by Mac Flynn
He shrugged. “I expect I’ll be taken to the station and tried for the disappearance of Mr. Blake, though without a body they can’t convict me of murder.”
Maggie furrowed her brow. “But. . .but will they find out you’re a werewolf?”
Adrian sighed and nodded. “Undoubtedly. My beast manifests itself often when I’m under strain, and a long incarceration will be a great strain.”
Maggie wrapped her arms around herself and bit her lower lip. “Then. . .then you won’t be coming back?”
Adrian closed his eyes and shook his head. “No.”
The young woman felt a tinge of pain in her heart. She pursed her lips and hung her head. “I. . .maybe I don’t want that to happen to you.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Even though I am guilty of his death?”
She cringed. “I. . .I know that, but I still don’t want you to leave. Especially not that way.”
He grasped her shoulders. She looked up into his smiling face and shimmering eyes. “Then you will agree to help me?”
Maggie sighed, but nodded her head. “Yes, if I can.”
He grinned. “I’m sure you can.”
9
Adrian pulled out the wallet and handed it to her. “Study his face and focus on changing my face to his.”
Maggie opened the wallet. Inside were the usual spare dollar bills and credit cards. Nestled among them was Blake’s driver’s license. Even in that photo he smirked. She studied his face and her eyes flickered up to Adrian as he waited patiently in front of her.
“So I just need to focus on you being him?” she asked him.
He chuckled. “Something like that. The resemblance will only be skin-deep.”
Maggie furrowed her brow and squinted her eyes at Adrian as she tried to imagine Blake’s face on his body. She started back when her body began to glow. The light vanished.
“Focus and don’t be afraid of the light,” Adrian scolded her. “It’s only your powers manifesting themselves.”
She pursed her lips and studied the photo again. The light returned to envelope her. “Don’t be so pushy. This isn’t as easy as it looks.”
“Maggie.”
She glared at the dark face in the picture. “What?”
“Maggie, look up.”
She raised her eyes and gasped. Adrian stood in front of her in his impeccable suit, but his face belonged to Blake. Maggie started back and gaped at the strange match of body and head.
He spread his arms and grinned at her. “Does this look not suit me?”
Maggie glared at him. “No, it doesn’t.”
“Then you prefer the old look?” he teased.
She blushed. “M-maybe I do, but the head is too small for your body.”
Adrian glanced down at himself. “I believe you’re right, but it can’t be helped. Fortunately, our foes need only see my face and recognize it as that of Blake for this ruse to work.”
Maggie raised an eyebrow. “What kind of ruse are we doing?”
He flashed her a smile. It was unnerving being presented with that unfamiliar face but the familiar sly grin. “The simplest kind. I will impersonate the late Mr. Blake, at least from the neck-up, in his car and when certain we have fooled the authorities into believing he is alive his vehicle will have an ‘accident’ at the cliffs around the bay.”
“You’re sure this will work?” she asked him.
“There’s only one way to find out.” He strode to the door and paused with his hand wrapped around the knob. Adrian turned to her and grinned. “If this doesn’t quite work out to my plans, I at least have the comfort in freeing your father of suspicion.”
Maggie bit her lip. “Adrian, I-” He shook his head.
“There’s nothing more to say except goodbye.” He stepped into the hall and closed the door behind himself.
Maggie listened to Adrian’s footsteps down the hall and the stairs. She sighed and glanced around the room.
“Master!” Albert yelped.
Maggie stiffened. The footsteps in the hall returned and the door swung open. Before her stood the true figure of Adrian, face and all.
He stepped into the room and pursed his lips. “It appears we have a dilemma.”
She furrowed her brow and shook her head. “I don’t understand. What went wrong?”
“The spell began to wear off when I closed the door, and Albert was kind enough to inform me of when my face reverted completely back,” he explained. He walked up to her and grasped her hands in his as he looked into her eyes. “If this plan is to succeed, you must come with me.”
The color drained from Maggie’s face. “Come with you? In the car?”
