Chapter 12

    She woke up early, as usual. She felt wonderfully languid, but relaxed as well. She rose up on her elbow and for a moment watched at sleeping Bryan. He looked like a lost angel, with tousled hair and thick eyelashes throwing long shadows on his cheeks. She bent down and kissed his lips gently. He was wonderful. Sensitive and delicate. She couldn’t have wished for a better man, who would introduce her to the world of sex. ‘How could I not notice him before?’ She asked herself.

    ‘And what if something fucks up and our friendship will go to hell?!’ She thought slightly panicked. She was well aware of the fact, that two-year older Bryan is much more experienced than she. What’s more, she knew that for the last two years of his stay in Missoula, Bry had many girlfriends. In the last year of high school he already dated Heather McArthur, who had opinion of an easy lay. And though, Jay paid no attention to his conquests, however, she didn’t want to become Weakfield’s next trophy. But most of all, she didn’t want to lose her friend.

    She looked at him again. Before her eyes she saw images from last night. His greedy, passionate kisses. Quickened breathing. Impatient hands. She gave herself to him so easily. So spontaneously. Almost naturally. They fit together perfectly. She had to admit, that it was almost like a movie, where two people just can’t stop themselves from unification. ‘Like fucking love stories, which Mel reads!’ She thought angrily.

    She felt a sudden and irresistible need to get some fresh air. She slipped out of the bed quietly, grabbed her clothes and crept into the bathroom. She took quick, cold shower to start thinking clearly.

    ‘What have you done, Jaysabel!?’ She asked herself in thoughts, staring blankly at her reflection in the mirror. She took few deep breaths to calm down quivering nerves and to be able to think rationally. ‘Tomorrow you’ll go back to Purple Creek and everything will be back to normal!’ She tried to cheer herself up. ‘And in two weeks you’ll come here again and you’ll be seeing him almost every day! But you’ll have to deal with it somehow!’ She gave herself a warning glance. ‘He’s not for you!’

    She put her clothes on fast, from the threshold she took one more look at her friend, who became her lover last night. ‘Can we speak about such a thing in relation to teenagers?!’ It crossed her mind. Then she soundlessly left Bryan’s apartment mired in silence. She was running away, but she couldn’t help it. What happened between them came suddenly. She wasn’t quite ready for it. And though she didn’t want to admit it, she was scared. More frightened than when she got to know the secret of her ancestry.

***

    It was five in the morning. In the east, just above the horizon, gentle glow of the sun begun to paint the sky with soft pink. It was only few alleys from the twins’ apartment, so it didn’t take her much time to get there. She opened the front door slowly and looked inside. A few stragglers, who overstayed, slept on couches and chairs. Some of them she even didn’t know, but she recognized Dave, Bryan’s roommate, who was snoring peacefully with his head cradled between the couch and the speaker and his legs put on a table covered with magazines and mail. Sneaking upstairs to Christian’s bedroom she felt like a thief, but she didn’t want her brothers to figure out, that she had disappeared suddenly in the middle of the party. ‘It’s certainly too late for this!’ She thought with bitterness. She slipped into the room, tiptoeing. Christian and Jess were sleeping sprawled on the bed, for Daniel and younger twins’ mattresses left. Carter, for sure, was in his bedroom. His girlfriend was at the party, so probably he got more privacy. Caroline seemed to be a nice girl, but Jay had an impression, that she’s too delicate as for one of the Tylers.

    She reached into her bag lying next to Daniel’s head and carefully took off some fresh clothes.

    - What are you doing? – She whirled at Jess’s voice, hoarse from sleep. – What time is it?

    - Hush! – She put her finger to her lips to stress her whisper. – Only few minutes past five. Sleep! – She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, as she used to do. – Love ya. – She said on leaving, and with relief she observed her brother pushing his head under the pillow.

    In the bathroom she quickly changed her clothes, putting on white cotton slacks, turquoise top and favorite trainers. She went on tiptoe down the stairs, on the run she grabbed a bottle of water and MP3 player. She beamed to hang-over Dave, who had just woke up and with vicious eyes searched the room looking for something to drink. Guided by compassion, she took another bottle of water and threw it to him.

    - I owe you. – He gasped and then greedily drank half of the bottle.

    - You can repay preparing coffee. – She winkled at him and headed for the door. In the doorway, she looked at him again. – I like strong one with sugar and cream. I’ll be back in one hour. She smiled flirtatiously and she was gone.

    She was far away from her well-known streets. She didn’t have near here any views or paths she liked, but she was opened to new challenges, and so she decided to threat the run around Missoula. She was stretching for a moment to warm up her muscles, she put on headphones, chose Black Eyed Peas from the list and started trotting ahead.

