by Raquel Paiva
“I will indeed go. But I can tell you right now that it was the same type of attack. When I saw that young dead girl this morning, I had no doubts about it.”
“Well, I'm going to ask the doctors to come with us. In the meantime, I will give orders to our men to be on watch in shifts all night. If you are right and one of those monsters shows up tonight, it shall be caught.”
“Yes, captain. May they all be equipped with silver knives or bullets. If what I studied is right, it is the only thing capable of killing these creatures.”
Captain Nogueira nodded in agreement.
Night was falling. Lúcia saw the men patrolling the streets in groups of four through her window. They were heavily armed, which gave an enormous sense of security to all the women and children still living in the village. Captain Nogueira had been relentless. They would walk in groups of four and sleep in two-hour shifts. If they suspected anything strange, they would immediately wake up the men who were resting. The strangest thing to Lúcia was that they did not carry normal weapons. They carried silver weapons. She couldn't help wonder why and feel worried. What if Luvinus showed up and they killed him? The moon was still in its last quarter, Luvinus would still not be strong enough. Was silver able to kill a creature like the giant wolf she had met the night before?
Pedro had been away with the captain and had not even had dinner. Lúcia did not expect his return any time soon and thought that when Adélia went to sleep, she would go to the backyard wait for Luvinus. Her house was only guarded at the front, if she managed to slip out through the back and walk into the forest, she might be able to speak to the giant wolf. She had more questions to ask him.
Meanwhile, Pedro Fernandes, Captain Nogueira and the three doctors - Dr Carlos Pereira, Dr Francisco Alves and Dr António Mendes - were inspecting the body in the church’s morgue. Initially, Father Antero had rebelled against that body entering the house of God, but he had been strongly opposed by Captain José Nogueira who accepted no hindrances to the investigation. The morgue was the most suitable place for medical observation, they could not take the body anywhere else. Father Antero hurried to sprinkle the church again, so much so that he made small pools of holy water on the floor. Then he locked himself in his room to pray fervently.
After observing the body, Dr. Pereira was the first to speak. He was the oldest of the three doctors, his hair completely white but fair. He was not very tall, but he looked very respectable and it showed in the way the other two doctors treated him.
“This was definitely not done by wolves or bears, you and soldier Fernandes are very right about that. No doubt it is a more ferocious creature. Furthermore, a wolf or a bear would not rape a woman or child.”
The doctors had discovered something even more disturbing and shocking than the very violence with which the girl had been killed. They discovered blood and wounds around the girl’s genital area. The creature had raped her before killing and devouring her.
Pedro confessed his conclusions to the doctor, including what had happened in his family. All three doctors nodded.
“If all this folklore about werewolf attacks is true, then it is very likely we are about to face one, if not several.” Dr Mendes concluded.
“Yes, and we are still at the beginning of the moon’s last quarter. They are not too strong yet.” Dr Alves added.
“So it seems that we are all entirely in agreement.” the captain concluded. “Now we have to set up a plan to best defend ourselves and the villagers if we don't get rid of this creature before the Full Moon.”
“But there is something I don't understand.” Dr. Pereira observed. “I thought a werewolf only felt aroused on nights of a Full Moon. Why did it rape the girl when we are still in the first quarter?”
“She must have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. She must have been alone when it found her and because she was so helpless, it aroused its desire.” Pedro clarified. “There are reports of werewolves attacking young girls who were unlucky enough to cross their paths even before the Full Moon. A helpless young woman always whets werewolves' sexual appetite, especially if she is still pure.”
He found himself thinking about Lúcia and how urgent it was to protect her from that monster. He knew she still had to be a virgin, and if he didn't watch her closely, she might be the next victim. He had to get back to the house as soon as possible and not leave her alone overnight.
