Fly Away [Eclipse 2]

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

Jigger slowly made his way into the conference room. He was still amazed at the turn his life had taken. Had it only been a couple of weeks? Looking around the room, Jigger nodded to himself, Yep. Two weeks ago today and I have found myself living with a band of strange shifters, sitting on a Council seat, and not worrying about my father coming from behind me to knock the s**t out of me. Not so weak now, am I pops?

Jigger’s father was a nasty bastard who always took great pleasure in beating and verbally abusing Jigger at every opportunity. He had done it since Jigger was a young boy and fresh out of the hospital. Unable to walk without the use of his forearm canes, his father thought of Jigger as weak and useless. Whether that was because of his shifter animal or the injuries from the car accident when he was a young child, Jigger didn’t know, and honestly at this point it didn’t matter. His father had often threatened to kill him in his sleep, or even in front of the rest of his fellow shifters. He hadn’t done it yet, and Jigger didn’t know why, but the fact remained that his father hated Jigger and blamed him for his mother’s death so long ago.

None of it ever made sense to Jigger. How was it his fault as to why he couldn’t shift into a bear like his old man. What was wrong with being a fisher cat? It wasn’t like he shifted into a tabby…

hell, a fisher cat wasn’t even a cat, it was a type of weasel, and Jigger couldn’t stand seafood of any kind. Actually, being a small shifter at least, even with his f****d-up legs he could still shift.

He could move around well and must look a sight dragging his back legs behind him. He could rummage for berries, but unlike others like him he couldn’t climb trees or hunt for porcupine, rabbits, shrews, or other small wildlife, but being small with his injuries was definitely better than trying to lug around a thousand-pound ass a bear might have. Besides it wasn’t like it was Jigger’s choice to make on which animal he would share a soul with. It was by the shifter gods themselves that decided who his human side would share with, and their choice was not to be a bear.

How the car accident had been his fault, Jigger never understood either. He had been three years old when his mother had crashed her car on Suicide Hill. It wasn’t like he was driving the car, or had grabbed the wheel or anything. Heck, Jigger didn’t even remember everything that happened. Sometimes he would have dreams and could see his mom driving fast as she cried. He felt the car jerk to the side and the next thing he knew he was flying through the air, then rolling and feeling the car crushing into his spine. The next thing Jigger remembered was waking in the hospital, not feeling anything from the waist down and the look of disgust on his father’s face.

Shit went downhill from there.

Jigger knew he could have reported his father, but what good would it have done? His father, Alpha Tomas, was the Alpha of their clan, and as far as the council went, well, Alpha Tomas was best friends with Councilman Amos and that would mean his complaint wouldn’t just fall on deaf ears, it would mean even harsher beatings from his father, and since the man would refuse to allow Jigger to shift in his current state, that meant healing almost at a human rate and that meant weeks and weeks of pain.

Jigger could have tried to find his mother’s boogle, which was what his small group of fisher cats were known as in the shifter world. However, with his disability it was highly doubtful he would have been accepted at all. A shifter group was only as strong as their weakest link, and with so little use of his legs and difficulty in shifting, add to that Jigger was blind without his glasses, he would be considered a shifter that would extremely weaken any boogle, pack, clan or whatever.

The facts were simple, Jigger had been living in hell, and with no chance to of ascending to heaven until that meeting with the gods. Now here he was in a new band of shifters, a new home, people around him that seemed nice enough, and a Councilman given the task to help better the lives of all shifters and paranormals around the entire North American region. It was a huge task and an even bigger responsibility.

Because Jigger was a computer wiz and the others could barely get by, let alone turn one on, he was the logical choice to create a website for all shifter and paranormal groups to communicate with the Council. It would be for population accounting, issues within the groups, and solutions to those issues. However, Jigger had taken the site one step further and he just hoped his fellow Councilmen would be okay with it.

“Hey, Jigger, let me help you with that.” Elija said, as he pulled Jigger’s chair out.

“Thanks.” Jigger said, with a grateful smile.

Elija was a really sweet man and good friend. Jigger knew the guy had thought they might be more than that when they first met. Jigger had really not noticed the advances at first because he couldn’t take his eyes off the sexy falcon shifter, Alaska. That man was hot, hot, hot. Jigger caught one glance of the man’s broad muscular shoulders, muscular thighs, unique and beautiful brown hair with tiny flecks of white, and those mesmerizing pale yellow eyes… Oh man, Jigger thought his hard on would never go down. Jigger had never been more thankful that the gods had muted scents that day, or everyone would have known how much Jigger wanted to drop his pants, lean over the table and let Alaska pound him into the hard wood, not giving two shits about everyone seeing them. Okay, he would have when Alaska was finished, but at that moment… nope.

