Ch. 6: Blown Cover
I got tired of postponing the inevitable. Here's the part I think quite a few of you were waiting for.
Over the next few weeks, Mira saw more of the trotter family. They had settled in to their new lives, having gotten jobs and everything. They were as happy as could be and Mira was pleased with the way life was progressing.
Then came the day when everything changed.
It was another beautiful summer day and Mira and Landon were strolling through Central Park. The young half-demon tilted her head back, letting the sun's rays dance on her face.
"Sure is nice out," Landon commented.
"I'll say." The two friends were alone on the path when they saw the man in the tattered robes. He was running toward them, a wild look in his grey eyes. His cropped brown hair was thinning and his pink skull gleamed in the sun. His crooked teeth were bared in a vicious grin and in his hand was a gleam of silver.
Mira and Landon froze. Out of all the werewolf myths, the one that was true was that werewolves could be hurt by silver. Obviously, this man knew what the two teens were.
There was no time to think. As the man reached them, both Mira and Landon jumped aside and struck. Mira uncoiled her tail and lashed their attacker heavily across the back while Landon delivered a powerful punch to the man's stomach. Winded, the man lay sprawled on the cobbled path, the silver rod a safe distance from his hand.
"You monsters," the man gasped.
"Uh, who attacked who?" Landon asked him with a growl, despite his human form. The man raised his scraped face and leered nastily at them.
"You and your kind have always been a scourge to the mortals of Earth, you freaks! But now, NOW, the truth becomes clear!" Springing to his feet, the man raced through the Park with Mira and Landon hot in pursuit. Had they glanced at the trees, they might have seen a flash of pale hair or the gleam of cold blue eyes. But neither of them bothered; they were far too focused on their rapid quarry.
Mira heard a ripping noise to her left. Landon had transformed and the tattered remains of his clothing fell off his body.
"This guy's gonna pay; I really liked that shirt," the werewolf muttered. Mira grinned at him, but any laughter died on her lips when she saw the man whirled around and drew a gun. A loud bang rang out and Landon snarled. The bullet had grazed his arm and left a long ugly welt.
"Silver!" the werewolf growled, grasping his wounded arm. The man was getting ready for a second shot and Mira knew that there was no time to lose. Putting on an extra burst of speed, she closed the distance between herself and her attacker and grasped his wrist. Black flames suddenly sprung from her hand and the man's triumphant smirk suddenly turned into a shriek of agony.
"Why are you attacking us?" Mira snarled, her golden eyes blazing.
"Go to hell, demon!" The man's other hand suddenly flashed out, ramming a silver dagger straight into Mira's shoulder. The half-demon bit back a yell; silver wouldn't harm her the way it did Landon, but the knife thrust did hurt.
"Mira!" Landon came barreling up and snatched the man's knife arm, removing the dagger and breaking the man's arm in the process. Once again, the man shrieked, but his screams suddenly turned into a horrifying smile.
"They can see you now. The truth is known." As hi left hand was still grasped by Mira and resembled nothing more than a burned stump, the man reached into his robe with his broken arm and drew another knife. This time, however, the victim was himself.
"Hell awaits you, monsters!" were his final words before plunging the dagger deep into his heart.
Sudden silence descended, but Mira and Landon knew it wouldn't last. Turning slowly, the half-demon and the werewolf were confronted by the shocked stares of several people and among them were Mira's neighbors, the Trotter family.