Candle 1.6 The Day Of The Night Part 2
Don't Forget Part 1
YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND WINTER OF 1741 “Ana, I forbid you from doing this!” The voice of Ana’s father echoed throughout the entire house. “Father, you can forbid this all you want,” Ana said. “But I am going to help find Samuel.” “Ana Elizabeth Saxon! Not only did you continue to court this farm bastard, but now you’re willing to risk our families future on him!” Saxon screamed. “You don’t care about me or my safety,” Ana replied calmly. “All you care about is giving me to some rich family so you can get more money!” “Don’t talk to me like that, you little brat!” Saxon yelled. “You will stay here until you learn some respect!” Saxon walked over to Ana and slapped her with the back of his hand. Ana cried out in pain and fell to the floor. She climbed to her feet and wiped the tears away from her eyes. “I don’t care about you, or what you want,” Ana said. “Not only have I continued to court Samuel, but I am marrying him.” “Over my dead body!” Saxon screamed. He slapped Ana again and again. He kept beating her until her eye was bruised and blood was dripping from her nose and mouth. “That’ll teach you a lesson.” Saxon left the room, Ana still lying on the floor. One of the household servants rushed to help her onto the bed. “Are you alright, ma’am?” she asked. “I’m alright,” Ana said as she climbed to her feet. She headed for the door. Jethro and Erin were waiting outside in the carriage. Saxon watched Ana with a look of icy hatred. “If you walk out that door, then you are no longer my daughter!” he yelled. “I never was your daughter to begin with,” Ana said. Saxon started running to the door, and chased Ana as she ran to the carriage. He tackled her and wrapped his hands around her neck. By that point, Jethro reached his limit. He stepped down from the carriage and slowly walked over to the man who was viciously trying to strangle his own daughter. Jethro stopped right in front of Saxon and Ana. “Leave her alone,” he said calmly. Saxon ignored Jethro and continued to strangle Ana. This is what scared Erin the most. Not the monsters, not the aliens, nothing. But Jethro, when he was determined to protect people, and someone was hurting another person. Erin had only none Jethro for only a few months, but she knew that when someone was hurting innocent people, he would be willing to rip his way through the entire universe to stop it. Without saying a word, and moving faster than the blink of an eye, he swung his fist and hit Saxon away from Ana. Erin hurried over and helped Ana to the carriage. Saxon rose and tried to punch Jethro, but Jethro instead grabbed his wrist. With a loud snap, Saxon’s wrist twisted out of shape. “Try hurting her again, and I’ll break more than your wrist,” Jethro whispered in his ear. Jethro pushed him to the ground and climbed onto the carriage with Erin and Ana. The carriage moved away from the manor and towards the edge of the village. They reached the gates and prepared their trap. “Okay, everyone,” Jethro said. “Does everyone remember their parts?” “Yes, Jethro,” Ana said. “I just hope this works.” “Don’t worry,” Erin soothed. “Everything will be fine. You just have to stay positive.” “Enough talking,” Jethro commanded. “Everyone, get to your positions.” As the sun began to set, Jethro, Erin, and Ana began to put their plan into motion. Erin would stand on the lookout platform with a special net made from strands of mistletoe and monk’s hood. Jethro would wait in the alley and stun Samuel. The sun finally fell behind the trees, and the light faded away into the black darkness. Ana stood just outside the village gates, hoping to attract Samuel’s attention. “Jethro…” Erin whispered. Hopefully that earpiece Jethro gave me still works. “Yes, Erin?” Jethro asked. “What do you want?” “Are you sure Samuel’s not gonna hurt Ana?” Erin asked. “Well, well, well, Erin,” Jethro mumbled. “Looks like someone’s warming up to Ana.” “I do not like her,” Erin corrected. “But that doesn’t mean I want to watch her get eaten alive.” “Then close your eyes,” Jethro said. “Nobody ever said you had to watch.” “Jethro!” Erin whispered. She nearly yelled, which could have risked their entire plan. “That’s not funny!” “Just relax, Erin,” Jethro said. “Samuel won’t hurt Ana.” “How do you know?” Erin asked. “Last night he could’ve killed her,” Jethro explained. “The worst he did was knock her down. If he loves her, he never would hurt her, even in his Werophell form. Now pay attention, I think he’s here.” Erin snapped to attention and, sure enough, it was him. The massive beast climbed out of the trees and into the dim moonlight. He was nearly eight feet tall. “Wow, he literally looks like a wolf standing on it’s hind legs,” Erin commented. “I know,” Jethro said. “I’ve met these things before.” The beast continued