Chapter Five
“What?” Agatha asked. “What’s he saying? Why am I not safe? I don’t have anything to do with anything.”
“That is true,” Marcus said. “You are right. You have done nothing wrong. You are totally innocent. The only reason you’re in this mess is because those tits of yours have really caught my brother’s eye.”
“That’s enough,” Henry said as he stood up. Agatha could feel her face getting red. It couldn’t be possible. Henry was her boss, they had only spoken a handful of times and even then it was just about work. The only words he had ever said to her were “thank you” and “I need that by five”.
“Women always think that thinner equals better,” Marcus said to Agatha, ignoring Henry who was still standing over him. “But men want women who look like women. Most men will take tits and ass over collarbones and ribs any day of the week.”
Henry grabbed Marcus by the collar and pulled him up. “Careful,” Marcus said. “You don’t want to start a fight here in the center of town. What would the little people say?”
“I don’t give a fuck,” Henry said. Agatha had to silence a gasp. She had never heard Henry curse or even raise his voice. But now he was holding another man, his half-brother, by the collar. The waiter was hurrying over to them and Agatha was still sitting numbly in her chair, with no idea what she should do.
“Everything is fine,” Henry said to the waiter, as he let Marcus go. “He was just leaving.”
“Yes, of course. I’m leaving now,” Marcus said, putting his hands up in a show of mock defeat. “But I will see you tonight and I will get what I want.” His eyes flicked to Agatha and he gave her a wink before striding out of the restaurant.
“Sir, would you like me to call the police?” The waiter asked.
“No, but please tell the front desk not to let him in again.”
“Of course, Mr. Crane.”
Eggs, toast, and fruit sat in front of her untouched.
“I’m so sorry about that,” Henry said as he sat back down.
“What is going on?” Agatha demanded. “Is he really your half-brother? What does he want? Why..... me?”
“You should eat,” he said, ignoring her question as he lifted his fork and devoured some eggs.
“I’m not hungry,” Agatha said.
“Well, I’m starving. Let’s eat and then I’ll explain everything.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
They ate quickly, but it still felt like the longest fifteen minutes of Agatha’s life. Her brain was running around in circles. She had too many questions and no answers. She didn’t taste the food as she ate it. She just mechanically put the food into her mouth and watched Henry as he ate every last bite.
Finally, his meal was done and he drank from his refilled water glass. Agatha stared at him as she tried to control her fidgeting. This was driving her crazy, how long was she expected to just sit here and wait?
“Let’s take a drive,” Henry finally said. “I have something I want to show you.”
They walked to the car in silence, but Henry was never very far from her. His arm kept bumping against hers as he guided her towards his car. This was madness. This was torture. She was caught in the middle of something and no one would give her any answers. She was in danger and the only thing she could do was follow Henry around like some pathetic little duckling. She couldn’t take it. She was going to run or scream or maybe even run away while screaming. They were back at the car. He opened her door and his hand found that place on the small of her back that made her shiver.
“Are you a Werewolf?” She demanded once Henry was seated behind the wheel.
“Yes,” he sighed.
Everything went quiet. Her ears were ringing and that word “yes” kept bounding about in her head. She sat back as Henry pulled out of the parking lot and started on the road up to the bluff. It took her a moment to realize where they were going. The Crane mansion sat atop the bluff. Henry was taking her to his home.
“It’s a curse,” he said as they took the winding road up and up. On the other side of Henry was a shearing cliff side that fell to the ocean. Below them, the white waves were crashing against the shore. The woods to her right were thick, dark and dangerous looking.
“It’s passed down from father to child. My father has it, I have it and Marcus has it. It manifests when puberty hits. At first, the transformation is dangerous and uncontrollable. On my thirteenth birthday, I was pulled from my school and sent to a private home in the Alps owned by my family. It was high up in the mountains, only accessible by dangerous passes and helicopter. It was far away from any people I might accidentally hurt. It took me three years to finally understand and control my ability to shift.
“I learned about Marcus when I turned twenty-five. My father was dead by then and he had never mentioned an illegitimate son. But Marcus had proof of his claims. Not only could he shift, but he had proof that my father had given him money in the past. I thought at first he wanted more money, but it was more complicated than that.”
They were at the Crane mansion. The huge, gothic building loomed in front of them. It was built from a gray stone and styled like a German castle. There was a recessed archway for the entryway and huge windows with bright and detailed stained glass. The east and west wings were defined by two tall towers that speared the sky.
As they pulled up, a butler hurried out of the house and took the keys as Henry stepped out of the car. Another opened Agatha’s door and she avoided eye contact with them as she stood in the shadow of the old house.
Henry’s hand was on the small of her back again and he guided her inside. She only got a glimpse of his house before turning down a dark hallway and hurrying past stone statues that watched them from recessed alcoves. They walked up a stairwell covered in a lush, deep red carpet. They made a left and went up even more stairs. Finally, they were on a landing and Henry stopped at a huge, out-of-place looking steel door. There was an electronic keypad next to it. He entered a long series of numbers and the door slid open.
He stepped through the door first and held his hand out to her. She took it and allowed him to guide her through the doorway before he closed the door behind her. Inside, there was a spiral staircase and he led the way as they walked up it. At the top of the stairs was a thick, wooden door with an electronic panel next to it. He placed his hand on the panel and after a moment, a lock clicked. Giving her a backward glance, he pushed that door open as well.
The circular room at the top of the tower was bare except for a small wooden table. On top of that table was an old and thick book. When she looked at it, Agatha forgot all about Henry standing next to her. She forgot about the wolves and the things she had just learned. The only thing that existed was that book.