Chapter Six
Anna was dizzy.
She sat carefully on the plush sofa in Embry and Leah's house. It was just as bare as it had been left when the group had cleaned it out except that now, they appeared to be using the stray pieces of furniture left in the house to fill the living room. In the living room, there was a large sofa, a small love seat, and an end table that was pulled to the center of the room and acted as a coffee table. Luckily the television had been left but, it really didn't help the situation much. Surrounding Anna, were all of the imprints along with Sam and Emily's two boys, Nick and Matt. The pack was meeting outside in exactly four minutes but, Anna had been ordered to sit with the imprints and ensure their safety. Anna might have believed that they needed protection if there was an actual threat. When the group returned from bowling in Port Angeles, Lisa and Anna had been banished to the house while the boys had stayed outside. From the window Anna could see Allie pacing in rapid circles and it left Anna with a headache. No one would tell Anna or Lisa what was going on but it was clear from the way that Brady looked, he did. Everyone did. All of the girls simply hugged each other close and ignored Anna's questions.
Allie paused in her pacing and motioned for Kevin. She said something to him and he nodded solemnly at her before darting into the woods. Allie stood still for a moment. Her mouth was pressed into a thin line and her eyebrows pulled together in serious thought. She closed her eyes for a moment and bit down on her lip hard. She opened her eyes and motioned for Brady. He nodded at her and they walked up to the house. When they entered, Anna jumped to her feet and began firing questions like a machine gun.
"What the hell is going on? Why are we here and not home? Who died? Is this a joke?"
"Anna," Allie halted her questions, "Hush please. I have a headache."
With that Allie sunk down onto the couch and held her head in her hands. Silent tears began to slip through the cracks in her fingers and Anna's eyes widened. She turned quickly to Brady, frightened. They shared a look of fear and concern although Brady had understanding in his eyes when all Anna had was confusion. Anna sat down beside Allie and carefully hugged her shoulders. She tenderly stroked her hair and rested her head on Allie's shoulder. Allie cried so rarely and especially in the presence of children. She always claimed that crying in front of children would only frighten them and that would ruin their innocence. Where she learned this lesson Anna never asked but, she realized now that if Allie was crying in front of Nick and Matt, they had reason to be scared.
Emily bit her lip nervously and gathered the boys around her. She jerked her head to the other imprints and they quickly exited. Anna looked up at Brady scared and he closed his eyes almost angrily. He leaned against the wall and pounded his fist against it in measured and methodical pace. Thump. Thump. Seth threw open the front door and slammed it so furiously that paint chipped off in thin flakes. Anna jumped and took Allie with her. He strode around the couch and knelt in front of her. He removed her hands from her face so rapidly that her head dipped down in shock. He held her gaze steadily but, it was far from gentle. Watching in amazement, Anna saw how with a single gaze from Seth, Allie's tears slowed to a stop and her forlorn expression became strong and measured. Anna sat back confused and then Allie and Seth stood up. Taking her hand much more gently, Seth led Allie from the room and they began to converse in low serious tones. Brady glanced at them and noticed Anna sitting in a far off place. He slowed his pounding at sat down, pulling her close without speaking and after a long while Anna spoke.
"Brady?" She asked quietly, "Who was killed?"
Brady sighed, "A young girl from Madrisee."
"Madrisee?" Anna asked sitting up alertly, "Why would vampires bring a girl from there to kill here? That doesn't make any sense."
"You sound like Allie," He smiled grimly, "That's what she said first. There wasn't any trace of vampire on her."
"Then what?"
"Wolf," Brady growled, "Seth was the only one on patrol. He came across her and didn't recognize the scent other than the fact that it was wolf."
"So he called Allie," Anna nodded and motioned for him to continue.
"Right, and she didn't need to smell her to know her," Brady said disgusted.
"Why?"
"Allie used to baby-sit for her when she was younger," Brady grimaced, "Allie could recognize her face the minute she saw her. She puked when she did."
Anna swallowed hard, "How old was she?"
"Eight," Brady snarled.
"Why?" Anna asked the air more than Brady.
"They're declaring war," Brady said bitterly, "That much is clear but, why kill and innocent child?"
"To get to Allie," Anna said flatly, "That's why Allie cried so hard. She thinks that if she hadn't been so close to the child she wouldn't have put her in danger."
"Fuck," Brady cursed and slammed his fist down against the 'coffee table'
"Brady," Anna said slowly, "How was she killed?"
Brady sat straight up and looked her over seriously with hardened eyes then shook his head, "I won't tell you Annie."
"Please?"
