by A. C. Arthur
Ary instinctively clamped her mouth shut, only to have her jaw jerked open and squeezed so tight she thought it would break.
He laughed as he poured the warm liquid into her mouth. She spit and shook her head, spilling more than she swallowed. Still, her throat constricted, pulling some of the liquid down into her stomach. She had no idea what it would do to her.
“Drink it all,” he said, turning the bowl until it was upside down. “Then you’ll see who is boss.”
They both laughed. Jose let her fall to the floor once more where she coughed and tried to spit out any of the remaining liquid. Chuckling wildly, they left. Alone again, Ary gasped for breath, her mind scrambling as her nose recognized a scent. It was in that bowl, what they’d poured down her throat. It was familiar. Something she had smelled before, possibly handled in her work as a curandero. It was something … something … that could be deadly, she thought with another wrenching cough that unfortunately didn’t bring up enough of the liquid to save her life.
Chapter 3
The cat roared as it stood with its front paws propped up on a huge rock, while its back paws were rooted in the damp soil. Its head rocked back, mouth opening wide, teeth baring to the wild, and it roared again and again. Rage and pain warring inside, edging it to the point of total despair.
When its flanks heaved with the effort of its ruthless howls, the cat stepped down, its paws moving wearily. Night had already fallen over the forest, like a dark cloak that made everything beneath the canopy even darker for those that did not possess night vision as the jaguar did. Mist floated in the distance as the waterfall roared and cascaded over the cliffs. The cat had been to this spot before, had remembered the comfort and serenity of this location. It had been long ago, but the cat knew, it remembered, and it hungered.
Moving closer to the water, it rested its head right beside the bank so that the sprinkle from the waterfall would rain onto it, tickling along its head and back: a soothing cool against the raging heat that threatened to consume it. Lying there its eyes closed and lifted, closed and lifted slower and slower until they finally stayed closed. Its breathing was slowing, more normal as it lay, paws pulled under its flanks, flat on the forest floor.
Where is she? Nick’s human mind thought. His cat had covered miles and miles of the forest in an unsuccessful attempt to track her. But she was here, he knew that, felt it deep within. She was still in the Gungi, being held somewhere against her will for a reason he could not fathom. At the moment the why did not matter. To him it was only about getting her back and keeping her safe. He would settle for nothing less.
His temples throbbed as the shift rattled through his human body. He stood, his bare feet padding over the damp floor of the forest. Kneeling once more, he dipped his hands into the creek, scooping water up and splashing it onto his face. Around him verdant mosses and vines hung like beards surrounding the stream that bled into the larger body of water known as the Amazon basin.
“They haven’t gone far.”
Nick didn’t turn toward the voice. He didn’t need to. It was Roman Reynolds, his best friend. The black jaguar had shifted, and now the six-foot-two-and-a-half-inch man stood head held high as he continued to scent the area. Behind him and to his left was Xavier Santos-Markland, Nick’s other best friend. X was still in cat form coming up on his haunches, his claws raking down a tree as he tried to pull the scent of a Rogue from its bark.
They were with him, always. Nick was comforted in that fact, even though he wasn’t certain this time their companionship would be enough.
“They’d have to stick close to the river. Only the water can mask their scent,” Nick was saying, his gaze scanning the terrain.
It had been years since he’d been in the forest—sixteen to be exact. And none of them were used to running free in cat form. They’d almost forgotten to leave their clothes buried beneath some rather large buttress roots just outside the village. A light drizzle tickled Nick’s naked body, and he inhaled its fresh dewy scent with just a touch of homesickness he hadn’t anticipated. The Gungi never had a dry season, only a wet one and an even wetter one, so the rain was as natural as breathing here. And it felt different, Nick admitted. In the States he’d grown accustomed to putting up an umbrella and running to get out of the rain. Here in the wild where he’d been born, he tilted his head back and let the cool dampness welcome him.
