by W. J. May
“There’s been an intolerable disturbance in the peace we’ve maintained for over a century,” Marcus stated as he softly slammed his hands on the table, the heaviness of his utterance drawing all eyes and ears towards him. “Most of you are clueless to what has been lurking in the shadows and murdering our own. Louis first, and now Colin. A murder in each family, so as to force us to engage in a skirmish.” His eyes fell on Ryan’s and he stared into them for a moment, closely observing the reaction of the new head of the wolf pack.
Atlanta followed Marcus’ gaze and gave herself a moment to look at her once-close friend. It seemed weird to think they weren’t close anymore. But, somehow, a wall had been built between them and she had no idea how to tear it down. She squinted as she took a closer look at him. He’s different. It’s not me. It’s him. He’s even starting to look different. He’d changed. Matured, maybe. Angry, probably. He’d lost his dad and was now the head of his pack. That would force someone to change. Maybe I should have tried talking to him. Maybe it’s too late.
“This morning, regretfully, two of our own had to be… they had to be… they’re gone. They were scheming to attack your kind,” Marcus finished in a consistent and strong tone, addressing Ryan directly. Marcus then turned toward James. They seemed to be sharing a thought, and then James nodded.
Marcus turned to face Atlanta, and a quick shudder raced through her before she quickly regained her composure.
James inhaled deeply and glanced around at all those around the table. “About a century ago, hybrids—a combination of vampires and witches—were created by a sadistic witch named Adelaide,” James said in a voice that rose as he moved his head from right to left, aiming his speech at everyone in the room. “These hybrids have powers beyond measure. They’re capable of turning Calen to dust if they’re allowed to roam freely. We stopped them with the help of another witch. Beatrice helped the Druids lock them away during what you all know as the Insurgence. The door that’s right under our feet is the only barrier between them and us. It has remained locked ever since.” He paused, waiting for the murmuring of those around him to stop. “However, Adelaide escaped before the Druids could get to her. She was known to have kept one of her hybrids by her side at all times. Now the only explanation for the murders and the compulsion of the head of the Werewolf pack is that Adelaide’s hybrid is in Calen. It wouldn’t be farfetched to say that Adelaide might be here as well.”
Ryan snorted, and then let out a mocking laugh that echoed in the room.
Marcus glared at him, anger oozing from his eyes.
Ryan’s expression turned from mockery and laughter into disgust and indignation. “Did you make up a story to mask what the vampires did to my father?” Ryan growled.
Marcus snarled and slammed his fists onto the table. “You’re a fool!” he shouted. “Have you not learned to keep your atrocious thoughts inside your small mind until they clear?”
“Enough!” James grunted. He turned to look at Ryan. “Your accusations are the reason this meeting is being held. Many truths need to be told and you, young man, will listen until there is no more to say.”
Ryan’s claws stretched from his fingers, his eyes glowing yellow. He clenched his fists, then turned his eyes from Marcus to James and fell silent. “Fine. Say whatever you have to say, and then we’re gone.”
James sighed and took a long breath, letting it exhales as he set his shoulders. “We all need to maintain our unity if we want to maintain the peace. The hybrid can compel a Werewolf.” James glanced meaningfully at the new wolfpack leader. “Hence what happened to Ryan in the Dome a few weeks back. Its powers can extend to vampires, yet not their elders.” James ignored Ryan’s exaggerated snort. “Druids cannot be controlled by the hybrid. Neither can the hybrids enter the premises of their homes.” He’d begun walking around the table, gesturing with his hands as he spoke. “What Adelaide wants is to open the door and free her army of hybrids. If that happens, our city will burn.” From the corner of her eye, Atlanta could see her uncle turn to her. “That door can only be opened by Atlanta.”
