Gods and Mortals: Fourteen Free Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Novels Featuring Thor, Loki, Greek Gods, Native American Spirits, Vampires, Werewolves, & More (205 page)

T
he original form
stating their request for a copy of Daniel’s birth certificate was included in the file. Relief flooded through me. My lips split into an idiotic smile before I remembered I was most definitely being watched. Smoothing my expression, I read the details of the file.

The address listed on the form was 2745 Meredith Blvd. I knew where he lived, now. Or at least I knew where they lived almost eighteen years ago. I suspected the address was probably no longer valid, but it was still more than I’d had before. Finally, I thought, we’re getting closer. I quickly committed the address to memory, not wanting to risk writing it down where someone else could find it. If they had moved, perhaps Cole could apply his honed social networking skills and find out where this Daniel kid was now.

Conscious of Darren Johnson’s presence, I left the file alone, pushing the other files closer to it and pretending to continue my search for another few minutes. Feigning frustration, I pushed the drawer closed and moved on to the next row of cabinets. Darren Johnson was now looking over Cole’s shoulder. The dreamy look had returned to Cole’s face. Who was this guy?

Shoving another drawer closed, I listened carefully. Cole still had information I didn’t want the stranger to have. He seemed to have too much power over people to be anything entirely human. I couldn’t tell for sure if he was the shadowy figure from the mountain lion’s vision, but I knew he was definitely connected in some way to the misshapen creature. He had shown up because of what was happening to Claire. I was sure of that.

Silently pulling another drawer open, I contemplated what it would take to get away from the man. Cole would not want to leave, but if I could drag him far enough away from the fake Darren Johnson, he would run for his life. The problem would be getting him away from Darren. The man wasn’t going to simply walk away from us without getting the information he wanted. And I was sure he very much wanted to know what I had found.

Somehow I knew his strength was not equal to his physical appearance, but much greater. We wouldn’t be able to overpower him. I could barely stand his touch earlier. Cole certainly hadn’t felt the searing heat as I did, but if Cole was close enough to hit Darren he would most likely not be able to bring himself to harm the man.

We needed to get outside of the building. If escape became a struggle, I didn’t want the police getting involved. No doubt they would believe anything Darren told them. Although I didn’t understand why I was immune to Darren’s charm, I was pretty sure any other human would react as Cole and the lady in the hall had. The mountain lion’s vision crept back into my mind. The animals knew what this man was. They feared him, but they would fight against him. Getting them here was the problem.

The memory of my first hunting trip with my dad gave me a hint, and a plan began to form in my mind. Getting outside was imperative. Evening my expression, I closed the filing cabinet drawer and walked over to Cole and his shadow. “I thought you were watching the door,” I said to Darren Johnson.

Darren turned his smile on me with no effect. “I have very good hearing,” he explained. “Everyone is busy enjoying their lunches, right now. Did you find what you were looking for, Uriah?”

Great. He knew my name. I knew Cole couldn’t help himself from telling the man anything he wanted to know, but I was still going to let him have it if we were able to get away. Panic gripped my heart as an image of Claire lying on my mother’s floor, unmoving, flickered in my mind. No, not if, when. Calming myself as best I could, I answered Darren’s question honestly. “Yes, I did.”

Cole’s face glowed with excitement. “You found him? Where is he, Uriah?”

I glanced around the room, then down the hallway. I knew no one was around, but the searching wasn’t for me. Cole followed my gaze eagerly, as did Darren Johnson, although his search was less enthusiastic than Cole’s had been. He knew we were alone.

“I don’t want to talk about it here,” I said. Motioning to the door, I pulled it open quickly. “Let’s get outside before someone catches us.” Darren raised a finger, wanting to comment, but I slipped through the door before he could form the words. Cole hurried after me.

Seemingly unconcerned with his actions, Darren calmly walked into the hallway, pulling the door closed behind him. His glare was tight and focused, focused on me. I’d guessed that he wouldn’t want to leave the room before gaining his prize, but since I remained unaffected by his magnetism, he was forced to follow me. I kept Cole close to me as we walked through the deserted lobby. Relieved that the dutiful receptionist was on her lunch break as well, I picked up speed and headed straight for the exit.

Without really knowing what I was doing, I formed a plea in my mind. Showing the same image of the rapidly changing shadow the mountain lion had presented, I sent out thoughts of danger and pleaded for help. I hoped something would hear me and come like the deer had. I had no idea whether there were even any animals in a city this big, but thin straws were all I had to grasp at in that moment. Almost running, I steered Cole toward the motorcycles. We were more than halfway there when Darren Johnson’s patience ran out.

