Antione
Nothing made sense anymore. He knew it was a long shot. Head to New Orleans, meet Longnose’s friend to cure Camille, and maybe, maybe, help save their father. Antione knew this, and yet, he couldn’t help feeling cheated by the way Rose was acting. Everyone keeps going on about how Voduists are supposed to be like the cops. Why isn’t she trying harder to help us, and why isn’t Longnose doing anything?!
He tried to see Longnose’s expression, but the older Alpha was already turning to leave. Bruno met his gaze but said nothing. It made the teen clench his fists as he turned to Bernard, hoping to find something, anything, that showed he wasn’t the only one feeling this way. But Bernard was looking at a door behind the counter, and Antione didn’t have the heart to get angry at his brother for that.
But that only applied to Bernard. Antione tucked his fists into his pockets and took a deep breath. This isn’t her fight. You have the means to help Camile, and there’s still time before Robert is… He shook his head and stepped closer to Rose. The woman met his gaze with a calm smile, one he was certain she used for customers every day.
It shouldn’t have made him angry, but it did. Antione knew everyone was staring at him, but he didn’t care. He had to do something with this rage, and Rose was still their best bet at getting their father back safely. He didn’t need Camille to tell him it was the right thing to do. But a small part, the part that still resented Robert and everything he represented in his life, wasn’t doing this because it was the “right thing.”
Antione’s voice was calm, almost monotone, as he asked, “Ma’am, we need more help than that. Please, we didn’t start this fight, and we live here. All of our families live here. Doesn’t that mean we’re owed more help than this?”
Longnose gasped and stepped closer, but Rose raised her hand to keep him back without looking away from Antione. Her smile faded, but she didn’t appear angry. It reminded him of his mother when she knew she was being lied to and was only waiting to see how far he had thought things through. It was strangely comforting.
Rose raised an eyebrow and asked. “You think being a local entitles you to things you didn’t even know existed a couple of days ago?”
“No, I think being innocent entitles us to the full protection of the law. Yours, werewolves, or vampires doesn’t matter. Robert is a screw-up, but he didn’t murder that vampire. Camille was attacked by a rougarou for no reason except as a message? No offense, lady. But this is beyond stupid. We didn’t do anything wrong. But we’re the ones who have to pay the price? I’m not buying it. You don’t want to fight. That’s fine. I get it. But you can’t say this is the best you can do. Someone has to know where my dad is and who the killer is. Can’t you? I don’t know. Snap your fingers over some cards and help us out?”
“Antione,” Bernard hissed, looking away from the door long enough to shoot his brother an exasperated look. It would have made him laugh a few weeks ago. Bernard was the calm one. The smart one. But Antione didn’t need either of those things right now. His family was in danger, and Longnose wasn’t trying hard enough to help.
So, it was up to him to be the Alpha and demand more. He stared at Rose, hoping for something to show he used the right words, but Rose only snorted.
“Snap my fingers over some cards?”
He shrugged. “I just found out monsters and magic exist about a month ago. I have no idea how anything works, and I’ve lost track of how many times something has tried to kill me and my family. I get that everyone is scared of vampires. But if I’m going to be killed based on some stupid law, then I’m going to take down as many of them as possible before they kill me.”
“They’re not going to kill you,” Longnose said, ignoring Rose as he gently squeezed his shoulder.
Antione shrugged it off. “They shouldn’t be trying to kill me at all. I didn’t do anything to them. And I’m sick of playing by other people’s rules. This is still America. They can’t just swoop in and do whatever they want!”
Longnose sighed, but it was Bruno who spoke up. “He has a point.”
The Alpha scowled. “Don’t you start. Antione doesn’t–”
“He knows he’s angry, and he’s not stupid enough to think all his problems will go away if he keeps his head down,” Bruno said before turning to the boys. “Are you?”
“No,” Antione replied as Bernard shook his head. “That’s why I’m not willing to go back yet. Camille needs us, but she’ll want to start looking for Robert the moment she thinks she feels better. We need more than this!”
“I agree,” Bernard said as he grinned softly at Antione. “We need a plan. The swamps and forests aren’t safe. They never were. There has to be a way we can track them down and get our dad back.”
“Of course, there is,” Rose crossed her arms in front of her and looked at each of them in turn. “Vampires have scents and leave pieces of themselves around just like any other creature.”
“Does that mean you’ll help us?” Bernard asked.
Rose rolled her eyes and sighed. “I never said I wouldn’t. I’m just not going to ask my friends to risk their lives when I can’t keep them safe… I can, however, give you the means to find what you’re looking for. Personally, I’d count my blessings and pray the vampires don’t come after me once they’re done with your father. This is a dangerous game you’re playing, boys. Are you sure you want to risk it?”
