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OZ INTO THE WILD Christopher Golden
Prologue Every time he closed his eyes he could feel her flesh tearing in his jaws and smell the copper scent of her hot blood as it soaked the fur of his snout. He could taste it. All of which was impossible, of course, for though Daniel Osbourne was a werewolf, on those mornings when he awoke after a night beneath the full moon he could remember almost nothing. Except in his dreams. Often in his dreams, Oz touched the beast within, saw through the eyes of the wolf. To his great relief, like most dreams, these images usually faded not long after waking. Usually. But not always. When they did not... well, he kept them to himself. Lycanthropy was his disease, and a unique one at that. It was not debilitating, really, nor was it painful save for during the change itself. Three times each month—on the night of the full moon and the nights immediately before and after—the coming of dusk wrought a terrible change upon his body, forging from the man a monster. It would not kill him, this disease, this beast that lay dormant like some benign tumor the rest of the month. But if he should be allowed to run free when the beast rose to the surface, it might kill others. His flesh was a cage. Three nights a month, the wolf broke out. Last night, it had killed. It was just after nine o'clock on a cool November morning in Sunnydale, California. Oz sat on a freshly painted bench in Hammersmith Park, unshaven, unshowered, his mind more than a little numb. The sun felt good on his skin more for the simple fact that it was day than because of its warmth. Beside him sat his aunt Maureen. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the stylish cut of her red-blond hair as it fell across her face, and the pixieish little point to her nose. But she wasn't looking at him. Worry lines creased Aunt Maureen's forehead as she stared out across the green lawns and winding paths of the park. Mothers and nannies shepherded small children in play groups. Joggers and bladers moved swiftly along the paved trails, weaving among the trees. But she wasn't looking at any of that. Aunt Maureen was watching Uncle Ken and their son, Jordy, playing with a bright orange and yellow Nerf football. Jordy was just a little guy, struggling with the playground politics of elementary school. . . and with lycanthropy. In truth, it had been a simple bite on the finger from his little cousin that had turned Oz into a werewolf. Hard to imagine right now, watching the kid laughing as he tried to tackle his dad, and Uncle Ken going down hard like Jordy was the meanest defensive end in the game. Jordy snatched up the Nerf and ran for some trees, where he spiked the ball and did a stumbling little rhythmless dance of victory. Oz smiled watching them, just for a moment, before images of torn flesh crashed through his mind again. He ran his tongue along his teeth, trying to tell himself that the taste of blood was gone. With a deep breath he focused on Uncle Ken and Jordy, hoping that watching them could make him forget again, just for a few more seconds, but knowing that it wasn't going to happen. "So, Daniel...," Aunt Maureen began.
He glanced at her, then away. "This Veruca. She was like you?" A shudder went through him at her use of that phrase— like you —and at the tiny catch in her voice as she said it. Most people would have missed it entirely, but Oz had spent a great deal of time with his aunt and uncle, and their son. Aunt Maureen had always been a formidable woman, but she had been forced to become even stronger since her discovery that Jordy was a werewolf. All it had taken for him to infect Oz was that little nip of the teeth while roughhousing, but as far as they knew, Jordy had not bitten anyone else. For an elementary school kid, that was nothing short of a miracle, and Oz chalked it up to Aunt Maureen and Uncle Ken's steely resolve to protect their son even as they were forced to protect others from him. But she had said like you instead of like you and Jordy. No matter how much fortitude she evinced in her day-to-day dealings with her son's condition, that was sheer practicality. It still broke her heart every day. "Yeah," Oz confirmed. "Veruca was a werewolf." "The things she said ... you don't believe that?" He ran a hand over the red-gold stubble on his chin, his eyes still on Jordy and Uncle Ken. The Nerf ball forgotten, the kid had tackled his father, and now the two were wrestling on the grass, Jordy lunging at his father, leaping on his back, only to have Uncle Ken drop him to the ground or let him tumble away. There was not a moment's hesitation in Uncle Ken, though the risk of accidental infection was high. Nobody knew that better than Oz. "Daniel?" his aunt pressed. He turned to look at her. Aunt Maureen's eyes searched his, and he knew that she needed answers to these questions as much for herself and for her family as she did because she cared about him. But there were no easy answers. Veruca had told him he was living a lie. Oz treated lycanthropy like the condition it was. Three nights a month the wolf escaped his flesh and bone cage, so he had his girlfriend, Willow Rosenberg, and their friends put him in one made of concrete and steel. When it was over, he was just Oz again. But, according to Veruca, he hadn't been "just Oz" since the day Jordy bit him. She insisted that being a werewolf was a more fundamental change than that. He wasn't a human being sometimes and a wolf other times—hell, if he were to believe her, he wasn't even human at all anymore. No, Veruca had believed that their kind were little more than animals with two faces, that a werewolf was a beast twenty-four/seven, but just a little wilder on those three nights of the full moon. And that werewolves were far superior to humans. She had wanted Oz to be her mate. They belonged together, or so she'd said. Oz hadn't bought any of it, not the full-time beast part or the mate part. He had a girlfriend already, thanks. Veruca had gotten pretty insistent. When the full moon came around, she started killing. Then, just last night, she had tried to kill Willow. Oz didn't remember much. He, of course, had also been a wolf. But he had dreamt this morning of the night before, of gnashing jaws and the ripple of muscles under his fur, of the terror in Willow's eyes.
really rein it in. he just could not do that. but it was also there when she had looked at him. "The clock's ticking. was the terror in Willow's eyes. still moving but forcing Jordy to work that much harder to drag him off. "It's all happening so fast." he said. of course. "You're leaving today?" Aunt Maureen asked. and for Jordy. But there has to be a way to get control of it. "You're not going to say good-bye to Willow?" Though the sun was warm and bright above. to control it. and for his own sake as well. He turned to face his aunt. The beast was something inside of him. She would never admit it. It was there when Veruca tried to kill her. sadness in her eyes." Oz said. "All right. his decision made. "But just for a little while.Oz had killed Veruca. Then he heard Jordy calling his name and looked up to see his little cousin running full tilt toward him across the park. He was not a monster." Aunt Maureen smiled and reached over to twine her fingers in his. For me." His aunt was a beautiful woman. Veruca was wrong. Oz took a long breath." the boy said breathlessly. of course. and when she bit her lip as she did now. he understood her fear. Oz felt a chill run through him. Not a beast. My stuff's already in the van. "Daniel. Uncle Ken lay stretched out on the grass in a silly mockery of exhaustion. "You're leaving. Daniel. even to himself. it hurt him to see it. "The full moon's never very far away." Oz stopped. But the one thing that he could not shake from his dream. primal urges that churned in his hidden heart. Much as it hurt him to confess. demanding that he come along and wrestle. He nearly lost his footing when he reached the paved path. adult teeth. aren't you?" "I'm going to try to get some answers. Oz was now convinced that Willow had a reason to be afraid." Jordy's face lit up as he grabbed Oz's hand and pulled him off the bench as though the boy were towing him. He had saved the girl he loved from that beast. "I saw her before I came over here. a broad grin on his face. For the sake of all those he cared about. I have to go soon. "Nah. She just wanted an excuse to let the beast out. but somehow he managed to keep from falling." . "Come on! Wrestle with me! Dad's been destroyed and he needs reinforcements. Oz watched Jordy chasing his father. and then he turned to Aunt Maureen." There was a sudden gleam of pride and affection in her eyes. to master the dark. the one thing that stayed with him and probably always would. Aunt Maureen. yeah. The problem was. but lines of concern creased her forehead. Worse than that. Things would go back to normal if he simply kept quiet and allowed that to happen. He was going to have to find a way to tame the beast within him. too." Oz saw that Jordy was right. it was time to take drastic measures. his smile jagged and uneven where baby teeth sat side by side with larger. crying out in protest. But there was no denying that he was a danger not only to Willow but to all those around him. Jordy tugged on him.
" Oz turned to see Cueball standing behind the bar. The blonde looked away every time. She had to have at least four inches on him in height." Her mouth was beautiful: thick lips painted pouty red. bulging arms . if the tattoo on his left bicep was to be believed. Chapter One Twenty-seven Nights Until the Full Moon Oz sat on a stool at the bar in Cueball's and watched the daylight dim behind the frosted-glass windows as dusk came to Santa Monica. "Well. kid. even without the low heels on her stylish shoes. He was not yet twenty-one. the vultures had descended. "Pool's not my game. They were two of a kind. "Hey. Only in California. Not that Cueball's was the sort of place he expected to get much of a hard time if he decided he did want a beer. he turned and ran across the park with Jordy. California. a brunette with exotic Mediterranean features. openly appraising him. but there was a freedom to the boy's laughter when he played with Oz. so no one bothered to ask him for I. Oz raised an eyebrow as she rose from her chair and walked toward him with a strut that made him guess she was a model instead of the actress he had presumed her to be. Jordy loved his father. Oz nodded. but there's something about you. but not in that collagen-about-to-explode way. "Neither am I. but he knew that when he was roughhousing with his cousin Daniel." Her smile was sly now. Aside from Willow. Do you want to buy me a drink or play a round of pool or something?" Oz glanced across the floor at the blonde who had been sitting with Brandy. Oz went down hard on the grass." she said brightly. even though I'm not sure if that's a good thing. "I'm Brandy." she replied. exaggerating the fall.With that. "Hi. one hand resting upon her hip. at least buy her a drink." "I'm gonna say thanks.D. When the boy tackled him. what is?" "Hell. about biting. and his bald pate gleamed under the multicolored lights of the bar. She was surrounded by a trio of guys who had swept in on her the moment she was alone. only smiled. but this time the other. thrusting out a hand. The guy behind the bar was a former Marine. It was a combination billiards hall and bar. A pair of girls in belly tees and jeans that looked crisp and new sat at a table near the front of the place and from time to time when he glanced at the door he caught them watching him. of course. he did not have to worry about being careful. but he had been drinking water since coming into the joint more than an hour earlier. He looked back up at Brandy. Oz figured he had to be Cueball. but with a kind of hip. He was so very small. Oz knew he was going to miss Jordy the most." he told her. edgy atmosphere that somehow made it attractive to a clientele more accustomed to dance clubs. then. "I don't know what it is. Women in spaghetti-strap tops and guys with goatees shot pool with hip-hop thumping out of ceiling-high speaker stacks. It was even prettier when she smiled.
"Hey." Caesar strode across the hardwood floor. okay?" He was giving her the brush-off. Add a pipe and a little white hat and he's Popeye. that was Caesar Torres. "It's a pleasure. "Hey. who stared at him hungrily. I don't wanna be rude. her blonde friend was now completely ignoring the guys hovering around her and instead was staring intently at the figure that swept in off the street." "Someone who ain't gonna show. "That's who you're waiting for?" "Yep." "Sorry." Brandy was staring toward the front door of Cueball's. in Oz's experience with Caesar. I'm sitting right over there with my friend and we'd love to buy you guys a drink." Caesar smiled at her. I'm Brandy. band called Feo who was just starting to get a little national exposure. There was a lull between songs on the sound system and his heavy footfalls echoed through the place. and shook her hand. Of course in the band photo. my. which was about the dumbest and most inaccurate thing he had ever heard. eyes sparkling. but I've gotta talk to m'hijo here a minute." Caesar said. Waiting for someone. Oz did not notice that he had lost Brandy's attention until he heard her whisper. While there certainly were women who sniffed at his charms and thought him a pompous idiot. Oz had seen a small article on them in Spin that described the group as a cross between Santana and Barenaked Ladies.crossed in front of him. He slipped around Cueball's customers as though they were moving in slow motion and came to a halt only a few feet away from Oz. Oz thought. Oz nodded. but Brandy did not seem to notice. But he carried the burden of that image without any strain at all. "Hi. "All right." With that she turned and strutted back across Cueball's toward where she had left her friend. Brandy's reaction was far more common. you ask me. Up near the front. Oz . He played lead guitar for a local L." Turned toward the bartender. reached out. "Wow." Caesar Torres was all about stage presence. "Oh. But when you're done. "Stage presence. Brandy. Caesar had been right out in front posing like he thought he was Antonio Banderas in Desperado. completely oblivious to Brandy. "He gets a lot of that." Brandy tossed her hair back. But he supposed what was important was that they'd gotten the coverage in the first place. All attitude.A." Brandy whispered. "You've been taking up a stool forever and haven't spent a dime." Oz said.
was out of Sunnydale but had played up and down the West Coast. for the rest of them. The things he wanted to know required some travel. ice clinking. Desiree—he had no idea what her last name was—worked for the Los Angeles Port Authority. Dingoes Ate My Baby. Oz could see the curiosity in his friend's eyes. Thanks for that. Me an' Dizzy are still hanging. Call Devon. "Going AWOL for a while. too. right?" "Yeah. checking over shipping manifests and ports of call for merchant vessels and freighters. The band was yet another thing Oz was leaving behind. Oz stood up from the stool. "All right. no getting around it. She's at work now. They were taking up space and not putting any money in the till. I do. though. Oz sipped from his water glass. "It's my animal magnetism. Cueball had been down the bar serving customers beer from the tap and margaritas—no wine drinkers in this crowd—but now he walked back toward them and glared unapologetically. Caesar faced Oz again. making it slippery and leaving a damp ring on the wooden surface. a journey only he could make. before I forget. then he. and he was bound to run into people on the way—the world was full of them. last moment Caesar regarded him. you know you can ask." Caesar laughed and slid onto the stool beside him." For a long." Now Caesar frowned. "She's into you. Just before Brandy turned around. "We should go. but there was still time. we were hopin' you guys could open for us at a couple of gigs next week." There was a long silence after that as Caesar rolled the vague words around in his head. the better. and he studied Oz closely. But you need anything. m'hijo. short swig of water. "Hey. But the more alone he was. His band. They had never quite gotten the buzz that Feo had going at the moment. "Where are you headed?" Oz lifted his water glass from the bar. And he hadn't said a word to any of them. But this was a trip he had to take by himself. We'll go see Dizzy. but he ignored it." Caesar said. Condensation had formed on it. .noticed that though Caesar had barely given her a glance before. at least. His gaze had gone cold. "Not me. apparently catching something in Oz's deadpan delivery that struck him as odd." he told Caesar. stood. What do you want with her?" "I need to take a trip I can't afford to make by plane." Oz played guitar as well. I'm sure the Dingoes'll be able to get someone to sub for me." Caesar said. "Yeah." he said. He rolled the ice around a little and took a single. Time. Then he changed the subject. "I guess you ain't goin' on vacation. anyway. he took the time now to watch her move across the room. the less of a trail he left behind. man. "You still going out with Desiree?" Slowly Caesar nodded.
as though it found their company distasteful. Oz couldn't blame the guy. at least. the creaking. From the guy's face it was clear that he meant business—that he always meant business. until he found a way to protect the people he loved from the savagery inside of him. Which was exactly what Oz had to do now. its passengers did. There was a security camera above the door. The two guitarists slid out of the van and slammed the doors in unison. not far from Cueball's. As they walked across the poorly lit parking lot Oz could hear a distant buoy and the low shushing noise of the surf against the pilings on the piers down below. It said something about their control over the area that they could squander such valuable land instead of just building a garage under their offices. and Oz himself needed a shave and had on a bowling shirt and pants with a tear in the left knee. though. some of the bands that were new to L. The security guard was in uniform and armed. but Oz took notice. . The waterfront was crowded with gray. They varied in size along those piers. The gates were open. Or. Staying alive. On the far side of the lot was a featureless six-story building that might have held the offices for just about anything from computer software companies to the FBI. and Oz let his gaze linger on its lens a moment. Not that it mattered. but it was obvious that that wasn't always the case. but they had moved on. and they had left his car where he had parked it on Pico. The guard pushed open the door. This was serious security. changing every day. impossibly huge cruise vessel kept at a distance from the others. That was the way the club scene was. The Los Angeles Port Authority building was far from the only structure that loomed above the piers. and he wondered if he would cease to hear it if he stayed there long enough. But he said nothing. Wondered if the people who worked there even noticed the ocean anymore. He always figured if you tried to hide your face you'd look suspicious. and a fat-bellied. Caesar was dressed all in black. Beyond the glass door a fiftyish guy with dark skin and gray hair stood up and walked toward them even as Caesar pressed a buzzer. On the drive over they had talked music. Just moving. Oz pulled the van into a parking lot surrounded by twelve-foot chain-link fencing. He wondered if it was common for Caesar to visit Desiree at work. It had been only a couple of months since Oz was last in the city. there would be no moving on. It wasn't his business. but already it seemed he had been gone too long. The girls had entertained a momentary fascination with Caesar. giving it a good look.A. no matter where his journey took him. "What can I do for you?" the man asked. Nearly an hour later. but these days. It was a kind of ambient noise. Oz pulled into an empty spot near the rear entrance of the building and killed the engine. This was the rear of the building—the front entrance wasn't quite as plain—but even from the lot.'s musical landscape and just tearing up the place. very subtle. Oz could see past the building to the ships in port. Caesar lived in Santa Monica. Hunting for peace instead of prey. rusted freighters alongside more modern merchant ships.As they walked out of Cueball's. glaring at them balefully. no matter how far he traveled. But the Port Authority had a bigger parking lot. The problem was. aging structures on land as well as at sea. and the palm of his right hand rested upon the leather flap that was snapped down over his sidearm. Oz spotted Brandy and her blond friend engaged in a game of pool and some serious flirtation with a group of guys who had out-of-town written all over them. one could never be too careful. and if her employers minded.
she had a pride and confidence that lent her a sultry grace. He mumbled something they could not hear into the phone and then set it back on its cradle before slumping back into his chair. but Desiree ignored it as she sat on the edge of her desk and turned to him. A red light blinked on her phone. Someone in the traffic manager's department had to be around at all times. his voice serious. "Dizzy. The frown disappeared as she hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek. But her eyes lit up when she saw that her boyfriend had not come alone." "I know who she is. "We're here to see Desiree Adams. "Oz!" Desiree said. Caesar made an obscene gesture. Her computer was on. Who are you?" the guard asked gruffly. but the broad picture window that it faced had only the night sky and the dark of the ocean beyond it. "She'll have to come down for you. and the room seemed dim because of it. but at me moment she was the only one around. Oz thought." Caesar replied. . you are the only person who calls me that." All the brightness went out of her then. "Oz needs help. You can't be in the building unescorted at this hour. There was track lighting in the ceiling and a lamp on her desk." The guard made his way back to his desk and picked up the phone with a huff. indicating messages. He glanced over warily at the security guard. gotta remember that —was just as attractive as he'd remembered her. "You made a new friend. "All you had to do was say. Apparently the patented Caesar Torres charm didn't work on grumpy middle-aged security guards." she told him. Then he rolled his eyes and stepped aside. arms crossed. The guard did not even bother to look up at them or suggest they have a seat. Desiree. held him by the shoulders. Not beautiful in any conventional sense.Caesar flashed him an amiable smile. Desiree— Adams. so their hours were staggered." Caesar interrupted. "Let's go upstairs." he replied. "You know. but it was clear they were meant to wait." Desiree shared an office with three other people. brightly colored windows overlapping one another. probably either worried about what would bring Caesar down here or pissed off that he had. "Her boyfriend. A deep frown creased her forehead as she stepped out into the foyer." Oz told him. For a long moment the man hesitated. letting them slip through the open door before pulling it shut behind them. "How you been? And what are you doing down here with this sad excuse for a boyfriend?" "Good to see you. She took his hand. and stared at him. The two of them stood there for several minutes in silence after that until there came a soft ping from the bank of elevators and the doors of the one nearest them slid open. and her ebony skin had an uncommon luster." She pulled back. I kinda like it." "Then I'll make sure I keep doing it. making it very clear what he thought of Port Authority employees receiving social visits from their boyfriends. She's in the traffic manager's office on the third floor.
though. More along the lines of getting a job. Then her eyebrows went up. Lots of people want jobs like that. but both of them remained silent as lists of words and numbers and codes came up on the screen. South Pacific. man. if that helps. then began entering information into a form that had popped up. And until he'd found what he was looking for. Despite her jabs at her man. I've heard you sing. I thought you said this wasn't a vacation. "Mr. Desiree grunted softly and. "Caesar's right. No one's gonna just hire you off the street. who nodded his encouragement. She wasn't looking at him." Oz glanced at him. good. No turning back now."How can we help?" she asked. and Caesar actually chuckled. How are you tonight? Good. so to speak." He nodded. These cruise lines pay pretty nice." In total command of her space. "No way you're going to get a gig on a cruise ship." Desiree repeated dryly. I've got a strange request for you. when he looked down at her. Port Authority. "Fiji. "I mean. but only for a second. dialed. one finger across her lips. . especially not overnight like that.A." she said." Caesar began. but he'd be willing to work a run or two just for the experience and to have it on his resume. He moved closer to Desiree as if to present a united front. "You need to get to Fiji?" "Dude. Listen. this is Desiree Adams in at L. and they have resumes. A travel agent in Santa Monica told me it takes about three weeks. there's gotta be protocol for this kind of thing. Oz hesitated. "It isn't. that kind of thing. And it ain't like you're gonna get booked on a cruise to entertain. raising her eyes. He had come this far. "I need to get to Fiji. "Some of these cruise ships must stop there. Ostergaard. just you and a guitar. I can cook. Oz moved up beside her. I'm guessing you have a full complement. either. "You're serious. and Caesar appeared behind him. thank you. dragged the mouse and clicked a window. She picked up the phone." A smile spread across Desiree's features. and when someone answered on the other end she put on her most official voice. Oz saw that she had a smile on her face. including Caesar without even glancing at him. Oz kept his eyes on Desiree. she was staring at the floor and she had her right hand up to her mouth. I have a friend who's looking to get his feet wet. I need to go within the next few days." Immediately her good humor dissipated." For a long moment the three of them just stood there in the dim light of the office. Fine. "When you need a favor. But there might be another way. there was no going back. acknowledging his comments with nothing more than a raised eyebrow before turning back to Desiree. Not to cook or steward or swab the decks. Not thinking a stowaway kind of deal. you don't mess around. Desiree spun her chair and sat down in it before turning to her computer. the red light on Desiree's phone blinking as though it were angry. She punched a few keys. it was obvious that they were very much a couple." She glanced up at Oz." Caesar teased.
Desiree chuckled. Twenty-four to Sydney. She pointed to him. they sail it to your destination. according to the manifest. Laughing softly. especially for free." A broad smile blossomed on her face. but you'll get to Fiji. you are unbelievable!" Caesar told her. and the information appeared on-screen again. I checked the manifest. She tapped the mouse. that was pretty spectacular." Oz said quietly." "Guy I just talked to is the steward on a ship called Sargasso Drifter. relishing the moment. I thought it couldn't hurt to have an extra utility man around. They have a couple of containers to drop there." Oz noted. gears turning in his head. and another crane takes it off. but what the captain's been doing for the last year or so is container transport. "That's it." "So this boat does nothing but carry these containers around the world?" Caesar asked."Right. "Does the manifest say how long they expect to be at sea before they reach Fiji?" Frustrated by his lack of excitement. She stood up and went to Caesar." Her gaze ticked back toward Oz. "Assuming one day I'll own stuff. that would be cutting it close." "Plenty of time. but I can vouch for his work ethic. even though he spent all his free time with Desiree. and all you'll get for your trouble is three squares a day. "He said he'd meet with you for lunch tomorrow. apparently working out the dates in her head. "Dizzy. mostly to himself. Thank you. They've got a single container going to Fiji. Desiree sighed as she went back to her computer. A crane puts it on the ship." Oz prompted her. A hell of a lot cheaper than trying to fly a house full of furniture and stuff overseas." "I'll try to remember that. If he continued on to Sydney. she turned to Oz again. "Don't you want to know the rest?" "Do tell. Her boyfriend gazed at her in wonder and slipped an arm around her." "Cool." Oz gazed at her steadily." Desiree hung up the phone and turned around in her chair. "Let's say you want to move to Europe or freakin' Antarctica or something. Twenty days to Fiji. A merchant ship. It's moored out there right now." That frown creased her forehead again. For a moment she concentrated. he figured he would be able to confine himself. You'd just have to feed him. Australia. You pack up your house. "The first stop is actually in Hawaii." "In English. But if he stayed on Fiji until after the next full moon. You heard the story I gave him. obviously just as uninformed about such things as Oz was. No pay. He'll be there." "What just happened?" Oz asked. You'll be cleaning bathrooms and changing bedsheets for the officers. She raised her right hand and blew on her fingertips. with stops. probably some to pick up as well. put all your belongings in a big rented metal container that looks like the trailer that goes on the back of a Mack truck. "You're going to Fiji. He's green. "Wonderful. Utility personnel are the grunts on a ship like that. . Sargasso Drifter ships out at dusk tomorrow night for Sydney. calendar dates shuffling. "You have to admit.
It seemed appropriate to him. either. Cain wasn't stupid. Osbourne—was nowhere in sight." "Done. It was a school night. he had been hesitant even to come back to this happy. Then we'll talk about payback. At the moment. and gave her a quick. hunting in her territory again. Hell. after all. and threatened Cain if he should ever try to hunt the monster in Sunnydale again. He offered her the merest trace of a sheepish grin. As she did so. They had picked the perfect spot for a grave. It was an idle glance. He stayed well downwind. they called him. a little valley in the midst of the forest where the trees did not grow quite so close together and where beer cans stood testament to past visits from local teens looking for a place to party or grope each other or both. he saw their faces with perfect clarity. there was no one in this area of the woods except for the Slayer's little troop of self-styled monster fighters. The Slayer was down in the grave now. Not hunting Oz. though. Cain heard their mutterings to one another. What a name for a werewolf. But Buffy Summers had made it clear that the beast was under her protection." She waved a hand at him. for that matter. though. Gib Cain crouched among the trees on a ridge in Miller's Woods and watched the Slayer dig a grave. Shortly after midnight. . probably more a matter of general concern than any real awareness that they were observed. went over. and not one Cain was likely ever to forget—climbed out of the hole and brushed dirt from the knees of her blue jeans. however. The bespectacled Englishman who served as her Watcher took a turn with the shovel as well. "Just get the job first. With his night vision lenses on. The girl—Summers was her name. like a monster ought to have a precious little nickname like that. rotten-to-the-core little Southern California burg. though he knew it might be a lie. It made him wonder if her werewolf boyfriend was the one wrapped up in the painter's tarp on the forest floor at their feet." he promised. but at this distance could not make out the words. The woods around him formed a kind of windbreak. though. The truth of the matter was. He didn't have enough experience with Slayers to know whether or not their enhanced abilities included increased acuity of the senses. but still Cain stiffened. Oz. the Slayer might catch a whiff of him as well. considering that Cain had a clear view of the group and their nocturnal activities down through the tree line and they hadn't noticed him. Bring me some seashells from Fiji." Oz said. she glanced around. light hug. They were doing a bang-up job of sentry duty. The last time he had been in Sunnydale he had tried to kill the Osbourne kid. carving the earthen walls with her shovel. while that punk Harris kid and the Rosenberg girl stood watch. The Rosenberg girl's boyfriend—the werewolf. for what better time than the witching hour for such dark business? The girl was not alone. "You have no idea how much I owe you. and therefore could not have missed the anguish on the Rosenberg girl's face. shiny. Oz. But here he was. in amongst the thick roots of encroaching trees but somehow not hitting any of those obstructions. but if he was around he'd pick up Cain's scent for sure. There was no way for him to know if he was ever coming back.But Desiree was staring expectantly at Oz. "True.
he thought. At length. That sure as hell wasn't the work of the Slayer. Cain took only a moment's rest. The one that got away. "Damn it. Oz. waiting for the perfect moment. when her trail led him to Sunnydale. With a heavy boot he pressed at the earth between two thick roots and found it soft. Eventually he figured that the Summers girl wasn't likely to be protecting all werewolves. or suspected that they might need to. But they paused there to stash the shovels inside the cabin. If he didn't take a werewolf's pelt immediately upon its death—or. For long minutes Cain did not move. When he saw the color of the fur. traveling as she did with a rock band for which she sang. Too soft. And he had come here looking for one monster in particular. certainly not savages like Veruca. certain to keep an eye out for anyone returning. As he crossed the forest floor.As Cain watched. why care that he had killed another werewolf? Cain figured there was only one explanation. Cain had been hunting her for two weeks. It took him nearly two hours to excavate that hole in the ground and drag the body up from it. There was very little talking amongst them during all of this. When the task was completed. wrapped in that tarp. even better. he rose and went down into that valley with as much stealth as his decades as a hunter had earned him. Summers and her Watcher dumped the corpse into the fresh grave and began to fill in the earth. The female werewolf had not been difficult to track. When he was through. or the same suppleness. Another grave. even moving a few large rocks and pounding them in deep so it would appear that they had always been there. He crouched and inspected the corpse more closely." Veruca. once he put the . dilapidated cabin on the far side of that small valley. they covered it with brush and twigs from the forest floor. He pushed the fingers of his left hand into the wound in the she-wolf's throat and held tight while he inserted the knife with his right hand and began to slice. past the old. And that look on the Rosenberg girl's face: because her barbaric boyfriend had killed? No. With the toe of his boot he dug a divot in the dirt. in the Slayer's own personal cemetery. Cain realized. his mind kept going back to Oz. leaning upon the shovel. there were a lot of other monsters out there in the dark. Cain slipped a bowie knife from its sheath. He wondered what else he might unearth if he took the time to look—but that was time he did not have. Looked like some of those dead horrors ended up here. a sure sign that they intended to return. It occurred to him that though Buffy Summers was a vampire Slayer by job description. narrowing his gaze. and when they were through. before bending to unwrap the corpse. and then the face of the wolf. At first he had been hesitant to reenter the town. In the darkness of the forest it looked as though Veruca's throat had been ripped out. Had to be Oz. Summers went over and gave Rosenberg a quick hug and the four of them trudged out of Miller's Woods. fearing the Slayer's wrath. Now that beast had cost him. All the while. however. Furious but resigned. He'd be lucky to get a third of the fee he otherwise would have been able to ask for Veruca's pelt. most of which didn't disintegrate when you killed them. Cain went to the cabin and retrieved one of the shovels. while it was still alive—the fur did not have the same shine to it. he swore under his breath. he paused and glanced curiously down at his feet.
I don't think she would. Even more fortunate because we are an independent freighter. and now he seemed to look at Oz anew. He had hair that had once been blond and was now not quite white. thinning on top." "So why did you agree to meet me?" Oz asked. you know. Chapter Two Twenty-six Nights Until the Full Moon How a Swede named Karl Ostergaard had gotten a job as ship's steward on a merchant vessel sailing under the Panamanian flag was about as big a mystery as anything Oz had ever run across. though. He wore round wire-rimmed glasses that were too small for his face. "But she has a lovely voice. Then a beatific smile spread across his features. that made the beast fair game. cruel smile crept across Cain's features. never mind giving you a job. Oz regarded him coolly. On second thought. As he skinned Veruca's corpse. Oz had left town. Not merely to have Desiree as a friend. Even if you really are willing to work for nothing. and it is highly unlikely anyone there would even take the time to speak with you. The hunt was on. Merchant ships do not carry as large a crew as we once did. And as far as he was concerned. and a mustache that made him look very much like a walrus. "Aside from Desiree's melodious voice. But he figured it was better not to ask. They sat in a spectacularly average little restaurant a few blocks from the Port Authority called Burger Meister's." For a moment the big man frowned and studied him as though attempting to determine if he was being facetious or not. "You are fortunate. It was as though he saw something he had not noticed before. "No. I mean. he figured the guy had had more than his share of fish in his fifty-odd years. For if Oz was on the road— on the run—then he was out of the Slayer's territory. It had surprised Oz somewhat that a seafaring man like Ostergaard—particularly one who wasn't American—would be gung ho about hamburgers when there were so many seafood restaurants around. "Would Desiree lie to you?" Ostergaard smiled slightly." . If we were part of a fleet you would have had to go through the fleet office. Particularly since the man in question was large and grumpy and gave every indication that the latter condition was just as permanent as the former." "Have you known her long?" Oz asked.pieces together. a thin. but because hiring is usually done by my staff rather than myself directly. "She is a good friend to have." Oz raised his eyebrows. Ostergaard's bushy eyebrows knitted. "We have never met. so who could begrudge him a burger now and then? "You are a friend of Desiree's?" Oz nodded." the steward replied gruffly. don't you think?" "It's one of her many fine qualities.
but he was simply not very good at that. eyeing him carefully." Aurora hurried away with their orders. "We'll strike a deal. He'd have to get used to that. isn't it. . finding he could manage it. but that seemed much too plain and normal for the woman. the days when young men ran away to the ocean to see the world and find adventure disappeared with Jack London a very. In fact. While Ostergaard ordered. That was pretty funny. You must realize. where were we . You'll serve on the Drifter for the duration of the Sydney run. rare. You wanted to know why we're having lunch today. and Oz thought it was sexy. Now he wasn't sure that had been a wise question. "Cajun burger." Oz understood. Oz. sir?" he asked." Ostergaard replied. is it?" Ostergaard said. He knew he ought to have been more forthcoming with the man. trying the word on. "Yes. sir. "Perhaps. Desiree had seemed pretty sure Ostergaard would take him on. Oz watched him. Anyone calling him sir. "You realize that you won't be learning the skills of a seamen on this journey? You'll be little more than a particularly scruffy chambermaid. on shipboard. "What can I get for you gentlemen?" Aurora asked. The waitress turned toward Oz. "Now." he said. but that was assuming a lot. and he determined to think of her as Aurora instead. half-hidden beneath his mustache. . and there was a certain logic to that—who was going to turn down free labor? But there were no guarantees. then. Though he was pretty sure Ostergaard was used to being called sir. and that probably had more to do with him being British and kind of uptight rather than his age. Ostergaard took a gulp of steaming hot coffee. "I confess I was intrigued. "And you." The waitress brought their drinks and set them down before buzzing off again. please. "But that's what you did. but his eyes never left Oz. chances were Oz would be calling everybody sir. You're willing to drop everything and go this very night. very long time ago. He had asked the man why he had agreed to meet with him if his underlings usually did that sort of thing. But Ostergaard remembered. Nor was he certain what exactly he should say to secure his place on the Sargasso Drifter's crew. Rupert Giles was about the only person he could imagine people calling sir." Ostergaard didn't flinch. She had a pencil jutting out from above her left ear. If the captain and ." "I understand that. right.A pretty Latina waitress with cocoa skin interrupted them men. chili fries. Her name tag identified her as Patty. stroking his walrus mustache. what had prompted Karl Ostergaard to meet with him. Oz figured nicknames were pretty common in his business. Daniel. though he doubted the burly steward had one unless it was walrus. and a cream soda." A smile appeared on his face. sir?" Sir. and he thought he ought to just get on with it. You want a job on a tramp freighter to get some experience aboard ship. "Ah. He had already arranged for Caesar to take care of the van while he was gone. "But everyone calls me Oz.
