by Hunter, Troy
“Wadda wadda wadda, Wollo?”
Right.
I can’t understand the language of non-lycans.
Curse this vile affliction of mine. Not helping matters is the fact that I can’t see anything further than the slit of this station. But thanks to my proficient hearing, I can hear the small pop that comes from Kenneth’s jaw when his mouth drops in bewilderment. I can only imagine the amount of shock Kenneth must feel. If only I were a fly on the wall instead of a wolf under the table.
“I-I…um, well. You see, I…uh…” the alpha groans loudly. “My apologies, Mister Norris. But what in the hell was that? How did you do that?” Mister Norris doesn’t answer his question. He instead slowly approaches Kenneth, maintaining the same pace and facial expression.
“Wadda wadda wadda, Wollo?”
Kenneth emits a chuckle that very much contains an agitated overtone. “Uh, no. No, no. We’re not playing this game tonight. You are going to tell me how and why you’re able to use magick. Tell me and I will tell you why I’m here.”
Mister Norris looks down at the station for a moment and then looks back at Kenneth. “Wollo wadda wollo.”
Kenneth sighs. “I gathered that much, Mister Norris. But I’d like to know wh…”
With another series of annoying wadda-wollos hitting my ears, I have to work hard to ensure I don’t give my position away. Just tune it out, Eustace.
Just tune it out.
14
Beware the Grave
Kenneth
Present Day Stagwood Grove, Spring 1874
“You’re not supposed to be here.”
I let out a heavy sigh, in no mood to cater to this old man’s evasive means of ignoring my inquiries.
“I gathered that much, Mister Norris. But I’d like to know wh…”
“Where are the books and reports that were sitting here?”
I stammer for a moment, trying to come up with a sound excuse.
“I-I moved them. I’m trying to conduct some resear…”
“You are never to remove things from this room, Master. These items are ancient. They’ve been in this room for as long as time can remember. Moving them can cause serious damage.”
“Right,” I bite back. “Only the items in this laboratory are not ancient. Somebody used these chemicals within the last few decades, fifty, to be sure. Somebody used to shuffle these items around all the time. That somebody now rots in the rusty chapel outside.” I take a step forward, my face only inches away from Mister Norris’. “I of course, refer to Elias Cervante Adelbrecht. My great-uncle. The man you served for centuries before he locked himself away in his chapel.”
The old man stares at me, facial expression unchanging. “The wolf has told you much, I see.”
I play his game and ignore his observation.
“What do you people get out of this? Your master abandoned you a long time ago. You can still leave, you know. Find your own happiness or, at the very least, find another master to serve.”
The elderly man takes a step back. “It’s…it’s not that simple, Kenneth Adelbrecht.”
My eyes widen slightly. I managed to get Mister Norris to break his act. I never thought it possible. Perhaps now I can get valuable information out of him? “Why not? Are you bound to this estate, as well?”
Mister Norris takes another step back. “Kenneth. I think you know by now that we all are. Including you.” The servant begins pacing around the room. “Your great-uncle was just the same. Curious. Unsatisfied with accepting truths told to him rather than explained,” he sighs. “Unfortunately, that curiosity is sometimes better left unexplored. Especially when you live in another man’s home.”
I pound my fist on the desk, unintentionally scaring Eustace and giving away his position.
Shit.
“I see the ol’ chap still knows his way around the estate,” Mister Norris comments, stopping mid pace to focus on the potion station.
I continue to ignore his Eustace-based inquiries.
“Why did your family agree to this, Mister Norris? I wasn’t even born yet. How could you, in good faith, agree to follow your master’s sick plan of scheming an unborn child’s demise? That’s completely psychotic.”
He turns his gaze back to me. “Because we have no choice, Kenneth. Master created both my wife and me in this laboratory sometime back toward the end of the sixteenth-century. All three of us were programmed to fulfill four specific tasks: tend to his castle, greet his guests, protect his secrets, and obey his orders. The magick that I, as well as my wife and son, possess is a gift from our master. He knew that curious crowds such as yourself would try stealing his records for their own research. And so we must police them when this happens. We owe our life to Elias Adelbrecht, Kenneth. We have an obligation to follow every single order he commands, no matter how cruel and unsightly they may be.”
