Chapter 27
Halloween — Part Two
Iwatched from the corner as Willa pressed against Mosavi, her arms wrapped in red lace as she held his hands to her plump, pale breasts. This was the first time I’d seen her dance, and everything about her body language screamed confidence. She flowed like water over the floor.
“She’s showing real emotion,” Darryl said, sliding into the seat next to me. “Didn’t expect that.”
“Mosavi changed her.”
“How do you know?”
“I uh… saw it in a dream,” I said, trying to speak over the volume of the music.
He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that. I know it was one of her visions. She wanted me to see their history.”
“I wouldn’t trust it.”
The music shifted to something with a tango beat, and the two came alive, commanding the dance floor.
Her lithe body twirled and contorted to the seductive music, all while leaving a trail of lace and mist. Mosavi was just as graceful, but more masculine and rigid as he handled her, leading her around the black-lit tiles.
He was so refined, but grabbed her with bestial passion, both of them matching every movement as though they had rehearsed this dance all their lives.
“If she’s controlling him, this could be really bad.”
“She’s not.” I walked back my confidence as I’d found myself asking that same question not long ago. “Just talk to her for a little while, and you’ll see. She’s not like that witch I saw in that vision. If you’ve met one, then you know what I’m talking about.”
Darryl stared pensively at the woman, stroking the thicker fur on his chin. “She’s the first witch I’ve ever met.”
“Then how do you know how they are?”
“I read a lot, Cody.” He patted my back and looked around the room. “Where the hell did Roscoe go?”
“He heard something about tacos and that was the last I saw of him.”
“I swear he never stops eating.”
“I worry about him.” I turned toward Darryl, breaking brief but uncomfortable eye contact with the mayor. “It’s almost like he can’t control himself.”
“He’s always had a couple screws loose. He didn’t eat this much when he was using. Have you tried talking to him about it?”
“I’ve tried, but he shuts me down in the typical Roscoe way. Plus, if he can’t remember his past, therapy’s kind of pointless.”
Darryl let out a slight hum. “I think he still remembers on a subconscious level. No one just forgets the entire first half of their lives unless something really bad happened. I mean, Austin was shot, and he hasn’t forgotten.” Darryl shook his head. “I wish he could forget that, though.”
We both turned our attention to a bewildered-looking armored bear with Adam clinging to his back like a child. His eyes were still blue, but they were slowly fading back to normal.
“He looks really cute in that. It’s funny. You’re both the biggest werewolves here and you both have the cutest costumes.”
“There’s only so many things a werewolf can dress up as. A great white shark man and a—” Darryl glanced at Austin again. “Whatever-the-hell that is.”
“I think Adam called it a Pawlibear.”
The half-turn that was once clinging to the back of the costume slid down to the floor. He rubbed his head while slowly making his way to the punch bowl.
“I wonder if he’s sick.”
“Nah. I have a feeling. It’s kinda why I’m here.”
“You think he’s going to finally turn tonight?”
Darryl shrugged. “The odds are good. It’s a full moon, and he looks like he’s ready, but it could happen next week, for all I know.”
The music stopped, and the crowd cheered. Willa sent the mayor away, and her eyes connected with Darryl’s as she flitted across the room to our table.
“Why in the world are you two just sitting here?” she asked, sliding into the seat before turning her attention to me. “Where’s Roscoe?”
“Tacos,” Darryl and I said in unison.
She stared at Darryl again. “You don’t seem to be having fun. Is Norwich a little too festive?”
“Festive? This is on a different level. Does the entire town shut down for Halloween?”
“Shut down? No. The town comes alive! Have you ever dreamed of living in a place where werewolves and humans not only coexist but thrive together?” She lifted her hand in the air, pointing to the mix of hundreds of people in the giant hall.
Werewolves, humans, and half-turns laughed and danced, some sitting at tables while playing games.
“This is what Norwich is really about, but we’re aware of the rumors. ”
“What are you?” Darryl asked, his ears pressing against his head.
“I’m the Nor-witch.” She let out a fake cackle but quickly dialed it back when Darryl didn’t respond. “Eh, that joke is getting old anyway.”
Mosavi noticed Darryl’s hostility from across the room and rushed to the table, sliding a drink in front of Willa before sitting in the seat next to her. He said nothing, but his ears pulled tightly against his head in the same angry gesture.
“I want you out of my town.”
