Wolf Born

by J N Moon

  “Emma? I’m Sargent Brooks. I need to ask you a few questions?”

  Hovering beside me for an answer, my stomach clenched and I rolled my tongue inside my dry mouth. Swallowing hard, I whispered, “Ok.”

  “Where were you last night?”

  “Here... No, I... I didn’t see or hear anything, I was asleep. The first I knew something was wrong was when Conor woke me up,” I stammered.

  “I see and you were staying with Mr. Lowell and your uncle to help your uncle after his recent discharge from hospital?”

  “Yes.”

  She eyed us cautiously, I could gauge that she knew there was something more going on here, her tight lips and constrained body language.

  Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “Do you know how your uncle was injured?”

  “No, I don’t. He never told me. I’d assumed it was a fall or something.”

  Conor knew, both the official version and the real reason but he wasn’t stupid and said nothing.

  “What time did you go to bed Ms. Blakesley?”

  Now Conor stepped in, his voice accusing, “She’s just lost her uncle, you surely don’t think she had anything to do with this.”

  “I have to ask, Mr. Lowell,” Her eyes bored into me, waiting.

  “I don’t know, maybe seven?”

  Her eyebrows raised and she puckered her lips, her thoughts expressing through her face. Sargent Brooks had a strange scent about her, it was off-putting. I couldn’t place it but it wasn’t pleasant. Stale.

  “Seven pm and you slept right through?” her voice obvious disbelief.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s all for now, I’m sorry for your loss.” The last bit sounded almost snide, an add on. But she was right of course, there were bits left out of our story. My breathing laboured, cold sweat ran over me, I swayed a bit. Conor put his strong arms around me. Whispering I asked, “Why were the police called? Do they know about that thing?”

  Whispering back, “Some in the force do know, I had to tell them, without them and a coroner, Ethan wouldn’t have a proper burial. Some of our kin choose a natural burial in the woods but I know Ethan wanted to lay beside his wife on consecrated ground,” he sighed.

  Closing my eyes, I breathed in his woody scent, my head nestled on his shoulder.

  “It will come for us, won’t it?”

  “It will.”

  “Why?”

  “That is the question that has been burning us all Em.”

  For a second, anger shot through me, only my uncle called me Em. But it left as soon as it arrived and I allowed myself comfort in his hug.

  If Ethan had just come to stay at mine or mums? If I just stay here, not moving, I can be near his presence and I don’t have to rush into a future without him.

  But my silence was shattered as I heard the shrieks, the sounds of my mum. Bursting into his room I was obliterated by her grief.

  I’d never seen my mum like that before, her face contorted in pain and no control over her emotions, her sorrow. Her and Ethan had never been that close but he was, aside from me, the only blood family she had left. Her older brother gone, Conor stood up, turned swiftly around and took on her upset, holding her as he had me, as she wept. Her body went limp, he helped her to the bed and she collapsed. Caring for my mum, helping her through, that gave me a purpose.

  Eventually she slept, with the help of an herbal sedative from Conor, and I left her there and found Conor sipping whiskey alone. The hearth was blazing and he sat on the floor in front of it, his back leaning against a chair.

  Night time had settled already, the day had come and gone in a torrent of loss, and all the other people had left with it. Owls hooted outside, their beautiful song echoing eerily in the dark, sounding like they lamented the passing of Ethan, he was a true man of nature, caring for the creatures and the habitat as if it were part of him, which it was.

  Conor had changed into a t-shirt and joggers, for the first time I saw the tattoos on his toned arms. Glancing quickly back at the fire, I’d spotted the wolf’s head Sigil on his arm, I wanted to stare back at it.

  He handed me his glass, which still had some drink inside. We didn’t need words or even body language and I sat opposite him, cross legged clutching the glass.

  “Thank you for taking care of my uncle’s body,” I whispered. Ethan was gone, I hadn’t really registered that yet.

  The flames licked my skin but the heat didn’t warm me, the whiskey didn’t bite and my mind hazed at the glow, unable to think on anything other than the patterns of the embers, the flickers of fire burning the wood to ash, to nothing.

