Animal Heart (Beast & Beauty)

by M, Jessie

  She pursed her lips as she took their money and very slowly placed it in the cash register drawer. Then she wrapped her thick, aran cardigan about her slightly built body and leaned towards them across the counter. She gestured for them to come closer, peering at them over the top of her very thick and massive purple-rimmed glasses, a shade which matched her neatly permed hair to a T.

  “Some folks say it were wild dogs, maybe a pack of starving wolves, but I have my own theory.” She paused for effect as they both looked at each other in heightened expectation. “It were the devil himself. He came here last night with his hell hounds and let 'em loose. Killed Sergeant Stevens, they did... and one bit the Mayor on his leg. Real deep bites, festering and painful. Full of Satan's wrath no doubt. Now I'm not too sorry 'bout the Mayor feeling pain, he's a nasty piece of interfering shit, that he is! Pardon me Lord, for my language.” She crossed herself and continued. “Tried to make me sell the store to him a few years back. Bribery and corruption it were... But anyway, his lady weren't a bad sort. I feel bad for Philly, that I do.” She paused again, gathering a deep breath, and continuing with her gruesome gossip. “Dreadful, awful way to go, having your throat ripped out like that. Half gone, eaten, or so I've heard. And then there's the young Reverend Porter. He was found on the rectory path this mornin', his neck torn, in a puddle of blood. Now who else would attack a missionary of our Lord in such a way but the devil 'imself...eh? And that old layabout drunk Wally too, harmless he were, incapable half the time, poor old fella, neck ripped and face half gone. That one were particularly nasty, one hand missin' and his stomach slashed to his innards... ewww! The Richards say they took a pot-shot at one of his hounds as it were attacking their chickens in the yard but it escaped... But of course it would, wouldn't it. You can't kill one of Satan's hounds, can 'ya? Already dead, they are... already dead... I don't know... If you want my opinion, the place is cursed, with a capital C. The hearts gone outta Heart. We're all doomed. No one around to save our souls either. Now then, can I get 'ya anything else my dears? There's a special offer on the chocolate selections this week.”

  “Oh no thanks Miss B... And what a dreadful, awful, shocking thing... I need to go and lie down. I'm so, so... I don't know...” Sammy said theatrically, staggering out of the door with Maddy close behind her.

  “You both have a nice day now, eh?” Miss Boyle called out.

  “Oh fuck, who the hell's gonna bless our water now? And God help us... who ate Philomena's throat, and worse still, old Wally's hand... Uggghhh? Please say it wasn't me...” Sammy asked her with a horrified look.

  “I've no idea. Honestly! I only caught a glimpse of you all,” Maddy half lied.

  They trudged back to the truck heavy hearted to relay their news.

  Aden acted positively. Maddy loved that about him. He'd try and get them thinking rather than giving up.

  “Look, there's nothing to say it has to be blessed here, is there? We can go to Elk Pond. Explain to the local pastor that our dear Reverend Porter is indisposed or missing... It might even be a godsend.”

  They set off for the ten mile drive to the next town. They tried to keep their spirits up. They had plenty of time and Maddy had abilities. There was no need to contain the pack any longer. In fact full moon madness was a thing of the past from now on. They could sleep happily in their beds, whatever the outcome of today's curse-lifting ceremony. They could drink and be merry until sun down and collapse in the safety of their own household. No threat to anyone or themselves. Their container prisons were no longer required. The terrible deaths of Heart were an unavoidable and sad tragedy. One that would never be repeated again. As long as Maddy was in their midst. And she planned to keep it that way.

  The Elk Pond chapel was a small and understated affair as far as churches went. But that wasn't important to Aden. All he needed was to find the pastor, V. Saunderfoot, whoever and wherever he was, and fast. The small garage across the street was a good place to start. He called in to the tiny attached shop and was given the address and directions by the young cashier.

  Less than two minutes later, he was sitting outside his door

  Suddenly he felt awkward and like a fraud. Persuading the clergyman to bless water for them was not his forte. However, it needed to be done, and now was the time to do it. He entered the front yard trying to feel confident. He noticed the name plate next to the door.

