Hair, Greg - Werewolf 03 (11 page)

Chapter 23: Requiem

Quickly finding the missing girl’s address on the piece of paper given to him by the teenage translator, Landon entered, shuffling through the interior smells. The scents of beer, cologne, pasta and varying kinds of sauces, and innocence attacked his nose.

That’s how werewolves and vampires often described the ubiquitous scent of children—innocence. Each child carried their own smell, like fingerprints, but children, on the whole, also had a scent much different from that of adults. Werewolves, and vampires, often described it as that newborn smell, even as children got older. The term most often applied to the smell, was innocence.

Looking around the home, the place was littered with, primarily, two kinds of objects: toys, and beer bottles. There were other items, such as newspapers, dirty dishes, and the like, but mostly, toys, and beer bottles. Landon smelled the air for signs of physical abuse. Blood, he realized long ago, stayed in the air, like leftovers still sitting on the dining room table for a week. He found none. If there was any mental, or verbal, abuse taking place, Landon wasn’t able to discern it.

It didn’t take him long to find the final spots where the little girl, and the babysitter, had been, the places where their smells were most powerful and lingered.

The babysitter on the couch, he thought.

He went upstairs, to the girl’s bedroom. No signs of a struggle, no peculiar scents. Landon headed back downstairs, following the trail to her last location.

The front door.

He stopped, standing before the closed entrance.

She answered the door. The sitter slept through the knocking. The little girl answered the door. Someone knocked, the sitter slept through it, and the girl answered.

He opened the door, stepping back outside.

He breathed deep, smelling the air. Her trail carried off to the right. Then, out of nowhere, he felt it. A slight charge in the air, mixed with her scent.

“What the hell is that doing there?” he said to himself. Someone else must have gotten wind of the situation and is looking for her, too, he thought.

Sprinting off to the right, the werewolf tracked the scent all the way to its end—the nearest dock. Finding a motorized boat nearby, he jumped in, followed the scent out into the lagoon.

Landon continuously shifted the use of his senses, turning his nose upward as he moved across the water, then looking down into the canal, expecting to find the girl at the bottom, just as he had been. He paid so much attention to what was beneath him that he nearly ran aground on a tiny island in the middle of the waterway—Poveglia.

The girl wasn’t in the water, at least not in the canal. The trail continued onto the island, the very place where werewolves and vampires had been holed up.

This is damn peculiar.

Getting out of the boat, and mooring it to a nearby tree, Landon picked up the scent again, and traced it to a group of trees a little farther in. Then, the trail stopped.

The girl’s scent was stronger, ending in Landon’s current location, and the electrical charge was more powerful.

What the hell is going on here?

He listened carefully, suddenly picking up on shallow breaths, coming from within the ground.

Landon zeroed in on the breathing, then dug quickly, finally hitting a large plastic bin. Wasting no time to pick up the container, he ripped the lid off, and found the girl inside, unconscious. She still wore her pink shirt, and white pants. Her blonde ponytail was still in place.

Then, coming from a distance, he picked up another sound—approaching footsteps, lightly on the ground, almost tip-toeing—and a charge.

Leaving the girl hidden behind the grouping of trees, Landon stepped out to see the vampire, almost panicking at the sight of the empty hole, running his hand over his dark hair.

“What’s up?” asked Landon, startling the vampire.

“Nothing. I was just—“

“Just…what?”

“Looking for something.”

“Did you find it?”

“No.”

“Well, I found it.”

Landon waited for what seemed like forever for a reaction from the vampire who starred at him as if Landon were a ghost.

“What did you find?” asked the vampire, near stuttering.

“A little girl.”

“The missing girl? Well, that’s great. I’ve been looking all over her. Wanted to take her back to her family. We should do that. They must be worried sick.”

“How did you know she was missing? No one’s been called.”

The vampire stood still. Landon moved his fingers, dangling at his side, like a gunslinger waiting to draw.

“I’ve seen you before,” Landon said. “You came here with Piper, from England, didn’t you? I wonder, were you like this before you were turned, and it stuck with you, or is this something new?”

“I don’t know what you mean?” The vampire took a slight step back.

“Yeah, that’s it. I want you to run.”

The vampire spun around, taking off toward the open field that lay between the nearest edge of Poveglia and the main building on the island.

Landon changed and ran after the kidnapper. The werewolf gained on him, leaping over the vampire, then spinning around and grabbing him by the throat.

