by J N Moon
Steve gasped, the others shuffled, transfixed.
As we stood around watching I was all too aware of Luke standing beside me, his arm against mine, casual but touching. Me and my shadow, why was he invading my space? I stepped forward and sat down beside Pete, Luke did the same. Still touching, but he didn’t look at me. Clenching my muscles, I breathed quietly to relax but felt uncomfortable that this shifter was pushing into my space.
“One cup remains upright so not all is lost,” Pete reminded them, “You have to seek her out.”
“This is great an all, I see the cards... are telling us about the situation but... don’t we need to know where she is?” Luke stuttered.
“We’ll get to that after. I can’t rush it,” Pete informed him.
Returning his attention back to Steve and the cards before him Pete continued, nine of swords. No one made a sound, I glanced at Conor who winced at me. I knew better, I used to read the cards long, long ago. The worst cards are five of swords or seven of swords, just nasty. The only good thing- if you believe in the cards is that they give you a heads up of what’s to come. You know, so you can avoid it...
Pete spoke, “Nine of swords means unfounded fears, in other words the situation isn’t a bad as it appears.”
Steve’s mouth dropped open, “Really? I mean the card... it looks awful.”
“Look again, the swords don’t touch her.” Turning the last two cards over I guess for the outcome, Pete continued.
“Death and The Moon.”
Steve wailed, putting his head in his hands. I reached over to him, “Death doesn’t mean a literal death, it’s a card of transformation and new beginnings. It’s actually a good card, it’s just portrayed by the media as bad because they’re, well full of shit.”
I winked at Pete, the others joined me now and crouched down, Pete carried on.
“Thanks Emma, so we know that after this she’ll be stronger. The clue as to where to look or how we’ll find her is the Moon and my gut tells me that, that’s you Emma. You’re going to find her, based on a dream or a premonition.”
Looking around Luke was grinning right at me, raised his eyebrows.
No pressure then, I thought. I hoped the dream or premonition wouldn’t be as extreme as the meeting I’d had with Black Shuck, but then after Steve’s possession, this weirdness was almost becoming normal. Tension hung around us thick like low clouds and it was clear I wouldn’t find her then and there, or could I?
“Steve, do you have something personal of Lou’s, a necklace say, or an item that only she uses, maybe that’ll help me find her quicker?”
Dark circles under Steve’s eyes and lines etched deeply on his face as he looked up at me, frowning. He took a breath, a sudden spark in his eyes as some fresh hope of finding his wife faster.
“Yes, yeah... she has a necklace-nothing special just a token I gave her years ago when we first met.” He got up and went off to find it, Conor came over and crouched beside me.
“How will you do this?”
“I’m tired, so I thought I could hold or wear the item and take a nap? Hopefully that will work. It’s worth a try.”
Squinting and smiling, he scanned my face. “I could make you some herbal tea, maybe something to prompt the dreams?”
“God, no thanks. I’d rather just eat cheese to do that, but no I’m fine thanks.”
What was it with him and bloody herbal tea...I hate herbal tea!
Laughing he stood up and Steve came back, his eyes, his face now lit up with hope.
“I know, it’s embarrassing really, just a pewter wolf’s head on a cotton neckband, but I gave it to her not long after we started dating.”
As he held it out, Luke spoke, “I think that’s beautiful Steve. Personal, intimate and she still has it, it obviously means a lot to her.”
I took it, and looked into his eyes, “It’s not embarrassing. It’s perfect, I’m going to go and have a nap now back at Conor’s, hopefully I’ll know something after that.”
A little smile on his face, his breathing a bit easier I felt confident that I could do this quickly, and without Conor’s dodgy tea!
I slept easy enough, and coming back into my dreams, Black Shuck but this time his presence wasn’t frightening. My feet firmly planted to the soil again, I found myself back at that crossroads, inky nightfall all around, with a slight glimmer of moonlight on leaves as the moon kissed down her ethereal magic, taking the ordinary into extraordinary. This time, not scared, my eyes met the beasts ,a familiar feeling, almost comforting. He made me think of Conor, I wondered then, I had thought when they said the word werewolf that he would transform into some half-man, half-wolf creature but he hadn’t. He’d changed into a wolf-the one I first saw going to my uncle’s house, though Conor was larger than a normal wolf.
