I collapsed to the ground, vision blurred, body cold, hardwood floor beneath me shifting and dipping. Blackness pressed in on me, but before it could claim me entirely I saw the wolf shift back to human. A naked young man, no older than myself, lay in a heap of skin, muscle and bone, staring vacantly at me, eyes glazed over with a white haze that indicated he'd never be himself again.
Though his body still lived, I'd killed his soul. And a new kind of darkness squeezed my heart as I faded into nothing.
TWO
I Bite My Thumb at You
DEREK
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
I'D ALWAYS BEEN most comfortable at night. The cloak of darkness allowed me to hide my sins, or flaunt them, depending on the company.
Tonight was a little bit of both.
The leggy waitress sauntered over to the pool table that I'd rented for the night. Lose a few games and everyone wants to show you how it's done. That's when I pull out my A game to cover my expenses for a few more days.
Living from cheap hotels and traveling the country on a motorcycle wasn't everyone's idea of a good time, but it kept me busy and kept me in the company of beautiful women. How could I complain?
She handed me a tall glass full of amber liquid and raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow at my choice of a non-alcoholic beverage while everyone else worked at getting sloshed.
"It's all about illusion. People see what they want to see. Right now, they see a cocky prick who drinks too much and bets too much on half-assed games of pool. It's how I keep my edge." Of course, bragging about this didn't exactly work with my stay-under-the-radar plans, but even I enjoyed the admiring glance of a woman who respected my techniques.
"You're like that detective, in those old television shows. Columbo, I think. Acts dumb but is really super smart and always, like, gets the bad guy in the end." She twirled a strand of long blond hair and chewed on her lower lip as she talked.
When she bent over to pick up an empty glass from the table, her cleavage spilled out of her tight blouse, giving me an eye full and making things uncomfortable in my jeans.
She slipped me a piece of paper with a phone number on it and winked. "You have really pretty eyes. They're, like, blue with sunlight in them. Like a cat."
Wrong species. "Thanks, they are a bit unusual."
"I think they're cool." She leaned in closer. "I get off at closing. Want to give me a ride home?"
"If I'm still around, yes." The most honest answer I could give.
The light of desire dimmed in her eyes a bit, but she smiled and walked away, swinging her hips to the music.
I adjusted my jeans and focused on the game. Daryl, the big guy who'd challenged me, had won the last three games and had bought drinks for his buddies to celebrate. This final game was all or nothing, and for him, it would be nothing. He just didn't know it yet.
It only took me one turn to sink the eight ball and win the game. I put my leather coat on, then reached for the money, well over three hundred dollars, and pulled back just in time to avoid a broken hand as he slammed his pool stick against the table.
"You fucking cheat. Yer a shark." The jowls of his chin vibrated with his rage, and his beady eyes squinted like a rat. "You 'aint getting none of my money, or yours."
It was for moments like these, rare though they were, that my drinks were always alcohol-free.
I relaxed my body and assessed the room around me. Two exits, one in front and one in back. I could get through the back door easily enough and hop on my bike. Daryl had two friends at least as big as him, but their collective mass had more to do with their daily beer intake than any gym memberships.
I could take them, if I had to. But better not to fight, especially in the bar. If the cops showed up before I could extricate myself, it would create a whole new pain in the ass I didn't want to deal with.
I reached for my money again, and he lunged at me. Anticipating his move, I shoved the money in my back pocket as I twisted to the side, then used his weight against him to knock him on his ass.
He hadn't been hurt, so his buddies didn't know whether to fight me or help him up. Most people, even oversized idiots, didn't want trouble with the police.
Hands in the air, I gave my surrender. "Look, I just got lucky on that last one, but I won fair and square." I backed up toward the door, ready to bolt if he or his friends came after me.
Daryl slapped his friend's hand away and used the pool table to help himself stand. "Give me back my money, or I'll rip yer face off and take it back myself."
I shot a mournful glance at the hot waitress, who realized that I wouldn't be sticking around for closing, then darted out the door to my bike.