Destiny's Revenge (Destiny Series - Book 2) by Straight, Nancy (management books to read .TXT) 📕

The horror of seeing a man turn into a beast before my eyes sent convulsions through my body. I raised the Glock and let off every shot in the clip. It sounded like a war zone. The Bear stood there beside the Mercedes on his hind legs, swatting at the attacking Peanut. When my clip was empty the bear was still standing, I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t hit him with any of the shots. Peanut continued aggressively attacking in a circle. I wasn’t sure if Peanut was giving me time to reload or to escape - I did neither, frozen in place and scared out of my wits, I watched.

The bear let out a huge roar and unsuccessfully swung his massive paws at Peanut. The attacking Peanut never actually got close enough to take a hit. This went on for at least twenty seconds when the Bear shifted into a bird of some kind and took flight. He was over the house’s roof and out of sight before I found my lungs. Adrenaline was pulsing through my veins and fear ripped through my body.

I had parked the van two blocks away, and Peanut and I sprinted for it. As we were running through backyards, security lights were going on all over the place, and I knew faces were watching through curtained windows. Gun shots in this part of town would have drawn attention, and it was only a matter of minutes before I would be trying to outrun the police. We made it to the van and got the hell out of there.

We were on the interstate before I let my thoughts return to what had just happened. I had failed. He was still alive and now he knew I was targeting him. My moment’s hesitation cost me the peace I so desperately craved, and the reunion with my friends and family felt further away than ever.

I looked at the cell phone, trying to decide if I could risk a call to Max. I needed him. Not only did my body long for him, but the gaping hole of emptiness was growing larger by the minute; I knew I had to talk to him. I pulled off the exit on the interstate and decided I would call him just long enough to hear his voice. I wouldn’t share with him what had happened, but I just needed his voice to calm me down. Listening to him for a couple minutes would sooth me, help me figure out what the hell I was supposed to do next.

As I reached to power the phone on, the phone came to life by itself – before I had even touched the power button. I was already rattled, so a cell with a mind of its own nearly sent me into orbit. As I watched the lighted keypad, I saw fifty-five unheard messages appear on the screen, then - it rang.

The number looked familiar, but my mind wasn’t moving quickly enough, and I couldn’t place it. I pressed the call button, “Yes?”

It was Samael’s voice, “Tracing Max’s calls paid off after-all. I am disappointed in your marksmanship skills. I appreciated that you gave me a fighting chance, but I am not thrilled that you hid in my bushes like a coward. Is this what your friends on the Council have taught you? There is no honor in what you have done. As your reward for such cowardice, I just wanted to share with you that your friends and family are now fair game. I did not include them in our little quarrel, until now. Congratulations, Lauren, now we’ll see who is better capable of hitting below the belt.”

I screamed into the phone, but my caller disconnected and my phone powered itself back off. My mind raced from my parents to Max, to Seth, back to Max, and to everyone I knew he had interviewed the last several days. I pushed the power button on the cell knowing this was it, I had to warn everyone.

As I started to scroll through the contacts the phone made a loud pop and light smoke emanated from it. It was broken, really broken. There was no way I could drive to everyone’s houses to warn them. I pulled into a gas station looking for a pay phone - there wasn’t one. As I started to circle the lot to make my way to another gas station, I put the van in park and closed my eyes. I may not have a phone, but I knew someone who did. I telepathically called to Rewsna, “Please help me, the Beast knows I tried to kill it. That thing is going after everyone. You have to help me!”

Rewsna’s voice was back immediately, “I will send Council members to everyone, show me what just happened.” I did as I was told and replayed the incident outside the Beast’s house as well as the call I had just received.

“Lauren, go home – we will be at your house after we have taken care of your loved ones. Talk to no one, go now.”

Chapter 22

Instead of going straight back to my house as I had been instructed, I knew I needed communication with the rest of the world. I stopped and bought a pre-paid cell phone and sprinted back out to the van. I dialed Max’s number, he didn’t answer. I dialed again and got his voice mail a second time. I told him where I was staying and asked him to meet me there.

I called Rachael, but she didn’t answer either. Panic gripped me when I thought of the possibility that the Beast could already be seeking his revenge on me through everyone else. My hands were shaking so uncontrollably that I couldn’t hold the wheel. The cloudy sky let loose with a pouring rain and seeing even a few feet in front of the van was nearly impossible.

I called my house