by V. L. Locey
“Please sit down,” Mikel said. His men sat like well-heeled Pugs. “Have you forgotten to offer thanks to Grathbrok?”
The lycans mumbled something paltry. Mikel never partook unless the old gods had been honored. He firmly believed that paying homage to Grathbrok, the first man-wolf, would in turn bring the blessing of Fenris.
I peeked over at the cook. She had her head bowed but did not murmur along with the lycan prayer to the Norse gods. What gods did her people pray to? I resolved to learn more about the dwarves, for I knew next to nothing about them.
“So, Templeton, are you rested enough to stay awake during the performance?” Mikel asked after the prayer. Eru was serving the soup. Mrs. Dunrite stood in the corner beside a huge walnut server, her eyes always moving over the food as well as the server.
“Oh ha,” I quipped, nudging Mikel’s knee with mine. His smile made my dick happy. And hard. Those two things seem to go hand-in-hand. “Tell me about the ferry.”
“No, I don’t think I will. I’d rather see your face.” Mikel grinned wide enough to show a bit of fang. “Soup spoons please, gentlemen.”
Eddie and Dave exhaled strongly enough to ruffle Eru’s hair as she placed a basket of freshly baked wheat rolls to the table. Soup bowls returned to their plates. The sound of spoons mixed with loud slurps soon filled the dining room. Eru hustled about, removing empty bowls, relighting candles that would blow out on the twin candelabras on the table, and refilling goblets with water or wine. The chicken was sliced by Mrs. Dunrite. The meal progressed pleasantly, finishing with a light dessert of key lime tarts.
I was stuffed when we pushed away from the table. The lycans were grumbling about having a snack that was called dinner.
“That was a wonderful meal,” I said to Mrs. Dunrite.
“Thanks be upon you, Master Reed.” She curtsied, then turned to hustle the elf Halfling through the kitchen door. I did not miss the quick look Eru threw over her thin shoulder. I glanced around. Dave was staring at the door swinging back into place. Well, well! Was this a budding attraction? My mouth opened to ask but I never got the chance. Mikel tugged me along in his wake like a reluctant toddler. Rugby soon had us scarfed, gloved, coated, and out the door before I could check my teeth for undesirable wedges of food.
“I really wish you would stop wolf-handling me,” I snapped as we hustled across the snowy grounds. Lake Erie was ugly this evening. It clawed at its banks as a winter storm worked the water into a froth. The lake always intimidated me. Whenever it grew ugly it reminded me of a map hanging in Mikel’s study. It shows the lake as well as every ship that has gone down into her cold, dark depths. There was barely an inch on that map of the lake that did not have a sunken ship marker. I always wondered how many souls wandered the shorelines.
The snow was up to my knees. My thick woolen coat pulled at me as the wind off the water whipped around us. Sleet began to swirl into our faces. I burrowed into my coat as we slogged to the dock. This was an area of the estate I tried to stay away from. Memories of the near death-experience I had with Mikel’s sister filled my head. When we reached the end of the soaking wet dock, I turned my back to the gales. Mikel stood behind me, his huge body serving as an excellent windbreak. The flames in the lanterns Eddie and Dave held flickered wildly. I startled when a foghorn erupted to shatter the winter winds. The frozen rain made a mess of my glasses. I dared not remove them for fear I would miss seeing the magnificent paddleboat pulling up to the dock.
Four
The paddleboat had to be five hundred feet long and black as the night. The magic surrounding the ship was thick. It hummed along my spine. A plank was tossed out by salty-looking crew members. We four stepped gingerly onto the boat, cold hands grabbing us as we slipped and slewed across wet wooden floorboards. The crew steered us landlubbers to the massive cabin. The door opened. Heat swooshed out to embrace us. I stood slack-jawed in the doorway, cold air blowing our scarves out in front of us.
“Your expression is absolutely priceless.” Mikel laughed and pulled me inside. I would never have imagined such grandeur! The boat was packed with magical beings, all looking resplendent in evening gowns of every shade as well as superbly cut tuxedoes. Chandeliers hung over our heads. The floor was covered with thick carpeting. Halfling servers moved among the operagoers, trays of food or champagne carried before them.
