Singing to the Moon Chapter 18
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Singing to the Moon
Chapter 18 |
Oh, things were going pretty well so far. The Hunters were jumpy as a bunch of cats dumped in the dog pound and it was actually a little amusing, and satisfying to see them at least figuratively looking over their shoulders whenever I spotted any of them.
“They're moving around in groups now.”
Dani almost scared me into screeching a profanity, but I bit that off and just gave her a little glare before grinning. “You know, I think I'm actually getting used to you doing that, but couldn't you just once walk up and say hi like a normal person?”
“But I'm not a normal person.” She smirked.
“Point taken.” I sighed and shook my head. “You're even more than a little strange for your kind.”
“Ahh, you say such nice things to a girl.” She grinned then pointed to a group of hunters, six of them walking through the downtown area with her chin. “Nice to see them scared for a change.”
“That was the plan.” I nodded. “Frightened people do stupid things, and I understand that their numbers have been getting thinned without them having a clue as to how.”
“Speaking of stupid things,” Dani gave that group of Hunters another look. “I think one of those is about to happen. Want me to hang around?”
“If you want.” I nodded and grinned. “They never let me out without other backup these days, though.”
“I know.” She smirked. “I'm part of that backup most of the time. But don't worry, I don't mind at all because you're fun to watch in action. That guy in the lingerie department was hilarious.”
“Oh well, it's showtime.” I said as the six Hunters spread out a little and tried to force me into a small alleyway. I let them do that and Dani just amiably walked along as I went, chattering about nonsensical stuff while watching for any more of them hiding in the area.
If there had been, they weren't there now. I'd very specifically been just wandering in that particular part of town for a reason. So, I knew quite well that if the Hunters had set up an ambush in there, that it had been ambushed in turn.
Dani looked around, then at me, nodded and grinned and said. “Nice.”
“I've been reading a lot lately.” I told her. Specifically the books Mason Locke had recommended and I'd even spoken to him by phone several times to clarify a few things.
“Reading what? The Art of War?” She asked.
“Among other things.” I nodded.
“Makes sense. I didn't think you were the romance novel type.” She nodded.
“Oh well.” I shrugged as the Hunters finally got around to closing in. “What can I say? I'm not your usual girly girl here.”
“Point for you there.” Dani licked a finger and ran it down an imaginary board.
“You, goth girl, get out of here.” The leader of those Hunters, the same one who had threatened me glared at Dani. “This is none of your business.”
Have I ever mentioned that Dani is really good with the scared little girl look? She widened her eyes, tensed up a little, frowned, and just nodded while giving me an apologetic look before walking away. But she didn't go far and fast as she can move was in position to watch everything and be in range to help me if that was needed.
“Playtime is over, little girl.” The man growled at me as he reached to grab me.
I blocked that reach, just hard enough and at the right angle to break a bone in his forearm, punched him in the chest right at the sternum, and hit one of his ankles with a little half spin kick.
Needless to say, he hit the pavement of the alley like a sack of bricks.
“Please stop calling me little girl.” I almost pleasantly told him as he was gasping for breath and trying to get back up. “And playtime?”
I kept him down with the simple move of planting a foot on his throat and lightly pressing down as his companions started moving towards me. “You threatened me, my family, my friends. What in the Hell makes you think I'm playing here?”
Carson hit two of the others, Dani was using something I could swear looked like a huge, old and very rusty wrench and got two more, while Carly took the other one. They were dead before they knew anything was happening.
The guy with my foot on his throat hadn't even had time to notice the carnage.
“I'm giving one chance here.” I told him flatly. “Leave. Go get your people together and get out of Ravencrest.
“Dont, and next time I see you,” I went on in tone like I was just talking to someone in a casual setting, “you'll die and the rest of the filth you're with will die with you. Choice is yours.
“Personally, I hope you stick around.” I finished, then turned and walked away without saying another thing.
I did wait at the mouth of the alley as other people cleaned up my mess. I felt bad about that, but someone had to make sure no normal stumbled into that butcher's floor before the traces of the short, nasty ambush were gone.
“And I thought Mama San was scary.” Dani joined me a bit later and looked at me. “You took that guy down without breathing hard then kept him down.”
“I've been training with martial arts since I was four years old.” I shrugged. “And what was that you were using back there?”
“Bertha.” She grinned.
“So that was Bertha.” I shook my head. “I'd envisioned this really scary vampire or something the way you keep talking about her.”
“No vampire.” Dani let out a little laugh. “But she is kind of scary, isn't she?”
“There is that.” I agreed.
“You know they're really going to come after you now, since you let that one guy go.
“And you know the plan.” I answered with a shrug. “Worry them, scare them, then give them their target. Give them what they want right now, and they won't be looking around for other things.”
“Oh, you've got a spot of blood on your top there.” She pointed to one of the cap sleeves of the baby doll top I was wearing. It really didn't glare, but still...
“Damn, and I really like this top.”
“Cold water.” Dani told me. “Soak it in cold water for awhile.”
After the cleanup was finished we walked down the street, laughing, talking, and just acting like a couple of girls out for an afternoon of shopping and scoping out the boys.
But the ante had been upped, a lot.
And I was the chip my side tossed in to do it.
Before you ask, no, I wasn't happy about being the worm on the hook here.
But someone needed to hold the bad guys attention while other things were happening that we didn't want them to see.
Besides, I'd been a target since this whole mess got started and to be perfectly honest, I was really tired of it. In chess this would be called the end game. I was the queen in this chess game, cornered, threatened from a number of directions, and appearing to be vulnerable.
If the bastards took the bait, we'd sweep the board.
I don't like this at all.” My once aunt now mother flatly told me during another family meeting. “You just made yourself, and us a huge target.”
“We've all been targets since I brought Linda here.” I answered. “And I can't undo what has happened now. I'm tired of this dancing around the thing and it's time to end it, Mom.”
