Parahuman (Parahuman Series)

by S. L. Hess

  The wolf he’d stabbed in the neck was lying on the ground rapidly bleeding to death. When Devan had stabbed it in the neck he’d nicked either the small or large jugular vein.

  Devan heard the other two wolves growl off in the distance. The wolf under the tree gave a weak yowl in return and began hobbling away. Devan finished it off with an arrow to the heart.

  Dropping to the ground Devan quickly retrieved both bolts and his knife before leaping back onto the branch below Laney. Her branch position and his put them face to face.

  “Are you alright?” Devan asked, looking her over carefully. She straddled the branch and gazed at him with wide, wild eyes, her hands trembling slightly. He pulled some of the water from his pack. The probability that she might go into shock was high with everything she’d been through, although, her pupils and breathing seemed good.

  “That was amazing. Did you know they were going to do that?” She asked shakily, ignoring his question. She took a drink of the water and handed it back. Devan took a small sip before pocketing it again.

  He fitted another bolt in the crossbow before answering. “A multitude of scenarios rolled through my mind.”

  She grinned, but it was shaky. “A multitude, huh.” She glanced at the three dead wolves below them. “I now that wolves can strategize somewhat, but that’s definitely not normal.”

  “They’ve been enhanced genetically, it’s hard to say what cerebral facets were affected, but they have definitely been trained.” Devan gazed around the forests perimeter, looking for the two remaining wolves. They had regrouped and were pacing about one hundred and twenty yards south east of their tree.

  Again, he wondered where the other three missing wolves had gotten too. They had all been together hunting around his house, but then they were absent at the school, they had joined the pack to eliminate the dead wolf, but were again absent for this attack. Did they separate from the pack during risky undertakings?

  Laney was observing him as he assessed. “They’re still out there?”

  Devan watched the wolves pace in the distance; never holding quite still. “Yes, but at the moment they don’t look like they’re going to make another rush attack; which is disappointing.”

  “Why is that disappointing? That sounds great to me.” She exclaimed in astonishment.

  Taking his contemplation off the wolves Devan transferred it to her. She stared at him in complete bafflement. “We’re in a prime position; elevated and protected. There’s only two out there now, it would be like shooting so-called ‘fish in a vat’.”

  She grinned and this was less shaky than the last one. Some of the tension left her face, which was what he’d been hoping for. “You really need to get out more.” She scoffed.

  Devan gave her a quizzical look. “I’m outside most of the time.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “That’s not what I meant. I was trying to point out that your lingo needs some work and you could use some social interaction to update it.”

  “I thought I was doing that with you.” And that was the truth of it. His total social interactions of the last six years in the world equaled one afternoon with her. In all these years she was the only one who had fascinated him enough to want to change his solitary and reserved manner. Once Devan left he would most likely revert back to his distant behavior. It was unlikely he would find another person who drew him like Laney did.

  Her smiled slipped a little and she looked down at the gun in her hands. She triggered the safety back on. “Were you?” she said softly. “It seemed like you were always pulling away from me.”

  Devan deliberated on what to say to her. In a few hours he would be gone…forever. In a way he felt he had nothing to lose in disclosing his feelings.

  “Laney, since the first moment of meeting you I’ve acted in a completely contrary manner to the way I normally behave. I never go to social gatherings, but for some reason I couldn’t say no to you when you asked. Every time I’m around you my synapses go haywire, firing uncontrollably. I’m used to thinking rationally and logically, and that rationality is absent every time I’m near you. I tried to keep my distance because of Jarrod, but then the feelings that arose every time I was with you became more intense and I found I liked to be around you too much to stay away. It was all rather incomprehensible for me.” Devan shook his head wondering if he was conveying his thoughts properly. “When the wolves came on the scene I knew something was wrong and because of that your safety became paramount. That is why I pushed you away last night.”

  Devan scanned the woods feeling uncomfortable after his confession, unable to look her in the face after revealing his turbulent feelings. She had remained completely silent during his purge, and was still silent as he ended. After a while he found that it was becoming rather torturous to not see her face. Even if his feelings were abhorrent to her he had to know...so he turned.

  The look on her face was stunned amazement. That was better than revulsion…he conjectured. Her hand rose slowly and settled on his vest, and Devan watched as a desolate sort of joy replaced the stunned look in her brilliant green eyes. It froze Devan’s breathing in his trachea.

  “Do you know that your pupils enlarge making your eyes go all black when you look at me sometimes, it’s incredible?” She leaned closer. “They’re doing it right now.” Her lips settled softly on his.

  This kiss wasn’t like the previous one. Before it had been out of control; Devan’s anger turning to exultation at seeing her safe, her fear alleviated by his presence after her frightening night. It had led to an overload of emotions.

  This kiss was slower, sweeter, and when she pulled back Devan was left feeling bereft.

  Watery eyes gazed into his. “I feel the same way about you. It’s crazy…I mean…we’ve only known each for such a short time, but every time you pushed me away it felt like a knife in my chest. The thought of you leaving is killing me.” Her words caused that same knife like sensation in his chest. “I know you have to go, but it’s tearing me apart inside.” The tears that had been welling in her eyes trickled down her cheeks.

