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  “And that’s why you’ll never be a true descendant of Orion!” Nadine says. “You don’t understand that his spirit and his wrath are one and the same.”

  Just as Napoleon is about to respond, he’s distracted, we all are, as Luba shifts back from wolf to witch. She is crouched on the ground like a grotesque demon. Her long black hair thankfully covers her naked body as she looks at her favorite spawn.

  “Nadine,” Luba whispers. “Don’t you think it’s time to show your brother and his friends which one of my grandchildren has inherited the real power of our ancestor?”

  I scour Nadine’s face in search of a hint of remorse or fear or sorrow, but can’t find any. She raises her arm and points three fingers at her brother. I don’t know if she’s doing it because she truly wants to show her brother that she is stronger or if she’s doing it merely because she cannot disobey Luba and Orion. But her target isn’t her brother.

  “Finish it, child!” Luba screeches. “Finish what I started.”

  No, Nadine isn’t aiming for her brother. She’s aiming for me.

  I don’t see Nadine move, but I see the blast of silver-black smoke race toward me, and I know whatever’s contained in that mist is vicious and hateful and deadly. Acting quickly, I spring to the left and let my body roll into the wall. I’m safe, but Archie isn’t. I whip my head around just in time to see him take the full blast into his chest, the blast that was meant for me.

  A silent pause is followed by the most horrific screams I’ve ever heard. Archie’s voice is unrecognizable, but I know he’s the one who made the sound. He’s the only one who was propelled into the air, and he’s the only one who crashed onto the floor face-first. The only reason he turns onto his back is because his body is writhing so violently. When I see his face, I howl; I don’t know where the terror ends and the agony begins. And no wonder. Nadine’s black energy is burrowing holes into his body, drilling her foul stench deep inside of him, embalming him with her evil.

  “Archie!!”

  Napoleon’s voice thunders through the room with such authority that everyone except Archie freezes; his body continues to pulsate. Only when Nap embraces his boyfriend does Archie’s body begin to quiet. But there’s nothing that Nap can do to help Archie now; all he can do is seek vengeance.

  Standing in the middle of the room, Nap turns to face his sister, his voice almost sounds as wild as his eyes appear.

  “Now . . . you . . . pay!”

  If Nadine is frightened by her brother’s maniacal proclamation, she hides it well. She actually looks amused. “Looks like you chose the wrong side to play on, brother,” she says.

  “You don’t know how right you are, sister!” Napoleon seethes. “I’ve spent my entire life obeying you and that evil witch, and all of that ends right here and now!”

  He raises his hand, and a pure silver light streaks out of Napoleon’s flesh, piercing the air like a steel arrow, and hits Nadine right in the stomach. Shock overtakes her face and then terror when she looks down to see that her midsection has been ripped apart. There’s no blood, no organs pouring out of her, just blackness. Looks like Napoleon hit her soul.

  But her soul is starting to change. Within the black two silver lights begin to twinkle and pulse. I have no idea what they represent, but Nadine is horrified by the sight.

  “No!!!” Nadine wails, falling to her knees.

  She then turns to the only other being in the room who she knows will help her: Luba.

  “Help me!” she cries, covering the hole that used to house her stomach. “Help us!!”

  Us? What is she talking about? Oh yes, of course, if Nadine dies, Luba loses one-third of her power. And without Nadine it will be even more difficult to keep Napoleon under control.

  Psycho Squaw understands the urgency and races to her granddaughter’s side. She places her hand on the hole that used to be Nadine’s stomach and begins to chant. Like before when I’ve heard her doing her imitation of a holy prayer, I can only pick up certain words, not entire phrases, so I don’t know exactly what she’s saying. Now, however, I know exactly which god she’s praying to: Orion.

  Luba’s lips are moving frantically, and she’s filling up the hole with her own black energy. Orion, child, three, preserve. These are the words I hear. I can string them together to figure out their meaning; she’s begging Orion to preserve the life of her granddaughter. She leaves out the part about how she couldn’t care less if Nadine lives or dies, how her request is completely self-serving. Which is interesting, because the more I learn about this Orion person, the more I think the sicko would help her more if he knew the truth.

