Kierra

Both stay planted and silent. Giving them both a smile, I pull out. The sun is high, only being shortly after noon, we still have hours left of sunlight. That makes me nervous for Faline, but thankful since we won't have any bloodsuckers tailing us.

Yes, Vamps may be able to be up during the day, that doesn't mean they'd go out in it willingly though. Least I don't think so. Never asked Benjamin how he does it. Probably should have.

"Where am I going?"

"Pecatonica Wetlands Forest Preserve."

I blink at him. I have no idea where that is. Didn't even know there were any wetlands around this area. Has she been there this whole time? Less than thirty miles away?

Xavier knows the way by foot, but Asher is able to tell me which roads I need to take. Keep forgetting that the maned wolf isn't from here. Between the three of us, we'll get there.

Getting onto IL-70 West then splitting off onto Harrison Road, from there getting on Telegraph, turning onto Main and continuing to North Pecatonica Road. Once we get to Blair Road, I am so lost it isn't even funny.

I know of the Pecatonica town, just never been to it. Never had to come this far west for anything. Driving randomly always had me going north towards and into Wisconsin. Seeing a sign advertising the park, I head towards it. Now will be the tricky part.

"You said you've been to it before Asher?"

"No, heard of it. Never been there before."

Great, so only one who knows is Xavier, and that's by foot, not by road. Oh well, I'll go as far as I can then go from there. Pulling on through, the sign has a half-assed map pictured. This place is huge.

Taking a deep breath, forward I go through the winding road that leads up to a parking area meant for campers.

"This look familiar at all?"

Slowing down a lot more than I already had, the maned wolf looks around, nose up. Shaking his head, I keep going further in, trees becoming denser by the minute. The 'wetlands' are a flood zone where a lot of the ground is lower than the surrounding area. All natural, not man-made.

The place is pretty, surprised people are even here with as cold as it's getting. The winding road now has me even more lost, but I think we're going pretty much straight through, just without the straight part. The smells are lovely, as are all the tree bared areas. We're practically right on the Pecatonica River. Some of the giants are pine, birch, and dogwood, but most others I'm not sure the names of other than 'everyday trees'. Basically meaning trees that I see everywhere closer to home.

The place has Asher's full attention. Swamp wolf? Nah. When Xavier motions for me to slow back down, I start looking around better. Don't see much, but he's going by his nose. About a hundred yards further, there's a side road. One that when seen you'd assume it's a utility road or by use only by park staff.

He points to it. Good thing my jeep isn't very wide and has four-wheel drive. I turn on to it, get the feeling this isn't the main road to the place though. Brothel kind of implies a need for a bigger and more traveled path. Trusting his nose, I keep going.

Looks to have been years since it was last paved. My poor jeep though, won't know what color it is by the time we get through, the scratches aren't that horrible unless you own the vehicle that's getting them. The road twists and turns, even branches off in some spots, and that's when super noses come in handy. Getting this far in, even I can pick up on the scents of other supernaturals that have come through, many seeming to have chosen to keep to the rugged path instead of going through the swamp itself.

With the recent snow, it took me a little over half an hour to get to the park itself, with the large size of the preserve, it takes at least half that to reach the barrier. Not a visual one, but I feel the wrench of it when we hit it. Xavier explains it as a magic cloak to keep away unwary humans.

Only seeing it as another obstacle between me and my sister, I plow through it. Nothing happens, just a feeling of major discomfort and foreboding. I'd imagine it'd be enough to have regular people turning away, but I'm on a mission.

A few hundred yards further and it disappears. Guess any who take their chances and do the same take their life in their own hands when they come across anything from here on out. Just another casualty to their own stupidity.

The road becomes smoother, the close press of trees to either side of it not so thick. Scents become stronger, more abundant as if a great many animals have been through this area. When I pull up near a snow-covered grassy clearing, I wonder if we went the wrong way, but then I look further ahead.

The building itself has me drawing in my breath. I wouldn't think there were structures like this outside amusement parks or places overseas. Castles just aren't all that common in this area. Like, at all.

If I had come up behind it, I'd really be shit out of luck since it's so big. I'd have to go around it, and I wouldn't know which to go since it's right up against a forest of trees. The building has been modernized, but still keeps the very old look to it. I can make out stone, brick, and wood on the outside walls from this angle while rising spires and towers round out the various corners that rise up in the background and sides. The outer walls are covered in vines from clinging plantlife that has died but yet to fall.

Don't see any 'guards' posted, if this place has those, unless you count the people milling about. This road leads up to the side of a parking lot, the grassland looks like it leads into gardens or courtyards in one direction, and the other directs to more trees and deer paths. I pull in slowly as my eyes roam over the building and people.

This isn't just a little overwhelming at all, not a bit.

"Please tell me this is it and there isn't some other freaky place hiding here somewhere."

