“Tom, how did I let you talk me into clearing my father’s old place? Instead of hiring someone to do it for us?” I look over towards my husband with his dark crew cut hairstyle. His dark tanned muscular body glistening with sweat from working outside with me since this morning. The faded blue jeans he is wearing are dirty and covered in wood chips from him chopping a tree and the worn brown work boots that are covered in dirt as well.
The day had started off cool when my husband and I had begun clearing the overgrowth of vines and scrubs around the old ranch house my father had left to me. The place had gotten overrun through the years because my father had gotten sick and there was no one around to take care of the grounds. I was living out on the West coast in San Francisco, California with my husband, when the lawyer handling my father’s will called to inform us of his death and needed me to come back to Chesapeake, Virginia for the funeral and the reading of his will. As it turned out my father had left me his house which he had bought after him and my mother had gotten a divorce when I was seven years old and he left me the detective agency he had started up years ago when he retired from Norfolk police department.
My husband stops what he is doing and looks over at me standing there thinking. I have my long straight brown hair braided into a ponytail, so it will stay out of my eyes while I was out here working in the yard. My California tan and shapely curved body are covered up by the white tank top shirt I had borrow from him this morning covered by a denim jumpsuit that looks like something a farmer would wear out in the field. Instead of wearing work boots like my husband is, I put on a pair of sneakers that I normally wear when I’m working outside.
“Because you complain that you weren’t getting enough exercise being cooped up in the office all week.”
My cheeks turned red from embarrassment as I recall those words. My husband just smiles at me after seeing my cheeks turned red. He enjoys throwing my own words back at me or making me blush from embarrassment too. He goes back to what he was doing before I interrupted him and watch as he pulls the stump of a bush he had cut down early this morning. I’m still amazed he is still married to me after what the elders and council had said to him. They didn’t approve of him, an Immortal elder marrying a common shapeshifter. They thought I was below his stature. I remember him saying to them that he didn’t need their permission to marry me and if they had an issue with that. He would be more than happy to settle it.
I sigh as I go back to what I was doing before I stop. I was racking up all the dead leaves and branches we had cut off the trees and bushes when I hear the cell phone in my pocket for the detective agency start to ring. I stop what I am doing and reach down in my pocket and answer the phone.
“Hello Brown’s Detective Agency. Victoria Brown speaking, how can I help you?”
“Mrs. Brown?” I hear an older female voice answer me back.” My name is Emilly Longford and my ten-year-old son is missing.”
I stand there leaning on the rake “How long has he been missing Mrs. Longford?”
“He’s been missing for three days now Mrs. Brown and I’ve already filed a missing person report with the police department, but they said that they couldn’t find anyone that had last seen him or much less talked with him.”
“Have you called around to all his friend's houses and spoken to their parents to see if he had come over there or seen him?”
“Yes! Mrs. Brown. They said that the last time any of them had seen him was four days ago when he had come home from school.”
I stand there listening to Mrs. Longford on the cell phone when my husband spots me not working and noticed the cell phone for the agency against my right ear. He stops what he is doing and comes walking over to me so he can listen in on the conversion.
“I’ll take the case, Mrs. Longford. If you could Mrs. Longford can you met me down at my office at 8:00 am tomorrow? And bring a photo of your son and something he had worn the day before his disappearance?”
“Yes! Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Brown, can you tell me where your office is located?”
“No problem Mrs. Longford. It’s at 313 Monticello Avenue, suite 4. It’s just before you get to MacArthur Mall on the right-hand side of the road just past the Federal courthouse in Downtown Norfolk and across from Chrysler Hall.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Brown.”
“Your welcome Mrs. Longford.” as I hear the line go dead.
I look at my husband “It’s a missing child job.” as I put the cell phone for the agency back in my pocket.
“That’s not good. I wonder why there hasn’t been anything in the newspaper or on Tv about it?”
“Probably because the police department wants to keep it quiet so they can locate the person who took this boy.”
“Did the boy’s mother tell you where she lives?” My husband stares into my hazel eyes.
“Nope!, not yet. I did ask her to bring something of his that he wore before he disappeared, so I can get his scent and track him down with my were-wolf senses. If she asks me why I need it, I’ll tell her that we have a trained tracking dog that should be able to pick his scent up, but if it’s been four days or more, I don’t know how long the scent will last or if there will even be a scent to locate.”
“Well let’s get this yard done and I’ll cook us some streaks on the grill tonight.” He leans in and kisses me on the cheek.
I return the kiss and afterward, I go back to raking up all the dead leaves and branches into a big pile.
“Did you want to burn these’s or bag them up?” as I look over towards my husband.
“I’ll burn them later on this evening after we have eaten.”
“Okay!” as I start on another part of the yard and rake all the dead leaves and branches over to the first pile making it bigger.
While I’m raking, I spot our next-door neighbor who has been living next door to my father’s property since my father brought this place splitting and unloading wood from his old battered Ford pick-up truck. The truck itself looks like it is over forty years old and is all dented and has rust spots in certain places on the truck. His house is older than the one I inherited from my father. Most of the old people still living around here say that he has been here since this area was settled. Which was hard to believe because my husband is an Immortal that has been around for the past 2,000 years and would have detected him with those unusual abilities he posses. I would have been able to tell as well with my werewolf senses too.
He used to be nice to me whenever I had trespassed on his property when I was little and visiting my father. He always gave me lemonade or let me pick peaches off his peach trees he grew. He was mysterious even then, but more open up. Now as I watch him. He seems to be even more secluded than usual as I go back to finish what I am doing.
“Honey, I’m going inside to get something to drink. Do you want anything from the kitchen?” he stops chopping a tree that had grown on the property that is blocking the front steps.
“A tall cold glass of that tea you made last night would be nice.” as he looks at me.
“Okay, one tall glass of ice tea on its way.” as I lean the rake against the house and head inside.
The wooden floors of the old ranch house echo my footsteps as I head towards the kitchen area. The echo of my footsteps brings back memories of when I use to run around here when I was little. My father would chase me threw out the house in a game of cat and mouse. I would be the mouse and he would play the part of the cat trying to get me. When he caught me he would tickle me till I almost peed my panties. He would then hoist me up on his shoulders and carry me around the house. Tears started leaking from my eyes when I realize that my children will never get a chance to meet their grandfather. The man who brought me into this world and the man who was always there for me.
I sneeze at the smell of the chemicals that my husband used to clean this house when we first moved in. There was dust everywhere and some of the windows had been leaking and mold had formed where the rain had come in. We had spent a week getting the house cleaned and aired out. Most of the furniture my father had, we gave some of it to the Goodwill and kept some of it. We even kept his old console television set that needed to be fixed. My husband works on it while I am asleep or at the agency trying to get the paperwork and bills there taking care of. We had to get an electrician to come in and upgrade the wiring of the house so we could install a security system and run the computers and flat-panel television sets we brought with us from California. We transfer most of our furniture and appliances to here. My old bedroom was just like I had left it when I visited my father before he got sick. I and my husband had moved into the Master bedroom and turned my old bedroom into a spare bedroom for guests. My husband had gotten a kick out of the pictures I had hanging around the bedroom and the dolls I kept here as well.
I get a few tall glasses from the cabinet and place some ice in them just before I fill them up with the tea I made. I grab two bowls to make me and my husband some chef salads and place them on a wooden tray I keep hanging on the wall. Since I became a werewolf I had to get rid of anything silver that I owned, which sucked because I had some nice silver jewelry that I inherited and bought when I was little. Not to mention the nice silverwear set that my father had given me when I and Tom had gotten married.
I wasn’t turned into a werewolf till my third anniversary. We had gone out hunting with some friends of ours and I was tracking a big buck when a big black wolf attacked me. The wolf would have killed me and my friends if Tom hadn’t managed to pull him off me and used his rifle to shoot him. What we learned after Tom had shot him was that this was no ordinary wolf, but a werewolf. Tom managed to sedate him and call the paramedics to come and get me. After we arrived at the hospital and tested my blood, they found out that I had become infected with lycanthrope virus which had merged with my genes which already had this type of virus in it from my family marrying werewolves. I had the gene in me, but it was dormant until I was bitten. I was lucky that my husband hadn’t left me, but stayed with me. He knows he can’t get it because he’s an Immortal and is immune to this and can’t be turned into a vampire either. I finish up the salads and put the ice teas on the wooden tray and carried it outside to where my husband is.
“I made us a salad dear. I hope you like it,” I walk over to the patio table and chair we had brought and set up. He comes walking over and sits down at his place at the table and I take my place as well.
“You know I like anything you prepare for me dear.” he gives me a warm smile. He begins to eat his salad and I start eating mine as well. We sit there in quiet as we enjoy our salad.
“The pool guys are supposed to come by on Wednesday to fix the pool, Tom. It will be nice to have daddies pool again in working order. We can go for midnight swims like we did when we first got married.” as I look at him and smile.
“Mmmmm!! I remember those days Vicky. Are you going to have them hook up that hot tub while they're out here as well?”
“Yep!, It will cost us a little bit more, but they agreed to hook it up too.” as I take a bite of my salad.
“Well the money shouldn’t matter. We have enough money to cover it.” he looks at me.
“I’m not concerned about the money, honey, but I thought we were trying to pass as a normal couple?” as I look over towards him.
“We are dear, but if we need a little extra money, we have it at our disposal.” as he takes a sip of his tea.
My cell phone starts to ring. I take it out of my pocket and look at the number on the display. “I wonder what Stanley wants now.” as I flip my phone open “Hello? Sarah’s bakery. How can I help you?” I give my husband a mischievous smile.
“Funny Vicky. Are you planning on attending the next pack meeting on Thursday?”
“You mean I have a choice in the matter?” as I roll my eyes. Good thing my pack leader can’t see my reactions.
“No, you need to be here for the next meeting since you weren’t here on the last full moon.” as I hear the anger in his voice.
“Hey, I was out of town with my husband on business.” I raise my voice a little.
“Look Vicky, you're part of this pack and I know your husband is an Elder, but you should have been here with your pack when you turn. Your husband has other business he needs to take care of and doesn’t have time to worry if his wife has killed anyone in her wolf form., So I want you here for the next pack meeting to discuss the proper protocol with you. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, pack Master.” as the line goes dead. I close my cell phone up and slam it down on the table a little too hard.
My husband looks at me with a curious look. “What did Stanley want?”
“He wants me to come to the next pack meeting, so he can chew my butt out for not being with the pack on the last full moon. I think he is a little pissed that I didn’t tell him that I was going with you to that meeting you had with that air elemental Master in Fredericksburg.” I take a sip of my tea.
“I think it is more than that Vicky. You have to remember that Stanley is your pack leader and you should have told him that you weren’t going to be with the pack that night.” he looks at me.
I start to get a little mad and before I can respond “ I’m not saying he is right in this matter, but you should have followed proper procedures. I didn’t see any harm considering David had one of his air servants watching you while you were out hunting.”
“Well, why don’t you show up with me and tell Stanley that?” I look into my husband’s dark brown eyes.
“Because he will feel that I’m trying to overthrow his position. It would show that he is being weak and wouldn’t help you either, because then it would show I am giving you favor.“ as he takes another sip of his tea.
“What’s wrong with you showing me a favor? I am your wife after all.” I smile at him because this is an old argument we have all the time.
He just ignores my smile “because you know why.”
“Yeah, I know. The council and the lord of the were-wolf clans said that you weren’t supposed to show me any favors or interfere in pack business. If I remember right he was also against our marriage as well.” I take a sip of my tea.
“Yep!, he didn’t approve of our marriage either, but it doesn’t matter. He forgets that there are certain rights and responsibilities you have being married to me that you have. He should remember that before he opens his mouth and starts preaching his disapproval.”
I smile at my husband's comment. Sometimes I forget that he has to put up with more abuse than I do sometimes.
Tom spots me looking at him “What are you thinking about dear?” as he looks towards my hazel eyes.
“Oh, nothing in particular.” I finish up the last of my tea.
He just shrugs his shoulders and drinks down the last of his tea as well. He sits back in his chair and looks past me towards the yard and what still needs to be done to it. I look at the paint that is flaking off the house as well.
“Did Heather call you back about painting the house?” I asked as my husband turns his attention back towards me.
“Yes, she said that she’ll be out here with her crew tomorrow to start scraping and prepping the house for the new paint we want. Also, Karen is supposed to be picking up the items you wanted from New York and flying them down here along with a few other items she was hired to pick up. Oh, she also wanted to know if you are still interested in investing into that group that is restoring a B-52 bomber at the Suffolk airport?”
“Did she give you the name of the person I need to get in contact with?”
“Yep, it is Bill Wainwright. According to her, he is the person in charge of the group that is restoring the bomber. She also left his phone number so you can call him.”
Tom stands up out of his chair ”well! Let’s go ahead and finish up the yard and I’ll get the steaks going as soon as we’re done.”
I watch as he heads off to finish up what he was doing before we stopped for lunch., I take the dirty dishes back into the house and place them in the dishwasher we had installed when we moved in and then head back outside and help with the yard some more.
It takes the rest of the daylight hours to finish clearing the yard and preparing the grill to cook on. We’re not talking about a little charcoal grill you buy at Walmart or Kmart. We’re talking about a brick made grill that you can cook a whole dinner on and bake inside of it. The type that is made of brick and found in the backyard. I had the pleasure of cleaning it and prepping it for my husband while he got the bonfire going. After he was satisfied with the way the bonfire was going. He walks over towards the grill and see’s me sitting on the ground near it with black spots all over my face and hands. Not to mention my jumpsuit and his tank top shirt I borrowed this morning.
“You look like something the cat dragged in honey.” He extends his hand to help me get up off the ground.
“I was getting your grill clean dear.” I stand there looking tired. “It’s all ready for you to cook us your delicious steaks and potatoes.” I give him a small kiss on his cheek. “I’ll go and get everything and bring it back out here while you get the grill going.” as I head inside the house to get the steaks and potatoes we are going to cook.
A few minutes later I come walking back outside with the wooden tray I had used earlier that day with everything we needed for dinner.
“Here we go honey.” I place the plate with the steaks on it on the shelf area of the grill. I go and finish setting the table again and once that is done. I sit down and watch my husband as he prepares the steaks and the potatoes that need to go in the coals of the grill. My mouth starts to water at the smell of the steaks as he starts cooking them and the wolf inside of me starts to stir as well. She wants to come forward and indulge herself in the sweet copper taste of raw meat and to feel the meat go down her throat as she swallows it. I get control of her and make her go back to sleep. “Enough of that my beast.” as I smile to myself. My husband looks over his shoulder towards me.
“My wolf wanted out to feed upon your steaks dear, but I put her back to sleep.”
“I thought I felt her stir.” as he turns back around to concentrate on cooking the steaks.
I just sit there and watch him. After a while, the steaks are ready and smelling good. Along with the steaks he brings the baked potatoes as well. He sits down and we start eating. Dinner goes by pretty quietly and by the time both of us are done eating was feeling full and satisfied. I look over towards my husband.
“You out did yourself honey.” I give him a warm smile cause I know what we are going to do in a little while and I can’t wait to have him inside of me.
We stay up a little longer feeding the bonfire and curled up on the blanket on the grass near the fire intertwine in each other's arms with my grimy jumpsuit laying down by my feet and his pants halfway down his legs. I moan and dig my fingernails into the blanket we are laying on as he enters me again and again sending waves of pleasure threw out my body as he sends his manhood deep inside of me pressing against my pelvic bone. My eyes have bled to their wolf state as I lock my legs around his waist and throw my arms around his chest pulling him deeper inside of me. My finger's nails change into claws as I rake his back trying to dig into his skin. He looks down into my amber eyes and sees the wolf in me staring back at him and a slow smile comes across his face as he places his mouth over mine, and began kissing me very deeply as his tongue dances around inside of my mouth. I tighten my grip on him with my claws not even penetrating his skin. He moves in and out of me raising the wolf as she feels herself being dominated by her mate. I nearly pass out because of lack of air before he releases my mouth. A low growl escapes from my lips as he forces his tongue back into my mouth and goes deeper into me. My body starts to shake and shiver as I feel my first orgasm hit my body causing me to bow my back into an arch lifting me off the ground as he stays in me and continues to drive his hard manhood as deep as he can. Wave after wave of pleasure hits me again and again as I arch my back higher off the ground as I finally feel him cum inside of me filling that spot inside of me with his seed. I fall back down on the ground with my husband resting on top of me unable to move because of how he has me pinned and the fact that I am so sore that I don’t want to move. He pushes himself up with his arms and looks down again into my amber color eyes. The wolf inside of me is happy and satisfied as I stare back up at him. He brushes some of my brown hair out of my eyes so he can see them better.
“I love you my little wild wolf.” as he kisses me again.
I bury my head against his neck and hold onto him “I love you too, my dark handsome Roman husband.” as I lay there in his arms. As I feel him pull himself out of me. We lay there spooned against each other as I drift off to sleep.
I wake up to the alarm going off. I reach over across my husband’s sleeping form and hit the snooze button and lay back down on the bed. I try to remember how I got up here to our bedroom last night, but I can’t remember a thing. The last memory I had was falling asleep spooned against my husband by the bon fire after we had just gotten done making love. I move my legs some and still feel a little bit sore from him making love to me. After a few minutes, the alarm goes off again and I reach across him again pressing my breast against him. He moans some from the feel of my breast pressed against his skin. He wakes up and wraps his strong arms around the upper part of my body pulling me close to him.
“You know how to wake up a fellow love.” as he places a kiss on me.
I look into his deep mysterious eyes, they may be brown, but they have seen so many years of living that I forget sometimes how old my husband is sometimes and the things he has seen over the years and the women he has loved. I feel jealous at the thought of the other women he has held in his arms and the other wives I know he has had, but then I remember I have him now and I know he would do anything for me.
He looks up into my hazel eyes “are you thinking about my past again love?” as he smiles at me.
“Yes, but it is a pasting thought., You know how I get sometimes.” I bury my head against his neck and nibble on his collar bone.
“I know.” as he rubs my back. “But you have me now and there’s nothing that going to change that. Not unless someone finds a weapon blessed by one of the ancient gods or goddesses.”
I stop what I am doing and look back into his eyes again “you never told me that before, you can only be affected that way.” I prop myself up on his chest and lay my legs down in between his legs feeling his manhood pressing against my womanhood.
“Seems you have learned something new about me every day then.” as he wiggles his eyebrows at me and tickles my side.
I start giggling like a little girl when he does that. “Stop that, you know I’m ticklish there.”
“That’s not the only place your ticklish at either.” I feel his hand slide down my back and cup my ass and start tickling me just below my ass cheeks.
I smack him again on the chest as he starts tickling me again. “Don’t start anything your not going to be able to finish.” I kiss him and get off him, and head to the bathroom. I start the shower after doing what business I have to before hand.
“Want some company dear?” I turn around and see him standing in the doorway.
“Sure.” I smile at the sight of him. He walks over towards me and gets in the shower with me. We spend some time in the shower washing each other's bodies and messing around, but after a while, I get out first and dry off. I remember I have that meeting with Mrs. Longford at 8:00 this morning. I glance over towards the clock on our nightstand and notice it’s 6:00 A.M.
“Oh, great I have an hour to get ready for work and an hour to get to work.” I rush to get ready for work. My husband comes walking out of the bathroom with the towel wrap around his waist. I look up from putting my make-up on “Mmmmm, yummy!!” I watch him walk over to our dresser drawer and pull some clothes out to wear.
“Oh, don’t forget Heather and her crew is coming here this morning to start on the house. She might already be here.” I get up and walk over to the window and look down into our yard. I see Heather’s red Jeep Cherokee pulling into the driveway along with several white vans as well.
She gets out and notices me watching her from my window and wave at me. I wave down at her and finish getting dressed. As I start to head out of the bedroom, I see my husband getting dressed as well. I spot his legionary tattoo on his right shoulder where it was placed before he became an Immortal.
He turns around and sees me staring at his tattoo and smiles at me. He knows I enjoy his stories of how his life was when he was a Roman Commander.
“I’ll call you after the meeting with Mrs. Longford and let you know what she tells me. Also Heather is here too.,”
“Good! I’ll give them a hand and cook lunch for them. Okay, call me on my cell phone. I’ll be outside finishing up the repairs to the garage.” he watches me walk out of the bedroom with me waving goodbye to him.
As I arrive downstairs I hear Heather knocking on the front door. I open it and see a woman about my height and age with short black hair, brown eyes, and gold rim glasses, dressed in a white painter's outfit standing there. I smile at her and see other people behind her unloading the vans that arrived with her.
“Hi, Heather. You’re here early.” I step aside to let her into the house.
She enters “I thought I would get a head start on your house today. I figure it’s going to take all week to do.”
“That’s fine. I’m in a hurry this morning cause I have a client meeting me at the office.” I head out the door with Heather behind me.
“Tom said that he would like to help you out and cook lunch for your crew as well.”
“That will be nice. It’s been a while since we have had a decent lunch and I don’t mind him helping as long, as he remembers I call the shots.”
“I don’t think he’ll mind that since this is your crew and company. He should be down in a few minutes to finish up the repairs to the garage and help you.” I head to my little black Honda Accord.
Heather stops a few feet from the car as I open it up. “Well, I should be here when you get home. If not I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Okay.” I smile at her and watch as she backs away from the car as I start it up. Before backing up I roll down the window “Heather!” she looks at me “work my husband as hard as you like, he’s not happy unless he’s working hard.” I wave at her as I back out and head down the driveway towards the street.
The drive to work isn’t too bad.The traffic is normally heavy first thing Monday morning, but I make it in time. As I arrive, I notice a young African American woman dressed in black dress pants and a nice colorful blouse carrying a huge black purse waiting outside my building. I pull my Accord into the parking space reserved for my business and get out and head over to the woman.
“Mrs. Longford, I’m Victoria Brown. I’m the owner of Brown’s Detective agency. If you’ll give me a few minutes I’ll let us inside.” I give her a friendly smile. Afterward, I go through my keys and open the door. I walk in first and hold the door open for her as we head up the set of stairs to the landing and then over to the door leading to my office. As I enter my office I head over towards the wall separating my office from the other office. Where my secretary normally would sit if I had one working for me. I de-active the alarm system and usher the woman in.
“Would you like some coffee Mrs. Longford?” I get up and start a pot of coffee for myself.
“No, thank you, Mrs. Brown.” as she takes the seat in front of the desk I had been standing at.
I walk around to the other side of the desk and take the seat there. I grab a notebook out of the top drawer and my favorite pen out of my purse.
“Now Mrs. Longford. I’m going to need some basic information about your son. The first thing I need to know is what time does his school start?” I take my pen and get ready to write the information down.
“He normally leaves for school around 8:30 a.m. and gets to school by 9:00 a.m. His class doesn’t start till 9:15 a.m.”
I write this down. “Who is his teacher and what school does he go to?”
“His teacher is Ms. Williams, and she teaches fourth grade. He goes to P.B. Young Sr. Elementary School over off E. Olney Road ”
“What is your son’s full name?”
“William Alex Longford., He is 10 yrs. old, and born on September 21, 1996.”
“Do you remember what he was wearing that day?.” I look up at her and can see tears starting to form. I reach my hand out to her and pat hers.
“I know this is rough and it must be even harder for you Mrs. Longford, but I need to know these things to get a clear picture of what your son was doing that day and what to look for.”
I pull some tissue out of the box I keep in the second drawer of the desk and offer it to her. “Here you go, Mrs. Longford.” I hand her the tissue’s
“Thank you.” as she wipes her tears and blows her nose.
She looks at me “ he was wearing his favorite Redskin’s football jersey and wearing a pair of faded blue jeans with black high top Reebok tennis shoes. He normally carries around a black Power Ranger’s backpack.”
“Okay, do you have a list of his friends and where they live?” as I look into her face.
With my wolf senses, I can tell that she is scared and worried and she has too much perfume on as well.
Mrs. Longfold hands me a piece of paper folded up “here is the list of all his friends and where they live. As well where he normally goes and play.” I accept the folded piece of paper from her.
“Thank you. Oh, Mrs. Longfold did you bring the clothes I requested?”
“Yes, but I don’t see how that is going to help you, Mrs. Brown.” She looks at me with a puzzled look on her face.
I smile to myself, cause I love when people ask me this question. “Well, Mrs. Longford. I have a highly trained dog that can track your son by scent. She’s a very unique breed and was trained by the military to sniff out bombs and such. I was going to bring her in and see if she can find a scent left by your son. I know it has been several days and probably several people have walked over the spot, but she should be able to find something including the scent of the person that took your son. Have any more kids been missing from your area?”
Mrs. Longford sits and thinks about my question for a few seconds. “There aren’t any children missing, but over off of Church street several bodies were found dead in the alleyways over there.” as she looks at me. “You don’t think that has something to do with my son do you?”
“I don’t know Mrs. Longford, but I’ll ask around and see what I can find. Oh, Mrs. Longford?” as I look at her “How did you hear about my agency? I normally don’t advertise.”
“One of the clerks up at the Seven- Eleven on Redgate Avenue, told me about you when I stopped in there to get my lottery ticket for tonight’s drawing.”
“Yeah, they're nice people up at that store. I’m going to have to stop up there and thank them.” I open the third drawer in the desk and take out a piece of paper and lay it down on the desk.
“I will need for you to sign this release form so when I visit your son’s school they will allow me to see any of his records.” I hand her several release forms.
“Why do you need to see his records?” as she gives me a weary look.
“Because I would need to see his medical records kept by the school nurse if he came to school with some unusual symptoms or marks on him.” I watch as she understands and writes her name on the release form.
“Mrs. Longford, your address here, is that located in Young’s Park?” I look at her face.
“Yes, Ma. It is. Is that going to be a problem?” I notice a little bit of anger in her voice.
“No, Ma. I was just thinking about your case and trying to figure out why?” I look at her “you did say that there were some bodies found over off of Church Street?”
“Yes.” She finishes signing and lays the pen down on the desk
“Do you remember what street they were located on?” I take the pen I was holding and get ready to record her answer.
“They were found over in the area between Washington ave to C Ave.
“Hhhhmmmm!! Isn’t there a grave yard over near that area?”
