A Tale of Red Riding: Rise of the Alpha Huntress (The Alpha Huntress Series Book 1) (16 page)

Chapter 18

“This has a major risk factor,” Ash whispered to Red and Dote. “I say we hang back and wait for Granny to give us a sign that it’s all clear.”

The three friends had been hiding in the bushes across the clearing from Grenda’s house for well over an hour. Red knew something was out of sorts as soon as she set eyes on the place. It now looked like a dump that had sat abandoned for years.

“Granny put a protection spellcraft on the
inside
of the house,” Red whispered. “Is it possible she could have expanded the spellcraft to cover the outside, too?”

Dote was tapping a nervous finger on the tip of her nose. “The enchantments feel like Grenda’s. The problem is a skilled witch could do a pretty good job of faking them, if she knows the nature of the spellcraft Grenda uses.”

Red sighed. “So what you’re saying is that there is no way of knowing for sure.”

“I’m sorry, Red, if I was a better witch, maybe I could. I mean, I’m pretty good, but not
that
good,” Dote said.

Ash was lying on his stomach in the dirt, trying to get a clear look at the house. “We know Ice knows that Red lives here. There’s a good chance her cronies are hiding out, just waiting for us to show up.”

Dote whimpered. “Grenda could be in major danger. She could be in hiding, or hurt, or something way worse.”

Red had never felt so tired in her life. Her body was aching from the events of the previous night. It didn’t help that the sweet grass she had stuffed down her dress earlier was causing an itch that would not quit. The thought of sitting in a nice hot bath was almost enough to risk stepping out into the open.

Complicating the situation, Wolfgang was lingering somewhere nearby. No matter how hard Red tried to avoid thinking about him, it had become physically impossible not to. Her heightened sense of smell was locked on to his distinct scent and would not let go.

Trust was the major issue Red had when it came to him. His reasons for helping them escape from Ice’s palace didn’t quite add up for her. It made it hard to ignore Ash’s claim that Wolfgang had a secret motive. At the same time, she could sense good in him, so it was hard to blow him off entirely.

Red again turned her attention to Grenda’s house. “We need to make a decision right now. So tell me what you’re thinking here.”

Dote took a deep breath to center herself. “We’ve been here for an hour now and I haven’t sensed the presence of any dark spellcraft. I think we should go for it.”

Ash crawled up from the bushes. “But if you’re wrong, there could be a dozen of Ice’s goons standing right on the front porch.”

“Anybody wanna know what I think?” Wolfgang asked.

Red, Ash, and Dote
screamed
. They snapped a look back to find Wolfgang standing right behind them.

“Why, Wolfgang, what amazing stealth skills you have,” Red said.

“The better to sneak up on you, Little Red.”

Dote looked at Red and Wolfgang with a perplexed glare. “Something about the way you two said that felt odd.”

Red and Wolfgang looked at one another and shrugged.

“What we need to do is put a bell on you,” Ash said.

Wolfgang grinned. “Then maybe you could go around and put bells on all of Ice’s cronies, just in case they try to sneak up on you.”

“Do you think that any of them are hanging around waiting to ambush us?” Red asked.

“Nope.” Wolfgang said.

“What makes you so certain?” Dote asked.

“Because with all the noise you kids have been making, they would have found you already.”

Red grimaced. “He’s got a point.”

“I remain skeptical,” Ash said.

“I’ll prove it to you.” Wolfgang leaped from the bushes and out into the clearing.

“Wolfgang, you get back here this minute,” Red whispered.

Wolfgang walked across the clearing and straight on up to the porch. “Come and get me, Ice Seether. I’m right here.”

Red watched Wolfgang for a tense moment, but nothing happened.

“That doesn’t prove anything,” Ash said. “They’re not after him. They’re after you, Red. And what if he’s on their side and he’s trying to trick you out into the open.”

“That’s dumb,” Dote said. “If he wanted to get us, he could have done it already.”

“I agree,” Red said. “I’ve had enough of this.” Without another thought or hesitation, she stepped out into the clearing.

“Right behind you.” Dote dashed after Red.

They were halfway across the clearing before Ash raced out after them. “Hey, wait for me.”

Red’s senses were on edge as they walked the fifty feet from the bushes to the house. From what she could tell, there wasn’t a hint of danger anywhere around them. After a tense moment, they reached the front door, where Wolfgang was waiting with a smug grin.

