In the Night

Chapter 2
Threat of change

The night air was thick with energy in the suburbs of Brooklyn where the majority of the Zodiac clan territory, Brooklyn and half of Queens.
Even when set apart from the city, the night was active with nocturnal hybrids and humans that were drawn to the shadows and the darker, more intense side life.
Bird hybrids lurked in the trees, flitting from one to the other while all the wingless creatures interacted with one another, performing some illegal activity or other.
Others where just out and about for the pleasure of it, enjoying the different affect on the world that midnight had a habit of giving.
Marshall pulled up to a large brick home with an ebony and stained glass door.
The front yard was surrounded by a black iron fence and was filled with lush flowers and plants.
The girls' mother had quite the green thumb; then again her animal side may have had something to do with that.
Aeris skipped up to the door, Jewel and Marshall hot on her tail, rapped three times on the door and let herself into her childhood home.
"Mom?"
She called softly, she didn't need to yell for everyone in the house had enhanced hearing and she didn't want to wake the two kids that slept deeply upstairs.
"In the den."
Came a light reply.
Aeris gave a naughty grin as she ran down the hall, through a door, launched herself in the air, did a flip and landed gracefully on the couch in a relaxed sitting position; legs crossed at the ankle.
Her mother sighed.
"Why do you do that?"
Before the cat could answer her boyfriend did as he entered the room, Jewel following close behind.
"She claims that it keeps her in shape, I personally think she does just to startle you."
Leah smiled up at Jewel and Marshall.
"Hey kids how are you."
They smiled while Jewel answered.
"We're fine mom but we came to talk business with dad.''
The Stallion hybrid and Vater to the Zodiac clan turned from the TV where his favorite science fiction show played across the screen.
"I don't like the sound of that."
Aeris's grin turned serious.
"Then your going to hate this, high members of the Dead Blood clan paid us a visit in the club tonight, Angelica, Nora and Melinda."
The doe gasped softly, the three kids could see all the ‘what ifs’ that flew through the woman’s mind over and over.
"Three of the High council? Are you all alright, what happened?"
"Well the usual banter was thrown, Angelica claiming she was part of our clan and Aeris roaring how she was nothing but a liar and meant nothing to us, only the language was much more colorful."
Jewel said as she perched herself on the back of the Blue and gold spiraled couch, wings fluttering slightly.
Leah twitched a large ear.
"Why do I get a feeling like that's not the end."
“Probably because it’s not.”
Aeris stated as Marshall came up behind her and gripped her shoulder soothingly.
The Mau didn’t even realize how tense she was till she completely relaxed at the Jackal’s touch.
"Because she was there to deliver a message...She said that the winds of change will blow soon enough, the Zodiac clan WILL fall and when it does she claims that the dead blood clan will be there to rise into its place, Aeris believes it to be a threat."
William, the head of the clan, sighed.
"That’s because it is, I was afraid of this."
Aeris looked at her Father as if she could read his mind, which with her instincts wasn’t a far stretch.
"You can't stop something you can't see coming, The best we can do is wait for them to make the first move, then make them sorry they ever thought to challenge us."
A troubled look crossed Leah's face.
"Must we resort to violence?"
Aeris smiled sadly at her mother.
"Only if they resort to it first which they will, they always do, besides you know it's our way and it always will be, we are not a gentle race."
Leah raised an eyebrow.
"You know I vaguely remember a time when the police where called when such threats were made and they were allowed to take action.’’
Jewel snorted.
"That was when we were human and had human enemies; bars can't hold most of us now...that's why the H.E.R.S was formed, to protect us from human Bias and allowing us to resolve crimes that have Hybrids as a key component in a way that is considered justifiable to all. We can’t have humans living in fear of us, they have to believe that since Hybrids have greater physical attributes then they also have a greater punishment for abusing those skills"
The doe sighed and gazed out the window, watching the breeze play with the bare branches of the tree outside.
"I know but it doesn't make it an easier especially when a lot of the hybrids we arrest end up being put down."
Aeris laughed bitterly.
"Mom, it’s better then constantly hunting the same blood thirsty beast over and over again as it’s body count rises, besides only 2% of the ones we catch aren’t deemed savable."
Her mother rolled her eyes.
"Hush Smartass, now you three head home, your father and I are tired and have plenty to think about."
"Yes ma'am."
After hugs, kisses and demands to be careful, the three young ones piled once more into Marshall's car.
"Well that went well."
Aeris said dryly as she reclined in the front seat, plopping her boot clad feet on the dashboard.
Marshall sighed a slightly amused smile twitched at his mouth, he had long ago given up on getting his kitten to keep her feet off the dash, and he figured she just couldn't help herself.
“Could have been worse, Vater could have gone into a flying rage, I thought he was pretty calm.”
Jewel inputted from the large back seat.
Aeris laughed, tail twitching merrily along the front seat.
“That he was.”
The cat replied
After dropping the bee off at her small studio Apartment, The Cat and the Jackal pulled up to their spacious Home about four blocks away from Jewel's.
The yard hard two massive oak trees, which to he cat were perfect for climbing; and there were flowers and shrubs surrounding the place, much like her mother’s yard.
But in one area under one of the front windows to the right of the door was a small herb garden, purely used for the concoctions the feline was so adept at creating.
The house itself was quite lovely, a one bedroom and one bath brick home with a cherry wood door and old fashioned gargoyle knocker.
The duo pulled into the carport and shut off the engine, neither saying a word and the silence had become stifling.
Aeris diverted her eyes from her male escort till they had entered the house and had put everything down, the need and desire soon becoming to much to bare any longer.
All it took was 'that look'.
The one that sends chills up a lover's spine and makes delightful fantasies fly through the mind, pure intensity.
Aeris flicked her eyes up at Marshall, whose blue ones met her for just a moment, staring intently.
Then he sprang at her, pinning the woman against the wall, his mouth ravishing hers and she was enjoying very moment.
His tongue traced her lips, begging for entrance which she so willingly granted.
As their tongues danced gently around one another, touching and caressing, Marshall couldn’t help but moan softly at the taste of tropical fruit that always seemed to linger in the cat’s mouth.
Probably from her favorite chewing gum.
Aeris started to purr when he moved his lips from hers to her neck and bit down.
"Let's take this to the bedroom."
She whispered as she nibbled lightly on the male's earlobe before planting a soft kiss on his cheek.
The Jackal grinned at her, revealing fangs he had every intention of using.
"I haven't heard a better idea all night."
The cat smiled and wrapped her legs around her lover’s hips as he lifted her into the air, causing her to giggle in delight.
Their lips met once more, passion ignited, Hands began to wander as the two stumbled their way into their shared room, removing each other’s clothing as they went.
“I’m going to enjoy making up the last 6 months.”
Marshall whispered in his lover’s ear as he kicked at the door, closing on her excited giggles.


