Fate: Diabolical

Feared and Respected

There was something almost awe-inspiring in the way the Alpha of the Sega Lune pack could cast an entire encampment in darkness merely with his fury. Steady electricity supply was a tricky matter here and when the boss stomped his huge and foreboding mass at the height of his anger; powerful vibrations rattled through the earth, disrupting everything in its path. The wiring around the boss’s quarters was slightly more refined than the rest of the camp, who frequently found themselves living in the dark. Candles here were traded like gold, and the central fire in the main square was always burning, two guards forever assigned to maintain it and keep it lit. The purpose of the fire wasn’t to serve as a backup light source, the fire was a beacon; lighting the way home for some of their missing… although it had been a long time since anyone had returned. The lights throughout the camp were flickering now and the inhabitants responded accordingly. They had learned to utilise this strange ability as a warning signal and those going about their business where the effects were strongest vacated the area quickly, eager not to cross the boss before he had settled his dangerous temper. They feared and respected their powerful leader in mostly equal measure, but there was no denying he ran a tight ship. Too tight for some… some say that may account for some of our ‘missing’, but they whisper that of course. Nobody dared bring up the mention of desertion - not after what happened last summer.

He stomped now in boiling rage, seeing elbows of people hastily turning corners and tops of heads ducking into open doorways trying to remain unseen, but he sees them; he sees everything. He had always been blessed with his sight, superior to that of even a werewolf. His father had jested with him when he was young that he should have been a were-eagle, for his superior eyes and his silent, swopping style of attack. Even when just a pup he had been an unmatched hunter, being able to sleuth silently and unseen until merely feet from his unwitting prey. Ignoring his comrades who were fleeing before him he marched up to a hut that he knew would contain someone who wouldn’t just quiver at his feet like a weakly sycophant. Without knocking he burst through the door, it hit the wall on the other side angrily causing loose plaster to sprinkle from the ceiling like snow. The huts occupant sat on a stool over by a window, his thick but short cut black hair now speckled with white, he held his hands out towards his intruder in a gesture of exasperation.

‘Seriously, do you mind not destroying my house?’

The Alpha scowled at him, but truthfully, he was not angered by the retort, he’d always loved Genro’s fire.

‘Why is it that every time you come around, I have to re-decorate! Three times in six months I’ve plastered that ceiling! I’m a soldier, not a bloody decorator’

‘Crap job you done of it’

‘Well the materials are all crap aren’t they! All out of date, plaster’s all gloopy like porridge’

‘Complain to the boss’ he said teasingly which cracked a smile on his friends face and they shared a laugh together.

‘Come on then boss, what’s up?’ Genro said as he kicked a stool across the floor to him. The Alpha stopped it with his foot, swung his leg over and sat on it. He crouched over, his elbows on his knees, that disturbing look back on his face as he brooded, taking his time to gather his thoughts before he spoke.

‘There’s something wrong with her’

‘Well there’s a lot wrong with you so it would make sense your mate would be a little odd’ Genro spat back playfully whilst reaching into a cool box on the floor to grab some cans, throwing one to his friend.

‘Yeah, but that’s the part that’s wrong with her! She doesn’t seem to feel it. She doesn’t like me’ he said as he slumped defeatedly with a sulky look on his face.

‘She doesn’t like you?’ Genro mocked in child’s tone ‘What are we, in preschool? You can’t just rely on being mates, you still have to put work in! Especially after what she’s been through. And besides, she’s a human. It’s never as strong in them until you mark em’ official like. After that she’ll be just as hot for you as you are for her’

‘That’s if she really is a human’

Genro sighed, already tired of the conversation

‘Come on mate, she’s human, shes gotta be’

‘She didn’t smell human that night’

‘Not this again. Look that night we all smelt it. I thought she was a wolf, you thought she was a wolf, we all thought she was a wolf, but after spending four days guarding her bedside her stank ain’t been nothing but human. Probably the smell of that wolf mixing with hers, seems like he were all over her’

Genro jumped at the menacing snarl aimed at him, some of the contents of his can spilling over the sides. He saw the green fire in his boss’ eyes and knew he’d gone too far. He put his hands up in the air and said in as light a tone as he could muster.

‘Hey now! Sorry pal didn’t mean to press so hard on that! Don’t be sore, weren’t I the one who brought him to you?’

His boss eased slightly on his stool and his face lost its menace, but still held his annoyance. Tread. Softly. Time to retreat to safer territory

‘Where’d you bury the ass-hole anyway in the end?’

‘Nowhere’ the Alpha snarled.

Genro mulled that statement over for a moment before grimacing in realisation. He put his head in his hands and squeezed at the temples

‘Jesus man, he’s still alive ain’t he?’ Genro looked up only enough to see his boss’ silent confirmation and he groaned. ‘Ah, you gotta end it at some point man. Last time I saw him he were looking like a monster already. I know he’s utter swine but at some point you gotta put him outta his misery. He's broke man. You broke him good and proper, you ain’t getting nothing else out of him now’

‘He still hasn’t told me who he works for though’ the Alpha shot back at him, frustration tinting his angry tone.

Exasperated, Genro continued his plea of mercy

‘Come on, the guys broken. He lost it! Mad as a march hare and drinking his own piss! He can’t tell you anything no more, all he’s telling now are fairy stories. End it. It’s one thing paying back someone who deserved it but grinding them down to fairy dust whilst they’re still breathing is another!’

Maybe he pushed too far with his point, but sometimes things just had to be said and it was hard to find people with the balls to say them nowadays. The Alpha brooded on his words for a few minutes whilst Genro nervously sipped from his can, trying to maintain his illusion of cool. Finally, his Alpha spoke

‘You’re right. I’ll have it seen to tonight’ he said as he stood, crumpling the can in his hand and chucking it in the wastebasket. He nodded at his friend and turned to leave. Genro’s mischievous voice came from behind him.

‘I wasn’t kidding about your girlfriends stank by the way. Better get that girl in bath’ he chuckled

The Alpha c****d his head back, a naughty sparkle in his eyes as he replied

‘I tried to give her a bath, but Ember wouldn’t let me’

‘Killjoys those women, aren’t they?’

They both shared a chuckle and the Alpha left, more carefully this time and the ceiling remained in place.

With much more ease the Alpha wandered back to his quarters. Genro always did a good job of chilling him out – not an easy task – and he felt calm enough to face her now.