The gray November afternoon tightens down toward an early - anvil closes dusk. Marianna sat before her dressing table, wearing her nighties, her makeup brush in her hand, fixing her face. Her skin was faintly red from the hot water of the shower. A cigarette dangled from her full red lips.
Caesar jerked, opened the door and walked in. She turned to look at him, her eyes bleak and vacant.
“What do you want?” She said, laying down the makeup brush.
Caesar regarded her thoughtfully.
“I came to check on you,”
Her face furrowed into a frown.
“Check on me? Why?”
Caesar lifted his shoulders and let it fall.
“Still mad at me?”
Marianna stared at him, bemused.ll “Why should I be mad at you? I mean we still fucked a day before or so, so why should you be asking me if I’m mad at you?”
Caesar touched his lips with the tip of his tongue, closed the door and leaned against it. He folded his arms across his massive chest.
“I know you are still mad with me about Amor,”
Marianna's lips curved into a weak smile.
“And how, my loving brother, did you know that?”
“Instincts,” he replied. “Anyways, I just want us to be very clear on something.”
She arches an eyebrow.
“What’s that?”
“I’m not sorry I killed Amor,” he said evenly, looking directly into her eyes.
Marianna shifted uneasily on the chair but said nothing.
“You’ve got to understand that,” he continued.“ I just want us to be clear on that.”
Marianna stared at him confused. There was something he wasn’t telling her. This was not about Amor. This was about something else.
“Caesar I don’t understand you,” she began, picking her words carefully. “I want you to make me understand the purpose of this conversation we are having. I mean, I want to believe you didn’t just come in here just to tell me you are not sorry that you killed my cat and allow me to remember how we ate………shit!” She paused as the sordid memory came flushing back. She heaved heavily and moistened her lips with her tongue. “Caesar, you’ve got no right to remind me about that day. Hell! No fucking right. Now get the hell out!” She seethed out.
Caesar cursed under his breath. His hands shot out and gripped the front of her nighties, twisting it in his fists. He jerked her forward so that their faces were close.
“Don’t ever yell at me.” he snarled. “I’ll be honest with you. That had had about your cat was all bullshit. I’m only here because I have a feeling you are still seeing that wolf dog.”
Marianna stared at him bewildered. Then her face cleared as understanding crept up her face. She had been right. Caesar had something up his sleeves. The talk about her cat was all crap.
“I’ve a feeling you are still seeing that bastard that’s cooped up inside our cabin, you backstabbing little bitch,” he growled. Of course, he knew she was not seeing Victor. He just wanted to rattle her cage, you know, throw some scare into her and right now, he knew he was doing a pretty good job.
A frightened, bewildered expression came into her eyes “What?” She shrilled. “Are you insane? I haven’t spoken to Victor for weeks now. I’m done with him. You don’t have to be so goddamned jealous.”
Caesar gave her a shove, sending her backwards. He pointed a thick finger at her.
“I’m not jealous. I just wanna warn you. You see, I don’t trust you anymore. I can’t even bring myself to trust anything about you. That’s where we both are right now,” he said, his eyes glaring at her. “If I find out you are still rolling with that dog, I will kill you,” He saw her stiffen with fright. “Yes, I will kill you. I mean it. All I need is an iota of evidence that you are still seeing him. I don’t bloody care whether that evidence is true or not. Once I got a whiff that you guys are still bonding, I will end your days on this earth with my hand.”
Marianna stared at him numbly. Her throat was dry with fear. This time she knew he wasn’t kidding. If he says he’s going to kill her, that’s exactly what he will do.
“You don’t have to worry yourself,” she said, smiling weakly. “Victor and I are done. Our relationship is washed up.”
“Oh yeah?”he glared at her. “Alright, fuck around and find out.”
The cellular phone in his pocket began to ring. His hand went into his pocket and he took it out. It was an unknown number. Puzzled, he slid his finger over the screen and put it to his ear.
“Who the hells this?” He snapped. The voice at the other end began to speak rapidly. Marianna suddenly saw his face became dirty white.
“What? They are coming here?” He bawled. “Who are you? How the hell do you know about this?” But the voice at the other end didn’t respond to his questions. It just kept on talking. Caesar had no other choice than to listen. Then he heard a click when the person dropped the call. He lifted his face to Marianna’s. There was an expression of great shock on his face.
“What’s wrong?” She yelled at him. She was terribly frightened.
“The werewolves are coming into town. They are on their way already. Their pack Alpha is with them this time.”
Marianna went white with shock.
“What?” She gasped. “What if this is a hoax?”
“It could be but I’m not ready to take that chance,” he replied.
“Who was the person that told you all these?”
“I don’t know, Anna. I don’t know who it was,” he blurted, his face tight with worry.
“Was it a man?” she asked.
“Yes, it was a man. He had a very bad voice and I couldn’t hear him well. But I have a feeling he’s telling the truth,” He answered, then a wild expression came on his face. “Christ! We gotta move quickly.” and he dashed towards the door. He jerked the door open and swung around. “Don’t come out! Stay here!”
She nodded numbly, her hands across her breasts, white faced, her eyes wide.
Caesar flew out of the room. He rushed into his library and pressed a button on the table. Within ten seconds, three big and beefy men appeared immediately. Their names were Weston, Dutch, Jess. They were the Fur Hunters who had been assigned to him.
“Good!” Caesar began, facing them. “We are going to be under attack by werewolves in the next few hours, hell it could be this very minute. They are coming into town. Their Alpha is with them. It’s gonna be a big fight,”
The Fur Hunters did not say anything. The expression on their faces was hard and dead set.
“This is what is going to happen.” Caesar continued. “Jess is gonna stay with Marianna. Weston and Dutch, both of you are coming with me. Wear your night thermal goggles and grab your WolfStopper. Get my weapon ready too. I’ll meet you in the garage in the next one minute. Let’s move!” He yelled.
They all nodded and quickly exited. Caesar hurried to his closet, throwing on a black tight t-shirt, pants, and boots, along with a Balaclava mask. In under thirty seconds, he was ready. Rushing out of the house to the garage, he found Weston and Dutch waiting. Caesar mounted one of the big bikes as Weston tossed him a Wolfstopper. With the weapon across his chest, he dialed Sheriff Hatton's number, starting to speak as soon as the call connected.
“Get our Fur Hunters ready. We’ll meet at the town square. The werewolves are coming.” he ended the call before Sheriff Hatton could say anything. He fired the engine, revved the bike, gave gas and rolled out of the garage. Weston and Dutch rode after him.