“What you did was rather harsh, I mean cutting that man’s head off,” Sam said evenly. “But given the situation, it was necessary,” he lifted his shoulders resignedly. “Selena had to be protected at all costs. You came through for her and that counts. I think what you did was really brave.”
“I don’t care what you and the others think,” Caesar lashed out. Then his voice took an even, biting undertone. “I’ve told you, old timer, you can’t handle her. You can’t protect her. She needs a man and not an old fool! Talk to her. Throw some sense into her thick head. She needs a man like me. I’ll definitely keep her safe.”
Sam shook his head.
“You know Selena is the only one who can decide that.” He said, raising his hands helplessly. “I don’t have any hand in her decisions. She alone decides what’s best for her. And right now my boy, you aren’t on her menu.” he slipped the last words in glibly but Caesar heard the jeer in his voice alright. A look of contempt and disappointment settled on his face.
“You blasted fool!” he lashed out. “You are such a weakling! You can’t even protect her.” He shook his head scornfully. “I don’t even know why I’m having this conversation with you,” he moved towards Sam, stood in his front and peered his face into the old man’s. “One day, Selena would be mine! Mine!” He was stabbing Sam in the chest with his finger. “By that time, you old sack would be having a long stretch six feet below.” He grinned viciously. “Don’t worry, we'll drink to your memory.” and he moved away from Sam as if he was a vermin or something.
“Selena would never have you,” Sam croaked, his face now having the look of an old ivory. “You are like dynamite! You are too hot for her. She’ll never have you! By God, that child has made a lot of stupid mistakes in her life, but thinking of her getting involved with someone like you.........”he turned his face sideways and spat. “That ‘s preposterous!”
Caesar inclined his head.
“We’ll see!” he said. He holstered his sword, gave Sam a long, despised look and turned to go.
“Where are you going?” Sam babbled after Caesar had taken two steps towards the door.” I hope you aren’t going after her, I hope.....” but Caesar raised his hands, cutting him off.
“You don’t own this town, old man! I can go wherever I desire!” He hissed out. “And if you are not happy with me being in the same place with you, burn your goddamned bar and go squat somewhere else!” he began to strut towards the bar entrance in long, sloping strides, roughly pushing aside the men who stood in his way.
“What are we going to do with the body?” Sam called out.
Caesar fired back, not even turning around. “Do whatever the fuck you want with it but keep the goddamned details to yourself.” He walked out into the freezing night and heaved heavily. He stood like that for some time, brought out a cigarette, cupped his hand around the gas lighter and lit it. He drew in smoke and exhaled deeply. Then he threw the half burning cigarette on the ground, stubbed it out with his boot and began to walk into the night, his head bent, the darkness pressing in on him.
***********************
Selena stumbled into her cozy living room and collapsed onto the couch, seeking solace in its softness. After a while, she raised her head. Looking around, she admired the feminine decor of her modest apartment. French impressionist paintings adorned the walls, while simple furniture filled the space. Despite the normalcy of her surroundings, her emotions were in turmoil. What if Caesar hadn't intervened? What if Conan had harmed her or worse? The guilt of potentially endangering Sam weighed heavily on her mind. If anything had happened to him, she would never forgive herself.
Determined to push these troubling thoughts aside, she went into her. bathroom and splashed water on her face. Then she returned to the living room, heading to the bar. She poured herself a stiff drink to calm her nerves.
As she sipped, she acknowledged that sometimes, liquor was the only escape from the monotony and challenges of life in Fur Rivers. To survive, you will need to hit the bottles every now and then.
As she moved away from the bar to go into her room, she heard a knock on the room door. She stiffened, her ears prickling. The knock came, harder, with great urgency. Her throat turned dry. One of the beasts had come for her. She thought wildly. He had come to avenge the death of Conan.
Instinctively, she dashed to one of the sofas in the room. She went down on her knees, reached down and with sweaty hands, groped under the chair until her fingers closed around the handle of a hatchet. She got to her feet, the hatchet in her hand. The pounding on the door grew louder. And incessant. Her heart beating wildly in her chest, she walked slowly to the door, the hatchet raised, ready to deal, the beast or whatever it was a deadly blow.
“Who the hell is it?” She hissed out, rising panic on her face.
“It's me, Selena! Open the door. I wanna talk to you.”
Relief flooded through her body as she recognized the voice. She heaved heavily. With her free hand, she drew back the well- greased bolt of the door, turned the door handle and opened it.
Caesar stood there, massive and tall, still dressed in his hunting outfit: but the sword, guns and ax were all gone now. His blue eyes rested on Selena’s face and he smirked. Then he saw the hatchet in her hand and the smile went away. He frowned at her.
“Were you planning on attacking me with that?” he said, lifting a well-shaped eyebrow.
“No!” Selena said gently, hating that he was there and yet grateful that at least it wasn’t one of those animals. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in your house by now, listening to Marianna’s gossip and chit-chat?”
“Leave her out of this! It’s you I came to see. We need to talk. I mean talk!” and much to her annoyance, he pushed past her and walked into the living room. Cursing him under her breath, Selena slammed the door shut and walked back to the living room. She saw him pacing around the room, his hand behind him, his face cloudy with thoughts.
He heard her come in and turned to her.
“What happened this night was not a mistake,” there was a deadpan expression on his face. “This is just the first sign that those beasts are back. More of them are likely to come into town. They plan to invade Fur Rivers and take it from us,” He paused and went on. “You are not safe here, Selena. You need a man to protect you,” his voice is gentle now. “Come with me, Selena. Let me be your man. I’ll protect you from those savages,” there was a gentle, cool expression on his face that even made him more handsome than ever. “You don’t want to be alone when that beast comes back,”
Selena drew in a shuddering breath.
“Was that a man or an animal you killed in the bar?” she stammered, the image of how he had sliced off Conan’s head came rushing back now.
“It’s both!” Caesar answers simply. “It’s a man alright. But a wolf too. It’s like two people in one body” Selena narrowed her eyes at him. “Fucking crazy right? Yeah, those guys are psychos! That man I killed was a werewolf. The other man that escaped was his older brother.”
“But how?......how are they able to change? I mean.....transform?” Selena babbled.
“That my love is where you gotta ask the Ouija board.” Caesar answered “Stop saying my love,” she seethed out. “I don't like it.” There was a look of frustration on her face. “It gives people wrong ideas.”
“I can’t help saying it!” he lifted his hands helplessly. Anyways, I need a drink! After what happened that night, a warm whisky would do a lotta good,” and ignoring the cold look Selena shot his way, he crossed the room to the bar, lifted a whisky bottle and fixed himself a drink. He tossed it down his throat and grimaced.
“So you mean more of them are still coming?” Selena continued when she saw him settle the glass back on the countertop.
He inclined his head.
“Yes! Don’t ever doubt it. There would be a lot of killings. It would be a massacre. You see, the men of this town have to be ready. We’ve got to prepare.” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “There are a lot of things going on that I can’t tell you right now, Selena. Things I cannot say. Things that only few men in this town knew of and dread to say it out.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Things like what? Don’t you dare hide anything from me, Caesar! Be a man and spill it out!”
He shook his head vehemently.
“You can’t goad me, Selena. Whether I tell you or not, I’m still a man. If you ever doubt it, come closer and find out.” he lowered his eyes to the bulginess straining hard at the front of his pants, then raised his eyes and winked at her. The message was clear.
Selena swore under her breath and turned her eyes away.