Lost Wolf
Chapter 2
Sam Emerson wondered if he was dreaming. He decided he wasn't, he didn't think his mind could come up with something so... Ridiculous.
The little Vampire, Marko, was crouched in front of a group of pigeons, cooing lovingly. Alex, (the Werewolf Alex), had told him that Marko (Snickers) was the most vicious of all the Lost Boys. Yet here he was, gently petting a pigeon and cooing as if they could understand him.
Who knew, maybe they could?
Paul (Paulie) was lounging on the ratty old couch, looking longingly at an array of hand rolled joints, debating with himself in a soft murmur whether or not toking would be considered 'bad behavior' by Max.
Max, the fashion blind nerd dating his mother who also happened to be a Master Vampire. Who apparently was bat-s**t crazy and wanted to build the perfect Vampire family by turning Sam's family into some kind of Bloodsucking Brady Bunch.
This was what his life had come to. Thirteen years on earth just to end up a bloodsucking Bobby Brady.
Alex, the Werewolf he'd spent most of the day palling around with/trying to escape from, was looking at the innards of an antique clock like they held the secrets of the universe, while also keeping a wary, protective eye on Sam. He'd warned Sam not to get too close to any of Vampires without permission. Not that he intended to, and not that it would make any difference because they could move faster than the Flash on crack.
And he was willing to bet his comics that Paul was no stranger to crack.
David (Mullet Head) and Dwayne (who didn't have a nickname because Alex didn't want to offend him), were apparently telepathically plotting the death of said Master Vampire, hopefully before he turned Sam's entire family into bloodsucking hell-spawn.
Telepathy aside, they all seemed so... Human.
He'd seen on TV one time, (when he still had a TV, thanks Gramps. Not.), a species of Mantis that looked almost exactly like a beautiful flower. Insects, coming in for some tasty pollen, would be snatched up and eaten alive.
Mimicry.
The Lost Boys looked human, hell, they looked like incredibly attractive humans, but it was all an illusion. Mimicry that allowed them to blend in with their prey. Beneath Marko's cherubic face and cute habit of biting his thumbnail (Not cute in that way!), lurked a demon who enjoyed ripping people apart and playing catch with their heads. Kind of like Jason Blood/The Demon from DC comics. One minute a handsome human, the next a fearsome demon. He'd read one comic with those characters and had nightmares for nearly a week.
The others were no different. The pretty faces were just a lure to draw in prey. Sure, They honestly cared about one another, Marko really did have a soft spot for animals, Dwayne was obviously concerned about Laddie, but humans... Humans were walking hamburgers, no, walking milkshakes. Walking blood milkshakes. His face scrunched up at the thought as he heard snickering from Marko.
Oh, crap. He'd forgot that they can read minds...
"Walking blood milkshakes. I like that..." He brought his thumb to his mouth and began to chew on his glove, "You're right, though. Humans don't really matter to any of us. We were human, once, so you'd think we'd feel something towards them, but nah. It's like the moment you turn, all those things like morality and compassion just..." He made a flapping motion with his hands, "Fly away."
"If you had a heart, a soul or whatever, then you would have a hard time killing people." Sam noted sagely, "In order to survive, that part of your brain or soul or whatever dies. If it didn't, you'd be like Star. Starving yourself to death rather than giving in to the hunger and killing people."
Sam had everyone's attention now.
He continued, despite the audience, "It's probably some sort of adaptation so that Vampires can survive being what they are, rather than just walking into the sun or whatever out of guilt."
Paul looked up from his weed, "That's heavy, dude."
"That... That actually makes sense." It was only the second time Sam had heard Dwayne speak, and the Vampire actually seemed impressed. Guess Biology class does come in handy after all...
"We never really thought about it," David shrugged, "Well, I'm sure Dwayne did. But the rest of us are just happy to be the free spirits we are."
Someone slapped him on the back, and Sam turned to see Marko with that unnerving smile on his face, "You're pretty smart kid. Of course, trying to kill us was a dumb idea, but you figured out the whole 'Master Vampire' thing."
"It was in the comics," Sam shrugged, "And, about that... I'm sorry. I don't want anyone to die, I just want my brother back."
