Chapter 4: The Smell of Fear

The ride went by fairly quick. Chloe spent it curled up on Kai's lap, trying to catch up on as much sleep as she could. Kai slept in ten minutes intervals. When he woke up, he would run his fingers over the beanie covering Chloe's beautiful blond hair. He thought her hair smelled like cucumbers and not even a little bit like the other Mai he had encountered. Unfortunately he didn't think the other Jackals would think that and hoped the smell of his hat would cover it up.

It was three in the morning when the bus finally rolled into Sacramento. Kai hadn't planned this all the way through. How were they going to get a hotel at three in the morning? He would have to take Chloe to the worst parts of town where the hotels catered to prostitutes and drug addicts. Those weren't the people he was worried about, however. Places like that were also known for attracting Jackals.

"Chloe," he whispered with his lips touching her ear. "Wake up; we're here."

She barely stirred at first, desperate for more sleep. Kai considered carrying her. Even with both of their bags, it wouldn't be heavy load. He was just about to lift her up when she opened her eyes.

Chloe had been to Sacramento a few times before on field trips and to visit one of her mom's friends from college. But she had never been in this part of town at three in the morning. She slung her backpack off one shoulder and clung tightly to Kai.

"Don't be afraid," Kai whispered as they walked out of the station. "Jackals can smell fear."

"That doesn't make me feel any better," she quietly screeched.

"Oh," he realized, "sorry."

Both teens had their noses in the air searching for trace scents of Jackal. Chloe remembered the stench from her encounter with Kai's family.

"Can you smell anything?" she asked her companion.

"Just heroin," he answered.

Chloe knew he had intended to make her feel better, but it hadn't worked. She was sixteen; she should have been at the movies with her friends not hiding from the descendants of Anubis in filthy alleys.

The scent hit both of them at the same time. Jackals. At least five of them. Kai stepped in front of Chloe and bared his fangs.

"What are you doing out so late, boy," one of the men called out. The grown Jackal put his nose up and sniffed. "And what have you got with you?"

The five of them came into sight. Kai slipped off his backpack.

"A Jackal protecting a Mai?" another one said. "Or have you just brought us dinner."

"Don't touch her," Kai roared.

The men were getting closer. Kai knew he wouldn't be able to fight off all of them. He had to come up with a lie—quickly.

"We're just passing through," he told them. "I picked this one up lurking outside San Francisco. I have to bring her… it to my father. It knows the location to the rest of the Mai. We're planning an attack."

"Give her here, boy," the first one called out again. "We'll make her talk."

"I don't think so," Kai stated.

One of the smaller ones who hadn't said anything leaped out at Kai and Chloe. Kai caught him and threw him up against the wall.

"I said," Kai growled, "this one is mine."

Two more came toward at him. Kai was strong, though, and he defended himself easily. All that were left were the two in front that had spoken to him. They were larger than the others. One was even larger than Kai.

"You take the one on the left," came a whisper from Chloe behind him. "I'll get the one on the right."

"Chloe, no!" he tried to stop her, but she had already sprung out at one of them, claws out, and knocked him to the ground.

The larger one ran toward Kai; the boy ducked just in time. He kicked out his leg and caught the man in the back, sending him tumbling over.

Kai picked up both their backpacks and yelled, "Chloe, run!"

Hand in hand they fled, leaping over fences and onto roofs. They ran and kept running, neither of them coming up short of breath. When they finally stopped, Kai wrapped Chloe in his arms. The two of them stood there, terrified but together.

"I'm so sorry Chloe," he muttered. "I shouldn't have taken you here. I should have known it was too dangerous."

Hot tears were running down his face.

"Kai, it's okay. I'm okay."

She wiped the tears from his cheeks and wanted nothing more than to reach up and kiss him. If Kai hadn't pointed out a hotel in the distance that looked open right then, she just might have. Instead, she laced her fingers through his and took off for the hotel.

Chloe King made a promise to herself at that moment: she would never again be responsible for the death of someone she loved. As long as she still had seven lives left, she would die to protect Kai.

Thanks everyone for reading. Don't forget to review (I like to hear what you all have to say.) Hopefully chapter 5 will be up next Thursday. Busy busy with homework.