Jack made a face. “Don’t even suggest it.” He opened my door and gave me a small shove. “Get in. You’re riding shotgun.”
I smiled, amused. The feeling lasted only until I saw Laura’s dark glare. She clearly thought I’d manipulated the situation, and I doubted very much she would let it slide. Ah, well, that was a concern for later.
I waited until I fastened my seatbelt and Jack had navigated to the main highway to speak. “Do you know where we’re going?”
“It’s programmed into the GPS.”
I glanced at the small dashboard computer, which was directing us toward what looked to be an isolated spot about fifteen miles away. “I’m surprised we didn’t get a hotel closer to the scene,” I said after a moment. “I guess it probably wasn’t possible given how sparse the population is out here, huh?”
“It only looks sparse.” Jack eyed the GPS for a moment before turning his full attention to the highway. “There are three small cities not too far away, and if we find we need something bigger Saginaw is about a thirty-minute drive.”
My knowledge of Michigan geography was limited. “That’s where the airport is, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think we’ll need a bigger city?”
“I have no idea what we’ll need,” Jack replied. “Chris is gung-ho on this one. He might insist we camp close to where the incident happened. I need to look over the scene before I agree to that. After what happened last time we went camping, I’ll probably put up a fight regardless.”
“If you don’t believe it was a lycanthrope, why does it matter?”
Jack arched an eyebrow. “What makes you think I don’t believe it was a lycanthrope?”
“Because you don’t believe in anything.”
“I believe in things,” Jack countered. “I just don’t believe in werewolves.”
“Or Bigfoot … or the Chupacabra … .”
“Or psychics and telekinetics,” Millie offered from the back seat. Her tone was teasing, but the comment felt pointed and caused sweat to break out on my brow. Several weeks ago, Millie was present when I let loose my magic and fought off not one but two deranged murderers who were bent on destroying her, Chris and me. I was never certain what she saw – or if she saw anything – but I was nervous enough that I squirmed in my seat. Even though I wanted to turn and meet her gaze, I was too much of a coward to do it.
“Just because I don’t believe in those things doesn’t mean I’m the enemy in our little group.” Jack was philosophical. “I’m simply the sort of person who needs physical proof to believe in something.”
I cleared my throat to dislodge some of my discomfort. “So what do you believe in?”
“Human nature. People are most often the answer when it comes to any mystery. Sometimes nature itself is the answer. I’ve yet to run across a situation where magic is the answer. And I doubt I ever will.”
“Well, I hope that works out for you.” I stared out the window. “At least the scenery is pretty. I can see why people choose to live out here.”
“Did I say something wrong?” Jack asked, confusion evident.
I shook my head. “No. Just focus on the road. There’s nothing wrong.”
WE HAD TO HIKE from the road to the campsite-cum-attack scene. I figured that would be the case, but it turned into a fifteen-minute hike, which was more than I wanted to bear given the oppressive heat and humidity.
“I thought Michigan was supposed to be cool,” I grumbled, wiping the sweat from my brow as I stopped to drink from my water bottle. “Isn’t Michigan supposed to be a cold-weather state?”
Millie’s gaze was unreadable as she stopped next to me, her face red from exertion. She looked unhappier than I felt. “I’m right there with you. Where is the snow when we need it?”
I offered a small smile, trying to hide my discomfort as she met my gaze. Millie was the first member of The Legacy Foundation I’d bonded with. I liked her a great deal. She was like the kooky grandmother or weird aunt I’d never had. The problem was I couldn’t decide if she knew my secret and decided to keep it to herself or was so overwrought during the fight for our lives that she’d never considered the obvious answer. Part of me was nervous to know the truth, but the other part recognized it would be easier to know – no matter the outcome – so I could deal with it, even if it meant fleeing in the night and never looking back.
“We’re almost there,” Jack offered, casting a glance over his shoulder and pursing his lips when he realized Laura was bringing up the rear … and heading directly toward him. “Pick up the pace. I want to get there.”
“Hey, some of us are old,” Millie argued. “I’m moving as fast as I can.”
Jack, who was genuinely fond of Millie and not afraid to show it, merely shook his head. “And some of us are trying to keep harpies at bay. Pick up the pace.”
“I’d rather kick her in the face than pick up the pace.”
“You’re a poet and you didn’t even know it,” I teased, amused.
Millie chuckled as Jack scowled. “We’re coming, Jack. Chill out. There’s no reason to melt down. Just tell Laura to back off.”
“I’ve told her.” Jack was adamant. “It’s as if she suddenly can’t hear. I have no idea what’s going on with her.”
I thought of my conversation with Laura during the flight. “She’s decided that she can’t trust men she doesn’t know – I think Zach turning out to be a killer was a crushing blow to her ego – so she’s decided that Jack is the safest choice.”
Millie slid me a sidelong look. “How do you know that?”
“She told me on the jet.” I saw no reason to lie. It wasn’t as if I was loyal to Laura, or ever would be. “She wanted to make sure I didn’t insert myself into the situation and distract Jack by becoming a damsel in distress.”
