Hair, Greg - Werewolf 01, page 11
“What do you mean, control?” asked LillyAnna.
“I mean the created werewolf has few thoughts of its own, especially at the beginning. Gradually, the elder’s control will wear off, but not before some real damage can be done. Also, if the elder werewolf is evil, then the new werewolf could become evil. This has nothing to do with control; it simply is. It’s in the bite of the biter. They could transmit their own predisposition.”
“That’s rare, though,” said Landon. “Yes, there are bad werewolves out there, but they usually aren’t trying to create gangs for themselves. And it’s not like that for those who are born as werewolves. The baby will have the genes of both parents, thereby preventing an absolute creation of a good or bad werewolf. The wolf gene lies dormant until it’s needed. It then becomes a matter of nurture, whereas with an attack, it’s a matter of nature—the nature of the attacker. Like Nicholas said, it’s all in the bite.”
“I think that’s enough for tonight,” said Ryker. “LillyAnna and Jamie, get some sleep. We start again at dawn. You both did well today, not because you passed a test; neither test was pass/fail, but because you stayed afterwards. You’re still here. That’s a success. I look forward to working with both of you. Everyone have a good night.”
Landon extinguished the fire as everyone filed out of the Blood Room and to their respective beds.
16
“Jamie, you need to wake up,” said Landon, shaking the teen.
Jamie sat up, his eyes still closed, then fell back onto the bed. Within seconds, he was snoring again.
“Jamie!” yelled Landon, clapping his hands. “Come on, we gotta go.”
“What for? Training now?” Jamie asked. He looked at the clock on the nightstand—two a.m.
“No, it’s not training. There’s trouble in the town. We gotta go, come on.”
Jamie dragged himself out of bed and, getting dressed, began to ask Landon what the hell was going on, when he noticed his teacher had already left the room, racing to LillyAnna’s door. He didn’t even hear a knock, only the sound of Landon bursting into her room, shouting for her to get up just as he did to Jamie. The teen staggered into the hall, seeing Landon and LillyAnna both emerge from her room within seconds. The two ran toward him, and she grabbed his arm, pulling him with them.
When they reached the main entrance to the front building, Jamie noticed Ryker and Annelise standing by the gate. The intensity draped over their faces hinted at their thought process at that moment. They meant business.
“What have you told them?” asked Ryker.
“Nothing,” answered Landon. “Haven’t had time.”
“Okay. Quickly,” the Danish vampire began, “there’s a group of men running around the town, starting fires. We don’t know who they are. Multiple buildings are currently burning, and there are people trapped inside.”
Jamie looked up into the night sky and realized that much of the lack of stars wasn’t due to clouds, but to smoke filling the air. The screams of people trapped inside rose from the warm glow of burning buildings. The streets expanded and contracted with people rushing frantically about.
“Where’s Serinda?” asked Jamie, looking around to see everyone waiting for him to finish the question. “And the others? Aren’t they going to help?”
“They’re in Berlin for the evening,” answered Landon.
“LillyAnna and Jamie,” continued Ryker, “you go with Landon. Find the arsonists. You haven’t developed your tracking skills yet, but stick close to him, and he’ll get you through it. It can’t be too difficult to find a bunch of thugs running around torching places.”
LillyAnna watched Ryker and Annelise’s eyes turn an icy blue. She waited for their teeth to extend, which they did to eat, but they weren’t going to feed.
“What are you gonna—?” Jamie began when he felt a gust of wind as Ryker and Annelise suddenly disappeared down the road.
“Where are they going?” he asked Landon. “And where’s everyone from the Senate?”
Suddenly, hearing the castle doors thrust open from behind, Jamie turned and watched as a great tide of werewolves and vampires rushed past him, flowing down the hillside to the village below.
“There’s your answer. We’re tracking the criminals; they’re saving lives—hopefully. If you’re ever in town and hear people talk about angels, you’ll know what they’re talking about. They know what we are, but they often refer to us as being angelic saviors. Now, let’s track some pyromaniacs.”
The three darted down the drive, following its curves and nearing the cries for help. Reaching the bottom in a matter of seconds, they stopped, giving Landon the opportunity to search the air for signs. Fumes and heat stung his nostrils as he separated scents to pick up the trail of the perpetrators.
Jamie watched Ryker and Annelise move like blurs from building to building, thrusting doors open before they reached them. They carried people out as they exited, the saved throwing their hands together in a gesture of prayer, thanking God for sending His angels. He heard the cries of a baby, then the infant’s silence. Vampires are fast, but, unfortunately, not always fast enough.
Then, over the sounds of a wailing mother and father as the lifeless body of their child was handed to them, Jamie discerned laughter. He watched Landon focus all of his senses in the direction of the joyful noise.
“Five males,” said Landon. His eyes flashed red and, without giving a warning or command to the others to follow, he took off straight ahead.
LillyAnna and Jamie immediately followed, arriving in time to see Landon slash the throat of the first male he came to. Any mercy that he would have had for the guilty died with the baby.
