“Wait. This isn’t right,” replied Melody, looking confused. “They’re all dead. That’s what they told us.”
“You heard wrong,” he replied, walking to her. He tilted her chin up and stared down into her face. “You’re safe with me. I promise, honey. Now, let’s go.”
“I’m safe with you,” she repeated as he released her chin.
As she began moving toward the car, Liam walked out of the store.
“What’s going on?” he asked, looking confused.
Sheriff Caleb turned to him. “These girls need to be returned to their parents. Who are you?”
“A friend. The girls’ parents are dead,” said Liam, approaching him. His face darkened. “Something tells me that you already know this.”
The sheriff frowned. “Nonsense. They’re the ones who sent me to look for them.”
“Right.” Liam walked around Caleb and grabbed Melody’s hand. “Get out of there. You’re not leaving with this guy.”
“But we want to see our family,” she protested, pulling her hand away.
Liam turned to Caleb. “Dammit. You’ve obviously charmed them.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied.
Liam sighed. “Something tells me this is going to get ugly real quick.”
“It doesn’t have to.” Sheriff Caleb pulled out his gun. His eyes locked on to Liam’s. “Now, son, I need you to back away from the car.”
Liam grunted. “That charming thing, it doesn’t work on me.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” said the sheriff. “And I’m not here to hurt the girls. I just want to bring them back safely.”
“You’re the one who isn’t going to be safe if you don’t release them.”
“Did you notice that I have a gun?” said Caleb with a smug grin.
Liam’s eyes began to glow. We watched in awe as he threw himself to the ground and transformed into a huge wolf-like creature, his torn clothing discarded next to him. “Unless that gun has silver bullets, you’re going to need to do a better job of persuading me to stand back,” he growled hoarsely.
“Oh, my God,” gasped Melody.
“Lycan. I knew it.” Caleb shoved the gun back into his holster. “Dammit, we don’t need to cause a scene here.”
“Too late,” hollered Liam, getting ready to spring.
I stared at him, with his heavy blond fur, thick muscular torso, and razor-sharp jaws, and began to tremble. He was both frightening and awesome at the same time. “It’s okay, Liam,” I called out timidly. I just wanted to get back to my mom and dad. Without any more bloodshed. From the look in his eyes, that might not happen. “They’re alive and he’s going to take us home.”
Before Liam could respond, there was a blur of movement behind the sheriff and Slade was suddenly standing there. He quickly removed the gun from Sheriff Caleb’s holster and we all heard a deafening click.
“Roamer, I have the gun pointed at your heart. Now, I know you’ll recover, but it’s going to hurt like a son-of-a-bitch,” said Slade. “I think you know that.”
“You’re making a mistake,” said the sheriff firmly. “I mean none of you any harm.”
“Save it,” said Slade.
“It’s the truth. I swear to you,” replied Caleb.
Slade grunted. “Sorry, but I don’t know you from jack-shit.”
The sheriff sighed wearily. “I know we’re strangers, but there are things going on here that you don’t understand.”
“It would be dangerous for you to take me as a fool,” said Slade. “Liam, get the girls out of there.”
As Liam grabbed Melody’s hand again, another squad car pulled up and both doors flew open.
Slade swore.
“Put the gun down!” hollered one of the cops. Both of them were crouched down behind their doors, their guns pointed at Caleb and Slade.
“Better listen to them,” said Sheriff Caleb. “Otherwise someone’s going to get hurt.”
“Put the gun down,” I begged Slade. I couldn’t understand why he was being so unreasonable. “He’s just trying to help us. Can’t you see that?”
Slade’s eyes moved to me and then to Melody. “You’ve both been hypnotized. Nothing he’s telling you is the truth. I’m sure he’s been sent here to kill you both.”
“Nobody is going to be killed!” yelled the other cop. “Now, put the gun down and we’ll sort this out!”
Slade looked at me and I could see the frustration in his eyes.
“We’ll be fine,” I said, shaking. I didn’t know who to trust, but being surrounded by guns obviously wasn’t in our best interests. “Just put the gun down, Slade. Please.”
