The Beasts of Baye Road

Magic

Fanz's house never saw any sunlight, the local people believe he's a strigoi. He was one of the oldest werewolves in Baye Road. He was a lone wolf now.

'Franz, I can't stay long.' Anneska called as she walked through the dark hall. Franz was in his study, he practically slept there.

Anneska pushed the door open to find the old wolf hunched over a newspaper.

'I was wondering when I'd hear from you. ' His eyes rose above his glasses. 'Close the door behind you.'

She shut the door and sat across from Franz.

He lived alone but in the days of the beasts anything could be working with the enemy.

'Have you found out the name of the traitor?' He asked.

'Not yet, I wouldn't be surprised if it was Matteo.'

Franz lifted his eyebrows. He

searched his desk drawer for his smoking pipe and match sticks.

'The next Alpha? What does he have to gain?'

'I don't know. Control of a larger territory I guess.'

He placed his piped between his lips and lit it. 'Bigger and richer than Baye Road? No, Anneska. Who ever is working with the wolf charmers is looking for power he doesn't already have. '

'It's only a matter of time before we

find them. I have something to tell you.'

Smoke covered Franz's face. 'Out with it then.'

'I have a white wolf. ' She whispered.

Franz put his pipe down and leaned closer. 'Where on earth did you find one of those exotic creatures? We thought we'd only find another silver wolf.'

'Contacts... she's already here!'

'Goodness we must tell Jurgen.'

'We can't. The Alpha can't even get out of bed! And the traitor could alert the wolf charmers! They could kill her.'

Franz picked up his pipe and walked

to the window. He peeked out the window and grimaced.

'We can't just do nothing when the solution to the beasts is right here. If you hadn't heard those beasts were in here in West Baye and killed three people.'

'I know Franz—'

'Well then Anneska you better find this traitor soon or else who knows what might happen next. If you ask me you might be barking at the wrong tree the traitor might not be in the guardians but somewhere in the pack.'

***

'Well Blanca, what are you doing in my room?' A grin played at the corner of his lips.

Blanca failed to peal her body off the wardrobe.

'I was cleaning.' Blanca looked away from his glimmering eyes.

Matteo chuckled, he pined her against the wardrobe. The scent of her body lotion and apple shampoo filled his nostrils. It wasn't the first time he'd inhaled her scent.

He smirked when his memory took him back to the first time her scent lingered in the air. Matteo strolled to the door, Blanca could finally breathe.

Matteo opened the door, he gestured at it. Blanca locked her hands behind her back and marched to the door, her face burning pink.

'And Blanca—'

She stopped and met his green eyes.

He leaned into her ear, his lips nearly touched her earlobe.

'Stay out of my room.'

Blanca sucked in a breath and vanished. Matteo shut the door behind her. He ran his fingers through his hair. He didn't want distractions, the guardians- or what was left of them were coming over to discuss the new strategy. His Father hadn't gotten out of bed, Matteo had to take the lead.

Blanca had another scent Matteo couldn't quiet place. She smelled of magic. Magic he had never come across before. It wasn't native magic that was for sure and it wasn't the magic surrounded on the property.

Anneska would have mentioned if her niece was a witch. He shook Blanca out of his head, the guardians would be there any moment.

He changed into a white shirt, poked his head into his Father's room. He was asleep. He descended to the second story and marched into the study.

Blanca dusted the book shelves. Matteo paused and groaned. He grabbed her duster and ushered her to the door.

'You just love cleaning, don't you Blanca?'

'That's what you pay me for isn't it?' She dug her heels on the carpet before they could reach the door.

'Yes, but right now I'm paying you to get lost.'

His perfume had to have remained on her clothes. Blanca let his scent invade her nose before she jumped at the sound of the heavy front door smashing against the frame.

It takes the guardians seconds to reach the second floor. The woman from earlier brushed past Matteo at the door, two younger men followed behind her.

