Night Broken
Page 39

There were two Western saddles bedecked with silver on wooden saddle racks and another pair that were more everyday trail saddles. Blue ribbons and big, oversized awards plastered one wall. Everything was covered with dust, as if, like the horses, they had not been used since Peter died.
Eventually, Darryl came out to talk.
Hey, girl, he said from the doorway.
Hey.
Jesse was summoned as taster in the kitchen, he told me. They should be over at the house by now, in the middle of changing. Adams plan had been to find a quiet spot near Guayotas place so that all the wolves could change. Then they would wait until the small hours of the night and take what advantage surprise might offer them.
Id been keeping track of the time, too. Ill let you know if our mating bond tells me anything, I told him, my attention firmly on the way Medeas rabbit-soft coat rippled under my fingers.
Well all feel it if anyone dies, Darryl told me after a very long moment. Why dont you come into the house? Ill keep Christy in line.
I looked at him and raised my eyebrows. He smiled sheepishly. Okay. But I expect shell behave in front of everyone, anyway.
Its not Christy, I assured him. I just dont have any comfort for anyone left in me, Darryl. And if someone even looks at me with sympathy no. Ill wait here for a while more.
He hesitated. I told him I would look after you. His voice was soft, as soft as Id ever heard it.
I wiped my eyes angrily but managed a half laugh. Shut up. Samuel told me not to mourn until I had something to mourn about.
Yeah, Darryl said softly. Yeah.
He leaned against the doorframe and kept me company for a few minutes before returning to the house. It would be hours before we knew anything, anything at all. Tibicenas could be killed, temporarily, if they caught them in dog form. They were going to try to take them out as early in the fight as they could, and if that didnt destroy Guayota or send him back where he came from, they would then concentrate on Guayota. Seven werewolves and a walker against a god.
I curled up around Medea and prayed as fervently as I ever had. I had faith that it would help. But death isnt a tragedy to God, only to those left behind.
I finished, and only then realized that Stefan was sitting on a hay bale on the wall on the far side of the stable aisle, where he could look through the tack room door and see me.
I didnt want to interrupt, he said. I told you Id come talk tonight, but I had some trouble finding you. He paused. I talked to Darryl at the house. He told me whats going on. A volcano god, eh? If Id realized exactly what that address meant Im not sure Id have gotten it for you. He looked away. I think the talk I promised you ought to wait untiluntil later, I suppose.
Id forgotten about the talk. Somehow, it didnt seem important to fuss about something he could have done nothing about. Any other day, I might have gotten self-righteously angry. Id worked really hard not to freak at the bonds I shared with Adam and the pack. I wasnt sure I had it in me not to freak about a bond with a vampire, even one I liked. But today I couldnt find the energy to lie to myself and believe that blaming Stefan for the mess would make anything better.
Its okay, I told him. It wasnt your fault. I understand why you didnt tell me that the bond was still real. I agreed to it in the first place, and Id do it again, even knowing the consequences. Lies arent always destructive, are they? Sometimes a few lies hurt no one. You have nothing to apologize for, and I have nothing to be mad about.
He patted the hay bale beside him. I picked up Medea, got to my feet, and stepped down into the stable aisle. He smelled like popcorn, and it was subtly reassuring. I sat down next to him, and Medea deserted my lap for his.
His fingers found the favored spot under her ear, and she closed her eyes and purred. I leaned against his shoulder, and he waited with me.
The barn was dark, the only light came from the bare bulb in the tack room. It smelled of leather, hay, and horses. I could hear the two horses eating outside and Medeas purring. An owl hooted from somewhere nearby. In the distance, very far distance, I could hear a cars engine. Someone coming home from a Saturday shopping expedition or an early movie.
I closed my eyes. Stefans arm tightened and loosened under my temple as he petted Medea. I couldnt hear his heartbeat or listen to him breathe. Usually when he forgot to make himself humanlike, the oddness made me uncomfortable, but tonight it was peaceful. I only wanted one heartbeat in my ear.
Adams.
The horses took off running, their hooves a rapid thunder in the night. I pulled my head off Stefans shoulder to see if I could hear what spooked them.
The wind changed, and they smelled me, Stefan said. Thats all. Theyll be back in a few minutes because they arent really scared. He leaned his head back against the wall. I remember when all I wanted was to ride a horse. We had four at my home when I was growing up. Two were plow horses. One was a pony my mother used to go to market. The fourth was a riding horse that just showed up one day wearing the remains of a saddle. One of his knees was enlarged, and it was sore for months afterward. It never really went down, but it didnt seem to bother him much after he rested up. We kept waiting for someone to come claim him, but no one ever did. I learned to ride on him.
The car was getting closer though still probably a couple of miles out. Something about it made me nervousI stood up. It sounded like the car Juan Flores had been driving when he broke into my garage.
Stefan, I said. How many people can you do your instant transport with, if were only talking a couple of miles?
Four. Maybe five if I dont need to be conscious after the last one. You need me to take you somewhere?
Not me, I said. There are only three other houses on this road, and the rest of the land is farming. Ive heard a Toyota V6, two different Chevy trucks, a Ford truck, and a Mercedes while Ive been here. There is a Chevy Malibu approaching us right now, and Guayota drove a Malibu when he attacked me at my garage.
You think Guayota is coming here, Stefan said.
Yes, I do.
If Stefan could get Jesse, Lucia, and Christy away from here, they might make it out alive. I didnt think I could convince Darryl to go. Or Auriele.
