“How can you be so sure they will come for us in our animal forms?” my father asked.
Lord Quintus was tall and lean, and even resting against the thick tree trunk, his muscles were strung tight. He ran his fingers through his cropped beard before he answered. “We have a spirit leader among our pack. She has interpreted the Scriptures for our kind, and says the same calamity to befall the humans will strike down every beast, both land and sea bound. There will be no escape for us.” He leaned back. “We have two choices. We can hide in the woods or we can fight with the humans.”
“We are Growlers, not the furless ones’ puppets. I will not fight beside them,” Hilda hissed out the words with a snarl.
I cringed at my mother’s rudeness. She was not the leader of any pack, and should not have spoken for father. I understood her hatred of the humans. Hunters had murdered her family for their pelts when she had been a pup. She’d barely escaped with her life, and when my grandparents found her, she’d been out of her mind. Father later told me she was like a lost soul when he first met her. His gentle love healed her tattered spirit only partially. And now, she was falling apart once again.
I avoided my mother’s angry eyes as my interest drifted to Tamira, Lord Quintus’ daughter. She had changed to human form for the great gathering, and was sitting cross-legged beside her mother on the far side of the fire pit. She was as delicate looking as a young woman as she had been in wolf form. Smooth, black tresses framed her oval face. Her eyes were almond colored and widely spaced, and they’d occasionally rise to meet mine, only to dart away. Her cheeks would redden every time we made eye contact, and she kept turning into her woolen jacket to hide her face from me.
I was confused by her shyness. We’d run together through the woods to help Ember and Insepth defeat the Watchers of Light. Our voices had melded together to distract our enemies, and we’d barely escaped the collapsing mountain. Now the girl wouldn’t even look at me.
She was so different from Piper. Memories of the human girl I had loved still reverberated in my mind. We’d shared a few kisses and I’d thought there would be many more to come. But her life had been stolen away. I stared at the flames, wondering if Piper would be angry with me for liking another girl. I didn’t think so. She had a generous spirit—she’d want me to be happy.
Horas elbowed me and I looked up.
“Pup, I asked you a question,” Father said, cold breath streaming from his mouth. Daylight had revealed a covering of snow on the mountain peaks, and flurries danced in the air around the clearing.
“I’m sorry…what did you say?” I stammered.
The lines on Father’s face were deeper than I remembered. He frowned back at me and said, “This Watcher friend of yours—you trust her?”
“With my life, Father.” I glanced at Horas, who nodded at me to continue. “She’s loyal and kind, and her powers are extraordinary.”
“Lord Quintus said she released the dragons from the mountain. What did she do with them?” Father asked.
“We rode on them into Purgatory. It was the only way we could enter,” I said.
Several people gasped and Mother made a growling noise.
“Why go there?” Lord Quintus leaned forward.
I wasn’t comfortable telling the wolves about Ember taking dark particles to change her horse into a human. The evil Watcher who had created Growlers was hated by our kind. He had combined dark particles with his own magic to build an army of animal people. Other Watchers had destroyed him for his deeds, but we lived with the curse of being split, instead of one. I knew the information would not be well received.
I thought quickly and told only part of the truth. “We went to save a dolphin Growler. He had been imprisoned there by an Angel a long time ago. Ember was helping a friend. That is her way.” I thought back to the day in the Oldport High School when she’d stopped the other boys from picking on me. I had been smaller back then, and it seemed like a lifetime ago. It was that moment, though, when I knew I would follow her anywhere.
“Where are the dragons now?” Father asked. His dark blue eyes sparked the same as when he was hunting deer. The look made me more alert, and I sat taller.
“One died in Purgatory.” Seeing the surprise in all the eyes around the fire, I quickly added, “There was another dragon there—she’d escaped from Hell. The two dragons we freed battled her and won, but Ormer was killed.”
Father rubbed his chin and exchanged a glance with Lord Quintus.
“Why such interest in the dragons?” Sir Austin asked, pursing his lips. Youmi stood beside him, his eyes darting around the clearing as if he expected Hell hounds to arrive at any moment.
Lord Quintus looked at me when he answered. “Just think of it. A dragon is the most powerful creature ever to have lived. If one were to join our cause, we might have a hope of winning.”
My stomach leaped into my throat. “No!” Ember had told me that Chumana had gone to raise a clutch of eggs. She had already sacrificed her mate, and she was the last dragon. “It’s not her war. She was imprisoned for thousands of years.”
“How did your friend Ember control her? What magic did she use?” Father asked. There was a hungry look in his eyes.
“There was no magic. Chumana wasn’t controlled by anyone. She decided to help us, knowing the risks. Dragons are sentient beings. They are not slaves.” My voice rose while I was speaking and a hush fell over the crowd. I lifted my head to see hundreds of staring eyes.
“Well said,” Horas patted my back, and then faced the others. “What is coming for you is more than a single dragon can defeat. The armies of Hell are vast, and they’ve already arrived.”
Mother stood, pointing a finger at the Demon. “They are far away from our land. You bring troubles to us that aren’t our business.”
