The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

by Ophelia Preston

  I continued with the chant as the energy fell away, unable to cling to its victim any longer. I couldn’t imagine what this man had been through. Was he aware of everything around him or had he been forced into some kind of coma, where he had no concept of time at all? Neither prospect was appealing.

  The last of the energy finally gave way, obliterated by the chant and my power, at the same time Shaya sighed in relief.

  ‘The caster has given up, finally. All we can do is wait. He must wake in his own time, come back to himself and regain consciousness without any aid. If he is revived too soon his mind may break,’ she said aloud. I took the seat offered and was given coffee and a plate of brownies. I smiled and looked up to find Jerome grinning.

  ‘Thought a little sweet wouldn’t go a miss,’ he winked and handed another plate to Shaya.

  We waited and waited, growing tired as the night grew deep. I don’t remember when I fell asleep but when I woke, I was curled up on the sofa, a blanket thrown over me. Shaya was also asleep next to me. She was snoring lightly and I smiled as I carefully sat up.

  Ron came over and said he’d take me home, as they had no idea how long this would take. I readily agreed and groaned when I learned it was gone five in the morning. The sun was rising as we left the building.

  My bed never looked so appealing as when I fell into it that morning. Unfortunately I had an appointment with potential new clients at nine o’clock, so there was little sleep to be had.

  The prospective new client turned out to be a bust. He wanted me to find antiques for him from a range of wooden furniture. I politely turned him down, explaining that while it is objects I work with they had to be metal or of some form of stone. I needed to get Graciela to vet new clients before wasting my time like this!

  After that wasted endeavour, Graciela informed me that another regular who was set to see me that afternoon could see me earlier if required. They were diamond experts and I happily took this offer up.

  By the end of the day I was positively giddy. I followed this up with a session of yoga and meditation that afternoon and by the end of it, I was good for anything!

  Shaya and I had exchanged phone numbers the night before, after eating our way through far too many brownies, and I received a call from her to let me know that Chris, Alex’s brother, was awake and appeared to be unharmed by the whole encounter. He was a little disturbed by the fact that he had woken in a coffin and had showered three times since waking! Shaya also invited me out to dinner the following night, an invite she was passing on from Alex, for all of them. I agreed and was told Ron or Jerome would pick me up.

  I bought a few groceries to make a batch of bolognaise and headed home.

  I relaxed into the routine of cooking up a large batch of something and then freezing most of it in several batches. The whole process of cooking relaxed me on a level nothing else could. It took me back to childhood days helping my mum in the kitchen as she prepared dinner for us all.

  I was just about to begin ladling the sauce into freezer boxes when there was a knock at the door.

  Given the last time I unconsciously opened my door, I looked through the peep hole first, before opening the door in surprise. The man from the coffin stood before me and I had been right in my thought that he was tall, possibly six feet, six inches. He was lean but muscles strained at the long sleeved tee he wore. Now that his eyes were open I could see that they were a piercing green but as he turned his head they looked a little more grey, almost silver. He cleared his throat and I realised I’d been staring. Stammering, I invited him in.

  ‘I came to thank you for all your help, and to apologise for your hasty recruitment,’ he said with a hint of a smile.

  ‘You’re welcome. You shouldn’t apologise for your brother’s desperation. Tea, coffee?’ I asked.

  ‘Coffee, please.’

  ‘How are you feeling now?’

  ‘Strange. More like myself than a few hours ago. I felt so detached. I feel like I’m in my own skin but still a little dreamy,’ he shrugged, as though not sure how else to put it. I made coffee and we sat on the couch.

  ‘Part of it will be needing to ground yourself. Have you had much to eat since you woke?’

  ‘A bagel,’ he shrugged again.

  ‘Do you like spaghetti bolognaise? I’ve been making a batch and it’s ready,’ I offered. He nodded and before I knew it we were sitting at my table, talking about what had happened.

  Chris told me that he had been out at a bar here in New York when he started to feel drowsy and weak. The next thing he remembered was waking up to his brother, Shaya and his friends.

