by Thomas, Ian
With the conversation having turned to the supernatural, Rebecca felt McLachlan tense. He did that when the matter surfaced. Less disconcerting than a head full of false memories, his defensiveness only caused her to press him.
“So tell, what’s with the full moon?” she asked.
“Well,” he replied. “It’s a large glowing ball in the night sky. A satellite I believe you’d call it. Supposedly first landed on in–”
“Not what I meant.” Rebecca cut him off, swatting him. “With wolves. What happens? How do they handle it? Is it all the same?”
“And don’t couch it,” Hayley added. “We’ll know.”
Taking a sip of his wine, McLachlan focused on the glass for a few seconds before speaking.
“Being a curse – well, more specifically a wanion – it’s designed to hurt. Some say there’s a moment of death. Others that it takes them to the brink, like torturously so. All agree it’s just pain. Borne of vengeance through pain into violence.”
“So walk in the park then?” Hayley mused.
“Probably one of the last things I’d ever joke about.” A caution, Rebecca realized, unaccustomed to hearing the tone in McLachlan’s voice. He caught the rebuke before going any further, his tone softening. “And coming from an asshat like me, that’s something.”
“But at the station,” Rebecca said. “Matteo changed and it didn’t seem so bad.”
“Two reasons.” McLachlan set his wine glass down. “One, he’s been a wolf for a really long time. Secondly, it wasn’t the full moon. He’s been able to tame the beast to change whenever. Plus he’s learned how to handle the full moon.”
“Who’s he been having all the sex with?” Hayley asked.
“Guessing Annah,” McLachlan replied unconvincingly, but the matter was left alone. “The thing with the moon is it forces the change. Most wolves learn how to reduce the ferocious of the beast by satiating carnal desires. Not just sex. Can be food, alcohol, physical exertion, even violence.”
The women thought about these men they’d met and their struggle.
“But the pull of the moon eases over time. Like Matteo wouldn’t need to do much to suppress the change tonight. He usually meditates for the night and comes through okay.” Rebecca pictured the Italian cross-legged amid candles, his mind and body at rest while his soul fought to control the wildness threatening to erupt. “That’s why there’s bad blood amongst the wolves. Some resent that their Pack Lord rejects the change like that.”
“What’s Eddie’s view?” Hayley asked.
“Somewhere between,” McLachlan replied. “For him it’s about context – where is he, who’s around him, what he’s doing, would he hurt anyone – that sort of thing. Hence he travels a lot. Likes to be natural with it if he’s not posing a threat.”
“What about when he’s in the city?” Rebecca shared a concerned look with Hayley.
“He’s old enough to have it under control mostly.”
“Mostly?”
“He may or may not have had twelve cheeseburgers this afternoon. For lunch, he and a couple of guys hit three different barbecue places, and before that he spent about four hours at a breakfast buffet.”
“Wow.” Rebecca felt a little nauseous.
“Still not happy about the mostly,” Hayley remarked. “Will he change?”
“Yeah,” McLachlan replied reluctantly. “He’ll have dulled the rage with the gluttony and possibly a lot of…well, Eddie-time, but he’ll still change.”
“But…” Hayley drew the word out. McLachlan wasn’t saying something.
“The wolfsbane will make the transformation more painful. Sadly he’ll be conscious for it.” As McLachlan told them about the steel cell in Eddie’s basement Rebecca saw him there. The beautiful warm man painfully contorted, writhing in agony as his body was broken down. Would people hear his screams, she feared. “He won’t be a threat. They have strong cages.”
“And Michael?” Rebecca suddenly thought about Rowan.
“He’s the youngest so he really feels it.”
“But they’ve been having a lot of sex apparently,” Rebecca said.
“That cow,” Hayley muttered enviously.
“True, and that will dull it some but he’ll still feel it,” McLachlan explained. “S’okay though, he has a ritual. Had it for about fifteen years now. He heads to some rough surfing spot. Either the Aleutian or the Falkland Islands. Lotta travel for five days surfing in a shitty hut. Left the morning after we went to Matteo’s. Falklands this time I think.”
“You sound jealous,” Rebecca remarked. The thought of Michael alone in some barren, hostile place going through excruciating pain chilled her.
“No, just love his commitment is all.” Seeing Hayley’s stricken face, he continued. “They manage it. They have to. Remember it’s a curse.”
“Kinda,” Rebecca said. “Not really.”
“How’s that now?” McLachlan asked, not trying to sound defensive though the supernatural was his specialty and now hers.
“Just that they choose it. Or agree to it when they’re sired. Well that’s what I’ve read in Matteo’s journal and the books from Rowan.”
“So Eddie actually chose this?” Hayley asked, mulling it over.
“They all do. It’s part of the ritual,” Rebecca replied.
“Yeah, that’s always sounded off to me,” McLachlan said. “I don’t get anyone choosing the supernatural. I know I wouldn’t have.”
“I guess there’s an allure to it,” Hayley suggested. “Mystery? Power? The unknown? Well, that’s the way the books and movies sell it anyway.”
