Nightly Howls

by Madeline Blake

  "They certainly are, aren't they?" Yi murmurs, watching my utter fascination with pleasure. "I, actually, like to think of them as a fantastic crossbreed between a buffalo and a bull. Oh, and a twinge of werewolf."

  "What?!" I exclaim, "So it isn't pure steak?"

  "Don't you think it tastes better than steak?" he questions carelessly, "It is a concoction Wes came up with around fifty years ago. We all had a liking for steak, Wes in particular, so he made it his goal to produce the finest breed the world has ever known. He found a beautiful buffalo and a prime cow, and went on a trip to find many more animals. However, when he reached home, he discovered that the buffalo and the cow had a few calves, some of which were boys, and one a girl. They were very delicious, and so he allowed them to multiply. His goal was to get two perfect bull/buffalos. However, too many of them were handicapped or spotted. Finally, after a long period of agonizing, he offered them a very small bit of werewolf blood, which strengthened them and colored their eyes. And so, that is how our amazing bull-buffalos and awesome steak came into existence."

  "Werewolf... blood?" I ask, choking a little on my steak.

  "Not much... barely more than a drop," he quickly reassures me, patting my back. His tanned skin distracts me, its color like light bronze.

  "How can YOU eat that?"

  "We don't," he shrugs, "when Wes added the werewolf blood, we all couldn't eat it. That would be like... cannibalism."

  "Then why did Nico eat it that one day in the lunchroom?" I walk over to him, peering into Nico's emerald eyes.

  "That was deer meat," he laughs genially. I just peer at them, shock registering on my features.

  "You guys can't eat steak anymore?" I ask. A life without steak... pure torture.

  Wes waves his hand at me nonchalantly, "I ate so much then that I got sick of it. Don't worry about me."

  I bite it once more, savoring each little bit of delicious steak. I walk back over to the bean bags, plopping into one. "What are you all watching?" I question curiously. The screen is frozen with the picture of a girl right next to a boy with long hair.

  Jake smiles, "we heard you were a Twilight fan."

  I shoot a glare at the criminal as he lowers his gaze.

  "We skipped to the part where Bella meets the handsome werewolf. We figured that that was the most important part anyways," Jake continues. There is a beep as he presses a button, and the still picture comes to life. I examine them both, the werewolf as he looks at Bella with obvious love in his eyes, similar to someone I happen to know...

  "Is Bella his mate?" I ask loudly, causing Yi to put a finger to his lips. Wes is already consumed with the film, probably imagining himself as the werewolf. Honestly, I think Wes would be better suited for a role like that.

  "No," Nico chuckles, "she's not. But he loves her."

  I look at Nico's profile, so enveloped in compassion as he views the rays of unrequited love emanating from the desperate man. His eyes glisten, hair falling into them. He is so statuesque and perfect; reminding me of those roman paintings I have studied in school. Like one of the Greek gods.

  "Did you... love somebody before you became mated to me?" I ask, looking at the miniscule droplets of sadness bubbling on the corner of his eyes. He turns, eyes fierce.

  "I loved nobody. It was endless torture," he answers, "girl after girl... but never a connection."

  "It's stupid to love someone who isn't your mate," Jake interludes, "for you can only break that person's heart."

  Silence reigns as another character enters the scene. A cold, darkly handsome man appears by Bella's side, conversing with her in low tones.

  "Is that Edward?"

  "True characteristics of a Twilight fan," Jake laughs, "and yes, he is."

  I stare at his cold face, his measuring eyes. No matter how handsome, he still sparks fear and anger in my stomach. Nico smiles.

  "Vampires aren't real," he comforts me, rubbing a hand on my back. It is soothing, the way his fingers move in slow circles on my skin, somehow knowing precisely where I need it.

  "But why are werewolves real then?" I probe agitatedly, "why they are real and not the vampires?"

  The movie pauses once more, silence creeping like fog onto the inhabitants. A figure appears in the doorway, assessing us coldly.

  "We are created for a purpose, and doomed to eternity until our task is completed," Asher says, his voice rippling through the air towards my ears. "It is in the legend."