  “The Black Crow's Nest”.

  Rather an odd name for a holy father's house, but still, each to their own...

  “Hello there, what can I do for you?” An elderly, white haired woman popped her head up from behind a large bush, holding a pair of deadly sharp looking shears.

  “Hello, I'm looking for the Pastor Saunderfoot, is he in?”

  “She is. You're looking at her. How d'you do, I'm Victoria Saunderfoot.” She held out her hand and shook his with a firm grip.

  “Oh, I'm sorry... I was expecting... well I'm sure you know... I'm Aden Carr. I live in Heart. I was wondering if you'd mind carrying out a small good deed for us, as our own Reverend Porter is somewhat ill, or so we hear.”

  “Well I'm sorry to hear young Mark isn't well... Hopefully it's nothing serious. I'll give him a call later... Now then, what good deed would that be?” She asked with a blazing white holy smile.

  “We'd like you to bless some water. Quite a lot of it.”

  “Not doing any exorcisms, are you? That's strictly forbidden, very ill advised,” she frowned at him, a bone chilling frown as if she could see right through him and knew what he was. “So strange... I'm feeling something from you. Something very familiar, like I know you...” she went on with a strange look in her eyes.

  “Exorcism, ha ha...” he replied in a panic. “No... We are filling an ornamental pool, at our ranch. For the staff and for our guests. So we need a lot.”

  “No you don't. One drop of holy water in a hundred gallons is enough,” she replied, still looking at him far too intensely for comfort.

  “It is?”

  “D'you think we bless every single drop of it individually?” She laughed at him, her concern apparently forgotten or put to one side.

  “Kind of, yes...”

  “It's a fluid Mr Carr... You can't dilute holiness,” she chuckled. "Give me a bottle and I'll do it now. It's a simple prayer.”

  Aden grabbed a bottle from the truck and popped it in her hand before she changed her mind.

  She turned and went inside and he hovered in the doorway.

  “Come in my dear,” she called to him. He followed her into the kitchen, and she took out a pot of salt from the cupboard, and holding some in her hand, blessed it with a few words. She then unscrewed the bottle, added the salt, and replaced the cap, giving it a good shake. She then proceeded to bless the salted water with a very long and atmospheric psalm, which she obviously knew by heart, and which made his hair rise up.

  “There… all done. Add it to your pool.”

  “What? Oh the pool. Yes, thank you Pastor.”

  “You're most welcome young man. Now if you don't mind, I must get on... back to my topiary clipping.”

  He left her home feeling miserable about lying, but heck... he had a higher cause here. To rid the town of their potential threat. They may have Maddy just now, but it might not always be that way. Heaven forbid, but things could change so fast.

  They drove back to Heart and went to chill out at Ted's bar for an hour, waiting for the beginning of sunset, the time of their planned ceremonial at the churchyard.

  “Hey Ted,” he called out as they entered. But Ted wasn't alone. Propping up the bar, or to be more precise, the bar propping up him, was the Mayor himself. Very much the worse for wear.

  “Well how-di-do... If it ain't the smugglin' piece of stinkin' horse shit comin' a visit,” the Mayor slurred.

  Aden tried very hard to be civil and to ignore his barbed insults. “How are you Mayor Stevens? I heard about your wife and the other happenings here last night, I'm so sorry.”<
br />
  “Yeah, well you will be. When I get those container forensics back, you'll be roasting and toasting in jail, pony-boy.”

  “How can you even think of that stuff at a time like this?” Aden asked incredulously.

  “Need sommat ta keep me goin'... don't I?” he replied bleary eyed, taking a noisy slurp of his beer.

  “I think you'd be better off going home, taking a sedative and getting some sleep.”

  “Who asked you? Keep your fucking nose out, goddit?”

  “How about we wipe the slate clean. Start again?” Aden offered generously, holding out his hand. But the Mayor knocked it away ungraciously.

