by L. Foster
"-...so sad. You can't believe it's the curse can you?...-"
"-...That's what I'm saying, it's happening again like it did 10 years ago.....-"
"-...damn shame. Loved the coffee here...-"
"-...wasn't he arguing with those forest hoodlums the other day?.....-"
And then it hit me as I heard the last words from someone close by. The numbness within me ebbing away rapidly as I looked up. That's right. Mr, Bartholomew was arguing with Darrel Watson the other day and threatened him and his gang with either gunfire or police. He had to have been the one responsible for Mr. Bartholomew's death. I just knew it, deep down in my soul that he was responsible for it. Even the policeman himself said that how Mr. Bartholomew died was an impossibility. He was attacked by large animals, and there aren't any like that out there in the woods, not in Maine anyways.
But wait, how then is that possible? Darrel and his gang aren't animals, so they couldn't have mauled him to death. Not unless they had animals, or pets that could do it. I knew I had to ask the one person who would know the truth, so I slowly turned to leave, figuring I'd spend the day biking all over town when I saw her. The person whom I was looking for, standing there right in front of me, sorrowful, quiet, but beautiful in the tragedy that surrounded her.
There stood Anastania Willow.
For the longest time, no words were spoken between each of us as we looked at each other. Time seemingly slowing down to a crawl as she looked towards me, never blinking. Myself looking back towards her as she stood there, the people all around us moving, talking, gossiping, gawking. The police lights bouncing off of the people, and off of the glass. The sound of a stretcher being pulled, no doubt preparing to carry Mr. Bartholomew to his grave, and the news given to his family as well. Suddenly, Anastania slowly walked over towards me, moving through the crowd as she walked upon sneakered feet towards me, not making a sound at all as she embraced me in a hug, pulling me in closer to hug at her, tears slowly streaming down her face as she whispered lightly in my ear "I'm sorry Daniel. I'm so sorry."
I couldn't help as I wrapped my arms around her. This woman whom I barely knew, but who I had a connection with, pulling her in closer for a hug against my body as we just held onto one another for a few moments. My mind reeling with thoughts. I knew that she was a woman who was in a bad situation. Darrel Watson and his gang no doubt took advantage of her, and terrorized the town with their gang violence, and I believed whole heartedly that all of the blame lied with him, knowing it was him who did it.
"Did Darrel do this to Mr. Bartholomew?" I asked, whispering in her ear as she simply nodded, her cheek brushing against mine.
"We have to go to the police Anastania. You know we have to. If you confess, if you helped in any way, they'll go lenient. They'll-"
She simply shook her head. A light, melancholy chuckle coming form her as she slowly leaned back, her dark hair hiding her face as she looked down with eyes closed towards the ground before speaking. "They'll never believe me Daniel. And even so, they'll never catch Darrel. They know the ways of the woods too much. The blood curse causes them to be otherworldly. They'll never be caught."
"What do you mean Anastania?" I said, blinking somewhat as I looked to her, catching her eyes as she slowly looked up towards me with that sad smile that she wore upon her face. "We have to run Daniel. They're coming for me. And anyone else that was related to the coffee house. I came to help you."
"Why...?" Was all I could say. The lump in my throat slowly growing bigger and bigger until I threatened to swallow it back down.
"Because you made him look like an idiot Daniel. Darrel doesn't tolerate that from anyone. So I left. There was nothing I could do for Mr. Bartholomew. But for you, I can still save. Please Daniel. We have to go." She continued to look at me with pleading eyes as my mind slowly raced on what to do. She said that the police were helpless to stop Darrel and his gang. So I couldn't go to them. The only place left for me that could be a safe haven was back at home with my father, so I knew I had to go back there as I nodded to Anastania. Picking up my bike as I looked to her with a determined expression, despite the feelings deep within me swirling and threatening me with a panicked madness.
