Sophie's Seduction (6 page)

Sophie looked at the young woman and noticed how sad she really seemed
.  "I understand.  Hey, do you have a phone I could use? I need to get help."

"Sure
.  Come on," Rochelle led her to the door of the barn.  "Wait and let me make sure it's clear."

Sophie waited while Rochelle checked outside and then came back to get her
.  She followed her in the back door of the small ranch style house.  Rochelle pointed to the phone hanging on the wall and Sophie dialed Jackson's number.  She had to hold in a sob as she heard it begin to ring.

Jackson and Cade had scoured
half of Bourbon Street with no luck.  Jackson ran a frustrated hand through his hair as he saw the woman shake her head no at Cade.  No one saw Sophie anywhere on the street.  They stopped at an artist's stand, the guy was free painting but had some nice paintings of animals.

"Excuse me, but have you see
n this woman?" Cade asked the artist as he showed him a picture of Sophie on his phone.

The man leaned over and looked at the picture
.  "Yes, I saw her just a little while ago.  We had a chat about my animals and she bought a painting.  Sophie, right?"

"Yes
.  When did you see her?" Jackson demanded.

"Ah," The man looked at his watch
.  "Maybe not even an hour ago.  I told her I would deliver her painting to the hotel she's staying at.  Is there something wrong?"

"She's missing
.  We are trying to find her," Cade explained.

"Maybe she is just shopping further down."
The artist pointed down the street.  "I saw her walk that way after she left here.  Said she had more shopping to do."

Jackson and Cade thanked the man and began to head the way he indicated
.  They found the cafe where Sophie had gotten a drink and sat for a while.  Then it seemed no one had seen her. 

"What now?" Cade growled, frustrated.

"I think I should shift and see if I can smell her," Jackson said in a quiet voice.

Cade nodded
.  "We have to find her, Jackson.  Something is very wrong here."

"I will go down that alley over there and be back in a minute
," Jackson said as he laid a hand on Cade's shoulder.  "Take my phone and wallet."

Cade took the items from Jackson and then Jackson went down the darkened alleyway
.  A few minutes later, a collie came out from the alley and began to sniff around the cafe.  Cade watched as the dog sniffed all around and then began to walk further down the street.

'I have her scent
.  She went down here,'
Jackson sent to Cade telepathically. 

'I'm right behind you
,'
Cade answered. 

Cade followed Jackson down the street, but it was slow work
.  There were so many people around and so many scents to sift through, it was difficult.  Jackson picked through each one, finding his mate's scent and then moving forward.  They ended up at the beginning of an alleyway.

'Her scent is strong here and mixes with a male's
,'
Jackson told Cade.

Cade growled low in his throat
. 
'Can you tell where they went?'

Jackson went down the alley
a short ways and then turned to Cade. 
'Her scent vanished here.  They must have had a car.'

'Damn it!'
Cade said through their link. 
'Now what?'

'Now I go back and get my clothes, then you can take to the sky
,'
Jackson said, knowing Cade needed to do this himself.  Their mate had been taken and that didn't sit well with Otherkin, it was hard on them both, it would help Cade to do something.

They headed back to the alley where Jackson had hidden his clothes and
he quickly changed.  They began to make their way back toward the hotel to retrieve their rental car.  Just as they turned the corner to the garage, Jackson's phone rang.  Jackson checked the caller and didn't recognize the number.  He frowned as he showed Cade the display, but he pressed speaker button to answer.

“
Jackson?" Sophie's wobbly voice almost sent him to his knees with relief.

"Sophie, honey, where are you?" Jackson demanded.

"I'm on a farm.  I need you to come now.  They will be back soon," Sophie told him.

"Baby, we need to know where the farm is and we are on our way
," Cade said.

There was a muffling as they heard Sophie talk to someone and then she came back on the line
.  "It's a farm off Highway 428, near the state park."

Jackson pulled out the map they had been given by the informant
.  He remembered something about that highway, it seemed familiar.  As he opened it, he showed Cade the highway.  Both of them were shocked to see Sophie was in the middle of the Hunters' land.  There was some more muffling talk on Sophie's end then she began to talk again.

