Lightning Lost

by Miranda Hardy

  “How long?” Bo asks, banging his fist on the mahogany desk. “When was the last time you saw the dead?” he asks Aunt Simza.

  “Two hours ago.” Creases form on Aunt Simza’s forehead. “All I see is static vibrations. It’s as if all the dead vanished at once.”

  Vadoma sneaks in a side door and stands beside us. Her bangs have grown long over the past several months. She styles them differently now in a more layered look. She’s beautiful, reminding me of the younger pictures of my mother Bo keeps locked in the desk. He left it unlocked a couple of months ago and I rummaged through the pictures he keeps of his daughters. I wonder if Aunt Simza knows about them. Maybe if she did she wouldn’t be so mean to him as often as she is.

  “Fonso?” Bo turns his attention to my brawny cousin.

  “Same. I was practicing by the shore. All the rocks fell at once.”

  Everyone’s gaze shifts to me. I shrug. “I was with Colin at the time. I didn’t notice until thirty minutes ago.” Tears fill my eyes. A sense of shame overcomes me, even though it’s pure nonsense, since it’s not my doing. Usually, a cool rainfall would start right about now.

  “Harmon?” Bo’s voice softens. “Do you feel anything?”

  My dad purses his lips and shakes his head.

  “Colin, I’m assuming you all can still shift, right?” Bo turns to look behind him at Colin and his loyal pack of wolves. Technically, he’s not their pack leader, as that position fell to his father, but since his father heads up the Hunters he was able to break the bond holding them to his bidding. A connection we share helps break that once inseverable bond.

  “Yes, we feel no different.” Colin glances at Brayden, who nods in agreement.

  “We leave tomorrow morning.” Bo stands. “Pack up what you need to bring, but we travel light. One bag each. Tonight, we need to be wary. Colin, Brayden, Kayla, and Riley take turns watching the coast. Harmon, Fonso, Emilian, and I will take the eastern side.”

  Dad squeezes my hand when I tense. He looks at me, shushing me with a stone-cold glare. He knows me too well. There’s no reason why Bo leaves Vadoma and me off the rotation. We are stronger than both Fonso and Emilian. Irritation burns inside me.

  “Is it really necessary?” Aunt Mirela asks. “Are you certain we need to leave?” She adores this house more than the rest of us. I imagine living in trailers and traveling with carnivals isn’t like living the lush life of a rich islander.

  “Something’s off, Mirela. Bo’s right. We need to leave,” Aunt Simza says. I never thought she’d agree with anything Bo says.

  “Well, I’ll get started on supper, then. Won’t take me long to pack.” Aunt Mirela heads toward the door leading to the kitchen.

  “Want some help?” I ask.

  “Sure,” Aunt Mirela says.

  Nadya follows me without uttering a word.

  Watching Aunt Mirela cook brings me great joy. “What’s on the menu?”

  “Let’s make some comfort food. No?” She smiles and places a large saucepan on the stove. “Goulash. I’ll work on the maize and you two can start chopping.”

  She sets all of the ingredients out on the countertop for us. Nadya prepares the meat while I slice the tomatoes and onions.

  Aunt Mirela hums while she works, slowly mixing in the perfect proportions of spices. It’s an unappreciated talent, but she’s by far the best artist. She has spent a lot of time sitting in the aviary these last few months. On the weekends, she’d follow the caretaker around, listening to him talk about the different species and what they eat, how to nurture their habitat, and what their bird calls mean.

  Her gift, or curse, depending on how you perceive it, lies in bringing people’s past lives into their present ones. She’d never do a reading for her children, nor had she offered any to me. When I asked her a few months ago about her gift, she’d waved me away, telling me it’s best to leave the past in the past. I envied the fact she could turn it off so easily. She did say something I’ve pondered deeply…she was never able to read her own past lives.

  Unlike Aunt Simza, she’s been more forgiving of her father for having used Nadya’s gift in tracking Dad and me down all these years. She allowed him to teach her chess and they play one game every morning after breakfast in the library. Bo usually wins, but she never gives up trying to beat him.

  We finish fixing dinner at dusk. The smell of fresh stew drifts through the courtyard, where most everyone awaits our last meal on the island.