The men never saw their judgment coming. The air around them was drenched in alcohol. The first man dropped his lighter as his body slumped to the ground with a slashed throat, blood pouring over the pebbles on the road. While his friends stood there gawking at the life suddenly extinguished by a mysterious, invisible force, they failed to notice the massive red werewolf standing behind them.
A second later, another body was hoisted into the air on one of the beast’s large claws and thrown into the trees that stood behind the creature. The remaining three split up. LillyAnna and Jamie released the animals within.
LillyAnna’s prey made it about thirty feet before she leaped upon his back, all four of her massive claws digging into his flesh as he fell forward to the ground, the werewolf still attached to his body when he fell to the ground. Raising her head toward the sky, she gave a powerful howl, the burning buildings lighting the night behind her. Suddenly, she changed to her human form.
“I hope you’ve learned your lesson,” she said to the arsonist, who was writhing in pain. “I’m going to let you live.”
Jamie’s hunted did his best to evade his golden predator. He ducked into a building to his left and out the back door—his last mistake. The werewolf emerged from the dark shadows of the trees behind the house, taking one swipe at the man’s chest, flaying him alive. Then, for good measure, the beast wrapped his claws around the head, effortlessly removing it. If anyone had been there to witness the scene, they would have sworn that a slight smile crept across its face.
Jamie ran to LillyAnna’s location, finding her speaking to one of the hunted. He watched the man rise slowly to his feet and begin stumbling away.
“What are you doing?” asked Jamie. “You can’t just let ‘em go.”
“I’m not a killer,” she said.
Jamie turned toward the man and, in one leap, landed in front of him. With LillyAnna watching, he snapped the man’s neck in an instant.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said, walking toward Jamie.
“If we let them go, they’ll just do the same again somewhere else down the road,” said Jamie. “He’s not going to change just because you let him live. How many people will he burn next time?”
“You and Landon share the same philosophy. I disagree with it, but now’s not the time for discussion. Let’s find Landon.”
LillyAnna and Jamie ran toward Landon’s last location, and found him lurking on the first floor of a nearby building, prowling for his quarry that had run inside. LillyAnna changed back to her human form while Jamie, shifting back to his werewolf state, entered the house, creeping upstairs. It seemed as though the entire home creaked and moaned as his weight shifted from floorboard to floorboard. The roar of the town fire drifted through the broken windows, echoing throughout each room. He moved through the shadows, following the scent of the hidden. Then, through his red vision, he spied him, crouched in a corner of the empty master bedroom, pitchfork shaking in his hands.
Suddenly Landon burst through the floorboards, landing on his feet, his back to the cowering man. Jamie saw the man was poised to strike and, as Landon turned slowly toward him, the criminal rose to his feet, lunging forward. The young werewolf, without hesitation, jumped into the path of the three-pronged spear. Hearing a painful howl, LillyAnna bolted into the house and up the stairs where she found the pitchfork piercing her friend’s kidneys. He landed with a crash, nearly creating another hole in the floor.
LillyAnna stared in horror and, charging past Landon, exploded in a rage. She attacked with such force that the man flew out the window, impaled on a tree branch, his body hanging ten feet off the ground. She then rushed to the fallen werewolf’s side. Jamie was unable to shapeshift as the pitchfork remained within. LillyAnna ever so slowly pulled the instrument from the wound, Jamie’s reflex nearly taking her leg off as he reacted to the pain. Landon changed and ran over to his friend.
“Jamie, Jamie,” Landon said, kneeling by the creature. “You have to shift. I know it hurts. Change and it’ll stop. Heal yourself.”
LillyAnna’s tears fell into the blond fur that lay before her.
“Come on, Jamie,” she said. “Do what he says. We need you. You’re one of us.”
Jamie’s breathing became labored. LillyAnna pet the werewolf, leaning down to kiss his head. As her lips touched the long hair, she suddenly felt it begin to draw up, the flesh becoming more prominent. The wounds began to close until they disappeared completely.
Jamie sat up slowly, staring into LillyAnna’s eyes. No, it’s not lust, he thought. His eyes moved across her body as he realized she was naked. In fact, they all were.
“I thought you were against killing,” said Landon, looking at LillyAnna.
“I am,” she said. “My kill was not intentional.”
“We need to get back to the castle,” he said. “You okay, Jamie? Can you run?”
“Yeah, a little sore, but I’m fine,” answered Jamie. “I can keep up. What about the burning buildings?”
“The town has a small fire brigade. It’s undermanned and slow to arrive on the scene, which is why we had to intervene, but everyone is safe. They’ll get the fires out.”
Then as quickly as they came down from the castle, they went back up. Into their respective bedrooms they ran, shutting the doors behind them. Moments later they walked back out into the hallway, completely dressed, in time to hear Ryker and Annelise coming down the hall.
“We lost two,” said Ryker, stopping to speak to Landon, “including a baby.” Annelise walked past the group, continuing down the corridor.
Jamie watched LillyAnna turn and make her way down the hall into the Blood Room. Jamie followed and, entering without knocking, found LillyAnna crying on the floor, the fireplace lit.
“Can I come in?” he asked.
“Yeah, sure,” she said, turning her face to wipe away the tears.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to hide. I won’t tell.”
“You’re sweet,” said LillyAnna, faking a smile.
