Dark of kNight (20 page)

My heart pounded loudly. I let go of his hand. Something happened inside of me. I wanted to be free, to let loose. I ran faster. The tremors ran throughout my body sending me into a sensation of bliss for a moment. I stretched my arms out in front of me and bolted into the air. My skin burned hot and fevered again. A blistering heat ran down the outside of my body. My outstretched arms caught my fall when I came down toward the ground. I landed and to my surprise, I was on all fours. Things looked pretty much the same, except I could see in the dark. I looked down at where my hands should have been and saw dog like paws. I raised my head and turned around to the noise of approaching footsteps. Instinctively, I turned quickly and a burst of air rumbled from my mouth. Surprised by the sound I made, I jumped back. Daniel was no longer Daniel but an extremely large black wolf. He walked toward me, his ears perked forward in a playful way. Somehow, I knew that he was letting me know it was him. I opened my mouth and what came out was not exactly words, more of an “Owe, moaw, moaw.” This frustrated me. I pulled back my head and looked at him. I could tell by his huff and short barks he was laughing. He walked closer to me and nudged me with his head. Turning, he bolted into a run. I followed.

There was no way I could explain the exhilaration from the run. We ran for miles. Suddenly, he stopped, his head went down to the ground and he sniffed. I threw my head up and sniffed the air. An odd smell filled the night air. The strong scent smelled of some type of rotten flesh. Instinctively a low growl rumbled deep inside my chest. Daniel turned around quickly and looked at me. He snorted once. We had just run into the scent of the werewolf. I knew we had to be cautious. He walked slowly ahead and I followed.

Walking in a single file line we carefully listened while we moved through the thick forest.

The forest was dark, but we had no problem seeing. The images in his eyes were in my mind as well. We moved together stepping in the same motions. I felt something was crawling on me. It bothered me. I kept moving forward behind Daniel. Suddenly, I felt a slight sting, it was now itching. Whatever bit me now ran over my skin. I couldn’t stand it anymore so I stopped. The only thing I could do was scratch at it, making matters worse. I moaned at the itch as I scratched. I bolted to my feet when Daniel stopped suddenly and jogged back toward me. I hit the closest tree I could find with a hard thud. The tree shook violently against my impact. I rubbed my back up and down it. Something had bit the crap out of me and I was in an infinite torture of itchiness. I moaned and moaned as I went back and forth against the tree. Daniel stared for a moment then snapped at me. My scent was now all over the tree. I released a low whimper. His ears perked forward as he walked around to my back. In a split second, I could feel his sharp teeth suddenly pinch down on my back where the bite was. He slung his head and rolled his tongue out two or three times. It was a bee. Big bad wolf, supposed to be able to kill a werewolf and can’t even handle a bee sting. Bee sting, I thought quickly. I’m allergic to bees! Daniel snorted once again, I whimpered then his eyes met mine. I realized when the itching stopped, my skin was healing. I rolled my eyes at him as he went on into a jog and I followed once again.

We tracked the scent to an old barn where a fire glowed outside. I sniffed the air; there were at least three outside. I spotted the two vehicles I had seen at the grocery store parking lot the other day. I sensed the other two were be close by; they must be inside the barn. We had found them and needed to tell the others. Sunday night would be a full moon and we would have to act then. Daniel and I moved quietly through the woods retracing our trail. They would catch the scent and track us back to my house. We would wait for them in the meadow. Surely, they couldn't resist a match.

We were far enough away to break into a run. We ran faster than the first time, the new body was much faster and stronger. We arrived at the edge of the meadow, when I suddenly stopped short in my tracks. My head lifted up when I caught a scent of something else. Cologne, aftershave, pizza and I sneezed, somebody needed a good bath. The police officers, and probably animal control. Daniel turned toward me. There were three of them. Well, this was nice reunion. They were scouting for a pack of oversize wolves that have been killing people and here we are. I guess we hadn’t figured this into our little equation. We needed to make it across the meadow and change. Sniffing the air, my eyes darted around the darkness. There were two of them near the house. The other was closer to the left of us. We both sprinted fast as light across the meadow to the edge of the woods.

