I turn and look at Devon as he kneels in his weakened werebeast form.
“What are you saying?” I hear Michelle say.
“His injury is slowly healing on its own,” Devon says. “But it is because of his new powers.”
“What new powers?”
“At every full moon he will change against his will, initially.”
“No! He’s not…” Michelle says for me relaying a sad denial in my voice as I finally realize what it is that Devon is telling me.
“Yes, he is.”
I do not want to hear what Devon is say, but I know I must. For life has just changed for everyone in this group. Several on this mission have gained new powers. I am able to teleport, but without any control that I know of. Sandy now is able to heal people. And Chris, dare I even admit this, is a werewolf.
Life is now going to be more complicated.
After a few moments of gaining our composure, we all start to head towards the vehicles waiting for us on the other side of the hills. Devon carries Chris limply in his arms as we continue our trek. With Devon’s help, Brandon gets Chris strapped into the backseat of the Traverse to be saddled between Sandy and I. Leaving Michelle to sit in the front passenger’s seat of the SUV. She is beaming.
Then, Devon heads over to the forest to join his wife and the rest of their pack. Quickly, Brandon, Sandy, Michelle, and I bring their clothes to them. I try not to look at their naked bodies. This is when we notice who the victims of the fight were. Unfortunately, Lester Harrison did not survive. A sad look comes across the face of Devon as they all dress into the clothes.
“Sorry, Devon,” Michelle says for as I see him hanging his head with Kelly’s arm wrapped around him.
“So, he did come,” Devon sadly asks.
“Yes, he did. He led the charge to come and get you to bring you back to your children.” Brandon tells him. “By the way, they’re cute.”
“Thank you,” Kelly says as she tries comfort Devon.
“There were times I hated the man,” Devon says with heavy heart. “But he was my father. I will miss him.”
“Of course, you will, honey,” Kelly remarks as they get into the passenger van with the others from the pack. “Destiny, you all need to follow us back to the house. There’s something we need to discuss with you. Things you need to know about your husband’s new life.”
I nod as I get into the Traverse. I sit next to Chris and hold onto him as the engine starts. I am so tired that I instantly dose off as we begin our trek back. My jaw is still hurting intensely.
Chapter Twenty: Loose Ends Still Remain
10:35 AM
WE ARE packing at the hotel after spending some time over at the Harrison’s home. Chris is still in bad shape. I have to pack both our bags. Chris sits in the chair by the table. He looks pale. I finish packing our bags as quickly as possible. Then, I walk over to Chris and kneel at his feet.
“You okay?” I ask Chris as he runs his fingers through his hair.
“How am I going to be okay?” he says with fear in his voice as tears rolls down his cheeks.
“I know that you are going to change on the full moon, honey,” I tell him looking up into his saddened eyes. “You and I will get through this. I love you, baby.”
“But I don’t know how to control this and the full moon is nearly upon us.”
“While you were out last night, Devon told me that you won’t change this month since you are not completely healed.”
“I don’t want this, darling,” he tells me. “I’m afraid of hurting people, Des. Especially, you.”
A tear rolls down my cheek and I hug him. He winces a little in pain. I ease a little off.
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay, darling.”
Then, a knock comes on the door.
“It’s open,” I say aloud.
Sandy and Michelle come bounding into the room. They still look rather ragged as we all do. The last twenty-four hours have been eventful and full of nightmares. Sandy sees the tiredness and the worry in my eyes. She walks up to me and hugs me. Sandy tries to comfort me as Michelle tries to comfort Chris.
“Des, it’s going to be okay,” Sandy tells me in a soft, soothing voice as she hugs me.
“I know, but it doesn’t mean that I am ready for this change.”
“None of us are,” my sister reminds me. “But we will have to make the best of it. Hopefully, this LeBeouf fellow in Cyprus Falls can help Chris control his new powers as a werewolf. Especially, the ability to use his werebeast form.”
“I hope the same thing, too, sis.”
