by S. E. Smith
Ella shivered as the water grew colder. She leaned forward, picked up the soap, and quickly lathered her skin. She hated remembering the loss of her family.
“They are dead,” she replied in a short tone devoid of emotion. “The water grows cold. We should get out before we become chilled.”
Ella handed the soap to Ty and quickly rinsed before she stood up and grabbed a towel. Stepping over the side, she dried while Ty quickly bathed and released the water. She turned and handed him a towel before she walked over and grabbed the shirt she discarded. Slipping it over her head, she hurried into the other room.
*.*.*
The next few days fell into a pattern for Ella and Ty. Each morning they rose early, dressed, and went for a long walk before returning for a delicious hot breakfast. It didn’t matter how cold it was or how much snow there was, it was their time together before the rest of the world awakened.
Deep down, Ella knew that Ty could sense her need to explore and be outside. Giving them a chance to be alone was the excuse he used, but she knew that wasn’t an issue in the large house. He did it for her. It was his way of helping her get used to all the changes, especially being inside a building after a lifetime of living in the forest.
Ella loved the time they had together. They talked quietly about anything and everything; Ty more so than she did. Ella had never been a very talkative person. She preferred listening and learning.
Ty talked about his job and the large museum holding many artifacts. He also talked about the sanctuary attached to it and the rehabilitation labs he oversaw for injured wildlife. Ella discovered that it was also an active research facility, working in conjunction with the University. She had to stop him frequently to clarify the meaning of things. He was patient as he expanded on many of the concepts so that she could understand better.
The worst time for Ella was when he had to leave for a few hours each day to go to work. The first day had been unbearable for Ella and she had wandered the huge house, exploring it from top to bottom.
The second day, Lena had brought her into a room near the front of the house and asked Ella if she knew how to read. Ella had nodded. It was one of the things that was very important to her clan. They didn’t have many books, but the ones they did have were carefully preserved.
“My mother and father taught me,” Ella explained to Lena. “Father said it was important to understand the language of our enemy so that we could know when there might be danger. Over the years, many of your books were found. We also have the stories that have been handed down. The books contain the history of my people from the time of the great battle and our desperate attempts to escape. My mother was the last of her clan. She was carrying the only remaining book of her people when father found her.”
“What happened to your mother’s clan?” Lena had asked in horror.
“Mother said it was the year of the exploding mountain. The mountain shook for days, casting great clouds up into the sky. Suddenly, the side of the mountain where they lived gave way and came tumbling down on them. Mother was lucky to have survived. She was swept away in the flood of mud, and clung to a tree. When she returned, the only thing she found was the book. Everyone else was gone, buried under the ash and mud that swept down from the mountain. All the plants, animals, and trees were covered in the thick gray ash. Mother talked about the flock of huge metal birds that came. She barely escaped. Father found her near death beside a stream and took her as his wife. Mother died in childbirth five summers ago. My father followed her and then my little sister that winter. He had the cold that goes to the lungs and fills them. I buried them together in the forest,” Ella explained, glancing out the window. “It was then that I knew it was only a matter of time before the rest of us died. Jayden, I, and several others made a pact that we would not have children and bring them into the world. The elders were not happy with our decision, but it is our right to decide our future, not theirs.”
“Oh, Ella, I don’t know what to say,” Lena replied in shock. “It must have been devastating for you.”
Ella glanced back at Lena and shrugged. “It is life,” she replied. “I would like to read the books of your people.”
*.*.*
Since that morning, Ella had spent a lot of time in the cozy room after Ty left the house.
Ella looked up and smiled at Martha when she came into the den, clucking her tongue at her. A grin curved her lips when she saw the fresh pastries on the plate.
“You don’t eat enough,” Martha gently admonished her as she set the tray down next to her. “Now, what story are you reading today?”
“The Little Shifter,” Ella chuckled, grinning when Martha sat down across from her and poured them both a cup of tea.
“Well, I’m waiting,” Martha said with a wave of her hand. “Are you going to read it to me or not? I haven’t heard that story in years.”
Ella nodded and slowly began to read. “Once upon a time there was a young shifter named Redwolf….”
Warmth filled her as she read. Everyone in the house had taken her under their wing, including the very outspoken housekeeper. She blinked, realizing that the story wasn’t so different from her own as she continued reading. It was about a little shifter lost in the woods who was discovered by a small group of humans who taught her the ways of the forest.
Chapter 18
“What did you say?!” Theodore Badger growled into the phone. “He found a what?”
The voice on the other end was quiet, barely above a whisper. Theodore stared out the window of his office high above the University of Washington campus. He didn’t see the students struggling to walk along the icy paths. No, in his mind, he pictured the unusual woman he had seen almost a week ago at Ty Bearclaw’s home. He had known there was something different about her, but he had no idea that it would be a difference of such magnitude.
“You’re positive,” he demanded again, this time in a quieter voice. “I want every detail you can get. Everything, do you hear me?” The voice on the other end muttered in agreement before hanging up.
