And yet.
I could slide into this car and drive away. I could escape. The lure of that enticed me.
That future wasn’t bleak. It didn’t fill me with dread. What if I left for a few days? What if I had a destination to drive to instead of aimlessly wandering around Queen’s Way?
For the first time in ten days, I felt something else.
“I’ll take it off your hands for $1500?” I tried to swallow the words.
Shit.
The cleaner peered at me and laughed. “Don’t you want to give it a whirl around the block?”
What the fuck did I know about cars? “Is it automatic?”
“Yep, and eight years old. Never had a problem with it—I can show you the annual check reports.”
People made impulse decisions all the time, right? Habit was such a bitch.
I tried to embrace the feeling of newness, which was about as natural as hugging a mall Santa at Christmas time.
“If you say it works—” I took a deep breath. “I’ll take it.”
She shook her head, smiling. “You young folk are so spontaneous. If you’re sure, I can sell for $1500.”
Spontaneous?
I almost laughed despite my slight queasiness. “That’s me. Spontaneous Andie. Is it okay to pay in cash?” With the bank breathing down my neck, I hadn’t trusted them not to freeze my accounts. After their call, I withdrew every cent to my name.
The woman extended her hand. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
No wonder public transport didn’t come out here. I eyed the sheer cliffs rising on one side of the narrow, winding road, more worried about the steep drop on the other side. At least the powder-blue Corolla I’d dubbed Ella Fitzgerald hadn’t conked out.
Cleaners were trustworthy mofos.
The raw beauty of the area couldn’t be denied as I worked deeper into the valley. Over the steep drop, enormous lush trees were visible as far as the eye could see. I caught occasional glimpses of a wide river.
I consulted Maps again.
Another five minutes. Supposedly. I hadn’t seen a house or car since Frankton Gorge, and if this town didn’t have a petrol station, I was screwed.
“Nearly there, Mum,” I told the bright purple urn strapped to the passenger seat.
The set-up was borderline creepy, but the thought of the urn smashing and sending her body ashes spilling everywhere was worse.
My alto saxophone occupied the passenger seat foot space. Two suitcases, my bedding, and photo frames filled every inch of the Corolla’s back seat. By the time I got a spare key to Realtor Roy for the upcoming house photos, I was eager to leave and couldn’t be bothered with a final run to the storage place.
I eased Ella F around a tight curve, and the road slopped down. We started descending into a huge gully.
House lights were visible at the bottom.
“Thank fuck.” I did not want to find myself in a Without a Paddle situation tonight. Or probably ever.
I slowed to read a sign around the bend.
Deception Valley
EST. 1870
POPULATION: 11,400
Huh. Bigger than I thought.
A few more bends, and the massive trees receded to better outline the valley below.
Wow.
Just wow.
On my left and right, two towering mountain ranges extended into the distance, creating the border of the gully. While the space between them was narrow here, the valley floor steadily widened in a V to become an enormous basin. A river stretched through the middle as far as my eyes could see, cutting the valley neatly in two.
In the dying light, I glimpsed what looked like a huge lake.
I once watched a documentary on Denali Park, and this had that same untouched appearance. I couldn’t even tell if the gully eventually ended or if it kept going forever and ever.
“Beautiful,” I murmured, oddly emotional at the sight.
My holidays away from Queen’s Way numbered nil. I’d never seen anything like this off the television. The thick forest and the houses dotting the river were pretty beyond words.
I glanced at Mum’s urn. “Why did you leave this place? Seriously.”
She’d concealed so much. The gambling, I could process, as messed up as it was. But this?
Why did Mum bury her past, even from me?
She felt like a stranger in death, which made mourning her properly impossible. Because how could someone who loved me also lie to me for twenty-one years?
I had to reconcile Mum’s past with the mum I’d known.
Closure. That’s what I needed.
My phone complained in a series of chimes and beeps as I reached the bottom of the winding descent.
