Bad Moon Rising - Chapter 14

"Well, who decided that?!" Rory demanded.

"That would be me!" Wolfgang snarled back.

As winter dragged on, it seemed to Demarco that everyone in Moonwood Mill was getting irritable. Lou called it cabin-fever - too many people stuck together in town, by the cold and the snow, for too long. The fact that a significant minority of the townsfolk were werewolves - already naturally temperamental and territorial - didn't help. Tempers were running short.

"Why do you get to decide!?" Rory snapped.

"I don't know Rory, maybe because I'm the librarian," Wolfgang answered, clearly struggling to keep a grip on his rising fury.

Demarco kept her eye on the book she was pretending to read. Her mom had told her once, after some senseless blow-up Demarco had had with her dad, that arguments were never about what arguments were about. At the time, she remembered, that hadn't made any sense to her at all.

"That gives you the right to shut the gym!?" Rory yelled.

"The gym is part of the library," Wolfgang snarled back. "We can barely afford to heat the main rooms. It's almost freezing in here already. There isn't enough in the budget to heat the gym too!"

Yeah, her mom's nonsensical words made more sense now. Demarco was pretty sure Rory wasn't this mad about the gym being closed. She hardly ever used it anyway, preferring the workout equipment at the den and the trailer. She was pretty sure the usually even-tempered (for a werewolf) Wolfgang had other things on his mind too... though she didn't know what.

"If you don't like the way I run the library, bring it up at the next Town Meeting," Wolfgang bellowed, losing his tightly held control.

"Right! It's not like you and the rest of the Collective don't totally control that!" Rory shouted back.

It's funny, Demarco thought. It's been years since I thought about my folks. Ever since Etta had opened up about her family, she'd found herself thinking more about her own sometimes. Not enough to try to reach out to them. Some bridges were burned and better left in ashes. She had a new family now, in the Wildfangs... not that they were necessarily less dysfunctional than her birth family.

Speaking of dysfunctional, she thought, Kiril seemed to be enjoying Rory and Wolfgang's fight a little too much.

Something was up with that guy, Demarco thought. Of course, she felt like something was usually up with Kiril. Still, that creepy smirk of his had seemed more sinister the last couple of weeks. 

Then there was the fact that he and Rory had their heads together a lot, especially when no one was around. If it was anyone but Rory, Demarco would have seriously considered that she and Kiril had a little something-something going on the side... but even if Kiril wasn't serious about the whole "wolves mate for life" idea, she knew Rory was.

No, this was something else. Demarco didn't know what, but it was getting her hackles up. (She actually knew what hackles were now that she had them - that fur down her back when she was a wolf - and she could actually feel them rising with tension, even when she wasn't.)

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"They were literally growling at each other," Demarco exclaimed later, telling Etta about what had happened at the library. "I thought for a second they were going to shift and go at each other."

"Oh wow," Etta breathed.

"You've lived here for a couple of years," Demarco continued. "Is winter always like this?"

"Well..." Etta considered the matter.

"Yes and no," she admitted. "Everyone gets a little 'eeiii' after being snowed in for a couple of months. Still, thinking about it, last winter wasn't this tense. I mean, people got irritable and snarly, but Kristopher would go around talking to people, or just listening to people. I remember him taking his pack on a run through the woods a few times... just to blow off steam."

"What about the Wildfangs?" Demarco asked. "I mean, I've never seen them together but from what she's said, Rory doesn't seem like she's on the best terms with Kristopher."

"Well, that's the thing," Etta said. "Kristopher hasn't been around as much this past year. I mean, he's around... somewhere... but he's hasn't been as involved as he was."

"Also, Jake was here," Etta continued.

"Rory's brother, kind of, right?" Demarco said. "She's mentioned him a few times."

"Yeah, they were both 'foundling' werewolves. Kristopher brought them in and taught them both," Etta said. "Anyway, Jake could talk to Rory even when Kristopher couldn't. He moved down to Henford after he got married, but he used to come up here a lot more. Not so much, since he and Beth had their baby.

