by Sheryl Lee
“You mean they’re crazy?”
“Well no, not exactly, but they identify so strongly with the wolf that they resent the human form they have to assume at day time. They want to stay the wolf. They are most dangerous because they have a human brain that thinks like a wolf.”
Zora stared at him in horror, “So because they resent the human form they also resent humans?”
“Exactly, they see humans as both prey and as a reminder of what they are in daylight.”
Swallowing against the lump that seemed to have formed in her throat Zora asked, “So this werewolf, it is not only homicidal with a flair for the macabre but also slightly insane?”
Powers nodded slowly, “Well, we believe it is one of those that feels its human form is wrong and weak. Nonetheless, it must change to human form at dawn and at dawn it is weak.”
“Right, so we only need to find this werewolf, figure out where it will be at dawn, get there first and destroy it and mankind is saved.”
“Something like that yes.”
Zora sat for a while, so busy processing what Powers had told her that she didn’t notice he was still holding her hand.
“That doesn’t explain why it takes body parts from the victims, or that’s something else you know that you’re not telling me?”
Powers shook his head, his expression worried, “No, nobody has any idea why this ritual is being done. There is no record of it, or at least none that the fairies are sharing with us.”
“What do you mean none the fairies are sharing?”
“Zora, fairies have secrets – or to be more fair, they often withhold information from other species because they believe either it is not relevant or they feel that they are the best equipped to deal with it and therefore we do not need to know.”
“So with the fairies it’s a need to know basis, is that what you’re saying?”
Powers patted her hand and placed it on her lap. “Exactly, and don’t ever forget it. Zora, all of us are supernatural beings; the werewolves are the most unpredictable, the witches can be arrogant, the vampires consider themselves the superior beings and the shifters – well we can be a bit flighty. The guardian families are part human, so we are usually not so flighty.” He grinned at her wry expression. “But the fairies, they are elemental beings, they have no humanity, you cannot and must not ever give them human motives. They wish to help us against this threat but they are not human.”
He grinned suddenly, reached out and captured a lock of damp red hair. To Zora’s dazed eyes the lock seemed almost to twirl around his finger, glowing as it touched his skin. She blinked, but it still seemed to be glowing. The light must be hitting it at exactly the right angle she thought. Powers gave her hair a gentle tug and then released it as he stood.
“Come on, Sunny has probably finished cooking dinner and she won’t want us to dawdle.”
“I’ll be right out.” Zora was still thinking about all that Powers had said. She wasn’t sure she was reassured by all the additional information, although it was good news that she was not going to be jumped on by a werewolf in daylight. Of course the prospect of being jumped on at night was way worse. And by an unhinged werewolf, because a sane werewolf was not nearly scary enough she thought, unconsciously using sarcasm to defuse the anxiety she was feeling.
As her fingers curled around the tiger eye in her pendant another thought occurred to her. Was the mental state of a rogue werewolf somehow connected to the combusting spell? Maybe the pendant picked up on the different brain patterns of a rogue that was mostly wolf and a touch insane. They would be different to a regular werewolf she was sure.
Replaying back her own thoughts Zora snorted in disgust at herself. She was actually, seriously, trying to use some sort of science to explain the basis of a fairy spell. How sane was she just now, exactly? Time to stop thinking she decided. She would go into the kitchen and eat dinner with a vampire, six fairies, a shapeshifter and a human and she was going to enjoy it.
CHAPTER EIGHT
When Zora came into the kitchen she was amazed to see the large dining table set and even a centrepiece of blush pink roses. Sunny had made pizza, some sort of noodle and vegetable concoction, potato salad and a green salad. There was a large basket heaped with warm bread rolls and to Zora’s delight, chilled wine, which to her relief was a white sauvignon blanc. If ever she needed wine it was tonight but still she didn’t think she would have been able to stomach red. Looking at all the food and the nicely set table she felt domestically challenged. She could never have prepared any of this which was precisely why she never held dinner parties. Her offers to help were waved away, Sunny having employed the fairy guard as her assistants. Zora was slightly bemused to see the fairy Queen’s guard carrying bowls and plates and doing as Sunny asked with smiles. Smiles?? She was sure the fairy guard were usually far more formal than this. What was it that Sunny had to get this sort of co-operation?
