Kat touched the spot where the tracker had been injected – the tender inner part of her upper arm – and winced. “It may be the size of a grain of rice, but that hurts!”
Christopher lifted her arm and brushed the small red spot with his lips, which sent a jolt of electricity to the center of her being. “It will only hurt for a day or two, then you won’t even know it’s there.” She gave him a weary smile and he pulled her against his side. He leaned close to her ear. “As soon as we get on the road, you can sleep, my Kat.”
“Mmm.” She closed her heavy eyes.
Dimitri sighed wearily and stood up. “We’re almost done, everyone. Let’s cross the finish line. Peter, check to see that the media is indeed leaving, please. We need them to.”
Peter nodded. “I’m on it.” He hurried to the last monitor still active – all the others had been packed away. “They’re gone. Only one is left and they’re packing up. Look for yourself.” He pointed at the screen.
Dimitri stood behind him and smiled. “I can’t believe they did it.”
“I wonder what sensational story the hackers came up with.” He hadn’t had the time nor the inclination to do an on-line search for news. Nobody had.
Dimitri shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t know, and I don’t care. I am simply grateful.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the family lined up all the vehicles, plus Claire’s car, in front of the garage to load. All the tents had been loaded in the back of a trailer attached to a truck along with most of the other bulky items. Mariya and Oksana had been put in charge of the placement of items; they were geniuses at packing in the right order. The items they needed access to on the trip, as well as immediately upon arrival at their final destination were placed within easy reach. Dimitri had chosen Idaho.
Oksana’s kitchen was the last thing to be disassembled and packed away, but not before she prepared and packaged enough food for Napoleon’s army to march for a few days. She packed the food into neat, easily accessible boxes for each vehicle, according to the passengers in that vehicle which had already been assigned. Kat marveled at her seemingly endless skill set.
As the sun dropped below the horizon, Peter, Robert, and Alexander ran the perimeter of the property one last time to remove and collect all the cameras and security equipment they could. When they returned, Robert had shifted into a large pack mule and carried the bulky items on his back. The property had been swallowed up in darkness by the time they returned, save for the floodlights just outside the garage. The family put the last vestiges of their life into the vehicles. The removal of the security equipment left them feeling vulnerable and had them all anxious to leave.
Right after midnight, Dimitri gathered everyone around in a huddle.
He took a deep breath. “This is not easy. But our lives are never easy, are they? I’ve been through countless moves and changes in my many decades, and it doesn’t get any easier. Alexander, Kat, and Steven, this may be the only home you remember. I hope it was a good one.”
“It was!”
“The best!”
Dimitri smiled, but his eyes were sad. They all looked around at the house and the property that had been their home, their shelter, and their base of operations. The air was thick with unspoken words and memories.
Dimitri reached for Oksana’s hand and she held his hand in both of hers. “It’s time for a new adventure and another new life. But we’re together, as we should be. As we will always be. I love each one of you.”
Peter handed everyone their fully charged cell phones and they all sent test texts for extra insurance.
“Remember, we’ll get at least into the middle of Mississippi before we can stop. By my calculations, that should bring us to just about sunrise, assuming we stop every now and then to use the restroom and stretch our legs.” Dimitri looked at Granny.
Granny smiled. “Yes, please. Us old folks need that.”
Dimitri continued. “We’ll take interstate twenty to interstate twenty-two in Birmingham. Everyone has GPS, and I don’t anticipate that we’ll get separated. Peter and Anna found a perfect place to pull off at that point and set up camp for the day.” He nodded to Peter.
Peter took a step forward. “Yes, we’ve found a spot that’s off the beaten path where a group as large as ours won’t catch anyone’s attention. The land is well forested, so we can hide for the day. We’ll travel at night, just to be on the safe side.”
Dimitri nodded and looked around the group. “I think that’s it. Let’s, ah, hit the road, ladies and gentlemen!”