"I guess, between them, Kristopher and Jake managed to keep things from boiling over," Etta sighed. "Now Jake's moved out and Kristopher's..."

"What?" Demarco asked.

"I'm not sure... It depends on how much I trust what Father taught me," Etta admitted. "Still... he said sometimes immortals... really old immortals... start to lose their grip. Mortals around them change so much and finally, something happens that's just too much for them. They lose their grip on the world, stop caring and just... drift off."

"Wait... immortals?" Demarco blinked. "Are werewolves immortal? Am I immortal?!"

"No, Etta shook her head. "Well, not most werewolves... not you... but some of the really powerful ones are. Rory might be strong enough. I know Lily's over a hundred and even she calls Kristopher 'Old Man' sometimes. Kristopher is... old. I don't know how old but I've heard Mr. Moonrunner call him 'Firstborn.'"

"... and you think Kristopher is, what did you call it, losing his grip?" Demarco asked.

"I don't know," Etta sighed again. "Like I said, it depends on how much you trust what Father taught me. I know he had an axe to grind with certain immortals... like the Sages and the heads of the Old Families... which is funny given that Father is over four hundred years old himself."

"OK that's... wait, are you... How old are you?" Demarco demanded.

"Nineteen," Etta smiled. "Give or take."

"Good," Demarco sighed, "because I don't think I could take it if you were a hundred-year-old witch."

"Nope, just a nineteen-year-old ex-witch," Etta replied. 

Sobering, Etta added, "You going to be OK?"

"I don't know," Demarco sighed again. "I guess I just have to wait it out and hope everyone calms down. Who knows... maybe things will be better when they get back tonight."

"Back?" Etta looked puzzled.

"They all headed down to the Harbor," Demarco said. "It's Kiril's big live recording."

"Why didn't you go?" Etta asked.

"I told Rory I needed a little me time," Demarco said. "Besides, you and I had plans."

"You picked me over your pack?" Etta looked a little shocked.

"I'm not proposing to you or anything," Demarco laughed, then added seriously, "And I'm not giving up on them. I love the Wildfangs. Still, after a month in that damn trailer listening to Kiril practice... yeah, I'd rather hang with you than watch him play. Even if I do miss out on meeting the Markus the Great Music Producer."

Bad Moon Rising - Chapter 13

"This is moment when everything changes!" Kiril laughed, a little manically.

The old doublewide trailer that was the pack's home was saved from being cramped mostly by virtue of them spending a lot of time outside despite the cold. 

Still, an enthusiastic Kiril had gathered everyone around the battered old couch to share his news.

"I don't know about this, Kiril," Bianca said hesitantly.

"Hush, worrywart. I am telling story," Kiril laughed. "To begin, I must set scene for you."

Kiril continued in his broadly accented storytelling voice. 

"As you know, I am very great musician... and Rory, she does not like me to rob service stations anymore. So, I am in Evergreen Habor, playing guitar at bar for my many fans. Everyone very excited and my music, it is moving hearts."

"After I finish my set, a man approach me. Now, many times my fans approach me between sets, because they love my music... and also because I am very handsome man... but my heart is given to my Bianca, so only are my fans allowed to love my music. 

"Where was I... oh, yes, man approach me. He offers to buy me drink and says he has proposition for me. I tell him I am very flattered but my heart is given to my Bianca. He laughs, of course, because I am very funny man too. 

"So, I sit with him and we talk. Man, his name is Markus, he says he enjoys my music and he sees I have many fans. Markus, he is music producer! He has small, indie production studio... specializes in local talent. He is very excited and says he wants me to make record!

"Yes!" Rory cheered. "Kiril, that's awesome! This really could change everything for you."

"For all of us," Kiril smiled. "We are pack... all together."

