Chapter 85: Chapter 86: The Guest

It's a strange night, to say the least. Long, and almost sleepless, strained with three minds brewing

crazily, and not exactly restful. Conversation is quiet, and sparse, as Carmen asked us never to bring

up our newfound fact again and it seems none of us know what else to talk about. It all circles back

around the two things — the fact I'm pregnant, with twins, and the fact Carmen lost her child that we

never knew existed and mentioning either is obviously a sensitive topic. For both of us.

Me, I lay in bewildered and silent shock, staring at the sky, trying to get my chaotic feelings under

control and absorb the reality of this, while Meadow keeps watch. She's alert, on guard and sits

staring out into the darkness, spinning to every new sound and can't seem to switch off at all. In

Colton’s absence she's become my ever-attentive protector and it soothes me a little, while my

heart still yearns for him to come to me and hug me tight.

What I wouldn't give for him to be laid beside me now. His face close to mine, his nose touching, his

breath warming my lips. His strong arms around me, keeping me warm and safe, like he always

does. His gentle yet seductive tone and that accent that makes me weak at the knees for him. I miss

him more than I can bear, and every second that passes that we're still apart, I feel like I'm dwindling

and crumbling to dust. My heart is broken with the loss of him and my soul is fighting so hard to

find the hope, the remedy and to bring him home, yet I'm already so exhausted. I need him so

much, more so since the witch told me that I'm carrying our children and I can't turn if I don't wish

to harm them.

My head's a mess and I wonder how long they've existed in my belly, while I was careless and

patrolled with the sentinels. While I used my gifts, selfishly turned at will, and paraded around with

no hint of danger of the inner workings of my body. How long have I been tired, and hungry, and

oblivious to my own body telling me to slow down and rest, because of these two little lives

glowing brightly in the depths of my soul. It makes me sick to my stomach that without even

knowing of their presence, I could have ended them with my complete ignorance, and guilt claws at

me, cutting deep and slicing my heart to shreds.

Sierra was right, even if she didn't mean it in that way — I do have a little witch in me. In fact, I have

two. Somewhere in my heart it makes me warm, and happy, swearing to protective them at all costs,

but the troubles, the worry, and the vulnerability it gives me now, claws up like a dreaded threat and

chokes me into uneasy fear. I just lost my edge in this war, my upper hand. If I can't turn, I can't

heal, so I have to make sure nothing happens to me that requires that. I can't use my wolf gifts,

become strong, and huge. I can't battle as a human, but at least I still have my vampire traits to fall

back on, although my energy is weaker, and at least now I know why.

We all stay this way, trapped in our own heads, dozing occasionally when our bodies give up the

fight; catching minutes or more of fretful slumber but then awaken at the uncomfy, and unfamiliar

surroundings, with a start. We're awake at odd times, sometimes together, mostly not, and nothing

can really pull us out of it. This weird semi sleep, overly nervy mood we seem to be sharing. It's a

surreal night, being somewhere strange, noises out in the dark that we have never heard back

home, but like Leyanne said, nothing comes close or even ventures at the perimeter, so we feel

relatively safe even with her gone. Her magic is powerful, and after she left, Meadow found symbols

and etchings in a full circle outside on the derelict walls, much like the truck, so she at least didn't lie

about our safety in this ruin. I guess in that she earned one point towards trust.

The early rise of sun doesn’t wake us as we're already up, boiling water, making coffee that she left

behind in that trunk full of things we assume she carries with her. It's weird. She has no transport

around, yet this thing is huge, and weighs a ton and seems to carry everything she needs to travel.

It's full to the brim of clothes, books, dried foods, potion bottles and an array of personal

belongings that she has just entrusted to be left with us, with no care about us opening it to get the

supplies she mentioned. We made sure not to touch the grimoires that were stacked in one corner,

Sierra's voice coming to mind about never touching one without a witching handing it to you.

We were careful to not pry too much, only access the coffee and sweeteners, ignoring her

belongings as best we could and we kept the campsite clean. We are aware that crows still watch us

as only a few left with her, and who knows, this magical bitch might have cursed her stuff so if we

did pry we would suffer for it. There's no telling what someone like her would do.

"Who do you think she’s bringing back with her?” Meadow cuts into my thoughts, pulling me out of

the endless stirring of coffee I have been doing, while daydreaming about nothing and everything

all at once. I shrug, frowning with a deflated exhale and shake my head.

"Honestly, with her, it could be anyone. She's vague as hell and I'm not convinced she’s sane. I still

don't know if we should trust her or not.”

"Oh, she’s sane. She's just a little all-knowing and smug for my liking. I don't trust her as far as I

could thorw her while in human form.” Carmen interjects, her face worn and drawn with dark circles

under her eyes, telltale signs she didn't sleep at all, and she moves to rummage a small cooler

beside the chest for fresh food and finds nothing. We're all tired, bellies rumbling from hunger and

fed up waiting here.

"One of us should go back to the truck for breakfast supplies. I need bacon, lots and lots of bacon.”