Over my shoulder, Sandy sees the time. Her eyes widen. “I guess we better get our stuff out to the Traverse.”
“Yea, Brandon will come searching us out if we don’t get a move on.”
“That’s for sure.”
“Could you help me carry out some of Brandon’s bags?” I ask Sandy.
“Sure thing, Des.” She responds happily.
Sandy and I walk over to the bags upon the bed.
“My God, Des,” she says to me. “Just how many bags do you have?”
“Ha ha, funny,” I sarcastically says to her. “We just need to get them out to the SUV as soon as possible.”
“Of course,” Sandy says as Michelle helps Chris carefully get to his feet.
Sandy and I leave the room first carrying the bags down the hall to our left and out the door at the end of it. Once out the door, we are right at the Traverse where the back doors are open for us to put in the bags next to the others. Michelle and Chris stop outside the room. Chris leans up against the drab wall as Michelle shuts the door.
Michelle, then, helps Chris down the hall towards the exit to get to the Traverse. I see them nearly reach the exit door and open it for them. Michelle passes Chris off to me. I, then, help my very weak hubby over to the SUV. Sandy helps me by opening the back seat door. I help Chris get in and I buckle his seatbelt for him since he is having trouble moving his arms.
“I hate feeling this inept.” He tells me.
Michelle quickly inserts the mind-link between Chris and I.
-I know, honey. But it will take some time for you to heal from your injuries. We need to be thankful you weren’t killed.- I reply.
“I am thankful for that, baby,” Chris says as he cups my chin. “Don’t get me wrong. I love you dearly. This is just hard on me. A lot to deal with. Both physically and mentally.”
I stand on my tippy-toes and kiss him on the lips. A look of sadness and understanding comes over my face. -I know you do. And I will do all that I can to help you, honey. I love you with everything I have.-
“I know,” he says to me as Brandon exits the door.
“Destiny, hurry and get in the car,” Brandon says to me. “It’s time we start heading out.”
I shut the door and walk to the other side as Brandon goes around the front. Michelle calmly waits for me to get in before getting in herself. Sandy is already in the front and buckled in as I climb into the back, next to Chris and buckle in as Michelle climbs in shutting the door behind her.
“Everybody ready?” Brandon asks.
We all mumble in one way or another that we are. The black Traverse, then, backs up and we head to our next destination back in Texas, Cyprus Falls to meet with Michel LeBeouf. The one who Devon mentioned could help Chris get his life back on track.
Here’s hoping that once we reach Cyrus Falls that everything will be all quiet. I could only be so lucky. Like that is really going to happen.
Preview:
The Mystic Tome
Prologue: After the First Change
Wednesday, May 1, 2013 7:37 AM
IT’S BEEN a little over a month since we arrived in Cyprus Falls, Texas after are hasty exodus from Jasper Springs, Louisiana. Mickey O’Brien, that green patchy furred werewolf from Jasper Springs, Louisiana really did a number on Chris’s shoulder. Now a scar is left where a chunk of his skin was taken out.
We
are staying in an apartment in near the home of Michel LeBeouf, the Cajun gentleman who is helping Christopher make it through this new phase in his life. The week leading to his transformation as well as the week after, according to Michel, Chris will be unbearable to deal with.
Great. I just wish he wasn’t right. Oh, my God, I could’ve smacked him last week. It was so unbearable.
Anyways, seeing my hubby change into a werewolf himself was a scary thing. Michel and his girlfriend, Elise thought it would be a good thing for me to see his initial transformation so that I would know what to expect during the night of the full moon. Seeing Chris twitch, twist, and contort into the werewolf was scary enough. But seeing him change back was excruciatingly painful as well. During the transformation I was lucky that I was out of the way so that I would not get harmed after his change.
It scared the crap out of me. I don’t want to see him change ever again. However, Elise kept me company. At least we had a pad of paper to somewhat converse. My mouth was still wired at the time.
