Carved In Stone, page 54
“I won’t aid them.”
Dog pawed at the door, letting in a rough draft. “Just don’t attack them. And be here when I come back. I like the scent.”
Natalia’s tail wagged, ears perking up. “You like my scent?”
Dog grunted tiredly, wishing he could mount her again and then sleep for a week. “Enough to follow you north, but don’t expect me to act like you. I have no grudge against people.”
Dog hefted himself through the drifts, not hearing the screams of the woman now that he was outside. He waited to hear Natalia shove the door shut and felt like he could now understand Marc’s intense feelings for Angela. The need to have a mate had also driven him hundreds of miles into a harsh land that had tried several times to kill him.
His bond with Marc lit up, bright and shining in his mind. Dog wondered if he could send a message so far, but didn’t try. He needed all the strength he had to save Sally. The sense of her death being near was impossible to miss, as was the scent of something big. She was being stalked by an animal that even the other wolves were letting go first. The tracks were clear in the snow.
Dog padded through the animals surrounding the cabin without drawing notice. He was simply one of many who had come for the fight. Despite the Wind’s command for the two wolves to be killed, nature couldn’t change herself. The animals had already been given a target.
Dog edged to the door that was open, smelling something large, like a lion. He’d been near one of those a few times, and known to be careful.
He tracked the scent into the kitchen area that was filled with animals he normally would have eaten. Dog followed the stairs to a door that he hadn’t been able to get through earlier. He went up the final, narrow flight of steps to find danger already waiting for him.
Without a single noise, the huge cat leapt.
8
Jeff slid the truck onto the street, letting it go where it wanted until he felt the tires gain a bit of traction. Then he steered them across the dark, frozen tundra that had once been a playground. A swing set was yanked up, crashing into them.
“Hold my beer and watch this!” Jeff shouted, cackling madly.
Kevin tried to grin and hung on to the seatbelt, praying they didn’t die.
Jeff slid back into the street, bumping them off a small car to straighten the route. He gunned the engine to clear the hill in front of the house.
“Hang on!”
Kevin did and Jeff charged them through the front door of the house, where it was most vulnerable. The wood splintered easily, letting them go all the way in. Wood and debris fell, but the frame of the house held.
Jeff opened his door with a hard shove to move the rubble and corpses of the animals that had been in front of the house and inside it. He rushed up the stairs, confident of where Sally would be.
Kevin followed, after shutting both doors so that their escape was secure.
Jeff ran up the last stairs, rifle ready. They’d viewed Sally’s wild shadow through the top window, but Jeff hadn’t expected to find a wolf and a panther battling it out in the narrow space. The attic had been destroyed by a massive fight.
Sally, clutching her two snarling dogs, was on top of a cabinet in the far corner, crying.
Jeff tried to get the panther in his sights, but there wasn’t enough room. The fight was moving too fast. He couldn’t rush up to fire or he would be knocked down in the melee, and who knew where the bullets might go then. He settled for trying to get to Sally without interfering in the fight. If he could get her down to the truck, maybe Dog could run after them and jump in the bed.
Dog had never had fight a like this. The panther was his match in speed and ruthlessness, but she was more than he could handle in strength. Her jaws tried to snap his neck repeatedly, long claws swiping away patches of skin and fur. He wouldn’t be able to hold her for long.
Jeff skirted around the snarling, snapping animals, and ran to Sally. He jerked her down into his arms, not caring if she kept ahold of the mutts. He was actually hoping she wouldn’t. The panther might eat them while the people escaped.
Sally cried out, dogs yelping, but she tried not to struggle as Jeff carried her partially over one shoulder. He was almost to the stairs when the fight rolled their way.
Standing at the top of the stairs, Kevin was trying to figure out which dark mass to shoot when he was hit from behind by a furry form that knocked him to his knees. The heavy body leapt over him, and hit the floor. It immediately lunged again.
