by Justin Sloan
“Yes, well…” Matthew stood and motioned to the door. “While we figure out how to work together for the good of humanity, we have those two down there that need to be dealt with. So do you have a plan?”
“Frankly, I’m done being hunted. It’s time I turned this around on the other werewolves, and these two can lead us to the ones in power.”
“What, like if we just let them go?”
She shook her head, then waited, listening. A moment later a crash of breaking glass sounded downstairs and she smiled.
“If they think they escaped on their own,” she said. She leaped up and downed her wine. “Who’s coming with me?”
Triston groaned. “You two couldn’t have let us all in the plan?”
Mauro stood, handing Triston his shoes and opening the door. “We could’ve, but this way it seemed more natural when you were questioning them. And we did learn some valuable information.” He turned to Matthew and said, “So, Hunter, will you be going with them?”
Katherine felt her joy vanish, and shot Mauro a glare.
“You can use his skills at tracking our kind,” Mauro said.
Matthew looked at the three of them, grunted, and headed for the door. “You couldn’t stop me if you tried.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” Katherine mumbled as she ran after him, Triston in the rear.
***
Matthew focused on the silver mist that formed when there had been werewolves nearby, the mist that only he could see. Rather, all of his kind, for all he knew.
He still hadn’t gotten used to the idea of working with werewolves. Especially Katherine, who he had spent so many years trying to kill. He felt guilt over the ones who maybe shouldn’t have died, but it was war, humanity against the supernatural.
While he’d taken on the supernatural to fight, he still chose the side of humanity every time.
The mist led through a residential area and past a park, and then he spotted the two men darting past a house halfway down the next block.
“Slow,” he said as he reached the corner, and held up a hand to make sure the other two knew to proceed with caution. He poked his head around and saw a man standing in the shadows, head bowed with a cowboy hat.
The stranger said something, and the two men turned around, eyes shining with a purple light. With each step they grew, hair sprouting from their bodies and claws and teeth growing sharp. Then the two were in full werewolf mode, charging right for them, and Katherine barely managed to change before the first one attacked.
***
Katherine used her enhanced speed to side step and throw one of the men headfirst into a nearby wall, then turned in time to see the other one claw at Triston’s chest. He held up both arms to block, but that just meant he took the attack in the arms. Blood flew and Triston grunted in pain.
“They were running from us,” Katherine said as she kicked Triston’s attacker back, then saw silver flash from the corner of her eye.
Matthew had his knee on the other werewolf’s back, silver blade to its throat.
“NO!” she said, but it was too late. He’d already pulled the blade across, slitting the beast’s throat from ear to ear. Silver meant that wound wouldn’t be healing itself anytime soon.
She charged Matthew and pinned him to the wall, anger flaring.
“You don’t know if he was under his own control!” she shouted. A growl rumbled behind her, and she turned to see the werewolf who still lived circling Triston, readying for the pounce. Triston wasn’t experienced enough yet to face these beasts, so Katherine released Matthew with a growl of frustration, then turned to pull the wolf from Triston and throw him to the ground.
“The man!” Triston shouted, pointing up to the rooftop where the stranger’s silhouette was still visible.
They ran forward, but the man was already up and onto the next rooftop. When he paused to look back and saw them pursuing, he reached out, moved his arms in a big circle, and then brought his hands together. A burst of purple light shot out from his hands, and when it faded, he was gone.
Matthew stumbled back. He stared at the spot the man had just been, then turned to Katherine and Triston.
“Tell me you know what just happened,” he said.
Triston pursed his lips in thought. “This is all a dream, I hope?”
“This isn’t the time for jokes,” Katherine said, elbowing him in the side. “I certainly hope Mauro has some idea what that was, but it looked to me like that man just used magic.”
“Magic…?” Matthew shook his head. “You two, get that one. I’ll check it out.”
“This isn’t over!” Katherine said, pointing to the body of the other werewolf. She dragged the other one up and pinned him to the gate. “Who was that? TALK!”
He stared back defiantly, then the purple light faded from his eyes and he slumped down in her arms, conscious, but drained of energy.
Damn, this just got more complicated.
Chapter 3
The werewolf groaned, and Katherine lowered him to a sitting position against the gate, where he transformed back into a human. His clothes were tattered, the look in his eyes terrified.
“Who was he?” Katherine asked the werewolf, but then her enhanced hearing picked up the sound of police sirens approaching. “Damn, cops must’ve heard the shots.”
The man tried to use the distraction to swing at Katherine, but Triston stepped in this time with a well-placed kick that sent him sprawling on the cement, next to his dead buddy.
“Take us where you were going,” Katherine said. “That, or join your friend here.”
“So die now, or die when they kill me for betrayal?” the man asked.
“Yes, that sounds about right.” Triston stepped up beside Katherine and shrugged. “Seems like an easy choice. At least if you wait, you’ll have a fighting chance of survival, here… not so much.”
“Come on,” the man said, with a grudging look at him. “It’s not far.”
