Life Is Precious

A rusty, old crown Victoria sped out of the fog.

"Some 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, Darling. I know how much you love seeing beams come out of my eyes," Cydia giggled. She gazed into his red eyes.

She dashed 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. She ran back behind the tree where Lucifer stood.

The car swerved off the road and smashed into a tree. Lucifer glanced and 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 be seen there alone." He shook his finger.

"Yes, dear." She nodded.

Lucifer orbed into a blood red shimmer, and Cydia snapped her fingers and turned into a blue mist. They both vanished from the scene.

                                                  ***

The werewolf advanced on the flaming car. Two bodies were in the vehicle, a woman and a little girl. Blood was splattered all over the woman, and her neck was broken in two. The child stirred around. Cuts and bruises covered her body. Glass was all over the place. A metallic smell drifted through the creatures nostrils.

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 fuchsia 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 creature's teeth retracted along with the nose and mouth shortened. The claws became shorter and turned into human 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 without any clothes on.

She slipped the yellow dress on and gathered band-aids, first aid ointment, rubbing alcohol, bandages, and tweezers. She also had a pitcher of water and washcloths.

The lady walked into the beige bedroom with the items and sneezed twice. I hate walkin' on these old dirt floors scatterin' dust everywhere.

She placed the items on the metal folding table by the bed. She took a wet washcloth 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.

The girl sat up and glanced wide-eyed all around. "Where's my mommy?" she cried.

The lady's eyes teared up. How do I tell the child about this?

"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. "You were in an accident."

"What happened to my mommy?"

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

"Is she dead?"

"I'm so sorry for your loss."

The girl's tears continued to flow. She put her head on the woman's shoulder. The lady put her arms around her.

The girl lifted her head. "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 the fog."

This is the handy work of Cydia and Lucifer. She must've 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 Laveil. Almost everyone does."

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

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

"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'." Laveil reached into the bowl on the nightstand and got out a silver tub. "This will help you sleep, child." She rubbed a dab of it on Jessie's forehead.

Jessie nodded, laid down, 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."

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

When she stepped outside, Laveil 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.

She slowed down and strolled over to the Deacon Diner. Laveil crept into the
restaurant. She scanned the place to see if Marianna was anywhere around. 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 in front of her. She eyed how the lights of the diner beamed on Marianna's piercing blue eyes, light-blond hair, and pale complexion making them brighter.

"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 towered over Laveil.

Both ladies strolled out of the diner together.

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

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

"I know that. I'll only jog, so you can 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.

She motioned for Marianna to come to the bed Jessie was laying on.

Laveil pointed at the bandanna."I want you to take a look at her head."

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

"Whoooooo are you?" Jessie stuttered. She pointed at Marianna and felt Marianna's cold finger's 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 going to talk to Marianna in the other room for a minute. We'll be right back." She motioned for Marianna to come with her.

"Okay, Aunt Laveil," said Jesse.

Laveil and Marianna entered the room to the left. It had a leather couch, two matching recliners, a burgundy rug, and a coffee table.

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

Marianna stared at her."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 or Lucifer?"

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

Laveil folded her arms. "I wish there was somethin' we could do for her."

"Well, there is one thing."

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

"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."

Laveil glared at her wide-eyed. "That would be playin' God. Life's too precious for that! She wouldn't have a normal life and would always be under Lucifer and Cydia's rule. How do I explain this to a child?"

"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 walked over to Jessie. Jessie sat up and peered at them. Laveil sat and put her arm around Jessie.

"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 with a laugh.

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

"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 and opened the closet. I can't believe I'm about to turn a child into a werewolf. I'm takin' her humanity away from her, but then again I'm savin' her life. Damned if I do damned if I don't! She took a small tin container out of the closet and slipped it in her pocket.

Laveil crept into the room and over to Jessie.

She opened the container, dipped her finger in the clear creamy slave, and rubbed a dab of it on Jessie's forehead."It only takes a little on the forehead."

Marianna extended her hand to Jessie."Why don't we get out of here and start your new life?"

Jessie got out of bed, held Marrianna's hand and stared up at Marianna. "Can I ask you something, Marianna?"

"Sure"

"Are you a werewolf, too?"

"No, I'm a zombie."

"Do you eat people?"

Marianna shook her head. "No."

Jessie sighed a sigh of relief.

Laveil gazed down at Jesse and smiled. "Let's go to my place, and I'll explain all about Deacon, Mississippi to you along with giving you lessons on the supernatural tomorrow. I also have to register you as a supernatural citizen too."

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

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