Thirty-two

The phone rang startling Eli out of the doze he’d managed to fall into. He gave Jacob a sour look as the man fumbled the cell phone as he was answering it.

“Hello?” There was a pause. “No Bas is driving, I'll put it on speaker.”

He pushed a button and held it out. 

“Bas?”

“Dia, it’s good to hear from you.”

Bas sounded focused and Eli glanced at the speedometer. Whatever the speed limit was on this road, 70 mph, the fastest the truck would physically allow, was probably pushing it.

“Slow it down, Bas.”

“They just put Vivi in the car, whoever you are. I know why he’s speeding.”

The witch smiled faintly and slowed down. “She’s not happy with them. She’s been struck but she’s more concerned about Grace and Coby.”

“Are they ok?” Jacob frowned tilting the phone.

“Grace looked nervous. She tried to sit next to Vivi but one of those a******s shoved her aside and put himself between them. They blindfolded her Bas-”

“They put in earplugs so she can’t hear, a gag so she can’t speak, and bound her eyes and hands. I know. She won’t give them the satisfaction of showing any fear or discomfort but she’s seething.”

“We’re following them and your Madam Cate isn’t far behind. They flew in to the local field and are renting cars. I put a GPS tracker on the witches’ car in case they decide to go somewhere else and the rest of my pack has headed up to the rentals. I doubt the witches will make it there first but they might.”

“Sibbi was certain that the Day and the Night would be following closely. She knows you’re there and she isn’t afraid.”

“The day and the… Layla does your name mean ‘night’?”

Jacob grinned, “It does! I saw it on the list!”

“Then she probably knows about the other thing.” Dia sighed. “He’s a little old for a human but-”

“It won’t make a difference once he’s gone through the ceremony.” Bas smiled more genuinely. “She knew. Make sure you let Layla know that they’re going to harm him-”

A ferocious growl came across the phone.

“-But she gave him something that will keep him safe. They’ll leave him to die and it will help him until she reaches him.”

A growling female voice spat, “I will rip them to shreds!”

“You won’t. It isn’t your task. We’ll be where we need to be. Grace, the woman with them is Eli’s mate. They’ll keep her with my sister but Coby will be permitted to move around somewhat more freely. Thank you for keeping us apprised. Tell me if they go anywhere else. Sibbi appreciates you coming to help.”

“You’re going to have to tell me how these witches managed to snatch her. Did you all fall asleep on the job?” Her teasing tone made Eli want to snap at her but Bas laughed.

“The Bathim are good at their job, they just didn’t trust the right people. Not even your pack could have kept Sibbi away from them. You’ll understand when we all arrive. We should see you soon, we’re making good time.”

“We’ll stay close and let you know if anything unusual happens.” The call ended.

“How far behind them are we?” Eli  rubbed his face.

“Not as far as they’d like. We don’t need to detour to Minneapolis, we know where they went from there. We can take a straighter route.

“Jacob?”

“Yeah?”

“Call Madame Cate. It should be programmed in.”

“Ok.” The man played with the phone and it began to ring.

“Bas?” The voice sounded amused. “We just got in the cars. I’ve spoken to Dia and I know the situation with Vivi.”

“She wants to warn you. You’ll arrive before most of the Benson pack. Advising you to wait would be futile, but be cautious. These are dangerous witches. Dia is protected to an extent if she’s wearing her necklace, Layla is not. Her mate is present and her desire to protect him may get twisted.”

There was a loud exhale.

“We’ll pay attention and we’ll be careful.”

“Bas?” Remi’s concerned voice came through. “I know she’s angry, I can feel it. But is she safe? Something feels off.”

“Robbed of sight, sound, and speech, and being put in chains triggers something deep inside her. It stirs a memory so old and ingrained that memory isn’t the word for it. The Bathim were created to prevent it from happening again. Sibbi is angry, yes, but all three, the woman, the wolf, and the Sibyl are aligning in fury. The walls will shake, Remi.”

“I’m not sure if she can feel me, but I want her to know I love her and I don’t care what she has to do, she needs to keep herself alive. I need my mate. I’ll help her with anything she needs to do to ease her conscience afterward if she has to hurt someone, but I want her to fight, Bas.”

“Mercy is bitter. Mercy is loved. Tell the Angel to guide the blind stones.” Bas shuddered and adjusted his grip on the wheel putting them fully back into their lane. “Maeryn is going to fight, Remi, she wants you to-”

“Guide the Bathim to her. I got that. You be safe too, Bas. If I’m not wrong that means the Bathim have to leave you.”

“I’ll have Jacob and Eli.”

“Take care of my mate,” Ruby interjected sharply. “You’re looking after him, he’s not looking after you.”

“I can look after myself.” Jacob grinned. “Don’t complain! I told you, you should ask to ride in the party van with us. We’re roadtrippin’ with snacks and cokes. We might even get matching tattoos after this.”

There was sputtering and Eli caught himself grinning. Madame Cate laughed. 

“Sibbi always wanted to get something done in Latin.”

“No tattoos.” Remi sounded like he was grinning. “Her ideas were all a little creepy. That skull with roses she drew? What was that phrase?”

“Finis vitae sed non amoris!” Bas laughed. “The end of life, but not of love! She thought it was sweet!”

Eli couldn’t help but chuckle, “Creepy cute, maybe.”

“We’d need something bad a*s like ‘fortune favors the bold’ or something.”

“Fortes fortuna adiuvat.” Bas shrugged. “Sibbi suggests, ‘non timebo mala’ or ‘invictus maneo’. That’s, ‘I will fear no evil’, and, ‘I remain unvanquished’. If I get a tattoo she wants one.”

“Invictus maneo-” 

“No tattoos.” Remi laughed, “Remind her we made a deal.”

“She doesn’t ink her skin and you kiss every inch as often as she wants you to? She’s happy to keep to that but if I get a tattoo she wants one. I’ll let Maria talk me out of it at home. She’s in another car?”

There was laughter on the other side of the phone.

“She is. I’ll talk Jacob out of it when we get back.” Ruby sounded less angry. 

“Thanks for the warning, Bas, and thank Vivi for lightening the mood, that had her scent on it.”

Bas laughed. “Supporting our pack in any way she can makes her happy. She needed a little happiness. Be safe, Madame Cate.”

“You too, Bas.”

The call ended and Jacob put the phone back into its place. “‘Invictus Maneo’ sounds really good though.”