to approach the gates, walking on all fours. It stopped just in front of the gates and rose to it’s hind legs. He inhaled deep through his nose and looked straight at Ana. He lowered to all fours and slowly crept towards Ana. Ana stood placidly still as this monstrous beast approached. “Okay, Jethro,” Erin said. “Now?” “Do it!” Jethro yelled as he ran out of the alley. The wolf saw what was happening, and ran towards Ana. Erin threw the net and the wolf tripped over the net. He began rolling around in the dirt and howling in pain. Jethro had a needle full of a sedative ready, but before he could inject the wolf, the howling attracted the attention of the townspeople. Several people poked their heads out of the windows. Others came running outside, many holding guns, each one aimed at Samuel. All the commotion was just what the wolf needed. His claws tore through the net and he rose to his feet. Jethro tried to push the needle into the wolves arm, but he was instead launched backwards by an elbow to his chest. The needle fell from his hand and shattered against the ground. “That was my last freaking syringe!” Jethro shouted. Erin was climbing down the lookout post ladder when she heard it. Loud bangs pounding through air. Training with the police left Erin very well informed about those kinds of sounds. Guns, close to where she was. She craned her neck around to see behind her. Several men from the village had started shooting at the wolf. They weren’t very good shots, most of the bullets landed in all directions. None of the shots were well aimed, the bullets flew meters away from the wolf with no threat of injury. But the bullets were flying in all directions, everywhere. That made them a risk for Erin, not the wolf. Erin started climbing down the ladder again, only for a bullet to smash through one of the pegs. It was close, to close. Almost as if someone was aiming at her. Erin looked back again to see what was going on. She was being shot at. One of the villagers was purposely aiming at her. But this villager was good. Another bullet hit Erin’s left hand. She screamed in pain and fell off the ladder. Erin landed on her back. She looked back at the commotion. The villager had returned to shooting the wolf. Must think I’m dead. Erin had still been close to the top of the ladder when she fell. She looked back to the ladder. Looks like fifteen feet. That explains why I feel like the wind got knocked outta me. She tried to sit up, but stopped when searing pain shot through her hand. She inspected it. The bullet had grazed the skin of the side of her hand. Blood dripped from the wound and onto her dress. The dark liquid left large red spots on her black dress. She took another attempt at sitting up. This time, she managed to get herself to her knees. Her neck and back ached. Stop it! Stop it, Erin! Jethro and Ana need your help. Erin climbed to her feet and ran behind some barrels for cover. She looked out to see what was going on. Jethro was hiding Ana behind a cabin to protect her. Several villagers lay around them. They must have thought they could take Jethro hand-to-hand. They were wrong. The wolf was fighting it’s was through the mob of villagers. From what Erin could see, it had not killed anyone; but with the way things were going, people would be dying soon. The villager that had shot at Erin was the only person so far to hit the wolf. It stumbled a few steps back as the bullet entered it’s body just beneath it ribcage. There was blood dripping down the wolves back. That shot must’ve gone clean through. Jethro and Ana came running out as the wolf fell to it’s knees. Erin came out from behind the barrels and helped Jethro and Ana try to get the villagers to stop shooting. They stopped when Jethro materialized a sword. In fact, they ran in terror. Jethro returned to try to catch the wolf, but when he turned around, the wolf had ran off towards the gate. “I’ve got it!” Erin shouted. She grabbed one of heavy barrels and threw it at the wolf. The wood shattered to pieces against the wolves back. “Aw, crap,” Erin huffed as the wolf turned it’s attention to her. It backed Erin into a corner, raising a clawed hand to strike with. Erin slide down to her knees and prepared herself for what would come next and looked the wolf defiantly in the eyes. A small medallion was hanging from the wolves neck. Before Erin could get a good look at it, the wolf retreated back into the woods. Erin was shocked that it had not killed her, but soon saw why. Jethro had materialized a gun, and was firing after the wolf. “Are you okay?” Jethro asked. He held out his hand and helped Erin to her feet. “Thanks,” Erin said as she accepted Jethro’s help. “I’m fine. Now what do we do?” “Now,” Jethro said as he stared into the forest. “Now, I don’t know.” Jethro, Erin, and Ana climbed back into the carriage and returned to the Erikson