The Crowolf. When Love Crosses Species

Chapter 6 - The Rings

The Crow Woman embraced her identity with pride

For it was what set her apart, made her stand out in the tide

She knew that love, loss, and identity were intertwined

And she'd keep searching until she found what she'd left behind.

“Do you wish to have a wedding?”

“Wedding?” Samuel scratched his head. “Maybe not now. Bianca needs to get her head around it. I don’t know if she looked happy among all the guests. I suppose we don’t need any unnecessary gossip.”

“Good point. You speak wisely, my boy.” Victor patted his shoulder. “We should avoid the extra fuss before Bianca is mature enough to meet our expectations. Instead, let’s take some fake pictures to have something to be devoured by these vultures.”

“Vultures? What vultures?”, asked Samuel, narrowing his black eyes.

“The media, of course.” Victor puffed. “It’ll take some time before Bianca is prepared. Try to make her feel cared for - she must trust you before taking another step.”

“I’ll try to do my best. Maybe I’m young, but I’ve been brought up for this moment since the time I remember. So I know what’s the point of all of it.”

“Good.” Victor nodded his head. “Bianca has trusted you from the very beginning. Only this i***t Michael almost ruined everything. They should have strangled him right after his birth. He’s a disgrace to the whole werewolf species.”

“I have a feeling Michael is still a threat to us. So we have to keep an eye on him.”

“No doubt, Samuel. But if he gets in our way and takes one step too far, there'll be no mercy for him. There’s too much at stake.”

“What do you mean?” Samuel’s face got pale.

“I mean that his life is worth nothing in the light of what we can achieve, even if it leads to fratricidal bloodshed.”

Victor spotted sparkles of fear in Samuel’s eyes. He smiled: “Don’t be frightened. It may not even be the case. And now, enjoy the newly-married couple’s life and stick to the plan. The playground is yours, and here you are!”, he reached out to his pocket. “These are your toys.”

Samuel looked closely at his palm.

“Open your hand.” Victor waited for his move.

The boy stretched his hand.

“From now on, you are a part of this family. These rings are supposed to keep you focused on the mission of making a breakthrough in the evolution of our species. The great beginning is in your hands, just like the rings you will wear from now on.”

He continued: “Bianca’s ring has an inscription - crow, and yours - wolf, of course. But there is one more.” Victor grabbed Samuel’s hand. “That’s your future.”

The silence dropped on Samuel’s shoulders like a giant boulder from the bare rocky mountain. He knew that after accepting the rings, there would be no way back. His fate would be doomed.

Samuel felt the weight not only of the rings but of these words as well. It was still a mystery to him where exactly his agreement would lead him. It all seemed too quick for him, but he believed such a chance happens once in a lifetime.

His palm was open. “Was it another ring? If yes, what for? “

Snippets of thoughts rushed through his mind. Victor’s hand was laid on his, ready to set free his fate.

“If you succeed, you'll be the ruler of two mighty worlds: the crow one and, of course, the werewolf one. There will be no creature greater than you. Do you promise it to happen?”

Victor pushed his hand against Samuel's one. He couldn’t escape the demanding look - staring straight into Victor’s eyes, he said:

“I promise.”

For a moment, Samuel had a feeling that he had just got married to Victor, not Bianca.

The older man’s hand opened. He was right - there was another ring. Although this one much heavier and much more solid. It was made of different materials - a golden one and a black one. These two materials were entangled like ivy growing up a tree. On the inside, pearly white writing was engraved with its full mightiness: CROWOLF.

Samuel repeated the word in his mind. It had a peculiar charge, leaving in his head an indelible trace.

“What does it mean? The CROWOLF?”, he asked, staring at the round object.

“That’s the key to creating a new order in this world. And we’re going to be on top of it.”

“Do you think that our two beastly natures can be merged? It’s been tried before, and always one of them towered over another and dominated the offspring. So the child is born with its shadow nature, as a werewolf or a crow. But, of course, it depends on which genes are luckier.”

Samuel was fearless in stating his reasons. He had to make sure Victor hadn’t gone mad.

“There’s one more thing that can be done to trick nature. The insemination must be done at a specific time. And that time is coming.” Victor’s eyes shone with excitement.

“What time? What do you mean?” Samuel tightened his hand on the ring.

