Howl under the Moon Ch. 9

Chapter 91

Jason was setting up his X Box360 to the plasma TV in his living room, he invited Hilary over again to play Halo 3 and other games he had. It had been a Saturday tradition when Hilary would come over and play video games with Jason, when ever they could to keep the time go by while the adults were at work. Outside was noon, the sun was high so the temperature increased making the day warmer than it should, there were no clouds in sight at all. 2

But then Jason began to wonder after the weekends, should he go back to school and tell his friends about the crazy weeknights he had, he could imagine it, “Hey guys guess what, on Friday I just found out that my dog Vandal, yeah y’know the black German shepherd. It turns out that he’s actually a werewolf and has been in hiding out all this time, yeah I know right. But he’s being chase and hunted down by some gang bangers—oh I almost forgot Hilary and I were almost close to getting kill while trying to save him. I have to say that was the best Friday night I had.”3

Yup, he could picture it as he and his buddies laughed it all out. Nah, it might be best to keep it a secret just him, Hilary and that guy. But the true question ran through his mind. How can he follow Eric without his parents knowing? Pressing the power button on the game station, just when the screen came into life there was a knock at the door. That’s probably her. 4

Before actually opening the door, Jason looked through the peephole making sure it wasn’t pin-strip or a disguise assassin. Nope, it was just Hilary again but traded her pajamas clothes to something else and had a small game case in her hand. He opened the door and led her in. Now she wore a red sweater that was hugging her thin body with a pair of jeans and van’s shoes. She grinned at him sheeply though she walked in when Jason turned to avoid Hilary’s smile. When they reached to the living room Hilary tapped Jason on the shoulder. 5

“Jason instead of playing Halo 3 lets play Viva Piñata, please.” Handing the game case to him to see, he nodded and place the disk in the 360, then press play.6

****7

Time had gone by; Eric silently came down from the stairs after pulling himself together. He came into the living room watching as the kids played some video game on the screen with a colorful horse and fox. “What kind of game is this?”8

The kids were startled, they turned their heads at him and Jason answered, “Were playing Viva Piñata, want to play too?” Hilary handed Eric a controller to him. Eric stared at it then at the kids, he shrugged and accepted the controller. Now everyone had in on the game, from Viva Piñata to Call of Duty. The kids laughed and smiled as their characters died but revived again to get revenge. 9

Eric had already knew how to use the controller like knowing from the back of his hand. Eric had to admit playing video games with others was better than playing alone whenever the family decided to go out. 10

As Jason continued to play; the memory from last night struck him like a hammer, when Eric attack and bit down into the thug’s throat, the very thug’s that tried to hurt him and Hilary but Eric manage to save them by biting down his throat and killed him. Although Eric had saved both Jason and Hilary there was a sense of a predatory aura as it stared down at Jason with its cold yellow eye’s. But that memory passed when the thug that was supposedly dead suddenly came back to life. They later played Halo 3.11

How’d that guy come back to life after his throat was ripped? Well duh, he’s a werewolf too so of course he’ll come back alive again, we just need to find a silver bullet and blow it into his brain. He thought as he sniped Hilary from the top floor of an abandon building. 12

But there’s probably more to know that Eric isn’t telling us. Don’t worry Eric your going to tell me one way or another. Eric came from behind and elbowed Jason and then pulled the trigger on him.13

When Eric was about to be blown up by Hilary’s hand grenade, the door clicked opened and a feminine voice came in. “Jason is that you in the living room?”14

“Yeah mom and Hilary is here too.” He replied as Eric was blown up and Shot Hilary across from him. 15

Jason’s mom walked in and placed her purse on a table then hugged Jason then Hilary. “How’d your day gone, sweetie?” She asked when her eye caught her attention. “Why is Vandal in the house again? Jason!”, her voice raised but not in a threaten tone. Jason looked to where was Eric was sitting like magic he reverted back to being Vandal. The only proof that Eric was ever there was the clothes that lay under his paws. The dog just sat there casually staring back at them. 16

