The Revelation

Jacob’s eyes opened, adjusting to the dim light in the room. A single bulb, covered with a metal mesh, hung above him. He put his hand out, finding it now free of those horrible Druid powers. Cold cement touched his skin. The entire room was a cell. A prison of some sort. No windows. No door to be seen. Just four walls of gray and the lone light.

Something scraped along the concrete, screeching and creaking like nails on a very large chalkboard. A shadow filled the room, hovering over Jacob. It was a strange sight. Like a hulking man, bent over too far. A second shadow behind it. Nothing more than a blob of black against the wall.

He looked around, trying to glimpse at whatever created the strange noise. Heavy deep breaths sounded in his ear, reeking of rotted meat. Jacob turned to see two long snouts panting at him. Two Werewolves in full shift sat on their haunches. One was a golden brown and the other a wiry gray and black with shaggy fur. Their eyes followed his movements, watching his arms raise above his head in surrender.

“I didn’t do anything to you!” He said. “Let me out of here! I’m…”

“You’re Jacob Stuart.” One wolf growled. “We know.”

“How can you speak?” He whispered.

“We’re life long wolves, Jacob. We can control it for a time.” Said the other wolf.

His head darted between the two of them. “What do you want with me?”

“You told us who you are.” One wolf growled. “Don’t you want to know who we are?”

“No.” He said.

The bronzed wolf gave him a feral grin, pushing her snout so close that his nose nearly touched hers. The more she spoke, the lower her voice became. As if the human inside was the very last thing to shift. Soon, they would both be full on hunters, looking for live prey.

“I’m Erin Neason. That’s my husband, Brian.” The wolf said.

“Oh, God…” Jacob stood up, rushing toward the far wall covered in darkness. He beat on the wall, screaming and clawing at the concrete until his fingers bled. “Someone help! Let me out! This is an illegal hunt! I’m a human! Help! Help!”

“Too late.” Erin panted.

That was the last human voice Jacob ever heard. Both wolves circled him, watching their scared target scramble to escape a room void of anything except for them. Outside of the room, two Druids and three Vampires stood in the safe area of the Hunting Sanctuary.

A blood-curdling scream was followed by the sound of pure terror. The type of yell that caused someone to look away even if they did not see the limbs being torn from the body. Jacob’s cries gurgled and muffled. Then two loud howls called to the pack in the inner parts of the Sanctuary. Every Werewolf answered with a mournful call, remembering their leader who died at the hands of a dead man.

“Isaac can rest now.” Wren said.

“That’s the end of Jacob Stuart.” Said Sandy. “I won’t wish a rest on him.”

The following night, the same group sat at Florian’s, enjoying drinks and some dinner in the newly cleaned kitchen. Brian and Erin were due in soon, and then they’d have to get down to business. Councils across the world were connecting with local leaders, coming up with plans on how to stave off the rest of the Iron Oath.

Until the Werewolf pack leaders showed up, it was time for some joy. Anika spared no expense at the dinner, providing a spread of fresh seafood for Kerri and delectable vegetarian dishes for Sandy and Wren both. The smell of roasted root vegetables, savory spices, and herbal tea filled the house.

Brutus lay under the dining room table with a sizable bone that still had meat on it. Next to him, two mastiffs chewed happily on their own bones. After seeing the Vet, all three dogs became quick friends. It seemed Jacob’s experimental serum had to be applied again and again in order to work. Once their master was gone, Nero and Cesar found their voices. Wren was their temporary care taker until the two dogs found a Druid or human of their choosing.

Both Florian and Oliver kept their eyes on each other, still dealing with an uneasy tension. There was much to be discussed, and plenty to get revenge for. The two had called a temporary truce until the Iron Oath was dealt with, but they were aware it would not last forever.

“Wren.” Sandy said. “I’ve heard from Kira in Denver.”

“Kira? Kira on the council Kira?” Wren asked.

“Mhmm.” Sandy spoke between a bite. “The council wants to see you. They’re hoping you can help them come up with a better plan.”

Wren closed her eyes, exhaling a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “They’ve hated me for years.”

“Things have changed.” Sandy said. “I can go with you if you’d like. I’ve got time off.”

“I’d be happy for moral support.” Wren nodded.

“I suppose we’ll be neighbors, then.” Anika said. “Florian and I are seeing our council in Los Angeles along with Oliver and that Hook thing. Council members from every country are coming to see it. Some of our elders may put the puzzle together.”

“And I’ll be explaining what it is to our council.” Wren said. “That leaves Brian and Erin to deal with Atlanta.”

“And I stay in this house.” Kerri sighed.

Wren shrugged. “Have you ever visited Colorado?”

“No.”

“I haven’t either. I heard it’s nice. You should come.” Wren said.

Sandy nodded in agreement. “Your experience would be good to share. Some councils aren’t human friendly. The Druids are. They’d hear your story too.”

Kerri opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the strange behavior of the animals. Spock stood up with her hair on end, rushing around the kitchen like something was chasing her. All three dogs jumped to standing. They panted, bobbing their heads back and forth as if they were trying to shake something off of them.

“Spock! The dogs!” Sandy called out.

“Brutus, what’s wrong?” Wren said.

Cesar, Brutus, and Nero whined, rubbing their paws over their ears and Spock meowed the most pitiful noise, waving two paws in the air. Just then, Wren and Sandy both heard a howling whirlwind rushing past them. It was like a tornado in the room. A train charging through the area with no way to stop.

