Alcuin would come through for us before this was all over. I wasn’t sure how he’d ended up with Logan, but it wasn’t where he wanted to be. I’d bet my life on it. Logan was the true, tyrannical traitor.
The Alpha paced through the crowd, turning every few seconds to look my way. “I can see you’re trying to make sense of what’s happening. Let me help you. But keep this in mind, Ms. Carpenter, if you attempt to use any of your mind magic on me or anyone here, your friend, my dear sister, will be destroyed.”
I swallowed my frustration, hoping I appeared unruffled by his threats. I couldn’t, however, help rolling my eyes.
Misty, on the other hand, wasn’t so composed. She lunged at her brother, growling. Alcuin held tight, keeping her from breaking loose.
“Oh, come on, Misty. Give it up. You’re such a pacifist. War is part of life,” Logan chastised, choosing that moment to launch into an extended discourse on the many benefits and necessity of war.
Jazmine, Martin, and the others, turned their attention to the werewolf, hanging on his words like a life preserver. More than a few of the women blushed when his eyes rested on them for longer than a second. I felt certain if he offered poisoned Kool Aide, they’d drink it. That was a scary thought.
Disregarding his warning, I sent out another communication to Zane and the others, explaining the most recent developments. I figured as long as The Alpha didn’t notice any visible or harmful reactions to my mental activities, I’d be safe enough.
In addition, I’d created an effective mental barrier that would keep any unwanted intruders from entering my mind. Logan, I assumed, was worried about my more destructive talents anyway, like turning Jazmine into a moaning mess of meekness.
Remembering how she looked writhing on the ground gave me a sick sense of satisfaction. In the future, she’d know better than to provoke me … if there was a future for me ¯ for any of us.
I sensed Zane attempting to push into my thoughts and allowed him entrance.
We’ll be there, Princess. I promise. Keep Logan talking. One thing he has always loved is attention. That’s why I let him take the Alpha position without a fight. I didn’t want to be in charge. I’ll explain later. Without Alcuin’s teleporting talents, we’re stuck traveling the old fashioned way. Hang on, baby. Hang on.
I will. You can count on it. Hurry. Please.
Knowing we’d need all the help we could gather, I sent a beacon out to David and the cloaked creatures. With David’s advanced telepathic abilities, I was certain he’d hear me. I was uncertain, however, if he’d respond. I hadn’t heard from him since the guided dream encounter.
If everyone showed, we’d have a chance to defeat Logan’s clan.
Given the opportunity, Misty and Alcuin would join us, I was sure of it. Valamir had promised his services, and I felt certain he’d return. He wanted to collect a favor from me and would do whatever it took to gain that favor.
Zane, Stryder, the two M’s; they were a sure thing. With any luck, Connie, Deb, and Dillon were lurking close by. They’d come to our aid if they could. And we had one weapon no one else did: Me. When the time came, I’d use my powers like a nuclear weapon, melting the minds of our enemies like butter in a microwave.
I hoped there’d be some other way, though. I wasn’t real keen on becoming the cause of ultimate annihilation, and not all the women here wanted to follow Jazmine or Logan. They were trapped in forced training to serve as slaves.
How did all this fit together? What did the medical facility on some old barge have to do with Vegas hotels, random murders, and mutants? With me? How did Logan keep his evil agenda from his board members and Zane? I had too many questions and no logical answers.
Any logic I’d known before had pretty much vanished with Zane’s grand entrance into my life.
“Ms. Carpenter,” Logan snapped. “Were you listening?”
Feeling like I was back in a high school social studies class, I half stuttered, “Uh, well, I was kind of trying to figure all this out. Like … what are you hoping to accomplish? And what are you doing?” I hoped I’d earn points for honesty. I had not a clue what he’d been rambling about for the past ten minutes.
