“Psst! Jason... can you see me?” Jake’s voice drifted over to where I was tied.
“I can’t see nothing.” I whispered back. I strained against my bounds. They were tight. “Where are you?”
“Over here.” He shone his wolf eyes.
I saw them. “Lily would think I bailed out on her. I will never be able to look her in the face... she wouldn’t even want to talk to me.” I slumped back on the chair where I was tied
“Are you crazy?” Jake whispered fiercely. “We’ve been kidnapped and bound by some crazy Feys and what you can think of is Lily??”
“It’s not my fault I love her.” I said wearily.
“Remember what to tell them when they ask what happened.”
“I remember, don’t worry.”
“Also, I don’t think it’s necessary to tell them about – wait a second! Someone’s coming.” Jake said and lay still like he was dead or sleeping. I didn’t know which one he was trying to play.
“Do ou really think that what ever it is you’re doing is going to deceive them?”
The door I hadn’t even noticed was there opened and three Fey Watchers walked in. I recognised Alyssé immediately.
“What do you want with us?” Jake snarled.
“Can you send some Men to make sure that Lily’s okay?” I asked at the same time.
Alyssé turned to me and smiled. “Why, who’s Lily?” Then he turned to his men behind and laughed. “The young pup is in love.”
“Can you just do it?” I asked again.
“No.” He snapped at me. “Take that one to the other room, I’ll be there shortly.”
The two feys pulled the straining and shouting Jake to the adjoined room.
Alyssé bent and looked at me, right in my eyes and said, “Something happened few nights ago. The nights you you your cousin there were missing. Care to tell me what happened?”
“You can lick my ass... I ain’t telling you shit.” I said in a low tone.
“I thought as much. You have a nasty language. I’ll circle back to you... After I’m done with your cousin.” With that, he swept away and i noticed his feet didn’t touch the floor.
“You, leave Jake out of this!! Don’t touch a hair on his head!!” I yelled.
He ignored me totally and entered the room where Jake was.
I strained my ears to hear what was going on in the second room. But even though the doors were opened, I couldn’t pick a sound.
They used magic to sound proof it, the voice rang in my head. He sounded angry.
You aren’t angry, are you? I asked in my head.
Take a guess, he replied.
Alyssé and his men spent a long while with Jake. It was pretty late when I left the house. Now, it would even be more late.
I let my mind drift through my thoughts.
It would be way past 9 by now... maybe even approaching midnight. Mum would be mad. And worried. Lily might be disappointed and sad. She would never talk to me again. I groaned.
Dad might have been back from his meeting. When he finds out I and Jake are missing, We’re both dead meat.
Alyssé stepped out from the room and stood, just looking at me. Then he walked forward.
“Your cousin told me what had happened. I don’t believe a word he said. So I’m going to ask you one more time. What happened there that night?”
I looked away.
“Okay then. Have it your way.” Hr turned to one of his men. “Prepare them for the invasion.”
“T-the what??” I asked, staring suspiciously at them both.
“The invasion. Ah, yes. The part where I use magic to invade your mind and then I sift through what I want till i find that night in your memories.”
Oh shit!!
I struggled to break free.
He laughed. “Those binds are leather seasoned with Wolfsbane. No wolf can break through. The more you struggle, the tighter it becomes.”
He walked out followed by the other two Feys that had entered with him.
I kept on struggling to free myself. But the binds were not getting any tighter. They remained as they were.
He said ‘No wolf can break free.’
Hey Feline, little help here?
The place became brighter and I knew I had shifted partly. I snapped off my binds and tore at the ones on my foot with my claws.
“This is awesome.” I said softly, looking at the claws with intent.
I ran to where Jake was and found him tightly bound. He had been struggling and it had just been getting tighter and the Wolfsbane had started buring his skin slightly.
He looked startled as I barged in, eyes glowing and claws extended.
I tore free his binds and helped him up.
“We have to get out of here.” He whispered.
“No kidding.”
We ran to the door in the room they kept me.
“It’s locked.”
“Damn! We’ll wait for them to open it.” I suggested.
“Then what?”
“We make a run for it.”
“You’ve totally lost your mind, Jason. Make a run for – “
“Sshhh... I feel someone coming. Get ready to run.”
Jake took a deep breath and stood behind me. I stood directly in front of the door, one arm leaning of the door frame in a relaxed posture. Eyes glowing green.
The door slid open and the Fey assigned to prepare us for the invasion was about to enter.
