The Strange Case of Kisten Tamwood
Background:
Set about 10 years after The Witch With No Name but actually diverges from Kim Harrisons storyline at the end of Pale Demon with Bis taking Rachel to Ivy instead of Trent. The first Part at least will be told from David Hue's perspective.
It's been a fairly quiet decade. Except for the Vamp Cold War that started when Rachel assassinated Rynn Cormel and his supporters after he had his people try to kill Ivy, to force Rachel to come up with a way to let vampires keep their souls after their first death.
The Coven of Moral and Ethical Standards had lost a lot of power with when so many of their members were killed or in a mental hospital.
Into that power vacuum stepped Trenton Kalimack and The Elves. They came out to the public in a big way by pledging to finance the rebuilding of San Francisco.
But between Al terrorized Cinci for Piscary and Ku'sox tearing up San Francisco Anti-Inderland hate crimes where on the rise.
After the election of Anti-interland president all of the Inderland communites have been quietly organizing more, especially the Were's.
Rachel steps down as Alpha female because she feels she didn't have the time to fully devote herself to the roll. Taking up the Omega female position instead.
Omega position in a Were-pack is almost always a position for a former Alpha. Before the last couple centuries changing in Were leadership were typically bloody affairs and often resulted in a pack split. But as humanity became more civilized a few forward thinking
Chapter 1
It's been a while since I've had a chance to come together with my pack and run together under the Full Moon. We've been planning this for several months kind of a group vacation and pack meeting all rolled into one. We were camping in the Old Shawnee State Forest outside of Portsmouth, OH. My Godson Kisten Tamwood had joined us, his mothers Rachel and Ivy Tamwood had joined us also for the first night. But some urgent Vampire business had come up and he begged his mothers to let him stay, so I promised to keep an eye on him and bring him back with me. The kid looks remarkably like Rachel, with his red hair and freckles even though he doesn't share a drop of DNA with her. They both were very reluctant to have biological children with Rachel being a genetic Demon and Ivy concerned about her undead mother they instead found a couple of witches to donate an egg and sperm. I'd asked them once why they didn't just adopt, Rachel had mumbled something about me not being able to understand because I'm male.
I'd contacted the Portsmouth pack and the local head vampire to have them get the word out to the local inderland community and let them know that there was going to be a visiting pack in the old park. The last thing I want is the pack to stubble on some strange pack or vampires doing God only knows what out here.
So as dawn just begins to lighten the eastern sky, I start to heading back to camp and wake Kist up with wet wolf kiss. So I'm pleasantly surprised when I catch a familiar scent of vampire and rosewood and I think that maybe Rachel and Ivy have decided to join us after all, but then I catch the scent of a strange were. After another moments thought I realize that while the vampire and rosewood scents are very similar to Rachel and Ivy's scents they're not quite right. I contact Serena and Kally telepathically (one of several little tricks I've learned from the Focus) and have them start to gather the pack while I move into investigate and check on Kisten.
I'm not to worried about the kid while he doesn't have much more magical ability than a human wizard the kid is smart as whip, he's been practicing martial arts with Ivy since he could walk and he's knows to use his bubble charm at the first hint of danger. Plus he has Rachel's old splat gun, so even though he's only 13 he's one tough kid. Between his own abilities and the magical and non-magical tripwires we set up around the camp, none of which have gone off the kid should be relatively safe. We also hired the local clan of wild pixies to watch the camp.
So as I stealthily approach his tent, I stretch out my senses listening for the sound of anything moving around, the faintest movement or the scents of anyone else nearby. I don't pick up anything just the same strangely familiar scent of vampire, rosewood and were. As I peer into Kisten's tent, I see his sleeping bag torn is to shreds, along with the clothes he was wearing when we left, but there's no blood so that's a good sign. The scent of vampire, rosewood and were is very strong here along with fear and confusion. I notice a trail of paw prints leading away from the tent but strangely none approaching it and they lead towards our large bonfire.
Serena and Kally let me know they've gathered most of the pack, I tell them to have everyone surround our camp to make sure no one leaves the area and to be ready to charge in I call out for them. I tap into the power of the Focus and stretch my senses out further, in addition to my own heartbeat I only ear one more nearby, further out I can sense my pack just beyond even a Master Vampire's senses, but they're MY pack and we share a bond. I cautiously follow the trial towards the fire, all the while scanning the camp around me looking for Kist or a clue as to what happened. All the while prepared for someone or something to attack me, because even though there's only one other beating heart nearby doesn't mean there isn't something else out there. The undead can be as still as the dead until they strike.
