Hidden in Sheridan (Tainted Series: Book 1)

SUNRISE

It had looked so small but the instant it touched my tongue and rolled to the back of my mouth I thought for sure I would choke to death. It scratched down my throat and before I could cough it out, a jolt of electricity shot through me from inside.

Air rushed into my lungs. My head swiveling back and forth as I struggled to figure out what had happened I realized the taste of Ity’s blood was gone. It had been replaced by an odd grit between my teeth.

I looked across a mountain terrain that I’d never seen in my life. They resembled the Big Horn mountains of Wyoming but somehow they’d doubled in size and stretched across foliage that was foreign to the Yellowstone area. I looked in awe across the valley. Sheltered by the shadows of these mountains, were a hundred or more rooftops made of wood and straw. They speckled through patches of farm land, and dirt roadways leading up to an enormous stone wall that surround a multi-tiered castle at the farthest point of the valley.

I tried to gasp. I even tried to vocalize my disbelief but my body didn’t respond. It remained still on the crest of the grassy cliff. I look over my shoulder and I’m unsurprised to see a young man in his early 20s. He stood beside me not much taller than myself. To describe him more would be difficult except he wore a peaceful expression. I felt drawn to him. Like I trusted him.

My arm reached out to him, but as he turned a dark sense of dread gripped my body. He extended his hands, wrapped them around my neck, and squeezed. My own hands were frozen at my side and dark spots rushed across my vision. Then I started to fall. Through my blurred vision I saw flashes of the grassy cliff slipping away above me. Farther and farther until, I slammed into the rocky bottom.

When I opened my eyes I wanted to scream but I was still a wolf. I tried to shift back but my body refused. It still trembled with fear from what had happened or was it what I’d seen. I searched for someone to notice me but everyone around me was arguing.

Dad placed his hand on my head. I could hear him ask me a question about mom-

Mom!

I remembered. ‘She made it out. They’d driven towards town. To safety.’ I thought. As if he’d heard my exact thoughts, Dad thanked me. He looked at Hank briefly, an understanding between them passed and then Dad disappeared barely-alive Rory on his back.

I drew in several steady breaths, closed my eyes and tried again to shift.

Nothing.

The taste of blood had returned to my mouth and stomach gurgled. A strange pit rolled in my stomach and remembered. My heart sank as my body trembled again. Rhydian’s stone, the object that had caused the bizarre series of events, I’d swallowed it.

Attention shifts back on me, Hank takes my wolf face in his hands, searching my eyes for the truth. But we all know.

“Mom can get it out.” Hank assures me. “If you can’t throw it up, she can surgically remove it.”

“Mrs. Wolfe wasn’t in great shape, Hank.” Cassidy says. “Even with her ability to heal, I doubt she’ll be up and going for a few weeks.”

Hank couldn’t stop a growl from rolling out of his chest. He agreed but that didn’t make it better. “Then we’ll find another Veterinarian.”

“One with Lycanthrope experience?” Levi asks. He wasn’t trying to be a jerk but it did sound like it. “Sorry. If he could shift back we could just take him to the hospital.”

“Is it the stone keeping him from shifting?” Cassidy suggests. “What did the Omega say about those that touched it?”

Levi struggled to remember the warning Rhydian had given during the chaos but I remembered first. ‘You see a boy, and if he doesn’t drive you insane, he gives you power.’ I think and Levi’s eyes light up.

”And you’re not dead or insane,” Levi says to me.

‘I’m pretty sure Rhydian never swallowed it.’ I ask directly.

Levi nods, “True he never swallowed it, but that doesn’t mean he’s wrong about its effects.

“Are you two talking?” Ity asks, she’s crouched down at my level her eyes looking me over with more intrigue than concern.

Levi looks down at his hands, as puzzled as I am that in his human form the strange link between us is working. “Yeah, I can hear him.”

“Did you see a boy?” Ity asked Levi.

The young man’s face rushes into my mind. A face that smiled so innocently but left a hallow feeling in the pit of my stomach which rapidly filled with dread.

“He did.” Levi answers for me, “Who was it?” Ity doesn’t flinch. In fact she looks to sink deeper into thought. I filled the silence, and Levi translates.