“Um, I was wondering... where do you guys keep your keys?” I asked.
He was dumbfounded for just one second. But that was all I needed. I smashed my head to his nose.
It didn’t feel as cool as I watched in the movies. My head hurt and I was also stunned until Jake zipped past me pulling my arm along with him. I took a quick glance behind me and saw the Fey collapse like a sack of potatoes.
We ran down a dark hallway then turned left and met a staircase going up.
“What do we do?” Jake asked me.
“Up up up.” I pushed him towards the stairs as I heard some people coming.
We chambered up the stairs, already panting, I directed the way praying silently that we don’t get lost. We ran down another passage way which ended in a window.
I stretched my neck out the window and saw that we were about 2 storeys up.
“Jump! Jump!” I yelled.
“Wha –?”
I saw the tip of a gray robe as a Fey stepped up at the end of our passageway.
I ran and gathered momentum and crashed through.
Bad idea, my Cat yelled.
I was aware of a Fey shouting from the broken windows and of Jake flailing beside me as we fell. And fell. And fell.
That was obviously not 2 storeys. More like a 10 storeys. Maybe. But surely not 2 storeys.
We fell for about 5 minutes and that was a long time when you were acting with gravity.
I landed on my stomach and face. I was sure all the bones in my body had cracked and even broken.
Jake landed gracefully full wolf. He landed on all fours and watched as I gathered myself from the floor.
“Run run run.” I yelled at Jake.
He leapt forward with blinding speed. I scampered behind him as I sighted Feys coming towards us. I recognised the angry face of Alyssé amongst the incoming watchers.
Jake slowed down so we ran side by side. I caught sight of a chain fence with a gate and roads with people walking and going about their normal day.
“Run through the gate. It’ll break under the impact of us hitting it.”
Jake sped up a bit and I watched as the muscles of his shoulders and limbs rippled and shone under the harsh glint of the sun.
We crashed through the gate at the same time. It broke open and we broke free... into darkness.
I turned at where we just burst from but no gate, no fence, no sun, no road, no people and certainly no Feys watchers and their Watchtower.
Instead we were surrounded by thick large trees that blocked off the rays of sunlight, muddy swamp, a brown stream was flowing by our side and the new knowledge that we were lost.... again.
Henri looked bored. He hadn’t contributed a thing since the meeting started with the council talking about the rapid increase in price of their goods. The last topic for the day was the recent sighting of a new creature. Henri sat up now and his gaze flicked around the hall. He nodded his head and a lady strutted out from the front row. “Rosetta.” Jaja said softly to himself. “The only female Elder Vampire and a mean bitch too.” “Rosetta here...” Henri said and gestured to the white lady. “...has something to tell us.” “Henri darling, not me.” Rosetta said in a husky drawl. “One of my little ones saw something I’d like us to hear.” There was a ripple of murmur that went round the room. “Come in, my dear.” Rosetta said, sweetly. A young man came in from the side door. He looked uncertain and a little scared as he stood in the presence of all the Elder Vampires and other powerful members too. “Bruce, tell them what you saw." “Em... Well,” He coughed, then continued “Me and the
“Full moon is tomorrow night and we have no idea where we are.” Jake said for the tenth time. Or was it eleventh?“Here... Put this on.” I handed him a gray robe. “Where did you get this?” He asked suspiciously. “Just... put it on.” “You stole it from the Watchtower, didn’t you?” “Yes I did. I had no idea why I stole it at the time.” I said, suddenly realising that I didn’t even know when I stole it. “Cool. Thanks.” He pulled the robe over his head and put on the hood, which was so big that it fell over his face. “I look spooky, don’t I?” He asked, turning to me. “No you don’t.” I laughed and said. “Let’s go this way.” “No wait.” Jake stopped and grabbed my arm. “What?” I stared at him. “I hear flowing water. It’s coming from this way.” I followed him. We walked for about 5 minutes through the shrubs before we came upon a wide stream. “Remember like last time? This might lead us back to our Pack. Let’s wall in the opposite direction.” I kept mute and just nodded. I didn’
