Dreams and Nightmares
Farmer and I kept the Mexican standoff for a few moments as my mind processed the bombshell Farmer just laid on me. Elizabeth was alive! I looked into Farmer’s eyes, needing to see if there was any deception, and terrified that there might be. He didn’t flinch away. It was almost as if he knew what I was searching for, and he opened himself up to my inspection. There was no deception. Elizabeth was alive! All of the emotions I had so carefully packed away flooded my mind. It took most of my reserve to carefully holster my pistol. As soon as the weapon was put away, my legs let go and I dropped to the floor. The lycanthrope I just captured rushed to try and catch me. Vanessa and Farmer just watched me crumple down. All of that deep, dark fear that tormented me had crystallized into a relief and joy so strong my mind just could not cope. I had seen others overcome by emotion, but I never truly understood what was happening to them. Now I did.
“The Lady-Apparent’s alive?” I forced out. Farmer knelt down next to me. There was no emotion on his face, nothing that I could grasp onto.
“She’s alive,” Farmer answered, “She’s alive, and she’s fighting.” I don’t know why, but that statement made me so proud of Elizabeth. I quickly slammed the pride back down. My professionalism and cynicism reared up. I couldn’t even be sure that Elizabeth felt the same way I did. She must have been going through hell fighting against the vampires. A new and vile emotion appeared – guilt. Where the hell had I been when she needed me? Going up to worthless Tallahassee and ending up on a fucking worthless mission?
“Let’s go,” I said, finally standing back up, “Let’s get to her now.” Vanessa stood in front of me.
“Stop it Mark,” Vanessa said, “We still have a job to do.”
“It’s not a job, it’s a mission or an operation,” I retorted, “What the fuck? We both know that the mission is a suicide operation.” Vanessa firmly placed her hand on my chest as I tried to move past her.
“You want to get the State Guild down here?” Vanessa asked with a surgically precise tone, “We need to finish this.” She motioned to the books.
“The State Guild?” Farmer asked, “What do you mean?” Vanessa quickly recapped what we were doing in Tampa and what the State Guildmaster told me. I slumped into Vanessa’s vacant chair. Dammit, I knew she was right, but why did she have to be right at this moment.
“Vanessa, right?” Farmer asked, “You’re right. We need the help. You and Ranger will stay here and find that emissary’s report.” Farmer pointed at the other lycanthrope. “Carl, you stay here and help them. As soon as you find it, get it back to Safe house Bravo.” Carl nodded with dogged determination.
“Ranger, would you walk outside with me?” Farmer asked as Vanessa and Carl grabbed up books and began reading. I nodded. The two of us walked out of the stacks and into the stairwell. Half way down the stairs, Farmer turned to me. “I’m assuming you went to Tallahassee on the Guildmaster’s orders.”
“Do you think anything else would have gotten us out of Hillsborough?” I asked angrily.
“Nope, but I had to be sure,” Farmer said, “Your disappearance was hard on the Lady-Apparent. She’s worked damn hard not to let it show in front of the packs, but she let her guard down in front of me. I need someplace quiet and safe before you show back up. I just don’t know what she’s going to do. Hell, I wasn’t expecting that reaction out of you.” I snorted.
“Yeah, well I really haven’t been my normal badass self, lately” I quipped half-heartedly.
“None of us have,” Farmer mused with an eerily dark tone, “None of us were sure what happened to you. I thought you, Nick, and Hangman were dead. The Lady-Apparent kept insisting that you were alive. If any of the shamans had made it through, I would’ve had them scrye to make sure.” He paused, momentarily locked in deep thought. Then his head shot up with a strong look of determination.
“Listen to me Ranger, there are only a hundred or so lycanthropes left, and I’m the only hunter left. I’ve been working with the few hunter-trained pack warriors that somehow escaped the siege of the Manor, but we’re hanging on by the tips of our claws. The only thing that has been keeping the lycanthropes going for the past month has been the Lady-Apparent. I need more help. I need the State Guild.”
“Understood boss,” I told him without a trace of sarcasm, “We’ll get you what you need.”
“Good. Hopefully I’ll be able to find a nice place for the Lady-Apparent tonight,” Farmer said.
“The Guild’s already been compromised?” I asked. The Guild was perhaps the most defensible lycanthrope stronghold in the county. I was surprised that Farmer wasn’t using it.
“We can’t get into it,” Farmer said, “I lost my phone in the siege and none of the other hunters survived to unlock it.”
“I think I can solve that particular problem.” The mischievous smile on my face was the first time I felt like my old self since before I left for Tallahassee. Farmer nodded with a hint of an understanding smile on his stoic face. He turned and walked down the steps. I went back upstairs to join Vanessa and Carl. I did have one major question that needed to be answered. Something that was really bothering me.