“Yes, Ma. There is, one that is called Elmwood Cemetery and the other one is Cedar Grove Cemetery.” as she watches me write those places down. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, the reason I’m asking is that as you know vampires are legal citizens now and I was wondering if maybe a recently dead vampire or an old one has decided to awaken and decided to kidnap your child.”
She looks at me like am joking “It’s just a thought, Mrs. Longford, I’m going to ask around and bring my dog in first to see if I can find a scent or something. I’ll need to speak with some of the kids he walked to school with as well as some of his friends.
“Thank you, Mrs. Longford.” I close the notebook up. “I’ll call you in a few days and let you know what I have found out so far.” as I stand up out of my chair.
I watch as Mrs. Longford stands up and picks up her purse. I walk her to the door of my office and watch as she makes her way down the stairs. I turn and walk back into my office and close the door behind me and head back to my desk in the other room and sit there looking over the information I have so far.
“Why would a person want to kidnap an African American ten-year-old?” I get up and get myself a cup of coffee and head back to my desk. As
I am sitting there thinking, my phone starts to ring. I pick the phone up off my desk “Good Morning, Brown’s Detective Agency. Victoria Brown speaking.”
“Hey, Vicky what ya doing?” I hear a young woman’s voice that I recognize on the other end.
“Not much, just sitting here drinking a cup of coffee, Karen. Where are you?” as I take a sip of my coffee.
“I’m about to leave New York. I hired a few people to load up the plane and I’m waiting on them to finish, before closing up and flying back down to where you are. I should be back in about three hours if the weather permits. “
“I’ll call and tell Tom. He’s been expecting that package of his for a while and he can’t wait to get it.” as I take another sip of my coffee.
“Well then, I'd better hurry these guys up and get into the air with my cargo. See you in a little while.”
“Okay, bye.” as I hear her hang up on her end. I put the phone back on the desk and lean back in my chair.
The quietness of my office is only disturbed by the renovation going on downstairs under my office. Some new client wants his office to be the best around. So he hired a renovation crew to come in and redo the lower part of my building after getting my permission from me first. I take another sip of my coffee and just listen as the crew starts their day. I sit there for a minute and finally decide that it’s time I get off my butt and start this investigation. I get up out of my chair and head out of my office and down to my car passing a few of the guys that were hired to do the renovation. The foreman of the crew comes walking over to me. He is dress in blue jeans, work boots, and a blue flannel shirt.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Brown. I was wondering if I can speak to you for a minute or two.” as he catches up with me.
I look at him “sure!” I follow him over to his black Ford Expedition.
“I need your signature on a few of these forms since you’re the owner of this building.” He hands me the forms.
I take them and start reading over each and everyone of them before I sign them. After a few minutes, I take my pen out and start signing my name to all of them.
“Well, that should do you. Any thing else you need me for?” I look at him.
“Nope, that was it.” he takes the paperwork and puts it in a folder.
As I am about to walk away from him “Oh, how much longer are you guys going to be making noise?”
He just smiles at me “Oh, another few months. We should have the major stuff taken care of in a month or so.”
“Oh, great. That’s all I need.” as I head to my car. “You take care, Tony.”
“You too Mrs. Brown.” as he watches me get into my little Honda and start it up and head away from my office.
My drive over to where Mrs. Longford lived was a short one. I could have walked over here if I had felt like it, but I felt like being lazy today and my curiosity was up as well. I passed Chrysler Hall on my way towards St. Paul blvd and sat there at the light waiting for it to change. I glance over towards the right of me and shake my head at the townhouses they had built next to the commerce building. High dollar townhouses in downtown Norfolk. Just isn’t something you would want to find in a historical city like this place is.
I know the reason for those buildings was to bring in high-dollar citizens, so the city can bring in a major NHL team or some other major sports team. Some of the citizens of Norfolk would love for a major team to be base here, but other citizens would rather see downtown Norfolk restore to its historical history. Another reason for all the high-dollar condos and townhouses was also to hide the city’s shame of the housing projects across the street from the commerce building. The city is planning on expanding its office buildings and services into the empty lot that used to have stores and other business there. They want to hide the fact that all the citizens of Norfolk aren’t making enough money to live on, but barely making enough to live and need help from the city to survive.
I turn my head back towards the light, just in time to see it turn green. I make a left-hand turn on to St. Paul blvd and head towards Brambleton ave, which crosses over St. Paul Blvd. While sitting at another light. I watch as the electronic sign that is on the left-hand corner of the street flash what shows and events were going to either be at the Chrysler or the Scope which you can see up on the plaza. It’s a big white old dome building where sporting events and where the circus normally come to perform. Sometimes the Boy Scouts or some other organization would host their events there as well. I watch as Admirals vs. Springfield Falcons flash across the screen. My husband Tom loves ice hockey and I know for a fact that he has seasonal tickets to all the games.
The light turns green and I drive until I come to Virginia Beach Blvd and make a right turn on to it. I follow it down to where the city bus stop is that Mrs. Longford said she catches the bus at. I manage to find a parking space several feet away from the bus stop. I rummage around inside my purse before I get out of the car for my camera, a little notebook, and my detective's license just in case Norfolk’s finest pulls over to ask me what I’m doing. I leave my purse locked up in the car, tucked up under the passenger seat.
As I am walking towards the spot where the bus stop is, I notice that the grave yard I asked Mrs. Longford about is direct across the street behind some church. Further down the block are another church and its parking lot with a huge praying white hand sculpture. I shake my head and go to the spot where Mrs. Longford said she catches the bus with her son. I see that there is a knee-high brick wall on which the ground behind it is slightly higher than the street and sidewalk. The brick apartments that the people here live in are built on a small hill and have steps leading up to a small concrete porch slab.
I stand there and look out at Virginia Beach Blvd and try to imagine the bus pulling up to the curb. I open the senses of my wolf to see if I can find some trace of his scent still cling to the brick work or around the area. As I am sniffing the area I pick up a familiar scent. I kneel to adjust my shoes and doing a little bit of sniffing at the brick work. I pick up his scent as well, several other kids. There’s also is an undead scent, there as well. I smell decay and fresh earth. I stand up and look around. I can still smell the scent of fresh earth leaving this area and heading deeper into the area where they live. I follow the scent deeper into the park and notice as it stops at another location. The scent of young girls fills my nostrils. I walk around the place noticing that whoever this person is. They are stalking the people who live in this community.
As I am standing there looking around, I feel that someone is watching me. I causally look around to see if I can spot them. I see people looking at me weirdly from the safety of their homes with the curtain pulled aside to watch me. I smile and continue to look around the neighborhood. Most of the area is nice and clean and it looks like the people living here take pride in how it is presented. I continue to walk through the neighborhood towards the school to see what paths William might take to go to school and how long it should take him. I glance down at my watch and notice it didn’t take very long to walk over to here. I stop by one of the buildings and smell stale beer and drugs that have been used in this area. As I am standing there thinking I notice the gym teacher bring out the students to exercise on the ball court. I shake my head as a smirk appears on my face.
I remember when I was in grade school and having to go outside for recess. I always went over and played on the swings and monkey bars. Some of my friends would join me on the swing or monkey bars and we would play tag on the bars. If you fell off the bars or were caught off the bars you were it automatically. I was caught only a few times off the bars. I couldn’t believe, Thomas the brown hair boy that lived four streets over from me would always be the hardest to catch on the monkey bars. He moved so swift and easily over them that you thought he was raised on them. I wonder what ever happen to him. As I start walking away from the school and back towards my car.
As I arrive where my car is. I stop and look over towards the church that is direct across from me. The graveyard wall runs directly behind the building. I watch as cars drive down Virginia Beach Blvd faster than the posted speed limit. I wait till there is a break in the traffic and walk across the street towards the church and then into the graveyard behind it.
“Well, this an old cemetery.” as I start walking around looking at some of the dates on the headstones dating from the 1970's down to the late 1700s. As I am standing there, I get an uneasy feeling of being watched by the spirits of those’s that had passed away before I was born. As I walk around the grave yard I read some of the names and dates of those that had passed away. Collins, Williams, Yates, Boush are just a few of the names that catch my attention. Their deaths appear to be around the same time.
I stop and kneel and look at the dates written on the tombstones. July 15, 1773. I glance over towards the Yates tombstone and notice that the date on that one is the next day after this one. I stand up and look around some more, but I don’t see any graves disturb. “Well, there’s nothing here.” as I start to head back out of this graveyard and walk across Princess Anne road to the other graveyard across the street.
As I walk into the grave yard I get the same feeling as before when I was in the other one. A slight chill to my skin as I feel the presence of the ghost still hanging around in this graveyard. I walk around and look at the different tombstones like I did before. Some of the mausoleums were built for the different people who have died. One of them catches my eye. I head over towards it and noticed that it has been open recently. I kneel and examine the lock that had secured it and notice someone or something had ripped the chain and lock. I open the doors and walk in and see that the vault where the coffin is kept is open and whoever was inside it is gone now. As I look around the place, I notice that the other vault that is in here hasn’t been disturb, but I do notice that there were cross’s laying on the floor of the mausoleum around the burial vault that had been open. I pick one up and look at it and notice it is one of the old ones that the colonists use to use when they first came over.
I look back up at the burial vault and notice that the vault had several places on it for the cross to be inserted into it to seal the lid onto the vault. I let out a slow whistle as I now realize I will have to request a meeting with Mistress Selena the head vampire of this area and find out from her why one of her people was being kept here? As I stand up, I slip the broken cross into my pants pocket and head out of the mausoleum and walk towards the back part of the grave yard that faces Church Street. The brick wall that separates the graveyard from the rest of the neighborhood stands at least 6 feet tall and doesn’t look to have been damage in any way. I step back a few feet and start running towards it and at the last moment jump straight up and vaulted over it landing on the other side.
I look around to make sure no one saw me clear the wall. Feeling relieves that no one saw me. I look out across the open field towards Church street and start walking towards the street. I see Graves funeral home towards my left and directly across the street is Huntersville Community Center located on Golf street. I head down Church Street towards the streets the murder victims were located and noticed that it wouldn’t take a vampire that long to cover this distance in no time. I stop and stand there and try to figure out who would go against Mistress Selena’s orders? Most of the vampires under her know it’s not a good idea to go against the elder of their kiss. That would mean you wish to challenge her and that’s never a good idea.
I continue to walk down the street towards Graves's funeral home and look around the property. As I arrive there I spot something poking out from under some bushes and head over to it. As I kneel to retrieve it I notice the color of the item is black. “I hope this isn’t his backpack.” as I reach forward and pull it out from under the bush. As I examine it, I am relieved that it isn’t the one that Ms. Longford had to describe to me. I hear movement behind me and smell men's cologne drifting past my nose.
“Excuse me Ms. Can I help you?” A male voice with an Arabic accent comes from behind me.
I stand up and turn to face him brushing my hands together to get rid of the dirt that had gotten on them. He stands there dress in your typical funeral home business wear. The dark suit he wears seems to make his dark eyes even darker. His dark tanned skin adds as a backdrop for it as well. He stands a little bit taller than me by at least 6 inches and appears to be a little older than me.
“Sorry!, I was looking for my son’s model rocket he lost over here the other day sir.” I give him my most pleasant smile.
He looks at me like he doesn’t believe me, but he gives me a smile of his own. “Do you recall what type of rocket your son had Ma?”
“You know, I’m not sure. Normally my husband goes with him when every they fire off his model rocket, but I let him fire it off yesterday out here in the field behind your building and he told me he lost it somewhere over here and since I work close to here. I thought I would see if I could find it for him. It’s one of his favorites. You don’t mind me looking around do you?” I give him the same smile as before.
He looks at me with a skeptical look on his face like he isn’t buying my story. “I don’t mind you looking about Ms. but you need to be careful. Sometimes this neighborhood can get a little rough.”
I get an uneasy feeling from him when he says those words. The wolf inside of me doesn’t trust him and I have learned to listen to her instincts.
“Thanks, I’ll remember that.” I watch as he turns to head back towards the funeral home.
I start walking back towards my car which is still parked over on Virginia Beach Blvd. As I am walking back my cell phone starts ringing. As I pull it out and answer it “Vicky Here.”
“Hi Vicky, it’s Emygdia. How’s your day going?”
I smile at the sound of her voice. You can tell Emygdia isn’t from here with her strong Spanish accent “I’m okay. It’s been kind of boring this morning.”
“Sounds like your out walking or something. I keep hearing the sound of cars coming over your cell phone.”
“Yeah, I’m down here on Virginia Beach Blvd working on a case.” I walk past the church that has the statue of the large hands praying.
“So what’s the case about?”
“You know I can’t tell you that.” I hear her sigh on the other end of the phone. Emygdia had worked with my father on a few of his cases when he was alive. She’s worked as a clerk down at the city Treasury office.
“Well if you're not too busy. Do you want to hook up for lunch? My treat.”
“Sure, when and where?” as I stop and wait for a few cars to pass before I attempt to cross the street.
“How does The Abbey sound and how about around noon time?”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll meet you there.” I start to cross the street.
“Okay, I’ll see you there then.” as the phone goes dead.
I close my cell phone and place it back in my pocket. As I start walking across the street and then towards my car.
Once I get to my car I check the time on my watch and see that I still have an hour before I need to join Emygdia for lunch. As I open my car door one of the residents stuck their head out and wave to me. I wave back and watch as he steps outside to get his newspaper. He stands there and watches me as I get into my car and start it up. I put it into gear and drive off as I watch him in my rear mirror go back into his place.
I drive up to Virginia Beach Blvd and then make a left-hand turn onto Church Street and follow it up till it merges with Granby street. As I merge onto Granby Street. I passed Forest Lawn cemetery on my right-hand side just before I get to the entrance of the Norfolk city zoo and the parking area. I passed them and head down towards the Seven-Eleven convention store near the city park. As I am parking my car I notice a group of wannabe’s gothic kids entering the store. I get out of my car and follow them inside. I head over towards the soft drink and energy drink cooler and get a can of Arizona Southern Style sweet tea. I look around for the group of teenagers that came in before me and see that they are picking up all sorts of junk food and such including several bottles of the synthetic blood that was produced for the vampires.
I heard that humans can drink the stuff to supplement the blood they lose when they volunteer to be used as blood donors and such. Why anyone would want to do that to themselves I’ll never figure that out. I head towards the counter where the wannabes are waiting in line and stand there watching them while waiting to be checked out.
“Do you think Mistress Maria is going to choose anyone tonight to be her permeant blood donor?” The shorter of the three girls in the gothic group looks at her companions.
“Who knows, I know Master Darling is getting sick of her only choosing women to serve her. He said that she should leave her options open and switch out ever so often.” as the oldest of them look towards the short dark-haired girl that had been talking at first.
“He’s just jealous cause he has been turned down every time he had asked her to be his for the last fifty years. If there was a werewolf that came by the club or even one of the other were’s that wouldn’t mind being her permeant blood donor and lover. I know that would be the one thing she wants the most. She has a crash on that female werewolf that is married to that Immortal elder. She told me last night that if she wasn’t already married to him, she would have claimed her by now.”
I arch an eye brow about that one. I don’t even know a Mistress Maria. Then again there’s a lot of vampires in this area I don’t know or don’t want to know.
One of the older guys in the group turns to face the young girl who had been talking in front of me and gives her a very dirty look.
“Mistress Maria should have never been turned into a vampire. The only reason she is still alive is that she is under Mistress Selena’s protection and the other vampires don’t want to act against her. Trust me things are going to be changing around here soon and the rest of the supernatural community around here are going to regret it.”
I stand there thinking about what I just heard and I wonder if this has anything to do with the fragments of the old colonial-style crosses I found? I watch as they leave, but mentally try to remember their scent and image just in case I need to track them down to question them some.
I head out of the store and back to my car. As I walk out the door I catch the scent of another was near me. I stop and look around trying to place the scent on one of the people standing around outside the store either talking with one another or getting gas. I follow the scent back to a large muscular bald biker guy.
He sees me watching him as we lock eyes. He gives me a predator grin. I return the smile, but more friendly than his. I start walking over towards him as he stands there next to his big Harley Davidson motorcycle. I see his eyes watching my every movement as I walk towards him.
He waits for me to get closer to him before speaking. “So what brings you to this neck of the woods little puppy?” as he examines the way I am dress.
‘Oh, nothing much. I’m just out enjoying the day and traveling around. the city.” I stand there and examine the way he is dressed. His faded black t-shirt covering his chest and the Marine theme logo on the front of it says “Kill’em all and let God sort them out.” The faded jeans he has on are ripped in several places and look like they should have been replaced a long time ago. I notice that he has on a pair of boots that the SWAT team of the local police normally wears.
“You like what you see?” he smiles at me.
“You wish.” I return the smile.
“You know if you weren’t the wife of an elder, I might have decided to court you myself?”
“Boy, don’t I feel privilege. Still, there is one thing you are forgetting.” as I look at the smug look on his face.
“Oh, what’s that?”
“Our pack leaders would never allow it. I’m a wolf and you’re a coyote. You know the rules about alpha’s of different species intermingling. It would never be allowed on either side and if we broke that rule, our pack leaders have the right to punish us any way they see fit.”
“Still it would be worth it. Just to see how you are in bed and under a full moon.” he gives me an evil smile.
“You forget Gereon, I don’t need the full moon to change. I can change any time I want to. I also can change any part of my body at will as well.” as I flash my wolf eye’s at him.
“Anyone can do that darling.” as his own eyes flash to that of the animal inside of him.
“True, but you can’t keep your eyes like that for long or they will remain like that.” I lean in towards him, “but I can leave mine like this for however long I want to and with no side effects.” as I let my eyes go back to normal. “which means I can change any part of me any time I want to and stay like that forever with no ill effects.”
I step back away from him as I watch his reaction.
He looks at me and tries to figure out how I can do what I just said I could. I could see from the blank look on his face that the wheels inside his head are turning and processing this information.
He looks at me and then shakes his head. “I’m not even going to ask how your ability to do that.” as he looks past me towards someone approaching from behind me. I hear the footsteps as well as they approach. I turn to see who it is and realize it’s one of my pack members.
I smile at the man approaching. “Well hello, Jack. What brings you to this neck of the woods?”
He gives me a friendly smile “I was on my way to a customer's house when I saw you two standing here talking.” as he glances over towards Gereon.
I can feel the energy being emitted from both of them as they size up each other to determine which of them is the stronger of the two. After a few minutes, the energy dies down, once they feel that both of them are of equal strength and are no threat to each other.
“You know, you two could have just shaken hands and determine that way, which of you two were the stronger. Cause you already know I’m married and there’s no reason to impress me.,”
Both men turn and look at me. “Who said we were trying to impress you?”
“Cause I’m the only female were around here and I know both of you are not gay. Also, I know that both of you wish that I was free so you could court me.”
Both men look at me and smile.
“Are we that transparent?” Jack gives me one of his famous good ole boy smiles.
“Yes!” I stare right back at him with a stern look on my face. “Look I would like to stand around here and spend time with you two, but I made a promise to meet a friend of mine for lunch. So if you two gentlemen will excuse me I have a lunch date to go to.” I start walking towards my car and watch as Jack and Gereon finish talking to one another.
I leave the parking lot of the seven-eleven and take Granby street towards downtown Norfolk and turn right on to Freemason street and then turn left into Abbey’s parking lot.
As I walk towards the front of the old, converted church. I stop and admire the outside of it. The old solid stonework makes up the building's exterior walls and the beautiful woodwork that surrounds the large stain glass windows. I bet the builders of this wonderful building would never have realized that this church which was built back in 1873 by the congregation of the Second Presbyterian Church would one day be turned into a high-class restaurant that serves one of the best variety of foods around. The staff who work here are the best around and they make you feel like your family with a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. I walk in through the old solid wooden church-style doors into a small foyer where I’m greeted by a woman smaller than me with short brown hair wearing a lovely brown blouse and light tan pants that hug her legs. The beautiful smile on her face warms me as she greets me.
“Welcome to The Abbey. My name is Clair and I will be your hostess today.”
“Hi, Clair. I’m was wondering if the other half of my party has arrived yet.” I look past Clair towards the other patrons in the restaurant. The downstairs part of the restaurant looks to already be full which means Emygdia must have a balcony table upstairs.
“What name is the reservation under?” Clair looks at the reservation book.
“Ms. Emygdia.” I watch Clair as she scans her list on the clipboard next to her resting on an old fashion preacher's pedestal.
She looks back up at me “She’s already here. If you’ll follow me please. “
We head towards the flight of stairs against the right-hand side of the restaurant and head up towards the huge balcony area. I spot Emygdia right away with her look dark hair that is tied back in a pony tail and her signature suit she had custom made. Her golden tanned skin and shapely body. She’s the kind of woman that when you meet her, looks so innocent and helpless, but has an air of authority with her that you miss at first.
“Vicky!” as Emygdia stands up to greet me.
We hug each other and sit back down at the table.
“I took the liberty of ordering an appetizer for us.”
“That’s fine.”
The waiter comes over. I order a sweet Ice tea and he disappears to go and get the drink.
“So what type of case are you working on?” as she turns those inquisitive eyes of hers towards me.
“I’m working on a missing child case. But I think there might be more to this case than what it appears to be?” as I accept my ice tea from the waiter.
“What makes you say that?” Emygdia takes a sip of her drink. Knowing her it’s something alcoholic.
“Cause there have been several killings over near where the child disappear at, as well I was picking up the scent of the dead around the neighborhood the child lived in. It’s like some vampire or something is stalking that area.” as I take a sip of my tea again.
“Where did the child disappear from and where does he live?”
“Over there in that housing project at the corner of Virginia Beach Blvd. and Monticello avenue.”
“Hhhmmm, as far as I know. The only vampire I know that lives in that area is Smoke. He normally preys on the drug addicts in that area.”
“Why only the drug addicts?”
“Cause he use to be one and he misses the high he use to get. So now he drinks the blood of the drug addicts over there to get his high from the drugs in their bodies since vampires are immune otherwise.” Emygdia looks at me. “Did you see the bodies yet?’
“Nope, I was going to see if my pal Gerd is working tonight. He’s a security officer down at the city morgue and can get me in so I can look at the bodies. Also, I need to make an appointment to see Mistress Selena about these.” I dig out the broken pieces of the cross I found and show them to Emygdia.
I watch as she turns the broken pieces around in her hand. She examines them herself as she takes one and gives it a good sniff.
“Yep, they have been around the dead for a while.” She hands them back to me. “Also from the look of it. I would say that it is one of Mistress
Selena’s designs. It is something she would have brought over from when she came over here, but I don’t recall her ever locking someone away in a coffin or burial vault. Normally she would just kill them.”
“Well I don’t know what or who she had locked in that burial vault, but I need to know if it has anything to do with that missing boy and that scent I picked up. Because if one of her vampires are stalking around over there. Then she needs to know about it so she can put a stop to it before my husband catches a whiff of it. He will go after the rogue vampire and kill it.” I smile at the thought.
“I remember when he thought I was killing people back in the fifties. He came after me with such a vengeance that he almost got me. I was lucky to explain to him that I wasn’t the one killing people, but a demon someone had summoned and let lose on everyone.”
“I remember Tom telling me about that. He said that it was a drugged-out Satanic worshiper that was trying to summon a demon to kill his ex-wife cause she had run off with another man.”
“It took both of us to bring that demon down and send him back to his realm.”
“Wow! How did you two manage to send a demon back? Tom doesn’t deal in magic.”
A mischievous smile appears on Emygdia’s face. Tom may not deal in magic, but I do.”
My jaw nearly hits the floor. “You never told me you knew magic.” as I look at her Spanish features.
“I don’t deal in standard magic Vicky. I deal in demon and death magic.”
I sit there stun looking at this woman I trust. I never thought of her as someone that would hurt you unless it was in self-defense. Now I find out she deals in demon and death magic.
“I take it from your reaction, that your afraid of me now?” as she stares at my face.
“No, it’s just that it, I never knew you were into the dark side of magic.” as I meet her glaze.
“I’m not. I don’t practice the discipline or magic’s.”
“But you just said that.”
“That I deal in demon and death magic., Yes! I do, but I deal in them in a way that sets me apart from those that use them in the wrong way. I undo the mess that they create and try to fix whatever damage they have caused.”
“Boy, do I feel sheepish.” I reach and take a sip of my Ice tea. I can feel my cheeks burning from embarrassment.
Emygdia just laughs at my comfortableness. “You should see your reaction, Vicky.”
“Ha-ha, laugh it up. But seriously. What made you decide to deal in demon and death magic?”
“Well as you know it’s part of me. Gargoyles are guardians against the unwanted or evil spirits. As you know we use to guard and protect the old churches of Europe until people started thinking of us as demons. “
“Well that sucks.” as I watch her take a sip of her wine.
As she puts the drink “So for us to defend against the demons and other evil creatures. My ancestors started learning about how their magic works and how to defend against it. Including how to use it against them.”
“But isn’t that dangerous? Doesn’t that type of magic require you to make a sacrifice?”
“Only for those who aren’t demons or necromancers. For those of us that are, it’s part of us. Just as your wolf is part of you.”
“So you're saying you have demon blood running through your veins?” as the wolf in me starts to get nervous.
“No, I don’t have demon blood running through my veins and you can quiet your wolf as well. You know I won’t do anything to hurt you or your family. Not that Tom would let me live if I wanted to hurt you. What I am saying, is that my ancestors paid the price for our clan to be able to weld this type of magic. Still, this isn’t about me, but you and that boy you were hired to find.”
“Fine change the subject on me.” as I quietly stroke back my wolf and put her to rest. “So do you have any idea where he is and why anyone would kidnap him?”
“No, and No.“ A playful smile comes across her face.
“Oh, you’re a lot of help. Can’t you go down to the cemetery near where he disappears and talk to some of the spirits hanging around there? I know a few are still there cause I felt them.”
“And what are you going to do while I go poking around in the cemetery?” Emygdia gives me a questionable look.
“I’m going to call Mistress Selena and set up a meeting with her and find out who it was she had locked up in that mausoleum. As well I’m going to give Gerd a call after we finish eating to find out if he is working tonight and visit him at work to see those bodies.”
“Are you going to tell your husband you won’t be home till late tonight?”
“I suppose, I will have to, but I won’t call him till I’ve had a chance to talk to Gerd first and find out if he is working or not.”
