by Dan Foley
Images of Old Ben rising up out of the bayou, red eyes blazing, were running through his head when a gator surfaced about ten feet from where he sat in the jon boat. He thought about the rifle that was sitting in his room until he realized the gator was dead. He waited for it to sink back into water, or drift away, but it didn’t. It remained motionless, floating on the surface. Wolf’s skin prickled and the power surged inside him. For a minute, he had the weirdest feeling that it was actually staring at him. Ridiculous, he thought, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. He was still watching it when Little Wolf climbed onto his shoulder and started growling. “What’s bothering you?” Wolf asked, glancing at his familiar. When he returned his eyes to the water, the gator was gone.
I need to talk to Mose, he thought, as he dragged the bow of the boat out of the water and dropped the anchor on the bank. Now that he actually had the means of going into the bayou, he realized he still had some doubts about facing his old nemesis. A trip to the Quarter to see the old man definitely sounded like a good idea.
Grandmere was sitting on the porch when he came back to the cabin. “I thought you was goin’ ghost huntin’,” she said without looking up when Wolf joined her.
“Not today,” he answered. “I’m going to talk to Mose first.”
“Good idea,” was all she said, as she stared out over the swamp. Then she shivered as if a cold breeze had slipped through the screens and touched her skin.
When Wolf turned to leave, she tore her gaze from the bayou to look at him. “You should take that girl with you. Introduce her to Mose.”
Take Charlotte? Why not? They could share some time in the Quarter and he could introduce her to the old man.
This time when Wolf walked through the quarter, it was as if he was a ghost magnet. The damn things were everywhere. They appeared out of doorways, peered out of windows or stood looking at him from cobblestoned sidewalks. Some of them quickly glanced away when he met their eyes. Some of them met his gaze and then fled. One or two continued to stare at him with hungry eyes, but none approached. He was tempted to go after the latter, but Charlotte’s presence held him back. She didn’t need to know what he was seeing. He was determined to make the one ghost who had attacked her the last one that she would ever have to face.
“Where are we going?” she finally asked when they reached the end of St. Charles.
“Café’ Du Monde,” he answered.
“I thought we were going to meet this Mose friend of yours?”
“We are. He’ll come to us when he’s ready.”
“How will he …?” Charlotte started to ask, but apparently thought better of it.
When they reached Café’ Du Monde, Wolf took a table at the edge of the street and looked back toward Jackson Square. A hoard of the dead filled the park across the street.
“What?” Charlotte asked when she saw the stony look on his face.
“Nothing,” Wolf told her, but he knew she could tell he wasn’t telling her the truth. She could see that something had startled him.
“Melvin, what’s the matter? Tell me.”
“I don’t …,” he started, but was saved from answering when the hoard parted and Mose, dressed in his familiar white suit, strode through them. “There’s Mose,” he finally told her.
Charlotte followed Wolf’s gaze and saw the old black man in the white suit. “That’s Mose?” Wolf could hear the surprise in her voice. She had obviously been expecting someone a bit more imposing, certainly not a skinny old black man in a white suit.
“Well, boy — you back. An’ you brought a lady with you,” Mose said, nodding to Charlotte as he sat down.
“Charlotte, this is Mose. Mose, meet Charlotte, she’s …”
Mose held up a hand to stop him.
“I can see who she is. She your lady. But does she know who you are? She think she do. But we’ll see,” Mose said, and took her hand.
Charlotte stiffened and her eyes rolled back in their sockets at Mose’s touch. They sat like that for less than a minute before Mose released her hand.
“This one might do,” he told Wolf before taking Charlotte’s hand again. This time he raised it to his lips and kissed it. “I’m happy to meet you,” he told her and released her hand a second time.
Charlotte blushed and seemed completely unaware of their first exchange.
“You know that this boy sees ghosts. That’s good. But now you got to know what that means. I know what Grandmere told you, and I know what he told you. Now you got to listen to me. Not here though, we talk at my house. Right now, we goin’ to have some beignet and coffee.”
As if on cue, a waiter placed three plates of beignets on the table, one in front of each of them. They were followed by three cups of coffee. Mose sprinkled powdered sugar on his and carefully raised one to his mouth. “Eat,” he told Charlotte. “We talk later.”
Charlotte glanced at Wolf for assurance. He smiled back at her and nodded. Then he took a beignet for himself — this one without sugar.
“Fine,” Charlotte answered, and joined the party.
All the while they ate, Wolf watched the crowd of revenants across the street in Jackson Square. There were men, women and even a few children. Some were dressed in rags, some in fine clothes. Some had terrible injuries, crushed skulls and missing limbs. Some showed no injury at all. They all looked hungry.
“Never mind them boy, they not gonna bother us,” Mose told Wolf.
“Never mind who?” Charlotte demanded, looking across the street to where Wolf was staring.
“No one,” Wolf quickly answered.
Mose frowned at him before answering. “There’s a whole crowd of ghosts over there in Jackson Park. They here to see this boy. They here to see how strong he is.”
Charlotte was shocked, then she turned to Wolf. “Is that true?”
“Yes,” he had to admit.
