Chapter 6:
"Ivy!"
No answer.
"Ivy!"
No response.
"Ivy!"
That stupid girl was running late! Where could she be? Madame Alice grunted as she pulled her hair up into a big sloppy bun while organizing the over-sized rings on her fingers. Looking one last time in the mirror, she strutted out of her office wearing her new dress and she looked at Valerie.
"Charlotte! Charlotte!" she approached, "You must stand at the front counter and help the customers!"
"What?"
"Ivy isn't here to do it! So you must! Go! We're opening now and customers already want their daily bread for their breakfast prayer! You want them to have something to eat after they saw a prayer don't you?" she glared, challenging.
"Yes, of course. Where are you going?"
"I'm going to do some personal business in town today," she fixed her hair, wiping her cheeks and forehead. "Advertisement is key!"
Did advertisement really need to include red lip paint?
"Yes, Madame Alice," Valerie bowed and she washed her hands, wiped her apron and fixed her bonnet.
The large woman fixed her bonnet, tied a white fabric around her head and tucked it under her chin leaving the doors of the bakery. Already sweating, Valerie wiped her forehead and stood at her assigned post while enjoying the dawn of a new day glow through the windows like spears. Soon, many customers came running through the door ordering their bread and loafs while Valerie urgently ran back and forth. The heat became intense once again. As soon as the clock tower tolled, Valerie walked out to the exit lane to enjoy her afternoon lunch when she suddenly smelled…something. It smelled familiar! From afar, she could see someone stand behind a barrel. Using her nose, she inhaled their scent just like Papa taught her to.
It definitely smelled familiar.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Charlotte?"
She stepped forward, narrowing her eyes, "Ivy?"
"Charlotte!" the girl cried as she rushed into her arms," Oh, Charlotte! Today is the happiest day of my life…!"
"What happened to you? Where were you this morning?"
"Oh, Charlotte…! I love him! I love him!" she cried, shaking her shoulders. "Today I discovered that I am going to have a babe!"
Valerie gasped, "You're with child!" she embraced her. "I'm so happy for you! You're blooming!"
"Yes! Yes! I'm so happy but I'm feeling absolutely awful!" she laughed, holding her hand to her chin while her other hand touched her belly. "I couldn't even bare to leave my bed! My morning sickness makes a mess of everything, don't you think?"
"Come! I'm sure Madame Alice will be happy—"
"Oh no…!" Ivy hushed her. They moved deeper into the alley. "Madame Alice won't allow me to step foot into there again if she hears!"
"Why…?"
"Because she believes that all women are unfit for anything when we are with child," she sneered. "She's just a typical housewife who relies for everything from a husband. She couldn't mix her own cup of tea unless there's a strong gullible husband out there doing it for her. What a world for us poor females!"
Valerie looked around and whispered, "From two husbands…!"
Ivy gasped, "She didn't!"
"She left just this morning!"
Valerie laughed, covering her mouth.
"Oh, that old winged bat! Soon she's going to have a taste of her own medicine and wish one day that she would've stuck to her own advice!" Ivy laughed, enjoying the hot gossip.
Both girls began walking back to the bakery. Ivy placed a gentle hand on Valerie's shoulder, pulling her in closer.
"So you must promise not to say a word to Madame Alice, Charlotte. My husband and I are trying to raise enough money and it's so hard these days with so much hard labor and new people moving in from the country. A babe will be difficult to support."
"Not a word," Valerie whispered.
Meanwhile:
"Did you hear the news? Mr. Edwin, the shopkeeper from down the lane, reported a great deal of rats leaving the city."
"Rats?"
"Rats?"
"Leaving?
"Oh, aye, rats! A whole squad of 'em! Just jumpin' outta' their sewers and running for the hills!"
"I say the work of gypsy magic!"
"Nonsense! Not for those miserable creatures…?"
"Then what?"
"Maybe a large cat is prowlin' the streets like some blood hound!"
"Hmph! I say good riddance! My wife says good riddance! The people say good riddance! Good riddance! Hmph!"
The gossip was true, not doubt, colonies of rats are leaving the city in broad daylight. There were little herds of them scurrying down the streets and out of the walls and into the rivers, never to return! The city's constables had to patrol the streets, warning its citizens, and carefully escorting the rats to the exits with torches of fire and buckets of water. This took hours. It was unspeakable! Where could they be going? What were they looking for? The people of the city were overjoyed and completely shocked by this sudden unexpected migration. Some thought it was a work of God and that the disease of the plague would go somewhere else! Men, women, children and priests celebrated the cleansing! Thanking their God for this unexpected gift. Some, more than not, were worried about their leaving. People like Madame Alice were becoming superstitious by this act of nature, wary and cautious. Because if large groups of rats were leaving the safe dark sewers below the city… then what were they running from? That was the question.