“Well here’s the key to my Condo in downtown Norfolk over off Duke street. If you want to spend the night there instead of driving back to your house.” She hands me a set of keys.
“Thanks.” I accept them and slip them into my pocket. “I’ll get them back to you as soon as possible.”
“Go ahead and keep them for you and Tom., I hardly ever use the place and I have another place over near the Harrison Opera House.”
“I can’t do that Emygdia.” as I try to hand the keys back to her. She raises her hand and pushes on mine.
“No, you keep them and use the place. I mean this Vicky. Your father was a good friend of mine and your husband is as well.”
I take the keys and place them back into my pocket. “I still don’t know why you are doing this Emygdia.” I take a sip of my drink.
“Let’s just say I’m being a good friend and leave it at that okay?” Emygdia finishes her drink and motion her hand for the waiter to bring a refill for her.
He comes over with another tall glass and takes her old one away. He returns with another glass of what I am drinking We as well sit there in silence eating our lunch and making small talk every once in a while. I sit back in my chair after eating a wonderful lobster.
“You know maybe me and Tom should come here next week so he can enjoy this wonderful lobster.” as I look over towards Emygdia.
“I think Tom would also enjoy the buffalo meat as well.”
“I think your right.” I watch as the waiter brings our check over and Emygdia pays for the meal leaving a hearty tip for the waiter.
“Well let me head back to work and I’ll call you later on what I find out Vicky.” as we both stand up and head down the stairs towards the front door and out towards the parking lot. We hug each other and head towards our cars. I get in my car and pull my cell phone out to call Gerd.
As I am waiting for the cell to connect I watch as the mid-day traffic thins out some. Finally, I hear Gerd's voice answer his phone.
“Hello?” A strong older male voice with a German accent comes over my cell phone.
“Hi! Gerd. It’s me Victoria. I’m investigating a case about those people that were found dead over there off of church street and I wanted to know if you wouldn’t mind me coming by to get a look at the bodies. I know it’s unofficial and it could be your job, but I need to see those bodies.”
“How come?” I hear him move around in the background.
“I have a feeling that something supernatural was involved and I need to look over the bodies just to make sure.”
“I don’t mind, but I’m not working today, but tomorrow. I don’t go back to work till Tuesday night around midnight. So if you want to come then I’ll let you in so you can see the bodies.”
“Thanks, Gerd. You’re a sweetheart. So now that we have that out of the way. How’s has things been going for you lately?”
“Okay, they’ve changed the procures down at the city morgue now. Ever since the coming out of the Vampires. A special room was built for the recently turned. They have to stay in this room till either their given blood by a nurse, a blood doll, or until the one that turned them shows up for them.”
“I thought the city of Norfolk was shipping those that were turned over to the Naval hospital in Portsmouth for protection.”
“They were at first, but the city council was convinced by the Elder vampires in this area to have them ship to the city morgue where one of them could come and get them. “
“That makes sense and since a few of the city council members are funded by some of the elder vampires here, they don’t want their money train cut off.”
“Yep, anyway I’m heading back to sleep Victoria. Today is my day off and I am going to soak it up and enjoy it.”
“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow night at your job. Do you want me to bring anything special with me?”
“Yeah, how about a bucket of Kentucky Fry chicken and two large side dishes to go with it and a 2-liter of Mountain dew as well.”
“Sounds, good to me. What style of chicken do you like? Extra crispy or original recipe?” I pull out my little notebook and make a note of it so I don’t forget.
“Extra crispy. You pick the sides. They're all good.”
“Okay, I’ll have your dinner with me when I show up Gerd. You get some rest and I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Thanks, Victoria.”
I listen as he hangs up. I close my cell phone and place it in the cup holder in the center console as I strap in and back the car out of the parking lot and head back towards my office. As I am driving back to my office. I think about the one phone call I am going to have to make and I know I’m not going to enjoy it.
As I pull into my parking space back at my building. I see the construction crew all sitting around eating their lunch and drinking sodas or whatever else they brought with them. I don’t see the supervisor’s truck. Which could meant he went somewhere else for lunch. As I get out of my car one of the construction crew guys give me a wolf whistle. I turn my head over towards the one that gave me the whistle and give him a friendly smile. Most girls like me would be offended by the wolf whistle, but most of these guys have already met my husband and they know what would happen if any of them tried making a move on me.
“Enjoying your lunch Sam?” as I walk by him to head inside.
“Now that you’re here Mrs. Brown, Yep!” I put an extra little wiggle in my walk as I head inside my building and up to my office.
Just as I arrive inside my cell phone starts ring. I pull it out of my pocket “Hello?”
“Vicky, how’s the investigation going?” as my husband’s deep voice comes over the phone.
“It’s getting complicated honey.” I sit down in my chair in my office.
“Oh, how so?”
“There’s more here than a missing child.” I turn around to look out my window towards MacArthur mall and the people coming and going from it.
“How so sweetie?”
I hear something sizzle in the background on his end.
“Well, when I went to investigate the area, the boy was kidnap from. I was picking up the scent of the undead in that area. I mean it was everywhere. It’s like someone is stalking the area looking for people like that.” I reach over and grab a bottle water from the little refrigerator I keep in the office.
“That’s weird. Has anything else weird happen over in that area?”
I sit there and don’t know if I should tell him about the broken pieces of the cross I found or not.
“Vicky?” as my husband’s voice comes back over the phone to break me out of my thoughts.
“I’m sorry, honey. I was just thinking about the question you just asked me. The answer to your question is yes. There were several unexplained deaths over off of Church street near Graves’s funeral home. Plus I found several broken pieces of the style of crosses that would had been around when Mistress Selena came across in one of the mausoleums in the grave yard across the street from the housing projects. I think she had someone locked up in that mausoleum.”
“The question is who and why?”
As my husband response with the same exact thought, I had. “Oh, I had lunch today with Emygdia and she has given us the use of her condo over off of Duke street.”
“That was nice of her. Did she say why?”
“Yeah, when I told her I was going to visit my friend Gerd and make an appointment to see Mistress Selena. She knew I would be driving back to our house late and thought it might be better if I crash at her condo, instead of driving back home.”
“That makes sense., How long did she say we can use it?”
“As long as we need it. I tried giving her back the keys back, but she wouldn’t take them back.” as I take a sip of my water.
“That sounds like her. So does that mean I shouldn’t wait up for you tonight?”
“No, I’m coming home tonight, and I will see Gerd tomorrow when he gets to work. I’ll call Mistress Selena on my way home and make an appointment to see her as well tomorrow after I visit Gerd. Also Emygdia is going to go and talk with some of the ghost still hanging around in the grave yard when she gets a chance. I have a feeling that they might know who was inside that mausoleum.”
“You should have her go with you to the morgue instead. If I remember her gifts right, she can bring the dead back to life for a little while and ask them questions.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. Then again, she just told me today what some of her abilities are.”
“What did you girls talk about that got her to reveal things like that to you?”
“You, mostly. Also, how you almost killed her.” I take another sip of my water.
“Ah, you told her about what I told you.”
“Well sort of. She told me a little about what happen.” I prop my feet up on my desk and lean back in my chair.
“So, what time do you think you’re going to be home tonight?”
I hear some sizzling in the background and a few of the painters as they talk.
“Mmmm!! I’m going to spend a few more hours here and do some more research. I should be home by seven tonight.” I sit back up in my chair.
“Okay! I’ll prepare some dinner for us to cook on the grill when you get home dear.”
“Thanks, I love you.” I kiss the phone so he can hear the kiss.”
“I love you too my little wolfe.” He gives me a little howl.
I smile as I hear the cell phone go dead. I close the cell phone and place it on the desk and pull the street map I keep in my desk drawer out and look over the area where the deaths were and look over the area. I take my keys out of my purse and remove the one for my desk and use it to unlock the fourth drawer. Inside is a rolled-up piece of plastic that has all the territories of the supernatural laid out on it. I unroll the plastic out over the map and see who areas these murders took place in. A whistle escapes my lips when I realize that the Church street area is under Mistress Selena’s sphere of influence. “Well that explains that, but why are there so many different murders in this area?” I sit back and think about what Emygdia said about the vampires that lives in that area. She said that he only preys on those that are drug addicts and that he normally doesn’t drain them completely.
I lean forward and stare at the map of the territories again. Most of Granby street and Willow Wood Drive is off limits to being claim including Lafayette Park and Virginia Zoo area. Everything past Willow Wood Drive up to Wards Corner is owned by both the Were-cats and my pack. Not to mention some of the Jews in those areas. Still why is this area so important? As I stare at the location where the bodies were found. There’s nothing of value in that area, except new homes and varies businesses.
Whoever is doing this would be better off taking over the cargo terminal from Mistress Selena over here off of Orapax street. I look at the area where Lambert’s Point docks is located. That area has been under Mistress Selena’s control since it was first built. We’re lucky she has let it be an open area. Cause most of our pack work there, not to mention most of the other Were’s in this area as well.
Some of our pack works next door at MHI Engineering too. Which a lot of people that live in that area believe should had never been built there in the first place. I know most of the employees at the contact manufacturing plant located down there off of Boissevain Avenue would had prefer the place not being built because of how much traffic it generates and slow them down.
I get up and walk around my office trying to figure this out. Why would anyone be interested in a little kid and why the murder of those people? Unless they were food for whoever was locked up in that mausoleum. “I really do need to get a look at those bodies. But why the boy?” I walk back to my chair and sit down.
“God, this would be so much easier if I had magic like my older sister and cousin.” I spin around in my chair and stare out towards the mall.
“There has to be some reason all of these events are connected, but how?” I turn back around and roll the map back up. I also roll the street map and lock them away in my desk again.
“Good thing I had my sister enchant this desk drawer, so it is magically sealed.” I sit back up in my chair.
I take a look at the clock on my wall and see that if I leave now, I won’t have to sit in traffic a long time. I grab my purse and turned the coffee maker off and active the security system and head down towards my car. Most of the construction crew is still working as I walk by. “See you guys tomorrow.” I wave at them as I get into my car and drive off.
Driving over towards St. Paul’s Blvd. is quick. I turn right onto St. Paul’s and drive up to E. City Hall Avenue to get up on Interstate 264 which will take me to Interstate 464 where I get off at Freeman avenue and turn right on to Bainbridge Blvd. and take that to N. Dominion Blvd and turn right onto N. Dominion Blvd and take that all the way to US 17 towards the Great Dismal Swamp area where my father had brought some land out there and had his house built. As I pull up into our driveway, I see Heather and her crew packing up. Heather spots my car and waves towards me. I park next to my husband’s Hummer. His Hummer isn’t one of those cheap knock-off’s people buy. As my husband calls them fake Hummers. He has an actual Military Humvee that he brought from the United States Military.
As I get out of my Honda “Hi, Heather. How did your day go?” I shut the car door.
“Busy, this old house is kicking our butts. There are areas that the wood is damage and needs replacing. Your husband is surveying the damage and making a listing of what he is going to need to be replace.”
“That’s my hubby, always the take charge person. How did he do at painting?”
“Oh, he taught me a thing or two, that I didn’t know.” She looks past me towards one of her crew.
“Hhhhmmm!! Maybe I should have him do the painting then?” A mischievous smile appears on my face.
“What, and cheat me out of the job?” Heather looks back at me.
“Of course, not Heather. I was just teasing you.” I give her a friendly smile. “So what time should I except you tomorrow?”
“About the same time as I was here today. I like to get an early start on jobs and finish them up as soon as possible. Except in your case this house is going to take time to finish.”
“Well, with my husband helping you, it shouldn’t be that hard.” I smile at the unspoken joke.
“Ha! Ha! very funny Vicky. You know I have a girlfriend already and that I’m not into men. If I remember right. Isn’t your cousin a lesbian now?”
“Yep, she has an Oriental lover.” as I remember the last time my cousin Maggie and her lover Tabitha came to visit me.
“Does your cousin’s lover know she’s a witch?”
“Yes, and my cousin’s lover is a were-panther. She an alpha among her kind and so is a perfect match for my cousin.”
“But wasn’t your cousin married to the leader of the Hipamika clan?”
“She was until his death. Remember one of the members from the Hunter organization shot him with silver. My cousin and her coven were visiting here with several other covens from this area at New Quarter park, near Yorktown. They were there for their pagan festival when her husband was killed. Tabitha was here with her acting as her bodyguard so that the were-wolf clan in Yorktown wouldn’t get any idea about attacking her. Because the leader of that clan had a blood feud with her husband and could had taken it out on her. She knew her husband was dead before her husband’s second contacted her. She had seen and felt his death while she was asleep.”
“Wow has to be spooky.” as Heather brush some of her short hair aside from her ear.
“It was. I found out later that day from her. She had ridden up to the campgrounds with a few of her friends from here. She needed me and Tom to come up and get her and Tabitha.”
“Well at least she is happy now. I know she has had a rough time since the death of her older brother.”
“Yeah, those two were close as thieves. I was always jealous at how close those two were.”
“Yeah, my cousin Roger was a character, and he was always close to his little sister. He would always do whatever he could to watch over and protect her.”
“Too bad he never had any children. I bet they would had been just like him.”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you?” as I look towards Heather with a cheshire grin on my face.
“No, tell me what?” Heather looks at me with a curious look on her face.”
“He had a daughter with a normal human. I don’t know all the details about it, but my cousin just told me the other week that Roger had a little girl about fifteen years ago. Roger didn’t want any one other than his sister to know, because they weren’t sure if she was going to turn out to be just like her father or normal. As it turned out, she has inherited some of our families’ allergies and she might have inherited either her father’s abilities or her grandfather’s abilities. Maggie is already sure she isn’t like her or my older sister. She doesn’t have the pointed ears like most of our family that has magical abilities.”
“Which way do you think she is going to go?”
“I’m not sure. The cat in Roger was strong, but the wolf in our family is just as strong. I think she might follow her father, but you never know.”
“True! It’s like with Jenny’s family. She inherited her mother’s magical abilities, but not her father’s psychic abilities. I have a small number of psychic abilities like my aunt, but nothing compared to what my great grandmother had. Still, it is a pain in the ass some times to feel what someone is thinking.”
“Trust me. I understand. My sister can read my mind like an open book.”
“Well, I better get going Vicky. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” She reaches forward and hugs me. I return the hug and let her go.
I watch as Heather heads towards her Jeep and gets in and drive off. I smile and head for the house. I don’t even stop in the kitchen like I normally do, but head straight upstairs to my bedroom and start stripping out of my clothes and head into the bathroom and run a nice hot bath with some bath crystals my sister sent me. I slip into the water and sigh as the very hot water hits my skin and relax me. I put a towel behind my head and relax my head against it and think about what I know about the case so far.
As I am laying there thinking and relaxing, I hear my husband come walking into the bedroom.
“Vicky, are you in the bathroom?”
“Yes, sweetie. I’m in here relaxing and thinking.” I hear a clasp of thunder rock the house.
“What the Hell?” as I get up out of the tub and grab my robe from behind the door. As I walk out to my husband and see him soak.
“Where did that storm come from?” as I grab a towel from the bathroom and hand it to him.”
“Thanks.” as he starts drying himself off. “I have no idea sweetie. The weather has been perfect all day long and the next thing I know, it’s raining cat’s and dog’s out there. The sky is all black with lighting streaking across the sky.,”
“Sounds like someone summon a storm then or someone with strong elemental magic is playing with their abilities or upset.” I walk over towards the window in our bedroom and look out.
I couldn’t believe how dark and stormy it had gotten since I came in. A bolt of lightning shoots across the sky a far distance away from us.
“Wow! I haven’t seen a storm this bad in a long time.” I turn back around to face my husband.
“Do you have an idea if an elemental life near here or something dear?” He stares at me with those dark eyes of his.
“Mmmm, not that I know of. The only magical or supernatural creatures near us is me, you and a witch that lives about ten miles from us. She’s not very powerful and I trust her.” I walk over and sit down on the bed.
As I sit down on the bed, my robe opens a little revealing my breast to my husband and barely covering my private area.
A slow smile appears on my husband’s face as he looks at me. “You know I don’t mine the view luv.” as he comes over and sits next to me and kiss me.
After we kiss, I look into his dark eyes. I just stare into his eyes and wonder what is going through his mind. He looks into mine and goose pimples start to form on my skin. I don’t know what it is about him, but it’s like my body wants him to dominate it and make me do anything he ask me to do. My pulse starts to speed up and my scent of smell becomes clearer. I feel moisture starting to form in between my legs just thinking about him and having him look deep into me.
“Will you stop that.” I smack his leg and look away from him.
“What?” He gives me that innocent smile of his.
“You know what. You know I can’t help myself when you look at me like you do. You make me want to jump your bones and make love to you all night long.”
He just smiles at me “and that’s a bad thing?”
“Yes, it is. I still need to contact Mistress Selena and set-up a meeting with her. I think one of her children is doing things over in his area that he isn’t suppose too and I want to know who she had locked away in that mausoleum as well.” I get off the bed and walk towards the dresser to get my brush.
“You know she may not tell you who she had locked away in that mausoleum. That’s internal vampire business and has nothing to do with any other supernatural.” as he looks over towards me.
“I don’t care. Whatever or whoever she had locked away in there is out and may have done something to that boy I was hired to look for. Plus, on top of that, it may be stocking the housing complex where the boy lived for future victims.” I slam my hair brush down on the dresser.
I watch as my husband raises his hands before him “I surrender.” as he stands up and walks over to me.
“All I’m saying sweetie.” As he lifts my chin up so he can look into my eyes.
“Is that she may not tell you everything. High ranking vampires like her don’t go around telling their dirty secrets or mistakes they may had made to anyone outside their family. Not even to someone like me. All you can do is be very careful about what you ask her and how you ask it. Also, another good thing to do is to watch every one that may be around her for their reactions as well. Sometimes some of the younger vampires don’t have the control that some of the older ones do.”
I look at his face and move closer to him so I can rest my head on his strong shoulders. “I know. It’s just that this case means a lot to me. What creature would take a young child from his family?” as I look up at him.
“I don’t know sweetie, but whoever did will get theirs. I know how you feel about young kids.” He holds me tight against his chest.
I stand there wrapped in his arms as the storm outside rages on. He picks me up and carries me to our bed and lay me down after pulling the covers down first.
“He looks down at me. You stay here curled up in bed while I go downstairs and make us something to eat, okay?” He places a kiss on my forehead and head out of our bedroom.
I watch him leave before grabbing my cell phone and look up the number to Mistress Selena’s night club called Velvet. As I press the dial button on my cell phone, A clasp of thunder sounds just outside my bedroom window.
“Velvet Night club, Angelica speaking.”
“Hi! Angelica. This is Victoria Brown.”
“Vicky, it’s been so long since you have called here. What can I do to help you?” Angelica’s sweet southern sounding voice comes through my receiver with a purr.
“I need to set-up an appointment with your Mistress, Angelica.”
“Oh! Mistress Selena will love to see you again Vicky. She says you’re her favorite little wolf. Can I tell her why you would like to see her?”
I lay there and think about Angelica’s question. Angelica isn’t the brightest hybrid in the world, but she is very loyal and protective of her Mistress. “It’s confidential Angelica.”
“But Vicky, you can tell me. You know I won’t tell anyone, but my Mistress.” I listen to her whine.
“Angelica listen, it’s not that I don’t trust you. But it’s about a case I am working on and I need to speak to your Mistress about something I found out.”
“Okay, she’s free tomorrow night if you want to come up here to see her Vicky. What time would you like to see her?”
“Mmmm!! Tell your Mistress that I would like to see her around ten o’clock tomorrow night.”
“Okay, Vicky. Let me put you on hold for a second.” Music starts playing over the receiver from her.
Thunder sounds again while I slip out of bed and walk over towards my dresser and get one of my night gowns out and slip it on. The soft silky material rubs against my sensitive skin sending goose pimples on my skin.
The music stops after a few minutes and Angelica’s voice comes back over the receiver. “Vicky my Mistress says that ten o’clock will be fine. She will expect you here on time.”
“Thank your Mistress for me Angelica and thank you as well for asking her.”
“Thank you, Ms. Vicky. We’ll see you tomorrow night at ten o’clock. Bye! Bye!” as her end of the phone goes dead.
I fold my cell phone back up and place it in the charger by my bed on my nightstand. “Well, that’s taken care of. Maybe staying at Emygdia’s place might be a good thing tomorrow.” I walk back over towards the window and look outside at the storm.
As I am standing there, I notice my next door neighbor stepping out of his house from his back door and stopping a couple of feet away from his house. He raises his arms up in the air and look up at the clouds over head. You can barely see how old he is from the rain coming down as it blocks his face from view. I stand there and watch as the clouds start dissipating from overhead. He lowers his arms back down and looks over towards my bedroom window. His dark curly black hair is plaster against his face and the flannel shirt and jeans he is wearing cling tight to his muscular body. He turns around and heads back into his house.
“Okay, that’s something new I didn’t know about him.”
“Who dear?”
I turn around after hearing my husband’s voice from behind me. I nearly turn into my man-wolf form from fright.
“Will you stop doing that to me dear.”
He grins at me “ah, did my little wolfy get scared?” as he stops over near the bed and sets the tray he is carrying down on it.
“Yes! How do you manage to sneak up on me like that?”
“Like usual, but what were you talking about when I came in here?”
“Oh, I just saw our next-door neighbor outside. He made the rain stop and the clouds clear up.”
“Hhmm, that is usual. I haven’t felt anything magical coming from him or from his house.,”
“Well, he just performed some really impressive magic just a few minutes ago. He just stepped outside his house and raised his arms up to the sky with his head back and looked up at the sky. The next thing you know, the rain stopped, and the sky is clearing up.” I walk over towards the bed and gently sits down on it being extra careful not to disturb the food on the tray.
“Well if he did do something magical it didn’t register with me at all.” as he comes walking over towards the bed and lifts the tray off it.
“Besides, doesn’t he practice some sort of nature or druid religion?”
“Yeah, he does. My father said a long time ago that Oilibhear is a member of a local coven in this area.
“Now why don’t you be a good girl and get under the blankets and make yourself comfortable.” He looks at me with the tray in his hands.
I just smile at him and get under the blanket. He places the tray on my lap and places a movie into the DVD player before crawling in next to me.
“So, what movie did you put in for us to watch?” I place the tray in between me and him.
“Broke Back Mountain. I thought you might enjoy watching it.” as he picks up his plate and starts to eat.
I give him a sweet smile before picking up my plate and start eating my dinner as well. We both just sit there in bed eating our dinner and enjoying the movie. After we finish eating my husband pauses the movie to take the tray downstairs and I head to the bathroom. By the time I come out of the bathroom he comes walking through the doorway.
“That was fast.” I crawl back into bed.
“There weren’t much dirty dishes to take care of.” He climbs in next to me.
I snuggle up against him as he restarts the movie. He places his arm around me and holds me tight against him. The wolf in me feels at home and safe curled up next to him. She knows that he is her mate and that there is no other male around to take his place.
Sometime during the movie, I must have fallen asleep. The next thing I know my cell phone is ringing. I reach over and grab it before my husband wakes up. In a very sleepy voice “Hello?”
“Vicky, it’s Roger. I’m sorry to wake you, but Susan’s gotten herself into a mess at the bar she works at and needs for you to come down and get her.”
“What type of mess is she in this time Roger?” I look at the time on my alarm clock and notice it’s one o’clock in the morning.
“Well, some of the guys down at the bar she works at has been hassling her all night and she is about to lose it. She has managed so far not to lose control, but she thinks some of the guys are too powerful for her to handle and needs someone to come down and back her up. Your closer to her than Milanda or Stanley.,”
“Alright call and tell her I’m on my way, Roger.”
“Thanks, Vicky.”
“You’re welcome.” I close my cell phone and get out of bed.
“Problem’s sweetie?” My husband rolls over so he can see me.
“Yes, Susan’s has gotten herself in a bit of a jam and I’m the nearest one to her.” I look down at him.
“You want me to come along with you?” as he starts getting out of bed.
I smile “yeah, I could use the backup.” I head over towards my dresser and pull out a pair of jeans, a sports bra, and one of my husband’s t-shirts I stole from him. Within ten minutes we’re dress and driving down the road in my husband’s Humvee. I yawn as I sit there and wonder what the heck has Susan gotten herself into. She’s one of the most irresponsible people I have ever met.
“Didn’t you and Melinda tell her that she should get some other type of work other than tending bars?”
“Yes, we did, but it’s all she knows, and she likes it. I was going to talk to Edward about her working at his bar. He’s has a nicer bar, and he looks after his waitress there. I’ve never known any of the Were’s that visit his bar giving any of his people or him any trouble.”
“That’s because the last person that did, he tore them to pieces., I remember because we had to go in and clean the mess up. At the time the general public didn’t know anything about the supernatural and we were trying to keep everything under wraps.”
“When did this happen?” as I turn in my seat so I can look towards my husband.
“About twenty years ago. He had just opened his bar and a young group of Weres that were trying to make a name for themselves came in to start some trouble. The next day the council got a call about them being killed at his bar. I and a few wolves from another pack went down to investigate the matter and found that it was all done in self-defense. So we cleaned the mess up and made sure no one knew about the incident.”
“How did you make sure no one knew about the incident?” I look closely at my husband.
“We hired a witch to cast a spell to erase all the patrons’ memories that had visited the bar that night when the incident happens.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that there was a spell capable of erasing a person’s memory.” I rest against the back of the seat.
“Well, there isn’t, but this witch is very talented, powerful, and has an amazing talent of coming up with her spells and potions that do some amazing things.”
“She sounds like an amazing woman.”
“Yes, but you’re the most amazing woman in my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” he blows a kiss to me.
“Oh, you know how to flatter a girl.” I watch as we pulled into the parking lot of the Neptune pub.
As I start to unfasten my seat belt my husband looks over towards me.
“You want me to come in with you or wait out here for you and Susan?” as he sits there and watches me.
“Wait a few minutes for me and Susan to come out. If we aren’t out in twenty minutes come in and get us.” I climb out of the Humvee.
I shiver a little as I approach the bar door. I can feel energy emitting from the building as I get closer to it. As I take a deep breath before entering.
As I walk inside the dimly lit smoke-filled bar, several large gentlemen turn to look at me. I stare back at them and let my eyes flash to their wolf state. Some of them move away from me, but several of the larger ones get up off their bar stools and walk towards me trying to block me from entering deeper into the bar.
