Chapter Six- Evil Ways

Atticus dressed the next morning. Remus had shared the beginnings of a plan to convert Romulus and Atticus had like what he heard. It was going to require practice to improve speed, timing, and working in sync as a team. He looked forward to working with Remus. The guy was some combination of father and older brother. He could ask questions and make comments and Remus replied with easy patience. He is someone worth emulating, he thought. I only hope I grow to be as patient and wise. I think I will as I get older.

Alexis yawned as she left the woods, tired but happy. Her master had trained her hard with her senses but she didn't mind. She had much to learn and was willing to learn by any means. She practiced her sense of smell as she headed for her dorm. The different scents around her were amazing and she reveled in being to pick them up and identify them.

She kept her distance from Atticus again, feeling she wasn't ready to tell him the truth yet. She hung out with her friends, using her nose to identify their scents. They were all pleasant and, for some reason, it annoyed her. She wanted more than pleasant scents; her scent of daisies was now rather unappealing to her. She would have preferred a scent that intimidated people or made them afraid of her. I wonder if one can change her scent. Perhaps I should ask my master tonight.

Atticus frowned as he watched Alexis as he ate dinner. She again avoided him and he was fed up with it. Is she still jealous and resentful toward me? I thought she had gotten over that. He swallowed the last bite of dinner and left the cafeteria. He stood behind a pillar so he could speak to Alexis in relative peace. I need to be quick, though. It's close to sundown. He heard footsteps that he recognized as Alexis. She passed his spot and as he was about to call out to her, the scent of wolf hit him. No, he thought. It can't be. He strode after her calling, "Lexi."

She turned to regard him coldly. "What?" she snapped. "I'm in a hurry and so are you."

Her tone and the strong smell of wolf stunned him. "Lexi, you were bitten. I can smell it," he barely whispered.

"Yeah. I was and I need to go. My master is waiting." She stalked away with Atticus staring after her.

"This is bad," Remus said. "My brother is the only other werewolf on the island. His evil nature will affect her too."

"We'll be able to turn her good too, right?"

"Of course, Atticus. Once Romulus is good, the three of us can take down a newly-turned wifewolf."

Atticus sighed in relief. "That's good. I hate seeing her act cold and mean."

"I know. You and I are now in the same situation. It is more important than ever that our plan succeeds. Two evil wolves running around increases the risk of them biting more people."

Atticus nodded. "That cannot be allowed to happen. So, where do we start with our plan?"

Alexis snarled as she launched herself at her prey. Her extended claws ripped at the back while her jaws latched onto the back of the doe's neck and bit down. The doe cried out as it collapsed and died. Alexis released her hold, threw back her head and howled loudly before laughing darkly. That had gone perfectly just as her master had said. He is a wonderful teacher. Everything he's told me makes perfect sense.

A rustle and the smell of wolf, death, and rotting meat alerted her to the approach of Romulus and she moved to one side to allow him a clear path to her kill. He emerged from behind a bush and examined the doe before nodding. "Very nice, Alexis. Really, you're a natural killer."

Alexis beamed as her tail swished. "Thank you, Master. I enjoyed chasing and killing it."

Romulus heard the dark tone in her voice and was pleased. His dark, evil nature that he transmitted to her through his bite was truly affecting her. She would act cold and mean during the day and would get darker with every nighttime change. As long as she listens to everything I say, she will have no issues in helping me dispose of my brother or in her killing her own brother. Heh, it will be older siblings versus younger siblings and I have no doubt of who will win.

"Master," Alexis said later as they feasted on the deer. "Is it possible to change my scent? Daisy was nice, but now I find it unappealing."

"Ah," said Romulus, licking his chops. "Yes, it is possible to change one's scent. My scent disgusted me at first, but as I followed my mentor's advice, turned against the human race, and reveled in being a dark vicious wolf, my scent changed. The wolf smell can't change, but the other one can. What scent do you desire?"

"One that is intimidating to people or makes them afraid of me."

"I see. Well, intimidation is simply exuding confidence and disdain for humans for they are inferior to us. If you desire to strike fear, nothing frightens humans more than death. You will become familiar with that smell as you hunt more and once you do, it simply takes force of will to change your scent."

"That's wonderful, Master. Thank you."

Romulus nuzzled her cheeks with his nose. "My pleasure."

Atticus sprang after the large fat rabbit who was doing its best to escape the werewolf. It hopped faster, rounded a bend, and Atticus heard a snarl. He took the corner to see Remus' jaws locked on the rabbit's neck. He dropped his kill and gave a wolf's grin. 'Wonderful Atticus. That was good teamwork. If you or I can lure Romulus or your sister to where the other lies in wait, we'll be able to bite."

"How soon will they turn good?"

"Not long after the bite, at least according to my mentor."

"You said Romulus likely met an evil werewolf who turned him. What happened to him? Do you know?"

"Not for sure. Most evil werewolves either live alone or kill each other. It's possible Romulus killed the one who turned him or ran off after learning what he wanted."

"So, Lexi could kill Romulus?"

"Maybe. Wifewolves are rare as women don't usually venture out alone much less deliberately seek out a werewolf in order to get bitten."

"Yeah. She did it out of jealousy and resentment."

"As did Romulus. Getting bitten while feeling those emotions feeds the evil nature that occurs from the bite. Most people are bitten without those emotions present in their heart."

"No, they just have the crap scared out of them."

Remus laughed. "True enough, but that's preferable to jealousy."

"Can't argue with that. You know, I like being a werewolf and hope we can turn our younger siblings good."

"With practice, I don't see how we can fail. We're off to a good start with the teamwork. Let's focus on speed over the next two nights before fine-tuning the plan."

"Sounds good to me." Atticus yawned and stretched his forelegs. "I should get some rest; don't want to fall asleep in class."

Remus laughed again. "No, we don't want that. Good night, Atticus." He watched his student trot away before resuming consuming his food that he and Atticus had munched on while talking. He was glad that he had chosen to curse Atticus now. The boy was rather easy-going, seemed to take whatever life threw at his way. Such an attitude was ideal for the life of a werewolf.

A shame his sister met my brother. He bit her and now she is becoming an evil wifewolf. If Atticus or I don't bit her soon, Romulus may corrupt her into his way of life and she'll be difficult to take down. Remus tore off another piece of rabbit and chewed on it, thinking of those fateful days when he and Romulus became werewolves.