Chapter 88: Last family dinner?
Kane woke the next morning, to his little mate curled on his chest clinging tightly to him. The blankets covered her head and she was whimpering in her sleep. He moved his arms more around her, protecting her, holding her closer to him. No one is going to hurt her! We’ll hurt them first! Did he kill Magnus! I don’t know! Do you think he killed Magnus? Magnus threatened her, he views himself as her protector. He would eliminate the threat! He’s going to come for her now! He’ll have to go through me first. That son of a bitch wants a showdown, I’ll fucking give him one! No one will touch her! No One! Her stirring pulled him out of his conversation with Ky.
“You’re growling” Dax grumbled as she stretched out her body against him. His hands sliding over all her delicate curves as she did.
“I’m sorry baby. I didn’t mean to wake you” She rolled onto her stomach keeping her ear to his chest as she listened to his heart.
“Were you having nightmares?” He asked her as he ran his hands from her shoulder to her bottom and back up over and over.
“Last night’s revelations didn’t aid my sleep any,” She said. Her whole world crashed on her when they saw the final photo. When realization hit what that photo meant. Donny was going to kill Magnus last night, and the big fight scene for the girl went out the window, taking happy ever after with it.
“Shhh baby, shhh.” He ran his hands through her hair, she didn’t even realize she was crying, no sound was coming out of her, but her cheeks were wet and she was gasping to take any breath she could. He sat them up and held her tighter to him.
“We’re not done yet! He hasn’t beat us! He hasn’t won!” He whispered over and over to her, as she continued to cry hidden in his arms.
The day moved in a blur, plans and ideas were thrown around, speculations were made about what could possibly happen now. Johnny had called Alpha Thomas to ask about the Art Festival but there was no way it would be ready in time for the 27, it was a failed plan even before Dax said she was never leaving the house.
“Let’s just head over to the bitches house and take his fucking head right now” Damon suggested,
“He wouldn’t be there, Mrs. Morganson is at a cabin somewhere” Johnny replied,
“Then he’s at his cabin let’s go there and do it, why the fuck are we waiting?” Damon fired back, he was angry. His sister was scared and she was back to hiding under the desk again, and this was after Kane had bribed her with brownies and ice cream to come out of the closet.
“I stationed sentries there last night to watch over the place. There has been no movement, he’s not there either.” Johnny replied,
“Where the fuck is he?” Damon asked, his voice rose and he was almost yelling.
“Damon, you need to calm down,” Johnny remarked.
“Calm down, calm down. How the fuck am I supposed to calm the fuck down when there is a fucking psychotic wackadoo hunting my sister, who is currently back to hiding under a fucking desk” He yelled back, only getting angrier.
“DAMON!” Kane yelled, his own anger filling the room. Damon snapped his attention towards him. “Not helping right now!” Kane looked down at his desk then back at him. Damon could only drop his head, he lost his temper, he knew she was there hiding under the desk terrified and he lost his temper anyway. But this was getting out of hand, they would get close to ending this only for the finish line to be ripped away from them.
“I just found her!” Damon said his voice lowered,
“Damon….”
“I know, I know. We’re all freaking the fuck out. Getting mad about it is not helping anything, and its not really making me fucking feel better.” Damon slumped into the chair in front of the desk holding his head in his hands. He just found her, and he was going to lose her. They continued to work in silence as the day continued forward, each trapped in their own heads. Emotions swirled and filled the room, growls periodically disturbed the silence, but no words were ever spoken.
Donny had to deviate from his plan last night. It was not his intention to drug and kidnap his cousin, but after his last email about killing his angel he needed to pivot as they say. He knew he couldn’t bring Magnus to Erin’s, there was nowhere to hold him, and the cabin had even less space. Cursing under his breath, he knew he had no choice but to bring him to the one place that no one other than his angel was ever supposed to see. What was once a ramshackled wooden barn on the outskirts of town, became an elegant concrete castle, something right out of a fairy tale, nothing else would do for his angel. It stood magnificent in the middle of the field. The woods as the perfect backdrop, that could be seen through the wall of windows that made up the whole back of it. She was the most deserving of the fairy tale life that she was robbed of. He had spent years perfecting this space, so much time on every last intricately carved detail of it. He was not the artist his angel was, but he knew she would appreciate the amount of effort he put into it. This angered him even more, his angel would have loved this place, it was a replica of the very first picture she ever drew. He kept it on him at all times, drawing inspiration from it. Thinking of that drawing he produced it from his wallet.
Carefully unfolding it his hands shook. It has worn with age and how many times he’s gazed upon it. The paper now seeming more like a fragile flimsy piece of fabric could easily tear if he wasn’t careful enough. Now he would have to find somewhere new for her. He would not allow her to step one delicate foot in a place that would be sullied with the blood of a bumbling idiot. Grabbing the first object he got his hands on he threw it into one of the concrete walls. Shattered pieces of clay scattered in every direction. It was ruined, it was all ruined and it was all that bumbling idiots fault. If he had not threatened to violate her, if he had not threatened to end her life none of this would be happening right now. This pristine haven would be left untouched and pure, now, now it was marred by filth and was unfit for his angel to step in let alone live in. Whispering a murmured apology to his angel, about the course of events that had transpired, he made a silent vow to make this right.
