by Lee Taylor
“YOU COWARDS!” The sudden shouting from Ivan had almost sent Mike’s heart into palpitations.
“We will not stay here to be butchered like pigs!” Ivan shouted. Ivan grabbed hold of his former restraints and slashed down my arm with them. My blood flowed onto the floor, spreading into the warm puddle. Reaching into it with outreached hands, Ivan then began to paint a symbol on the paving slabs. Another set of arms appeared from behind Ivan’s head, reaching for his throat while a black-tendril snaked its way out from a crack in the floor. It slithered towards my legs, and just as soon as they touched us, they turned to dust.
Ivan grinned with his unhampered progress. He tore off his sleeve, wrapping it around my arm, stemming the blood flow then drew back his hands, placing them flat on the bloody symbols and began reciting an incantation.
Ivan called out his last syllable, and the room creaked as a torrent of light ignited everything within, purging it of all darkness. The arms that had trapped Kitty and the others began to break apart; shredding and crackling the fizzing tentacles bit by bit they disintegrated into the ether.
Ivan was wheezing; struggling to catch his breath, and the intense display of his abilities took a lot out of him. Collapsing onto his side, Kitty scurried over offering assistance. Breathlessly he sent her away, pointing to the door. The thuds and bangs on the other side were growing more frequent. Chips of ice and concrete began to fall from around the frame.
“You have got to be kidding me, right? Give us a break!” Mike shouted as another voice answered from inside the chamber.
“You think that is all I am capable of, you insult me, Drago.” Ivan’s eyes widened at the remark, still rasping for breath. The door exploded inwards, and a rain of splinters and ice teemed all over those in the room with a few narrow lances of George’s energy. Lycaon leapt in front of Mike and Kitty, knocking them to the ground and covering them, his pupils dilating with the sensation of the slivers carving into his skin. He Bit down hard so not to release a yelp. Kitty slapped him.
“Women aren’t always the damsels in distress, you bloody retard.” She blinked looking at him, her anger faded, and she stroked Lycaon as he lay trembling with pain. Looking into his eyes his gaze met hers. He huffed, peeling back his lips to show his marvellous canines, not quite pearly white at this range, but she could see where his preference for diet has caused his teeth to age slightly.
“You’re smiling at me, you smarmy git!” She wiped a tear as it began to stream down her face; she was really beginning to like him. Their moment was ruined as the Summers piled into the room, biting hold of Lycaon’s hind leg and dragged him away, out of her grip. She sent a buzz of energy into him that momentarily stunned Lycaon as he was dragged out of view. Two of them were standing in their human forms at the doorway. The unnatural light shining from behind hid their faces from view. One turned to George, who was now wearing a lavish suit, almost beaming with snotty arrogance.
“We are concluded in our business?” The shadowed man asked, throwing his thumb over his shoulder indicating his business was with Lycaon. Kitty felt a bout of rage overcome her as she stared at George, her confident. Her poignant demeanour boiled away as the rage gripped her. She had a score to settle with George Corwin.
Mike looked to her and was bestowed with a gritty determination. Arkham seized Mike’s lack of attention, idly swatting at the air in front of him, knocking Mike off his feet. It allowed Kitty her own opening, discharging some of her pent up energy. She reached out and slapped the air; purple and black ripples of energy stretched from her fingertips into points as she headed to Arkham’s flank. Arkham, unknowing to this, was smiling sadistically at Mike as he flung him into the wall. Mike gingerly climbed back to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of blood. As he did this, he also shoved his middle finger into the air, flipping off Arkham. Although it didn’t offend him, it drew his attention for that second longer as Kitty closed in and cleaved him into two pieces with the blades that she had channelled to her hands. She swooped in closer to George. He didn’t even bother to feint shock or terror as he chuckled lightly.
Her crescent symbol that been pinned in her hair was drawn to her hand, glinting in the doorway’s sheet of light. It changed form until it shimmered into a golden athame. Reversing the grip so the blade poked out from under her little finger, she licked her lips and bowed.