He nodded. “Yes, but we’ll keep you hidden. The strain of hiding two people behind a magically-induced mask would no doubt be too much for your new skills.” He squeezed her hands and smiled at her. “Are you willing to come with me on this adventure?”
Maggie swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. “I-I’ll come.”
“Excellent.” Adrian grasped one of her hands and pulled her toward the door. “Then let’s be off.”
Adrian led her down the stairs and out the front door. The weather outside had changed for the worse as morning slipped into a gloomy afternoon. The smell of rain lingered over them as they turned left to the ivy-covered, stone-effaced garage that flanked one side of the house. There were two solid garage doors. Adrian pulled out a remote and pressed a button. The second door slid open and revealed the red car with the unique license plate. Blake’s car.
Adrian grabbed a dusty sheet off a bench to the right of the car. “The floor and this cloth should make a good hiding spot for you.” He gave the cloth a good shake. Dust flew everywhere. He coughed. “I must scold Albert on his negligent garage cleaning. You’re not allergic to neglect, are you?” Maggie shook her head. “Good. Now let’s get you on the floor in the passenger seat.”
He opened the passenger door and stepped aside. Maggie climbed onto the floor and he draped the sheet over her. A few quick tucks and he shut the door behind her.
“Flatten yourself as much as you can against the floor,” he instructed her.
Maggie squished herself against the floor and underneath the glove box as much as she could. “How is that?”
“You imitate a bundle of sheets quite well,” he teased. Maggie felt him climb into the car and seat himself. He slammed the door shut behind him and started the engine. “Now let’s hope this won’t take long to attract notice.”
He started the car and pulled out of the garage. They bumped down the driveway and onto the main road. Maggie cringed as Adrian picked up speed along the winding road.
“Do we have to go so fast?” she asked him.
“It’s better to attract notice,” he pointed out. “And sheets shouldn’t talk.”
“But nobody can-” Sirens alerted Maggie to trouble.
“Stay down,” she heard Adrian whisper to her. “It’s a police car. I’m going to pull over and see if I can’t fulfill this charade. Whatever you do keep quiet and stay hidden.”
Adrian pulled over to the side of the road and the cop car followed. The lone cop stepped out and walked over to his car.
The blue-suited stranger leaned on the door and smiled at Adrian. “Could I see your license and registration, please?”
Adrian pulled out the wallet from his back pocket and the registration from the glove box. “Is there a problem, officer?”
The officer took the items and studied them. His grin grew wider and he shook his head. “Nope. In fact, you’ve helped me a bunch.” The officer leapt back and drew his gun. He pointed the barrel at Adrian. “Step out of the vehicle, Blake!”
Adrian started back and blinked at the cop. “Why do I-”
“Just do it!” the officer barked. Adrian opened the door and swung his legs out. “And put your hands where I can see them!”
Adrian raised his hands above his head and stepped out. Maggie raised the blanket and watche
d the two men face each other. “If it’s about the last couple of days, I can explain where I’ve been,” Adrian assured the cop.
A smirk curled onto the officer’s lips. “
Maggie gasped. The officer frowned and looked past Adrian. “What the hell was-” Adrian let out a deafening roar and lunged at the man.
The cop let out a scream and raised the gun. A third eye opened in his forehead. Adrian grabbed the barrel and pushed the gun away from his direction. The cop fired off a shot before Adrian shoved him to the ground. The man didn’t have time to let out another scream before Adrian grabbed his head and snapped his neck. The third eye disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The corpse dropped to the ground.
Adrian stood and stepped back. His foot sank into a puddle and he glanced down. His true reflection stared back at him. Adrian’s eyes widened and he spun around to face the car. The blanket on the floorboard had a dark red spot on its otherwise clean surface.
“Maggie!”
10
Maggie shut her eyes and winced as another spasm of pain dug into her wounded shoulder. The stray bullet had struck her and gone straight through into the lower part of the car door. Her arm felt like it was on fire. Tears streamed down her cheeks and dropped onto the blood that pooled beneath her on the floor.
