by Haven Handel
The sirens ended. It sounded as if they stopped at the bottom of the hill. I could hear car doors slamming shut.
Far from us and moving slowly, I was able to make out their forms. Two to one, we were outnumbered as the men rose over the hill, floating, eyes glowing red.
Cassandra stood by my side, surprised but, as always, unafraid. I grabbed her hand in mine.
“They’re men?” she gasped in a hushed whisper.
Until now, we had referred to them loosely as ‘spirits’, allowing our humans to picture the opponent as they saw fit. Anything was easier to imagine killing than a living, breathing man.
“They take over the human form, but they are barely human in this state. Better to not overthink it.”
“Like that… man? The one who attacked me?”
Jaw set, my teeth clenched. “Exactly,” I growled, my hand tightening around hers. “We shall both pretend that is who we fight. I will enjoy killing him a second time.” I glanced at my wife to gauge her reaction to the information I had just revealed.
Eyes widening, her mouth gaped. “You… killed him?”
“He didn’t deserve to live,” I said.
After a moment, she whispered, “Thank you, Deo.” Her eyes gazed into mine. There was a look of awe at the power I held. “I had a feeling, after you told me you can become a wolf.” Then a peaceful look of relief washed over her. Turning back to the advancing men, she asked, “And these men?”
“There are always a few casualties when defeating evil. These men were drawn to the dark. They will either destroy the innocent lives here and go on to destroy others, or we can stop them.”
“What are we waiting for?” Cassandra asked, fingers wrapping tightly around the handle of her blade.
“That’s my girl,” I mused, releasing my hold on her.
As the men grew closer, I could decipher distinct facial features. They were young men, dressed in uniform, their hair cut close to their scalp. Officers of the law gone bad, either through the hunger for power, corruption, or their own nature. There were very few dark cops, much fewer than people choose to believe. These men gave a bad name to the rest of the sacrificing, hardworking New York blue.
“Geeze,” Cynthia breathed from her position beside Cassandra. “Policemen? That’s intimidating.”
“Cool,” breathed Andrew. “I’ve always wanted to see how my moves would stand up to an officer of the law.”
Dolly threw her head back, curls bouncing, and gave a friendly laugh. Widening her stance in her pink, velvet jumpsuit, she said, “You go, Andrew. Show these demons what you’re made of.”
The air tensed as the red glow of their eyes came nearer.
Artem’s steady, low voice called out over the group, “Ready yourselves.”
Giving my wife a quick kiss, I left her, joining my pack. Gathering before the others, Artem, Baal, Xander and myself stood side by side. Facing the oncoming demons, we would be the first line of defense. As wolves. Alekos would stay human to communicate and protect his mankind. Draco would stay with Cassandra. I prayed we would not need to unleash Draco’s full power this evening.
The clicking of the metal clasp of enchanted belt buckles was the only sound in the night.
Along with the others, I wrapped my belt from under my right arm, clasping its buckle over my left shoulder. When the fourth belt clicked, our auras began to rise. An audible gasp came from behind us as the colors rose and melded, forming a protective cloud around us. I could see the spirits slowing their advance as a wall of smoke closed before me. I felt my feet rise from the ground.
What happens next, I never know. I have no memory of that delicate time, when my human body suspends between wolf and man. I only know when I am wolf, my mind is still Deo’s, but with a sixth sense almost. A feral, deadly, instinct to protect and survive. When I return, I am Deo, right down to my formal business attire.
The smoke cleared. I padded my paw at the ground, agitated by the sudden stench of the demons. I turned my neck up from the ground, shaking the fog from my fur and my mind. A powerful howl filled the night. Artem. Involuntarily, I joined in, our four voices rising towards the full Wolf Moon.
A loud hiss was heard, the faces of the officers tightening in agony. Their red eyes flashed brighter. A guttural growl rumbled low in my throat. Knowing Cassandra was behind me, I wanted to advance, but knew I must wait for Artem to make the first move.