“Well the security people are on high alert.” Dad sighed and nodded. “Much as I hate to say this, Cindy is right. This has to end. Now.”
“The family is also ready to take care of our part of your plan.” Mom told me and gave me a look that held both respect and worry. “Are you sure you're up to this?”
“I'd better be.” I shrugged then gave her a smile and moved to hug her. “I am, and I've been building up to this since those bastards showed up in town. It's about time they really got their collective noses flattened, not just bloody around here. Maybe that will make them hesitate to come back and cause more trouble.”
“Or it might just make them concentrate more on us.” Mom pointed out.
“After this, if they come back, any of them will be fair game with no hunting restrictions, Mom,” I answered. The Lockes and Carmilla agree on this one.”
“I still don't like the idea of you being so friendly with vampires.” Mom sighed.
“Mom.” I put my hands on her shoulders and gave them a little squeeze. “Carmilla is on our side here, and she wants more friends here in town. She isn't going to harm me, and has in fact, done things to make sure I'm not harmed. One of these days, you're going to have to talk to her whether you really like the idea or not. She's been my strongest, staunchest ally through this other than Carson.
“She deserves the chance to at least talk with you and Dad, don't you think?”
“All right.” Mom answered while Dad nodded thoughtfully. “But you and a Wolf?”
“He's my mate, Mother.” I answered that one without thinking. “I know it, he knows it, and it is going to happen. Please don't be difficult about this.”
“But how can you be so sure?” She asked. “You haven't really had time to completely assimilate what being a female among us is.”
“I'm sure” I sighed. “I don't know how, and I fought the idea, too, but Carson Locke is going to be my mate for life, Mom. And he isn't a bad guy at all, by the way.”
“No, you wouldn't put up with that.” She let out a sigh of her own. “So fine, on both counts, I'll talk with Carmilla, but I will SPEAK with Carson once this mess if finished.”
I didn't envy Carson on that one at all, but nodded with a little smile. “Thank you, Mother.”
“Not that we're hurting at all,” Dad put in thoughtfully, though there was a glint of mischief in his eyes as he said it, “but an alliance with the Lockes wouldn't be a bad thing.”
Mom hit him, frowned, but I could tell she could see the truth and the humor Dad had used to get it across.
The cousins, twins, now sisters, managed to corner me after that meeting.
“Are you out of your little mind?” Mary Jane asked.
“Do you really think you can pull this off?” Clarissa questioned in her turn.
“Like I have a choice?” I asked them. “I know I didn't give birth to her, but Linda is MY baby. If someone takes her it's going to be over my dead, broken body. Besides, these Hunters have really pissed me off.”
“Mama bear syndrome, Mary Jane nodded and grinned. “Okay.”
“What else is going on with this?” Clarissa asked.
“Lots.” I told them. “More than the Harpers are after these assholes this time around.”
“About time.” Mary Jane nodded and gave me a hug. “You just watch yourself, I'd hate to loose the prettiest cousin, sister, I've ever had because of this crap.”
Mary Jane and Clarissa were what I used to call babes. They could turn heads if they walked into a place wearing burlap bags and with dirty feet.
Clarissa hugged me and said. “You get this done little sister. We'll hold up our end of it.”
Me? The really pretty sister?
Damn you Coyote.
Lady Moon, why me?
And if you're wondering, yes I had been out in the forest in coyote form more than once. It was exhilarating and renewing, just running on four legs and knowing nature. But Lady Moon and I had a much more intimate contact than most. I didn't need to sing to her at night, though I did.
In human form, I asked questions and got answers. Not verbally, but my questions were answered.
In coyote form, I heard her voice, but the answers were the same.
I wasn't one to annoy a deity with second guessing, so just took the answers I'd gotten.
For now those were enough, though I did the idea that SHE actually expected me to argue.
That would come later, probably, knowing me, but at the present time, I had other things to worry about. All I knew was that Lady Moon was on my side, and that's all I needed at the time.
“You play a very dangerous game, child.” A familiar voice intruded on my enjoyment of the park and with a little chill I turned to see Carmilla in all her glory regarding me thoughtfully.
“This isn't a game.” I countered while watching this extremely dangerous woman.
“So long as you know that.” She nodded and smiled. “You have taken on adversaries that would cause fear in some of the strongest here, you know?”
“I'm not doing it alone.” I pointed out.
“No.” She shrugged and sat next to me on the park bench. “But it is still dangerous, for you and those you love.”
“We're at the end game now.” I told her simply. “If I lose, a lot of people are going to die, I know that.”
“If you win, a lot of people are going to die.” She pointed out.
“Hopefully, not many of the ones I care about.” I answered.
“That bothers you?” She asked while smoothing her already perfect skirt. “People being dead because of your actions?”
“Shouldn't it?” I shot back. “I don't like killing just to kill, Carmilla. Everyone loses in a fight like this one. The winner only loses less.”
“Good enough.” She smiled and kissed me on the cheek. “You are all that I hoped for, and more, little Coyote. We will talk later.”
And she was gone. How, just how, do those girls do that?
“Well puppy.” Another voice I recognized but wasn't all that familiar with interrupted that bit of thought after Carmilla's visit. “It seems that you are growing teeth here.”
The dark haired beauty I had met only once, and knew as Wisteria gave me a careful looking over.
“I defend my own, lady.” I carefully answered.
“I too, have reason to hate these Hunters, Puppy.” She told me simply and shrugged. That gesture alone would have most males I knew of falling at her feet for more attention. “Manage to kill them, and I will leave you alone. Fail and I will bring you back from death. I don't think you would care for that, though.”
Carmilla was scary, but this woman terrified me.
“You have my message, Puppy.” She smiled and stroked my cheek. “Good luck.”
I spent about an hour just getting rid of the shakes that little meeting caused.
