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Michael and I planned to work on the Grollic book late into the night, but ten minutes into it, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Despite all the worry and things learned, I needed to sleep. Nice girlfriend, I sarcastically thought as I drifted off.
I woke early the next morning with Michael missing and the room quiet. My laptop sat open on the coffee table facing me. I leaned over and ran my finger over the mouse pad. The screen flashed white with a note in the middle from Michael.
Gone to the house to speak to Caleb to see if there’s any new information. I’ll tell everyone to leave you alone. Relax and don’t worry. You deserve a little break.
I showered, and then made breakfast. Sitting down on the couch, I opened the journal to the middle section by the Grollic anatomy. As I turned the thick pages, my nail caught a corner. Two pages were stuck together which I hadn’t noticed before. I gently tried to separate and blew on them, managing to pry them apart.
My heart stuttered as I stared at the unseen pages. The words were in English.
Both sheets covered possibly vulnerabilities of the Grollic. I grabbed a pen to make notes on half used pieces of paper.
There was no hierarchy to the list - nothing to show the most or the least effective. Or what might not work. The points looked exactly like someone had jotted them down as they brainstormed. Nothing looked like it would work. They all looked ancient. Science had come a long way since this journal had been written.
I blew my bangs off my forehead. So much for Hollywood and the movies they sell. Isn’t there always a way to stop the bad guys?
The point mentioned rye acting as another danger for the Grollic. There was a question mark beside rye-root. Rye? Wasn’t that alcohol? Could whiskey do the same thing?
“Useless,” I muttered, tossing the pen onto the table. “How’s it gonna help if a Grollic’s about to attack? Do I politely offer it a nice rye and ginger?”
The next indented notation in the book answered my question. A Grollic in human-form would be unable to shape-shift if it ingested rye. It could take hours to days for the rye to clear the body’s system, which would leave the Grollic vulnerable in human-form.
Now this information might be important. I’d have to let Michael and the others know. If they didn’t already know. After Caleb’s comments last night, I wasn’t too eager to share anything that wasn’t solid. Glancing at the dull skies outside, I figured I might as well read the other page before heading over to share alcoholic possibilities which Caleb probably already knew and would only roll his eyes at me for sharing.
The next page talked about Alpha and Beta stuff. Kinda like werewolves in movies. I stood and began pacing the room. I needed to stretch and reading aloud might make better sense of the writing. “In a pack of Grollics, there is the Alpha, the leader, and the Beta, which are under the Alpha. Betas follow the Alpha till death. They do anything and everything they can to please their leader. There was no free choice once you became a Beta; you served the Alpha till death. A slave to its own kind.” There was another note at the bottom of the page, messy and jotted down like an afterthought. It went along the bottom to the side edge since there was no room left. I couldn’t make it out, only something that looked like: Be the ultimate alpha.
“Hello.” Michael stood right beside me.
I jumped about three feet in the air, tossing the journal over my head. I hadn’t heard him or the door open, hadn’t even felt the cool air, till now. I shivered.
He caught the journal and handed it back to me. “Sorry to scare you.” He laughed and dropped down, pulling me with him. He let out a deep sigh, resting his arm on the back of the couch behind me.
“Any news at the house?” I tossed the journal on the table, then snuggled closer to his warmth.
“Nothing. Seth and Tatiana found nothing new this morning. No reports. Nothing out of the ordinary. It is just ... silent.”
“Maybe they left.” I couldn’t keep the hopeful sound out of my voice.
“No, it’s too quiet. Like the calm before a storm.” He rubbed his forehead with one hand. “Something’s going to happen. We just need to figure out what.”
“What does Caleb think?”
“He wants to wait a few days before he calls a meeting with the Higher Coven. He plans to flush the Grollics out.” Michael scoffed; irritated by something I knew nothing about. “He’s sometimes like the beasts we chase. He acts as if this is his territory, like he’s marked the trees. It’s probably a good thing you were here. It’s a bit of a mess at the house.”
“Oh no, what’d he do?” For someone high and mighty, Caleb had a lot of temper tantrums.
“Living room’s been re-arranged. No structural damage, but we do need a new couch and a few other pieces of furniture.”
“Do you all have these anger issues? Should I make sure and keep a lock on the door, so you won’t ruin the pool house? It’s kinda like the first place that’s starting to feel a tiny bit like a home.”
Michael laughed. “You’re safe, and trust me, a lock would be useless. Caleb’s different. He needs his release and that’s how he controls his fury. Better to destroy furniture than go looking for a fight with a human, when the Grollics cannot be found.”
“Wait a minute.” My heart pounded in my ears. “Why would Caleb attack a person?”
