I Kissed a Dog

chapter 44

I couldn’t help wondering if the renewed determination I felt was reflected on my face.

Jazmine continued to glare, while Logan and Martin made a show of enjoying the feast (blood saturated meat) that was delivered to our table courtesy of several attractive mutant women still remaining in their human forms.

A majority of the captives had shifted and were frolicking in the moonlight, unaware of the inevitable conflict.

Refusing Logan’s halfhearted solicitations to tempt me with food, I allowed my powers to roll over the area, seeking any new or concealed supernatural elements.

With no new blips on my mental radar, I turned my attention to Logan, who made Zane’s table manners seem impeccable. “I’m ready to hear about your unholy alliance.” I glared with venom at Jazmine, who slurped blood off her fingers.

“You are disgusting. What a pity that this is the last meal you’ll enjoy,” I said through clenched teeth. I was banking on Logon’s promise to protect me from her sure to be violent response.

As expected, she lunged across the table, and was subdued by her own two guards, who now appeared to defer to Logon.

“Undoubtedly, our guest needs some attention.” Logan suggested with a smile.

Jazmine sulked, and Alcuin and Misty appeared baffled by Logan’s sudden surge of friendliness. Martin remained indifferent, still ripping his blood-soaked dinner from a bone.

I wasn’t fooled. The Alpha was hoping to sweeten whatever deal he planned to offer in hopes of gaining access to my powers. I’d play along to gather my own intelligence.

Scanning the faces, I noted the one empty place setting. We were minus our sixth dinner companion. “Are you expecting someone else?”

Logan, cheery grin still intact, nodded. “A person I’m confident you will remember, but I’ll start without him.

A purebred, loyal to our pack, was visiting your wildlife park and overheard a conversation that piqued his interest. In response, I sent Zane to search for you and investigate your town’s unfortunate increase in murders.” He gave Jazmine a meaningful look. “Regrettably, for Jazmine, Zane fell for you in the process, adding additional complications to our already complicated situation.”

“He’ll return to me,” Jazmine said sounding unconvinced.

Logan sneered, “You keep believing that, Jaz. Anyway, one of our Native American brothers discovered an ancient document, referring to a set of coins …”

“What kind of coins?” I said hoping I sounded casual.

“Stop playing coy. You know Alcuin has kept me apprised of your house-to-house searches. Zane, as my second in command, was also giving me detailed accounts of your activities. Why wouldn’t he?”

“He wouldn’t if he’d known what a …”

“Now, now, let’s forget the name calling and move on.” Logan’s smile remained, but his eyes blazed crimson. I’d hit a nerve.

“Would you like to see the coins, Ms. Carpenter?”

I turned to glare at Alcuin, the one person who could have delivered them personally to Logan. Again I sensed his shame and doubted that he’d willingly wanted to partner with the alpha wolf, but he had. Why?

I didn’t have time to ponder further before Logan nodded at one of the guards, who pulled a briefcase from the podium’s inside shelf.

Eager to see all the coins together, I leaned forward.

I wasn’t disappointed. They’d been polished with professional care and glowed in the moonlight. The magical sigils writhed across their surfaces, reminding me of the markings on my ankle. Alone they’d seemed special, but as a set, spectacular. An almost tangible force radiated from the case. I couldn’t help but reach out a hand.

Just missing my fingers, Logan closed it with a click; extinguishing the preternatural flame I’d felt so powerfully only seconds before.

“What are they for?” I wanted to caress the coins. The need to have them in my possession was almost overwhelming. I knew they were somehow central to everything I’d endured.

Logan, as Zane had implied, loved to listen to himself talk. He launched into the details I’d been waiting to hear.

I listened with a mixture of awe and increasing terror as Logan, with a few insertions from Martin, explained his intricate plot to rule as the unquestioned leader of all werewolves and mutants. Something his father had aspired to, but failed to embrace following a death match with Zane’s father.

Pretending to be appalled by his father’s devious plan, but in reality devastated about his death, Logan had used Zane’s guilt, and his lack of desire to lead, as a means to take over the Pacific Pack. Zane, the true heir, became second in command, where he was content to wander for weeks, returning when he was needed.

Logan had also formed a secret alliance with a power hungry Jazmine, knowing very well that few men, purebreds, or mutants, could resist her sexual allure. He’d hoped she would keep Zane in line while manipulating any male they needed.

Just over a year ago, one of Logan’s Native American partners, working for Martin, had after years of looking, located the fae document Logan’s father had been seeking. It had been buried in an ancient Indian burial ground. The fear of angry spirits, had kept treasure hunters away until the US government proclaimed the sites historical, religious landmarks, off limits to outsiders.

The legendary text described a medical procedure capable of altering mutants, giving them the ability to sun walk in their changed forms like their purebred counterparts.

In addition, a process for creating mutants out of men, without being bitten by a purebred was revealed. The men, changed in this manner, were less likely to die from infection or other complications. In the past, a high percentage of those who were bitten didn’t survive the change, and it was also against the treaty to create more bitten mutants.