“Buck up, Cindy.” Another familiar voice stopped that. What? Had everyone I met agreed to meet me in the park without me knowing?
Mason Locke gave me a cool look but I could almost swear that I saw a twitch that might have been a grin at the corner of his mouth. Mason Locke? Sort of smiling at me? Nah. “We're all afraid of that woman, but she can die just like we can.
“You have everything in place, and I'm proud of you, kid. Don't lose faith in yourself here.”
I hugged him in spite of his usually threatening demeanor and whispered. “Not a chance. These bastards are going to PAY this time around, not collect.”
“My cousin has himself a handful here.” Mason gave me an amused look. “I wonder if he knows that yet?”
“Some of it.” I grinned. “But a girl has to have some things in reserve, after all.”
“Oh, you are going to a fine addition to the family.” He nodded thoughtfully. “Just watch your back through this. There are a lot of people you haven't seen who are interested.”
“Watch or help, that's their choice.” I told him. “I won't beg them for help.”
“Good.” He nodded. “Asking is considered as a weakness around here.”
“I never asked for anything in my life.” I smiled back at him. “Why would I start now?”
“I knew you were one of the good ones. You do what you have to do. You have back up you don't even know about.”
He got up, walked away and I actually felt good.
Forbidding and mean as that man seemed to be, I really hoped he could find a woman who would see through that. If I wasn't already attached to Carson, I would have been tempted.
But distractions aside, it was game time.
Tonight was going to end this thing one way or another.
The pieces were set, the situation was there, and it was just time to end this.
Win or lose. It would end tonight.
I sent Connie a text that simply said, Now.
Other texts went out after that.
I went to the cradle that Linda was in and gently picked her up for a hug. “It's done tonight, love. I'm going to get rid of the nasty people who want to take you.”
Linda of course, didn't really understand what I was saying, but gurgled happily and played with my nose for a bit before I carefully put her back in the cradle.
“See you later, my sweet baby.” I told her.
Back in my room, I picked up the baby doll that I had bought a week earlier and activated the spell the witches had given me.
Now, for clarity I couldn't do magic. The witches had given me a cheap looking little ring that would activate the spell they had already cast with the right word.
Once I said that word, hard to pronounce by the way, the cheap mood ring vanished and I was holding a baby who seemed to be Linda. And the witches had been alerted that things were rolling now.
Everyone else was ready too.
It was time for some payback
Cradling the doll that looked and acted like a real baby I looked at the Hunter's camp.
“Hey! Assholes!” I shouted.
“You want me, and my baby? Well here we are! Now's your chance.”
With that I turned and ran. For all I was worth. Getting caught here would kind of complicate things, but not ruin the whole plan.
Carson, in the SUV that he had driven me here in was waiting and I piled in.
He started driving, slowly, to our destination.
“You think this is going to work?” He asked.
“Look behind us.” I grinned. There were about five SUVs following us. “They are scared enough, and angry enough, for this to work.”
“Let them think they're chasing us and that we don't have anywhere to go.” I reminded him.
“No problem.” He laughed and started doing random turns and trying to hide on side streets and in the few alleys Raven crest had.
Finally, our vehicle screeched into a gravel lot in front of a very run down and nondescript warehouse.
“You're on.” Carson kissed me and piled out of the driver's door to take the position he was supposed to be in.
I made a show of running aimlessly then darting into the warehouse.
It looked as if my help had abandoned me and I didn't know where to go.
“Come on out, little girl.” One of the Hunters shouted once they had followed me into the warehouse. “You've run out of places to run and your friends have left you.”
I let things hang for a few seconds, then took the biggest chance so far and stood up to walk into the middle of the empty place. “Okay, I'm here.”
They didn't try to kill me right then and there, so that worked.
“Too bad you lost your friends and are here all on your own.” The voice was almost gloating. “You should of at least kept enough friends to back you up here.”
“Yeah.” I sighed, then looked up at the shadowy figures around me and shrugged.
“Then I guess it's a good thing I didn't come alone, isn't it?”
I threw the baby doll into the air, ducked, and all Hell broke loose.
Singing to the Moon Chapter 19
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Singing to the Moon
Chapter 19 |
Like I said, all Hell broke loose.
The baby doll exploded in mid air, sending out shards of energy that shattered some of the Hunter's silver weapons.
Wow, I hadn't expected that one.
Then more weres, and vampires than I'd ever seen in my life seemed to come out of the woodwork to attack the Hunters.
Coming out of my tuck and roll I reached my feet in front of a familiar Hunter, with his right arm in a cast. “You should have listened to me in that alley.”
I didn't waste any more words, just performed a rather nasty strike (which I'm not supposed to know) to his throat before he could react.
I didn't even wait to watch him choke on his own blood.
One came from behind me, with an intact silver sword and I went into another roll to avoid the swipe he took into the air where I had been.
As he was recovering from that miss, unbalanced from not hitting an expected target, I came up behind him and used another strike I wasn't supposed to know about, at the base of his neck. He was dead before his body hit the ground.
Thank you Mason. I'd hate myself later, but now was now, and I had to survive and inflict as much damage on the enemy as I could.
Dani was there, using Bertha like there was no tomorrow and she'd never get another chance with it. The people she hit with that thing just — splattered. It was gross even in this mess.
But the pieces went back together and...
Carson, and two other wolves were ripping through the Hunters.
Carly and Chris were there, dancing away from attacks and darting in to eliminate their adversaries.
And the other vamps.
Their speed, though nothing like Dani's was frightening. It's just that they tended to get distracted by all the blood at times.
I watched several of them die because of that.
I don't know how they managed to cram so many people into the SUV's I'd seen following me, but no matter where I went, what I did, where I looked, there always seemed to be more Hunters around.
I could swear I killed the same one three times.
Then I saw why.