"This is terrific, man," Lou put in. "I mean, obviously this Markus guy is tone deaf, but..."

"Lou, you are funny man," Kiril laughed, "but I am very funny, very handsome man, and great musician. Yes? Is true."

"Well, I don't think this is a great idea," Bianca put in. "I met this guy and..."

"Yes, I can no make life changing deal without talking to my Bianca," Kiril interrupted. 

"Lucky, she is working at bar this night, so I call her over to meet Markus," he continued.

"Right, I am telling you, the guy smells..." Bianca started.

"OK, so you don't like him right away," Kiril spoke over her. "Is not reason to be against deal. I will work out particulars. Trust me."

"Well, it sounds like a great opportunity," Demarco said. "At least, it's worth checking out."

Bianca sighed heavily but offered nothing more.

"Is great opportunity!" Kiril smiled. "Tomorrow, I meet with Markus's partners and work out particulars of deal."

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"Welcome Kiril," Markus said. "You told them?"

"Yes," Kiril smiled as he descended the stairs. "Not everything, of course... just enough. They are very excited. A great opportunity... for me."

"Bianca wasn't a problem?" 

"She said she didn't like you," Kiril admitted, "but she didn't give away anything she shouldn't have. She will listen to me. Don't worry."

As Markus led Kiril to meet his "partners," the werewolf smiled. 

This is the moment when everything changes.

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Author's Note: Long-time readers of Wyrd Girls will, I hope, recognize Markus's partners (and Markus himself) and be thinking - "Wait, didn't Ms. H die at the end of Wyrd Girls: College Years?"

Yes. Yes, she did. I have honestly not been able to think of a clever way to insert into the story itself the fact that Bad Moon Rising takes place at about the same time as Year 2 of Wyrd Girls: College Years. So, at this point, Ms. H is still alive (unalive) and her schemes extend well beyond just messing with college students.

Bad Moon Rising - Chapter 12

Fall was drifting into winter, and the first snowfall had turned the ground white. A kind of peace settled over the woods and the town, the broken only by occasional howling. Demarco found herself increasingly walking in the snow-shrouded woods. Often, she found herself wandering across the bridge to hang out with Etta and little Freddie.

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"'Arco, ahhwwoooo," Freddie howled a greeting. 

"Hey Cub," Demarco smiled as the little werewolf pulled her into a fierce hug.

 "'Arco, Etta," Freddie babbled cheerfully, gesturing toward the old log that made a seat at the edge of the Collective's garden where he was playing. 

Accepting the boy's firm - if not entirely clear - instructions, the pair of them took a seat. Freddie continued to explain his, obviously very detailed, plan before returning to joyfully tossing handfuls of snow into the air.

"Well, he's happy," Demarco chuckled.

"I like watching him play," Etta said, a little sadly. "He just gets to be a little kid and have fun."

"You OK?" Demarco asked. In the time they'd been friends, she'd come to expect moments of gloom, topics avoided and sentences left unfinished from the other woman.

"Yeah," Etta lied.

"You sure?" Demarco pressed gently.

"I'm thinking about my mom," Etta admitted.

"Oh," Demarco said cautiously. Etta's family was one of those unspoken topics.

"When I was young, we used to play together all the time," Etta mused with unexpected openness. "We lived out in the mountains... actually over there a-ways... a place called Forgotten Hollow. There weren't really other kids my age. Father... he had his Great Work and he wasn't to be disturbed. So, for a while, it was just me and my mom."

"Are they witches, your mom and dad?" Demarco asked gently.

"Mom isn't," Etta said, bitterness in her voice. "Her family, the Blackwoods, are one of the Lost Families... that's what they call the witch families whose magic has faded over time. I'm the first Blackwood daughter born with magic in generations.

"Father is a powerful warlock but he wasn't born with magic. Like some werewolves are born and others are bitten, some witches are born to our magic and others get their power... in other ways. Thinking about it now, I guess he married her because her family was an old and respected one... and because there was a good chance that their children would have power."