farm. “What are we doing here?” Erin asked. “I think I figured out what Jethro’s planning,” Ana said slowly. “Then tell me, Ana,” Jethro said. “What do I have in mind?” “This is where Samuel grew up,” Ana explained. “It’s safe to assume that when he turns back to normal, he would go home to hide, get food, water, and clothes.” “Actually, I hadn’t been thinking that at all,” Jethro said. “But smart thinking, Ana.” “Then what were you thinking?” Erin and Ana asked at the same time. “I wanted to see if Miss Erikson could tell us anything else that might help,” Jethro said as he climbed out of the carriage. “Oh my god,” Ana gasped in shock. “What’s wrong?” Jethro asked quickly, standing in an attack stance. “Look at the door,” Erin said. “Someone else was here already.” The door was hanging off of one hinge, and there was a hole in the center of the door. The door frame was smashed to pieces where the lock had been. All the windows had been shattered. The walls were full of little holes. Not just any holes, bullet holes. Someone had broken into the house. Violently. “Wait here,” Jethro said calmly as he walked into the house. “Are you going to do what he said?” Ana whispered. “Not a chance,” Erin whispered back. “Me neither.” Inside, the wallpaper was scratched and partly ripped off the walls. The shelves had been smashed off their nails. The furniture had been knocked over, clawed, scratched, and ripped to shreds. In the corner of the room was where it started. The wood in the walls and floor and been scratched deep. Laying on the floor were clothes. A shirt, pants, shoes, a jacket. He must have been there when he changed, and it tore the clothes to pieces. Blood had dripped across the room in varying places. It was still wet. Jethro slowly dropped to one knee, placed his hand on the floor, and closed his eyes. All colors faded to monochrome. Then, everything bled away into nothingness. Jethro was all that was left, kneeling on a floor that was no longer there, listening for a sound that was never made. Smelling a scent that did not smell. A fog rose from the nothingness, fog so thick that no one would be able to see an inch in front of their eyes. It is through this that Jethro can see. Through this fog, Jethro can see all of time and space. Through this fog, he can find anything he so desires. Anything in this world, or the next. Erin and Ana walked quietly into the house, so that Jethro would not know that they had not listened. He was kneeling in the corner, eyes shut, seemingly lost in thought. “Yes, I know you’re there,” he mumbled. “Both of you, Erin and Ana.” “I don’t think I will ever get used to that,” Erin commented. “Used to what?” Ana asked. “To me knowing what you’re thinking,” Jethro answered. He had not turned around, or stood up, or even opened his eyes. “But you will, Erin,” Jethro continued. “You will, in exactly seven hundred and ninety three vels. Now, sssshhhh.” The fog grew denser. So dense that someone could lose themselves if they are not careful. But Jethro knew how to control the fog. The fog surrounded his mind, taking him away from Erin and Ana without ever moving. Then he found what he was looking for. That’s it. That’s exactly what I was looking for. Samuel had returned to his childhood home to find solace. Little did he know that his grandmother had made his solace into a trap. When he arrived, his grandmother signaled a villager. But not just any villager, this one was familiar. He was the same one that had shot at Erin. He must have been working with the grandmother to capture Samuel. But what happened here? This was during the day. How did Samuel change during the day? Unless... The fog had started to thin out and fade away. No, not yet! I need to see more! The vision was starting to vanish. It had not been Samuel who changed. The villager, he had changed. He changed into a wolf. The vision was fading quickly. But not restricted by the cycles of the moon. He changed on purpose. The vision was all but gone now. Samuel was only half Werophell. The vision was nearly gone now. Being only half Werophell, Samuel would never have the kind of control to force a transformation during the day. No one who was only half Werophell could have that kind of control… But Samuel’s father died… There were no other survivors of the crash… Someone else was here… Someone must have… “Jethro, are you okay?” Erin asked gently. “What’s he doing?” Ana asked in a concerned tone. “He’s doing a Nethrwalk,” Erin explained. “I’ve only seen it once. I don’t know how long it’s supposed to take, but it wasn’t like this last time.” No sooner than Erin said that, Jethro snapped out of it. He rose to his feet in the blink of an eye, and jumped backwards. He launched through the air and fell on his back. “Jethro! Are you alright?” Erin and Ana screamed in unison. Jethro was laying on his back, shaking