  “Where’s Riley?” Nadya asks, serving a bowl first to Brayden and another to Kayla.

  “He’s down by the shore on watch.” Colin grins at me when I place the bowl in front of him. “Thank you.”

  “I’ll take him a bowl.” Nadya races back into the kitchen, grabbing a bowl, napkin, and spoon. There is no need for her to bring a beverage as they have an ice chest on the dock filled with water and juices. They restocked it this morning.

  Vadoma’s missing from our gathering, too. “Where’s my sister?”

  Colin grabs me, pulling me onto his lap. “She convinced Bo she’s more qualified than Fonso to be on guard duty, so she’s taking the first watch.”

  “Figures.” I sigh.

  My dad clears his throat and frowns.

  “No one doubts your skills.” Colin kisses my cheek and releases me.

  Dad’s not too keen with Colin and me being together. He’s the one who insisted I bunk with Nadya, even though I’ve been living on my own for quite some time. We’ve all had to share accommodations, as there weren’t enough bedrooms. Even Dad bunks with Brayden, who apparently snores.

  Bo grabs his bowl and takes it into the library, probably to continue working on his computer. He’s a bit of a workaholic, even on the last night here. He’s never eaten with us once.

  “I’ll bring Vadoma her supper.” Aunt Mirela gets up from her seat.

  “No. I’ll take it to her.” I hurry into the kitchen and scoop a bowl full of the goulash and add the maize on top. Grabbing a bottle of water, I leave through the back exit out to the east lawn. A cool breeze blows in over the rocky cliffs. It’s a welcome reprieve from the humidity that’s plagued us for the last day.

  “Smells good.” Vadoma takes the bowl from me. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” I take a peek over the cliffs to the darkened waters below. “You won’t be able to see anything when it gets dark.”

  “Ah, he’s got that covered.” Vadoma bends and pulls up a pair of odd-looking goggles. “Night vision.”

  “Of course.”

  She throws them back to the ground. “Paranoid.”

  “How did you buy your way into guard duty?” I ask. “Can’t believe he excluded us.”

  “That’s Grandfather for you. A bit of a sexist pig. There’s a reason he’s still single after all these years.”

  I chuckle. “And to think he was blessed with all girls.”

  “Who he used to make money,” Vadoma murmurs.

  “Yeah.”

  She sits, and scoops a bite of the goulash. “This is good.”

  I sit next to her. “Yeah, I tried it as we cooked it.”

  “You don’t have to sit with me while I eat.” She raises a brow.

  “I know. I’m enjoying the breeze. It was toasty in the kitchen.” I stumble around the real reason I wanted to see her. We rarely get an opportunity to be alone and she’s not the easiest person to talk with. “Do you think you’ll ever forgive him?”

  The spoon clangs against the bowl when she drops it. “He kept me from my…our mother.” She falls back onto the grass, gazing at the dark blue sky. “He lied to me all these years. He used me to track down my own sister without telling me that’s who I was looking for. How would you handle that? It’s not easy knowing the guy who raised you betrayed you.”

  “Have you talked to him?” I ask.

  “No, and I don’t really want to.” She leans up on her elbows. “Aren’t you angry with him? He used our mother, who felt the need to run a
way from him, and then spent the rest of your life chasing you and your father. Not to mention hiring Kyle and Brian.”

  An ache forms in the pit of my stomach. I think about Kyle every time I look at the stars, remembering that one special night we shared together. Guilt creeps into my gut. “Have you talked to him?” I gulp. “Kyle.”

  “I don’t know what I’d say to him. I’ve picked up the phone a thousand times to dial his number and chickened out.” Vadoma pulls grass up and throws it. “What about you?”

  I shake my head.

  “I’m sorry about what I said at the hospital that day.” Vadoma looks at me. “About you killing…”

  “Brian.” I grab a handful of lawn and squeeze.

  “It wasn’t your fault. He would have killed Colin. There was no stopping him. That was the only way.”

  “I didn’t mean to…I only wanted to stop him. My anger drove me to it.” I explain more for myself than for Vadoma.

  She grabs my hand. “Will you forgive me?” Her eyes water and the realization hits me; she blames herself.

