Hidden in Sheridan (Tainted Series: Book 1)

Moon: FIRST QUARTER

Sterling - Disappointed, I looked at the old mercury in the driveway. Hank had suggested I drive Ity back home, with explicit instruction not to touch his own army green jeep Cherokee which sits outside the garage door. Mom was currently coaxing Ity into borrowing a different shirt, or jacket. Her red tattered hoodie would certainly cause some alarm at the Allen’s home.

The sound of a car kicking up gravel interrupts my dread of driving. Four tires skid to a stop outside the front yard. The sound of a car door opening and slamming shut follows and the angry boots stomping up the path give me a brief idea of who I will find when I stick my head out of the garage.

Officer Vaughn, Levi’s mom, in full uniform pounds her hand against the front door and then put her hands above her belt as she waits for it to open. She paces a bit nervously and I begin to worry that there will not be a way to calm her anger this time.

The door opens and her face fell. “You’re home, this can’t be good.”

“Good morning, Sharice,” My dad says before clearing his voice and correcting his choice of title. “Is it Officer or friend?”

Mrs. Vaughn pulls off her hat, “A mother, so I can do this.” She pushes passed my father and enters my home uninvited. Before the door closes I hear my mother greet her friend.

I briefly wonder what lie they are going to tell to qualm Officer Vaughn’s irritation. Though mom has surely been in constant contact with her, not seeing your son for several days is sure to wear thin on a mother.

My mom would go on a rampage.

The garage house door opens quietly and Ity slips into the garage with Sebastian right behind her. She had accepted mom’s offer of a jacket, it was purple and white and crinkled as she walked. Maybe it was the color but I can’t help thinking how uncomfortable she looks. But with her face had been washed, hair combed and pulled back in a successful ponytail, did appear to maintain her usual beauty.

Instead of speaking eloquently I sputter something about getting in while pointing to the car.

“There’s a motorbike at the end of the driveway,” Sebastian says, his big eyes smiling up at Ity. Clearly the boy was smitten with her, makes sense he has good taste.

Trinity sighs and turns back to me, “Your mom suggested instead of driving the car, that we go make it disappear. Before Officer Vaughn freaks out.”

My heart settled,

“She also said I should come,” Sebastian lied which I would have known even if I hadn’t heard his heart skip.

“Go away.”

“Please Uncle Sterling. It won’t be weird if I’m with you, unless…” His smile changes to a very dark glare, “You want to be alone with her.”

My jaw about drops to the ground, but before I could answer Ity crouches down to the ten year olds level with a soft smile. “Your uncle Hank said I have to come back tonight. Why don’t you teach me that card game while I’m chained in the basement?”

“You have to be chained again?” Sebastian pouts.

Ity shrugs, “Until your Grandpa is satisfied that I’m not dangerous. I think so.”

Sebastian nods, “Okay. Be safe even if you have to leave Uncle Sterling to die.”

“Deal.” She agrees quickly. Sebastian waves good-bye ran back into the house. Ity stands and begins walking out of the garage.

“You’re going to leave me to die?” I ask. Ity merely shrugs.

The bike revved to life and took us quickly up the mountain to Trinity’s home. If I hadn’t have seen it crammed into a tree the day before I wouldn’t have known it was damaged.

Parking it in her driveway, together we approached the front door. The downside with riding a motorbike we couldn’t take the extra time to discuss a cover story. Trinity punched in the door code and it swings open, but I stop her from entering.

“What are you planning to tell Mrs. Allen? I mean Mr. Allen is really going to think it’s strange I’m showing up with you in the morning …”

“Oh, he’ll probably kill you.” She says and steps inside the house.

I don’t follow. I don’t want to follow. Blood drains from my face and consider running back out to the woods where I’m sure Hank is watching. But Trinity reaches back through the door and pulls me inside.

I stumble not so quietly after her. She motions for me to remove my shoes and waves me to follow her up the stairs.

“Why?” I whisper.

She whispers in return, “You want to be caught standing alone in the entryway? Be my guest.” I rush after her, up the stairs and across the landing.

Her room is painted with gentle neutral tones. Her bed elevated facing the window-seat along the far wall. Trinity reaches into the open closet that was full of normal clothes. She pulls out as new pair of jeans, a bland brown t-shirt and well washed red hooded sweatshirt.

She disappears into the bathroom off in the far corner.

I spin around and quickly close the door, nervous to be caught in a room with a changing girl … but as the door clicks I realize now I’m alone in a closed room with a changing girl. That’s worse.

“I’m dead either way.” I turn back to her room, it’s lightly decorated, not as a 16 year old girl would, but nicely.

The Bathroom door opens and Trinity emerges, dressed. She throws the purple jacket into my arms.