Thinking about it Zora realised that Sunny always seemed able to get people to do as she wished. Maybe that was why she was so annoyed with her, Zora, for failing to do as expected. A few days ago she would have put it down to an easy going nature, but now she was a little more suspicious. She studied Sunny as she stood laughing easily with Cameron. The blue haze that had never left her seemed stronger and brighter. What was that haze and why could she see it now and not before?
Zora jumped a little as Axel spoke in her ear. For a big man he moved very quietly.
“Little Zora I think you can see the aura that surrounds our Sunny. As I said to you earlier, there is more to her than you realise.”
Without taking her eyes off Sunny Zora asked, “Why can I see it now and not before?”
“Did you open yourself to her in some way?” As Zora drew breath to ask what he meant Axel clarified, “By which I mean did you wonder why I want her with us and study her with that thought in mind?” At Zora’s slow nod he added, “So you used the extra sight that is part of your abilities. It allowed you to see Sunny’s aura and once seen you will always see it. Magical and supernatural properties, once seen, cannot be hidden again from you. You should learn to use your extra sight all the time little Zora.”
Well that gave her more questions than answers. “I have an extra sight? Why didn’t you tell me? And what is Sunny? She is more than human?”
“Not tonight little Zora, tonight we will eat our dinner and take some time to relax. Come, no more questions for now, I think Sunny wants us all to sit at the table.”
Although frustrated by his refusal to answer Zora was pretty sure she would not be able to change his mind, and dinner did look good and she was really hungry, again. Well she was using a lot of energy with all these supernatural beings in the room. She was going to have to ask Axel if there was some way she could lessen that response, since she was going to be with them for the foreseeable future, and there would be more of them too.
Powers came up to her and took her arm. “Time will take care of that, as you get used to us you will use less energy. Your body will recognise those it knows and while you will still use more energy it will not be as it is now. Remember, you are also adjusting to this new reality.”
Zora shrugged, “I hope you’re right, or I’m going to cost you a lot in food on this trip.” She allowed herself to be guided to the table and took her seat, accepting a glass of the chilled wine with pleasure.
The rest of the evening passed very pleasantly. Marcus, no doubt revived by his ‘red wine’ was bright and entertaining company. Zora noticed that Sunny placed herself very close to him at the table and was enjoying his company enormously. Well, Sunny knew what he was, she undoubtedly knew more about vampires than Zora did herself so she needed to stop worrying about her friend (who may or may not be something more than human). Axel chatted easily with the fairy guard, and although they were all clearly on their best behaviour around him they did seem relaxed. Then again they were the fairy Queen’s guard so presumably were frequently in the prese
nce of royalty. Powers sat beside her and mostly watched the byplay between the guests. Zora too was quiet, trying to hide the exhaustion that had crept up on her.
She was startled when Powers took her hand, the tingles she always seemed to feel at his touch distracting her for a while from what was happening. But when she felt the exhaustion lift and energy start to return she realised he was siphoning off his strength to her and pulled her hand free. At his questioning look she said, “I’m just tired, a good night’s sleep is all I need. Please don’t drain yourself for that.”
Sighing, Powers took her hand again, saying quickly at her warning look, “I’m not going to give you strength, I’m just holding your hand. Is that ok with you?”
She shrugged, “I’m serious, it must surely drain you to give me strength so please don’t do it unless absolutely necessary.”
“Zora, I’m a shape shifter, I’m not exactly human. I have far more energy at my disposal than you do. Giving you a little every now and then is not going to do me any harm, I promise. And it’s what I’m supposed to do as your Guardian. Basically, I’m just doing my job.”
