Creatures Of The Night

From ghosties and ghoulies and long leggity beasties,

Protect us Lord do

Amen.

10.00 pm, October 31st 2003, an expensive restaurant near Central Park, New York

"I'm glad that you managed to forgive me for the way I broke up with you Hank. I said a lot of things I wish I never had and I hurt you badly."

"We both said a lot of things we shouldn't have Trish. We hurt each other but let's not dwell on that. Let's focus on happier things instead like this rather splendid meal and the renewal of our friendship."

"You're right of course Hank. "

Hank was well aware of the stares that he was drawing from the other patrons of the restaurant. Even before his transformation into the bouncing blue beast he had been noticeably different from the human norm. From Neanderthal to furry blue gorilla and now to feline but he had in time become comfortable with each form. At first he had hated this new form with its increased bulk, reduced manual dexterity and ferocious countenance. He had been unable to hold a pencil and Trish's over the phone breaking up of the relationship had hit him hard. Then there had been Cassandra Nova's taunts and being beaten into a coma by a possessed student. That had been merely the start of his troubles.

It hadn't taken him too long to relearn how to write and now these clumsy paws were as supple as his old hands. The increased senses and healing was a significant sweetener and as he had said to Logan recently he now knew how the feral thought. Of course Logan had vehemently denied this. Now he was with the woman he loved and they knew that they belonged together and to hell with what anyone else thought.

"So Hank any thoughts on whether we take this relationship back up to the next level? I'm ready if you're happy with it."

"Yes I would like that very much Trish. As you know I will be gone for some months but if you are still ready when I get back nothing would give me greater pleasure than to share once more what we used to have. Besides these new claws of mine give a great back scratch and you never know, I might even demonstrate this for you another time."

Amongst the people unhappy at dining in the presence of a mutant was one man who was giving Hank particularly venomous glances. Drinking the last of his wine he beckoned over a waiter and indicated that he wanted to pay the bill.

"Was the meal not to your liking sir or is it the presence of that mutant? I can understand how you feel sir and I can't apologize enough if you were offended. Unfortunately Henry McCoy is a prominent scientist and we can't afford to alienate any important patrons."

"You misunderstand me sir. I don't object to mutants in general merely to that particular one. Here I'm feeling generous. Use it to treat your wife or mistress if you have one."

The man rose to his feet and left and the waiter couldn't help but notice that the man bore a very slight resemblance to an ape. That was an unkind thought though especially as he had tipped so generously. Still he wondered why he was feeling such a sense of relief as though he was fortunate to have escaped with his life.

"Are you alright Hank? You look uneasy."

"Sorry Trish it was that man who just got up and leaved. I swear there was something awfully familiar about him.

By day Central Park is a beautiful oasis in the midst of the urban jungle. You can sit beneath the shade of a tree and spend a lazy hour or two just dreaming or admire the beautiful flowers and listen to the songs of birds. You can walk the job, feed the ducks, enjoy a picnic lunch or play football. It is a little piece of paradise.

At night it's a very different story. It's really not a safe place at all to walk alone in the hours of darkness. You can meet all kinds of dangerous people and end up being mugged, raped or even murdered. Our man from the restaurant is about to meet one such person who you certainly wouldn't want to meet down a dark alley. He's a mugger and he's got a gun and yes he's killed before.

"Are yer gonna hand me yer wallet or am I gonna have ta put a bullet in ya."

"You humans and your guns, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Let's see how you fare without your little toy."

Faster than the eye could follow the gun was snatched from the bewildered mugger's hand. There was a wrenching sound as the barrel was twisted around a hundred and eighty degrees and then the now useless gun was placed back in his hand. With detached interest the mugger wondered why the man's hand felt so rough like stubble.

Then he heard a low and ominous growl and literally wet his pants in fear of what he saw. Where the man was standing was a savage gray furred monster with gleaming yellow eyes, sharp and rather long fangs and even sharper claws. The mugger sank to his knees and cowered unable to believe what was happening to him.

"W-w-w-err-ee-ww-ool-fff."

"No such thing as werewolf's friend but a fair description I suppose. Now I'm afraid you have managed to annoy me and since I've already fulfilled my good deed for the day you will get no mercy except a quick albeit painful death. Although I may be doing humanity a good deed by removing you from the gene pool as you are certainly a most pathetic sample of humanity."

"No, please….."

The man's protests were promptly cut short by one swing of a massive clawed hand that ripped out his throat. Collapsing he died in a gurgle of blood. Yet another example of why Central Park is not a safe place to go at night. You never know who you're going to meet.

McCoy decided that he might as well leave his image inducer switched off now as he wouldn't really need it where he was going. The nightclub was hosting a Halloween special evening after all and he would fit right in with his bestial appearance. After all, the late would-be mugger had mistaken him for a werewolf.

"Thou art a bonny lad mortal and I shall award thee with a kiss."

The young man returned Maeve's smile and she resolved to make his final moments enjoyable. With his auburn hair and green eyes he was a handsome man of the type she preferred to feed on. He had seemed taken with her and she hadn't needed her telepathy to persuade him to accompany her to this store cupboard. Now they were embracing and she could sense his desire for her as he anticipated the kiss. Now she used the telepathy banishing any fear from his minds and heightening his pleasure so he was lost in a euphoric haze.

