Chapter 7
Jason was still shaking when they got back to the ranger station. Luckily no one was there at the moment and it gave the three of them time to completely calm down. Hunter and Tabatha had both lit up a cigarette and were trying to bring down their adrenaline levels.
Hunter was sitting on a desk with his feet resting on a chair, his head was bowed low and his body shook uncontrollably. The only other movement or sound he made was the occasional exhale on the cigarette. Tabatha was on her second cigarette, having lit one up in the jeep on the way back. She was sitting on the floor with her knees up and her chin resting on them.
Jason was sitting back in Hunter’s office chair with a blanket wrapped around him and a very strong cup of coffee in his hand. He was shaking so bad he’d almost dropped the cup too many times to count but he wouldn’t put it down.
“I can still feel it,” Jason said after a moment.
Tabatha looked up at him, “Feel what?”
“Fingers,” Jason answered. “I can feel cold fingers wrapped around my ankle… they’re still there”
Hunter’s head snapped up and he looked at Jason with wide eyes. Dropping his cigarette into the ashtray, he stood up and walked over to Jason.
“Let me see your ankle.” Hunter demanded.
“Is something wrong?” Tabatha asked getting up off the floor.
Jason looked from one to the other and frowned, “What the hell is wrong with you two? I’d think you’d be just as freaked out by all of this as I am.”
“We’re better at hiding it.” Hunter responded dismissively. “Now lift up your pant leg so I can see your ankle.”
“You’re hiding something from me.” Jason accused them but he was looking at Tabatha.
Tabatha frowned, “It scared me just as much as it scared you Jason. I thought we were going to die out there.”
“That’s not what I’m saying Tabatha. I’m not stupid you know. I saw the look on your face when that thing grabbed me. You may as well have held up a billboard sign with big letters screaming ‘not again’.”
Hunter huffed impatiently and grabbed Jason’s leg.
Jason yelped and grabbed the arms of the chair to keep from falling out of it while Hunter yanked up his pant leg.
Pushing down the sock, Hunter could only stare in horror at what he saw… this was not a good sign.
Tabatha stepped forward and gasped when she saw a hand-shaped bruise on Jason’s leg. In the center where the palm would have been was a perfect circle with a misshapen cross dissecting the circle in four equal parts. The marking was pitch black while the bruise around it shown an angry red like he’d been burnt.
“You’ve been marked,” Hunter said and stared up at Jason’s face with wide eyes.
“Marked how?” Tabatha asked feeling her fear returning.
Hunter gently lowered Jason’s foot to the floor. “In the old days, my people worshiped a powerful spirit that lived in this forest, his name is Black Crow. When he had need of a sacrifice he would mark them… for death. This is the same symbol.”
Jason was quiet for a moment before the inevitable explosion occurred. “You two are full of crap! What the hell do you mean I’ve been marked for death?” he thundered and stood up from the chair. “You two have completely lost it!”
Jason went for the phone but it was Tabatha who placed her hand on top of it stopping him.
“Jason, what happened out there is not something you want to ignore or mess with.” Tabatha said. “I may not know what that thing was, but I do know there are more like it running around.”
Hunter watched Tabatha wondering how she knew what was going on. From what he’d been told, Zachary wasn’t letting any humans know what was happening outside of PIT. He’d have to make a few phone calls to see if Tabatha and Jason needed their memories changed.
“We need to get you someplace safe.” Hunter stated. “I have a few friends who might be able to help you.”
Tabatha shook her head, “I have a friend that ‘can’ help him.”
Hunter looked at Tabatha again. “Who do you know that would be powerful enough to keep Jason safe from Black Crow?”
“Michael and Kane,” Tabatha answered confidently.
Hunter went pale recognizing the names and his eyes widened further. That’s why Black Crow had departed from them… Tabatha carried the protection of one of the most powerful creatures to walk the earth.
*****
Tabatha parked the car in front of Michael’s house and turned off the engine. She glanced over at Jason and sighed when he still refused to look at her. She could tell Jason was angry about all of this but nothing could be done about it except what they were already doing.
“Please don’t be angry with me,” Tabatha whispered. “I never thought you’d get caught up in all of this.”
“I’m not really that angry with you,” Jason said softly. “I just wish you had trusted me enough to let me know what was going on out there.”
Tabatha shook her head, “I didn’t think anything was going on out there. I only know that something is going on here in Los Angeles. The preserve was one of the few places I actually thought was safe.”
Jason sighed, “Let’s go in and see if your friend is willing to help me. Maybe I’ll finally be told something important.”
