Authors: Heath Stallcup
A series of clicks confirmed the order and Spalding motioned for Apollo to jump over to the next container. As Spalding sprung through the air, something grasped his ankle and dragged him down and between the containers. His screams were followed by gunshots.
19
“Sir, the satellite is online and we’re bringing it to bear.”
Jericho spun the command chair around. “When you have the location zeroed in, put it on the big screen.”
Mark looked up from his station. “Drone is in a holding pattern. Random heat signatures scattered on-scene.”
“Delineate and tag those heat signatures, Major. I need to know who’s who.” Jericho spun his chair back to the front and tapped at his command console. “Anything out there that’s not supposed to be needs to be reported to Delta Team Leader.”
“Bravo Two through Four delineated and tagged. Delta Actual, is talking with an unknown.” Mark zeroed in the camera from the drone and switched from thermal to microwave to infrared. “Looks like Apollo has made contact.”
“Cut into their local coms,” Jericho ordered. The communications tech relayed the communications through the overhead speakers. After listening for a moment, Jericho nodded. “That’s Williams. Tag his signature and…who is that fast runner?”
Mark looked up at the big screen to see where the runner was. The heat signature cut and weaved from building to building then slipped between the cargo containers. “Checking. Signature is too hot and too large to be one of ours. Recommend warning the squad.”
“Agreed.” Jericho was keying the coms, preparing to inform the teams that an interloper was in the area when another heat signature disappeared from the top of the containers and a scream mingled with gunfire came across the coms. “Sitrep!” Jericho was punching in the command for a magnification of the satellite’s imagers as the coms erupted with the shouts and yells of the squad as they converged on the area between the two containers.
“That sounded like Spalding.” Major Tufo was on his feet and staring at the large screen above the far wall of the OPCOM. He watched as the screen resolution changed and the picture zoomed in on the area immediately surrounding the cargo containers. A very large heat signature disappeared from the top of the tall metal containers, and he couldn’t tell from the video what was happening on the ground.
Jericho had turned the volume down from the local communications and stared at the screen as well. “That’s too tight an area to bring the drone in without risking our people.”
Mark nudged the Captain. “Any of the overwatches have eyes on what’s happening?”
Jericho immediately switched to the helmet cams of the three different Bravo members. “Negative.” He cursed under his breath. “We’re blind.”
*****
“So what’s this big idea you have?” Foster reclined in the rich leather interior of the car and waited for his brother to expand on his thoughts.
“You remember Viktor,
oui
?”
“Of course. The first wolf that you tamed.” Foster gave him a wry smile. “Who could forget the giant hairball?”
Rufus ignored the barb and continued. “He has repaired the relationship he once shared with his mother. I intend to take advantage of that.”
Foster narrowed his gaze and shook his head in confusion. “I’m not following you.”
Thorn watched the town zip by through the tinted windows of the limo, his mind wandering to a different time and place when he could walk in the sunlight and enjoy all that the old world once offered. He turned slowly to Foster, his eyes still distant. “Viktor’s mother’s sister. She is a witch.” He allowed a moment for the words to sink in. “She can see things. Unseen things.”
Foster snorted, “You believe in witches?”
Thorn gave him a deadpan stare. “Says the vampire…”
“Touché.”
“She can tell us where Damien and his collection of body parts have hidden. Once we find out, we simply take a task force and collect him.”
“And if he resists?” Foster felt the corners of his mouth curling upwards, his anticipation growing along with his desire to destroy the wayward child.
“Then we convince him that it is in his best interest to discontinue his activities.” Rufus turned and faced Foster. “If he still resists, we simply remove his head from his body and bring the ashes back to the Council.”
Foster leaned forward and lowered his voice, his eyes casting furtive glances toward the enforcers in the front of the vehicle. “And if the Council is correct and he has already resurrected the demon whore? What then, brother? You know that she’ll be more than we can handle. Remember what the ancient books said. She can control the dead.”
Rufus sat back and contemplated such a scenario. “I believe that if we encounter that bridge on our journey, then it will be time to call in Jack once more.”
“Jack? Thompson? The wolf that wants your head on a platter? Just how do you think you could convince him to aid us?”
Thorn smiled and leaned his head back, his eyes closing. “By convincing the Monster Squad that Lilith is a threat to humans. They’ll have no choice but to deal with her.” He turned his head slightly and cracked an eye open. “At which point we will step in and retrieve the pieces and ensure they are scattered.”
Foster laughed and leaned back in the seat, emulating his brother. “I like the way you think.”
*****
Kalen exited Azrael’s room and turned to go to his own room. He ran into Brooke and took a step back. “Excuse me, I didn’t mean—”
“Move it, Keebler.” She shoved past him and continued on her way.
Kalen lowered his eyes as she stormed away then stepped back into the hallway and squared his shoulders. “Stop!”
Brooke paused and turned to eye him cautiously. “I know you didn’t just use that tone with me.”
“I am your Second. You will comply.” Kalen stared her down as she slowly faced him.
“Oh, no you didn’t.” She planted her feet and glared at him. “No man speaks to me like he owns me.”
“I don’t own you, but I am in charge while Chief Jack is indisposed. You will comply.”
The corner of her mouth curved upward and Kalen wasn’t sure if it was a snarl or a smile. “Go ahead then, Sugar Cookie. Tell me to do something, so I can tell you where to shove it.”
Kalen shook his head. “There is nothing for you to do, but you need to listen to me.” He stepped forward and began closing the gap between them.
Brooke brought her hands up and planted them on her hips. “I don’t need to listen to anybody. I shouldn’t even be here.”
