by W. J. May
“How long will you be?”
“Don’t really know, to be honest.” Michael reached over and rubbed my cheek with his thumb. “Maybe a few hours. We need to come to a decision on how to handle the situation here.”
“Of course.” I nodded, but didn’t get it. If Caleb, the highest and probably smartest dude in the group, and Michael, couldn’t decide how to solve the problem how would anyone else?
Caleb strode out of the office, briefcase in hand. “Michael, let’s go. The plane’s ready, and I need to stop by the office downtown before we leave.”
Michael nodded. “I’ll meet you by the car in a few minutes.”
Caleb grunted and continued to the front door.
It was hard to not stare. Caleb walked so regal and his entire being embodied strength. If the dictionary had pictures, his would be beside the world power.
Michael pulled me into a tight embrace. “Sorry to leave. I’d rather spend the day with you.”
I didn’t mind, we’d be hanging out later tonight. “However, duty calls,” I joked.
Michael mock saluted in Caleb’s direction. “I feel bad—”
“I’ll be fine. Go, before you tick Caleb off.”
He hugged me again and kissed the top of my head. He then put his hand on my chin and lifted my face toward his. He leaned forward, his lips tenderly touching mine.
“Happy eighteenth birthday, little Rouge Riding. I promise to give you my present as soon as I’m back.”
“I can’t wait.” My mind raced with ideas. Maybe I’ll cook dinner for us. “Wait. Did Caleb say he had a plane?”
“A small one here in town. And a little private airstrip.” Michael grinned.
He definitely was royalty. The guy probably had an Air Force One plane. “Where’s the meeting?”
“On the East Coast.”
“I love you. Hurry home.” I blushed, the words out before I could stop them.
He smiled, big and goofy. “Love you, too. Stay safe.” He slowly let go of me and headed towards the front door.
His walk’s similar to Caleb’s. Funny, I’d never noticed. I gave him a small wave from the window and watched the car disappear down the drive. I stood there long after they had gone, my eyes travelling around the front yard. Then I had one of those thoughts that you wish you could take it away the moment it enters your mind. What if this is the last time I see him?
I shook my head, trying to erase the silly notion. But once those stupid thoughts were in, you couldn’t get them out. I needed a distraction. My eyes settled straight in front of me. Jeep.
I could shop and make dinner for tonight.
“Grace, I’ll be fine.” I rolled my eyes as she followed inches behind me to the Jeep. “It’s groceries. I won’t be long.”
“I trust you. Please don’t think I don’t. I just know what Michael’s going to say when he finds out I let you go off on your own.”
“It’s ten minutes down the road! What kind of trouble can I get into there? An old lady knocks me out with her cane ‘cause I grab the best head of lettuce?”
“True…No Grollic’s going to come after you in a crowd of people.”
“They aren’t interested in me.”
“Why don’t I come? I can just wait in the car while you shop.”
“And leave Sarah in the house alone? Would Caleb be alright with that?” With Sarah’s military background, she’s probably safer than the rest of us. “Michael’s positive they are after you and him. You’re safest place is here.”
She played with an earring. “Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
“I just want to make dinner for Michael.”
“Ohhhh.” She grinned, punching my arm. “Now I get it. Why didn’t you just say so?” She winked, then headed back inside. Then she popped her head out one more time. “Fifteen minutes. Twenty tops. Then I’m texting you and hunting you down myself.”
Shaking my head, I opened the Jeep door and sat on the tanned leather driver’s seat. The “new” car scent teased my nostrils. Checking the wheel and dashboard, I finally found the ignition and started the engine. I pulled forward slowly trying to set the mirrors and realized the seat also had automatic adjustment. This vehicle’s cooler than cool.
Flipping the radio on, I drove and turned carefully into the lot of the grocery store. Paranoid, I parked towards the back, far away from the other cars. As I dashed toward the store trying to avoid road salted puddles, fresh snow flakes started to fall.