Adrian rushed over to Maggie and knelt in front of her. He threw off the blanket and grasped her arms to hold her still, but a shriek of pain from her had him remove his hands. Adrian grabbed her shirt and tore the sleeve in two to reveal the bleeding hole.
“It hurts,” she whimpered.
“Hold still,” he instructed her.
Adrian removed a leather pouch from his coat and pulled out a small vial. A thick red liquid floated inside the glass container. He popped the cork. A pungent, acidic odor wafted to her nostrils.
Adrian scooted closer to her and held the vial out so she could see the contents. “This is my blood. It has fast-healing properties that will help you.”
Maggie wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “N-no.”
He held the vial closer to her. “You won’t change into a werewolf with such little blood.”
Maggie tried to squirm away from him, but her wound gave a sharp complaint that made her hold still. “I don’t want it.”
Adrian pursed his lips. “The damage to your arm isn’t life-threatening, but you’re losing a great deal of blood. It could cause other complications.”
She glared at him. “I said no.”
At the word ‘no’ her hands lit up with the brilliant blue glow of the mirror’s power. Maggie felt a small, soft presence slip into her mind. Its tiny voice echoed inside her thoughts.
Press your palm against your wound.
Maggie blinked and glanced at Adrian. “Did you say something?”
He shook his head. “No. What did you hear?”
She pursed her lips and glanced down at her hand. The glow pulsed with energy. She pressed her shaking, glowing hand against her wound. There was a sharp pain before the light flowed from her hand and into the wound. A soft heat pulsed through her wound like a cool drink down a parched throat. In a few seconds the light stopped the bleeding and mended her flesh, stitching the skin together so that it looked like the accident had never happened.
Maggie sat up and poked her arm with her finger. There was no pain. She looked at Adrian who’s lips were pursed. “Did you know I could do that?”
His eyes flickered from her wound to her face. “We should leave.”
He scooted back to stand. Maggie frowned and grabbed his coat sleeve. She caught his eyes in her firm gaze. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Back at the house,” he promised. He glanced over his shoulder at the dead man. “Presently, we have a crime scene to manufacture.”
Maggie reluctantly released his arm. He helped her out of the car and directed her to stand near the trees. She watched as he dropped Blake’s wallet near the dead man. Then Adrian started the car and spun it around so there were tire marks on the road. He pointed the car slightly at an angle to the road so it was pointed at the cliffs.
Adrian pulled out the floor mat bloodied by her wound and tossed it Maggie’s feet. “Hold that,” he requested.
Maggie picked it up and frowned. “Why?”
“Because the police might find it in the crash, and trace it to you,” he pointed out.
Adrian slammed on the gas pedal so hard it stuck. The tires screeched as they burned against the ground before the car leapt forward. Adrian leapt out and rolled onto the ground.
“Adrian!” Maggie yelped as she rushed over to him.
He stood and brushed himself off as they both watched the car speed down the road. The angle meant it veered off the road and over the cliff. They heard a terrific splash as it impacted with the water and rocks. The pair strode over to the edge of the cliff and looked down. The waves crashed over the remains of the red car, swallowing up the smaller bits and rusting the hulking, bent body.
Something hit Maggie atop her head. She glanced up and watched as the first falling of rain came down on them.
“And thus ends one obstacle,- Adrian whispered before he turned to Maggie, “-and begins another.”
She frowned back at him. “Another obstacle? What aren’t you telling me now?”
His sly smile slipped onto his lips. “You mean besides how we’re to get back home?”
“We could just-hey!” He’d swept Maggie into his arms. She glared up at him. “I can walk!”
“But I run much faster, and this way I won’t have to answer your questions until we arrive,” he pointed out.
“That’s not f-ah!” Maggie yelped as he sprinted forward into the woods.