"I know kid. I don't blame you for that. Most people would do the same. I remember when I was a halfie, I made Star look like a preppy valley girl. I really did not want to become a Vampire, even with immortality thrown in. But once it happened, like you said, that part of me just died." He scratched his smooth chin thoughtfully, "I can't even remember why I hated the idea so much. I mean, I remember when I was human, but it's like watchin' TV. I remember this person who lived before Marko, I remember the filth that dared call himself my- his father." His features shifted into that of the monster, his camouflage came crashing down, and something like pain flashed in his eyes, followed quickly by rage, then a sort of dark sadness. He snapped out of it quickly, mask back in place, but his smile wasn't quite so bright now. "I really can't understand why he wanted to stay that weak, pathetic little human..." He said distractedly, apparently talking to himself rather than Sam. He turned and quietly walked back to his pigeons.
No one openly acknowledge Marko's sudden change in demeanor, but Alex paled even further and walked over to steer Sam toward the old fountain and away from the troubled Vampire, and the others looked equal parts sad and vengeful. Sam didn't dare ask anything, it was clear that Marko's father was a very dangerous subject. Sam found himself hoping that the man had died a brutal death. His own father was a no-good, lazy cheater, but he'd never physically hurt his family in any way.
Somehow, he wasn't surprised that he could wish something so awful on a stranger, because he was well aware that there were worse things in the world than Vampires.
XXXX
Dwayne felt a chill run down his spine as Marko spoke of his past. Vampires weren't known for sentimentality, as Sam had pointed out, they couldn't afford it. Not if they were going to survive, anyway.
But some evils were just too great, even for the damned.
He and David, (and Max, if he counted, and Dwayne did not feel he did), were the only ones who'd known the broken boy who'd become their beloved, if often annoying, cherubic little imp. Marko didn't talk about his past. None of them did, but, they remembered what they'd seen.
Both he and David had seen what Marko had endured.
And some things were best left dead and buried.
Or, in the case of Marko's father, slowly flayed over a roasting fire and burnt into dust. Dispersed into the four winds so that whatever Higher Powers there were would hopefully be unable to find all of the pieces of his wretched soul. Or wouldn't bother trying, if there was any Justice in the universe.
All of them had tragic pasts, and he considered his own the least of them. The half-breed son of an Apache woman and a white man he'd never met, (fortunately for that evil bastard), his suffering was based on prejudice; stupid, petty hatred from stupid, petty little men. The idea that one human could consider himself superior to another was utterly absurd once you transcended humanity itself. Humans were just arrogant little cattle that thought themselves the masters of the world. All men were equally nothing.
Star had once asked him how he could have traded his humanity for this, sold his soul to become a 'monster.' He'd replied honestly that he hadn't lost a damn thing. Humans were worse than Vampires, worse than Werewolves or any other 'monsters'. Humans caused unbelievable levels of suffering and death for money, for lust, for pleasure.
Vampires often enjoyed killing, yes. But it was survival, not greed or lust, (generally, there were exceptions), that drove them. They were entranced, intoxicated by the thrill of the hunt, the scent of adrenaline and fear, the feel of blood on their faces, but in the end, it was all about survival. They were predators not defilers.
Not humans.
If having a soul meant being like the trash that raped, pillaged and slaughtered their way across the earth, that poisoned everything they touched and destroyed whatever they couldn't have so that no one else could enjoy it, then he was glad to be rid of the thing.
Marko and Paul had suffered in different ways. And it had left them both shattered.
Marko hid behind his cheerful mask even when it wasn't necessary, as if he were hiding his past from everyone, himself included. Those rare occasions like tonight, when his Devils did find him, were unpleasant for all of them, to say the least. Thankfully, he hadn't lashed out, this time. Dwayne noted Alex quickly, quietly and wisely leading Sam away from where Marko crouched amongst his pigeons. They all knew it wouldn't do any good if Marko lost control, but at least he tried to protect his charge. There was a reason many sensitive people understood the wolf to be a noble animal...
And Paul... Paul took comfort in whatever illegal substances he could get his hands on, whatever could take the edge off of his pain. He was damaged in a way that his brothers sometimes feared might never heal. Max didn't really care, damn him, but they did. He was their brother, and they'd tear down the gates of hell for each other.
Star and Michael, seemed to see only the curse. They had no idea what a gift they had been offered. Most resisted, of course. He had, briefly, before he came to understand the Nature of the Beast. Marko wasn't exaggerating, he'd fought like mad against them, inexplicably preferring the thought of his continued misery to eternal freedom. But he understood now, and he was grateful. Paul hadn't fought, it hadn't mattered to him, life had ceased to have any real meaning in his eyes at a very early age.
Laddie, poor Laddie, was a different story, a tragedy. Though he personally might view Vampirism as a higher state of being, turning a child was monstrous to Dwayne. Being trapped in a ten year old body for eternity would drive Laddie mad. If he hadn't had enough reason to hate Max before, the fool's attempt to turn Laddie erased all doubt.
