by K. C. Blake
“Together?”
“Duh. In my stupidity, I actually thought if we killed him together then you would want to be with me forever, instead of with her.”
Silver had been a girl named Katie in another life. He wondered what she’d looked like. Had her eyes been the same dark blue? With everything in him, he wished he could remember meeting her.
Jack rubbed the side of his neck, afraid to ask the next question, but unable to stop himself. “Did Jersey really kill her?”
“Of course he did. Why would you doubt it?”
Because Jersey had become an important part of his life. Although Jack was supposed to kill the man, he didn’t hate him. The Jersey he saw in his memory had been without compassion, without mercy. Had he changed or was Jack fooling himself?
“How did he do it?” Jack asked. “How did he kill Katie? Did she suffer?”
Isobel hesitated. “I don’t think you really want to know.”
He allowed the subject to drop. “What about you? Why do you want to help me now?”
“That’s easy. He killed the only man I ever loved. If Jersey hadn’t taken your life, you would still be with me. Tobias couldn’t have possibly made a relationship with Katie work. He was a werewolf, and he loved power. Eventually he would have come to his senses. Or she would have. Either way he would have returned to me.”
She was telling the truth. He could see it in her eyes. Isobel had loved him and lost him in the past because of Jersey. Now she was willing to take his side, help him in his fight against the deadly head werewolf. Maybe he could trust her.
“Teach me then,” Jack said. “Show me how to do the soul-sucking thing right.”
“Well you didn’t do too badly for your first time.” Isobel smiled. “You just need practice. It really isn’t something I can explain to you. Someday you’ll find the rhythm that works best for you. I know you will. You can do this.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“You did it before when you were Tobias.” A twinkling light hit her eyes. “He was amazing at it even though he’d only been a werewolf for a short time. It should have been impossible for him to suck out souls that fast, but he did it. I believe he could have sucked Jersey’s soul out with a bit more practice.”
There was that word again. Practice. He got the feeling it was going to take a lot more time than they had available to them. They were going to have to step it up if he was going to have even the slightest chance of besting Jersey in a fight.
“Ready to try again?” she asked.
He wasn’t, but he nodded. Jack spread his legs apart and got into a fighting stance. He clenched his fists even though he wouldn’t be using his physical body in the duel. At least he knew what to expect this time. Isobel faced him. Their eyes locked. “Start whenever you’re ready,” she said.
Jack reached into her mind with his, found her soul, and tried to drag it forward. Although their bodies remained in the field, they were back in the abyss with fire raging around them. It was either Hell or a close facsimile.
Smoke began to invade his lungs almost immediately, making it impossible to breathe. Panic welled up inside of him, but he refused to give into it. Concentrating, he pulled harder on her soul. It budged an inch. He almost had it. Just another few minutes.
Isobel wasn’t strictly playing defense. She was working on taking his soul from him at the same time he was trying to capture hers. It was a horrible feeling. Darkness took up residence in him as the essence of what he was slipped away. Everything that made him a good person seemed to be oozing out of his pores. Evil quickly took its place.
Jack couldn’t breathe. Both of his worlds began to merge into a single picture. He could see the open field again, only there was fire burning around him, and smoke choking him. He fell to his knees. His eyes blurred. Isobel’s frantic voice floated on the wind, sounding as if it came from a great distance.
He couldn’t speak, couldn’t answer her.
Hands grabbed at him... another memory took him into the past.
******
Jack watched from a corner of the porch as Jersey sat on the steps and accepted a gift. He tossed the bow aside, tore the dark blue paper, and opened the box to reveal a book. With a wry smile on his face, he looked over his shoulder at Tobias. Jack hadn’t noticed his alter-ego sitting in a chair off to the side until Jersey looked that way. For the first time he wasn’t inside of Tobias.
“Poetry?” Jersey lifted an eyebrow. “Are you serious?”
“What do you get the three-thousand-year-old man who has everything?” Tobias chuckled. “You’ve probably read every great classic out there, so I thought it was time for you to try something new.” He paused and wrinkled his nose before adding, “Chicks dig a guy who quotes poetry.”
Jersey’s smile faltered. “You know I had my one true love already.”
“That brings up an interesting point. Why don’t you ever talk about her?”
“She’s dead.”
“We’re friends aren’t we? You’re supposed to open up to your friends, tell them your innermost secrets. That’s how they become your best friends.”
Jersey stood. Book clutched tight in one hand, he walked by Tobias on his way to the front door. He stopped long enough to say, “You don’t want to be my best friend, Tobias. I killed the last person who dared get that close to me.”
The screen door banged shut after Jersey. As soon as he was gone, Isobel rounded the side of the house. She climbed over the railing before taking a seat on it. Frowning at Tobias, she asked, “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Why were you asking about his wife when you know he doesn’t talk about her?”
Tobias shrugged and took a swig of beer.
“I’m not going to stop asking until you tell me,” Isobel said. “You had a reason for pushing him. I can see it in your eyes, and maybe he could too. What are you planning?”
“I came across information about Jersey and his wife.”
Her brown eyes widened. “Wow. Is it juicy?”
