Coven of Wolves (13 page)

"I don't have a lot of time Victoria. The others will be here soon to finish what I started." My father reaches out his hand to my mother and says, "Come with me Victoria. We can leave all of this behind. You don't have to worry about being part of your father's world anymore. We can be happy somewhere else, together, living new lives."

My heart drops as the scene before me resembles my warehouse experience with Tobias in so many ways.

"What about my father? What's going to happen to him?"

"His fate is sealed. If the people who hired me don't kill him, one of the other Dons will. You've known this day was coming since you were a little girl. I just don't want you to be a part of it when it does. Come on Victoria, you've got to decide now!"

My mother initially hesitates, looking down at her father who has now passed out and then back into my father's eyes, searching for an answer only she herself can give. She finally takes my father's hand. As she does, several more bodyguards in suits arrive on the factory floor below. They begin shooting at my father. He quickly picks up my mother with one hand and the briefcase of money in the other. He carries her to the nearby exit door and kicks it open. He quickly puts my mother and the briefcase into the back of the still waiting limo then runs to the driver's door and opens it. He grabs the driver by the collar and flings him against an opposing brick wall, leaving him unconscious on the floor beneath it. My father then takes the driver's place behind the wheel of the car and speeds away from the scene.

The world around us shifts again and we find ourselves in a strange meeting room with several people busily working. Everyone there is wearing the trademark black werewolf assassin gear previously seen worn by Nicholas. The door flings open and in march the werewolf Archon, along with several other werewolves in black. Nicholas, already in the room, sees the Archon and stands at attention.

"Do we have a location on Adam yet?"

"No Archon. We have several troops scowering the area but there's no sign of him."

"That boy's been trained his whole life in stealth. If we don't find him soon, we may never find him. What about the target? What's his status?"

"The target is still alive. He's at his compound with full security alerted. It'll be a no-nonsense kill but I can have a pack complete Adam's assignment within the hour."

Interrupting, the Archon says, "No, I want you to finish it. Our client paid for a clean kill and I don't want any more chance of things lousing up. Get in, kill the target, and get out. I want this done by the numbers. Understand me?"

Nicholas gives a slight head bow and says, "Yes Archon. I'll leave now."

"Good. Take my personal team of wolves with you for any necessary clean-up and stay in radio contact. This assignment needs to be completed before they can bring in any heavy hitters."

"Yes Archon."

Nicholas then leaves the room along with the Archon's team of werewolf bodyguards.

Then to himself, the Archon says, "Son, what have you done..."

Our surroundings shift again. The four of us now find ourselves back at my home in Scottsdale, Arizona. It's night and my father is sitting by the pool in the back yard drinking a glass of bourbon alone. He's a few years older now, very much the same age from my last memories of him, complete with beard. The crickets are chirping and it's obvious the majority of the city has been asleep for quite some time.

Into the darkness my father says, "How did you find me?"

From seemingly nowhere a voice answers back, "It was an accident really. I was out on an assignment and during my reconnaissance saw you walking out of one of the target's businesses. You can imagine my surprise when I found you not only alive and well, but also married to your last mark's daughter. Throw the kid into the mix and I have to say, this has been one of the most interesting assignments I've had in a while."

"Did you get your mark?"

The voice chuckles. "Yeah. Looks like one of your company's board members is going to need a replacement."

"I guess it probably won't do any good to assume you haven't already reported back to my father that you've found me."

"No, that was done yesterday just after I completed my assignment."

My father's shoulders fall slightly. "He didn't have the guts to come here and do this himself then?"

"Adam, your father is one of the five Archon leaders for the entire Synoro clan. He and the other Archons have their hands full with other important matters."

"More important than killing his own son?"

The voice chuckles again. "Who said he ordered me to kill you?"

My father gets a look of confusion on his face. "What? So you're not going to kill me?"

