Banewolf (Dark Siren Book 2) (9 page)

Kali stood on the small porch anxiously shifting her weight from foot to foot. Smoothing the front of her shirt one last time, she lifted her fist with the intent to knock, but the door swung open before she got the chance. 

Greg and Lisa’s faces lit up like Christmas trees as they pulled Kali into their arms and wrapped her in a great, big, welcoming hug. Surprised by how good it felt, Kali returned the embrace with enthusiasm.

The last to pull away, Lisa patted Kali’s hair and kissed her cheeks. “It’s so good to have you home, honey.”

“Thank you.” Kali tried not to choke on the words. A warm and fuzzy feeling she didn’t often get bubbled up in her insides. But seeing the stern expression tug at Greg’s face caused a few of those bubbles to pop.

“Young lady, were you about to knock?”

“Uh…” Kali felt a blush rising to her cheeks. Ducking her head, she nodded.

Greg placed two fingers beneath her chin and lifted her face to his serious brown eyes. “This is your home, Kalista Metts. No matter what happens. Don’t ever forget that.”

A tear tickled Kali’s cheek. Brushing it away with some annoyance, she threw her arms around Greg’s neck. “Thanks, Dad,” she whispered.

They parted, and Greg turned another serious stare toward Rion and War. “I take it that these young men are friends of Rhane’s.”

War
solemnly tipped his head while Rion responded without reservation. “Yes, sir!” He extended a hand that Greg immediately shook. “I’m Rion. And this is Warren.”

“Are you boys staying for dinner?”

Kali glanced over at them. She wasn’t sure what instructions Rhane had left. Rion and War were enjoyable company, but she didn’t want them sitting in on dinner with her folks just to fulfill their role as babysitters. Rion shook his head and she relaxed.

“We were just making sure Kali got home safely.”

“Thank you for that.” Greg smiled. “Tell Rhane I said hello.”

“Will do, sir.”

As soon as the boys left, things in the Metts household were as if Kali had never left. Greg and Lisa were the same loving parents. Rozzy was the annoying older sister. Though, she was a bit quieter than her usual self. They all sat at the dinner table, greedily watching the lasagna as Lisa brought dinner out of the oven, steaming hot and smothered with a variety of melted cheeses. Kali could hardly wait for the stuff to be on her plate. The rich, buttery pasta licking the insides of her stomach was going to be wonderful.

The doorbell rang and Kali froze. She hoped nothing was wrong, that it wasn’t War and Rion coming back to retrieve her. Greg got up from the table warily, stopping to kiss a worried looking Lisa on the cheek. From her seat, Kali couldn’t see the front door. She could barely make out Greg conversing with whoever it was on the doorstep.

When Greg returned, he was frowning. “Kalista, I realize there is probably a lot of catching up you’d like to do with your friends since you’ve been away for so long. But your mother and I would really appreciate a little more of a heads up if someone is going to be joining us for
a family
dinner.”

Kali was genuinely confused. “I didn’t invite anyone.”

“Callan is here.”

“Oh.” Caught completely off-guard, Kali had nothing else to say.

“Go talk to him.”

“Uh…I…” She still wasn’t sure what to say.

To her surprise, Rozzy spoke up. “She didn’t invite him. I did. He’s my guest.”

Even Greg seemed taken aback for a moment. His frown grew even more severe. “Rosalyn, this was supposed to be a night for the family. Go tell Callan you can’t see him right now.”

“But, Dad—”

“No buts. Go.”

Kali cleared her throat, inciting a glare from her sister. “Um, Dad…,” she said a little nervously but knew she had to ask. “I would like him to stay. Please let Cal stay.”

Greg sighed and looked at his wife. She shrugged.

“Fine. He can stay. One of you needs to go see him in. The other can set an additional spot at the table.”

Rozzy jumped up and ran to the door. Kali took it as her cue to get another plate. As she turned to set it on the table, she met Cal’s deep blue eyes watching her from the doorway. She returned the stare and tried to figure out what was different. Then she understood. The
majorly-creeped-out-because-this-guy-is-a-sociopath feeling was missing. It was like being around the old Cal again. Kali smiled in relief. Cal smiled too.

Greg cleared his throat. “Callan, why don’t you have a seat?”

“Yes sir.” Cal complied without taking his eyes away from Kali.

