by James McCann
Rancor had once thought those measures enough to protect himself.
He now had to accept, because of his own supernatural powers, that those superstitions were false prejudice. He was, after all, a werewulf and no wolfsbane harmed him. Neither did the full moon make him transform, nor had he ever desired to eat a man’s flesh. So how, then, could he believe that a cross or garlic would turn away a vampyre, or even that the beasts could not come out in the daylight? If the vampyre legends were as false as his own, and this vampyre had a taste for man, then these mortal villagers were as good as dead.
His own powers made him feel responsible for ending this demon’s terror. But, by making a life with Ariana, had he not chosen a life of peace and forsaken battle? Supernatural or not, was it not his duty to stop the carnage?
“I meet you well, friend,” a voice said.
Rancor glanced up to see a medium-sized young man smiling at him. He was pale, with long brown hair filled with mats. His dirty clothes looked well-traveled. When he sat he grunted, as if ending a long journey. Rancor would normally welcome the company, but tonight he had too much on his mind.
“Ya met well, but I fear solitude is ma companion tis night. Please forgive ma impudence.”
“My name is Rafgard–”
“Please, sir,” he tried to remain patient with this man, “forgive ma impudence. But . . . I have no need of company. Find yaself another table.”
Rafgard slowly inhaled a long breath of smoky air and sighed, smiling wide. “I am not the one you hunt, Rancor of the Wulfsign.”
Rancor sat up straight at the mention of his name.
“Don’t be so surprised that I know you. After all, when a man hangs on the gallows and doesn’t die, that legend spreads fast.”
Rancor laughed away his fear. “And woy would you think I was hunting you? Are ya hunting me?”
“I am not hunting you. Like you, I am vampyre hunting.”
“Per’aps a man as frail as yaself should consider a mead, instead.”
“I would, instead, care for a glass of milk. Even if it is from a goat.” Rafgard leaned back in his chair and stared, smiling all the while. He rested his hands on his empty, growling belly and asked with a sorrowful tone, “Are you curious why alcohol has no taste?”
“I t’would like the story,” Rancor replied without thinking, sounding much more eager than he would have liked.
“The alcohol is a toxin. A poison, if you will. Your body–our bodies–cannot be poisoned.”
“Do ya take ma for an ignorant fool? Do ya expect me ta believe ya noy the murderer?”
The barmaid came around with more mead, but this time Rancor declined. She shot him a scornful look. She glanced at Rafgard, who mouthed, “Milk.” Then the barmaid left the two immortals to stare at one another.
After some time had passed, Rafgard added, “What if I told you that I am a brother to the vampyre who murders so freely? And that I have come to help you fight him.”
“I would ask woy a man such as you would care.”
“I know the rules of your brethren, my friend. I also know the bane of mine. Regret is powerful, and in one who lives forever it is the worst curse of all. I think you may help me lift my curse, and teach me redemption.”
“How?”
“By teaching me how to be a good man again. I once was one–until someone made me this. The things I have done, the things I have lost, are simply too much for me to bear for eternity.”
“Do you truly believe that no one’s loss is equal to your own?” Rellik asked Sam. “Are you so lost in that demon’s drink that you believe the loss of your wife has earned you the pity of the world? My pity is extended to your daughter. For not only did she lose a mother, but a father as well.”
The mention of Alix seemed to release Sam from the grip of madness. His face softened and he slumped back down onto an unopened crate.
“I’m sorry, Rellik. I do need your help.”
Rellik nodded and walked back to the door. He turned the Open sign to read Closed, grabbed a broom, and set to work.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Several hours after the sun had set, Carl lay upon a picnic table with his gaze locked on the starry sky. The moon, unlike the sun that offered Earth its warmth, stole away the heat and shrouded the world in surreal light. It called upon thousands of specks to rejoice in its rule.
But night did not completely belong to the moon. For, as the angels came, they streaked the heavens with white, green, pink and gold, setting Carl’s thoughts ablaze. The northern lights brought him back to a time of innocence when he believed he could hear sprites singing to the beat of the dark, angelic dance.
