by Aileen Erin
“Once Tess and Cosette give the all clear, we’ll send in a small group,” Dastien said. “We check the closest houses for signs of life. Everyone else stays out of sight unless there’s a call for help. If that happens, we get everyone out and run. We’ll keep our drivers ready for a fast getaway.”
“Agreed. We’re just checking on the coven. None of us are ready to go against Luciana tonight.” We weren’t even close to ready.
I strode to the closest SUV and got in the passenger side. Dastien walked around to the driver’s side and motioned for one of the Cazadores to get in back. Chris hopped in next to him. In minutes, everyone was packed in cars and heading out.
I tapped my fingers on the armrest as Dastien drove through the gates. It was a thirty minute drive and there was no chance we were going to have a relaxing ride.
Because if Luciana was there, we were screwed. And if she wasn’t, and the worst was true…
Then we were already one step closer to the hell mouth in my vision.
Chapter Ten
I stared out the car’s window, resting my head against the cool glass as the darkness blurred past. My mind wandered to dark places. If Mom had moved us back to Texas when she realized I had abilities, would I have ended up like them? Sucked dry of magic and life?
That could’ve been me.
I guessed that was why this was hitting me so hard. I saw myself in them. In the sliding doors of my life, if just one thing had changed, it could have all turned out very differently.
“Don’t go there,” Dastien murmured. The other wolves heard, but couldn’t know what he meant. Still, I wished he hadn’t said the words aloud this time.
I can’t help it. There’s so much wrong right now. So much that’s messed up.
I know. And it’s easy to focus on the bad, especially where there’s so much of it, but you can’t do that. If we’re going to get through this, you have to focus on the good.
Yeah, right. How could I be positive right now? After that vision, thinking of the future is the last thing I want to do.
We don’t know that it’s going to happen. What if it was just a warning? What if—
She has the power she needs now.
Dastien was quiet for a second as the truth sank in. Then, we work hard and change how it happens. We’re going to stop her before it gets that far. Okay?
“Okay. Yeah. We’ll stop it before it gets that far.” It sounded weak, even to my ears, but I was trying to believe it. I had to believe that I could change the outcome, otherwise…
“What gets what far?” Chris leaned forward between the front seats.
Shit. I hadn’t meant to say that aloud. “Nothing.” When he didn’t sit back, I rolled my eyes at him. “Don’t you know it’s rude to listen into other people’s conversations?”
“Don’t you know it’s rude to have private conversations when other people are around?”
He had a point. “I’m not talking about it. Not yet.”
“Telling them doesn’t mean it’s going to happen,” Dastien said.
“I know.” I thought for a second. “If the things I saw in the first part of the vision happen, then I’ll spill. If not, well then, it’s moot. Because that future isn’t happening.”
We turned a sharp corner, and I knew we were almost on coven land. “Stop the cars. Cosette and I will check the wards alone. If we’re lucky, no one else has to come.” I was praying we’d see people walking down the dirt rode that divided the compound, going about life as usual. Then we could turn straight around before anyone got hurt.
“I don’t like that at all,” Dastien said.
To be honest, neither did I. “I’ll stay within sight.”
The leather steering wheel squeaked under the pressure as Dastien tightened his grip. “If you go out of sight, I’m coming after you.”
“Okay,” I said as the car came to a stop. “Keep the car running just in case.” I slung my messenger bag of vials over my shoulder and slid down from my seat. I reached inside, grabbing two vials just in case, and then turned to Cosette, who was getting out from the car behind us.
“You ready?”
“Of course.” She tucked a golden ringlet behind her ear. “Just let me test them first and we’ll decide who goes through.”
“Whatever you need.”
We snuck toward to the cattle guards that started just before the compound’s gate. I usually felt the urge to run right about now—the slimy feeling of the wards rushing over me—but nothing was happening. “Do you feel the wards?”
