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The door to Tobin's room was opened, but only an empty bed, a trunk, and several empty liquor bottles greeted them. " What about the wine cellar?" asked Amelia. Everyone hurried through the kitchen to a small door. Bethany carefully opened the door, and Aurora looked in. There was blood on the steps, Aurora carefully raised the candle in her hand and the disemboweled corpse of Tobin appeared at the bottom of the steps. " Oh god" said Violet, burying her face into Serafina. " One of you is the werewolf" Sarah screamed. Sarah pulled the largest knife from the drawer and held it in her hands. " Stay back!" she shouted, " don't any of you come near me." " Put the knife down" said Aurora, " he won't appear if we stick together." " Stay back" she said, " for all I know you are the werewolf, just stay back." " She's right" said Joseph, " I won't listen to you, you want all of us close together so you two can kill all of us at once." " What the hell are you saying?" asked Bethany. " I'm saying you're a werewolf" he said. " Let's kill them now" said Sarah, " before they transform." Sarah leapt at Aurora, the large knife held high. Aurora gracefully blocked the attack and tried to grab the knife. Sarah kicked her and jabbed with the knife. Aurora hissed, the blade slicing across her palm. Suddenly Serafina stepped forward and struck the terrified maid with her fist. The girl stumbled back and fell on the floor, blood trickling from her nose. " Thanks" said Aurora, " shit that hurts." " Let me grab my bag" said Peter. " No way" said William, pushing Peter back, " you aren't going alone." " Then I'll go with" said Violet, " if he eats me then you'll be doubly blessed." Violet pushed William aside and the pair went for his bag. " Okay?" asked Aurora, clutching her bleeding hand. " Never did that before" said Serafina, " hands hurts." " I mean about all of this?" asked Aurora. " No" said Serafina, " but right now I'm too scared to think straight, by tomorrow I'll be a complete mess." Violet and Peter returned and Peter looked at Aurora's hand. He took out his thread and needle and sewed the wound shut before wrapping it in gauze. " I say we all go back to our rooms, lock our doors and someone rides for Farnum for help" said Horace. " I doubt these doors will stop a werewolf" said Aurora. " What choice have we?" asked Thomas, " I'm the best rider, I can make it." " In this storm you must be joking" said Janet, tending to her sister, " don't try and be a hero." " I know I can make it" said Thomas, " I can ride to Farnum blind." " He is right" said Aurora, " we need help, ride to Farnum get Colonel Beck to bring as many men here as he can. Tell him Aurora Moonshadow needs his help." Thomas nodded, " I'll get dressed" he said. " Now, I suggest we stay in the main room until he returns" said Aurora, " nobody can leave." " I'm not staying with you" said Joseph. " Nor I" said William. " I say we go to our rooms lock the doors, if anybody yells for help we come running" said Joseph. To Aurora's dismay most agreed with him, why don't you just ask to be eaten she thought, " Fine" she said. The others started for their rooms, Thomas reappeared dressed for the ride. " Be careful" said Beatrice, " if it is too hard return, don't chance getting lost out there." " I will" said Thomas. " Hurry back" said Aurora, " time is against us." Thomas nodded, the weight of the situation hung heavy on him. He hurried for the back door and the stables. " We'll stand guard" said Aurora, " it would be best if you return to your rooms." " No way" said Amelia, " you'll need all the eyes and ears you can." Aurora and Bethany looked at each other, " She has a point" said Bethany, " here." Bethany took her short sword out and handed it to Amelia, " You see anybody growing fur, start swinging" said Bethany. Amelia took the sword from Bethany, her eyes glittered, the first time she held such a weapon of authority and power. They looked up as Albert appeared in fully religious garb looking ashen white, " I must say prayers for the dead" he said, a strange tone in his voice. " Feel free" said Bethany. Albert walked out into the snow and knelt in the snow and began to pray loudly. " Poor kid" said Aurora. " What was he doing outside?" asked Bethany. " I think I might know" said Amelia, " Serafina's room is close to that side of the inn. He always was looking at her whenever they were together." " Did anyone else know about this?" asked Aurora. " I don't know, I doubt he advertised the fact" said Amelia, " someone else could have seen him, I doubt this was the first time." Albert walked in and headed for the wine cellar. Peter walked up, " I had a look at Tobin" said Peter, " whoever is the werewolf will probably be sick." " Why?" asked Amelia. " The werewolf was going to snack on his organs, and bit into his liver" said Peter, " I've