Blushing
, she looked away and quickly took a seat. There were two spots open at the dinner table. Cal had a choice of either sitting next to Kali and across from Rozzy or next to Rozzy and across from Kali. He chose the latter.

Great.
She was going to have to stare into his eyes all night. She took a deep breath, concentrated on serving herself as the food was passed to the left. Without looking, she knew Cal still watched her. At the moment there was nothing scary or eerie about his presence, but the perpetual staring made Kali quite uncomfortable. It didn’t help that everyone else at the table was silent.

Greg finally spoke. “Callan, the real food is in front of you.”

Kali’s face grew even hotter. She would have preferred the silence.

Lisa was quick to reprimand Greg. “Honey, don’t embarrass our children.”

“My apologies, Mr. Metts,” Cal said, recovering easily. “Your daughter is truly a rare beauty.” He squeezed Rozzy’s hand and looked at her for the first time since entering the kitchen. “They both are.”

Greg and Lisa alternately considered the three teenagers at their table. “Lisa, do you feel like we’re missing something here?”

Lisa nodded. “Oh yes. We’re definitely missing something.”

The food on Kali’s plate was untouched. She was afraid she’d choke if she tried to eat. The memory of Cal/Gabriel pressed against her naked body in the shower unexpectedly popped into her mind. Red eyes. A hand around her throat.
Darkesong.
Kali gasped.

Two screams shrieked over the dining table as Greg shouted. Opening her eyes, Kali saw she now stood
several feet from the table and the place setting in front of Cal burned with grey fire.

Crapola.

Greg sprang into action, running to the pantry to retrieve the fire extinguisher. Cal remained as he was, calmly gazing at Kali through the blaze.

Her dad returned to the dining table shouting, “Kalista, get back!”

In a few seconds, the fire was gone but everyone was still freaked…everyone except for Cal. His lips pulled back into an odd smile. “Impressive,” he said.

Kali was almost too afraid to move. Two fires in one day…she had started two fires in one day with no idea how she’d done it. Greg took Kali by the shoulders, shaking her and asking repeatedly, “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Greg.” 

“That fire came out of nowhere.” Panic brightened Lisa’s eyes. “Greg, honey, the fire just came out of nowhere.”

“I know, baby. Stay calm.” Placing two hands against her cheeks, Greg turned Kali’s face away from the table so she would look at him. “Kalista, are you sure you’re alright?”

She nodded firmly, digging deep to convey confidence she didn’t feel. “I’m okay.”

“Okay.” Greg looked around the kitchen, visually examining the rest of his family. He jerked his chin at Cal. “How about you? Those flames got pretty close to you.”

“I was not harmed. “
At last, Cal stood up. “Perhaps you should move your family to another room. I will take care of this mess if you allow it.”

Kali closed her eyes again, slowly reopening them. The creepy feeling was back. Cal wasn’t being Cal. He didn’t even sound like Cal.

“That sounds like a good idea. Thanks.” Greg herded Lisa and Rozzy from the kitchen, but Kali hung back.

“Let me help Cal. I did this.”

Looking too bewildered to argue, Greg nodded. “Okay. If it’s what you want.” He started to follow Rozzy and Lisa into the living room but stopped. He looked back at Kali. “Fire, huh?”

“Yeah,”
she said a little breathlessly.

“Yeah,” Greg repeated and smiled weakly. “Let’s not do that at the dinner table next time. Okay?”

“Okay.” As he started to leave again, Kali called his name. Greg regarded her with the air of a very worried father. She took a breath. “I think I should call the boys. Maybe it isn’t safe…me staying here.”

Only once had Kali ever seen Greg cry.
That had been at his father’s funeral five years ago. He finally broke down as they lowered the casket into the dark, gaping hole in the earth. Now as he gathered his youngest daughter in his arms, Kali witnessed Greg’s tears for the second time.

“Understand that I don’t want you to go. But I can’t help you with this.”

“I know.” Kali squeezed him back. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for being you.”

“Am I allowed to apologize for the table?”

Greg
chuckled. “That was Lisa’s antique pride and joy. Tell her you’re sorry once and don’t ever mention it again.”

Kali laughed. It sounded like good advice.

“Bring yourself downstairs into the family room when you’re done. The phone call to your babysitters can wait for a couple of hours. We’ll spend the rest of the evening as a family.”