"It's better not to know," He said shortly.
"I might need to ," She persisted.
"You can't handle it," Brady grunted harshly, "Allie was trying to protect you and Lisa earlier by not telling you and I'm doing the same now."
"Please?" Anna asked again and held his chin, forcing him to look at her.
"Fine," He sighed after a moment, "She appeared to have had her neck snapped so, at least it was quick in that sense but, brace yourself for this next part."
She nodded at him wide eyed.
"It appears," Brady said through clenched teeth, almost painfully, "That she was violated sexually before her death."
"Oh my God," Anna gasped and felt bile rising in her throat. She regretted not steeling herself as he suggested.
"Her name was Sarah," Brady swallowed thickly.
"Sarah," Anna repeated slowly.
A silence between them emerged and during that time Anna tried to hold down her dinner. What kind of a monster does that to an innocent child? She found herself envisioning scenarios in which a screaming child was pursued by faceless predators. They would laugh and kill her when they were done. Rage welled in the pit of her stomach and she wanted to hunt down the faceless monsters but they were simply distractions to her. She wanted to kill the one responsible for orchestrating such a devious plot. Distractions... the word bounced in her mind.
"Brady?" Anna asked suddenly, "How long has Sarah been dead?"
"About seventy-two hours," Brady said watching her curiously.
"Oh fuck," Anna gasped and leaped up.
"What?" Brady asked alarmed and followed her lead by jumping to his feet.
"It was a diversion! Where's Allie now?"
"At her house! Why?"
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Anna paced, "She had been dead about three days. Why would they wait that long to dump her if they were only declaring war? They had plans to drop Sarah at a precise moment that would be opportune for them! When in the last three days has Allie been alone?"
"Almost never until today when we went to Port Angeles, Embry and Leah were in Forks and Seth was on patrol," Brady answered frantically.
"They knew Allie would leave when a lone wolf had found the diversion," Anna pieced together, "That would give them time to go to the house! Is Allie alone now?"
"She asked Seth to help the others on patrol," Brady paled.
"FUCK!" They shouted in unison and bolted from the house.
Most of the active pack was phased and by the time Anna was in range of the house they all knew and were running at full force. Seth was racing ahead of her his heart pounding and his mind racing faster than his legs. Anna and Seth broke through the tree line first and they phased. Running frantically to the door, Anna's heart raced in fear. Please be okay Allie, she pleaded with herself. Seth beat her to the door and kicked it down. The pair of them raced inside and screamed for Allie but, she was no where to be found. Brady tore upstairs searching as Anna and Kevin searched the downstairs. Coming up empty handed, they all met downstairs again, Anna and Seth's eyes were filled with tears.
"She could be out for a walk," Kevin rationalized.
"Without her cell phone?" Ryan asked glumly and set Allie's cell on the kitchen counter.
"She could have wanted to clear her head," Kevin argued.
"Unlikely," Brady said coming into the kitchen with a sheet of paper held above his head.
"What is that?" Embry paled.
"A note from her kidnappers," Brady snarled and laid it down.
"Well read it!" Half of the pack demanded.
Quilleute Warriors,
If our first message was not clear enough, let us repeat it. We mean to harm you and anyone in our way. We have taken the first Call twin and another serving as collateral from you. What we want is only one thing, the delivery of the second Call twin and the last female from your pack. Should our demands be neglected, one will die each day and be delivered to you as a reminder that you can prevent another. If we do not have them by the end of the next two weeks, you will be crushed at our hands. Do not underestimate the lengths we will go to.
Dean Ichors
Madrisee Alpha
"One will die everyday," Anna whispered.
"The last female?" Brady questioned aloud, "but, Anna isn't the last female. Leah is still here."
"Leah!" Seth and Embry shouted in unison.
"She's gone," Collin told them as he entered from the backdoor, "We didn't notice that she wasn't with us when we were rushing to get here. When I was running the perimeter I realized it and searched. She's gone."
"What could they want with Allie and Leah?" Seth moaned forlorn.
"Why do they only want females?" Ryan scrunched his eyebrows.
Mere hours later, Anna was sitting up in Allie and Seth's bedroom with Collin. As it appeared that all women were in danger, especially Anna, all of the imprints had been confined to her house with several wolves guarding it. After the shocked group in the kitchen could think again, they immediately called the Cullen's who started running here that second. Anna called Camilla and left several messages about her impending danger. There was no response.