Vanessa smiled as I approached, and then gave me a horrified look as I yanked Carl out of his seat. I pulled him between two stacks and thrust my pistol into his stomach. Carl tried a few limp strikes, but he was too off-guard and unable to focus enough to remember what he had been taught. Vanessa stood up and shielded us from view. She didn’t know what was going on, but she knew enough to trust me.
“How the fuck did you know where we were?” I asked with a menacing calm tone, “Too few of you left in the county to risk putting eyes on the campus. You had some help, and I want to know who sold us out.”
“I don’t know,” Carl said, somehow managing to keep his voice steady, “Farmer just rounded up me and my team and told us we were going to USF. I didn’t even know that you were the target until we got here.” He wasn’t lying. The good news it was one of Farmer’s contacts that informed on Vanessa and me.
Hunters always keep a coterie of contacts in the various worlds we work in. Most of mine were scattered amongst the human world, some kin, and some vampire. Why I was relieved that it was one of Farmer’s contacts was simple – hunters screen their contacts, because our lives can depend on what those contacts tell us. I was worried that one of the pack warriors had gotten a phone call. Anonymous contacts like that was a pretty good way to try and draw out high value targets. Like say, the hunter current acting as the Guildmaster, or even the Lady-Apparent herself.
I holstered my USP and gave Carl a slight shove back to the table. Until I figured out the current politics amongst the lycanthropes, I could trust only the few that I might know. Carl was not one of those I could trust. So, let him think I was an asshole, as long as he was sure I was a very dangerous asshole. Sometimes it was better to be feared than loved.
Carl and Vanessa returned to scouring the books on the table. I picked up the one I had been working on, but I couldn’t focus on the damn thing. Ancestors, she was alive! Joy and relief still coursed through me. Still, there was a dark fear flowing under my happy thought. It had been nearly a month since I last saw Elizabeth, and I didn’t know where, or if, I stood with her then. A month of desperate fighting and trying to keep herself – and all of the remaining lycanthropes in the county – alive. Would she hate me for abandoning the county? Was there anything there in the first place? Farmer seemed to think so, and so did Nick. I trusted them, but there was still an unrealness to the idea that made me think I was just imagining it all.
“Oh bloody hell,” Vanessa snarled. The sudden words startled me back to the library. A stab of guilt quickly melted to relief as I realized that Vanessa was cursing at a book and not my inattention to the work. She held the book in front of her with an angered look of disbelief.
“What’s the matter Vanessa?” I asked, quickly covering my lapse.
“Well, I found the emissary’s report, but it’s encoded,” Vanessa said, turning the book so that Carl and I could see. It looked like a standard report of a meeting with one of the prince’s advisors.
“Are you sure?” Carl asked. Vanessa shot the pack warrior a scathing look. It was the look of an irate professional being questioned by a new amateur.
“Yes, I am quite sure,” Vanessa said with a deadly drawl to her words, “The time is right. And this glyph,” she pointed to a Cyrillic looking character in the top right of the first page, “Is the cipher key.”
“How do you know that?” Carl asked dumbfounded.
“Because I developed the system five years ago,” Vanessa said, “It’s going to take time to decode this.” She began pulling out her laptop. I motioned for her to stop.
“How long will it take?” I asked.
“For a report this long? At least three hours. Maybe as long as six hours,” Vanessa answered, “Depends on if they played with my ciphers.” From the look on Vanessa’s face, I guessed it was pretty likely that they had. Which would make Vanessa even more determined to break whatever the court recorders had done to her precious code. I looked at the time display on my cell phone. Six hours was going to be too long.
“Vanessa, get a hold of the Williams kid and get him over here to check out the books you need,” I said. I held up my hand to stop the argument before Vanessa could voice it. “Yes, I know that it will probably send out some kind of flag back to the capital, but we may actually need that. Carl, did you bring your car?” The pack warrior nodded, obviously confused by the non sequitur. “Good. Give me the keys. You are going to guard Vanessa until the two of you meet back up with me.”
As Carl dug out his keys, Vanessa leaned over to me, “What is going on, Mark? It’s not like you to foist me off onto someone else. Especially someone you don’t consider good enough.”
“I can help the lycanthropes here, but it’s going to take time,” I answered, “I need you to get packed up because I don’t want you out before nightfall. Even three hours will put you out too close for comfort.” Vanessa’s scrunched expression told me that she didn’t like it, but she understood. “Stay with Carl. I’ll call you as soon as I can to let you know what to do and where to go.” Vanessa gave me a quick nod, and then began packing up. Carl told me where and what his car was, and I trotted out of the library as fast as I could.
Carl’s car was your basic sedan, which was great for where I was going. Locating the Guild in the suburbs was risky. Having people coming and going at all hours of the day and night tended to bring unwanted attention from suspicious neighbors. We got around that by burying the Guild under an entire block of homes, instead of the traditional one or two. As I drove up to one of the homes, I noticed that most of the homes on the block were vacant. The kin that we recruited to occupy the homes above the Guild weren’t stupid. Most were packing up the moment that Nick, Hangman, and I left and sealed the Guild.
