Howl And Growl Complete Collection

by Cloe Cullen

  He gazed hesitantly at Remus, “They’re going to feign an apology to Lord Cadogan with Lord Silvan’s help. Either she convinces them both to drop their charges against you all, or…”

  “Cadogan dies…” Remus breathed. Damn it all! He needed to be there with Bronwen if things soured into a life or death brawl between her and the other two Lords. Nyx being there didn’t make his heart hammer any slower. “Then we need to hurry.”

  “Obviously,” Lowell retorted, moving on to Remus’ cell. The others gathered into the hallway, looking both ways to make sure no guards came around the corners. Lowell cursed as he fumbled with the key, dropping it and then carefully picking it back up, inserting it, and swinging the door open. Hurrying inside, Lowell made to unlock his wrists first. Remus winced at the sharp pain, realizing his wounds wouldn’t heal as quickly as he needed them to. “Sorry,” Lowell muttered, sweat dripping down his forehead.

  Remus lurched to his feet, wobbling out to the corridor once Lowell freed his ankles. He peered down both ways, seeing no guards. Those Vampires are too cocky, he thought, at least they won’t expect this in the slightest.

  Lowell slid between Remus and the bars, taking the lead forward. “If you’re all ready, then we can get going. But we move silently, carefully. If the Vampires guarding this prison find out you’re all free, we’ll be trapped instantly. We need to avoid that at all costs.”

  Nodding, the group narrowed their eyes. “Sounds good to us,” Remus said. “Come on, we’re probably burning daylight.”

  “One more thing,” Lowell said, taking the first few cautious steps forward. “If things go sour, we’re all to run to the Oldwood. It’ll be safer there than here. Bronwen’s orders.”

  Remus grimaced, wondering if that’s how this whole experiment was meant to turn out, with Remus and the others fleeing with their tails between their legs. If they were caught in the prison corridors, they were practically screwed, with no room to shift into their larger animals, and only able to walk single file through the narrow passages at best. Remus’ head pounded again as he thought of Bronwen, of how far she was from him at the moment. Everything was coming to a head soon, he knew, and he wanted to be by her side sooner rather than later, but he needed to just bide his time.

  A steady patience was key now, and if Remus wanted to survive with the rest, he’d have to stow away his feelings for the time being. He’d have to become like a Vampire.

  Chapter Twenty-Three: Bronwen

  Bronwen’s body tingled for a moment while she sat in one of Silvan’s more treasured loveseats. The cushioned chair was exotic, allowing her to melt into it and relax the tension in her body, freeing her mind to explore and think, free of stress. “I do admit, you have always had exquisite taste, Lord Silvan.”

  Silvan smiled enthusiastically from his standing position by the window. Running a single hand through his thin, white hair, Silvan’s deep red eyes grazed her as he sipped on his wine glass. Boy, did Silvan love his wine. Bronwen rolled her own between her fingers but didn’t bring it close to her lips. She needed to be sober for this to work, even though a single sip wouldn’t really ail her thoughts. The last of Silvan’s dark wine was drained from his glass as he tipped his head back, the glass clinking his glass table as he placed it down and picked up the wine jug to pour once again. “It’s one of my many charming traits.”

  “Oh, I know,” Bronwen said, rolling her eyes when she thought he wouldn’t be looking. “If you would, Lord, please take a seat. I wish to finally discuss with you the matters that have brought me here.”

  “Before that,” Silvan spoke, the steady stream of wine sloshing in his wine glass. “Are you okay? Do you feel alright?” Putting down the jug, Silvan scooped up his glass and sauntered back over, standing over Bronwen as he sipped. “I hope that my decision back at the Commune to sentence your friends to death hasn’t soured your view of me.”

  Bronwen did her best not to grimace, instead maintaining her sweet smile. She glanced back at Nyx, who stood patiently over her shoulder, staring straight ahead and trying not to draw attention to herself. Bronwen lied to Lord Silvan with ease. “Of course not...I was simply surprised, is all. I had thought you’d support them, at least vote for something less dreadful than death by combat.”