The house was set into an uneasy quiet as the cold reality of the situation hit them. Kim and Emily had somberly began to put together meals to feed the wolf army. Rachel tended to the boys who were oddly quiet from the time they had seen Auntie Al cry. Lisa was sitting huddled in the corner of the kitchen holding a cup of tea and staring at it glassy eyed. The moment all of the necessary arrangements had been made, Anna had slipped off only to be tailed faithfully by Collin. She didn't mind as he didn't say much because she knew that he didn't have anything to say.
The room was just as neat as yesterday morning. As she looked around she noticed that Allie's favorite clothes were missing, along with a duffel bag. On the bed, Allie had forgotten a forest green sweater in her apparent haste. Anna sat clutching at the soft pillows on the window seat watching the sun begin to rise up steadily. It was a clear morning with only a light drizzle of rain. All around she could hear the forest in an uproar. Wolves were tearing through the trees at top speed, waking every animal they came over. Anna could tell whenever they got close because birds would flock away in all directions.
By lunch, Anna had fallen asleep only to be awoken by Collin. Apparently, Emily insisted that Anna eat something based on the circumstances facing her; also known as death/doom. So, with a heavy heart and no appetite to speak of, Anna tramped down to lunch in the kitchen. The moment they entered Collin went off to settle himself at the table beside Lisa and the pair commenced cuddling. Kim and Paul were seated at the table, picking idly at their food. Anna assumed that Jared was out patrolling. Anna trooped grimly to the table and settled herself between Paul and Kim. Slipping by dolefully, Rachel placed a bowl of tomato soup and a few crackers before Anna and then settled herself on Paul's lap. She burrowed her face into Paul's neck and said nothing.
"Rachel, what are you upset about?" Anna asked curiously.
"Allie and Leah, of course," Rachel lifted her head and looked at Anna as if she had lost her mind.
"You despise Allie," Anna said confused, "and yesterday you called Leah a mutt."
"I miss having people to fight with," She shrugged.
"Oh, just admit that you like them," Emily smiled and sat down across from Anna.
"Never," Rachel replied.
"Eat Anna," Emily ordered.
Anna took a spoonful of the thick soup and asked, "Where are the boys?"
"Watching Spongebob," Emily smiled, "They just had lunch."
"Has Brady or Seth come back?"
"No, he and-"
Anna didn't need to know more than that. She was out of her chair and halfway to the door.
"ANNA NO!" Paul shouted and snatched her around the waist and dragged her from the door.
"WHAT THE HELL!" Anna shouted and thrashed against Paul.
"Are you insane? You can't phase! Did you miss what happened last night?" Paul demanded and sat her down in her chair.
"I just wanted to talk to Brady," She said in a small voice.
"You have to wait for him," Paul said softer, "It's not safe now and especially for you."
"Sorry," she mumbled.
"I'm sure he'll be back any minute now," Emily promised.
Any minute turned into any hour and it wasn't until dinner was set to begin that he did return with a bedraggled looking Embry trailing behind him, followed by a forlorn Seth. Anna had been 'playing' in the living room with Nick and Matt. They were using her as the princess in their game of 'rescue the princess', which Anna found eerily similar to the current situation. All Anna really had to do was sit on the couch and be the princess. So much for imagination.
The second Brady appeared behind her, she jumped up and wrapped her arms desperately around his neck. He hugged her tightly, lifting her off the ground and kissing her hair. When they pulled apart she noticed his haggard disposition and she shooed them to the couch where the three of them collapsed gratefully. Quickly dispatching her little helpers for water, Anna herself doled out bowls of soup and lasagna. Brady ate purposefully but the other two were harder to convince. Anna and Paul had to physically pry their jaws apart while Emily force fed them.
It was during this process that the door bell rang. No one rings the door bell. All stood and drew their loved ones close. All but, Nick who ran to open the door.
"Nicky NO!" Emily shouted and made a dive to catch him but, he was too fast.
He flung open the door to reveal Camilla Call, smiling and glowing in the white lacy dress that Allie had bought for her last birthday. She seemed taller but maybe that was just her baby blue heels. Her hair was a lot longer now and reached her waist, like Allie's.
"Auntie Allie!" Nick and Matt shouted," You're okay!"
She smiled and embraced them but, shot confused looks over their shoulders. They asked her a barrage of questions and she told them she was happy to see them again and yes, of course she missed them. All despite the fact that she had never seen them before in her life. She carried them into the living room and set them down carefully. She smiled and told them to take a cookie from the kitchen, just the way that Allie did whenever they came over to visit. They ran off gleefully and Emily didn't even bother to scold them as she usually would when Allie did. Instead, she stood with an open mouth and soup dripping onto her shirt.
"Who were they?" Cam asked quietly.