seen diseased livers in my time, but his was one for the record books." " How sick?" asked Aurora. " I don't know werewolf physiology but he will be sick" said Peter, " of course now with half the people throwing up from seeing two dead bodies it isn't the greatest clue." Albert walked out from the kitchen almost green, " Are you okay?" asked Bethany. Bethany touched Albert's arm and suddenly his dull sick eyes flashed with fire. " Never touch me" he said, " never touch me." Bethany took a step back, and Albert resumed his sick appearance. " I have something that can help" said Peter, " I assume you haven't hand much experience with bodies." " No, prayer and penance will be enough" he said. Albert walked away, " I think I know why he is a priest" said Bethany. " Never mind" said Peter, " should we move the body, it will start to smell soon and I don't think we need to make the people in here any more uncomfortable." " Agreed" said Aurora, " Amelia, stand watch while we remove Tobin." " I'd suggest putting a stake in his heart" said Amelia, " last thing I want is to deal with him dead." " He isn't a vampire" said Bethany, " but I think he does deserve it." The trio left Amelia to watch the main room. " So he attacks Tobin first but doesn't know his organs are poisoned with booze so he needs someone else" said Aurora. " He sees Seamus getting a free peak so kills him" said Bethany, " great he won't need to feed for another couple of days." " I know, that is why I made sure everyone heard me say to Thomas to bring Colonel Beck and his men" said Aurora, " we're going to squeeze him, make him slip up." " Are you sure that is wise?" asked Peter, " you saw what he did to Seamus." " I don't have much choice" said Aurora, " I don't want to chance anyone else getting killed." They looked at poor Tobin's body, " He snapped his neck" said Bethany, " they do that?" " It is a first" said Aurora. " Do you have much experience with this?" asked Peter. " We've had a little first person experience with them" said Aurora, " but we also have read plenty, or at least Bethany has." " Normally when in their beast form they have little or no control. They act on instinct like an animal would, but this one broke Tobin's neck before eating him because he knew he would scream" said Bethany. " Guess we found the smart one" said Aurora. They picked up Tobin's body, Bethany holding the center to keep his organs from spilling out. " Wow, I thought he smelled bad before" said Bethany, " we could drain his blood and sell it as Blood Wine, no distilling needed." " Wine, try Whiskey" said Peter, " I would love to study him further, to understand how severe alcoholism affects the body." " If we survive I'm pretty sure he is all yours" said Aurora. " Gives me something to look forward too" said Peter. They carefully placed his body into the snow and watched as he sank deep into the drift. They turned to go inside when the strains of a violin filled their ears. All three quickly recognized the music, Wilhelm Zurtmacht's First Movement of his 4th Concerto, the so called Werewolf Moon. It was a popular piece of music but now it was just too much. They rushed towards the main room where they met up with Amelia who was standing in the doorway to the kitchen. In the center of the room, standing on the main table was Aldus. Aldus was playing his violin, a sick smile on his face, a glint in his eyes. " What is going on?" asked Aurora. " He just appeared a few moments ago and jumped up on the table" said Amelia, " what is he playing?" " Zurmacht's 4th Concerto" said Bethany, " better known as the Werewolf Moon." " That is right" laughed Aldus, " I'm calling for him, I'm calling for him to come to me." " You're insane" said Bethany. " Maybe" laughed Aldus, playing louder. " What are you doing?" demanded Serafina. Everyone turned to look at Serafina, " Ah the werewolf has come out" said Aldus, " my sweet tune had lured her out of her cage." Serafina walked over and grabbed one of Aldus' legs. She jerked it out from under him, sending him crashing to the floor. " You idiot" she said, " you're making everyone panic with your constant talk of werewolves, how do I know you aren't the werewolf?" " Because you are" said Aldus. Serafina's features turned black and rage filled her eyes. She grabbed the poker from the fireplace but before she could dash Aldus' brains upon the floor she heard Violet let out a small cry. She turned and saw a trembling Violet standing in the doorway. She looked at her hand and realized what she was about to do. She threw the poker down, " I'll be in my room" she said in a small voice. Aldus picked up his violin and started for his room but was quickly grabbed by Aurora who hauled him into the trophy room, his heels dragging on the stone floor. " I hear that violin one more time the only time you'll be playing it is in the next life" said Aurora, " we