Howling Moon Part 6

"Yes," Ned said cautiously. "Will you put him on the line?"

Raphael took the phone from Catherine's hand. "Ned."

"What the h.e.l.l's going on, Ramirez?"

Raphael looked at Catherine, who was watching him through narrowed eyes. He knew she could hear every word Ned was saying. "The cat that attacked Catherine and her family was one of ours."

Ned started swearing loudly. Raphael let him rant for a minute or two before cutting in. "Violet wasn't hurt physically, physically, but she saw some things last night that upset her. We want to take her to the pack hospital for counseling." but she saw some things last night that upset her. We want to take her to the pack hospital for counseling."

"Counseling?"

Raphael flinched at the disbelief in the other man's tone. Problem was, he could hardly argue. Most of the Sazi would just kill her to keep the secret, and not even feel particularly bad about it. "The Chief Justice himself has ordered that she's to get the best possible care."

"Charles? He knows?"

He locked eyes with Cat over the bulk of Peter's body. "As you might guess, Catherine doesn't trust us."

Ned gave a harsh, bitter laugh. "Smart woman."

"Ned " Raphael wasn't amused and let it play through his voice. This was no time for old arguments.

The other man backed down and sighed. "Fine, put her on. But know this, Ramirez, if anything happens to Violet, anything at all, I've got a rifle and I can make silver ammo."

Raphael wasn't sure how he'd have answered that, had he been given the chance. He wasn't. Two things happened simultaneously. Catherine grabbed the phone and John decided to prove his dominance.

The blow was meant to hit her in the jaw. A fast right jab, designed to knock Catherine on her a.s.s without really harming her. But she was too quick. The swing missed entirely. She countered with a rapid kick to the side of his knee that dropped him to the ground. She bounced backward on the b.a.l.l.s of her feet so that she was just out of reach. Raphael felt a surge of magic as the boy prepared to shift.

"I said said stand stand down." down." Raphael slammed his power in place around the boy, catching him in midkick, and preventing him from changing. It hurt, and John gasped in pain. Raphael didn't care. The entire situation was balanced on a knife's edge. He was not about to let things go to h.e.l.l because one stupid teenager didn't know how to obey an order. Raphael slammed his power in place around the boy, catching him in midkick, and preventing him from changing. It hurt, and John gasped in pain. Raphael didn't care. The entire situation was balanced on a knife's edge. He was not about to let things go to h.e.l.l because one stupid teenager didn't know how to obey an order.

"What's going on?" Raphael heard Ned's voice coming from the phone clutched in Catherine's hand. "Catherine, are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she answered. But she stayed out of Raphael's reach, and he could see that she was tensed for action. "But are you sure sure I can trust these people?" I can trust these people?"

"You can trust Ramirez to keep his word. If he says he'll keep Violet safe, he will. I'm going to hang up so I can get down there and meet you at the hospital. I've been there a few times. It's not far up the mountain from you."

"All right. I'll see you there."

"Be careful," Ned ordered.

"Oh, I will. Don't worry about that at all." Catherine shut off the phone and tossed it back to Raphael, still staying just out of his reach. He caught it with his left hand and slid it into his pocket before he began issuing orders.

"Now." Raphael pointed his right index finger at Peter first and then Michael. "You, and you are going to discreetly discreetly load those women into the van." He turned to Catherine. "You go get dressed. I load those women into the van." He turned to Catherine. "You go get dressed. I a.s.sume a.s.sume you'll want to stay at the hospital with your aunt until Ned arrives. Holly, you can bring her." Raphael kicked John lightly with the toe of his boot as he hovered in s.p.a.ce. you'll want to stay at the hospital with your aunt until Ned arrives. Holly, you can bring her." Raphael kicked John lightly with the toe of his boot as he hovered in s.p.a.ce. "You "You are going to stay here and let the glazier in to fix the windows. Maybe your knee will have healed by the time they're done. If not, swing by the clinic and have Dr. Santiago take a look at it." are going to stay here and let the glazier in to fix the windows. Maybe your knee will have healed by the time they're done. If not, swing by the clinic and have Dr. Santiago take a look at it."