She clutched the mat to herself and herself to Adrian as they sped through the forest. The trees flew by like shadowy splinters. The path he took was a shorter route than the road, and in a few minutes they arrived at his dark abode. Albert opened the door for them, and Adrian set Maggie down in the hall.
“I will take possession of that,” Adrian told her as he plucked the mat from her hands. He held the mat out to Albert. “Dispose of this with acid.” Albert took the mat and bowed. Adrian returned his attention to Maggie and swept his arm toward the stairs. “Ladies first.”
She glared at him, but led the way to his chambers. The French doors were shut, but the patter of rain could be heard on the glass. Shadows lingered in the corners of the room and Maggie’s heart. She eyed her lover with suspicion as he followed her into the room.
Adrian shut the main entrance behind them and gestured to the pair of chairs before the crackling fire. “You might want to sit down for this one.”
Maggie obliged him and took a seat. He stood at his usual place by the mantel and leaned one arm against it so he faced Maggie.
Adrian cleared his throat. “I haven’t given you the entire history behind how I acquired the mirror, nor
“Didn’t a woman give it to you?” she guessed.
He nodded. “Yes, but not just any woman. Her name was Alicia, and she was a powerful sorceress. They called her the White Witch of the Soul because her particular abilities used and influenced the souls of living creatures.”
Maggie arched an eyebrow. “Any living creature?”
Adrian gazed into the fire. “Yes. Plant and animal. She was a wonder.” A tiny smile curled onto his lips. “I first met her as I stumbled through the woods after one of my less controlled transformations. She was healing a deer wounded by a hunter. The creature ran off, but she stayed.” He chuckled. There was no mirth in the sound. “I was a mindless beast, but she stood her ground and stared at me as though I was a spoiled child.”
“Very astute of her,” Maggie quipped.
Adrian sighed. “Perhaps, but her challenging stance provoked me. I lunged for her. She shot me with her magic as you saw the wizard attack us, but there was no harm in her spell. She merely immobilized my body and coaxed my human mind from the bitter depths of the monster.”
Maggie furrowed her brow. “You speak of her in the past tense. Is she-?”
Adrian straightened and turned his whole body to face her. “She is not dead, but in order to save herself against a powerful foe she separated her soul from her body. Her soul once resided within her favorite mirror. A family heirloom, if memory recalls.”
Maggie’s eyes widened. She pressed her shaking fingers against her chest and stared into Adrian’s eyes. “Her soul. . .the mirror. . .me?”
He bowed his head. “Yes. The power within the mirror was no mere product of an incantation. It was Alicia’s very soul.”
Maggie shook her head. “But I. . .how do. . .what does this mean for me? For both of us?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea, except that I have two very good reasons for protecting your body.”
Maggie blinked at him. “Two? What are they?”
He grinned. “One is two protect both your souls, and the other is to enjoy your delicious body.”
The young woman frowned. “This isn’t funny. I didn’t ask for this trouble and-” He held up his hand.
“I understand what you mean, and tonight’s confrontation with the officer only proves your words.” He cupped his chin in his fingers and furrowed his brow. “It seems this brotherhood is quite interested in my affairs, and the first one did mention something about my soul.”
Maggie’s eyes widened and her pulse quickened. She grasped the front of her coat and hung her head. When she spoke her voice was soft and low. “What if it isn’t your soul they were after?”
Adrian arched an eyebrow. “What do you-” He froze. His eyes settled on the shivering young woman. He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. “I see. They were never after my soul, but thought that perhaps I held Alicia’s being within me.”
Tears poured from Maggie’s eyes as she wrapped her arms around herself. “They’re after me. They want to take the soul that’s inside me and-” A loud laugh interrupted her ruminations. She whipped her head up and glared at Adrian. “There’s nothing funny about this!”
“That’s it! Get mad at me! Yell at me!” he challenged her. Adrian swooped down and grabbed her hands. He pulled her to her feet and swung her around the room in a dizzying dance. “Do anything but feel scared and sorry for yourself!”
