by Shayn Bloom
Gabriel nods approvingly, taking in my gray turtleneck. “Getting use out of it, I see. That wears down the charm faster, you know. But it’s not a problem. I can always fix it, Nora. I can fix anything,” he adds menacingly, his wand aloft, and his eyes never leaving Wolf. “Anything at all!”
Oh geez, this is going to be a long day. I resume petting Merrifeather’s white plumage, my thoughts adrift.
“That owl nearly pecked me to death,” Wolf says from behind me. “She found me in the forest while hunting with my pack and practically rode me out of there. I’ve never heard the pack laugh so hard!”
Gabriel strokes his owl. “You’re tenacious. Aren’t you? Aren’t you?” His tone adores as he speaks to Merri, but changes drastically when he addresses Wolf. “I apologize if you sustained injuries from Merrifeather,” he says, “but we had no other way of finding you on such short notice.”
Wolf’s voice is a growl. “Are you calling me thin skinned?”
“Thin furred, if you will,” Gabriel corrects, staring into the werewolf’s black eyes. “You’re wearing more fur than skin these days, dog! It’s no matter. I’m glad to see you know your place!”
“You –!” Wolf barks.
I’m louder as I interrupt. “Stop fighting, please! We have a vampire to find and kill! Please shelve it, you too. For now at least,” I add strategically. “I simply want to do this and go home. No fuss!”
To my surprise they fall silent. Opportunity in hand, I go to Wolfgang. Taking his arms, I spread them wide. I see cuts and talon marks up and down his bare, muscular arms. “Gabriel!” I exclaim. “Look! Look what Merri’s done to poor Wolf! Bad owl! Bad owl!” I tell huge amber eyes. “Wolf is our friend!”
“Just a friend?” Wolf asks.
Gabriel murmurs to Merri, “Wouldn’t go that far.”
“Gabriel!” I demand. “Heal these at once!”
Holding up his hands, Wolf back away. “No way, Nora! I’m not having his evil magic on me! It’s nothing – I’m fine!”
Grabbing his arm, I rub a deep cut with my thumb. He winces. “These hurt!” I inform the wizard. “Now, I don’t know if you told Merrifeather to attack him or not – that’s neither here nor there. But you will heal these, Gabriel. I mean it! Or you’ll be sorry!” I’m staring furiously into his eyes.
Gabriel swipes his blond hair to the side of his forehead. “Alright – I’ll do it! Get over here, dog!” he orders the werewolf.
“I don’t want your wicked –!” Wolf begins, but with an almighty heave I shove him to Gabriel, interrupting his protest.
“We know,” I say to the werewolf. “Magic is evil and so are wizards. We get it, but get healed so we can get out of here! You – Gabriel – stop calling him dog! For fuck sake, we’re all equals here!”
Wolf is watching the wizard doubtfully as Gabriel draws back the long sleeves of ivory robes. “You’re wasting your time, Nora,” the werewolf tells me, staring into Gabriel’s face. “He doesn’t believe we’re all equals. He never will,” he adds, falling silent as the wand is drawn down his arms.
“Alleviate,” murmurs the wizard. He goes to the other arm, murmuring, “Alleviate,” again. I watch, fascinated, as the deep cuts disappear from Wolf’s forearms, leaving their russet skin mint. Exhaling with satisfaction, Gabriel pockets his wand. “Save your criticism for another wizard,” he tells Wolf. “I just healed a werewolf. Most of my kind let alone the Puridites would consider it beneath their dignity. Believe it or not, I’m ahead of my time, Wolf. Not behind it.”
It’s the first time I’ve heard Gabriel call Wolf by his name. To my deep surprise, Wolf looks abashed. “Uh – thanks,” he says, black eyes widening as he observes freshly healed arms. “That seems to have – um – worked.”
“Let’s go,” Gabriel says, shouldering Merri, “we’ve wasted too much time here.”
Following his lead, Wolf and I trail the wizard as he leads us northward. Gabriel has become our leader without so much as a vote count. Dictator.
Skirting the Daniel J. Evans library, we make for the tree fringe. Eventually we turn westward. I know where we’re heading because I’ve been this way before. We walk along the tree fringe for some time. I realize we must make a strange procession. A blond haired boy in ivory robes with an owl on his shoulder followed by a brown haired girl and russet skinned boy. Walking single file by the trees.
