Wayward Son (21 page)

“They were once truly a legion of warriors. A Roman legion. The Fifth Macedonia. The things they did in Potaissa…” She smiled as her voice trailed off, her memories taking her back.

Damien shivered at the possibilities. “And once they find vessels?”

She waved him off and continued on her way. “They will wait for me to call them to service.”

He fell into step behind her and quickly caught up. “How soon, Mistress? How soon before you make your move?”

She stepped into the offices and turned to shut the doors on him. “When I am ready. There is much I need to discover first.”

Damien stood outside the office and stared at his reflection in the dusty glass of the door. She scared him. Well and truly frightened him to his core.

Perhaps he should have listened to her protestations when she was still Rachel?

12

Evan knocked lightly on the door to Major Tufo’s room and pushed the door open. “How are we feel—?” He paused and stared open mouthed at the man who stood in front of his bed, hastily replacing his bandages.

Mark glanced up and his face flushed. “Uh, better?” Mrs. Tufo sat nearby, relief painted across her features.

Evan stepped inside and quickly shut the door behind. He nearly pushed Mark to the bed and pulled his stethoscope. “This isn’t right.”

“I know, right? It must be the wolf virus making me—”

“Shh!” Evan chided as he slid the stethoscope from one part of his chest to another. He slid the device to Mark’s back and listened intently then withdrew and hung the scope from his neck. The look of worry on his face twisted Mark’s guts. “This is too much…too soon.”

“Wait, you mean this
isn’t
from the wolf virus?” Mark had been sitting upright, almost at attention until now. He seemed to almost wither with the news. “If not the wolf virus, then what?”

Evan shook his head, his face a mask of bewilderment. “I honestly have no idea.” He stared into Mark’s eyes, then his mouth, paying particular attention to his upper teeth. He finally withdrew and tapped a finger along the edge of his jaw.

“Don’t candy coat it, Doc. What gives?”

Tracy scooted forward and reached for Mark’ hand. “You think its vampirism, don’t you?”

Evan gave her a startled look. “What?” Her comment seemed to snap him out of a deep thought. “Oh…uh, well. At first I thought maybe, but his heart is very strong. His temperature feels normal. His fever has definitely broken. But yes, I was checking his teeth to see if a pocket was forming for…” He turned away, trying to think of a way to explain the thoughts forming in his mind.

“Spill it, Doc. Don’t you dare leave me hanging,” Mark’s voice cracked as he spoke.

Evan seemed to rock back and forth as he considered the different possibilities. “I simply cannot explain this. It’s almost as though you had been infected by the vampire virus, but you were attacked by a wolf. The only thing I can think of is since the full moon is so close…maybe…”

“I need the pills, Doc. The bane that we give the squads. I refuse to shift. Do you hear me?” Mark was on his feet, his gauze pads coming loose and falling from his chest, exposing the bright pink scars.

Evan waved him off. “We were pumping bane extract into you through your IV. I’ll have the pills brought to you though. No harm in doubling up.” It was still evident that something troubled him, his mind racing through different possibilities.

“So…what else are you thinking?” Tracy got up from her chair and sat next to Mark on the bed. “I can tell that there’s something else going on in that head of yours.”

Evan shot her a wan smile and shook his head. “It’s nothing. Actually, it’s impossibility. I was just…” he trailed off.

“What?” they both asked.

Evan cleared his throat and tried to look them both in the eye. “I was just wondering…if it were even possible…if I had accidentally infected you during your surgery. Before the wolf virus took hold. That
would
go a long way in explaining how you were healing so quickly. Especially considering that we had you on a whole blood IV.” He shook his head again, his mouth forming a tight smile. “But, it’s totally impossible to be infected by both. The two viruses cannot manifest in the same individual. And besides that, you’re not dead. You still have a heartbeat. And…” he trailed off again, his mind racing along another possibility.

“Doc? Don’t do that. You scare me when you do that.” Mark tightened his grip on Tracy’s hand to the point she had to pry his fingers loose.

“Well…it occurs to me that you were fighting a pretty high fever.”

“And…?”