X roared from beside him then shifted and waded into the water. Jaguars were not fans of swimming, but X had always been the best tracker of the threesome. If a scent was dimmed by water, X could still find it. Nick watched his longtime friend dip his bald head beneath the surface of the river and come back up seconds later, dark eyes blinking.
“They’ve been here,” he said, turning his head and looking toward the west.
“There’s nothing that way but more land, no shelter,” Rome offered.
“No tribal shelter,” Nick said, trying to peer through the thick brush of trees in that direction. The air was heavy with moisture, and the drone of cicadas and crickets filtered through the area.
“Outsiders,” X replied with a nod.
“We should head back to the village and ask more questions. I don’t like that her father hasn’t been seen, either.”
That was Rome, ever the cautious one of the group.
“I want her found now,” Nick said through clenched teeth. He was already walking toward the west end of the forest regardless of whether his friends followed. Frustration dogged him daily. He wondered where she was—if she was even still alive.
“We all want her found,” Rome said, clasping a hand on Nick’s shoulder.
Nick pulled away. “You don’t understand.”
Rome shook his head. “I do.”
That’s right, Rome was mated now. Kalina Harper was his companheiro. Their joining ceremony had taken place just two nights ago. Out of respect, Nick had held off ripping through the forest to find Ary until now. But he refused to wait another moment.
“When Sabar had Kalina, I wanted to tear down every building in DC to find her and kill anyone who dared to touch her. I understand more than you know. But you need to be smart about this. Think before acting.”
“She’s been missing for days!” Nick roared. “She could be dead!”
Saying it aloud was like a knife in his chest. Nick staggered back at the mere thought that he’d never see Ary again. It had been so long—sixteen years—since he’d seen or heard from her. The latter he could blame himself for, because he’d never tried to contact her once he was gone. That had been a part of the deal he’d made with his parents and Ary’s. It had been the biggest mistake of his life.
“Search yourself,” Rome said, still speaking in that calm tone that drove Nick crazy half the time. “Close your eyes and focus on her. You would feel if she were dead.”
Nick didn’t want to close his eyes, didn’t want to admit that Rome was probably right. Of the threesome, Nick was known as the impulsive one, the one who acted first and asked questions later. X was more reserved, but moved with lethal precision. Rome, the Faction Leader, was just that: a leader at all times. He acted in the best interests of the entire Topètenia tribe and the Shadow Shifters as a whole. He considered everything, all possibilities, before he acted. Nick didn’t possess that type of calm, unfortunately, and never claimed to be anything other than what he was.
“She’s alive,” he said finally. A fraction of the stress he’d been enduring slipped away with thought. He wasn’t just saying what he knew Rome wanted to hear. He believed it, in his mind and in his soul; he believed she was still alive.
Rome nodded as X came around to stand beside them. “Then let’s head back to the village for the night and get a fresh start in the morning. If shifters have her, they’ll be expecting a night attack. They won’t anticipate our city mentality of getting up early.”
“He’s right. Their defenses will likely be down at that time,” X said in agreement.
At his
sides Nick clenched his fists. If he shifted and charged into the forest in search of Ary, Rome and X would no doubt follow him. They’d protect him to the end whether or not they agreed with his actions. They would also die for him. Nick knew that for a fact and admitted he wasn’t ready to risk his friends that way. Coming up with a plan could also keep Ary safe. The way he was feeling right now, he’d go in ready to rip throats out. If there were other jaguars holding her, they’d defend themselves and their catch. Ary could be hurt. That was not an option.
“Fine,” he said reluctantly.
He didn’t like it, but he would do what was necessary without putting anyone else in danger. With long strides he passed Rome, heading toward the village. Within a few steps the human reached for the solace of the cat, shifting and blending into the forest atmosphere seamlessly. Behind him his friends followed suit, and the big cats ran through the forest they’d once called home.
Only home was a lot more dangerous than it had been years ago.
