Dark of kNight (31 page)

“Nathaniel, someone knows you are linked to Casey. That someone is a werewolf. Think. Why would someone go after all of us?” I tried to find a reason while my mind ran through several scenarios.

“It’s late. Since they are expecting us to show up, I wouldn’t want to disappoint the creatures. We will go and lure them here to the meadow.” Richard spoke up. His deep sexy voice tingled in my ears.

“What about Casey?” Jason tossed in.

“She’s how we will lure them here. We’re much faster than werewolves. Nathaniel will go in first and take her away from them. He can carry her back here luring them directly to you. Then once in the meadow we can all take them down.” Richard’s plan sounded precise and clear.

“Sounds good to me.” Jason agreed.

“Okay, Casey’s parents will be in my house. Take her directly there. They will be expecting her. You’re going to be a surprise for them, so please don’t be offended.” I pleaded to Nathaniel. “Follow the path back to the house. The patio door is open. If she is hurt her Dad will call Dr. Miller.”

“We’ll try and keep them from following you to the house.” Jason nodded to Heather.

“I guess that leaves you and me to confront the head on attack then?” Daniel looked to me.

“Don’t worry; we’ll do our share of the fighting. Hopefully we can take out a couple of them before they end up here.” Richard spoke directly to me.

“Well, let’s get to it.” I felt we needed to start somewhere.

“See you in a few minutes.” Nathaniel turned and they all disappeared through the woods.

I turned toward Daniel, taking note of his concerned expression.

“I don’t like that Richard.” He huffed.

“Because he has a thing for me?” I teased.

“I better be the only one that has a
thing
for you!” He growled. “Besides can a vampire actually have an erect… ”

“Daniel!” I shot at him in surprise.

“Well, I was just wondering.” He shot back.

“Rumor has it, they are huge.” She laughed and darted off changing into her wolf image.

Jason roared loudly with laughter as he followed her changing into his wolf image. There was no way I could contain my laugh when I looked into Daniel’s astonished face. I unzipped his robe and slid it off his shoulders. The shock remained on his face. Smiling I slipped out of my robe.

I turned my head slightly to the side. “Darling, you have nothing to worry about.” I purred and then burst forth into my wolf image. I padded down the field with Daniel not far behind me. We moved into the woods where we had previously searced for the firewood. I sat down on my haunches and waited for Daniel to come to my side. We waited.

My ears flicked a couple of times when I heard Jason and Heather on the opposite side of us across the meadow. A couple of short barks let us know they were in place and ready.

Daniel’s body stiffened. His breathing stopped while his ears perked forward intently listening to the vampires. He snorted. The vampires had made a confrontation with the werewolves. I listened carefully. Daniel’s hearing was far better than mine. I raised my head and sniffed the air. I couldn't smell the werewolves. The only scent I could pick up was the one of the vampires. He snorted again. A low growl rumbled in his throat as he dropped his head. A warning someone was coming and fast. I raised my head again and sniffed the air. Vampire.

Standing to my feet, I peered through the woods. A flash of something glowed against the moonlight moved quickly into the meadow. It was Nathaniel and he was headed toward the house with Casey in his arms. Daniel’s head lowered while he let out another low growl. Turning my head, I saw Jason and Heather move out blocking the path behind Nathaniel when he flew past them. Daniel jerked his head up and nudged me with his shoulder. I could smell it. The werewolves were on their way. Three of them fast approaching.

Daniel and I moved cautiously. They would aim for Jason and Heather. The sickening stench grew heavier as the three werewolves came fast through the woods to the open meadow. The horrible creature was exactly as I remembered in my dream. The hair bristled on my neck when they slowed down. Apparently, they caught our scent. One of them turned toward where Daniel and I stood. The other one quickly approached Jason and Heather. The third creature lingered in the center as if expecting an attack.

Daniel and I bolted from the woods with lightning speed. I heard his thoughts clearly while fixed my eyes on my prey’s ankle. Daniel made a pass by the huge horrid creature and snapped off its right hand. Before the creature had time to react, I’d already taken off its left foot. The taste in my mouth was utterly the worse taste I’d ever experienced.

They taste as bad as they smell. Quickly turning we flanked the single creature.