I cock an eyebrow and take two steps forward. What an unfortunate life to lead. I think I’d rather be in Eustace’s situation than the Norrises’. “What are you waiting for, then? I’m here tampering with your master’s belongings right now as we speak. Are you going to kill me, Mister Norris?”
The servant takes a step back.
“No. None of us can kill you, Kenneth Adelbrecht. We were never programmed to kill, only guard.”
I clap my hands together, morbidly satisfied with his predicament. “Then I do believe we’re done here. Great-Uncle doesn’t want me snooping through his private documents, but he also doesn’t want me to perish. So, honestly, that makes your efforts in confronting me rather pointless, don’t you think?”
Mister Norris sighs gravely. “Not quite, I’m afraid.” Suddenly, the servant steps toward the potion station and kicks it lightly, startling Eustace again. “Come out, Eustace Bertram.”
The wolf whines loudly and tries to escape but I block him in with my legs. “You touch him and I end you right here.”
“Calm yourself, Kenneth,” Mister Norris insists. “I mean no harm to your wolf. I simply want to show you something that he has, perhaps in a bag you’ve given him?”
I refuse to move.
“Why should I trust you, old man? You’ve attempted to lead me astray ever since I walked into this estate. Who’s to say you aren’t planning something now?”
The older man lightly taps his fingers. “Master wants him alive, too. His plans are not exclusive to you, in case you’ve forgotten.”
I stare at him for a moment, the strength of my inner wolf at an all-time high. Eustace stopped me the last time I tried to teach Mister Norris the concept of intimidation. If the servant wishes to double cross me, I’ll see to it that he doesn’t stop me again.
I reluctantly reach underneath the table and tug at the bag in Eustace’s mouth. He keeps his mouth clamped tightly. “Come on, Eustace. Let go.”
He growls the more I try to tug.
“Eustace,” I say in a louder, more commanding tone of voice. “Give me the bag. I promise I won’t let him hurt you.”
Presumably understanding quickly that I am not going to change my mind, he lets go. “Thank you. Now…” I hand the bag over to Mister Norris. “Get on with it.”
Mister Norris grabs the bag and sets it down on the floor. He slowly eases himself down to his knees. “The wolf may come out. I’m sure he’s rather uncomfortable underneath that desk,”
I take a deep breath and move away from the potion station. “Come, Eustace,” I say gently. “Stretch those legs of yours for a bit,”
Rightfully frightened, Eustace slowly creeps out from under the desk. He looks up at me, whining slightly. I grin at him and pet his furry head.
“Hello, Eustace,” Mister Norris greets with a small smile. “Found you a friend after all these years, I see. I’m happy for you.”
Eustace looks at him briefly and looks back at me, confused.
“He says it’s nice to see you again.”
The wolf barks once in acknowledgment. Granted, I’m not sure if it
’s friendly acknowledgement or if he’s simply telling Mister Norris to piss off. Could be both, considering how antsy Eustace gets when his neurosis is spiking. Regardless, the old man accepts the wolf’s answer and continues pulling documents from my bag.
“Kneel, Kenneth. I want you to see this.”
I squint at the servant shuffling through papers and do as he asks. He then holds up a relatively small stack of notes. “Take a look at these documents and tell me what you see.”
I nod and take the booklet from his hand. As I skim through the notes, I immediately find myself irritated. “There’s nothing here?”
The old man nods and holds up another piece of parchment. “Read this one.”
Unsure of where this was going, I cock an eyebrow and take the parchment. Lo and behold, there’s nothing coherent written on it. Whatever writing had been there years ago appears to have bled away, perhaps due to chemicals spilling onto the parchment. “This…why this is useless. It’s completely illegible.”
Ignoring my question, he shows me one last piece of crumpled parchment. “Now read this one.”
