Unicorn's Unease Read online

  He killed some time and this time she woke. “Oh goddess it hurts.”

  “I need you to eat some soup.”

  “I can’t even concentrate much less swallow.”

  “You will try.”

  “You’ve been hanging out with Herk too much.” Janel accused.

  “Here, I will help.” He put the spoon to her mouth and emptied it as she opened. It was slow, but she finally finished the bowl.

  “What happened?”

  “All I know is we figured out you were gone. Winifred found Pru and we went and got her. You weren’t with her but I eventually found you, killed the one that hurt you and now you are here recovering.”

  “You’re not going to let me go anywhere, are you?”

  “Not any time soon. You scared me to death. I feared you were dead or gone somewhere I could never find you.” Julio admitted. It was wasted words. He looked at her and she had fallen asleep again.

  A few days passed as she regained her strength and her health. She wouldn’t say exactly what happened, but at least he was sure it wasn’t sexual and the one who tortured her was dead. Pru felt guilty, that was obvious and she visited often.

  “We need to reevaluate our plans. The one who told us Turnia had a nest of Hubolla followers was correct after all. It was just undercover and hard to locate.” Herk said. “I wonder how many such nests they have.”

  “One less and soon we’ll discover a way to find more.” Julio answered.

  “The mayor was helpful, but they shared little with him. What he knew came from things overheard or idiots who didn’t think before they talked. It was still a help. I’m keeping him in jail while I have males trying to find his family.”

  “Smart decision. He can be used against us until his family is freed.”

  “Pru hasn’t been the same since we brought her back. She blames herself for what happened at least the part where she left Janel behind.” Herk admitted.

  “Let me talk to her. No one blames her.” Herk nodded.

  Julio went looking and found Pru in her tea room looking like the world was about to end. “There you are. I’ve been wanting to talk to you. Thank you for all you did to get Janel back.”

  “Me? I did nothing.”

  “Not true. Had it not been for you telling us the males were after you, we wouldn’t have found her. I captured them and traced their information back to her. It also helped us find a hidden nest where we least expected it.”

  “I should have done more.” Pru’s eyes were full of tears she fought to hold back. “I should have never left her.”

  “Had you not left her, you would both be dead now. We can’t always control how things happen but if you are ever caught again and only one can escape, they must. That is your only hope. You escaping is not sacrificing another. It is the only chance you had.” Julio said before he walked away. It was his hope that once she thought about it, she would realize he was right.

  It was time to check on his own mate. She was sitting in the rocker asleep. Janel still slept a lot but she tried to get up as much as she could. He knew she was afraid there would be a battle and she would not be available when they needed her. If anything, seeing the character of those who followed Hubolla had strengthened her will to fight them. Doubt no longer plagued her.

  His mate was filled with a cold resolve to destroy those who led the rogues. It was a good thing she no longer felt doubts, but he wished she remembered life was about enjoying every day too. They hadn’t had sex since she’d been brought back. He hoped they would tonight.

  He was staring at her awed by her beauty as always when her eyes blinked then popped open. “Hello, Mate. How do you feel today?”

  “I am fine.” What a liar. He could see she was anything but fine. Her incident still caused her anguish.

  “You need to let it go. The male is dead as are the others that helped him.” Julio insisted.

  “It takes time to put things such as that behind me. How is Pru doing?”

  “Better every day. She cries for you.”

  “She need not. Pru did the best she could under the circumstances. I told her to go and send help and she did.”

  “You suffered and she is aware of that. It pains her as it does all of us.”

  “I’m a soldier and have been injured before.”

  “That’s true, but this is different.” Julio suggested.

  “Why? Why does it feel so different?”

  “You felt helpless. That’s hard for a strong warrior like you.”

  “That’s true, but it seems more than that.”

  “You saw the ugly side of an enemy. Such evil is rare and hard to swallow.”

  “He enjoyed inflicting pain and threatened our baby.” Janel admitted.

  “He was a coward and is dead. He’ll never bother you again. All you have to do now is move on.”

  Chapter 10

  Recovery

  He made it sound so easy, but it wasn’t. At night he came to her in her dreams, a monster who wanted nothing more than to torment and torture her. The threats to cut her child out of her and eat him had gotten to her in a way nothing else ever could. The nightmares might never cease to chase her. How could she ever get anyone else to understand them?

  It was hopeless because she knew the monster was dead. Had she killed him herself she might have been able to put him to rest. He was dead everywhere but in her head. It was obscene that the monster was kept alive in her dreams. She was afraid to sleep even though it was what she needed most of all.

  Julio thought she got up so she would get better, but she tried to stay awake to avoid the nightmares. As long as those night terrors continued her life lay in ruins. Julio left and moments later Pru came. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Why? You did as I asked.”

  “What did he do to you?” Her voice was low.

  “The bastard threatened my baby in detail. That was the part that got to me. I was helpless to stop him if he went ahead and did as he planned. All he waited for was his boss’ permission. The baby moved as if it knew it was in danger. That made him laugh as he spoke about his tasty snack. What kind of monster eats babies and brags about it?”

