I Kissed a Dog

chapter 43

Surrounded by Jazmine, her private guards, a perspiring Martin, and an assortment of mutant women wasn’t reassuring. I didn’t see Connie or Deb anywhere. I hoped their attention-diverting-scam hadn’t been uncovered. Dillon was suspiciously missing as well. I was, however, more than a little happy to see Martin’s dog cowering off to the side, too afraid to approach any closer. My fur-shaving vision had castrated the now pathetic pooch.

“What are you doing back here?” Jazmine demanded. “Escaping isn’t possible, or practical in your case.” She appeared uncertain how to handle my strange behavior. What was I guilty of? Playing Hide and Seek.

Ignoring her question, I pierced her mind’s barrier, and rather than scanning her current thoughts, I reached for her memories. Seeking the actual school’s location, I flipped through thoughts like a file clerk scanning files in a filing cabinet.

For some reason, I now understood my multiple, mind-manipulating capabilities, and they were beyond anything I could have dreamed up. Evidently, the official mating ceremony and blood sharing with an ancient bloodsucker had enhanced my supernatural skills.

Supernatural — I’d never dared attach that particular word to what I did.

Confident in my abilities, for the first time, I blasted my exact location to Zane, Logan, Misty, the two M’s, and even Stryder, who should now be working with the others. This was instant messaging at its best. I could have avoided all the discomfort my cell phone was causing inside my too-snug bra had I known the extent of my own preternatural messaging system.

The confirmations poured into my mind, affirming they’d received my mental memo loud and clear. They were coming. All of them. Except Logan. His RSVP wasn’t amongst the others. Then I remembered; Alcuin was meeting with him about the coins. What if Logan had been injured, or worse, by the vampire?

“Is there some reason you aren’t answering me?” Jazmine grabbed my wrist, twisting.

“Ouch!” I yelped, hesitating for a moment, before firing a mental-missile into her mind. No one was going to grab or grope me again without my permission. I’d had enough to last a lifetime.

She dropped to her knees, clutching her head. Her pain-fueled shrieks slicing through the night.

Bull’s-eye! At last Jazmine was where she belonged, bowing to me.

Martin, to my amazement, took charge. “Somebody, do something! Call our onsite medic! Now! Jazmine, honey, talk to me. What’s happening?”

She continued to writhe; her screams turning to whimpers as her eyes rolled back, revealing the whites.

I could sense she was struggling to shift into her werewolf form, but whatever I’d conjured kept her trapped.

The mutants, somehow realizing that I was the cause of the assault on their mistress, were howling with a singular, mournful purpose. Answering calls echoed from every direction. Whatever army existed was being deployed to deal with me.

Yes, I had plenty of cool and painful weapons in my mental cache, but I didn’t think I could overcome several hundred creatures at once. I needed my back up.

“Whatever you’re doing to her, make it stop!” Martin commanded. “She could have killed you and she didn’t.”

“And that’s supposed to make me feel what … sympathetic?” The nerve of some people was mind boggling. “First, she threatens me; then almost runs me down: kidnaps me; and holds me captive …”

“That sounds about right,” a male voice affirmed.

A wave of awareness crashed through me. I’d heard that voice before in Vegas, and again at the board meeting.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and released Jazmine. She remained panting on the ground. One of my liberators had arrived ahead of schedule.

“My, my, did we underestimate you,” Logan drawled. Even in human form, he was beyond intimidating. “You’re everything I’d hoped for, and so much more.”

“What?” I stuttered, still trying to process his presence and strange behavior.

“Before I explain, I need to warn you. Alcuin!”

In a flash of shimmering light, Alcuin appeared, gripping Misty’s arm. Her face was etched with anger and fright. Her eyes met mine, pleading.

“Misty!” I cried, and started toward my friend.

Logan blocked me. “I don’t think so. My little sis, here, has become far too independent for her own good. And I know just how much you two bonded. Very sweet. So, if you want to continue your friendship, you’d both do well to remember two things: I’m in charge. You’re not.”

A few mutants chuckled in agreement. I was utterly dumbfounded. Logan? The bad guy? He was the pack’s alpha, well, not by blood, but nevertheless, the current leader. What the hell?

I chanced a glance at Alcuin. By his dejected state, I could only presume he was feeling self-conscious, even defeated. He wasn’t displaying even a portion of his normal confidence. It appeared things were happening outside his control. He looked almost as lost as I felt. His eyes, for just a moment, met mine. He inclined his head, just enough for me to notice.

Alcuin would come through for us before this was all over. I wasn’t sure how he’d ended up with Logan, but it wasn’t where he wanted to be. I’d bet my life on it. Logan was the true, tyrannical traitor.

The Alpha paced through the crowd, turning every few seconds to look my way. “I can see you’re trying to make sense of what’s happening. Let me help you. But keep this in mind, Ms. Carpenter, if you attempt to use any of your mind magic on me or anyone here, your friend, my dear sister, will be destroyed.”

I swallowed my frustration, hoping I appeared unruffled by his threats. I couldn’t, however, help rolling my eyes.