“Ever seen a drunk guy try and pick a fight? Doesn’t matter what you say to the guy or what you do, he’s gonna find someone to take his pent-up issues out on. Caleb’s a bit like that. He doesn’t go trying to kill anyone. He just goes looking for a fight. With the biggest, baddest dude he can find.”
I nodded. I understood what Michael was trying to explain, but it still didn’t justify Caleb’s actions.
Michael clapped his hands and sat up. “Enough with the sludge of my day. Did you learn anything new from the book?”
I grabbed my notepad and slid the two ripped pages I’d just noted on at the back of the book, then flipped back a couple of pages. “I did find something kinda cool. There were two pages stuck together which I hadn’t noticed before. I found some information about Grollics vulnerabilities. You probably know all it already.”
“What we know we learned from battle. There’s no manual and they’re hard as heck to kill.”
“You’re going to be disappointed then. Nothing really stuck out.” I turned the page. “There’s something about rye but it didn’t make any sense...kinda like someone wrote it as a possibility and never did the research.”
“Rye? Like the bread?” He scrunched his face. “I don’t think asking a Grollic if he wants a sandwich is going to stop him.”
I giggled. “And here I thought offering him a nice drink on the rocks might do the trick.”
Michael smiled. “Let’s skip the scientific studies on rye and focus on what we do know. Caleb’s been working on creating a weapon. Nothing has worked as of yet. If we can slow them down, there has to be a way to stop them.
We continued discussing the book. While I made some food ready, Michael jumped in the shower. After, he sat in front of the fire looking over maps of the area. He was determined the map would tell him where the Grollics camped. I set a plate by him and settled on a bar stool. I ate my sandwich and watched him mark off areas with circles, crossing off other spots.
“I’m going to have Seth and Tatiana scout those areas.” He pointed to an area marked with an “X”. “That’s where they’ve already been. They don’t know the surrounding area and mountains as well as we do. I’d go, but Caleb has other plans.” He crushed his fingers through his hair.
He needed a break. So did I. “Want to take a walk outside?” I asked. “I need a bit of fresh air. I’ve been cooped up in the cottage for most of the day and figure ten minutes of cool winter air might make my brain fresh again.”
“We should go buy you boots.”
I’d completely forgotten with everything that happened yesterday. “You sound like a mother-hen. All worried about my toes.” I wiggled them at him to push my point.
“I wonder what Caleb would think about that! I’m his understudy and next in line to the throne of the Higher Coven, and you call me a mother-hen.” He chuckled, grabbing my toes and squeezing them. “This little piggy went to market...” He pretended to bite it. “What will my friends think?”
“I didn’t know you had any.”
“I do. Loads and loads, too many to count.” He started rubbing my feet. “Actually, you’ll have to meet Tye one day. He’s an understudy as well. You’ll like him.”
“Is he Seth’s understudy?”
“No. Seth’s understudy is just like him, except blond. He’s the same with women as Seth. Disgustingly similar.”
“Don’t let Grace meet him.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want her mated with some male harlot.”
A deep snigger erupted from Michael. “Gotchya.”
“Don’t laugh. How’re you going to feel when Grace comes home crying because she’s mated to someone like Seth?” I shook my head. “He cheats on Tatiana, you know? I don’t know how she puts up with it.”
“Has he tried something on you?” The smirk disappeared.
“Not with me. He just is... I don’t even know what word to use... he definitely isn’t the monogamous type.”
Michael sat back. “Neither is Tatiana.”
“I bet she would be if he canned his flirting act.”
“They’re both players. She bates and plays just like him. They even have competitions against each other.”
“What?” I threw my hands up in the air. “Just keep Grace away from his understudy. That’s whacked.”
“Point noted. Just so you know our Siorghra doesn’t work like that. You...You can’t just give it to a total stranger and expect there to be a link. It can’t be forced.” Michael checked his watch. “We’ll have to shorten our outdoor time into a walk to the back door of the house. They’re waiting for us, according to Grace. Caleb just wanted to see if you figured anything else from the book. Shall we go?”
Inside the big house, I peaked around the living room. Most of the furniture was gone, the carpet had fresh vacuum lines on it, and a fresh, clean smell filled the air. I poked Michael and started to giggle. He put his fingers to his lips and shook his head. Sobering, I nodded. It may be funny, but I wasn’t about to push my luck and laugh at Caleb to his face.
Caleb, Sarah, and Grace were sitting in the office, talking quietly. Out of the corner of my eye, I checked Caleb. He sat typing something on a laptop, reading glasses on the tip of his nose. He appeared calm and relaxed. The living room episode erased from the room and him as well.
“Are Seth and Tatiana coming tonight?” Michael asked.
“If I need them.” Caleb closed the laptop, his lips pressed in a tight line.