"I remember the day he told mom he was going to start my training. It was the first time I remember seeing them argue. She said I should have more time to just be a child, more time to play. I remember I was angry with her for saying that. I was so much in awe of Father and I wanted so badly to be part of his Great Work."

"The next day, he started my training. Mom never objected again. Once my training began, she and I never played or even really hung out together anymore. It was as if she was gone, but I know she was there... in the background, like... cooking meals or cleaning the house. Looking back, I remember she was so pale and quiet that I hardly noticed her anymore. I spent most of my time with Father."

"Etta..." Demarco wasn't sure what to say, especially in light of the creeping sense of horror she felt.

"Like I said, Father was a powerful warlock... but he wasn't born to magic," Etta continued, her distant eyes focused on some point in the past. "You have to understand the importance of the magical bloodlines... the power and prestige of the Old Families - the families who trace their heritage and their magic back to the days of the First Empire. The Council of Sages and the Old Families are the leaders of the Magic Realm, and between their magic and the timeless Otherworld they rule, they are practically immortal.

"My father taught me that they are tyrants... oppressors who decide what is and is not acceptable based only on preserving their own grip on power. He said they conceal themselves and the magic world from mortals, all the while pulling strings from the shadows. 

"But there are other powers in the shadows - like the Dark Court, the master vampires who are ancient enemies of the Council and the Old Families and his allies in his Great Work to oppose them.

"My father presented me at the Dark Court and to his other allies among the shadows. I was his apprentice, his student, heir to his knowledge and power... his weapon against the Council. That's what he trained me to be. Not just a witch, but a soldier, a spy, a weapon in a secret war."

"Oh Etta," Demarco breathed.

"In the end, I threw it all away," Etta sighed. "I told you I seduced, betrayed and kidnapped a friend... all done on my father's orders. It was my first real mission in his shadow war. But I couldn't do it... I couldn't let him hand my friend over to the vampires, who would have killed her. I helped her escape and I turned myself over the justice of the Council I was raised to despise. They took my magic... and now I'm here."

"Oh Etta," Demarco repeated.

"Watching Freddie play... it reminds me of my mom sometimes," Etta sighed. "I miss her. I miss being young, an innocent and not knowing about any of this. Damn, there you go, I guess ... my dark secrets laid bare - the wicked life of Etta Blackwood, ex-witch and criminal."

"Hey, don't talk like that," Demarco said. "It sounds like your dad is a real piece of work. He messed you up but you're free of that now... and you've got me and Freddie. So let me tell you, Etta Blackwood, what you are is my friend."

"Etta, 'r'end!" Freddie agreed with a smile. 

"Thanks, Lux," Etta smiled sadly. 

Bad Moon Rising - Chapter 11

"We have to stop meeting like this," Etta joked. "People are starting to talk."

Demarco smiled. Since the night of the Starlights, she and Etta had taken to meeting up at Grimtooth's every couple of days. While she was settling in well with the Wildfangs, it was nice to have someone to talk to who wasn't in the middle of the whole werewolf thing. She got the feeling Etta was also happy to have someone talk to. If the other woman was still a little guarded, especially about her past, she was getting more relaxed.

"Let 'em talk," Demarco replied cheerfully.

"They aren't really," Etta said quickly. "Well... Lily says she's glad I'm getting out more. She stops just short of saying she's glad I'm making a friend, but I know that's what she means."

"Well, I'm glad too," Demarco smiled. "Don't start," she added as the troubled cloud passed over Etta's face. "Whatever happened in your past, we can be friends, you and me."

"Right," Etta said, but the shadow lingered in her eyes. 

"So, you made it through another full moon," Etta continued, changing the subject.

"Yeah," Demarco nodded. "I think I'm getting a handle on it... mostly. You know, it's kind of like a party thing... getting together with friends..."

"Getting naked, turning into animals," Etta put in.