Luvinus wandered restlessly around Lúcia's house. Shorath wouldn’t give up on her but had finally realized what that strange presence was that had made him feel uneasy when he first found out about Lúcia. The alpha also felt the growing fondness the young man felt for Lúcia and didn’t like the idea that the soldier might have her before he did. He didn't want to wait for the Full Moon to go after Lúcia, so the night before the arrival of the men, he approached the village in search of the young girl. That’s when he smelled it. It was coming from the soldier’s belongings, that wretched metallic scent. Silver. So that man knew about werewolves and how to kill them. Shorath grunted, displeased and worried. He had heard conversations about more men arriving soon. If such was the case, then it was very possible that more silver was on the way. Attacking the village again would not be so easy before the Full Moon as the men would be prepared to face them. Frustrated, he prowled the village. He couldn’t go after Lúcia now because she was locked safely inside her home and that young man had silver bullets with him. Before the Full Moon, Shorath could be killed by a mere human if he was strong enough and had silver weapons. Furious and frustrated, he took revenge on that 12 year old girl before sunrise when she had gone to the church for shelter, unaware of his lurking presence.
“We will be more resistant to silver on a Full Moon. We just have to be patient.” he said to his pack, with an evil grin that would scare the most courageous to death, each of his sharp teeth revealing the evil dwelling in his spirit. He was now enraged at the audacity of those humans. The fearful alpha of the pack would not dare expose himself until the moon went completely round in the black sky, then he would show no mercy. He was very strong and capable of killing lonely girls, or an unarmed man, but robust men armed with silver weapons, only under the Full Moon could he face them.
Luvinus had been alarmed for several reasons. If the relentless Shorath feared silver so much that was because it was somehow lethal to werewolves. Their own lives were in danger. As much as he deplored his brothers, himself and his damned existence, he still felt he could not die before he found answers to his questions. And he definitely couldn’t die before making sure Lúcia was safe. Shorath wanted Lúcia, although he had not mentioned her again. Luvinus had to protect her. He had to speak to her that same night, even if it meant being captured by the men who had just arrived from Lisbon. He approached her house shortly after the sun dipped behind the mountains. He felt the men close by and hid behind some bushes. He could feel her presence inside the house and could even hear her conversations with the maid. He also knew that Pedro was not at home and that made him even more uneasy, as Lúcia was completely helpless. When night finally fell, he heard her come down the kitchen stairs and knew she was coming to meet him. He could hear the men talking in front of the house, but he had to talk to Lúcia. Finally she showed up and walked towards him.
“I can't stay long.” she said, huddled in a brown shawl. “But I have so many questions to ask you.”
“We indeed do not have much time but have a lot to talk about. Let's just walk away a little, Lúcia, because if they find me, they can kill me with silver. I promise I won't hurt you and I won't let anyone hurt you.”
He took a few steps forward until he reached a small clearing, from which Lúcia's house could still be seen. She followed him. They sat on the floor. Lúcia looked at him and watched in amazement as the eyes of that creature were still so human despite everything else looking so frightening. She realized why she wasn't afraid of him. Because she was able to see the human being behind that scary grey fur.
/> “Can silver kill you?” she finally asked. “These men are armed with silver weapons that they brought from Lisbon.”
“Yes, even my alpha is worried. He tells me little, but indeed silver is deadly for those like me.”
“Was it your alpha who killed that girl by the church door?”
Luvinus sighed.
“It was him. He was enraged when he found out Pedro had silver because it definitely means he is aware of our existence. And the one thing, besides fire, that can kill us is indeed silver. Shorath felt the men coming so obviously he knew more silver was coming too. He will now wait for the Full Moon to come here with my other brothers to attack and...” He swallowed hard before continuing: “Unfortunately you are in his plans. He wants you.”
“Me? Why?” the young woman cried in fear. “What kind of creatures are you? I also think Pedro knows more than he shares with me.”
“Pedro wants to protect you, just like I do. Stay indoors as much as possible and never go out alone. I myself am not sure if I can defend you on a Full Moon. Her power on those like me is immense, we lose control. I don't even know if you'll be safe from me.”
