Talons

By Karolyn Cairns

Vivvie Collins was only there for the cheddar biscuits. A blind date at Red Lobster turns ugly and she is marked by an ancient beast out of spite for her rejection. Soon her roommate goes missing, every stray cat in the neighborhood is crawling over her patio, and she develops some serious issues of her own.
The creature that stalks her isn't going anywhere. He returns nightly to mark his territory. She has no idea what is planned for her until a strange man arrives. Disbelief and terror combine as she faces the fact she has been infected by one of his tribesmen, his kinsmen named Ryken.
Ty is one of five ancient Indians cursed by a demon of the Spirit World. He shifts into a black panther with the power of sight, forever trapped between both worlds, part human and part beast. He has only one soul left from the nine he was born with. He is determined to kill the one who bit her, even if it means leaving Vivvie.
Vivvie is terrified to know what she is turning into. Going into heat and chasing her food is the least of her problems. She is believed dead, can never go home, never see her family and friends again. Arriving at an underground retreat, she is feared and hated by the tribe, an outsider.
The leader of the tribe, Elijah, sees Vivvie as a nuisance, a breeder that could already complicate their growing population numbers. He lets her stay against his better judgment. Soon, he is as intrigued as Ty with the Newbreed and her strange powers.
The beast that marked Vivvie is coming back for her, a threat to their very way of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karolyn Cairns
• Release date: Jan 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465998651

Karolyn Cairns

Karolyn Cairns-Black lives in West Virginia with her husband Adam and three rescue dogs. She's busy at work. Its been a great year. She just wrapped up the fifth and sixth installment of The Wicked series in two parts, both available now.The follow up novels in The Viking Horde series are underway. Collin and Meghera's story titled A Viking's Heart is in works, the third in the series. The fourth installment about Joran and Allisande's son Storm is finished, to be published on the heels of A Viking's Heart. Two more novels are intended about their daughters Star and Wynter.Karolyn also writes suspense thrillers under the pen name KJ Black. The Gift Horse, her second novel was a finalist winner in the Greenlight Award Contest.Karolyn enjoys reviews and comments from her readers. She thanks you for all your encouragement and support!

Book preview

Talons

By

Karolyn Cairns

Copyright 2012 by Karolyn Cairns

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and didn’t purchase it, or it wasn’t purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter One

We don’t have a cat! The young woman stared in confusion at the notice posted on the front door from the landlord. It was neon pink in color, pretty hard to miss. It screamed bad news. Vivvie Collins saw it as soon as she pulled in the lot.

Mrs. Donaldson had a color system to inform her tenants of current events. Yellow was news from her. Blue was monthly pest control visits. Green was landscaping schedules. Pink was used to identify a problem tenant. Shit!

They had enough pink ones. She looked around, feeling eyes on her. Blinds scraped back into place next door and beyond. The other tenants were probably shaking geriatric fingers at her.

This was becoming a regular occurrence at the rented townhouse she lived in. They received six such complaints in the last three months since her new roommate moved in.

Every new incident caused Mrs. Donaldson to rethink renting to them. The most numerous complaints were of blaring music and late night parties. Dina’s friends always took the handicap parking spots. The tenants using wheelchairs and walkers weren’t amused.

An incident at the pool put the whole complex in an uproar. Dina and her friends decided to even out their tan lines the old fashioned way. Vivvie was grateful the old people didn’t suffer heart attacks to see four topless girls frolicking at the pool. And now, the claim they had a cat, when no pets were allowed.

After working a double at the local diner she wasn’t in the mood for this. Whatever!

Taking a deep breath, Vivvie balled up the latest complaint with her misery, fumbling with her keys. She opened the door wondering if her roommate was home.

Dina’s red sports car was missing in the lot, not uncommon after a Saturday night. Sometimes her roommate and her girlfriends were too drunk to drive. Well, most times.

Inside, the AC was on a chilly mode, rap music was heard thumping from the back hall bathroom. The TV was on mute. The place looked like a cyclone hit it. So much for sharing the chores. Vivvie tripped over Bud Lite cans on her way in. Slamming the door, she surveyed the scene with dread.