I heard the police radio and someone say, “I think I just saw something.” I turned my head to see Daniel had already changed. This was good.

I wished he had explained how to change back. The two police officers moved quickly down the path. The flash lights moved side to side, creeping closer to their ultimate discovery.

My head raised and I looked Daniel then whimpered. He immediately grabbed my muzzle with both hands. “
SHHHH
” he whispered. “
You have to relax.”

I tried to exhale and it came out in a snort. Then I jerked my head up when I heard the police officers say “Over here! I heard something in that direction!”

“Listen to me. Just relax. Close your eyes and just relax.”
He whispered softly in my ear. Rubbing it slightly, I released a low moan. Before I realized what happened my body convulsed in a jerk. The force of the transformation was so strong it forced me forward into Daniel. He caught my sides with his hands, bracing me as he fell backwards on his back. I sat straddling him. We heard the police officers when they approached us. Daniel quickly grabbed me and pulled me to him. His hands locked on my head and pressed my face to his. His mouth was on mine kissing me hungrily. I let out a moan again. He raised his body up forcing me to a sitting position. His arm wrapped around me and with one hand in just the perfect timing, he pulled my hair back forcing me to arch my back. I couldn’t distinguish the sound that erupted from my throat. My mouth was wide open, but it was a little weird. The two police officers rushed through the trees toward us. Their bright flashlights pointed directly at our faces. I could probably guess which one of the officers ran the flashlight up and down my naked body. Good old Blondie. Daniel pulled me closer to him. Now I knew what he was doing. I couldn't help from laughing softly.

It was an embarrassing but clever move on Daniel’s part.

“Do you mind?” Daniel said as his hand flew in front of his face.

“Oh!” The flashlights trailed away. “Um,” one of them started. I couldn't tell whether it was embarrassment or excitement. “We were out looking for those wolves and found tracks that led back here the other day. You two shouldn’t be out here at night like this with those animals running around.”

“Well, officer,” he paused and looked at me still holding me close to him. “What can I say, she is an outdoors woman.” He said slapping my thigh. I glared at Daniel.

“However, if you could be a kind gent and let the lady and I dress, I would appreciate it.”

The police officers turned and walked away in the other direction, leaving Daniel and me in our awkward predicament. When I tried to move my legs trembled, followed by a tremor that ran through my body. Daniel tensed underneath me, immediately grabbing the outside of my thighs. The second tremor that ran through my body was from the hardness I felt between my legs. Dear Fate, Daniel was huge!

“
Please,
do not move.” His tone was deep and throaty. “Just be still for a moment.” He hissed through his teeth. I waited for Daniel to release his grip on my legs.

“Daniel,” I began. The transformation had sent something different through me. I was feeling feverish and weak, I still couldn’t move. My body continued in its tremors.

Daniel grabbed my waist and gently lifted me from his body. He moved from underneath me quickly. Daniel reached around and handed me my robe. We covered quickly.

When the tremors in my body stopped, we headed for the house.

Once inside I quickly turned to Daniel as he slid the door shut.

“Okay, so they are at the barn?”

“Yes. You noticed the scent. I am impressed. How is your back?” He turned to me.

“Better, the itching has stopped.”

“That was a close call,” he breathed.

“I know there were five of them. Then the police?”

“So they have added three to the pack. What are the police doing here this time of night?”

“Well, I guess since we were not in the house, and they already had my permission to search the area...” I trailed off into another thought. Turning to Daniel my eyes wide,

“They know the wolves attack at night.”

“We need to tell the others.” He said walking toward the front door.

“Wait a minute! Don’t we need to dress?” I shouted after him.

“No time! Come on!” The keys were already in his hand.

I darted off behind him after locking the door securely behind me. Daniel was already in the car and had it running. Fighting with the cloak, I managed to get it in and shut the door. The two police cars were still in the driveway. Daniel drove fast until we reached his house. I glanced down at the clock on the car stereo it was eight-forty-five. He slid the car to a stop in front of their house. We both jumped out of the car and ran for the front door.

