Taming the Night (Creatures of the Night Book 1)

by Tisha Wilson

  She looked like the type of woman that could be just as comfortable being a swim suit model or a politician’s wife. She was international and classy and everything that Al was not. Who would ever divorce a woman like this? Then the things she had done to Jerry came back to mind and Al had the urge to rip that sedate smile right off her perfectly made up face. Still, it was hard to reconcile this woman with the callous woman Jerry had described. Al didn’t know what she’d expected but not this.

  “Jerry. I see you’re still dressing like a child.”

  “Yep. That’s me. Love to play in the mud, ride on the backs of hairy monsters sent after you by your ex-wife, go fishing. You know me. Regular outdoorsman.”

  Cherish made an appalled face and then strode off. Al had to wonder how she kept her spike stiletto boots from sinking in the forest floor. It was almost as if she glided across the top of the foliage. She just moved her feet for their benefit. Al looked to Jerry but he was already following Cherish. He grabbed her hand on the way past and she allowed it as she stepped up to walk beside him.

  They walked until they reached a clearing. There were no wolves, but there were several men of intimidating size standing around two bound and gagged people. Al recognized the Chief right away. The woman that sat tied behind him bore a striking resemblance to both Jerry and Chief Hernandez. She wore a similar scowl as well. She was no little old lady with graying hair. Her midnight black hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her body looked lean and athletic, as if she were a runner. For a woman that had to be in her fifties she looked damn good. She looked like the type that might peel your skin with her sharp tongue.

  They came to a halt as Cherish turned to face them. She looked at Jerry and he looked back at her. “So… How about those Lakers?” he said breaking the silence.

  She scoffed. “You are such a child. The powers that be must have been laughing their heads off at giving such a ridiculous person such extraordinary power.”

  Al saw all teasing flee from Jerry’s face as a muscle tightened in his jaw. He stood straighter. She stepped in front of him. “Maybe you just don’t make his nature rise feme fatal, because I can guarantee you that he is no little boy.”

  Cherish reached out and wrapped a hand around Al’s throat. Al attempted to swat her hand away but with a suddenness that was shocking the other woman crushed her windpipe. She felt the delicate tube collapse under the other woman’s effortless squeeze. She couldn’t breath or speak. She lashed out at the other woman, striking her several times in the face with blows that should have shattered the delicate looking bones in her cheek and nose, but each time the woman’s face simply rearranged to present a perfect mask once again. She was like a snake with shifting scales.

  “Put her down.”

  Al saw from the corner of her eye that Jerry had pulled a gun and was aiming it at Cherish. The men standing around the prisoners then withdrew long swords and pointed them down at the prisoners in the center of them.

  “If you move one muscle they will look like a chopped salad my darling,” Cherish hissed.

  *

  Jerry felt his heart pounding hard. He was between a rock and a hard place. He had a feeling that it didn’t matter what he did, they were all going to die, after Cherish had her way with him. He took a deep breath to steal his nerves. It would break his heart to loose his mother and Uncle, but he wouldn’t let Cherish just kill Al.

  “Let her go,” he said as he turned the gun to his own head. “If you don’t let them go then you are going to need to wait another thousand years for your next sperm donor.”

  Everyone froze then. Cherish’s eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t dare,” she challenged.

  He took a deep breath as he thought it through. Everyone he loved would be better off without him. Al shook her head and reached for him as his finger tightened a bit on the trigger. It would be over fast. Cherish wouldn’t get her sperm and they could all be together on the other side. He didn’t care what Al said. She wouldn’t be in this world forever, not at the end of the world. It would be like the blink of an eye and they’d be together again. His finger tightened ever so slightly more.

  “Release them,” Cherish said with authority and the swords were withdrawn and sheathed. Al was dropped to the ground.

  “And you will leave them alone when we are gone,” he asked without alleviating an ounce of pressure from the trigger.

  “I will leave them as long as no one follows me,” she promised. “If she comes I will destroy her.”

  Al sat up holding her throat shaking her head. Her vocal cord must have been crushed completely. He knew she was trying her best to curse but not even a squeak passed her lips. Jerry looked to her. “Take care of my family,” he said.

  *

  Swifter than her eye could comprehend, Jerry and the others were gone from sight like a phantom that had never been there. Only the shifting of the trees indicated their passing. These were old world wolves. They were strong and fast and she knew with a certainty that she would never catch them. She crawled over to the bound people. She pulled at their bounds until they loosened enough for the two to get free. Once they were free she fell to her back and allowed tears to flood her eyes.

  She looked up at the blue sky and the clouds over head. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her injuries. She felt them begin to heal before a hand touched her arm. She flinched as she opened her eyes.

  “Are you all right?” asked a surprisingly husky female voice. Al stuck out her hand.

  “My name is Alicia,” she said and the words rasped over her bruised vocal cords like hot coals.

  Jerry’s mother shook her hand. “Sarah Cayman. I’m guessing you are the woman that has been stirring up all the trouble.”

  “Non. At least not most recently.”

