Six Times a Charm

by Deanna Chase

  “Rylie, the police are here and need to know if you are all right in there. Please let us in so we know you’re doing okay. No one is going to hurt you, I promise. Remember, were only here to help.” Jack spoke in his official doctor-like voice again. Because of that, I felt like a two-year-old who had locked herself in the bathroom. The way he addressed me was absurd, an insult, really. The best thing I could do, I figured, would be to ignore Jack.

  “Rylie, it’s Jen. Can you let us in? We’re not here to hurt you.”

  Oh, for heaven’s sake. It sounded as if there was a standoff going on. Next thing, they’d have a negotiator call me on the phone.

  “Ma’am, this is Detective Peters.”

  Oh no, Detective Smooch-a-lot was on the scene. No doubt Jennifer had called him. Whispering came from the hall, which sounded like Jack’s voice. I guess he explained to everyone about how loopy he thought I was. Probably using some of his fancy words to define my terrible disorder. I could picture them huddled around planning my fate—deciding which mental institution to stick me in. Well, sorry for them, but I wasn’t going down like that. The knob on the door rattled and shook again.

  “Rylie, we’ll have to break the door down if you don’t respond. We need to know you’re all right.”

  Great. Another broken door. What had I done to deserve all of this? My life had been so normal before, and now there wasn’t a single normal part about it. Well, werewolf normal. One thing for certain, I needed to get out of there, because I didn’t doubt them one bit. They’d knock the door down in a heartbeat. With the full moon soon to be exposed, I knew it would be a wild and, in my opinion, horrendous night out there. I never liked being a part of the mad world this night brought. That’s why I’d always stayed barricaded in my house. Only coming out for a natural disaster was my policy.

  Dusk surrounded me and there was still enough light to see clearly. I didn’t want anyone to see a werewolf roaming the streets of the French Quarter. Most of the time werewolves didn’t come out until dark to keep a low profile. Werewolves end up in the pound by going out in the daylight. Someone had to adopt them just to get them out—kind of like bailing them out of jail.

  I couldn’t just get in my car and drive away, either. What would people think when they saw a wolf driving a car? I’d have to hide out until darkness fell, but where, I had no idea. But even after that, I still didn’t delight in the idea of roaming the streets all night.

  When the next day spilled over the horizon, I’d be out of my werewolf form and then I’d attempt to think of something—anything to straighten out the mess waiting outside my office door. At the moment, I decided on the only choice I had left: sneak out the window and hide until I could slip away unnoticed. I prayed they wouldn’t snoop around for me and discover a wolf instead. The sounds of even more people carried from the hallway, and I heard them discussing busting down the door. It was time for me to move on. I padded my way back over to the window, unlocked it and gave it a big shove up with my paws. Not an easy feat, trust me. I didn’t have full-on paws, but my hands didn’t work the same. Having werewolf fingers was a bitch.

  Grunting as I climbed onto the ledge, I eased my leg over the edge of the windowsill. I crouched my torso under the window and slipped the other leg over. With my head poked out, a noise sounded from my left side. I glanced up in the direction where it seemed to be coming from. Creepy Neighbor was making out with someone on his balcony. How disgusting and vile. If it hadn’t been for drawing attention to my hairy self, I’d have yelled, Get a room. Immature of me? Probably. But someone needed to tell the guy to stop his public make-out session. The guy gave me the heebity-jeebities, there was no denying that. Lucky for me, my office was on the first floor, so a jump from the window would be an easy one, especially as a wolf.

  Chapter 19

  How to Date a Werewolf Rule # 19:

  Let your date know you think growling is sexy.

  Once I’d landed with my paws securely on the ground, I hopped up in one swift motion and looked around. I didn’t want anyone to see me. When all four feet hit the pavement, and the evening air surrounded me, my skin began to itch even more. I glanced down at my arm and watched as dark hair spread over my once smooth skin. I winced as I ran my tongue across my teeth, and felt the sharp fangs filling my mouth. If only I could put it off and not transform. My bones cracked loudly. Claws erupted from the tips of my fingers. I brushed loose gravel off my fur.

