Kierra

Pressing my forehead to the steering wheel, I think over all the information I was given.

"I need to get Bastion to Ava's. No one knows about her, he should be safer there than with me right now."

"You know he'll fight that. I know I haven't known any of you for very long, but that boy is very attached to you."

I sigh, knowing he's right. Doesn't change the fact though.

"I know he is, but he needs to be away from me. I have a bad feeling. Something is coming, and it's going to be bloody."

"You feel that way because of everything you've just learned."

My head shakes. How do I get him to understand?

"No, Xavier. Before I met you, I dreamt of your coming. Not of you specifically, but something that represented you. My dream last night felt just like the one I had of you. There was a lot of blood, I don't want any of it to be his."

His body turns towards me as he tries to understand. We can talk while I drive though, need to get Downtown, as we spent way more time here than I'd planned.

"I saw and felt your conviction in there that you're going to die."

My head shakes as I pull out and head further Downtown, closer to the river.

"I've had that feeling since this all started. I've known from the beginning that I probably won't survive it. I have plans set out for my sister and Bastion, but I can't see myself."

"The notebook you were writing in?"

I nod, no reason to deny it.

"If I'm to die for them to be safe, I'm more than willing to make that trade. In the event of my death, just about everything I own goes to my sister. The house is in my name, all paid for, it will go to her and my mom. A sizable account is set aside for Bastion for schooling and whatever Ava wants for him."

It's not like I want to die, I'm just preparing for it. I would love to be able to have many more years with both of them, to see the great man Bastion will become. To see my sister happy and whole.

Looking over, Xavier looks sad, what the hell.

"Oi. You haven't known me long enough to be all sad-faced. If you stick around, my sister is just as amusing as I am. I doubt Asher will stick around, but I'm sure Bastion would love for you to be in his life. He seems quite taken with you, and you should know that in itself is pretty damn amazing."

We ride in silence for a while, he lost in his thoughts as I try to keep mine blank. Not too much longer has me driving through the lower part of the city. Parking is going to be ridiculous to find, as it seems some event or another is going on at the Metro Centre.

Well, it being the holiday season, shouldn't be too surprising. I head to the library a few streets over, it sits right next to the river, acting as a midway point between the opposite sides of the waterfront. It may be cold outside, but that doesn't stop people from coming down here. I find a spot, park, and turn to the male at my side.

"Have you been down here before?"

He shakes his head as he looks around, explaining that it was just the one time.

"If you have anything valuable in any of your pockets, keep it in the higher ones. Please tell me you do not have your gun with you. Knives are fine, but a gun will have to stay in here."

He eyes me, but reaches around him and pulls it out. I point to the glove box. It just barely fits in there.

"If anyone sees your knives they'll steer clear, just don't purposely flash them around. Pretty much treat this as hostile territory and you're undercover."

His face finally brightens for me as he snickers. We get out, lock the jeep and head to the main area a few streets over. The decorations are pretty enough, I guess. Rowdy people I could do without though.

Xavier startles as I lace my arm with his, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath to prepare myself. There will more than likely be several non-humans walking around, just have to ignore them and concentrate on what I'm here for. Which is... I have no idea what. Just peachy.

A sigh escapes me, but I trudge on, keeping my head down just enough for the hat to hide most of my face, yet still see around me. Have to give the maned wolf some credit, he isn't acting like a tourist, which is very good. Even though this area is busy and full of people doesn't mean you're safe from pickpockets, those looking for a fight and the unsavories you just don't want to be around.

The smells from the multiple bars and restaurants remind me that my belly is empty and after hearing it's growl several times, I smile and head for an eatery. Small ones line up and down the roads with small-time shops.

I have to point a club out to him though, warning him that if he doesn't swing both ways, he won't want to go in. He chuckles, looking over it as a pretty woman comes out. I tug him down so I have his ear before we go into a small building.

"That isn't a woman."