  Sarah’s face screwed up with distaste. “If that cancerous leach can be called a woman. That woman has been a source of never ending trouble for my poor Jerry. I never thought that she would go to this extreme.”

  “Damn! No signal,” Chief Hernandez cursed from where he paced with his sleek razor phone. The thing looked pitifully small in his hand.

  Al sat up and her eyes shone with excitement. Her phone. “Jerry has my phone!”

  She shot to her feet and went to the Chief snatching his phone from him. “Hey,” he objected. She cursed as she looked at the signal strength. “Come. We must get out of here. My boss can probably track my phone.”

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” Chief Hernandez said as he marched right up to Al and put an accusatory finger in her face. She narrowed her eyes.

  “You are the one who started this mess. I know you had something to do with it.”

  “Victor,” Sarah said in a disapproving tone. “You can’t very well blame this poor girl. She tried to defend Jerry. Cherish is the one.”

  Sarah Cayman put a soothing arm over Al’s shoulders and turned to lead her away, all the while clucking over the marks that were left on Al’s throat. Al wanted to both laugh and cry. What was it about these Caymans? One or the other of them was always trying to take care of her.

  “I’m going to get him back,” she said softly to Sarah. There was hurt and confusion written all over Sarah’s face as she nodded.

  “You bet your ass you are going to get him back. You are the one-” Victor didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence before Sarah turned on him.

  “Our mother would be turning over in her grave to hear you using that type of language towards a female, have you no shame. You hurt this woman’s honor and you break your sister’s heart! Has your temper gotten so far away from you that you forget yourself?”

  Victor had the sense to look abashed as he turned his gaze intently to the toes of his boots. He mumbled an apology and Al had the urge to alternately laugh and feel sorry for him.

  “Now. I think there is something that you should know if you are going to get involved in this,” Sarah said turning her gaze back to Al.

  �
�Sarah,” Victor growled. Sarah sent him a sharp look but this time he returned her scorn. “She is not from the people, she hasn’t the right to-”

  “I think she has plenty of right. She stands there bleeding and bruised. She deserves a few answers.”

  “What are you talking about?” Al asked. Victor huffed a breath as he raked his fingers through his hair.

  “She shouldn’t be involved,” he growled once again as he turned and started to pace.

  “Jerry was born with the mark of the people,” Sarah said simply.

  “Do we really have to do this here? Can’t we walk and talk at the same time. What if they come back?” Victor asked in exasperation. Sarah shrugged and moved forward, taking Al’s arm as they began the hike out of the woods.

  “What mark was he born with?” Al asked.

  “He was born with the waya symbol.”

  Victor growled again as he moved swiftly past them and tried to set a quicker pace to prevent conversation. Sarah ignored him and her sure footfalls told Al that she was a woman who was familiar with the woods.

  “What is a waya?”

  “It is Cherokee for wolf.”

  Al felt a shiver pass through her at the older woman’s words. Apparently Bateman and his group were not the only people to know something about the wolves. Of course they wouldn’t be. “But I never saw a mark,” she said contemplatively.

  Sarah looked thoughtful as well. “It’s hard to miss it.” They took their time to make their way over a fallen tree. “It’s a birthmark on his left wrist.”

  Al sighed. It figured. “He has a cast on his left arm.”

  “So I noticed. Apparently a lot has happened while I’ve been away,” Sarah said casting an accusing glance towards her brother.

  “I can feel you looking at me. Don’t look at me like that. The boy can’t be stopped once he sets his mind on something and he’s had his mind set on her ever since she blew into town on her damn… urr darn motorcycle,” Victor said hitching a thumb towards Al.

  “Why are you leading us through the hardest trail Victor? You know how to find a better path than this,” Sarah scolded as she made her way through some thistles. Al helped her as much as she would allow.

  Victor cursed under his breath and took a moment to look up at the trees and get a better read on the land. He chose a new trail that made it easier for them all.

  “So, what does it mean, the mark?”

  “It’s all hocus pocus and fairy dust if you ask me,” Victor said as he led the way.

  “Don’t mind him, he never fully embraced the heritage. He’s so absorbed in his own thick headedness that he can’t see the forest for the trees,” Sarah snapped. “Anyway, the people believe that there are men that have the power to walk as wolves under the moonlight. They are very powerful men and though they could be noble, these men are swayed by the darkness. They do not walk with the true spirit of the waya, they are unnatural creatures that were born of greed and dark intentions.

  “The legend says that there is once in a thousand harvest moons born a man that has the power to control the ill spirits, to bring them to peace. It is said that this man has the power to choose between continuing the generations of the wicked or the ability to bring it to an end. It is his choice, though he will need help and protection to fulfill his destiny. We are to be the protectors of the chosen one, but as the generations have come and gone and the heritage has melded with this new age, some no longer believe.”

  “I didn’t say I don’t believe,” Victor objected as he broke a branch to clear the way.

  “Well you certainly haven’t been watching him the way I told you to. I go on one vacation in thirty two years and-”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m not the only one in that stupid club. You weren’t jumping all over Peggy Sue or Dell! They are elders in the club, not me.”