“Oh man, check out the buffet.” Eddie was salivating. Off he went to a long table that nearly bowed under the weight of a huge roasted pig complete with apple in mouth as well as several dozen side dishes. Elegantly set tables filled the huge lounge, each with a dark red tablecloth and a silver candelabra. Mikel took my elbow.
“Now remember, your invitation to the opera is my gift to you for your work on my lineage forms after the incident with my sister,” Mikel said beside my ear. I nodded dully, my senses too overwhelmed with the riches before me. Back in town, lesser-breed children were going to bed hungry. Somehow that knowledge seemed to tarnish the opulence. We moved through the crowd, me at my lover’s side pretending to be his underling instead of his partner. The ferry never rocked or swayed. The magic shielding it from human eyes was powerful indeed.
While Eddie and Dave feasted as only werewolves can feast, Mikel introduced me to the elite of the shifting community, elderly cat matriarchs mostly. There were no other lycans onboard. Mikel was the leader of the only sanctioned pack within a five hundred mile area of Lake Erie. My robust lover would seek out and kill any stray wolf that wandered into his territory. Well, let me correct that. He would offer the rogue the chance to join the pack. If he or she refused, then Mikel would rip the intruder into tiny lycan strips. Such was the world of the werewolf. I also noted a lack of the werebruins, but that was to be expected. They were all denned up for the winter. Lucky slobs. I wish I could take the winter months off to sleep. Imagine, sleeping for a few days, then waking up to eat, shower and make love, then curling back up for another few days of slumber. I yawned just thinking about it.
“If I have to pinch you to keep you awake, I’ll do so,” Mikel warned somewhat playfully. I waved off his concern and sipped delicately at the bubbly in my hand. The flute was fine crystal. It sang like an angel when tapped with a fingernail. A youngish cat and her mate moved past, their plates heaped with sushi. We mingled. We schmoozed. We made an hour’s worth of small talk with shifters as well as high-ranking coven members. I was slightly tipsy when the paddleboat horn sounded again. The grate of ship sliding against dock rocked through the boat. I turned to Mikel. He smiled down at me. The doors opened. We stepped out onto a long wooden dock illuminated with a hundred lanterns.
“Our carriage will be waiting,” Mikel said. I nodded in understanding. The cold was bracing after the humidity of so many tightly packed bodies in the ship’s lounge. I inhaled to clear the overlap of perfume and cologne from my nose. We wasted no time in finding the Lupei carriage. It was a huge black and red carriage attached to four ebony steeds pawing at the cobblestone street.
“You higher breeds and your need to cling to the past,” I said with a shake of my head as I climbed inside.
“It’s not all of us,” Mikel replied, sitting down beside me on a velvet-covered seat. “I would be just as happy to use a limo, but protocol must be adhered to. One does not arrive at the Osterman Opera House in anything less than a four-horse. It is simply not done.” He mimed one of the old puma matriarchs we had chatted with during the boat ride. The way he wrinkled his patrician nose was quite adorable. I wanted to kiss him passionately, for his humor always appealed, but I didn’t. Dave and Eddie had seen us exchange goodbye pecks, but nothing more than that. I patted his thick thigh instead as I chuckled at the impersonation. The Halfling driver cracked a sharp-sounding whip. The carriage jerked as the horses took off into the night.
“Where exactly is the Osterman located?” I asked as we bounced along a road much older than I. I knew that the opera house had been named after Oliver Osterman, one of the first of our kind
to settle along the shores of Erie. Aside from that, I knew little, as it was intended. If we lessers knew nothing of the excesses of the aristocracy then we would not grow envious. Or so the elders had thought. Fools, the whole lot of them.
“If I told you I would have to kill you,” the alpha replied. I turned my head to look deeply into his eyes. I quickly saw the humor.
“Funny,” I said with a practiced eye roll. I removed my speckled glasses to dry them with my handkerchief.
“I try. Actually, I’m not sure of its exact whereabouts. I do know we’re travelling north, but aside from that I couldn’t say. Personally, I never cared to find out when I was younger. My father and mother were avid operagoers who dragged my sister and I along to ensure we had culture to counteract our bloody natures. Thankfully, as I matured, I grew to love the classics.”
