Red Moon Rising (3 page)

Her calves and feet weren’t covered by the blanket and
Nicholas patted her gently on the back.  “Tell us if your feet get too cold
okay Bree?  You’ll have a hard time getting to Vanden if you lose your toes to
frostbite.”

“Do you smell them James?”  Nicholas asked quietly.

“Aye.”  James replied.

Bree shifted closer to James, straining to hear their quiet
conversation.  They had been walking for nearly half the day and she had dozed
off a few times.  James showed no signs of tiring, and she was amazed by his
strength and stamina.

“How many do you think there are?”  Nicholas muttered.

“Two, maybe three.”

“Shall we wait for them to attack?”  Nicholas’ eyes were
dancing with something Bree couldn’t recognize.

“No.”  James grunted and Nicholas actually clapped his hands
with glee.

The two men stopped and Nicholas removed the bags, setting
them on the ground, as James slid Bree off his back and set her gently on her
feet.

“What’s going on?”  She asked anxiously as James bent and
picked up Tia.  He handed the small dog to her and she clutched her tightly,
petting her gently when the dog whined nervously.

“Hush Tia.”

“We have company.”  James stepped in front of her and
Nicholas stepped behind her.

Bree glanced around.  She couldn’t see any movement in the
trees but James was standing completely still.  She watched as he lifted his
head and inhaled deeply.  The familiar stance made her stomach drop, and she
backed away until she bumped into Nicholas.

“Easy Bree.”  Nicholas murmured.

“Show yourself!”  James suddenly shouted.  She jumped and
squeezed Tia until the dog whimpered.

Two men, large and naked, stepped out from the trees and
adrenaline began to pump through Bree’s veins. 

“No.”  She whispered.

James looked at her briefly, frowning at how pale she was
and the way her slender body trembled.

“Good afternoon gentlemen!”  Nicholas called merrily.  “How
are you on this fine day?”

“You have something that belongs to us.”  The largest of the
men snarled.  “Return her to us and we will not harm you.”

Nicholas stepped forward until he was standing next to
James.  He looked around innocently.  “I see nothing here that would belong to
the likes of you.”

The smaller man bared his teeth and growled low in his
throat.  “Give her to us now!”

The larger man put his hand on his companion’s arm, quieting
him.  “She is a slave.  She killed our brother and she will be punished for
it.  Give us what is rightfully ours and walk away, or we will kill you.”

Nicholas sighed.  “Uh oh – now you’ve done it.  My brother
here has never cared much for the “s” word.  I mean, I don’t like it either but
it makes him seriously angry.  You know the Reds – they have such tempers.”

“Stop your foolish talking, and hand the slave over before
we kill you and the half-breed!”  The man shouted angrily.

A low growling was rising from James’ chest, and Bree
watched as he unbuckled the scabbard around his waist.  He dropped it and the
sword within it and stretched lazily.  She could hear the bones in his spine
cracking and she stepped back nervously.  His entire body seemed to be growing,
the sleeves of his shirt straining against his arms.  As she watched, the back
of his shirt ripped with a low purring sound.  His previously smooth back was
now covered with hair, and she moaned low in her throat and backed away.

“If you want her, come and take her.”  His voice had
deepened, becoming a growl, and the two strangers snarled loudly and shifted
into their wolf form.  James and Nicholas shifted immediately, their clothes tearing
apart and falling to the ground in tatters, and they howled in unison.

As the Lycans raced towards each other, Bree turned and fled
into the forest.

* * *

Bree held her side grimly and forced herself to run faster. 
Tia, tucked under her arm, whimpered loudly and squirmed against her.  She held
the dog tighter.  The wounds on her side split open for a second time, and
fresh blood trickled down her side.

Behind her, the sound of the Lycans fighting was growing
steadily dimmer.  She cried out when she ducked around a large tree and a stray
branch swiped across her forehead.  It drew blood and some of it ran into her
eye, making it sting painfully.

She wiped at her eye, squinting to see, and screamed loudly
when a hand grabbed her arm roughly.  She was yanked to a stop, Tia tumbling
from her arms as she was whipped around.

She screamed again at the sight of the thin, pale leech
standing before her.

