Fangs and Fists, page 27
“Give me some music,” Maddy prompted softly.
When Haylen passed her a random CD, she caressed his hand as she took it. Their gazes met, but she still couldn’t read his expression. She would definitely have to ease him back into living like a human.
She slid the CD into the player and within a short time, the music had at least lifted the cubs’ mood. They sang and danced around in the back of the RV. The wolf named Brutal joined them, prompting some of the others into a sing -- and often howl-along. Wolves had magnificent voices. Maddy and her mother often went to listen to the wolf choir in Detroit. Before the demon occupation, so many people had been ignorant of werewolf nature. They weren’t the monsters described in so many old legends. Yet witches weren’t evil and all vampires weren’t ruthless killers. Sadly, it had taken demonic rule to make other species even begin to truly understand each other.
A couple of hours later, they stopped so that they could stretch their legs, get fresh air, and another driver could relieve Maddy.
“Madeline, come,” Haylen said, turning and striding away from the main group.
“Come? What am I, a dog?” she said, but followed him. They paused off the road, partway into the woods.
“I’m continuing on my own from here,” he said.
His words stunned her, though she shouldn’t have been surprised. He hadn’t made any promises. Still, she felt momentary panic -- like she had to change his mind.
“Why?” she demanded. “Is it because of what we heard on the radio?”
“Of course it is. These past couple of days with you, I almost convinced myself that I had gotten away with it. I should have known the masters won’t give up until my dead carcass is in their possession.”
“And you think you’re safer alone? Haylen, we haven’t known each other long, but we’ve already been through a lot together. We’ve saved each other’s lives and --”
“Grow up, Madeline. Stop being so damn naive before you get yourself killed.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. If you’re smart, you won’t go back to Detroit, either. You’ll hide out somewhere and hope that when they come, they won’t find you.”
“What do you think is going to happen? Do you think they’ll attack again? They probably will. We expected it --”
He shook his head. “You know nothing. None of you. You have no idea the extent of their powers. I’m warning you that when they retaliate, you want to be as far from Detroit and your rebel friends as possible.”
She stared at him, wishing she knew what thoughts churned behind those unreadable eyes. “If you know what they’re going to do, Haylen, you have to tell me. I have family in Detroit, so I need to go back. If you have information that can help us --”
“Nothing can help you. If you want to survive, you can’t tie yourself to anyone, Madeline.”
Her anger flared. “So I can end up like you? Numb? Afraid?”
“I’m not afraid.”
“If you weren’t, then you wouldn’t be running like a coward. We help each other.”
He curled his lip. “No. You drag each other down.”
“What’s going on over here?” Victor asked, approaching with Jolanda.
“Goodbye, Madeline,” Haylen said, turning to walk away.
“Where are you going?” Victor called.
“He’s taking off,” Maddy said. “He doesn’t get the whole teamwork concept.”
“He’s a demon,” Jolanda pointed out unnecessarily. “And he’s probably right to go. You heard the broadcast. The masters are looking for him.”
“They’re looking for all of us,” Victor said. “You don’t have to go, Haylen.”
Haylen paused and turned to face them. “When I left the tower, I didn’t plan on companions. Not witches and not wolves. My advice to all of you is hide as best you can. The masters will send for reinforcements. If they want to keep this world, they will destroy everything on it before surrendering it.”
“So run and hide is your damn answer?” Maddy strode toward him, furious and frustrated, but she felt something else as well. Something like intense disappointment and possibly grief.
Though now loath to admit it, she had fallen a little bit in love with him. She thought he had feelings for her as well. Everyone, including Haylen, had warned her that he was a demon and demons didn’t love.
Maddy stopped so close that they almost touched. “We have to fight them. We can’t just give up.”
“Evil always wins.”
“Then why don’t you just kill yourself and get it over with?” Jolanda called, folding her arms across her chest. “Unless you plan on joining the masters again.”
“That’s no longer an option.”
“Then you’d even consider it?” Maddy demanded. “I though you and I --”
“I told you not to indulge your romantic fantasies.”
Maddy instinctively smacked him across the cheek hard enough to leave a bright red handprint on his pale face. Her hand hurt from the force of the blow.
He didn’t respond, merely turned and walked away.
“Maddy,” Jolanda said, touching her arm. “Let’s go.”
Feeling numb, Maddy followed the wolves to the RV.
Jolanda took the wheel and Maddy trudged to the back. She stared out the window and watched Haylen walking uphill. The RV rolled in the opposite direction and soon he disappeared from her view.
“Hey, are you okay?” Victor asked.
“Yeah. I guess,” Maddy replied.
“Listen, Jolanda and I have been talking. We don’t think you should travel alone back to Detroit.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You can come with us to her pack and then a few of us will go back to Detroit with you to meet with the Alpha there. If there’s truth to what Haylen said, we need to help the rebels.”
“I agree. The faster I get home, the better.”
“I’ll go to Detroit with you,” said the sandy-haired wolf named Wrecks.
Victor glanced at him. “I thought you wanted to get back to the wild.”
“My pack is gone. I have no one left. If I go to Detroit, maybe their Alpha can use me.”