“Early twenties. He made me believe he was innocent but had murder in his heart…” I trailed off and so did Levi.

“A perfect description,” her words coated a sigh, as if she didn’t intend on saying them herself.

“Who was he?” Cassidy asks.

Ity eyes avoided contact, “Someone I’d like to avoid. But I suspect he is linked to the owner of the stone.”

Hank breathed deeply to control his anger, “I don’t understand.

“Your brother and I saw a memory through someone’s eyes. That is why I want to take the stone. I’m not exactly sure but if I can return that memory to its owner, the power it used to change you might reverse.

“But Sterling says he’s dead.” Levi pointed out.

Ity shrugs “Like I said, I’m not sure. You are welcome to chance it by destroying it. And I’ll leave now.”

A whimper escapes my throat and I place my paw on her arm in protest. However Levi doesn’t move. He appears to still be on edge.

“Having it gone is just as good as destroying it,” Hank conceded. “So what do you suggest we do?”

Ity got really close to me, my pulse rose. “Since he’s a wolf, He’ll be a fast healer.” She lifted her fingers as if they were claws, “I can rip it out of him now,” My heart rate shot hot blood into my face, I stumbled back shielding my face with my arms and … hands.

Breathing heavily I pulled my limbs away to get a better look at my human hands. I finally looked up to meet expressions of relief looking down at me. A bit angry now, I looked at Ity.

Her expression softens though it still resembles pride.

“You knew that would turn me back.” I say.

“Complete guess.” She replied without a shrug.

Hank held my shoulders keeping me at a distance. “Now we can take you to the hospital and get that thing out of you.”

I push him off me to give all a good view of my human self. “It’s not doing anything to me, look Normal.” Hank moved to protest, “It’s more of a risk for someone to take it out of me. What if they touch it? And you,” I turned back to Trinity, “Once this is out, you leave. And you’re not going to tell us anything more about what you are.”

She blinked though her green eyes sparkle with intrigue. “I’m not going to tell you anything about me if I stay.”

“True. But keeping you around might not be a bad idea. For now.”

Ity’s reaction was subtle. A gentle tilt of the head as she considered the situation. No one else spoke either. I looked at Levi who looked the most hesitant at the idea, even as Ity replied. “I can wait 2 weeks for it to arrive on its own. You’ll just have to eat a lot of bran.”

“You realize the longer its in your body…” Levi started but I quickly cut him off.

“It has nothing to do with time. If it’s going to change me, then it already has.”

Hank didn’t try to hide his disappointment, but he wasn’t going to force me to change my mind. “Two weeks and I will always be around to keep an eye on you.” He warns Trinity.

Avoiding the shadows Trinity begins to walk away. “Trust me I have no desire to stick around in a place where hunters will soon be invade.” She says a laugh touching her words. “You know Sheridan was by far the best hiding place I’ve ever found. Until Rhydian bit you, and ruined it all.” With a deep breath she pulls her red hood over her head, tucks her arms tightly around her, “I assume you’re following me?” Fists at his side Hank growled as he followed, “See you at school. Remember lots of fiber.” And with that she and Hank plunge into the forest brush.

Levi taps me on my shoulder. “You really want to figure out what she is?”

I nod. “You don’t?”

Levi’s sigh smelled strongly of fear, but Cassidy interrupts as she shakes her head in disapproval. “The demon almost massacres the county and you’re both still swooning over her?”

“She can’t be as evil as she insists she is.” Levi says giving me a reassuring smile. Even though he was cautious of her, he wanted me to know he was with me.

“Besides now Levi is in love with Cassidy,” I smile changing the entire atmosphere in an instant. Both Cassidy and I meet each other with wide eyes. “Man, I heard your heartbeat. I know! Plus, she gave you your first real kiss. It’s expected.”

“NO!” Levi blurts turning to Cassidy. “It’s not. You’re not my first kiss. Not really - Okay it was, but I don’t - You can hear my heartbeat too, can’t you?” Cassidy nods. “There’s really no point in this conversation. Okay. I’m going home. Can we sleep for three days?”

“That’s the plan.” I agree.

THE END