I groan and snatch the note from him, my impatience making itself very clear. As I open the page, I’m instantly met with scrapped script. It looked like Elias had gotten started on an idea or thought, but almost immediately rejected it and destroyed the note. “Mister Norris, if you don’t tell me what the point of this is right now, I’m going to shove my fist straight into your mouth.”
The old servant straightens himself up, completely unphased by my threat. “Isn’t it obvious, Kenneth? Whatever information you’re looking for isn’t here.”
“Nonsense!” I shout. “Eustace found Elias’ personal journal in this very laboratory fifty years ago. Are you telling me he discarded all his notes before hibernating in that chapel of his?”
The old man stares at me blankly. “That, I do not know. Though I can only assume that they were either destroyed or sealed away with him.”
I bite my bottom lip and pound a fist into the floor. “Dammit!” I look down at the pile of parchment, a flurry of thoughts swimming around my mind like a school of fish escaping a grisly death at the jaws of a great shark. Elias’ notes are gone. The only possible thing that could’ve helped me in finding a cure for Eustace’s involuntary lycanthropy is gone, just like that.
“Am I able to enter the chapel without activating Elias’s runes?”
Mister Norris shakes his head. “I don’t think so, Kenneth. You’re the only man who can enter that chapel.”
I raise my eyebrows. “I thought it was just his crypt that was rigged.”
“No, sir. The entire chapel is a ticking time-bomb.” He quickly stands up. “I wouldn’t try your luck if I were you, Kenneth Adelbrecht. Once you enter that chapel, you’ll be completely on your own. Eustace can’t follow you. I can’t follow you. My family can’t follow you. And while I’m sure you’re quite the gifted shifter, you cannot fight Elias Adelbrecht on your own.”
I give the old man the iciest glare I’ve ever given another human being.
“Watch me.”
15
A Love Men Know
Eustace
Present Day Stagwood Grove, Spring 1874
I’m hysterical for the entire walk to the rusty old chapel. Aside from whining, howling, and trying to block Kenneth from walking up the staircase, I attempt multiple times to tear into his ankle with my sharp fangs. The first three times I try, he pushes me back and keeps moving. The fourth time, he shoves me onto my side as we’re exiting the estate.
“That’s quite enough, dammit! There’s nothing you can do to stop me. I’m going to face off with my great-uncle and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
He speaks too soon as I return to my feet. My growls are heavy and hoarse, more like a demon than a wolf. It’s easily the most intense growl that’s ever erupted out of me, and I don’t care if I’m angering Kenneth with my behavior. He’s angered me with his.
My eyes are full of fire and brimstone. Kenneth can keep pushing me around all he wants, but he’s not going to that goddamn chapel. I’ll die before I allow the stupid bastard to face off with Elias Adelbrecht all by himself. With another roaring howl, I leap on top of him with enough force to bring us both to the ground.
“Eustace, heel!” Kenneth frantically pushes me back, but I don’t surrender.
With every push, I take another bite out of his arms. With every shove, I bark viciously in his face. And all that screaming “get off me” does is anger me even further.
Kenneth Adelbrecht is a fucking idiot.
What’s he thinking?
Does he even care about how I feel about him?
Did our kiss under the full moon mean nothing to him?
Kenneth eventually channels his inner wolf and howls loudly. Within a few short seconds, the throes of his transformation manage to successfully push me away. His clothes slide off his body and his transformation ends. He looks up at me, growling angrily. Good, I’m glad he’s in this form. I can now give the lousy bastard a piece of my mind.
“Where the hell do you get off, Kenneth? This is madness! What are you thinking, going into Elias Adelbrecht’s chapel? Especially when you know damn well what’s going to happen?”
Now it was Kenneth’s turn to tackle me. He doesn’t attack me, but he does press his paws a little too hard into my legs. The pain makes me whine a little, but I don’t back down.
“What other choice do I have, Eustace? What choice do either of us have? If you want to be free of this place, then I’m going to have to fight Elias.”
