Darkness closed in. I could smell his strong cologne of sandalwood and spicy musk. He was going to touch me, take me, like he had a right. A part of me was glad I was dying. I couldn’t live through another man’s assault. I had nothing left to give.
Closing my eyes. I thanked Valcrum for his mercy at last.
4
Cade
I have never had anything personal against witches, well maybe Rose because she had tried to kill me. Something deep in my stomach told me that my feelings were about to change. As corny as it sounds, I thought we could all get along if we tried. Claire was crying and Maximus was rubbing her back to comfort her. Claire has done so much for us, and for me, personally, that I would do everything I could to help her. I’ve never known what to say to a woman crying and I still don’t. It was the most awkward thing to hear and I hated it. Women should be brought joy not pain.
“Who took your sister?” My lips thinned.
This brought home how I failed Letoya. I wasn’t about to fail Claire’s sister too. Family is priceless. It shouldn’t take losing family to understand that but sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees.
Maximus shot me a seething glance, but I shrugged. I understood he wanted to rub her back all night but that wasn’t going to help the situation. The best way to comfort her was to bring her sister, Alexa, safely back to her as soon as possible. I hoped this situation had nothing to do with Trevor or worse Jimmy.
Trevor was crazy enough to try to get the witches on his side as well. I’m hoping this has to do with rival witch turf issues.
Claire wiped her eyes on the back of her hand and looked at me. “Alexa was supposed to stay hidden in the Realm of Dreams, reflecting on her life until I came for her, or follow protocol if I didn’t show up.”
Orion frowned. “What is the protocol if you don’t show up?”
She sighed. “It means that I am dead, and she has to go back to our covenant and see if they will allow her back in.”
Maximus’ sharp intake of breath had all of us looking at him. “This is why you needed protection. She must have thought something happened to you.”
Claire’s lips turned down, and she rolled her eyes. “She didn’t think that. I sent her a message, letting her know that I was fine, and she needed to stay there a little longer.”
Something told me that Alexa was stubborn like Claire. This problem sounded like it could have been avoided if Alexa had listened to Claire.
How old is Alexa? When you’re young you can’t fathom something bad happening to you. You stupidly think you can live forever.
“Alexa tried to tell me she was still there in the Realm of Reflection, but she wasn’t there, because I was there.” Claire wiped her eyes and tossed her hair over shoulder.
Alexa is a rebellious sort of girl. I hope that she isn’t in any trouble, but it is dangerous for her to be out there without protection.
“When I told her I was there, she admitted that she left to visit her best friend Gayle Middleton, for Gayle’s birthday.”
I slid the blank notepad toward Claire with a pen. “Give us Gayle’s address and we will go get your sister.”
“I’ve already gone to Gayle’s house and every place where she hangs out. They are both missing. I’m telling you something has happened to them.”
“I need a photo of Alexa. We will use the recovery teams to find her.”
Claire reached for the sterling silver heart shaped locket at her neck. After a moment, she removed the picture and slid the photograph into the palm of my hand.
Alexa was beautiful. She was striking in a way that would make her stand out. I had hoped that she wasn’t as pretty as Claire, but she was even more so. Taking the photograph, I scanned it in the computer. Running it through the databases and city street cameras we should be able to locate her.
Glancing up from the computer I smiled at Claire. “Don’t worry we’ll find her. Why don’t you go lay down for a few hours? I should know something by tonight.”
She shook her head. “I can’t sleep. I need to take you to meet Sasha Caldron the high priestess of the Fairway Covenant.”
A part of me wasn’t glad we had gained a meeting with Claire’s covenant, because I felt I needed more time to get Alexa back. If she was a skilled witch like Claire, rescuing her was just as important as forming an alliance with the witches.
Maximus stood. “That doesn’t give us much time to get her back.”
My fingers tapped on the desk as I thought about how this needed to be handled. “Can you reschedule the meeting with Sasha?”