I grabbed a shopping cart and made my way around the outside part of the grocery store. All the fresh produce sat on the outside aisles and the packaged goods were in the middle. In line for the checkout, I stared at my cart. Maybe I bought too much. I just wasn’t sure if Michael liked chicken, hamburger or salmon. Setting my stuff on the counter, I saw a little rack with mini bottles of alcohol.
Glancing around and not seeing anyone I knew, I threw two rye ones with the rest of my groceries. Fingers crossed the cashier wouldn’t ask for identification.
No luck.
“ID, please.”
I stared down at my wallet and handed him my licence, knowing full well I was screwed. Stupid. Stupid idea.
The check out guy, who didn’t look much older than fifteen, checked the date, glanced at me, then down at my card again. Handing the card back, he tossed the bottles in my bags and never bothered to look up. “Happy Birthday.”
Stunned, I paid and left. I’ll pay it forward one day, kid. Outside the snow had begun falling harder. Large, fat flakes sparkled as they drifted in the masses toward the ploughed parking lot, hiding the mud and salt. I shook my head, I still needed boots. Tomorrow.
My lovely, lonely Jeep waited patiently for me. I threw the bags into the backseat behind the driver’s side and quickly hopped into my seat.
I leaned to pull my keys out of my coat pocket and nearly dropped them when the passenger door opened and someone hopped in.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Grace! I told you nothing would happ—” All conversation fell away when my lower left shoulder blade started to burn like fire and I caught a whiff of wet animal.
Damon.
Chapter 21
“So glad I found you.” Damon’s eyes were full of mockery.
“Get. Out.” I pointed to the jeep door, and shifted trying to ease the sudden ache in my shoulder blade.
“No can do.” He pointed his thumb to the exit. “Get this thing started and head onto the road. I’ll tell you where to go.”
I’d like to tell you where to go. “I’ll leave, after you get out.” Bile rose in the back of my throat. “I’m not taking you near Grace.”
“Rouge, start the friggin’ Jeep, or I'll start it for you. And you do not want that.” He snarled. His eyes turned a terrible yellow color, the same shade that haunted my dreams.
Frozen, I tried to get my brain to process any coherent thought. Grace and Sarah wouldn’t start to worry about my absence for another ten minutes. Michael and Caleb were gone, so I was pretty much on my own. Damon didn’t know…He couldn’t right? “M-Michael an-and Grace are meeting me here, any minute now.”
His barking laugh reverberated off of my own chest. “Nice try,” he spat, as if reading my thoughts. “Michael’s halfway across the country and well, let’s just say Grace and her dear so-called momma aren’t going anywhere.”
My shoulders and lungs dropped as if they’d collapsed. The Grollics have Grace and Sarah? They’d been waiting and watching till they were most vulnerable. “You’d better not hurt them,” I hissed.
“We won’t… for now. If you do as I say, it might be for a bit longer.” He grinned. A stupid, irritating grin that made me want to tear his face off.
What choice did I have? “Fine. I'll drive. Just leave Grace and Sarah alone.” The closest thing I had to a family wouldn’t die if I could help it. Damon didn’t need me. He just wanted to get to Michael and Grace. I knew he didn’t stand a chance against Michael.
My hands shook as I turned the ignition and grasped the wheel. I leaned to turn up the heat, hoping it might give me some courage. Whatever I did might mean life or death for Grace and Sarah. If Grace contacted Michael through their ESP-thing, he and Caleb might be heading back. Did the Grollics know of their ability?
“Turn right out of the parking lot and head towards the highway. We need to get off at the exit before the lake.” He sniffed and turned his head to the groceries in the backseat. Grabbing a bag of chips, he opened them and started eating. The idiot had the audacity to offer me some of my chips.
“No, thanks.” I focused on the road as the snow began falling in thicker, heavier flakes.
“Drive like you're going to the head to the Knightly’s cabin. We'll park the Jeep there and head out again. We’ll take your groceries along as it would be a shame to let all this good stuff go to waste.” He turned and dug through the bags. “What’s with all the healthy crap? You need more starchy foods. They fill you nicely.” Damon patted his stomach, stuffing another handful of chips in his mouth.