* * *
Life in the Gungi was centered on community and ritual. That community was grounded in the leadership of the Elders, and they led steadfastly from their location called the Elders’ Grounds. The Grounds consisted of two main huts connected by an annex called the amizade, which was used as a place for the tribesmen to fellowship with the Elders. The santa casa or holy house was the larger of the circular huts made of vine and leaf thatch located in the center of the village. Each of the Elders lived in rooms in the second hut, called the pessoal. Throughout the day when the Elders were not in special meetings, tribesmen were allowed inside the amizade to speak to the Elders or simply to pray among the pioneers of the tribe.
Tonight Nick, Rome, X, and Kalina were meeting in the amizade with Elder Alamar and Sheena Serino to discuss Ary’s disappearance.
“Rogues have been spotted outside the village, near the border,” Elder Alamar said.
Nick listened to the older shifter’s voice, noting the air of authority coupled with the slightest bit of compassion. He figured that’s what was called for in a leader. Right now, Nick was having a hard time coming up with any compassion for the woman who sat cross-legged on the floor across from them. They were all in a semicircle with Elder Alamar at the head.
The Elder was in his midfifties with a formidable muscular frame. His complexion wore the weathered burnt orange look of the Topètenia who stayed in the Gungi, but his eyes were clear, his speech impeccable.
Sheena Serino, wife of Davi Serino, a family of curanderos within the Topètenia shifters, was a thin woman, her curved back complementing the downward hang of her head. Long, dark hair reached past her shoulders in glossless strands. Everything about the woman screamed defeat, and Nick wanted to scream alongside her to help her only daughter. He remembered Sheena from before, when he’d been only nineteen years old and had fallen helplessly in love with her daughter. The woman had looked at him that night with watery eyes imploring him—as did his own parents—to leave the Gungi and never bother Ary again. He’d let her hopeless look sway him then. That ploy wasn’t going to work now.
“When was the last time you saw Ary?” Nick asked.
Rome gave him a stern look, but Nick ignored it. He’d spoken out of turn, but he didn’t give a damn. The hierarchy of the Topètenia was strictly upheld in the Gungi, whereas at home, even at a meeting with the Faction Leaders, Nick, as a commanding officer, held enough authority to talk whenever he wanted to. Here he was supposed to yield to the Elder and to Rome as the Faction Leader.
Sheena lifted her head slowly, her mud-brown eyes already blurry with tears. Her face looked ashen and sunken in, as if she were suffering from malnutrition even though the Serinos were responsible for receiving and disbursing food and supplies in the village.
“She is gone,” Sheena mumbled.
It looked as if her lips barely moved, the sound almost inaudible.
“We know that!” Nick roared, only to have Rome reach out a hand and touch his shoulder.
“When did you see her last?” Rome asked.
Sheena didn’t answer immediately, and Kalina scooted closer to the older woman. Kalina Harper was a cop back in DC. She was a beautiful officer of the law with a quick trigger finger and dangerously accurate aim. She was also a Topétenia shifter who had mated with a Faction Leader. This made her as close to royalty within the world of the Shadow Shifters as Queen Elizabeth in the human world.
“Do you recall what she was doing when you saw her last?” Kalina asked in a much friendlier voice than either of the males had been able to achieve.
In turn Sheena’s response was a little less fretful, but still not very informative.
“She is a talented curandero” was the woman’s reply. “Her skill is more than I or her father possess.”
Kalina nodded. “That makes her very important to the tribe. We want to find her as soon as possible.”
“Did she go off with someone?” Rome asked. “A male or female? Human or shifter?”
Sheena shook her head adamantly, and Nick swore. This was getting them nowhere. When X came beside him, nodding that he go outside, he obliged. Not because he was used to following X’s directives, but because his body was tight with restless energy. He needed to move, to walk, to do something that would help find her. This being still and waiting was definitely not working for him.
“Man, you’ve got to calm down,” X said the moment they were beyond the opening of the santa casa.
“I need to run,” Nick said pacing back and forth. “I just need to go and run.”
“You need to get some rest for tomorrow. We’re going to find her,” X insisted.
