Chapter 25

    Half an hour later she arrived at Robins’ place. The house, in front of which she parked, was rather small, one-storey, painted in soft pastel-sunny color. Located on a cliff, overlooking the fabulous view, the house looked like a fortress. The iron fence defended the entrance to the mown lawn. Around it was full of trees and bushes. On a small porch slept a big black cat.

    But the whole of it was a charming picture of a suburban serenity.

    Without further delay, Jay walked to the wicket and pushed the handle. The lock opened with a quiet creak. She walked quickly to the stairs leading to the front door. On her way she leaned involuntarily and stroked the cat, which stretched out, pleaded. Jay smiled to herself, ran lightly up the stairs, stopped in front of the solid oak door and knocked.

    For quite a moment she was waiting in tense, listening to the noise from the house, but nothing happened. Only after tens of seconds she heard quiet steps. The lock grated and in the door a man’s face appeared. He had a tawny complexion, deep green eyes, a bit crooked nose and clearly outlined lips. His face was covered with a two-day stubble, and his light-brown hair, bristled with brighter strips, reached almost his shoulders. He could have been twenty eight or thirty. He was wearing washed-out jeans, which started to torn on his knees, and faded green T-shirt, which gently emphasized the color of his irises.

    - Yes? – He asked suspiciously, measuring Jay from head to toes. Apparently, he was unhappy that someone is bothering him.

    - Hello, my name is Jay Tyler. Are you Dan Robins? – She smiled reluctantly to arouse man’s sympathy.

     When he was looking at her with his piercing eyes, she felt cold. At this moment she realized, that this man might be dangerous and yet she arrived here alone. Unarmed! A wave of energy she suddenly felt, confirmed her fears. She came to a completely strange guy’s house intending to ask him about a murder form seven years ago. If he was in some way involved in that case, then she was in trouble now. But she still decided not to resign.

    - Yes. – He answered after a moment of reflection. ‘She’s just a kid.’ He thought. ‘What can she do to me? Or what may she want? – You don’t look like a scout selling cookies. What do you want? – He asked indifferently.

    - Sarah Thomson gave me your address. – As soon as she said it, her interlocutor became vigilant. She decided to speak bluntly. She wouldn’t gain much of fibbing. – We’ve spoken about her husband’s, Paul, death. She said you were his friend. – She finished and waited for confirmation.

    He kept a full reserve attitude. She felt chills and anger from him. And fear? But what would he be afraid of? Her?

    - Indeed, - he said after a moment, - Paul and I were friends. – He didn’t like to come back to that. – It was a real tragedy for his family. I try to visit them from time to time. I check how they handle.

    - Will you agree to spend some time with me and talk about it? – She asked.

    - I don’t know what I could tell you. – He withdrew quickly. – Goodbye.

    - I know who you are! – Jay stopped the slamming door in front of her face.

    - Pardon?! – He looked angrily at her hand holding the door. – What do you want, girl?! – He growled.

    - I want to know the truth. – She said calmly. – I’ve got my suspicions! – Still a moment and she’ll loose her chance! – And the power, which flows from you, only confirms them. – She looked at him significantly, putting everything on one card.

    - I don’t know what you’re talking about! – He was still trying to get rid of her. – Please leave my property immediately!

    - You’re shape-shifter. – She said calmly, stopping him again from slamming the door.

    He watched her closing her eyes and taking a long deep breath. He saw as she focused. He was wondering, who is that petite, seemingly ordinary girl. ‘Maybe she’s been sent by the Council?’ It crossed his mind. ‘No!’ He rejected this thought straight away. He would recognize a soldier of darkness easily. But she emanated some delicate energy. He had the impression, that it might be the calm before the storm.

    ‘And those eyes!’ He never saw such color. As if he watched azure coast.

    - You’re were-cougar. – She said quietly, opening her eyes.

    Their eyes met and Jay felt cramps running down her spine. She saw many feelings in his eyes. Fear, astonishment, embarrassment, disbelief. Anger, rage, aggression.

    - How did you…? – He didn’t know how to express his thoughts.

    - I’m the hunter. – She answered his unfinished question quietly. – And I come from a line of witches. – She added.

    He watched her speechless. ‘Who’s that girl?!’ He was tormented by this question again. Why she stood on his doorstep? Why now? After so many years he’ll have to come back to those terrible moments?

    It was hard enough for him to meet Paul’s widow and his kids for last seven years. To look into their eyes and couldn’t tell them the truth. He promised to protect them, and he did. And now that wench appears and starts to sniff in the past. By what law she scratches old wounds?! And it wasn’t by no means about him. He worried about Sarah and her children.

    He saw his friend’s face again. Smiling at first, and then dead. He heard Sarah’s desperate scream and Rose’s cry. In his memories, he had to face again the pain and suffering. Fear. And Sam’s defiance.

    He could close this door now and leave the past behind them. But he knew it doesn’t work like that. Whenever he walked past them, he would remember what was behind this door. ‘You better face it immediately!’

    - Come in. – He said interrupting the embarrassing silence.

***

    The house was decorated Spartan, in a typical male way. But she had to admit that there was an atmosphere of warmth and tranquility. Wooden floors, walls painted in warm colors. The kitchen, he had led Jay to, was also modest – simple hand-made cherry wood cupboards and basic equipment. It smelled of marjoram and basil. She was surprised when she noticed pots with herbs on the window sill, and that the window overlooked the garden with flowers and butterflies. Jay walked to the glass door leading onto the patio. In the corner of the garden she noticed a large shed led by a stone path.

