Malevolence - Legacy Series Book Two (The Legacy Series) (14 page)

           
I got to the end of the second block, noticing the entire vibe changed.
 
The graffiti, though artistic, depreciated the look of the area.
 
I heard a man and woman arguing about dinner and a small child cried in one of the lofts.
 
I still didn’t see or hear Allie and the first feelings of regret were creeping in.
 
I wrapped the scarf tighter around my neck and held my un-gloved hands to my side.
 
I’d been taught that body language for an alpha was as important as the title.
 
If I crossed my arms, it showed a sign of weakness.
 
I was starting to think that at least with gloves on my hands they wouldn’t be numb.
 
I could feel the stake gently pressing against my spine.
 

           
I heard the bus axels squealing as it came to a stop, the swoosh of the door and the clicking of heels on the concrete behind me.
 
I turned around in time to see my sister step off the bus.
 
She lifted her gaze to meet mine, the malice completely evident.

           
“Abel,” she said curtly.

           
“Allie,” I replied as I hid the emotion from my voice.

           
She was dressed like a horse jockey in stilettos, her hair was in a long braid that fell over her shoulder.
 
I noticed she had a feather weaved into the braid.
 
Her make-up was darker than she wore in the past, with the cliché dark eyeliner and blood red lips.
 
She played up the vampire image; that was no doubt.

           
“Where is your posse?” she asked. “I wouldn’t imagine you to go out without them in tow.”

           
“Allie, it’s me Abel.
 
You know the one?
 
Your brother?
 
I’m still the one that sat up late at night with you.”
 
I was grasping for anything that would bring forth a tiny hint that my sister was still in there.
 
“I’m the one that took the blame for you so you could go on a date.
 
I’m the one that snuck down the stairs with you on Christmas morning.
 
Come on Allie.”

           
“You didn’t answer the question,” She said and tapped her foot.

           
“For God’s sake Allie,” I said and she grimaced at the word God.
 
“I came alone.
 
Are you here to kill me?
 
Is that what this is?
 
Why did you want to meet me Allie?” I asked with a crack in my voice.

           
“I don’t know why I bother warning you, obviously you don’t listen well.
 
There is going to be a battle soon and it would be in your best interest to stay away; and keep that ninny Pru away too.”
 
Allie said.
 
She looked around as if she heard something and got spooked.
 
“I need to go, but you all should go back to Oklahoma where you belong.”

           
I leaned in closer to her, my hand at my side and whispered “When and where?”
 
She shook her head no at me; suddenly she was lost for words.
 
“Come on Allie, you told me that much.
 
Tell me when and I’ll figure out the where.
 
Are you in danger?
 
I can protect you.”

           
Her eyes flashed red as she busted out laughing.
 
“You can’t protect me Abel.
 
Don’t you get it?
 
I’m in this for good.
 
Be a good boy and go home.
 
I can’t say any more.
 
You have no idea of the supernatural beings that live here in Paris.
 
Another piece of advice….don’t trust anyone.”
 
She cocked her head to the side and stood stone still for at least thirty seconds before snapping her fingers and said “
toodles
” she bent her knees and leapt to the top of the building in a flash.

           
I take a whiff of the air and turned around to see Pru and Oakley right behind me.

           
“Before you say anything; let me be clear about one thing….. I don’t want to hear about it.”
 
There I stood and Allie was long gone.

           
Pru walked up putting her arms around me in a big bear hug. “I’m sorry Abe,” she whispered into my shoulder.

           
“Me too.”
 
Holding back the sting of tears in my eyes; I took a deep breath letting the cold air assault my nose.
 

           
Oakley patted my shoulder.
 
“Man, I think it is great you trust your vampire sister and all….but I don’t.
 
You have to remember that there is more to you than just being a brother; you’re the Great Wolf
dammit
.
 
If you do it again, I might have to whip your ass.”

           
I smiled at Oakley, knowing he was kidding.
   
“She said there is going to be a battle.
 
She also said that you’re a ninny Pru.”
 
I laughed it off as we turned around and headed back to the house.

           
“She called me a ninny?
 
How nice of her to remember me so fondly.
 
On a positive note, she at least reached out to you.
 
She may be stronger than we thought.
 
I wonder what her relationship with Pascale is.”

Chapter 17.
 
OZ

“Then he made a vow to take no more ragamuffins into his house, for they consume much, pay for nothing, and play mischievous tricks into the bargain by way of gratitude.”
 