Meadow grunts out, never cheerful in the morning without her food, and in the same breath seems

to offer to be the one to do it but I shake my head.

“I'll go, I need the walk and the headspace. This whole thing is like a dream and I have no grasp on

reality. “I make a move to get up, from my butt numbing wooden perch but flinch at the reaction.

“No!” both of them snap it in unison, instantly hostile and on their feet, as though ready to take me

down while I blink at them in surprise.

“Luna, you should stay safe, here!” Meadow grinds out harshly, furrowing her brow at me, that no

nonsense bossy femme on show and motions me to sit down with a jerked thumb.

“That's what you meant last night. Why ever you were here, it links to us somehow?" I wish she

would just open up and speak, stop these dumb riddles and sassy little expressions. Tell us, but I get

the feeling she isn't going to. She plays everything close to her chest and gets a kick out of

watching us try to pull the pieces together.

“It does. And soon, you will know how. Now speed up a little, I want to get there before he has to

go back. He's a busy man and not famed for patience... None of them ever are.” She swipes at

Meadows butt with her branch in an attempt to slap her onwards and gets a snarl and an amber

glow under ferocious brows aimed her way. It doesn't phase her in the slightest and she just lifts her

hands and makes a little “forward’ motion with her fingertips while smiling like the Cheshire cat. I

think meadow is close to eating her as she growls under her breath and jilts me into a faster walk

with a harsh nudge.

"Who is HE exactly?” Meadow is impatient and fiery in nature and I can tell this way of

communication, and the smart-ass facial expressions, are annoying her.

"Someone you're going to hate on sight, but trust me, you're not going to act on it, not if you want

to live. I'll make sure of it. I can assure you though, he comes with no intention of harm. You just

have to trust the witch, I guess.” That low and smug tone, the brows smoothing out to an almost

catlike look that reminds me of Hollywood villains and I swallow hard.

The three of us throw glances at one another, more questions coming with her so-called answers

and a feeling of dread rises between us.

"Why do I get the feeling we're not going to like this.” Carmen butts in.

"Because you're not. But needs must and this whole thing, is bigger than just you three. Now hush,

more walk, less talk. I need some headspace to figure some things out, seeing as I did not sleep one

wink last night. Ma head's weary. Now shhhhh... get going.” Leyanne gestures for us to move, rather

bossily, a lot of harsh hand waving and a finger to her lips to silence our chatter. We don't like it, but

we fall obediently back in line and quicken our steps retracing our path from last night effortlessly

as we can pick up our own scent to follow back. A sense of lighter relief that we are going back to

our familiar truck and will be turning around and heading home very soon.

It doesn't take long to see the truck in sight ahead, in the clearing where we abandoned its poor

self. With a few more feet to cross, we come out at it where we left it last night and Meadow

unlocks it before jumping in to reverse out of the ditch, we almost got it stuck in. With less weight

aboard she maneuvers it easily and pulls it back up to sit on the road that brought us here.

“Not you.” Leyanne catches my upper arm quickly as Carmen rounds the truck to get in and I was

about to follow. Flinching in startled surprise and turning to eye her up and meeting a deadpan look

that gives me no clue as to the why. “You're with me for now.” She gestures back along the main

route to our left and its only then I spot a large foreboding pair of four by fours, both black with

tinted out windows, parked about a hundred yards further along the road. They give me a weird

vibe and an internal shiver runs through the length of my body.

“Um I don't think so, she say with us.” Meadow leans out of her now open window and throws

Leyanne a challenging glare which only gets an amused smirk. She makes a move as if to say she

will get back out of the truck and physically take me.

“If I wanted to harm any of you, you would never have made it out of this truck last night. Don’t

underestimate me. Be a good wee doggy, sit tight, shut up, and do as you're told. Don't make me

get the muzzle.” Her words are almost icy and cold in deliverance, despite that catty sarcasm, and I

throw Meadow a look that's meant to calm her worry rather than escalate this into a fight that I

know will happen.

“I'll be fine, just stay close. If I need you, I'll link. I still have abilities, you know.” And I know that

metal is no match for a piercing wolves’ claws should they need to physically rip through the cars

sitting yonder. Meadow would plough through a vehicle to get to me if I needed her, in the blink of

an eye. We are strong and vicious, and Meadow is one of our worst. I have to nothing to fear, even

if my own powers may be weakening as we speak. I still have enough to hold my own and get

myself out of anything that might happen over there.

Meadow tenses and Carmen glares at Leyanne from her seat as she too settles herself in and locks

her eyes on the two of us. She may not be someone who ever liked me but I'm a wolf, from her

pack, her Luna, and our protective instinct for one another against another species is built in,

whether we want it or not. She is giving me some serious vibes that Meds wouldn't be the only one

tearing open a metal box to free me.

“Relax puppies, I'm only taking her for a short walk. She'll be back before you even miss her. Go

chew on something.” Leyanne tugs my arm with a rather bossy pull and gestures towards the

vehicles ahead, but as soon as we start moving towards them, they fire up their engines and head

our way. As though they have been observing and waiting for the signal of us moving their way. My

heart begins to hammer like a drum, my gut telling me I should be on alert and my body becomes

instantly clammy.