Max was mad. Totally, hopelessly insane.
And for everyone's sake, Max could not be allowed to see another night.
Even if Dwayne had to drive the stake home himself.
XXXX
For several moments no one spoke, and it was David who finally broke the silence, "It's almost 10:00, and Max is expecting us."
"Are we taking the bikes, or flying?" Marko asked, cheerful mask firmly in place once more.
"Flying. Alex will take Sammy on his bike."
Sam was relieved that he wasn't going to be carried through the sky like a dying fish in an eagle's talons.
Alex led him down into a separate cavern as the boys took flight.
Sam had only seen a motorcycle like this once, in an Indiana Jones movie. It wasn't as sleek or 'cool' as the bikes the boys rode, but it was definitely eye-catching. It must have been from the 1930's or 40's, judging by the Indiana Jones timeline. It was a solid bike, painted in deep red with black seating and trim, as was the matching sidecar.
The bike had a freaking sidecar.
"She can't go ludicrous speed like David and the others' bikes, and she's a pain to maneuver with the sidecar in tight spots, but she's strong and sturdy." Alex said proudly "Plus, you don't have to ride bitch."
To Sam's surprise, there was a motorcycle helmet in the sidecar, something a Werewolf probably wouldn't need. It was a bit big on him, though. The seat was actually pretty comfortable as well.
The engine growled and they were off.
Sam was going home.
He hoped to God that he wasn't too late.
XXXX
The entire Pack felt it at once.
A chain shattered into dust, breaking a centuries' long leash.
All four Vampires raised their heads and howled with joy.
Paul and Marko began practically dancing in the sky.
Strange laughter rang through the night, startling the good people of Santa Carla.
"Ding-Dong the Witch is dead." Paul started to sing, and was soon joined by the entire Pack.
XXXX
Sam heard the howling, laughing and singing despite the wind rushing around him. He looked to Alex in confusion, and Alex howled with joy. The Werewolf pulled over to the side of the road, smiling broadly.
"They're free. All of them."
"Who? What's going on?"
"Max just got dusted. The boys are free, Star, Laddie and Michael are human again-"
"No, not Michael." David landed near the bike, followed by his Pack. "That wasn't just Max's blood in that bottle. I put a little something extra in the bottle, a personal gift..."
"Your blood." Alex almost whispered. He hadn't expected that, but it made sense. After Laddie and Star, the boys had become more and more frustrated with Max. If David had his own Childe, Max would have no control over him and David would gain more power. David, indeed all the boys, had wanted Max gone ever since Alex had met them. With patience and careful selection, David could form a Pack beyond Max's reach. A Pack that could challenge, maybe even overthrow him...
Sam, of course, was furious. He was screaming at David, cursing him. Alex didn't blame him. Michael had wanted his freedom, his humanity so badly, almost as badly as Star. Sam had wanted to protect his family, his Pack. He'd nearly died trying to save Michael from this fate. If Max was dead, and the boys didn't feel Lucy through their link, then Lucy was either still human (hopefully), or dead. As he wasn't a Vampire, Alex didn't have that link, the boys had told him Max was dead through their telepathy. He hated being an outsider, but he knew the mere existence of a Werewolf Vampire would likely bring the wrath of just about every Vampire and Werewolf on the planet upon the Pack's heads. Not that he wanted to become any kind of Vampire...
"Take the kid home," David spoke over Sam's ranting, "We don't want to upset Michael."
Alex nodded, and rode away with an outraged Sam toward the Emerson house.
XXXX
It was a miracle.
A genuine, honest-to-God miracle.
She felt it as soon at the old man's truck burst through the wall and impaled the monster that had tried to turn her, Laddie and Michael into murderous beasts.
Star was overjoyed, she pulled Laddie into her arms and cried.
Poor Miss. Emerson was in shock, her boyfriend had just revealed himself to be a literal monster and had been impaled in her living room by a stake on her father's truck. She had every right to be upset. And they still hadn't told her about Sam.
Sam.
Oh God, Sam!
At that moment the front door burst open and Sam Emerson ran into the wreckage of the family living room, very much alive and well.
XXXX
Alex had never seen anything like it. The rusty old truck was half-buried in the living room of the Emerson's home. Sam didn't even wait for him to fully stop, hopping out of the sidecar and running for the house. His family was in there, hopefully alive.
Alex just sat there taking in the sight. He realized that the police would be there soon, there was no way to hide this kind of incident. Of course, his motorcycle was unique in Santa Carla, easy to trace, and if he was found here, he'd likely be arrested for kidnapping, at the very least.
