Chapter 23

The engine sputtered and died with a rending screech. I didn’t even think, just launched myself off the back and ran toward my giant dog, hoping he would run if I did.

Strong hands grabbed me around the waist, and I shrieked, but it was Katsuro. He tossed me into the air. I flailed, not understanding what the hell he was thinking, until I landed on Nimbus’s back.

The cloud puppy woofed in surprise before I sensed his assent. Reacting, more than thinking, I wrapped my hands in his fluff and hoped if I pulled, it didn’t hurt him. He wasn’t like a horse that wouldn’t feel much when I tugged on a mane. His fur was so thick, I was practically buried in it.

It took a moment for Nimbus to move, but once he did, he was fast. Even faster than when he’d been running with the ATV. Maybe even faster than the werewolves that chased us. Certainly better able to navigate the woods than the human-driven vehicles.

I leaned down, not able to see over Nimbus’s fluff, and having no idea where to go, anyway. Katsuro hadn’t joined us, and I hoped he’d be okay. As my thoughts strayed to the vampire, it occurred to me just how far he’d tossed me, like I’d weighed nothing. Yeah, if he could avoid the guns, he’d probably be just fine in a fight.

Nimbus ran, and I held on, concentrating on breathing, staying balanced on his back, and keeping my grip on his fluff.

Finally, the cloud puppy slowed to a halt. He flopped on the ground, and I hastily let go, sprawling away from him. This was certainly nothing like the handful of times I’d ridden a horse.

“Are you okay, buddy?”

I sensed weariness and hunger.

“Shrink down, and I’ll see if we can get you fed.” I didn’t have any food. It was all with the ATV. But maybe I could use my magic to find something for him.

This time, Nimbus wearily shrank to his normal size and curled up, his tail over his nose.

“We can’t stop right here, buddy.” I picked him up, grunting a little in surprise. Not that I hadn’t just seen him in giant dog form, but he had certainly grown in his normal size as well.

The only thing I could think to do was ask my magic to show me a source of food for the cloud puppy. Clare had said to work on instinct, and it felt like I should be able to find something to eat with my newborn abilities. Reaching out into the forest with my thoughts, or whatever it was, focused on food, I sensed something off to my left. Hoping I wasn’t making a mistake, I followed the feeling.

Gunshots sounded in the distance, but they were far away. They trailed off and were punctuated by an explosion before the relative silence of the forest returned. I listened, holding my breath and praying we were alone. Well, Katsuro could certainly show up and I wouldn’t mind.

Nimbus grew heavy in my arms, and I found a somewhat hidden spot to put him down by the small pool my intuition had brought me to. The water was certainly fresh enough for him to drink, and I cupped my hands and brought him water. He tiredly lapped it up and wagged his tail gratefully. Then I went back to the small pool and sat, wondering what to do. I thought several fish slept in its depths, but not only did I not have any way to get them, but I wasn’t sure how good night fishing was. I’d been a beach bum, not a fisher.

The puppy really needed food, though, so I put my hands in the water and thought about how much I needed the fish for him. A silver flash of light darted between my hands. If magic hadn’t been guiding me, I would have missed the creature. As it was, I barely got hold of it and jerked it out onto the shore. Still, I’d managed.

Nimbus perked up when he saw the fish flopping.

“It’s for you, buddy. Do you want it cooked?”

The thought of food rejuvenated him, and he pounced on the fish and tore into it before I could even wonder how I was going to cook a fish.

I wrinkled my lips but left him to his meal while I went back to try to get one more for him.

Once Nimbus had eaten the second fish and had a little more water, we moved away from the stream a short distance and curled up together on a bed of pine needles with a boulder to our backs. He was unconscious instantly. I was so uncomfortable that, even if I had wanted to, I couldn’t have slept. I did rest, though, and I listened.

A werewolf would be able to follow our trail, but maybe not human trackers. At least not until daylight. I held my slumbering puppy and tried to stay alert. Time had no meaning in the depths of night, and I had no idea what time it was, or how long we had until daylight. We couldn’t stay here much longer, but Nimbus needed rest.

“Hannah,” a familiar voice whispered. “We’re safe for now.”

“Katsuro?”

“Yes.” He stepped into a ray of moonlight near my hiding place.

I gently pet Nimbus. “Buddy, we have to get up now.”

He grumbled and tucked himself more firmly against my side.

Katsuro laughed and kneeled by me. “I’ll take him.”

For a moment, I stared at the vampire. Had they somehow captured him? Made him switch sides, or even worse, mimicked him so completely that I was fooled?