"Well, parties can be like that sometimes," Demarco grinned.

"OK, what kind of parties do you go to?" Etta laughed.

"So," Demarco said when she'd finished laughing, "I've been wanting to ask - what do you do? During the full moon, I mean..."

"Well, I used to lock myself in my room," Etta said. "But these days, usually I babysit."

"Babysit?!" Demarco said, startled. She'd have been less surprised if Etta had admitted to running naked under the moon with the werewolves.

"What?" Etta looked sidelong at her, as if she knew what Demarco had been thinking. "The Moonrunners... I don't know if you've really met them. They're part of the Collective... have this kid, Freddie. I look after him sometimes, especially on full moon nights."

"I just have a hard time picturing you with kids, I guess," Demarco admitted. "You don't really have a 'kids' vibe."

"Surprised me too, actually," Etta replied. "I mean, it's not like I want kids of my own or anything, but Freddie's fun to hang with. We play and read stories and stuff..."

"So, it turns out you've got two friends," Demarco smiled.

"Yeah, I guess so," Etta looked a little surprised.

A companionable silence fell between the two women, each lost for a moment in their own thoughts and comfortable sitting together letting the other have a moment of quiet.

"So, there was something else I wanted to talk to you about," Demarco said at last, breaking the silence.

"Sure," Etta said. "What's wrong?"

"No, it's not..." Demarco started. "Ok, maybe it is..."

"It's Kiril," Demarco continued.

"Oh God, what did he do?" Etta sighed.

"You know how he is," Demarco said. "He's funny and even a little charming sometimes but..."

"He's always a little too close," Etta finished for her. "His little 'jokes' and innuendos. Something behind his eyes..."

"Yeah," Demarco said. "I know the whole 'werewolves mate for life' thing but..."

"Bullshit," Etta said. "The guy's been trying to get into my pants for ages. I'm not surprised he's trying to get into yours."

"Yes, thank you!" Demarco sighed. "Then the other morning..."

"... after this last full moon," she continued. "I was on my way back to the trailer, after getting dressed and everything and there he was... still full wolf, blocking my way. He looked... like he was hunting. For a minute, we just looked at each other and I... I wondered if he was going to... then Rory howled, calling us in, and he loped off. I don't know what would have happened if she hadn't howled."

"Yes, you do," Etta said. "Be careful with him, Lux. He's dangerous."

"Well, so am I," Demarco said firmly. "I just would have hated to shift so fast I ripped up this shirt. I like this shirt."

"Damn straight," Etta replied. 

"I gotta get back," Demarco said after a moment. "Rory's got me watching her latest batch of home-brew. Who knew werewolves brewed beer?"

"Werewolves have to pay bills just like everyone else," Etta said.

"Well, later," Demarco said, not quiet getting up yet.

"Demarco," Etta said quickly. "Thanks... it's good, having two friends."

Bad Moon Rising - Chapter 10

"Tell me again why I agreed to this," Rory muttered.

"Come on Rory, it's the new moon," Lou grinned. "It's as quiet a night as we ever get... the timing couldn't be better."

"But the Starlight Accolades? You really want to watch this?" Rory demanded.

"It'll be fun," Demarco chimed in.

"I give, I give," Rory laughed. 

"I wish the screen was bigger," Lou commented as they settled into the small cabin that was Grimtooth's 'media room' and held one of the few working TVs in Moonwood Mill.

"Well, we could always pop down to S-Mart and lift one of those big flatscreens," Bianca offered.

"Oh no," Rory said firmly. "I'm not having either of these guys trashing the trailer over a damn footie match. Not again!"

"Quiet, they're starting," Lou said, bouncing to his feet.

"Hey, down in front," Demarco laughed. "I didn't know you were this excited about the awards show, Lou."

"Lou has a crush on an actress," Bianca teased.

