CHAPTER 9
The night of the Harvest Dance I was seriously on edge. It was silly really. Given everything I had learned over the past few weeks, a high school dance had me biting my nails and dropping my books all day. I just wanted to be normal. I wanted to worry about normal things like my hair and what kind of music would they play. I ignored Ronan the rest of that week, or rather, he ignored me. He still sat by me during class, and continued to eat lunch with Angela and me, he just didn't talk to me. Can you say silent treatment? Ugh.
Sebastian and I managed to sit together at lunch that day despite Julianna's attempts at separating us. Since he was junior class president, Julianna had roped him into helping put up the decorations. Student Council was important for his college applications, he explained to me, it made him look better, like he was into more than just sports. I understood completely. Even though I was a sophomore I realized my own applications would focus mainly on my academics. Maybe I should take Coach Vinnie up on his offer and try out for the girls' soccer team?
Sebastian spent most of the day with Julianna and the rest of the cheering and soccer teams. They had been excused from their classes in order to set up for the dance. It was okay though, I wasn't jealous. Well, I wasn't too jealous. I mean given the differences between Julianna and myself it was a wonder Sebby actually wanted me as his date. I mean sure, we jogged together and yes, he was the first boy to have ever kissed me. I just kept wondering why. Why me? Technically, I was a sophomore, and a geek on top of that. I was not beautiful or dainty like the other girls. Just about everyone in school had a crush on Sebastian. He had his pick. All of the freshmen broke out into hysterical giggles when he walked by. A few of the girls in my homeroom class even congratulated me on him asking me to the dance. Can you believe that? I picked at my chef's salad as Sebastian ate his sandwich with gusto.
"So, are you all set?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know I guess all the girls keep talking about dresses and going to the salon and stuff so I thought I'd be polite and ask. Oh, what color are you wearing? You know for the wrist corsage?" I looked at him blankly. I never even considered this stuff. To be honest I thought I would wear my graduation dress from eighth grade. It was off white with little crystals sewn into the bodice. And my hair? Oh Jeez! It would be a disaster!
"Um, it's shiny, like off white?" It came out more of a question than an answer, but he just smiled and kept eating. Crap! I guess I had to get him a flower too. I'd have to see if we had any roses left after being hit by that drought and then the frost. Sebastian finished his sandwich just as Julianna came to get him.
"Come on Sebby, we have to go. Now, please." She gave me a dirty look as Sebastian bent to take his tray. He gave me a brief kiss on the cheek and tugged on my ponytail playfully.
"I'll see you tonight, Grazi," he said before turning to walk away.
It was a very public kiss, regardless of how small. Some of the girls fanned themselves when I caught their eye and a few others sent me high fives from across the room. Yeah, I was definitely beet red at this point. Sebby had pretty much just publicly declared that we were, well, something. I felt eyes on me, but when I turned to glance at Ronan he was chewing what appeared to be half of one of his three double cheeseburgers in one bite and acting as if nothing was wrong at all. In fact, he had been acting as if our interlude the other day had not happened. Maybe it hadn't. Maybe I was exaggerating it. I wished I had someone to talk to. So, I did what I would normally do, I talked to my parents.
Hey, it's me. So, I guess you know that I know I'm a Werewolf now. I would have liked a little heads up, guys seriously. I guess what I want to know is are you guys there? Daddy are you in Heaven with mom? Even after?Never mind. Well, whichever one is listening, I think I am having a crisis. A normal teenager crisis I guess, not a Werewolf one, and it is probably not important, but what do you do when you think you like two different boys? Is it possible? Maybe that means I don't like either of them? Any advice would be great. Oh, and what do I wear to a school dance? I sound like such an idiot, I'm sorry. I'm sure you have more important things to do. Never mind. I love you. Xxoo
"Hey Grazi, what time are you getting to the dance?" My thoughts were interrupted by Angela. She seemed to be in a good mood and was busy talking about her date and her spa appointment for after school.
"I'm going to get a mani-pedi and of course a facial before the dance. I'm going to Earthly Glow Spa over on Route 46. They are clients of my dad's law firm. Where do you usually go?"
"Um nowhere, I mean, I've never been-" Ronan snorted and I gave him a dirty look. I could feel my Wolf growl and he looked sick for a moment. Then he got up and tossed his tray. I was happy he was leaving. Jerk!
"What? No way, that's it! You are so coming with me! My dad's sending a driver and I know Sherry will take you no problem!"
"No, Angela, it's okay, besides I'm tapped out right now."
"No worries. It's on me! I insist Grazi, besides I hate to go alone." I kept turning her down and was surprised when at 4:00 I was up to my eyeballs in a mud mask, my hair had been neatly trimmed, and I was getting a manicure. I insisted they did not cut my nails and was a little embarrassed when I broke three nail files. Werewolf nails are super strong.
"This package must be faulty, let me get another," the manicurist was a slight woman no older than twenty-two and I felt sincerely sorry for all the broken nail files. Since my change, my nails had grown a lot longer than I was used to and they were much stronger than usual too. No way could they be cut with regular clippers and it seemed filing was difficult too. I decided to tell her it was no use when she came back with a pumice stone instead. It worked fine and in no time, I had a French manicure and pedicure to match.
Angela and I were getting the mud rinsed when the owner of the spa came in and did a review of my face, noting in particular my eyebrows. "You know, Angela, your friend here could use a little zap, how about it, yes?" She spoke with a slight accent and Angela giggled in response to her question.
