19. A Trip to the Zoo

NINETEEN

a trip to the zoo

The sun has been high in the sky several hours before Thorne and I pull away from each other's arms. I feel his eyes on me as I move toward the shower.

"Need some company in there?" he asks.

"As much as I'd like to say yes, we need to get ready for our trip to the zoo."

Thorne flops onto his back with a sigh. "I've never been a fan of zoos. Not a fan of seeing the animals in cages."

The warmth of the water feels perfect on my skin. I take a minute to review everything we've learned since this adventure began. To be honest, it's been a whirlwind of confusion. I'm tempted to take Thorne and Alex and run away, somewhere we can't be found. Doing that would throw me back into the loop I've spent the past two hundred years in. Nope. Elsbeth Abernathy is done running .

I turn off the water and find Thorne lying on top of the sheets, naked. "I thought I'd try to distract you one more time."

I laugh. "It's tempting. You're tempting, but I suspect we will have company before too much longer. I don't want to scar Alex any more than he already is." Pulling the towel off, I pop his leg with a loud crack.

"Ow, okay, woman. I'm getting up." He stands, moving in front of me. "I love you, acushla." He covers my lips with his own, gently forming the connection between us.

I pull away, refusing the temptation to look down. "I love you, too, Captain."

He moves into the shower, and I search for something to wear. The closet is full of clothes that don't belong to me. Sorting through the rows of items, I find a pair of pants that should be the right length, along with a T-shirt folded on the top shelf. I slip on the outfit just as Alex and Luna's energy hits me. I open the door to find the immortal child wearing a pair of shorts and matching shirt. "Good morning, Elsie!" He throws his arms around my waist.

"I'm sorry it's so early. I was only able to hold him off a few hours." Luna ruffles Alex's hair as she speaks.

"Your timing is perfect. We're almost ready." On cue, Thorne enters the room.

"Thorne," Alex says, running toward him, copying his movement from earlier.

"Hey, bud. Are you okay? "

"Yeah, I just missed you guys."

"Well, you're in luck because we're all going to the zoo," I answer. "Where is everyone else?"

"They're going to meet us there," Luna answers.

"The couple said they'd be there after lunch." I glance at a clock on the wall. "If we leave soon, we'll have time to scope everything out before they get there."

Thorne throws a bottle of goat's blood at me. "You might want to eat first."

I try handing the blood to Alex, who pushes it away. "I already ate. It's your turn."

Three sets of eyes stare at me as I loosen the top, lifting it to my lips. Without thinking, I empty the bottle in one gulp. My eyes water at the taste, but it soothes the rumbles in my stomach.

"Let's go!" Alex takes the empty bottle, setting it on the large bar in the kitchen area. "I've never been to a zoo before."

I pull him to a stop. "You've really never been to a zoo?"

He shrugs. "My parents never went to one, and the zoo wasn't the top priority on Patrice's list of things to do."

I laugh at his wording. His personality has changed over the past few days. He's more relaxed, and I like it. "Today is your day."

The four of us catch a streetcar to the zoo, unloading exactly fifteen minutes later. I sense energy the moment we enter. "Fran's with them," Alex says, sensing my thoughts.

Moving to where the energy is the strongest, we find Amelia and Topher kneeling in front of a stroller, with Fran and Micah looking on. "There they are," Alex says with a smile.

"Looks like you two got some well-needed rest," Fran says with a wink as we approach.

"Yeah, we did," Thorne answers.

"What happened yesterday?" I ask Fran. "Were you able to find Patrice?"

"I followed her as far as I could. Her trail ran cold around the warehouse."

"The same warehouse we searched?"

"I sent several men to check it out this morning. There were no signs of anyone being there," Topher preempts my next question.

"She couldn't have just disappeared," I state the obvious.

"I followed her trail to the water." Fran moves closer to the stroller.

Alex looks at me. "I told you she was in the water."

"Yeah, but that doesn't make sense. Unless she's on a ship?—"

"Or an island," Thorne interrupts.