violently. “What’s wrong with him?” Ana asked desperately. “I don’t know!” Erin spat out angrily. Her words dripped with worry. “I think he’s having a seizure!” Jethro continued writhing around on the floor uncontrollably. “What should we do?” Ana asked. Erin thought back to her training, trying to remember what she was taught. “Okay, what’re you supposed to do during a seizure?” Erin asked herself silently. “That’s it! Turn him on his side!” Ana helped Erin roll Jethro onto his side. He groaned in pain as they moved him. They laid him on his side, but he continued seizing. “What was the point of that?” Ana asked. “So if he vomits, he won’t choke on it,” Erin said. “Well, if he can choke. Or vomit for that matter.” Then Jethro stopped abruptly. He rolled onto his back, and heaved a loud sigh. His chest slowly rose and fell with the rhythm of his breathing. Sweat was beading up along his forehead and running down his face. The look on his face was despondent, and he had a dead look in his eyes. “Now what do we do?” Ana asked. “I don’t know,” Erin said. She grabbed a torn pillow from the rubble of a couch and slid it under Jethro’s head. “I guess we wait until he comes too.” Jethro started shivering. “Hold on,” Ana said. She took some torn cushions from the couch and chairs and laid them on the floor. Erin helped her lift Jethro onto the cushions and carefully placed a blanket on him. When Jethro was settled, Ana turned a chair back over and sat down. She let out a yawn. “I’m exhausted,” she mumbled. Erin sat down in a chair as well. “You’re preaching to the choir, sister,” she yawned. As the sun rose in the early morning, Erin and Ana drifted off to sleep. “Wake up!” someone shouted loudly. Erin and Ana snapped out of sleep, lazily looking around to see what was going on. Jethro was standing there, seemingly revived. “What’s goin’ on?” Erin moaned as she nodded off again. “I know what happened here,” Jethro said enticingly. “What happened?” Ana asked. She too was having trouble waking up. “Oh, for the love of god,” Jethro muttered frustratingly. Erin and Ana had stayed up all night for several days, and so they kept falling to sleep. Jethro went outside to a well a filled a bucket with water. He walked back into the house and threw the water on the girls. Erin and Ana both jumped to their feet, shivering from the freezing water, but wide awake. “What the crap?!” Erin screamed. “What is wrong with you?!” “I know what happened,” Jethro said. “If I tell you while you’re asleep, then you won’t be amazed. Therefore, I can’t showoff, remember?” “Fine,” Erin mumbled. “What happened?” “Samuel isn’t the only Werophell here,” Jethro said. “How do you know?” Ana interjected. “The Nethrwalk,” Jethro said. “Erin already told you about it. Basically, it told me exactly what happened.” Ana was about to ask something else. “And yes, Samuel’s fine. You have nothing to worry about,” Jethro said. “Samuel’s father crashed here twenty years ago. But Werophells are pack animals, like Earth’s dogs and wolves. They sent someone to take him back home.” “Then why is Samuel still here?” Erin asked. “Shouldn’t him and his father be gone by now?” “That’s the problem,” Jethro explained. “Most Werophells aren’t exactly into the whole idea of species diversification. Whoever they sent to find the stranded wolf, probably got his goat that Samuel’s father decided to, y’know, sow his seeds with a human. Most likely, Samuel’s father was probably killed by the new wolf. Now, he’s trying to track Samuel down, and kill him.” “But why?” Ana asked. “Why not just leave and let Samuel stay here?” “Because,” Erin said. “Even if he left, then Samuel would still be here, alive. That means that there’d still be an affront to their species roaming the Earth.” “Then he won’t stop until Samuel’s dead!” Ana shouted. “What are we going to do?” “Don’t worry,” Jethro growled. “I know exactly what to do.” “Do tell,” Erin said as she crossed her arms. “First, we have to find Samuel,” Jethro said. “That means that we need to go into the forest to see where he’s hiding.” “And how do you know he’s in the forest?” Ana asked. “If an alien wolf was trying to kill you, wouldn’t you hide in the forest that everyone’s to scared to go into?” Jethro asked, waving his hand at the question. “I guess so,” Erin said. “But I think it might be a good idea for us to split up when we look for’im.” “Absolutely not!” Jethro nearly shouted. He seemed angry, almost as if he found it unbelievable that Erin would even suggest such a thing. “It’s way to dangerous!” “I think it’s a good idea,” Ana interrupted. “That way, we cover more ground in the little time we have.” “Fine,” Jethro grumbled. “But-” “No, no ‘buts’, Jethro,” Erin growled in a mock copy of Jethro’s voice. “I’m not laughing, Erin,” Jethro grumbled. “This isn’t funny. This is very serious. We meet back here before the sun