By the time the pilot announced that we were on the final approach I was ready to shift and eat something. Talia and Khloe were both laughing at me and Joseph just had that ‘I know how you feel’ look on his face. What the hell has come over me? I have never been this nervous about meeting people. Ok so, Khloe and I were seeing each other and it was obviously more than a casual thing but why was I this bothered about meeting her parents? Was it because my wolf had already made up his mind and was seeking the same from Khloe’s falcon? Mom had told me that her wolf knew the moment she met dad that he was hers. Was this the same? Only one way to find out.
The landing was uneventful and as the jet taxied over to the private aviation terminal, the girls went to the bathroom to freshen up. I packed up my laptop, maps, and satellite photos into my backpack. The crew had passed out custom declaration forms to all of us before they went about preparing the jet for our departure. The co-pilot came out of the cockpit and asked me how long they should wait in Lima for us. I told him to hold that thought and pulled out my phone and called my mom.
“Hey, how long do you want us to keep the plane and crew down here before they should return?”
“Hmmm, how about two weeks. That should give you guys ample time and if it’s going to take longer, give us a heads-up. You did bring the satellite phone with you?” My mom asked.
“Yes, we have it and two extra batteries. I’m going to make sure it’s charged before we leave Khloe’s parents’ house.”
“Ok then, two weeks. Tell them to find a nice five-star hotel and put it on the corporate credit card.” She hung up.
I looked at the co-pilot and said, “Looks like you guys are getting a two-week vacation.” I then explained the instructions that my mom had given. He nodded as he ducked back into the cockpit where I heard him passing on the instructions to the pilot.
As the girls came back, the cabin crew was opening the door and lowering the stairs. I glanced out the door and noticed a police car and a black SUV headed in our direction. I told everyone to hang tight while I checked out what they could possibly want. I was hoping that it was just the customs official but who knew. Khloe followed me out and down the stairs and stood beside me. She kept giving me quick looks to see if I was going to say anything about her defying me and following me out of the plane.
Turned out that the police vehicle was the customs and immigration officials. The two customs officials examined our passports and customs declaration cards. He was taken aback by the diplomatic passports and didn’t like the diplomatic seals on the storage cases either. Well, he could go pound sand before I was going to volunteer to open those up for him to inspect. I don’t think he’d take to kindly to us bringing enough firepower to start a war into his country. They stamped our passports and were on their way. Talia pulled out her phone and searched for a cargo company that we could hire to take us to Tabatinga as the occupants of the other SUV got out and headed toward us, or should I say, toward Khloe. She went rigid next to me, which caused my wolf to wake up. Both men were over six feet with athletic builds and had the dark hair and eyes commonly found in South America. They were both Were’s.
“Ms. Ashling, you need to come with us.” The first man said in a tone that indicated he expected Khloe to comply without question. Yeah, well fuck that.
“Khloe, who are these men?” I asked as I kept my eyes on them and my hand on her back in an effort to lend her whatever strength I could.
“Plane is booked. What is this?” Talia asked walking up behind Khloe and me.
Khloe still hadn’t responded to anyone yet as the two men eyed our group with suspicion and continued, “This is of no concern of yours. She is one of us and we will take her from here. Thank you for bringing her home. You can get on your plane and leave.”
“Da fuck!?” Talia exclaimed as she got ready for a fight.
My wolf was fully awake now and was threatening to take over as I replied to them. “My MATE isn’t going anywhere with you!” My voice rougher than usual which caused them to back up a step and reach for weapons.
“Mate?” Khloe said as she looked at me with love in her eyes and put a hand on my shoulder to calm my wolf. “Dorian, these men are from my ‘clan’ and work for my mother.” She looked back to the men and continued, “Manuel, why are you here and not my parents?”
He eyed our group and hesitated before answering Khloe’s question. “I’m not sure what I have to say is for anyone else’s ears. They aren’t ‘clan’.”
“As the big one here who is about to rip your head off said. He’s my mate and this one with the blades out is my sister in everything except blood. Whatever you have to say to me can be said to them.”
“As you wish. Your parents were taken some time before dawn. We don’t know how or who.” He finally said as he bowed his head.
Khloe went still at those words and grabbed both Talia’s and my hand before she said in an almost incomprehensible whisper, “Take me home now.”
Talia told Joseph and the others what had happened. She ordered them to stay and guard the plane and our gear while we went to find out how someone kidnapped Khloe’s parents.