"There aren't any islands large enough to hide anything larger than a lizard close to the city," Topher adds .

"Alex!" a young voice calls from behind. "You came."

"Hey, Brayden. Of course, we came." He moves toward the human boy, patting him on the shoulder. Alex's calm and cool demeanor amazes me.

"Hello," his mother greets us. "I didn't expect you to bring other people."

"I'm Fran." She moves in front of the family, shaking their hands. "I hope you don't mind that we tagged along. My daughters and their spouses love the zoo. We'll go separate ways, so we don't have a huge crowd to deal with." She laughs as she speaks.

"Of course, we don't mind," the woman answers. "It's a pleasure to meet you all." She looks at each person in our group. "You certainly have beautiful daughters."

Fran laughs. "I do. It's all in the genes."

I stare in awe at the elderly vampire. Hidden behind her weak facade, she's a force to be reckoned with. " Mom , we'll meet y'all later?"

"Sounds good, honey ," Fran answers.

Thorne, Alex, and I follow the family toward the beginning of the zoo. Brayden and Alex immediately run ahead, staying close enough to see. I know without asking that Alex is hoping to discover more of his ability.

"So, how long are y'all visiting the city?" Thorne asks, putting on a strong Southern accent .

"We're heading home tomorrow," the father answers. "I'm afraid I don't know your name."

Thorne holds his hand out, shaking the humans. "Thorne, and this is my wife, Elsie."

"Michael, and this is my wife, June." He looks at the two boys, staying ahead of us. "Looks like they've made friends."

"Alex is our little social butterfly," I answer. "Don't get too far ahead," I send a warning.

"We're good."

We spend the next hour visiting every animal on display. The energy of my pretend family is nearby, offering support if needed. We move to the back portion of the zoo, to the edges of the Mississippi River while the boys disappear behind a hedge of bushes.

"This is such a beautiful area," June says, overlooking the murky water.

"Yes, it is," I agree.

"Where are the boys?" Michael asks, looking around. "Brayden?" he calls.

"Alex!" I copy. Neither boy answers. "Alex!" I'm met with silence.

I turn, meeting Thorne's eyes. "I'm sure they're around here somewhere." He reassures me through our connection. "We'll find them," he says out loud as he and Michael leave the two of us alone.

"Elsie!" Alex's voice calls through my mind. "Can you hear me?"

"Aye. Where are you? "

"Patrice is here!"

"I can't feel your energy. Where are you?" I turn, searching for his familiar feeling.

"Brayden and I are hiding."

"Dammit, Alex. She'll find you."

"No, she won't. Brayden doesn't just pull down our barriers, he's a shield, too."

I turn toward the unsuspecting mother, looking her in her eyes. "June, I need you to come with me and not ask any questions." Her eyes dilate as she repeats my words. I wrap my hand around hers, pulling her closer to the energy of my family. "Thorne?"

"I heard. We're on our way."

Seconds later, I'm standing in front of two lycan, a vampire, a hybrid, and a baby that I don't know how to classify. "What's happened?" Amelia says the moment we approach.

"Patrice is here," I answer.

"How do you know?" Fran asks.

"Alex senses her. He says the boy is a shield and is hiding their energy from her."

"That's useful," Luna adds.

"She must have followed them here," Thorne says as he and Michael join our group. Michael's eyes match his wife's as they stand emotionless beside us.

"I'll protect them," Fran says, nodding toward the parents and Edon. "Go, find that bitch."

"Split up," Thorne orders. "She can't be far."

Amelia and Topher move toward the city, while Micah and Luna stay inside the zoo grounds. Thorne and I head back toward the water. "What are we looking for?" Thorne asks.

"I don't know. A boat maybe?" We comb the edge of the river, searching for an unmanned boat that would've brought Patrice to shore. Other than the ferry that brings people up and down the river, there are no boats docked anywhere nearby.

"You don't think she'd swim?"

