Mother Knows Best

By Ldynwaitin

Chapter Two

Not your average Bedtime story

Randal took in a deep breath, he was about to tell Josh a story that only he had the great privilege to know. "It was in the early days of my kind when Vampires were few, but fierce. You see in that time she was not mother. Each vampire was equal in strength and power, but Mother was one of the weakest. Her hunger for power however, was the most intense of any vampire alive. Her desire to become the ruler of all the vampires was as great as her thirst for blood. It was in this time that Mother discovered something very special about the werewolves."

"She found her answer at a time when she was almost dying. She suffered at the hands of her own kind, they despised her weakness. She was hiding in the forest when she heard someone crying. She found a villager sitting alone. She was so thirsty she ran to him and began to drain him. As she drank she felt different. She said she had never tasted anyone so good. She had to have more, as she drank deeper the villager's screams of pain took on a new tune. He began to change under her."

"It was then that she realized she was drinking from a werewolf, just as he was changing. She said she was scared at first, she heard of vampires dying when drinking wolf blood. Then she realized that she felt stronger, her senses were alive." Randal winked at him. "See, that is Mother's little secret, the one that no other vampire knows. A Vampire can drink from a wolf, but only at a special time. Only when he is not man and not quite wolf, that in between time. When a Vampire takes the blood then, oh wondrous things happen."

"With the wolfs blood coursing through her veins Mother became stronger, more powerful. She used that power to seek out the other vampires of her time. One by one she killed them all until only she remained. She truly became the mother of all vampires to come after that." Randal madly laughed.

"But it was months later when she found that her weakness was returning. Her enhanced strength was not permanent. She needed to drink wolf blood no less than four moon cycles to keep up her reign. She needed to find another wolf."

"That is when my job was created, it is why I am here, I am the keeper of her 'Phelan's'. It is an old Irish name, it simply means 'wolf'." He pointed to Josh, "You are her new Phelan. I have sworn an oath to keep her secret, and care for her wolfs, no one else must know."

Josh saw Randal now pull the leather strap violently through his fingers. "Keeping a stock of her own wolfs in seclusion, she then made a declaration that no vampire may drink wolf blood, making sure they would not find out her secret. If the other vampires knew, they would seek out your kind. Drink their blood and rip her apart so that they can become the leader of the next ruling sect. But no one knows the secret, only Mother and me, and now unfortunately you. You will be Mother's Phelan, until the day you die."

Randal reached out and patted Josh on the knee. "But don't worry about that, you're safe here with me. I will see that no harm comes to you. Mother is happy to have found you, it has been four moon cycles since her last Phelan passed away. You were found just in time." Randal glanced at his watch. "Oh look at the time, it's close to the rising of the moon. I'm sure you can't wait to turn."

Josh's brows knit in anger, "Can't wait, I fight it with all my strength. It's a curse that I never wanted. It's hurt to many people that I love."

Randal looked shocked, "Then you actually hate your wolf? I cannot believe that, most can't wait to become one"

"I hate this damn curse with a passion," Josh hissed.

Randal shook his head, "You are a rare wolf indeed."

Josh gasped as he could already feel a rushing in his blood, he knew this was a sign for the coming of the transformation. He leaped up, "Randal, please let me go. Mother won't like me, I'm not strong, or special."

Randal's head tilted. He let out a long sigh, "Oh Phelan, but you are, you so very are."

Randal gulped hard when he heard a loud click. Mother was here, her macabre dance was about to begin, again.

Randal had to ready Josh. "Head down!" he hissed. He jumped up and grabbed Josh's head and pushed it down. "Remember your promise, you must do whatever I say. You are a dog to her, she demands that you show her respect. Believe me, you do not want to get her angry."

A metal panel on the other side of the room slowly opened. Mother stood in a doorway that led to a secret tunnel. She was wearing a blood red robe. Her dark eyes stared into the room. They grew wide with appreciation as they fell on Josh. She slowly walked into the room. Josh kept his head down, he heard her walking towards him.

Randal bowed down, his head touching his knees. "Mother, I have him, just as you asked. The one that you told me to get, Aidan's dog." Moving closer to her he whispered, "He is perfect, Mother, just as you said. You have a new Phelan."

Mother stopped just short of Josh. She could see his chest heaving in and out. She could taste his fear, she consumed it. "Do I have enough time to play with him?" was all she said.

Randal looked at his watch, "Yes, Mother."

Josh was shaking, he could actually feel how powerful this vampire was. He dared not look at her, he shivered when he saw her pale hand move under his head. Her long fingers curled around the chain locked firmly to the collar. Grabbing the chain tightly his head was slowly pulled up until he was looking into the darkest eyes he had ever seen. He was standing in front of the most powerful Vampire on the planet.

Mother's lips slowly curled to a hungry grin. "His eyes, they are so sad, Randal. So much pain, so much anguish."

"Yes, Mother, I sensed that right off."

She released the chain, her fingers moved under his chin. She pursed her lips as she felt Josh's head trembling in her hold. "Poor puppy, you are frightened of me, aren't you. As well you should be."

Josh felt as if he was falling into those dark eyes. The lids of his eyes drooped, he shook his head. He didn't know if he should answer her or not. As he stared at her he saw Randal go behind her. He reached up and began to open the robe Mother wore.

Pulling it away Josh saw that she wore nothing under the robe. He should have been repulsed, but he was not. Mother smiled with content, he was fully under her hold. She stepped closer to him, sometimes she liked to seduce her prey. This one was young and strong. It had been months since she last fed on a wolf. In the past few weeks she could feel a familiar weakness returning. It took all of her strength to hold Aidan away when he rushed her. Her thirst for wolf's blood had grown stronger each day. But she had this young werewolf now, to quench it.