Everybody was standing still, watching each other warily. "Move, "Move, people." people."

CAT TURNED IN her seat so she could face Holly. They'd been driving for several minutes now and the silence in the car had gone well beyond awkward. The little blue Geo should have been intimate and cozy. It wasn't. After two or three miles, Cat couldn't stand the silence. her seat so she could face Holly. They'd been driving for several minutes now and the silence in the car had gone well beyond awkward. The little blue Geo should have been intimate and cozy. It wasn't. After two or three miles, Cat couldn't stand the silence.

"What was I supposed to do? Let him hit me?"

Holly's fingers drummed nervously against the steering wheel as she waited for the traffic light to change. The light rain that was beginning to fall wasn't quite hard enough to turn on the wipers, but to Cat, the skies looked like they were ready to open up.

"No. But... well... no... no..." She turned with a somewhat desperate look. Cat could hear her heart racing. She could actually see see the scents rising off of Holly's body. It was too odd Cat turned away, choosing to watch the pa.s.sing scenery instead. the scents rising off of Holly's body. It was too odd Cat turned away, choosing to watch the pa.s.sing scenery instead.

"You're not making a lot of sense." Cat muttered irritably.

Holly took a deep breath. "Only because you don't know the pack like I do." She slowed to a stop at a red light. "John was trying to prove dominance... that he was bigger, stronger "

"I know what dominance means."

"Right, but within the pack it's a big deal. As one of the males "

"Please don't tell me that this is s.e.xist bulls.h.i.t," Catherine snarled. It wasn't raining yet, but the wind had picked up, and heavy gray clouds were blowing in over the mountains.

"Yes and no," Holly replied earnestly. "You're new. Everybody's going to try to find out where you fit in. And you're a cat, which is a wolf's natural adversary. And yes, it's s.e.xist, but most of the males are are bigger and stronger. They just bigger and stronger. They just are. are. For you to take down an alpha male so easily... it's a little scary, and it's going to cause problems." The light turned green, so Holly started the little car moving again. For you to take down an alpha male so easily... it's a little scary, and it's going to cause problems." The light turned green, so Holly started the little car moving again.

"He'll hold a grudge?"

"Oh, h.e.l.l yeah." Holly turned onto a narrow side road that ran east-west. They were reaching the far outskirts of a section of town Cat had never seen. Nothing was familiar. "John's an a.s.s that way." She paused, thinking about it. "Actually, John's just an a.s.s."

Cat gave a sour laugh. "No kidding! So, what should should I have done?" I have done?"

Holly started tapping her fingers again. Apparently it was a nervous gesture. "I don't know. There really isn't isn't a good answer. If you don't act dominant, they walk all over you. If you do, they keep trying to fight to prove they're better than you." She shook her head sadly. "You might ask Peter. He's the only person who seems to have a really good handle on how it works." a good answer. If you don't act dominant, they walk all over you. If you do, they keep trying to fight to prove they're better than you." She shook her head sadly. "You might ask Peter. He's the only person who seems to have a really good handle on how it works."

"Peter?"

"The big blond who was carrying your aunt."

"I doubt I made a good enough impression for him to talk to me." Cat sighed. She didn't think she'd been wrong either in confronting them about moving Violet or in taking down John. But she wasn't stupid enough to think it wouldn't cause problems. Apparently there was a hierarchy, and she'd blown right through it.

"Hopefully Raphael will be able to explain it all when he trains me."

"What?" Holly pulled the car to the curb abruptly. "Who said he was going to train you?"

Cat thought about it for a minute. She couldn't really remember. She didn't think Raphael had actually told her, but she'd heard it somehow. "I think I must have overheard him talking on the phone. Why?"

The finger tapping had increased in speed. "Well, mostly because you're a cat. Cats and wolves so so don't get along." She gave a rueful grin, "Well, don't get along." She gave a rueful grin, "Well, mostly mostly they don't get along. My uncle seems to have a serious weakness for felines. But he's the only wolf I know who can even stand them. The longer you stay here, the more trouble there will be, and it takes months to train a new turn." they don't get along. My uncle seems to have a serious weakness for felines. But he's the only wolf I know who can even stand them. The longer you stay here, the more trouble there will be, and it takes months to train a new turn."