  Silvan tightened his smile, roaming over to his seat and gracefully sitting down in one smooth motion. “You do understand why I voted the way I did, though? Those shifters of yours disregarded our laws and need to pay the price. Vampire punishment can be considered...very extreme sometimes, but it's all so our society won’t fall apart in this new world we’ve entered.” He crossed his legs. “We have free reign on this continent, and while the Clans are formidable, they don’t hold a candle to us Vampires. The only way to keep ourselves in check is to be swift and hard with our justice, to deter anyone from ever doing the same again.”

  Clenching her fists, Bronwen squeezed them tight. “They were ignorant of such laws.”

  “Ignorance does not excuse their actions,” Silvan mused, staring her down. “They are going to be an example...with Magnolia’s death to be the true reason behind it all. We cannot have Vampires turning their backs on traditions.”

  Bronwen sensed the veiled threat in Silvan’s undertones, and it made her shiver. “I don’t suppose you’ll support any other cruelty to either me or my remaining two subordinates?”

  “Not a chance!” he said happily, winking at Nyx behind her. Nyx’s shudders could be felt easily. “So then, what is it that you want from me, my dear Bronwen?”

  “To help me apologize to Lord Cadogan,” she said casually, earning the cocked eyebrow of Silvan.

  “Really?” he said, skepticism overflowing. “That was quick.”

  “I’ve realized my mistake, is all,” Bronwen said, her chest beginning to pound. “We got off on the wrong foot, and I haven’t had as tight a leash on my shifters as I should have.”

  “What about Remus?” Silvan asked curiously, excitedly leaning forward to hear her answer. “Surely you haven’t gotten over him just yet? I thought you cared deeply for him.”

  Bronwen couldn’t hide the scorn in her expression, letting it out for Silvan to see. She looked down at her wine glass, staring into the wine, letting the moment linger. When Silvan shuffled forward once again, she looked up. “As much as it pains me, I cannot protect Remus this time. I loved him...but I’ll always remember the sweet times I’ve had with him.”

  Silvan’s eye twitched and he sat back silently. Bronwen smiled on the inside. Silvan wasn't happy to hear about that, it seemed, but he wasn’t about to deny her the right to her sorrow. If her plan was to work, she’d need to work his emotions in her favor; she didn’t particularly feel too bad about it either. Eyeing the Lord sitting across from her, she squinted, trying to make out what he would do next. When he didn’t speak, Bronwen chose to take the initiative. “I want you to come with me when I visit Lord Cadogan,” she said curtly. “You can sponsor my apology, show that it isn’t just another attempt to aggravate him. I’m serious about this, and I know your presence would help. Despite how he acts around you, I know Cadogan respects you.”

  Silvan’s expression remained blank. While she searched his face again, she realized he was searching hers. Did he suspect her ploy? Would he call her bluff and attempt to dissuade her? When he opened his mouth to speak once again, Bronwen braced herself.

  “Do you remember when I first turned you, Bronwen?” Silvan asked, a fire burning behind his eyes. “When I met you on that cobbled street I was stunned. You were so beautiful, I just knew I had to turn you so I could look at you for years to come.” Bronwen shivered, but remained silent as he continued his rant. “I taught you how to become a true Vampire after I turned you, snatching you away to bring you here with the rest of our kind. But I fear you’ve misled yourself in one of my intents...I’ve never once thought of you as a daughter, Bronwen. You’re much to grown for me to see such innocence in you. No, I didn’t turn you to have a c
hild of my own...I turned you because I wanted a companion.”

  Bronwen’s eyes widened, her heart thumping in her chest. Was he saying…? No, no, this was some sort of joke to catch her off guard, to hopefully reveal her true intentions. If so, it was working. She stuttered as she tried to respond. “I-I think I may be missing something. What exactly are you saying…?”

  Silvan rose from his chair and sauntered over to her. He sat down on the edge of the table between them, reaching a hand forward to cup her cheek. His fingers were cold, yet precise in their movement, caressing her skin. Alarm bells sounded in her head, though Bronwen remained rigid. “I held off showing my true feelings for you because of your childish insistence that I was like a father to you. Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore and sent you off to live under Orpheus, hoping you would grow out of your image of me...but that was a mistake, I see that now.”

  Bronwen tried to smile, but found herself giving him a strange curl of her lips. She touched his hand, pulling it away from her cheek. “You mean, you want me as your wife, is that it?”

