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Chapter 23 – Do I know You?
Eudora’s POV
“Because they’re not werewolves, they’re real wolves.” He told me. His eyes were closed, and he looked like he was in bad shape.
“They’re real wolves?” I asked and he nodded his head as if he was going back to sleep.
He was sharing a cage with a werewolf. She wasn’t shackled in a long chain to the wall, but his feet were. I wondered if he was dangerous. Could he be human? What would they want with a human who had to be about eighty years old? The big guy called the girl a slave and took her to cook his breakfast. Maybe she would return after breakfast, and I could ask her for help. If she was allowed out of the cage, then she might know of an escape route. The minutes ticked by slowly and I tried to keep my fear under control. I didn’t want Lukas to sense it and worry.
I stared at the wolves in the cage across from me. I tried to study them and pick out differences between them and a shifted werewolf. Besides the fact that werewolves were larger, and some had different eye colors, I couldn’t see much difference. I turned my attention to the old man, something felt familiar about him. Maybe it was his salt and pepper black hair. I assume this is what Ares’ hair would like someday when he’s much older. He had a long, graying, unkempt beard, not that he could do much about it if he was caged like a wild animal. I wondered how long he’s been here.
As if he could feel the burning of my stare, he opened his eyes and looked right at me. A gasp escaped me as I looked into those piercing blue eyes that reminded me of my husband, my son, my mother-in-law, and even Yia-yia. I turned my head and tried to avoid his scrutinizing gaze. Lots of people have blue eyes, it’s no big deal. I’m sure I was just missing my family.
The wolves turned their head to the door and the clanking of keys was heard on the other side. I watched as the big guy entered our prison and unlocked the cell the wolves occupied, the female she-wolf stepped inside. They made no attempt to attack her. She placed large bowls of food in the corner, and they moved to eat. She reached for a small water hose and started spraying down the cell, washing the corner where they had defecated down into a small hole in the floor. I noticed a similar hole in the floor of my cell and shivered at the idea of using the bathroom like a wild animal.
When she was done, she filled a big bowl with water and placed it by her cell. She stepped away for a moment and returned with two plastic cups. The guard opened her cell and she set the cups down and returned for the bowl of water before the guard locked her in the cell again with the old man.
“The master will be down soon to deal with you.” The big guy sneered at me and turned to leave.
The she-wolf moved to the old man and lifted a spoon to his mouth. He opened his mouth and swallowed. She scooped another spoonful from the cup and gave him another bite. Once the door clanked closed, she stopped. Her hand picked up the second cup with a plastic spoon still in it, and she offered it to me through the bars.
“Oh, thanks, but I’m not hungry.” I shook my head.
The girl lifted her shirt and pulled out what looked like rolled-up paper towels. She unrolled the towels and revealed two slices of bacon. She offered them to me through the bars, but she never spoke. Before I could say anything, Lukas peeked his head out of the sling and snatched a slice. To my surprise, he wolfed it down in two bites.
She let out a sweet giggle and reached her other hand through the bars, letting Lukas scent her. He gave her hand a quick lick and she offered the second piece of bacon. I debated on letting him have it, he’s never had solid foods, so I wasn’t really sure. Before I could decide, the second slice was gone, and Lukas looked just as happy as Grandma Dori with a side of bacon.
“Thank you.” I told her and she nodded her head and offered me the cup of what looked like oatmeal.
“I’m okay, thanks.” I was feeling nauseous again and wondered if my pup was okay. She turned her head to the old man and pointed to herself and made a motion with her hand of eating food.
“Hazel has already eaten breakfast while she was cooking. She brought the food for you, and you should eat since you’re expecting another pup.” He said.
“Are you a werewolf also?” I asked him and took the oatmeal from her. She smiled and returned to feeding him.
“I am, but I don’t shift anymore. I’m what they call an elder.” He said as he took another bite and pointed to the bowl of water. The female, named Hazel, moved to the bowl and slowly lifted it to his lips, giving him a drink of water.
“How old are you?” I asked before I could stop myself.
He let out a low chuckle, “I’ll be a hundred and thirty this year.”
I haven’t met any elder wolves who were this old, although Ares’ Great-Great Grandparents, Diesel and Lucy had to be near the same age. “I once heard the stronger the wolf, the longer they lived. Is that true?” I asked him.
“It is, though my wolf stopped talking to me over forty years ago.” He smiled. “Interestingly enough, I thought I heard him whispering something to me last night when they brought you in. But it’s been so long since he’s said anything to me, I may have just dreamed it.”
“Is it normal for your wolf to stop talking to you?” I wondered if Apollo would fade once Ares aged and the thought nearly broke my heart. I love my Apollo.
Another soft chuckle. “Curious little thing aren’t you.” He smiled at me, and my heart skipped a beat when the warmth of his smile reached his eyes. Something felt so familiar.
“My wolf has never gotten over losing our mate and unborn pup. I can’t say I blame him. I was foolish and made terrible choices. I should have never been Alpha. My brother was so much better than me.” His voice filled with regret.
“Why are you chained up? Are you dangerous?” I asked.
“Am I dangerous to you? No. Am I a horrible Alpha who deserved death many decades ago? Yes.” He answered bitterly and took another bite of oatmeal.
“What is this place? Why are there real wolves here?” I hoped he’d be able to give me some answers.
“The big black and white one is Earl, the brown one is Chip. This is a research lab.” He said.
My mouth was suddenly dry. Could this be the research lab that Ares had been looking for. “Where are we?”
“Somewhere in the middle of some ocean. We’re on a ship.” He answered and my heart sank. Being on land was one thing but being in the ocean was another. Over seventy percent of the earth is covered in water, how was Ares going to find me now?
“I need to get out of here.” I felt another wave of nausea hit me. It must be the ship giving me motion sickness.