This one was not as surprised by us. Cautiously Daniel and I moved around, circling it. I kept a close eye on the damaged one. It managed to balance itself on the remaining limbs. A loud roar came from the damaged one, it wasn’t exactly happy we dismembered it. Watching the one in front of us, I lowered my head, giving Daniel the signal of my attempt to attack. My prey’s attention locked on me when I bolted into a charge. I flew into the air. Before I had a chance to make contact with my prey, a hard thump hit my ribs and I fell to the ground. The air had been knocked out of my lungs. I yelped in pain when I felt the sharp claws of the damaged one rip into my side. Turning my head to the side, I snapped ferociously at this creature. He was on top of me, his mouth snapping its huge teeth backed by the powerful jaws toward my neck. I knew I had to get to Daniel; he had already made another pass at the one creature, distracting its attention away from me. He wasn’t thinking clearly, as his concern was on me. My hind feet pushed the damaged creature off me. I stood quickly. My sides stung and burned from the torn flesh. The smell of my own blood filled my nostrils as it poured freely from the open wound.

In the distance, other werewolf roared while either Jason or Heather yelped in pain. The battle had to be going better for them than it was for us.

Keeping my eyes fixed on the damaged creature we both limped in a circle facing off one another. Both damaged. At least I still had all of my members. I planned to take another part of him off before he had the chance to kill me. Daniel yelped in pain from behind me. He growled angrily while I heard his teeth snapping. I couldn't help from turning my head. Daniel was on his back and blood poured from an opened wound in his shoulder. My heart raced. He needed my help. My mistake, I took my eyes off my prey. I moved too slowly, I felt the pain of teeth in my shoulder. I yelped out in pain.

A flash of white flew by my face and then I felt the flesh tear from my shoulder. The weight of the creature was gone. I was determined to move. I needed to get to Daniel. I turned quickly to see Richard locked into a battle with my attacker. My attention turned back to Daniel. Ignoring the pain in my sides, I launched forward with all the strength I had left. I landed onto the back of the wiry haired werewolf that had Daniel pinned down. Locking my teeth into the fleshly part of its neck, I closed my teeth down. The soft flesh felt much like I was biting into a too ripe peach. I wished it tasted the same. I jerked my head back while its head rose in the air. The ripping noise was evident when I pulled part of the creature’s neck from its body. Daniel reached under the neck and clasped his teeth around the tendons. The bones crunched loudly between Daniel’s strong jaws. The stinky creature fell sideways. I sniffed the creature to make sure it was dead. It was definitely dead.

Glancing around, I saw Heather and Jason finish off their kill. Richard had torn the head from my attacker. Pretty handy and useful, these vampires. I limped over to Daniel.

He appeared to be all right except for the nasty gash in his shoulder. My body stiffened and I growled when I saw two more figures coming through the woods.

“Don’t worry, it’s Raphael and Lance. They are bringing the bodies back here.” Richard announced. I watched while the vampires dragged three bodies to the wood pile.

Daniel burst forth in his human form. He went forward onto the ground. The wound on his back had already begun to heal. Jason and Heather changed and brought our robes down to us. I exhaled slowly and closed my eyes. My body lunged forward and I fell to the ground. I heard someone behind me gasp. For a moment I couldn't move.

A cold hand clasped onto my shoulder. Daniel’s head rose quickly. I saw the excitement on his face when he jumped to his feet. “Get away from her!” He roared. I couldn't understand what was wrong. Daniel rushed to me. Heather and Jason suddenly moved between Richard and Daniel. Standing, I turned to look at Richard. His eyes were wide and his teeth glared in the moon light. His brother ran to him and pulled him back.

Richard glared down upon me. His expression changed when his eyes roved over my naked body. Heather moved to my side and quickly robed me. Now I understood what Daniel meant. Richard had saved my life. I owed him that much.

“I’m sorry.” He said quickly. “Please… please forgive me. I have never smelled blood like yours. It took me by surprise. I honestly didn't intend to harm you.” He pleaded.

“Just keep your distance from her.” Daniel roared loudly. I touched Daniel on the arm to let him know there was no need for his rush of anger.

“It’s all right. I can understand. There is no harm done.” I tried to sound grateful without any fear. “Thank you for saving my life.” As soon as I said the words, I felt the dread in Daniel’s heart. He wasn’t happy this vampire saved my life. He was absolutely repulsed by it.

