NEWBORN: Book One of the Newborn Trilogy Page 19

  I trip over a root.

  It’s as though I’m in slow motion. One second I’m hurtling through the air and the next I’m flat on the ground face up. The world becomes fuzzy and sways slightly. I recover faster this time, for the world soon refocuses. No sooner does it then Jack appears over me, bearing bloody teeth.

  Shitballs! Fucking shitballs! It was nice living for a time, I guess.

  Jack’s grin is lopsided and bloodshot. “Took a tumble, did we?”

  Seizing me roughly, he slams me against a tree. Hitting my head hard, I nearly lose consciousness again. I don’t have the wherewithal to defend myself. I’m too out of it. Too easy a target. He knows it.

  “Hell,” he grunts, “you’re spoiling my fun!”

  Everything is hazy. I hardly register what I’m saying. “Finish me, coward,” I hear myself murmur. “Finish your meal.”

  Through the haze I see a shocked face. It hardens, turning to red hot fury. “Who are you calling a coward?” Jack’s voice is a roar. “Who do you dare call a coward? You will pay for that!”

  Stretching his mouth wide – revealing so many blood-stained teeth – Jack leans in close for the bite.

  A bark sounds on my periphery.

  Closed eyes slam open.

  An enormous black dog is only yards away, baring sharp, glistening teeth. It’s too big to be a dog. It’s a wolf! I know it is. It has to be. Not only that but I think I know who it is. Slinking closer, the wolf barks still louder, its narrowed eyes staring into the bright red pupils of Jack’s.

  Jack takes a step backward, then runs for it.

  The wolf pounces. It’s a short chase. Biting the cuff of Jack’s dirty gray jeans, the wolf drags him backward. Falling to the ground with a thud, Jack gargles, his hands grabbing helplessly at tufts of grass. Aiming at the wolf’s face, he kicks out. His shoe connects with the wolf’s snout.

  Yowling in pain, the wolf releases him. Jumping to his feet, Jack takes off again. Barking madly, the wolf chases after him. I run after them, too. I know I should be hiding right now, but the temptation to try and help the wolf is overwhelming. Especially after Jack kicked the poor thing.

  My expertise isn’t needed.

  The wolf has hold of Jack, this time by his coat jacket. It’s a much better hold. Struggling like a beast the vampire tries to throw the animal off. He aims another kick at the wolf but misses. Instead, he falls in a heap and lays still, the back of his coat caught in the wolf’s teeth.

  The vampire is facedown. Not moving.

  Treading carefully, I approach the pair of them – Jack prone on the ground and the wolf panting hard through clasped teeth, its narrowed black eyes never leaving its prey. I shouldn’t be anywhere near them. But I have to know. Have to find out. I need to know if it’s who I think it is.

  “Wolf?” I squeak, “Is that –”

  Flipping over, Jack grabs the wolf by the head and sinks his teeth into its neck. I scream. Howling in agony, the wolf releases the vampire. Terror striking me, I look around for a weapon. Nothing. So sinking to my knees, I hug the wolf. It’s shaking – foam leaking from its mouth as black eyes glaze over.

  Jack combs back his dirty blond hair. “Looks like I won’t have to bite you,” he tells me, an evil look alive on his face. He points to the wolf. “He’s going to any second. Good thing to,” he adds, “because I was going to take you to Mortimer – our coven leader. Mortimer likes to have his fun. Torture you till the brink of death then bite you at the last possible moment.”

  I stare at the wolf. His fit is growing worse, his eyes seeming to bulge from their sockets. With a whimper he collapses to the ground. “No!” I gasp, hugging the wolf to me. “Don’t turn! Not you! Not you!”

  A maniacal laugh escapes Jack. He waves. “Bye bye, pretty one. Hope to see you again.” He’s dashing through the trees, not daring a backward glance, running faster than I ever could.

  Hugging the wolf, I see his eyes turn from black to red. Watching the foam drip down his muzzle, I realize my days have run out. I’ve lost my chance to run for it. All I can do now is spend my last moments loving a friend.

  I hug him tighter. Tears are dripping from my eyes and down my cheeks. “This is goodbye, Wolf,” I tell him, wiping my cheeks dry. “Thank you so much for saving me back there! I – I wish I’d been a better friend to you. Be a good vampire dog!”