She pulled him closer to her. He closed his eyes, opening them he was shocked to see Nora standing before him.

"Nora," he gasped.

"I miss you," Nora sighed.

Josh felt a flood of emotion, just looking at her he realized that he missed her too. He leaned forward, reaching out for her. Her arms wrapped around his body. Her hands moved up, her fingers snaked through his hair. Josh tilted his head, his lips met hers. He kissed her, she passionately returned the kiss. Randal stood back, he was glad that Mother was in a good mood.

Josh embraced Nora, she was all that mattered to him now. His hands moved down her body. She felt firm but cold to his touch.

Mother pulled Josh tightly to her. Her passion ignited with the touch of this viral dog. She brushed her check on him, his face was so soft, so warm.

As Josh kissed her he saw Nora's face change. Her hair grew darker, her eyes wider until he saw Julia standing before him.

"No!" Josh gasped. "Not you, not here."

Randal shook his head, he could see the horror in Josh's face. Mother's good mood apparently changed.

"Josh, did you forget me already?" Julia asked him.

He violently shook his head, he began to step back. "Has to be a dream," he mumbled. "Need to wake up."

Mother's laughter filled the room, "This is as real as it gets." She lashed out, grabbing him by the arms. "See what your curse did to me."

Josh saw her face change, bruises and cuts appeared. Josh shook his head, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I di…didn't…"

"Sorry doesn't bring me back," Julia breathed.

Josh's hands fisted tight, "It's my fault." His body shook with rage, "This curse, I hate it…hate it." Mother noticed the stink of the dog on him was beginning to change. It was time.

Then Josh felt it, both of them did, the shift in his body, the change had begun. He fought it, tried to hold it back, he fought the change with all his might. Josh hunched over letting out a scream as he felt a bone in his back begin to shift.

Immediately Mother was on him, she pounced on his back. Her assault was vicious. She snarled and growled as she tore his clothes off. Randal saw her face change. The regal façade fell, revealing the true horror that dwelled within.

Pulling her head back, Mother's teeth began to grow, until they were long and sharp. She lunged forward, her teeth dug deep into Josh's shoulder. Josh now felt a burning pain in his shoulder. Awakened from Mother's spell, he was appalled to see her lying on his back, her teeth deep in his shoulder.

He felt cold with fear, he tried to buck her off, but her long nails dug deep into his side. Again the pain of the change streaked through him. He fell down on all fours. Mother pulled out, her mouth covered in Josh's blood.

"Oh Randal," she gasped. "It is sweet, and so good." Her hand wiped the blood from her chin, she sucked it from her fingers. "Aidan had no idea what he had under his roof, what he came close to finding. When I smelled the dog in him, knew he had a taste of his blood, I needed to end this unholy friendship. Banishment was the best thing I ever did to him. It brought you to me, Phelan." Her bloody hand stroked Josh on the head. "My Phelan, my very special Phelan. I will hold on to you for a very long time."

She plunged her teeth deep into Josh's shoulder.

"Oh god!" Josh cried out, the long nails on his fingers scrapped the metal floor. "It hurts so much." He grunted and moaned as she quickly sucked out his blood. Her entire body tingled, she never felt stronger. Josh convulsed under her, the pain was intense. His battle against the change was weakened. The wolf in him fought for control. Weakened from Mother's assault, Josh finally gave in, he felt the change rush through his system. Randal quickly grabbed Mother and pulled her off Josh. She was flung back, hitting the bed it slammed hard into the wall. She quickly rose and rushed back to Josh.

"No more, Mother," Randal shouted, as he blocked her. "You must stop."

"How dare you!" Mother lashed out, she wanted more, needed more.

"No, Mother," Randal screamed. He gripped her tightly. "If you drink now, he will kill you." Mother took in a deep breath, she could see that Randal was right. Fur was beginning to form on Josh's body. If she drank from him now, she would be burned from the inside.

Randal led Mother to the ornate bed. Slowly he sat her down. She greedily looked at Josh. "So good, Randal, he was so good. I can taste it, taste his battle within, his intense hatred for the wolf. It is strong, its strength courses through my veins." Mother contently smiled, she licked the blood on her lips. "Oh Aidan, you do not realize the great gift you have given me. With this blood my new children will be the strongest ever! I will use them to weed out my earlier mistakes."

"I'm glad, Mother" Randal said. Glancing back he could see that Josh's change was nearly complete. Making sure that the collar would hold him first, he then pulled out a small bucket he had sitting next to the bed. As she sat on the bed, Randal took out a sponge from the bucket and began to wash Josh's blood from her body. He needed to get the stink of the wolf off of her.

Once he was done, she stood up. Randal quickly took the robe and placed it on her. All the time she stared at Josh. The change was complete now, a wolf growled and snapped angrily at her. He knew this woman had given him pain, if he could reach her he would tear her throat out.

Mother walked up to the wolf, she stopped just out of reach. Her dark eyes stared into his. She could practically feel the hate pouring from the beast. "The wolf I drank from before I made Suren, I did not feel as strong as with this one. She has proven to me time again to be a complete and utter failure." Wickedly smiling she drawled, "I know now that dogs blood was not strong enough to give me the child I wanted. But this one, oh this one is different. Yes, I think I see a new daughter in my future. She will be the one that will lead us into the modern age, one that will have the strength to rule properly by my side."
"I am glad you are pleased with him, Mother," Randal quickly replied with a bow.

Mother slowly walked to the opening to the secret passageway. The power of the wolf now coursed through her veins, it made her want to fly down the hallway, she couldn't wait to start a new clan. She fought to restrain herself as she stepped into the passage. Once she was inside she quickly closed the door. Taking in a deep breath, Randal now had to take care of his charge.