Chapter 21 #2
Tyr's lips curved into a predatory grin that made his fangs gleam in the fading light. "Besides, Tobi and Antonio are out there in the woods right now, watching their every move."
Beth's gaze darted to the treeline, though she couldn't spot the vampires in the growing darkness. The knowledge that they were out there, unseen guardians ready to intervene, sent a wave of relief through her tense muscles.
"So..." Jacinth's eyes sparkled with barely contained glee as she moved toward the front door. "Who wants to volunteer?"
Tamera bounced on her toes, practically vibrating with excitement. "I do! I do!" Her hand shot into the air like an eager student.
"Absolutely not." Liam's voice carried the stern authority he usually reserved for difficult patients.
Tamera planted her hands on her hips, red hair flying as she whirled to face him. "You're not the boss of me, Dr. McConnell." Her stormy blue eyes flashed with determination.
"Actually, I am."
"Oh, right." She narrowed her eyes at him. "But you still can't stop me."
“Fine." Liam's jaw set in a stubborn line. "Then I'm going too."
Beth felt Tyr's arms tighten around her waist, his chest rumbling against her back. His cool breath tickled her ear as he growled, "Don't even think about it."
She hadn't been planning to volunteer, but his protective response made her smile despite the tension. She leaned back against him, watching as Jacinth strode confidently toward the front door. The ancient Djinn's movements were fluid and graceful, power radiating from her petite frame.
Tamera hurried after Jacinth, with Liam close behind. They stepped out onto the concrete walkway, remaining safely within the shimmering barrier that Beth could now see more clearly in the trucks' headlights.
A sudden flurry of movement erupted from the armed men as they spotted the trio standing there.
Rifles snapped up, voices shouted commands, and bodies scrambled for better positions.
The chaos of their response only highlighted how unprepared they were for their targets to simply walk out and face them.
Beth held her breath as Jacinth stepped forward, her casual demeanor making Beth's stomach flutter with nervous anticipation. The Djinn was definitely up to something—but what? Beth pressed closer to the window as Jacinth's musical voice carried clearly through the evening air.
"Hi there, boys!" Jacinth waved cheerfully, as if greeting friends at a backyard barbecue. "What can we do for you tonight?"
The men shifted uneasily, their weapons wavering slightly. Confusion rippled through their ranks at this unexpected welcome. After a moment of awkward silence, one man stepped forward. His red armband marked him as some kind of leader.
"We're here for the shifters," he declared, trying to sound authoritative despite his obvious uncertainty.
Jacinth blinked at him with exaggerated surprise. "Oh! You want a shifter?" She turned to Liam, her expression comically wide-eyed. "They want a shifter!"
"Well," Liam drawled, his hazel eyes glinting with dangerous humor, "I guess we'll have to give them one then."
Beth felt Tyr's arms tighten around her as Liam's form blurred and expanded.
Where the veterinarian had stood moments before, a massive white Great Pyrenees now towered, his impressive bulk somehow even more intimidating than the men's weapons.
The dog's thunderous bark shattered the night air, making several of the armed men stumble backward despite their firearms. Others started yelling "Shifter! It's a shifter!"
The rest of them panicked at the sight of Liam's transformation, their formation breaking as several bumped into each other. Beth couldn't help snickering as she watched these supposedly tough guys retreat from a single dog. Beside her, Tyr's chest rumbled with quiet laughter.
"Not quite what they were expecting, I'd say," Tyr murmured against her ear, his amusement evident in his voice.
The leader—the man with the red armband—recovered first, raising his rifle to shoulder height.
"Stay where you are!" he shouted, voice cracking slightly. "All of you!"
Jacinth tilted her head, examining him with the casual interest one might give a mildly interesting insect. "Or what?" she asked, her tone light and curious.
The man's jaw tightened. "We want the shifters. Hand them over, and nobody gets hurt."
Liam's massive canine form moved forward, head lowered, his eyes fixed unflinchingly on the leader. He placed himself protectively in front of Tamera and Jacinth, and a low, rumbling growl vibrated from his chest, the sound carrying across the parking lot with unmistakable menace.
"I don't think he likes your offer," Jacinth said, patting Liam's broad white head. "And frankly, neither do I."
The leader's eyes darted between Liam and the clinic building. "This whole place is lousy with shifters." He took a step forward, stopping abruptly when Liam's growl intensified. "This doesn't have to get messy. Just send the rest of them out."
