Shiftless: Tuatha Series Book 1

by Linton Bowers

  “Thanks,” I mumbled through a mouth full of chips. As I ate I got a glimpse of Izzy leaning against the wall by the door. Her eyes took on that distant look which signifies her being deep in thought. “You okay over there, Izzy?”

  “Hm?” She looked up at me. “You say something?”

  “Just asking if you’re okay,” I said.

  “Yeah, thinking is all. Why do you suppose they took your serpent girl somewhere different from Miranda?” She asked.

  “I don’t know. It does seem odd, unless there is something we’re missing. For that matter, what is the purpose of this place and why all the experiments? What do they gain by turning people into these mixed up creatures?” I asked.

  “We may never know,” Miranda said.

  “We don't have to know to shut these fuckers down,” Izzy said. “And that is exactly what we are going to do.” She punched her left hand with her right.

  “With that in mind,” I said before pouring the crumbs from the bottom of the bag into my mouth. “We should get going. Tabitha is waiting for us.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Miranda asked me. She crossed the sparse living room and placed her hand on my arm. “We can rest a bit here so you can regain some of your strength.”

  “Thanks for being concerned, but we need to move. I feel guilty about taking this break while Tabitha is still out there somewhere,” I said.

  “I thought you might feel that way,” Miranda replied. She tossed me something small and shiny.

  My hand moves like a snake strike and I pluck the item out of the air. “Granola bar, nice. Thanks.”

  “Hall is clear,” Izzy said.

  I turned to see my turtle with the door cracked open and her peeking out. I glance to Miranda and she gave me a nod before heading to the door. Her on point just makes sense to me because her senses give her a clear picture of what is ahead. She slipped out and I followed close behind. Izzy took the rear which she seemed perfect for with the thick armor on her back.

  As we marched down the hall my thoughts kept drifting to Tabitha. I reached out to her and no response was given. I knew she was still alive, that I could feel to my core. That didn’t stop me from worrying though. While I knew she still lived I didn’t know the circumstances. Considering the state she was in when Miranda and I found her I had to wonder if getting Miranda first was the right move. Had I sacrificed the sanity of my serpent to save my wolf?

  Chapter 32

  Two turns and a hundred yards brought the strongest feeling of where my serpent was so far. The intensity of the sensation caused my to stop and sent a wave of goosebumps rippling across my skin.

  “She’s close,” I said causing Miranda to stop and turn. “We need to find a way down from here.”

  “I see a placard labeled stairs up ahead,” Miranda said as she turned to face front.

  “Good, let’s get to it. I need to find Tabitha and I need to do it yesterday,” I said.

  “Don’t worry,” Izzy said as she placed a hand on my shoulder. “We will find her and we will get her back, no matter who we have to go through to do it.”

  I patted the hand on my shoulder. “Thanks, Izzy. I know we will. I’m just feeling anxious right now and I won’t feel better until she is safe and with us. You don’t know what she went through before we found her. Hell, I didn't think I really know the extent of the shit she went through.”

  “She is strong, and a survivor,” Miranda added. “Tabby is going to be fine. Now let’s go get our girl.”

  Miranda made a beeline for the door to the stairwell. To my relief the stairs did go down so I pointed in that direction. “She is down there.”

  “Okay,”Miranda replied as she nodded. “Give me one landing’s worth of a lead to make sure it’s safe.”

  “I don’t …”

  Miranda raised a hand to stop me. “Not asking. This is how it is going to be or I’m going to knock you on your ass and do it my way, Terry. I love you, but I will not let you talk me out of doing things the right way in order to give you piece of mind. The space I want will give you and Izzy time to react if shit hits the fan. That time could be the difference between me dying or living. Trust me when I say that I have no plans of self sacrifice, love. Good?”

  I nodded at my wolf. She was strong and I had no right to deny her. After all, she was a wolf for much longer than I knew this world existed. My wolf made her way down with Izzy and I watching. When she hit the first landing and turned out of site Izzy and I followed. We took it slow so as to not make any noise. My newly heightened senses alerted me to the fact that we were still making more than enough to be heard. Oh well.

  I found stairs to not be fun in my current state. While the chips and granola bar had helped it wasn’t enough. Two flights of stairs and my legs started to burn. I fought back the urge to draw from my Tua to get through the pain choosing to suck it up and push on. As much as it pained me to think it, but I couldn’t do it alone and if I hindered my women then I was sure failure would follow.

  Twelve flights down Izzy and I rounded the last landing and found Miranda waiting with her ear against the only door we had seen in the stairwell. She put her finger to her lips and pursed them signaling us to remain quiet. I crept down the last set of stairs and stopped next to my wolf with Izzy right behind me.

  “What do we have?” I thought to my wolf. Not for the first time I was grateful for our ability to communicate nonverbally.

  “There is a lot of activity beyond this door. I don’t smell any of those mixed up werecreatures, but there are several wolves. I also smell Tabby in there.” Miranda thought back.

  “Crack that door open and lets get a peek,” Izzy added.

  Miranda looked from Izzy to me and I nodded. She nodded back then slowly turned the door knob until it gave a small click. She then pushed gently against it until there was a big enough opening to see into the space.