A phone call woke up the Guild’s central systems. There was a barely perceptible rumble in the ground. The thick concrete barriers were sliding away from the entrances into the Guild. Procedure said that it would take a minimum of one hour for the Guild to vent itself out and bring up all of the necessary control systems. I waited the twenty minutes for the air to be breathable and the electricity to reengage. I’d like to chalk it up to a desperate need to get the Guild ready to receive Hillsborough’s lycanthropes – and that was true to a fault – but the bigger reason was I just couldn’t wait around that long.
The main computer was in the middle of booting up as I walked into the familiar concrete structure. Pangs of sorrow and lost hit me as I faced the cavernous emptiness that used to be the main planning and operations control of the Hunters Guild. I just shook my head as I walked around the first floor to secure some of the more sensitive information. The first floor was always so frenetic during the war with the vampire. Even when Nick, Hangman, and I were sealing the Guild and no other hunters were in the facility that same frenetic energy still remained. The other floors were musty, but livable. It was time to bring everyone home.
My first call was to Farmer. Of all the lycanthropes, the Lady-Apparent was the one that needed to get to the safety of the Guild first. Farmer just acknowledged that the Guild was ready for the Lady-Apparent. Sudden jolts of irrational fear shot through me, but I pushed them aside. The Lady-Apparent needed me to be professional, not some kind of sappy, love-struck follower. After I got off the phone with Farmer, I called Vanessa. She was annoyed that I had disappeared, but she knew me well enough that I had good reason.
Vanessa and Carl arrived first. Carl was in awe as I led the two of them down into the Guild. For the pack warriors, the Guild was always kept as a mysterious facility where the county’s trained killers worked and trained. It was an image the Hunters Guild cultivated. I gave Carl the task of patrolling the lower levels of the Guild while I set Vanessa up in one of the conference rooms. In her normal efficient self, Vanessa quickly set up her system and quickly scanning in the encoded report. Not knowing what else to do, I sat down in one of the chairs and tried to patiently wait for the arrival of the Lady-Apparent.
Thirty endless minutes passed before Farmer led a small convoy to the Guild. My hands began to shake as I watched Elizabeth step out of a sedan. She cut her hair, was the first thought that ran through my mind. Her auburn curls that had once cascaded halfway down her back now hung straight and just above her shoulders. I watched her in the security monitor with rapt attention. I didn’t even notice when Vanessa came up behind me and spun me around. The brush was straightening my hair before I knew what was happening.
“Tuck your shirt in, damn it,” Vanessa hissed as she continued to fiddle with my mess of hair, “At least try to make yourself presentable. At least you wore a nice shirt for a change.” I followed Vanessa’s stream of instructions as she fiddled with my clothes, hair, and anything else that she felt needed attention. The last thing she did was to grab my face in her hands and give me one last piece of advice, “Do me a favor and don’t screw this up.” I couldn’t even respond before I heard Farmer’s voice on the other side of the conference room door.
“Yes milady, the lycanthrope responsible for unsealing the Guild is right here,” Farmer boomed. It sounded unnatural, but I was grateful for the warning. The door opened and Elizabeth was standing there. For a brief, but almost eternal, moment I was unable to move or speak. I could only look at her. She took a hesitant step into the conference room, and then another. I saw Vanessa flee the room and Farmer shut the door, but they weren’t really important. All that was important was the one standing in front of me.
She crossed the room, each step becoming more confident. Her green eyes were questioning, almost as if she didn’t believe what she was seeing. I stifled the urge to swallow nervously and took the few steps to stand in front of her. Her hands danced along my arms, my chest, my shoulders, and came to rest on my face. It took all my strength not to succumb to the dizzy intoxication of her scent, and the warm smoothness of her hands. We just stood there looking into each other’s eyes, silently reassuring the other that we were really there.
The room blurred as the heavy slap landed across my face. I turned back to find a fearsome expression on Elizabeth’s face. Surprised and unsure, I stood there paralyzed as a second, and then a third slap struck me. I jerked back into action and caught the fourth slap. Elizabeth’s entire body went limp and collapsed into mine. The unnerving sound of her sobbing shook me harder than her outburst of violence. All I could do was wrap my arms around her and cradle her.
“Where did you go?” Elizabeth whispered between sobs, “Why weren’t you here?” They were simple questions, devoid of any accusation, but I felt the shame blaze inside of me. I knew intellectually that I was under orders to leave Hillsborough, but this one’s simple pleading… I knew that I made a mistake. I should have stayed. I should have done whatever it took to not cause this one so much pain. I couldn’t answer her questions, so I just pulled her closer. Elizabeth reacted fiercely by pushing against my chest. I don’t know exactly what I tripped on, but I felt myself falling backwards – and I still had Elizabeth firmly in my grasp.
