Page 62 of Wolf Trap

Lycaon leaned towards me. “I told you.”

I didn’t look away until I saw Hakon blush, too, nudging Anthony. Austin seemed blissfully unaware, and I envied him for that. Geez!

She stepped up her walk. “Plus, it makes a change. A little excitement, a chance to enter the Aurora complex.”

I grabbed her shoulder. “The Aurora complex. So, you knew about this place? Are you a spy?”

She stared at my hand, which burned intensely. I whipped it away. Shifting from foot to foot, she shook her head. “I know about most things. Why would I be a spy? Everyone, well, let’s put it this way. Many of my reapers have been busy here. Like I said, Adara have been good clients. I’ve never been here and I’m not interested in petty immortal quarrels, who’s the strongest,who can gain the most power. But if you ever lay a finger on me again, if you ever call me a traitor, I will end you and send your soul to purgatory. Is that perfectly clear?”

I gulped, my cheeks burned. “Sorry. Yes, it is. Perfectly. I guess.”

“You guess? You’re letting your fear, your doubt run your show. That won’t get you very far, especially,” she paused, her eyes scanning the tunnel, “in this place.” Narrowing her eyes, she said, “Remember who you’re talking to. You have the makings of a fine witch. Don’t let your fears, your doubts screw that up. We’re here now. Let’s step forward with trust and integrity.”

She turned back and continued walking.

Wow! My emotions were confused. I should be upset, but actually that was kind of empowering. She was like the mentor I’d always wanted. Powerful, direct and not horrible. Though as a reaper, or the chief reaper, I guessed she’d risen above petty quarrels. If only life was that simple.

“Here, look at this bad boy, Lycaon.” Austin whipped around, staring at Lycaon, who had trudged behind us silently, except for the occasional sniff of the air. It didn’t smell good down here, so I didn’t want to know. At least so far, there were no severed heads or limbs. I’d had enough of those for several lifetimes.

“Ok, move out of the way.”

Anthony went to speak, Hakon elbowed him, frowning.

A metal door stood before us with a huge round lock-hinge on it. It was the type of lock used as an airlock. Bending his knees and tightening all his muscles, Lycaon gripped it, his jaw clenched as he tried to twist it open. Grunting, his fingers tightened but his hands slipped as it wouldn’t budge. At all.

Sighing, I stepped forward. “We have no choice. We’ll have to use magic and hope they don’t detect it. But it looks like the typeof door on a submarine. We should try to work out what’s on the other side first.”

Austin nodded. “Agreed.”

As Lycaon moved over, Austin put his ear to the door.

I spun around. “Where’s Jax?”

“I’m here. I popped through. There’s no water, just more tunnels, but they lead to two corridors. Here, get out of the way.”

She brushed her long coat to her side then waggled her fingers, then crouched, unlocking the wheel lock.

It crunched metal on metal grinding. I stepped back. At least it wasn’t water. Another of my fears. As she heaved it open, stale air washed through.

Grinning at Lycaon she said, “You don’t always need muscles.”

He smiled back. “Impressive. For a reaper.”

She slapped his back. “You couldn’t do it. Come on, Elsa, let’s see what’s inside.”

I thought I’d use this opportunity to grill her. “So, what have your reapers told you about this place?”

Her shoulders dropped as she wiped her hands on her leather trousers. “Oh, only that Aurora is experimenting with hybrid monsters. Weapons and bioweapons. What else, who knows? They have their hands in a lot of pockets, they control a lot of governments. Now they’re moving into blood transfusions. Something to weaken the mortal population, by all accounts. Pretty soon humans will be, well, a much easier snack for some immortals that feed on them.”

“What? And you’re telling us this now, and…” I had to catch my breath as she stood there stoically, eyeing me over. “I thought Adara were witches, mages. Why would they want to eat people?” I whispered frantically.

She shook her head. “You know there are other immortals in the sect, foolish girl. This is only what I’ve heard. How much of itis true,” she glanced at the two corridors before us, “I guess we’ll find out. But,” she slowly rested her gaze on each of us in turn, “you’d better brace yourselves. From what I’ve been told, and we all know immortals like to gossip, that demon-werewolf hybrid you saw in their fight-club, well, that ain’t nothing compared to what lies in here.”

Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she brushed back her coat and strode off up the right corridor.

18

AURORA

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