“It’s okay,” I finally said. “I’ll carry Nimbus.”

He didn’t argue, which was certainly a point in his favor. But if he had been taken over by the enemy, slowing me down with Nimbus could be useful to him. I shook my head. If they’d somehow gained control of Katsuro, I was fucked anyway.

The vampire put a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I think we can safely attempt to rejoin the others,” he said.

“You know where we’re at, right?”

He glanced around, then sighed. “I am not a werewolf with instinctive knowledge of my surroundings in the forest. I knew where you were because I could sense you and Nimbus specifically. I can sense settlements in a few directions, and I believe we need to go that way.” He pointed. “But I’m not positive.”

“Do you have your phone?”

“No signal.” He fished out his cell, unlocked the screen and handed it to me.

I fiddled with it one-handed for a bit before shrugging. “Well, let’s go then.”

Nimbus could have told us where to go, but Nimbus was unconscious, and I doubted he’d wake for a while.

So, we walked.

***

“Is it safe to talk?” I asked sometime later.

“I believe so.”

“Tell me about yourself?”

It was dark, but I saw him give me a measured look. I’d managed to use my power to enhance my vision again. Not as good as last time, but it made wandering around in the woods at night a lot easier. My arms ached from carrying Nimbus and I thought about turning him over to Katsuro but couldn’t quite make myself do it.

Finally, he answered. “As much as I’ve lived a long life, I don’t know how much of it is truly interesting. The history, maybe, but I’ve had to live so much of it in the darkness.” He sighed and remained silent for a while. “I used to enjoy sword work. I still do, I suppose. My father had fought in a war and one day I found his sword. He taught me a little when he had time and energy. We were farmers, and I was an only child. The rituals and customs of my people were quite rigid. I do not think you would like it very much, but the rituals had their beauty, too. This was long ago, of course. In Japan. I thought being a mere farmer was boring and desired more, hence the sword practice. It was my life’s ambition to go to war and be a hero.” He snorted. “Now I would give it all up to return to the farm of my youth.”

“All of it?”

“I rule Beechworth alongside Davin. We do our best to make it a sanctuary, as you know. But the weight of the years, and the responsibility for the lives I protect, does wear me down.” Katsuro glanced at me again. “Though, I must admit, you’ve brought a fresh breath of life to our town. Despite all this.” He gestured broadly, and I knew he was referring to the current conflict. “And truly, it is an honor to use the power I’ve amassed through the years to protect others. Please do not misunderstand. While it is within my ability to do so, I will protect the beings of Beechworth. That does not dispel the longings for my relatively carefree youth. I didn’t know it until much later, but we had great privilege. My father had chosen the life of the farmer after all the honor he had won in the wars. Even in a hard year, we never went without because of that privilege, and he always made sure the people of his village had what they needed, too. He was a good man.”

“What happened?” I hoped he didn’t mind me asking after he trailed off again. I could see it being a sensitive topic.

“Ahh, forgive me. Lost in memories. As with most stories like this, war happened. Eager for adventure, I answered the call. I never returned home.”

“Boohoo.”

We both started at the derisive voice.

“Never returned home. Didn’t end up in service to a powerful vampire lord. Didn’t amass his own power base. Don’t let this one fool you, human. Katsuro could buy a large country and have money left over. He’s not hurting for luxury after his departure from human life.” Someone stepped into view.

“I never said I was,” the vampire replied with quiet dignity, as he sheltered me with his body. “Simply that I now find the value my father did in a quiet life as a farmer.”

Belatedly, it seemed, some sense in the back of my mind lit up like an alarm bell and adrenalin shot through me. How had they snuck up on us?

“Well, your girlfriend cost us a lot of money and power. And unlike you, we don’t want to be no bleeding farmers.”

“On the contrary, that’s exactly what you were doing, farming blood,” Katsuro pointed out.

“Shut it.”

I didn’t recognize the voice, or the face, but I had noticed a weapon pointed in our direction before the vampire had stepped between us. Who the hell was this, and how had he snuck up on us?

I had to get Nimbus out of here. He was still out cold.

Something rustled, and I turned around just in time to hear a quiet pop and feel a sting. I knew what had happened, even as I tried to protest. Tranq guns were all well and good in movies, but in real life they were a terrible idea to use on people.

My vision blurred and my limbs went numb, and I fell to my knees before I could drop Nimbus. Shouts and the sounds of fighting chased me into darkness, my last thought on how badly I’d failed my cloud puppy and desperately hoping he’d wake up and run before he could be captured.