"I know where we need to go then. Come on, we have to go to my home first Anastania. That's the safest place I know of first." I said, hopping on my bike as I looked back behind her. The wail of the ambulance dying in the distance as she stepped up beside me, placing her hand gently upon my shoulder as she spoke. "Then let's not waste any time Daniel. We have to hurry before it gets too dark."
So with that, we rode onward to my house. Her keeping pace beside me as I biked as hard as I could up hill, knowing that I needed to get home as soon as possible if I was going to survive Darrel Watson and his gang coming after me.
Part 4: Fur and bite, and the new beginning.
The ride home by bike wasn't that long all things considered. Surprisingly, Anastania kept up beside me the entire time as I rode, urging me on to ride harder, and faster. The storm clouds all around us gathering as thunder sounded off in the distance, echoing off the hills and the valleys. Lightning roaming among the clouds above as we eventually made it to the cottage home where I lived with my father. Kicking off the bike without even properly setting it up, we ran straight towards the door, myself slamming it open in a huff, followed quickly with Anastania behind me as I found my father sitting at the kitchen table eating a bowl of cereal. The suddenness of me entering through the door catching him by surprise as he nearly jumped from his chair, the bowl knocking itself down upon the floor with a loud plastic clatter, spilling its contents all over the place.
"Jesus Christ Danny! You scared me! Don't come running in like that!" My father said before catching his second wind. Breathing in heavily as he nodded, looking from me, towards Anastania as confusion came to his face momentarily. "It's nice to see you bringing friends home. But weren't you suppose to be at work?" He had asked.
Wasting no time for him, I sat him down to quickly describe the events that had gone on today. Mr. Bartholomew's death. Anastania and her situation, as well as Darrels gang, and how they were coming for me. My fathers face looking to me with each word I spoke. His expression changing with each part of the story before hardening in the end to my words regarding Darrel's gang, and how they intended to come for me and Anastania because of what happened. His hand slapping the top of the table as it shook beneath the weight of his strength as he moved to stand. Looking between me and Ana. "Daniel.. We lost your mother to gang violence. By god I promised I'd never lose you to the same thing that happened. That's why we came out here. Go get the shotguns. I'll go call the police."
"With all due respect Mr. Alton. The police can't handle Darrel. We need to leave town." Anastania said, stepping up towards my father as I moved quickly towards the backroom where he kept his gun cabinet. Quickly moving to unlock it as he followed in behind me. Shaking his head. "Nonsense. I know you've been with them young lady, but we'll get the police involved, and we'll settle this with them. I'm not going to have them come here and harass my son. I already lost his mother to this life, and I'm not going to lose the most important person in my life."
"Please.. Mr. Alton. Believe me. You don't know what they're like." Anastania pleaded as I opened the gun cabinet, pulling out a shotgun for Dad, as well as one for me, and a small pistol to Anastania, who shook her head at my offer. "Dad.. Maybe we should listen to her. We don't have to stand our ground." I ventured gently, knowing we could just take the truck and all three of us could leave for a while.
"No." was all my Dad said as he picked up the phone. Stopping for a moment as he stood there, holding the shotgun in his hand as a long, slow sigh escaped his lips before uttering a curse word. Both me and Anastania looking towards him before he simply said.
"The line is dead."
And it was then that the thunder rolled, and the lightning struck outside. Illuminating the entirety of the house as the lights suddenly dimme
d, flickered on and off, and then died, completely. Bathing the entirety of the house in darkness, save for the windows that opened to the brighter darkness of the world outside. Save for the rain, and the storm, nothing else within the house made a sound. Nothing was uttered, and nothing was said.
Then, the creaking sounded. Light at first, it eventually started to pick up as the sound of heavy footfalls could be heard upstairs, running along the floor as if in a stalking manner. Outside as well upon the porch the sound of stalking feet could be heard pressing against the old floor. Suddenly the cocking of a shotgun could be heard as my Father walked up towards me, pulling me and Anastania with him as he primed his shotgun. Myself doing the same, knowing how to shoot as Anastania took up the space beside me, simply uttering the words. "They're coming."
