Chapter 23: Inside The Werewolf Hideout
A muscular, brunet man wearing a long sleeved grey shirt and long khaki pants with sneakers answered the door. He opened the door just enough to reveal half of his body. His hazel eyes looked at each person that was standing outside the door. His eyes lingered on Anton, Ragnar before stopping on Elsa. The Werewolf – Elsa could practically smell the scent on him – didn't stop staring at her. Maybe he was wondering why there were some Vampires knocking on a Werewolf den. Jack, who had noticed the other Werewolf's gaze on Elsa, shifted in front of Elsa as if he was protecting her.
"Ah Braden," North smiled at him. "Has Manny arrived?"
"Yes," Braden didn't stop looking at Elsa. Elsa felt like she was exposed in some way. Why had this Werewolf picked her out? There were two other Vampires with her. Maybe she just looked the most threatening.
"Great, when?" North asked him.
"Yesterday," Braden said.
"Alright," North said. "I think we will go see him."
Braden stepped back and let North, Tooth, Bunnymund, Sandy and Jack pass but he blocked the way when Elsa, Ragnar and Anton tried to enter.
"Sorry, Werewolves only," Braden said in a stern voice.
"What?" Elsa exclaimed.
"Weren't we invited?" Anton wondered.
"No," Braden said. "Leave."
He was about to slam the door in their faces but North stopped them. He gave Braden a questioning look.
"Braden, didn't you get the memo?" North asked him.
"Yes," Braden replied. "But I don't see why we need three blood drinker's help."
"We need them to help us battle Pitch Black," North told him. "Manny's orders are clear. So we let them in."
Braden begrudging stepped back and allowed Elsa, Anton and Ragnar entry into the den. He didn't stop staring at Elsa. Elsa got the chills from Braden but she walked pass him and into the den. They walked through a narrow entryway which was lined with doors. Elsa wondered what could be behind those doors. She imagined Werewolf secrets over many hundreds of years behind those doors but the truth would probably be something like rooms for the Werewolves who live here to camp out. They moved through the walkway and into a large circular room.
In this circular room, there were numerous Werewolves grouped around a circular table that had all kinds of papers strewn across it. Sitting with his back to the wall, facing them, was Manny. Manny looked pleased to see that North was there. Manny nodded at North and North took a seat next to Manny. There was no one else sitting down which spoke volumes to how important North must be. Well, he was the first bitten Werewolf, Elsa reasoned.
Everyone in the room looked at Elsa, Anton and Ragnar when they came into the room. They didn't look surprised to see that they were in the room but the look that they were giving them was something that Elsa didn't know what to make out of it.
"This is Elsa, Anton and Ragnar," North said, pointing at each of them when their names were called. "They are helping us to take down Pitch Black."
"Why?" came a voice of another Werewolf.
"Pitch is our enemy," Anton said. "He is a powerful dictator who wants everyone to obey him. He needs to be stopped so that the war can be stopped."
"Has it anything to do with his love for her?" Braden had followed them into the room. He pointed at Jack and then at Elsa when he spoke.
"So what if it has?" Jack said. "I saw you looking at her before. What were you thinking Braden? Were you sizing her up? Thinking about what you would do to her if she wasn't a Vampire? Heads up, she's mine."
Elsa smiled at Jack's words. It was nice for Jack to stick up for her.
"I just wanted to check out the Vampire who seduced a Werewolf," Braden said.
"Seduced a Werewolf?" Jack repeated sounding gobsmacked.
"Seduced a Werewolf?" Elsa repeated as well. She turned around to face Braden. She had a look of pure disgust etched over her face. She was so sick of this; people thinking that just because she was romantically involved with a Werewolf, she must be seducing him.
"Well how else could you get him to forget about everything?" Braden said.
"Um, maybe because we go way back?" Elsa said. "Maybe because we knew other before we Turned? Maybe because we were in love then and now wish to resume that relationship? Now tell me how that is seducing."