  Devan instinctively lifted his hand to brush them away, he did not want her weeping. “Please don’t cry.” He implored hoarsely; long forgotten tear ducks began to burn.

  “You’re worth crying over.” She placed her hand on his cheek.

  Devan found that he craved Laney’s touch. His hand drifted from her eyes to her hair; pulling some strands through his fingers he was amazed at how soft it was. It may just be keratin, but her hair had some quality that made his fingers tingle. He grazed the silken area between her shoulder and neck and she shivered slightly, her lips parting in a breath.

  Instantly, his eyes focused on them, aching to kiss her again, but he was unsure. Touching others wasn’t as natural to him as it seemed to be for her. She hugged and touched people without a thought while he flinched at the slightest touch.

  She caressed his cheek and the tip of her finger brushed softly over his bottom lip. This erased any hesitation Devan felt; the urge was greater than his insecurity. Drawing her nearer he watched her eyes close and her lips part in anticipation.

  Her lips were soft and tasted of tears, and he tried his best to hold back from crushing them hard beneath his. His strength was part of what had stopped him previously. He thought he might have been hurting her. He was so much larger and stronger than her; he could damage her so easily.

  She didn’t seem to want gentle though, because she lifted her hand to the nap of his neck attempting to pull him closer. Yielding, Devan leaned into her branch putting his hand around her waist to steady both of them, but also because he wanted more contact with her. The enticement of intimate contact became understandable to him as a suffusion of warmth ran through his body. Who wouldn’t want to feel this all the time?

  Laney’s hand drifted from his head down to his shoulder as she pressed in closer and a couple of her fingers slipped down his t-shirt onto his bare back. Devan shuddered at the unfa
miliar, intimate contact, wanting more. Control slipping he pressed in harder pulling on her lips and heard her moan softly. Instantly, he drew back afraid he was hurting her.

  Devan took a deep breath, astonished at how winded he felt. He could hear her breaths coming out erratically also. Expecting to see condemnation for being too forceful he instead saw her gazing at him warmly. Touching his forehead to hers in relief he waited for their breathing to stabilize.

  Once back under control Devan pulled back to look her in the face. There were smudges on her face from the tears that had fallen mixing in with the dirt that had been on her face. He grabbed a wet wipe from his vest and began to gently clean her cheeks of the tear tracks.

  “I must look terrible.” She grinned tearfully.

  “No, you’re the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and I have traveled extensively.” He gave her a small grin.

  “Whatever,” she said, giving him a little push. Her face turned red in self-consciousness.

  “You don’t believe me. I’ve been to at least six schools in the last two years; no one has come close to you. It’s not just your corporeal beauty, it’s your nature. It outshines everyone I have ever come across.” Devan had serious doubts he would ever come across it again.

  Her face turned somber and she reached up to run her fingers through his hair, her eyes following their movement. His eyes involuntarily closed at the contact, it was unbelievable the sensations her fingers elicited. Devan felt a strange vibration run through his chest, rumbling under his rib cage. Suddenly, an unexpected purr of contentment burst from his voice box.

  His eyes flew open in astonishment as her hand halted its movements; they stared at each other silently.

  “Was that what I think it was?” Her eyes were round in wonder.

  Devan’s face was hot enough to melt metal. “Uhh…I’m not sure. That’s never happened before.” He stammered in complete shock and mortification.

  Before he could stop her she brushed her fingers through his hair once more. Incredibly, another purr ran up through his chest. All he could think was it felt sooo good. The compulsion was almost beyond his control, but not altogether. Dredging up his waning control he managed to clamp down on his wayward larynx, terminating the vibrations.

  He speculated whether this was a new alteration in his makeup or if it was something that was showing itself under present conditions.

  “It’s not a bad thing is it?” She asked anxiously pulling her hand back.

  For some reason when she worried over him it made his chest warm in contentment. Devan met her eyes and smiled reassuringly, hiding the fears he had of future adaptations. “No, it’s not bad.”

  A howl from far off in the woods brought Devan’s attention back to their precarious situation. Another howl responded telling Devan that they were communicating to each other.

  “What do you think their next plan might be?” Laney asked, peering into the woods.

  “Well, they could wait us out. They ate not too long ago, so that food could sustain them for awhile.”

  She made a face at his reference to them eating their dead pack member. “That’s wrong on so many levels.”

  “They were trained to do it.” Devan explicated.

  “Yeah, well, I’m sure they could wait me out, but you would have no problem getting away.”

  Like it was a possibility that he would leave her out here alone, unprotected. “They would just track me and wait for me to stop. I’m going to have to go out there and eliminate them myself.” Leaving her in this tree alone wasn’t something he felt comfortable doing, but they couldn’t just wait around.

  “What…no.” Panic flared in her eyes. “Maybe we could call for some help, or something.”

  Devan squeezed her hand. “We would just put them danger. The wolves would most likely kill anyone who tried to get in the way now that they’ve found me; their objective so close to being accomplished.”

  “But the one came so close to killing you last time.” Her voice shook. Devan realized the fear in her eyes wasn’t for herself but for him. The fear he held was just the opposite.

