Shifter Wars (9 page)

I probably wouldn’t have said anything under normal circumstances, but Trina’s safety was at stake. “I just saw a pair of glowing eyes outside.”

Beatrice sighed and then motioned to the chairs. “I’m not surprised.”

“Seriously?”

“Have some cocoa.”

I reached for a stoneware mug piled-high with whipped cream. I took a small sip. It was luscious and rich.

“I can tell by your face you like it,” Beatrice smiled. “I see what Seamus means about you being so expressive.”

“The cocoa is wonderful.” But she wasn’t going to distract me. “Can you explain to me about the eyes?”

She hesitated. “How much do you know about shifters?”

“I haven’t had as much exposure to shifters as I have demons and vamps. I know you have an animal form you can transform into.”

“Yes. Each one of us has an animal self and a human self. It is important we change into our animal self periodically to maintain balance. For shifters who turn into smaller animals you would normally see in Northern Ohio, it’s easier to maintain the balance.”

“Like Matthew Johnson.”

Beatrice smiled. “Exactly. I hear he lived with you in his cat form for a while.”

“Yes. He almost got his balls shot off when I found out what he was.”

She chuckled. “I would love to have been a fly on the wall during that encounter.” She took a sip of her cocoa. “Now, for those shifters whose animal form is more exotic, they cannot simply change and wander around the Cleveland suburbs.”

“So they come here.”

“Griffin’s property is extensive, and fenced in, with a high level of security on the perimeter.” Beatrice sipped again before continuing. “Members of our pack are able to come here and change, knowing they’re safe.”

“So shifters can be any type of animal?”

“Yes. It can get confusing, since we call our groups packs, which usually is associated with wolves, but we can be any animal.”

“Wow.” I hesitated for a moment and then plowed on. “Why are you guys so secretive about your animal form?”

Beatrice looked at the fire for a moment before responding. “I wouldn’t say we are secretive, really. As shifters we can normally sense what another shifter’s animal is, but we have chosen not to share that knowledge outside the packs. Our animal form is sacred to us. I am surprised Matthew told you what he was.”

“He didn’t tell me. I caught him changing and my gun convinced him to tell the rest of his story.”

Beatrice’s eyes widened. “You can be persuasive when you need to be.”

We sat in silence for a couple of minutes, staring at the fire and drinking. Finally Beatrice fidgeted for a moment, took a quick breath, and then went silent again, frowning.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“Kyle, don’t write Seamus off.”

“Why do you call him Seamus when everyone else calls him Griffin?”

“Seamus is his first name. As a sign of respect, the pack leader is called by his last name.” She grinned. “Since I’m his baby sister, I have a little leeway.”

“And why are you pleading his case to me?”

“As the leader, Seamus carries a huge amount of responsibility. Responsibility no one prepared him for or thought he could handle.”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you ever heard the saying ‘the heir and a spare’?”

“No.”

“Seamus is the second-born son, the spare. He was never supposed to become leader. But when our older brother William died…”

“He took over the throne.”

“Exactly. And it wasn’t easy. William had always been the golden son who could do no wrong. It’s hard to fill those shoes.”

“Well, Griffin appears to have no trouble bossing people around.”

“He can be a royal pain, but he means well.”

“Well, I’m not one of his subjects. He doesn’t get to order me around.”

She laughed. “No, you’re not. But understand there is a reason why he’s barking at you.”

“And what would that be?”

“He likes you, you silly human.”

I gawked at her, my stomach tightening. “Half the time I want to throttle him.”

“And he you, which is part of the fun.”

“Fun? How is it fun?” I took a sip of the rich chocolate to hide my face.

“If you think arguing strikes sparks, think about the sex you’ll have.”

I choked, sucking the cocoa down the wrong pipe.

Beatrice set her mug down and thumped me on the back. “Oh, dear, I forgot how repressed you humans are.”

I coughed for a couple more seconds, wiping the tears from my eyes. “I’m not repressed. I just don’t normally discuss my sex life, especially with a man’s sister.”

“Don’t worry. When it happens, I won’t ask for any details.”

“It isn’t going to happen.”

“We’ll see.” Beatrice smiled and curled her legs underneath her. She looked like a satisfied cat, which made me wonder what her animal form was. Somehow I was sure she wouldn’t be the garden variety domestic short-hair. I had a sneaking suspicion she was of the more exotic variety that spent time in Griffin’s backyard.

Chapter 11

I woke up sweating. Not the glistening, pretty kind, but the dripping sweat everywhere kind; behind my knees, under my arms and pooling between my breasts. I sat up and looked out the window. The sun was just coming up. Snow swirled outside, and wind rattled the pane as if someone was trying to break in. I shook my head to clear away the fog. The dream that woke me up had been a teeth-clenching one. Was it one of Dalton’s memories?

I closed my eyes and concentrated on images that danced just out of reach. Although they were only vestiges of the dream, they still made my heart pound in a staccato beat.

As the vision took solid form in my head, searing pain shot from the back of my neck and black dots swam in my vision.
Holy God.
I clutched my neck, pressing on it as if that would stop the pain. Then Sebastian’s voice filled my ears.

“Tell me where the Key is, Lieutenant, and the pain will stop.”

I stammered, “I don’t have the Key.” But instead of my voice I heard Dalton’s, breathy and spiked with pain.

“If you give me the Key, I will let you live. I might even let you share in its powers. You could help me knock those self-righteous angels off their pedestals. Would you like that?”

“No!”