"My new friend here says she is going to get me out to the highway, that it is difficult to tell you exactly where I am and we don't know if the men will come back soon."
Sophie was trying to be strong but they could hear her fear.  "Jackson, Cade, they have dogs."

"It's okay, baby, we are coming
," Cade assured her as they got in their SUV and began to head her way.  "Listen to me, you head for the highway.  If you hear the dogs coming, climb a tree.  Go as high as you can and hide in the branches.  We will find you, baby."

"Okay, we are going now
.  Rochelle says it will take you about twenty minutes to get here.  She said once you get to mile marker 226, start looking for me to the east," Sophie said.

"Stay safe, Sophie
.  We are on our way," Jackson told her.

"If something happens...well...I want you to know I love you both
.  And tell Jasmine I love her too," Sophie told them.

"We love you too
, baby, but don't you talk like that, we will find you.  Stay alive and stay safe," Jackson said with authority in his voice.  Then he disconnected the call and slammed his foot down on the gas. 

****

Sophie hung up the phone and looked at Rochelle.  "Thank you so much for what you have done."

Rochelle handed her the bottle of water and said, "You
’re welcome.  Now drink this water and let's go.  They could come back at any moment.  I wish I had a car, but Dad took the only one we have to market today."

Sophie nodded and drank the water as she followed Rochelle out of the house
.  Rochelle stopped at the back door and grabbed a small spray bottle.  She sprayed her whole body and then sprayed Sophie as well.

"We need to make sure you are covered in this
.  It will confuse the dogs if they come," Rochelle told her as she sprayed. 

They slowly made their way in the opposite direction that Sophie had come from and began to trek through the woods
.  Rochelle indicated they should be very quiet as they began to go through the woods.  Sophie followed Rochelle's footsteps to not disturb too much, then it would make it harder for anyone to follow them.

They had been walking for some time when Rochelle said, "We can talk now, as long as we keep our voices low."

Sophie nodded and said, "So you said you were born a Hunter.  Can I ask you to tell me what that is?"

Rochelle stopped walking and regarded her for a moment
.  Then she said, "We are of the Hunter people.  We hunt the Otherkin and others like them.  We are taught from a very young age that Otherkin are dangerous to humans and we need to eradicate them.  Hunters inherit certain powers and knowledge in order to stop Otherkin.  My turn, why were you locked in the house?"

"I don't know
.  My sister and I were abandoned as babies.  We had that symbol on our baby blankets and I have been trying to find out more about where we come from." Sophie decided to be honest with Rochelle as she was with her.

Rochelle stopped dead and turned to look at Sophie with wide eyes
.  "Oh my Gods, you are one of the jumeaux enchantée, enchanted twins."

"I'm sorry?
I'm what?" Sophie asked her confused.

"Your momma had to run with you and your sister
.  She had to hide you where they couldn't find you to keep you safe," Rochelle told her.

Sophie looked at her in shock
.  "You know about my family? About my...my birth mother?"

Rochelle nodded and as they walked, she began to talk
.  "Your momma was born a Hunter, but she fell in love with an Otherkin she saw in secret, no one ever knew.  If they had known, they both would have been killed.  When they found out your momma was pregnant, her daddy locked her up.  Hid her away.  It was so sad."

"What happened then?" Sophie asked in a quiet voice.

"Well, she had the babies, you and your sister.  Her daddy, I guess he's your grandpa, he's a right mean old man, he was gonna raise you as Hunters but your momma wanted to get you away from them.  If they ever found out you were half Otherkin, well, you would have been killed.  So one night, her sister helped her escape and I guess the rest you know," Rochelle finished her story.

Sophie couldn't believe what she was hearing
. 
She and Jasmine were half Otherkin? Holy shitake mushrooms!
"Rochelle, do you have any idea what happened to my mother or father?"

Rochelle shook her head sadly
.  "No, no one does.  I always hoped she got away and found him so they could be together, but I'm a romantic." She smiled at Sophie.  "I don't even know if your father knew about you."

"I don't mean to come across mean when I say this but how do you know all of this?" Sophie asked.

Rochelle chuckled a little.  "Well I guess you could say we are family, cuz.  My momma was your momma's sister, the one who helped her escape.  Kinda ironic, huh?"

Sophie smiled at her
.  "Yeah I guess so."