Empty pizza boxes lay strewn upon the coffee table, cardboard beer boxes littered the floor, and someone’s bra lay discarded in the middle of the room. Home, sweet hell.

Not now, OCD, not now, she begged, cringing all the way to the kitchen to get a bag. Don’t you do it! Don’t you dare clean up after her and her friends again! Sucker!

Vivvie sighed in defeat and grabbed a plastic grocery sack from the pantry. She was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to go to bed. The mess would taunt her until she dealt with it.

Hey, where ya been? her roommate Dina called from the hallway outside the bathroom. She was going to town with a purple toothbrush, dripping frothy paste on the neutral shag carpet and her Sponge Bob slippers.

I stayed over. Somebody called in, Vivvie called back in annoyance, bending down to pick up beer cans. Hey, where’s the cat? We can’t have pets here, Dina!

Dina looked like she could have been Paris Hilton’s twin with her pale blonde hair and porcelain skin. The pretty blonde’s mismatched Victoria Secret jammies displayed an enviable figure, enhanced with breast implants from her over-indulgent father.

Dina went back into the bathroom to spit and came out into the living room. Her clueless blue eyes looked at the mess as if she just saw it. Dina sported an alarming hickie at her throat and appeared unmoved by her roommate’s show of anger.

Hey, don’t worry about that, Dina said in a cheerful voice. I’ll clean it up later.

Where’s the damn cat? Vivvie snapped again, fuming and glaring up at her slob of a roommate. She snatched up more cans. I mean it! I’m not getting evicted because of you, Dina! We can’t have pets. Wherever you’ve been hiding it; it has to go!

What cat? Dina asked and shrugged, looking confused. You really need to mellow out, Viv! We don’t have a cat!

Vivvie glared at her and then at the mess. She decided she couldn’t deal with either of them right now. Exhausted, she handed Dina the bag and stomped up to her room.

The mess seemed to pull at her, demanding her attention at once. It was like that. Even as hard as she tried; she couldn’t help herself. Messes were her triggers. When pulled, they discharged a repetitious onslaught of cleaning impulses.

Vivvie tossed her purse into a chair by the door, cringing to see her bed was destroyed. Some things just weren’t sacred. Her bed at Dina’s beer parties was one of those things.

The cloying stench of the evening still hung in the air, making her reach for the can of Lysol on her dresser with a grimace. Frustration made tears brighten her eyes. Vivvie swore under her breath and snatched up the comforter. She yanked the soiled sheets off the bed, deciding washing them was the only recourse. No way was she sleeping there now.

Dina stuck her head in. How was your night at work?

Vivvie looked at her, rolling her eyes. How do ya think it went? When your short three waitresses at a shithole diner; in a shitty town, and it’s the only shitty place open for all the shitfaced drunks to go to after the bar. Great, I’d say!

Dina grinned in sympathy. Sounds pretty shitty. I’m sorry, Viv.

Vivvie eyed her roommate gratefully. It wasn’t Dina’s fault she had a bad night at work. It wasn’t the only thing bothering her. She frowned, remembering the notice on the door.

Mrs. Donaldson left us another complaint, Vivvie said wearily as she unbound her long dark hair from the ponytail. She felt itchy and uncomfortable in her waitress uniform. She thinks we have a cat. This has to stop. We’ll get evicted if this keeps up. Look around you. We’re the only ones here under seventy. She just wants the excuse.

They received many complaints since Dina moved in. The cat was out of the bag, literally. Her roommate could care less about rules and annoyed the neighbors. If Dina didn’t learn to toe the line; they’d be evicted. Mrs. Donaldson was tallying up the many transgressions. Eventually some form of reckoning would be posted on the door. Vivvie wondered what color that would be.

We don’t have a cat though, Dina said in annoyance, making a face. I don’t even like cats! So don’t think I have one stashed somewhere, Viv! Why would she think we have a cat?

I don’t know. Whatever, it’s probably just a stray, Vivvie agreed tiredly. I’ll call Mrs. Donaldson to straighten it out.

