I'm really sorry it's been like, an entire month, but I have been busy with school and I have been slowly working on this chapter. I do apologize, though I have my priorities. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Avengers or anything from Marvel (sigh).
Chapter 10; Rumble in the Night
Kate, Eli, Teddy, the werewolves, and I all appeared in a cloud of smoke in the mansions living room. I could smell panic that permeated the air. I wasn't sure how many vampires were in the house, but it was enough to cause pandemonium that bothered them all into irritation and fear.
"Where are the wolves?" I called to no one in particular.
"In our home now!" My father bellowed and two of his enforcers, one of them Drake, came rushing from upstairs, hurtling towards where we stood. I flung my hands out in a surprised gesture, something I had seen in an episode of Charmed, and my wordless spell froze the two vampires mid-run; much like I had done to Cassie and Kang. Crystal blue orbs hovered around my frozen coven mates, the energy field holding them encompassing feet in diameter.
"Father, Mother, I have to explain to you something before you—," my words were cut short as a red glowing energy enveloped me and hurled me across the room.
I felt my teeth click together again, since it had happened only fifteen minutes before in the mausoleum, as I slammed through a bookshelf and through a wall into the kitchen. I stood up and ran into the living room, dispelling the largest freezing spell that I could. My friends were frozen, two vampires who had come to attack my friends as I was flung from the room, my parents coming down the stairs, and debris that was falling was suspended in the magical orb too.
I ran up the stairs to my father and mother. A snarl was forming on my father's face and I watched him warily. My mother was none the pleased either, a small growl emanating from her. A red glow slowly enveloped my father and then red rings burst from his form, tossing me over the railing. I recovered quickly.
"Father, Mother, the enemy is outside, not in here. I have brought you new information." I said earnestly.
"All you have done is brought the monsters, the danger in to my home! How dare you!" My father's voice was quivering with rage and I knew only my pleas would keep me from him ending my life.
"No Father, the real monsters are lurking outside in the dark. Please, find it in your heart to listen to me once more. These werewolves I have brought home, they are allies, friends even."
"No, I have no heart and I will not listen," he said as he crouched down, "You continually disobey and betray the coven. You are endangering us all with your lack of thinking. You have disgraced me again. What are you thinking?"
"They can help us to defeat the invasion of new wolves, Father! You don't understand. These are the wolves in which we have made the territory pact with. They ejected a member of the pact for bad behavior and he wants revenge. He's creating an army, and apparently some of them are outside." I said quickly, remembering that the coven was in danger and my freezing spell couldn't be held much longer. "Please, trust me, as your son, that these wolves mean no harm and can help us. You can place the betraying-death spell on them if you must; if you can."
My father tossed the options around in his head. He sighed and said, "William, I love you with all my heart and I can't stand to have our family torn. You best not lead our seethe into danger, or as a father and lead vampire I will enforce the law upon you—without the courtesy family deserves."
"So be it," I said lowering my head and lifting the spell. Anything was hovering in the air dropped down with a clatter and Drake and my parents' other enforcer both lost their balance for a split-second as their momentum continued.
"There are about seven wolves," my father said. "They're lurking behind the fences."
I looked out a window and saw the eerie glow of their eyes, some a glaring red and other's a piercing yellow. The feelings that enveloped me made me feel nauseous—sick to my stomach and afraid. "Well then", I said, shifting as my hands started to glow a bright azure, "let us begin." I pulled my outstretched arms towards me, opening up several large French-style windows.
"What are you doing?!" Drake hissed from behind me.
My father and mother stared at me perplexed, but I was already chanting a spell, one devoid of wish, but absolute control; control I hadn't yet practiced.
"Come to me, wind and lightning." A large electric orb crackled from around me, enveloping me in dancing waves of molten electrical energy which began spiraling and weaving a web around me, forcing my family and friends to stand away. I pushed my arms outward sending significantly sized electrical bursts out the window.
I heard two howls of pain as my power reached its target. I listened as other wolves snarled. My father cried out, "They're jumping the fence!" I watched as a bright white werewolf and a sandy werewolf leapt over the six-foot fence easily, beginning to stalk towards our home from the east side.