She sounded so panicked that Cat shifted in her seat to get a better look at her while they talked. She'd learned a long time ago that body language said almost as much as a person's words if you paid attention. "You mean everyone who... turns turns it's always because of attacks like mine?" it's always because of attacks like mine?"

"Oh, G.o.d! No! Most of the people who shift inherit the condition. But not every family member turns full Sazi. And they don't really tell you most of the rules and stuff until you turn. I'm human, so I don't know some of what they'll be teaching, but I watched four of my sisters go through training, and Jasmine just loved loved rubbing my nose in it. So I know it takes a long time to train a new turn. They want to make rubbing my nose in it. So I know it takes a long time to train a new turn. They want to make absolutely absolutely sure that you aren't going to screw up in public or do anything that might give us away." sure that you aren't going to screw up in public or do anything that might give us away."

Cat shook her head. There was an intense sadness in Holly's eyes. It was as though the other woman wanted to be able to turn... desperately wanted this whole life that had been thrust upon Cat unwilling. That was just so weird. weird. Why would Why would anyone anyone want to turn into an animal and kill things? It made no want to turn into an animal and kill things? It made no sense. sense.

Now don't be that way, You know as well as I do that there are wonderful benefits as well. The magic, the longevity... the s.e.x. s.e.x.

"Catherine, are you all right?" Holly's face was scrunched up with worry.

"Holly, please call me Cat. And I'm fine," she lied. She wasn't fine. Not at all. And what? Why did she ask Holly to call her Cat? She'd never been called that in her life she'd never been one for any any nicknames, not even Cathy. nicknames, not even Cathy.

"You seem pretty lost in thought." Holly said as she hit the turn signal and steered the car back onto the road.

"I guess I'm kind of tired." Cat sighed. "It's been a tough couple of days."

"No kidding?" Holly laughed wryly at the understatement, but she was serious when she added. "It will get better. Really it will."

Cat's laugh was instinctive, but she didn't feel very humorous. "It can't get much worse, can it?"

RAPHAEL PULLED A set of four battered old paperbacks from the built-in bookshelves and tossed them one at a time onto the mess of papers that covered his desk. He needed to spend some time cleaning this place out. He had both a home office and an office at the towing company, so he didn't really use this s.p.a.ce much. There was dust everywhere, and the back-logged paperwork was inches deep. Someone had stacked almost a dozen white banker's boxes of closed files along the wall, using the room for temporary storage although maybe not so temporary judging from the amount of dust on top of them. set of four battered old paperbacks from the built-in bookshelves and tossed them one at a time onto the mess of papers that covered his desk. He needed to spend some time cleaning this place out. He had both a home office and an office at the towing company, so he didn't really use this s.p.a.ce much. There was dust everywhere, and the back-logged paperwork was inches deep. Someone had stacked almost a dozen white banker's boxes of closed files along the wall, using the room for temporary storage although maybe not so temporary judging from the amount of dust on top of them.

Raphael knew he needed to get in there more and keep on top of everything, but the trick was always finding the time to do everything he needed to.

There was no time today, either. He'd run up here after getting Violet and Betty settled in their hospital rooms, intending to grab training books and call a few old friends to gather whatever other training materials he could beg or borrow from the archives at Wolven.

He glanced down at the books. The covers were hopelessly old-fashioned by current standards, but the text wouldn't have changed any over the years. They'd still tell the cat all of the basics about Sazi culture. If If she'd read them. Neither he nor Raven had been particularly good about that in their day. Raphael tried to excuse himself by saying he was only four when he'd turned, and the books were too advanced. It wasn't true. He'd been reading quite well by the time he was four in both English and Spanish. In fact, he'd been the bane of his grade school teachers' existence. Nothing worse than a bored smart-a.s.s. No, he hadn't skipped the books because they were too hard. He'd been bored to tears by the d.a.m.ned things, as had his son. she'd read them. Neither he nor Raven had been particularly good about that in their day. Raphael tried to excuse himself by saying he was only four when he'd turned, and the books were too advanced. It wasn't true. He'd been reading quite well by the time he was four in both English and Spanish. In fact, he'd been the bane of his grade school teachers' existence. Nothing worse than a bored smart-a.s.s. No, he hadn't skipped the books because they were too hard. He'd been bored to tears by the d.a.m.ned things, as had his son.