“Then why did you say no one?”
“I didn’t want to upset you?” Wolf told her.
Charlotte didn’t answer, she just stared daggers at him.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “It won’t happen again.”
“It better not,” she finally answered. “Now tell me what you see.”
“Like Mose said, there’s a crowd of ghosts across the street. They’re all staring at us. Me, really,” he corrected when Charlotte drew back in her chair.
“What do they want?”
“Like Mose said, they want me.”
“Why don’t they want him?” she asked, pointing at Mose.
“Because they’re afraid of him. Mose is too strong for them and they know it.”
“And you’re not?” Charlotte asked and took his hands.
Wolf thought before answering. “I am — they just don’t know it yet.”
Mose nodded, and then said, “Well, you better go show them.”
Wolf stared at the specters waiting across the street. He took a deep breath and said, “I’ll be back.”
“Is he going to be alright?” Charlotte asked as she watched him walk away.
“Don’t know — but we goin’ to find out,” Mose answered.
The ghosts that had filled the square parted as Wolf approached. Finally, there was only one left to face him. It was the giant of a man that would have beaten him before without Mose’s help. Wolf felt a second of doubt, and then the spirit was on him. The attack was fast, brutal and relentless. Pain exploded in Wolf’s head, scenes of death and mayhem flashed across his eyes, he saw the flesh peeling away from his bones, fire poured through his veins and he dropped to his knees. Wolf fought for as long as he could, but eventually he felt himself slipping away. Then the attack let up for a second as the ghost savored its victory. A second was all Wolf needed to recover and marshal his power.
It started in his blood, the fire surged and the invader screamed. Then the true battle began. Wolf could feel the revenants rage, its need to destroy Wolf’s mind and c
laim his power and his body. Wolf started to reply in kind, summoning his own rage, and then a cold determination took over. He welcomed his enemy’s rage, took it in and fed on it. When he was ready, he infused it with the power running through his blood and rammed it back into the spirit that was now trapped within him.
Now the ghost was screaming, not in triumph, but in pain. Its elation had turned to fear and it tried to flee from Wolf, but Wolf would not allow it. Coldly and methodically, he tore the spirt apart. When he finally released it, it leaked from his body and lay in a cowering mass at his feet. He scattered it into a million pieces with a wave of his hand. For Wolf, the battle had only taken seconds. In reality, it had lasted much longer. The sun which had been directly overhead when he had walked across the street was now halfway through its descent toward the horizon.
Charlotte watched as Wolf walked into a strangely deserted Jackson Square. Then, one minute he was standing, and the next he was on his knees. “What’s happening?” she demanded, turning to Mose.
“Melvin need to see if he da Wolf he says he is. He need to face da ghost that beat him before.”
“Beat him before? What do you mean, beat him before?”
“Melvin meet that ghost da last time he was here. I had to help him. That ghost was too powerful for him.”
“Oh, God, help him now,” Charlotte begged when Wolf fell to his knees.
“To late for that. He have to help himself now.”
For the next two hours Charlotte watched as Melvin swayed on his knees and fought his battle with the ghost that had defeated him the last time he had faced it. She couldn’t see the silent hoard of spirits that surrounded him. All she could see was the strain on his face.
While Charlotte watched Wolf, Mose watched her. This be a strong one. She be good for that boy ... if he beats that ghost.
“He’s standing up. That has to be good right?” Charlotte asked when Wolf got to his feet.
“Maybe ... we’ll see,” Mose answered, and waited to see what the boy would do next. When Wolf stood still, frozen in place like a statue, Mose knew that the battle was still raging but the tide had turned. There was a wolf inside the boy.
“Why is he just standing there? What’s happening?” Charlotte demanded.
“He still fightin’ that ghost, but be winnin’ now. We just got to wait.”
Mose saw the ghost when it leaked from Wolf’s body. It was a sad, defeated thing. When Wolf scattered it to the wind with a flick of his hand, Mose had no doubt that the boy was strong enough to face whatever Old Ben could throw at him. After that ... well, that was a different matter.
“Wait here,” Mose told Charlotte as she started to get up and run to Wolf. “Let him come to you. He needs time to understand what he just done.”
As much as she wanted to run to Melvin and wrap him in her arms, she listened to Mose. It was hard, but she did it. He knew more about these things than she did.
Melvin stood where he was for a minute, then he slowly spun in a circle. She could tell he was looking at something, but to her eyes the park was empty. Then Mose spoke. “He’s challengin’ the rest of the ghosts, daring them to test his power.”
“Why would he do that?”
“To let them know they cain’t hurt him. That he will destroy them if they do.”
“If they’re so dangerous, why haven’t you destroyed them all?”
“I could, but there is no need. The Quarter is my home. They exist here because I allow it. They know that. They know that if they take a life here I will destroy them.”
“Then why did one of them attack Melvin?”
“Because I allowed it. That boy needed to fight that ghost to find out who he is. Now he knows. There be no ghost that can harm him now. Now he be the Wolf he said he was. Now he earned that name. But you an’ me, we don’t call him that, we call him Melvin ... or boy” Mose added with a chuckle.