Antione opened his mouth to say yes but hesitated at the last second. If we find the real killer. Will that be enough to get us out of this situation? Or will the vampires kill all of us regardless of what we do? He looked at Bernard, but his brother was just as confused as he was.
“We… there’s no guarantee the vampires will let us go, right? Finding the killer might not be…”
Rose sighed and nodded. “Vampires are a problematic bunch. The easiest way to deal with them is to avoid them. And there’s a chance that the killer might be too much for you to handle. I ask again: are you sure you want to take this risk?”
Longnose wrapped an arm around each boy and smiled. “My pack and I will fight by your side regardless. You won’t be alone.”
“Does that mean you’re willing to do anything for them, old friend?” Rose asked. Antione stared at the Alpha, fighting the urge to beg as the man nodded at her.
“I know what I’m getting into.”
“Do you?”
“I do,” Longnose insisted, staring at Rose without a hint of fear. She frowned and shook her head.
“In that case… Wait here. I have just the thing, but I require absolute silence while I retrieve it.” She hurried up the stairs before anyone could say anything. Longnose sighed and gently squeezed their shoulders.
“Everything is going to be alright,” he promised.
Bruno stepped closer, face expressionless as he asked. “Did you just make a bargain with her?”
Longnose shook his head. “No. There’s no need for something so formal. Rose is very gifted, but she understands her limits…”
A blue rubber ball hit him in the back of the head as Rose reappeared on the stairs. “And that’s a skill everyone should learn.”
Longnose rubbed the spot he’d been hit and chuckled. “That’s true. Do you have it?”
She nodded, pulled a pale blue cloth bag, the size of Antione’s fist, out of her pocket, and handed it to him. “This will help you find what you’re looking for, little one.”
Antione accepted it and froze as he ran his fingers over the soft material. It looked like a piece from an old blanket. The edges were uneven, and a strong scent of lavender and peppermint easily reached his nose through the other scents in the shop. He could feel something hard in the middle, and traced over it.
“What is this?”
“A Greis Greis, or Protection Bag, if you will. This one was made some time ago. It will guide you to what you seek and aid you with any…” She shook her head and folded her arms over her chest. “It’ll help. Don’t attempt to open it, or the spell will be undone. Keep it hidden, either in your pocket where your transformation won’t destroy it or under your pillow. I’d also give it a drop of your blood occasionally to keep it fed. Magic requires a price, but you only need to maintain this one.”
“How does it work?” Bernard asked as he stared at it. Antione was glad he wasn’t the only one wondering, but Rose merely shrugged.
“Antione must concentrate on what it is he’s trying to find and follow his instincts. Werewolves are good at tracking, aren’t they? The vampires have ways to interfere with blood and mental bonds, but there are ways around even that. It all depends on what you’re trying to find and how hard you want to find it.”
Bernard nodded thoughtfully as he turned to Rose. “You said Antione has to do it? He’s the only one that can use the bag.”
“I’m afraid so. Greis Greis aren’t meant to be handled by many people. Some shouldn’t be touched with your bare hands at all. But this one will do what needs to be done.” She smiled softly and patted Bernard’s head. “Don’t let the details bother you, child. You and your siblings have many gifts and different roles to play. I could make you one. Similar to your brother’s, but that takes time. And you have a sister that needs tending, too. Don’t keep her waiting.”
Antione tucked the bag into his pocket and tried to keep his disappointment in check. She gave us the means to find them. That’s better than what would have happened if we left. But which one do I want to find more? Antione rubbed the back of his neck as he remembered the fight with Clay.
Can I beat something that killed a vampire? He wasn’t certain he wanted to find out, but he didn’t think grabbing Robert and running away would work either. He was about to thank Rose when Bernard gasped, grabbing his brother’s arm and whispered. “Um, guys… What’s that?!”
Antione turned, spotting the window at the front of the store and an unhindered view of his car… with a giant black cat, about the size of a panther, sitting on top of it. Bruno swore and reached for the door, but Longnose grabbed his arm and demanded. “How long has that thing been out there?”
“I don’t know. I just noticed it,” Bernard said, not looking away as the cat rose, stretched lazily as if it was only sunning itself, and then looked at Antione with such a glare that he found himself backing up without thinking about it, pulling Bernard deeper into the shop. Bruno shrugged Longnose’s hand off and yanked the door open.
But before he could step outside, a lightning bolt split the sky… engulfing both the cat and the car in flames. The cat yowled as another bolt struck it, and the shockwave sent Antione flying.