    She didn’t have any particular destination point – she just wanted to breathe crisp morning air and think about what had happened between her and Bryan. She never thought that he might feel anything for her. Since she could remember, they were always just friends, and Bryan didn’t show any deeper interest in her. Of course, they often met and spoke a lot, but he treated her more like a sister.

    When has it changed? When she begun to see Bryan as a man? Or maybe, in the depths of her soul, she always perceived him this way? Maybe she only waited for his move? How it’s possible, that only one look of his amber eyes caused her heart beat faster, and every touch woke up all her instincts, that remained asleep? Till now obviously! And his scent? At the very mention she felt slightly dizzy, but in a damn pleasant way!

    She had to admit honestly, that when her peers were looking after handsome boys, she was learning how to distinguish herbs. When her friends were going on first dates, she was training martial arts and practicing sports. When other girls were experiencing first exciting kisses, Jay experimented with witchcraft. Nobody can say then, that she was an ordinary teenager. Sometimes it drove Maria crazy. She often said that Jay is more like a wild animal, which cannot find its place. She was probably right. Jay even started to wonder, if any guy, ever, will muddle her peace.

    When it comes to Bryan, it was like a blow to the solar plexus. Sudden and unexpected. He barged into her life like a violent gust of wind and destroyed its law and order. On the one hand, it was quite annoying. Everything she had learnt, failed in Bryan’s case. She couldn’t resist his charms. On the other hand, thanks to him, she was entering a new, exciting world. It was almost like trainings. She couldn’t wait what she’ll learn about herself next time.

    ‘Wait! What?’ She shook her head. Did she just think of next time? ‘Like doing-it-again thing? Wow! How slutty of me!’ The thought itself wasn’t unpleasant for her. On contrary. She already missed him. His touch. His scent. Damn hot kisses! But she was fucking scared at the same time, and that just pissed her of!

    Immersed in her own thoughts, she came to the square, where only yesterday they carried out their psychological experiment. She stopped confused. ‘What brought me here?’ She wondered when suddenly a wave of energy reached her, like a gentle breeze. ‘It’s he!’ She thought surprised. ‘Though he passed this way more than twelve hours ago, his energy’s still here. And it means that I can follow it and find that bastard.’ She focused her attention on the fleeting power and tried to determine, in which direction her target went. Because she treated him just like that. Five years ago, being only a twelve-year-old child she swore revenge and set herself a goal.

    After discerning the right direction, she resumed her run. She directed to the west, and the sun rising higher and higher, warmed her in the back, making the sweat beaded on her tawny skin. Relying on her own skills, she instinctively chose the streets she was tuning in one after the other. ‘Just like in a maze!’ She thought with a sneer. ‘I wonder if Bryan woke up already.’ Again she started to think about what had happened between them. She let her thoughts to drift, and when she suddenly rouse herself, she stated, that she had no clue where she was.

    - Damn it! – She swore under her breath.

    She looked around helplessly. She was standing in the middle of a crossing of narrow streets, where you could only move on foot or by bike. ‘Motor would fit as well.’ Sarcasm always cheered her up. She stood in her feet slightly apart, her hands on her hips and gave her muscles rest. She closed her eyes and concentrated on calming her breath and lowering the heart rate. At the same time, she tried to focus on vibrations, so as to find the way back.

    ‘How it’s possible, that I’ve lost myself?’ She reproached herself. How long was she thinking about Bryan? How much time had passed? How many times she turned left, and how many right? When did she stop concentrating on following that son-of-a-bitch? Is it possible, that her mind was clouded? ‘So far, I had no troubles to think about several things at once.’ She thought resigned. ‘Okay, I just need to go east.’ She comforted herself.

    And then she felt that. Various, extremely strong and aggressive waves of power begun to hit her like a professional boxer’s speeding fists. Powerful energy pressed against her from each side. She opened her eyes cautiously and leisurely looked around. In each of four streets there were two shape-shifters, who slowly, but surely moved towards her. She could clearly sense werewolves – three, maybe four. She would bet a hundred on were-leopards and… A were-rat? ‘That’s new!’ She lifted her eyebrow.

    She tried to remember how the alley behind her looked like. There were dustbins on the left, and above them hanged a ladder leading to the fire escapes. She took slowly few steps back. Those behind, were the farthest from her and it gave her a chance. When she disappeared behind the corner, four of them were forced to turn after her. Now she had six foes in sight, plus two behind her back. They were baring their fangs and she knew that fighting against them would be like biting off more than she could chew. And they certainly didn’t come here to play at blind man’s bluff.

    She had no choice – she had to make snap decisions.