“Them spooks, they leaving now,” Mose told her. Charlotte couldn’t see them but knew they were gone when people started wandering into the square. No one had ventured there while Wolf had been battling for his life. So Charlotte sat and waited for her Wolf to come back to her.
20 – Revenge
Mose led them on a winding path through the Quarter. Charlotte was surprised when he stopped in front of a blank brick wall on Royal. She was stunned when the wall shimmered and transformed into an ornate iron gate. “This is my home, you always be welcome here,” he told her as he swung the gate open and led them inside.
“How did you do that?” Charlotte asked when she finally got over her shock.
“Just a trick. Don’t worry, it never fool you again.”
As Mose led them into the courtyard, Wolf was not surprised to see three chairs, instead of two, at the table where he and Mose had sat for so many hours. He knew enough not to ask about it, he just accepted it.
“Sit, now we talk,” Mose told her. “But first, somethin’ to drink. I be right back.”
When he was gone, Charlotte turned to Wolf, “Melvin, what’s going on?”
“I have no idea. I’ve learned it’s best to just wait and see.”
They didn’t have to wait long. Mose was back in less than two minutes with a pitcher of sweet tea and three glasses. “You goin’ to be good for this boy, but there be things you need to know first.”
“I already know about the ghosts ... and Little Wolf. What else is there? Then she turned to Wolf. “Is there something you didn’t tell me?”
“I ...” Wolf started to answer, and then looked at Mose.
“Them ghosts no problem for you. No problem for Melvin now either. But ghosts not da only thing he need to worry about. There be others that want what this boy has.”
“What others?” Wolf demanded.
“People. The stronger you get, da more they gonna want to take that power from you. Some of them could use Charlotte against you. You both got to know that.”
“What people?” Wolf demanded.
“Other people with da power. People like you and me. They want your power so they can be more powerful then they already are.”
“How can they take my power if it’s in my blood?”
“They have to drink your livin’ blood. Every drop they take give them some of your power. If they drink you dry, they get all your power. Some them very strong. They can use other people, make them do things for them. Some them even use dead things.
“You ready for things like that?” Mose asked Charlotte. “If not, you best be done with this boy.” Then he turned to Wolf. “You ready to ‘spose her to those things? If not, you best be done with her now.”
Neither Wolf nor Charlotte answered. They just stared at each other. Then she took his hand. “I can do it if you promise never to lie to me again.”
Wolf wasn’t so sure. He had no fear for himself, not after the battle he had just gone through, but was he willing to put Charlotte in harm’s way? She must have seen the doubt in his face because she let go of his hand and punched him in the arm. “You better say yes, buster. I waited a long time for you.”
“Yes,” Wolf said, but he didn’t sound happy about it. “But how am I going to protect you? I can’t be with you all the time.”
Charlotte bristled. “Don’t you worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
“Not ‘gainst these people you cain’t,” Mose told her. “They got help. Help like Melvin got in that little bag strapped round his waist. Why don’t you bring him out, boy?”
Wolf stole a quick glance at Charlotte before opening the rather large fanny pack he had started wearing instead of a wind breaker. As soon as the top was open, Little Wolf climbed out and made his way to his master’s shoulder.
“That what your assistant is for. He can do that job. He can help protect her, but you got to ask him. You got to tell him how po’tant that is to you an’ your woman. Then she got to accept him if he accepts her.”
“Did yo
u hear that, buddy?” Wolf asked the familiar sitting on his shoulder. “Will you protect the woman I love?” The woman I love? Yes, I guess she is, Wolf admitted to himself. “And will you accept him if he agrees?” he asked Charlotte.
In answer, Charlotte reached her hand out toward Little Wolf. The familiar watched the hand approach. Then he jumped to it and climbed to Charlotte’s shoulder.
“Good. That be real good. Now you both got to learn ‘bout that fella. There be lot he can do, an’ a lot he cain’t do.”
“Like what?” Charlotte asked.
“He can fight for you. He has claws and teeth. If he bite someone, they goin’ to start to rot away where he bite them,” he told Charlotte.
The he turned to Wolf. “When that happen, da part he bite be yours. You make it do da things you want it ta do. He still part of you. He can tell if someone with the power be ‘round. If Charlotte in danger, he let you know. If they has one like him, he can fight it. But here da most ‘portant thing, he only as strong as you are. He can be killed, an’ if he is, it be like a part of you die. If that happen, da part of your power that lives in him will be gone.”
This time Charlotte looked uncomfortable. “I can’t take him if it puts him or Melvin in danger.”
“To late for that girl. You already ‘cepted him, an’ him you. He stay with you now, an’ that be a good thing.”
“Now we talk ‘bout what you came here to talk ‘bout — Old Ben,” Mose told Wolf.
“Old Ben,” Wolf agreed. “I wasn’t sure if I was ready for him, but after today, I think I am.”
“You think you are, or you sure you are?” Mode demanded.
“I’m sure I am.”
Mose nodded before answering. “Good. ‘bout time that old haint got his due. Now we goin’ to make this girl a gris-gris.”