Kane stood in one of the upper windows frozen. He’d stopped by Tabatha’s in the predawn hours needing to at least know she was safe, but she hadn't been there. His gaze moved to the man beside her in the car.
Tabatha swallowed hard and looked up at the house. She forced her expression to change when she saw Kane looking out one of the windows at them. She would have to harden her heart in order to play this game with Kane… he wanted her to hate him and she wanted his help to keep Jason safe. If she had to pretend to hate him in order to do it then so be it.
“Come on,” Tabatha opened her door and got out of the car.
Jason came around to her side looking a bit lost so Tabatha grabbed his hand, leading him toward the front door. Before she could make it up the steps, a small ball of fur came around the far corner of the porch making a jingling sound as it went. It turned the corner so fast that its little legs were going a mile a minute, the pads of its feet slid over the slick surface of the hardwood before it finally caught some traction and, with a quick yap at Tabatha, it made a running jump right into Tabatha’s arms.
Jason quickly side stepped the furry streak coming toward them and grinned when it nearly tackled Tabatha, who had opened her arms wide for it. He smiled when he saw the Yorkie puppy wiggling around in her arms and licking her face.
“Wow, somebody get that dog some decaf.” He chuckled at his own joke before releasing a sigh and looking back up at the house feeling nervous apprehension forming a rock in his stomach.
Tabatha felt her eyes start burning when Scrappy jumped up in her arms and started licking her face. When he’d gotten enough of that he buried his face in the hair on the side of her neck and lay there like he belonged. She hugged him to her having a flash back of when she was a child and he would come running to jump up in bed with her when it was time for her to go to sleep. This was her Scrappy… she didn’t know how Kane had done it but this was her childhood best friend.
“Hey Scrappy,” Tabatha stroked the puppy as she turned back toward the house. “I can’t play right now… I’m here to see your daddy about something important.”
Scrappy whined softly as if he understood what she was telling him. Holding him away from her so she could see his face, Tabatha noticed how old and wise Scrappy’s eyes looked… they didn’t belong to the puppy’s body.
“Who’s your little friend?” Jason asked as he ruffled the puppy’s head and received a quick lick for the attention.
“Jason, this is Scrappy,” Tabatha introduced then whispered to the puppy, “I promise to come and play with you very soon.”
She gently set Scrappy down on the porch, smiling when he tilted his head at her then with a quick yap took off in the direction he had come from. A few seconds later there was more yapping followed by a commotion. A cat suddenly bolted across the yard and across the street to the church. Scrappy followed as far as the sidewalk and stood there barking at the feline as though telling it to stay off his turf… which may have been very close to the truth.
It took her another moment to gain the courage to raise her hand and knock on the door. When no one answered right away, she knocked again… harder this time. How dare he ignore her?
Jason quirked an eyebrow when Tabatha lost her patience, banging hard on the thick wooden surface. He reached for her other hand and gripped it hoping to lead her away from the door before someone called the cops.
“Open up Kane, I know you’re in there. You were just in the damn window,” she shouted thinking it wouldn’t be so hard to pretend to hate him if he kept this up. She gave the bottom of the door a quick threatening kick causing it to shake against its hinges.
The door jerked opened and Kane stood there in an unbuttoned, long sleeved white shirt and black jeans that were riding dangerously low on his hips. He was barefooted and Tabatha almost lost her composure when she saw the heated look in his eyes.
Kane’s gaze moved over her before shifting to the human behind her. He immediately noticed the blonde hair of the other man and decided that Tabatha liked blondes… then his gaze trailed down to where their hands were connected.
“Check your weapons at the door,” he stated knowing she wouldn’t get the bad joke.
“We need to see Michael.” Tabatha said dismissively. She would have to get out of Kane’s direct line of fire if she was to keep up the charade. Ignoring him, she entered the house dragging Jason behind her.
“What for?” Kane asked curiously then took a step forward giving Jason a predatory smile when the man gave him the once over.
“That’s none of your damn business,” Tabatha hissed and stepped between the two men not wanting Kane to intimidate Jason when her friend was already having enough of a wiggly-boo day. “We will feel safer talking to Michael.” She lifted her chin and defiantly locked gazes with him as if daring him to toss them back out the door.
“Is everything all right?” Michael asked from the entrance of the living room.
Tabatha’s expression softened when she saw Michael and Kane’s chest constricted. How he wished he could turn back time and undo what he’d done.
“I need your help.” Tabatha said as she turned her back on Kane and lead Jason toward Michael.
Michael motioned them into the other room. “Come in and tell me what’s wrong.” he flicked a confused glance toward Kane but refrained from saying anything.