"Okay now Grazi, forgive Sherry here, I told her over the phone I would be bringing you in and that I thought you should have a few treatments-"
"Angela, I can't afford it. And besides I never even waxed before. What does zapped mean? Doesn't it hurt?"
"I told you it's on me and we weren't thinking wax." She looked up at the ceiling, at the floor, anywhere but at me and I had to wonder why. I never really cared about my appearance before so no, waxing was not something I did, and since becoming a Werewolf, I admit I probably should have.
Without any explanation Sherry wheeled in a wicked looking machine and some crazy sunglasses. After twenty minutes of being zipped and zapped by the laser hair removal machine thingy, I had not one hair out of place anywhere on my face. My eyebrows looked great and apparently my mustache, which I didn't even realize I had, was gone as well. Apparently being a Werewolf meant more facial hair for guys and girls especially as we neared the full moon. That explained the scruff on Ronan's face and Uncle Sean's full-grown beard. The full moon was coming tomorrow night. Uncle Sean explained that with the dance so near the full moon he, Ronan, and myself would all be drinking tea laced with Wolfsbane before nightfall. I had carried mine with me all day in school and forced myself to drink the bitter liquid. I stared in the huge gilded mirror at my smooth face.
"Put this cream on and the redness will go away, yes. You did good. No crying like some other people." Sherry gave Angela a look and she just smiled back. She handed me a tube of cream and a small sample bag of cosmetics along with a brochure of their services. I turned and hugged the shorter woman.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"Oh nonsense," she was flustered, but pleased. I could tell, "Now you come back anytime! You don't have to wait for Angie, okay dear!" I nodded and left with Angela, her driver dropped me off at a quarter to five. I thanked my friend and told her I'd see her later. Fifteen years old and my first trip to a spa/salon. I felt pretty happy and yes, a l
ittle nervous too. This was a year for a lot of firsts.
I was excited, but also saddened by the fact that Nonna still wasn't talking to me. She had given me a wide berth since the night I learned about my parents. She even started leaving my dinner on a plate on the stove, not bothering to wait and eat with me as was our usual custom. She no longer asked me to Mass with her or to watch Jeopardy! In fact, we hadn't talked in what felt like forever. I really missed her. She was the one who raised me and loved me. She was the only real home I knew. I felt guilty, but I was still so very angry at her. Angry at her for concealing my past. Who and what I was. That afternoon when I got home from the spa there was a gift box on my bed. It was pretty big and printed with roses, topped with a big pink bow. Taped to the outside I found a letter:
Mia cara Maria,
I have loved you and protected you for so long I don't know how to stop. Perhaps you can forgive an old lady's clumsy attempt to keep what is left of her only daughter safe. I made you this dress from a pattern I saw on that soap opera we used to watch together. But that is not the most important thing I give you. Here is a diary your mama kept. I have not read it. I cannot bring myself to, but maybe there are some answers for you, si? Ti amo, mia bella bambina. Always, Nonna
Tears sprung to my eyes as I put the letter down. I opened the box and lifted a dress out of the careful packaging. To say it was beautiful would be a gross understatement. It was more than beautiful. Certainly, the fanciest piece of clothing I had ever owned. Impossibly soft gold lace sewn over a nude lining. It shimmered and seemed to glow every time I handled the exquisite fabric. The bodice was fitted with short cap sleeves and a boat neckline. The slip didn't start until it covered my chest leaving my shoulders and back covered only in the delicate gold lace. A soft and flirty skirt that stopped just above my knees completed the lovely confection.
I held it against me and inhaled. I could smell my Nonna on it. Under the dress was a pair of shiny nude wedge heels with the same gold lace sewn just over the toes. I knew she must have spent hours laboring over this for me. I could almost feel the love she poured into it with her strong hands. It was the first occasion I had to get dressed up like this and I was thrilled with it. Truly. I was so excited about the dress and shoes, I almost overlooked the treasure beneath them.
My mother's diary. As thick as any Bible, the cover was a soft white leather with the name Lilliana Maria DiPaolo etched in gold. I opened the diary and found myself staring at a collage of pictures that had been carefully cut and glued onto the cover page. A newborn baby held by an older boy, obviously my mom and uncle, her in her school uniform, Nonna and Nonno, snapshots of her friends, my mother and father at what had to be prom and more of the same. It was amazing. I turned to the first page and saw a table of contents. She marked each year that she wrote in the diary and what page that year started on.
To my surprise I found she had kept this same diary up until the year she died. She started it when she was fifteen years old. The same age as me. The same year she met my dad. I took a deep breath and put the book in the drawer of my night stand, under my rubber duck inspired lamp. I wanted nothing more than to stay in my bedroom, on my rubber duck blanket and read the entire thing cover to cover. But tonight was special. One thing at a time, Grazi. Plenty of time to read later. When my head wasn't dancing in so many directions. Speaking of dancing. I headed towards the bathroom. It was time to get ready.
Though I suggested we meet at the school gymnasium where the dance was being held, Sebastian insisted on picking me up. Julianna had stormed over to Lizette's house. She swore she would never stand by to watch me get picked up by her man. Okay then, delusional much? Aunt Theresa glared daggers at me for days and wouldn't even acknowledge me otherwise. Thank goodness, she was already waiting in the car to bring Julianna over to Lizette's by the time I got home. I have to say on my list of things I cared about, her feelings about me ranked pretty low.
