Night had fallen and the thin crescent of the waning moon gave little light. A chill wind blew down off the mountain, stirring the branches of the old trees. The Moonwood itself seemed to whisper, as if the trees shared ancient secrets among themselves, under the watchful stars.
In the quiet of the cold spring night, the Wildfangs, obedient to their Master's command, gathered at the Den.
"As you see Markus, all the Wildfangs are now ours," Faust said.
"Too bad the last one never came to one of Kiril's concerts," Markus replied, as he studied the gathered werewolves. "We could have finished this sooner."
"You're always so impatient, my friend," Faust smiled. "The concerts served their purpose... giving us our chance to ensnare the others. There was no need to rush. When the time was right, Ms. Demarco came to me... and now the entire pack is under my control."
"What about Claudette?" Markus asked, the whisper of a cruel jeer almost hidden. "Has she come to you, now that the time is right? Is she under control?"
"Claudette is unimportant," Faust's answering smile barely covered the flash of temper.
"As long as she doesn't interfere again," Markus growled with bitter memory. [1]
"She's powerless," Faust replied. "Stripped of her magic, she can do nothing!"
"Da, she is like buzzing of little fly," Kiril said, shifting out of his wolf-form and stepping forward. "Annoying but harmless."
"She's made her choice," Faust nodded, "and she'll suffer for it."
Kiril smiled, "Wildfangs await your orders."
"Sleep... until morning," Faust said. "Markus, go back to Forgotten Hollow and tell our friends - By the time the sun sets, and they have awoken, Moonwood Mill will belong to the Wildfangs... and the Wildfangs belong to us."
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Soon, Faust's familiar spirit, Mephistopheles, intoned in its sepulchral voice. Soon the Moonwood will be ours.
"Indeed," Faust smiled. "It seems a pitiful domain... to those who do not understand the ancient power here. Now, let us be about it..."
"Kiril," he continued. "Mephistopheles tells me that there is to be a little gathering at the library this morning... local mortals speaking with Mr. Wilder, sharing their their concerns regarding the Wildfangs recent actions. I believe the pack should have a voice in that meeting.
"Take Bianca. Deal with Mr. Wilder and the show these mortals what it truly means to be means to be ruled by the Wildfangs!"
"As for the rest of you... it is time to put an end to this feud with the Collective. They will acknowledge the rule of the Wildfangs or they will pay the price. We will bring the Collective elders to heel... then we will deal with Kristophoros, the Annointed."
"Of course, that does leave one matter unresolved," he mused to himself. "By now, Claudette will have abandoned her so-called friends and be focusing on protecting herself... hiding or trying to escape. So, who shall I use to track down my wayward daughter?"
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Angry howls echoed through the trees.
"Don't worry, Freddie" Etta said, holding the little boy close. "I'll keep you safe."
I won't betray you, she added to herself, and I won't abandon you!
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[1] The last time a defiant Claudette interfered.
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