Once Tabatha and Jason were seated, she quickly explained what had happened on the game preserve along with everything Hunter knew about the legend of Black Crow.
“You need me to protect your friend?” Michael asked wondering if this wouldn’t be better handled by Kriss.
Tabatha sighed, “I know it’s a lot to ask but I didn’t know anyone else that could help us.”
Michael looked at them for a moment before letting his eyes dart over to the entryway where Kane was standing, almost hiding in the doorway. Maybe it was best to leave Kriss out of this as a plan wormed its way into his mind.
“If Jason has been marked for death, then you will also be on Black Crow’s list of the dead for thwarting his plan.” Michael said after a moment and felt satisfaction when he saw Kane’s hand curl into a fist at his side.
“So you’ve heard of Black Crow?” Tabatha asked with a frown. She gave Jason’s cold hand a gentle squeeze hoping he wasn’t going into shock… he was way too quiet.
Jason looked up at the blond man in the doorway and noticed the strangeness of his eyes and the hostile glare… he followed the direction of that glare to where Tabatha’s hand was holding his. Jason pulled his hand away from Tabatha’s as gut instinct kicked in and placed it in his lap.
Michael nodded adding flavor to his match making skills, “I have heard stories here and there, but most demons like Black Crow are vengeance demons and they don’t like to be crossed.”
Tabatha reached out and took Michael’s hand between hers. “Will you do it?” she reminded herself that this threat was very real to Jason and had absolutely nothing to do with Kane. Jason, Envy, and Chad had always been there for her and she loved them dearly… it was her turn to do something for one of them.
Michael smiled softly at her and brought her hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss on the back of it. “My dear, you have only to ask once.”
Kane felt an insane jealousy sweep over him and he fought hard not to rush in there and pull Tabatha from Michael’s grasp. She hated him now and would never be his… but he’d be damned if she would ever be Michael’s.
“I’m afraid that due to the circumstances, you will both have to stay here under our protection.” Michael continued. “Black Crow will come after both of you even though Tabatha is not bearing a death mark.”
Tabatha frowned, “That’s fine… but you said ‘our’ protection.” She glanced around the room ignoring Kane, “Does that mean Alicia and Damon are back?”
Michael sighed, “Hopefully Damon and Alicia will return to us soon, but until then, Kane and I will have to do.”
Jason chose that moment to finally snap out of the daze he’d sunk into and leaned forward in his seat. He could still feel the icy fingers wrapped around his ankle and he wanted it to stop… he wanted all of it to stop.
“I don’t mean to be rude but I’ve got to get the hell out of here,” Jason said suddenly pushing himself off the sofa.
Tabatha stood up at the same time and reached out to grab his hand but Jason jerked his arm back before she could get a hold of him. “Even if any of this is real, what the hell is he,” he waved his hand toward Michael, “gonna do about it?”
“Jason listen,” Tabatha started at the same time Michael stood up and reached for him.
Jason reacted before thinking and attempted to push Michael away from him. Much to his shock, Tabatha somehow got between them and his hands pushed against her instead, causing her to tumble backward.
Michael moved faster than Jason really saw and was suddenly behind Tabatha, catching her before she hit the floor. Jason’s eyes widened and he found himself looking down at the floor a good fifteen feet below him.
Tabatha felt Michael’s arms around her and she had the sudden sensation of overwhelming love and protection… though she had no idea why. Looking up when she heard soft laughter, she saw Kane holding Jason against the ceiling chuckling quietly.
“Touch her again and I’ll neuter you with my bare hands,” Kane warned then slowly smiled making it more a bearing of teeth than an expression of happiness.
Tabatha’s eyes widened and she pulled away from Michael taking several steps toward the center of the room until she was almost directly beneath them.
“Kane, don’t you dare hurt him! He’s human and doesn’t know or understand any of this.” She glanced back at Michael silently asking for help but Michael was leaning against the arm of the sofa smiling like he was enjoying the show. In another mood she would have found this funny.
Jason blanched at the fangs suddenly in his face and immediately turned his gaze on Tabatha below them. He saw the pity in her eyes and wanted to rant at her for not giving him some kind of warning.
“You brought me into a house full of fucking vampires?” his question ended on a high pitch when Kane did indeed grab his balls with his free hand and squeeze.
“Watch your mouth,” Kane said with a grin, suddenly in a much better mood as he watched all the color drain from Jason’s face.
Tabatha put both hands over her face then jerked them back down in frustration. “Kane, he’s my friend and one of the few people I don’t mind getting cussed by. So will you please put him back on the floor for me? He’s been through enough today… we all have and besides, I think you just gave him a better understanding about how well he can be protected here.”
