Duel Nature (38 page)

I nodded. That fit.

“Mr. Gordon, everything seems okay, but the
Commissioner’s office would like you to give them a call. Here’s
the number.”

“Thanks,” I said, puzzled by the
Commissioner’s interest.

“Hey what about the wolf?” Shane asked,
outraged.

Connell looked at me a bit helpless.

“He’s a service wolf,” I said.

“There, see, service wolf. You gotta let him
in, it’s the law.”

“We’re leaving anyway,” Stacia said, smiling.
Both men forgot the conversation and probably their names.

“What’s the job?” I asked her as we walked
out.

“Demons problems at another pack. North
Carolina, I think.”

“How come you’re the one to always deliver
messages to me?” I asked.

“Because I’m the only one
who can
always
find
you,” she said mysteriously as she sauntered out the
door.

As if I didn’t have enough strange mysteries
to think about.

I followed the beautiful blonde out the door,
thinking of a beautiful brunette and wondered where my strange life
would take me. In front of me, Awasos turned his giant head and
glanced at me. His normally brown eyes flashed lava red and his big
tongue lolled out of his mouth. He was laughing at me. Figures.

Epilogue

The Volvo Cross Country wagon might not have
been as roomy as the Tahoe or the Suburban I was used to, but it
handled a whole lot better, even with a huge wolf in back.

I was on a section of I-95 South that wasn’t
too busy, so when my cell rang I could answer it without being too
distracted.

“Dude, you really know how to make an
exit!”

“Hey Chet! What’s happening?” I asked. There
had been no contact from Tanya, Lydia or any of my other friends in
the Coven so I had left town completely in the dark.

“Where to start? Well, Mausya won the title
of Elder. She was a shoo-in after you demonstrated you could kill
ancient vampires by simply farting in their direction,” Chet
said.

“I did not fart!” I said.

“Yeah, right, that would probably destroy
Manhattan. Anyway she got the spot but all she does is frown and
tilt her head sideways. Especially when looking at Tanya.”

“How is Tanya…she hasn’t called me back.”

“She’s…fierce. Chewed out the entire Coven,
Elders and all. Right after you left, the Patrons got all up in
arms, you know ‘kill the evil mutant and stuff’. Anyway, everyone
was in the Conclave amphitheater, Mausya was officially an Elder
and T climbs up on an unused dais and rips into them. Asked them
how it felt to be part of the pitchfork and torch group for a
change. Suggested that by all means they should keep pressuring you
because that’s worked out so very well for Loki Spawn and the
government.”

“No way. What did Senka do?” I asked.

“She stood there and took it like the others,
but secretly I think she was proud of T. Anyway, Tanya explained
that so far you just get more dangerous when pressed and if they
wanted to tackle you then go ahead, but she was out of it and could
she have their stuff when you killed them all off. Dude, she was
freaking brilliant! But since then she’s been pretty grim, pardon
the pun. Been beating the bejesus outta Hosokawa in the gym.”

“Why won’t she call me back?”

“Cause, Dude, there are still whole groups of
vamps that want to kill your ass. They watch her every move and I’m
supposed to track your movements with your cell and credit card.
That’s why I’m calling…to tell you to ditch both. Seeing as you’re
headed out of town and all I figured it was safe to do it now.”

My companion in the passenger seat had been
painting her toenails and must have made a mistake because she
suddenly swore. It was quiet but still loud enough for Chet to
hear.

“Who’s that?”

“Stacia, my Pack liaison to the Asheville
Pack,” I replied, trying not to glance sideways at the long tan
legs stretched out in front of her on the dashboard. How do chicks
do that anyway?

“The super blonde? Oh shit!
That’s not gonna go over well. And
I
gotta be the one to tell Tanya! You must freaking
hate me!”

“Chet, it’s a business trip. Nothing
more.”

“Oh yeah, right! Like dudes on business trips
with superhot blondes never got into trouble before.”

Stacia, whose werewolf hearing let her listen
into my entire conversation turned sideways and grinned.

“Tell him thanks for saying I’m hot,” she
said.

Chet heard her without me repeating.

“I said ‘superhot’!” he said.

Stacia laughed and wiggled her freshly
painted toes. She was an incredibly low maintenance travel
companion. I guess it made sense, as she grew up poor in Vermont.
But she had taken to the New York fashion scene with such verve
that I had expected problems when the Alphas of the New York Pack
insisted that I take her with me. Instead, she was easygoing, not
particularly fussy and pretty funny. The hard part was that she
didn’t seem to own any clothes that fit. The cutoff Daisy Dukes she
was currently painted into were par for the course and her tee
shirt appeared to be a size or so too small. It was losing the
fight to contain her…assets. Distracting to say the least.

“Where you headed anyway?” Chet asked.

“Asheville, North Carolina.”

“What’s the gig?”

“The local pack down there is having some
kind of problem that includes both demons and murder. Brock and
Afina think I’m perfect for the job. Stacia is supposed to liase
with them and get experience.”

“Oh I bet she’s got experience!”

Stacia’s head snapped around and glared at
the phone.

“Look, Chris, I gotta go. Already pushing the
boundaries with this call, if you know what I mean?”

“Tell Tanya that I love her.”

“Before or after I explain you’re traveling
with a blonde bombshell?”

“Just do it, please?” I asked.

“You got it, boss,” he said and hung up.

I powered down the window and threw the phone
out. I’d rip up the card at the next stop.

“You really love her don’t you?” Stacia
asked.

“Oh yeah!” I answered.

“But if she loves you why did she make you
leave?”

“You heard my call – the vampires would have
tried to kill me. She needed to stay and calm them down.”

“So, the old ‘if you love something let it
go’ thing huh?”

“Maybe partly. She knows how I feel, we are
bonded.”

“Well she’s bonded. You not so much,” Stacia
said, looking straight ahead.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Chris, everyone knows that vampire bonds
only truly work both ways when both partners are actually vampires.
You’re not! You can break the bond if you want. She can’t.”

“I’m close enough!” I insisted.

“Really? Are you sure?” she said, then ended
the conversation by putting her ear buds in and turning on her
iPod.

I was sure though… wasn’t I? But deep down
part of me wondered at that. The road stretched out in front of us
and we were only halfway there. I sighed as I realized just how
much time I had to dwell on her words. I wasn’t Darkkin, in fact I
had no desire to be one, but I did want to be Tanya’s Chosen. So I
had to find a way to reassure the older vampires and try to figure
out Senka. She had been too self-satisfied for my taste. Sorting
out demons for a were pack would be a nice distraction.

The current radio advertisement ended and a
retro program came on. The first song up….’Werewolves of London’.
Perfect.

The End.

Acknowledgements

As usual, writing this book has been a great
learning experience. I need to thank my writing and martial arts
mentors, Joe, Jim and Jesse Bruchac, particularly for details on
Cheenos.

Marty Munson continues to be an outstanding
proof reader and of course I have to thank my wife and daughters.
Allison provided fashion details that I will never fathom and
Emilee continues to find me the perfect writing music. My wife,
bless her heart, continues to be my support.