"Yes, he likes to see her in pretty dresses," Kiril smiled. "Me, I like to see all women in pretty dresses... especially pretty dresses that show lots of leg, have plunging neckline. Maybe we get lucky. Have wardrobe malfunction."

"What happened to 'wolves mate for life'?" Demarco asked.

"Is exception for celebrity," Kiril said. "Freebie five. Everyone knows this."

"Guys, quiet, would you," Lou said, but he was grinning.

"There she is," Rory grinned. "The great Cassie Goth - musician, singer, songwriter, actress..."

"Cassie and Gwen," Kiril leered. "Imagine being lucky guy sharing bed with those two."

"Keep talking buddy, and you're sleeping in the yard," Bianca snarled playfully.

"I actually met her once," Demarco said. "Got her autograph and everything."

"I keep missing my chance," Lou moaned theatrically.

"And I keep telling you, Jake can introduce you," Rory said.

"And I keep missing my chance," Lou repeated.

"I just want to get my hands on whatever potion she uses to stay young," Bianca said. "I don't care how many newt's eyes are in it. I wanna look that good when I'm almost fifty."

"High priced beauty products and professional make-up artists," Demarco said confidently.

"Potion of youth," Bianca insisted. "Probably got like newt's eyes, frog parts, virgin's blood... the whole deal."

"You know the whole 'Raven Witch' thing is a just a PR gimmick, right?" Demarco laughed. "I mean, she's not really a witch. Witches aren't real."

The pack of werewolves looked at Demarco in silence.

"Wait, are witches real?"

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A passionate debate whether or not Curse of the Pirate Queen really deserved a Starlight and the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of its depiction of vampires had devolved into banter between the couples. Being the only single in the pack, Demarco always felt a little left out when that happened. Kiril's humorous (she hoped) suggestion that the big bed he and Bianca shared had room for three wasn't tempting.

She was good with being single. She just didn't want to stick around when the couples got all couple-y.

"Demarco, hey," Etta wandered over from the converted bus that served as Grimtooth's bar. "Umm, can I join you."

"Sure," she smiled. "As long as you promise not to talk about Curse of the Pirate Queen or try to proposition me." 

"Deal," Etta chuckled.

"Look, I'm sorry I was such a bitch the other day," Etta said. 

"I was being nosy," Demarco replied. "I should have thought that maybe not everyone wants to share their life story. Hey, did you know witches are real?"

"Yeah, I did," Etta sighed. "Because I used to be one."

"I just stepped right in it, didn't I?" Demarco groaned. "Sorry!"

"It's OK," Etta said. "It's not like it I'm wearing my crushed pointy hat and carrying a broken broom."

"So..." Demarco started. "I have no idea what to say now."

"I misused my powers," Etta explained with a sigh. "I used magic to seduce, betray and kidnap someone who could have... should have... been my friend. Nearly got her killed. As punishment, the Council of Sages took my magic from me and exiled me.  The Collective gave me sanctuary. So, that's it..." [1]

"Ok... wow," Demarco replied. "I still have no idea what to say now."

"It's cool. I'll go," Etta said. "I just... you seem nice and I'm sorry for being a bitch."

"Kiril and Bianca used to rob service stations," Demarco burst out, "and they're my pack-mates."

"Ooooo'kay," Etta blinked.

"I'm saying, everyone has a past," Demarco said. "Doesn't mean we can't maybe be friends... unless you're planning on seducing, betraying, kidnapping or killing me. 'Cause then the whole friendship thing is a no go."

"Why?" Etta replied. "Not why can't we be friends if I'm going to betray you... that's pretty obvious. But what do you want to be friends at all."

"I don't know," Demarco replied. "I guess I just want to get to know you a little better."

"Look, I'm not into dating right now," Etta said firmly.

"Cool," Demarco said quickly. "I didn't mean... I mean.... Look, can we start again? Hi, I'm Lux Demarco."

"Etta Blackwood. Nice to meet you."

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[1] Wyrd Girls, Book 2, Part 4, starting here