Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Night Creature Hunterââ¬â¢s Moon Chapter 33 Free Essays
I woke up in the dark. Someone was carrying me. I knew who that someone was, even without the aching, burning agony of my back. We will write a custom essay sample on Night Creature: Hunterââ¬â¢s Moon Chapter 33 or any similar topic only for you Order Now I wanted to struggle, but I fought the urge. Better to let him think I was still out. Maybe I could surprise him andâ⬠¦ I wasnââ¬â¢t sure what. The air was cool on my face. We were inside, but not a building. I heard a shoe scrape dirt, then crunch something dry and old. Like a bone. Hell. The mine. I guess I was going to see what lay behind that pile of human bones. ââ¬Å"You can stop pretending. I know youââ¬â¢re awake.â⬠His voice slid out of the night like a slowly slithering snake. I lifted my head, but I couldnââ¬â¢t distinguish anything in a darkness so complete it pressed against my skin like velvet. His voice had always been seductive, soothing. Even now, when I knew the truth, that voice could still make me want to do things that were illegal in several southern states. I gave myself a mental slap. He had bartered the lives of everyone Iââ¬â¢d ever loved. He had sold his soul to the dark side. I wished I had a light saber and a good connection to the force. Iââ¬â¢d have to make do with my hands and my wits. I didnââ¬â¢t think they were going to be enough. A light flickered up ahead. Dim, wavering, like a candle around a corner. I could see the low ceiling, the ancient wooden pillars, the dust, dirt, a few bones. If I wanted to, I could turn my head and see his face. I just didnââ¬â¢t want to. ââ¬Å"Put me down,â⬠I ordered. He ignored me and kept walking toward the light, which grew bigger and brighter, illuminating an arched doorway. We went through and into a room with a bed, suitcase, table, and chairs. Someone had been living here. I knew who. I straggled and he laughed, then let me go. I tumbled onto the floor, gained my feet, and scrambled away. Hector Menendez appeared exactly the same as he had two years ago. Handsome, exotic, suave. Except now I recognized the beast hovering at the back of his eyes. ââ¬Å"You arenââ¬â¢t going to get away from me this time, querida. It is your destiny to be my mate.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t think so.â⬠He shrugged, unconcerned. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s still three nights until the full moon. Jessie will find me before then.â⬠His thin lips lifted. ââ¬Å"Jessie and her Indian lover will not return from their trip to see Cora Kopway.â⬠I blinked. ââ¬Å"The idiot I sent to kill them in the forest was no better than the one I sent to bite you. I thought if they were dead it would confuse everyone, give me more time to do what I had to. I should have ripped their throats out myself.â⬠I winced as memories threatened. ââ¬Å"You think Iââ¬â¢m a fool?â⬠he continued. ââ¬Å"I know everything youââ¬â¢ve done. Everything.â⬠I certainly hoped not. ââ¬Å"A bartender, Leigh? An Irishman, no less. You insult me.â⬠ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s one of you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s a peon. A weakling. Iââ¬â¢m going to be a god.â⬠ââ¬Å"You wish.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t have to wish. I am more than halfway there.â⬠I had to get out of here. Save Jessie. Save Will. Myself while I was at it. Sadly, Hector stood between me and the door. I had no weapon, and he was stronger than me, even without the super-duper shape-shifting shit. ââ¬Å"You think I donââ¬â¢t know what Damien has been doing?â⬠he asked. ââ¬Å"He thinks heââ¬â¢s thinning the pack, but heââ¬â¢s only given me more power with every death. Iââ¬â¢ve been stalking him as heââ¬â¢s been stalking the others, gaining the strength of those he kills under the moon.â⬠Well, that cleared a few things up. ââ¬Å"How did you discover the Legend of the Power Eater?