My breath whooshed out of me as I was sandwiched between the lightly carpeted floor and Elizabeth. The door to the room slammed open as Elizabeth’s sole Red Knight came charging in at the crashing sound of two lycanthropes hitting the floor. The unfamiliar Knight gave the two of us a look of scandalized horror. I just tilted my head so that I could look the Knight in the eyes. As levelly as I could, I told the Knight, “Do you mind? We’re in the middle of a conversation.”
The Knight’s expression went from scandalized to indignant. He was a young Knight – he couldn’t have been more than a few years out of tysach. Probably more full of piss, vinegar, and propriety than common sense. Come to think of it, that described most of the Knights that I dealt with. The Knight didn’t say anything, but his hand darted to the pistol holstered at his side. My eyes narrowed and fixed him with a glare of pure menace.
“If you don’t quit touching that, I’m going to shove it up your ass and fire every fucking round in the magazine,” I said. The Knight blanched, but to his credit, he stood his ground.
“Milady, is this hunter harming you?” the Knight asked his voice full of forced calm and confidence. Elizabeth squirmed on top of me to face her bodyguard. It was uncomfortably pleasant. My self control was strained not to break into a stupid grin.
“No, I’m fine,” Elizabeth answered, “Ranger just tripped, and unfortunately took me with him.” The Knight’s hand came away from his pistol, but he didn’t look very convinced. “Gregory, trust me. I’m perfectly fine. This one always sounds worse than he is, but he won’t let any harm come to me. I’ll be perfectly safe. Now, leave us alone.” The Knight shifted his look between Elizabeth and me, clearly torn between his duty to follow his lady and his duty to protect her. Elizabeth looked down at me, and slapped my chest. “Ranger, quit scowling at my Knight.”
The Knight must have been satisfied that Elizabeth had me under control, because he carefully backed out of the room and carefully closed the door. I looked up into Elizabeth’s waiting eyes. There was a humor in them. The encounter with the Knight broke some of the tension between us. Instinct took over, and I reached up to her beautiful face with a trembling hand. She nuzzled against my palm, and some of my confidence returned. I pulled her face down to mine and kissed her. Sort of. Fortunately, Elizabeth knew more of what to do than I did. For the record, it was not my first kiss, but it wasn’t far removed. Very few females would even dare dalliances with a Badmoon, even in the crazy times of tysach.
I finally figured out what I was supposed to do and kept up with Elizabeth’s frenzied pace. Time stopped and blazed by as the Elizabeth’s hands explored my body, and I returned the favor. My hands found the first button of her blouse and popped it open. Her hands stopped roaming my torso and slammed into my shoulders. “Stop!”
“Okay,” I said, confused. I let my arms drop to my side, “What did I do wrong?”
“Just stop,” Elizabeth said softly. She clamored off of me and sat down in one of the chairs. I sat up and watched her for any signs of what I had done. Elizabeth just gave me the warmest and most loving look that I had ever seen. The kind of look that made me think I could just sit there in that room forever. “Ancestors, I’ve been waiting so long. Damn it.”
“What’s the matter?” I asked sliding up next to her. She put a soft hand on my face and gave me another of those looks.
“Me,” she answered, with a hint of sadness, “I’m the Lady-Apparent. The Lady of this county for all practical purposes.” The warm look evaporated. “I cannot allow myself to be soiled by an affair with a lycanthrope who is not my mate.” I flinched at the words, but I knew the truth behind them. Lycanthropes were very strict on affairs outside of the mated pair. Some intimacy was expected when lycanthropes dated, but the lines were clearly set out during tysach. Lycanthropes were forced from the packs for breaking the taboo. It was even more demanding upon the aristocracy.
“I’m sorry,” I ventured, not really sure at what to say, “I’ll leave you alone.” I began to stand up, but Elizabeth’s hand fell on my arm.
“No, don’t go,” she said, “It’s not your fault.” She looked deeply into my eyes. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for you?”
“No,” I answered, “I’m still having trouble with the whole idea that the Lady-Apparent has a thing for me. It’s not exactly something I have had a whole lot of experience with.” Elizabeth laughed. It was a deep laugh. The kind that unleashed all of one’s pent-up fears and sorrow.
“Do you remember meeting at your Rite of Initiation?” she asked.
“Ancestors, yes,” I answered, “I thought you were the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.” For some reason, it didn’t sound corny or sappy when I said it to her. I remember feeling that way those many years ago.
“I saw it in your eyes,” Elizabeth said, “It was so intense, it was scary and exciting all at once. It was so different than any other lycanthrope looked at me. I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to see what was behind those eyes. Then you disappeared into the Guild.” She paused for a moment. The silence was deafening.
“You know, I don’t think Daddy ever knew,” Elizabeth mused, “I know he liked you, but I don’t think he ever connected my pestering him about you to anything more than a due diligence on my part.” I was stunned. I didn’t even suspect that the Lord Vollen even knew who I was beyond the Guildmaster’s personal hitter and occasional troublemaker. Elizabeth smiled as she saw the effect her words had on me. “Jason knew. He and Bobby used to tease me relentlessly about it. Sissy thought it was like some sort of fairy tale. She didn’t understand.” Elizabeth had slid out of her chair and snuggled up next to me as she spoke. “Ancestors I miss them.” She collapsed into my arms and cried.
