- A pack mind? Whoa. –
- It’s too much, Destiny. –
Michelle cuts her psychic link with me and kneels down using the bo staff to keep herself steady. Sandy rushes to her side.
“Miki, you okay,” she asks as she sticks the blade of her katana into the ground.
“Can’t use telepathic powers. Their mind is too much for me. The pack mind is so…confusing…” Michelle says as she begins to feel dizzy and her mind causes her to pass out. Sandy catches Michelle as she falls toward the ground unconscious.
“Des, Michelle’s out cold.” Sandy shouts to me as another shadow moves in my peripheral.
“Des, baby, they’ve got us surrounded,” Chris shouts over to me.
“Duly noted, Chris!” I shout back.
That’s when one of the shadow creatures transforms from a four legged creature to an enormous human-monster crossbreed. This shocks Brandon and he steps backwards towards Chris before they come towards Sandy, Michelle, and I.
“You are trespassing on our lands, human.” The large humanoid creature says in a guttural voice. This unnerves me.
“We did not know this was your territory,” Brandon calmly states, setting the crossbow on his right shoulder. “My friends and I, here, are members of the PIA.”
“The PIA?” the humanoid creature asks.
“The Paranormal Investigations Agency of the US Government.”
“You five are feds,” he says through a hearty laugh. “Don’t make me laugh.”
“I know you’re a werewolf.” Brandon says to the large creature. “Now show your true self, Harrison!”
“You know my true identity,” the guttural voice says with irritation in his voice. “Then, who are you?”
“My name is Brandon. This is my sister, Destiny; her twin, Sandy; Sandy’s sister, Michelle, the one out cold; and Destiny’s husband, Chris, also, Sandy and Michelle’s brother.”
“And I am Devon Harrison, as Brandon has partly stated,” we hear as the voice changes from a guttural voice to a human voice which is deep and husky. Then, all around us the other creatures turn into humans.
“Wait a minute, this is not possible,” Chris says to me as Brandon looks at us with a wry look on his face. “Not possible…I count 8, 10…”
“12 actually,” Devon says as he remains as close to the shadows as possible to protect his pride. “And, yes, I am aware that the full moon is not for another 10 days.”
“This is…” Chris says slack-jawed.
“Freaky? Yes, it is,” Devon replies calmly to Chris’ wonderment.
“Why don’t you come closer? Where I can see you,” Brandon remarks as he squints his eyes to see a rather trim young man.
“Sorry, not now. Must have some pride about me.”
“Oh?” an intrigued Sandy states with a dark gleam in her eye. One finger is messing with her lips as she sizes up Devon. “Hmmm.”
“Sandy!” I shout at my twin.
“Sorry, Des, couldn’t help it…Well, I guess I could’ve, but…”
I sheath my katana.
“So why are you here,” Devon asks.
“We are here to investigate the rumors of a vicious, blood thirsty monster with green patches of fur.”
“Green patches of fur? Did you say?”
“That’s right.”
“Alright, then,” Devon says to Brandon reluctantly. “There’s much you need to know. But not here, not now. However, I will tell you this, as strong as I may be, he is stronger. Tonight, go back to your hotel and relax. I will see you tomorrow at noon for lunch at Jonah’s Whale. All will be explained, then.”
“Thank you very much, Devon,” I say solemnly to him.
“Don’t thank me, yet.” Devon tells us before shifting into his wolf form as does the rest of his pack and trotting off further into the woods behind the hotel.
“Brandon, bro, I don’t like this one bit,” my hunky hubby says.
“I don’t either, man. I don’t either.” my brother replies.
Chapter Seven: Inside the Whale
Monday, March 18, 2013, 12 PM (Noon)
WE TURN into the parking lot of Jonah’s Whale. It took us fifteen minutes to get here, after leaving the hotel to find this seafood restaurant. The sign shows a large blue whale blowing up water.
