Unhuman Acts

by Candace Blevins

  He looked to his right, and a soldier pulled his sword from the scabbard, went to one knee, and formally offered it to me.

  “Thank you. You’ll have it back in a few moments.”

  Vampires can be killed by decapitation so long as the brainstem is disconnected, or by silver through the heart. I rammed the sword into his chest seven times. This battle was all about sevens, and it seemed like a good number. I wiped the blood from the sword on my already bloodied clothes, and ceremonially offered it back to its owner.

  “May we take his body?” Jupiter asked.

  Something didn’t seem right about the question. Had Nero somehow become immortal?

  “I’d need to understand why before I could possibly make that determination.”

  “We will have this discussion with you at a later date.” Apollonius gave a short bow, touched Jupiter’s arm, and the two men disappeared.

  I turned to the guard. “Have your people chop him into seven pieces, with his head being one piece. I’ll leave one of the pieces here. If you can see to its cremation, I’ll deal with the ashes when I return.”

  I intended to spread Nero’s ashes across the realms, so no more than thirty percent of him could ever find a way back to itself.

  I looked to Katya. “Please oversee Nero’s disassembly. It’s important the body parts aren’t touching while we transport him. Do you understand?”

  You think he’s immortal?

  I don’t understand why Jupiter and Apollo wanted his body, and I’m not taking any chances.

  She nodded. “I do, Your Majesty.”

  The rest of us walked thirty yards away, and I telepathed, Do we go back the same way we came? Or would you rather I flashed us all somewhere?

  Same way we came, said Kendra. The war wasn’t over when we left, and coming back on that side of the hill will let us observe before we’re seen or felt.

  In mere moments, the Captain of the Guard was offering us seven wooden boxes of various sizes. The boxes had leather straps, to make it easier to carry them. “There are holes in the base for drainage, but the sides are thick so the pieces won’t be close enough to reform, even if they’re stored together.”

  He’d figured it out, too.

  “Thank you. Please see to your dead and wounded. I’ll return to honor the dead and thank the living.”

  I could see the emotion in his face, but he merely nodded and bowed.

  “Can you transport us back to the portal? Will the magic allow another trip so quickly?”

  “It will. If you can all please join hands again?”

  I handed out the seven boxes. I held Cora’s wrist with my right hand, since we each held a box in our left hand. Kendra grasped my left wrist. In this manner, we made a circle while some of us carried parcels dripping vampire blood.

  We walked through the portal and I froze. Xaephan was leaning against the opposite wall, clearly waiting for us to come through again.

  “You aren’t supposed to be here, Chère.”

  “Three steps and we’ll be back in Midgard.”

  He nodded toward the box in my hand. “I’ll dispose of one of those in the fires of Hell in exchange for one of the favors I owe you.”

  I closed my eyes and considered his offer from all angles. “We’re in kind of a hurry. I appreciate the offer, but I’ll need to get back to you with an answer.”

  He nodded. “I was right to try to keep you from killing Katya.”

  “You were.”

  “Tell me you’ll trust me in the future.”

  I felt my eyes grow big, and heard the exasperation in my voice. “You’re the one who told me not to trust you!”

  “And?”

  He was calm, so I forced myself to speak with the same tone. “I trusted you when you told me to never trust you.”

  “We’ll talk later. You’re needed. Stay alive, Love.”

  I turned and walked to the portal, and went through behind Kendra this time. I was more than happy to not be the first person through because my nervous system was on overload.

  Chapter 21

  We stepped back into Midgard and overwhelming grief hit me. A punch to the heart. I fell to my knees in anguish. Cora remained standing, but I’m not sure how. Randall was dead, and Patrick was trying to hold the wolves together, but he was barely managing. The forces of evil already in the park were still fighting for their lives, and I could sense rage and grief on both sides.

