The Beasts of Baye Road

Blood & Wolf

Beasts of Bayern Road

Matteo closed to the door behind him and stood in front of the desk Franz sat behind. Matteo crossed his arms.

‘What have you found out?’

‘Not much I’m afraid about her condition, but I believe I know a way we can. We’ll need her blood.’

He slapped his face, ‘You think she’s just going to give me her blood?’

Franz brought a match to the tip of his pipe. ‘Why not? You said she wants to know what she really is.’

Matteo ran a hand through his head and sighed, ‘What are we going to do with it?’

‘I know a witch who can see through generations in blood. Handy trick not many possess that’s why we have to drive out of town to meet her.’

Matteo groaned, he had to deal with the cat people and Blanca's situation. The cat people were the most annoying part. He was determining in helping Blanca discover her other half that was preventing her from turning into her full wolf form.

‘Alright, I’ll let Blanca know we’re leaving. We’re leaving in thirty minutes!’ Matteo turned to grab the door knob.

‘You shouldn’t tell her— You can’t tell her.’ Franz said.

Matteo turned around slowly and narrowed his eyes at the old man smoking a pipe.

‘Why not? She’s my girlfriend and this is about her.’

‘And this is your pack.’

‘I know that, but what does it have to do with Blanca? She doesn’t pose any threat to us. She saved us.’

Franz stood and removed the pipe from his mouth. ‘I know, Matteo. What if what we discover about her is bad? Sinister even? She may not know—’

‘What are you trying to say?’ Matteo cut him off, weariness growing in his chest. Blanca did keep a lot to herself, but that she could harm him was something he refused to believe, though the thought was sowing itself in his mind.

‘Half wolf spawns haven’t been born for centuries. Werewolves can’t mate with humans or strigoi. If she had witch magic in her it wouldn’t stop her from transforming under the moon.’

Matteo rolled his eyes, ‘I know all this I paid attention in school, get on with it.’

Franz lifted his chin and walked round the desk. ‘From my studies I’ve discovered half wolves have usually been born from the most powerful witches or some of the most dark creatures that crawl beneath the earth. I’m sorry, but there might be something waiting to be unleashed in Blanca. She may know or she may not. I’d rather have a head start.’

Matteo raked a hand through his hair. Not his beautiful, sweet smelling, princess. She couldn’t be the stuff of nightmares.

‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ He groaned.

‘Carry on now, we leave in thirty minutes. Twenty-seven know. Get that blood.’

‘What am I going to tell her now?’ He mumbled toward the door.

Franz chuckled before Matteo sulked out the door.

***

Blanca showered and her wet hair rolled down her dress. The house was quiet, she hadn’t seen Gianna anywhere. Gianna couldn’t stay mad forever, could she? They only had each other now. Blanca couldn’t help think about Anneska it pained to think she brought them here only as a ploy to hurt the guardians and the man she now loved.

Thinking of Matteo, she spotted him strolled down the stairs. His hair was all ruffled, she giggled. That usually meant he was frustrated. She waited until he got to the last of the steps and ambushed him with kisses.

He laughed and circled his arms around her waist. He pulled on her lower lip and lifted his hands to roamed through her damp hair.

‘I love it when you do that,’ he whispered into her hair. The scent of her apple shampoo still made him run wild.

‘I love kissing you too. Everything okay?’

He let his hold around her waist loosen. He held on to her arms instead and attempted to keep a smile on his face. He didn’t want her to think anything was wrong.

‘Fine, babe. I just… need something from you.’

Blanca tilted her head to the side. ‘Go ahead, what is it? It better not be something stupid Matteo.’

He chuckled, ‘Of course not babe. I need… your blood.’

‘My blood?’ Her eyes shot up. ‘Why would you need that?’

‘Don’t worry… it’s nothing serious.. it’s for a spell.’

‘A spell Matteo?’

Matteo looked left and right, anywhere but at her. He didn’t think lying to her would be so hard. How would he sleep next to her after lying to her straight in the eye?

‘Yeah… a protection spell. Everyone who lives here has gone through it. Gianna and Kyla are going to do it too… eventually. I just want you to he safe at all times and it’s for territorial reasons too wolf politics really boring.’

She placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head to the side. ‘Hm, are you sure it isn’t a tracking spell?’

Matteo laughed, the nerves fled him as he did. ‘That wouldn’t be a bad idea. We should get that sample now because Franz wants me to drive him out of town. He’s an old man and doesn’t like to drive alone.’

Blanca smiled and Matteo led her upstairs for Franz to get his blood sample. Deep down he wasn’t pleased with the fact that he lied to her. He sincerely hoped that the witch didn’t find anything dark in her blood.

***

‘This has to be the worst stakeout ever. It’s so lame.’ Debra whined.

‘We’ve been here for hours, can we get a bite to eat.’ Gianna said.

‘I’m with you G.’ David rubbed his tummy.

The sun had hung in the day for hours it was now slowly climbing down to sleep. They’d watched in the bushes, trees and ruined places, but all they saw was a quiet community going about its day.

The cat people’s origins were much of a mystery to the wolves. They made a pack centuries ago when many cat people died out and left Baye Road. They couldn’t govern themselves nor could they protect themselves. The wolves provided members to live in the community, though rumors had it the wolves had been abusing their authority in the community and taking advantage of their stay.

Since the guardians had been there they hadn’t sensed a single wolf in the community. Matteo hadn’t ordered anyone to leave yet.

‘I know there’s something fishy going on here, but we should be heading back before it’s dark.’ Debra said.

‘Yeah, we don’t want to be late for dinner.’ David laughed and Gianna giggled.

Debra rolled her eyes, but focused just in time to see a woman in a long blue dress and tied bun on her head duck into a vibrant green bush.

‘Wait, that woman just walked into that tree.’

David tried to focus his eyes on the bush, but saw nothing.

‘You want to wait for her to come out?’

‘I don’t think she’ll be coming out.’

They decided to watch and wait for the woman to return. As the sky blended with yellow and black only more people disappeared from the community center. It didn’t seem they were going home either.

‘Well, we thought something fishy was going down now we got it.’

They used the shadows and followed the cat scent to a small forest by the lake. It was far enough from the houses for the laughter and drums not to be heard. Gianna held her hand over her mouth to prevent a gasp.

A large bowl sat in the center of the dances. A huge flame blazed behind a wooden carved statue of a lioness. The statue had been painted white and it’s eyes a deep blue shade that Gianna nearly got lost in them.

The white haired woman walked up to the statue and bowed. She stood and raised her hands to the sky. The music stopped and the dancing ceased. The entire congregation kneeled.

‘We’ve been fortunate. The wolves will agree to leave and our misfortune and suffering will come to an end. The white lioness, the last of our protectors will see us through a new era of power! When the full moon rises in a few days, be prepared my people.’ The crowd cheered.

‘What the hell is this?’ David gawked.

Debra shook her head. She knew it. ‘I’m not liking this one bit.’

‘With the full moon and our sacrifices with give birth to a new era where we are on top! We will expand and we will thrive! Like we once did. The white lioness has awakened!’ The crowd burst into cheers and the drums and dances resumed.

Debra swallowed, it really wasn’t good.