Atlanta didn’t know whether to be afraid or confident. Her fear compelled her into believing that the vampires or werewolves would attempt to kill her if it meant preventing the opening of the door. But she was reassured by Marcus before it became a rational fear. If she were to be killed, that wouldn’t ensure the door would remain closed. It would only mean that the power to open the door would be passed on to another witch, one they wouldn’t know. So, she was far from being in danger. In fact, according to her uncle and Marcus, she would be protected by all means possible.
Her confidence came from the knowledge that she held the key to saving the city from going through another insurgence. Her thoughts inspired her to believe she could be the one to eradicate the hybrid. She just needed to see its face. Thoughts flicked through her mind at a ridiculous rate. With each nightmare that roared through her sleep, carrying its camouflaged, dark, and shadowy face, the hybrid’s features got clearer. I just have to stay alive long enough to find it and destroy it.
She felt the eyes of every person, vampire, and Werewolf in the assembly hall staring at her. She could feel their concern, their worry, their anger and, worst of all, their fear. They began talking in low voices. She listened quietly as plans were made to keep her safe, all while stealing glances at Ryan as he watched her from where he sat. She tried to read his features, to understand what was going behind those cold eyes of his, but she failed. It doesn’t matter anymore. Focus, Atlanta. Stay alive. Find the hybrid. Or Adelaide. Whatever it takes to stop anyone from coming to open the door. Focus. Just focus.
But she couldn’t. The longer she stood there, the center of attention, the harder it was for her to push away the thoughts racing through her mind. The fate of Calen rested on her shoulders. What if she screwed up? What if she opened the door by accident? What if she let her city die?
The last thought scared the hell out of her.
Chapter 20
Nights dragged by as every creature in Calen held its breath, waiting for imminent disaster to strike. Yet, for nearly a week, the city seemed to be at peace. The neon lights flashed their cold white as the night burned into day and the day melted into night again.
Atlanta spent her days and nights training, pushing herself to the limit, using the pain and heartache she felt as a motivator to push her forward. Since the meeting at the Dome she hadn’t seen Ryan, and made it a point to avoid him as much as possible at school. She avoided school as much as possible, but she couldn’t avoid it forever. And James made her go. She would be safe there, and it was a good distraction.
Even though Atlanta’s fierce wall of emotion towered higher than Calen’s skyscrapers, Skylar found a way back into Atlanta’s daily routine. The persistence of a best friend was met with the blunt dodging and escaping that Atlanta relentlessly drew on, yet seeing each other in school nearly every day made it something of a must for the two of them to talk.
And those days at school only gave Atlanta more images to place at the receiving end of her punches that thundered against the sandbags. Skylar and Ryan holding hands, whispering to each other, melting into one another in every corridor of the school. Atlanta was forced to find a different route to class whenever spotted them.
That wasn’t the only change that rocked Atlanta at school.
A new principal had been appointed, and although no one cared where this man came from, Atlanta had to pretend to be just as oblivious. Seeing Marcus every day wasn’t something she was accustomed to, and she was honestly against him becoming the head of the school. It was awkward. And stupid. Her uncle told her it was to keep an even closer watch on what happened in the school, but Atlanta knew it was more of an attempt to keep an eye on her. It was safe. Hadn’t those been James’ words? Safe, and a distraction? Bloody hell.
It was torture.
So, she waited for disaster to strike. Knowing it could happen at any moment. She watched the sk
ies for the stupid raven, watched her nightmares for a closer look at the beast hiding inside. Watched the roads for cars coming after her, crouched by bushes, sprinted around corners, carried her weapon. And yet the days slowly passed.
Then one of the gargoyle statues around Calen High vanished. Everyone at school laughed and wondered if a competing high school had stolen it.
Except she knew.
It was the only sign that the hybrid wasn't far away, lurking in shadows around them, waiting for the right moment.
Atlanta slammed her fists against the sandbag in front of her, her breaths measured, her heartbeat steady. She usually stayed in the basement if she wasn't at school, and James was always around. The more time she spent training, the greater her confidence in her skills grew. She barely heard the doorbell upstairs.
