Emerald Eyes (33 page)

“Well,” glancing at Madison and back at Lois, he said, “it’s a date then. We’ll eat around seven-thirty, if that’s all right with you?” eyeing Mattie quizzically.

“Oh that’s fine. Since we ate so late.”

“Yes. Our breakfast-lunches are routine around here.”

She sniggered at that. “Guess I’ll go see what I’ve brought that would be nice for a night of dancing.”

“It’s a country western nightclub, Mother.”

“Okay…Thank you, dear. That makes it easier. Don’t have to dress up so much.”

Madison was tickled that her mother was having a good time, and after Lois disappeared into her bedroom, she thanked Devin with a kiss. “You are simply beyond awesome, Devin Knight!”

“I aim to please, my sweet.” With a nod towards the stairs, he asked, “Shall we finish our drinks?”

“Let’s.”

Since her mother was otherwise occupied, they floated down the stairs arm-in-arm.

Chuck felt more weird than usual, and hoped he was simply anxious for Running Red Sky to succeed. After all, not only his future, but the future of his wife and baby depended on it. Still, he was all itchy and crawly.

Stepping outside his tent, he looked off at the eastern sky. The moon was just beginning its rise behind the mountains. He quickly downed the potion the medicine man had made for him, hoping that would relieve him some, and really hoping that it would work as well as the night before. Still, he had this nagging feeling in his gut that just wouldn’t go away.

After finishing the potion, he returned to his tent and shed his clothes. No point in having them on, he’d be transitioning very soon.

Once more, he left his tent and stared off at the full moon looming portentously over the mountaintops. How he hated this! There had been a time when he had loved the sight of the full moon, but now he loathed it. His curse was connected to it supernaturally. He supposed he’d never fully understand how or why. It was simply the way things were. His only hope that things would get better was that the medicine man would be able to get him back to transitioning only on the full moon. Otherwise, he knew he’d have to leave his wife and child. The last thing he wanted to do. But he would not have a choice. “Please! Powers that be,” he said into the evening air. “If you can help me – please do!”

He cried out then as the first pains of his transitioning shot through him and he crumbled to the ground, writhing in agony.

Indian Joe helped Tickling Feather close up the store, and then drove her to the reservation, where he wanted her to stay with him in his apartment until morning.

She was especially tired from the stress of circumstances and had no qualms about it, more than willing to stay where she felt she could relax a little and be reasonably safe. Still, all fit men, young and old, guarded the doors to the building and the apartments. No one would be completely safe until the night passed.

Outside, in the village square, Running Red Sky had a big fire going and, with the help of two young men he was training in his art, they prayed to the Great Spirit, chanting and dancing around the crackling fire. Some of the tribal members watched curiously from outside the circle, while others remained in their apartments. Guards stood at all strategic points in the village, inside and out.

Tickling Feather watched from the window that was by the bed she slept in when staying over, but soon her need to sleep overcame her and she shut her eyes.

Her grandfather checked in on her around eleven, but he did not go to sleep. He sat at his kitchen table, watching the outside activities. Running Red Sky had told him it would continue through the night. The only thing Joe could do was pray to the Great Spirit that it would work.

Lois was having a good time. A couple of middle-aged, would-be cowboys were taking turns asking her to dance, and she didn’t seem to be tiring. Devin and Madison sat at the bar with Debra Jean observing with amused interest.

“You know,” Madison said, handing over her empty mug for Alex to fill, “maybe my mother’s not so bad after all. I halfway expected her to be a total bitch from the moment she arrived, but she hasn’t. She’s actually been great. I don’t believe I’ve seen her smile this much in years.”

“That’s real good,” Debra Jean commented. “I’m happy for the both of you. I know you’ve been trying to escape her controlling ways for a long time, but maybe she’s finally realized you’re a grown woman and she’s let go of it now.”

“I know Devin’s had a
lot
to do with that,” Madison commented, smiling with pride at Devin, who was just sitting quietly, nursing his tap beer, taking it all in.

“I’m not sure it’s all me, my sweet,” he replied.

“Oh yes it is! You have gone beyond the call of duty, so to speak, since she arrived.”