All of which brought him late that afternoon—after an exhaustive series of stops at bars and low-rent apartments—to Grayburn Avenue. Thanks mainly to their pique. An illegal look at bank records indicated he had pulled a few hundred dollars out of his account the day he'd left Sunnydale." Twenty-five Nights Until the Full Moon Gib Cain was two kinds of hunter. I assume you have a passport?" "Yes. werewolves wore human faces and lived human lives. and then we'll talk about where we're headed next. and he had a necklace of werewolf fangs to prove his skill. most investigation work was comprised of those things. Osbourne wasn't using credit cards. was incapable of the one and sorely lacking the other. Most of them were simple enough. A sign announced that the parking . some easy research. If he needed that kind of money. though where he used intimidation. and Cain did not want to risk drawing attention in town if he could avoid it. if you had access to the right records. Cain was no hacker himself. Most of the time. and that required that he be another sort of hunter altogether. That was a start. But tracking the beasts under the full moon across damp moorlands and urban jungles alike was only part of the job. of course. eight o'clock sharp. but most of his investigative technique involved a few phone calls. a backstreet in Sherman Oaks. or intimidation. a little more man a thousand dollars. In the twenty-first century." Oz took his hand and shook.C. sir. Devon and the other guys in the Dingoes were more than mildly annoyed to discover Oz had skipped town without so much as a heads up to them." Ostergaard set his cup down and stuck out his hand. The only parking was in the lot behind a convenience store where weeds shot up through cracked pavement. But he had to find out what the kid was doing down there in L.A. credit cards were almost as good as a global positioning system in tracking." "Pier seven. we'll pay you a little something. Cain. chances were he planned to be gone awhile. Cain was able to compile a list of Osbourne's known associates in and around L. sadly. He had basic computer skills. Fortunately his line of work had brought him into contact with numerous less-than-savory individuals who could provide him with all sorts of services. Instead. but no matter where the kid was headed he had to have money. he'd gone into a branch in Los Angeles and drawn nearly all his savings out. Cain considered posing as an associate dean from U. he set his sights on the other members of the band Oz was in. though if asked he might be forced to admit that locating Daniel Osbourne had not been as easy as he had expected.I are satisfied with your work by the time we arrive there. Then. but that was too close to home. Los Angeles. "Thank you. not the least of which were unregistered weapons and computer hacking. yesterday afternoon. On the one hand he went after the big game." "I'll be there. Thus Cain had mastered many of the tracking skills used by private investigators. many substituted sweet talk and charisma.A. "Excellent. The Rosenberg girl and the Slayer knew what he looked like. The kid didn't use credit cards. Despite how glamorous Hollywood made it seem. Sunnydale and talking to the werewolf's relatives. within a few hours of discovering that was where his prey had fled.
But now there was no time for hesitation. but given that the building itself seemed more like a barracks or a prison hospital than a home. Cain glanced once more up and down Grayburn Avenue and then set me briefcase on the ground. trying to beat the yellow light. he heard an amplified shriek that could only have been a pick sliding along the strings of an electric guitar. The square of yellowing grass in the center of the stucco apartment building was nothing special.was for customers only and that violators would be towed. then closed and locked it. and barbecue grills decorated the other patios. Cain had been told. and he cored out the lock on the front gate of the building in eight seconds. It came from beyond the stucco building in what he realized had to be a courtyard. rubbery jerky as he walked across the narrow street toward a long. but there was no way to guarantee that. He wore blue jeans and a button-down blue shirt rolled up at the cuffs. perhaps ten and twelve. and Cain knew people would begin returning home from work soon. It whined and spun. As far as he could tell he had not been observed. charmingly battered leather briefcase. This was L.. tip almost invisible to the eye. On the main road that intersected with Grayburn a block away cars sped past. though. Good. The lock rattled and then fell in pieces to the concrete walkway. None of them turned down Grayburn. squat stucco building with bars on the first-floor windows. clicked off me locking mechanism. badass drill. The raucous music was loud enough to cover the drill. with the information he required. Now. With thick. In me courtyard beyond the building at number 87 Grayburn. Cain did not even glance at any of the windows but instead walked through a breezeway that led through into the courtyard. two boys. strong fingers he grasped the gate and gave it a hard shove. sat just outside the door to their home and alternated between staring at the band and at the bikini-clad woman. Across from that apartment. then gnawed on the salty. When he had first stepped out of his truck. returned the drill to the case. Even so. One or two of the other patios actually had small gardens. but this one. . Cain had not heard anything out of the ordinary. In his right hand he carried an unassuming. He bent. A thirtyish woman too large for the bikini she was wearing sunned herself on one of the patios with a Corona beer and a cigarette for company. had nothing in common with those. It was nearly five o'clock. and pulled the trigger. but he did not plan to be here very long. Inside was a set of locksmith's equipment as well as a big. On the far side of the small lawn a cement patio had been transformed into a makeshift stage for a quartet of musicians. and though dark sunglasses hid his eyes. By 5:30 they'd have quit for the day. His brown hair was cut military short. Everyone wore sunglasses. He pulled it out. after all. They practiced in the afternoon. He pushed his way in and let it clack shut behind him on its spring. belonging to Noel Hanford. When he stood upright again. and a driving bass and guitar rhythm followed it. He had to get in and out quickly. Children's tricycles and toys. extension cables snaking back into an apartment through an open sliding-glass door. She seemed not to notice the Numbskulls rehearsing. to avoid pissing off the neighbors. he glanced around casually. but Cain was certain she more than noticed. briefcase in hand.A. Cain thought it was a wonder that the music of Hanford's band—the Numbskulls—hadn't killed the flowers ages ago. he had been at pains to be as inconspicuous as possible. he had not expected much. Time was of the essence. he drought. as he strode purposefully across the street. a drumroll tore through the air sending birds fleeing across the sky. Cain went inside and bought a Slim Jim. He clicked it open and raised the lid. he knew that wouldn't draw attention.
Apparently he's on a road trip down this way. good for him. not even glancing at the sunbather or at the two boys. Gary. The bass player—all tattoos and shaven head—swore at him and turned to glare. the Dingoes are out of Sunnydale. "You guys seen him around lately?" They all shook their heads. "Oz. and they just lost their second guitar. You guys were smoking just now. hell. Mister . that's the guy on vocals. But listen. ?" He wanted a name. Why don't you try them?" Cain put on an exasperated expression and threw up his hands. though? Caesar Torres. Roth was the first one to notice him." He turned to the others. "What can we do for you. "Nah. nobody calls him 'Daniel. that's a couple hours' north. He stared at Cain with narrowed eyes. not noticing Cain. either. The Numbskulls had two guitarists—long. until the drummer noticed him and faltered in his pummeling rhythm. whose name Cain hadn't gotten. but not the worst. Not the best player around." . No offense to you guys. Cain was cursing inwardly when the bass player scratched at his bald head and looked as though he was thinking—and that it was an effort that pained him. "Ah. caught sight of Cain.Cain gritted his teeth.' I don't think I even knew that was his name. he looked a bit surprised. You mean Oz.. But it could not be avoided now. Cain smiled good-naturedly. Cain didn't give him one. Then understanding dawned. He frowned and put a hand against the guitar strings to muffle the sound. He shook his head and laughed. He went directly across the courtyard to Hanford's patio and waved lightly. Then they were all looking at him. whose blond. and Hanford. Daniel Osbourne. though he knew that they would all be watching him now. he jammed once with Dingoes Ate My Baby and wanted to track down a guitarist from that group." Hanford shrugged. clean-cut good looks would have been bizarrely out of place with his band mates if Cain hadn't seen him playing a blazing lick on his Stratocaster a moment before. "Don't think I haven't tried. I haven't heard from him. and none of those guys know how to reach him. Witnesses. Dude. Jeff. guys. bespectacled." This was Hanford's apartment." Cain held up both hands as if in surrender. "Not a parole officer. amiably. "Sorry to interrupt your rehearsal. Hanford looked at him and then glanced up." In the blissful silence. If no one had seen his unorthodox entry. But I need to track him down right away. "Oh. "don't tell me you broke parole again. I'm with Gibson Management. sheepishly amused by his own lack of decorum. greasy-haired Gary Roth. But we can't help you finding him. but he was also both the driving force behind the Numbskulls and the smartest among them. Max down at the club said you guys know him?" An expression of confusion swept across Hanford's features. and did likewise.. Oz is a good guy. I mean. Gotta get myself down to the Litter Box to see you. "Know who he's tight with. That much was plain just from looking at him. he could still get in and out and his generic appearance be only vaguely recalled by any of them. sorry. but Jeff wants Oz. Instead. If he gets lucky. We've got a new act showcasing at the Litter Box next week." said the drummer.
"That pretty boy from Feo? What the hell's Oz doing hanging with that guy?" The bass player shrugged. he was having to play it nice." replied the shape. though." Caesar's building backed up to the rear of a Thai restaurant whose odors always made him hungry at one in the morning. the Dumpster on the other. It occurred to him as he turned toward his building that the lot was unusually dark. Caesar figured he had lucked out. and the guy followed it up. But it was too late for that. Pretty sure he's listed. nobody had bothered to ask him how he'd gotten back there in the first place. Beyond that. "Freakin' punks. he was brought up short by the appearance of a dark figure that stepped out from behind the Dumpster. but appearances were deceiving. Caesar scowled. despite the dark. But he did not want to be around when someone discovered the break-in. "Help you with something?" "Yeah. setting up a low rasp in the background of the conversation. With a jab of his left hand the guy faked Caesar out. blocking his path. There was a dull thud with no echo. hot breath on . a thrill he got on every hunt. but now he looked up. He clicked the lock and then banged the door shut with his knee. he was not much more than a shape and a grin. The blow struck his temple. The two structures shared a parking lot. He grabbed a fistful of Caesar's hair and slammed his head against the Dumpster. between the two immovable objects. When he spotted the empty spot next to the Dumpster. More than likely they assumed a resident had let him in. Caesar was fast—he had played baseball in high school and been damn good at it—but when this guy came at him. Caesar knew he was looking at some trouble. In the darkness. So far.m. "Anyone know where this Torres lives?" Hanford nodded. Every hour that passed." Aware that the bag of groceries cut into the man-in-black cool of his carefully contrived image." The guy was wearing a baseball cap." A spark went through Cain. so it was next to impossible to get a space if you came in between six p. Behind him was the Thai restaurant. He hefted a small bag of groceries against his body with his left arm and maneuvered out of the van. He could see that now. but now he had it back again. but Cain was losing his patience. He was up close now. He began to wonder again about the possibility of retreating. At first glance he did not seem quite so large. Off of Pico somewhere. The van on one side. almost irritated. sliding the keys into his right pocket.m. Caesar looked up and saw that the remaining lights of the parking lot gleamed upon the stranger's cruel eyes.The drummer had been fumbling lightly on his snare with his sticks. too. A big guy. With all these witnesses. by now. For a moment he had thought he might be losing his prey's trail. Osbourne could be a long way from L. actually. he might as well have been standing still. and one a. But as he walked alongside the van. An upward glance revealed that someone had shattered a couple of the lights that normally illuminated the area. And he was getting frustrated. "Santa Monica. "What?" he asked. "You can. "They're buds. I guess. the trail got colder. Caesar saw that now.A. not giving Caesar a second to breathe or think. then swung with the right. he wanted to get the stuff inside and put away quickly.
"Don't matter. but he had managed to walk away from it without losing a drop of blood or gaining any scars. Crap. At the moment. This wasn't the first time he had had a knife held on him. He let his mouth droop open stupidly and stared." he said. but not just Sunnydale. It was pretty clear now that Caesar had been wrong. and blood trickled down inside it. and he couldn't have that. and he tasted the copper tang of his own blood and he knew without a doubt that this was not fooling around. I think you know where to find him. inhaling the same air. The clock is ticking." All his life Caesar Torres had exuded an easy confidence that won him friends and lent him an air of intelligence as well. He had figured Oz was looking for a vacation or actually knew someone in Fiji—hard as that was to imagine—and needed to get to them for some reason. though. "Caesar. Got a job on a freighter headed to Australia. So Caesar said nothing. His eyes were not the only things that shone. He swallowed hard and stared into those gleaming eyes. A glint of silver revealed the arc of a ridged hunting knife only inches from Caesar's cheek. He owes you money or something." The gleaming eyes narrowed. Caesar began to shrug. so Caesar didn't ask too many questions. dripping from the lobe. you idiot. and the search might eventually take him to Desiree. and I am running out of patience. . sharing that little space. either. I think. He's gone. Couldn't stand even the thought of it." the stranger grunted. "Why Australia?" Though he could feel the hot trickle of his blood on his neck now. "I'm looking for Oz. He was running away. he had nothing intelligent to say. yeah. That and the baseball cap. about to tell the guy he had no idea. ignoring the blade. and the silver blade— tip darkened with Caesar's own blood—waved in front of him. Oz had been hell-bent on getting out of Sunnydale. He had no idea who this freak was or what else he might do. unable to utter a sound. "You are driving his van. "I haven't seen him in we—" He had started to say weeks.Caesar's face. Hate and humiliation coursed through him like poison. dragging fear along behind them. he'd keep looking. Caesar swore loudly and bit his lip." whispered the man whose eyes would be the only thing he could later remember about his description. "Where's Oz?" Finally thoughts started tumbling together in his mind. He'd wanted to go to Fiji of all places. Caesar thought. The truth of it was that Caesar could not have pulled this off without actually being reasonably smart. All the denials he wanted to utter froze in his throat. Then the stranger pressed the flat of the blade against Caesar's lips. "All right. you're gonna have a long wait. anyway. This was the genuine article psychopath right here. They were friends. when the blade disappeared beside his head and pain blazed in his ear. The stranger had sliced the upper curve of his left ear. And if he didn't get what he wanted from Caesar. Caesar hadn't liked it much the first time. Oz wasn't running to anything.
"He wasn't going there. He was headed for Fiji. He didn't say what for. Probably won't even make it to Sydney. And I swear to God that's all I know." "The name of the ship?" In a panic, Caesar realized he couldn't remember. It would have been the simplest thing for the guy to find out—just find a freighter headed for Sydney the day before. Probably only one. How hard could that be? But no, he wanted an answer now. He wanted Caesar to remember. And eventually, Caesar did. It would prove to be a painful memory. After his first full day as part of the crew of the Sargasso Drifter, Oz was sorely tempted to jump overboard. He had never imagined that cleaning bathrooms and floors could be so strenuous, but now the muscles in his back and shoulders ached deeply. The night before, he had slept fitfully, tossing and turning, agitated by the sway of the ship and the rumble of her engines. Tonight, however, he knew that the combination of his exhaustion and the sea air was going to have him sleeping like a baby. His shift over, his belly full of what the guys down in the galley ambitiously called dinner, he stood now on the deck and gazed out at the open ocean. The sea rolled beneath them, sublimely powerful, unknowably deep. His skin felt brackish, and he knew that if he touched his hair it would be brittle from the salt air. When he closed his eyes, he saw Willow. In his mind she was not smiling that extraordinary, precious smile of hers but staring at him with a gaze lost and empty. It was the look she had given him when he told her he was leaving. And Oz could not blame her. Of everything he had left behind, he knew that Willow was the reason for the pain in his heart. Not merely that he had abandoned her, but that she could never truly understand his reason for doing so. She knew, certainly, that he had to find out the truth about what he was, about the beast caged inside him, that he could no longer be around people he cared about without bearing horrible guilt for putting them in danger. Danger from himself. Yet as much as she knew that, he had seen in her eyes that she did not really understand it. Had he asked her, she would have come along. Oz was certain of that, and it was proof that she truly did not get it. It was because he loved her that he had to go alone, had to face the beast within. Brow furrowed in contemplation, he opened his eyes. As he gazed at the ocean again, he began to relax, to breathe deep. Hard as it was to leave Willow behind, there was a thrill to all of this as well. Not merely the setting off on his own but me newness of everything, the vast unknown that stretched out before him. Every day was a journey, his Uncle Ken was fond of saying. But this was a journey unlike any Oz had undertaken in his life. The wind shifted, and he caught a pair of scents on the air. Curious, Oz turned to find that two of the steward's men were approaching him from the hatch that led below. One was a tall guy with caramel-colored skin and thinning hair; Oz thought his name was Albert. The other—Robideau—was stout and deeply tanned, maybe five foot five but broad-shouldered and a bit heavy around the middle. '"Ey," Robideau said amicably. "How'd yer first day go?" "Still here," Oz replied. The taller one held out his hand. "Don't think we were properly introduced. Alfred Canfield." Alfred, not Albert, Oz thought.
"Oz," he replied. "We play a little poker in the mess. Makes the trip shorter," Robideau said. "And your pockets lighter," Alfred added. Robideau grinned good-naturedly. "Want to join us?" For a moment their generous camaraderie nearly won him over. He was on his own, away from home, all his friends left behind, and it would have been easy to go along with them. But a firm voice spoke up in the back of his mind, then. Friends are what you 're running away from. Inwardly, he winced at the idea that he was running away from anything, but there was truth to it that he could not deny. He was looking for a way to go back home without fearing for their safety. But for now he was running from his friends. For now. "Sorry," Oz replied, hoping they could sense his genuine regret. "I don't think I'd be very good company." Robideau seemed surprised, but Alfred smiled and nodded. "All right, my friend. But it's an open invitation. Like Robideau said, it makes the trip pass by faster." "Thanks," Oz told them. "I look forward to losing my shirt to you guys another night." But that was a he, too. It was going to be a very long journey. Across the street from the pier, in the shadow of the Port Authority building, Cain sat in his truck and stared at the place where the Sargasso Drifter had been moored before it had sailed the night before. Fiji, he thought for perhaps the hundredth time that night. What the hell is in Fiji? He ought to just let the kid go. Whether Oz was in her territory or not, Cain knew that the Slayer was going to think of him as under her protection. Never mind that he didn't relish the idea of traveling halfway around the world to get the beast's pelt. On the other hand, he had been forced to walk away without skinning Osbourne once already. And the buyer he had in place for Veruca's fur had been willing to pay top dollar. Werewolf pelts were about the most valuable commodity of their type on the black market. Elephant tusks were worthless in comparison. Cain didn't want to let that money get away. But more than that, being scared off from killing Oz the first time around still stuck in his craw or he wouldn't have gone to the trouble he'd already gone through to get at him. With an ironic smile, he picked up the cell phone from the seat beside him and punched in a seemingly endless stream of numbers. Halfway around the world, in a dusty little town in the Australian outback that Cain hoped never to see again, a phone began to ring. On the fifth ring, a sleepy voice answered in a harsh rasp that barely sounded human. "It's Cain," he told that nightmarish voice. "I need you to meet me in Fiji." Chapter Three
Nineteen Nights Until the Full Moon Oz stood in Mr. Ostergaard's cabin and glanced around at his handiwork. He had learned quickly from Gavin, the other utility man onboard, that it was a good idea to give the officers' quarters special attention. But Oz would have done that for Ostergaard, anyway. He had no particular love of being a shipboard chambermaid, but if he was going to be doing the work, he figured it wouldn't hurt to do it well. Ostergaard was a good man and had given him a break. The least Oz could do to repay him was not rush when it came time to straighten the man's things and make his bed. The floor had been vacuumed, and the head cleaned to sparkling. Oz went to his cart and picked up a rag and a can of spray polish. He was at the bureau when the door clicked and swung open. Mr. Ostergaard noticed him immediately but seemed startled to find him there. "Oz?" the man said. Then a smile blossomed on his face, his cheeks reddening with good humor as he looked around his quarters. "I'm sorry- I must have the wrong room. I know I left mine a pigsty." "That's one way to describe it," Oz agreed. Then he gestured to the bureau. "I just need to dust and I'm finished here." "It's not very considerate of me, is it?" the chief steward remarked. "I suppose I ought to pay more attention to the mess I leave behind." Oz raised an eyebrow and regarded him seriously. "We all have our jobs. As long as you all keep the ship on top of the water and pointed in the right direction, not gonna be any complaints from me about cleaning up." Ostergaard shut the door and ventured farther into the room. He leaned against the far wall and watched Oz at work for a minute or so before clearing his throat. "I am surprised to find you here, my friend," the man said, stroking his walrus mustache. "The captain gave the whole crew shore leave in shifts. Isn't it time you saw some of Honolulu?" Oz finished dusting off the bureau and went to the window. The officers' quarters nearly all had portholes, but the captain's and Mr. Ostergaard's both were high enough to have actual windows. Through the glass he could see the pier and beyond that the lights of the city of Honolulu. He had always wanted to see Hawaii, but not like this, crammed into a few hours of solo adventuring. "I'm thinking next time," he said, turning back to the steward. He gestured around the room. "Couldn't let you come back to that pigsty." But Ostergaard was staring at him now, and Oz could read a surprising emotion in the man's face: disappointment. Again, he stroked his thick mustache and for a long moment he said nothing. Oz only regarded him patiently, curious though he knew his expression would not reveal it. At length, the steward shook his head. "Maybe I was wrong about you?" "How do you mean?" Ostergaard took a long breath and blew it out. "I made a judgment call when I brought you onboard. It was obvious you were running away from something as much as you were running to the sea. But you were eager, and I figured you would work hard because of it." With a frown, Oz glanced around the cabin, feeling defensive but uncertain how to phrase a
its motion in port barely noticeable to Oz after a week at sea." Ostergaard reassured him. Probably ashore. "That is not healthy for the crew or for the vessel you serve upon. I doubt I've ever met anyone as easygoing as you are. Somewhere off in the bowels of the ship a hatch slammed with a clang. the other utility man. "I think I might look good in one of those grass skirts." Ostergaard said. Despite your reticent nature. no. not unkindly." Oz gave him a look that indicated it wasn't out of the realm of possibility. and his contact with other members of the crew had been limited to mealtimes and his own requests to borrow books from those who had them. then lifted the cart over the small lip at the bottom of the door.response to that. whatever this ghost is that's haunting you. You do your share and more. But the innards of that vessel were uncharacteristically quiet. though. and that's where I was wrong. "No. He bunked with Gavin. Gavin had turned out to be an ideal cabin mate. "Taking that as a compliment. without a doubt. What free hours he had were spent reading. it's keeping you from really being a part of this crew. He let out an inaudible sigh and met Ostergaard's steady gaze before going over to his cart and arranging his cleaning equipment. that sets you apart from most of the utility crew I've known. The Sargasso Drifter creaked. but at least they have to be able to make that decision. As hard as some of the able-bodied seamen I've got. Oz had been looking forward to that time aboard the ship. You're holding up your end of the bargain. makes them grow calloused toward you. I thought you'd fit in here." Oz nodded once. Something is troubling you. From the corridor he caught the scents of . you have a certain charm. Casually he rolled the cart toward the door." "It ought to be. Can I get you one?" That walrus mustache bristled with the Steward's broad grin. who was a few years older and had eyed Oz with suspicion from the moment he came onboard. The crimson shirt emblazoned with the name of his favorite Chinese restaurant—Dragon Inn—was old and a little ragged now. "But it isn't. regardless of station. They don't have to like you. This was the first time Oz had returned to his quarters and been disappointed not to find Gavin there. But if you truly are considering a life at sea. considering he was almost never in his quarters. thought you'd get along with the crew. where he turned and gazed back at the Steward. Your solitude makes them distrust you. I have heard some of them talking. or hadn't you noticed?" "Snooping isn't my thing. that's not what I was wrong about. very serious now. and when he was." The freighter rolled gently on the ocean. The man shook his head and strode away from the wall. You haven't given them the chance. he was usually asleep. Oz headed aft to where Robideau bunked with Alfred. but it was comfortable and clean. we must all be comrades. "You work as hard as any utility staff I've hired. It took him twenty minutes to get his gear stowed and to change his clothes. Whatever it is. to know you enough to decide. Enjoy Honolulu. you must learn to engage your shipmates." Ostergaard chuckled. A hard knot of reluctance in his chest began to unwind. back to Oz. my friend. he thought. In an emergency. "I've got a dozen in my closet. "Well.
" Alfred promised. both eyebrows raised. "Come on. "You want a good meal. . That's for the tourists. "Robideau hasn't been here before. but the man was blissfully unaware. and then Robideau called for him to come in. Not that I'm especially prejudiced. "Italian food. the edges of his mouth turning up into a smile." He waved a hand in the air. man. Hawaii? Italian food?" "Trust me.. Like nothing you ever had. "It's Oz. and though none of his reasons for doing so had changed. but. As he walked the streets with his . These were the same guys who had been so friendly to him after his first full day at sea. come along with us. but now there was a kind of curtain that hung between them. Oz." "What are we. and crossed his arms. "Not a luau. "Anything that wasn't prepared onboard this ship'll taste like the food of the gods. After a moment he abandoned any plans to do the last few buttons on his shirt." Oz replied." Finally Alfred's serious expression wavered. "Is it a luau ? 'Cause 'stuff yourself at a luau ?' Pretty high on my list of things to do during my high seas adventure. Robideau wore khaki pants. and a black T-shirt with the Harley-Davidson logo on the breast." Alfred said earnestly. His gaze ticked over to Alfred and back to Robideau. Instead. Tourists. for the first time he felt some regret about that.both men. "Shore leave?" he asked." There was a momentary pause during which Oz imagined the two men inside had glanced at each other curiously. He hesitated a moment before rapping his knuckles on the door. then?" Robideau asked. Oz?" "Thought I might. but Honolulu's coming home for me. then looked at Oz again. Alfred paused at the second button from the top and turned to look at him. I lived here for seven years. pfft. They hadn't gone ashore yet. "Hey. The shirt was a size too small for him. Oz knew he had put it there. man." As he said this he studied Oz and then he hesitated. "Yeah?" Robideau called from within. as though deciding upon something. Alfred punched him lightly on the arm." Oz's usual stoic reserve nearly cracked. You guys know anywhere to get a decent meal?" Robideau laughed. he watched Oz cautiously." But Alfred did not laugh. "You goin' ashore. a distance that separated them from him. Honolulu was not as exotic as Oz had imagined it would be. though he knew that their leave was about to begin. You never had pasta like this. "We're sailors. Alfred was buttoning up a clean white shirt that looked silk—nicer than anything Oz had with him on this trip. "What brings you down our way?" Robideau asked. He raised both eyebrows.
at the traffic and businesspeople on the sidewalks. and then Alfred glanced over at him. but no question. questioning gaze and the look on Alfred's dark features that neither one of them believed him." At the time Oz had pointed out that when one saw something every day." "She was when I left. but Oz remained silent. They'd been walking through Rome and crested a hill only to find themselves looking down upon the Coliseum. "Not everyone's like that.shipmates he glanced around at the hotels and office buildings. and it occurred to him that many of the residents of this city had lost all sense of the paradise that this was supposed to be." "Don't talk about me like I'm not here. A man doesn't want to talk about where he's been. Come back here and spend some time discovering paradise. that's his business. All those pictures you've got in your head about what paradise is supposed to be? That's Hawaii. but he'll mind his business if you tell him." Robideau protested. "'Sort of. It's all here." "Yeah." Alfred assured him. It reminded him of a story Devon had told him about a trip he'd taken with his family to Italy. But first I have to find a honey to do it with. no matter how many palm trees and tropical birds he might see. But I couldn't exactly say when I'd be back." Robideau was between them. There was an air of that about Honolulu as well. Alfred ignored him. he was mindful of what Ostergaard had said earlier. "Robideau. it lost some of what made it special. Majestic despite its age and its crumbling walls. "It's okay." Alfred laughed politely. "You have a honey back home?" Robideau asked him. he's nosy. Oz thought about it a moment.' What's that mean? You either do or you don't." . When he said as much to his companions." Alfred nudged Robideau." But he could see from Robideau's wide. and the stout little man clapped them each on the back." They walked along a sidewalk and then crossed a broad street with brightly lit tourist-trap restaurants beckoning to them." Though he was reluctant to continue the conversation. For several moments they kept walking. "Like someone had just plunked it down right there in the middle of the city. The trio ignored those and kept on toward the next block." "That's nice. Or if. Devon had said the ancient structure looked out of place to him. "I'm gonna do just that. Alfred nodded in agreement. so Oz shook his head. "What's her name?" "Willow. you don't have to talk about what's personal to you. and then nobody noticed. "It's one of the oldest rules for sailors. "Sort of. But it's just one place. Honolulu's a city now. but the little man didn't seem to notice. You just have to come back when you've got time to explore. "Oz.
that the young ones were right. The people of Lingka farmed most of what they needed and traded grains and vegetables with the nomads for meat. Jin came one day to his home in the valley and did not leave again. Once upon a time this valley had been inhabited only by the nomads who herded yak through here on the way from one place to another. prowled there. Within a handful of years. Demons. Yet it was not. There was a river nearby where they could drink. They always do. Oz was pleasantly surprised to find that it was everything Alfred had said it was. barely an eye blink compared with the time that stretches between then and now. though few outsiders knew it even had a name and it would not be found on any map.For all his bluster. made the more so because both the wanderers and the villagers sprang from the same ancestors. children who wandered off might well have managed the trek to another village. the Italian restaurant Alfred had bragged about. For the mountains around Lingka cast long shadows. a nomad called Jin decided it would be helpful to have a permanent dwelling there. and often times things lurked within those shadows. almost sentimental Robideau who turned to him then. and some of the homes in the valley had been visited by those holy men. children are too stubborn to believe the warnings of their parents. Even through the long winters the villagers lived a quiet. and sometimes of others of their tribe who had wandered off too far alone. The evil that lurked in the mountains had yet to show itself." None of them spoke again until they had reached Il Bacio. . There were those in the village who believed that perhaps all of that fear was merely superstition after all. simple life. The nomads spoke openly of the terrible mutilations visited upon their herd. It was nestled in a valley in the mountains of Tibet. Fifteen Nights Until the Full Moon The village was called Lingka. The stream gave them water. Thanks to the ministrations of the monks. the older ones might even have made it as far as Lhasa. On the face of the snowcapped mountain that rose to the west was an ancient monastery. "Don't worry. too determined to prove their elders nothing but superstitious old fools. peaceful. however. where they could have . The nomads grew accustomed to stopping here to rest themselves and their herds. the snatching away of yaks . In many ways. and the sun and the mountains their life. After all. and the divine architecture of the mountains in that range was such that the cold wind off their peaks rarely dipped too far into the valley. The tides will carry you home eventually. but mostly locals. There were some tourists there. who placed charms and wards against evil upon them. for those who had no interest in the outside world. older than the village itself. pal. it was believed that the people of Lingka were safe as long as they did not stray from the village alone. It was a pleasant balance. Hunted there. When he grew old and did not want to wander anymore. Sometimes children set off from Lingka and did not return. it was said. It was not very warm there in the valley. . but none of the villagers had ever lived anywhere else and so they did not know the difference. some hundred miles northwest of the city of Lhasa. From time to time the villagers had sought solace from the monks there. it was a sincere. Upon the snow-covered peaks and inside the darkest caves were horrors that the elders in the village only whispered about. it could have been paradise. Sometimes. the village of Lingka was born. In time.
But even those who suggested such possibilities knew the truth in their hearts. Quietly. cursed centuries ago and abandoned. The wind was cold. By the time the people of Lingka had come to accept that Muztag might be more than a myth. made his stomach twist with dread. he had used the back of his sleeve to wipe beads of sweat from his forehead. If Shisha had one complaint about the man she was soon to marry. and he had shivered. and thus would it ever be. It was cool. His mother had told him that it was nothing. Time had gotten away from him. dwelling in a fortress built into the side of the mountain. But the only way to ascertain the truth would be for someone to go up there. or simply too stubborn for their own good. as though by building their homes to face one another they might protect themselves from whatever lurked out in the dark crags and hillocks of the valley. though at that distance it was little more than a scar on the face of the eastern ridge. the ruins of an ancient temple. Kangri worked all that long afternoon. Hammer in hand. lost in the clouds or the glare of the sun. Kangri was an intelligent man. Though he had all but forgotten the feelings he had had earlier upon seeing the ruins upon the mountain. He glanced at the horizon. The demon of the eastern mountain had taken them. the gray blemish on the snowy white mountainside. a sense of unease lingered in him.found work. It had always been that way in Lingka. and they would not allow fear to drive them away. and when the sky had grown so dark that he could no longer see to align pieces of the frame for his home. As he glanced upward and eastward he had seen it there. Of this horrid creature they knew nothing but the name that had been told in whispered legends for generations— Muztag—and that a menagerie of nightmarish creatures served him. Kangri had paused in the process of putting up the frame for the house in which he would live after his marriage to Shisha. At times a trick of the light allowed it to be seen. and he knew he had little time before he was expected there. Late this very afternoon. It was their home. . They hoped to have many children. however. and he shook it off as best he could. and his bride-to-be a formidable woman. His shoulders and back ached and throbbed as they always did on days when he had the time to work on the small dwelling. he cursed. where the last glimmer of day quickly disappeared over the western mountain range. no one dared. they would never know the truth. that would have been it. straightening it as best he could. and he walked briskly through the village. so high above that most days it was invisible from the village. and whichever story was true. Kangri had promised Shisha that he would take his evening meal with her family tonight. Kangri's father believed in the demon of the eastern mountain. they had been here in the shadows of the mountains for generations. Yet though the sight of the ruined temple near the mountain's peak made him pause in his work. but not unusually so. where houses of varied sizes were arranged in a series of concentric circles rather than any sort of grid. but there was trepidation in his heart at the idea of bringing them up in the shadow of such evil. after a moment he set back to work on the house in which he hoped to raise those children. Kangri had wondered many times if they were a courageous village. but the sun was very warm and the work was strenuous. as it so often did. he at last climbed down and put his tools away. Kangri pushed his fingers through his raggedly cut hair. The dwelling he was building was situated not far from his parents' home. The wedding would take place soon after he finished work on the home. but he smiled at the knowledge that he had made progress. the specter of the demon of the eastern mountain hanging over the village like a harbinger of death. If no one in the village was willing to make the journey.
but he could see their silhouettes in the illumination from that small blaze. No other shouts or cries seemed forthcoming. but he could feel it . Kangri glanced up. Kangri began to glance away from Shache's house when something shimmered in the darkness. drinking the fresh mountain water. walked slowly through the village with a bottle in one hand and a walking stick in the other. easily passing Wu Han. brushing at his clothes with his hands. For a moment he could not move. It was there just inside the front door for a moment. There the broken water gleamed silver. The night was silent. Kangri saw very few people outside. They had not moved. Though the sun had only just fallen. and in a few moments his steps took him to the edge of the stream. Now he picked up his pace. broken layer of clouds above. and it seemed to float like mist out into the night. He was a young man himself and small of stature. Lingka was too old and too small to have any real government. he scrambled backward from the water and climbed to his feet. Kangri felt better that he was not alone. out there after dark. as if they wanted to brave the night but secretly hoped that it would not notice them. The home was no larger than the one Kangri was building. The fire where the boys sat together flickered distantly now. who was withered and bent with age. had built a fire and sat on either side of it talking quietly. calloused hands in the cold water and rubbed them together vigorously. When he blinked it had gone. But the open door was not a figment of his imagination. Without meaning to. but saw nothing out of the ordinary. The older boys waved to him and called out a muted greeting as he trudged past them. Kangri turned and glanced up through the night sky at the mountain ridge to the east. It creaked as the wind made it swing back and forth slightly. and Kangri froze there on his knees at the stream's edge. Kangri waved back but kept silent. save for the places where it poured over stones. There was a thin. black and silver like the flowing water of the stream. but the elders were there to settle quarrels and mete out punishments when necessary. His gaze swept to the north. The small structure nearest the stream on the opposite side belonged to Shache. He enjoyed the clean feeling of the stream passing over his grimy skin and pushed up his sleeves so that he could plunge his forearms in. Though in the darkness he could not see it yet. or knowing he was going to do so. then repeated the process several times before splashing his face again. and the boys seemed to like him because of it. A cry of pain and anguish carried across the night auto him. After a moment he bent lower and splashed water on his face. as if moved by some invisible hand. intertwining with the rippling sound of the stream. but he could not see the stars. Wu Han was out of sight now. He began to walk a bit faster. A pair of older boys. like the wings of a vulture scouring the valley for dead things.He walked through the center of the village. ran wet hands through his hair. It was shrouded in clouds and darkness. the most respected of the elders. Then. he could hear the stream that passed through the village at its northern end. Kangri knelt and placed his small. having retired to his own abode. In the dark the water looked black. but respect in Lingka was not earned by the size of one's dwelling place. as if suddenly recognizing that he might be in danger. He cupped his hands and dipped them into the stream. Wu Han. not quite men. and then. narrowed his gaze. to the half dozen or so homes on the other side of the stream where most of the village elders lived. he heard a rustling in the air above him. He spun around there at the northern edge of the village and tried to determine where the cry had come from. either a figment of his imagination or a spirit so swift as to have slipped away into the dark too fast for his eye to see.
but it pained him to do so. As he did. not to the east this time. Shache had a young wife whom he had wed after his first wife had died. The walls were spattered with blood. a horrible certainty filled him. Kangri stepped close to the open door that creaked in the breeze and he called out to Shache or anyone inside who might hear him. He had already given the door a shove and he was rooted to the threshold as it swung quickly open. Kangri drew the back of his hand across his mouth. His skin was cold. the door still hung open. had promised that the fiendish things that roamed the mountains and lurked in the shadows of its caves would not come into the village. There must have been an open window in the house. to run back to them with this tale of phantasms roaming the village. Even as he did so. muscles tensed to shove it open. . for the sudden change in the breeze pushed the door as if to shut it. so as to rob himself of the time to change his mind. he took courage from their presence and walked quickly to the open door of Shache's house. He tried to swallow. to make certain that as long as they kept together and stayed near Lingka. He turned to flee. and she and Shisha were close. the wind shifted direction. and the stench of it made his stomach convulse and forced him to stagger several steps backward. to run to Shisha's home. What was worse.looming there. Kangri felt a terrible anxiety sweep through him. he strode along the stream to the small footbridge. He stared at the open door to Shache's house and decided that it was nothing. Even as he reached out his right hand and rested his fingers on the wooden door. But none of them were safe now. away from that scene. Quietly. but he dared not seem a coward in the eyes of his future wife or her parents. Kangri ran with eyes wide toward Shisha's house and suddenly realized that he was screaming. When there came no response. The evil had come into the village and struck at its very heart. where he could barely make out the dark shape of the monastery against the backdrop of the snowy peaks. crying out with despair the news of the slaughter. He glanced over his shoulder toward the home of Shisha's parents and the urge to flee. and carried the odor from within to him. He had prepared enough animals for cooking in his life to know the smell of blood. When he looked back at Shache's home. It might have been an animal or merely a passing cloud across the stars—though there was no starlight to speak of—and the wind could have blown the door open. In the midst of his horror. its monolithic presence unnerving him again. to rouse the entire village in hopes that no one else would fall prey to the evil that had committed this atrocity. The monks had blessed Lingka. the floors were strewn with what little remained of Shache and his young wife and their two small children. trying to decide what to do. but to the west. a flicker of anger went through Kangri. But it was too late for Kangri to back away now. his gaze rose again. They were supposed to protect the people of the village. Hurriedly. With a last glance back into the village at the flickering fire and the dark silhouettes of the boys around it. they would be safe. he grew suddenly aware of the speed of his heart thumping against his chest as though it had suddenly swollen near to bursting. Inside that small dwelling. prickling his flesh like an army of insects moving under his skin. Kangri prayed to the gods of his village.