  With my senses heightened, I glanced over my shoulder and shook my tail. Yep, it was back, as fluffy and bushy as ever. It would take me forever to clean the grime off my body after a night of prowling the streets. Instead of enjoying a relaxing spa visit, I’d need a flea dip down at the local dog groomers. It was still about an hour until dark and I had time to kill. The fur covering my body grew hot and all the more tingly. I was more than a little crabby. Who wouldn’t be cranky while wearing fur in this kind of heat?

  I slithered over to a line of large trash cans and planted my butt behind them. What I was going to do for the next hour was beyond me. I guess twiddling my paws could be an option. Too bad I didn’t have a book to read or something. A newspaper, perhaps. What I wouldn’t do for an issue of US Weekly. Heck, I’d even welcome an Enquirer. Bet you’ve never seen a wolf reading a book before. It’s quite a funny sight, let me tell you.

  I devised a plan: when the sun faded over the horizon, I’d scramble out and attempt to find a pay phone to call my parents. Where I’d find one, though, I had no idea, because they were scarce nowadays. Everyone carried a cellphone. Mine rested inside my office, where the police, Jack and Jennifer now looked for me. They were probably going through my purse at that very moment, checking out my razor and shaving cream, without a doubt. That should tell them something. Why else would I carry a razor?

  I sat behind the cans for what seemed like an eternity. Creepy Neighbor and whoever was stupid enough to be up there with him were moaning. It literally hurt my ears to hear the sound. I peeked my head over the top of the trash can and caught my breath at the sight: Jack emerging through the window. His arms ripped with muscle, flexed as he hoisted his body out. Even though I was angry with him, I still couldn’t ignore his good looks. The rest of the lynch mob went the long way around, out the door and through the building. All of them called my name. It echoed off the surrounding buildings. It sounded as if they searched for a lost dog. I ducked back behind the can and held my breath, waiting for them to vamoose. I covered my mouth with my paw and hoped they wouldn’t hear or spot me. If they did, I’d probably be sitting in the dog pound within no time. Imagine the pound workers shock in the morning when they found a naked woman in one of their cages instead of a huge, wolflike dog. How would I explain something as wild as that?

  Jack roamed around the back courtyard, scanning the area before coming to a rest, standing right in front of the trash cans. He was so close his steady breathing tickled my ears and I sniffed his heavenly aroma too. I sure didn’t want him to find me. He scanned the area looking for any sign of me.

  My heart thumped with anticipation. My breathing was so loud, thanks to my muzzle, I was sure he would hear. All grew quiet. Did he sense something? Jack hoisted the trash can away and there I sat, visible to the entire world. But it wasn’t the entire world I was worried about. Jack was the one I cared about. Jennifer stood beside him at that point, and their eyes widened at the sight of a wolf.

  “Oh my God. It’s that dog again,” Jack yelled.

  “Call animal control!” Jennifer shrieked as she ran along the side of the building away from me. Jack backed away and looked around on the ground, I assumed for a weapon to defend himself from the ferocious dog.

  With all my might, I tossed the trash can to the side and ran over to the fence. With one huge leap, I scaled the sucker as they all watched in shock. Never had I wanted to get away from a scene so badly. It felt as if it was a witch hunt and I was in a run for my life. The only things missing were pitchforks and torch
es. I moved so quickly, darting through the alley, I doubted anyone could see me. To be safe, I needed to stick with the alleyways until complete darkness. The sun had set and it wouldn’t be long now.

  After several minutes of running as fast as my legs would allow, I gasped for breath, needing a rest. A few blocks from my place, I sat down behind another cluster of trash cans. The smell emanating from them was rancid. I was filthy and itchy and pretty sure I’d picked up fleas already. How did those little pests latch on so quickly, anyway? My stomach growled. I hadn’t had dinner and turning into a werewolf always made me ravenous. If only I could run through the McDonald’s drive thru. What I wouldn’t give for a hamburger right then—fries and a chocolate shake too.

  With visions of steak floating through my head, I somehow missed the fact someone approached me.

