Adako looked to Landon. "Are you a vampire?"
He shook his head. "No."
"Luke?"
"Nope."
Suddenly the car rocked and they heard a savage bark. They all turned to see a massive wolf on the hood, looking through the windshield at them. It's gray eyes held intelligence, but they also held a need. This thing was looking for something.
Adako swallowed and her voice shook. "Do werewolves exist too?"
Luke pulled her into the backseat and traded places with Monty.
"Yes, they do." said Monty. "And you are seeing one."
"Monty!" Adako squeeked.
The wolf on the hood put two paws on the windshield and snapped at them, the continued to stare.
"What is it doing?"
"He, " Monty corrected. "They hate being called 'it'. Luke and Landon are talking to him." He slapped a hand over his mouth. "Oops."
"Ooh! Don't even say what I think you are! Just don't!"
Monty grabbed her chin and looked her in the eye. "They're werewolves."
"Am I dreaming, Monty?" She asked, tears welling up in her eyes. "None of this is real."
Monty pulled her close. "It's ok. I know what you feel like. See, I was only turned into a vampire about seventy years ago- I was seventeen at the time, and I was only a ginea pig for the one who made me. They were just trying out their skills. Before that, like you, I never believed any of this was real. Next thing I knew I was bitten and changed, and they left me to fend for myself. I had no clue what to do. I only drank the blood from rats and things because I didn't want to hurt anyone, and I slept in warehouses during the day. One night I slept in the same one that Landon did- he befriended me, and about two days later we found Luke. They taught me things, helped me find my gift, and, to tell the truth, I don't know what I would do without them."
"Do you all have a gift?" Adako asked, most of her tears dissolved.
"All vampires and werewolves do, as far as I know. Luke's gift is mind power. He can read minds and see memories and stuff. He can also move things around. You know, like telekinesis and stuff? That's how he opened the door. It's hard for him because he has to concentrate really hard to do it. Landon's gift is- well, he thinks of it more as a curse than a gift. His gift is that no one can use their gift on him."
"So like, you couldn't heal him?"
"Nope. That's the downside of it. See, some people's gifts are quite destructive, so it usually is a good thing." He cocked his head. "I think your dog's waking up."
"My dog?" Adako looked hopeful.
"Yeah. Luke knocked her out- no don't worry, we didn't hurt her, he just got in her mind and kinda told her to sleep for a while. We put her in the trunk. We only brought her 'cause we saw the picture of you and her on your dash. We thought it'd look more like you left on your own if your dog wasn't to be found."
"The trunk though? Why the trunk of all places?" Adako asked, incredulous.
"Uh...well? How were we supposed to know if she got carsick or not?" Monty grinned. "Here." They got on the floor of the car and he reached between the top and the bottom of the back seat and pulled it back, revealing the hollow cavity of the trunk. There was Espie, just opening her eyes. She crawled forward and licked Adako's face, and they pulled her all the way out and put the seat up again. Espie sat in the middle and looked with interest at the wolf on the hood.
"So what are they talking about?" Adako asked Monty.
"Obviously something important, " he said. "I don't really know. It could actually be something stupid like deciding our punishment for invading their territory. Wolves are very territorial, you will come to find out."
"How reassuring," Adako mumbled, holding on tight to Espie.
The car rocked again slightly as the wolf jumped off, and Luke and Landon turned back to Monty and Adako.
"Here's the deal." Landon said, running his hand through his hair. "We trespassed."
"Oh brother." Monty sighed.
"We trespassed, " Landon continued, ignoring Monty. "And they want to see who will win out with a challenge. Whoever wins get's cooperation and a treaty with the pack as a sub. We mentioned that our pack had about four races and they were fine with that. The winner also gets another means of transportation."
"Four races?" Adako questioned.
"Yup. Wolf, vamp, human, and canine."
"Hold it. I am so not part of this 'pack'." Adako clarified.
"As of when?" Monty socked her arm playfully. He turned back to Landon. "So who is challenging who, and what's the challenge?"
"Luke is challenging one of them. They're playing russian roulette."
Adako gasped.
"Don't worry, " Luke said. "It's only on our wrists. And if I lose, or am lucky and get the bullet, which won't happen, Monty can heal me. Right old boy?"
Monty nodded his head. "Right."
"That's why Landon didn't accept the challenge, right? 'Cause he can't be healed by Monty?"
"That's right, "Landon said. "I'm glad Monty filled you in. There's also a downside to letting Luke do it...just in case these wolves have these destructive gifts, and things get out of hand. Ah one can only live in the present. You ready Luke?"
"Yup." He nodded. He opened the door and started to climb out.
"Luke, " Adako stopped him. "Be careful."
He looked at her funny. "Yeah." He got out and slammed the door.
"Let's go watch and meet the other guys," Landon said. They all climbed out and Adako fastened a peace of twine to Espie's collar as a leash so she wouldn't end up as a snack for some hungry wolf. She stuck close to Monty as they walked to the far side of the warehouse, where there was about six guys standing in a group, and one a little out and furthur ahead. This one came forward to Luke and handed him a revolver twin to the one he kept. Luke accepted it. The rest of the group plus Landon, Monty, Adako and Espie formed a loose circle around them. One of the six from the other group went up to Luke and his opponent and handed each one of them a single bullet, and turned to the crowd.
"Luke, wolf, " He said, indicating Luke. "Versus Ian, wolf." Indicating Luke's opponent. He took his place in the audience.
Luke snapped open the cylinder and inserted the one bullet, spinning it and snapping it back in. Ian did the same and they traded guns.
"Why did they give each other their guns?" Adako asked Monty.
"It's the only way everybody knows nobody cheated," Monty answered back.
Adako crossed her fingers as Luke and Ian took positions. They placed the gun to their wrists and waited for the countdown. Luke stared calmly into Ian's face, and Ian stared right back.
"So what are the rules?" asked Adako.
"Well, they each have a one in five chance of getting shot. If one of them chickens and doesn't do it, then obviously he is the loser. If they both do it, and one person gets shot, then he loses. If they both get shot, then they decide after that what to do. If niether of them get shot, then they spin again and do it one more time."
"Five, four, three, " The countdown started.
"Shh, watch now." Said Landon.
"Two, one, shoot!"
