Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2)

by Kunz, C. A.

  “Or else what? Who will make me? You and your insipid group? I think not! You have become too humanized and are not strong enough to challenge me! I would crush you with ease!” Andrei’s eyes turned jet black, his face full of anger, as his teeth descended rapidly. Towering a half a foot over Andrei, Lucien’s eyes were also jet black, his teeth sharp and ready.

  “Do you find these threats wise? Is your memory so lacking that you have forgotten the past so soon? I am not the man you saw last time you were here. So if you were smart, I would leave now before my anger worsens!” Lucien’s voice bellowed throughout the quiet house. “Oh, and do give my regards to my sister the next time you see her.” Lucien grinned as Andrei stormed out of the study and disappeared.

  Filled with rage, Andrei stomped through the old, abandoned, complex tunnel system that ran under Astoria. “How dare that drunk talk to me that way! He does not intimidate me!” Though his words said otherwise, Andrei shuddered as he thought back to the day long ago when Lucien had bested him.

  Reaching the tunnel system’s central chamber, he spotted their human “cow” unconscious and chained to the far wall. His clothes were new, as the ones he had been captured in had grown disgustingly ripe after so many weeks in captivity. Andrei’s anger increased as he saw the three girls lying on the mattresses strewn about, each fast asleep. “Wake up!” he yelled, his voice echoing off the barren walls. The three jumped up, trembling at the viciousness in his voice. “How many times have I told you three idiots that you must not drink until your food passes out? You also need to keep him fed or we will lose our supply. And how can he eat if he is always unconscious? Imbeciles!” he growled. “Now, go and find him some sustenance. And then, please, someone wake him up!”

  Without a word the three girls scurried from his presence. Andrei plopped down on one of the mattresses and stared at the still form of Melvin Pierson, the missing biology teacher.

  16

  Howl At The Wolf Moon

  Cat shivered as she opened her bedroom window and watched the snow fall softly from the sky. It seemed time had flown by since the night of Trish’s attack. Christmas had even come and gone, and so had the New Year. I can’t believe Trish doesn’t remember what happened to her. It’s probably for the best though, given what she went through, Cat thought.

  Looking up in the sky, Cat saw the moon peeking out from behind the snowy clouds. She wondered how Linda was and where she was hiding. Cat had yet to tell anyone other than Ryan about her encounter with the three girls. For his sake, she wished she could unload her burden on someone else other than him. Ever since Trish’s attack, Ryan had become even more protective of Cat. He was convinced the three girls were behind it and was worried she was the next on their list. Cat wondered if that was true. Are the girls behind Mr. Pierson’s disappearance too? Why, Linda? Why are you doing this?

  As the wind picked up and the snowfall began to thicken, Cat quickly latched her window and jumped into bed, shivering as she pulled the covers over herself. Reaching up, she turned off the lamp on her nightstand, and then bundled up again. As she stared up at the ceiling, Cat let the many questions she had run through her head.

  Cat awoke the next morning to the delicious smell of bacon. Rushing downstairs she flung open the kitchen door and saw her mom standing at the stove humming to herself.

  “Morning, Mom! Mmmm, smells so good!” Cat commented, reaching around her mom and grabbing a slice of bacon.

  Rachel chuckled. “Morning, sweetie, fix yourself a plate. Your dad should be down in a minute, and I heard Taylor in the shower, so you better grab some while you can.” Cat quickly piled her plate full of food and plopped down at the kitchen table. “I’m still a little wary of you staying home by yourself tonight. I wish you’d stay with Julie like you normally do.”

  “I told you that we’re all going to an early movie and after that I’ve got to study for my test tomorrow. You know I won’t get any studying done if I spend the night with Julie. I’ll be okay tonight. Don’t worry, Mom,” she said with a huge smile.

  “Don’t worry what?” Sam asked, entering through the kitchen door.

  “Mom’s just worried, as usual, about me staying home alone tonight. I can take care of myself, you know. It’s not like I’m a half-vampire or anything,” Cat said sarcastically. “I pity the fool who messes with me!” she announced jokingly, thrusting her fork into the air.

  “That’s not the point, Cat. Something’s going on in our town and it isn’t as safe as it used to be. Your mom is just worried like the rest of us are,” Sam replied, smiling reassuringly at Rachel.