Claire shook her head. “Sasha doesnt want to meet with you. I told you not to get your hopes up and I meant it. She’s only going to meet with you because she owes me a favor.”
I looked at Maximus. “Take her below to get something to eat and we’ll all meet back here at eight o’clock tonight to go over the plan. I will meet with Sasha alone, since you are in no shape to meet with her.”
Claire started to pace. Her lips were pressed together in a slight grimace. “I know how important this meeting is to all of us, and I don’t want to let you down.”
Maximus walked to her and grabbed her by the waist. “You are not letting anyone down. Your sister is missing, and we know you need to be with her now. Don’t worry. We will get her back, but you can’t fall apart now. Alexa needs you.”
She stepped out of his embrace and paced in the opposite direction but stopped. After scratching her cheek she sighed. “You’re right. I am so worried that I can hardly think straight.”
He nodded and tried to escort her out of the room again but she jerked from his embrace. “You need to eat, so that you can focus when we meet back here later on. You will need your strength when we discuss the plan,” said Maximus.
She frowned. “Why are we discussing a plan when we don’t have any leads on where she is?”
Some of the tension eased from my back muscles as the data filtered on the computer screen. “I will know more by then. Go eat and conserve your strength for tonight.”
It was treacherous outside. The mist carried the scent of wet grass and rotting vegetation along the abandoned highways. This side of Old National Highway was crammed with businesses that were run down, which caused odd shadows along the darkened ally ways. Many people had lost their lives over here, and I wasn’t trying to die tonight. Jumping to the tallest building, I landed on the roof with a thud. Inhaling deep I took in the scents. The veil over the land obscured my sight but my other senses were honed.
Running, I jumped from building to building. I was still healing from the vampire virus, or whatever had plagued my body, and my strength wasn’t at full capacity. Yet, I could smell the difference in the air. I wasn’t alone. A hint of eucalyptus and peppermint drifted to my nose. Without turning behind, I reached up and caught her by her hair, wrapping it around my wrist and yanking her close to me so that our mouths were inches from one another.
“What are you doing here, Akio?” I quickly set her down and stepped back from her.
“Well, rip my hair out why don’t you.” She wound her hair up in a tight bun and placed an elastic band around the long strands.
“Why are you following me?”
“You aren’t fully healed, and you left alone to meet them. They are your sworn enemies, and we don’t trust them. You need back up,” said Akio.
“Does Orion know you’re here?”
Orion is crazy over his mate. She is well suited with him. They both are reckless and fearless. It is no wonder he loves her to pieces. She is not happy if she isn’t involving herself in such a dangerous mission.
She smiled. “Yup. Him and his men are lurking in the shadows. I’m going in there with you.”
“Fine. Don’t get in my way and make sure you control your temper.”
I thought I was doing a good job of hiding the fact that I am not fully healed but I guess not.
Walking to the edge of the roof, I pointed to the build
ing across the street. Martha’s Vintage Shop was nestled in a shopping center on the end.
“We meet them in Martha’s Vintage Shop.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That is a great place to set someone up. There are two ways in and out looks like from here, but it wouldn’t be easy to get out once inside. Luckily, we will have the exits covered,” she said.
“How many men are here with us?” I looked toward the shadows, but I couldn’t see them. Werewolves were amazing at stealth attacks, and the mist and fog gave them an unholy advantage tonight.
“We have fifteen men, plus me,” she smiled.
“Let’s get this done.” I jumped down and walked across the street. She landed behind me and I heard her unsheathe her katanas.
Martha’s Vintage Shop looked like it was a place built in the nineteen fifties, that survived, until now. The mahogany wood outside was part stone and stucco and looked like something you would see in Italy. There were several tattered wooden plantstands and several withered, dusty buckets with overgrown shrubs. The paved red and brown bricks were now uneven and chipped, from withstanding years of hardship. The green fence on the side leading to the back was now brown and weathered.
