Prowlers is the property of Christopher Golden
Almost HumanChapter 3
Jack Dwyer could hardly concentrate on driving. There had to be another way of doing this. He wanted more than anything to purge the world of these…creatures… and he felt like he wasn't doing enough.
He pulled into a parking spot outside of the Lotus Club. If he needed help, he knew this was the best place to find it. Jack took Molly's hand as they walked to the nightclub. It was a strange place at night, but somehow, it looked even weirder in broad daylight. Creepy, even. Though, it had every right to appear so, considering what it really was. He knocked on the door and waited for the some big bouncer to open the door.
Finally, a Prowler they had never seen before opened the door for them and glared down at the two humans standing on the sidewalk. He took what would look like a conceded sniff of the air to those who didn't know better and told them in a deep baritone voice, "I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place."
Molly smiled, trying desperately to cover up the fact that she was terrified of the huge man. But she knew he could smell the fearful sweat that was beginning to spread on the back of her neck. She had seen what these things can do, and no matter how many she killed in cold blood, they would always scare her. "No," she flirted, "I think we're right where we want to be."
Jack jumped in to the conversation when he saw the bouncer narrow his eyes at his girlfriend. "You see," he said, whipping an Internet printout from his pocket and showing it to him, "we've come to visit a few friends. We need some advice about our mutual enemies."
The bouncer took the paper from Jack, read the first few lines, and handed it back. "Wait here," he instructed.
Molly and Jack exhaled the nervous breath they were both holding as they watched him walk away. Despite his apprehension, Jack couldn't help but smile while he watched Molly's long curls of unruly red hair swept up in a light breeze. As selfish as he knew the thought was, he was glad she hadn't taken the scholarship she had been awarded and stayed with them for another year or so. He squeezed her hand. Their relationship had taken a somewhat bumpy start, considering she was the former girlfriend of Jack's deceased best friend, but they were together now, and Artie's apparition not only recognized the fact, but also had pushed Jack to do something about his feelings for her. For that, Jack was eternally grateful to Artie.
The door of the Lotus opened again, and the bouncer unhappily ushered them inside and down a flight of stairs where the main room of the club was almost empty. Molly looked around for anyone she recognized, but found no one. Still holding onto Jacks hand, she walked with him over to a booth where an old Prowler sat alone, drinking from a tumbler of some brownish liquor.
"This was Winter's booth," Jack whispered to her as the approached. She knew of whom he was speaking. Winter had been a diplomat of the Underground and had helped them take down Jasmine, the vengeful mate of Owen Tanzer. It was from he that Molly and Jack had learned of the Underground. But sadly, Winter had been killed by the very female he had helped them destroy, just minutes before her downfall.
Jack cleared his throat in an effort to get the stranger's attention. He looked up from his drink slowly, reluctantly even. "Can I help you?" he asked. His voice was tired and raspy. He obviously wanted to be alone.
Jack put down the paper and extended his now-free left hand to the Prowler in Winter's booth. He reached out, but not to complete the handshake Jack had offered. He picked up the paper and read it to himself while Jack awkwardly put down his hand. "Hmph. What is this you are showing me?"
"We need some help," Jack told him, his patience beginning to ware thin. "My name's Jack Dwyer and this is Molly Hatcher. We want to stop these things from happening again. Do you know someone that would help us find this pack?"
The old Prowler looked up again, this time studying their faces meticulously. "So this is the famous Jack Dwyer. Funny; you don't look so strong or valiant. The way I've heard talk, you should be 7 feet tall with bulging muscles, wearing a toga and golden sandals. So this is who they call Jack the Giant Killer."
He indicated that Jack and Molly sit down. Jack could feel his face turn red despite the fact that he had previously heard that nickname several times. It felt strange being referred to the same way a legend would. Though he just wanted to keep people safe, he disliked the light fame that came with such a roll as his. He knew that he was a celebrity among Prowlers, and whether he was hated or liked he was for his deeds didn't matter. And despite himself, somewhere inside him, the child that always wanted to be a cowboy was smiling at the hero's title.
"The name's Kadri," the weary voice told them. "I was once a pack leader, but my time has passed. I wished to stay underground for a while; keep a low profile. But those days were numbered few. I have found my calling as profit to those in search of answers. You have come to a very advantageous spot, my new friends."
They watched as Kadri smiled for the first time in their presence. He read through the paper once more and stated, "I don't know who did this. I have not heard of a pack in Boston since you defeated Owen Tanzer. I usually hear of all new packs in my area. Peculiar. However, this may be an individual, or something of the sort. I shall keep my eyes out for and signs of new activity." Kadri made a strange, almost guttural hum as he handed them the paper. "I'm finished speaking to you. You may go now."