“It’s hot outside ma’ and I let Vandal inside the house for a bit.” He lied. Its not that lying was a bad habit for him, its just that if he told the truth to her, she’ll probably think her only son was crazy or if lucky enough faint. Eric listened to their conversation and he did found it strange that people—humans would lie to one another in order not to expose the truth, but as he learned from experience it was sometimes a way of making things easier, more comfortable, more convenient.17

“Its not that hot outside go take the dog in the back. Now.” She ordered as she slipped off her working coat then setting it on the chair. Jason stood up as did Vandal, but the dog knew where to go. Vandal looked up at Jason who mouth the words at him, “Sorry man.” Once Vandal was outside Jason closed the pantry door with a click and went back inside. 18

As the family discuss inside, their mouths and body movement said all than words could ever describe as Vandal watched outside loneness creped in. As always neglected and an outcast came into mind, he whimpered indicating wanting back inside again.19

“I really hate that woman.” He snorted. This is probably a good chance to go back at The Overnight Stay. They won’t notice if I’m gone--!! But then a sudden smell caught his attention. It was fresh but faint. 20

He sniffed the air as his ears perked up trying to catch any sound from the direction of the smell; he tried to pick it up but sadly there were other sounds and smells that were blocking his nostril although his nose manage to pick it up. It was strong, coming from across the yard it was over and beyond the fence. 21

The smell indicate it wasn’t far, he looked around making sure that there was no one around, then he went around the corner of the house where a bush scraped against an old shed that was peeling of its paint and dug up some clothes that he manage to store for just an occasion like this. He reverted back to his human state with a plain dirty T-shirt and a pair of jeans with brown sandals, he looked like he rolled in dirt recently but he paid no mind as he hopped over the iron fence with ease and resume his tracking. 22

****23

Motioning to stay down, he moved towards the back door. He caught a sudden waft of a scent, a dangerous scent which was all too familiar to him. Eric growled low in his throat and the hairs rose on the back of his neck.24

Slowly, his heart beating, every sense heightened, he pushed the door fully open. A gruesome sight met his eyes. The bodies of one of Hilary’s grandparents were spread across the kitchen in bloodied chunks. Sprays of scarlet liquid adorned the walls and broken furniture. The smell both sickened and enticed him as he slowly made his way across the floor. There was a grisly sticking noise as he lifted his foot from a wet pool of blood.25

"Oh shit, this isn’t good!" He hissed through his teeth. Ignoring the danger that might still be in the house, he ran through to the living room, barging the door to the darkened room open.26

It took only a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the dimness in the room. Grand Grand lay on the floor, sliced and cut all over her body.....27

He paused, and looked around her. The walls were also covered in blood, but some of it had been formed into words. Eric squinted slightly as he tried to make out the badly shaped letters.28

'Eric Come Back Home Eric. Come Back'29

He gulped, and turned to Grand grand. "Rest in peace old lady. I pray that you find paradise. And Grandpa Too.” He place his hand over her behead head and closed her eyes.30

He walked through the hallway, and into the kitchen. He was about to walk to the back door, when a sudden scent of the metallic blood around him hit his nostrils. Automatically, his mouth welled with saliva.31

"No, Eric..." He murmured. His hands began trembling, like an alcoholic who hasn't had a drink for a while. Almost as though his hand was possessed and he couldn't control it, it went towards a red pool of liquid.32

Eric watched, mesmerized, as his fingertips lovingly traced a circle in the blood. Lifting his hand to his face, he stared, half in lust, half in disgust at the redness on his fingertips.33

Without thinking, he thrust them in his mouth, sucking the blood clean off. The metallic sweetness had a shocking effect to his senses. He felt stronger, more powerful, more alive...his canines slid out, his body and mind telling him he needed more-it was so long since he had had this...34

Eric smacked himself as he snapped to his senses with a jolt. He hurriedly wiped his hand on the back of his jeans, and stepped quickly to the door.35