At seven o'clock sharp the doorbell rung and Nonna answered. I played with my hair, deciding to leave it down was risky. It was so long there was a chance I'd get lost in it, but I shrugged. Too late to change now and with my new trim it was shiny and soft. I was not used to heavy make-up and now that I was a Werewolf I think I was even more aware of it than ever. I mean I could literally smell the chemicals my cousin put all over her face from a room away. That night I wore just a hint of glitter on my eyelids, a touch of brown mascara that was in the samples bag from Sherry. I completed my look with a cherry flavored ruby lip gloss that I applied lightly over my lips. When I looked in the mirror I couldn't get over the changes in me. I looked okay. Really okay.
"Maria, your date is here." Nonna knocked shyly and opened my door. "Oh si, si si, bella! Molto bella!" She clapped her hands together and wiped a tear from her eyes.
"Oh Nonna! Thank you so much. You know for everything." I had to stop myself from crying.
"We will talk later, Maria, now you go. Your young man is waiting." I hugged her small frame and kissed her cheek before walking downstairs.
"Wow," Sebastian waited for me by the door and almost dropped the wristlet he held in a clear plastic box in his right hand. He wore a dark suit with a patterned tie. It had flecks of gold in it, so we kinda matched.
"You look beautiful," he whispered as I got closer to him.
"Thanks, um, you do too."
"This is for you. You said off white, but I think it still matches." He took the wristlet out of the box. A mixture of yellow baby's breath, yellow speckled orchids and red roses with lush green accent leaves, it was perfect. He placed it on my wrist and smiled.
"Thank you, it's beautiful. This one is for you." I picked up the one white rose I salvaged from the bushes outside. I had carefully wrapped the single stem and few accent leaves in some of my uncle's floral tape. I managed to pin it to his jacket without impaling him, so that was good.
"My dad's outside so we should get going," A flash snapped and we both jumped then laughed. Guess we were both nervous. Nonna took another four pictures on her ancient camera before she let us escape.
The drive to the school gym in Sebastian's dad's black Mercedes was short and a little awkward. His dad kept looking at me in the rearview mirror and rubbing the gold and diamond crucifix around his neck. He was young for the dads in our school, probably the same age mine would have been, mid-thirties or so. Most of the other dads were late in their mid to late fifties. Mr. De La Cruz, kept looking at me and it was giving me the creeps. Sebastian must have noticed.
"Dad!"
"What? Oh! So, uh, Maria, what was it your dad does again?"
"Oh, my dad passed away Mr. De La Cruz when I was very young. I live with my grandmother and my uncle's family."
"Dad!" Sebby scolded him from his seat next to me in the back.
"Oh, um, I'm sorry for your loss then." I nodded and sat in silence. Sebastian held my hand and tried not to be embarrassed by his dad's behavior. Mr. De La Cruz was sending some seriously whacky vibes. I could smell his nervousness, though why he'd be nervous with me I didn't know.
"Okay, here we are kids. Sebby, I'll be back at eleven. You two behave. Call me if you need anything, son."
"Sure, Dad." Sebby held the door open for me and I got out of the car. I was glad I wore a jacket over my dress. It had dropped to about thirty degrees since that afternoon. I smiled at Sebby and waved goodbye to his dad.
The first thing I saw when I entered the gym was this huge Cornucopia made out of tissue paper and glitter with huge paper and glitter fruits and veggies coming out of it plastered on the left wall. On the right-side wall was a large banner that read "SHPS Annual Harvest Dance." This had Julianna and her clones stamped all over it. There were huge clumps of balloons in red and orange and yellow all throughout the gym as well as a strobe light and fog machine.
Despite the cheesy decorations, the DJ was actually good. Anthony Monroe and his older brother Rob worked a laptop from between two turntables and some sort of mixer stand. It l
ooked complicated, but they seemed to know what they were doing. Anthony was in my homeroom and Rob graduated the year before. Sebastian checked our coats and walked us over to the picture booth where we got in line for a picture to commemorate the evening. I was laughing at something he said when I tensed up.
I turned around. Of course. Ronan was behind me. He had on black pants and a black shirt with a jacket over it. Fancy. Then I looked down. He was wearing beat up green Converse instead of dress shoes. His hair was casually spiked, a thin fuzz covered his chin and cheeks, and he had his string of beads around his neck. He looked good. He didn't meet my gaze, but instead seemed to look past me.
"Hi, Ronan."
"Maria." He nodded but still didn't look at me. His posture was stiff, I could almost hear him humming with energy. One night till the full moon, his Wolf was tense and ready to go. This was so not good.
"So, who are you here with?" I tried to break the ice. Sebastian took my hand and squeezed it. He nodded a greeting to Ronan. Boys.
"Why? Don't you think I have a date?"
"No, I didn't say that-" I stopped abruptly when he turned back to grab his date. Julianna was right there her clone army standing behind them along with Sebby's teammates, Tyler and Mike. We nodded our hellos and Julianna wrapped her hand possessively around Ronan's arm and flashed me a dirty look.
"Hellooo! The line is moving! People wanna dance not just stand here all day." She rolled her eyes and her groupies snickered. I tried not to stare, but couldn't help it. Sure, she invaded our lunch table more often than not, but I thought it was all for Sebby. I had no idea she was into Ronan as well. It really bothered me. Ugh. I hated to admit it, but she looked great too. She wore a black sparkly dress, strapless and skin tight. Her heels were about five inches high and as always, she wore her hair and make-up perfectly. As if she stepped off a cover of a magazine. Fabulous.
"Our turn," Sebby said casting curious looks at Ronan. Ronan grinned at Sebby, but not in a friendly manner. I could practically hear his thoughts. He wanted a fight. He didn't seem to notice his date's company, not even when she leaned up against him with her whole body. She got bored when he failed to react and turned to talk to her friends. I stepped on Ronan's foot to get his attention, he didn't even budge. A low growl escaped his lips.