“If Tatiana’s right and these Grollics are just a bunch of rogues, they’ve no idea who they're up against. This’ll be over before it begins,” Sarah said.
“Possibly, but there’s something unique with this pack. They are all secretive. How is it we were unable to find them quicker? This has never been a problem before. We’ve been here three years and Grace says Damon has been here since she started school.”
“Young Grollics are dense,” Sarah said. “Maybe they knew nothing and only began making mistakes when they found us out.”
“Like approaching a human and pretty much telling her what we are?” Michael shook his head. “Damon’s made all the proper mistakes of a newborn Grollic... and an idiot.”
Caleb scoffed. “Stop acting like a love-sick boy. Use your head and start thinking properly.”
Michael’s shouldered stiffened. He walked toward Caleb. “What bothers you? That the Grollics are planning an attack and we didn’t realize? Or that they might not be chasing you? That’s obvious. If they were after you, they would’ve attacked your labs or offices or something related to you. No young pack would come after you unless they had a death wish. Even the young ones know they don’t stand a chance against the mighty Caleb.”
Caleb stood and kicked his chair with the back of his foot in one motion. It crashed against the wall behind him and smashed into pieces. The rip of the leather and shattering of wood made me jump. Just barely fast enough. I dove to the side, between the desk and another chair.
He sprang at Michael and lifted him by the throat midair. Both men’s eyes burned sapphire blue. Caleb threw Michael across the room as if he weighed nothing.
Michael hit a book case. The antique wood broke and books slid down the cracked shelves and tumbled onto the floor. Michael went instantly to his feet and fixed his shirt. He calmly walked back to where Caleb stood and held his hand up to stop Caleb from grabbing him again. “Stop it! Are you angry with me, or the truth I’m spewing? We all know it’s not about you this time.” Michael glanced at me, Grace and then glared at Caleb. “It has something to do with Grace and me.”
Caleb threw his hands up in the air. “Or possibly Rouge, an innocent girl who simply found a book by chance?”
My jaw dropped. Me? Nah, impossible.
Caleb snarled and pointed. “Something about her is unsettling.” He straightened, instantly calm. “Do not risk everything you have for a mere child, Michael. It is unbecoming of you, and I expect a lot more. You are to lead this Coven one day. It is time you act as what you are – not some weak being.”
Michael jabbed a finger at Caleb. “I know what I am and who I’m expected to become! I may be your understudy, but I AM NOT YOU. Don’t ever take your frustrations out on me again. Next time, I’ll fight back. That is something neither of us would want...especially you, old man.” Michael’s eyes changed to a darker shade of blue, but he appeared in full control of himself.
I blinked, realizing he was stronger than Caleb, in more ways than one. He purposely hadn’t fought back.
No one said a word and no one breathed. The tension in the room was so thick I struggled to grasp the smallest of breaths to avoid passing out. I tried to inhale really quietly, but my heart was beating so fast I needed more air. Everyone’s head swung in my direction as I gasped. I shrunk closer to the door and tried to steady my heart rate. Needing more, but embarrassed to make another noise I tried to inhale through my nose. “I-I gotta g-go.” I didn’t want to be in this room any longer.
Without finishing, I darted out the office door. I kept my eyes on the floor and into the living room. Shivering and not moving fast enough, I couldn’t get the image of Caleb’s face so full of malice. I barged straight into someone heading toward the office. He grunted, stumbled and then dropped to the floor.
Seth.
“I'm sor—” I stopped when I realized he didn’t try to move. He just lay flat on his back. “Holy crap,” I whispered. Dark bruises covered his face, and a large cut on his forehead. His clothes had been clawed and everything he wore seemed deep red in color.
I gasped, not sure if the blood was his or someone else’s. It seeped into the white carpet on the living room floor. I knelt down beside him and lifted his head in my lap. “What the heck happened to you?” There was a gouge on his right shoulder where his shirt had been torn away. I put my hand against it to stop some of the bleeding. Thank goodness I’d listened to a bit of first aid during class.
“Sw-wee...t-t-tiee...” Seth opened his eyes and stared unfocused at me.
His eyes were brown, not their usual bright blue color.
I did something I had never done in my entire life. I screamed.
Michael raced out of the office before my scream finished. He took one look at Seth and began shouting orders.
“Sarah. Ice.” He squatted down by Seth. “Grace get gloves... for all of us.” Sarah and Grace disappeared into the kitchen. The freezer door opened and frozen things crashed to the floor.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “He’s hotter than boiling water.”
Michael’s head snapped in my direction. “Rouge, get away from him RIGHT NOW!! If he’s delirious he could kill you without realizing.”
I fell back against the wall, too stunned to say or do anything else.
“He’s been bit.” Michael’s hand pressed against Seth’s forehead. “We’re not going to be able to cool him off fast enough.”