“Evening gentleman. I believe you have something that belongs to me and I’m here to take her back.”
The most muscular of the group looks at me as I feel his energy roll towards me like a thunder cloud. I let his energy hit my body as I stand there looking up at him.
“She’s ours now bitch. One of our pack he claimed her now as his mate. Which means she is no longer a member of your pack.”
“Well, you don’t mind if I talk with her then do you?” I hold back most of my energy as I let a little of it out, so it hits him.
He looks at me like he isn’t impressed. He steps a little closer to me using his energy to push what little I sent towards him back at me.
“If you can get by me and my friends here. Then you can talk with her.” as he stares down into my eyes.
I smile back at him as I release the rest of my energy towards him and his friends. I watch as he stumbles back some from the force of my energy. The other two guys that were watching his back, move away from him as they feel my energy. I look towards the guy standing in front of me and give him my most pleasant smile.
“Thank you.” I walk past him towards the back of the bar.
As I get closer towards the back of the bar. I see Susan cowering on the floor against the bar wall with four guys surrounding her.
“Excuse me gentlemen, but I think it’s time for you to leave her alone and let her come with me.”
One of the guys that are about my height with short curly brown hair wearing a black leather jacket turns around to face me. He growls at me as he faces me.
I stand there not impress with him or his growl. As I stare right into his eyes and send my energy right towards him as hard as I can. He stumbles back towards Susan’s cowering form.
He regains his footing as he looks at me with hate within his eyes. “She’s, mine bitch. I’ve mated with her and planted my seed in her.” I smell his scent coming from Susan’s body along with his semen as well.
I look past him towards Susan’s form and can now tell she has been beaten and raped by these men.
I look back towards him with my anger in full force. “You mean you have beaten and raped her don’t you?”
“Does it matter how it was done bitch? She’s my property now and you can’t interfere. “
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that little puppy.” as I step closer forcing more of my anger at him along with my power. “You forget that when you take a bitch from another pack. She has to be willing to mate with you., Those bruises on Susan’s body and that swollen eye she has, tells me she wasn’t willing to be mated by you or any of your friends there.” I step in extremely close now.
“Therefore, she is still a member of my pack and under our protection. Which also means that you and whoever else that violated her are subject to punishment by one of the high-ranking members of our pack as well.”
He looks at me and tries to force more of his energy on me, which I brush aside with no problem. I also feel other energies behind me as well move closer towards me when I brush his energy aside. He looks at me nervously, but when he feels some of his other pack members send their energy at me from behind. He starts to smile again.
“I don’t believe you’ll be able to enforce that rule tonight bitch without going through every member of my pack here. As well, I don’t believe you’ll be leaving with her either.” as he points towards Susan’s cowering form.
“Is that a formal challenge then?” I send the energy coming at me from behind me back at the rest of them.
“No! It’s a promise.” as he snarls at me.
“You are pretty sure of yourself and your pack then. Because do you think I would come up here all by myself without some sort of back-up?” I give him an evil smile. “Because if you haven’t figured out yet. I’m the wife of one of the council members and he is here right now with me.”
As the sound of a shotgun being cock fills the air.
“Now, why don’t you be good little cubs and turn yourself over to me and my husband for punishment.” I move forward extremely fast with my hands turned into claws.
One of the other guys that had been standing next to the one I had been talking to tries getting in front of me before I attack his friend. His head explodes sending bits and pieces of him all over the place. I bring my claws up fast and strike the guy I have been talking with in his chest opening up his rib cage.
The other two guys that had been standing next to him on his right-hand side and try getting out of my way so that I can’t strike at them. I see one of them hit in the chest as it explodes sending him against the bar wall. I rush forward to block an attack on Susan from another of this pack’s members. He strikes my back with his claws cutting through the T-shirt, my bra, and finally into my skin. I swing around faster than he expected with my claw and stab him in his chest sinking my claws deep between his rib cage. I shape shift into my human/wolf form and toss him aside as I bend down to scoop Susan up in my arms. I feel my back hurting from the sudden shift into my man-wolf form as it healed the cuts I took. Everyone in the bar freeze in mid-motion except for me as I walked towards the front door of the bar. I see my husband sling his shotgun over his shoulder and take out his Roman gladius and began cutting off the heads of the ones that rape and abused Susan. I walk out towards the Humvee and place her in the back seat as carefully as I can.
A few minutes later my husband comes walking out wiping his sword clean with a cloth he carries with him. I start feeling a burning sensation on my back where I was clawed. The pain keeps increasing and the next thing I know I’m on my knees with the cuts on my back opening up and a foul odor coming from my back. I scream as I feel the burning sensation increasing. My husband runs over to me and examines my back.
“Honey, we need to get you and Susan to the hospital.” he bends down to pick me up.
“We can’t Tom. It will raise too many questions.” as I squeeze his arm hard.
“Hell with the questions Vicky. Whatever that stuff is, it’s eating its way into your body. Your healing ability is the only thing keeping it at bay right now, but it won’t last long.” He places me on the passenger side of the Hummer.
I try to sit up but fall forward on the seat towards my husband as he climbs in. He looks at me as he starts the Hummer up and drives off.
“Take me to Oilibhear. He may know a way of dealing with this.” I rest my head against my husband’s leg.
The burning on my back continues as we travel the road. Every bump my husband drives over I feel, even though the shocks on the Hummer are outstanding.
I feel the speed of the Hummer speed up as my husband steps on the accelerator lurching the Hummer onto higher speeds. I hear cars blowing their horns at us as we nearly pass them.
My husband looks down towards my back as he drives. I can tell he is worried about me from the way the muscles on his face are clinch. I grip his legs with one of my hands and give him a reassuring squeeze letting him know I’ll be okay. I lay there next to him trying to concentrate on something else other than the pain from my back, but the pain overwhelms me, and the next thing I know darkness fills my eyes as I pass out.
I wake up to the smell of fresh brew coffee under my nose As I hear my husband’s strong voice “Wakey, wakey, eggs, and bacon.”
A smile comes to my lips as I see him sitting on the bed with my favorite coffee cup in his hand. I sense another person in our bedroom as well. I turn my head towards the scent I am picking up and see Oilibhear standing over near the window that overlooks his property. He turns around when he feels me looking towards him.
“What happened? The last thing I remember is passing out in the hummer.” I look back towards my husband as I reach out to take the coffee cup from his hands.
“You passed out from the pain sweetie. We had just pulled into the driveway when your body went limp. Your body finally reached its point where your healing ability couldn’t keep up with the acid.” He reaches towards me and brushes aside a lock of my hair.
“It’s a good thing that you got here when you did, Tom.” Oilibhear looks towards me and Tom. “If you had been any later, that acid would have eaten its way down to her spinal cord.” He walks over towards the bed. He stops a foot away from it and looks down into my eyes.
I look up into his tired, weathered face and notice that his eyes have that same hunted ancient look that my husband’s eyes have when he isn’t hiding his thoughts from me. But Oilibhear’s seem to be even more ancient and hunted than my husbands. Like there is so much he has seen and done.
“Thank you Oilibhear for saving me.,”
“It was nothing Vicky, but next time watch your back.”
“Speaking of watching my back. Where’s Susan at?” I look at both Oilibhear and Tom.
“She’s asleep in the guest room. Oilibhear used his knowledge of herbs and plants to make some sort of healing potion that healed yours and her wound, but there still some wounds he can’t heal and she’s going to need help with those.”
“I know.” I curl my feet close to my body and wrap my arms around them.
Oilibhear looks down towards me “So how did you know I would be able to heal you?” as he looks impressive.
“I remember you using some herbs on me when I got sick when I was little. My father had tried everything he could to heal me, but nothing worked. Then you came over and made something down in the kitchen and made me take it.”
His eye’s narrow towards me and stares directly into mine. I feel his presence inside my mind as he shifts through my thoughts and then stops when the wolf inside of me senses his intrusion. A slight growl escapes my lips as the heckles on my wolf stand up to his intrusion. He comes closer to her as she backs up from him. I feel her angrier at his intrusion into her domain. The wolf doesn’t trust him. She stands there growling and warning him to leave, but he doesn’t leave my mind. Instead for some unknown reason, the wolf goes quiet. He approaches her and looks down at her.
“I knew one day you would discover my secret. A secret I have tried to hide from those like your husband for centuries. As he turns away from my wolf. You need to promise me Vicky that you will not tell others about me. You need to keep this secret until the time comes that the secret needs to be revealed.”
“And how will I know when that is?” as my wolf changes into my human form.
“I’ll let you know.” He turns back around to face me.
“But how about if I need you to help me with a problem or protection of a client?” I stand there facing him.
He looks back at me with tired eyes. His eyes hold the tiredness of centuries of living and loneliness. You can tell from looking into them that he is disappointed with the way civilization has developed.
“Then you can call on me to help.”
“I have one more question for you. Why are you inside my head talking about this instead of verbally?”
“Because what I have to say is strictly for you to hear. Not your husband. I don’t want him knowing I’m older than him.”
“If you don’t mind me asking Oilibhear. How much older are you to him?” as I stare at him.
“I was born several centuries before Stone Hedge was built. I was one of the workers who helped transport and raised the giant stones that stand there now.”
“Wow! That is old.” I look at him in a different light.
“Now, shall we return to your husband and your room.” as he disappears from my vision.
I wake up from a lite sleep and see my husband slump on the bed with his head resting on my lap. I give him a little shake to wake him up.
“Wakey, wakey, sleepy head.” I watch as he sits up.
“What happens?” He looks into my eyes and sees that they have bled to their wolf state.
“You fell asleep on me. You we’re telling me how much you loved me when the next thing I know your head lands in my lap.” a loving smile appears on my face for my husband and my eyes go back to their normal state.
My husband gives me a skeptical look like he doesn’t believe me. I look past him towards Oilibhear.
“She is telling the truth, Tom. One moment you were telling her how lovely her eyes were and how much you love her. When all of sudden you pass out and fell face-first onto her lap. I thought you were trying to entertain me with a little display of your love when we discover that you simply passed out.” as Oilibhear looks down at my husband.
Tom looks up at him and then towards me. “Well, this is the first time in 2,000yrs that this has ever happen to me. Still, if both of you said it happen, then I guess it did.” as he stands up. down at me “I’m going to go and check on Susan.” He walks out of the room and down the hall towards my old bedroom.
I look towards Oilibhear and in a quiet voice “that was close. I don’t believe Tom brought that story either.”
“He may not, but he knows that there is no way he can prove we weren’t lying either.”
I sit there and listen to my husband walking around upstairs. The benefit of being a werewolf is the enhanced hearing you have in human form. If I had been normal, I would never be able to hear my husband move around as he does. It doesn’t mean that I always hear him because of his training, but most of the time he moves around like a bull in a china shop.
“So what are your plans for the rest of the day Vicky?” as Oilibhear looks at me for an answer to his question.
“I have an appointment with Gerd and Mistress Selena tonight. So, I thought I would sleep in for a while today since I had to go and get Susan from that bar and recover from the healing you did to me. Why?”
“Cause Tom told me you were working a case involving the disappearance of a young boy.”
“Yes, I am. Why do you ask?” I look at him with a questionable look on my face.
“Where exactly did the disappearance take place?” Oilibhear sits down on the edge of my bed.
“Over off of Virginia Beach Blvd. In the Young Park housing projects. Why?” I look at him even more suspiciously.
“Because about 60 years ago just before you were born several children ended up missing from there as well. No one is sure what happened to them or who took them, but at least seven kids that I know of were reported missing from that area of Norfolk.”
“So, you’re saying this isn’t the first time this has happened then. But why? Most people that kidnap kids either do it to sexually abuse them and kill them afterward or let them live with the shame of it. Sometimes, it’s one of the parents doing it to get even with the other parent who got custody of the child instead of them. Because they don’t want to be separated from their child or to hurt the parent who got custody of the child.”
“That’s not always the case around here Vicky. As you know this is the bible belt and if the leaders of the Hunter organization or any other powerful supernatural creatures are looking for someone or something. The first place they will look is those places where the poor or those in the low-income area live. Since many young African American women are getting pregnant at such an early age there’s always a huge selection of children around and taking one of them won’t always raise a concern that much. Most people in high positions in our local government and in the government itself don’t care about the poor or low-income families. Since most African Americans are religious to a certain extent, some of the preachers that belong to the Hunter organization that preaches to them are keeping an eye out for those that might posse certain abilities that would help them in locating people like yourself, Vicky.”
“So you're saying that some of the churches over near there might be responsible for the disappearance of that child?”
“No, I’m not saying that. But what I am saying is you should include them in your search as well. The Hunter organization is always recruiting new members and those that posse gifts. They may be members of the church or people that live in those communities. If it’s not them or the church doing it then, there is a new player in town. He could be looking for pawns to train and use against whoever he is after.”
I lean back against the head broad of my bed and think about what Oilibhear just told me. I wouldn’t normally think that people in the church would go to this extreme to recruit people. Still, it does makes sense in a perverted way if you think about it.
A few minutes later my husband comes walking back into the room. He looks down at me and sees me with my knee’s still pulled to my chest, with me lost in thought about what I was just told.
“Susan is still asleep. I think she is going to need help from her attack.” as he looks at me.
“If I remember correctly, Elizabeth is a licensed psychologist and has a practice in Virginia Beach over off Independence Blvd. Susan could stay with Annette and take a cab over to her office from where Annette lives, and it wouldn’t cost her that much. I’ll talk with Melinda and have her ask Annette to take Susan in.,”
“Doesn’t Annette have a boyfriend that works at Home Depot over there?” My husband looks at me for an answer.
“Yes, but he is a nice, sweet guy and is trusted by the pack. Even, Stanley likes him and that’s not an easy thing to do. Stanley is one the hardest people to impress.”
“Couldn’t Annette’s boyfriend give Susan a ride to Elizabeth’s office and bring her back to their place?”
“He could if his schedule permits him too. Remember he is one of the managers at the store and normally works long hours that’s why he and Annette get along so well. She said one time that if he was home at the same time, she was, they both would go crazy. With her working nights and him working days, it works out. It also works out great in the sense that Susan is a night person like Annette. That way Annette can watch out for her during the day.” I stretch my legs out and take a sip from my coffee cup that had been sitting on my night table.
My cell phone starts to ring next to me. Tom reaches over and picks up the phone to answer it.
“Hello?” My husband stands there with my cell phone against his ear.
“Tom?” Stanley is surprised that Tom answered Vicky’s phone instead of her.
“Yes.” My husband answers Stanley back.
“Where’s Vicky at?” Stanley’s voice comes over the cell.
“She’s laying here in bed recovering from last night Stanley. Here I’ll hand you to her so she can explain things to you.” My husband hands my cell to me.
“Hello?” as I take the phone from my husband.
“Vicky?” I listen to the unspoken question in my head alpha’s voice.
“Yep!” I responded to his question.
“So, what happen last night with Susan?” I hear Stanley’s voice take on a more commanding voice.
“Some Coyotes from the Coeur pack took liberties with Susan last night and I don’t mean in a good way either. Four of them rape and beat her up. Since it was against her will, I punished them for what they did to her. Tom had to come in and help out because one of them was going to try and kill Susan. I protected her as best as I could, but I ended up getting seriously hurt and had to be rush home and healed by a friend before it was too late.”
“How is Susan doing?” as I listen to the concern in his voice.
“She’s doing better. My friend that healed me also healed her injuries and made sure that she wasn’t pregnant from her ordeal. She’s sound asleep in my guest room. I feel though she is going to need counseling for what happened to her. I think Elizabeth would be the best person to help her since both of them are of our pack. I figure she could stay with Annette and her boyfriend and be under their watchful eyes till she is doing better.”
“Hhhmmm!!, that does sound like a good idea. Annette has gone through something like this before with an old boyfriend she had years ago, and Elizabeth helped her through it when she was just beginning her practice. Alright, I’ll call Elizabeth and make an appointment for Susan to go and see her right away. I’ll also have Annette and her boyfriend come out to your place and get Susan and take her to their place.” as Stanley’s voice relaxes some.
“Okay, I’ll be home. I don’t have to go out anywhere until later tonight anyway. If I’m asleep Tom or my next-door neighbor will be here.” I look over towards my husband and Oilibhear.
“Where are you going tonight?” Stanley’s voice takes on a curious note.
“I’m working on a case and I need to go down to the city morgue tonight and look at some bodies that were found near the area I am working. Plus, I need to see Mistress Selena about something that I found that I need answers about.” I wait to hear what Stanley’s response will be.
“Who are you taking as back-up with you? Because you know I don’t approve for any of you to visit her without at least two others with you.”
“I hadn’t planned on taking anyone with me. This a case I am working on and I don’t want to get anyone else involved in this case Stanley. This has nothing to do with the pack and I want Mistress Selena to respect me on this. I don’t want her to think that the pack is getting involved.
Plus, she won’t do anything to me since I am going in under the protection of my badge. Not as a council member’s wife or as a representative of the Bloody Fang clan.” as I sit there a little mad now.
“It’s not Mistress Selena that I’m worried about Vicky. I know she will keep her word and will not allow anything to happen to you while you are there under her protection. It’s the others that I have problems with. She may be Mistress of this area, but there are still those individuals that feel they are beyond her control or aren’t bound to her by the blood that you need to worry about. Mistress Selena has always kept her word with us and that has earned her a certain trust, but the others that have come over in the past few years haven’t earned that trust from us and there is a rumor that one of them may be trying to up seat her.”
“Are you saying that one of them might take this as an opportunity to strike at us through me?” as a shiver travels throughout my body.
“Maybe, I’ve been hearing some rumors lately that has me concern about the community lately that hasn’t been pleasant. Two months ago a kiss of vampires up in New York went on a killing spree and the Master of New York had a hard time putting them back under his control.
There was another incident of the same thing happening out in South Dakota where the shifter community out there had to help the Master of that area bring a few groups of vampires under his control again because he lost control of them.”
“I didn’t know about that Stanley. Why didn’t you inform us about these incidents?” I look at my husband to watch his reaction. I know he can hear everything going on between me and Stanley because his hearing is almost as good as mine.
He sits down on the bed next to me and listens with a concerned look on his face as well.
“Because I wasn’t that concerned about it that much until I found out you were investigating the disappearance of a child. I put some feelers out and found out that several children from the Richmond and Alexander area have turned up missing as well. Along with several vampires as well.”
“Why wasn’t the public informed about the disappearance of the children? Isn’t that important enough for the normal people to know about?” I feel my anger growing.
“Because the police officers in charge of the investigations in those two cities were told to keep it under wraps.”
“Man, this is getting better and better by the minute. Okay, you have made your point. Who do you suggest I take with me then?”
“I’m sending Ajax and Jack with you. Jack already knows what is going on and the two of you have to work with each other before.”
“Ajax? God, he’s a cleaner. He is wanted by most of the vampires in this area for destroying some of their blood bars and covens. He’s even wanted down in North Caroline for destroying some of the blood bars and covens in that state as well. Jack is okay, but Master Attilio has a feud against him because Jack seduces his daughter and broke her heart. Master Attilio loves his daughter very much and liked Jack as a son, but after the breakup between his daughter and Jack. He hasn’t forgiven Jack for taking her innocents from her.” I watch as my husband shakes his head back and forth in disbelief.
“Stanley if I didn’t know any better. I would think you’re trying to start a war between us and the vampires. Jack will be okay, but Ajax on the other hand....” as I let my voice trial off.
I hear Stanley sigh on the other end “it’s either those two Victoria or you’re not going.”
Stanley hardly ever calls me by my birth name unless he is mad with me or has a point to make. “Okay, you win. I’ll take Ajax and Jack with me tonight since I don’t have a choice. They better be here and ready to go when I am.” as my voice goes up a little notch because of my anger.
“Now that this matter is settled why don’t you lay down and get some rest before Annette and her boyfriend show up to get Susan. Sleep tight.” as the cell phone goes dead.
I close my cell up and lay it on the end table next to my bed. “God, he is so controlling.” as I hit the bed mattress with my fist in anger.
My husband just chuckles. “He’s your leader Vicky. It’s his job to control you as he does. He wouldn’t be much of a leader if he didn’t.”
I just glare at my husband. He knows I don’t like being controlled by anyone unless I want to be controlled. Sure, I’m sub-servant to him because he is my husband and I know in our relationship he is the more dominant of the two of us. But that doesn’t mean I want to be controlled by anyone else including my alpha. The women in my family have always fought from being controlled by their alpha’s. They have always wanted to be treated as equals, not controlled.
Oilibhear just looks at me and shakes his head. “You’re lucky you were born in this time and age Vicky. Women in the past were treated as property and were traded and sold like pieces of furniture. At least this time and age you have rights and opinions about what you want to do with your life.”
“To a certain degree, we do. Women nowadays are still thought of as being the stay-at-home mommy who shouldn’t be at work or have opinions. The worst thing about it is that there are women that believe we should go back to the way things were before we got the right to choose for ourselves. They want to be taken care of and stay at home. They don’t want to work or have to deal with the things men do. I’m not like that and Stanley knows that. Heck! Even Tom knows that.” as I snuggle against my husband and feel his strong arms wrap around me.
“Wolf social structure and human social structure are two different things, Vicky. In nature the strongest alpha male rules. Not the female. The female is there to produce his offspring so that they may take their place in the pack. It’s the same in Were-wolf social structure as well, Vicky. Melinda is there to handle all the females in the pack and make sure they know their place. She is given the same respect by the males in the pack as well because she is the alpha’s chosen. You are only the third most powerful female in the pack. Which means you have to do whatever she tells you or Stanley tells you to do. If you forget to remember that then you’re going to be challenged or punish.” Oilibhear gives me a stern fatherly look.
“Still it doesn’t mean I have to like it. I never asked to be a wolf. It was just pure dumb luck that I was attacked while we were out hunting. Still your right. I have to do what my alpha tells me to do even if I don’t like it.” I feel Tom hold me tight against his body.
While I am laying there snuggled against my husband, I hear Heather’s crew pull up outside as well Karen’s Trans Am which has a unique sound to it.
“Karen’s here. As I look towards Oilibhear. “Don’t you and her have a fuck buddy thing going on between you two?” as I look at him with a questionable look.
“Yes, we do. She’s into living life to the fullest and I have no problem giving her what she wants. It benefits me and it benefits her. I have some feeling for her, but she has none for me, other than the fact she cares very much about my welfare.”
“That’s not the way she tells it. She says that she cares for you a lot, but you won’t let anyone get close, because of stuff that happens in the past.” I keep looking at Oilibhear.
He returns my stare trying to get me to summit to his dominant nature. In the wild when another wolf stares at one of his own it’s a power thing. Either the wolf doing the staring is challenging you for your territory or trying to get you to summit to his domination. In this case, Oilibhear is challenging me for domination and I’ll be dammed if I am going to summit to someone other than my husband in my home.
A slow smile began to appear on Oilibhear’s face as he turns away from my eyes. “I see that you can’t be intimidated by me now.”
“Not in my home I won’t be. Maybe outside or somewhere else, but here is my territory. I won’t let anyone other than my husband bully me here.”
“That may get you in trouble with your leader and his mate when they come here to visit you, Vicky.”
“They don’t have to worry about her when they come here Oilibhear, but me. As an elder on the council, there are certain rights and responsibilities they have to observe while they are visiting me and one of them is no challenges of any kind is permitted in the home or grounds of an elder.
The second is that the mate of an elder has the same authority and respect as the elder himself does unless they are overstepping their bounds. Because Vicky is the third-highest rank in her pack, it is sometimes hard for Stanley and Melinda to show her respect higher than what is due to them, when they visit here. Cause when they are here, she is the ranking Alpha and they are the lower class.”
“That may be true Tom. But you know as well as I do that Stanley doesn’t approve of her marriage to you.” Oilibhear looks back at me.
“So, they can take a number then. I was married to Tom before I became a werewolf. Why should the fact I got bitten by one of their pack members nullify my marriage to Tom? It was one of their own that created this whole mess. I never asked for it. I thought I left this whole thing behind me when it was discovered I didn’t turn into a wolf when I was thirteen years old.” as my hearing pick up the front door being open.
“Hello? Is anyone home?” as Karen’s southern belle accent echoes’ upstairs.
“We’re upstairs in my room Karen.” I listen to her as she shuts the front door and heads up the stairs.
A young woman dress in a pair of daisy duke style jean shorts, a white tank top with butterflies all over it, and wearing a pair of three-inch heels come walking into my room. A smile comes across her pretty young face when she sees Oilibhear standing near my bed. She leans against the door frame and brushes some of her long brown hair out of her eyes to see us better.
“I’m I interrupting something here?” as she looks towards me and sees Tom wrapped around me. A playful grin appears on her face.
“Get your mind out the gutter, Karen.” as I look towards her.
“So how was your flight down?” as Oilibhear walks over and kisses her on the cheek.
“It was okay once I got the loading crew to speed up their work. I was able to leave and arrive here in no time. Unfortunately, I had to wait around for one of my clients to show up to pick up his order that he hired me to bring down.” She leans over and kisses Oilibhear on the lips.
“What was it?” My curiosity is perked.
“Don’t know, all I do know for sure is that it was heavy, and he had several crates ranging in different sizes. One of them was about the size of a coffin. I almost told him, no, but it was empty and had nothing in it. I had it open so I could make sure there was no one inside of it. God! this coffin had everything a vampire could want in it. A flat-screen tv unit, play station 3, a built-in Mp3 player, and cell phone unit, and a built-in computer. You could lie in there and enjoy your undead life. It even had a hook-up for an artificial blood feed to it. You wouldn’t have to get out of the coffin to do anything except to stretch.”
“That’s unusual equipment for a coffin. How big was it?” I sit up straight in Tom’s arms.
“Mmmm!!, it was about the size of a young child. Why?” Karen looks towards me.
“Tom,” as I turn to look at my husband. “Do you know of any vampire that turns children at that age into vampires? Or any children vampires in this area that are visiting or anything?” as I search his eyes.
