Chapter 45 45
“House seems untouched” Connor nodded at the wizard that appeared to be in her forties but was most likely in her eighties or nineties. “Did you set the wards to lethal?”
“No. They’re a notch below that. But,” I traded a look with Connor. “as you know, even at that setting they can still cause a fatality. Especially if someone has a heart condition or if they repeatedly throw themselves against it. The human body can only handle so much.”
We stared at the woman another moment. “Do you recognize her?”
Connor and Tristan both shook their heads. Great. A stranger was dead in my back yard. Not the first time. Probably wasn’t the last. “So we have a dead body, but, no sign anyone actually got thru the ward. I felt three attempted breeches in the wards. Does that seem weird to anyone else? The posse comes for us, storms my yard, sends three people into the wards, and then run away when one of them drops dead?”
“Uh what if she was the only one? Maybe she tried the wards in three different spots and that’s what killed her.” Tristan had a point. Connor and I swore at the same time as we turned and ran into the house. The pup was a few feet behind us.
“Why are we swearing and running?”
“This was a distraction. We just don’t know from what.” Connor answered over his shoulder as we stormed up the stairs and across the deck. We split up inside. Connor and I searched the house again looking for any signs of magic that didn’t belong and Tristan called the pack to get an update. After a thorough search of all room, closets, and drawers, there were no signs that anyone other than us had been in the house. I made a mental note to ask Tristan why he had an Ariel toothbrush. Hearing Tristan hang up with Jeremiah, Connor and I headed for the kitchen. After a few steps my phone went off in my back pocket.
“Circle clearing. Syndicate. Get here!” Thomas sound stressed bordering on panicked. He hung up without another word. I repeated his words for Connor, Tristan’s wolf hearing meant he heard, as we ran to my weapons room. Connor stripped off his suit jacket to pull on a shoulder harness and shove two 9mm hot into it. He fastened a foot long dagger at the small of his back. While Connor was arming himself, I loaded up the pup. I handed him a harness and started to hand him a 9mm out of a drawer. Before he could take it, I pulled it back and took the safety off.
“Be careful with this. It’s hot.” At his blank look, I explained.” There’s a bullet in the chamber and the safety is off. It’s loaded with bullets with a knockout spell on them. All you have to do is graze someone and they go down. Don’t be fancy and take head shots. Aim for their center mass.” Another blank look. “Center of their torso. Shooting is easy, point at the bad guy and squeeze the trigger. Do not shoot the good guys.”
Tristan looked confused. “How do I know who’s good and who’s bad?”
“The bad guys are the ones who will be trying to kill you. The good guys are the ones NOT trying to kill you.” I handed him a sheathed dagger while I was explaining. Connor showed him how to fasten it to his leg.
I ran to the front closet and came back with three leather jackets. Connor put on his jacket when I tossed it to him. I tossed the other large jacket to the pup. “Here, put this one on. It might be a little big, but, it’ll fit better than one of mine.” He slipped into the jacket while I was putting on mine.
“Why are we all wearing leather?” The pup caught the ponytail holder I tossed his way.
“Pull as much of your hair up as you can. Otherwise you are leaving yourself open to being thrown around by it. Also, do not let any vampires touch you.” My fingers were moving quickly French braiding my hair.
“I thought you said they didn’t feed on wolves.” He had managed to get most of his hair in a stubby ponytail.
“They won’t be trying to feed on you. They can break your bones like they are uncooked spaghetti. Best not to let any magics touch you either. You do not want to know what they can do with a touch. Which leads to why we are in leather. A- it helps prevent road rash if you get thrown and B- there’s protection spells on them. They can absorb three or four low energy blasts or one big one. If you get hit three times, I suggest you start zigging instead of zagging. Your best bet is going to be to take cover and play sniper. Everyone ready?”
“Don’t you need some weapons?”