Jeff also jumped, leaping over Kevin to hit the stairs at full slide. He let them fall, using his coat for padding as they slid down to the truck.
Dog was at his limit as Natalia shoved between him and the panther. She managed to land a sharp bite to the panther’s nose, something he hadn’t been able to gain the advantage to do. He was forced to back off as Natalia bit down, and the big cat jerked away, slinging her aside.
Dog faced the angry panther, aware of Jeff taking the woman downstairs. Natalia lay in the corner nearby, whimpering.
Dog leapt forward, furious.
The panther’s fangs sank down into his shoulder as Dog’s teeth broke through the tough skin of her jaw. Blood fell as they both let go for a better hold.
“Down!” Jeff shouted, using his mental gift as hard as he could to reach Dog. He came right back up with his rifle. “Get down!”
Dog and the panther ignored his minor nudge, both clamping down on flesh and bone.
Jeff knew the wolf was about to die. He also wasn’t certain of making the shot. Left with no choice, he knelt down and tried to be as cool and calm as he’d always been before. Everything had changed for him when Crista had fallen.
Dog dropped to the floor as the panther’s weight pushed on him. The last bite had been too much.
Bang!
Jeff fired the rifle again and then rushed forward to place his sig against the big cat’s twitching head. His shot to the throat hadn’t killed it cleanly. The panther’s neck was bigger than his own.
With Sally safely inside the truck, Kevin returned to help Jeff.
“Grab his bitch!” Jeff ordered as he scooped Dog into his arms. The wolf didn’t even whine.
Jeff staggered as he stood up with the weight, seeing flying shapes outside the attic window.
The female wolf wasn’t conscious, and Kevin didn’t check her for injuries as he lifted her over one shoulder and jogged down to the truck.
“In the bed!” Jeff shouted, following him down.
9
Jeff slid them down the icy street, hitting furry shapes along the way.
“Are you okay?” Jeff asked, scanning Sally’s stiff form between them. Her dogs were in the floorboard, shivering and whining.
“Yes,” she answered stiffly. “Thank you.”
“Yep,” Jeff replied, manhandling the truck toward the side street they’d used earlier. The roads had grown slicker, but he could use their ruts.
Kevin shifted around to open the narrow rear window and slid through it, avoiding the smell. He hung onto the side of the truck, trying to settle the wolves deeper into the gear so that they wouldn’t be tossed out during Jeff’s wild driving. He and Billy were the Safe Haven wheelmen and they were a little bit crazy once an engine fired up.
Inside the cab, Jeff handed Sally a spotlight on a cord that was plugged into the truck’s lighter. “Keep this pointed at the road. Out in front, but not too high.”
Sally did as he instructed, wondering if Jeff knew he was bleeding in several places.
“Yeah, I noticed,” he grunted. “It’s what I get for being a Samaritan.”
Sally flushed, tilting the light to where he needed it. Without streetlights to aid them, the lamps on most vehicles weren’t strong enough for driving at night anymore, even in the snow. Civilization had contributed a lot more than people realized, especially the big cities.
“Do you need stitches or anything?” Sally asked suddenly. “I can do that.”
“You’ll have to take care of Dog when we land,” Jeff told her. “And we forgot your bag, so you’ll have to use the supplies we have in our medical kits.”
“Okay. Do I...” Sally was afraid to say it in case he’d forgotten.
Jeff surveyed the shivering dogs, finally having a little heart about the crippling disabilities that would have earned them death in man’s old world or any other. “No. But we’ll have to work some things out.”
Sally was relieved and tried to do a good job of holding the light. After the house being attacked, all she could feel was relief that Jeff had agreed to come back for her. She was certain it hadn’t been his idea.
Jeff saw that Kevin was hunkering down, using their bedrolls and a few of the emergency blankets from his kit for warmth. He was practically lying across both animals to keep them in the truck and Jeff hoped the female didn’t wake up. Dog’s mate was stocky and not the least bit friendly. She’d almost attacked Kevin instead of the panther when she came up the stairs. Only Dog’s whimper had saved the man.