  Tears are overwhelming. So I let them flow. Closing my eyes, I bury my face in his beautiful black coat. The wolf nuzzles me affectionately. Shocked, I take a backward step. I can’t believe it! He’s okay!

  The wolf in front of me is out of breath. He’s panting heavily and wiping the foam from his mouth with a paw. But his eyes have returned to black, their seconds of fiery red elapsed. Flipping back on his paws, the wolf stands up, nuzzling my cheek and licking my tears away. Good as new.

  “Wolf!” I gasp happily, unable to believe it. “You’re okay!” I hug him so tightly I could burst. Let alone him.

  Nora, you moron! says my alter ego. He was never going to be a vampire dog!

  I ignore her.

  I’m too delighted to register criticism from anybody let alone her. I won’t take her shit now. I will only take Wolf alive and healthy before me. He is offering me a bark of good feeling. I hug him again and he wags his tail infectiously, his happiness spilling into mine. What don’t we have?

  Then – ever so slowly – his black coat begins to lighten. His claws shrink into his paws and their fur falls away. His ears cave to the sides of his head and his dark face turns russet. Only black eyes remain unchanged as slowly and gracefully he transitions back into a boy. Now there’s no hint of the dog left. Only human. The enormous smile on his face is as obvious as the sun in the sky.

  I’m still hugging him, holding him tight to me. All of a sudden it turns awkward. Blushing terribly, I pull away. As I do, a shadow crosses Wolf’s face, blocking out the sun. Again he’s thrown into darkness.

  Unsure of what to say, I lift my hand to pat him.

  No, idiot! yells my alter ego. You don’t pat a person!

  Geez, it’s so much easier to interact with a dog. Aborting my pat mid step, I brush my hair over my ear instead. This does nothing to help Wolf’s guarded expression. Eventually, I manage, “I’m glad you’re okay!” My voice sounds falsely cheery. I hate it. “Jack almost had you there!”

  “He didn’t,” Wolf counters. “Not even close.” His tone is sullen.

  Have I angered him? How could I have? “What do you mean, ‘not even close’?” I

  repeat. “I saw everything. He bit you in the neck. He’s a vampire, Wolf! A fucking vampire! You could have become one!” For some reason I’m starting to feel angry. How did it all go to shit? Everything was joyous.

  “It doesn’t work like that,” Wolf explains. “Werewolves can’t become vampires. Vampire venom is poisonous, but it only does temporary harm to wolves. It’s debilitating for a few minutes then passes like a fever. You can’t be a werewolf and a vampire at the same time. It’s impossible.”

  “Oh,” I say. “I see.”

  We are staring at each other. Both guarded. Geez, I wish he’d stayed a wolf. We were having a happy time. Now he’s human and telling me I was dumb for thinking him forfeit. I feel stupid. I also feel mad at him. It’s hard to be, though. Full maroon lips and muscular arms are calling my name.

  “Did you mean what you said?” he asks.

  My expression is blank. “What do you mean?”

  “That thing you said?”

  I think back. Nothing. “What thing?”

  He takes a deep breath. “That thing where you said you wish you’d been a better friend. Did you mean it?”

  Taken aback, I gaze at him in surprise. “Oh – of course! I mean, I thought we were both dead. Actually, I thought you’d become a vampire dog and eat me. People will say anything when they’re –”

  “No,” Wolf interrupts, “don’t take it back. I don’t want you to.”

  Astonish
ed, I can’t rivet my eyes from him. What is he on about? “I was babbling when I said those things. I had no idea what I was saying.” As I speak, I feel my body edging backward – away from him. I don’t know why. That’s a lie – yes I do. Because I feel like I’m cheating on Gabriel.

  “My mistake,” Wolf tells me. “I can hear you as a wolf, you know. I have intuition when transformed. I thought you said you wished we’d been closer. We can fix that, Nora – we’ve been given a second chance. Sort of.”

  “Not really,” I squeak. “You said so yourself. You said I was never in real danger. Neither of us was. Werewolves can’t become vampires. You said it’s impossible. So there – the matter is settled.”

  Expression pained, he says, “Not for me…”

  Hastily, I think of a new topic. “What were you doing in the woods before you saved me? Ha-ha,” I say, throwing in a fake laugh. It sounds shrill and forced.

  God I hate you, my alter ego tells me.

  I know, I tell her. I hate me, too.

  Stretching with a grunt, Wolf stands up. “I was hunting vampires,” he says to me. “What else would I be doing? The question is what are you doing out here, so far from Evergreen on a weekday?”

