by Lisa Ray
Archer almost laughed at her description of her new discoveries. But he only shook his head in agreement. Then he pulled out his phone and walked onto the balcony to talk to Ryker. When he walked back in his face was seriously intent.
“An attempt was made on Ryker last night. He has been in contact with most of the clans and only two leaders were killed. All thanks to Lisette’s advance warning. Ryker said he wants to meet you to thank you in person. Wanna take a ride?”
Lissette and Bella dressed quickly and soon were headed out of town in the opposite direction of where Archers pack lived. They soon reached a huge gate which implied a large gated community. Once through, the ladies were surprised by the ordinary homes that followed streets that curved here and there. In the center was the largest house of all. Built entirely of brick and stone, it resembled a small modern day castle. Bella noticed the many cameras that followed their every move and soon they were walking through the front door that opened before they knocked. Once inside they were escorted to a large living room and there stood the most gorgeous man they’d ever seen. Blonde and blue-eyed he looked to be in his early fifties though they knew that wasn’t true. Ryker immediately took long strides across the room and took Lisette's hand in his. Raising it to his lips, he kissed it and then held it between his own two hands. Looking deep into Lisette’s brown eyes he spoke.
“I owe you my life, milady. And so do many of the other clan leaders. I have spread the word far and near of your name. You will always be protected by any of us with our lives. We owe you a debt.”
Lisette wasn’t speechless at all. She seemed like she was immune to his charm.
“I was glad that the information helped you. You don’t owe me. It is what people do for each other. Well, most people.”
Ryker looked amused at her flippant answer. He was still holding her hand when Bella reached them and introduced herself. He looked Bella up and down before his eyes returned to Lisette. Bella could read the appreciation in them for her mother who was still a beautiful woman at forty-five.
Archer told Ryker of their plan to lure Lane here and Ryker was immediately wary.
“I don’t like putting Lisette in that situation.”
“Don’t worry, when she meets the plane, Bella and I will be with her. I have others that will be watching.”
“As I will also now that I know. And I think I’ll ride along too as your brother, Archer.”
Archer could see there would be no arguing with Ryker so he nodded.
Lisette smiled at Ryker and the Vampire was enamored. He didn’t know what had come over him to be so protective of this fragile human. Ah well. They did owe her.
“Come ladies, Archer, I have a grand meal prepared in Lisette’s honor with many of the clan invited. Plus your people. Today we celebrate. Tomorrow we fight.”
The meal was amazing. Bella sat between Chloe and Archer. Lisette sat to Ryker’s right in a place of honor. The meal was an amazing assortment of fruits and meat and vegetables. The Vampires ate as they did. Bella noticed their glasses were filled with a bright red drink that no others were offered. She was glad for she knew what it was. Surprisingly, it didn’t turn her stomach. It was just something that she accepted. Lisette didn’t seem bothered by it either. She was laughing and talking with Ryker and the ones closest to her. She fit right in.
When the meal was over, the drive home was a silent one. Everyone had a lot to think about.
Chapter 18
Lane paced the floor as his thoughts were formulating his plan. He wasn’t stupid. He knew before Lisette left she had figured out something was wrong. His man in Maine had confirmed she was with her daughter and the leader of the Pack. He assumed that they had realized that Lane was somehow a part of the revolution. They didn’t know that he was second in command to the one that had started it all. So they were going to lure him there to find out who and what he was. The Lycan almost laughed. He would be way ahead of them. He was way ahead of them. He was already in Maine. Already in Brent. And his plan was already under way.
The day dawned bright and sunny. Lisette and Bella enjoyed a cup of coffee on the balcony. Archer had gone home the night before, assuring them his men and probably Ryker’s too were watching over them. Lane’s plane would arrive at noon. So they had plenty of time. They decided to walk to the bakery for a pastry. The stroll was beautiful. Bella pointed out Archer’s hardware store and the restaurant and the other places of interest. Soon with pastry in hand they were headed back home. Lissette told Bella she was happy Bella had found this place even with all the troubles. The clinic was perfect and the living quarters above even more so. Bella agreed and was regaling her mother with stories of some of her clients. Amid the laughter, they neglected to notice the white van that was headed their way. As soon as they reached the small wooded lot between the town and the clinic, the van was beside them and before they could make a sound, they were bound and gagged and lying in the floor of the moving vehicle. Bella was face to face with her mother and looked at her. Like herself, there was fear, but there was also anger and determination. There would be hell to pay.
The ride was bumpy and there was no one in the back with them. Bella could hear muffled voices from the front but she couldn’t understand the words. It seemed as if the ride took forever. Bella and Lisette were communicating with their eyes. Holding each other’s gaze and assuring each other as best they could. Bella didn’t understand where all of their bodyguards were. Lycan and Vampire alike, they were supposed to be protected. Now no one would know where they were. She had to do something. But she didn’t know what. She managed to flip with her back to her mother and felt her mother working on the ties that bound her hands. Before any success was made, the van stopped. The back doors opened and two rough looking men pulled them out and stood them up. Pushing them in front of them the men moved the two women forward. Bella got a look around. They had come in on a dirt road and were surrounded by thick woods. In front of them was a heavily guarded and firmly fortified spacious brick home. She had no idea where she was. They were pushed roughly to the front door where it opened before them. A woman in black leather led them down a hall and into a huge living room where they were shoved down on a couch. Leaning into each other, Bella and Lisette huddles together. Soon they were alone. Their gags had been removed but their hands and feet were still bound tightly.