“No.” Cosette reached out, moving her fingers like she was strumming a harp. “There’s nothing.”
Before I could stop her, she stepped over the threshold onto coven lands.
“Are you crazy!” I whisper-yelled at her as I glanced around frantically, expecting an army of witches to come at us. I held the vials up as my heartbeat thudded in my ears.
Only… The compound was quiet. The dirt road was empty. Cars were haphazardly parked on either side of the road, the same as always. Houses loomed down the dirt road, with the schoolhouse at the end. A few houses still had lights on. Odd for this time of night—we were pushing past one in the morning—but not totally out of the realm of the possible.
I stood frozen, waiting for some sign of movement, but there was nothing.
The wards were down.
“Tell the others they can cross.” Cosette whirled and started walking. “I’ll make sure Luciana’s gone.”
“Wait.” I caught up to her before she got more than a few steps. “Not alone”
“Alone.” Cosette waved me off. “This might all be a trap.”
My pulse raced. “Then go. Hurry.”
As soon as she slipped away, I called for Dastien. Can you hear me?
How is that possible? The wards always blocked our bond before. Every time you were on coven land, I couldn’t feel you, let alone talk to you like this.
They’re gone.
What does that mean?
Nothing good. I turned back to the compound. “Get everyone. Let’s go.”
I made my way to the first lit house, knowing that Dastien wouldn’t be far behind.
Two steps led up to the front porch. The first one squeaked under my weight, and I froze, expecting someone to come out and yell at me for trespassing.
No one came. I gingerly took the next step, and then tiptoed to the window beside the door. It gave a good view of the living room and kitchen. A movie played on the TV. Fifth Element. Good choice. The back of the couch faced the window, but I could see someone’s head facing the screen.
Thank God. I closed my eyes as I let go of the worry. Luciana had spared them.
As soon as I let out a breath, another fear grabbed hold of me. If they were alive, the wards shouldn’t be down and we’d just walked into a trap.
Shit. We needed to leave. Now.
I started to tell Dastien as much when something caught my eye.
In the little break in the cabinets that connected the kitchen to the living room, someone was lying on the floor. The shards of a broken mixing bowl scattered all around them.
The momentary relief I’d felt was gone. Replaced with terror.
If I was seeing what I thought, then Luciana had stolen everyone’s magic. Killed every single person in the coven.
And winning the fight against her was about to become infinitely more impossible.
I needed to be sure, only I didn’t want to go inside. Not one little bit.
Shit. There was no getting around it.
As soon as I opened the front door, the smell wafted out. It was exactly the same as the others, but I had to go in. I had to be sure.
Cherie. What do you see? Dastien waited at the bottom of the porch steps.
I’m not sure yet. I need to check… I entered into the house. The person on the couch was a teenage boy. I’d never spoken to him, but I remembered him from the one class I’d taken during my stay at the compound.
>
He stared at TV. His skin was gray and wrinkled, like the others. And the eyes that had died watching TV were twin black raisins.
“Shit.” I made an effort to breathe through my mouth as I moved past him to the kitchen.
His mother had died baking a cake. Two candles lay on the counter. A one and a four.
How could she do it? To kids? To families?
Dastien and Mr. Dawson came through the door as I left the kitchen. I wiped my hands down my face. “How could she do this? It was his birthday. He was only fourteen.” They started to say something, but I waved them off. There was nothing to say. Nothing for us to do. It was too late. We were too late. “We can search the compound, but I think everyone here is going to be like this.” I waved my hand around the gruesome scene. I didn’t even know them, but they didn’t deserve this. No one deserved this.
“Luciana’s car is gone,” Cosette said as she came through the door. “Her house is empty, but I’m sensing power inside. No other traps.” She crouched on the floor and gently touched the woman’s cheek. “What a waste. And what a selfish use of magic.” Only she moved in the silent room, tucking a lock of hair behind the woman’s ear and then closing her eyes. “Maureen was a kind woman. And Elijah was a sweet boy. All they did was listen to the one who was supposed to be leading them.”
