The Werewolf Whisperer Page 8

  “You know that for sure?” I asked Yari.

  “As far as Krull and his minions are concerned, we will be safe here.”

  “What about you, Josiah?” Tommy came out and asked. “What gifts do you have?

  “I’m not exactly sure.”

  “You said it earlier that you could do some weird shit now.” Tommy added.

  “I’m not completely sure what I can do.” I said again.

  “You must know something.” Tommy persisted. “What things can you do differently? Are you faster? Are you stronger?”

  “Well, I can change into the white Eagle and…”

  “Tell them Josiah.” Lena said bluntly.

  “Tell us what, Josiah?” Yari said. “What aren’t you telling us?”

  I hesitated. Why didn’t I want to tell them the truth? Maybe I was scared that if they knew all I could do, they’d expect me to be some kind of Christ-like figure. I wasn’t ready to tell them. I looked across at Lena.

  Lena said in a soft voice. “You need to tell them.”

  I exhaled and said, “I can fly too.”

  “As a Mani?” Wyatt asked. .

  “Yes, I can fly even when I’m not the eagle. But I can’t control it very well. And I don’t know exactly how to start it.”

  “Holy Shit!” Hector spouted.

  We all laughed.

  “Anything else?” Tommy asked.

  “Yeah, there is one more thing. But I have less control with this than I do flying.”

  “What is it?” Yari stared at me intently.

  “Tommy,” I said. “Do you have a Styrofoam cup somewhere?”

  “Yeah.” Tommy opened the cabinet directly behind where he was standing in the kitchen. He grabbed a bag that had Styrofoam cups inside. “Do you need just one?” he asked

  “One will be fine; you can put it on the table.” Tommy placed the Styrofoam cup at the center of the table. “Everyone step back and stand next to me and look at the cup. Everyone walked over and surrounded me. The table was about 5 feet away.

  “All right watch!” I stared at the cup. Once I felt a connection, and a bond with it. I closed my eyes, turned my head, and opened my eyes staring at the left wall. And, with a sudden boost of energy, the cup shot off the table and hit the ceiling.

  “What the hell?” Tommy shouted. “You can move stuff with your mind?”

  “Yes” I said.

  “I have never heard of a Mani being able to do that.” Yari said.

  “Me neither.” Wyatt continued. “That must be a specific gift given only to Josiah. How heavy of an object can you move?

  I looked at the group and said, “I’ve moved a 400 pound boulder the other night. It lifted off the ground and flew about 40 yards.”

  “Can you control it precisely?” Yari asked.

  “Not even close,” I said. “Just right now I tried to make the cup hit the left wall and it hit the ceiling instead.”

  “So you tried to move it in one direction,” Lena asked, “and the cup went in another?”

  “I can move it, but not control it.”

  “Do you have any control over it whatsoever?” Tommy asked.

  “I am able to connect with an object almost on a spiritual level; other than that, not really. Once I have the connection, the object moves whatever direction it wants.”

  “Just like any skill Josiah,” Yari said. “You’re going to have to master it.”

  I was tired and once again had an exhausting night. “All right, guys. I’m beat. I’m going to find a bedroom and get some rest.”

  Chapter Nine

  I found a room in the far west corner of the house that was some kind of guest room. It appeared to be a room that had been added on to the cabin after it was built. The room only had a couch and a very old T.V. I flopped on the couch and stared at the ceiling remembering my vision from night before. ‘Tame the wolf.’ I thought. I had very little experience, if any, with the species. Other than those Neanderthals at the bar, the only other wolf I knew was Tommy. Was Tommy that wolf that needed to be tamed? Was I to train him? Tommy was already a great fighter. If anyone needed training, it was me. I knew nothing about being a werewolf. How was I supposed to train him? I laid there pondering this and then it hit me. Then it hit me! I jumped up and went back to everyone in the kitchen. Everyone was still sitting around shooting the shit.

  “Hey Tommy, I have a couple questions for you.”

