I managed to get through two of my midterms. My thoughts kept replaying what happened this morning with Armand. That made the day move slowly. In all three of Professor Grant’s classes, I fell asleep. He made it review day for us. Oh yippee, I have this knack of wanting to learn. If it goes into my brain, it stays. Unless, something major goes wrong; I’ll probably ace all his mid-terms too. I woke up from a doze with Abby elbowing me. "Hey girl, class is over. You’re going to be late to work if you sleep any longer." Those words woke me up all right. I looked at my watch and saw she was right. Class ran longer than usual. "Thanks Abby. I’ll probably be late getting home tonight." I grabbed my books and stuffed them into my backpack. Then I left the room like a bat out of hell.
I drove to the Wild Dreams and saw that the parking lot was empty. This is the first I have ever seen the lot empty. Happy Hour always started early here. I parked in the back and used the back door. The kitchen was closed. No employees in sight. The stoves were even cold to the touch. This wasn’t right. I let my barriers down a bit to get a feel of the place. No traces of Adam or his hunters. I stared into the blackness nothing was lurking in the shadows. I decided then to check on the inhabitants. I walked down the main hall off from the kitchen. Logan’s office was empty. I checked on the lilies, out of habit, I am responsible for them during the day. They were vibrant and full of questions. The flowers wanted to know were their master was. He has not visited them. I told them that I would find out what was up.
I left the office and went to the end of the hall. I saw the painting of the Scottish Moors in front of me. I pressed down on the castle doors and the wall moved. I stood back so I could see if anyone was on the stairs. There was Dr. O’Brien standing ready to attack. "Hold on there, it’s Ana." He backed down and took a deep breath. "Sorry, if I scared you. Logan told me to attack anyone who opens the door. Get inside so I can close it."
I stepped through the darkness. A lever was pulled and the door swung shut. I focused my eyes to see. In other words, if someone were to watch me, my eyes would turn cat like. I believe Grans called the color they turn a spring green. She says the color fits in with my white coat. Dr. O’Brien walked passed when the door was shut.
"Logan says when you come I’m to take you to him." He led me down the stairs.
"Fine by me. Answer a question, Why is there no one upstairs?"
"We are to be closed for "repairs". The Master has ordered everyone into a lock down. No one is to go out and those who didn’t respond to his orders to come here has been declared rogue."
"Is anyone missing?"
"Yes, The three sisters April, May and June. Everyone else is accounted for."
"Why did they not respond to his call?
I thought once Logan set June free from punishment they were happy again."
"So did every one else. Anyway, Logan needs to see you. He is in his room." Dr. O’Brien stopped at the oak door leading to Logan’s bedroom. "What kind of mood is he in?"
Before the good doctor was able to answer, Logan opened the door.
"He is in a very angry mood. Terry: to your post. Ana inside, please." I walked into the room and saw three other vampires sitting down at an oak dinning table. The last time I saw two of them, they were lying in a bloody heap in the throne room. "Ana, you remember my lieutenants? We are writing a letter. I need you to deliver it to the Leopard King."
"Why?" I asked. Sometimes I can never come up with smart questions.
"Well, wee kitten, last night there was another attack on one of my people. This time however there was an identity. The attacker was a brown leopard. A very rare color I might add."
"Yeah, very rare." The statement Logan made about the color made me think of Miska. He was brown. Please, let there be someone else with that color. I sat down at the only vacant chair; it seems they were expecting me. The discussion was a long one. They went over every detail of each attack. Every attack was the same, coming from behind, each victim’s throat was ripped and their sides sliced from mid back to mid thigh. Hearing all of this made me think about my own attack eleven years ago.
I was kneeling next to wild lilies. Near the campground my mother always went to. The trees were trembling about something. I lifted my head to listen to them and that’s when the attack happened, from behind. Adam has a sick way of letting me know he is in town. Why didn’t he grab me when I was out in the open? Something or someone touched my shoulder. I jumped.
"Ana are you all right?"
I looked into Logan’s eyes; my thoughts invaded his when the marks flared opened between us. ‘I think I know who is attacking your people."
He sat down in the chair next to me. "Tell me who it is so I can personally request that person for punishment." He demanded quietly.
In a small voice I said, "It is not the local pard. It is my stepfather. The wounds on the victims, you described, are the same as mine. I still bear the scars." I lifted my hair to show off my neck. I let a small part of my magic fade to reveal my scar. The scar started in the middle of the back of my neck, wrapped around the left to the front, and stopped under my chin. Only the outside claws went deep enough in front to scar. In the back, I had the full claw still. Once I felt that everyone saw it. I let go of my hair and lifted my shirt. There were two claw marks visible on each of my sides. They started at my bra line and went straight into my pants.
I felt Logan touch the scars on my sides, "If you are right about who you think it is, then that person has just signed his death warrant." His face was blank and I couldn’t see anything in his eyes. I did feel a low power vibration rolling off him. After he slammed the marks shut. He was angry. I looked around the table, his Lieutenants were eager for their orders. Logan started to write fast. I couldn’t keep up with the speed he wrote. Within seconds two full pages were written and then sealed in an envelope with wax. Logan pressed his pinkie ring into the wax. His seal had a dragon wrapped around a battle sword. "Here, wee kitten, I want you to deliver this to the Nimir-raj. Don’t return until you have an answer. My people and I will stay here until then." The look on his face was lethal and I didn’t want to be the shifter who will be facing him. I tucked the letter into the front pocket of my backpack and kissed Logan on the forehead. Then I left the room as quietly as I went in.
I wanted, so much, to stay and hide with them. I also knew no wereleopard was going to willing let a vampire near them. Right now the vampires needed all the help they can get. No telling how many hunters Adam has with him for this hunt. I walked slowly up to the main door. Dr. O’Brien was still there. He opened the door to let me out. Once I was out the door, it was immediately shut. I was alone in the club. It was quite unnerving. The silence around you, the whispers of past conversations and the feeling that at any moment someone might come crashing through the front doors. I rushed through the kitchen and to the back door. I was not going to stay another minute. Stepping out into the bright light, I quickly closed my eyes. I forgot all about using my cat eyes to see inside. I opened them slowly and put my sunglasses on. I got into my 4x4 and sat there. For the first time in weeks, I have absolutely nothing to do. Well, I had to deliver the letter but I had all night to do it. Then a great idea hit me. I started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.
My birthday is tomorrow and I will be twenty-one. A new look was in order. First, it will help with hiding me from Adam and the goon squad. Second, I needed to start my life with a new look anyway. I just don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner.
Index