Changeling Dawn (21 page)
Authors: Dani Harper
Sooner, rather than later, he’d make the switch to two legs—and wo d hithen punch us with a dart. Call in his IBC buddies with the chopper for pickup.
Where the hell did these people come up with a formula that would work on us? We’re usually immune to pharmaceuticals.
Don’t know. Somebody’s been working overtime, that’s for sure.
More than that, she thought.
Somebody’s been
practicing
on Changelings for a very long time.
Thick fear rose like bile in her throat, threatening to cut off her air. Her worst nightmare had exploded into raw life and she was a child trapped in a pit again. Rising to stand on her lacerated feet, she willed the pain to clear her head, keep the terror from choking her. She had to remember that she was a full-grown Changeling, a grown woman, powerful and smart. She wasn’t a little girl anymore, but there was one depending on her. She had to find Anya and get her out of here. Had to. Had to get all of the Changelings out.
Somebody’s been
practicing
on Changelings for a very long time.
Thick fear rose like bile in her throat, threatening to cut off her air. Her worst nightmare had exploded into raw life and she was a child trapped in a pit again. Rising to stand on her lacerated feet, she willed the pain to clear her head, keep the terror from choking her. She had to remember that she was a full-grown Changeling, a grown woman, powerful and smart. She wasn’t a little girl anymore, but there was one depending on her. She had to find Anya and get her out of here. Had to. Had to get all of the Changelings out.
We’re going to have company soon. It’s almost time for Nikki to make her rounds. Dr. Yeung is the veterinarian here.
Great.
She’s pretty decent, actually. I’ve overheard her arguing with her bosses about our care. She fights a lot with Gessler, the guy in charge of the handlers. He’s the muscle around here. He’s some kind of expert on capturing and transporting wild animals—the big ones, like elephants and rhino. Used to work for zoos in Europe. Mostly he’s an asshole.
Does he come here too?
Not often, thank God. Only if he’s got a new prisoner. Nikki tore him a new one when the female died—she was trying to protect her cub and he darted her twice. She wasn’t allergic to the drug, she was overdosed.
Kenzie felt sick.
Speaking of the cub, why isn’t she here with us?
Speaking of the cub, why isn’t she here with us?
Don’t know. I heard she’s upstairs somewhere.
She didn’t even have to think about what her next move would be. She Changed and checked her hands—the shift healed most superficial wounds. Then ran her fingers through her hair and smoothed out her shirt.
What the hell are you doing?
“Getting ready to meet the veterinarian.”
You’re not going to get special treatment by cooperating, you know. Or by providing the scientists with more footage of the Change.
Roy inclined his head and she followed his gaze to a camera high on the wall near the ceiling. She spotted three more.
None of us perform for this crowd.
Roy inclined his head and she followed his gaze to a camera high on the wall near the ceiling. She spotted three more.
None of us perform for this crowd.
“Believe me, Roy, I’m not performing.” She understood his surprise. All of the Changelings were in lupine form, a natural reaction to a dangerous situation. And instinct would press them to conceal their abilities, their identities. The way she saw it, however, her identity was already out of the bag. And all those anthropology classes just might come in handy after all. She adopted a casual pose, leaning against the wall of the cage just as a young woman in a white lab coat entered the room.
The woman didn’t notice her at first, starting at the far end of the runs. Nikki looked over Shaggy Sam with a practiced gaze, but her voice was kind. “How are you today? You didn’t eat all of your kibble again. I got the boss to send Carl out to get a couple of deer so there’ll be fresh meat for you soon.”
Nikki talked to each and every one of the Change oI gelings. They didn’t move, didn’t trot over to see her or anything, but some of them wagged their tails ever so slightly, which pleased her. She came over to speak to Roy and stopped dead in confusion as she caught sight of the woman in the cell next to him.
“Hi,” said Kenzie. “I understand you’re the veterinarian here. My brother’s a vet too. Nikki Yeung, isn’t it?”
She nodded slightly, still bewildered.
“I’m Dr. Mackenzie Macleod. Could you please tell me where the cub is? I’ve been really worried about her. Is she okay?”
“Fine,” said Nikki, who then abruptly left the room.
That went well.
Roy chuffed as if laughing.
Roy chuffed as if laughing.
“Actually it went very well. You’ve never shown her your human side, have you? Any of you?”
Nope. Better for them not to know.