  “Something like that,” Silvan said. “I apologize if I am coming on too strong for you, but I simply cannot contain myself any longer.” He gazed at her, “I will accompany you in your quest for an apology to Cadogan, but only if you consent to consider becoming my partner.”

  Bronwen breathed, wishing these types of revelations would simply stop entering her life. She didn’t want anything like this, and yet a decision was being forced into her lap once again. Not that it truly mattered. She would never sleep with Silvan, or become his toy to show around. She was done being others’ servants, and for once in her life, she knew exactly how to fight back. “You’re not looking for a commitment right now?”

  “No, simply your word that you’ll think on it,” he said, a glint in his eye. “With Remus’ death tomorrow, I’m certain it would be very painful for you to instantly switch to a new lover. It’s not like I’m asking to bed you right here and now. Just think on it, alright?”

  Bronwen nodded, bringing her wine glass to her lips and taking big swigs of the dark liquor. This was getting complicated. How would Silvan react now, once she asked for them both to change their votes and stop the trials? Would he turn on her? Threaten her? Bronwen felt as if the world was mocking her, laughing in her face for even thinking there wouldn’t be any surprises. Angry, she nearly slammed her glass down. “Consider your offer accepted, Lord Silvan. I will think on it...though, when do you expect a reply?”

  Silvan shrugged. “One week hence,” he said casually. “That should be enough time to mourn, yes?”

  Vampires...they were despicable. Only one week to mourn? Seriously? “Then I suppose our conversation is over.” Rising to her feet, she left her hand down for Silvan to take and rise with. “Will you accompany me now, Lord Silvan?”

  Smiling from ear to ear, the Lord kissed Bronwen’s hand. “Yes, I shall. You intend to go so quickly?”

  “I do, is that a problem?”

  “Not at all,” he said. “Not at all.”

  Breaking from his grasp, Bronwen sauntered from the room, gesturing for both a wide-eyed Nyx and Lord Silvan to follow her. “Then come. The sun will soon fall below the earth for the moon to take its place. We cannot linger here forever.” With that, she walked from Silvan’s parlor, her thoughts drifting to Remus, hoping Lowell had freed him and the others.

  Chapter Twenty-Four: Remus

  The halls of the underground prison seemed to close in tighter with every step Remus took, his eyes darting over the stinking moss and long jagged cracks. With the scent of sweat hanging in the air, Remus had trouble focusing on other smells, only the heaviest or most familiar coming to him; it only made him all the more queasy.

  “Has anyone picked up Finn’s scent yet?” Remus asked, making sure to keep his voice as low as possible.

  He glanced back at the line behind him, each member shaking their heads no. Even Lowell frowned at his question, bringing up his nose to sniff the air. So, they continued on blindly in the dark, their eyes adjusted to the dim light quickly. They passed endless cells, each containing nothing but empty, rusted chains or patches of grass growing through the floor and walls. A few times they came across Vampire guards, so far only in pairs or alone; most of the time the group was able to hide in the dark cells as the Vampires passed with torches in their hands, but there was one time when Lowell collided with a single Vampire at an intersection, causing a minor panic until Lowell choked the Vampire to unconsciousness.

  That incident had been just ten minutes behind them, and since then the group had been wandering aimlessly, descending dozens of steps, turning endless corners, ascending more stairwells, entering and swiftly darting across open caverns and large Vampire made rooms.

  Beyond the endless walking, the group was beginning to pant and stagger, breathing harder the farther in they went. With each second that passed, Remus’ temple pulsed with a growing dizziness, his vision often blurring or creating moving shadows out of nothing but the scattered sconces upon the walls. Why did Vampires have to like maze-like structures so much? ‘Weary’ wasn’t enough to describe the mood hanging over the group.

  “Where exactly are we?” Keanu asked, bringing up the rear of the group. Remus glanced back at the burly bear shifter, his arms grazing the stone walls as they passed. And why were Vampire passageways so narrow? One would think there was no Vampire wider than a wolf.