One of the Hunters stood in the middle of all that chaos, holding a misshapen thing that looked like some kid in kindergarten had tried to make a goblet out of clay. He was chanting and the bluish light coming from the thing surrounded all the Hunters, and I definitely saw some who went down get back up and start fighting again.
The Grail. It was helping the Hunters and more of my side were going down because of it.
But the ugly thing, while working for the Hunters, was calling me.
My distraction almost cost me my life.
Three Hunters converged on where I was, all with those damned silver weapons reeking of magic.
“Oh, shit.” I breathed while going into a jump and roll to at least get past one of them.
Then something almost absurd happened.
Four rabbits, yes rabbits, jumped on the one to my right, kicking with their hind legs and drawing blood with every kick. The Hunter was distracted from me because he was trying to shake them off.
The one on the my left was suddenly beset by squirrels. With the same result. I almost swore those squirrels were going after the nuts in that guy's pants.
The one coming up from behind was easy. He'd been trained, but couldn't match my speed as I did a quick back kick to knock the nastily shining blade out of his hand with a well protected foot, since I was wearing boots, then I spun and rammed his nose up into his brain with the flat of a hand.
Nasty, I know, but this was life or death and these people wanted to kill me. I didn't have time or inclination to be merciful.
I noted in passing that both my other attackers were down, but with a pang also saw dead rabbits and squirrels around the people.
But I also knew, without a doubt, that the only thing keeping this fight going was the Grail.
And if I could take it from the man holding it, the fight would be over. If I didn't, we'd lose.
Dani cleared the way for me, almost, no not almost, she was berserk in her killing frenzy.
Carson was beside me, guarding my left, and Carly was on my right.
Chris was still going through Hunters like a whirlwind on prairie grass, but the downed ones kept getting up.
None of our fallen were doing that.
“Get the Grail!” Carly shouted at me while fending of more attackers. “If you don't we're done!”
I knew that all to well by that stage of things. Had my trap become a trap for me and my companions?
Yes, it had, but there was a way to end that.
I just had to reach that cup.
Easier said than done as they say.
I don't know how many Hunters I put down, or that my guards did, but there always seemed to be more of them, all intent on keeping me from my goal.
“Call it!” Dani screamed at me in one of her lucid moments during that morass of blood and violence. “It is calling you, Cindy. Dammit, call it!”
In a moment of very clear, calm, silver clarity, I suddenly knew what my friend meant.
Lady Moon's soft voice reinforced that. “Call the Grail child, it wants you and it is time to end this.”
Standing still in the maelstrom of blood letting I took a breath, held out a hand and screamed. “Come to me!”
And it did. With one of the fingers of the man who had been struggling to hold it.
I didn't see it move, didn't feel it happen, but all at once the Grail was in my hand.
I was shocked, but knew what I had to do.
Raising the ugly, misshapen thing into the air I screamed. “This ends NOW!”
Of course nothing happened. I had not one clue about how to use the thing. But at least is was out of their hands and in mine now.
If I could just keep hold of it for a little longer.
Which was problematic at the moment because the Hunter with a bleeding stump where a finger had been was shouting orders and pointing at me.
Things rapidly devolved from there into a deadly game of keep away. They wanted the grail back, I didn't want to let them have it. So Chris, Carly, Carson and I spent a lot of time tossing the thing back and forth and hopefully out of the hands of the rapidly diminishing number of Hunters.
One of us would catch it, dodge and weave for awhile, then pass it off when things started getting a little too thick for the cup bearer. I don't know how many of them I killed just then, but at least now when the suckers went down they stayed down.
Finally, it was done. There wasn't a living Hunter anywhere near the warehouse or in it.
The silence was almost deafening, except for a still screaming Dani who seemed to be fighting things that were no longer there.
No one dared get close, but I had to try. I moved close enough to let her know it was me and stopped.
“Let me do this.” Another voice stopped me along with a strong, slender hand on my shoulder.
Charlotte, who I'd never expected to see walked forward and simply said. “Enough, Dani. Enough.”
Carmilla scared me, Wisteria terrified me, but Charlotte? She radiated calm, sure power like nothing I'd ever seen and that was very unsettling even it it wasn't aimed at me.
She even took a blow from Bertha without much more than a flinch. “Dani! Stop! It is done!”
“Done?”
“Done, darling.” Charlotte assured her.
“It's over, Dani.” I assured her, too. “We've won. Come back, please come back.”
I could feel the Grail wanting to kill her and firmly told it no.
Dani did stop her wild swinging and screaming, looking at me with bloodshot eyes that still weren't quite sane. “It's never over. They're always trying to kill me, hurt me.”
“We did it, Dani.” I softly told her and took the risk of moving close enough to hug her tightly. “The bad guys are gone. There's no one left here to hurt you and the rest of us here are your friends. Come back, please.”
I felt her iron hard muscles slowly relax, and she dropped the Wrench, Bertha, and sank to her knees with a sob.
“They're dead, Dani, all dead.” I assured her. “Now come back to the people who love you.”
Charlotte was gone again, once Dani's frenzy had slowed her work was evidently finished here.
It took awhile, but eventually the madness faded from her eyes and she hugged Bertha tightly to her chest with her eyes tightly closed. I dabbed at the blood on her cheeks with a handkerchief. No, she wasn't injured, at least not physically, but when a vampire cries those tears are blood.
“You got blood on your shirt again.” A soft voice came out of her as she looked me over.
“Yeah, cold water, I know.” I smiled and hugged her tightly.
Once I got loose from the almost convulsive hug she returned — let me tell you, being hugged, really hugged by a vampire is kind of painful if they aren't being careful — I slowly stood up and looked around.
It was heartbreaking.
Several vamps were quietly scooping up ashes that had been their sisters. A wolf was nursing a nasty looking wound along it's side with help from others. The rabbits and squirrels who had come to my rescue earlier were dead. I had also checked to make sure my brother, sister, and Carson were all right, and immediately felt like a selfish little bitch at the relief I felt to discover they were.