Tobias looked to the screen door. They both knew Jersey could be listening. Isobel slid off the railing and walked over to Tobias. She sat on his lap and put her ear near his mouth. He whispered, “I think Jersey was married to the powerful faerie who created him.”
“Be serious.”
“Oh I am. Deadly serious. This faerie wrote a diary and handed it down her family line. It’s got some amazing stuff in it. If it’s true, I may know how to take him out.”
Fear entered Isobel’s eyes, and she shook her head violently. “Are you crazy? Don’t you think others have tried to get rid of him? Somehow he always knows. He can smell betrayal ten miles away. You don’t stand a chance against him.”
“You’re the second werewolf.” Tobias nibbled on her ear. “You could help me. Then you’d be the most powerful werewolf in existence.”
The idea seemed to appeal to her. A new light entered her eyes, and Jack could practically see the wheels turning in her pretty head. She whispered, “Maybe if I knew for sure how to take him out, I would.”
“The diary says he can be killed one of two ways. Either a girl named Silver is going to do it, or a vampire turned mortal has to use a magic rock on him.”
Isobel’s eyes widened. “You’re a vampire turned mortal.”
“Exactly. And I know who has the magic rock. I can get my hands on it, but I need your help to distract him. Do you think you could manage?
She nodded.
He picked up her hand and entwined their fingers. “You’re almost as old as him. Did you know this faerie he was married to? Did you meet her?”
She shook her head.
He asked, “Did he ever mention her?”
“I don’t know anything, Tobias.” She sighed. “When I met Jersey Clifford, he was insane with grief. He’d just killed his wife and best friend, but he wouldn’t talk about it. One of his loyal soldiers asked too many questions, and Jersey tore him to pieces. Literally.” She gripped
her boyfriend’s chin between thumb and forefinger and forced him to meet her eyes. “I would hate to see that happen to you.”
“So would I.”
“Then why push it? If you don’t want to be around him, let’s leave. We can go anywhere and do anything. I don’t care as long as I’m with you.”
“I wish I could walk away, but I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because it might be my destiny to kill him.”
Isobel slapped him hard across the face.
******
Chapter Twelve:
USE IT OR LOSE IT
Isobel slapped him again and shouted, “Wake up, Jack!”
His eyes snapped open. The first thing he saw was a blanket of stars stretched across the heavens above. It took a moment for him to realize he was flat on his back. Beckoned into the past again, he’d received another glimpse of his former life as Tobias. This event must have taken place before Tobias had run away with Isobel, fleeing the creatures that wanted him dead. It had definitely taken place before Jersey had thrown him off the roof. A wave of nausea rolled over him. He sat up slow and easy. Why did he feel like he’d been flattened by a steamroller? Every muscle in his body ached as if a personal trainer had put him through a ten hour workout.
“What happened?” he asked.
“You scared the hell out of me, that’s what happened. One second we’re battling over souls, and the next you’re gone. You disappeared. In all my soul-sucking fights I have never had an opponent just vanish like that.”
He had to know something. “When I was Tobias, did we ever talk about using a magic rock to kill Jersey?”
Her face seemed to pale beneath the tan. “You remember that?”
“You were sitting on my lap, and I gave Jersey a book of poems. I guess I must have started him on the whole poetry thing. Very weird.”
Isobel snorted. “Yeah, and thanks for that. He was already an arrogant windbag. Then you had to add poetry to the mix. You have no idea how many times I wanted to blow my own brains out because he wouldn’t stop with the quotes.”
“Sorry.”
She grinned. “I forgive you.”
“Did we ever try to use the magic rock on him?”
“No. Jersey killed you before you even got your hands on it. I tried to warn you. Somehow he always finds out that someone is about to kill him. No one can touch him. He’ll live forever.”
“That’s not what the diary says.”
“Forget about the stupid diary. It got you killed before. Be smart this time. Forget about the diary and the rock and killing Jersey. Come away with me.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I’m only hanging around here because of you, because I’m hoping you’ll make a different decision this time. We need to leave this town, disappear somewhere where Jersey can never find us.”
Jack changed the subject to a safer one. “I don’t think I want to practice anymore tonight.”
“Duh.” Isobel rolled her eyes.
Jack stood and gestured to the road leading to his house. “I’m going home.”
“I’ll give you a ride.”
“Don’t bother. I can get there faster on foot. Vampire-speed, remember?”
Her mouth tightened. “You sound almost proud of it. Tobias hated being a vampire. Did you actually enjoy it this time around?”
He had enjoyed parts of it. There were times when he sat around and relived those days. He missed his old vampire friends. He missed Lily, her frantic way of talking when she was excited, her love of everything spiritual, and her crazy new-age ideas. He missed Cowboy, the thrill-seeking vampire who had introduced him to car surfing. He even missed Summer and her none-too-subtle way of getting what she wanted.
Isobel waited for an answer with her arms folded. She had no idea he was still a vampire deep down inside. It wasn’t a physical thing anymore. There was no way she could understand that being a vampire was a state of mind. He couldn’t shake off the decade of vampire habits he’d learned. They were too deeply ingrained.
“I need to go,” he said.
