H.T. Night's 8-Book Vampire Box Set (30 page)

Tommy seemed uneasy about what I was saying.
“What do you mean by training?” Tommy laughed. “Do you plan on
taking me to Vegas to do an act?”

“Not in the slightest.” I said. “I need to
get face to face with you and have you trust me to the point that
you don’t attack me.”

“What if I kill you when you’re trying to
Lassie me up?”

“That’s the part we have to figure out.
We’ll need to do the training in stages. Tommy, have you ever heard
of werewolves having any kind of control during full moons?”

“Control?” Tommy thought about it. “The
older werewolves might be able to. They aren’t as bloodthirsty as
younger ones.

“Why do you suppose that is?”

“Cause they’re beat down and tired,” Tommy
said plainly.

“What if…” I said. “It’s because they are
more seasoned and they have figured out a way to control it?”

“Saying, ‘they can control it’ is a big
leap. Werewolves are like psychopathic serial killers who have been
chained up for twenty years and finally let out on the general
population. Werewolves are told from the get go to figure out a way
to go into hiding. Most go to caves and isolated areas so there is
no temptation to kill humans. I think you might be reaching,
Josiah. Werewolves are no better than wild animals.”

“That’s what you’ve been told, Tommy. What
if you could be tamed and you never knew it? The way a lion-trainer
tames a lion.”

“Are you intending to beat me with a whip?”
Tommy asked humorously.

“No, you might enjoy that too much.”

“Okay, let’s say you do train me. What good
will that do?”

“Tommy, the good it could do is endless.
What if we could get you to a point of cognitive thought? What if
you could decipher right from wrong?”

“Cognitive thought? That’s unheard of,
Josiah; there is no way it can be done. Werewolves are mindless
beasts who know only one thing — KILL. We act on instinct in our
werewolf form.”

Tommy was going to need more convincing. But
the more I talked, the more I believed in my heart that I was on to
something. “I’m going to put more thought into this,” I said in
conclusion.

“In the end, Tommy,” Yari spoke up, “it
won’t hurt to give it a shot.”

Tommy glanced over at Yari. “You think?”

“Josiah had a vision,” Yari continued. “We
need to respect that. God knows we are all here because we were all
given relentless visions. Now look at us. What will it hurt?”

“It could hurt,” Tommy said. “It could hurt
very much, if you let me out and try to train me and it doesn’t
work. I could do a lot of damage to everyone. You all will be
forced to fight back and someone might get killed. Hell, you all
might be forced to team up and kill me.”

“That will never happen, Tommy.” I said. “I
would never allow it. We need to do this in baby steps. We take
baby steps first, and see if we are on to something. Let’s first
see if I can build trust with you.”

“I don’t know, Josiah. Give me some time to
think about it.” Tommy still seemed unconvinced.

“One last thing, Tommy,” I said. “Just
imagine how powerful you would be if you were self-aware as a
werewolf. Imagine how much good could come out of it.”

I was done talking and I was tired. I did
one final look around the room to make sure everyone was on board.
I stopped when I glanced over at Yari and motioned for her to
follow me out of the room.

Yari nodded and followed me out to the guest
room. “What is it, Josiah?”

“You knew, didn’t you?” I said.

“Knew what?”

“You knew that it was me and not Atticai
that was supposed to be in charge of all of this, that’s why you
followed me for two years.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Yari seemed worried.

“Look, I won’t say anything to anyone else.
But if you are able to see into the future, you must have
known.”

Yari paused for a very long time. She was
really struggling with telling me the truth. Then, very softly, she
said, “I knew.”

“Wow.”

“Are you mad?” she asked.

I wasn’t sure what I felt, but I was
definitely not mad. Because of all of this, I was able to find
Lena. I could never be upset about that.

“I’m not mad, Yari. Not at all. In fact, I’m
honored.” I looked over to her. She was still very stunning and I
cared for her deeply, although no longer in a romantic way but
rather a protective way. I took her by the hand and pulled her
close to me and hugged her tightly.

“You ready for what is to come?” Yari
whispered in my ear.

“I hope so.” I said. “I sure hope so.”

