Somewhere outside of Rideten, Present Time “Are you sure?” Heath asked Aislen under his breath. “Victor was right, we can spin this two ways.” “I’m sure,” she replied, giving his thigh a squeeze. “We’ll be open about what we are, to a point. We won’t let them see us take out the Van Helsings, though. We’re going to be the friendly, personable supernaturals that everyone wants us to be.” The meeting point was a remote house about a twenty-minute drive outside of Rideten’s main town, and along a maze of small dirt tracks. The house was typical of the region, a squat single story that blended into the landscape and didn’t possess a single attractive feature to it – built for function and not appearance. The sheds that flanked it were newer, bigger, and had probably cost more to build. They parked around the rear where three other vehicles already waited, and he wondered how many families had woken up that morning to find the family car had been stolen as none of the cars matched in b
Somewhere outside of Rideten, Present Time“Right then,” Rhonda, caffeine addiction sated, sat between Addison and Patrick. “Let’s roll.”Aislen settled herself more comfortably on Rhett’s lap. She’d rehearsed what she would say in her head a dozen times since the plan to take the reporters to Havermouth had first been raised, with small refinements and alterations to the script over the past few days.“The Van Helsings are religious extremists with a racist agenda,” she announced. “That have become obsessed with the eradication or enslavement of all supernaturals. We are not a threat to humans. We have lived amongst you always. We follow human law,” mostly she corrected to herself, but they didn’t need to know about arsehole fucking rapist alpha werewolves. “We pay taxes. We own property. Our kids go to school with your kids. Always have. We’ve never been a problem – and the evidence of that is that you all still don’t completely believe that we’re real.”She smiled and shrugged help
Somewhere outside of Rideten, Present Time(Do you really intend to get naked in front of the cameras?) Heath raised an eyebrow.(Nope.) She was grinning so hard her cheeks hurt. (I was tempted to get one of you four to do it. But there’s a less naked option.) Ember had been hovering by the door, watching alert for trouble, so Aislen assumed Samuel was outside, patrolling for danger, or arranging their accommodations for the night with the werewolf soldiers.(Ah.) Heath nodded as he realized her intention.“You’re doing it again,” Addison’s eyes had tracked their looks and expressions. “That silent communication.”“We’re going to need to go outside,” Aislen told them. “Is that going to be a problem?”“An outside demonstration,” Allistaire was intrigued but skeptical. “I’m all for it.”“Guys?” Rhonda glanced at her camera and sound techs. “Let’s go then,” she rose gracefully to her feet and began to pick her way across the tangle of cords towards the door.“Howard?” Patrick looked at h
Havermouth, Present TimeTom was not good at disguising his anxiety. “Perhaps we should wait.”Sigrid arched an eyebrow. “Until we are in the midst of battle? Until there is an emergency? Until my life depends on this ability? Hmm, that seems wise my love. There is nothing like adrenaline and lack of practice to make using a new skill safe for all.”“You think you’re being sly,” he fought against the curl of his lips. “You think I don’t recognize sarcasm when it’s used against me.”“I would never presume,” she replied. “Especially as sarcasm is such a skill of yours.”“I have other skills,” his eyes heated. “That we could practice together.”“Hmm, and now you’re trying to distract me. I have watched Greg and Dan shift,” she gestured to where their two mates sat in wolf form watching their exchange. “I am certain that I can do this.”He stepped forward suddenly, catching her above her elbows and pulling her into him. His mouth ravaged hers, stealing her breath and setting her very marr
Havermouth, Present TimeMeguitte took the familiar path to the laboratory. The magic was beginning to fade, the vines withdrawing, leaving behind imprints on the walls where they had clung. She paused by the nursery and saw that someone had installed UV lights and misters. The seedlings within were growing well.Verina looked up from where she used a pestle and mortar to pulp. “Hello, Meguitte.”“Hello,” Meguitte drifted over and looked inside the bowl.“Eggshell,” Verina explained. “It is good for the soil.”“The magic is fading,” Meguitte told her.“What does that mean?” Verina looked around at her garden. “Are the children safe?”“They will be soon. The main plant will shrivel and die, but not affect those connected to it,” she hoped. It was not a spell she had cast before, and sometimes spells came with nasty surprises. “I am not sure what will become of the seedlings.”“Well… I will do my best to keep them alive,” Verina decided. “It seems a shame, otherwise. These little babies
Havermouth, Present TimeTony arrived home as Fatima escorted Sigrid and her mates into the kitchen. “Oh, just in time,” Fatima lifted her face for Tony’s kiss as he set two heavy eskies onto the kitchen bench. “Our blood supply was getting low, and we have visitors.”“Sigrid,” Tony grasped Sigrid by the shoulders and air-kissed near each cheek. “It is wonderful to see you well, and congratulations on successfully turning your mates.”“It worked both ways,” Sigrid demurred. “I turned them, and then they turned me.”“This hybridism is catching on, hmm?” Fatima began to unpack the eskies, setting the bags into neat rows on the fridge shelves. “Talen and his mates, and now you and yours.”“Interesting that it hasn’t been done before,” Tony agreed beginning to help her. “I cannot recall hearing of it before Talen turned Heath.”“It has been done before,” Sigrid replied. “Samuel.”“Ah,” Tony’s eyebrows lifted. “I forgot about Samuel.” He left several packets on the benchtop, and as the esk