“I’m afraid, my lady, it’s inevitable. Evil will quickly spread everywhere, even here.” Sir Austin looked solemnly around the gathering. All eyes were on the Watcher, and they were listening intently. “The one hope mankind, Watchers, and Growlers have is to band together. It’s the only way.”
“I will never fight at your side,” Mother spat, before whirling and striding into the woods. A burst of colors was visible through the pine branches, and then she was gone.
“Please excuse my wife,” Father said. “She’s having a hard time with the news of the Apocalypse.
Sir Austin offered a curt nod.
Except for a few chirping birds and the breeze rustling through the leaves, the clearing was silent. My stomach grumbled and I swallowed down my hunger. It had been a day since I’d eaten anything. I glanced at Tamira again, and she hastily looked away. I hid a smile behind my hand. She didn’t want me to know it, but she was curious.
Lord Quintus stood and faced the crowd. “You have heard of the Watcher’s deeds. Now it is time to discuss this among your packs. Do we disperse, living out our days in hiding, hoping for the best? Or do we join with these Watchers and the humans and fight. We will take a vote when the moon rises again.”
There was a hum of murmurs as the wolves began moving about. Smoke from campfires trickled into the frigid air. It would be a long afternoon, waiting for the sun to set and the moon to rise.
“What are you doing—I thought we were returning home?” Youmi whispered harshly to Sir Austin when Lord Quintus and my father had moved off. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tamira waiting at the edge of the gathering. I wanted to go to her, but hearing what the Watchers said was more important.
Sir Austin was gray haired, but stood straight, and was still strong looking. He crossed his arms, puffing out his chest. “The chain of events here lately are bothering me.”
“How so?” Horas moved in closer, prompting Youmi and I to follow suit. The wolves might be my kind, but I’d bonded with these men, even though two were Watchers and one was a Demon. They, along with the German Shepherd pressing against my leg, were my pack.
“I’ve studied the Bible for centuries.
My fascination with the Angels drove me to travel the world, seeking wisdom on the subject. After all, I exist because of one of their dalliances with a woman.” He paused and searched the tree line with a hard gaze. We stared at the Watcher, waiting for him to continue. “Much has been written about the end of days, and yet nothing is happening in the expected order or way.”
“Why do you think that is?” Horas asked, his eyes regarding Sir Austin with intensity.
Sir Austin licked his lips. “Perhaps this isn’t supposed to be the end of the world.”
“I call you friend, but you are mad.” Youmi shook his head. “Angels are flying around in the open, the barriers are breaking and Hell beasts are pouring into this realm. The Horsemen have even arrived. How much more proof do you need?”
“Yes, yes, all those things are occurring. It is true. But the rapture should have preceded the Horsemen and the Hell beasts. We have witnessed Angels fighting among themselves, and the horn was blown by an adolescent man, rather than Gabriel himself. Something is amiss!” Sir Austin’s voice rose to a level that caused some of the nearby Growlers to turn their heads. The Watcher leaned in closer and whispered, “A pocket of Hell spilling into Ila’s valley is not right, I tell you. Devastation should be happening in all corners of the world if it is truly the end of it all.”
Horas’ mouth thinned and he glanced around. His sharp features and quick movements reminded me that he had been a Roman soldier a thousand years ago. He was clever and witty with good instincts. I waited anxiously to hear what he thought.
“If you’re correct, and God hasn’t decided to destroy the world at this time, then what do you think is going on?” Horas asked the Watcher.
Sir Austin threw his hands up. “Blast if I knew. It’s a mystery. But I believe we should battle these evil forces invading our lands. We should attempt to drive them back.”
Horas searched our faces with keen eyes, then a grin spread across his face. “I’m always in for a good battle, especially when my hope has been renewed.”
I exhaled. “We need Ember and Insepth.”
Horas curled his fingers around his chin. “Yes, yes, we do. How do we reach them? I’ve tried the cell phone, but neither has answered. They’re with the Angels, and I’m sure their location is heavily warded.”
“There is a way…” Sir Austin trailed off, shifting his gaze to Youmi.
Youmi held up his hands, shaking his head. “My water power gives me the ability to do it, but I haven’t visited that place since I was a young man. I would surely fail.”
“Ember is a dream walker. Her own powers should augment yours if you can just step your foot into the dream world and call her.” Sir Austin’s eyes were bright.
“It might work,” Youmi conceded, scrunching up his brow in thought. “It would burn a lot of energy, leaving me weak afterward. It would be best if I made the attempt at night, when there’s a better chance that Ember is asleep.”
Sir Austin nodded and Horas flashed a smile my way. When I glanced over my shoulder, looking for Tamira, she was gone. I grunted, pulling my ball cap down further onto my head in a brisk motion.
“She’s over there.” Horas backhanded my shoulder and pointed toward the tree line.
My mouth dropped open. “How did you know?”
The Roman shrugged. “I’m a thousand years old, and I’m Italian. I know all about romantic attraction, and can spot it a mile away.” He grinned, grabbed my cap and mussed up my hair before returning it.
“Go on, talk to her. At least someone in our group should be having a little fun.” When I hesitated, Horas gave me a little push. “Whether Sir Austin is right or wrong about his end-of-days theory, time is something we may not have a lot of. Go on!”
