Werelove #1: Dusk Conspiracy

by Lakisha Spletzer

  “Yes, my Alpha. It shall be as you command.”

  Zina grinned and hung up. She turned on some music and started singing, her day much better after hearing Gerard’s news.

  Chapter 16

  Sixth period was Laylah’s favorite class of the day. Usually she would come to Literature class in a bad mood because Professor Mozar would have humiliated her several times during History. Laylah couldn’t wait to escape from that hell and come to her Lit class where Professor Lipps welcomed her with a kind smile and helpful words that made the rest of the afternoon seem better.

  Laylah could still remember when her Lit professor had informed the class that they should and would be calling her Miss Lipps because Professor made her feel old. That had been the moment Laylah knew she would always get along with this particular instructor. She also discovered that she and Miss Lipps shared a love of books.

  Among their favorite classics were authors Elissa Malcohn, J.R. Tolkien, Andre Norton, Octavia Butler and Michael Crichton. They were writers from the old Earth, and to Laylah, they were tale spinners who helped her leave misery behind and find comfort in characters who could not be disappointed.

  With a light step and smile, Laylah hurried to her class and her favorite teacher. “Hello, Miss Lipps.” She hugged her backpack to her chest.

  “Good afternoon, Laylah. Did you enjoy the book?”

  “Oh yes! I like the main character’s ability. He talks to animals. And his title, “Beast-master” is appropriate for what he does and who he is. Something about it appeals to me. Maybe I’m jealous he gets to have such intriguing adventures with his animal friends.”

  “Very good observations. I thought you might like the story. There are a few more books in that series if you wish to read them.”

  “May I, please?” Eagerly, Laylah handed her book over and took the three Miss Lipps held. Hearing others coming, she stammered her thanks and headed for her seat.

  “Laylah! Chica, you really know how to run when you want to escape Professor Mozar. Are you sure you don’t have cheetah in you somewhere?” Britta teased.

  Laylah giggled. “Sorry. I like this class better. Besides I had to turn something in.” Lovingly, she caressed the books on her desk. Miss Lipps was a firm believer in paper books. Everything could be found on data crystals and data stylus pads, but Miss Lipps said it took away the joy of curling up in a chair, book in hand and mind ready for adventure and amazing journeys.

  “That’s okay, Chica. I forgive you. Hey, Laylah.”

  “Hmm?” Laylah was imagining what fun and danger lived in this new book. Would different aliens be introduced? More characters? The possibilities were endless.

  Britta snapped her fingers in front of Laylah’s nose. “Laylah? Wake up, Chica.”

  “Oh, sorry. Did you say something, Britta?”

  “We need to talk. Not now, but next period,” Britta whispered before sitting in her seat as Miss Lipps began to teach.

  The entire time, Laylah wondered what her best friend felt was so urgent. She really hoped it wasn’t about the party. She still hadn’t told Britta that she wasn’t allowed to go. Too soon, in Laylah’s opinion, class was over. Britta grabbed her arm and hurried her to their last class of the day. When her friend led her past their usual seats, Laylah blinked, opened her mouth to object, but a shake of Britta’s head silenced her. Britta finally stopped in the back of the room and peered around.

  Laylah nervously glanced at her friend. Study hall was held in a giant auditorium-sized room that held 500 seats. The only students who sat this far in the back were boys and girls looking to “swap spit” as Britta often called it. So why had her friend dragged her here?

  “Britta?”

  “Shh. I want you to pay attention to what I have to say. Then you can talk. Okay?”

  “Uh, okay.” Laylah was baffled by Britta’s behavior, but listening never hurt anyone and that was one thing she couldn’t mess up.

  “Laylah, have you noticed how strange everyone is acting today?”

  “Strange? I don’t understand.”

  “You’ve made it through the whole day without getting picked on by a bully or yelled at by a professor. Not even once.“

  Laylah stared at Britta and thought about what she was saying and knew her friend was right. “Oh.” The weight of comprehension made Laylah speechless.

  “Yeah, ‘oh.’ Don’t you find it odd? Not to say that I enjoy you being picked on or publicly humiliated, but when it suddenly stops…it’s strange.”