I put Medea down. If the worst happened, I didnt want her trapped in the stable. I grabbed a pitchfork that was leaning against the wall and set off for Adams SUV at a brisk walk, my ear tuned to the still-distant car. Would you take fourpeople from here to Where? My house. The Vanagon was still at the ruins of my garage, but Jesses car would be there. Once you get them all there, call Adams cell phone. Youll probably get a man named Gary. Tell him what happened. Then get everyone into Jesses car and drive.
I opened the passenger side of the SUV and retrieved the S&W 29 and a box of ammunition from under the front seat. The car was still coming, so I headed for the house at a sprint.
Stefan stayed beside me. I could take you out of here.
You do, and I will never forgive you. I opened the back door but didnt go in. Im second in the pack, Stefan. That means I dont desert anyone. If you can get the humans out of here, I will owe you for the rest of my life. Take Auriele if you can.
He looked down at me, then did the strangest thing. He kissed me. A quick butterfly kiss that gave me no chance to react. Ill do my best to keep your lambs safe, Mercy. If I can get them all to safety, Ill return.
No, I said. Vampires and fire dont mix. Dont throw yourself away, Stefan. Let Adam know that Guayota is coming hereAriana magicked him, and some of the wolves, so they can survive fire. Theyll come as soon as they can.
The pitchfork was a weapon of last resort, and I set it under some bushes, where, hopefully, I could grab it in a hurry, and the bad guys wouldnt notice it. Id left Darryl and Christy arguing with Auriele, but Jesse and Lucia had already been taken to safety.
I wasnt out front long when Darryl came out the door, turning off the porch and yard lights as he did so. He strolled out to me and listened to the car. The driver had been driving back and forth a bit. Country roads can be tricky when all you have is a direct line to your targetwas Guayota tracking Christy somehow?
How sure are you about this being Guayota? Darryl asked.
I shook my head. Could be a lost tourist. Could be a couple of kids out exploring. Could be a neighbor who bought a new car. Did you talk Auriele into going?
No, said Darryl. That took Christy. He started stripping off his clothes and began his change at the same time. I could tell by the sparkly feeling in the werewolf magic that followed all the wolves around. Tonight, it felt especially obvious, as though all my senses were on high alert. Never thought Id be grateful that Christy can lead people around by their noses before. Your tame vampire took Christy and promised to be back for Auriele. I am very grateful that all vampires cant jump places like that. Theyd rule the world, no doubt.
Darryl dropped his shirt to the ground and started shedding wristwatch and rings. If this is Guayota, we dont have a chance.
I know. All day Id had this feeling of impending doom. Usually, Im the optimist in the party, but today was different.
Its going to take me about twelve minutes to change even pushing it, and whoever that is, theyll be here in two. I called Adams phone, but no one picked up. Likely right about now they are all in the middle of changing, and no one will be able to listen to the message. Stefan said to tell you that hed keep calling until he got hold of someone. He said that if he had the juice left, hed come back and help. But from the looks of him when he vanished with Christy, I think itll be a while. If that car is Guayota, it will be too late for the two of us. I watched that fight in the garage, and Adam says youd both have been toast if it werent for Tad.
Yes, I said. Its too bad Tad is locked up in Fairyland.
We could run, Darryl said.
No, I told him. The tibicenas are faster than we are. Gary and I ran from them, and if Coyote hadnt pulled one last trick, theyd have caught us. This is pack territory I tapped my foot on the ground. That helps, in a fight. Not much, but we were going to need everything we had.
Im going to the barn to finish changing. It will be safer if I have a few seconds to orient myself. My wolf is aggressive when I first change. He kicked off his shoes and dropped his slacks. Ill come help as soon as I can.
If I said. If there is no use, you run, okay?
Darryl shook his head, his eyes bright gold in the moonlight. His teeth were sharper than theyd been a second ago. My wolf wont leave you, Mercy.
He left, a dark shadow among darker shadows, almost invisible to my eyes, but I heard his rapid footfalls as he ran for the barn.
I saw the headlights of the oncoming car for just a moment before the engine cut out, and, a moment later, the headlights went dark.
Night is seldom really silent. The light wind rustled the branches of the trees in the yard and the grass in the nearby fields. Spring frogs croaked, and the night hunters added their calls. But, gradually, the other sounds died and left only the wind.
The odds that the car was Guayotas skyrocketed into the certainty zone. Our best chance was for me to kill the tibicenas, one of whom was my friend, and then to hold Guayota off in the hope that, somehow, someone was able to reach Adam. Gary could answer the phone. Maybe that was why hed had to go with them.
Maybe Guayota would finish off Darryl and me, then head back to his home, where hed find Adam and the others waiting for him. Probably hed track down Christy, if thats what he was doing. It must not be a perfect method of finding her, because she was gone and he was still coming. Maybe Guayota would manage to kill us allit felt like that kind of night.
From the house, I heard Cookie bark an alert. She was answered by two hunting howls, high-pitched and hungry, one on either side of me. Judging by what I had learned while Gary and I had been chased by the pair of tibicenas, they were maybe a hundred yards apart. The sound they made wasnt the same one that had made my blood freeze when Coyote had taken Gary and me out. Maybe that meant they were still in a vulnerable form, something I could kill.
A darker shadow moved where there hadnt been a shadow before, and Juan Flores, who was Guayota, stepped out where I could see him. I didnt bother aiming my gun at him, though I remembered that hed staggered back when Id shot him before. He stopped at the edge of the lawn.
Where is she? he asked. Where have you put her?
He looked so humanbut so did I, I supposed.
Shes gone, I told him. We sent her away when we heard your car.
I dont understand you, he said, a faint frown between his eyebrows.
I know, I told him. For a moment I wasnt scared, just sad. He was so lost. Shes not who you think she is.