Chapter 37

My eyes flash open and I sat up straight.

“Frode, stop the car.” I commanded.

Frode raised an eyebrow in the rearview mirror but pulled the car over. I spun in my seat trying to get a grasp on where we are.

“Where are we?” I couldn’t keep the panic from my voice.

“About an hour north of home.” Erik turned to face me.

“Is everything alright, little one?” Frode’s gaze met mine in the rearview.

“Vision. We need to head east. Please, there’s a shifter in trouble. I can’t explain it, but it feels urgent.” I faced forward again, Frode doing as I had asked without question.

Rune’s hand landed on my thigh, a gesture of comfort. I smiled at him, appreciating the kind thought. Sometimes I was still overwhelmed by the support I got from them.

Leaning my head back I closed my eyes and tried to process what I’d seen. I’d been in the body of the attacker, which was abnormal. A faded, red barn that was mostly open on the inside is where I’d cornered a shifter, a young female barely of age to start shifting.

The scent of her fear wrapped itself around me. It was overwhelming and while it made me sick to my stomach the person who hosted me enjoyed it and wanted more. The young shifter pleaded for her life, but I knew it wasn’t going to be spared. My host had decided that before he even started chasing her.

We’d driven for almost an hour when the sense of urgency started lessening. I leaned forward, but I couldn’t recognize where we were. Sighing I leaned back against the seat.

“What’s wrong?” Sten asked.

“This just feels different. It feels off.” I mumbled.

Then I felt it. A surge, a pull.

“Left, turn left.” I said, as we almost passed the small side road.

“Shit. Hold on.” Frode muttered as he took the sharp corner fast enough that the back of the SUV fishtailed.

We travelled a few more moments in silence and then I saw it. The worn-out barn. Nausea overwhelmed me, and a pit grew heavy in my stomach. We were too late.

“Rune, see if you can catch any scents, they were last in the barn.” I muttered, pushing him out.

He nodded and his face showed his concern but undressed and shifted. I watched him as he trotted over to the open door. He looked back over his shoulder at me and hung his head before trying to catch any smells he could track.

My gut feeling and his body language confirmed what I had suspected. It also told me just how bad this was going to be. I took a step to move to the barn, but Sten’s arms stopped me.

“I don’t think you should go in there Astrid. It doesn’t feel right.” He growled.

Frode and Erik watched us, neither speaking.

“I know, whatever did this wasn’t a normal shifter, or hunter. I’m not sure what it was. It was like it fed of her fear. But I didn’t see what it was.” I said, placing a hand on his.

“You didn’t see it?” Frode asked, stepping forward.

All my visions so far had been from the victim’s point of view, I’d been able to at least catch glimpses of what was chasing them. I was able to get just enough information that I could tell what we were facing. This time I’d been the offender.

“I was in the thing that killed her.” I whispered just loud enough for them to hear it.

Erik stood straighter, his body tensing. He clenched his jaw before storming off to the barn. I grabbed Sten’s hand and walked beside him without letting it go.

The metallic scent of blood filled the air before we were even fifty feet of the barn. There was no way there was only one body in there for this scent. I froze and Sten stood beside me. Silent, but strong. Lending me his strength with a squeeze of my hand. I took deep steadying breath before taking another step forward.

Erik and Frode were standing at the open door. Their heads turned to face us as we drew close.

“Are you sure want to see this, Astrid?” Frode asked, his voice full of concern.

“I don’t think I have a choice. This feels personal. Like a message.” I met his gaze.

“It’s some kind of message alright, not sure what, but it is.” Erik mumbled, leaning against the door of the barn.

I noticed that none of them had gone into the barn. Which led me to believe they were worried about disturbing whatever message was left.

“Stay out, let me get the camera so we can photos. We maybe able to figure out some of the message, but it’s written in the old language. Our dad knows it better.” Frode paused in front of me just long enough to press a kiss to my forehead.

Sten and I stepped beside Erik. It was just dark enough inside the barn that I had to allow my eyes to adjust so I could see better. Once they had though, I instantly wished they hadn’t.

Blood and gore covered the interior of the barn. There was no bodies, but there was no way all this came from just one victim. Flashes of fear and faces pulsed through my head, making me stumble back with a gasp. I had counted three so far.

“Astrid?” Erik’s voice sounded far away.

“Don’t touch her.” Sten grunted as his hand tightened around mine.

He was touching me. He was seeing what I was seeing, feeling what I was feeling. I tried to pull my hand away as the images kept coming. Fear overwhelmed me. Sten’s hand only tightened around my own. Five.

“Let go.” I gasped, still trying to free my hand.

Images and emotions overwhelmed me, bringing me and Sten to our knees. Seven.

“No.” Sten growled.

I heard footsteps quickly approaching and sensed Frode. I could feel their eyes on me, and the vision abruptly stopped.

“Nine.” I said, falling forward and catching myself on my hands. “Nine victims.”

“Goddess.” Frode murmured before turning his attention to the barn and taking pictures.

Sten crawled beside me and pulled me onto his lap.

“Are you alright?” He murmured into my hair with a kiss.

I nodded, and he squeezed me. We were both okay. Overwhelmed, but okay.

“Were you able to read any of it?” I asked him, figuring of all my mates he would have the best chance.

“Some, but honestly it was hard to see and take in. I’ll study the picture later.” His arms held me tight to him.

“Want to go sit in the car?” He asked.

“No. I want to stay. Help.” Guilt started bombarding me.

We’d failed nine people. My vision had alerted me, but I didn’t get here in time. It was like this was a taunt. An example of how much stronger this killer was than me. Nothing pointed to me or my mates, but this felt personal.