Chapter 29

       She woke up before down. In front of her eyes she still had images from the nightmare, which came back to her after a half-year break. She looked at Bryan sleeping beside her and noticed with relief that she hadn’t woke him up. She still breathed quickly and her heart was pounding in her chest like a bird locked in the cage. She combed her tangled hair, and then wrapped her arms around her shoulders to comfort herself a bit and ease her nerves.

       ‘Why is it coming back again?’ She was tired of the constant struggle with the ghosts of the past. ‘Couldn’t you just show up? Just as you did last time?!’ She thought angrily, looking at the ceiling as if she expected to see her mother’s face there. ‘You don’t have to torture me with it! A sign would be enough, not a dream, scenes of which will haunt me now for next few days!’ She shivered involuntarily.

       She got up, put on a warm truck-suit and left the bedroom quietly. She went to the hall, grabbed a pair of warmed sports shoes, light jacket and earmuffs, and then she went out into a cool December darkness. Though, Christmas was just in few days, snow didn’t want to fall down yet. However, dark, almost black clouds forecast inevitable worsening of the weather. She pulled the MP4 out of the jacket pocket, put the earphones in her ears, tided up the earmuffs, chose the music suitable for her mood and started running towards the quiet, still sleepy estate.

***

       Cool air and loneliness made her feel better. Horrible images stopped to haunt her, her muscles relaxed. She stopped in a dark park and sat down on a bench to rest for a while. It was clearing up slowly in the east, but day was still going to be gloomy. Jay couldn’t wait for snow. She loved Christmas time, it’s unusual and family atmosphere. Feverish preparation, choosing presents, banter with brothers. Scent of live tree and amazing aroma of Christmas food.

       She supposed that this year would be different. And it wasn’t just about the quarrel with Jason. He was her brother and they would probably come to an agreement eventually. None of them used to harbor a grudge for too long. Though she had to admit, that this time he got in her hair. But she also knew that holidays would be the perfect occasion to bury the axe. However, she was worrying about something else.

       If her brothers, or at least half of them, knew about Bryan, it meant that they will have to tell the others as well. She wasn’t afraid of the younger siblings’ reaction. She was sure, that from Maria and Sean she won’t hear anything that could hurt her or her boyfriend. Though unwillingly, but she had to admit in front of herself, that it was Leonor’s response that she was afraid of the most. And although she was always nice, polite and friendly to everyone, she aroused respect and even awe. At the same memory Jay shivered.

       Brad is different. Always smiling and kind. He just emanated with the inner warmth. It was he, who taught Jay how to ride a horse. She didn’t remember him ever losing patience. He loved his family, which was apparent at first sight. When Jay was young, she dreamt that their father would come back home and be just like Brad. Now she was happy it didn’t happen, as she was raised by the most wonderful werewolf ever.

       Being deep in thoughts, deafened by the rock sounds, she didn’t notice that the air around thickened. Filled up with power. Became heavy with energy concentration. Her muscles tightened, her mind separated from all unnecessary thoughts, focusing on ‘here and now’. She pulled the earphones from her ears automatically, but she heard nothing. The silence seemed to be deafening.

       She stood up and turned to face the incoming danger. How did she know that the creature heading towards her was evil? That’s a good question. But that’s probably her gift was all about. She could feel it with every nerve. Like ugly, slippery, icy snakes crawling through her body. A moment of deeper concentration, and she knew she was dealing with a shape-shifter. She tried to look deep inside the surrounding energy and she recognized a werewolf. What’s more, she was sure that she had come across that power earlier. She must have met that creature somewhere.

       From behind the vapors of the mist emerged the outline of a figure. He walked calmly down the alley among the tall, slender trees. Powerful, even for a werewolf, broad-shouldered and grim. She felt goose bumps on her skin, and it was nothing to do with the chill of December morning. She took a defensive position without waiting for the man to emerge from the fog. This time she won’t run. She was made for fight and she wasn’t going to give up without it.

       She could feel her rapid pulse in her mouth, and chocking power, coming from the werewolf, in her throat. Despite that, she was calm and poised. Prepared for everything. If only seconds weren’t extending into infinity. Jay didn’t belong to the patient ones.

       The moment the man’s face became visible for her, the blood froze in her veins. Images came back to Jay rapidly. Narrow, unknown streets of Missoula. A group of shape-shifters chasing after her for one purpose. To kill. She felt the searing pain again, as when his claws ripped her arm. She looked at her with no human eyes. He smiled, showing unnaturally sharp teeth and too long fangs. ‘He had to make friends with his animal nature.’ She thought in a flash of gallows humor.

-       We meet again, baby! – He said in a deep voice resembling a murmur from the wild animal’s throat. – You’ve recently escaped. You wouldn’t have any chance if not your knight. How’s your arm? – He asked in ingratiating tone, as if he was talking with an old friend.

-       Not bad. – She responded with a sarcastic politeness. – You look pretty good to, as I see. – She didn’t remember any of her pursuers escaping from Dominic, but apparently she missed something important when she fainted.

-       I’m fine! – He said content. – And now even better! – He gave her a murderous look crowned with a sadist smile. – I was looking for you for a long time, and then I had to wait for a good moment. But I’ve finally got you! – He took another step towards her, which increased her vigilance. – You shouldn’t have sniffed!

       He threw at her impetuously. But she wasn’t surprised. Years of trainings gave effects. Not for nothing, she demanded, that Sean should use his full power during their exercises. She was now prepared for the blow. She leaned forward to avoid being hurt by claws, which appeared instead of nails in the blink of an eye, and to use her position to flip her opponent on the back.