  But even with Luba’s lies, it seems that Orion is helping his minions. Slowly the gash begins to heal. Flesh grows out of the emptiness, and soon Nadine’s body is fully repaired. She’s exhausted, but whole.

  While Luba attends to Nadine to help her regain her strength, Napoleon and Arla try to revive Archie. Like the hunter I am, I spot an easy prey, and my body twitches as my eyes zero in on Luba. One jump, one slice into her flesh with my claws and I could kill her; but no, sometimes a hunter needs to protect his pack and not just give in to his cravings. Somewhere up in the distance, Orion, the original hunter, must be looking down at me with pride.

  Or perhaps with disappointment.

  Revived, Nadine has risen, her eyes filled with rage and the desire for revenge and retaliation. But that’s not all. Her body is bathed in silver sweat that clings to her like a steel body shield. Obviously, Orion rewards taking action against your enemy, more than he does showing loyalty for your supporters.

  “Now it’s time for you to pay, brother!” she howls. “You and your chosen one.”

  Without thinking, Napoleon stands in front of Archie’s still-limp body to defend him from his sister’s wrath. He’s fully prepared and willing to die to protect Archie. I know exactly how he feels, but still, I can’t let that happen. Unfortunately, I’ve learned enough to know that I can’t keep him safe on my own.

  “Jess!”

  The room remains lit only by the glow of the moon; there’s no blinding sunlight to destroy the shadows, turn the darkness into something different, something good.

  “JESS!!!”

  This time my voice is louder, more desperate. I need my friend; I need her to fight alongside me, to protect me and keep my friends and me safe. Where is she?! I scream her name one more time, and finally I’m successful. Just as Nadine raises her hand at Napoleon, the room is filled with Jess’s golden light, so intense it makes Luba cry out in panic as if it’s scalding her skin.

  “Hurry!” Luba instructs.

  Luba waves her hand, and it takes me a moment to realize what she’s done—she’s put Arla and me under a spell; we can’t move from our spots. Jess is Napoleon and Archie’s only hope against Nadine.

  This time the light that rockets out of Nadine’s fingers isn’t silver, but pure black. In the middle of the room the black stream splits in two, one heading for Napoleon and one for Archie. She’s not taking any chances this time; she’s aiming to kill, and she wants two for one.

  “Jess, do something!” I scream.

  But Jess doesn’t act; she seems as frozen as I am. It’s because she has to make a horrible choice. “I can only save one of them,” she confesses.

  Her words echo in my ears, creating an intense pain, but it can’t be nearly as unbearable as what Jess is feeling right now. Save her ex-boyfriend or one of her best friends—that’s her choice. I don’t know how she’ll ever decide, but she has to. And right now!

  The two streams of Nadine’s black energy hit Napoleon and Archie at the same time. Both separately fly into the air. Both tremble as if they’re being electrocuted. Both disappear into mists of black smoke. Only one cries out in sheer horror.

  Archie’s voice makes me shudder. It sounds like the cries I make when I transform, when it feels like my body is being ripped apart from its limbs, which is exactly what it looks like is happening. Hanging in t
he air, Archie’s body shakes like a rag doll as ribbons of black and yellow light infuse it. Arms outstretched, he looks like a martyr nailed to a crucifix, but instead of bleeding blood, he’s bleeding sunshine.

  Somehow, Jess has made her choice—she’s chosen to save Archie. In spite of that, Nadine is fighting hard to make Jess regret her decision to interfere with Nadine’s devilish plans.

  “Get . . . away . . . from . . . my . . . prize!”

  Nadine is dripping with sweat, the constant exertion draining her, and her legs are starting to shake almost as wildly as Archie and her brother. I turn my head from Napoleon; I can’t bear to watch his lifeless body thrash in the air any longer. Howling, I call out to anyone listening, to anyone who can hear me, for mercy. Miraculously, my cry is heard. By Luba.

  Aware that she’s already lost one grandchild, she doesn’t want to risk losing another, so she grabs Nadine by the shoulder and commands her to stop.

  “Enough, child,” Luba says.

