by Joe Fowler
“Come on, you have to translate. What are the dogs thinking?” Keith was sounding excited about it.
“Well, that dog said, ‘woof, grrr, arf! Arf!’.” I couldn’t resist doing that to Keith. The girls were laughing pretty hard. “The dog playing fetch was like ‘run like to run got ball give master master threw ball run run like to run ball ball’. That’s what he was thinking when he was playing.”
“Is it really fun to them, though? It seems so boring.” Crystal asked.
“Oh yes, he was enjoying every second of it. He would do that all day if he could.” It was a weird feeling watching a dog and knowing what was going through his mind.
Alicia called all the dogs in this pen over to her. In summary their thoughts were like, ‘big dog big big dog say come I come I good dog’. She started by having them line up side by side in a straight line across from her. It was funny listening and watching at the same time. Alicia would say ‘sit up straight’ and each dog would do something different. She would say ‘roll over’ and the dogs that understood that command would try but usually rolled into a dog who was trying to roll the other way. I was laughing too hard to translate most of the time.
The dog owners had no clue what was going on and started getting worried. One by one the dogs were called away by their owners. We decided to leave so we wouldn’t cause any problems. We piled back into the car. Alicia turned back human as soon as we were out of the parking lot.
“I can’t believe you could hear them like that.” Alicia was talking and trying to get dressed at the same time.
“Is there anything normal about him anymore? Normal for human, or for wolf?” Keith was saying it with a little different smile than what I was used to. It was almost like he was proud that I could do all these things, whether it made me freakish or not.
“Not really.” Crystal leaned forward before continuing. “You used to be too normal. Now nothing quite fits.”
She didn’t mean it in a bad way but it hit home. Nothing quite fits. Will I ever fit in anywhere again? I was a freak even when I was with other freaks. I no longer fit as human, demon, or werewolf. I couldn’t even fit in with a normal psychic, if there is such a thing. I felt really out of place.
“I know. I’ve gone from being the most average person around to being the most abnormal of the freaky.” As I said this, I decided to try to take a more positive attitude about my freakishness. Some of it was actually turning out to be useful. “What do you guys want to do next?”
That started a debate. Food, movies, the beach, and to play pool were all suggestions. The sun was setting for what could be the last night of my life, and we had problems with indecision. We decided to eat first and decide where to go from there. Someone suggested Applebee’s and the rest agreed.
We laughed and talked through the meal. Alicia answered the endless questions that Sarah and Crystal threw at her. Keith and I mostly just watched and listened. It was amazing how comfortable we had all become with each other. It was fully dark by the time we left the restaurant.
The parking lot was packed to overflowing at the movies. I let Keith and the girls out with enough money to buy our tickets and popcorn and went to find a parking space. I drove around for a minute or two without any luck, but then I saw a car backing out of a spot near the fence line. I got the spot and got out of the car. That was the first time I ever smelled a vampire.
I wasn’t sure what it was I smelled. It was a sickly sweet smell, like flowered rot. I sniffed a few times trying to pinpoint where and what it was when I was jumped from behind. I threw off my attacker and as I turned toward him I saw a second attacker just before he hit me from the side. I planted my elbow into his face as he rushed me. That was when I took a good look at what I was fighting. They were extremely pale and thin, with long hair and black eyes. While their features could be seen as attractive to some, these were not the romanticized beautiful creatures that were so prevalent in movies and on TV at the time.
“What are you?” Attacker number one asked me.
“Your killer. Are you guys’ vampires?” I had to ask just because I wasn’t sure.
“Yes. You smell like a wolf, but there’s something else. Something in your blood calls to me like nothing I have ever felt before. I will drink you dry tonight.” This was attacker number two.”
I was amazed at how calm I was. I was fighting two vampires and my heart rate was still normal. To make it easier I will just call them Mr. One and Mr. Two from here out. Mr. Two came at me swinging with his claw-like fingernails. I avoided and hit him with a left hook and turned with an immediate right hook to an oncoming Mr. One. Mr. One hit the ground shaken. Mr. Two tried to grab me but I grabbed one of his arms and twisted it behind his back. I was in shock, thinking how am I doing this? That was when it occurred to me that I didn’t know how to kill a vampire. Since I didn’t think he would tell me if I asked, I decided to try decapitation. Then I had the problem of figuring out how to do that without a sword or knife. Where is Buffy when you need her? I knew I could knock their heads off if I was in my wolf form, but I had no more clothes and these would be shredded if I tried to turn when dressed. I doubted they would give me time to undress mid fight, they didn’t seem the sporting type.
Then I remembered how Seth had only partially turned when he bit me. I pulled the image of my human body with my right arm in wolf form and tried. Yes! I took a good aim and swiped the vampire I was holding across the neck knocking his head clean off. He fell to the ground limp and headless. Mr. One saw this and growled at me. He tried to get in close enough to hit me but I grabbed him by the neck with my wolf claw. Another dilemma, if I was holding him with the wolf claw hand, then how could I knock his head off? I decided to see if I could just tear his head off. I put my left hand on his shoulder and ripped at his head with my wolf claw. The head came off. It was really gross.
