Everlasting Bond (16 page)

Once he was satisfied, it was just the two of them he met her in the kitchen. Katrina heard him enter the room, but never turned around. She dropped her bag down next to the table and made herself some hot tea.

Over her shoulder she asked him, “Can I get you anything?”

“No, thank you.”

She grabbed her cup and walked over to the table. Taking the seat across from him, she found him fidgeting with one of the cloth placemats. His face seemed paler than normal. Suddenly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know what was bothering him.

Katrina sipped her tea and waited for him to speak. It took him a good while before he got up the nerve. He looked up at her and opened his mouth, but it wasn’t the sound of his voice that made her jump.

The muffled sound of her phone was humming through her backpack. She bent down and rummaged through her bag for her phone. Cole never took his eyes off her the entire time. Looking at her phone, she knew it was an important call.

“Hi, Kat honey,” Katrina heard in between the
clanking of dishes in the background.

“Hi, mom.”

“How was school today?”

“It wa
s, you know, school.”

“Uh-huh. Have a good one,” her mother laughed.

“What?”

“Nothing honey. I was just saying bye to Principal Weber.”

“Oh.” Sometimes Katrina hated when her mom called her from work. Her attention was always being diverted to her surroundings. She waited for her mom to finish talking, but occasionally she’d forget Katrina was even on the line.

“Did you need something mom?” Katrina was growing a little impatient. Normally it wouldn’t bother her, but at the moment she had Cole’s eyes on her and it only sparked her curiosity of his troubles more.

“Sorry about that sweetie. You know how it can get around here.”

“Right.”

“Look, I know you guys were looking forward to spending time together, but Tracy called in sick and—”

“And you have to cover for her.” Katrina had a hard time hiding the disappointment in her voice.

“I tried to get out of it. I really did. I’m so sorry.”

“Look, can we just talk later?” Katrina felt her disappointment turning into anger.

“Sure,” her mom sighed. Katrina went to end the call when her mom’s voice stopped her. “Oh, one more thing.”

“What?”

“Is your brother with you?”

“No. Why?”

“I’ve been trying to get a hold of him and he’s not answering his phone.”

“He went to town with Andrew to run errands after school. He probably doesn’t even hear his phone.” She didn’t want to tell her mom the real reason he might not be answering his phone. And Cole’s face grew concerned at her mothers words.

“I guess you’re right. Will you have him call me when he gets home?”

“Yup.”

“Thanks sweetie. And I promise I will make it up to you both.”

“Fine.”

“I have to get back to work. I love you and I’ll see you tonight.”

“Love you too. Bye.” Katrina set the phone down on the table and rested her cheek against her hand.

“Something wrong?” Cole asked.

“My mom has to work late again.” She blinked to stop the watering that was forming in her eyes.

“I’m sure it’s not because she wants to.”

“I know. I just miss her.” Katrina attempted to nonchalantly wipe the stray tears away. “Sorry,” she sniffled, “What were you going to say?”

He looked disappointed that she remembered he had been about to speak. “I was wondering if you’ve had anymore—dreams?”

“No more than normal.”

“Nothing—new?”

“Nope. It’s just the same two.” Seeing the disappointment on his face she asked, “Why?”

Cole leaned forward to answer her, when he froze. His eyes went blank and he zoned out like he had been doing when Andrew or his father called him.

After a few moments of silence Katrina grew impatient. “Hello!” She waved her hand in his face. When Cole came to, he gave her a grim look. “What is it?”

“Something’s wrong. I need to go.”

“With Jake?”

He nodded and went to leave when she protested. “Wait, I’m coming with you.”

“You can’t. It’s too dangerous. It’d be much safer for you to wait here.”

“No. I’m not staying behind.” Her temper flared as she stood up.

“I can’t risk something happening to you.”

Oh, hell no! You’re not telling me what to do!
Katrina walked up to him. “If something’s wrong with my brother, I’m the only one who can sense him and you know it.”

He was debating, but Katrina had him and she knew it. “Grab your coat.”