He'd never learned if anyone had tied him to that dead man in Louisiana. It had been self defense, the creep had mistaken him for a prostitute and attacked him when he refused to let him touch him. He'd bitten and clawed the bastard in a panic. He would have turned, and the last thing the world needed was a psychotic, rapist Werewolf.
Alex had torn his throat out, just to be sure.
There had been so much blood.
The boys would have loved it.
He'd simply thrown up and ran away.
He turned his bike around and left before the sirens reached the Emerson's house, heading back into the cover of darkness.
XXXX
After the police, ambulances and fire department had come and gone, Sam had the unpleasant duty of informing everyone that Michael was still infected.
It was too much for poor Lucy, she became hysterical and her father had led her upstairs.
Star was sobbing. She was free, but her freedom had come at a terrible cost. If not for Laddie being free as well, she would have likely broken down from guilt. She had led Michael into damnation in exchange for Laddie and her own souls.
"Max really knew how to bring down a party, didn't he?"
"David." Star hissed with as much hate and spite as humanly possible, turning to the smirking Vampire, "How dare you? How dare you come here?!"
The entire Pack was here, save Alex, who had left after dropping off Sam, probably to avoid the police.
The young Werewolf was the only one she didn't mentally damn to hell. He'd kept Sam safe and brought him home, still human. He was probably the only reason the boy was still alive.
But David, David was another matter entirely...
Star spat in David's direction, "Burn in hell, David."
"I love you too, Star." David mocked, "I'm glad you're human again, as a halfie, you were a real pain-in-the-"
Michael Emerson barreled into David, fangs out and claws slashing. The rest of the boys stood back, David wouldn't want them to interfere. He had to put his whelp in his place by himself.
The Frog brothers felt no such restraint. Screaming a war cry they rushed into the yard to confront the Vampires with crosses, holy water and wooden stakes. They wore ridiculous garlic necklaces that would have had more effect on Alex's sensitive nose than the Vampires. Star watched in horror from the doorway, Laddie was still in the house with Sam, watching through a window.
Michael rained down punch after punch on David's face, but though he was, as a half-Vampire, much stronger than an ordinary human, he wasn't nearly as powerful as a Vampire. David laughed and kneed him in the gut, knocking him backwards.
"You did this to me!" Michael snarled.
"You did it to yourself, Mikey! You can't deny that you enjoyed it, the power, the freedom. You're more than human, now. You're better than human, and it only gets better from here."
"I'm not a killer like you! I never will be! Once you're dead I'll be free!"
"You're not a killer..." David stood up and dusted off his jacket, "But you intend to kill me? You seem a bit confused there, Mikey."
David struck Michael in the jaw, knocking him to the ground, senseless. He whistled, and the others took to the air, mocking the Frogs.
"It's too public here. But you'll come home to us. To me. You'll beg me to help you, Mikey. To help stop the pain, the hunger." David shrugged," Or you'll flip out and eat your precious family. Either way, you're one of us, forever."
David took to the air, laughing, and the Lost Boys flew away, leaving Michael Emerson screaming on the front lawn.
XXXX
"I don't know, Alan, it doesn't look infected," Edgar Frog examined the wounds the Werewolf had left on his brother's back. It looked like an ordinary wound, and Alan wasn't suddenly sprouting weird dog hair, "We'd better keep doing the silver test, though, just to be sure."
Edgar and Alan had both received a silver dollar each from their late grandfather, and had hidden them from their junkie parents. If it didn't burn Alan's skin, he should be fine.
And if Alex ever brought his scrawny ass back to the comic shop, Edgar was going to press that coin right into his forehead...
XXXX
Alex pulled up in front of the entrance to the little cave where he stored his bike. Thorn sat solemnly in the sidecar, he'd picked the Hellhound up on David's instructions after dropping off Sam. Marko was going to love having a new animal around, and maybe Alex would have some much-needed company during the day.
"Remember, Thorn, the pigeons are not food."
Thorn gave him a condescending look. The best thing about a Hellhound was it's human level intelligence. The worst thing about a Hellhound was it's human level intelligence. Being mocked by a dog is a singularly embarrassing experience.
Alex shook his head and looked across the water at the horizon. It was after midnight, and he'd been up since early yesterday morning. He needed sleep if he was going to be guarding the hotel, but Thorn would likely be able to cover for him in the morning. The idea of going out for long periods during the day without worrying about the Pack's safety appealed to him greatly.