The other heartbeat is coming from my 'throne ' as Serena and Kally like to call it, an old oversized battered leather chair I picked up at a garage sale a couple years ago, just for these trips. What's the point of be really strong if don't use it make your life more comfortable. Curled up on it is a young were who's coat is so dark it almost seems to absorb the light from the bonfire. I circle to approach him head on. At first I think he must be asleep because I cant's see his eyes but then he blinks and I realize that he's eyes are vampire black and when he yawns it seems his canines are a little bigger and longer than is typical for such a young were.
A vampire were? The thought flashed through my mind, but no it can't be. Everyone knows the vampire virus doesn't work on weres anymore that it does witches. Then I start to wonder if maybe this is some new demon creation but what would be the point? Besides ever since Rachel recreated the Everafter it's a virtual paradise and so they don't answer summons very much anymore. In addition he's just lying there curled in my chair not set to pounce and to top it off there's no burnt amber smell. I slowly approach my chair and I let out a low menacing growl that's made even a few undead vampires take notice. He just lays there strangely unafraid it doesn't seem to be a confidence like he thinks he could take me, it's more like a child's confidence in someone they trust implicitly. As I get closer it becomes clear that the scent of vampire, redwood and were are coming from this young were, who seems strangely familiar. It's still seems strange to me even after all these years how much information I can glean thought my scenes with the help of the focus, even things that would seem to be intangible.
Just as I'm about the close within biting range I catch the faint gleam of sunlight reflecting off a ring on this young were's front right paw and I froze for a heartbeat that's Kisten's ring but only Rachel or Ivy are supposed to be able to take it off. Then with a deep sniff I catch that scent that is uniquely Kisten underneath the vampire, redwood and were and pulling deeply on the Focus I shift back to human form almost instantaneously. "Kisten?" I crocked. Man even with pulling on the Focus's power shifting that quickly HURTS! Clearing my throat I try again much clearer this time "Kisten? is that you?" I ask as I lay my hand on the young were he raises his head and looking my straight in my eyes nods. "What happened?" I ask "did you take a potion to so you could were?" still looking me straight in eyes he shakes his head no "Did someone do this to you?" now he kind of dips his head trying to shrug his shoulders I think "you don't know?" now he nods his head in the affirmative. The longer I look into those vampire black eyes, the more I start to feel the Focus's consciousness start to stir in my brain.
Just then I notice the sharp sound of dragonfly wings and I watch as Jehosophat Jenkson, Kisten's constant companion makes an erratic entrance and lands on the back of my chair clearly exhausted. "JeJ!" I exclaimed and the little pixie-were holds up a finger telling me to wait. After it becomes obvious that the pint size warrior is keeping me waiting longer than is necessary to catch his breath, I start to growl at him under my breath and just like that he gives me a big smile and flips me off. My shoulders loose some of the tension they've had the last few minutes because there's no way JeJ would be messing with me if Kisten was really in trouble.
"So what happened to Kist?" I ask when it became obvious he was too busy grinning at me to volunteer information.
"umm he were'd, David" JeJ said like it happened all the time. "You're like king of the were's, I would think you'd be able to recognize the signs, like Kist turning into to wolf."
"Obviously" I say exasperated "but how did it happen?"
"oh that, I have no idea" the little pixie-were said clearly enjoying himself.
Taking a deep breath I try again "ok so tell me what you do know about this" waving my hand a Kisten.
"Well about 10min before true midnight as I was just about to turn in for my evening rest, I heard a pained moan come from Kist's sleeping bag so I flew down to check it out and tried calling his name and bouncing up and down on him figuring this was another one of his practical jokes, then the moans got loader and it started to sound like someone was change in there but it still smelled like Kist, except that it also started to smell like were, next thing I know he's ripping that sleeping bag and his clothes to shreds and then with a great shake he's free of all of and lo and behold he's a were."
"ok but how did you know he was Kist?" I asked still trying to get ALL the information out of him.
"oh thats easy" the little pixie-were said "first he still smelled like Kist, mostly except that he now smelled like a were also, his aura was pretty much the same, he's still has his ring on and he knew his code word."
