Our Story - Part Four - The Lost Ones

Chapter Thirty Three

“Are you ready?” Liam asked. Garret squeezed Rowan’s hand before opening the door.

“Garret!” a deep booming voice belonging to a African American man who was at least six foot and eight inches tall exclaimed. He hugged Garret so hard he could barely breath. “Where the hell have you been, kid?”

“Around,” Garret shrugged grinning. “It’s good to be home.”

“We have a surprise,” the man smiled stepping aside so a petite brunette could be seen.

“Elise!” Garret hugged the shorter girl.

“Hi,” she smiled.

“Rowan,” Garret said going back and taking her hand and leading her to the center of the room. “Line up, guys, so I can introduce you to my girl.” Most moved to obey lining up in front of Garret quickly, only a few in the back ignored him. He chose not to acknowledge them for now but made a mental note of who was in the group. “This is Elise, I told you about her.”

Elise smiled shaking Rowan’s hand. “So you’re Rowan. I expected the girl who could take this jackal to be a lot more muscular.” The man who had hugged Garret laughed along with Ayden and a couple others.

“’Jackal,’ huh? I’m going to remember you said that kid. This,” he motioned to the tall man beside him who smile extending a hand, “is Isaac.”

“Hi,” Rowan said taking an immediate liking to this man. Garret went down the line introducing Rowan to his clansmen and women. She had the feeling that there was more going on than simple introductions.

“Aren’t you going to introduce her to me, brother?” The word was spat out as though it were foul. Garret and Rowan turned to see Micah standing behind them. The older vampire looked back at him with a mocking smile.

“Of course,” Garret said although he’d rather carry Rowan out of the mansion and never look back than even have Micah know her name. “Rowan, this is Micah, he’s Liam and Serene’s son. Micah, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Rowan.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Rowan said sticking her hand out as polite habit commanded.

“Indeed,” Micah smirked. “Should you ever need anything-”

“She won’t,” Isaac said.

“Not from you,” Ayden agreed.

“So very protective,” Micah snorted. He turned back to Garret. “So, the prodigal son returns. Welcome home, Garret.”

“Thank you,” the words were filled with as much tension as Garret’s body. Rowan realized with a pang that not only did Garret hate this man but he was scared of him as well. There was noting overtly frightening about Micah. He dressed nicely, and seemed to be easy going. It was when you looked into Micah’s eyes though that you got a glimpse into his heart and realized that there wasn’t one there.

Rowan was reminded of a shark as Micah met her gaze impassively. His eyes were cold, calculating, and almost completely devoid of emotion. Finally, he turned away and Rowan grabbed Garret’s hand. He squeezed her hand comfortingly, and led her to a table. Isaaz, Ayden, Angela, and Elise sat with the couple. It took a while for the tension Micah had caused to dissipate but as the group was listening to tales of Garret’s teenage years it faded.

“His times almost up,” Isaac said glancing at Micah who lounged against the wall talking to three burly vampires. “In less than two years he’ll be back on the streets.”

“Liam hasn’t realized that some monsters have to be put down,” Ayden commented with a frown.

“Liam and Serene can’t comprehend killing their own biological son,” Garret argued. “And can you honestly say that you’d be any different?”

“Are you by any chance taking some psychology classes?” Ayden asked with a smirk.

“Have to,” Garret said with a wan smile. “They’re required. Do you think he’s changed?”

“No,” resounded around the table.

The lone “yes” came from Angela. Garret raised his eyebrows and motioned for her to explain. “He’s become bitter, resentful, and even more evil. He’s gotten smarter too. There’s a reason he’s playing nice right now, Garret. He knows your weaknesses,” she threw a derisive look at Rowan, “and he’ll exploit them. Remember, Gar, he’s a maser of manipulation and torture. I know he’s just waiting for his chance.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was almost suppertime, as Kalena’s stomach was reminding her. “Are you ready?” A soft yip answered her. “Remember, we have to make it look real.” Footsteps echoed down the hall. Kalena screamed and Lupe attacked her and started growling and snarling. She ripped at Kalena’s clothes. “Stop! Oh, God! Someone help me!” Kalena, who hadn’t asked anyone for help since she was a child hoped that she sounded convincing. “Get off! Let go of me!” She screamed again, this time as though she were in pain.

The guards were fumbling with the keys in the door. Lupe, still in her wolf form winked at Kalena. Kalena got to her feet and the two girls stood on either side of the door as it swung open. Lupe flung herself at the guard who first stepped in biting and pulling on his arm until he dropped his weapon. Kalena grabbed it and shot the other guard and the one Lupe had on the floor. Three more guards rushed in and Kalena shot two, the third ran. She ran out of the cell and shot him before he rounded a corner.

“Thank God it’s the night shift,” she sighed. “Let’s get the hell out of here.” Lupe barked in agreement and shifted back. She walked to one of the guards and stripped him. “What are you doing? We don’t have time-?”

“I’m walking out of here as a woman,” Lupe said putting on a shirt that came down to her knees and shutting it with a belt. “Not crawling like an animal.”

“I understand.” She calmly shot another guard. “Ready.”

“Yes. Should we release the others?”

“Have you ever been around a vampire who was going through blood lust?”

“No.”

“Trust me, we don’t want to be around them when they’ve been released. They’ll attack that moves.” They walked out, only encountering one more guard. Kalena picked up a chair and threw it at the window. It bounced off harmlessly. “Damn.”

“What about the door?” Lupe asked confused. Knowing it wouldn’t work Kalena still tried it.

“Locked.”

“Now what?”

“We have two choices.”

“Which are?”

“Find another exit and wait until morning.”

“Should we split up?” Lupe asked anxiously. “To cover more ground?”

“If you really want to, but I’ve seen a lot of horror movies that say that that’s a bad idea.” The two girls checked the entire building and all of the guards finding only the keys to the cells. “He must like them in at night.”

“Yeah, there’s a job I’d want. Guarding a bunch of people who want me dead with no way out.”

/Let me out and we’ll get that door open./

“Ignore it,” Kalena told Lupe.

/Come now, hunter, give me a guard if you’re worried about my sanity. I promise you, though, I am fine. I’m hanging on by a thread though. Let me out, I’ll get the others and we’ll only feed on the guards, I swear it./

Kalena frowned. /How can we trust you, leech?/

/What choice do you have, darling? When they arrive in the morning they will have greater numbers and they’ll be well rested. So, do we have a deal?/