“You see. Nobody’s waiting around to ambush us.”

No sooner had Wolfgang said this, then Ethan the woodsman leaped out from behind a pile of logs. He grabbed Wolfgang by the throat and picked him up off the ground with one hand while clutching his massive battle-axe in the other. Wolfgang’s legs flailed around as he struggled to get away.

“Helheim, I warned you to stay away from here!” Ethan shouted.

With a vicious roar, Wolfgang transformed into a werewolf. He planted his feet on Ethan’s chest and pushed with furious force, breaking Ethan’s grip. When his feet hit the ground, he kicked Ethan in the gut, knocking him back several feet.

“And I warned
you
to stay away from me, old man!” Wolfgang growled.

The two warriors circled one another in an intense stare-down. Wolfgang had his claws raised. Ethan gripped his axe, ready to strike.

“Hold up a minute,” Red said. “What is going on here?”

Ethan swung his axe with deadly intent. Wolfgang leaped over it and followed up with a kick to Ethan’s chest, knocking him back.

Red turned to Ash and Dote. “Do either of you know what this is all about?”

“It’s an old grudge,” Dote said. “The woodsman has a major issue with Wolfgang’s family.”

“
Everybody
in Wayward has a serious issue with the Helheim Clan,” Ash said. “Hack him to bits, Ethan!”

Ethan repeatedly swung his axe at Wolfgang, time and again missing by only a hair. Wolfgang unleashed counterstrikes, but Ethan was too big and powerful for him to stop.

Red knew that if one of Ethan’s strikes connected, it would be over for Wolfgang. She had no idea how to stop the fight, or if she even should.

“What has his family done that’s so bad?” Red asked.

“Where to begin?” Ash said. “How about a total disregard for every law ever written? Stealing. Lying. Cheating. Backstabbing anybody who ever trusted them. Oh, and they started a riot that ended with them burning down half of Wayward Village.”

“That is true,” Dote said. “But most of that happened a long time ago, before Wolfgang was even born.”

Ethan swung his axe at Wolfgang’s head. Wolfgang dodged and countered with a furious slash of his claws across Ethan’s wrist. Ethan grunted and lost his grip on his axe.

“So most of the stuff people hold against Wolfgang wasn’t even his fault?” Red asked.

“
He’s a Helheim.
Everybody knows they’re all major defects,” Ash said.

Ethan swung a fist and pummeled Wolfgang in the jaw. Wolfgang was so dazed that he couldn’t defend himself when Ethan followed up with a series of brutal punches. He ended the brawl with a massive uppercut that sent Wolfgang soaring. Red winced as she watched.

“The worst part is that the Helheims had an alliance with Ragnarok when he was on Earth,” Dote said. “They were granted powers that they used to terrorize the people of Wayward.”

“And they were mortal enemies of the first Red Riding,” Ash said.

Wolfgang tried to claw to his feet, but he was much too dizzy.

Ethan picked up his axe. “Your path of tyranny ends here, Wolfgang of the Helheim Clan.”

Red watched in terror as Ethan strutted over to Wolfgang. “But all that stuff was done by his family. What has Wolfgang actually done that’s so bad?”

“Want me to make a list?” Ash said. “How about he’s a major jerk who rides around on his motorcycle acting all cool and treating everybody like total crap.”

Dote covered her eyes, unable to watch what was happening. “As far as I know, he’s never done anything truly terrible.”

Ethan raised his axe to strike. Wolfgang looked up at him with dreadful fear in his eyes.

“This feels wrong,” Red said.

As Ethan thrust his axe downward, Red dashed forward and took her werewolf form. She grabbed Ethan’s arm and stopped his attack an inch short of Wolfgang’s head.

“That’s far enough, woodsman,” Red said.

Ethan quickly pulled away and lowered his weapon. “Red, have you gone mad? You could have been killed.”

Wolfgang looked at Red in disbelief. “You saved me.”

Red gave Ethan a stone cold stare. “I’m not going to let you kill him unless you can give me a good reason for it.”

“His clan has committed unspeakable crimes,” Ethan said.

“What crimes has
he
committed?” Red asked. “Tell me what he deserves to die for.”

Ethan’s face twitched with hatred. “
He’s a Helheim.
That’s more than enough reason for me.”

“If that’s all you’ve got, then you’ll have to go through me to do it,” Red said, stiffening as she took up a ready stance, prepared to defend the biker.

“Red, you must understand,” Ethan said.