  But Nadine is far from ready to give in. She flicks her shoulders and breaks free from Luba’s hold in the same exact way Melinda broke free from Winston. Like mother, like daughter. But Luba is through playing. She doesn’t care if Nadine wants to continue.

  “You’ve done all you can!”

  “And so have I,” Jess tells me, her voice uncharacteristically weary and resigned.

  Finally, Nadine lowers her hands, and the energy flow is broken. Napoleon and Archie hang suspended in the air for a few seconds more, and then both crash to the floor, lying next to one another. The two look so peaceful now, like they’re sleeping, but only one is destined to wake up.

  No one speaks as Luba scoops up Nadine in her arms and Arla crawls behind me for protection. There’s no need to speak; there’s no need to comment or say a word. The battle is over. For now.

  “You’ve merely been granted a reprieve, Dominy,” Luba hisses. “Use your time wisely.”

  Psycho Squaw and her granddaughter leave the cabin without glancing back to see if Nap is alive or dead, not out of compassion or out of curiosity. I guess they made their choice too.

  Looking over at Nap I have no idea if he’s alive or dead—he still isn’t moving—but when Archie opens his eyes, I hear Arla and Jess breathe sighs of relief. Nadine hasn’t succeeded; she hasn’t taken Archie from us; she hasn’t taken yet another life! But when we look at our friend closer, we see we might be wrong.

  Lying on the floor looking up at us, Archie has been healed; there isn’t a scratch on his body or on his face. But his eyes tell a different story. Gone is the beautiful and rare violet color, and in its place is something unique and frightening. No longer violet, one eye is completely black, while the other has turned a shimmering shade of gold. He’s survived the battle for his soul, but it looks like Jess and Nadine can both claim victory. Archie’s now a mixture of both good and evil.

  “Hi, Jess,” Archie says. “Been a long time.”

  And now he’s no longer human.

  Chapter 28

  “I’m sorry,” Jess says.

  I want to disagree with her, but I can’t because I feel the same way. Not that I blame Jess, not for a second. She’s saved our friend’s life. But if Archie can see her, that means she’s also changed our friend’s life. I just wish we knew to what extent. How much of Jess’s light does he have within his body and how much of Nadine’s darkness? His body goes limp, but defiantly, his eyes remain open, one black, one golden, staring straight ahead. Which side is stronger, Archie? The darkness or the light? The only response is silence. We’ll just have to wait to find out, but time isn’t on our side. And more enemies are approaching.

  “Domgirl!”

  Even as a wolf that voice makes me smile. I don’t know why Caleb has come here, but I’m grateful to know he’s close.

  “We’re in here,” Arla shouts. She’s clearly in duress, clutching her head with one hand and grabbing the archway of the open door with the other to steady herself. I don’t think it’s her own pain that’s attacking her body; it’s Napoleon’s.

  “Are you all right?” Caleb asks, entering the cabin.

  “I’m fine,” she lies.

  “Oh my God!” he cries out once he sees our two unconscious friends. “Archie!!”

  Caleb kneels next to Archie and lifts his head, cradling it on his knees, and places his fingers on Archie’s wrist. I rush next to Caleb and nuzzle my head against his legs. I need to feel him; I need contact. Caleb wants answers.

  “What happened?” he asks.

  “There was a fight.... Nadine hit them both. . . .” Arla conveys, her voice weary and distracted.

  “Are they . . .”

  Prince Caleb is so sweet he can’t even say the word “dead.”

  “We don’t know,” Arla admits. “Jess did her best.”

  “Jess is here?” Caleb asks, whipping his head around as if he’ll be able to see her.

  “Somewhere,” Arla replies. “She saved Archie’s life.”

  “His pulse is strong,” Caleb announces. “He’s . . . he’s going to be okay.”

  Even though my boyfriend has come face-to-face with unexplained phenomena, he’s still incredibly naïve. He believes what he wants to believe, that good will always win out and evil will always be defeated. He doesn’t understand about balance. Until it’s staring him in the face.

  “Arla . . .” Caleb says. “What’s wrong with his eyes?”

  I rub the crown of my head on his hand to comfort him. He’s so cold. His bravery is giving way to fear.

