Moonlight bay, p.25
Moonlight Bay, page 25
Bartholomew drifted back again, thinking of the ship and the day that brought them to this forsaken island. It was daytime, but the skies grew black and the ocean waters raged violently.
Thunder roared overhead with the gods shouting their ire down upon them. The ocean waves wrestled with the battered vessel, while the hands of water slapped the deck of the ship, hoping to drag a bystander overboard into the depths below. The lightning flashes lit up the darkness, allowing for sporadic glimpses of a shoreline off to the boat’s port side. The ship tilted into a steep angle, inviting the waves to invade the deck and capture a victim. Bartholomew held Oleanna and secured them in a cabin on a lower deck. He was certain that Lazareth was going to capsize the ship, soon realizing that he was steering the ship for the hinted shoreline that the lightning had exposed.
Bartholomew ascended back to main deck. The winds had picked up and seemed to howl at the ship, warning for it to stay away as it approached the landscape of the island ahead. He gripped the rails with the wind whipping at his face. Lazareth was in the bridge trying to maneuver the vessel through the violent waters with Adolfo by his side. When he returned his focus on the waves ahead that broke against the bow, he saw the sharp ridges of coral hidden under the surface on the starboard side as the island approached. Bartholomew turned, waving for Lazareth to turn the ship. However it was too late, the tide had clutched the ship and dragged it over the coral’s edges, piercing a large hole in the bottom of the ship’s bow.
The opened gap was like a vacuum. Bartholomew leaned over the front railing, watching the ocean flow into the hull. He could feel the front end of the ship tow into the ocean while continuous ripping sounds of breaking boards echoed from the bowels of the ship.
“Bartholomew, get out of there,” Lazareth shouted.
Lazareth stood outside abandoning the bridge, waving for Bartholomew away to move in from the bow. Bartholomew climbed the slanted ship to the main deck, when the bow began to crumble into the ocean reef behind him. Lazareth and Oleanna were on deck untying the rowboats attached to the side of the ship with Adolfo nowhere in sight.
“Where is my brother?” he yelled into Lazareth’s ear through the wind driven rain.
“He is down below, releasing the passengers.”
Bartholomew shook his head in disbelief with Lazareth responding with a bewildered expression. He took a step to go down to help Adolfo, but Lazareth stopped him and went in his place. Bartholomew continued to assist Oleanna releasing the boats. One by one, they hit the rough surface, clasping to the sides of the ship. A rowboat split in two and sunk into the waves, unable to withstand the force of the angry sea.
The shore was only about eighty yards away but, through the relentless tide and rigid coral, would make any length of a row treacherous. For the moment, the reason for the ship’s damage seemed to be the cause on delaying the vessel’s descent, with the boat resting on top of the reef.
Lazareth reached the hall of the large cabin, as passengers began to run by him.
“Get to the main deck. We have boats in the water,” he directed.
He continued to fight through the oncoming crowd. When he reached the open door to the main cabin, he saw what he was afraid would happen. Three men had Adolfo against the wall taking retribution for their imprisonment. Lazareth was impressed that Adolfo was using self-control and holding it together. Although, he may have found it easier since he felt responsible for their predicament. Lazareth expected the passengers’ reaction and agreed with Bartholomew’s idea to let them drown, but it was too late for that.
Lazareth stepped into the room and the men stopped their work on Adolfo, distracted by Lazareth’s entrance.
“That is it boy, keep your breathing,” Lazareth spoke calmly to the teen.
“Oh he is still breathing, only because he is a kid and we went easy on him. You on the other hand will not be as lucky,” one of the men said, as two surrounded Lazareth while the other held Adolfo against the wall.
Adolfo’s head rose with blackened eyes.
“Easy son, I will take care of this.” Lazareth realized that time was limited and he had no choice.