Bella looked at her mother, “I thought we had protection. Where were all the ones that were supposed to be watching over us?”
Lisette read the anger on her daughters face. She feared the worse. “That is something we may not like to know. However, it was almost nine when we were walking back to the house and Archer was picking us up at nine-thirty to go to the airport. By now they know we are missing. They will find us.”
“Oh, I’m counting on it,” Said a voice that was familiar to Lissette. A man walked into the room with what Bella could only call a smirk on his face.
“I guessed it was you, “Lissette whispered.
“Of course, my dear. Who else. And this must be your beautiful daughter you told me so much about. Bell, is it?”
“If you touch her I will kill you,” Lissette spoke in a calm even voice.
The man threw back his head and laughed. The sound grated on Bella’s ears. She looked at her mother quizzically.
“Ah, the young lady hasn’t guessed who I am yet. Bells, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Lane. I am sure your mother has told you much about me.” The man stared at Bella with piercing eyes that seemed to want her to be afraid.
“I’m not afraid of you. Archer will come for me. And he will bring an army.” Bella’s voice was angry and steady.
“As I said before, I’m counting on it. Don’t you see? You, my two beautiful ladies, are my bait. I will succeed in taking care of the leaders and hopefully much of the members of the largest pack in the States. And if my informant is correct. The vampire king, Ryker, will come too since they are working together. To get
both leaders and most of their members would be a tremendous advancement of our cause.” Lane seemed sure of himself.
“It won’t happen,” Lissette said, “They are much too smart for any traps you have set. And I don’t see near enough people here to even think about being a threat to Archer and Ryker.”
“Oh don’t worry about that, my dear. I have many more on the way that will arrive by nightfall. Before the days end this place and the surrounding woods will be filled with some of the most vicious fighters, both Vampire and Lycan, which you would ever not want to meet. And I won’t have to set a trap. You see, I have you both. That’s all I need. We just have to wait. Soon they will come and we will be more than ready.” Lane looked again at the women. The smugness on his face was almost eerie. “I am going to untie you and show you to your rooms. There is no escape from them so the effort would be fruitless. There will be guards at the doors and windows at all times. However, you will find all the comforts of home. I wanted you to enjoy my hospitality while you were here. Until you’re not.” Lane laughed again. Calling to several people, Lissette and Bella were escorted upstairs. First they shoved Bella into a room and Lissette tried to grab hold but was pulled away and shoved further down the hall and into another room. Both women heard the click of the locks as they were locked into their prisons. Each woman dealing with their own emotions.
Bella was afraid for Archer and Ryker. She hoped they would see this for what it was. She suspected Lane was more powerful in the organization than they had thought. She knew Archer would come. And she looked around the room to make her own plan to be ready.
Lissette was on the same page. She knew Archer would come for Bella and she knew that Ryker would come for her. He had claimed he owed her. But she knew there was something else there. She looked around the room and began to make her own plans. Walking across to the wall that connected her to Bella’s room, she tapped quietly on the wall. Bella heard the soft tapping and knew immediately her mother was letting her know she was alright. Bella’s knocked back softly. Then with a sigh, each woman began a closer inspection of what they had in their rooms.
Chapter 19
Archer stretched his full length as he rose from the one hour of sleep he had achieved. He and several others had spent most of the night questioning the Lycan they had captured. The man wouldn’t give an inch. No matter what they did to him. He was not talking. After hours of nothing, Archer had turned him over to hi Vampire bodyguards in hopes they’d have better luck. His only rule was to not kill him. Yet.
After looking at the clock, Archer showered and went downstairs. It was close to time to leave to go get Ryker and then the women. He looked up as Roman almost ran into the room.
“Archer, the protection detail on Bella and Lissette hasn’t checked in and I can’t get them to answer. I called Ryker and he had put his own men there too. He tried to get in touch with them and cant. Somethings wrong.”
Archer was out the door and in the car before Roman could catch up. Speeding toward town, Archer dialed Ryker. Ryker was speeding to the same destination. Both arrived at the clinic in record time. Archer and Ryker headed toward the door and their men moved around the house toward the back. Two separate cars, one Lycan, one Vampire, sat empty across the street. Archer used the keys and was inside and up the stairs fast, Ryker on his heels. They searched the apartment and there was no sign of the women. Walking onto the balcony, Archers and Ryker’s phones rang simultaneously. They both listened and looked at each other.
Hanging up, Archer spoke the obvious, “My men are dead. Silver chains around their necks and stabbed through the heart.”
“Mine, also,” Ryker said.” Silver chains around their necks and staked through the heart. It seems we underestimated this man called Lane. He has taken the women. I feel sure of it.”
“I agree,” Archer paced, “We must find them.”
“We will, but we must be smart. This man took the women knowing we would come for them. We must have a plan. He will be waiting for us. He will be prepared and we must be also. We cannot hurry and make a mistake.”