He felt only a twinge of disappointment. show 'em. The game was eternal. a position that seemed effortless for him. Alfred smiled and studied Oz curiously as he slid a single card across the carpet." Robideau narrowed his gaze." Alfred said. always added up pretty fast. the moon fat and gibbous once more. Deuce of clubs. and perhaps that was best. For himself. In the week since he had first joined their game. "Only to humor you. and then it was opened without any response from . he plucked the nine of diamonds from his hand and laid it facedown. Seven of clubs. but Oz only took another swig of beer. Ace of diamonds. after all. There was a staccato knock on the cabin door. Four jacks ought to be good enough to trump his opponents. but Oz could muster a certain amount of admiration for that. out of future lottery winnings or through a last will and testament. It was cocky of him. Oz could not see it from the depths of the Sargasso Drifter. The rules stated that any debts would be paid. face flushed red from too much whiskey. Jack of hearts. Which might have disturbed him if not for the nearly three quarters of a million dollars Robideau owed the man. With a crisp snap." Alfred said. the guy nearly always won. And. The ocean was rough this night. he had kept all five of his cards. He raised an eyebrow as he regarded the best hand of poker he had gotten over the course of what had to amount to ten or fifteen hours playing cards the last seven days. Oz had lost $1. Robideau scowled as he looked at his own cards. "What're you holding?" "Cards. "I don't know why you even try. He sat on the frayed carpet on the floor of the cabin Robideau and Alfred shared and sipped at a lukewarm bottle of Corona while Alf dealt the cards. "Give you something to do so you won't whine like a baby. and watched the intent expression on Robideau's face while Alfred finished the deal. however. The man was sitting cross-legged. "Just one. "I'll take three. Robideau." Robideau replied.314 to Alfred. "All right. on the other hand. and Alfred shook his head in silent amusement." the stout. during a round of poker he was charmingly irascible. Nine of diamonds." Oz picked up his card and turned it over. a look halfway between pity and mockery on his face as he dealt a card to Oz and three to his cabin mate. three-quarter-million-in-debt seaman grumbled. So amiable any other time. The ship pitched and swayed. and at fifty bucks per player per hand. The darkness was no longer afraid of the light. not asking to draw new ones from the deck.The demon of the eastern mountain had grown stronger. Oz found this card-playing Robideau fascinating. if possible. Oz reached out and picked up his cards. had his stumpy legs jutting out in front of him. Jack of spades. Aces and deuces were wild. Chapter Four Five Nights Until the Full Moon Though it was dark outside." Oz told him. but he had almost ceased noticing it at all. leaned back against the cabin wall.
those inside. so we're going to be here longer than we'd hoped." Vargas the steward smiled. Trust me. Four Nights Until the Full Moon In the early hours of the morning. A small flicker of a smile twitched at one corner of his mouth and then was gone. was considerably tainted by the knowledge that though he would be getting off the ship with them in the morning. so they're going to have to use an all-purpose crane. then. They were very much looking forward to the next day. you won't want to waste a minute. poke his head in." Without waiting for a response. There's no setup for container removal at the wharf in Fiji. I used to hate that guy. "Thought you'd like to know we'll be in Fiji by dawn. . the sheer pleasure of his surroundings. Just as he had in Hawaii. "Beauty rest." Oz laid down his cards. Oz was on deck when the Sargasso Drifter moored in Fiji." he said. he thought. Shortly after sunrise the ship put into port at Sigatoka. Oz rose to his feet. and part of their excitement was passed to Oz. his friends' frustration evaporated in seconds. in spite of the sweltering heat. I'm on Skull Island. and they were now in good spirits. he felt as though he were committing a terrible sin visiting paradise without Willow at his side. After a moment in which he mentally subtracted one hundred dollars from his overall debt in the game." Vargas announced almost formally." he said. Even now. however. He could only imagine the snakes and lizards that slithered in among the mangroves. one of the stewards under Ostergaard. he would not be coming back. The view was a consolation. As the ship had moved along the southern coast of Viti Levu he had marveled at the white sand beach and the tropical vegetation. Robideau had a triumphant smile on his face. The clock's already ticking on your day in paradise. and he headed for the door. "Gentlemen. That means we have to wait for them to get around to us. by way of explanation. A flash of annoyance crossed Alfred's features as they all glanced over to see Jim Vargas. the calls of birds that fluttered in the branches of bamboo and coconut trees. The sound of him rapping on another door could be heard momentarily. As was the knowledge that his purpose here was far from pleasurable. Vargas pulled the door shut and continued along to the next cabin. The two men glared at them a moment and then threw their own to the carpet in a disgusted scatter. he found himself overwhelmed by it. Kong. returning his attention to the cards. and that he would be forced to leave some of his belongings behind. Despite their loss. His own anticipation. Viti Levu. "You know. he could see the hardwood trees and the mountains rising up in the distance." Alfred said. "You might want to get some sleep. the Sargasso Drifter navigated the many small islands in the Koro Sea that made up the southeast of Fiji and sailed to the south of the largest island. as his view of the natural treasures of the island was interrupted by the mundane industrial presence of the docks and their accompanying ships. "This is the last hand. All three of you are at liberty until eighteen hundred hours tomorrow night. "All right. and though he had prepared for the natural beauty of the place.
and shops-—but it was the farthest thing imaginable from Honolulu. but he also did not want Mr. and they weren't going to sell him any. he lagged farther behind and. Ostergaard flickered through his mind frequently all through that morning. Oz wasn't a coward and cringed at the thought of sneaking off like one. as long as they could come into possession of a cooler filled with beer and ice. Fiji was all that he had envisioned it to be from the outside. this was an island operation. with island rules. he'd be paying for it. even blase. The village had modern conveniences—telephones. he went ashore with Robideau and Alfred. He ran fleetly down the alley and into a grassy area behind the restaurant.Down in his cabin. his shaving kit and toothbrush. Though they were adversaries at cards. The insurance he had on his van wasn't going to cover an accident on Fiji. things were going to become very difficult for him in a few days. that it sensed the quickening of his pulse and the imminent arrival of the full moon. until their brains would melt from too much relaxation. but he did not want to think about that now. At least not until he was already gone. he realized there was little he could do to it that anyone would notice. Thoughts of the Sargasso Drifter. Caesar. On top of that. They became involved in a debate about the cinematic merits of Gerard Depardieu. when they led him to the battle-scarred green Jeep. in a moment when he was certain they were entrenched in conversation about Green Card. Alone in Sydney under the full moon . Xander Harris—but he'd never had one who acted as his sidekick the way these two men did for each other. Alfred suggested that they find the nearest populated bit of beachfront and do nothing but watch Fijian women walk by and swim. where a stand of hardwood trees grew by themselves. and all the money he'd brought with him. But he did his best to push them aside as he moved through the village. No Avis or Budget here. he ducked into a narrow alley between a Polynesian restaurant and a shop that seemed to sell only hats and fans. and of Mr. If that happened. Though he knew it was only his imagination. On Oz's bed. after a large breakfast. four nights away. of Alf and Robideau. his backpack was already stuffed with what clothes he could carry. and even more sorry that he was now going to ditch them without a word. Some two hours later. Gavin was still sleeping. He wanted to travel light. Ostergaard or the captain to realize he planned to abandon them here in Fiji. and locating a restaurant that seemed suitable for an early dinner. shampoo and soap. Oz thought it was early in the day for beer—on ice or not—but he made no objection when his friends found a place to purchase it. Robideau agreed. If something happened to his rental.. But when he wanted to be. looking as out of place as he felt. Twenty minutes after he slipped down that alley he had located a gas station where he could rent a car for the day. they were never less than boon companions at all other times. it seemed to him that the wolf inside him was agitated. Oz let his friends get a bit ahead of him. That closeness between the two made him even more grateful that they had befriended him. In fact. but he hoped to avoid a confrontation. The three sailors strolled along the streets for a time. and though he had a few opinions on the subject himself. there was always the possibility that he would not be able to find the person he had come to see. . he was nearly as swift and silent as the beast that huddled beneath his skin. Fortunately. he chipped in his share. noting small stores they wanted to come back to later to buy trinkets for those to whom they would eventually return. As they wound their way through Sigatoka back toward the shore. restaurants. Oz was well aware that most people saw him as laidback. He might even allow that there was some truth to that.. Oz had a number of guys he thought of as his friends—the Dingoes. and would continue on to Sydney after all. only four days.
Oz started up the Jeep and pulled it out onto the rutted main road of Sigatoka. As he drove north out of Sigatoka. Now that he was enclosed in the Jeep. There was no air-conditioning in the Jeep. he'd worry about shaving. Lush greenery was populated by what seemed dozens of different species of colorful birds. and for the answers that he hoped to find here. So intent had he been upon his abandonment of his shipmates that he had noticed the heat and humidity but not really been burdened by it. either. Not the 1970s remake. working out exactly where he was at the moment. When he got a haircut. it took Oz only a minute to locate Mount Tomaniivi. which would take him up the southeasterly face of the mountain. The Highland Road was a series of switchbacks crisscrossing the face of the mountain. which meant the mountain he was headed for had been the biggest and nastiest of those volcanic eruptions. From what Alfred had told him during their journey. The Sargasso Drifter was behind him now. but Oz opened all the windows and turned on the vent. Inside the glorified gas station he had bought himself a couple of bottles of water. Even when he reached what the map identified as the Highland Road. morning had turned to noon. The big Buddha at the rental place obviously didn't care what the vehicle looked like. grown thick and bushy over the weeks he'd been at sea. The outside air rushing in was warm. With it spread across the dashboard. he did not even glance in the rearview mirror. He left the map spread out beside him and ran both hands through his hair. According to his information. engine purring. about halfway up. but the original from the thirties. He drove through several other villages and past vast fields of sugarcane. and Oz came several times to rivers flowing down toward the ocean. the village of Toka Vatu was on the south side of the mountain. But Oz had not expected it to be. The view of the mountains rising up before him reminded him again of Skull Island from the movie King Kong. unpaved roads. consulting the map every few minutes. he found that it was little more than a cart path. Still. but soon the land began to rise and the hardwood and sandalwood trees to outnumber the coconut and bamboo. He took a moment to study the map and he glanced around. There was something vaguely unsettling about that. Now he screwed the cap off one and took a small sip before closing the bottle again and laying it on the seat. Though tempted. In the end he'd left it. Early that morning he'd looked in the mirror and considered shaving the meager beard that had begun to grow on his face. Slowly at first. but at least it was in motion. he knew that the Fiji Islands had been created by undersea volcanoes. Toka Vatu was not on the map. It did not help that he'd also overheard Ostergaard and a crewman named Jim Armstrong discussing the fact that it was hurricane season in the South Pacific. the landscape around him became even more tropical. Volcanoes and hurricanes. he considered the threat a small price to pay for paradise. The Buddha-like man at the rental agency had provided him—for a small fee—with a fairly well-detailed map of the island. He paused only briefly each time before . The sun moved across the sky until it was high above. with stones and roots and potholes large enough to lose a child in. and the streets had given way to narrow. the highest peak on all of Fiji. he drove north out of Sigatoka. the air felt close and sticky around him.Once he had paid for the day up front and let them copy his passport. Oz climbed into the Jeep and dropped his backpack into the passenger seat. but someone had been taking good care of what was under its hood.
the effect was even more startling. he put it in gear and surged forward. There were people working in the field. shedding water as it went and then he was on land again. It wound upward. those strange little children with their bright orange jack-o'-lantern skin. only now aware of how anxious he had been. but as the minutes ticked by it became less a road and more a vague trail. A hissing sound seemed to fill the air. It was breathtakingly beautiful. It had been nearly three hours since he had begun his trip into the mountains. and suddenly the landscape on both sides dropped away into a pair of deep ravines. but the farther upward he drove the more cloud cover gathered above. Once more he came to a river. water rushing past the tires. He shut off the engine but did not move. Backing all the way out of there seemed like a treacherous prospect. with everyone save a handful of the smallest children pausing to stare at him. narrow features. On their parents. From his pack he took an apple and banana he had brought with him from the ship that morning and ate them slowly. falling in a tumult across his path and down the side of the mountain. Now as he rounded a bend he noticed an even narrower trail that went straight ahead. But Toka Vatu was somewhere on the other side. and hair like porcupine quills. From the brush came the noises of various birds and animals moving through the branches and in the undergrowth. Twice he had to get out and haul fallen trees from his path and often he reached points where it seemed the path was about to disappear. he cursed and gunned the engine. At last the Jeep rolled into a clearing. Tree branches hung in a canopy across the path and they brushed the roof as Oz pulled under them. Children played in the midst of the village. When the forest sprang up again on either side of him. Heart thumping loudly in his ears. It became so steep that the engine growled in protest. Oz was grateful for the Jeep's four-wheel drive as the tires clung precariously to the path. Several times he stopped at small villages and asked about his destination. Trying to force images of the Jeep sliding down the river to fall off into some bottomless ravine. When he was through he climbed back in and continued carefully down the narrow path. and a shudder went through him as he wondered how many snakes it would take to make a sound that loud. but beyond it Oz could see that the clearing continued to an open field where sugarcane and rice grew. and he saw a meager village around him made up of houses with woven-mat walls and thatched roofs. At first it seemed no deeper than the others. pointing upward. Oz slowed and took a deep breath. only to have it widen again. the road a kind of aqueduct. sparkling in the sunlight that broke through the thin cloud cover in spotlight rays. Activity in the village had come to a halt. staring up at the mountain's peak still high above. . Oz worried what would happen if he never reached a place where he might turn around. and he'd come too far not to keep going. It was also fast and deep. Fortunately the sun had been shining that morning. and others crushing some sort of plant in large wooden bowls in front of a house nearby. So close was the edge that had he stopped to appreciate the view he could hardly have gotten out of the Jeep without falling over the ridge. He killed the engine and stepped out.forging across in the Jeep. It was the rainy season in Fiji. The Jeep lurched forward. Oz felt the entire vehicle begin to slide sideways in the water. but halfway across the water came up over the tires and washed across the floor of the Jeep right under his feet. Even in those spots where his trail seemed clear. Children. which explained all those rivers washing down the mountain. He took a few long draughts of water and then put the Jeep in gear again to continue on his journey. The tires spun a moment without touching anything and then at last found traction at the bottom of the river. The Highland Road had barely earned the name to begin with. Always the locals merely ushered him on.
or at least that Sarah Atwill was no longer here. What's your name?" . Where they had been playing there now stood a fortyish human woman with hair so blond." It was as though the sun had suddenly shone through the cloud of her severe expression. he stepped out of the Jeep and pocketed the keys. Or at least Giles said if anyone could. but I wondered if you could help me. radiating with a healthiness that made her beautiful.Demons. this retreat where the Litoka demon tribe had made its home. "Hoping you can help me. "You're a lycanthrope." Oz raised his eyebrows. These villagers were hardly the strangest things he had ever seen. He forced an awkward smile onto his face and kept his hands down and open. the crossed arms. "Am I meant to know you." "It's the only reason Rupert would have sent you to me. Oz was not certain. brows knitted. Sarah Atwill smiled. running toward the field. and Sarah stepped toward him. "Hi. He heard children laughing behind him and turned to see them scattering. the raised chin and suspicious gaze. it would be you." Then the smile went away again. gazing into his eyes. He stared at her." "I guess you don't." she said. where a woman—a female demon— was standing inside the door with a child cradled in her arms. and they seemed harmless enough. "I'm Sarah Atwill. Do you know Sarah Atwill?" The female narrowed her gaze and studied him. "That obvious. Oz swallowed and found his throat dry. So he had found Toka Vatu after all. the faux smile disappearing. but he thought the expression on her face might have been amusement. then?" she asked in her crisp. and find that they had gone. He could probably fill it up from one of the many rivers. All through his insane journey he had feared that he would reach this place. huh? Not usually something people can tell just by looking. he walked cautiously as he began to approach the nearest home. "Because otherwise I'm growing impatient. Whenever that might be." he observed. but decided to save the second one for the trip back down. clipped English accent. "Who the hell are you?" Something seemed to give way inside Oz. "Pretty presumptuous. but when he reached over for his water he realized that one of the bottles was already empty. We don't get a lot of visitors here. How's it going?" he began. Still. "You don't mean Rupert Giles?" "I don't? Pretty sure I do. I know. it was almost white. She was thin but looked strong. and he let out a sigh of relief that turned into a low chuckle. and all he could think of was some harsh English schoolmistress who belonged more on some BBC series than in the wild mountain forests of Fiji. palms out to show he was unarmed. you see. Without hesitation.
"They call me Oz." "Oz," she repeated dubiously, a hint of disapproval in her voice. "Not what your mother calls you, though." "I've been called a lot of things," he replied, uncomfortable with the personal turn the conversation had taken. Abruptly, Sarah's expression softened. She thrust out her hand as though it had been a long time since custom had required her to greet someone with a handshake. Oz could understand how her social skills might get rusty living up here. He glanced around, noted with some surprise that the demons were all but ignoring them now, and he took her hand. As they shook, Sarah spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, words heavy with sorrow. "You shouldn't have come all this way, Oz. Rupert knows there isn't a cure." Oz scratched idly at the thick stubble on his chin. "So do I. I'm not looking for a cure. Just some control." Her expression was grave. "What did he tell you about me?" Giles had actually told him a great many things about Sarah Atwill. According to him, no one in the world had spent more time studying werewolves. The Watchers Council looked to Sarah whenever the subject came up. His own research had not uncovered any way for Oz to control the beast inside him, but Giles had suggested that might be because most werewolves were like Veruca . . . they gave in to the beast willingly. "He told me if anyone could help me figure out how to fight it, you could." Sarah reached out to him again, this time to glide her hand gently along his arm. She met his gaze unwaveringly, and before she spoke, he knew what she was going to say. "I'm afraid you've come a very long way for nothing." For a moment, Oz was paralyzed. He swallowed hard and then, when he felt he could move again, he turned away from her and stared back the way he'd come, through the long, dark forest tunnel that led to this peaceful retreat, where a tribe of demons could hide away from the world. The sky pulled at him as if daring him to look up, to search for the ghost of the moon on the horizon. A handful of days until it was full. And there was nowhere for him to hide. He did not even look back at her. "I should go," he said. "It isn't safe for you if I stay." Oz started back toward the Jeep, mind numb, unable or unwilling to begin trying to figure out where he might trap himself to stop the beast from taking lives. Here she was, after all, the one woman in the world Giles thought might be able to help. He'd found her, and that in itself was incredible. Yet it was all for nothing. "Oz," Sarah said as he reached for the door of the Jeep, "Rupert Giles doesn't know everything." Unable to breathe, he turned hopefully toward her. Sarah seemed hesitant, but after a moment she went on.
"There's a . . . well, a monastery, I suppose it is, though it's more a sort of sanctuary. Nothing religious about it, unless you think faith in oneself is a kind of religion. I've never met the master there, Shantou, but I knew a lycanthrope once that had near complete control over his condition. He claimed Master Shantou had taught that to him." Oz stared at her impatiently. At length he inclined his head just a bit. "Hoping you're gonna tell me where this place is." A flutter of a smile moved across her face like birds taking flight, then it was gone and Sarah Atwill was all seriousness again. "I can see why Rupert likes you. No nonsense. Right, then. The monastery's on a mountain in Tibet, or at least it's meant to be. I'm sure I've got a map in my house that will help." Another wave of defeat threatened to wash over Oz, but he was having none of it. 'Tibet it is," he said dryly. Now a shadow seemed to pass over the woman's features and it was not nearly so fleeting as her smile. She frowned and glanced at the sky, seemed to pause to do a bit of mental calculation. "Yeah," Oz noted. "Four days." "Maybe we can find a cave to keep you in, somewhere very remote," she suggested. He shook his head. "No thanks. I want to keep moving. But if you know anyone in Sydney, I'll be there the day after tomorrow." "I'm sorry, but I don't. You might call Rupert, though. Obviously he has a great many connections. The Watchers' Council—" "Not his biggest fans about now," Oz interrupted. He didn't bother to mention that he was reluctant to have contact with anyone back in Sunnydale, even Giles. He wanted to keep out of Willow's life, let her get on with things without him, until he could face her again with the beast under his control. "I see," Sarah replied. "Well, when you speak to him, please give him my love." Oz shot her a sidelong glance. "Verbally, right? 'Cause Giles, not really the most huggable guy." She laughed at that. "Yes, verbally." Sarah Atwill beamed. "You're a fascinating young man, Oz. I hope you find what you're looking for, and I hope we meet again." "Me too," he replied, reaching out to shake her hand again. He was surprised to find that, despite his disappointment, he meant it. Sarah Atwill seemed a genuinely decent person, not to mention interesting, given that she'd chosen to live her life up on a mountain in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of demons. After Sarah had retrieved the map from her hut and pointed out the location of the monastery on it, Oz said good-bye. He climbed back into the Jeep, turned it around, and began the trek back down the mountain. But any good feeling Sarah had brought out in him dissipated almost immediately. Though the sun still shone through breaks in the clouds, a light rain began to fall. There were still many hours left before dark, yet he could feel the moon waiting just at the edge of the day, like a secret lover who knew that though he ought not come to her, he would not be able to stay away. Chapter Five Four Nights Until the Full Moon
"Sarah sends her love." Oz stood in a tucked away little corner in the lobby of the Outrigger Reef in Sigatoka. He had his back to the elegant island paradise that had been re-created in the hotel's huge foyer, the phone pressed to his ear. On the other end of the line, thousands of miles away, Giles hesitated. "Really?" the Watcher asked. "That's ... kind of her. We knew each other only briefly, from a Council retreat at Innsbruck. I wouldn't have thought, well. . ." "Guess you made an impression," Oz told him. "Anyway, Tibet?" "Ah, of course," the Englishman said. Oz could almost picture Giles standing in the narrow little galley that passed for a kitchen in his apartment, sipping at a hot cup of tea. Probably half asleep despite his claim that he'd been doing research when the phone rang. "Once upon a time it might have been even more difficult," Giles began. "Fortunately, now that China has taken possession of Hong Kong once more, there is a vulnerable spot. It happens that I have an old acquaintance there that may be able to help you, or at least point you in the right direction. After that, I'm afraid you're on your own." "I'll manage," Oz told him. "I appreciate what you've done already. No chance you have a friend in Sydney willing to keep me in a cage for a few nights?" There was a giggle behind him, and Oz turned to see a pair of young girls—twins, by the look of them—perhaps twelve years old, walking by. They covered their mouths to whisper to each other, but they glanced at him repeatedly. He had no idea if they were American, but the girls certainly spoke English well enough to have understood what he had said. He raised an eyebrow and returned his attention to the phone conversation. "Sorry, Giles. Momentary distraction. What was that?" "Simply that, given the time constraints, it seems imperative you make your way to Sydney and then fly to Hong Kong if you've got the money. If he's willing, I'm certain Qing will be able to handle your transformation this month. He has more than one aspect himself, in fact." Oz didn't know whether to cringe or cheer, though he wasn't really likely to do either. It was an enormous relief to think there might be someone who could shelter him— or shelter the world from him—for the three nights of the full moon. But blowing most of the cash he'd brought along on a single plane ticket was a painful thought. On the other hand, he knew a couple of guys who had followed the Allman Brothers Band across the country until they ran out of money, then washed dishes in restaurants and painted houses until they had enough to come home. "Qing sounds like my man. How do I find him?" "I'll Jell him you're coming. Write this down." "Hang on," Oz replied. He reached down between his legs and hauled up his pack, trapping it between his body and the phone so that he could root around for the black Sharpie marker he had in there. It was at the bottom. He had nothing to write on, so he pulled out the frayed paperback copy of The Brothers Karamazov he'd been reading and used the inside cover. "Go." Giles gave him an address and telephone number for Qing in Hong Kong. Oz would have to get his
he shoved the book and pen back into his pack and slung it over his shoulder. As much as he loved her. Now he strolled through the comfortable air-conditioned lobby of the Outrigger Reef and stepped out into the humidity and heat. and he had a feeling that the little restaurants and shops in Sigatoka were likely to charge him just to dial out. Cease fire. pure and simple. until you've got it sorted. The wind had blown a familiar scent to him. The silence seemed to stretch long over the phone line. I think. but the real selling point was the fact that the hotel itself was only yards from the sand. and he could see why. "And you as well. neither of them said a word. Willow not so far away at all. Rather." Giles assured him. Favor. moving on with her life. If not. The Outrigger Reef was a first-class hotel. darkness coming on. If things work out. mostly leaving their cars and walking up toward the hotel. have Giles pass along word that he was all right. Simple. however. he had needed a phone he could use his calling card on without too much trouble. that he loved her. but none of them were paying him . Sigatoka itself was beautiful. If she was taking things badly. By the time he got back to the Sargasso Drifter it would be well after dark and Mr. Giles. Ostergaard was not going to be a happy man. part of him did not want to know. but the village where locals shopped and did their business and the sprawling resort seemed like two completely different worlds. you'll see me again before you hear from me. The fountains and greenery in the lobby made it peaceful as well as sophisticated. that might be even worse. and it was almost eerie how nearby the two ends of that conversation seemed then. "Thanks. there one moment and gone with the next breeze. make him feel a kind of connection to her. he told his brain. the sort of place Oz felt awkward just walking through. He had not even asked Giles how Willow was doing. though?" "Not to worry.own map of the city. As he slipped the key into the lock. With a shake of his head. "Will you keep me apprised of your progress?" "Doubtful. Just the hint of it. a frown creasing his forehead. he would feel even guiltier than he already was. "I've not mentioned a word to anyone. The sky was a faded purple now. He had parked the Jeep about halfway across the parking lot. that he hoped— "Take care of yourself." Oz hung up the phone." Oz said. But it wouldn't do her any good. Passing messages back to Willow would probably make him feel a little better about himself. Sunnydale seemed so close. Final. and if she was recovering. He had to save as much money as he could at the moment. Oz had not been drawn here by the hotel's status as a tourist mecca on the island. He glanced around. He ought to say something. The hotel was a tourist destination. It's unhealthy. You never used to think this much. That's best. until he had something to say. and the air was not quite as oppressive as it had been earlier. But the chief steward would probably have been a lot angrier if he hadn't returned at all. Giles was right: It was best to say nothing at all. not. Oz paused." Oz said. but that would be easy enough. There were a number of people in the lot." For a moment. a stone's throw from the ocean.
he could not take too long. to Hong Kong and beyond. The one nearest him. he'd be trapped on Fiji when the full moon rose. Back along the street there was a turn he was supposed to have taken. away from the moon. and he turned left and started down it. never talked about any of the things that made him different. he scowled and turned his eyes away from the night sky. but one glance from Oz and he fell silent. and he realized it must have been his imagination. There were two of them about thirty feet back. breath catching in his throat. What was important. headed back toward the pier. he slowed his stride. and he did not blame them. just ushered Oz out the door and was visibly glad to see him go. that was all. and he felt the moonlight on his skin the way others would the sun. They were going to be pissed off that he'd ditched them. it was harder to believe that. it was full on dark. the ocean. with ragged cut hair and angular features that made him look almost comically severe. was that he reach the ocean. When he closed his eyes a moment. Human. but he never spoke of it to anyone. After all. though. and beyond that. though. The clouds had cleared off again. was thin and pale. sliding toward perfection. Finding the ship then would be simple. he thought as he turned around. and the stars were spectacular. to Tibet. Even in paradise. just as Mr. toward his ship. As he walked through the village. Already even the memory of that scent was leaving him.the least bit of attention. He must have gone farther than necessary in the dark. Oz drove back to the main village of Sigatoka as quickly as he dared. Nights like this. but Oz was suddenly not in so great a rush. her flesh tearing in his jaws. the feeling of Veruca's blood-soaked fur beneath his lips. Oz stood beside the Jeep and stared up at the moon for a moment. and his first thought was that they did not look Fijian. he wanted to shout to it. he cursed himself for not having paid more attention. and Robideau had discussed dining in today. the man who had rented him the Jeep made a few rumblings about wear and tear as though he might try to charge even more money. the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Chilled. After several blocks he saw a shop he recognized from that morning. He put both arms through the loops of the backpack now. Night came quickly to the island. The other he could not see as . picking his way around empty fruit crates that littered the broken pavement. Oz frowned. His mind began to wander into the future. Alf. It was always like this when the full moon drew close. Still. and by the time he pulled the Jeep into the lot behind the combination gas station and rental agency. He did not even walk outside to check on further damage on the Jeep. There was a moonlit alley ahead. Inside the rental agency. When he heard the soft snickering behind him. and he was meant to be going south toward the port. though. he had a flash of dream memory. Thinking of his friends. If Ostergaard fired him. The street he was on had turned westward. a squat little shop or office. He could see the other end already. It was inevitable. He was just a guy. still growing. never discussed that or how acute his sense of smell was. Oz did not want to be different. then the restaurant he. Street punks. A rim of light surrounded it like an aura of frost. what were the chances he was going to run into someone he knew in Fiji? With his backpack on the seat beside him. It was so beautiful. The soles of his high-tops scuffed the road as he picked up the pace again. Ostergaard's scorn was. The gibbous moon was a fat and misshapen thing. whose face he could see clearly in the available light.
but it wasn't a good idea to rile them up. "But don't worry if you have to break him a little. 'Take him alive. There had been no way for Cain to know why he was going to Fiji. Caution. the one right in front of the linebacker. But the kid was on the move. so he figured he might as well put them to work. even up in the mountains. after all. His mind flashed back to the parking lot at the Outrigger Reef." Vampires. He could track Oz on his own. This was a scent he knew. and not far from the other end of the alley two more dark figures dropped down to the pavement. Oz crouched low. and Oz's heart skipped a beat. They were peaceful creatures. But the odds sucked. and Cain needed to recoup some of his losses on the Veruca situation. He ran with the Slayer. Cain heard the kid whisper to himself. He had to capture Oz when the opportunity presented itself and then hold him until the moon was up. That was exactly the kind of possibility that had led him to call in the vampire brothers in the first place. He had been in tight scrapes plenty of times. And this Fiji trip was the perfect example. normally. Now the opportunity was here. that was the saying. Under normal circumstances he would have waited until the moon was full—that was the real hunt. knife gleaming in his grasp. If Oz had stuck around with the Litokas. The gleam off that knife's edge was what made Oz take a step backward. and he froze." he whispered. Cain would have needed the Pierraults' help in a big way. "Take him alive. Oz had been hanging around with a tribe of Litoka demons." Cain said. he hadn't really needed them. The linebacker stepped farther into the alley. mostly back in Sunnydale. He turned to glance toward the ocean again." Oz's gaze darted to the thug nearest him. and he was paying the Pierraults. crap. "I can't skin him till he's got a pelt to sell. he curled his fingers over as though they were claws. broad shoulders silhouetted at the end of the alley. run him to the ground easily enough. they were demons. but he was built like a linebacker." the big man said. Better to err on the side of caution. Vampires. He sniffed the air. Cain had survived as long as he had because he was damn good at the job—it was his calling—but also because he wasn't a damn fool. As it turned out. He held a large knife in his right hand. But don't worry if you have to break him a little. but a couple of times with the Dingoes. Without realizing he was doing it. His face changed. blocking his retreat. or who he expected to meet up with there. and he knew it had not been his imagination then. unnoticed. Cain had been tracking the werewolf all day and managed to stay out of sight.well. It was almost worth the commission he was going to have to pay the Pierrault brothers to see Oz's reaction to the vampires' presence. and the moonlight fell fully on his face now. . and it glinted in the moonlight. with the Slayer. and smiled. Hell. adrenaline surging through him. "Oh. This wasn't his first back alley brawl. anyway. It had gotten under Cain's skin to bring in extra muscle—especially extra muscle that could only work at night—but the Osbourne kid was no ordinary werewolf.
