Blood Secrets

This is the beginning of a story that I have been writing for a very long time. I finally decided to share it with someone other than my beta. Please feel free to leave reviews. They encourage me to write more. I hope you enjoy.

WARNINGS: violence, language, angst

Amy walked quietly through a meadow of velvety green grasses, listening to the quiet hum of the crickets as she gazed at the stars in the endless canopy of midnight blue sky. This was her time, the night. She felt at home under that silent mantle of the deepest shade of blue imaginable. A blue so impenetrable it was almost black. She closed her eyes and smiled as she inhaled the crisp smell of night air and grass. As she listened to the natural sounds around her, she felt the wind shift slightly. She breathed deeply and sighed. So it begins.

She sat down on a nearby boulder resting at the roots of a white pine tree. With her back up against the trunk of the tree, she waited. If they want my help, they’ll have to come to me, she thought. She closed her eyes and settled into the contours of the rock beneath feeling it cradle her body.

She extended her aura to see how far off the others were and how long she would have to wait for them. At the edges of awareness, she found the ones who sought her. They would arrive within the hour. She would wait.

* * *

Ann rested quietly under the cool branches of a large maple tree. She closed her eyes and listened to the soft hum of a gentle breeze as it ruffled the leaves in the overhead branches. There had been a time when she would have given anything to experience this one simple pleasure, and now she had it at her leisure. This was her time, the night. She felt alive with the commotion of nightlife. She felt the slightest changes in her surroundings like the world was breathing in the night with her. Ann lay on the soft grass under the shadows of the tree allowing the earth to embrace her like a lost lover. Suddenly she felt a subtle tremble come from the ground beneath her. Damn it, they’re early!

She opened her eyes and took a deep breath. Since they’re disturbing my revelry, I think I’ll fuck with them a little, she thought and smiled wryly. She quickly sprang to her feet and leaned back against the tree. Ann felt the slight vibrations of the earth continue, indicating the others’ approach. They were just on the other side of the tree outside the circle of its branches.

“You’re early. Why?” She asked in a firm, lilting voice. She heard a gasp come from the others. She smiled.

* * *

Mike trudged through the low grasses with a small band of young men from the monastery over the mountain. He hated the night and the outdoors. The combination was making this a very bad night for him. However, the prophet had been clear. The ones they sought could only be found after dark in the wild country beyond the mountain. Therefore, since he was the protector of the young monks, he was forced to walk this path whether he liked it or not.

He wondered how much longer it would take for him to find the ones he sought. Not that it really mattered. Even after he found them, he would have to stand around and wait for them to do whatever it was that they were supposed to do. He was not too sure as to what that would be, but that was prophesying for you. He had to face it. Thinking longingly about the nice warm bed he left behind for this journey, a not so gentle sigh escaped his weary lips. They had been traveling since a little after dawn and had not stopped up to this point. He was exhausted. Oh well, he thought with another sigh, I can wish; can’t I? He shrugged his shoulders in silent response to his pondering and continued to march along.

The group slowly approached a large maple tree growing in the center of the path, which Mike had missed. How did I miss something that large? He held up his hand to signal for the group to halt before he proceeded ahead. The branches hung down low for a maple tree. He crept softly under the nearest branches and peered into the shadows beyond. Before he took another step, a voice stopped him in his tracks.

“You’re early. Why?” The voice lilted from the blackness beyond. The men behind him gasped at the unexpected sound. He tried to see through the pitch cast by the enormous tree, but found that the harder he tried the darker the shadows became.

Finally he stopped looking for the speaker and answered the question. “The Prophet sent these men.” He paused briefly, feeling quite ridiculous talking to a tree. “Are you alone?” Quiet laughter floated to him in response to his question. “Show yourself.” Mike growled. He was losing the last thread of patience. “Or are you just a spirit?”

At that, the shadows seemed to dissipate, showing a figure standing to the left of the tree. “I have been called many things in my life, but a spirit was never one of them.” He fought hard not to jump at the sighting. “The men we were expecting. Did the Prophet send you too?” Mike found it difficult to speak, so he just nodded his assent. “Okay, Fighter, I’ll show myself,” she spoke with condescension dripping from her voice.

