Cat's Choice (27 page)

Bama, even though she was due any day, refused to stay at the compound. She said it would be too suspicious if she wasn’t at her store for the late-night sale. Her mates knew she was right. They decided to stay with her using the argument that as it was their anniversary too, most would expect them to be with her. Isabella and Sofia offered to stay at the store with her. As far as they knew from Stephanie, the store was not included in Diavolo’s attack plan. Just in case, Sofia would have one of the blessed stakes with her. Attilio had been torn; however, it was well known how much he hated shopping and for him to be at the store might give the game away. So he would remain outside in the street. He would appear to be enjoying the music, drinking wine while looking at all the couple’s dancing. In reality, he would be helping to protect the store from the outside. Abaven, not wanting his mate to be in danger, completed her turning into a Vampire the night before.

Cloe, using the excuse of Bama’s pregnancy excused herself from the laser-tag tournament. She and her mates would sit with Attilio in case Bama or Trinity needed her. The tournament had been going on for the last four days. The winning team of six from the Pack would play against the Vampire warriors. With Kira’s help, they rigged it so that the winning Pack team consisted of Tripp, Devon, Shawn, Sevi, Quin, and Jaden. The Vampire team consisted of Or feo, Abaven, and another four Vampire warriors. The six Vampire warriors and twelve Enforcers that had been up at the training camp would split into teams of six; two warriors and four Enforcers each. One team would back-up the gaming center; one team would cover the stores, and the last team would remain at the compound.

Lacy, seeing that her mates would be in the tournament, made a special protection potion for them. It would only last two hours, so they had to drink it right before the tournament started. They promised to shift into bear form if there was a fight. After she heard about the ultraviolet filters, she and her mother came up with a potion that the Ambrosetti clan could drink. It would change their aura’s lavender and make it easier for the Pack members to tell them apart if the lights went out as Diavolo had planned.

The party at the compound went off as planned. Lagon moved all the children to his house for a sleepover. He wanted the m close. Ten minutes before the sun set, he put all the children to sleep and moved them to his cave. Hope had tried to fight off the sleeping spell, but she wasn’t as strong a Lagon yet. She gave him a look instead that meant ‘just you wait’, and Lagon knew she meant it. Trinity agreed to go into the cave too, and Blaze went along to stay with her. Only Lagon could bring them in and out; the opening was too small, and he had to use his Dragon Magic. After getting them all settled inside, he positioned himself outside the cave in his dragon form; invisible to all except the Chosen and their mates.

Half an hour after the sun went down; the band began to play, and the food was being served. The stores were all closed, in preparations for the late-night sale, and there was an atmosphere of festivity in the air.

“This is a really great party, even if I do say so myself,” said Cami.

“It was a lot of fun putting it together. I can tell that the Pack is having a lot of fun. Some are nervous with anticipation, for the most part, everyone’s very happy. It feels great!” answ ered Jo, giving Cami a high five and leaned into her mate’s side. Tey turned his head and gave her a kiss.

Sofia came bustling up and sat down next to Cami. “Caterina , she smiles at my Orfeo. I think soon she is ready to mate with him.”

“I hope you’re right, Sofia; she deserves to be happy. Both Tripp and Orfeo are wearing their hearts on their sleeves,” s aid Cami. “That’s not a bad thing!” she said to her mates.

“Did I say it wasn’t?” asked Quin.

“Not unless you want to sleep on the couch! I know you men, wanting to be all strong and silent. We have to pry those three little words out of you,” said Cami.

“True, mon Coeur, we men are horrible beasts,” said Jaden. “Of course, once we’ve said them, we find it’s easy to say them over and over, Je’taime, Cami.”

Cami had been practicing; Jaden always used French endearments with her. It was so sexy, and she wanted to say ‘I love you too’ in French. Now she was ready to try, “Moi aussi, Je t’aime.”

He pulled her into his arms to give her a kiss. “Your accent is improving,” he said, knowing she didn’t like to get too mushy in front of others. She laughed as she gave him a playful punch in the arm.

Sofia just smiled indulgently on them as if they were her children.

Attilio came and sat down with a plate of food. “I like this barbeque, the sauce is nice and spicy. I’m also thinking of having some beer imported from Germany.”

Sofia looked at him as if he’d grown two heads. “No wine with your meals?!”

“It would depend on the meal. Beer would be nice for lunch,” he responded.

Conversation progressed; people ate, and some got up to dance. Soon it was getting close to ten, and the human residents with children started going to their homes. A few of the younger ones helped the band pack up when they promised to take the party over to the church hall. Everyone was having a great time and most of the human population of Milliken that had stayed went over to the hall to keep the party going. A couple of the food and beer vendors went along. The permit for closing the street would end at eleven.