I could not believe my ears. “Did you say a Centaur?” “Y-yes" I tried to gather my thoughts... what have I read about centaurs?Yes, they can be violent when provoked. They don’t speak much but when they do, they speak in riddles. They move in herds. But I can’t hear any other sound of hoofs. “Jake" I whispered to my trembling cousin beside me. “do you hear any other hoof beat?” “Other hoof beats? Are there supposed to be others?” “Just try and listen.” I whispered back. He kept quiet for a while and then said, “No. Nothing else.” That’s strange. Now, I couldn’t even hear the one coming any longer. Where was it? I stretched my neck around the trunk and saw that it had stopped moving. It was standing about 8 feet from where we hid. It’s tail swayed lightly from left to right. And occasionally it stamped its left hind leg. It’s upper body, the part that was man-like twisted and turned, as if it knew we were there but just couldn’t find us. “We are doomed! I heard they can kick
Claude was welcomed by a hug and quick kiss from his wife. “Jake is gone. Missing again. How is Jason?” “He is well. He seemed a bit nervous yesterday while eating lunch.” “Where is he?” Claude asked.“Probably with Charlotte’s kid. That would mean they’re both missing.” Lydia said. “Those boys.” Claude walked to a sofa and slumped there rubbing his temples. “Dad!” Harry bounded down the stairs to jump on his Dad’s lap. “My boy...” Claude opened his arms wide and crushed Harry in a tight bear hug. “Where’s your brother?” He asked Harry while balancing him on his lap. “He told me he was having his first fake date with Lily...” piped Harry. “He loves her, you know. Or so he says.” “You don’t believe him?” Claude asked gently.“I think it’s gross. Yuck!” Harry squeezed his face up. That made Lydia and Claude to burst out laughing. Harry jumped down from his father’s lap and raced up the stairs. He took some of the stairs in wolf fashion, landing on his hands and leaping higher.
The sounds of birds chirping woke me up. I opened my eyes slowly and sat up. My back was stiff and cracked as I sat up and stretched. I turned and still saw Jake sleeping soundly. The sun was just rising. It had plenty of light but no heat, yet. I got to my feet and looked at where we were. There was not much to see. Just plenty of large, old looking trees. They were huge, I could hardly see their top branches. The ground space was covered with dead leaves, dry sticks, humus and little shrubs and bushes. I hard a sinking feeling in my chest that we might even be in London anymore. I turned when I heard Jake yawn. He was awake now and was getting to his feet. He looked at me with sleepy eyes and said, “You figured out where we are?”I shook my head. He groaned and dusted his robe. The watcher robe I had stolen for him. “You figured out how we’ll get home?” He asked again. I shook my head again. He groaned again. “Tonight is a full moon. I’ve never spent a full moon out of a pack
"JASON’S NOT HOME.” Claude said, walking back into Jamie’s house. “Don’t sugar coat words, Claude.” Jamie said, slumping into a sofa and accepting the glass of whisky his wife offered him. He had unconsciously hoped that the boys were in Claude’s house. That was his last hope. “They’re missing... again" “Take it easy, Jamie boy.” Jaja said, patting Jamie on his slumped shoulder. Lily was in the corner with Jamie’s wife, Charlotte. She cradled a big mug of chocolate with her hands. Charlotte walked to the main room where the men sat.“What else did the kid tell you?” Claude said.“The kid has a name!” Charlotte snapped“I’m sorry. I’m just tired. What did Lily tell you?”“She said she had something like date with Jason...” “I know that much...” Claude said.“They were to meet under the large Oak tree.” “The tree is not near any of our borders, is it?”Claude shook his head. “No" “We have to go see the tree. What do you say?” Jaja suggested. “I think so too.” “We’ll be back, C
YOU’RE HUNGRY, aren’t you?” Jake said beside me. We’ve been walking and resting at intervals. We were following the flow of the stream this time. Hopefully, it would lead us to a bridge or a main road where we’ll see where we are. Because we even have no idea where we were at. “Here.” I handed him the bag I carried. “There are some pieces of meat I reserved there.” “Thanks Jas. You’re a life saver.” He collected the bag from my hand and stuffed his mouth with cold meat. “Where do you think we are?” He asked with a full mouth and in between biting.“I don’t know. Maybe Africa.” “Africa?” His mouth hung open in mock horror. “Maybe... Kenya. We should see some giraffes or elephants anytime soon.”“Stop lying to me.” Jake laughed.“I truthfully have no idea where we are.” I told him. “But we’re really far away...” “Yep.” I nodded in confirmation. “Wow... mad stuffs.” He kept on eating till the sun became too hot and we had to rest underneath a large tree. We still hadn’t seen any