“She’s your mother. I want her to like me. What’s just as important, I want her to feel at home with us.”

“God! I love you!”

“Ditto, my sweet.”

Alex walked up with Madison’s refill. “Well, she’s sure having a good time,” he said, having heard their conversation in spite of the music and crowd. Then he suddenly looked up, brow instantly furrowed,
“What the hell?”

Two women and three men scrambled wildly through the front door; Sam right behind them, slamming the door closed and trying to secure it.

Instantly, Devin and Madison stood so fast it took Debra Jean’s breath away. She shot a look at Alex, but he was focused on the door, as Sam tried to hold the doors closed and yelled for everyone to take cover.

Not knowing what was going on but understanding that whatever it was that Sam was trying to keep out wasn’t anything they wanted to meet, the crowd scrambled in all directions, diving under tables and some dashing off to the bathrooms.

No one had to tell the two vampires what the problem was. There was a loud crash at the front door and the angry animal on the other side almost came through.

Madison yelled at her mother, who stood frozen in the middle of the dance floor with her partner, just staring at the door. “Mother! Get over here now!”

Lois glanced at her, confused, not knowing what the hell was going on.

“
Now! Mother!”

“We can’t wait,” Devin said with an even calmness.

There was another crash and Sam yelled he couldn’t hold it. Devin zipped up to the door, not paying heed at the stunned spectators, and met the werewolf head-on as it tore through the front door and Sam lunged back.

“
What the hell?”
Lois cried as Madison snatched her off the floor and zipped her over to the bar, leaving her standing there, gawking and stunned.

Devin and the wolf went at it in a breath-taking blur, crashing around the room; tables and chairs flying. People scrambled everywhere as the two supernatural creatures tore through like a cyclone. One cowboy, under a table, took off his hat and swore to God he’d never take another drink as long as he lived. Following suit, several others did the same.

Debra Jean stood with Alex behind the bar with Lois between them.

Madison hunched over, fangs visible and eyes red, awaiting her chance to strike.

“
Oh my God!” Lois cried again. “What has happened to her? She looks like a vampire!”

“That’s because she
is
a vampire,” Debra Jean said, taking her wrist and holding on to her.

Madison saw her chance and intervened, battling the huge wolf. The wolf suddenly pulled away and stopped stock-still in the middle of the dance floor, eyeing the two vampires who were more than ready to strike again. He growled from deep in his chest, turned and snatched a young man who had been standing a little too close to the door and dashed out with him.

“Oh my God!” Lois cried. “I don’t believe any of this!”

Devin shot out in pursuit of the man and wolf. A very pregnant young woman ran to the door screaming that the wolf had her husband.

Madison zipped up to her. “We’ll do our best to save him,” she promised.

“Please do!” the young woman cried. “But…
What
are you?”

“Just your friendly neighborhood vampire,” Madison said and shot out the door too.

Minutes later, sirens cut through the air. Someone had called the sheriff. Three units skid into the parking lot and the sheriff and his deputies poured into the club. When they questioned everyone, they got the same story. A werewolf had broken through the front door, fought with two vampires, kidnapped a young man and shot out with him, and the vampires took off after them.

Sheriff Baker stood in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by his deputies. “Has everyone lost their freakin’ minds? What you serving these folks, Alex?” Several people shouted it was true. He eyed Alex behind the bar. “You sure you’re not serving something illegal here?”

He recognized Madison’s mother and walked up to the bar, hitching up his gun belt. “You! Just spoke with you today. You drunk on whatever this crap is too?”

“I may have had a few drinks, Sheriff Baker. But as incredible as it sounds, we’re telling the truth! My daughter…and I did not know this until now, apparently is a vampire. So is her boyfriend.”

“Seriously?” he frowned dubiously.

“A huge wolf, almost as big as a bear, tore in the front door. His intentions were
not
good. Anyway, they are trying to get the young man back from the werewolf…or whatever it is. I do know it’s a wolf of some kind.”

“Ah…shit!” Sheriff Baker said. “I give up!” He turned and faced the crowd. They were all insisting it was the truth.

“Maybe it’s what’s known as mass hysteria,” one of the deputies suggested.