“I am glad you find me funny, you bloody nonce. I plan on peeling that smug look clean off your face.” George shook his head in disagreement and pointed across the room to where I lay. She turned back to what he was pointing and was stunned to see Arkham and an odd looking man in a once expensive looking suit with a woman standing offset behind him standing where I had been only moments before. What really shocked Kitty wasn’t the fact that Arkham was hovering there unscathed, or that he was holding me by my throat, but what really stunned Kitty was the offset and dishevelled woman was Tessa.
“Tessa?” Kitty gasped. Tessa was avoiding eye-contact and was simply staring blank-eyed toward the floor. With a dark sinking feeling, Kitty back-stepped and turned to see who she had cut down. It was George’s drone, Crow. The top half of his body was pulling his legs in place.
“You know, Crow is quite marvellous, isn’t he? It took me a while to fuse him with other suitable parts, but just look at him.” Crow’s malicious gaze never shifted from Kitty, his sadistic intents had excited him. Mike looked to Kitty, he figured that he had to of hit his head harder than he realised.
“Crow and Mr Sanchez, isn’t it? Please keep our guests entertained whilst I and my colleagues attend some other business.” The lycanthrope nodded, whistling to his pack members. Two more galloped through the doorway looking toward Kitty and Mike and smiled.
“I’m not just going to let you walk out of here with him,” Kitty growled, defiance still in her voice.
“Oh my, well then you better come and stop me.” George walked off with his colleagues, Tessa limping along behind them all like an ill-treated animal.
“You’re pathetic!” Kitty shouted, forming a ball of energy in her hand. She threw it at Tessa. She didn’t flinch; she got hit square between the shoulder blades, the blow jarred her and struggled to keep her footing. George laughed mockingly as they casually strolled from the chamber.
“Oh and, Crow, don’t forget to kill Mr. Drago. He can be dubious at times.” George’s voice echoed back into the room, and Crow grunted in acknowledgement. His mouth was still salivating at the prospects of sinking his teeth into the witch. The Summer members were having a discussion that Kitty was listening in on, and it wasn’t a nice one.
Instantly they began changing into their lycan forms; their monstrous shapes began to snarl, ferociously peering out from the cloud of ash that settled around them. Drool overflowing their mouths, their ears pinned back to their head. The man in charge “Sanchez” shifted to transforming into a timber wolf as big as an SUV. They were all nearly identical, their eyes glowing darker shades of amber as they slowly slunk toward them. Crow had finished pulling himself together now, too, and stood tall.
“I want the witch,” Crow grumbled, licking his lips. The wolves snorted in agreement, Sanchez turned to face Ivan who had apparently passed out from dispelling George’s enchantment, leaving the other two wolves to face down Mike.
Chapter 24
Lycaon was in a lot of pain; his hamstrings had been severed, and when he thought of what his friends would soon face... Every time he wriggled to free himself, the jaws that clutched around his hind legs would tighten. He had felt his bones crack with the unyielding grip. But Kitty’s touch alone had instilled Lycaon with a power that he hadn’t been privy to.
They mercilessly dragged him into a parlour on the first floor and flung him into a massive flagstone fireplace, the blaze burning him instantly as he rolled through of it. The pungent odour of singed hair was thick in the air. They had, however, let go of his hind legs, and so shakily he hoisted himself onto his feet as they gave way with a horrific
snap. Lycaon instantly collapsed back down into a heap. The Summers took the opportunity to imitate and mock Lycaon with whines and barking. Even though he never made a sound, he didn’t want to give them the satisfaction. A bark of command silenced their mockery as the Summers’ pack leader strode over to him, snarling and snapping. Lycaon recognized Jin instantly; his scent was unmistakable.
“Your sister is fitting in well you know, Winters. The bitch can’t get enough of me.” Lycaon surged forward in a sudden flurry of motion, Jin literally exploded into his Lupis form. With Lycaon’s damaged hind legs, he lost his balance and fell. Jin didn’t hesitate as he grabbed hold of him by his throat, sinking his teeth through layers of fur and flesh.
Jin sneered and began to laugh as he removed his jaws from Lycaon’s neck then turned and cocked his leg, looking back toward his frenzied pack as he began to scent him. Howls of laughter filled the parlour.
