Chapter 16

"A beat-up old car's comin'. Shoot out the tires with those pretty eyes of yours," Lucifer whispered. He stroked her auburn hair.

"Just for you, Darlin'. I know how much you love seeing beams come out of my eyes," Cydia giggled. She gazed into his red eyes.

Cydia stood up from behind the tree and shot a blue beam out of her sapphire eye and a purple beam out of her violet eye. They struck the tires, which exploded into red and blue flames.

The car swerved off the road and smashed into a tree. Lucifer crept from behind the tree to see if anyone was around. He stared at a shaggy, gray creature on two legs in the distance.

"We better get out of here, Cydia. I see a werewolf. Can't tell if it's someone who's loyal to us or a human lover. Whoever was in that car's dead, anyway."

"Let's go to the Blue Note."

"Can't tonight, got to go on patrol. Wouldn't be proper for you to seen there alone."

"Yes, dear."

Lucifer turned into a blood red shimmer and Cydia a silver mist. They both then vanished from the scene.

The werewolf advanced on the flaming car. Two bodies were in the vehicle, a woman and a little girl. The woman's head was all bloodied, and her neck was broken. The child stirred around. Cuts and bruises covered her body. Glass was all over the place.

The creature yanked the door off of its hinges and got the girl out. As the werewolf ran with her, the car exploded. The beast ran through the thick woods to a manhole covered by a huge, gray boulder.

The werewolf placed the girl down and said, "Ramula, Romula."

The boulder rolled over. The creature carried the child inside and repeated the words. It covered the hole.

The werewolf cradled the child in its arms and carried her further down the steps of the dark, moist hole until it leveled out. They arrived at an enormous door. The beast repeated the same words again, and the door opened.

The room had six twin-size beds and three bunk beds. The werewolf placed the girl on the nearest bed that had fuschia sheets on it. The creature watched the child toss and turn, while moaning in pain.

The beast walked into the adjoining room and started changing in front of the supply closet in the bathroom. The werewolf fell to the floor, and hair fell out onto the floor. The creatures teeth retracted along with the nose and mouth shortened. The claws became shorter and turned into humans' nails.

After the transformation, an elderly lady lay on the floor. She stood and opened the closet. I'm thankful I kept this dress in there for times like this. She doesn't need to see me like this.

She slipped the yellow dress on and gathered banaids, Neosporin, rubbing alcohol, bandages, and tweezers. She also had a pitcher of water and washcloths.

The lady walked into the beige bedroom with the items. I hate walkin' on these old dirt floors scatterin' dust everywhere. However, this place is important to help those who need it.

She place the items on the metal folding table by the bed. She took a wet bathcloth and began cleaning the child's wounds that were all just minor cuts and bruises.

While cleaning and bandaging the last of the wounds, she watched the girl wake up.

"Where's my mommy?" the girl cired.

The lady's turquoise eyes teared up. How do I tell the child that her mother died in that car wreck?

"What happened? Why am I all cut up?" sobbed the girl. Tears came out of her grayish-green eyes.

The lady wiped the tears off of the girl's freckled-face and said, "You were in a car wreck."

"What happened to my mommy?" she cried.

"I don't know how to tell you this, child."

"Is she dead?"

"Yes, I'm so sorry."

The girl's tears continued to flow. The lady held her hand to comfort her.

"I remembered hearing a strange noise, kind of like thunder. Something hit the car, and my mommy couldn't keep it on the road. The only other thing I remember was seeing a fog."

This is the handi-work of Cydia and Lucifer. She must have zapped the tires with those eyes of hers.

"What's your name, child?"

"Jessie Smith."

"I'm Laveil Gray, but you can call me Aunt Laveli. Almost everyone does."

"I'm seven. I bet you're older than my grandmother was."

Laveil said with a laughed. "I am if she's under eighty-three years old."

"My grandmother had hair kind of like yours, blond with white streaks, but it wasn't curly, and it didn't come down to her shoulders."

Laveil glanced at the red cloth wrapped around Jessie's head. Does she have some previous head injury?

"Get some sleep, now. We'll talk more in the mornin'."

Jessie nodded her head and closed her eyes. She cried in her sleep off and on during the night, while her body tossed and turned in bed.

The cloth around Jessie's head kept nagging at Laveil.

"Jessie needs more help than I can give her. I'll try to find Marianna St. Ives."

I don't want to leave her alone, but I don't have any other choice. She crept to the bed, leaned over, and gave Jessie a kiss on the cheek. After that, she left.

When she stepped outside she started running. She could run like a track star, even in her human form, thanks to her werewolf powers. Laveil continued to run through the woods until she reached the town square, which only took minutes to reach.

She slowed down and strolled over to the Deacon Diner. Laveil ambled into the quaint blue building. She surveyed the place to see if Marianna was anywhere around. As luck would have it, Marianna sat at a blue booth in the back of the diner. Laveil ambled over there so as not to cause suspicion.

"Hi Marianna."