He led them down the rest of the street, then around a curve in the road and to a large, brown house. It had stairs leading up to a patio, but when Katherine started walking up the stairs, the man said, “No, there.”
He pointed to the side of the stairs near the rear where there was a door. He opened it for them and motioned to the stairs. “They expected me to return with you anyway.”
“Smart thinking,” she said, then put her hands behind her back so he could pretend to have captured her.
“Kat, what’re you doing?” Triston asked, worry creasing his face.
“Relax, you two will be right behind. We have to catch them by surprise. Just be ready.”
Triston didn’t like it, but he shrugged and kissed her on the forehead. “Be careful.”
She turned and started down the stairs, the man behind her, while Triston and Matthew waited to follow in a few moments.
The stairs were dark and cold. Stale air brought the scent of mildew. The closer to the bottom they went, the louder the noise of people shouting and cheering grew. Not too far down, the stairs led to a low opening. She ducked to enter, then found herself in a large basement.
Almost a dozen men and women were gathered around two men, shirtless and going at each other with punches and kicks. One began to transform, then so did the other, but at that moment a slender man with black hair and pointed eyebrows stepped forward and said, “Stop!”
Everyone did.
“We’re not here to kill each other over hurt egos. We’re here to train.” At that moment, he paused, noticing Katherine. His smile widened. “So, Clyde, you’ve succeeded.”
“Not exactly,” Clyde said, and then he stepped aside to reveal Matthew, silver gun at the ready, knife in his other hand, and Triston.
The dark-haired man’s smile faded instantly, and the others turned, half of them transforming as they saw their company.
“Wait,” the dark-haired man said, stepping forward. He smiled at Katherine. “We will of course kill you, but I’m intrigued. Wha
t brings you here, if you weren’t captured?”
“I have questions,” she said. “Like who’s in charge now that Aldrick is gone, for one.”
“Aldrick?” The man spat on the floor. “That’s what I thought of him. He wasn’t really in charge, not after his gift spread to those in authority.”
“You’re telling us he wasn’t in charge before he died?” Triston asked doubtfully.
“Oh, he had his followers, that’s for damn sure. Still does, since not everyone has received word that he’s dead. But this has risen much higher than him.”
“And the sorcerer or whatever that was out there?” Matthew asked.
“The what?” the man asked.
Clyde nodded and explained what had happened to him and his partner. Or what he could figure of it, anyway. Most of it had been a blur, like he wasn’t in control.
“And then the man disappeared,” Katherine said.
Everyone looked at each other with concern, some even changing back to human form.
“This doesn’t add up.” The man with dark hair assessed them and then said, “Listen, all we know is we were told to get you when you showed up for your friend’s burial.”
“And you just follow orders?” she asked.
The man smirked. “Lady, we’re all soldiers, or were, before this pack was formed. We’re used to following orders. Only, now it means our life is forfeit if we don’t.”
She looked at them, tilted her head, and then glanced back at Triston. He nodded, so she figured he was thinking it too. Turning back to the man, she said, “I propose a truce.”
“A what?”
“You want to stay alive, fine. Keep looking for me, but not really.” She held up a hand to interrupt him. “Meanwhile, we look into who’s controlling your men and stop him. Something tells me he’s a tad more powerful than your boss is anyway, and therefore a bigger threat.”
The werewolves looked among themselves, and then one stepped forward. He was short compared to the others, with fiery orange hair.
“And if we just wanted to join your side?” he asked.
“What?” the dark-haired man demanded. “Rumos—”
“Let me hear him out,” Katherine said, hands up. “Mr…?”
“The name’s Aaron.” He spat at Rumos’s feet. “And we reward traitors with death.”
“Keep saying that, and we can see who from this room walks out alive,” she said. “Anyone who threatens my followers is threatening me.” She waited, and Aaron took a step back. He had more followers, but apparently they’d heard of her powers, and of Matthew.
“Maybe not just me,” Rumos said, glancing back at the others. A blonde man stepped forward, and the two shared a moment, then Rumos turned back to Katherine. “We weren’t made this way by our choice. And yeah, we’ve heard all about you. We wanna be on the winning side.”
“You traitor!” Aaron said, lunging for him.
Katherine stepped in and lifted him into the air before slamming him on the ground. “What did I just say?”
Aaron gasped for the breath that had been knocked from him, while the others stepped forward. Matthew cocked his pistol and smiled.
“He really does like to kill our kind,” Katherine said. “Please don’t give him reason to.” She stood, seeing that none were making the attack, and addressed Rumos. “So just like that, you two would abandon your Alpha? Why should I trust you?”
“We want to follow a leader worth following,” Rumos said. The other one stepped forward, taking Rumos’s hand. “One who’d accept us as is.”
Aaron’s eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared, but he didn’t say anything.
“You’re not leaving this room,” Aaron said. “And there will be no truce.”
“Very well.” Katherine nodded to the pair, and said, “I accept you. But this won’t be like before. I will be your Alpha, and I’ll not have anyone doubting my decisions or standing in my way. Is that clear?”
They both nodded.
