YOU’RE HUNGRY, aren’t you?” Jake said beside me. We’ve been walking and resting at intervals. We were following the flow of the stream this time. Hopefully, it would lead us to a bridge or a main road where we’ll see where we are. Because we even have no idea where we were at. “Here.” I handed him the bag I carried. “There are some pieces of meat I reserved there.” “Thanks Jas. You’re a life saver.” He collected the bag from my hand and stuffed his mouth with cold meat. “Where do you think we are?” He asked with a full mouth and in between biting.“I don’t know. Maybe Africa.” “Africa?” His mouth hung open in mock horror. “Maybe... Kenya. We should see some giraffes or elephants anytime soon.”“Stop lying to me.” Jake laughed.“I truthfully have no idea where we are.” I told him. “But we’re really far away...” “Yep.” I nodded in confirmation. “Wow... mad stuffs.” He kept on eating till the sun became too hot and we had to rest underneath a large tree. We still hadn’t seen any
ARE YOU OUT of your mind, Jamie?” Jaja asked. He was astounded. “What? My boys are missing...”“If you walk into the Fey Kingdom and accuse them of kidnapping your son and nephew when they didn’t... you’re just calling for war. You know kidnapping is a huge offence, you might even call up another meeting.” “Sir, Jaja is right.” Claude said. “Beside, we don’t have any evidence that Fey was involved. We will just be acting on a hunch... and you will be made to look very ridiculous.” “I never thought I’d say this Jaja, but you actually made sense.” Jamie said. “I always make sense Jamie boy.” “So what do you propose we do?” Claude turned to Jaja. “We wait.” “Wait?” Both Jamie and Claude asked.“Yes. We wait. Let’s head back to your place, Jamie. We’ll talk strategy and put out word for the boys.” “Sounds like a good idea to me. What do you think, Claude?” Claude shrugged and said, “Do I have any other option?” They walked back to Jamie’s house in relative silence. Each men dee
WE STARED AT each other for close to a minute. I didn’t move a muscle except for eyes which were blinking. Then slowly, he backed away from me and I breathed a sigh of relief. He sat down on his hind limbs and bent his ears back. I glanced on the floor around and saw the torn clothes that he had been putting on before he shifted. I groaned. I suddenly heard a howl.From the tenor, length and strength, it was the howl of an alpha. But I was just imagining things, we were in the middle of nowhere. A werewolf pack can’t just appear out of – There it was, I heard again. Jake raised his nose to the moon and gave a deep and long howl. The howl from the alpha came again and Jake ears perked up. He gave a low whine and shot forward. I scrambled to pack our stuffs and ran after him. He didn’t slow down, He just kept the pace until I thought I could not talk it any longer and was prepared for him to leave me when we burst into a very large compound with a big mansion set far back behin
THE BOYS HUDDLED together in a corner. They couldn’t tell the time of the day because the only window opening had been covered with a thick cloth. It sounded like a canvas or leather curtain. But with the cold, the figured that the sun was going down pretty quickly. The Werewolf blood had melted long before. It had turned into a puddle where Mart had thrown it to the amusement of Ellie and Nina. They could pick out the howl of the wind and stiff flap of the leather material covering the small window. Full moon was tonight and they knew it. A door swung open loudly and Ellie, who was relaxing just outside their cell, jumped to his feet. Nina walked in, closely followed by an elegant white haired woman.She stopped in front of their cell and eyed them glumly. “Where did you get these ones?” She asked.“Just outside Morton's border, Rosetta. Near the first scene.” Ellie said. She made some ‘tsk' sounds at the boys as she patrolled the front of the cells. The boys’ eyes followed her
The four men – Jamie, Jaja, Claude and Henry – all trooped out into the late afternoon. The sun was bright but not hot. It was setting already. “There’s something even more strange than the missing boys.” Henry commented.“And what might that be?” “It’s better to be seen than heard.” They crossed the narrow stream and walked down the path. The territory had started their advancement to proclaim ownership to this part of the land, but the processing was not yet finalised. The whole scene was swarming with half a dozen men from Jamie’s pack. They were investigating what had happened there and looking for clues. They bowed when they saw Jamie and Jaja approaching. Claude’s sharp eyes quickly took in the scene. Ten dead Vampires. He walked closer and stooped beside one. “Gunshot wound.” He whispered to himself, rubbing his index finger on the hole in the Vampire’s head. A shadow fell across him. He looked up at a figure that stood above him, blotting out the sun. He stood up and lo