“Your wounds? They are very bad.” Richard pointed a pale finger toward me.

“They are fine. Most of them have already healed. Lycans heal quickly.” I forced out a reassuring smile.

I turned around to find the werewolf that Daniel and I killed. It was the blond boy I saw in the grocery store.

Looking past Richard, Lance and Raphael had piled the three bodies on top of the wood. Daniel and I walked over to them. These were the other three I’d seen in the grocery store parking lot. I moved toward the one Richard had killed. My breath caught in my throat as I stared in disbelief.

Daniel walked past me and stood. He looked at me in the same disbelief. Lying at our feet was a person that we both knew well. I couldn't believe that my assailant was none other than Dr. Frank Miller. The longtime friend and partner with my father.

“Dr. Miller?” I looked at Daniel.

He shook his head. “He was a Lycan. I don’t understand.” Daniel turned toward Richard. “Any ideas as to why this all came about?”

Richard shook his head. “Not sure. When we reached the barn, Casey was restrained. They were all waiting for you guys to show up. I think we gave them a surprise they hadn’t banked on. We took out three of them while they were changing. During the confusion of our attack, Nathaniel grabbed Casey and headed this way. The other three changed quickly and shot out after Nathaniel. I don’t know any of these men.” Richard motioned toward the bodies with his head.

“Casey?” Daniel turned toward the house.

“You go ahead. We’ll take care of the bodies.” Jason looked to Daniel.

Daniel and I moved fast back toward the house. Even though our injuries healed quickly, the pain lingered in my sides when we moved. We ran through the back yard and onto the patio. It was so much easier running as a Lycan.

Daniel and I approached the living room, we found Casey lying on the sofa. Thomas stood over her while Nathaniel knelt on the floor holding her hand and rubbing her head.

I looked around for Charlotte. She was nowhere to be found. Daniel quickly ran to his sister.

“I had to take Charlotte home and sedate her. She is sleeping quietly.” Thomas stated toward me. I nodded my head and understood why when I looked at Casey.

Bruised and battered from an apparent beating, Casey looked horrible. She burned with fever. Fear ran through Daniel when he turned toward Thomas. He quickly looked over Casey’s bloody body. When he picked up her arm, I felt the fury in his heart. His hand went to her neck and gently pushed her head to the side. His eyes widened.

“She has been bitten by a werewolf.” He announced.

My heart drummed loudly. Nathaniel released a loud gasp. Thomas nervously paced the floor.

“I have tried to call Frank and cannot get him on the cell phone.” Thomas spoke in a weak voice.

“Don’t bother Dad, he was one of them.” Daniel replied sourly.

“What?” Thomas breathed in disbelief.

“What do we do now?” The tone in Nathaniel’s voice clearly showed his fear.

Daniel remained quiet a moment as he began thinking. “I need Jason.” He said.

“I’ll go get him.” I turned and moved toward the door.

“I’ll go. I can get there faster than you.” Nathaniel shot past me.

Touching Daniel on the shoulder, I looked glanced down at Casey. She was badly beaten. Her face and body was covered with bruises. She came in and out consciousness due to the pain and high fever. The apparent agony she endured troubled to all of us. Within a couple of minutes Nathaniel returned and sat Jason down on his feet.

Jason moved quickly toward Casey. Examining her carefully he noticed the bite as well. “She needs an anti-virus.” He turned to Daniel.

“We’ve never tried this on a Lycan before. It’s only for human use. The DNA is different.” Daniel responded tensely.

“Daniel, the only other option is to make a serum for her and I don’t think we have time. She has been bitten today. We have only three days before it is too late. If we decide to do this we need to draw blood and process it.” Jason returned.

“It’s a better option than gambling.” Daniel reminded his friend.

“Okay, we need equipment. Our computer systems are in Scotland. It would take at least one day to get the blood there, one day to process it and one day to make the serum.

Not to mention another day to get it here. Where does that leave us now?”

“Wait a minute.” I began. “Daniel, you said that the Lycan saliva contains an antidote for humans. What about our own kind? Listen; in our Lycan form when we are bitten by a werewolf it does not affect us right? Our bodies burn the venom out of our system. If we are in our human form and are bitten, well it takes over our human side. Right?”