River Cast: Part Two in the Tale of Lunarmorte (3 page)

Caia knew
this; she had felt the respect he garnered from other Midnights and
the reasons why. His decision to stop attacks against the Daylight
Coven confused Caia, not only because she couldn’t feel the reason
from
him -
only
what he told the others - but because lately her connection to the
Midnights was raising some questions. She was feeling emotions from
some of them that suggested the war as it stood was not exactly
what she thought it was… or had been led to think it
was.

She snapped out of her own
musings to find Marion frowning at her. “Caia, it doesn’t mean
anything significant. Nikolai is obviously just rallying the troops
until he feels the Coven is secure enough to return to their tried
and tested style of warfare.” She curled her lip distastefully.
“Neanderthals that they are.”

Lucien
smirked and turned to Caia. He seemed to read her confusion and
smiled reassuringly. “Marion’s right. The Dark Coven is just a
little shook up right now. They’re taking precautions, but it
doesn’t
mean
anything.”

If that was true, then why
didn’t she feel so sure?

Caia nodded, reluctantly,
because what she was about to impart, was just going to further
their belief that Midnights were not to be trusted to play ‘the
game’ with a cool head. She took a deep breath. “Well, despite
Nikolai’s orders he has a rebel in his midst. A guy called Pierre
du Bois?”

A wrinkle of concentration
appeared between Marion’s eyebrows. “Du Bois? Du Bois? I know that
name, but it’s not one belonging to the old families. What is he up
to?”

“
This warlock
has gone behind Nikolai’s back and raised a small group of
dissenters against Nikolai’s decision. It seems he has a problem
with one of the city packs from
here
. The MacLachlans?”

Lucien grunted in
surprise. “The MacLachlans live... what… 300 miles north of here
but... they’re not a huge pack.” His eyes swung to Marion. “What
are the Midnights doing going after a relatively small
pack?”

“
The
MacLachlans are an old Scottish pack,” Saffron spoke up, moving
gracefully closer to them all. “They sprung up around the end of
the 13
^th
century in Renfrewshire, Scotland, and have gifted the
Daylight Coven with great Rogue Hunters throughout the centuries.
I’ve worked with...” She shrugged elegantly and perched down beside
Marion, studying her mistress as if she would find the answer in
her face. “Hmm... what?... eight, nine generations of Rogue Hunters
from that pack.”

Marion nodded, turning
back to Caia and Lucien. “Saffron’s right. They may be small but to
older members of either coven they are a well known warrior
pack.”

Well that explained
that.

“
Pierre is
arrogant and young.” Caia sighed, standing up to stretch her legs.
She hadn’t been on a run in weeks and it was telling on her body.
“Which is why you don’t recognise him as an old warlock. I thought
because of his ability to arouse such devotion that you may have
heard of him, but I’m thinking he’s just very charismatic. His
trace is malevolent; his prejudice against the Daylights
extraordinary considering how young he is; and... I think he might
be quite powerful. Some of the others seem afraid of him. From what
you’ve told me, and from my understanding of Pierre’s character,
wiping out a respected and feared pack of lykans would cement his
own reputation. Although I can’t feel it in his designs, he might
use a victory like taking down the MacLachlan’s as a reason to take
to the Council and ask them to make him Regent instead.”

“
When is this
attack going to take place?” Lucien narrowed his eyes, folding his
arms across his chest defensively so that the muscles in his biceps
rippled. His body language had become so familiar to Caia: Lucien
was preparing for war. The butterflies in her stomach that had been
dormant for the majority of the conversation suddenly fluttered
into a riot. She had known this news was going to be the beginning
of something. Something big. Something irreversible.

“
Four
weeks.”

Marion pursed her lips.
“I’ll be back in five minutes. I have to speak to Marita. Come,
Saffron.”

And the witch was gone,
along with the faerie, and not for the first time, Caia envied
their flawless use of the communication spell that allowed them to
travel to an intended destination instantly.

I knew
it.

This is
big.

“
You
OK?”

Her gaze swung back to
Lucien, whose eyes had softened with concern.

“
I’m fine.
Just preparing myself.”

“
For
what?”

She snorted. “The
apocalypse.”

Lucien grinned. “Well,
let’s just make sure it’s them and not us that end up in the
underworld, huh.”

“
Wow, talk
about pressure.”

“
I’m
kidding.”

“
I’m
not.”

He sighed heavily and
strode towards her. Every nerve ending came to life the closer he
got, and then sizzled uncontrollably when he cupped her chin in his
large hand, his eyes shining with faith and strength. “You can only
do what you’re doing, Caia. Yes, you’re important to this war, but
are you going to end it?” He shook his head, stroking her cheek
soothingly. “One person can’t stop a war, especially when you’re
not the one running the show.”

She nodded gratefully,
trying desperately not to melt into his embrace. Goddess, these
last few months had been hard pretending not to want any more from
their relationship. Or friendship as it were, she thought grumpily.
She sighed as his hand dropped away and he pulled back from
her.

“
What do you
think Marion’s saying to Marita?” He asked gruffly, almost as if he
had been just as affected by their momentary intimacy.

“
Well-”

“
I was merely
relating the situation as it stands.” The magik suddenly appeared
before them, minus Saffron this time.

Caia smiled at her. Like
she had with the pack, Caia had come to know Marion well over the
last few months, and despite her businesslike approach to
everything, she had a penchant for mischief that was funny,
depending on if you were her target or not.

“
Well?” She
asked expectantly.

Marion’s smile faltered,
and she drew her small shoulders back as if bracing for battle.
“Marita would like you to play a part in the defence of Pack
MacLachlan.”

A small growl emitted from
Lucien. “Isn’t it a bit soon?”