The fae, or fairies, as humans called them, were the most powerful supernatural beings, second only to God’s holiest angels. Divided into the Seelie and Unseelie courts, they spent more time battling each other than worrying about the other supernatural creatures, which they deemed inferior to their own ancient race.

Overwhelmed by information, I would have considered fantasy fiction two weeks ago, I cleared my throat. “So, you were performing medical experiments on unwilling men?” I’d seen their so-called medical procedures in the visions from David and Martin’s dog.

Logan shrugged. “Chloe, my dear, there’s always been a price for knowledge. I need to build an army fast. To exert my authority, and garner the respect and support needed to rule, I had to cut corners. Besides, I’m doing them a favor. They end up with super strength and abilities they’d never acquire in their weak human bodies.”

A jolt of anger kicked my adrenaline into high gear. I trembled with energy. “How dare you decide for someone else who or what they should be? And you’re still lying. Not all your patients are surviving, are they?”

“She’s right. Remember, Logan, she scanned Martin’s dog at the board meeting. She’s seen the unwanted results,” another familiar voice agreed.

“You’ve got to be kidding?” I spat as James McQuillen, the man who’d saved me from my untimely face plant at the board meeting, slid into the sixth chair, his ever present dobby, Boss, at his side.

I almost expected Zane to join us and admit his involvement, but I knew better. He was one of the good ones. “Who else should I expect?” Maybe the two M’s would now appear, making the father and son duo the best actors of all.

James McQuillen grinned. “We’re all here now. I promise. No more surprises.”

“And I should believe you, because?”

“Good point,” the big Indian agreed. “I think Logan was just finishing up his story when I so rudely interrupted.”

Still trembling, I looked around the table. It was starting to make sense. Like I’d predicted, this was a hostile takeover. Certain purebreds, humans, and mutants had joined forces to seize power. I doubted they’d be content with ruling over the werewolves and mutants. Who would be next? Other supernaturals? Humans …

“The coins. I was almost to the wonderful, incredible, life saving coins,” said Logan.

“Please do continue. I’m not sure it can get any worse,” I said the words knowing it was about to get much, much worse.

To confirm my belief, James McQuillen took over. “The coins, once translated, reveal the formula for eternal life. Your friend here,” he nodded toward Alcuin, “was unable to accomplish the task as promised.”

I glanced back at Alcuin. Wait a minute. Yes, they did accomplish the task, or were close to it. Rita and the others had been working nonstop on the translation. I was sure they’d made significant strides.

This was information I’d be keeping to myself. After all, Logan was the one who’d implied that knowledge was worth a price, maybe, in this case, a small fortune.

“You still haven’t explained why some of your patients aren’t surviving. Why you’re killing them when they don’t turn,” I questioned, remembering the gruesome murder of one such man in his hospital bed on the barge.

“Some humans aren’t exactly human. At least not all the way human. Many have fae blood. Their polluted bloodline causes them to mutate. They become hideous beasts with untamable supernatural abilities. We can’t have them running around interrupting our mission, Ms. Carpenter. That would be bad press,” explained McQuillen.

I thought of David. He was “bad press” waiting to happen. Just the press I needed about now to wipe the snide expressions off a few unfriendly faces.

Shoving thoughts of revenge aside, for the moment, I determined to learn all I could while my hosts were in the talking mood; I asked the one question that hadn’t been answered. “Why kill the men in Plum Beach then? They didn’t turn into the bald guys.”

“That was my work,” Jazmine said with unmistakable pride. “We’d been testing the process for months before it actually produced the desired results.

In the beginning, no one was changing into anything. We used a vampire associate’s powers, and erased the memories of our patients’ time spent on the barge.

Unluckily, for a few of them, it came to our attention they were regaining their memories. We couldn’t risk having news of our operation spreading. So, I eliminated the problem and obtained an added benefit. Law enforcement was focused on solving the murders, keeping their attention off the other unusual happenings in their town.

They kept Zane busy too, so busy he didn’t see what was right in front of him.”

“How convenient,” I muttered, sickened by her compassionless explanation. She was beaming.

I took a quick peek in her head and was appalled to find her reliving the murder of Josh, including the violence-laced sex beforehand. I pulled out, revolted.

A subject change was in order. “How did you learn where the coins were hidden?” I directed my question to James McQuillen. “We weren’t the only ones searching for them.”

“We applied certain physical pressures on one of the bald abominations.”

“You mean you tortured him.”

“To death,” Logan answered.

I looked away from his gloating face.

I didn’t want to hear anything else about death and dying. What I wanted was to get those coins away from Logan’s henchman. The possibility of Logan and Jazmine gaining immortality was downright horrifying. They’d murder, without any qualms, anyone or anything that got in their way.

That would include me and everyone I cared about.

I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t let it happen.

If my supporting forces didn’t show soon, I’d see exactly how and to what extent my powers had expanded.

***