Cynthia Carole [Cedarville] The Windigo (pdf)

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

“Look, we let him stay because…well, because he was here first, to be honest, and he’s sworn he’s
harmless. Even the vamps agree.” His badge winked in the passing light, and Arlene saw his lips
press together. The smell of him burned her nose—aftershave, shampoo, deodorant soap, and
something else, a wild, animal odor that she had never noticed before.
The woods, too, were filled with smells, and they hit her as they drove; the pungent acidy
perfume of the cedar, the warm, rich scent of decaying wood, the dusty stink that rose from the
churned gravel.
She frowned.
“What’s a windigo?” she asked into the tight silence that had descended into the Jeep. The
word had been buzzing around her head ever since they had started driving. A memory came too, of
Peter sliding a sponge over her wet skin, around her shoulder, down her arm, brushing the soft
mound of her breast.
Isabel gripped her arm tight, and leaned closer, her violet eyes huge. “Windigo! Did he say
that? Creed? Is it true?”
38
The Windigo
Creed shrugged his broad shoulders, appearing uncomfortable. “He said he was harmless,
and we’ve never had any trouble from him.”
“He’s a demon! One of the Lost. Are you insane? Look what he’s done to my sister?” Isabel
stared at Arlene with a look she imagined she would have got if she had suddenly announced she
was dying of cancer.
“I’m fine. He saved my life!” Arlene pulled Isabel’s fingers from her arm. They left pale
prints on her summer-kissed skin.
Isabel sucked in a breath. “He changed you. Now I know what I’m seeing in your aura.
Demon flesh… Oh God!” Tears filled her eyes. “Oh, Sweetie. No. We’ll figure something out. This
can’t be permanent.” That little line formed between Isabel’s eyebrows that meant she was about to
do battle.
He changed me? A memory came of a silver angel bending over her, his skin sparkling like it
was sprayed with diamond dust. Peter?
“Izzy—” Arlene began but a buzz came over Creed’s radio interrupting them. Margy’s voice
asked for him to respond.
Creed picked up the handheld. “Unit One responding. What’s up?”
Margy’s voice came back rough with static. “10-42D at Lakewater camp. Multiple. Stan is on
scene. It’s bad, Creed.”
Shock hit Arlene, and there had been so many shocks today, she felt pummeled. “Dead
bodies?”
Creed held the mike for a moment, and his mirror-covered glasses seemed to point at her
before turning back toward the road. “My ETA is about 15 minutes. Call Dr. Jervis,” he said in his
most professionally cool voice.
“10-4. Be advised. Stan says…he thinks maybe bear.”
“Unit One out,” he said in reply, putting the handheld back on its cradle.
As the radio fell silent, Creed hit the main road out of Cedarville, whipping the Jeep around
and switching on his lights. Above them, red and blue flashers began to circle, and the siren wailed
so loud, Arlene had to put her hands over her ears.
Dead bodies. Bear. Panic gnawed at her, and fear, and disgust. It couldn’t have been her. Right?
She clenched her teeth down hard.
As Creed turned onto Starflower Road, she knew he was taking her home on the way to the
State Park. The tension in her belly should have eased. The last thing she needed this morning was
39
Cynthia Carole
to go to a crime scene. Dream-images came, bloody ones, and she remembered the crimson stain
she had spat from her mouth as she brushed her teeth.
Was she capable? Or had it been the werebear? Or maybe it was something else…perhaps a
real bear attack or a mountain lion. In Cedarville? Who was she kidding?
She wrapped her arms around her torso, hugging Peter’s t-shirt to her skin. His smell clung
to the fabric.
Creed pulled up by their driveway, switching off his siren.
“Rest. I’ll be around later. Deanna’s inside, and Margy will be by when Rick takes over her
shift.”
“Creed—” Arlene started. She wanted to throw up. She longed to cry. What the hell was
happening? Could she have killed…?
Creed held up his hand.
“I don’t know what happened. Like I said, I’ll come by later. Stay inside the house and rest.
Everything will be okay.” He gave her a look that said it all. He was an alpha werewolf, used to
taking charge and responsibility. His big body nearly rippled with tension, and if he squeezed the
steering wheel any harder, she figured he’d dent the metal. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Odnośniki