“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth told me as she fought to get her grief under control, “I try so hard, but then I can see their faces so clearly…” Elizabeth shook her head and looked at me with a determined look. “Listen to me Ranger, as much as I want to be with you, I can’t ignore what my lycanthropes expect of me. You’re a Badmoon, and it’s going to take a lot to overcome that in the eyes of the pack. Giving us back the Guild is going to help, but I don’t know how much.” I could have been bitter about the injustice of being a Badmoon. I could have been infuriated about how the superstitions of the packs were keeping me from being with the one I loved. Truth to tell, though, I was still feeling the warmth of finding out that all of your fears were baseless and she did love me. She. Loved. Me.
“Milady, what if I managed to bring down some help from the State Guild?” I asked. Her gorgeous green eyes went wide. In an instant, Elizabeth was kissing me ferociously. As she pulled away, it took me a moment to remember to breathe.
“You only call me Milady in front of others, Ranger,” she whispered to me, “When we’re alone, it’s Elizabeth.”
Vanessa couldn’t hide the smug smirk as she strode into the conference room. The embarrassed look on my own face didn’t help. Thankfully, Vanessa made no comment as she casually checked the process on her computer and typed in a few commands. Elizabeth was sitting demurely in one of the other chairs with Farmer sitting next to her. The Red Knight was standing in one of the corners with a disapproving look on his face. But he was carefully keeping his hand away from his pistol and carefully ignoring me.
The other three had joined Elizabeth and me in the conference room after we managed to make ourselves somewhat presentable. That took some doing considered how Elizabeth reacted to my suggestion. It was energetic to say the least. Vanessa just strode in completely satisfied with herself. Farmer just walked in unfazed. Thank the Ancestors for that stoic hunter. I didn’t really give a damn what the Knight thought.
“Milady, Farmer, this young lady with me is Vanessa Hawthorne,” I said, finally introducing my partner to the others, “She works with me in the Society of the Claw and the Fang.”
“The what?” asked Farmer.
“That’s a good question,” I replied, “Truth is I’m not really sure. From what Vanessa and I can figure out, it’s a loose collection of operatives and analysts that provide information to a lycanthrope named Blackhawk, who’s some kind of advisor to the King. Beyond that, its motives get a bit murky.” I went into a brief explanation of what happened after the fall of the Manor. I covered Nicky being deported to Nebraska, Hangman joining the State Guild, and my own recruitment into the Society. Vanessa then filled Elizabeth and Farmer on the mission that Blackhawk assigned us and why we had come down to Hillsborough.
“So, if we can make a case that valuable information that the War Council is here in Hillsborough, then the State Guildmaster would have no choice but to send forces to secure the information,” I concluded.
“I should have the report decoded in the next couple of hours,” Vanessa chimed in, “The court recorders weren’t very creative in their tinkering with my code.”
“After that, I intend to be on the phone with the State Guildmaster,” I finished, “Knowing the State Guildmaster, we should be expecting Hangman and other hunters here within the next twelve hours.”
“Assuming you find any useful information,” Farmer said flatly, “What if you don’t?” Elizabeth and Vanessa looked uncomfortable with Farmer’s scathing pragmatism.
“Then I will lie my ass off,” I answered, “The State Guildmaster can hand me over to the War Council after we kick the fucking leeches out of our county. How badly do you think they’ll actually come down on me?” Farmer smiled. It was disturbing. Some folks just shouldn’t smile.
“Okay,” Farmer said, “Milady, since this is going to take some time, I think you should get some rest. The packs will be here in a few hours. You may not have the chance later.”
“You’re probably right,” Elizabeth said resigned, “Ms. Hawthorne, thank you for your efforts. Ranger…” She just let her sentence trail off suggestively and smiled seductively. Farmer led her out of the conference room with the scowling Knight trailing behind them.
Vanessa waited for the door to shut, and then whirled on me with a mischievous smile. “Someone got his answer, from the look of things. Maybe a bit more?”
“Yeah, I got some answers,” I said, smiling, and then my face darkened, “I also got a whole bunch of new problems. Some of those will hopefully be solved once the State boys get their asses down here.” I flopped down into one of the leather chairs. My mind was clearer now. Elizabeth managed to remove all of the fear and torment that threatened my sanity for the last month. I knew where I stood, and where I wanted to stand. The trick was getting there.
“Mark, what are we going to do once we’ve confirmed the existence of the report to the State Guildmaster, and he sends down Sam and the others?” Vanessa asked as she worked on her laptop. I leaned back in the chair and thought for a few moments.
“I think some of that we’ll know once we actually know what’s in that damned report and when we actually talk to the State Guildmaster,” I answered, “The War Council should be forming. The first thing it will have to do is formally request that the Prince relinquish his throne to the Council. Depending on what the Prince does from there, it could be quick, or it could drag out for some time.”