So, then I was standing there wondering what to do with the bodies. I started to drag Mr. One away but his leg came off. Each time I pulled an appendage it came right off. I was throwing the body parts between my car the fence. It wasn’t long before all that was left was the blood. I looked down expecting to see my clothes torn or so soaked with blood that I wouldn’t be able to go inside, but there were only a few blood splatters. I started walking to the theater and just happened to remember to turn my arm back human before I got close enough for someone to see.
“What took you so long?” Alicia asked when I got to them, but her reaction to the smell of the vampire blood answered her question. “There was a vampire?”
“Two of them. They attacked me as soon as I got out of the car.” The reactions were almost comical. Sarah and Crystal had gaping mouths where their jaws had dropped. Keith was smiling and looking me over to make sure I wasn’t hurt. Alicia looked like she wanted to hug me but the smell was keeping her away. “I killed them, or it seems like I did. Decapitation works on vamps right?”
“Yes, if you take their heads off they start to decay right in front of you. The older the vampire, the faster the decay.” Alicia was telling me this through her hand that was covering her face to block the smell.
The smell was really awful for us, Alicia and me. Keith and the girls didn’t seem to smell anything. I excused myself and went to the bathroom to see if I could get rid of some of the stench. I took my shirt off and ran water through it, put some soap on it, scrubbed it, then dried it under the hand blowers. It was better, but the smell wasn’t gone.
We watched the movie, just another action flick with Jason Statham. Like most movies of this kind, it was enjoyable but you wouldn’t remember it tomorrow. This restarted the chick flick debate between the girls and the boys. We spent the trip back to my house discussing movie genres.
As soon as we were at my house, I headed up for a washcloth and a clean shirt. It was such a relief to be rid of the vampire smell. I listened to see what the others were talking about downstairs. They were trying to decide what to watch on TV. A large part of me w
anted to spend all the time I could around my friends but my nerves were starting to get the better of me. I just had to believe tomorrow would work out the way we needed. I gathered my courage and went to join the others.
While Keith and I had been friends since childhood, I had never had a group of friends like this to hang out with. Over the last two weeks I had found the kind of life I really wanted. I had this central group where love and laughter were in abundance. I had the werewolf pack for extended family. My mom had even come around to start acting like a real mother some of the time. Alicia was the crown jewel of it all.
“When do you guys graduate? I’m still having trouble with the fact that my boyfriend is still in high school.” Alicia smiled. “I feel like I’m robbing the cradle or something.” This triggered another round of laughing.
“May twenty-fifth. We will be free finally.” Sarah said while she pulled Crystal closer. “We’ve been trying to figure out work and college to see if we could support ourselves well enough to live together. It is too soon now, but maybe around Christmas or the New Year, we could live together if we are still this happy.”
“That’s wonderful. I hope it works out that way.” I said. Alicia and Keith were saying it at the same time.
“What about you, Keith? What are your plans after school?” Alicia asked.
“I am headed to Tuscaloosa to play football at Alabama.”
“Roll Tide!” Was timed perfectly by the girls and me, which made Alicia laugh. There was more talk of what we would all like to do over the summer. Mostly it was just friends relaxing. We were having such a nice time that it surprised me when Sarah and Crystal stood up saying they needed to go.
“Come on Keith, I will give you a ride home.” There were hugs all around and positive wishes for tomorrow.
“We were having such a nice time. I wonder why they all left.” Instead of talking Alicia pulled me down for a kiss. I got the hint.
With an actual bed and more time to spend, we got to do things the right way. We started out with me kissing every inch of her, but what started out as lovemaking turned into hot frenzied sex soon after. After several rounds we were little more than two smiling puddles of sweat. If this was my last night, it had been perfect.
We took a quick shower and got dressed. As much as we would have loved holding each other until morning, I had to take her home before my mom came back from her summoning ritual. I drove slowly, not wanting the night to end. Eventually we did make it to Seth’s house. Alicia told me I needed to tell Seth about the vampires I had killed. He usually tried to keep whatever city he lived in free of vamps.
“Hey Seth.” I said as we neared the front door. He had opened it when we got out of my car. I couldn’t tell how many, but there were other members of the pack here.
“Hey. You two have fun?” Seth was smiling.
“Yep. Josh killed two vampires tonight too.” Alicia’s words took the smile off of Seth’s face.
“Where were they?” Seth was angry.
“At the movie theater. They were in the parking lot waiting for victims, I guess. When I parked they attacked me. They seemed to really love how I smelled. Anyway, they weren’t too much trouble for me.” I was trying not to make a big deal about it.
“Were you able to change in time?” Seth asked.
“I didn’t change. Well, I remembered what you did the day you bit me. I partially changed. I was handling them fine but figured I needed to decapitate them. So I imagined my human form with my right arm being like it is in my wolf form. It worked. I knocked one’s head off and ripped the other one’s off.” While I was talking, several of the pack gathered around Seth to hear about a vampire attack.
“You didn’t tell me all of that.” Alicia sounded mad.