    - It’s beautiful here! – She said, sincerely delighted by the view outside the window.    

    - I chose this place twelve years ago. – He said setting fresh coffee in the coffee machine. – Then I moved here.

    - Where are you from, sir? – She was trying to keep up the conversation.

    - Nashville, Tennessee. – He turned to her. She realized that he’s a bit younger than Sean. – And don’t call me ‘Sir’, I’m not that old. – He said, as if he was able to read her mind, and smiled disarmingly. – I’m Dan.

    - Jay. – She smiled back. – Why did you move here?

    - I was young and adventurous. – He answered, preparing mugs for coffee. – I just started exploring my abilities, I was only after few full moons. How to explain that? – He thought. – Since childhood I was prepared that one day I’ll transform. My great-grandfather was a traveler. He loved wild animals. Especially cats. – He suddenly broke his story.

    - He was attacked? – She asked quietly.

    - Yeah. – He decided that it wasn’t worth to trouble. – Later on his son was born, and he took over the virus. My mother was also born burdened with the heritage. So it became certain, that our family acquired qualities, that we didn’t necessarily want to own. – He poured the coffee and continued. – I didn’t want to live like my mother. Everyone knew who I was and tried to keep me out of the way. I had to get out of Nashville. I felt I had to change something. – He was trying to explain what forced him to leave.

    - I guess I know what you mean. – She said calmly. – For last five years I was raised by a werewolf. – She said openly.

    - You’re serious? – He asked in disbelief.

    ‘Maybe it’ll be easier?’ She thought. If she’ll tell him the truth, it’ll be easier for him to do the same.

    - My mother was the hunter. We had no idea about it until she died. – She started her story. This time she decided to stick to the facts and not get carried away. – She was killed by a werewolf and a vampire five years ago. Sean, her partner, stayed with us after her funeral. He told us, who she really was and what she did. He took care of us, trained us. – She looked him in the eye.

    - You keep saying we, us, our. – He pointed out.

    - I’ve got six brothers. – She smiled slightly, but it didn’t reach her eyes. – I think Sean felt that one day we’ll follow our mother’s steps, so he trained us. – She continued after a moment. – He was right. On the night of the last summer solstice our mother decided to visit us. She cast a spell during her life, which was supposed to wake up our gift at the right time and place.

    - How did she cast the spell?! – He became suspicious again. – What gift?

    - We’re from the witches’ family as well, and though most residents of our hometown treat it as a myth, they’re still afraid of us. – She took a deep breath to carry on. – As for your second question, it’s the gift that allowed me to feel your energy. Thank to which I knew you’re were-cougar. – She watched as a shadow of terror appeared in his eyes. – Though I wasn’t sure. – She calmed him down. – I had to strongly focus before all signals reached me. You’ve got very solid shields, which are hard to force.

    - Paul had something like that too, - he said thoughtfully, - but not to such a degree.

    - Maybe he didn’t want to expand his hunter instinct more? – She suggested. – Or maybe he started too late?

    - Carry on. – He encouraged. – What else can you do?

    - I’m able to read my brothers’ mind, and vice versa, but we can block it. Just as feeling the energy of supernatural beings. We can also develop self-healing ability.

    - Something like regeneration shape-shifters and vampires have? – He asked.

    - Yeah, but it takes a lot of energy and involves a great deal of pain.

    - But it’s not all, right? – After these words Jay knew that she won’t cheat Dan so easily. Though he was young he could feel a lot.

    - No, it’s not all. – She admitted after a while. – As I said, we’re from witches’ family as well, which means we can evolve our magical abilities too.

    There was silence. Jay had the impression, it’s almost tangible. She watched Dan while he was looking out the window, pensive. He was extremely handsome, and the energy that emanated from him had some magnetic properties. Though he seemed calm and controlled, he was definitely dangerous. And mysterious. He had something that attracted her. She expected, that not a single woman would deny to such a guy like Dan.

    She observed his hands, silently stroking imprint on the mug. He had long slender fingers. His broad palms looked very strong. He had no calluses on them, but at least he was shape-shifter. ‘What does he do?’ She wondered. She felt the delicate smell of wood and sawdust. He fit perfectly into the forest scenery.

    - Every hunter looks for his partner among supernatural beings. – He suddenly broke the awkward silence. – They fight together, shoulder to shoulder. – He stopped to drink coffee, which slowly cooled down. – I’ve heard about your mother. – He looked her in the eye. – She was the best. I’m sorry for your loss.

    - Thanks. Though, it’s a wound that’s slowly taking over. – She gave him a shadow of smile. – Will you tell me about Paul? – She asked quietly.

    - There’s not much to tell. – He said quickly. – We worked together for two years. And then they got him. As you’re right. His and Isabo’s deaths are connected. There are probably still other hunters who sacrificed their lives for the cause. – He took a sip of coffee while looking out the window. – They were eliminated.

    - By who? – Jay grabbed Dan’s arm. She rapidly let it go as he looked at her hand. – Sorry. – She whispered.

    - By the Council. – He said quietly. – The Council of Dark Abyss, to which all supernatural beings belong. Those, who want to live in harmony with humans and their laws created the Shadow Coalition.