The Pack of Ragamuffins ~ Grimm’s Household Tales

PRU

           
Walking back to the apartment felt like old times, Oakley on one side and Abel on the other.
 
I pulled down the flaps to cover my ears with my knitted wolf eared stocking hat.
 
I couldn’t resist the irony in it.
 
I looped my arms through Oakley’s and Abel’s and did my best Dorothy impression saying “lions and tigers and bears, oh my.”
 
It was like moving two brick walls, they wouldn’t skip along with me, taking away all of my fun.

           
We rounded the corner to the apartment and I saw Gus with his back and one foot leaned up against the building.
 
If he’d had on a cowboy hat it would have completed the picture.

           
“Nice to see ya’ll have caught up on old times,” Gus said.

           
“You’re probably wondering where we went, huh?”
 
I asked.

           
Gus pulled a toothpick out of his mouth that I honestly hadn’t noticed until he did.
 
“Well Pru, being that you’re a magnet for fun and excitement, I’d be a fool to try to guess.
 
I however am not a fool, and I followed you and Oakley as you followed Abel.
 
Abel was off having a secret meeting with his sister, up until the moment she heard something and scattered away.
 
Am I right so far?”
 
Gus stood there shaking his head back and forth in disappointment.

           
“That is pretty much how it went.
  
I didn’t realize you followed us,” I said.
 
“Can we go inside?
 
I’m freezing.”

           
We hung up our gear and all went into the common area and hovered close to the fireplace.
 
Mom was sitting in one of the fancy but shabby chic reading chairs.
 
She was doing a crossword puzzle inside her Readers Digest.
 
She raised her eyes to look at us and realized that something was going on, so she set her puzzle and pen down on the ottoman.
 

           
“Pru?
 
Would you mind telling me what’s going on?”
 
Mom asked.

           
“Nothing I can’t handle,” I said. “Do you have any more of those delicious croissants?
 
I’ve come to realize that the French eat rich food but not much of it and I’m literally starving.”

           
“Nice try.
 
Where were you?
 
All of the sudden I was sitting here alone, not long enough for you to get into too much trouble, just enough to start some.”
 
Mom looked at each one of us giving us the stink eye.
 
“I’m holding the croissants hostage until you can come clean.”

           
“Not the croissants!”
 
I sighed and plopped down on the ottoman.
 
“Well, Abel apparently got a text message from Allie, and he snuck out to meet her.
 
Oakley and I followed Abel, and Gus followed Oakley and me.
 
Before you say anything, remember you’re the one that is in danger.”

           
She jumped up from the chair, tossing her reading glasses down on her seat.
 
In an instant everyone held their breath.
 
It isn’t often that my mom got ticked off, but when she did….prepare for the worst.
 
Her hair was up on the top of her head in some half pony tail, half bun, but it was flopping back and forth as she pulled on the front of her shirt, straightening it out.

           
“Someone please explain to me at what point you came up with the idea that you can go off half cocked chasing after a new vampire.
 
A fledgling!
 
Not any vampire at that!”
 
She flipped around with her finger pointing and walked up to Abel and jabbed her finger at his chest.
 
“Abel Casey, do you have any idea what kind of trap you could have just walked in on?
 
Anything could have gone wrong.
 
She could have had that Pascale vamp with her and that would have turned out ugly.
 
I cannot teach you how to be a wolf if you’re running around like a child.
 
Am I perfectly clear?”
 
Mom said through clinched teeth.

           
Abel cleared his throat but stood tall with his hands by his side.
 
“Dolly, I’m sorry.
 
It was stupid for me to go off to meet her.
 
It seemed important at the moment, in retrospect it was dumb.
 
I honestly didn’t expect anything to go wrong, but if it makes all of you feel better, I had my stake with me.”
 
Abel pulled the stake out of his waistband.

           
“Oh, yeah, that makes me feel better,” mom said.
 
She pinched the bridge of her nose and announced, “I’m going to my room to read.
 
If you must leave, go together and leave me a note.”
 
She grabbed her
Interview with the Vampire
fist edition and headed down the hall.

           
“Seriously mom, a vampire book?”
 
We all busted out laughing.
 
“I’m in the mood for a movie; hopefully there is something in there that doesn’t consist of subtitles.”
 
I opened up the storage cabinet full of movies to see what DVD’s they had available.
 
I was secretly hoping Gus and Abel would take the hint and go in the other room to play video games; no such luck.