The Pack and The Ruffian

Into the Wind

Hunter parked at the start of the winding road that led to the house that Simile sent them to. The four of them got out and looked up the winding road ahead of them. “I’m starting to think we should get Sam involved,” Hunter said.

“We’re here now, let’s just take a look around.” Michelle took Ash’s hand. “Come on.”

Isis pushed the pain in her head down. Someone was coming. She had to find a way to let them in without Paine realizing what was going on. She pushed her brother's muffled groans of the pain out of her mind and focussed on the four people approaching the house. She couldn’t help her brother right now, but if she could get the strangers in, then they had a chance. If Paine didn’t kill them first. She gathered her strength and sent out a blast of power, directly at the four strangers at the backyard fence.

Hunter threw out her arms and halted their movement forward. “Wait. What was that?”

Ash peeked her head around Hunter and pointed to where something seemed to shimmer. “Looks like someone wants us to get in.”

“A trap?” Gem asked.

“I don’t think so.” Michelle frowned. “But I don’t know if we should go in anyway.”

Another blast hit them, this time a plea whispered past them. “Help, please.”

“Someone is in there and they need help.” Gem said. “We are going in.”

“It could be a trap. I don’t want to be the one that faces Sam if we all get caught by this woman.” Hunter shook her head. “But, if someone needs help, they are going through a lot of trouble to make us see it.”

“We go in,” Michelle said. “We can’t risk leaving someone that needs help.” When everyone agreed, Hunter nodded and led the way inside.

Isis sighed in relief as she felt the strangers decide to help. She’d do what she could to assist them. She rolled her head to the side so she could see Paine and her brother on the bed. He was holding on, but barely. Paine now had a knife and was making small cuts along his ribs. Her laughter as he struggled to keep quiet infuriated her. A growl escaped her, and Paine looked over her shoulder, a grin on her face and her eyes alight with pleasure.

“Are you feeling left out?” Paine asked in a mocking tone. “Don’t worry, it’s almost your turn again.”

Over my dead body. Isis thought. The strangers were at the back door, and she gathered strength again and unlocked it. They walked in and paused in the foyer. She sent another push of power down to them, guiding them.

“It’s up there,” Hunter said.

“What if she’s lying-in-wait?” Gem asked. “We need to be smart about this.”

“She’s up there,” Michelle said. “And two others. I can smell a lot of blood, dried and fresh.”

Hunter nodded. “Whoever is up there, is either dead or close to it.”

“At least one of them is a friend,” Ash said. “Let’s use our advantage and hopefully catch her off guard.” They made their way up the stairs, slowly and carefully. Hunter led the way as they followed the small ball of light that seemed to lead the way. When it stopped at a huge door, Hunter held her hand up and motioned for Ash and Michelle to take the other side of the door. She showed them that she was going to open the door and they would attack. Their main target is Paine. She held up a hand again and started counting down. Three, two, one. She broke through the door, the others on her heels.

Isis tensed as she felt the strangers get ready to burst inside. She let out a scream a split second before the door burst open. The second it took for Paine to look at her confused, and realize it was a distraction and what was happening. Isis saw fear, then pure and utter fury washed over Paine. She used her last burst of energy to shove Paine off balance, but she somehow used the momentum to roll over to the other side of the bed and grab a small remote.

Hunter took the situation in as she froze just inside the door. Paine was glaring at them, she held something in her hand as she glared at them. Then she straightened, her eyes turned ice cold and her smile was something out of a nightmare. When she fell to the ground, Hunter lunged. But an explosion rocked the house. She had a moment to think, Gem, before she was flung across the room and chaos rained down around them.

Paine was furious! They’d walked in without her even knowing! That damned witch would pay for her betrayal! She put the car in drive as she watched the house go up in flames. She smiled a little, she guessed it was a bonus that she had just blown up three of Sam’s biggest allies. She’d underestimated them. When she’d left that body at their door, she’d hoped they would leave, get Sam and Mya before they returned. She’d had a plan then. She knew what she’d do when they came back. Now, she looked over her shoulder at the body on her back seat, now she’d have to regroup and refine her plan to get Mya. But in the meantime, she had a nice new plaything. She sped away as sirens approached in the distance. They’d be too late to save the house and those inside. She turned the radio up and laughed as she thought about Sam finding out what happened.

Hunter shoved her panic down as she half carried, half dragged Ash out. Michelle limped behind them with the witch. The male that had been tied to the bed had been a lost cause. The witch had fought them all the way but when she’d seen her brother, she’d sagged in Michelle’s arms and started crying silently. They’d caught her off guard, had her in their sight and she’d been one step ahead, again. She swore under her breath as she shoved the burning door off its hinges and led the way outside.

“Hunt…” Michelle began.

“Not now, we have to get as far as possible from here, the fire department is too close.” Hunter’s throat burned as she spoke, the ash and smoke burned her lungs.

“But…”

“She’s not in there,” Hunter growled. They circled back to the car, and she helped Ash into the passenger seat. “Get in, we’ll take her with us.”

“Where are we going?”

“Back to Silver Moon.”

“Fuck.” Michelle swore and climbed in after the witch. “Are you okay with driving?”

“Yes,” Hunter said curtly.

“We’ll find her, Hunt,” Ash said. “We’ll get Gem back.”

“Yes,” Hunter said shortly and shoved the car into drive. “And when we do, that Ruffian will wish for death.” She sent up a prayer to whatever god was listening, to keep Gem alive.