Cesaire glanced at the men and left the tavern to head home to his awaiting daughter. Once inside, he found her looking out of her bedroom window biting her nails. Sensing her worry, he approached and touched her shoulders.
"Something wrong little one?"
She sighed, "Are they leaving because of us, Papa?"
He squeezed her shoulders, "Yes." He nodded his head. "They knew we were here."
It was the truth. There was no way he could lie to his daughter.
She turned towards him, "What do we do, Papa? What if someone notices? What if they catch us? What if they discover who we really are—"
"They won't," he held her face. He kissed her head, "We'll be safe. They're not going to discover us. For years, I've been careful and clever and I protected you and loved you. This won't be any different, I promise. When you complete your training, I promise we'll leave as soon as possible and run away far from here. We both need to be strong, little one," he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a gentle embrace. "Papa will always be here for you…"
While she enjoyed his warm fatherly embrace, they both looked out her bedroom window and they were reminded of all the obstacles and dangers that they would soon encounter. The rats were the first sign. What next? They would soon find out. Their window gave a yellow glow, seen from the bottom of the street like a beacon of a terrible and awful secret that housed something misunderstood and feared. Their window; provided a scenic view. The city looked quiet, stiff with silence as the two werewolves looked out their window. The city was beautiful with mystery and discoveries waiting to happen.
"Papa… I smell…" she inhaled"…blood."
Meanwhile:
Henry watched as Father Solomon ordered the Captain to herd the villagers inside the church building while he and his fellow men began to search every nook and cranny! Immediately, his men began to ransack through every home! They began discarding clothes, fur skins, and precious belongings onto the snowy cold ground.
"I want every home searched! Leave nothing unturned! Leave nothing untouched!" Father Solomon bellowed pointing his finger to the sky, stepping in a circle watching his men work. "Find them!"
Henry watched the peaceful community shred itself apart. The boy was given orders to stay with the people inside the church building and keep a sharp eye out. Fortunately, no one was burned entering the holy grounds.
"Everyone wait here until Father Solomon returns!" he yelled.
"He has no right to keep us here!" an angry villager barked!
"What is he doing to our homes?
"What's he going to do to us next?"
"There's something he's not telling us!"
"Are the rumors true? Is there really a Wolf here!?"
"It's going to destroy all of us!"
Henry raised his hands, "People! Please! People! Father Solomon is doing everything in his power to help you! Please! The Wolf cannot walk on holy ground! You will be safe here! Father Solomon wants you all to stay where the Wolf cannot reach you! You will be safe here!"
"But is there a Wolf here!?" a hysterical woman shouted.
He could not confirm nor deny that. The Wolf was a very sneaky and mysterious creature! Wherever the beast was, he wanted to destroy it. The Captain came running in, grabbed Henry and whispered to him.
"Father Solomon is requesting for you…"
Nodding his head, Henry followed the Captain to a straw hut squeezed between two other straw huts and walked inside to find Father Solomon sitting at a table with a fellow villager. It was a woman; dressed in black robes with white hair clutching onto a wooden crucifix. Henry, puzzled sat next to Father Solomon as the woman tried to suppress her weeping.
"Aww, Henry, glad you're here," Solomon patted his shoulder. "Now, you see this woman here?"
Henry nodded," Yes…"
"Do you see anything wrong with her?"
"No…"
He pointed his finger," That's because you're not looking closely." He stood and approached the woman and snatched away her crucifix. he grabbed her chin and held it tightly. "You see now? Her eyes…! You are looking into the eyes of a Witch!"
Henry, enchanted, gazed into her eyes colored blue and brown. Two different colors…? Unheard of! Quickly, Father Solomon called his Captain and he dragged the screaming woman to the front courtyard. Henry quickly followed and shook with fear as the men began to tie the woman to a large wooden stake.
"What are you doing!?" he exclaimed, running forward.
Solomon approached, "You always burn a Witch. That's how you kill it. You can either tear apart its limbs or bury a Witch alive, it doesn't matter," Father Solomon clasped his hands behind his back. "Can't you see the devil in her eyes?"
The men pulled the stake to stand and began to toss large wooden logs around her hanging feet.
"Father Solomon! You can't do this! She needs a trial!"
He whipped around, "Are you insane? Look at her black robes! Look at her hair!"
"That—That…" Henry stuttered, "That doesn't prove anything! We need more evidence!"
"Henry! You wished to come with my company, did you not?" he eyed him dangerously, like a hawk to a mouse, exuding intimidation and authority. "You wished to serve holy justice, did you not? It's far too late to change your mind this time, boy. You didn't think that you could make it through this world and not get your hands dirty? I spent my life dedicating my life to this! You are either with us or you're against us!"
