Seizing Darkness (Fur, Fangs, and Fairies) (12 page)

I didn’t catch Radek’s reply as they followed me. I stopped in the door when I smelled the other person in the room. It was Jenna, the werewolf who had been attacked with Dante. She was looking out of place and nervous. Curious as to her presence, I proceeded into the room with Val and Radek on my tail. No one else acted like it was odd that she was there.

“Now that everyone is here, I’m going to explain what’s going to happen,” Dante said.
 

“I take it you have some sort of plan,” Val said as he went over to the couch and sat down. He looked so relaxed, but I knew differently. I could smell the hint of anger coming from him. He hid it well.

“I have an idea and Natalya has agreed to go through with it. She thinks the risk is worth it,” Dante said pointedly to Radek.

I glared at him. He at least
looked a bit sheepish. Then they both looked at me. I went to sit on the couch next to Jenna, who was staring at her feet.

“First off as some of you know Natalya has a vampire that has been controlling her for probably most of her life. I’m going to attempt to break the bond that Natalya has with this vampire. It’s risky and could kill us both. But it’s the only way to completely sever the tie unless we kill the other vampire. It would take too long to figure out who it is and dispose of him. He has to be a very powerful vampire, and skilled in the old traditions. What has been done to her has been forbidden for a long time. For all we know, it could’ve been done before that law was made. We don’t even know how old she is. If this works, her memory should be restored. We’ll learn the vampire’s name.”

“How sure are you that you can do this?” Val asked cautiously.

I had seen something flash in his eyes when Dante mentioned my age. I had always suspected that Val might know my true identity.
 

“With help from Radek, I’m very sure. You see, I have a power available to me that no other vampire I know has. I have a blood relation that is a weretiger. If I take his blood and use his strength as well as mine, I should be able to overpower the hold on her. It’s weak right now because she’s been fighting it. Last year she was able to suppress its hold on her, and the contact with the vamp responsible has been minimal. I’m very sure that this can work,” Dante said with certainty.

“Of course I’ll help, but seriously I’m beginning to feel like a chew toy for you vampires,” Radek said.

“How does it work?” Val asked, ignoring Radek’s side comment.

“It’s a blood swap of sorts – almost like creating a vampire,” Dante said. “I’ll go out and feed a lot tonight. Tomorrow at dusk we do this thing. All three of us will be out of it for a while after.”

“So you are saying that Jenna and I will be your guards then?” Val said with a smile.

I could see where Radek got that killer smile from. Val hadn’t seemed too surprised by what was going on. If I hadn’t known better, I would believe that he’d known it was going to come to this at some point. Maybe that was why Jenna was here.

“Yes.” Dante was studying Val.

Did he have the same suspicions I did?

“You agreed to this, Natalya?” Val asked, making me look him straight in the eye.

I was glad that we weren’t like the wolves and rarely played dominance games. That didn’t mean we didn’t do any kind of games though. He knew more about this, I was sure of it. But he wasn’t sharing.

“Yes, I want to try this. He explained what I would be risking. I understand what I’m getting myself into,” I said with a surety that I really didn’t feel.

“That’s enough for me. It’s settled then. Dante, go feed and rest. We’ll see you at dusk tomorrow,” Val said, ending the discussion.

Dante nodded and disappeared.

Val looked at the rest of us thoughtfully. “With the upheaval of Madon’s pack, Jenna will be joining us for a while. Since tomorrow evening will call for all your strength, I propose we hunt tonight.” He had a wicked gleam in his eye.

“You mean shift and run?” I asked as my inner tiger stood up and paid attention. I almost sprouted fur right there.

“The four of us,” Val said with a nod.

“You want me to hunt with you?” Jenna asked with amazement in her tone.

“Of course, my dear, it’ll be fun. I would consider it an honor to hunt with a beautiful wolf such as you,” Val said, really turning on the charm.

I could see some of the same traits in Radek. If he chose to use them once in a while it would be pleasant. Jenna was
blushing. I made my way toward the doorway, but Radek again stood in my way.

“That was a bit thick, don’t you think?” Radek said, leaning down and whispering in my ear. His breath was hot on my neck and sent little shivers along my skin.

“Maybe you could take lessons from him,” I whispered back, giving him a hard look.

Radek leaned down further so his lips brushed my ear and only I could hear the words, “I’m sorry for acting like an idiot.”

I glared at him for a moment as he straightened back up. Pushing him out of the room, I said in a low voice, “We need to talk. Not now. Later.”

He looked at me, eyes narrowed in confusion, then nodded his consent. He was curious, I could tell, but didn’t say anything. I was thankful for that.

“Are you two coming or would you rather stay here?” Val said from behind Radek, who jumped.

I couldn’t hold back the snicker that escaped my mouth.

He winked at me before turning around. “We’re coming. I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Father,” he said.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his sarcastic tone.

“Well then, let’s get going,” Val said, ignoring his sarcasm.

I didn’t look at Radek as I went out to the car and got in the back with Jenna. A hunt sounded like an excellent idea. I could blow off some of this pent-up energy. I could feel the excitement coming off of Jenna. Radek was driving with Val in the passenger seat.

“It’s been so long since I’ve gone out with the pack. This is going to be so much fun,” Jenna said. Her anticipation was flowing off her in waves.

“Why haven’t you gone out with the pack?” I was very curious.

“Oh, I’ve been busy every time they’ve gotten together lately. I’ve been running between the packs a lot. There’s been a lot of minor squabbling between some of the lesser wolves.”

Wolves, as I understood it, fought a lot among themselves. They were one of the few were-creatures that lived in large groups.

“Just stick with me. I’ll show you a good time.” I was planning on hunting tiger, not deer. Jenna looked at me questioningly. I just gave her a sly smile.