Somehow he appeared in front of me, his hand on my chest. The burning sensation ripped through my clothes, threatening to consume me. I called Claire to my mind right away, how excited she had been to speak with the elders, the night I asked her to marry me, our first kiss. Her heart and soul gave me the edge of strength I needed to withstand the attack and push his arm away.

“I think it’s about time you let me in on your little secret, Uriah,” Darren said with a sickly sweet smile. I squeezed Cole’s arm painfully. He kept quiet. “I helped you, Uriah. I think you owe me an explanation.”

“I owe you nothing,” I said. My free hand slapped his hand away before he could touch me again. The skin to skin contact intensified the searing heat. I stumbled. Claire’s pleading eyes swept through my mind, begging me to fight back. I straightened, pulling Cole behind me.

“What did you find? Where is Daniel?” he demanded.

Cole whimpered behind me. I realized I had twisted his arm painfully when I heard Daniel’s name mentioned. Telling myself it wasn’t Cole’s fault, I forced my arm to relax its grip. The pain and fear were slowly overriding Cole’s fascination with Darren.

“Yes,” Darren hissed, “I know all about Daniel…and Claire.”

I steeled myself, holding my love for Claire as my only lifeline. I could not fail her.

“Poor Claire,” he crooned. “Wasting away, waiting for you to save her.”

Darren circled around me toward Cole. I didn’t need to pull Cole away this time. The strange man was definitely losing his hold.

“You won’t be able to save her, Uriah. I won’t let you.”

“You have no power over me,” I said. Turning slightly, I started backing toward the motorcycles. Darren followed. I pleaded again with whatever might hear my thoughts.

“I have never met a man I could not command before. I’m greatly disappointed to have met you so soon, but I am pleased to know that my touch causes you so much discomfort,” Darren said, leaping toward me. His hands grabbed me more quickly than I could have imagined and pressed against my head and neck, holding me in agony.

Claire. Her graceful steps approached me, a brilliant smile on her lips. “Claire,” I whispered. The pain of his touch had me on my knees. I was aware of Cole pummeling him uselessly, but it meant nothing. It was agony just to catch each gasping breath of air.

A deep snarling echoed in my head. My mind was too strangled to figure out where it was coming from. A sudden blow knocked me from my feet. I rolled over, aware enough to remember that one second’s hesitation could cost me my life, mine and Claire’s.

Lifting my head, I realized Darren lay sprawled on the asphalt a few feet away from me. I searched for Cole, wondering how he had managed such a fierce blow. My eyes flew wide. Cole huddled against a red car staring at the gray wolf next to him. The wolf flashed his teeth at me, a flood of images following quickly. He showed me that more wolves were on their way. The images showed them attacking Darren, or whoever he was. The last image showed Cole and me speeding away on our motorcycles.

Shaking my head, I attempted to send my thoughts back to the wolf, telling him that I could stay and help. A sudden image of Claire, lying on a bed, her face pale and sallow, rocked me. How could he know about Claire? Was the wolf truly able to read my thoughts without my knowledge? There was no time to ask. The images replayed in my mind, the wolf begging us to leave. Vengeance would have to wait. Claire was too important. Nodding, I stood, motioning for Cole to follow me.

A furious growl erupted from the wolf’s muzzle. It launched itself in my direction, past me and toward Darren. I lunged to the side, falling against a parked car. Darren Johnson was on his feet again, his face twisted in fury. His body shimmered and heaved.

I scrambled back, reaching for Cole. One terrible convulsion ran through the man’s body before it collapsed in on itself. I gasped, only to watch the mass rearrange itself in a terrible display. A wolf, twice the size of the gray, grew out of the raw material. Its fangs dripped with hunger.

The image of Cole and I riding away slapped back into my mind. I was more than willing to take the suggestion by now. Cole sprang to his feet beside me. “Run,” I said hoarsely. Our feet pounded against the pavement as more snarling voices joined the fray behind us.

Images flashed through my mind, pushing us to leave, assuring me they would hold off the beast. Unfortunately, the images only showed him wounded, not dead. I wondered if anything could actually destroy such a demon. The motorcycles roared to life. The screech of the wheels was nothing compared to the battle we were leaving behind. Anger pulled at me as one of the voices faded from my mind.

“What just happened back there, Uriah? That guy, he just…what was he?” Cole’s shaky voice asked.

“I don’t know. Let’s just get as far from here away as we can,” I said. Explanations would have to wait, though there was precious little I would actually be able to explain as it was.

“Well, where are we going? Can you tell me that at least,” Cole asked, his raw voice crackling through the headset. The irritation and fear in his voice was understandable.