“Tell your mom thanks.” I nod. Trinity kneels down and pulls the pillows from the window seat, tossing them to the floor.

“Looking for your journals?” I say clearly without thinking. Trinity pauses and my face flushes remembering I should not know that. Specifically, Rhydian should not have known that, nor should he have told Levi and me.

She lifted the seat and looked down into the box tucked into the corner, and to my surprise, she nods. “Yeah, he’s been in here.” She let the seat drop and didn’t bother putting the pillows back. “And he told you where they were?”

It takes me a minute but eventually my head nods. “He also said the window is never locked.” I says.

Her arms fold across her chest as she thinks, “Why would he try to get you to look?”

“He was just messing with Levi. Maybe get him to break in and reading your diary -“

“Journal.” She corrects.

“Journal, right.” I amend, “Sorry.”

“Trinity is that you dear?” Mrs. Allen’s voice traveles up from the downstairs landing. Trinity opens the door and leans out over the rail to see her clearly. Stupidly, I follow.

Mrs. Allen is dressed for an early day in the yard. Her hair tied back with a bandana, sweats and thick sweatshirt. Her eyes got wide at the sight of me, but it was too late to be unseen.

“Where’s Rhydian?” Trinity asks. Mrs. Allen hesitates answering, pointing at me, “Yeah. He and his friend found out I can talk.”

“It’s about time,” the woman sighs. “Rhydian didn’t come home last night. Mr. Allen is out looking for him. And what about you? Did you have a good night at the treehouse?”

Trinity smiles innocently, “Actually I was at the Wolfe home.” Then her expression darkened, “No drinking, no touching, not even a movie. Mrs. Wolfe will confirm she was there the whole time.”

“I trust you, dear. But since she’s expecting my call I will do that.”

“What time did Rhydian disappear yesterday?” Trinity asks

“He came home after school and then left in a hurry.” Her cell phone rang in her pocket and she quickly picks it up. Trinity turns for the opposite room across the landing.

I follow.

The room we enter is decorated just as simply as Ity’s. Though this one has more personal added decor, however it’s not the decor that catches my attention. The moment the door opens a smell hits me. Deep and thick, and I know.

“It’s been in this room? Why has the wolf been in Rhydian’s room?”

Trinity doesn’t answer. She drops down and begins digging under the bed but returns empty handed. She moves to the closest. The moment she throws it open the smell intensifies.

“Who else comes into this room?”

“Don’t strain your brain, mutt.”

“Trinity!” Mrs. Allen shouts from down stairs, “Rhydian’s truck was found down towards Buffalo. I’m going to meet up with Mr. Allen. Will you -“

Trinity ran out of the room back to the balcony so that she wouldn’t have to shout, “I’ll be with the Wolfe’s today and tomorrow. Don’t worry about me.”

“Thank you, dear.”

Trinity returns, and looks me straight in the eyes, “Figured it out yet.”

“Rhydian’s missing and his room smells like Lycan,” Even as I say it I don’t really want to believe it and she could sense my struggle.

“You were looking for an omega that came into town not long ago. One smart enough to hide his scent except for what he left on me because I live with him.”

“He sits with us all the time surely I would have … he got me used to his scent.” I say and my hands comically went to the sides of my head. “Before I even knew what I was searching for, he showed up little by little and I became used to his scent.”

“Clever dog, I’ll give him that.” Trinity returns to digging through the closet, up high in the shelves she pulls out some books that appear untouched.

“Did you know?” I ask.

“I live with the guy. Of course I knew.” She pulls down a folder filled with random papers before turning to me, “I also knew he reads my journals and that he knew I tagged him as a wolf.”

“That’s why you became a target. But why didn’t you say anything?”

“That would have gotten me bitten weeks ago.”

“No, I meant last night. Why didn’t you say you knew Rhydian was a Lycan?’

“Because I still don’t know if he’s the one with The Bite, or how he’s doing it.”

“But he’s trespassing.”

“On your territory, not mine. I have nothing to do with your turf war. My issue is with the one that’s biting and I’m curious about how he’s doing it.”

“What are you looking for.” I pick up some of the papers she let fall to the ground. The contents were obscure. Pages ripped from books, and a few papers printed from the internet.

“Did Rhydian ever come across as someone who knew what he was doing?” She asks.

My head instantly shakes. “He floats from group to group at school. I’d say he’s a ‘do first ask questions later’ kind of person.”

“Which means none of this is his plan,” She pulls a page from the fold and sits back to read it more carefully.

“I’ve got to call Hank.”

“Hold on.” She grabs my arm, her fingers were ice cold against my skin, enough my arm prickles with goosebumps straight up to my shoulder. She casually waves the pages at me. “First, read this.” Her smile was strange. I felt my head caulk sideways in question but all she did was smirk.

CHAPTER END