“Such a thing may happen just once in five centuries. And guess what?”

Victor put a sly smile on his face.

“It is going to happen in six months. In June, the red Moon will be in the same line with the Corvus constellation, fighting against each other for dominance in the sky. These two forces, usually separate, clash in the battle producing enormous loads of energy of a particular type. All crows and werewolves are under the rain of force. But only some of them can take advantage of it.”

Samuel kept silent, ready to take another portion of the secret laws ruling their hidden worlds. He tried to hide his surprise, at the same time, being bloody curious about the possibilities ahead of them.

“So, what particular traits stand us out from the rest?”

-Not us, Samuel, but Bianca is the key.” Victor grinned. “She has that set of genes which can make it happen. What’s more, she doesn’t even realise how special she is.”

“How do I know?”, he preempted Samuel’s question.

“I wasn’t sure at first, but I wanted to have a go anyway. But then, by sheer luck, everything became clear. It tasted Bianca’s blood which turned out to be deadly to him. Her blood makes her special - it is capable of the things we need.”

Victor’s cheeks went reddish. The excitement of achieving supremacy over anyone else and the sole sense of power made him feel alive again. Even Samuel, despite not being fully aware of what would happen, couldn’t hide fiery sparkles from appearing in his eyes. Also, his canines grew a bit bigger. The wolf inside him wanted to get out.

“Sir.” - Samuel made himself speak. “What do you mean by it? Deadly to whom?”

“The crow, of course. It died right after drinking her blood. The crow attacked her, but in return, Bianca, without realising it, killed the bird.”

There was a moment of silence. One thing was more interesting to Samuel than all the stories about merged species.

“Forgive me that question, sir. But…” - Samuel felt tingling on his tongue. “Is she a virgin?”

“hahaha!” Victor laughed, closing his eyes. “First of all, stop turning to me as a sir. Get used to the fact we’re family now. You can call me Victor.”

“Secondly, whether she is a virgin or not makes no difference to our plans. But, if you really want to know, then yes, she is. She is a first-class virgin. She has it written on her face. And even if you don’t trust my judgement, you’ll shortly find out. But be gentle, if you know what I mean.”

Samuel didn’t seem to be convinced. Apparently, Bianca’s virginity had some exceptional worth to him. Being a bit disappointed with Victor’s answer, he asked: “Should I wait with it until that night or… can we do it earlier?”

“Think, Samuel. Think. I know your Italian blood demands passion and physical clash, but if she gets pregnant before that night, I will strangle you with my bare hands!”

Victor clenched his fists and lifted them before Samuel’s eyes. “So, you have to restrain your wild instincts.”

Samuel did not seem to be scared by this threat. On the contrary, his enticing smile made it clear that he was flattered by how others perceived him.

“I know you’re from a different generation, but if I have to elaborate on the proven ways to avoid pregnancy, you should prepare for a long lecture.”

“Young man, don’t make me put metal pants on you. Instead, a chastity belt which will squeeze your balls, and you’ll start singing like a girl.”

“Ha! Ha!” Samuel laughed even though Victor’s face showed no signs of entertainment.

“Victor, please. Leave it on me. I know my balls better than you!”

Clearly, he wanted to let him know that the sphere of their married life should be outside the old grandpa’s jurisdiction.

“Just don’t get carried away and prove you’re worth my trust.”

“I won’t, Victor. Not only Bianca in this world can satisfy my male instinct. But I must admit, I can’t wait to taste the husband’s privileges.”

Samuel look got a bit dreamy.

“When will I finally be able to speak with her alone?” He suspended his voice, letting him know he was expecting a specific answer.

Victor turned around and came up to the crow. He took a dry chunk of bread out of his pocket and started to feed the bird.

“After Bianca gets some sleep tonight, you’ll have time for yourselves. There’ll be dinner prepared just for you two. I’m going to leave the mansion at that time. So use his occasion to make her feel special and loved. Enchant her.”

Samuel’s eyes got bigger again. He watched Victor feeding the crow and the aggressive pecking of the bird. Soon, nothing was left after the bread.

“I will not disappoint you! Bianca won’t forget this evening for a long time.”

Victor stroked the crow on the black beak.

“Tonight, 8 pm. Put on the best suit.”

Samuel nodded and left the Column Hall in silence - his blood burning like a flaming sword.