Jamie pulled up a chair beside her. He reached out and laid his hand on hers.
“I can’t believe how far we’ve come,” he said. He did his best to change the subject.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, less than a week ago, none of us had met, and now look where we are. We’re sitting by a fire in a German castle. Pretty cool, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, it’s incredible. I never dreamed three months ago in Cincinnati that I’d be here now, let alone as a werewolf.”
Jamie’s hand jerked back. In fact, his whole body jerked back, and he nearly fell out of his chair.
“What did you say?” His eyes grew wide as he slowly stood. “Where are you from?”
“Cincinnati. Why?” she asked. “What’s wrong with you?”
“You’ve been a werewolf for how long?”
“About three months. What’s the matter?”
Jamie placed his hands on his head and spun around. He walked over to the fireplace, gazing into the flames.
“This can’t be happening. No, no, no. Please, no.”
LillyAnna jumped up, putting her hand on his shoulder.
“Please tell me what’s wrong. Why are you so upset?”
“How did you become a werewolf?” he asked.
“Attacked on a country road, just outside the city. Why?”
Jamie raised his head, turning slowly around, locking eyes with her.
“I’m from Cincinnati,” he said, “and I changed for the first time three months ago. You said you were attacked. I wasn’t; I was born this way.”
LillyAnna stumbled back.
“You,” she said. “You did this. No, it can’t be true. Tell me it’s not true.”
“Yes, LillyAnna,” he said, panicking. “I created you. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do it.”
He attempted to reach out for her, but she brushed his hands away and ran out of the room. Jamie fell to the floor by the fire, laying his head in his hands. Moments later, Nicholas came to the door.
“Excuse me,” said Nicholas. “I was passing by and couldn’t help but overhear. But did I hear correctly? You created LillyAnna?”
“Yes, sir,” said Jamie. “I attacked her on a country road on the outskirts of Cincinnati the night of my first change. I attacked LillyAnna.” He couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. “I created her.” Then something came back to him. “I created her. Nicholas, what was it you said about the creator and the created?”
“That the former controls the latter, for a certain period of time, of course,” said Nicholas.
“Which is different for everyone, right?”
“Yes. What are you getting at?”
“I love LillyAnna, Nicholas,” Jamie said. “I created her. Can I not make her love me?”
“Of course not,” Nicholas said, jumping up. “That’s preposterous. You cannot make someone fall in love with you. The creator’s control is powerful, but not that powerful. No, it’s not possible for you to control her emotions; actions, yes, but not emotions.”
“I can control her actions?”
“No, too much time has passed. The control doesn’t work for three months. It’s typically only a few days, at the most. After that they must choose to follow you. Besides, you should not concern yourself with such pursuits at this time. You are meant for more and are lacking the proper guidance.”
“Landon and Ryker are guiding me,” said Jamie.
“You are quite right, Landon and Ryker have been doing their best to guide you. But still, you’re missing something. No one has told you about our elders, have they? About the first of our kind?”
“No.”
“Before I do, I must tell you that neither the Senate as a whole, nor the Consuls, agree with my philosophy. Now, let me ask you, have you ever heard the word transfiguration?”
“I haven’t taken my SAT test yet,” said Jamie, sarcastically.
“Yes. Well, transfiguration means to change the outward appearance, to exalt, to glorify. This word was chosen by our elders, by the first of us, to describe us. Unlike vampires who do not change their outward appearance, at least not a great deal, werewolves do. Therefore, the elders saw themselves as being worthy of exaltation, of glory. We were once treated like deities. Once, we ruled over vampires. Then they wanted to be treated as equals, so there was a bit of an uprising, the result being what we have today—equal power between two Consuls who preside over a Senate. We have bartered our true position for a fantasy.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Only a simple history lesson. I would like to give you a gift, if you please,” he said, pulling into the open a briefcase.
“Okay. But I still don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“At some point, I would like to give you a further history lesson regarding the fall of the Roman Republic. I simply have the greater good in mind. But for now, this will have to do.”
“Whatever it is, I’m not interested. I won’t betray my friends.”
“I’m not talking about betraying your friends; I’m talking about helping them. Judas has been vilified for thousands of years for his ‘betrayal’ of Jesus, yet would the Christ have been crucified had it not been for Judas?”
“No,” answered Jamie, “and that’s why he’s so hated.”
“Yet, was he not serving a larger purpose? The Christ was sent to die for our sins, which had to happen in such a way that it would only attract further followers. Only a betrayal would have sufficed. At least that’s how Judas’ actions are viewed, as a betrayal. I offer to you, however, that Judas is actually a hero who may have fulfilled one of the greatest roles in the Bible. If he had not done so, history may have been much different. Nothing happens outside of God’s will; therefore, it was His will that Judas commit one of the most vilified acts in history, yet it was an act that allowed the Christ to fulfill his role. Sometimes, the villain can be the hero. There is much for you to learn.”
Nicholas opened the briefcase, pulling out a book. He lifted it to his nose and inhaled. His eyes danced under his eyelids as the aroma wafted through his nostrils.
“Ahhh,” he said, “you can smell the history. You can touch history.”