Chip and Earl turned their heads to the door again and I knew someone was on the other side. I quickly handed the cup of oatmeal to Hazel through the bars and prepared for company. The big guy stalked inside and stood in front of my cell. I tried my best to keep Lukas calm and hidden against me.
“If the master disposes of you, I can keep your puppy.” He smiled at me. Sensing my outrage, Lukas let out a little growl.
“He doesn’t seem very friendly. Maybe he’d be more comfortable with the other dogs.” He said as he motioned his head to the cell of wolves.
“He’s just a little scared. Doesn’t like new places.” I said and tried to hold Lukas back. I placed a kiss on the top of his head.
“You’re treating him like some baby. Maybe he needs more socialization. I’m sure Earl and Chip wouldn’t mind a new friend in their pack… or a chew toy.” He laughed and kicked at my cell.
The wolves behind the guard started snapping and growling at the guard with bared teeth. Something had triggered them when the guard kicked the bar on my cell. Lukas poked his head out and I heard the strangest snarl noise coming from him. Fortunately, the guard didn’t notice any of it because he turned his attention to the angry wolves behind him.
“Are you terrorizing the wolves again, Jeff?” A voice called out and a man walked into the room.
“No, Master. Her puppy growled at me and caused the others to go mad.” The big guy named Jeff replied to the man who was tall and dark looking.
“Has she spoken yet?” The tall man asked, and I adjusted Lukas, trying to hide him in my sling again. Fortunately, the sling was also hiding my mate mark.
“No.” Jeff answered.
The tall man stepped closer to my cell and looked at me. My heart stopped. “Ambrose?” It slipped out of my lips before I could stop myself.
His eyes brows lifted with surprise, and he stepped closer to my cell. His eyes looked different, they weren’t like the big black orbs I remember. The feeling of calm and strength didn’t radiate from him. No, this was different. This was a dangerous, dark, and creepy feeling.
“You know my brother?” A twisted smile formed on his face.
“Umm, yes,” I said reluctantly, trying to think of something fast. “From his art gallery in New York. My work was recently on show there.” I spun my web of lies and hoped he would believe it.
“Are you an artist?” He asked. “Perhaps I’ve heard of you. What’s your name?”
“Vera… Vera Mae. I’m a nature photographer with an emphasis on light.” It was my mother’s alias, so I knew there would be no photographs of her if he decided to look me up.
“And you sound very … Latin. What are you doing in New York?” He asked.
“My cousin Esteban lives in Manhattan and has a cabin near Lake Erie. The mountains in upstate New York have some of the most beautiful scenery. My last show was called Luz and featured the spring blooms of the upstate. I was visiting the cabin with friends and decided to take a hike to the blooms. I’m not sure what happened, but I believe someone has made a mistake because I woke up here.”
“And you wear a dress and sandals while hiking?” He questioned.
“Well, it was more of a nice walk than an actual hike.”
“I see.” He said and turned his focus on the old man in the cell that was watching us. “You seem really interested Alpha. Tell me, have you seen her before? Does she look like the Alpha King's mate?”
“I wouldn’t know, you picked me up before I could attend the mating ceremony. But I’m pretty sure that dog is not the Alpha King’s offspring.” He chuckled.
I looked down and tried to hide my shock. The elder man was going to attend my wedding. Which also means that he’s been here for nearly a year.
“No matter. Randall will be onboard tomorrow and should be able to identify her.”
“You can call your brother and ask him about me.” I said, hoping that he would, and Ambrose would know that his brother has me. He let out a sinister laugh and a shiver ran down my spine. There was no way he would let me live now.
If Randall was going to be here tomorrow, I needed to find an escape quickly. He would be able to scent me and sense Lukas’ aura. I recalled the words that Ambrose spoke the night of the ball. He had a twin brother. They were both warlocks, but Ambrose lost his power when he died and turned into a vampire. I tried to recall if Ambrose mentioned his brother's name.
“Master, we have an emergency at the everglades camp. Miller is on the phone for you.” A man who sounded winded said as he rushed into the room. Ambrose’s brother swiftly left the room and Jeff followed.
“How is it possible?” The elder man asked.
“How is what possible?” I asked.
“Your pup. He’s putting out a strong aura. My senses are not as sharp as they used to be since my wolf went dormant, but I’m sensing him.” He took a deep shaky breath and coughed a few times. Hazel quickly lifted the bowl of water to his lips.
“We’re not sure,” I replied. “Is that man… is he a warlock?”
He nodded his head. “Yes, that’s Azazel, he was part of the shifters council.”
“I don’t know much about witches and warlocks, but I thought they only lived about as long as humans? If he’s Ambrose’s twin brother, he must be about five hundred already.”
“Yes, they typically live about the same amount of time as humans. Azazel is a powerful grand warlock. No one knows how he’s managed to stay alive for so long. Some believe he’s delved in dark magic and others believe he’s a demon of some kind.”
I looked down at my ring, set with the pearl of life, knowing it would extend my life. Perhaps Azazel also had something, a blessing or a talisman to extend his life. I almost laughed out loud as I considered Ambrose was a vampire who did good things in the world and his brother was the epitome of evil. “Ambrose means immortal and Azazel is the fallen angel, an evil spirit.” I half-mumbled to myself. It’s as if their destinies were determined at birth. I wondered if the prophecy went back longer than a hundred years.
“Did he mention the name, Miller?” I asked.
“He did.”
“Of course. Miller, Randall, and the warlock Azazel. The three missing council members. Grandpa Crow was right.” 
“You must be Eudora.” He gave me that warm smile again that reached his eyes.
“D-Do I know you?” I asked.
“We haven’t met yet, but I’m Ranger… Ranger LaRue.”