Page 115 of (Sur)real
Beside me, Isabelle stood and looked at the Urbat getting to their feet. Some of them growled at her. None of them made a move, though.
“Blake’s dead,” she said. “Judgement is over. Go home, assholes.”
“And don’t forget, the humans know you exist now. Good luck with that,” Bethi said, sitting up.
I moved toward Jim, still on his knees, and reached out to set a hand on his shoulder.
He jerked at my touch then set a hand over mine. Two little boys came barreling his way. He caught them in his arms and held them tightly until they wiggled their way free to run toward Michelle.
“Dad! Paul!” Henry yelled. Like all the other werewolves, he was bleeding from different spots.
He rushed forward to another young man, who leaned over a still body.
“Gregory?” Jim surged to his feet and rushed forward, leaving me alone.
I looked around, studying this group of people I’d only known a few days. Gabby and Winifred cried over Sam. Michelle and Emmitt sat on the ground and hugged the two boys. All four of them cried. Luke had an arm wrapped around Bethi’s shoulders while she gave the retreating Urbat an angry scowl. Isabelle leaned against Carlos, her nose bleeding.
“Let’s go for a walk,” he said, softly.
“No. I might need it.”
“You won’t,” I said.
I glanced at the fallen middle-aged man near us. While the others cried, I wanted to smile. For the first time since as long as I could remember, he wasn’t in my mind. Blake was gone. Dead. Finally.
“Without Blake, the Urbat have no clear leader. It will take them time to regroup. But it won’t help. The werewolves will prosper this time around.”
“You sure?” Isabelle asked.
I nodded, and she leaned closer to me.
“Holy shit. Your eyes are blue.”
“Are they?” I asked, unable to stop my grin.
“What does that mean?”
I shrugged slightly, my grin fading.
“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “I wasn’t supposed to live. Do either of you feel different?”
Bethi looked at Luke then jumped up on him, wrapping her legs around his waist.
“I’m not tired!” she shouted. “Fuck, yeah!”
Isabelle chuckled and shook her head before looking at me.
“Nothing’s seeping in. I can still feel your emotions. Bethi’s joy. I can pull it if I want, but it’s like I actually have control now.”
I glanced at Michelle.
“Michelle, do you see anything?”
She glanced up over the head of a small boy, and her gaze grew unfocused.
“Stock market numbers. Tons of them. There’s no pain with them, though.”
“Jim?” Gabby called. “There are people coming. Humans. A small group.”
