It took him a second to remember what had brought him to the guestroom. Everything had happened so fast. He had made an unbelievably bad situation worse. He set the burning candle on top of the dresser, where it quickly made the room smell of sweet perfume, causing Aiden’s already upset stomach to turn.
After a moment, he opened the third drawer of the dresser. He remembered seeing the key in the third drawer when he had been looking for something to wear outside. He rummaged through the drawer and pulled the key out, holding it up against the candlelight. The key was tiny. It wasn’t the skeleton key that he had pictured would fit in the padlock downstairs. He had no idea why he’d even thought it was the right key.
Don’t panic. Don’t panic. Horror over his decisions lumped together in his throat because now he was thinking he should have shot Diesel. What had made him think Diesel would get into the cage peacefully in the first place? And why did he do that to Summer instead of facing his fears about the future? Why didn’t he shoot Diesel? “I’m a coward,” he whispered his declaration. “Why else am I always running?”
“No,” he said under his breath. That would have been the cowardly thing to do. He was pretty sure the darts held animal tranquilizers. At that moment, Diesel was not an animal. He was a person. His cousin. For all he knew, the tranquilizers were strong enough to take down an elephant.
“I did the right thing,” he said and shook his head. He knew that unless Diesel had turned into a werewolf and come at them, he couldn’t have shot him. Maybe he had been a coward earlier, when he’d tried to leave, but not shooting Diesel didn’t make him weak, it made him not a monster.
It had been the best choice he had made in weeks. He would have made the decision to leave Scarlet in the cage with Diesel, who was a person, not an animal, to go find the key a thousand times over.
But as he stared at the key, tears still stung his eyes. What was he going to do, now? He dropped his arm and sat down, his back to the dresser. He could start looking around the house. Maybe there was a key in the drawer that had held the darts his Aunt Rose’s room? Or maybe he should find something to break the lock. There had to be something in the garage. He nodded his head. A shovel or something. He could take a flashlight.
As he planned, he examined the key. It was small, like it fit a lawn mower or a safety deposit box or—he turned his head to the right—a file cabinet. He crawled the distance to the file cabinet, which sat directly beside the dresser, and stuck the key in the keyhole. It turned without effort. His brain told him to stop wasting time with the file cabinet, nevertheless his body didn’t listen, and he lifted to his knees and opened the top drawer. There had to be a reason it was locked.
There were folders inside. He stood up and put his hand down inside and between the folders, feeling for anything small and cold on the bottom of the drawer. Nothing. He started pulling out the files and setting them on the dresser top so he could see the bottom better. When he had all the files out, he grabbed the candle, holding it over the drawer for a closer look. It was empty.
He set the candle back down and rested, eyes downward, with both hands on the dresser. He read one of the file folder titles. Day 256. His heart quickened with a fast decision. Aiden opened the folder.
6: 00 pm - At the moment, Mother is reading “Gone with the Wind” and drinking a glass of wine. I’m sitting across from her, outside the cage, and will be going to check on Augustus in a minute – Thank goodness he is napping soundly in his playpen in the front room. It has been hard, keeping my boy happy, and also trying to figure out a cure for Mom’s therianthropy.
Even though I have made it as comfortable as possible with a lounge chair and blankets and pillows, I hate locking her inside there. We both understand that we have no choice. The waiting has been the most difficult part. We have learned to put extra large gowns on her so when she transforms it won’t rip, and she can at least keep some of her dignity, but it is fading fast… I pray that this time the Silverweed is the right herb.
8:45 p.m. - I put Augustus to bed and came back down here to check on Mom. When I left her at 7:30 there had been no change, and I had thought perhaps… but as soon as I walked back down, it was as if she had waited on my return to begin to change. The disappointment in her eyes melted my heart. I cried softly as her fur began to sprout and when she cried out in obvious pain.
Aiden looked up when he thought he heard a noise. He immediately remembered Scarlet in the cage with Diesel and knew he needed to go outside and find something to break the lock. However, he was drawn back into the notes, hoping he would find a clue as to the location of the key. He knew finding a key would mean a much faster exit for Scarlet. It would take him a while to get dressed, go outside in the blizzard, and find something to break the lock. He skimmed through the next entry.