"But this—"
Solomon approached in strides, "You think it was going to be easy!? You thought that you wouldn't find blood on your hands? Find your courage, Henry…!"
Suddenly the boy was silenced, frightened and shocked by those words. Father Solomon eyed him dangerously before ordering his men to grab the torches and await his word. Henry felt choked. The woman wept upon the stake and tried to squirm to free herself! He needed to decide! Decide now!
"Father Solomon…"
Henry felt choked!
The holy man eyed him, "So, what will you do when you came face to face with the beast that murdered your bride!? Will you give it a trial!? Hmph! Your father was right about you, Henry. You are not a man…! You are a frightened boy! Sheep have more fight in them."
He approached him!
"Don't you dare talk about my father-!" he shouted sticking a finger in his face!
Solomon shoved a burning torch in his hands, "Then prove that you are brave, Henry…! You've got nothing to lose!" he placed his hand behind his back and they approached the stake. "Don't you see? Destroy this Witch, Henry."
Quivering, Henry looked at the burning torch. Sweat ran down his temples as he glared into the eyes of the holy man. Swallowing, he gazed up to the poor woman hanging upon the stake. Gagged and tied, she began to weep silently. Moaning into the cloth tucked into her mouth, her discolored eyes looked back into his begging him.
"If you don't destroy her many people will suffer. And I can't allow you to condemn people to suffer because you were too frightened to do what's right." Father Solomon gently placed his hand on his back and slowly guided him closer. So close that Henry's boots were inches away from the wooden logs.
"Prove your father wrong, Henry. Show your courage."
Meanwhile:
"There…" Cesaire pointed to a large stone building, lit from top to bottom.
Father and daughter were hiding in the shadows of the chimneys, looking down upon the small world of the city. The late night seemed to boom with an intoxicating urge to drink, dance, and sing. Already, the late night dance hall girls were prowling the streets seeking old, fat, wealthy men to lure into their shadowy rooms. The girls were neither young nor beautiful, but instead they were old, yapping hags desperately trying to obtain their youth with face paint and fancy bonnets. Their groggy and drunk employer stood close by smoking his tobacco pipe while flipping a silver coin with his thumb, watching his employees do their job. Supervising.
"I smell blood coming from the cellar. Follow me."
She could smell it, too. As fresh and as clear as burning smoke in the air! And it smelled delicious. Valerie followed her father across the planks of the roof. Careful to not make a sound and alarm anyone, she leapt from one chimney to another! Cesaire knelt down and pulled his daughter down to his level. They were looking through the yellow windows watching the drunkards and crooked constables associate themselves with friendly dance hall girls.
"Papa, I hear yelling…"
"So do I…" he responded, smiling. "This place isn't just a brothel; it's a fight club too. I can hear their war cries…"
"Fight club, Papa?"
"Yes, a place where human men come to fight each other and gamble and cheat on their wives. Some of these men fight to the death just to entertain its customers. It's just a foolish arena to prove strength and skill and feed their ego like jackals."
She bit her lip.
"What do they do with the bodies?"
Cesaire wiped his chin, "There's a man I know here by the name of Mr. Charles who runs this place. He's sort of the boss here. When I first came here a woman named April introduced me to him. This place is a quick way to make cash but dangerous place if you're not careful."
"But what did they do with the bodies Papa?"
"The woman named April, she worked here, and she told me that they dump the bodies into the river. You dump them into the river and you'll never find them again. Especially in the winter, because the ice would freeze over and you couldn't smell them for miles and miles! April knew everything here. She was a dance hall girl, too. All she wanted was to give her girls a better chance…"
She lowered her eyes.
"You had an affair with her?"
Cesaire shook his head, "No. She was an honest and kind woman. She had two girls sick with the measles and she needed the money to buy them medicine. So I volunteered."
"What did you do to help her?"
"I fought."
She shot him a look.
"You fought those men, Papa?"
"Yes. It was good money. I used that money to pay for our new home back in Middle class. It was also the money I used to help your mother back home. I repaid my debts and freed myself," Cesaire hugged her shoulder. "I never lost a fight."
Valerie looked at the window and thought about all those dance hall girls. There was no way to cushion the sins happening there. Cesaire looked at her displeasure and he gently kissed her temple, hugging her shoulders and softly rubbing her back.
"You won't ever have to experience those things, baby…" he hugged her. "Back in Daggorhorn, I know you would've never been happy being married to Henry Lazar. Those are 1 of the 100 reasons that I brought you out here."
"100 reasons, Papa?" she grinned.
"Yes." Cesaire knelt up and began to walk.
It was true.
If she thought about it carefully then she had the best father in the world. A good human father would think of 50 reasons to keep his little girl safe but a good wolf father would think of 100 reasons to keep his pup safe. Valerie hooked her arm in his and both began to enjoy the cool night air. She was very happy she had the best protector in the world. Gently she tugged on his arm and reminded him of her nauseous hunger building in her stomach.