  “I was looking through the book your mum left, there’s some very interesting notes in there about your family, about the creature and our communities.” He got up so lightly for a man of his statue, and returned seconds later with a bottle of scotch and another glass.

  He continued, “There have been accounts of this happening before, and I think-though I’m not sure, it’s either trying to stop something or someone has angered it.” He took a deep breath, “I doubt it’s acting under its own will, the Nuckelavee – as legend says, is usually help captive in the islands of Orkney, watched over by the Mither O’ Sea.

  Well, the Vernal or Spring Equinox was just over a month ago, so it seems the Mother failed. Teran is in control and his demon is on the loose.”

  To be honest, if I hadn’t seen what I’d seen-or worse-smelt it, I would think Conor completely mad as he sat there talking to me about a legend as if it were completely true. Instinctively I scrunched my face, my reality had become a bad fairy tale, though, luckily for me the big bad wolf wasn’t wicked.

  “You think I’m crazy?”

  “No... I would have if I hadn’t seen it. Look, my world, my experience of the supernatural up until some days ago consisted of books and tv shows. And I love that-I really do, but now it’s real? It’s messed up and I can’t exactly run with this-though I’m aware time isn’t on our side. I’ll be happier when mum is back at her home, and what about the iron sword? Did you contact anyone about that?”

  I surprised myself at how I was able to talk with Ethan gone, but now I was going to use my upset, my grief, my anger to kill the thing. After that, who cares...

  I would avenge my uncle’s death, I would do that before the reality really sunk in. I would send this bastard of a demon home-to Hell.

  “Wow, Emma you seem to be running with this pretty fast.” Tilting his head as he stared at me, his lips curling slightly, I flinched. For a second, I thought I saw fangs, but that’s vampires, right?

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you-you really are something. Yes, I’ve already spoken to a friend in Scotland and the sword has been commissioned. The Sword Smith starts tomorrow. It should be here by the end of the week.” He paused, putting his drink down and moved around to face the fire.

  “An iron sword to take its head. But who will swing it?” he looked at me.

  The whiskey now sang in my head and the heat now touched my flesh, trying not to look at him, my pulse raced but it wasn’t the fire that warmed me. Loss was too heavy on me now, but I was grateful for this strange man beside me.

  “We’ll worry about that when we have it. For now, I’ve had enough of this,” I said as I put the glass on the hearth. “I’m going to make some strong coffee. I need a gun, I’m going to watch over my mother. No way that demon is getting my mum.”

  The look on his face would’ve made me laugh under different circumstances, his brows raised and jaw dropped open. “N... no need, I’ll take the first shift. You rest, you’ve been through enough.”

  “Conor, you are kind but know this, I’ve only just started. You get the guns, I’ll get the coffee.”

  I made coffee so strong, a syrupy liquid dropped into the cups. Sugar and milk added, I carried it quietly into my mum’s room where she slept restlessly. Tossing and turning, I felt wired and jumpy by her every movement. We sat in chairs facing the large bedroom doors, w
e were partially hidden behind the long drapes, guns loaded but on safety. Neither of us spoke, not wanting to wake my mum and give her a heart attack finding us there.

  I wondered though, this thing only seemed to attack at night or at early dawn, I’d have to confirm that tomorrow but we could then in theory sleep during the day.

  Conor nearly chocked on his coffee, trying to quieten his splutter as the strong liquid shocked him, and eyed me with alarm. I think he was surprised at my sudden change of heart. I was too, but this thing had killed one of my family, it wasn’t getting any more. I knew I’d be the one to take its head, but I’d never swung a sword before. All I wanted now was its head. Screw my job, screw everything. This thing was going to die and if I went with it, so be it.

  Slowly, a rose speckled-light climbed low, and before I knew it morning was nearing but I wasn’t fooled. The Nuckelavee could be waiting, knowing we wouldn’t expect it at dawn just like yesterday. Something jarred at my instincts and I picked up my gun, took off the safety and stood in a stance so I could withstand the kick back. Conor did the same, thinking I knew something or had heard something. But it was inside me, the thing that drove me.