“Ok, I guess, but I don’t feel comfortable with you doing it when I’m just a bit tired and there’s no danger here at the dinner table.” Even as she spoke Zora was amazed at her own words. No danger with a fairy prince, five fairy guard, a vampire, a shape shifter and a more than human in some unknown way friend. Her definition of danger sure had changed in the last few days.
Axel of course had noticed the byplay and leaned across the table to speak to Zora.
“Little Zora, it’s ok for you to go to bed, you have pushed your body today and you need rest. Tomorrow we will begin our travels to the next site so it will be an early start for you.”
This reminded Zora of something that had occurred to her earlier, but with all the excitement of the fairy guard arriving it had gone to the back of her mind. “Axel, you and the fairy guard and Marcus, you can travel in that mist thing you summon. What about Powers, is there something similar for a shapeshifter? And if so, do Sunny and I travel the conventional way and arrive later than you?”
“A very good question little Zora. Actually you are correct, we the fairies and Marcus, we can travel almost instantly wherever we need to go. But Powers you and Sunny, you cannot. I can transport you, at least within this country I can. Should we be required to travel over the ocean I will be sorely pressed accomplish it. But here, yes I can transport you and Marcus can transport Sunny. Powers will travel with Samantha. That way we can keep ourselves off the radar and also of course expedite travel times.” He leaned back and smiled cheerily at an open mouthed Zora. Sunny too was wearing an identical gob smacked expression. Looking at Powers Zora was not reassured to see him wearing a resigned and slightly unhappy expression.
“Powers? You have travelled this way before?”
Sighing again, Power responded, “I have, it is certainly a feeling you will never have experienced before, but it is of course the most time efficient way of getting around.”
Marcus snorted with amusement. “That’s a very diplomatic way of putting it Powers. Ladies, travelling our way is going to feel most, um, fractured for you. But you will recover swiftly and the more frequently you do it the easier it gets.”
Even less reassured Sunny and Zora exchanged glances. Clearly there was no arguing with the fairy prince, indeed from the cheerful expression on his face it had not even occurred to him that they would not appreciate travelling in this way. But of course, thought Zora, it was not a holiday. It was a mission to stop a rogue werewolf and a little discomfit was nothing to quibble about. Looking at Sunny it was obvious that she had reached the same conclusion. A new experience coming up then.
“What about luggage? We will need our things with us Axel.” Sunny had brought up a very good point that Zora had not even considered. So did they take luggage, or did they need to buy new clothes and toiletries at each place? Zora looked at Axel with interest, relieved to see him smiling.
“Of course you may bring luggage, we have sufficient power to transport a bag or two, especially with the rest of the fairy guard available.” Well, at least they would have their own things, there was some comfort in that for her and for Sunny, judging by the slight smile on her face. Rising from the table Zora began gathering up plates.
“Leave them little Zora, the fairy guard will clean up.” Axel glanced at the fairy guard who leapt to their feet as one to do his bidding.
Cameron, the guard closest to Zora, took the plates from her. Feeling uncomfortable at this mundane use of what undoubtedly was five lethal killing machines Zora tried to wrest the plates back, simultaneously protesting that she was fine to clean up. Cameron however remained firm and she had no choice but to step away from the table.
Seeing her unhappy expression Samantha smiled gently at her. “Really Zora, we enjoy being able to do things like this, we rarely get the chance to do family things. You and Sunny please rest, tomorrow will be a big day. Where did you say we are going Lord Axel?”
“We are going to Brisbane, it was the first murder. The second took place in Sydney, it really makes no sense.”
Marcus steepled his fingers in the habit he had when he was thinking. “So from Brisbane south to Sydney which has to be what, about 900 kilometres? And then north to here which has to be roughly twice that distance. And then south again to Melbourne, and that’s even further. It seems to be random selection, like the werewolf closes its eyes and stabs a point on the map to decide where to go.”