“As far as I know it’s illegal here in the United States to turn anybody under the age of 18 into a vampire unless the parents of the child have given their permission or unless the child is considered a legal adult in the eyes of the law. The council normally forbids any vampire from turning a child of any age into a vampire at all. Cause they had a problem a long time ago of a master vampire turning kids born with special gifts into his servants. He would actively send some of his human servants out to look for any kids that showed signs of any type of special gifts and then go out at night where the kids lived to watch and observe them himself. If the child did possess any talents he would know instantly. His vampiric abilities were one of those that he could tell what special gift or magical nature you had inside of you.”
“Do you know what happened to him?” as an idea starts forming in my head.
“Nope, not at all. Since it was vampire business and since it was handled internally no one outside the vampire family knows what happen to him.” he stares into my face.
“Where did this all take place at?”
“Up and down the east coast if I remember right. That’s why it was so hard to find him. He kept moving where he was operating out of.”
I look towards Karen “did you hear of any rumors or stories of any children missing in New York when you were up there?”
I watch as Karen thinks about my question and then shakes her head “Nope, I never left the landing field. New York has a lot of people and homeless people living there and there’s no way you could find out if any of them were missing anyway. I know if I was a vampire that is where I would start, is on the homeless or the gangs. They wouldn’t be missed.”
“There are a few vampires that take in some of the homeless in exchange for using them to drink from and to become their daytime protectors. Also, if some of them are suffering from any type of life treating disease. They will share their blood with them and make them their property. In the past any vampire that has made a human their property, that human was protected. Should anything happen to the vampire that made them theirs, then they would start aging normally and the disease that was killing them would return.” as Oilibhear looks towards me.
“What happens if that person tries to take the blood of another vampire to stay alive?” as I look back at Oilibhear.
“Then he will stop aging and return to full health.”
“Hhhhmmm!! would red dust act the same way to someone that has been a vampire slave or servant?”
“I suppose it is possible, but they would need to take a large dose of it. Even if they manage to take a large dose of it, they will become a full-fledged vampire that is insane.”
“That is true love. Most red dust addicts, become insane vampires. Unless they have a very powerful Master vampire around them that can blood oath them to him.” as my husband holds me tighter against his chest.
“Has there ever been a drug that combines the properties of red dust and blue dust in one form or another?” I look towards Oilibhear.
“A long time ago maybe, but not recently that I know of. Cause as you know vampires do not like wasting blood and to waste faerie blood is a sinful crime among the vampire community since it is so hard to come by anyway. “ Oilibhear looks back towards me “Why do you ask?”
“Well, I was thinking that maybe someone is trying to combine the two drugs to offer it to a large crowd of addicts. Cause if you can get a vampire hooked on blue dust and the blood of an older vampire then you could control them somehow. I know it sounds silly, but still, how many older vampires wouldn’t take the risk of doing something like that. If you could enslave the other vampires of a certain Master or Mistress of a city, you could weaken their power base.” as I look at everyone present.
“That makes sense. It wouldn’t be the first time an invading Master would do something like that. Still, no one has challenge Mistress Selena in the last 600 years for her territory since she has come here to the New World. Why start now?” as Tom holds me against him.
“I don’t know. Mistress Selena is normally the easiest person to get along with. The only time she lets her temper or arrogance show through is when you make her mad.”
“Can I ask something here?” Karen looks at all of us.
“What does any of this have to do with me? All I did was bring down a child-size coffin from New York.” as she looks towards me and Tom snuggling on the bed.
I look at Karen and smile “because you my dear Karen have just added another piece of the puzzle to an investigation, I am currently working on.”
“Oh, well I’m glad I could be of some help then.” Karen gives me a warm smile.
“So, what are you going to do now?” Karen walks over towards Oilibhear.
“Well in a little while I’m going to lay back down and take a nap. Because Stanley is sending Ajax and Jack with me tonight.” I cover up a yawn.
“I remember Ajax. He scares me. You can look right into his eyes and see the wolf in him looking back at you like you are prey. I mean this guy is very creepy and borders on crazy.” Karen wraps her arms around herself and shivers.
Oilibhear walks over towards Karen and wraps his arms around her and holds her tight against him.
Karen buries her head against his shoulder and shivers. She remembers the one time she had met him and how it had felt. The predator looks in his eyes and the way he conducted himself around her when Vicky wasn’t around to watch over her.
Oilibhear looks over towards me and knows I didn’t like the way Ajax had treated Karen that one time they had met.
“Vicky why don’t you lay down and get some sleep. While Karen and I head over towards my place and get her to settle in.” Oilibhear looks at me with a fatherly look on his face.
“Oilibhear right sweetie. I’ll tuck you in and head outside to help Heather with the house.” Tom gets up out of bed from behind me on the other side of the bed.
I look at both men and knew arguing with them wouldn’t do me any good.
“Okay, you guys win.” I crawl back under the blankets and watch as everyone leaves our bedroom except my husband who does exactly what he promises to do with me.
He bends over and tucks me into bed and places a kiss on my forehead.
“Sleep tight my little wolf.” He turns around and walks out of the bedroom closing the door behind him.
I snuggle deep under the warm blanket as the room starts to become cold from the A/C running. In no time I am sound asleep and in dream land.
I yawn as I finally wake up from my nap and just lay there in bed. The warmth of the blanket surrounding me and the chill of the cold air in my room makes the blanket I’m curled up under feels wonderful I hear Heather and her crew working outside my window on the side of the house near my bedroom. I look over towards the nightstand on my husband’s side of the bed and notice that it’s 4:30 in the afternoon. I lay there snuggled deep under the blanket and think about what I have to do tonight.
I promise Gerd I would come by tonight with his chicken dinner in exchange for letting me see the bodies down in the morgue. Then after that, going to see Mistress Selena at her club called Velvet down off of 41st and Colley ave.
“God, I do not want to get up.” I toss the blankets off me and get up out of bed. My nightgown brushes against my knee’s as I head into the bathroom and get the shower going.
“Mmmmm!!” as the hot water from the shower hits my body. I stand there basking in the warmth of the water as I go about washing myself and thinking about the case and tonight.
The one question is why? Why kill those people and kidnap a little boy? As I began to shampoo my long hair. Why do I get the feeling that Mistress Selena was punishing one of her vampires inside that mausoleum? As I raise the shampoo out of my hair and began to apply the conditioner my sister had made for me. I stand back away from the water as I let the conditioner soak into my hair. I stand there and listen to the noise coming from the wall that faces the outside of the bathroom as an electrical sander hits the wood. I shake my head and put it back under the water to raise the conditioner out and then once that is done. I turn everything off and grab a towel to dry off. I wrap it around my body and grab another one to wrap around my hair, as I walk into my bedroom and sit down at my make-up table, and began to dry my hair as I run my brush through it to keep it nice and straight.
While I am brushing my hair, I hear the front door open, followed by several masculine voices as they drift up the stairs towards the second floor. I hear Ajax disagreeing with my husband about something. I know my husband wouldn’t normally engage Ajax in conversion unless he had something on his mind, and he wants Ajax to do. Which knowing my husband is giving Ajax the riot act, should he do anything to endanger my life. I go ahead and finish getting dress and fixing myself up. Normally I wouldn’t carry my Ruger P345 with me, but tonight I’m going to see Mistress Selena and I don’t think my werewolf strength is going to be enough. I grab my gun from under the bed and my shoulder holster out of the closet. I put my gun and the two spare clips in it, after inspecting them to make sure I have the hollow points filled with holy water in them. I also grab my fourth clip that has the hollow points filled with silver iodide in them to use against other werewolves if I had to. I wasn’t going to take any chances tonight considering everything that could go wrong. Just before I walk out of my bedroom. I stop and grab the pentagram my sister gave to me. Most of the women in my family are Wiccan High Priestess and since this one was given to me by my former High Priestess, I would think the religious aspect of it would protect me tonight. I tuck it inside my blouse so that the bouncer at Velvet’s doesn’t notice it.
As I come downstairs I see Ajax leaning against the doorway to the living room in his tight leather biker vest, light faded blue jeans, and swat boots. I notice also that he brought his favorite toy with him as well. His chrome-plated .44 magnum semi-automatic pistol. His bald head reflects the light creeping in from outside. As I glance over towards Jack, I notice that he is nice and comfortable sitting in my favorite chair and reading my mystery book I just started. Normally Jack is a strict business type person, but today he has dress down some. He is wearing a light blue sports jacket, blue jeans, and black ankle-high boots. Jack doesn’t like to carry his gun so that the public can see it. So, he keeps it tucks inside the sports jacket.
Ajax looks over towards me as I walk into the living room” Stanley told me we’re to be your back-up tonight. What have you gotten yourself into that you need my services.” as he tries to look me in the eyes?
I look back at him “if I was you, I would turn those eye’s somewhere else unless you’re planning on challenging me.” as I stare back at him.
“You better do what she says Ajax. You forget you’re in the home of an Elder and Victoria is his mate. She would have all rights to kill you right now for challenging her in her home.” Jack looks over towards Ajax and then towards me. “You remember what Stanley said. We’re to do whatever Vicky tells us and not interfere in her case. We’re strictly back-up to her tonight.” as Jack puts my book down and stands up.
Ajax glances over towards Jack and then directs his eyes to my feet.
“That’s better.” I walk past him into the living room. “I have two stops I have to make tonight guys. The first place is Mistress Selena’s bar, and the second place is the city morgue to take a look at somebodies that are there. When we visit Mistress Selena’s place tonight, don’t give her or any of the other vampires there that are not under her control any reason to attack us. Cause the last thing I need tonight is a shootout with her bodyguards. Also, Jack”
I direct my eyes to him “no flirting with kitten tonight. I know you like flirting with her, but I don’t need Mistress Selena getting mad with us because you are flirting with her sex toy.”
“You have no arguments from me on that subject Vicky. She’s too submissive for my taste.” Jack lifts his hands up in a surrender position.
“What’s wrong Jack? You don’t know how to handle a submissive woman?” Ajax looks over towards Jack with an evil smile on his face.
“They’re not that hard to control. Just use them like they want to be used and enjoy it.”
I stand there stunned at Ajax’s comment. “What are we speaking from experience Ajax?” as I stare at him with unbelievable belief.
“As a matter of fact, yes. I’m into the BDSM scene and there are several men and women that like being treated like sex toys or slaves and they don’t mind giving themselves over to that lifestyle.” He returns my stare with a smirk on his face.
“So what vehicle are we taking?” Jack looks towards me. “Because I know your little Honda will not be able to support all of us and your husband’s hummer sticks out like a sore thumb.”
“I figure we would take your Chevy Blazer, Jack. Since all of us have to travel with one another and since you guys are supposed to be my bodyguards tonight. Also, Emygdia has given me the use of her condo off of Duke Street. So, we can spend the night there. After we visit the morgue tonight.”
“Stanley didn’t tell me about any sleepover.” Jack gives me a playful look.
“Don’t get any ideas about this Jack. It’s just her place is closer than driving back to my house and we can stay there and go over a plan I have for investigating the projects tomorrow morning after we leave the morgue. Cause I feel there might be an attack tonight and I want to be ready to intervene.”
“What does your husband think about this plan?” Jack looks at me.
“He doesn’t mind, plus he has to visit the pack leader of the Stegaraki clan tonight.”
“The Stegaraki clan?” Ajax looks at me as I mention that clan.
“Yes!” I look at him with a questionable look on my face.
“Did Tom tell you why he was asked to come up there?” Ajax searches my face for an answer.
“Sort of. They’re having a problem with dust addicts up in their territory and need Tom’s help locating the supplier.” I watch his reaction.
“I hope they find the bastard, that is selling the dust and give them a huge dose of it.” Ajax storms past me and out the front door of the house.
I look towards Jack “what was that all about?”
“Ajax lost a brother to red dust. His brother took a dose made from the blood of an extremely old and powerful vampire and it turned him into a mindless, killing zombie. That’s why Ajax is so set upon killing as many vampires and blood dolls as he can.” as he walks over towards me.
“Come on. We better get going, before Ajax decides he doesn’t want to follow orders tonight.” Jack heads outside.
I walk over towards the downstairs closet and grab the overnight bag I know my husband had already prepared for me. As I lift the bag out of the closet, I notice my husband’s assault shotgun is missing from the gun cabinet he had built in the closet along with his sword. That tells me he is expecting trouble and I mean serious trouble. I close the closet door and sling the overnight bag on my shoulder and head out to Jack’s blazer. I notice Jack is in the driver's seat and Ajax is riding shotgun, which leaves me in the back seat. I climb into the blazer’s backseat and make myself comfortable.
“So where to first, Vicky?” as Jack turns to look at me.
“Velvet night club down off of 41st and Colley ave. Jack. Mistress Selena is down at her main nightclub tonight.”
“Oh, great! You mean we are heading into the lion’s den without any type of support or back-up?” Jack gives me a hard stare.
“Yep, right into the lion’s den with my detective badge protecting us.” I watch as Jack turns around and began backing out of the driveway. We head down US 17 to Dominion Blvd and then get on the interstate there and take that to downtown Norfolk.
I sit there and enjoy the ride as Jack plays the latest Gretchen Wilson country cd that is out. Ajax stares straight ahead and watches as we pass other cars traveling at this time of night. He turns around in his seat and looks at me.
“You mind telling me what the case is that your working on, that Stanley feels you must have two bodyguards?”
“I’m working on a missing child case. The child is 10yrs. old and has been missing for a few days now. Not only that, several dead bodies turned a few streets up from where the boy disappear from. Plus I found these inside an open mausoleum.” as I pull out the broken cross pieces I found.
Ajax reaches back to take one of them to examine it.
“These pieces were laying inside on the ground near a burial vault.”
“What was in the burial vault?” as Ajax looks at me.
“Nothing, it was empty, but something had been in there for a while. It smelled very old and powerful.”
“And your thinking that it might have something to do with the missing child?” as Ajax hands me back the broken pieces. Just as he handing them to me, my cell phone starts ringing.
I pull it out and notice the number belongs to Emygdia.
“Vicky here.,” I hold the cell phone against my cheek.
“Vicky, I have some news for you from the ghost hanging around that graveyard you went to.” Emygdia's voice comes over my receiver.
“What’s the news Emygdia?” I grab my small notebook along with a pen out of my purse.
“According to some of the ghosts in that graveyard. The person that was inside the mausoleum was placed there by a group of vampires a long time ago. They said he was responsible for the death of several young children with special gifts.”
“Special gifts? What do they mean special gifts?” I write down what Emygdia has said so far.
“I ask them that, but they kept on saying, just special gifts.”
“How long ago did they imprison this person?”
“Remember Vicky, time has no meaning to spirits. All they can say is a very long time ago.”
“Is there anything else you can tell me? Do they know anything about that boy that was taken?” as I motion for Jack to turn the overhead light on so I can see better to write.
“Yes, they said that the one, that was released from the tomb is responsible for him. Along with others just like him as well.”
“There were others?” as I write this down in my notebook.
“Yes, they said at least four others from the surrounding neighborhoods.”
“Ms. Longford didn’t say anything about four other children being missing from her area.” I put this little info into my notebook.
“It might be that she didn’t know, Vicky. These children were taken from the other side of the project that is near Fresh Pride. One of the spirits said that the family he looks after lives over there and was summoned by some sort of wizard that lives on that side of the projects.”
“Did that spirit say why he was summoned over there?” I watch an SUV with kids in the back seat watching a DVD pass us.
“Yes, he was summoned to help find one of the missing kids. Unfortunately, he had no luck finding any trace of the child he was summoned to find. It’s like the child was spirited off to somewhere else. “
“Do you think maybe a vampire is involved in this matter?”
“That would be my first guess. I would have to guess that someone is out to get even with Mistress Selena and maybe take over her position.”
I hear gunshots and screams in the background.
“I have to go, Vicky. There is some trouble going on over near Grandy village” Emygdia's cell phone goes dead.
“What did Emygdia have to say?” Jack looks at me in the review mirror.
“She was giving me an update about what she found out from the ghost in the area where the boy disappeared from.” I look up at the mirror.
“From the way the conversion was going, it sounded like she found some more interesting news for you.”
“Yes, according to Emygdia a wizard or shaman is living in the projects over on the other side of the projects near the grocery store over there.” I look down at the notes I took.
“Does he have anything to do with the missing children in that area?” Jack exists off the interstate and onto Saint Paul’s Blvd.
“Nope, according to Emygdia, the guy asked one of the ghosts to search for the children in the project.” as I watch as we turn on to Brambleton Ave.
“Isn’t your office over near here, Vicky?” Ajax turns his head to look at me.
“Yes, right down there past the Federal Court House on Monticello Avenue.” as we passed the street.
“So, you’re not that far from Mistress Selena’s club then, are you?” Ajax gives me a questionable look.
“I’m about ten to fifteen minutes away depending on traffic. Hampton boulevard backs up in the afternoon from about three to seven at night from all of the traffic trying to go through the mid-town tunnel. You could take Granby or one of the other side streets off Brambleton avenue to get to her club. Colley avenue is the fastest to turn up on because all the other side streets you have to turn down another street to get to her place.”
“Have you been to her club without back-up before?” as he searches my face.
“Once or twice with some friends. I went to keep them out of trouble. I’ve gone a few times with my husband since I’m his wife.” as a grin appears on my face.
“And Stanley knew this?”
“Yes, he knew that I went with my friends and he didn’t have any problems with it. I think the reason he wants you guys there with me as back-up is because I’m working on a case that can cause some of their dirty laundry to be exposed.” as I watch as we reach the intersection of Colley avenue and Brambleton Avenue.
“Take a right Jack.”
Jack makes the right-hand turn.
“How far up?” Jack looks into the Mirror towards me.
“Just keep going till you see the club on the left-hand side of the road. It’s just a few blocks down from the seven-eleven at 38th and Colley.
“Okay.” Jack keeps driving, going past 21th street and then 26th street. “Is that the seven-eleven you were talking about?” as he stops at the stoplight.
“Yes, that’s it and right across the street is the post office for around here on the right.” I point to an old brick building. Right across the street from the street on the right of it are some old apartment building that has been gutted out and is in the process of remodeling.
“There’s her club.” as we come to a three-story L- shape building that is painted in black gothic-style dark colors.
There are only windows on the second floor of the building and the name of the club is painted on the side of it in red gothic script. The parking lot already has a lot of cars in it along with a line outside of the club itself of people waiting to go in. I notice most of the people waiting to go in are college kids waiting to see real vampires.
You can tell the gothic ones have already been allowed in, while everyone else hasn’t. I notice some of the young women standing in line have on outfits so short and revealing, that I wonder if they know what they are getting themselves into here.
Jack parks his blazer as near to the building as he can, which isn’t easy considering all the good spots have already been taken up. I get out first, then Jack and Ajax follow behind me on either side of me as we walk towards the front entrance.
As we pass the line and head towards the entrance. I notice several of the people wondering who we are. The young women in the line direct their eye sights on to Jack and Ajax, while their male companions direct their gaze towards me. For some of them, you can tell what they are thinking from the looks on their face. “Here is a woman with two guys. She’s either good in bed or a very important person.”
I smirk to myself and look at some of the men still staring at me and smile at them as we approach the entrance to the club. Once we get there, we’re stopped by a big burly African American gentleman. You can tell he is some sort of weightlifter because his muscles are straining against the security t-shirt that is covering his chest. He is well developed and his muscular legs are cover in black slack and covering his feet are black dress shoes. The light above the doorway shines off his polished bald head as he looks me up and down as I stand there before him. You can smell that he is a vampire familiar. He doesn’t have the same smell as a normal human would.
“Move aside, I have an appointment with Mistress Selena.” as I stare right into his eyes.
“Make me little wolf.” as he glares back at me.
“If that’s what you want.” I snap my fingers and both Jack and Ajax pull their guns out and point them at him.
“Now if you will be a good little fang banger and step aside. I’ll forget about this incident and not tell your Mistress, that you were being a jerk and not allowing her guest in.” I give him a low growl.
He moves aside. I start towards the door. I swing my fist as fast and hard as I can into his stomach. As he doubles over from my blow, I pull his head up towards me.
“Next time, you think about challenging me. Remember who you are challenging and what I am. Because next time, I won’t be so nice.” as my eyes flash to their wolf state. I let him fall to his knees and walk past him.
All three of us walk past him and into a dimly lit large cavernous room. As I look around the place, I notice that Mistress Selena has all three of her bars up and running tonight. Gothic/Darkwave music fills the air at an annoying level as people of various ages dance to the music. There are groups of people, along with vampires gather around the room away from the huge dance floor.
Jack leans in close to me “So where is Mistress Selena holding court tonight?”
I turn to talk with him “upstairs.” there’s a private elevator and stairs over on the other side of the dance floor near the right-hand corner.
“Oh!” as Jack follows my lead.
I start walking over towards the other side of the building avoiding people as much as possible. I know a few of these people are psychic and energy vampires and would love to have some of our energy to feed them. Every once in a while we run into a group of college girls that try hitting on Jack and Ajax.
Just before we get to the other side of the dance floor, were intercepted by one of Mistress Selena’s children. He steps in front of us blocking our path. He looks down at me and then towards Jack and Ajax.
“Ah, it’s so nice to see you again Victoria.” as he takes my hand and places a kiss on it.
“Where is your charming husband at night?” he looks past my shoulders and to the two men that are with me.
“He had something else to take care of tonight.” I look at him. Yes, I know. You should never look a vampire in the eyes, but in my case it’s safe. One, I’m a were so his gaze doesn’t affect me, and two, my family line has a natural immunity to their gaze.
“That’s too bad. I so will miss his company tonight.” he gives me a condescending smile.
“Well, if I remember right. I’m not here to see or speak to you. Now if you would be so kind and get out of my way.” as I give him a very unpleasant smile of my own and let my eyes flash to their wolf state.
“Oooooooo!!, I love it when you wolves think you're more important than everyone else.” He extends his fangs out.
“I wouldn’t do that if I was you, Henry.” A gentleman’s voice with an Irish accent comes from behind the one standing in front of me.
“And why is that Alpin.” as the one named Henry turns his head to look over his shoulder towards Alpin.
“Because Victoria is here to see Mistress Selena and is under our Mistress protection. I for one do not wish for our Mistress to take her anger out on me, because you refuse to be a good host.”
I remember Alpin from the last meeting my husband had here with Mistress Selena. He always stayed near his Mistress and did everything she said and didn’t say to him. He steps closer to Henry.
“In the name of our Mistress, Henry you will step aside and let her guest past. As well our Mistress has said that the next time you show ill-manners that is below your station. She will personally show you the proper way you are to address her guest. Does she make herself clear on this matter?” as Alpin's voice projects a little anger in his last words.
“Yes.” Henry hisses those words out of his mouth. He steps aside to allow us to walk by him.
I walk by Henry with a smirk on my face. “Thank you, Alpin. It seems, that some of your Mistress children have forgotten their manners.”
“It would appear that you bring out the worst in our Mistress children Victoria.” as he gives me an evil grin.
“Who little ole’ me?” as I act all innocents. “I have no idea what you are talking about.” I stop in front of Alpin.
Alpin just gives me a skeptical look and then turns around and leads me and my escorts to the hidden door that leads up to the third floor. As we approach it, he takes an old fashion gold skeleton key out of his coat pocket and places it in a hidden keyhole. The door of the elevator opens and he steps aside to let me and my escorts step inside. I look at him as Ajax walks in.
“Aren’t you coming up with us?” I tilt my head to the right.
“No, my Mistress wishes for me to stay down here and run the bar for her.” as he turns the key one last time, and the doors close in front of me.
The elevator starts moving up as I stand there.
“You know Vicky, how come this little meeting is becoming more and more like a suicide mission?” Jack looks at me.
“I have no idea, Jack. I wasn’t expecting the problems with Henry or the jerk at the front door either.” We all feel the elevator stop on the third floor.
The oak elevator doors open revealing a long oak panel hallway lit by old Victorian chandlers hanging in the middle of the hallway space at least four feet apart on the ceiling. The deep red carpet runs the whole length of the hallway towards a set of country French doors.
“Well, here we go into the lion’s den.” I stop in front of the doors and knock on them with the back of my hands.
The doors open on their own. As we enter into the chamber where Mistress Selena is holding her court. I see her sitting in a huge old oak gothic high back throne chair that surrounds her slim body. Her skin is milky white and the blue Victorian dress she is wearing makes her look like a porcelain doll with long black hair. Sitting down on the floor on a large floor pillow is her human hybrid pet named Angelica. Her nickname is Kitten, she answered the phone when I called yesterday to make this appointment. Angelica uses to be a very powerful witch until a shape-shifting spell backfired on her. The spell erased most of her memory and trapped her in a human cat form. She has cat ears instead of human ears and a cat tail as well. Her long black hair comes all the way down to her waist and the rest of her body is that of a human with well-proportion curves. She has a black leather collar around her neck with a golf ball size silver bell hanging from it. The form-fitting skintight leather shorts and halter makes her body very appealing.
Standing on either side of Angelica and her Mistress are two Native American males still wearing their deerskin leather pants and moccasins. Their bronze tanned muscular chest and skin make them seem like that they are alive instead of dead. They each have long swords and knives on their body ready to be drawn to defend their Mistress. Their long black hair is drawn back into a warrior’s braid tied off with a leather string.
All along the room were at least fifty vampires or more with their blood dolls or children they have made. We walk up the carpet towards Mistress Selena’s throne and stop a few feet from it.
Angelica looks at me with a smile on her face and then over towards Ajax, which she makes a pouting face at and then turns towards Jack and starts batting her eyelids at him.
Mistress Selena looks at me and examines the way I am dress. My blue blouse and black slacks. My matching black flats and purse. She also notices the way my gun is displayed out in the open like it is on my shoulder harness.
Mistress Selena doesn’t approve of women wearing pants. It’s either skirt with her or a dress. She never allows any of her female children to wear pants suits or dress pants at all. The gentlemen are just as restricted as well. They have to wear either a fine three-piece suit or dress like the gentlemen from the era they came from or like the southern men from her age.
Mistress Selena has always been a strong supporter of the south. Ever since the civil war. Most of her servants are slaves from the south she caught trying to make their way to the northern states to be free and turned into vampires to serve her for the rest of their undead existence. A lot of her maids from the years have been women that have been down on their luck or orphanages, she helped raise that owe her their life.
“Victoria, it’s been so long. What brings you before my court tonight?” as she looks at my face.
“Greeting Mistress Selena. I have asked for this meeting because of a case I have been hired to investigate.”
