphant howl. Danny limped out, blood soaking the back of his legs. Arnaud’s face was busted up, but he had proven h
imself by saving Tabitha. Grady laid Tabitha in the backseat then walked out into the woods. A few minutes later, they all heard him change, and shortly after, he came walking out in his human form.
“Not comfortable with that yet,” he said going straight to Tabitha. “Where are you hurt?”
“I’m just worried about the baby,” she replied, looking up at him.
“The…” he stumbled back, and would have fallen if Danny hadn’t grabbed him.
“Congrat’s papa,” Danny laughed squeezing his shoulder.
“Wait,” Grady said, pushing off of Danny, and moving back up where D`nae was covering Tabitha. “A baby? How do you know, we just-”
“I was in heat. It is why you had my scent,” she smiled. “You do not mind?”
“Well, no,” he laughed, “Just never thought I’d be a dad.” Then he turned around and looked at Danny, then busted out laughing and hugged him like a brother.
“I’m just gonna take off now,” Arnaud said turning and walking around the side of the truck.
“Whaur ye thin yer gaun? Ye hae a lang way tae gae fur ye prove yersel,” Danny called out.
“Yeah, he means it. You saved her life, but we still need you,” D`nae added. “Hey, has anyone seen Duchess?”
“I’ll find her,” Arnaud offered, and took off.
“Did anyone see her? She was with me and Tabitha.”
Danny looked over at Grady.
“What?” she asked.
“Noo, luv,” Danny began saying.
“Don’t ‘now love’ me, Danny Gilmore, where’s my dog?”
“Here she is, but she’s hurt pretty bad,” Arnaud said, coming around the back of the truck. “She was crawling out of the brush.”
D`nae took her and got into the back seat with Tabitha. Danny drove and Grady rode in the back with Tabitha in his lap. Duchess appeared to have a broken back leg, but otherwise seemed to be okay. She rested her head in D`nae’s lap, who listened while Arnaud told Danny about Alasdair’s plan of them being wiped out by the attack of the werewolves to save him the trouble. If he didn’t hear from one of them by the fall of night, Arnaud told them, he would leave Cortez, heading to a place that Arnaud knew nothing about. D`nae knew that if he hadn’t had her mother, she would just let him go, thinking whatever he wanted, then she would disappear with her new family and live in peace. But nothing short of true death would keep her from getting to her mother.
Dawn was only an hour away when they pulled up to the base of the mountain which hid Alasdair’s estate. They got out of the truck, for two reasons; there was no way it would make it up the small trail, and they wanted to get the jump of surprise on any of Alasdair’s men that might be watching guard. D`nae kissed Duchess on the nose, while Grady stepped into Tabitha and kissed her full out on the mouth, then pushed her back toward the open door, shaking his head.
“Not with my child in here,” he said placing his hand on her stomach. “I love you, Tabitha.”
Her breath sucked in and tears filled her eyes.
“You… love me?” she asked, reaching up touching his face. “Is that true.”
“Can’t you see it in my eyes?” he asked as they filled to the brim. “You have more than just apart of me in here, you have me here.” Then he moved his hand over her heart, and kissed her again.
“Did I die?” she whispered in his mouth. “Is this what heaven is like?”
“We’ve just begun, babe. You girls take care of each other, we’ll be back soon.” Then he kissed her one last time, helped her in and closed the door.
He stood there looking down at the most amazing thing he had ever seen and couldn’t understand why she looked back the way she did. He could see the love in her eyes. Danny cleared his throat, getting Grady’s attention. He looked up then back down, smiling at her. He tapped the window and walked away, feeling two feet taller. He got up beside Danny and D`nae, and she wrapped her arm around his waist.
“You guys are perfect together. You should see the mushy look on your face when you look at her,” she giggled.
“Ya, a’ goo‘s, me’s droolin fur ye luv,” Danny mocked.
“Oh, and you two aren’t like a bunch of dogs in heat. Wait, make that bats,” he laughed then took off up the mountain.
“Nae, he just dinnae say that,” Danny returned the laugh and leaped into the air.
“Here I come,” D`nae said and jumped up, landing right back on her feet. “What the hell?”
“Cum on, luv, fit ye waitin fur?”