But they'd both had the advantage of being raised around the Sazi. It was easy to pick up a lot of the culture by osmosis, as with any any culture. Catherine was coming into it totally cold she needed the information provided by the novels. culture. Catherine was coming into it totally cold she needed the information provided by the novels.

The laptop he'd set up on the small conference table in the corner by the window beeped to let him know he had an incoming message. If he was lucky, it would be either Raven with the crib notes on magical training, or Charles with background on the woman. If he was really lucky, it would be both.

Raphael crossed the room in three quick strides and brought up the e-mail program.

There were three messages. Two were ones he'd expected. The third message was from Fiona Monier. He read it first, because it was by far the most unexpected.

Raphael, I know it's been a long time. But I understand that you've been temporarily reactivated because Jack has brought over someone, and that you will be training her. I pulled the attached from Jack's old personnel file. They may or may not be useful. Let me know if you need anything else. I may be on medical leave, but I'm not helpless. Don't worry. I have faith in you. You were always good on the mats.

F.

Raphael clicked on the first attachment. The doc.u.ment had obviously been scanned into the computer after having been typed on an old-fashioned typewriter. He guessed from the formal language that the typed doc.u.ment was probably transcribed from something handwritten. It was a recommendation letter. It waxed poetic about Jack as the perfect replacement as head of Wolven because of his unique talents and abilities.

While he had outstanding healing ability, the talent that was most important was his ability as a telepath. According to the letter, Jack Simpson could slide in and out of most people's thoughts at will, and could occasionally actually watch events through their eyes. This made him invaluable as an interrogator since he could enter the mind of a detainee during questioning and know the truth. It also meant that there would be no problems with faulty communication between Jack and the agents as he could pa.s.s and receive information mind-to-mind.

Catherine had inherited Jack's telepathy. Raphael knew that from their earlier encounter. Whether she'd become strong enough to do the things the letter claimed her sire could was a question for a later date. It wouldn't surprise him. Raphael decided to be very careful what he thought about her and to work on his shielding. Until she learned to control her powers, she would probably pick up on things at random, without meaning to.

He also decided he'd have to remember to add a long conversation about ethics and eavesdropping into her Sazi training.

Raphael closed the doc.u.ment and moved on to the next attachments. There were no surprises, and nothing that seemed applicable to the new kitten. Still, it had been good of Fiona to send the information. Raphael wondered if she'd done it out of guilt. Did the burden of blame that they shared bother her as much as it did him? He didn't know. If it did, she'd never let on.

Raphael shook his head, moving on to the next e-mail. It was from Charles. It thanked him for everything he'd done so far, and had several attachments included with the main e-mail that would be useful background information on Catherine and her family. It was all stuff he needed to know, but it could wait until later.

As usual, his son, Raven, had come through in spades. Attached to his e-mail was a list of reference books and videos about jaguars, training information from Antoine Monier on dealing with large cats and their fighting and hunting techniques, and a note letting him know that he should expect a FedEx package at the house by 3:00 P.M. P.M. Monday. He was actually surprised that Antoine hadn't offered to train me new turn himself. He was always on the lookout for new talent. Monday. He was actually surprised that Antoine hadn't offered to train me new turn himself. He was always on the lookout for new talent.

In the distance Raphael heard the slam of car doors. He turned, watching through the rain-spotted window as Catherine and Holly ran from the car up the stairs and into the main entrance of the clinic. They'd barely gotten inside before Ned arrived as well, speeding into the lot and parking his truck carelessly at an angle across three different parking s.p.a.ces before sprinting to the hospital building.

Raphael stood for a long moment, staring down at the parking lot and grounds that divided the three buildings comprising the pack complex. He needed to get moving. It was already midafternoon. With the late fall days as short as they were, the moon would be coming up soon. The cat may or may not need to change, but she'd be irritable and restless, and no fit company for the humans. He'd give her an hour with Ned and Violet before he interrupted her for their first lesson.