  “Ouch.” I let out a screech and hit my leg on the trash can when I jumped. “You scared the hell out of me. Who are you?” I clutched at my chest.

  You’d think I would have been on high guard and jumpy after recent events. But I guess I was too hungry at that point. I couldn’t think straight.

  “Hiya,” the tiny voice said.

  Leaning back, I held out my front paws in case I needed to prepare for a fight. A hairy oversized werewolf sat perched beside me, joining me behind the row of trash cans. She wore pink Capri pants and a matching short-sleeved top. The outfit was cute, minus the hair sticking out from her body. My clothes were always ruined when I wore them as a werewolf. This chick also wore these darling diamond hoops in her ears. I’d been longing for a pair like them for quite some time. Why she was in the alley with me, I had no idea.

  “My name is Amy Shaw.” She smiled, exposing her short fangs as she spoke.

  “Rylie. Nice to meet you.” I stuck out my paw and she smacked it with hers.

  “What brings you here?” Amy asked. “I didn’t expect to see any werewolves hiding behind a trash can.”

  “I was gonna ask you the same question.”

  “It was awful. I had a date with this werewolf dude. He turned out to be a real jerk. He couldn’t keep his hands to himself. I hate the touchy-feely type. So I took off. I needed a place to hide until I could make my way home, you know. So here I am.”

  “I was seeing a non-werewolf,” I offered.

  Visions of Jack floated through my mind. I was disappointed, to say the least, to know he thought I was mental. There were perks to dating a werewolf: you didn’t have to hide your real self from them. And that’s what dating was all about, being yourself, right? I told everyone else that, yet I didn’t follow my own advice. It was no wonder I had a curse placed on me. I deserved it.

  Amy pursed her big hairy lips. “Oh…” She understood what a pickle I was in, and why I hid behind a trash can without me telling her another word. “That sucks.”

  “Yes, it does suck. He’s looking for me as we speak. He thinks I’m crazy. He even convinced my roommate I’m nuts.” I wiped a tear from my cheek.

  Why was I sharing all this info with her? A complete stranger. I suppose I had nothing else to do. Emotions overflowed and made me chatty.

  “Thinks you’re insane, huh? I’ve been through it before. It really sucks. I’m sorry to hear about your roommate too.”

  At least someone felt my pain, even if it was a total stranger. Thankfully, darkness finally set in as I sat beside a werewolf in hot pink pants. The moon let off a shining glow through the alley. The smell lingered and made me want to vomit. At least it kept me from thinking about how hungry I was.

  “So what do you do, Rylie?” Amy smiled and then brushed dirt off her pants.

  “I own Get a Mate dating service. Ever heard of it?”

  “Get out of here. I was going to come by there before I met Keith.”

  “Really? Is Keith the guy you just ditched?” I turned to look at her.

  “Yeah. What a loser.” She held her head down.

  “So it sounds as if you need to come by and see me.” I chuckled.

  “I do.” She giggled. “As soon as we get out of this hell I’ll stop by.”

  “What do you do?” I asked. It was nice to have someone to chat with and waste the time. Even if it did suck, sitting behind a trash can in an alley was better than roaming the streets with the rest of the paranormal riffraff.

  “I work at a salon not far from here.”

  When I was about to ask the name of the salon, out of the corner of my eye, I saw them approaching us. The glow from the streetlight allowed me to see their ugly mugs.

  I leaned closer to my newfound friend and whispered, “It looks as if we have company. And not the kind of company we want, either.”

  She whipped her head up to gaze across the alley. I motioned with my head, pointing them out. Without a second thought, I jumped up from my huddled position and poised my body in a fighting stance. Amy followed my motion. Brave girl.

  I didn’t want to let the same thugs who had been following me around, for I don’t know how long, see any fear in me. The two goons stood shoulder to shoulder in the alley as if they were blocking us from getting out of there. I didn’t know what they wanted, other than possibly to kill us. Poor Amy, I didn’t want to get her involved. She didn’t know me and didn’t deserve that fate just because she had stumbled into my zany life. It was obvious she had a big heart and was a sweet girl.

  “What do you want? Take a hike and leave us alone,” I yelled.