No one spoke while Elsa talked. They all seemed a little stunned by Elsa's outburst. Nobody said anything during this time. Braden looked a little shellshock by what had transpired in the last couple of minutes.
"Can we get back to what is at hand?" Elsa said. "If we've all finished discussing mine and Jack's love life."
There was another silence. Nobody was looking at anyone. A Vampire had just put them all in their places and they didn't like it. North had a small smile on his face. He seemed to be enjoying the exchange that he was witnessing.
"So," North said, breaking the silence. He seemed to be the only one who was brave enough to do it. "Let's get onto it." There were some murmurings amongst the Werewolves. "Now, Elsa here, came up with a plan to get into the Capital."
"Now we're going to listen to a blood-drinker," Braden said. He didn't look too pleased to have to be listening to a Vampire. Elsa's fists clenched for a moment before she forced herself to stay calm. A fight would do no one any good.
"Shut your face," Jack snarled at Braden, "and listen to what the girl has to say."
Braden didn't look too impressed by what Jack had to say but he looked a little nervous at the glare that Jack was giving him. Elsa had to let a smile cross her face. Jack knew how to deal with these guys.
"So what's the plan?" another Werewolf asked. He seemed to be giving Elsa his fullest attention and seemed genuine about his interest. The speaker was a male Werewolf, who looked about to be in his late forties. He had long black hair that fell onto his face which hid his brown eyes. He wore a black jacket and a high collar. Underneath, Elsa could see a grey shirt, all neatly buttoned up. His face looked kind. Elsa just hoped that looks weren't deceiving.
"Pitch Black will see us coming from a mile away," Elsa said. "We can't sneak in. That place is designed so that nobody can get in or out without Pitch's permission."
"Well you did," Braden suddenly cut in. He seemed to be well informed.
"I had help," Elsa smiled at Jack.
"Well it is easy to escape when you have a fully transformed Werewolf on your side," Tooth said.
"It does indeed," added Bunnymund.
"So, back to Elsa," North said. He gestured for Elsa to continue.
"So I was thinking," Elsa said. "We need a little moonlight."
"Ah," the Werewolf who had spoken before, spoke again. "Interesting."
"I agree with you Cade," Manny said in his raspy voice. "So we use the moon to gain entry into the Capital."
"Under the cover of the attack from the Werewolves," Elsa continued. "We sneak in and grab Pitch Black. He will be distracted by the Werewolf attack, so I don't think there will be too many issues with trying to grab him."
"Once the battle begins, there won't be anything else that Pitch will be concerned with," Jack added.
"Basically the plan will be," Elsa said, "is that we split into two groups; one group led by myself, Anton and Ragnar will sneak into the castle to grab Pitch while the others, lead an attack on the castle in order to draw out all the Vampires in order to give the other group free rein of the castle. That was what I was thinking."
"I think we can make it work," North said. "Besides, I was there when Jack had transformed. The Vampires there wanted nothing to do with him."
"Imagine what a whole army of Werewolves could do to the Vampire army," Braden said.
"Now remember," North said. "We only want Pitch Black. The other Vampires are only following instructions." Braden nodded but he still didn't look too happy about this fact. "The only casualties I want in this war are the necessary ones," North continued. "I don't killing for the sake of killing. That's what this whole war has been about. I am sick of it. We need to finish the war so we can finally live in harmony that we have never experienced."
There was a silence that followed North.
"We need to finish the war," Manny said. "I know many of you have prejudices against Vampires and for good reasons. They have fought us. They have killed many of us. But the same can be said in the reverse. We have fought them. We have killed many of them. This war has been causing hate between us. This needs to end now."
"Our leader is right," Cade said. Cade looked around at each of his fellow Werewolves. "We need the fellow Vampires' help so that Pitch can be taken down. Once he is dead, we can deal with sorting out the aftermath of the war."
"So let's get down to business," North said, "and finish planning."