I growl at him again. “That’s what he wants to happen, you idiot. How do you know Mister Norris isn’t leading you into a trap of some kind?”
“And how do you know that he is?” he bites back, leaning closer to my face. “I made him botch his script, Eustace. I was able to speak to him as a normal person for once.”
By this point, the pain in my legs is becoming too much for me to handle as I find myself howling frantically. “Kenneth, for God’s sake. You’re going to get yourself killed.”
My growls cease completely, now replaced solely by whines and desperate howls. The bigger wolf notices my discomfort and releases me. The pain quickly goes away, though my heart continues to ache over the hopelessness of this fight.
“I do not intend to be destroyed that easily, Eustace. Not when I have an obligation to save the one I cherish above all else.”
I turn to my side, whimpering pitifully. I know Kenneth means well and just wants to protect me. But I want to protect him too. I don’t want to see him perish at the hands of his own kinfolk. I can’t bear the thought of losing Kenneth now, not when I love him so.
Likely sensing my earth-shattering fear, Kenneth steps toward me and begins grooming my head with his tongue. “I must do this, Eustace. If not, then you may never know what it’s like to truly be human again.”
“I don’t want my existence to hinder yours, Kenneth,” I confess with a weakened sigh. “I…I care too much about you to see you die.”
He stops grooming me and nuzzles his face into my neck. “I’m not going to die, Eustace.”
We stay nuzzled together for a few minutes, enjoying what may be one of our final moments together. As confident as he made himself out to be, I can tell Kenneth is just as scared as I. He doesn’t know what’s going to happen when he enters that chapel. He may be a smart man, but not even Kenneth Adelbrecht can foresee the tricks the ancient sorcerer had likely left for him.
I hate this.
Why can’t I help him with this fight?
Why do I have to be so…
Before I can finish my thought, my eyes force themselves shut as a spontaneous howl escapes my mouth.
“Eustace? What’re you…”
The next thing I know, I’m wailing in horrid agony as I feel my bones grow. Am I…am I shifting? Now? I thought I could only do it during full moons.
“Eustace!”
&nb
sp; As the pain slowly subsides, I open my eyes. After a quick look around the courtyard, my eyes widen as a loud gasp bursts out of me. To my amazement, I see everything in color again. I can see the nearly black sky as well as the green trees in the neighboring forest. When I turn to face Kenneth, I see the contrast between his black fur and his reddish-brown suit lying nearby.
My human form has returned again, much sooner than expected.
But how?
“I-I’m…I…How is this possible?” I pat my bare torso in a few places, further confirming my spontaneous transformation. I don’t understand how this happened. Did I unintentionally find out the secret to at-will shifting? “Kenneth? D-Did I…do it?”
Confusion is written boldly across the large black wolf’s face. The wideness of his eyes shows bewilderment, yet the ecstatic wagging of his tail evidences joy or excitement. If I have to guess, Kenneth is asking himself the same question.
“I-I didn’t really do anything, though. I didn’t invoke any higher beings. I didn’t ask the Great Wolf to change me back. No howls ringing in my ears, either.” I scratch the back of my neck, hands shaking ever so slightly. “All I’ve done is worry. About you. About us, and…” My teeth sink into my bottom lip. “I’m sorry I attacked you. I just…panicked. I don’t want to lose you, Kenneth.”
I squeeze my eyes shut as I feel tears form. “I don’t, Kenneth. I don’t…don’t want to lose you. Not now.” A sob breaks past my feeble attempts to get it together. “Not ever. I love you, Kenneth. I need you.” I surrender to the sadness as I lose control of the tears streaming down my face. “No, Kenneth. No. I can’t. I can’t lose you. I can’t!”
I press my wet face against the cobblestone, sobbing whilst on my knees and elbows. I know I must look like a pitiful weakling, but I can’t control myself. The possibility of Kenneth dying is far too severe for me to find any kind of solace. I don’t care if I perish at the hands of Elias Adelbrecht, just spare Kenneth. Let him live on to find happiness far away from Stagwood Grove.