"What are you doing?" I whispered in a voice so low only with his Werewolf hearing could I be heard.
"That hurt."
"Good. Now stop growling at my date and pay attention to yours. She's just dying for you to compliment her." I'll admit it I was hurt. He knew I couldn't stand my cousin, didn't he? Why would he go with her of all people?
"Is she now," Ronan turned and placed his nose against Julianna's neck. Was he sniffing her? She is so gonna slap him! Instead I was surprised when she giggled and he gave her a slight peck on the cheek, "You smell awful good, girl."
"You like? I put it on everywhere!" She said seductively and batted her long eyelashes. Her arm wound even tighter around his bicep. He grinned and bit his lower lip. Oh yuck. I turned around ready for my picture with my date. I didn't stay to watch Julianna plaster herself all over Ronan. It made me nauseous.
"Come on, let's dance." Sebastian led me to the dance floor. With my heels, I was a little bit taller than him and I felt really awkward. Why was I so darn tall? He didn't seem to care, he spun me around until I lost all of my silly self-consciousness. We jumped up and down and danced to all of the fast songs. When a slow song came on he took me in his arms and pulled me close to him.
"This is nice. I like dancing with you, Grazi." I stared into his warm brown eyes and felt something inside me melt. His full lips curved in a smile and I could hear his heart beating in his chest. He kissed my hand and wrapped it around his own.
"This feels right, you know? You and me." He placed it on his chest between us. It was the most perfect moment of my life, until?
"Leave room for the Holy Ghost," Sr. Diane said and abruptly pushed us apart. My cheeks burned and Sebastian put his hands in his pockets. Seriously, that was one scary nun. Where did she come from anyway?
"Um, maybe we should go get something to drink?" He asked and I noticed the pink stain on his cheeks.
"Good idea," I said and followed him to the refreshment table. Ms. Vorax and Mr. Gundy, the history teacher, were getting refreshments also. Ms. Vorax looked so small and childlike in her straight gray dress and slip-ons. Especially next to Mr. Gundy and his robust figure.
"Hi Ms. Vorax," I said with a smile. She turned her large gray eyes on me briefly and smiled vacantly. She was too busy staring at Mr. Gundy and, ew, wait a minute, she looked like she was captivated by him. I mean the guy wore too small plaid pants, suspenders and a bow tie every day to class and this dance was no different. He patted his belly and moaned in delight as he bit into a brownie and offered one to Ms. Vorax. She shook her head and handed him another one. She didn't seem to notice the huge coffee stain on his shirt or the fudge stuck in his teeth. Yuck. But there was no accounting for taste. Look at Ronan and my cousin. He was twirling her on the dance floor and she was swaying seductively and rubbing all over him. Yuck, where was Sr. Diane when you needed her?
"So, what do you think of the dance?"
"Oh, it's great. Thanks for asking me to come with you, Sebastian. I'm having a really good time."
"No problem. I missed you this week. You know, running with you. But I guess you're the sane one. It's so cold now I can't even imagine what it will be like in a few weeks." I smiled and only half listened as Sebby continued to take sips of his water and talk about the weather and his soccer training. I made all the proper noises, but the truth was I was distracted.
"Do you smell something?" I took a deep breath and there it was again. That repugnant odor. I looked around, Sebby didn't seemed to notice it, he shook his head no. We were alone. No one was near the refreshment table now. Ms. Vorax and Mr. Gundy had wandered off and looked like they were going back into the school. It was off limits to the students during the dance.
"Nah, I don't smell anything. Hey, I guess Ms. Vorax and Mr. Gundy are sneaking away together." Sebby laughed and nodded at the door. "What do you think she sees in the guy?"
"Who? Mr. Gundy? Seriously, I have no idea."
"Yeah, pretty gross thinking about teachers making out anyway." We laughed some more. Sebastian took my hand and gave it a little squeeze. He made me feel special and normal all at the same time. Not like a freak or anything. To him I was just a girl. I wanted to forget the weird smell, the deaths, everything, except being with him. I couldn't wait to see what the night would bring.
"Hey Grazi!" I turned to see Angela run up to me and throw her arms around me in an exuberant hug. "Wow you look fabulous! Where did you get that dress?" Angela said hi to Sebby and raised her eyebrows up and down. She was such a loveable nut job! She was wearing bright green which sort of clashed with her bright orange hair, but seemed to work just the same. "Don't you love this color? I saw it in a boutique by Daddy's offices and I just fell in love with it! I was so happy it fit! Oh, this is my date Darrin. Darrin say hello."
I looked over at the chubby blonde guy standing behind her. He wore a beige suit and thick glasses and seemed very nervous. Angela leaned into me and whispered "He goes to St. Pious, and he wants to intern at my dad's offices over the summer. Daddy made me take him to the dance to size him up. I figured why not? LOL! Oh no, here comes your cousin and the clones. Do they go anywhere without her?"
"Hey Sebby, my date had to excuse himself for a minute. Do you think you could help me with the sign? It needs more tape." She completely ignored my presence and literally grabbed his hand out of mine. I'm not proud of it, but I wanted to knock her on her butt.
"Um hello, he's here with Grazi, you know." Angela was gaining a little confidence since the beginning of the year and I was grateful for her coming to my rescue like that. It was really sweet.
"Oh, did you come here with her? I thought you were alone? Anyway, it's for the
school decoration committee. Like, where is your school spirit anyway, Anna?"