Before she could open her mouth to protest or to ask another question, he was gone. He ran as fast as he could and didn’t stop until he reached home. In the blink of an eye, he was standing on the front porch. Mosquitoes and moths fluttered around the overhead light. Billy’s car was parked next to his. His brother was at home for once. That was a good sign.
Jack’s facial muscles relaxed as he entered the house. The weight of his building problems had become too heavy for him to shoulder alone. He needed a friendly and strong back to dump them on. His brother would have to do. Hopefully he would catch Billy in a rare good mood.
He found Billy in the living room, sitting in the center of the floor with weapons scattered around him. Some had been dismantled. There were several rounds of ammunition lying around too. Billy had an M-16 in his hands, and it had been completely stripped. He pushed a long wire with a tiny brush into the barrel, cleaning it.
“Did Rambo have a garage sale?” Jack asked.
“You’re a funny guy. Did you ever think of taking your act on the road? And by that I mean now. I’m kind of busy.”
Jack collapsed on the couch. His aching muscles sighed in relief. Leaning back, he put his sneaker-clad feet on the table. “Can we talk for a minute?”
Billy continued to clean the rifle as if Jack hadn’t spoken. His hands moved on the parts, sliding them back together in expert fashion. He barely looked at the rifle as he rebuilt it. There was no doubt he could take the weapon apart and put it back together with his eyes closed. Their father would have been proud.
“Well?” Jack gestured with his hands. “Can I talk to you or not?”
“Go ahead.”
Truth be told, Jack didn’t know exactly where to begin. Between his anxiety over Silver and the new power he had discovered, he was overwhelmed. He didn’t want to pile everything on his brother at once. Billy could usually only handle a single problem at a time, so he had to choose. What did he need the most help with?
“Have I told you about the new girl yet? Her name is Isobel, and she’s one of Silver’s old friends. She’s a hunter. Problem is she’s also a werewolf.”
That got Billy’s attention. His head snapped up, and his eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? I think I met that chick once. I know I heard stories about her taking out several vamps in one swoop. I guess we know how she did it.”
“Yeah, well, she gave me some interesting information tonight. I can suck souls out… with practice.”
“How is that possible?”
Jack shrugged. He laced his fingers on his stomach and rested his head against the back cushion, feeling relaxed now that it was out in the open. “How is any of this possible? I should have died when that werewolf attacked me, but I’m here, and I’m human.”
“Are you sure you can suck souls out?”
“I haven’t done it yet, if that’s what you’re getting at. Isobel and I practiced on each other for a while.” Feet off the coffee table, he leaned forward, getting excited at the very memory of it. “We were in a different world, a different dimension. It was crazy, man. I could feel her soul. I just couldn’t get a good grip on it.”
Billy stared at him for a long time as if he’d lost his mind. Nodding once, Billy returned his attention to the rifle. “Souls are slippery things, I guess.”
“She says with a little practice I’ll be able to suck Jersey’s soul right out of him. Silver won’t have to take him on. She won’t even have to be there when I do it.”
“I thought you were supposed to use the rock Silver gave you.”
Jack pictured the rock he kept hidden between his mattress and the box springs. No one other than Silver knew where he had it. Not even Billy. She was the only one he trusted with the information. He told his brother, “If for some reason the rock fails or I can’t use it, then I’ll take his soul. It’s good to have a backup plan.”
&n
bsp; Billy continued to work on the rifle, jaw tight, giving no indication he’d heard Jack’s last statement. They sat in silence for several minutes. Jack waited on the edge of his seat, literally. Once he realized his brother wasn’t going to respond, he asked, “What do you think I should do? Should I develop this new ability or leave it to Silver?”
“You’re asking me?” Billy’s dark brows drew closer. “I just figured you were going to do whatever the hell you wanted to do, but since you asked...” He set the weapon aside and stood. Using the finger closest to his thumb, he jabbed the air between him and Jack and yelled, “If you work with a werewolf on this, put your life in the hands of a werewolf, then you are dumber than I ever thought possible!”
Jack’s mouth dropped open.
Billy continued on his rant, picking up speed and volume with each complete sentence. “You’ve done some pretty stupid things, but this tears it. Does Silver know about your new friend? Does she know you’re trying to learn how to suck Jersey Clifford’s soul from his body?”
Jack shook his head slowly.
“Of course she doesn’t. You didn’t tell her. Do you know why you didn’t tell her?” Billy began to pace the length of the living room floor, from window to secret room and back again, yelling at the top of his lungs now. “Because you know she would hit the freaking roof! Then she’ll tell her parents, and you’ll have them to deal with.”
Jack opened his mouth, ready to defend himself, but Billy wasn’t finished yelling at him.
“Oh Andrew and Vanessa are going to love this. The next thing we know, you’ll be bringing werewolves home for dinner. Excellent. Can’t wait for that.”
Billy plunked himself back down on the floor, grabbed his restored rifle, and wiped it off with a clean rag. Mind closed, unable to see anyone else’s side, he would have made their father proud if only the eldest Creed hadn’t died. Jack understood where his brother was coming from. Their parents had been killed by a werewolf. Billy saw all werewolves as evil scum.