Minitaw offered many places where he and his friends could let their imaginations roam, or more accurately, many places they could intoxicate their imaginations. Carl took the last swig from the bottle Simon had stolen from his parents’ liquor cabinet.
Simon and Betty lay together on the grass with their legs locked in a lover’s hold. Their kissing was the only sound louder than the crickets.
Alix lay on the picnic table beside Carl. She was close to him, her shivering body pressed tight against him. They both stared at the magical heavens, each lost in their own world of contemplation. Carl wasn’t sure what to make of Alix; she just wasn’t like other girls. Most of the time she seemed interested in him, but she didn’t play the game quite as easily as, well, Betty. He reached for her hand and felt it go rigid. She even sounded like her breathing stopped, but slowly she relaxed and intertwined her fingers with his.
“You cold?” he asked her.
“I’m okay,” she answered, not understanding his intent.
“You sure? ’Cause if you are, I could put my arm around you and keep you warm.” He couldn’t remember a time when he had to be this obvious.
“Uh, sure,” Alix answered. She lifted her head as he swung his arm beneath her and pulled her closer. He hoped to get her face near his so he could kiss her, but she kept her gaze locked on the stars. It wasn’t helping things, either, that Betty and Simon were practically screwing in the grass just yards away.
“Do you two mind?” Carl shouted.
“We’re only kissing,” Simon shouted back.
“Whatever you’re doing, it’s bugging me. Besides, with the amount of cops goin’ by, you’re going to get caught.”
Simon stirred, taking his gaze away from Betty. “What else is there to do? You finished the bottle we brought.”
They all covered their eyes as another cruiser flashed its lamp at them. An officer called, “You kids see anything?”
Carl rose, fighting the urge to give the cruiser the finger. “No, we haven’t. Maybe if you come back in two minutes instead of ten there’ll be a dead body.”
“Don’t get lippy, kid,” the officer warned as he drove away.
“Well, I’ve certainly had it,” Carl said and hopped from the table. “Anyone else for Mr. Chips?”
He offered Alix his hand for support. She said, “It’s dark and cold. I didn’t exactly dress for this wind, so I’m up for Mr. Chips.”
“Mr. Chips it is,” they all said in unison.
Simon and Carl led as they walked down the highway, with Alix and Betty lagging behind. Betty asked, “What’s your problem?”
“What?”
“What? What do you mean, ‘What’? You got Carl, baby. He’s tall, handsome, and wanted by every girl in school. If you’re not careful you’re going to lose him.”
Betty hurried to take her place beside Simon. He wrapped his arm around her waist and she kissed his cheek, glancing back at Alix.
Carl waited to let Alix catch up. He walked so close that he banged his shoulder into her, and their hands kept brushing until she let him catch hers. He was the boy everyone at school wanted to be around, and she knew she owed her popularity to his affection. But over the past few days she was seeing a side to him that she just didn’t like. The fights, the arrogance, and the fact that she couldn’t sha
ke that image of him kissing Betty.
After a long, brisk walk, the gang finally arrived at Mr. Chips. The warmth was welcome, and with a wave of their hands they signaled Bob to cook their usual.
“Hey kids,” he shouted, throwing several patties onto his grill.
Mr. Chips was a popular place this brisk night. Fred sat at a table in the back, his nose engulfed in a textbook and a half-eaten burger on a tray. He pretended not to notice the gang, but Alix saw his eyes peer over the book and quickly dart back down. Betty glared at her before the thought to invite him over even entered Alix’s mind.
Rellik had also come. He sat at a booth near the middle of the restaurant, his back to the front door and shoulder pressed against the glass window. He was dressed in his heavy leather coat and had on the dark shades that hid his eyes. No thoughts to invite him to sit with them entered Alix’s mind, but she was curious to know how things had gone at Sam’s store. Had Sam actually opened it, or was Rellik here because Sam had gotten drunk and given up again?
Not wanting her fears turned into reality, Alix chose to just ignore Rellik.