  I wanted to cry, but there wasn’t time. I pushed power at Cora and felt her take control from Patrick. Now, I didn’t need to push anything at her, because within a split second, she went from being a member of her own pack, to taking back Homewood and every other pack wolf in the southeastern United States. Every pack under Randall was now hers.

  I stood and told Angelica. “Randall’s dead. Duke is going to need his people.”

  “I can feel Bash’s grief through our bond. He’s still fighting. I should go to him.”

  “Yes, but with a game plan,” said Kendra. “I’m in communication with Abbott. One moment, please.”

  Cora touched her ear. “Control, are you there?”

  She kept our connection open so I could hear. Chance sounded as professional as always, but I could sense his grief. “Good to hear your voice. Are you still with the women you left with?”

  “I am. All of us still in good working order.”

  “We need a vampire at the entrance. Park rangers are wanting to check the park out. A young Strigorii was at the entrance, but he’s having trouble stopping these two rangers.”

  Cora repeated it to the group, and Moira said, “I got it.” No sooner than she told us, Moira was gone.

  “Handled,” said Cora. “What else?”

  “The MC needs help the most, I think. Top of the hill. Go in through Turkey Foot Road and you’ll come in behind the forces to sandwich them. I have communication with Brain, so I’ll let them know friendlies are coming in from that direction. Gavin will probably join you. He apparently didn’t give Queenie permission to go. He isn’t pleased.”

  I looked to Queenie. “Seems Gavin isn’t happy you came with us.”

  She shrugged. “He’ll hear me out before he punishes me too much. If he doesn’t agree with my reasons, I’ll take the consequences.”

  I didn’t understand their relationship, but it wasn’t my place to say anything. Abbott wouldn’t let it continue if it were horrible.

  We made our way to the battle, and I could feel Duke’s anguish and grief from a hundred yards away. He shouldn’t still be fighting, but he was going at it with a large half-demon.

  We all heard Kendra in our heads. Angelica, help Bash. Take two of your not-a-pack. Kirsten, Bubbles and Razor are battling a honey badger. See if you can give them some energy to help them. Don’t engage in the fight. Sit in a tree or something. We don’t want you bitten again. Cora and Queenie — with Kirsten, but help them fight. Kendra was already helping Duke, but kept giving orders. Katya, seven MC brothers are fighting two velociraptors on the other side of the playground. Take a few wolves with you. Everyone else, scatter and help where you’re needed.

  I did everything I could to help Bubbles, Razor, Cora, and Queenie fight the honey badger, but the fucker couldn’t be held and couldn’t be cut. Finally, I formed a light staff and sword, dropped to the ground, and tossed Cora the sword.

  I stood in front of it and moved my staff, trying to get its attention so someone else could take it out, but the bastard rushed me. I levitated up, but not fast enough, and it was going to bite my leg. I knew it, but after everything that’d happened all day, I was tired and I wasn’t on top of my game, and there wasn’t time to levitate faster or flash out. It was a like a train wreck coming, and I couldn’t stop it.

  But then something hit me from the side, and I was in someone’s arms, being flown away.

  “Kendra told you not to engage. Stubborn red-headed pain in the ass. That’s what you are.”

  Gavin had saved me? What
the hell?

  “Take me back! I need to support the wolves!”

  “I’m sending three more vampires to help take out the damned honey badger. Aaron wants you with him.”

  Suddenly the memory of the fire suppressors taking the oxygen came to me, and I remembered my thoughts earlier — hours before, but it felt like days earlier — of the fact that I could feel all of the shapeshifters. What if I could somehow suppress the bad energy. Okay, not bad. Negative. The yin part of yin-yang.

  “Put me down somewhere without fighting. The pool house roof will work if there aren’t any battles taking place there.”

  He stopped in mid-air. “Why?”

  “I have an idea. A way to end this now, without having to kill the rest of the bad guys one at a time.”

  He sighed, but he flew us to the pool house. If he hadn’t, I’d have stepped there, but this made it easier.

