\[Elise’s POV\]
“Are we almost there?”
Marty’s voice rings out, rousing me from the nap that I was trying to take. This was maybe the tenth or eleventh time he asked the same damn question, and I had half a mind to knock his ass out so that he didn’t ask it again.
“Ask that one more time.” Charlie growls, mirroring my own annoyance. “And I will throw you out of this fucking van.”
“I’m so bored, though.” Marty sighs.
Opening an eye, I lazily look from one man to the other. If I knew that they had such a bad dynamic, I would have asked to travel alone. I thought Marty and William were irritating when together, but Marty and Charlie were so much worse.
“Then find something to occupy yourself.” Charlie huffs, narrowing his gaze. “You have a phone; find some games.”
“I can’t play the games on my phone around people.” Marty chirps. “Those aren’t meant for when I’m alone.”
Grimacing, I try not to imagine what exactly it is that he plays, although I have a good idea what they are.
“You really need to find yourself a woman.” Charlie says.
“You’re one to talk.” Marty laughs, only making the tense atmosphere around us grow. “You’re just as single as me.”
“At least I can get women.” Charlie shoots back. “You’re too fucking annoying to...”
“Shut up!” I snap, opening my other eye. “I’m trying to sleep, and I can’t with the two of you bickering like school kids.”
“Whoops, we roused the tigress.” Marty says, giving me an apologetic look. “I apologize, mistress; would you like to punish me for disturbing your sleep?”
“Charlie,“ I say instead, ignoring Marty. “Could you make good with your promise and throw this bastard out?”
At my words, a look of fake hurt flashes in Marty’s eyes as he lifts his hands as if surrendering.
“When we return, I’m going to tell Rosco that the two of you bullied me.”
“Go ahead,” I snap. “But before you get the chance, you’ll be six feet under.”
“You can try, sweetheart.” He chuckles. “But we’ve already sparred once, and I kicked your ass.”
“Now, now, children.” Jose finally says, joining the conversation. “Let’s play nicely.”
Opening my mouth, I prepare to argue but don’t get the chance as something slams into the van we are in. Gasping, I find myself being thrown to the side while the vehicle sways from impact.
“What the hell?” Charlie growls, his aura bursting from him. “What the fuck was that?”
As the words leave his lips, a loud screeching rings out around us as what looks to be a claw bursts through the roof above us.
“We’re under attack!” Warren yells from the front seat. “Prepare yourselves.”
“Yay!” Marty claps. “Finally, something interesting.”
He sounds like a damn child as he gets up and extends his claws, and when his eyes flash a dangerous red, I know that he plans on causing some damage.
“Don’t just sit there, everyone; we have playmates waiting on us.” He continues, yanking open the door beside him. “We have playmates, and we can’t leave them waiting.”
Finished speaking, he jumps out of the van while the rest of us remain watchful.
“You heard him.” I say, not wanting to be a sitting duck. “Look alive, handsome.”
Giving a grin, I move forward and jump, shifting midair, and when I hit the ground, I begin to look around until I spot a large crow-looking beast with sharp teeth protruding from its open beak.
‘Isn’t he creepy?’ Anna giggles. ‘Shall we catch him and cook him for dinner?’
‘Catch yes,’ I respond, beginning to move. ‘But eating is a no.’
Focusing on the beast that Marty is currently examining, I begin to move, jumping onto the roof of the van and lunging. As I do so, more of the same creatures burst from the forestline beside us, and before I know it, there are half a dozen surrounding us.
Ignoring the others, I attack, grabbing the creature around the neck and biting down hard until the taste of blood explodes on my tongue, but before I can do much damage, it begins to burn.
Releasing the beast, I move backwards while spitting, trying to get whatever it is that is burning me out of my mouth.
Fuck. Was the bird’s blood made of acid or something?
As this thought hits, the creature rushes toward me, knocking me off the roof so that we both crash to the ground, and when we land, it bites into my shoulder.
