Debra L. Rollins - Revenge For the Huntsman

Tony looked at the expression on his mother-in-law’s face and sighed heavily.

“I told you the story was unbelievable.”

“My daughter is truly dead?” Marjorie managed to squeak out.

“Yes…but Virginia said she died quickly and did not seem to suffer. She even seemed lucid for a moment and recognized her daughter. I’m sorry, Marjorie. I know how much you hoped she would one day come home…so did I.”

Marjorie glanced up at Tony, seeing his pain clearly for the first time. He truly had loved Christine. How could she have been so wrong all these years?

“It’s hard to admit when someone you love is ill or troubled. I tried drowning the truth in alcohol all these years. Can you ever forgive me for treating you so badly?”

“Of course,” Tony said. “I understand as well as anyone what kind of effect Christine had on people. Those that loved her did so with their whole heart. But she changed so drastically in the years she began her descent into madness that I didn’t know what to do. Like you, I began drinking to hide the truth of her illness to myself instead of getting her the help she needed. But Virginia was so young at the time, barely four years old when I first saw changes in her. I didn’t know anything about raising a young daughter alone if Christine were sent away.”

“And how could you ask help from a foolish old woman that you knew disliked you.” Marjorie finished for him. “We both have been fools. Unfortunately it has been Virginia who has suffered for our foolishness. I will make it up to the dear girl, I promise, and to you for making your life more miserable than it already had been all those years. But really, Anthony…how do you expect me to believe that Christine had been living in a-a-fairy tale since she left? That Wolf is a…well, a real wolf?”

“Half-wolf actually,” Tony tried to explain. “You understand? Half-human, half-wolf.”

“You mean a werewolf? My granddaughter is marrying a werewolf? I find that hard to believe…”

“No, no, no…you’ve got it all wrong,” Tony said, exasperated. “He calls himself an enhanced human. Personally, I think that’s stretching things a bit, but…”

“But what, Anthony. Is he a werewolf or a man?” asked Marjorie, frustrated at her son-in-law’s inability to explain.

“He’s a man-wolf from this other world. I can’t describe him any better than that. I can’t…”

Rap-tap-tap! Rap-tap-tap!

“What’s that?” Marjorie glanced around, trying to find the origin of the noise.

“I don’t know. But it’s coming from the window.” Tony walked over and peeked out into the gloomy night. “I can’t see a thing. I need to open the window.”

“Well, be careful…” Marjorie warned him. “The last time I opened the window a bat flew in and…EEEK!”

A flurry of colorful feathers squeezed through the slight opening, coming to rest on the back of Tony’s recliner.

“Hey! I know what you are! You’re one of the magic talking birds Virginia set free. What are you doing here?”

“Really, Anthony!” frowned Marjorie. “First fairy stories, now talking to birds? What’s next? Little green men?”

“Well…I do know a goblin who’s pretty green, but he’s pretty tall…”

“Listen to me! Listen to me! I have an urgent message from King Wendell,” the brightly colored bird chirped frantically, interrupting their exchange.

“Oh-my-God!” Marjorie covered her mouth with her hand in astonishment.

“I told you,” Tony said smugly. He turned back to the bird. “What’s going on?”

“All of you are in great danger. A plot has been discovered that involves Wolf and Virginia. Wendell asks that you all return to his castle immediately.”

“Believe me, I’d love to, but Virginia and Wolf aren’t here at the moment and already are in danger. Tell His Royal Highness that we’ll be along as soon as we can. I must find Virginia and Wolf first. Can you do that?”

“Yes, but hurry. He seeks to find the one that is involved in the plot and asked that you stay under Castle White’s protection if at all possible until he returns.”

“He won’t have any arguments with me on that account. We’ll be there as quick as possible.”

“Very well…goodbye!” the bird said, bobbing its head, then disappeared back into the night sky.

Tony grabbed his sweater and headed for the front door. He stopped and looked back at his mother-in-law, crooking his eyebrow.

“Well…are you coming or not?”

Marjorie shook the dazed look from her eyes and focused on Tony. “Huh?”

“Virginia and Wolf, you know…they need our help, remember? Snap out of it, Margie! Are you coming to show me where this nightclub is or not? I’m running short on time here.”

“Yes…YES!” she said stronger that time. “We must find them and warn them if they’re in danger. Forget about calling for a taxi…use the catering van.”