We turn into them and disappear into the forest, spreading out amid the loam. Merrifeather hoots gently from Gabriel’s shoulder. Is she warning him? Gabriel alone can interpret her signals.
Wolf is the first to speak. “You’re going the wrong way,” he tells the wizard.
“What do you mean?” Gabriel asks as two pairs of eyes turn to stare at the werewolf. “I’ve been to their hideout before. I know how to get there,” he adds dissonantly. “Have you been there?”
Maroon lips tighten. “Of course I have! I’m a werewolf, Gabriel. I’m sworn to protect humans from vampires! You think I don’t know where their primary residence is on the Olympic Peninsula?”
This isn’t going to end well, despite the fact they were doing so well… oh well. “Hold up,” I intervene, stopping between them. “Gabriel – you first. Where do you think the vampire hideout is?”
Geez, it’s like moderating children.
Turquoise eyes never leave the werewolf as he answers. “Northwest a touch then north. So we’re going the right way!”
Forestalling him, I ask, “Wolf, which way should we go?”
“Due north,” Wolf answers. “There’s no ‘northwest a touch.’ We have to keep heading north or we’ll pass it!”
Gabriel shakes his head, turquoise eyes glinting menacingly. “Nora, don’t listen to him. I know where I’m going. I’ve been there more recently so let’s go my way!” Merri offers a hoot of agreement.
Wolf narrows black eyes. “I was there just –” He stops short, staring at Gabriel.
What the fuck? I look, too. Gabriel’s right hand is lazily grasping the wand in his pocket, turquoise eyes locked on the werewolf. “We’re going my way,” he says with such finality there’s no doubting it. “If you desire to continue this discussion, my wand has something to say about it.”
“Have it your way!” Wolf barks across at him. “But realize there’s no achievement in having a weapon like that. It’s not part of you – not made of you! It’s a tool for evil, and you’re too fit for it!”
I slap my palm to my face. Ouch! Didn’t mean to do it so hard. But the gesture fulfills its purpose – they’re distracted. “We’re getting nowhere! Literally! So please stop fighting! Let’s get this over with!”
“Here, here,” Wolf growls, glaring daggers at the wizard.
As we journey forward, silence resumes between us. Following Gabriel, we go northwest for awhile before straightening our path and heading north. The forest is growing windy, fresh air blowing around the trees. It’s refreshing, but also a warning that something far less pleasant is on its way.
Oh, look at that. Rain.
First a pattering, it grows in ferocity until it’s a determined drizzle – the most common type of rain in Olympia. Hooting indignantly, Merrifeather launches from Gabriel’s shoulder and flies into the trees.
“Where’s she going?” I’m shielding my head with my arms.
Gabriel says, “Somewhere it’s not raining,” his turquoise eyes soft. “She hates the rain. Brought her to the wrong part of the country, didn’t I? It’s like a rainforest around here. Anyway, stand still,” he orders.
“Why? What are you going to do?”
“Stand still!” he reiterates. Screw it. I halt. Gathering his wand to his hand, Gabriel taps it against my head. “Equilibri!”
The rain stops. Except it doesn’t. It’s only stopped for me. Looking up, I see drops falling directly into my eyes. Yet I feel nothing. I’m fully dry, recovered from the slight dampness I procured.
“Yay!” I exclaim. “I love magic!”
; Wolf’s expression is loathing as he watches on. Gabriel ignores him. “Equilibri,” he says, tapping the wand against his own chest. He’s relaxed and comfortable, the water clinging to ivory robes evaporating at once.
“Fantastic!” I want to clap but I fight it off. “Now do Wolf!”
The werewolf and wizard exchange scathing glances. Unfortunately for Wolf, even a drizzle adds up. He’s soaked, his russet skin gleaming with water. Black eyes are unmistakable. Don’t put a spell on me!
Pocketing his wand, Gabriel grins at Wolf. “Look what we have, Nora! A wet dog! Here, puppy! Come and get dry!”
Wolf pounces on the wizard. Taking advantage of Gabriel’s pocketed wand, Wolf roars, “Take that back, you evil creature!” He’s on top of the wizard, pushing him into the dirt. “Take it back or I’ll kill you!”
With no wand and no Merrifeather, Gabriel is forced to defend himself on his own. He’s losing. Wolf is punching him anywhere he can lay his fists, bludgeoning the wizard’s body with all his might.