  “Oh no, she’s gotten to you too, Dad?” Cat joked as Rachel rolled her eyes. “I’m just kidding. I know that everyone’s kind of walking on eggshells right now, but I’ll be fine.”

  “Uh-oh, serious faces, what’s this discussion about?” Taylor asked, standing in the kitchen doorway. Cat was glad to see her brother in better spirits. He had taken Trish’s attack the hardest of anyone.

  “Hurry up and get a plate before the food gets cold,” Rachel ordered Taylor.

  “So is this a secret then?” Taylor asked, spooning some eggs onto his plate.

  “No, Cat just wants to stay home alone tonight,” Rachel replied.

  “Uh-uh. No way! Are you actually considering it?” Taylor asked, looking at his mom and then his dad. “Why isn’t she staying with Julie?”

  “Hello? I’m right here. Did everyone miss the memo of me being a half-vampire? I mean I have superhuman strength and quickness. Does that not ease your worries just a little?” Cat asked, looking around to all of them. No one said anything. They all just shared knowing glances.

  “Alright Cat, you can stay home alone. Taylor, Sam, if Cat says that she’ll be okay, then she’ll be okay. Now let’s all eat before the food gets cold,” Rachel stated and swallowed hard, realizing what she had just said. Cat held back her smile as she shoveled a fork full of eggs into her mouth.

  “So we all agree that movie sucked! Whose idea was this anyway?” Matt griped as they headed back toward the parking lot.

  “Wasn’t it yours?” Elle asked, laughing at Matt’s feigned puzzlement.

  “I don’t think so, I think it was Hannah’s,” Matt replied innocently, his arm pulling Hannah closer to him.

  “It was not, I didn’t even know Zombie Massacre 3 was a movie! I just came along with you guys,” she answered and then giggled as Matt gave her a peck on the cheek.

  “Face it, Matt, you’re the king of picking terrible movies! If Amanda was here, your good arm would be sore by now. I even had to wake Ryan up twice,” Cat laughed as she felt Ryan squeeze her hand for tattling on him.

  “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m freezing,” Elle moaned as they rounded the corner of the movie theater, and a gust of frigid wind blasted them. Rushing to get out of the cold, they ran to their cars, occasionally sliding on the slick pavement. Goodbyes were hastily said as everyone piled into their respective vehicles. Ryan jumped into Cat’s Jeep as she started the engine. She began rubbing her hands together in front of the air vents, waiting for the heater to kick in.

  “Aren’t you cold?”

  Ryan laughed. “Yep, fully cold-blooded.” Cat rolled her eyes at his vampire humor. “I wonder why Hannah didn’t ride with us. Won’t Matt have to backtrack after taking everyone else home?” Ryan turned at Cat’s laugh.

  “Please, like he really minds. Especially since they’ll have all that alone time on the way to her house. Anyway, I thought I was the practical one in this relationship,” she giggled.

  After Cat dropped Ryan off, she decided to take the long way home. As she slowly made her way along the slick streets, Cat saw car taillights ahead of her weaving back and forth. Suddenly the car ahead of hers swerved off the road into a grove of trees. Passing by the car, Cat recognized it was Dr. Bane’s black BMW. She quickly slammed on the brakes, causing her Jeep to skid to a halt. She watched as Dr. Bane staggered out of the vehicle and then
moved quickly into the dense forest. Alarmed, she unbuckled her seat belt and rushed from her car. “Dr. Bane? Are you okay? Dr. Bane?” she called out, following his footsteps in the pristine white snow.

  “Damn, damn, damn. I knew I should’ve left before now, but that baby wouldn’t have survived if I’d left. I just need to get deep enough into the woods and hope no one notices my car! Stupid cell phone. I can’t even let anyone know!” Harold Bane murmured to himself, drawing out a syringe from his bag as he trudged deeper into the thick foliage. He winced, plunging the syringe into his arm, “This will keep the beast at bay until morning.” The tranquilizer immediately kicked in and Dr. Bane didn’t notice the person approaching him until she spoke.

  “Dr. Bane, are you alright?” He turned, shocked to see Cat standing only a few feet away.

  “Catherine, what are you doing here?” he dumbly asked, as it was apparent she had seen him pull off the road and followed him. “You need to leave immediately!” he spat out and then groaned as he felt the change approaching.