goes down. Got it?” “Understood,” Ana said. “Yep,” Erin snapped. “Whatever happened to Samuel’s racist grandmother?” “I found what’s left of her outside,” Jethro said. “From what I saw, our new wolf wanted a snack.” “Lovely,” Erin said before sprinting off into the forest. Ana let out a depressed sigh as she turned to walk into the forest. “Ana,” Jethro whispered gently. “Don’t worry about Samuel. We’ll find him. You have my word.” “How can you be so sure?” Ana asked, choking back tears. “Why should I believe that he’ll be alright? You said you knew what was going on twice, and you were wrong both times!” “Yeah, that doesn’t happen very often,” Jethro said elusively. “I’m normally right the first time, but that’s besides the point. When I make a promise, I always follow through. I promised that I would save Samuel, and I will save him. I will not stop until all of this is over. You mark my word, you and Samuel will have the rest of your lives to spend together.” “Thank you, Jethro,” Ana said. “I guess I’d better get looking.” Ana turned and walked into the forest. When she was no longer in view, Jethro walked into the forest as well. After walking for several minutes, Jethro stopped. “Well, that’s not supposed to happen,” Jethro mumbled. He stopped by a tree and closed his eyes. “This isn’t good,” he slurred. “Erin, you’re on your own for now, ‘cause I ain’t gonna be… able… ta h-he-hel… help… you for awhile…” he slurred. He sounded as if he was intoxicated. “The Nethrwalk shouldn’t have caused this much trouble, even for one gone wrong,” he slurred. He was barely able to get the words out. He held his hands out to his sides. His skin began glowing purple, and purple fire erupted from his hands. The fire vanished and Jethro fell to his knees. “But this isn’t supposed happen yet,” he gurgled before falling onto his back. Jethro was left in the same condition as before, laying on the ground, sweat running down his face, his eyes dead. Meanwhile, Erin had started following some tracks. Foot prints that were shaped like wolf tracks, running back and forth across the dirt. Erin was sure that they were not just any wolf track, as they alternated between those of a wolf and the foot prints of a human. “Great,” Erin muttered. “There are tracks all over the place. How the crap am I supposed to know which tracks to follow?” Then she saw a trail of blood along some of the tracks. It was not red, but a rusted copper color. “Seems half alien wolf blood to me,” Erin giggled. She continued following the tracks. “Oh my god!” she yelled as she saw someone. A boy was laying in the dirt, though he seemed to be in his late teens or early twenties. He was completely naked, shivering in the cold. Blood was running from an injury on his chest and back. His left ankle was caught in a bear trap. Blood was pouring over the trap and pooling into a puddle beneath his ankle. Erin ran over to try and pull the trap off of his ankle. “Get away from me!” he screamed. “Get out of here!” “Not until I help you get outta here!” Erin insisted. “I can’t just leave you here!” Erin put all her strength into trying to pry the trap open. Despite her best efforts, it would not budge. The sharp points of the trap cut her hands, adding her blood to the mix. “No! You have to get out of here!” he screamed again. “I’m not going… to leave… you here…” Erin said as something caught her eye. There was a medallion hanging from his neck. “Where’d you get that medallion? Why do you want me to leave you here?” He seemed to be in more pain than he was before. More pain then he should be. “You don’t understand!” he screamed. “The sun!” He screamed in pain as Erin looked through the trees at the horizon. “The sun?” she asked as she squinted to see. And that’s when she saw it. More time had passed than she thought. The sun was starting to set. “Oh, crap!” Erin looked back at the boy. He was on his hands and knees now. He raised his head to face Erin, but his eyes were shut. “Run!” he pleaded desperately. “Please! Just get out of here!” He opened his eyes, and they were different than before. They had changed to a bright green that seemed to glow in the fading light. Erin pressed her hand to the small device in her ear. “Jethro,” she said with a trembling voice. “Jethro, I found Samuel!” There was no response. Samuel continued to change. The hair all over his body started to grow until he was covered by a coat of thick brown fur. The nails on his hands and feet grew into rough, jagged, sharp claws. Then came a sound that made Erin sick to her stomach. The wolf was at least two or three feet taller than Samuel, and so now, he had to grow. All the bones in Samuel’s body snapped and popped as they were dislocated and stretched apart. Erin looked away, unable to look at Samuel undergoing this awful lycanthropic transformation. She looked back when she heard metal