In my hand two swirling orbs of milky energy dazzled brilliantly, mini-winds contained in a tiny ball. "Microburst, do your worst!" I commanded angrily. I hurled them out the window and as they splattered on the earth below, the wind sent out a concussive blast so strong the wolves were lifted up off the ground and thrown a good quarter mile out of the area.
There was a loud clicking on hardwood floor as our group wheeled to face the now ripped open front door, a jet-black werewolf sprinting for us. It would only take him four or five seconds to reach us.
"Verastium, venista, porcuam," my father chanted quickly. A sudden crack of green light flashed up from under the jaw of the wolf and from above his oral cavities, the energy taking a lightning strike and meeting in the center wolf's head. Only a millisecond later, the wolf's momentum had it rolling to our group, stopping at the feet of my mother whose face was twisted with fear.
"I loved that door," my mother huffed while she picked up the wolf's arm and hurled it out of our home. "Robert, do you think that we could replace that one easily, it was hand-crafted after all and we've had that for a while now."
My father gave her a look that said "later" and she sighed, going back into an alert state-of-mind. There were still a few wolves outside, we were sure of it, but they weren't daring to venture close.
Fur ripped through the bodies of Cassie and Kang as they transformed in front of the vampires, who all watched astounded, horrified, and disgusted. The sandy werewolf stood up, surpassing the height of all of us, blinking her eyes a few times and staring. Kang, in all of his glory, was almost a foot taller than she, standing tall and more prominently muscled. Cassie and Kang sprang from the house, out a window and into the night. The coven was frozen, listening to feral roars and sickening sounds. We waited a while; imagining that a battle between immortals would not take only moments, save for magical battles. The noise outside was dimming, the din barely a whisper in the night air, but we assumed that whatever had happened wasn't good; but for who?
My father snapped his fingers, the result being a magical fire building in his hand. The entire house evacuated for the fresh early summer air, stepping outside cautiously. The group moved quietly, searching for signs of life and movement. There was an animal groan from somewhere beyond the fence, but as far as we could tell it could've been one of the many rogues sent to kill us all.
"Father, Mother," I said almost silently, "I'm sorry I've been such a…safety compromiser this past week. I'm not really trying to cause problems or heighten our chances of being eliminated; you know I've never do that. I really just wanted to help in anyway I could and I realize that trusting a werewolf or shape-shifter could be potentially dangerous but I also realized that just because they're of a different species doesn't mean that they can't help." My apology was long and flowing and heartfelt, though I wouldn't have known what my parents thought. My father hushed me with a hand wave as another animalistic growl fluttered in the breeze.
I summoned a ball of glowing blue lightning that sat in my palm, helping my father's flame illuminate more of an area. My nose, and the noses of my parents, Kate, Eli, and Teddy, I was sure, picked up the metallic tang of blood. Werewolf blood was different as the metallic tang was mixed with a sour smell, almost like wolf blood was partly acidic. I would ask Kang and Cassie about that subject, since it piqued my interest. I looked over to Teddy, whose face was hard and unemotional. I longed to touch him, stand against him, show him love; but this week was not the week for it.
"Before we forget," I said, though vampires never forgot anything—we were detail-obsessive—and always had room to remember more, "We're pretty sure we have found the den of the werewolves. We had a witness explain to us what it is they want and where they're at. Shutting up now." I went silent finally, despite not being loud in the first place, and our group stalked further from the house, nearing the entrance of the forest.
The blood stains were increasing in proximity to one another as we approached the six-foot wrought-iron perimeter fence, which had it's bars pried open far enough for a full-grown werewolf to climb through. I figured that while some wolves jumped the fence as a distraction, others were climbing through this portal, which seemed stealthier—in a way. There was blood pooled below the bars and some had rubbed onto the bars, greasing it in a thick film of crimson.
"I guess whatever is making noise out there is in the forest," my father said, his voice hinting at uneasiness.
Then there was a scream, a wolfish scream that I assumed was Cassie because it sounded too feminine a roar for any of the select male rogues created. In an instant I was running.
"William!" My father screamed.
"Billy!" Kate cried out, but I couldn't listen to them. Something was wrong.