The vamp tried desperately to release the werewolf’s hold, attempting to pull back each claw, but the beast’s grip was too strong. He tried hitting, kicking, scratching—all to no effect. The creature that held him was impenetrable. His anger was impregnable.

Landon, carrying the vampire by the neck, took him back to the trees and beyond, to the edge of the island. He looked over his shoulder at the little girl, still sleeping, still breathing.

Reaching the water, the werewolf turned the vampire over and laid him face down into the water. Landon took his other claw and, digging into the base of the skull, removed the head below the surface of the lagoon.

Landon down-shifted his form, and washed the blood off his hands. He walked over to the girl, picked her up, and took her home.

Arriving back at the bar, Landon gave the girl to her visibly shaken, but still drunk father. Then he found the teen boy who earlier served as his translator.

“Make sure he gets her home,” he said. “The babysitter, too.”

“Did you find the guy that took her?” asked LillyAnna, following Landon back to his original table.

“Yeah, only it wasn’t any regular guy,” he said, giving her details of the tracking and fight.

“A vampire. Had you seen him before? So, he was a pedophile vampire? Or a child-killing vampire? Have you ever come across one of those before?”

“Yeah, I’d seen him before. He came here with Piper, the English vampire, the girl that showed us the video. But, I don’t think she knew what he really was. I suspect he came to join us, blended in, and probably thought we’d provide the perfect cover. I’m guessing, whether a pedophile or child-killer, it’s probably what he did in his human life, too, before he was turned. I don’t know how old he was, so who knows how many children…” He stopped himself before he finished the sentence. Then he remembered her last question. “No. I’ve never met one of those before.”

“It’s a good thing we were here,” she said.

“Yeah. It was. Like maybe I was supposed to be here, at that moment. You know, that’s helped to remember, a little bit, about who I used to be. Before all this shit started. I don’t know, maybe there was a reason for me to be at this bar, not drinking. Not only for the girl, but also for me.”

Chapter 24: Requiem

“Aren’t you supposed to be bed-ridden?” asked Annelise, coming upon Bianca sitting outside, watching Alessandro train recent additions.

“Probably.”

“So, what’s up?” Annelise sat beside the pregnant werewolf. “Just getting some sun? Must be driving you crazy being stuck in that room all the time.”

“Partly. Mostly, I’m just watching everyone else get ready for something that I can’t be a part of. I’ve never felt more useless. Or used.”

“I understand. For the past couple of days, I was pretty useless. Everyone walking on glass around me, afraid to say the wrong thing, or trigger something. But, I’m at a point now, where I’m feeling much better, and I think I can contribute, again. I remember some details of Nicholas’ true plan, so Ryker and Landon are preparing for that.”

“Okay. I’m very happy that you’re doing better, we all are, but I don’t understand how that helps me.”

“I’m saying that you may feel useless now, but that’ll change. And I hear what you’re saying about the used part. Even though I don’t remember it, I was there for Jamie’s wedding, and I’m sorry I couldn’t stop it. I’m sorry to everybody here that I couldn’t have done more, been more useful as you would say, while I was there.”

“That’s different,” said Bianca. “You were a prisoner, a hostage. No one expected you do anything but survive. And we’re all thrilled to have you back.” She threw her arms around Annelise, embracing her. “You know, now that I think about it, I feel like a prisoner, too.”

Bianca released the vampire, dropping her hands to her mid-section. “A hostage.” She lightly massaged her stomach, and looked back out at the practicing warriors.

“What are you saying?” asked Annelise.

“Maybe I could be free, too. Maybe I could free myself.”

Bianca felt Annelise’s shocked gaze fall on her.

“Don’t do that,” said the vampire. “You’re only a day or two away.”

“So is the fight. If I take care of this now, I could be involved and do something then. People need me.”

“Right now, the only ones that need you are those babies. Please don’t shift. Please wait. This may sound selfish, or like I’m taking pity on myself, but there are lots of people who would love to be in your position. There are women out there who’d love to be pregnant, but can’t be, for whatever reason.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but this is my life, not theirs. I’m very sorry for their issues, truly I am, but I can’t live my life according to how others feel. Like I said, I feel used. Jamie used me; Serinda used me. I don’t think these babies were made out of love.”

“Really? You loved him at the time they were conceived, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re going to tell me that you feel absolutely nothing for the twins you carry?”

“I’m not going to say that.”

“Please, just wait. You’re so close. Once they get here, you’ll have a ton of help.”

“Yeah, if everyone makes it back.”