"After what happened with your momma, my momma stepped away from the teachings of the Hunters and has lived as an outcast on the outskirts of their land
.  She stayed around here, married a local guy and had me.  Then she died of ovarian cancer a couple of years ago," Rochelle said sadly.  "I asked her once, a long time ago, why she stayed here, in this area.  She told me it was in case her sister ever came home.  They were very close."

"Wow
.  I am so sorry about your mother.  So, your dad is not a Hunter?" Sophie asked Rochelle.

Rochelle shook her head
.  "Lordy no.  But he does know all about them." She looked down at the tattoo.  "I wouldn't have this if it hadn't been for my grandpa, momma's daddy, taking me one day back when I was in preschool and sayin' the words over me."

"What do you mean 'the words'?" Sophie asked
. 

Rochelle frowned for a minute and said, "Well, they take you into the Priestess's house out on the bayou and they chant these words over you to bless you as a Hunter
.  When they do, the tattoo appears on your skin.  It gives you the Hunter powers.  Don't worry, I don't use my powers.  Well, for evil anyways."

"What kind of powers do the Hunters have?"
Sophie figured in for a penny and she knew the more information, the better.

"Hunters have the power to use certain incantations and spirits to immobilize Otherkin, freezing their other self so they can't change into animal form
," Rochelle told her.  "They also are able to heal almost as fast as Otherkin from injuries.  That helps since they are in so many battles with Otherkin."

Sophie thought through all Rochelle had told her and then asked, "Rochelle, do you know what my father's name was?"

Rochelle shook her head sadly.  "No, I'm sorry.  Your mother's name was Julee, Julee Rochelle Girard.  I am named after her."

Sophie's eyes flooded with tears
.  Rochelle had stopped walking and turned to her.  She saw Sophie's tears and her own eyes filled.  The two women embraced, feeling a bond their mothers had started all those many years ago.  They broke apart when they heard a loud braying noise farther back in the woods.

"Oh
Gods, they've let the dogs loose! Run, Sophie!"

Jackson drove like a man possessed
.  His only thought was getting to Sophie.  He glanced over at Cade and saw fierce determination on his face.  He felt the same way and knew they would do whatever it took to get her back.  His Otherkin self was burning for his mate and wanted her with him, safe.  He saw the mile marker they wanted and checked his watch.  They had made in just over fifteen minutes, he was glad they had not run into the local cops.

He saw a pull off just past the mile marker and whipped in, slamming on the brakes
.  He and Cade got out and looked around.  They were surrounded by woods on both sides.  They turned to the east and then Jackson looked at Cade.

"We need to head in
.  Do you want to be the eye in the sky?" Jackson asked. 

Cade nodded, he unloaded his pockets into the car and turned to the woods
.  "I will go up and see what is out there."

"Be careful, we are in their territory
," Jackson warned.

Cade shrugged
.  "I just want to find her, I don't care about these yahoos trying to kill us," he said with a smirk.

Jackson chuckled
.  "Well as long as you aren’t worried, then let's go."

Jackson took off through the woods
.  Because he was Otherkin, he had the ability when in human form to put on preternatural speed.  He zipped through the trees, focusing on listening for Sophie.  He looked up to see Cade in buzzard form circling the trees.  He smiled thinking how appropriate for Cade to choose that form out here in the bayou. 

'Anything?'
Jackson sent him.

'Nothing
.  I don't see anyone out here,'
Cade sent back.

Jackson kept going deeper and then he heard a noise
. 
'What is that? Cade, I hear dogs.'

'Shit
.  She's in trouble.'
Cade flew out of sight. 
'I am going further in.'

Jackson stopped and listened again
.  The sounds were coming from a little to the right of where he was but he couldn't see anything.  He continued at a slower pace, trying to listen for the women.  He sent up a silent prayer for them all to stay safe.

****

Sophie couldn't believe they were running from dogs.  Rochelle had grabbed her hand and they took off through the trees.  Sophie tried to pay attention to where they were going so not trip over anything along the way.  She wasn't used to running through woods, she loved the city.  Small towns even, but not this.

Rochelle turned to her
.  "We may need to go up a tree.  Can you climb?"

"I have never tried, but I'm motivated
," Sophie said wryly.