"It's Angela."
"Yeah, uh huh. So, Sebby, can you help?" He looked from me to Julianna, clearly unsure what he should do. I decided to be a good sport and let him off the hook.
"Go ahead. I'm fine."
"You sure?" I smiled though it didn't reach my eyes. I mean I was annoyed. He asked me one more time if I was sure and I nodded. He kissed me briefly on the lips and walked away. Julianna latched onto his arm like a parasite. I let out a frustrated sigh.
He was at the dance with me. He could have asked her, but no he asked me. Ronan asked her. Ronan. Hmm. Where was Mr. Tall. Irish and Brooding anyway? I scanned the room and didn't see him anywhere. Another quick scan and bang, there he was walking through the same doors Mr. Gundy and Ms. Vorax went through previously. I excused myself from Angela and her date and followed him.
"Hey Ronan! Wait for me. What's up?"
"Oh, can you leave your Prince Charming for a second and do your job now, princess?" Great, we were back to that now.
"Give me a break, Ronan. What about you and Julianna?"
"She's well fit, that girl."
"Yeah, well, whatever. What's our job anyway? The full moon isn't until tomorrow night."
"Yeah, well, sometimes we can't wait for it. Besides I'm only investigating." I had to speed up to keep pace with Ronan's long legs. Yes, I was faster and taller than most people, but he still had a good five or six inches on me. At least I didn't feel awkward about my height with him. Heels and all he still towered over me.
"Investigating what?" I looked at him and saw his eyes flash as he took a deep breath.
"You smell that?"
"Yeah, I thought it was just dead mice in the walls or something."
"It's something alright. Death, but not mice. Not anything I've ever smelled. And it's moving."
"Are you sure? I've smelled that before, but I didn't know what it was."
"Where? When?" he stopped and grabbed my arm, looking at me for answers.
"The night I came to your room, when I was you know. I stopped by where they found the body and sniffed around. That smell was all over the ground and by the teachers' parking lot."
"Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"Like who? I thought it was an animal or something!"
"Alright, alright, let's go." He tugged me along with him. We tracked the smell to the library where it was strongest. There were faint noises coming from inside. I hesitated, but Ronan, he opened the door. He had courage, I'd give him that. He put a hand in front of me and stepped inside the dark room. We didn't need to turn on the lights. Wolves are nocturnal. If anything, I could see better in the dark. He put up a hand for me to hang back as we slowly made our way inside. I grabbed at Ronan's arm. I could hear crunching, like the sound an animal makes when feeding. Whatever it was, it was crunching on something loudly and it smelled like the wrong end of a skunk.
Ronan crouched down alongside a book shelf. We were in the biographies section actually. I didn't need my Werewolf senses to know that. I had re-shelved books in that section almost all of the previous week. Mrs. Theodore always assigned a biography report to the freshman every September, it had been due that Monday. The chomping sounds were louder on the opposite side of the room. I leaned over Ronan and almost lost my balance. He put his hand on my stomach, righting me. But not before I got a good look. There was a thing on the other side of the library and it was chewing on something. Oh Jeez! It was a foot.
We couldn't see anything else from that vantage point. I had an idea. I poked Ronan. He looked at me, one perfect eyebrow arched in question. "Lift me up," I mouthed and pointed to the top of the shelf. Ronan understood immediately. His eyes glowed briefly as he grasped my waist and lifted me straight up as if I weighed nothing at all. I got a good look from up there.
This thing was tearing at some poor animal. It had a leg in its mouth and was shaking it ferociously. I could finally make out the shape of what it was attacking. It was a person! A man! I could just make out Mr. Gundy's prone form, his hideous plaid pants ripped to shreds as the beast shook his leg in its mouth. He was unconscious but I think I heard him breathing.
The creature was the scariest looking thing I had ever seen. It had to be over seven feet tall. I could tell even crouched on all fours as it was. It was definitely humanoid in shape, excruciatingly thin with its rib bones clearly defined and shoulder blades protruding from under its pale grayish skin. It had huge antlers on its head like a deer or elk. It was making crunching and slurping noises and that's when I realized it was eating Mr. Gundy alive! My Wolf came to attention in my mind and snarled. Danger! Ronan put me down without making a sound. His expression was a mixture of awe and horror. Right. My Wolf spoke directly to his of what she saw and now he knew. We had to figure out what to do. Ronan couldn't turn Wolf yet. He wouldn't until tomorrow night's full moon. I saw his determination and before I could stop him he gently pushed me down to sitting position, then he let out a yell and ran full speed at the creature. He knocked into it with his shoulder and it dropped Mr. Gundy's leg with a careless thud.
The creature jumped back and crouched to attack. Its face was horrible. Emaciated, sunken in cheeks with huge, hollow, gray eyes. Familiar gray eyes. Its razor-sharp teeth dripped blood as it screeched. It raised its claw-like hands and raked them across Ronan's chest making a wet, slicing sound like Nonna did when she cut and wrapped meat for the big freezer in the basement. It made me gag. Ronan howled in pain and I saw his ruined shirt darken with blood. His blood. He managed to shove the creature off. It slammed against the librarian's desk with a crack.
Ronan struggled to stand. I could tell he was in pain before I heard his strained gasp. His eyes locked on mine as the creature rose to its full height. The thing shoved the desk in anger and it slammed against the far wall causing the lights to flicker. The shadow it cast was gargantuan and I trembled. I could die here. Tonight.