â⬠I asked. I couldnââ¬â¢t imagine Hector, who despite his own minority heritage had very little patience for any othersââ¬â¢, studying Ojibwe folklore. He sat on the bed. He was wearing something different than Cowboy had been. I recalled the boots splitting open as he changed. His clothes must have, too. Weââ¬â¢d been right about shifting between human forms. Gee, give us a cigar. I wondered what else he could do, then decided I really didnââ¬â¢t want to know. ââ¬Å"Once upon a time, I was a lowly half-breed.â⬠At my confused frown, he shook his head. ââ¬Å"Half-Hispanic, half-white. I fit in nowhere. Not even my mother loved me enough to stay. I decided I wanted power. I wasnââ¬â¢t going to get it through money or politics, but I could get it through death and destruction, which worked out well for me, because I liked it.â⬠While he spoke, my gaze darted around the room, searching for a way to escape. I didnââ¬â¢t find one, so I needed to keep him talking. ââ¬Å"How did you learn of the legend?â⬠I repeated. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve traveled most of my life. Seen many things. When people stumble on something they canââ¬â¢t explain, their mind rationalizes. Mine did not. I looked for the truth. Thereââ¬â¢s another world that exists after the moon rises. I wanted to be a part of it. I hired someone to find out the best way for me to do that.â⬠ââ¬Å"And then?â⬠ââ¬Å"I ate him.â⬠I gaped at his matter-of-fact tone. ââ¬Å"But heâ⬠¦ I mean, uh ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"He wasnââ¬â¢t an enemy?â⬠Hector shrugged. ââ¬Å"Consider him a freebie. Practice, if you will, for the main event.â⬠ââ¬Å"Which was?â⬠ââ¬Å"You know what I did, Leigh.â⬠ââ¬Å"Petite blond women, flesh of the enemy, sold your soul, sacrifice.â⬠ââ¬Å"Very good.â⬠ââ¬Å"One thing I donââ¬â¢t understand. Why didnââ¬â¢t you kill me?â⬠ââ¬Å"Querida, how could I kill the woman meant to be my mate?â⬠ââ¬Å"But ââ¬â â⬠I pointed at my hair, or what was left of it. ââ¬Å"It is a shame you felt the need to disfigure yourself, but when you are Weendigo, like me, that will not matter.â⬠I tried again. ââ¬Å"If petite blond women were your enemy, then why not me?â⬠ââ¬Å"Because I knew from the moment you spoke to me that you were destined to be mine.â⬠ââ¬Å"Why?â⬠ââ¬Å"You came to me. No one else ever had.â⬠No one? I found that hard to believe. Hector was nuts, but he was handsome. Was I the only idiot who hadnââ¬â¢t seen the rot beneath the flower? ââ¬Å"And because you came to me,â⬠he continued, ââ¬Å"I knew you saw past my heritage, my poverty and shame. I knew you loved me, even when you said you did not.â⬠ââ¬Å"You thought I wouldnââ¬â¢t care that you were a serial killer, a cannibal, the murderer of my family?â⬠ââ¬Å"Those things were means to an end. So I could become Weendigo. So I could make us the alpha pair. We will live forever, querida. Together.â⬠Not. ââ¬Å"How did you find me?â⬠ââ¬Å"Were you hiding?â⬠He appeared amused. â⬠Jdger-Suchers areâ⬠¦ I mean we ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Are supposed to be a secret. True. To the general public. But the werewolves know you exist. Your friend Man-denauer is something of a legend, maybe a bogeyman. So are you, Leigh. When I make you one of us, werewolves all over the globe will cheer.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m so glad theyââ¬â¢ll approve,â⬠I muttered. ââ¬Å"Ever sarcastic. Itââ¬â¢s one of your charms.â⬠I chose to ignore that. If he found my sarcasm charming, I was in big trouble. Oh, wait. I was in big trouble. ââ¬Å"I still donââ¬â¢t understand how we ended up in the same town. At this time of year.â⬠I needed to keep him talking until I figured out what to do or someone found me. Which could take quite a while. ââ¬Å"I brought you to Crow Valley.â⬠He tilted his head and the light caught his blue eyes. For an instant the irises appeared red, as if a camera flash had gone off or a demon waited inside. ââ¬Å"I thought you knew that.â⬠ââ¬Å"Brought me?