Inheritance (The Dark Gifts) (10 page)

Thomas winced and looked down.  “You’re right.  I messed up bad.  I was a coward and didn’t want to go against the pack, not even for my best friend.”  His eyes rose to meet her glaring gaze.  “I’m trying to make up for it.  If I can keep you two safe, if I can help you take over, then in some way maybe that will partially make up for what I didn’t do before.”

“What do you want?  Forgiveness?  You expect me to just act like it never happened?”

He flicked his cigarette butt into the yard.  “No, I don’t expect anything.  Someday, I hope you’ll trust me, but even that is more than I deserve.”

She remained silent and nodded her head.  For a moment guilt consumed her.  She knew he was trying hard to make up for the past, but shortly the feeling receded.  Like her parents, and Aunt Edna, Thomas would be better off if he had little to do with her and Jason.  It was better before, when she thought no one wanted them.  Now, she knew anyone daring to love them was destined to die.

Thomas watched her for a moment before continuing, “That’s not what I came to discuss with you.  We need to talk about the meeting and what will happen.  The power you felt the other night will not affect the other clans.  They'll be in submission to you,
only
if they choose it.  You must be strong and sure of yourself.  Do not show signs of weakness.”

Color drained from her face as she met his gaze.  “I don’t know how to do that.  I’m--well, I’m just--”

Thomas smiled.  “I know, you’re just you.  But that’s fine, because you have a lot going for you girl.  Now listen, this is what you need to do…”

Four men waited outside Aunt Edna’s house.  The dark tinted windows of the sleek black Chrysler made it difficult for even the nosiest neighbor to see who was inside. The street was quiet and deserted.  From the surrounding houses, the faint tinkle of music and televisions could be heard.   As soon as the sun disappeared over the horizon, and darkness settled over the sleepy neighborhood, a shadow slipped from the car and around the side of the house.  Within minutes a light came on inside.  Anyone watching would be able to see the slim dark figure move from room to room, but there was still no way to tell who or what was in there. 

After a few minutes, the silent shadow returned to the car.  There was a small click as the car door shut, and after a few moments, the car sped off into the night.  Anyone paying attention might have observed the car had Nevada plates.  They might have noticed the light never came on as the door opened, other than that, there was nothing to see.  If the old lady across the street had once again been eavesdropping on her neighbors, she might have heard the conversation between the four before they sped off. 

“It’s happening again,” the shadow said.

“Are you certain?” one asked.

“Positive.  The scent is everywhere.”

“Are they still living here?” the oldest asked.

“The scent is fading.  It’s been at least a month since they‘ve been here.”  The shadow replied.

“This is not good.  How could they have slipped us so quickly?  We will need to double our efforts before the moon is again full.” 

The shadow handed the old man a worn piece of paper.  “I found this on the coffee table.  The address is just a few hours from here.”

“Is it just the two or are there more?” asked the driver.

“There is no way to tell.” The shadow answered.

The wrinkled old man in the back seat finally spoke, “There will be more.  There’s always more.  They never settle with just two.  If they hadn’t covered their tracks so well, we’d have rooted out this infestation months ago.  David, get on the phone.  We will need many to explore the land and discover what is there.”  His mouth broke into a large nearly toothless grin. “We are going hunting my friends.”

As the car sped away, another shadow unseen by the neighbors, those in the car, or the nosey old lady across the street, slid away from the other side of the house and followed after.  Anyone watching might have mistaken it for a dog, but it was larger and faster than the average dog, and unlike the average dog…it was deadly.

***

Music blared from the seedy rundown bar.  As the bass thumped and bumped, glass vibrated in the windowpanes.  The sign over the entryway offered cold beer and pretzels, while hanging from one rusty hinge.  There was nothing around for miles, just corn and bean fields.  The black Chrysler pulled into the parking lot and the occupants entered the dilapidated structure. 

On the scarred linoleum dance floor, two young women undulated in perfect rhythm with each other, completely engrossed in the music.  They were mirror images, both tall and lean with dark skin and beautiful long black hair.  Except for their exotic green eyes, they had a Native American look to them.  The four men silently watched and waited to be recognized.

In the back of the large room, two men hovered over what appeared to be a map.  A weathered old woman sitting behind the bar gave them a slight nod and went back to reading a book.  As the song ended, the dancers turned and acknowledged the arrival of the men, motioning for them to take a seat at the nearest table.  As they sat, the bartender brought a tray of draft beer, plopped it on the table, and returned to her perch to read. 

“Why do you always want to meet up here?  I hate the smell of this place,” one man said.

The women laughed in unison and replied, “We like it here.  Who’s the new guy?”

The old medicine man chuckled and shook his head.  “Some things never change.  Girls, meet Greg.  Greg, these are my two best hunters, Ashley, and Heather.”

Greg’s jaw dropped.  When the old man had said they were meeting with expert hunters, he had no idea they were women, let alone women pretty enough to be models. 

Both girls laughed at his reaction.

“We get that a lot,” Ashley laughed.

“Yep, all the time,” Heather chimed in.

The old man leaned back in his chair and called out to the two men in the back of the bar, “That’s enough Ken, you and Mike get over here and join the meeting.  We have many things to discuss before we can set out.”  Looking back at the group he went on, “Those are my expert trackers.  When they get on the scent, nothing escapes.”

“I thought
he
was your expert tracker,” David laughed then elbowed Greg in the side saying, “We are all experts at something, but Jonny is Gramps favorite.

“He is more than just a tracker.  Ain’t that right, Jonny?  We don’t call him shadow man for nothing.” The old man chuckled.