“Is that right?” Kane asked Jason. When Jason simply nodded his head, Kane let go of his balls and then abruptly released him.
Jason let out a high pitched shriek as he plummeted to the floor and landed hard on the carpet. Tabatha rushed over to help him up when she heard him groan, thankful the ceiling wasn’t any higher. She sent Kane an angry glare when she noticed he’d returned to his former spot by the door as if he hadn't done anything.
“What?” Kane asked innocently.
Tabatha continued to glare but she could see that his sarcastic sense of humor in this case was a defense mechanism. He was protecting himself from her supposed hatred and her heart went out to him.
Jason rose to his feet, straightening his clothes as he did so and wondered if he had brain damage when he couldn’t stop himself from also sending a glare toward the fanged ball breaker. He noticed Tabatha was again standing between him and Kane as if protecting him. For some reason, that just struck him the wrong way so Jason defiantly put his arm around her as payback and to prove he hadn't meant Tabatha any harm.
“Him too?” Jason asked nodding toward Michael knowing Tabatha would catch on.
“Yeah, him too,” Tabatha gave Jason a weak smile. “I’m sorry, I know this is a big shock and I wouldn’t have brought you here if it wasn’t for,” she waved a hand in the general direction of his ankle. “If it wasn’t for that… you would have remained clueless.”
“You knew… Hunter knows. What else am I missing… werewolves... zombies? The fuc… freaking Easter Bunny? Am I the only one who didn’t know monsters are real?” Jason couldn’t keep the agitation from his voice.
Tabatha locked eyes with Michael when he stepped forward and Jason couldn’t control the flinch.
“Tabatha, do you trust me?” Michael asked calmly.
“Yes,” she answered without hesitation. “But he needs to know the truth now.”
Michael nodded then gripped Jason’s chin when he tried to look away. His pupils enlarged and Jason swallowed thickly. “The world is not ready to know about any of this and you will not tell them. Keep our secrets and you will come under our protection until we find a way to remove the mark from your body.”
Jason nodded reluctantly when Michael released him from his hold.
“There is one more option,” Kane stated with an almost evil grin. “You could hop a plane and join the monks in Tibet.”
Jason gave him a sour look then turned back to Tabatha, “Did you leave anything at my house last night?”
Tabatha raised an eloquent eyebrow when she heard the sonic boom of thunder in the distance. “Nope, I even made the bed,” she finished and almost rolled her eyes when lightning flashed just outside the window. Glancing over her shoulder at Michael she gave him another smile, “It’s okay if we leave to pick some of our stuff up, right? It shouldn’t take long.”
Michael nodded knowing Kane would shadow them even if they didn’t know it. “Yes, that would be a very good idea… we can’t have you wandering around with absolutely nothing to wear.”
Tabatha did roll her eyes this time and Jason smirked. The two of them headed toward the door and as soon as it closed behind them, Michael laughed loudly at the look Kane gave him.
“Shut up,” Kane nearly growled before jerking the door open and disappearing.
*****
Hunter was leaning against the side of the jeep when a black car drove up to the station. He nodded at Zachary when the blonde man got out of the driver’s side and walked over to him while Angelica took a bit longer. Hunter had never worked with Angelica, but he was familiar with her… expertise.
“We got another demon on the loose out here?” Zachary asked.
Hunter nodded, “Afraid so… scared the crap out of me and two of my rangers.”
“Where?” Angelica asked as she approached.
Hunter turned around and got in the jeep. “Get in, I’ll show you.”
“What kind of demon is it?” Zachary asked as they bounced down the worn drive.
“An old one,” Hunter answered. “Black Crow has lived on these lands for centuries, my people used to worship him as one of the great spirits. If you’re talking levels, I’d say he’s close to a level eight.”
Zachary whistled low, “Damn, that sucks.”
“Just as powerful as Misery if you’re right,” Angelica said. “What kind of power does he possess?”
Hunter shrugged, “The normal stuff… shape shifting, magic, possession… none of my people ever really knew the extent of his power.”
“Why not?” Zachary asked.
“They never asked,” Hunter said. “Besides, you don’t just waltz up to an all-powerful being and demand to know what they can do. It was accepted as part of the world around them and left at that.”
“Well that was stupid,” Zachary muttered.
Hunter quickly jerked his fist up in a mock action of hitting Zachary between the eyes and Zachary flinched back.
“Two for flinching,” Hunter said making Angelica grin.
“What is this?” Zachary demanded. “Beat up on Zachary’s ego week?”
“Yes!” Angelica and Hunter said together.