  “The prison goes on for hours in every direction,” Magnolia said. “We used to use them more often, both for our own kind, for the bear shifters we enslaved, and for the Changelings we created. Some of these were even used as tunnels to different manors and buildings in the Blackwood. But, in recent times, we’ve had no need of such an extensive underground network.” Magnolia shrugged, “As for your question, Keanu, I can guess we’re actually closer to Lord Cadogan’s manor than anywhere else. Though I can’t be too sure…”

  “If that’s the case, then we’re in good luck,” Remus interjected. “It’s no wonder there aren’t many guards down here. We were the only prisoners, right? They just gave us access to some new paths, quite literally.”

  “But if there are no other guards down here, and if Finn is really somewhere inside this mess of a prison...does that mean he’s not been getting food and water?” Lenna suddenly asked, her voice hinting at the panic entering her mind. “What if they’ve just abandoned him? Letting him starve to death in this wretched hole in the earth?”

  “Let’s hope that isn’t the case,” Lowell growled, climbing a sloped path upwards. Small cracks in the ceiling began to push through fresh air, the reddening sky beyond becoming visible once again. Remus peered up, gulping in breaths of the dusty air.

  “Looks like we’re close to the surface,” Magnolia offered.

  “We are, meaning we might be getting close to Finn,” Remus said. “I doubt Cadogan’s servants would simply abandon him, Lenna. Surely, they’d at least give him enough food and water to last a while, to possibly watch him struggle…” He immediately regretted speaking his mind as Lenna frowned at him. Scratching his chin, Remus glanced back. “Lenna, I didn’t mean to say I thought Finn would be on the brink of death or anything, but -”

  Suddenly Lenna shoved him aside, slipping past him and Lowell to the front of the pack, her nose in the air and sniffing wildly, the hairs on her neck standing straight up. “I smell him...I caught Finn’s scent!” Lenna shrieked racing off into the darkness.

  Remus swore. “Follow her!” he shouted, pushing Lowell into a sprint as Lenna vanished around a corner.

  If there was anything Remus could compliment Lenna on, it was her unnatural speed. Flitting through the hallways, entirely focused on reaching Finn, Lenna didn’t slow down once. It took a few minutes of non-stop racing and navigating through the hallway to finally catch up to Lenna, who had slowed to a trot. With his muscles inflamed and his breathing hot, Remus stopped to bend over and catch a second wind. Lenna stopped in a
four-way intersection, glancing in every direction until her eyes went wide and she bolted forward again.

  “Damn it!” Remus huffed. “After her! Hurry!”

  Lowell shook his head, coming to the intersection and pointing. “No need. Look.”

  Peering down the hallway, just a half dozen feet away, was a tiny prison cell, its bar door being hammered on by Lenna. Inside was a dark, thin figure, his cropped head of hair limp as he remained curled up against the back wall. Lenna called for him, telling him to look up; the figure did, his heavy lids half open and his cheeks gaunt and jaw half open as well.

  “Finn!” Lenna cried. “Don’t you recognize me? It’s Lenna! The shifter you’ve been dogging after this whole trip...Finn, snap out of it!” She tried to open the door, but the rusted hinges wouldn’t budge, and so Lowell pulled her out of the way as he brought out the copper key, sliding it into the lock and clicking the door open.

  “This little bugger works all the way down here as well…” Lowell breathed, smiling. “Now that’s what I call a master key!”

  Ignoring Lowell, Lena rushed past him, dropping to her knees as she slid forward and embraced a half-awake Finn. “Thank goodness you’re okay,” Lenna cooed.

  Finn groaned, raising his arms to wrap around Lenna, and then suddenly his eyes shot open, pushing Lenna back to take a better look at her. “Lenna…?” he asked, his voice coarse as if he hadn’t spoken in weeks. “You’re...you’re here. You found me!”

  “Of course, I did, silly,” she said swiping at the tears welling in her eyes. Sniffling, she embraced Finn once again, this time a little too hard as he winced and grimaced. Coming in second, Remus knelt down in the only other space.

  “I’m glad you’re still alive,” he said with a smile. As he got closer, he noticed the bite marks and closed wounds all over Finn’s body. Lenna hadn’t been exaggerating, the two really had been overwhelmed with Changelings it seemed. Thankfully, all were closed, though all over Remus spied how thin this bear shifter had become. In a corner, a single glass plate sat with what looked like a rotten, half eaten apple sagging on the edge.