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I followed the grass around to the door and stepped inside. If the talisman was hidden anywhere in the ruins, it had to be in the tower. It was the only place, Adrian would never think to look, and the only place I would.
I started with the left wall, and trailed my fingers over the stones, as I made a circuit around the room. The tingling sensation spread up my arm and I felt my wolf’s power rise into my eyes, adjusting them to the darkness.
A chill ran up my spine, and I felt my eyes being drawn up the staircase that led to the top of the tower. Moved over to them, and crouched down, running my hands over the bottom step. That same energy washed over me again, and a strange pressure pushed my hands up off the staircase, drawing me forward. I carefully kept my mind open and focused on the pull as I began to climb. With every step it got harder and harder to breathe.
Near the top my foot hit a loose brick, and I slipped, falling over onto my hands and knees against the rest of the stairs. I barely caught myself before my chin smacked into the landing above me.
“Ouch, that looks like it hurt,” Annie hissed.
Snapping my head up, I saw her standing at the edge of the moonlight streaming in from the balcony. Long flowing grey hair dangled over her shoulders, she wore a loose red flannel shirt over her faded jeans, and thick brown boots. She looked exactly as she had the day I’d left town.
“I thought you were gone,” I said.
“And I thought someone else would be the one to meet you here.” She shrugged. “Life never turns out like we plan, now does it?”
“You thought Selene would be the one to meet me here.” I nodded. “Is she dead?”
“Not sure. I thought so. After she disappeared, I figured whatever she was running from had finally caught up to her, but now that I’m here and she’s not, I’m beginning to think I was wrong about a lot of things,” she said.
I arched an eyebrow at her. “Like letting me think Ronnie was my mother?”
“That wasn’t my choice.” She sighed. “Your father made that call and made me swear to him that I’d let the secret stay secret. He was afraid of what the pack would say if they knew you weren’t full wolf.”
“I am a wolf,” I snapped.
“Yes, your welcome for that,” she said, wagging her finger at me.
I squinted at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That tattoo on your back isn’t what I said it was.” She shrugged. “I lied.”
My mouth dropped open. “I’m sorry, what? What did you brand me with you crazy—”
“Hey!” She jabbed a finger at me, stepping into the light. Her skin turned transparent, but her anger was still just as palpable. “I did what I had to do to keep you alive, little girl. I mean what else was I supposed to do. You were starting to hear things and have nightmares every night. That mark on your back suppresses a witch’s abilities. It was the only thing I could think to do that would help, and it did.”
“So, I guess that is why I could see the skeletons walking around, and not the shadow things that everyone else saw.” I sighed. Her words explained a lot about my life, but that didn’t make me feel any better.
“Your guess is as good as mine on that one.” She shrugged.
“So, what now?” I asked, glancing at the moon through the doorway. “I start seeing ghosts everywhere?”
“Not exactly,” she said. “Now, you find the talisman to protect yourself against the nasty witch down at the house, and then you go, and you give Adrian what’s what.”
“What’s what?” I snorted. “If there was ever an Annie-ism that would be it.”
“What are you doing standing around?” She asked. “The sun is coming up. You’ll have to find it before then, or start all over again tomorrow night, and tomorrow you won’t have time for that. Not if you want to save your friends.”
I shifted my weight on my toes. “Do you really think I can take him on? Avenge dad…and you?”
“It’s not about vengeance, kid. It’s about doing what’s right. Right for you, right for the pack. If you don’t’ want to be Alpha, you don’t have to be. You appoint someone else who will do it—”
“No, the pack is mine,” I blurted out.
“You’ll make a good Alpha.” Annie smiled. “And if you don’t, I’ll haunt your behind and set you straight.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” I laughed, wiping tears from my cheeks. “So, where is this talisman?”
“I have no idea, but seeing as I’m visible to you here, I’d wager it’s somewhere in here.” She shrugged.
