Chapter 21
When Hilda, Persu, Kendall and Bonasera entered the jungle, Hilda grabbed Persu from behind, knocking him out. Grabbing the net from his bag, Bonasera wrapped Persu tightly in a cocoon. then stabbing through it several times, they left him hanging against the tree, to die.
"Now... you are sure he can't call for help with his mind?" asked Bonasera.
"No... he's near death. Now let's get this done. So we can get out of here," said Hilda. Nearing the house, McCanna heard the noise, but not before Stella growled and sniffed towards the woods. Knowing their must be trouble ahead. Mac leaned down and whispered... "Stella... you need to tap into your powers love. You have them, just like your father does. You need to place a dome over the house, when I leave. Promise me love."
Looking at her husband with great pain, she nodded. Giving her a kiss, McCanna slipped out the back door. Then telling his wife okay, he made sure she placed up the dome. Seeing everything was in place. McCanna headed into the jungle. While Stella passed out again.
Nearing the house, Hilda tried to get through the door, banging into the dome, she cursed. "Why the hell can't we get in?" asked Bonasera. "I think Persu put up a barrier before we left. I'll try waking Stella, but you better hide so she don't see you."
Once Bonasera was hiding, Hilda tried to wake Stella through the barrier.
.....................................
Meanwhile...
Mac smelled the stench of blood, before he seen it. Running to cocoon, he cut it from the tree and unwrapped it, seeing Persu near death, McCanna knew he was too late to save him. Gently shaking him, he woke for the briefest of moments.
"Persu... what happened?" asked McCanna holding back tears.
"Hilda... go... back... save my daughter... from... Hilda...."
Nothing but silence remained, as Persu took his final breathe. Wrapping him back up in the coccon, he placed him back in the tree till he could come back for him. Changing into his jaguar form, he took off through the jungle heading back home. He still couldn't believe Hilda had betrayed them. But it all made sense now. How they were always one step ahead of them. They both should have known, they should have been able to sniff out the evil. But both he and Persu had failed. Failed not only his wife, but their heritage as well.
Nearing the back entrance of his home, he found Stella still sleeping. Prowling to the side, he peeked out and seen Bonasera standing off to the side, with a large hunting knife in his hand. Making a scratching noise, he heard footsteps, and as Bonasera rounded the side, McCanna jumped at him, tearing out his throat. Covered in Bonasera's blood, he changed back to human form ,and picked up the knife. Nearing the front of the house, he seen Hilda had gotten through the barrier, which meant Stella was now awake.
Seeing Kendall running through the jungle, he left him for the moment. Watching as Hilda leaned over his wife he raised the knife in the air, and plunged it in a downward motion, into her back. slicing her wide open, exposing her insides. Watching her fall back, McCanna took off out the door in his jaguar form to hunt down Kendall.
Stopping quickly, he heard the screams. The horrible sound of someone being tortured. Looking over the clearing, he seen Kendall being fully constricted by a giant boa. Watching in amazement as the boa squeezed the life out of Kendall, as he slithered back up the tree with him.
Knowing he was no longer a threat, McCanna picked up Persu's body and carried him back to his home. Nearing the door, he seen his wife in tears. "I'm sorry sweetheart. He's gone," choked her husband with tears. Placing him down on the floor beside his wife, McCanna dragged Hilda's body outside to the jungle, leaving what was left for the animals.
"Place a barrier over the house love, please."
Using what was left of her strength, she placed a barrier over them. Leaving them protected, while they helped guide Persu's spirit home to the great sky.
End.
Epi on the next page.