Prey For Me Pt. 4

Bitterly cold wind blew through the pine trees and clawed at the tents. They were clustered around a dying fire. Dimly glowing embers were all that was left in a ring of charred stones.

“This was a rotten night to go camping,” a man grumbled from inside one of the tents.

“It was your friend’s idea,” his girlfriend mumbled, half asleep. She tried to curl into a tighter ball in her sleeping bag.

“Well, he’s an idiot!”

The thin fabric of the tent walls vibrated, valiantly trying to keep out the wind. They offered little protection, however. The campers shivered and cuddled closer together. Outside, the trees groaned in the wind, rubbing branches as if they were also trying to keep warm.

The man’s eyes suddenly opened wide. He had heard something that didn’t sound like the wind. “What was that?” he asked the woman beside him.

Her response was a sleepy mutter.

“I’m serious! There’s something out there.” He sat up, trying to make anything out of the dark shadows on the other side of the tent walls. With the fire nearly out, and the moon mostly covered by clouds, there was almost no light.

“What are you doing?” the woman grumbled, unhappy at being woken up.

“I heard something.” He scrambled to find their flashlight.

“No, you didn’t. It’s just the—“

Her response was cut short by the menacing sound of a low growl. She shivered, her flesh turning to chicken skin. She pulled her coat more tightly around her.

His fingers, numb from the cold, bumped against the flashlight. He fumbled to grasp it. Raising it up, he clicked it on and swung it around.

“What are you doing?! That’s like a beacon,” she reached to grab the flashlight from him.

But it was too late. There was the sound of fabric tearing as the beast ripped into the tent. The last thing either of them saw was dark fur and very large claws.

Grandfather Arrives

“The newspaper is blaming the attacks on bears.”

Marie Prey and her father-in-law were standing in her office. Behind them, large windows looked out at the churning sea. The dark blue water crested in violent, white waves before crashing upon the shore. It was a good day for surfing, and normally, that’s what the Prey children would be doing. Instead Skeagan, stood just outside the open door, pressed out of sight against a wall. He was trying to discern his Grandfather’s mood.

What would have brought him home so abruptly? Grandfather had already moved to his winter home in Nicaragua, where the family would join him for Christmas break. The whole clan knew how much this venerable man valued routine and tradition. Only a serious matter would cause him to make an unplanned journey. None of these thoughts were making Skeagan feel better. He was certain Grandfather was here to discipline him and his brother.

“As you know, it is unusual for bears to still be active this late in the season,” Mrs. Prey continued to speak while Grandfather studied the newspaper.

The elderly man folded the paper with long, agile fingers. Silently, he set it on the glass desk, and looked towards the woman. “You are saying the behavior is unnatural,” he spoke with a calm, methodical rhythm. “What does the evidence say?”

Marie’s face bore a grim expression. “I could show you the photos of the scene, but I believe it would be best to let the Council’s scouts tell you in their own words. You have called a special meeting, I believe?”

Grandfather nodded. “The council will be gathering in an hour. Should we convene to the Sanctuary?”

“Would you like to speak with the children first?”

Grandfather remained silent for several seconds then a small smile formed on his face, “I believe two of them are already with us.”

Skeagan looked around in confusion. He nearly yelled with surprise when he saw Aaliyah standing behind him. She had walked up without him realizing. With a mischievous grin, she brushed by and entered her mother’s office.

“Hello, Grandfather!” she approached him respectfully. He reached out and clasped her hands; his dark eyes looked deep into hers. She returned the gaze without flinching, even seeming to gather things from his mind.

“You are more like your grandmother every day,” he said softly. They kissed each other on the cheek, and Aaliyah stepped to the side.

Skeagan had watched the exchange from the doorway. He stood with his hands at his side, trying desperately to drain all emotion from his face. Inside, his thoughts tumbled over each other. Grandfather clasped his hands behind his back and said nothing. The young man and the old man faced each other, each silently accessing the other.

At last, Skeagan opened his mouth. “How are you, Grandfather?” he hoped no one noticed the crack in his voice.

The smile had left Grandfather’s face as he answered with a single, ominous word, “Concerned.”

Marie spoke brightly, “Skeagan, can you please tell Logan that Grandfather is here.”

Grandfather raised a hand, “I’m afraid there isn’t time for me to speak with him now. However, it would be good for him to be present at the meeting today." Looking directly at Skeagan, he said, "Perhaps the two of you will follow us to the Sanctuary?”

“Yes, sir,” Skeagan nodded and left the room.