Out of the shadows walked a woman of pure beauty. Nearly six feet tall, she towered over Mike and made him feel cowed. She had luminescent blond hair and cold blue eyes that appeared to glow with the moon’s light. Her skin was milky white and she wore black leather from head to foot that contoured to her frame and accentuated all the luscious curves of her entire body. The black next to her creamy skin made her skin glow faintly. Mike tried hard, but could not stop staring at her. He had never seen such beauty in his long life.

Seeing this, Ann smiled derisively. “Now, let me see if I remember. ‘An Evil will come’ blah, blah, blah. Um, oh yeah, ‘There will be two, to save the masses, one of Air and one of Earth. These the True Power will reveal.’ Or some such nonsense.” Mike stood there in mute awe, while Ann looked around with a bemused grin. “I guess from the look of things; we must be short one.” She looked at Mike’s dumbfounded expression and shook her head. “In answer to your first question, I am never alone.” Mike tried to follow her rambling, but lost himself around, “Let me see if I remember.”

Ann looked at the men standing around the tree. They wore simple robes. A length of white rope cinched each robe at the waist. The ropes had small pouches attached, which she guessed would contain paper, ink, and quills for writing. She knew why these men were here. Amy told her they would come eventually, but she had not expected them so soon. I suppose Amy didn’t know when they were supposed to arrive either. It doesn’t matter. They’re here now.

“I know why you’ve come, but I can’t help you alone. You’ll follow me to my sister, and we will help you together.” This was not really a request. If they wanted the knowledge they sought, they had to follow her. She never even looked over her shoulder to see if they were behind her. She just started walking toward the tall pine tree at the far end of the meadow. Amy was there; Ann could feel it.

As they approached, Ann could see Amy sitting on the large boulder beside the pine tree. The men were unable to see her sitting beside the tree. Ann whispered to the night wind, “They’re here.”

“I know,” came the response without words. Ann stopped short of the tree and turned to the men following at her heals. They jerked to a halt when she turned.

“Please sit upon the grass. We’ll assist you any way we’re able.” Ann turned back toward the tree in time to see Amy climb off of the rock and start in her direction. She waited patiently for her sister to approach. Then turned to kneel facing the men.

Amy walked toward the gathering. She saw the scholars sitting upon
the grass and noted the hunter standing behind them. He appeared to be in shock. “Mike,” she said loud enough for him to hear. There was a small smile playing across her lips. “Please stop gaping.” The whole crowd seated on the ground turned to look at their protector.

He turned his head to the side hoping that the dark would hide his expression. He was surprised that she had seen him looking. She was as enchanting as her sister. She was about the same height as Ann, with hair as black as night. Where Ann’s hair shown with the moonlight, Amy’s appeared to soak it in and keep it. Her grey eyes seemed to pull light from the crystalline air and shine that light back into his soul. Her complexion was just as milky as Ann’s was and she dressed in the same fashion. How did she know my name? He wondered. How could she see my face from that far away in the dark? Why do the two of these women seem so familiar to me? He could not seem to think of the answers to these questions, but he was not given very much time to ponder them before Amy laughed. It sounded like the tinkling of silver bells.

“You really don’t remember, do you Mike?” Amy asked. She watched him try to sort out the rush of details. “Well I’ll let you think about it, while I tend to these men. Think hard.” She knelt beside Ann at that moment and gazed at the men, ignoring Mike completely.

“What has your Prophet told you?” Ann asked. Her demeanor was like the calm before the storm. She turned her attention to a young man in the group, who was fidgeting with the thin cord tied tightly around his waist. His hands were trembling and he seemed unable to bring himself to look at these two enchanting women.

Amy smiled at the way these men were intimidated by two women, who were alone in the forest. But then again, she knew what Christian, “the prophet,” had told them. After all, she was the one who had provided the “vision” for her brother.

The young man, fiddling with the cord around his waist, finally spoke. “We were told that you could help us find an army to defeat a great evil, which is coming to our land.”

Amy laughed quietly to herself. “What’s your name, child?”

“Greg,” he told her. “Can you help us?”