The forest passed me in dark shadows and blurs. My cerulean orbs scouted the forest for movement or any signs of my friends. I listened, I smelled, I tasted the air—anything that would lead me to Cassie. I heard vicious snapping and roars from the southwest. I turned slightly and cut through trees and shrubs whose branches ripped at my skin and clothes, but I paid them no mind as I hurtled towards the sounds of rage and pain.
I hurdled a fallen branch and then skidded to a halt. On the ground in a clearing was a fallen Kang, enormous gashes in his left hind leg and a chunk of his meat and muscle missing from his ribcage. The bite was so severe that in some places the white of his bones could be seen. He grunted in effort and anguish as he attempted to get up on his feet. I frowned and then noticed a grisly looking Cassie, one lethal arm raised, her other stabilizing her on the ground in a crouched position. Across from her was another wolf, a gray-black wolf with glowing red eyes. Behind him stood another two wolves. Apparently to defend Kang, Cassie was willing to fight all three of them. I doubted she would last.
Letting out my own roar of anger, nothing in comparison to the roars of the wolves, I danced forward. I ran across the clearing, having one of the wolves take chase and follow right behind me. There was a large trunked tree, almost four feet in diameter I surmised only a second before I ran up the trunk. As I was up a good ways I pushed off backward, going airborne while hovering in a back flip, flinging waves of pulsing blue magic down up upon the wolf. The gray-white wolf that had given chased was slammed down into the dirt and pine. I fell back to Earth, sending my fist into the wolf's head, efficiently crushing it like it was nothing. As I was getting up from my crouch the second wolf behind the gray-black one charged and as I stood I whipped my arm in a horizontal arc, releasing another pulsation of magic.
The magic slammed into the wolf, stopping his momentum, while I picked up a good-sized branch, lifted it with magic and hurled it into the monster. While I dueled with this monster, the leader of the trio lunged for Cassie, who met him midair and they tumbled away into the brush, snapping and growling the whole time.
The wolf came snapping, a piece of sharp branch still protruding from its forearm after it attempted to block my attack. He delivered a strong backhand to my face, sending me reeling through the air and through trees. Each of them crumpled after snapping in half after I rocketed through each. Timber fell and the wolf dodged each as he followed my trajectory. As I finally landed, I was able to get myself ready to levitate, my body sliding backwards along the ground as I concentrated. The wolf slammed an enormous hand into the ground where I had been. I floated skyward and launched lightning bolts as best I could while he sprinted and bounded leaping towards me.
Like Cassie and Kang had first done when they attacked me, the male werewolf leapt from tree trunk to tree trunk, gaining height with every leap. When the wolf reached me, after flinging himself bodily through the air, he threw a punch at me which I deflected with a swipe of my arm upward and then launched a kick into his rib cage. I had hoped for a resounding crack, but to no avail. The wolf and I grappled as we tumbled downwards, a swipe of a deadly claw racked a slice through my shirt and cut me from my right hip bone up to the left side of my chest.
I final used my heel of my hand to slam him backwards off me, just in time to land in a crouch while he crashed onto his back on the pine needles. I release a current of lightning, which danced around his body, eliciting a feral groan from his elongated snout. I saw two flashes of movement and from either side of the clearing charged Cassie and the dark werewolf, who slammed together again. Cassie was bleeding heavily from her left flank, from her back, and there were rip marks, probably due to claws, that bled on her snout. However, she had gorged the male for the worse, because blood matted his fur in multiple places; so Cassie knew how to fight, awesome.
Below me I smelt a burning smell and realized I was done taking out the werewolf that had decided to attack me. I began to float into the tree canopy, watching the dueling wolves from above. Cassie slammed a strong arm into the other wolf's face, which sent him sprawling backwards. Before he could get up she launched herself upon him, sinking her teeth into his hind leg, wrenching her head back and forth. The male roared in pure agony and then began swinging wildly trying to hit his mark. Finally he nicked the top of her head, she whined and backed off, allowing the both of them to start their wary circling. The wolves were growling low, rumbling warnings to one another. I had considered helping her, just so that she didn't risk getting any more injured or worse, but I decided in the end to return to Kang, trusting that Cassie was capable.