She was in the woods, tranquility lurked in every crevice and she was enjoying the delicate solitude with only the plants and wildlife for company.
The soft call of a meadow lark echoed of the mist covered terrain, bringing a pleased smile to the woman’s lips.
Now she would have music to work too.
She was gathering things, plants and herbs she would need for her potions and brews.
She was currently taking her time picking the tiny flowers of chamomile and Lavender, two flowers she used quite often.
She moved slowly, methodically, not worried in the least that she would be looked for, her lover was used to her long walks and often joined her.
Though on this occasion he was content to allow her some personal time with nature.
Reality shifted and she was lying naked in her large black iron bed, silk red sheets caressing her skin lavishly as she gazed seductively up at her other half as he hovered slightly above her, desire painted on his handsome features.
But just as he leaned down to kiss her, an irritating ringing sounds shattered the blissful moment, stirring her awake.
Aeris blinked away any sleep left from her eyes and listened silently as her bedmate spoke into the phone his tired and quickly tensing voice echoing through the room as the remnants of her pleasant dream slowly began to fade.
The cat shrugged as she stretched her lithe naked body, curling lavishly under the covers, a smile playing its way onto her face.
Reality was better then a dream any day.
Catching the sound of the HERS captain’s voice on the phone, she sighed glumly and left the warmth of the bed and padded her way to her dresser.
Him on the phone could only mean that they would have to leave the comfortable seclusion of their house and go to work.
Dressing quickly she slipped into the bathroom, quickly brushing her hair, her teeth and washing her face thoroughly before reentering her dark bedroom.
Glancing out the window she raised an eyebrow and the darkness still lurking outside the large window.
She looked at the clock and growled when it said 5:00; she had only managed 3 hours of sleep.
She grinned though when she remembered the reason for going to bed late, it was worth it.
Marshall had already hung up the phone, after yanking on his other shoe he guided his woman out the door, locking it securely behind them
After all who knows what would happen in New York.
“So, a dead hybrid in our territory?”
Aeris asked as strode up to the passenger side door and waited.
The Jackal shook his head, his face grim as he unlocked the car and they both slipped inside.
“Worse, a human with obvious signs of a hybrid killer.”
The cat glared through the windshield, into the night.
“Well fuck me.”
The Man couldn’t resist.
“I already did.”
“Shut up.”