Millie snorted. “Did she really say that to you?”
“Yup.”
“What a troll.” Millie was never one to hide her opinion. “I wish she would cross paths with a werewolf. Then we’d never see her again.”
I didn’t bother to hide my surprise. “You want her to die?”
“No. I want her to be like one of those chicks in the werewolf romance books who gets all hot and bothered for a hairy guy and takes off to live happily ever after.”
“You read werewolf romance books?” I honestly had no idea that was even a thing, but now that I knew I kind of wanted to read one, although I’d never admit that out loud. “Are they like … hot?”
Millie nodded without hesitation. “So hot.”
“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” Jack muttered, stalking ahead of us and pushing through the trees. “This is what I get for surrounding myself with weirdos.”
Millie and I exchanged amused looks.
“I just know he’s going to buy a werewolf book to check it out now,” Millie supplied. “He’s got that look.”
I chuckled. “He’s not the only one. I want to read one now.”
“I’ve got a list I can email you.”
“Awesome.”
THE CAMPSITE WAS ROPED off with yellow police tape, which Jack and Chris brazenly crossed. I remained rooted to my spot as I watched them, momentarily waiting to see if law enforcement officers would come charging from the trees brandishing handcuffs and Miranda rights.
Eventually everyone else crossed, too, leaving me as the only standout. Jack’s expression reflected amusement when he snagged my gaze.
“We have permission to be here. It’s okay.”
“Oh, well, I knew that.” I had no idea. I sucked in a breath and slid under the tape, exhaling heavily once on the other side. I wasn’t in handcuffs, at least for the moment, so that was a good thing. “Where should I start?”
“Just look around,” Chris instructed as he crouched on the far side of the tattered tent. “We need to photograph everything. In fact, why don’t you check the perimeter of the site for prints that we can cast? That would be a
good task for you.”
“Okay.” I intended to do as Chris asked, but the shredded tent seemed to be calling me and I couldn’t stop myself from heading there first. I glanced around to see what everyone else was doing – they all seemed intent on a chore I couldn’t quite identify – and then focused on the shredded fabric.
I touched my fingers to a particularly savaged spot and barely managed to swallow a gasp when a kaleidoscope of images pummeled my mind. It was hardly the first time I’d been accosted with psychic images, but there was a reason I preferred for the episodes to occur when I was alone.
There was nothing I could do about it now, so I did my best to commit the flashes to memory without looking as if I was having some sort of fit requiring medical assistance.
Screaming.
A man calling for a woman, panic evident in his voice.
Sharp teeth, the sort that would belong to an animal.
Blood. I could smell it, not see it.
Another scream and then an overwhelming burst of anguish punching me in the stomach.
I jerked back my fingers and sucked in a breath, working overtime to slow the rapid beat of my heart. I pressed the heel of my hand to my forehead and stared into nothing, my vision blurring at the edges as I tried to regain my senses.
It was a tough battle, but I managed it thanks to a variety of coping techniques I’d acquired over the years. When I was breathing normally again – and my heart didn’t feel as if it was about to burst from my chest like the creature in Alien – I shifted my gaze to the left and found Millie staring at me, her gaze thoughtful and intense.
“I was just thinking how terrifying it must have been for them,” I lied gamely. “I have no idea what happened, but it must have been something that frightened them.”
“Uh-huh.”
Rather than remain close to Millie, and perhaps answer questions I wasn’t ready to tackle, I moved away from her and headed straight for the perimeter. “I’ll look for those prints now.”
“Be careful,” Chris called out, oblivious to my episode. “Don’t step on anything that might be useful.”
“I’ll do my best.”
TWENTY MINUTES LATER I SAT on the ground and waited for the fast-drying plaster I used to make three casts to solidify. This was the second time I’d made casts since joining the team, but the first I was trusted to do alone. I was mildly excited about that … but still bored because I had to wait. I wasn’t exactly known for my patience.
That’s where Millie found me, her hands dirty from digging in the soft soil near what looked to have been the fire pit. I wasn’t sure why she sought me out until she glanced over her shoulder to make sure we weren’t in hearing distance of everyone else and then dropped to the ground next to me.
“We need to talk.”
My heart lurched and a pain I was certain would lead to imminent death coursed through my arm. “About what?” I seriously thought I might pass out I felt so lightheaded. I’d been waiting weeks for her to broach the subject and now she appeared ready to do so out of nowhere, with our colleagues close enough to eavesdrop, no less.
“Wipe that look off your face.” Millie leaned closer and pinned me with a glare. “You are, like, the worst person ever when it comes to subterfuge. It’s a good thing you didn’t want to be a spy. You would’ve died on your first mission.”
The comment was enough to calm me, but only a little. “I … you … we … what do you want to talk about?”
“Try to pretend we’re talking about the casts,” Millie hissed, risking a glance back at our colleagues before continuing. “No one will be suspicious unless you make them suspicious.”
I wrung my hands and did as she instructed, hoping beyond hope that my world wasn’t about to implode. “Whatever you think happened … well, it didn’t. You’re imagining things.”