Maybe. but Oz had forgotten most of what he had learned of that language the second he graduated from high school. Again he felt the moonlight on his skin. Someone had vamped a trio of brothers. But these three had a scent that was almost identical.Now that he recognized them for what they were. but Oz was not willing to accept that. he would have thought the vampires would not be able to frighten him. but at the moment he missed it an awful lot. and they all had high windows—too high for him to reach. A shower of broken wood forced Cain to shield his face. With all the speed and strength he could muster he cut to the left and threw himself at a tall wooden door with a fat knob and a rusty keyhole. In the eye-blink moment in which Cain and the nearest vampire were throwing aside the remains of the fruit crates. At least they aren't triplets. and his heart ached. Oh. several doors on either side of the alley belonging. As he rushed at them he could see the ocean beyond them. waiting for the moment when it could break free. Not yet. their eyes glowing a sickly. But he had seen too often what they were capable of and so he said a silent prayer to whatever cosmic forces were out there . "Smart boy. Oz crouched. Plus." Cain said casually. and he snatched it up. picked up a broken fruit crate in each hand." The hunter smiled. felt the beast striving within him. One of the splintered slats clattered to the ground. At least not yet. There were shops on either side of him. joy. unnerving yellow in the light from the moon and stars. however. maybe he was more than human. Veruca had said that he was the beast all the time. The only thing he had going for him was that the guy in charge— the human—didn't want him dead. Oz thought. as though it were a done deal already. and it occurred to him that they might have been related even before death. The sea wasn't his life. he imagined. He was already in motion. "Grab him. The alley ran between two long buildings. almost tiredly. and they waited for him. "Cain . mostly they just smelled stale.. The vampire tried to bat the crates away. Oz altered his course in an instant. to shops both on the street he'd just left and the one he had been heading for. They didn't all smell like this. but Oz only caught a glimpse of that. After all the time he'd spent in Sunnydale. Oz realized that he could smell them. exposing glittering fangs like murderous diamonds.. Which meant the reason Cain didn't want him dead yet was because he was waiting for the full moon.. They grinned. The two vampire brothers hissed. The basic physical description matched the only person in the world who had ever tried to hunt Oz before—Gib Cain. Oz turned toward the other two bloodsuckers. and heaved them at the nearest vampire. thinking stake. That'd be perverse. The one with the human guy muttered something in French. the weight of his backpack almost making him lose his balance as he shifted his momentum. Twisted. though. like raw beef about an hour away from rancid. There were. The two behind Oz who were blocking his way to the pier began to snicker." he began... Their scent was cold and visceral. but they were falling apart and shattered around him. cruel eyes daring him to try to get past them. well. he figured he didn't have a heck of a lot of time to spend trying to translate. But why not? Who the hell was the guy and what did he and his vampire lackeys want with Oz? The answer came to him almost immediately. so he could skin Oz alive.
this one thinner even than his brothers. With a soft. In L. he knocked its hands away and rammed the . Then he was out on the street.A. His stomach clutched and churned. On the roof of the shop stood one of the vampires. wolf boy!" a voice called from above him. and it wasn't the first time. He could still feel the moonlight. he thought.in the universe. Behind him he heard a crash as Cain and the vampires pursued him. trying not to think about that door and what would have happened if it had not opened. It had to be. "Heel! Heel to your betters!" There was a crash as a display stand went down. It was a gift shop filled with things tailor made for tourists: T-shirts and knickknacks and island jewelry. It was the rusty lock. He clutched the broken wooden slat in his hand and hurried through the store. slammed open with a splintering crash. A spike of pain drove into his shoulder and sent echoes all down his arm and up his neck. almost too swift to see.. . something he would not even consider. Oz pulled in his arms and legs and ducked his head as he leaped through the frame of jagged glass teeth that threatened to close around him. He plowed into the door. The dead were after him. but he barely felt it. He was in. Oz thought. and he felt fear. chuffling laugh. let it spin him around. The vamps were too fast. Otherwise he would have to conclude that he had drawn on the strength and speed of the wolf. though he could no longer see the sky. barreled over by the vamp in the lead. wanted to cuss him out. pushed through curtains out into the front. Oz bristled at the leech's words. Materials here must be cheaper. Yet that was not how it had felt. He had felt faster and stronger than he ought to be. He took the blow. not daring to lose even a fraction of a second. yes. brought his makeshift stake up. that's all. and it gave way with a screech and a puff of rust. Oz reached out and grabbed hold of a marble statue that he imagined represented a volcano god or something. As he passed the counter at the front of the store. and that would mean . So he lunged at the vampire. and when the vampire came at him. even in Sunnydale. '"Allo. "Wolf!" snarled a vampire behind him. he could practically feel their icy claws upon him. of course. . he dropped off the roof and landed on the street perhaps seven feet away from Oz. He hustled through the back room of the store. Oz ignored them. but he kept his head down. then Cain hissing at them to keep it down. Nowhere to run. But Oz was pretty fast himself. arms extended. Out in the alley there was loud cursing in French. The vamp slapped him a vicious backhand. listening in. Oz started across the street but faltered and nearly took a spill as he twisted to look around and up. people don't worry so much about security. of the beast. Oz pushed that fine of thought away. Oz's heart thundered in his chest. and his whole body seemed cold despite the heat of the night. but he also felt exhilaration. his hair longer. Oz dodged showcases and display stands. The glass exploded out into the street. He hefted the stone icon but barely slowed down as he cocked his arm back and hurled it through the glass front door of the shop. he probably would have bounced right off.
twisted up the wrong direction. non!" Oz turned and ran. but not out. People began shouting. he glanced over at the storefront with its shattered glass door. but where was the third one? The third brother? The vampire was nowhere to be seen. and Oz looked over to see that the legs beneath the car—one whole and one twisted and broken—were moving. and Oz caught the glint of headlights over his left shoulder. but even as he did so he heard a loud. the odds would be better. So that was it. There had been three of them. His eyes were glued on the dark sedan that had nearly run him down. the lights on the various ships moored there. It dusted. staring at him. "Stop!" a voice roared behind him. and the car screeched to a halt. Cain wasn't giving up. one was going to have a hell of a limp for a while. He could see the pier. the road he'd meant to turn down in the first place. Somebody tried to help him up. The sailors lived onboard. he knew that much. Then his voice rose. His ankle hurt. but it wasn't a privately owned ship. That's it. But those shoes . and he glanced all around him. but the grill of the car still clipped his foot.. It was Cain's voice. the other two vampires—he had begun to think of them as ravens —emerged from the shop and faltered. Oz did not look back. putting it all together in half a second. staring gape-mouthed at him with the stake in his hand. Then someone screamed. He had no idea if the vampires would be able to get onboard or not. The Mercedes wasn't a house. One of the legs was broken. He had hunted vamps before." one of them whispered. but never alone. Dorothy dropping a house on her. breath coming too fast. But at least there he would have allies. rippling up his back. moving toward him out of restaurants and off the sidewalks. calling after him. and— Even as the thoughts went through his head. Instinct made him dive forward. Too many people around. The guy had to be an idiot if he really thought Oz was going to stop just because he said so. A chill went through Oz. "Non. He hit the pavement and rolled. Oz began to back away from the scene. Frantic. A horn blared suddenly. but Oz barely registered the guy. a look of surprise and fear on its raven-like features. and tonight he'd gotten lucky.broken slat through its skinny chest. And he didn't want to endanger his friends. heart pounding. not to mention Cain. and he shuddered. One of them was the Sargasso Drifter. all he could think of was the Wicked Witch of the East and her ruby slippers. Oz was no Slayer. "Henri. In his mind's eye he had an image of the hunter standing just outside the shattered glass door of that shop. looking at the faces in the crowd. A pair of expensive Italian shoes stuck out from under the car. They remind me of ravens. arms crossed. Ravens. There in the darkness. but he didn't think it was broken. But there were two others. but it would do. but the hunt was on hold for the moment. It struck home to Oz just how close behind him the vampire had been.. he saw Gib Cain standing. He was on the main thoroughfare now. The vampire who'd been run down by the car was down. People asked him in . One was dust. just inside. wet thump.
Jim Armstrong was on the deck. He let out a long breath. Oz clutched the straps of the pack tightly as he ran. he turned and pushed through a couple of people and began to run. at least. Oz did not squirm. He knew that the hunt was not over. Though his ankle throbbed. but that could cost lives. They probably wouldn't need an invitation. spooked by every door he had to open. but there was nothing to be done for it. Not Cain. But one of those vampires? He'd given some thought to it. Just as there was nothing to be done about Ostergaard's mistrust of him now. No vampires. Oz felt badly." Mr. It had only begun. very bad. He plastered a false smile onto his face and moved more swiftly. Despite Mr. he would have had to feel safe. explained that he'd gotten turned around. nor of the brothers. That would be very. supervising several crewmen as they battened down the doors of the hold where the containers had been offloaded. Oz wished he could avoid thinking about it. It would be too difficult for him to hide. Ostergaard noticed it even now. lost track of them. Ostergaard's obvious disapproval. and even though they lived on the boat while at sea. He deeply regretted the way he had taken advantage of this man's kindness and goodwill. Even now he knew it was possible that one or more of the vampires had come aboard. Three Nights Until the Full Moon Oz had finished his shift twenty minutes ago. He glanced side to side. and he did not. Ostergaard said. it wasn't their home. and the hours between Oz's return to the Sargasso Drifter and their departure had been nerve-racking ones. and then surrendered to the island's beauty and wandered the beaches all day. Now he sat in a hard wooden chair in the chief steward's office and suffered the disappointment of the man who had given him his job. regretted that he had let him down and planned to do so again. Both men had accepted his apology. walking backward. He had apologized to Alf and Robideau. Moments later. "When you disappeared on them yesterday. saw the way Oz glanced around constantly. but there was not an ounce of relief in it. with so few windows to let the sun in. The old man stroked his walrus mustache and frowned. He was on edge. "I hope you apologized to Canfield and Robideau. Oz ran up the gangway to the Sargasso Drifter. For that. So it might be possible to hide down there in the bowels of the ship. but there was nothing. they feared something had happened to you. no hunters. he probably would have dumped it back in me alley. could remember the way the moonlight glinted off his knife in the alley. At the top of the gangway. starting at shadows. If it had been just his clothes in there. They had left port at Sigatoka shortly before midnight. Only tourists looking at him oddly.half a dozen languages if he was all right. and the book with the information about his contact in Hong Kong. faces staring through the glass of restaurant windows. watching for a fleeting. There was no sign of Cain. The backpack seemed heavier than ever. Spent most of their liberty trying to figure out where you had gotten off to and if you were all right." Oz nodded. Far from it. but it had been clear in their eyes that they did not believe him and they had been cool to him when he had seen them at breakfast this morning. birdlike shadow closing in. . but he had done the job to the best of his ability. In his mind he could still see the dark shape of Cain staring at him from the shadowy interior of that shop. Oz turned to look back at the village of Sigatoka. his tone much like that of a teacher correcting a wayward student. not least his own. but all his money was in there. That was something.
for if they did not work the land they would have no food. Oz. awaiting a response. of course. Ostergaard seemed not to notice as he rose and went to the window. I'll pay you your wages for this trip. They had little choice in the matter. disappearing the way you did. the presumption that he was ungrateful and untrustworthy. Ostergaard stared at him. The people in the mountain village of Lingka went about their lives much as they always had. and to the full moon. it's going to be curtailed. It was only that I had a feeling I could trust you. Clearly. You're a good worker. and the ship swayed. And I'm grateful for the opportunity you gave me. "They're pretty ticked." The ocean rolled beneath them. I might have understood." Ostergaard did not look at him again. just to get your feet on dry land and a meal that isn't from the mess. Regret followed him out of the room." Ostergaard raised an eyebrow. but already. and his eyes narrowed dangerously. making his hair and mustache look thinner. Only a couple of hours. But if shore leave comes up for you. and he had honestly never imagined Ostergaard would let him stay with the crew. Oz could only imagine the things that were going through the chief steward's head. "Good luck with whatever it is you're hunting for. this isn't the line of work for you. But ." Oz told him. But he had spent enough time feeling guilty for things that weren't in his control. Trust me." "What?" Ostergaard's cheeks reddened. and for the journey back to California as well. The thing is. Not any more than I'll blame you for not wanting me on your crew. "Do you blame them?" "No. "But I'm not going to deny you a return trip home. I'd say those conditions are more man fair. "Sorry. Oz. somewhere you could legitimately have been delayed for a few hours. "I'm angry because I vouched for you. making his face ashen and drawn. Chapter Six Three Nights Until the Full Moon A child was missing. whiter. The chief steward shook his head and turned back toward the window. sir. More than fair. You don't want me to stay. It was sheer irresponsibility." Oz rose from the chair." Mr. only three nights away. "Well?" the man said. I've made other plans. If we were somewhere else."I talked to them about it. "I won't be continuing on with you after we reach Sydney. "Yes." The man simmered with anger. Oz's mind had returned to what lay ahead. I had no reason to. Ostergaard turned toward him. he thought. to Hong Kong." Oz blinked in surprise. The sun shone on his face then.
nor would he be the last. no one had heard anything. A shudder went through him then. so the demon of the eastern mountain would know that his creatures had trespassed where they did not belong. He was called this because he made windows for the village. . a tiny delicacy for the thing that had stolen him from his bed. Someone had put wards around the house—carved. He had not needed to. Dawa's parents had found a small puddle of blood and a small length of bone and muscle that they soon realized was Dawa's finger. that he could at last marry Shisha. but now it seemed that superstition was reality. from creatures of evil nature. Beyond the window. The wards were a product of superstitions that had lingered for centuries or more. It was her brother Dawa who was missing. More of that substance had later been found around the boy's bed. but no longer did the prospect of its completion fill him with the joyous anticipation it had once upon a time. His wedding to Shisha had been postponed. Windows. the one to notice the three small drops of dark blood on the wide. And as he glanced around he realized that many of them did. rough-hewn boards of the floor and the sticky ink-black residue on the windowsill that might have been oil but most assuredly was not. where they might be safer. He kept his head down and worked on his new house and prayed that no more children would be stolen. Perhaps. He did not want to remember the gory scene he had discovered there. But there was talk as well of setting a trap for the child-stealer. Dawa was seven years old and a bright. When he crossed the bridge over the narrow river that bisected the village. To his right was the small hut where Wei the glass-blower lived alone. healthy boy smart enough not to go afield without his parents or his sister. that the monsters would move on. The construction of his house was coming along well. But his love for her. had been forever tainted by the loss of her brother and the dread that hung like a shroud over Lingka. And there was a wind down off the mountains that day. Still. snatched in utter silence during the night. Dawa had disappeared from his bed. Shisha had been the one to discover his absence at first light the next morning. The absurdity of this did not seem to occur to anyone else— why ward off evil when the entire family had already been slaughtered? —so Kangri kept his thoughts on the subject to himself. he thought. There was talk in the village that they should leave.there were few smiles as Kangri walked through the village that day in search of Wei the glassblower. He would have to make some for his new home to keep dark things from slipping in through windows at night. and he remembered the door to another silent house he had entered. Not a scream or a cry or the creak of a board. every house ought to have such wards. But a shadow fell across his mind then. meticulously decorated wooden faces that were meant to protect it from the forces of darkness. Even the children who played in the dirt road that ran through the village did so without the laughter that had always followed them like thunder after lightning. As Kangri approached the door. It had been gnawed upon. Kangri did not look at Shache's small house. But he was also afraid to leave. several feet from the bed. abandon their homes with only what they could carry upon their backs and settle again closer to Lhasa. Dawa had not been the first. flesh stripped off it. of eviscerating it and leaving its corpse out for the vultures. their future together. this beast so excited about its prize that it could not help but have a taste right away. it creaked open slowly as though a breeze had blown it. Kangri was afraid to hunt demons.
The huge man. my new house. we can talk about windows. With a sigh. "What have you brought here. They were dressed as always in leather and fur. who stared first at Kangri and then. and grim." "Ah." Tsochen inclined his head. covered in yak skin blankets. How else to be safe? Do not bother me with such things now. The nomads seemed more gaunt than usual. With them was also Ganjin. who first spoke to the nomads. But it was Kangri. "And here is what killed him. and the clothes were the traditional garb of the nomadic people. the young man let out a long breath and smiled at his own anxiety. the father of his intended. angry that his village seemed poisoned now by the terror that had been visited upon them. But though the corpse was splashed with blood and large portions of its flesh and bone missing as if torn away by enormous jaws.. Kangri thought this was Dawa. he ran to the bridge and looked to the north. He was larger in stature than most of them and so was often called "son of the mountain. glancing at Kangri. out of respect. without doors. mind awhirl as he tried to figure out what to do without windows. For a heartbreaking moment in which he could not breathe. "Windows? What are windows? They are not important. windows." Wei muttered. . Alarmed. We should all have houses without windows." Before Kangri could plead with him further. "I am sorry that you have lost your son. including Tsochen. Ritsu walked back to the cart and pulled back one of the skins to reveal a human corpse." Ritsu said. Kangri turned to walk back toward his new home. When Wei appeared in the partially open door. he realized that it was an adult body. "But." Kangri stared at him. By the time they reached the bridge. waving Kangri away. you were supposed to come to see me today. "You were going to measure for my windows. So ruined were its features that it would have been impossible to recognize. who was small and much more talkative than the others in his tribe. Ganjin?" he asked. the son of the mountain. On the bank of the river nearest him a small band of nomads was approaching.Kangri hesitated. Kangri had been joined by perhaps a dozen others. "It is Ken-de. thick hats upturned on either side. looked down upon him with eyes as cold as winter. blinking back his surprise. "Wei. "When the monsters are dead. They shouted loudly to rouse the attention of the village as they followed the line of the river into the center of Lingka. Now he glanced up at Kangri and scowled. turned his attention to Tsochen. The only one Kangri knew well was Ritsu. He could hear the old man muttering still and the click of a lock as it was slid into place. All but the youngest had thin beards." he said. In all there were eight of them." The old man walked with a stoop from his work. Wei turned to go back into the house and shut the door. but his eyes were on the cart and the two long lumps there." . though the last two were dragging a wooden cart with two burdens in the back." Ganjin approached Tsochen and bowed his head to the man. to whom most of the nomads looked for leadership. He glanced at Ritsu. Even as he did so he heard shouts from farther up the river.
too. there had been something about incense factories. Given that the last one was impossible. They looked strong. "Yes. nodding slowly. whose finger had been eaten. muttering and whispering to one another and to themselves at the sight of the thing that lay there. The way this city had grown up. and all those villagers who had gathered around moved forward. and Hong Kong had always been very near to the top." the son of the mountain said. Its features were long and flat. the thing that came into the village?" Tsochen said. and Constantinople circa a. When his mind registered the phrase wild nightlife he shook his head in wry amusement. Just before he had gotten onto the plane that morning he had promised Australia he would return. From those openings oozed an oily substance that Kangri was certain must be the same as that left behind in Dawa's bedroom. they killed it and left it for us. Brazil. voice faltering. for that would have required picking up a pen and writing things down. Now he sat in the backseat of a taxi and gazed out the neon-splashed windows at a sparkling wonderland of light and commerce. You killed it?" "No. He stared at the demon and at the dead nomad on the cart. who had been stolen from sleep by this thing. right beneath Australia. Tsochen's face was like stone. and on the leathery palm of the demon were a pair of small pits. the coming full moon. Everywhere he went there were flags with small pink flowers on them. He had a feeling that was true in more ways than one. Soft folds in its slick flesh might have been wounds or some hideous formation upon its body. most of which he spent asleep in a dingy hotel near the airport. 1100. He knew that there was more to Hong Kong than this—that the mainland portions were mostly rural." He'd read that in a book at some point.d. Who would never be coming home again. father of the missing boy. its mouth impossibly broad and lined with hundreds of teeth so small. his visit to Australia had consisted of less man twenty-four hours in Sydney. this was Hong Kong.The nomad pulled back the other blankets. however. It was long and thin. they might have been a baby's were it not for how sharp they were. "But there are many demons in the mountain. the knowledge that Cain was tracking him—seemed somehow less important as he gazed at the towering steel and glass of Hong Kong Island. of course. he had managed to hit two of his top three places in as many days. those fingers. shaking his head so that his shaggy hair flew around him. Far too many. It was no animal they had ever seen. "Thank you for showing this to me. and perhaps now in the valley as well. it was a crossroads of the . though now that he thought of it. He doubted Australia had taken any notice. This island was where the action was. but it was a promise he planned to keep." Ganjin agreed. It was after dark when he had landed at Hong Kong International Airport. and then he turned to Ganjin. a stone's throw from Victoria Harbor. and he wondered if they were the reason it was named Hong Kong. Not an actual list. with three fingers on either hand. ridged openings that had teeth of their own." One Night Until The Full Moon Oz had a list of places he wanted to go before he died. One of the hands was open. high finance and rampant consumerism and wild nightlife. All of the things that weighed so heavily upon him— the people he'd left behind. "The holy men at the monastery. The list was in his head. like much of China—but in his mind. which was Cantonese for "the fragrant harbor. All eyes turned to Tsochen. Unfortunately. though there were no claws to speak of on it." "It is dead now.
With its status as one of the world's major centers of commerce. too many opportunities to be stopped and thrown out of the country or imprisoned. about traveling to Tibet from Hong Kong without knowing Chinese and without the appropriate documents. Fortunately. Or so he'd read on the plane from Sydney. That would change when he got to Tibet. though. Bonham Strand seemed to appear suddenly. would draw out the wolf. even though Hong Kong was part of China now—at least officially—Americans could travel for up to thirty days in Hong Kong. he tried his best not to look. in the shadow of those gleaming spires. if one was willing to break the rules. but between the skyscrapers and the marketplaces were deep and ancient shadows. thank you and hello being pretty much the extent of his linguistic abilities in most languages that weren't English. there were streets and districts that catered to the Chinese population and to their culture and traditions. There was nothing simple. not quite full but oh so close. Though the lights of the city obscured much of the sky. And yet all through the city. ." he said. Tonight. however. The cab's interior was silent again as the man navigated the traffic in Hong Kong. most people spoke some English. his one worry was in the sky above Hong Kong. that wasn't an issue. "It's a side road. Yeun Po Street. a place that was about indulgence. The British had taken a slab of barren rock off the coast of China and created from it the ultimate modern city. breaking Oz out of his reverie." the cab driver said. Thus far they had driven through districts with professional buildings and. "You wanted east or west?" Oz consulted the book in his hand. . . Talk about cutting it close. Hong Kong was the glittering jewel of the Orient. "Bonham Strand. The taxi driver was Chinese. forms with the embassy. he could still see the moon. The denizens of this city ranged along the social and moral spectrums. That was a concern for another day. It was both troubling and exciting for him to think that perhaps he was not. with hardly any historical or cultural landmarks. inside which he had scrawled down the information Giles had given him. getting into mainland China was simple enough. Hong Kong was a city where almost anything could happen and where things were often not what they seemed. Oz thought. in Hong Kong. But there was paperwork. He's remarkably clean cut for a cabbie. Oz spoke only a couple of words of Chinese. and a great many spoke it fluently. Oz wondered as he stared out the windows of the cab into a dark alley if he were the only werewolf in Hong Kong. On the other hand. The following night would be the first of three when the moon would cause his transformation. it had more than its share of demons as well. According to Giles. but it drew his eyes. especially if it wasn't a business trip. "West. It was a long way." replied the driver. It wasn't impossible for an American traveler to get into China these days. documentation. So he had to find another way. however. well. He could feel it up there and his heart beat faster every time he glanced at it. as was nearly everyone else on the streets. even uses gel to spike his hair. Oz thought. From all Oz had heard about it.world in ways that even New York and London were not. Full as it was. From there ." "Right. pretty much no questions asked.
There were plenty of shops on Yuen Po Street. Oz's stomach rumbled. and he doubted they were meant to be pets. then pushed inside. But there was something sinister about it as well. She was tiny. A bell above the door rang. hawking their wares. tipping what he thought was reasonable even though he hadn't remembered to check to see what was customary. it seemed even more archaic. and dressed in styles he might have seen in L. he got out of the cab and barely noticed as it drove away. huh? Kind of cool.near the harbor. Oz spotted a place that sold live snakes. It was as though they had stepped back in time. Bonham Strand would have seemed charming. it had thrown him. "I'm looking for Qing. very pretty. "Guess I should get my father." the driver said. Oz regarded her a moment and then raised his hands in a gesture that he hoped indicated how stupid he felt for being in her country and not speaking her language." Oz stood awkwardly in the middle of the butcher shop.A. but compared with the thoroughfare of Bonham Strand West." She came around the display case and put out her hand. "Here." "It is?" Jinan rolled her eyes. To have someone be so friendly while they were talking to a complete stranger about something so inconceivable . Oz took a breath and paused in front of the door. Oz knew. Bicycles flashed past him. Her lips turned upward in a sweet smile. He saw bookshops and herbalists and restaurants that were little more than alcoves. Merchants stood in front of some of them. and people milled about. and he vowed to get something to eat as soon as he was settled. some dark truth that seemed to lurk behind the store fronts just out of reach. He's out back. Halfway down Yuen Po Street he found what he was looking for: a butcher shop with a wooden sign painted bright crimson with black letters. If there was a place in Hong Kong that he was going to find answers. Yuen Po Street. Both sides of the street were lined with open shops." she said. Merchants called to them as they passed. well. . some less than desirable streets with warehouses and fish markets. Behind one of the huge display cases—in which cuts of meat gleamed a rich red—stood a girl perhaps seventeen years old with ribbons in her hair. he felt suddenly certain this was it. a narrow little way where fewer pedestrians strolled and where the scents of food and spice and herbs were stronger and more exotic." he said. Qing's my father. But Bonham Strand West was something else entirely. After a moment she shrugged. completely at a loss for words. He pulled to the curb and Oz paid him. Jinan gazed into his eyes as though searching for the wolf in him and mystified because she couldn't find it. So you're going to be staying with us for the full moon. Never met a werewolf before. It had barely registered with him that she had spoken to him in English. The girl greeted him brightly in Chinese and then looked at him expectantly.." Oz dropped his duffel. "Jinan. He stared at the girl. Backpack over his shoulder and duffel in his hand. To a lot of people. "You must be the werewolf. "Sshyeah. "I'm Oz..
He did not so much as glance at Oz. It would be . frowning deeply. To keep you from harming yourself or someone else for a few nights. and on his left shoulder there was a small tattoo. quieter but with just as much weight to his tone. down a hall that had a number of heavy doors on either side. Walking back into the rear of the shop. "I'm sensing it might be better if I found somewhere else to stay." Oz replied." . After more than a minute of this. . "No trouble. I owe my life to Rupert Giles. She marched down the hall and was met outside that back room by a skinny old man who took one look at her and then glared at Oz. don't you think?" "When you put it that way—" A voice interrupted them from the hall speaking rapid Chinese. My wife is nervous. forming the words the same way he would have spoken the same ones in Chinese. she tossed her head so her braids flipped behind her. Oz picked up his duffel. I'm sorry to cause trouble for—" Qing gave him a good-natured pat on the shoulder that nearly knocked Oz over. Then they both disappeared into the back once more. But when the woman stopped. "That will not be necessary. irresponsible. then turned and beamed at Oz with the brightest and yet somehow least genuine smile he had ever seen. "Oz. A ripple of awareness went through Oz and suddenly he was sure she was flirting with him. bald Chinese man with an amiable smile and the broadest shoulders Oz had ever seen. The woman strode into the middle of the store and crowded Qing." Jinan sighed and rolled her eyes. But you will be safe. A moment later the hall was filled by an enormous. "Thank you. Jinan disappeared into another room at the back of the shop. that is little enough to pay for my life. the woman took a deep breath. But Mrs. He found it both flattering and disquieting. "You are the friend that Rupert Giles told me about?" Only when Oz heard his accent did he realize that Jinan had none. a dragon partially hidden behind its wings. like someone who only knows what they're supposed to mean and doesn't really understand them. It was obvious she was cussing her husband out. and Oz scratched idly at an ear as he waited for it to subside." Qing said. "We'll be fine. ignoring Oz except to point at him. My mother and my grandfather are always freaking out over something. Qing—Oz had no idea if Qing was his last name or his first—was already turning away. . And it would not be right to let you go now. Qing started in. Oz heard low voices but he did not think the language was Chinese. that is all."Thanks. she glanced back and smiled. I owe a great debt to Rupert. And so will we. "Welcome to our home. "I am Qing." the man said." As Jinan turned. That's me." she said with a quick nod. and Oz glanced past Qing to see Jinan returning alongside a fortyish woman who could only have been her mother. my friend. He wore a white shirt with no sleeves." "No. It certainly wasn't English.
but a lot. The walls were thick and there were no windows and the single huge door was steel. would you like something to drink? Or to eat? Have you had dinner?" "I haven't. but Oz was already enjoying his days here. giving him the whirlwind look at Hong Kong. but Qing had explained that he hoped me cold would make the wolf tired. my friend. The girl might have looked younger. And the meals .. though. Nice people. a dozen steps in any direction. Inside Qing's butcher shop. and that itched as well. It wasn't just her appearance. though. I'll fix you something. but he had discovered she was twenty. but she fed him like she didn't ever want him to leave.She beamed at him. he shuddered. once they had gotten used to the idea that they were going to have a werewolf for a houseguest whether they liked it or not. Oz felt itchy." "Thanks. if they did not have him locked up good. But that was what you got in a meat locker. she was a sweet kid. Qing nodded as though that put an end to the discussion. the sun was going down and darkness was stealing across the city. It was cold.. She had played tour guide for him all day. Right before the Sargasso Drifter had docked in Sydney he had shaved off what little beard he'd grown. First Night of the Full Moon Oz was cold. "Come on. "Now. and Jinan nodded happily. but now there was stubble on his face again. Qing's family. It really was an extraordinary place. Oz had stripped down to just his boxer shorts and now he paced the small room. exhaled and saw the plume of his breath. Jinan carried it as though it weighed nothing at all. He was self-conscious about being so close to naked in the home of strangers. actually. . though. Jinan's mother might not want him here. Oz smiled even as he shivered. Jinan wasn't immature. They had chained and padlocked the handle from the outside about ten minutes ago. The duffel was kind of heavy. It might have made Jinan just a little less welcoming. It didn't happen every time. The nights were going to be terrible. At first he had been hesitant about being held in this room. wrapping his arms around himself. And Jinan. Again. then reached out to grab Oz's duffel. he might well be ripping all their throats out. Kid ? he thought now. Just sort of excitable. Outside. This time tomorrow night. but that's kind of—" He had been about to say heavy. He paced the little room. Right before the change." The big man said something to his daughter in their native language. She had a kind of energy that made her seem younger. He scratched at his belly and his legs and felt the hair standing up on the back of his head again. Even the mother and grandfather. and Oz did not have the heart to tell her they were right to be afraid. he felt itchy.
Jinan. The moon's full in the sky and in me. With a snort. There was still a faint glimmer of light. but the night had come on fast. toward the windows. Jinan had seen extraordinary and horrible things in her life. The door shook on its frame and the metal bulged slightly. now. His skull thunked against it. faster than before. raising a hand to her mouth. knew many beings who had more than one aspect. as though he would tear himself apart. His heart raced. "Oz?" Jinan called. and he dropped to the ground." he growled. he began to pace again. staring at the door. . "If you need something. went down on all fours. Jinan flinched when the wolf hit the door the first time. Her voice came from just outside the door. She stepped backward. "Oz?" Jinan." Jinan whispered. "Oh. a rounded dent that would be barely noticeable later but shocked her profoundly now. at least for the moment. "Can I get you anything? Do you have enough water?" she asked." she said. Slicing right through me. skin burning as the fur grew there. he wanted to say. But Oz was gone. But all that came out was a low snarl. Go away. and he felt as though he might explode. despite herself. even a little afraid. and he was dazed a moment. he was about to. prowling the floor of the meat locker. Oz was so quiet and sweet. The moon had come. voice cracking. he threw himself at the steel door. His tongue ran over his fangs. Oz wasn't sure if those thoughts were his own. The horrible truth was. still pacing quickly back and forth. at the chains on the huge steel handle to the meat locker. Werewolves were something else entirely.The air was cold. The werewolf seemed to have settled down. When the monster slammed into the door a second time. the wolf. Quickly she glanced toward the front of the shop. "The moon's rising. He stretched his arms out as if unfamiliar with them. sweet voice now tentative. But his skin grew hot to the touch. I can still—" Not totally dark. but he slunk back into the room and then raced at it again. and with it. She found it hard to swallow. With a roar. but the moon is up. Of course she's afraid. She should be. Jinan let out a small yelp of surprise. But the thumping against the door did not come again. Her tongue snaked out and wet her lips. the muscles in his haunches working like pistons as he crashed into the door again. for they had gone dry. "It's not totally dark yet. but usually the good ones were good and the bad ones bad.
but it was most certainly occupied. Only now that she was thinking about how noisy it had been the previous two nights did it occur to her how quiet it seemed in that locker tonight. Jinan . Now one of them had separated from the wood by half an inch. She doubted any of her family had gotten a good night's sleep of late. is it not?" he said to her in Chinese. "These three nights will seem very long. Immediately across the hall was the door to the empty meat locker—though "empty" wasn't really accurate. "Oh. but the work went on. the dent much larger than before. no. and she turned to find her father standing there watching her. But he was hardly the ideal houseguest. She stepped out of the cooler. Then she did not have to wake up as early in the morning. A noise from beyond that door made her hesitate. no question about that. These past few nights had been difficult. Though there was something compelling about it as well. Jinan turned toward the door just as it quaked with a loud thump that echoed in the hall and the crack of splintering wood. For a moment she cocked her head and simply listened. At length she located it and then piled two frozen ducks on top before hefting it and turning toward the door. "Yes. One of the brackets had begun to tear loose just like the upper hinge. The days she had spent showing Oz around Hong Kong had been a lot of fun. As these thoughts skimmed through her mind. and pushed it closed with her back. Her mother and grandfather were cleaning the front of the shop. Jinan had not been sleeping well thanks to the sounds that came from within that meat locker. she paused and glanced at that barred door. Jinan stood in the meat locker and glanced around in search of a box of chicken parts she had just put in here a few days earlier. Jinan stood shuddering inside one of the meat lockers in the back of her father's butcher shop. but the box in her arms. which meant that restocking the display cases in front was a much more complicated job than it normally would have been. Qing nodded grimly. The werewolf crashed against it again and it shook." Jinan replied. while she and her father restocked for the next morning. Jinan whispered a prayer and stared at the door. and not merely because it was nerve-racking having a werewolf on the premises. Then she realized what it was. There were more dents now. To make room for Oz. weighted down by the frozen ducks. and the previous morning Oz had helped her father install brackets and a heavy iron bar across the door. She grunted as she resettled it in her arms and then started toward the front of the store. where is there wood? The door's made of steel. A frown creased her forehead. Wood. "Troubling. her father had been forced to overload the other three coolers. The hinges were bolted to the wall. the display cases. It didn't have any merchandise in it. Often Jinan wished they could put the task off until morning. but it was simply easier to take care of it at night." Chapter Seven Third Night of The Full Moon The shop was closed. the bar across the door bending slightly. seemed to grow heavier. burden in her arms. the floor and windows.A noise behind her made her start. In her mind she saw Oz's features and tried to imagine what he looked like now." Jinan backed away from the door.