The men grabbed Lazareth but he tossed them across the room with ease. Lazareth stomped on the floor and yelled. His eyes bled to black and his body pulsated until he reached his wolf form. Adolfo lunged at the man and sent him to the ground, while he slowly transformed. The men stood and huddled together, since the two wolf-like creatures blocked any escape. The beasts communicated with each other through gestures, and then they attacked. No one of hybrid form in that room lived to tell of that slaughter.
Bartholomew and Oleanna assisted the passengers down the rope ladders and into the rowboats. A few fell into the water, but the people safe in the small boats, were able to help them. Then some of the men on the deck began to riot against Bartholomew. After the women and children were safely off the ship, the remaining male passengers began shouting at Bartholomew. They approached him with ill intent. The bellowing roars from behind, chilled the spines of the angry mob. The beasts slowly approached them on deck. The men retreated down the rope ladders to the safety of the rowboats. The beasts stood by the edge of the rails growling and howling at the small vessels that rowed with the tide towards the sanctuary of the beach ahead. The men in the boats glanced back, watching the wolves on the ship transform back to their captors, leaving an imprint in their fleeing minds.
“Welcome back,” Bartholomew said, standing by the rail on the sinking side of the ship.
“We have a boat ready to board.” Oleanna gestured to the seas.
The four descended the ropes and rowed their boat behind the others towards their new home. The waves acted like an engine, assisting the vessel to shore while the passengers vacated their rowboats and huddled upon the beach. Bartholomew and Oleanna noticed that the people were terrified and gave them space, once Lazareth and Adolfo stepped on the beach. There seemed to be an instant aura of respect in the air, they were the two who the crowd witnessed transform.
Adolfo was always aware of a person’s actions and immediately took the opportunity of his new authority. He approached them and began to order and structure the community, as if he had known these people for years. Bartholomew was surprised that Lazareth let Adolfo take the lead and adopted the role of his servant.
During the next year, they built the community designed with homes of their homeland. They discovered some pirate flags buried in various parts of the island, but no one ever appeared to claim their stake. Over time, several members of the community made attempts on Lazareth and Adolfo’s lives when the people transformed into their hybrid forms at night. Adolfo ordered jails and restraints to be built in every home as well as a curfew for the community until an individual could prove they could control the beast. That day never came. Bartholomew recalled how the four would patrol the island at night and challenge the ones who broke the curfew. Some of them were captured, others they had to kill.
Over time, citizens began to abide by Adolfo’s orders of the curfew, until a brief stretch began when a few tried to escape by the boats. Lazareth was always amazed by Bartholomew’s control and tracking ability. He managed to recover every refugee and return them to Atharia. This made Adolfo’s and Lazareth’s decision easy. They destroyed all but one of the remaining rowboats. Bartholomew was to row to the shore of the small lantern lit community they could see from the beach. There he would be Adolfo’s eyes and ears. He would track down any hybrid that managed to escape the island, in order to keep their secret safe from the outside world. Oleanna demanded to leave with Bartholomew and Adolfo was delighted to see her go.
In the oncoming years, Bartholomew gained favor with the townspeople who soon helped him construct an extraordinary bridge. Adolfo scoffed at the idea when Bartholomew suggested it, but he still chose to confiscate all silver from the town and melted it into plates to be built into the bridge. He was aware that he had to protect their secret, but also to protect the townspeople that he had grown fond of.
He convinced the townspeople that the bridge would benefit the cove. The island needed supplies and they would have to purchase them from the town. However, Bartholomew required that a large fence be built, explaining that the island was an exclusive community and with the bridge, outsiders could easily enter the island. The town agreed to help Bartholomew as long as it would benefit the cove. He made sure the fence line was constructed with silver and silver plates were embedded into the bridge surface. The townspeople didn’t understand his methods, but he just wanted to keep them safe.