“Dear,” Willa said, tracing her fingers over his.
“This is a night to relax and enjoy. You don’t do that enough lately.
” After a moment, Mosavi’s ears shifted slowly upward as Willa turned back to us.
“You both should be enjoying the night. These festivities aren’t just for fun.
” She looked around and lowered her voice.
“This celebration belies the danger. We are besieged from all sides every day, but on this particular day, the shields have to go up.” Her eyes flashed blood red.
“And yes, I am siphoning magic from every werewolf gathered here, even you, Darryl.” She pointed to the disco ball on the ceiling.
“Without that, and enough werewolves to feed it, the coven would descend upon this place.”
“How do I know you aren’t feeding our essence to coven right now?” Daryl asked.
“You—” Mosavi paused and took in a deep breath through his teeth before quieting his voice.
“Willa is the reason Norwich exists, and why werewolves have a real refuge—not just a refuge, a modern life with all the amenities of civilization instead of being forced to live as animals in the woods or on the streets begging for food. Our kind continues to fall, and the organization has done nothing but watch.”
“The organization?” I asked, prompting Mosavi to let out an exhausted sigh.
“The… Administration of Werewolf Oversight and Opportunities.”
Willa smirked and Darryl let out a snort. At first, I didn’t get what was so funny until I put together the acronym. I’d received correspondence from them before, but it wasn’t until now that I put it all together.
“Is that really what they’re called?”
“It was created by a human who hated werewolves. He had an unfortunate accident not long after,” Mosavi replied, grinding his teeth. “But you know how bureaucracy is. They’ve been sitting on that name change for about ten years.”
“I’m confused. I thought witches couldn’t survive long without a coven,” Darryl interjected.
“It is possible, obviously. I haven’t had one in over a century,” she said, holding Mosavi’s hand. When she looked at him, it was as though nothing else in the world mattered.
“If this is an act, it’s pretty damn convincing,” Darryl said, almost swallowing his words as if enthralled by the display.
“We saved each other, and we’ve been saving werewolves since we took control of this place two years ago.
Cody and his pack didn’t end up here by chance.
” She smiled at me again. “I never did get around to apologizing for how long that took. Committing federal offenses while not getting caught takes a bit of time.”
“What?” I asked, dropping my voice to a whisper. “Was this illegal?”
“None of you are in government records anymore,” Mosavi said, glaring at Darryl. “Unlike you. Still in your hovel with all the rotten fish?”
“You mean my beach house on prime real estate worth over ten million today?” The larger werewolf flashed a grin. “Yes. I’m still there.”
The darker werewolf crossed his arms. “Are you working for them?”
“AWOO? No. They tried, but like you, they weren’t able to make me an offer I wanted.”
“At least you are not a total fool.”
“Hold on a minute. Where the hell has our money been coming from?” I asked.
The mayor raised his brows and cocked a half-grin but didn’t respond. Willa, on the other hand, occasionally glanced up at the glowing disco ball while fidgeting with the straps of her gown.
“Are you okay?” I asked, catching her attention.
“Of course.” Her eyes brightened. “We should enjoy the rest of the night.”
“Why do you need the shields? Why not just commune with your kin?” Darryl asked, also likely noticing Willa’s unease.
“My kin? They are not my sisters. The witches of the woods are vengeful, and they will stop at nothing to drain me of my magic and enslave my Darius. We are going to win this fight, though. As more werewolves arrive, my wards grow stronger, and the town can expand. Humans and werewolves, they’re all welcome.
It is Darius’ dream, and I will do all I can to make it come true. ”
Mosavi smiled warmly as they pressed their foreheads together, Willa kissing him on the nose.
“Draining werewolves to protect werewolves from being drained.” Darryl looked up at the disco ball, now glowing a pastel yellow. “I don’t like this at all.”
“It’s completely safe,” Willa said. “The werewolves will be weakened for a day or two before they’re back to normal.
This building is quite literally the center of town, so the barrier extends all the way to the woods on all sides.
We’ve got more werewolves now, so it’s a lot stronger than last year. ”
“Everyone knows to stay out of the woods, right?” Darryl asked.
“It’s one of the laws,” Mosavi replied before glaring at me. “When they aren’t being broken by undisciplined half-turns.”
“Cody broke a law.” Darryl choked out a loud laugh. “If it were any other situation, that would be more unbelievable than a lucid witch.”