"Stop him!" her father shouted to the rest of the family. At first it ran on four feet but as it neared her father. It stepped forward and she saw that its face was bleeding from its collisions with the door. splashing the wood floor. To change. terror did that for her. curious growl. Qing pummeled the wolf twice in its wide. All her life she had loved her family but been disturbed by what she was. screaming this time. Bloody slobber flew. and the shriek of splintering wood and dull thump of warped metal made her hold her breath for just an instant. the beast stood. Blood and saliva dripped from its maw. Now. "I'm more worried about him staying. His huge. bright red blood matting its fur and dripping from its snout. letting out a low. a rending of wood and bang of metal that made her heart beat even faster. Jinan's mother came up beside him. Jinan's skull split open." Qing said. terrifying head. From her lower back. and a furnace of flames erupted from within. Her hands grew and lengthened into claws. bone and flesh flowed outward into a long. Her flesh began to ripple. Qing was standing at the other end of the hall staring at Jinan as she ran. Then it attacked again. hideous. "The door is giving way!" she shouted in Chinese as she ran. thick tail whipped around and staggered the wolf. and the raging light in its eyes dimmed a moment." The werewolf snarled and advanced slowly down the hall. and she had found it difficult to separate the two. harder than before. nearly stumbling. became slick as oiled canvas. Jinan cursed under her breath and braced herself. just as fast as the wolf itself. . She glanced over at her parents and her grandfather and saw that they had all transformed as well. Jinan gasped as her father cried out in pain. Now as she stood side by side with them she knew she had never felt more like they were a family. and the wolf raked its huge claws across his obsidian skin. there were images of Oz in her head. but then it was on him again. The werewolf hesitated. It struck the door a third time. into her father's arms. voice tinged with panic. fire flickering from eyes as well. The loudest crash yet came from behind her. the door of the meat locker tore free of its hinges and crashed to the floor. resignation and sadness in his voice. the werewolf howled and Jinan suddenly felt very tiny. Not because she was ashamed of her heritage as a Kaohsiung demon but because she spent all her days pretending to be something else. "Father!" she called. Qing tried to stop it. With a horrible crack that Jinan could feel inside her chest. "He must not be allowed to leave the shop!" Even as Qing spoke. roaring its lunatic hunger. "Dad!" she called again. ears turning up and out. powerful tail. Then Jinan dropped the box and the frozen ducks and turned toward the front of the shop. "I suppose it was too much to expect it to withstand the wolf's strength for three nights. "Leave?" she said. and her skin turned bruise-black.backed away. It lunged at Qing and he grappled with it. long and pointed. like being too close to the fireworks. Just inside the door. Despite all her anxiety about the werewolf. Then it attacked. Muscles bulged.
nearly throwing Qing off despite the chains. Jinan tore the chains down from the ceiling. It's Oz!" Her mother scowled. The wolf snarled and staggered. Its snout hit the wood floor with a bloody thump. The flames on her head roared higher and it leaked from her eyes. With inhuman speed and strength. save for the rise and fall of his massive chest. Jinan's mother latched onto one arm. "Hold on. With a hiss. "We'll help you. Her father was on the werewolf's back on the ground. He began to choke. too." he told her. Hanging from the ceiling were sides of beef and pork. Qing lashed at Oz with his tail again. saw what she had. and grinned. That moment was enough distraction that Jinan's grandfather was able to get behind the monster. . Fire flickered in the recesses of his mouth. She tensed." Jinan stared at the wolf—at Oz—so still. Jinan tossed back her braids and stared down at the slumbering werewolf. Her mother and grandfather were helping him keep it pinned to the floor. Qing glanced up. his arms around its throat. trying to tear him off. With a shudder. he struck the beast again. and Jinan could see that. "I am sorry." she whispered. bucked against them."He is too strong!" Qing said. Jinan. as he reached out to take the chains from her and began to bind the werewolf. She shifted her form again. and her father to the other. The idea that something might happen to her father was awful. The werewolf slumped to the floor." she snapped. "But you will thank me in the morning. "you should be more concerned about your father's blood than the monster's. It lashed out with its claws. ripping them right out of the wood. they would not be able to keep the monster down much longer. She pulled off the meat and then ran back to the front of the shop. my friend. When it bucked again. "Perhaps. But try not to hurt him. he wrapped his right arm around the bound wolf's throat and choked it until it began to slip into unconsciousness. "Morning seems so far away. "We need your weight here. and together the three of them drove the beast to the ground. impaled on hooks that dangled from thick iron chains. Father." Qing said. Her grandfather rapped the wolf on the skull hard enough to stun it a moment." She turned and fled from the room back to the meat locker she had just come from. But Oz was an innocent. she would of course choose her family. not to blame for the savagery of the wolf. and when the werewolf tried to claw it. the fire sputtering out as her flesh reformed. despite the fire blazing from her open skull. "Wait!" Jinan said. her grandfather leaped upon the monster's back and wrapped his legs around its chest. behind Oz. Jinan. helping to hold Oz down as her family wrapped it in heavy steel chains. "Here!" she cried. slithered in her demon form across the floor and looked for an opening in the bloody struggle." A sad chill passed through Jinan. ready to attack him. If she had to choose. inside that smile. despite her family's strength. And so she threw herself into it.
and the wolf desires only more blood. . keeping an eye on Oz. "Stop! Quit it. Jinan's mother stopped Qing in the hall. Oz is bleeding.. Jordy is running. but even a monster could dream. and what is a tiny cut. its copper scent tantalizing.But no one was listening. bites his finger. and she felt badly for him. They could not afford to empty another. When Jordy barrels into the room. Jordy has run through the living room. despite the chains. Jordy shrieks. "Come then. fingers hooked into claws . and the door to this one was destroyed. The wolf was a monster. Jordy!" Oz declares mercilessly. the smallest spot of blood. when he had settled the unconscious wolf down in the meat locker. makes a hurried circuit of the house and lurks in the dining room. warm and rich.. blossoms suddenly. eyes wide . Past the piano in Aunt Maureen's living room. and the fur spreads. The skin is broken. it has been repaid. It sensed its confinement. under his arms. A shudder goes through the great sleeping body of the wolf and through the soul of the young man hidden within it. fleeing in abject terror. "No one escapes the tickle monster. "Let's clean up the shop.. swift and deadly. the wolf stirred back to consciousness for only a moment. and that of the man. He is the wolf now. Promise me. Tickling him. Her grandfather and her father dragged the wolf by its chains along the hall back to the open meat locker. We have to be ready to open for business in the morning. He relishes that blood on his hands even as he recoils from the sight of it. Oz holds up his hands. delicious. The blood flows out over his hands. the boy snaps at him. husband. weakened by wounds sustained both in its attempts to escape and in its melee with the Kaohsiung demons. Jinan knew her father would end up staying up all night. this blood all over him is not his own. and then surrendered to the chains and to the encroachment of sleep.." Exhausted and battered. around the coffee table. "It's gonna get me! The monster's gonna get me!" The little boy is prey. Jordy has passed on the curse. and Jordy howls and squeals with tortured laughter." As they turned away from the monster. He touches the boy's belly and neck. the crook behind his knee. littered with fragments of imagery from the consciousness of the wolf." her father said. Now the wolf. But her heart ached for the beast as well. In the dream. The wolf hunts him through the house. The dreaming mind was a strange landscape. the blood on Oz's hands becomes fur. . Daniel! I'm gonna bite you!" On the edge of panic. Whatever your debt to Rupert Giles.. "Never again. panting. the wolf pounces on the tender-fleshed child and drives him to the floor. In his dream. from the knowledge that though that small cut was on his flesh. just out of sight.
perhaps. he will not allow himself to be the wolf. Prey.. Oz is not the wolf. He is just Oz. It can feel the desire radiating from her. It stops. It reaches a clearing and discovers it is not alone. a simple. It turns to flee noisily through the undergrowth. When the girl comes striding across the grass to the guitar player. The wolf crouches low to the ground. The wolf does not want to see her. picking up speed as it goes. No matter what Veruca says. crashing along blindly. over a small crest within those woods. and it opens its throat and lets loose a howl that echoes back across the ages. Willow. but this time the moon has not drawn its attention. panting. It knows this prey. then. turns quickly. behind a screen of leaves. Twenty-eight Nights Until the Full Moon . its mistress.. Its prey sits on a wooden bench on the other side of that black paved ribbon and strums a guitar. and then it pauses. After a moment. and black lips curl back from razor-sharp fangs and the wolf turns its head up to the night sky and there she is. but because it does not want to see. and Willow is there on the other side of the clearing. like the crescent moon masking its fullness. . And he is still hungry. But he is not the wolf anymore. snapping at shadows. the wolf takes several steps back. The wolf raises its snout and sniffs the breeze. Veruca is there. and it begins to slink through the trees. startled by the sudden intrusion. His body is a cage for the wolf. not simply a different face. Branches whip the wolf's back and haunches as it bounds through the forest. By scent it tracks its prey. It finds itself looking down upon a paved path that winds through the woods . picking out notes with an expression less of frustration and more of curiosity. . But why. a rumble in its chest audible only to the beast itself. Her. it continues on. stupid animal.. Not because it does not want to be seen. The sheer joy it had taken in its surroundings dissipates. Again it lifts its head. Then it hears music. joining with the cries of its ancestors. a park . tear out her throat and feel the warm splash of her blood on its snout ? "Oz?" The wolf stands.. It drops to all fours and begins to prowl the woods. is the wolf attacking Veruca when they should be mating? Why does the wolf. hiding itself beneath overhanging branches.The forest sprouts up around it. a dark anger rising up in it now. Just Oz. The wolf hesitates. The moon gazes down upon the beast. It has caught the scent of prey. With Veruca's blood smeared on his chin and painting his cheeks.
and so it was a simple thing to extricate himself from the heavy iron bonds." Oz ran both hands through his hair. He'd imposed himself—and his curse—upon them long enough. Its debris had been cleaned up.With a grunt of terror. steel door propped just inside the room against the wall. my friend. "Would it be all right with you if I left some stuff here? Hopefully I'll pick it up on my way back to the States. A terrible dream. And thanks. at the ravaged doorway. He glanced at the duffel. but you gave us a bit of trouble last night. The chains were wrapped around his chest and arms and legs. With a slow nod of his own in return. "Don't apologize. but he didn't see Jinan anywhere. One of the display cases was shattered." "As you wish. "Morning.. he hoped. breathing quickly. The beast had escaped. Oz opened his eyes. afraid to leave the locker because of what he might find. he was naked. They stank of meat. And if I don't come back. but it was empty now. A customer." "I am sorry about the chains. If it was business as usual for Qing and his family." Qing replied. Otherwise. to push away the remnants of his dream and piece together where he was and what had happened. indicating that someone had entered. But then he considered that door and wondered what the cost had been. he located his backpack and got himself another pair of boxers. I'm grateful for your help. Qing's wife and her father were wrapping packages for a customer. Do I have more blood on my hands? Oz began to sit up and then slumped back to the floor." "So I saw. Heart heavy. that had to be a good sign. It meant no one had been seriously hurt. He began to slide out of the chains." Oz replied. despite the wolf's escape. though relief washed over him at the man's use of the word friend. you can just dump it. Oz could not meet his eyes. The wolf was much larger than he was. He glanced down and saw that he was loosely draped in thick iron chains. It took him several moments to realize where he was. . the world around him thick with the surreal quality that always lingered when he woke from the midst of a dream. The front of the shop was testament to that. He glanced around at the walls of the meat locker. There was noise out at the front of the shop.. then dressed in the same clothes he'd had on the day before. "This is different. he felt terrible now and wanted nothing more than to be away from them. "Good morning." the big man said. Sell it or whatever." Oz muttered. Though he liked these people very much. and then Qing appeared in the doorway. out of their lives as quickly as possible. As Oz buttoned his shirt. with a small nod. and he wondered how much meat they had lost in the process. he heard footsteps in the hall. A bell rang. There was a moment of relief as the knowledge that it was over for another month washed over him. He took a deep breath and finally looked at his host. then stashed as much as he could carry in his backpack. Oz picked up his pack and walked with Qing to the front of the shop.
Whatever you owed Giles? Pretty much paid in full. walking fast. bell ringing again. But the clock had started ticking again. but he seemed gravely serious. Under normal circumstances they would have harassed Oz. You be gone. but the two said nothing." Oz said. Oz passed a small clutch of teenage poseurs Jinan knew. But why? Jinan thought she knew. did start toward Oz." The bell rang again as the customer departed. out onto Bonham Strand. a guy whose hair fell in long bangs across his face." he told her. Jinan snatched her own heavy pack from the ground. They acted tough. Oz sighed. slung it . but then he paused and turned back toward his friends. and east. Oz nodded. . okay?" "With bells on. "You have map and address for Wuxi shop?" Qing's wife asked. American boy? Moon is gone. The moon was gone for another month. minds full of imagery from too many Tsui Hark and John Woo films." "No argument. shouldering his pack and making his way along Yuen Po Street. "You understand. . journey. Her father. stepped out in front of the lone American guy with the faded backpack and menaced him. And change it he had. Jinan watched Oz walk away. both by Oz himself and by the journey he had undertaken. He should have looked so out of place. She was fascinated. Then Oz went to the door and pushed it open. this short American guy with his red hair and his high-top sneakers. or totally comfortable with them. She smiled. After you cured. "Guessing most of your honored guests don't trash the place. understanding each other well enough. however. something they did not want any part of. Qing's wife looked at Oz and instead of the anger he expected to see on her features. In the doorway of an herbal medicine shop on Bonham Strand. he found sadness there. One of them. "On . Jinan thought it must be the latter. glared at him. regretful look down Yuen Po Street. this trip to a fabled monastery in Tibet where masters practiced mystical arts away from the prying eyes of the world. wanting more than anything to be noticed with their slick hair and dark glasses." the old man said in heavily accented English." Qing rose up proudly at these words. and to aid you on your journey. They sensed something off him. too. just for their own amusement.What did I cost them between that door and the stock? There were gouges in the wall big enough for him to have put his head into them. "Come back to see us. He shook Qing's hand. waving a hand in the air as though he'd changed his mind. "It is a debt that can never be fully repaid. Then he left the butcher shop behind. yet Oz walked as though he were completely unaware of his surroundings. With a last. It has been our pleasure to watch over you these past nights.
And he really didn't mind the walking. But it wasn't the vampire Oz was looking at. and he passed a number of non-Asians as he made his way through the morning rush. certainly. He passed a number of museums. it was a museum of tea ware. There was public transportation he might have taken. He owed them. Oz had an image in his mind that suggested everyone in Hong Kong lived in shining steel high-rises.. to shake the dark shadow of the previous night from his mind. tired and hungry—having eaten nothing all day but a muffin and a juice he had bought in an American franchise store—Oz passed through several blocks of office buildings that housed law firms. Vaguely amused by that sight and marveling at the other parts of the city his journey took him through. "Wuxi?" he finished. "I'm looking for—" Oz blinked. in front of the Museum of Tea Ware in Hong Kong Park. It was a beautiful building on Cotton Tree Drive. A plaque in Chinese and English announced it as the former official residence of the commander of the British Forces and the city's oldest colonial building. No bell announced his entry. the wealthier they were. and to do that. Though the sky was clear and blue. it seemed almost as though the sun did not reach all the way to this street—this street that had no marker declaring its name. He hefted his backpack and went through the front door.. he was able. both art and science. From Bonham Strand his path took him into an eccentric neighborhood that seemed far more Westernized in its bid for tourism. Halfway down the block he found the number he was looking for. at last. Now. But these perfectly maintained buildings told him otherwise. the nearer the top. In the middle of the dark shop. though. Oz walked for miles. and stood and gaped. Fewer people walked here. Wuxi. busy road lined with old but elegant apartment buildings. Hours after he had set out. A flower shop on the corner was the brightest spot on the street. the exploration seemed just another part of his journey. stood a short. "Hello?" he called as he stepped inside. careful not to be seen. an occult bookshop with filthy windows and plants hanging under the awning in front. but there was nothing he could do to repay them now except to stay away the next time the moon was full. that Qing had told him about. If he had a lot of money and wanted to live in Hong Kong.over her shoulder. Oz paused a moment outside. But. though there were food vendors on the sidewalks to serve those who did. carefully following the map of Hong Kong that Qing had given him the day before. Soon he found himself on a long. having been built in 1846. alarm bells going off in his head. but it all seemed to get him where he was going by very circuitous routes. investment brokerages. dumbfounded. It was the eight-foot demon with a face like a tiger and horns like a ram. His . He had to get to Tibet. and confirmed that this was indeed his destination. he would certainly choose this neighborhood over the more modern neighborhoods. and tech companies and reached the darker part of the city. Retail shops and nightclubs lined the streets. whose walls were covered with shelves loaded with books and mystical artifacts. ugly vampire with a cigarette dangling from his lips. he let himself forget about them. and started after Oz. Qing and his family had known what they were getting into. he had to find this demon halfling. studied the map Qing had given him again.
grabbed the door handle. "Bad timing. trying to grab hold of the handle without turning away from them. red-skinned demon with white hair and Yoda ears and two pair of stubby little horns on his scalp past which his hairline had long since receded. kid. For a single moment he stared down at the demon's head and realized he could be impaled on those horns in a second." the vampire muttered with a snort of laughter that sent plumes of cigarette smoke shooting from his nostrils. figure out the best way to proceed. books cascaded down on top of him. shattering into a million shards that sprinkled to the ground with a sound like an orchestra of wind chimes. beat at the demon's head. and he slugged the stinking." it snarled. Then Kennu roared and threw him through one of the plate-glass windows at the front of the store. stripe-furred demon. The ram-horned demon and his vampire sidekick weren't about to give it to him. tried to kick himself free. "Canoe?" With another horrible hiss. Oz ignored the spectators. and yanked it open just as a hugely powerful hand clutched his shoulder and spun him around. and all the air was knocked out of him. and his stomach gave a nauseous twist as he realized he was going to have to fight this thing. . The demon let out a cat-like hiss. "I'll come back. Oz took two steps back toward the door. Then he turned to the huge. the big demon held a skinny. He was face to whiskers with the snorting demon. and gold rings dangled there. Oz stared at it in disbelief. and he didn't really care. Oz swore loudly.ears and lips were pierced. Oz's right hand tightened into a fist before he even realized he was doing it. A shelf broke with a loud crack. "Toss him out. Kennu reached down between Oz's legs and lifted him easily off the ground. but the glass gave way. Oz regarded them coolly. "Your name is Kenny?" he muttered. Kenny. No way was he going to be able to just leave and let them give Wuxi a beating or even worse. He reached behind his back. disappearing into stores and crouching behind vendors' carts. tiny bits of glass cut his hands and face. and the scarecrow-thin old halfling crashed into a bookcase. The impact hurt like hell. As he rolled. In his hands. Others just stood and stared. but it was no use. Big was pretty much the only classification he needed at the moment." Chapter Eight Twenty-eight Nights Until the Full Moon oz had no idea what kind of demon it was." The demon tossed Wuxi across the room. His life might even depend upon it. and when Wuxi hit the ground. The little old demon guy looked terrified. Oz hit the pavement with a grunt. "Kennu. filthy beast in the side of the head." he said. bespectacled. his fur was striated with black zebra stripes. Oz turned around. but he needed half a minute to retrench. "Got a feeling this is a bad time. Some of the people on the street scattered.
The vampire had been arrogant and stunned that he would attack. sliding over a sliver of glass that sliced him there. "You're going to that monastery you told us about. still choking him. will you?" Heart hammering wildly in his chest. Surprised. "You!" he said. The wood felt good in his hand. After what had happened in Fiji with Cain and the vampires. He felt it there in him. but Oz was on top. tiger-face pinched with fury. too. Oz ducked low and lunged upward in a bone-crunching tackle that propelled him and the vampire over a display case filled with ornate urns and crystals. Oz sucked in a painful breath. Plus. "Watch this for a second. "What happened?" she asked. Oz sprinted back into the store with the stake in his hand." "I'm not big on company. just as the leech tried to grab him. Someone called his name. I want to go. and it exploded in a small cloud of cinders. and she flinched a little. but down deep inside him. but Oz figured he'd stake first. I want to get the hell out of Hong Kong. he had whittled it himself. He hoped there was more luck where that came from." he said. Kennu's heavy boots stamped in a monstrous tantrum as he lifted Wuxi off the ground by his throat." . "American dog!" the vampire snarled. "Who do you think—" Oz slammed his forearm against the vampire's throat. Kennu didn't bother. Then he punched the stake through its heart. As he ran in. unwilling to meet his gaze. He handed her his backpack. shakily. His tongue snaked out and licked the blood off his chin. clawed finger at Oz and snarled. the wolf. The tip was very sharp. You could have just walked away. They crashed down in a cluster of flying limbs." Oz muttered. Oz had gotten lucky. The moon was gone. He was too busy slamming Wuxi's head against the wall. he frowned and stared at her. He had no idea how the bloodsucker had gotten to the shop without torching in the sun. ask questions later. he had vowed to make sure he never left home without one. The massive demon pointed a long. in full view of a couple of dozen people out on the street and a vendor selling dumplings. But Oz didn't have time to worry about hurt feelings. "What are you doing here?" Jinan glanced away. began to help him brush glass off his shirt and pick it from his hair. "Let's try that again.When he stood. "You okay?" Though aware of the shouts and sounds of things breaking that came now from inside the darkened shop. Jinan's brown eyes narrowed. Oz was growling low in his chest. "We let you live. He ran straight at the vampire and. "Not dog. Then he reached inside his backpack and pulled out a stake. cutting off his words. the vampire glanced over at him. The halfling's glasses flew off as he batted at Kennu's grip. the beast remembered. She came to him. I want to learn the secrets of the dark arts." he told her. he glanced up to see Jinan standing by him.
then proceeded to ignore them almost completely as he continued to examine broken artifacts and displays. Wuxi was his route to Tibet." At last Wuxi seemed to be paying attention to them. after he punishes you for running off. ". ." "You're welcome. Oz was weighing his options when he saw movement behind Kennu. arching an eyebrow as she looked at Oz again. and then the light went from its eyes and it fell to the floor. He shook his head. "Your father will be very proud . . . He thanked her. It was a monumentally stupid thing to do." Jinan handed him the sword. "Actually? Still got a ways to wander. Oz realized that he must have been searching for his round little glasses." He gestured toward Kennu's corpse. wiping blood from his face with the back of his hand. The demon went down on his knees. still feeling a bit muddled. get him to drop Wuxi. and a smile twitched at the edges of his lips. but he was disoriented." The stake still in his hand. the big demon backhanded Oz hard enough to make him black out for a moment. Oz rose once more to his feet. Oz nodded. More than that. I can take care of myself. stared at Oz a moment. and he was well aware of that. He felt it as he hit the floor and rolled. Wuxi was a friend of Qing's and seemed innocent and harmless enough. "That's not how we do things back home. wiping the blade of the sword on its fur. you know?" she chided him. "You came a long way just to die." Kennu roared in pain as the blade of a sword punched through his back. "So we see. Talking about how I'm going with you to Tibet. "So. where were we?" Jinan asked. pretty much done. "This is Hong Kong. Without even putting Wuxi down. its bloody tip splitting skin and fur and protruding from his chest." . who was tsking and clucking with his tongue as he surveyed the damage to his shop." he told the demon." Slowly." Jinan scowled. "Bad idea.." Oz shook his head. which were now set on the bridge of his nose again. "Please. painfully. Not that I'm going to tell him. young Jinan. old man. "Oh. Wuxi did a courtly half-bow in front of Jinan with a flourish of his hands. A whole different set of rules here. Kennu was faster than he looked. "You. "Thank you. Things tend to get freaky around me. though." Kennu hissed. charmed by the girl. Oz launched himself at the demon.. Jinan stood behind the corpse. and Wuxi brightened considerably. hoping to at least hurt Kennu. It was going to kill him." Oz told the dead demon.A thousand images flashed through Oz's head of Willow and Buffy and Xander. There was no way he could beat this thing. "Here. it isn't like I'm human or anything. But he wasn't about to walk away." she said. Then she turned a radiant smile upon Wuxi. right. "You could thank me.. there was a selfish reason. though . This belongs to you.
When he glanced back he saw that she was holding his backpack. She wanna go. "Didn't have a choice." "I meant no offense. you learn plenty. It was a reasonable question. It was almost too good to believe. eyes twinkling. getting to the monastery was going to be a good deal harder. "Maybe you find another way." "You forgetting something?" Jinan called. was fond of her. it not up to you to tell her she can't. yes? This is a big adventure you on." Wuxi promised." Oz told the shopkeeper. you gotta take Jinan. Oz heard Jinan speaking to Wuxi in Chinese. eh?" Wuxi had an accent even thicker than Jinan's mother's but it sounded bizarre coming from him.Then the skinny demon halfling turned to Oz." Wuxi said in his cluttering voice." Jinan prodded. "Getting back to me coming with you. Oz stared at her a long moment. from himself. Oz figured the least he could do was help the old guy clean up his shop. Wuxi. Even though Oz had had to pay the old halfling nearly a third of the money he had left over from buying the airplane ticket from Sydney. I can get you to Tibet today. . but the little demon halfling blocked his way. Today. While he swept a bunch of broken glass from a dustpan into a trashcan. rolling it over in his head. with his mottled red skin and four little horns. Oz went to take it from her. but the last thing he wanted was someone else around to have to protect. "But you wanna use Wuxi Travel Agency. but not soon and not fast. he can't just cast a spell to clean all of this up." Oz nodded. "I'll find another way to Tibet. . that was a bargain considering the service Wuxi was about to provide. voice tight with anger. That about it. "You are the American that Qing told me about. Oz and Jinan had offered to help sweep up broken glass and put things back in order. "You young people think you know everything. I just wanted to know why. you. "Don't be a fool. When he glanced over she gave him an apologetic look. You think if I big sorcerer I need to run shop? I got talent for translocation. Oz thought. Clearly. though." Jinan said. Qing had revealed that his entire family were Kaohsiung demons the first night Oz had stayed with them. Wuxi scowled. her scarlet lips parted just slightly in that perfect smile. almost as if Wuxi was putting him on. "Sorry. that was not the case. but they looked human most of the time. Must have been hard for you to leave your life behind you. Hearing English spoken in that accent was oddly surreal." "You spend enough time with Master Shantou. You got a month before the moon come back." Today. He turned his back to both of them and walked toward the door. Without Wuxi's help. Wuxi nodded as if he could see how attractive that prospect was to Oz." It was well over an hour before the shop had been returned to some semblance of organization. if Wuxi's such a powerful magician. Wuxi obviously knew Jinan's family. . "I wish I could do half of what you do. He was willing to cooperate with the girl. All kinds of magic.
Oz carrying two large brown paper bags loaded with steaming chicken and noodles redolent with delicious scents and Jinan carrying a six pack of Coca-Cola. Nine white candles burned at equal intervals on the outer rim. and that had prompted her running away from home. As they entered. Oz confirmed that. Wuxi would tell Qing where Jinan had gone so that her parents would not think she had simply been stolen off the streets. it had come to be known as such. Jinan had interrogated her father on the subject after discovering that it was Oz's destination. After they were gone. In the slanted light of early afternoon that splashed into the shop through the shattered window and filtered through the grimy plate glass that had not been broken. You. Jinan's own fire would keep her warm. you freeze your ass off. and even a bit sleepy. "Borrow?" Wuxi asked. He never felt fully rested after the nights of the full moon. but it had already occurred to him that it might not be enough. Oz could see that Wuxi had used chalk to draw a broad circle on the floor. "Plenty of time? You mean you can get us to Tibet and be back here in an hour?" "Maybe ten minutes. Then Jinan giggled lightly. he assumed the old man was complaining about the damage to the shop. He had assumed that as a Kaohsiung demon. They coming to fix window in an hour." Oz stared at him. Plenty of time. we get you something to eat so you not have to stop in Lhasa." And so they did. you take a couple of old Wuxi jackets. "But you two gotta eat something first. Now he glanced at her in concern. it was not his place to say so. and Oz shrugged. "Good. you two gonna be cold. Wuxi frowned. When Wuxi hung up." Oz had a sweatshirt in his pack. the adepts and students there couldn't be considered monks at all." . The shopkeeper sent Jinan and Oz back out onto the street to retrieve a late lunch for all three of them. the monastery was not Buddhist. and though Oz could not understand him. "Listen. While they were out. But given that those in the valley below and any of the nearby villages thought of it as a monastery. but as Wuxi had so firmly told him. "Are you sure you don't want to wait until after they get here to repair the window?" he asked. She coming back eventually. "You going to the roof of the world. as he had suspected. Oz was very full. "I guess I'll borrow that jacket. Wuxi made a phone call. "How cold will it get up there?" Wuxi laughed." he said. Wuxi had completed preparations for their departure. American boy. "You ready? Good! Let's eat!" Twenty minutes later they had scarfed down their entire meal. By the time they returned. Thanks to the information Jinan had gotten from her father. You don't have jacket. the three of them stared at one another. he brushed his hands together. Around its circumference the halfling had added Chinese characters and strange symbols that formed their own rings around the inner circle. I don't know. In truth.When the cleanup was completed. Jinan chattered incessantly about Tibet and the things she hoped to learn in the monastery. You don't have better jackets than that. "I thought you in a hurry?" Then he waved the exchange away. First. Jinan borrow. Wuxi glanced up proudly from his handiwork." Wuxi explained. Oz doubted that would make them worry any less. Oz glanced at his watch." For a moment. "You buy the jacket. He nattered on in Chinese for a while.
Oz and Jinan both put their backpacks on. "Is this gonna take long? 'Cause I kind of have to—" The world falls away around Oz. "In event of emergency." The old halfling cackled and fetched them both heavy. He flails his limbs in the purple darkness. really loud. and he feels like his stomach is left behind. and his gaze goes to where their fingers are twined together. Wuxi stood with them inside the circle. and the backs of his eyes hurt. If not for the velocity and his efforts to maintain some kind of equilibrium he would bend and vomit up the spicy chicken and noodles and pray that it didn't get all over him. A glimmer of light."Appreciate the vote of confidence. and his skin is suddenly very. The halfling shopkeeper scratched himself. wool-lined jackets. Another hand slips into his own. The moment he stepped within its boundaries. Oz slipped into his and found it too large for him. and he stumbled slightly.. They caress him as he hurtles past. He placed his hands on his hips. His head snapped back. Light. an anchor to what is real. Oz feels his stomach churn again and he shudders. Wuxi ushered them inside the circle. Something sharp stings his cheek. The candles had burned down about a quarter of the way. But with the sun streaming in the window. but her jaw is set with determination. it was hard to imagine any big magic was about to happen here. of heat. wondering exactly what was involved with this spell. convulses. He realizes that it is her hand that he is holding. It is soft and human. or if he had just given the demon twenty dollars for something that had been left behind by a customer. She will not give in to her fear." Jinan muttered. clutch at him. he fell to his knees and breathed air greedily. Oz glances to one side and sees Jinan. Her eyes are wide with terror. and Oz had seen some magic. with his spectacles up on his forehead and his pants drooping a bit . Warmth from those fingers. very cold. hands reaching out as though his arms might become wings upon which to glide through this unknowable ether. the leg of his jeans snags on some outstretched tendril jutting at him in the void. Jinan smiles tentatively. Nauseated. She shifted the weight of the pack on her back and turned to the magician. in the nothingness. but he wasn't going to complain. He gasps. "Keep hands and feet inside circle. scream really. inhaling purple smoke. if the jacket actually belonged to Wuxi at all. and exhaled loudly. and the sort of broken-down appearance of the magician in question. settled his specs down upon the bridge of his nose once more. however. As if yanked from behind. There are things in the cold abyss." Wuxi instructed them. doing his best . He did wonder. Willow was a novice witch herself.. and the purple smoke began to swirl around the outside edges of the circle like a gentle whirlwind. a kind of purplish smoke began to unfurl from the wicks of each of the nine candles. Heat. They gave off an herbal scent that Oz had given up trying to identify five minutes after they had returned with the food." "That's reassuring. letting go of Jinan's hand. The pressure on his skull is intense. feet trying to find purchase on something solid. His fingers touch something warm. Oz was brought up short. He glanced around.
Jinan was beside him." Wuxi said. It looked far more majestic in real life than it had in the travel guide. then straightened up. His eyes went wide as he took in the view before them. he could not afford to be slowed down. tourists wandered amidst monasteries and temples. He saw her boots and then his eyes traveled up her denim-clad legs to her porcelain doll face and the sweet smile there. "I hope so." Twenty-seven Nights Until the Full Moon Their journey on that first afternoon had taken them over small hills and a low mountain range. rising up the side of Red Hill with a mystery and magnificence that made Oz wonder quite seriously for a moment whether Wuxi had transported them back in time as well as through space. With a grin. The site was breathtaking. You have to teach me how to do that. Wuxi had called it.not to throw up. Jinan. "Last stop. massive. even seen pictures of the former residence of the Dalai Lama—the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism—but to see it in person was something else entirely. "Thank you for using Wuxi Travel. As much as he understood her desire to learn from Master Shantou." "I can take care of myself. imposing structure of the Potala Palace that loomed over the city thirteen stories high. Below it. A tremor of anxiety went through him. The city of Lhasa sprawled before them." Jinan turned toward the frail old demon. when he had the luxury of wasting time. in the city proper. He glanced to the north and saw the hills rising there. "Lhasa. and then her eyes ticked back toward him. "That's amazing. first because of the ancient. He hoped that the fact that she was a demon meant she did not tire as easily as a human." Wuxi waved at her in false modesty." he announced. the mountains beyond them. however. Jinan didn't seem nearly as affected by their trip— translocation. Oz struggled to stand. "Try not to get killed. He forced that longing away. They had gathered . Oz wished that Wuxi had been able to get them a little closer to the monastery—the little demon had explained there were limits to how far he could translocate. Oz had been interested in visiting Lhasa before. On the first night they had camped in a small. Oz had read about it. Oz stared at the spot for a moment and then turned around." Jinan reassured him." he told her. Wuxi. Now it pulled at him like the song of some mythical siren. nearly awestruck. across grasslands and small rivers. but only now did he truly understand how long and difficult the trek was going to be. She glanced down at her hand curiously. "I said I can take care of myself. flower gardens and trees integrated into the city's design as though nature and structure had grown together." she repeated. "Watch your step. Tibet. narrow valley and though it was cold the hills around them had provided some shelter from the wind. the demon halfling disappeared in a puff of purple smoke. taking long breaths. Let me know if you need to rest. He would have to visit Lhasa on the way back. The map in his backpack was quite specific. He never should have agreed to let Jinan come along. Your father never forgive me. then lowered his voice. All passengers on their own from here. especially with passengers—but he was glad he had had a chance to see Lhasa.