  “I don’t know if this’ll be uncomfortable for you or not. You may want to hover while I’m doing it.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  I sent him a quick snapshot of the fire suppressors. “I’m going to try to choke out the...” I shrugged. “It makes sense in my head. If you operate on good energy, you should be fine.”

  He flew into the air and nodded for me to proceed.

  I closed my eyes and trusted Gavin to guard me. I focused on love and vitality, and all but a few trees in the park responded. Tolkien had first given me the idea that some trees are jealous of those who can move around, and these are the ones who trip people with their roots. I sensed those trees and ignored them. I felt every life form in the park. Squirrels, cardinals, sparrows, trees, weeds, wildflowers, and every blade of grass. I felt the shapeshifters, some in their animal form, some in warrior form, and some in human form. And yes, I even felt the Strigorii vampires, not alive as the rest of us, but animated by a soul.

  Instead of trying to get rid of anything bad, my instincts were to grow the good energy. In much the same way I reverse the polarity of gravity in order to levitate, I turned everything in the park into the energy of love. And then I shot a power I didn’t fully understand towards every being who didn’t accept the energy.

  Within seconds, the shapeshifters we’d been fighting were on fire, screaming and running, terrified and in horrible agony. The demons and half-demons, however, turned to stone. Everyone on our side stopped and looked around.

  What the everlovin’ fuck did you do? Cora’s mental voice sounded a little worried and a whole lot scared.

  Let’s call it flying by the seat of my pants.

  So, you have no idea?

  I have a little bit of an idea. Maybe.

  The last of the screams finally faded. Somehow, I’d destroyed the energy of those who’d bring pain and chaos. That wasn’t quite right, but it was the closest I could come to explaining what had happened. It was as if I’d burned up any energy focused on a future with the dark side in charge. Burned isn’t right. Destroyed. Yes, that’s it. So, the vampires and humans had burned, while the demons and half-demons turned to stone.

  Interestingly enough, a couple of people on our side had burned, and a few of our enemies were still breathing, but no one was fighting.

  “If you were fighting us but want to surrender, put your weapons on the ground and hold your hands up.” Everyone present should have excellent hearing, so I only raised my voice a little.

  I noted some were doing as I said, and that our people were taking their weapons and putting them into custody, but weren’t hurting them. Good.

  Gavin was standing on the roof again, and I met his gaze. I spoke softly, this time. “Thank you for saving my life and then watching over me.”

  “I feel as if I should thank you for trusting me.”

  “I hope you don’t punish Queenie for coming with us. I know I can’t dictate how you treat your wolf, but she was a big help to us.”

  “I was angry with her when she left. I now understand her reasoning, and why there wasn’t time to ask permission. Abbott gave me new rules when I returned from Faerie. I must wait twelve hours after a transgression before deciding upon and carrying out consequences and punishments for her. I’ve decided to wait twenty-four hours for this decision.”

  Nathan and Aaron want you down here, Cora told me. My heart settled in my chest that Nathan was alive and well. I knew Aaron would be, but I’d been worried about Nathan.

  Is Randall really gone?

  Yes. When I took Homewood back from Ranger, all of Randall’s territory came to me. Duke’s people are with his body.

  I levitated a foot off the roof and told Gavin, “Aaron and Nathan want me. I assume Abbott will be there.”

  He offered his hand, I took it, and he flew to Aaron, Nathan, and Abbott while I levitated beside him. As with Kendra earlier, all I had to do was keep myself in the air, and he provided the forward movement. Cora needed to go to her wolves, but I kept her activities in the back of my mind, so I’d know if she needed me.

  We flew over the charred remains of hundreds of fighters, and dozens of statues. We still had thunder and lightning raging all around us, but the rain was a normal downpour now, and no longer a deluge.

  Gavin and I landed side-by-side in front of most of the Chattanooga leaders, and I could tell they weren’t sure what to make of me. Or rather, what I’d done. They weren’t alone — I was going to need some time to sort through it as well. I doubted I’d ever figure out how to do it again. Mordecai had once said I learn best in times of stress, when I’m pushed to the wall and have to pull a rabbit out of the hat or die. This seemed to have been one of those times.