10:00 p.m. - The strangest thing has happened. True, the Silverweed didn’t keep her from changing but she didn’t act in the same way as she had before. After she had changed she sat there and looked at her hands and feet and felt her face. She knew she had changed. She looked at me, and even though it didn’t seem as if she could speak, it was her. It was still Mom. It wasn’t the wild animal of before.
Aiden felt a bit relieved and yet still confused. He closed the folder. The Silverweed didn’t keep Granny from changing physically, only mentally. No mention of a key. He picked up the folder labeled Day 355.
6:00 a.m. - Poor mom is gagging on the Silverweed leaves. I need to figure out a way to get them down her that will taste better. I’m going to try to mix them with my batter of…
He flipped through other folders, reading anxiously, looking for a mention of the key.
Day 360 - As long as I give her the muffins…
Day 25 - The moon seems to control her transformation.
Day 37 - I found Mom naked in the woods again. I can only pray she did not hurt anyone this time. I fear for Augustus’ safety.
Day 201 - Echinacea has had no effect on her condition.
Day 456 - We decided we no longer need the cage. As long as we give her Silverweed muffins every day. Every day without fail…
As Aiden read, he noticed an imperfection, a bump on the paper. He slung the paper away. A sob escaped from deep within; there on the back flap of the folder was a key. A key that looked very much like the one he had in his mind. It was long, thin, and tarnished. The top part was ornamented and round. The tape had yellowed, but it still held the key to the folder.
Without hesitation, he pulled it from its resting spot and ran out of the room. He heard Scarlet as soon as he entered the kitchen and continued to the top of the basement stairs. Her screams weren’t the angry, anguished ones like before; they were bloodcurdling and caused Aiden to fear he had taken way too long. What if the Silverweed hadn’t had enough time to take effect on Diesel? His fear propelled his heart to a fierce pump, and he flew down the stairs, two at a time, until he reached the bottom step.
Chapter 18
How Dark It Was Inside The Wolf
Diesel sat against the far wall; Scarlet paced, thumbnail in her mouth, head down, a little calmer since they had their talk. As she passed by she gave him a weak smile, the fear in her eyes lingering. Her being frightened seemed so out of place, so foreign to her personality, even if most of her confidence was for show. He hoped that as long as Aiden returned with a key or something soon, she would be okay and back to her old strong self in no time.
The problem was, he wasn’t sure if a key even existed. He had no idea how Aiden thought he knew where to find it when he himself had lived in the house since he was born and didn’t have a clue. However, he didn’t plan on sharing his doubts with Scarlet.
He scratched the back of his neck and then the inside of his hands when they began it itch. Palms itching meant he was going to come into money. This made him think about one of his granny’s sayings, “Rub it on brass, it’s sure to come to pass.” Too bad there was no brass around, only walls and metal bars… if only he could mak
e a wish. He would wish to turn back time. He would go back before his mom died.
His mom and Scarlet had been pulling him in opposite directions for days. Scarlet had wanted him for this, and his mom had wanted him for that, and when his mom threatened to take his car keys away, everything that had been adding to his mind bomb exploded.
Now Scarlet mumbled again about how she wished Aiden would hurry up. She had her arms wrapped around herself, moving her hands up and down for warmth. At least it seemed as if the temperature in the basement had risen in the last couple of minutes. He actually felt a little warm…
Scarlet stopped pacing and peered at him through squinted eyes as a frown of confusion swept down her eyebrows.
“What’s wrong?” he said, but at the same time, felt a blow to the stomach and needles in his arms, legs, and then face.
He heard Scarlet scream, but the pain that shot through his body was so intense he lost sight of her. His eyes burned with fiery tears as he felt his teeth being pulled out of his gums and daggers being shoved under his fingernails. He thought he heard his muscles and ligaments ripping, felt his bones and skin stretched from the inside out. It was happening, and he couldn’t believe it.
