Wolves in the Shadows (The Wolf Clan Chronicles) (19 page)

“Scare me?” Chase’s voice sounded shrill in his own ears.  “What the hell?” 

“We were hiding in the bushes, and we saw your car,” Elizabeth said. 

“I didn’t even see you back there,” Chase said.  “What happened in the room?” 

“I’m not sure
.”  Elizabeth’s eyes widened with genuine innocence.  “They smashed through the door and then- I don’t know.”  She shook her head.  “I don’t know exactly what I did.  It was like I was inside their heads.  I didn’t kill them did I?”  Her voice became tremulous. 

“No, they seemed okay.  Are you okay?” 

“I’m fine, just a little shaken.” 

“Here,” Chase
handed her the Walmart bag that he had left on the passenger seat.  “I got you some clothes and a fresh bandage for your neck.  We should get out of here.” 

“Yes, please and thank you,” Elizabeth said eagerly.  “Let’s get as far away from here as possible.”  She started to pull the tags off a pair of blac
k sweatpants and a red tank top while Chase pulled out of the parking lot. 

“I’m going to change while you drive,
” Elizabeth said. “And if you look, Romulus will chew your face off.” 

“That’s decent threat,” Chase said with a wry smile.  “But I’m tempted to risk it.” 

Elizabeth returned his smile and replied, “I’ll smash this bottle of whiskey over your head.” 

“Gotcha,” Chase said, suddenly very focused on the road.  “Can’t waste good booze.” 

Elizabeth laughed. 

#

“Okay,” she said after a few minutes of wiggling into her new clothes.  “I’m finished.”  She lifted the bottle of whiskey up.  “Do you mind if I have some of this?” 

“Help yourself,” Chase said.  “Just save some for me.” 

Elizabeth took a long swig and grimaced.  “How can you drink this?” 

“It’s delicious.  That’s some good Irish whiskey.” 

“It’s disgusting.” 

“Not a good idea to insult a man’s whiskey.”

“Maybe if the man had better taste…” 

“No one’s making you drink it.” 

“Two guys broke into my motel room while I was in a towel,” Elizabeth said with a snort.  “I think I deserve a drink of something that doesn’t taste like battery acid.” 

“Fine,” Chase said with a chuckle.  “We’ll stop somewhere and get you some girly drink.” 

“And a burger,” Elizabeth said, her eyes brightening.  “I don’t know about you, but I could eat a whole cow right now.” 

“I love a girl with a big appetite.” 

A growl rumbled from Romulus’ chest. 

Elizabeth hushed him.  “It’s just a figure of speech, Romy.” 

Chapter 9

“Much better,”
Elizabeth said after she had finished her first cheeseburger.  “I’ve been so hungry lately.”  She took a long swig of her beer before she started to unwrap her second burger. 

Chase smiled at her from across the weather beaten table.  He had made sure that they had found a quiet place where they could eat in peace.  It was truly incredible how much this girl could eat in one sitting. 

“I’m not too surprised honestly,” He said.  “The amount of energy you’ve been expending must be ridiculous.  It takes a lot out of a mortal to spend so much time with extremely powerful vampires.  I always had to eat and sleep a lot more after a good hunt.” 

Elizabeth smiled back at him and looked down at Romulus.  The wolf looked up at her and growled; his eyes were a blazing blue.  Elizabeth’s face grew stern as she looked at him. 

Romulus stood and started to trot away from the table.  After he had gone a few yards, he turned back and let out a whine. 

“It’s okay, Romy,” Elizabeth said. 

Chase saw that once again, her eyes were the same color as the wolf’s. 

Romulus took off running across the grassy lawn of the deserted park.  In the blink of an eye, he was a speck in the distance.  The next instant, he had vanished from sight. 

“Damn, he’s fast,” Chase said. 

Elizabeth nodded.  Her eyes had returned to their normal color.  “He doesn’t like you or trust you.” 

“But you do?” Chase asked hopefully. 

She winked at him and took a bite of her burger. 