Proud she won that argument, Katrina ran upstairs and grabbed the first jacket she could find. On her way back down, she found Cole leaning against the wall with his arms folded around his chest. She could tell he was still not happy about her going, but too bad.

Cole shut the door behind them and they headed towards the car. He was taking larger strides than normal and positioning himself in front of Katrina. He was glancing at the sunset with a grim face.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just making sure we’re not being followed.” Cole took one last look around and then his body changed. He grew very tense before he practically shoved her inside the car. As he slammed it shut he said, “We need to hurry.”

Katrina had no idea how long they had been driving, but it was long enough for her to watch the sunset. The only thing in her view for miles was the desolate highway and the overgrown pine trees. Generally it would have been an enjoyable experience, but not tonight. With the moon so full, everything had an eerie glow about it and it made her very uncomfortable. The shadows only
made things more frightening.

She turned her body to look at Cole, but did so very slowly. She was afraid the slightest movement would break his concentration. He was gripping the steering wheel so tight, she thought it was going to snap in half. Then her mind went to her brother.

Thoughts of all the terrible things that could have happened flood her mind. She struggled to push them away, but she couldn’t. Jake was with Andrew and she didn’t know if either of them were okay. Her stomach was turning and she felt her heart jump in her throat as images of what he could be facing forced their way to the surface. They became too much for her to handle and she shook herself out of it. She tried once more to keep her eyes on the road, when it happened.

Cole let out a fierce hiss and his eyes became dark balls of blue fire. He reminded her of an angry wild cat ready to strike. The only other time she had seen him so angry and dangerous was the night Brody attacked her. Katrina dug into the back of her seat, as two razor sharp incisors protruded from his lips. He seemed to be warding off an unseen enemy from amongst the shadows. She, too, searched through the darkness, but her human eyes couldn’t find whatever it was. Then she gasped in shock, as it came into view.

Out of the shadows and in the direct path of Cole’s Camaro came a mammoth-sized dark figure. Stepping into the path of Cole’s headlights, Katrina felt her eyes grow wide in terror. She could make out every frightening detail. It was even scarier than any of her memories had showed. Layers of coffee-colored fur covered every inch of its giant muscular physique. To Katrina, it looked more like a horrid science experiment gone amiss. Its pointy-tipped ears were erect like a curious puppy. The atrocity had muscles bulging out from every limb. With lengthy knife-like claws branching out from its fingertips, the creature looked like it could rip a military convoy to shreds in one swoop. Walking upright on its two large hind legs, Katrina could make out black thorns protruding from its spine. Sharp daggers extended from its bottom jowls. Flashing a malicious grin at Katrina, the yolks of its yellow soulless eyes glared devilishly back at her.

“Hold on!” Cole warned, slamming his foot against the accelerator till Katri
na heard it hit the floorboard.

The sinister figure held its ground, bracing itself for contact. Shaking with fear, Katrina pressed her body back even further against the seat. Digging her hands into the slippery leather covering, she searched for something, anything to grab a hold of. She took a deep breath and readied herself for impact. But the creature did the unexpected. The monster lifted itself up out of harms way and right onto the roof of the Camaro.

Sounds of twisting metal ricocheted through the deserted highway. The roof began to buckle under the animal’s immense pressure. A sharp scratching sound from its razor edged claws sent chills of fear up her spine. Katrina covered her ears. Glancing towards the back of the car, she could see the creature’s foot demolishing the car’s trunk and smashing out the rear window in the process. On its way back down onto the dark pavement, the creature gave Katrina a devilish snicker and then disappeared off into the covering of blackness once again. Cole swerved the car over to the shoulder and jammed it in park.

“You hurt?” He looked her over.

“No, I’m fine.” Katrina stared at him in disbelief. “Was that what I think it was?”

“Yes. That was Farkas, their tracker. They want to make sure.”

“Make sure of what?” Covered in glass debris, she slowly loosened her iron grip off the seat.

“That I really found you.”

“What does this mean?”