“
I want to.”
Caia placed a placating hand on his arm, her eyes hardened with
determination. “I knew this was coming.”

Marion sighed. “I’m afraid
Marita is quite adamant about it. Anyway.” She turned to Lucien
with a sarcastic smirk. “Not to worry. She would like to meet you
as well, Lucien.”

Caia frowned. “Wait. Are
we going to the Centre?”

Marion nodded. “As soon as
possible.”

“
And how are
we getting there? I thought it was in Europe?”

The magik
chuckled as if she had said the funniest thing in the world.
“Really, Caia, you should know better than that by now.”At their
continued silence she seemed to sense that neither Caia nor Lucien
had the patience for ambiguity or inappropriate amusement. “OK. We
want you, you and Lucien only, to travel to the MacLachlans. Not
for them exactly. You see, there is a gymnasium on Bryant Street
called
Magic Fitness-
”

Caia snickered, “You’re
kidding?”

Marion ignored her. “Go in
as inconspicuously as you can.” She threw a pointed look at a
rather large Lucien. “To the left of the front entrance is a
doorway that takes you down a corridor. On this corridor is a
studio room, studio number 3. Go in, and stand in front of the
first pane of ceiling-to-floor mirror on the back wall. Caia, if
you place your hand on the first pane the mirror will recognise you
as a magik. Take Lucien’s hand and walk into the pane.”

“
What?”

She smiled almost
arrogantly. “It’s a portal. To the Centre.”

“
And when do
we leave?” Lucien asked quietly.

“
I’ll give
you a week to arrange a suitable situation for the
pack.”

He nodded, and looked
ready to ask another question when Marion cleared her throat,
appearing suddenly uncomfortable. “There is something
else.”

The hair on the back of
Caia’s neck rose in warning. “Yes?”

But it was Lucien Marion
was looking at.

“
My sister
has become aware that Jaeden Rodriguez is breaking Coven
laws.”

A snarl erupted from
Lucien’s throat, his entire body tense with shock and anger. “I
doubt that very much.”

The witch looked saddened.
“Jaeden has been killing rogue vampyres.” She pulled a piece of
paper out of her pocket and handed it to Lucien, who snatched it
from her. “She’s been living with a group of vampyre’s and hunting
with them.”

Caia felt herself shaking.
“What does this mean?”

“
Usually
imprisonment. But considering the circumstances, Marita has agreed
to let Ryder collect her, and bring her back to the
pack.”

“
She’s
getting off on a warning?” Caia breathed in relief.

Marion nodded, and Caia
literally felt the tension drain out of Lucien. He grunted and
tucked the paper in the back pocket of his jeans.

“
I’ll call
Ryder immediately.”

3 - Find and
Retrieve

Ryder cuffed the
hands-free around his ear and pressed speed dial one.

Three rings rang out
before... “Lucien.”

“
So you and
Caia ready to hit the road?” He asked without preamble.

Lucien sighed at the other
end of the phone. “Bored already, Ryder?”

Ryder grinned, his eyes
darting to the rear view mirror at the sounds of sirens. The flash
of light could be seen weaving between cars in the distance, and he
pulled over in order to get out of the way. “Hey, do not get me
started.”

“
I
thought-[nenaw ne naw ne naw] already.”

“
You’ll have
to repeat that man, police sirens just drowned out what I’m
guessing is an irritating observation on my progress in this
‘rescue Jaeden from herself’ project you got me heading
up.”

Lucien snorted. “I was
just wondering what was taking so long.”

“
I left three
days ago.”

“
And?”

“
It’s a three
day drive, not including rest br... you know what, never mind, I’m
nearly there.”

“
Yeah, well,
Magnus has agreed to oversee the pack, so Caia and I are nearly
ready to hit the road as well.”

Ryder smirked.
“Nice.”

“
Shut
up.”

“
I didn’t say
anything.”

“
You were
thinking it.”

“
Thinking
what?” He laughed.

“
Shut
up.”

“
Well does
this journey include a motel break, because in the interest of all
romance, don’t. Last night I slept in a motel room where the carpet
literally moved beneath my feet, there were so many fleas in
it.”

“
Beautiful.”

“
Yeah well, I
might just have to make a pit stop on the way back so Jae can enjoy
the delights of the place.”

“
You’ll go
easy on her.”

Ryder groaned, as he
glided into the next lane. “Yeah, yeah.”

“
I gotta
go.”

“
Yeah. I’ll
let you know when I retrieve our wayward pup.”

“
Do that.
Take care, man.”

“
You
too.”

Ryder sighed heavily as he
thought about Jaeden. He was making pretty good time so he should
hit the city by nightfall. He wondered whether she would be an
adult about this and come in peace, or if he was going to have to
physically haul her ass into the truck. He groaned and rubbed the
tension out of his forehead.

***

“
It’s pretty
cool that you’ve started going hunting with us again.” Styx smiled
sweetly as she stood up from the ground, her machete bloodied by
the dead vampyre’s neck juice. Jaeden felt a twinge of guilt at the
mixture of hurt and hope in the young vamps eyes. Out of all of her
new found comrades, Styx was the most sensitive, and had clung to
Jaeden from the get go. She was a baby for a vampyre, only sixteen,
and Jae had felt sort of protective towards her. Styx was built
like a child, fragile and small at a tiny five foot nothing. Her
size was deceptive, and the reason the big vampyre on the ground
was dead. None of the bad teeth (as Reuben’s gang of misfits liked
to refer to the rogue vamps) were expecting the sly strength of
Styx.

Jaeden looked away from
the dead guy and shrugged. “Yeah well, it gets Reuben off my back.”
She winced as Styx’s face fell in disappointment. “And of course I
missed hanging out with you guys,” she added quickly. The young
girl smiled, but Jae could tell it was too late.