“We should change cars,” Chase said.  “Those guys will be able to track us pretty easily.  I used my real name when I checked into the hotel, so we’ll have to lay low for awhile.” 

Elizabeth finished her second burger before she replied.  “
Romulus thinks that we were set up.” 

The thought had occurred to Chase, but he hadn’t wanted to mention it. 

“He suspects that you had a hand in it, but I know you didn’t,” she continued when Chase did not reply. 

“Elaine could have easily pulled some strings with the Council to have some hunters nearby in case anything happened to her,” Chase said.  He was relieved that he didn’t have to worry about defending himself.  It was nice knowing that Elizabeth at least trusted him enough to know that he wouldn’t
deliberately betray her. 

Elizabeth nodded.  “Fortunately, they won’t be catching up with is anytime soon.” 

“Why’s that?” Chase asked with a frown. 

Elizabeth gave him a mischievous grin.  “
Because now that they’re awake, they’ll have an unbearable urge to go to Disneyland.” 

Chase raised his eyebrows. 

What?” Elizabeth asked.  Her voice was almost too sweet.  “I needed them out of the way, and I figured they should at least go somewhere fun.  I sent Romulus to make sure that they head out of town.” 

“What are you?” 

Elizabeth’s smile turned into a frown.  She shook her head.  “I’ve been wondering that myself,” she said with a sigh.  “When they broke the door down, I could see into their minds.  They’re names are Michael and Josh.  They’re brothers-in-law.  Josh is married to Michael’s brother, and they’ve been hunting partners for ten years.  They both knew Elaine, but they weren’t especially sorry that she was dead.  Michael thought that she was just using them to do her dirty work, but Josh thought that they owed it to her to avenge her.  Romulus wanted to rip them apart, but I wouldn’t let him.”  She paused and rubbed her temples.  “I could have ripped them apart myself,” she said.  It scares me more than anything.”  The words seemed to flow out of her like an unstoppable flood.  She told him about everything that Demetrius had said to her the night before.  How he hadn’t wanted to hurt her, but there was something that was driving him that he couldn’t speak of.  How was something about her that was too dangerous to be allowed to live. 

“I don’t know why he didn’t just kill me,” she said.  She shook her head again.  “I just keep feeling like there was something that he wanted from me, but I don’t know what it was.  I don’t know if I want to know.  It might sound crazy, but I can still feel him inside my head.” 

“Demetrius is dead,” Chase said reassuringly.  “We killed him together.  You saw me chop his head off and drive a sword through his chest.  There’s no way he could have possibly recovered from that, and even if he could, we burned the house to the ground after you passed out.” 

“I know that, Chase.  I know that he’s gone, but I feel like, I don’t know, like there’s a part of him in me.  It’s like how suddenly I have so much more control I have over my own mind.  How I was able to break into Michael’s and Josh’s minds like they wrapped tissue paper.  I tore that room apart with a thought.  I was able to hide from you.  You looked right at me when you first came back to the car, but you didn’t see me.  I didn’t want to tell you when Romulus was around, even though I know he knows, but when I first met Demetrius, he was able to wrap the shadows around him like a cloak.  Somehow I did the same thing.” 

Chase frowned.  “There are legends amongst the Hunter Clans of powerful vampires being able to walk unseen by mortal eyes,” he said.  “And lately, legends seem to be proving to be true.” 

“But I’m not a vampire.” 

“Obviously, but I think that Romulus is somehow sharing his power with you.  When you were in the car, you and Romulus both had these radiant blue eyes.” 

Elizabeth eyes widened, but she said nothing. 

“I don’t know what that creature is,” Chase stopped at the expression on Elizabeth’s face. 

“It suddenly occurred to me,” Elizabeth said.  “Romulus carries the souls of the old Wolf Clan that followed him into the pit.  Maybe somehow, he caught Demetrius’ soul.  Maybe that’s why I still feel him.  It makes sense.  Our bond seems to getting more and more powerful, so it’s easier for us to share
power.” 