  I wrap my arms around her. “Always.”

  Nadya’s blood curdling scream on the east shore reaches us at the same time the clash of breaking dishes echoes off the courtyard walls. We both jump as Aunt Mirela bolts out the back door, waving her arms madly in the air. “Run!”

  Chapter 3

  A paralyzing sensation anchors me to the ground. Howling erupts as the sun sinks below the water. Panic boils inside me. The wind, rain and hail ignore my emotional pleas for help.

  “What’s happening?” Vadoma pulls my hand too hard, causing a sharp spasm in my shoulder. “Come on, Elysia.”

  Aunt Mirela reaches us. “We have to go.”

  “What’s going on?” Vadoma asks. Her stare moves from one side of the house to the other. “They’re here, aren’t they?”

  “Did the howling give it away?” Aunt Mirela glares. “We don’t have time to talk about it. We have to move to the shed.”

  “Colin and Dad?” I wait for them to come through the door.

  “The others will meet us at the shed.” Aunt Mirela pushes me. “Colin told us to run before they shifted.”

  I will myself to move. Aunt Mirela tries to keep up, pushing herself faster than I’ve ever seen. We near the aviary and back up against the glass. Vadoma inches around the corner to see if anyone stands between the shed and us. The aviary door, two feet on the other side of Aunt Mirela, swings open and she screams.

  Vadoma shoves past me to face whoever’s coming through. It’s too dark to see inside the glass doors.

  Bo walks through, holding a gun. “Jesus!” He aims the barrel at the ground. “Vadoma.” He yanks her into his arms and squeezes.

  “Grandfather.” She hugs him back.

  “You need to get Elysia out of here.” He digs into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. “Find this woman. It took me a long time to track her down, and I can’t guarantee she’s there anymore, but she’s our only hope.”

  Vadoma takes it. “Come with us.”

  Aunt Mirela grabs his shirt. “Where’s Nadya?”

  “Nadya was by the shore.” He pulls Aunt Mirela to him. “I’ll find her.”

  “No!” Vadoma shakes her head. “That’s where the Hunters are.”

  Tears stream down Aunt Mirela’s face.

  “Vadoma, you need to get Elysia out of here now. She is their target. I’ll find the others and head to the boat on the south shore. You all get to the cove. We will meet here.” He touches the paper Vadoma clutches.

  Her expression hardens.

  “Go!” He shoves her and races south, around the house toward the beach.

  My heart pounds rapidly. My chest feels as if it’s on fire.

  Another howl comes from the west.

  Vadoma grabs my hand and inches back around the aviary. I look around her. Emilian’s near the shed, clutching his hand. His ripped jeans drag on the lawn.

  “Emilian,” Vadoma calls out. We reveal ourselves, moving toward him.

  He shakes his head, looking to the west of us.

  A large, copper-white wolf is stalking Emilian. When Emilian stares back at us, the wolf shifts his gaze. Seeing us, he howls, and changes direction.

  His dark, chestnut eyes give him away. “It’s Colin.” Relief washes over me, but then he bares his teeth.

  “Not anymore.” Vadoma’s arm stretches out in front of me.

  “He’s not in control,” Emilian says. “None of them are.”

  We take slow side steps, edging us closer to Emilian and the shed. Emilian opens the door, watching the wolf move toward us.

  “We’re not going to make it,” Aunt Mirela says.

  Colin’s wolf eyes follow me. He ignores the others.

  “He’s stalking Elysia.” Vadoma positions herself in front of me.

  He growls.

  “He won’t hurt me.” Flashes of the afternoon in the cove plays in my head. His smile and kiss…his declaration of love repeats in my thoughts. “He won’t hurt me.” I shake my head, denying what I see right in front of me… a wolf stalking its next victim.

  “Elysia, we need to run for the shed.” Vadoma squeezes my hand. “Mirela, go!”

  Mirela races to the shed.

  Colin’s gaze doesn’t move from me.

  “Vadoma, you need to go,” I say.

  “I’m not leaving your side.” She stands firmly next to me. She shifts into a fighting stance. “I’ll kick him and you make a run for it,” she whispers.

