The delivery boy finally showed up about ten minutes into the insufficient meal I'd prepared. And upon his arrival, I was glad to get away from the asking glances from my three guests. I'd tried to tune them out at the beginning of the meal, but it's hard to do when also trying to keep a mental eye on Alan. Usually it's an all or nothing thing when dealing with mind-reading, but tonight I had to bend that rule.
I paid the short delivery boy, and was ecstatic to take the three large bags from him.
"You have a good day, sir." He said, appreciatively counting the sixty dollar tip I'd given him. To be totally honest, I didn't really think I had that much in my pocket, but ignorance does make fools of us all. And it wasn't like I was going to take it back, so I bid him farewell and went back inside.
And upon my re-entry to the table, I found my plate a little more empty than I'd left it, and glared furiously at Emily. Who pointed at Alan. Who said she stole it from him afterwards.
"You're like children." I complained, everyone laughed.
"So what's this all about anyway?" Derrick asked.
We were all outside, sitting on the porch with a small radio kicking out tunes. The damn thing was a relic that fed off eight D batteries. Too bad it died after only six hours of use. But I'm getting off track.
"We're here, because I'm going to Canada and I might have a fight on my hands." I said simply, fishing through my pockets for a pack of smokes.
"Why?" He asked with a strange absence of worry. "What'd Marcus do now?"
I looked out into the yard where Alan was helping Nick unpack Claire's car. "Alan's mom, sent him here to live with me, and he killed her for it."
Derrick was quiet after that.
"I don't know the real reason he did it, but I'm positive that when he realizes that I'm not going to give him up, he'll be coming here. And I don't want him on my land." I said simply. That aura of dominance that I'd feel every so often was now creeping up on me. And it wasn't all bad; it was just recognition from the body that I was still in charge. It was something that reassured me when I'd run into trouble.
"Do you think it's because of Dane?" Wilson asked leaning into Derrick.
"Maybe." He responded. Their little conversations were always a nuisance to me, I hated being in the dark.
When they both figured out that I didn't know what they were talking about, they started over. Wilson started while Derrick followed my example and began fishing around in is cargo pants for his cigarettes.
"I think that Marcus is trying to prevent another outbreak of the plague." He said. "Which all began when my brother had his first change. The blue plague that had engorged his claws was the first step in its evolution. The second was the near death experience, and then his body became a war machine. That second wolf form that's been built into both of your systems was what had brought the most fear into him. I mean, what if Dane had decided to make an army of them, just like Marcus's paranoid mind began to believe?"
"So you think that he wants Alan so he can create an army?" I asked, skeptically.
"No. I think that he wants to lock him away. I'm pretty sure he wanted to do the same with you and the girls, but you all are already fully developed." Derrick implied. His second drag of his smoke had paused him. And as he exhaled, "With Alan, he's got one last chance to keep our kind from evolving."
He'd lost me.
"Alan's mom, Evelyn, didn't have any abilities. I knew her well enough to know that she didn't have any witches, or vampires, or shamans, or witch doctors in her family either. I think that whatever's happening to Alan is because of Dane." I couldn't tell whether it was general information or blame. His half-grimace as the smoke dried out his eyes was making it even harder to tell.
"How is this my dad's fault?" I asked defensively.
"Well, not his," Wilson interjected. "It's more like Lucas's fault. You're great-grandfather. You see, he picked a vampire as his mate. A very strange choice if you ask me." He said. I knew why too. They smelled horrible, they were addicted to the garnering the memories of their victims and they loved the taste of blood… well, that last one we all shared. But it was a very strange thing because they saw us even more unappealing. We smelt like a muddy, wet dog, most of us were plagued by a short temper, we sometimes never cleaned up after a good hunt, and usually we got dried blood flakes all over the place. There must've been a reason why these two would have faced all this head on and stayed together. And there must've been a reason why Marcus resented our evolved kind.
"I know. I met one while in Canada." I said, reflecting on Derryl's Angela.
"How'd that go?" Derrick asked, knowing all too well how it went by the look on my face.
"I got thrown into a tree, my nose broken, and almost threw up when she kicked me in the stomach. And Angela broke three ribs while fighting with her. She didn't even try to change." I said, looking over too her with a smile.
"We're getting off topic." Claire warned. "Why did you call us here? Because I doubt that we're coming with you."
"I need someone to protect Alan."
Derrick threw up his hands. "I'm expecting to go kick some ass, and you make me baby sit?" He almost yelled in his complaint. I knew he loved a good fight, but this wasn't his war.
"Derrick! I'm doing this for a reason. And I'm not bringing anyone who isn't my responsibility." I said, trying to contain my anger.
"He's right, you know?" Claire said, taking my side. "We aren't part of his pack, so we shouldn't interfere." Though her words did stifle Derrick's complaining, it did make me feel a little hurt that she would imply that they couldn't help. I knew they could help, and I'd much rather show up at Marcus's doorstep with everyone by my side, but I didn't want to risk my little brother to a lifetime of sitting in an empty cell. If that was what Marcus had been planning. It was too early to start making serious accusations.
"We'll stay here, keep up with whoever might drop by and keep Alan safe. But you better get your ass back here in one piece." Claire warned. It was always uplifting to see her passionate about my safety. She was definitely a mother figure in my eyes.
"One more thing." I added. "If my father and I have a shared advantage, I'd be stupid to not ask if Marcus does as well."
"Yes you would. But no one knows what it is." Wilson replied. "His pack is totally ignorant to his strength, and he's kept it all buried deep behind the hate he holds for it. So if you do wind up picking a fight with him, watch out."
His words weren't very reassuring but they were helpful. I didn't want to go in blind, but having some knowledge was better than having none.
As I stood, Claire touched my arm. "If it's not too personal too him, could you tell me what Alan can do?"
I smiled. "That's totally up to him."
That night, I packed my clothes for a short trip, and made sure to have Angela, Nick, and Emily do the same. They were pretty quiet about the whole trip, but I knew that none of them were scared. Or at least, they did their best not to show it. If I even hinted a bit of fear in them I'd make them stay, and they knew that. And so, we pushed on, and packed up Claire's car with our luggage. She'd insisted that we use hers because it was much more reliable than my beat up Tahoe or Angela's rinky dink Civic. And as for Nicks rust bucket of a truck… it was definitely on its deathbed.
"Why do I have to stay?!" Alan yelled. "It was my mom!"
I knew it was going to kill him not to be able to go with us. And it was going to be hard to accept that I wouldn't have him risking his life just for revenge. But isn't that what I'm doing.
"Because it's not your fault she died!" I yelled back. I wasn't going to baby him. "So you have nothing to repent for!"
He seemed taken back by what I'd said and I knew it was because I'd meant it. I also had a long time to think about what I'd say.
"That doesn't mean I can't help!" He yelled, regaining his resolve. His green eyes were glowing with rage. I was sure it was blinding him.
"Stop trying to argue with me, and just do as I ask." I said, rubbing my eyes. "We'll be back in a few days and then you can hate me all you want." I said, deluding myself into believing it was enough to shut him up.
Luckily Claire was there too wrap her loving arms around him and coax him back inside. I didn't know how to deal with a kid his age. But Claire did. She taught at her old high school for around six years before taking a job at the local college.
And I couldn't have been more grateful.
"Are you guys ready?" I asked them. This was their last chance to back out. And as expected, they all nodded.
"Good. Shotgun!" I yelled.
The girls groaned at my spastic switch from serious to excited as I tossed the keys to Nick.
"Really?" He asked.
"Hey, I slaved over a good meal all night, the least you can do is drive us past Arkansas."