It took me only a moment to return to where Kang was. He lay on the ground, groaning with every breath he took, each of the breaths wheezy and labored. A large golden eye with a slit pupil rolled to stare up at me. The raven wolf, to others, would be practically invisible, but with my enhanced vampire sight I could discern every bump and scratch on him. I looked down the length of Kang, who lay on his stomach with his limbs thrown about in every which direction. There were long deep gouges, raking claw marks, which bled profusely. Bite marks traveled the length of his right arm and left leg, so I assumed he tried to defend Cassie from the three wolves at once; which left him no protection.
I stepped slowly toward the downed werewolf, hoping Kang wouldn't be snappy and distrust me while he was in his current state.
"Kang? It's just me, it's Billy, I can heal you if you'd like. You'll be better and you can help Cassie—" I stopped as Cassie and the unknown wolf stumbled into the area where Kang and I were. He growled angrily towards the other male. Cassie seemed to be in the same condition, though I thought she must be tired, like the male, because their reflexes seemed more exaggerated and slowed.
The male lunged for Cassie, who dodged and pinned him down from above. Without mercy or caring Cassie dug a clawed hand into the other wolf's right side, effectively holding him, while enclosing the neck in-between her massive and strong jaws, bit down and twisted, snapping the neck of the rogue. She dropped the head and it thumped against the soft forest floor and lolled to one side. I raised an eyebrow at Cassie as she gave a wolfish laugh and then turned, her head snapping in my direction in a precise quickness. It freaked me out and I took a step back. She growled towards me, but Kang grunted back.
"It's just Billy, Cass, don't worry. I'm going to heal Kang and you and then we'll all return to the mansion and rejoin our group. How does that sound?" I mentally slapped myself, feeling weird for talking out loud to overgrown, overly powerful, overly terrifying dogs. I knew they were intelligent and could understand me despite their current form. Cassie grunted and lumbered over to sit by her mate, who licked her in a affectionate gesture.
"Do you two need a moment, I could, you know, fly away if you need," I smiled big. Cassie growled, in what I took to be a disapproving noise, like a teacher that clucks their tongue at a silly student, and I responded, "Fine, fine."
"Just give me a second," I said before I started my incantation, which flew from my mouth quickly, because I wasn't sure how much longer Kang would last. My hands warped over in their natural dazzling blue while alight with magic and then I began to lightly run my hands over Kang's body. Once his skin had stitched itself back together throughout the teeth holes and gouges from claws, I had Kang roll himself onto his back so that I could heal his front side. I wondered, not out of perverted questioning, but in pure scientific inquiry, why the…erm…male parts of werewolves were not obvious in wolf form. I had assumed they were like regular mammals, whose genitals were exterior, but then I thought perhaps it was a glamour thing. Glamour meaning that they could use limited magic to alter their appearance.
Kang was fully healed after a few minutes of work, leaving me doused in sweat from concentration and exertion. I turned to Cassie, who sat like a puppy and she started, standing up tall so that I would begin to heal her standing up. I smiled as Cassie grinned, since she was taller than I was by a good half a foot or so.
Still smiling, I grazed Cassie's fur with my hands gently, in order to keep her from twitching. I watched her dermis fold back together and then her epidermis pull itself together, while fur re-grew over the now completely healed wounds. After Cassie's examination was complete, the two werewolves approached one another and began a series of grunts and growls and other noises, which I guessed to be their wolfish dialect.
I patted them both on the shoulder, gratefully saying, "Thank you both so much. I know you were risking your lives and my coven would graciously accept your courage and valor as a gift. I'm very truly, honestly grateful." The wolves simply grinned again, which seemed very strange and awkward on creatures that were noted for being terrifying. It seemed very unnatural on them, despite the fact that they were sill human.
"Would you like to be teleported back to the manor? You might have to change back so that I can transport the three of us. I'm not sure if I could transport such a large mass at once just yet." They both complied and shifted easily, vast amounts of practice evident.
"They were tricky bastards," Kang said first, "We downed about four and then those three decided to band together. I was trying to protect Cassie when they first attacked, but my mate does know how to fight." Cassie smiled and turned to face Kang. "You were brilliant," he said, kissing her lightly on the lips.
"Thanks for trying to protect me, love," Cassie replied with a smile in her voice.
