Wolf's Soul (26 page)

Callum tidied up a bit before he went outside. How long was he going to be gone?

She looked for her hair tie. Damn thing disappeared again. She should really get a short haircut. Although Callum liked it when she sat astride him leaning forward 274

and her hair served as a curtain imprisoning their faces while she rode him hard.

Okay, she would think about cutting her hair.

Marisol put on her Levi"s 505 jeans and white wrinkled shirt she stuffed in her backpack. She was searching for her Chapstick when her stomach rumbled.

Should she go up and eat at the Turtle Bluff. She already knew the password to the door and could come back anytime. Unless Endy changed the password already.

Carrying the sword on her back, she left the apartment.

Outside the front door, her nostrils picked up the acrid scent of cigarette smoke. Victor and his two burly long haired friends, Bruce and Watt, sat on a low concrete fence. They were puffing away their cigarettes. She didn"t know Victor smoked.

“Hey guys. Have you seen Callum?”

Watt and Bruce ground their cigarettes on the fence. Both sniffed as if smelling something odorous. And the way their nostrils flared, she would think the men smelled something bad. Marisol had the urge to sniff her armpits. The men acted as if her very presence stunk. Victor took one more puff of his cigarette then he, too, ground out what was left of his cigarette on the wall. He pitched the stub in the nearby can surprising Marisol when it landed inside.

Something was bothering these three. She could feel it. In a short time that she"d known this clan, she learned that they could change their moods in a hurry.

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Well, she would be too if she had to fight Cancers and other Shape-shifters. What surprised her most was their dedication to keep the humans safe although some of them hated the job. Like some American soldiers fighting for Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I didn"t mean to interrupt.” Marisol said apologetically. She smiled at the men. They stared back.

“You didn"t.” Victor angled his head trying to look at her sword. “Where are you going?”

“I thought about visiting Doctor Yousney and then walk here and there.

Then my stomach chose the perfect timing to growl, so now I am going to eat at the Turtle Bluff. Besides I"m not sure if there are stores open at this time of night.”

“That"s why you"re carrying your sword.”

“Yeah. I thought I should take it with me if I have to leave the den. Do I need the password to leave here?”

“No. Only coming in. Why go up? You can order anything from the restaurant. Delivery is free. I"m hungry, too. How about I order the food and we"ll eat at the park. It"s well lit.”

“Sounds great. We should tell Callum. He doesn"t have a cell so I can"t call him. Do you know where he is? When I woke up he wasn"t in the apartment.” She tucked the lose tendrils behind her ears. “Damn hair. If I keep losing my hair ties maybe I should cut my hair short.”

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“I think you should keep it long. Women should have long hair. Nothing beats a woman with hair like yours while carrying a sword. Super sexy and—”

Victor elbowed Watt. “Well, I don"t think he can eat with us. He"s busy right now. Doing something important.”

“Like practicing?”

“Not this time. He and his brothers and a few soldiers are running tonight to fight for—”

“Watt!”

Bruce pretended to move but Marisol saw him elbow Watt"s side again.

Watt"s brow rose and his mouth formed in a perfect O the way one would when he finally realized something.

They’re hiding something from me.
“Why would Callum run tonight? He"s fighting for what, guys?”

“A woman.”

“Principle.”

“Love.”

The three men said simultaneously.

“What?”

“Forget it Marisol. Let"s get something to eat. We"ll order Mongolian Beef to go for Callum.”

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Marisol used her thumb to roll the ring on her middle finger. What did they mean by fighting for a woman, principle, and love? “Are you talking about...”

Callum told her despite what Viola did to him that he would still continue to protect his ex-fiancée from harsh criticism or anything. Viola often go up to patrol. Maybe something happened to her so Callum left her bedside to lend aid to his old flame. Damn it. He spent the majority of his days sparring with his brothers including Viola. Now it seemed he was gone to fight for her. Marisol shook her head. Here she was thinking about asking Callum if he loved her when his heart was set on protecting another woman. How long was he going to be Viola"s knight in shining armor? And should she continue believing that she meant more to Callum than a midnight snack? The thought made her feel sick. She wrapped her arms around her midriff and stared on the ground.

