Unnaturals (38 page)

`Yes,' she said taking hold of Nikki's face. `Even through the madness that followed, I always knew he did it to protect us. To protect Wil. He will do the same for our children, even though we did this. You are still the child's mother, Nikki. Mason will never do anything that hurts us or the children.'

`You have so much belief in him,' Nikki whispered, staring into her eyes. `Even though you know he will be angry. He will really see the children as his own and accept them?'

`Yes, and you have to as well, Nikki.'

`In time, perhaps,' Nikki said sitting up. `Mason is not the only one we have to worry about.'

Ruth nodded, finding it hard to concentrate on the here and now. She was excited. Could she really be with child?

`Renee will be—' Nikki leapt up off the bed and stared out of the doorway.

`Nikki?' Ruth pulled her clothes back on. `What's wrong?'

`Renee. Angry. I can just feel her.'

Nikki ran out to the main veranda. Ruth followed, still feeling light-headed.

Ruth staggered as she reached out, feeling for Renee, for the connection they'd shared earlier. Heat, anger and Huntress snarled back at her. `Christ!'

`You feel it too?' Nikki grabbed her by the arms. `What is it? What can you feel?'

`Anger. Danger. Something's happened.' She gripped the handrail. `She's angry all right, but I can't get much more.'

Nikki cursed, spinning back to face the forest. `Try to wake Mason again. I'll make sure we don't have any unexpected visitors.'

Ruth focused. Danger was close.

She needed Mason.

 

Scarla scanned the house.

Mason's scent strong. He was inside.

`REPORT.'

`She is here, Mistress.' Scarla let a false excitement fill her voice. `Butcher is not here, just his women. And the one you seek.'

`PREPARE. WE COME.'

`Mistress,' Scarla smiled, breaking cover from the trees and heading for the house. She let her glamour fall away. This time she needed to be seen. He was here and she would be freed.

 

Wilson watched the road ahead as Renee drove the SUV hard.

`Ten more klicks to the house,' Renee said, sounding strained.

Flashes of the creature he had seen back at the Darkells' house moved under her skin. Like Dad, he thought, watching her nails darken. She was getting ready to kill.

`Can you feel him yet?' he whispered so Sally wouldn't hear.

`Fuck.' Renee swerved as the road in front of them was torn up.

They heard the thump-thump of a helicopter — with a gun, that was firing at them.

`They're above us,' Wilson said, as the menacing shape shot over the top of them, its mini cannon clear on the underside. Renee gunned the SUV off road into the trees.

`Get out,' she ordered, jamming on the brakes.

Wilson strained to see where the helicopter had gone. The words caught him by surprise. `What?'

`GET OUT!' Huntress screamed. Renee had gone. A hard white face looked back at him. Claws grew from her fingers. `RUN.'

`Out! Lilly, get Sally out.' Wilson understood. He leapt out of the SUV, grabbing Sally as Lilly joined him. Renee would draw them away.

`GO, BOY!' Huntress ordered.

He felt her touch his mind.
`Trust your instincts and live.'

She gunned the SUV and tore away from them. Overhead the sound of the helicopter circling back reached him.

`Move. Over there towards that pile of logs.' Wilson pulled Sally behind him until she caught up. Lilly flashed past, rolling a log to reveal a small hollow behind. `In. Get in.' He helped Sally crawl into the space, then followed. Lilly slipped in beside them and pulled the log back into place.

Sally, crushed against him, trembled. They listened to the helicopter growing closer.

`You're not the only one afraid, Sally,' Lilly whispered, moving to hold her. Her hand touched his.

`Once they follow Renee, we'll head for the house,' he whispered as the helicopter hovered over the road. He could see the skids of the helicopter as it moved off, picking up speed.

`They've spotted Renee,' Lilly whispered.

Gunfire made him grit his teeth, fearing for Renee. `Time to move.' He nodded to Lilly who stood up, pushing the heavy log off them, and climbed out.

`That would be another surprise or two we need to talk about,' Sally whispered to him as she stood up, looking towards where Renee had gone. `But right now I'm glad she's here.'

`So am I,' Lilly said. `We've got to run and stay under cover. Wil, which way?'

`North along that ridge. It's the quickest and we can hide in the trees.' He already knew how they were going to get home.