He blinked and wiped at his eyes, only to see his arms covered with long, dark hair. He felt heavy and hungry. He was aware of being alive but thought he was dead. He panted from exhaustion and actually wanted to bend to all fours. Where am I? In the cage with Scarlet.
Gradually his sight cut through the darkness: not becoming brighter, just clearer. Scarlet had her mouth wide open, screaming. He took a step toward her, to comfort her. She ran to the bars, shaking them and banging on them, screaming for help.
“It’s me,” he said. “I’m not going to hurt you.” But he heard what she heard, and it wasn’t words. He had barked at her, he had roared at her, and she was terrified… of him.
Before he saw him, Diesel heard Aiden running down the stairs. Diesel backed up slowly until he was against the wall. He watched as Aiden picked up the gun, and then he waited for the inevitable shot.
“GET ME OUT! GET ME OUT!” Scarlet screamed.
Diesel knew where Aiden’s thoughts would go. Where they had to go… “If I open the door, the werewolf will get out, too.” So Diesel prepared for the pain of the thick darts. It was what had to be done. It was the same thing he had done to his granny when she had turned into the same monster.
But after a second of feeling no stab from a dart, he looked at Aiden. Aiden’s eyes were big with fright but at the same time almost… sympathetic.
Diesel wanted to tell him it was okay. That he understood. “Aiden,” Diesel said, but it came out a growl. Useless. He lowered his head, ready to go down. Ready to be put down like an animal.
Diesel looked up when he heard rattling. Aiden had found the key and opened the cage. Scarlet tore out of there and into Aiden’s arms. She turned after a second and yelled, “Shoot him! Shoot him!”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Aiden said.
“Give me the gun,” Scarlet said frantically. “Give it here!”
He didn’t hand it to her, but she grabbed it out of his hands. Diesel cringed again. He knew she wouldn’t hesitate. She was way too scared.
“Where’s the darts? It’s not loaded! Give them to me!”
“Scarlet,” Aiden said calmly. “Just look at him!”
She had the gun out in front of her, her other hand out waiting for the darts. “I know, I know! Give me the darts!”
“No, Scarlet,” Aiden said gently. “Look at Diesel.”
Diesel saw and thought he even smelt the scent of Scarlet’s breath, rapid puffs of shimmering saliva, in and out, her sobs true and panicked. “He’s not doing anything,” she finally said. “Why does he look like that?” She put down the hand that held the gun. “He looks… scared.”
“It’s the Silverweed,” Aiden said matter-of-factly. “Huh. It’s true. It didn’t keep him from turning, but it kept him from losing himself. And you gave him gobs of the stuff. So he’s fine. Well… not fine, but you know what I mean.”
She shook her head. “He’s not going to hurt us? But he looks exactly like his grandmother did, and she wanted to hurt us really bad.” Scarlet handed the gun to Aiden without taking her eyes from Diesel. “Can you just load it, just in case? You know. He might just be in shock, since it is the first time he’s ever been a werewolf. He might decide he’s hungry all of the sudden.”
“I don’t think so,” Aiden said. “I found a diary Aunt Rose had written years ago. It’s all in there. She did research on Granny for like a year before letting her out of that cage. I don’t think Diesel’s going to do anything. I think he already would have.”
She put her hand over her chest. “You’re sure?”
“Aunt Rose said that the Silverweed made it so Granny stayed Granny in her mind. Only her body changed.”
“So Diesel knows us?”
“Diesel,” Aiden said, “if you understand me, nod your head.”
Diesel felt so relieved he stood up straight; Aiden and Scarlet took a large step back but watched as he feverishly nodded his head.
“Huh,” Scarlet stared at him and took a step closer.
Diesel suddenly felt embarrassed. He put his head down, eyeing his shredded clothes. He peeked up as Scarlet walked into the cage.
“I’m not… you know… I’m not sure if that’s a good idea,” Aiden said, but Scarlet kept walking. “Maybe we should just lock him in here for a little while. I mean, I’m sure he would understand. I just meant we shouldn’t shoot him…”
Slow, but steady, Scarlet walked inside the cage. Curiosity, more than fright, covered her face. When she stood steps away, she reached out and almost touched his arm, but seemed to change her mind an inch before she reached his fur.