Mistress Selena gives me a confusing look “and how does this involve me?”
“Because Mistress, the cemetery right across the street from where I am investigating had a mausoleum that had been broken into recently. When I went inside to investigate it, I found that the coffin inside had been forced open from the outside and these broken pieces of several Celtic crosses were laying on the floor near it.” I reach into my purse and bring a few pieces of the cross I had brought with me.
Mistress Selena motions to her pet Kitten to come and get them from me. I watch as Kitten just stands up very smoothly from a sitting position as if someone had poured her body. She walks over towards me with her eyes just a little lower than mine with the grace of a cat. She holds out her slender small hand for the pieces of the cross.
I place them into her hand, as her fingers curl around them. She pivots on the heel of her right foot to turn and face her Mistress and walks back towards Mistress Selena with a little wiggle in her walk directed towards Jack. Once Kitten is in front of Mistress Selena she stands there and extends her arm out with her palm up and open so that Mistress Selena can examine the broken pieces of the Celtic cross I had placed there.
Mistress Selena looks down at the pieces in front of her and picks one up out of kitten’s hand and looks towards me “Do you know what the name of the tomb was that you got these from Victoria? “
“Yes, Ma. The name on the outside of the mausoleum was Grayson. The chain and lock that had been securing it had been thrown off like they were nothing.” I watch her facial expression, which is nearly impossible considering how much control she has over herself...
I glance around the room as much as I can without letting it be known I am doing it. Most of the vampires there are as stone face as Mistress Selena is, except for one. I nod my head a little for Jack to look for me.
Mistress Selena puts the pieces she had picked up back into Kitten’s hand and motions for her to hold them.
Kitten sits back down so fluidly, that even I’m amazed at how agile she appears to be.
Mistress Selena looks back up at me “what else did you find?”
“Well, the doors of the place were ripped off their hinges. The cover of the casket was removed and set aside. The casket itself had been pried open after these cross pieces had been broken off. The other tomb inside with this one hadn’t been touched and didn’t have the crosses on it.” I think a little more about what I saw. Nothing else comes to mind.
“And where did you say this took place at Victoria?”
“Over in the graveyard on Princess Anne road Mistress Selena. I would say about a thousand feet or more away from the back wall that faces church street.” I watch her expression. I can tell she is thinking about something, and she isn’t sure if she should tell me.
“Why do you think our beloved Mistress is involved in this matter?” A gentleman with raven black hair and light tan skin, wearing a dark gangster-style suit that looks to have come from the '50s. Steps away from a group of female vampires that look to have come from the same period as him.
I can feel the power he has over him, as he tries to get the attention of my wolf deep inside of me. A smile comes to my face when I feel the protection of my badge kick in surrounding me and my two bodyguards.
“If I were you, sir. I would reel in that power of yours and stop trying to bring my wolf to the surface. I’m here as an official law enforcement personnel and my badge protects me, along with the protection Mistress Selena has bestow on me already.” I look at him with a smile on my face.
Mistress Selena looks over towards him as well. I could almost tell she isn’t too happy about the way he is acting. I see him flinch some as he locks eyes with her. He then turns his attention towards me again.
“My apology Victoria, it won’t happen again.” He straightens up some “still why do you think our Mistress is involved?”
“Because...” as I look at him closely before answering “These broken cross pieces link her to the tomb. As we all know these crosses are her trademark or symbol.”
He examines me very closely with his eyes before speaking “are you suggesting that our Mistress release something from that tomb?”
“No, what I am saying is that she may have put someone or something there. That someone has gone behind her back to release them from their tomb. If the vampire that was put there is dangerous, then I need to know who it is and what they look like before any more bodies turn up dead.”
“Victoria, you didn’t say anything about any dead bodies before.” as I hear Mistress Selena’s voice.
“My pardon Mistress. Several bodies were found dead off the streets directly behind the graveyard.” I watch her.
Kitten lays down on her pillow covering her Mistress's feet with her body. Mistress Selena extends her hand down and begins to stroke kitten on her head.
Mistress Selena looks at me for a second before speaking “Victoria, I have nothing to hide from you, but in this case, I can’t give you the information you need. You do however have my permission to take whatever action you need to. Even if it is one of my own that is involved. All I ask of you in return, that you let me see your final report of this case and what children were harmed.”
I just shake my head to her statement “Your willing to let me kill one of your own, but you won’t give me the name of the vampire that you were holding in that tomb?”
“Yes!” as she looks directly towards me.
I can see that she means it. As much as she protects her family, I don’t think I’ve ever heard her give her official permission to kill one of her members. Even Jack standing near me watching Kitten at Mistress Selena’s feet is stunned by this as well. Ajax standing on the right of me isn’t even fazed by this or has better control of his emotions than me or Jack.
I look back at Mistress Selena “does this mean that any of your children that get in my way I have permission to kill them as well?”
“Yes!” as her dark brown eyes look directly into mine as well.
I can feel her moving around inside my head. I don’t know how she is doing it. I’m normally immune to vampire mind tricks. They aren’t supposed to work on me at all. A little growl escapes my throat.
~” quiet Victoria. The reason I am speaking to you like this is the fact that the council has made it very clear that the person’s name must never be spoken allowed. If he should ever escape his imprisonment, then he is to be tracked down and killed. You must do whatever you can to find this guy and kill him, Victoria. I can’t help you with any other information.”~ as she pulls out of my head and nods her head at me.
“You may go now Victoria.” as she waves her hand to dismiss me from the chamber.
I walk out of the room and back down the hallway towards the elevator.
“What happens to you in there Vicky?” as Jack looks at me.
“Mistress Selena had something private to say to me, Jack.” I turn to look at him.
“Well, what was it?”
“Not here.” as the elevator opens up and we all head inside of it.
The ride back down to the bar area is quick. No one tried to stop us or stop to talk with us as we headed back towards Jack’s blazer.
After all of us had climbed inside and Jack had started up the engine, I look towards both him and Ajax “We’re dealing with a pedophile vampire here. Mistress Selena wouldn’t tell me what his name was. She said that the vampire council has made it forbidden to even speak his name. All she did say is that we need to kill him.”
“Wow! So, those stories your neighbor and husband told you were true then?” Jack looks in the rear-view mirror at me and backs the Blazer out of its parking space.
“Yes, it would appear so, but the major question to all of this is who let him out and why?”
“Maybe someone wants to make Mistress Selena look bad since this is her town.” Ajax looks towards me.
“Maybe, but why release a pedophile. According to what Oilibhear told me. This vampire only goes after children who have special magical gifts.” I lean back in my seat and think this over.
“You said he only goes after kids with special magical talent Vicky?”
“Yeah.” as I look at Ajax.
“Don’t vampires get power from those people they bind to them? Including magical creatures like us?”
“Yes, which would explain how Mistress Selena was able to get inside my head. Kitten her pet is a witch whose spell backfired on her. Since Kitten is a human servant to Mistress Selena that gives her access to some of her magical talents. Which would mean that this vampire that was set loose is trying to gather as much magical talent as possible to overthrow Mistress Selena’s control of this area.” as I look at the back part of Jack’s head and Ajax's face.
“So that explains why he is only going after children with magical talents and why Mistress Selena wants to see your report afterward. Because if one child in the family has magical talent, then one of the parents may have it as well.”
“Maybe. Sometimes the person may carry that gene in them, and it will remain dominant until something happens to trigger it or it is passed to someone that can use it.”
“You mean like what happens to you don’t you?” Jack looks towards me in the rearview mirror.
“Yes, the gene that allows someone to use magic or control magic can lay dominant in someone for years and be passed from generation to generation, until someone either shows that person how to access it or they are exposed to magic itself. Sometimes it can be trigger under a life-or-death experience.”
“But how does someone get that gene in their family line?” as Ajax turns around in his seat to look at me.
“According to my cousin in Cairo, Kentucky. That person’s family line would have at one time had a Fae marry into it and their offspring would pass that gene down the line. The problem is, the further you get from the source of the gene and not inter-marrying with another person carrying that gene the more diluted it becomes in your family bloodline. It would take you to expose to a large amount of magical energy to make that gene in you active again.”
“What do you mean a large amount of magical energy?” Ajax looks at me with a puzzled look on his face.
“I mean being either exposed to magical energy which is concentrated in several areas in the world or have a pure-blooded or half-blooded Fae trigger the gene in you. As far as I know, there are no pure-blooded Fae’s that lives in this area, and most of the half-blooded fae that does live around here are protected by others like them or by other supernatural creatures or by normal humans loyal to them.”
“Isn’t your sister and cousin half-blooded Fae’s?” as Jack looks at me through the mirror again.
“Yes, and before you ask I carry that gene as well, but because the wolf in me is stronger than the fae blood in me. I can’t weld magic like my sister or cousin. As far I know there have only been two of my relatives that have managed to combine both their fae abilities and their were abilities. One was my cousin Roger, Maggie’s brother, who was a were-lynx, and my great uncle Harry in Florida that is a were-panther of that region. Those two are the only ones that I know of that have managed to combine that part of our bloodline. The wolf is so strong in my bloodline, that the magic that allows us to bring it forward negates the fae half of our blood.”
“Boy, that sucks. I bet you wish you could do magic as well shapeshift as you do.” Jack just smiles.
“Not really. Then I would be valuable to cold iron instead of silver. I’m still pissed at George for attacking me and causing the wolf gene in me to come to life. I had all sorts of family silver that was given to me for my wedding.” a little bit of anger is erupts from my voice.
“Well, where to next?” As Jack turns on to Colley ave.
“The nearest Kentucky Fire Chicken if we can find one. I think there’s one over on Hampton blvd down near 38th street.” I slump back against the seat trying to get my anger under control.
“Okay, you’re the boss.” as Jack heads down to 38th street and then turns right onto Hampton Blvd.
I just sit back and watch as Jack drives through the neighborhood and down 38th street at the renovations being done to some of the old apartment buildings on the street.
“Looks like they are redoing this street to their grand design.” as Ajax speech breaks the silence in the blazer.
“Yep, Norfolk is trying to redo some of its old neighborhoods, so they can bring in higher-income families, instead of the low-income families that were living here.”
“I heard something about that. From what I heard they want to bring in a major NFL team. That’s not a bad idea. It would be nice to finally have something else to bring income to this area, instead of the Military. Remember what happens when Desert Storm started? This town dried up.” as Ajax looks at me from the front seat.
“I was living in California at the time Ajax. I didn’t move back to the East coast until my father’s death. Desert Storm didn’t affect us as badly as it does you guys here. Still, I don’t like the idea of what Norfolk is doing or why either. It’s going to put a lot of low-income families out in the streets or move them far away from here.”
“Sorry, to interrupt you two, but are we going in or going through the drive-thru?” Jack looks towards me.
“Are you guys hungry?” I look back at him and Ajax.
“Nope, your husband made us a huge sub when you were asleep,” Jack speaks up.
“Well, that settles that question then. Through the drive-thru then.” I watch as Jack gets in line to place the order.
I look out the front window and see that there are four cars ahead of us in line.
“What did you agree to buy Gerd, Vicky?” as Jack looks in the rearview mirror towards me.
“A bucket of extra crispy chicken with side items and a 2-liter bottle of Mountain Dew which we can get at the 7-11 near him.” I reach into my purse and pull out a twenty-dollar bill.
“Here you go Jack.” as I lean forward towards Jack with the twenty in my hand.
Jack reaches back and takes it from me as he moves forward in line. I sit back in my seat and listen to the music as it plays as we wait in line. A smile comes to my face as the next song starts playing. It’s Warren Zevon’s Were-Wolf of London song. Ajax gives a little moan as I and Jack start singing along with the lyrics of the song.
“He's the hairy, hairy gent, who ran amok in Kent. Lately, he's been overheard in Mayfair. “You better stay away from him, he'll rip your lungs out, Jim. Huh, I'd like to meet his tailor.”
“Aaahoo, werewolves of London”
“Aaahoo, werewolves of London”
Jack and I start laughing as we pull up to the speaker. Jack reaches forward and turns the radio down.
“Welcome to Kentucky Fried Chicken, How may I help you?” as a female voice comes over the intercom.
“Yes, I would like a 20 piece, extra crispy family bucket.”
“What sides would you like with that?”
Jack turns around to look at me “What sides do you want to get him?”
“Mmmm!!, How about a large mash potato with gravy and string beans.”
“Okay.” Jack turns back around.
“Give me a large order of mash potatoes with gravy and a large order of string beans as well.”
“That’s one family bucket, extra crispy with a large side order of mash potatoes with gravy and string beans. Would you care for anything to drink?”
“Nope, that’s all. Thank you”
“Your total comes to $18.75, please drive around to the window.”
“Thank you.” Jack drives the blazer around towards the side of the building where a young girl with short purple hair and lightly tanned skin turns to greet us.
“That’ll be $ 18.75, sir.” She looks at Jack with a smile on her face that I have seen time and time again. It’s that type of effect that Jack has on weak-willed young women.
“Umm, Jack” as I try to get his attention.
Jack hands her the twenty dollars and she hands him the order we brought. Afterward, the young girl hands him the change. Jack hands me the food and the change.
“See you later.” Jack rolls his window back up and then turns left onto Hampton Blvd.
“You know Jack. We are going to have to do something about the effects you have on young weak-willed women. Because it has already gotten you into trouble more than once already.” as I open the bag up that has the side dishes and check them.
“What? Are you getting jealous or protective of me now?” Jack looks in the mirror and wiggles his eye’s brows at me after I looked up towards him at that statement.
“No, I’m not jealous. I’m just asking you to behave yourself that’s all. Now I want you to stop at that Seven-Eleven down on the corner of Redgate ave and Orpax street.” as I double-check the change in my hand.
“Okay, One Seven-Eleven coming up.” Jack continues to head up Hampton blvd towards Redgate ave.
Jack turns right onto Redgate ave and heads up to the corner of Orpax. We turn into the driveway of the seven-eleven.
“Do you guys want to come in with me or sit out here in the blazer?” I look at Ajax and Jack.
“I’m going in.” as Jack starts unbuckling his seat belt.
“How about you Ajax?” I turn my head towards him.
“I could use a beer.” as Ajax starts unbuckling his seat belt as well.
I get out of the blazer first follow by Jack and Ajax. As we enter the store one of the young male employees at the cash register looks at us as we enter. I’ve never seen him before. Still, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been with the company for a while. He has short black hair and stands a little shorter than me. He’s not very physical looking, kind on the skinny side. His partner on the other hand is much older than me and has some gray in his hair and is of African/American descent.
“How are you doing, Thomas?” as I walk up to the counter.
“Not bad Vicky. How about you?” He gives me one of his wonderful smiles.
“Oh, I’m all right.” as he puts a new paper roll in the cash register.
I stand there and watch as Thomas refills the receipt roll. Ajax walks over towards the beer section where a gentleman I know is standing as well. He hasn’t noticed me, but as soon as Ajax gets close to him, he turns around and looks at him. Ajax stops in his tracks as both of them stare at each other.
Neither man backs down from the other. I notice Jack over near the soda fountain watching the power struggle going on between Ajax and the man in front of him. I walk over towards both of them and get in between them.
As I stand there between them “this isn’t the place or time for this crap guys. So let it go for now. You two can find out later which of you too is the more dominant.”
The guy I know looks at me “I’ll back down for now Vicky, but you better control your pack members better.” as I feel his power reel in.
“Thank you, Otto.” as I turn my attention to Ajax.
“And now you!” as I start to feel his power reel itself in as well.
Otto walks over towards the next aisle that is closest to us and stands there and watches as Ajax walks around me and gets a 40 oz. Budweiser out of the beer cabinet.
As Otto is watching Ajax “what brings you down in this neck of the woods as this time of night, Vicky? Normally I don’t see anything from you or even pick your scent up unless you’re in here during the morning time getting your coffee.”
“If you must know Otto, I’m getting a 2 liter of hill billy piss water for a friend of mine.” as I grab a bottle of Mountain Dew from the shelf in front of me.
Otto just looks at me as he squints his eyes and tries to peer into my own eye’s so he can look into my mind.
I just stare right back at him letting my eyes bleed to their wolf state and let a low growl escapes my lips towards him.
“If I were you I would stop doing that unless you want me to take it as a challenge.” my upper lip quivers with the growl. I shove a little bit of my power at him.
Otto stops what he is doing when he feels my power. Otto may be big and strong, but he isn’t in the same class as I am in power. Otto is a Bengal Tiger in his were form, but he doesn’t have the power I do. One day he might, but until then he doesn’t.
He continues to look at me as I watch his eyes bleed to their tiger form. I don’t even hear or see Jack as he steps up beside Otto.
“If I was you, tiger man, I would give up now. You’re outclassed and outnumber right now. Plus, do you want to bring the anger of her husband down on you?” Jack whispers this only to Otto.
Otto breaks contact with me and looks at Jack. He can’t believe that Jack got as close as he did without him detecting him.
“I still want to know why you guys are here. I know for a fact that you guys don’t normally come down to this part of town unless there’s trouble.”
“It’s like Vicky told you, Otto. We’re here getting a 2 liter of soda for a friend of hers that works nearby. That’s all, I swear.”
Otto looks at Jack, and then at me and Ajax standing close to me. “If you say so, Jack.” Otto eye’s turn back to their human ones.
While all of this was going on, one of the store's employees had gone to the back storage area and the other one had gone to the office to get something from the office. So, they never witness what was going on between us and Otto.
“Look, Otto, it’s nothing I can go over with you here and it doesn’t involve your clan. All I can say is it’s a private matter between me and a client.” as I look at him.
He still gives me a skeptical look, but after he sees I’m not lying “fine, but if it crosses over towards my pard. You better tell the Regent, so he won’t think you are trespassing in our territory.”
“Fine, I’ll make sure your Ardri knows what is going on, should my investigation cross over towards your territory.” as I stand there feeling a little exhausted from dealing with him.
Otto heads over towards the counter and the employee that had been in the office comes out and checks him out. I, Jack, and Ajax just stand there and watch as Otto finishes up his transaction and leaves the store.
“Come on guys let’s go.” as the three of us head over towards the counter as well and place our respected items on the counter.
The clerk looks at me and the two-gentleman standing next to me. He begins to ring up our items and afterward he bags everything up for us.
“That will be $10.56" as he looks at me. I hand him a twenty-dollar bill. He hands me back my change.
“Have a nice night Ms.” he watches as I pick up the bags and head out the doors towards Jack’s Blazer and get in.
“Where to now?” as Jack climbs into the driver seat and I climb into the back of the blazer.
“To the morgue, my dear man, to the morgue.” as I say this in a joking tone of voice.
Jack just looks at me in the rearview mirror.
“Oh, you want to know how to get there. Take Redgate ave. over to Colley ave. and go straight up. It’s the health building right there on Colley and Brambleton ave.”
“Okay.” Jack backs the blazer out of the parking spot and does a u-turn around the island separating Redgate ave.
The ride over towards the morgue is uneventful as I watch as the building and the back part of Sentra Norfolk General Hospital pass by us. Eastern Virginia Medical school sign flashes by us as we turn on to Colley ave. You can tell that some of the doctors and students are still having classes this late at night.
“Did you hear that Kelly has gone back to school, Vicky?” as Ajax’s voice breaks the silence of the blazer.
“No, I didn’t hear about that. What classes is she taking?”
“She’s taking nursing and her teacher is a vampire,” he says in a sarcastic tone.
“Oh, I bet she is enjoying that. Didn’t Kelly use to date a vampire that was like the second or third in command of a city?”
“Yep!, her last lover was the second in command of Elizabeth city. He was pretty cool for a vampire. I came to like him, just before their break-up.”
“Why did they break up? Kelly never did say.” as I think back to the conversion I had with Kelly after the breakup.
“It was because he had sex with another were and didn’t tell her about it. Normally, she doesn’t mind, but this other woman was a total knockout. She could have been one of the leading Hollywood models of all times if not for her habits.”
“What habits does she have that would get her band from Hollywood?”
“She’s a ruthless killer. She killed several women that were trying to take her place at the modeling agency she worked at. One woman survived her attack and became a was. She then informed the police on who attacked her.”
“Why didn’t they arrest her?”
“Because the chief of police uses to be a close friend of hers and told her she better get out of town right away if she wanted to live. He also told her that if she wanted to stay alive that she better make friends with some powerful vampires. Because the woman she turned into a werewolf was the daughter of the local mob boss in Hollywood.”
“So, you’re saying she purposely seduce the second in command of Elizabeth city to get his protection?”
“Well not exactly like that, but you get the idea. The one thing she didn’t count on was he made her his human pet. Now she is linked to him, which is something Kelly didn’t want to do.”
“Oh, this gets better and better.” as I watch as we stop at the stoplight on the corner of Colley and Brambleton ave.
“Is that the building we are going to Vicky?” Jack points towards a tan square shape building with a huge parking lot in front of it with a single black car parked in front.
“Yep, the very one. There’s Gerd’s black VW fox parked right there in front.”
Jack drives across Brambleton ave and up Colley ave and pulls into the parking lot and heads over towards Gerd’s car to park next to it.
“Do you want us to come inside with you or stay out here?” Jack turns around in his seat to look at me.
“It’s up to you two. All I’m going to do is go inside and take a few pictures of the men that were found dead down from the graveyard.” as I grab the Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket and soda as well.
Jack looks over towards Ajax “do you want to go in with her or stay out here?”
“I’ll stay out here. Morgues have never been my cup of tea.” as Ajax looks towards me.
“Fine with me.” I open the blazers door and get out.
“I’ll see you guys in a little while.” as I walk towards the main entrance and head inside the building.
You can tell this place was busy today because of the lingering smell of people still in the air. It’s not that you can actually smell the different scents of each person that came through here if you were a normal person, but with me being part were-wolf I can pick the smells up without changing. There’s even the smell of death in the air as well. Not to mention the smell of brunt flesh. I continue to walk down the dark hallway towards the only light in the place.
There sitting behind a huge wooden desk with a computer terminal on was Gerd. There’s no way you can mistake him. He has short gray and black hair wearing a white short sleeve security shirt with black company patch on the left sleeve that looks like it’s about to split open because of how overweight he looks. What most people don’t know about Gerd is he knows more about killing a vampire then most legal vampire hunters do.
“Hi! Gerd. How is your night going so far?” as I stop at his desk.
“Better now that you are here with dinner.” as he glances at the Kentucky Fried Chicken I brought in.
“So does this mean that you’re going to give me the keys to the drawers that have the bodies in them?” I hand him everything in my hand.
“Better than that. I’ll come with you so I can show you the bodies.” as he takes the food and place it on his desk. Gerd then grabs his key ring and hook them to his belt.
“Ah, you don’t trust me, is that it?” I give him a pouting look.
“It’s not that Vicky. There’s something I need to show you. It has the medical examiner puzzled, but I think I know what it is.” Gerd leads me down a dark hallway towards a set of double doors.
“Can you at least tell me what it is?” as I watch the back of his head as we enter into the examination room.
All along one wall are double rows of stainless-steel metal doors with small white name tags in a small holder on the front of the door themselves. At least ten of them have name tags on the door.
“Has this been recently?” I walk over to examine the names on the stainless steel door.
“Yep, that one is the fourth body that was found in the church street area.” Gerd stops five doors down from me.
“These three are the ones I wanted to show you.” as Gerd motions to the three nearest him.
I walk over towards him so I can take a look at them as Gerd opens the drawers to show me the body. I notice right away the empty spot on the first victim where his throat uses to be. He’s a young African American man in his early twenties. The earring he use to wear in his left ear looks to have been torn off his ear lobe. I lean over the dead cold body to take a closer look at the spot his throat uses to be.
“According to the medical examiner. She thinks a dog or someone with a claw glove did this to him.” Gerd stands next to me as I lean close to the body trying to get some sort of scent from him.
“I don’t think a dog did this or even someone like me. This looks like someone bite down and tore the main vein out to drink his blood.” as I stand back up to look at Gerd.
“Was there a lot of blood at the crime scene when they found him?”
“Nope, there wasn’t. As well, you know as I do that even newly formed vampires don’t even do this type of job on their victims.” Gerd points towards the torn out throat.
“Not even your kind does that. So, what I am guessing and it’s a long guess is that whoever did this is on red dust. Cause I have seen junkies hooked on red dust who have taken a batch made from a very old vampire lose control and become raging animals.”
“And you’re saying this type of damage fits their type of attack?” as I look back at the body.
“The wound looks like it. So I have to agree that it is.” Gerd looks at the wound one more time.
“Are the rest of the bodies just like this one.” I move aside for Gerd to close the drawer.
“Yes, except for this one.” as Gerd opens the last drawer.
Inside the drawer is a young African American woman that looks to be no older than 16 or 17 years old. The middle of her hair looks to be a mohawk and is colored bright red. Her lips are covered in a deep red lipstick. I lean closer and take a sniff of her body. My eye’s go wide as soon as the scent of her body hits me. She might have been dead these past few days, but a scent still lingers on her body.
“This one used sapphire. You can smell it all over her body. It’s still in her system.” as I spot the two small holes on the side of her neck that I know belong to a vampire.
“It looks like she took the sapphire and then feed a vampire while it was still in her.” I stand up.
“It’s not uncommon for a junkie or vampire blood doll to use sapphire and transfer it magical properties in their bodies to their lovers. The vampires love the power rush they get from the substance while it passes through the human body.”
“So, we have someone producing ruby and sapphire in the area and a vampire that loves the taste of the sapphire as it passes through the body.” Gerd looks at me.
“Doesn’t that worry you, Vicky?”
“Yes, it does. It worries me a lot.” I step away from the drawer.
Gerd shuts the drawer. No sooner does it close that my cell phone starts to ring.
“Victoria speaking”
“Vicky, you need to get your butt out here right this minute. Me and Ajax are outnumber.” As my cell phone go dead.
“God, what have they gotten themselves into now.” I run down the hallway back towards the entrance.
I hear gun fire as soon as I am close enough to the door. I pull my Ruger out of its holster and head outside. I see Ajax and Jack using the doors of the blazer as cover as they fire at some men in gothic style clothes at the front of the blazer. There were two bodies already down near the blazer as the rest of them dodge out of the way of the bullets being fired at them. I notice the front windshield of the blazer is spider web. One of the men attacking Ajax and Jack noticed me and comes charging towards me with lighting speed. I barely got off a shot at him with my Ruger before he struck me with his claws. I felt the shirt I was wearing give as his claws cut the surface of my skin. I spun around on him with my gun and fire two rounds into his body.