ARE YOU OUT of your mind, Jamie?” Jaja asked. He was astounded. “What? My boys are missing...”“If you walk into the Fey Kingdom and accuse them of kidnapping your son and nephew when they didn’t... you’re just calling for war. You know kidnapping is a huge offence, you might even call up another meeting.” “Sir, Jaja is right.” Claude said. “Beside, we don’t have any evidence that Fey was involved. We will just be acting on a hunch... and you will be made to look very ridiculous.” “I never thought I’d say this Jaja, but you actually made sense.” Jamie said. “I always make sense Jamie boy.” “So what do you propose we do?” Claude turned to Jaja. “We wait.” “Wait?” Both Jamie and Claude asked.“Yes. We wait. Let’s head back to your place, Jamie. We’ll talk strategy and put out word for the boys.” “Sounds like a good idea to me. What do you think, Claude?” Claude shrugged and said, “Do I have any other option?” They walked back to Jamie’s house in relative silence. Each men dee
I WAS AWOKEN by the harsh Ray of sunshine coming from the window. I glinted and squinted as i sat up. The fireplace was off. The wood had all burnt off.The main sitting room was buzzing with activity. People were coming and going, I heard Jake’s voice talking with someone.I turned and yawned and saw he was talking with Gibson. I grimaced as I remembered that this huge man was Dad’s replacement. I heard the door open and the sounds of footsteps as the boys – Billy, Matt and Zach – bounded in.They made a beeline to where I laid down and stood over me.I struggled and sat up. I groaned as I felt a crick in my lower back.I looked at their faces and went a little sad at how incomplete they seemed.We all missed Arthur and Jeff.“I should wash up.” I said, rubbing my eyes.The nodded.I walked and headed up to Jake’s room to use his bathroom.I was half expecting to see Elsa. I could really do with her smile this morning.I rushed to the bathroom to do my stuffs, while in the bathroom I
I RUSHED NEXT door to the Alpha house and went on to find Jake.“They are in the study.” Elsa said as I walked in, as if she knew exactly who I was looking for.I headed to the study and walked in and realized why Elsa had said “they". I found him in the study with Alpha Jaja, Alpha Preston, Mum and aunt Charlotte.The heads turned to look at me as I burst in. I prepared to turn back but thought better of it so I stood my ground.I raised my hand and pointed with my thumb to the back. “Is he supposed to be here?” i walked into the room.“Who is that?” Alpha Jaja asked, pushing back his chair and standing up.We heard the door open and the sound of walking stick tapping the floorboard as footsteps approached.The pale figure of Henri filled the door as Henri came up and looked around the room. His eyes lingered on me before he moved on to Jake.“I came to pay my last respect. Your father was a good man and a strong Alpha.” He said and turned and walked away before any of us could say a
SHE PULLED ME up with ease. I searched her eyes for any knowledge that I was banished and the reason behind it.I did not find any. Just the warm brown familiar eyes of and her wide smile. She was really happy to see me.“How have you been?” She asked, pulling me into a tight hug.My arms wrapped around her waist and I inhaled the nice fragrance from her hair. We stayed in the hug for some seconds before she pulled back and I noticed a squat figure just behind her.“Oh, this is Grem.” She said. “He’s a dwarf.”I looked closely at this strange creature, barely reaching up to my knees with large feet and hands and big black eyes too.“We have them at the pack now. Not as slaves, though. Of course not.” She said, laughing. “More like an exchange of relationship, we offer them food and shelter and protection and they run the chores of the pack. Like cooking and cleaning.”I made the appropriate noise to that because she nodded and continued. “Dad wanted to offer them money too, you know.
