As we moved into position to kick this off, I took in the temple for the first time. I was about 100’ tall, square, and looked like a mini ziggurat. The years had not been kind to the structure and I think that was the builder’s intention. First off, it was covered in lichen and moss with vines wrapped around it like an anaconda tried to strangle the last of its life. Whoever Khloe’s ancestors were built this place, hid the book, sealed it with powerful magic, and hoped that the earth would swallow the temple whole with the hope that the world would forget about this place and the book.
Half of the shifters had shifted into their wolves. One of the ones who hadn’t shifted look familiar to me. I wracked my brain and recalled seeing his photo. So, this was Dutch. My first impression of him was that I wasn’t impressed. He looked like any two-bit bully I could remember while growing up or while in the Corps. That must mean that these are the wolves that ran with him back in Boston. Well, that was one problem that was going to solve itself.
“Dutch, you’re sure that they are on their way?” One of the witches asked with a New England accent.
“Yeah, they’ll be here. I can’t wait to get my hands on that bitch Talia and make her pussy ass brother watch.” Dutch answered with some vulgar hip thrusts. Oh, he was a dead man and I wasn’t the one that was going to kill him.
“Just remember that we need the girl with the tattoos alive. Otherwise, this endeavor will be for naught.” One of the three men said with a cultured British accent. This was one of the three unknowns. My nose was telling me they were supernatural but not Vampire or Shifter. Maybe some kind of sorcerer. That would make sense, now that the existence of the book was known.
I looked over to Talia and when our eyes met she nodded and drew her blades. Then I glanced over to Khloe and she pulled out her wand and mouthed ‘I love you’ to me. I placed my hand on my heart and mouthed it back. As I was starting to undress, a three-round burst echoed in the stillness of the air. I rolled over to see who had fired, only to see Dutch’s head explode in a pink mist of blood and brain matter. Looks like Joseph heard Dutch and didn’t like his comment. The wolves scattered into the woods in the direction of Joseph’s shots.
Shots rang out in the jungle as Joseph and the guys exchanged blows with the wolves. That left the two witches and the three unknown guys. They looked all around when there was a crack of a high-powered rifle and Witch number one’s head was no longer there thanks to Kim.
Unknown number one reacted with blinding speed and a bolt of lightning shot from his hand and followed the direction of Kim’s bullet. There was an explosion in the jungle. With that, Talia and I moved. She went after Unknown number two like a spinning dancer of death. He pulled out what looked like a Viking hand axe and a small buckler shield and met Talia head on. They began to block, parry, and strike at each other.
Khloe and Witch number two were going at it like two girls back in high school. No magic, just hand to hand combat. That must have shocked Witch number two, I’ve sparred with Khloe and know she can be relentless.
Just when it looked like we might get the upper hand in this fight, I noticed that the gun fire had ceased and I saw a couple of Dutch’s wolves now back in human form dragging Joseph, who looked unconscious, back into the clearing, followed by four others and no sign of Alan or Steven. Dammit, three good people down. Talia must have seen it because as she attempted to parry a shield block by Unknown number two, she slipped and his blow caught her right in the face and she fell to the ground.
I screamed, shifted into my beast form and stalked towards Unknown number three.
“This has been rather amusing but do you think that we are threatened by one such as you?” Unknown number one said. Both he and Unknown number three raised their hands and bolts of lightning erupted from their hands. One bolt struck me in my right leg and the other in my right shoulder and caused me to go down to one knee. I tried to roll my shoulder to see how bad it was. I could smell ozone and burnt flesh.
I stood up and threw my arms out with claws extended and roared my challenge.
“Look, he stands and still fights.” Unknown number three said.
“Perhaps it will take all three of us to put this mongrel down. It has been a couple hundred years since one such as him has existed.” Unknown number two said while he secured Talia with silver chains.
I began to run toward them and hoped that Khloe would get away because I had a feeling that I wouldn’t be leaving this jungle alive.
The three unknown men joined in a circle and they all directed their hands towards me and as I went to dodge, I was hit by something and could no longer move.
“Thank you, dear. That will make this much easier.” Unknown number one had said as their hands exploded with a bright light that slammed into me and sure as hell felt like it was burning a hole through me. My roar turned into a cry of agony as pain, like I have never know, licked every nerve ending in my body. I was thrown into the jungle away from Khloe, Talia, and Joseph. My last thought was that I had failed them.