Note: Like an episode of "Haven" there will be Stephen King references.
Ch. 13: Dirty Little Secrets of Skinwalkers
Vince and Dave were extremely curious, yet confused as Jennifer lead them through the halls. Earlier tonight she told them that both she and the person who is cursed needed their help and they were finally going to meet him. It did raise their suspicion that she waited until Sir Howard and King Garland were gone for the night to finally ask them.
They stopped in front of Gloria's room, and noticed Audrey and Nathan waiting outside, making the Teague brothers even more curious. Jennifer nodded to them and Audrey opened the door. Out stepped Gloria leading . . . Duke Crocker!
The Teague brothers began stammering questions, but before either of them could form a complete sentence, Gloria stepped forth and covered their mouths with a finger.
"Okay, you two yahoos, this is the deal, so listen up," she said and the brothers nodded. "We're going to explain why we need your help, and after we have the information, you two can question Duke to your heart's desire. Understand?"
The Teague brothers nodded again.
"And please don't tell Sir Howard or King Garland about Duke," Jennifer politely added, and the brothers agreed. Gloria slowly removed her fingers.
"You can trust us, Jennifer," Dave said. "We know secrets can be important. Like the location of the last herd of unicorns."
Vince looked stunned. "Dave!"
"What? Oh . . ."
"Unicorns are still around?" Audrey asked.
"Nice going," Vince sarcastically said as they followed Jennifer.
"Well, you would have done the same thing, Vince!" Dave shot back. "I didn't forget the time you almost blabbed the location of the Lost Treasure of the Gunslingers!"
"Ah-ha! I knew it!" Dave said, getting out a book.
Right now, everyone was in the library, trying to find if one of the books in the Teague brothers' collection had any information about Skinwalkers. Jennifer looked up from her book when she heard Dave.
"What did you find?" Jennifer hopefully asked.
"Where Vince hid The Idiot's Guide to Zombies," Dave said, taking out the book. Jennifer looked disappointed and went back to reading. Dave marched up to Vince. "I knew you didn't read it!"
"Who has time to read that garbage?" Vince indignantly said.
"'Garbage?!'"
"And you still haven't found where you misplaced Exorcism Made Easy!"
"Talk about garbage . . ." Dave muttered, but Vince heard him.
"It was 1st edition! Sighed by the author!" Vince stated and that got Dave's attention.
"Before or after that lady chopped off his foot?"
"Just before."
"Ooh! Then I should definitely find it . . ."
The Teague brothers forgot their argument when they heard Duke growling loudly and slamming a book closed in frustration. He was about to throw it against the wall . . .
"No!" the brothers protested, running up to Duke, rescuing the book, A Theory of Origin of Vampires, from him. When the book was safe, Jennifer went up to him.
"Perhaps . . . you should take a break," Jennifer kindly offered to Duke and the Teague brothers quickly nodded in agreement.
Duke agreed and he and Jennifer found a place to relax. As he sat down, Duke ran his hand over his face and hair in frustration, and Jennifer noticed.
"Don't give up yet, Duke," Jennifer said, trying to sound hopeful. "Why, we're not even half way through the books in the library."
"It's not that," Duke said and looked at Jennifer. "The sun is going to rise soon, and I won't be much help as an otter."
"The rest of us can still search," Jennifer said and yawned, blinking her eyes.
"You're getting tired as well," Duke said, sounding a little concerned.
"I'll be fine."
"Hey, can't I worry about you once in a while?" Duke said, finding himself smiling. Jennifer smiled back and rested her head on Duke's shoulder, as he held her close.
"I've found it!" Nathan declared from on top of a ladder, holding an opened book.
As he carefully descended, the others gathered around the bottom of the ladder. Once he was on the floor, Nathan reopened the book, entitled Failed Attempts at Immortality.
"There was a cult, comprised of powerful magic-users, who found a way to become immortal. However, because of their lack of compassion and hubris, the Gods cursed the cult just as they were about to achieve immortality. Because of the Gods' curse, the cult members' skin rejected them. To survive, they had to kill other people and graft on their skins. The cult members were now known as Skinwalkers," Nathan read out loud. "Some Skinwalkers became so talented replacing their skin that they could slip into another person's whole skin. Unscrupulous leaders hired these Skinwalkers as spies. Skinwalkers can usually pass as ordinary people, but when their skin starts to reject them and needs to be replaced, the stitches, which are usually concealed, appear. Skinwalkers always have a collection of extra skins to use, but they always need to kill to survive."