Holding my frame as still as possible, tension ran through my four legs. My ears stood on end. The fur on my neck prickled on my skin. From the corner of my eye, through my thick fur, I could see Artem. The silver wolf was tentatively moving one paw forward.
Willing Artem to move, I gave a whine, the sound pathetic to my own ears. My paw scratched at the ground, impatiently.
I could hear the low voices of Cassandra and the others murmuring behind me as they marveled at our transformation. Alekos’ voice in an authoritarian tone they had never heard him use, commanded, “Focus.”
After a moment I heard his voice again.
“Get back, Cassandra.”
Turning my snout over my broad shoulders, I growled.
My wife gasped as my eyes met hers. Hands flying to her mouth, she gave a little noise I couldn’t understand. Something between shock and awe. I gave another low growl, and she took a step back.
Good girl. I’d hate to have to nip her.
Turning back, my eyes refocused on the enemy. The reek was so strong, I wanted to bury my nose in the dirt.
The imposing officers were now mere meters from us. They spread in a long line before us. Twenty in total. There was a grim smile on a few of their faces, their red eyes burning with fury.
When their strange voices rose, they spoke in unison. The sound of their high nasal voices made my ears stand at further attention. The screechy noise caused every hair on my back to stand on end. There was a terrifying cadence to their words.
“We have come for the one who breaks her vow. Give her to us and you may live.”
“Never,” Alekos commanded, his voice deep and clear. I felt a stirring within me, a longing for my wolf brother to be by my side. But the protector must remain with his mankind. “We will fight,” he said, ending his proclamation.
The hissing began again.
My paw instinctively went to my ear, my head to the ground. Artem bumped his shoulder against mine. I took my paw from my ear, straightening my spine. Giving me one look with his black, soulful eyes, Artem took off towards the demons. I flanked his right. Baal and Xander brought up the rear.
The loose dirt flew from beneath my paws, damp from the recently melted snow. We charged as a pack, heading straight for the officers.
Artem lunged at the largest one who stood in the center of the twenty, paws landing on his shoulders, teeth tearing into the flesh of the man’s neck. There was a guttural scream and a stream of blood as the demon hit the ground, Artem on top.
Tearing my eyes away, I focused on the two officers directly in front of me. Wanting to take two at once, leaving less for the others, I stayed close to the ground, hunching, waiting for them to come closer to me. When they were close enough for me to see the whiskers on their unshaven chins, I lunged, throwing a paw into the center of each of their chests. One went to the ground underneath me, the other turned quickly, letting my paw fall from his chest. Blood rushed from gashes from my claws, but he still stood.
Growling, I swiftly dug my teeth into the neck of the man I had managed to take down, severing the carotid artery. The metallic tang of blood filled my mouth. Leaving the body, I tracked down the one I had mauled. Losing blood quickly, he was easily dealt with.
Gathering my bearings, I looked around. I was standing alone. I counted seven bodies. Excellent, thirteen to go. That was when I heard the scream.
Turning, I leapt to my left, racing towards the group. In the chaos of kicking and fur, I couldn’t find Cassandra. Cynthia was before me, her hands shaking as she held the crystal in front of
her, petrified by the advancing demon. The scream had been hers; I was sure of it.
I knew her reflexes were lightning fast; I had seen it with my own eyes. She could fight this battle. Taking a chunk out of the calf of the officer, he fell to his knees. Catching my gaze, Cynthia froze for less than a quarter of a second before she acted. Taking two steps toward the kneeling officer, she thrust the purple crystal straight into his burning eye. A sound like the release of a steam valve was heard as a fog lifted from his empty eye socket. The crystal turned to ooze, and a velvety violet spill flowed down his chest, burning and decimating his skin.
Smiling, Cynthia looked at me, proudly. Her dark eyes left mine, and the smile dropped from her face as she looked over my shoulder. Her hand lifted to point as she called, “Deo, watch out!”
The pain tore into my shoulder, blinding me momentarily as I heard my tendons tearing.
Gathering myself, I waited for my sight to return. Panting, I turned, snarling at my opponents. There were two officers, floating before me, one with the blood of my body dripping from the reaper’s hook he held.
