Hair, Greg - Werewolf 01 (25 page)

Nicholas howled threateningly at Landon. Paige lay between the two, unable to move, blood gushing out. Nicholas began to bend over, reaching toward her ankle. Landon, in all his full animalistic glory, rushed him.

Nicholas was not incorrect in what he said before; Landon had never beaten him during any of their trainings. Of course, Nicholas had never taken Landon’s children. He had never felt Landon’s full fury—until now.

Landon threw Nicholas across the entire length of the room. The black werewolf burst through the concrete wall into the smaller room that contained Jerry’s body. Landon crouched down to attack, baring his glistening, white teeth. The black wolf stepped out. The red wolf, opening his mouth wide, let out a deafening scream and, using his powerful hind legs, propelled himself through the air. Both werewolves collided in mid-air falling to the floor below, their impact causing Paige’s near lifeless body to bounce.

Out in the corridor, both LillyAnna and Jamie struggled to gain the upper hand over the other. He attempted repeatedly to gain entrance to the cathedral room; she did her best to prevent it. As he sank his teeth into her left shoulder, she dug her claws into his inner thigh. Each thrust the other back, transformed to heal, then re-morphed, charging again—all in perfect unison. They seemed to almost dance as they whirled around, trading the subservient position against the parallel walls of the hallway.

Landon used all four of his limbs to push Nicholas’s weight off, tossing him straight up. As the black wolf came back down, he used his powerful right leg to knock him to the side like a soccer ball. Landon shifted to human form as Nicholas regained his composure and did the same.

“Why Jamie?” he asked.

Nicholas stood there, his soulless black eyes smiling as his mouth followed suit. His human teeth reflected the dim fluorescent light shining from above even as he stood in the shadows. And that was the only answer he offered to Landon. He said nothing. Suddenly, his black eyes blazed red as he morphed again to werewolf and charged at Landon.

Landon stayed human a split second longer than he usually would have, then changed right before Nicholas made contact, using the energy of his transformation and that of Nicholas’s charge to grab the black wolf, sending him flying out into the corridor.

Nicholas burst upon LillyAnna and Jamie’s fight, the latter two pausing to watch Nicholas struggle to get up, falling back down once, then finally gaining his balance. LillyAnna and Jamie turned human as the hulking black mass gathered its senses.

Nicholas turned, staring at Jamie. He nodded at the blond teenager and gave a sharp-toothed grin. Jamie took a step forward as Nicholas jumped back toward Landon.

Nicholas rushed upon his enemy, grabbing the red werewolf and tossing him toward the ceiling, which was exactly what Landon wanted. He flew so high, so fast, that he thrust his claws into the ceiling, only inches from the pipe that Jamie had earlier knocked loose. There Landon hung upside down, clinging to the ceiling, his enemy waiting below. He grabbed the steel pipe with one arm, leaned his head back, locked his sights onto his target, and pushed himself back down toward the floor.

LillyAnna and Jamie reached the doorway in time to see Landon come upon his opponent like a missile. The black werewolf leaned back to look upward toward Landon, and Landon thrust the pipe through Nicholas’s midsection with such force that it went clear through him and lodged in the cement floor. Jamie screamed while LillyAnna held him back. Landon straightened the pole, revealing its fifteen-foot length. Then he slid Nicholas halfway down the pike as the broken werewolf began bleeding out, unable to shapeshift.

Landon morphed back to his human form and marveled at the scene. The aide to the Consuls, was now broken, beaten, and impaled.

Jamie’s eyes welled up for his friend and mentor. LillyAnna tried to put her arm around him, but he only shrugged it off and walked toward Nicholas, who was dying slowly.

“It’s over,” said Landon.

Jamie saw that Landon was right; the mighty werewolf would be dead momentarily. He stared at the wolf’s large black eyes, his reflection staring back at him. He heard the labored breathing as it became shallower and shallower, slower and slower. The gaps between each breath became longer until the last interval was never ending.

