Acheron indicated the taller Katagaria with short black hair who had made the first comment. "Talon, meet Fang." He motioned to the one with longer hair and green eyes. "And his brother, Vane."
"Why are they here?" Talon asked Acheron.
"Let's just say that if the bad guys are armed with halogen lights again, they won't have the same effect on the Katagaria that they had on you."
"Yeah," Vane said, smiling evilly. "Lights just make us attack more."
Good, they had at least one surprise in their corner.
Now if he could just get his hands on Camulus.
"So, what's the plan, girls?" Fang asked.
"For none of us to get killed," Acheron said.
Vane led them out of the loft, downstairs to Talon's car. Talon saw the two black and gray Ninja motorcycles that must belong to the Katagaria. Since the were-animals had to move quickly to avoid their enemies, they tended to prefer racing bikes to running or walking, which depleted the strength they needed for fighting.
Talon checked his watch. It was twenty minutes to rendezvous. Part of him wished Ash would just poof them over to the warehouse, but he knew better than to ask.
Ash was capricious with that one power and got rather testy when asked to use it.
Talon got into the Viper while the other three started their bikes. He pulled out of the alley first, with the guys right behind him, and headed for Commerce Street.
They reached the Warehouse District a few minutes later.
The streets were bustling with activity, both tourist and local. This popular area was New Orleans' premier art district and was often referred to as the SoHo of the South.
It didn't take long for Talon to find the old abandoned warehouse that had been a popular art gallery during the 1980s. It had closed down in the early 1990s and been vacant ever since. The large-paned windows were dark, some partially boarded up and broken. The once red doors were now cracked and peeling, and held together by a thick chain and padlock.
There wasn't a single sound coming from inside as the men left their vehicles and gathered into a group.
"Uh, guys," Fang said slowly as he removed his helmet, "you do realize this is most likely a trap?"
"No, you think so?" Talon asked sarcastically.
Fang rolled his eyes.
Talon summoned his powers, letting them surge and feeling just how fragmented they were. This wasn't good.
He didn't know what was waiting inside that building, but he would fight his way through hell itself to keep Sunshine safe. Powers or no powers.
They headed for the building with Ash pulling up the rear.
"Ooo," Fang said as Talon worked the padlock. "Breaking and entering. Brings back fond memories, eh, Vane?"
"Shut up, Scooby," Vane said, using the derogatory wolf Katagaria term for a brainless, cowardly pup. "And watch your back."
Talon snapped open the lock and opened the door. It creaked loudly as the door fell off its hinges.
Talon cursed, then irritably shoved the door aside.
Entering the building one by one, they fanned out, and then paused inside the dark, empty room that was covered with at least a decade's worth of dust, spiderwebs, and grime.
Every so often, a car would go by outside, the headlights illuminating some of the dilapidated interior.
The place was totally silent except for a strange, rhythmic thumping coming from upstairs and the sound of rodents scurrying around the floor.
"Ewwww-eee-wwww," Fang sang in a voice reminiscent of some B-movie soundtrack. "Hey Ash, you vant to suck my blud?"