Right now he had more pressing matters to deal with. One was tightly bound to a chair muffling screams and profanities at him through a steel door with a duct taped mouth. The other was the ever perplexing mysterious tall one. He was not done surveilling the tall one, he was proving to be quite elusive. He would disappear into the woods and he wouldn’t see him again until he came back to town, whenever that would be. Made keeping tabs on him that much more difficult. He had to come up with something to bring the tall one to him. He kept security around her and she never went anywhere without a bodyguard or small army. He knew someone was after her, he knew someone harmed her that was why he was keeping her safe after all. Did the tall one know who was trying to hurt her? What would he do if he did? Beat him to death? Maybe unleash one those oversized savage dogs on him? This was highly intriguing to him and ideas, grisly, ghastly, gruesome ideas started to form in his head as he looked towards the storage door that held the bumbling idiot captive.
Yes, that might work indeed! Donny thought as he moved to the closed storage door. He could hear Magnus on the other side, hear the muffled words he was trying to spew forth. Opening the storage door he stood before Magnus with a triumphant grin upon his face. He had the greatest plan to get rid of not only Donny, but the tall one as well.
“You, my dear cousin, should really learn that it is bad manners to threaten violence on angels. Such actions require punishment in the most horrendous form” He spoke slowly so the words sank in. Magnus shook his head back and forth, his eyes furious with rage as he continued to try and get the tape from his mouth.
“But, you have given me the perfect opportunity to get my….tall problem out of the way. He has been keeping my angel protected long enough and it’s time I claim her now.” Donny continued, ignoring Magnus’s failed attempts at removing the makeshift gag.
“I can see by that vastly vacant look in your eye, your tiny little brain is failing to figure out how you can help me with my problem. Well, you see, dear cousin, he knows someone is after her, he knows someone has hurt her, but I don’t think he knows who. I am going to serve you up on a silver platter to him. I wonder what he’ll do to you? Something tells me he won’t be gentle.” Magnus’s eyes widened when realization sank in on what Donny was planning.
He shook his head back and forth furiously, struggled and fought to get off the chair he was bound to. His muffled words came louder and louder.
“What’s the matter dear cousin?”
“.....” Magnus struggled more and more against the rope that bound him to the chair.
“You don’t like my plan?”
“.....” again shaking his head violently back and forth. He fought with everything he had, until Donny struck a blow to the right side of his head. He slumped over, as a trail of blood trickled from the small cut that opened just below his eye.
“And you were worried I wouldn’t win the game. Checkmate dear cousin!” Magnus could only whimper, as his world spun and darkness enveloped him.
Making sure the ropes used to bind Magnus were secure and going as far as to add more to him. Donny closed the storage door again, he had a plan to set into motion. He had to serve the simpleton on a platter to the tall one and get his angel into the open. The latter might not be so easy, but he would find a way to get it done. She was created for him after all, his gift for being a good boy, and she needed him.
Family dinner was tame compared to the previous one. Stories were told and laughs were had but the atmosphere was not the same. Even swear time in the workshop was toned down, no one’s heart was in it. They had filled Edward in on what was going on, on everything, maybe he had some insight to give them. They were running out of time.
“Wow! It explains a lot!” He started, looking down into his glass that he hadn’t touched since he poured it.
“I don’t know much about the legend I’m afraid, so I can’t help you with that aspect. But if it’s a past event then it stands to reason both souls would need to be present for it. If this showdown with Donny, Evan Magnus or who the fuck ever happens, she needs to be there. You’ll have to bring it to them. There is no way anyone will step foot on this territory with malicious intent and get any farther than two feet before any one of the highly trained warriors converges on them and takes their head.” Edward continued,
“This is what happens when you demand perfection” Damon stated looking at Kane.
“Gee, I’m sorry!” Came Kane’s dry sarcastic response.
“Enough boys, none of that shit in my workshop” Edward stepped in, cutting both Kane and Damon with a look.
“Now this is the part none of you are going to like, she needs to leave the house. She needs to be put right out in the open unguarded, unprotected and completely on her own.” Edward said it, then sat back and waited. The workshop exploded, voices were raised, yelling to be heard over each other.
“That is the stupidest thing to do”
“No, it’s not!”
“Yes it is!”
“It’ll get her killed”
“She’ll be in harm’s way”
“It’s the only way”
“We do nothing and they both die”
“This is fucked up”
“Shut up Johnny”
“No, trova qualcos’altro! (No, find something else.)”
“Fuck you Damon”
“What else are we supposed to do, we’re running out of time”
“Find another fucking way”
“You’re talking about sacrificing her”
“She’s been through enough, there has to be another way”
“It’s the only way!”