  “What? Deprive myself of the greatest pleasure in life... seein' you in cuffs?” The Mayor simulated a cuffed gesture right in Aden's face. He was getting really riled now.

  “Come on now Mayor, Carr's got a point. It ain't a good idea drinkin' so much. Grief and a hangover's not too good a combination. Take a break, eh?” Ted tried to calm the Mayor down as Aden was obviously not doing such a great job.

  “Get off my fuckin' back. The lot a ya'...” The Mayor turned to face them all angrily, swinging his arm. They all stared as his ears began to grow and his eyes turned a becoming shade of glowing amber. He took a step towards them, tripped over his own feet, collapsing in a heap on the floor, blind drunk.

  “Was I just seeing things?” Ted said opened mouthed.

  “I don't know... what were you seeing?” Aden asked, trying to control his own reaction.

  “Big ears... weird eyes...” Ted explained in an unbelieving tone.

  “I didn't see anything like that, did you guys?” Aden asked the pack.

  “No...” they all replied... trying not to laugh.

  “Well fuck me these eyes of mine are playing me up big time, I could have sworn...”

  “Look Ted, I'm taking the Mayor home,” Aden interrupted. “He doesn't deserve our help, goddamnit, but I'll do it as a favor for his newly deceased wife. Come on you lot, let's get him in the truck.”

  They took him home, parking in the street, and bearing his unconscious body past the scene of crime tape. The red bloodstained driveway, and chalk body marks on the floor, made them all wince badly. It was difficult to be respectful considering one of them had been responsible for it. The physical evidence of Philomena's death was a very sobering sight. After finding his door key in a pocket, they carried him indoors. Maddy took his shoes off as they lay him down on the white leather chesterfield sofa in the living room. She grabbed a pad and pen and wrote a note,

  “If you feel 'different' and start to imagine 'changes' don't be alarmed. Call me... Maddy, at Heart Mountain Ranch...”

  She popped it inside his shoe.

  “Let's go. It'll be dusk soon,” Aden said, ushering them out.

  Chapter 10

  They crept around the churchyard as the sun began to set and settled beneath an old yew, the low and wide branches of which hid them from view, that, and the massive tombstones surrounding them.

  Verity gave out the straw crosses and a bottle of holy water to each of them. They made a small hole in the earth and sat down to await their ceremony. They felt the moon's pull strongly tonight. The second night was always the worst. The most difficult of the three. They'd all had to work hard for the last hour or two, to keep focused and completely human in form.

  “Right,” Aden said, feeling his eyes begin to heat a little with the glow. “We'll light them, douse them, and bury with earth. Each in turn. You first Shane.”

  Shane lit his straw cross and they all stared transfixed as it caught strongly, flaming a good foot in the air. He let it burn for a few seconds, and then tipped the water over it and covered it with the soil. They all stared at him, expecting something to happen... Like a puff of holy smoke or some visible sign.

  “Come on, Sammy, now you.”

  They each took a turn until Aden, the last, was done.

  “So,” he said finally. “Are we feeling any different?”

  “I'm still changing, look.” Shane pointed out his hair sprouting on his hands.

  “Me too,” Sammy said, feeling her ears starting to grow.

  “Maybe this isn't what we should do? We'll have to rethink. Get your water. Let's get in the truck. Maddy, you're driving us home.”

  But she didn't reply. She just sat and stared. At what, he couldn't see.

  “Maddy... Maddy... MADDY...” he shouted, shaking her. Her eyes had rolled back in her head and she wasn't there. He checked her heartbeat and her breathing. That was all fine. But what was the matter with her?

  They all stared at each other in horror. Without Maddy they were going to massacre the townsfolk.

  Before his change advanced any further, he picked her up and sat her on the seat of the truck, kissing her softly, and then reluctantly shutting the door. Hopefully it wouldn't be the last time he would be able to do that. His change came upon him harshly as the last rays of light ebbed away. His body transformed in a few short minutes and a low strangled howl arose from his throat. This was strange. He was actually feeling himself, his normal wolf-self that was. By now he was normally unaware at full moons. He didn't feel mad or obsessed with killing anything at all. He took a quick look around at his pack. Lucas stood up and nodded at him, growling... 'I'm okay, what about you?'...