'We're having a meeting and don't need to be disturbed.' Matteo ordered.

Blanca nodded. Maybe she could linger in the doorway and listen but they would smell her and hear any move she made.

'And who is this beautiful thing?' The man with a curly hair bun from breakfast licked his lips.

'She's the maid Karl.' Matteo was deadpan.

'I don't see why we can't be friends.' He grinned at Blanca.

Blanca scanned his sleeve of tattoos instead of mischievous face.

'Maybe because Anneska will cut off your balls.' Matteo said.

Karl rolled his eyes and leaned into Blanca's ear. 'She doesn't have to find out, right?'

Blanca back up. 'Uh, well... excuse me. ' She scurried down the stairs, her face burned with embarrassment.

'Cute isn't she? What is she?' Karl turned to his best friend.

They were best friends most of them time when Karl wasn't annoying his head off.

'You can smell the magic on her too?'

Karl shrugged, his gaze on the staircase. 'Of course.'

'I can't pin point it.'

'Hm. That magic... it's so sweet it's not from around here that's for sure. Where is she from?'

'Alaska. ' Matteo folded his arms.

'Definitely not from there either.'

'Anneska said she's human.' They exchanged a glance before Karl gazed back at the staircase.

'Well that's a lie.'

Debra, Karl, Cameron and David were the last of the guardians still in Baye Road and Hansi but he hadn't shown up for the meeting. They lost another guardian to the beast a month ago. The others new they didn't have power and fled the town. They were the only ones who remained.

The Alpha was slowly fading away and the only guardians left were inexperienced. Without Hansi, Debra was the most experienced of them and she wasn't even thirty yet.

'How's the Alpha?' Debra asked.

Matteo closed the door behind Karl.

'Not well, he's been in bed all day.'

'Maybe we should find another healer Matteo. He's your Father not just our Alpha. He needs help.'

'Debra, Matteo knows there's nothing a healer can do for Jurgen.' Cameron ran a hand through his blond hair.

'He's never been the same since Mom was killed and it's eating him up inside. I just have to hope he'll pull through.' Matteo hated to think his father was giving up on life, on Baye Road, on them but that was the reality.

He had to assume all his responsibility.

'Where's Hansi? He should have been here.' His heart rate speed up, fearing the worst.

'He went to New Orleans, he thinks he might find wolves there willing to help.' David explained.

Matteo shook his head. He wouldn't be surprised if he didn't return. He nearly picked up the lamp on the desk and chucked it out the window.

'I think it's a good idea Matteo. Wolves are leaving Baye Road and the locals are looking to us to save them.'

He ran a hand through his hair. What if they couldn't save them?

***

The next day Blanca met Gianna in town. Gianna had been going insane alone with Kathleen. She cast spells every hour to strengthen the protection. She barely had any energy left. Gianna slipped out after she passed out.

'Poor woman.' Blanca frowned.

'Yeah! But tell me about the naked man! I was there too but I didn't see him. How unlucky could I be.'

'Shh! Gianna! '

Gianna giggled. 'Whatever tell me now! I was gone a while who knows what you did.'

Blanca covered her face. 'I didn't do anything Gianna. There was another girl there.'

'And you watched them do it Blanca? How gross!'

Blanca wished the ground would open and swallow Gianna.

'Quiet the whole town will know if you keeping yelling.' She yanked her sister across the road.

'I saw him again, at the Manor. Gianna he has the most beautiful eyes.' Blanca blushed.

She couldn't look at Gianna's overexcited face.

'He's a guardian?!'

Blanca flinched. 'No, he's the son of the Alpha.'

'Did he tell you he knew you were there?' Gianna raised her brow.

'No, he doesn't know.'

'Of course he does Blanca! He's a wolf he obviously recognized your scent. It's very strong if you didn't know. He's probably just being a gentleman.'

Blanca shook her head. 'Don't say that Gianna.'

