Legend of the Ir'Indicti 5 - Destroyer Read online

  "Got everything out of the old house," Ashe said without turning toward Winkler. "Hope you don't mind."

  "Kid, this is your home. Of course you can bring your stuff."

  "I was wondering, too, Mr. Winkler, if you'd ask my mom for the paperwork from when I was born. You know, the birth certificates, the donated egg thing, the vampire scientist thing—all of that? It's in my dad's old safe. I doubt she remembers it's there, but we ought to ask. I think I want it," Ashe turned blue eyes toward Winkler's nearly black ones.

  "I'll ask," Winkler raked fingers through black hair. "But I can't promise anything. I think she's, well," Winkler didn't have to finish.

  "Unstable, you mean, where I'm concerned?" Ashe asked softly. "Yeah. I got that already."

  "Ashe, you're a good kid. One of the best I've ever met. You didn't deserve any of this," Winkler said, just as softly. "And I know we haven't been the best where you're concerned, either, but Trajan, Trace and I, well, you're part of us, now."

  "I know. Someday, I think I'd like to see Trajan and Trace's parents. They sound nice."

  "They are. Maybe we can invite them down, or send you home with Trace some weekend. I can't have both Trace and Trajan gone at the same time, but one of them can go with you."

  "I think I'd like that, Mr. Winkler. Just to be someplace normal for a little while."

  "Yeah. Kid, you haven't forgotten that your GED exam is Tuesday, have you?"

  "No, Mr. Winkler. I think I can pass it, but I'll study a little more on Monday, when things aren't so unsettled."

  "Still ready to go tomorrow night?"

  "Yeah. But be prepared to only get one. Things are solidifying against the other one. For now. But don't worry, we'll get the leak eventually. I can promise you that." Ashe shoved books onto the shelf harder than warranted.

  "Kid, I trust you. I just hope we get them before they do any major damage."

  "Yep. Mr. Winkler," Ashe gazed steadily at his guardian.

  "What, Ashe?"

  "Be ready for the shock when it comes." Ashe's eyes had darkened and filled with stars.

  "Kid, get some sleep, okay?" Winkler could only stare at those star-filled eyes for a few moments before looking away. It was as if they laid anything bare they looked upon, and Winkler wasn't sure he was prepared for his soul to be stripped and exposed.

  "I will," Ashe replied and went back to shelving books.

  * * *

  "Ashe?" Marco watched as Ashe settled himself at the huge breakfast bar Sunday morning. Trace, Trajan and Winkler had already eaten and taken themselves to the new weight room to work off a little steam before the full moon.

  "Marco," Ashe replied, accepting a plate of food from Craig, the werewolf cook.

  "Cori says your mom got upset last night when she came home from work. Thought somebody had robbed the house until she realized it was only your stuff missing. Mr. Winkler explained when she called that he'd let you in to get your things. That wasn't how it happened, was it?"

  "I owe Mr. Winkler an apology. I didn't think she remembered that somebody else had that room. I figured she was ignoring it."

  "I think it was Buck who sniffed your scent," Marco admitted glumly.

  "You had to ruin breakfast, didn't you?" Ashe lifted his plate and dumped it in the sink, turning on the garbage disposal. He stalked out of the kitchen immediately after, leaving a contrite Marco behind.

  * * *

  "Marco already spilled the beans. And I thought Buck worked for you. Isn't he smart enough to add two and two? Or is it his personal mission to make me miserable?" Ashe muttered when Winkler jogged up beside him. Ashe had taken off at a run down the beach.

  "I talked to Buck afterward," Winkler said, keeping pace with Ashe. Ashe knew Trajan and Trace were running at a distance behind him and Winkler, guarding both of them. "He realized he should have kept his mouth shut the moment the words came out of it, but Adele was already walking into the empty bedroom and having a fit. It's the full moon, Ashe, remember? Everybody's tempers are flaring."

  "Why should she care? I'm not her kid anymore. She didn't need any of that stuff. I just got it out of her house for her." Ashe was weeping and trying to run ahead of Winkler.

  "Let him go." Winkler stopped, allowing Trajan and Trace to catch up with him. "If I could get my hands on Aedan Evans right now," Winkler growled.

  "Boss, you'd have to stand in line. I think you're third, right now," Trajan slapped Winkler's shoulder. "Trace and I have a few things to say first, and none of 'em are nice."