  “Are you sure he intended too?”

  “He said he’d done it before and I believe he did.”

  “Oh, what a menace. I’m glad Julio killed him.”

  “Me too, but it doesn’t seem like he’s dead to me.”

  “He was shot through the heart and hit the floor.” Pru observed.

  “I don’t think he was human. Are you certain that killed him?”

  “What was he?”

  “Not sure, but I saw him move at a fast speed even though he can’t flash.”

  “Wolves can’t flash but they move fast. A shot in the heart should kill one of them. Many supes can flash. It would be hard to figure out without knowing more.” Pru admitted.

  “Maybe I need to find out more about him so I feel he’s been destroyed.”

  “I’d be happy to help.”

  “How would we start?”

  “A computer search might help if we could get his last name.” Pru decided.

  “I’ll see if Julio knows tonight when he’s back home.”

  “I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll get started.”

  Pru left and Janel felt better. She had a goal and a task to set her mind to. Maybe this would help her recover. All she knew was she had to take things firmly in hand doing what was needed or she would never get back to normal. Moping about wasn’t the way she wanted to live her life. Janel wanted to be proactive and deal with stuff as it occurred.

  Hours later she was in bed when Julio finally returned. “Are you asleep?” He asked softly.

  “No, I was waiting for you to come back.”

  “I’m sorry you waited so long.”

  “I’ve been thinking about my ordeal. What was the male’s name?”

  “Jorge?”

  “Jorge what?”

  �
�DeVega.”

  “He was a very bad male.”

  “But now he’s a very dead male.”

  “Okay.” She snuggled close to her mate. Breathing in his scent calmed her. Janel decided she should have discovered more about Jorge De Vega right after she got back. Knowing she was going to research him made her feel better.

  “Looking for a bit of snuggle time?” Julio asked.

  “Why not?” Julio began to kiss her and it lit a fire deep inside.

  Her mate was a wonderful lover so how had she forgotten that? He was naked too which always made it easier to seduce him. Stroking his chest she pinched a nipple lightly and both of them hardened. She leaned down tonguing a nipple then sucked on it. Julio moaned.

  “Now I get to do what I want.” His hand cupped a breast as his tongue licked it then his mouth drew it in.

  She felt liquid form in her channel as desire rolled over her. Her moan made Julio suck harder. “Goddess, that feels good.”

  “I’d do anything for you, my mate.” He whispered in her ear before he nipped her earlobe. His tongue licked her ear and pressed inside it.

  A shiver washed over her. She felt more heat in her lower belly. “I need you inside me.” She demanded.

  “It’s my need to be there.” Julio admitted as his fingers slid inside testing her readiness.

  He must have found it acceptable because she felt the head of his cock press against her entrance. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she arched up against him forcing his cock in a little more. His weight pressed it in all the way forcing a groan of pleasure from her.

  After a brief pause, he started to thrust in and out speeding up each time until he was slamming in. It seemed his need was as strong as hers and she held on for the ride. Her muscles pulsed massaging his cock making it even more pleasurable.

  “Goddess.” He yelled. “I’m about to come.”

  Seconds later she felt herself explode just before his hot seed hit her channel. She held him tight as his body jerked and bucked. “That was incredible.” She admitted.

  He rolled on his back and held his arms out for her. She slid into them feeling completely at home and safe for now. Sleep found them both, but they woke twice more during the night to enjoy each other’s love. When she woke again, he was gone.

  It was no surprise they were tracking down those involved with her and Pru’s abduction. They’d dealt with those personally involved in the act, now they were going after those who had suggested it or planned it. The leaders in the group would be targeted as well. Their goals were big and it would be hard to bring it all about.

  Those leaders hid, many in plain sight. Their system of communication was complex with many not knowing who the leaders were. They were protected on all sides while the soldiers were out there in harm’s way. While it didn’t seem a proper way to lead, it worked through fear and intimidation. Family was threatened or even killed. That often worked better than threatening the soldier personally.

  There was a knock at the door. “You up yet?” Pru asked as she entered. “Did you forget our plans?”

  “Of course not.” She said but she turned pink with embarrassment because she had. “I just over slept.”

  “Someone has a randy mate.” Pru giggled.

  “Yours is only holding back because of the baby.”

  “You’re right and I wish he wouldn’t.”

  “Perhaps, but it shows he cares.” Janel offered.

  “I know. Have you eaten yet?”

  “No, I just got up.”

  “Let’s get a tray of something and head to the computer. Did you get a name?”

  “Yes. Jorge DeVega. That’s what Julio said he went by.”

  “That should get us started. You can search the human web while I search the supernatural one.”

  “Okay as long as you tell me as soon as you find something important.” Janel insisted.

  “You know I will.”

  They headed downstairs getting a tray of breakfast food and a pot of hot water for herbal tea. They took it to Pru’s tea room where a computer was set up on her desk. She pulled out teacups and bags then poured the hot water in the two cups the bags were in. Next she set up a laptop computer on her desk where Janel would sit. That meant they were facing each other and could talk easily.