The drive took about an hour and half and Khloe just held my and Talia’s hand, not saying anything. When we pulled up to her parent’s house she ran to the front door as soon as she was free. I gave Talia a knowing look and she nodded back as I followed Khloe inside. I followed her scent to what had to be her parent’s bedroom. She just stood there staring at nothing. As I entered she turned and ran to me and threw her arms around me. With no one around, she broke down crying as her body began to shake uncontrollably. I just held her and rubbed her back while I whispered to her that we would find them and get them back. I also added that whoever took them would pay with their lives. My wolf was in complete agreement with me, especially the ‘pay with their lives’ part.
After about 20 minutes of us standing there, I could sense when Talia had entered the house, and I followed her movements with my ears as she searched for anything that might give us an idea as to who and why. I already had my suspicions as to the who part but I was not sure as to the why.
Slowly Khloe began to gather herself and confront this situation. She looked up at me and smirked. “Mate, huh?” she shook her head as she wiped tears from her face. “I guess I should be happy that it didn’t take you longer to figure that out. You’ve been mine since that day in the dojo.” I must have had a bewildered look on my face because she laughed a little before pulling me down for a quick kiss. “Ok, let’s have a look around to see if we can find anything.” She said turning back around to take everything in.
“I’m going to change. My nose is better in wolf form.”
As I began to take my clothes off, Talia entered. “Khloe, I brought the bag with your spell stuff inside. Thought you might need it.” She handed the bag to her.
“Thanks, T.” She began to rummage in her bag and pulled out what looked like a wand from those popular movies from a few years back. She looked at me and said, “Not a word from you. Yes, I am a fan and it is practical.”
I didn’t say a word as I let the change take me and I fell forward and landed on four paws. I gave myself a thorough shake, walked up, and nudged Khloe with my head. She reached down, gave my head a scratch, and said, “I love you too. Now go and see what you can scent.” She pushed my head away.
I started by the windows and slowly worked my way around the room, saving the bed for last. I had a feeling that is where I would find what I was looking for but I didn’t want to be sloppy and possibly miss something else.
As I worked my way around the room, Khloe stood in the middle with her wand pointed at her parent’s bed. She began speaking in what I believe was a mix of Gaelic and Spanish. I felt the energy in the room build as she continued to work the spell she was casting. As I got over by the bed I was hit by the smell of something dead, or I should say, something that was beyond death. I began growling and pawing at the floor where the smell was coming from.
Khloe finished her spell and came over to where I was pawing the floor. “Back up and let me see what you’ve found.” She held her wand over the spot and said something I couldn’t make out. “Looks like dad got you. Probably from one of those priests that follow Kirin. I think I know how it was done but I’m not sure why unless Kirin thinks we have the book.” She walked over to their bed and began to search it. I turned around and went back over to my clothes and began to change back. As I was putting my shoes back on I heard Khloe gasp.
I rushed to her side. “What did you find?”
She pulled back the sheets to present a human skull with what looked like rubies in the eye sockets and was covered in what could only be arcane symbols. As soon as the light hit the eyes they began to glow and then an eerie voice began speaking in some language that I didn’t know, but apparently, Khloe did. After the voice faded, Khloe cried out something in another language and the skull exploded and shattered the rubies.
I looked at her. “I’m guessing that we don’t need that.” I pointed at the remains left from whatever spell she had cast.
She shook her head and was about to say something when. “What the fuck was all that?” Talia appeared in the doorway along with Manuel, both with blades drawn.
“No, it was from Kirin. He said he has my parents and for me to bring him the Book of Souls or their essence will be added to his.” She shuddered as she said the last part.
She looked at Manuel. “You and Diego need to assemble the Warriors of the Sacred Clans and we will meet you at the Kaminaljuyu archaeological site near Guatemala City after we retrieve the book. Kirin will be waiting for us at the ruins of the city bearing his name, Kirin. It’s intentionally not known for anything of significance. It’s about 5 miles north of Kaminaljuyu, near one of the volcanos that circle the valley.”
Manuel nodded and, with what I think was some form of salute, he slipped out of the room to do as she had asked.
“Warriors of the Sacred Clans?” Talia asked pointedly.
“Yes, they are what you would’ve learned in history as the Eagle and Jaguar Warriors of the Maya and Inca people. They, or as I should say we, are cat and bird shifters and we are quite proficient at fighting vampires. Unlike North America and the other countries around the world, there has never been any kind of peace between the vampires of Central and South America. Most of the hatred stems from when Kirin ruled this part of the world for almost 1500 years. That was before Spanish Vampires came with the Conquistadors, saw what he was doing, and knowingly help the Were’s here overthrow and we thought kill him.”
“Ok, then nothing has changed. We still need to get to Tabatinga and get that book.” I said as I pulled out my cell phone as we made our way back outside and over to the SUV. I called my parents and Talia called Joseph to let them know what we had found and to meet us at the Air Freight company we were using to get us to Tabatinga.