“Stop!” I scream. “Please! Stop!” I try and get between them but can’t, so I run around them desperately. I think of yelling for Merri, but I know she’ll take Gabriel’s side. I don’t want Wolf’s eyes ripped out!
Gabriel gets hold of his wand. “Decimate!”
Wolf is thrown back against a tree with a sickening thud as the red jet of light hits him. No sooner is Gabriel on his feet with his wand aloft than he’s facing a snarling, fiercely manic black wolf, its eyes narrowed into deadly slits. Wolf is barking into Gabriel’s face and for the first time, I see fear stamped across it.
I throw myself between them as Gabriel yells, “Nullify!”
Everything turns black.
* * *
The world is fuzzy. Colorful and fuzzy. But not for long. Soon it’s just colorful. Opening my eyes, I see two boys standing over me. The blond haired boy is wearing ivory robes and is entirely dry. The russet skinned boy is wild-eyed and soaking wet. Both are terrified as they stare at me.
“Are you okay?” Gabriel asks.
Sitting up, I rub my eyes confusedly. I feel dizzy. “What happened?”
Wolf says, “You were cursed by an evil wizard!”
Gabriel is too preoccupied to respond. Cupping his hand around an imaginary glass, he points his wand at it and says, “Aqui!” A glass appears and fills with crystal clear water. “Here, drink this,” he orders, handing it to me. “It will help. I’m sorry, Nora – it appears I attacked you by mistake.”
“That’s not ‘what appears’ to have happened,” the werewolf corrects, “that’s what happened! There’s no mistaking it, wizard! You clumsy great idiot! How could you attack an Immag? You’re as bad as a vampire!”
Enraged, Gabriel opens his mouth. I get there first. I splash my water into Wolf’s face so he’s even wetter and throw the glass at Gabriel. It dings off his shoulder. “You’re both fucking idiots!” I shout at them. “Look at us! It’s past midday and we’ve accomplished absolutely nothing!”
They look at each other.
“You don’t have to be friends,” I continue, gazing from one to the other. “But you do have to get along for a day. One day! Can’t you manage that? At what point do you realize both wizards and werewolves are degenerate if they can’t work things out for twenty four hours? You guys suck!”
Getting to my feet, I start walking through the trees without a backward glance. Part of me seriously wishes they won’t follow. But I know I can never make this happen without them. A pipe dream. The Newborn isn’t going to walk up to me and shoot himself in the head. If only, if only.
Gabriel and Wolf catch up to me. They say in unison, “We’re coming!”
“Then I have conditions!” I tell them loudly, stopping short. I look from one to the other – from the comfortably dry wizard to the sopping wet werewolf. “Gabriel, you will put the Equilibri charm on Wolf!”
Wolf growls, “He won’t!”
“He will!” I follow up. “And you will both stop fighting for the remainder of our day together! I would hate to see the Newborn live another day,” I say strategically. “So what’s it going to be boys?”
By way of an answer, Gabriel approaches Wolf. The werewolf eyes him the whole time, but Gabriel’s stance isn’t threatening. Tapping Wolf’s wrist, Gabriel mutters the incantation. The water evaporates from Wolf’s form, leaving him warm and dry. Wolf gasps his sudden comfort, black eyes blazing.
I’m watching them. All it takes is a spark. “You’ll stop fighting?”
“Yes,” the werewolf exhales.
“Fine,” Gabriel says.
I swipe my brown hair behind my ear, enjoying my position as moderator. “Lead on, Gabriel. It’s time we were there!”
Continuing in silence – all of us protected from the rain by the Equilibri spell – Gabriel, Wolf, and I keep our eyes peeled and our ears keen for movement in the woods. After a bit, a thrush zooms away through the undergrowth. Later, we spot a deer about thirty yards away. Neither gives us trouble.
“Could really use the Vampass right now,” the wizard muses.
“Sorry,” I say to him, “for breaking your new one. I didn’t know the candles would go out all at once! Took me by surprise…”
“Magic candles,” Gabriel explains. “They’re on a timer of sorts. That way they can be synced together to create the effect you experienced. It’s beautiful when it’s not a surprise.”
I smile at him, making sure to swipe my hair behind my ear as I do. “It was beautiful as a surprise, Gabriel.”
Wolf is level with us. “What are you guys talking about?”