Theodore lowered the phone in his hand. He could hear the plastic protesting the grip he had on it. Turning, he replaced it in the cradle and stared blankly at the images on his computer screen. His newest research paper stared back at him as if mocking the words he had printed Were Humans Real?
He raised his hand and slowly closed the laptop. He needed to take control of the human before Ty Bearclaw had a chance to take credit for the discovery. He thought of the finds he had made over the years and his own private collection of artifacts that were hidden away.
The thought of owning a human, a real live human, was almost inconceivable. Theodore swallowed and rose from his seat again, his mind swirling with ideas. If there was one, there were bound to be more. If he could discover where they were located, he could make a fortune off of them. Shifters around the globe would pay unbelievable amounts to hunt them. He could keep the female and possibly capture a male to breed with her, thus keeping a supply in reserve.
His eyes went to the painting on the wall. It was only a reproduction, but it had always fascinated him. Stepping closer, his eyes glittered with interest. If there were more females, he could keep them in reserve. Shifters would not only pay to hunt the males, but they would pay handsomely to spend time with the females. He needed the woman. He needed to know more about her and he needed the information before Ty Bearclaw had a chance to stop him.
Turning, he grabbed the phone off of his desk again. His fingers shook as he pressed the buttons. There was only one person he knew that was ruthless enough to get him what he wanted. The price would be steep, but it would be worth it in the long run. He waited impatiently for the man on the other end to answer.
“The Collector,” the man answered in greeting.
“I have a job,” Theodore said in a strained voice. “It is of extreme importance.”
“Those are not cheap,” the man replied.
Theodore gritt
ed his teeth. “How much?” He demanded.
“What is the importance?” The man asked in an unemotional tone.
“Retrieval of a human,” Theodore stated.
“Where is the location of the artifact?” The man asked.
Theodore drew in a deep breath. “This is not an artifact. It is a live human female. She is staying at the Bearclaw estate,” he said.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. For a brief second, Theodore was afraid the man had hung up on him. His gaze moved to the painting again as he waited.
“Five hundred thousand. Half up front, the other on delivery,” the man stated.
“I want her alive,” Theodore insisted, thinking of which artifacts he would have to sell in order to replenish his bank account. “I’ll send the address where I want her delivered – unharmed.”
“Understood,” the man replied. “It may take a few days to verify the information. Do you have a description of the woman?”
“She’s human! How much more of a description do you need?” Theodore snapped, running his hand over the back of his neck. “She’s young. Has light brown hair and she’s the only fucking human on the Bearclaw estate!”
“Transfer the money and drop off the information per the normal channels. The package will be delivered by the end of next week,” the man replied.
Theodore released the breath he was holding when the line went dead. He slowly replaced the phone in the cradle and stared down at his shaking hand. Curling his fingers into a fist then uncurling them, he forced himself to relax. It was done. There would be no turning back now. Once he had the information he needed from the woman after he had her in his possession, he would capture the rest of the humans and ship them overseas.
“Fuck the National Park hunting, this is much, much bigger,” he whispered, his mind organizing everything. “There is only one place where the United Species of North America has no influence. Once I have all of the humans there, no one can stop my plans.”
*.*.*
Seattle, Washington
“I want you to research the information and make sure he is telling the truth,” the collector instructed.
“I always do,” the man calmly stated. “What do you plan to do?”
The collector sat back in the well-worn chair and was silent for several long seconds. This job was different from all the others. This one involved a live specimen. If the claim of a human survivor proved to be true, then the price for the job would have to change dramatically. Artifacts of bones, pottery, and weapons were one thing, this was in an entirely different price range.
“I think a visit to the Bearclaw estate is in order,” the Collector stated.
“Do you think it is safe? Once the human is taken, they will scrutinize everyone who has visited the estate,” the man warned.
“Oh, I won’t go,” the collector stated with a grim smile. “I have just the perfect person to handle the investigation.”
The man drew in a deep breath and released it. “I’ll find out everything I can about the recent trips of Ty Bearclaw and his family. I’ll also hack into the phone records to see who he may have been talking to. You know this is going to be tricky, don’t you? He’s related to President Kodiak.”
“I’m well aware of who Ty Bearclaw is related to,” the collector replied in a dismissive tone. “Just get me the information I need.”
The man bowed his head, turned on his heel, and quickly left the room. The collector stared at the door for several long minutes before rising out of the chair. Striding toward another door, the collector stepped through, pausing briefly to close it securely. It was time for someone very familiar with the Bearclaw family to pay a visit and the collector knew just the shifter to do it.
*.*.*
“The Board of Directors is having their meeting this afternoon. I probably won’t be home until late,” Ty muttered, pressing his hands on either side of her head and leaning forward.
“You’re in my space again,” Ella teased with a grin and tilted her head back against the coat closet door where he had her trapped.
“I like being in your space, on top of you, in you,” Ty muttered, leaning closer with each softly spoken word.
“I think I already figured that part out,” Ella whispered, sliding her hands up his chest. “Just remember, it goes both ways.”