"Sam and Emily's sons, Nick and Matt," Embry answered her and Anna realized that Cam had truly missed a lot.
She missed Brady and Collin's first jobs. Emily giving birth to Nick and Matt and Kim was now seven months pregnant. Paul and Jared had retired along with Sam and Allie and Seth are about to move. Well... they were.
"What did they mean when they said 'you're okay'?" she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"Cam," Brady said slowly, "Why did you come back?"
"I had a feeling," she shrugged, "I thought it was time for a visit."
"Why haven't you been answering your phone?" Seth demanded.
"It fell off the top of the Eiffel Tower a week or two ago," she shrugged.
"When did you decide to come here?" Anna asked shrewdly.
"About two days ago, when I woke up with the weirdest craving for Aunt Carrie's Callcakes. When I was cooking, I started to wonder what my twin was up to so, I booked a flight for the next day," She explained, "Then I spent all of today driving from Olympia to the house."
"Cam," Brady shook his head, "Have you heard from Allie recently?"
"Not since last month," She answered.
"There was a murder," Paul replied bluntly.
"Murder? Please not Allie?" She begged.
"No, no," Brady said quickly, "It was a girl named Sarah from Madrisee."
"Sarah Torres?" Cam gasped, "The little girl Allie and I used to baby-sit for? She couldn't have been more than seven or eight by now!"
"Allie said eight," Seth corrected her.
"A lot has happened," Anna said in a clipped tone, "You should sit down so we can explain it all."
"Where's Quil?" Jared asked.
"His mother's house," Cam said dazed and dropped herself onto the couch.
"I'll get him," Collin offered and Paul went with him.
"Cam," Brady said sitting on the coffee table in front of her, "Five days ago, your Aunt Carrie passed away. We tried to contact you but, couldn't get a hold of you so, they went ahead with the funeral."
"She's, dead?" Cam swallowed.
"Yes," he responded sorrowfully, "About three days after, myself, Ryan, Kevin, Anna, Collin and Lisa were in Port Angeles. Everyone else was at home or doing something else including Allie. Seth was the only one on patrol and he came across Sarah's body. Allie called us all and we came back and started running patrols around the area which we now realize is as far from this house as possible. Allie returned home by herself and by the time we figured out what the Madrisee had planned she and Leah were stolen. They left a note saying that one would die each day that you and Anna are not given to them for the next two weeks. At the end of that time, they will attack us."
She sat in silence for a minute and thought carefully.
"Can I see the note?" Cam asked.
"Here," Embry snatched it off the table and handed it to her.
She studied the message carefully and when she was done flipped it over a few times to check for anything else missed. Holding it to her nose she sniffed it and then smiled excitedly.
"Get a candle," She ordered.
Anna looked at Brady and he nodded so Anna lit a candle at gave it to Cam. She took it and held the note a good distance above the flame to prevent it from burning.
"What are you doing?" Brady asked nervously.
"Did you smell the hint of lemon on this note?" Cam asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"When we were kids, we did a project in school using lemon juice to write secret messages. When it's heated it will show on the page," Cam grinned, "I don't know who wrote it but, whoever they were we owe them Allie and Leah's lives. Done!"
They all gathered around Cam and peered over her shoulder. There was one word on the sheet. Alcott.
"What the hell is an Alcott?" Jared asked
"Not what. Who," Seth smiled.
"Looks like I'm off to Florida," Cam said with narrowed eyes.
"You can't go anywhere," Brady interjected.
"I'm the only one that Mrs. Alcott knows and trusts," Cam pointed out.
"She knows Seth and from what I've heard is very fond of him," Brady smirked.
"You really think Allie is in Florida?" Kim asked.
"Absolutely not," Cam shook her head, "They definitely have her in Madrisee but, have hidden her."
"What could Mrs. Alcott know about this?" Anna asked.
"I have no idea," Cam frowned, "Maybe it has something to with the attic or even something left there. They could have hidden them there but, it's very unlikely."
"Should we go then?" Embry asked cautiously, "What if this is a trap?"
"Another good point," Brady added, "Who else would remember the lemon juice trick?"
"Manny," Cam paled.
"Manny?" Kim arched an eyebrow.
"He was in that class with us," Cam muttered, "and he's the beta now. He could be loyal to Dean or us. I'm not sure what he would do."
"So should we take the tip or not?" Jared asked.
"I-I don't k-know," Cam stammered at a loss for words, "I'm n-not sure if we know he w-wrote this."
"So we're back where we started?" Anna asked.
"Looks like it," Paul entered grimly, "We found another one. Just as young as Sarah."