Sebastian sighed dramatically. “I’m getting thoroughly sick of this white knight routine. If you don’t care about your own health, perhaps I should have Kyle join the party. Do you want me to do that?”

“I don’t care what you do.” But the minute the words were out of my mouth, the pain exploded exponentially. Instead of dots, my entire field of vision went black, and I cried out.

I could barely hear Sebastian’s next words, since the pain garbled them. “You are a bad liar, Lieutenant. I think it’s time to call your girlfriend.”

The memory faded slowly. I drew deep breaths through my mouth so I wouldn’t throw-up. Hugging my knees to my chest, I rocked for a couple of seconds to calm myself. I had only experienced seconds of Dalton’s memory, but even that little bit was horrific. In reality, Sebastian had tortured him for hours. After a couple of minutes, once I thought my legs were strong enough, I got out of bed and stood in the shower, washing off the sweat and clearing my head.

I couldn’t ignore these memories any longer. I needed to figure out what they meant. What the Key meant. It was time for some heavenly assistance. I had never summoned Dalton’s grandmother, but then again, I had never tried before.

“Marie!” I waited and then bellowed again, “Marie!”

After a few seconds, a voice answered me. “Girl, stop the caterwauling, you’ll wake up the dead.”

I rolled my eyes.

She chuckled as she materialized in front of me. “You have no sense of humor.”

“Yes, I do. You’re not funny.”

“What can I do for you this morning?”

“I just had one of Dalton’s memories.”

The laughter vanished from Marie’s eyes. “Oh, child. Are you okay?”

“Yes. But I need to figure out what this Key is all about. Have you found out anything?”

“Not really. It’s amazing to me how hush-hush everything is up there.” She huffed. “I mean, if they don’t trust us, why did they let us in to begin with?”

I shrugged. It was a good question, but I didn’t have the answer.

“Can you tap into any earthly type of help?” Marie asked.

“I don’t want to bring Misha and Jean Luc into this right now.”

“Okay…What about the priest who was helping you?”

I gave the idea serious consideration. When the team had discovered the prophecy about the Key, Father Brown had translated enough of the lines to make it clear Dalton was the one who had absorbed it. But I had hoped to keep Father Brown out of danger as well.

“I’m not sure it would be safe to involve Father Brown.”

Marie drifted to the window and looked out at the snow. “Maybe it’s not supposed to be safe for him.”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you try to erase his memory last summer to protect him and you couldn’t do it?”

I gaped at her. “How did you know?”

“I was spying on you, dear.”

“No wonder they don’t trust you in heaven.”

“Pffft. I already told you I was worried about you after you erased Joe’s memory. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t going to do anything stupid. Now, back to Father Brown. Maybe the reason you couldn’t erase his memory is because you weren’t supposed to. He could be an important piece in this Key puzzle.”

I couldn’t fault her logic. “Maybe…”

“I think you should go see him. Find out if he was able to translate more of the prophecy after you ran away.”

I growled, “I didn’t run away.”

“Whatever you say. Call me if you need anything, just not so loudly next time.”

Before I could muster a retort, she faded away.
So not fair.

* * *

I had the cab drop me off in front of Gesu Church. Father Brown normally celebrated morning mass at seven a.m., and I was more than late. A few people were walking out of the church as I was going in.

Father Brown stood at the back of church shaking hands. He resembled Jimmy Stewart—tall and lanky, with kind eyes and a voice that somehow sounded like a Norman Rockwell painting.

I stayed back until the small crowd dispersed. When he turned toward me, his eyes flared in recognition, but he kept his cool. I had told him never to acknowledge me in public, because I felt he’d be safer if the supernatural community believed I had erased his memory of last year’s events.

“Can I help you, miss?”

“Do you have time to hear my confession, Father?”

“Of course. Come this way.”

I followed him to the back of the church, and he pointed to a door. “Wait in there while I change out of my vestments.”

I stepped into a room without a window. It held two chairs and a small table with a Bible and rosary. After another minute, Father Brown walked in. He wore black pants and his shirt with the priest’s collar. He closed the door and flipped a switch on the wall. I raised my eyebrow in question.

“It turns on a light outside the room to let people know the confessional is occupied.” He smiled at me. “How are you doing, Kyle?”

“Better. I’m sorry to just show up, Father.”

He gestured to the seats, and we both sat down.

“No problem. When did you get back into town?”

“How did you know I was gone?”

He shrugged. “I have my ways. I have a number of parishioners in Little Italy.”

I frowned at him. “You have to be careful.”

“I never brought up your name. I just asked a couple of questions about your apartment building and several of your neighbors mentioned you had moved out and a young man was living in your apartment now.”

Before I could admonish him again, he patted my hand. “I was worried about you.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was leaving. I wasn’t exactly in my right mind. I just needed some time on my own.”

He nodded. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

“No, which is why I’m here today. Have you been able to interpret any more of the Key prophecy?”

His forehead crinkled. “Is Lieutenant Dalton in some kind of trouble?”

I hesitated for a second. I had not told him I absorbed Dalton’s memories and, therefore, I might also have absorbed this mythical Key. “No, he’s fine. But I need to understand what the Key does.”

He reached for his chest pocket and produced a small black book. He flipped through the pages until he found a folded piece of paper.

“You carry it with you?” I couldn’t hide my surprise.

“I don’t know where else to hide it. I keep it in my book of scriptures. Couldn’t think of a safer place.” He unfolded the paper and set it on the table between us. “When we last met, I had translated the first stanza and part of the second.” He read the stanzas out loud as a reminder.