Witches, Voids, and Other Sanity Suckers
Chapter 37

Hank insists on transporting Az to the‘dome in the back of his ambulance. Greer insists on tagging along so thateverything has an official stamp of approval. Greta insists on loading everyweapon we own into the back of my rental truck.

I only hope that when I insist everyonemake out of this alive that they are as accommodating as I have been.

The ‘dome parking lot is packed. Onlyfive of the pack’s ten spots are free. Hank parks the ambulance in the drop offlane near the front doors. By the time he cuts off the engine, I have the backdoor open and his patient in my arms. Jose,arms laden with more crap than Az could possibly need, rushes in front of me tohold open the door. Greta stays a step behind me with her hand on her DesertEagle. Hank and Ike herd the others.

Rachael the pixie scrambles around thefront desk as I stride toward her. “Mr. Sutherland regrets that there isn’tenough room in the main conference room for everyone. He’s set up the overflow inthe other conference rooms. I had maintenance get the broadcast equipmentonline so you can speak to everyone.”

I will give the members of the ParanormalCommunity this: they can really get their shit together when they’re scared.

“Thanks.” I turn toward the conferenceroom only to freeze when a tiny hand grabs my elbow. Oh, little pixie, that’s adangerous move. “What?”

The hand moves. “Do you want me to replacesomeone to take her?”

What? Just hand over Az to some flunkie? Hellno. That’s just about the stupidest question I’ve ever been asked.

“No, it’s all right,” Greta says, smilingtightly at Rachael. Her hand lands heavily on my bicep and squeezes twice. It’sa signal we worked out years earlier. Normally I’m the one who has to use it onher. It means: Yes, we’re surrounded by idiots, but don’t rip off any heads,please.

Greta doesn’t release my bicep untilwe’re out of the pixie’s earshot. “You’re going to have to put her downeventually, Rick.”

“I know that.” I do. It just doesn’t haveto be right now. It’s not like Az is heavy or anything. The longer I canmonitor her vitals the less jumpy I’m likely to be later.

“Kinda hard to make a bad ass entrancewhile you’re lugging around Little Red Sleeping Beauty, isn’t it boss man?” Ikeasks, jogging to join us.

Ah, logic. My oldest nemesis. He has apoint, though. I stop and shove her into Ike’s arms. “This is temporary, justso we’re clear. If anything changes, you tell me immediately.”

He shifts her so that her head is cradledon his shoulder. His face is as serious as it gets. “Understood.”

Appearances count for a lot when dealingthe PC. It’s not enough to simply be the most powerful creature in the room. Youhave to look like the most powerfulcreature, too. It’s why suburban-raisedGreta prefers the clichéd leather biker chick persona.

I’ve never taken the time to come up witha fancy costume. There’s no need. I pause outside the doors to the conferenceroom for a partial Shift. Just enough fur and fangs to remind everyone who andwhat I am. Banging the doors open fulfills two purposes: it gets everyoneinside to shut the hell up, and it makes sure that all eyes are on me.

Rachael didn’t lie about the conferenceroom being crowded. There isn’t an available seat in the room. Two cameras arepointed toward the stage. The room smells like thirty variations of bad breathand body odor. And, of course, the don’t-believe-in-bathing ogres take up thefirst three rows. Wonderful.

I don’t stand behind the podium like astuffed-shirt professor. I don’t need the microphone, either. Every eye in theroom is aimed right at me. I like an attentive audience. I just wish the stenchof fear wasn’t competing with ogre stink.

“Time to pull our heads out of our asses,people. We’re at war. This morning, the Patriarch of the Herd was attacked inhis home. The Dowager Matriarch was killed, and the Patriarch’s heir waskidnapped. In the course of rescuing the heir, a member of my pack wasgrievously injured. Another attack was launched on the pack house. Thoselooking to take over this city – our city – aren’t going to back down. We haveno choice but to put them in the ground.”

Ittakes a few seconds for that announcement to sink into their thick skulls. Theogres, naturally, recover first. Franx leaps to his feet and waves his sword inthe air like it’s a battle flag.

“We will defeat the scourge that hasinvaded our city!”

Well, at least he’s optimistic. “To dothat, we have to work together.” I meet Franx’s bloodthirsty stare. He’s been athorn in my side for years, but he’s not a complete idiot. “We’re the only oneswho have gone up against these guys before and survived.”

Franx tries to stare me down for a momentbefore bowing his head and lowering his sword. “Our blades are yours tocommand. We will follow your orders, General. May you lead us to victory.”

General Haskell. I sort of like the soundof that. The ogres are the largest clanof warriors in the city. If they say they’ll follow my lead, then the otherswill do so, too. Pity Az isn’t awake for my promotion from Alpha of the pack toGeneral of the Paranormal Community.

Most in attendance are familiar enoughwith Bear Creek Park to visualize our potential battleground. No one questions how I know that’s where things are goingto go boom. Not being questioned. Another concept I could definitely get usedto. I hope my pack is taking notes.

Knocking out a plan of attack issurprisingly easy. Everyone remembers their training from last year’s war. Theleprechauns, ogres, centaurs, succubae, and incubi immediately volunteertroops. The miscellaneous groups of creatures too small for formalrepresentation volunteer to fill the ranks. The sprites and faeries are lessenthusiastic. That’s hardly surprising. They hate witches, but they’repacifists.

“Aseasy as it would be to crush them if we all went, we need people to stay hereto protect the ‘dome. This could be a diversion for a real attack on the‘dome,” I say before the crowd gets a little too involved in describing thevarious ways they’re going disembowel not-Shifters.

