Reagan’s chest swelled with pride, knowing he believed in her. She took the sword, holding it before her. A white aura spread up the handle and then along blade before dissipating. Maybe she was imagining things, but she preferred to see it as a sign and a blessing. “Cecilia mentioned it. You must be in tune with her.” She leaned in and whispered in Papa’s ear, “Nana was there. She looked beautiful.”
When she pulled back, she saw pure joy on Papa’s face. Then, he shifted back into commander role. “The guys have the coordinates for your new locations. You’ll set out in the next two hours, staggered by both time and direction. We’ve rounded up a truck for each of you so you can take supplies. Everything’s being put together now. My group will stay a few more days to wrap things up and then head to a new location as a precaution.”
He went over a few more particulars, including bank accounts. Since they were splitting up, each team would be responsible for their food and other disposable supplies.
“Reagan and I will get our stuff and meet you at the entrance in—” Madeleine checked her watch “—thirty minutes.”
“I’ll pack up the sword,” Rowan said.
Although she trusted him with her life, Reagan felt uneasy about handing it over. Cecilia’s words echoed in Reagan’s head: Do not ever let it out of your sight. “That’s okay. I’ve got it.”
He gave her an odd look. It hit her that she’d be living with only Rowan and Madeleine for two months. Reagan hoped it wouldn’t feel too strange.
Madeleine suggested Reagan pack up her things and be back in the kitchen in twenty minutes so they could grab food for the road. Once back in her room, she threw some clothes in her duffle bag and a few personal items. She chuckled, thinking about how she couldn’t get by without a big suitcase and a medium carryon for most of their family trips.
With time to spare, she ran around to say her goodbyes. Although she knew it wasn’t a forever parting, she still felt sad and apprehensive. Her family followed her to the entrance and said goodbye to Madeleine and Rowan.
“We’ll be in touch soon,” Rowan said. “Jed will explain.”
After putting the sword and duffle bag in the covered back, Reagan got in the backseat of the extended cab truck, while Rowan took the driver’s seat and Madeleine the front. Reagan figured she’d let them discuss logistics while she zoned for a bit. As they pulled away, she turned around and waved to everyone. An image she’d hold close until she saw them again. “How far are we going?” she asked.
“Almost three hours away. We’ll cross into New Mexico,” he responded.
ↄↄↄↄↄ
For most of drive time, they sat in silence except for the radio. She wished she could call and check on everyone, or at least text. Safety first. It made sense, but it didn’t give her any peace.
“We’ll be there in thirty minutes. We’re coming up on a small town, so I thought we’d stop and find something to eat. Tomorrow, I’ll head to a store for some food and whatever other supplies we need,” Rowan said.
“Sounds good. When can we check on the others?” Reagan asked.
“Sometime tomorrow. It’ll take me several hours to set up the laptop and modem and get things running.”
He saw a sign for Tom’s Diner and pulled off on the next exit.
Reagan stretched her legs and cracked her back when they got out of the truck. She didn’t get the roomier option by being in the back. “I call shotgun the rest of the way,” she announced.
“Sounds fair,” Madeleine said.
Reagan hesitated to leave the sword behind. “Let’s make this quick.”
Rowan held the door to the diner open, and Madeleine and Reagan walked in. Everything about the inside was dark, including the wood and table coverings. In the corner, a few people played pool. Several burly men sat at the bar, and the sounds of various sports blared from the many television screens. Before joining the pack, she would’ve been terrified to be in a place like that.
A hostess led the group to a booth near the restrooms, and Rowan excused himself. Picking up the menu, Madeleine seemed at ease and hadn’t even flinched at the grimy surroundings.
“This place is a bit, um, seedy, don’t you think?” Reagan asked. She kept one eye on the truck outside, grateful for the window. If she could’ve figured a way to sneak the sword into the restaurant, to keep it on her, she would’ve.
Madeleine’s only response was a laugh.