breaking. She looked back just in time to see Samuel, now a towering wolf, standing above the bear trap. It looked as if he had ripped it open with his bare hands. The blood dripping from the slashes on his hands only confirmed this. “Jethro!” Erin screamed desperately. “I’ve found Samuel! And I could really use some help here!” There was no response. Erin took off running through the trees. The wolf chased after her, right at her heels. Erin began running in between the trees and through every small opening she could find. If the wolf was following her exact path, then his large bulk would slow him down sufficiently to keep him away from Erin. The wolf attempted to squeeze through everything that Erin ran through. This slowed it down enough for Erin to increase the distance between her and the wolves teeth. While all that was happening, Ana had continued searching the forest for Samuel. “Samuel! Please come back!” she pleaded. “We only want to help you!” Then Ana came across Jethro. He was laying on the ground, nearly catatonic. “Jethro!” Ana screamed. She ran over to him and knelt beside him. “Jethro, please wake up! You can’t die! I need your help to save Samuel! You need to wake up!” Ana shook Jethro’s body, trying to get him to come to. She pressed her ear against his chest. His heartbeat was erratic, beating twice, then pausing for a few seconds, and beating twice again. “Come on, please wake up!” Ana begged. Her wish came true. Jethro’s chest lunged forward, and he took a loud breath. “That didn’t feel nice!” he said as he rose to his feet. “Ana, what’re you doing here?” “I found you just laying on the ground,” Ana said. “What happened?” “Oh, someone tried to kill me is all,” Jethro said nonchalantly. “Someone tried to kill you?!” Ana repeated. “Who? Who was it?” “Don’t worry about it,” Jethro said. “We need to find Erin, the sun’s almost set.” A loud howl echoed through the trees. “I think I found her,” Ana commented. Jethro and Ana ran towards the noise, and found Erin running at them, the wolf closing in on her. “Follow Erin,” Jethro said. “And what about you and Samuel?” Ana asked. “What if the other wolf shows up?” “Don’t worry about that,” Jethro said. “I’ve got this.” Ana ran after Erin, but looked back at Jethro. He was nearly out of her vision, but something in his hand was glowing a faint yellow. “What’s he doing?” she asked herself. When Ana and Erin exited the forest, they stopped and began trying to catch their breath. “We have to go back and help Jethro,” Erin huffed. “Or, you can help me,” someone behind Erin and Ana said. The women turned to see who it was. It was the man from before, the one who had shot at Erin. “That old hag didn’t have much meat on her bones. I’m still starving!” He knelt down and changed into a wolf. But this one different. He was a full Werophell. He was at least a foot taller than Samuel, his eyes glowed yellow, and he changed much faster. He ran straight towards Erin and Ana, faster than Samuel had ever moved. The women took off running, darting in between the trees and rocks, trying to slow the wolf down. It did not matter though. The wolf was stronger to. With a swing of it’s arm, it smashed through trees, rocks, and anything that got in it’s way. “Come here, girly!” he growled as he tackled Ana and pinned her to the ground. “After I kill you, I’m going to finish of your precious Samuel!” “Let her go!” Jethro shouted. The wolf looked up. Jethro was standing a few yards away, holding up a glowing yellow crystal. Standing behind him was Samuel, still in his wolf form. Ana’s attacker released her and slowly rose to his full height. On his hind legs, he was at least ten feet tall. “I am Jar’hiwq, warrior from Pack Gor’null, in the plains of Phell! I am here under the Yarow Rights of the Ungav Proclamation, granted by Trevka! Who do you represent?” Jethro lowered the crystal and returned it to his pocket. “I am here under the Hunret Command of the Necro Accords, founded by Treyfus,” he said evenly. “And what is your name, warrior?” the wolf asked. He slightly lowered his body and dipped his head forward. “I dare not speak my name,” Jethro said. “For the calamity it will bring. On the Phell home world, I am known by another name.” “And what name would that be?” “Jhar’okq, herald of darkness, bringer of death.” No sooner had the words left Jethro’s mouth, the wolf lunged after Ana, raising a claw to strike her. He was stopped short by Samuel, who had charged to save Ana. He forced the wolf to the ground, latching his jaw around the wolves wrist. The wolf pushed Samuel away, and hit him in the face with the back of his elbow. “You are an affront to nature!” the wolf shouted. “For that indecency, your father deserved to die! And as an impure mutt, you will be destroyed!” “I have another idea,” Jethro interjected. He stepped in between Samuel and the wolf. Ana ran