He looks shocked and really looks at her, then smiles.

"I still can't tell she's a he."

I nod and step into the strong-smelling Italian bistro. After ordering and getting our food, I have to walk out. The strong scents and heat practically driving me out.

"That's the point. They regularly have pageants. Ava and I went in one time for New Years. That was definitely an experience."

That gets him smiling as his mind starts working. Only thing I got was bread. I love bread. I can live off different types of it. Probably not very healthy, but very good. Even if it's just plain white bread.

Nahm.

I continue my perusal as we walk around. Being the typical male, combined with canine animal, he wolfs down his food. I look over at him as I chew at my bread.

"Did you taste it? I mean, did it touch your tongue at all?"

He gives me a wolfish grin, so I take that as a no. Ripping off a piece of my bread, I give it to him. That's really saying something, I don't share bread.

"Put this on your tongue. Roll it around a bit over the taste buds. Savor it. I command you."

He almost chokes, but does as I ask. Looking at me the whole time. Creeper. He stuffs it into his cheek.

"Can I swallow now? It's getting soggy."

I burst out laughing and nod. That could be taken in so many ways, hence why I keep laughing. I end up in the same state he was in when we were at the bookstore. I blame stress.

He maneuvers me out of the walkway and closer to a storefront that isn't all windows. I can't even put any more bread in my mouth, last time I tried I ended up spitting it out when I made the mistake of looking at him. Only saving grace on that one was I turned my head just in time so it didn't go flying at him.

Poor thing doesn't know what to do. I haven't laughed like this for a long time. It's weird what your body does to function through so much stress within a small amount of time.

He crowds close as a group of young males walk by looking at me like I'm crazy. I give them a thumbs up.

"You're not safe to be around."

His eyebrow raises, a smug expression on his face. I finish the last of my bread while facing the wall with him laughing at me. Whole time I keep my ears alert, glancing into the glass beside me at the reflections passing by.

Several shops are gone into where Faline's picture gets shown and asked if she's been seen. Considering how many people these vendors see a day I know it's probably a long shot, but I try anyway. I even ask if that Werewolf, Anthony, has been seen. Since Rockford is full of people that are tall and have brown hair and eyes, it's impossible to distinguish him from any other. Doesn't stop me from asking though.

We continue on our random patterned walk, me pointing things out every now and then and explaining them. We stop at one point so he can admire some of the bikes at a bar. My mistake was walking away from him to lean on the wall, trying to soak up the coldness of the brick into my back.

That's when a couple drunk men come out and see what looks to be a single woman all by herself. I don't pay attention to them at first as I don't care to make eye contact with random people. Especially drunk men, they tend to take it the wrong way.

What catches my attention is the heavy scents coming out of the bar when the door opens.

Wolf.

A den of them.

Shit.

The drunk pair amble quite fast for being drunk. I wave Xavier off, flicking my head at the bar and tap the side of my nose. He looks like he's about to argue, then goes in.

The lumbering jackasses in front of me are being highly lewd, my olfactory sense rebelling. I ignore them as best I can, unable to keep my nose from wrinkling. Both men are taller than I am of course, but not quite reaching six-foot. Both have varying colors of brown eyes, the taller ones being closer to a hazel. White, middle-aged men that have to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Shorter-one is wearing a flannel over-shirt, while Taller-one has an ordinary black coat. All is fine until Shorter lurches into me, turning the move into an attempted grope. My sidestep is fast thanks to my inner animal.

He manages to get a hold of my coat though as he falls against the wall, leaning heavily on it. Dammit, I can't do too much in public like this. Making them scream would be bad, but my temper is getting riled.

Taller moves and boxes me in between them. Well, this kinda works actually, hides my actions. I smile at them all calm-like as I raise my face higher.

"You need to move and let me go."

The Taller man who has short black hair leers at me, leaning a hand on the wall.

"Now now, a pretty little thing like you needs to be escorted somewhere safe, lots of bad people out today."