“You’re taking the destruction of the state very calmly,” Vanessa said, “The prince is about to be deposed and a mob of county lords are going to be vying for power.”
“I really don’t give a flying fuck about the prince,” I said, “I’m sitting in a county that should have been flooded with lycanthrope warriors, shaman, and hunters. Down south are two more. He didn’t do a damn thing to help us. This is why the county lords can form a war council. It’s a hell of a lot more stable than if one lord had to personally challenge the prince, like what happens on the local level.” Vanessa eyed me appraisingly over the top of her laptop.
“This is new,” Vanessa said. She slid her chair so that she could look directly at me. “When did you become such a revolutionary?” The unspoken question was when I lost faith with my prince.
“I’m not a revolutionary,” I told her, “I just want my home back.” She gave me what could best be described as a mournful look.
The electronic ding broke a two hour silence. A deft move caught the barrel of my USP as it slipped from my fingers. Vanessa smiled at my fumble, but didn’t say anything as she perused the now-decrypted report from the emissary. I continued to oil and reassemble the USP. Vanessa’s eyes widened as she read the report. Her fingers danced across the keyboard as she began making notes.
“Mark, get on the phone right now,” Vanessa said, her eyes never leaving the screen, “Tell the State Guildmaster we found what he needs. I need him to send me a courier. He needs to see this, and I don’t want to send the file electronically.”
“What is going on Vanessa?” I asked, pulling out my phone. Vanessa looked up to answer me, but was interrupted as Carl Scenthunter barged into the room. The pack warrior was in true form, which was unusual enough.
“Ranger, you need to come immediately,” Carl pleaded. I arched my eyebrow at the pack warrior, which only increased his frantic motion for me to follow him. My instincts screamed warning signals. Something was wrong. I stood up, unconsciously holstering the USP. I dialed the State Guildmaster.
“This is Ranger,” I said tersely as the State Guildmaster answered his phone, “It’s time to fulfill the bargain.” There was no reply – the State Guildmaster simply hung up his phone. Soon, state hunters should be on their way to Hillsborough with Hangman leading the way. I smiled that I managed to accomplish that for Elizabeth.
That smile died as Carl led me into the training room on the second floor. In front of me were the hundred or so surviving lycanthropes of Hillsborough County. All were in true form. Across the room from me was Elizabeth, Farmer, and a third lycanthrope I didn’t recognize. The eight foot tall true form was shaking with indignant rage, its white fur, tinged with just a hint of gray, standing on end. The lycanthrope was loosely holding a silver dagger in his hand. There was something familiar in his stance. Elizabeth’s roan true form was braced to attack, a similar silver dagger in her hand. Farmer looked from the two snarling lycanthropes to me as I walked in behind Carl. Surprise, terror, and relief all mixed together on the normally stoic hunter’s face.
The lycanthropes turned to face me as I stepped in. I shed human for true as I walked, feeling my clothes pop and tear as my form grew and expanded. I welcomed the opening of the lycanthrope senses like a long-lost friend. I had spent far too much time in human form. The lycanthropes of Hillsborough County were still terrified from their month-long ordeal, and they were blindingly angry. What were they so angry about? The mass of lycanthropes parted, leaving me a clear avenue to Farmer, Elizabeth, and the unknown lycanthrope. Their eyes didn’t leave me.
“Well, since I seem to be the only one who doesn’t understand what is going on, would someone be kind enough to explain?” I asked, with a deadly seriousness. I really didn’t like the unknown lycanthrope holding a silver blade towards Elizabeth.
“Ranger, please, don’t interrupt this,” Elizabeth commanded with no hint of any affection in her voice. The unknown snarled a malicious and triumphant grin. His stance relaxed a bit.
“So, your corrupted lover comes to your rescue,” he spit out, “What a pathetic excuse for an aristocrat you really are.” Events snapped into place. This was a leadership challenge. I looked at Elizabeth, at her posture, at the way she was holding her weapon. Damn, she was going to lose, and her opponent could sense it. She just wasn’t projecting the needed confidence that she was going to tear this upstart apart.
“Who the fuck are you asshole?” I asked dismissively, striding to the middle of the room, “Because a shit head like you had better be real careful in whom you try to insult.” Farmer eyes went wide, but then narrowed as he realized my ploy. I flashed hand signs for him to rein Elizabeth in. If she jumped in wrong, this could all go horribly wrong.
“I am Franklin Speartooth,” the unknown lycanthrope declared, “I am the son of Lord Jaegar, the Lord of Lee County.” Oh good, my instincts were right. This was some outsider bastard trying to jump a weak county. “Even a Badmoon should know better to interfere in a challenge.” He returned to his silent challenge of wills against Elizabeth.