"Hi Aunt Laveil, won't you sit down." Marianna gestured with her bony hand.

Laveil sat down in front of her. She observed how the lights of the diner made Marianna's piercing blue eyes, light-blond hair, and pale complexion show even more.

"Are you busy tonight?" asked Laveil.

"No, why do you ask?"

Laveil leaned over and whispered with urgency. "I found an injured little girl tonight, and she needs help."

"I'll come with you and take a look at her."

Marianna flagged a waitress down and paid the check. The ladies stood. Marianna, who was five-foot-ten, towered over Laveil, who was only five foot.

Both ladies strolled out of the diner together.

"Maybe we shouldn't be seen leavin' together." Laveil started to jog.

"That's a good idea, but you know that zombies can't run or keep up with a werewolf."

"I'll only jog, so you'll see where I'm going."

The two ladies left with Laveil leaving first, and Marianna following behind. Laveil led Marianna behind Noone's Booze as a short cut to the hiding place.

Laveil reached the boulder and waited for Marianna.

"Ramula, Romula," chanted Laveil when Marianna arrived.

The huge gray rock rolled away. The ladies stepped inside. Laveil said the words again, and the rock covered the hole. The ladies walked down into the place. They continued to walk until they reached the middle room.

Laveil motioned for Marianna to come to the bed Jessie way laying on.

"I wanted you to take a look at her head," said Laveil.

Marianna sat on the bed and lifted the cloth off of the child's head, exposing her bald head. Jessie woke up.

"Whoooooo are you?" Jessie stuttered with fright. She felt Marianna's cold fingers on her head.

"I'm Marianna. Don't worry. I won't hurt you. I'm a friend."

"What's happened to you, Sweetie?" asked Laveil.

"Have you been having any kind of treatments like chemo or radiation?" asked Marianna.

"My mommy said I have leukemia. I've been having chemo."

"I'm goin' to talk to Marianna in the other room for a minute. We'll be right back," said Laveil.

"Okay, Aunt Laveil."

They entered the room to the left. It had a leather couch, burgundy rug, two beige recliners, and a cherry coffee table.

"Is there anything we can do for her?" pleaded Laveil.

"I don't know what stage she's in, or what her complete diagnosis is."

"Do you think we could take her to the hospital without anyone tellin' Cydia and Lucifer?"

"I doubt it. There are too many zombies who are loyal to them, including my husband."

"I wish there was something we could do for her."

"Well, there is one thing."

"I hope you're not thinkin' what I think you're thinkin'."

"You could use the salve and turn her into a werewolf. I know it isn't the best solution, but it would cure her. Then Cydia and Lucifer wouldn't want to kill or enslave her."

"That would be playin' God. She wouldn't have a normal life and will always be under Lucifer and Cydia's rule. How do I explain this to a seven year old?"

"Do you want her to die?"

"No, of course not! The question still remains. How do we explain this to Jessie?"

"We'll both tell her and convince her that it's the right thing to do."

"Let's get this over with."

They left the room and ambled over to Jessie. Laveil touched Jessie on the arm.

"Honey, we've somethin' we want to talk to you about," said Laveil.

"We want to cure your illness, but it'll change your life considerably," said Marianna.

"How can you do that?" asked Jessie.

"I've got a magic salve that cures all illnesses," answered Laveil.

"However, after the salve's used, your life will change," said Marianna.

"Why will it change?" asked Jessie.

"I don't know how to tell you this, but I guess I'll just spit it out. I hope this doesn't frighten you too much, but it will turn you into a werewolf," answered Laveil.

"Mommy said those are make believe," Jessie said.

"I thought they were make believe at one time too, honey," Laveil said.

"Let me ask you this. Do you have any family, dad, grandparents?" asked Marianna.

"No, my father left right after I was born, and my grandparents are dead," Jessie answered.

"It's up to you, Sweetheart. If you're not ready, I'll hide you out here as long as it takes and protect you," said Laveil.

Jessie stared at them both. "Okay, you can put the salve on me, but I want Aunt Laveil to put it on me. Before you put it on me, what's it like to be a werewolf?"

"Well, it has its ups and downs. The transformations will hurt some at first, but you'll get used to them. It only happens on the full moon. You'll have super strength, the ability to run fast, and live forever. You'll have to watch out for wolfsbane. If you swallow it, it'll kill you."

Laveil walked to the bathroom to get the salve out of the closet. She had a small tin container in her hand.

"It only takes a little on the forehead." She rubbed a dab of it on Jessie.

"Why don't we get out of here and start your new life?" asked Marianna.

"Can I ask you something, Marianna?" questioned Jessie.

"Sure."

"Are you a werewolf, too?"

"No, I'm a zombie."

"Oh." Jessie stared at Marianna wide-eyed.

"Let's go to my place. I can start givin' you lessons on the supernatural tomorrow. I also have to register you as a supernatural citizen tomorrow," Laveil said.

Jessie took Laveil and Marianna by the hand and all of them left the underground.