"what do you mean aura is pretty much the same are you saying it's different?" I ask concernedly
"yes and no" he says as he waffles his outstretched palm from side to side
"which is it yes or no" I ask through gritted teeth. I swear trying to get coherent information out of a pixie is like trying to pull a rabid were's canines.
"calm down, don't get your panties in bunch" he exclaims "it's no difference than when you or any other were changes, there's a subtle difference in your aura between your two forms and don't ask me to explain it, it's to difficult to put into lunker words."
"Ok, so what about this scent? He smells of vampire and redwood." I say.
"Oh that" he answers brightly "that's just Aunties Rache and V you're smelling on him."
"No" I state firmly "it's very similar to Rachel and Ivy but it's not exactly them. It's almost as if..."
"Oh it them all right" he interrupts nervously "trust me, it's them." he says and winks at me"
"Well what about he ey.."
"Perfectly normal" he says and winks at me again.
OK note to self drop the subject of his scent and eyes with the pixie-were, I'll just have to discuss it with Rachel or Ivy when we get back. As far has his ring goes I do remember Rachel telling me once that it would grow as he grew so no reason why it wouldn't grow as he were'd. Who would have thought that spend some quality time with my godson at a were outing would turn out so interesting.
"so you're sure this is Kisten?" I ask JeJ
"absofreakinlutely" he states "100 %, well maybe 99.99% or 99.95% no 99.97% no..."
As he tries to figure out what fraction of a percent of doubt he has, I reach out for Serena and Kally they inform me that every is back and they're all just waiting for me to let them know what's up. I assure them that everything is ok that I'm find and Kist is fine but we need to have a little privacy and to let everyone know they go for a run or whatever but to stay away from the group camp area until I sound the all clear. I turn my attention back to Kisten and ask
"ok let me get this straight this has never happened before tonight?" he raise he head off his paws again looks at me with those vampire black eyes and nods.
"next question do you have any idea how this happened?" he shakes his head in the negative
I can tell that even though he's taking this remarkably well, he is still a little scared not mind nubbing so but still a bit, so I start talking to the kid in a soothing voice.
"alright then have you tried to change back?" He chocks his head and looks at me as if to say 'duhh, of course I tried.' I chuckle softly "Ok dumb question. But it's not like changing with a spell, you have to..." I spend the next 10 min or so trying to talk Kisten through the Change but to no avail. "Well then so for the easy way. Kist I want to try something else, before we contact your moms, but I need you to trust me OK?" another nod in the affirmative "great, you've seen how I can reach out and touch Serena and Kally's minds right?" he nods "that's what I want to try and do with you ok?" nods "it usually easier with someone I already have a bond with but I have done this with a few orphaned were's that were going through their first change. They tend to get lost in the wolf and have a hard time getting back." so with that explanation I reach out with the power of the focus and touch his mind which is surprisingly easy to do and just as that thought crosses my mind Gus the name I've given to the consciousness of the Focus screams "MIINNNEEEEE" and tries to leap out and into the Kisten. I abruptly break contact with my Godsons mind and leap back. Then I give Gus a massive mental blow to the gut, as I stand there in my mindscape staring down at Gus's wolf form I'm seething with rage, every muscle in body (my mental body anyway) is taunt with anger. Trying to get my anger under control "We haven't had a problem like that in years, Gus" I say between ragged breaths "what the HELL do you think you were doing?"
"he's mine" Gus whined
"NO" I state firmly "He's The Witch's son" I say putting special emphasize on 'The Witch'. I haven't had to threaten Gus with Rachel since the first couple years after I became the Focus's host.
"The W-W-Witch? Gus stammers softly clearly afraid
"Yes and like any mother protecting her cub, she will do WHATEVER she feels is necessary to protect him."
"She wouldn't hurt you David, you're her Alpha" Gus says softly
"To protect the ones she loves, there is nothing she won't do. She'd rip you out, put you back into a statue and then bury you so deep you'd never see the light of the moon again. Even if it meant shedding my mind in the process, if I tried to resist." I state with absolute certainty and give an involuntarily shudder as I remember what happened to Rynn Cormel after his people tried to kill Ivy, to force Rachel to come up with a way to let vampires keep their souls after their first death.
'I'm sorry David" he says as he rolls over on his back clearly exposing his throat and belly in sign of submission "but he is a part of me"
Now that threw me for a loop but all I said was "we'll discuss this later"
When I returned my attention to Kisten and JeJ, I caught JeJ and Kisten staring at me like I'd grown a third eye.