Chapter Ten

There wouldn’t be a full moon for another
two weeks. That gave Tommy plenty of time to think about what I
requested. It had also given me time to consider how I would try to
tame and train the wolf.

On one of the evenings, Tommy and Yari went
out and purchased items at the local clothing store. They bought
clothes for everyone. They bought me some comfy plaid pajamas. I’m
used to sleeping naked, so wearing any kind of nightwear made me
uncomfortable and itchy.

It was a couple of days before the next full
moon. We were all watching Survivor on the tube. Tommy made eye
contact with me across the room and mouthed, “I’m in.” I nodded and
was very pleased. I turned my head and watched another blindside at
tribal council. Damn, I loved Survivor.

It was the day of the first full moon. I
went into Tommy’s room and he was lying on his bed listening to his
MP3 player.

“What you listening to?” I asked.

“Some old-school Bobby Brown.”

“Nice.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Tonight
is the first night of the full moon.”

“I realize that, Josiah. This isn’t my first
rodeo.”

“Just so I’m clear. You only turn into a
werewolf when the full moon is seen at night?

“Yes.”

“And you shift back to a Carni during the
day?”

“Yes.”

“How many days does it last?”

“Three nights.”

“Perfect! That will be enough time to do
what I want to do.”

“Are you going to let me in on your plan?”
Tommy inquired and looked down at his MP3 player.

“Yes, but I don’t want you to worry about it
just yet. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

“I sure hope you know what you’re
doing.”

“I have a hunch, Tommy. I’m not sure where
it came from. Let’s hope it’s from a higher power.”

Tommy stared at me for a few seconds and
shook his head and laughed. “Let’s hope so, Josiah.” He then turned
his attention back to his MP3 player. “If you don’t mind, Bobby is
waiting.”

“By all means Tommy boy, that’s your
prerogative.”

“Cute, Josiah.” Tommy put on his headphones
and put his ear buds back in his ears.

I went into the kitchen. Hector, Wyatt, Lena
and Yari were all sitting at the table drinking from Styrofoam
cups.

“Good evening, sunshine,” Lena said with a
little flirtation in her voice. I smiled in her direction. Our eyes
met and we took a moment to allow each other in. I hadn’t tried to
get closer to her the past couple weeks. I knew I had feelings, she
knew I wasn’t going anywhere. So, why rush into something?

“Do you ever have cravings, Josiah?” Wyatt
asked.

“For blood? No, not yet. But I did enjoy
Goliath’s blood the other night when I got a taste of it.”

“That didn’t send your cravings into orbit?
That doesn’t make any sense,” Yari chimed in. “All Mani have
intense cravings, almost from the get go.”

Yari looked at me with skepticism.

“What? Don’t you think I’m a real Mani?” I
said.

“The protruding incisors and that fact I get
fried in the sun isn’t enough for you?”

“I just don’t like it that you can still eat
like a teenage boy. It isn’t fair.”

“Seriously, Yari, has any of this been fair
to any of us?”

“You have gotten the better end of the
stick, you have to at least admit that, Josiah,” Lena added.

“Oh, don’t you start with me, little missy.
Thanks to Yari, Wyatt, and Hector, I am who I am.”

“And thanks to Atticai, Yari, and you, I’m
who I am, too,” Lena reputed.

“Touché,’” I said.

“You two just need to have sex and get it
over with,” Yari just came out and said.

“No one is having sex with anybody,” I said.
“Unless that’s how you and Hector roll?” I shot Wyatt a look and
grinned playfully.

“Very funny,” Wyatt said. “I had enough tail
in the 1920s to last any man a lifetime.”

“Hey, Josiah?” Hector spoke up. “Did your
...” Hector awkwardly looked in the direction of my groin.

“Did my… what?” I asked.

“You know, did your.... you know?” He eyed
my package again.

“Did my what?” I said again. “Quit looking
down at me, you perv.”

“I think what he’s trying to ask you is,”
Yari said. “Did little Josiah get bigger when you became the
Almighty Chosen?”

“I honestly don’t know,” I said.

“How’s that possible? Yari laughed.

“I haven’t had an erection since I became a
Mani.” The whole room fell apart laughing.

“It made you impotent?” Wyatt marveled.