  'Same', he growled back. Cal and Mia walked up to his side, nodding their Okays to him. They all stood still for a while, waiting for something to happen, but nothing did. They couldn't change back into their human form, but at least they weren't psychopaths anymore.

  The curse seemed to have been lifted after all, but what the hell had that holy union done to Maddy?

  He stood on his hind legs and peered into the truck, and what he saw shocked him to his core. There were two Maddys. One wolf and one human. Sitting side by side. The wolf-Maddy turned to face him through the window. Her eyes were the deepest red and more than evil... She rose up and disappeared like a mist.

  “Maddy no!” he yelped in desperation. “Cal... She's left herself...”

  “Nothin' you can do, man, nothin',” he growled.

  They were all very aware of their wolf form and the need to hide themselves. After last night, they wouldn't be welcome in these parts. Aden jumped into the back of the truck and they all followed suit. They laid low and waited, and waited.

  Several hours passed and they all fell asleep. Aden was suddenly awakened by a rumbling sound. He raised his head. The truck was travelling down the road and leaving Heart. He could see Maddy in the driver's seat. God knows where she'd been and what she'd done.

  Her evil she-wolf.

  He couldn't bear it. Not her. Not his lovely mate.

  She was supposed to be an angel, not a demon.

  They arrived back at the ranch and he watched Maddy get out of the cab and walk to the back of the truck.

  “Out,” she commanded with blazing red eyes.

  Where the hell had she been?

  He tried to ask her.

  “What happened?” he growled.

  “The Mayor has no heart, and Heart has no Mayor. That's what happened. Amusing, isn't it?” she replied with an evil grin.

  “Maddy, what have you done?” He growled in a low and worried voice.

  “A necessary and long overdue errand. Now move inside, my brethren. Lie and sleep.” They were once more forced to do her bidding, although this time, thoroughly aware of it. They all trailed inside and sank onto the floor, falling back to sleep.

  They woke from their full moon slumber as their transformation took place. They were all still sprawling on the floor in the main room with Maddy perched much more comfortably on the sofa. He forced himself through it hurriedly and arose, shaking her awake. He pulled her up and led her to his room.

  “Baby, there's something I need to tell you.”

  “What?” she asked sounding alarmed.

  “That ceremony definitely worked for us, but I don't know what it did to you. I don't t
hink you should have done it. I could kick myself right now.”

  “What are you saying?” she asked cautiously.

  “Maddy, you shifted last night. But differently. You shifted out of your body. Your wolf left you sitting on the seat in the truck. I saw it disappear above your head, like an apparition. Now I don't know for sure, but based on Cal's past experience, shifters can be the most deadly werewolves at full moon because they have no measure of time or space. You went somewhere Maddy. With no good intentions in your head.”

  “No... That's just not possible.”

  “I would have agreed with you, if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes.”

  “But why? What would I do anyway?”

  “Visiting the Mayor springs to mind.”

  “But I couldn't hurt him, not as a spirit, could I?”

  “Don't be so sure. I think your physical wolf can materialise anywhere it wants to.”

  “Oh no, no, no... I'm getting real bad vibes now. Oh God... I need to be alone. Just for a while. Okay?” Maddy left his room with her head in her hands.

  A moment later he followed. He opened the door and went in her room, sitting beside her as she lay on her bed, watching her for a moment.

  “I want to be here for you. Don't push me away when things get tough. We'll see it through together, understood?” he told her firmly, with a stern and solemn expression.

  She sat up and moved towards him, settling herself across his lap.

  “But I feel such a burden,” she revealed.

  “You are never going to be a burden to me. Don't say things like that. I'll whip your pretty ass if you even so much as think it again,” he replied harshly, gripping her shoulders a little roughly in demonstration.

  “God, I love you. I really do, especially when you get all masterful and insistent with me,” she murmured, her eyes caressing his face, and finishing up with the sweetest hot little kiss on the side his mouth.