When was the last time he spent the whole day away from the cave? The last time he could remember was when he went to see Wes Craven's Swamp Thing at the movies... In 1982.
It was now 1987.
He really needed to get out more...
He probably wasn't welcome in the comic shop anymore, but there was a lot more to Santa Carla than the Boardwalk. He'd have to be careful where he went, though, not all Vampires were as tolerant of strange Werewolves roaming their territories as old Widow Johnson, especially Werewolves affiliated with other Vampires. And the Frogs knew what he was now, and would likely be carrying whatever silver weaponry they could beg, borrow or steal. Assuming their thieving, no good parents didn't pawn it off for drugs. He actually felt sorry for them, the only real family the brothers had were each other. Their parents were just parasites, the boys raised themselves, which explained a lot of their personality flaws.
And there was still the slash he'd inflicted on Alan. Honestly, he'd just been trying to grab him by the back of his shirt, though he couldn't say he wouldn't have hurt him in his rage due over their cowardly attack on Marko. But if he did manage to pass on his Lycanthropy to Alan, he might be able to form a small Pack of his own. He'd have to change Edgar as well, of course. He couldn't separate the brothers like that. He'd never turned anyone because he knew he wasn't Alpha material, he was a follower, not a leader. But the presence of other Werewolves would fill that gap in his soul formed when his own Pack was killed.
But that was something to think about in the future, not the here and now. He had more pressing concerns now that Max was dead.
Everything had changed, for better or worse he couldn't be sure. David was strong, but he was very young for a Vampire and had been Master for less than three hours. Other Vampires coveted the Boardwalk territory, it was the best hunting ground in the county, so the Pack would have to be extremely careful not to show any sign of weakness. Max had been insane, but he had also been old and strong enough to keep rivals away. David had to move carefully now, and soon. With the addition of Thorn and, inevitably, Michael, the Pack was stronger, but not by much...
He yawned as Thorn bounded off toward the hotel. He was tired, and he would worry about those things tomorrow. Tonight, he just wanted to sleep in peace.
To be continued...
XXXX
Notes:
Alex Winter said in an interview that Marko was a runaway from New York, and that his real name wasn't Marko. He never told anyone his real name. I think Max probably knew, having total access to his mind.
I think that most, if not all of the boys had been abused in one way or another.
I hope that my depictions of Marko and Dwayne were satisfactory.
Age wise the boys are:
David - Eldest
Dwayne - Second
Marko - Third
Paul - Youngest (Probably less than 60 years old) Alex's bike is older than he is.
Alex - 22 years old.
I don't believe Max cared about his boys as much as he claimed. He didn't even notice when Marko was staked, and went on his date with Lucy as planned rather than check on the boys afterward. He apparently wasn't aware of Paul and Dwayne dying until he actually entered the Emerson house. Perhaps the problem was not the lack of a mother, but the lack of a real father figure. Max was, at best, an irresponsible sire.
I realized halfway through the chapter that Michael had both Max and David's blood, meaning Max's death wouldn't free him, unlike Star and Laddie. Both Max and David would have to die to change him back to human. I always thought it was ironic that Michael kept saying that he wasn't a killer, even as he killed David. He has a darkness inside of him, that's why David chose him. That, and he found him attractive, but this story isn't about romance or sex in any way.
The Beautiful Orchid Mantis is a real insect, and pretty awesome.
Since he doesn't like horror comics, The Demon would probably scare Sam's socks off. Jason Blood and the Demon Etrigan, (and Swamp Thing), are the property of DC Comics.
The movie version of Swamp Thing came out in 1982, with Dick Durock as Swamp Thing, Louis Jourdan as Anton Arcane and the lovely Adrienne Barbeau as Alice Cable. It was directed by famous horror writer/director Wes Craven. As The Lost Boys takes place in 1987, Alex really needs a day off. That was the last time he spent a whole day away from the hotel, he frequently goes out at night.
The Return of Swamp Thing didn't come out until 1989.
Spaceballs came out in June 1987.
Alex rides a restored 1940 Indian Chief (yes, that is the actual name of the motorcycle) produced by the Indian Motor Manufacturing Company. It was available in both civilian and military models. It had a top speed of 85 MPH, though it was bulky by modern standards and the sidecar limited mobility. The sidecar was, of course, removable. It was American made, not German (they had their own brands), but like me, Sam doesn't know much about motorcycles. Alex acquired it shortly after coming to live with the boys. It was built with pieces from the scrapyard, pieces bought from dealers and some customized parts. There's no way to simply steal a motorcycle like that and regularly ride it without getting caught.