“And yet, here you are. You have been included as a member of our team and whether you like it or not, we need you.”
Her eyes registered the surprise at his words. She didn’t expect to hear him say that they ‘needed’ her. Her mind spun as she tried to think of a snappy comeback. “Well…I don’t need you.”
“I understand that.” Kalen stopped just in front of her. He lowered his voice and tried to soften his words. “You’ve always been alone and done things on your own, I get that. I understand that you don’t like being a force of one. But there is safety in numbers. We all have the same goal here and the Wyldwood claims that we need you. She wouldn’t have said so if it weren’t true.”
“That may be, but still, I don’t need you.” She narrowed her gaze at him and tightened the line of her mouth. “I’ve done just fine on my own.”
“I concede that point.” Kalen lowered his voice further and leaned in, essentially whispering to her. “What if the Wyldwood included you because she somehow knew that we couldn’t complete our mission without you? Perhaps she somehow knew that you were the key?” He shrugged. “I’m not saying that is the case, but it may well be. If it is, then
we
need
you
.”
“We?” She turned her head slightly and whispered into his ear. “Or
you
?”
Kalen stepped back as if he had been struck. “W-what? I don’t…” He averted his eyes and shook his head. “The entire team needs you. And we need you to be a team player.”
She raised a brow at him. “Truly? A lone assassin like myself truly becoming a ‘team player’? Do you really think that’s possible?”
Kalen squared his shoulders again and nodded. “I believe that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Especially for you, Brooke. I’ve seen you fight. I watched you in the simulator. You have real skill.” He turned and waved down the hall toward the other rooms where the other warriors rested. “They have skills as well. Imagine if you allowed yourself to actually become a part of what we are and not only added your skill set to our cause, but allowed yourself to trust the rest of us? Our assets on the battlefield would make this small force…”
“What?” she mocked him. “A laughing stock?”
“No.” He searched her face. “A force to be reckoned with.”
Brooke leaned against the wall of the hallway and studied the elf standing before her. “I’ll give you this, Keebler, you have a way with words.”
“What is this ‘Keebler’ you keep calling me?”
Brooke laughed and turned back down the hall. “I’ll tell you tomorrow. For now, Sugar Cookie, get some sleep.” She turned back and faced him. “I’ll give you and your little monster hunters a chance. But there needs to be something in it for me.”
“Besides doing the right thing? Besides learning from others with a different skill set? Besides having the opportunity to hunt down killers again, but with backup?”
“Yeah, yeah. You still owe me a night of fun, Sugar Cookie. I fully intend to keep you to that deal.”
Kalen watched as she turned and walked the short distance to her room then disappear behind the door. He felt a familiar pang but couldn’t quite identify it. He knew that she drove him mad with her attitude. She made him crazy when she rebelled against the authority. She irritated him with her flippancy. But she also held his respect as a warrior. She had this insane ability to get under his skin…and make him like it. He sighed heavily as he turned and opened the door to his own room.
Stepping inside, he realized that she was in the room adjacent to his. He lay down on the bed and tried not to think of the woman in the black leather jumpsuit. He tried not to think of the way she wielded her swords. He inadvertently placed a hand against the cinder block wall between them and wished that he could
feel
her presence through it.
He closed his eyes and tried not to imagine the female warrior that kept invading his thoughts.
*****
Jack sat in the far corner of his cell watching the interaction between Mitchell and his Fated Mate. The female timber wolf paced in agitation, wanting desperately to get through the bars and Mitchell’s Halfling form had long ago determined that the silver bars meant pain. It didn’t stop him from trying to reach through the bars to touch the timber wolf. Smoke rose from the areas that brushed the silver plated bars and the Halfling howled as the searing pain forced it to withdraw.
Jack’s mind drifted to Nadia and the baby. He knew that time was drawing closer to the arrival of their new addition, and he ached to be with her. Yet something told him that he was needed here. Besides tracking down the thieving bastard, Thorn, he felt like this was his second home.
Jack leaned back against the rear concrete wall of the cell and stared at the bars surrounding him. His mind drifted back to a better time when he was still on the island. Although he was Rufus’ Second, he knew nothing of the weapon that the vampire had constructed. He shook his great head as he considered how he’d been duped. If it hadn’t been for Thorn destroying his trust, he would probably be in Geneva right this moment with a handful of squad members, preparing to…
Jack sat up, his eyes wide. He stared at the cell door and wished he had a way out and a way to communicate. How could he have been so stupid? Of course Thorn would still go to Geneva! He
had
to. He had an audience with the Council. If Thorn were alive, he would be in Geneva. Come Hell or high water, he would find a way.
Jack beat his head against the concrete wall in frustration. He could feel it in his bones where the lying vampire was, and there was nothing he could do about it. Jack glanced at the clock on the wall and began calculating. Was it ahead or behind in Geneva? If Rufus met with the council, would he try to return to the states immediately afterward? If he did, what plane would he use?
Jack’s nerves started getting the better of him. He stood and began to pace in his cell, the nervousness of the other two inmates only adding to his frustration. He found himself unable to think in the Halfling form and Jack fought to maintain control. He had to remember his revelation so that he could begin his search the next morning. It was far easier to track someone when the trail is still warm.
*****
“Spanky!” Apollo took a giant leap and dove between the two containers. He tackled the large, hairy beast, wrapping his arm around its neck as his momentum carried them to the concrete below.
The pair rolled and Apollo found himself tucked under the huge mass of the monster. Teeth snapped near his nose and spittle flew as the monster attempted to chew his face off. Apollo worked his knee up and under the creature, holding it just out of biting range.