Memento Mori -- Chapter 4
#14 of Eben Black Series -- Memento Mori
© All characters and storylines involving said characters belong to me: Eben Black.
Maximillian stayed with us for dinner and we were enjoying the remnants of our meal when a loud clatter echoed from the direction of the elevator. Donovan and Maximillian had made for the door when I saw someone stagger around the corner that joined the elevator corridor and lounge together. Sawyer and Aleksander had returned, but they were looking worse for wear. Sawyer leaned against the wall, bloodied and battered, his one eye closed and his one arm struggling to hold up the limp form that was Aleksander. Aleksander stands at around five foot eleven, he's slender and agile thanks to the marathon-like runs he did day-in, day-out. His fur was a spotted yellow and a mixture of various browns. Startling green-grass eyes and an almost infectous cheerful nature that made him something of a joker amongst us. He used to be driven by the title of King Cheetah, but he'd mellowed and become an entertaining son-of-a-bitch in the last few weeks he'd been with us. He'd also taken an interest in me, but I had yet to make anything out of it. Aleksander was fun and attractive as a super model, but I never saw a romance there. He was dressed today in a bloodied white fitted tee, and pale blue denim three-quarter-lengths. Running shoes that were once white were now spattered with his own blood.
Donovan grabbed Aleksander and lowered the werecheetah to the floorboards and lay him on his back. He leaned down and listened at the cheetah's mouth. He looked up and nodded. He was still breathing then. Maximillian held up Sawyer who had slumped when he no longer had to hold up Aleksander's weight.
I asked, "What happened to the pair of you?"
"Those fucked up panthers is what happened. We met their alpha and his second-in-command, everything was going well and then the restaurant we met them at imploded. The windows shattered and a second later a panther who called himself Jasper stepped in. He'd been the one who'd caused the windows to implode somehow. He felt so fucking old, like a member of the council," Sawyer stammered as Maximillian helped him limp further into the lounge. Donovan and I hauled Aleksander in and lay him across the couch, while Sawyer was sat down beside him.
"Was it a member of the council?" Maximillian demanded, a fierce look in those golden eyes.
"I have no idea. Rumour is the council seats have been refilled and rearranged. Some of the old members still exist but I have no idea who the newer members are," Sawyer replied.
"So then what happened?" I asked. I glanced at Aleksander and the cheetah opened one eye as he struggled to sit up. Donovan braced his shoulder one-handed and shook his head. Aleksander eased back and smiled up at me. It was an almost ashamed smile. I smiled back and then focused on Sawyer's information.
"The one named Jasper said that he was in control of the panthers and had not authorised their meeting with us. He slaughtered the two panthers and said he'd be taking the others with him."
"He killed them in broad daylight!" Maximillian stammered in disbelief.
"Check the news channels," Sawyer warned.
I stood, grabbed the television remote and clicked on the first news channel.
"Breaking News! Local restaurant designated war zone as wereanimals break out into a brawl that left many wounded and two wereanimals dead. It is not known why this brawl broke out, or why innocent bystanders were even included in the massacre. All that can be said is that more and more outbreaks of a similar kind are becoming more frequent. The investigation into Walker's Law is slowly becoming lop-sided as the monsters demonstrate their truly monstrous sides more and more in the public eye..."
"Fuck!" Maximillian snarled, "Now what do we do?"
"We need to leave," Aleksander breathed.
"Leave?" Donovan repeated looking confused, "What do you mean?"
"The one called Jasper said that the time for the seperation of monsters and humans was drawing near, I don't know what he's planning, but I bet its something that will crush that Prevention Law," he whimpered.
"Fuck!" Donovan cursed, he turned and gripped Maximillian's shoulder, "Head home, secure your family and lions. Make sure everyone is safe." Maximillian considered Donovan for a moment then nodded.
"The cheetahs...what about them?" Aleksander hissed as he sat up and winced.
"I'll send Kane to go warn them. Eben!" I looked at the alpha with a start. "You need to find Snow, now! His brother is staying at the Royal Louisianna Hotel, go!"
"S-Snow?" I stammered.
He nodded and then looked back at the television screen. "This will no doubt accelerate things. I need everyone gathered and prepared somewhere safe."
"What are you going to do?" I asked as I took a step backward.