The injury stopped me from moving my left foot forward. I could take on one; I could not take two. Suddenly, Cynthia was by my side. “Take the one on the left,” she whispered, then bravely, she leapt in the air, holding the crystal out in her clenched fist. As she brought her arm down, the officer wrapped his hand around her outstretched arm.
I could watch no longer; the hook was tearing towards me. Dodging the point of the weapon, I howled in pain as I put weight on my injured side. The demon, anticipating my weakness, came again, at my good side. I wanted to shift my weight, but I was unable to do so. I had to retreat. Limping backwards, I kept my eyes on my attacker.
From the corner of my eye, I could see that, though holding her ground, it was taking all of Cynthia’s energy to keep the fight evenly matched. Again, she tried to strike the demon with her crystal, again he blocked her move.
I continued to slink backwards, weighing my options. The red eyes of the demon burned brightly as he continued forward, the silver of the hook glinting in the moonlight. Suddenly, my back haunches jolted as they bumped against a tree. Unable to move forward or continue my retreat, I was trapped.
My only choice was to lunge, timing my move to miss the impending hook. The chances were slim that I could pull off such a feat. The only alternative was death.
I sensed a presence by my side, detecting the scent of a human male. It had to be Andrew. My heart sank and soared that he had come to my rescue. Could it have been anyone other than the pup I had chastised for lunching with my wife, then ridiculed in the courtyard with my overeager sparring? Would he come to my aid, or watch as I was hacked to bits?
Unable to take my eyes from my opponent, lest he make an abrupt move, I stood, waiting.
A branch waved in front of me, threatening the demon. Inwardly, I groaned. Not the branch again.
The demon had a look of amusement mixed with disgust on his face. I couldn’t blame him.
“Here, here,” Andrew called, stepping in front of me, waving his ridiculous weapon.
The officer slashed at the wood with his blade.
But the pup had a plan. He was using the branch as a ruse, anticipating the officer’s move. As the officer brought the blade downwards, Andrew quickly threw the branch to the side. Though the target was gone, momentum kept the hook on its trajectory, the force causing the weapon to bury itself into the soft earth.
The demon’s face crumpled in frustration. The moment of confusion Andrew had created with his trick was brief, but proved long enough for Andrew to finish out his plan. The young man came in with a roundhouse kick, much like the one I had used on him in the courtyard. Andrew’s booted foot struck the jaw of the bewildered demon. A loud crack could be heard echoing through the night. The reaping hook fell to the ground with a thud.
Taking two, limping steps towards the fallen officer, I sank my teeth into his neck, tearing through the flesh and the tendons. Finished, I turned away from the bloodied body.
No longer able to stand, I lay in place. My sight was leaving me, the pain blinding me again. With tired motions, I took my teeth to my buckle and unclasped it. My eyes closed as the familiar red cloud surrounded me.
When I came to and the smoke had cleared, I saw Andrew kneeling by my side. His golden hair was in a disarray, there was a streak of blood on his face: his or mine, I wasn’t sure.
“You okay, dog?” he asked, a youthful grin on his face, his blue eyes gleaming from the thrill of the fight.
“Been better,” I said, holding in a groan as I leaned up onto my elbow.
“That was awesome seeing you rip into his neck like that. I’ve never seen an animal fight before. It was fascinating,” he said, excitedly.
“You’re not so bad, yourself,” I said.
A gleam of pride flashed in Andrew’s eyes.
“Thank you, by the way,” I muttered. “Beautiful move.”
“I learned it from you, in the courtyard. So, technically you saved you own life,” he said, generously.
“I owe you my life,” I said. “You could have watched me die.” I looked over his earnest face, his bright blue eyes. “You did not hesitate.”
“How could I hurt Cassandra like that? Hmm? Your wife looks at you as if you are the only man on the planet. She is my friend. She’d be lost without you.”
“You have my eternal gratitude.” Considering Andrew another moment, I gave him a nod. The look that passed between us, though brief, communicated the tie that now bound us.