“Where are they, Jamie?” asked Landon. “Where are the kids?”

“In a room to the side of the entrance of this place,” he said, still staring at Nicholas’s still open eye. “They’re safe. You guys were too busy looking for us, you missed them.”

“You need to come with us.”

“Landon,” said LillyAnna, cradling Paige’s head.

“She’s trying to say something.”

Landon ran over to where Paige lay dying.

“Liam and Mara are your children’s names,” Paige whispered. “I’m sorry I never saw you again to tell you. They have beautiful red hair just like their father. Mara is so smart, and Liam’s as strong as his dad is. They are just like you.”

“It’ll be okay,” said Landon, crying softly. “I’m sorry I walked out on you back then. It was my way of trying to protect you. I failed.”

“Protect
them
now,” she said.

Then she was gone. He picked her up and walked in circles, tears falling on her lifeless body. He carried her to the doorway with LillyAnna trailing him and turned back toward Jamie.

“Come on, Jamie. LillyAnna,” he said, “I’m gonna move ahead and bury Paige. You get the kids.” He bolted out of the underground complex.

The teen laid his hand on Nicholas’s eyes and closed them. He then followed LillyAnna into the corridor and back up toward the entrance by the subway. There, in a room next to the entrance by the subway, they found Liam and Mara sitting on the cold floor, huddled together in a blanket to keep warm.

“Are you the monsters?” asked Liam.

“Monsters?” LillyAnna asked.

“Uncle Nicholas said that if we opened the door, the monsters would get us,” said Mara. “Are you the monsters?”

“No, honey. We’re not monsters.”

“Are they gone?” Liam asked.

“They’re never gone,” answered Jamie.

“Yes, they’re gone,” Landon said, returning from above, and throwing a disapproving look at Jamie.

Landon had LillyAnna take the children up to the park. Jamie stayed with Landon. The father transformed once more, and with his great, brute strength, slammed the entrance door into the concrete surrounding its space, sealing it shut. Such was Nicholas’s tomb.

Moments later, in a dark, tree-covered area of Central Park, everyone gathered around a fresh mound.

“Where’s mommy?” asked Mara, holding Liam’s hand.

“I’m sorry, honey,” LillyAnna said, bending down and putting her hands to the little girl’s cheeks. “Mommy’s somewhere else. You’re not able to see her, but she’s still with you, and she loves you very much.”

“Landon, don’t you think someone’s going to find her here?” LillyAnna asked.

“Not for a little while,” Landon said. “Then she’ll get a proper burial. We have to get back.”

“Back where?” asked Jamie.

“Burghausen,” he answered. “You have to be judged.”

An hour later, they pulled their car back into Times Square. Neither Landon nor LillyAnna spoke. Tears ran hot down his cheeks, from his burning red eyes. Jamie and the kids sat in the back seat. Silence enveloped the car as it moved back out of Manhattan and returned to the airport to the waiting plane.

27

The bright winter sun highlighted the German landscape providing the residents of the town of Burghausen a welcome respite from the cold, dreary, cloudy days that had preoccupied the skies for weeks. Landon’s winter of discontent was finally coming to an end. Cigarette smoke escaped through the windows as Landon drove the car through the village. It was the first one he’d had in years.

The children of the town had little worry regarding speeding cars, and consequently, playing in the street was a common occurrence. He always drove slowly on the roads once he entered the town limits, but today he drove more cautiously than usual.

He watched as kids, dressed in their winter coats and boots, played in the recently fallen snow.
More damn
snow
, he thought. A few were building snowmen while even more threw snowballs. Everywhere he looked he could see children laughing. He thought about how, until yesterday, he never really paid that much attention to the children around him—only those who were missing. Now he had children of his own sitting in the backseat. His mind drifted away from the focus of what he was doing, and he almost hit one of the developing snowmen.

“Do you want me to drive?” asked LillyAnna.

“No, I’m fine. We’re almost there anyway.”