“And, I suppose if your body were trying to fight off two different viral vectors at the same time, it might be possible that…no. It’s still not possible.” Evan chuckled at himself. “Like I said, you still have a heartbeat.”

Mark turned a worried eye to Tracy. “I don’t want to be a vampire. I might be able to handle being a wolf. Especially if the bane keeps me from shifting, but not a vampire.”

Evan gave him a rather droll stare. “You’re not a vampire.”

“Then what?!” Mark was nearing hysterics.

“I dunno. Maybe some kind of hybrid.” Evan stood up and pushed the chair away. “But as long as you have a heartbeat…”

“What the hell do you mean,
some kind of hybrid
? Doc?!”

Evan sighed and shrugged at the same time. “What do you want me to tell you? I can’t explain why you’re healing so fast. We have you on bane so you won’t shift. You have a heartbeat and a normal temperature, so you aren’t a vampire. It sounds to me like you’re on the fast track to recovery.”

“What if it was something other than a wolf? Maybe a shape-shifter that just happened to take the form of a wolf?” Tracy asked.

Evan leaned down and squeezed her shoulder gently. “Then he’d have absolutely nothing to worry about. Shape-shifters can’t transmit their ability. You’re either born into it or you’re not.”

She gave Mark a worried look. “So, worst case scenario, he’s infected with both?”

Evan let out a long breath. “If he is, he would be the first person
ever
in the history of…well, ever, to have contracted both.”

“What would that mean, though, Doc? What would I become?” Mark’s eyes were lined with worry.

Evan shrugged again. “Your guess is as good as mine. A wolfpire? A werevamp? I have no idea. Something that can only go out at night, bites people for their blood and then humps their leg?” His attempt at humor fell flat. “Major, if I knew, I’d honestly tell you.”

“Isn’t there a test you can run or something?” Tracy asked as she got to her feet.

Evan thought about her question and saw the fear in Mark’s eyes. “I suppose I could come up with something. I don’t have the proper equipment here to delineate the different viruses, but give me a little bit and I’ll come up with some non-fatal tests.”

“Non-fatal?” Mark swallowed hard.

Evan chuckled. “You wouldn’t want me spearing you with the Holy relics we made for the Sicarii if you were carrying the vampire virus, would you? I need to be careful since both are reactive with silver.”

“Does this mean I can’t go out in the sun?”

“Let’s get you healed up completely and figure out what we’re facing first.” Evan patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Until then, just try not to eat your sweet missus.” He shot Mark a wink and then saw Tracy quickly withdraw her hand from Mark’s. “Um, that was a joke, ma’am. He wouldn’t…” He exhaled hard and then turned for the door. “I’ll be back as quick as I have something definitive.”

*****

“So who is Loren?” Brooke picked at her nails as though the question were an afterthought. “Your wife?”

Jack snorted as he sorted through the pages in her file, putting things back into order. “Hardly. She’s…complicated.”

Brooke looked up over the edge of her hand and hiked a brow. “Complicated? Sounds interesting.”

“She’s not, I assure you.” Jack picked up the completed file and pressed it to his chest. “Now. What to do with you?”

“Do? What do you mean, ‘what to do with’?” Brooke leaned back in her chair and studied the man in black military garb. “I’m not a tool to be
done
with.”

“You are now.” Jack hooked his jaw to the side and headed toward the door. “Follow me.”

“For what?” Brooke pushed the chair out and fell into step behind him.

“I guess I need to bring you up to speed on things since you’re one of the crew now.” He turned down the hallway and she balked on him.

“Whoa there, cowboy. Back up the truck. I’m not part of anything.” She lifted her hands in surrender and shook her head at him, slowly backing away.

Jack turned and gave her a bored stare. “Yes, you are. I don’t like it, you don’t like it, but that’s just the way it is. So stop the protesting and get your fanny with the program.”

“My…fanny?”

“You look twelve, so I’m not going to tell you to stop dragging your ass.” He shot her a smirk and watched as her eyes narrowed.

“I’ll have you know I’m old enough to be your mother.” Her voice hissed as she spoke.

