Page 76 of Jackal's Pride

“Next place,” said Barron.

Suddenly, something ominous passed over me. Was it just me or did everyone sense it? I couldn’t even tell you what it was, but my mind automatically went to Maureen at home alone. I opened my eyes, searching around almost frantically before I noticed the chill on my arms. I didn’t like this feeling. Something wasn’t right.

“Hold on,” was all I could think to say as I ported to her house.

It was there that I found her exactly where I left her. The uneasiness never really passed, but what did happen was the warmth inside my chest at the sight of her peacefulness. I brushed my hand down the side of her face. She stirred and rubbed her cheek against it. I smiled and ported back to the brothers.

“What was that about?” Sebastian asked.

“Just checking on Maureen.” I rubbed my neck, then my stomach again. I wasn’t used to the mark. It felt like it wanted its presence known. It wasn’t bad. I rather enjoyed it, but it would take getting used to.

Then I sensed it again.

“Let’s head to King Kong,” Sebastian chirped.

“Hong Kong,” Barron corrected him. “Stop acting like an idiot before I send you to a temporary grave.”

“See,” Sebastian went on, “those threats aren’t much.”

“I think… I need to go check on Maureen again.” Even my voice was slightly off-kilter. It sounded bizarre like an out-of-body experience.

Something wasn’t right.

“What is it?” August waited.

“I don’t know. I just don’t feel right…” I remembered feeling off like this when the vampire kidnapped Maureen. The need to go to her was suddenly trumping everything else.

“Wait,” August hissed. “Shit!”

“New York! New York, Jack! That’s where we’re going!” Sebastian yelled right before they all faded out.

Somethingdidhappen. Was this what I felt? I followed behind them. The moment I cleared the portal I was knocked down by someone. I skidded across asphalt before I managed to grip the werewolf above me by the neck. What made it difficult was the cloak dangling around his wolf form. I crushed his windpipe, blood splattering on my face. It was a red robe he wore. I pushed him off me and got to my feet.

These were the same demons from the anti-Reaper group. I recognized the matching robes they all wore.

I scanned the buildings. They were everywhere. Red cloaks. White masks. Their cloaks floated around them with the wind as they stood on the tops of buildings. They were in the road, cars passing through their ghost-like bodies. I also took in the three brothers splitting up to take them on. August and Sebastian were in the sky, rebounding off the buildings as they sent chains whipping through the sky after some cloaked figures. Barron was on the ground with me, killing them with his hands.

“Jackal.” I cocked my head around to see the cloaked one behind me. I could tell that he was a male. A warlock. The very one that wanted Maureen back in The Den. I recognized his scent. My skin rippled with the desire to shift into a new form—any form as long as I could sink teeth into him. “I’m going to need those hearts now. You wanted the witch’s curse gone, right? Well, I am your cure.” He stretched his arms out wide like he was a savior.

“Whatever this is about, I don’t care.” I stalked toward him. “I’m going to kill you just for gawking at her the way you did that night.”

He pulled off his mask and smirked. “I’ve been watching her a lot longer than you have.” He tossed the mask to the concrete. “I don’t like being cut. You should have gotten in line.”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” I jumped, shifted into the animal I most preferred—a wolf—and landed on all fours.

“She’ll come to me, you know.”

I never ceased at his words. I went at him like the shapeshifting plague that I was. He hit me with a shot of magic, but I let disease roll off my tongue as he hit me. He managed to throw me back momentarily, but it did nothing at all to me other than slow me down.

He staggered with my infestation’s immediate impact and coughed. “Wow, that’s some stout ailment. What did you hit me with? The plague? Swine flu?” He wiped his mouth. “I’m sure I’ll have a hard time finding a spell to cure me.” He held his hand out. “Don’t attack just yet. Wait, a second! You don’t really belong on their side, you know? The Reapers are destined to fall. I’ll admit that I’m a corrupt warlock that’s only been playing docile. No one wants to get hounded by the Reapers, and I happened to have a mild crush on one of them that’s developed into a terrible infatuation. You can understand a warlock for wanting to impress a lady, right? By playing her nice and easygoing friend? Well, now the tables have turned, and soon I’ll be the only thing that can keep her alive when she’s meant to perish.”

I shifted back into a man and growled. “Maureen’s not going anywhere. Brave talk for a warlock with one life.”

“I’m not too worried about you. You’ll be taking this soon.” He held a vial with purple liquid in his hands.

“What is that?” I frowned.

“Your cure. Time to go back to who you were, Jackal.”