After the wind came a tidal wave, crashing on them again and again. The earth rumbled and flames roared in their heads. Every element the Druids had an affinity for seemed to race through them, and both women fell to the floor with the force of nature itself coursing through their bodies.

Wren gasped, finally taking in a breath of sweet ocean air after the sulfuric smoke choked her and the water nearly drowned her. Things calmed then, like the seaside on a warm day. Quiet waters, birds calling, and a bonfire crackling happily in the distance.

A voice called to them. It was so far away that both women strained to hear it. The noise was pitiful. Like a child crying for help.

“Save me.” It begged. “You can hear me. Now follow my voice. The Hook. Follow The Hook.”

It fizzled out, leaving Sandy and Wren lying on the floor in a nearly catatonic state. Everything they had just experienced happened in their heads. But their bodies felt it. Every flame. Every wave. And every gust of wind.

Kerri was the first to their side, cradling Sandy’s head in her arms as she yelled for Florian to call an ambulance. Sandy blinked, turning her head to Kerri like someone on drugs. Her eyes slid closed, then opened again as if she were trying to understand where she was.

“No need for a Doctor.” Sandy said. “We’re fine.”

“What happened?” Oliver asked, helping Wren get into a sitting position.

“I don’t know.” Wren rubbed her face. “I’ve never…”

Sandy’s phone lit up, and five notifications went off at once. Her phone rang, then stopped, and rang again. More notifications went off. She put her hand out, and Kerri grabbed it for her. The woman’s eyes narrowed as she swiped her finger across the screen.

“Kevin. Ronan. India. Eric from Homestead. Two in Kendall. Angelique in Orlando. There’s Harry in Georgia. David in Tennessee. Abby in Alabama…” Sandy looked at Wren. “Every Druid in the South heard it.”

“What was it?” Florian asked.

“Every element all at once.” Wren said. “It was so real, I swear my skin was burned. I knew I was drowning. Then it was a voice. It was so sad I wanted to cry.”

“It said follow The Hook to save someone.” Sandy looked at Oliver.

After a long pause, Oliver rested on his knees. “I’ve heard rumors of something. I never believed them. It was in the quietest of halls and died out early last century. They said the other Hook is attached to something powerful. An Ancient.”

“An Ancient?” Anika blinked. “Impossible. The only two alive are on councils.”

Elders were one thing in Vampiric circles. Ancients were nearly unheard of. Vampires so old that their bodies and minds developed some very strong and odd abilities. Some even called it magic. With age came much wisdom, and seeing far too much. Most Ancients offed themselves, throwing their bodies onto a stake and ending it before their mind went too far. Very few lived to that age.

“We have to see the council.” Sandy said. “If they don’t call me before the night is over.”

“I’m sure they will.” Said Wren.

“We’ll all be going.” Florian answered. “Los Angeles can wait for a few days. If it involves The Hook, we will all be part of it.”

The lively dinner became a much more sober affair, as Sandy fielded calls from Druids across the southern United States and the council itself. They heard of what happened and had questions for everyone involved. The only agreement they reached was Sandy and Wren must come to see the council as soon as possible. Sandy neglected to mention they’d have some guests.

Brian and Erin arrived, already hearing of the strange voice from a few Druid friends. After the business of the Druid council ended, Wren opted to take some time outside. It had all been too much for her, and she was having a difficult time holding it together. She needed her solace and time to think.

The moonlight rippled nearly white over the water, and Wren finally took a deep breath of the salty air. Her feet dug into the cool sand, and Brutus chased a piece of driftwood across the shore as the waves threatened to take it away from him. A small hermit crab crawled over the mound of sand Wren created, regarding the person with a passing interest before it continued to forage the wet sand for food.

She closed her eyes, listening to the surf lap against the shore, and every wave washed away the emotions from the last few months. Some emotions were not so simple to remove. Isaac’s death. Erin’s torturous experience. Wren’s own self-discovery. Kerri being attacked. Oliver…

Just thinking of him seemed to summon the man to her side. His bulky shadow covered her. At one time, it would have been an unwelcome intrusion, but this time it was like a blanket, wrapping her in its warmth. He sat next to her in silence, draping an arm over her shoulder as if he were testing the waters.

Wren smiled at him, taking hold of his hand. “Hi.”

“Hullo.” He said, staring at the water. “Can you handle me for a bit more?”

“We’re not sharing a hotel room in Denver.” She said.

“Course we are.” He grinned. “I made sure of it.”

“I’ll stay with Kerri.”

Oliver chuckled. “I meant it, you kno. When I said I never knew you’d go through all of this. I had my own plans. My own selfish plans. I didn’t know they’d open such a box. I am sorry.”

“I know you are.” Wren said.

“There’s something bigger than I imagined happening. For the first time, I don’t know what I’m doing.” He said.

“Maybe you might drop that cocky attitude.” Wren leaned into him.

“Nahhh.” Oliver shook his head. “You like it.”

“No, I really hate it.”

He tilted her chin toward him, leaning down until their lips met. This was it. The kiss both of them expected. Both of them wanted. There was no confusion, and no pushing the other away. It was a seal of the strange bond they had created. Where it would take them, neither knew. They would find out together.

Thank you for reading “The Revelation”, the first arc (book) in my urban fantasy series entitled “The First”. The next arc is coming in early 2023. The first chapter is available on my Patreon, and will remain there until the next story is ready to go. I hope you enjoyed it!