Carl entered the seating area first. He gave Rellik a hard glare as he passed by. He was still holding Alix’s hand, and she felt a sharp pain as he tightened his grip for a second. They sat in the booth directly behind, with Carl and Alix’s backs to Rellik, but both facing Fred.
Betty and Simon sat facing Rellik, with their backs to Fred. They were acting so indifferent to Rellik’s presence that it was obvious it bothered them. But all he did was wolf down his meal.
“Earth to Alix,” Fred said, waving his hand over her eyes. She hadn’t even noticed when he walked to their table.
“Oh. Uh, hi, Fred.” Alix didn’t know what to say. Carl and Simon were giving each other looks and nudges, snickering as they mimicked Fred’s nervous facial expressions.
“I’m going over to talk to Rellik,” Fred said, as he glanced at Carl and Simon. Then, straight at Alix, he added, “I’m surprised you aren’t curious about how things went at your dad’s store.”
“I’m curious! Maybe I just don’t want to talk to the weirdo.” She rolled her eyes at him, even though it made her feel awful to speak of Rellik like that.
Carl said, “Maybe I should go over there and ask the freak how things went. He and I are due for a conversation.”
“No!” Alix said far too quickly. “I mean–well, I am curious to know how things went tonight.”
Alix inhaled deeply and got up. Carl, Simon, and Betty were all staring at her with grins that meant they expected her to somehow ridicule Rellik. If she really wanted in with this group she knew she’d better do it. But that would also mean including Fred in that ridicule.
She wasn’t completely sure what she’d just got herself into.
Following Fred, she sat opposite Rellik in his booth and said, “Hi.” She blushed, glad that Fred had sat beside her. “How–how was work?”
Rellik looked at the pair sitting across his table. His brow furrowed, and he let out a long sigh. “It went well. Your father is a good man.”
Rellik continued eating. Alix nudged Fred to leave. She’d got the information she needed, and now she was done.
But Fred cleared his throat and shoved his hand before the stranger. “I’m Fred.”
Rellik looked quite thoughtful, but neither accepted nor offered his own friendly gesture.
Fred took back his hand and rose from the booth. “You’re welcome to join us,” said Fred.
Then they left Rellik and went back to their table. Fred took it upon himself to sit beside Betty.
Alix watched Simon’s eyes dart around the room as fast as his thumbs twiddled. She hoped that whatever Simon’s insidious mind concocted, it wouldn’t concern Rellik.
Meanwhile, Carl was glaring at Fred. She wondered if he would keep his temper in check.
“Boy, Carl.” Simon spoke just barely louder than his foot tapped, his devious tone shattering Alix’s hopes. “First that Rellik guy breaks up your fight, and now he moves his turf into your hangout. I hear he’s telling everyone how he woulda kicked your ass if you hadn’t chickened out.”
“And just who is this ‘everyone,’ Simon?” Fred sounded angry. “Consider first that he has no friends in Minitaw.”
Alix knew how Fred had figured out if Simon was telling a lie: by listening to his foot tap. Carl turned red from a mixture of shame and anger, and Alix knew he was beyond reason. If only, she wished, Carl knew when Simon was using him as bait for entertainment.
“Did you see the way he looked at me?”
“An amazing trait you have,” Fred said, as diplomatically as possible. “Wish I could tell someone’s intent through their dark sunglasses. An even more admirable one to see his look with your back to him.”
“I’m gifted, all right? Why don’t you go hang out with your other friends, you nerd? Oh! That’s because you got no friends!”
Betty squealed at the prospect of another fight. She pulled out her iPhone and started recording. The kitchen bell rang. Fred took that jingle as a welcome escape, and very clumsily clambered out from the bench into the aisle.
As Fred took his leave, Simon continued playing Carl. “So why don’t you go teach him a lesson? Scared?”
Carl breathed hard and glared at Simon. If it weren’t for the fact they’d been best friends for years, he probably would have beaten him up. But instead he looked at Alix and said, “Baby, I got to go put that freak in his place.”