"I'll do what's needed," he replied.
"W-What does that mean?" I demanded.
"I need to contact the council. This cannot keep happening. They need to help us out!" he growled.
"The c-council?" Aleksander hissed.
"What good are those bastards?" Sawyer sneered as he hunched over his wounded shoulder.
"I need to know where we stand, this looks like the council is losing patience, and if they intend to bring the Prevention Law down, then I intend to stop them somehow," he explained. He looked at me and nodded, "Snow."
I remembered what he'd said and nodded, "You do not meet the council without me, ok? Promise me, Donovan!" I demanded.
Donovan looked at me and then nodded. "I promise. I'll speak with them and have them meet us here tonight."
I nodded and turned, running for the elevator as I went. Maximillian held the door and together we rode down.
I paid the taxi driver and slipped out the back of the yellow cab. The driver seemed more frightened then anything else that a full grown werewolf had signalled for him to stop. I stood outside the Royal Louisianna. Snow was here, I could feel it somehow. The beast inside me had been pacing in an impatient circle since the news channel's report. She knew the seriousness of this whole situation, and at this moment in time her alphas were scattered. We let Donovan and the others handle their own business, while we found our tiger companion. I raced inside and reached the main desk. The woman behind the counter looked startled but maintained that unnerving smile of hers.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"I need to know what room a weretiger named Bartholomew is staying in," I explained.
"Hmmm, Bartholomew?" she typed the name into the system as I nodded impatiently, "Ah, here we are, room three hundred and two. Shall I ring up?" she asked. I nodded. She picked up the phone and punched in the numbers. She sat there, smiling up at me still as she sat in silence. I could hear the distant ring tone of the phone. Moments passed. Then eventually, "Hmm, I don't think Mr. Bartholomew is in his room at this moment in time, sir."
"Well have you seen him leave? He's a fucking weretiger! There is no way no one would not notice that?" I demanded.
"I only started this shift fifteen minutes ago, sir," she assured me, "You could ask one of the doormen?" she suggested. I nodded and turned.
I rushed outside and grabbed the doorman by the shoulder, he looked startled but regained his composure as I demanded, "Have you seen a weretiger? About six foot six? Muscular?"
He considered the information for a moment and then nodded, "Two of them, left here about two hours ago."
"Two hours!?" I stammered. I released the doormen's shoulder and staggered down the steps. Snow should've returned home a long time ago if all they were doing was getting some of Bartholomew's things. I dug out my mobile phone from my pocket and typed in Snow's mobile number. I listened and heard the dull ring. Over and over that ring continued. Nothing. "Fuck! Snow where are you?" I hissed.
"Eben?" a voice said from a few feet away. I turned, and standing there was Snow, broad-shouldered, muscular and beautiful. I almost cried. "Eben, what's wrong?" Snow asked as I rushed to him.
"Where were you?" I sobbed as I hugged him round the middle.
"Bart and I went for a drink, we lost track of time. What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Snow asked. I looked up and found Bartholomew standing beside him.
"Is everything ok?" he asked as he looked down at me with a confused expression.
"Aleksander and Sawyer met the panthers, and the panthers were attacked by some guy named Jasper. Donovan's made everyone bolster their defenses. He thinks Jasper's actions could break the Prevention Law, Snow!" I said.
"Wait! What happened?" he replied.
"Aleksander and Sawyer met the panthers and everything seemed fine, but then an ancient panther showed up declaring the panther's his possessions, and he killed the other two then and there before attacking Aleksander and Sawyer. The scene is all over the news and now Donovan is worried this may break the Law," I explained again, I sobbed as I huddled against the muscular swell of Snow's chest. "I was told to find you, and when I made it here the doormen said you'd left two hours ago and I was worried something had happened!" I added with a strained look.
Snow smiled down at me and leaned in, kissing me gently while his arms embraced me. "I'm not going anywhere, Eben. I talked with Bart and I think its best I remain here for a while, until things are taken care of."
"Things?" I replied.
"Snow's filled me in on all that's been happening; your beast, the council's decision to abandon LA and their wanting to have humans fear us again. I think you need him more than me right now," Bartholomew explained.
"S-So your not leaving me? I mean, your not leaving us?" I stammered as more tears came. Snow shook his head and grinned. I embraced him and sobbed again.