I follow his words but keep my attention on Shorty who still has a grip on my jacket. The thinning mop of blonde hair on his head is sweat-soaked. He's sweating so much that I'm picking up the drugs he took, coming off his skin as if it in itself were a perfume.

His glazed eyes undress me right there on the sidewalk. Screw it, I don't have time for this to go any further, would love to escalate things and really beat them down, but I'm on a mission, and I don't want Xavier to get into this.

I kick my leg out right into Shorty's kneecap, moving with the momentum to put weight behind the belly punch I give Taller. My biggest fear here is if Shorty keeps hold of me while he falls. My luck is with me today, as he squeals and falls back, letting go of me to clutch at his busted knee.

Taller recovers too fast for my peace of mind, reaching for me with one hand while the other raises in a fist. I jump to the side that Shorter-man so kindly opened for me as he fell. The end of the building had been right there next to me, which leads into the open area that's in front of the bar.

I move so the open area entrance is to my left, road and walkways to my right. It is a road, just not one that is driven on since it acts as a courtyard type thing. Almost like a mall since it's lined with shops and such.

The one down is drawing too much attention with his little girl screeching, Tall guy lunges at me, but I dance around. Too many people are looking on for me to do much, and of course, no one helps, they just gawk.

My damn coat is grabbed again as I spin around, the belt gripped in his hand. I'm tired of being beaten and bruised, and dancing around isn't helping. His hand raises again for an open-handed slap. My temper snaps.

As his left hand comes down, my right goes up, catching his wrist. I bring it down hard in a firm grip, spinning it. The intention to hurt, maybe sprain, but the bones snap instead. Oh, well, that works too.

Falling to his knees, my left-hand grips his lapels and I pull him into me, my eyes blazing yellow as I stare him down. Lips pull back, baring my teeth as I growl at him. His features pale as he looks into my face. Leaning in close, I whisper right into his.

"Told you to let me go, bet you'll listen now, won't you?"

His head nods so fast he reminds me of a bobblehead on a dash. I let go of his wrist and deliver a back-handed slap to the side of his face. His whole body jerks from it as I let go of him totally and take a step back.

Last bit of violence was probably uncalled for, but I wanted to humiliate him in front of the gathered crowd. Both men and women get a front-row seat to the shame now flaming bright red of his face. He turns to me in anger, his pricked pride overriding his fear.

Before he can stand and come at me again, two very large men come out of nowhere and haul him up, pushing him on his way as another goes to the squealing one sitting awkwardly on the walkway. The strong scent of wolf hits me hard, my head snaps up, looking towards the bar. Many biker-looking males and a couple of women stand in front, just looking at me.

Fuck.

My shoulder is tapped from behind, I whirl around and to the side, tensing for an attack. One of the teenagers that had gawked at my laughing earlier takes a step back, but holds out my hat. Well, shit. So much for under the radar. Think I just blew everything.

I look the boy over since he smiles at me. Human, just impressed. I take my hat back carefully. No point in putting it back on, I've been seen and the clips went flying at some point. Silver streaks are still sort of pulled back, just not hidden.

The crowd is dispersing thanks to the big guys walking around. Bouncer types, big and beefy. The teen is a few inches taller than me, looking at me all giddy like. I puff out a breath and lift a brow.

"That thing you did with your eyes is wicked awesome. When I saw you earlier they were green, yet when you lifted your head to the man, they were yellow. Still are. How did you get them to do that?"

I sigh as I pull the tie from my hair, no use in it now. The silver strands fall around me into their normal positions. Putting the band around my wrist, I take my damn coat off and put it over my arm. Looking back to the kid, I answer.

"Was a gift. Not one I would recommend though as it's highly painful."

"You mean like surgery?"

I cock my head to the side, and he takes that as an affirmative, looking all excited as he runs back to his group. What the kid really missed were the thin scars dribbling around my neck.