“You’re a fucking carpetbagger,” I said, interrupting him again. I could see the flash of pure rage in Speartooth’s eyes. “What, your daddy couldn’t trust you with his piddling county so you’re trying to take one you think is weaker? You fucking coward.” The remarks must have hit dead on, because Speartooth ignored Elizabeth and leapt at me. I watched Speartooth’s eyes as he closed the distance. His dagger swung up, and I sidestepped at the last instant. I felt the familiar burn of silver as his dagger lightly cut along my upper left arm. I needed to be blooded.
“What’s the matter Speartooth?” I asked, letting the blood course visibly down my arm, “Why are you so afraid of the words of a Badmoon?” I shot a quick look to Elizabeth. Her eyes were wide with understanding. Horrific understanding. I realized I made one critical misjudgment in my hasty plan. It was too late to try and shift the plan. The Hillsborough lycanthropes were starting to shift as Speartooth stabbed with his dagger. My hand hit just above Speartooth’s wrist and shoved the blade to the empty space next to my torso. I looked over to a lycanthrope I did know.
Pamela Tailsnatcher was the now-widowed wife of the Oak Grove pack. She despised me as a Badmoon, but the other lycanthropes respected her. She looked upon both Speartooth and me with equal disgust. If a respected lycanthrope felt that this aristocrat merited the same respect as a Badmoon, well, it was time to end this. I caught Farmer’s eye and nodded. As he bent down to speak to Elizabeth, I dodged another two dagger strikes. Speartooth really had no idea how to actually fight. Most bullies and opportunists didn’t.
“Speartooth!” Elizabeth’s voice shot clearly through the training room. “You have dared to blood one of my packs without my permission in my own county!” Speartooth stopped and turned to Elizabeth, a look of pure surprise in his eyes. A brief moment, and then I could almost see the light bulb turn on above his head as he realized what had happened. The law on lycanthropes, especially aristocrats, abusing the packs of another lord – including his hunters and shamans – was very clear. Elizabeth wasn’t a killer on her own, but I hoped—
“Hunter, you may deal with him,” Elizabeth said, the rage apparent in her voice. I knew what she wanted, but I also knew what she needed. I looked over to Farmer and he nodded at me with closed eyes. He knew what Elizabeth needed also. I heard the particular ring of silver as Speartooth let go of his dagger. He had been outmaneuvered, and he knew it. He had also seen the lack of a killer inside Elizabeth. As I turned to face him, I saw the resigned look of someone whose gambit had failed and was now steeling himself for the punishment. He was expecting maybe a beating, or at worst, some new scars as I cut him like he cut me. The poor fool.
My USP materialized in my hand. Confusion darted across Speartooth’s face. I said nothing as I pointed at his chest and gently squeezed the trigger twice. The gunfire was deafening in the enclosed space, and it was made worse by the wonderfully sensitive hearing of the true form. Blood sprayed across me as bits of Speartooth’s torso splattered the lycanthropes behind him. The packs looked at me in horror. The death of a lycanthrope at the hand of another was so firmly ingrained into us as the epitome of evil. The strongest of our taboo. Of course, even the packs realized that there were some lycanthropes that had to be “removed” from the packs because they were a danger to the packs. That didn’t change their bone-deep revulsion. I could hear the whispers from the packs as I calmly decocked my USP and returned it to the holster.
“Will anyone else attempt to fill his shoes?” Elizabeth said as the echoes of gunfire subsided. The packs looked at their lady with respect and fear. From the looks on their faces, they saw what Elizabeth needed them to see. Elizabeth used me to manipulate Speartooth into abandoning his challenge and attack me. In their eyes, it was all Elizabeth’s plan. Lycanthropes respect the strongest leader, which wasn’t always the one who was physically stronger. It was the one who walked away from the challenge. Now it was clear to the packs, and would be clear to the state when Speartooth’s body was dumped at the border. Elizabeth Vollen would not tolerate challenges during this war, and all challenges would be lethal.
“Hunter, you may return to your duties,” Elizabeth said emotionlessly. I wanted to stay, but Farmer’s expression made it very clear that I needed to retreat. I played my part, and Elizabeth was safe. Now it was time for her to play her part to pick up the pieces of her county and forge them into a single force. I bowed my head and wordlessly left the training room.
Vanessa was still making notes on the emissary report as I walked in. Her eyes didn’t even leave the monitor as I took a few steps into the room, shed true for human, and then slumped into one of the chairs. I pulled out my USP and stared at the blood-spattered weapon. I hated killing another lycanthrope. Most lycanthropes, even hunters, would be either physically ill or so wracked with guilt that they were essentially immobilized. There are even stories of lycanthropes committing suicide after accidentally killing another lycanthrope. I knew I should be feeling those emotions of guilt and self-hate, but I didn’t, and that lack of emotions worried me. Lycanthropes maybe monsters to the humans, but even the lycanthropes had things that we considered horrifying. One of those is the lycanthrope that can kill another lycanthrope without remorse.
“My God, what happened to you?” Vanessa asked, finally looking over at me. Her chair hit the wall as she rushed over to me.