  “No. He won’t hurt me.” I push her back. “Run!”

  Vadoma’s eyes widen, but I realize she’s not looking at me. I turn to see Colin lunge toward us, only a few feet away.

  A shadowy figure dashes across the lawn and slams into Colin’s side. It’s Dad.

  “Dad!” I cry out and notice several red eyes appearing on both sides of the yard.

  “Run!” he yells, as Colin bites his arm.

  Vadoma pulls me and we race to the shed. Colin recovers, sees us, and chases us. Emilian slams the door behind us, but Colin pushes against it, growling.

  Aunt Mirela pulls the lever to the secret staircase, but it won’t open because the door isn’t fully shut. I lean hard against it. Colin’s claw swipes at me. The wolf reverberates against the door and human fingers clasp the edge.

  “Elysia, you have to get out of here.” Colin shoves hard against us. My resolve weakens.

  “Colin,” I gasp.

  “I can’t stop!” he yells. “Emilian, get them out. I’m sorry, Elysia.”

  Vadoma slams into the door between Emilian and me, closing it. The door leading to the staircase pops open.

  Emilian secures the door, locking the latch. Blood drips from his hand.

  Without a word, we descend the staircase; Aunt Mirela leads the way. Howls penetrate the cove, making it sound as if the wolves are everywhere. Once we make it to the dock, the shed door breaks open, sending shards of wood over the edge of the rock cliff above. The metal stairs clatter beneath the weight of the men.

  Emilian throws a few cans of gas into the boat. Vadoma races to untie the ropes, while Aunt Mirela starts the engine.

  “Let’s go!” Emilian grabs me by the waist, lifting me into the boat. Once he’s onboard, he reaches for Vadoma, helping her jump in as the boat pulls away.

  The wolves race into the cove as we pull out into the Gulf. A naked Colin grabs the dock column, staring at me. The side of his mouth curves into a smile.

  Emilian takes his shirt off and wraps it around his bloodied hand. He takes the wheel from Aunt Mirela, who sits next to him. He revs the engine. The boat speeds up, bumping along the waves. He switches on the spotlight so he can see anything that may be in our way.

  Vadoma holds onto a side rail and scans the ocean in search of anyone that may be following us. I doubt they could catch up at this pace in the dark waters. She moves closer and wraps her arm around me, dragging me to the bottom of the speedboat. She’
s probably worried I’ll fall overboard.

  The bump as the boat hits the water makes us pop up every few feet. The salty sea mist sprays us in the face. Vadoma crawls farther up the boat, and I follow her. Once we are at Aunt Mirela’s feet, Vadoma cradles me. I let the tears fall freely.

  Several hours pass. Emilian slows the boat, diligently watching the compass on the dash. He uses a tiny flashlight, clicking it on every few minutes.

  “What happened to your hand?” I ask, breaking the silence.

  He sits in the captain’s chair. “Kayla.”

  “She bit you?” I didn’t need to ask such a stupid question. I merely wanted to keep him talking.

  “Yes. Once the pack arrived, they couldn’t control themselves. They shifted and attacked us,” Emilian says. “Colin screamed for us to run. It took us by surprise. I tried to follow Fonso into the house, but got separated from him when Kayla jumped between us.”

  A small shock of current flows through me, knocking me back against the boat. My connection to the weather and our surroundings snaps together inside me.

  We look at each other simultaneously.

  A slow rain falls, reacting to my sadness.

  “You feel it?” Vadoma asks.

  “We have our abilities back.” Aunt Mirela shifts her position in the passenger seat. “If you could stop the rain, that would be fabulous.”

  Although I’ve become more stable with my emotions and control over the weather, I can’t get it to stop raining. Colin always helped calm me, but he’s not here and I’m afraid I’ve lost him forever. He bit Dad and I worry about what the other wolves will do with our loved ones we left behind on the island.

  “I can’t.” Tears well up, and mix with the drops hitting my cheek.

  It rains throughout the night in intervals. My traveling companions get breaks when I doze off and immediately know when I’m awake, as the downpour starts again.

  The sun’s orange glow greets us as we near land.

  “Where are we?” I ask.

  Emilian taps the gas gauge. “As far as we’re going to go.”