Rudely dismissed, Molly followed Jack out of the Lotus on Kadri's command. She didn't feel as if they had gotten very much accomplished, but it was comforting to know that there was somewhere for them to go if they sought answers. It was comforting to find that someone had replaced Winter's imperative role in the Underground.
Claire slunk into Bio the next morning as close to the bell as possible. However, there really was no point, considering the very person she wished to avoid wasn't there. She was in no mood to explain why she chose not to email her father, nor was she in the mood to be pushed to do so.
Mr. Sakine made his entrance just as the bell signaled the start of 4th period. He sat down at his desk and started the class like every other day. "Take out you notebooks and write down the homework," he commanded. Then he read from his ledger, "page 234 in your textbooks, #1-20." He looked at Samuel Harrison, known by all to forget his assignments. "And don't forget to read the previous chapter because there may or may not be a quiz this week."
As he was talking, Jared slipped into the room and sat down in his usual seat one row over and one seat behind Claire. She tried not to look, but she snuck a glace over her shoulder and he flashed her a lopsided smile. She turned around quickly. Why was she so cautious? It wasn't like he would kill her if she didn't call the man. She made a silent pact to grab him as her lab partner.
Sakine was still talking when she resurfaced her attention. "…Use the data tables to make the graph and be sure to use every bit of information. Get a lab partner and get to work. You'll hand the lab in tomorrow, or you won't hand it in at all."
Shit… Claire thought as she watched Jared walk to a lab table with Lee Jameson. She jumped up and followed them to he back of the classroom. "Lee, do you mind if I steal Jared for this lab?" Claire asked, flirting to the best of her ability (which wasn't much). "You know, I really never can do graphs correctly."
Lee smirked, practically laughing in her face. "Actually, I do. You're in AP. You obviously know how to do graphs, if you passed the entrance test." He turned his back to her and sat down.
"I'm not sure how much those tests accomplish.," she retorted. "You got in, didn't you?"
Claire rolled her eyes and glanced up at Jared. She could tell he understood. No problem, his eyes told her silently. "Hey, Lee," he voiced, "I think I'll help her out this once."
Lee shot Jared the same superior leer as he had given Claire. "Whatever, man."
Stupid jerk, Claire screamed at Lee wordlessly while she pulled Jared to a table across the room.
"What's up?" Jared asked when he finally felt his friend's eyes leave him.
"How could you be friends with that jackass?" she asked angrily, forgetting completely that that was exactly the way she had thought of Jared just the day before.
"He's not that bad," Jared assured her. Her temporary amnesia seemed to be wearing off… "He just doesn't know you. You do give off a sort of antisocial glow, if you must know. But really, what's going on? Did you find anything about your dad?"
"Um," Claire started. "Well, I kind of did, I guess. I got an address and email address. But I didn't send him anything. It didn't feel right. What's the big deal, anyway? I'm happy not knowing him. What if he's a jerk? And why have you taken such an interest in me? You hated me before yesterday."
"I didn't hate you," he answered. "I just didn't know you."
Claire raised an eyebrow at the young Prowler next to her. "What, are all of you 'popular' assholes to people you don't know? Wow, TV portrays you guys quite accurately."
"No," Jared said, shaking his head. "That's not what I meant. It's that whole 'I'm a bitch, don't mess with me' attitude. Anyway, I just think that you should talk to your father. This whole half-breed thing kind of fascinates me, to tell the truth."
"Oh, wonderful," Claire said, voice dripping with sarcasm as usual. "So now I'm your research project?"
"No, no." Jared looked sincerely sorry. He sighed and looked down at the table for a moment. Then he turned his face to hers again. "God, Claire, everything I say to you comes out wrong. I'm sorry. You don't have to do anything about it if you don't want to. I'm being selfish and just wanted to meet this Navarre guy; see what's so great about him. At first it was curiosity about you and now it's about him. Every Alpha in the country wants him as their Beta, and I wanted to know why. I'm sorry, Claire. I'll just leave you alone now." He picked up his pencil and began to sketch a graph from the data he had collected the day before.
"No, Jared," Claire said to the side of is face. I don't want you to leave me alone because I'll be just that: alone. You're the only one I know who remotely understands me. Discounting Mr. Decrepit Science Guru over there," she nodded towards their non-human teacher. "I just don't want to be a specimen."
"You're not, Claire, I promise." He looked up at her again.
"Then I'll do it. I'll find him. But not with an email or letter. I want to meet him face to face."