“No,” I said, insulted. “I haven’t exactly
been in a romantic mood after having my life turned upside down.” I
looked at Hector. “So, to answer your question, I don’t know. Why
you need to know details of my member is creepy. Anyway, I have
always been a grower not a show-er.”

Lena smiled at me. “Can we stop talking
about Josiah’s package, if that’s okay with everyone?”

“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough, sweetie,”
Yari stated to Lena. Lena ignored Yari’s comment. But she didn’t
say she wouldn’t. Hey, every little bit helps.

“I concur,” I said. “So what are you
drinking? Animal blood?”

“Not exactly,” Yari said.

“Human blood?” I asked, disgusted.

“No one that had to die for it, if that’s
what you’re afraid of.” Lena laughed as she sipped her cup.

“That’s good,” I said. “Glad to see we still
have our morals.”

“Don’t worry, I know the graveyard security
guy at Running Springs Hospital. He hooked us up last night.”

“Did you and Tommy get it?” I asked.

Yari looked at me with a little disdain.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It doesn’t mean anything. I was only
asking.”

“Yeah, Tommy went with me. Is that a
problem? Or do you need to keep tabs on me?”

“Oh, you would like that, wouldn’t you?” I
responded. “Yari, I have zero problem with you and Tommy being
friends. As matter of fact, you can be more than friends. Go have
tons of vampire and werewolf babies.”

Everyone laughed and Yari didn’t correct me.
There was definitely something going on between her and Tommy.

I peeked in Yari’s cup. The Styrofoam cup
was stained red at the bottom. I couldn’t help but gag and Yari saw
it. “Seriously, ‘The Chosen’ just gagged at the sight of blood?
What is wrong with this picture?” I left the kitchen and went to
the living room and closed my eyes and rested a bit.

Some time had passed and Lena came over to
me. “Josiah, you awake?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I answered.

“Just wanted you to know that it will be
dark soon and our little friend is going to go all wolf-boy on
us.”

“Where is he?” I asked.

“He’s putting extra chains on his cage.”

“Extra chains?”

“He thinks the fact that there will be so
many Mani close by, the smell might drive him over the top.”

I got up and went into the front room where
Tommy was. He was inside his cage locking chains on top of one
another. He would yank on the chains to make sure they were locked
in tight.

“What’s going on?” I asked him.

“I’m reinforcing the chains, so I will be
stuck deep inside and not harm anyone. I’m already starting to
itch.”

“So, that’s why you itch. You always said it
was because you were nervous about leaving for the reserves.”

Tommy laughed. “I had to tell a couple of
lies to keep my cover.”

I walked into the cage and knelt down next
to Tommy to see if he needed my help. He handed me a chain while he
connected the smaller end to the back bar of the cage.

“Did my sister know about you?” I asked
Tommy.

Tommy was quiet. My sister was always a
touchy subject for him. So, I respectfully waited for him to answer
me.

“Your sister knew.” Tommy continued to work
on the chains.

“Is that all?” I asked.

“She knew Josiah. She was the only Tandra
that knew. She was the one person in this world I completely
trusted.”

“Okay, Tom.” I decided to change the
discussion. “I think we should have everyone else leave for the
next 72 hours.”

“Why?”

“I want to do something with you that will
take complete commitment from the both of us. It’s got to be about
you and me, and you and me only. We need to connect in a way we
never have before. I just think it’s in everybody’s best interest
if we were left alone.”

“Have you let them know?”

“I wanted to run it by you first.”

“I think you’re nuts for trying this, but
I’ll agree to whatever you want to do.”

“If there is the slightest chance that I’m
on to something, this will be well worth it.”

“Well, you better tell your Mani buddies
they need to find a Motel Six for the next three days.”

“They’ll stay at my house. Krull is only
after me. Plus, Yari says our little showdown isn’t going to happen
any time soon. I’m worried more about your Carni friends who will
be in full werewolf mode during the next three nights.”

I stuck my head out of the room and yelled,
“Can everyone meet over here?” Within a few seconds, everyone
appeared. “Come inside Tommy’s lair.” I said. “I would like to
speak to everyone.” Everybody stepped into the room.