I swallowed the ache building at the back of my throat. It would be the same scene in every house. Forty people dead? Fifty? And all her own coven. I didn’t have the words.
“Any idea where she might’ve gone?” Mr. Dawson said.
“None.” When Cosette finally stood, she pressed her hands against her temples, not crying but showing pain in her way. “I have to report it, but as soon as I do, I’ll get pulled home. There’s too much danger. But I can’t leave now.” She started to push past me, heading for the door. “I’ll check the other houses. I want to see their faces.”
“Hey.” I grabbed her sleeve before she got to the door. I’d forgotten that she lived with the coven for months before I got there. She knew them in a way I didn’t. If this was weighing on me, it had to be even harder for her. “Don’t blame yourself. No one could’ve guessed she’d go this far.”
“I know exactly who to blame.” Cosette patted my hand on her sleeve. Her fingers were gentle, but her eyes burned cold fire. “And take your own advice. You couldn’t have stopped it either.” She slipped away and I wanted to listen, but I couldn’t help the guilt.
Even worse, my gut told me we were one step closer to meeting Luciana in that church.
When Dr. Gonzales came in to confirm the deaths, I went to stand in the road with Meredith and Donovan.
Wondering what Luciana might do with her new power would only freak me out. First thing’s first. “What do we do now?” I asked Donovan.
“About?”
I motioned around me. “This place. All the bodies. And who do we tell? I’m sure some of these people have friends and family that should be told that their loved ones are dead.” God. Someone had to call Tia Rosa. She was going to be devastated. I had to tell Mom. And my brother.
And Claudia and Raphael. What was I going to say to them? How could I tell them that everyone they knew was dead?
Mr. Dawson joined us on the roadside. “If it were my pack, I’d notify the families and then burn it all to the ground, but these are witches. I don’t want another coven coming here and saying we killed them. It could start a war.” He blew out a breath. “Some of the local cops know about the pack. I’ll call them. But first, we should call your father. I want him here to make sure we handle this right.”
I pointed to myself. “My dad?” He was a normal human. No witch or wolf or fey in him at all and I wanted him as far away from this as possible. “Why would we call him?”
“He’s our PR guy and lawyer. If this gets out, we need to make sure we’re covered. I want him here before we contact the authorities.”
He had a point, but I still didn’t like it. Not even a little bit. “I can call him.” I pulled out my phone, and was shocked to see it actually had service.
I snorted. That bitch. Luciana had put the kibosh on all forms of communication, but with her wards gone, I had full bars. Something I would’ve killed for when I was staying here.
Dad went into problem-solver mode as soon as I told him what was up. I could hear him getting dressed through the phone as I explained the situation. When he hung up, saying he’d get here as fast as he could, I settled down to wait. Cosette confirmed all buildings but Luciana’s house were free of magic and then disappeared again, but I knew she wasn’t gone for good. Not yet, at least.
After the magical all clear, the eight Cazadores broke up the compound, searching the buildings one by one, just in case there were other enemies hiding. I understood it had to be done, but it still seemed wrong. Weren’t they disturbing the scene of a crime? Or maybe I watched too many crime shows.
They agreed to save Luciana’s house for me, but I didn’t want to go in until I absolutely had to.
At least I wouldn’t be going in alone this time. Dastien wouldn’t let that happen.
It seemed like forever, but wasn’t more than thirty minutes before my father pulled up.
I stood, brushing the dirt off my jeans. Then a second car rumbled over the cattle guards. And a third. And as fast as that, three cop cars were pulling onto the compound. I turned to Mr. Dawson. “I thought you didn’t call them yet?”
He came to stand next to me. “I didn’t.” His voice had a bit of a growl in it.
This was so not good. “Then what are they doing here?” My voice sounded a little high, and I cleared my throat.
“I don’t know.” His growl deepened.