I squeezed the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles white against the black leather. Like I cared about food groups at the moment. “I have no freakin’ clue how to get there.” I lifted my foot off the gas and let the Jeep slow its pace.
He grabbed my arm and squeezed. It hurt like crazy and if he tightened his grip a fraction my bones would break. “Listen closely as I’m only going to say this once. It’s in your best interest you try and humor me. Keep me happy and content. I’m the only one who can save you.” He swore under his breath and punched the dashboard. “Just drive and keep your mouth shut!”
I dropped my foot back on the gas pedal and pressed my lips tight. I rubbed my sore arm. If I ticked Damon off in the Jeep he might shift into a Grollic. What if he changed and bit me? Could that make me a Grollic? If that could happen, everything with Michael would be doomed, and I did not want to spend an eternity living without him. The Siorghra around my neck tingled against my skin giving me a small warning. Glancing around, I realized I didn’t know where we were. I’d only been to the cabin once with Michael, and it had been dark. Blinking back the water filling my eyes, I whispered, “I don’t know where I’m going.”
“Take the third exit, and head north. I'll tell you where to turn when we get there.” Damon went back to eating the bag of chips and began ignoring me.
Forty minutes later, with no decent plan popping into my head, I turned into the snow covered road which let to Caleb’s cabin. Thank goodness for the Jeep’s four wheel drive. Nothing had been cleared in days. No trace of the fight between Seth and Tatiana against the Grollics existed, except for the odd fallen tree and a large clawed gouge mark on a maple close to the cabin. My breath caught as I rolled to a stop and let the engine idle.
“Stay in the Jeep.” Damon swung his door open. “Don’t bother even thinking about taking off. We’d catch you on foot, or on wheels or with a bullet.” He jumped out and jogged toward the tree line on the right. He whistled into the forest and leaned against a tree, his jacket open and oblivious to the cold.
A female, a couple years older than me, emerged from the trees. She walked to Damon and stood inches away from him, then began pulling the black hooded sweater off and he pulled at her belt.
“Great,” I muttered, dropping my gaze to the crumpled bag and chip crumbs all over my passenger seat. “Just what I want to watch. Two Grollics gettin’ it on. Disgusting.” I jumped at the sharp rap against the side window.
The passenger door opened and the girl dropped into the spot Damon had vacated. She began pulling off her boots. “Give me your clothes,” She commanded in a husky voice.
I stared straight ahead, not moving.
“Get your crap off or I'll do it for you, bitch.” Her husky voice turned into a growl as she grabbed my shoulder and squeezed hard.
“Ow! That hurts.” Her sharp nails dug deep into my skin, even through my coat. The pressure didn’t weaken. She could crush my bones if she wanted. I pressed my lips tight to cut off the groan trying to escape. She lessoned her grip when I reached for the hem of my coat. I lifted my elbow and pushed her arm away and then pulled the zipper down on my coat and shrugged it off. At least I didn’t have to watch them messing around.
“Take everything off. Then put on what I'm wearing.”
Silent, I did as she commanded. My thoughts kept drifting to Grace and Sarah, hoping they were safe. Whatever the Grollics plan was, they would take me to them, right?
I tossed my wet sneakers on her lap and had the satisfaction of watching her nose wrinkle. She kicked her boots on the floor by my feet. I snorted. Finally got a pair of boots for the snow.
I struggled to get dressed in the tight space under the wheel, but Damon’s ugly face pressed against my window helped speed the process. The girl’s clothes smelled damp and of wet fur.
“Perfect! And Damon said I was too big.” She leaned forward, staring directly at him. With a grunt, she got out and walked to the front porch. The girl paused on the porch and played with her earring before dropping to sit on the steps, and rub her arm against the railing. After leaving her – my – sneakers at the door, she slipped her hand inside the sleeve of my sweater and wrapped it around the door handle before heading inside.
My breath sucked in sharply. She’s putting my scent around the cabin. I wouldn’t be staying. I tried to think of something I could do inside of the Jeep. A clue which might help Michael. Something to let him know it was a trap, and I wasn’t inside the cabin.