There were other dead weres scattered around, and lot of wounded ones.
“The lesser weres came to help too.” Carson moved to put an arm around me.
“Not lesser, not any more.” I answered. “Not to me.”
“We all knew the risks when we came, Lady.” A college age male was watching me and gestured to the surviving members of his contingent.
“I'm no lady.” I softly answered him. “But I will never be able to thank all of you enough for this.”
“Didn't do it for thanks.” He shrugged. “They were our enemies, too. And yes, you are a Lady with a capital L. Maybe you don't know it yet, but you are.”
“Indeed.” Another voice, female interrupted that as a witch seemed to appear out of nowhere. “The little ones have been very busy, harassing, leading Hunters on wild goose chases. They did well, and it will be remembered.
“You did well, too, Coyote.” She gave me a sad smile. “There were some among us who felt you weren't up to the tasks given you. I'm glad they were wrong.
“Now, I'll take that, if you don't mind.” She told me while reaching for the grail. “That thing is very dangerous and needs to be kept safe where it can't be used to cause more evil.”
“This?” I held the grail out, but it clearly didn't want to go. “It isn't evil. It was the people using it, but here, since this was your Coven's condition for your help.”
“Thank you.” The woman gave me a thin smile. “Oh, things went well at the campsites, too. Those are being cleaned up even now. The vehicles left behind are for you and your companions to dispose of as you see fit.”
Once she disappeared as quickly as she'd come, I grumbled. “I wish people would stop doing that around me, it's annoying.”
I made sure the wounded were being taken care of then found the guy who had spoken with me earlier. “Hey, sorry, I don't even know your name.”
“There's no reason you should.” He gave me a sad smile. “But it's Todd Lang.”
“Nice to meet you, Todd. Cindy Harper.”
“I know, Lady.” He nodded.
“Cut the Lady crap, Todd.” I grimaced. “My NAME is Cindy, and all of you deserve to use it, understood?”
“Yes.” He looked at me then shook his head. “I doubt many will actually get the nerve to call you that — Cindy.”
He was actually a decent looking guy. Tall, broad shouldered, all that guy stuff, with a nice face and grey eyes that were presently doing their best to hold in the grief I knew he was feeling. “You've earned the right if that was ever needed. I softly told him.
"All of you have."
I turned to watch what he was looking at and saw others reverently lifting the dead rabbits and taking them out. “What about their families? Can you give me addresses so I can contact them?”
“I'll handle it.” Todd smiled at me. “But thanks. I knew them, they followed me into this, my responsibility.”
“I'm sorry.” I felt tears in my own eyes.
“Don't be.” He looked at the other 'lesser' weres with pride clear in his stance and expression. “We finally did something important. That's all any of us ever wanted.”
“Anything, any of you need, call me.” I answered while quickly writing my cell phone number on a piece of paper and handing it to him. “You'll have it if I can give it.”
“Thanks. Even if we don't call the gesture is appreciated.”
“Call.” I told him. “If you don't, I'll come check in person.” I glared at him.
“You probably would, too.” He managed a tired chuckle.
“Oh, Todd?” I called as he started to turn away. When he turned back towards me I gave him a little grin and held out a set of keys. “Want a slightly used SUV? Gotta get rid the things and I sure don't need one.
“Don't worry the paper work and taxes and stuff is taken care of.” I went on. “If you can't use it, or no one you know can, I'll have to find someone else to get some use out of the things.”
“Okay.” He took the keys. “Don't know if I'll keep it.”
“It's yours now, Todd.” I shrugged.
“Thanks.”
Home at last.
There were scattered spots along the perimeter of the property that showed signs of a fight, but those were being repaired even then. So the Hunters had attacked my home.
“They didn't make it past the walls, Ma'am.” One of the security people overseeing the repairs told me when he spotted me looking and seeing the worry on my face. “Everything is okay here.”
“Thanks.” I nodded and once again wondered just how many Hunters had come for the one reason of taking Linda.
I greeted everyone, happy to see that everyone was still alive even if some were a bit banged up. We traded stories. They had problems with 'dead' Hunters getting back up for awhile, too. Until I'd taken the grail from them.
I told them about the other weres, the ones that most of us in the major families had either ignored or treated with disdain for so long, and what they had done.
“Yes, we know.” Dad nodded. “Some of them were at every site where fighting was going on. They paid one helluva price for that.”
“Yeah, they did.” I nodded. “But they paid it willingly.”
“Don't worry honey.” Mom told me. “The family will remember this about them.”
“Good.” I answered then headed upstairs.
I heard a baby giggling and chortling when I reached the room where Linda slept. It was next to mine, with connecting doors and to be honest there just wasn't space in my room for the crib, baby toys and other necessities taking care of an infant required.
I opened the door expecting to see one of my cousins amusing the little thing.
That is not what I found.
Oh no. It couldn't have been that simple.
Quarter sized globes of light, in all kinds of colors were touching the baby's cheeks, playing with her fingers and toes and generally swirling around like the most high tech baby toy anyone could imagine.
I smelled that little Linda needed changed but before I could move a swarm of the lights gently lifted her bottom while others removed the soiled diaper and deposited it in the plastic can meant for that. Others swarmed to clean her and get a new diaper on the little thing, then the baby was very gently, almost reverently settled back into her crib.
“And here I've been worrying about babysitters.” I muttered while carefully moving up to her crib. The lights respectfully moved away as I did that, which was kind of weird in itself, but I went on and picked her up. “Hi Linda, my sweet baby. You're safe now. Mama fixed it.”
I still don't know how I ended up in the rocking chair, with Linda happily sucking at one of my breasts, but those lights were doing a joyful dance in the air in front of me.