They walked into the butchery. Kyle was by the counter. Her brows turned into a deep frown when she saw Blanca. Susanna laughed with a customer.

'This place reeks of magic.' Gianna whispered.

'Let's just get what we need.'

Susanna abandoned her customer and spotted Blanca with a new face. They didn't get many new people in Baye Road.

'Oh Blanca it's you again! You're going to be one of our regulars I

see.' Susanna giggled, her gaze fixed on Gianna. The magic on her was more intense.

'Yes, I'll get the usual just less portions this time.' Blanca smiled. Kyle slipped out of the counter.

Susanna smiled and nodded from Blanca to Gianna.

'So are you new to Baye Road too?'

Blanca responded before Gianna could open her mouth.

'Yes, this is my sister Gianna.'

'Is she also working at the Manor?' Kyla appeared and crossed her arms.

'No, she's staying with... other relatives.'

Kyla narrowed her eyes at Blanca.

'Okay I'm just going to say it! Are you too witches? Because I can't tell!' Susanna brushed the sweat off her brow and giggled.

Kyla slapped her forehead.

'No! Why would you...ask that?' Blanca had to get Gianna out of there.

'Maybe because you have magic all over you.' Kyla snapped.

Blanca shook her head.

'There must be a mistake. We're completely normal... please we've only been here a few days we don't know much about your town.'

Susanna frowned and glanced at Kyla would rolled her eyes.

'I'm sorry Blanca. We didn't mean to upset you. Our driver will bring the meat to the Manor.'

Blanca nodded and shoved Gianna to the door.

'Are you a witch?! ' Gianna dug her heels into the ground and made Blanca paused. Blanca dug her nails into Gianna's arm. She snapped her head at her sister.

'Yes! And Kyla's a werewolf.' Susanna beamed.

'Ugh! ' Kyla disappeared behind the counter.

'That's so cool! ' Gianna exclaimed and Blanca shoved her out the door.

'She seems nice!'

Blanca sighed. 'I know but we have to be careful. Kyla isn't impressed, she's been suspicious of me since the day she met me. '

They crossed the empty road. The road to the Manor was just a few minutes, but Blanca wanted to go to the cottage with Gianna.

'Don't look now Blanca, but someone's following us.' Gianna mumbled.

Blanca grabbed her sister's hand, they slowed their pace. It was a man with pale skin, almost grey. His eyes were a shade of red. Blanca's heart jumped.

'I think he's a vampire.' Gianna said.

Only a few people wandered around town.

She took Gianna and guided her to the park. It was late in the afternoon on a weekday, there weren't any kids playing on the swings, just a couple of people reading or walking a dog.

'You have to go home. ' They stood under an oak tree. The man stood a few meters away from them, staring at the ground.

'Blanca I can take care of myself, you can't.'

'No Gianna. You're the hope for this town. Besides that you're my little sister I won't let anything happen to you. Now hurry, he'll follow me.'

'Blanca! '

Blanca placed her hands on Gianna's shoulders. 'I'm going to the Manor, strigoi can't set foot on Manor territory.'

He hadn't left yet. Blanca urged Gianna to leave while he wasn't looking. Gianna ran across the park and disappeared. Blanca clutched her bag and walked passed the man on her way to the road. He waited a few minutes before he started again.

She prayed silently that Gianna was okay. Maybe she should confront him. Unfortunately she couldn't rip a vampires heart out like a Gianna.

The Manor's gate came into view. Blanca practically ran the rest of the way. She pried the gate open and slammed it shut.

Blanca stumbled away from the gate the strigoi growled on the other end. His eyes burned like an open flame.

'Blanca!' Matteo and Karl marched out the mansion.

Blanca's eyes went wide. She turned back to the strigoi that wanted to drain her blood.

'Stop, it's a strigoi.' Karl said.

Blanca watched as Matteo's green eyes became large yellow holes of hell. Blanca had no where to hide or lean into when Matteo threw himself at the demon behind the gate.