They're American luxury cars, but filthy, as though they have been driving through terrain like this

for hours on end and not accustomed to it at all. As they approach at speed, they stop right in front

of us, kicking up dust, mere feet from our truck so that Meadow doesn’t have to go anywhere at all.

Close enough to see what's happening right where we are and it settles some of my nerves, giving

me a sense of protection that she won't be far, neither of them will

The first car door is opened by a driver jumping out quickly, dressed completely in dark clothes with

gloves and a hood pulled firmly over his head so you get zero sense of what he looks like at all. I

freeze in paled faced horror as his scent wafts this way at my approach and I almost choke on the

sheer strength of its familiarity.

"What the fuck?” 1 gasp in shock and recoil against Leyanne's hold as it computes through my head

why I know that smell so well and what exactly he is. My inner alarm bells going off and I start to

pull away, fear enveloping me and knowing we were right to doubt this witch.

“I said you wouldn't like it, but you came to me for help, and that's what I'm doing. So get in the car

and don't make a scene. I'm not in the mood for forcing pregnant wolves to heel.” She commands

in a biting hiss, but I throw a hesitant look back at Meadow, crying visually for her, and she catches

my fear and despair, her eyes glowing instantly as she rips herself out of the driver seat in an

instant. Doors kicked open as both make way to save me.

“No. Don't interfere!” Leyanne snaps, turns almost as quickly and with a raised hand slamming an

invisible power their way, she seems to hold Meadow and then Carmen absolutely still and

powerless with very little effort. They struggle facially but it's like their bodies are bound and tied,

lifted a foot from the ground, and all they can do is shake and growl as eyes turn amber and teeth

elongate. She even seems to inhibit their ability to turn at all and the snarls turn to whimpers as she

gives them a warning squeeze.

A gift so like mine, only I can feel it coming from her in powerful waves, crackling the air and turning

the sky dark over my head. It tells me she has ten times what I inherited in terms of power, and she’s

terrifyingly capable at using it. She's barely trying, and both my femmes are held still before she

tucks them back in the truck, pushes them to sit where they were and slams the doors. With only a

slight move of graceful fingers and a deadlock glare aimed their way, she seals them tight with

magic, so that Meadow and Carmen start to fight to try and get out, pulling out claws to cut their

way out but it's futile. She has each in some sort of bubble that makes it impossible for them to do

anything much at all. Their claws can't get through it, the invisible shield, and they're trapped where

they are.

I glare back at her, my heart hitching, my own eyes turning red as fury rushes through my body as

she drops her hand and leaves them that way, I pull myself upright. Rounding at her and not

concealing my anger and mistrust when she’s brought me to the feet of the enemy and bound my

protection.

"You said I should never trust anyone, even you. Was that a forewarning that you were going to stab

me in the back as soon as you felt like it?” I point out and back away slowly, cautious and on full

alert, claws growing despite my brain telling me to not turn, as she straightens her cloak and

reaches for me, but she only smiles and shrugs.

"And you shouldn't, but darling, as I already pointed out, if I wanted to harm you, I would have done

it already. I'm not the type to let vampires do my dirty work when it can be so much fun to do it

yourself. He's not a threat... none of them are, and you need to get in that car and learn something

new today. If you want my help with your mate and your little fog problem, I need yours. This is why

I was here .... survival of all species sometime means wars shouldn't continue. I had a task, it's in that

car waiting for my answer... and you're it. So, if you please?” She gestures towards them, but I step

another foot back away from her, bristling and poised in pounce mode.

“What are you talking about? So many fucking riddles with you! You're trying to end the vampire

war, or is that another lie?” I glare at her, stiff and ready to fight but my stupid fuzzy head is still

asking her for answers I shouldn't trust. Leyanne seems completely relaxed, maybe a tad irritated

but she patiently stands, then shrugs.

“Not directly and when did I lie, ma wee pet? I try to never pick a side or get involved, but

sometimes I need to. One species is as important as another and if the balance is destroyed it

affects all of us. It's been decades of unrest and frankly, I'm tired of it. I've not got time to stand

here and deal with a tantrum so move or I'll carry you too.” She reaches out, catches my arm,

yanking me towards her and shoves me a little more aggressively in the direction she wants. I

stumble forward towards the open door, distracted by her aggressive behavior and the seemingly

patient driver who motionlessly stares at the ground as he comes back into view. I bristle as I

approach, my inner wolf aching to be freed when surrounded by the stench of his kind, my senses

telling me to turn and run, but I hold it in. Thinking of my babies, knowing she will do to me what

she did to my femmes and cursing that now of all times I would put myself in this situation without

the ability to turn or hold my own against her.

If they hurt me, I can't heal, and I don’t know if I truly believe this witch. She told us to not trust

anyone and now I wish I listened to her own damn words!

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