The building itself is a little more than a shack. The paint, a dull blue-grey, looks worn and is chipping. The windows are in need of washing. The shingles on the roof are falling off. This place looks pathetic.
And, then, we go inside the rather worn-looking wooden doors. The restaurant on the inside is spotless, except for the tables where people are sitting and eating. Long tables line the interior of the eclectic restaurant. There is an area roped off leading from the door to the line you enter to order.
While in line, I look at the menu confused as what to order. There is everything crawfish under the sun, gumbos, Etouffees, Jambalayas, Cajun shrimp, etc. Everything on the menu looks scrumptious.
We make it to the front of the line and instead of taking our order, the gentleman hands Brandon a package. He, then, points over to Devon who is seated at a large table. And he is not alone.
Besides him is a gorgeous woman with shoulder length curly blonde locks, green eyes, and almond colored skin. She looks to be maybe an inch or two shorter than Devon. She is wearing a thin white button up sweater over a dark blue and white floral print dress.
We all sit down with Devon and his girlfriend, I guess. He stands as we sit in our chairs.
“Welcome, my friends,” he states politely and eloquently. “I see that you have found it here rather easily.”
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with us,” Brandon says to Devon.
“I hear that your story is a strange one, indeed,” Devon remarks.
“True, but how…?” I ask.
“Ah, young Ms. Phoenix,” he casually states with a regalness in his voice. “I know a lot of things that would surprise you.”
“Like what?” I brusquely ask.
“Like that you are an angel born in human form like all at this table but Kelly and myself.”
“How…could…you…know,” I stammer as I try to catch my breath while trying to wrap my mind around the knowledge he possesses about me. How does he know this about me? This is all too weird!
“Do you think you are the first one Lord Szin went after?”
“Lord Szin?” everyone else mutters.
I turn to the others. I take a deep breath. This is the hard part. Revealing something to them that I have yet to share or fully comprehend myself.
“Lord Szin, as he calls himself now, is someone who is real and terrifying. He has gone by many names over the years, most you may recognize.” I tell everyone at the table. Brandon, Michelle, Sandy, and Chris look at me inquisitively.
I catch my breath and shrug my shoulders as I try to compose myself.
“So, you’ve had the visions, too?” Devon asks.
“Visions?” I ask curiously. “What do you mean?”
“Lord Szin is trying to influence you, Destiny,” I hear Kelly say for the first time. Her voice is soft and sweet but poignant.
“Influence me?”
“Yes, he wants you for something and I don’t know what.”
“But what’s that got to do with our case?” Brandon asks as food and drink is brought before us.
Several buckets of boiled crawfish and pitchers of drink sit before us.
“Crawfish? What do you? How?” Christopher asks.
“You crack them open and eat the meat,” Kelly says as she sucks meat out of the tail of one.
Michelle sees this and starts right away. As she eats, the young investigator politely taps me telepathically.
- Could you pour me a glass of Coke, please? –
- No problem, Michelle. –
I pour a glass of Coke for Michelle and I hand it to Chris to pass over to her. I tell him to pass it on to Michelle and he does. Michelle, th
en, immediately takes a drink from her soda after realizing how spicy the food really is.
“So what’s in the envelope, Devon,” Brandon curiously asks.
My brother undoes the clasp and, then, takes out the pictures and documents from within. He lays them on the table for all to see. The first picture showing is a young white male with freckles and green spiky hair.
“Who is this?” Chris asks.
“It’s him,” Michelle softly says with fear in her voice. “He’s it.”
“Are you sure, Miki?” Sandy asks as Michelle stares at the picture.
“Yes, positive, Sandra,” Michelle says as she tries to regain her composure. “He was near last night. I heard his thoughts, but did not see him. Only through memories did I glimpse his face.”
“I was afraid it was him,” Devon says with a sad look on his face as Kelly clutches tightly at his side.
“What do you mean?” Brandon asks. “How dangerous is he?”
“Very dangerous. He’s torn apart two of my best.” Devon starts to explain. “We tried to stop Mickey, due to our connection with him. However, that did not happen. Szin’s agents have swayed him.”