  ‘Can I ask you, are you mafia?’ I felt very silly asking, especially given his guffaw at the question. He started to laugh and shake his head and the colour rose in my cheeks.

  ‘Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh! I’ve never been asked that before. No, I’m not mafia. We’re not even Italian, my brother and I. Ron is, Marko too. Did no one tell you what we are? Emilia, I’m a werewolf,’ he said honestly. I was so stunned that the fork I was holding dropped to my plate. Of course I knew they existed. My Gran had told me all about the fact that the myths were based in truth. However, hearing about them is very different from sitting across from one.

  ‘A..are you all werewolves?’ I cleared my throat. He nodded.

  ‘Except Shaya of course.’

  ‘Are you dangerous?’ It was a stupid question and one I regretted instantly.

  ‘Oh yes, very. But not at the moment,’ he smiled, keeping his body as still as possible. He was clearly aware of the fact that I had suddenly become uncomfortable. ‘I can leave if you feel unsafe.’

  ‘I’m ok, for now,’ I said honestly. ‘Do you live with your brother?’

  ‘We all have apartments here,’ he shook his head.

  ‘Here? Not Florida?’ Now I was confused.

  ‘Florida?’ He looked as puzzled.

  ‘When I was kidnapped, I woke up in Florida, I was told. I don’t know where but it was on the beach.’

  ‘My pack was in Florida? I don’t understand,’ he brought out his phone and sent a text.

  ‘Is that a problem?’ I asked, wondering why the man before me was suddenly outraged. I could practically feel it rolling off him. His whole body screamed it.

  ‘The Alpha of the main Florida pack killed my parents, left this pack without leadership, without any fully grown adults, in a bid to take over our territory. He almost killed me. He is our enemy in every sense of the word,’ he looked at me and began to breathe again.

  ‘So why would Alex go to him for help?’ I thought aloud.

  ‘That’s just what I asked Ron. Even in desperation, I can’t imagine any reason to go to Greig. He’s a psychotic killer!’ His voice took on a sharp edge. Not sure what to say to that, I resumed eating and after a moment, Chris did as well.

  ‘You cook very well.’

  ‘Thank you. My mother is a chef, she has her own Bistro back in the UK,’ I smiled and saw him relaxing a little more.

  ‘I can still remember my mother’s cooking. She baked better than anyone I know.’

  ‘How old were you when they were killed?’

  ‘Fourteen. Greig moved in straight after that initial attack but I was already big and able to fight. I challenged him and beat him. My pack named me Alpha and Greig and his pack ran home, tails between their legs. He’s never forgiven me for that.’

  ‘Why didn’t Alex fight him?’

  ‘While he’s older, I’m a full blooded werewolf. Both my parents were werewolves. Alex is from my father’s first marriage. She was human. Father hadn’t met his mate. She was killed in car accident when Alex was four. He isn’t as strong as me. Even seven years older than me, he couldn’t match me in a fight. Pure weres are extremely rare. That is the reason why I am Alpha rather than Alex,’ he told me.

  ‘I’m sorry you had to go through that at all but especially so young. Alex was desperate to get you, to bring you back. I can sense p
eople’s emotions and I know that much,’ I offered. He nodded and sat back.

  ‘Thank you for the food, it was wonderful.’

  ‘You’re very welcome. Can I ask you, what is your surname? I only know that you’re Chris.’

  ‘Hunter,’ he smiled. His phone beeped and he glanced down, looking puzzled once more. ‘Ron said Alex had something on Greig that allowed them to stay in Florida for a couple of weeks, as they thought Conrad had me there’

  ‘Who is this Conrad?’

  ‘He is a vampire apparently. I know very little of him, only what Alex and the others have mentioned. From what I gather they were made to do things for him, hired help without the wage,’ his fury came back with a vengeance.

  ‘A few hours ago I was oblivious to a whole world. I knew my Gran told me the truth but I assumed that these beings had died out with the last century. To find out that that is definitely not the case is quite the mind blower. Do you think he’ll try to capture you again?’

  ‘No, did Alex not tell you? He had him killed,’ Chris told me.