  “What’s wrong? You don’t look very well. Can I help?” she asked, reaching out to place her hand on his shoulder. As the full moon rose above the trees, its bright light glistened off the sweat rolling down Dr. Bane’s face. He ripped away from her.

  “Cat, please get back…ahh…please leave…I can’t hold out much longer!” Backing away slowly, Cat watched on, horrified, as the doctor began jerking back and forth as if he was a puppet on a string. She could hear cracking noises, and cringed as he moaned in severe pain.

  “Dr. Bane?” Cat asked hesitantly and reached out to him again, but then jerked back quickly as his eyes met hers. His golden brown eyes were glowing. He growled as his hands crackled and began to elongate. His nose and mouth extended into a wolf snout filled with razor-sharp teeth. Dr. Bane fell to his knees as his growing body mass tore his clothes. Hair began to sprout all over his body. Cat was frozen, shocked by the transformation happening before her eyes. She wanted to run, but she knew deep down she was not the one in danger if she left him; he would be. She saw the syringe lying beside him and watched as the man who looked more like a beast now, sank farther into the snow, his eyes closing as his body continued its metamorphosis. The werewolf lying in front of her was still Dr. Bane.

  Sure, he’s hairier, has large claws, and big bad teeth, but he still saved my life, and I can’t leave him like this. If the werewolf legend is true, then all I have to do is wait until morning and he’ll transform back. Cat told herself. Wait…he’s going to be naked! Like really naked! I better get something to cover him up with. “Dr. Bane, can you hear me?” The creature didn’t move a muscle. The only way Cat knew he was still alive was by the low growling noises coming from his mouth. “I’ll be right back. I’ve got a blanket in my Jeep. Don’t worry I’ll take care of you,” she whispered. I can’t believe werewolves exist! My life is a Robert Craven novel! Cat thought, running through the woods back to her vehicle.

  At least twenty minutes had passed since Cat left Dr. Bane’s side. During that time she pulled both vehicles farther off the road so no one would notice them and come snooping around. She trudged back through the snow with the blankets and beach towels she had retrieved from the back of her Jeep. Luckily she had bundled up before going out with multilayered clothing and her winter Ugg boots. After wrapping Dr. Bane in two fleece blankets, Cat gently lifted his head placing a stack of towels underneath. Leaning back against a huge tree trunk, Cat wrapped her arms tightly around herself to keep warm and pulled the hood of her coat up over her head. “Everything will be okay, Dr. Bane,” she said, watching him sleep soundly. I guess I’ll be winging that test tomorrow, huh?

  Dawn was breaking and Cat could see the shape of Dr. Bane lying in front of her. He was considerably smaller in size and shivering uncontrollably. She rose stiffly to her feet and made her way to him, relieved when she saw fingers instead of claws peeking out from under the blankets. What should I do? Should I wake him up? Or leave him and hope he doesn’t remember I was here? But I have sooo many questions! Cat argued with herself.

  “Dr. Bane? Dr. Bane, it’s Cat. You need to get up or you’re going to freeze to death out here.” She jumped back as he moaned and started to sit up. Cat quickly turned her back to him, embarrassed that he was very naked under the blankets.

  “Catherine, what? Why…oh, I didn’t. Yes I did.” She heard his anguished voice as he remembered what had happened.

  “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me. I won’t tell a soul. I promise. Now, do you have any clothes? I didn’t see any in your car. But then again, I didn’t check your medical bag. Maybe you’ve got some in there?” she rambled on, keeping her eyes averted as she reached into his bag. She sighed, relieved when she found a pair of scrubs inside. “Here put these on, and then we’ll get out of here.” He grabbed the clothes from her hand, her eyes still averted.

  “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  Cat shook her head.

  “I must say you’re taking this rather well.” He put his hand on her shoulder and gently turned her around. She was relieved that he was now dressed, barefoot, and all goose-pimply, but dressed nonetheless.

  “Please, Dr. Bane. I found out I’m adopted, a half-vampire, have to take blood pills every day, and have a white witch for a science teacher. So what’s the big deal about you being a werewolf?” Her smile wobbled as he raised her chin so her eyes met his.