  “What do you think it means?” Laylah was now afraid. Was Violet cooking up something horrible to do to her? She felt sick to her stomach and dug its way into her heart.

  “I don’t know, but let’s be careful, okay? I don’t think they’ll do anything today. After all, it’s Friday and they’re all worried about Violet’s party tomorrow night. Speaking of parties….You are coming to mine, right?”

  Britta’s sly look made Laylah tense. She fidgeted, nervously playing with her braid. “I, uh….” She coughed, tired to clear her dry throat and failed. “Britta, I...”

  “Don’t. Don’t you even bother to say 'I can’t come,' because if you do, I might start yelling.”

  Laylah clutched her books to her chest, eyes downcast. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. She felt horrible for letting down her one and only friend. “Father got mad and grounded me. He wouldn’t even tell me for how long.” Laylah’s voice broke and she sucked in a breath at the tightness in her chest. She heard Britta sigh but she dared not look up, not able to take the disappointment Laylah knew she would see in her friend’s eyes.

  “Oh, Laylah. Come here.”

  Being hugged surprised Laylah into glancing up. Britta was crying! Bewildered, Laylah hugged her friend hard. “Don’t cry, please. It’s my own stupid fault I got grounded.”

  Britta stepped back from her. “How do you figure, Laylah? Your father’s never around and when he does come, he stays long enough to tie you into emotional knots before he leaves again. He comes in like some dictator, doesn’t even bother to ask you how you feel, just barks commands. I’m sick of it. Maybe I should tell him off.”

  “No!” Panicked she grabbed Britta’s hands. “No, please, don’t! He’ll take you from me, too. My life sucks enough without losing my only friend!”

  “Okay, I won’t. I’m saying, someone should,” Britta grumbled as they went back down to the main section of the room and sat down.

  Laylah was uneasy. Her mind was in a flurry and she tried to calm down. Maybe Violet had decided to take a day off from picking on her. Laylah doubted it though. She could count on being bullied like she could count on Jacques picking her up on time every day from school. Finally the bell rang and she gathered up her books and backpack, hugged Britta and then made her way outside to her pick-up spot.

  She sat down and started reading and became engrossed in the adventures of Beast-master. A hand touched Laylah’s shoulder and she swallowed a scream. Slowly she turned around and let out a relieved breath. “Miss Lipps! Hello. What are you doing here?”

  “Laylah, do you know what time it is?”

  “I don’t know. Around 3:45, why?”

  “It’s 4:35. You’ve been out here almost an hour.”

  “No! That can’t be right!” Laylah jumped up. “No, Jacques always comes on time. He’s never, ever late. Never!”

  “I’m sorry, Laylah. Is there anyone else you can call?”

  Laylah stared at Miss Lipps before answering. “No, I don’t have anyone else,” she whispered.

  “Come, we’ll go call a cab.” Miss Lipps took her hand and together they went back inside the school.

  Chapter 17

  Henry’s Ohcale staff had spent all day tiptoeing around the lab. He was in a foul mood and no one wanted to be on the receiving end of his temper.

  “Where is the DNA sequencer data?” Henry stormed toward the seated interns who cowered at his approach. “Well?” he snapped.


  “In the orange file cabinet, second drawer from the top,” the black haired female intern replied, a hint of rebuke in her tone. “You put it there yesterday.”

  Henry glared at her before going to the cabinet and riffling through the folders until he found what he was looking for. He pulled the file, slammed the drawer and went back to his desk. He was jotting down notes when Delilah interrupted him.

  “Dr. Le Croix, the security alert to the main house is flashing.”

  He whipped around. “What!”

  “You told me to tell you when the security light on the switchboard ever lit up. Well, it’s lit and flashing. I came immediately to inform you about it.”

  Henry was out of his seat and running down the hall to his office. He looked at the wall with the 3-D view of all his properties. His assistant was right. His property in Invarnash was blinking which meant there were uninvited guests in his home. “Delilah!”

  She hurried into the office. “Yes, Doctor?”

  “Keep everyone working. An emergency has come up and I must take care of it at once.”

  “How long will you be gone, sir?”

  “I don’t know. If I’m not back by quitting time, send the interns home and lock up.”

  "Yes, Dr. Le Croix.”