“I wonder if bowls of milk will be enough for this?” I asked nothing in particular while still in a bit of shock that I was breast feeding Linda.
But it felt right.
And kind of good.
Okay a lot good.
I'd finished with the feeding, knowing that was a new duty I'd have, though I didn't mind at all even if it was from me and not a bottle, kissed my baby and put her back in her crib.
Looking at the still dancing lights I shook my head and told them. “You know what to do. Thank you.”
Then went through the connecting door to my room.
“Oh, shit.” I breathed once I'd gotten there.
Sitting on my work desk, next to my laptop, was an ugly, misshapen goblet that radiated satisfaction and happiness at being where it was.
“Oh, this one is going to be fun to explain.” I sighed
The Grail just sat there with the happy, satisfied feeling flowing out from it.
The Coven was not going to be happy about this one, I just knew it.
Singing to the Moon Chapter 20
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Singing to the Moon
Chapter 20 |
The next few days were just — surreal.
In the aftermath of that battle, it was just like nothing out of the ordinary had happened at all. The unseen who hadn't been involved knew that the Hunters had come, a few people had died on both sides, then they were gone. Business as usual in Ravencrest.
The normals in town 'knew' that some company had been having a retreat of some kind in the campgrounds scattered through the mountains, and had left once that was finished. It happened at times and brought a little more business into town, other than that, it was nothing all that extraordinary.
Everyone in town knew that something had happened at that warehouse, but most just assumed it had been used for a really wild party and went about their business.
I did catch people whispering about 'That Harper Affair' and 'That Harper girl' at times when I was in town but nothing else.
I've lived here all my life but was just beginning to understand what a strange town Ravencrest really was. Sheesh.
“We have a problem.” A voice interrupted my musings and I actually jumped a little before turning to see who had gotten into my room without me noticing.
It was a witch. Figures. Mom really needs to work on those wards.
I looked at her, an attractive young woman in her twenties and grumbled. “Why can't you just come to the front door like normal people?”
“This issues isn't one for a lot of people to know about.” She answered with a shrug.
“Yeah.” I nodded and then looked at the problem, still contentedly sitting on my work desk.
“Look, your people have taken it twice, I've locked it in our family vault several times, and the thing just keeps coming back here. I can't keep it from doing that.” I glared at the grail, then at the witch.
“It isn't you.” She sighed then looked at the door that connected my room to Linda's. “It's the child.”
“Linda?” I asked then felt a cold chill fingering my spine. “Don't even think about it.”
“That thing must be kept safe.” The witch waved to the grail. “It insists on staying near the child.”
“I don't care how powerful all of you are,” I looked her straight in the eye. “If you take Linda, just to keep an object safe, none of you will ever be safe from ME.”
“You have no idea of what you are saying, or getting into there, little girl.”
“Little girl?” I almost exploded but kept that in check. “I have alliances, I am responsible for the most stunning defeat the Hunters have experienced in living memory and then some. No, I wonder if you and the Coven know what you're dealing with here.”
“Threats are not going to work.” She told me.
“It wasn't a threat.” I shrugged. “If you take Linda both sides are going find out what they're dealing with because I'll come to get her back.”
“Regardless of the cost?” She asked.
“She's my baby.” I answered. “Anyone trying to take her away from me is going to regret it if I can do anything about it.”
“Good answer.” She actually smiled at me. Okay color me very confused on that one. “You are young but have already done some very impressive things. As you grow and mature, you will only become more formidable. I know I sure wouldn't want to face you if we actually did take that child from you.”
“Then why the implied threats?” I asked.
“Call it a test.” She shook her head. “I can call up empathy with my abilities and I was sent to feel your responses. The Coven will be happy with what I found. We all hoped you'd respond that way.”
“What?”
“The grail is obviously tied to the child.” She told me. “A child that you will defend with your own life. Now we are sure both of them will be safe. If needed you won't hesitate to call for help in order to see that is done.
“I actually feel sorry for anyone trying to get between you and that child to hurt her.” She chuckled.
Then she was gone.
“Okay, what the Hell was that?” I asked no one in particular. The grail didn't answer, just sat there on my desk glowing and sending out contented feelings.
Great, now I had a supernatural nightlight.
Exactly what I was doing to do with, or about it, I had no idea.
Later that day, being a Saturday and pleasantly warm I had Linda in a stroller and was trying to enjoy the park.
“You were all we expected, Coyote.” A vaguely familiar voice came over my shoulder and I turned to see who it was then let out a little gasp. “And more.”
“Amaranth.” I whispered, looking at the being I knew was a dragon and wondering how so many weird things seemed to happen when I was around.
“It is because of what you are, dear.” She smiled and shook her head. “You don't have all of Coyote in you, but you are mischief, deception, resourcefulness, and tend to be very unpredictable. The world in general is going to test you, tease you, and see what you will do.”
“So I'm some kind of trouble magnet?” I asked with a queasy feeling in my stomach at that thought.
“Of sorts.” She grinned. “Though for anyone disturbing you too much, you are the trouble, as you've already shown so emphatically. You'll get used to it.”
“Sure.” I nodded, not believing that for a second but not about to argue with a creature that was nearly as powerful as a god, or in this case goddess.
“You will.” She assured me, then looked at Linda who was presently trying to get a thumb, either one, into her mouth. “I've come to tell you about your child now that we know you are worthy of her.”
“Worthy of her?” I would normally bridle at that kind of comment but just shook my head instead.
“Oh, Indeed, Coyote.” Amaranth smiled again. “This child is very special in many ways. As to what she is, she will grow up to become like me, and my mate. She is the last surviving child of Dragons in this world. We don't know what she will be, but finding out should be interesting.”
“Then why give her to me?” I asked. “Surely her own kind would be better for her.”
“Then she would be isolated, with no access to how things in the world work.” Amaranth answered a little sadly. “My kind has withdrawn from the world, Coyote. You can show her, teach her, let her learn how the world works, show her what it is. That is why.