Growls and snarls could be heard inside the workshop and when things started to break, all hell broke loose. Damon and Johnny crashed through the door to the workshop. Swinging at each other, throwing each other to the ground, neither one backing down. Kenneth, Carter and Marco jumped into the mix, but no one knew whose side they were on and the fight continued. Kane and Edward tried to pull the others off each other but ended up taking a few wild swings from who knows and were pulled into the fight. The girls were standing on the deck watching in horror as the men battled it out on the back lawn.
“Umm….what the hell?” Jackie asked wide eyed as she watched her mate, father to her children tackle Damon from behind. “Oh, shit….shoot….sorry mama!” She corrected herself when she realized what she said.
“I’ll allow it this time.” Martina said as she watched her husband take a few shots from someone.
Dax could only watch stunned silent, her mouth open trying to think of something to say, something to do to make this chaos stop. The feeling washed over her, more intense than it has ever been. Burning through her, bringing her anger to life. She could feel it raging inside of her, swirling around her ready to burst forth and then the voice spoke. The fire in your soul is burning, for the future you are yearning! Wipe those eyes no time for tears, silence those cries no time for fears! Stand tall, stand proud. Stop this now and say it loud! Get your pillars back on track, move fast and plan your attack! The words swirled and danced around her head, fueling the inferno blazing inside her. Dax handed Marcus back to his mom and she stormed into the back yard. Those bozos are in for it now! The girls on the deck watched on, eyes wide, mouths dropped, no one able to say anything.
….grrrRRRrRRrRRRRRrRRrRRRrrrr….
The growl ripped from her chest and flooded the yard, all action, all movement stopped as every set of eyes stared at her. Her eyes glowing with her wolf on the surface and the flames of rage burning in them.
“SIT THE FUCK DOWN!” She demanded, Carter and Marco were the first ones to hit the ground, followed quickly by Kane. The last time she looked like that, she throat punched Lacey then bitch slapped her, he wasn’t disobeying. Johnny and Kenneth were right behind him. Edward and Damon both dropped as well. Once everyone was on their asses staring up at her like small children she approached them.
“What the fuck is wrong with all of you?” Damon went to open his mouth and she held up her hand silencing him. She wasn’t asking to get a response.
“The correct answer is we are all being big fucking stupids right now. We don’t have time for this bullshit. You’re scared, I’m scared, everyone is fucking scared. Putting me in the open is the only way this is going to end….” both Kane and Damon went to say something and she levelled them both with a glare.
“Find a fucking way to do it safely. The warehouse is our best option. He may know the layout, but I know it better. You come with me” She pointed at Kane and moved away from the others.
“NOW!” Dax growled when he wasn’t moving fast enough.
“Good luck brother!” Damon called after him
“Are we just supposed to sit here?” Edward asked,
“If that’s how she looked after she smacked the crap out of Lacey, I ain’t moving from this spot till she says I can” Johnny quipped back, earning head nods from the others. They could see the girls on the deck laughing at them as they continued to sit in their time out spot on the lawn.
“Baby….” he started to say then abruptly stopped when she held up a hand to silence him.
“You don’t get to talk right now. I’m mad at you.” His eyes widened trying to figure out what he did and if he was going to get smacked for it.
“This is not how I wanted to spend what could very well be our last family dinner. Scolding a bunch of grown ass men over their childish behaviour. You know this is the only way. You knew this was going to be the only way from the very beginning, you just didn’t want to admit it.” She pegged it right on. He knew, he knew from the start this was going to be how it ended with her in the line of fire.
“This is not going to be our last one” He snapped at her
“It is if we don’t start facing reality.” She snapped back,
“There has to be another way. One that does….”
“There’s not, so stop pretending there is any other way for this to play out. This epic douche canoe declared fucking war. Now, all of you need to put your big boy pants on and stop acting like a bunch of fucking pussies” She was beyond angry, her wolf coming more and more to surface with each word she spoke. Though he was not entirely certain it was just her speaking. I don’t think I have ever heard her call someone a pussy! Ky was howling in his head.
“I don’t want to spend our last days fighting with you, I want to spend them fighting for our life beside you. You fight, I fight!” She said to him,
“You fight, I fight” He repeated. He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly to him. He didn’t want to let her go, he never wanted to let her go.
“Promise me something” She whispered,
“Anything baby” he said,
“Don’t let me go alone” He closed his eyes tightly when he heard those words leave her mouth. He didn’t have to ask what she was talking about. He didn’t need to. He wanted to tell her they were going to make it and everything was going to be fine. But he knew, he knew that might not be the case, he knew he had to prepare himself for the inevitable that they might not make it. He didn’t want to spend the remaining days fighting with her either, he wanted to spend them with his arms around her holding her tight. She was fighting, so he was fighting, if the end came and they didn’t complete the trial….
“We go together….I promise” He whispered back.