Lycaon had never felt so disgraced as he did then, always trying to remain fair and honourable, but as he lay helpless on the cold flagstone floor, a pulse of perpetual power ignited a fire deep within, and he felt the energy Kitty forced into him begin to take form.
His body began to tingle, and he was swarmed with Kitty’s scent, overcoming the repugnant odour Jin was producing as the energy manifested itself to him.
Lycaon’s front legs began to become more human, but he wasn’t shifting back, the bones contorted, muscles ripped and shredded. His structure began to change rapidly. Jin was still unaware for the few seconds he had taken his eyes off of Lycaon to desecrate his body. Lycaon had begun to metamorphose. Jin only realised what was transpiring under his nose when Lycaon snatched a hold of Jin’s phallus.
Lycaon had transcended the form from man to wolf and was now both. He now had opposable thumbs. Jin’s eyes widened as he felt his penis being ripped from his body, collapsing beside Lycaon in a cacophony of shrieks and guttural snarls. As he tried to catch his breath, Lycaon continued to throw the severed member into the flames of the fireplace, a very twisted smile occupying his face.
“She is not going to be asking for any more of you now, you Eunuch,” Lycaon jested. Jin had stopped being able to communicate. Sitting up, Lycaon set his legs, the tendons reconnected, and he felt his bones begin to rapidly fuse themselves. He had a new appreciation for witches and their talents. Shakily, Lycaon rose to his feet; the Summer wolves stared in shock and awe at Lycaon’s new form. He was now standing, looking down on the wolves as they peeled their lips back showing their dagger-shaped teeth. Feral snarls began to rip through their chests like a chorus of thunder reverberating around the room.
“Come; let me show you how your leader feels.”
All five rushed him at once, he side-stepped the first. The second of the wolf’s jaws clamped around his leg, trying to tear him down to the floor, as the other three lunged for his head and throat. Lycaon managed to duck and weave, even with the second wolf attached to his leg. Wrapping his hands around the second’s snout with his new lycan form opposable thumbs, he ripped its maul wide open until it cracked and tore the sticky sinew separating its vertebrae. It flopped to the floor with the top of its skull and jaw still in his grip. He bounced it into the blazing fireplace. More singed fur scented the room now, the rich thick smell stuck to back of his throat. And still the others attacked him.
Two dove in unison, one trying to snap his jaws shut on Lycaon’s exposed neck, the other leaping for Lycaon’s wrist. They caught hold of him; their fangs acting like steak knives scything through Lycaon in gouts of gore, and the other two circled in to grab what parts they could and finish him.
Lycaon fell backwards in a controlled roll, managing to knee the wolf ripping through his wrist as he flexed his arm. His knee smashing into the crown of its head, and it instantly released. Next he took hold of Lycan, latching onto his neck, and the momentum of his roll carried through not giving the wolf a chance to get footing that would better disable him. So he took hold of both of its front paws and swung them apart so hard that he cracked its sternum and caved its chest inward, sending its ribs into his own heart. It, too, sagged and fell to the floor, so he kicked it into the welcoming flames of the fireplace. For a moment the flames died, looking like the last carcass had over encumbered them till the flames finally engulfed him, too. Lycaon snatched hold of the next nearest Lycan, and without remorse, his dark compatriot roared in approval as he rotated its head on its shoulders, and threw it at the other charging wolves, taking one out in mid-air. Blood and smoke filled the room, and Lycaon was beginning to feel the huge, physical drain that his new powers were exerting. Gradually Kitty’s energy began to dwindle within him. He turned to search for Jin, and the snivelling alpha had loped away, leaving behind a bloody-trail leading out the room. Preoccupied with Jin’s disappearance, he was knocked down by the second from last wolf; its teeth began to bite through his neck. In a panicked defence, Lycaon thrashed around, but it was no good. The wolves had adjusted to his new form and were looking to finish him. The last wolf loped over toward his head. Its jaws housing rows of ivory steak-knives glinting as its snout opened. Lycaon lost control as Kitty’s energy totally dissipated, returning Lycaon to his wolf form and throwing the wolves off balance which he quickly capitalized on, tearing out the first’s throat while the other turned and fled. The worst part was... after all the intense fighting with the Summers’ he still had no idea where the pack nested, or how to get his sister or Alastair back... So now he had to find Jin.