  ‘No he didn’t. He told me that he would not be killed. I can’t believe he lied to me! I can’t believe I didn’t pick up on it!’ My outrage was very real. I had been the means to his killing Conrad. If not for me, he would never have found the vampire.

  ‘If it’s any help, I believe this vampire was particularly nasty. I do think the world is a better place without him.’

  ‘That doesn’t make me feel any less guilty. I abetted his killers. But I am glad you are well.’

  ‘You’re coming to dinner tomorrow night?’

  ‘I am. I want Alex to answer for lying to me,’ I stood as he did and showed him to the door. He turned back to me, as though about to say something, when his phone rang. Sighing, he answered, waved and was gone.

  I leaned against the door feeling drained and tired and a little lonely for the company that had just left.

  That night dreams assailed me. I never remember my dreams, not since my childhood but these images burned themselves into my mind, leaving me hot and sweating. I woke feeling as though I had had very little sleep.

  Chapter 4

  Graciela came into my office the next morning. She was smiling, chirpy and wearing a lovely dress. I made a mental note to ask her whether she was seeing anyone because she had that glow about her. My assistant had practically been a nun in the four years I had known her.

  ‘Mr Ombaco is here. Shall I show him in or would you rather take this session through in front?’

  ‘In front. Lock up so that we’re not disturbed,’ I smiled. Mr Ombaco had approached me a few weeks ago requesting help with finding his mother’s necklace, which had been stolen from her dead body while she had been vacationing here in New York. It was a year to the day and he felt that if they were to find the necklace today would be the day.

  I had checked his story out with my source at the police station, an old friend by the name of DCI Graben. Bill had confirmed that Mrs Ombaco had indeed been killed in a robbery and among the items taken was a gold necklace, a family heirloom.

  I went through and welcomed my client and outlined what would happen and asked whether he had been able to find something of his mother’s which she could link to the necklace through. He had her wedding ring, which the thief had not been able to remove from her hand.

  After a half hour searching and a few near misses, I found the location of the necklace. It was in a shop a half mile away. Mr Ombaco called his associates who went hunting for the object. We waited until the call came in to say that they had found it and were bringing it over.

  Happier than he had been when he had come in, Mr Ombaco paid Graciela, kissed my hand and took his leave.

  I took Graciela out for lunch and asked her about her new dress. She blushed and I knew my suspicion had been right.

  ‘You cannot say anything to my mother, Em, please. She doesn’t know about it because he’s not Catholic. Mama would have a fit if she knew about Tony,’ my assistant said quickly.

  After that large lunch, I headed over to my afternoon appointment, glad that this caught me up after the last week’s absence. This was another company I had worked with before and they were looking for ores.

  By late afternoon I was exhausted. I had a snack and slept for an hour before getting ready for dinner.

  Ron picked me up at seven and we headed for a steakhouse not far from the warehouse apartments. On the way there, he told me that they had burned the coffin Chris had been held captive in just an hour before he had come to pick me up. I was glad that object would never bother anyone again!

  The decor inside the steakhouse was dark wood, classic red carpet and upholstery. It was intimate and simple. The smells emanating from the kitchen were divine!

  My heart jumped when I saw Chris again and I hid my embarrassment by facing Alex. He was wearing dress trousers and a red shirt. All the men were dressed well this evening. I was glad to have chosen to wear my black dress.

  ‘You lied to me about Conrad. You said you wouldn’t kill him.’

  ‘I said I wouldn’t if he did what we wanted. He refused to free Chris and refused to give up his witch,’ Alex responded, no remorse in him.

  ‘You can’t just go about killing people!’

  ‘He wasn’t a person, he was a vampire,’ came his retort.

  ‘Some people would say you weren’t a person either. Would they be right? Do you class yourself as being more of a person than he was?’

  ‘You told her about us I take it?’ Alex turned to his brother.

  ‘I did. You should have told her.’ He didn’t say anything else, simply turned to the menu and hailed a waiter.

  The food was excellent and the atmosphere was mostly relaxed after the tense start to the evening.