Back in reception, obviously.
Ignoring the noise, I took in the surrounding scene. On one side of what I assumed was the main road, old stone buildings stood proud, shoulder to shoulder with their neighbours as they looked across the road to the river.
This place was straight out of a children’s movie. Peering back, I could see that the river ran down from the gorge in three large steps like something from El Dorado. The streetlamps reminded me of Lady and the Tramp.
Cobbled roads.
Slots in the doors for mail.
No rubbish in sight.
This town cast the graffiti-spattered walls and chewing gum-covered pavements in Queen’s Way to shame.
“Still not understanding, Mum.”
A couple of cars were parked farther up the street, and it was just after 7:00 p.m., but maybe this was normal for a Wednesday night.
Pulling over, I blew out a breath.
Focused on getting here, I hadn’t put thought into my next step.
I scrolled through my messages and missed calls. Eek. Logan wasn’t overjoyed with the hasty message informing him I was boosting for a long weekend.
Dialling his number, I put the phone on speaker.
“Andie.”
I relaxed at his familiar voice amidst the crazy new I’d launched myself into.
“Logan. Reception was out for most of the drive. I’m here now.”
The silence was leaden. “And where is here exactly?”
“I texted it to you. Deception Valley. That’s where Mum was from.”
“You decided to buy a car and drive all the way there? By yourself.”
“My name is Spontaneous Andie now. I had to get away from everything for a few days.”
He sighed. “Understandable, babe. I just wish you took me with you.”
I studied the jam-packed car. “Would you have fit between two suitcases?”
My boyfriend of the last year wasn’t exactly fun-sized. I had a penchant for tall, loud, and confident men. Of course, going for the alpha type hadn’t ever worked for me in the past, but Logan was steadily changing my mind. And attraction was attraction.
His deep chuckle made me regret leaving.
“When will you be in my bed again?” he asked.
“I have work on Tuesday, so I’ll be back for that. It could be sooner. I just want to find out as much about Mum as possible.”
“Call me each night to let me know you’re alright.”
I rose a brow. “I’ll think about it if you say please.”
“Night, babe.”
So stubborn. “Night, Lo.”
After locking the car, I snapped a few photos of the river and street. The full moon painted the calm parts of the water silver. I sent a quick selfie to Logan because, honestly, I had no friends. School buddies hung around at first, but when I couldn’t find time for them, ever, they disappeared in a steady trickle.
Whatever. People weren’t reliable. I stopped crying myself to sleep over that a long time ago.
A man hobbled down the road, walking his Dachshund.
“Evening,” I said, leaning against the iron fence with the river at my back.
He displayed his teeth in a smile that had to be dentures. “And to you, miss. Can I help yo
u find somewhere in town? I’m afraid if you’re here for The Dens, they’re closed on a Wednesday. I hope you didn’t make a special trip over.”
“Uh, no. Not here for that.” This guy was a quarter of the way to dust and seemed like a local. If anyone remembered my mother, it’d be someone like him. I wet my lips. “I’m actually visiting because my mother was from here. I’m hoping to find out more about her during my stay.”
I leaned down to pet the wiggling Dachshund.
“What was your mother’s name?” the man asked, excitement painting his features. Couldn’t blame him. How many visitors could they really get here?
The name Booker hovered on my lips.
“Thana,” I said instead.
His eyes widened. “Thana? Sure. The Thanas own this valley. You don’t know them?” Before I could answer, he leaned in, scrutinising me. “Oh, a Thana for sure. Spitting image of Rhona. How bizarre.”
There were Thanas living here? For some reason, I didn’t expect that.
“What was your mother’s first name?” he asked.
I blinked. “Uh. Ragna, sir.”
His eyes nearly disappeared in his wrinkles as he squinted to ponder that. “Ragna. Ragna. Rings a bell. When about did she leave the valley for the big wide?”
No idea. “At least twenty-one years ago.”