Through time, Bartholomew became the trusted sheriff while Adolfo exploited another opportunity. The Atharians began to breed, but the newborns were not born as hybrids. Adolfo needed to get the infants off the island for their safety. Bartholomew thought this was another reason the passengers on the ship should have been killed, but he would not let the innocent children pay for his brother’s bad decisions. It seemed it was the correct thing to do, until a few of the children transformed in the early to mid-teenage years. His plan was to construct a boarding school in the cove, where the children of Atharia could be watched and still interact with the children of the town. If a child were found to be one of Adolfo’s privileged, then they would be transported back to Atharia, while the ones free of the curse could graduate with the others.
Bartholomew felt it was a balancing act while tending to his sheriff duties. However, over the years, he created a mystical aura around himself. The townspeople grew to fear him. He had no choice. There were too many strange occurrences, transforming children and legends of a beast that plagued the town. The biggest question through the years was how the sheriff had aged so gracefully.
Fear, was his only solution. Bartholomew wouldn’t have to answer any uncomfortable questions if everyone was afraid to ask him. This made his life lonely and was another plague that hung over his hidden curse. Oleanna was his only sanctuary. She gave him a grasp of humanity. Her love made him feel that he needed no one else. Then she left him.
The tires rolling with the rhythmic tone over the silver plates in the bridge awoke him from his trance. He glanced into the rearview mirror. The sun began to set behind him. The timed beats continued to drum beneath the truck, as he had passed the halfway point on the causeway. Ryan was still unconscious with his hands and feet bound. He lay still in the back of the truck. The Jeep pulled into the clearing outside of the great silver gate. Bartholomew opened the hatch and dropped the soldier onto the dirt path. He dropped to one knee and inhaled with a wheeze. His body convulsed in another bout of coughing, resulting in a blood speckled gob of phlegm being released in the dust at his feet.
The sheriff rose to his feet and dragged the soldier to the gate. There he entered the code to, unlock the latch. He could see across the bay that the sun would soon disappear under the horizon. Bartholomew began to hurry, hauling Ryan into Atharia. He tapped the prisoner on the face in an attempt to revive him, but the soldier remained unconscious. Bartholomew stood when he realized the island was silent. There were no sounds of crickets. The trees began to rustle with movement. Bartholomew glanced through the bars of the fence at his truck, where he had left his shotgun. He returned his focus to the woods as his breathing quickened. Ryan’s tied hands rested on his cheek. As Bartholomew looked behind to check on him, a growl rumbled in the brush. A figure slowly appeared from the parting branches. A large grey wolf stepped into the clearing walking on its hindquarters, with the clawed fingers curled and ready for battle. The beast snarled at Bartholomew then noticed the unconscious man lying at his feet. The creature raised its jaws and howled, when the beast’s form slowly transitioned into the original form of the naked figure of Lazareth.
“What is this?” Lazareth questioned, standing naked in front of Bartholomew who willed him to turn back into the beast.
“You want to cover that thing?” he said to the bare old man.
“Quiet my boy, don’t lecture me on how I should stand. You have been like this many times and I taught you everything you know. Now, what happened here?” he asked with proud hands on his hips.
“He started trouble in the transfer, so I had to improvise.”
Lazareth walked to the soldier and knelt by his side.
“Pity, oh how I do love the chase.”
“I’m sorry Lazareth,” Bartholomew said scratching his head.
“No, no my boy, it’s not a problem. By the way, how are you? You don’t look yourself.”
Bartholomew’s ghostly complexion was drenched with perspiration.
“I think I caught some kind of flu.”
“First you make fun of my physique and now call me a fool. You know we don’t get sick.”
“I’m sorry Lazareth, I’m fine. Nothing I can’t handle.”
Bartholomew looked at the horizon.
“Lazareth, it’s almost night, you should get going. Adolfo will be waiting for you.”
“Of course, Bartholomew,” Lazareth replied, no longer wanting to pry.
He grabbed the soldier’s ankles and the naked man began to drag him into the woods where he had appeared.
“Take care Bartholomew, we will talk again. You should get back to the cove.”