"Run Maria! Get out of here!" Ronan looked around for a weapon. He picked up a chair from one of the tables that were set up around the library and flung it at the creature. The thing carelessly swatted the chair out of the way and made a noise out of its cruelly twisted lips, something like laughter.
I was ashamed as I stood there. Helpless. Ever the protector, Ronan's only thoughts were to get me out of there. Help him. I can help him. Let me help. It was my Wolf. I could see her in my mind's eye. I had been paralyzed with fear, but the minute she spoke I found courage. I nodded to myself, I knew what I had to do. I yanked my dress over my head and stuffed it in the nearest bookshelf. I kicked off my shoes and crouched down. Clad only in my bra and panties I closed my eyes. I forced air in and out of my nose as I concentrated. The rancid stench of the thing filled my nostrils as did the scent of fresh blood. Come on, come on, come on.
Another piercing howl from Ronan's lips. I looked over at him and lost my focus. The thing had him in its claws. He was struggling to get it off. Its jaw unhinged, revealing row after row of jagged teeth that gleamed like razors in the fluorescent light coming from the lamppost outside the windows. It attempted to bite down, but luckily Ronan ducked out of its grip. He almost escaped unscathed, were it not for one particularly long fang that scraped him across his cheek. He staggered. I didn't know how much longer he could last. Blood loss and getting knocked around was tiring him quickly.
Oh, God no! I squeezed my eyes shut. Concentrate, damn it! I cleared my mind and let instinct take over. Finally, I felt it. Like I had just grabbed hold of a live wire. Electricity and heat flashed through me. I opened my eyes and could feel power radiating through my body. One minute I was on two legs, the next I was on four. A massive Wolf with a platinum streak down my muzzle. Larger than any Wolf in the wild, I growled and lunged just as the creature screeched and opened its mouth. Ronan fell to his knees under its weight. The creature was too wrapped up in its attack to hear me. I knocked it off of Ronan with my huge paws and crouched dow
n for another attack. I growled at Ronan to move away and he did, staggering away as fast as he could. Shock and awe apparent on his face.
I had practiced fighting on two legs, but not four. I was sure my Werewolf reflexes would take over. At least I hoped they would. Large, empty, gray eyes looked me over. I kept thinking they were familiar. Too slow Grazi, wake up! I barely missed getting my eyes scratched out by the thing as it lunged for me. A quick tuck and roll and I came up ripping and slicing with my own razor-sharp claws across its hideous back. The creature shrieked as its gray skin peeled open to reveal noxious black blood and yellowish bone, no meat at all. I saw Ronan crawl over to Mr. Gundy in my peripheral vision. He was shaking the teacher then going through his pockets. I think he pulled out a cell phone. I had no time to think about what he was doing. The creature hissed and came at me again.
I ducked and ran again, circling the creature. The hunger in its hollow eyes frightened me. I couldn't seem to get past its defenses. It always seemed ready for me to strike. It used its antlers to butt me out of the way. As the seconds passed my muscles settled into a rhythm of running, ducking, clawing and lunging. I managed to avoid getting bitten, but its claws raked me once across my foreleg. It stung and I smelled my blood. I was getting tired of the ducking and running.
It was time for me to face the thing. Use its hunger, little one. Trap it with its weakness and we will vanquish this demon. My Wolf spoke to me and I could feel her energy flow through me. Suddenly I knew what to do. It's not as strange as it sounds. Like having your conscience take a voice I guess. The thing's patience had clearly run out. Its tongue snaked out and it seemed to be licking its lips before lunging wildly. I stopped running. I pretended to favor my paw where it had scratched me.
It gnashed its teeth and charged. But this time I was ready. I pushed off of my hind legs and locked my own four-inch-long fangs around its thin neck. As I squeezed I heard a crack and realized I had crushed something. I spit out the foul thing and stepped back, still in Wolf form. The creature wheezed and made choking sounds. It changed right in front of me. It went from monstrously tall and emaciated, to petite and dainty in a space of a few seconds.
"Finish me! Please," I could barely make out the words, but I immediately recognized her voice. Ms. Vorax. "I invited it in, I let the Wendigo take me over. I ate my best friend so I could live. We should've both died. I can't stop, so hungry, so hungry-" She looked into my eyes as she spoke. She seemed scared, revolted, and finally just crazed. Like she would still be trying to eat Mr. Gundy if she could move. I stepped forward and picked her up by her torn throat, my jaws locked around her thin neck. I hesitated. I knew this woman. How could I just end her life?
"Finish it! Please! Have mercy on me, God please forgive me. Now, finish me now-" She said in a choked voice. Her eyes glowed red and her face started to change, back to the creature that had taken control of her. Back to the demon that had caused her to kill and eat her own best friend, a young boy in a park, an old man who ran a store in town, Arnel, the senior from my school. A beast that had attacked Mr. Gundy and Ronan. That would have eaten them both. Fear and rage battled inside me. I would weep for Ms. Vorax, but not for this thing. There was no cure for her, the demon had ravaged her very soul. She was dying already, had been since that day in the woods with her friend. I could smell fear and death emanating from her body. She started to twist and elongate, her arm raised, no longer human but some hideous in-between thing, gray skinned with clawed hands. She tried to rake her claws against me. I moved quickly. Snap! I felt her throat crush under my powerful jaws. The putrescent blood of the Wendigo filled my mouth. I relaxed my jaws and she fell to the blood-stained floor. A pitiful moan escaped her human again lips, but I saw something more in her eyes before they went permanently vacant. Peace, I think.