Giving a gentle smile, Andrew rose from my side.
My eyes scanned the crowd until they lay on Cassandra. Unharmed, not a spot of blood on her, my wife ran towards me, panic on her face to see me lying on the ground.
Kneeling by my side, Cassandra stroked my hair. “Deo, you’re hurt,” she breathed. Her beautiful face was smudged with dirt, her hair mussed, hanging loosely around her face. Her brown eyes stared warmly into mine.
“Not as hurt as I should be. Your friend Andrew,” I spoke, my voice raspy, “he saved my life. The damn kid.” I chuckled.
Throwing a grateful look to Andrew, Cassandra focused her attention back to me. Her worried eyes gazed down at me. “Deo, we need to get you to a hospital.”
Jogging over to us, Alekos called, “We just need to get him to Margaret.”
Kneeling beside Cassandra, Alekos inspected my wound. Having my brother and my wife by my side calmed my mind. A low whistle left Alekos’ lips. “Deo, Auntie Maggie is going to be pissed at you. Blood in her kitchen. Draco, come,” he called over his shoulder.
Draco appeared.
“Help me lift him. Let us carry our king to the witch,” Alekos joked as they stood on either side of me, preparing to lift me. “If the demons didn’t kill him, Margaret might. Man, how she hates to get her kitchen dirty.”
“Stand back, Cassandra,” Draco commanded softly.
Throwing an unsure look my way, Cassandra took a hesitant step backwards.
The two men grunted as they lifted my weight from the ground. Clenching my teeth, I tightened my jaw, groaning, trying to keep from crying out in pain as they moved me. Blackness took over mind, my last vision was the tears in Cassandra’s worried brown eyes.
***
I woke to a string of Greek curse words, a rough hand slapping my cheek. “Wake up, boy. You aren’t going to lie here bleeding out over my table and not hear what I have to say about it.” Margaret’s words were finished off by another long string of curses. Annoyed, she moved busily around me, working her magic.
Cassandra’s eyes widened in awe as Margaret stitched my wound with only the zigzagging motion of the tip of her finger. Sliding back and forth over my wound, her magic quickly closed the gash.
I chuckled at the sight of the tiny old woman working busily, her brows creased.
“Shut up, you,” she muttered, throwing me a quick glance. The love she felt for me was revealed in tha
t single look. Margaret’s tense shoulders visibly relaxed, having heard my laugh.
Cassandra came to my good side, taking my face in her hands. “Deo. I was so worried. We all were.”
“I’m here, baby girl. I’m here.” I lay my head back, closing my eyes, feeling the tingling sensation of Margaret’s work washing over me.
***
“We did it. The curse is broken.” Cassandra gave a satisfied sigh. Wearing her favorite sweatshirt from her law school days, she relaxed against our midnight blue velvet sofa, happy to be back in our home.
Gazing over my contented wife, guilt tugged at me. I had hoped to have more time before I had to tell her—a few hours, maybe an evening? It was naive of me, knowing how quickly my wife’s mind worked, never resting. It was time to reveal more sordid details of our strange family.
I looked around at the empty Chinese takeout containers and half full bottle of Dom Perignon that sat on the glass top of our coffee table. “No,” I said, the single word interrupting our restful evening. “The curse is never broken.”
“Never?” she whispered with disbelief, sitting at attention. “There has to be a way to break it.”
“We don’t know. My family has kept records over time. For the last ten months, Baal and I have been reviewing them. Though the curse never ends, the attacks seem to diminish over time. The longest period after a vow was broken that we were vulnerable was a decade. And through our research, we are certain we have some time now. They take time to regroup, reform, gathering as they go. There may be weeks, months even, before they return.”
“What triggers the next arrival?”
“We have yet to find the answer. There is no rhyme or reason to the timing of the attacks and every era was different. In the past ten months, Baal, Alekos and I have made a small dent—enough to reassure us we could leave the castle for at least a month. But there are still eons of accounts to review.”