Angelica stopped smiling when the temperature dropped a few degrees and she placed a hand on Hunter’s arm.
“Stop the jeep,” she ordered.
“We’re not there yet,” Hunter elaborated, “Just a little further.”
Angelica started to fidget in her seat and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead. By the time Hunter stopped the jeep and turned it off, Angelica was trembling.
“You okay?” Zachary asked.
“Fine,” Angelica said and got out of the jeep. She was making her way through the woods toward the clearing before Zachary and Hunter could follow.
“How does she know where to go?” Hunter asked.
“She senses it,” Zachary explained to Hunter. “It doesn’t take much to turn her senses on full blast. She can feel a demon even after its departure from an area.”
“Let’s just hope it has departed… it’s not very friendly,” Hunter warned.
Hunter and Zachary quickly caught up with Angelica and they negotiated the tall grass and fallen trees through the forest. Angelica stopped suddenly and Hunter swallowed when he realized it was the same place Jason had been dragged to.
“Someone was nearly killed here.” Angelica said.
“Nearly killed?” Zachary asked.
Angelica gazed out at the forest ahead of them. “He would have been killed…” she looked at Hunter, “One of your rangers?”
Hunter nodded, “Jason Fox.”
“A death mark,” Angelica whispered and took off at a full run through the forest.
She suddenly burst into a clearing and started hyperventilating. Putting a hand on her chest, she fought to chase away the concentrated amount of demon energy in the area. When it finally passed, she looked around and narrowed her eyes at the partially eaten corpse along with the remains of a fire pit.
“Not much to it, is there?” Zachary asked quietly.
Hunter shook his head, “There never was when it came to the old rituals. Most rituals as normal people know them are full of fancy objects or self-made relics of power. My people used the nature around them to pull on the power already there. Some stories tell of novice shaman that pulled in too much power and destroyed themselves with it.”
“Did any of them survive?” Zachary asked genuinely curious.
“Yes, quite a few actually,” Hunter shrugged. “Those that did survive became something beyond the normal shaman… considered more than human but the only difference is they knew how to channel that power.”
“If they weren’t like humans, then what were they like?” Angelica asked.
“Me,” Hunter said bluntly, making Zachary clear his throat uncomfortably.
Angelica ignored them and moved further into the clearing. She saw some soil that had been disturbed at the base of a tree and approached it. Laying her hand flat on the trunk of the tree, her mind went into overdrive with visions of thick worms crawling over a rotting corpse.
Jerking her hand back, she quickly closed her fist at the tingling sensation racing through the symbol on her palm.
Ignoring the semi-pleasant sensation inching up her arm, Angelica reached out with her other hand and touched the tree again. The vision returned and she swore she could hear the soundless screaming of whatever it was that had disturbed the ground by her feet.
“The demon’s gone,” Angelica stated. “But I can’t tell where he went from here.”
“He most likely took refuge after we fought him off,” Hunter said not wanting to let them know just yet that it was actually Tabatha that had sent Black Crow running for cover.
“I need to see this Jason later.” Angelica said. “I might be able to remove the death mark if I can get a good look at it.”
Zachary took out his cell phone and was about to start dialing the number when he saw he didn’t have a good signal this far out.
“Use this,” Hunter said and handed over his walkie-talkie. “The phone feature has a direct signal to the station. You can call from anywhere in the forest.”
Zachary dialed Trevor’s number and waited for him to pick up. “Hunt down Jason and bring him to the castle, he’s out somewhere with Tabatha.” Zachary instructed once Trevor answered.
“Any special reason why?” Trevor asked.
“Yeah, he’s gone and gotten himself a death mark.” The line went dead and Zachary smiled, Trevor could move fast when he wanted to.
Angelica knelt down next to the tree and picked up a handful of dirt, repressing a shiver when the malevolent energy coming from it made her hand feel ice cold.
“Zachary… do remember when you asked me what I meant by the grave?”
Zachary frowned, “Yeah, I thought that was a really weird explanation.”
Angelica let the dirt fall through her fingers, “Well… a reanimated body crawled out of the ground right here… and it’s missing.” She nodded toward the corpse closer to the fire pit, “he was the necromancer’s sacrifice. But that’s not the bad news.”
“It’s not?” Zachary really wanted to disagree at this point.
“No,” Angelica shook her head, “the bad news is, if Black Crow can do it once… he can do it again.”
Zachary winced, “Damn, I hope Storm hurries up with that army… it looks like we’re going to need all the help we can get. Ren’s gonna have a conniption when everyone starts showing up at the castle. He’ll go into complete overload.”