A look of resolve spread across his face. “I’ll be coming back for you,” he said. “I promise, Chelsey.”
Before I could respond, Caleb was shoved away and Slade disappeared into the clouds above, holding on to Liam.
TEN MINUTES LATER, Melody and I found ourselves in the back of Sheriff Caleb’s car, both of us a little confused, but anxious to see our parents.
“So, what happened to them?” I asked. The last thing I remembered about the sheriff was that he’d shown up at the hospital to bring me home.
“You disappeared from the hospital,” he reminded me.
“I know. Funny thing is I’m not sure why I left without you,” I replied, looking over at my cousin, who looked puzzled as well.
“I’m sure you weren’t thinking clearly, which I can understand, after that bump on your head,” he replied, glancing over his shoulder. “You two were both kidnapped by those rock-n-roll hooligans. Good thing I found you. Now I can bring you home and make a lot of people happy.”
“Like, our parents?” I asked, grinning. “You really know where they are?”
“Of course I do. They’re at home waiting for you.”
“What about Susan? Have you located her?” I asked.
“We’re still working on it,” he said, and then changed the subject. “So, what do you two know of Slade and Liam?”
“Not a whole lot, other than they’re in a band,” I answered. The crazy thing was that I couldn’t seem to remember what we’d been doing with them. Everything was… fuzzy.
“They’re bad news. Into drugs and illegal activities You’re lucky I found you.”
“Illegal activities? They’re celebrities,” protested Melody. “I think you’re confusing them with someone else.”
“I think not. They are much more than celebrities. Truth is, they kidnapped you girls and more than likely slipped you some heavy hallucinogens. I’m betting you’re having a hard time remembering anything that happened the last twenty-four hours.”
“I don’t remember much,” I answered, closing my eyes. I rubbed my forehead, trying to remember why we’d agreed to go anywhere with Slade. “You know, maybe they actually did drug us. I feel really weird.”
“We were not drugged, Chelsey. Slade and Liam were nothing but gentlemen,” said Melody, looking angry. “I don’t know why you’re saying these horrible things about them, Sheriff.”
“Calm down, honey,” he replied. “They obviously had you hoodwinked into believing their intentions were honorable. The truth is – they’ve been linked to the mafia and the sex-trade industry. They were probably going to smuggle you out of the country. That’s what they do, you know.”
I opened my eyes. “Oh, my God, I think they were going to fly us to Europe. Slade mentioned something about Romania.”
“Ireland,” corrected Melody. “And they were going to find us a place to live. It had nothing to do with sex-trafficking.”
“Do you honestly think they’d admit their real intentions? Look, both of you girls are young, pretty, and impressionable. They pump you up with MDMA and you’re putty in their hands.”
“What is MDMA?” I asked.
“Ecstasy,” replied the sheriff and Melody in unison.
I frowned. “Oh.”
“I still don’t believe it,”
said Melody, looking outside. “Something isn’t right.”
The sheriff sighed. “Why do you think they didn’t take their tour bus? It would have drawn attention.”
She looked at me and mouthed the words “This is bullshit”.
I wasn’t sure who was dishing out the bullshit anymore. But, why in the world would the sheriff lie? He was an officer of the law. He was bringing us home to our parents!
“I’m telling you, those guys are connected to some dangerous criminals. I’m just hoping that they’ll return to their country soon.”
“If they’re so bad, why haven’t they been arrested?” asked Melody, folding her arms under her chest.
“The government doesn’t have substantial evidence to put them away. It’s even harder, because they’re not U.S. citizens. Rumor has it that they do have some influential friends here in the U.S. though.” He sighed. “Just be happy I got you away from them before you were beaten and raped. There are a lot of monsters in this world, ladies. You have no idea.”
An image of a gargoyle flashed into my head. Then Faye Dunbar. “What do you know of Faye Dunbar?” I asked, feeling as if the wind had suddenly been sucked out of me. There was no doubt in my mind that she was a monster. And not the kind that he was talking about.
