Melabeth Forgive Me, For I Am Sin! (25 page)

それの厚いへ

I was riding shotgun again as the truck slowly climbed up a dirt road. The sun had not yet set
, but we were trying to get a head start. The further we got into the mountains before night, the more time we would have to find our prey before day.

Between my break up with David and the news he had been betraying me. It had me reconsidering my life as a vampire. I remembered back when I killed the three men in the alley. David had pointed out that I had murdered the last man because I didn’t have to kill him. Not long after I saw a boy trying to rape a girl and I spared his life. I had remembered David's words when I spared the boy, but they were short lived. Not long after that those words were lost to both of us as we killed many different people. Last night after my freak out I killed a man. I didn’t have to, but I needed to make sure I was strong for tonight. I wasn’t really upset about it, and that is what bothered me.

I had been alone after my mother died. My father was no father, and kept me away from any real friends or parental guidance. It had made me self reliant, but also I became disconnected with people around me. The drug addicts taught me that no one could be trusted and I lived my life that way. Then that life was taken from me only to be replaced with a new one. The first person I trusted has now betrayed me… I felt cold inside. If I could not trust David because he was hiding things from me, what about Nicks and the Whites? If not for Carrie I would be all alone, and I only trusted her because she was attached to me.

My thoughts were broken as Ezra brought the truck to a stop and killed the engine. He announced, "This is far enough."

We all jumped out and geared up. I was wearing my dress with the tall boots; Alice had this dress made for me and the fabric was magical. It would help protect me from fire and slices to my body; in fact everyone was wearing magical clothes. Ezra looked like he was heading to town with his black suit covered with a trench coat. He was sliding weapons into his coat and around his waist. Charlotte wore a black leather jump suit, with a long coat that looked the same as Ezra’s. She had blades attached around her waist and chest and I was sure there were some I couldn’t see. She also carried a spear; the shaft was made of steal. It would have been too heavy for a mortal.

Bonnie wore blue jeans with a red shirt covered with a jean jacket. Clyde on the other hand was something else. The large black man had on a brown leather outfit with large boots. He had chain mail wrapped around him with pieces of armor
. Metal plates covered his shins and forearms, plus two large shoulder plates. He looked as if he just came out of some medieval movie. To top it off he was holding a large double sided axe. He also had chained ammo crossing his chest; they went to an M60 which he strapped to his back. That was a lot of fire power, he looked fearsome indeed.

Alice’s dress looked a lot like mine; we both looked as if we had stepped out of a twisted Gone with the Wind movie. And the fact that both of us had blades and other weapons attached all over our dresses helped with the crazy look. Alice was still cradling her baby doll in her left arm, but I knew that the baby’s legs were knifes.

Michael came around the back of the truck carrying two large rifles with high power scopes. He handed one to Bonnie. He was looking good, wearing skin tight jeans with a black button up shirt. He also had on cowboy boots with a matching hat. The shirt did his chest justice as it wrapped around his chest. As his long hair whipped in the wind he reminded me of a Marlboro commercial I had seen on TV.

I looked away to see Charlotte spinning, making sure that none of her weapons caught as she moved. I looked over at Alice and said, “Why is it that we are the only ones who got uniforms?”

Alice frowned, “UNIFORMS, as if. We look good; it’s not my fault that Ezra and Charlotte think we’re going to a nightclub.”

Charlotte chi
med in, “Or how about those two?” She pointed at Michael and Bonnie, “Ho down perhaps?”

Clyde stepped forward and with his deep voice boomed, “I am the only one dressed for the occasion… the occasion for kicking ass that is.”

We laughed as Ezra started tossing rifles out of the truck. He threw me an AK47 with a folding stock. It was shortly followed by a bag holding thirty round magazines. I strapped it on to my back along with the ammo. At our meeting last night Ezra had explained that werewolves and shifters had hard skin. Hand guns wouldn’t penetrate, the more powerful ones like a 44 wouldn’t penetrate far enough. For that reason, we had to use high powered rifles. We were carrying them for two reasons, one they made it easier, two they would help us a lot if caught out in daytime. Our swords and knives could break easily upon the wolves skin.

Ezra cleared his voice to get everyone’s attention, “Remember your places.
Michael and Bonnie are covering and will take up the rear. Charlotte guards Alice; Clyde and I will take up points behind Melabeth, while Melabeth leads the way.”

We all nodded as I picked up a short sword. As I walked into the forest; I could hear and therefore see with my second sight, everyone formed up behind me. It felt a little strange
when last night around the fire Ezra put a guard on Alice, but I soon found out why. Alice could only control so many minds, and if she got caught up defending herself she would be less help to the rest of us.

I felt bad that Michael was with Bonnie. He was back there because he was much weaker than the rest of us. Bonnie was even weaker then Michael, even though she was older. Still they both knew how to shoot and could pick off our enemies from a distance.

The forest was amazing. As we followed the river upwards, we headed deeper into the reserve. We passed two or three waterfalls, one we had to stop so Bonnie could take a picture. Her camera was amazing, she could take a picture and it would come right out the front of the camera. She called it a Polaroid, I was amazed. She let me take a picture and I was excited to see it come to life before my eyes, but before I could take another, Ezra reminded me that this wasn’t a vacation.

I responded with, “Yes sir. Let’s move it, come on men.”

Bonnie added, “And women.”

As we went deeper into the woods and climbed to  a higher altitude, we began to walk over snowed cover ground. It was strange as we moved through the forest without a sound, not even a foot print. The animals in the forest were taken by surprise as we hurried by.

Not much longer after that the sun fell behind the mountain. Carrie reappeared next to me; she spun around confused trying to get her bearings in the dark forest. She complained, “I hate that. I’ll never get used to popping into God know where, surrounded by God knows who. So, how y' all doing? Have you seen any wolves yet?”