  * * *

  "Cori, I screwed up." Marco spoke with Cori later as he walked the perimeter of the new beach house. He was on guard with Ace at the moment.

  "What did you do, Marco?"

  "I told Ashe that his mom thought the house was burglarized after his stuff came up missing. I should have kept quiet and let Winkler tell him."

  "Marco, what would you do if your mother didn't recognize you anymore?" Cori asked. "Ashe has enough trouble. And you probably said it all wrong."

  "I did," Marco winced. "Ashe dumped his breakfast in the sink and walked out. Craig was cussing about ruining good food and wasting his time."

  "Did Ashe hear that?"

  "Ashe hears everything."

  "Yeah. Maybe you should tell Mr. Winkler what Craig said."

  "Maybe."

  "Marco, just do it. We don't need somebody else persecuting Ashe. At least he cleans up after himself, instead of making the cook do it for him."

  "I get the idea that Craig just likes to complain. And it could be the full moon. I'll give it a day or two and see if he calms down."

  "Fine. But don't let this go too far if he really doesn't like Ashe for some reason. Not every werewolf likes shifters."

  "Cori, I know that. That doesn't have a thing to do with me and you."

  "I know that, too. Marco, I love you. I do. I just ask you to remember that Ashe was my friend before we ever went out. He's kept secrets—my secrets—for a long time. I owe him. And he's never made a big deal out of keeping the community alive. Do you think we'd have lived through that attack by Tanner and his Elemaiya? If Ashe hadn't been with us, they'd have taken Dori and the others straight to Mexico, after killing just about everybody here. That doesn't include what he did for me when Jeremy, well, you know."

  "I know. Cori, look. I'll watch out for Ashe as much as I can, but I'm not always the most tactful person or the best person in this sort of thing. Dad and I aren't speaking much and Ashe is in the middle of that."

  "I think we need to wait a few days before we start that conversation. Dad had a fit when he found out your dad doesn't trust Ashe anymore. He went off somewhere, probably to call Aedan. Aedan made him, you know. Aedan is my dad's sire. We didn't know until Aedan told Adele and Ashe just before he left. Daddy told us right after, since Aedan had already let the information out. Marco, Daddy owes Ashe, too. I don't know what that might mean now or in the future, but he does."

  "I hope it means he might stand with Ashe if any of those other three get any ideas," Marco growled.

  "Marco, that's scary."

  "Yeah. But if he stands with Ashe, don't you think that they can take down just about anybody?"

  "I didn't think about that. Ashe called me back from death. I was almost gone and he changed that. He neutralized the poison and made it so I could come back. If he can do that, what else might he be able to do?"

  "You know I love you. I owe Ashe in ways I can't begin to explain. And yes, somebody who can do that might be able to do almost anything."

  "I wish you were here right now," Cori moaned.

  "If I hadn't upset Ashe this morning, I could be there in a blink. I'll see you tomorrow, Cori. I have to get back to work." Marco said good-bye and hung up.

  * * *

  "Ace is worried about me. We'll be out in different places tonight," Wynn said. She and Dori had settled on the deck behind the O'Neill's house. Both had swimsuits on, but neither thought to get in the pool. Th
e last time they'd gotten in, Hayes had played volleyball with them.

  "What are we gonna do without Hayes?" Dori brought up the subject. "Larry and Jeff won't talk to anybody, they're so depressed. And Hayes' parents haven't come out of the house since the funeral. I don't know what they'll do for the full moon."

  "Stupid Chump and Wormy." Wynn used Ashe's derogatory nicknames for both boys.

  "We could be dead too. Cori almost was," Dori muttered. "If Ashe hadn't come."

  "We haven't treated Ashe very well, have we?" Wynn stared at her best friend.

  "Sali needs a good kick," Dori agreed. "Just because Marcus decides to get prejudiced, all of a sudden."

  "Sali's still alive because of Hayes and Ashe," Wynn said. "Marcus can stuff it."

  "Don't say that too loud," Dori rose and looked around, making sure no one else was in the adjoining yards. "Wynn, Marcus is still the Packmaster and he's officially in charge. We don't need him having somebody spy on us, too."

  "You don't think Sali would do that, do you?" Wynn stared at Dori.