  After taking a few bites of breakfast and a sip of tea, they both turned their computers on. While they waited for them to come fully on line, they ate more of their breakfast. Now it was time to truly begin tracking down the facts of a monster.

  As she searched she found all the usual stuff. Address, marriages, relatives, and even his credit score. “I’m just finding the usual stuff a human has available to the public at large.”

  “I found something suggesting he’s three hundred. That would make him a supernatural. Did you find relatives? That might help.” Pru suggested.

  “He’s been married five times in the last fifty years. Last wife was Lucinda Hortes. She’s thirty and from Turnia.”

  “I got her. She’s a witch. She has no warrants or complaints.”

  “It’s surprising she mated him.”

  “Not really. His kind are good at hiding their true self. Maybe she saw signs and left.” Pru wondered.

  “It’s hard to imagine him hiding such complete evil. He’s still alive, isn’t he?”

  “It’s beginning to look like he might be.” She looked at Janel carefully. “We made it easy for him last time. If he comes for us again, he’ll have a fight on his hands.”

  “Perhaps we should get the witches together and make protective medallions?”

  “That’s a good idea. I even have something they can spell.” Pru had a secret smile on her face. “For now let’s do some more research and call the witches together after lunch.”

  “I’m not finding much more. At least not in this lifetime.” Janel was frustrated.

  “Then go back in time. He probably didn’t bother to change his name.”

  She began her new search going back decades at a time until she found something. “Oh, goddess. He does eat babies. Jorge was a cult leader in the late eighteen hundreds. They kidnapped young pregnant women and ate the babies which they cut out of their stomachs killing the mothers but not until they watched their babies eaten piece by piece.”

  “That’s horrific. Why haven’t we ever heard about it?” Pru asked.

  “This area wasn’t well known at the time and things traveled mostly by word of mouth. A story like that most wouldn’t have believed.”

  “We need to tell the guys.”

  “Are you sure it’s wise to upset them?”

  “They need to be looking for that monster. He’s our biggest threat next to Hubolla. If they think he’s dead, he might get the upper hand.”

  That made sense so she agreed. They would all eat supper together and that’s when they would share their knowledge. Meantime, lunch was being served and they were hungry. They headed out to the dining room where they mentioned the meeting after lunch to any witches they saw.

  Sitting down to eat, Janel relaxed in a seat next to Pru. They ate fancy salads so the babies got all they needed. The prenatal vitamins helped too. “Can you believe someone so sick has existed all this time and not been put down?” Pru whispered.

  “They thought they killed him because they thought he was human. Could he be a vampire?”

  “That’s a real possibility. Maybe your mom can contact the vampires and have them investigate this? He’s breaking their laws when he does that evil shit.”

  “You’ll get no argument from me. I hope they keep Gertie out of it.”

  “Why would Gertie get into it?”

  “Mom has her handling many of these types of issues. She’s been focusing on getting treaties and support for the war as well as running the main company again since I’m here.”

  “Damn. Gertie won’t be a happy girl.”

  “Maybe not, but this asshole must be dealt with.”

  Let
’s get to the meeting room and get our medallions fixed. We’ll get back to this afterwards.” They dropped off their trays and headed to the meeting.

  The room was full of witches of all ages and appearance. “Let the meeting come to order, Ladies.” Pru demanded. “We have a situation and we need to begin making protective medallions for all pregnant witches. This meeting we will make two for Janel and I. I’m going to explain why all of you, but especially the ones expecting are to remain on lock down unless we are on a mission.”

  In dramatic detail, she went on to explain what had happened to them and what they had since found out about Jorge DeVega. Of course all the witches were horrified. Pru pulled out two necklaces with medallions. One had a unicorn, a white one, the other a Pegasus, also white.

  “When did you buy these?” Janel asked.

  “The day we were in town. I sent them back here so you wouldn’t see them. Surprise!”

  “You silly goose. I love it.”

  “Now everyone gather round and join hands. It’s time to make these, protection against evil.” Pru began to chant and the others followed her.

  The medallions glowed with a gold light that brightened until it was pure white. There was strength behind this spell. The light disappeared as the chant finished. Their necklaces were ready to be put on and would give them a level of protection against evil.

  “Now I need a list of the pregnant witches and everyday we’ll do two just like this. I need you to each bring a necklace for us to spell. If we get through the pregnant ladies, we’ll move on to anyone else that feels the need to have protection or who may be planning a child. Winifred will make a list and decide who gets their necklace each day.”

  “Thanks a lot.” Winifred said.

  “This is good experience for you. It’ll look good on your resume.”

  “What? List writing?” She asked.

  “No, child. Organizing.” Janel said with a shake of her head. Had she ever been that young or that clueless?

  Now that she and Pru had their protective medallions she really did feel better, safer. They went back to research and Pru sent her mom an email about what was going on and their suspicions that Jorge was a vampire. Hopefully, her mom would be able to help them.