“No, go look for me, ok,” I gave her an encouraging smile.

Carrie gave me a wink, “Back faster than you can de-feather a chicken.”

I could hear Bonnie from the back asking, “Who’s she talking to?”

I think Michael was starting to answer when Alice said, “Michael you’re up. Melabeth did you send your ghost to scout?”

I nodded as I answered, “I did.”

Alice replied, “Good.”

Ezra commanded, “Fan out while Michael works.”

I complained, “I wanted to see this.”

Ezra pointed to where he wanted me to stand, “You can see in many directions. Just make sure he is safe while he concentrates.”

I moved to the location he had pointed out, it stood on higher ground. I would be able to see someone approaching easily from here. I turned and looked down the hill to watch Michael work. I whistled so that my second sight would come to life, no one would be able to sneak up on me.

Michael laid down his rifle and then took s a seat on a fallen tree. He looked like he was just sitting there doing nothing, a real bump on a log. I giggled at my own joke but was hushed, by Charlotte. Michael was staring off into space with his hands in his lap. I was beginning to wonder when his power would take hold when an owl swooped by my head.

The owl was shortly followed by another. No less than twenty owls now encircled Michael, but my attention was pulled away by a squealing noise. The little squeal brought my second sight to life as the forest became a picture in my mind. I could see all the little details, no color, but still the shapes of all things filled my head. It was like a black and white model where I could see in all directions at once. The squealing was coming from bats.

First it was just a few bats flying around, then it was hundreds, followed by what seemed to be thousands. They filled the air and circled Michael until they became a black swirling mass. The squeal was almost a roar as they gathered. Then all at once they flew off, flying out in all directions. They were shortly followed by the owls.

I knew that Michael not only controlled these animals, but could communicate with them. He could even see and hear what they could. They would understand what he was looking for and would send him images if they found it. The forest fell quiet as we all stood around, waiting for Michael to make contact.

An hour or more had passed, Michael had not moved and inch. Carrie floated in front of me, becoming more solid. She spoke with frustration, “I went as far as I coul
d, but I didn’t see a thing. Y’ all have any luck?” I put my finger to my lips as I pointed at Michael. Carrie moaned loudly, “Oh that’s just great… more quiet time. Ain’t noth-in worse than a natural yaker to be stuck haunting a bunch of stuffed vampires.” I had to stifle a laugh, which brought a small smile to Carrie’s face. “I guess there noth-in to it, but to wait.”

And wait we did, it was past midnight before Michael moved. He stood up and with excitement, “We got them, but they know were here and there readying themselves.”

Ezra sounded like a general as he gave orders to Michael, “Give the information to Melabeth. She will lead, ready you’re selfless.”

Michael flashed up to me. I was ready for him to tell me which way to go, but he did not speak. Instead he cut the end of his finger and offered up a drop of his blood. I understood, but still I was nervous as I let him put his finger into my
mouth. As he pulled his finger out I could taste the blood, it was different from humans.

Alice had been working with me to access the memories in blood. I concentrated, and soon I was flying through the woods. Over the white snow as I whipped in and out of trees; I came upon a small group of cabins. Four of them set in a small circle, outside I could see three, no wait, make that six large wolves. They were much bigger than normal wolves; they looked to be as big as a black bear. As I flew around the cabins one of the doors opened and two men stepped out. One was Randy Smith, one of the brothers. He still looked human
, wearing blue jeans and a red plaid jacket. He was followed by Alex.

Alex was wearing a large gray overcoat; he looked like he did on the boat. He looked around and when his eyes made contact with me they stayed locked on. He followed me as I flew back and forth. Then he warned, “They know were here, they will be here soon.”

With that he flicked his wrist; it looked as if something flew towards me… then nothing. I was now standing next to Michael, “Well, that’s what it’s like to be a bat. Did he kill it?”

Michael nodded, “Yes. Do you understand how to get there?”

I thought about it for a second. It was so weird; it was like remembering my way to the store. I knew exactly how to get there. I nodded, “Follow me.”

With that I turned and started into the forest. With my second sight I could see my friends taking up their positions as we moved without a sound. We moved fast, not running but jogging. We slid through the undergrowth as we dodged limbs and jumped over dead trees and rocks. Yet none of us left tracks or even a broken twig, it was eerie being a vampire.

We came upon the last hill, I knew the hour was becoming late, or early depending on your perspective. I whispered, “Over the next hill. Are we ready?”

Even with a whisper I knew they could hear me. The sound of different acknowledgments filled my ear. I moved forward, but this time slower as I gripped the sword in one hand
and a long knife in the other. As I crested the hill I could see the four cabins below. They were hard to make out through all the trees, but I could see them. The trees were not very dense, but thick enough it would be hard for Michael and Bonnie to get clear shots.

The air was cold with winter
's grip. From beyond the cabins I could make out movement, which soon over took the cabins. It was a wall of fog, unnatural for it was too cold. This was the work of magic and soon we were engulfed in a thick layer of fog. I could only see about four or five feet in front of me. That of course was using my eyes; the fog did nothing to blind my second sight. This fog would hurt the use of guns, what else Alex had laid before us was anyone’s guess.

I didn’t have to guess for long, with my second sight and my ears I could hear them. The wolves came at us, at the same time they were flanking us on both sides. It wouldn’t take long before we were surrounded.

Before I could think of what to do, Clyde yelled out, “Aaaaa, let’s get them.”

With that he flashed forward and with a mighty axe swing
, he hit one of the wolves. The animal flew against a tree with a yelp and blood gushing out of its side. Ezra moved in to help Clyde. I turned to see Alice and Charlotte engaged with four of the beasts.