       It hurt, but her move was successful. He was mad and, without thinking much, he kneeled to jump at her like a wild animal. But she didn’t allow him, and tried another fine kick in his jaw. She heard the crack of broken bones and decided to strike while the iron was hot. She gave the blows promptly and quickly, giving the werewolf no chance to break out of the vicious circle.

       He was taller and stronger, so she even hadn’t deluded herself, that she will keep advantage over him for long. She tried to stay out of schemes of blows, so as he wasn’t able to predict her next move. But when she kicked again, he caught her leg with his huge hands just next to his head.

       When she felt his claws plunging into her tight, she gave a cry of pain. His face was covered with blood, and in his eyes she could see lust for murder. He didn’t release her from the iron embrace, sinking his claws deeper and deeper. She tried to spread his fingers to release herself, but he had too much strength. And when he grabbed her right arm with his second hand, pierced the material of the jacket and torn her skin with curved claws, she understood, that her death would be long and painful.

       She felt as he torn up her tissue, muscles, and nerves. She was overwhelmed by unimaginable pain. She suddenly wasn’t able to think. Her knees trembled and if not for the fact that he held her, she would fall on the pavement covered by dry leaves. She realized it was over. That she should had died at the hands of his few months ago. An image appeared in her head. She wondered if she too would die on a forest floor with a torn throat and an empty, lacking glare eyes.

       She suddenly saw her clearly. Not in front of her, but in her mind. As f she was able to see with her heart and soul. ‘Pain is not your enemy.’ In her head she heard so well known, melodious voice. ‘Thanks to it you know you’re still alive. Use it. Use it as a battery activating your power. It’s not over yet.’ Isabo said with power.

       She vanished just as she appeared. Suddenly. Unexpectedly.

       But she got what she wanted.

       Jay felt strange warmth overwhelming her. Energy. A wonderful power. The gift from the ancestors.

       Her curse.

       Her heritage.

       She grabbed the attacker’s arm crushing her shoulder and jumped to kick him from half-turn with her healthy leg. The blow was so good and strong that the werewolf released her from the embrace and fell to the ground together with her. Jay got up to her feet, reached to the inner packet of her jacket, where she had hidden one of the daggers made for her by Sean and Isabela. A sharp silver blade, covered with a thin layer of an aspen wood, shone in the dim morning light. The crystals chanted by Isabela glowed on the hilt.

       From Jay’s lips came words in an ancient witches’ language. No one taught her them. They were always there. In her head, heart and soul. She didn’t understand these words, but she knew that the spell gives her power over the werewolf. It paralyzed him.

       She lifted her hands up, and the melody stopped. She looked down at her oppressor. Her face was calm, her gaze impassive.

-       You don’t know what you’re doing, girl! – He said. He wasn’t afraid of death. – You have no idea who you fall foul of with! – He warned her, but his words made no reaction in her.

-       No! You don’t know who you messed up with! – She said finally and with a quick and steady movement, she slammed the blade into his heart.

       Silver didn’t give him hope to survive. This one was certain.

       The same moment, the werewolf gave his last breath, Jay felt she’s losing control over her body. She fell to the damp ground. Pain again became unbearable, excruciating, wounds burnt with live fire, and blood kept running out of them. She could sense her brothers’ anxiety, as she lost control over her shields, which she used to cover her thoughts and emotions, much earlier. However, after chaotic flow of questions and exhorting in her mind, she realized that only the pieces of information had come to them. Just impression.

       With the last of her willpower, she fenced off from them. She crawled to the nearest tree and sat down, leaning on it heavily. She knew she couldn’t stay in the park. Dawn was slowly changing into day, and soon more and more people would pass that place on their way to work. It wasn’t her goal to be caught on her first murder. Even if she killed him in self-defense. As the law says – the shape-shifter is also a human. With damn full package of fucking rights!

       She closed her eyes to clear her mind and focus on her wounds. Since half a year ago they got to know who they are, they perfected their skills. They tried to develop in every direction possible, but Jay didn’t put much attention to self-healing ability. When few months earlier she was hurt by this guy, she healed the wound with brother’s help. She could felt then, that Christian took part of her pain on him. Now she had to deal with it alone.

       She took a deep breath and concentrated her thoughts on her wounded thigh. The pain, if it’s possible, even increased. She imagined that the blood was slowly draining from the ragged skin. Tissues slowly begun to grow together. Nerves rebuilt its complicated structure. The skin healed slowly. Edges of the wounds made by claws closed, to remain delicate smooth scars, which would disappear within few hours or days eventually.

       Though, in her mind she saw her wounds were healing, she felt as if she was going through completely reverse process – cutting, jerking, and tearing. She gasped for breath, as a fish took out of water. She was clutching the clumps of dry grass. From her throat came a shrieked cry full of inhuman suffering. She felt hot tears of pain mixed with cool drops of sweat running down her face. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at the body lying nearby. She shivered again, but she wasn’t able to say if it was because of chill, pain or fear.

            She had to leave as quickly as possible. ‘I can take care of the shoulder on my way back.’ She thought. She tried to stand up, and her shoulder was pierced by thousands of sharp daggers. She grimaced and hissed, but backing up with her healthy hand, she finally stood on her feet. She stayed still for a moment, breathing in heavily, holding to the tree. But when she heard an echo of heels tapping on the pavement, which came to her from the thick mist, she didn’t wait any longer. She forced herself to jogtrot and left the crime scene.