“You have us,” Victor told him. “You’re not alone.”
“Thanks for that, but I think Detroit is the place for me. Besides, I’m not finished kicking demon ass.”
“Neither are we,” Jolanda called from the driver’s seat. “Are you good with Wrecks traveling back with you, Maddy?”
She studied Wrecks carefully. It was crazy to travel with a wolf she barely knew, but it had been even crazier to travel with a demon. She felt certain that her defensive skills would work against Wrecks if he tried to harm her, whereas she had little to no defense against Haylen.
“All right. Thank you,” Maddy said. “I’m sure Gunner will be happy to have a new recruit.”
“Then we should reach our destination by nightfall,” Jolanda said. “After that, Victor and I will guide these wolves to my pack’s territory while you and Wrecks head back to Detroit. As soon as we can, Victor and I will come to you.”
Maddy agreed. During the rest of the ride, she was quiet, her thoughts on Haylen, her family, and the dangers they were about to face. She was disappointed in Haylen, but even more disappointed in herself for believing that a demon might become a man again.
Chapter Six
After dropping the wolves at their destination, Maddy and Wrecks took a short break before turning the RV back toward Detroit.
They decided to drive through the night, switching every few hours. Wrecks took the first shift. Maddy tried to get some sleep, but she lay in bed, unable to stop thinking about Haylen and her family. While traveling with the wolves and Haylen, she’d thought it safer not to contact them. She couldn’t help feeling guilty about leaving them to help a demon, but at the time she’d felt it was the right thing to do. No matter what Haylen said, she still believed that a spark of humanity existed inside him. Maybe one day he would find it. She wished him well.
Even more, she could still feel his kisses, hear his voice in her ear, and the sensation of his hands on her body. During their short time together, he’d filled her in every possible way. Their brief relationship had touched her deeply, and it hurt to think he’d felt so little for her.
He’s a demon, and he’s right. Grow up.
“Maddy,” Wrecks said, parking the RV on the side of the road.
“What’s wrong?” She jumped out of bed.
Wrecks opened the door and stepped out, sniffing the air. She tried to follow him, but he held out his hand, indicating that she should stay inside.
“Demons. I can smell them,” Wrecks said. “It’s faint, but I think we need to take a detour.”
Maddy nodded. Though she knew better than to argue with a werewolf’s sense of smell, she couldn’t help feeling wary. She was completely alone with Wrecks, and while he seemed trustworthy enough, she couldn’t be sure. Strangely, she wished Haylen was still around and that she could have learned the lessons in black magic he had offered to teach.
Of course that had probably been a lie. Maybe he had simply wanted sex. Fresh anger coiled inside her. She was starting to believe that she was as naive and stupid as he’d suggested. No matter how she felt, she vowed that she would no longer wallow in her silly feelings for him. Their world was on the verge of total destruction. Demons were everywhere, and she was dwelling on a man who obviously didn’t share her affection. Screw you, Haylen. I’m focusing on the people I love and doing my part in saving our world.
“Let’s get out of here,” Wrecks said, climbing back into the RV.
“Good idea.”
Wrecks was more familiar with Canada than Maddy, so she didn’t question his choice of direction, even when it took them several days longer than expected to reach Detroit.
Maddy was behind the wheel when they entered the city, and she welcomed the familiarity. The streets were surprisingly quiet, and people were actually out and about. There was still much destruction in the wake of last week’s battle, but groups had been organized for cleanup. She recognized members of the rebellion -- wolves and vampires -- patrolling the streets.
In the distance, the tower rose above all other buildings. It was dark and eerily quiet.
When Maddy pulled the RV into her family’s garage, her mother and brother were there along with Grit and his mate, Zari. They were an unlikely couple -- Grit a werewolf and Zari a vampire. Like David, they were warriors in the rebellion. Maddy and her mother weren’t soldiers, but they helped in many ways, lending their skills as witches and mechanics as well as offering their home as a safe house.
“Maddy!” her mother exclaimed, dropping the wrench she was holding and running to the RV. No sooner had Maddy stepped out, than her mother hugged her hard. “Blessed be. Thank goodness you’re all right. You are all right, aren’t you?”
“I’m fine, Mom.”
“It’s about time you got back,” David said. “You couldn’t have called more often? What happened to the demon and who’s this guy?”
“Haylen is gone. This is Wrecks.”
“From the tower,” Grit said. He stood nearby, Zari by his side. “You made it out.”
Wrecks held Grit’s gaze. “We all made it out.”
“That’s where I’ve been,” Maddy explained. “Haylen and I ran into a bunch of escaped wolves. They needed a lift into Canada, so we drove them.”
“I’m glad to see you’re alive,” Wrecks said to Grit. “Is it true that Bolt made it out, too?”
“Yeah,” Grit said.
“The masters told us that his escape plan failed and everyone involved was dead.”
“Of course they’d say that,” Zari said. “They wouldn’t want to give you hope. How did you get out? It must have been during the battle? We’ve found other wolves around the city. Most of them are with Gunner’s pack now.”
“That’s why I’m here,” Wrecks said. “Maddy told us about it. Victor and Jolanda will be coming, too.”