Zora winced a little at the mental image of one of those claws stabbing a hole in the map at random. That would surely make it far more difficult to make an educated guess as to where it would go next.
“And that is why you are so important Zora, you alone can say exactly where it is going next.” Marcus smiled at her over his fingers as Axel continued. “Without you we would really be searching in the dark.”
Zora smiled uncertainly back - she was sure he meant to reassure her, but she felt nervous and unsure of her ability. It was so much responsibility, what if she was wrong, what if the werewolf went somewhere else. Her only use as far as she could see was her ability to sense the werewolf and know where it was going. But if she was wrong, if she didn’t actually have that ability, what use was she? If they couldn’t tell where the werewolf was going how were they ever to get a step ahead and destroy it?
Sensing her distress Powers came to stand beside her and laced her fingers between his. It was only when she saw Sunny’s raised eyebrows that she realised how quickly she had come to depend on the strength and solidity of Powers instead of being annoyed by him. She gave Sunny a look that she hoped conveyed her own confusion at this change in their relationship. Sunny shrugged in reply, a response that could have meant anything Zora thought. Oh well, maybe they would have a chance to talk about this whole thing later. After all, Sunny knew more about this new world than Zora, talking to her was probably overdue.
“Come on, time for you to sleep.” Powers tugged her hand gently and led her out of the room. “You too Sunny,” he called over his shoulder. Zora didn’t see whether Sunny complied, but she was sure that Axel would make sure she did. Powers left her at the door to her room with only a murmured goodnight but Zora was so tired she barely noticed. Feeling crushed by exhaustion Zora prepared for bed in record time, she had never been happier to collapse into a soft bed. She lay in the darkness, the events of the day swirling in a confusing montage inside her head as she drifted off to sleep.
Perhaps that was why she dreamed of the werewolf, standing in what seemed to be desert, staring directly at her with so much malice that her blood ran cold. Zora woke from the dream with her heart pounding and goose bumps raised all over her body even though she was drenched with sweat. She realised she was sitting bolt upright and lay back down slowly, adjusting tangled sheets as she did. Replaying the dream in her head she drifted back to sleep, a troubled sleep fractured by images of yellow eye
s and sharp teeth.
When Zora awoke again it was to the soft light of dawn. She lay there for a few minutes, an odd feeling in her stomach. Probably fear she decided. Abandoning the idea of any more sleep she climbed out of bed and headed to the veranda. The sun was just rising over the ocean, a sliver of orange piercing the soft glow of pink and gold along the horizon. Zora sat in one of the chairs and emptied her mind of all but the beauty of the sunrise. When was the last time she saw a sunrise? She had no idea, she was not normally a morning person.
It was a magical time of day, the birds were just beginning the morning chorus, and the sky above the horizon was changing shades of pink and gold and yellow as the sun crept ever higher. As she watched Zora could feel all the tense muscles in her body relax and her breathing slow. It was like meditating must be, not that she had any experience with that.
The sun crept higher, Zora could swear she could actually see it inching up, the yellow glow reflecting off the clouds and gilding them in deeper shades of orange, pink, yellow and gold even as the sky lightened to a pale blue. Zora was transfixed, it was the most beautiful sunrise she had ever seen – although to be fair that was not a very large test group.
“Whoa Zora, look at your hair! It’s glowing like the sun, and your skin too! Are you sure you’re human? Because right now you look like some sort of creature of light.”
Zora almost levitated, she got such a shock as Sunny’s voice pierced the stillness.
“Jeez Sunny, you scared me half to death!”
“Me? You should see yourself! Here, look.” Coming over to where Zora was sitting Sunny thrust her phone under her nose. Zora saw she had turned on the camera and looked up at Sunny in confusion. “You want me to take a selfie?”
Tsking in exasperation Sunny thrust the phone back towards Zora. “No silly, use it like a mirror, take a look at yourself!”