That old lady needs to get a life. Geez, all she does is pick on us, Dina fumed. "You would live in a complex full of old farts! They go to bed at nine o’clock, Viv!"

That old lady charges us four hundred dollars a month to live here because she used to play Bingo with my grandma. She charges everybody else six-fifty. Don’t piss her off, Dina, Vivvie warned, wanting to go to bed. She snatched up her comforter. Dina had the grace to look guilty then. And do me a favor; keep your friends out of my room. I’m tired of finding used rubbers under my bed.

Sorry Viv. I didn’t know Rachel was bringing a friend over with her, Dina said, looking apologetic.

Vivvie cocked a disbelieving eyebrow, making a disgusted noise. Rachel always brings a friend, Dina. Come on, no more! You know this bugs me. You guys gotta quit bringing guys back here after the bar. I’m sick of finding this when I come home.

Where are we supposed to take them? Dina asked with a look of confusion again. Rachel still lives with her mom, Vivvie. That’s not happening!

Try going to their place for a change!

Dina looked annoyed at that. Hey, I pay rent here too, Vivvie! I can have my friends over if I want to. I’m sorry if it bothers you. What doesn’t bother you?

Keep them out of my bed, out of my food, and out of my damn sock drawer! Vivvie fumed, blowing a piece of stray hair out of her face.

Dina giggled at her words then, looking amused. Nobody was in your sock drawer. Rachel just borrowed some underwear. She started her period and took a pair of your granny panties. I told her it was ok.

Vivvie stared at Dina in stunned dismay. Was it just her or was a person’s underwear an extremely private thing, not meant to be shared? Obviously Rachel didn’t mind. An icky feeling started to come over her.

Vivvie knew Dina was a bit of an airhead and dropped the guy thing. It went over Dina’s head that she didn’t need to bring home every guy that bought her drinks. The front door was now a revolving one. Dina was chased down and tackled for bill money. Vivvie hid food if she wanted to eat. Her too-few clothes disappeared whenever Rachel stayed over; and on it went.

Dina smiled and came over to hug her. Viv, everything gets on your nerves. I swear to God you were a porcupine in your first life.

