Eventide

Chapter 5. Dinner

Chapter 5

Dinner

(Show Me What I’m Looking For, by Carolina Liar)

     As Lekuton inched toward me, the other two crept in from the sides.  My mouth flooded as their stench burned through my head.  The sting in my snout did not make my eyes water or make me want to flinch away from them.  On the contrary, I couldn’t wait until they were within striking distance.  I wanted nothing more than to rip into their granite skin, again and again until there was nothing left to tear apart or nothing left of me.  Pure fury hazed my vision.  Red bled every other color from my world.

     As they reached the edge of my striking range, three things happened at once.  Lekuton stopped his advance and braced himself, the leech on my left hit the ground and convulsed, and a sound like a shotgun blast accompanied a blur of motion to my right.  I watched as a pair of jean-clad legs replaced the bare legs of the shirtless one, who went airborne and flew into the trees past Lekuton.

     A pale, stone hand appeared just inches from my muzzle, palm toward me as if motioning for me to hold position.  This wasn’t like shooting fish in a barrel, it was like tying a fish to the ground and blasting it at pointblank range.  Taking his hand off at the wrist would be no challenge at all.

     Stop!  Jacob’s command did not hold the timbre of the Alpha Voice, but it snapped within my mind hard enough to make me pause.  Don’t even think about it.

     Jacob’s thoughts wove with mine, his relief and practiced calm sliding me back down through the red haze.  It felt a little like drowning because what I craved most was a big breath of hate.

     I ground my aching teeth as I tried to shake off the murderous rage, a steady growl grinding from my throat as the bloodlust abated enough for a small measure of coherent thought.  

     Garrett’s amber eyes widened and he wisely withdrew his hand.

     The one in the tattered suit flashed away from us to take up position at Lekuton’s flank, a pained expression on his face as he warily eyed Kate.  The shirtless one bolted from the woods and raced straight toward Garrett.  If Lekuton hadn’t held up his fist I think he would have continued his charge.  Like a trained dog, the shirtless one halted at Lekuton’s other side.

     Our two lines faced one another, three on three.  I reminded myself to keep Kate and Garrett in mind when the fight started.  Jacob would get all grouchy if I made a mistake and tore into our allies.

     Garrett leaned forward in his crouch.  He leveled his right forearm in front of him and cocked his left fist.

     “Hold.”  Kate’s voice rang with confusion, her eyes riveted on Lekuton.

     No, not Lekuton, I realized as I tracked her stare, but the enormous tooth he wore from a leather strip around his neck.

     “Hunting?” Kate asked.

     “A few grizzlies.  They’re irritable this time of year,” Lekuton said.  “Good practice for my servants.  Sharpens their skills.”

     Kate nodded, obviously understanding something I didn’t.

     What was the point of hunting animals, no matter how large and fierce?  Their ruby eyes proved they fed on human blood.  Taking down a grizzly, even a monster large enough to own that tooth Lekuton wore, would hardly be a challenge for their kind.

     I wondered if he would have worn one of my teeth around his neck had Kate and Garrett not arrived in time.

     “Your pet could use some obedience training,” Lekuton said in a casual tone.  He remained crouched, but his expression relaxed.  “It wounded my servant.  I may have to make another to replace him.”