He hummed. “My memory ain’t the greatest, I’m afraid. It’s why I started scrapbooking paper clippings. I’d be happy to dig through my records for you, but in all truth, the Thanas are the people to ask.”
The Thanas. Did he say it that way on purpose?
I rubbed my arm. “I don’t know. They might not know anything about me. I’d hate to just show up at this hour. I’d rather call—”
“We don’t stand on ceremony here, miss! You’ll see. Plus, on a Wednesday, the Thanas play laser tag.”
Uh… what now?
“Really?” That was… pretty random.
“8:00 p.m. Every Wednesday. There’s time to track down Hercules Thana before they start though.”
Hercules. Serious name o’clock.
Though, in saying that, Mum’s name was Ragna.
“Could you hold on a second, please?” I said quickly.
At his stupefied nod, I jogged to Ella F and reached into the glovebox. Returning to the old man, I unfolded the picture of Mum and cousin guy.
“Is that Hercules Thana?” I asked, slightly out of breath.
Angling the photo to catch the light of the moon, the old man pressed his large nose to the age-crinkled paper. “Sure is. Red hair. Blue eyes. About your height, maybe a little less.”
This Hercules guy knew my mother. With the resemblance, they had to be related.
Shit.
I brushed my hair behind my ear. “They really wouldn’t mind me showing up?”
The alternative was to sit in a car until morning. Might as well kill some time.
The man crossed his heart. “Really. Or my name isn’t Walter Nash.”
Was it though?
He recited the address, and I plugged the street into my phone. Another fifteen-minute drive. I’d get there twenty minutes before laser tag began.
Thanking the man, I slid into Ella F, biting back a grin.
Opening my messages, I typed to Logan:
Wth. The town plays laser tag on Wednesdays. LOL.
I checked the direction, pulling away from the curb. Their address was registered in Maps as The Manor, Deception Valley.
So that wasn’t intimidating at all.
Shoot, what was I wearing? Dark jeans and a black long sleeve. Gold necklace.
Could be worse.
Fussing with my hair as I left the stone building, I nearly missed the turn-off.
Gnarled trees lined the wide road. Beyond, the forest rose in a wall of impenetrable black. Huge gates rose up in the distance.
Oh my god. This wasn’t a road.
“No one needs a driveway this big,” I muttered.
The ominous gates blocked the way in a pretty clear witch coven statement of Unsolicited Visitors Will Be Cursed and Eaten. Except Walter Nash crossed his heart and assured me the Thanas would be welcoming.
Plus, these people played a game every Wednesday. This was probably a religious camp or something.
I slowed in front of the iron gates, noting the ornate crests on the stone columns. One of them could reimburse me the cost of this car.
I jerked at a tap on the window.
A torch shone on my eyes, and eyes watering, I made out a hulking man in uniform.
I cracked the window. “Hey.”
“Rhona? What’s with the car?”
He stepped into a hut covered by ivy, slapping his hand on a button. The gates opened as the man threw his hulking body into a cushioned seat and consulted his flashing tablet.
Okay.
Apparently, I had a twin called Rhona.
Shrugging, I wound up the window and drove on.
Wiping my clammy hands, I guided Ella F down the driveway, mouth bobbing when the house came into view.
House, my butthole!
I was in the wrong place.
These people would take one look at the Corolla and suitcases and think I’d come to swindle a chunk of their wealth. Of course, now the driveway was, indeed, of actual driveway proportions, turning around was impossible.
I idled outside the mansion. Should I write a letter to Hogwarts and tell them I’d found the building’s long-lost sister?
Stone and iron like the gate, soft lights illuminated the sheer size of the one, two, three… five-story building. A wide stone staircase lead to the front doors. One door wasn’t enough, clearly.
“What the hell, Mum?” I said, glaring at her urn.
I thumped my head back.
Fuck it. I’d come to get answers.