“I SENT A message to the boys.” Lydia said. She sat in front of the gas fireplace. “A message? How?” Claude asked. He picked up a small remote and pressed a button. There was a low BOOM! sound as fire erupted in the small enclosed space. “HOW I’ve always loved that sound.” He laughed. “Harry! Stop that! Now!” Lydia snapped at the small wolf pup chewing at the rug. The wolf bounded up the stairs and leapt from the hallway upstairs to the ground floor. “We should have commanded him to shift back to human.” Lydia said. “No, darling. Let’s give the wolf a little freedom, don’t you think?” “Yes, love.” She rubbed her temples and sighed. “Now as I was saying...” She paused as the sound of a low THUD! reverberated the whole house. “HARRY! GO OUT NOW! PLAY ON THE STREET!...” They both heard the wolf give a small yelp and leap out the roof window and onto the street below. “You were saying” Claude said. “Here.” He handed her a glass of water. “Thanks, love.” She collected the glass and
“HERE.” Nina thrust five wraps of an aluminium foil and five bottles of table water into the cell. The boys eyed the package warily.“What is that?” Billy asked. Mart, who was closest to the gate unwrapped one and found a chicken hamburger. “Listen, are you boys hungry or not?” They each collected one, still eyeing her warily until Zach bit into his. They all looked at him like they expected him to die of poison immediately. “What?” He queried, looking at them back. When they saw that he did not die, they all munched in unison. “I need to use the toilet.” Jeff said. “number one or number two?” “Wha?”Nina looked at him. “ Do you want to take the piss or take a shit?”“The piss.” “Then do it right there.” She walked away. “This is a good one...” Zach said with a full mouth. “The hamburger, I mean.”“Shut up.” Arthur snapped. “That’s food from the enemy.” “The enemy makes good food.” “You’re a fool.” “Don’t call me that!” “Or what?” Arthur challenged. He stood up now and
I found my way outside. I saw many families at the table. And just as Elsa had said, all the families were all like one big family. Little kids ran between my legs and under the table. I looked around. More people were entering the room as others were leaving. A little boy came up beside me and held my hand as I walked. I looked down at the chubby little thing. He didn’t reach up to my knees. He looked up at me with startling blue eyes. “Carry.” He raised his hands to me. Such a cute little thing. There was no way I was saying no to those watery blue eyes of his. I carried him and grunted. He was heavier than he looked. I hoisted him on my hip. “What the gell are they feeding you?” He giggled and spoke baby language. “Really?” I asked. He nodded. I walked with him on my hip. He weighed a ton, I was sure. I walked with a lopsided gait to my step to keep my balance. I walked outside and into the early morning sun. There was fresh scent in the air. The scent of greens and freshly
I WAS AWOKEN by the harsh Ray of sunshine coming from the window. I glinted and squinted as i sat up. The fireplace was off. The wood had all burnt off.The main sitting room was buzzing with activity. People were coming and going, I heard Jake’s voice talking with someone.I turned and yawned and saw he was talking with Gibson. I grimaced as I remembered that this huge man was Dad’s replacement. I heard the door open and the sounds of footsteps as the boys – Billy, Matt and Zach – bounded in.They made a beeline to where I laid down and stood over me.I struggled and sat up. I groaned as I felt a crick in my lower back.I looked at their faces and went a little sad at how incomplete they seemed.We all missed Arthur and Jeff.“I should wash up.” I said, rubbing my eyes.The nodded.I walked and headed up to Jake’s room to use his bathroom.I was half expecting to see Elsa. I could really do with her smile this morning.I rushed to the bathroom to do my stuffs, while in the bathroom I
I RUSHED NEXT door to the Alpha house and went on to find Jake.“They are in the study.” Elsa said as I walked in, as if she knew exactly who I was looking for.I headed to the study and walked in and realized why Elsa had said “they". I found him in the study with Alpha Jaja, Alpha Preston, Mum and aunt Charlotte.The heads turned to look at me as I burst in. I prepared to turn back but thought better of it so I stood my ground.I raised my hand and pointed with my thumb to the back. “Is he supposed to be here?” i walked into the room.“Who is that?” Alpha Jaja asked, pushing back his chair and standing up.We heard the door open and the sound of walking stick tapping the floorboard as footsteps approached.The pale figure of Henri filled the door as Henri came up and looked around the room. His eyes lingered on me before he moved on to Jake.“I came to pay my last respect. Your father was a good man and a strong Alpha.” He said and turned and walked away before any of us could say a
SHE PULLED ME up with ease. I searched her eyes for any knowledge that I was banished and the reason behind it.I did not find any. Just the warm brown familiar eyes of and her wide smile. She was really happy to see me.“How have you been?” She asked, pulling me into a tight hug.My arms wrapped around her waist and I inhaled the nice fragrance from her hair. We stayed in the hug for some seconds before she pulled back and I noticed a squat figure just behind her.“Oh, this is Grem.” She said. “He’s a dwarf.”I looked closely at this strange creature, barely reaching up to my knees with large feet and hands and big black eyes too.“We have them at the pack now. Not as slaves, though. Of course not.” She said, laughing. “More like an exchange of relationship, we offer them food and shelter and protection and they run the chores of the pack. Like cooking and cleaning.”I made the appropriate noise to that because she nodded and continued. “Dad wanted to offer them money too, you know.