Sighing, Jigger thought to himself, “Who am I kidding. I couldn’t even find the courage after the meeting to talk to the man, and when I finally did, he had already left for the Council prison.”

Looking over at Elija, Jigger wished he had felt something… anything like he had felt when he saw Alaska. The gods knew Elija had made plenty of passes, letting Jigger know he was interested. Shoot, the Chupacabra shifter had been eyeing Jigger as if the man was hungry and Jigger was the main course, but Jigger had nipped that in the bud quick. Jigger just wasn’t interested in the man as anything but a really good friend.

Most shifters had a high s*x drive and Jigger was no different. The thing was, Jigger refused to act on his urges with others. First off, Jigger had no wish for others to see his scrawny legs. His chest was wide and muscular, because of the upper-body usage needed to maneuver the forearm crutches he needed to move around, but his legs… well, they were not proportionate to his body and were definitely not like other shifters around him. Jigger did his exercises every day to keep up as much muscle mass as he could in his legs, but it still wasn’t enough to make much of a

difference. Maybe it was vain, but that’s just how it was. The second thing was… and maybe it was romanticism, but Jigger wanted to wait for his fated mate.

“I want to show you something after the meeting. If you have time of course.” Elija said, sounding a bit nervous.

“As of right now I should have the time. I’m running a software program and it’ll take a few hours before that’s finished, but I should be okay for a bit. How did things go at the new Council prison?” Jigger asked.

Elija snorted, “It was not what I expected. I thought Alaska was going to blow a gasket by the time I arrived. He was trying to figure out how he could find the old Council and rip their entrails from their bodies.”

Wincing at his friend’s words, Jigger asked, “That bad?”

“Worse. Seriously, Jig, I can’t believe how that place was being handled. It made my skin crawl, and trust me, parts of it were beyond disgusting.” Elija said, with a shake of his head.

Jigger felt a shiver run through him at that image. Looking around cautiously, doing his best not to let his true interest show, Jigger asked, “Where is Alaska now?”

“He should be here soon.” Elija said as he sat back with a knowing smirk.

Jigger felt his cheeks heat softly, saying, “I was just curious if he was still at the prison.”

“Sure you were.” Elija said with a laugh. “Like I haven’t noticed how you looked at our resident falcon shifter at that meeting, or how you would nonchalantly ask me about the man when we first talked. You like Alaska, admit it.”

“I don’t even know the man to like or dislike him. Besides, it wouldn’t matter. A guy like Alaska wouldn’t even give a gimp like me a second look.” Jigger said, his cheeks heating even more.

Elija shocked the heck out of Jigger when he sat forward, hissing, “I don’t ever want to hear you call yourself derogatory names again, Jig. You have no idea just how gorgeous you are, and honestly, that makes you even more sexy. Not only has Alaska noticed, but he even asked how you were getting on at your new home and surroundings.”

Jigger didn’t know what to say to that, so he decided to ignore his friend’s words, asking instead,

“So he did come back?”

Nodding, Elija sat back, saying, “He wanted to meet with Gaby before the meeting. Like I said, he was ready to kill by the time I got there, and when we returned he still hadn’t calmed down.

Hell, he was going into great detail on just what he wanted to do to not only the old Council, but a crap ton of the guards and even some of the prisoners.”

“Wh… what made him so angry? I mean is he always so violent?” Jigger asked cautiously.

Shrugging, Elija answered, “Not usually, but then again, things were really nasty at the Council prison.”

Jigger must have still looked doubtful, because Elija let out a long drawn-out breath, saying,

“Alaska is a great guy. Kinda intense, but extremely protective of those he cares about and those he considers the underdog, but the things we saw at that prison would make anyone’s skin crawl and fell ready to kill. There were cells with ten men that were designed to hold four, and that would be pushing it. They hadn’t bathed in gods only knows how long, and they were so emaciated… gods, Jigger, they were so f*****g skinny and some of them begged us to just kill them. Their eyes were empty. You could see how so many had just given up on life and, like I said, they were begging for death. They had sores and some had old and new injuries like they had been beaten and not just physically. Then we went into another cell area and it was set up like some fancy f*****g hotel room. There was one per cell with plush beds and pillows and none of the damn doors were even locked. These guys had cable television, a cafeteria that was catered, cell phones to use, a f*****g bar and they even had a strip club where they had men and women brought in for their pleasure… I mean, it was f*****g insane. That cell block had an area that they could go out and shift whenever the hell they wanted… I couldn’t believe it. When we asked the guards what the f**k was going on and why the serious difference in cell blocks, they weren’t about to talk.” Smiling wide, Elija said, “That was until Alaska got ahold of one of them.”

