The Wolfs Maine (13 page)

"Ava sweetheart, I will look forward to killing you just as I killed your parents."  That was it. It seemed impossible to feel as much anger and hatred as I did at that moment. I came unglued and jumped right towards him, teeth bar
ring, and growling with anger.

Lena and Andrew were right behind me but Nicholas was out of the way before any of our feet hit the floor.  It looked as if he was going straight for Jaci so I jumped over there as fast as I could and knocked her out of the way.  She looked stone cold and why wouldn't she be?  She was probably terrified seeing her two best friends transform into wolves and a crazy vampire ready to kill us all.  Jaci ran out the front door as soon as she could get near it and left us three to take care of Nicholas. 

The taking care of Nicholas part was not as easy as one would think.  Vampires were very fast.  The minute you thought you had him he would disappear and then he would appear in another part of the room.  How did anyone kill these things?  Where in the hell was John?  While Nicholas was coming up on Lena, Andrew jumped him from behind. He only had him for about a minute before Nicholas was gone again.  Finally I heard John, Michael, and Victor come back. 

"What in the hell is going on?" I growled at John hoping he would understand and obviously it worked because they noticed Nicholas from across the room come flying at them.  All three phased and jumped right at Nicholas.  I was hoping with three of them plus us if needed we could get Nicholas down. 

Victor turned into a solid black wolf with bright yellow eyes.  It was like looking at two suns in the middle of the night.  I knew he was on our side but he still scared me.  John, Michael, and Victor had Nicholas cornered and just when I thought they were going to rip him to pieces he disappeared. Then I heard the scariest sound I have ever heard.  Jaci was screaming and obviously running because the sound of her screaming became quieter and quieter. 

All five of us took off as fast as we could.  I still felt weird in this body like I haven't actually gotten used to it yet and why would I?  I had only changed once and I don't even remember that because it was in the middle of the change.  However, instincts took over and right now my instincts were telling me to get to Jaci before Nicholas did. I ran as fast as my new legs would take me.  John and the rest were way ahead probably because they were used to this body.  By the time I caught up
, Nicholas had Jaci in front of him with his hand around her throat.  None of us knew what to do at that point.  Do we jump Nicholas with Jaci or do we let him go and hope he leaves Jaci behind? 

"All of you back off or I won't even try to kill this little girl here.  I will just turn her instead while all of you watch."  Turn her?  What was he talking about turning her?  I watched as John and Lena took a giant step forward. 

"I won't hesitate to do it. Ask Avalon. She knows me so well.  She knows what an ass I am." He smirked. I looked over at John and I could literally see the wheels turning in his head.  He knows how much Jaci means to me so I know he is sitting there trying to figure out how to get her back safe and unharmed. I could not see a good ending coming out of this.  Slowly the wolves started backing off.  John and Michael looked at each other and took off towards the house. 

"I believe your friends have started to come to their senses Ava dear."  I growled. 

I could not stand him calling me that and the sight of him holding Jaci like an animal was killing me.  My blood was officially boiling.  Sometimes being in this form did not help considering we couldn’t talk.  What were John and Michael doing?  Lena, Andrew, Victor, and I all stood there not willing to take our eyes off of Nicholas and Jaci to save our lives.  I could hear footsteps in the woods coming this way.  What were we going to do if it were hikers?  Lucky for us it was John and Michael but in human form. 

"All right Nicholas. Let Jaci go and you can go where ever it is your wanting to go and we will not interfere, for now."  John stood there unwavering, strong, and confident, everything I knew he was and even now he takes my breath away.  Nicholas laughs.

"For now? If you let me go you will never be able to find me."  John takes a step forward and I know he can feel my eyes burning a hole through him. 

"That is where you’re wrong.  Even if we cannot find you, you will come back for Ava.  You want her gone and you will make sure you do it. You won't be able to leave and never return.  Your pride won't allow it."  Nicholas took a step back knowing John had him figured out. 

"What makes you so sure she won't leave you as well?  I’ve watched her since the day she was born.  I’ve wanted revenge on her family for so long and she was the perfect way to get it.  So your right, I won't stop until I have finished what I started.  She is the only one left."  I couldn't help the snarl that escaped from within me.  I wanted nothing more than to pounce and kill him. I knew that would put Jaci's life in even more danger than she was already in. John then looked over at me and smiled. 

"Ava love, why don't you, Lena, Andrew and Victor go back to the house, phase, then come back here.  I'm sure we will have all of this straightened out as soon as you get back."  I wasn't buying it.  He walked over to me and put his arm around me and urged me to go back.  I was worried.  I didn't want to leave Jaci or him for that matter.  Nicholas was right; I knew what he was capable of.  However, I liked the idea of phasing back and being able to talk again so I started back towards the house, Lena and the others followed.   I turned and looked at
Jaci one more time.  She looked at me like she was trying to tell me she would be okay however I wasn't buying it.  I took off in a dead run with the others behind me.  I had to get to the house, phase, and get back to her. 

We got to the house relatively quick, phased, put clothes on and headed back out.  I was terrified of what I might stumble on to.  I would not be able to live with myself if any of them got hurt and Nicholas seemed powerful enough to hurt them all.  We ran back as fast as we could on two legs.  It felt so much better to be back on two feet, four is definitely going to take some getting used to. 

By the time we returned I could hardly believe my eyes.  Nicholas, John, and Michael were all screaming at each other.  Every step John and Michael took forward Nicholas he would take three or four away from them.  It was making it difficult to catch up but we could still hear them faintly yelling at each other. 

"Let her go Nicholas!" 

"NO! Not until you all head back towards your precious little house!" 