“If you’d listened, you might have learned something.” He shook his head. “No problem, we’ll chat over dinner. Won’t you join me at the table? I’m sure you’ll see the reasoning behind what might look otherwise …”
Jazmine blurted, her eyes on fire, “Why explain anything to her? As soon as Zane comes for her, she’s dead. And I’m doing the killing.” She was vibrating, ready to shift.
“Think again, bitch!” Misty snarled, infuriated. “This vampire isn’t going to be able to hold me much longer.”
“Enough!” Logan roared. “Jazmine, I am in charge here, just in case you’ve forgotten. I will handle all matters related to this lovely lady.” His eyes made a quick, but deliberate sweep of my most female assets. “And, Misty … my little sister, I regret to say this, but I fear I must. Another outburst from you and your blood will be nourishing the ground we stand on.”
A sudden, heartbreaking shadow darkened Misty’s face, one of making her appear like a baby sister whose big brother had just abandoned her to a pack of rabid mutants. I yearned to comfort her.
As we made our way back to the platform, I sent a message. Misty, I am so sorry. We’ll make it out of here. I promise. Be ready for anything, and remember, you’ve got a family with me and Zane. I had no way to measure the impact of my words. I prayed that they provided some sort of assurance.
From atop the dais, Logan extended his hand. I grudgingly allowed him to pull me to the table and seated myself amongst what amounted to werewolf royalty. I was far from impressed.
I was worried and afraid, afraid I couldn’t keep the two promises I’d made: one to Joshua Smart, and one to Misty.
A vision of the mutant at Luke’s abandoned cabin, eyes glazed in death, flared to life in my mind like a movie screen in a dark theatre. I was a killer. The truth no longer repelled me. It gave me a sense of power. I could and would protect those dear to me.
I’d kill again, without hesitation, to ensure my promises were fulfilled.
Chapter 4427
I couldn’t help wondering if the renewed determination I felt was reflected on my face.
Jazmine continued to glare, while Logan and Martin made a show of enjoying the feast (blood saturated meat) that was delivered to our table courtesy of several attractive mutant women still remaining in their human forms.
A majority of the captives had shifted and were frolicking in the moonlight, unaware of the inevitable conflict.
Refusing Logan’s halfhearted solicitations to tempt me with food, I allowed my powers to roll over the area, seeking any new or concealed supernatural elements.
With no new blips on my mental radar, I turned my attention to Logan, who made Zane’s table manners seem impeccable. “I’m ready to hear about your unholy alliance.” I glared with venom at Jazmine, who slurped blood off her fingers.
“You are disgusting. What a pity that this is the last meal you’ll enjoy,” I said through clenched teeth. I was banking on Logon’s promise to protect me from her sure to be violent response.
As expected, she lunged across the table, and was subdued by her own two guards, who now appeared to defer to Logon.
“Undoubtedly, our guest needs some attention.” Logan suggested with a smile.
Jazmine sulked, and Alcuin and Misty appeared baffled by Logan’s sudden surge of friendliness. Martin remained indifferent, still ripping his blood-soaked dinner from a bone.
I wasn’t fooled. The Alpha was hoping to sweeten whatever deal he planned to offer in hopes of gaining access to my powers. I’d play along to gather my own intelligence.
Scanning the faces, I noted the one empty place setting. We were minus our sixth dinner companion. “Are you expecting someone else?”
Logan, cheery grin still intact, nodded. “A person I’m confident you wi
ll remember, but I’ll start without him.
A purebred, loyal to our pack, was visiting your wildlife park and overheard a conversation that piqued his interest. In response, I sent Zane to search for you and investigate your town’s unfortunate increase in murders.” He gave Jazmine a meaningful look. “Regrettably, for Jazmine, Zane fell for you in the process, adding additional complications to our already complicated situation.”
“He’ll return to me,” Jazmine said sounding unconvinced.
Logan sneered, “You keep believing that, Jaz. Anyway, one of our Native American brothers discovered an ancient document, referring to a set of coins …”
“What kind of coins?” I said hoping I sounded casual.