A THICK SILENCE filled the air at the cabin. The fire still burned outside but not on its own now. It cackled loudly and the pungent odour of burning human flesh hung heavy in the air. Clyde was seated at a couch opposite Rosetta. Roland was standing in a dark corner, his ankles were crossed and arms folded.Henri stood near the window in his regular pose – one hand in his pocket and the other, holding his stick. But this time, he held the stick at the middle, the head of the stick was hooked to the curtain, drawing it back and opened slightly so there was a thin slice of moonlight casted over his features.Sofia came in from casting a burning spell on Tom’s body, her hands were tucked inside her robes. Clyde turned to her. She gave a brief nod and then settled herself down on the chair in front of the fireplace.“You have been staring at that too much, lately.” Henri pointed, letting go of the curtain and gesturing with the hand holding his stick towards the fire.Sofia nodded.It mi
THE BURIAL OF an alpha is not small affair. Claude had been the longest lasting and once best friend of Jamie, so he was consulted as to what Jamie would have wanted.And Claude said what Jamie had told him years ago. Many many years ago.Jamie wanted his body cremated and half of his ashes buried in the cemetery, but he wanted his son, Jake to spray the other half of his Ash into a flowing river.At least even in death, he would still have the chance to explore.That evening, Jamie’s body was cremated just before the burial procession started.Zhao and Alyssé stood by a corner. Alpha Jaja had arrived a few hours ago with his wife. His eyes were red rimmed. He had been crying.The whole pack was dressed in black. Drakys III and Faerie were seated at a table, constantly consorting with each other.The grand magus was also at the burial. But all these guest were detached. They were mainly here out of a sense of duty and respect for the dead man.Only Preston and other invited werewolves
MY MIND WAS in a turmoil. Mum left yesterday, or was it two days ago?I lost track of time.Then Dad was called too. He left last night.And that was how I ended up alone in America. I planned on staying in my dorm for the major part of the day. But I had to go to campus in the morning, I had a major lecture.I entered the lecture hall distractedly, my hood was pulled over my head as I settled down.I should call Jake, I said to myself. I should offer my condolences. Mum had sent me the news that my uncle was dead. Jake would be the alpha now.I randomly remembered a time when we were 9 and Jake had held my hand, saying I would be his right hand when he became alpha.It had seemed like a faraway dream as at that time.Now, it felt like another life.Another reality, but a reality nonetheless.I shook my head and brought out my laptop, and then I perceived it.I looked up sharply and caught the glint of the sun on that ginger coloured hair.She was sitting a few rows in front of me. Wi
ROLAND WAS NOT really enthralled or looking forward to having a sweaty, nervous man shuffling and dogging his every step. But he was quiet as Sofia and Clyde bustled around in preparation for the ritual.It was to hold in the night at the backyard. Sofia had used the wolfs bane to make a spiral on the ground.Clyde would pass by and whisper something to Tom and they would both share a giggle.“You will need a blood from a werewolf to complete the ritual.” Roland said to Sofia as she passed him.She stopped and cocked her head to a side as she looked at him. “You don’t sound excited.”“There’s nothing to be excited about.” He replied.She came to rest on the wall beside him. “Is there not?” She asked him. “You would train this one yourself.”Roland sighed.“We are going to use your blood and Clyde’s.” Sofia said in answer to his question.Roland pushed from the wall and walked inside the house. He kept himself busy by cleaning and polishing his oak branch stick.He was so engrossed tha
THE DRIVE WAS quiet. Neither man spoke, even their breathing was muffled and very quiet. While Henri paid his full attention on the road, Roland gaze flicked lazily out the window and over the ever changing scenery as Henri drove about 50 miles per hour over the speed limit. Roland kept expecting them to be flagged down but they were not. The car drove on heavily and soundly. The outside world changed from mountains and hills to random small houses and patches of farm to large ranches to a developed part of town with skyscrapers to flats and plains and finally thick trees. “The next turn on your right.” Roland said. Henri did not give any indication that he heard but he turned at the next turn. They drove on that lane for close to 10 minutes before Roland said, “Turn here.” “There’s no road.” Henri said. “Just turn.” Henri swerved sharply into the dirt and the Bentley bounced and groaned as the tires crushed the dry grass and gravel. There, in the middle of a large expanse of
JAKE HAD WATCHED them go in circles for what seemed like eternity but was actually just 2 hours. The conversation had mainly been carried on by Preston, Drakys III and Faerie and Zhao.Drakys had suggested a centaur absent-mindedly.“A Centaur can’t take on an alpha werewolf on his territory.” Preston has countered. “Besides centaurs don’t just go on a killing spree.”Faeries had said, agreeing with Preston. “None of you had any bad blood with the alpha, do you.”There was shaking of heads all around the table.Faerie yawned a dainty yawn. Jessica sat, unmoving, her peripheral vision watched the still form of Jake. She knew he had something to say but had no idea why he was still quiet“The were jaguar then. Jamie’s nephew.” Zhao said in that lazy drawl of his. His watery eyes flicked a gaze at Jake.“I mean, he has motive. He was banished.” Henri added too. His first words in the meeting.It was that moment that Jake knew he had to join in. “It was not Jas.” Jake said. The alpha wolf