  Henry grabbed his coat and ear comm and headed for the garage where Boris would be waiting with the car. It was a forty-five minute drive from Lower Ohcale to Invarnash. Henry had some calls to make. He was taking back his house.

  ~***~

  Miss Lipps stayed with Laylah until the cab arrived. Laylah got in. “Thanks for waiting with me.”

  “It was my pleasure, Laylah. I’ll see you Monday.”

  “Bye, Miss Lipps.” Laylah watched her teacher walk away and she gave the cab driver her address. Her thoughts were jumbled and all she could think about was the fact that Jacques had not come. Nor had he answered his ear comm when she’d called it first before getting the cab. She tugged on her braid and stared at the trees.

  Soon the weeping willows came into view. Laylah sat up and clutched her pack to her chest, as the cab pulled to a stop. She paid the bill and walked up the marble steps, but hesitated at the door. Glancing around, Laylah spotted the limo in the garage and frowned. Where was Jacques? Unease hit her and she considered not going inside.

  “Stop it, Laylah, you’re being silly,” she muttered. Squaring her shoulders, she turned the door knob and walked in.

  “Jacques? Naiya?” Laylah peered about, but no one came out to greet her. Uneasiness was fast giving way to fear. It was too quiet. Slowly she made her way to the kitchen door, pushed it open and froze in the doorway. Why were the skylights closed? Why hadn’t someone turned on the lights?

  Laylah took a step into the kitchen and noticed the pantry door ajar. There was a light on in there. Silently she crept to it and pushed it open. Horrified at the sight before her, she stood in the entrance as her mind struggled to process what she saw. A man’s hand was underneath a huge pile of empty boxes.

  “Oh my God! Jacques!” Laylah’s shock was lessening but her mind was still struggling to understand. She felt her legs moving and then she ran to him. Her foot slipped and she fell on her butt.

  “Ow!” Laylah tried to get up and yelped when she got a good look at the floor. It was blood she now sat in. Scrambling to stand, she ran the last few feet to Jacques. She tossed the boxes off him and paled. Hastily she backed away, turned and retched. Something had ripped into his body, and, unless she was wrong, most of his intestines were spread outside his body.

  “Laylah?” Jacques’ voice was weak and very hoarse.

  “Jacques! Oh thank heavens, you’re alive!” Wiping her mouth with the back of her sleeve, Laylah’s tears began to fall and she went to his side, dropping to her knees. “What happened? Who did this? Where’s Naiya and the others? Are they hurt? How did we get broken into?” The questions poured out of her mouth and she couldn’t seem to stop them.

  “Laylah! Hush! Listen to me. Get out of here, now!”

  “I can’t leave you! You need help. Pressure, that’s it. Pressure stops bleeding!” Laylah put her hands over the jagged tear on his stomach and tried to squeeze close his flesh. Blood continued to seep out and she felt faint at the sight of it.

  “Laylah, I need you to listen to me. Get out of here. Run and get help.” Jacques wheezed and tried to push her hands away.

  “Help? Yes, help! I need to call for help!” Laylah let go of his skin and fumbled with her pants pockets, trying to get her ear comm out.

  “Forgive me.”

  “Forgive you?” Laylah glanced up and the impact of his slap knocked her sideways into the pool of blood. Stunned, she lay there staring at him.

  “Move your butt, Laylah Le Croix!” he roared.

  The guttural shout, coupled with the shock of being hit by someone she trusted not to harm her, was too much. Laylah scooted backward before getting to her feet. She ran from the pantry, sobbing in confusion and hurt. She didn’t look where she ran as she left the kitchen and went out the side door that led to the backyard.

  Chapter 18

  Blinded by her tears, Laylah ran. Her side ached and she was forced to slow down. She wiped at her eyes and noticed that she was in the forest behind the house. Laylah didn’t remember coming in this direction, but somehow it felt right. Strangely enough she felt at home in this place, surrounded by trees and birds.

  Laylah caught her breath and pondered about what happened. Jacques had hit her! She couldn't believe it. Why had he hit her so hard?

  The sting of the slap remained with Laylah as she looked about, trying to figure out how to get back home, or at least find someone to help Jacques. It was starting to get dark and she hated nighttime. She started walking, not sure what direction to take.