Elija laughed and Jigger swallowed hard, “What’d he do?”

“He snatched one of the guards by the throat with his talons telling him how amazingly long someone could live when their belly was slit open and their intestines were being eaten bit by bit.

Then he took one of those talons and started to slice a line, the dude went hysterical. He pissed himself as he started explaining how the s**t there was set up. It seems that the one cell block was for the lesser shifters and paranormals. The ones with no money, no ties, and even those that some Alphas or leaders of their packs, tribes, clans, whatever, paid them to house for whatever reason. The other cell was a way for the ones with money and power to use while they were supposedly being held for crimes against their groupings. It allowed other shifters and paranormals to ‘think’ they were being held accountable for their actions, when in fact they were taking a vacation and still running things from their f*****g cells.” Elija said in disgust.

With each word Elija spoke, Jigger’s eyes widened more and more. “Are you saying they were on a vacation? I mean that’s what it sounds like.”

Nodding, Elija hissed out, “That’s what it looked like too. It was like these guys were staying in a fancy spa. You know what I mean? Like those places you see where they give mani/pedis, mud baths, massages… s**t like that. Hell, they even had a cook… and I’m not talking about just someone to throw s**t together. I’m talking like an Emeril Lagasse or some s**t like that.”

“So, what are you guys going to do about it?” Jigger asked.

Sighing heavily, Elija replied, “That’s what Alaska is talking to Gaby about now. However, we did switch things up. Hell, even if the other guys deserved to be in those craptastic cells, they still needed to bathe and fricken eat. The spa guys were not happy, to say the least, but screw

them. You know what I mean? Honestly, I think they need a doctor as well to check on these guys, but there isn’t one in that area.”

“Why aren’t you and the others that went there talking to Gaby too?” Jigger asked.

“We figured it would be best if only one of us talked to Gaby about it for now. We’ll have our say during the meeting. For now, I’d rather let Alaska handle it.” Elija explained.

Jigger shook his head, “This all really sounds jacked up.”

“Because it is.” Elija replied.

Jigger watched as more people came into the room. Reggie was skipping around the Council table saying hello to everyone, and then placed a large tray of cupcakes in the middle. “Hello Jigger. Hello Elija. Nothing like a chocolate cupcake to brighten one’s day.”

Jigger went to take one, but Elija quickly stopped him. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“Why?” Jigger questioned, slowly drawing his hand back.

“Because, knowing Redgee like I do, there’s something in that cupcake.” Elija replied, raising a brow at his friend.

Redgee pressed a hand to his heart in dramatic fashion, “I’m hurt. So very hurt. How could you suggest such a devious thing of me?”

“Because I know you, Reg. Do you remember Frazer’s birthday celebration, because I sure do.”

Elija stated, not looking nearly as amused as Redgee.

With a smirk, Redgee replied, “The party was a dud. Everyone sitting around, no one dancing…

by the end of the night you can’t tell me you didn’t have a good time. I saw that little cutie you left with that night.”

“You put Spanish Fly in our drinks, Reg! I would have f****d a cactus at that point. And that little ‘cutie’ was the sheriff’s son. I damn near got arrested for indecent exposure that night when dear old dad caught me balls deep in his son’s ass in the back alley for f**k’s sake.” Elija snapped.

“But he didn’t arrest you and you at least got to finish before he interrupted.” Redgee quickly replied.

“Only because the man realized who I was f*****g and didn’t want any of his fellow officers to know his son was gay.” Elija snarled.

“Do you remember the time Redgee cooked us all dinner for our band-coming-together anniversary?” Gulf questioned as he sat down.

Gulf was a handsome young mage that had joined the band nine years ago. No one knew why he had left his coven, except for Alpha Lansing, and he wasn’t talking. Jigger knew it was none of

his business, but knew it wasn’t just to branch out in life. The way Jigger figured, if Gulf wanted people to know, he would tell them himself.

“I thought I was burning sage to keep the evil away. How was I supposed to know the guy I bought it from lied?” Redgee protested.

“Why would you buy anything from some unknown dude on the street corner?” Gulf asked with a snort.

“And what the f**k would make you think someone selling on the streets would be trying to make money on sage?” Elija said, with a snort.