Nick paused. “And what if we don’t?” he asked. The possibility was there, ripe in the air like the scent of fresh-fallen rain. Whoever had her could kill her. Then what? Nick would go on a killing spree that would make Charles Manson look like a saint.
“Nick, I know this is personal for you. It’s sort of personal for all of us, because she’s a shadow.”
“Her father’s involved,” Nick said, ignoring X’s attempt at calming him down. X didn’t possess the same steadfast cool that Rome did. And the shifter was edgy himself. Nick could scent the tension rolling off his friend in thick waves. He wanted to believe it was because of the situation at hand, but wasn’t sure. X had a lot of things brewing in his mind, within his own issues. Nick respected those boundaries and didn’t pry. But he’d be there to back X up whatever he needed. He wanted his friend to have that same undying support.
“The mother’s not talking much. That’s a problem,” X admitted.
Nick rotated his neck, letting the cracking sound soothe him momentarily. “She’s scared of Davi. Always has been.”
“Does he abuse her?” X asked with a frown.
He steadied his breathing, focusing his energy. “Not physically. I think it’s more of a mental intimidation. I sensed it the last time I was here. He sort of controls his whole family like that.”
“So it’s strange that he would go missing as well. He was the one who reported Ary missing, right?”
Nick nodded. “He went directly to Elder Marras, telling him that she didn’t return home.”
“She didn’t return from where?”
“That’s what we were hoping Sheena could tell us. But she’s not being real helpful. If I’d been raised by anyone other than Sofia Delgado, I’d shake the truth out of her.” His hands mimicked the motion of shaking someone.
X shook his head. “Not only would your mother roll in her grave, she’d get up and kick your ass for that type of disrespect toward a female. But there’s hope. Kalina may be able to get some answers out of her.”
“Yeah, you’re definitely right about that,” Nick replied, then sighed. “I hope Kalina can get through to her.”
The minute Nick spoke those words, Rome and Kalina came out to stand beneath the cover of darkness provided by both the night sky and the thick canopy above.
“She was pickin
g up supplies from the drop-off on the mainland then heading to see someone called Yuri,” Kalina reported.
“Yuri is the shaman,” Rome added. “Sheena says that Ary often helps Yuri in creating new medicines designed specifically for the shifters.”
“So Yuri has her?” Nick asked. “I don’t buy that.”
Rome shook his head. “No. Neither do I.”
“Who is this Yuri? Is he a shifter, too?” Kalina asked.
“Yuri is a different type of medicine man than the tribe’s curandero. His healing is more spiritual,” Rome told her.
Nick smirked. “Like a voodoo witch doctor.”
“Not voodoo, just blending spiritual beliefs with medicinal.” Rome frowned at Nick then turned back to Kalina. “Yuri’s been around the forest forever. He’s not a shifter, but a tribal man who knows his way around. He’s powerful in his own right and would really have no reason to kidnap Ary if they were already working together.”
“Then somebody knew where she was going and caught her then. Yuri still lives beyond the Gungi borders, right?” X asked.
“Right,” Rome said.
“So somebody knew where she was going and tipped the kidnapper off.” Nick’s temples throbbed incessantly. In his gut, he had a good idea who this person was. But for now he’d remain quiet. He was trying to go about this the smart way, as Rome had advised. Accusing people, especially other shifters, wasn’t going to go over real well with the Elders. But if his hunch turned out to be true, the bastard better pray the Elders’ wrath was all he’d have to deal with.
“We’ve got about three hours left before dawn. We can get an early start and head out to Yuri’s place. If Ary made her scheduled stop with him, we’ll work our way back from there. Hopefully we’ll pick something up from that trail.”
Kalina touched a hand to Rome’s bicep. “That sounds like a good idea.”
Nick watched as Rome stepped closer, wrapping his arm around his mate’s waist and kissing her forehead. “Let’s get some rest,” he said in a hushed tone that was probably meant just for Kalina.