“Relax, none of the blood’s mine,” I said as Vanessa examined my bloody and shredded clothing, “I had to deal with a problem. It wasn’t pretty. Did you get anything done on the report?” Vanessa was momentarily mesmerized by what I looked like. She cleared her head with a quick shake.
“Um, yeah,” Vanessa answered, “Did you call the State Guildmaster?”
“Yeah, but it was real quick,” I said, “Just long enough to let him know that we had the report and that it was significant enough to send hunters down. Just, not in that many words.” Vanessa nodded absentmindedly and went back to her laptop.
“The report gives us a lot more than we could have expected,” Vanessa stated, “Mark, it says—“ Vanessa was interrupted by the door slamming open. Farmer strode in with eyes burning in anger. I motioned for Vanessa to leave, quickly. Farmer didn’t say anything as Vanessa scooted out of the room.
“JB always said that you were one of the most reckless lycanthropes he ever had the displeasure of meeting,” Farmer said in a controlled tone, “I didn’t understand the depth of what he meant until just now.” He loomed over me, but I wasn’t all that intimidated.
“Oh what the fuck?” I shot back, “I did what was necessary.”
“Speartooth wasn’t that dangerous,” Farmer said, “You could have just injured him and that would have done it.”
“Bullshit,” I said before Farmer could continue, “War Council’s already meeting Farmer. If Elizabeth doesn’t have an unshakeable grasp of this county when they come down, she’ll lose it. What I did wasn’t pleasant, but there won’t be any doubt who rules this county when the time comes.”
“You are playing a dangerous game Ranger,” Farmer said, “I don’t like it. You won’t be doing anymore of executions in this county while I’m Guildmaster.” I nodded grudgingly. “Against my advice, the Lady-Apparent wants to see you.”
“Give me a moment to clean up,” I said. Farmer nodded and strode out of the room. Vanessa cautiously walked in after Farmer left. I told her that I would talk to her about the report, but I had to see Elizabeth first. I walked out of the conference room and took the stairs down to the quarters. I knew I had some fresh clothes in my old room. Plus, I needed a shower.
It took me about fifteen minutes to make myself somewhat presentable. My clothes were a bit musty, but they were better than bloody and torn set I was wearing when I killed Speartooth. Farmer guessed at where I was and led me back up to the first floor. One of the first things Farmer did at the Guild was put Elizabeth in the Guildmaster’s office. The suite had an office as well as a small bedroom. Elizabeth’s Red Knight stood outside the office. His face twisted into a vicious snarl as I approached. I gave him a cool look and then ignored him.
Sudden bursts of grief hit me as I walked through the door. Nothing had been changed since the Guildmaster – my Guildmaster – was last in this office. I could almost see the ghost of him at the desk, chewing me out for some stunt or the other. I blinked and the image was gone. Farmer motioned to the door to the bedroom. I walked into the room and hit the floor as a silver dagger was thrown at my head. I was crouched behind a chair to my left with my USP was in my hands before I even realized that Elizabeth was the thrower. She was standing behind the bed that dominated the small room. I holstered my pistol and rose up from behind the leather recliner.
“What was that?” I asked, somewhere between anger and confusion.
“You fucking bastard!” Elizabeth yelled, snatching a pillow off the bed. She threw it back down as she realized it wouldn’t hurt me. “You fucking dog! You made me murder Speartooth! You didn’t even give me a fucking choice!” She leapt, shedding human for true. The sudden attack caught me off guard. Her backhand slap threw me across the recliner and slammed me against the doorframe.
“How could you do this to me?” she screamed in my face as she picked me up and threw me into the office. The blow across the face was going to leave some bruises, but I could feel everything else healing. I shed for true and caught her third strike.
“I’m sorry Elizabeth, but it had to be done,” I said, holding her struggling arm in a tight grip. She stopped struggling and looked deep into my eyes. Elizabeth shrank as she shed for human. She yanked her arm out of my unresisting hand.
“Ancestors, you’re not even feeling the hurt,” she breathed, “You really are the monster they said you are.” There was something in her words and tone that hit me harder than any physical pain I had ever encountered. There was a horror and a repulsion in her eyes that I crushed something inside of me. “Get out of here. I don’t want to see you again.”
I didn’t say anything. I just shed for human and walked out. I didn’t even react to the smug look on the Knight’s face. My steps came faster as I made my way to the conference room. Vanessa looked up at me as I walked in and blanched. She started talking but I didn’t even hear her words. I held up my hand and she fell quiet.
“Pack up your stuff. We’re leaving.” It was all I could say in while my head swam with the tumult of emotions running through it.
“Mark, you do realize its night out?” Vanessa said, “You know, nighttime in a county controlled by vampires.” Something about hearing my nemesis race cleared my head a bit. Vanessa stepped back in fear at the smile that spread across my face.
“Oh don’t worry Vanessa. I know just the place to go.”