The Huntress' Name (sequel to The Huntress)

Chapter 17

Klarke made his way into the room within minutes. He had to have been on his way the second Thomas said yes. 

His dominating presence took over immediately, causing the air to tense up around us. 

Thomas' claws drew out and Klarke approached him, taking a needle and sticking it into Thomas' neck. The reaction was almost immediate. His claws retracted beneath the surface, and the glow that had edged into his eyes was gone. A haze replaced his attentive look. Whatever Klarke had given him, it had sedated the wolf within. 

"Get him ready to go. He's going to lead us there," Klarke said as he took the weapons away to clean them. 

Thomas' eyes looked worried. His defense had broken down enough with the use of the drug to rid him of his only real defense, the mask of indifference. He was worried about going into the wolf's den.

Klarke pulled out a heavy duty silver handcuffs, they appeared to be something created within The Torch, most likely for the purpose of transporting supernaturals that had a weakness to the material. There was a set for his hands and a set for his feet; it would ensure that even if the wolf started to find its way back, he would be too tangled up to get anywhere too fast. 

Isaac took one set, and I grabbed the other. I grabbed Thomas' hands and started cuffing them together, and it was only then that I heard his whispered plea over and over. He must have been saying it since the moment Klarke had made it clear what his role would be. 

"Please, please, please." His mouth almost didn't move with the words, and they were barely audible. As soon as I moved back, I could no longer hear him. 

I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to keep myself firm. 

Isaac stood up when he was finished securing Thomas' feet, and the easiness about him told me he hadn't been able to hear the wolf's whispered pleas from his place at the ground. 

"Lock the cage and come with me. We're getting the group together and we're getting ready to go," Klarke said.

Isaac and I exchanged a look. His eyes told me that he wasn't sure about Klarke leading this expedition. He wasn't going to say anything though, and I couldn't say anything. This was like my secondary entrance exam. If I failed this, something as important to this group as catching a pack of wolves that had been the epitome of evil in these parts, I was sure I would be out on the streets again. 

As we made our way through the halls, back toward the weapons room I thought back to my original goal when entering this place. I wanted to get the weapons and get out. I hadn't realized how impossible that would be at the time; no one left with weapons, not unless it was for a job on the outside. They were always put back in the room before anyone left. 

I hadn't thought about my original plan in quite some time. The Torch had seemed great, like the people I wanted to be around, the group I'd been missing back in the states. They were only after the supernaturals who had shone they couldn't be good, productive members of society, the ones who decided to act out. That's what I'd wanted. 

There had been glimpses of Klarke though, ones that said he wasn't completely on board with that ideal. Glimpses that reminded me of the Klarke who shot me in the shoulder as I ran away. 

With the thought of the wound, a dull ache radiated in my shoulder, a feeling that happened every once in a while; one that never let me forget that it happened.

Klarke threw the doors open to the weapons room, and a large group of people were already gathered together. He went up to the front, and the crowd grew silent.

"What's going on?" I whispered to Isaac.

"He's going to give a rallying speech. This is a group we've been after for years now. Since before I was even fully integrated. It's probably the biggest job we'll ever do. He's going to make sure everyone knows that. Expectations are high for this one. If anyone messes this up..." He didn't finish, and that alone seemed like a bad sign.