don't need you to be playing at being a werewolf." " I've always wanted to meet a werewolf" said Aldus, " I guess I just lost my head." " You best find it" said Aurora. Aurora let Aldus leave the room under his own power, her better senses told her to smack some sense into him and let him be carried out but she decided there had been enough excitement for one night. Aurora returned to Bethany, Peter, and Amelia who were sitting at the table. " Aldus isn't the werewolf" said Aurora, " the sight of Serafina wielding that poker would have made him transform to save his skin." " Luckily Violet was there" said Bethany. " You think she would have done it?" asked Amelia. " Right now anybody is capable of anything" said Peter, " everyone is on a knife's edge, it is times like these that bring out the worse in people." Violet carefully picked the lock on Serafina's room. She was sitting by the window, she had spent years of hiding her sadness but tonight it had all failed her. " I'm sorry" she said, tears streaming down her cheeks, " I almost killed him." " But you didn't" said Violet, " that is all that is important." " Only because of you" said Serafina, " what am I doing here?" " You're living your dream" said Violet, sitting next to Serafina, " you always wanted to perform on your terms." " I hate it but my mother was right" said Serafina, " she said this was foolish and would only end in tragedy." " Don't listen to your mother" said Violet, " she was only upset because she would no longer enjoy the money who make." Serafina smiled, it felt amazingly good. " See there" said Violet, gently hugging Serafina. Violet gripped tight, " I'm so scared" she said. " Ssh" said Serafina, " we can't be both falling apart, how are we going to keep the troupe going?" " Please let me stay" said Violet, " I can't be alone, I just can't." " You certainly can" said Serafina, " I would appreciate the company." Violet laid her head against Serafina's shoulder, " You make me feel safe" said Violet, " I love you." Serafina gently kissed Violet's cheek, " I love you too" she said. The pair got up and blew the candles out before going to bed. Dawn barely broke, the heavy flying snow barely allowing the light to show through. Nobody had slept, nobody was eating. " Hopefully Thomas has reached Farnum by now" said Amelia, " those soldiers will be here by tomorrow." Aurora and Bethany shared a little secret smile, Amelia was a wonderful actress, maybe she should join Serafina when they leave. Aurora scanned the table, there were a few worried faces. Aurora knew it was almost over now, their furry friend would soon reveal himself. Breakfast was cleared away, almost uneaten. The morning wore into afternoon, everyone stayed in their rooms eagerly counting away until the troops would arrive. Serafina and Violet packing up all of Serafina's clothes into her two trunks, the minute the troops arrived the entire troupe had decided they were going back to Farnum and find another wagon to take them south. " That's the last of it" said Violet, " except for a set for tomorrow." " Thank you" said Serafina, " what a week huh." " Could be worse" said Violet, " at least we're not alone." Serafina smiled at Violet, " That's true" she said. Something caught Serafina's eye, somebody was outside. " Look" said Serafina. Violet turned and saw the figure slip around the end of the guest wing, " Who was that?" asked Violet. Serafina hurried to the bed and pulled the large knife she taken from the table last night. " Find Aurora" said Serafina, " tell her what is going on." Serafina walked out of the bedroom and hurried for the kitchen door. Aurora and Bethany were in their room changing clothes when the door burst open and Violet flew in. " Serafina saw the werewolf" she said, " she went after it." " She what?" asked Bethany. " She is going to kill it" said Violet, " we have to hurry." The pair followed Violet as she rushed out. Serafina watched as the handle of the kitchen door slowly opened. She readied her blade as the door began to open. Albert walked in and looked at Serafina, " Something wrong?" he asked. " Oh its you" said Serafina, " what were you doing outside?" " Tending to the slain souls" said Albert. Albert started towards the main room, " But didn't you already do that?" asked Serafina. " That's right" said Albert. Albert spun on his heel and punched Serafina in the face. Serafina flopped down on the floor in an unconscious pile. Albert snickered to himself, that fat Tobin was not edible, the lecherous boy was barely skin and bones, but this voluptuous beauty would make a wonderful play toy and then a meal. He hoped she was a screamer, they tasted better when full of fear and screams made wonderful music while eating. Albert grabbed a handful of Serafina's raven hair and tossed her on the table. He smelled her, even terrified she smelled wonderful. Albert closed his