  "Legend?" I question.

  "It is more like a prophecy," he amends quickly.

  "What does it say?"

  "Well," Jake cuts in, his voice like a knife, "it talks about a pack, led by a Spier that has the abilities of both a werewolf and a Spier. With these combined supernatural powers, the Spier has a super talent that will enable his or her pack to defeat the wolf with the red eyes and destroy the red stone. After that, the Shifters will cease, and so will the werewolves. Basically, werewolves exist to battle the Shifters."

  "We have a copy of it in the library. I recommend you read it for a better understanding than what Jake just gave you," Asher says coldly, then turns away and walks down the hallway.

  "Wow," Yi jokes, "looks like someone's grumpy."

  "Well, my explanation was kind of horrible," Jake says.

  "Don't worry, I'll read it," I reassure him quickly. What Jake said makes almost no sense. The wolf with the red eyes? The red stone? My curiosity is spiked now, and there is no turning back...

  Nico perks up his nose suddenly, alarm in his next words. "Guys, there's another attack," he shoots up, horror in his eyes. The other occupants sniff, my heart rate escalating in fright.

  "I want to go!" I yell as they start to rush towards the exit, running after them. I want to have an adventure, not to be left alone in this giant mansion like a little kid.

  "It's too dangerous," Nico calls.

  "If you don't let me go," I snarl, "then you will regret it."

  There is complete silence as they stare at my face, devoid of all emotions except fury.

  "I think she's serious," Yi examines me.

  "Yeah."

  "Take her!"

  Asher races to join the pack, alert in his movements. "What are we waiting for?" he furiously asks, "we have to go!"

  "Come on," Nico sighs, morphing into a wolf before my eyes. I climb onto his back, my breathing close to his ear. My heart pounds erratically, my eyes shut tightly as he starts to run through the wild underbrush towards our unknown destination.

  I feel myself drowning in the comfort Nico offers, especially his soft, glistening fur that rivals any luxurious rug in the world. It is a better experience than my bed, for this fur is alive, the legs pounding beneath me as he carts me towards the scene of this mysterious attack. It strangely feels like I am touching his bare skin, the fur a creamy color that matches it perfectly. Heat radiates from his skin to my hands, causing a blush to strangely rise to my cheeks.

  The scenery around us changes from trees and dirt into manicured lawns and mediocre houses. My heart pounds even harder as people emerge, reasons unknown. I can barely get a glimpse at each of them before the next house comes into view, our speed increasing. Can they see us? Why are we traveling into the heart of society, where discovery is possible?

  We zoom down roads into the big city a couple of miles away from the orphanage. Buildings climb towards the clouds, cars multiplying beside us. However, we seem to avoid them, maneuvering around each vehicle at a blinding speed. I watch in amazement as all five werewolves delve into the sea of skyscrapers, flashy cars, streetlights, and everything in between. In other words, the city.

  Everything goes darker as activity dies, the ghetto area inching closer to us by the second. People smoking and drinking appear more often, many hanging out with lots of friends that are doing the same. The prosperous city facade rips away as we reach the outskirts, the true colors shining through.

  We finally come to a sudden halt in front of a gas station, the
windows old and cracked. Screams and yells erupt from inside, the lights flashing. And of course the drunken, dazed public is ignoring the crisis, walking by with expressionless faces.

  I slide off Nico as he morphs back into a man. He produces from his pocket a black mask, slipping it over his eyes. The other werewolves morph also, following Nico into the action after applying their own facial accessory.

  I choke down the urge to laugh. As if anyone wouldn’t recognize them behind a paltry mask that doesn’t hide their unique hair color or bright eyes.

  Nico looks at me and mouths, "stay here." He touches my shoulder then walks away with the others like he really expects me to obey him.

  I run after them, hiding behind a broken-down truck as they enter through the glass doors. Reaching up, I step onto the back of it and grab the broken window ledge, trying to look in. I gasp as a truly horrifying sight meets my eyes.

  Flurries of people are huddled into a clump of raw fear. Right behind the counter, a young, rather handsome teen with caramel skin rigidly stands at the cash register, holding money in his hand.