“Yes, Greg, although I highly doubt you’ll like the soldiers we find for you. They’re a great and powerful lot, but they don’t know it. Their true nature was never revealed to them." Greg looked at her with a confused expression on his pale face. Amy’s smile turned grim. "Your salvation lies within."

Confusion passed over his face showing the blessed naivete of his youth. "What do you mean, it lies within? Within what?"

"Not what, Greg, but who." Amy answered.

He was slowly shaking his head in disbelief as realization dawned; his voice reduced to a whisper. "We are from a peaceful sect of monks. We won’t commit violence for any reason. It goes against everything for which we stand."

Amy raised her hand for quiet. When she spoke, there was a terrible sadness in her voice. "I know what your teachings are. Several years ago, the two of us lived among those like you. However, believe me, the only reason you men practice patience is that it suppresses your true natures. You men are werewolves." She said the last quickly and firmly. There really was no delicate way to relay this truth to them considering it was against everything they had been taught from youth until now.

Several of the men present fainted. Greg looked as if he wished to join those men on the ground, his face having gone from pale to pure white. “W-what do you mean? The last time I checked, werewolves were fictional creatures, who changed from man to beast on the full moon. I don’t know about any of the other men here, but I have never turned into a wolf, nor have I had the compulsion to howl at the moon." He saw Ann trying hard not to grin at his outburst. "Oh I get it. You’re joking right?" He waited for a response from the ladies. When they said nothing to him, he pleaded, “Tell me you are joking.”

Ann looked over at her sister briefly. “Ooo, he’s feisty.” Amy refrained from responding to her sister. This was not the time to be messing with these men. There was enough time for that later.

Amy raised her hand toward Ann as a sign that she should back off for the moment. “Unfortunately, what I’ve said is the truth. The moon has nothing to do with the change. Pain, anger, and fear trigger the metamorphosis at first. Once you’ve gained control over your beast, you will be able to change at will or resist that change. In your wolven state, you’ll be nearly invincible.” Amy glanced briefly around the group of men and saw that several were still out cold.

“These men are supposed to fight off Louis and his horde?” Ann asked incredulously, having noticed the same thing Amy had. Amy’s response was a simple nod. “How?”

“Once they come to terms with what they are, they will be in much better condition.”

Ann surveyed the unconscious masses skeptically. “If you say so.”

“I can’t begin this way.” Amy stood with a sigh and walked through the gathering of men to the closest unconscious one. She knelt down beside his prone body and laid her hands to either side of his head. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the man between her hands. “Wake up!” She projected the message into his subconscious mind and instantly the man’s eyes shot open. After the first was awake, she made her rounds through the group repeating the same procedure until everyone was conscious again. Then she returned to her seat.

“Now that I have everyone’s attention again, let me explain.” She turned her attention toward Greg again. “What you said before about being passive is true for a reason. You men were born as creatures capable of catastrophic violence. You all come from a long line of lupine. Your particular brotherhood was created centuries ago as a way to protect the masses while you grew and matured. You men were born with this gift; others have been turned by men like you to help in the struggle. But one and all are werewolves or you would not be here as members of your monastery.

“Wait!” Greg interrupted. “If this organization was created with the sole purpose of controlling werewolves, why haven’t we been told until now?”

“As I said before, this organization was created centuries ago. Those who knew what you are have since died, but the tradition started and the criterion placed for admission to this guild haven’t changed. None like you have made the change in your sect for over 150 years, because you were not needed to fight. It’s best to let the beast lay dormant if it’s not needed.”

“Now as I was saying before, the moon has nothing to do with the change. Rage, violence, pain or similar strong emotions can trigger the change. That’s why you men have been taught all your lives to never breed anger or promote violence. Because of the lessons you’ve all learned through life, you never made the change or knew that you could. Therefore, you’ve been sent to us to be brought through the first transformation. Tonight you’ll finally be the weapons you’re all meant to be. Do any of you have any questions?” Amy looked at the group of men. They all looked as if they have just witnessed the execution of their mothers.

