Fan Fiction ❯ Shape Shift 2: La Manada Nina ❯ Chapter 6

"They were here," said Psycho, touching the indention in the ground where the children had been lying. "But where are they now?" asked Echo, walking into the clearing with Diablo and Prank at his side. Demon, Psycho, Fury, Despair and Ruin all spun around, in surprise. "They haven't been gone long. I can still smell them," said Diablo. "And someone else," said Prank. "Lots of someone else's," Echo agreed. "Lead the way," said Fury, gesturing to the trees. The Wolves led the vampires into the forest, following the scent of their children.

"Goddammit, Chaos, why the Hell do you put me through this shit?" Bloodbath demanded of the trees, as she followed Chaos' trail into the woods. Grumbling to herself, she didn't hear the human man walking softly behind her. Nor did she hear him raise and cock his gun. The first sounds of the gunshot were all the warning she got before the bullet tore a hole in her chest.

*She hears the silence so loud*

Chaos spun around at the gunshot. There was an eerie silence from the woods around her. Someone was dead. She didn't know who, but this was the silence of death itself. Guns meant at least one hunter was still out, looking for them. Suddenly, she did not want to be alone.

Prank followed the scent of his son in human form, but all his senses were those of a Wolf. The gunshot was loud and clear to him, though it was miles away. His first thought was of Chaos, coming after him and getting herself killed. "You hear that?" asked Echo. Prank and Diablo nodded. "Let's hurry up," said Ruin, looking around at the shadows, nervously. Somewhere, in the darkness, someone waited to kill them all.

"Mommy!" Mayhem's scream was torn from her throat, though neither Scamp nor Rascal could see anything hurting her. "Mayhem, it's okay!" said Scamp, grabbing her thrashing arms. "Mommy's dead. Mommy's dead…" she said, over and over, almost like a chant. Rascal looked at Scamp. "What the Hell is happening?" "Wish I knew," said Scamp. They looked out through the bars of the cage at the humans that carried them. All of them were armed with shotguns and silver knives. All the sudden, the boys decided that running away from their uncles might not have been such a bright idea after all.

"Melissa, what are you doing here?! Why did you bring Katie out here?" Chaos' eyes narrowed as the human hunter yelled at the woman who appeared to be his wife. She seemed to have brought their daughter with her into the clearing at the base of the mountain. Chaos felt a little sorry for the woman, just for a moment. Then she saw her son in cage and all traces of sympathy for anything human vanished without a trace. Vampiress or not, a low growl came from deep within her throat.

"Screw this shit," said Jinx, suddenly, jumping to her feet. "What do you think your doing?" asked Storm, standing. "I'm goin' after Chaos to help her find the kids and the guys and bring them home." Jinx headed for the door. "Wait up! I'm going too," said Kismet, standing. "Kismet-" Storm began. "I'm going, Storm," she said, leaving no room for argument. "Then I'm going with you," he said, sighing. "Shadow, you stay here with Angel and Trouble and make sure nothing happens to them." "Of course," said Shadow, as if that had been his plan all along. "Let's go. Time's wasting," said Jinx, already out the door.

"I hear Mayhem," said Diablo, picking up the pace. He couldn't hear her words, but she was afraid. There was a clearing ahead, full of humans, with a large cage in the center. Inside the cage were Scamp, Rascal and Mayhem, huddled together. Mayhem was crying and chanting "Mommy's dead" over and over again. The boys were trying to comfort her, but they were terrified.

"Get `em," said Prank, in a low, deadly voice. Three wolves and five vampires attacked the group of humans before they knew what was coming. Eight of the fifteen men were dead or injured in the dirt when one yelled, "Stop! I'll kill all three of them, I swear it!" The citizens of the Night World froze. The man held a gun to Scamp's head, through the bars of the cage.

*With Hell in my eyes and death in my veins*

"You'll put down that gun or watch your daughter die," came a female voice. Everyone spun around to see Chaos holding a small human girl up in the air. "I told you to put her in the car!" the man yelled. The woman was shaking. "I did! She must have gotten out!" "Let the children out of the cage, now," said Chaos, in a voice that spoke of death to any who opposed her. The man opened the cage with shaky hands. Rascal, Scamp and Mayhem scrambled out and ran to their fathers. "They're free. Now, let my daughter go," said the man. "You are in no position to be giving me orders, human," said Chaos. "Please, don't hurt her! Not my baby," the woman sobbed, on her knees in the mud. Chaos looked down at her. "Now, you will suffer the same as we have. You will go home and sit up, all night, knowing your child is in the hands of the monsters. Do not follow us. Do not look for us later. If you do, she will die. Leave here and don't return and she will be returned to you, unharmed, in due time." The guys were staring at her as if she was mad, but Chaos' eyes never left those of the human mother on the ground. The woman nodded. "I understand. Please, don't hurt Katie." "She won't be harmed," Chaos promised, turning with the girl in her arms and walking into the shadows. The guys followed, carrying a muddy, tired trio of children.