“Maybe,” McLachlan replied unconvinced. “Still…sounds like bullshit to me.”
“Not that I’m defending this at all,” Hayley said. “But I’m with you. Totally don’t get the volunteering for this much pain and crap. But how would they know what they were signing up for? It’s not like the sire’s gonna mention the fine print.”
“True,” Rebecca said, looking to McLachlan. She could tell he was engaged, his brain ticking over, not completely liking what he was hearing. “Because it probably wasn’t mentioned to them. Then they get to an age and bring someone else in to break up the lonely.”
“That’s messed up,” McLachlan said.
“How have you not thought about this?” Hayley challenged.
He took a breath, asking himself the exact question. “Because I’m in it. They’re my friends. Guess I don’t want to think about them that way.”
“Neither do we,” Rebecca said. “And, hey, we could be way off on this. Total novices and all. Unless the whole choosing is bullshit. But then I could be way off on that too.”
“My head hurts.” McLachlan sat forward rubbing his temples. “Sorry, these are all good points. And, ya know what, kinda like having people to talk about this crazy with.”
“Our pleasure.” Rebecca put a hand on his leg. “Gonna happen a lot.”
“Good.”
“Guess this would explain why Matteo only ever sired Ben.” Hayley stood up. She collected the wine glasses and headed to the kitchen. “He’s way too Catholic to burden himself with that kinda guilt.”
“Another very interesting point,” McLachlan said impressed.
With her questions suitably answered, Rebecca guided McLachlan into the bedroom and pushed the door shut. Following her lead, he pushed her against the door and kissed her. Somewhere amid the kissing, the smell of him, and the sanctuary of her bedroom, she forgot the torment visited on the wolves as they changed. The violence of it plagued her but the immediacy of this man alleviated her fears. He was her solace.
XXXX
Blank, the screen stared back at him. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so glib about Mouth and the assignment on Italian neo-realist cinema. Here he was a day away from hand-in and he was struggling.
Jeremy // 00:45
Fuk!!! Footnotes??!!
APA or AMA?!!
So was Jeremy apparently. From the lon
g string of messages, it seemed the freshman was melting down rather than struggling. A pang of guilt pulled at Jason for lying to Mouth.
Jeremy // 00:46
Nevermind apa
All good
At least someone had their essay sorted. For the most part Jason had done the bulk of the work. Read what he needed to, made notes, found additional sources, developed a loose essay plan, and even watched a few hours of The Story of Film documentary. Now he just needed to focus long enough to write the essay.
Kara // 00:48
Need yr notes from Rom Lit
Only going to the tutes now
Rogalskys a bore
His phone going off every few minutes wasn’t helping. Where he’d been avoiding the messages before, now he just wasn’t answering. Only because replying was atop the slippery slope to procrastination. Admittedly, he could turn his phone off but then he’d miss messages from Ben. If he sent any.
More for the pleasant distraction than because of any emotional feeling. They weren’t a couple. Sure, Ben had turned out to be better company than expected. And not just in bed. The man had a playful way about him, as did Jason when they were together. Because there was no investment, Jason had decided. Their dalliance would end just as quickly as it started. No hard feelings.
Or so Jason thought. Ben had been gone a couple of days now and he kinda missed him. Not in a romantic sense, and not trying to convince himself it wasn’t in a romantic sense either. Feelings were confusing. Well, not feelings as such, more…Jason had found his libido and he liked it. So anytime Ben wanted to come back and push him up against a wall or something, he was all good with that.
Messages were the least of his concerns.
“How’s that essay coming?” Malcolm called out from the armchair in the window. “Haven’t heard any typing lately.”
“It’s…”
“I can turn the wifi off in here you know.” An empty but effective threat.
“Alright, alright.” Sifting through his book bag, Jason surrounded himself with his notes, articles, and text books. Words started to come to him, then ideas, and finally sentences. Primed, he launched into the essay, chewing up three hundred words before he noticed Malcolm had set a coffee down next to him.
A further two hundred words later and he felt good about the response. When the door opened he looked up to see a couple of cops. At first he froze but quickly saw they wanted coffee.
“I got it,” he said to Malcolm who’d started to get up. After all Jason did love a man in uniform. As he served the officers, engaging in a little late night banter, his mind percolated on the rest of the essay. With any luck he could have it finished by morning and have Rebecca check it over. Like Kara he preferred her to Rogalsky. And not just because they were friends. Her manner was more engaging and, not surprisingly, she knew her shit. Having known her for almost five months, the change in her was remarkable. He’d always known she was smart and that she’d come through rough times, but to see her in action was a sight to behold.
Given that she was juggling the class, the radio show, a new relationship and all the myriad of supernatural crap which accompanied this particular suitor, Jason was deeply impressed. She’d be insulted if anyone suggested her new lease on life was because of McLachlan. Jason knew it wasn’t. More appropriately it was in spite of him. Or rather the strange world he lived in and how it had crashed into hers.
Was that how he felt about his tryst with Ben, he wondered. Not really, it was just sex.