â⬠ââ¬Å"It wasnââ¬â¢t hard. I control this town. I am the alpha here already. I tell them who to kill. They bring the bones to this place.â⬠Ding, ding, ding. The light went on. ââ¬Å"No human remains, no FBI,â⬠I murmured. Hector just smiled. ââ¬Å"But dead wolves would bring the DNR at the least.â⬠ââ¬Å"Jager-Suchers eventually,â⬠he agreed. ââ¬Å"How did you know theyââ¬â¢d send me?â⬠ââ¬Å"You are the best, querida. Who else would they send?â⬠Gee, it paid to be at the top of my field. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t understand why the other werewolves would follow you. Youââ¬â¢re murdering your own kind for power.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, they donââ¬â¢t know itââ¬â¢s me.â⬠ââ¬Å"What?â⬠ââ¬Å"Any wolf thatââ¬â¢s seen me kill one of them is dead.â⬠ââ¬Å"How are you going to explain becoming supreme fur boy?â⬠ââ¬Å"By the time they figure out what Iââ¬â¢m up to, Iââ¬â¢ll be unstoppable, and theyââ¬â¢ll be happy about it.â⬠ââ¬Å"You think?â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course.â⬠He winked. ââ¬Å"Because Iââ¬â¢ll be giving them you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Excuse me?â⬠ââ¬Å"The most successful werewolf-hunting Jdger-Sucher next to Edward Mandenauer will be the werewolf queen. You wonââ¬â¢t be killing them anymore. Theyââ¬â¢ll lie down at my feet and roll over.â⬠ââ¬Å"And if someone figures this out before then?â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll just give them Fitzgerald. Heââ¬â¢s going to have to go anyway.â⬠My heart stuttered and seemed to stop. ââ¬Å"W-why?â⬠ââ¬Å"He touched you. He dies.â⬠Hector shrugged. ââ¬Å"I need a sacrifice for the night of the blood moon. Damien will do nicely.â⬠Iââ¬â¢d wondered how much I cared for Damien; now I knew. The thought of him dying practically paralyzed me. The entire time Hector and I had been talking I was desperately searching for, frantically trying to think of, a way out. My heart thundered and my hands shook. But at least I no longer felt like fainting. Until Hector got off the bed and came toward me. I did not want him touching me. ââ¬Å"Are you ready?â⬠ââ¬Å"F-for what?â⬠ââ¬Å"To become.â⬠My mouth fell open. I must have looked like a supreme idiot. ââ¬Å"But ââ¬â but the ceremony takes place on the night of the hunterââ¬â¢s moon.â⬠He strode closer. I took a step back. ââ¬Å"Of course it does.â⬠ââ¬Å"Then what ââ¬â why?â⬠His slim manicured hand reached out and grabbed me so fast I didnââ¬â¢t have time to run. As if I could. His breath brushed my face and I shuddered. The black lights flashed again. So much for not feeling faint. ââ¬Å"Come here.â⬠He drew me forward. I had enough sense left to hold back. Hector made an impatient sound. ââ¬Å"I must tie you up, querida.â⬠He tugged me to his bed and shoved me onto it. I struggled, but in minutes I was bound hand and foot. My judo expertise was worthless. Boy, did I miss my gun. Since the only weapon I had left was words, I used them. ââ¬Å"You have to tie me down to do me. Pretty pathetic, Hector.â⬠He merely smiled. I hated that smile. ââ¬Å"You are under the mistaken impression that I plan to do you tonight.â⬠I blinked. ââ¬Å"But as much as I might enjoy it, that would be wasteful. I will take you under the full moon, as every werewolf watches. But before that happens, we must address one minor point.â⬠ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s that?â⬠I aimed for a strong, confident voice; what I got was near to a whimper. ââ¬Å"As kinky as it might be for you, there is no cross-species mating.â⬠Remembering my conversation with Damien, I started to get an idea of what Hector was after. I tugged at the ropes, but it didnââ¬â¢t do me any good. ââ¬Å"For the ceremony to take place on the night of the blood moon, you must already be one of us.â⬠Oh, hell. I hadnââ¬â¢t thought of that. Hector needed to bite me now. How to cite Night Creature: Hunterââ¬â¢s Moon Chapter 33, Essay examples
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