Everyone wandered toward their assigned vehicles and the first shift drivers took up their positions. In the lead vehicle, Dimitri drove the truck with the trailer, Oksana at his side. Claire would follow behind in her car with Robert. Anastasia would drive her Jeep accompanied by Mariya and Steven. Peter followed them in Robert’s car accompanied by Anna. Alexander, Rebecca, and Granny with her animals would be next in line in Dimitri’s car because it was the most spacious and comfortable for Granny to make the trip. The final car would be piloted by Christopher and Kat.
The convoy set off slowly toward the tree line and stopped once they were far enough away to be safe, yet close enough to watch what was to come next. Kat swiveled in her seat and stared at the house where she had completed her transformation, not just into a shifter, but into a woman. She reached over and gripped Christopher’s hand and braced herself for their grand finale.
Dimitri looked at Oksana and she stared back at him, her expression unfathomable in the darkness. She squeezed his forearm and turned to look at her first American home.
Dimitri took a deep breath and tapped the button on his cell.
The garage, as well as the remains of the house, disappeared in a blinding flash that lit up the night sky for several seconds before being engulfed in flames and smoke.
Dimitri swallowed hard. “It’s done.”
“Yes.” Oksana’s voice broke and she covered her mouth with her hands. Dimitri reached over and squeezed her thigh, his eyes on the road as he moved the truck, and his family, forward.
From her vantage point at the rear of the convoy, Kat watched the physical remnants of her life be swallowed up by the trees. Her breath caught in her throat.
Christopher’s warm hand grasped her arm from the driver’s seat. “Sit down, Kat. Put your seatbelt on.”
“My home...” she choked.
“I know, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. Come. Sit.” As with everything else that had led to this point, he felt personally responsible for her loss.
Kat swiped at the tears, then flipped around and struggled with her seatbelt as tears welled and blurred her already tired vision. Finally, she clicked it in place, then dropped her head into her lap and sobbed.
Christopher stroked her arm, rubbed her back, and brushed her tears away as best he could while keeping one hand on the wheel and his eyes on the bumper in front of him.
“Kat, look. The media trucks are really and truly gone. All of them.”
Kat sat up with a snuffle as they pulled out of the front gate for the last time and turned onto the main road. It was indeed empty. The only evidence of the circus that had been there was the trampled and compacted ground along the sides of the road along with plenty of empty coffee cups and used napkins.
She hiccupped and popped open the glove box to retrieve a few tissues from a small packet. She held them up. “Oksana thought of everything.”
“She’s amazing.”
Kat nodded. “Yes, she is. We’re lucky to have her.”
Christopher chanced a glance at her as they picked up speed. “You should get some rest. You need it.” His large, warm hand covered her much smaller one. “I’ll make sure you’re safe, my Kat. I promise. Get some rest.”
Kat blew out a breath. “I’m tired, but I don’t know that I can sleep.”
Christopher chuckled. He reached over and turned on her seat warmer, then turned the heat up on her side of the vehic
le a few degrees. “Put your seat back. You’ll be asleep in no time.”
Kat pressed the button to drop her seat back down until she was reclined. “I don’t know. I think I’m too keyed up.” She curled on her side as best she could and faced Christopher.
Christopher stroked her still wet cheek. “Yes, my Kat.”
Within five minutes, her breathing had evened out and she went limp. Christopher’s eyes went back and forth between her and the road in front of him. He was overwhelmed with a sense of protectiveness and love coupled with a bone deep sense of shame. This trip would be a crucible for their relationship and he knew it. He only hoped she could forgive him.
Christopher sighed deeply and covered her small hands which rested on the console between them, one on top of the other as though in prayer, with his large hand. “My Kat.”
The convoy of six vehicles with fourteen extraordinary people in an ancient family lumbered across the darkened Georgia landscape on their way to a new life while tied to another equally ancient family bent on their annihilation.