Part of him felt disgusted with what he had just done, but part of him...36

Part of him, an old familiar part of him, loved what he had just done, and loved the old, familiar rush of power that flowed through his body..37

He hoped it wouldn't last. 38

****39

It was already past noon when Eric came back from the bloody incident and the sun was slowly coming down but Eric made his way back without drawing any attention, except a few weird looks from people and kids walking down the sidewalk. He easily but silently slipped past the iron fence’s lock, like a ghost without being seen. 40

He sneaked around the back making sure he wasn’t spotted by anybody, he peeked through a window just in time to see Jason motioning to the backyard with a bowl of leftovers. Jason looked around before he saw Eric crouching under the window. Eric spoke before Jason did, “Ask Hilary to stay over until tomorrow, Kay.”41

“Why?” Jason handed the bowl to Eric, thankfully the food was heated and warmed. Eric accepted the food and ate it greedily thankfully the leftover was chickens and Roni rice from two nights ago, with juice still in the chicken. Then Eric spoke while biting down the chicken leg, “Because it’ll be easier for me to keep an eye out if you two stay together in one place. So that way, I won’t be coming back and forth for the both of you.” That was part of the truth, the other part was while Hilary stayed with Jason for their safety Eric could investigate on their behalf. 42

Also he didn’t want Hilary to see what had happen at the house, “Besides looks like you two are having fun without Me.” He wolfed down the rice. Jason made a twisted face as he watch Eric savagely devour the food like an animal. 43

“Not really were waiting till my mom goes to sleep and we’ll let you back in the house again. I still have a score to settle with you.” Said Jason, then sat down next to Eric and exhale a breath, “Hey Eric.”44

“Hm?” Was the response that out from Eric when he was licking the bowl and then began sucking on a chicken bone. Jason looked at him, he chuckled at him and shook his head but he looked up at the sky for a moment then said, “Don’t you ever get lonely sometimes?” Eric snapped the bone in two and continued chewing. 45

“Y’know just walking around through the world knowing you can’t die and seeing those around you dies, like wolf in sheep’s clothing.”46

Only the sound of bone being crushed, Eric looked up at the sky too and thought about it for awhile then he calmly answered, “We—my kind do die but we age more slowly than the average person would. But I do miss being a human, the sense able just to be you without exposing any wild animal instinct or excessive hair under the moon or the cycle of it too.” Jason looked at him and study Eric with his caramel eyes. There was something about Eric that despite him being a werewolf that he manages to keep his humanity together and act like himself no matter the odds were against him. 47

Jason stood up and walked away but Eric spoke that made him stop, “Jason, what’s this question out of the blue. There’s something on your mind isn’t.” Eric didn’t break his focus at the sky and listened as the birds sang while flying past them. Jason thought about it then replied, “I’m just worried about you that’s all and so does Hilary.” 48

Eric spat at the ground as he followed Jason back into the house. “Is it true that werewolves and vampires are mortal enemies or something like that?” Said Jason.49

“Kid you’re another victim of a Hollywood movie scenario.” Said Eric, “No not really actually but we’re a bit neutral you could say. But truthfully speaking for the rest of us, were no different from humans some are good, some are bad, it all depends how we spend our lives, you understand what I’m saying.”50

Jason opened the sliding door open and stepped in, “I think so. But I watch too much movies honestly, I mean Hilary reads those kind of stuff especially that Twilight series.” Eric groaned in his throat, hearing a displeasing sound from him showed something of dislike. 51

“How can anybody read that kind of crap. Vampires don’t sparkle under the sun; they burst into flames and turn into dust just by the slightest glint of sunlight. Even by a flashlight will do harm to them.52

I’m not saying there’ll bad and evil it just happens same way with silver bullets to us.”53

Jason laughed when Hilary offered them the controllers and asked what was so funny, they didn’t say but threw plasma grenades at each other. 54