“I disagree. They see you as animals. Different from them, and
different
is easy to dismiss or ignore. If you’re not people, then it’s easy to do the things they do to you. The Nazis did the same to concentration camp inmates—dehumanized them so they were different, treated them worse than livestock so the guards couldn’t relate to them. And the more they saw the prisoners as different, as somehow less than human, the easier it was to brutalize them.”
different
is easy to dismiss or ignore. If you’re not people, then it’s easy to do the things they do to you. The Nazis did the same to concentration camp inmates—dehumanized them so they were different, treated them worse than livestock so the guards couldn’t relate to them. And the more they saw the prisoners as different, as somehow less than human, the easier it was to brutalize them.”
Several of the Changelings were looking at her now. “I have nothing to hide—these people already know what I am. So I plan to use my human form as much as I can. I’m going to talk to my captors at every opportunity, whether or not they listen to me. I’m going to remind them in every way possible that
I am like them
. That woman just fled the room because she was unprepared for that reality. I’m not a wolf, I’m not a zoo animal, and I’m not a lab rat. I’m a person, and I’m being held prisoner. Somebody’s bound to get uncomfortable with that.”
I am like them
. That woman just fled the room because she was unprepared for that reality. I’m not a wolf, I’m not a zoo animal, and I’m not a lab rat. I’m a person, and I’m being held prisoner. Somebody’s bound to get uncomfortable with that.”
She sat cross-legged, facing the front of the cage so she could watch the doorway on the other side of the room. Her body was still, but her mind was busy. Despite her words, she didn’t have a lot of hope that she’d find an ally among the humans who worked here. If IBC paid Nate as much as he’d said for her and Anya, they weren’t likely to let her go just because she was wearing blue jeans.
No, her best chance was to try to make contact with someone on the outside. More than anything, she wished she could talk to Josh. She owed him a huge apology for the hurtful things she’d said, made all the worse because they weren’t true. He’d accused her of being scared, and he was right. Fear had made her push him away, de
ny her own heart. She was still afraid, of course, but Nate’s casual betrayal had given her a whole new perspective on Birkie’s words—“
Honey, it’s the heart that counts. Being a Changeling doesn’t necessarily make a man good relationship material. And being human isn’t a reason to write somebody off. There are good and bad individuals in both species. ”
ny her own heart. She was still afraid, of course, but Nate’s casual betrayal had given her a whole new perspective on Birkie’s words—“
Honey, it’s the heart that counts. Being a Changeling doesn’t necessarily make a man good relationship material. And being human isn’t a reason to write somebody off. There are good and bad individuals in both species. ”
Good and bad. And Kenzie had ditched the good in a meltdown of misdirected fear.
Way to go.
She sighed and tried to focus on the task at hand. She couldn’t broadcast a general message that all shapeshifters could hear or Nate would pick it up too. Instead, she had to tightly focus her mindspeech and direct it to a specific individual—and there was only one Changeling she knew of who might hear her. If he was in range. And if he was still alive.
Way to go.
She sighed and tried to focus on the task at hand. She couldn’t broadcast a general message that all shapeshifters could hear or Nate would pick it up too. Instead, she had to tightly focus her mindspeech and direct it to a specific individual—and there was only one Changeling she knew of who might hear her. If he was in range. And if he was still alive.
Chapter Nineteen
“J
esus, Stanton, you’re bleeding like a stuck pig.” Josh blotted at the head wound, trying to clean it so he could get a better look, but the old vet’s unruly hair kept getting in the way. Finally Josh gave up and simply applied a pressure bandage.
esus, Stanton, you’re bleeding like a stuck pig.” Josh blotted at the head wound, trying to clean it so he could get a better look, but the old vet’s unruly hair kept getting in the way. Finally Josh gave up and simply applied a pressure bandage.
“Ow, dammit, be careful.”
“I thought you said it’s not as bad now.”
“It’s not. Changing form tends to improve things. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting like a sonofabitch.”
Improve, hell.
How bad had the gash been before? And his arm was definitely broken. “Come on, we’re going to the clinic.”
How bad had the gash been before? And his arm was definitely broken. “Come on, we’re going to the clinic.”
“Fine. I can take care of my own wounds, you know.”
Stanton obviously thought he was going to his veterinary office and slowly but willingly followed his friend back along the game trail to the clearing and then to the truck. Josh wisely didn’t say anything different until he pulled up in front of the Glennallen Medical Clinic. There, they argued for ten full minutes before Stanton reluctantly agreed to be looked at. Once a doctor came on the scene and Josh was confident Stanton wouldn’t sneak out, he left to gas up the truck and
think
. It had nearly ripped him in two to leave the trail behind with Kenzie and Anya both missing, and he was anxious to return, even though the sun had dipped below the horizon.
think
. It had nearly ripped him in two to leave the trail behind with Kenzie and Anya both missing, and he was anxious to return, even though the sun had dipped below the horizon.