Vivvie agreed with her. The only reason she wasn’t voted off the island was her efforts to keep it clean. She grabbed her comforter and headed downstairs. She sighed and did a mental count after she opened the lid to the washer in the kitchen, seeing a finished load of Dina’s clothes still inside. The dryer proved to be full as well. Her hands itched to complete the chores, knuckles whitening as she gripped the lid until the inclination passed. Go away OCD. I promise to be good.

~~~~

Vivvie woke up at ten in the evening. She dragged herself out of bed and wandered downstairs. The complication of working third shift was obvious when she opened the fridge. Beer, more beer, bottled water, dubious leftovers, and ketchup were the only things inside.

There was a suspicious-looking take-out box her hand itched to grab and toss out. That meant she had to touch it. Then she would probably wash her hands a half dozen times until the impulse faded.

Everything in the sleepy coastal town of Sebastian closed early on Sunday. She couldn’t even hit a drive-thru off I-95 for a burger. Hunger pangs made survival mode kick in. Opening the pantry with determination revealed a box of generic mac and cheese, a can of sweet corn, and a dented can of tuna. Vivvie knew it was disgusting, but she told herself it was a casserole.

She found a decent movie on cable and leaned over to switch off the lamp next to the oversized sofa. Settling down to watch it, she caught something out of the corner of her eye. The hair on her arms bristled and stood up. Heightened awareness told her she was being watched. Glancing at the sliding glass doors made her eyes widen in sudden alarm.

Staring at her through the glass was a pair of glowing yellow green eyes. The slanted orbs were filled with malevolence. A low deep growl made a current of fear ripple through her. Vivvie let out a loud shriek and bounded off the couch, running and hiding in the hallway.

Peeking around the wall, she looked to the glass doors, heart hammering in her ears. The animal was gone. Vivvie suddenly relaxed, feeling like an idiot. The cat! She’d forgotten about it after she slept the last twelve hours like a corpse. Obviously they had a stray invading the patio. No biggie!

Vivvie felt insecure enough to check and make sure all the doors and windows were locked, uneasy still. Her wary feeling didn’t subside. Her freaked out senses were on high alert. Just to be sure; she repeated the action. She realized she was slipping into old habits and walked away finally.

Low continuous growls were heard all through her movie making her grow rigid and tense. The hair on the back of her neck stood at attention. It’s just a damn cat! She felt silly and pushed away her fear, eyes darting to the glass doors every so often.

Vivvie shivered. It sure sounded like an awfully big cat. A loud thump was heard and she jumped up to check it out, peering cautiously through the slats in the horizontal blinds. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the privacy fence. She saw nothing that moved or growled.

Feeling more than stupid, she sat down to enjoy her movie. Still, the growling persisted. More thumping noises were heard. Then it stopped for a time. She was grateful when the central air kicked back on, drowning out the noises.

Thinking of Dina, she frowned, looking at the digital clock. She knew the girl had class in the morning and work afterward. Knowing Dina; she knew her roommate would ditch both. It was a sure sign when it went on three in the morning and she still hadn’t come home.

Dina had no idea how lucky she was with all her advantages. No, her roommate was the spoiled only child of rich, successful parents who still put Hello Kitty sheets on her bed. Sour grapes? Seriously?

Dina didn’t care about anything but partying. She was on her own for the first time. Earning mediocre grades in school; she called in sick weekly to her job. Her soon-to-be divorced parents fought over who got to send money and bank cards every month.

Vivvie tried not to feel envy for girls like Dina and Rachel but it was hard. One poor choice she made and this was her life. She shut of the TV and went to bed.

Vivvie went out on the patio the next morning to investigate. She gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth and nose. The sharp acidic smell of cat urine was thick in the air. It was over ninety degrees at ten in the morning. It practically smacked her in the face.

Vivvie jumped nearly a foot with a gasp as she saw a grey cat scoot away from under the deck. The animal ran under the gap in the fence line. She surveyed the deck in anguished silence. The redwood rails of the deck railing were stained and dripping with fresh urine. If that wasn’t the worst; the cats used the railings as scratching posts.

Deep gouges were seen in the wood. The cats also shredded the screen on the outside of the sliding glass doors. The screen hung in tatters. Thinking about her lost security deposit, Vivvie swore viciously as she saw the damage.

Dina cut school and work; no surprise. With little guilt, she came out to join Vivvie, a look of disgust on her face. Oh, gross me out the door! Dina whined, waving a hand in front of her face. That smell is frickin’ nasty, Viv.

Yeah, they went to town out here, for sure, she agreed and shook her head. God, it reeks!