  They both had the same smirk on their faces. They made a point of displaying their fangs. Another lame scare tactic. I swear, if I was accosted one more time. Ugh.

  “You,” the uglier one with the chains said. He exposed his fangs, making sure I got a nice view of them. They were insanely white and the moon beamed off them. Why they wanted me, I had no idea. And I didn’t know how well Amy could fight, either. I wasn’t sure if I could take both of them on by myself, but it looked as if I was going to have to give it a try.

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t want you. And I’m so not flattered that you want me.” I smirked.

  “Oh, so you think you’re cute?”

  I snorted. “Maybe.” I didn’t like their nasty attitudes. Amy stood silent, but she had moved even closer to me, standing behind my back, as if I would be able to protect her somehow. I felt her heavy breathing on the back of my neck.

  “Once and for all, we’re going to do away with you.”

  Amy let out a little whimper.

  “Oh, is that right, toilet bowl breath? I don’t think so. I’m sick and tired of you following me around.” I shot them the most evil glare I could muster. “I’d like to see you try.” Staying brave was the only way to act.

  I needed to think quickly. Amy probably wouldn’t be much help I decided, and the best thing she could do was to run.

  “Amy,” I whispered, “you need to run. I’ll distract them and you make a run for it. Get out of here.”

  “I can’t leave you here to fight these idiots.” Still being brave, how sweet of her.

  “You have to. I’m not going to fight them, but the best bet is for you to run.” I prayed she’d listen to my advice. I didn’t know how ugly the situation might get.

  “But I can’t leave you alone. Should I—”

  “Go now. And don’t look back.” I nudged her and pointed discreetly in the direction she should run. “Just get out of here.”

  With a moment of hesitation, she took in a deep breath, then turned and ran as fast as her legs would allow. I barely saw the pads of her paws hit the ground as she loped away.

  “Your little friend couldn’t handle it, huh? We didn’t want her, anyway, although she would have probably made a tasty dessert. She’s a smart woman to get out while she could.”

  “I can handle both of you by myself.”

  The other one laughed, as if I’d just told the funniest joke he’d ever heard. A real knee-slapper.

  “Come on over here and we’ll see how well you handle yourself.” He cackled.

&n
bsp; “You disgust me. You’re a pathetic excuse for a werewolf. You give all of us a bad name.”

  “Boo-hoo. Your words hurt me so,” he taunted.

  Wiseass.

  “You barely escaped the other night. We have you cornered now. There’s nothing you can do and nowhere to run. So give up peacefully, whatdaya say?”

  “Why don’t you go back to the rock you crawled out from under?” I hissed.

  “That’s not very original.” Werewolf number one with the Mr. T chains thought he was a know-it-all.

  I shrugged. “Whatever. I’m only trying to use words you morons can understand. You know, not the big ones.”

  He had a point. My comment wasn’t good in the put down department, but whatever… I was so sick of encountering these guys…sick of everything going on in my life. If Lily wanted me out, maybe I’d give her that wish. I just wanted things to be back to normal: changing once a month, munching out in front of my TV with steak and lots of hair. No big deal, really. I’d learned to deal with it over the years. It was kind of relaxing, really. Instead, I was in the middle of an alley with flea bites, stinky trash stuck to my fur and two werewolves who wanted to eat me for dinner. I needed to think of a way to get out of the situation, pronto. If I could distract them, then I could run away. I knew from the other night they couldn’t run fast and would never catch up with me. I needed to think quickly and formulate a strategy.

  Lying on the ground next to the trash was an empty beer bottle. The best plan that came to mind was to pick the bottle up and fling it at one of their heads, causing a diversion. Not the best plan ever, but it was all I had. I selected the creep closest to me for the honor of having a bottle tossed at his head. In one motion, I reached down, cupped the bottle with my paw and pitched it as hard as I could. Thud. It hit the one with chains right upside the head. He let out a loud squeal and clutched his head as he fell to his knees. The other one grabbed his partner in crime and helped him on his feet. That would teach them to try that crap with me. They’d pushed me to my limit. When backed into a corner I always came out fighting.