"I doubt it. She doesn't seem like the kind that would want to get her hair wet." I stop moving, standing still. "Why don't I feel her?"

Thorne copies my movement. "Aye, I don't feel her either. In fact, I don't feel anyone."

"What?" I send my energy out, searching for the familiar energies of the lycan and Fran, finding nothing. "What the hell?"

I catch a glimpse of dark hair moving through the zoo faster than human speed. I don't feel the vampire, but there's no denying that it's Patrice. Grabbing Thorne's arm, I pull him behind an ancient oak tree, hiding us from view. The woman moves closer, and my suspicion is correct. It's Patrice. Shit.

"That's her. She'll sense us," Thorne says.

We watch as she continues moving, walking past our hiding spot. "She didn't feel us," I state the obvious.

"How is that possible?" he asks once she's moved on.

"Brayden. Alex said he's a shield. "

Thorne laughs. "Yeah, I heard, but there's no way he would be able to shield the entire zoo, is there?"

We move from our hiding spot, following behind the insane vampire. "Apparently there is. We can't let her out of sight. We have to follow her."

"Remember, we'll lose Brayden's shield the further we move from him." Thorne's reminder rings through my mind.

We follow Patrice through the zoo, back to the river and a small dock slightly upriver. "There's her boat." I nod toward a small vessel docked along the pier.

"Elsie," Alex says through my mind. "You're getting too close. She's going to sense you."

"We can't let her escape. It's the only way to find your sisters."

"No," he answers. "She'll kill both of you."

"We don't have a choice."

"Yes, we do." I turn, finding the two boys standing behind us. "Keep him safe. She won't kill me." Before I have time to react, Alex is gone, following Patrice.

"Hello, Mother," he says, stopping behind her.

"Alex! No!" Without words, Patrice grabs him and has him inside the boat seconds later.

"Stay back, Elsie!" he warns. "You have to keep Brayden safe. I'll be okay. I'll let you know where we go. We have no choice," he repeats my words from earlier.

"Alex," I lose the battle to keep my sadness from sounding through my voice .

"What's going on?" Brayden asks. "Where did Alex go? Where are my mom and dad?"

"Alex will be back soon. He had to take a trip." Thorne wraps an arm around the human boy. "I'll take you to your parents." He looks at me. "Don't do anything you'll regret, Elsie. Alex is smart. He knows what he's doing."

I wipe a tear, thinking of the things she could do to him. "Stay in contact with me, Alex."

"I will." His voice already sounds weaker. "The lady from the church is here. She smells like you…" his voice trails off.

"Smells like me? Alex? Alex!"

Thorne and I share a look just as Fran appears moments later, pushing a stroller and dragging two humans with her. Their pupils return to their normal size as they recognize their son.

"Brayden?" Michael asks, looking around. "How did we get back here? Where's Alex?"

"He took a trip," the boy answers, repeating Thorne's words.

"How did we get back here?" June asks.

"We just walked over here," Fran answers. "Thank you for your conversation. It was a pleasure to get to know you two. In fact, I'd like to offer you a place to stay for the night."

"Oh, no. Thank you, but we're heading home tomorrow," June answers.

"I'm sorry, June. We can't allow that to happen." I move closer to the family. "Brayden is in danger. If you leave New Orleans with him, we can't guarantee his safety."

"Danger from what?" the father asks.

"A member of our community," Amelia says from behind. We turn, finding her standing in front of three large wolves.

"Oh, my God!" June screams, pulling Brayden to her side.

"We're here to help you. To help him," I say, nodding toward her son. "He's special."

"What do you mean?" Michael asks.

"He has an unusual ability, which will draw others to him. Others, who don't have your son's or your best interest in mind. There is a woman after him now," Fran answers. "We're not your enemy."

"What are those?" June asks, nodding toward the wolves.

"Lycan," Amelia answers. "And they're vampires." She nods in our direction.

"I knew it," Brayden says. "I knew you all were something."