  After five minutes, still nothing, I didn’t trust that. Looking into the forest, we were on its edge, shadows moved and darkness seemed to press upon me, lingering for a response. My heart thumped fast against my chest, conscious that I was breathing quickly I slowed it down, but still nothing.

  Aching in my hands and arms, the gun was heavy, I’d need to tone up to do this but still I didn’t move. Acid burned in my biceps such as they are, cramp slowly creeping into my hands.

  Distracted by something outside on the ground, amongst the grass and plants my eyes followed what I thought was a mouse. Scrunching my eyes, I looked again, gone. But now my sight trailed the ground, some mischief perhaps out there but not the malevolent feeling of the demon.

  Again, stirring amongst the blades of grass, Conor looked at me to see what I was staring at. Nodding suddenly, he smiled. “Ah, that’s it,” his voice whispered relief, “You’ve just seen the Asrai.”

  I squinted again blurred my eyes, was I really seeing what I thought I was seeing?

  “It’s alright, you can put the gun away, they’re well, not harmless but they don’t threaten us,” Conor murmured, his voice gravelly. Grinning he looked at me as I lowered the shotgun, ensuring the safety was on.

  “What am I looking at?”

  “Basically, water nymphs.” Sighing he continued, “Come, let’s see what they want.”

  Cautiously I followed him out of the room and into the kitchen where he unlocked the many bolts on the back door and by torchlight shadowed him outside.

  “Hey Robin! I haven’t seen you in ages,” Conor called softly.

  Robin, this tiny nymph creature didn’t look like he’d come to pay a social visit. Conor used the torch to light up the ground checking for others, and slowly sat down crossing his legs. “What’s wrong?”

  But the sprites face contorted, eyes dark slits as he looked up at me. Conor answered his worried stare, “This is Emma, Emma meet Robin.” Robin didn’t look too sure; his beautiful face was tired and showed his anxiety.

  Ignoring me, he spoke and I was taken aback that his voice sounded, well normal. Being so tiny I had expected it to be high pitched.

  “We’ve been decimated by that Nuckelavee the same as you, but we being such tiny creatures, it’s killed nearly half of the river people! A whole community nearly wiped out! They told me you and your kind wouldn’t help but I didn’t think we had a choice! I heard what happened to Ethan, dear old Ethan, we must stop this thing.” His voice was strained with anger and upset, Conor sat with shock on his face. “I had no idea, I thought it was only after the Wolf Born. Something’s happened that this devil is loose, Teran must be in control in the North and the Sea Mither defeated.” Conor’s voice was somewhat exasperated. “Killing the Nuckelavee is the beginning, if we don’t defeat Teran, other demons are sure to come after.”

  “But how? How do we kill the undead-you cannot reason with it and stupid though as it is, it seems to have wits enough to continue its terror? We’ve heard stories of our communities up North being wiped out.”

  Conor leaned forward, his voice deep and hoarse, “Even now, we are having a weapon forged to take its head. Iron, Robin that’s how you kill the beast.”

  Robins chin tucked under his face, his eyes wide with horror. Iron was lethal to his kind, too, no way, even if they had the stature they could wield iron. But as the realisation sunk in, his eyes started to sparkle. “I’d like to help in any way I can, but I need a safe place for the community. Can you help Conor? Though many won’t trust your kin, most will trust you.”

  Conor looked around, thoughtful. Shrugging his shoulders, he added, “I have a basement. You could stay there, there’s no water but there is a sink.”

  Nodding his head at his lousy idea, he continued, “I think what you need is magic. Magic to not be seen by the creature, Ethan died here at my house, so even under my roof I can’t guarantee protection. But the offer is there all the same, until another way is found or for as long as you like.”

  Robin looked deflated, “That’s a kind offer but we can’t survive on tap water-too many chemicals.”

  I spoke up, “Conor, you have water butts around the house from the drains, don’t you? I thought I’d seen some. Rain water-wouldn’t that be ok?”