“Okay, Dad.”

Greg left, and Kali glared at the part-time sociopath, part-time charming ex-boyfriend who was currently their houseguest. “What do you want?”

“I’ve already said. I want to help you remember.”

He walked around the table. Now nothing stood between them. She forced herself not to take a step back.  “Why?”

His hand lifted toward her face and Kali flinched. He stopped, raising a brow questioningly. When she didn’t move again, he reached forward and brushed a strand of hair from her face. It was exactly the sort of thing Cal would have done.

“Because the truth would be a useful tool to me.”

Kali swallowed. “Who am I talking to? Cal or Gabriel?”

“What do you think?”

“I think you want to use me to get what you actually want.”

He smiled. “Clever girl. I see why he likes you.”

“Will you let me speak to him?”

A frown briefly crossed Gabriel’s face. Then it cleared. “Oh. The boy. If you insist.” Gabriel rolled his neck slowly. His eyes flashed red for a split second and then were blue again. An easy smile transformed the murderous atmosphere of his features.

“Hey, Kal.”

She punched him in the arm as hard as she could. “I worried about you! What the heck do you think you’re doing?”

“Ow.” He rubbed his shoulder. “I thought I was looking after my girl.”

“I’m not your girl. And you’re an idiot.”

He grinned. “Love makes you do crazy things.”

“Callan, this is serious. That monster you’re harboring inside your body is psycho.”

The
amiable smile slipped away. “You’ve only heard one side of the story.”

“Oh yeah?” Kali folded her arms. “Tell me what I missed.”

“Gabriel isn’t the bad guy in this.”

“Wow. So, you mean I misjudged him for killing two police officers and almost a third, ripping a car to shreds—one that my dad and I happened to be inside of—and for trying to kill the man I love? How silly of me.”

Cal shrugged. “Okay, so he had some anger issues. You would too, if you’d lost what he has.”

Kali shook her head. “You have no idea what I’ve lost,” she said hotly.

“I don’t want to fight, Kali.”

“Tell me what Gabriel really wants.”

“He doesn’t let me see that part of him.”

She searched his eyes. After four years of dating, she could tell when Cal w
as lying. This time he wasn’t. “Then tell me what he lost.”

Cal looked briefly at something over her shoulder. “I have to go,” he said and started to walk away but Kali grabbed his sleeve. “Tell me, Callan. Tell me what Gabriel lost.”

Cal turned to face her. And tracing a thumb slowly across her jawline, Gabriel answered, “I lost someone very special to me.” His eyes flashed. “I’ll see you soon, Darkesong.”

“Is Rhane going to kill Gabriel?”

Rion and Warren had returned a few minutes after Cal/Gabriel left. But this time, York was with them. Kali sat in the backseat of the truck as they raced along the dark countryside at nearly one hundred miles per hour. Based on what Rhane had told her about York’s discomfort with tight spaces inside vehicles (which was one reason why York’s pickup was so big), she developed a theory. York used high speeds to channel anxiety into adrenaline. As a bonus, the faster he got to his destination, the sooner he could get out of the car.

“I can’t really speak for Rhane these days.” York waved a hand in the air. “He’s being all emotional and unpredictable. But if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say he’s
definitely going to give it his all.”

“We can’t let him do it.”

“I hope you won’t think less of me for saying this, but the list of people I’d step in front of a bullet for is pretty short. And your new friend Gabriel ain’t nowhere on it.”

Riding shotgun, War turned so he could see the backseat. “Kalista, it may feel like you have a connection with Gabriel due to your history with the host body. But that is
probably why Gabriel chose it. You should stay away.”

“Cal is still in there. I spoke to him.”

“Okay then, look at it this way.” York met her eyes from the rearview mirror. “No Reaper, not even one as powerful as Gabriel, can inhabit a human against their will. Your ex is in this mess willingly. He made the choice to ally himself with a lunatic.”

“Yeah, but he was being a stupid kid when he made that choice.”

“Sometimes bad decisions get you killed. That’s a fact of life.”

“That’s pretty insensitive.”

“It’s pretty realistic.”

“York.” Kali huffed out his name in a frustrated breath and pulled herself
forward against the driver’s headrest. “Isn’t there some way to help him?”

“Come up with something reasonable and I’m all ears, sweetheart.”

“Don’t patronize me.”