Damon had stepped in front of the Jeep, hollering at the girl to hurry, then turned and glared at me. I touched Michael’s pendant and ran it along the chain.
An idea skittered across my mind. I reached for the clasp at the back and pulled with both my hands. It unclipped easily. A little wave of disappointment flushed through. Michael had said no one could take it off if he put it on. Shame he’d never get the chance.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I dropped the Siorghra on the floor, pushing it slightly under the seat.
Damon came around to the driver’s side and wrenched open my door. He reached in to turn the ignition off and tossed the keys in the snow. Grabbing me by the collar, he dragged me out and then shoved me in the direction the girl had come from the forest.
“Walk,” he barked, then swung around and grabbed the bags of groceries from the back seat of the Jeep.
The girl never came out of the cabin. I ran my fingers through my hair and scrunched my nose at the loose strands entangled in my fingers. I shook them out at the edge of the forest where we headed into the trees. Pushing me in front, Damon pointed the direction to walk.
I moved in front but glanced back at the cabin. The amount of snow in the forest was higher than I’d anticipated. “Where’s Grace? Is she in there?”
“Shut up.” Damon scowled.
“No. Where’s Grace and Sarah?”
“Not right freakin’ here.”
I stopped, knee deep in a snow drift, and crossed my arms.
Wrong move.
He marched right up to me and, before I had a chance to flinch, curled his fingers around my throat. “Walk. Or someone’s going to end up dead.” He squeezed tighter, emphasizing his point.
Slapping and trying to pull his hand away, I struggled to get air into my throat. Little flecks of white danced in my vision and just as everything started to blur, he let go. I fell back into the soft, wet snow. Sucking in sweet, cold air against the burning in my throat, I rolled to my side.
Damon kicked my hip. “Get up.”
Wiping the tears that had escaped my eyes, I managed to get onto all fours and slowly straighten to standing. Damon shot me a single nod and pointed. I dropped my head and started to walk, trying my best not to swallow.
We hiked for what seemed liked forever but when I checked my watch, only about forty minutes had passed. The soreness i
n my throat dulled, but there were going to be bruises. Though tired, I resisted the urge to ask Damon where we were going. I’d given him the silent treatment since the cabin. Jerk. Big stinkin’ dickhead.
The grey snow clouds made the sky get darker earlier than usual. Does he plan on walking all night, or worse, camp in the snow? The loser may be a Grollic but I’d freeze to death. The snow hadn’t stopped falling and had covered all our tracks. I grabbed my hair, wishing I’d left a ponytail holder around my wrist. I tugged a few strands out, trying to use them as a pony. Useless. They just drifted away or came loose.
Damon grabbed my arm and glared at me. My heart stuttered. I hadn’t been paying attention to where I’d been going. A gouged out creek that ran into the lake had a small drop from years of water pushing through. One more step and I’d have fallen the three feet and crashed onto the ice.
His arm dragged me left. “Keep walking and frickin’ pay attention to where you’re going.”
I wrenched my arm free and stomped through the heavy snow. Fifteen minutes later, I could just barely make out a dark outline through the early night shadows. As we came closer I realized it was another cabin – sort of similar to Caleb’s but a lot older.
Damon, still carrying the grocery bags in one hand, grabbed my wrist and pulled me up the steps. I managed to grab the railing to stop from stumbling. He barged through the open door and dragged me, and the groceries, inside.
Flicking lights on, he said, “Put these in the kitchen and wait there.” He stepped back outside.
I waited by the door, trying to stare into the darkness if I could make a run for it. A quiet howl erupted followed by two shorts barks. No way was I going to try running, or stand in front of the door. I grabbed the bags and strode down the little hall, through the living room to the kitchen.
Everything in the place was dated. Old cabinets, almond coloured stove and fridge that ran so loud, it made some of the cracked linoleum shake. I dropped the groceries on the counter and checked my watch. Almost seven.
The front door slammed. Damon walked in and took off his coat. He started emptying the bags. “Can you cook half decent?”