Perturbed, Reagan scanned the menu. Just as she decided on a burger and fries, Rowan returned and sat next to her. They ate their meal without much conversation, mostly because the bar shook with noise.
Rowan paid the bill, and they returned to the truck.
“So, are we cave-hopping or what for the next two months?” Reagan asked once they were on their way.
“No, we’ll stay a week here and there at various condos or apartments,” Rowan responded. “We’ve got a few wealthy benefactors.”
For a moment, she thought he read her mind. She had wondered how they afforded all the equipment, supplies, weapons, and places to stay. Hopefully, it was the good guys bankrolling them. What kind of monsters paid Rafe’s bills?
“Looks like we’re here,” Rowan said.
They pulled into a gated complex with rows of apartment buildings. He reached across Reagan, popped open the glovebox, and pulled out an envelope. Inside were a garage door opener and a set of keys. After he found the building and numbered garage he was looking for, he opened the door and pulled in.
Thanks to the size of the truck, there wasn’t a whole lot of room. Reagan opened the door all the way to the wall and barely had enough room to get out and wiggle to the back for her duffle and sword.
Since Madeleine’s hands were free, Rowan threw her the keys. She opened the door and walked into their new place, feeling the wall for a light switch. She found it and illuminated the room.
Reagan stepped in.
Right off the garage was a small laundry room, which led into the kitchen. Everything looked fairly new. A living room, two bathrooms, and two bedrooms finished up the interior space.
“Looks like Reagan and I are sharing a room,” Madeleine said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
Reagan rolled her eyes. It wasn’t like the place was her honeymoon suite.
Once the supplies were unpacked, Madeleine excused herself to take a shower while Reagan and Rowan settled on the couch. Television was a luxury they didn’t have in the caves, so it’d been a while since she’d seen anything. Flipping around, she found The Bachelorette. Just what she needed, some mindless fun.
“If this is what I’ve been missing, I think I’m okay,” Rowan joked after watching for a few minutes.
Madeleine came out and joined them.
Rowan decided on a shower while Reagan and Madeleine debated which guy would go home at the end of the episode. After, they headed to bed. Reagan and Madeleine’s room had two twin beds and their own bathroom. It was quite the step up from cave living.
ↄↄↄↄↄ
For most of the night, Reagan tossed and turned. Images from the last few months played over and over again. Tired of fighting it, she crept out of the room and turned the television on to check the time. Six. Feeling disconnected from the world, she flipped the channels to catch up on the stock market, current events, and local news.
After an hour or so, Rowan and Madeleine joined in. They came up with a list of supplies, and he headed out to get as many as he could. She outlined the week’s training schedule, noting a private gym for residents. Since they couldn’t walk in with weapons, they’d have to do their best with cardio machines and weights.
Concerned with leaving the sword behind while they worked out, Reagan asked Madeleine the most secure place to put it. They searched the condo, but nowhere seemed safe enough. They decided to take turns with their gym workouts. Reagan still felt nervous about leaving the sword behind but didn’t see any alternatives.
Wanting to get rid of some exces
s energy, she offered to go first. She spent the next two hours in the gym sweating it out. Halfway through, Madeleine came in, explaining to Reagan that Rowan had returned and was in the condo with the sword.
Exhausted from her workout, she appreciated the smell of food when she returned.
Rowan had made chili. A gorgeous guy who treated her well, loved her family and friends, and could cook. She’d have to keep him around. He kept the pot on simmer so it would still be hot for Madeleine.
After lunch, he got the computers set up and reached out to Papa. Anxious and bored, Reagan suggested they play cards, since she’d found a deck in one of the kitchen drawers. They used popcorn pieces for poker chips. Madeleine joined them within an hour. Several games and a movie later, and Rowan mentioned wanting some dinner.
Out of nowhere, a knock on the sliding glass doors caused Reagan to jump, sending popcorn flying everywhere.