I locked the car—which was laughable considering the surrounding opulence—and marched toward the stairs. Jogging up, I tensed as the doors flew open and a crowd of people poured out.
Oh my god.
They had guns.
A scream hovered on my lips before I recalled laser tag Wednesdays. I swallowed hard as people of all ages streamed past, not pausing at my wide-eyed presence.
Catching a teen’s gaze, I fell into step beside him. “I don’t suppose you could tell me where to find Hercules—?”
“Herc? He’ll just be in the normal place.”
“And that is?” I asked.
He looked at me closely. “Who did you say you are?”
“Uhm, Andie… Thana.”
The guy stopped short. “No shit? For real? Are you playing tonight?”
Nope.
“I just need to talk with Hercules.”
“Always happy to help a Thana. Follow me. He’s probably there already.”
Walking beside him, I surreptitiously studied his gun. How real did laser tag guns look? I’d never played, but this one was hella lifelike. Each person had a flat backpack and torch too. I spotted coiled ropes, nets, and some shovels.
Whoa. Intense was an understatement.
They were dressed in black cargos and black tanks. Some wore leather jackets, but their happy chatter put me at ease that I wouldn’t be tied up and killed.
Sliding my phone free, I turned on the torch to navigate the huge tree roots in the thickening forest. Soon after, we entered a cleared area filled with more black-clad players.
I had to admit, no matter how diehard these people were, the setting for their laser tag was badass.
Towering trees provided a lush canopy. Dried pine needles covered the ground like a blanket only interrupted by enormous roots.
The smell was incredible.
“Hmm,” the teen said. “I can’t see him.”
“I don’t want to hold you up. Just let me know where to search.” Their game started in ten minutes.
Shooting me a relieved smile, he pointed to the far back. “Thanks. I’ll get in trouble if I’m late. Herc stands there wi
th the marshal when we’re in Timber.”
I let his weird game lingo wash over me. “Thanks for your help.”
Pine needles crackled underfoot as I wound through the swelling crowd. How many people played this damn thing? There had to be hundreds gathered.
A walkie-talkie crackled from the vest of a willowy brunette. “Little Red. West team in position. Over.”
She replied coolly, “Roger that. This is Snow. South team in position. Over.”
This was just one of the teams? Shit balls. In the alternative universe where I was a badass bitch, I might want to get in on this.
“Where’s your mask?” asked a woman who appeared a few years younger than me.
A quick check told me the entire crowd were donning black masks. I stared at the black number she shoved into my hands. It had hard clear shells over the eyes that gave it a bug-like appearance, but otherwise mimicked Batman’s mask.
“Oh, I’m not—” The words died in my throat as she left.
I surveyed the masses.
The mood had changed. The chatter was gone. The sea of black masks was borderline freaky. Returning to the car was the safest option. I’d come out again tomorrow. Or preferably, call first—no matter that Walter Nash crossed his heart and swore his name on the matter.
On the other hand, if I spoke to this guy now, it could save me petrol money.
One more try.
“Excuse me, do you know where Hercules is?” I hushed to a short male in the eerie tension.
“Rhona?” the man replied. “Why are you being so nice?”
Okay, he was the third one to say it. Was it the emerald eyes or the red hair?
“He’s running maintenance on ground traps tonight,” he continued. “He was over there a few minutes ago.”
Mumbling my thanks, I followed the direction of his arm.
“Mask on,” someone hissed.
Jesus. Would it stop everyone staring?
I held the mask between my teeth, pulling my hair into a messy bun before slipping the stupid thing overhead and tightening the strap. To my surprise, my vision wasn’t impeded whatsoever by the bug lenses. If anything, the lenses countered the darkness.
Fancy…
Judging eyes returned their attention to the front, and I released a breath.
Approaching the forest line, I whispered. “Does anyone know where, uh, Herc is?”
Shifter Wars: Supernatural Battle (Werewolf Dens Book 1) Page 2