Grit growled. “Victor?”
“I know. He nearly killed you,” Wrecks said. “He didn’t want to.”
“Could have fooled me.” Grit glared, touching a hand to his scarred throat. Victor’s teeth had left those marks.
“Listen, Victor did what he thought he needed to in order to protect the wolves in our house. I’m sure you would have killed him if you had the chance.”
“I never killed in the arena,” Grit said with a curl of his lip. “Because I refused to be the masters’ puppet.”
Wrecks growled softly. “We were all the masters’ puppets.”
“Where’s Haylen?” Grit asked.
“We have no idea,” Maddy said, not bothering to keep the bitterness from her voice. “And I couldn’t care less. Before he left, he said that we can expect a worse attack from the masters and that they’ll be sending for reinforcements. Whether we can trust what he said is another story.”
“I’d better get that information to the rebel leaders,” Zari said.
“I’m with you,” Grit told her. He glanced at Wrecks. “Why don’t you come with us and meet the Alpha?”
The three left quickly.
“Want to talk?” Maddy’s mother asked.
“I don’t know.”
“That sounds like yes,” David said. “Mom, I’ll keep working. You two take whatever time you need.”
Maddy glanced at the large black vehicle they had been working on. It resembled the one she had modified for use in last week’s battle.
“What’s going on with that?” Maddy asked.
“The Alpha liked your design so much, he wants more. He’s got other mechanics working on them, but this is a new prototype. Yours was great, but I saw a few things that I can improve.”
“I want to check it out,” Maddy approached the jeep and peered at the engine.
“Go talk to Mom and get something to eat first,” David suggested. “Looks like you’ve been traveling a long time.”
Maddy reluctantly agreed. She wanted desperately to tell someone about what had happened over the past week, but she also wanted to forget about it. During the drive home, she’d done well, pushing aside thoughts of Haylen -- except for her dreams. He always took a starring role in them, whether as a monster or a lover. Often both.
In their apartment above the car repair shop, Maddy went to her room and undressed. She slipped into a robe, and then she took a long shower before dressing again and joining her mother in the kitchen.
Her mother had prepared her a simple meal -- tomato soup and a toasted cheese sandwich -- a lunch that reminded her of childhood. Sometimes Maddy wished she was a kid again, happy in a time before the demons had destroyed everything.
Maddy sat at the table and took a bite of her sandwich, but almost couldn’t swallow. Emotions threatened to overcome her.
“Tell me,” her mother said.
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“Haylen?”
“He’s a demon. End of story.”
“Okay, if that’s how you want it.”
“Fine. Drag it out of me. I started to fall in love with him. What a jerk, right? I mean, how stupid can I be?”
Her mother approached and hugged her. “You’re not stupid at all. Ever since you were a kid, you tried to see the good in people. I’m not surprised that you tried to see it in him, too.”
“He healed me.”
“I know.”
“And he healed a dying cub along the way. I don’t care what he or you or anyone else says, he’s not completely evil.”
“Maybe not, but maybe evil is a bigger part of him than good. He’s been a demon a lot longer than he was a man.”
“I know. At least he had the decency to leave.”
“The masters are looking everywhere for him and another demon. A female. I’m sure you heard the news.”
“Yes. After we heard on the radio that there was a reward for him, he left.”
“That’s probably for the best.”
“Everyone seems to share your opinion.”
“But not you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. We could have helped each other, and… I miss him. I know it’s stupid, and I’m an idiot for sleeping with him --”
“Oh, Maddy. No.”
“Yeah, Mom. I did it and I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Then why did you tell me?”
Maddy closed her eyes for a moment and sighed deeply. “I don’t know. I just… I had to tell somebody.”
“It’s all right.” Her mother sat beside her. “Ashley wanted to know as soon as you returned. We should call her.”
“I already did,” David said, standing in the doorway. “She wants to talk to you ASAP.”
Ashley was the High Priestess of their coven and one of the three rebel leaders in Detroit, along with Gunner the Alpha wolf and Blaxton Ward, Sovereign Vampire of the USA.
“She just got back,” her mother said. “At least let her finish eating.”
Maddy stood. “It’s all right. I’m not very hungry right now.”
“I’ll go with you,” David said.
“Thanks.”
The sooner Maddy spoke to Ashley and got her life back to normal, the better she would be. Haylen was gone, but the relative peace in Detroit wouldn’t last, and unlike the demon, Maddy intended to fight for freedom, even if that fight was in vain.
Chapter Seven
New Skin
Like most demons, Haylen could see in the dark. He had no problem traveling the cool, narrow paths through the cave. Though it had been centuries since he’d visited this place, he remembered it clearly.
He’d been hiking for nearly a week, having buried on the roadside the motorcycle he had taken from a demonic bounty hunter who had crossed his path back in Ontario. It hadn’t been a difficult fight. Though Haylen had spent most of his demonic life resurrecting the soulless, he hadn’t let his combat skills slip too much. He’d burned the demonic bounty hunter to ashes and scattered them in the river. The bike had been useful, and most likely the demon had stolen it from someone he’d killed as well.