Rowan must’ve heard it, too, because he followed her to the porch.
She pushed aside the curtains and opened the door, stepping outside onto the small deck. They were on the second floor, and just below them stood Lucent.
“Ask me in. I’ve got important news,” he said.
Reagan hesitated, looking at Rowan.
“I’m on your side,” Lucent said. “I can’t come up unless you ask.”
“We were told to trust him,” Reagan said, her voice shaky. She wished they’d heard from Papa. What if Lucent had something to do with the lack of communication? What if… Rather than torture herself, she spoke. “Where’s Papa? Why are you here?”
“I’m here to help. There’s been an attack. Please, you have asked a lot of me. Now, I ask for some trust.”
“I invite you up.” She prayed to God those four words weren’t the last she’d ever say.
In a flash, he stood beside them on the balcony. “You have to come quick. I just got word that some demon wolves found your base. I’m not sure who was or wasn’t there.”
“How did you find us?” Madeleine asked. Her body was rigid, and her weight was on her back foot, as if she was ready to pounce.
“I had a small group watching your camp. When they noticed everyone leaving yesterday, they had you followed. I was worried something was wrong. A few stayed behind. They’re the ones that just contacted me about the raid. One came to find me, while the others, and a few more I sent, stayed to fight.”
“It’s a good hour, maybe an hour and a half, run.” Reagan was trying to figure wolf speed compared to car speed. Although she’d made up her mind, she looked at Madeleine and Rowan. They nodded in answer to the unasked question. Grateful, Reagan turned back to Lucent. “We have to go now.” She retrieved the angel sword. “Madeleine, let’s find a way to strap this on me.”
Madeleine rigged up a duffle bag with a few clothes and the sword and strapped it on Reagan.
“Follow me. There’s some cover about a mile away,” Lucent said.
As soon as they could, they transformed. Rowan knew the way, but asked Lucent to stay close. The girls locked on and ran at top speeds.
Reagan considered reaching out to Papa, but worried it would give away his location if he’d managed to escape. Going into the situation blind, with no preparation or knowledge of what they’d face, terrified her.
An hour and twenty minutes felt like an eternity. Lucent warned them to slow down, noting a gray wolf close by. It barely came into view before he snapped its neck and kept going.
She knew those wolves rarely traveled alone, so she stayed on guard. A few more came at her group. Fueled by adrenaline and fear, she made quick work of her attacker as it broadsided her, tearing out its throat. She didn’t have time for games.
They took out five within a mile of the base. Once they arrived, the area seemed clear. After transforming and putting on their clothes, they entered the cave and headed to the command center. It was ransacked. Computers were torn apart and tables overturned; the library and kitchen didn’t fare any better. Along the way, they found a few bodies of pack members.
Reagan shuddered. “We have no clue where to find them, or if they even survived.” Panicking, she thought of Papa and shook off the dread that something awful had happened to him.
Back outside, they saw Lucent speaking with a young fellow. “Nicolas here has some news. He said he saw some of the attack. Looks like Rafe was definitely here.”
Reagan felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. Rafe would never allow Papa to live. “Wait,” she said, as her mind processed what might happen next. “If they’re able to read Papa’s mind, they’ll know where Winona is. We have to get to them.”
“I don’t know where they are,” Rowan said. “Papa was supposed to send me a communication as soon as they arrived at the new base, but he never did.”
Fear curled its talons around her, squeezing her. She struggled to draw in air. Her family? Could they all be gone? How would they find them? Desperate, she looked at Lucent, at the only man who might have answers. A vampire. His kind had destroyed many lives, and he was their only lead. With adrenaline coursing through her veins, pumped through by images of her family, she pulled the sword from its casing and hurled herself at Lucent.
Rowan threw himself in front of her, and she barely missed nicking him with the blade. “I know you’re scared, but this isn’t going to help.”
