Unnaturals (27 page)

`We're going to Bondi.' Renee raised an eyebrow. He didn't mind the sarong at all. It matched the blue of her bikini top, and made the freckles between her beasts so much more appealing.

`Whatever. I will punch anyone who whistles at you.'

`That'd be a change,' she grinned. `It's usually me doing the punching.'

`Not surprised.' Mason followed her out, glancing back at Lilly. `See you, Lilly.'

`Bye.'

Mason jogged to keep up with Renee. `What's the rush?'

`There's way too much touchy-feely crap going on this morning.' She led him down a corridor. `Next thing you'll want a group hug with Ralph and his pack.'

`Not my type.' Mason shot back, going with her tone. `He might want one with you.'

`Very funny.'

He waited while Renee pressed her hand onto a security panel. `Pretty hi-tech.'

`Surprised?' She pulled him forward as the door slid open. `It keeps everyone out except Mother and Nikki.'

A sleek black ute waited for them. He whistled. `Yours?'

`Supercharged. Customised leather interior. All my design.'

`I'd never have picked you as a ute girl,' he said, opening the passenger door as Renee got in. The red leather seats boasted inserts wearing her embossed name.

`Syrus is no ordinary ute.'

`Syrus. You named your car Syrus?'

`Why not? It is my name.' Mason tried to sense where the voice had come from. It sounded Unnatural — with a male timbre, but, at the same time, totally inhuman.

`Relax.' Renee patted his knee as daylight flooded the carport. `Syrus, this is Mason. He's on our side.'

Mason shifted in the seat. Nowhere to go. Not much space.

`All clear, Mistress.'

`All clear?' Mason blinked against the sunlight.

`He was gifted to sense Bloodells close range, among other things.'

`Radar avoidance seems a large component of what I do.'

Mason felt his lips twitch. That tone was definitely human. He had the feeling Syrus was watching him. `What is Syrus, then?'

`Fragments of consciousness tied together by dark energy,' Syrus said, returning to his flat tone.

`Nikki found him, or his parts.' Renee patted the dash. `He's a bit of everyone from my family moulded into a non-corporeal being. Snippets of energy from the house.'

`Clear as mud,' Mason said, uncomfortable as he felt a presence settle against his skin.

`I am Mistress Renee's guardian.' Syrus's voice was low and close by. `I have been bound by the energy of the Magi and the Priestess to protect her.'

Mason let the scales seep out onto his arms. `She's not defenceless.'

`As it may be,' Syrus whispered in his ear. `But I am still hers.'

`Okay you two, enough,' Renee said. `Syrus, Mason is mine now as well.'

`Very well.'

Mason felt the presence vanish as his scales faded. `So now I am owned?' He tried to sound insulted but truth was the idea felt oddly exciting.

`Yes.' Renee put her hand on his. `You're my man now.' Her grip tightened. `There's me. And there's Ruth. No one else, understand? Not even sweet young Lilly.'

`What?' Mason winced. Her grip came with nails. `I'm not interested like that.'

`I'll be clear.' She let him go and held his eyes for a moment. `Being with you, even for such a short time, has been more than the best I could ever imagine. Jealousy is my fatal weakness, but I won't hide it.'

Her eyes shimmered with a dull energy.

`I like your passion and volatility,' he said, forcing the truth into his eyes but knowing she could feel it if she reached. `But keep it for later, when we're together and far away from here.'

`It's hard to argue with you when you speak the truth.'

The engine rumbled into life.

`Perhaps.' The cabin of the ute had become warm. The sun glared in. Renee flicked open the glove box and handed him sunglasses with a smile. `We'd better get moving.'

`Thanks,' Mason said. He slipped them on; a perfect fit. `So where are we off to?'

`Bondi. Wolves love the water.' She backed Syrus out of the garage and drove down towards the front gate. Mason could see his men guarding it. There were more further down the street.

`There seem to be a lot of humans here, Mistress. Armed. Watching us.'

`They're with me.' Mason opened his window while the gate rolled open.

`Sir.'

Mason recognised the guard from the UK. He'd fought beside him against Bloodells. A hard-core solider. Max wasn't taking any chances.

`Saunders. Good to see you,' Mason nodded, noting the tension on the soldier's face.