“That can’t be!” Greg cried out. He jumped to his feet and charged toward where Ann and Amy were kneeling on the ground. Ann waited for Greg to get within arms’ reach before she stood to meet him. She placed her hand on his shoulder with her fingers under his collarbone and squeezed causing him to fall to his knees with a cry of pain. She kept her grip on his shoulder while she bent down until she was eye level with him.

“Are you sure we’re lying?” Ann calmly asked Greg. When he did not answer, she tightened her grip on him until her drew blood with her nails. With tears in his eyes, Greg shook his head unable to respond verbally. “Amy,” she said without taking her eyes from her victim, “I think these gentlemen need a demonstration. Don’t you?”

Amy calmly stood and moved to face her sister over Greg’s shoulder. She laid her hand on Ann’s arm. “There’s a better way.”

Anger flashed quickly across Ann’s face. “This is faster and safer than your way. I won’t let you waste your energy on insolent fools.”

Amy raised her eyebrows at Ann’s silent outburst. “We need these men to willingly change again in the future. If we force the change by your method now, we may have to force it every time. We can’t afford that kind of attention for these men. Now let me do this my way.”

Ann looked away from her sister for a moment to think. When she looked up again Amy saw the acquiescence she was looking for and saw Ann release her hold on Greg’s shoulder. “Thank you, Ann.” When Ann took a step away from the kneeling man, Amy took her place. “Follow me Gregory. I’ll show you the truth of my words.” Greg looked at both women and rubbed his raw shoulder. Amy started walking beyond the place she had been sitting with Ann and came to a stop by the place where she had waited for these men to arrive.

After he was certain that Ann would no longer harm him, Greg stood and walked toward Amy. He saw the boulder for the first time, which had been hidden from view by deep shadows up to this point. He saw Amy was waiting for him on the other side of the rock. He found her to be the definition of mystery. Greg stopped just short of the rock, not wanting to be too close to this living enigma. “Sit on the rock, Greg. You won’t want to be standing when this happens.”

“When what happens? What do you mean?” He asked. He knew he did not want to hear the answer to that question, but found himself compelled to ask anyway. He noticed a small smile form on Amy’s face and wondered deeply why that made him feel happy. He dismissed the thought as soon as it had formed.

Ann still back a few yards with the rest of the group received a command from Amy to bring the group closer. She muttered quietly to herself about always having to do everything, but she still turned to the group of men, including Mike, who sat lost in thought in the back of the group, and instructed them as to where they must sit. When everyone was in place, she moved closer to Amy and Greg, who were by the rock, which was now surrounded by the monks. “Thank you, Ann. Hopefully I’ll only have to do this once.” Ann nodded her understanding and took her place by Amy’s side.

“Greg,” Amy said again, “please sit on the rock. The first change is difficult. You won’t want to be standing when it happens.” She held out her hand toward the stone. “Please.” Whether it was the “please” or his morbid curiosity, he finally complied with her request. He found the stone surprisingly comfortable. “Comfortable?” she inquired, but did not give him time to answer.

Amy stood in front of Greg with her hands at her sides. “I don’t want you to be afraid of me, so let me explain what I’m going to do.” Greg opened his mouth to protest to fear part, but Amy interjected, “I can see into your thoughts. Your deepest feelings are laid bare to me. Be at peace with me for now.” He nodded his consent, and she continued. “You have, hidden inside you, a creature you wish not to acknowledge. I’m going to search your mind to find the essence of this creature and help you call him. When the change occurs you won’t be a wolf in the strictest sense. However, you’ll be more aware of your surroundings even in the dark, you’ll gain strength beyond anything you have now, you’ll grow claws and sharper teeth, and you’ll gain the ability to heal yourself quickly. All of these attributes will go away, once you revert to your human state. Do you understand?” She was looking deeply into his eyes and somehow he knew that she saw into his soul.

He took a deep breath to calm himself before he answered. “I understand. Will it hurt?” he asked astonished at the fear he heard in his own voice. He had been taught to repress fear. He fought hard with himself to ease his growing dread.