“Marisol? You were saying?”

“I"m just saying, I know all about Callum"s and sworn offer to fight and protect his,” she waved her hand in the air toward no one in particular. “Someone.”

“You know about his offer?” Victor frowned.

“Yeah. Callum was quite honest and open about it.”

“See? Damn it, Bruce. You elbowed me for nothing.”

Bruce just grinned then pretended to box Watt. “You probably misheard Callum, Victor.”

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“No. I know what he said.”

“Keep Marisol here and never let her out of your sight. Make sure she stays here and the sword.” Watt said running his fingers through his shoulder length hair.

So that’s it then. It’s always about the freaking sword.
The urge to stomp her feet was so strong, Marisol had to chew on her lower lip from doing it. “Well, I"m going up. Callum probably doesn"t care if I get eaten up there anyway.”

Within a heartbeat, the men changed their demeanor, their faces masked with anger. They flashed her a menacing look she hadn"t seen from them since she arrived here. Marisol swallowed.

“I saw you spar with Viola, Marisol. You"re good. In fact, more than good.

But you know so little about us, our clan, our enemies to say that Callum doesn"t care about you. Yes, we are skilled warriors, if you want to call us that, but to win a fight is not as easy as pissing. There are emotions and lives involved. We don"t casually walk into the middle of a fight and come back smiling ready to have dinner.”

Taken aback, Marisol didn"t know what to say to Victor"s sudden burst of anger. Victor"s words stung. The simple reminder of how different she was from these men, from Callum, hurt. Why? Because deep inside she wanted to belong here. To become a part of this world. Callum"s world.

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“Dilluted maybe, but Youven"s blood still runs in my veins. I am not afraid to face anyone. Your enemy or mine. Yes, I am a woman. Weak to some people"s eyes.

Born to wash the dishes and sweep the floor. However, I am not like any other woman. Push me and I"ll push you back. Love me and I"ll give my whole heart to you. But make a mistake of hurting those whom I love and I"ll take you to the devil myself. Yes, I know little about your clan and I am not a Shape-shifter. But my mind is open to anything. I am willing to learn. If I sounded callous, I apologize.

It"s just, it"s the woman…thing that had me, well, Sorry.”

“Well, Callum should have taken her with him. She"d probably kill Atos in a heartbeat. Then they could all come back in time for dinner.” Watt directed his words to Victor and Bruce as if she wasn"t even there.

“Her sword would definitely help send the bastard to where he belongs.

Hell.”

Callum is fighting Atos.
“Watt, did you just say Callum is fighting Atos right now?”

“Yeah.”

“That"s why I"m this angry, Marisol. I"m the one who should apologize.

Forgive me. It"s not easy standing here knowing one of my brother"s could die and I"m not there to help. Callum"s last remaining life is on the line right now and I am here instead of fighting beside him.”

280

Oh my god!

“You know I"d be with your brother right now if we were not assigned to do police work down here, Victor.”

“I know, Watt.”

“I don"t get the others. They stayed because Callum"s fight is personal they say. Dammit. If Callum kills Atos, the whole clan would benefit from it. And you know what the others are saying? Callum has gone mad because of love.”

Love? Love for her?
“Excuse me, but am I to understand that Callum is still in love with Viola that"s why he challenged Atos?”

“Viola?” The men asked in unison.

“Am I wrong?”

“Marisol, Callum challenged Atos because of you. He loved you enough to—

Fuck!”

Watt snorted. Bruce choked on his own spit. And Marisol, well, shock was an understatement to describe how she felt at the moment. Callum loved her and he left to fight Atos without telling her.

“I"m sorry, I didn"t mean that my brother loved you because he wanted to…you know.”

“I know, but the part why he challenged Atos, you need to explain.”

“Didn"t you say Callum already told you everything?”

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“About how he remained as Viola"s protector. I thought that"s what you were talking about. Callum is fighting Atos because of me. Why?”

“Shit.”