“Good idea! I forgot about the van. Where’s the keys?”

“In my purse.”

“Great, let’s go!”

Five minutes later a white van, displaying a howling wolf on either side, exited the parking garage of the apartment building and sped away into the gloom of the night.

Unbelievably, they had made it to New York City’s Central Park entrance without wrecking. Not that there had not been plenty of near misses. Virginia lurched forward, landing against the back of the seat in front of her as the transformed she-wolf brought the cruiser to a sudden halt. Virginia prayed that Wolf, even in his hypnotic state, or whatever the wolf had done to him, had worn his seat belt. This Cierce was a terrible driver.

Burly clamored stiffly from out of the back seat and hurried to open her door, pulling her out of the back of the vehicle roughly. Virginia did not struggle as much as she wanted to for fear of harming the baby. Appearing pliable may also come in handy in taking the Troll off his guard. He didn’t seem particularly smart, but he was strong. This Cierce was the one to watch out for. The wolf appeared very cunning…opposite that of her cohort.

Virginia watched as Wolf followed Cierce like a young cub, tongue lolling, from the car without complaint, irking her to no end. It appeared that he had no control over his actions, but still…! She averted her head and ignored them, concentrating instead on her surroundings and a chance for escape.

“There is no escape, I assure you if that is what you’re thinking about, human.”

Virginia jumped as she realized the she-wolf had slid stealthily up behind her to whisper huskily in ear.

“Where are you taking us?”

“Surely you have guessed already, but I will play your game of questions and answers if you so desire. We are going back through the traveling mirror to Castle White. From there we travel to my mistress’s home to deliver your Wolf into her custody. That is as far as he goes. As for you…” Cierce turned to glare at Burly as he played with the many gadgets and gizmos on the drivers side of he police cruiser. Red, white and blue lights lit up the immediate surroundings casting a strobe effect over the unusual quartet standing in the parking lot of the municipal park.

“Burly!” She shouted over the sirens now reverberating in her sensitive ears. “Turn that thing off! Do you want to let everyone know where we are?”

“I just wanted to see what it does,” grumbled the Troll prince as the noise faded away. “And don’t tell me what to do, wench!”

“Oaf!”

“Vixen!”

“Fool!”

“You want me to bite him?” Wolf interjected.

“NO!” They both yelled at the same time, causing Wolf to scratch his temple in exasperation. Didn’t this luscious lady want to be rid of the buffoon causing her irritation? He shook his head, but his mind stayed foggy. His eyes roamed from the silver-haired woman for a moment to land on the other woman with them. There was something soooo familiar about her. Looking upon her caused his chest to tighten strangely…his breath quickened. He quickly averted his head.

“As for me…what?” asked Virginia, reminding Cierce that she had not finished her answer.

“As for you…” Burly answered instead, “I, Burly the Troll, son of Relish, heir to the throne of the Third Kingdom…”

“Oh, do get on with it, will you!” Cierce complained shifting from on leg to the other in her impatience.

Burly cast her a nasty look.

“Will return with you to the Troll Palace where you shall have a speedy but fair trial for murder and be put to a slow death.”

Virginia was stunned. What murder? She had not killed anyone except for her own mother and that had been self-defense. She even hated to squish bugs unless she had to.

“I don’t know what you mean! I have never murdered anyone in my life.” She looked beseechingly at Cierce. “I’ve never murdered anyone.”

Cierce shrugged her shoulders and turned away. It was not her place to judge the witch girl if she had indeed been the one to end Relish’s life or not. That was up to Burly and the other Trolls.

“Wolf!” Virginia cried. “Help me…do something!”

“He will not help you,” Cierce informed her. “He is under my control and you would do well to do as you’re told. We have a long walk ahead of us once we enter the mirror and escape the castle. Save your energy for our journey.” Cierce cocked her head to one side and sniffed deeply. There was something familiar about this Virginia she had never noticed before. A familiarity she could not quite put her paw…fingers on. She had been either too busy or too far away to notice the special scent prior to now, but still could not place it. Frustrated…she turned away.