“Daniel’s file said they lived on Meredith Blvd. Do you know where that is?”

Cole shook his head.

“Just head back to the interstate for now. I don’t want to hang around here,” I said. Cole echoed my sentiment and sped up. The images began to fade as we drove. I paid close attention to the factor of distance. We were just over five miles away before the images started to recede. I logged that away in my memory, knowing I would probably have to call for help again.

M
y hands were still shaking
when we pulled into a gas station, miles from where we had left the wolves. Cole was nearly doubled over in misery by the time we stopped. “Uriah, I’m so sorry. Even after you warned me to stay away from that guy, I still told him everything he wanted to know. I couldn’t help myself,” he said gripping my arm.

My earlier anger at him had washed away in the face of the creature’s attack. I was surprised he even remembered talking to Darren the second time. His power must wane the longer he was around a person. “It’s okay,” I said trying to comfort him. “I know you wouldn’t have said anything if you could have stopped yourself.”

“What did that guy do to me? And what the hell happened back there, Uriah?” Cole asked, his shame finally overrun by the absolute insanity of what we had just witnessed.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “That Darren guy did not work at the Vital Records office. He wasn’t even human. And don’t feel too bad about talking to him. He seemed to have the same effect on other people as well.”

“Not on you apparently,” Cole said miserably.

“Yeah,” I said, “he was surprised by that too. It certainly wasn’t anything I did. This woman walked by him in the hallway and said hi to him. You should have seen the look on her face. She would have done anything he asked her to do. It was really creepy. The weirdest thing was that she addressed him by his name, Darren, like she actually knew him, but there’s no way she actually knew who he was, right?”

“I’m with you, that guy was not human,” Cole said, “but if the woman knew him, what does that mean?”

She had recognized the man as Darren, but unless Pima County had some very questionable hiring practices, that was not the real Darren Johnson. Considering how the creature could manage to pass himself off as an actual employee, and remembering what had happened after leaving the office, there were very few explanations. I had a sinking feeling I had just figured out what it meant.

“I think somebody named Darren Johnson does work at the Vital Records office, but that thing we met was not him. I think he just looked like Darren Johnson.”

“You mean that thing changed himself into that guy?” Cole asked.

“I think so.”

“That’s sick, really sick. What do you think happened to the real Darren Johnson? Do you think that thing killed him?” Cole asked.

Along with zombie movies, Cole loved sci-fi thriller movies, especially ones like
Body Snatchers
. I had to admit I was wondering the same thing. “I don’t know. I hope not,” I said. “There’s nothing we can do about it if he did, though.”

“That thing changed himself into that giant wolf like it was nothing. The regular wolves didn’t even seem to think it was strange,” Cole babbled. The memory of the wolves sent a shudder through him. He was undoubtedly wondering how he had survived being in their presence. “Where did those other wolves come from anyway?”

I looked away from Cole’s wondering eyes. I had not wanted to mention the cougar’s visions before, but only because I didn’t want to frighten him. Now, it didn’t feel right not telling him. Surely the man who was not Darren Johnson had already figured out that the wolves were my doing. Cole had already told him everything else, apparently.

“Uriah?”

“I called them,” I said.

Cole’s face scrunched up and shook slowly.

“Last night when that mountain lion walked into our camp, it was able to talk to me.”

Cole stepped back.

“Well, not really talk, like we do,” I said quickly. “He put pictures in my mind. First he just showed me a picture of us sleeping while he stood watch. Then this morning, before you woke up, he showed me more pictures. Animals like the mountain lion and the wolves were keeping watch over us while we drove to Tucson.”

Cole looked around worriedly. “Are they here now?”

“I don’t know, maybe.” I waited for Cole to face me again. “He also showed me this strange creature that had been tracking us. I think it’s been following us since we left San Juan. I think that might be who we just met.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” Cole said, running his fingers through his short black hair. “First Quaile turns you and Claire away because she claims she’s had a vision, then my dad poisons his own daughter, sending us off after some mystery guy, you’re talking to animals, and now some crazy, morphing psycho creature is after us.” Cole sighed, banging his fist on the seat of his bike. “When did we stop living in the real world, Uriah?”

I shrugged, shoving my hands into my pockets. I had been asking myself the same question since visiting Quaile. “I’ve been wracking my memory for what this thing could be. I’ve heard stories of the Trickster, Coyote, or Iktome, but I can’t think of a single legend that would explain what we just saw.”

“I doubt that was the Trickster,” Cole said. His hand came up to his forehead. He shook his head back and forth. “I can’t believe I’m talking about this like it’s real.” Taking a deep, steadying breath, Cole seemed unable to continue.