Letting out a snarl of rage, I dig my claws into the creature's body and twist so that I’m on top of it. Ignoring the pain I feel from the acidic blood burning me, I bite down hard on the beast’s neck and yank, snapping its neck.
Once I’m sure that it is dead, I get up and look around to see Marty, Warren, Jose, and Charlie fighting with three others while three more begin to close in.
No, you don’t! I hiss inwardly, moving forward and jumping on one. As I land on its back, it spreads its wings in an attempt to shake me off, but I hold on tight, and we begin to rise into the air.
Slowly, we rise, making those fighting look smaller and smaller until we are as high as the canopy of the trees beside us.
Shit. If I were to kill this beast here, then there was a good chance I would get severely injured when I crashed to the ground. Dammit. What the hell was I thinking about letting it get me up here? Oh, right, I wasn’t.
‘Do something.’ Anna hisses as I continue to not move. ‘We can’t just stay here.’
‘I’m thinking.’ I snap.
What could I do to ensure that if I fell, I wouldn’t get hurt?
‘Got it!’
Shifting my weight, I clamp down on the beast’s right wing and tug, causing it to twist its body, sending us both tumbling toward the treeline, and when we hit, I yank, ripping the wing so that there is no way it can escape by flying away.
Spitting the chunk of meat in my mouth out, I attack again, this time biting down on the beast’s neck and snapping it.
As the creature goes limp, I hold on tight while we crash through branches until finally hitting the ground.
‘Ouch.’ I hiss. ‘That hurt more than I thought.’
‘Better than dying.’ Anna giggles.
‘I don’t need your commentary.’ I snap, getting to my paws and moving.
When I reach my group once more, I’m happy to find that the other beasts have already been dealt with and the danger has passed. Everyone present is already back in their human forms, taking in the scene.
Shifting back into my human form, I move forward while the other men stare at me.
“What?” I ask, purposely swaying my hips more. “Enjoying the view?”
“Be serious.” Charlie snaps. “Now isn’t the time for you to be fucking around.”
“Tough crowd.” I sigh, coming up to join them. “What are these things anyway?”
“Dunno,” Charlie responds. “But I fear that if they were waiting for us, then Roger and his goons already know that we are coming for them.”
Growling, I look toward the van and begin to move. If that was the case, was this an attempt at saving their friend who was chained in the trunk?
When I reach the vehicle, I peek inside and find that the man’s throat is slit just like Beatrice’s had been.
“Well shit.” I sigh as Charlie and Marty come up to join me. “Looks like they know we’re coming.”
“Then we need to catch them before they escape.” Jose says, smirking.
“Who says they haven’t already done that?” Charlie counters. “We may be left at square one again.”
“Nope.” Jose grins. “These things left us the perfect trail.”
“Then should we get going?” Marty suggests. “I still haven’t had my fill of fun yet.”
As he speaks, I look at the destroyed roof of our van. Wouldn’t we look too damn suspicious riding in that thing now?
“Can we get another vehicle?” I ask. “I mean, I could, but I doubt that any of you would approve of my means.”
“No need.” Charlie says, shooting me a glare. “We are close enough now to go by foot. It would be less conspicuous that way anyway.”
“How is it less conspicuous?” I counter. “Five wolves running together draw too much attention. Plus, they will be able to sense us before we get close.”
“That’s why we will corner them on all sides.” Charlie grins. “We surround them and close in. No man will be left alive aside from Roger, agreed.”
“Oh, are you giving me permission to kill?” I ask happily. “Because I have no issues with that.”
“Down, bloody Elise.” Marty laughs. “You look like you’re ready to become the next Jack the Ripper.”
“I mean, I could.” I giggle.
“Leave no prisoners.” Charlie repeats. “Take them out by any means. They’ve done enough damage and can’t be allowed to continue to walk freely.”
“That’s all you had to say.” I clap. “I’ll make sure to succeed.”