Jean kicked a random bucket that was in the corridor. She was confused. Harold had been killed by Pitch for simply protecting her and now Pitch was going round attacking anyone who crosses his path. He was mad that over the last few days, there has been no sign of Elsa or any of The Guardians. Jean knew that Pitch had a nasty temper but who know it was this nasty. There was something different this time. It went beyond the war. It was about Elsa and her betrayal. But Jean couldn't help thinking; did Elsa really betray Vampires?
It was Pitch who had implemented the whole thing. He didn't like it when Werewolves and Vampires mixed. There had been a case; it was before Jean's time. She had heard about it from a friend of hers. Apparently there had been a female Vampire who talked to a male Werewolf without killing him first. Pitch had her put to death for her actions. Jean wondered what Pitch's problem with Werewolves was.
"Babe, what's the matter?" Jean turned around and saw Henri walking towards her. She and Henri had been pretty much together since they had met each other. It had been just after Henri had Turned. Henri had been lost and confused and so Jean lent a helping hand. It hadn't been long until they ended up in a relationship. They had kept it a secret from everyone else as they weren't sure but sooner or later it got out
Henri walked up to her and gave her a small kiss. Jean lingered on the kiss for a few more seconds. Henri smiled at her and placed his forehead gently on hers.
"So what's the matter?" Henri asked again.
"I'm just," Jean searched for the right words to say, "all muddled up about this whole thing."
"In what way?" Henri tilted his head slightly to the left and gave her a concerned look.
"Well, it's just Pitch," Jean admitted. She and Henri always told each other the truth. "Pitch puts Elsa to death and calls her a traitor. But what is her crime? Loving a Werewolf. That feels a little medieval."
"It does, doesn't it?" Henri admitted. He sighed. "I cannot believe that Elsa was simply called a traitor for loving a Werewolf. It goes deeper than that. You would know more than me."
"Well," Jean sighed. "I do know that Pitch always hated the Werewolves."
"Do you know why?"
Jean shook her head. "I don't. Vampires had only existed for about two hundred and sixty years before I became a Vampire. I just did as Pitch told. He saved me from death. He told me that Werewolves were the enemy and I believed him."
"I don't really know much about your life before you became a Vampire."
"I was young and married," Jean explained. "I was also a little naïve at times. I was born into a nice family and when I was older, I fell in love with an older man, he was about ten years my senior. We soon married and got pregnant. However the labour was difficult for me. I nearly died but a doctor there, Pitch Black told me that he could help me and save me from death. You see, I was afraid of death and Pitch told me there was a way around that."
"He told you about becoming a Vampire," Henri said.
Jean nodded. "Yes."
"Then what happened?"
"My child didn't make it," Jean stifled a cry. Henri gave her a sadden look. Jean didn't really tell people that information. "Anyway," Jean cleared her head, "Pitch offered me life over death and I took it."
"This isn't really life," Henri said. "We are the Undead after all."
"True," Jean said.
"What happened to your husband?" Henri asked.
"He thought I had become a monster," Jean said. "That was no surprise. He wasn't the great man I once thought he was. He ran off and married someone else saying that I had died in childbirth alongside our baby. Both deaths were reported the same day."
"So what about Pitch?" Henri asked. "You haven't mentioned him much."
"I looked for him," Jean said. "He had offered me a chance at this life when he met me and so I decided to look for him. I manage to find him here in France and he welcomed me into his league of Vampires."
"You then met me," Henri said.
"I Turned you," Jean said. "You were dying and I loved you from the moment I saw you."
Henri smiled. "So was it Pitch who Turned you?"
"No," Jean shook her head. "He was there but it was another Vampire who did it."
"Ah," Henri nodded his head slightly. "So you were then from pretty much the get go."
"Pretty much," Jean nodded. "So I've seen all that is happening now, happen before. I just don't understand it all."
"Neither," Henri said. "We listen to Pitch because he seems to be right but I don't know about this. Simply condemning someone to death for loving someone? Then killing a fellow Vampire who didn't do anything wrong and just obeyed orders? That doesn't bode well for me."