Remembering why I was here, “I’m looking for Lou, where can I find her?”
The creature whimpered, scratched his nose with his foot, he looked coy unlike the first time I encountered him. He took one step towards me then turned to walk, I followed. We took the left path, which coiled smaller and twisted, almost overgrown. I spied through the towering trees in the distance what looked like a wooden tower.
Jutting out of the woods, some medieval structure with four towering wooden legs supporting a timber frame, like a wooden hut but a look out in-between the sides and the roof. Speeding up, my heart thrashed against my ribs, gulping as my mind registered what I was seeing. I remembered then what it was for, a witch’s tower. Used to spy on enemies, werewolves, witches and all things inhuman. I must be in the Black Forest-in this dream?
“Wait, Lou can’t be here?” I called to the beast.
He turned, realising that I had stopped some way behind him, looked up at the tower and back to me. I wondered if he had been human, or if he was some kind of shapeshifter. His movements seemed almost human.
He looked onwards, then back to me-a signal I knew meant I needed to follow him, but I didn’t know why I was here, in the Black Forest where our history of lycanthropy began.
Meandering downward the path, the trees like turrets soared around us and mossy earth and fresh rain filled my senses and made the path soft and squidgy beneath my feet. Tiny, delicate flowers peeked through from bracken, hues of delicate violets, whites and crimson dotted in clusters. Sweetest scent of bluebells hung heavy in the air, muddy brown leaves, bright greens glimmered in the mottled moonlight. Great vines swung gently like pendulums in the soft breeze, and as trees jutted up, twisting their way to the canopy roof, like sentinels guarding the path. Owls sang their haunting tune, small creatures rustled in the undergrowth, all unfazed by me and Black Shuck. Was he here in the beginning, maybe he was the creature that bit my ancestor, but then Shuck was no wolf.
In the distance I could see smoke rising in a straight line, as we edged closer I spied a little wooden cabin tucked neatly in a glade. Trepidation throbbed through me, and I caught up with Shuck, instinctively putting my hand on his shoulder. We watched the place, my fear floated off as soon as my hand touched his back. Slowly, he stepped forward, I followed and walked right up to the front door.
––––––––
“Emma, Emma wake up,” Bolting upright, Conor was shouting, his face full of wide eyed fear, as he shook me.
“What, what happened?”
He went to speak but no words came out, but I felt it, a deathly presence wrapped around me like a heavy blanket, oppressive, bleak.
Something shifted in me, I wished Shuck was here, and I knew on some level he was, that he was a part of me. Leaping out of bed, I grabbed on my boots, I had a thought, ran past Conor who followed downstairs to his living room. The demon was outside but hadn’t smashed his way in, and strangely I could hear others in the distance arriving and down in the basement I felt the fear of those tiny people flow through me like an icy breeze.
Grabbing the fire pokers, one in each hand, I went to the door putting them both in one hand as I opened it, t
hen stepped out onto the veranda. It was looming close by, trees dotted near Conor’s house, it was out there for sure. Seeing what I’d done, with the fireplace tools, Conor grabbed his shot gun.
Whispering, “Iron, if iron harms it, maybe iron bullets would help, too?”
“Good thinking but I think they’d be too heavy.” Then whispering in a higher pitch, “Still, what’s your plan, you trying to draw it out? We have the sword but it’s not been brought he...”
Just like before Conor was like a statue, frozen in mid-sentence and again I saw the demon edge forward in all its terrifying pain.
For a second I saw myself there, as if I’d floated out of my body and was watching above, my posture, head up ready to face this Nuckelavee.
No point in using words, I doubt it spoke English. I felt the question, why, that puzzled feeling resonated out of me, and into the area. Why are you here?