  “We don’t know yet,” Arla explains. “But, Caleb, why are you here? You’re supposed to be leading my father and his gang to the other side of town. Why’d you bring them to ground zero?”

  “I tried for as long as I could,” he explains. “But a group of them are on their way here. There was nothing I could do to stop them, so I got free from the pack and ran ahead so I could warn you.”

  Bending over and clutching her head, Arla shouts. “Get them out of here!”

  Like before, she isn’t speaking in her own voice, but Napoleon’s.

  Profoundly startled, Caleb falls backward onto the floor. “Nap?!”

  “They’re coming!” Arla as Nap shouts. “Go . . . now!”

  I push my snout hard into Caleb’s knee to get him to move. I’m not sure if Caleb sees the girl or the wolf, but his lips form a smile and he nods; he understands what my action is trying to tell him, that he needs to take Archie and Arla away from here so they’ll be safe. Outside, danger is approaching, and it’ll be here any second.

  “We have to go, Caleb,” Arla says, finally in command of her own voice. “Now!”

  Impulsively, Caleb grabs my head and presses my cheek next to his. I can feel the warmth of his flesh through my fur, and it lights a fire deep inside of me that burns even brighter when he speaks. “Thank God you’re all right,” he whispers into my ear.

  He scoops Archie up into his arms and runs outside, followed closely by Arla. Just before she leaves the cabin, she calls out to the empty air.

  “Jess! Take care of Dominy!”

  Even though I don’t see Jess, I know that she’ll do just that. I sense that she’s nearby, but I can’t wait for her to appear. I need to get Napoleon outside so he’ll be seen by Louis and his army. If I can’t rely on Jess to help me do it, I’ll rely on the wolf.

  Opening wide, I grab Nap’s ankle in my mouth, but I bite down too hard and taste blood. Hunger rushes into my stomach and my brain and my mouth like water racing into a river after a dam is lifted. Fight! I must fight the insatiable need to feast on this flesh and do what’s right. I must keep my paws from crossing over the line, keep them safely on the side my father and mother and Jess would want me to stay on. No, the side that I’ve chosen to remain on! I may be half animal, but I don’t have to act like one.

  Suppressing the insane hunger rocking my body, I loosen my grip on Napoleon’s leg. I drag him from the cabin, trying to avoid any sharp r
ocks in our path, and into the clearing so he’ll be found by the vigilantes and brought back to safety.

  About a mile away I smell fire, not the rage of an inferno, but the whiff of a flame, and I know that torches are close by. Howling madly, I disturb the peaceful silence until I hear voices in the distance.

  “Over here!”

  I had planned on Louis and his mob finding Luba in her state as the feral black wolf so they would turn predator into prey and kill her, confident that they had finally captured and defeated the Full Moon Killer. I never thought I had a plan B, but I had forgotten that sometimes fate makes plans for us. Instead of finding a killer, Louis’s civilian army will find another victim. Fine! Let Luba and Nadine go free for now. If it means that Napoleon can be brought to a hospital and his broken body mended, it will be worth it.

  But I don’t know if there’s enough time to save him. Blood has started to pour out from the huge gash in his chest, racing out from deep within his body and spilling across his pale flesh like red-hued seaweed that washes up, entangled and wet, on a sandy beach. His body is no longer twitching, no longer moving at all except for a slight up-and-down movement near his stomach. His breath is shallow and tired, and he seems ready to give in. Fight, Napoleon! Fight for your life! Don’t let Nadine and Luba become victorious yet again.

  Another howl spills out of my mouth, louder and clearer than before, ripping through the night and landing right where I want it to.

  “It’s the wolf!”

  No one is behind Louis yet; it’s just the two of us staring at each other, the hunter and the hunted. But underneath the sounds of the crackling flame of the torch he’s holding, I can hear frantic voices and shuffling footsteps; his army is getting closer. I have to act quickly before Louis uses the gun that he’s holding in his other hand, because I know for certain that he’s not like my father; he didn’t make a pact with God never to pull the trigger of a loaded gun. If Louis aims, he may very well shoot me. His gun may not be loaded with a silver bullet to kill me, but it’ll be enough to wound me so he can claim me as his trophy. A trophy that will change shape at dawn.