“Yes, it’ll hurt, but the pain passes quickly. You must get through the pain the first time to be able to control the change in the future. I’ll help you find your way.” She could smell his fear ripe on his skin, but she could also taste his determination not to back out of this. She looked him in the eye and asked, “Are you ready?” In his mind she added, “Do not suppress your fear Greg. I can use that to help you.” His eyes held the unasked question, and Amy smiled at him to confirm that he had heard her voice inside his head.

Not trusting his own voice, Greg merely nodded. “Blank your mind. Close your eyes if you need to, but think of never ending darkness. Your thoughts can distract me, which will make this more difficult.” He closed his eyes and in moments, Amy could see the muscles of his face relax in practiced meditation. Well at least the trainers got that much right. She sat down on the ground in front of him and closed her eyes.

* * *

She opened her eyes and found herself in a small town with tumbleweed rolling lazily down the dirt-covered road. There were a few whitewashed buildings around her. None of the structures had more than one story. This was the place in Greg’s mind where he hid things. She doubted he even knew that this place existed, but she had to bring him here to help her find the other half of himself. “Greg,” she called out. She waited patiently for him to answer her call. Slowly a figure began to appear in front of her in the street. With the dust billowing around him so much, it took her a moment to recognize him. His appearance had changed slightly. He wore comfortably worn jeans and a faded green tee shirt, instead of the robes. “Does any of this look familiar to you?” She waited until he had taken a good look around, but when he was through, he shook his head apologetically. “It’s all right. I need you to focus on the fear you had earlier and then tell me where you want to go.”

After a pregnant pause, he lazily responded, “I can’t. I don’t feel anything now. I’m sorry.” He lowered his eyes to the ground and refrained from looking at her. He wanted to be helpful, but he could not seem to muster what was needed.

“I am sorry too,” Amy replied. She pulled a knife from behind her belt. It was not really there, but in the imagination it existed. As long as Greg believed it was there, it would be real enough to do damage. She stepped up to Greg and slammed the blade up to the hilt into his right thigh. With a cry of pain, he fell to the ground, trying his best to roll so that he would not land on the handle of the knife and do any more damage.

* * *

Everyone was watching the two still figures, waiting for something to happen. Suddenly, Greg’s body jumped, he let out a moan of pain, and blood started dripping from his right thigh. Ann smiled to herself. I was hoping she’d hurt him. She licked her lips in anticipation. Bleed him slowly.

* * *

“Where do you want to go now Greg?” He panted hard trying to regain his focus. She grabbed hold of the knife and twisted the blade in his leg. He screamed in agony and tried to push her away. “Where do you want to go Greg?” She repeated.

He stopped trying to ignore the pain. He realized that he had to escape before this crazy woman hurt him more. He remembered seeing a building to his left and felt a strange compulsion to go there. He started trying to crawl toward the door of that building. He had to get away.

“That’s it Greg, take me where I need to go,” she whispered. She followed his slow progress across the street and over the wooden sidewalk. She stayed several feet back, so that he would believe he was getting away and continue to the building she needed. If she got too close, he might try for a different one just to escape her. She watched him enter a small white building with a green front door and a small porch.

When she entered the front door, she saw that there were wooden chairs lining the far wall. Greg was not in this room, but there was only one doorway out of this room other than the one in which she was standing. She walked to the other door and opened it. There was another small room, but where the waiting room had been brightly lit from the sun outside, this room was dark as a moonless night. When her eyes focused, she found what she was looking for. “Good boy,” she said, and heard a whimper from the other side of the room.

She could see in dark like this easily and found the source of the sound without trouble. Huddled up against the wall in the corner was Greg. He had been trying to get the knife out of his leg, when she happened upon him. She approached him slowly. There was only the one door to this room and no windows, so he couldn’t go anywhere. He tried to back away from her further, but the wall would not give. “Be still. I’ll remove the dagger. I needed you to feel something. The pain helped you to find this place. Trust me.” She went to his side and knelt down on the floor. He was no longer trying to escape, but she could tell that he feared her. She knew that he would never be able to get the dagger out of his leg without her, because it came from her mind, not his. It was impossible to use something created by another’s imagination. She was the exception because she had the ability to enter others’ minds and use their minds to her advantage. The enemy shared this ability, but it was a rare ability. She gently grabbed the hilt of the weapon and pulled it clear of the wound. Greg cried out at the sudden pain. Amy could see that he was weakening quickly.