eyes and heard several people enter the kitchen. Aurora and Bethany both stopped dead in their tracks, Albert was growing hair as his finger nails grew and had turned black. He was the werewolf. Albert smiled at the pair, " Come to stop me?" he laughed, his fangs slowly growing, " you two pitiful women? This province is weaker than I thought." Aurora grabbed her first needle and pulled it out. Her injured hand was unable to grip the needle and it fell from her grasp. Albert laughed as he listened to the silver needle clatter on the floor, and ran his claw down Serafina's dress ripping it open. " Watch as I feast upon this beauty" he laughed. Suddenly from behind the blade of a sharp axe drove into Albert's back. He howled and spun about to see Amelia holding the wood axe in her hand. Aurora and Bethany rushed forward and slammed into Albert before he could strike Amelia. Violet raced from the doorway and pulled Serafina off the table just before Bethany was roughly slammed into the top. Aurora was slammed into the wall, cracking the white plaster that covered the wooden boards. Amelia ducked to dodge Albert's claws as he tore through the door. Albert looked under the table, now nearly in werewolf form, saliva dripping from his teeth. " Hello" he said, " I get to snack upon the lovers now, please scream for me?" Violet thrust forth with Aurora's dropped needle, jamming it into his face. He leapt back howling, the silver burning him like powerful acid. Violet started to drag Serafina to safety, sadly Violet wasn't strong enough or fast enough. Albert leapt over the table, his claws ripping into her. Violet screamed, her blood splattering on Serafina and the floor. Violet hit the floor, her shoulder and arm bleeding fiercely. She tried to shield Serafina from the fatal blow, she could see her die. Aurora leapt on Albert's back, the thin gaunt priest now twice the size of the burliest man. She drove her silver into his left side hoping to pierce his heart. Albert howled and grabbed at Aurora but she had leapt off before he could. Aurora slung Serafina over her back, and raced for the door. Bethany scooped up Violet, and ran the opposite direction. Albert hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out which to chase. He raced after Aurora running into the main room. Aurora was waiting in the middle of the room, another needle in her hand. " I'm impressed" she said, " I didn't think you thought." " I have the good monks of Isabdor to thank for that" said Albert, now fully in werewolf form, his voice deep like an avalanche falling down a mountain, " besides teaching me letter and verse of their fairy tale book, they taught me how to control my mind. It is wonderful, for years I was a slave to my hunger. Now I am its master." Albert sprinted across the main room at amazing speed. Aurora was barely able to leap out of the way before he threw the table at her. That she wasn't able to dodge, the heavy solidly built table slamming her against the wall. Aurora felt the air rush out of her lungs, her head was spinning. Aurora felt the table start to squeeze her as Albert started to laugh. Bethany leveled her crossbow, Aurora's heavy silver needle in it. Bethany fired, the needle hitting Albert squarely in the thigh. Aurora felt the pressure suddenly release as Albert howled again. She managed to work her legs up and then she used the wall to push the table at Albert. The heavy table managed to knock him to the floor, but not for long he was back up on his feet gingerly limping. " You look tired" he snarled, " that table too much for your weak body to take." Aurora could feel the pain lancing through her side, he was right the table had cracked at least two ribs. She fingered her next needle, he was too smart, this wasn't just instinct this was thought thought. Albert swung at her, his black claws shining in the fire light. Aurora leapt for the doorway to the trophy room. She rolled into the trophy room, her chest burning like mad. She kicked the door closed and jammed the chair against it. Albert pushed the door and found it barred. " You think that will stop me?" he chuckled, " guess your brains must be in that lovely chest of yours. It will be a pleasure to devour you. Maybe I'll devour your little friend first, let you watch and know what it looks like to eat someone alive." " You wouldn't want her" said Aurora, pulling the crossbow off the wall, " she is stringy, probably tasted awful, she is an eastern after all. Besides you don't want her your fight is with me." " Self sacrifice, something else those monks taught me" said Albert, " fine she can watch when I eat you." Albert smashed into the door, the hinges started to bend, the chair starting to crack. Aurora lifted the heavy crossbow, if it killed all these animals hopefully it would kill one more. Aurora leaned herself against the wall and hoped this would work. Albert smashed