"Is there any more?" Jennifer asked. Nathan shook his head and closed the book.
""Great; we still need to find a way to defeat Arla," Duke commented. Gloria rolled her eyes.
"Oh, brother; has being an otter shrunk your brain?" Gloria sarcastically asked, getting everyone's attention. "Arla needs skin to survive!"
"Wait," Duke said, now understanding Gloria's logic. "According to my servants, Arla definitely moved into Silver Eyes Estate; she must have the same setup as she did when she was at James's castle."
"So she must have a place to store extra skins," Audrey added.
"If we find where she stores the skins," Nathan said, "destroy them, and keep her away from other people long enough, she won't be able to survive; the remaining skin will reject her."
"Then she'll die a natural death—well, natural for a Skinwalker . . . but she wouldn't be killed!" Jennifer said and looked at Duke with a happy expression. "That has to break your cruses, Duke!"
Duke had a wide smile on his face and turned to Gloria. He lifted the older, smaller woman off her feet as he hugged her and kissed her cheeks.
"Gloria, you're brilliant!" Duke said and gently put her down.
"Oh, stop it, you flatterer," Gloria responded.
"And if you're still cursed when Arla's dead, Wade would be easier to defeat," Dave said. Everyone stared at him. "What? I'm trying to be realistic."
"Anyway, you have your information on how to beat Arla, and now it's time for you to live up to your end of the bargain," Vince said and indicated a chair. "Sit down, Duke, we have a lot of questions for you."
Duke sighed, but agreed. Audrey, Nathan, and Gloria left for bed, but Jennifer stayed with Duke and sat next to him. Duke would never admit it, but he actually felt better that Jennifer stayed as the Teague brothers questioned him. He was glad they were done before the sun came up.
"I think the quickest way out of the castle—" Jennifer thought out loud.
"No, Jennifer, we'll not put you through that again," Vince said. "He can stay here today."
Duke and Jennifer stared at the Teague brothers.
"But what about Sir Howard and King Garland?" Jennifer asked. "Sooner or later, they'll hear about or see Duke."
"We'll take care of that," Dave said and winked at them.
Duke was speechless. This was the nicest thing, outside of Charlotte and Jennifer, anyone has done for him. Jennifer hugged the older men.
"Thank you," Jennifer said, after the hug.
"Just one small favor in return," Vince said and looked at Duke. "May we watch you change?"
Dave nodded eagerly. Duke rolled his eyes.
"Sure; why not," Duke sardonically said. The Teague brothers were absolutely thrilled.
A minute later, Duke shrank and fur covered him as his clothes vanished, while the Teague brothers watched in fascination. When the change was complete, Vince and Dave came closer to Duke as he dropped to four feet.
"Incredible," Vince said, looking over the otter.
"Outstanding," Dave commented, and the brothers began petting him roughly.
Duke soon had enough, and backed up, growling, showing his fangs. He ran behind Jennifer, who had to chuckle.
"Duke doesn't like having his fur messed up," Jennifer said. "He has to groom himself again."
"At least now I know where you get that," Duke said, smiling, looking up at Jennifer; even though he knew they only heard him chirping.
"How about you get some sleep, Jennifer?" Vince suggested. "We'll take things from here."
"Would you like to sleep now?" Jennifer asked Duke. He responded by nodding and yawning.
Jennifer picked up Duke and the Teague brothers lead them to her room. Vince and Dave drew the curtains of the room and of her bed so Duke and Jennifer could sleep peacefully. The brothers looked in on the two, and they were already asleep. Jennifer was holding Duke, who was curled up in her arms. The men couldn't help but smile, and they left the princess and the otter.
"We have to admit it to ourselves, Dave, but Jennifer had finally found someone special," Vince said. "Even though he's a Crocker."
"She could have fallen for someone worse," Dave said.
"So true, so true."
"All we have to do is to make sure they'll be happy, Vince."
"I think we can do that."
"I just hope we don't have to explain why the bridegroom is an otter."