“Why didn’t you call us in sooner?” Brandon asks.
“Didn’t know how,” Devon replies. “But I met a young man named Remy Boudrot through my dad’s business associates.”
“Remy Boudrot? The PIA Agent?”
“Didn’t know that at the time,” Devon remarks. “He said that he had a contact in Elmwood Ranch who could dispatch a team right away.”
“And he did,” Chris said. “We met up with Remy yesterday to get the details on the case which were sparse at best.”
“That wasn’t Remy.” Devon says somberly. “The same day he sent the message off, he was killed. You met one of Szin’s agents. That is why we staked out the back of the hotel you’re staying at as a form of protection.”
“But why Mickey, Devon? Why would Szin use somebody like him? There’s nothing special about him.” I say aloud.
“That’s not true,” Kelly states sadly. “He was our friend and Devon’s best man when we wed last year. But I noticed a change in him after our return from our honeymoon.”
“Oh? You never told me that,” Devon says looking over at his wife with a furrowed brow.
“I didn’t think anything of it at the time,” Kelly replies. “Thought it was because of his jealousy, for us being together. But that was before the disappearances, the killings.”
“What do you mean?” Brandon quizzically asks.
“A few months later, prominent business men began disappearing from town, even those that were visiting from out of town.”
“Was there any connection?” my brother calmly asks.
“That’s easy, me,” Devon replies as he taps his chest. “I wish it weren’t so. But Szin took my rejection rather personally. So he found my best friend downtrodden and twisted him into a killing machine, a mutated werewolf with immense strength and power.”
“So how do you expect us to help?” I ask rather rudely. I am ashamed of my attitude towards Devon. Oh, man, he must feel horrible.
“That’s where you come in,” he says calmly as he brushes off my rudeness. “You are here to stop this insane beast. However, it is still days before he’ll start another killing spree. He seems to prefer to kill the night of the full moon, even when has no need to do so.”
“Then, we have a lot of planning to do.” Brandon says.
“Yes, we do.” Kelly says.
Chapter Eight: Baiting the Enemy
Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 9:45 AM
CHRIS dresses in a suit and tie as I dress in a ladies business suit. I look over him and I am in awe. Do my eyes deceive me or does he just look scrumptious in that dark blue three piece suit with silver pin striping and shiny black Bostonian shoes? His usually tussled blond hair is slicked back. Chris wears a crisp clean white button down shirt underneath. His tie is dark blue with silver diagonal stripes. The tie clasp he wears is sterling silver and almost matches the color of the striping.
My suit is a little more reserved, and drafty. I hate wearing skirts. My suit is tan on the slim fit jacket and pleated skirt. I, also, am wearing a button down white shirt underneath. My lapel pin is that of an angel made of gold plating and sterling silver. I am wearing nude pantyhose, as well, with some nearly flat tan pumps.
“Ready?” I ask him as I size up my preppy looking hubby.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Chris says with anxiety and nervousness in his voice. Brandon, then, walks into the room and stops in front of Chris pinning something to his jacket.
“This’ll help us keep track of you.” he tells Chris.
“Okay?” Chris says warily with furrowed brow. The pin, attached to the jacket lapel, is in the shape of a cross.
“It’s a tracking device, Chris,” Brandon succinctly states. “Hopefully nothing happens, but just in case.”
“In case what,” I snark at my big brother.
“In case I am snatched, Des,” I am told somberly by Chris.
“Oh.”
* * * * *
Twenty minutes later, we head out across town towards Harrison and Son, a local general store with some very unusual items to boot. A few minutes later, we pull up to the store. From the outside, Harrison and Son looks like your local feed store with the large Purina logo, grey wooden storefront, a large porch with rockers, etc. There are even old and new pickup trucks in front of the store.
We get out of the car and walk towards the front sliding glass doors. I walk into the store with Chris. We are going in together as a married couple, a stretch for us, named Susie and Marty Barron. We’re here on business to acquire some rather unique items for our shop in Autumn, Texas.