“Take care Lazareth.”
After the old man disappeared with the prisoner, Bartholomew walked back to the dusty lot where he secured the gate. There was more rustling and movement off in the distance in a different section of the woods that led to the cliff and down to the beach. He peered through the dusk and focused on the stirring of branches.
“Lazareth, is that you?” he called out.
Branches continued to crackle as he stared, forming the vision of what he thought was a familiar face but then it was gone. He waited for a couple of minutes when an orchestra of crickets intruded upon the silence. He stepped from the gate and saw that only a third of the sun was remaining. He had reached the driver’s seat when his phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Bartholomew, I need to talk to you now.”
“So talk,” he said, recognizing his brother’s voice.
“Not here. I have to make a quick stop first. Can you meet me at the Strovich home? I may need your help,” Adolfo asked with urgency.
“Adolfo, it’s practically night fall.”
“I need to show you something. Please Bartholomew.”
“Fine, I’ll see you in thirty minutes.”
“Thank you.”
The truck’s engine revved. After unlocking the gate, he drove into Atharia and secured the latch behind him. The Jeep slowly crept up the dirt path through the woods. He peered into the forest for any further movement. The main road was just over the hill. His headlights guided his path. The woods were quiet, with no rustling, no movement, no growls, only crickets.
CHAPTER 31
Mercury moaned in the corner with his paws over his muzzle every time Emma moved too close. The dog’s eyes followed her like a target in a scope. Mercury wanted to know where she was at all times. He watched her twirl and dance in the kitchen to the music that resonated from the small odd black box on the countertop, underneath the cabinet that held his snacks prisoner. His head tilted every time she pointed his way and sang with the strange music machine. It was unclear who this person was, for her smell was unfamiliar. No longer amused by the stranger’s antics, Mercury now focused on the curious knocking from inside the large wooden box in the family room. He lay in front of the crate awaiting the cause of the unknown noise to emerge, but it never appeared.
A rapid knock on the door was another distraction that grasped Mercury’s attention. Emma danced her way to the foyer. She glanced through the sidelights at the visitor waiting at the front door.
“What are you doing here?” Emma said, not surprised to see Brohm standing there.
“What do you think?” he responded with a devilish grin.
Emma turned and strutted away, making sure she left the door open to welcome him in. Brohm accepted the invitation and followed her into the house. Her ass snug in the tight fitted skirt brought him to full attention. He stalked her like prey. He wanted her at his beck and call. She poured some vodka, polluting the glass with a splash of orange juice. Brohm reached from behind her for the glass, but she slapped his hand away.
“That’s my drink. You get your own, the glasses are over there,” she said, pointing to the corner cabinet.
Emma wiggled herself free, but not before she shimmied against him. Brohm leaned back with a smile, when she walked to unlock the slider.
“Now where are you going?” he said, admiring the curves of her figure.
“I was going into the hot tub. I suppose you’re on duty and wouldn’t be able to join me,” she said, unzipping the back of her skirt.
The skirt dropped to the floor, surrounding her ankles. Brohm could feel his blood pulse in his crotch, staring at Emma standing there, modeling the white panties that hugged her perfectly curved form.
“No, I’m on break.” Brohm unbuttoned his shirt, exposing the carved chiseled stomach and molded pectoral muscles.
The man’s physique was that of Adonis, every woman’s dream. He was a physical amusement park. Emma yearned for him. She began to unbutton the blouse, exposing the laced bra that accentuated her breasts. The shirtless Brohm approached her, wanting to sample her desirable attributes. Sounds of scratching came from the inside of the wooden chest in the family room, which distracted Brohm’s attention.
“What the fuck was that?”
He continued to watch the crate jump and shake. Mercury wanted no part of the possessed wooden box and walked away, noticing the uninvited visitor. The dog stood at the edge of the family room, staring into the kitchen with his hair raised and snarling. The smell was foul and Mercury wanted the figure removed from the house.
