The Pack
Guilt racked his body as he raced his motorcycle through the deserted back streets of the city. New York was a big place, but he had to find her- his twin sister and bring her home to the manor.
"The best chance you have, if you care to risk it, is the Pack." The man on the phone had said before he hung up. That had been two days ago.
Quartz had been captured four days ago.
Four days of wasted time. Four days without sleep. Stopping now and then to snack on a bag of chips or a bar and pop he would buy at some convenience store or gas station.
I should have protected her better. I should never have gone to that damn party! His mind raced as he turned down a side road on the outskirts of the city. The dust rose up in clouds in the wake of his speed.
From the corner of his eye he saw a great golden wolf racing along side of his in the woods. He gulped, nervous.
This was Pack lands.
He focused on the lights of the house through the trees. When he was not even twenty feet from the porch, he applied the breaks, sending the bike sideways and avoiding the golden wolf that tried to take a swipe at him. The wolf landed and turned with a snarl.
The teen took off his helmet and turned off the bike. He dismounted, falling to his knees.
"Please, please... I need your help." The wolf feigned confusion. "I know you're a werewolf. Make that I know you're Clayton Danvers, and I know you can understand me."
"Is that right?" From a curtain of his dark red hair, he watched as an older man walked out onto the porch. His Asian features were calm, but concern lined the corners of his mouth.
"Am I right to assume that you are Jeremy Danvers, Pack Alpha?"
The dark haired man's eyes narrowed to slits. The wolf vanished around a corner. "Who are you?"
"Please, may I come inside? I swear to you that I mean no harm." The teen held out his wrists. "Bind me if it makes you feel any better, but I really, really do need to speak with you."
A blond man returned from where the wolf left. He tugged a black shirt over his sculpted body and walked over to the teen. His grip on the boy's arms was like steel.
"What do you say, Jer?" Clayton's deep-rooted southern drawl was almost a growl.
"Take him inside."
The teens eyes lit up, "thank you, really... I ..." his head dropped down. Had it not been for the muscled blond holding his arms, he would have fallen onto his face in the dirt.
Jeremy raised a brow.
"It wasn't me!"
"I know, Clay. Just bring him inside, I'll look at him there."
Clayton carried the boy inside and laid him on the bed in the only other spare room they had. Elena's old room. He looked down at the sleeping boy as Jeremy walked into the room with his medical kit.
"I think he's just exhausted." Clayton commented. "Damn kid couldn't stand when he got off the bike."
"Oh?" Not one to take chances, the older werewolf did a check of the teenager's vital stats before nodded his agreement.
"Yeah, he just fell straight to his knees." Elena said as she walked into the room. "I was watching from the hall window."
"Thanks, Darling." Clayton murmured when she handed him a cup of steaming coffee. The voices of the three werewolves faded to nothing as his mind drifted into a deep sleep.
Her head was hurting...
Her mind was racing...
But there was still no signs to give away where she was.
If only she could see something, he would see it too. Her brother, her twin. They had never been separated before. This was new, this alienation from one another. She gasped as the pain in her tender arms was alleviated. The sorcerer had come again, this time leaving her untied so that she could stretch her sore, tired muscles. He'd left more food for her, watching quietly as she ate then removing the dirty dishes...
The vision snapped back. The teen on the bed moaned slightly, trying to shake off the exhaustion he was still feeling.
"I think he's waking up." A woman's voice. Calm, sweet, and motherly. Who was she?
"I'll go get Jeremy." Clayton. He recognized the blond from earlier by the drawl. "Try to get him talkin', Darling."
"Yeah, yeah. While you're out there check on the twins?"
"Sure thing."
He waited until the door closed behind Clayton before opening one eye. Daylight filtered in through the lace curtains. He gasped. How much of his time was lost while he slept? How long was he asleep? Was he now a prisoner, or were they just being cautious?"