Aaliyah leaned close to her mother, “May I go with you and Grandfather?”

Marie smiled at her daughter, “Of course.”

Skeagan felt no relief after the brief conversation. Surely, the man had read him like a book. Why couldn’t he be more like Aaliyah? She was always imperturbable. Next time, he would not face Grandfather alone; Logan would be there to answer for his behavior. After all, why should he worry about being in trouble? Wasn’t Logan at fault in all of this? Yet, somehow, Skeagan always felt responsible. Maybe it was his birth order, or maybe it was just his personality. Whatever the cause, it was exhausting for a fourteen-year old.

He burst into the bedroom he shared with his brother, expecting to find the older teen sprawled on his bed or playing a video game. The room was empty, as was the connected bathroom. Skeagan surveyed the room. Slowly, he began to notice some alarming things that had at first eluded him. The drawers on his brother’s dresser were all pulled open. Clothes were scattered on the floor and bed.

Skeagan ran to the closet. Several wardrobe items were missing from the hangers. Most telling was the empty space on a rack that held the boys’ luggage. Logan’s suitcases was not there! Could it be possible? Skeagan was trying to reason out of the thought even as it formed in his head: Logan had run away.

The Council Decides

Aaliyah loved visiting the Sanctuary. Although the name was reminiscent of a church or religious building, the Sanctuary was actually a historic structure with large windows that, ironically, looked out on Cape Fear River. It towered above the water, a three-story brick building with multiple peaks that cut into the Wilmington skyline. A beautiful, old building that had belonged to the clan for longer than anyone could remember. As a cover, there was a coffee shop and a few boutique stores on the ground floor. The mortal customers who shopped there would never guess the real business being done just out of sight.

The largest wing of the Sanctuary was almost entirely taken up by the council chamber. It was arranged liked the US senate, with tiered seating around a circular center area. The ceiling reached up all three floors, with pillared balconies looking down on the chamber. If you were not in the Council, you could stand in one of these balconies and watch the meetings. Grandfather, as Head of the clan, had a seat at on a platform at one edge of the main circular area. There was also seating on this platform for the official Mediator and Grandfather’s assistant. The tiered seating was for family representatives. Each family in the clan sent a representative for official Council business.

Grandfather was respected by most of the clan, and the families would follow any decision he made. However, issues that affected the whole clan were usually resolved democratically. Each family was allowed a single vote, as long as they had a representative present. The system had been established many centuries earlier, long before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Because of the lifespan of their kind, there had only been a few Heads. Two of them had been from the Prey family, and all of them had been men. Under Grandfather’s wise leadership, the clan had experienced much growth and nearly uninterrupted peace.

Aaliyah stood looking down from her favorite balcony. It provided a clear view of Grandfather’s face, but also of nearly every Council seat. She had spent many hours here observing the self-government at work. Her Grandfather was a brilliant strategist, and her Grandmother had been one of the greatest Mediators to ever live. Together, they had guided the clan with wisdom and patience. Her Grandmother was a good deal older than her Grandfather, and had earned much respect from clans all over the world. When she passed away, vampires from these clans came to pay their respect. It had been very empowering for Aaliyah to witness this. At the time, she had only been eight in mortal years, but the effect on her had been lasting. Since then, Aaliyah was determined to one day be on that platform in the Council, just like Grandmother. Either as a Mediator, or better yet, as Head of the Clan.

Aaliyah's thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind her, “Ugh, I can’t believe your Grandfather made us come all the way here for nothing!”

She didn’t need to turn around to see who was speaking. “Hello, Taline.”

The other girl slid up to the marble pillar across from Aaliyah. She wore a tight, white dress and tall heels that would give her several inches above most other people. Aaliyah could easily imagine Taline as a snake coiling around the pillar. The girl’s dark hair was worn in a long pony tail over one shoulder. It had a shine to it that Aaliyah usually only saw on shampoo commercials. Her own hair never looked like that, but Aaliyah was not intimidated by the other girl. If anything, she was mildly irritated. Grandfather was about to speak, and she didn’t want to miss a word.

“Maybe if you took a moment to listen, you would realize this isn’t about nothing.”

Taline rolled her eyes and stretched out a manicured hand. “Dear Aaliyah, how good it is to see you, too.”

Before Aaliyah could even attempt to shake the offered hand, Taline pulled it back and made a show of examining her nails. “I don’t need to listen, I have the inside scoop. My uncle was one of the scouts.”

In spite of herself, Aaliyah was curious. Remaining composed, she replied, “Then you should know how important this meeting is.”