I want it to be yet at the same time I don't, it's just too crazy. I want to go right in front of the doors, but that would block our escape, so I stop near a large vehicle. It's pulled in and parked in a way that it's taking up both the spot it pulled into and the one in front of it. While not the only van here, it does seem to be the largest. Seeing the large white van, I nod over to it.

"That what we're leaving in?"

"Guess so. Just remember, the very tall lion is on our side. I think."

That's comforting. Finding her in this place will be close to a miracle. Adrenaline has my blood pumping so hard and fast I'm sure every undead inside can hear it.

"Don't suppose he said just how I'm going to find her in there, did he?"

"That part he left out."

Of course.

We all get out. The front of the place is set apart from the actual entrance into the building, like those overhang awning areas for ritzy places that have you drive through and get you valet.

Somehow I doubt they offer that here. Least I hope they don't. No signs but for the few people outside. Seeing them, you'd assume smokers, but I don't think too many Were-animals or Shifters do that.

These guys however, prove me wrong. One does anyway, as he brings one up for a drag. Both smell like Werewolves and eyeball me as I get closer with Asher and Xavier at my back.

My hair isn't bound, so it's flying around me with its long fluffiness. Resting bitch face is enforced by my unhappy expression I'm sure. Two of them are in my path to the door, the others are off to the side and watching on.

The one off to the right, I'm not sure what he is, but as soon as I think that I get a visual of a jaguar, the smell of the rainforest thick in my nose. I can feel my eyes flare yellow, the two in front of me who'd been smirking take a step back. Could assume me Shifter from the eyes, but my smell says all Were.

The odor of their sweat picks up before a very deep voice tells them to let us pass. Looking past them to see who it belongs to, I grit my teeth. Is there a requirement for male animals to be freakishly tall? Because seriously, this is just too rich.

I stop in front of the two wolves, waiting for them to move. The one who hadn't been smoking slinks off easily enough, the smoker has to prove himself a badass. Can't help but smirk myself, my blood singing at the thought of any oncoming fighting happening.

He steps up close, but before he or the lion can do much, I reach out and lay fingertips to his cheek. This one isn't quite over six feet, but very near. The wolf howls out as he goes to his knees instantly.

My touch forces him to shift, and he's fighting it, so it's pretty painful. Images of his wolf go through my head, a bulky large brown and black animal running through trees over snow. The smell of winter nights and oak are what fill my nose this time.

"Timber wolf. Your rudeness will cost you, puppy."

Within the five seconds, that very brown and black animal is standing in front of me with his tail tucked hard between his legs, clothes shredded around him. With my hand still on his cheek, he looks up to me in pain.

"You want to be a badass, do it on your own time, not mine."

Letting him go, he hurries off. I don't watch him as I look at the tall one who's now in front of me, looking at me warily. Black eyes and hair, a barrel chest leads down to a narrow waist. Darkly tanned skin over high cheekbones while covered in a 5 o'clock shadow, his strong jaw clenches as he comes closer, stopping within five feet of me, well out of touching range.

"You must be the lion. I heard you offered my sister your protection, for that you have my gratitude."

Inhaling, I get images of a very large cat. Total king of the jungle, this one. Black mane the crowning glory of a golden lion in his prime.

Desert sands mix with sweet grasses and sunlight. It clears away, showing the man in front of me looking from Xavier to Asher then back to me. Thick arms cross over his chest.

"Nice trick. You say she's your sister, so tell me something about her."

Can admire the stubborn look about him, even more so with his continued protection of my sibling. His voice is so deep I can feel it in my chest.

"I can't tell you what she looks like since I'm not sure if she's changed at all, but she's kind, playful. Way too sweet for this hellish world. Faline does, however, have quite the core of strength to her. She loves and protects fiercely, just being around her when she's happy can make you smile."

He smiles, head cocking.

"One more thing, and I apologize, but I want to be sure. A large canvas, a pale wolf is back to back with what?"

My dream flashes in my head, eyebrows drawing together in confusion of how he knows of it.

"Pale wolf with green eyes is back to back with a small black cat with gold. Background of red and black. How do you know about the painting?"

Finally, he nods, his arms uncrossing.

"Because it's here. It's also part of what's put her in danger; the rumors surrounding it. I'm not sure where she's at right this moment, but I have a good idea. She's been spending all the time she can in the kitchen. Nicolaus will not let you take her from what she has told me. She's also told me a little about you. Tell me, what would you say if you were with her right now and just meeting me?"

I smile as I know where this is going.

"I would call you freakishly tall."

His smile is wide as he laughs, offering his hand, then realizes what he did. Smiling, I take it before he can pull away. He looks nervous for a moment, then relaxes.

"What did you do to him?"

"Forced his wolf to come out. If he hadn't fought it, it wouldn't have hurt. That much. Now please, I need to see her."