Rideten, Present TimeTheir movements echoed hollowly round rooms that were bare of furniture. The house was in mid-renovation from the way the walls and floors had been stripped, light fittings hung, and boards or plastic covered many windows.“Dwayne,” Phillip had greeted their guide and turned now to them. “You, of course, know Stella, and my son Rhett. This is Aislen Carter, the Havermouth Triquetra’s mate.”“Hi,” from the way Rhett spoke, he had no idea who Dwayne was.“This is one of the backup entries,” Dwayne told them. “The Van Helsings having taken over the main facility. We’ll go down to the bunker now.”“You mean the church?” Aislen asked, shocked.“It came up for sale a while ago,” Dwayne snorted in amusement. “It seemed appropriate that we build our base under something that they would see as sacred. And the renovations were a good cover for building the bunker. The location however attracted their attention when they moved into Rideten, and they took control of the surf
Rideten, Present Time“It’s a matter of public perception,” Victor continued. “We cannot be seen attacking a peaceful population that is simply afraid of us and pursuing legal steps to protect themselves against us. We need to respond in kind. We have some very good politicians and lawyers working on representing our interests.”“They are killing and torturing us. We are responding in kind in attacking the Van Helsings occupation. Tabitha Marie has been reporting on what has happened in Havermouth and the Van Helsing torture of our people, surely that is justification enough,” Aislen said immediately, but her tone lacked confidence as the thoughts of the werewolves in the room were on how to dispute what she was saying, and how she was wrong, and they were so loud and certain that an edge of self-doubt wormed itself into her heart.“We have seen Tabitha’s reports on the internet,” Victor’s tone was indulgently patient as if he were speaking with a child. “However, they’re not being pi
Rideten, Present TimeChoosing the church as the base for the bunker had many disadvantages Aislen learned as Victor and his council went on to discuss how to mobilize their army without exposing their location to the Van Helsings above. The peaceful occupation of Rideten meant that their vehicles would immediately attract attention and panic.It was decided that teams of soldiers would exit through the various backup locations, such as the house that they had brought Aislen, Rhett, Phillip, and Stella through, and obtain their vehicles before making their way in stealth to Trayrock. Once in position within the town, they would contact the local werewolf pack and army, and co-ordinate a fast and hard attack aimed at driving the Van Helsings out.Aislen and her mates, would return first to Havermouth, and then travel to Trayrock in the wake of the battle with the reporters.“If they’re ignoring Tabitha Marie and putting it forward as a hoax, how are we going to get them to come with us
Rideten, Present TimeWalking through the Van Helsings with Heath and Cameron whilst keeping an eye on Rhett and Morgana as they entered the house behind Phillip and Stella had Talen’s nerves on edge. What the fuck were the fool werewolves playing at inviting his mates to a meeting directly across the road from a Van Helsing headquarters? That people often overlooked that which was directly under their noses was a sound theory, but this was taking it too far.They must have experienced one of those moments of bad luck, he decided, and built their bunker, only to have the Van Helsings move into the same neighbourhood. It would cause issues with Morgana’s hopes of using the Rideten army to rally the other branches if mobilizing the army would expose the werewolves’ stronghold.However, that was a problem for the future, and he had more immediate demands for his attention. He led his mates around the block until they reached the house directly behind the one into which Morgana and Rhett
Havermouth, Present TimeMeguitte set the phone down. It had not been an easy call to make. She knew that the weight of guilt on Talen’s shoulders would be heavy, and he had already been so weary. He had not said whether he would tell Cameron or not. She had not asked the question knowing that he probably had not decided for himself, though his question about the security of Havermouth made it clear that he had understood what she was suggesting.She looked down at the man before her and stroked his hair back from his face tenderly. Such a handsome man, she thought. Harry’s blood had been reversing the effects of age, and Jules Edison looked no older than his son, his thick ash-brown hair free of silver and his skin uncreased by time and exposure.“I am sorry that your eternity with Harry was cut short,” she told Jules softly.“What did Talen say?” Connery entered the room and placed his hands on her shoulders, the contrast of the heat of his palms to the chill of the air divine. “Ah,
Rideten, Present TimeAislen found Rhett on a porch swing around the side of the house, looking out into the garden and watching Cameron, who was up a ladder helping the witches to tie shiny strips onto the branches. As Aislen approached, Rhett blew out his breath of smoke and stubbed his cigarette out into an ashtray, waving his hands in front of his face to disperse the cloud that lingered.“Sorry,” he said. “I’m smoking too much at the moment. I know it. Usually, I just sneak a bit here and there, or hide in my car to have a joint. But…”“I get it,” she sat next to him and leaned against his side. He lifted his arm and put it around her. “Everything you used to do to alleviate stress has been taken away in this change to vampire, and now smoking is the only thing you have left.”“You’re reading my mind,” he said softly. “And it’s not the only thing,” he added with a hint of wickedness. “I can still fuck my little heart out.”“Just not as much,” she pointed out. “Because we’re cramm
Rideten, Present TimeHeath hated the witch’s house he decided as he wandered the rooms, threading his way past smiling helpful people who inevitably extended invites to join them in whatever activity they were doing. He declined a yoga session, shelling peas, and another group that he just wasn’t even sure what they were up to. There were simply too many people, and everything they did was… weird.Phillip had run them through what had happened at the pack meeting, and whilst Aislen hadn’t disputed the lawyer’s efficient summary, she had slid frowns at Stella, which had left Heath wondering what the witch had done to annoy her.Nothing about what Phillip had described had surprised Heath. It was typical pack behavior that a lead alpha would not surrender his power lightly, or at all. If Victor had not put on a show before agreeing to assist Aislen and Havermouth with the river towns, Heath would have been more surprised. He agreed with Phillip – Victor had handled the situation with c
Rideten, Present TimeThere was no sign of Heath when Rhett went up to the bedroom. There was a fresh arrangement of flowers on the desk and the bed had been made, and that set Rhett’s teeth on edge. The witches didn’t understand werewolves he thought in annoyance as he threw the suitcases onto the bed. Strangers weren’t welcome into a den, and although their stay was temporary, while they were using a room, it was their den.“Whatever,” he began opening the drawers. He could smell strangers on the clothing as he pulled it out and shoved it into the suitcases. Someone had been through the drawers, refolding the clothing inside. Ignore it, he told himself. Witches were just humans who studied magic, they did weird human things and probably thought that they were helping out.“Going somewhere?” Phillip stood in the doorway of the room.Rhett looked up. “What’s it to you?”“You are always so hostile, Rhett,” Phillip said disapprovingly. “How many times do I have to say that I’m not your