I ran a few strides when Horas chased me, only slowing when he returned to the Watchers and I was almost to Tamira. She was plucking through her backpack when she looked up. Her eyes widened and she quickly stood.
“Oh, hello, Ivan.” She looked down at her foot, digging it into the leaf covered ground.
“I am glad to see you again,” I said, wishing she would meet my eyes.
Tamira swayed and snorted. “It’s strange for me in human form. I’ve spent most of my years as a wolf, but Father insisted I attend the meeting like this.” She spread her arms wide and peeked at me with a knit brow.
“You’re a beautiful woman.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. My heart hammered and I added, “I meant, you’re attractive as a wolf or woman.” Her cheeks reddened and she didn’t say anything. “I’m sorry. I barely know you. It’s rude to say such things.”
Tamira’s face lifted and her smile was dazzling. “Oh, no. I think it’s sweet. You’re the nicest boy I’ve ever met.” She laced her fingers and then unlaced them, fidgeting with her hands. “I’m surprised you even talk to me. You’re—” She searched for a word. “—worldlier than I am.”
I grunted and felt the tension leave my body. “Me, worldly? I don’t think so.”
“You’ve traveled to America and you spend more time as a human than a wolf,” she argued.
I sniffed the air and caught her scent—meadow flowers and apples. A few strands of her black hair fluttered across her face. I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out, catching the locks and tucking them behind her ear. Her cheek was warm. She looked up at me with parted lips, and I leaned in.
Our lips almost met when the first scream sounded and my head snapped in the direction of the clearing. An area that had been covered with people a moment earlier had fallen away, leaving a sink hole that was burning.
Loud barking echoed through the hills, the voices of creatures I would never forget. Smoke rose from the chasm, and from the acid mist, sprang the Hell beasts.
I grabbed Tamira’s hand, dragging her back to the Watchers and Horas.
Angus barked at our arrival, and Horas pushed me and Tamira behind him. “Change to wolves!” he ordered.
Blasts of color erupted across the hillside and the screams turned to howls and yips. A wolf was decapitated just after making the change, and another was impaled on a spear that was carried by a half-lizard, half-man looking creature.
“We fight?” I asked Horas.
Horas’ brown eyes were steady. “We fight.”
Tamira changed first, and just as my skin became covered in fur, I saw Sir Austin thrust his hands forward. The wind he created spiraled, forming a funnel cloud that sped toward the gaping fracture in the ground.
Wolves leaped at the Hell beasts, crunching on necks and wherever they could get a good hold. The great numbers of Growlers and their instinct to work together slowed the onslaught emerging from the hole. Youmi pulled water from the creek at the base of the hill and slammed it into one of the three-headed Hell hounds.
Several explosions, one right after the other, shook the forest and I lurched backward. Wings flashed in the thick fumes. Hell’s Angels had arrived.
Angus’ growl made me search in his direction. A creature from childhood nightmares crawled toward him. Its eyes glowed red and its limbs were malformed like a giant spider. I rushed forward and sunk my teeth into the back of the thing’s neck. It shrieked and rolled, pinning me beneath its bloated body. Tamira and Angus jumped in together, each biting into its multiple arms.
Horas appeared and grabbed the creature’s head, twisting with a jerk. The crunching sound was followed by a gush of black ooze.
“Fall back!” Horas shouted.
As I gathered my muscles and got to my feet, I followed Horas’ gaze.
It was Sawyer. And he was striding toward us with murder in his red eyes.
Chapter 13
Maddie
“What did you see?” the U.S. National Guardsman asked. I would guess he was only in his twenties, but clutching the semi-automatic weapon in his hands, it didn’t matter.
I exchanged a glance with Preston, who shrugged. He held the leashes of two dogs—a Rottweiler and a hound. He’d been focused on
petting the dogs most of the morning.
A gray cloud still drifted over Oldport, and I coughed, trying to rid my throat of the scratchy feeling. I was calmer than I’d been the night before. My parents had survived. Hell’s soldiers had changed direction when they’d reached my neighborhood, rampaging into the hills. They left a trail of burned devastation and then disappeared.
My eyes followed the swath of smoke rising from the mountainside. The way to the cabin where Ember lived. She had left with the Horsemen, but what of the others who were there? What happened to them? Were they ripped limb from limb the way Randy had been? Or maybe they’d burned to death like Lindsey.
My chest trembled and I struggled to catch a breath. I closed my tired eyes and pictured my boyfriend and my best friend the way they used to be—silly, happy and…alive. It hurt too much to think about what had happened and I forced the images from my mind. At least their suffering was over. I feared ours was just beginning.
I finally managed to inhale deeply, clearing the fogginess that had settled over me after the Angels had carried me and Preston to safety. When I opened my eyes, hot spots still smoldered and the scent of burning flesh was heavy in the air.
My lips were dry and cracked and it was difficult to speak without breaking down in a fit of sobs. I said a silent prayer to Jesus for help and found the strength to answer the man. “I’m not sure. There were explosions and the fire spread quickly,” I lied.
The man stared at me, frowning. “We’ve heard stories about monsters…”
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