“Diesel?” she asked, looking up at him.
He wanted to smile but didn’t want to show the teeth that felt sharp in his mouth. He wanted to talk but knew he couldn’t. He needed to show his girl that he was still there. His girl… His face had distorted into the likeness of a hideous beast. He was covered in animal fur, but he tried anyway. He carefully squeezed his right eye shut.
“You winked at me!” Tears streamed down Scarlet’s face. “I’m nobody’s girl… But I’m your woman.”
Diesel heard his own whimpers as she reached out to him once again, no longer afraid.
“This is so crazy.” She lightly touched his chest. “This is just… crazy. You’re a like a wolf. I wonder how long it will last.”
“I’m pretty sure he’ll have to sleep it off,” Aiden said, still on the outside of the cage. “So as soon as he falls into a deep sleep, he’ll change back. Remember Granny?”
She put her hand up to her mouth. “The sleeping powder. We can give him that.”
“Is there some left?” Aiden asked.
Scarlet looked at Aiden. “Plenty. I only used a couple of tablespoons. There’s a whole jar full.”
Nice, Diesel thought. She drugged me earlier, so she could kill me. Must have been why he was out-of-it and fell asleep so easily earlier. But seeing the state he was in now, he couldn’t really say she had overreacted.
Scarlet spoke slowly and softly to Diesel, “Come on, we’ll go upstairs, and I’ll give you something that will make you sleep, and by the time you wake up, you should be yourself again.”
Diesel nodded.
“Um,” Aiden said. “Are you sure about this? We could bring it down to him.”
“It’s fine,” Scarlet said as she led the way out of the cage. “You were right. It’s him. I know it. It’s like all this anxiety I’ve been holding onto just disappeared. I don’t feel scared anymore. It’s gone. I know everything will be okay. He’s not going to hurt me.”
Diesel followed them up the stairs. He walked on his hind legs, but the top part of his body felt heavy, his arms longer and stronger. He had to keep himself from running because that was what he wanted to do. He felt so powerful yet conta
ined. He wanted to run, and he couldn’t believe it, but he wanted to howl; he wanted to holler, to scream at the top of his lungs, filling them with fresh air. He felt hot and wanted to be out in the snow and coldness.
When they made it out of the basement and into the kitchen, all his senses came to life. But mostly, he was starving. He wanted to eat everything and knew everything would taste wonderful. He went straight to the refrigerator and after a couple of clumsy attempts, he opened it. Grabbing the ham, he tore open the package with his teeth, barely getting it down before he started groping again. He opened the container of leftover spaghetti and dumped it into his mouth and then went after the milk. There were so many things that beckoned for him to eat.
“At least he’s doesn’t want to eat us,” he heard Aiden saying.
And then he smelled something pungent and peculiar, something with a strange familiar odor… an animal scent.
Chapter 19
The Grandmother Came Out Alive
“Why is he looking at us like that?” Scarlet asked Aiden.
Diesel, who had been quite engrossed with the contents of the refrigerator, suddenly stopped what he had been doing and stared at them, sniffing the air. Food and drool hung from the corners of Diesel’s mouth, his newly pointed teeth curving over his thin lips. As he gave a low, throaty growl, his bright-yellow eyes widened, and his pointed, hairy ears perked straight up.
Aiden thought for a moment that when he had said, “At least he doesn’t want to eat us,” he had actually given Diesel-werewolf a horrible suggestion—a suggestion his animal appetite couldn’t ignore. No sooner had the thought to grab Scarlet and run away occurred to him than he realized Diesel wasn’t looking at them at all. He was glaring past them and into the living room.
Aiden noticed Scarlet had observed the same thing. Slowly they turned their heads in the direction Diesel seemed to be looking.
“Ooooh… crap,” Aiden said under his breath at the sight of a werewolf in his granny’s pink nightgown. He didn’t have time to think much about it because he jumped when he heard Diesel snarl behind him.
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