“Why not the Trickster?” I asked.

“The Trickster mainly caused problems or scandals, humiliated people, or disrupted a tribe. Coyote is actually just the Trickster under a different name. Iktome was a lying, greedy thief who was usually trying to seduce women,” Cole said. “Coyote and Iktome were usually trying to trick each other in the stories I’ve heard or read. Neither one ever hunted down humans to kill them. At least not that I’m aware of.”

“That’s what I thought. I always kind of liked the stories of Coyote and Iktome, but now I wish I’d never heard any of them,” I said wearily. “I think that thing has been following us because of what’s happened to Claire. It must be trying to stop us from finding Daniel, but I have no idea why. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard about Twin Souls, but never even once have I heard anyone mention some shape shifting demon trying to kill or capture Twin Souls before they meet. Have you? Maybe in one of the books you’ve read at the store?”

Cole shook his head. “No, never. I have no idea what that thing was.”

Claire and I should have been planning our wedding, not her on the brink of death and me searching for some kid in Arizona, fighting inhuman monsters along the way. I closed my eyes, breathing in her memory. Her face and eyes were the only things that had kept me from dissolving under the creature’s fire. I couldn’t lose her. I refused to give her up.

“When that thing grabbed your head, I thought we were done for,” Cole said. “What was he doing to you?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t even know. He couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t following him around like a love-sick puppy like everyone else. His mind games didn’t work on me, but every time he touched me it felt like fire burning my skin,” I said. “I almost blacked out from the pain, but there isn’t a mark on me.” Cole searched my face, either for scars he had missed earlier, or a hint that I was going crazy.

“Do you think he’s coming back?” Cole shuffled his foot, kicking the bike’s tire.

“Yeah, he’ll be back,” I said. Cole’s head snapped up, searching the area. I reached up and gripped his shoulders. When he calmed down, I continued. “I think the wolves bought us some time, though. The things they showed me seemed to say that they would be able to hurt him pretty bad, but not kill it. I don’t know if anything can kill it.”

“Well let’s not sit around waiting for him, then. I’ll go ask the clerk where Meredith Blvd. is,” Cole said. Sprinting to the convenience store, Cole glanced around himself warily. I had an urge to do the same thing. Despite what I’d told Cole, I had no idea how long it would be before the creature was back on our trail.

Testing my new ability, I created a picture of the creature in my mind, wounded and hiding. Sending the image out as a question, I waited for any response. Several images from restless birds crowded into my mind, all laced with terror. The answering pictures made it clear that none of the animals knew where the creature was. I got the distinct impression that they hoped they would never find out, either.

I tried to form another question in my mind, but the birds had already retreated, afraid to speak any more of the strange beast. Cole pushed the convenience store’s door open with a wary sweep of the parking lot. Hurrying back to his bike, he climbed on in a rush. “We’re headed the right way,” he said. “It’s just off Ina Road. The exit is about five miles from here.”

Happy to drive further north, I mounted my bike and started the engine. Cole led the way, but I stayed close behind. I was starting to get used to driving in the busy city traffic. We merged onto the interstate with ease and continued our trek north.

My headset remained quiet as we drove. I knew Cole was burning with questions, but I think he realized I didn’t understand what was happening any more than he did. Despite his more annoying qualities, Cole was smart. It was probably in both of our best interests to let him puzzle out the answers for himself. He was bound to do better than I was.

Claire wouldn’t have appreciated that sentiment, always telling me to stop selling myself short, but aside from my brief search to figure out why I couldn’t touch Claire, I had avoided most Tewa mythology other than the stories my mom had told me before bedtime as a child. I really was at a loss this time.

The heroic stories always rang just a little too deeply with me, which was why I shied away from them. I saw myself in many of those past warriors, and I wanted nothing to do with the lives they led. Holding the fate of an entire tribe on my shoulders wasn’t something I sought after. Shearing sheep, plating alfalfa, spending my life with Claire, those were the things I wanted most. Maybe part of me recognized the subtle signs that there was something unique about me, and that was what made me keep my distance from my heritage.

Besides my lacking knowledge, thoughts of Claire kept me from considering anything too deeply. My chest tightened every time I thought of her lying helpless and alone. The scene in her parent’s house played over and over in my mind. I had seen the look on Thomas’s face when Sarah asked for the tea. I hated myself for not reacting in time. I knew how much he despised the idea of his daughter marrying me. When Claire needed me to protect her most, I failed. Would she even want me back? I had to believe she would forgive me. Although, her forgiveness might mean nothing if I couldn’t find a way to keep the bond from forming.