“Stop playing coy. You know Alcuin has kept me apprised of your house-to-house searches. Zane, as my second in command, was also giving me detailed accounts of your activities. Why wouldn’t he?”
“He wouldn’t if he’d known what a …”
“Now, now, let’s forget the name calling and move on.” Logan’s smile remained, but his eyes blazed crimson. I’d hit a nerve.
“Would you like to see the coins, Ms. Carpenter?”
I turned to glare at Alcuin, the one person who could have delivered them personally to Logan. Again I sensed his shame and doubted that he’d willingly wanted to partner with the alpha wolf, but he had. Why?
I didn’t have time to ponder further before Logan nodded at one of the guards, who pulled a briefcase from the podium’s inside shelf.
Eager to see all the coins together, I leaned forward.
I wasn’t disappointed. They’d been polished with professional care and glowed in the moonlight. The magical sigils writhed across their surfaces, reminding me of the markings on my ankle. Alone they’d seemed special, but as a set, spectacular. An almost tangible force radiated from the case. I couldn’t help but reach out a hand.
Just missing my fingers, Logan closed it with a click; extinguishing the preternatural flame I’d felt so powerfully only seconds before.
“What are they for?” I wanted to caress the coins. The need to have them in my possession was almost overwhelming. I knew they were somehow central to everything I’d endured.
Logan, as Zane had implied, loved to listen to himself talk. He launched into the details I’d been waiting to hear.
I listened with a mixture of awe and increasing terror as Logan, with a few insertions from Martin, explained his intricate plot to rule as the unquestioned leader of all werewolves and mutants. Something his father had aspired to, but failed to embrace following a death match with Zane’s father.
Pretending to be appalled by his father’s devious plan, but in reality devastated about his death, Logan had used Zane’s guilt, and his lack of desire to lead, as a means to take over the Pacific Pack. Zane, the true heir, became second in command, where he was content to wander for weeks, returning when he was needed.
Logan had also formed a secret alliance with a power hungry Jazmine, knowing very well that few men, purebreds, or mutants, could resist her sexual allure. He’d hoped she would keep Zane in line while manipulating any male they needed.
Just over a year ago, one of Logan’s Native American partners, working for Martin, had after years of looking, located the fae document Logan’s father had been seeking. It had been buried in an ancient Indian burial ground. The fear of angry spirits, had kept treasure hunters away until the US government proclaimed the sites historical, religious landmarks, off limits to outsiders.
The legendary text described a medical procedure capable of altering mutants, giving them the ability to sun walk in their changed forms like their purebred counterparts.
In addition, a process for creating mutants out of men, without being bitten by a purebred was revealed. The men, changed in this manner, were less likely to die from infection or other complications. In the past, a high percentage of those who were bitten didn’t survive the change, and it was also against the treaty to create more bitten mutants.
The fae, or fairies, as humans called them, were the most powerful supernatural beings, second only to God’s holiest angels. Divided into the Seelie and Unseelie courts, they spent more time battling each other than worrying about the other supernatural creatures, which they deemed inferior to their own ancient race.
Overwhelmed by information, I would have considered fantasy fiction two weeks ago, I cleared my throat. “So, you were performing medical experiments on unwilling men?” I’d seen their so-called medical procedures in the visions from David and Martin’s dog.
Logan shrugged. “Chloe, my dear, there’s always been a price for knowledge. I need to build an army fast. To exert my authority, and garner the respect and support needed to rule, I had to cut corners. Besides, I’m doing them a favor. They end up with super strength and abilities they’d never acquire in their weak human bodies.”
A jolt of anger kicked my adrenaline into high gear. I trembled with energy. “How dare you decide for someone else who or what they should be? And you’re still lying. Not all your patients are surviving, are they?”
“She’s right. Remember, Logan, she scanned Martin’s dog at the board meeting. She’s seen the unwanted results,” another familiar voice agreed.