“When you hold her.” Amaranth told me simply. “You hold our hopes as well as your own. Just love her, nurture her, teach her. It's all any parent should do.”
“But she's...”
“Your child.” Amaranth gently told me. “She is your child now, Coyote. Love her, let her love you and whatever comes to pass you will have a daughter you will proud of.”
“I — I don't know if that responsibility is something I can live up to.”
“You will, you have.” She gave me a penetrating look. “That is why we sent the grail to you, for her.”
“You had those Hunters come here for her, just for that cup?” I was outraged at the thought of how many people and other creatures had died because of that.
“Everything, everyone, dies in time, Coyote. Even gods.” Amaranth answered my thoughts. “It is after all, how life and nature work. Your child will need the grail in the future, it had to come into your hands some way. Given how things work, it had to be done the way it was. You won the grail so now it will remain connected to you, and Linda because of that. I will take it with me when I go, and don't worry, it might complain a bit but will know that where I take will not keep it from coming when there is need, though you will never be able to use it. But in time, your daughter will.”
While I was trying to work all that out, she reached forward to stroke my cheek, then kissed Linda's forehead.
“Farewell, Coyote.” Amaranth kissed my cheek.
“Will I ever see you again?” I asked.
“Probably.” She nodded with another smile. “Be well, and keep your child safe.”
Then she was gone, just gone.
How do people do that? It was trick I decided would be a good one to learn.
Then I squatted down to tickle Linda and give her a kiss.
My baby was a dragon.
Oh, that was going to make for an interesting sixteenth birthday party.
When I got home the grail was gone, along with the little balls of light that had been so helpful. I changed Linda while admitting to myself that at least the witches would stop bugging me about it now.
Sunday, was thankfully, uneventful. We got up went about our business and just enjoyed a nice quiet day.
Linda had an overabundance of baby sitters, by the way. The whole family loved her, but especially the females.
Hey! She's really a cute, make that beautiful, baby.
Being her mommy was still a bit unsettling at times for me, but what can you do? I imagine more than a few born women feel the same way at times.
Monday was just — a Monday. Back to school, getting back into just being a teenaged girl and all that stuff.
One interesting thing happened between classes though.
“Hey babe.” One of school jocks, a football player, Eddie Hines greeted me with a big smile. “How about you and I hook up?”
“Thanks for the offer.” I looked up at his face since he was easily over six feet tall. “But I already have a boyfriend I'm really attached to.”
“I can do better than him for you babe.” As one of the star linebackers on the team he seemed to think that gave him the right to move in on any girl who caught his eye. I'd seen him do it when I was Craig, and now I just wasn't in the mood to put up with it as Cindy.
“I doubt it.” I said sweetly while giving him a smile. “My boyfriend is a football player, too. In college. Oh, by the way, you do know that I have about five black belts in martial arts, right?”
They really weren't black belts, but that's the kind of thing the uninitiated understand so that's what I generally told obnoxious people.
“A cute little thing like you?” He chuckled and shook his head while reaching to take my arm. I was so NOT impressed after what I'd already faced and just sidestepped enough for his hand to hit the locker behind me instead on landing on my arm.
“Yup.” I nodded, smiled and just moved around him before he could recover. “Please don't try that again, and see you around.”
I don't know if the idiot even moved for a few minutes after that and didn't really care.
But if he bothered me again, I'd probably have to hurt him. Just a little. But you know how it is.
After classes, I got my cheer leading uniform. Yay.
Me, wearing a short, pleated skirt, tight little top, ankle socks and tennies that had cute little pom poms at the the end of their laces. Sigh.
Chris, Carly, and my cousins were never going to let me live this one down.
Then I had to go out to the football field, jump around, yell a lot, shake hand held pom poms and perform some minor acrobatics in front of the whole football team. Happily a lot of them were busy with sprints, hitting things and each other with their shoulders, and all that kind of stuff. What we were doing was just as hard, but at least we weren't getting tackled, knocked down, and run over at times.
And much as I hated admitting it myself, it was kind of fun.
Crap, I'm turning into such a girl.
I got out of my Miata, I dearly love that little car, in front of the dojo when I heard another familiar voice greet me. “Well, Coyote, you've been rather impressive recently.”
I took in a breath and turned to see Carmilla standing there looking at me.
Wonderful. Carmilla was scary, and this was a meeting I hadn't been looking forward to at all.
“I suppose Wisteria will stop calling you puppy now.” She gave me a little smile and I still felt as the redhead was measuring me, comparing things I didn't even know about.
“Thanks?” I quietly answered.
“You have perplexed her, Young one.” Carmilla chuckled then smiled at me. “Actually, you have managed to do that with rather a lot of people in this town, and that is no small thing.”
“I was only protecting my own.” I answered quite truthfully. “I was afraid through all of it, trust me.”
“Fear isn't a bad thing, dear.” The lovely redhead shrugged. “It tends to show one just how the world works and instills caution, so long as it doesn't rule you.”
“It never has with me.” I grimaced.
“But you do pay attention to it, and more importantly what causes it in you.”
As I said, Carmilla was not someone I had been anxious to talk to after last weekend. I nodded, then lowered my head a little. “I'm sorry about your daughters.”
“I know.” She gave me a thoughtful smile. “But you need to remember that the real death comes to everyone, everything, young one. Some, like me, may put that off for a time, but it always comes. My daughters gave themselves for reasons of their own, but understand that it was they who gave, not me who sent.”
“Okay.” I answered, kind of awed that vampires had actually helped me because they wanted to do that then thought of something else. “How's Dani?”
“Well enough.” The redhead assured me. “She is with friends, sisters, those who love her. Dani had to face — demons of her own in that warehouse and it hurt her, but in time she will be fine.”