Chapter Six
Kat stretched and yawned when the car come to a stop. She pressed the button to sit upright and squinted at the unfamiliar surroundings. The sun was looming, but still hidden behind the horizon. They had stopped at a well-lit gas station.
“Where are we?” She cleared her scratchy throat. “What time is it?”
Christopher leaned over and pressed a kiss to her mouth, then handed her a water bottle. “We’re close to the Mississippi border, I think. I saw a sign for a town named Bexar. It’s almost five. We need gas. Are you hungry?”
Kat rubbed her eyes and took a swig from the water bottle. “Yeah, I guess.”
Christopher reached back and handed her a foil-covered packet.
She opened it to find a turkey and Swiss sandwich with lettuce on whole grain bread. She took a large bite and moaned. “This is good.” When the food hit her stomach, it growled. She eagerly dove into the sandwich.
Christopher glanced around. “This place is almost deserted. We’re taking turns filling the tanks.”
Kat swallowed. “Do you want me to drive and you get some sleep?”
Christopher caressed her cheek. “No, Kat. I talked to Dimitri a little while ago and he said our first stop is only about another hour down the road. We’ll all get some rest after we set up camp.”
Kat bit into her sandwich and nodded. She was grateful he didn’t accept her offer; she was bleary-eyed.
Christopher inched forward and took his turn at the gas pump. Kat glanced at him as he eased himself out of the car. She enjoyed his rear view and hurried to finish the rest of her sandwich, then climbed out of the car for a stretch. The chilly air hit her in the face and she stiffened, then reached her hands toward the sky and worked out the kinks in her muscles. Several members of her family were doing the same thing just outside their own vehicles. Kat saw Rebecca in an embrace with Alexander.
Kat’s gaze moved to an old, beat up sedan parked in front of the convenience store. Two passengers emerged and stared at the convoy before they walked inside. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She climbed back in the car and waited for Christopher to finish, suddenly anxious to be moving again.
Christopher filled the tank, jogged inside to pay for the gas, then hurried to the car. They were doing all cash transactions. Once everyone was settled into their respective vehicles, they resumed their journey.
“What if the police look for us? We don’t exactly blend in wherever we go.” Kat was nervous as she recalled the sedan at the gas station.
“Don’t worry. Either Anna or I shift all the cashiers and people we see before we leave. They won’t remember ever seeing us.”
“Oh. Good idea.”
“Do you want to go back to sleep, Kat?”
Kat shook her head and stifled a yawn. “No. I’ll wait until we set up camp.” She reached over and grabbed his hand. “Did I miss anything?”
He smiled and pulled her hand up for a kiss. “Nope. I enjoyed watching you sleep.”
She clucked her tongue. “Hey! You’re supposed to watch the road.”
“I did that, too. Don’t worry.” He slid a sideways glance at her. “I’m glad we have this time together. We can talk without distractions.”
“Mmm.” Kat blinked and watched the lush landscape go by.
“Kat, we need to talk.”
“Okay.”
Christopher took a deep breath. “I want you to know that I love and cherish you, Kat. I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you. Ever.”
She brought his large hand to her mouth and kissed it. “I know. I love you, too.”
He grimaced. This was going to be very difficult. “Sometimes something does hurt, but the greater purpose is more important than any singular action.”
Kat chuckled. “I know you’re speaking English, but you’re not making any sense, Christopher.”
Christopher shook his head. “I’m sorry. I know. I just don’t...”
His cell phone rang. Kat reached over and clicked on the speaker. “Hey, Uncle Dimitri.”
“We should be at the campsite in about thirty minutes. You two all right back there?”
“Do you have enough food?” Oksana’s voice interjected. From the clarity and volume, she yelled directly into the phone. Dimitri chuckled in the background.
Christopher grinned. “We have more than enough, Oksana. I’ve had three sandwiches, some fruit, and two cookies already.”
Kat’s eyes bugged.
Oksana’s voice came through loud and clear again. “That is good! I will make a hot meal when we stop!”