By eleven, the street was once again open for vehicle traffic and the few remaining tables and chairs had been moved up onto the wide sidewalk. Lev came by Quin’s table as the last saw horse was loaded up and hauled away. “Great party , Quin, I just wish I could have spent more time with my mates,” he said loudly, clamping Quin on the shoulder. In a softer voice, he said, “Everything is proceeding to plan. I have teams with Orfeo’s special lances on every door at the church hall. It was genius thinking of the church hall. Sure, Vampire s can go into churches, but being a church made it easier for Lacy’s mom and dad to place wards on the entrances. Ryan and Arielle and her warriors are backing them up so our people, there are safe.”

“Yes, and having those survey takers go through the neighborhoods, leaving protection spells in all the houses, was smart too. Way to go , Cami,” said Jo.

Cami just blew on her nails and rubbed them on her shirt as she gave her mates a smug grin. Many of the stores were opening up for the sales now, so Tey said to Quin, “You’re in the final match, aren’t you? Maybe we s hould head over to Kira’s place.”

“Yeah, I want to watch you kick Vampire ass , honey.” Cami said, then turned to Sofia and Attilio . “Sorry, gotta root for the home team.”

“I do not mind; it will give you comfort when you lose,” said Attilio as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.

Sofia could see that this would quickly turn into an argument. Attilio and Cami loved to debate about everything under the sun. Normally, she didn’t mind as they both enjoyed it so much. They’d fought about sports, books, and a host of other topics, and she wasn’t having it now. “Basta! Enough! Attilio , sit and drink your beer. Quin, Jaden, go play the little boy games with my son. Cami, you go cheer them on. I am going shopping in Bama’s store; she said she was going to introduce me to her mother-in-law, Willow.” With that, she stood up, and crossing the sidewalk went into the store.

At eleven forty-five, a truck drove into the main substation at the edge of town. Milliken went dark. The Vampire s attacked.

***

The alarms went off at the front gate to the compound. All along the walls, emergency lights fed by the central generator came on. The same thing happened throughout the compound, emergency floodlights and motion sensitive lights came on.

The Vampires and one of Roarke’s teams smashed into the front gate with a large truck that had a battering ram attached on the front . They were surprised when the gates held. Since the last attack, the gates had been reinforced and thrice blessed; once by witches, once by Sidhe , and once by druids. So t hey shot silver bullets that had been cursed with a killing potion through the bars as the Vampire s used their skills to go over. The wolves and other Pack Enforcers wore Kevlar vests, which mostly protected them. They held the gate. As five Vampire s came over the top, one of the Ambrosetti teams came out of the shadows and attacked. The fighting was fierce as each side held swords and lances. After twenty minutes of hand-to—hand combat at the gate, Diavolo’s forces there were defeated.

They treated the wounded quickly. Unfortunately, there were no survivors to take prisoner for information. They then went running towards the back of the compound. The surveillance team had spotted a group of ten Vampire s sneaking over the back wall as mist, heading for the children.

***

Lagon had been curled up in his dragon form for a few hours. He might have looked as if he were napping, when, in fact, all of his senses were on alert. Soon after the lights went out and the emergency lighting came on, he heard sounds coming from the back wall of the compound. Knowing the cave was protected, he stood up, raising his head over the top of the trees to see what was happening.

He was surprised to see a group of ten Vampires headed for his house. Many in the compound knew he, and his mates would be babysitting the children tonight. He was surprised that outsiders knew precisely where his house was located within the compound. He knew Trinity wouldn’t like it if he made a mess in the house, so he flew over the top to land in the front yard.

He was hoping the Enforcers, and warriors would come; however, these Vampire s were so quiet coming over the wall as mist that maybe the surveillance team hadn’t picked them up. They shaped changed and began running towards the house. So he decided to slow them down.

He took in a deep breath and let out a stream of fire over them. They started to scream as they ran around like candle flames across the lawn. One fell and rolled to put out the flames, it didn’t work.
Hmm, magical flames can kill Vampire s! Who knew?
he thought, looking down at the ten piles of ash on his lawn. Just then the Enforcers arrived, so he flew back over the house and shifting went in the back door. The Enforcers were coming in the front, and he met them in the middle.

“Is everything okay here?” asked Luc, one of Tripp’s head Enforcers. “We saw them come over the wall and got here as fast as we could.”

“Turns out my magical skills are a natural defense against Vampires. We’re all fine. Blaze is with them now, but I should get back and tell them the Vampire s are dead,” he answered with a smile. “I appreciate you getting here as quick as you did. You may want to try to find out how they knew where my house is.”

“I’ll do that,” answered Luc as he left, taking his Enforcers to support another trouble spot he could hear through his earpiece.

***

The lights in the street went out. Attilio turned to the others sitting at his table, “It seems the next act in our little play is about to begin. Shall we take our places?”

Romy, Larkin, and Tey got up and went into Bama’s store , calling out for their mates. Attilio got up to follow and then turned in the entrance way to face the street and the group of Vampire s and werewolves approaching. “You are all newly turned.” He said, “You cannot know all the laws of our kind. You are being led to your deaths. You cannot stand against me with your weak skills. I am an elder of ancient years and much more powerful than you. Stop this nonsense and I will speak to the Sire on your behalf.”