Taline trained her large eyes on Aaliyah. “Opposite!” she said the word in a singsong voice. “My uncle doesn’t think there is anything out of the ordinary. It’s just a rogue bear.”

“Well, my mother disagrees.” Aaliyah was going to say more, but the sound of a gong echoed up from the floor below. The Council was starting.

Both girls leaned over the rail with obvious interest in the proceedings.

“Friends!” Grandfather began in a loud, clear voice. He did not need a microphone, his voice carried all the way to the balconies, and with it, the weight of his years. “First, let me apologize for this inconvenience that has been laid upon you. I know many of you have had to travel far.”

He paused and looked about the room. The turnout was rather unfortunate. The chamber was barely half full. Apparently, Taline’s family was not the only ones with doubts about the levity of the situation.

“This Council would not be called at this time without good cause. In light of the recent acts of violence enacted in this region, scouts were sent to investigate. We shall hear the results of their investigations now. Will Davit Avagyan please come forward.”

Now, Aaliyah was a little worried, Davit was Taline’s uncle. If he truly believed there was nothing wrong, then his statement might persuade the Council to not pursue her mother’s suspicions. She could imagine Taline’s smile, but refused to look at the other girl.

Davit kept his presentation brief. He explained that the scouts had found evidence of animal activity, but nothing more. The scouts agreed with the mortal news sources, the attacks where probably committed by a bear. It was, he admitted, a larger bear than was usually seen in the area, and it was “odd” for a bear to be active this time of year. However, there seemed to be no evidence of a supernatural force at work.

“The scouting party respects this council’s wariness of Lycan activity, after the unfortunate events of recent history,” he concluded in a lofty voice. “Such creatures are pack-oriented, and no evidence of group activity was present at any of the crime scenes,” he gave a curt bow in the direction of the podium and returned to his seat.

A murmur ran through the room. Aaliyah sought out her mother’s face. The woman sat behind Grandfather, her back straight and her eyes staring straight ahead. It was hard enough to find respect as a woman in this clan, and to have your worries publicly denounced was just humiliating. Tears of frustration formed at the corners of Aaliyah’s eyes, and she blinked them away. She felt Taline glide closer, causing her shoulders to tense.

“That is unfortunate for your mother,” Taline’s voice held none of its arrogance from before. “My uncle’s words were…misplaced.”

Thankfully, Taline left before Aaliyah felt the need to answer. If she tried to speak right now, she would probably cry for real. Taline’s response truly surprised her. The two had never been very close, and Aaliyah didn’t know what to make of the unexpected kindness. She would have to take the time to unpack it later. Right now, she just needed to get out of the council chamber.

Skeagan Comes Clean

The outside air was surprisingly calm on the roof. Skeagan was sitting with his knees pulled up to his chin and his arms wrapped around his legs. This was such a familiar pose for the boy that it comforted Aaliyah when she saw him. The Sanctuary roof was a favorite hangout from their childhood, a secret shelter on top of the world. She sat close to her little brother and wrapped an arm around him. For several minutes, the two teens just looked out at the city lights reflected in the river’s surface.

“They decided not to follow up on Mom’s suspicions.”

“I heard. Is Mom okay?”

“Isn’t she always,” Aaliyah’s voice held no conviction.

Skeagan took a deep breath, “I-I think Logan ran away.”

Aaliyah didn’t respond immediately. She weighed her thoughts, going over all the things she’d wanted to ask Skeagan for weeks. Careful to mask her emotion, she said, “What has been going on with you guys?”

Skeagan looked at his sister with a small smile.

Aaliyah was quizzical, “What?”

“You always stay so calm. I’m like stressed, all the time! But you never are. Thanks for not freaking out on me.”

Aaliyah laughed softly, “Good thing you can’t see inside my head, then.”

They sat in silence for a little bit. Slowly, Skeagan started to tell his sister about Logan’s erratic behavior. “I started following him because I was afraid he was going to get himself killed!”

She nodded, “This mortal kid—Evann? He sounds like bad news.”

Skeagan agreed. “For some reason, Logan likes hanging out with him. Every time I catch up with Logan, he’s with Evann.”

“But he’s not at his house right now?”

“No, I looked first thing. Nobody seemed to be home, and I didn’t smell Logan.”

Aaliyah hugged her little brother closer. He sighed heavily and laid his head on her shoulder. His breathing slowed and before long, she heard a soft snore. Pulling up the hood on her cloak, Aaliyah looked out at the river. Her family was falling apart, and despite the calm of her exterior, inside she felt shattered by a thousand different emotions.