A THICK SILENCE filled the air at the cabin. The fire still burned outside but not on its own now. It cackled loudly and the pungent odour of burning human flesh hung heavy in the air. Clyde was seated at a couch opposite Rosetta. Roland was standing in a dark corner, his ankles were crossed and arms folded.Henri stood near the window in his regular pose – one hand in his pocket and the other, holding his stick. But this time, he held the stick at the middle, the head of the stick was hooked to the curtain, drawing it back and opened slightly so there was a thin slice of moonlight casted over his features.Sofia came in from casting a burning spell on Tom’s body, her hands were tucked inside her robes. Clyde turned to her. She gave a brief nod and then settled herself down on the chair in front of the fireplace.“You have been staring at that too much, lately.” Henri pointed, letting go of the curtain and gesturing with the hand holding his stick towards the fire.Sofia nodded.It mi
THE BURIAL OF an alpha is not small affair. Claude had been the longest lasting and once best friend of Jamie, so he was consulted as to what Jamie would have wanted.And Claude said what Jamie had told him years ago. Many many years ago.Jamie wanted his body cremated and half of his ashes buried in the cemetery, but he wanted his son, Jake to spray the other half of his Ash into a flowing river.At least even in death, he would still have the chance to explore.That evening, Jamie’s body was cremated just before the burial procession started.Zhao and Alyssé stood by a corner. Alpha Jaja had arrived a few hours ago with his wife. His eyes were red rimmed. He had been crying.The whole pack was dressed in black. Drakys III and Faerie were seated at a table, constantly consorting with each other.The grand magus was also at the burial. But all these guest were detached. They were mainly here out of a sense of duty and respect for the dead man.Only Preston and other invited werewolves
MY MIND WAS in a turmoil. Mum left yesterday, or was it two days ago?I lost track of time.Then Dad was called too. He left last night.And that was how I ended up alone in America. I planned on staying in my dorm for the major part of the day. But I had to go to campus in the morning, I had a major lecture.I entered the lecture hall distractedly, my hood was pulled over my head as I settled down.I should call Jake, I said to myself. I should offer my condolences. Mum had sent me the news that my uncle was dead. Jake would be the alpha now.I randomly remembered a time when we were 9 and Jake had held my hand, saying I would be his right hand when he became alpha.It had seemed like a faraway dream as at that time.Now, it felt like another life.Another reality, but a reality nonetheless.I shook my head and brought out my laptop, and then I perceived it.I looked up sharply and caught the glint of the sun on that ginger coloured hair.She was sitting a few rows in front of me. Wi
ROLAND WAS NOT really enthralled or looking forward to having a sweaty, nervous man shuffling and dogging his every step. But he was quiet as Sofia and Clyde bustled around in preparation for the ritual.It was to hold in the night at the backyard. Sofia had used the wolfs bane to make a spiral on the ground.Clyde would pass by and whisper something to Tom and they would both share a giggle.“You will need a blood from a werewolf to complete the ritual.” Roland said to Sofia as she passed him.She stopped and cocked her head to a side as she looked at him. “You don’t sound excited.”“There’s nothing to be excited about.” He replied.She came to rest on the wall beside him. “Is there not?” She asked him. “You would train this one yourself.”Roland sighed.“We are going to use your blood and Clyde’s.” Sofia said in answer to his question.Roland pushed from the wall and walked inside the house. He kept himself busy by cleaning and polishing his oak branch stick.He was so engrossed tha
THE DRIVE WAS quiet. Neither man spoke, even their breathing was muffled and very quiet. While Henri paid his full attention on the road, Roland gaze flicked lazily out the window and over the ever changing scenery as Henri drove about 50 miles per hour over the speed limit. Roland kept expecting them to be flagged down but they were not. The car drove on heavily and soundly. The outside world changed from mountains and hills to random small houses and patches of farm to large ranches to a developed part of town with skyscrapers to flats and plains and finally thick trees. “The next turn on your right.” Roland said. Henri did not give any indication that he heard but he turned at the next turn. They drove on that lane for close to 10 minutes before Roland said, “Turn here.” “There’s no road.” Henri said. “Just turn.” Henri swerved sharply into the dirt and the Bentley bounced and groaned as the tires crushed the dry grass and gravel. There, in the middle of a large expanse of
JAKE HAD WATCHED them go in circles for what seemed like eternity but was actually just 2 hours. The conversation had mainly been carried on by Preston, Drakys III and Faerie and Zhao.Drakys had suggested a centaur absent-mindedly.“A Centaur can’t take on an alpha werewolf on his territory.” Preston has countered. “Besides centaurs don’t just go on a killing spree.”Faeries had said, agreeing with Preston. “None of you had any bad blood with the alpha, do you.”There was shaking of heads all around the table.Faerie yawned a dainty yawn. Jessica sat, unmoving, her peripheral vision watched the still form of Jake. She knew he had something to say but had no idea why he was still quiet“The were jaguar then. Jamie’s nephew.” Zhao said in that lazy drawl of his. His watery eyes flicked a gaze at Jake.“I mean, he has motive. He was banished.” Henri added too. His first words in the meeting.It was that moment that Jake knew he had to join in. “It was not Jas.” Jake said. The alpha wolf