She didn’t want to move. She didn’t want to see another fight, at least not one between Rellik and Carl. But what she wasn’t certain about was whether or not it was Carl she worried about, or Rellik. Feeling Betty kick her beneath the table, and seeing her mouth the word “Move,” Alix slowly got out of the booth.
Carl spun to sit opposite Rellik.
Alix’s heart leaped into her throat as she watched Carl act on Simon’s challenge. She wished she knew exactly what he intended to do–and how Rellik would respond. She rubbed the bottom of her nose.
Rellik didn’t appear to care one way or another. He just started on his second burger, drawing his breaths in timed, even strokes. Carl acted just as calm and cool, leaning back in his seat. He spoke loudly enough so the rest of his gang could hear his bravado.
“So. You’re a fighter?” Carl chuckled before and after the word fighter.
Rellik said nothing.
“Hey! I’m talkin’ to ya, buddy.”
Rellik suddenly looked up and glared, his shades glowing a dim hue of scarlet. Carl looked behind him. He saw Simon give him two thumbs up, and Betty making her movie. He looked to Alix, who was biting her upper lip.
“Are you giving me another mean glare, Rellik? Why don’t we find out by taking off these shades?”
Carl reached for Rellik’s shades, but Rellik sprang with lightning speed and grabbed the jock’s wrist. As they stared at each other, Carl clenched his free hand into a tight fist. He waited for Rellik’s next move. All the stranger did was let go, and sip on his Coke.
“Get away from me,” Rellik warned. “I’m eating.”
Alix rose from her seat and sat beside Carl.
“C’mon,” she whispered so Rellik wouldn’t hear. “Leave him alone.”
Rellik stopped eating when Alix looked at him. His furrowed brow lost its tension. The darkness in his features lightened. It saddened her that he obviously thought she was a part of Carl’s foul plan.
“I’m not doing anything!” Carl bellowed in defense. “I’m only trying to talk to the freak!”
Rellik smiled–and Alix knew he was aware of her innocence. Knew he knew she wasn’t part of Carl’s plan.
“That’s it,” Carl mumbled. He acted quickly, throwing a punch at Rellik’s jaw, hoping to catch him off guard. But, without any noticeable effort, the stranger caught the punch with his free hand. With his other, he continued to eat.
Tears welled in Carl’s eyes. His face distorted in Rellik’s powerful grip.
The outsider, heedless that his captive struggled in vain, finished his burger and slowly rose to stand. Rellik sneered, as if he wanted to break the jock’s fist. But when he looked at Alix, his demeanor lightened.
She again met his lonely gaze through the mirrored glasses, and somehow knew he held back from fighting for her. She almost wished he wouldn’t. Rellik grabbed his sunglasses, but didn’t remove them. Half-smiling, he released Carl’s hand without harm.
Carl watched as the new kid shuffled from the booth to leave. Rellik’s dark features bore no expression as he walked toward the exit. Carl pushed past Alix to rush up behind his enemy. He grabbed Rellik by the shoulder.
“I’m not through with you yet!”
Alix dashed behind Carl, grabbed his shoulder and yanked as hard as she could.
“Leave him alone!”
“What’s your problem?” the jock yelled, releasing Rellik and turning to Alix. Without realizing how close she stood, he slammed into her and knocked her to the ground. Rellik stood perfectly still, keeping his back to Carl.
But when he heard Alix hit the ground, even though it had been an accident, he turned with a devil’s scowl.
He spun and side-kicked his adversary squarely in the chest. A shout of air exploded from the jock’s lungs as he hit the hard floor. Rellik waited for Carl to move. He didn’t.
Rellik reached out to help Alix up. Then he sighed and turned, heading out the door without uttering a single word.
“When a human shares love with a Wulfsign, she will be reborn one millennium from her first birth. Should that love be rekindled, it is said that both mortal and immortal shall grow old and die together. Both shall join the other’s soul in Heaven.
“Many of my brethren opt to live forever rather than grow old with love. But I am not among them. I am among those who have loved so deeply that I would relinquish forever. I am among those who believe there is more to life than just seeing another tomorrow.