"And why exactly do you want them?" Tamera demanded, her voice carrying despite her smaller stature. "Who sent you?"
"That's not your concern," the leader snapped, though Beth could see his confidence wavering. "Last chance. Send out the rest of the shifters, or we start shooting. And you," he waved his gun toward Liam. "Get over here. Now."
From inside the clinic, Beth felt Tyr's muscles tense. His arms tightened around her waist, ready to move at superhuman speed if necessary. She knew without asking that he could have her safely away in less than a heartbeat.
"You could try shooting," Jacinth offered helpfully, examining her nails again. "But I wouldn't recommend it."
The leader's face flushed with anger. He gestured sharply to his men. "Spread out! Surround the building!"
As the men moved to comply, Jacinth sighed dramatically. "Now you're just being rude."
Beth pressed closer to Tyr as she watched the scene unfold. The leader turned to a stocky man beside him, jerking his head toward Liam's massive white form.
"Take it out," he ordered.
The stocky man raised his rifle, but before he could aim properly, several others pushed forward, brandishing baseball bats and crowbars.
"Hold up!" A tall man with a red bandana waved his bat. "Let us have a go at him first. Been waiting to crack some shifter skull."
"Yeah," another chimed in, slapping his bat against his palm. "Save the bullets for when we really need 'em."
Beth's stomach churned as more men crowded forward, their weapons glinting in the headlights. The casual way they discussed violence made her skin crawl.
"What about the women?" A voice called from the back of the group. "Don't forget why we came here."
"Right." Another man stepped forward, leering at Tamera. "We can have some fun once we clear out the freaks."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the group.
Beth shuddered, and felt Tyr's arms tighten around her protectively as several men's gazes swept over the clinic windows, searching for more targets.
"They're just sick," she murmured.
"Save the redhead for me," someone called out, triggering crude laughter from his companions.
Beth's fingers dug into Tyr's forearms as she watched these men discuss their friends like pieces of meat. Her heart pounded against her ribs, fury mixing with fear as she realized just what kind of monsters they were dealing with.
Tamera stepped forward, her lips curved in a dangerous smile. The redhead's eyes glinted with barely contained fury as she faced down the leering men.
"Good luck with that," Tamera called out, her voice ringing with challenge.
Before the men could respond, Tamera's form blurred and shifted. Where the petite receptionist had stood moments before, a sleek caracal now crouched, her tufted ears laid flat against her skull. The wild cat's muscular form tensed, powerful haunches coiled and ready to spring.
The men's laughter died in their throats, replaced by startled shouts as they stumbled backward. The caracal's lips pulled back, revealing impressive fangs as she released a bone-chilling hiss that echoed across the parking lot.
Beth's breath caught in her throat as she watched Tamera stalk forward, every movement radiating lethal grace. The caracal's golden eyes blazed with intelligence and fury, fixed on the men who had dared threaten her.
"Wow," Beth breathed, unable to contain her admiration. "Tamera rocks!"
"She certainly knows how to make an entrance," he murmured, his cool breath tickling her ear.
The leader's face contorted with rage. He jabbed his finger toward Tamera's caracal form and Jacinth.
"Get them!" he barked at his men. "Grab the woman and the cat, you can do what you want with the dog!"
The men with bats surged forward, cruel grins spreading across their faces as they closed in on Tamera and Liam. Even knowing Jacinth and Arthur were keeping them all safe, Beth's heart hammered against her ribs as she watched them approach her friends, their weapons raised high.
But just as the men came within striking distance, things suddenly turned bizarre.
The baseball bats seemed to waver, like heat mirages on hot pavement.
Their dark wooden surfaces began to shift and transform, bleeding into bright neon colors - hot pink, electric blue, sunshine yellow.
The rigid forms softened and expanded until each man found himself holding nothing more threatening than a pool noodle.
Shouts of confusion erupted from the group as they stared at their transformed weapons. Men cursed and threw the foam tubes aside and scrambled away, stumbling into each other in their haste to escape.
"What the hell?" one man yelped, jumping backward. "What kind of freaky shit is this?"
Beth couldn't help the giggle that bubbled up from her chest. She turned in Tyr's arms, eyes sparkling with delight.
"I'm so sorry," she told him, trying and failing to contain her laughter, "but Jacinth is officially my new number one hero."