  Shitballs! Caught.

  “I was with somebody,” I say, trying my best to keep my devious answer honest. “Somebody you don’t know.”

  “I know you were!” Wolf exclaims. “I saw him right before he was about to eat you! Lucky I interrupted your social hour.”

  “Not him!” I say, exasperated. “Somebody else. Not a vampire. His name is Jack, by the way,” I add haughtily. “The vampire you saw. Try and avoid him if you can, Wolf. He’s not nice.”

  “I could tell,” Wolf says, a grin shaping full, maroon lips.

  Yum! Oh – I can’t be doing this. “You should leave, Wolf. Just point me in the direction of school. I promise I will make it back before nightfall,” I say desperately to his shaking head.

  “No way!” he says. “Are you kidding? You were almost mauled fifteen minutes ago! No way am I leaving you out here to die! Not that you would,” he adds hastily upon seeing my dissonant expression, “but I have to stay.”

  I cross my arms. “Why?”

  “Nora!” Wolf exclaims. “Seriously? You don’t remember? We wrote an essay on this! I’m sworn to protect you from vampires. I’m sworn to protect all humans from all vampires. You’re the human here and I know vampires are around this area. We saw one! I’m not leaving you alone!”

  If only Gabriel had been so considerate…

  I exhale as though resigned. Secretly, I’m thrilled. I don’t want to be left alone again. Gabriel will be furious if he finds us. Oh well. He leaves me to get eaten by vampires and this is what he gets. Somebody else hanging out with me – somebody who actually cares about my well-being.

  Going to Wolf, I hug him. The boy this time – not the wolf. His skin smells like leather. I feel pontoon abs beneath his tight T-shirt. Simply. Wondrous. “Thank you,” I tell him, “for sticking by me. I will be a better friend.”

  The shadow dissipates from his face as surprise unfurls down it. He smiles, dazzling my eyes with white. “Any time,” he says airily. “I’m your wolf – err – man! I’m your man, Nora. Proud of it!”

  Snuggling into his muscle, I sigh contentedly against his chest. Geez, I could get used to this pretty fast.

  A loud pop behind me.

  Startled, I whisk around. But not before Wolf has leapt into the air. He transitions so fast he’s a wolf before he hits the ground. Barking madly, he throws himself at the intruder with his teeth bared.

  “Nullify!” Gabriel shouts, pointing his wand at Wolf. It misses. The wizard throws himself behind a tree. “Decimate!” This one hits Wolf’s leg and with a howl he collapses, never ceasing to bark at Gabriel.

  “Stop it!” I scream. “Stop it, Gabriel!”

  Gabriel holds up his wand. “What’s it done to you?” he yells at me. “Has it bitten you? Tell me it hasn’t bitten you!”

  “It hasn’t!” I gasp. “It’s – he’s – my friend, Gabriel!”

  Wolf – collapsed on the ground – is snarling at Gabriel, black eyes turned to slits.

  Gabriel steps from behind the tree, pointing his wand at Wolf. “Tell it to calm down or I will kill it,” he says to me. “Do it, Nora! I don’t have patience for werewolves. Especially the uncontrollable, beastly kind! Tell it, Nora. I’ll kill it!”

  “Stop! Stop, Wolf! Surrender!” I’m shaking as I speak. Turning to the wizard, I say, “Don’t you dare hurt him, Gabriel!”

  Gabriel is taken aback. But he continues to advance on the wolf – wand aloft – until the fangs disappear in Wolf’s mouth and he slumps to his rump, dejected, black ears folding downward. Gabriel twirls his wand between fingers. “Transition, werewolf,” he demands. “Transition now!”

  I glare at Gabriel. He ignores me.

  Wolf transitions back into a human. The process looks the same as last time. First his color lightens then his features change until nothing remains of his furry, canine self. A boy again, Wolf jumps to his feet with a wince and points accusatorily at the wizard, his newly human face shocked.

  “What’s with you?” Wolf growls. “Why do you look like that vampire?”

  “Vampire? What vampire – where?”

  “He means Jack,” I explain hastily to Gabriel. “He’s – uh – a vampire. Almost killed me a little while ago. It was close. I was running and he chased me and then I got lucky because Wolf saved me and now… and now both of my protectors are here!” I’m plainly babbling. “I’m so pleased!”