"Sophie, they are coming fast and the men will not be far behind
.  There's a stream up ahead that might help us.  The water will throw off the dogs scenting us," Rochelle told her as they kept running.  Sophie didn't know how Rochelle could run and talk without getting winded but then she had grown up in the woods.

They came to the stream and Rochelle pulled her into the water
, which only went to their knees.  They traveled in the water upstream for several minutes, then Rochelle pulled them out on the other side. 
Hopefully that would throw the dogs off
, Sophie thought and then she heard a buzzard call out above her head.  Somehow she knew it was one of her men.  She waved her arms above her head to try to get his attention.  She watched as he dipped low in her direction and knew he saw her.  She was so intent on him that she missed the tree limb on the ground.  She tripped over it, falling hard on her side, crying out.

****

'Jackson, she's about a half mile from you,'
Cade told him.

'I'm on my way
.  How close are the dogs?'
Jackson asked.

Cade was circling above and said to him,
'They are closing in.  A mile on the other side.  You have time to get to them, but you may all meet in the middle.  Be ready.'

'Got it.'
Jackson put on the speed again, trying to get to Sophie.  With his hearing, he heard Sophie cry out. 
'Cade, something has happened to Sophie.  I heard her cry out.'

'She fell over a tree limb
.  She fell hard and she is having trouble getting up.  I should land and go to her,'
Cade said.

'No you need to stay in the air where you can tell us what's coming
,'
Jackson assured him.

'The other woman is trying to help her stand
.  She's hurt, Jackson,'
Cade growled.

'Almost there
,'
Jackson sent.

****

Sophie felt something stab her in the side and knew she was hurt.  Rochelle helped her up and gasped as Sophie stood.  Sophie looked down and saw the thick stick literally sticking out of her side.  She looked at Rochelle with wide eyes.

"I don't feel it
.  Why don't I feel that?" Sophie said softly.

"You are going in to shock
.  I don't want to pull it out because it could do more damage," Rochelle said as she looked around.

"What are you looking for?" Sophie asked her.

"I am looking for a place to hide you.  You can’t continue.  I am also looking for a weapon.  I won't leave you defenseless out here," Rochelle answered.

"Oh
God.  My men are close, Rochelle.  That is not really a buzzard up there.  I know it's one of them," Sophie told her pointing to the sky.

Rochelle looked up and then back at Sophie
.  "That's good but the dogs are closer.  I hope the water slows them down.  Come on, we have to find you a place to hide."

Sophie took a few steps and gasped
.  "I can't.  I am having a little trouble breathing."

Rochelle rushed to her side and helped her sit down, leaning against a large tree trunk
.  Suddenly they heard someone coming through the trees opposite where the dogs would come from.  Rochelle grabbed a big stick and turned to face the new threat.  Sophie felt a sob overtake her when she saw the most beautiful sight in her life.  Jackson running through the trees straight for her.

"It's okay Rochelle, it's Jackson."
Sophie felt tears slipping down her cheeks.

Jackson took in the scene quickly and knelt beside her
.  "Baby, what did you do?"

"I fell
," Sophie told him.  "I was looking up at Cade and missed a tree limb."

Jackson was feeling down her legs, looking for a break
.  "I don't think you broke anything and I don't want to remove that stick as we don't know how long it is or how bad it is inside."

Sophie nodded
.  "It doesn't really hurt unless I move."

"They are getting closer
.  We need to move her now," Rochelle said to Jackson.

"Rochelle, Jackson
.  Jackson, this is Rochelle, my cousin," Sophie said and at Jackson's questioning look added, "I will explain later."

'Cade, Sophie is seriously hurt and having trouble breathing
.  How far out are the dogs? I am going to have to carry her out,'
Jackson said as he took off his shirt to wrap around the stick where the blood was flowing.

'Given they went through the stream, may have bought you a little time
.  The dogs should approach the stream any minute now,'
Cade sent back. 
'How bad is Sophie?'

'She has a large stick stuck in her side
.  It's bad, Cade.  She needs medical attention now!'
Jackson answered.

'Shit, start moving
.  If I have to, I will shift and face off with the dogs,'
Cade told him.

"Are you talking to Cade?" Sophie's question startled Jackson.

"Yes, baby, we were making a plan.  I am going to carry you out and Cade will take care of the dogs," Jackson told her as he ran his fingers down the side of her face in a caress. 