I walked on four legs over to where Ronan was crouched next to Mr. Gundy. He looked at me with wide green eyes surrounded by thick, copper eyelashes. He stared at me directly for a full-on minute before he cocked his head and looked down. Like he remembered he had to show me he was submissive. He reached a hand out and touched my forepaw.
"Hurry, Maria. They'll be here in a minute." I nuzzled his cheek and licked the scratch the Wendigo had given him, I bent my head and tended the wounds on his chest as well. It had angered and scared me to see his blood spilled. He froze in place then ever so carefully, he stroked my head twice. His expression was pained. Had I offended him? I was embarrassed by my behavior. Maybe Werewolves didn't lick people or something? I didn't know. Too late now, anyway.
Ronan stood up and grabbed my dress and shoes as I ducked behind a bookshelf. It took five minutes this time for me to change back. Ronan must have thrown my dress over the side while I was changing and I quickly put it on despite my sensitized skin. Maybe it was the adrenaline, but it didn't hurt as much as before. He handed me my shoes and as I bent to put them on I noticed as he tucked scraps of what were my underthings in his jacket pocket. Wind was blowing in from a broken window and I realized he must have done that sometime during my change. It felt cool, but still my cheeks burned. Sure, I was a Werewolf and I had just killed my teacher who happened to be a people eating monster, but show a boy my panties and I blushed like crazy! Go figure!
Ronan looked around at the bodies on the floor. I could hear Mr. Gundy's heartbeat in the silence and was relieved. He was still alive. He'd probably lose his leg, it was gnawed to bits, but he would live. And that meant everything. Ronan busied himself wrapping his belt around Mr. Gundy's thigh just above where the wounds were located. Then he grabbed a nearby curtain and tore it from the rings. He wound it around the bite marks that were still bleeding.
Ms. Vorax would not be so lucky. I had snapped her neck in my Wolf jaws. Her limp form on the floor as if she had fallen asleep there. No hint of beast remained. Suddenly I worried about evidence, like my DNA, skin fragments, hair follicles? OMG! Would I be arrested? Would everyone find out about me? Panicked my eyes met Ronan's as he worked quickly and with some competence.
"They'll be able to tell it was me! My DNA is everywhere and so is yours! What do we do?"
"Don' worry, your uncle will handle all that."
"How do you know?"
"We take care of our own. He just needs to perform the ritual and all our involvement will be masked. Fancy that, you know, I read about the Wendigo in books about Native American lore, but I never thought they were real." He finished bandaging Mr. Gundy and walked over to Ms. Vorax. He turned her onto her stomach. On her back was a symbol, like a brand. It looked tribal, like a pentagram spiraling out bigger and bigger until it was about palm sized. There were five circles where fingers would be if it were a left hand.
"That's the mark of the demon's masters, the handprint of the Devil so to speak. This thing, this Wendigo, was set upon this woman in her moment of weakness and pain. That's the work of witches, it took a lot of blood magic raising this demon. I can still smell the foulness of rot and demon stink on her." Ronan jerked his head back from the scent. His words were laced with venom and his eyes glowed.
"That mark there is the symbol of the coven that let the Wendigo demon out. It must have attached itself to her from the top of her spine. She never stood a chance." He crossed himself and rolled her onto her back once more.
"Pater Noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum?" He spoke quietly and with reverence and I listened as he finished the Lord's Prayer in Latin. We both looked up, our senses on alert. I heard the sound of someone running down the hallway on light feet in our direction.
"I made a phone call," he said and cleared his throat. He then took my hand and stepped back from the bodies.
Uncle Sean stepped into the room, he seemed on high alert and anxious. He took in the scene with one glance and came to me immediately. "Are you hurt?" he ran his hands along my arms and face and looked me up and down.
"I'm fine, Uncle Sean, Ronan was injured though."
"I don't see anything, Ronan are you oka
y? Mr. Gundy's alive, I see, good work there, lad." I looked at Ronan and he shook his head slightly. I remembered the way I had licked him and noticed the scratches and gashes were healed. Clearly, he didn't want me to say anything, but I didn't know why.
"No, that wasn't my blood, I'm fine. Mr. Gundy will be fine, I've been listening to his breathing and heart rate."
"So, what happened here then? How did you kill it?" He looked at Ronan.
"She changed, Sean, tea and all, your niece changed and she killed it."
"That's impossible."
"Nevertheless, it happened." Ronan stood there, tall and proud. His body language letting my uncle know he would stand up for me and protect me no matter what. I was confused and a little frightened, maybe it was the shock of what I had done. Ronan's strength and unwavering faith comforted me.
"Alright. We'll discuss it later. There are bigger things we need to worry about. They'll be coming now." He walked over to the crime scene and started chanting something in Latin. I really needed to brush up on my Latin. After a few seconds, a blue light seemed to shine right from his raised hand. It was bright and ethereal and it engulfed the entire scene. I figured that was what Ronan meant when he said my uncle would "handle it". It lasted barely long enough for me to take my next breath.
"Okay lad, hand me that phone so I can remove evidence of you, right. Now get her out of here." Ronan nodded and tugged my arm, I wanted to stay and argue that we should be there to talk to the police, but by the time I found my voice Ronan had walked us to the broken window and was lifting me through it. I followed him into the woods and we waited as seconds later Sr. Diane, an EMT and a couple of uniformed police officers came barreling into the library. Our Werewolf senses allowed us to see and hear everything that went on. Uncle Sean explained he had seen something going on from the Rectory and went to check it out. When he found the bodies, he dialed 911 and then called Sr. Diane.
"Oh, my goodness, Father Gallagher, was it a bear?"