through the door and saw Aurora. Before he could react the crossbow fired with a loud pang. The needle flew straight and true and hit him squarely in the chest. Albert stumbled back, his body quickly reverting back to his human form. He collapsed in the middle of the room and became still. Aurora looked out of the room at Bethany, " Thanks for the idea" she said, gripping her side, " you okay?" " Right as rain" said Bethany, " Violet is okay too, Serafina is watching over her." " Good" said Aurora. " So the priest was the werewolf" said Bethany, " that must be a serious sin." " It is safe?" asked Amelia poking her head out of the kitchen door. " Very safe" said Aurora, " our wandering priest is no more a threat in this life." Aurora and Bethany walked back through the chaos that was the kitchen into the store room where Peter was caring for both Violet and Serafina, Violet was laying in Serafina's lap while Peter gently bound her wounds. " How are you?" asked Aurora. Violet looked up and smiled, " I'm feeling really warm." " She is okay" said Serafina, sporting a big black eye, stroking Violet's hair " she is so brave, I'm proud she is my friend." Violet giggled, " You look hurt too, have Dr Tarkin give you some of this wonderful stuff." " I'll be okay" said Aurora, " you two take it easy." Aurora and Bethany walked back into the main room where Horace, and Beatrice had already cleaned up the mess, save for the door and the corpse that was laying in the middle of the floor. Aurora knelt, wincing from the broken ribs. Bethany joined her, " Maybe you should take it easy" she said. " I just need to get my needles" said Aurora. Aurora tried to pull them out but found she couldn't use her right hand due to her cut and the left hand was useless from her ribs. Bethany pushed Aurora back, " Sit, hero" she said. Aurora finally relented and Bethany drew out the three needles from Albert's corpse. Bethany handed them back to Aurora and joined her sitting on the bench. " We certainly earned our wage this time" said Bethany. " Yep" said Aurora. They both heard the loud fanfare of trumpets outside. Everyone in the inn poked their heads out of every window and door. They saw Thomas, Colonel Beck, and a long column of fully armoured and armed soldiers coming up the hill towards the inn. Aurora and Bethany looked at each other and began to laugh despite Aurora's broken ribs they both had a hearty laugh. Colonel Beck dismounted his horse and saw Aurora and Bethany exit the inn. " Have you killed the werewolf?" asked Arthur. " Yes we have" said Aurora, " he was masquerading as a traveling priest." " This is excellent" said Arthur, " now our province is once again safe for one and all to travel through. I brought the rest of your payment." Arthur drew out four bags from his saddle and handed them to Bethany. " I must apologize for my behavior during our first meeting" said Arthur, " I didn't believe you could accomplish this task and it affected my judgment." " No apology necessary" said Aurora, " I'm just glad I was able to get the job done." " Well done" said Arthur, " we shall take custody of the werewolf and make sure he is disposed of quickly." Arthur motion for two of his men who dismounted and entered the Snow Dove, they came out with Albert's body. They slung him over one of the soldier's horses. The soldier mounted his horse and patted Albert's bald head. " I'll have my men ride back and take care of him" said Arthur, " it has been a pleasure to meet you Ms Moonshadow." The column turned and road back towards Farnum, " Nice of you to let Colonel Beck have the body' said Bethany. " We have our money let him have the glory" said Aurora, " I'm hungry." It took two days for everyone to recover from their ordeal. The Muse Harp's wagon was repaired and they prepared to leave with an new member in tow. Amelia had been invited by Serafina to join their troupe and after some discussion with her parents was allowed to go. " Farewell my friends" said Serafina, " you must come to one of our performances." " When our paths cross next we will" said Aurora, " farewell." Violet, sitting comfortably in the wagon next to Serafina, her arm still wrapped tight in bandages, waved goodbye and wished both brave women well. One by one the rest of the troupe bid their farewells to the others. A bond had been created among them from surviving their unique ordeal and now they found it hard to return to their normal lives. It took until the afternoon for the Muse Harp to finally say their goodbyes and start down the road that would led them to the warmer south. Peter left next, back to Farnum to tend to more patients. Finally as the afternoon was wearing on Aurora and Bethany mounted their horses and started through the path cut through the deep snow, eager to return to warmer climes and more adventure. The End
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