The Twisted Links

Chapter 43

CHAPTER 43

25 years ago...

"Abram! Don't eat that!" A pregnant Ameera pulled a dirty sock from her toddler's mouth.

The little boy merely laughed.

"You know how much your pappa feet stink. That's just nasty!"

"My feet do not stink!" Abraham said walking through the front door. The usual teasing light was missing from his eyes and Ameera could detect his worry through their bond.

"What is it?" she asked.

Abraham sighed. "They're placing a curfew on the Community and we have to have ID cards whenever we leave our homes. Also, they're dividing us into sections. Shifters, Vampires, and Witches. We are already in the designated Shifter side so we won't have to move."

Rumors had spread for a while now. Abraham and Ameera lead a protest against the possible upheaval. The coming changes started after Matthew Brush took over as Head of the Hunter's Council. Brush first came to power after the elderly Head of Council had sadly passed. They had been excited for their friend, Alec, as he was named Lead Council, second only to Brush himself. Unfortunately, the long hours and added duties took Alec away from his friends or at least that's what they told themselves.

The last time Abraham had saw Alec in the market place, he was surrounded by guards and acted distant from his friend almost as though the fox shifter was a stranger.

"They can't do this!" Ameera burst out.

She was concerned for their future. She loved her neighbors. On one side was an elderly witch who had a beautiful garden surrounding her home. She would give Ameera seedlings and cuttings to start her own garden. Ameera made sure that she would have a ride to the market for food and necessities. Who would look after her? Wizards and witches usually kept to themselves and the older woman needed help as her eyesight was almost gone.

Across from them was a vampire called Eesha. She worked as an agent for the Hunters. They got to know each other when Ameera had an office job before Abram was born. Eesha took the house on the other side of the small road and the two women had become best friends. Eesha would come over and play with Abram. Often babysitting so that Ameera could rest and the occasionally time when the couple could go out for a date.

"They changes go into effect in two weeks. Until then we're in a semi lockdown." Abraham said.

"Then we'll leave."

"We can't. You and I have too many enemies and not enough allies in the outside world."

"I will not live as a prisoner."

"And I will not let my mate and children be in danger!"

At the sound of his father's raised voice, Abram began to cry. Picking the toddler up with a soothing kiss to his forehead. Abraham looked at his mate they rarely argued and neither liked the tension. "I love you." He said with a small smile.

Ameera smiled back, "I love you too."

A familiar knock sounded before the door swung open. Eesha walked in holding a pink slip.

"They want us out by next Wednesday to give someone else a chance to move in before the deadline." She said.

"We could do another protest." Ameera suggested.

"No." Eesha said shaking her head. "They'll look for someone to make an example out of to instill fear and maintain order. Every tumultuous period in history usually starts with restrictions, division, and blood."

"We have to leave." Ameera said.

"It's too dangerous." Abraham argued. Visions of his past haunted him, a group called the Prime Purity, tried to end his life and wiped out so many of his family to end the line of foxes. Legend said that a fox would end the life of one of the witches they were trying to protect. It was the reason he moved here with his mate. The Hunters would protect them.

"It's best to wait." Eesha suggested. "They have a medical facility here. It would be hard to go to another hospital without having to answer a lot of questions especially giving birth to a rare shifter whether it be a crow or fox kind."

Ameera sighed and with a heavy heart stared at her son that had fallen asleep in father's arms. "Fine. But I don't like this."

Abraham gave his mate a small smile before carrying the small boy to his room for a nap. Eesha laid a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "I've contacted a friend. He's going to help us. Now just focus on getting fat and not stressing out." With a teasing smile, Eesha left to pack.

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2 months later...

The Community that had once lived in harmony now only existed with fear. The yellow ID cards had to be on display in holders worn around the neck. Abraham went to work each day and noticed that the Hunters would be more and more distant. Even the friendly guard manning the front door no longer gave a polite greeting to those entering or leaving the facility.

It was sickening feeling watching the world change for the worst and being forced to accept these changes out of fear. He no longer felt the need to insist upon staying but where would they go?

Today there would be an inspection and everyone worked hard to make sure that everything was in tiptop shape. There was an uneasy energy in the air and Abraham dreaded the upcoming visit. Even the Hunters working as guards and managers were tense.

The doors swung open and a man wearing an expensive suit walked in followed by a crew of well-dressed humans in business suits and Hunters in official uniform. Abraham wished that he could say that he was relieved in seeing his old friend but honestly, he no longer recognized the young man that used to come over for dinner and play cards with.

"I want ever book and file examined. Remove all the appliances from the worker's lounge. Also, I want reports on ever worker here. Anyone without an ID on them in the building is to be arrested." Alec commanded coldly.

The group disbursed to carry out his orders. Two shifters and a vampire were immediately arrested for not having their tags on display. Instead, they had taken the IDs off and placed them on their desks. Abraham watched as they searched his cubicle and turned over his desk looking for Creator only knew what.

Anger burned and Abraham's eyes glowed amber when they ripped the picture of Ameera and Abram from its frame. Yet he remained silent. Four more people were arrested when they protested their personal spaces being invaded. The injustice left a bitter taste in his mouth and a pang in his heart. He decided when they got the chance, they would run.

After Alec and the others left, Abraham began setting his office to right. Brushing off the picture of his mate and child, he set it carefully in the now dented desk. Looking up, he noticed one of the vampires, who's cubicle was two down from his, slip into the bathroom. He followed hoping that no one else would follow.

Making sure that the room was empty, he approached the vampire washing his hands.

"Tom?"

"Yeah, Abe?"

"Could you deliver a message for me?"