“Ooh, a wood nymph running through the forest!”  He grinned
at her and wrapped one strong, cold hand around her neck. 

“I heard the Lycans fighting and thought it would be best if
I skirted around their silly little fight.”  He rolled his eyes and sighed
dramatically.  “They’re so dreary.  Always fighting like dogs.  The world would
be much better without their wretched kind stinking up the place.”

Bree screamed again, and the leech gave her a look of
distaste before squeezing her throat lightly.  “Oh do stop your awful
caterwauling would you dearie? It’s giving me a headache.”

He jerked when Tia bit at his leg through his pants.  “Ugh. 
Dogs are just as bad as Lycans.”

He bent quickly and picked the small dog up by the scruff of
the neck.  Tia snarled and bared her teeth at him, and the vampire hissed and
bared his own fangs at the dog.

“Please, let her go.”  Brie choked out.

The vampire laughed and hurled the small dog into the tree
beside them. Tia’s body hit the tree with a loud thud and fell to the ground. 
She whimpered once and was silent.  Bree screamed with rage, and punched and
kicked at the vampire. 

He laughed and hauled her closer, licking the blood from her
forehead.  “Delicious.”  He whispered. 

He wound his hand through her long blonde hair, yanked her
head back and sunk his fangs deep into her neck.

* * *

The large red wolf loped through the forest.  He inhaled
deeply as he ran, searching for her scent.  He had just caught her scent when
she screamed hoarsely.  The fur on the back of his neck stood up, and he raced
through the trees.

He ran past a large tree and howled loudly when he saw the
leech drinking from her.  The leech dropped the woman and turned towards him,
his eyes widening with fear.

“No!  I beg you!  Do not – “

Growling viciously, the wolf leaped on him and knocked him
to the ground.  As he buried his mouth in the leech’s throat, the vampire
grabbed his shoulders and tried to sink his long nails into his skin.  Before
they could penetrate the thick pelt, the Lycan ripped his throat open.  The
vampire clutched at his throat, making a weak gurgling noise as blood flowed thickly
from the hole.  Already the wound was trying to heal itself and, snarling
loudly, the Lycan tore the leech’s head from its body.

The vampire exploded into ash and the wolf turned to the
woman lying on the ground.  He approached her slowly and, crying and gasping,
she shuffled backwards and held her hands out pleadingly.

“No, please, stay away…”

The Lycan whined softly and shifted into its human form. 
James knelt beside her and reached for her.  She twisted away from his grasp
and, still crying, crawled to Tia’s body lying motionless on the ground.

“Tia, oh please, oh Tia.”  She moaned softly as she reached
the dog. 

Incredibly, the dog was still alive but it was panting
harshly, its body twisted in an unnatural shape and blood trickling from its
mouth.

Bree screamed with grief and reached for the dog with a
trembling hand.  Before she could pick her up, James was pushing her aside.  He
picked the dog up, it shrieked in agony, and Bree pounded weakly on his broad
back.

“Stop!”  He demanded harshly.  “I’m trying to save her.”

He held the small dog to his chest and turned away,
shielding Tia from her view.  Bree sobbed loudly as Nicholas, panting lightly,
ran up beside them.  He was wearing just pants and he crouched next to Bree and
held her against him, rubbing her shoulder soothingly.

“She’ll be okay Bree.  She’ll be okay.”  He muttered. 

For nearly twenty minutes James stood quietly as Bree shook
and shivered against Nicholas.  He was as warm as James and she leaned into
him, trying to absorb his warmth as she stared at James’ broad back.  Tears
leaked continually down her face, and she couldn’t stop the small keening noise
from escaping her throat.

Her breath caught in her throat when Tia whined softly. 
James grunted with satisfaction and turned around.

“Tia?”  Bree whispered. 

The dog was lying in James’ arms and at the sound of Bree’s
voice, her tail began to wag.  Bree stared in shock and disbelief as James
knelt and placed the dog on her lap.  Blood still stained the fur around the dog’s
mouth but her body and limbs were straight and smooth.

“Gods be damned.”  Bree said faintly as she lifted Tia.  The
dog licked her face enthusiastically, and Bree stared at James with a touch of
fear.

“What – what did you do?”  She whispered.

“I’ll explain later.  Come, we must keep moving.”  James
answered.