"I didn't say that either. Your father isn't here because the Basque Clan is close to starting a war with the Synoro. Several of their clients have made deals with our packs and they're pretty pissed off about it. Your father has been meeting with one of the Basque Archons named Gregoire. Neither he or your father want a war to happen. They're in negotiations for peace talks now, but if they can't find another alternative, they've agreed to create an Enopo to officially put any war on hold until a permanent negotiation can be made between the clans."

"Great, so why are you telling me?"

"I'm telling you because if an Enopo is needed, your father wants you to be one of the Enopo's makers."

My father immediately stands up from his chair in a fury. "What?"

"It's the only way. You're a lone wolf now Adam. You know the law. Without any ties to one of the five clans, you and your family will be killed on the spot. And as a deserter? Well, let's just say it took some convincing for your father to get the other Archon Council Members to even consider letting you back in. Your choices are this: you either come willingly and agree to the arrangement, or you refuse and we kill you and your human family. It's that easy."

My father circles around his chair and stares at our home. He then throws his head back and stares up at the crescent moon, sighing.

"If I do this, what assurances do I have that my wife and son won't be harmed?"

"You have your father's word, by agreement of the Archon Council. Unless they break any of the sacred laws, your family will be free to live their lives...only without you."

"How long do I have to decide?"

"Until 3:00pm tomorrow. I have transport scheduled to take us back to the Portland compound. The Basque Ambassador should be arriving a few hours after we land. And in case you're thinking about running again, your father has several wolves watching you and your family now. If you're not at the company airport to join me by takeoff, all of you will be cut down where you stand."

My father then looks down at the remainder of his drink and gulps it down in one shot. He places the glass down on a nearby table and turns back to face a dark corner of the property.

"I'll go, but I want you to promise me one thing first."

The voice laughs again, "I may have looked up to you growing up Adam, but you know where my loyalties lay. Why would you think I would promise you anything?"

"Because your loyalty lies with family. You are my cousin Nicholas and whether you like it or not, my son has the same blood flowing in him that you do."

"Bah! It's not the same. That mongrel of yours is not wolf. We both know only two of our kind can pass on our legacy. Half wolf blood or no, he is 100% human. He'll never be able to make the change."

"Still, if you ever cared for me at all...promise me you'll keep an eye on my wife and son. Promise me you'll check in on them from time to time and let me know how they're doing."

A silence passes for what seems like eternity. Finally from out of the shadows steps Nicholas, dressed in his assassination garb. His features remain human but his eyes slowly shift into a brilliant yellow.

"I'll do this for you Adam, but only because you are family. I'll warn you this though, the sacred laws are still in place. If your human family ever reveals what we are, or if they show their face at any of our dens looking for you...I will see to it personally that they suffer before their death."

"Has my father's hate for humans really poisoned you that much Nicholas?"

"We are wolves, cousin. This has been our way for millennia."

"Yes, and see where it's gotten my mother and your parents. Wolves may be what we are, but hate will only see you an early grave."

Nicholas forms an expression of extreme anger on his face, but remains where he is.

"3:00pm Adam. Be at the airport if you know what's good for you."

The assassin then turns and disappears into the shadows, leaving my father standing alone. After he feels Nicholas has completely left, Adam sits back down into his chair and silently weeps into his hands.

Our surroundings shift again, this time back to the werewolf compound I had visited earlier in spirit form. We are in a very sumptuous lounge room. Standing in a very official looking uniform is the Archon, flanked by several werewolf assassins on either side of him. They all stand at attention as the doors to the room open, revealing Adam and Nicholas. They walk in and go over to their leader. Nicholas places his hand over his heart while my father stands staring into his father's eyes.

"Hello Jason" Adam says coldly.

The Archon looks back into Adam's eyes looking rather hurt and says, "Is that all I get from you after all I've done to reclaim your place in the clan?"

Adam sarcastically says, "Do you really want to get into this in front of 'the help'?"

Jason then nods to his side and says, "I'm going to need a few moments with my son. Please, step outside. I'll call you if I need you."