Millie rolled her eyes. “Good grief. Stop fretting and pay attention. I get that you’re panicking, but there’s no need to. I figured there was something different about you before you did … whatever it is you did … in Texas. I wasn’t going to say anything about it because that’s not my way, but you’re wound too tightly to let it go. It’s apparent you need reassurance, so here it is.
“I’m not going to tell anyone what you are,” she continued, her voice low and calm. “I recognized there was something different about you from the beginning and figured you would eventually get comfortable enough to come out on your own.”
I swallowed hard. “What do you think is different about me?”
“You’re magical.”
“I … .” I broke off and licked my lips. “I didn’t think you believed in stuff like that.”
“I’m not Jack. Don’t mistake me for a non-believer. Just because I happen to be practical in nature when it comes to this stuff doesn’t mean I’m not a believer. You need to pull yourself together, though. I’m not going to tell anyone else – and I mean anyone – so there’s no reason for you to be such a nervous wreck.”
And here I thought I’d been hiding my terror so well. “What did you see?”
“I’m not sure what I saw,” Millie admitted, brushing off the knees of her jeans before twisting the cap off her bottle of water. “I know you used magic. I saw you fighting, and then I saw things flying through the air. I looked to you because I thought I might be imagining it, but you were calm, not surprised even a little. I knew you did it.”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner? I couldn’t decide if you actually saw anything or missed it because you were so worried about Chris.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because … .” I thought about my dead parents, about the way they’d stressed that I was never supposed to let anyone in on the big secret. They were always so worried when I was a kid that someone would try to take me for government research … or maybe to use as a weapon. Sure, I thought they were overreacting and perhaps watched a few too many science fiction movies, but I knew spreading my secret far and wide was a bad idea.
“Because you were afraid,” Millie finished, bobbing her head. “I figured. You’ve kept this secret for a long time. Is that why you studied what you did in college? Is that why you joined The Legacy Foundation?”
I nodded. “I don’t know what I am.”
“Do you want to know?” Millie’s voice turned soft. “Just because you can do things doesn’t mean you’re not the person you’ve always believed yourself to be.”
I gave her question careful consideration. “I want to know,” I answered finally. “I’ve always wanted to know. After we met the Winchesters a few weeks ago, that need kicked into overdrive.”
Millie pursed her lips. “And what were the Winchesters?”
I realized my mistake too late. “I didn’t say they were anything,” I answered hurriedly. “I didn’t mean they were anything. I just … they were nice and open, and it made me want to learn more about myself.”
It was the lamest lie ever, and Millie saw through it. “They were real witches, weren’t they?” Millie smiled to herself when I didn’t answer, the expression lighting her amused features. “I wondered once I heard about the nude dancing. That’s a pagan thing – a real pagan thing – and they weren’t exactly subtle about some of the things they were doing.”
“You can’t tell anyone.” I gripped Millie’s arm tightly. “I made a promise.”
“Calm yourself, girl.” Millie patted my arm. “I won’t tell anyone. It’s not my place. I’m glad you found someone in that family to talk to, though. If anyone can help you get through whatever it is you’re going through, it’s people who have similar secrets to hide.”
I hadn’t even considered that. “I don’t think their secrets are the same as my secrets.”
“No.” Millie turned philosophical. “They’re real witches and they can’t do the same things you can. I wouldn’t mind a demonstration of exactly what you can do if we get a chance down the road, by the way. No pressure.”
&n
bsp; My smile was rueful. “You really won’t tell anyone?”
“Honey, it’s none of my business.”
“But … I’m exactly what we’re looking for.”
Millie winked, causing the tension rolling through my body to dissipate. “That’s what makes this so much fun.” She sobered as she leaned forward and grabbed my hand. “I won’t tell. You can trust me. It’ll be okay.”
I wanted so much to believe her. For now, I embraced relief because I was no longer alone and felt as if I had someone in my corner. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I’m still going to want a demonstration.”
“Sure. Once we don’t have an audience.”
5
Five
I felt better after my conversation with Millie. Once I gave it some thought, I knew it was ridiculous to worry about her spreading my secret. I didn’t know her well, but she was the sort of person who stood up for the little guy … or girl, in this instance. She was also ridiculously loyal, whether she knew someone well or not, and there was no chance she would talk out of turn when it came to my abilities.
I should have realized that. The whole thing made me feel stupid.
After finishing the casts, I stacked them toward the front of the campsite so we wouldn’t forget to take them with us, and then expanded my search. Even though two people went missing from the area – and were presumed dead or in grave danger – I didn’t feel afraid. I knew that if a real threat presented itself my inner alarm would signal in plenty of time to alert me.
That’s why I allowed myself to wander farther and farther from the campsite. I didn’t even realize I was doing it at first. I was too intent on the ground, looking for more prints or scraps of fabric. Heck, I thought there was an off chance I might stumble across a body.
I was so far from the group that I could no longer hear them when I finally realized my mistake. Unfortunately for me, I heard something else.
The Werewolf Whoops Page 4