“You’ve got to be kidding?” I spat as James McQuillen, the man who’d saved me from my untimely face plant at the board meeting, slid into the sixth chair, his ever present dobby, Boss, at his side.
I almost expected Zane to join us and admit his involvement, but I knew better. He was one of the good ones. “Who else should I expect?” Maybe the two M’s would now appear, making the father and son duo the best actors of all.
James McQuillen grinned. “We’re all here now. I promise. No more surprises.”
“And I should believe you, because?”
“Good point,” the big Indian agreed. “I think Logan was just finishing up his story when I so rudely interrupted.”
Still trembling, I looked around the table. It was starting to make sense. Like I’d predicted, this was a hostile takeover. Certain purebreds, humans, and mutants had joined forces to seize power. I doubted they’d be content with ruling over the werewolves and mutants. Who would be next? Other supernaturals? Humans …
“The coins. I was almost to the wonderful, incredible, life saving coins,” said Logan.
“Please do continue. I’m not sure it can get any worse,” I said the words knowing it was about to get much, much worse.
To confirm my belief, James McQuillen took over. “The coins, once translated, reveal the formula for eternal life. Your friend here,” he nodded toward Alcuin, “was unable to accomplish the task as promised.”
I glanced back at Alcuin. Wait a minute. Yes, they did accomplish the task, or were close to it. Rita and the others had been working nonstop on the translation. I was sure they’d made significant strides.
This was information I’d be keeping to myself. After all, Logan was the one who’d implied that knowledge was worth a price, maybe, in this case, a small fortune.
“You still haven’t explained why some of your patients aren’t surviving. Why you’re killing them when they don’t turn,” I questioned, remembering the gruesome murder of one such man in his hospital bed on the barge.
“Some humans aren’t exactly human. At least not all the way human. Many have fae blood. Their polluted bloodline causes them to mutate. They become hideous beasts with untamable supernatural abilities. We can’t have them running around interrupting our mission, Ms. Carpenter. That would be bad press,” explained McQuillen.
I thought of David. He was “bad press” waiting to happen. Just the press I needed about now to wipe the snide expressions off a few unfriendly faces.
Shoving thoughts of revenge aside, for the moment, I determined to learn all I could while my hosts were in the talking mood; I asked the one question that hadn’t been answered. “Why kill the men in Plum Beach then? They didn’t turn into the bald guys.”
&n
bsp; “That was my work,” Jazmine said with unmistakable pride. “We’d been testing the process for months before it actually produced the desired results.
In the beginning, no one was changing into anything. We used a vampire associate’s powers, and erased the memories of our patients’ time spent on the barge.
Unluckily, for a few of them, it came to our attention they were regaining their memories. We couldn’t risk having news of our operation spreading. So, I eliminated the problem and obtained an added benefit. Law enforcement was focused on solving the murders, keeping their attention off the other unusual happenings in their town.
They kept Zane busy too, so busy he didn’t see what was right in front of him.”
“How convenient,” I muttered, sickened by her compassionless explanation. She was beaming.
I took a quick peek in her head and was appalled to find her reliving the murder of Josh, including the violence-laced sex beforehand. I pulled out, revolted.
A subject change was in order. “How did you learn where the coins were hidden?” I directed my question to James McQuillen. “We weren’t the only ones searching for them.”
“We applied certain physical pressures on one of the bald abominations.”
“You mean you tortured him.”
“To death,” Logan answered.
I looked away from his gloating face.
I didn’t want to hear anything else about death and dying. What I wanted was to get those coins away from Logan’s henchman. The possibility of Logan and Jazmine gaining immortality was downright horrifying. They’d murder, without any qualms, anyone or anything that got in their way.
That would include me and everyone I cared about.
I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t let it happen.
If my supporting forces didn’t show soon, I’d see exactly how and to what extent my powers had expanded.
I Kissed a Dog (Werewolves of the West 1) Page 30