  “I see a small room with lockers and some hazmat suites hanging on the wall. There is a door across from us with a large glass window. We need to move fast through this door and get to the side. Going on three.” Miranda thought at us. “Three … Two … GO!”

  Miranda pushed the door open enough to slide in sideways and moved through. I followed as quickly as I could on my wolf’s heels and Izzy followed so closed she stepped on my heel twice. We moved to the left side of the room and out of the line of sight of the window. Miranda moved to the next door but Izzy stopped me with a hand on my shoulder.

  “We should check to see if any of those hazmat suits fit. They should make for great disguises,” Izzy thought.

  “That is a great idea,” I replied. “You get that, Miranda?”

  “I did, let’s do it,” Miranda replied.

  Miranda kept watch as Izzy and I helped each other get into the cumbersome suites. None of the movies I’ve seen with similar suites talk about how much of a pain in the ass it is to put these things on. Izzy focused on getting me dressed so I was ready before she was.

  “Switch with Miranda,” Izzy said. “The two of us will finish up while you watch.”

  “Will do,” I said.

  Miranda was already moving away from the door when I turned to face her. She shot me a wink as she passed by which sent my heart rate up. My wolf was a very sexy woman and she knew it. Her wink made me want nothing more than to get out of here and back to our safe little bolt-hole. I could spend the rest of my life underground living the good life with my women. Thinking of my women made me wonder what Izzy would do once we were done here.

  “I will not be part of your little harem,” Izzy thought at me.

  I know, Izzy. I would never ask that of you. I will ask that you remain Tua so we can both benefit from the power it brings.” I replied.

  “I will think about it,” She thought back.

  I took my first good look into the space beyond the door. It was another cavernous space completed with rock ceiling. There were metal frame partitions with fabric stretched in t
he frame spaced out along the left wall. I felt my serpent in the direction of the partitions. But I also felt her a little farther away.

  In the center of the far wall was a metal cylinder about twelve feet tall based on how it towered over the people walking by. It was three times as wide as the rotund fella in the black slacks with gray pinstripes and lab coat. Tubes and cable ran along the floor and connected to the base of the cylinder. Whatever was in there was not connected to my serpent and to me through her.

  “Tabitha, can you hear me?” I sent out the mental message. I received a vague impression that reminded me of a moan. Hope surged that my serpent might be okay.

  “We’re ready,” Miranda thought at me.

  “Let’s move,” I thought back.

  Standing straight with my hand on the door knob I took a couple deep breaths to steady my nerves. As I did I felt a wave of confidence and reassurance from my wolf. With her backing I knew we could do this. I opened the door and stepped through.

  No one so much as flinched as we entered. People of all shapes, sizes, and colors went about their tasks in overalls, lab coats, and a couple hazmat suits. Since our disguises were working well I went straight to where my serpent was. A sheet covered the opening into the partitioned area she was being kept in. I pulled it back and held it open for Miranda and Izzy. I followed them closing the makeshift door behind me.

  A smile came to my face at the site of my serpent. She was unconscious and the IV bottle hanging from a stand next to her told me why. Other than that she looked whole and hale. If I didn’t know better I would say she was taking a peaceful nap.

  “Miranda, get that out of her arm,” I thought to my wolf as she was the closest to Tabitha.

  “Yup,” With great care Miranda pulled the needle from Tabitha’s arm and pressed a small square of gauze to the spot.

  “Izzy, get ready to keep her quiet. I am going to wake her up,” I thought.

  My turtle moved next to Tabitha and placed her gloved hand over my serpent’s mouth. Just as I was about to wake her Miranda interrupted me.

  “Terry, take off your hood so Tabby can see your face when she come too.”

  “Good idea,” I thought back. I did as my wolf asked then focused on the serpent gate. I threw it open wide sending every bit of energy I could to my serpent.

  Tabitha gasped and sat up. Izzy held her down with one hand on her shoulder and the other on her mouth. Tabitha’s eyes went wide and darted around, I felt her confusion as she tried to figure out the situation

  “It’s okay, Tabitha. We are here to rescue you,” I thought to my serpent. “You need to calm down.”

  “Terry?” Her eyes found me and she relaxed.

  “I’m going to keep watch,” Miranda thought. “All I can smell in this thing is feet and ass. They really need to clean these more often.”

  I smiled at that. “OK, but be careful.”

  We shifted around the cramped space so Miranda could shuffle passed between me and the bed. I returned to Tabitha’s side and took her hand.

  “You had me worried,” I thought to her.

  “Wish I could say the same, but the stuff they pumped in me had me dead to the world.”

  “Do you remember anything?” I asked.

  “There was … “ a look of concern crossed Tabitha’s face. “We have … “ She clamped her hands over her mouth.

  I turned to look at my wolf. She pulled back a second later and shook her lovely head. I let out a sigh and returned my attention to my serpent.

  “What is it, Tabitha?” I sent her.

  “There is a girl here. We have to get her, Terry. She isn’t like the others and if they keep her they will make more.” Her free hand clamped down on my forearm as she sat up. “We can’t let them keep her, Terry. If she stays we will all die.”