“Sorry.” York grinned unapologetically.  “I’m open to any logical suggestion you probably don’t have.”

“What if Cal wasn’t Gabriel’s host anymore? Is there any way for them to separate?”

Rion looked at her like she was nuts. “Do you mean can a Reaper host be un-hosted?”

“Well…yeah.”

York shook his head. “I’ve never heard of it happening.”

“Just because you haven’t doesn’t mean it isn’t possible.”

“What I’m saying is, don’t get your hopes up.”

Kali flopped back into her seat. “I don’t understand why he would’ve done something so stupid.”

For about a mile, everyone was quiet. A sigh from York ended the silence. “Gabriel has had several opportunities to hurt you and he hasn’t. Figuring out his motives needs to be a priority. That could buy Cal some time to come to his senses. I’m not making any promises, but I’ll talk to Rhane. Just don’t you say anything.”

“Why not?”

“Because you sound like you still care about him too much.”

“I can’t stop caring whether someone lives or dies just because we’re not together anymore.”

“No one is asking you to. I’m just saying that—
oh hell
.” The tires squealed as York emerged from a sharp curve and braked hard, swerving to avoid two cars that were burning in the middle of the road. He swerved again to miss the woman who staggered, bleeding and crying, into the truck headlights.

Kali gasped.
Inside of the crumpled sedan, the silhouette of a man slumped over the steering wheel. “Oh my god,” she said.

York stopped the truck near the side of the highway. Debris was everywhere, most of it charred or still smoldering.

War shook his head. “I don’t like it.”

Nudging Kali aside, Rion took her spot between the two seats for a better vantage point. “The blood smells human.”

“It is.” York nodded gravely. “But I don’t like it either.”

Kali looked out the window behind them. The woman had collapsed. And she wasn’t moving. “That woman is really hurt. She needs help.”

“Maybe so.” York’s foot was on the brake. But the gear was still in drive. Rolling down all four windows, he and the kin sat quietly with their ears trained on the darkness outside. Kali couldn’t hear anything past the pounding of her heart. Apparently, sirens didn’t have the super human ability of extra-heightened senses.

“Okay,” York finally
said. “This is how this is going to work. Kali, you are going to remain exactly where you are. War, stay with her. If things get hairy, you do not join the fight. Get Kali to safety. Got it?”

“Understood.”

“Rion, you’re with me.”

“York, wait!” Kali slid into the front seat just as he vacated it. “If you really believe this is a trap, then don’t risk it. We don’t know these people. I’d rather not see any of you hurt.”

“It’s alright, kiddo. I’m going to pull this guy out while Rion watches my six, and then we’re out of here. Put the windows up. Lock the doors. Wait a few minutes and then call 911. Now get in the backseat.”

He and Rion q
uickly moved toward the wreckage and danger that could be waiting in the shadows. Tearing her eyes away from the window, Kali dug her cell phone from her purse.

“Heads up,” War said as she pressed the first one. Something slammed against her window a second later, leaving behind a bloody smear. Kali
yelped before she recognized it was the woman.

“Help me.” Her eyes were frenzied and terrified. “Someone, please help.”

“War?”

“We have to stay put.”
             

Kali looked at the woman’s pleading, tear-filled face and
couldn’t just ignore her. “Can we let down the window? At least tell her she’s not alone and help is on the way.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

With War’s permission, Kali opened the window and soothed the old woman as best she could. “I know you’re hurt, but it’s going to be alright. Help is coming.”

Fresh tears spurted from the woman’s eyes. “I think my husband is dead.”

“My friend went to check on him.  He’s going to help.”

“My husband tried to miss them. We hit another car. He tried to miss them
but they came out of nowhere. They came out of nowhere! I think he’s dead.”

Kali connected with an operator and tried to give their location while still listening to the woman’s frightened chanting.

“He tried to miss them. They came out of nowhere. Oh god, I think he’s dead.”

York
had pulled the man from the car and lowered him to the ground. Kali’s gaze roamed back and forth from the husband to the frantic wife. “Yes. She is conscious. I’m not sure about him.”

“They were big…huge, ugly wolves. Where could they have come from? And that monster…I think I saw the devil. I saw the devil.
It was the devil.
”

The phone slipped from Kali’s fingers. At the same time, York stopped dead in his tracks.