"How are we sure you’re going to let her go once we turn around and head back?"  I could hear Nicholas laugh. 

"You just have to trust me."  Nicholas wasn't going to let her go.  He was going to kill her; there was no question about it in my mind. 

Just then, Jaci stomped on his foot causing him to release the hold he had on her neck and she took off runnin
g the only problem was she didn't take off towards us, she took off in the opposite direction.  Nicholas was pissed now and took off after her and then we all took off after him. Being that we were all human and therefore not as fast as him.  We got close enough to see Jaci on the ground and Nicholas bent over her.

"Get away from her!"  I was fully prepared to kill the man myself.  When he stood up he had blood dripping down his chin and the worst most evil smile I
had ever seen in my life. I could hear him but he didn't speak the words out loud it was like he was talking in my head. 

"That is for you my dear. I will see you soon."  With those words he was gone.  It was like he disappeared in thin air.  All I could think about was getting to Jaci.  She was lying on the ground, thrashing, and screaming in pain.  There was a huge bite mark in her neck where Nicholas obviously bit her and blood was everywhere.  I knelled down next to her and pressed my hands at her neck. 

"It's going to be okay Jaci.  We will take care of you."  John put his hand on my shoulder. 

"She's changing sweetie." 

"What do you mean changing? Changing into what?" 

"She’s changing in
to a Vampire."  Oh my God this cannot be happening!  My best friend is turning into a vampire?  What would this mean for all of us? 

"What does that mean John? What do we do? Can we stop it?"  John knelt down beside me and wrapped one arm around my waist and pressed his head to mine.

"We cannot stop it.  All we can do is take care of her until the change is over which usually takes about forty eight hours.  I'm going to warn you now that some people do not survive this.  The chances of her making it through are okay but they will be greater once we get her somewhere safe. She is going to be in a lot of pain and in and out of consciousness."  I could feel the tears falling down my cheeks.  I never wanted anything like this to happen to her.  What was I going to do if I lost her?  No, I can't think like that.  I will take care of her until the change is complete and have them explain everything to me in order to help her once she is changed.  I have to.

"Okay.  Then let’s get her back to the house."   John scooped Jaci up like she weighed nothing and carried her back to the house.  Once back he laid her down in the guest room, tied her down, and came back downstairs.  He knew I wouldn't be able to handle that and he was right. 

So we all gathered in the living room wore out, confused, and anxious. 

"Alright so we have Nicholas running around only God knows where, I mean he could be right outside our front door for all we know and we have a woman changing into a vampire upstairs."  As if on cue Jaci let out a horrible scream.  I got up to go up there to be with her when John grabbed my hand. 

"She will be fine for the next twenty minutes sweetheart.  We need to figure out what we are going to do."  I sat back down and listened to him.  He was right; she would be fine for twenty minutes.  "So anyway like I was saying I think we should stay here and help Jaci through the change and then go somewhere else that Nicholas doesn't know about.  The girls could help Jaci get used to the change, hell Ava is still getting used to it as well and we can go find Nicholas."  Michael was already nodding in agreement.

"That seems to be the smartest idea right now.  The girls could be somewhere safe and we could be hunting down Nicholas.  We need to go somewhere pretty far from here but somewhere not very conspicuous. He would surely find us in a widely popular place like New York or L.A.  He knows too many people." 

"Your right, Michael.  However, I feel like going too far away will not help us at this point.  I have a beautiful house up in Millinocket, Maine.  We could hide out there. Nicholas will not be looking there I am sure." 

“Millinocket?”   Everyone shouted at once it almost hurt my ears.  John smirked at the response. 

"Yes, Millinocket. It is a former mill town in northern Maine. It only has around five thousand residents.  It’s perfect for hiding.  Now if this is too much and you want no more part in it please just let me know and you can leave." 

Lena finally broke her silence.  "He turned my best friend into a vampire and is trying to kill my other one.  I'm going." 

"If Lena is going so am I."  It seems Andrew is growing quite fond of my friend Lena.  We were waiting on Victor at this point since we all knew where ever John goes then Michael would be going too.

"I will join you as well.  Why not?  I've got nothing keeping me here."   It looked like everything was settled.  John stood up and started shaking hands with the boys. 

"You all go get what you need and we will take care of things here."  Lena stood up and started walking towards the stairs. 

"I'm going to go check on Jaci.  I have everything I need and whatever else I may need or want I will get when we get there.  Avalon, you and John spend these few minutes together before we head out and I'll sit with Jaci."  Lena walked up the stairs and the boys had already left.  It was only John and I. 

"So tell me John." 

"That I love you?"  He was so quick with the response. 

"Seems like it's been days since I have said that last."  John pulled my body closer to his and I could feel the heat coming off of him and I gave into it.  I laid my head down on his shoulder and breathed in his cologne.  He always smelled so amazing.

"So John.  Tell me what the plans are."  

"I do not want to talk about that right now.  We have plenty of time to talk about that love.  Righ
t now just let me hold you." 

I let John hold me for a few minutes and I felt content like this is where I belong.  I had never felt this in my entire life.  I never felt like I belonged anywhere.  Sure my aunt was wonderful but I always felt different like she and I never really connected.  I always thought it was because I wasn't really her daughter.  She loved me and took care of me but I am sure there was always that thought in the back of her head that missed the way it was before she had to take care of me.  She used to go out on the town, date all the time, and party it up, that’s what I was told. Then my parents died and she had to take care of me.  What a burden.  Although she never acted like it was a burden.  I will miss her so much. 

"John, was my aunt a shape shifter as well?" 

"No sweetheart she wasn't.  She knew your parents were but did not want much to do with it.  She loved your parents but was happier in the dark."