Lúcia was unable yet to grasp the seriousness of the situation. Apparently, another creature like her friend knew of her existence and wanted to have her. She looked up at the sky. The moon had increased a bit in size since the night before. However, Luvinus still looked harmless, despite his appearance.
“What are you? You look like a huge wolf, but you walk on two legs and talk like a human being.”
Luvinus bowed his head. His mind started to travel to the past, to the days when he was still young Ludovico living in a country hut with his older sister and his parents. Despite life's difficulties, he was much happier then than he was now. Curse the moment when he had decided to go face the wolves attacking his sheep. Rather let them die or kill him.
“A hundred years ago, Lúcia, I was a human being. My name was Ludovico and I lived with my family in a hut. We were very poor but happy. One day wolves attacked my sheep. These animals were one of our sources of livelihood and I took my sword and two watchdogs to go fight them. I thought they were normal wolves, but there was a strange creature among them. It was Shorath, my alpha. He killed my dogs and I fought him to the limit of my strength but I ended up exhausted on the ground. I thought he was going to kill me, but instead he grabbed me by my neck and lifted me up. I was exhausted and offered little resistance. Then he wounded himself in the chest and when his blood poured out he bit my throat. His blood started to flow through me. I thought I was going to die and at the moment I wish I had, but Shorath had other plans for me. He took my throat to his wound. The bloods mixed. I started feeling his blood coursing through me and I regained my strength. But then something happened. My body started changing. Hair grew on my skin, my face lengthened into this snout, I increased in size and I felt a tail grow from the bottom of my back. Then I felt my teeth and claws grow too. It was painful, so painful. But mostly painful for my soul. All my humanity screamed but was drowned out by an oppressive roar. But the most painful of all was yet to come. I’ve never fully understood exactly what I am, Lúcia. Shorath gave me the name Luvinus and tried to arouse murderous instincts in me. He said we are werewolves and that it is our nature. I have no desire to kill human beings, but I can never mix with them ever again. My own sister rejected me when I finally revealed myself to her.”
Luvinus told her how he had tried to help Beatriz and the misfortunes he had been through. He did not hide the cruel way in which she had died and how much he blamed himself for her unhappiness and her death in the flames. Lúcia listened to him with compassion. Finally Luvinus told her how he had noticed her and how he had watched her since her father's death, trying to dissuade Shorath from the idea of having and killing her.
When he finished his story the sky was completely dark.
“I'm very sorry, Luvinus. Death, in fact, would be preferable to this existence, and yet it seems that you cannot die unless attacked with silver weapons. But I would never be able to denounce you and have those men kill you.”
“Why not? I don't know for sure what it means to be a werewolf. Shorath has never told me anything. I don't even know if he knows what he is. Sometimes I have the feeling that something is being kept hidden from me, but when I ask he just turns away with contempt. Shorath simply lets go of his murderous instincts and I am sure he will attack the village when the moon is full, because he and my other brothers will be at their most powerful state. And there’s nothing I can do.”
“Maybe you should go your own way and look for others like you. It is time to leave Shorath and your pack and try to get the answers for yourself.”
Luvinus pondered on her words. Maybe she was right. He should have done that already, but he wanted to stay and protect Lúcia.
“I suppose you're right. But since I discovered your existence, I have decided to stay. You remind me so much of my sister Beatriz. I failed her, I don't want to fail you, Lúcia.”
Lúcia put her hand on his paw, which he stroked. She was the only human contact Luvinus had felt since that curse fell upon him, a hundred years ago. The touch of Lúcia's hand on his thick fur was so pleasant. He had almost forgotten what it was like.
“Your mission is not to protect me, Luvinus, even though I am thankful for that. You have to leave and try to find out what you are. I will be fine. Pedro is here and...” her voice shook with emotion when she said the name of the man she loved. “...and he will protect me. But you have to go. It’s for your own good. These men will not hesitate to kill you when they see you. I suspect that it was Pedro himself who found out that silver can kill those like you and advised the men to bring silver bullets and other weapons. I think he already knew about your existence. He's an intelligent man.”