  "I'm thinking about breaking up with him," Dori whispered. "I'm afraid to say anything around him now, and that's not good. You're supposed to be able to share stuff with your steady, don't you think? I'm afraid he'll take anything I say about Mom and Dad to his parents, and I sure don't want that."

  "You think?" Wynn's eyes widened.

  "Yeah. When we started dating, I said a few things. Now I'm worried."

  "Then if you're thinking about it, do it quick. But not today. Full moon," Wynn pointed out.

  "Yeah. Maybe tomorrow. Definitely before Wednesday; we're supposed to start school, then."

  "Yeah. Without Ashe and without Hayes. Dori, you dumped Ashe. Will he still be friends with us, you think?"

  "He'll always be friends with Cori. So maybe he'll put all that in the past. Didn't we have a good time that day we went out to eat and to the beach?"

  "Yeah. I nearly forgot about that since, well, the other stuff happened." Wynn traced her finger down the arm of her deck chair.

  "I know."

  "Maybe we could ask him to go out with us sometime, after I break up with Sal."

  "Ace may want to come."

  "Then I'll ask Cori to go. Come on, let's go inside and get something to drink."

  * * *

  "I expect you to be in place and waiting," Josiah Dunnigan informed his accomplice over the phone. He kept in contact with his spy by cell phone, because there was a chance someone might be watching if they were to meet in person.

  Josiah was getting odd rumblings in the area. Rumblings of things that were impossible or nearly so. Nevertheless, those rumors existed. His accomplice had even informed him of some of those rumors, shortly before they seemed to be forgotten completely. Josiah knew there were vampires in Star Cove. Worried about that, actually, until his accomplice stated that they were charged with guarding the shifters. Josiah breathed a relieved sigh and made his plans. "Just be there, all right," he demanded and hung up before there was a reply.

  Chapter 4

  Ashe had gone over the map of the terrain around the run area twice with Winkler, Trajan, Bear Wright, the Grand Master and Thomas Williams. "He'll be here," he pointed to a small stand of trees and mesquite. The thicket lay near a clearing, where the Pack would race past. "He thinks his accomplice will cause a distraction, but that won't be the case," Ashe sighed.

  If Chad and Jeremy had succeeded with their plan, then there truly would have been a distraction—in the form of a deer shapeshifter, thrust into the midst of a Pack on a moonlit night. Poor Lewis Sharpe would have been torn apart in his weakened condition, and eaten before anyone realized he was a shapeshifter. That would have given Chad and Jeremy ample time to carry out their plan and shoot Winkler and Trajan with poisoned darts.

  "Kid, are you up for the executions tonight? I don't know who Marcus has asked to do them." Winkler turned dark eyes on Ashe, who lifted his eyes to stare at his guardian.

  "I can relocate for a minute if I need to."

  "Is that what you call it?"

  "It's what it's called on that paper Hancock gave me," Ashe pointed out.

  "I forgot about that," Winkler sighed. "I still have my copy in the safe." Ashe shrugged at Winkler's comment.

  "Anyway," Ashe went on, "I'll be there with Principal Wright behind me, and the Grand Master and Mr. Williams when the time comes. Don't worry, our culprit won't get far."

  * * *

  "Kid, you didn't eat breakfast and I never saw you at lunchtime," Winkler pointed out later when Craig set out a light meal two hours before sunset. Ashe felt queasy as he stared at the roast beef subs Craig had laid out buffet style, with chips and baked beans.

  "Yeah. I ought to eat something, I guess," Ashe agreed and took the smallest sandwich he could find. He wasn't touching the beans; his stomach was tied in knots as it was. He felt something stirring, altering the conditions once more, but he didn't want to upset Winkler or deviate from the plan. Things would go as they would, one way or another. He had one other he might call on, and if he hurried, then he might have things in place before everything fell apart.

  * * *

  "I heard you were planning the takedown, and I know Zeke is hunting us. You have to include Eudora and me so he'll call off his trackers. Otherwise, we're as good as dead."

  "I'm not sharing the money with you," Josiah growled at Fergus Haskell over the phone. "You can help if you want, but Zeke will decide for himself if that's enough to keep his trackers away. He said they were tailing you."

  "Look, all we want to do is try to make this right with Zeke. He won't stop hunting us until we're dead if we don't make this right with him," Fergus begged. "We're pulling into Corpus now. Where can we meet and coordinate?"