Cole ran his fingers through his auburn hair, exhaling in frustration. He wouldn't look at her as he fidgeted with his keys dangling from the ignition. “It means the others will be coming soon, if they’re not already here.”

Words escaped her. She sat back taking in deep breathes. Until that moment, she had never seen a werewolf and they were much more frightening in person. “What are we going to do?”

“We need to go see my father, but first we need to find your brother.”

Not knowing what else to say, she simply nodded. Her emotions were going to get the most of her if she didn’t get them under control and Cole must have picked up on it.

Cole leaned over and gently caressed her cheek with his finger. “Ar
e you sure you’re all right?”

Katrina’s pulse began to rise and she closed her eyes. Her body had missed his touch and it was picking the most inopportune moment to crave more.  It was like the warmth of the sun on a chilly night. Then she felt something cool and soft touch her lips.

Succumbing to his kiss, Katrina was lost and never wanted to find her way back. Katrina squeezed her fingers around his silky hair, as her heart raced in excitement. Everything went blank and faded into a distant memory, the only thing that mattered was the pleasure of Cole’s touch. But then, Katrina felt Cole’s hold on her loosen.

He pressed his forehead to hers and whispered, “We need to go.”

Katrina just nodded in agreement. Her body was still recovering from the temptation and she couldn’t bring herself to speak. It took everything in her not to grab him and pull him back to her. Instead, she watched him turn the car’s ignition and pull back onto the road.

Listening to the wind howling through the broken window, Katrina searched through the shadows for any sign of her brother. It proved to be difficult. The roads were dark. She couldn’t make out anything except blackness.

“They’re off this road, not much further,” Cole said.

Katrina nodded, but then gasped. A strange smell invaded her nose. Pinching her fingers against her nose, she held her breath and cringed at the burnt rubbery odor. Soon the odor became so powerful, Katrina had to cover her face with her shirt.

“What’s that smell?”

“Look over there.” Cole pointed in the direction of a large hail of black smoke and turned off onto the unpaved road. Ahead of them an oblong shaped figure smoldered in a tower of amber flames. It lit up the whole field. The closer they got the more the fire came into view. The molten features of what was once their truck burned like lava. Katrina immediately looked around for her brother.

Off in the distance against the safety of the trees, Jake and Andrew were sitting on the ground. Cole veered off to the left and Katrina wasted no time. She threw her door open and rushed over to her brother.

“Jake!” Katrina frantically checked him over. To her surprise he only had minor scrapes, nothing major.

“I’m fine.” He gently pushed her hands away.

“I can see that.” She turned to look around and that’s when she caught a glimpse of Andrew. He was much worse off then Jake. His face was bloody and his clothes were torn.

“How about you?” Cole asked Andrew.

“Just great. But they owe me a new shirt.”

“I’m sure you have plenty,” Cole arched an eyebrow at him.

“Not this expensive.”

“If you’re done joking, can someone tell me what happened?” Katrina demanded.

“It was a test,” Cole said.

“A test for what?” Jake asked.

“A test to see how easily they could get to the both of you, before—” Cole didn’t finish his senten
ce.

Katrina gave Cole a blank stare, confusion written all over her face. Andrew stepped forward and looked straight at her. “You didn’t tell her y
et. Did you?”

“There wasn’t time! I was about to when you called for me,” Cole turned to him and shouted back.

“Well, she needs to know now!”

“Get off my back, Andreas! She’s had enough for one night.”

“Andreas?” Katrina interrupted.

“Ouch. You don’t even remember my real name. Now, that hurts, Caroline.” Andrew gave her a menacing grin. Before she could respond, he turned his attention back to Cole, “We’re out of time. Farkas saw her, which means the others will be coming for both of them, and soon.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Cole snapped, his irritation growing.

“Maybe. Or maybe you’ve been just a little preoccupied with helping her get her memory back?” As Andrew nodded his head in her direction, Katrina felt embarrassment consume her and she looked down at the ground. The tension in the air thickened, as Cole and Andrew’s tempers started to flare.

Katrina forcing her head back up and demanded an answer. “Will someone tell me what the hell you two are talking about?”