"Good morning, Mr. Shield." He sat up straight and glanced cautiously at the blond haired woman standing at the window. Her long blond hair reached her waist, and her eyes were a brilliant shade of sapphire blue. The plain white T-shirt and faded blue jeans outlined her slim frame to perfection as she stood in a bright shaft of sunlight.
"How do you know my name?"
"Your wallet had your ID's in it. I'm convinced a killer has no need of such things, so is Jeremy."
"But Clayton's not." He finished for her. She shook her head, blond hair bouncing with the movement. "Look, please, I need help, and a contact of my dad's gave me your Pack's address. He told me that you would try to help if you could."
Her eyes darkened slightly. "Contact? Who was it?"
"A werewolf that said you guys could be trusted. He said it was because you were on the Supernatural Council."
"Who?" This time the question came from the door where Jeremy stood with a tray of food.
"I don't know his name- just a number where he can be reached. Dad never told us anything about the supernatural world."
"Then why are you here? You said you needed help, but are you a supernatural?"
"Please... my sister, she's in danger because our father kept the truth from us for seventeen years."
"Explain." Jeremy, the Alpha, said evenly. The teen eyed the food hungrily. "I see, food first, then you talk."
"Thank you, thanks so much." The boy dug into the breakfast without hesitation. "I haven't eaten a real meal in four days... or is that five now? I've lost count."
"Eat, then we will see if you're worth helpin'." Clayton said darkly. The woman chided his behavior.
The empty tray removed, he settled back and sighed. "That was one wicked breakfast, Mr. Danvers."
"Call me Jeremy, please."
"Sorry, it's habit for me to be formal and polite." The teen said. "Where to start..."
"Your name, address, family members." Jeremy shot Clayton a dirty look. "What? I'm just trying to give a few pointers."
"Out." Jeremy said as he gestured to the door. "I'm sure he's not going to do me harm."
Clayton grudgingly complied with a grumble that sounded oddly like a threat.
"My name is Silver Shield. I'm the first-born son of Jasper and Miranda Shield. My twin sister, Quartz, has been kidnaped after a break-in at our grandparents country manor. That was Thursday past."
"I see."
"Um... What's today's date?"
"Tuesday, July sixteenth."
"Gods, it's been five days since we've been separated. I can't take this kind of pain!"
"What pain is that?" Jeremy asked gently as he sat across from the boy. Silver lifted his head and looked the older man in the eyes.
"We were born of a union between a sorcerer and a Wiccan. We've been under a very tight spell called a Twin-Spell that lasts only until we're separated for two straight weeks. I only have nine days left before the spell breaks completely and I no longer sense her presence."
"How does that work?"
"Her powers and mine are intertwined. If anything happens to either of us, the other would know automatically." Jeremy nodded. "I was at a graduation party that night with some school friends. When she sent up the silent cry to me I felt the first snap of power."
"You said your father never told you of the supernatural world?"
"Not until Quartz cornered him and threatened to burn his favored books." Silver bit back a laugh. "Our mother died two months ago on May sixteenth, the cancer took her."
The near black of Jeremy's eyes wavered for a moment. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"I'm not. I hated the way she suffered through it. I'm glad she's in a better place, and I hope the Fates take care of her soul." Silver shot back. "Sorry, it's just that I don't like pain. At all. And I'm hurting now that my sister isn't with me the way she should be. She was at the manor that night; she wanted to read until she went to sleep. It's her way of mourning."
"You and your sister are twins?" When Silver nodded, Jeremy rose from the chair. "I didn't think sorcerer's had twins."
"They don't. According to Father, that gene runs on our mothers side of the family."
"I see." Silence fell between them. "And you're only seventeen?"
"Yes."
"Excuse me."
Silver nodded. "Hey, um, Jeremy?"
The aged werewolf turned to face the boy. "What is it?"
"I have a bag with a few changes of clothes with me.. Could I possibly grab a shower while you step out?"
"I'll have Elena bring your things." Silver breathed a thank you as Jeremy closed the door.