Jinx stopped in her tracks when she saw Chaos and Prank, with Rascal and another child between them. Storm and Kismet were right behind her. "Why do I get the feeling we missed something?" asked Jinx. Then she saw Echo and Scamp and any answer they might have given was forgotten. Echo put him down and Scamp ran to Jinx's arms. "Where's Bloodbath?" asked Diablo. "She went after Chaos, hours ago," said Kismet. "She never found me," said Chaos. "Then where-" Storm started to ask. "Mommy's dead! Mommy's dead!" said Mayhem, beginning her chant again. The adults looked around at each other. Diablo was shaking, clutching Mayhem to him. "Could she know that?" asked Despair. "We felt it when they ran away. I assume the connection goes both ways," said Jinx, quietly. "Then it's true?" asked Psycho. Chaos nodded. Tears streaked Diablo's face, but he was silent. "Let's get these kids home," said Fury, giving Chaos a slight push. They resumed their march toward home.

Trouble opened the door as they approached. "What the Hell happened!?" she demanded. "It's a long story," said Ruin, leading the way inside. "The guys can explain it to you while we get the kids clean and warm," said Jinx, pushing Scamp ahead of her up the stairs. Chaos had the human girl in one arm and took Mayhem from Diablo with the other, Rascal in front of her on the way up the stairs. "Uh, whose kid is that? She's human? What the-" Angel sounded more than a little confused. "Just sit down," said Prank, flopping down on the couch, "and we'll tell you."

Jinx took the boys to Chaos and Prank's bathroom, stopping in Rascal's room for clothes for both of them. She ran a hot bath and turned to Scamp. "Are you hurt, baby?" He shook his head. She looked at Rascal. "I'm fine." "Think you two can handle this while I go help Chaos?" They nodded and began to undress.

Chaos had taken the girls to the main bathroom. Mayhem was already in the tub, her knees tucked up, under her chin. Chaos knelt in front of the human girl. Her blue eyes were wide and frightened and her dirty little face was pale. "Your name is Katie?" asked Chaos, quietly. The girl nodded as Jinx walked in, closing the door behind her. "I'm Chaos, Katie and this is Jinx." "Hey, sweetie," said Jinx, with a gentle smile. "Are you gonna eat me?" Katie asked, quietly. Jinx looked at Chaos, eyebrows up. "No one here will ever hurt you, Katie. I promise you that, okay?" said Jinx. "Okay," came the whisper. "Now, how about we get you into the bath with Mayhem, so you can warm up and get clean," said Chaos. Katie nodded and Jinx helped her undress and get into the bath. "I'll go get them some clothes," said Chaos. Jinx nodded and knelt by the tub to help the two little girls.

"Why does she get us into these situations?" asked Trouble. "It was the only way. Keeping the kid was just an afterthought, I think. She wanted those people to suffer," said Demon. "She's not gonna hurt the kid is she?" asked Angel, quietly. Everyone looked at her. "She's not a monster, Angel. She's a mother," said Prank. "We all sleep here tonight," said Diablo. "We aren't losing anyone else." No one contested him.

Chaos lied in bed, watching the little girl sleep, beside her. "You can't keep her," came a voice. She looked back at Prank. "I know that." She turned to him, away from the child. "When will you give her back?" he asked. She sighed. "Tomorrow night, if all goes well." "Good. Her mother has to be in Hell right now. I would be." "Prank, I want a little girl," said Chaos, out of nowhere. He looked down at her. She was serious, staring up at him with big, pleading dark eyes. "I think we can handle that," he said, softly, kissing her forehead. She smiled.

"Trouble, you okay?" She wiped the tears from her face and opened the bathroom door. There was Diablo, looking concerned. "I'm fine. I'm gonna be just fine," she said, unsure of who, exactly, she was trying to convince. He put a hand on her shoulder and she began to shake again. "Come here, girl," he said, quietly, pulling her close. They cried together, holding on to each other in the darkened hallway.

Jinx shifted and Echo's arms tightened around her. She sensed a presence beside the hida-bed they were sleeping on and opened her eyes. There was Scamp, looking lost and scared. "What's wrong?" "Can I sleep with you?" he asked, as if ashamed to even want to. She reached for him and he climbed into bed. Echo woke at the disturbance and moved aside, so Scamp could lie between them. Snuggled tightly between his parents, the young Vampi-Wolf finally slept.