“I doubt that.” Jack turned again and headed down the hallway. “Either way, you’re part of the squad now. Time to introduce you. You already met Kalen. He’s our resident warrior Elf and apparently the only one that Loren likes to talk to these days.”

“Again, who the hell is Loren?” She trotted to catch up with him.

Jack inhaled deeply and blew the breath out hard. Loren had really gotten under his skin lately by giving him partial answers or teasers. Then bypassing him directly and going straight to Kalen? Yet she claims that he was supposed to be leading this ragtag team of young warriors. And why the youngest instead of the most experienced?

“Are you going to answer me or what?” Brooke called from behind him.

Jack stopped mid-step and turned. “Loren is like the village elder from the tribe that Kalen comes from. She looks to be your age, but she’s much older and very wise. She said that there was some big, scary, dark force about to threaten mankind and that I was supposed to lead this group of young warriors in helping to deal with it.”

“What does that have to do with me?” She planted her hands firmly on her hips and glared at him.

“You,” Jack poked her firmly in the shoulder, “are one of our key players. Or…something like that.” He shrugged and threw his hands in the air. “Who the hell knows? She isn’t telling me anything anymore. She apparently only talks to Kalen.”

“Wait…I didn’t agree to anything.” Brooke protested as Jack turned and headed back down the hallway.

“Doesn’t matter, sweetheart. You’re in.” He shot a smirk over his shoulder, “And you didn’t even have to go through initiation.”

“Hey! Hey, wait a minute. I’m serious here.” Brooke caught up with him and grabbed him by the shoulder, spinning him around. Jack grabbed her arm and spun her, effectively sweeping her foot and planting her to the ground and putting her in an arm bar at the same time. “Get off me, you big oaf!”

“I’m told you’re a pretty effective fighter, but you should have seen that coming a mile away.” He leaned down and all but whispered. “Do you want to learn how to be the most effective killing machine to ever walk the planet or not?”

She ground her teeth as she glared at him through the edges of her vision. “Is that what you’re offering me?”

“I’m offering you the chance to be part of a team. A team of warriors like you’ve never seen before.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “A team that can hone your skills to the point that nothing could ever stand in your way.”

She felt him relax his grip on her and she pulled her arm free. She turned and found him still standing over her, his hand extended, offering her a hand up from the floor. “How long?”

“Until I say you’re done.”

She narrowed her eyes again and studied him. “And if I refuse?”

Jack shook his head slightly, his hand still offered. “You can’t. I’m sorry, but Loren says you’re part of the team.”

“I think I want to meet this Elf,” Brooke grunted as she took his hand.

Jack helped her to her feet and wiped imaginary dust from her back. “No, you don’t.” He turned and faced the young vampiress. “So, what’s it going to be? Are you with us or not?”

Brooke glanced away, her mind considering the possibilities. “You’ll teach me other ways to fight? Besides the sword?”

“I’ll teach you everything I know. Weapons, hand to hand. Hell, I’ll even teach you some Lycan moves.”

Brooke found herself smiling at the possibilities. “When do we start?”

*****

“We have to find you a safe place to shift.” Laura paced in Jennifer’s small room, her nerves getting the better of her.

“But they’re wolves, too. Surely they’d understand—”

“No! You don’t understand. They’ve been infected with the virus, but they take bane to prevent the shift. They don’t
know
what they are. And we’re under orders to keep it that way. The only team that knows anything is our own team.”

Jennifer chewed absently at her thumbnail, a nervous habit she picked up from Laura. “What if we slipped out and then…”

“They have the entrances guarded and they’re under orders to keep us protected,” Laura interrupted. “We’d have to make a break for it and even then…they might go looking for us and if they discovered you while you were shifted…”

Jennifer’s face screwed up. “Not good.”

A banging at the door jerked both of their heads and Jennifer hesitantly opened it. Mick stood outside the door and gave her a sad look. “I know I’m the last person you want to see right now.”

“You’re right.” She started to the push the door shut when Mick pushed it open and walked in.

“I’ve got a plan, and it might work.”