“Focus on me Gregory. Imagine that all of your pain, anger, and fear are balls of light. Can you do that?” Greg nodded slightly. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his feelings. Gradually a little white light began to appear over his head. As the light grew in size, Amy could see that Greg was shaking with these pent up foreign emotions. The light grew until it nearly blinded Amy before she gave him his next instructions. “Open your eyes.”

He hesitantly complied with her instructions and gasped suddenly blinded by the bright light surrounding him. “Now, concentrate on taking this light within yourself. Imagine that it’s the air you breathe.” He took a deep breath and some of the light dissipated, but the glow remained intense. “Pull harder Greg. You need this light to survive. Breathe deeply.” He eagerly attempted to follow her instructions. He took another deep breath, and the light entered him, leaving only a fraction of itself behind. “That’s it. Do that again, and you’ll return to your friends.” He took the final breath of light, and the room, which they occupied suddenly became pitch black.

Amy smiled to herself while she closed her eyes.

* * *

The real world had reformed itself to Amy’s sight when she opened her eyes. She watched Greg sitting in front of her and felt the subtle shift of energy around him. He was changing. She was happy that method had accomplished the task, but was afraid his power level would not be enough to cause the change in all of the men present. Amy looked over at Ann who still held her post by the stone. “He’s not strong enough to change everyone here. I can pull others through like this, but it’d leave me drained, Ann.”

“We cannot afford weaknesses right now. If he can’t pull them all through, then we’ll use my way.” There was a glint in her eyes when she thought the last. She was honestly hoping to get at least a little blood on her hands tonight. Her hungers really did not care whose blood was spilled, just so long as it was fresh.

Amy let out a long sigh and closed her eyes. There was something she could do, but it was risky. It would take a lot of her energy and she had only ever tried this method on Ann and Christian. The blood differences may cause a problem. “Ann, what if force change, the way I would for you or Christian when you’re unconscious?”

“Do you think it would work?” The glint became a shine and she made a grin to match. Blood would not be spilled this way, but it was very painful. Either way her sadistic side would find it entertaining.

“So long as the blood doesn’t interfere and they’re all touching, then yes. However, I’ll be too drained to do anything else. You’ll have to cover anything that may go wrong, and get them all away from me as soon as possible.” Amy noticed that the shine in her sister’s eyes began to dim. “I don’t have the power to change them all and keep my own hungers down. They’ll need to hunt after the change, but I’ll be hunting something entirely different. You have to change and take them with you.” Ann’s grin had disappeared by this point completely. “Look on the bright side, you’ll get to spill the blood you have been looking to spill all night.”

“Yes, but I’ll have to share it with ALL of them.” Ann indicated the crowd of fifty men standing in the field around them.

Amy nodded with a small smile. “Stop pouting Ann, it doesn’t suit you.” Ann’s only response was to stick her tongue out at her sister, which made Amy laugh. “I’ll take that as a yes. Greg’s change will bring some of the others with him. We should try to get that number as high as possible. The more changed by his power, the less I have to change with mine."

She turned to face the men in the clearing. “Gentlemen, move as close to Greg as possible and hurry.” She and Ann stepped aside and allowed all of the men to gather closer to their comrade. They felt the power shift again violently and felt the warm tingle of it over their skins. There were already ten men standing practically on top of Greg, and they were visibly affected by the power curling around them. Ann and Amy watched as those men began to shift with Greg.

Those men fell on their knees around Greg, who was hunched over himself by this point on the rock. The rest of the men in the group began to retreat seeing their friends fall to the ground. Ann watching this tried to coax them closer to their friends. If she could get nearly all of these men to change with Greg, then maybe Amy would be strong enough to hunt with these men by herself, and she could go off in to the woods and find her own kill. “Stay close to your friends!” she yelled and was pushing those closest to her in toward the eleven men currently changing. She managed to get nearly thirty more men into the area by the time the change happened, and all of them changed with their friends. That left nine men for Amy to change forcibly.