Her crimson red suit stretched on her skin and its velvet smoothness shone in the fluorescent lights that beamed above her head. She stopped training when she heard her uncle’s heavy footsteps make their way across the hall and to the door. She glanced at the clock behind her and frowned. It was nearly midnight. Who could possibly be here this time of night? Has something happened?
She heard her uncle opening the door, and her breath caught when Ryan’s voice echoed in the house.
“I’m sorry to be coming by this late, but is Skylar here?”
Skylar?
“No, she isn't here,” James replied. “I actually haven't seen in her in some time. She and Atlanta don’t hang out as often as they used to. Is something wrong?”
“I’m not sure,” Ryan replied. Atlanta moved toward the staircase as she listened to the conversation. Ryan cleared his throat. “She hasn't replied to my texts or calls. I went up to her place and she wasn't there. Michael said she never came home from school.”
Atlanta sighed and made her way upstairs. An air of uneasiness took over at the sight of Ryan by the door. She paused for a moment, meeting his eyes, then walked towards him. “Is everything okay?”
“I can’t find Skylar.” Ryan looked genuinely worried.
“You lost her already?” she asked sarcastically.
James shot her a look that she couldn’t miss even if she’d closed her eyes.
“Sorry.” She tried again, her tone taking on a more concerned note, “Did you walk her home from school?”
“No,” he replied. “Last I saw her was when she was getting in her car at the end of the day.”
“Did you check around the house? In the gardens? The willow tree?”
“I did. Her car isn't anywhere around the house, or the neighborhood.”
It’s a trap! The words echoed in her head with such urgency, it made her sway. It was as if a small warning sign had been lit up inside her, flashing with such intensity that it was all she could think of.
She didn’t know why she’d never considered that, if the hybrid was trying to get to her, he would probably go after the people closest to her. The idea was one she had read in countless books and seen implemented in tons of movies. If that was what the hybrid was going for, then she knew this was one trap she was going to fall into head first without even questioning her own safety. Two could play at that game. “We can't stay here,” she declared suddenly. “We have to be out there looking for her. Let’s start with her car. If we find Skylar’s car, we find her.”
She glanced at her uncle, and almost flinched at the way he was looking at her. She could only imagine the conflict he was wrestling with. On the one hand, their duty was to protect, and it seemed Skylar needed their help. On the other hand, Atlanta needed to be protected, too.
And her uncle wasn’t stupid; she knew that well. It was clear he felt the same way she did about this whole thing.
James finally nodded and opened the door wider for Ryan to come in. The three of them raced downstairs. James opened the secret passage to the training area, and they bolted downwards to where the bikes were parked. Before Atlanta could suggest anything, James tossed Ryan a helmet and said, “You’re riding with me.”
Atlanta sighed in relief. With the way she needed to keep her head clear, having Ryan’s arms wrapped around her waist for the remainder of the night would not help.
She looked at James and he winked before his face disappeared behind his helmet’s mask. I owe you one.
The roar of the engines echoed through the passageways. James and Ryan shot forward, and Atlanta followed closely behind. The fluorescent lights of the basement receded, and the city’s mixture of red, blue, and green neon lights flickered into view ahead of them.
They started out by cruising the suburbs of Calen, from house to house and garden to garden, but there was no sign of Skylar anywhere. James suggested they pay her house another visit before they ventured into the city’s downtown area, but she wasn’t there. The lights of the house were out and, strangely enough, even Michael wasn't home.
That doesn’t make things any better, Atlanta thought as she gazed at the dark windows.
The midnight silence made the doubts and concerns ring loud in her head as the rest of the city slept to the roars of their bikes. The lights from the offices in the skyscrapers began to flicker out one by one as the search continued. They passed by Calen High to see if she had even left the school to begin with; the car wasn't there, and the sight of the absent gargoyle reminded Atlanta what they were up against.