"What?" I ask a bit sharper than I intended, obvious still a little on edge about what Gus tried to do.
"umm David, who were you talking to?" JeJ asked quizzically
I stare at him blankly for a second, then it clicks I must have been talking out loud to Gus "The Focus" I reply embarrassed "but that's not important. What IS important is that I don't think I'm going to be able to help you change back right now, Kist. So I think we're going to need to call your moms..."
"I'm going to go get my phone, call your moms and then get some clothes on. You two just stay here." But before I get half way to my tent JeJ lands on my shoulder and gives my ear a little tug to get my attention. "What's up?" I ask "why did you stay with Kist? you know he's a little freaked out."
"I need to give you a code phrase to tell Aunt Rache when you call her" he states firmly
Ever since a high ranking member of the FIB turned out to be a HAPA member, we all been a little more circumspect with our phone conversions, just in case they're being tapped illegally.
"umm, I know Ivy likes to plan things out but there is no way even she should have a code for this situation. I'd just planned on using my burner phone." I inform him
He laughs softy at little dig on Ivy. But to be honest that's one of the things I've always admired about her.
"No not this exact situation, but it does follow under a specific contingency plan." He says
"And that would be...?" I ask when it becomes apparent he's not going to continue without a little prodding.
"Julius" He states
"which means what?" I ask for a pixie even a pixie-were he's pretty tight lipped. His father Jenks could hardly keep a secret, though to be honest I think he mostly does it just to embarrass Rachel and Ivy.
"I can't say, please just text 'Julius' to Aunties Rache or V's primary cell on your burner and then just follow the instructions they give you." he states firmly
I just shake my head ruefully at the extent of the cloak and dagger routine but then again I haven't been fighting a Vamp Cold war for the last decade. So once I reach my tent and get my phone I text 'Julius' to Ivy figuring she's more likely to recognize my burner's number and start to get dressed. Not 30 seconds later I get a text back that says 'come to you? or you come here?' I stare at it a moment trying to figure out exactly what she's asking.
Then JeJ says "they want to know if it's so urgent that they need to come here or if you can take Kist to them"
"Thanks" I mutter under my breath feeling a little foolish for not figuring it out myself.
"denada, Davy" He beams at me
Shaking my head resignedly, I reply back to the text with 'come there'
A few seconds later their reply says 'meet where you received your gift'
This time it's JeJ that's stumped "Where you received your gift? What gift?" he asks quizzically
"The Focus" I reply, "they mean their old church in the Hollows"
I type back 'confirmed 3 hr' and almost instantly I get 'OK'
Now that I was dressed and we had a plan I walk over to Kisten and fill him in on where we're going.
"JeJ will you change, then pack up Kist tent and put it in my truck?" I ask
"Sure but I want to check out your truck first."
sighing I walk over and open the door to let the 4in guardian check for bugs or whatever else he thinks might somehow have been planted in my truck since it's been here. Paranoid? I thought, Probably. But just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face.* So I let the little guy have at without a word. Once he's done with his inspection, he lands over by Kisten tent reaches down touches his belt buckle and with a flash of light where there was once a 4in pixie-were now stood 6ft tall young man about Kisten's age, with dark hair, violet eyes and swarthy complexion. Still fully clothed, I've got to talk to Rachel about about finding us a way to shift with clothes. I turned my attention to my truck laid the backseat down, laid out a blanket for Kisten to lay on.
"Kist, why don't come on over and hop up into the backseat for the trip back home."
After he's settled in my truck, he gives me a sorrowful look with those vampire eyes, so I reach down and scratch him behind the ears.
"I'm sure your moms will be able to figure this out, they're a pair of really smart ladies" I tell him reassuringly
After JeJ and I have all of Kist and my stuff packed in the bed of my truck, I contacted Serena and Kally again. To let them know that I'm leaving to taking Kisten home and to go ahead and let the pack head home or stay out here for the rest of the week.
"JeJ will you drive for a while? I need to have conversation with the Focus"
"uhh sure David... umm so the Focus is alive?"
"sort of" I reply "its hard to explain, as Rachel about it sometime. She got some interesting theories on it."
"if I mumble or seemingly start talking to myself just ignore me." I say as I close the passenger side door.
"Okie dokie, Davy will do."
And with that I lean back, close my eyes turn my attention to a long talk with Gus.