Those who transformed were now slightly taller than they had been before. Their faces had grown into the muzzles of wolves with sharp teeth to match. Claws replaced fingernails and the hind paws of a wolf replaced feet. The forty-one men still maintained humanoid bodies, but they were far from human and would remain so until they fed. The closest lycanthropes to the unchanged men began to sniff the humans with interest. Their friends now looked like food.

Mike yelled and started to back away from the pack of forty-one wolves, who up to that point had been ignoring him completely.
“Mike,” Amy called out. “Don’t panic and for God’s sake, don’t run.” He turned to face her, and she could see that he was well beyond panic. His skin had lost all color until his eyes stood out like blue sapphires from the shadows of his face. He was breathing in fast short gasps, as if the air had turned to jelly and he could not take in enough of it. She realized that if he kept this up, he would hyperventilate and pass out. “Shit!” she cried with feeling. “If he passes out, these guys will eat him for dinner. Ann call the wolves to you now!” she ordered as she bolted toward Mike.

Ann let down a metaphysical shield in her mind, which held her version of the wolf inside. At that moment a flood of wolven energy passed over every wolfman in the area, and they all turned to her sniffing the air.

Amy felt the energy pass her like velvet rubbing across her skin, and she saw that those who had not changed shivered, almost violently, having felt it too. By this time, she reached Mike and stretched out a hand to him slowly, like she was approaching a frightened child. “Mike, they won’t hurt you, if you stay calm.” He was shaking his head just a little too much and still backing away. “Mike, stop and calm down.” In the back of her mind, she felt her own attraction to his fear and had to take a deep breath to suppress the urge to jump him herself. She could smell the fear like something sweet and tangy. “They won’t hurt you,” she said to him, but her voice was a little breathy now with the effort of maintaining her own composure. He stopped, and she took the final steps to close the gap between them. She had to calm him or all hell would break loose.

“Mike, look at me. See my eyes and nothing else.” She was standing directly in front of him now, and she laid her hands on either side of his face. “Find calm within my gaze and be at peace.” While she spoke these words, she quickly probed his mind and found his fear. She quietly built a barrier around it until he finally lost the scent of fear. Once she was finished, Mike stood where he was blinking at her without a clue as to why she was standing in front of him. She let go of his face and turned back to her sister. Ann’s power was still filling the clearing like a warm, vibrating blanket.

She walked over to the final nine men, who by now were standing huddled together as far from the group of wolves as they could be without losing sight of Ann and Amy. They were frightened, but were able to hold it together enough not to run. Amy could see that they were still affected by Ann’s power. They were all trembling as if a lover’s hand was slowly brushing up and down their bodies. She walked over to them. “Now, gentlemen, its your turns. Unfortunately for you, it’ll hurt a great deal.” She saw many of the men looked over at the pack of wolves circled around Ann, and recognized the question they were thinking without reading their minds. “It didn’t really hurt them because they changed naturally. You men; however, were able to resist the natural change. I don’t have the strength to bring you individually as I did your friend Greg; therefore, I’m going to force the wolf form out of each of you. I need you to be touching each other so I can get you all with one pull. I am terribly sorry for this.” There were a few incredulous looks, but most were just scared. “Quickly now, Ann can’t hold your brethren forever.” The men gathered quickly in a group in front, each with a hand on the man nearest to him.

Without any prelude, Amy sent what she saw as invisible hands out into the night. There were nine hands in all, one for each man. Then using her wolven energy, she sent those hands into the men. There was a sharp intake of breath as each man felt an explosion of pain in his skull. The hands found the wolf form in each man, grabbed hold and pulled that form out toward Amy in a quick violent motion, which dropped all the men and Amy to their knees. All of the men screamed in unison as their wolves tore loose from their bodies. Ann heard and saw it all and silently smiled with glee. Then just as suddenly as it all started, there was silence. Nine wolfmen were standing in front of Amy with speculative glances. “Take them Ann.” Amy requested without rising from her knees.

Ann let her power grow and spill over the last of the wolves and called them all to her. Then with a final glance for her sister, she took off running through the night with fifty wolves following in her wake. Amy quietly watched them go, and when the last wolf was out of sight, she collapsed in exhaustion.