The Siren's Voice Calls

Chapter 17

The night had come when we were to meet with the wolves to extract information. We stood along the forest edge, out of view of the streets, under the night sky. It was Peter, Nicolae, and myself along with Sebastian, Luca, and two other members of their pack. Sebastian introduced them to us as he whispered, "These two gentlemen are Antonio and Gerard, two of our best trackers." They both nodded their heads and then Antonio spoke up, "It is the house nearest to us where that black Ford F-150 and black Ford Explorer are parked." "Why is he here?" Luca asked, pointing at Peter.

Nicolae started to speak, but I stopped him. "Nic, it's okay. I got this." Turning back to Luca, I answered, "Peter is here to make sure I remain calm and not succumb to anger. Unless you would prefer I end up killing one of them now and ruin our chances of ever getting your sister back?" My heart was beating faster because of his behavior. Peter placed his hands on my shoulders as I glared at Luca. He finally nodded his understanding when Sebastian verbally gave me his support. Suddenly, everyone's attention was turned towards the road where a black SUV was coming up the street and slowing down as it came closer to the house. The driver of the vehicle turned into the gravel driveway and parked behind the truck.

A man wearing dark clothes stepped out of the vehicle with a small chest in one hand. He walked up to the rickety old house and knocked on the front door. A taller man, broader in stature, answered the door. "Did you get it?" "Yes, of course. Here it is as requested." "Well, it is about time! Without it, she'll be able to break free of her restraints." The second man then went back inside, shutting the door behind him. The man left standing on the porch outside then turned around to walk back to his SUV. This was our chance to get what we came for. I began to call out to him with my mind, forcing him to come to us, unknowingly.

As soon as he stepped past the first set of trees, Nicolae appeared next to him in a flash. You could tell he was already inside the guy's head for he had a blank stare as soon as Nicolae held him in place. "You are in no danger," he said to the man. "I am in no danger," he repeated. "You will now open your mind to me." "Yes, of course. My mind is open to you." As Nicolae did his work, Peter took the chest from the man's hand and gave it to Sebastian. Opening the lid to smell it, Sebastian immediately grimaced and declared, "Wolfsbane!" Luca took the chest to smell it himself and confirmed likewise. "Wolfsbane? Does that not kill?" I asked them. In response, Sebastian said, "It can kill a werewolf, given the individual is capable of administering the poison. For us, though, it is simply extremely painful. They are, apparently, using it as a means of torture and to keep her subdued."

Luca and the others growled in anger. He threw the chest on the ground and walked off a few yards away behind us. "Is he going to be okay?" I asked, concerned. Sebastian answered, "Yes, he is only pacing back and forth to keep his temper from taking over." Peter picked up the chest to examine it for damage. Seeing that there was none, he placed it back in the man's hand just how it was. Nicolae spoke firmly, "I have what we need." He then commanded the man to look him in the eye. "You will not remember my friends, me, or what happened this night. You only thought you heard a noise and came to investigate, but it turned out to be an owl."

Releasing him, the man blinked a few times and turned around to leave in the direction he came. Someone else came outside to smoke a cigarette on the porch. "You're still here?" "Yes." "What were you doing out there?" "Oh, I just thought I heard something. It was just an owl, though." "Tell the boss he'll have his prize in a few days." "Good, but he wants her alive and in one piece for research. Tell your leader that. He shut the door in my face before I could inform him." "Yeah! Yeah! We get it! He'll get what he wants soon enough." The conversation ended and the guy got in his vehicle to take off down the road swiftly.

Back in Marco's cabin, we all joined in the living room to hear the update. Marco wanted every detail, so I had to explain how I managed to get the guy to walk toward the trees where we were hiding. Sebastian explained their use of the wolfsbane and how it had to be the source for them finding out what she is. It broke my heart to see Marco's reaction to the knowledge of his wife's suffering. The gold color of his eyes darkened like fire. His fists tightened as he struggled with maintaining the pain and rage within. I looked around the room to witness everyone in the pack was suffering similarly. They were a family by all counts and purposes.