“What are you thinking, Natalya?” Radek said, glancing in the mirror at me.

“Worried?” I smiled sweetly at him.

He snorted, “Not about you. I doubt you could catch me off guard.”

“Oh, is that a challenge?” I asked.

“I wouldn’t underestimate her, son,” Val said with a chuckle. He knew what I was capable of.

“I’m not underestimating her, Father. I just don’t think she can do it.”

I was definitely going to have to bring him down a peg or two.

“It’s your funeral,” Val said under his breath.

I must’ve used my evil laugh because Radek just glared at me.

“I’m taking that as a challenge. What’s the wager?” I asked.

“I’ll let you know when I win,” Radek said.

“You want to play it that way?” I asked. “Okay. Winner decides. I would shake on it, but you’re driving. I think our two witnesses here are enough, don’t you?”

“Agreed.”

“Well at least we won’t have a boring night, don’t you agree, Jenna?” Val said with a smirk.

He seemed to be enjoying our banter.

I was thinking that Radek was in need of a little lesson. This was going to be fun. I could feel the fur just beneath the surface of my skin. My shift was close. “You really need to stop reading your own press clippings, Dek. When we get there you can have a fifteen minute start,” I said in my sweetest voice.

“Well if you must. It won’t matter either way. We’re here,” he replied.

Radek pulled off of the deserted road that was nothing more than snow-covered ruts. Jenna and I got out, going around the back of the vehicle to undress and store our clothes before we shifted.

Shifting for me wasn’t a big deal. It happened so fast for me. The bones rearranging and fur growing barely registered, I was so primed for it. I stretched my paws in front of me and opened my jaw wide. I heard and felt the bones snap into place. I glanced around at the other two tigers and the wolf that were all doing similar things. Thick clouds covered the sky and a light dusting of snow floated around us. Even in the limited light I could see clearly. One of the advantages of being a weretiger instead of just a tiger was that we could still see in color. My night vision was excellent as well.

Radek’s fur coat matched Val’s perfectly. They both had a medium brown undertone with darker stripes. Val was a little larger than Radek, but not by much. They were impressive creatures to behold. Jenna stayed behind with me as the other two took off into the woods. I studied her. She had a light brown coat the same color as her hair as a human. She was maybe half my size.

She crouched before me. It was a sign of respect. I was the bigger and more deadly predator, and her wolf wanted to make sure I didn’t eat her. I playfully swiped her with my paw.

I gave the other two a good head start, then leapt after them. Jenna soon passed me. She was faster, being a wolf. I was smaller than the males and almost as fast as Jenna. We were silent as we slipped through the trees. I let her lead the chase – she had the better nose as well.

She led me around to cut them off. It wasn’t long before we were in front of Radek and Val. Slowing down, we found a place to hide and waited for them. We were downwind and hidden in the bushes. The tip of my tail was twitching with the thrill of the hunt. My paws were beneath me as I crouched down, my underbelly brushing the forest floor and my muscles vibrating as we waited. They were trotting through the woods as they passed us. Val looked right at me
, but Radek seemed to be oblivious. Val wouldn’t give us away I was sure. He seemed to be enjoying this too much.

My paws were soundless on the snow covered ground and so were Jenna’s. We followed them. The smell of deer hit my nose and made my mouth water. I was hungry. I watched as Radek became completely focused on the prey. I knew that right after he made a kill would be the perfect time to pounce. We followed behind silently and waited.

There was a rock that would do perfectly. I made my way there with Jenna trailing me. We took up our position on the edge of the clearing where a herd of deer were pawing through the snow and ice to get to the blades of grass. A hush came over the forest. The heads of the deer popped up. They froze, looking around for the danger that they sensed.

Then Val and Radek appeared. They each leapt for a deer, taking them down. As the other deer scattered, I positioned myself closer to Radek. There was a bunch of downed trees near him. I crept up to the top of them. Radek had his back to me so he didn’t see the movement. My muscles bunched beneath me in preparation for the attack.

I leapt and landed on his shoulder, driving him to the ground with my paws. He rolled instinctively, but I was already off of him. He leapt for me, but missed as I dodged his attack. I was far more agile, which made up for my smaller size.

I heard Val snort his amusement. Radek had lost the bet and he was going to make me pay for it. This was the most fun I’d had in a long time. He crouched down, his legs underneath him, waiting for me to come close again. I was relying on my speed. He had some of his own though. I had just caught him off guard earlier. I should’ve known that wouldn’t happen again. I leapt for
him, but he was ready for me and moved at the last second. He had me pinned before I could realize what had happened. I tried to throw him off, but he weighed more than me.

I finally relaxed in defeat. I was breathing hard and so was he. He let me up slowly. I rolled in the snow for a moment, enjoying the feel of it against my fur. When I stood up, he motioned me over so I could share in his kill. I noticed when I looked around that Jenna and Val had eaten the other deer. It was in no way enough food to feed the four of us, but this outing was not about that. It was about just being free and having fun.

I had an idea, so I nudged Radek and glanced at Val, who wasn’t paying much attention to us at the moment. Radek picked up what I was thinking and nodded. We silently slipped into the trees and waited.

Jenna noticed that we’d disappeared first. I watched as she glanced around. She really did make a pretty wolf, her fur glistening with snow. I was glad that Jenna’s instincts were kicking in. She was turning circles. I could tell it wasn’t in fear, but just to try to see where the attack would be coming from. We weren’t aiming for her though. Our prey was much bigger and harder to catch.

Radek and I split up. We were moving through the trees soundlessly. I was keeping track of Radek and knew when he was in position. We were going to come at Val from two angles. I was going to let Radek break the tree line first. Then I would come at Val from the other side. I was crouched, the tip of my tail twitching in excitement. I was focused on the ground about three feet from Val.