over to Samuel and put her arms around his neck. She kissed the bridge in between his eyes. Her left hand pressed into the fur on the side of his neck, her right hand scratching behind his ear, attempting to calm him down. “Samuel, I know you can hear me, even if you can’t understand me,” she said soothingly. “I’m here for you, okay? Everything will be fine.” “What are you saying?” the wolf asked. Jethro snapped his fingers, and in a flash a violet light, the Dorr appeared. Jethro stepped over to it and opened it. “I can take you home,” he said. On the other side of the Dorr was what looked like and endless plain, covered in tall grass. In the distance were trees, most likely a forest. “All you have to do is leave them alone.” “It is my sworn duty to destroy this freak, and I will not let you stand in my way! Not even the legendary Jhar'okq will stand in my way!” A grave look flicked across Jethro’s face, but was quickly replaced by a face that Erin knew far to well. A face of grim determination, that Jethro knew what he had to do. To do something that was not going to end well. To do something that Jethro would not enjoy doing, but something he was all to familiar with. “Then you should know that this world, the Earth, is under my protection,” Jethro said firmly. He looked the wolf firmly in the eyes. “You’re not the first that’s come here, and you won’t be the last.” “You dare challenge me?!” the wolf yelled in anger. Jethro walked over to Erin. “Erin, get Ana and Samuel to safety,” he whispered. “When you get to the farm, put this in the medallion on Samuel’s neck,” he said as handed Erin the yellow crystal. “It will keep him in human form.” “Jethro, what are you gonna do?” Erin asked. She looked Jethro hard in eyes, giving him a prying look. I’m starting to get the hang of this. He can’t hide anything from me. “Erin, I’m about to do something that isn’t something to be proud of,” Jethro said. “Something that I don’t want you to see. Now, go!” “Jethro, you can’t do this!” Erin said demandingly. “Erin, this isn’t open for debate,” Jethro growled. “Now get out of here!” “Jethro, don’t you remember what you said to me?” Erin asked. “You told me that I’m with you, specifically to keep you from doing things like this. So, I’m not letting you do this.” “Erin, please go, now,” Jethro said again. The urgency in Jethro’s voice told Erin everything she needed to know. Nothing she could say or do was going to change what Jethro was about to do next. Erin did as she was told and led Ana and Samuel out of the forest. “Now, prepare to die!” the wolf screamed. He plowed towards Jethro at full speed, ready to attack. The wolves incredible speed, strength, and build would be daunting enough; but this wolf was a trained warrior, and the Werophell follow a strict code of honor involving glorious combat, ritualistic violence, a strong sense of family and dedication to the hunt, and absolute, unending, and unfailing loyalty to the pack. The Werophell take combat very seriously. And they do not like losing. Jethro materialized a sledgehammer and swung it straight into the wolves chest. The wolf was launched backwards, and smashed into a tree. The wolf climbed back to it’s feet and ran straight for Jethro. It swung a fist and sliced it’s claws across Jethro’s face. The sledgehammer dematerialized, and Jethro stumbled over. The wolf drove it’s claws into Jethro’s chest. “I will take your heart back to Phell as a trophy of honor!” the wolf shouted. “You know,” Jethro grumbled softly. “You’d make a very handsome throw rug.” Erin, Ana, and Samuel had arrived in the town several minutes after leaving the forest. First, they had gone to the Erikson farm. Ana had kept Samuel calm while Erin placed the yellow crystal in the medallion. Erin had noticed that the yellow crystal seemed to have a calming effect on Samuel the same way the orange crystal seemed to weaken Laughing Jack, but she did not expect it to have such a powerful effect on him. When the crystal was firmly in the medallion, Samuel changed back into his human form, despite the fact that it was still night. After that, they gave Samuel some new clothes from the house. Then, they went back to the town. “Okay,” Erin said once they were safely inside the gate. “You two stay here while I go back to help Jethro.” Erin turned and walked out the gate. When she was only a few feet away, Jethro came walking down the road. “No need to go back for me,” he said. “I’m coming.” When Jethro got closer to Erin, she could see that he had not just gone for a walk in the park. He was covered in cuts and bruises, and his clothes were torn up. Individually, each cut, bruise, and tear was bathed in a purple fire. When the fire subsided, he was healed. “Jethro, what happened?” Erin asked, running up to meet him. “I’m fine, and we don’t have to-” Jethro began. He was cut off by Erin, who ran