`Yes. Sir?' Saunders stepped closer while his partner hung back, hand resting on the butt of a pistol, shirt bulked up with body armour. They weren't here just to babysit.

`What's up?'

`Leeches.'

`When?'

`Last night. More than one plane. Reports of sleepers too.' He glanced at Renee. `Believed to have arrived on domestic before contact was made.'

`You've been briefed about this house?' Mason reached out, picking up on Saunders' slight revulsion.

`Yes, sir.'

`Don't judge.' Mason leaned towards him. `I've made mistakes, Saunders. Not everything is always as it seems. The Bloodells have tainted the way you and I see things. Don't apply what you've learned to the people of this house. But remember what you've seen of Bloodells' handiwork.'

`Sir. Understood.' Lines tightened on his face.

`Ruth and Wilson are saying here on the estate.' He sat back in his seat. `They're priority, understood?'

`Yes. Sir?' Saunders glanced at Renee. `You want a detail with you?'

Mason stared hard at the man.

`Sorry, sir.' Saunders stepped back with a nod. `Adjust assumptions'

`Right.' Mason extended his hand.

Saunders hesitated, then took the proffered hand with a nod.

Mason smiled. The grip was hard and genuine.

`We're out for the day. I don't want to see a tail, regardless of what Max has ordered. Stay with the house. Priority One.'

`At least tell me the area you'll be in, sir.' Saunders let his voice drop. `If you go off the radar, all hell will break loose. Sir Robert has mobilised everyone.'

Mason rested his hand on Renee's leg, noting the flicker in the guard's eye. `We're going to the beach. Bondi.'

`The beach?' Saunders stopped, then stepped back, giving Renee another look. `Yes, sir. Have a, ah, nice day.'

`Thanks. We will.' The window slid shut.

Saunders watched them drive by.

`That was surreal,' Renee said, her leg warming under his hand. `I could feel him. If you'd said to shoot me he would have. Without thinking.'

`Yes.' She may as well know the whole truth. `Many of the men will be like Saunders. He's encountered Bloodells before. Distrust of anything Unnatural has saved his life many, many times.'

`They don't know about you yet.'

`No.'

Renee gunned the ute onto the freeway, traffic flashing past. Mason closed his eyes for a moment.

Renee was right.

He had become an Unnatural.

Ralph parked his old yellow Sandman panel van and watched the stream of people walking towards the beach.

`You feel it too?' Ricco said beside him. `Calm before the storm?'

Justin craned his neck to look skywards from the back of the van. `It doesn't look like rain.'

`Not that type of storm.' Ralph closed his eyes. `Feel your Wolf. Taste the air. Ignore all that is human and open your senses.' He smiled when Justin's Wolf sense swelled around them. The boy was learning.

`Nothing,' Justin whispered, exploring his link with the world around him.

Ralph waited.

`Wait, there.' The vehicle moved as the boy shifted position. `It's black, cold and getting bigger.'

Ralph nodded. `More so since last night.'

`Why are we here, then?' Justin sounded impatient.

Ricco opened his door and got out. `Cause we're meant to be. We swim here every day. It's what we do.'

`And he will come,' Jon said, pushing the panel van's back doors open. `You heard him.'

`Like or not, he will seek us out.' Ralph stepped out, leaving the door open for Justin.

`You've gone all Wolf on me.' Justin stood beside him, towel in hand. `Why do we want to wait around for the old dude? Isn't he the big bad?'

Ralph rolled the truth in his mouth. It had eaten at him all night but he had to accept it. `If he was, would we be alive today?'

`I suppose.' Justin slammed the door and rolled his neck. He was the shortest of them but riding in the back of a panel van, even one with as much room as a Sandman, could still cause cramp. `I'm still confused about what's happening. How come we aren't telling the other packs?'

`The Elders cast us out,' Ricco said, taking his shirt off.

Ralph heard the bitterness that crept into his voice.

`You were abandoned by your parents and the Elders did nothing because you're not a full blood. Ralph found you, took you in and made you family. We owe the Elders nothing.'

`But…'

Ralph rested a hand on Justin's shoulder. `When the time comes we shall speak to the other packs, but until then we wait.'

`And swim.' Ricco nudged the boy and Ralph let him go. `You still need to train.'

Ralph shrugged, letting Justin know he agreed.