"Neither for me," Jean sighed. "So what do we do?"
Elsa wasn't enjoying her time in the Werewolf den. After they had planned out their battle plans and objectives, Jack was volunteered to take her, Ragnar and Anton to their quarters. Elsa had hoped that she and Jack could share a room. They could finally have the privacy that they desired and release some sexual tension that had built up around them.
Alas, that was not to be so. Manny had tried to organise a room for them as per North's request but Braden had arranged other matters. Elsa had thought that he was a simple doorman but that was not so. According to Jack, Braden was Cade's son who Cade had Turned when Cade lost control one night. Since Cade was the leader of the Werewolf den, Braden had some power himself. So Jack was told where to go to take 'the blood-drinkers' – that the word he had used. As they left, there seemed to be mutterings about more things on the agenda that needed to be discussed. Elsa had the sinking feeling that they wanted to talk privately about her, Ragnar and Anton.
Jack had taken one of the doors in the hallway and that opened into a winding staircase that went down. The staircase was quite narrow and creaked quite loudly when Elsa placed her foot on it. For a second Elsa was scared that she would plummet to her death but then she remembered that wouldn't kill her. Due to it being quite narrow, they had to go down in single file with Jack leading the way carrying one of those old oil lamps. It got darker and darker the further they went. Eventually they were plunged into complete darkness but Elsa didn't mind. She thrived in the darkness. The darkness was after all a Vampire's biggest asset.
Elsa followed the little light that Jack was carrying and eventually they came to a room that had bars running from the ceiling to the floor. Jack opened the large iron door and let Elsa, Ragnar and Anton pass them. He closed the door behind them and they heard a click. The door must have locked automatically.
"Why are we locked in?" Elsa whispered to Jack.
"Braden doesn't trust you guys," Jack explained. "I don't know why as both Manny and North are batting for you."
"So he's just prejudice," Elsa said.
"Pretty much," Jack nodded. "There's going to be a meeting whether or not we should listen to you."
"Will us being together come up?" Elsa breathed.
"Probably," Jack shrugged. "I thought that you had shut Braden up about that but apparently not. I'm sure it will go alright."
Elsa gave him a sceptical look.
"Well maybe not," Jack shrugged. "Braden can be quite short sighted at times but I'll do my best to shut his face."
"Thanks," Elsa giggled. A thought then occurred to her. "Jack, the Vampires put me to death for loving you. Would the Werewolves do the same?"
Jack gave Elsa a small smile. "Manny wouldn't let that happened."
Elsa didn't like how Jack didn't sound so sure. Jack gave Elsa a small kiss through the bars before he disappeared. Elsa didn't like the sinking feeling she was getting in the pit of her stomach.
Jack headed up the stairs and back into the room where all the other Werewolves were waiting. They were discussing something that Jack couldn't hear when he entered the room. They all looked up when Jack entered.
"Jack m'boy," North said. "Come, come," he gestured for Jack to come over to him and Jack did so, but semi reluctantly. Jack stood behind North and Manny and stared out into the mass of Werewolves. They were all giving him strange looks.
"So are all the blood-drinkers locked up?" Braden asked.
"Please don't say that," Jack said.
Braden gave a short laugh. "I'll call your girlfriend whatever I want Frosty."
Jack gave Braden a scowl. "Show Elsa some respect."
"Show a blood drinker some respect?" Baden gave another short laugh. "Yeah that will be the day."
"Enough Braden," Cade told him. "Jack is only defending his girlfriend."
"Yes father," Braden said through gritted teeth. Cade was Braden's adopted father. Cade had discovered Braden just after he had transformed. Braden was lost and confused and so Cade took him in. Braden was just a teenager when he got bitten. He may be centuries old but he still acts like a teenager.
"Speaking of," Cade turned around, "when need to discuss that."
"Why?" Jack snapped at him.
"Calm down Jack," North told him. "This kind of thing is…unusual. It's unheard of."