  But what scares me the most is that a rather odd youth, slim and geeky looking, is holding a gun right next to the cashier. His whole form betrays that he is scared and shaking, and his clothes are ripped and torn. However, it is his manner that alerts me to the truth.

  His back looks exactly like my dad's did when he was possessed by the Shifter.

  The cashier shovels more cash into a large bag, although I know that is not what the Shifter wants. It wants death. Destruction. Pain, hurt, and loss.

  I can spy it through the way he is holding the gun. He cannot hold back much longer. The Shifter will have its way.

  Where's Nico and the rest of them? What are they doing?

  The tension snaps, and the gun booms. I wince, looking away quickly. I don't want to see blood, especially of the innocent.

  Screams follow, and frenzied movement resumes inside the gas station. I look back to see the crowd standing in utter shock, staring at the empty space where the terrorizer used to be. A hole is freshly created through the bag of money, narrowly missing the cashier. Obviously he was the target. I breathe a sigh of relief along with the cashier as I step down from the truck.

  "Had enough peeping?" a decadent, alluring voice whispers into my ear, a hand firmly grabbing me by the waist. The air rushes by as the scene around me blurs, I becoming rather confused.

  Nico deposits me in a rough, dark area, three walls surrounding me. The other werewolves stop also, Asher carrying the attacker. "It wasn't peeping," I hotheadedly respond to Nico as he crosses over to the boy, "just watching."

  "Did you see us?" Yi asks inquisitively. I shake my head, and they all grin.

  "Our speed is just as good as always," Jake laughs, "we haven't gotten any slower these past twenty years like Yi said we were."

  "What?"

  "When we reach our top speed, us and everything moving with us becomes unable to see by the human eye."

  I fall silent, watching the boy go into convulsions. He thrashes, agony inflicting upon him like a barbed whip. Nico stands over him, examining him coldly. The boy turns his face my way, and I get a glance at his pair of eyes. His eyes...

  Fiery red.

  "Cover your eyes," Nico commands me, "this will be rather... um... dirty." Wes grabs my arms, his movement solemn.

  "What are you going to do to him?!" I nearly scream in alarm. I have never seen Nico so... bloodthirsty.

  "A Shifter cannot be vanquished without the killing of its host," Jake says slowly.

  Sadness overwhelms me like a tidal wave, encompassing my mind until nothing else is left. Not now. They can't.

  No.

  "Let me see him!" I scream, my voice uncannily high.

  "It's not safe, Ella. It will be over soon," Nico tries to sooth me, but there is nothing left in my mind. I have to touch him.

  They will NOT kill a human in front of me.

  "If you don't let me," I yank against my bondage, "then I will hate you for the rest of my life." I make each word bite into his skin, rip into his heart. He freezes, his foot on the teen's chest. Resignedly, he backs up, fear amount.

  "Hold him to the wall," he orders, and the four race to do his bidding. The boy yaps, his eyes filled with fire, his actions meant to hurt. He is hefted against the brick, blood slipping out of a gash on his cheek down with his sweat onto his shirt. I shrug off pure disgust, and edge closer.

  A light drizzle begins, the darkness I had perceived earlier dawning upon us all. I reach him, standing only a few inches away from the boy fated to death. Sorrow rips through my heart, and I reach out with one tender finger...

  As I make contact with his chest, I am suddenly enveloped in voices. Strange sounds occupy my thoughts, my mind. There is one overwhelming boom resounding, so loud and cold that it makes me shiver. KILL, it demands repeatedly, like the beating of a drum. My senses are overloaded with this one command.

  However, a small voice, rippling with fear, pain, and hurt, begs to become dominant. It screams for help, like a wail in the fleeting night. It is horrible, invoking my deepest compassion. The boy is still there, even though the Shifter has taken over. He is still fighting, still waging an internal war for his mind back. Hope floods through me, and with it, determination.

  "Take him with us." I take my hand off him, realizing suddenly that I had dropped to the ground. My head pounds with the scalding fear, the overbearing order that blocks out most else.

  "What?!" Asher asks furiously, "we can't!"

