Chapter 6

Serena reached Cole's house, her feet burning from running so hard. She doubled over, panting raggedly and holding her stomach tightly as it churned wildly. It felt like her lunch was trying to claw its way out and she knew she'd be walking home after she left. Involuntarily, she flashed back to her teenage years living with Willem and how her foot injury meant she had to walk everywhere. Not even the full moon had been able to heal it until it had eventually ruptured and it had required intervention by a doctor. Even back then when she'd been constantly looking over her shoulder to try and avoid Fayveer, a Wolfblood she didn't know the face of in a town with almost as many Wolfbloods as people, her life had seemed so much simpler. At that moment, she'd have done it fifty times over just to go back to that time once if it meant just seeing Willem again. To obtain his guidance would have been something she'd have given her life for. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible.

"Serena!" The Wolfblood was snapped from her daze by a voice at the doorway. She looked up to see Cole's wife at the door, the scent of cooking wafting off her delicately. Before she could blink, the other woman's surprisingly strong arms were wrapped around her and hauled her inside. "What are you doing out there, young lady? You'll catch your death!"

"You're only five years older than me, Amy. I'm not that young." Serena burst out laughing and hugged her. "God, I am a mess though."

"I should expect so." Amy looked her up and down. "You're a bit peaky, so it's a good thing I have food on at the moment. Would you like some beef?" Serena's salivary glands exploded instantly. Amy's cooking was known throughout the village as something that was to die for and her beef, lamb and her award-winning stew were some crowd favourites. Everyone wondered why she didn't just open a café, restaurant or some other business. But when she'd been asked about it she'd always replied that the village was too small for such a business and that she didn't want it to become a chore. She loved cooking for her own pleasure in it and wanted it to stay that way.

"Thank you so much." Serena grinned uncontrollably. It was probably the first time she'd smiled properly since receiving the news about Damien. Amy returned the grin and went back to the oven. She slid the beef out and started to carve a slab of meat off. Cole and Amy were well aware of what she and Damien were, unlike some of the newer people she was bringing into the fold. They had been some of Abraham's first recruits and they'd proven their loyalty through thick and thin.

"Cole's in the living room." Serena nodded and headed through. Sure enough, Cole was in an armchair under some blankets. There was a settee opposite and so Serena sat down, grateful that it allowed her to stretch her legs forward a bit. She could feel another stomach cramp coming on and was dreading it.

"Serena. I wondered when you'd show up." Cole tried his best to smile, but wasn't doing a very good job. Serena didn't blame him. It was only natural.

"Hello, Cole." She tried to put on a sympathetic tone and hide the pain in her voice from her stomach. Unfortunately it didn't work and Amy heard it just as she walked in carrying a plate loaded with beef slices. She set it down hurriedly and moved Serena sideways on the settee so that she was lying down a bit more.

"What's wrong?" Cole asked, a look of concern on his face. He was shut down instantly by Amy's death glare.

"Hurry up and get her a cushion for her back!" she ordered. "Serena, someone in your condition shouldn't have run here! I'm shocked Abraham didn't offer to give you a lift in his carriage."

"He did." Serena told her, her teeth gritted in pain. Cole threw some cushions over from an old trunk and Amy stuffed them behind Serena's back to support her. "We were ambushed by two people who needed supplies and had no money. His horse was killed. This sort of thing seems to be getting more frequent in Stoneybridge. We need to set up some sort of charity to help homeless people and people in poverty."

"Oh, not Ophelia!" Cole ran a hand through his hair in frustration a he sat back down in his seat. "I always liked that horse."

"Anyway, is everyone in Stoneybridge aware of 'my condition'?" Serena growled. "I'm already at the point where I'm getting bored of it!"

"Why?" Cole leaned forwards, the look of confusion back. "What happened to you? They didn't injure you in the attack, did they?" Serena rolled her eyes. Clearly not everyone was aware. That was good. The last thing she needed was to come across as being weakened while there was a killer on the loose. Once she stopped the Shadow, she could do as she pleased. But until then, she had to stand strong.

"I tripped and fell on something before I left to go to the wild pack." Serena rolled her eyes again. "Stupid of me, really."

"Well, I hope you're feeling better soon." Cole nestled back down in his chair again and tried to keep himself from shivering again.