Jeff settled the truck into their refreezing ruts on the road and carefully lit a smoke. His nerves were good, but he was about to broach a subject he suspect he would need patience for. That, he was always low on these days.
“So, why do you hate descendants and all other forms of human life?”
Sally stiffened in the dark truck. “I don’t hate all forms of human life.”
Jeff heard the tone, but didn’t let her slide off that easy. They had nothing but time to kill while he drove. Conversation would help him stay awake.
“I can read it from you, if that’s easier,” Jeff offered. “But I’d rather not.”
“Why?” Sally asked sullenly. “You’ve been in my head since I showed up.”
“I like to mind my own business,” Jeff stated. “When I can, I do.”
Sally crossed her arms, trying to find the words to explain her mentality. It was impossible.
“You were abused by one? Taken Captive? Witness atrocities?”
Sally glared out the window. “All of those.”
Jeff slid into her thoughts, staying shallow so he could still navigate the treacherous road. Everything was icing over.
She flipped through an awful childhood, where animals were her solace. The images were awful, like he’d expected. When she flashed to her marriage, Jeff eased off the gas to stare in disapproval. “Your father was a descendant. So are you.”
“I am not!” she shouted, sliding over to cringe against the door.
“If your father was, so are you,” Jeff repeated firmly. “You may not have an active gift, but the blood is the same.”
“My father was an abomination. I’m clean!”
Jeff didn’t respond. The quick flashes of her life said she had every reason to hate and deny her heritage. It was just a surprise to him to discover yet another descendant surviving out in the wilderness. At moments like this, it was hard to deny Adrian’s words about fate bringing them all together.
The urge to get home hit hard and Jeff shifted restlessly. “I don’t think you’ll like it at Safe Haven. Is there someplace else you want to go?”
Sally considered and then said, “I’d like stay with you for a while.”
Jeff eased on the gas, glad to discover she did have some common sense after all. “It’ll take a while for us to get there. You can let me know when you’re ready to be dropped off.”
“That’s fine,” she agreed, calming down. She knew what she was because of her father, and her isolation was a direct result. She wasn’t safe around people. She wouldn’t have gone to their camp, even if it hadn’t been full of descendants.
Jeff picked up the mike. “Jeff to base. Come in Safe Haven.”
Sally listened to him try to reach the big group that had been broadcasting regularly until yesterday. She felt his concern, but all she could feel was dread. She was now traveling south, without any of her gear. It was exactly opposite of how she’d wanted things to happen.
“I understand,” Jeff muttered. “But life doesn’t go by our plans.”
Sally stared out the window, wondering what fate had in store for her now. She was the slightly unwilling guest of a descendant. They had two injured, wild wolves along for the ride and they were headed toward a viper’s den. Lovely.
Exhaustion finally sank in and she rested her against the seat to snore softly.
Even falls out like an animal, Jeff thought.
Jeff grimaced at the odors, letting the glass down a bit. If she were going to stay with them for a while as she’d requested, then both her and her pets would need to be scrubbed. This was the last time he would tolerate that smell.
Jeff scanned the truck bed through the mirror. Kevin was under the tarps with the wolves, probably starting to get drowsy.
Jeff sighed, driving slower. He hoped they all slept until he got them to some place where they could hole up until morning. Kevin had to rest now, because when they landed, Jeff knew he’d be out for at least six hours straight.
The wind slammed against the truck, rattling the passengers, but Jeff kept it on course, pointing them south. They were going back and it was scary.
What if Safe Haven isn’t home for me anymore? I don’t have anything else.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
1
“Where’s Quinn?”
Angela didn’t scan the small meeting for him as the others were doing. She’d spoken with Quinn yesterday on matters of utmost importance. She had chosen him because no one would miss him until right now. All anyone was talking about was the weather, her bombshell and the masses of refugees.