`He's struggling,' Ricco said as they watched Justin jog down to the beach with Jon. `But he is learning. For his size and age, he is adapting.'

`We were lucky last night.' Ricco leant against the bonnet of the Sandman. `If they had been dark ones, they would have slaughtered us.'

Ralph crossed his arms, a cold knot forming in his stomach. `We didn't fight as a pack. That's down to me.'

`Damn right,' Ricco said, not looking at him. `You let your dick think for you and it nearly got us killed. I know you and her have history but you've never let it get in the way before. You let us down last night. Is it something I have to worry about?'

`No, mate,' Ralph said with a sigh. He patted Ricco's shoulder. `My head's clear.'

`Good, because last night scared the shit out of me.' Ricco faced him. `Without you… I don't think we could survive as Wolves, especially not Justin.'

The weight of Ricco's words settled. His actions had nearly cost his pack their lives.

Ricco looked at him. `You've been here for me, for us. Pulled me and Jon out of deep shit and gave us self-respect again. If you need help to figure this thing out with her, I'm here.' He touched Ralph's shoulder.

`Jesus, Ricco.' Ralph batted him off, grinning, trying to lighten the atmosphere. `You Dr Phil now?'

Ricco grabbed a towel. `She's under your skin, Ralph. You've taught me a lot about being Wolf, but this isn't wolf-related. Looking in from the outside last night, what I saw wasn't pretty. We're family. You said it to us and now I need to say it to you. We stick together, we survive.'

`You finished?' Ralph bit down his anger.

`I still got your back. Always will.'

Ricco didn't back down. He never did when he was right. That's why Ralph trusted him like a blood brother.

`You're a bastard to argue with,' Ralph said. `Always right.' With the admission, he felt as though the weight of his guilt had lifted off his shoulders. Ricco, and therefore the pack, had forgiven him. He just had to forgive himself.

Ricco half-smiled. `That's why you keep me around isn't it?'

`Don't let it go to your head.' Ralph grabbed his own towel then locked the Sandman. `Come on. I need a swim.' Ralph moved off toward the beach. He wanted to be cleansed by the ocean. He dropped the towel and car keys with the rest.

Waves beckoned. The ocean's touch promised to soothe him.

But when the cool salt water washed over him, a prickle of danger still needled his mind.

 

Mason glanced in the side mirror as they motored down the freeway.

`What is it?' Renee changed lanes again.

`Not sure yet.' He looked away, focusing on the cars ahead.

`Are we being followed?'

`Hard to tell,' he said, rubbing at his nose. `Can Syrus monitor cars behind us?'

`Not in this vehicle,' Syrus's digital voice sounded disappointed. `I'm limited to immediate detection and prevention of danger.'

`Fair enough. If you were in a vehicle with tracking and satellite equipment could you integrate and monitor?'

`I am not software. I operate rather than integrate. But, yes, I believe so.'

`So you can move from one vehicle to another?'

`With help. Nikki would need to start the bridge to the new vehicle.'

`And in an emergency? Could you do it then?'

Mason waited but Syrus did not reply.

`Syrus?' Renee asked, watching her mirrors.

`I do not know the answer to the question. I am not sure it would be possible.'

`But you have an idea how it could be done?' Mason glanced into the side mirror again. Something wrong followed them.

`Perhaps.'

`Spit it out, Syrus.' Renee moved across two lanes.

`I am not sure it is something to discuss in front of your guest.'

`Mason isn't a guest.' She said. `He's my, um...'

`Hunter.' Mason shrugged. He wasn't sure either. He reached across to rest his hand on her thigh. `We're a couple in an extended family.'

`Yes. A couple we are,' she said smiling, pressing down on the accelerator.

`The Darkells clan is aware of this?'

`Yes, Syrus. Very aware. Now stop stalling.'

Mason removed his hand. The temperature had begun to spike as soon as he'd touched her and would keep rising until… Within seconds the cabin had returned to air-conditioned comfort.

`That explains the temperature changes,' Syrus muttered. `A reaction between two charged vessels.'

`Yeah, yeah. We know all that. What about Mason's question?'

`To detach and connect with another inanimate object, like a vehicle, I need a bridge of dark energy to move across. I would also use it to ground my energy to the object.'

`Right.' Mason caught a glimpse of the company he had sensed. `If you had an energy spike right now could you disable a car?'