"He was out in the cold too long." Amy explained. "He really needs something to keep his circulation active and get his fingers obeying his brain again." That gave Serena an idea. Gingerly, she reached into her pocket and pulled out Damien's dagger by the blade. Jostling around in her pocket had now all but destroyed the handle which now rested in the bottom of her pocket as sawdust. Amy's eyes widened in horror when she saw it.

"It was Damien's." Serena explained. "I know he's good at woodwork. Do you think he's up to the task of repairing this?"

"I know he is." Amy nodded as she took it. "After all, he's the one who made them in the first place if I remember rightly." She gently placed it on the counter top and passed her the plate of beef slices. Serena dug in eagerly as Amy went to get more for Cole. As soon as the taste hit her tongue, she felt her senses start to melt. It was honey glazed! "I take it you like it?" Amy gave her a pointed look as she walked back in and hanged Cole a plate. The heat seemed to wake him up instantly. Serena was left only able to nod in response as the taste sent her brain into meltdown. Amy laughed and smiled affectionately. "Well, there's plenty more if you need it."

Serena ate in silence, trying to force her wolf down as the taste of the meat overwhelmed her senses. It was little wonder that Amy had so many awards for her cooking. Once everyone was done, Amy took the plates back as Serena turned to Cole. He was much more lucid now and she figured he'd be up to a conversation.

"Listen Cole, I'm sorry to have to ask but I need to know what you saw the night Damien was abducted. Did he say anything to you that might be useful?" Cole thought for a moment and shook his head.

"Kelly came and got him to tell him about the latest killing." He scratched the top of his head and sighed. "If anyone, she's the one you'd want to speak to."

"Then that's my next stop." Serena nodded determinedly. Unfortunately, Amy heard that and came charging in.

"Oh no it's not!" She was carrying blankets and Serena instantly knew where this was going. "Look at that sky out there! It's sunset! If you're not safe enough during the day, imagine how bad it is at night!" Serena let out a sigh. Amy was right, but she couldn't just admit that.

"Amy, I know what you're doing." She tried to offer a reassuring grin but could tell it wasn't meeting her eyes. "But every second I'm not trying to progress with this is another second Damien's in danger. I know he's not dead, otherwise he would have been left where he was in a bloody heap just like all the rest of them."

"And every second you're running yourself ragged like this is a second you're prone to missing something." Amy countered. "Too much haste is too little speed. What good will you do him if you've exhausted yourself and don't have all the pieces? What then? Then you're just tired and clueless for it. Plus, what if he attacks you tonight?"

"I created this mess!" Serena snapped, her eyes flashing yellow dangerously. "As far as I'm concerned, he can come for me. Attack me if he will. When it's over he'll lie dead at my feet and his last words will be where I can find Damien, or I'll see to it that he'll die in so much agony that hell is a mercy!" It was the first time she'd let her emotions out properly. Seeing that she'd slipped dangerously, she recalled her wolf. It powered down and she buried it deep, sealing it in until such a time that she needed it again. She looked up at Amy and Cole sheepishly, ashamed of losing control like that. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen." Without warning, the tears began. Her grief burst out of her and she couldn't stop it. Without a word, Amy dropped the blankets and sat down beside her, perching on the edge of the seat since Serena was still lying down and taking up most of the space. She wrapped an arm around her and hugged her close, letting her get on with it until she was thoroughly drained. Once she was done crying, Amy covered her up with a blanket and knelt down to get the fire going. Outside, she could hear the lamp lighters getting to work on the street lights.

"It's a good thing you're staying here tonight." Amy said, knowing Serena could still hear her as she walked through to the kitchen. "The weather vane was unusually still today. That means it's either iced up or we're getting a snowstorm. Or both."

"No, we're getting a snowstorm." Serena called through. "I can feel it."

"Well then it's a good thing you're not going out." Cole said, reaching out and taking the dagger from the counter top where Amy had placed it. He turned it over carefully, studying the damage. "Well, the snow really messed this up. Don't worry, I have something that will do it. Abraham brought me a stag some weeks ago now. The meat was delicious but the antler is still just sitting there unused. It'll be a lot sturdier than wood."

"Thank you, Cole." Serena smiled, genuinely meaning it this time. "I know he'll love it." In reality, she knew Damien's chances. Such a wound as she knew he had meant she had to find him soon. On the other hand, she knew that the Shadow would do everything possible to keep him alive. He was bait. That suited her just fine. It meant that not only was her husband definitely still alive but also that once she found the creature that was holding him hostage she would find Damien at the same time.