“It ain’t working,” she said, running back and forth hopping like a four year old, cracking Danny up so bad he was holding his stomach.
“You have to concentrate!” Arnaud called down.
“Ya think!” she snapped back. “The hell with it.”
D`nae took off after Grady as fast as she could go, which was pretty fast. By the time they reached the top, she was about a hundred feet below. She could hear them whispering the closer she made it to the edge. “I can hear you guys,” she laughed. “One of you could pull my ass over.”
Danny’s hand came over the side, but he gave her no words. She looked at his face as he lifted her over the side. Knowing something was wrong, she began frantically looking around. Grady and Arnaud were blocking her view, neither facing her. She pushed Danny’s hand off and broke through the other two. D`nae looked down at the pile of ashes then followed the length of the cross, seeing the charred spots that stretched out like the risen Christ, down to the nail holes placed at the hands and feet.
“There’s no way to know who it was. This isn’t my mother, she wasn’t one of us,” she said, swallowing the lump back down.
“D`nae,” Danny said reaching out.
“No!” she screamed.
Down in the tunnels, Tammy spun around to the echoing sound of a voice she knew all to well. Just a faint sound, but she heard D`nae shout the word, ‘no’ and knew they were over them at that very moment. Alasdair took her arm and pulled her further into the darkness.
“Ye must, luv,” Danny pleaded.
“It’s not her, Danny. I would know it. I would know,” she cried, then watched as he dropped the charred locket from his hand, letting it dangle from the chain.
D`nae dropped to her knees, grabbing her hair at the temples, looking at the locket that was given to her mother by her grandmother, right before she died. She shook her head as thoughts swarmed her mind of the torture her mother must have endured while she had been in the care of that monster. She gripped her hair into her fists and screamed to the top of her lungs, ending it in a long drawn out call for her, Mommy.
Tammy pulled wildly on Alasdair’s arm, dropping to the ground, yelling, reaching back as if she could touch her child. “I’m here baby, right here!” she cried. She could hear her child bellow out in pain, and knew she could stop it all, just by putting her arms around her. “Let me go to her. Please!”
“You will never see her again. Let this be the death of both of you. Mourn now, and be glad that no blood was shed,” he replied, dragging her like an animal.
“Mommy,” D`nae cried, lying over on the ashes. “I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.”
“Nae luv. Cum,” Danny said taking her into his arms.
Arnaud came running out of the estate with a huge smile on his face. “I think I have something you may wanna see, D`nae! Your mom left you a message,” he laughed jumping up into the air. D`nae looked up at Danny who was covered in crimson tears, and she smiled with a glint of hope. Tammy saw the black car at the end of the tunnel, knowing if she got in without letting D`nae know she was still alive, her child might try to do something stupid. Her life had already been hard enough and believing that her mother was murdered would be more than she could bear.
She reached up and clawed Alasdair face, screaming out her own frustration. He cried out, loosening his grip. She tore free and took off running back into the tunnel, screaming D`nae’s name, yelling “I live!” as loud as she could. Alasdair growl
ed and within seconds had the back of her hair and did what he just swore he would never do again. He knocked her unconscious, and carried her back to the car with haste.
“Be quiet!” D`nae said getting to her feet. “Did you hear that?”
“I heard something, but it sounded muffled,” Grady replied reaching down, touching the ground.
“You really need to check out the bathroom, D`nae,” Arnaud said bouncing around.
“Fit ye be daun in the hoose any hoo?” Danny asked, stepping around D`nae.
“Money. No lies. He has a safe in the bathroom, that’s it I swear. That’s when I saw it on the mirror.”
“Ye wur keekin at fit?”
“No, come on, see for yourselves,” he said spinning around, waving his arm. “Don’t cry anymore, be happy, really!”
They moved into the house, making their way into the bathroom, where they all saw the blood markings that her mother had made on the mirror. “I live, my moomoo.” D`nae started crying all over again, only this time from relief. No one questioned who the remains belonged to, but knew the adventure in finding Tammy had just begun. Grady went back to get Tabitha and Duchess, and they all stayed that day in their enemy’s home. Those who stood in the light of the day readied their next move, while the ones who lived their lives by the cover of night took their rest in the very rooms that belonged to the man they sought to find, each of them knowing they would not stop until it was over.
Dark Knight of the Skye Page 22