The gate to the fortress at the top of the hill opened, and the car wound its way through the drive. Meeting Landon and LillyAnna at the front door were Ryker, Annelise, and Connor. LillyAnna got out of the car and walked over to Annelise, leading her inside the castle and filling her in on the minute details that the vampire may have missed. Ryker stayed with Landon and escorted him inside.

“I hate to do this to you now,” said the Dane, “but the Consuls would like to see you.”

“Sure,” whispered Landon, as if struggling to get the word out. “Jamie, you take the kids to their room. I’ve already called and made the arrangements. Connor will show you the way.”

Landon and Ryker walked down the hallway, past the French furniture, and into the Chamber. All members of the Senate had been called into place, and the Consuls sat in their respective seats. LillyAnna was already standing in the center of the room when Landon joined her.

“Welcome back, LillyAnna and Landon,” said Joseph. “Each of you performed quite bravely. Everyone here is deeply sorry for the losses both of you have incurred throughout this ordeal.”

“We are, of course,” began Seamus, “extremely pleased that you were able to get your children back. We know their physical rescue is only the beginning of your emotional journey and the bridges you rebuild.”

“I trust that you understand that we must now inquire whether you were able to determine Nicholas’s intentions and motivations,” Joseph said.

“I do, sir,” said Landon. “Unfortunately, I have very little to offer. I can only tell you that Jamie was at the heart of Nicholas’s plan. When I did question Nicholas why he wanted my son, during our confrontation, he simply smiled and attacked.”

“Quite disturbing,” remarked Seamus. “LillyAnna, have you anything to add?”

“No, sir. I’m afraid I don’t.”

“This is all very vexing. We must speak with Jamie,” said Joseph.

“Of course, sir,” Landon said. “I will send him immediately.”

“Before you go, Landon,” said Seamus, “one more question: are you certain that Nicholas is dead?”

“Yes, sir. He was unable to change and therefore unable to heal, and there was a constant flow of blood from his body. The entrance to the underground chamber has been sealed shut.”

“Very well. Please send Jamie to see us. His time here will cover more than Nicholas. The family of the elderly man that Jamie killed is here. We do not know at this time your son’s fate. We appreciate the assistance each of you has provided.”

Landon and LillyAnna turned and left the Chamber, followed by Ryker and Annelise. Outside in the hall, Landon stopped to ask his friends for advice.

“I’ve never been a father,” he began, “and now I’ve had the position thrust upon me. The only times I’ve ever dealt with children was during rescues and recoveries. I would appreciate any help you could give. When I reach their room and relieve Jamie, I’m going to try to talk to the younger ones.”

“Well, to begin with,” said Annelise, smiling, “don’t call them ‘the younger ones.’ They’re your children; refer to them as such. They’ve lost their mother, and they have no comprehension of what that means. You’ve got to be honest with them, take your time, and let them come to you. Don’t force yourself on them.”

“We know you pretty well,” said Ryker. “You will be fine. No one is born knowing how to be a parent. You learn as you go. Trust your instincts. Trust yourself. You do the work that you do because you care about kids so much.”

“And I’ll be around anytime you need me for anything,” LillyAnna said. “You’re not alone in this.”

“Thanks. I appreciate everything. I’d better get down there to send Jamie to the Chamber. I’m worried about what’s going to happen to him.”

Jamie and the twins had been sitting in the room made for them for about a half hour. In that time, Jamie hadn’t spoken a word. The room didn’t look much like a kid’s room, but for the presence of two twin beds. There were no toys and no extra color added to the motif. Connor had led the three to the room without ever speaking; the only communication he made was a quick, snapping glance at Jamie before he turned and walked away. Liam and Mara sat together on one of the two beds that occupied the room, holding each other, while Jamie sat in a chair in a far corner. He wouldn’t even make eye contact with them. He only stared out the window. His thoughts centered on Nicholas. Finally, he realized they were staring at him.

“It’s ok. I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered. “You’re safe. Now.”