  "What happened, Ella?" Nico asks gently, coming by me. He rubs my back again, and this time it does nothing to ease the pain.

  My breath comes in short gasps as I stare at the ground, at the water now dancing towards the drain, flooding past my feet. In one sudden movement, I force myself to meet their gaze, their questions.

  "That boy is still alive," I murmur, looking at my hand. It still tingles from when I touched him, shock resounding throughout my body. "We can save him."

  I know I can. If I am able to reach out a little bit more, I can purge him of the internal devil. Cleanse him, and most likely others.

  Nico grabs me in his arms as I slump, the blackness overcoming me like a blanket until all is lost.

  The Trophy Men

  "Get up!" I throw my pillow at the mop of blue hair that never ceases to irk me. If I could, I would hit his face, but he has that and the rest of his body buried under a mountain of covers.

  A groan emerges from the lifeless bundle, then silence.

  "Don't make me have to say it twice," I narrow my eyes, crossing over to his side. I stare at the glittering blue that always manages to distract me, blinking annoyingly when it almost blinds me with its light.

  He turns slightly, and I can now see his forehead and abnormally long eyelashes. Jealousy sears through me as I gaze at the portion of his face revealed. Isn't the girl supposed to be the pretty one?

  On a whim, I reach towards him and punch the bundle as hard as I can. There are wretched moans as the man emerges like a butterfly from a cocoon, holding his arm in indignation.

  "You could have just used a pillow," he scoffs, though still spellbound under sleep. He leans his back against the headboard, watching me. I feel almost uncomfortable under his endless, measuring stare.

  "Time to get up," I state, shooting him a frightful glare when he makes no move.

  "And why, exactly, is it time to get up?" he probes. I suddenly feel doubtful.

  "Are we not going to school today?" I ask shakily.

  He laughs heartily, sparking elation in even my heart. "No, Ella," he corrects dreamily, "today is Saturday."

  I melt into a puddle on the hardwood floor.

  "Are you serious?" I squeak, backing away from his form. He reaches out quickly to grab my arm, stopping me in my tracks.

  "I'll forgive you," he says, his words slurred, "for a kiss." His strong hand forces me closer, elevating my heart rate until it’
s about to burst.

  "Nico!" I exclaim. He still seems to be half-asleep, yet smiling all the while.

  Fright mounts as he gives a final yank, my lips inches from his. I have to stop him, but how?

  With no other alternative, I punch him in the chest as hard as I can, his grip temporarily loosening. Using that opening, I tug away, running into the hallway as fast as I can.

  Touching my heart, I wish for it to slow down... so I can breathe.

  It is all a mystery. Why is Nico making my chest pound so hard? Even a glimpse or a simple touch is spiking my heart. But it isn't love, I'm sure.

  It can't be.

  I try to block these suspicious thoughts from my mind, taking off down the narrow hallway like a bullet. It seems to continue on endlessly, door after door appearing until my burst of speed sputters and dies. Now I am hot and sweaty for a different reason.

  It must be that "fake" love that sparks between two mates. The savage desire coursing through my blood is rampant, affecting my thinking. I can't give in to it, for then I will find myself under Nico's intoxicating spell. It is the first time in my life that I am actually afraid of... loving someone.

  Well, these past few days have introduced many firsts, so I suppose I should get used to it.

  I finally wind up in a dark room. I straggle along the walls, hoping to find a switch of some kind. After a little searching, I finally bump into a strange, inanimate object.

  Light blinds me as it floods through the room, the lamp shining like the sun.

  I take in the granite countertops, the stainless steel appliances, the gigantic refrigerator, and luxurious oven with awe. It is so big, almost as huge as their movie room, and spacious. I rush to a small door with anticipation, and fling it open to reveal a stockroom of every ingredient I could ever need or want. It is big also, with a cooled section dedicated especially to meat. I knew their kitchen would be magnificent, but this exceeds all expectations.

  Wandering over to an open cookbook, I gaze onto the lists of delectable food choices. My stomach grumbles annoyingly, and I at once decide to indulge in this fantasy world and make breakfast.