In the meantime, he had a couple of errands to run, pack business to take care of. Not everyone would need to hunt on all three nights of the moon, but there were a few. With Tatya missing and Betty injured, somebody would have to lead the hunt. Martin would jump at the opportunity to do it he was always chomping to show his authority. In fact, Raphael kept waiting for the other man to challenge him, try to take the position of second, but Martin always backed away just short of an actual challenge.

Then again, Raphael had always figured Martin for more of a shiv-in-the-back kind of guy which was why Raphael never turned his back on Martin. Ever.

CAT TURNED AT the sound of a light tap on the door. Instinctively, she sniffed the air as the door swung open. It was Raphael. the sound of a light tap on the door. Instinctively, she sniffed the air as the door swung open. It was Raphael.

"Catherine, can I speak to you a minute?"

She glanced over to Ned. He looked like h.e.l.l. Never a handsome man, his weathered features were drawn with worry, his broad shoulders hunched with an exhaustion that came more from fear than from actual weariness. He gave her a resigned nod.

"Sure." She rose, setting her purse onto the floor beside her chair. "I'll be right back."

"No problem." Ned answered.

Raphael held open the door open for her, closing it firmly as soon as they were both through the door.

They walked a short distance down a long wide hallway, painted a pale peach with white trim. The gleaming white linoleum was speckled with dark gray flecks. Medical equipment was tucked away in various corners, and everything smelled faintly of antiseptic despite the hum of an air purifier that ran continuously.

There was a large nurse's station in the center of the hall, but it was empty. The nurse who had been behind the counter when Cat arrived had apparently disappeared on some errand or other.

"First " Cat felt the words come out before she could stop them. "Call me Cat. Please."

Raphael nodded coolly, not even asking about the change of course, how would he know that she'd spent her life up until now trying to convince people not not to call her by nicknames? to call her by nicknames?

"So what?" She tried to keep the irritation from her voice. She was worried about Violet, about Ned... h.e.l.l, about everything. Part of it was the waiting. She felt so helpless helpless just sitting there, wondering when, or if, her aunt was going to wake. And she was hungry. She hadn't had anything to eat since... Cat shied away from the thought of last night. It was just too weird thinking about it. She really did feel like she was losing her grip on reality. just sitting there, wondering when, or if, her aunt was going to wake. And she was hungry. She hadn't had anything to eat since... Cat shied away from the thought of last night. It was just too weird thinking about it. She really did feel like she was losing her grip on reality.

Raphael stood across from her looking utterly calm, a rock in the midst of the storm. "We need to talk about your training."

"My training?" training?" So, it was true then. She So, it was true then. She had had heard something. She still had no idea where she'd heard it. But he obviously took her question the wrong way from his response. heard something. She still had no idea where she'd heard it. But he obviously took her question the wrong way from his response.

"Cat, this was your first change. Over the next few months, as your talents manifest, we'll discover how powerful you're going to be physically and magically. Some of your talents are innate based on who you are and things you've done as a human. Some of them will be 'inherited' from the Sazi who sired you." He sighed. "It's my job to see to it that you learn how to control your magic, your beast, and help you integrate into our culture."

Well, that didn't sound good! "And if I don't want want to 'integrate?'" Her eyes sparkled darkly. to 'integrate?'" Her eyes sparkled darkly.

"That's not really an option."

She felt her brows raise, and crossed her arms over her chest. He might be gorgeous, but she didn't like bullies. "I see. And when is this training training supposed to start?" supposed to start?"

"Did you have something else planned for the rest of this afternoon?"

Cat cast a quick glance down the long hall to the door of Violet's room. There was nothing she could do for Violet, but it felt wrong leaving her. Still, she wasn't alone. Ned was in there, and Cat knew that nothing would harm her aunt while he stood guard.

"Your aunt will be out for another hour or two," Raphael a.s.sured her. "The magical sleep will end of its own accord when she's healed."

"You're sure of that?" She met his gaze evenly.