"Could have been, Sister, by the time I got here it was long gone."
"Okay, sir, ma'am, we'll need to take statements from you both." The female police officer took down their information and radioed in for animal control.
We watched as the EMTs put Mr. Gundy on a gurney and hooked him up to an IV. They didn't bother with Ms. Vorax, clearly, she was dead. Her body was left where it was as crime scene investigators snapped photos and began collecting evidence. Sr. Diane was on the phone, alerting faculty members to go on with the dance.
"No, no, don't tell the students anything. We will deal with it on Monday. Yeah, don't worry, the police are going to place two patrol cars by the gym doors, like an escort. No, they said it's unlikely the bear would return-" She continued like that while Uncle Sean gave his statement to the policewoman. I felt I should say something, anything to Ronan. He beat me to it.
"Hey, you've got a smudge on your cheek." I lifted my hand to wipe my face and collided with his. I dropped mine and allowed him to clear the dirt smudge from my face. His hands were callused, but warm and very gentle. I shivered.
"You're cold. Let's get back, they'll be missing us." His voice sounded rough. I felt my chest tighten. Sebastian. How could I have forgotten him? And how could I go back to dancing now? I felt lightheaded. I leaned on Ronan a second and he looked alarmed.
"Are you alright? It's just the change. It was quick this time."
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Come on." Ronan brought me around to the gym. Sebastian was outside.
"Grazi! Where did you go? I was worried." He jogged over to us and took my hand. I noticed Ronan had immediately dropped my arm when he came into view.
"I, um, I-"
"Your girlfriend here got sick, must've been the fog machine. You should watch out for her better there, boyo," Ronan stood taller than Sebastian and he was using his height to intimidate the other boy.
"Yeah, I'll do that," He took a step closer to Ronan. That was so not a good idea. I could feel the tension in Ronan. Maybe it was an overload of testosterone from the fight, or the fact that the full moon was so near or maybe it was just a guy thing.
"Hey Sebby, I'm sorry I worried you. You were helping with the decorations and I came outside. Ronan here just stayed with me while I cleared my head."
"Oh, okay. Are you alright?" Sebastian's focus was on me now, not Ronan. Good.
"I'm really not feeling very well. The, uh, fog machine made me light headed. I'm sorry, but I think I should go home." It was sort of true. I mean, up to that point I must have been running on adrenaline. I felt really drained all of a sudden. I mean, I had just battled for my life a few minutes ago. That was a pretty good reason for leaving the first dance I was ever invited to and oh yeah, I had no underwear on!
"Come here, Grazi, sit down on the bench here. Look, I'll go get our coats and call my Dad, alright?" He took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders, it smelled like him. He hesitated like he didn't want to leave me alone. If he only knew how safe I was.
"No worries, I'll sit with her till you get back." Sebastian hesitated even more after Ronan made that announcement. I just nodded for him to go ahead.
"So, what now?" I looked down at my shoes as I spoke. They were so shiny, so new, untouched by the blood and violence I had just participated in. Great, now I was getting morbid.
"What do you mean, princess? You vanquished the demon, saved Mr. Gundy and myself, I'd call it a night if I were you. Unless you want to go look for vampires or goblins to battle."
"Very funny. Anyway, what I meant was I guess they're all real. Demons and stuff."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"And I'm real too. I mean I am really what I am. We're both, you know."
"Yeah, that too."
"Hey, wait a second! Did you just say vampires are real too? Like in that movie?"
"Yes, but they don't sparkle and they aren't very attractive."
"Oh, so they're not the mysterious and gorgeous types then?"
"No not really, more like wrinkled bats with huge teeth and bad diets. Now Werewolves are more the mysterious and gorgeous types. Just look for yourself!" We both laughed as he smiled and wagged his eyebrows. I ducked my head. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel. Was it okay to be happy? I had just killed someone.
"Look, Maria, you can't think of her as a person. She wasn't human anymore. Her soul and humanity were dead the minute she invited that thing inside her. Understand?"
"I guess so. She probably started stalking her victims away from here, like that boy up in Dover. Then she must have gotten tired of that and hunted on campus. What do you think?"
"Perhaps. I nicked her phone, figured I'd look some stuff up. The pack will want to figure all that out. The police will think she and Mr. Gundy were attacked by the same rabid animal that's been attacking people." Our conversation paused here and I found the courage to ask him what I really wanted to know.
"Ronan, what I did to you. To your wounds. What was that?" Too late I could hear the gym doors creaking open. Sebastian was coming back.
"Another time, princess, ask me another time." Faster than a human eye could see Ronan lifted a lock of hair that had fallen across my face and tucked it behind my ear. His pinky traced a line down my cheek and sent shivers down my spine. I looked away from him, unsure of myself and my reactions. He walked back to the gym. I listened to his footsteps and jumped a little when Sebastian sat down next to me and put his hand on my back.
"Here I brought you a bottle of water." He handed me a mini bottle of spring water. I drank it in one gulp. The taste of Wendigo blood still in the back of my throat, I wanted to vomit but figured I wouldn't push this disaster of a date any further with that kind of display.
"Wow, um, feel any better?" I shook my head. Sebastian was so sweet and understanding. I gave him back his suit jacket and we both put on our coats. He sat next to me and talked to me about all sorts of normal things. I wanted so much right then to be a normal girl. It was unfair
to make him leave the dance, unfair to drag him into my mess of a life. I'd have to find a way to back out of our tentative relationship. The realization hurt. I held his hand and he smiled. He leaned in and kissed my lips just as a horn blared.