"We just want to make sure that the rumours are untrue," Cade added.
"Rumours?" Jack looked around at all the Werewolves. They all avoided his gaze.
"You may have heard some of them," North said. "I believe Braden was vocal about one earlier."
"Alright," Jack snarled. He was so sick of this; having to justify his relationship. "Elsa is not seducing me. I am not seducing her. She is not a spy. She is not manipulating me. She is not some devil out to get us. We knew each other, in Arendelle. We had met, fallen in love and then lost track of each other. We have finally reunited and wish to continue our relationship. We love each other, always have and always will. Now may I ask, is that a crime?" he glared in particularly to Braden.
"Alright," Cade said. "Jack has given his testimony. Does anyone want to say anything?"
Testimony? That sounded like Jack was on trial. Well Elsa had a trial and it didn't go very well for her. Jack looked around the room. Nobody was speaking up. Braden looked like he wanted to say something but he must have thought better since he didn't open his mouth. Instead he just gave Jack a scowl.
"Very well," Cade said. "If it's okay with Manny and North, I think we can all agree that Jack's relationship with Elsa is healthy, romantic relationship free from any alter motive. I would like to issue an apology to both Jack and Elsa for anything hurtful that has been said about them. Is there any objection?"
Nobody spoke but then –
"Yes," Braden said.
"Braden?" Cade said. "What would you like to say?"
"How do we know that Elsa isn't manipulating him?" Braden asked.
"Because I know her," Jack growled. "How many times do I have to say this? This isn't some alter motive on either side. We love each other. Do I have to tattoo it to your face?"
"That won't be necessary," North told Jack. "Manny and I are in agreement. The relationship is fine. You won't be condemned for it."
"But –" Braden started to object.
"Pitch Black sentenced Elsa to death," North said. "Are you telling me that we aren't above such things?"
"No," Braden said, unwillingly.
"Right then," Cade smiled. "Onto the next thing; Elsa may be in the clear but what about her two companions?"
"Elsa trusts them," Jack said. "Therefore I do. She has never led me wrong."
"Ragnar saved our lives," Tooth said gesturing to both her and Bunnymund. "We think he's good."
"What about Anton?" Cade asked.
"Seemed like a decent guy," North said. "He agreed to help us the minute Pitch turned on Elsa for loving Jack."
"Hmm interesting," Cade said. "But the real question is; do we go with their advice or not?"
"I think we should," Jack said. "Elsa usually knows what she is talking about. Her plan doesn't sound too farfetched anyway."
"I agree with Jack," North said. "I trust that Jack knows what he is doing. I doubt that he's leading us into any danger."
"I'm still not sure," Cade said.
"But you were good about trusting Elsa," Jack said.
"It's not about trust," Cade said. "She is a Vampire. She could be swayed by other Vampires."
"Elsa will listen to me," Jack assured him. "I doubt that she will stop now."
"Hmm, okay," Cade said. "But I want all The Guardians to go with the Vampires. Just in case."
"Okay," North said. "I can agree with that."
Manny nodded.
Elsa was curled up in the corner of the cell. She hated being treated like a criminal. She felt like this once before and that was when she had been just Turned. She had spent her time in dudgeons as that was where there was no sunlight. Elsa sighed. Ragnar was fiddling with some cards in his pocket. He always had a pair handy in case he was bored like he was now. He was playing Solitaire. He had asked both Elsa and Anton if they wanted to play a game but they had both declined. Elsa just wanted some time along with her thoughts. Anton was standing against the bars with his arms and legs crossed with his head down. Elsa wondered what he was thinking. Could he be thinking of a way out of this? Well, Elsa would welcome a way out of this place. She felt like she was not welcomed the moment she had walked in. The stares were getting to her. Elsa liked to blend into the background ever since she became a Vampire. She once used to be paraded about. Being the daughter of a powerful business owner had its perks.