"Yes, little one…" he whispered.
Without another word, Cesaire and Valerie dashed off in another race towards the outer walls of the city until they came to the edge of the neighborhood. Men dressed in black uniforms were patrolling the walls holding their swords while the two buglers quickly snuck through. Like two bats, they jumped through the air until they collided against the ground. They were outside now.
The trees and the black darkness became perfect. Their human bodies not in wolf form became wolf-like, using their eyes and ears as sharp tools. Cesaire, a good wolf father, guided his little girl to hunt a cottontail rabbit. His human hands touched the ground, scoping the feel and texture of the pebbles and green foliage.
She mimicked his actions. Soon before never, Valerie watched her father chase down the hoppity hare and claim his prize like a speeding banshee! His body moved like a well-oiled killing machine, perfected and built by years of knowledge and experience. He insisted that she watch him first.
All young werewolves watch their elders first before they actually hunt themselves. It helps them visually. Carefully, she ate the dead hare while her father proudly watched and waited as she finished her first wolf meal. Laughing, he wiped the blood from her face and proudly hugged her.
Her hunger had been satisfied and she no longer felt nauseated, her stomach feeling full and warm. As they made their journey through the rat maze of neighborhood and shops the sun began to peek up beyond the distance.
"I have to be at the baker, soon."
"And I have to return to the factory, too." Cesaire stopped and faced her and slipped his hand into his pocket. "Here are some shillings I earned at the factory. Why don't you and that Ivy friend treat yourselves to something special? Go to lunch somewhere, okay? You earned it. You completed your first hunt tonight." he kissed her forehead.
She beamed, "Aww, thank you, Papa!"
"I'll see you at the end of the day."
He kissed her forehead once more.
Valerie counted her shillings. When she looked up her father was gone. Vanished! Typical. He was always a master with disappearing. Rolling her eyes, she reentered her bedroom window and began to prepare for the day. By the time she was at the bakery, Ivy was already preparing the dough for Jacques.
"Charlotte! I'm so glad to see you!" Ivy smiled," Madam Alice disappeared again to see her lover."
"Of course she did!" Valerie smiled, mockingly. "Is there any other gossip I should know about?"
Ivy whispered, "Her husband has been coming to the bakery now. His name is Mr. Bufkin. He's looking for her! I say he's becoming suspicious now! The poor fellow has no clue she's running off! He came by yesterday twice!"
"You don't say?" Valerie gasped, covering her mouth.
"He's outside now."
"Now?"
"Yes! Now!" Ivy pouted. "I can't tell another lie to him! He's so in love with her! It's too tragic! Please would you go out there and talk to him?"
Valerie sighed, "I guess I could…"
Ivy beamed!
"Oh would you!? Thank you Charlotte!"
"Yes. Yes."
Valerie fixed her bonnet, wiped her hands on her apron and quickly attended the front desk. He was a fairly large man with a brunette hair shaped like a horseshoe trying to ease the tension in his shaky fingers. Already she could feel her compassion slip in. It was a picture perfect tragedy! Know she understood what Ivy was trying to say. The look on his face seemed forlorn and saddened. She smiled kindly at Mr. Bufkin.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Mr. Bufkin. How do you do…?"
"N-Not too well. Not too well. W-Would you know where my wife is?" he asked, rubbing his hands together.
"Your wife…?"
"Yes, M-M-Madame Alice."
"Oh, yes! I know her."
"Do you know where she went?"
Valerie quickly ran through her thoughts.
What to say!?
What to say!?
She gulped.
"Oh, yes! She just left this morning to deliver 5 pounds of bread to the upper class. She left an hour ago. She won't be back until later on this afternoon. She's making deliveries today."
"Oh…" he looked down to his feet. It was a look of defeat. "Well, w-would you give her a message for me?"
"Of course."
"T-Tell her that her h-husband is waiting…." His sad blue eyes looked back at her. "Tell her that I'm sorry and that I'll be home. Tell her I won't ever do it again."
"Yes, sir."
Valerie bit her lip. What was he sorry for? What did he do?
He stepped away, "T-Thank you. Thank you…"
Valerie smiled kindly at him while he left the bakery, shutting and ringing the little doorbell on the upper frame. That was more painful than she thought it would be. Seeing him so heartbroken pinched her.
That poor man.
All alone.
But what marital crime did he commit that would make his wife cheat on him? She shook her head. The mysteries this city held.
From behind her, she could hear Ivy and Jacques argue in a fit. Those two were like haughty siblings! But, before she could return to the kitchen, the doorbell rang on the upper frame. Another customer entered the bakery.
"Hello, princess!" a voice called.
Valerie, shaken, turned around.
"Richard?"