  “I always thought you were a tough young woman and now I’ve proven myself right. Thanks for watching over me. I was careless. We’re only forced to change once a year on the Wolf Moon, but last night I had an emergency, and I cut it pretty close…really close.”

  “We? There are others? Of course there are. You wouldn’t be alone, that wouldn’t make sense. Wolves travel in packs, right?”

  “I guess the cat’s out of the bag. Excuse the pun. But I guess you had to find out at some point, huh? I just wish it had been under more controlled circumstances.”

  “Yeah, people keep telling me that,” Cat joked.

  Dr. Bane laughed. “Now, I’m freezing and my feet are numb, so let’s go and straighten this all out.” He took Cat’s arm and they made their way to the cars. “Leave your Jeep, I’ll send someone back for it. I think there are some people you need to see.” Cat buckled herself in the passenger seat and felt grateful when he set the car’s heater to full blast.

  Uncle Aldon’s mansion looked like a fairy-tale castle with all the brilliant white snow covering the turrets, roofs, and gardens. Dr. Bane drove his car up the freshly-shoveled driveway and parked by the large-arched heavy oak front doors. Puzzled, Cat took his hand as he held her car door open and pulled her to her feet. “Why are we here?” Cat began to shake, not from the cold, but from fear of what she might learn behind those doors. “I don’t think I want to go in and see Uncle Aldon right now. I think I need to go home,” she said. Her voice shook as bad as her whole body.

  “It’ll be fine, Cat, trust me.” Dr. Bane’s beautiful golden brown eyes met hers and she felt a warm feeling come over her.

  “Harold! We were worried sick! What happened?” Aldon’s voice came from the doorway behind Dr. Bane. He turned and Aldon saw Cat standing there.

  “Aldon, it would seem we’ve waited too long,” Dr. Bane said resignedly.

  “Yes, I see that we have. Well, let’s get this over with. Come on in, Cat. You’ll catch your death of cold out here,” his warm robust voice washed over her. Cat allowed Dr. Bane to lead her into the foyer as her eyes stayed glued to Aldon’s worried face.

  “I really need to get home and get ready for school. I’ve got a test today, and I haven’t studied, and I know I’m going to fail, and my car is back in the woods, and Dr. Bane is a werewolf, and I haven’t taken my meds, and…I think I need to sit down,” Cat rambled and felt her legs give out from under her.

  Dr. Bane quickly picked her up, carrying her through the ballroom door which was being held open by Aldon. The first thing
Cat noticed was that the ballroom was quiet despite the crowd of people standing before her. She saw several members of the football team, their parents, and even her high school’s principal, Ms. Landers. I can’t believe all of these people are werewolves. What the hell’s going on! Cat thought crossly. Dr. Bane held Cat tighter as she gasped when she saw Sam, Rachel, and Taylor moving toward them. As her Dad reached out to take her, she shied away from him and clung closer to Harold. Realizing the truth, a sudden rush of anger swept through Cat. How dare they do this to me again!

  “Dr. Bane, please put me down,” Cat said quietly and felt herself being lowered to the floor. She straightened out her clothes and then looked up. Everyone stood there like statues. “So, let me get this straight,” her voice echoed through the room, “this past year I thought I was losing my mind, seeing weird things, and fainting a lot. Which, I was told was due to a weird blood disease. Then I found out I was adopted and told I’m half something that I thought was only a myth! Then you tell me there are people or whatever out there who want me dead. Then I realize my boyfriend is kind of like me, and, to top it all off, I secretly trained really hard to be able to protect all of you. Only now I find out you all don’t need my protection! You can do fine on your own! Because you’re all freakin’ werewolves! Well I think…I think…oh hell, I don’t know what to think. I’m mad. Really mad! And right now I don’t want to get into this. So, Dr. Bane you’re going to drive me back to my Jeep, and then I’m going home. And if I don’t wake up in my bed and find this was all a dream, I’m going to school. No, don’t say a word, don’t follow me,” Cat stated, staring everyone down. Turning to Trish, “You too? And Aunt Druanna?” They both nodded their heads. “Oh this is too much, I need to go home. Harold, I’ll be waiting in the car. I think after what I did for you last night, you could do this one thing for me,” she said. Cat walked out of the room and found Elsie standing by the front door. Moving quickly passed her, Cat wrenched open the door before Elsie could.