Just yesterday, my mouth was freed of the wires keeping it shut. The hospital told me that it was a miracle that my jaw healed so fast. But thankfully, unknown to the doctors, Sandra had been using her healing powers a little each day. And I had been feeling less pain over the last month each and every day. I am, finally, able to eat solid food again, but it still hurts like hell. It is going to be time before all of the pain is gone. However, I am still grateful for what Sandra did for me.
Breakfast smells good. Brandon is cooking breakfast for the five of us. He is making scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and sausage. Michelle helps by setting the table. She is ten now; turned ten about a week after we arrived here. She places the fine Chinet plates at each place at the table along with the plastic utensils and cups.
Within moments, my twin sister and grouchy husband make their way to the table. I yawn as they walk in since I did not sleep very well last night. Nor have I been sleeping very well or at all for the entire time we’ve been here. I manage stay somewhat awake like a zombie as Brandon comes over to the table to dish out our breakfast. Everybody begins to chat and laugh during breakfast as I slowly manage to eat. The bacon is crispy, just the way I like it, but it is still tough for me to eat it. Chris notices that I am having a tough time eating. He rubs my shoulder and looks at me with great concern in his eyes.
“You, okay?” Chris asks me as I rub the right side of my jaw.
“I’ll be okay, jaw still hurts.” I remark as I gingerly take a bite to eat. I wince while taking the bite, but the taste of the solid food is so good. I’m glad that I am no longer on a liquid diet.
As each of us finishes eating we toss our plates, cups, and utensils into the trash can in the utility room just off the kitchen. I am the last one to finish and Chris waits for me. As I start to get from the table after finishing breakfast, the lights in our rental house goes out.
Chapter One: Strange Weather
9:56 AM
WE, THEN, hear the wind outside whipping around really wildly. But something in my gut says something is not right. I place my cup, utensils, and plate back onto the table. I, then, race across the room from the Breakfast Nook into the Living Room towards the window. With the power being out, I manage to run into the couch and, then, the coffee table as I make my way over to the window. Chris uses his electrostatic power to create a small light in his hand. However, the light does not cover a great enough area. We walk over to the living room window across the apartment from us. As we walk, I run my left knee into, first, the couch and, then, the coffee table. I am hopping in pain as we reach the window.
I look out the window. It looks pitch black like the dead of night. Oh, my God. There is no way this is normal.
"Chris, look, the clouds." I say.
"I see them." He says in disbelief. "But where did they come from. There was hardly a cloud in the sky when I came down for breakfast."
"I don't know." I say softly to Jim as I put my head on his chest. He begins stroking my hair. I smile.
I, then, begin to hear a low growling coming from deep inside Chris. I look up at his eyes. Something's not right.
I step backwards not knowing what to expect when an area between to the couch and the dining table distort. Chris turns to face this direction in a crouch.
All the sudden, in our minds we hear a shouting voice, Michelle.
- Wait! -
We do as she asks as a short female with curly brunette locks emerges from the distortion. At first, we only see the person's silhouette. As the person enlarges, it is clear who it is that is arriving here.
My eyes open wide as I recognize the person emerging from the distortion. It is none other than Elise Matthews!
"Elise!" I say as I run to her. Immediately, I trip over the coffee table and fall flat on my face. Ow. That’s was a wonderful thing to do.
About the Author
DAVID R BENNETT lives in Spring, Texas. Spring is a suburb of Houston. He is a graduate of Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. Not only is he an author of YA Paranormal fiction, but he also illustrates the covers for, not only, his novels but others as well.
David loves to write his novels in the paranormal realm of ghosts, goblins, witchcraft, werewolves, zombies, vampires, mummies, and other freaky monsters.
He has been a fan of the paranormal for a long time. David enjoys writing and always a ton of ideas flowing through his overactive brain. His first work for Freaky Fiction Writing was the first in this series, The Crimson Clan.
Blog: http://freakyfictionauthor.weebly.com/davids-ramblings.html
Website: http://freakyfictionauthor.weebly.com
Twitter: @drb2031
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http://destinyphoenixsaga.weebly.com/
Cry of the Wolf Page 6