“Wow,” I mention as we walk in through the front door. “I’ve never been in a general store before.”
The general store is huge, larger than the outside makes it look. There are aisles upon aisles of different types of feed for animals, seeds, parts for farm equipment, groceries, etc. A young skinny gentleman, in a red apron with the Purina logo and the name Harrison and Son General Store embroidered upon it, walks up to us.
“Welcome to Harrison and Son General Store,” he enthusiastically says. His white name tag read Paul. “How can I help you today?”
“Yes, Paul, is it?” Chris says with eloquence.
The clerk nods his head yes.
“We have a 10:30 meeting with a,” he, then, turns to me. “What was his name, my dear?”
“Devon, Devon Harrison, I believe.” I reply with an air of superiority.
“Ah, yes, Mr. Devon Harrison.” He relays to the clerk.
Paul gulps in complete nervousness. He, then, regain his composure. The red headed, freckled clerk motions for us to follow.
“Right this way,” Paul says as his voice squeaks. He, then, begins to lead us from the front of the store. This gentleman could not be much older than I, and a farm boy at that. He wears a blue plaid shirt and distressed blue jeans.
Paul tells us about the products on the shelves as he leads us through the animal feed, past the young men’s clothing, towards the back near the exotic items department. Items in the exotic items department include wolfsbane, hervaine, silver tipped bullets, voodoo dolls, and potion ingredients, just to name some of the items here.
As Chris and I look around, we feel as though eyes were watching us. And the security cameras here are not your run-of-the-mill normal security cameras, but something more mystical, strange, creepy which send shivers down my spine.
“Chris,” I mutter.
“Yeah, Des?” he whispers back.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“Like what?” he asks grabbing my hand.
“I just felt shiver go down my spine,” I say as I see Devon emerge from the back. “Ah, there’s Devon.”
“Welcome to Harrison and Son. How can help you… what did you say your names were?”
&
nbsp; “We didn’t” Chris says coldly trying to stay in character.
“Yes, Mr. Harrison,” I say coldly as I try to hold in the laughter. “We heard that you have some rather unique items for sale that are rather unobtainable elsewhere.”
“So true, Ms. …?”
“Barron, Susie Barron.” I say rather brashly.
“And I am Marty Barron.” Chris says as he follows my lead.
“Mr. and Mrs. Barron,” Devon begins to say as I lightly point towards the ceiling. He sees what I spotted two minutes ago, a small person on the catwalk above us.
How? He mouthed with a stunned look on his face.
I point to the temple with my index finger and mouthed one word the cleared it up completely.
Michelle.
Chapter Nine: She-Beast
11 AM
AS WE both look up at the catwalk, Chris and I spot the small person morphing into a monstrous creature. In mid-morph the small person leaps over the railing of the catwalk down towards us. Her clothes come off shredded and fall towards us in small strips.
Devon, quickly, scoots away. He does not want to reveal his secret to a bunch of already scared patrons rushing towards the exits.
“Chris, Destiny, this way,” Devon says rushing towards the two doors leading to the stock room.
“We’ll be right behind you,” Chris shouts back as he grabs my hand. I don’t budge. “Come on, Destiny.”
“Go, Chris!” I shout at him. “I will handle this.”
“Will you be alright?” he says as Devon motions to for us to follow. My skin begins to glow a bright white.
“I’ll be fine,” I melodically shout as a blade of light forms in my right hand. As I hold onto the light, it begins to meld into the shape of a sword. The hilt guard is octagonal and gold with a single thin blade extended eight inches. The grip of the hilt, in which more of the blade is inlaid, is covered with deep purple chords adorned with diamond shaped beads on each side of the oblong grip.
The she-devil beast descends rapidly towards me as she completes the morphing process. I ready myself for the attack. The young beast lands with a loud thud as I jump backwards. She is much bigger than I first thought.
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