“He’s on a different chore.” She motioned to Greg, who began unrolling a long map on the table in the topside training tent. “Greg will be his substitute for this.”
“What are we doing?” Kyle asked, positive it was related to the screaming outside their gate. The cries were loud enough to be heard over the party that Safe Haven was too anxious to enjoy.
“We’re going to lose our front door,” Angela informed the two teams gravely. “When that happens, we’ll be swarmed. I want Special Forces to be the wall between them and our people.”
“Oh, thank God!” Jax exclaimed. “Waiting sucks.”
The other Eagles scowled at him.
“Rookie!” Morgan accused behind his hand as he coughed.
The other men in the chilly tent grinned.
Jax flushed. “Sorry, but we’ve been waiting for the call for days, right?”
Neil sighed and Kyle grunted. Neither had readjusted to having rookies. Jax and Quinn had been on Marc’s team, but they hadn’t made it through level three before Donner came. To these level six and seven men, who’d been through all the lessons so far, the two were green.
“He’ll learn, gentlemen,” Angela stated without amusement. “They both will–later. Right now, I need a choice on this mission. I consider it self-defense and I have to know that you do as well. Please vote.”
“We did that!” Jax interrupted again.
This time, Kyle stood. “Shut up or get out.”
Jax opened his mouth and Neil punched him in it, since he was closer.
“Vote!” Neil demanded.
“Yes!” Jax glared up from the cold canvas floor, rubbing his jaw. “Kill them all.”
The vote was unanimous, as Angela had known it would be or she wouldn’t have called this meeting. A few days ago, when the guards had secretly decided, not everyone had been on the same page. She’d told Kyle to keep working on it and he obviously had. Doing doubles over that screaming mob made it hard to ignore the fact that the refugees were a serious threat.
“This is where I need each of you to be,” Angela stated, pointing to labels on the map of Safe Haven’s gate that Jennifer had drawn upon her request. “We are vulnerable on the side by our den, so dig in there if you have to. Use the little bunkers.”
“Who else will be out there?” Neil asked, hearing someone outside coughing. It sounded like the guy they’d met walking up the main road–Jayson–but the cough wouldn’t have improved that much already.
“No one,” Angela answered ominously. “I can’t tell anyone else yet. Neither can you, even with your thoughts. Go get in place now, quietly. It won’t be long.”
A minute later, Angela was alone in the cold training tent. She’d fended off the questions about what was coming, as she wasn’t totally sure and wouldn’t be until it was too late to provide them with orders. The echoes of rage and desperation from the gate were overwhelming even hundreds of feet away, but Angela let it build. This was it. As soon as she made the call, there was no taking it back.
I wish I could have told you everything, Marc, she thought suddenly. I’m sorry that I couldn’t.
Marc never would have approved these plans, but this would ensure that their people survived. Safe Haven had reached its limit.
Angela slowly hit the button on her radio. “All topside sentries are to leave their posts and take cover below immediately. The storm is getting too bad for people to remain up here. I repeat, Safe Haven is closed. All topside shifts are relieved of duty and ordered to bunker-in until the storm is over.”
Angela slid on her thickest coat and baklava, but it didn’t hide the tears. How many innocent people had she just sentenced to die?
2
Outside, a cheer went up from the mob as the guards began to vanish from their posts. Safe Haven’s gate was going to be unprotected!
A jeering, determined group of men immediately seized the opportunity, gathering refugees as they strode through the storm toward the only barrier between them and imagined safety. By the time they reached the fences, frantic refugees were coming from their tents and other zones. It formed an army of a hundred that kept adding warm, angry bodies.
Kyle stood on a nearby ledge, waiting for all their men to be clear. When the mob started climbing up the gate and fences, he slammed his palm onto the button, lighting it all up.
The electrified fence snapped and crackled in the snow, sending bodies flying. The smell of burning flesh wafted through the icy wind. Invaders bounced off the barrier like flies until someone realized what was happening and began screaming at the others.