Archer growled but he knew Ryker was right. He wanted to run for Bella right then but knew he must not. “So let’s make a plan.”
The Vampire convention house was overflowing. Both Lycan and vampire filling every seat and standing in every empty space. Man woman and child, every member of both pack and clan was there. All knew what had happened and all waited to see what would be done.
Archer and Ryker walked onto the floor together. Ryker spoke first.
“As you all know, we face our first challenge as a unified group against those of our kinds that want nothing but war. We believe that the man that took Bella and Lissette are using them for bait to take us all out and leave the country more vulnerable. We must not let this happen. No matter what your beliefs are on human life, this man that has them is powerful. He must be dealt with. Archer and I sent our scouts to find their location. This man wants us to find him so it was easy. They are two hours west in the center of a vast wilderness. The compound they are in is well fortified with high electrified gates and a large open space devoid of trees so that there is no element of surprise. There were many guards and fighters, both Lycan and Vampire, all around the perimeter. As the scouts observed, more and more arrived. It seems there is an army there by now. We will take the fight to them. That is what they expect and we will not disappoint them. But we must be smart. Archer and I have a plan. He will tell you.”
The silence in the room was loud. Even the children knew that something was about to happen, to change. The audience listened as Archer explained the plan. When he was done, everyone went to prepare. All had certain tasks to ready themselves for. And they had this night and tomorrow to do it. Soon Ryker and Archer were alone in the large room.
“Do you think we can do this?’ Archer asked Ryker. He was comforted by the intense look on Ryker’s face and his one word dimple answer.
“Yes.”
Chapter 20
When evening arrived, the door to Bella’s room opened and a woman walked in with a tray of food. She smiled at Bella and Bella watched in horror as her teeth elongated to form a malicious set of fangs. The woman then licked her lips and looked at Bella’s as if she wanted to bite into her right then and there. After dropping the food tray on the dresser, the vampire opened her mouth wide and made a huge biting motion. Then she smiled a wicked smile and turned and left the room. Bella didn’t try to fool herself into thinking that she hadn’t been afraid. She had never seen anything like that.
She made her way to the tray and was glad to see that there were a couple of chicken legs and some rice and green beans on the plate. The liquid in the glass was clear so she knew it wasn’t blood. She ate because she knew she had to keep up her energy and strength. Then she went back to work.
In the nest room, Lissette finished her meal also. She was ahead of Bella. She had already finished one weapon and hidden it under the mattress. She had taken the glass out of a picture on the wall that no one would notice and carefully managed to break it into a large shard. She had found a washcloth in the bathroom and wrapped it around one end so she could hold onto it. It wasn’t much but it was a start. She didn’t have much to work with.
Bella was working from a different angle. She had taken the shower curtain down and managed to remove the metal shower rod. That in itself made a fine weapon for stabbing or fighting. She hid it under the bed. Looking around, she didn’t see much else to work with. She tried not to get discouraged. The fact that Archer wasn’t there yet meant he was being smart. That was a good thing. But when he came, she would be ready to fight with them.
Lisette wasn’t faring much better. After searching the room, she too had given up. She would be ready but she was going to go to sleep. She knew that nothing would happen tonight. It was too soon. She knew Ryker and Archer and everyone else would be there soon enough. And it would be a battle. She could see out the window that many, many mo
re people had arrived. There must be hundreds. The surrounding woods were full of lights from fires and flashlights. She heard a tremendous amount of howling and loud laughter. She left the light on when she laid her head down. Tapping gently on the wall she waited for Bella’s response and then fell into a fitful sleep. Bella was close on her heels.
Lane was angrily admonishing several of his top people in the living room. He wasn’t happy with the frivolity that was happening outside. He wanted serious observation and he wasn’t getting it. They were acting like it was a party. He growled in anger and let loose his anger. Soon the other leaders were somber and serious. Lane released them to go get the others under control. They must be ready any minute. Although he doubted it would be this night he wasn’t taking any chances.
He walked to the bar and poured himself a drink. He had the upper hand. He had Bella and Lisette.
Using his secure phone, he called the leader. After filling him in on all that was taking place, the leader was pleased. But he was also not as sure as Lane that it would be so easy. He told Lane that he didn’t need to underestimate Archer and Ryker. He knew from personal experience that those two were formidable foes. He told Lane to let him know when it was done.
At the Vampire community things were ahead of schedule. Since they didn’t have to sleep, they were doing most of the work while Archer’s group slept. Silver was melted and poured and shaped and soon the stockpile was plentiful. Guns were accumulated from all households so they could get an accurate count. Archer had already had theirs delivered. Lances and spears were fashioned out of silver and knives. The wolves wouldn’t carry any of this. The vampires would carry them all in and the scouts had picked several places to hide extra weapons if needed. There were even humans going into the fight. The ones that had married into each faction and even some of the donors. They would need several weapons. By the time Archer arrived at Ryker’s the next morning there was nothing to do but go over the plan and wait. And that was the hardest job of all as he wondered what was happening with Bella. If anyone had hurt her they would die. His blood was running hot and he could feel himself starting to change.