Havermouth, Present Time“As I was saying just before your arrival,” Fatima said to Meguitte. “Harry has been…” She shook her head in admiration. “Devoted. They did not leave Jules’ body… Jules,” she amended. “I was sure that Jules was dead. We kept the supply of both human and vampire blood flowing to Harry, who insisted on feeding Jules despite there being no response. Harry also tended to Jules’ wound…”“Who fed Harry?” Leighton wondered and Meguitte glanced his way. He was watching attentively, his eyes sharp and his expression thoughtful. “You said both human and vampire blood.”“Well, it might have been werewolf blood. There is little difference in my opinion,” Fatima amended with a slight shrug. “We are supplied from the volunteers at the hospital as our normal supply chains have not been re-established. In addition, the ancient retirees in the safe houses have been coming to feed Harry and offer blood for both Harry and Jules’ wounds. I have also fed Harry,” she added, with a
Somewhere outside of Rideten, Present TimeAfter the dragon demonstration, the reporters and their teams were a lot more respectful, Aislen noted smugly as their group made to return to the house. Talen started in the other direction, heading towards the sheds, and after a moment, she saw Rhett pick up his pace into a trot to fall into step with him.“Where are you going?” Addison was sharp-eyed.“We did offer to demonstrate how we feed, but it didn’t seem like there were any takers amongst you,” Talen said, pausing and raising an eyebrow. “So, we will speak to the werewolves and see if there are any volunteers amongst them.”“Let’s go inside,” Phillip encouraged the reporters and their teams, his eyes meeting Aislen and widening. He did not want emphasis placed on how they fed and didn’t approve of her suggestion to involve the reporters. She wondered where, precisely, he thought they were going to get the blood if not from the people around them. “Leave them to it.”“They will have
Havermouth, Present TimeAislen was looking down at a chessboard. She was holding a little statuette of Verina in her hand. She shook as she set it down on her side of the board and looked up at the woman who sat across from her. This time, the handmaiden or goddess, whatever she was, wore gold. Not some cheap and tacky replica, or some misleading named yellow, but true gold.An elaborate metal headdress began on her forehead, framing her face and covering her hair, continuing from just below her chin to spread over her shoulders and down her chest. The dress was made of fine chain link that draped like material, clinging to her curvaceous body, before dripping away into the aether that crept around their feet. Her lips were painted gold, and so were her eyelids and eyebrows. Golden rings encircled her fingers, and her wrists and arms were heavy with bracelets and cuffs. The tips of her fingers were dipped in gold.She was magnificent and regal and there was a formality to the way tha
Havermouth, Present TimeThe room stank. They could smell it the moment they started down the hallway. Old blood, rotten flesh, and rodents. Connery made a noise in the back of his throat and fished in his pockets producing a handkerchief and stuffing it full of herbs from a pouch. He held it out to Meguitte who smiled and shook her head ruefully. She had smelled this particular scent before, many times over the centuries, during plagues and in the dungeons where people were tortured and left to rot.“I guess it’s a good thing that no one has been here to clean up after Leighton, as the ward will be untouched,” Connery commented, his voice muffled by the handkerchief.Blow flies greeted them. The cages were empty, but no one had scrubbed the room, and there were buckets sticky with congealed blood, stains of it on the floors and walls, and other biological matter in the corners of the cages where the prisoners had relieved themselves. The room rustled with bugs as a result.“Hmm,” Meg
Havermouth, Present Time“You’re doing great,” Heath was breathless. He and Rhett had run, dragging with them several screaming witches. They had been pursued, by Mer, by zombies, by the few Van Helsing soldiers who had survived, but they’d been able to put some distance between them with help from the dragons in the sky. It had been very weird to see the dragons sending bolts of lighting and fire to hold off pursuit. One of them had done something that had made the earth beneath Heath’s feet tremble with a clap of thunder that had his ears still ringing.The timing had been perfect. They’d headed towards Leighton’s warehouse, and just as he’d started to debate which warehouse was likely, the door of the Stock Feed and Animal Supplies warehouse had opened revealing Phillip Salem. When he’d entered and seen Aislen on her hands and knees in a clearing within the filthy warehouse, he had not known whether to be relieved or despairing. The warehouse was so precarious a place for his mate