Sally smiled as she tightened her shoelaces. `Well, I'm not strong like you and I'm going to even guess what Renee was, but running is something I
can
do.'

`Damn right, you can,' he said, grabbing her hand and heading into the tree line. `And today all that cross-country training you do is going to pay off. Stay with me. Lilly, scout ahead, make sure we're not running into a trap.'

`On it.' Lilly nodded and smiled before she ran ahead.

Wilson kept the pace brisk, Sally running beside him. Lilly flashed between trees ahead. Good.

`When this is over I'm going to cry for a week,' Sally said, not breaking her stride.

`What?' He managed to stay focused. Worrying about her distracted him. Renee had been right.

`Well, I've been shot at, chased by a helicopter gunship, seen some very strange things happen to Renee and Lilly.' She stopped speaking as they powered up a small rise, catching her breath as he glanced at her.

`We'll get through this, Sal.' He dodged around a tree as they raced down the other side. Sally hadn't slowed and he pumped to catch her up again. `You're angry.'

`Yes, I am, Wilson Douglas,' she growled at him, breaking away and forcing him to run faster.

`We can talk when this is over.' He ducked a branch.

`Damn right, we will,' Sally muttered. `After all we've been through you still couldn't trust me with the truth.'

Wilson watched Sally powering ahead of him. Instead of fear she felt anger. He shook his head. She still managed to surprise him, making him feel closer to her. He just hoped they would survive the day to have the talk she wanted.

 

Ruth slapped Mason. Her hand stung from it.

She cursed, shaking it, trying to make the pain fade fast. He lay unresponsive. `I need him back, Darla. Wherever he is, he needs to come back now.'

She climbed on top of him, her nose touching his. `Mason, I need you,' she whispered, kissing him hard, pushing her tongue into his mouth. Pressing her body onto his, seeking out a response. Hoping it would bring him back to her.

His lips warmed under hers. His arms moved. Was it working? Mason stirred under her, skin warming against hers.

`Mason?'

`Hmm,' he muttered, putting his arms around her. `You smell nice and warm.'

She could feel the cold fade from his arms as he blinked, trying to focus.

`How long was I out for?'

`Most of the day,' she whispered, kissing his ear, aware of how quickly he needed to get up, afraid of how he seemed confused. `A lot has happened. Can you stand?'

`Let's find out.' He moved a bit and she rolled off, watching as he stood unsteadily. `Not too bad. A bit groggy still.'

Ruth got up, cautious about telling him of the danger. He wasn't right yet. `Come outside — you need to wake up.'

`Yeah, everything is still foggy.' He took her hand and followed as she walked towards the veranda.

`We're home?' he asked shuffling behind her.

`Apparently you teleported us here. You don't remember?'

`No.' He stopped moving and frowned, looking at his hands. `Just that my head is killing me and I was bloody cold for a long time.'

Nikki appeared in the doorway. `He's awake!'

His eyes widened, looking at Nikki's stomach. She hadn't put her blouse back on.

`What?' He seemed more awake now, she noticed. `Is that—' He pointed at the baby bump. `How long have I been out?'

`Most of the day,' Ruth said, grabbing his arm as Nikki stood, frozen. `It's our child, from the night in the lake house.'

`What?' He turned, eyes darkening.

She felt him tense. Anger and confusion rippled across his face. They didn't have the time to argue.

`Wilson is in danger. We can feel Renee's anger but nothing else. Something is wrong.'

`Where are they?' He moved fast, scanning the forest. His body rippled with scales.

`Renee, Wilson, Lilly and Sally went into town to do some shopping a while ago.' She moved back as his wings formed and spread out. The timber floor boards creaked as Mason became Hunter.

`Bloodells?'

`No,' Nikki said. `Not yet, anyway. I haven't sensed one. We felt Renee's anger only minutes ago. What can you feel?'

Hunter growled. Energy hummed across him. `My Huntress is hurt, ambushed. A helicopter, humans. Wilson is on foot with the girls. He will be here soon.'

Hands creaked into fists. `They dare to come here!' he snarled. `Look for Wilson to the south, along that ridge.' He pointed. `Bloodells can't be too far away. Watch for them. Stay in the house and activate the defence systems as soon as Wilson gets here.'

He glanced at Nikki. `Can you kill, Magi?'