Misty, on the other hand, wasn’t so composed. She lunged at her brother, growling. Alcuin held tight, keeping her from breaking loose.

“Oh, come on, Misty. Give it up. You’re such a pacifist. War is part of life,” Logan chastised, choosing that moment to launch into an extended discourse on the many benefits and necessity of war.

Jazmine, Martin, and the others, turned their attention to the werewolf, hanging on his words like a life preserver. More than a few of the women blushed when his eyes rested on them for longer than a second. I felt certain if he offered poisoned Kool Aide, they’d drink it. That was a scary thought.

Disregarding his warning, I sent out another communication to Zane and the others, explaining the most recent developments. I figured as long as The Alpha didn’t notice any visible or harmful reactions to my mental activities, I’d be safe enough.

In addition, I’d created an effective mental barrier that would keep any unwanted intruders from entering my mind. Logan, I assumed, was worried about my more destructive talents anyway, like turning Jazmine into a moaning mess of meekness.

Remembering how she looked writhing on the ground gave me a sick sense of satisfaction. In the future, she’d know better than to provoke me … if there was a future for me ¯ for any of us.

I sensed Zane attempting to push into my thoughts and allowed him entrance.

We’ll be there, Princess. I promise. Keep Logan talking. One thing he has always loved is attention. That’s why I let him take the Alpha position without a fight. I didn’t want to be in charge. I’ll explain later. Without Alcuin’s teleporting talents, we’re stuck traveling the old fashioned way. Hang on, baby. Hang on.

I will. You can count on it. Hurry. Please.

Knowing we’d need all the help we could gather, I sent a beacon out to David and the cloaked creatures. With David’s advanced telepathic abilities, I was certain he’d hear me. I was uncertain, however, if he’d respond. I hadn’t heard from him since the guided dream encounter.

If everyone showed, we’d have a chance to defeat Logan’s clan.

Given the opportunity, Misty and Alcuin would join us, I was sure of it. Valamir had promised his services, and I felt certain he’d return. He wanted to collect a favor from me and would do whatever it took to gain that favor.

Zane, Stryder, the two M’s; they were a sure thing. With any luck, Connie, Deb, and Dillon were lurking close by. They’d come to our aid if they could. And we had one weapon no one else did: Me. When the time came, I’d use my powers like a nuclear weapon, melting the minds of our enemies like butter in a microwave.

I hoped there’d be some other way, though. I wasn’t real keen on becoming the cause of ultimate annihilation, and not all the women here wanted to follow Jazmine or Logan. They were trapped in forced training to serve as slaves.

How did all this fit together? What did the medical facility on some old barge have to do with Vegas hotels, random murders, and mutants? With me? How did Logan keep his evil agenda from his board members and Zane? I had too many questions and no logical answers.

Any logic I’d known before had pretty much vanished with Zane’s grand entrance into my life.

“Ms. Carpenter,” Logan snapped. “Were you listening?”

Feeling like I was back in a high school social studies class, I half stuttered, “Uh, well, I was kind of trying to figure all this out. Like … what are you hoping to accomplish? And what are you doing?” I hoped I’d earn points for honesty. I had not a clue what he’d been rambling about for the past ten minutes.

“If you’d listened, you might have learned something.” He shook his head. “No problem, we’ll chat over dinner. Won’t you join me at the table? I’m sure you’ll see the reasoning behind what might look otherwise …”

Jazmine blurted, her eyes on fire, “Why explain anything to her? As soon as Zane comes for her, she’s dead. And I’m doing the killing.” She was vibrating, ready to shift.

“Think again, bitch!” Misty snarled, infuriated. “This vampire isn’t going to be able to hold me much longer.”

“Enough!” Logan roared. “Jazmine, I am in charge here, just in case you’ve forgotten. I will handle all matters related to this lovely lady.” His eyes made a quick, but deliberate sweep of my most female assets. “And, Misty … my little sister, I regret to say this, but I fear I must. Another outburst from you and your blood will be nourishing the ground we stand on.”

A sudden, heartbreaking shadow darkened Misty’s face, one of making her appear like a baby sister whose big brother had just abandoned her to a pack of rabid mutants. I yearned to comfort her.

As we made our way back to the platform, I sent a message. Misty, I am so sorry. We’ll make it out of here. I promise. Be ready for anything, and remember, you’ve got a family with me and Zane. I had no way to measure the impact of my words. I prayed that they provided some sort of assurance.

From atop the dais, Logan extended his hand. I grudgingly allowed him to pull me to the table and seated myself amongst what amounted to werewolf royalty. I was far from impressed.

I was worried and afraid, afraid I couldn’t keep the two promises I’d made: one to Joshua Smart, and one to Misty.

A vision of the mutant at Luke’s abandoned cabin, eyes glazed in death, flared to life in my mind like a movie screen in a dark theatre. I was a killer. The truth no longer repelled me. It gave me a sense of power. I could and would protect those dear to me.

I’d kill again, without hesitation, to ensure my promises were fulfilled.