“What happened?” Caleb rushed from his office.
“Seth’s been attacked.” Sarah ran in with a pail of ice and dumped it onto Seth.
He jumped and tried to sit up. “Tat...I’m not gone.” He coughed, spitting blood onto the floor. “Th-They came at us –”
Grace ran in with a pile of snow in her arms. She dumped it over Seth’s head. The snow sizzled and popped as it melted at a rapid rate against his skin.
“How’s this going to help?” My whole body shook. “Shouldn’t we get him to a hospital or call nine-one-one?”
“No.” Michael continued to pack ice and, using another pile of snow Grace had brought, he packed it around Seth. “His body’s fighting the poison on his skin.”
Seth struggled to sit up, only to be pushed back down by Caleb’s boot. “I-I’ve n-n-not been b-bit,” he stuttered, his voice hoarse and cracked.
“Michael,” I whispered. “His eyes...” I couldn’t stop staring at their muddy brown color.
“It’ll be okay, Rouge,” Michael whispered. “Our eyes turn back to their natural color, when we’re dying.”
“He’s fighting it.” Grace dumped more snow on him.
Caleb bent down and pulled back Seth’s eyelid to show a blue pupil rolling left to right.
I dropped my gaze and stared at the wound on Seth’s shoulder where I’d applied pressure. No blood seeped though, so I crawled closer to double check. His shirt was torn and soaked red, but no cut on his skin. I ran my hand over his shoulder and couldn’t even find a scar. He coughed, making me jump.
“Feeling better?” Michael sat down on the ground beside Seth.
Seth moaned and rolled to his side. “I need a bloody drink. And a woman, maybe three.”
“You’re definitely feeling better.”
Caleb crouched down. “Where’s Tatiana?”
Seth pushed himself into a sitting position, his arms around his knees, fingers clasped. He said nothing for a long time. He heaved a deep sigh. “Grollics attacked by the cabin. Surprised us. One went after Tatiana before we even had a chance to see the ambush. She got bit. Fatally.” His head dropped between his knees. “It happened so fast... I killed the bastard who got her, but they surrounded me after I threw him off.”
Michael put his hand on Seth’s shoulder.
“The one who b-bit Tat... he went straight for her throat. She didn’t even have time to pull him off. She didn’t stand a chance.” He shook his head. “She’s gone.”
“And the Grollic?” Caleb’s foot tapped against the wet carpet.
Seth straightened. “He wasn’t the Alpha, but was one of the older ones. He didn’t even seem surprised when I killed him. Like he knew he’d sacrificed himself. He kept mumbling that we had no idea.” Seth closed his eyes, paused and opened them when he began speaking again. “I’d have preferred to take my time with the bastard and thoroughly question him, but five more circled me.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Tatiana gone? It just didn’t seem possible.
“Caleb, those boys know how to fight. They fight like in the olden days. No weapons – just brute strength and power.”
“Like in the beginning?” Caleb’s brows rose high, his forehead showing wrinkles I’d never noticed before.
“Yes! But most of them were young. Not long changed with raw strength, but old tactics. They were scared to bite me, afraid they might be infected, like they didn’t know. That was my advantage and what kept me alive. They couldn't finish, and when I was bleeding so bad, they were scared to have my blood touch them. They figured I was pretty much dead so they took off.”
“Did you go after them?”
Seth stared at Caleb. “No. I dragged my near-dead body back here so I could warn you.”
“You were lucky then. What about the Alpha?”
I blinked in surprise. Caleb didn’t rule with an iron fist, he had an iron heart.
“No Alpha.” Seth shook his head. “He’d have known how to kill me. I think he sent the elder who I killed in his stead. Like I said, these are a new breed, they’re young but different. With some new kind of knowledge from the old days.” Seth slowly stood and looked to Caleb and then Michael. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out two Siorghra necklaces. He separated them and stared at the one in his right hand for a long moment. He sighed long and sad, then tossed the one in his left hand to Caleb.
“Keep that in a safe place for me. I’m not sure I’ll need it again, but if I do, I’ll know where to find it.”
Caleb said nothing. He gave a curt nod and walked back into his office. Seth stared at the remaining Siorghra in his hand. Slowly he took the top off the pendant and closed his eyes as he drank the contents. He kissed the empty pendant. “I’ll miss you... He straightened and muttered, “So much for being immortal.” Making a fist around the Siorghra, he crushed the necklace into a fine powder in his bare hands.
“Come.” Sarah put her arm around his shoulder. “Let’s put the powder out in the wind.”
Seth followed her and Grace out of the room to the front door.
Michael quietly walked over to me and held me tight. His warm lips grazed the top of my head. I leaned my body into his for support. It had been a crazy night – too much for my human eyes.