After a moment she shrugged. I don't. rucking his pack up higher on his shoulders and pointing out across the grass. "Not personally a speaker of Chinese. Over the course of that first full day. I've smelled tigers at the zoo. she was a nice enough girl. pointing a thumb toward the old man. This is similar. The next morning was uneventful. to ask him about buying some food and canteens. Oz saw something slinking through the high grass far off and he sniffed at the air. but both of them were up to it. "They speak Tibetan. lips pursed in contemplation. though surrounded and interrupted by mountain ranges. The night before. The experience was sobering for Oz. though. He assumed it had caught Jinan's demon scent and thought better of trying to hunt them. just as Wuxi had said. At the edge of the village they were met by an old man plucking fruit from an apricot tree. the animal turned and fled across the grassy plateau. they were able to find a couple in the village who spoke Han Chinese and to make their purchases without too much difficulty. They passed a tribe of nomads herding yaks and saw a family of musk deer as well as a number of other animals." "Not as far as they're concerned. giving him an odd look. but when the wind shifted. "Yeah. "But this is China. there was no question about that. at the roof of the world. but that might have been because it was on the wane and would not be full again for four weeks." she said. or even calfskins that they could later refill from mountain streams. Cold and utterly. "Why me?" she asked. selfish as it was. was nearly three miles above sea level." he said. even pleasant with its extraordinary vistas of distant snowcapped mountains. one of the reasons he had not fought harder to keep her from joining him was because she spoke Chinese. completely wild. Oz stared at her a moment. I'm pretty sure they still have 'em wild here. after all. They were." Jinan chuckled and shook her head. With the touch of her finger Jinan had lit one of them into blazing fire. She could light a fire with the flick of a wrist. For the first time in a very long time he had even been able to appreciate the beauty of the moon . and he frowned. A leopard. It was the most extraordinary place Oz had ever been. The hiking grew more strenuous over the course of that day. and good company. then had woken up during the night when it had burned out to light the second." "It's probably a leopard. though mostly from a distance. Thankfully they passed a village in the afternoon." Jinan replied. Maybe one of the big cats. "Company. Oz slowly began to adjust to me thinner air at this elevation." Oz did not like the sound of that. "It's got a weird scent. the stars had never been so close. he had somehow missed the fact that Tibetans spoke their own language. he thought. Tibet was the highest region on Earth. The only mistake they had made was not bringing the kind of food supplies they would need for such travel. But it did cross his mind that it might have been his own scent that frightened the leopard. But. but beautiful. But Tibet was its own kind of perfection. . "Neither are they. At midday.two separate piles of branches and brush. Oz had thought the sky had never looked so clear." Though Oz had educated himself quickly about Tibet when he learned he was to come here.. Fortunately. Jinan glanced at him curiously. Feeling's mutual. Even the plateau. Oz urged Jinan to talk to him.. Fiji had been paradise. when he had looked up. Though he had balked at having Jinan along." she explained.
She had an audience. Chances were. rich shade of blue laden with the whisper of the encroaching night. Throughout their journey Jinan had kept up a conversation with Oz—his participation mainly limited to one-word replies or polite inquiries where they seemed required. she was a fire-demon. going to be useless to them as they traveled into areas that were even more remote than this. Over the course of that long day Oz stopped many times to consult the directions Giles had given him and the map he had gotten from Qing. and that was enough. Oz understood. Oz paused again and checked his map. avoiding climbing directly up the face of a mountain to try to skirt the snow and ice. he had to admit. Those stops grew longer and longer as they crossed another mountain ridge and found themselves descending into a picturesque valley. to bolster it. Some of the trails had taken them across light. goats. she could never truly open herself up to them. and she did not seem to mind his laconic nature. shortly before dusk. But that didn't mean he wasn't afraid for them. and even donkeys. As the shadows grew long that afternoon. To the east and west. They had eaten what passed for lunch quite late. The mountains to the east and west of this valley were some of the highest they had seen. But he found he did not mind Jinan's loquaciousness at all. she'd light his furry backside aflame. Jinan had spent her entire life pretending to be a normal girl. and their peaks had a sort of halo around them that might have been windblown snow. at least to himself. and he'd howl and run for the hills. It was his good fortune that back in Sunnydale he had friends—and a girlfriend—who weren't afraid of him. snowy terrain. so that it whipped at them and sliced right through their clothes. so they did not bother to stop to eat again until the sky had turned a deep. they reached the valley.Which was. Part of him would have liked to explore this terrain in silence. Oz and Jinan had stuck to the passes and ridges as much as possible. and to the two guys she had fallen in love with in high school. however. but they were still in the pass when the sun went down. that he was glad to have Jinan with him. so they pressed on until. the pass was cut between the mountains at an angle that seemed to invite the wind. Twenty-six Nights Until the Full Moon In the morning she was quiet—almost as quiet as he was. He learned as much about her life in Hong Kong and her years in high school than he probably would have even by reading her diary. The last thing they wanted was to be stuck on the mountainside for the night. jagged mountains jutted into the darkening sky. It was too late to worry about such things. . but they were soon back down again. Though they tried to find enough brush for a decent fire. Rather than protecting them from the wind the way the surrounding hills had done the night before. As they moved farther north and west they saw many wild sheep. As close as she grew to her friends. as well as the occasional nomadic herders. the search was fruitless. Oz liked things quiet. apparently. He figured she barely noticed how quiet he was. they started up into a mountain pass. Even if she was around when the wolf came out. Oz hoped to make it through to the valley on the other side before they camped for the night. As much as he had wanted to make this journey free of complications and without anyone around that he might hurt. They were forced to find shelter for the night between two large outcroppings. Too late to do anything but keep moving forward. and he and Jinan slept huddled together in the shelter of the rocks.
but she did not argue.. away from the tents. he could see the outlines of vultures circling beneath the stars." Chapter Nine Twenty-six Nights Until the Full Moon The nomads had brought guns. except they had come to a small river that wound gently across the valley. A single dead yak lay near one of the torn. They were facing outward. After a moment. "The nomads . Warding off. they discovered the corpses of three nomads. Oz reached out to touch the first one they came to. She shook her head. into this circle the nomads had created where they had thought they would be safe. and he knew she must also be hungry." Jinan began. so the two of them decided to head north along the course of the river and pick up whatever wood they could find along the way. which quickly revealed itself to be a nomad camp. but he barely felt it now. "Might be. atop each post. he could make out several dark shapes perhaps half a mile away. like huge beasts asleep on the grass. the dark shapes the tents of the wandering herders. "Even their herd. at odd intervals throughout the encampment. Oz dropped his pile on the ground and slipped his backpack off. The vultures were a kind of dreadful punctuation above the scene they were approaching. Probably better if we're gone when it comes back.. then picked up the sticks.. Without a word. Oz rose and tried to see what it was that had drawn her attention. They pulled the collars of their heavy wool jackets up high. and they walked on. she did not seem prepared to rest just yet. Jinan looked as exhausted as he felt. Then we'll know. And above those shapes. Oz would have stopped then. . Soon they collected enough small sticks and branches off of the trees they passed to make a fire. The grass burned. one of whom had been torn into pieces. I'd like to look for the village that's on me map. Like scarecrows. ragged tents. all the way out here?" The vultures circled overhead. like cutouts in the night sky.." For another hour they hiked across the verdant valley. don't you?" Jinan asked. But when he looked up at Jinan. Beyond it. but as the night grew darker it became colder. The stone was smooth. At the edges of the encampment someone had hammered posts into the ground and placed small icons. Oz thought. Let's try to go a little farther before we camp. but it was oily.. "Whatever it is. dropping lower as if not at all put off by their presence. The sculptor had done a hell of a job. The muscles in his legs burned with exhaustion. The girl had narrowed her eyes and was gazing farther up river. Oz slipped his pack on again. the eyes of the thing were wide and cruel. like demon faces carved from stone. Jinan glanced at him once. He sat down hard and exhaled loudly. what? They walked farther into the camp. "One more hour." Oz told her. All gone except these few dead ones. Oz took another glance around the camp. What could do something like that."You think we're here. I'm thinking we vamoose.
though.Kangri stood at the eastern edge of his village with both hands gripping the carbine rifle that was slung across his shoulders. no screams. and torches burned in them all night long. certainly. their work suffered. The predators had not been destroyed. in the mountain caves. A messenger had been sent to the nearest village. and the monks never came. just gone. that life would return to normal. But the messengers never returned. to place wards all over Lingka. but not forever. this was a powerful weapon. It was gas-operated and held ten rounds. even grown men. Wooden posts had been planted all around the village. making his grip on the rifle slick. The night was clear. When the nomads had brought the corpse of the horrid creature into the village. and no one else had been harmed. the people had all thought it was over. Kangri believed it was only a matter of time before they were forced to flee. Two men had been chosen to go to the monastery and beg the monks to intervene. and it was considered unwise to send anyone else out of the village. Yet even with the guns the nomads had brought. Without the monks' help. as though ghosts had come and stolen them away. Messengers were sent to ask the monks to come down from the monastery and bless their dwellings again. had not returned. there was no way to know how many monsters served the demon of the eastern mountain. replenished constantly by those whose turn it was to act as sentries. No blood. Rifles. The carbine held ten rounds. Late at night. They were afraid to stay and terrified at the thought of trying to leave. . His impending wedding was forgotten. But Kangri thought that perhaps it would get better now. The torches had been put up. Seven villagers missing in three days. Since they had posted sentries and lit torches there had been no sign of the creatures. They were sullen and bitter and jumped at every sound. Yet now that valley had become their prison. They were out there still. too. In the mornings the people of Lingka were sluggish. and yet Kangri's hands were sweating. It was possible. but he. Now each evening the darkness stole upon them like an accomplice to the evil things that lurked in the night. and the entire village took turns at sentry duty. that the danger was passed. women and children. The nomads had brought the guns days ago and had not returned since then. It was assumed that those sent to solicit their aid had never reached the monastery. But Kangri did not believe it. nothing but the expanse of the valley around them as far as they could see. he felt a kind of terror he had never imagined before. but they had never returned. the bloodshed began again. They used them to hunt antelope and deer for food. Kangri did not feel safe. But each time Kangri stood sentry. but Kangri had never seen a weapon like this before. or how many rounds would be required to kill even one of them. close to the earth and beneath the heavens. its people working and living simply. This carbine. Someone would have to try again to get a message to the monastery. roaming the valley after dark. But even those who were not on duty did not sleep well. The torches and sentries might put them off for a time. Several nights later. if at all. nothing moving in the shadows of the night. of course. or bear and leopards if such beasts threatened the village or livestock. The nomads had said these rifles were used by militia in China. The village was in the midst of a mountain wilderness. It was cold enough that he wore his thick wool hat pulled down over his ears. plucked from their beds. the moon still fat as it dwindled above them. Work on the nearly completed home he was building for his bride-to-be had been put aside.
a gesture of peace. . their skin almost iridescent under the light from the moon and stars. was about to shout. all headed for the monastery. suddenly very awake. yes. but the man wore it as though he had forgotten it was there. His finger tightened on the trigger. Didn't figure a place like this. as though they cared not at all if he saw them. The demons were coming at last. He opened his mouth to shout. But what should he say? "There have been . No doubt. Demons." Taken aback. Three that he could see. You say you are passing through. yes. "Calm down. and his companions followed suit. speaking his language. Westerners. and Kangri yawned broadly. He gripped the rifle firmly with both hands once again and peered out across the valley. His eyes itched. . the sight of that gun. would have a need for armed guards. peered into the night. Do you have leopards raiding your livestock or something?" Kangri took a breath. He brought the rifle up and lodged the stock against his shoulder. They were thin and pale. slowly. bring the whole village running with guns ready. A rifle was slung there." Kangri began cautiously. I'm afraid we are not going to be very hospitable." he said nervously. A surge of adrenaline rippled through him. His hands were empty and open as he approached. "Boy. "You are fortunate that you speak Tibetan. out here in the wild. It alarmed him. Something moved out in the dark. Kangri took a breath. a gleaming black deadly thing that made Kangri's own carbine look like a child's toy. all three of them. they were men. He realized that from the perspective of this wanderer. The one in front was very large and carried a massive pack strapped across his powerful shoulders. began to relax. hoping his expression would communicate to the strangers how serious he was. Kangri had only seen a handful of Westerners before. he must look almost foolish. walking upright like men." The large man with the rifle paused. now. Kangri hesitated. coming across the valley in the dark. you look like you're about to have a heart attack. ." He stood up straighter and took a breath. Time to sound an alarm. and he found them fascinating. when the voice came from the shadows. or you might be dead already. We're just passing through. But he was on sentry duty. and Kangri stood up straighter. the carbine dangling in his left hand. "This is not a good time for strangers to come to our village. The two pale men moved in the shadows. The torch to his left swayed but remained rooted in the ground. and their hair was black. friend. attacks. Something was there. finger still on the trigger of me carbine. Behind him were two men who must have been brothers.A hard wind came up then. I would advise you to pass around us rather than through. "Come no farther. and a moment later he realized that the three figures approaching the village weren't merely walking like men. and Kangri pulled his jacket further up around his face. Particularly not strangers who travel by night. Its flame guttered in the wind but did not go out. just beyond the reach of the torchlight. He narrowed his eyes. because there were other shadows out there now.
but once they were in the mountains it was a major pain in the ass. fangs gleaming in the light from the moon and stars. then. tired of traveling. The werewolf hunter was determined to reach the end of this particular journey. One of them tore his arm off before he could fire the carbine. The man with the black rifle stared at him.He tried to get a better look at them. The other tore out his throat before he could scream. and it unnerved him. but after that they had been forced to pitch the tent Cain had brought along. finger tightening on the trigger. The man was empty-handed. He raised the rifle. which way to the monastery?" A wave of menace emanated from the man.. but it was almost as though the night had draped itself over them. "I don't want anyone to know we came this way. "You . Tell me. The man's eyes narrowed." Kangri whispered. Then he turned to the two shadow men who traveled with him. He died. you do not want to go up there. The Pierraults just wanted to be certain they could outrun the sun." "Don't I?" the man replied. and Kangri held his carbine. Kangri could not breathe. The stranger knew the name of the demon of the eastern mountain. The bone structure and flesh of their faces seemed to flow and contort.. He stared at the western peak and then. pointing to the mountain to the west. "Fine. ." Kangri said. "We'll go around." the man said. "There. He was tired now and very much on edge. and then the hunter himself had stood guard for the vermin. But the shadow men were too fast. Cain and the Pierrault brothers—Andre and Max—made good time in spite of the difficult terrain. His vision went black—there were no stars in the endless night he gazed into now—but he could still hear them. and Kangri hesitated to reply. and his friends—shadows and moonlight shifting in pools upon their pale faces —he could have killed them all." the stranger said. But they were nearly at their destination at last. A shiver went through Kangri. He could have shot the stranger where he stood." "No. eager to bring the hunt to a conclusion. but Kangri did not think it was genuine. A smile curled the edges of his mouth. The first day they had managed to find a cave to sleep in. But he felt danger coming off of this man. slowly. It was crazy. Twenty-five Nights Until the Full Moon The face of the eastern mountain sloped gently upward at first but soon became a jagged and forbidding incline. Several times Cain had suggested to the vampires that they stay behind. to the jagged face of the home of the demon. accompanied by the sound of them sucking at his veins. his gaze ticked toward the east. Traveling only at night had not been a big deal in getting from Fiji to Lhasa. "So Muztag's fortress is up there. and now the shadow men swept toward him with the grim visages of monsters. drinking his blood. obscuring their features. mouths wide. Kill him. though.
In the early hours of that morning. When the Atwill woman had first started spilling about the monastery in Tibet. "I wanted to do the right thing. ancient thing that had prowled a fertile valley on the Tibetan plateau for centuries and whose influence spread far beyond his mountain fortress. Not that it mattered what Oz thought he was. of years old. anyway. though. But the lure of wealth was strong. Looks like we're going to have to forget about protocol and head for the monastery instead. He was walking into the middle of a battle decades. He had figured the hunt was over before it had really begun. Not tonight. maybe hundreds. you could sweep up what was left of them with a dustpan and brush. Muztag was a myth. the dawn still far away. But we're not getting up to that fortress. Cain and the Pierraults struggled up the craggy face of the mountain with a cold wind battering them against the cliff. time to head home. The kid still thought he was human or something. Even if someone had wanted to buy a vampire's skin or stuffed head or something. and this monastery had other werewolves in it. managing to scale the rock with great effort and few setbacks. so he would have all the muscle he needed if there were a lot of werewolves. Perhaps a third of the way up the face of the mountain the cliff became worn and smooth and too steep to scale without pitons and other climbing equipment. the creature was all too real. "What's funny?" Andre hissed. You killed a vampire. but the hunter knew better. a hideous. "Like getting permission from a mob boss before doing a hit in his territory." Cain replied. freezing his butt off climbing a damn mountain in the middle of the night. looking for someone to help him control the wolf side to his nature. very promising. And the Pierraults wanted revenge for their brother's death. Muztag and the master of the monastery were ancient enemies. and he figured maybe Muztag could use someone whose whole life was about hunting werewolves. who the hell was she going to tell? Police! Help! A bad man and two vampires killed some of my hell-spawn friends! Even now. A werewolf was a werewolf. That was a good laugh as far as Cain was concerned. The only difference to him was that there was no percentage in killing vampires. Cain didn't like the sound of that. How much farther was he going to have to chase the Osbourne kid? But then she had let slip why Oz was going to Tibet. like some Jane Goodall wanna-be with monsters instead of gorillas. So he and the Pierraults had gutted a few of her pet demons. "Damn it!" Cain whispered. And if the Atwill woman was right. as much a monster as a vampire. Suddenly a trip to Tibet had begun to sound very. Then he shook his head and laughed softly to himself. According to the sources Andre and Max had consulted. The hunter's fingers grew numb as he found handhold after handhold. but Cain had let her live. he had nearly cursed loudly. he could be looking at a gold mine. hope this Muztag doesn't mind me . It was not until he'd gotten into Lhasa and the Pierraults had taken the opportunity to sample the nightlife that they had learned of Muztag." but to them. it was impossible.. Things had gotten pretty bloody before she gave up the werewolf's latest destination.. The nomads that roamed the mountains north of the city referred to him as "the demon of the eastern mountain. His pelt was still worth a mint to Cain's clients. Cain smiled at the memory.It had been simple enough to track the werewolf back to the Atwill woman's settlement in Fiji with the filthy demons she was playing nursemaid to.
At last Cain saw the fortress above them. The Pierraults were mercenaries and in this case they had a joint purpose. "Dawn is too close. began to lower his boot to get a better toehold so they could begin their descent. Though the wind was still bitterly cold and his legs ached terribly. "There are stairs. Then he glanced at the horizon again. Soon. They've got plenty of time. Windblown snow whipped across the top of the steps. much of the jagged landscape looked the same. But take a look off to your left. but your kind are so damned impatient. and Cain had to reach down and touch his gloved hands to the steps to keep from tumbling over. The sky began to lighten. Cain had known them for a very long time. it took him a moment to realize what he was seeing." he muttered. "Hell. only the mountain itself would shield the Pierraults from the sun's rays. Cain. Snow had built up on the ground there and was slick across the steps. Cain rubbed his eyes. vampires do. The three of them—hunter and predators—climbed in silence for a while longer. "How long must it have taken to do this?" "They're demons." Max Pierrault said. We cannot go to the monastery tonight. for in the dark." They made their way north along the mountain face and in minutes found themselves standing on a set of broad steps that had been hewn out of the bare rock.poaching on his land. his accent thick. "Let's move. though they remained in shadow. "My eyesight is better than yours. "This is incredible. "Stairs. When he looked again. but Andre wasn't paying attention. but he sensed their urgency. He had to stop from time to time to take deep breaths. The stairs were high and steep and extended only a hundred feet or so down past their location." He glanced down at them. Still. it was good to have allies when entering a situation as uncertain as this one. "Of course." The Pierraults did not bother to reply. The Pierraults were silent. The wind blew harder. and it crunched beneath their heavy tread." The hunter shifted slightly to a place where the ledge was wide enough that he could stand and glanced to where Andre was pointing." "I look stupid to you?" Cain sniffed. Cain felt a quickening of his pulse as they continued their climb." Cain replied. They weren't meant to invite anyone up to the fortress but to ease the climb where the mountain became impassable. and they were used to his bluster." Max said. created a lair within." Andre peered through the darkness. He imagined there had once been a network of caves there and Muztag had utilized those. It had been built right into the side of the mountain. The idea disturbed Cain. The sky continued to lighten. . despite the thoughts he'd had a short while before. but they were not his friends. you boys'll be lucky to make it down off the mountain by dawn. and eventually constructed a stone facade for the place. Half an hour after they discovered the steps they reached a place where the angle of the mountainside became less severe. too. I'd think you two would be in more of a hurry. dawn not far away. A massive door of wood and iron was set right in the center of the fortress. Their boots left fat prints in the snow." "Tomorrow. The air was growing thinner the higher they climbed. There were no windows.
"There's that. Then he drew his sword.On either side of the door stood a pair of hideous. In one smooth motion the hunter slid his rifle down off his shoulder. drawing the troll's attention back to the rifle. Max Pierrault hissed. y'see." he said. Cain hated them. "Got it. "So can we kill then now?" he asked. Now then. with the tiger tattoo." The troll with the tiger tattoo ran his tongue out over the two huge teeth that jutted downward from his upper jaw like tusks and grinned. "Damned trolls. it being sunup and all. swung the barrel up. The one with the cigar only looked bored. and fired a round through Tiger's forehead. "You two look a bit nervous. Slowly his gaze ratcheted up toward Cain. What a stink." '"Course you do. Tiger sighed. you're in such a bloody hurry to get in there. "Right." Cain pulled the trigger." Tiger started for Cain." Cain replied. Union Jack spit out his cigar and stared at the dead troll." "He was going to kill me. "Yer point?" Union Jack replied in a rumbling voice that sounded like an avalanche. "What the hell. Or to eat. "What the hell'd you wanna do that for? He wasn't all that bright. The troll guard crossed his arms. Could be we have some information he'd like to have. "They're here. "Me shift's nearly up as it is. Andre muttered. only with a twinge of a British accent. a T-shirt emblazoned with the Union Jack stretched across his chest. There's always some eatin' involved." he said. Then he shrugged and went to the huge wooden door." Union Jack noted. Gonna have a shift change here meself in a minute. 1 s'pose." Tiger muttered out one side of his mouth. sniffing the air. "We want to see Muztag for a parley." Union Jack replied. The one on the left was smoking a fat cigar. but instead of fury there was only a dull kind of sadness there. Go 'head. Had a little raid night before last. drool sliding out of his mouth and steaming as it hit the snow. as if to better show off the tiger tattoo that covered most of his upper torso. Trolls always sounded like they had a mouthful of stones. Stout. blowing his brains and fragments of his skull in a spray across the snowy front stoop of the fortress." . what can I do for you gents?" His gaze ticked toward the vampires again. rifle trained on Union Jack's forehead. You're pretty quick with that gun. Might just eat you. but he wasn't a bad sort. but the other." Cain took a step closer. Got a lot of new arrivals to get settled. leathery trolls wearing swords at their hips. "Them other two are vampires. The bullet chipped a scar out of the stone facade of the fortress. Rather not turn to stone if I can help it. Don't blame you. The other had his arms crossed and was naked from the waist up. "I'm afraid the boss is a bit busy at the moment. was glaring directly at Cain as he climbed the last dozen steps to the top. banged on it three times. as though Cain and the Pierraults weren't even there to hear.
"we've been together for days and I still don't really know much about you. The previous night they had spotted torches burning around a village in the distance. perhaps not too late for one wish. At dawn. Cain considered keeping his rifle at the ready. More than an hour passed in silence. Oz was certain it must be the monastery. When they came to a section of the mountain too sheer to scale. The idea made his stomach rumble. but he didn't like his chances of surviving this if he went into the place shooting." Oz said. Jinan had wanted to stop there. anxious to be inside and away from the blossoming dawn. The monastery was sometimes out of their line of sight. but it was too late for wishes. Oz.The vampires slunk quickly up behind the troll. Oz could make it out far better. and briefly discussed the possibility that they would soon have to catch something to eat if they did not find the monastery. but her words had come suddenly . voice raspy from disuse. Now they climbed. Well. That might be enough to cost them their lives. There was still some brush on either side of the trail. He slid the rifle strap over his shoulder again and watched as the massive door to the fortress of the demon swung open. You don't talk much. and though that meant they would soon have nothing to eat. perhaps for cooking. She had gotten ahead of him and now she glanced back to make eye contact. Though he thought they could do that if they had to. It was the last of the meat. but Oz thought it was quite fortunate that they would not have to climb that high. Oz wished they had found it first thing that morning. They shared a bit of bread as well. but large. Perhaps two thirds of the way up was a dark shape that had to be some sort of man-made structure. But the truth of that awaited him in the monastery atop the mountain ledge high above. they simply retraced their steps and went around. They could always go back to that village if necessary. and his skin felt warmer than he had been in days. The peak above the monastery was completely white." "Better not to. which cut back and forth across the face of the mountain now. "You know. About home. frozen in a kind of perpetual winter. About yourself. Oz and Jinan had been climbing all morning. Oz was not sad to see it go. they stared up at the mountain. Breakfast had consisted of coffee warmed over the fire and some cured meat he fried in a pan they'd gotten at the first village they'd stopped in two days before. constructed by timbers and stone. It was beautiful. In the darkness within. just thinking about a real fireplace. but a thin layer of new fallen snow covered much of it. The way was not terribly difficult. It was a simple structure. as they ate breakfast." Jinan said suddenly as they rounded a turn in the path. Jinan turned her attention to the trail again and Oz followed her. to see if they could get more food. the shadows seemed to writhe. and he assumed it was a morning fire. but he said nothing more. Oz had insisted they press on. but as they drew closer. but there was no way they were turning around now. and in time they found a rough trail that led up toward the monastery from the valley. There were trees on the foothills and even at higher elevations. They had slept at the foot of the highest mountain at the western end of the valley. Bad enough he had already killed one of Muztag's guards. Oz doubted it would come to that. Smoke rose from somewhere in the building. even some blankets for the higher elevations of the mountain. Not anything.
. despite himself. "Oz. when he had watched Jordy so that Uncle Ken and Aunt Maureen could go out to celebrate their anniversary. I mean." he said. He and Jordy had been sitting on the front steps watching the cars go by. "Sometimes I wish it wouldn't ever come back. This monk. A lot. "No. it was as though it had disappeared completely. who had stopped on the trail to take a swig of water. He liked Jinan. ." Jordy had gazed up at the night sky and sighed. too. The sky had been clear above them." Her hand slid down his arm. They were only minutes away now." "Hey. "Mental vacation." she said. "We've got a few weeks." he said. ." Oz turned to her. I've seen what's in you and I'm not afraid. Jinan. When he glanced up again they were only a few yards from the ledge. disappointment in her voice. Once they reached the ledge. with Oz in the lead. the moon a crescent. As if her touch had burned him. The thing inside me? It'll kill you if you give it a chance. "What's in you? It's still you. Shantou? Maybe he can help. but they had come too close to the mountain now and he could no longer see the monastery. "Me too." Oz had put an arm around him and stared up into the darkness as well. that was something he just couldn't do. "What if he can't?" Jinan asked. a memory flashed into his head. . "Me too. He dug his hands in to keep from losing his balance. The going was more difficult now. You're running away from home when all I want is to finally be able to go home. he pulled his hand back and turned away. and this time did not look away. to Willow and all that he had left behind. "Help. "Sorry. Unbidden. and Oz reached out and grabbed an outcropping of rock and began to heft himself up. "As for . and her fingers twined with his." he had said." The ledge was just above him now. . But to the two of them. whispering without even really meaning to. he found his mind turning once more to home. of a night only a few months earlier. All the things that mattered so much to him that he had traveled halfway across the world to safeguard them. but you know what? I don't need to be protected from you. "I know why you're here." He nearly slammed into Jinan. "I've got another face. Did you ever think that maybe you'd feel better if you talked more? Talk to me. Oz." she said. would not meet her gaze. they would be there." Oz gazed up. you really don't." Oz moved around Jinan as she put her water away and they continued up the trail. ignoring the snow.and. met her expectant gaze. But if she wanted to make more of it. but they were so close to the top that he did not care." "I noticed. other things. Jinan laid a hand on his shoulder. "I know what it's like to have a monster inside. how long till the moon comes back?" his young cousin had asked him. sharp and dangerous.
"Then I keep moving until I find someone who can." He pulled himself up onto the ledge, Jinan right behind him. Oz could smell the smoke from the fireplace, and again he was warmed by the thoughts of a fire. But when he looked up, that hope was dashed. The tall doors at the front of the monastery had been shattered inward, and a corner of the stone structure had collapsed entirely. Gray smoke rose from that corner, pluming in the air, and the remnants of a fire still flickered there. If the place had been built of wood rather than stone, it would have burned to the ground. The corpse of an eviscerated monk lay half in, half out of a first-floor window, its heavy shutter dangling loosely beside the dead man. A leg jutted from the rubble at the collapsed corner of the monastery. Oz was paralyzed. He stared at the monastery, at the aftermath of some terrible act, and his hope began to evaporate. Whatever he had said to Jinan, in his heart he had believed that he would find answers here, that he would find a way to rein in the wolf. Slowly Jinan walked toward the entrance of the building. Without its doors it gaped like a wound. She whispered to herself in Chinese, and he could not understand her. After a moment, he approached as well. Jinan paused just inside the ravaged entryway and stared within at blood-spattered stone walls and broken pottery, torn tapestries. A third corpse lay not far into the front hall. "It's like what happened to the nomads," Jinan said hoarsely. "What. . . what will you do now?" Oz had no idea where he would go next. The idea of retracing his steps was deeply troubling. "Keep asking the question until I get the answer," he told her, with a courage he did not feel. "We'll stay tonight. Tomorrow we'll start back down." In the shadows of an inner room, something stirred. A small figure, no larger than Jinan, loomed from the darkness. "You may stay if that is your wish," said a voice. The figure stepped out through an arched doorway and into the hall. It was an old monk, dressed in a long, ceremonial robe that reminded Oz of the garb worn by a priest at mass. It was a deep, rich yellow, with designs stitched in gold around the edges and where the buttons joined the fabric along the front. He wore his white hair tied in a thick braid, but it seemed to have become partially unraveled. His robe was spotted with blood and torn in several places, and the right side of his face was bruised a dark, painful-looking purple. His appearance had distracted them both for a moment from his words. "You speak English," Oz said, more than a little surprised. "So do you," the monk replied. "As I said, you may stay the night. But you should be warned. I will not be able to protect you if the evil returns." Chapter Ten
Twenty-five Nights Until the Full Moon "They came an hour after dark," the old monk said. "A grotesque menagerie of beasts, sorcerers, and demons in service to Muztag, known in this valley and whispered of across the plateau as 'the demon of the eastern mountain.' For generations, the legend of the demon lord Muztag has been a warning for wayward travelers, but our presence here has kept him from straying too far from his stronghold. "The nomads whispered rumors that he had begun to gather the forces of darkness around him, into his service. I was a fool not to lend those rumors more credence." Oz stared at him. Images of the ravaged nomad camp they had found down in the valley flashed through his mind. Muztag. At least the enemy had a name now. But it's not my enemy, Oz thought. I've got troubles of my own. Priorities. The words felt hollow in his mind. Jinan went to the old man in the blood-spattered ceremonial robes and gestured as though to offer him her arm. He held up a hand to indicate that he was all right, but favored her with a grateful nod. The demon girl let her backpack slide off and dropped it to the floor, glancing around again. She shoved her hands into her pockets and studied the old monk again. Just inside the front door, Oz made no move to come farther inside the monastery. Despite the selfish thoughts he'd had a few seconds earlier, he did not like the idea of turning his back on someone in trouble. But he had three and a half weeks before the next full moon, and he needed to find someone who could help him, someone who would know something, or who had been through what he was experiencing. His mind was elsewhere, on what he ought to do next, so it took him by surprise when Jinan spoke again. "Are you Master Shantou?" The old monk gave a polite half bow. "At your service." He raised both hands, indicating their surroundings. "As much as I can be, given the circumstances." Oz narrowed his eyes, studying Shantou. "Where'd you learn English?" The monk raised an eyebrow. "From books. Many of my students have been English or American. I taught an Australian once. I speak many languages. Is my English acceptable?" "Better than most of the Americans I know," Oz told him. This earned Oz another subtle bow and a broad grin that seemed out of place in the aftermath of the horror that had happened here. Oz figured the old monk was just being polite. "You have sought me out," Shantou went on, quite serious now. "Just as so many have done before you. It is possible that I may be able to help you, but you should be aware of the danger you are in every moment you stay." Jinan took a deep breath and glanced at Oz expectantly. He said nothing but she was undaunted by the lack of support. Instead, she stood a bit taller and faced Shantou again. "We can take care of ourselves." A shiver went through Oz. Every time Jinan made that claim, it felt more like she was whistling in the dark, daring fate to prove her a liar. He had planned to stay the night here and head back in the morning,
but if he started back down now he could camp in the valley overnight. From the looks of this place, he wouldn't be in any more danger in the open than he would be in here. Though it might be nice to sleep with a roof over his head for a night. "So what's the story on Muztag?" Jinan asked the old monk. "The real story, I mean. Not a myth or a legend. If he's been like a bogeyman for so long, why get ambitious all of a sudden?" Oz reached for his backpack. If Jinan wanted to come back with him, she could. He'd make it clear he thought she shouldn't stay, but in the end it wasn't up to him. He was not her father. A hand on his pack, Oz hesitated. Her father. Qing had only really helped Oz because he owed Giles, but that did not free Oz from the feeling that he was now in Qing's debt. Jinan's family had gone out of their way for him, and he had cost them, damaged their business. Reluctantly, he let go of the pack and crossed his arms, leaned against the wall to listen to Master Shantou, the little old man who represented his crumbling hopes. "You do not understand," the old monk said softly. His gaze grew distant as though his eyes saw into another place, a faraway realm that brought him only sadness. "Muztag is a Vastaghri demon. Very rare. By their terms he is not very old, either, which makes him even more uncommon. The race is nearly extinct. He is the youngest I have ever heard of, perhaps only five or six hundred years old. The young tend to slay their elders and their siblings for control of their land. "Once upon a time, thousands of years ago, their kind thrived in Asia and Europe. They are born tyrants. A Vastaghri considers himself the lord of all he surveys, and once he has laid claim to that land, he will never leave it. Muztag does not want to set the world afire like some other species of demons ..." Shantou paused and focused on Jinan. "No offense." She blinked. "None taken." Neither of them asked how the old monk had known she was a demon, but Oz was suddenly more aware of Shantou's presence. He was some sort of magician or sorcerer to have gained the reputation he had. But for the first time since they had seen the damage to the monastery, Oz began to wonder exactly what kind of power Master Shantou wielded. Whatever else he might be capable of, he was the only person left at the monastery alive. "You were saying?" Oz prodded. Master Shantou inclined his head toward Oz. "Yes. Muztag. He settled here four hundred and fifty-seven years ago. For more than a decade he and those who served him—only a small group at that time—hunted the valley and the mountains and beyond with impunity. Antelope and bear and whatever else they desired, but people most of all. Nomads. "Then the monastery was built. From time to time a drunken nomad will stumble away from his herd and not be heard of again. Or a rebellious child might leave the village and set out for Lhasa and never arrive there. Muztag might have been responsible. I suspect he was. But it was always possible that wild animals were the killers. I protected the village as best I could. Our mere presence here kept Muztag from growing too bloodthirsty. I am a humble teacher, and most of my attention must go to my students. But the demon has always feared me."