A mournful howling echoed through the night, reminding Cierce of her wolfen cousins trapped in their den prison. She had forgotten about them and hung her head in shame. She knew how important freedom was to her…so must be to them their own freedom. Even Wolf with his adoring expression was nothing but a prisoner as was his Virginia. She stole a glance from under her lashes at the witch girl. The young woman’s heart was sore, for Cierce could see the tears Virginia courageously blinked away as her Wolf tried to nuzzle another. Cierce brushed Wolf away but kept him close enough to keep him in check. However much it bothered her, the bottom line was her freedom depended on this half-wolf being delivered to Madam Tatler. The girl was but a pawn to be used, as was the half-wolf. The game of life could be cruel at times. Some must suffer for others to survive.

The howling continued causing Cierce’s face to brighten as a thought hit her. Her cousins didn’t have to die of old age in their prison. She would release them, take them with her to be wild and free once more. With Burly’s help, of course.

“Cierce!” Burly growled. “Where are you going? The mirror is this way!”

“I must set my cousins free…then we’ll return.”

“Are you crazy? We don’t have time for that. They may be tracking us as we speak!”

“They who?” the she-wolf reasoned. “No one followed us here. We have time.”

“Let loose that nasty old wolf? She bit me! Why should I do anything for her? I’m still sore!” Burly barked loudly, closing in on her in his anger till he stood not a few inches from her nose.

“Please?”

Burly pulled back his head in surprise. Had she actually begged? He shook his head, her scent surrounding him in the warm night air. He prepared to take a step back, but Cierce wouldn’t allow him. She wanted the wolves’ freedom nearly as much as she did her own. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head upon his chest, nuzzling him gently. She knew the consequences of her actions but felt the ends justified the means.

Burly’s breath became ragged, his voice hoarse. He found it hard to deny her as she wreaked havoc on his mind and body. “Grrrr…oh…all right! As long as the old one stays away from me. But then we go…understood?”

“Yes…I understand!” Cierce agreed, warily watching as his mouth came down close to her own. He seemed mesmerized by her little pink tongue that darted out as she licked her lips nervously. She compressed her lips to stop the irritating habit and backed off, her stomach lurching at the disappointed look on the Troll’s face.

She turned away from the look in his eyes and cleared her throat.

“Ahem! Yes…well…now that’s decided, let’s get moving. What do we do with these two in the meantime?”

“Handcuff them to that small tree over there. Even the half-wolf will be unable to free himself from handcuffs.”

A moment later Burly and Cierce left for the zoo, leaving Wolf and Virginia cuffed together at the base of the tree.

A few minutes passed before Virginia could see a spark of the man she knew returning to Wolf’s eyes. She held her breath, hope renewing itself.

“Wolf?”

“Hello?” Wolf shook his head as if clearing away cobwebs.

“Oh, Wolf! Are you okay?” she cried. “How do you feel? Do you know who I am? Look at me!”

“Virginia?” Recognition lit up his pupils, concern following in its wake. “What are we doing in handcuffs? What are we doing handcuffed to a tree?” He sniffed the night air. Familiarity struck. “What are we doing in the park?”

“Oh, Wolf!” She sniffed hard, allowing him to draw her into his arms as best he could with one arm free. “I thought I lost you to that…that wolf!”

Wolf wiped away her loosened tears, then kissed her soundly. “Never…my love. Though I’ll have to admit, she is pretty tasty to behold…”

“WOLF!”

“But she has nothing over you, my corky creampuff,” he finished with a wolfish grin, boldly sweeping her with his eyes. Virginia blushed, but seemed pleased. “She had some sort of natural scent about her that is totally captivating. I couldn’t help myself, I swear…wolf’s honor!”

“Then we must find a way of blocking the smell she gives off,” Virginia suggested.

“How we gonna do that?”

“I don’t know.” She checked her surroundings carefully. “Something to keep you from smelling her…hmmm. Aha!” She made a grab with her free hand for something on the ground. “Take these small pebbles and push them up your nose.”

“What? How am I going to breathe?”

“Through your mouth,” she suggested. “Like you have a cold. You can still breathe, but you won’t be able to smell.”

“Good thinking!” He pushed them up firmly then turned back to her. “How does it look?”

“Great! I can’t tell there is anything there,” Virginia answered.

“Wolf?”

“Yes?”

“I love you so much. I don’t want to die. I want to be with you forever.”

“Don’t worry, my love,” Wolf soothed. “No matter what happens…I won’t let you or myself die. But if by chance we are killed, I will find you again…I promise. We are destined to be together…happily ever after.”