“I want the witch,” Crow said, smiling as he paced forward. The wolves were more than happy to cooperate.
“Umm... Kitty... How do I kill a werewolf?” Mike asked; backing into the wall, his bravado faded the moment Crow had stood back up.
“Simple, you disable it, and then burn the remains. There are other ways, but none apply here and now... Can you keep it down a minute while I figure out what to do with the un-dead gorilla?” Kitty whispered, knowing full well that the others could hear her. Slowly she began to lower herself on to the floor, looking around the room; she eyed the door with certain a melancholy. There was no way past without sacrificing her friends, the only option was to go through oncoming terrors.
Crow laughed darkly at her comment, “How nice to ere yor finkin of me.” Crow teased, almost squeaking with delight. He had been thinking of her also, but not in the way she would have liked. It was amusing him, the ideas of what he was going to do to her... especially after he killed her. Kitty felt even more terrified than before with the sheer morbidity of his thoughts.
“Oh please.” Kitty tsked. Even though she was shaken to her core she couldn’t let any of the others know that. Ruefully, she eyed the two wolves approaching Mike when an idea popped into her head. Slowly, she began to summon a static field of energy around her; it popped and fizzled as her loose hair began to rise in strands.
“Hey, wolf-boy thing,” Mike called out; the wolves looked confused, unsure to whom he was referring; their eyes flickered again, the incandescent chilling amber glowering at him.
“Hey, you on the left.” Mike pointed, just brushing by where the table had been. The lycan studied him for a moment, considering what he was planning. That was all the distraction that Kitty needed, and in an instant she sent the energy that had built up to surround the wolf in a rush. Its hackles stood on end as she took possession of his body. The other lycan wasn’t bothered, whatever she had tried to accomplish had apparently failed, and in the process the witch had collapsed to the floor.
Crow slowly stepped forward, growing closer to Kitty as she lay helpless to defend her body.
Mike began to flounder; looking listlessly for a weapon that he could wield that might be enough to hurt any of the giants in the room with him.
Ivan twitched and gasped in the same apparent dreamscape as I had been. We looked so pathetic that Sanchez was deciding which of us he would consume first, but we bore no challenge. He loved the thrill of the chase, running down a victim that would scream and beg. H
e relished the idea of sinking his six-inch fangs into the witch. She was so perfect up until now. She looked exhausted, stooping onto all fours. She was bold and stunning. Good enough to eat.
It was a work of convenience; George had put them all together like he had... He had to have known how things would unfold. Ivan had been awake for a few moments; he was recovering from the mental maze that was my mind. But even heavily strained, he was formulating a strategy, clutching himself to one of the bars that had been used to cage him, moulding it in his palms with the remnants of the acid that the stone arachnids excreted. He tempered and formed it into a spike and infused it with remnants of energy still hovering in the ether.
“Tell me, oh powerful lycan, what can I do to help spare you?” Ivan’s voice sounded weak and shaky barely above a whisper. Sanchez froze, startled by the old man’s voice.
“Say that again, old timer.” In disbelief, Sanchez engaged Ivan in a conversation. He had to have been delirious or senile to have said the words that had passed his lips.
“I don’t have time for games!” Sanchez’s tone was sharp, bitter.
“No, you don’t, do you?” Ivan jested. The look that followed from Sanchez was the opportunity Ivan required, plunging forward with the makeshift spear in hand, and skewered the lycanthrope where he stood. The spear popped through under his jaw and slid through the brainstem, instantly stopping all its functions. Ivan knew that the wolf would not be truly dead until all the remains had been incinerated, but given the circumstances, he would happily take an incapacitated lycanthrope over himself becoming its chew toy any day. Slowly pulling himself onto his feet, he gingerly pulled out another bar so that he could aid Mike, who was considering throwing his own clothes at them for defence.