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Even over the smells of coffee and fresh pastries I knew him.
“It’s the werewolf I encountered first, at the bar,” I whispered.
Hugh was about to look and I stopped him.
“Don’t turn, he’s behind you.”
He started gathering up his notes in preparation to leave. “Let’s slip out the back and try to follow him,” Hugh said. “We can come up through the alley and watch for him to leave.”
That was a good plan, only the werewolf caught sight of me before I thought to use my mind manipulation powers to hide.
“Shit. I’ve got this,” I said.
The werewolf ran out the door and knocked over two older women. I wasn’t sure if this was done on purpose to slow me down, or if he was just clumsy. Either way, I paused to be sure they were all right before following his scent down an alley.
He tripped over some trash cans. When I realized he was beginning to transform I ran faster to catch up. I’m much faster than a human, but not nearly as fast as some vampires I’ve seen.
As soon as I reached him I grabbed him by the back of the head and slammed him into a wall. I heard what sounded like large stones sliding into place and looked behind me to see Hugh fully transformed. Somewhere along the way he’d shed his shirt and shoes. With his horns out, wings unfurled, and blue eyes glowing, he was an impressive sight. Not to mention once his feet turned to claws (not unlike the werewolf’s feet) it added to his already intimidating height, making him roughly seven feet tall.
“You said you can manipulate minds?” Hugh asked me.
“Yes.”
“Stand behind me and make sure no one looks down this alley.”
I was confident I could handle the wolfman by myself, but clearly Hugh had a plan. I decided to go with it and not ask questions.
I could hear the werewolf continuing to transform. Bones cracked and clothes tore as I ran to the end of the alley and cast a quick spell. Now I could feel if anyone was watching and immediately block us from their mind. That was one great thing about being a vampire, I didn’t have to use as many ingredients for spells. So much of what I did now was nothing but the force of my will. That might also be due to my fae blood as well.
“Why did you attack Tris?” Hugh asked.
“Go fuck yourself,” the wolf growled.
I turned in time to see Hugh take a step forward. “Wrong answer.”
He took a sliding step toward the werewolf. I heard what sounded like sliding stones again and when his fist hit the werewolf’s face it was solid rock. The wolf fell back with a yelp. He as stunned, but still holding together well considering he’d just been hit with a brick.
“What is your name?” Hugh asked.
With a roar the wolf launched himself at Hugh. The gargoyle took a step back and clapped his wings. Just before his wings made contact with the wolf, they turned to stone. The werewolf crumpled to the ground. He was disoriented, bleeding, and clearly not going anywhere.
“That was the most badass shit I’ve ever seen,” I said, walking up beside Hugh. I touched his wing. “That’s amazing.” The skin was already soft and leathery again. Then I remembered the reason we were in the alley and focused my attention on the werewolf.
“I can’t see straight,” he howled.
“You’ll heal,” Hugh said. “Now try again. What’s your name?”
“Jeff.”
“That’s better. Jeff, why did you attack Tris at the club, Dark Web, the other night?”
Jeff growled and spit out a tooth. “My alpha told me to.”
Hugh crossed his arms and I enjoyed watching his muscles flex.
“We’re going to need a better reason than that, or I’ll let him beat you into the ground,” I said.
Jeff looked confused and not just from a hit to the head. He seemed to think that was all the explanation we needed.
“I don’t question my alpha.”
“Maybe we should question your alpha,” Hugh said.
Jeff looked truly terrified at this suggestion. “My alpha doesn’t need to hear about this.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because I can tell you who hired us. They also hired a woman to lead you to the club, something about having to work around a spell.”
I was confused and furious. “Someone hired you to attack me? Why?”
“She said you didn’t have a problem with werewolves and wouldn’t see it coming.”
“She?” I asked.
“Some witch named Kathy.”
“That ring any bells?” Hugh asked me.
“No. What did Kathy want with me?”
The werewolf paused for a moment and put a clawed hand to his bloody forehead. “She wanted you dead and she wanted your necklace.”
Instinctively, I put a hand over the charm that I now knew connected me to Hugh.
“Where can I find this witch?”
“She sells real estate out of an office on Honeysuckle road. Let me go and I’ll give you her address. That bitch has been nothing but trouble. She wouldn’t even pay us for our efforts.”
Considering they didn’t manage to kill me or get my necklace, I couldn’t really blame her.
“You okay with that?” Hugh asked me.
“Fine. Just give me the address.”
“It’s in my pants.”
I laughed. “You’ve got to be joking. You expect me to reach into your pants?”
“He broke my right arm and I’m pretty sure my left wrist is sprained,” the wolf said.
“I am not an idiot. There’s no way in hell I’m reaching in your pants.”
“I’ve got her card.”
“Don’t you remember the address?”
“Honestly, no.”
“Fuck it. I’ll reach in his pants. Which side?” Hugh asked.
“Front pocket, right side.”
With the sound of moving rocks, Hugh’s entire body turned to stone. He moved slowly toward the werewolf and knelt in front of him.
“Just so you know,” Hugh said, “you’ll break off your teeth if you try to bite me.”
“I just want to get out of here alive,” the wolf said.
“Smart man. I’ve got it,” he said, pulling out the card. As he rose his skin visibly softened, but remained a pale stony gray. “Here.” He handed me the card.
“What kind of realtor has cards without their overly edited photo slapped on the front?” I asked.
“One who doesn’t want to be recognized,” Hugh said. He turned back to the werewolf, Jeff. “Stay here until we leave, then you’re free to go.”
“No problem. I don’t want to get slapped with fucking boulders again. That was bullshit.”
Hugh followed me to the end of the alley where he’d stashed his boots, shirt, and notebook. He shifted form so fluidly I just stared, fascinated. His transformation had a strange beauty to it. I held his notebook while he pulled on his clothes and with a wave of my hand dismissed the cloaking spell.
“You should hurry and get out of sight,” I called back to Jeff.