There were shadows…moving through the darkness. Moans and whistles traveled with them. Leaves shook violently as the trees seemed to vibrate. A wolf skin slid out of York, becoming immense as his human body was swallowed. Then a much smaller wolf of the same color stood next to him, snarling furiously. The shadows erupted, and a dozen Reapers swarmed over the two Warekin. One climbed atop the big wolf’s shoulders, biting at York’s neck and flank. The smaller wolf leapt lithely away from the snapping jaws of a pair of Reapers, spring-boarding off their shoulders to clamp down on big wolf’s attacker. Grabbing the Reaper by the throat, he snatched it from York’s shoulders and flung it aside.

For every Reaper York and Rion put down, two more filled its place. The battle was a heaving mass of fur, teeth, and claws. And the kin were steadily losing ground.

War turned to Kali with determined eyes. “I have to help them.”

She nodded. “I’m okay. Go.”

His fingers flew over the GPS screen in the truck’s dash. “I’ve put in the address for the manor. Get up front. If we can’t put these dogs down, drive away. Don’t stop until you have eyes on Rhane.”

A boy opened the door, but a big
russet wolf launched from the truck to join the fray. Together, the Warekin drove the Reapers back until less than half of them remained. 

But
then the darkness roared.

Kali could feel him. His anger and hunger echoed within in the pit of her stomach. He bellowed again. The asphalt trembled. Gabriel.

An enormous, monstrous form leaped onto the highway, splitting pavement where he landed. Charging forward, Gabriel barreled through the line of Reapers. The ones that didn’t move in time flew like bowling pins as he shoved them aside. He was fast. Too fast. War and Rion scrambled to remove themselves from Gabriel’s path, but there wasn’t time. Kali watched helplessly as York put himself between them and the monster. Even from where she sat, she felt the impact as Gabriel’s mass collided with York and sent him hurtling. The big wolf landed on its side with a sickening thud, nearly fifty feet from where it had stood.

Gabriel’s paw wa
s a blur as he swiped at War. Scythe-like claws destroyed muscle and tendon as they ripped into the red wolf’s shoulder and lifted it into the air. Rion threw himself at Gabriel but was batted away with equal violence. His small form struck the earth and shuddered, not moving again. War’s wolf screamed as Gabriel began pulling it apart from the shoulders. His cries must have roused York for the big wolf rushed back to the fight. Gabriel roared in challenge, digging his claws deeper into War’s hide. Another scream. Bloodcurdling, it rippled with agony, both human and animal with the sound of its pain. The sound shocked Kali…and then she realized the noise had come from her.

At some point, she had exited the truck and now stood only a few yards from the melee. Gabriel had hurt Warren. Was hurting Warren. Her blood boiled,
became saturated with fury. A glow emanated from her body, lighting up the night. The strange aura swelled into grey and black flames that pulsated around her. She used her hands to direct the fire, and it obeyed, doing exactly as her mind asked. The fire concentrated and intensified, blasting between Gabriel and the other kin. She brought the wall of fire closer to Gabriel. He half turned his face away. Those red eyes locked hungrily on Kali. She winked, and a Reaper burst into flames.

“Put him down.”
Her voice was unrecognizable in her ears.

Obediently, Gabriel dropped War and stepped toward Kali. The red wolf wasn’t mov
ing. The wall of fire surrounded Gabriel, tighter and hotter. Kali closed the circle.

And Gabriel burst into flames.

He howled as the fire ate his flesh, unable to resist the power that fueled it. The remaining Reapers backed away. Kali felt their fear, small and pathetic. She felt a hunger to feed from them. Raising her right hand, another Reaper was engulfed.

Looking back at Gabriel,
she saw his monstrous form began to shrink. And then it was Cal kneeling before her.

Instantly, s
he silenced the fire with her mind. The grey glow expired and the night was dark again.

Gabriel lifted his head. “I meant you no harm.”

“Then why did you attack my friends?”

“I needed to see this beautiful creature inside of you.”

“Seen enough?”

“Ah. Yes. You have grown stronger since our last meeting.”

“I don’t care what body you choose to burn in. I’m going to ask you one more time.” Kali lifted her hand. A sphere of black fire pulsated within it. “What do you want?”

“I want you to remember.”

Gabriel reached for her. She didn’t know why she didn’t stop him. She could have. But she didn’t. Gabriel touched her. And Kali remembered.