Shrugging, Redgee replied, “I was trying to help the dude out. He looked homeless and I figured he could use the money.

“What did he sell you?” Jigger couldn’t help but question.

Gulf rolled his eyes, saying, “It was Jimsonweed. We were so f****d up it took two days for us to recover.”

Elija laughed, “Yeah, but Gaby shifting into his giant panda and cuddling up with Frazer in his silver-back-gorilla form was f*****g hysterical.”

Austin sat down, saying, “No, what was funny as hell was Trevor getting into Travis’s catnip stash, doing kissy sounds, saying, ‘Here kitty kitty kitty,’ and Travis shifting into his Liger.”

Elija laughed as he pounded the table, “And when Travis charged at him, Austin took off running like hell, screaming, ‘Don’t bite my ass! Don’t bite my ass!’”

Jigger couldn’t help but laugh with the others. The vision of what Elija described was just too funny not to.

“What’s so funny?” Travis asked, as he sat down with the others.

Everyone quickly pulled themselves together as Jigger replied, “Oh nothing. The guys were just telling me why I shouldn’t eat the chocolate cupcakes Redgee baked for the meeting.”

“Throw them away, Redgee.” Travis growled.

“Ahh, but Tr…”

Travis looked at Redgee, growling again, “Throw them away. I don’t know what prank you think you’re going to pull, but this is a Council meeting. That means it isn’t the time for you to pull whatever s**t you planned out. We are trying to fix our world as we know it, and trust me, the s**t we’ve been finding out makes this a place and time not right for your crap. Now throw them away.”

Redgee grabbed the container, muttering, “I was only trying to lighten the mood around here.

Everyone’s been so dang tense it’s affecting my mojo.”

“You don’t have any mojo, Redgee. And as funny as I’m sure things would be with whatever you did to those cupcakes, it’s just not the time nor the place for it.” Travis said, not sounding so growly this time.

Just as Redgee went to dump the cupcakes in the trash, Loki appeared, “Oh cupcakes!”

Loki snagged the container from Redgee, saying, “I’ll just hold these for you.”

“Oh but…” Redgee started to protest, but Loki wasn’t having it.

Taking a large bite of one of the tasty treats, he murmured with his mouth full, “Dis is ood.”

Frazer sat down, asking, “What’s going on?”

“Redgee made cupcakes.” Travis answered.

Redgee looked at Frazer and the others in a panic, but no one said a word, except for Frazer.

“Couldn’t have happened to a better guy.”

Licking the icing off his fingers, Loki smiled, “You should market these, Reg. Damn they’re good.”

Frazer snickered along with Elija. Jigger leaned into Redgee softly asking, “What did you do to them?”

Swallowing nervously, Redgee whispered back, “Ex-lax, but I figured the guys might eat one and being paranormals it wouldn’t do much to them, but I didn’t count on someone eating them all, and I have no idea what will happen to a god.” Giving Jigger a nervous glance, Reg rasped,

“He’s gonna smite me. I’m gonna be zapped to another continent. He’ll feed me to Jormungandr.” Redgee’s panic started to really set in, as he continued to whisper, “I don’t know how to swim. Jigger, I… I…”

Jigger placed a hand on Redgee’s arm, whispering, “It’s a joke. If anyone will understand a prank it’s Loki. Heck, isn’t he known as the jokester in the Norse world?”

Redgee hesitated a moment, then nodded, “Yeah. Yeah he is.”

“Then just relax and enjoy whatever will happen, because if not, your death will have been in vain.” Jigger said with a smirk, then leaned over asking, “Who or what is a Jormungandr?”

“A Norse sea serpent and said to be the child of Loki, but that is just god-like gossip.” Elija said with a wide smile.

Jigger looked over to see Loki polishing off three more cupcakes. He kinda felt bad for what might happen to the man, and the guys all laughed as they watched him do it, but there was no way he was risking Loki’s wrath by saying a word. The others could run for their lives and as the saying went, you got away from a bear by being faster than the other guys with you, and Jigger would be that last guy.

“Hello everyone. I’m sorry for the delay. If you can all sit we can get started.” Gaby said sounding just a bit nervous.

Jigger looked towards Gaby and felt his heart flutter as Alaska walked in and took a seat next to Gaby. Gods, he looked good enough to eat and be eaten by.

Alaska looked up just as that thought hit Jigger and for a second Jigger thought he saw pure lust in the man’s eyes, but then just as quickly he turned to look at Gaby as the meeting began.