Chapter 11: Touch Down

UNKNOWN

Andrei watches Willow and her team load the helicopter with ropes, nets, and other equipment. He admires her methodical approach, reminding him of the night she saved him from vampires in the college square. Willow is a warrior, just like her mother.

She signals they are ready, and Andrei climbs into the helicopter. Willow takes the seat next to him, Rueben on her other side, and Victor sits next to the pilot. The pilot already knows their destination, and the flight will take just over an hour, landing them about thirty miles from the ancient vampires’ hideout.

Everyone wears headsets to communicate. As they fly, they watch human cities pass below them. As they move further north, the landscape becomes rougher, with craggy hills.

Andrei points out a spot to the pilot, a small clearing far enough from the village and close to the forest, perfect for a discreet landing.

The pilot nods, circles the clearing, and gently lands the helicopter. As the engine dies down and the blades slow, Willow and her team begin gathering their supplies. She hands a backpack to Andrei, who thanks her and puts it on.

“Rafe, take the chopper back and wait for our call. Be ready to fly at a moment’s notice. I want to bring back at least one of these bloodsuckers, but if they won’t cooperate…” Willow grins.

“Alpha said to stay closer to you guys and find a place to wait for you. Even in the human town if need be. He said going all the way back was too far to go if you needed a quick extraction.”

“Fine, but use a scent repellent. Don’t engage with other shifters. We are sanctioned anywhere being from the Royal Pack, but some shifters don’t see it that way. So, keep your head down and stay unnoticed.”

“I will, princess. You guys be safe! Boris will have a fit if Willow doesn’t come back all in one piece.”

“Boris? I know Luna Lyric will be the dangerous one!” Victor responds.

Willow shakes her head and starts toward the forest. “You’re both wrong. I’m a daddy’s girl. My father will take heads if something happens to his little girl,” she says with a huge grin.

They hear the chopper lift off and quickly move to the tree line.

“Rueben, take point and keep your eyes open. Victor, keep our six,” Willow directs. Andrei moves alongside her, and they move as a unit through the dense trees and bushes.

“They work well with you,” Andrei says as they move forward.

“We’ve been together for two years. I trained them then handpicked them to work missions with me.” Willow’s boots crunch the dead leaves.

“What kind of missions do you do?” Andrei is curious.

“Well… I have retrieved stolen artifacts for the Fae. I had to assassinate a Lion king a year ago. He was terrorizing his pride and killing off the children. I hunted down sex traffickers that had been kidnapping young girls from several packs in Germany.

“My uncles helped with that one. I was posing as a victim. Well, not really posing. I allowed myself to be kidnapped and we brought the whole group down.

“That was when I learned about my ability to turn to smoke. It was really cool! Freaked me out for a minute, but then it was like, wow! I can slip under doors, through cracks and stay hidden and still have my senses. Coolest gift the Goddess gave me!” Her eyes sparkle.

“So, you regularly place yourself in danger?” Andrei looks at her in shock. “Your parents condone this?” He stops walking.

She stops too. She gives him a serious look. “Andrei. It’s my duty. The Goddess has gifted me, and I have a duty to all to utilize those gifts. She always warns me with visions about the dangers.

“I never go half-cocked. I am always aware of what could happen. Like this mission. I already know your Vampire Ancients are long past reasonable. They are cuckoo.

“I also know we are only coming home with one. I’m going to kill the other two. If you have a problem with that, say so. I’ll make Rafe come back and take you back to wait for us.”

“No! I’m not concerned if you kill them. Just…do not get killed yourself,” he says in a whisper that she hears.

She reaches up and pats his cheek. “Aw. I like you too.” Her dimples break out on her cheeks.

He rolls his eyes, and they start walking again.

It is getting dark, and they decide to find a spot to wait out the night. They don’t need a fire, because they don’t want to be discovered. So, they eat cold rations and hunker down in their sleeping bags.

Reuben agrees to take first shift at keeping watch. Willow takes next, followed by Victor. They don’t even ask Andrei to take a shift. He is a guest, not a part of the team.

He pulls his sleeping bag next to Willow’s. As she lays back and looks up to the sky and gazes at the stars between the branches of the trees, she sighs. “Tomorrow we will be laying a trap for your ancients. I’m going to lure them out into the open. The Goddess has shown me how it will go down.

“Only… I didn’t see you in this vision. Only heard them speak of you as my boy toy. I need you to stay vigilant. Genesis is not really wanting you to go. She wants you to stay clear. I know you won’t any more than I would. Just promise to be careful.” She turns and looks into his eyes.

“I will promise,” he answers her.