  The snap of a twig froze Laylah in her tracks. She strained to hear and noticed that the forest was quiet. Her heartbeat sped up and the familiar hand of fear touched her. She took two steps and the air was suddenly filled with menacing animal calls. Stifling a scream, she turned and ran.

  Behind her, twigs snapped and the sounds of the pursuing animals grew louder. Laylah glanced over her shoulder to see and tripped over a tree root. Her ankle popped as it twisted the wrong way and she fell to the ground writhing in agony. Hoarsely, she screamed as the pain radiated up her leg. She saw the bone sticking out of her flesh and she almost fainted.

  ::Get up! You can’t lie there::

  The voice in her head frightened her into an amazed and scared silence.

  ::Get up, now, or they will rip you to pieces!::

  “Who are you?” she whispered, her ankle throbbing. She must be going crazy.

  ::You are not crazy, but you’re going to be very dead if you don’t move that cute body out of harm’s way.::

  Cute body? Now she knew she was dreaming, but something about the voice compelled her to her feet. She didn’t want to die, but she was hurt and there was only so much she could do. “Where do I go?”

  ::Follow my voice. I will get you to safety. Now, run!::

  Laylah obeyed, but the pain slowed her down to a fast hobble hopping movement that still managed to jar the injury. There was barely any light left and she was exhausted. The voice continued to urge her on. The sounds of the animals hadn’t gotten closer, but neither had they stopped. She knew that they would close in soon.

  ::You are almost there. Give it everything you’ve got. Hurry, Beautiful.::

  She snorted. “Sweet talking won’t help me move any faster,” she snapped, but the howl of a wolf nearly brought on a panic attack.

  "I can’t do this!” she wailed, her strength waning.

  ::You can and you will. You’re here! Now climb, Beautiful, climb.::

  “No way!” Laylah stared in dismay at the hill in front of her. “I’m not going to make it!” Panic set in when the second wolf howled. The setting sun’s dying glow gave her the first glimpse of the animals hunting her. She blinked and gasped. Two wo
lves, a giant leopard, a horse and one enormous grizzly bear had cleared the forest and were making a beeline for her.

  ::Climb!:: the voice shouted, startling her into obeying.

  Her entire body hurt and the pain in her ankle was excruciating. It had long gone past being tolerable. Laylah slipped when she reached for a handhold, slid down and cut her exposed belly on a protruding rock before catching herself. Panting, she fought exhaustion and continued climbing. She tried to ignore the unhappy and angry noises the animals were making below her. She wanted to be safe.

  Finally, her hand touched the top and she reached with the other to anchor herself. She felt fingers wrap around her wrist. “Hey! Let go!” but the words died in her throat as she was hauled upward.

  Laylah had one confused moment to catch sight of the person grabbing her — blue eyes, dark brown hair, man — before being tossed behind him. She screamed in agony from the pain that lanced her body as her hurt ankle hit a stick lying on the ground. Tears ran down her face as she fought to manage the throbbing from the injury.

  She heard a growl and she wildly jerked her head up. Amazed, she stared at the wolf that stood on the edge. How had it gotten up so fast? It wasn't possible! She'd barely made it up and she had hands! Laylah’s rescuer stood two feet in front of her and she felt afraid for him. He also was blocking her view. She struggled to sit up and the sight that greeted her made her want to hide.

  All the animals were on the hilltop with her and the mystery man. Everything was quiet, so still you could hear an eyelash fall. The creatures in front of her rescuer seemed to shimmer before the popping of bones filled the air and the creatures began to change. Features slid away becoming more human as the five animals went to their hind legs and grew until men stood in their place.

  “You’re...you’re....” Words failed Laylah. Eyes wide in marvel and terror, she stared, unsure of what her sight was telling her. Wait a minute! They were naked! Her cheeks flamed pink with embarrassment. Laylah averted her gaze and threw her hands up, covering her eyes.

  “Well, well. If it isn’t the mighty Donil,” sneered the man who had been the big brown wolf.

  Laylah peeked underneath her fingers, making sure to look at the men’s faces and not lower. The one who spoke first, seemed to be the leader of the chasers. His voice had that same cruel tone Violet got whenever the older girl was about to bully Laylah.