The chime of bells jingled as I opened the door. The shop was empty, so I headed toward the back. I had to navigate through the antique wooden chairs, tables and ceramic statues. This place was a hoarder’s dream. Each piece was time stamped and had a story to tell, from the vital records to the hand carved wood tables. Everything in here spoke of a time when things were much better in the world than they were now.
Passing by the counter with an old-fashioned register, there was a glass bowl with lavender and fig potpourri. It wasn’t strong but the scent was enough to keep the store from smelling old and funky. There was another glass bowl filled with old-fashioned peppermint candies. I stuffed as many in my pocket as I could. Grabbing one more, I tore the paper and popped the candy in my mouth. The freshness made my nose hairs tingle. Aiko snorted.
There was a side door past the bookshelves. Akio walked over to it and opened it. Orion and four other men walked inside. He placed a protective arm around Akio and nodded to the men. He held up his fingers before closing the door silently behind him.
Taking the lead, I continued walking to the back of the store. The temperature in the back was colder since the walls were brick. In the middle of the floor was a chair, with a small, slender female with long brunette hair sitting in it. Her green eyes gleamed with mirth. She was surrounded by twenty witches and warlocks, armed for war.
This isn’t a meeting. This looks like a war. If that’s what Sasha wants, she had better prepare to die.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “You know why I’m here, Sasha. The time has come for you to choose your side.”
Her ruby lips parted in a sneer. “Boy, you dare to tell me what to do?”
I shrugged. “Do you side with the academy or with the demons? You will not be allowed to hide in the shadows while we fight. You are either for us or against us, your choice, but you had better choose wisely.”
Out of my peripheral, I saw Orion push Akio behind him. In a blink of an eye, he had transformed. His massive body shielding her from sight, and his roar deafening.
“Wow, this overbearing alpha brute. I can take care of myself,” muttered Akio
Sasha stood up abruptly, knocking the chair to the floor. “I choose my side. Your cockiness will bring about your death. You won’t make it out of here alive,” said Sasha.
She waved her hands quickly and shot a beam of olive light toward me. I bent backwards narrowly missing the shot. I ran toward her and roared. In an instant, unspeakable pain surged through me as every bone in my body broke. I transformed into a Bengal tiger, my teeth latching on to her neck. Biting, I tasted her blood as I ripped her head off. Heat flooded through my body and vision blurred. Darkness surrounded me, and I saw visions of Letoya.
Cade. Never forget who you belong to. Your legacy is the same as mine. Show them who you are.
Shaking my head, she disappeared, and my soul cried out. Something shattered inside me and I became the wind, my body appearing and disappearing as I flew around the warlocks ripping their heads from their shoulders. When I stopped moving, every one of them was dead. Their heads were littered about my feet and my body was coated in blood.
Akio sheathed her katanas. “Is anybody going to address the elephant in the room, or do I have to do it?”
Orion’s eyes were wide, and he placed his hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged.
“Cade, what the hell just happened? You shifted into a Bengal tiger, then shifted into the wind, where you disappeared and reappeared ripping heads off warlocks,” said Akio.
Glancing down at my bloody hands, I shook my head. “Nothing. We must get back.”
The men said nothing to me, but the looks thrown my way spoke volumes. Vampires didn’t shape shift. I couldn’t explain what had happened to me. The loss of control I had displayed in front of everyone was pathetic. Orion would tell Maximus, and soon I wouldn’t be able to hide what happened in there.
We all arrived back at the academy in record time. I had never felt like an animal in the zoo, until now. The men were whispering and shooting me looks of fear. Gritting my teeth, I ignored it as best I could and walked to my room. Just my luck, the hallways were filled with students who looked like Valcrum had descended from the clouds, with a scalpel to scrape their flesh from their bones. The looks of horror and fright made my stomach rock. Opening my room door, I kicked it shut behind me.