He snorted. “Faye Dunbar? You’re talking about that gal who owns the nightclub, right?”
“Yes,” said Melody, her eyes widening. “Oh, my God, it’s coming back to me now! The night at the club! The vampires!”
I sat back, also remembering. “And Liam. He turned into a lycan. He did it back in town, too. Remember?”
“Yes. I don’t understand why we couldn’t remember that until now?” said Melody.
“I don’t know,” I answered, feeling alarm bells going off in my head.
“The blood and… the fight. Remember what happened at Faye’s office?” she said. “And we took off, with Susan.”
My face paled. “Faye killed Susan,” I said, more memories rushing back to me. “Oh, my God, how could I have forgotten that?”
“Are you trying to say that Faye Dunbar killed Susan?” asked the sheriff.
“I think so,” I replied. “She turned into some kind of monster… and flew away with her.”
He chuckled. “Now I’ve heard everything. You must be still under the influence of whatever drugs those boys gave you.”
“No, we’re not,” I snapped, now very frustrated. “You have to believe us!”
“I wish I could. You have proof that she killed your friend?” he asked.
“No,” I said, frowning. “We left town. I don’t have anything that proves it.”
He rubbed his forehead. “Listen, you can’t just start accusing a woman like her of killing people. Not without supporting evidence. Hell, even if you have proof…” He sighed. “She’s not someone to mess with.”
There was a loud thud on the roof of the squad car. Melody and I gasped.
“Dammit,” muttered the sheriff, stomping on the gas.
The car picked up speed and I held onto the edge of my seat, my heart pounding in my chest. “What in the heck was that?”
“Nothing you need to worry about. Sit tight, young lady. Everything is going to be fine,” he answered, looking at his rearview mirror.
I looked back to see if whatever had landed on the car had fallen off, but didn’t notice anything on the road.
“Oh, my God, look!” cried Melody, pointing next to us.
My jaw dropped.
Liam! And he was running alongside us in his lycan form.
Melody smiled. “You know, I had a feeling I’d be seeing him again. He does look cool as a lycan, doesn’t he?”
I nodded. “Yeah. This isn’t going to go well. I can feel it.”
“Relax,” said the sheriff. “I’ve got things under control.”
“Right,” I mumbled. “Maybe you should just stop and let us out.”
“Nonsense,” he said.
“Damn, is he ever fast,” said Melody, waving at Liam.
I watched in wonder as he leaped into the air and landed on the roof of the car with a thunderous boom.
“Stop!” cried Melody, staring up at the roof, which was now dented inward from Liam’s weight. “He’ll fall off!”
“Only if we’re lucky,” Sheriff Caleb growled angrily as he stomped on the brake. The car came to a squealing stop. Melody and I were thrown forward as Liam bounced off the hood and landed somewhere in front of the vehicle.
“What is wrong with you?” I cried. “You could have killed him!”
“She asked me to stop,” he replied with a smug grin.
“You have to let us out!” pleaded Melody, trying desperately to get out. “I need to see if he’s okay!”
Ignoring her, the sheriff pressed his foot on the gas and we lurched forward. There was a loud thud under the tires and both of us screamed in horror.
“Oh, my God, you did not just run over Liam!” shrieked Melody, who was holding her nose. “You are such an asshole!”
“I think you’re mistaken, young lady. That was nothing but a damn coyote.”
I turned around and stared at Liam in horror. He was lying on the road naked and in his human form. There was a puddle of blood on the pavement next to his head. I turned back to the sheriff, angry. “It was Liam and I think you killed him!” I hollered.
“Liam!” screamed Melody, crying. “He’s bleeding!” She turned back to Caleb. “You have to let me out!”
“Nonsense. I think you’re both still coming down from those drugs the boys gave you,” he replied, looking into the rearview mirror. “See, there’s nobody there.”
I turned around and looked again, but the road was now empty.
Maybe he was right. Maybe we had been drugged?