The Archon's guards look weary but obey his orders, closing the door behind them. Nicholas however stays his ground, looking toward the Archon to see if his uncle will dismiss him as well or allow him to stay for the discussion. He smiles when Jason crosses past him towards Adam. Nicholas then nods, sits on one of the couches, crosses his legs, and spreads his arms across the top for comfort as he prepares to watch the family drama enfold in front of him.

Jason stands in front of Adam and says, "To disrespect me is one thing, but to disrespect my guard? Adam, they are more than just 'help'. You grew up with over half of them. They are your kinsmen. They would die without question for my safety. For yours!"

"Really, father? Has my time away changed nothing here? Those men out there, US, we're killers! Death means nothing to anyone here as long as there's a profit in it for the clan."

Appalled, Jason says, "You're still questioning our way of life? Adam, why must you be so difficult? Why can't our reunion be a happy one? More than anything I want to sweep you up in my arms and hold you tight yet you constantly fight me even at the happiest of times."

"Happy? You want me to be happy? How can I be happy that you put a hold mark on my wife and son? And for what? Just so I can fall into being a killer for you again? I had a family!"

Jason gets a look of fury on his face and says, "Those cattle are NOT your family! To even suggest it is repulsive! You are wolf, they are not. Do you know what I went through all these years not knowing what happened to you? And then to find out you went into hiding to live as a human? Breeding with humans? Do you have any idea how horrified that made me?"

"Newsflash father, my life is MINE to live, not yours."

"You're wrong. From this point on you live under our code again. No more human mixing. You will act as our Ambassador with the Basque Clan and you will do everything you can to help me put an end to the potential war that lies ahead. Do you understand me? This independence of yours will end, otherwise your humans will suffer for it. Their fate lies in your hands."

"Will you at least allow me to visit them occasionally?"

Sternly Jason says, "No. You are to have no more contact with either of them what-so-ever. From this moment on you eat, sleep, and breathe wolf only. I'll see to it they are taken care of financially but you are not to so much as call them. I mean it Adam, no contact. Now, go upstairs, shower, shave and make yourself presentable. The Basque Ambassador will be here soon. Nicholas will update you on all the details. You may not have any love for me but you WILL learn to respect the clan."

Jason then leaves the room, slamming the door on his way out.

The room goes silent as Adam fumes in aggression. Nicholas finally breaks the silence and says, "Did you really expect him to react otherwise?"

Adam turns to Nicholas and seethes venom in his direction. The color of his eyes change into a brilliant yellow. Seeing he has struck a nerve, Nicholas laughs.

"Hey, I'm just the messenger, but there's no surprises here. You knew the laws all along and disobeyed them anyway. You might not like our way of life but at least your human family is safe and taken care of, right? You heard it from your father yourself."

"My 'father' just proved he has no concept of what being a father really is. My place is with my wife, with my son!"

Nicholas looks solemnly at Adam and says, "Your place is here with us. We're your family. We always were."

"You've never HAD a family of your own Nicholas. You have no idea what I just gave up."

The look on Nicholas' face changes to sadness. "True and I'm sorry Adam. I really am. But is it really so bad that you are reunited with your old family? Not all of us removed you from our hearts. Despite it all, your father never gave up looking for you. You're his entire world."

Adam responds, "The clan is his entire world. I'm just an extension of his rule. Someone he can show around like a possession."

Nicholas interjects, saying "If you think that then you're the one who's been blind all this time. That man thinks the sun rises and sets on you. Have you ever thought that he not only has pride in you for being his son, but also because you're the last real connection he will ever have of your mother?"

This cuts Adam to the quick and he becomes silent. Nicholas continues, "No matter what my personal feelings are about humans, I promise to keep my word to you Adam. I'll keep tabs on your family for you. They won't come to any harm." Nicholas walks over to my father and puts his hand on his shoulder. "I promise."