“Pedro is a noble man and I know he will do everything to protect you.”
There was a moment of silence. Then Luvinus looked at the starry sky, and asked:
“Do you know what my biggest questions are? Am I a creature of God or of the Devil? I am not able to take pleasure in killing humans, yet I have murderous instincts. What is my origin?”
Lúcia watched him in silence. She had no answer. She herself did not know if she still believed in those two entities. She had been brought up, above all else, to be guided by reason and to make her own decisions without fearing dogmas or eternal punishment.
“I think we should all ask ourselves this question, Luvinus.” she finally answered. “Even us humans. We are all capable of good and evil, what makes us act one way or the other? Is it reason, is it emotions?”
“In my case, I can't understand. I think of right and wrong. If I wanted to put an end to my inner war and my suffering, I might as well let myself become a ruthless beast like my brothers. However, when I think of humans, I am not able to kill them. Perhaps some even deserve it, but who am I to judge?”
He turned to Lúcia and looked at her in the eyes.
“When I look at you, Lúcia, I see your innocence. I would never forgive myself if I inflicted pain on you. However, a few nights ago, I wanted you too. It was a horrible yet wonderful feeling. I felt all my senses awake, but I also knew that I didn't really want to attack you. I don't see you as possible prey, you are Lúcia for whom I feel affection and want to protect. I don't know if I was controlled by reason or feelings that night, when I chose to run away instead of attacking you. But I have to admit that I had to call on all my strength to control myself.”
“Those are beautiful words, Luvinus.”
The conversation was interrupted by a sudden noise coming from the bushes, not far from them. Luvinus immediately jumped to his feet, teeth bared and claws sticking forward. He sniffed the air and had no doubt that it was Shorath who was there. Lúcia hid behind him, fear taking over her. A huge wolf, bigger than Luvinus and far more vicious-looking and threatening appeared in front of them. It stared at Lúcia so fixedly that she shivered and clutched the fur on
Luvinus' back with all her strength. There was nothing human in Shorath's eyes. Nothing about him showed that he had ever been a man. His mouth snapped open, revealing sharp teeth. Shorath's cynical and sinister grimace. Lúcia felt her legs lose strength.
“That girl is so beautiful, Luvinus. So sweet and helpless. Thank you so much for getting her out for me. Young and virgin girls are always an appetizing dish and here I won’t have to worry about all that silver.”
Luvinus faced him, his hair rising in anger. He felt Lúcia’s whole body filling with dread, a dread she had not felt when she first saw the omega. She could scream and the men outside would immediately come to her rescue. They had silver and would not hesitate to kill this new werewolf. But that would also mean her friend would not be spared and Shorath was using this to his advantage. What to do?
“Don't you dare harm her, Shorath. You'll have to kill me first.”
Shorath did not take his eyes off Lúcia. They shone like flames, his spirit possessed by the will to attack. Luvinus started to retreat, with her still behind him, towards the Bastos’ house. Shorath noticed and moved forward, menacingly. When they were close enough, Luvinus looked at Lúcia from behind his back and told her:
“Run!”
Lúcia did not think twice and started running as fast as she could towards the house. She felt Shorath jump to go after her. Luvinus immediately threw himself against his alpha and the two of them grappled in a fierce fight, roaring, grunting and biting ensued. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn't look back or stop for a moment. She couldn't help Luvinus, even if the alpha killed him, the only thing she could do was run. Suddenly she heard a familiar voice calling her name. It was Pedro. He was in the garden looking for her. She carried on running and when she reached the backyard, she burst into tears. She hugged him with all her strength, sobbing.
“Lúcia!” he yelled. “What is going on? Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you. I was going to call the men soon if I couldn’t find you.”