Vivvie knew from the few cats she grew up with; this was the work of a tomcat marking his territory. Maybe more than one by the looks of the destroyed screen and soaked deck rails. Something obviously enticed the cats to their patio. Vivvie frowned as she looked around. She stepped down to walk the fifteen by ten perimeter of grass enclosed by the eight-foot privacy fence.

Usually they were plagued by roaches, palmetto bugs, or fire ants this time of year. Hey, this was Florida. Bugs were people too. They put their garbage in the dumpster at the end of the lot. Nothing was ever left outside to draw critters.

Vivvie looked around to find some reason the tom was targeting their deck. They rarely came out here, having no patio furniture or grill. Dina preferred to sunbathe at the small pool in the center of the circular complex.

Vivvie could recall coming out here just once. A wooden gate in the fence gave access for the crew of yard workers. She found the gate was locked upon inspection. The gardeners had a master key. They were good about locking back up when they left.

Vivvie could understand why all the neighbors thought they had a cat. It stunk like an overused litter box on their patio. Whoa! The smell would only ripen by midday. By two in the afternoon it would to be tough being downwind of their place.

Vivvie felt nauseated by a rotten stench. Pausing, she saw what looked to be some sort of dead animal lying by the fence. Getting closer; she saw it was the remains of a dog covered in maggots.

Ugh! She backed away, feeling the bile rise in the back of her throat, eyes widening. Oh God; it’s a dead dog! she exclaimed.

That sent Dina scrambling back inside looking three shades of green.

Vivvie covered her mouth. The dog was a pale buff color, similar in size to Mr. Trenton’s working dog Maggie next door. The orange collar was all too familiar. She cringed, wondering how the dog got in here. The gate was locked.

The old blind man would freak to know his dog was half-eaten on their patio and point fingers. She would bag it up and throw it in the dumpster. Poor Maggie, she thought wondering if the dog dropped dead of natural causes. Whatever got the dog; it chowed down on her. The bones looked like they were licked clean.

She went back inside and saw her roommate looked close to hurling.

I don’t know what else to do but clean it up with bleach and ammonia, Vivvie said thoughtfully, still coughing and covering her nose. I need you to run up and get me some stuff from the Dollar Tree. I’ll make a list.

Sure. No problem, Dina muttered in disgust. Can we shut the doors now? That shits makin’ my eyes water!

Dina came back from the store later cussing up a storm, looking furious. It was obvious something ticked her off. She slammed down the bags and swore furiously.

What is it? Vivvie asked as her friend punched numbers into her Blackberry.

Dina slammed her phone down on the end table when she hit voice mail.

Rachel drove home last night and she must have hit something. I was passed out and don’t remember. The whole side of my car is dented. It’s all scratched up. No wonder she left before I woke up.

Your dad will get it fixed, Vivvie said without sympathy as Dina gave her the bags and her change.

Yeah, but then I get the lecture, she griped and rolled her eyes. Maybe if I total it; he’ll get me a Camaro this time, ya think?

Vivvie bit back a comment and got to work.

An hour later, Vivvie was wearing a bandana over her mouth and nose, mopping the deck with pure Clorox bleach. She sprayed the rails with ammonia, hoping her neighbors forgave them for not knowing their patio became a haven for stray cats.

Chapter Two

She put Maggie in double garbage bags and gagged as she carried the dead dog to the dumpster. Mrs. Trenton was looking up and down the walk. Vivvie felt bad knowing she was looking for the animal. Anticipating the dog’s death would be blamed on them; she resolved to say nothing.

She tried to avoid Mrs. Trenton. The fretful old woman stopped her. Her frail, veined hands were poised upon her pink polyester pants. Her lavender shirt was stained in the front with coffee. Watery blue eyes gazed up at her through thick bifocal frames.

Have you seen Maggie, dear? She got away from Bernard last night after their walk. She bolted when she saw a cat.

Vivvie felt her guilt creeping up. No, I haven’t seen her. A cat, you say? We seem to have a lot of strays hanging around.

Mrs. Hamm kept a few cats at her place before her daughter put her in the home. They must have left the poor things to run loose when they closed up her place.

Vivvie looked relieved to hear it, not looking forward to dealing with Mrs. Donaldson today. Mrs. Trenton gave her ammo to use against another tenant. It was nice knowing they weren’t the only bad tenants.

Mrs. Trenton smiled as she saw the side of her roommate’s car. Looks like somebody got into a fender bender, honey.

Vivvie smiled patiently. Go ahead and say it, lady!

Bernard said he could hear the music when she got home this morning, is all, the woman went on to say. You might want to tell her were light sleepers, dear.

I’m sorry Mrs. Trenton, she said in apology and started walking away. I’ll tell her to keep it down.