At least Josh now knew where Anya was because Stanton had overheard some of the hunters’ conversation. That information plus the familiar white ATVs and unusual dogs cinched it: the little wolf had been taken to IBC. Kenzie was certain to have followed her to the facility and heaven only knew how that had turned out. The minute he was sure Stanton was going to be okay, Josh was going after her. Maybe Kenzie had simply walked up to the gate, talked nicely to the IBC staff, and walked away with Anya. Maybe Josh didn’t have to worry about rescuing either one of them. But if everything was rainbows and unicorns, why had the little Afghan girl been appearing to him? Nope, he was going with his gut on this one and his gut said he needed to be prepared.
As he paid for the gas, a monstrous yellow Humvee pulled up to a pump. The big vehicle looked ridiculous in that color—it practically glowed in the goddamn dark. The thing sported a shiny chrome bumper too, unlike the practical dust-colored workhorses that Humvees were in Afghanistan.. . . With a start, Josh recognized Nate Richardson behind the wheel and instantly all of his senses shot to high alert. When he was a child learning how to track, his father had told him to
look for things that were out of place
. Richardson was definitely out of place in such a small town, even more so than his silly macho truck.
look for things that were out of place
. Richardson was definitely out of place in such a small town, even more so than his silly macho truck.
“Nate, isn’t it? Didn’t expect to see you outside of the big city.”
Richardson looked up from the pump as Josh approached. There was a split second delay between recognizing Josh and putting on a smile. Josh could also see a faint ripple of unearthly green in the blue aura that surrounded the big Changeling, usually a sign of anger. So Richardson was pissed to see him?
Good.
Good.
“Fund-raising takes me to all kinds of exotic locations. Just passing through. What about you?”
“Home base.”
Nate glanced around. He made no comment but his expression made obvious what he thought of Glennallen. Josh ignored it and pressed on. “So, Nate, you’re good friends with Kenzie. Didn’t happen to visit her camp today, did you?”
It was obvious to Josh that the guy was hiding something. Civilian life was complicated, however. In Afghanistan, Josh could have pulled Richardson in for questioning, but here, he hadn’t the slightest authority over this man unless he mowed down a moose with that big-ass vehicle. “Haven’t been able to raise her on her cell phone, that’s all. With all the bear problems she’s had, I’m a little concerned.”
“I’m sure she’s happily digging in the dirt somewhere. Probably just forgot to turn her phone on. You don’t know her like I do—we have a long and
intimate
history—or you’d know how forgetful she gets when she’s working on a project.”
intimate
history—or you’d know how forgetful she gets when she’s working on a project.”
On the outside, Josh didn’t react to Richardson’s baiting and maintained his casual facade. On the inside, he couldn’t help wishing the jerk was human....
“Tell you what,” said Nate, wiping his hands. “If I see her, I’ll let her know you’re looking for her.” He waved airily as he got in the Humvee. “See you around.”
Bet on it.
As the Humvee sped off toward Anchorage, there was no doubt in Josh’s mind that the jerk knew exactly where Kenzie was. And if Josh hadn’t
also
known where she was, he had no doubt he’d be cleaning Richardson’s clock right now to get the information. The guy was a shapeshifter, sure, but his attention could probably be gotten with a two-by-four.
As the Humvee sped off toward Anchorage, there was no doubt in Josh’s mind that the jerk knew exactly where Kenzie was. And if Josh hadn’t
also
known where she was, he had no doubt he’d be cleaning Richardson’s clock right now to get the information. The guy was a shapeshifter, sure, but his attention could probably be gotten with a two-by-four.
Josh turned to look at the tiny figure standing where the bright yellow Humvee had been parked. The air was still but her red and green clothes fluttered in some cosmic breeze and her big dark eyes regarded Josh solemnly. “I know,” he said to her. “He’s involved with this somehow but I’ll deal with him later. I’m going to get Anya and Kenzie first, make sure they’re safe.” The apparition faded from his sight then, and he released a shaky breath, glancing around to see if anyone had observed him talking to himself.
Christ, he was never going to get used to this.
The harsh fluorescent lighting of the hospital lobby contrasted starkly with the moonlit night just outside the door. Josh blinked, willing his eyes to accept the unnatural brightness, and nearly ran into a young doctor in the hallway.
“You brought in Bygood Stanton, right? Your friend will have to give up rock climbing for a while.” The guy referred to a clipboard in his hands. “Fracture of the radius and ulna—that’s both bones of the right forearm. The usual treatment is surgical placement of a plate and screws, but Mr. Stanton has refused this. I’ve set and cast it as best as I can, but it’s going to be incredibly fragile. Maybe you can talk some sense into him, because I just can’t guarantee it’ll heal properly.”
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