I was glad to hear that last part, but sad about the rest. Most people seem to think that Vampires are cold, uncaring, things. With Dani, I'd learned different. “Well, give her my love and tell her I miss all the sudden appearances and scaring the crap out of me.”
“I'll do that.” Carmilla laughed. “She'll appreciate hearing it.
“You did well, very well, young one, but you aren't a child any more.” She reached out to touch my cheek. “Be careful.”
And with that she was gone.
Have I mentioned that I really hate it when people do that? I have, right?
“You really sure you want to do this?” Carson asked as he brought his pickup to a stop in front of the Frat house.
“I feel like I have to.” I answered. I'd spent the past few days making sure to thank everyone, the Lockes involved, too, for what they'd done for me on the previous weekend. But there was one more group that deserved to know that at least someone appreciated them.
He just nodded, and kissed my cheek. “Good enough for me. You want me to come with you?”
“Not this time.” I kissed him back and was still astonished at the depths of feeling I had for a guy, any guy, and especially this one. “I'll handle it.”
“Then go do it.” He grinned as he got out, moved around and opened my door before helping me down. “Even my dad tells me I got myself a good one with you, but I already knew that. Now go on and show more people just how lucky I am.”
Todd met me at the door even before I knocked. Hey calling ahead is always a good thing, you know.
“Lady.” he almost bowed before I put a hand to his arm to stop him. “I told you my name, use it.”
“All right — Cindy.” He nodded but still seemed uncomfortable doing it.
“Better.” I grinned. “How do you guys like the SUV's”
“They are helpful.” He actually grinned back. “Gas hogs, but we use them for general transportation, errands, so can get those funds from the fraternity account. Thanks, by the way.”
“No.” I stood on tip toe and pulled his shoulders down a bit so I could give his cheek a kiss. “Thank you.
“Are they all here?” I asked a somewhat flustered boy once I'd done that and gave him a mischievous grin.
“They are.” Rubbing his cheek he gestured towards a set of double doors. “If you'll come with me, you can talk with them like you wanted, though it took a general vote of the members to even allow a girl into our meeting room.”
“That close was it?” I asked while following him.
“Not really.” He shrugged. “But you will be the first female other than cleaning people and a few house mothers who have been in there, and there never has been someone from the major families in there.”
“Things change, you know.” I teased.
“That they do.” He agreed while opening the doors for me.
I had no doubt that every member of the fraternity was there while Todd escorted me to a small raised area with a podium and then used a gavel to make sure the few, if any, who hadn't noticed my entrance would stop what they were doing and pay attention.
“Okay, guys.” He announced. “For the first time in our history, a member of one of the major families here in town wants to say something to all of us. Please welcome the Lady Cindy Harper.”
I grimaced at that one, though let it go for the moment as some polite clapping was heard from the members. Todd stepped aside and waved me towards the podium.
I looked at it touched it, the shook my head. “I'll just speak from here, if that's all right?”
No one objected so I went on. “This isn't really a formal speech, it's more in the nature of a thank you.”
There was almost a stunned silence in that room after I said that, and I just nodded to show that I meant it. “You, all of you, have been ignored, shunned, ridiculed in the past because you were 'lesser'.
“Well I'm here to tell you all that you aren't in any way lesser. Not in my eyes, not in the eyes of my family, or more than a few others. What you guys did over the past few weeks was wonderful. You, all of you, decided to get in over your heads and help an idiot little girl who had decided to take on a power that has been a bogey for this town since it was first formed.
“You didn't ask anything for that help, you didn't tell anyone you were giving it, you just did it.” I told them with my eyes brimming. “That is a kind of courage that even the 'major' families in this town, or anywhere else have to respect and be proud of.
“I know that you're mourning some losses, we all are after last weekend, but the point is that you stood up, and did something. Something really important. Something that showed me, and a lot of others that there is no such thing as 'lesser weres', just people willing to stand up for their own kind.
“What you guys did was nothing short of amazing, and was more help than maybe you understand just now.” I told them and by then tears were running down my cheeks but I didn't let that stop me. “If I ever hear someone dismissing you, any of you as 'lesser' again, they'll have me, and my family to deal with, I promise you that much.
“I know you lost some brothers last weekend, and I also know that some of their families aren't all that financially secure.” I took in a breath and went on, though this part was the difficult one. “This isn't charity, or just throwing money at something, but an offer.
“If any of those families need help right now, call me, and they'll have it. If any of you need help, call me and you'll have it. That is my promise, my family's promise to all of you.
“Just remember that you all have a friend, friends, among the so called major families. If you need us we will be there, that is my one sure promise to all of you. Don't use that for trivial things, because what I'm giving you isn't a small thing at all, but if there is real need, call, come find me, or anyone else in my family and you'll have the help that you need.
I took long enough to give each of the seemingly stunned brothers a quick kiss on the cheek and a personal thank you, then found Carson waiting outside the still open doors shaking his head but wearing a smile that was alomost proud. I let him take my arm and guide me out of the place.
“That was magnificent.” He told me simply while giving me a hug. “You really are a Lady, you know that?”
“Just don't forget that I'm your Lady.” I laughed and gently punched his side. “Or that you're my guy.”
“Females.” He chuckled while stopping to take me completely in his arms and planting a really good kiss on my mouth. Once I caught my breath he grinned. “You girls are sooo possessive at times. But that's okay with me in this case because I am yours for the rest of our lives.”
“Good.” I nodded then pulled him down for another mind numbing kiss.
Things should go back to normal now. Or at least as normal as they get for me and the very strange town of Ravencrest.
I had my man, he had me, I had my child even if she was a little on the scary side if I thought about it for too long but I still loved her with all my heart.
And to think I'd cursed at even Lady Moon when I turned sixteen.
Sheesh.
But life was good now, and I knew I would be singing to the moon, quite joyfully, for the rest of my life.