He jerked back as the two .45 rounds penetrated his body and made two nice holes in him. I step back away from him with his blood covering the bottom part of my body. I felt a sharp pain from my back as a set of claws ripped through my blouse and bra strap. I spin around to see who my attacker was and found myself facing a man with the build of a professional body builder. He was wearing a black leather harness on his chest and tight blue jeans that seem to have been painted on his well development legs. The black boots he is wearing reflected the parking lights out here with no problem. He bares his fangs at me in a snarl. I try to shoot him with my gun, but he smacks it out of my hands before I can pull the trigger. He lungs towards me, but I grab his arms and use his momentum to toss him away from me. I shift into my half-human and half-wolf just in time as he charges me again and tackles me sending me towards the ground with him on top of me. I hit my head against the asphalt with him pinning my back against it. He tries to lower his face towards my neck, but I manage to get one of my hands free and smack his head as hard as I can with my right fist. He just snarls at me as he tries to grab my free arm. I feel something close to my left hand and try to grab whatever it is. I manage to break my left hand free from his grip and bring it and whatever I have hold of and smack his head with it. The object in my hand was my handgun. I turn it around so I can get my finger on to the trigger and pull it. The bullets hit the vampire on top of me in his neck severing the main artery. Some of his blood spills down into my mouth as I swallow it. Normally vampire blood doesn’t do anything to were-wolves, but as soon as the blood hit my stomach. I feel a jolt of energy surge through my body as I push his dead body off of me.
As I stand up, I notice that Ajax and Jack have turned into their half forms like I did and are fighting hand to hand with several of our attackers. I run towards one of them that is trying to sneak up behind Jack to attack him from behind. I jump over the blazer and come down on him with my claws striking him in his right shoulder tearing through his shoulder bone and several ribs as I pull my claws out of his chest. He looks into my wolf face and snarls. I noticed that he was wearing fake vampire fangs. I growl back at him and hit him with the back of my hand lifting him up off the ground and sending his body ten feet away from me. He lays there as I watch as blood pools under his head. The rest of the attackers see that some of their companions are down and start to run away from all of us. I walk over towards Ajax and Jack and notice that both of them have wounds from our attackers. I shift back into my human form with my ruin blouse barely covering me.
“Okay, can either one of you tell me what the fuck caused a bunch of ruby junkies and vampires to attacks us?” as I lick my lips still tasting the blood of that one vampire that attack me.
“I have no idea. All I know is me and Ajax decided to get out of the blazer and stretch our legs when something flew by us and hit the windshield of my truck.” Jack shifts back into his human form and pulls the ruin shirt he was wearing off.
“The next thing I know, we’re being attack by these guys.” Jack kicks one of the dead ruby junkies near him.
“Great, I bet one of the vampires in Selena’s court sent these men.” I look down at the poor soul that got shot by Jack’s pistol.
As we are standing there. We hear police sirens coming towards us.
“Oh great! That’s all we need now.” as Jack, Ajax and me stand there and watch as several police cars pull up.
At least four of them pull into the parking lot surrounding us and the dead bodies around us. We all knew what was coming next so all of us put our hands up so that the police could see that we we’re disarm and several of them got out of their cars and pointed their guns at us. One of the oldest among them along with his partner that I knew from the days when my father use to be on the force starts walking towards us.
The one I know looked to have age pretty good since the last time I saw him. His short salt and pepper hair is comb back against his head and his short stocky body makes his black Norfolk issue police uniform look like he is displaying it like a mannequin. The other gentleman walking next to him stands a little taller than him. His pure white hair is cut extremely close to his head like my husband likes his done. Where his short partner is stocky and lean, he is the opposite. He has a belly on him that any beer drinking person has after years of drinking. His black Norfolk issue uniform isn’t as new looking like his short partner, but well-worn with silver strips on his collar. Both of them are armed with the standard police issue Smith &Wesson 9mm handgun. They both have all the standard issue equipment that the police force issue to every officer. The 5-c cell Mag-lite and pepper spray. Not counting their handcuffs and two spare extra clips they carry. Plus their walkie-talkie’s that have the extended mike attachment that goes up to the lapels on the shoulders of the uniform.
“Vicky what are you doing down here and what happened?” as he gives me one of those looks a father gives a misbehaved child.
“Oh, you know me. I’m just guilty of causing mayhem and chaos Mr. Thomas.” I give him a mischievous smile.
“You know what I mean Victoria Brown.” as he looks at the bodies lying on the ground near us and our tattered clothes as well.
“Would you believe we had nothing to do with this except protecting ourselves?”
“What did you do to draw their attention?” as Thomas looks at me.
“She did nothing. She was inside talking to her friend Gerd, officer.” as Jack looks at Thomas.
“How come I don’t believe that?” as Thomas’s partner looks at our tatter clothes as well.
“If she didn’t have anything to do with it, then tell me what happen from the beginning then.” Thomas’s partner takes out a small notebook.
Jack starts talking with him as me and Mr. Thomas head away from everyone towards the building.
“Okay Vicky, tell me what is going on and why your clothes are torn and ripped like they are.”
As I look into his cop eye’s and know that there is no way in hell, I’ll be able to lie to him about everything. Officer Thomas knows my family pretty well and knows that certain family members have special gifts. He doesn’t know that I have those same gifts now.
“I was hired to locate a missing ten-year-old boy Officer Thomas. I stopped here at the city morgue to give my friend Gerd his dinner and to see if he was off this weekend as well. The next thing I know when I come out is my friends there were under attack by a group of drug addicts.” as I give him my most innocent look.
Officer Thomas looks at me and gives me that look most cops give to someone who is lying.
“That still doesn’t explain your current state of dress.”
“I told you I was attack by those dead drug addicts officer Thomas. Just as I came running out of the building one of them jumped me and we fell down on the ground. We tussle around on the ground before I was able to kick him off me like my husband showed me.”
Officer Thomas looks at me like he still doesn’t believe me.
“Honestly, that’s what happen. After I got back up, I pulled my gun and shot the ones attacking my friends.”
He looks at me for a second and reexamines what I am wearing to decide if what I am telling him matches my appearance.
“Alright then.” He escorts me back over towards Jack who has just finish up talking with Thomas’s partner.
“Alright, I still need for you and your friends to fill out a police report.” as officer Thomas closes his little notebook.
We start walking back over where Jack and Ajax are with his partner. When we get closer, I go over and stand next to Jack. Officer Thomas stands there looking at me before speaking again.
“Are you still staying at your father’s old place?”
“Yep, if you need to reach me, you can always call me there or on my cell phone.” I hand him one of my business cards out of my purse still in the blazer.
After I hand him my business card “so does this mean we can leave?” as I look him in the face.
“Yes, for now.” as he turns to leave. “Just remember I’ll be in touch with you about this later.”
“Okay.” as I turn to Jack and Ajax.
“I think it’s time for us to get the heck out of here guys.” I open up the passenger side door and climb in.
“I couldn’t agree with you more Vicky.” Jack walks around his truck and opens the drive side door and climb in as well.
Ajax climbs in after clearing some of the broken glass out of the way first. We start moving and head away from the parking lot.
“Where to Vicky? Your house or Emygdia’s condo?” Jack looks at me in the rear view mirror.
“Emygdia’s condo is nearest, and we all can go and get changed into something less thorn.” I look at some of the wounds I have that are closing up or have closed up already.
“You know whoever sent those clowns to attack us is going to pay dearly for that. I don’t like being used like a punching bag and how in the hell did those guys get to be so strong?” as I look at Jack.
“It could be that they we’re on some dust made from a very powerful vampires blood.” as Ajax looks at me.
“Well, whatever they we’re on, made them extremely strong and fast. The one I was fighting would had done more damage to me if I hadn’t wrestled him to the ground.” I look out the window as we drive past several building under renovation.
We arrive several minutes later at the condo that Emygdia owns. Jack parks the Blazer in the assigned spot that belongs to Emygdia. Ajax is the first one out of the blazer and looks around at the cars surrounding us. He lets out a low whistle as I and Jack get out of the blazer.
“You never said Emygdia was loaded and lived the rich life, Vicky.” Ajax runs his left hand down one of the BMWs parked nearby to us.
“Hey, I had no idea how much money she has or where she gets it.” I look around at the cars nearby and see that most of them down here are worth more than my little Honda or Jack’s Blazer.
“Right now, I don’t care how much money she has. All I want to do is go and soak in her tub and get some sleep.” I grab my overnight bag along with Jack’s.
“Do you think anyone is going to complain about the way my Blazer looks?” Jack turns around and takes a look at his blazer.
“Who cares. If they have a problem with it, they can go and take a long walk off a short pier.” As I start walking towards an elevator that will take us up to the floor Emygdia’s condo is located on. Once I reach it, I turn around and see Ajax behind me, but Jack is still standing staring at his damaged blazer.
“Oh! Will you come on. I’ll have Kim take it to her garage and fix it for you. She’s been needing some new work and owe’s me a favor anyway.” I walk into the elevator as it opens its door.
Jack turns around and starts walking towards me and Ajax. “You are sure she won’t mind fixing the damage to the Blazer?” as Jack stands next to me in the elevator.
“Nope, she won’t mind. Right now, business is slow and she needs something to keep her busy so she doesn’t go stir crazy. Besides, she has been itching to get her hands on your blazer for a while now.” I push the button for the second floor. The elevator starts moving.
“What do you mean she’s been wanting to get her hands on my blazer for a while now?” Jack turns to look me in the eyes.
I just smile at him. “I can’t tell you that Jack. She made me promise and you know as well as I do, I can’t break that promise.”
“Did she have anything to do with the damage to my blazer tonight Vicky?” Jack searches my face for an answer.
“Nope, she made me promise about a month ago. She knew that I would call you for help on a case and that something would either happen to my Honda or your Blazer. So, she told me that if something did happen to your blazer to have you bring it to her and she’ll take care of it for you.”
“How come I get the feeling that there is more to it than that?” Jack just shakes his head in this belief.
The elevator stops on the floor we want. The doors open and you wouldn’t believe the hallway in front of us. It looked like something from the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Pure white walls with beautiful colorful flowers and butterflies on them. The table in front of the elevator looks to be crafted from a master artist or something from the old country.
“Left, or right?” as Ajax exists first.
“Left,” I watch as Ajax heads down the hallway.
The carpet in the hallway is so good that even with my enhanced hearing, I don’t even hear Ajax any of our footsteps as we walked down the hallway towards Emygdia condo. Ajax stops all of sudden and steps aside so I could come upfront. The door he stopped at you could tell belonged to Emygdia because of the unique brass plate with Spanish writing on it. It was the old-world spelling of Emygdia done up in her native language.
“Well, guys here we are. Home Sweet Home.” as I put the key Emygdia gave me in the lock and give it a good twist.
The door opens and a strong scent of Jasmine fills the air. The lights automatically come on as soon as I walk into the main hallway.
“Emygdia could have warned me about the lights coming on.” As I head into the living with Ajax behind me and Jack closing the door and following.
“Maybe she forgot Vicky. Her scent isn’t very strong here. From the way the place smells, I would have to say no one has been in here for at least a year or more.” as Ajax plops down in one of the recliners and relaxes.
I head over towards one of the bedrooms and check it out. The bed inside the first room is spacious and well decorated. It has a Victorian canopy style queen size bed and all the other furniture in here looks to have been selected around the bed. Even the walls seem to match the style and feel of the bed. Off to the right of the bed is a huge walk-in closet and next to it is the Master Bathroom.
“I’m taking this room.” as I turn around and see Jack standing in the doorway.
“I figure you would. Ajax said he’ll crash in the recliner and I’ll take the other bedroom.” Jack holds his hand out to me.
“Sounds good to me. Why don’t you and Ajax go ahead and take your showers first? I know Emygdia normally keeps her place stock with shampoo and such.” I toss Jack his overnight bag.
“Mind if I use the bathroom in here then and let Ajax use the other one?”
“Not at all, I have to call Tom anyway, so I’ll step out on the balcony while you are taking your shower.” I pick up my cell phone and head out onto the balcony with it.
Jack turns his head to look in the living room “Go ahead and take your shower Ajax. I’m going to take mine in here while Vicky is talking to her husband.”
“Okay.”
I hear the recliner close up as Ajax gets up to take his shower. I close the door leading out onto the balcony and press the number I have for my husband on speed dial. I look out over the city and inhale the cold night air. It sends shivers threw out my body as my nose picks up the scent of something undead nearby. I look around from my vantage point as a man drops from above the build and hovers directly in front of me.
I look at him and automatically recognize him as one of Mistress Selena’s children.
“Hello, Sebastian, what brings you out on a night like this?” as I close up my cell phone since Tom didn’t answer.
A slow smile appears on his handsome pale face as he hovers closer to the balcony I am standing on.
"A matter of honor does Victoria. Your father before he died owed me a favor for a job I did for him. So now I am here to collect on that debt."
"What favor are you asking about Sebastian? My father never said anything about a case he worked on that involved a favor from you." I look at Sebastian with a puzzled look on my face.
"If you don't mind Victoria, I would prefer to continue this conversation somewhere more quiet and less likely to be overheard." as he floats closer to the railing.
"Fine, you have my permission to enter until I withdraw it." I step aside on the balcony so he can stand next to me.
"Thank you." Sebastian lands next to me.
I open the sliding glass doors and head inside before Sebastian just in case Ajax and Jack are done with their showers and might think Sebastian is attacking the place. As soon as we are inside I turned around to face him.
"Okay, what's the deal here Sebastian?" as I stand there with my hands on my hips.
He lifts one of his eyebrows as he smiles at me.
"The deal is Victoria as you so like to put it. Is that your father owes me a debt and I have come here to collect on it. Since you have inherited his business. That debt has transferee to you. Unless you feel that your father's honor means nothing to you." Sebastian gives me a wicked
grin.
Low rubble echoes deep inside my throat and my eyes flash to their wolf state. I don't like people insulting my father or his honor.
"I'll honor this debt he has with you, Sebastian. What is it that you want me to do?" I brush a lock of my hair back behind my left ear.
"I need for you to promise to protect and watch after a family descendent of mine. I've been doing everything I can for her since the death of her parents. She's a very unique young woman and with everything that is going on I think she might be the next target."
"And why do you say that?" I look at him and wonder if he is on the level with me.
"Because she has fae blood running through her veins as your family does and it makes her a target. She has just recently discovered that she commands the element of air and can summon the elementals associated with it. Which as you know makes her a prime target for that vampire you are hunting down."
"That still doesn't tell me why you need my help. If she can summon and control the element of air she can defend herself better than I could. I know that for a fact. Fae half breeds and Fae’s themselves that control the elements are the most powerful people to beat."
"She's blind Victoria. She became blind from the car accident her parents were in. They were behind a dump truck carrying scrap metal when several pieces started falling from it and struck her parent’s car. One of the pieces was made from cold iron and struck her in the eyes blinding
her for life."
"Ouch! I feel sorry for her. I know what cold iron does to a half-breed fae like her. But how do you fit into this? Does she know who or what you are?" as I look at him for an answer.
"She has no idea about me, and I wish to keep it that way. Everything I have done for her I have done with the aid of my trusted servant. I don't want her to know about me or my existence either. It could jeopardize her life even more than it is now. If any of my enemies I have made
found out about her. They wouldn't waste any time using her against me. Plus, she is the last living member of my family bloodline and I wish to preserve my bloodline."
"Wow! Who would had thought that you guys would be so sentimental about something so human as bloodlines." I stand there watching his reaction to my taunt.
He just stares at me and doesn't let any of his emotions show on his face.
"Where is she staying at now? And why can't the people taking care of her protect her?"
"Because the human couple that is taking care of her now is having health problems and is close to death as is. They live in a condo down on the oceanfront in Virginia Beach."
"Do they know about her uniqueness?" I start thinking about how hard it would be for them to be raising a half-fae child. My mother had a hard time just raising me, my sister, and my brother. I know once my sister learned what she was able to do. She would use her magic to play pranks on me and some of the other kids at school. My brother on the other hand knew how to avoid her.
"Yes, they figured it out on their own and did everything they could to help her through the coming of age problems associated with the onset of her magic."
"Then that would mean she is a teenager then. How old is she?"
"She just turned 15 last week." as a proud smile appears on his face.
"And I bet you are already thinking about marrying her off so she can produce children to carry on your family bloodline. Geez!! You men are pigs You can't even give her time to enjoy life before forcing her to have children. You are so stuck in the Middle Ages man. “ I shake
my head back and forth.
"I'm doing no such thing Victoria. I agree she needs to enjoy life first and find that special someone. Maybe another like herself or a pure blood fae even. I don't think a normal human is up to the task of caring for her or her offspring."
"Must I remind you that one of her parents must have been normal or a half breed themselves to produce her? You can only get a half-fae child either by knocking up a female fae herself or by knocking up a human female. Or if your family bloodline, has it in their genes and
it lays dormant." as I look directly into his deep-sea blue eyes.
Most people wouldn't be able to do this, but thanks to my family's bloodline it doesn't bother me. As a precaution, you normally don't look a vampire in the eyes cause it gives them a way to look into your soul and your mind as well. They can use their powers to control you and you would never know it.
"Yes, I know all about how half faes come about Victoria. After all your family has been marrying in and out of the fae clans for ages. Then you go and pollute your bloodline by adding werewolf and werecat blood to it."
"Hey, I can't help what my family does. After all, doesn't some of your kind seek us out because they find us attractive? After all, wasn't it one of your council members of your kind that kidnap one of my family becauses he was in love with her, but she didn't love him? If I remember the story right. One of our fae relatives rescue her from that vampire and killed him and every vampire he ever sires." When my family or any of my family members get in trouble or need the help of one of our purebloods fae relatives’ things can get out of hand.
That was one of the reasons a universe council was formed to make sure things like this never happen again. Certain members of my fae relatives take their responsibility to us to heart and will do whatever it is to make sure we live on. No one knows why, but we try never to call them for help.
"That is in the past and hopefully it will never happen again. But will you do as I ask and take care of my relative?" Sebastian looks into my own brown eyes for the answer.
"You already know my answer to your question Sebastian, or you would never have asked me to do it. I'll have to tell Tom everything you know. After all, he is my husband and a member of the council."
"I know Victoria." he reaches into one of his suit pockets and pulls forth a picture and a piece of paper as well.
"Here's a picture of Kimberly and a number you can reach her at as well a number you can reach me at if you need anything. I'll be sending her to you by cab tomorrow.
"You know I'm still in the middle of an investigation here, don't you?"
"Yes, but the life of Kimberly is more important right now, and the fact she is linked to the investigation will be of help to you." Sebastian gives me a smug look.
"Fine! I'll meet her at my place tomorrow afternoon. Now if you don't mind. I would like to take a shower and get some sleep." as I try to cover up a yawn.
Sebastian tilt's his head towards me and turns around to leave. Just before he opens the sliding glass doors to the balcony. He stops and turns towards me with a very serious look on his face.
"Victoria as much as I respect your family and you. If anything happens to Kimberly. There will be no place on this planet that I will not hunt you and every one of your family lines. Including your husband. She is the last of my line and that makes her very important to me." he looks at me with a look that could kill me.
In my sweetest voice and a little irritation in my voice since I don't like people treating me or my family "Then I better make sure she is taken very good care of and protected."
"You do that Victoria. Cause I would hate to see anything happen to you. I've grown rather fond of you." as he opens the sliding glass door and heads out onto the balcony closing the sliding glass door behind him.
I stand there dumbfounded looking at the glass doors leading to the balcony. I had never known that Sebastian had taken a liking to me.
As I am standing there, I hear Jack coming out of the shower in the Master bedroom. Ajax is still showering in the main bathroom. I pick up my gym bag and head into the Master Bedroom where I see Jack standing there in his birthday suit.
He turns and looks at me as I enter and start undressing.
"I knew you couldn't resist me, Vicky." as he gives me a smug look.
"In your dreams." I head into the bathroom and fill the extremely large bathtub up with hot water hot enough to scald the skin.
I take out a small packet of bath beads my sister made for me and dump it into the tub as it fills with water and then climb in afterward after shutting the water off.
"Mmmmm!!!, as a low pleasing rumble builds in my throat as I close my eyes and relax. I can hear Jack as he lays down on the bed.
"One down and one to go." as I mumble to myself and enjoy the bath beads and the hot water.
I wake up later lying in bed under a set of baby blue sheets and a matching blanket still in my birthday suit. I sit up and look around the guest bedroom and wonder how I got into this bed. I can still smell the scent of the bath beads my sister made for me coating my body. I can't seem
to remember leaving the tub. The last thing I remember is laying in the tub and relaxing. I sniff around the room and smell the scent that Jack left in here.
"I must have fallen asleep." I lay back down and curl back up under the blanket.
I look over towards the night table near the bed and see my cell phone and gun-laying there as my travel alarm. I check the alarm to see what time it is set for and notice someone had set it for nine in the morning. I moan and bury myself under the blankets and sheets and go back to sleep.
I don't know how long I have been asleep, but I wake up to the smell of freshly made coffee coming from under my nose.
"Wakey! Wakey! Vicky. Time to get up and go to work." Jack passes the mug of richly made Columbian coffee under my nose again.
"You know how to wake a girl up." as I grab the mug of coffee from him and take a sip of it.
"Mmmmm!!" I feel the coffee glide down my throat. The taste and feel of it are unbelievable. It was better than the stuff I serve at home for me and Tom.
"Oh! this is wonderful." as I glance up at Jack.
"I found it in the cabinets. Emygdia's must have stocked up for you. Because there's food in the frig and the cabinets." Jack looks down at me.
"You know you fell asleep last night in the tub. I was lying in bed waiting for you to leave the bathroom and I heard you snoring away. So, I got Ajax to come in the bathroom and held you up while I dried your body and then carried you to this room and tucked you in." Jack gives me
one of his silly ass grins.
"I don't even remember fallen asleep or you carrying me." I look at him after taking another sip of coffee.
"I think whatever your sister put in that bath beads made you fall asleep right away. Cause after I got a whiff of it. I started feeling sluggish and such. So did Ajax. You might want her to cut back on whatever she is putting in that powder." Jack picks up a mug he had sitting on the
dressing table and takes a sip of the coffee from it.
"I'll talk to her about it. We're going to need to head to my house. Sebastian stopped by last night while you and Ajax were in the showers. He's sending a young girl to my house for protection because he thinks she is the next victim." I lift the mug of rich coffee to my lips again and take another sip from it.
"What's so special about this girl?" Jack looks at me with a puzzled look on his face.
"She fits his profile. From what I have gathered so far, he only goes after those kids born with special gifts. Kids that one day will be able to wield magic or have special mental gifts. The type of kids that the Hunter organization likes to scoop up and use against us." as I take another sip from my mug.
Jack's eyebrows lift over his left eye. "Wow, how did you find this out?"
"Remember sister Monica? Well, she is a Hunter, but she is of the other branch of them that doesn't have anything against us. I helped her out and she reveals to me some things I didn't know." I just sit there with my mug of coffee.
“Okay, who would have thought they would go that low to use children and their gifts." as he takes a sip of his coffee.
"Where's Ajax?" as I look past Jack.
"He's in the kitchen cooking breakfast. He's making Spanish omelet’s this morning.
"I hope it's better than his stew he made last pack meeting. It was way too spicy for me." I get up out of bed.
"Here's your robe. All tho you could remain in your birthday suit and no one would mind." as
he lifts both eyebrows.
"And make Tom jealous or give him the wrong ideas. I don't think so. You have to remember Jack, I'm a married woman and my husband is a council member, so I have certain protocols I have to follow. He wouldn't complain, but why take the chance?" I slip my robe on and belt it.
"Besides I like wearing clothes every once in a while." as I head out of the bedroom with Jack following behind me.
"You know we have another problem as well."
"Oh, what's that?" I stop to look at him.
"Remember my Blazer got damage last night from that attack."
"I remember. I was thinking about asking Karen to come and get us. Besides she wants an excuse to fix your Blazer if I remember right." as I turn back around and continue towards the living room.
"If she drives as crazy as she flies. I won't ride with her. The last time she took me up in one of her planes. I nearly upchuck everything in my stomach because of her flying."
"Oh, come on Jack. She's not a bad flier. She graduated top of her class in the United States Air Force Academy. She has been flying planes and working on them since she was six years old and has fixed and rebuilt several old WWII planes as well. She has a Mustang that really works from WWII and a Wildcat as well. On top of that, she is a licensed Helicopter Pilot." I take a sip of my coffee.
"She's still nuts. I swear I have no idea where she thinks I would have enjoyed being shown how
creative she could be with a plane doing the stunts she did."
"Okay, maybe she gets a little out of hand when she is flying. It's because it's in her blood Jack. She loves flying more than anything in the world. Except maybe having her brains screwed out by my next-door neighbor." I think back on how many times she came crawling and walking back to my house kind of funny.
"You got to be kidding. Are he and her some sort of couple?"
I listen to the tone of voice Jack is using.
"Nope, they’re both good friends and fuck buddies. That's all. There's nothing between them." I sniff the air and smell the Spanish omelets Ajax is making.
"Well, I guess everyone needs a good fuck buddy every once in a while." Jack follows behind me.
"Morning Ajax." as I walk over to refill my coffee cup.
"How are you feeling today Vicky?" he looks towards me after flipping the omelet he is working on.
"A little sore still, but otherwise pretty good this morning." I take a sip of my coffee.
“That’s good because whatever bath beads you used last night knocked you out cold and started affecting us as well when we came in to get you out of the tub.” Ajax flips the omelet onto a plate and adds the special sauce to it that he made.
I walk over towards the small table in the kitchen and sit down on one of the chairs holding the cup of coffee in my hands.
“That’s what Jack said when he woke me up this morning with this wonderful story.” as I take another sip of it.
“I’ll talk to my sister about that bath beads she sent me.” I put my coffee down and start cutting into my omelet.
“Mmmmm!! This is really good, Ajax. Where did you learn to cook something this good at?” as I fill my mouth with another piece of the omelet.
“I worked down in Mexico for a few years as a cook in a little restaurant owned by the local shaman in that area.” he gathers his plate up and comes over to sit with me and Jack.