"Eben, I think we need to save this for later. Sounds like Donovan wants us close at hand in case things turn ugly," Snow explained as he pulled me back and smiled down at me.
"Yeah," I wiped the tears from my eyes as I stepped back and smiled up at the two hulking weretigers. "Sorry you had to see that," I added, looking at Bartholomew.
He shrugged and replied, "Don't worry about it. I know these times are stressful for all of you." He grinned and said, "Sounds like you need to get home quick. C'mon, I'll give you a ride. I have my Jeep in the hotel car park."
Ten minutes later the three of us were standing in the elevator headed up to the penthouse floor. I was huddled against Snow while Bartholomew stood beside us. It was then that I heard something. A distant thumping noise. As we rode higher and higher, the thumping grew louder and louder. The elevator reached its peak and the doors opened. The sound was so loud now. I stepped out hand in hand with Snow. We walked down the small corridor and rounded the bend into the lounge. Blood spattered the walls and bits of furniture and the wall had been smashed in. Aleksander was slumped against the wall nearest us, while Sawyer and Donovan were in the middle of the room with someone I'd never seen before. She stood at around five foot five, finally someone smaller than me in this damned penthouse, she was slender and curved where it counted, she was also a wolf. Large round breasts rose and fell with the deep breaths she was taking. A skin-tight crimson gown clung to her figure and curved over the round hips and curved thighs, crimson heels and a thick black leather belt niched her waist. Her fur colour was a dark chocolate brown, streaked with lighter shades of brown here and there. Pale brown eyes stared across the room at us as she held two things in her outstretched hand. Her right was suspending Sawyer by the throat, he was barely conscious as he growled and looked over at us, one eye closed while his broken, bloodied body looked worse than before. Her other hand was holding Donovan by the head fur, he had his back to me but I knew that limp look, he was unconscious.
"Keep away f-from her! She's with the c-council!" Sawyer growled as he raised a slender hand and gripped her wrist.
"I thought I said never touch me, pussycat?" she snarled. She reared her arm across her breasts and with one throw Sawyer was airborne. He'd have smashed into the wall had Bartholomew not stepped in and caught him. He slid back with the wounded feline in his muscular arms and lowered the blue-furred cat to the floorboards below. He lay Sawyer on his back who coughed and hacked, blood spattered his chest as he leaned on one elbow. His eyes let me know he was almost conscious. Bartholomew remained crouched beside him, poised to defend no doubt. The she-wolf turned and faced us now. "This one," she raised Donovan with ease in her hand, "attempted to call us, but since I was in the area, I figured I'd pay him a visit."
"Who the fuck are you?" I demanded.
"I am of no importance to one with such bad manners, puppy," she replied. She released Donovan who slumped onto the floorboards without hesitation. "Now I believe the blue tiger and cheetah visited Jasper's panthers?"
"The panther's requested the meet, not the other way around! We had no idea one of the council owned them!" Sawyer spluttered blood as he spoke.
"Ease down," Bartholomew whispered to the slender feline.
"Regardless, Jasper doesn't like people moving in on his personal weapons. And since it seems your that unique wolf that possesses a Lupine for a beast, I thought we should pay you a visit," she explained.
"We? Whose we?" I stammered.
"For one rumoured to possess such great power, your beast doesn't seem to recognise power when its standing right behind them," a deep, cultured voice growled behind me. I turned and a second later I was sliding backwards. I looked up and found Snow huddled around me. He was bloodied, a deep cut blossomed across his shoulder as he held me close and slid backward, he stopped with a gentle bump as he and Bartholomew were crouched side by side. I looked back across the room where we'd been standing and found the beast named Jasper. He stood at around seven foot two, broad-shouldered, slender-waisted, sleak black fur, piercing grey eyes and a silver loop through one nostril. He was dressed in a fitted black tee, black denim jeans, black hiking boots and a thick leather trench done in dark grey. The collar buckled with silver around his lower jaw while the lower half billowed round him as he stepped further into the room. Jasper's power filled the room, his sheer strength was almost touchable, thick enough to swallow as he prowled into the lounge and looked around.
I knew someday we'd have to face the council, but to meet them so soon and be so weak in comparison. It was unnerving and frightening as Hell!