"Not to mention Billy's distraction and crazy magic-light display."
"Thanks, it was nothing, although I am slightly tired out now," I responded. Then I realized, "We have to dispose of the bodies. Could you two bring back the bodies of the other four while I collect the three nearby?" With curt nods they transformed back into the huge, horrifying wolves and took off through the trees quickly.
I paced through the forest, picking my way through the shrubs and noticed that with each brush I was feeling pain. Oh, I realized, I forgot to heal my own self. I laughed lightly and then began my mantra, which in turn enveloped my body in a dim blue glow, eliminating the gashes, scratches, and bruises from battery than covered my body.
Proceeding, I lifted the werewolves in telekinesis-magic when I found them, then eventually hauled my load back to the clearing where Cassie and Kang had amassed a small gathering of corpses. Two russet colored wolves, a blue-gray wolf, and another white wolf were sprawled on top of one another. I dropped the three bodies onto the heightening pile and began my little chant, before azure flames sprung from beneath the pile and enveloped the mass of bodies.
The reeking smell of decay and death permeated the air and then the bodies exploded into nothingness; only singed twigs and leaves remained. Once we were certain no forest fires would begin due to our attempts to hide our battle, we teleported back to the wrought-iron perimeter fence of the manor.
"Mom, Dad?" I called, being completely informal. "We're all right! Cassie, Kang, and I are here now!"
From the forest I had heralded a stampeding herd of vampires and Teddy, who all halted a few feet from us. I was sure my parents were uneasy around our newest companions. I noticed our group was smaller then when we had been in the mansion and I inquired, "Where are Drake and our enforcers?"
"They are protecting your brothers," my mother replied.
"How many were in the woods?" My father asked, seriousness in his eyes and face.
"Seven," I replied, "Cassie and Kang were able to defeat six and I took on the seventh."
My mother's face was filled with surprise, "You fought a werewolf?" She rushed to me and hugged me.
"I'm fine Mother," I told her gently, "I'm not a baby anymore. I can take care of myself."
"I don't want to imagine my immortal existence without my son! An eternity of guilt and pain!" She responded quickly, softly, filled with sadness, but I couldn't help but feel overcrowded with such statements. She was too concerned about losing me already. I guess my brothers and I were special, considering we were born from a vampire, as opposed to being created by one.
"I'm just fine mom, I'll always be alright." I hugged her and then my father began to take in the wolves with his eyes.
"Thank you for helping us," he said stonily, "I cannot say we owe you, since we asked not of you to do that, but I can express my greatest gratitude by allowing you to join us; as allies."
Just about everyone broke out into a smile, save my parents whose edginess from the attack lingered.
Kate nudged Eli, murmuring, "We need to check out the warehouse."
"Tomorrow we will," Eli said.
My father, who had picked up on their low conversation barked, "You have something to report Eli?"
"Well, Mr. Kaplan," Eli hesitated, "We think we've found the den to the rogue wolves. They've been staying in an old, rundown warehouse. Kate thinks she knows which one."
"We will not do anything just yet," My father decided quickly. "We need time to strategize and recuperate. You are all dismissed for now. We'll all reconvene tomorrow; I'll call for you. Everyone, I caution you to be careful and, should you get in trouble, call for anyone. Cassie and Kang, feel free to join us tomorrow. Your help will be much appreciated and needed."
"Okay, Billy has our cell phone numbers should you need us in the mean time," Kang responded curtly and then he and Cassie transformed and took off.
"I'll drop you off at home," I said to Teddy, who looked at me and nodded. Mother and Father returned to the mansion and my father began to spell the door back together.
"We'll see you two tomorrow," I smiled and waved at Eli and Kate before I teleported Teddy and myself off the property. After a series of teleportation's Teddy and I flashed into my bedroom of my townhouse.
Teddy turned to face me and said, "I feel like we haven't talked all day or had any time by ourselves."
"I'm really sorry, but I'm going to deprive you of that for just a little longer," I responded, smirking, before shoving Teddy down onto my bed, latching my lips against his.
What a lovely ending, don't you think? I would really love to write out some romance in the next chapter—nothing heavy—but you know, just a little more on their developing relationship and really progress them as newfound mates.