Chuckles could then be heard throughout the darkened house. Malicious laughter bubbling up as if a stalking predator was hunting a prey. There was no doubt in my mind, Darrel and his men had followed us to my house, and found us within it. Waiting for the opportunity to strike. I looked towards the door that led to the basement as I uttered in a harsh whisper. "The basement. Come on." and we three made our way towards the door. Opening it as my Father took point, holding the gun downwards into the darkness while I took the rear, watching out for what was behind us. The chuckling only getting worse as we heard what sounded like bones snapping, and skin tearing could be heard, the weight of bodies pressing down against the floor as my father simply uttered. "What in the world....?"
"The curse.." Anastania said as we reached the bottom.
It was then that we heard it pierce the air. A howling so deep, so high pitched, so feral and dangerous as it ripped through the night air, juxtaposed beside the thunderous clap of lightning and thunder as it echoed throughout the house, threatening in its cacophony to tear the house down from its foundation and bury us.. "Wolves!" My father said in a yelling whispered tone as Anastania simply shook her head. "No, far worse."
I barely had time to look at her and what she had meant before looking up towards the top of the stairs where I saw it. A large, furred creature walking upon two legs, but broad in the chest as well as shoulders as its blood red eyes illuminated down at me. My mind could not comprehend it, and my soul told me to run. To flee. To panic and seek shelter. It looked to be a large wolf. I knew it couldn't be possible, but now I know what Anastania meant when she spoke of curses. It was a werewolf.
And it was coming for all of us.
My Dad was thinking the same thing as he aimed his gun towards the doorway, having seen it himself. The sound of gunshot echoing off the concrete walls all around us as the shot struck the werewolf full on the chest, but it kept coming down. His dark, blood red eyes shining as his black silhouette filled the door frame. The sound of predatorial claws clacking upon the wood as he growled. Followed with what seemed to be several other werewolves behind him, all filing down the stairs as well behind him. This I realized was the cause of Bartholomew's death, and I realized now that they were Darrel and his gang, as I recognized the ratty vest upon the alpha wolf as he came to the front. Lightning striking the ground somewhere outside, illuminating the bloodied, dark furred visage of his muzzle as he snarled, speaking in a low, grumbled tone, feral and deadly all at once.
"Annnnnaastania... Out of the way. We're here for Danny boy and his daddy." he said, clacking a claw along a workbench as he pushed off various tools and such down to the floor in a clatter. Anastania quickly stepping up in front of Darrel. Arms outstretched defensively as she yelled back towards Darrel. "No! I won't let you hurt them Darrel. This has to end!"
"Always so soft you were, even after we made you one of the pack." Darrel coolly said as his eyes narrowed down, looking between us all. Slowly lowering down upon his haunches as his werewolf gangsters followed suit, preparing to pounce upon us as me and my Father readied our guns, knowing that they might be useless, but we wouldn't go down without a fight.
"No, Darrel!" Anastania screamed as Darrel pounced. My life flashing before my eyes as I closed them tightly, prepared now to die before the sound of snarling, and wolfish gnashing forced me to open my eyes, and I looked upon fully now as another werewolf appeared, standing where Anastania had stood before, wearing the tattered remains of her clothing as she pinned Darrels wolfish body up against the wall, causing dust and debris to float down. I understood now fully as well, that Anastania was more than just a tool used by Darrel, but now realized, she was a werewolf the same as him.
Together they fought, snarling and cursing as they slashed at one another, bit and scratched and fought. My senses coming back to me as I raised my rifle and shot out towards the stairs, yelling for Dad to do the same to keep them from interfering into the battle between Anastania and Darrel, striking several of the other werewolves as yelps rung out from the stairs. No doubt while they would not die from the strikes, they could still feel the bitter pain of bullets hitting their body, causing several of them to retreat further into the house as the storm outside grew worse and worse.