  “Yeah?” Tommy answered. All eyes were on me.

  “Why exactly do you lock yourself in a cage when you become a werewolf? What are you afraid of?”

  Tommy didn’t hesitate to answer my question. “I’m afraid of hurting someone,” he said, “or do something that might cause someone to want to hurt or even kill me.”

  “Do you have any recollection after you come out of your werewolf state?” I asked.

  “I don’t have a stream of memory. I remember glimpses—or random moments.”

  “Are there any specific details that you remember in those glimpses or random moments? Why do you suppose you remember those moments oppose to others.”

  Tommy thought for a second. “Maybe, I remember the times when my senses are heightened.”

  “Really?”

  “Where you going with this, Josiah?”

  I looked at the group and said, “I had a vision last night. Or at least I think I did.”

  “And...” Tommy pressed.

  “I won’t go into the details of the dream, but I’ll tell you the message I was given. I was told ‘to tame the wolf and I will find myself.”

  “And you believe that I am the wolf?” Tommy asked.

  “Why wouldn’t you be? It’s the only thing that makes any sense.”

  “So what’s with all the memory questions?” Yari asked.

  “I’m thinking somehow I need to tame or train Tommy when he’s in his werewolf state.”

  “How do you suppose to do that?” Lena asked. “Have you ever seen a werewolf when it has completely shifted?”

  “No. But I think that actually is going to rule in my favor. I won’t have any preconceived feelings about it. I am coming into it with a clean slate.”

  Tommy seemed uneasy about what I was saying. “What do you mean by training?” Tommy laughed. “Do you plan on taking me to Vegas to do an act?”

  “Not in the slightest.” I said. “I need to get face to face with you and have you trust me to the point that you don’t attack me.”

  “What if I kill you when you’re trying to Lassie me up?”

  “That’s the part we have to figure out. We’ll need to do the training in stages. Tommy, have you ever heard of werewolves having any kind of control during full moons?”

  “Control?” Tommy thought about it. “The older werewolves might be able to. They aren’t as blood thirsty as younger ones.

  “Why do you suppose that is?”

  “Cause they’re beat down and tired.” Tommy said plainly.

  “What if…” I said. “It’s because they are more seasoned and they have figured out a way to control it?”

  “Saying, ‘they can control it’ is a big leap. Werewolves are like psychopathic serial killers who have been chained up for twenty years and finally let out on the general population. Werewolves are told from the get go to figure out a way to go into hiding. Most go to caves and isolated areas so there is no temptation to kill humans. I think you might be reaching, Josiah. Werewolves are no better than wild animals in.”

  “That’s what you’ve been told, Tommy. What if you could be tamed and you never knew it? The way a lion-trainer tames a lion.”

  “Are you intending to beat me with a whip?” Tommy asked humorously.

  “No, you might enjoy that too much.”

  “Okay, let’s say you do train me. What good will that do?”

  “Tommy, the good it could do is endless. What if we could get you to a point of cognitive thought? What if you could decipher right from wrong?”

&
nbsp; “Cognitive thought? That’s unheard of Josiah; there is no way it can be done. Werewolves are mindless beasts who know only one thing–KILL.”

  Tommy was going to need more convincing. But the more I talked, the more I believed in my heart I was on to something. “I’m going to put more thought into this.” I said in conclusion.

  “In the end Tommy,” Yari spoke up. “It won’t hurt to give it a shot, Tommy.”

  Tommy glanced over at Yari. “You think?”

  “Josiah had a vision.” Yari continued. “We need to respect that. God knows we are all here because we were all given relentless visions. Now look at us. What will it hurt?”

  “It could hurt,” Tommy said. “It could hurt very much. If you let me out and try to train me and it doesn’t work. I could do a lot of damage to everyone. You all will be forced to fight back and someone might get killed. Hell, you all might be forced to team up and kill me.”

  “That will never happen, Tommy.” I said. “I will never allow it. We need to do this in baby steps. We take baby steps first, and see if we are on to something. Let’s first see if I can build trust with you.”