“And the rest of you, too, can make this choice.” Her smile faded to a glare. “But if you don’t, if you stand with Aaron here against me, you die this night.”
A moment passed, and then the room filled with kneeling men. Only Aaron remained, and one man who had yet to transform out of werewolf form.
“You all are traitors!” Aaron said, and then he pushed up and leaped for Katherine. But Rumos attacked at the same time, knocking his former pack leader out of the air and landing with a knee in his neck. They both transformed, as did the others, and Katherine turned to the door.
“We’ll wait outside for this,” she said, and then exited to the sounds of Aaron’s screams.
Chapter 4
“I can’t continue working with a damned vampire!” Katherine stood in front of Mauro, hands on the desk. He sat in the chair opposite her, looking up at her with curiosity.
“You two were quite the team leading up to the downfall of Aldrick,” he said. “And you see the value of having him here.”
She closed her eyes, trying to ignore his calmness. It pissed her off that she was losing her temper while he was able to sit there and talk rationally with her.
“He’s a murderer,” she finally said. “It’s not just a matter of practicality, it’s a matter of right and wrong.”
“The world isn’t often as black and white as you’d have it.” Mauro stood and went to the window, looking out at the night sky where a sliver of moon was visible. “There are some who would’ve thought twice before accepting your friend, Danny. Heck, even I have a tarnished past from my days before all this.”
“We’re not talking about you,” she said, but he’d piqued her interest, so she waited.
He looked at her with a smile. “I wasn’t always a golden werewolf, nor a priest. We have many others to introduce you to when the time is right. Maybe then you’ll hear my story.”
“Great, not only do you refuse to listen to reason, but you’re a tease.”
He laughed. “Perhaps, but the point remains that we need Matthew. His nickname, Hunter, now spreads fear among the Dark World, and—”
“Excuse me, dark what?”
“Just a term.” He folded his hands and assessed her. “There are those that would follow the path of light, and those that chose another path. I, and others in my group, call this second group the Dark World.”
“Sounds like it should be a ride at Disneyland or something,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“If it were, I’d advise you not bring children on it.” His eyes sparkled, and she managed a smile.
“Stop it!” she said, remembering her anger. “You’re changing the subject!”
With a shrug, he walked around from the desk and put an arm around her. “I understand your reluctance. But is right now the best time to be losing a friend?”
“Not a friend,” she said, holding up a finger correct him.
“An ally then. Temporary, if it helps to think of him that way.” He opened a suitcase next to his desk, then pulled out a book. “There’s so much to this world that you don’t understand. That you never will, but, if this is what I think it is, we’re going to need Matthew as an ally more than ever.”
“Why?” she said, more of a challenge than a question.
“Because of who I think we’re dealing with here,” he said, and opened the book, flipping through the pages.
It was an old, leather-bound journal, its pages mostly filled with notes. She saw a few drawings, such as a dagger with intricate designs, a scepter and King of the Dead written next to it, a skull with runes carved into it and the name Aleski written beside it, and even one page of a full set of armor labeled The Armor of God. Several names were written beneath the armor, each scratched out, but for the latest—Allie Strom.
But then he turned the page to one full of symbols. The pentagram star was in its center, surrounded by sketches of wolves and maps of locations around Europe. A line pointed at the northeast tip of Africa on one map, and then
to a sketch of a temple, somewhere below China.
“This is where your…” He paused at the next word, glancing at Katherine, “Ally got his powers. He didn’t finish though, when he was asked to kill an innocent and drink of his blood. Remember, this dark magic could’ve been completely within his grasp, but he rejected it. Not all have done so….”
“Including Grundy,” a voice said from the doorway, and they turned to see Matthew there. He stepped in, eyeing the book in Mauro’s hands, who made no effort to hide it. “But you know that already, don’t you?”
“I’m sorry,” Katherine said, irritation causing her voice to come out scratchy. “First of all, who the hell invited you? And second, what?”
“Alexander Grundy, as he went by when we traveled those mountains and found the temple together,” Matthew said, his eyes on the book as his finger traced the sketch of the temple. “He, too, had a craving for revenge, but he was willing to stop at nothing for his desire. I, on the other hand, had my boundaries.”
“You were still ready to kill indiscriminately,” Katherine shot out at him.
“Out of ignorance,” he said. “And an inability to believe your kind could be anything other than evil.”
“And now that’s changed?” She scoffed. “I just saw you kill that werewolf back there!”
“Who was trying to kill us. Was I hasty? In hindsight, we both know I was. At the time, I didn’t piece this together—it wasn’t until I saw Grundy that I understood.”
Katherine stared at him, wide-eyed. “You… you knew him and you didn’t say anything?”
“I wasn’t sure… Not until I went up to investigate and saw the purple haze of light left behind. Just like I see silver for werewolves. There’s apparently a connection to him, and maybe the rest of my kind as well.”
“Vampires,” she said, practically spitting the word in disgust.
“Yes, and no.”
Mauro leaned in now, curious. He flipped the page to more notes, checked them, and then said, “So… the legend of the two paths, it’s true?”