Tossing my clothes in a bag, I walked to the shower. My body was still trembling with rage. The witch’s indifference to Valcrum’s people sent me into a blinding rage. Sasha’s blood still flowed through my body. Turning the shower on, I let the hot water spray over my body. My flesh trembled and my stomach lurched. I fell to my knees, heaving as the water blinded me.
One warlock had cut me deep on my back. My flesh was ripped apart. The wound felt like hot lava being poured inside my skin and the pain was unbearable. I pressed my face to the cold shower floor, groaning in pain. My eyes drifted close as the pain slowly ebbed away.
When my strength was back, I scrubbed my body in the cold water and rinsed quickly. Shutting the water off, I yanked a towel off the towel rack and dried my body. It was almost time to meet with Claire and the group.
Turning around, I looked in the mirror. Twisting around, I saw that the wound on my back was completely healed. There wasn’t even a scar to remind me that I had been wounded.
What is happening to me?
Closing my eyes, I fought the panic that bubbled inside me. I needed to be strong right now. Too many people were depending on me, and I couldn’t afford to fall apart now
Putting on my clothes, I quickly made my way to Liam’s office. The data needed to be analyzed and a plan needed to be developed to save Alexa. Rushing into his office, I closed the door. Sighing, I thanked Valcrum for his grace.
There was more data than I had time to analyze. This wasn’t a bad thing, but I needed answers and I needed them now. The street cameras showed Billy Mathers, a werewolf, stalking Alexa. If we could find his identity, we could find her.
It had taken all my resources to find out what happened to Alexa Sands. What was worse, was I dreaded having to tell Claire what was going on. The information wasn’t good.
Glancing at my watch, I waited for Maximus to come. He should be here soon. I was relaxed in the chair when he strolled through the doors.
He rubbed his hand over his jaw. “How long?”
Frowning, I looked up from the computer. “What?”
“Don’t play stupid. How long has your body been changing? Tonight, couldn’t be the first time this had happened.”
How am I supposed to know I would shape shift into a damn Bengal tiger?
“I haven’t been feeling myself lately, but we have more pressing matters to be figured out now.”
“You and Letoya a
re just alike. I wouldn’t be surprised if you have the same gifts that she does,” said Maximus.
“What gifts? I didn’t take any werewolf blood.”
Maximus moved to the chair and sat down. “Letoya has been chosen by Zena and I think you have too. We didn’t cure your vamp virus, so how are you alive?” said Maximus.
“What? Claire cured it.”
He shook his head. “I was here the whole time. She couldn’t cure you. You were dying and we thought we had lost you, then suddenly you miraculously woke up. Your blood was not the same as the other vampires. I told her never to speak of it.”
Claire didn’t cure me. Zena’s tribe was a myth, or so we all thought, but now I am not sure.
Glancing at the computer, I looked back at him. I had more questions than I did answers, and I needed to focus on one thing at a time.
“What did you find out?” I slid the information on Billy Mathers across the desk.
Maximus glanced down at it and his nostrils flared. “Have you heard of Jax Sumter?”
“No, should I?”
Maximus cracked his knuckles. “He’s over a rogue werewolf clan called the Sumter Legions.”
“This crap with Trevor and Derrick has everything screwed up. I’m alpha wolf; there are no other clans but my clan. I will destroy them and anyone else who thinks they are alpha wolf.” The hair on Maximus’s body started to grow and he started to transform before my eyes, getting taller and taller.
I ran my hands through my hair. “Calm yourself.”
My head pounded and I didn’t have time for Maximus to lose his cool now. I poured some blood from Liam’s private stock on the bar and sat back down in the chair.
“I need you to convince your girlfriend to stand down and let us handle this. Going into the werewolves lair, with your emotions on your sleeve, is a death wish.”
Maximus snorted. “Claire doesn’t listen to me. The only way she would stay out of it is if you withheld the information from her.”
“I’m not doing that. She has a right to know.” I massaged my temples and tried to ward off the pounding headache.
The Pact Between Angels and Witches Page 3