“Oh, I know. You proved that last night,” Ty chuckled, loving the way Ella’s cheeks turned rosy.
“It is only right that I should show you how to tie the proper knots,” she retorted, raising an eyebrow. “You know you are going to be late again if you keep this up, don’t you?”
“I…,” Ty started to say when his cell phone began to ring. He pulled it out of his pocket and cursed. “It’s my assistant reminding me that I’d better not be late to the meeting.”
Ella couldn’t resist rising up on her toes and pressing a hot, open-mouth kiss to his mouth before she pulled back and ducked under his arm with a laugh. She giggled and pulled open the front door for him. He mumbled a series of expletives about stupid meetings and bored old shifters who didn’t have a life except for needing to mess up his.
“I will see you when you get home. Martha is showing me how to work something called a vacuum cleaner,” Ella said with a grin. “It is very loud and it eats things.”
Ty shook his head. “I know what a vacuum cleaner is. Martha made sure I learned how to use one once I was old enough to understand that if I made a mess, I got to clean it up,” he replied. “I’ll try to get home as soon as possible. Have fun with the vacuum cleaner.”
“I will,” Ella replied, lifting her face for one more kiss. “I will be hunting dust bunnies. Martha says she is too old to catch them now.”
“Remind me to have a talk with Martha when I get home,” Ty muttered as he stepped outside. “Love you, Ella. See you tonight.”
Ella’s eyes widened and her lips parted as she stared at Ty’s back as he carefully descended the front steps and walked over to his truck. A blast of frigid air reminded her that she was standing with the door wide open letting the heat out. Quickly stepping back, she closed the door all but an inch so she could watch as Ty pulled away. Only when he was no longer in sight did she close the door and lean against it.
“I love him,” Ella whispered, her hand sliding up to her throat. “It is real. Love is real.” A silly grin curved her lips. “He really loves me, too!”
“Ella, is everything alright?” Art Bearclaw asked, pausing in the foyer.
Ella smiled and nodded. “Yes,” she replied.
“I was about to have some coffee, would you like some?” Art asked.
“That is the black liquid, isn’t it?” Ella asked with a shudder. “I prefer the tea. The other tastes strange. It is too bitter for me.”
Art chuckled and held his arm out. “Tea it is then,” he replied.
Ella stepped forward, unsure at first what she was supposed to do. She blinked when Ty’s father gently took her hand wrapped it around his arm and patted her hand. She remembered Bert doing this with Anna, but it was mostly to help Anna when she was unsteady on her feet.
“I am well, you know. My ankle is doing much better these last few days,” she informed him as they walked toward the kitchen.
“I’m glad to hear that. I thought it would be nice to escort such a beautiful young woman to the kitchen for a cup of delicious tea,” Art replied.
His eyes held a twinkle of mischief that looked so much like Ty’s that for her a moment her chest ached. His expression also reminded her of her parents, especially her father. Sorrow rose up, threatening to drown her. She wished her parents were still alive so they could have met Ty and his family.
“Are you alright?” Art asked in a quiet, concerned voice.
Ella started when she realized that they were standing in the middle of the kitchen. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn’t even realized it. Unsure of what to say, she just nodded. Art patted her h
and before he released her and stepped away.
“Art, how do you think the others will react to knowing that a human is alive?” Ella quietly asked as she moved to sit on a stool at the tall breakfast bar.
Art paused and glanced over his shoulder before shutting. He turned back to the cabinet after he had, removed two cups, and shut the cabinet door before he said anything. Ella could see the hesitation in his eyes when he made eye contact again.
“I believe there will be shock, followed by a wild desire to know everything about you before things calm down again. I’ve left a message with my sister. She is a very powerful shifter, one of the most powerful in the world. I won’t lie, Ella, your existence is going to shake up a lot of shifters. The fact that a human has survived this long without being found is incredible. I think most shifters will welcome you with open arms,” Art replied, quietly preparing their drinks as he talked.
“And those who don’t? What about the ones who do not welcome the fact that humans still live?” Ella insisted in a husky voice. “What about them?”
Art shrugged. “I learned at a very young age that you can’t please everyone. There will be those who feel threatened. I’m also concerned....” Art’s voice faded as he turned with the two hot drinks.
He placed one in front of her while he pulled up a stool and sat down across from her. Reaching out, she touched his hand. She gave him a tentative smile when he squeezed it in reassurance before he let her hand go and picked up his mug.
“What worries you?” She asked.
Art released a heavy sigh and shook his head. “I’m concerned about what will happen to you and to any other human that might be out there. Once the world finds out about you, every idiot imaginable is going to start combing the globe looking for more humans. They’ll know that if there’s one, there are bound to be more. Most will do it with good intentions, but there are others who won't. They will look for ways to exploit the few remaining humans. That is why I wanted to talk with Michaela. She is President of the United Species of North America. She has the power to enact laws in our country to protect you and the other humans. She also has a tremendous influence over other leaders of the shifter world. In order to protect the few remaining humans, we need to be careful and set up guidelines before the public finds out about you,” he explained.