“My mind is made up. Stand down or attack.”

Ethan stared at Red in such disbelief he was unable to speak.

Wolfgang stumbled to his feet. “Red, you don’t have to do this for me.”

“I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it because it’s right. If I’m really this high protector you all keep talking about, I figure it’s my right to make that decision.”

“Okay, time out.” Ash rushed over and stepped right in between Red and Ethan. “This has gotten way out of control here. We’re all supposed to be on the same side.”

“Ash, stay out of this,” Red said.

“No. No way. Not a chance,” Ash said. “This is the last thing we need right now. Ice and her cronies could show up at any time and attack us.”

Ethan tightened his grip on his axe. “Why is Ice of the Seether Clan hunting you?”

“She’s a major power hungry psycho, and I’ve got something she wants,” Red said.

“I’m betting you mean the Alpha Power,” Ethan said.

“Why am I not surprised you know that?” Red muttered.

“Ash is right,” Dote said. “It would be good if we all got inside. Standing out here in the open is dangerous.”

Red looked Ethan in the eyes. “We’re going inside. I’m taking Wolfgang with me. Are you going to try and stop me or step aside?”

“You’re making a dangerous mistake,” Ethan said. “But you are the Alpha, so it’s your mistake to make.”

“You’re welcome to come inside with us,” Red said. “I could use your help right about now.”

“I’m not stepping foot inside
that
house.” Ethan turned and walked away toward the woods. “Just call my name if you need me.”

Wolfgang approached Red, his eyes softening. “I don’t know what to say. Nobody has ever done anything like that for me.”

“Just don’t make me regret it, Wolf Boy.” Red turned her back on him and entered the house.

“Granny, are you here?” Red called out as she stepped into the living room, followed by Wolfgang, Ash, and Dote. With the protection spellcraft active, it looked dusty and abandoned, just as Red had expected.

“I love what Grenda’s done with the place,” Wolfgang said.

What Red didn’t expect to find was Prince floating inside a mystical bubble, frozen and lifeless like a statue. “What happened to him?”

“Looks like granny got herself a cool new knickknack,” Ash said.

Dote pushed her way past the others and approached Prince. Red and Ash exchanged grins when they noticed how she was swooning at the sight of him.

“Even trapped in enchanted limbo, he’s still the prettiest man I’ve ever seen,” Dote said.

“Cut it out before you make me hurl,” Wolfgang said.

“I think it’s cute,” Red said.

“Our little Dote is in l-o-v-e,” Ash said.

“I am not in l-o-v-e!” Dote shouted.

Wolfgang slammed the door. The room changed into its true clean and cozy form with a warm fire crackling in the fireplace. In the same instant, Prince vanished from sight.

“Don’t close the door, you dummy,” Dote said. “We have to get him out of there.”

Wolfgang grumbled and opened the door. Prince reappeared, and the room returned to its dusty and deserted state. Intrigued by the phenomenon, Wolfgang opened and closed the door several times, causing the room to shift back and forth. A strange
humming
rang out, making the walls and windows rattle. It was as if he was causing the protection spellcraft to overload.

“Cut it out, already.” Dote said. “You keep that up, you’ll blow the house to bits and all of us with it.”

Wolfgang finally stopped, leaving the door slightly cracked open. “My bad.”

Dote put her hands against the bubble holding Prince. A spark of mystical energy forced her to step away in haste. “Granny sure knows how to cast an enchanted prison. There’s no way I can get him out without knowing which spellcraft she used.”

“Sucks to be him right now,” Wolfgang said.

Ash grinned. “I’d rather be stuck in an enchanted bubble than you on your best day.”

Wolfgang gave Ash a hard glare. “Keep talking like that, I might forget that Red is making me play nice with you.”

“I just might forget, too,” Red said. “Give it a rest, Ash.”

Ash grumbled in frustration. “Fine. So what do we do about Dote’s boyfriend there?”

Dote snarled. “He’s not my boyfriend, and I’m not in l-o-v-e with him.”

“Not much, you’re not,” Ash said.

White energy ignited in Dote’s eyes. “Dorkus Ashley, so help me, if you don’t cut that out this instant …”

Red stepped in between Ash and Dote. “You both cut it out. I think Prince is going to have to stay there until we find Granny.”

Wolfgang pushed the door shut, causing Prince to vanish and the room to shift again. Dote whimpered like a sad kitty cat.