Midnight Passion

Changing Tides

 Rhode Island

Amy walked into Tech Industries and headed for the elevator. Her mind preoccupied with the plans she had made with Marco. She had given them a picture of Kara. Making sure it was known that when they took her, Maxim was not to be hurt. She had arranged for a truck to carry the victims to the check point. From there they could do whatever they pleased with them she didn't care. Her only thought was to remove Kara and Maxim would be hers. Stepping through the elevator doors, Amy ignored Maxim secretary and she called out.
"Mrs. Russell... Mrs. Russell."
Amy huffed and turned around "what?"
"Mr. Russell is not in."
"What do you mean that he is not in? Where is he?
"He is gone for the day"
"Gone where?"
Amy stepped closer to Sarah letting her see the changing of her eyes.
"I just asked you a question Sarah where is Maxim?"

"Mr. Russell and his wife flew to Toronto."

Amy narrowed her eyes.

"Why are they in Toronto?"

"That I do not know Mrs. Russell. I was told to cancel all his afternoon appointments.

"When will they return?"

"Mr. Russell is booked to fly back in tomorrow morning."

Amy looked Sarah up and down before she turned and walked away. her black heels tapping across the tile floor as she made her way to the elevator. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out her cell phone.

"Where are you now? Speak up I can't hear you! Turn the car around come back to Tech Industries I'll be waiting for you outside."

Amy stepped through the open elevator door, she stared ahead her eyes focused on nothing.

Maxim's POV

"Why have you summoned us all here Jared?"

Jared eyed the group of men, leaders of the various panther clans sitting before him. He wanted more than anything to slam his fist through the mahogany table. The pain that it would bring would stabilized his turbulent emotions. But in the end, all it took was Elva's touch to bring himself under control. He spoke the words as if they left a bad taste in his mouth.

"Female trafficking."

"Female trafficking? Maxim look puzzled at the northern clan leader.

"Explain."

"Despite what you have heard about us. We live a peaceful and quiet life here in Toronto. Long gone are the ways of our people feuding among themselves. Every man, woman and child work productively. A part of a whole. But as of late that has not been the case. My people, rather my women are under siege. Have any of you heard of a woman called the Viper?"

Lucas immediately knew what Jared was going to say next.

"Of course, I have heard of her."

Jared looked Lucas in the eye before he turned his gaze to the other members. Each alpha male in the group brought members with them. Maxim members were his wife Kara, Klaus and Dre. Lucas chose Boomer, Anthony, and Jasper. usually he was son was by his side but he was not present. Word travels fast through the vines of the panther underground. He was ashamed of his actions towards his wife's sister. Xavier Clan made up by Shelby, Pinto and Demarcus. Jared himself chose to have his two wives at his side. He wasn't sure why the news he was discussing had not passed the underground. The Viper was behind the killings in Toronto.

"Wait" Xavier said "Who in the hell is this Viper? and how in the hell is she getting into your clan undetected?"

"That is a mystery that needs to be solved, as she is killing off members of my clan, but mainly she's getting in at night. The women and girl children are being taken. Everyone else throat is cut."

Appalled Kara asked "What about the boys?" Jared looked Kara in the eyes before answering.

"Suffocated while they sleep."

Shelby closed her eyes as am image of Emerald's small smiling face popped into her head. She gave herself a mental shake. Impossible, she thought. True that all the clans were powerful. But Jared clan was ferocious

"Is there any proof that this woman exists?"

Lucas nodded his head. He knew what Jared clan was going through. 

"The Viper had wreaked havoc with the southern panthers a couple of months back. The killings with a same, as well as a taking of women. My clan fell victim a few months back. An ugly thing like that you don't want the word out. We were getting close to tracking the Viper down, when the kidnapping stopped."

"What about you Xavier?"

"Nothing has happened to my people."

"Nor has anything happen to mine" Maxim stated.

"Tell me what it is that you want from us Jared?"

"If it is as Lucas has said and the Viper is on to us. She may be coming after you or Xavier's people next. I say we form a task force. Members from our clan to patrol our borders and homes. We need to set a trap for her, and bring her to justice."

Elva over lean towards Jared and whispered in his ear. Jared nodded and address to group.

"Yes, you're quite right. I almost forgot my wife has informed me that although the women and girls are being taken. but it's mostly women with the sight."

"Are you saying seers are the target?"

"Yes."

Shelby looked to Kara and they stared at each other. Both woman thoughts were on Emerald.

 Kara's POV 

I heard what Jared said and I knew Shelby had heard it too by the way she was staring at me. No one in the room knew both of our thoughts or on Emerald. Could the Viper hit our people next? There were so many unanswered questions running through my mind. I prayed they didn't display themselves across my face. I'm sure fear was the first one to show its ugly head. I feared for the students at the center and for the other women of our clan. I spoke out of turn.

"Maxim, we got to do something, Emerald is a seer."

Maxim's eyes held my gaze. I wanted to feel reassured that the Viper wouldn't get to her. but I wasn't.

 "You bet we do!" That kid said to beware of the leopards. Let's drag a few of them in here to see what they know."

Jared held up his hand and shook his head. 

"We can't stoop to the level of the Viper. We need to get the word out to the other six Clans in the regions.

"I agree" Maxim said" let's see if these kidnappings are happening all over. Or is it just the panther clan that is being targeted."

All the men nodded their heads and just like that the meeting was over. I found myself standing off to the side with Shelby talking, when Elva approached. The other Woman Stacy followed behind her. 

"Hello I'm Elva. Jared's alpha.

"I'm Stacy his second wife."

I took each of their extended hands and shook them. Shelby did the same.

"You say you have a Seer within your clan. a girl child?"

"Yes... yes, both women looked at each other and stepped closer. Stacy was the one who delivered the message.

"This was left at our door addressed to me. I no longer have the sight, since I have been married to Jared."

I took the paper from her hand and slowly unfolding it. I didn't know what I would find. I looked at Shelby and peeled it open. I stared at a photo of me looking down at Emerald inside the Children's Center. Shelby started to motion for her brother. When Elva stopped her.

"Don't we also receive this from the Viper."

I took another paper from them and unfolded it. This time the photo were of two little boys

"Who are they?" I asked.

They replied and unison "our sons" ...

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