His skin crinkled at the edges of his eyes and around his lips but otherwise was remarkably smooth." A sort of bell went off in Oz's head. His throat felt suddenly dry. awakening at night to spend the evening feeling the weight of the moon. Not uncommon. their emotional state . does it?" A great sadness came over the old monk then and if possible."Wait." the Master replied. I heard the hush of wings above me and I glanced up to see the dark shapes of Draco Volans gliding across the night sky. in fact. though. "Are you saying you've been here for more than four hundred years.. I had an alcoholic from Bonn and a teenaged witch from Kyoto who had become tainted by relying on dark magic. That you built the monastery?" The old monk smiled. "In the end. then. men and women. "Not alone. How surprised she was to learn how many dark sorcerers have come to this place to cleanse themselves of the very same taint and temptation. to sit and breathe in the crisp night air. A light snow had fallen during the day. The old monk blinked and looked at him. It may simply be that his natural tyranny drove him to collect too many followers. Some of his teeth were missing. human and demon. "I am Shantou. I was aware of my students. She was my most recent arrival. "The rest of the students were in the great hall meditating and sparring. something beyond the walls. Miyu. "What are you?" Oz asked. There was a long moment of silence as the three of them stood amidst the debris of the shattered doors inside that entrance hall and gazed at one another. It sounded as though Ferric and Shen might have been werewolves. What sort of teacher would I be if I could not? Ferric and Shen were in their room asleep. Many somethings. as though she were in a classroom. Master Shantou gazed at her expectantly. Their presence. and it was pleasing to be outside. They slept much of the day. When he began to speak again he was not even looking at them. "I do not know what has changed. moving with the tide of her influence. "You have seen Draco Volans before?" . cruel minds of the trolls and demons that serve him. he seemed even smaller to Oz." Jinan interrupted." Master Shantou's voice lowered. but beautiful. In the midst of my meditation I could feel the eldritch power of Muztag's magicians approaching and sense the dull." Master Shantou told her. Then Shantou reached up and began to unravel his long braid. smoothing the sections that had been mussed and tightening them. "I was meditating in the courtyard.. Perhaps the frustration of our conflict has finally driven him to risk all. The demon girl raised a hand partway. Eastern and Western. Seven of them. and those followers are voracious and must be fed. and others were yellowed. I could always sense them. or perhaps there is another Vastaghri encroaching upon his territory and he gathers these new lackeys and servants to combat that threat. it does not really matter why." Oz muttered. learning to focus with the aid of combat. "I sensed something else." "Hate those vicious little rodents.
ran his hands through his ragged hair... They aided me in my teaching and in the upkeep of the monastery. Oz could imagine what it had looked like before the previous night's attack. And with every word Master Shantou spoke. But there were too many of them. "In your current state? Nothing. poison spines and crushing strength. "Anything we can do to help?" he asked. "There were several monks who had once been my students. Sothoth demons with massive eyes at the end of each tentacle. and I could have been better prepared for such an attack than I was. Shantou stared at him as though the old monk could see right inside his head and heart. Chitinuk demons with their horns and carapaces and clicking beak mouths. the magicians combining their power to tear down the mystic barriers I had had erected over the years. Abducted. whistling through narrow cracks and wailing in empty halls. "Understood. "That's ." . It was as though he needed to tell it now. From the rantings of his beasts I have come to believe Muztag intends to force them to serve him. Oz studied the old monk a moment. "All I could do was defend myself."Pretty much met everything hanging with the Slayer. "I should have been better prepared. just there. Master Shantou. My students were taken. Though his manner had been nothing but friendly thus far. "Good luck." Oz swallowed. But I was arrogant enough to believe that Muztag feared me too much to attempt such a thing. his sense of that venerable old place became clearer until the monastery itself seemed a victim.. He knew without a doubt that what he really needed to do was put on his pack and get the hell out of there. when they shattered the door.. Powerful sorcerers have walked these halls over the centuries. just walk away. that's terrible. Namcha was sweeping . now Master Shantou seemed grim. almost angry. The other monks were slaughtered." The old monk wiped his hands across his dusty robe as though he might erase the bloodstains there. slung his pack up from the ground and put it on. The various wings of the monastery each had their own peaked roofs. It was unnerving. and it was happening too fast. then he stood away from the wall.. I failed them. to make sense of it for himself." A light of understanding and interest flickered in Master Shantou's eyes. of course.." A heartbeat went by. He looked at the floor and then lifted his gaze again. and now I am the only one left. in that room . The wind rushed through the cold stone building. But he was not deterred from his story. suddenly more of a little girl than she had ever seemed to Oz before. Never has Muztag fielded a host of beasts like this. There was a grandeur to it. Though all he had seen when they crested the hill had been the damage to the place." Jinan hugged herself. the elegant curl of Asian architecture visible in each one. "I fought back. Namcha was the first to die. Then a few more. He took a long breath and let it out." he said.
So just like he had with Jinan. Not until he had dealt with the beast." Face-to-face with Jinan. no Giles to break out the weapons and the research. "You can't just walk away." Jinan said. young Jinan. he saw only sadness. "You have come to me to find a way to confront the beast. The surge of new hope within him was almost painful. At that. but it was not any of Oz's business if he stayed. And Master Shantou himself had said there was nothing Oz could do to help. "I'd be in your debt. "Oz! Where are you going to go?" With a slow nod. wolf. "Master Shantou needs our help. too. "Often the journey decides our steps for us. But the only guarantee if he stayed was that he'd be in the middle of a death trap. find a spell to send all the monsters to some alternate dimension circus freak show. somehow his need for it did not diminish his presence. Jinan ran up to him. "Oz. and though he put some weight on it. that he was walking away from the one man who seemed to be capable of helping him. "So you're just going to leave me here?" she demanded. There was a kind of mischief in his voice then. and instead of the anger he expected to see on her face. Shantou had said. he turned to her. The old monk ought to leave. But. "Don't call me that. if you wish to remain. my friend. I may be able to help you control the beast. "Wherever's next." The monk held his hands clasped in front of him." he said at . He held a thick wooden walking stick in his right hand. "But I may be able to help you. hey!" Jinan called. and he stiffened. Oz neither saw nor sensed Shantou as he stepped out the front door of the monastery." He stepped out onto the mountain ledge then. walking toward Oz with a grace and strength that seemed incongruous with his obvious age and the presence of the staff he leaned upon. put the reins on the wolf. the sadness was burned off her features by a rush of righteous fury. He stepped out onto the snow-covered ledge in front of the monastery. As I said.And he headed for the door. the old monk had intuited what Oz was and why he had come here. A chorus of voices in his head were telling him to turn around. I sense the conflict within you." A chill went through Oz. and he raised an eyebrow again. The thin layer of snow was melting in the sunlight. shaking a finger at him." Oz hesitated. It was not until he spoke that Oz realized he had followed them. no Scooby Gang to back him up." he replied. "We all have a journey. at the moment there is nothing either of you can do to aid me. her tone a mixture of annoyance and astonishment. waiting for this Muztag and his goon squad to come back and finish the job they had started." Master Shantou inclined his head. And we need his help." Master Shantou said. You would not be the first. It wasn't like he was back in Sunnydale. There was no Buffy around to do the really nasty work. In your current state. "Let your journey lead you.
We can start by helping you repair the monastery. Everything had been done to make the place look like it wasn't a prison cell. They had not gotten fifty feet inside the door before they were surrounded by a motley group of demons and a bunch of little winged vermin that looked like a cross between bats and baby dragons." he said. "Excellent!" she cried. There was even a pottery vase of flowers on a handmade table in the corner. Would you honor me by accepting me as your student?" "All demons should have at least some understanding of magic. but he had not met Muztag yet. Both of you. After all. "My patience is just about run out. and fruit. and tapestries were hung where windows would have been if the place were not a warren of demons. Cain frowned. Not much. He supposed he ought to be glad they weren't already dead. Master Shantou. But the door was locked. Gib Cain paced the length of the stone chamber where he and the Pierraults had been held since arriving—somewhat violently—at Muztag's fortress. . That was a comfort. cheese. The Pierraults had retreated to the darkest corner of the room and there curled up on the stone floor together like a pair of old dogs. A wooden cup of water in his right hand. Of course. They slept the cold. Torches burned in sconces on the walls. On the table in the corner was a plate of bread. kissed his cheek. "You won't regret this. Cain shook his head. Jinan. After a moment. The words were for himself. The sound of footsteps came from the hall.last. back toward the shattered doorway. Someone rapped softly." Jinan glanced once at Oz and then hurried into the monastery after him. and stepped cautiously away from the door. he had shot one of the big boss's troll guards and then trespassed. Oz followed. staff in hand. "Come in. they probably weren't all carnivores. Cain had demanded that they be allowed to see Muztag. motionless sleep of the undead." Cain muttered. So far it was working. the other guard at gunpoint." Master Shantou added. stopped pacing. Bemused by the incongruous politeness. however. Jinan whooped happily and jumped at Oz. A couple of dozen times Cain had been tempted to go over and kick one of them in the face. Then she scampered over to Master Shantou and pumped his hand. Let us speak further. more than he would have expected as a prisoner in a stronghold that smelled like a barn and was filled with creatures who would rather eat human flesh than an apricot. but all in all. gesturing toward Oz. away from the eyes of the mountain. Enter and be welcome in my home. Demanding had not been his initial plan—always best to be more modest when tramping on the territory of a vicious demon lord—but after killing the guard he had thought it best to do some swaggering and hope that would keep him alive long enough to talk to the boss. if only to alleviate his boredom. "Come. I'll bet we're a lot more useful than you think. Then he turned and walked.
Muztag had to duck his head to get into the room. Anyone who saw this big. "If you have nothing to say to me. Hide it. He glanced back at the sorceress in the hall. I specialize in . From the corridor came the echoes of screams that tore through the halls of the fortress. though. And one huge. he thought. trying to find the words in Chinese and knowing he was mangling them. "Do me the courtesy of addressing me as Lord Muztag. hooded cloak fringed with red and gold. right at the center of the top of his forehead. He only hoped Muztag would understand. but there was also an air of command about him. Cain didn't say a word. wait!" Cain called. But you 're scared to death. Lord Muztag. Never even got a howl like that from a lycanthrope. Cain knew it was he by the deference he received from the sorceress. Two beneath the lower antennae. Don't you have enough of those? He cursed himself silently. and then the door swung open. The sorceress stepped away from the open door. A dark veil covered the bottom of her face so that only her eyes were visible. with massive hooves and hands as big as Cain's head. but spoke it badly. the vampires did not so much as stir. Slowly. Muztag scared the hell out of him. "My apologies. Never let them get the scent of your fear. "No. It backfired. or if they drew it from outside themselves. cloak. Cain thought for a second she was beckoning him to come out. Big bad hunter. They were frightening. beneath the upper antennae. and the hunter flinched and backed up. Otherwise I will eat your eyes. In the deep shadows of the corner across the room. Right. Muztag's flesh was the purple-black of overripe plums. all the magic users working for Muztag wore the same outfits. He just stared at the demon lord. It was unnerving as hell to look at him. steadying himself. From what he had seen. In the corridor stood a woman in a black. and he took a step forward. Muztag turned. He was huge. He could understand Chinese relatively well. Then a huge shadow fell across the threshold in the torchlight that glowed in the corridor. ugly freak could not for one second think anything but that he was in charge. human and otherwise. That was the trick with prey. and had to stifle a giggle. Two above those." Cain hissed air in through his teeth. Cain thought. A witch or a sorceress. Cain always got them mixed up. I'm a hunter. and veil. His skin was lined with ropy muscles and tendons. hood. forced the hysterical thoughts away. Cain had hurt plenty of folks in his time. and after a second Cain realized they looked more like insect antennae. "Why is he still alive?" Muztag began to turn away. why are you still alive?" the demon thundered in Chinese. taking a breath. The screams went on. And that was the truth. Four horns jutted from his head. Eat my eyes. the designation had something to do with whether they came by their power internally. like a man's. two at each temple. "My name is Cain. but he'd never made anyone scream like that. Cyclopean orb three times the size of the others.The key rattled in the lock. The demon lord had five eyes." Cain began.
The screams were coming from a room guarded by a pair of trolls. so Cain left them there. After a moment. It is possible that you will be useful to me." Then the demon lord backed out into the hallway and gestured for Cain to follow. The four antennae twitched. and the trolls snapped to attention. "S'hurting me ears. As long as nobody decided to dust them. but he did not let it show. standing a bit straighter. Muztag led him along a torch-lit hall and then down a broad set of steps that seemed to descend forever into the bowels of the mountain. That is how I come to speak at least some Chinese.werewolves." And so in his halting Chinese he told Muztag everything. that he was pursuing a wolf from America named Daniel Osbourne. "Wish they'd stop that. Union Jack threw open the door. whom Cain had threatened to kill only hours earlier. that Oz was headed for Master Shantou's monastery. "Walk with me. you will live. When he had finished explaining." Muztag barked something in a guttural voice. After a moment. he nodded." Cain exulted. Union Jack was smoking another cigar. The room was large and well lit. The screams Cain had heard before grew louder as they went downward. Anyway. With the sorceress walking a respectful distance behind them. "You have killed many werewolves?" "Ninety-one. so Cain stayed outside as Muztag went in. There are those who grind them down to make aphrodisiacs and the like. The last thing he wanted was for Lord Muztag to think he was interested in the demon lord's own head. It looked to Cain as though someone had taken a blender to their brains and then put them back in their heads. and that he had climbed the mountain to get Muztag's—Lord Muztag's—permission to hunt on his territory. wolf hunter. this was exactly what he had hoped. but he extinguished it the moment he spotted Muztag coming down the hall. The troll either did not remember—which Cain found hard to believe— or he was already over it. Their faces and eyes were slack as zombies' and one of them was drooling. And Muztag hadn't even mentioned the dead troll." the troll with the English accent muttered. they'd be all right. But the hunter could see inside. At a stone landing they set off along another corridor. "I have heard of such things. That was a pretty good sign." Cain replied. Muztag stared at him for a full minute. But they weren't the ones screaming. This was something he understood. was probably there already. If so. having his credentials questioned." Muztag grunted. The demon lord made no motion for him to follow. The demon lord's face was so hideous that Cain had no idea how to read his expression. the demon lord raised a huge fist and ran his long. "And demons?" Cain hesitated. "Certain demons have horns that are of special value to some collectors. clawed fingers over his chin. But he also could not afford to insult him. one of whom was Union Jack. A pair of sorcerers had a demon spread out on a table and were pushing tendrils of magical energy . And you might return with more than one werewolf pelt for your trouble. The vampires were still sleeping. Four humans in torn and bloodied robes—three men and a girl barely a teenager—knelt on the other side of the room.
He walked on without another word. he was still breathing. After a moment. they came to another room. He put a broken piece of wood over the crack in the door and nailed it down. Cain flinched at the sight and the sound of the demon screaming. pointed ears.through his skull and chest like some vicious. sort of scaly. As exhausted as they were. then you can kill them and take their pelts. like tires spinning on gravel. as though a blacksmith had forged them. the demon lord picked up the scaly demon and hurled him across the room. "Shantou has taught them to control the change. Cain did." Chapter Eleven Twenty-five Nights Until the Full Moon A he day was half over. "Have a look. That first afternoon at the monastery they turned their attention to the entrance hall. A short way down. were a pitiful-looking pair of men. occult acupuncture. Abruptly. They want me to be patient!" Muztag snorted. they can't break the mind of that half-breed. Muztag barked at the sorceress. "I have explained to them that patience is a virtue. There were rooms for Oz and Jinan that had not been ravaged by the attackers. "Werewolves. He was taking them to task for something. and long tapered. but they made the best of it. and part of the iron strapping had been torn away. one Asian and one who looked German or Scandinavian. They're no good for me except for meat. In exchange for this. Oz and Jinan worked with Master Shantou—who seemed far heartier than a man of his age with recent injuries ought to be—to remove the debris. Stone was piled outside to be discarded or used later. Then he turned and nodded to the demon lord Muztag. and the kitchen was in working order. He had green skin. chained to the wall. The door unlocked and swung open of its own accord. and for my allowing you to hunt on my land. and Cain followed. One of the massive doors had a cracked plank. and Cain figured just from looking inside that it had to do with the fact that the demon—though clearly hurting—was not a drooling vegetable like the others. Scaly struck the stone wall and slumped to the ground. but as far as Cain could see. Cain noticed she hadn't been polite enough to knock this time." A broad smile spread across Cain's features as he glanced back at the two creatures chained inside that cell. Within the room. "For all the magic they supposedly wield. Muztag snarled at the sorcerers and barked at them in that same awful language. They have far greater willpower than his other students." Cain thought it best to say nothing. and she waved a hand. Can't make an obedient servant out of him without all that shrieking. The iron strapping was . Another hunt. If you can force them to change. while wood was stacked against an interior wall to be utilized if possible or burned in the fireplace if not." Muztag explained. Lord Muztag swept out of the room and slammed the door behind him. But this pelt I will keep. "I think I'm gonna like this job. Muztag glanced at him. you will do something for me." Muztag said. Red horns thrust up like small nubs from his skull. Oz located a hammer and a box of nails that looked ancient. break their spirits. And I do not have any of those.
Every bone in his body ached. He paused and turned to look at the old man. Jinan. The wing that had suffered the most damage would simply be closed off for now. The torches still burned. they dug graves for each of his apprentices whose corpses had been left behind. Oz wrapped his hands in cloth to avoid burning them and bent the metal back down. and Jinan seemed tired but still somehow filled with the energy. "I won't leave them to the vultures. "Oz. the fire. Rubble around several ruined interior walls had to be cleared away. Still. Despite all his travel. The moon and stars seemed very distant then. Only one chore had to be completed before they could sleep that night. When he turned to walk back inside the monastery. In the guttering light of torches the old monk had planted outside. so they were obliged to borrow one that led from the monastery into the inner courtyard to use in its stead." Master Shantou said emphatically. but that was simpler in a way than fixing the door. There had been no doubt of his natural charisma and command of his surroundings. and Master Shantou took turns with the shovel. ironically enough. By early evening they had rehung that door and the entrance hall was swept and picked up." Master Shantou said. Heavy iron hinges had to be set anew in what was left of the frame. but now Oz felt the man's certainty. and then replaced a couple of missing nails to hold it flat. Master Shantou seemed more mournful than sad. but he didn't have the strength. it would do for now and could be barred. But still it was nearly midnight when they patted down the dirt on top of the last of the graves for these dead men whose names Oz did not even know. his voice quiet but carrying across the mountainside with its subtle power.impossible to set right. Master Shantou made a simple stew on a woodstove in the kitchen. though the door was too small for the entryway. Not that barring the door had helped much against Muztag's fiendish menagerie. The second door was nothing but splinters and twisted iron now. were still in place. save for the conversations they had about what other repairs would need to be made on the monastery. hammered it flat. The muscles in his arms and back and neck burned. his eyes felt as though they had been rubbed with sandpaper. the refuse of the battle removed. but that bit of masonry was for another day. that always filled her. his time on the Sargasso Drifter. Oz would have been envious. Oz. his knowledge of secret truths that gave him a kind of insight few people ever gained. it seemed a silent agreement amongst them that it was important not to have doors open to the wild during the night. A small but intense flame blossomed from the fingers of her right hand and she used her other to shield the wood from the fire as she worked the iron. even upon first meeting him. When it had softened with the heat. and for the first time Oz felt the full effect of the Master's presence. . and they ate mostly in silence. Not deep—just four feet or so—enough to keep the carrion birds away from them. Finally he asked Jinan to heat the metal up. There was a large space over the repaired door where part of the stone in the upper frame had been torn away. and shadows flickered across his face and slid across the white hair bound in that tight ponytail that fell down his back. It had a warp to it now. no matter how hard he tried to bend it back into place. and hiking through the mountains these past few days. The hinges. this had been the longest and most tiring day of his entire life. But just the same. his whole body felt so heavy that it seemed as though someone had tied bags of cement to him.
"In the end. always fruits and grains and some meat." Oz told him. the journey is yours alone. bleary-eyed with exhaustion. He wished for an argument." Oz paled. my young friend. 'Tomorrow we begin. But I shall teach you what I know. magic and herbs and meditation can only smooth your way. There is no cure." Then his gaze fell upon Oz." Master Shantou waved a hand. but none came to mind. unable to meet the old monk's gaze. "I don't know if I can do that. But it will not cure you. in that moment he was grateful to have her companionship." Oz shook his head. Until you have learned to trust the wolf. It is all of you. "Not that the wolf will do something terrible."Yeah?" Jinan came to stand beside him. You must create within yourself a place of peace. whatever they needed always seemed to be available. to trust what you are and find a balance in it." Oz confessed. You are no longer a man. though he had never seen their host and teacher hunt. Of spells and charms. the two of them before the teacher. suddenly colder by far than he had been. Jinan looked at him with great longing and sympathy. Then. a sudden suspicion seeping into his mind that he had been manipulated. he looked off into the sky and found himself staring at the moon. "You are not the first man to come here searching for a way to cage the beast. you must seek out the wolf. Instead. You already know the truth. They ate sparsely. but that you will. "I will teach you what I know of herbs and potions. "There is an herbal compound that will weaken the hold that the moon has over the wolf." Master Shantou interrupted. he walked past Oz toward the front of the monastery. "But you said—" "The first truth you must accept. Oz rose early and with Jinan helped Master Shantou fix breakfast for the three of them." the old monk said without turning as he went into the ravaged building. "Rest well." Jinan leaned into him. and then she followed Shantou. you see. You must find a balance between the twin aspects of your nature. staff in hand. and all of the torches extinguished with a simultaneous rush of hot wind. Still. . In that place. Master Shantou glanced at Jinan. but as always. "is that the wolf is not a part of you. and for the first time Oz felt as though they truly were his students. You must stop thinking like a man and allow yourself to evolve. "What is it that you fear?" Shantou inquired sagely. To become what you are. but a magician of great knowledge and meager talent." "Not really what I had in mind. the old monk's words hardly making sense. I am not a powerful sorcerer. Yet you are more than a beast." Nineteen Nights Until the Full Moon The days blurred one into the other. put a hand on his arm for comfort. you will always be alone. and though he knew she hoped for more from him. Now I must tell you this: You cannot. So.
but restoring stone walls was more complicated than he expected. and Master Shantou appeared to be as well. But he was here. and more peaceful than anyplace Oz had ever dreamed of. but he kept a tight leash on its urges and cravings. he could have stayed home. talked a great deal about Hong Kong and her family. He studied a martial arts regimen that Master Shantou showed him on the second day. He had left some of his things there. mostly reiterating the things he had said to Oz that first night. far from excitable. and Oz wondered why they had not returned. She seemed fascinated but gave him the space he wanted. and the look in his eyes was far from peaceful. There was furniture that could not be repaired and some materials had to be taken from other areas in the monastery—doors moved and rubble from the shattered section sifted for proper stones—but somehow they made it work. he found in the rhythm of the days at the monastery a simplicity that obliterated everything he had thought he had understood about life. He had always been laid-back. came together quite nicely. but it passed within a couple of hours. Whenever he looked at the eastern mountain he thought of Muztag. Though he was not much more talkative than usual. After a small midday meal. where he could sit cross-legged and gaze down upon the monastery and the valley below and meditate. And he tried. He could lose himself in that vista. Master Shantou spent a great deal of time with Jinan in a large chamber beneath his own quarters that the old monk referred to as his "herb closet. But living as a student to Master Shantou gave him a sort of harmony of mind that he had not known was possible. truly. Sometimes it snowed lightly. and in that time left Oz to his own devices. Though he feared the approach of the moon and he still had his doubts. or did he simply not care anymore? Did he think that the old man was beaten and no longer a concern? From time to time he saw Shantou staring at the opposite peak as well. So he climbed down the mountain and took long runs through the valley—waving at nomads he saw tending herds of yaks. so he had a convenient excuse. and one afternoon it came down so thick and fast with a hard wind that it felt like a blizzard . She. and at the same time. It was beautiful. meanwhile. Oz could not help often feeling abandoned. Had Muztag thought Shantou was dead.. So much so that Oz knew she was missing home. He hiked farther up the mountain to a beautiful spot amongst a stand of trees. And despite Oz's doubts. reading or talking softly. he had told her about Willow and about Sunnydale. enough that he knew he wanted to return to Hong Kong at least for a visit someday. Other rooms. he did.After breakfast they would all work together to continue repairing rooms in the monastery—though the badly damaged wing continued to remain sealed off. there was something about Master Shantou—something he could not quite put his finger on—that made him trust the old monk. That he must come to peace by seeking out the wolf inside of him. Oz and Jinan often sat together by the fire after dinner. He'd lived in Southern California his whole life. however. but too often it sounded to Oz like the kind of spiritual platitudes offered up by any New Age guru." Though he understood that Shantou had taken them both on as students. let Mm share only as much as he wanted. The monk spent hours teaching Jinan. If all he'd wanted was this sort of self-help crap.. He offered guidance. Shantou would speak to him briefly. but he was pleased with the work they all did. He was no mason. The demon and his dark servants were still there. Oz had always been handy. . or in the sky that stretched out forever there at the top of the world. In his own mind he tried to draw out that savage thing and confront it.
pulsing with life. But his mind came back to Jordy. The boy who was counting on him to find an answer. It was one of those days when. which suddenly felt as though it were strangling him. he did not believe he was any closer to mastering the beast within him. felt the chill breeze lugging at his too-long hair. Instead of pushing that bloodlust away. wet eyes. A scent caught his attention. it turned its head to stare at him with enormous. proud and yet innocent. His lips curled back to bare his teeth. but that was untried. Oz closed his eyes. despite the presence of the sun in the sky.Today had passed like they all had since he and Jinan had arrived here. An antelope. The little boy opening presents on Christmas morning. yearned to hear her voice. A delicious thrill. Oz chuckled inwardly at the thought. the touch of denim on his legs and cotton on his chest and arms. but now it paused. a pair of red. . Oz wasn't doing this only for himself. Master Shantou had begun to show him how to put together the compound that he would need to ingest to help him hold off the moon's influence. And of course he did. but the moon nevertheless. He paused. he sniffed at the breeze and he knew it. as frozen as if it had been crossing the highway and had suddenly been struck by the lights of an oncoming truck. and then a run. He watched it. In his case. boots crunching snow. Pushed away everything. He was linked to it forever. what he had to show it. Breakfast and repair work. He had missed it. noon meal. the moon was still visible. and suddenly he thought of Christmas. That was what he had to tell the wolf. along with something else. like a child unable to shake the idea that the moon is following him. And then his thoughts of children and the moon brought images of Jordy into his mind. and he wondered what Willow was doing right at that moment. breathed the cold. it was true. It was prey. the feeling of the cold wind. The wind died a moment. glistening eyes that wanted to hunt. He reached back and touched upon Master Shantou's words. As he hiked across the mountainside he found himself staring up at it again and again. A ghostly shade of it. But wanting and taking were two separate things. to track musk deer and bring them down and spatter their crimson blood in the air so that it fell and steamed away the pristine snow. thin air into his lungs. He had to put reins upon the beast. The antelope had been moving steadily across the mountainside above his position. Regret filled him. Eyes still closed. Twitching. Oz felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. he reached down into himself and touched it. Inside of him was a hunger. He stood on the mountain. and tugged at the neck of his sweatshirt. and as content and relaxed as he felt being at the monastery. Snow crunched and small branches snapped and Oz opened his eyes and saw the animal moving through the trees toward him. and he tried to open his mind to the wolf. The moon was following him. If he wanted it. and barely even been aware of it. Less than three weeks until the next full moon. Without opening his eyes he could feel the location of the moon. and a ripple of revulsion passed through him. to share his perceptions with it. and then shifted. to stalk these mountains under the cover of night and root out the dens of other animals.
his hands cold on the ground. But he was not play-acting. From me. He could taste the deepening of winter on his tongue. "Where did you learn to walk so softly?" Oz asked. putting the leash on it. His eyes were closed so that he might better listen. He felt its yearning again. "Are you a monster?" "Yaaahhh!" Oz snapped. tried to connect with the wolf. in his heart. It was slower now. and yet the monk had appeared without a sound—not a footstep or an indrawn breath—as though he had simply arrived from nowhere. Surrender. in the place he had become accustomed to meditating. He shook off his reluctance and tried to bring the wolf out. to hunt. Touch the wolf. and hear the burble of a mountain stream that ran not far off toward the western face. Reluctantly he reached within himself again. recoiling from the whisper in his ear. and to the world around him. pushing the wolf down. Oz sat upon the mountainside perhaps two hundred yards above the monastery. "have you listened to nothing I've said?" . A low growl escaped his throat. Close your eyes. to share its awareness. Its suddenness startled him so completely that Oz stood up straight." Oz whispered. heart still beating fast. and it rippled with the ice that had formed over sections of it. or merge his own with the wolf's. both to what was inside of him. smell the fire from the monastery. and his hands curled into claws as if playacting. Oz. The ghost of the moon followed him as he started across the mountain again. He fell sideways and scrambled across the snow. nodding gently. It was not on purpose. its desire to run free. Of course it was afraid." The old monk sighed. "I did not learn. Just as you must. Instinct told it there was danger. The whisper of the wind and the swaying of trees. He crouched low. and there is. Oz swore softly to himself."It's all right." he said. just not me. Let it come forward. my friend. with the beast. It was only Shantou. Shantou was staring at him curiously. Let it roll over you." His mind went back to that time two days before with the antelope. counting the days. Trying again to touch the wolf. eyes open. Seventeen Nights Until the Full Moon Lost in meditation. "Sorry. both to the antelope and to himself. Oz shook his head. his eyes wide. The antelope bolted in terror—terror he could smell —and disappeared into the trees back the way it had come. I became what I am. unable to breathe a moment. "Oh.
the sense of dread as they approached Lingka. That was the same feeling he had now. Tomorrow we have an errand to do. and it seemed unforgiving. From the base they set off due east across the valley. walking with his staff but not putting much weight on it. at the black night beyond. . He said nothing about it. Now the old monk did pause to glance back at her. even continued on several steps. How much he depended upon it seemed to change from day to day. of waking up in the middle of the night and going to the kitchen for a drink of water. but it took him a while to place. they certainly seemed ill at ease. "I have heard nothing more from the village since then. It was as though the wind carried with it a foreboding sense of disquiet. "So what's our agenda today?" Jinan asked as they walked side by side behind the monk." "What is it?" 'Tomorrow. It was a familiar feeling. This is not unusual. Winter had come to the mountains of Tibet." he said. We have spoken about it before. Master Shantou did not pause. informed me that a demon had killed several of the villagers." he said. of forcing himself not to glance at the window above the sink." So Oz knew he wasn't the only one who was feeling it. Surely after what he did to my students and apprentices. Oz found it curious and somewhat unsettling that save for the occasional bird he spotted no wildlife at all. But now I wonder if the silence has been because nothing has happened. "I wanted to see to the monastery and to the onset of your studies." Shantou replied. and which Oz had used to get down into the valley nearly every day since. "Meditate. I destroyed the demon when it came down into the valley again. He realized after a time that it reminded him of being a small boy." "Muztag's houseguests have been hunting down here?" Jinan asked. Ganjin. "Return to your meditation. I assumed that it meant the attacks had ceased. "I am uncertain.Before Oz could argue. He also had a persistent prickling on the back of his neck. When they stopped briefly to take a drink of water. "The village of Lingka. resting a moment on the staff. but it seemed important to take care of things here first. Oz and Jinan accompanied Master Shantou down the mountain along the path they had discovered on their way up the first time. "I ought to have done this sooner. He tried for over an hour but he could not get back to that peaceful place in his mind. Shantou put his weight upon his staff and turned soundlessly. One I ought to have taken care of days ago. for fear that he would see someone looking back in. the old monk lowered his head. I have been remiss. But I should have looked in upon the village before this. the hairs standing on end. and I have occupied my mind night and day with attempting to find a way to destroy Muztag once and for all. Sixteen Nights Until the Full Moon After lunch. Then he turned and began to walk again. Not an antelope or even a yak that had wandered from its herd." Oz sat back down and closed his eyes. or because something horrible has. where tall grass thrust up through several inches of recent snowfall." They made the trek across several miles of grassland with only the wind and one another for company. Muztag has no fear of reprisal should he attack the village. though he thought that even if Master Shantou and Jinan had not noticed. "A nomad of my acquaintance.
but their faces were tentative. and the despair drained from his face to be replaced by a kind of quiet dignity that was more in keeping with the way he usually carried himself. Jinan glanced at him. The reality was far different from his imagination. he began to shout. There was no laughter. by Oz's guess—did not so much as glance at him and Jinan. no fires. She could not have seemed more out of place if she had made an effort. There was fear in the acute glare of these people as well. In fact. there were very few people outside at all. Then. Some forty-five minutes after they had set out. But the other people had no such compunction. Oz nodded gravely to them." Master Shantou said nothing. Oz had seen Lingka only from afar. Another guard escorted two older men toward them. their eyes haunted. as though they had only the shadow of belief that he could be of any real help to them. but not here. a diminutive man an inch or two shorter than Oz. But as they drew nearer he saw sentries with rifles on the outskirts of the village and noticed the absence of children. Oz's unease on the way to the village was forgotten. . her perfect Cupid's-bow lips painted with screaming red lipstick. They're under siege here. and Oz liked that no better than he did their wariness. Jinan. while out hiking or jogging across the valley. these men and women bowed to Master Shantou. for Jinan looked just as puzzled as Oz felt. the old man stood up straighter. The other was compact. Just as the guards had done. Even the demon village back on Fiji had had children playing outside during the day." Oz muttered. however. His entire agenda coming on this journey to begin with was to alter his life in such a way that no one would ever have cause to fear him again. A trio of guards approached them and bowed.That someone was watching. and Master Shantou arrived at the village. In his mind he had an image of what its people would be like. Are you all right?" Her hair was in braids again. One was tall and somewhat portly. To the north of the village he caught sight of a tall stockade fence that was under construction. The two men—the closest thing to officials the village had. When the nearest guard caught sight of Master Shantou. rural villagers. There were no plumes of smoke. the three men glanced up warily at the monk's companions. nearly bald. the instinctive discomfort at the thought that he had been watched replaced now by the tangible distress of being stared at with such bold and naked suspicion. "What's that?" He shook his head. At first he was relieved to see that the village was still standing. Jumpy. a new addition to Lingka. as if by magic. no matter how unfavorable it was. As the old monk spoke to the two men. but to Oz he appeared somehow diminished by the condition of the village. Oz raised an eyebrow. not willing to look away but wanting to acknowledge their attention. Oz turned to find Jinan gazing at him with concern. "Nothing. Oz was not certain at first if he was challenging their approach. his size belying the quiet power that rippled through his body with even the smallest motion. Immediately the two men launched a dozen questions at Master Shantou in a staccato barrage that must have been Tibetan. After Master Shantou had passed them. amused by her seriousness given the incongruous image of her amongst the dour. A light touch on his arm drew his attention. Just a little too Road Warrior for me. but a moment later the other sentries joined in the shout and he realized they were simply conveying the news of the old monk's arrival. "You look spooked. "The town crier. other villagers began to emerge from their dwellings and come toward the monk. save for the guards. he.