Everyone was in the living room in the same type of cloaks we were wearing. I was still waiting for someone to pull out a light saber. Everyone appeared surprised by our rude entrance. Daniel bolted toward everyone and began running off into a tale of our findings.

My eyes darted around the room at everyone. I noticed someone was missing from the party.

“Where’s Casey?” I said looking at Charlotte.

“She decided she wanted to go to the movies with a friend. This is hard on Casey right now.” Charlotte replied softly.

“All right then, so there are five total,” Thomas confirmed.

Daniel nodded.

“Well, that leaves us what, three days?” Jason tossed in. “We will have to wait then until the full moon and set our trap.”

Thomas turned to Jason. “These animals are not turning on a full moon.”

“What?” Jason breathed out in surprise. “You’re kidding, right? They’ve always changed under a full moon.”

Daniel sat down beside me. “Dad is right. They have been killing at random without a full moon. I cannot be sure, but they must be mutated or something. Anyway, the trap has been set. Our scent should be strong enough for them to trace it back to the meadow. That is where we should wait for them.”

“All right then, that’s the plan. We can’t kill them until they are in their true form.” Jason observed. “Daniel, you up for this my friend?”

Daniel nodded and looked toward Thomas. Thomas looked around at everyone and gave a nod. Everyone’s eyes lingered on Heather. She was the smallest one of us all. Jason noticed the concern on everyone’s face. He smiled.

“If you think for one minute that Heather can’t handle this you are in for a surprise. She is extremely fast and precise. I have never seen anything like it.” He placed his arm around her. A smile crossed her pretty face when she rested her head on his shoulder.

Suddenly, as if I was next in line everyone’s eyes fell upon me. I felt a sense of a strange sickness in my stomach. Daniel raised his head and noticed everyone’s attention was now on me.

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” he roared. “She IS NOT going to fight.”

“Daniel!” Thomas retorted.

“NO!” Daniel shot to his feet.

“She can do it.” Jason threw in.

“NO! SHE IS NOT GOING!” His rose louder and filled with rage. His eyes darkened clearly showing he was losing it.

“Okay, let’s be reasonable about this,” I chimed in. “I may not know everything there is to know about this, but doesn’t it take two to take a werewolf down? We have to work as a team. We work together as one, right?” I shot toward Daniel who paced back and forth. Daniel was his father’s son.

“She’s right Daniel,” Heather said in my defense.

“No, it is too dangerous!” His eyes were now black as night.

“Daniel, please calm down,” Charlotte pleaded.

“It is not that easy!” Daniel shot back at her.

“Daniel, you and Julie
are
connected right?” Jason asked.

Daniel shot Jason a look that said “if looks could kill“. I couldn’t understand the conversation. Daniel stared at Jason for a long moment without saying anything. Suddenly, he turned and headed toward the other end of the house. In the distance, I could hear the door slam. I sat down in the large chair. Still, I realized how much more I had to learn.

My head dropped to my hands.

“Julie, it is not your fault,” Charlotte soft voice came closer.

“I don’t understand any of this. Just when I think I have a clue, there’s something that always seems to change,” I said looking up at her. She could see the hurt in my eyes.

“I think Daniel’s afraid he can’t control himself,” Jason added.

“I think you are right, love,” Heather added. “Julie,” she moved beside me. Her small hands took mine and her gentle face looked up into mine.

“See, there’s a bit more to it than the attraction between the two of you. A connection will begin between the both of you, the bonding. It happens naturally. However, you both have to release your fears for it to happen. I think we all can agree that you both love one another. We can all smell the scent. It is pure. You won’t have anything to worry about.”

She assured me in a sweet and tender voice.

“But, how do we make the connection like you are talking about?” Apparently, my question stirred a certain silence in the room.

“Lass, it takes a certain amount of control on both your parts. It also takes a certain amount of freedom and being open to one another,” Jason stated.

“I thought that, well, the becoming one part was the solemnized union.”

“Oh, no. That is something entirely different. No, this happens before then,” Heather stated. “You two have to bond in way that you are one with each other.”