However, eventually our ammunition ran out, but fortunately, Anastania, spurred on by her need to protect me and my Dad, continued to fight Darrel, gaining the upper hand as he backed up towards the door leading up the stairs towards the house proper. Bleeding from his snout, cuts and gouges torn from his flesh as he hissed towards us. "This... isn't.. over. Not by a long shot. We'll be back.." he hissed once more, snarling as he turned quickly, darting up the stairs, and out of sight. No doubt to join his pack and recover from their failure to kill us this night.
For the longest of time, no one had said anything. The wolfish form of Anastania turning to look at me. Her own red eyes illuminating her features as she simply looked towards me. In a way, I sensed what she was feeling. Scared, hurt, and unsure of herself. In fact, I was feeling much the same way as I walked up towards her slowly. Reaching out with a hand towards her wolfish face as her body slowly melted off its feral visage, returning back to the normalcy of her human trappings, turning back into a person instead of an animal. Shaking her head as she looked towards me.
"Danny.. I never wanted to tell you. You were so nice to me, the only one in a long time that I felt I could trust you."
"Shh... Shh Ana.. Shh.. It's alright." I said, reaching out towards her in a hug, drawing her in. She saved us, and no amount of animalistic tendencies she had could change my mind for her, and my growing love for someone who was willing to sacrifice it all to save me and my Father.
And that was the start of the relationship that me and Anastania ended up having together. Her moving into the home with me and my Dad, joining my family, falling in love with one another. In truth, my life afterwards was never the same, and while it's hard to fathom the many turns and twists that led to this very moment in time for me, I cannot say if I'm better off than I was a year ago. But for now, I have the love of a woman who wants to improve herself, who wants to protect Harborbooth and myself from Darrel and his gang, and I and my Dad feel like some sort of protectors of the citizens of this little Maine town, and I suppose, in a way that's good enough for me.
Dragon Magic
Chapter 1
Taro gasped as he cut the connection with the Essence. He winced as feeling returned to his body, working through the cramps from meditating in one position for so long. As the Essence retreated from his body, Taro felt tired and hungry as he was forced to rely on his own meager energy.
In front of him, Orefar looked up as Taro pulled out of his meditation. Taro’s master reached for a cup at his side, shuffling over and offering it to Taro.
“You’ve been in a trance for a long time,” Orefar said. “How was it?”
“I…I don’t know,” Taro said. “The Essence has become so confusing lately. It’s like I can see it, but I can’t touch it.”
“What do you mean? The Essence is everywhere. Constant and always moving like the oceans themselves.”
“I know, but it feels like it avoids me, goes around me,
like a boulder in a stream,” Taro said.
Orefar frowned. “We all have our place in the Essence. Perhaps one day you will find it.” He glanced at the nearby, glowing diaphanous ball of light. It had shrunk considerably from when they first started, feeding itself on the Essence provided by Orefar. “It’s late. Perhaps you should go home and rejuvenate yourself before we attempt this again.”
Taro packed up his things and walked out onto the streets, feeling a little annoyed at himself. He glanced at the sky, the drab, gray clouds seeming to mimic his mood. Orefar thought it was mere inexperience, but Taro knew better—something was interfering with his ability to draw on the Essence.
What if…he wasn’t supposed to be a mage?
He shuddered at the thought. He had heard stories of children who displayed immense magic powers as younglings, only to have their power die out by adulthood. If he lost his magical abilities, what would happen to him? He had been separated from his family at the age of 3—Orefar and the clerics of the church were his family, but without the government’s payment to encourage his magical development, they wouldn’t be able to care for him. He turned 18 in less than a moon, and then he’d be on his own.
As he approached the monastery, he noticed a dying plant on the side of the road, its flowers wilted and leaves grayed. Taro reached out, closing his eyes and breathing in the Essence.