Franx assigns two units of ogres to guardduty. Half the sprites and faeries eagerly agree to stay behind while othersreluctantly volunteer to accompany us to Bear Creek. When Maura turnsfrightened, tear-filled eyes on me, I put the sprites and faeries on themedical team with Hank and Willie. The braver ones will be scouts ormessengers.

When the leaders of individual groupsstart naming unit leaders, I step aside so that Greta can direct theconversation. She’s better at the details. I prefer to look at the big picture.Besides, there’s one very important order I need to give.

I gesture for those remaining at the‘dome to follow me out of the conference room. Ike, still holding his adoptedsister, nudges Jose. I lead my noisy procession to the hospital ward. The twocentaurs posted outside the ward doors stand aside as I approach.

Only two beds in the ward are occupied. Aftera brief survey, I head to the most easily defensible bed in the ward. Away fromthe windows. Along an interior wall. Not too close to the door. Perfect.

The Patriarch, drugged but awake, nods atme when I pass by. Daniel attempts to scramble off his bed but stops at a lookfrom his father. Tiny centaur hands reach for Az.

Ike, smart man that he is, gentlytransfers Az into my arms. Though I’d like to hold her long enough to ease theanxiety clawing at me, I can’t do that with an audience. Jose drops his bags topull back the bed’s thin woven blanket. Az’s face is as white as the bedding. Ituck the sheet up under her chin before turning to my flock of avid watchers.

“This is Az. She is a member of my pack. Sheis…,” a hundred adjectives rush through my brain but only one makes it to thetip of my tongue, “mine.”

Murmurs swell up around us. It’s not aromantic, spectacular declaration, but in our community it means something. Imake eye contact with every person in the room. I commit their faces to memory.

“I am holding each one of you personallyresponsible for her safety and security.” I gently stroke a finger across herswollen nose. “I ripped out the still-beating heart of the creature that gaveher this. If anything happens to her, if she so much as gets a goosebump,you’ll pray I’m that merciful with you.”

One of the ogres slams his fist againsthis chest and bobs his head. “We will protect your female, General.”

“I am to be notified immediately if thereis any change in her condition.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Everyone but the Patriarch andDaniel clear the room.”

Jose is the last to leave. Ike has toyank him out into the hallway. I swear I can hear him whimper through the thickdoors.

The bed dips under my weight. Az rollstoward me, but her eyelids don’t flutter. There is no difference in herrespiration rate. No increase in her pulse. Just the same damned stillness.

“You should be with me for this,” I tellher. I straighten one of her ridiculous bows and smooth the wisps of haircurling against her forehead. “I don’t know if we’re up against a Mage or awarlock with dreams of world domination. Hell, it could just be a witch with ahelluva case of PMS.”

No response. I brush a kiss across herunbruised cheek. “This is your only free pass, Princess. You don’t get to skipout when things get rough. Where’s your follow through?”

Her lips are cool. Only the slightestspark of magic leaps up to greet me when I kiss her. “Wish me luck,sweetheart.”

I pause half a second, heart in mythroat, praying she’ll open those eyes or squeeze my hand. Nothing. Nothing atall.

I feel as if I’ve aged a decade as I riseto my feet. I linger over Az, adjusting her pillow and straightening the sheet,as long as I can. There’s no putting off the inevitable, though. I have toleave her, even if that means she could slip away while I’m gone.

The sound of centaur hooves on the tilefloor drags me out of my increasingly dismal thoughts. Daniel skirts the end ofthe bed so that he’s on the other side of Az. He cradles one of her limp handsbetween his smaller ones. “I will watch her for you, Mr. Rick.”

Looks like Az has a new admirer. “Thankyou, Daniel.”

Dozens of vehicles, a modified SWAT APC,two police cruisers, and an ambulance parade to Bear Creek Park. The centaurstake an alternate, hoof-friendly path to the park and arrive only seconds afterthe last vehicle parks. While Greer and his partner rush to clear civilians outof the park, I start the arduous task of dispersing duties.

Six separate flanks spread out along thepark. The park is unnaturally quiet. No chirping birds. No rustle of leaves orwildlife. The acrid tang of magic burns the back of my throat. I have to workto ignore the smell of magic and focus on the scent of not-Shifters. The scentmoves. Chasing it feels a little like chasing a ghost until we reach a picnicarea. The shadows shift and sunlight glints off sharp white fangs. Bingo.

Five snarling not-Shifters. Hardly thearmy I was envisioning. Before I can give the order to attack, one not-Shifterthrows his head back and howls. The sound grates on my every nerve ending. Sentries,then.

All it takes is the wave of my hand tosend my writhing mass of murderous allies racing toward the sentries. Greta,Mark, and the teens drag one sentry to the ground while Ike and his group tearanother into five pieces. I want to Shift with the rest my pack, but I can’tlead if I can’t speak. I can’t even half-Shift or risk being shot by friendlyfire. At least I have my favorite shotgun.

The scent of not-Shifter leads me towarda line of trees near the creek. Those not busy dismembering sentries follow onmy heels. The ogres are on my left, the centaurs at my back, and theleprechauns on my right. Never trust a leprechaun to have your back unlessbeing stabbed is your kink.

A variety of other creatures make up therest of my soldiers. I’m half certain that the succubae are going to make amove on the incubi when things get messy. If I’m lucky, they’ll wipe each otherout, and I won’t have to deal with them.

“There,” Franx says, pointing hisblood-stained blade at a clearing just on the other side of the trees.

Adrenaline rushes down my spine. Fursprouts along my arms and my nails lengthen into claws. The fangs that extendwithout warning split my lip.

Two dozen not-Shifters snarl and paw theground like they’re just waiting to be let off their leash. Behind them, afair-haired goddess hovering a good foot off the ground whistles. Behind me, myarmy bristles in anticipation.

Showtime.