  “I don’t know, Josiah. Give me some time to think about it.” Tommy still seemed unconvinced.

  “One last thing, Tommy,” I said. “Just imagine how powerful you would be if you were self-aware as a werewolf. Imagine how much good could come out of it.”

  I was done talking and I was tired. I did one final look around the room to make sure everyone was on board. I stopped when I glanced over at Yari and motioned for her to follow me out of the room.

  Yari nodded and followed me out to the guest room. “What is it, Josiah?”

  “You knew, didn’t you?” I said.

  “Knew what?”

  “You knew that it was me and not Atticai that was supposed to be in charge of all of this. That is why you followed me for two years.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Yari seemed worried.

  “Look, I won’t say anything to anyone else. But if you are able to see into the future, you must have known.”

  Yari paused for a very long time. She was really struggling with telling me the truth. Then very softly said, “I knew.”

  “Wow.”

  “Are you mad?” she asked.

  I wasn’t sure what I felt, but I was definitely not mad. Because all of this, I was able to find Lena. I could never be upset about that. “I’m not mad, Yari. Not at all. I’m honored, in fact.” I looked over to her. She was still very stunning. I cared for her deeply, but no longer in a romantic way, but in a protective way. I took her by the hand and pulled her close to me and hugged her tightly.

  “You ready for what is to come?” Yari whispered in my ear.

  “I hope so.” I said. “I sure hope so.”

  Chapter Ten

  There wouldn’t be a full moon for another two weeks. That gave Tommy plenty of time to think about what I requested. It had also given me time to consider how I would try to tame and train the wolf.

  On one of the evenings, Tommy and Yari went out and purchased items at the local clothing store. They bought clothes for everyone. They bought me some comfy plaid pajamas. I’m used to sleeping naked, so wearing any kind of nightwear made me uncomfortable and itchy.

  It was a couple days before the next full moon. We were all watching Survivor on the tube. Tommy made eye contact with me across the room and mouthed, “I’m in.” I nodded and was very pleased. I turn my head and watched another blindside at tribal council. Damn I loved Survivor.

  It was the day of the first full moon. I went into Tommy’s room and he was lying on his bed listening to his MP3 player.

  “What you listening to?” I asked.

  “Some old-school Bobby Brown.”

  “Nice.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Tonight is the first night of the full moon.”

  “I realize that, Josiah. This isn’t my first rodeo.”

  “Just so I’m clear. You only turn into a werewolf when the full moon is seen at night?

  “Yes.”

  “And you shift back to a Carni during the day?”

  “Yes.”

  “How many days does it last?”

  “Three nights.”

  “Perfect! That will be enough time to do what I want to do.”

  “Are you going to let me in on your plan?” Tommy inquired looked downa t his MP3 player.

  “Yes, but I don’t want you to worry about it just yet. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

  “I sure hope you know what you’re doing.”

  “I have a hunch, Tommy. I’m not sure where it came from. Let’s hope it’s from a higher power.”

  Tommy stared at me for a few seconds and shook his head and laughed. “Let’s hope so, Josiah.” He then turned his attention back to his MP3 player. “If you don’t mind, Bobby is waiting.”

  “By all means Tommy Boy, that’s your prerogative.”

  “Cute, Josiah.” Tommy put on his headphones and put his head back.

  I went into the kitchen. Hector, Wyatt, Lena, and Yari were all sitting at the table drinking from Styrofoam cups.

  “Good evening sunshine,” Lena said with a little flirtation in her voice. I smiled in her direction. Our eyes met and we took a moment and allow each other in for a second. I hadn’t tried to get closer to her the past couple weeks. I knew I had feelings. She knew I wasn’t going anywhere. So why rush into something?

  “Do you ever have cravings, Josiah?” Wyatt asked.

  “For blood? No, not yet. But I did enjoy Goliath’s blood the other night when I got a taste of it.”

  “That didn’t send your cravings into orbit? That doesn’t make any sense.” Yari chimed in. “All Mani have intense cravings, almost from the get go.”