Gently, almost tenderly she kissed him drawing out his life energy all at once so he would feel no pain. He never felt a thing but died in one moment of perfect bliss with Maeve's haunting beauty the last thing he ever saw. It was a pleasant death really and some men might even have chosen to go that way. A modern day succubus Maeve was sated now and would not need to feed again this night. All too soon though the hunger would be upon her again and she would choose another young man to sustain her.

"Thy feeding went well eh Maeve. I have also fed upon a fair maiden so I will join thee in waiting for him."

Maeve could see the blood still staining Bloodscream's lips standing out in stark contrast against the dead white skin. Now he had fed he was back in his normal state almost human save for his pale complexion and elfin appearance. He nodded amiably to Maeve his long white ponytail bobbing as he did so and put an arm around her shoulder. She tolerated this since they had known each other for centuries. Similar in appearance and their vampiric urges they had shared a deep bond once. That was gone now but a lingering affection still remained.

"Aye Bloodscream then I suppose we shall depart this place with its irritating music and bright lights."

"The feeding is excellent though don't you think?"

"That it is that it is."

McCoy was worried for a moment that he would be forced to use violence when the bouncer took a long look at him. Then he relaxed as he realized that the man was admiring what he thought was a particularly effective costume.

"Hey that's a really neat costume mate. I'd love to know where you got it from. You can't even see the zipper."

"I made it myself in a manner of speaking. May I come through?"

"Sure."

McCoy gave the bouncer a friendly grin and soon picked out Maeve and Bloodscream. It was interesting to see Maeve in leather jacket, electric pink skirt and blue blouse and he had to admit that the green hair dye actually suited her. Of course it had been her idea to emulate Bloodscream for a change. Still it was Halloween after all and an occasion for dressing up.

"I met a lady in the meads, Full beautiful- a faery's child, Her foot was light, her hair was long and her eyes were wild. Hello Mave, Bloodscream. Appetites fully sated I trust."

"Thou know how much I love the poem that Keats wrote for me. Tell me though why you do not use your image inducer?"

"Why bother on this night when my appearance actually helps me to blend in. I did wear it to the restaurant since they have a "no shoes, no shirt, no service" policy and this T-shirt is rather tatty."

"Indeed. Tell me McCoy that isn't ketchup on thy fur?" asked Bloodscream as he licked his lips eagerly.

"My pardon Bloodscream, I must learn to be tidier when I deal with pests."

Maeve handed McCoy a handkerchief so he could wipe of the bloodstains. Bloodscream looked disappointed but then shrugged. After all he had already had a good meal and he didn't want to get fat. McCoy was most relieved at this since he certainly didn't relish the thought of Bloodscream licking blood from his fur. Would the vampire elf know when to stop? Somehow McCoy doubted that he would.

"Well I suppose we'd better get back home now Maeve. We don't want Svensgaard fussing because we've been out to late. For a feral he behaves more like a whining puppy at times. Still he's loyal and approaching my intellectual level so I can forgive him that."

"I find Richard to be a very fine young man. Still let us depart this place. The night is young and I would much rather spend it far away from here."

"Yes didn't I mention that I was taking you to see the opera? It starts in an hour so we've plenty of time yet."

"Why McCoy thou truly know how to get to a woman's heart."

She kissed him on the cheek though the fur was rough. McCoy gave one of his few genuine smiles and operated his communicator. Speaking a few terse words he arranged a rendezvous with Fatale. Teleportation would get them there much quicker and give him time to present Maeve with her gift. He couldn't wait to see how pleased she would be with the new dress. Hopefully she would wear it when she accompanied him to see Carmen. Himself he would wear the same T-shirt and jeans he was presently wearing. An image inducer made things so much simpler and provided time for the more important things in life. Like Maeve, or destroying Sinister, or genetic experimentation or acquiring further Destiny diaries.

"My dear I think we shall find that the night will just get better and better."

11.30 pm Central Park.

Hank could tell at a glance that the man was beyond help. He must have been killed almost instantaneously but it had not been an easy death. The man's throat had been literally torn out as if by claws and the look of terror on the man's face brought a chill to Hank's heart. Looking at the wound Hank's first thought was that the man was a victim of Sabretooth.

Two things dispelled that notion. The first was the discarded gun with the barrel bent and distorted beyond all recognition. Certainly only someone with far greater than human strength could have done this. The other clue and the one that confirmed Hank's fears were the gray hairs that Hank found on the gun and in the man's wound.

Hank recalled the man he had seen leaving and how he had seemed awfully familiar. Hank cast his mind back remembering a time some years back when a madman had murdered old friends and familiar faces from his past and lured him into a trap. Nearly killing him and capturing him so that he could take his place and hide amongst the X-Men. This man had actually been Hank but a different version of himself. He came from a bleak and terrible world where love and mercy had little place and of which he was one of the few terrible legacies. The Dark Beast one of the X-Men's bitterest foes and a man Hank hoped he'd seen the last off.

"Stars and garters but I hoped I'd seen the last of you. How many more will perish before we stop you Dark Beast? I swear this man will be the last you ever kill."

A single tear formed in the corner of Hank's eye and trickled down his furry face. Silently the feline mutant cried for all the victims of his alter ego's cruelty and most of all for the future innocents who would surely suffer at the hands of the Dark Beast.