    Out of surprise she jumped left and using the force, with which she bounced off the ground, she run up the wall to the dustbin. ‘Thank God it’s shut!’ She thought. However, she didn’t have time to analyze her move, as the attackers lunged towards her immediately. She took a short run-up and jumped trying to catch the ladder hanging up high. By chance she treated one of the shape-shifters with a solid kick in the jaw – she smiled to herself at the sound of broken bones. By the force and speed, with which Jay grabbed the lowest rung, the ladder swayed and she let go of the cold metal, just in time to land few meters away, like a cat on all fours.

    She didn’t waste her time and immediately rushed to escape. Fortunately for her, the werewolf, whom she broke the jaw, staggered backwards and pulled his buddies behind. But soon they followed her in hot pursuit. Trying to extend her advantage, Jay veered from one street to another. She did it nimbly, almost floating in the air. She didn’t take broad enough arches while turning, so she painfully rubbed her arms and legs on the houses’ walls and corners. Her muscles begun to protest, and each breath burned her lungs. She had a feeling, that with next deep breath her chest will be torn to shreds. She was losing her strength, and the enemy was getting closer. She could feel their energy like if they breathed down her neck.

    She made another violent turn to the right and fell directly in an iron grip.

***

    She thought that this is the end. That she fell into an ambush. She looked up into her prosecutor’s eyes. Surprisingly, she was calm and didn’t try to break free. ‘Nothing dispirits more than the victim, who doesn’t scream, fight or call for help.’ She thought sarcastically. But what she saw put her off her stride.

    Her eyes met a face covered with a shawl, where only eyes were visible – cavernous, dark blue, almost black. Jay didn’t find there any warmer feelings, only anger, hatred and lust for murder. ‘So beautiful and yet so impassive.’ It flashed through her mind.

    As she stood paralyzed with stranger’s gaze, she had impression that seconds extend to infinity. But after a moment she felt a familiar stream of energy. Power, which she knew almost as herself. ‘He’s a hunter!’ She was completely surprised. She didn’t have time to think of anything more, as just then, from around the corner the first assailant came out. The enigmatic man pushed her aside, not quick enough, however, that she could avoid sharp werewolf’s claws.

    She felt sudden, fierce and sharp pain, which seized her completely. For a split of second she lost control over her mind and all the signals she hold up. She had a sensation as if someone was tearing her arm into shreds. She felt the blood flowing – hot and sticky. Constant throbbing and burning was spreading. Her pulse was rapid, and her heart was racing. Its rapid beat echoed in her head. She felt metallic taste on her tongue.

    Suddenly, through the haze of pain, she felt that her barrier had collapsed, and her brothers received all the signals with the force of a hurricane. She heard their voices in her head. She felt their energy with every single body cell, and that made the pain even stronger. She focused on rebuilding the wall and she sent to them reassuring message. It cost her lot of energy and pain, but she noticed that it helped her to recover from a shock, she got at the beginning. So she tried even more to overshadow physical pain, concentrating on different thoughts.

    Once she had control over her body again, and pushed the pain to the background, Jay noticed, that the stranger had already defeated five out of eight shape-shifters. His quick and smooth moves put her in unfeigned delight. In his right hand he held a machete, which blade gleamed like a cut diamond in the rays of the rising sun. In his left hand she saw firearms, but she couldn’t say what kind, and much less to determine caliber. But the angry shouts of pain told her, that he had silver bullets in the magazine. He shot and cut with precision in strategic points, preventing escape.

    He bent over his victims with devotion. Jay clearly sensed that it gave him almost physical pleasure. ‘He’s some fucking psycho!’ She thought and regretted it the same moment, as he turned abruptly towards her and gave her a baleful glance, which froze the blood in her veins.

    Fortunately for her, one of the werewolves tried to take advantage of momentary lack of interest in his person. He knocked off the machete from attacker’s hand and tried to grab him by the throat. However, the hunter was opened-eyed. He quickly got his bearings. He drew a sharp dragger from a sheath strapped with a belt and stabbed it straight through the shape-shifter’s heart. At the same time, two survivors fled. Without hesitation the hunter took aim and shot one of them in the back in such a way, so he was sure the bullet didn’t miss the heart. The last one stopped and turned abruptly. His eyes were filled with fear and suffering, caused by inflicted wounds.

    She heard his voice from afar. Beseeching tone, full of pain and despair. He asked. Begged to be spared. He didn’t want to die. Not here. Not like that. Jay felt both sympathy and disgust. For Jay such behavior indicated lack of honor and dignity. She had impression that the voices reached her from behind thick plush curtain. She felt dizziness and impending wave of nausea. She felt strange weakness and infirmity. She knew, that she was about to lose consciousness, but before it happened, she saw as the last of the men chasing her fell to the ground.

    Then she was engulfed in darkness.