  The words of my serpent rattled around in my head for a minute before I responded. “You’re sure about this?” I knew from our link she was, so I continued without waiting for a response. “Where can we find her?”

  “She is over there.” Tabitha pointed off to her left, behind me.

  I turned to look and saw nothing but the curtain. I moved to stand next to my wolf and take a look. I had a feeling I knew what was in the direction she pointed. The curtain parted and I saw the metal cylinder as well as felt the small part of Tabitha that was coming from it.

  Whatever was in that tube was trouble. I felt it down to my bones and at the same time I knew we had to go for it. As much as I wanted to avoid trouble and get out with my women I knew we had to take trouble head on.

  I closed the curtain and looked at my wolf. She gave me a mischievous smile and nodded. While I dreaded going to trouble and preferred going the opposite direction at least I wouldn’t be alone.

  Chapter 33

  “Are we all clear on the plan?” I asked my women through our mental link.

  Three affirmatives came back to me. We were as ready as we were going to get. I just hoped it was enough. I nodded to my little pack of Tua and left the small curtained off the cell that used to be my serpent's holding quarters.

  One guy turned to look at me as I walked out but then returned to what he was doing. His face showed disinterest and maybe for a second hope that something would break up the monotony of his day. Or I was reading too much into it.

  The part I played in the plan was simple. The first step was to get to the cylinder. I strolled over to it like I owned the damn thing and no one said a word. The next step was to stay there until the diversion started. So I pretended to look over the hose and electrical connections. I pretended to tug on them but didn’t since I had no fucking idea what they did or how it worked.

  My wait was short. A scream filled the cavern emanating from the cell I had vacated. Every person in the room stopped and turned to face the curtained partitions. A person in a hazmat suit, much like my own, flew through the curtains and across the room. Her back, and I knew it was Miranda, hit the far wall and she slid down to the ground taking out a table covered in empty glass beakers. Glass shattered and the tinkling of shards hitting the floor was the only sound for a few seconds.

  Another scream came followed by another hazmat suit-clad body, Izzy, taking flight to land next to Miranda. Then Tabitha jumped out of the partitioned area in all of her Wereserpent Tua glory to land on a table. She hissed down at the person that had been working at that table. The portly young black woman ran at a sprinting pace that would make a Runningback jealous.

  The room burst into chaos, which was my cue. As the occupants of the room went about screaming and running around like chickens with their heads cut off I went to work on the cylinder.

  The first thing I did was wrap my hands around a cable to yank it out, but I stopped just short of doing so. It occurred to me that I had no clue what the cable in my hands did or any of the connections to the tube. Hell, I didn’t even know the purpose of the cylinder itself. The last thing I wanted was to trip the, 'Kill it by Fire,’ safety protocol so I stepped back and reassessed.

  The hoses, which there was a butt ton of, went every which way and connected to all manner of machinery. But all three electrical cables went to one workstation that looked like a panel the Russians used to launch the Sputnik. One thing stood out on the panel

  I crossed the five feet to the panel and slammed my hand down on the big red button. Most machinery had a button that looked just like it for the emergency stop. I hoped this was the same.

  There was a series of snapping sounds from the cylinder which caused me to spin and face it. Pressurized hoses fell away and hissed as they danced out of control. Then there came two clunks and a loud click. The cylinder split down the center and yellowish fluid spilled out. The force of the liquid pushed the sides out wide and a lump rolled out stopping at my feet.

  The lump was a person curled up in the fetal position with her arms wrapped around her knees. Golden hair wet with thick goo lay sprawled around her back and head. She was pale and what I saw of
her face was the profile that showed a high cheekbone thick lips and a button nose.

  I bent down and touched the girl’s shoulder. Her eyes flew open and she pulled in a deep breath. She looked at me then screamed and kicked herself away. I grabbed her ankle but she was covered in the thick goo and she slipped free.

  “It’s okay,” I said. My voice echoed through the suit’s helmet and I realized what she must be thinking. I pulled off the helmet which was damn near big enough to be a tent and dropped it.

  “It’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you,” I said as I held up my hands. “I’m going to help you, get you out of here. Do you want that?”

  “Where am I?” She asked. The frightened girl looked around then at herself. Her hands moved to cover her nakedness but were not very effective. “Where are my clothes?” She pleaded.

  “I don’t know. I don’t work with these people.”

  “Then what are you doing here?” She demanded.

  “I’m working with cops looking into disappearances. Look, we don’t have time for this. We need to get out of here.”

  I pulled off the hazmat suit and held it out to the blond. As long as she was concerned about her nudity she wouldn’t be working to escape. I needed every head on my team in the game. That did bring up the question of whether or not she was on my team.

  “Take this and put it on. What’s your name?” I asked. If she was important to the dicks in charge then I needed her on my team, for now.

  With one quick swipe, she had the yellow plastic suit in her hands. She hopped up and with all the grace of a dancer, she slid her legs into the suit pulling it up over her torso as she fell back to the ground. When her feet hit the floor the zipper hit the top just under her chin.

  “Wow,” I said as I let out a low whistle.

  “My name is Cassie. Are we leaving or what?”

  “Yes we are, Cassie. We just …”