“Yeah…maybe. But I’m closing this place down until—.” He froze. For standing in the doorway now was the biggest, ugliest, meanest looking wolf he had ever seen in his entire life.

“Told you,” Lois said, but was suddenly concerned. “Where are Madison and Devin?”

She didn’t have to wait for her answer, for just as the wolf slowly stepped inside, Madison shot in the front door carrying the young man in her arms. He was badly shaken but very much alive. She sat him on a stool and faced the wolf, who was eyeing her with pure hatred.

“Where’s Devin?” her mother asked, anxiously.

“He’s hurt, but he’ll heal fast,” she quickly shouted.

“Now I am worried,” Debra Jean breathed.

Sheriff Baker reached for his gun and Alex told him he didn’t believe it would work on a werewolf. Not unless he had silver bullets.

“You mean you believe that crap?” the sheriff said.

“What the hell you think you’re looking at?” Alex retorted.

“Yeah…You’re right,” but he still grabbed his weapon, just in case Madison couldn’t take care of the problem.

The wolf and the vampire just stood there, staring one another down; each slowly stepping side to side, attempting to anticipate the other’s next move.

Devin instantly appeared at the door, but he was limping, not completely healed of having his leg almost severed. “Madison!” he yelled. “Chuck’s too powerful for you!”

“I don’t see that I have a choice!” she called back.

Debra Jean noticed that Alex had disappeared. She wondered where he had gone.

The wolf snarled fiercely and leapt for Madison’s throat. She went down but fought furiously to free herself. Devin zipped over and managed to pull the wolf off of Madison, but she lay in the floor unmoving.

Lois screamed,
“He’s killed my daughter!”

Alex appeared then, with a shotgun in his hands. He met eyes with Debra Jean. “Made a few loads for this,” he said, gesturing with an upswing of the shotgun. Then he hurried around the bar where the wolf and vampire were going at it full speed.

Lois and Debra Jean huddled over Madison, not sure if she was alive or dead.

Sheriff Baker asked Alex if he thought he could do better than him.

“Silver loads! I’ve been waiting for this so-and-so.”

“You knew about the werewolf and vampires?”

“Would you have believed me?”

“No!”

“Point made.”

Devin was suddenly on the floor, but popped back up; he and the wolf considering their situation again. Then there were explosions of two consecutive shots and the wolf howled out in pain and went down.

Devin spun around and saw that it had been Alex who made the shots. The wolf cried out again and Devin spun back around as the wolf managed to get to his feet, and then fled out of the building.

Devin didn’t bother to pursue, as he knew the wolf had been hurt badly this time. He doubted if he would come back. His concern was for Madison. Immediately, he was at her side. The two women hovering over her looked helplessly up at him.

“I can’t tell if she’s alive or dead,” Debra Jean said.

Devin leaned over her. She had lost a lot of blood and her wound wasn’t healing as it should. “She’s not dead, yet,” he assured them.

“You said yet,” Lois replied.

“Is there anything we can do?” Debra Jean asked, frantic.

“She needs blood. She’s very weak.”

“I called an ambulance,” a lady yelled.

“An ambulance can’t help her. She’ll be dead before they get here. She needs blood now!” He eyed her mother. “Lois, she needs blood now!”

Her brow wrinkled. “Are you saying for me to give her blood?”

“You’re her mother, Lois. I can’t tell you what to do. But if you’ll let me open up your wrist and give her some of your blood, you can save her. It will hurt, though. Otherwise, I’m afraid she won’t make it much longer.”

“I’ll do it!” Debra Jean piped up extending out her wrist.

“No! She’s my daughter. Thanks, Debra Jean. But she
is
my daughter.” She held her wrist over to Devin but turned her face away and grimaced in anticipation of pain.

“I don’t freakin’ believe this!” Sheriff Baker stated. “I still think you’re all on something!”

He was ignored though. Everyone watched intently as Devin bit into Lois’ wrist and then held it over Madison’s mouth, letting the blood drip in.

“Drink, my sweet,” Devin encouraged, now looking on the verge of tears. “Drink!”

Still silence.

“Please, baby!” Lois said, sniffling. “Drink my blood!”