“Everyone seems to be feeling that same sentiment,” Annelise said, looking around. “But, I honestly feel, hope is coming. If everyone can just hold on a little longer.” She turned her attention back to Bianca.

“Okay, okay. I won’t shift. That doesn’t mean, though, that I’m going to do everything I’m told. I’m not staying in that bed.”

“I hear you,” Annelise said, laughing.

Suddenly, catching something in her peripheral vision, Bianca looked out toward the canal. Coming across the lagoon were several water taxies. She nudged Annelise.

Sensing a massive a charge when they reached the dock, Bianca informed Annelise that they were about to welcome a large number of vampires to the island. She counted thirty. The pair stood, and walked to the dock.

“Do you remember me?” asked the first vampire that stepped off their boat.

“No,” said Annelise. “I’m sorry, I don’t.”

“My name is Jasmin. I lead the German coven that was part of the underground network that got you out of Scotland. That’s who all these other people are behind me. I was there at Burghausen when you were reunited with your husband. How are you feeling?”

“Oh, my God.” Annelise threw her arms around the German. “Thank you so much for everything. I’m feeling much better.”

Everyone turned to look toward the main building when Ryker approached.

“So,” he said, “change your mind?”

“We did,” said Jasmin. “Whoever your operative is on the inside at Kilchurn, certainly risks their life to get people out. There are terrible things happening there. We have two new rescues here.”

Stepping off Jasmin’s boat were two teenage boys—one in dark sunglasses, and the other with one arm.

“We don’t have an operative there,” said Bianca.

“It’s Tsukiko,” Annelise said. “I know it.”

“You’re right,” said the one-armed boy. “My name is William, and yes, it’s Tsukiko that got us out. She found me washed ashore, on the other side of the lake, after Jamie attacked me for something I didn’t do, and left me for dead.”

“I’m so sorry,” said the Danish vampire. “But, you’re safe now.”

“What about you, werewolf?” asked Bianca, feeling no charge from the boy wearing sunglasses. “What’s your name?”

Bianca saw Jasmin mouth the words, he’s blind.

“My name is Robert. And yes, it’s true that I’m blind.” He turned to Jasmin. “My hearing has improved, so I can hear your lips move. I asked why we should follow him, Jamie, instead of Nicholas. And this was his answer.” He removed his sunglasses, revealing empty eye sockets. “By the way, Jamie never knew our names when he did these things to us. Thank you for asking.”

“I’m sorry,” said Jasmin. “It wasn’t my place to tell.”

“That’s okay.”

“I’m sorry, too,” Bianca said.

“Why were you two there in the first place?” asked Ryker. “Neither one of you seem like the type that would follow Nicholas, or Jamie.”

“Believe me,” said Robert, the blind werewolf, “we wish we had never set foot at that place. But, speaking for myself, I haven’t been what I am, a werewolf, for very long. I thought that maybe that’s what we were supposed to do. Kill people. I was stupid.”

“Some girl I really liked,” began William, “talked me into it. She ditched me, and started hanging out with another guy, as soon as we got there. I kinda gravitated toward Robert, and he told me his story.”

“And, William, you said that Jamie attacked you for something you didn’t do. What did he accuse you of?”

“Killing his wife, but—“

“What?” Bianca asked. “What? What?” She kept repeating the word, as she crumbled to her knees.

“Serinda’s dead?” asked Annelise, kneeling down beside the wailing Bianca. The vampire whispered soothing sounds in the pregnant werewolf’s ear, trying to calm her down.

“Yes, but I didn’t do it. I swear.”

“We believe you.” Annelise, holding Bianca in her arms, turned to Ryker. “Nicholas, I’m sure.”

“I have something else to tell you,” said William. “A message from Tsukiko. Along with the high number of vampires and werewolves that have joined them, Jamie and Nicholas have also created their own army. They attacked several villages, turning the people into werewolves. So now they actually control about half their numbers.”

“How many do they have?” Ryker asked.

“Hundreds. Hundreds.”

“My God,” Annelise said.

“And they’re not going anywhere,” William continued. “They have no plans to leave that area. They see it as the home-field advantage. So I can help you with any training since I was there a couple of days and know the layout.”

“If this Tsukiko is not one of yours, why is she helping you?” Jasmin asked.

“I think,” said Annelise, “she’s probably coming to the conclusion that he needs to lose.”

“Well,” began Jasmin, “if it’s numbers you seek, I can tell you that you are in luck. We came across others headed this way. They weren’t far behind us.”

“About how many?” Ryker asked.

“A lot.”