They stopped at a small diner where Ryan swore he’d spotted Skylar sitting alone at a table. Atlanta watched Ryan race towards the glass window, his claws pulling out slightly in his excitement.
“Ryan, wait!” she called after him.
But he was already at the diner. A patron jumped back at the sight of Ryan’s hands on the glass window. She fumbled out of the booth and raced towards the back, where Atlanta was sure she’d be screaming at the cook about a wolf at the window.
Ryan turned and raced back to Atlanta and James.
“It’s not her,” he said in frustration.
“Really?” Atlanta snapped. “What the hell were you thinking?”
Ryan’s head snapped at her, and she could see the familiar yellow glow in his eyes.
No wonder the girl ran away when she saw that.
“I was thinking that my girlfriend might be safe, not in the hands of some hybrid.”
“Next time, either Atlanta or I will check,” James said. “We don't want any Werewolf stories being passed around.”
Ryan frowned and glared at them.
“Where do we go now?” Atlanta asked. “It’s nearly three in the morning and we’ve looked everywhere.”
“We’re not giving up because you’re tired,” Ryan grunted.
“Who said anything about giving up? Or being tired?” Atlanta snapped defensively. She’s my friend, too, you know? Before you two started sharing saliva!
“Not the time for arguing,” James interfered in a calm, judge-like manner. “Enough, you two. Whatever your issues are with each other, drop it. We need to find Skylar.”
It took a moment, but Atlanta finally caved in and agreed. “You’re right. Sorry, Uncle James.”
Ryan sighed. “Yeah, let’s find Skylar.”
The two sat silent on the bikes while Ryan paced on the sidewalk beside them.
“Where does Skylar hang out?” James asked.
“My house.” Atlanta and Ryan said at the same time. “Or by the tree at her house. She’s slept outside a couple times.” She glanced at Ryan, waiting to see if he’d say something she didn’t want to hear. Luckily, he just kept pacing. Suddenly a thought hit her and she felt her eyes widen. “Remember the three towers that look out on the lake?” she asked Ryan.
“Yes, the old Matlyn Co. factory. What about them?”
“Skylar used to go up there after school when she wasn’t feeling good. I went with her a couple of times. She never went there at night, but it’s worth a try.”
“It’s worth a shot,” James said as he turned the engine back on. “We’ve been everywhere else.” He l
ooked to Ryan. “Hop on.”
“Nah, I can run there.” Ryan turned, about to start sprinting.
“I know you can,” James said sternly. “Hop on.”
The look in his eyes frightened Atlanta. Her uncle was never this serious. What bothered her even more was how Ryan gazed back challengingly.
“You’ll only slow me down.” Ryan crossed his arms over his chest, ready to argue.
“We need to be prepared,” James said. “If something’s wrong you’ll be needing your strength. Don't waste that running.”
Ryan hesitated for a moment, then sighed and got on the back of James’ bike. Atlanta put on her helmet and followed them as they drove away. She kept her eyes locked on Ryan’s back as her mind swam.
He’s not himself. Hasn’t been since he got back. Something doesn’t feel right.
The towers were almost perfect cylinders with their dark-blue glass walls blazing under the purple sky. There were small red lights that flickered on the roofs. The three buildings were not so far apart, one in front of the other two to form a triangle. Skylar’s car was parked by one of them, almost hidden in between several other cars that were there.
“We’ll cover more ground if we split up,” Ryan said. “One of us for each tower.”
Atlanta looked at her uncle. James looked like he wanted to argue but, realizing the danger, he relented. “Okay.”
“Fine, let’s go,” Ryan said, and bolted forwards.
Atlanta turned to head toward the second tower when her uncle grabbed her arm.
“Careful,” he said, his eyes fixed on Ryan in the distance.
“I know,” Atlanta assured him.
“No,” James said, shaking his head slowly. “You really don’t.” He looked at her seriously. “Promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”