  Yari looked at me with skepticism.

  “What? Do you don’t think I’m not a real Mani?” I said. “The protruding incisors and that fact I get fried in the sun isn’t enough for you?”

  “I just don’t like it that you can eat like a teenage boy still. It isn’t fair.”

  “Seriously, Yari, has any of this been fair to any of us?”

  “You have gotten the better end of the stick, you have to at least admit that Josiah.” Lena added.

  “Oh, don’t you start with me, little Missy. Thanks to Yari, Wyatt, and Hector, I’m who I am.”

  “And thanks to Atticai, Yari, and you I’m who I am.” Lena reputed.

  “Touché,’” I said.

  “You two just need to have sex and get it over with.” Yari just came out and said.

  “No one is having sex with anybody,” I said. “Unless that’s how you and Hector roll?” I shot Wyatt a look and grinned playfully.

  “Very funny,” Wyatt said. “I got more tail in the 20’s to last any man a lifetime.”

  “Hey, Josiah?” Hector spoke up. “Did your ...” Hector awkwardly looked in the direction of my groin.

  “Did my… what?” I asked.

  “You know, did your.... you know?” He eyed my package again.

  “Did my what?” I said again. “Quit looking down at me, you perv.”

  “I think what he’s trying to ask you,” Yari said. “Did little Josiah get bigger when you became the Almighty Chosen?”

  “I honestly don’t know.” I said.

  “How’s that possible? Yari laughed.

  “I haven’t had an erection since I became a Mani.” The whole room fell apart laughing.

  “It made you impotent?” Wyatt marveled.

  “No,” I said insulted. “I haven’t exactly been in a romantic mood after having my life turned upside down.” I looked at Hector. “So, to answer your question, I don’t know. Why you needed to know details of my member is creepy. Anyway, I have always been a grower not a show’ er.”

  Lena smiled at me. “Can we stop talking about Josiah’s package, if that’s okay with everyone?”

  “Oh, you’ll find out soon enough, sweetie.” Yari sta
ted to Lena. Lena ignored Yari’s comment. But she didn’t say she wouldn’t. Hey, every little bit helps.

  “I concur.” I said. “So what are you drinking? Animal blood?”

  “Not exactly,” Yari said.

  “Human blood?” I asked disgusted.

  “No one that had to die for it, if that’s what you’re afraid of.” Lena laughed as she sipped her cup,

  “That’s good,” I said. “Glad to see we still have our morals.”

  “Don’t worry, I know the graveyard security guy at Running Springs Hospital. He hooked us up last night.”

  “Did you and Tommy get it?” I asked.

  Yari looked at me with a little distain. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It doesn’t mean anything. I was only asking.”

  “Yeah, Tommy went with me. Is that a problem? Or do you need to keep tabs on me.

  “Oh you would like that, wouldn’t you?” I responded. “Yari I have zero problem with you and Tommy being friends. A matter of fact, you can be more than friends. Go have tons of vampire and werewolf babies.”

  Everyone laughed and Yari didn’t correct me. There was definitely something going on between her and Tommy.

  I peeked in Yari’s cup. The Styrofoam cup was stained red at the bottom. I couldn’t help but gag. Yari saw my gag reflex go.

  “Seriously, ‘The Chosen’ just gagged at the sight of blood? What is wrong with this picture?” I left the kitchen and went to the living room and closed my eyes and rested a bit.

  Sometime had passed and Lena came over to me. “Josiah, you awake?” she asked.

  “Yeah,” I answered.

  “Just wanted you to know that it will be dark soon and our little friend is going to go all wolf-boy on us.”

  “Where is he?” I asked.

  “He’s putting extra chains on his cage.”

  “Extra chains?”

  “He thinks the fact that there will be so many Mani close by, the smell might drive him over the top.”

  I got up and went into the front room where Tommy was. He was inside his cage locking chains on top of one another. He would yank on the chains to make sure they were locked in tight.