  "I was about to have dinner so I can focus on what needs to be done later," Josiah pointed out. "Meet me at Darrin's Steak House—it's on Padre Island Drive on the south side. You can't miss it."

  "We'll be there in less than half an hour," Fergus said and hung up.

  "Yeah, you can be the bait," Josiah muttered and pocketed his cell.

  * * *

  "You don't sound surprised that I called," Ashe was the one who sounded surprised.

  "Let's just say that I had a visit—from a tall, brown-haired man," Kyle Williams, Corpus Christi's only resident vampire, informed Ashe after answering his cell.

  "You know Griffin?" Ashe almost squeaked the name.

  "Yes. Actually, my sire knows Griffin better than anyone I know. I've only seen him a few times over the past eighty-six years, but I do know him. He said to help out if I could. What do you need, young one?"

  "I need backup, because things have just gotten a little more complicated than I originally thought. I'll come get you. Did Griffin tell you that was all right?"

  "He said you had unusual methods, and that I could trust you."

  "I can keep you hidden until the time is right, but you'll have to work fast; we've got three areas to cover now, instead of the original one. At least your two will be closer together."

  "I'll do what I can," Kyle replied. "When are you coming?"

  "I'm here, now." Ashe stood inside Kyle's underground bunker, his cell phone in his hand. "Don't worry, I'll get you back home afterward and your location is safe with me." Ashe explained with mindspeech what was needed while he ferried Kyle to the werewolf running area outside Star Cove.

  * * *

  "Ashe flies. He has no need to come to Star Cove for the change," Nathan pointed out to Hector, Edmond and Casimir. Hector was the one asking, as the Honored One might expect an account of the boy.

  "Where is he, then?" Edmond demanded.

  "No idea. I'm sure Winkler is making arrangements for him to be safe. After all, Ashe is so tiny when he turns that he could fly about in Winkler's cavernous home without any harm or threat," Nathan replied stiffly. "And it is too late to contact the werewolf—you see the others here have already gone." Nathan jerked his hea
d toward the twinkling lights of the small community. He and the other vampires stood on the small strip of sand east of the Star Cove paranormal neighborhood, waiting for the shifters to make the change. They would watch and make sure the community was safe, but they would not interfere.

  "I do not like this," Hector pointed out.

  "Then perhaps you should tell Wlodek when you speak to him next," Nathan said. "Perhaps he will give you another assignment."

  "I will suggest no such thing. We have already informed him of the location of the child. We had no idea the boy would not return for the full moon."

  "Why should he? There's nothing here for him now," Nathan sighed. He wanted to shake his head over the turn of events that left Ashe without parents, but his sire had not consulted him before doing as he did.

  "We will make sure the boy is safe before we retire for the day," Casimir finally spoke up. Of those there, he was eldest and Wlodek had left him in charge. Casimir, too, had no idea what Aedan Evans had been thinking, leaving the child in the hands of werewolves and vulnerable to the others who hunted him. Nevertheless, he had to work with what he had. At the moment, he had no information on Ashe's whereabouts.

  "Fine with me." Nathan turned to walk back to the community and take up his normal position on a rooftop so he could see the shapeshifters as they wandered, prowled and hunted through the subdivision. Casimir and the others soon followed.

  * * *

  Ashe could see Sali standing at the outer edge of the Pack—they were all still in human form, waiting for the two scheduled for execution to arrive. Only the executioners and those scheduled to die would make the change for the planned execution. Afterward, the Pack would turn and hunt.

  Ashe wanted to shiver, even though he was mist. Weldon Harper, Thomas Williams and Bear Wright were with him. Winkler stood near Trace and Trajan at the inside of the werewolf circle, not far from Marcus DeLuca and Micah Rocklin. Marco, Wayne, Wynter and Winkler's other wolves stood in a knot behind Winkler. Ashe spotted several others in the crowd. Mr. Dodd. Greta Rocklin. Denise DeLuca, standing next to Randy's mother, Dawn. Even Hayes' parents were there. Ashe truly did want to sigh, then. Larry and Jeff were standing with them. Six more wolves walked into the moonlit circle, pulling Chad and Jeremy with them. Their chains had been removed somewhere and now both struggled against their captors.