  “You!” Wolf yells at Gabriel. He’s wincing as he massages his leg. “You were supposed to protect her? What were you thinking leaving a human girl alone in the woods on the Olympic Peninsula? You can’t do that with their type! They’re made of paper. How could you be so stupid?”

  Geez, made of paper? What is he talking about? Humans or girls? Both?

  Swiping his blond hair to the side of his forehead in agitation, Gabriel turns on me. “How could you leave the clearing?” Frustration is boiling up through marble skin. “How could you be so stupid? I gave you a direct order and you disobeyed it! That’s the reason you got into trouble, Nora! You were safe in the clearing! Safe from vampires, let alone this moron.” He gestures to Wolf.

  The werewolf bares his teeth in a doglike manner. “Watch who you call a moron, wizard! You’ll be sorry!”

  “Enough!” I shout to the whole forest. “Shut up! Both of you!”

  Silence. Now both of them are staring at me angrily. Gabriel more so. Wolf, on the other hand, also looks hurt. Geez, what do I do now? With both of them practically at each other’s throat?

  “Listen,” I begin, trying desperately to control the situation, “Nothing that happened is worth fighting over! No one is to blame.”

  “Except you,” Gabriel tells me. “You left the clearing!”

  “And you!” Wolf barks at the wizard. “You left her!”

  I gesture wildly. “Yes and yes! If we have to assign blame! That’s not going to get us anywhere, though. Instead, let’s go our separate –”

  “What were you doing when you should have been protecting her?” Wolf shoots at Gabriel. “What was so important?”

  I’m about to reprimand the werewolf like a dog. I stop myself. Actually, I’m curious to know the answer to this. Gabriel glances at me. When it’s clear I’m not stepping in, he swipes his blond hair to the side of his forehead. The agitation falls away from his face, replaced with self satisfaction.

  “What?” I ask.

  Turquoise eyes are bright. “I’ll tell you. But not with the dog here.”

  Wolf bares his teeth, black eyes glinting.

  I step in before things deteriorate. “Say it, Gabriel!”

  My wizard friend exhales loudly. But it’s an ersatz sigh. His smile is way too obvious. “I’ve found their coven.”

  I gasp, “You what!”

  �
�Yes,” he replies, grin widening. “Now I have my wand at their throats!” He’s staring down Wolf as he speaks. “They will all die. Each and every one of them!” His expression is manic with fevered delight.

  Wolf is shocked. “Kill all of them?”

  “They will get what they deserve,” Gabriel tells him. “Nothing less.”

  “All of them are too many!” The werewolf’s expression is alarmed. “They don’t all deserve to die! Just the ones attacking humans. Jack, for instance. Not all of them, Gabriel! You have to moderate!”

  The wizard shakes his head. “They are parasites! Killing one doesn’t do anything. You must slaughter the lot. In as short a time as possible too, before they can run off and spawn demonic offspring!”

  His words remind me. “Did you see it?” I ask him, “The Newborn?”

  The manic expression sliding from his face, Gabriel shakes his head. “I did not, Nora. But I only saw a few of them. If I’m right, there should be twelve of them living together. Perhaps thirteen if they have accepted the Newborn as one of their own. Daredevils. They must want a fight!”

  “So that’s what a wizard is doing in the area,” Wolf remarks dryly. “Your lot has finally caught wind of the Newborn, huh? Took you long enough! We’ve known for weeks and weeks. We’re naturally better at –”

  “How come it’s still alive, then?” Gabriel interrupts angrily. “Have you been twiddling your paws and risking the slaughter of innocents? Isn’t your crowd sworn to protect humans? You’re a sorry excuse for a –”

  Balling his fist, Wolf steps forward. “How dare you, wizard!”

  Gabriel aims his wand. “Withdraw, dog! I have a license to kill sub Purids,” he hisses. “I’m pleased to say that includes ugly, stinky werewolves! If I murder you I’ll face no charges! On the contrary, I’ll be rewarded!”

  My brain explodes in panic. I have no time! The scene before me is about to be lethal. I’m the only mediator, the only referee. “Well,” I say loudly to the pair of them, “I guess you both will have to stay behind while I go hunt vampires!”

  It works.

  They’re staring at me. Wolf’s fist lowers, matching Gabriel’s wand. Two sets of eyes – one black and one turquoise – are fixed on me. Both blank. I have to keep them preoccupied so they don’t kill each other.