up to him and through her arms around him in a hug. “Don’t worry me like that again! Do you hear me?” Erin ordered. Jethro did not know how to react. The crap am I supposed to do? Do I hug her back? Do push her off of me? Do I just stand here and wait for it to end? Jethro’s thoughts were interrupted when Erin released him. “So, Jethro,” Ana said as she walked up. “What about the other wolf? Are we still in danger?” “Well, I’m sure Samuel can tell you the answer to that,” Jethro responded, pointing to Samuel. Samuel straightened to attention. He took a deep breath in through his nose. After holding that breath for several seconds, he let it out through his mouth. A shiver ran down his spine. “He’s dead,” Samuel said. “Werophell blood smells even worse than human blood.” “He can smell blood?” Erin whispered to Jethro. “I can here pretty good too,” Samuel said. “Blessing and a curse.” “But the other wolf is dead, right?” Erin asked. “Yes, Erin,” Jethro said. “He’s dead.” “Jethro, Erin,” Ana said, Samuel’s hand in hers. “Thank you for everything you have done to help us. How can we ever repay you?” “Just keep that medallion on,” Jethro said, pointing to the yellow crystal hanging from Samuel’s neck. “Or you’ll have a lot of problems.” “I promise to keep it on,” Samuel said reassuringly. “In order to thank you for your help, I would like to invite you to our wedding.” “I, uh, don’t really, uh,” Jethro tried saying. Erin could not believe what was happening in front of her, she had never seen Jethro trip over himself like that. “I don’t really do mushy crap. That includes weddings.” “Jethro would be thrilled to go to your wedding,” Erin interrupted. “Jethro, give them your contact information.” Jethro sighed and reached into his coat pocket. “Here,” he said, producing an old, yellowed, worn out envelope. “This is my contact information.” Samuel and Ana opened the envelope and looked at it’s contents. “What is a ‘phone number’?” Samuel asked. “Just ignore that one,” Erin said. “Then what’s an ‘email’?” Ana asked. “Ignore that one too,” Erin said. “What’s ‘Skype’?” Ana and Samuel asked at the same time. “Oh, for the love of god!” Erin shouted in frustration. “Jethro, give them a way to get in touch with you in a way that’s been invented!” “Right here,” Jethro said, pointing to the bottom of the paper. “Right me a letter, and I should get it.” “But, it’s dated for over two hundred years away!” Ana shouted. “How are you supposed to get the letter?” “Because he can travel in time,” Samuel said. “How’d you know?” Jethro asked. “You say that there are beings from other worlds,” Samuel answered. “You say I am half human, half wolf. Is the ability to travel across history really that much of a stretch?” “Guess not,” Jethro said. He held out his hand. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you.” Samuel shook Jethro’s hand. “Likewise,” he said with a smile. “Again, thank you for helping us,” Ana said. “Anytime,” Erin said. “Now, I suggest you to start to clean this place up.” Ana and Samuel turned and walked over to carriage. When they were both on it and ready, they rode off down the road. “So, are we ready to get outta here?” Erin asked. She turned towards Jethro. “We should be ready about now,” Jethro said. He looked around, as if something was missing. “If we finished what we needed to do, the Dorr should be here by now.” “Then where is it?” Erin asked, looking around for the Dorr. “It should be here somewhe-” Jethro began before being cut off. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” “What? What is it?” Erin asked. “That,” Jethro said, pointing. Jethro was pointing at someone standing outside a bar. He was hunched over, apparently choking on something. “This is what we came here for.” Jethro walked up to the man, and smacked him in between his shoulders. He spat the food out and wheezed out a cough. “Thank you, sir!” he said gratefully. Jethro looked at the half eaten apple on the ground, then turned and walked away. “Chew next time,” he grumbled. “I'm not even gonna ask,” Erin mumbled. Soon after, the Dorr appeared in a flash of violet light. “I know where we should go next!” Erin said happily as she walked over to the Dorr. “Erin, we need to talk,” Jethro said as he got to the Dorr. “We should go to the-” “Erin, listen to me!” Jethro said in a commanding tone. He had not yelled, but Erin knew something was wrong. “You could've been killed today. I wouldn't have been able to save you.” “Jethro, I'll be fine,” Erin said reassuringly. She put her hand on Jethro's arm. “I can take care of myself. I don't need a knight in shining armor to come save me. I'm not scared.” Erin then opened the Dorr and stepped through it. For a moment, Jethro continued to stare at the spot that Erin had been standing in. “But I am,” he mumbled under his breath before stepping through the Dorr.
The_Amazing SAF