As the other two men joined the group around the table, the old man got down to business.  “We have an unknown number of dogs to catch, and unfamiliar territory to cover.  The only thing we are certain of is that the one we are searching for is enormous and deadly.  He has already killed several people.  If it weren’t for all the newspaper articles, we’d never have found him.  We must get in there and find out how many are there, who they are in human form, and call in reinforcements if necessary.  It will take some time for the other hunters to arrive.  Five are still on the reservation.”

“I’m all about dog catching, Grandpa, but how are we supposed to take out the beast when we don’t know how many friends are in the pound with him?”  Ashley asked.

The old man laughed and leaning forward said, “That’s where you little darlings come in.  Let me tell you what I have in mind…”

Outside, a shadow waited just under an open window, listening intently.  As the night wore on, another larger shadow joined it and the two quietly kept watch on the bar and its occupants.

Three nights after the confrontation at the cabin, the clan leaders were seated and waiting for Thomas to begin.  Those that hadn't participated in the battle already knew about Shana’s betrayal.   Shocked and concerned with the prospect of another battle with the Savata clan, quiet chatter filled the room. 

Thomas raised his hand and the crowd became quiet.  “You all know why we're here.  I don't believe it's a surprise to any of you that Shana is determined to run this pack.  Bringing in another pack to fight our own was tantamount to genocide.  Her betrayal could’ve been met with death.  Instead, Sarah has barred her from returning to these lands.  Personally, I believe this was the right thing to do.”

The short, stocky, Indera clan leader yelled out, “Exile is too good for her!  Intentionally putting the pack in harm’s way is against the primary law.  Is this how low we've sunk?  Now we won't even consider ridding ourselves of those who would kill us?”

“Enough, Roderic.  Considering she's a seventeen year old girl, I thought she made a wise decision.  Had she sentenced Shana to death, how many of you would have trusted her then?  How many of you would have wondered when it would be your turn on her hit list?”

Grumbles, punctuated by several nods, flitted throughout the group.

A petite woman with shoulder length auburn hair lifted her hand.

“Yes, Ruby?”  Thomas nodded his head in her direction.

“I guess I'm just dense.  I was there.  I was just as shocked as everyone else when Sarah released her.  How could this have happened?  We've known Shana her whole life.  How could she pit us against a larger pack, knowing that some--if not most--of us would die?  I know she's power hungry, but for the love of Mike!  I thought she was my friend.”  

Lowering his gaze to the floor, Thomas answered, “I can't tell you that.  I probably know her better than any of you, and even I didn't think she was capable of this.  Even after she sentenced her own family to death, I did not see this side of her.  Maybe I didn't want to.”

It was an easy decision for the clans to follow the will of Thomas; he had led them for several years and had always made good decisions.  Besides, the pack always stuck together.  Always.  To deviate from the primary law would be the downfall of the pack.  Everyone knew that.

Thomas cleared his throat.  “We are living in dangerous times, folks.  It was brought to my attention that Shana and the Savata are not our only worries.  Last night our watchers called.  The hunters are on the move again, and it appears they have finally found us.  That is why we are holding the meeting here instead of our new Alpha’s home.”

Many gasps escaped those listening.  For years, they’d managed to live without drawing attention to themselves.  Every man, woman, and child would be in danger now, regardless of whether they had reached shifting age or not.  Hunters were ruthless.  When they found a pack they exterminated everyone from newborns to old woman.  They had no mercy.

“Which group, Thomas?” asked the Indera leader.

“White Horns.”

Jaws dropped and color drained from faces before everyone began talking at once.  The White Horns were renowned in the Lycan community.  Lycans all over the world knew and feared their name.  They were relentless in their pursuit.  Hundreds, possibly thousands, had died at their hands.

“Look folks,” Thomas silenced them, “We need to settle some of this stuff and then deal with not just White Horn, but Shana and the Savata as well.  Let’s make this quick…Anyone here have a problem with Jason taking over as pack leader with Sarah as his second?”  Thomas looked around waiting for someone to speak up. 

Everyone remained silent. 

“Okay, fine.  Jason is now Alpha, and I am stepping down.  At Jason’s request, I will stay on only in the capacity as director of our forces.  However, mind you this--Jason’s word is final on everything-- there will be no dissension.  I will help with strategies and planning, only because he’s asked me.”

Heads nodded.  The rattled group had no desire for conflict amongst themselves in light of the new information.

“Now, second order of business, anyone have a problem with Sarah?  Obviously when we are in wolf form we will be taking orders from her, if you have anything to say about it…now is the time.”

Again the pack remained silent, with the exception of one withered old woman in the corner.  “I don’t have a problem with Sarah, but how are two going to lead?  The Alpha must have the entire pack’s complete submission.  How are we to be certain that another ‘Shana’ isn’t lingering in our midst, when they are dispersing the power?”

Sarah glanced at her feet before answering the old woman.  “I would know.  Now that I’m getting the hang of this, I know many things I shouldn’t.”  Searching the faces of those gathered, she went on, “I know most of you are uncertain.  The situation seems impossible, but we can make this work if we
all
stick together.”

“Well said, Sarah,” Thomas replied.  “Jason, anything you’d like to say?”

Jason searched their faces as well, and coldly replied, “I have just two things to say.  I’m doing this because I have no option.  Thomas is more than my uncle, he’s my friend, and if anyone tries any more crap like the other night, you’ll answer to me.  Second thing is this…if you even attempt to hurt my sister in any way, I will kill you.”

The room was so still, you could have heard a pin drop.  Thomas shook his head and chuckled in an effort to lighten the mood. “As always, you’re a man of few words.  Let’s get down to business.  Shana can wait, what are we going to do about the White Horns?  Any ideas?”