But now, Elsa just wished she could disappear. She buried her head into her knees. Oh how she wished she and Jack could just walk away from everything. But life didn't work like that. It seemed that life was always working against her. First falling in love with a man that she could never be with or go public with, having to marry someone else, then becoming a Vampire and having to deal with all the stupid things that go along with that, murdering people because of her thirst and then having a thirst for revenge. Her life has been one roller-coaster after another. She just wanted to be free from all the drama. She doubted that would ever be a reality.
Elsa's thoughts then returned to Jack. She wished that he would come back but he was busy in that meeting. She wondered what they could be talking about, most probably about her – well her and Jack and their relationship. She hoped they weren't condemning them and going to hang them out to dry.
A noise could suddenly be heard. It was someone coming down the stairs. Elsa looked up as Jack made his way to her. Elsa couldn't believe that he was back. She raced to the bars and smiled at him.
"Jack, she breathed. "What happened?"
"They asked about our relationship," Jack said.
"And?" Elsa could feel every fibre of being shaking.
"It's fine," Jack's face broke into a massive grin. "They don't care – well some did but Manny or North aren't going to do anything against it."
"That's great," Elsa beamed. "What else?"
"They discussed whether or not you guys are trustworthy to use your plan," Jack said. "I backed you as so did Tooth, Bunnymund and North."
"So what's the final verdict?" Elsa asked.
"We head to France in a month," Jack said.
A/N: So good news, I managed to get what I needed to get done last week (a 20% worth essay that was 2,500 words - that was not fun to write about especially since I found that I was being repetitive, I just hope that they think that I was backing up my points, ah well, that's all handed in now, also a maths assignment, that was a pain as I could not get my code to function, I just hope that it's all right though!) so updates should be back in their usual swing, for now at least. I do have some stupid university stuff coming up (like a test next week which I will need to study for no matter how much I wish I could just write my fanfics and update them for you guys), so I don't know what my updating schedule will look like over the next couple of weeks. I'll do my best though! This week should be semi-chill, so maybe hope for a couple more chapters up this week. Well I hope that everyone has enjoyed this update. Please review =)
Reviews:
Owlgirl55: Yep, sorry about Anton. Looks like he did ruin the Jelsa moment but do not fear, more of those to come. Ah, glad to see that you have been reading some of my other stories. I hope that you have been enjoying them. I love playing Assassin's Creed. I would recommend you having a go again. I hope that you manage to finish Battle For Her Heart soon. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts about it. Well I normally don't like to start new stories until the one I've been working one has been finished but sometimes I do other stories along side it. I may have a new story up soon, just depending on some factors like if I get around to uploading it.
lollipop3056: Yes, they've finally back together. Manny isn't the one answering the door but he is there. He doesn't have peace but he doesn't attack either as North, his boss, is standing there. Thanks!
Jelsalover3: Thanks so much. Lucky for you, being on holiday, I am not. I'm stuck doing university work. Where are you on holiday? I hope it's somewhere warm.
Mickhe11: True, he did.
KAMIKAKES: Thanks for that clear up. Well Anton wanted some peace and Jelsa wasn't giving it to him. I think Bunny was close to beating up Ragnar. Tooth stepped in just in time. Things may be rough for now but we all know that it will smooth out. Thanks!
JelsaFan121: Thanks!
Kat-IlluminatedPurity: Not Manny behind the door. But he is there. No Pitch isn't going to escape to find love. The relationship was in the past. I won't go into it, well in THIS story that is - hint, hint (will there be continuation or a prequel to this story? MAYBE! All shall be revealed!). Yeah, that's pretty much it on the plan. Thanks! Looking forward to the next review!
Frostbite Productions: Okay, sounds good!
Guest(MixyBell): I do too. Well on love interests, there isn't really going to be one. I haven't thought that far ahead. He did have a wife once I think, if I'm remembering this story correctly. On Ragnar, hmm, I don't know about him either. Maybe I could mention at some point that both of them have girlfriends? I haven't yet decided. I'll try and work something in for you.