  I hadn’t worked alone, though. Without Gavin, I wouldn’t have been alive to do anything. “Gavin saved my life, and then watched over me while I worked with my new powers to bring the fighting to an end.”

  “Whether I saved her life or merely saved her from injury is open for debate. She worked the magic that stopped the fighting.”

  Abbott looked at Gavin a few seconds before telling him, “I felt the power of Elrond.”

  I absorbed that. Elrond was the first Erlkönig. The first Elf King, later known as the Goblin King.

  “You mean the man, not the office, don’t you?” I asked.

  He shifted his gaze to me. “I do. It makes sense. You passed the tests to claim a crown only his heirs can claim, but I haven’t felt that kind of power since he was alive. Not even his sons possessed so much raw, feral strength.”

  Cora arrived with Ranger, and Nathan told her, “Duke’s people are gathering Randall’s remains. I’m sure the pack will want to organize some kind of memorial.”

  “We’ll work with Duke. We’re all grieving. I feel the grief of thousands of wolves right now.”

  I walked away from Gavin, and Cora went into my arms when I neared her. I’d felt her having to stand strong, but I’d thought it was because she was dealing with all of Randall’s territory instead of only the energy of our Homewood Pack. I felt everything she felt, once she was in my arms, and tears streamed from my eyes. She had to stand strong, so I cried for both of us.

  A few moments later, Nathan was behind me, holding us both. “The lions feel your grief, too.”

  “All battles have casualties,” Cora said. “The wolves will survive, but we’ll appreciate some time to regroup.” She took a breath. “You’ve lost people, too. The wolves feel your grief as well.”

  At Cora’s words, I sent feelers out to see who Nathan had lost, and nearly staggered backwards when I suddenly felt Tyson’s death and Kane’s grief.

  “The two of you should go to Duke,” Nathan told us. “I know you were close to Tyson, but Cora needs you.”

  I nodded. He was right. My grief would have to wait. Cora needed me, and I needed to be there for her.

  I walked up the hill with her because it felt like she needed some time to deal with her emotions before she saw his body. When we arrived, the bikers had him stretched out on a picnic table, and Cora finally fell
to pieces. He’d been her Alpha for years, and now she was expected to step into his shoes. She didn’t think she could do it. I knew she could, but she wasn’t ready to hear that yet. She needed time to grieve. Duke pulled her into a hug, and they both cried together. I stepped next to Dawg, he put his arm around me, and I leaned into him.

  No one said a word. Eventually, I found out they had a truck coming to take Randall back to his house. Duke understood his brother’s pack would need to grieve. Plus, I don’t think he wanted to welcome that many people into the compound. They were technically still on lockdown. I looked around and saw Angelica in Bash’s arms, and Harmony leaned against Brain. If the men were pissed at them for leaving the safety of the compound, they weren’t going to deal with it here.

  The battle was over. We’d won, but it had come at a great cost.

  Part II

  Chapter 1

  Mordecai

  Kirsten and Cora were beyond exhausted when they walked in the door with the others in the pack who’d fought with them.

  Physically, they needed a few days of sleep and rest, but it would take months to recover emotionally.

  I’d had my chef prepare a feast of comfort foods. Two dozen super-sized serving bowls lined the counters and island in the kitchen.

  Ranger and the other wolves didn’t need an invitation to grab a plate and start piling food on, but Kirsten stared at me, Cora still by her side.

  “You arranged for the food?”

  “I had my chef on Olympus cook it. You’re all exhausted. It’s the least I could do.”

  “He’s taking care of you,” Cora told her, “and that means taking care of your people.”

  I met Cora’s gaze. “I felt Randall’s death. He died a warrior you can all be proud of. I’m sorry for your great loss.”