  “Only because we were in such close quarters, and I was more worried about you. There’s more room out here for me to move around and do my own hunting.”

  Another howl erupted from the forest.

  Devan pulled his hand from her reluctantly. Detaching Jarrod’s bowie knife from his belt he handed it to her. Pulling his cell phone from his pocket Devan pulled up the coordinates and saved them before handing it over to her. “I want you to get as high as you can. Make sure the gun is cocked and ready to fire, and make sure your back is up against the frame. If any of the wolves come near you yell for me; I’ll hear you wherever I am. If you lose contact with me for more than an hour call your dad. The coordinates are in the phone.”

  “Maybe we should just wait.” Laney gripped his hand hard her expression terrified.

  Devan set his hand on hers gently. “Laney, I’m trained for this. It will be alright.” Devan replied gravely.

  She didn’t look reassured by his assertion.

  He released her hand and gave her a little push. “Go on; get up as high as you can. I can’t leave until I know you’re up out of reach.”

  She reluctantly climbed up another fifteen feet, into the denseness of the branches. The wolves would have a hard time getting her there. Giving the forest another exploratory examination Devan dropped to the ground. Immediately, a far-off bay was signaled. Above him he heard Laney whispering.

  “Lord, protect him. May your angels surround and guard him. May your wisdom guide him.” She kept up her chant as Devan strode into the forest, and Devan wondered if she truly believed her prayers would help.

  The animals’ howls had come from the north and the west. With only a slight hesitation for a quick calculation Devan headed northeast at a full out run.

  Leaping from tree to tree he observed the wolf coming in from the north loping in his direction mimicking his movements. Each time Devan leaped into a tree it did the same. Switching his gaze to the west he wasn’t able to see it yet but Devan could hear the other animal running in his direction. It meant that they were only interested in him and that Laney was safe.

  He was within seventy yards of the first wolf when it mimicked another of his leaps onto a branch. Predictable. It jumped forward into another tree and then dropped to the ground again, continuing forward. He took note that it wasn’t coming at him as fast as the other wolf; like it knew he was trying to reach it first and it wasn’t going to make it easy. They wanted to ambush him together. That wasn’t the same plan Devan was working on though, so he sped up.

  Tugging the crossbow from his back along with an arrow Devan loaded it as he ran. When they were about one hundred feet apart Devan jumped into a tree at the same time bringing the crossbow to his shoulder. As he had anticipated the wolf parroted his move, leaping into an upcoming tree. Devan had anticipated and planned the tree and branch it would jump into, and having already taken into account the speed of the arrow and the forward velocity of the animal as it left the ground, something he’d quickly calculated during his run, he was prepared when its head cleared the branch.

  The bow jerked faintly as it released the bolt, sending it whizzing through the air. Three-fourths of a second later it imbedded itself in the wolf’s right flank. It wasn’t a kill shot―he could only account for so much―but it would definitely impede its movements.

  The wolf yipped loudly in pain tottering on the branch, but was able to keep its balance before leaping back to the ground ungainly.

  Discounting it for the moment he grabbed another bolt to load into the crossbow, but before he was able to do this the other wolf closed the distance. It came out of the west, crashing through the brush and leaped straight for him with its jaws wide open and salivating. The only available weapons he had was the crossbow and bolt in his hands.

  Devan pushed himself backward off the branch. The wolf’s bo
dy soared parallel over him, its jaws snapping downward trying its utmost to rip off Devan’s face. Devan swung the crossbow at the animals head giving it a good blow to its jaw at the same time shoving the bolt up and into the animals chest with as much force as he could. The arrow plunged through flesh and muscle, slamming into and past its ribs.

  Devan heard the other injured wolf send out howl as he let go of the bolt he twisted in the air so he could roll out of his fall instead of crashing to the ground on his back. Both he and the wolf hit the ground hard. The wolf slammed into the ground with a grunt and loud thud, and while Devan’s landing wasn’t all that gentle he rolled out of it and would only have bruises to show for it later.

  Not waiting to see if it would get back up Devan sprang forward while simultaneously grabbing a knife from his vest. Bending down he thrust the knife into the wolf’s neck and trachea, cutting off its air supply and severing its jugular. There was a small pop and then whoosh of air as he pulled it out.

  Devan leaped back up into the tree scanning the surroundings for the other injured wolf. He wasn’t able to see it from where he was, so he jumped down and ran North West ten yards to another tree. From this vantage spot he saw that the wolf had taken sanctuary behind a tree in some bushes, licking the wound he had inflicted upon it. It was only about seventy feet away, and in a perfect stationary position for a nice clean and easy shot.

  Reaching for another bolt Devan went to load it into the bow but noticed the crossbow had been damaged beyond repair when he’d struck the wolf’s head away breaking the lath and cracking the stock.

  Dropping the bow Devan returned the bolt to his vest and instead pulled out two knives. Forgoing stealth he raced over to the injured animal. Hearing his approach the animal turned gaining its feet clumsily and snarled menacingly. Devan didn’t want to get that close to it while its front legs were still in perfect working condition…as well as its jaws. Those teeth could still do a lot of damage.