Brrr! Brrr!
Ringing up the sale, Jason heard his phone vibrate under the pile of books. Assured there were no more orders and the counter was clean, he went back to his laptop.
Danny // 00:57
What tym do u get off?
Wanna cum over?
Disappointed, Jason turned off his phone. It was early morning in London, Ben would still be asleep or a wolf or something, he wasn’t sure which or how it worked. Besides that’s not who Jason wished would contact him.
He hadn’t heard from Mouth in days. And they were roommates. When they had been in the same room the strategic use of headphones or sleeping had negated any contact. Though sleeping needed inverted comma. Jason was guilty of waiting with his eyes closed until Mouth left. Convinced that his roommate had done the same, Jason wondered how they’d grown so distant so quickly.
Ben.
Regretfully, Jason realized his penis was possibly his kryptonite.
But then wasn’t that what Rowan has predicted at the airport. The second card. Getting lost in sensory pleasure. He’d been meaning to Google it or ask her about it some more, but there was the funeral, then Mitch, then Ben, and yes he really should have Googled it. After his essay was done, he decided.
“Radio gonna disturb you?” Malcolm asked from the counter.
“Nah, all good,” Jason replied. He knew Malcolm was a regular listener of WNYU’s Witching Hour. This way he could feel some connection to Mouth again.
Why had things gotten so strained? Besides Ben of course. Mouth should’ve been happy as a pig in the proverbial. The supernatural was real. Instantly, his misspent youth of B-grade movies, genre fiction, and comic books had elevated him to smartest man on earth. And yet he’d only gotten surly about it. Well, surlier. Even with the pressures of sophomore year, an idiot junior and her dumb film, Rebecca dating McLachlan added to the mix, Mouth should have been buoyed by the promise that he might meet a slayer. Or take up a career as a slayer’s watcher.
“Type or trash? Your call.”
“Type.” Jason put a book on top of his phone and turned back to his laptop. Easily finding his train of thought again he rattled off another a hundred and fifty words, pausing only to find the quotes he needed. Phew, only about two hundred words to go. And at least twelve hours before submission. Piece of cake, he smiled.
Wishing he hadn’t left it quite so late Jason started to relax about the essay. Hardly his best work, the essay was proving a good wakeup call. Sure, sex with Ben was fun but it wasn’t going to be a relationship. No, Jason’s life was here in the coffee shop, in his essays, in his classes, and amid his friends. He missed that. He missed them. He missed the laughter and fun. As Rowan had said during the tarot reading, they were his strength.
Somehow he’d forgotten that.
Once he had another hundred words completed and was gearing up for his conclusion Jason retrieved his phone and started a message.
Jason // 03:38
Hey, how’s the show going?
Sounds good from here.
Finally got my response paper done.
You stopping by DG afterwards?
Be cool to catch up.
Watching his phone intently, Jason knew he’d have the essay done in no time but all he wanted was Mouth’s reply. He almost leaped on the phone when the bubble and pulsating dots appeared. Then it disappeared. When nothing came through, Jason wondered if he’d left the olive branch too late.
“Type or tra–”
“Trash,” Jason spat, getting off the stool. He needed to get his head right to craft the conclusion anyway. Editing the response would happen after a sleep sometime mid-afternoon, along with referencing, then he could focus on the short script he needed to write.
Despite the outstanding first kiss with Ben, the alley was still just an alley to Jason. Dumpsters, scurrying wildlife, and the occasional random dead guy. Maybe it should have had more significance to him. After all Ben was the hottest guy he’d ever been with. Hotter than John and…wow that was really disrespectful to the dead, he grimaced. So what if he was shallow. That was all part of the gay experience. Well, his gay experience at least. Part of him had wanted to Snapchat a picture of him and Ben to Mitch with the caption ‘hotter than you’ but that was immature. And pathetic. And pretty appalling behavior.
Looking at the night sky between the buildings, Jason couldn’t see the full moon. He did see the brick walls around one side silvered by the moon’s glow. For a mome
nt he thought about the werewolves he had met and what they were doing. He’d wanted to see Ben transform. Even toyed with asking, but had a feeling Ben’s wolf side was off limits.
A growl nearby pulled his eyes back to alley. Something – an animal – was nearby.
Peering into the shadows, Jason retreated to the back door of the coffee shop.
There was only one animal it could be. Though more monster than animal.
“Ben?”
Answering with a growl, the shape lunged from the shadows. Knocked down, there was a brief moment where Jason took in the creature over him. Not Ben. A man crouching behind his head. Upside down. The inverted king.
Before he could make a sound, the wolfman’s fangs tore out his throat. The pain was intense. Jason could feel the ragged edges of his skin in the cold night air. Blood gurgled in his throat, his head swimming. Sharp claws dug into him.
Die. I’m gonna die, he panicked, trying to fight the beast pressing down on him, killing him.
The bestial, fur-trimmed face leered at him.
Bloodied fangs, gold eyes, then darkness.
Mouth // 04:11
HEY! Thought you were dead
See you in a couple of hours