“I didn’t want the girls to have to hear that stuff. I had planned on telling you later.” I said it hoping to keep her from being angry with me.
“Come inside, Josh. There is a lot more to what you just said than you know.” Now Seth was sad. What the hell?
He sat me at the table in the kitchen. The rest of the pack gathered around us. Alicia sat by my side, shaking. Whatever this was it seemed awful serious. The tv had even been turned off in the living room.
“Normally, only purebloods and very old wolves can partially change. Even purebloods have to wait a while for that ability.” Seth took a deep breath before he continued. “It is the mark of an alpha. When a wolf reaches the age to be able to partially change, usually around one hundred fifty years, they are forced to leave the pack. No pack can have two alphas.”
“No. I just became a part of this pack. I don’t want to lose you guys.” I was floored. There went my perfect night.
“I am so sorry, Josh. We will still be there tomorrow to help deal with this cult, I promise you that. I will help you get established somewhere after all of this is over.” I did a double take after Seth’s last statement.
“Wait, what do you mean somewhere?” I was scared now.
“It can be dangerous to have two packs living near each other. No matter how friendly the two alphas are, the wolves from each pack develop animosity towards each other. It’s inevitable. We have rules that have to be followed to keep the peace.” Seth was pretty clear.
“Is there no other way? Mobile is all I’ve ever known.” I was reaching, I know, but it hurt just thinking of leaving.
“The only other way would be to challenge me. The winner would gain control of the pack and the territory.” Seth hated to even say it.
“There’s no chance in that. I am grateful to you for all that you have done and are doing to help me. I can see how good of a person you are. I could never challenge that.” I felt a tear fall down my cheek. Alicia had been crying since we sat down. She had known what the partial change meant.
“I didn’t think you would. I know this is a shock to you. I wish there was another way.” I could tell he meant it.
“So if all goes well tomorrow, how long before I have to leave?” This was still so unbelievable.
“Two weeks or so. I will give you what time is allowed. Like I said I will help you find somewhere to establish yourself, too.” Seth stood up after he said that. I knew that meant it was time for me to go.
“Thanks, Seth. I will see you tomorrow.” The other pack members patted me on my shoulder as I walked toward the door. I looked back once to see Alicia still at the table crying her eyes out.
The drive home went quickly. I was numb. I hoped to stay that way. How much more could I stand before I buckled? I didn’t want to think of anything, it hurt whatever direction my mind went. Maybe dying tomorrow wouldn’t be such a bad thing. I made it to my bed, but that only reminded me of Alicia.
Chapter 13
I woke Saturday morning resolved. This was the day, one way or another. I got out of bed and got dressed trying not to stop long enough for all of the pressure to hit home. I had faced a lot of changes over the last two weeks. I could last through one more day, I hoped. Backing down was no longer an option.
I headed downstairs not knowing what to expect. I didn’t want to use my visions, thinking it would be better for my reactions to be normal. My hearing told me someone was in the kitchen and that was where I went. It turned out to just be Mom sitting at the table.
“Good morning, Mom.” I said in passing on my way to the fridge.
“Good morning, Josh. Happy birthday. We have company.” Her voice sounded a little strained but I pretended not to notice.
“Anyone I know?” I asked as I grabbed a coke and pop tarts.
“Your father is here.” Her voice almost broke.
I turned and stared at her, not really sure what to say or how to act. Obviously I was expecting this, but how would she expect me to act when confronted by him? Turns out, stunned silence worked just fine.
“I know this is a shock to you.” She stood and walked over to me when she said this. “He wants to meet you.” She looked scared, resolved, and conflicted all at t
he same time. I probably didn’t look much different.
“Okay.” I was wondering what else to say when I heard him approaching from the other room.
He was just as I had seen him in the visions; tall, black hair, black eyes, muscular, and worst of all, the sense of pure evil emanated from him in force. He stopped a few feet from me and inspected me much the same as I was him. Personally, I didn’t give a rat’s diuretic ass what he thought about me. The silence stretched out and became uncomfortable. I decided family gatherings weren’t my thing.
“Hello, Josh. I know this must be a shock to you.” His voice was deep and menacing. “I am sorry it took eighteen years for us to meet.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry if I seem impolite but this is a little more than I expected this morning.” I finally managed to say something. The evil coming off of him was suffocating.
“I imagine it is.” He actually laughed a little. “Today is going to be a big day for both of us. Just relax and we can get to know each other.” He took a seat at the table and I followed his lead, sitting across from him. I wanted a little distance to make sure I didn’t come into contact with him.
“What do I call you? No offense, but it is hard to call someone Dad when we are just meeting.”
“Understandable. You can call me Adam. I come from an old fashioned family and my real name is harder to pronounce and a little archaic.” He smiled at what he thought was an inside joke.
“Adam.” I nodded as if to say that name will be fine. “How long will you be here? Are you passing through or are you here to stay?” It was taking all of my self-control to keep from attacking him. Maybe it was the demon in me waking up because of him. I just couldn’t help it. I wanted to poke the bear. I realized I would not be able to stay in his presence for too much longer.