After sitting down at the table “so how are we going to get around with Jack’s Blazer being all beat up and such?” he stuffs his mouth with a large piece of his omelet.
“I’ll ask Karen to come and gets us. She should have her cell phone on.” as I fish around in my robe and pull out my cell phone as well. I use the quick dial on my phone to call Karen.
“ello!!” as a very tired and sleepy voice comes over my cell.
“Wakey, Wakey Karen., How was your night?” as I think about what she did last night.
“Mmmmm!!, wonderful as always Vicky. Why are you calling me this early in the morning?” As Karen’s voice gets a little bit more awake.
“Cause Jack’s Blazer had an unfortunate accident last night with some Vampires and dust junkies.” I listen to the snoring in the background and can only guess who it is coming from.
“Really? Oh my!”
I hear her giggle.
“Did you tell him that I would fix it for him?”
“Yes, he thinks you had something to do with it. “ I take another sip of my coffee.
“Oh, come now. I’m totally innocent in this, but I’ll be happy to fix it for him and come and get you guys. Where are you guys at?”
“We’re at Emygdia's place. The one she gave me the key to.” I put the coffee mug down and take another bite of my omelet.
“Okay, gave me about an hour or so to get dress and pick up my Expedition. It’s not far from your house Vicky.”
“K, see you in two hours then. Bye!” I end the phone call and place my cell down.
“Well, we have time to finish our breakfast and clean up the kitchen and the rooms.” as I stuff another piece of the omelet in my mouth and drink some of my coffee as well.
“Are you going to call Stanley and tell him you’re not coming to the meeting tonight?” Jack and Ajax both look at me.
“I guess I have no choice in the matter do I guys?” I look back at both of them.
“He’s the head alpha of our pack, Vicky. You know as well as me that we would have to report your behavior to him.” both of them stare at me not in a challenging way.
I sigh and look his number up in my contact list. I have Stanley on speed dial since he is my alpha, but sometimes he can be a pain in the ass about the way I do things. It’s not like I don’t respect him, it’s just I’m more of a lone wolf and feel I shouldn’t have to tell him everything going on in my life. As I find his number and dial it.
“Hello?” as a strong commanding male voice with a deep southern country accent comes across my cell speaker.
“Hi Stanley, it’s me Victoria.” as I listen to my own shaken voice. I don’t know why this always happens when I call him.
“How’s your investigation going Vicky? Are Ajax and Jack still there with you?”
“It’s not going too well, Stanley. We got attacked last night by some vampires and dust junkies that were stronger than normal. Plus, we’re dealing with a vampire that goes after kids born with special abilities. Jack’s Blazer got damage as well and we’re staying here at Emygdia's place that she gave me the keys to.” I sit there trying to figure out why all of a sudden I’m being submissive to Stanley even though he isn’t standing here in front of me.
“So, what is your next move then?” Stanley’s voice drops a little in his commanding voice.
“Well, right now Karen is on her way to pick us up and take us back to my house. I have to see if she will loan us her car as well. Also, there are some sites I want to check out and I might need Ajax and Jack's help on that as well. So, I was calling to tell you I won’t be able to make that meeting I have with you tonight.” I sit there and wonder what he is going to say to me.
“Victoria, you know we need to talk about your actions and your disregard for my orders, but since you’re working on a case right now. We’ll talk about it later when this case is done. Finding these kids that you say were kidnap by a vampire is more important.”
“Thank you Stanley for understanding. As soon as the case is over, I promise to meet up with you Zupan.”
“Alright and take care of yourself Victoria. Oh, and if you need the pack’s help on this one call me right away. You may be a pain in the ass, but you’re still a member of this pack and I can’t have you running around getting yourself killed.”
“I will and thanks, Zupan.” I listen as the connection between his phone and mine goes dead.
I close my cell phone up and pick up my semi-warm coffee “Oh, yuck!” as I look towards Jack.
“Jack, can you refill my cup with some fresh coffee please?” I hand him my coffee cup.
“No Problem Vic.” as he accepts my coffee cup. “So, what is the plan for today?” as Jack dumps out the cold coffee and refills it with some fresh coffee. He then adds my favorite items to it like three scoops of sugar and then some fresh cream to it.” Jack hands me my coffee back after he stirs the cream.
“Mmmm!, much better” as I take a sip of it. “Well, we need to head towards my place so that I can met this Kimberly and then head back this way and investigate the graveyard and the neighborhood some more to see if this vampire is going to be dumb enough to kidnap another kid.” as I take a sip of my coffee.
“Is this Kimberly, is she going with us or with Karen? Because if I remember right Karen isn’t supernatural. “ Jack takes a sip of his coffee.
“I’m thinking about leaving her with my next-door neighbor. There’s more to him than even I know. I don’t know what, but I have a feeling he is hiding what he is.”
“What do you think he is then Vicky?” as Ajax looks over towards me.
“I don’t know Ajax, but I have a feeling whatever he is. It’s very powerful and not something I would want to tangle with.” I take another sip of my coffee again.
Ajax just looks at me. He had felt it too when he met him my next-door neighbor, but he couldn’t place what he was feeling from the guy.
“Well let’s go ahead and finish up our breakfast and get ready for Karen to come and get us then.” Ajax stuffs another bite of his omelet into his mouth.
I watch as Jack puts his coffee mug down and began to finish up his omelet. I follow suit afterward and finish up what I had left on my plate as well.
It didn’t take us long to get ready. After I and Jack finish eating our breakfast we cleaned up the kitchen since Ajax made breakfast. Ajax went
and took another shower and got dress himself. By the time I got back to the room I was sleeping in and finish putting on my face and dressing into the clothes I had brought with me. When I stepped out of my room with my overnight bag in hand. Jack and Ajax were waiting for me.
“It’s about time Vicky. Karen just got here and she’s downstairs waiting for us.” Jack picks up his duffle bag and heads towards the door with Ajax in tow.
I stand in the middle of the room looking at everything before heading towards the door with the guys. They file out first and then I follow behind them closing the door and making sure it was locked. We head down the hallway that we came down last night and stop in front of the elevator.
“You know something, guys. I’m going to miss this place. It felt nice to sleep in a room like I had before I moved into my father’s house.” I shift my purse and overnight bag to the other hand.
“Don’t tell your husband that Vicky. I think Tom likes the place you guys have now.” As Ajax looks toward me.
When the elevator arrives at the floor, we’re waiting on, dings as it opens up. I step inside followed by Jack and then Ajax. Once all of us are inside. I press the ground floor button to take us to the underground parking garage area. When we arrive down in the parking lot, we head over toward Jack’s blazer. We see a towing truck hooking Jack’s truck up and a young woman with short black hair and dress in a pair of low cut faded blue jeans-wearing an oversize pink T-shirt with matching white and pink tennis shoes.
“Thanks, Gus. I owe you one for doing this for me.” The woman hands the slightly overweight tow truck driver a fifty-dollar bill from her pocket.
She turns around and notices me and my crew walking towards her.
“Well, Well. Isn’t it the three amigo’s” A smile appears on her face.
“Very funny Karen. I never permitted you to have my truck towed.” Jack looks at her.
“Oh! Come off it Jack. You know as well as I do that there was no way you were going to drive that blazer out of here. Besides, once I get finished with working on it. You're going to love driving it.” Karen gives Jack a warm and sassy smile.
“Okay, you two. Play nice.” I look at both of my friends.
I head over towards Karen’s Ford Expedition. I stop and look towards them.
“We got work to do today. ” I climb into the back seat.
Ajax takes the passenger seat next to Karen and Jack sits next to me in the back seat behind her. Once we’re all loaded in and seat belted up. Karen heads back towards my place by the same route I take every day when I come to work. There is another route you can take, but Karen is like me. Once I find a route I like driving, I normally stick to it. Besides, the ride is nice and quiet.
“So, who did you spend the night with last night, Karen?”
“No one. I fell asleep at my office while doing some paperwork.”
“Lair, I can smell the guy you slept with last night all over you, plus you smell like sex as well.” Ajax just looks at Karen.
Karen just looks towards Ajax with an angry look on her face. If looks could kill a Werewolf, Ajax would be dead right now.
I just look at both of them “can’t the two of you be nice to one another?”
Karen looks in the rearview mirror towards me and then back towards Ajax “If you must know who it was Mister fur face. It was the pilot of one of the private Learjet that is owned by the Exxon corporation. He had just arrived at the airport I was at and as luck would have it, he needed an experienced mechanic to look at the jet. Since I was already there finishing work on another plane. I told him I would take a look and see what the problem was. After I was done working on the plane, one thing leads to another and we spent the night with each other. Are you happy now fur face?”
Ajax just looks at Karen “You should know better than to lie to a bunch of werewolves, girl. We can smell the lie on you.”
Karen doesn’t say anything, but just steps on the gas pedal and speeds up.
Karen had to slow down when we got off at Freeman ave to take Bainbridge blvd to route 17. Once we got on route 17, it was a straight shot to the road where my father’s, or I should say where my house now sits. My house just barely sits inside the boundary lines separating Virginia from North Caroline. When we pull into the driveway, I notice Heather and her crew are hard at work and that my husband’s Hummer is missing. Karen pulls up right behind my little ole’ Honda Accord.
“Looks like Heather is hard at work.” Jack opens his door to get out.
“Yep, she says the work will take at least two weeks to do. She’s replacing some of the old trim and broads that have rotted through. On top of that, she is going to paint the whole house for me.” I get out and wave up to Heather. I notice she’s is working over on the front of the house.
“Why don’t you guys go in and make yourself comfortable. I need to talk to Heather about building a barn for me.” I start walking over towards Heather's location.
Heather comes down the ladder from where she had been working and meet me. We talk for a little while about the building of a barn. I show her where I want to put it and how big I want it to be. I inform her that I have plans for it. After I finish talking to her, I head inside and find Ajax and Jack sitting in the recliners drinking a beer, and Karen sitting on the sofa reading the gardening magazines I get each month.
“Well, that’s taken of.” I sit down on the sofa with Karen.
“So what’s your next move, Vicky?”
“Well, I still need to investigate the housing area where the boy disappeared from Jack and snoop around the neighborhood where these killings have been taking place. Cause the vampire that might have taken the boy, might be the one killing around there as well. Also, A relative of Sebastian’s is supposed to be sent here for me to protect. From what he has told me of her. She’s blind and is just now coming into her abilities.”
Ajax looks towards me with a puzzled look on his face “What type of abilities?”
I sit there and think if I should tell him or not. I know he can be trusted, but still. I sigh and brush back a lock of my hair before speaking.
“She’s part Fae. If she is anything like my sister and old enough now, her magical abilities should be getting stronger. She should be at the age where it has been determined what type of magic she posses.”
“How does the child or person determine what type of abilities they will have?” Karen puts down the magazine she was flipping through.
I look towards her.
“Normally, a part fae child inherits what magical power the Fae parent has or their magical nature will match what their personality is. If you have a person who is very passionate and has strong emotions, then they will possess the ability to wield magic suited to fire. If you have a person who posses a nature akin to those emotions and personality suited to the different elements, then their magic will be of those elements. If you have a person whose nature it is to just wield magic itself, then they will not possess any elemental magical abilities but will be able to call on some aspects of each of them. They're not as powerful as those whose magic comes from the elements, but they're more useful in combat and protection. While the others are more useful in keeping the balance of nature.”
“So what does this have to do with you and why is Sebastian so concern about this one girl?” Ajax looks at me as he takes a swing of his beer.
“Cause my father owed him a favor and that favor has been pasted on to me. I am honoring the debt my father has with him. Also,...” as I sit there and think about what I am going to say to Ajax. I know he has a hatred towards vampires, but if he is going to be risking his life with me on this case, then he needs to know why.
I look towards him so he can see the truth in my eyes “It’s because this girl is related to Sebastian and he is trying to protect her.”
Ajax stops and looks towards me “So why doesn’t he just do this himself then, instead of involving you in this matter? After all, he’s a vampire and probably is more capable of protecting her than you.”
“Haven’t you figured it out yet flea brain? If the other vampires found out that he has a living relative. They will use her against him. This way she is under Vicky’s protection and they wouldn’t think about it at all. No one would ever put two and two together unless one of us told them. Also, all the supernatural creatures in this area know she is a private investigator and is working on a case. So it makes sense for her to be protecting someone involved in the case.” Karen looks directly into Ajax’s eyes.
“Better look somewhere else girlie if you don’t want me to take that look as a challenge.” Ajax glares at Karen.
Karen directs her eyes towards the floor.
“Alright Ajax, enough is enough. Karen didn’t mean to look directly in your eyes.” I slump back against the back cushion of my coach and close my eyes for a second to think.
When I reopen them, I notice that Karen has picked up a magazine off my coffee table and was flipping through it. Ajax and Jack were watching me and drinking their beers.
I glance down at my wristwatch and try to remember the time that Sebastian’s relative was due to be at my house. I figure I had about two hours before she was going to show up. I look back up towards Ajax and Jack.
“I’m going for a run, do either of you two want to come with me?” I stand there and wait for their answer.
“Too early for me.” Ajax takes a sip of his beer.
“How about you Jack?” I glance over towards him.
“Nope!, I’ll stay here and try to keep Karen and Ajax from killing each other.” Jack looks towards both Karen and Ajax.
“How about you Karen? I’ll slow my pace so you can keep up with me.” I glance over towards Karen way.
She puts the magazine she had been flipping through down and looks up at me.
“I need to get back to my shop and finish up some repairs before I can start on Jack’s blazer. Do you mind if I take your Honda? That way you can use my Expedition till I get Jack’s Blazer fix.”
“No, go right ahead. The spare key is hanging up by the door. I filled the tank up, just the other day.”
“Thanks!” Karen stands up and heads towards the door.
She stops and turns to look at all of us before heading out.
“Just bring my SUV back in one piece, please. I already have high insurance premiums as is. I don’t need them going up any higher with damage to my SUV.” Karen looks directly towards me.
“I’ll make sure it gets back to you in one piece and any damages it sustains. Tom will pay for the repairs and talk to your insurance company. He has a way with people like that.” An evil grin appears on my face.
“I’ll hold you to that Vicky.” and with that. She heads out the front door.
I wait a few seconds before going upstairs and changing into my jogging outfit. I hear my Honda start-up and then listen as it leaves out of my driveway and down the road.
I head up the stairs and into my bedroom and slip out of the clothes I had been wearing and slip into my jogging clothes. I look at myself in the mirror as I put my long brown hair in a ponytail. I stare at my reflection like I have done so many times before and think about this case.
Normally when something is bothering me or I need to find some answers, I stop and stare into a mirror. They say that the mirror is the gateway to the soul. Just like your eyes. If you look into the mirror, you can peek into your soul. I know when I look hard enough at my reflection, I see my wolf peeking out and staring at me. She isn’t like most Wolves. I guess it’s because of the faire magic that is in my blood. It makes her more solid and different. I know, because I have fae magic in my bloodline. I’m immune to certain types of magic. I’m still affected by silver like any Were-wolf, but I can resist magic better than most wolves in my pack. I also can sense when magic is being used on me or someone else. That is something even my pack leader can’t do. I watch as my hazel eyes bled to my golden color ones. I notice the wolf staring back at me.
“What do you want? I didn’t summon you.”
“Danger is coming!”
I listen to the cryptic message my wolf gives me. She’ll do that sometime. She’ll let me know when there is danger or if I need to look or go somewhere that is important to the case’s I’m working on. She is like my sixth sense. I’ve learned to listen to her cryptic messages. God knows they have saved my lifetime and time again.
“When isn’t it? I need to know more?” I stare into my wolfish-looking eyes reflected in the mirror.
“Today, she is on her way here now to see you and trouble is behind her. She is in terrible danger.” with that said, my wolf eyes disappear and are replaced with my normal-looking human eyes.
I just shake my head. “Great! Just freaking great.”
I head downstairs and notice that Ajax and Jack weren’t there.
“Now, where in the world have the two of them taken off too?”I sniff around and find their scent.
I follow it towards the back door of the house and notice the two of them were outside by the brick grill getting ready to start it up. Ajax was loading it up with the firewood my husband had stacked next to it and Jack was setting the outdoor patio table.
“Well, at least they will have lunch ready for everyone.” I turn back around and head out the front door and across the front and down the street.
I notice my neighbor is outside working in his front yard. I wave to him and continue jogging down the highway. Cars speed by me as they head towards the North Carolina border. The broader is only seven miles from where I live. The highway itself is divided into four lanes, which are separated by a grassy median, On one side of the highway, as you head into Virginia, there is a huge chain-link fence that has been put up to keep the black bears in the area from wandering across the highway. There are a few Were-Bears in my area, but we get along fine. There’s also a family of Were-bobcats that live about ten miles from me that has joined me a few times during the full moon. Those guys really know how to have a good time. The young tom’s among them like to try to impress me, but they know I’m married to an Elder.
I head down the right-hand side of the highway which takes you deeper into Chesapeake when I notice a taxi cab pull over on the other side of the highway and drop off some young girl that looked to be in her teens. Her hair seemed to move like a breeze is blowing it. However, there isn’t a breeze strong enough blowing to do that. The young girl reaches up and adjusts her dark sunglasses and waits for the taxi cab to pull off before tapping the ground in front of her with a walking stick, which I know most blind people use. I continue to watch her walk down the side of the highway which leads to the broader of Chesapeake and North Caroline. I spot a dark blue car with tinted windows speeding toward her. I run across the divided highway as fast as I can, as the car speeds up and just as it was about to hit her and I was about to knock her out of the way. She is lifted into the air by some invisible force high enough to avoid the top of the car. However, I’m struck by the car and sent flying into a ditch by the side of the road. The pain of being hit by a moving object is overwhelming. I hear several of my bones break and feel them punch through my skin. The last thing I see before I blackout is the young blind girl standing next to me as everything goes black.
My wolf side is mad that we are hurt and wants to lash out at our attacker, but she knows we are too badly hurt to move. The pain is beyond experience. It feels like every bone in my body is crushed. I try to take a breath, but it hurts to even do that simple movement. I want to wake up and move, but I feel so tired, and I couldn’t feel my legs.
I slowly open my eyes and as the world comes into focus around me. I notice my next-door neighbor looking down at me. I can smell the dirt on him and the scent of fresh-cut grass and something else I hadn’t notice about him. As I look up into his eyes, it reminds me of looking into my husband’s eyes and seeing all the years he had lived without me. I can see the years he lived reflected at me. A slight smile appears on his aged-weather face.
“How are you feeling Victoria?” The concerned look on his face tells me he was worried about me.
“As I got ran over by a truck.” I look past him and see my husband. Normally, I can’t tell how he is feeling, but the worried look on his face tells me he is not liking this at all.
“I’ll be okay sweetie.” I give my husband a reassuring smile.
“I know sweetheart.” He moves towards our bed.
He kneels and takes my dainty hand into his callus one and holds onto it. He looks down into my eyes and just holds my gaze. The wolf in me would feel like she was being challenged if someone else did this, but she knows her mate and knows he would never allow anyone to harm us.
“Is the girl okay?” I look at both men for an answer.
“She’s fine., She’s downstairs right now with Jack and Ajax. They are keeping her entertain until you can speak to her. She feels guilty about you getting hit as you did.”
“I wonder why? It’s not her fault, That I decided to jump in front of a moving car. I should have paid more attention to the weirdness going on around her. Instead, I went with my first instinct and that was to protect her.” I close my eyes for a second and think about that moment. I could tell things were going on about her, but I didn’t follow through with what I was seeing, I just reacted instead.
My husband notices me thinking about everything. As long as we have been married, he can always tell what I am thinking by watching my facial expression. He told me once during a poker game that I was terrible about playing poker because he could tell. Even when I let a little bit of my wolf out to help me from broadcasting my emotions. He could always tell.
“Vicky, you did what you felt was right and I can’t fault you for that. Just for now on, be a little bit more careful. You nearly gave me a heart attack when I felt you get hit. You broadcasted the pain so strong to me, that I had to keep myself from hitting an oncoming car.” He brushes some of my hair out of my eyes.
I open my eyes and just stared at him. That’s the first time Tom has ever said he felt pain from me from my injuries.
“How did that happen?” I look towards him and my neighbor, who has been standing quietly watching the two of us.
Tom sits there and thinks about it for a second.
“It’s the magic that binds you two together Victoria and Tom. It’s mostly from you Victoria, because of your family line. You must have tapped into the fey magic in your DNA and sent it looking for your husband. I bet now that he has felt how you felt after being hit, that it will now tell him what mischief you are up to. Tom will always be able to locate you and help you. In return, you’ll be able to draw on his strength and will to help you. There might be other things that will come in time between you two, but this is the first step.”
I look at him stunned in silence. I’ve heard of things like this happening between different members of my family because of our fey blood, but I wouldn’t have believed it was ever going to happen to me. The fey blood in my veins was recessive and I was born normal. No normal woman or guy in our family ever experience this.
“Wow!, I guess I’m going to have to be more careful from now on.” I try getting out of bed.
My body protested as I tried to move. I fall back against the mattress panting from the effort of moving.
“Give your body time to heal Victoria. You should rest today and let your body build up to its strength.” Oilibhear looks down at me with a fatherly look on his face.
“I’ll think about it., I have too many things to do about this case. I still need to find that boy that was kidnaped and find that pedophile Vampire that some rough vampire let loose., There are just too many things that still need to be done before I can just lay here and relax.” I just look over at Oilibhear. “Plus!, I’ll need someone to watch over Kimberly while I am out looking for this vampire.”
“I’ll watch over her Vicky., She posse elemental magic and I know a little about how that works.” Oilibhear looks out Vicky’s and Tom’s bedroom door and down the hallway.
I look towards my husband “I wish I could help you Vicky, but I have a meeting I need to get to in Washington D.C.”
He reaches forward and cups my head.
I press into his hand “I’ll be okay while you’re gone.”
He bends down and kisses me on my forehead. I close my eyes after a few minutes and let myself fall asleep for a while.
While Vicky slept, she finds herself in a clearing surrounded by a large forest. She felt a warm breeze filled by the scent of the forest. She looks around and spots her cousin standing nearby in her humanoid lynx form.
“Where am I, cousin?” Vicky looks at her cousin Ava.
“Don’t worry Vicky, your still in bed. I’ve summoned your astral self to this place.” A smile appears on Ava’s face.
“So, why did you summon me here?” Vicky was confused on why her cousin did what she did.
“Because I felt a massive amount of pain. Are you okay?” Ava shifts back into her human form.
“Yes, but why did you feel my pain?” Vicky was confused why her cousin would feel her pain.
“That is something I’m looking into. The only one who should had felt your pain, was your mate. However, it seemed that everyone who is related to us felt you getting injured.” Ava was at the store with her children when all of sudden her children and herself doubled over in pain.
“My neighbor, Oilibhear. He thinks with me getting hit, triggered the fey magic in my DNA. Because I pulled strength from Tom to keep from dying.”
“I know you weren’t born with your fey blood active or you would be like me. I’ll have to talk to aunt Maggie about all of this.” Ava was confused about this development.
“I have a question for you. Does your fey blood give you anything extra?” Vicky knew Ava’s supernatural abilities were tied to her fey blood, where hers weren’t.
“Yes and no. As you already know. My supernatural abilities are tied to my Fae blood because of how often my bloodline intermarried with the Fae. As for your bloodline, your family were more traditional. Your connection was never connected to your Fae blood, because you were born normal. Even when you got bitten by that rouge werewolf, you became a normal Were, where I’m not.”
“But when did your abilities first manifest themselves?” Vicky didn’t know much about Ava.
Ava was born outside of the family clan to a normal family.
“When I was little. I became extremely sick from a field trip my class went on. I was exposed to cold iron and it affected me. My shifting abilities didn’t appear until I turned fifteen years old.” Ava remembered her first time turning into a lynx and scaring her mother.
Her older brother hit her with his baseball bat and her dad shot her with his shotgun. She couldn’t blame her father shooting her. She did claw her brother when he hit her with his bat.
“So, now that the magic in my Fae blood has been activated. What can I expect?” Vicky wanted to be prepared. Also, she still had a case to solve.
“I don’t know. You’ll have to talk to aunt Maggie. She’s the expert on our bloodline.” Ava knew her aunt was part Fae. Where her birth father was part Were.
“I’ll do that once I’m done with this case I’m working on.”
“Alright. Good luck.” Ava walks over and hugs Vicky.
Vicky opens her eyes and shiver. She snuggles deeper under the blanket for warmth as she stares at the wall across from her bed. She was still feeling cold and wonders what her next move was going to be. She still needs to find out where the vampire that was stealing magical blesses children was hiding and bring him to justice.
Sometime during the night, Vicky feels her husband get in bed with her and pull her to his body. She knew her wolf felt protected having her mate holding them. His presence always made her feel happy and protected.
Later during the night, Vicky’s wolf takes over her sore body and start kissing her husband. She had already shed the clothes that covered her body. She starts kissing Tom and moving to mount his manhood.
Tom is woken when he feels Vicky moving beside him. When he notices Vicky taking off the night clothes, he had dressed her in. He noticed that Vicky wasn’t the one in charge, but her wolf. He doesn’t resist when Vicky’s wolf start kissing him. He could feel his energies being pulled from his body. He knew what the wolf was doing.
When Vicky’s body mounted his manhood, and start going up and down on his manhood. He knew the wolf was using the sexual energies they were producing to heal itself more. He knew Vicky knew something about using sexual energies to recharge her own abilities. He let the wolf have her way, as she increased her pace.
However, just when he felt her reaching her orgasm, he turns the table on her. He flips them over so that he was on top of her and slowed things down. He wanted to tease and make her beg for it.
He does that for a few hours, bring her to the point of bursting and then stopping or slowing down. He hears her growl each time he does that. He also feels her trying to make him continue or come. She was struggling under him from frustration.
Once he knew she was to the point of losing her mind from his antics, he gives her what she wants. He feels Vicky shift into her hybrid form under him as she wraps her powerful legs around him. She holds him tight against her body as she buries her tongue deep in his mouth trying to go deep into his throat.
After he comes in her, she continues holding him, before she finally passes out. She snuggles up close as she slightly snores. During the night she reverts back to her human form, with her husband still buried deep in her body.