“Uh-oh.” Bruce took a step back. “You didn"t know Callum made a deal with Atos?”

Marisol shook her head. “Start talking, Victor. Or you can tell me, Bruce. Or you Watt. What the hell is going on?”

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Even the crickets were silent tonight. Was it possible they could feel the impending doom? That in a few minutes blood of Shape-shifters from two different clans would spill in this place? A soft breeze blew disturbing the flowers resting on the graves. Callum could smell the bastards. They were somewhere around. Most likely hiding behind the centuries-old Cedar trees, he thought. The muscles in Callum"s jaws tightened. They twitched as he clenched his teeth. The cowards were watching them.

“They"re here.” Zambro broke the silence. “Fucking pigs will make us wait.

Waiting is not good for the nerves and that"s what they"re doing. Wracking our nerves.”

“Why? We"re used to waiting. It"s part of our job. To wait in the dark until one of them stupid Blood Robbers show up.”

“We know that, Ty. They don"t. Because like you said they are stupid.”

Callum clenched his fingers. The familiar feel of his ring was absent. And it made him smile. Marisol would keep it. He hoped she understood his meaning when he gave it to her.

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The sky was pitched black with nary a sight of a single star. Darkness, death, hung heavily in the stale air. Somewhere a howl hooted.

“Brothers, we have a long night ahead of us.” Callum braced his legs apart, his hands touching the guns strapped on his thighs. “I wish for a chance to repay you all. If that chance never happens, know that I am one lucky son of a bitch to have brothers like you.”

“Uhm, Callum. Do you have to go sappy on us right now? Atos is coming.”

Sure enough, the Blood Robbers dressed in black began to emerge from the dark corner of the cemetery where the mausoleum stood. His entourage fanned out like a bird spreading its wings. Callum recognized Atos right away. Who would miss his trademark? Black trench coat, black hair, and metal arm protector. The woman on Atos" left hand side caught the attention of the Midnight Howl. What the heck was she doing here? To beguile? To create turmoil among the Midnight Howl soldiers? A freaking distraction. Callum took a quick look at the soldiers.

Yup, just look at them. Acting like they"d never seen a stunning woman in flowing black hair before. Damn dogs.

Atos and the rest towered in their over six feet height. Some even reached seven. Callum heard they like to hang out at Emo Nightclubs where emotionally depressed, socially shunned, addicted to My Chemical Romance teenagers, liked to waste their nights and days away. Most likely they supplied Meth and Ecstasy, 284

too. The muscles in Callum"s jaws tightened even more. He wouldn"t be surprised if his teeth turned into dust from the grinding he was doing. Atos and his worthless cronies never failed to put him in ugly frame of mind.

“No, wrong time to be sappy right now, Ty. Although, it"s a perfect time to kill, destroy and fuck the brains and heart out of these dirty bastards.”

“That"s why I"m here.”

Callum smiled at his younger brother. “I"ll give you my case of 1992

Screaming Eagle if you kill more beasts than I do.”

“You"re on, brother.”

Zambro stood on his other side. His eyes narrowed as he directed them toward the Blood Robbers slowly getting closer to where they stood. “Make sure you keep your head attached and we"ll all share a bottle.”

“I say, take care of your fifth life if you don"t want the beautiful woman waiting in your apartment to wait in vain.” Rodolf smacked his hand on his shoulder.

Callum nodded at Rodolf without turning around. Marisol was probably looking for him now. He hoped to god that Victor was cunning enough to keep his baby in the den.

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Shuffling footsteps muffled by the soft ground came from behind them.

Power sizzled in the air. Callum straightened his spine, his hand moved to grip the handle of his sword.

“Take it easy, brother. Seattle"s Best is here.”

Callum looked at Zambro. His brother just grinned. “Salazar"s here?”

“We need all the help that we can get, bro, but this doesn"t mean you"re off the hook.”

“Callum, we meet again. Your bitch helped you live, huh? Oh look. You brought your brothers with you. I see the punks from Seattle decided to join in, too. Nice. The more the merrier.”