 Blair started to pull his hands apart, but stopped when Forge and Declan both warned, “Don’t.” “Where are we?” Lucas got to his feet. He must’ve heard Forge’s warnings about the handcuffs because he didn’t try breaking free of his. Instead he went to a door several feet away. He reached out and gripped the handle with two fingers. “Shit, crap!” He wrenched his hand away and stuck his fingers in his mouth. “It’s got fucking silver in it!” Vampires and werewolves could be killed by silver if enough of it got into their bloodstream. Combined with other metals, it created an impervious barrier they were unable to break. Touching such a metal would cause a serious burn. It was the only substance that could leave a scar on a vampire. Declan stood up slowly and rolled his shoulders. “I suppose that one does too.” He tipped his head at a second door at the end of the long compartment they were in. “And that one,” Blair pointed to a door near the opposite end. They all turned in that direction. “Gentlemen, I apologize. This was not my intention or how I planned our meeting to go,” Porter Samuels said from behind them. “How the hell…?” Blair braced against Forge and stood up, but he was staring at the ceiling. “That is so cool,” Lucas walked a slow circle around Samuels, who partially turned to watch him. “The handcuffs, as I’m sure you’ve figured out, are coated with silver and are werewolf proof, as is this room.” He put his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “So, vampire proof too.” Declan glared at him. “You left my feet loose. That’s all I need.” He rushed Samuels. “No!” Blair and Lucas shouted, each running at Declan. Neither was fast enough. Declan leaped up and kicked out, aiming for Samuels’s chest. Forge silently cheered Declan on. Samuels was so toast. But Samuels flickered, disappearing for a second before he reappeared, turning to watch as Declan went straight through him, hit the floor on one shoulder, and slid. He shouted, “Son of a bitch!” The air rushing by outside the walls increased in intensity, and Forge heard the distinct sound of an engine revving. He stumbled backward when the entire room tilted, keeping Declan from crashing through the far wall. It righted a few seconds later. Samuels sighed. “How does a vampire get a holographic projection?” Lucas asked. “One that moves and walks and is interactive, not just a static image,” Blair added. Samuels smiled. “Very observant. I’m impressed. Most people don’t spot the signs so quickly.” He held up one finger when Declan stood and faced off with him. “You’re on an airplane, and unless you want to test the theory to see if you’ll survive a fall from thirty-thousand feet onto who knows what, I’d advise you not to do that again.” “Why did you kidnap us?” Lucas asked. “Don’t think of it as a kidnapping but more of a job interview.” Samuels rocked on his heels. “I, along with others, have a proposal for the four of you.” Forge held his wrists up. “And kidnapping us, cuffing us to keep us prisoners on an airplane is supposed to instill trust?” “I couldn’t be more sorry. We had to see how the four of you would work together in certain circumstances and with a particular set of stressors,” Samuels said, his expression genuinely contrite. “Besides, as you so succinctly pointed out, I’ve kidnapped three vampires and a werewolf. A potentially dangerous and volatile situation. This aircraft was the safest option for everyone.” Blair walked around Samuels in the opposite direction from Lucas, meeting him partway. “How do you do that?” “Will you two get away from there?” Forge snapped. Blair shrugged and Lucas heaved a sigh, but they both backed away. Lucas looked at the ceiling. “See that thing up there? The one that looks like a light? It’s a projector.” “Vampires aren’t actually without a reflection in a mirror or the ability to be seen on camera. Our bodies refract light and color differently under certain circumstances and conditions, the level of adrenaline in our systems being only one of the ways nature provided. There are technologies to circumvent those issues,” Samuels explained. “Though most times, being invisible on camera or in a mirror is an advantage.” Lucas stared at him. “Fuck me.” Samuels laughed. “You, Dr. Coate, are refreshing. Interested in finding out more?” “No,” Forge growled. “Hell, no,” Declan chimed in. Samuels motioned to Forge and Declan. “You, both of you, are exactly what I expected.” “Yes!” Blair and Lucas practically shouted. When Declan’s fangs dropped and his eyes turned completely dark green, Lucas rolled his eyes and said more firmly, “Yes.” “The president was never coming to Boggslake, was he?” Forge asked. Samuels shook his head slowly. “No. That was part of the test.” He smiled, this time it was warm, not creepy. “I’m happy to report you all passed.”  Code Name Jack Rabbit is available in eBook, paperback and through Kindle Unlimited.      Comments are closed.
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