Alright dear, let us know if you see Maggie. Bernard is gonna be lost without her.

Vivvie felt eyes on her the minute she got on the walk. Mr. Reever’s blind fell back into place. The old man must have called Mrs. Donaldson about the smell. He called on everything. Vivvie could feel the old guy’s disapproving eyes on her every time she drove up in the lot.

Mr. Reever never came out of his townhouse. Groceries were delivered. He kept track of everybody else’s business in the complex. Vivvie wondered if the old guy suffered from agoraphobia.

She knew from the support group she once attended for her OCD that people became literally trapped in their own homes, sometimes for years. She felt sorry for Mr. Reever, knowing he likely couldn’t help it. She knew that feeling only too well.

Vivvie finished cleaning up the patio. The bleach only masked the odor. It would have to be sprayed again to get rid of the smell. She saw Dina sprawled on the couch as she entered through the glass doors. Vivvie removed the rubber gloves and bandana, tossing them into the bucket at her feet.

Her roommate looked hung over and vegetative with nothing else better to do today.

Tough night, I see, Vivvie remarked sarcastically, still bristling Dina hadn’t offered to help her clean up the mess. Mrs. Trenton said you guys woke up her husband when you came home. You gotta keep it down, Dina.

That old geezer was up anyway trying to take a piss!

That old geezer could complain to Mrs. Donaldson! Vivvie countered frostily and paused as she saw the half dozen bite marks displayed by Dina’s gaping tank top. What’s with all the bites? Are you Team Edward now? She chortled at her own joke. Dina was obsessed with Jacob from the Twilight series.

Dina smiled and wore a languid expression. I’m on Team Dean now. We met these guys at Racine’s a few weeks ago. They’re so hot! I mean smokin’ hot, Viv! Not like the guys around here, either. I’m going to meet them again tonight too. You wanna come?

Vivvie’s first impulse was to say no. She hadn’t dated since she and Kevin broke up six months before. Waiting for him to come to his senses and dump the skank he was seeing pretty much kept her home. She waited for the phone to ring and for it to be him. It never happened.

Kevin followed her here after graduation. Vivvie’s grandmother lived here then. When she died; Vivvie stayed, growing to love the tiny coastal community. Kevin worked at the Home Depot and took classes at night.

His roommate was better off than Dina and lived on the beach. It appeared he grew out of their relationship rather quickly after a game night in Vero at the Hooters with his buddies.

He started avoiding her suddenly. He received mysterious phone calls he would leave the room to take. It was pretty obvious when he said they needed to talk something was up. Kevin got with Lennie without missing a beat.

They’re buying us dinner, Dina said in a sing-song voice, her blue eyes luring her in. Come on, you know you can’t turn down free food, Viv. Rachel has to work tonight. I can’t go alone! Say you will. Do it for the grub, girlfriend!

I don’t want Rachel’s sloppy seconds or thirds, Vivvie complained sourly knowing Dina’s friend already sampled the buffet. Free food was too hard to turn down for a struggling single girl.

Where are they taking us? Vivvie asked, still on the fence.

Red-frickin-Lobster, no shit! Dina exclaimed in an excited voice and grinned to see Vivvie’s wistful expression. She instantly fell off the fence and caved. Her roommate squealed and got up, jumping up and down. This’ll be great! We gotta be there at seven. Don’t change your mind, Viv.

Vivvie just used her last twenty dollars on cleaning supplies. It was Monday and she didn’t get paid until Wednesday. The allure of Red Lobster and a take home box did her in.

Fine, I’ll go. But these guys better not be creeps, Vivvie said, green eyes narrowed. Dina didn’t have the best taste in men. Looks were more important to her than character and personality. Her shallow roommate played the field shamelessly. These two new guys were only a few of her weekly staples.

No, these dudes aren’t from around here, Viv. They got class, trust me, Dina insisted with a happy smile. They have money too.

Her roommate’s face was very flushed and her eyes were over-bright. Vivvie wondered at her behavior. Dina was pretty cold-blooded when it came to guys. Now she was acting giddy, not with her usual I’m-a-hot-blonde and I-know-it attitude.

I don’t have anything to wear, Vivvie complained in despair, thinking about her limited wardrobe of jeans, hoodies, and tees.

My closet is your closet, Dina declared stoutly, sliding an arm around her shoulders. I insist you indulge.

Vivvie’s expression brightened. Dina had a wardrobe to die for. They couldn’t wear the same pants. Vivvie was a pint-size three. Dina wore a voluptuous size nine. They could wear the same shirts and shoes and Dina had more accessories than a retail chain.

A night out didn’t sound so bad. Vivvie was off work until Tuesday night. Maybe it would be fun? Who was she fooling? She was only going for the garlic cheddar biscuits and a take home box.

These guys wouldn’t be

Reviews for Talons

[mum26 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book. Not happy she ended up with Eli instead of Ty, but maybe there's more in the next book ??