Mikel grew wistful, as he always did discussing his family. I knew enough to let him work out the taking of his sister’s life in his own way. I did lean my head on his shoulder as I wiped my spectacles. He placed a kiss to my hair then fell into silence.
“So,” I said to Dave and Eddie as I inspected my lenses, “you two are rather quiet. Did one of the cats get your tongues?” I snorted at my own wittiness.
“We don’t fit in,” Dave mumbled. I squinted at the two men across from us through highly smudged glasses. They looked miserable.
“Of course you do. You look quite dashing,” I said as I rubbed a lens with more vigor. “Also, you’re part of the Lake Erie pack. That gives you both standing far above what I have. Why, any wolven mama would be proud to mate her bitch pup to either one of you.”
They were saved from having to reply by the slowing of the carriage. Cursing my need to wear glasses, I shoved the smeared spectacles back onto my face. The driver opened the door. Mikel waved off the man in fine red and black livery. I stepped down cautiously, not wanting to fall flat on my face in front of the famous Osterman...
“By the elders,” I gasped when I lay eyes on the opera house. It was an exact replica of the Vienna State Opera in Vienna, Austria, right down to the Grecian facade that I’d seen pictures of online. Eddie nudged me off the fold-down steps. I stumbled slightly as we were jostled quickly ahead to make room for the next carriage in the queue. I found my tongue was rather tied the whole way to the Lupei family box. We climbed marble stairs illuminated by massive crystal chandeliers. We went through huge public rooms on each floor.
I nodded at people as I moved along at Mikel’s side. He was more gracious and far less impressed with the interior than I was. I glanced back at the other two in our party. Eddie and Dave were like two golems behind us. Large, looming, stone creatures that showed no emotion. We were shown into our box by a thin Halfling man in a black tuxedo with red carnation lapel decoration.
There were four upholstered chairs in the spacious box. I walked to the balcony. Looking around I saw hundreds of individual boxes tiered up one row above the other. Seven rows total. Down below were seats as well.
“Who sits down there?” I asked leaning over to try to see if I recognized anyone. Mikel tugged me by the tails back to my seat.
“Those would be used for standing room only for the lessers, but that privilege was revoked a hundred years ago. Don’t look at me that way, Templeton,” the big wolf snapped. “I had nothing to do with the decision to omit the lesser breeds from this house. Can we not have a fight over such things for one night?”
“I wasn’t going to fight, I was just curious.” I sniffed regally and picked up one of four sets of opera glasses a Halfling server brought in on a silver platter. “Good evening!” I smiled at the man. His dark Elvin eyes widened, then he backed through the curtain of our box as if I had sprayed him in the face.
“You really shouldn’t engage them, Templeton.” Mikel sighed, leaning back in his seat to stare down at the stage through his glasses. “They might be punished if they’re seen talking too freely with the patrons.”
I lowered my opera glasses from my regular glasses to gape at my man.”Disciplined? That’s outrageous! I was merely trying to be--”
“Yes, I know, you were merely being you. Can you stop being you for a while?” Mikel implored. I huffed as I scanned the various boxes like the nosy striper that I am. “And stop spying on the others.”
“Well this is turning into quite the outing,” I grumbled then stared at the stage. The lights dimmed. The curtains flew back. The orchestra took their places. I was quite pleased to see that every musician was female. How inspiring! Upon closer looks, the entire cast seemed to be female as well. Kudos for a small step forward. Mikel was saying something but the first strains of music covered his upset.
I lost all traces of umbrage as soon as I heard the voice of Adelphe Panagakos, the coloratura soprano who was playing the Queen of the Night. I had never heard a voice so perfect. She was quite impressive to behold.
The woman was made-up garishly to portray her part, but her beauty was apparent even under the theatrical make-up. Her long, raven hair was pulled up into an intricate coif. She had stunning violet eyes, plump lips, exquisite cheekbones, and a darling little button nose. The soprano was a substantially-built woman who used her plus-sized charms well. The white and black costume she wore was cut low to display her enormous breasts.
