Wolves and Men

Katherine spoke up just then, “OK, so we have to learn about the Whyte Plain so we can use it to do what exactly? Just kind of hop around the world and hope that we don’t get eaten, or possessed, or whatever those Shadows do to their victims?”

She was not smiling.

William’s mirth left his face. “No, Katherine…listen.” He went back and sat down on his bed. “If we want to win against either enemy, the shadows, or the vampires, we have to be able to tilt one war front in our favor. If we can use the Whyte Plain again, we can get to these people or wolves before the vampires do. That, and maybe make our raids against them a little more frequent and a little more effective.”

“What is more important at this point,” said Aceso “Is finding out where Ansuya is and to get her out of whatever cage she might be held in?”

The room grew quiet as the thought of one of their own, an Elder, being used by the enemy sank in. If there was an advantage to the vampires it was having an Elder as leverage, or a source of information. Ansuya would never betray the Mountain or the people in it but what about torture? Pain resistance was relative but if given enough time…

“We need to go see the Elders,” Charles declared.

William nodded his agreement. “Jacob, we can talk with him.” They all got up and left his room in a file. As he was following Aceso out, Charles asked, “Nicholas, where is he right now?”

He turned around and said, “He’s with Lethe and rest of his pack. They took him on a raid against a Vampire farm. Why?”

Katherine shook her head. “Well, you did mention that Efraim told you that they should be back soon and yet he hasn’t come to see us. Where could he be?”

“It’s possible they haven’t returned to the city yet,” said Charles.

“We need to ask about them. If those shadows were as close to you as you said William how will that group get back here if they traveled through the Whyte Plain?”

William nodded. “Ok, but we’re not going to get anything more done sitting around talking about it.” He turned and followed Aceso out of the room with Charles and Katherine in tow.

The four of them made their way deeper into the city, taking the various turns and avoiding the dead ends throughout the place. The Tower loomed a short way from them, but they weren’t going there today. William knew where Jacob lived and directed the group there. The thing that made their steps a little more hurried than usual was the uncertainty about Nicholas. They all felt it. If he had sworn to Aceso like the rest of them had, they would be able to feel where he was and maybe they would be reassured by that feeling. But as it was, it was like losing a younger family member with no cell phone and no clue where they might have gone. William was amazed that he felt this much worry about a guy that infuriated him so easily. It was almost like they were a real family.

Aceso led them up to Jacob’s room and asked to enter. Jacob’s voice came from inside the building. “Alpha Aceso and pack, come on in!” Jacob sounded his usual cheerful self. The group walked into the room.

The room was pretty much what William remembered with a few embellishments here and there. Was there always a Manchester United banner neatly tucked behind the wooden dresser?

Jacob was lounging at his desk with his head rolled back against the seat and his feet squarely on the ground in front of him. He looked up and spun around to face the group. “What do I owe the pleasure of being visited by the City’s newest pack?” He said with a wry smile.

Aceso answered, “Elder, are you aware of Elder Ansuya’s capture?”

Jacob nodded without skipping a beat. “Yes, we are aware of that little development. I understand that both you and Nicholas escaped though?” He directed this at William, who nodded. “That’s just as well. Better that one should be captured than three.”

“But she’s an Elder!” Katherine exclaimed. “You’re not going to go after her?”

Jacob leaned back in his chair with a surprised, almost shocked look on his face. Katherine hung her head, ashamed at her outburst, her long brown hair partially covering her reddening cheeks.

“Tell me, William, the man who was leading this group that captured Ansuya, it was this Kenneth? Was it not?” Jacob asked.

William nodded; there had been no mistaking the man they had met in the strip club. The way he dressed, the confident way he carried himself; even his voice had been full of self-assurance. There was no doubt in his mind.

Jacob stood and looked at Katherine and William in turn, then seemed to look at all of them at once. “I understand your concern. Ansuya is not an Elder because she’s sixty-two years old, or because of her ethnicity, or for any reason other than the fact that she is one of, if not the, most powerful Shape shifter in the City under the Mountain and many others as well. Ansuya knew the risk when she accepted this task, and it is hers to complete.” Jacob sat down softly in his chair again. “You don’t have to worry about Ansuya. She’s held her own against far worse than a few vampires.” He breathed a heavy sigh, “Now, is there something else I can do for you?”

The four looked around at each other until three sets of eyes rested on William. He looked back at them for a moment in a battle of silent thoughts but in the end, he lost and shook his head. It was his idea after all. “Jacob, we need to know about the Whyte Plain. How do we use it? How do we open ways into it and how do we get out of it?”

Jacob sat silent for a moment, “The Whyte Plain is a dangerous place. Even Mr. Davis and his pack do not enter it lightly. What makes you think you’re ready to?”

William stood his ground, defiance visible in his stance, “We need to know the battlefield if we are to win the war. That battlefield was taken; I mean to help take it back.”