  “I will get to them in due time. I was too busy being kidnapped from my own home to call a meeting, but as soon as we get back… Anyways. My mother told us the moment Jerry was born with the mark that the creator had decided that we were to be the protectors. and that others would come when the job got too big. And here you are.”

  “She’s the help! She’s the help. Since she came around he’s been drug off into the woods by wild animals, he’s been in a car accident, he has a cast, he has stitches… You’re lucky he’s still in one piece and we are not even sure that he’s still in one piece. And don’t think I’m fooled! There is something more going on here with Cherish and she knows what it is!”

  Sarah looked over at her and winked. “Maybe she does. But while you are trying to pinpoint my son for his choice in women, remind me again how you got out here?”

  Victor sputtered as he picked up his pace and his face turned even redder. “That is not important here,” he said angrily.

  Sarah nodded and said off to the side, “He showed up in his good suit with flowers and a picnic basket.”

  “Tonya. I was supposed to be meeting Tonya! They probably have her locked up somewhere!”

  “That or she has been fooling you the entire time and you fell for it, walking around looking like a love sick puppy. Poor Lana. She must be mortified. She has been waiting for you all these years and you go off with-”

  “Sarah please! That is not what is important here. She is lying,” he said pointing a finger at Alicia who was doing her best to keep from laughing in his face.

  “No, that is not what is important right now.”

  “Oh, so we give her all our information and she gives us none!”

  Sarah shook her head yet again. “The forest for the trees like I said,” she said to Al. Al decided in that moment that she liked Jerry’s family very much. No wonder he was so calm in such odd situations growing up with funny people like this.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jerry turned his head and looked at the clothes that were neatly piled beside him. He shivered on the damp cement floor and had the urge to loose his stomach. He pulled at one hand but it was useless. They had him chained spread eagle on the ground. He wasn’t sure where he was. He was in a building in a basement. They had taken him to a car and tied his hands and eyes before bringing him here. He hadn’t heard the sounds of a city outside when they were bringing him in, so they must still be in the woods.

  He wondered if Cherish had kept her promise to leave his family alone. “Good morning. I have something for you.”

  Jerry turned his head and shock coursed his entire body. He couldn’t have been more shocked if an electric wire had fallen from the sky and fried him crispy. Tonya Mahan stepped up and sat a tray beside him.

  “I have a bit of food for you and some juice,” she said with a pleasant smile as if he weren’t naked and bound to the floor. She produced a cup with a straw and held it near his lips.

  “Tonya,” he whispered. She sighed and shook her head.

  “Yes. Your deductive skills are astounding, now drink up.”

  “But… you’re my uncle’s secretary. How… Are you one of them?” he asked feeling blind sided. He never thought Cherish was a wolf, hell hadn’t known about any of this, but Tonya… she was such a good person. She had life and vitality in her eyes. She was a sweet sweet woman. How could she be one of them?

  “Someone had to keep an eye on you when you left Cherish. We couldn’t just let you get away and no, I am not a wolf.”

  “Then why-”

  “I’m a witch darling boy. I’m a witch and these wolves… they can give me immortality.”

  Jerry laughed as he let his head fall against the cold cement floor. “Tonya… if they bite you… You won’t-” He stopped himself. It was clear by the gleam in her eyes that they had truly convinced her that she was going to be immortal and nothing he could say would sway her.

  “Why are you here?” he asked at last.

  “Well I have a spell on you to help your scent reach more wolves. I am drawing them here to help protect you. If you just do what they say, impregnate as many as
you can, I think they will let you go too.”

  “Thank you Misses Mahan. I think that we can take it from this point. Night is nearly upon us. Perform your spell for the evening.”

  “I thought you said that it was finished now,” Tonya said in a soft subservient voice.

  “Yes. And you have performed well, but we still need to complete the task. This will be the last time and then one of the others can take you to your reward,” Cherish said with a beautiful smile. The smile never reached her eyes.

  “Okay. Just be sure you give him some juice and food. Keep his strength up and take care of him. That’s the way to get a man to do what you want him to.” Tonya sent a worried glance over her shoulder towards Jerry.

  “They are tricking you, Tonya,” Jerry said in a near whisper.

  “Just do what they say,” Tonya said to him yet again.

  “They are tricking you, Tonya! You are never going to get out of here alive,” he yelled out loud this time. Tonya’s brow furrowed in thought before she looked back to Cherish.

  “Are you sure he’ll be all right? I mean we should have brought some blankets or something to-”

  “He’ll be fine,” Cherish barked. Then she lightened her tone again. “Please. We need to get started.”

  Tonya shrugged and headed up the stairs. Jerry hated that she had betrayed them and his uncle. He hated that he couldn’t do anything at all to help her either. She was lost.

  Cherish tsked when the door was closed. “Stupid fool. But she is right about one thing. You are going to need your strength,” she said as she sank graciously to the floor beside him. He turned from her. She was only wearing a thin silk robe and her nipples were clearly defined beneath the soft material.

  “Oh come now. We kept our end of the bargain. You are not going to have a hunger strike on me are you? I would hate to send a few of the men back to your family.”