He looked to Nicholas who nodded.  “They’re both dead.”

“Good.”

He leaned down and scooped Bree up, ignoring the way she cringed,
and scowling at the holes in her throat.  He strode quickly through the trees
until they had returned to the spot where the other Lycans had appeared.

He placed Bree gently on the ground and dug through one of
the leather bags, pulling out a pair of pants.  He put them on, picking up the
sword and scabbard from the ground and buckling it quickly around his waist.  Bree
put Tia on the ground.  She watched in amazement as the dog ran to James and
barked excitedly.

Nicholas was pulling on a shirt and he frowned.  “Quiet fuzzbutt. 
There may be others.”

Bree blanched at the sight of the two dead men lying a few
feet away.  She felt weak and confused, and the sight of their bodies was
making her feel nauseous.  She couldn’t believe they were dead.  She took a few
shaky steps closer until she was standing over them.  The large one, Tony, had
been particularly cruel to her and she surprised both James and Nicholas when
she spit on his face.

She staggered away from the bodies and stared at the two
brothers. 

“Bree, are you okay?”  Nicholas asked gently.

She didn’t reply.  They were Lycans and although they had
been kind to her, she knew what they were capable of.  She backed away as James
approached her.

“I won’t harm you Bree.  I promise.”  He held his hand out
to her.

“Stay away from me.”  She whimpered.

“I won’t harm you.”  He repeated.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Please little one, we need to go.  I will explain later.” 
He smiled reassuringly at her but she continued to stare at him, her face pale
with fright and blood loss.

Nicholas had circled around until he was behind her and she
was trapped between them.  Her body trembled and swayed like a frightened deer,
and she understood that she was dangerously close to fainting once again.

“No.”  She moaned as Nicholas and James closed in on her. 

“It’s okay little one.”  James said softly.  Her eyes rolled
up in her head and he caught her neatly as she collapsed.

“Gods – the girl can’t catch a break.”  Nicholas muttered as
James shifted the woman in his arms.

“We have to keep moving.”  James started forward and
Nicholas held up his hand.

“Wait brother.  You cannot carry her like that the entire
way.  You’re strong but your arms will tire eventually.”

“What do you propose we do then?” 

Nicholas stared thoughtfully at him for a moment before
rummaging through one of the bags.  He pulled out a length of rope.  “We’ll
lash her to you.  It will save your arms and help her heal faster.”

He paused.  “How do you feel?  She’s been uh – sucking a lot
of your power for nearly a day.”

James shrugged.  “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.  I’m a little tired but sleeping tonight will help.”

“Not if you’re still trying to heal her, it won’t.” 
Nicholas argued.

James scowled at him.  “I said I was fine Nicky.  She’s little.
 It won’t take long to heal her.”

Nicholas rolled his eyes.  “Not if we can’t keep her from
being injured for longer than a few hours at a time.”

“Enough.  The sooner we get moving, the better.  Lash her to
me.”

Nicholas picked up the blanket from the ground, it was dirty
and bits of leaves were stuck to it, and shook it briskly.  “Do we undress
her?”

James hesitated.  “Yes.  It’ll work better that way.”

Nicholas reached for her shirt and James knocked his hand
away.  “Turn around Nicky.  She doesn’t need both of us seeing her naked.”

Nicholas turned away and James slipped his arm under her
shirt and held her around the waist.  He used his other hand to tug the shirt
from her pale body.  Her side was oozing blood again, and the blood the vampire
had taken from her had left her even paler than usual and cold to the touch.

He turned her until she was facing him, and held her against
his broad naked chest like he would hold a small child.  Her legs dangled
limply as he kept his arm firmly around her waist.

“The blanket.”  He grunted.  Nicholas held it out without
turning and he draped it over her body, tucking it in around her sides and
under her ass.

“Okay.”

Without speaking, Nicholas worked quickly to wrap the rope
around Bree’s blanket-covered body.  With James’ help, he raised her legs
around his waist and wound the rope around them until they were held firmly
against James’ narrow waist, and then wrapped the rope around both hers and his
brother’s upper body until they were lashed together.  He tied the two ends
together in a knot at the small of her back and stepped back to admire his
handiwork.