`Aye,' Nikki said, standing straight as he turned to them. `Go. I will protect her.'

`Yes,' he rumbled. Eyes no longer Mason's roved across her distended belly. Wings stretched skywards. `Talk we shall.' His hand moved. A taloned finger brushed Nikki's skin. Ruth grabbed her, shuddering when he looked away. `Stay alert.'

He leapt skywards, the thrust of his wings buffeting Ruth and Nikki. He was nothing more than a dark speck in the sky when she looked up.

`He touched me,' Nikki muttered. `Hunter touched me.'

`See. He will accept you and the baby.' Ruth glanced around, feeling exposed. `Let's get inside.'

`Go. I will set a trap in case they get too close.'

White energy covered Nikki and reached out around the exterior of the house. Ruth shivered and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Fear mixed with anger roiled inside her. She flicked open a cupboard and pulled out two monitors, watching for the signal that would be Wilson and Sally. Listening for Nikki to come downstairs.

Cold prickled. She heard Nikki on the stairs and relaxed. `Everything okay, Nik?'

Silence. Goosebumps. She spun around.

`Eleanor?' She faltered. It wasn't Eleanor. Ruth could see it as soon as she looked properly. The woman was subtly different. Colder and shorter. `You're not Eleanor.'

`No, and you're not who I seek,' the woman growled. `Take her anyway.'

A cloth came down over her face. Strong fumes bit into her eyes and darkness crashed down on her.

 

Scarla stumbled, watching Hunter fly away from the house. He had gone. `Nooo!' She fell. All strength and will fled her body. She had failed. She sobbed, unable to move. Time passed. The sun's touch fled her scales and a shadow fell across her. `Mistress,' she sobbed, knowing death would not come to her. Only agony. Hunter had gone.

She would never be free. Never.

Mason gained altitude fast. His mind raced.

Nikki was carrying a child. His child.

Images flashed in his memory. On the bed in the lake house, Renee in his arms. Ruth's presence at that moment took on a new meaning. Heat burned in his heart.

Then the anger at what she had done dulled.

He would be a father again. They had been as a family, four together when the child had been conceived. He savoured that. A child.

Gunfire pulled him back. Huntress.

He spotted the helicopter flying low, Renee's SUV swerving as smoke poured from it, highlighting the brilliant flashes from the helicopter's mini cannon.

`
I see you.
'

`Hurry.'
The SUV shuddered, tyres disintegrating. It lurched off the road and stopped, rammed against trees. No movement. She was pinned. Mini canon tore at the SUV.

He dropped towards the road behind the helicopter, snapping his wings open at the last minute. Swooping low, he tore a steel signpost from the ground and flung it into the helicopter's blades. The sign twisted as the blades caught it, then disintegrated under the impact of the concrete base the sign had still been attached to. The helicopter screamed, spiralling out of control.

Mason didn't stop to watch. The final explosion from the helicopter washed over him as Huntress kicked out the door of the SUV.

`Hey you!'
she 'pathed with a lopsided smile, covered in blood. Metal fragments and bullets fell from her healing flesh. `
Getting shot really fucking hurts.'

`You get used to it.'
He kissed her. Huntress pressed back, hot and exhilarating.

`Which way did Wil go?'

`North.'
She let him go and slipped onto his back.

`Was he hurt?'

`No.'
Huntress tucked her legs inside his, pressing her hand against his chest.
`But his fear for Sally will distract him.'

Mason took flight, thrusting skywards, letting Hunter's instincts work for him.

`They must have been watching the house, to know we were back.'

`Everything feels wrong.'

He swung around towards the house, seeking out Wilson.
`I haven't sensed any Bloodells yet. Can they hide behind their human scents?'

His nose twitched, tasting the air.
`No, there they are. Close.'

`Yes. I have them too, but how? There was nothing a moment ago.'
She moved on his back.
`I now can see them. Look.'

Mason refocused at the forest under him and the life signs thrumming there. Bloodells. About a dozen. Ahead, he spotted Wilson with Sally, moving fast towards the house, but not fast enough.

`They hunt Wilson.'

He watched Sally fall. Wilson stopped to help her, while Lilly circled around to the rear. Renee had been right. Sally was a distraction. And Lilly and Wilson were outnumbered.

`The house!'
Huntress howled.