  Shaya enquired after Chris’s health.

  ‘I’m better than I was but not near full strength yet. Think it’ll take a few days,’ he said after thinking for a moment.

  I noticed Alex smile behind his glass as he took a sip of whiskey.

  ‘I think I need to make a quick statement before I head home. Chris, I challenge you for leadership of the pack. I will fight you tomorrow,’ Alex stood and put on his jacket. Everyone at the table stopped moving. It was clear that no one had seen this coming. Alex walked out of the restaurant. Chris looked as though he had been stabbed through the heart, the pain was so raw on his face.

  ‘Can he do that?’ Jerome demanded of anyone.

  ‘No. Not if the pack do not want him. The only way pack law allows a challenge when an Alpha is not at full strength would be when the rest of the pack back that challenge. Do you?’ Shaya looked at each of the men present. They all shook their heads.

  ‘Hell no. Alex approached us a couple of years ago about taking over the pack and would he have our backing. We all said no. This is no different,’ Ron spoke up.

  ‘He what?’ This was obviously news to Chris.

  ‘He thought that he could smooth things out with Greig if he was Alpha. We have spent the last year under his leadership and it sucks!’ Jerome stood. ‘I’d rather leave New York than have that fuck as my Alpha!’

  ‘Calm down! He can’t do this if he doesn’t have pack consent. You clearly don’t give consent so the challenge is moot,’ Shaya’s voice soothed the hot tempered Jerome.

  ‘How do you know so much about pack law?’ Chris asked.

  ‘I have worked with packs my whole life. My cousin is a werewolf. His pack ask for my help a lot and I learn quickly,’ she smiled.

  ‘Do you think...’ Ron couldn’t bring himself to say it.

  ‘That he orchestrated Chris’s abduction and coffin trip?’ I asked. Chris looked sick as the situation started to sink in.

  ‘He wouldn’t do that to me! He’d have to hate me!’ he shook his head. I could feel his distress and took his hand.

  ‘It may not be that way but things are starting to fall into place. Don’t you think that it’s such perfect timing that he
challenges you when you’re at your most vulnerable?’ Shaya offered.

  ‘How do we get Alex to call off his challenge?’ Jerome asked.

  ‘I’ll make a call. He may phone each of you tonight to confirm but I’ll let him know that he doesn’t have the backing of the pack and that some of you are willing to find another pack if he does win. How is it that you know so little about your own laws?’

  ‘Our elders were all wiped out when Greig tried to take over the pack years ago,’ Chris told her. ‘Everyone here was an adolescent. Alex was the oldest but I don’t think he knew much either.’

  ‘I see. I think I’ll give Koji a call,’ she turned and made a quick call. ‘Ok, Koji is the lore keeper of the San Francisco pack and he’s coming to teach you people some of your laws and things you should know. He should be here in a couple of days.’

  ‘Shaya, thank you; you are a true pack friend.’ Chris offered her a sad smile. Shaya nodded and stood.

  ‘I’m going to bed but I’ll call Alex first, try to talk some sense into him.’

  Everyone stood and began to leave. I was reluctant to leave Chris and he still held my hand almost unconsciously.

  ‘Will you stay with me?’ He asked, his voice a whisper. I nodded and we headed over to my place as Alex and he shared an apartment.

  I didn’t say anything but let Chris do all the talking, as he tried to work out what had just happened and why his brother would do this. Finding out that Alex had tried to take over the pack before was a huge blow but not as big as the thought that he might have been the reason Chris had been in a coffin, essentially comatose, just so that Alex could revive him and challenge him for the pack.

  From everything Chris told me, it seemed apparent that he had thought that they were close, true brothers but now he doubted everything that Alex had ever said.

  ‘He’ll need to leave the pack. None of us can trust him anymore,’ he said. The sadness in his voice hurt my ears.

  ‘I know you don’t want to think about this but in the event that Shaya can’t persuade Alex to cancel the challenge, you should try to sleep so that you have as much strength as possible for tomorrow.’ I showed him to the guest room and went to bed myself.