“Told you, it was nothing more than a coyote and that had to have been the biggest I’d ever encountered,” he said, as we began to drive again.
“What in the hell is going on?” gasped Melody. She looked at me in shock.
“I don’t know but I think I’m going to be sick,” I said, closing my eyes. I wasn’t sure what to believe anymore and it was making me dizzy.
“You gonna puke?” asked Caleb, looking over his shoulder.
“Frankly, I don’t know,” I answered.
“I think my nose is going to bleed,” said Melody, holding her head up. She cupped her nose. “I hit it pretty hard on the metal divider when he slammed on the brakes.”
I watched as blood began to run out of her nostrils and through her fingers. “Crap,” I said, looking around for a tissue. “Sheriff, we need something for her nose. It’s bleeding all over the place.”
The car stopped abruptly and Sheriff Caleb turned around, his nostrils flaring. He stared at the blood seeping out of her nose and almost appeared to be drooling. “She’s bleeding.”
“That’s what I said. Do you have anything to help stop it?” I asked.
“No. Don’t stop it,” he replied in a raspy voice. He licked his lips. “Leave it alone.”
My eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean? It’s getting everywhere!”
Instead of answering, his eyes began to glow an eerie orange color.
“What the hell?” gasped Melody.
“What is wrong with your eyes?” I asked, feeling the hair stand up on the back of my neck.
“You really haven’t figured it out yet?” he answered, looking at me like I was a dimwit.
“What do you mean?” I asked, even though the answer was very clear.
Caleb wasn’t on our side.
He grinned and we both saw the fangs.
“OH, MY GOD, you’re a vampire, too?” gasped Melody, stiffening up.
He inhaled deeply, relishing in the scent of her blood. “Yes. I’m… sorry to disappoint you. Your blood… it’s so fresh. So tantalizing.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
He stared into her eyes. “I need it.”
“Okay,” she whispered,
her pupils dilating.
“No! Don’t you dare touch her!” I snapped, glaring at him. “You’re supposed to protect and serve us. Not yourself!”
He smiled. “I wish it was that easy,” he said, grabbing the metal divider. He began bending it apart. “But that’s the way the cookie sometimes crumbles.”
“Melody, snap out of it,” I said, shaking her.
She didn’t respond.
I grabbed her by the cheeks and turned her head toward me. “This monster wants to suck your damn blood, Melody. Drain you dry until you’re a freaken corpse! Snap the hell out of it!”
The sheriff rolled his eyes. “Drama much? I just want a little taste of it. That’s all. Just a smidgeon of her blood.”
His statement seemed to rouse her from her stupor. Melody shrieked and then tried opening the door again, her eyes now filled with terror. “You… you stay away from me, you freak!”
“Relax. I said that I wouldn’t take much,” he answered, smiling brightly. “Just let me have a taste and then I’ll bring you to Faye.”
“To Faye?” I shrieked, now even more angry. “You were going to bring us to Faye all along?!”
He sighed. “She threatened to kill my daughter Celeste if I didn’t,” he replied, his smile bitter. “I’m normally not that bad of a guy.”
“Excuse us if we don’t feel sorry for you!” I hollered.
He looked back over at Chelsey. “Maybe we could work out a deal? I’ll… I’ll allow you to go if you give me what I need.” He smiled. “You know, I really don’t want to hurt either of you. I promise I’ll take what I need and go away.”
“Why don’t you just skip the blood and go directly to hell?” I answered, coldly.
“That’s not very nice,” he replied, scowling. “Kids these days. No respect for the law.”
“Chelsey, don’t you dare let him touch me!” she cried, trying to shove me in front of her.
There was a loud tap on the window behind Melody, and Slade’s familiar face made me gasp in relief. Without straining a muscle, he ripped the door away from the hinges, just as the sheriff reached for Melody through the metal he’d bent.
“Hey!” she screamed as he grabbed ahold of hair and tried yanking her toward his open mouth. “Let me go, you asshole! That hurts!”
Slade (Venom Series) Book Two Page 8