“I won’t pretend to understand what any of that means,” Chase said with a shrug.  “I’m not an expert on the inner workings and flow of power within vampire clans.  I just hunt and kill them.” 

“Not anymore you don’t,” Elizabeth gave him a little wink.  Her good spirits were returning quickly now that things were making a bit more sense.  “Unless they deserve it, of course.” 

“Look at you,” Chase said, glad to see Elizabeth smile again.  “Next you’ll tell me that you want to learn how to hunt.” 

Elizabeth’s smile broadened. 

Chase’s eyes widened.  “I was kidding.” 

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows in response. 

Chase realized that she could probably see exactly what he was thinking.  He shook his head and chuckled.  “You know that basically as of last night, we’r
e both part of a vampire clan.  The Council will have a bounty on both of our heads and no hunt-” 

Elizabeth cut him off with an impatient wave of her hand.  “I know that no Hunter Clan would accept me, considering my bloodline, but I would never want to be part of a hunter clan.  I want to learn so that I can protect myself and others from vampires like Demetrius and other hunters like Michael and Josh.” 

“I don’t think you have to worry about other hunters too much,” Chase said with a wry smile. 

“But what about if Romulus isn’t around?  I don’t want to have to depend on others to always protect me.”  Elizabeth’s eyes took on a steely glint.  “I am absolutely determined to never allow myself to get captured ever again, and I figure that since we’re going to be traveling together, you might as well teach me a few things.” 

“Who said anything about traveling?” 

Elizabeth let out a little chuckle.  “Don’t act like I’m that naïve.  You and I both know that we’re going to have to go on the run, and I know you well enough to know that you won’t leave me.” 

“Why not just go with Lord Reginald and Sir Marcus?” 

Elizabeth ran her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath before replying.  “Because I’m human, Chase,” she said with some effort. 

Chase frowned and looked perplexed. 

“I feel like sometimes they forget that I’m not a vampire.
” Elizabeth said.  “I know in time I’ll get used to it, but there are so many things about them that make me feel so weak and ignorant.  I need someone who I can actually talk to about, I guess human things.  I don’t know if that makes sense.” 

“It makes sense,” Chase said.  “You’re doing well for someone who just found out about the existence of vampires and hunters and
shape shifters and the like.” 

“I feel like I barely know anything,” Elizabeth said.  “But I do know that I trust you, and I want you to teach me everything you know.”  

Chase’s teeth flashed as he gave Elizabeth a crooked grin.  “I’ll teach you everything I know on three conditions.” 

“Name them,” Elizabeth’s eyes glinted dangerously. 

“We have to get permission from Lord Reginald.” 

“Fair enough.” 

“You have to keep your ‘uncle’ and Romulus from trying to kill me.” 

Elizabeth laughed.  “What’s the third?” 

Chase’s eyes narrowed as he answered.  “Stay out of my head.” 

Elizabeth became serious.  “I promise to do my best.” 

“Thank you, Elizabeth” Chase said with a sigh.  “It’s nothing personal.  I just don’t think you’d like what you would find in there.” 

Chapter 10

You get more and more interesting every minute, Lizzy,” Chase said with a smirk.  “How the heck did you convince that guy to give you this car with an IOU?” 

“And he’s taking back your
rental too,” Elizabeth said.  “He was very helpful.” 

Chase shook his head in amazement. 
He had just watched her sneak into three different clothing stores and emerge with enough new clothes to last fill her new suitcase without anyone noticing.  Now she had just finished sweet talking a used car salesman into parting with a beautiful silver Ford Mustang with only the promise of payment. 

“I have every intention of sending ‘Honest Abe’ the money when I get the chance though I don’t know when I’ll be able to,” Elizabeth said.  She settled into the passenger seat and sighed in contentment.”  “I figure we can hang on to this for a few days and then exchange it for something less flashy.” 

Chase slid into the driver’s seat and chuckled.  “That guy was one of the oiliest car salesmen I’ve ever seen.”