Sophie leaned her cheek into his
palm and then kissed it.  "Okay."

"I have to pick you up now
.  Hold on tight," Jackson said as he placed his arms around her back and under her legs.  When he began to lift her, she cried out.  "I'm so sorry, baby, but we have to go now."

As Jackson was looking around, Rochelle said, "This way
.  Come on.  I will stay with you."

"Are you sure that's safe for you?
I don't want to put you in any more danger," Sophie asked in a soft voice.

"It's okay if you have to go back
.  We understand," Jackson told her.

Rochelle shook her head
.  "If I head back, I will run into the men and then they will know I was with her.  I will go with you and then have you drop me further down the road.  There is a path that is a shortcut to my house there."

Jackson nodded
.  "Fine.  Let's go.  Sophie isn't doing well."

Rochelle looked over at Sophie and saw she had passed out
.  They began to hurry through the woods and Jackson was grateful that Sophie had passed out.  He knew he was jarring her wound, but it couldn't be helped.  He wanted to put on his preternatural speed but knew that Sophie would be angry with him for leaving Rochelle behind.  He set a grueling pace, Rochelle didn't seem to have any trouble keeping up, and he was impressed.

Jackson hoped Cade hurried up because he knew
their girl was seriously injured.  Looking down at Sophie, she seemed so pale and he worried that time was running out.

****

They were nearing the car when he heard a ferocious roar behind them.  He didn't even turn around, knowing that it was Cade facing off with the dogs.  With his hearing, he heard a few yelps from the dogs and then nothing.

'You okay?'
Jackson asked.

'Just peachy
.  Dogs are taken care of.  How's our girl?'
Cade sent.

'She passed out, Cade
.  I'm worried.  Get back here now.'
Jackson knew he was projecting his worry, but he couldn't help it.

'On my way
,'
Cade responded.

They broke out of the woods and Rochelle looked around quickly to make sure no one was around
.  "It's all clear," she told Jackson and then opened the back door of the SUV. 

"Can you grab the blanket in the back?" Jackson asked as he settled Sophie on the seat.

Rochelle grabbed the blanket and then went around to the other side of the SUV.  She opened the back door by Sophie's head and handed the blanket to Jackson, helping him get Sophie settled.  Cade came running from the edge of the woods and joined them, getting in the back with Sophie, settling her head in his lap.  Rochelle jumped in the front seat beside Jackson.

"You need to head this way, it will be faster to the hospital
," Rochelle told Jackson as he started the SUV and took off.

They took off at a high speed until they got several miles down the road, then Rochelle indicated for Jackson to pull over
.  "Stop here.  I will head to my house." She held up Cade's cell that had been on the seat when she got in and said, "I put my number in this phone.  Please call me and let me know how she is."

Jackson nodded
.  "Thank you for helping her.  We will be in touch.  We have a lot of questions."

Rochelle nodded, jumped out of the SUV
, and headed into the woods.  Jackson took off again, hurtling down the road.  Cade kept checking Sophie's vitals as they drove, concerned when her heart rate began to slow way down.  As Jackson whipped into the hospital emergency, Cade lost her heart rate all together.

"I can't feel a pulse, Jackson
," Cade told him urgently.

Jackson jumped out at the entrance and yelled for help as he ran inside
.  He came back out almost immediately with several people with a gurney.  Jackson opened the door where Cade was sitting and Cade eased out to lift Sophie onto the gurney.  She was so still and pale, they both looked at each other with anguish in their eyes.  They couldn't lose her now that they had found her. 

The gurney was whisked away and when they went to follow, a nurse indicated they should wait in the waiting room
.  A few minutes later, another nurse brought them some forms to fill out for Sophie.  Cade filled them out while Jackson took to pacing the floor of the waiting room.  It was hours before they heard anything, when the doctor came out to talk to them.

"Gentlemen, I understand you are here with Sophie
Thompson?" the doctor said.

"Yes, we are
," Jackson answered.

"I am Dr
. Clemmons, head of surgery here at Northwest General.  Ms. Thompson has made it through surgery, however we are concerned about infection.  The stick also punctured one of her kidneys and we are keeping a close eye on it.  It might have to be removed," the doctor informed them.