“What if they’re not the cops on your payroll?”
“I don’t have any cops on my payroll.” He crossed his arms. “I just hope these are the ones I know.”
I wiped my sweating hands on my jeans. “And if not?” I knew I was annoying him, but I wanted to know the answer. We’d found a compound full of dead bodies and our first reaction hadn’t been to call the cops.
Which made us look really bad. Basically suspects.
“Then it’s a good thing your dad is here, because we’re going to have a hard time explaining this.”
I swallowed. Going to prison for murder might stop my vision from happening, but it wouldn’t stop Luciana, and we’d be sitting ducks behind bars.
Except I doubted the Weres would take kindly to being shoved in the backs of cop cars. The Cazadores already formed a loose circle and their eyes glowed as their wolves neared the surface.
I swallowed again, praying this didn’t turn into a fight.
Chapter Eleven
We all gathered as we waited for the cops to leave their cars. The Cazadores stood behind us—me, Dastien, Mr. Dawson, Cosette, Chris, Meredith, and Donovan.
The first cop out was a lady. Her crisp uniform made her look more boxy than she probably was. Gray streaks ran through her hair, which was tied into a neat bun at the nape of her neck. “Michael,” she said as she strode toward us. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
Mr. Dawson met her halfway between the cars and us. “Honestly, I’m surprised to be here myself. How are you doing, Marlene?”
“Not good. I have four dead bodies in town. All of them listed this as their home address.”
Shit. I hadn’t even thought about the brujos who lived off the compound.
Mr. Dawson widened his stance—like he was bracing for a fight—as five more cops approached. “Where did they die?”
“Two at the movies. Two at a Whataburger. Witnesses said they just dropped and shriveled up. They all list this as their residence, and everyone in town with a decent-sized brain between their ears knows that the people down here are off. And now you’re here.” She paused, pressing her lips together, and then tilted her head as if considering the situation. “So, what’s really going on?”
Mr. Dawson huffed. “How many here k
now about us?”
Us meaning the pack. I crossed my fingers and hoped for best.
“All but Johnson.” She motioned with her thumb to the young cop who stood back from the others. He looked a little pale and his skin glistened with sweat, but he was holding on. His night was about take a turn for the weird. “It’s his first day on the job, but he’s a good kid.”
“Hell of a first day,” Mr. Dawson said. “These bodies aren’t for the squeamish.”
Dad cleared his throat. “Marlene. Good to see you.”
Marlene didn’t even try to hide the disgust on her face. “What do you need with a lawyer?”
Yikes. Wonder what Dad did to piss her off?
Mr. Dawson shrugged. “Just covering my ass. There’s a lot of death here.”
Marlene cussed softly. “How many you think?”
“Over fifty before we stopped counting. We haven’t found anyone alive.”
“Jesus Christ Almighty.” She put her hands on her hips “What is this place? I always thought it was some kind of cult, but with you here and the look of those bodies… Please don’t tell me I’ve got some kind of Satanic ritual suicide on my hands.”
I held my breath as I waited. Telling the cop too much wouldn’t fly, but if we didn’t say enough there was no telling how she’d react.
“In a way,” Mr. Dawson answered. Perfectly vague.
There was a long pause, and I chewed my lip. Cops made me nervous and if this didn’t go well, there were two very possible and equally awful outcomes. The Weres—especially the Cazadores—could freak and kill humans. Which would be horrible. Or we could cooperate and then we’d rot away in prison while Luciana got to play tiddlywinks with all her new powers. Also horrible.
“We’re going to search the place. I’m leaving these nice people with you, Johnson.” She yelled the last over her shoulder at the young cop. “He’s seen about all he can handle,” she muttered under her breath, but all us Weres could hear it. “If you wouldn’t mind, stay here while I check things out,” she said to Mr. Dawson. “I know I can trust you to keep yours calm and under control.” There was a hint of threat in her words that set me on edge.