  “Yes, yes I think it would. Thank you, Emma,” Robin said my name with a slight rise in tone implying that now I was accepted. Then he added, “We can’t stay out of the water for long, and the demon-well, he plunged right through our stream,” his eyes lowered and he sighed, tears welling in his eyes.

  Conor stood quickly, “Robin we could come to you and carry your folk here, that would be quicker?”

  “Yes, some won’t, they’ll want to make their own way, but I’m sure many will. I’ll leave at once, when can we expect you.”

  “Noon? Do you want a lift back?” Conor asked. Robin hummed, rolling his eyes around. “Why not, it’ll be quicker.”

  Looking at me Conor said, “I’ll be about thirty minutes.”

  “Alright,” I replied

  Fortunately, mum was still sleeping as my mind was whirling with possibilities. Asrai, water born folk as tiny as fairies. Fairies? I guess they’re real, too.

  Filling the kettle, a cold sweat broke over me, shit-this just got real. If Asrai are real, then I guess fairies are, too, which means vampires are probably real. I sat down, my mind whirling with possibilities. Blood drinkers. As far as I could tell Ethan and his wife had lived a normal existence and I assumed Conor did the same, except that one difference, they were part wolf as apparently so was I. They actually believed I would transform into a wolf, I’d believe it when I saw it.

  Conor got back quicker than I realised and as I heard the door open my body jerked.

  “You ok? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he said with concern in his voice.

  Hugging the cup, I sat there, “What else is real? Fairies?”

  “Em, there’s truth in most myths. Yes, the Fae exist, though they’re often less friendly then the Asrai. Are you sure you’re alright, you don’t look too well, you’ve gone quite pale.”

  “Vampires?” The word trickled out, almost as if I didn’t say it they wouldn’t exist.

  “Ah I see,” he grinned. “Some of my good friends are vampires. Generally different immortal species don’t mix but all that’s changing now, especially since the internet.” He grabbed some coffee and sat next to me, turning his body to face me. I felt his breath on my skin, heard his heart thumping fast. “There’s quite a lot in this area, especially in Bath.”

  Prickles danced on my skin, my eyes wide with wonder-how many times had I passed or spoken to one. I lived just outside Bath and going out, rare that that was, I always went to Bath.

  Conor moved closer, “For mortals, it is said that when you get the fee
ling of someone walking on your grave-the tingling sensation that crawls down your back,” and he leaned in so close I could taste his breath, sweet coffee, his warm eyes, inviting and lips upturned a grin with a hint of evil, he continued, “It is the presence of an immortal passing by you.”

  Grinning back, I asked him point blank, “You’re telling me you’re immortal?”

  He sat back, smirking, “Yes. We can die of course, if you lose your head or heart, or both.” Realising what he’d said he looked down and then I knew why he wouldn’t let me see my dead uncle.

  Staring into my empty cup, dizziness swarmed in my head and I felt the colour drain from my face. Almost whimpering I asked, “Could I have some more coffee please? I don’t think I can stand right now.”

  As he stood up he bent and kissed my head, putting his hands on my shoulders.

  “I’m sorry, so sorry. It’s overwhelming I’m sure, but in a way, I envy you Em, everything will be fascinating to you now, like meeting Robin. Although the circumstances are tragic, awful, what you will learn now, see for the first time will amaze and astound you. I’m glad I’m here to share that with you, to guide you if I can. As for your mum, my good friend Lou has offered that she can stay with her, unless she wants to return home.”

  “Oh.”

  Heaviness fell onto my eyes and limbs, struggling to keep it together I added, “I really appreciate what you’ve done for us but I can’t stay, you understand.”

  His reply was tender, “I’m sorry Emma, I can’t let you go. You’re one of us and the Nuckelavee has seen you now, got your scent. It will track you and that puts you and your mum in danger. Lou and Steve are able fighters, in fact,” he grinned, “You’ll be meeting her later today for your training!”

  “Training? No, if it’s tracking me I should leave.”

  So, I was going to die, I knew I’d fight it but deep down I knew. I didn’t really believe any of them, including my mum, when they said that I was to be somehow transformed into something else. I was a flesh and blood human, my heart thrummed in my chest, cramps in my stomach.