Havermouth, Present Time“Stella was anticipating that your mates would attack the ward,” Phillip commented mildly as he riffled through the cupboards. “I am curious to see what happened when she found Leighton instead of them. He did not seem happy.”“Leighton was there? Shit,” Aislen’s heart picked up pace. “We really don’t want him to find us, Phillip. We tried to turn him over to the Mer, but it failed. Verina died though, and Leighton’s pissed in a big way. He came to kill me.”“Possibly, or to steal the baby,” Phillip agreed indifferently inspecting a steak knife before returning it to the drawer. “I think you over value yourself, Aislen, and undervalue what you’re carrying.”“Gee, thanks. Hopefully, Stella took Leighton out,” Aislen added thoughtfully. “She was well set up there, with a massive coven behind her. However powerful Leighton is, I doubt he’s as powerful as them.”“That is true. But then, Stella will have discovered that you are not there, and will know that I betra
Havermouth, Present Time“I’m fine, my darling, truly, cross my heart,” Connery pressed the heel of his hand to his chest earnestly. Meguitte narrowed her eyes at him with suspicion. He was still paler than normally, with shadows pressed deep into his under eyes.“Have a sandwich and a cup of tea,” the werewolf Diana insisted offering both from a tray. She was going around the lower floor exchanging food and drinks for blood, and Meguitte sent her a side-eye. “I won’t take his blood,” Diana added hastily. “I can see that he can’t spare it. Perhaps you could, though?”“Me?” Meguitte was astonished by the suggestion.“It won’t take more than ten minutes, and I’m very gentle, I promise.”“It’s not that,” Meguitte explained. “I’m just… not an ordinary vampire. I have none of their normal powers.”“All blood is good blood at the moment,” Diana had sensed surrender and was preparing the kit.Meguitte sat next to Connery and rolled up her sleeve.He smiled at her. “How generous you are my be
Havermouth, Present TimeRhett and Heath did not speak as they wound their way through the streets of Havermouth. There was little opportunity to talk, slinking through the shadows, down the little alleyways between houses, and cutting through back gardens, but there was also a heavy sense of silence between them so that Rhett knew that even if they had been able, they both would have been too lost in their thoughts. Or lost in their worries, would be more accurate.They had searched the area around the smoke thoroughly, even venturing into the still-burning buildings. There had been no sign of Aislen. And no response to their mental calls for their mate. An icy fist of dread had a tight grip on Rhett’s heart. Why was she not answering? She had to be unconscious or…They would know if she had died. He refused to believe otherwise.Had Leighton found her first? What would Leighton do if he had found Aislen? He still struggled to see Leighton as dangerous, whatever mental voodoo the man
Havermouth, Present TimeThere were some languages that were universal, Sigrid thought grimly as she examined the Mer weaponry and made sure that she was familiar with its function. She could tell from the way the Mer moved, from the set of their shoulders, that they were uneasy with the alliance between herself and Niarthen. Their tolerance was thin, and only their respect for Niarthen, and the other two Mer generals, Benethin and Aeylira, kept them obedient. The moment word was received from above that Havermouth was to be destroyed, her life was forfeit.“Do not fear,” Niarthen said quietly. “Aeylira, Benethin, Lyric, and I will ensure that you reach your mates. There is a building which has been declared sacred. Lyric thinks it’s the hospital. That is where your mates are, yes? You should be safe there.”“I am with child,” she told him. “Triplets. The life of four rests on your promise.”“I understand,” he was grim. “Lyric also carries our child.”“If the tide turns,” she regarded
Havermouth, Present TimeMagic was in its very nature an invisible thing. You did not see a spell cast, but rather the effects of the spell once it found its victim. Therefore, the warlock Leighton appeared to do very little other than stand with his hands pressed to the surface of the ward, the energy blowing back his hair and causing sweat to break out on his forehead, but Samuel could FEEL the power, and see the reaction of the ward, its opaque surface shifting like water, areas clearing so that the dragons caught brief glimpses of the witches below scurrying about like ants as they tried to reinforce their magic by scattering herbs and arcane objects, and drawing runes on the bitumen.Samuel’s memories of the gloves were still fragmented, but he could recall the power they had given him – not just increased speed, strength, and stamina, but also a magic that was unnatural to him. He could feel a similar magic burning through his veins towards his heart and brain, poisoning as it b
Havermouth, Present TimeIn the front yard of the witch’s house, Jules caught Harry’s hand, pulling them to a stop. “I should shift,” he explained as he released Harry’s hand and began to strip off his clothing. “We can fly over the trouble.”“Aren’t you the clever one, my beloved,” Harry reached out and began to collect Jules’s clothes as Jules undressed. Jules looked up from stripping off his jeans to find Harry’s eyes hot and his smirk smoldering, and laughed, pulled from the seriousness of the war around them into a moment of pure joy as they celebrated what existed between them.“Okay,” Jules blushed as he finished undressing. “A moment.”Harry stepped back onto the porch and Jules focused on his shift. It was still a foreign experience, one that his body and mind told him shouldn’t be possible despite his entire life as a werewolf. Becoming a werewolf was a redistribution of his body – what existed simply moved to a position more appropriate for the shape that he wished to posses