Almost losing my footing, my body shot backwards, arms flailing in the process. Anger, it was full of wrath, at us and especially me. Lumbering slowly, it edged forward until it was close enough that I could taste its putrid breath, smell the decay, the death, the horror of it sinews and muscles dripping and caked in dark blood. The human form on the back of this horse demon bent over reaching down to me, I held firm, holding up the iron rods in my hands to meet his, letting the iron touch its fleshless claws.
Shrill echoing cry, almost piercing my eardrums as its fleshless claw-like hands contacted the iron, smoked and sizzled, it lunged back, it’s horse legs rearing up and then leapt forward as if to trample me. I wasn’t myself, I side stepped faster than I could think, reacting without a plan, I knocked into Conor who woke from his trance state. Mumbling and finding his feet, his mouth dropped open as the creature lurched forward. Trying to shield him, my hands grabbing the rods so hard, my knuckles were white, Conor readied his gun. Its eyes met mine as before, an intense hatred washed over me, it bellowed, looked at Conor and turned as he pulled the trigger. Like slow motion, the bullet left the gun but this thing was faster, in an instant it had disappeared into the woods.
Panting from shock, the words fell from my mouth, “Iron bullets, they would help. But we need to be faster. I still want to know why this creature has so much hatred for me, for us? Something is terribly wrong.”
Gasping from shock, Conor replied, “I should think that’s Teran’s doing, maybe some werewolf or some shifter has wronged him-he controls the Nuckelavee’s actions. Or so we’ve always believed.”
He sat on the ground in a thump, I could just see those deep eyes through his fringe, his lips curved slightly, almost like a mask. Taking a breath, “Wow Emma, you scared the shit out of me. You just charged out here and faced it head on, and you live. What the hell did you dream?”
Splattering a laugh from the tension, I told him. “Black Shuck, I dreamed I was with him in the Black Forest, I don’t fear him now, I don’t know why I just did that, running out here, it was like I was on autopilot... Did we all descend from that one lineage?”
“This community yes, others maybe, I don’t know. Not all shifters or werewolves mix, some packs are secretive, vicious, extreme. So, you think Shuck is with you now?” He quizzed, tilting his head questioning my belief I guess.
“You’ve never felt his presence, dreamed of him?”
He sat forward, staring off into the forest, thoughtful. It’s unusual to see a guy cross his legs, he was nimbler than his size would have you believe.
“I have dreamed about him a long time ago when I first changed but I never felt he was around. I’d guess he’s guarding you, he’s one hell of an ally to have.”
He took a deep breath, stood up, “We still need to find Lou, and Pete is coming over with the sword. I’d best give you some instruction, though I doubt you’re going to need it.”
“Something still bothers me about this though, that demon, it doesn’t seem to me to have enough self-awareness for such hate, I’m convinced someone is controlling it.”
“It’s killed many, now and in the past. Everyone, heck everything would be safer without it Em.”
“I know and I still want its head, it’s just... it seems like an automaton to me, I don’t know...”
We walked back into his home, a tiny voice echoed up the stairs, I guessed it was Robin.
“You go see Robin, I need to figure out how to find Lou.”
“Emma, you need to start practicing with the sword. I don’t think we’re going to get many more chances.”
“What about Steve, what do I tell him?”
“The truth, there’s probably more clues in your dream than you realise.”
I stared at Conor, how could that be? I dreamed I was in the Black Forest, not a small forest in the UK?
Reading my face easily, he answered, “You dreamt you were in the Black Forest? Then you saw the witch’s towers as you followed Shuck through the forest?”
“Yes, so?”
“Well to me that implies witches are involved, since that’s a pretty big omen for a dream, and clearly we have no witch towers here. Maybe we’re being watched by witches, or they’ve taken Lou?”
I sniggered, “Seriously? Ok, then I just need to know how to find witches? You haven’t been wrong so far and you’re a good guy. I think.”
“You think?” His face dropped, frowning.
“I didn’t mean to piss you off, I haven’t had much experience with, you know, werewolves.” It sounded lame, I did trust him, ninety-nine percent. But I wasn’t ready to put my life in his hands one-hundred per cent yet.