I glanced at Mikel as the Germanic opera played out. He was engaged but not overly so. I could not say the same for Dave and Eddie. They were spellbound. I poked Eddie in the side. The badly scarred lycan sat in his seat, his eyes glued to the Queen of the Night as she moved around the stage in her billowing gown and flowing headpiece. Dave was nearly as bad. My jab to his ribs did make him turn to look at me with dull eyes.
“I think your pups are smitten,” I whispered to Mikel. He smiled, his teeth vibrant white in the soft candlelight.
“As am I,” he replied, his large hand settling on my thigh in the darkness. The rest of the first act was hard to follow, what with Mikel rubbing the inside of my thigh throughout. I was so hard by the time the lights came up I could barely stand. Neither could the two young wolves at my right. Both stared down at the empty stage. It took a gruff bark from Mikel to bring them out of the web of a stellar performance. I waved the three lycans on. There was no way I could go hob and nob with a pulsing erection pushing against my fly. Mikel chuckled at my predicament.
“I don’t find it humorous at all, you tease,” I said as they left the box. Mikel paused long enough to squeeze my shoulder.
“I’ll bring you some punch,” he said, letting the velvet curtain drop behind him. I wiggled around in my seat, trying to move the thumping hard-on to one side then the other. Nothing felt comfortable. I vowed that stud of a wolf would pay with a night spent tied to the posts. The mental image of that made my cock leap. Okay. I had to stop thinking about Mikel naked on our bed with his delectable ass in the air. I wet my lips. Then shook my head soundly.
“Enough!” I exhaled strongly. “Just look at the people coming and going,” I said to myself, and did just that. I spied on the rich as they moved from one box to another. The curtain was drawn on the stage so there was nothing to look at there. I peered over the edge of the box, my opera glasses firmly plastered to my spectacles. What a shame that the seats below were empty. I wager a good many people would love to attend... what ‘s this?
I rose from my seat to lean further over the side of the balcony. About twenty rows back, a person was lying on the floor. How odd. I took a moment to mull over what I had seen. Then I leaned even further over the side of the balcony. My erection was deflating, thank the elders. I stared at the sleeping man. Yes, I was sure it was a man. He was in a black tuxedo and was quite sizeable. Perhaps not as large as a lycan, but a big man nonetheless. He had light hair, sandy blond if I had to guess, although the candlelight was making it difficult to see in the shadows under the...
I sat back quickly. My rump nearly missed the seat. I gathered my wits then lifted the opera glasses to my spectacles once more. With tr
epidation, I stood up then leaned outward. Heart pounding in my chest, I located the man lying on the floor then moved the glasses up a fraction to rest on his face. It was sickly pale, the skin drawn tightly over the skull underneath. There was no doubt that the man was quite dead, and had been for quite some time, to be so mummified in appearance. My heart leaped neatly from my chest into my throat. Rogues had struck again! I lowered the opera glasses to the rail of the balcony, straightened my jacket, then yelled at the top of my lungs.
Five
Yes, I am well aware of what shouting “FIRE!” in a crowded theater will do. I admit I acted in fear. Truly, the panic that erupted after I shouted “ROGUE KILL!” wasn’t even in my realm of belief. The opera house became a testament to unholy terror. You could smell the horror on the air. Magical folk freaked the hell out. Granted, with all the murders of late, freaking out was a justifiable response. But was hauling me down to the ground floor by my neck really needed? I gave Mikel a sour glower when I was finally released within ten feet of the corpse. I covered my nose quickly, but oddly enough, the husk of a body gave off no odor.
“Have you lost all common sense, Templeton?” Mikel growled at me. Thank goodness a large portion of the orchestra chipped in to help with crowd control. Now the only people who remained inside the opera house were the cast, musicians, and the Lake Erie pack. And one skunk shifter, of course. “If you ever do such a foolish thing again I will place you over my knee and paddle you soundly.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him if he thought that would really be a punishment, but there were others nearby, so I just tried to look as contrite as a meager office worker could look.
“Edward, take my cell phone. See if you can find a signal. I don’t care if you have to go to the roof, just find a bar then call the head of the elder counsel to inform them that... what is it now, Templeton?!”