“How I hate the Northwest,” Gabriel answers, looking up at the sky as we walk. “It’s so rainy and damp. Leave it to a vampire to find it hospitable.”
“Or a werewolf,” Wolf growls, “because we live here too, you know!”
Dangerous waters. Time to steer clear.
“Where do you live, Wolf?” I ask quickly, before there’s much friction. “You never talk about your home.”
Wolf launches into this willingly. “With most of my pack on a farm north of Olympia. What?” he asks as the wizard snorts. “Is living on a farm funny to you? I suppose you think we’re animals so it’s suitable. Gabriel, you can go –”
“How big is your pack?” I interject loudly.
“Maybe eight or nine of us.”
Surveying the trees, I’m distracted. “Where’s Merri gone to?” I ask.
Gabriel swipes his blond hair to the side of his forehead. “She’s scouting ahead for us. She’ll tell us when we’re close.”
“This Newborn,” Wolf says thoughtfully, “we wolves know it’s the thirteenth vampire in these parts, but that doesn’t explain why the Bureau of Magic sent somebody. Vampires have been here for ages.”
“It does explain why, actually,” Gabriel tells him. “We have a vampire limit that can’t be exceeded. The limit depends on the size and geography of each state. The rainier and cloudier the region the larger the limit, since vampires like that sort of weather. Washington – along with Maine and New Hampshire – exceeded its limit this year. Washington by one. Maine and New Hampshire by two and three, respectively. Accordingly, the Bureau sent multiple Releasers to those states. But here I am alone.”
“You’re not alone,” I begin, “you have –”
“I get it,” Wolf interrupts, scratching his russet arm. “This is another Bureau of Magic control freak-out – trying to sanction what isn’t under your jurisdiction. I shouldn’t be surprised,” he concludes, his crooked smile dangerous.
Gabriel’s right hand is resting on the wand in his pocket. “Control, yes,” he says calmly. “It is a matter of control. I am a Releaser of the Bureau of Beast control. You would do well to remember that, Wolf, because I have a license to kill, maim, and torture sub Purids. I’m not sorry to say that includes you!”
Fucking shitballs! Here we go again.
“Me too!” I’m trying to diffuse the situation.
“Immags, too! It’s not only you, Wolf! He can kill, maim, and torture me too! So it’s okay!”
Turquoise eyes are deadly as they reflect black. “And what’s this about sanctioning what’s not under our jurisdiction? Talk about hypocrisy! You wolves made yourselves the sworn protectors of humanity! How about your own crusade for vampire mortality! You say nothing of that!”
Wolf is holding his own. “There’s a difference, Gabriel,” he says levelly, unflinching. “We kill vampires in moderation. We only attack when they attack humans,” he explains. “Your lot fires at will!”
“We don’t! That’s why we have the limits, idiot!”
The werewolf is about to throw himself on Gabriel again when a screeching hoot issues through the trees. Merrifeather soars into view and lands on Gabriel’s outstretched arm, her hoots turning soft and low. “There you are!” Gabriel says, patting her white plumage. “I’ve missed you!”
Growling, Wolf turns away. Crisis averted for now.
We continue through the trees. Nobody is speaking and I think that’s best. Now I don’t have to worry about being treated to a front row seat of the werewolves against the wizards all time world slam. Or whatever the hell those fighting thingies are called. It’s time we should be doing something.
Merri hoots at Gabriel, amber eyes wide.
“We’ve been followed,” the wizard translates.
“Oh no!” I gasp. “For how long?”
Gabriel continues communicating with his owl. “We’re safe,” he reassures. “A vampire followed us for a while then circled around and ran ahead. You know what that means,” he says, gazing at Wolf.
The werewolf nods. “We’re getting close.”
Silence.
“Kind of embarrassing,” Gabriel says at last. “We were so busy arguing we didn’t notice being tracked by a vampire. Only Merri had the wherewithal to figure it out – you and I couldn’t get it together. You – a werewolf sworn to protect humans, and me – a Releaser from the Bureau of Beast Control. Shameful.”
Wolf flushes. It’s so noticeable when this happens because his usually russet skin turns light. An odd sight. “Yeah, that – that is embarrassing,” he agrees. “I’m glad the pack can’t see me now. Nora and Merri are the only ones with sense here. We need to find some before we get there, Gabriel.”