Twisting my hair, my throat suddenly dry, that heaviness in my body, my stomach, as I wished I hadn’t said that. Sometimes lying is the best course, I’d hurt his feelings and he’s done so much.
Watching as he walked back stiffly, I went to speak but nothing came out. Taking a deep breath, I wondered if I’d ever trust a guy? My uncle for sure when he was here, I hadn’t had any good experiences with trusting other men.
Following him into his home, I tried to make eye contact, he avoided it.
“Come on, we need to continue your training,” he said emptily.
“I’m sorry Conor, I really am. I’ve never had a good experience trusting men other than Ethan. Ever. I want to trust you, and I do, ninety-nine percent, I know that probably sucks to you, but it’s a massive step forward for me.” Churning with anxiety, my stomach flipped as I let my feelings flowed out, swallowing hard the lump in my throat.
Turning around, he brushed his fringe away from his eyes, his small smile grew larger and his eyes shone. Reaching out, he gently held my arm, “Thank you Emma, that helps.” Looking away, he exhaled deeply, before turning back, “I know what you mean. I’ve never had any luck dating. Most were-women are consumed by the idea of breeding, of extending the pack.” Shaking his head, the idea obviously didn’t appeal to him, judging by the look on his face, mouth curved down, frowning. “They look at me as some kind of breeding stud. I’ve never wanted kids, I wanted an equal, someone who sees me as their partner. Someone who notices, heck, you know.” Stiffening a little, then dropping his shoulders, “Notices the scent of rain on grass, a bird in the tree, the beauty of nature.”
Frowning with puzzlement, I asked, “Surely shifters, or weres would notice these things by their very nature?”
“Yes, but mainly because it’s their nature, not necessarily because they want to. Most are too consumed by their own busy lives, by themselves to really notice the world around them. You, you’re still human and yet you notice these things, I’ve seen you, watched you. I’ve seen the delight in your eyes when you see these wonders, inhaled the intoxicating scents of the forest. You have a spark about you that most don’t. You’re not interested in me because I have a big house and flat abs,” he laughed. “Anyway, that depends on what I eat,” he grinned fiercely.
Nodding, I added, “True, but how do you know I don’t want kids?”
Shaking his head, smirking, “Just a feeling I guess. You’r
e too in wonderment of life around you, you don’t strike me as the two-point four kids type.” Taking a deep breath, he added, “I’m not wrong, am I?”
“You’re a hundred percent right. I do like your abs though, and your tattoos,” I smiled. Scanning my face, he stepped closer so softly that I hardly noticed, “I love being with you. Your uncle talked a lot about you, and your destiny. It’s my wish,” glancing away, then back, he swallowed, “That I get to spend that with you. So now you know. Thank you for opening up to me, I realise that wasn’t easy. If it helps, at least my freaky side is just a wolf thing, I’m not a psycho. You’ll change, too, soon, I feel it. And I’ll be right by your side when you do, from now until always-if you wish.”
Letting out a gasp, he moved away, “Come on, I’m going to see Robin, then it’s time to train,” and he threw me the bokken which unlike myself, I caught.
The sweet fresh air was invigorating, I was suddenly aware of everything that had happened, my body was taught with tension. Breathing out gently, I allowed the forest scent to fill my lungs, and felt the tiny patters of drizzle on my head and face. Lou, I couldn’t stop wondering about her, after practice I would find her and take a real sword.
Conor tried hard to live up to Lou’s harsh training, but it wasn’t his nature. I’d learned already not to lunge forward unnecessarily, and neither of us moved around much, both conserving our energy. In real fights, leaping about just tires you out, most street fights last less than twenty seconds, Lou had taught me that. But for me, I had to kill the Nuckelavee, so it would be much harder, for one it was massive, I would need to lure its head low, which I doubted it would do seeing I had a sword. It may not be the brightest of beings, but it wasn’t stupid.
As we were finishing up, Pete arrived with Coral, their faces full of worry and frowns.
Coral had the sword wrapped in cloth, unbound it and handed it to me hilt-first.
Dropping my arm, I gasped at its weight. Shit, I was used to a wooden sword, now I had to wield this, and it was damn heavy.