Dimitri’s quieter voice returned. “All right. Just wanted to let you two know what’s going on. Be safe.”
“We will.” Kat clicked the phone off. She turned to Christopher. “Oksana thinks we can’t hear her unless she yells when it’s on speaker.”
“It would seem so.” He took a deep breath. “As I was saying, Kat...”
Kat held up a hand. “Christopher, please. No deep conversations right now. I only got a few hours of sleep in a car and we’ll be setting up camp soon. Whatever it is, and I’m sure it’s nothing, it can wait, can’t it?”
Christopher blew out his breath. “As you wish.”
Kat cocked her head to the side and regarded him. “Such a serious face you have. I wish I could make you smile.” She stroked his cheek, then unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned over to nuzzle his neck.
He groaned and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Kat, don’t. Please. I need to concentrate.”
She giggled, wrapped her arms around his chest as best she could, and continued to nuzzle his neck.
He swerved and tensed under her hands. He swore under his breath and gently pulled her arms off him. “Kat, please!”
She grinned, then sat back and clicked her seatbelt on. “I’m sorry.”
He glanced at her. “You don’t look the least bit sorry.”
“I can’t wait until we’re married.”
He took a deep breath and a smile spread across his face. “Me, either.”
They took an exit off the highway onto a side road, then turned onto another road that wound through the trees for a few miles. Not once did they pass another vehicle. They reached a KOA campsite as dawn broke. It was nearly deserted this time of year, and their entourage filled the farthest corner. Kat opened her door at the same time Christopher came to a complete stop.
“Oh!” Kat climbed out of the vehicle, stretched, and looked around. The cars parked next to each other, nestled in the trees with clearly defined camping sites complete with generic black grills jammed into the ground at each site like creepy cake pops.
A dazed Anastasia walked over to Kat. “Did you get any sleep?”
Kat nodded. “Yes. But I’d like to lay flat and get some real sleep.”
Anastasia yawned. “Me, too. We have to get the tents set up first.” She glanced around, and her shoulders slumpe
d. “Might as well get to it.”
“No time like the present.” Kat walked toward the trailer where Dimitri, Robert, and Alexander were already gathered. The others joined them and soon there were three tents set up, plus an area claimed by Oksana as her makeshift kitchen. She bustled about the space and made oatmeal and sliced fruit. After they ate their fill, the family stumbled toward their designated tents and slipped into unconsciousness.
“AH!” KAT TOOK A DEEP breath, extended her arms over her head, and pointed her toes as she rolled onto her back.
She blinked and oriented herself to the unfamiliar surroundings. Bright sunlight slanted into the tent from the mesh opening above her head and left a rectangle of light against the far wall. She hoisted herself up on her elbows with a yawn. The tent was empty except for her. There were muffled voices all around her. She scrambled out of her sleeping bag and hurried to pull on jeans, a sweatshirt, and her shoes. She glanced at her cell phone; it was four o’clock.
“I slept all day?” she groaned aloud.
“Yes, you did.”
Kat jerked. “Gah! Christopher!” She picked up her pillow and threw it at the wall where his voice had sounded. “Are you just creeping outside my tent or something?”
Christopher’s throaty laugh sounded outside the tent. “Yes. I wondered if you were ever going to wake up. I knew you were all right, though, because you were snoring.”
Kat groaned. “I do not snore!”
“Sometimes you do, but not always.” Anastasia’s voice moved from the far end to the front of the tent as she spoke. The zipper suddenly whizzed up and over the front flap of the tent and Anastasia’s head popped into view. “You hungry? Oksana made stew. We’ll be hitting the road in a couple hours, so chop chop!” She clapped her hands together twice and disappeared.
“Are you dressed?” Christopher’s disembodied voice asked.
“Yes.” Kat hurried to smooth the rat’s nest of her hair.
Revelations: The Shifter Series: Volume Three Page 10