“Caroline, trust me. It’s nothing you need to be concerned with right now.”

“Nikolas!”

“Shut up, Andreas! I’ll tell her in time.”

“We’re out of time! Or are you just hoping they get to her first, so you don’t have to?”

Both of their eyes burned a deep cobalt. Katrina knew the exact moment the anger finally overtook Cole. From deep within his throat he let out a loud snarl and leaped towards his cousin. He was like an angry panther striking its enemy, as he went for Andrew’s throat. Instinctively, Andrew countered Cole’s challenge. He went for Cole’s jugular. The two became locked in a heated struggle, mid-air. Katrina and Jake stood by helpless. They were forced to watch and wait on the sideline.

Cole angrily thrust Andrew into the trunk of one of the trees lining the grassy meadow. The thunderous noise echoed through the desolate field. Katrina flinched in sympathy for the tree, as Andrew’s rock solid body ripped it out by its roots and knocked it to the ground. With his cat like reflexes, Andrew was up and fully recovered in no time. Charging towards Cole, he reminded Katrina of an angry bull ready to turn and pounce on the matador.

Andrew grabbed Cole by his shirt and sent him crashing down onto the roof of the Camaro. The car never had a chance. Cole’s iron built body tore through it like it was an aluminum can. The roof buckled within seconds under the immense pressure. Sounds of bending metal and shattering glass ricocheted throughout the field, bouncing off the distant mounta
ins. Katrina and Jake flinched.

Then a giant explosion erupted and debris from the truck devoured the air.  Katrina crouched down and shielded herself. Pieces of metal scraped against her skin. Her arm burned with each cut. Then things went eerily silent.

After a few moments, Katrina opened her eyes and found Cole and Andrew frozen where they stood. Andrew’s face was horrified and looking behind her.

“NO!” Andrew
and Cole both ran towards her.

Katrina turned and saw the same look on Jake’s pain filled face. Then she saw it. At first, they were small dribbles drizzling to the ground. Soon the blood was seeping into bigger puddles around his feet. The big metal rod-protruding out from his frail chest had punctured right through him.

“JAKE!” Katrina screamed till her lungs ran out of air. She couldn’t believe what was happening. She rushed to Jake’s side just before he collapsed to the ground. Dropping to her knees, she almost fell onto Andrew, who was already there and holding Jake in his arms. “Jake, look at me,” she grabbed his hand. “Stay with me. You hear me!” Katrina broke down, looking at her brothers ailing face. The light that sparkled with life in his eyes was slowly starting to fade. Tears trickled down Katrina’s cheeks as she frantically searched for something, anything that could save her brother, but it was no use.

“Hold on.” Andrew was on the verge of panic. “Don’t you leave me!” He looked up at Cole. “What are we going to do? We can’t lose him!”

“We need to get him to a hospital!” Katrina shouted, not waiting for Cole to answer.

“There’s no time!” Andrew snapped. “He’s losing too much blood!”

“We have to do something.” Katrina sobbed until her throat ached, fighting the sharp pain developing in her chest.

“There’s a way to save him, but we need to move fast before it’s too late,” Cole’s l
ow voice said, from behind her.

Katrina looked up and could see the agony in his eyes as he brought up the option. It took Katrina a moment to realize what he meant. “No! No way!” she shook her head. “You can’t. You’re not making a meal out of my brother!”

“It’s the only way. He’ll die before he even makes it to a hospital,” Andrew pleaded, as he gently caressed Jake’s cheek. Tears were running down his face.

She didn’t want to lose her brother, but the thought of him becoming something else frightened her more. Feeling him faintly squeeze her hand, Katrina l
ooked down at his failing body.

“Kat—” Jake gasped, “let—let them.”

“No!”

“Please—” Jake didn’t have the strength to finish his sentence.

“But, you won’t be Jake,” she pleaded with him. “You’ll be something else.”

“No,” Andrew tried to assure her through his tears. “No. He’ll still be your brother. He’ll remember everything. More importantly he’ll still be here.”