She lowered the weapon as she sensed vampires closing in, and looked up to see men approaching, clearly Lucent’s guard. What was she thinking? “I’m sorry. Please tell me you know something, anything, that can help me find my family.” It took all her willpower to keep her voice from cracking.
Lucent put his hand out in what seemed a gesture for his friends to stay back. “We really do need to work on our trust issues. I think I have proven myself. Do you trust me or do you not?”
Her hand still shaking, she closed her eyes and searched her heart. With faith, we fight. She heard Winona’s words as if she were there. Reagan had to trust him.
“I do. Do you know where my family is, and if they’re safe?”
“I do,” Lucent said.
Reagan stared into the eyes of a killer. Like her, he didn’t choose his fate, but without a soul, could he be trusted? Killing wasn’t an option for Lucent, for any vampire. But something in her heart, in the depths of the soul she clung to, told her to take a leap of faith.
“I trust you.” With each word, she tightened her fingers around the angel sword. A weapon that could only be wielded by those with angel blood.
“Do you?” His eyes focused on her hand.
She relaxed and sheathed the sword. “Not without some worry. I am human.” A wince seemed to briefly take over Lucent’s countenance, and she regretted the word choice.
“Yes. A gift you must never take for granted.” He motioned for one of his crew. “Okay, Nicolas, tell us what you know.”
“We came by to check on the camp as you instructed,” the young man said.
Reagan felt a stab of remorse knowing how cut off his life had been; he couldn’t have been any older than seventeen when he was turned. Of course, her life had forever changed at the same age. Since it wasn’t the best time to be in her own head, she focused back on him.
“We came upon a massacre. Red-eyed wolves everywhere. And Rafe. Other wolves were fighting, too, but were greatly outnumbered. There were only a few of us. We did what we could.”
Lucent laid a hand on Nicolas’s shoulder. “Of course you did.”
Anxious for answers, she turned to Lucent. “You said you know where my family is. So what are we waiting for? Let’s go.”
“To be more accurate, I know how to reach Jed, and I feel assured he’ll know where the others are.”
“Why are we still standing here talking then?” Madeleine asked.
Always grateful for her tenacity, Reagan shot her friend a quick smile.
“We communicated through intermediaries, and Jed is to meet us here,” Lucent said.
“You seemed to
be able to find all of us easily enough, even when I can’t get through to anyone.” Rowan scowled.
“Trust issues run rampant with you three. Personal communication is best when enemies are everywhere. And I’ve been doing this a long time.”
Reagan shot Lucent a look. Not too long ago, he’d topped her list of enemies.
“Maybe total honesty on my part will help here. Knowing where the angel sword resides is my top priority. I can’t allow that weapon to get into Rafe’s hands. My most trusted men were watching you as a precaution. And Jed knows how to reach me. Always has. And, no need to thank me. You’re welcome.”
Before Reagan could remark on Lucent’s smug demeanor, a familiar voice sounded. She turned just in time to see Papa break through a dense copse of trees.
“Papa!”
Within seconds, she was in his arms.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.”
After sinking into his warm embrace and indulging in a moment of gratitude, she pulled back. “What about everyone else?”
“I’ll catch you up, but first, we need to go into the cave. See the damage. Most of our pack had left, but I need to make sure all the security procedures were executed prior to the attack.”
Reagan’s first concern was her family and friends, but she knew how devastating a technology breech would be. Their former home was a cave of epic engineering. Computer systems, ones that could rival anything in the Pentagon, or so she was told, ran everything and held vital information.
Following Papa’s lead, Madeleine and Reagan entered the cave while Rowan stood guard outside with Lucent and his men. Within a few feet, Reagan saw the first body. She recognized the young man, although she couldn’t remember his name.
Papa knelt down and said a word of prayer.
Similar stops were made at each body along the hallways. Ten in total. Reagan didn’t recognize all their faces, but she mourned for each lost team member just the same. Upon entering the command center, Papa walked over to a computer and started punching keys.
Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series Page 51