After a moment. "Ow?" he said. Did he tell you anything?" The mischievous light in Jinan's eyes went dim. His daughter was to marry soon. the man tugged on his hair. "My sense of humor. armed sentry in Tibetan." "You had one?" Jinan asked. "What was with the hair?" "Apparently none of them have ever seen a redhead before. After a couple of minutes. but her intended husband was killed a week or so ago. Oz realized the man was speaking Chinese rather than Tibetan. The austere man who had pulled Oz's hair turned to smile at him and Jinan." Oz replied. and they were glaring at him with open disdain. She had started to walk away. His gaze ticked toward Master Shantou. no older than Oz himself. and he crossed his arms as he glared at Oz. the old monk was still entrenched in Tibetan mutterings with the village elders. when a large. he looked over at the man who had spoken to Jinan. Oz regarded her coolly. as he stared at the man. "You getting any of this?" Oz asked Jinan in a rasped stage whisper. "No." Jinan said quickly. Just wanted to make sure. When Jinan quickly—and most happily—replied. "So someone here speaks Chinese. but the old monk had not seemed to notice the sudden friction. "Should I be?" Jinan smiled. But the grim-faced new arrival was busy glaring at the guard. But his own attention was drawn quickly away from Shantou to two of the guards. one of the guards approached him. Growing angry. at least. which gave him no comfort at all. and then began to speak to her. "Kind of ironic. He snapped at the boyish. I guess." Oz glanced around at the people who still stared at him and Jinan. and possibly younger." he confessed. pretty much surgically removed. He barked something at Oz in Tibetan. Though the words were gibberish to a Californian. the guard shouted at him now. but Oz thought that turning away might set the man off. Before Oz could react." When Oz turned back to look around for Master Shantou. Oz turned to Jinan. quite reasonably he thought. They all stared at the man who had intervened and then began to whisper amongst themselves. They also had rifles. The demons have been poaching on the village in a big way. who turned after a moment and returned to the trio of women and his fellow guard. They thought you might have been a demon in disguise. He took a long breath and studied Jinan. their tone had an immediacy that clearly demanded a response. austere man stepped between Oz and the guard. pointing furiously—possibly even accusingly—at Oz's head. straight-faced. There have been a lot of deaths. "Who'd have guessed?" A shiver . the man patted Oz on the shoulder and then walked over to join the conversation Master Shantou was having with the elders. which made absolutely no sense to him at all. After a moment. The two guards stood with a trio of older women who whispered to them. His eyes were narrowed and his lips pressed together to a slit. don't you think?" "Irony isn't what it used to be. then turned and reached up to Oz's head. They were young. rifle slung across his shoulder." Jinan let a beat go by before snickering softly. The guard towered over him. Too much to hope for English. "I'll get Master Shantou. "His name is Tsochen."No.
meditating in the courtyard as he did most every afternoon. Her hair—loose." Jinan moved closer to him. "Maybe he can. and she reminded herself for perhaps the twentieth time to ask Master Shantou if it had more use than merely as a display. There were love spells. The warmth of the sun through the window and her disinterest in focusing upon the work she was meant to be doing combined to make her sleepy. forgotten ingredients for spells Master Shantou had apparently not had reason to perform in a very long time. backed up a step and knocked twice. with racks of herbs and bottles filled with oils and powders made from the flesh and bone of various animals and plants. however. and her mind kept drifting to those pages even if she would not allow her fingers to turn the pages. The monastery was huge and drafty and now that winter was coming hard upon the mountain. Though she was meant to be studying healing spells—Master Shantou had insisted that these were some of the most difficult and yet most useful potions—she had come across a section on concoctions that could influence human emotion. the chill on her skin was noticeable. A stuffed bird sat atop a shelf in a far corner. as though realizing he had erred. The place was a sort of archaic laboratory as well.went through him. What could it hurt? A smile played at the corners of her mouth. He watched her curiously and then. for once—fell down across her face. She loved this room. She wore a thick." Chapter Twelve First Night of the Full Moon A single high window filtered the afternoon light into the private sanctuary where Master Shantou prepared most of his potions and did much of his research. Dust motes swam in the splash of light from the window. but then an alarm bell went off in her head. Jinan sat alone at the single wooden table in the room. She picked up her headband from the table and slipped it on. This Muztag guy thinks he can get away with anything now. enchanted amulets and other objects she was not yet allowed to touch. Even with her own internal fire. Jinan suspected it did. flipping it back. Love spells. She glanced quickly down at the book on the table. . Jinan laughed softly. It was written in Chinese. The old monk was absent at the moment. It seemed a treasure trove of endless possibility. On either side of the window were two tall cases whose shelves were filled with boxes and bottles that were laden with dust. yawning. it was always cold. Jinan spun around to see Oz standing just inside the door. With drowsy eyes. their shoulders touching. and the sun warmed her. Before Jinan on the table lay a book of herbal spells that could be worked on human physiology. Jinan entertained just for a moment the idea of learning some of the love spells in the book. "Keeping you awake?" Startled. still she flushed with embarrassment and flipped it closed. with its shelves of dusty books and occult artifacts. and she pushed a hand threw it. and black wool pants. "Master Shantou was right. though the style was so old that she had trouble deciphering the meaning of some of what was written there. turtleneck sweater of red wool. Though it was not open to the love spells and though it was written in Chinese.
"I don't know. Then he pulled his hand away with a regretful glance. "It'll put you to sleep and that would sort of defeat the purpose. For the better part of an hour he had worked with Jinan. He glanced at Jinan."Hey. Jinan could see it in his eyes. Oz crushed them first with a pestle and mortar and then stirred them into the mixture. The preparations were intricate and had to be painstakingly followed. standing up. He wants me to teach you how to do it. And learn quickly. "Not so much of the valerian. "The night approaches. Maybe that was part of the magic. his hand was propped on the wood and she reached out to cover it with her own to reassure him. "First night of the full moon. Jinan will instruct you." she said. At the door to the sanctuary." Jinan nodded. Master Shantou cleared his throat. Oz nodded. collecting the ingredients on the English translation she had scrawled on torn parchment paper and then combining them in the bowl. Most of it was herbs. but you must do it yourself. much like following a complicated recipe. the results were not nearly as appetizing as the sorts of things one usually concocted in the kitchen. "We cannot bar the doors if we are outside with you. bar the doors. to his surprise." Jinan cautioned as Oz began to sprinkle it into the bowl. He wore jeans and boots and a tattered hooded sweatshirt that smelled of incense and he seemed more distant and preoccupied than ever. the weight of the past month bearing heavily upon him. and her heart went out to him. But Master Shantou had been specific. Ash from an immolated wolf was sprinkled into the bowl. She had an instinct for this sort of thing. some common and others quite rare. "After I'm gone. huh?" she began awkwardly. a flush of excitement rising within her. "Master Shantou asked me to come see you." After a moment he shook his head and focused on her again. hands twined nervously behind her back. but she imagined the minutes were flying for him." Master Shantou said. Not that Jinan could blame him. wouldn't it?" . The afternoon was moving deathly slow for her. but the monk's arrival seemed to make Oz only that much more distracted. It wasn't as simple as just dumping them all together. I guess it's sort of a test for me. The entire time he was working on the compound he thought of little other than Willow. and she felt a connection then. it would have taken her ten minutes to complete. "Tonight's the night. Where he leaned upon the table. however. Oz had to prepare it himself." Oz nodded thoughtfully." Oz wrinkled his nose in revulsion at the smell that wafted up to him from the wooden bowl. smiling. Are you ready?" He ran a hand through his shaggy red hair. Unfortunately for him. Jinan felt herself blush even more deeply. For a moment he only gazed at her. The oils had been measured and poured. He flinched in surprise at her touch. "He showed me how to make the compound you have to drink for tonight." Master Shantou narrowed his gaze sternly. Now prepare the compound. saw in him an acknowledgment of her own feelings and evidence that he felt at least something for her. It was. Oz came into the room and leaned against the end of the table. There is little time.
Dusk was his undoing. The odor reminded him equally of skunks and stale laundry. An old monk with a wooden staff and a tiny slip of a girl. vile fluid in several huge gulps. He had found a place of peace there. In moments the change would be upon him. It was an inner harmony he had never imagined he would be able to attain. He did not have to open his eyes to see it. He was hardly aware of the small groan that uttered from his throat then. so that he would not be able to change his mind. he thought. could smell Jinan's scent. he lifted the bowl to his lips with both hands and drained the thick. The old monk's teachings were simple. . he felt it. somewhat impatiently. Damn it. yet forceful. "Nobody thought to make a pill for this. He smelled the smoke from the monastery's fire. Dusk was here. It felt like a load of crap to him at the moment. began to yearn for the moon. but he could feel Master Shantou's eyes upon him. not the location. and they and his surroundings forced Oz to reach within himself for balance and confidence. Master Shantou appeared in the doorway again. Oz wrinkled his nose again. Oz steepled his fingers together and laid them across his lap. as though he had known that the compound was complete. It was awful. the bitterness of it making him shudder. The wolf was waking inside him. All of that was pretty much out the window now." he said. Tried to focus on his other senses. deep breaths and felt his chest rise and fall. but it had taken her whole family to subdue him the last time the moon hung full in the sky. He blew out a breath. to reach for it the way a flower turns toward the sun. and they would be in jeopardy. His eyes were closed. Several days before he had meditated there for two hours while flakes piled up on his head and shoulders. The cold wind bit at his cheeks with a stinging caress. At peace. and he knew he owed Master Shantou for that." Quickly. It had a greenish tint to it not unlike pesto sauce. He was never going to get home that way. Sitting cross-legged there he had found it possible to ignore the freezing cold wind and even the occasional snow squall. Stuff better work if it tastes like that.He hesitated. they climbed the mountain above the monastery to the spot where Oz had meditated every day for nearly a month. His pulse was too fast. He rested on his staff and waited. When he had swallowed the last of it he scowled and wiped his sleeve across his mouth. and blew out a hot breath of frustration. But he knew that the compound was only meant to alleviate the moon's pull upon the Wolf. The wind ruffled his hair. sticking to his thick jacket. not sever it. The rest was up to him. Granted. like lilacs. The idea of simply drugging himself— drugging the wolf so that it slept through until morning—-was more than a little appealing. but it was within himself. The moon was huge and pregnant with awful intent above. He took long. accumulating on him. At last he raised the wooden bowl in both hands and stared down at it. with the sun's rays dying in the sky and the night crawling across the mountains. he thought. Oz tried once more to focus. The wolf snarled. their nearness distracting. "Weird. As the light began to die and the blue horizon deepened ominously. Oz sat now in his familiar spot. But that would be avoiding his problem rather than confronting him. skin brushing against the cotton of his T-shirt. she was a fire-demon.
"Well." The smile that flickered across Jinan's face was heartbreaking. "Maybe you should stay. but the rage and hunger was not as strong as it should have been. falling into the meditative trance Master Shantou had taught him to achieve. They love it. . The wolf was there waiting for him. You can help protect Master Shantou. if you're going to insist. but also some from . The whistles and shouts meld into a wave of sound. his usual reserve melting away. thrums in his hands with electricity pouring out of the amplifiers. and the sweatshirt suddenly felt irritatingly tight around his neck. The kind of solo his mind always composes but that his fingers can rarely reproduce. The lights are hot and bright. Beads of sweat pour down Oz's forehead as he bends over the guitar. but now was not the time. There are so many of them. He finishes the solo. stenciled so long ago in lipstick with the name Sweet J. perhaps you should go inside. mostly kids from the high school. She had misunderstood his desire for her to remain. or any moment now.Master Shantou's voice carried through the twilight. a primal thing matching the rhythm of his heart. Oz gazed at the ground. His guitar." Jinan replied. "Jinan. just in case. Oz grins broadly. including the rest of the band. Oz thought. . They roar. but Oz frowns. He closed his eyes and tried to regulate his breathing again. The beat of it gets under his skin. "Sure. every note goes right from his mind to the guitar. seems indistinct. clipped. but that doesn't matter. soothing himself. and Devon starts singing the next verse in a wail that sounds more like some kind of wild animal than a human voice. He ought to have changed already. Then all external stimuli seemed to disappear. but he exults in this. At least she'll be okay. He felt it coming on. He looks out at the crowd in the Bronze." he said quickly. Everything around him. through the amps and out to the audience. "Wait. Tonight. But then he realized that Master Shantou intended to stay alone out there with him. the place where he belongs more than almost any other. stars glittering above. Oz was startled. but when she spoke again her tone was cold. The sky was more black than blue. He breathed evenly." That's good. Oz growled low. the winter wind crisp as it numbed his skin. opening his eyes. and Oz felt torn." He did not see the change in her expression. Oz is onstage with Dingoes Ate My Baby at the Bronze. The song isn't even one he recognizes. "Y'know. The mountain was silent save for the breeze in the trees and the distant gurgle of the water under the frozen surface of the stream. Not when he had finally reached the moment for which he had traveled all this way and worked so hard these last weeks. unconsciously." There were things he knew he had to say to her. and he kicks the wah-wah pedal on the stage and picks his way through a blistering solo. though he spoke in a whisper. though .
He feels it in the core of his being. They are as gray and indistinct as everything else around him. The crowd blurs around him. Her heart thundered in her chest so loud that she was sure Master Shantou could hear it. but not this. Oz gets turned around. the wolf. pushes past people. Jinan was almost afraid to smile. He reaches out. They've all stepped back to give them room. "Come back!" Oz leaps down from the stage. for none of them have faces. And yet the terror is as much for them as it is for himself "Wait!" he shouts after Willow and Jordy. He takes off into the crowd. his throat and eyes dry and burning with desperation. Oz can feel them staring at him. It is loud and jarring and it interrupts the music and suddenly the rest of the band falters. A presence looms behind him. one hand on his staff. "Jordy?" He turns and sees it. and he stumbles into two faceless. The moon was fat and gleaming above. the old monk merely stood there. Everything else is blurred. He's seen things like that before. At the foot of the stage. "It's not Jordy. Out of the corner of his eye he sees color and movement. gray girls who shove him backward. but he barely registers it. but it is as though their features have been blotted out. and finds himself suddenly in a clearing in the midst of the crowd. Oz shivers. shoving through the faceless throng who murmur and growl and reach out to touch him and pinch him and shove. Oz was doing it. just off to his right. shouts again for his cousin. confused and afraid. pointed ears twitching. Something is wrong here. Somebody must be dancing. at clubs and in the movies. but he plays it wrong. afraid to accept what she was seeing.at least he thinks they are. frenzied panic. in that primitive. he thinks. Night. For his part. Oz. . and its teeth snap and gnash at him. Oz doesn't understand. But he cannot tell. towering over him. He was . dropping his guitar to shatter on the ground." the wolf snarls. and the terror inhabits him as though he is merely a new skin it has slipped into. and both of them turn and shove through the crowd in silent. reptilian part of his brain. He plays one last chord. the snow on the mountain glistening in its light." And it begins to howl.the college as well. Not the Beast. an open circle of bodies. It was full dark. don't!" he shouts. The world tilts under his feet. It is hunched there. but he feels it as well. "Jordy. eyes narrowed as though he were peering through a microscope. "Jordy?" Their faces contort with terror. "Willow?" he begins. Jinan doubted she had taken a single breath in the minutes since night had fallen. eyes burning into his back. and when he turns he finds that not every face has been obscured. yellow eyes burning in the gray mist.. "You know who it is. Hot breath on his neck. Saliva steams and drips from its jaws. or Oz has a blind spot where each of their faces should be. stand his girlfriend and his nephew. Terribly wrong.
as though it knew he had been helping Oz to cage it. Sparks of that blue-white electricity flew from the point of impact. shape-shifting was as simple as flexing a muscle. afraid to hurt him and terrified of the consequences if she could not. It sounded low and distant at first. and the thing howled in pain and reeled. . Fur tore up through his skin even as his limbs and muscles stretched and grew. whose face only registered disappointment. The old monk sighed and lifted his staff. snarled at her. It looked painful for Oz. and she could see that his teeth were lengthening. It scorched the very air around her. gleaming with malice and hunger. 'Try to understand me! Leave him—" The werewolf bucked and shook her off. This was her true face revealed. From deep within the throat of that beast came a long. as she cried out again. For Jinan. Jinan shook her head. and it turned slowly on the old monk. spitting from her throat. the wolf had already forgotten her. no!" Jinan cried. And then she changed as well. The werewolf was anguished and enraged. and it sprang to its feet. She shook her head and shuddered as her tail grew out from the base of her spine. his face thrusting outward with a crack of bone. as though it might just be hunger pangs in his stomach. It lunged at him. He opened his gnashing jaws to reveal long. Master Shantou was its prey. brought up the staff. she latched on to his back with both hands and tried to pull him away from the old monk. but it had been helping. which began to crackle with blue-white energy. She started to roll down the mountainside but grabbed hold of a rocky outcropping to stop herself. But when she stood again. and struck the beast's furry head with a resounding crack. Now the rocking and the humming stopped. fingers curled into claws. Muscles rippling with demonic strength. "Oz. He had been sitting so peacefully. and she felt tendrils of flame licking from her eyes. ululating howl. The wolf focused on Master Shantou immediately. sharpening. "Oz!" Jinan leaped at the werewolf. Oz hunched over. The wolf slashed its claws at him. his ears elongating. his brow lowering over eyes that snapped open now. humming a fast melody she did not know. she was sure of that. Jinan had no idea what the music was. and he changed.actually doing it. and then cracked her across the face with a vicious backhand that tumbled Jinan end over end onto the snow and across the ground. but Master Shantou sidestepped the attack easily. needle fangs that glistened in the moonlight even whiter than the snow. as though it recognized him as an enemy. and her skull split open so that the fire that smoldered within her always could erupt volcanically from within. sadness welling up within her. her skin turned an oily blue-black. an afterthought. rocking ever so slightly. an exhilarating experience she had relished all her life. And then he wasn't. and the growl began. But then his lips curled back. She was a nuisance.
and though only another Kaohsiung demon would have realized it. His daughter had not left their house at all in the weeks since Kangri's murder. He rose and dressed slowly. he meditated. He focused. Jinan and Master Shantou watching over him. "If you cannot embrace the beast. His mind was dull save for the pain. the drops of liquid flame that slid from her eyes now were akin to tears. But he could not bear to do that to his flower. from the house. but his eyebrow went up as Oz approached. It was late. But only briefly. arms raised as though in supplication to the sun. Jinan was inside somewhere. Oz sat in his accustomed place. and somehow he knew it was not that of prey. you will never control it. There was dried blood on his lips. he felt as though his eyelids had been pasted shut. he found his way through the maze-like interior of the massive stone structure and walked out into the central courtyard. Master Shantou was nearby. this was a hangover. She had not offered to come up with him tonight." he muttered. "Crap. The moonrise. and he assumed Jinan and Shantou had eaten without him. force her to do her part to feed and protect the village. Were it not for his great pride. The fire that blazed up from her open skull was diminished slightly. "I have done all that I can. Master Shantou sat in the snow. Tsochen knew. The werewolf crumpled to the ground. Sitting on the mountainside." the old monk said without opening his eyes. For that matter. He tried. he forced himself to open his eyes. Wincing at the pain in his head. but his own. he did not really want to face Master Shantou. But it had nothing to do with drinking. looking over him. shading them with a hand." As dusk approached. His head ached like he'd been on an all-night drinking binge and now had the mother of all hangovers. He really did. then went out into the monastery. Second Night of the Full Moon When Oz came to that morning. either. gazing silently down at the still form. Jinan walked over and stood beside the old monk. however. and he could not blame her. unconscious. Sun streamed in the window of his room at the monastery. but images slowly began to rouse themselves in his head. She would probably be in the sanctuary. Tsochen drank vodka that burned his throat and grimaced as it went down. And he failed.Master Shantou struck it again in the skull. his little girl. but he did not want to face her just now. He had held the wolf at bay. Were he a proper father he would force her from her room. Their neighbors were disgusted. He had enough disappointment in his own heart without ' having to bear the burden of hers. this bear of a man might have walled himself up within the house as . His eyes were closed tightly. Reluctantly. He understood. In the village of Lingka. And in some ways. staff in hand.
More than that. knocking the vodka glass over. "What is winter compared with a season in Hell?" Tsochen replied. A chorus of screams lifted up over the roar of flames and the thunder of hooves and joined into a hellish disharmony that the demon lord relished above all else. furious that he had allowed himself to surrender. A thunderous pounding rattled the door in its frame. And the demons are welcome to anyone fool enough to remain behind. Cain. but the shadow of the horror that had been visited upon them was long upon the valley. Tsochen nodded with satisfaction and poured himself another glass of vodka. Tsochen stood up. but her eyes were inquiry enough. . plucked small girls up and dropped them into heavy sacks they carried over their shoulders. whipped into a frenzy by Muztag's hatred for these human cattle. His wife glanced up from across the room. Muztag's five eyes glowed in the dark. those were the real fears. The eastern mountain loomed ominously above. where she was fixing a hole in his sweater by candlelight. it was simply not safe in the village. They had to work. tore at the humans and their children. "No. He choked on his vodka. "Enough. She said nothing. tentacles erupting from its abdomen and reaching out toward them with a loud sucking sound. caution and anxiety in her eyes. It symbolized a predatory evil that Tsochen knew none of them would escape. "It may take days. she had gone back to stitching his sweater. I will speak to the others. and Tsochen's wife shrieked at the sight of the hulking. consuming the dwellings and leaping from roof to roof as though alive. The door crashed open." "But to travel in winter?" his wife said. nipped and scratched at their faces and throats. but the nightmare creatures that crouched in the tall grass or crept on spider legs into their homes. He shook his head. When he glanced at her again. Draco Volans flew down on leathery wings and tangled themselves in the hair of the women. They tore him apart. We will gather our things and go south. on the edge of the narrow river. Just outside the village. He took a long breath and let his mind wander. Demons rampaged through the village. The big man frowned and clinked his glass down on the table. and he chuffed with bilious laughter as he watched the sorcerous fires begin to blaze below. "We cannot stay here. though. we will go. Tsochen roared in fury and terror and grabbed for the tentacles. the demon lord Muztag stood with two of his sorcerers and the hunter. The valley is a place of death now. to farm and to weave and to live and move on. red-scaled beast that stood on the threshold." Tsochen told her." His wife's gaze still upon him. the air poisoned for us. Kangri had been a good boy and would have made a fine husband for Shisha.well." he muttered. His wife dropped her needle. startled by this subtle. The mountain was just a mountain. his heart heavy but his decision made. but we must go. silent admission to himself.
At dusk. Huge. Still. knowing the peril he faces but curiously fearless. His ears ache with the snarl and the rumbling thunder of the breathing of the wolf. he seemed not at all bothered by the carnage and the screams. who killed and stole and burned. How can I be that big? Oz wonders. Towers over him. Fortunately. It was truly delicious. "Tonight. close and intimate. It was imperative that he realize what he was committing himself to. let his senses flow with the wind and the cold and the power of the mountain. he tried. but Muztag had insisted upon his company. No. But to him it felt more like surrender. They were his now." Muztag replied. no appearance in his mind of those he longs to protect and longs to see and embrace even now. It would have been easy to take comfort in that. There is no waking dream this time. to consider it progress." "Yes. were the students of Shantou. "So beautiful. Once again he let the world wash over him. that chuffing laugh bubbling out of him again. "If old Shantou could see his students now. pushes through low-hanging forest branches. Darkness creeping. "They are so pliable." Cain looked at him curiously. omnipresent now. that place down inside of him is jungle humid. human and demon alike. the way he imagines he must be for it. my Lord. no imagined performance with the Dingoes. his great pleasure was born of another source. The human looked bored. It envelops and encompasses him as he moves through this primal place within him. "Shantou. Despite the sting of the icy wind. It is all around him." he said in the tongue of his kin. . and he descended to the place inside of him where the wolf lived and thrived and hungered. One of Muztag's pet sorcerers stepped closer to him. and Muztag had to laugh. as though rather than coming to terms with the beast within he was getting used to the idea that he had failed to contain it." Third Night of the Full Moon Oz lay in bed that morning feeling even more hung over than he had the previous day. Oz felt a calm within him unlike any he had achieved during any previous meditative session. Down amongst the demons that served him. The ghost moon fat and looming. it would kill him. Then it stands before him.Yet none of that was the cause of his amusement." he promised himself.
As hard as he has worked to accept this as truth. The wolf breathes deeply. When at last he sat up. as often as Master Shantou has insisted upon it. Like the tide. and there were icy crevasses that might be the death of a careless climber. we become. Oz shakes his head. "I am not a man. For twenty minutes he simply lay there. For a moment he can neither speak nor really even think. The air grew thinner and the terrain more challenging and eventually he stopped to eat the food he had brought. he did so quickly. But it does not attack him. dressed quickly and then slipped as quietly as possible out of his room.Then he flinches as he realizes that he has recognized this monster as himself. raggedly. Instead. Fuming. A stray thought swept through him and lodged in his mind. He cleaned up the cuts on his hand and bandaged his knuckles." it says." The wolf speaks. its power was receding now. and he knew instantly where he was and what had happened. its fangs gleaming. the night was coming on. When at last his wanderings took him back down the mountain toward the ledge upon which sat the monastery. A fury perhaps borrowed from the wolf raged in his heart. wondering if the pain meant he had broken some of them. but . He was careful not to run into Master Shantou and Jinan as he took bread and cheese from the kitchen. Down inside of him. he glanced at his raw and bloody knuckles. Still. where the wolf usually lurked. now he steps back from the slavering beast. as though the architecture had somehow offended him. Oz woke late again the morning after the third night of the full moon. banging about inside his head like a bird trapped in the attic." Oz knows that it was not the wolf speaking but merely another aspect of himself. There was no hesitation. The snow was deep at this altitude. not even any real exhaustion. Loose molding around the stones cracked and sprinkled to the floor as pain shot up his arm. His eyes snapped open. he hiked up the mountain. and he stared at the stone ceiling and the wooden beams supporting it with a gaze full of hatred. He shakes his head in denial... Afterward he wandered aimlessly for hours. "You're not the most huggable guy. Together. He gazed at the gibbous moon with disdain. echoing there. and then he left the monastery. his every motion hinting at the frustration and rage he was barely suppressing. the sort of thing the nomads wore. the words unnerve him. clad in his heavy jacket and a wool hat he had gotten from the villagers in Lingka. a small part of him wanted so very much to weep. There was no meditation that day. "You are not a beast. and Oz could not help wishing—as Jordy had done on a night quite some time . horrified and amazed. What if I can never go home again? A surge of adrenaline shot through him and—teeth gritted to hold back the animal growl he would not allow himself to utter—Oz launched a vicious punch at the wall. the air damp and close and too hot around him. The wolf lashes out and rips him open. Twenty-nine Nights Until the Full Moon And so it began again.
wishing he could say something more. Jinan stiffened suddenly. "Did you find what you were looking for?" "No. Oz took her hand away from his face. This one was tainted. As he watched her. and her eyes widened as she gazed down toward the monastery. It felt all wrong to him there now. Jinan. "Nothing's changed." She stepped nearer to him. "You were so close. Winged silhouettes were outlined black against the night sky." Jinan said in a rasp. "I looked for you all day. to try again. Jinan reached up to run her hand across his face. Lilacs. they had known this could happen. he turned to look at the monastery. But as the days and nights had . her mouth a silent little "o" and her heart thundering in her ears. his steps took him back to that place where he usually meditated—where he had suffered three nights of failure. "Next month. A small army of demons and monsters scrambled up the face of the mountain toward the ledge . and her eyes brimmed with moisture. She turned quickly away to hide the hurt on her face. All she wanted was to be closer to him. and again words failed him." His heart nearly broke as he looked into those eyes. I know you'll get it. a great sadness in her eyes. "It may not be the moon that stops you from going home again." Jinan glanced up." Confused. "I know what Master Shantou said about you being alone. "Oz?" she said weakly." Oz nodded noncommittally. Almost unconsciously. and Oz knew that he would have to choose another place if he was to stay." she said. Truth is. though. and her exquisite features were silhouetted in the moonlight. . But you're not alone. Jinan's heart was open to him. and she wanted to help him to heal. "Went up the mountain. Footsteps crunched in the snow. From the moment Master Shantou had told them the story of Muztag. I am alone now. With profound regret. Not really. But there's someone I want to get back to. . toward the monastery. His only apology was a tiny shrug. but he had never been very good with words. Oz sniffed the air. He turned to find Jinan standing perhaps a dozen feet away. Oz watched her. her intensity forcing him to meet her gaze.ago—that it would never come back. the demon of the eastern mountain. He was hurt. Chapter Thirteen Twenty-nine Nights Until the Full Moon Jinan stared down the mountain and shook her head back and forth." Her lips pressed tightly together.
It wasn't merely that they were ugly—she had happily served the most hideous demons from behind the counter at her father's shop. falling in love. But this . This was too much. the vicious little dragon rodents swooping and circling more like vultures than bats. all of this—leaving home and running to Tibet. She had relished every moment. beating Master Shantou. ice and fire. "Oz. God. If she threw herself into that battle. the things on the ground. leather and scales and flowing tar for skin. Some of them were wonderful people. "No. As her mind instantly began to catalog. and that was enough. But now she wished desperately that her family were with her. and it was as though she came awake from a terrible nightmare to find that it was true. .. even so far above the fiends. there were Draco Volans. Under the light from the moon and stars they swarmed over the ledge and rushed toward the front of the monastery. even tearing him apart. . to gauge the monstrous force set against them. she would die. could even guess at." she said. "No!" Jinan shouted. A rock was knocked loose and rolled six or seven yards before it came to rest at a jutting formation of stone. if not smell. defiling the place and her things. Everything she had inside her screamed at her to protect the old monk and that benevolent place of learning. It had been a glorious adventure. But she could hardly breathe. and she shifted her shape without even realizing it. . Images flashed through her mind of the horrors down there on that ledge tearing through the monastery. .. Jinan glanced over at Oz. Or so Jinan had come to believe. and others were absolutely vile. watching Oz struggle with his curse. learning the rudiments of sorcery. They did not march. Wings and whipping tails. she was so terrified of the filth down there. Rather. how could she have prepared herself for this? Growing up in a Kaohsiung family in Hong Kong. Of the perhaps two dozen demons there were only a handful whose breed she could even recognize. It was the atmosphere they carried with them. no matter that her feelings weren't returned. Jinan had spent a great deal of time the previous month talking about how she could take care of herself. But the ghastly multitude that even now hammered the walls of the monastery was unlike anything she had ever seen. In the sky. amidst the several flying demons. stop!" Her thoughts were a whirlwind of urges and fears and loyalties. and yet they moved far more swiftly than Jinan would have believed had she not seen them with her own eyes. they ambled and crawled and slithered and lumbered. a putrid miasma that she could sense. That Muztag considered his ancient enemy defeated. A fiery tear leaked from her eye. shaking her head. even with the mountain wind blowing across her face. Snow crunched beside her. it had grown to seem as though it would never come. Oz was scrambling down the mountain toward the monastery.passed without a new attack." she whispered. "Oh. she had met her share of demons and halflings. Jinan counted five trolls and a trio of dark sorcerers who floated on eldritch energies several feet above the ground. The demons were horrible.
the weight of her tail a comfort and an aid in keeping her balance. she felt a kinship between them. and then his right foot hit something under the snow and he went over. It was a reaction to his humanness. Then Jinan ran after Oz. Each time she landed. tail swishing as she spun around and dropped to the ledge. She would be like a flare to the demons below had they glanced up the mountain in that moment. stopping his momentum before he could shatter bones on the rocks. gaining momentum. "Wait. almost as though he had walked in upon her coming out of the shower. Jinan stared at him." she whispered in her native tongue. where she caught him. and though she could not see the front doors from her vantage point up on the mountain. By her fourth leap she had nearly caught up with Oz. her eyes smoldering. "They're going to kill him! I'm not just going to watch. for she had considered doing exactly that. "Fathers protect me." she called after him. shaky but still swift. there a moment and then gone. monster to monster. It was something she had realized long ago. If Oz collided with them— Jinan leaped. She had felt naked. Jinan had felt embarrassed. sliding in snow. and he gazed up at her. she slapped the earth with her tail. she descended the mountain face in long leaps.Oz stumbled. They were more alike than they were different. she heard the crack of wood that echoed across the valley and the cacophony of roars that went up as the fiends began to rush inside. not paying any attention to his footing. so that she saw him in flickering shades of red and orange. He did not even slow down as he cut her off. Fire blazing up from her open skull. limbs flying. disoriented and dizzy. nearly lost his footing. But now when Oz looked at her. but it was one of the first genuine and open emotions she had ever seen him give in to. Her gaze ticked back toward the monastery. Oz hit a severe downgrade then and he began sliding on his boots as if skiing. Jinan laid a hand upon his shoulder. There was a narrow ledge below with outcroppings of stone jutting from it. I mean? If you can't change. She landed in a crouch atop two jutting rocks. "What can you do?" she asked. When it was gone. she knew. creature to creature." He started to rise again." A flash of guilt went through Jinan. "Like this. Oz was going to die. Fire trailed behind her from her skull and eyes and the tips of her fingers. using it much like a rudder. "Thanks. gaze upon the monastery. but she had the sudden feeling that Oz now understood it as well. rampaging through the place. tumbling hard. "Maybe you should let me—" Oz was scrambling haphazardly. Twenty-five feet or more he slipped that way down the mountain. Oz shook himself. he stared at her a few seconds . and then only barely regained his balance as he rushed down the mountainside unmindful of her hesitation. Each time previously he had seen her in her real skin." Anger rippled across his face.
demon. Not like this. "But maybe something." Jinan called to him as she leaped again. This was a different breed of vampire from what he was used to. His back and chest both felt exposed. and Oz and Jinan raced straight at the vampires. "I don't know. "Oz?" Jinan said. "Maybe nothing.longer. If they were here now. The Pierraults weren't some recently resurrected high school boys or insurance salesmen. But Cain had picked the best possible time to have a go at him." Then he started down the mountain again. In his darkest dreams. but as they drew closer. Cain. that meant Cain was here. mouths open to reveal gleaming fangs. moving like scythes cutting the shadows of the night. They moved as quickly as they could. could hear the crackle of magical energy." one of them snapped at Jinan. On the wind he caught a scent that smelled like burning fur. it meant Cain had thrown in with Muztag. trying to catch up. Not predators. sending up wisps of . "Master Shantou needs us. it was as though they walked on air. Vampires. ready to strike out with it. Jinan thought. coming to the back door of the butcher shop to beg for fresh kills or the blood drippings from a carcass her father had cut into chops. and Jinan leaped after him. to hide his face. he thought. . Though she had come across them now and again. "Oz. A hundred thoughts went through his head. . The Pierraults were like elegant animals. pale and severe. More practiced. She froze. "Don't let them slow us down!" he replied. "Not your fight. The Pierraults raced at him. because there was no way Oz was going to turn away from the monastery while Master Shantou needed him. He had no idea why the demon of the eastern mountain would let a human keep breathing. their hair black and their faces ridged and hideous. voice quivering. taking his measure. these were vampires. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. Thin creatures. so light on their feet. Fire licked around her fingers. but he didn't care that much. either. deadlier . She raised her tail up. the way he walked as the wolf. in the mind of the wolf. Oz felt a sudden urge to drop and roll." Then they were only yards away. the vampires Jinan had seen had been starving scavengers like carrion birds. sliding and stumbling in the snow. in his primitive subconscious. no matter how many kills were on his resume. never touched the ground. Even now he could hear roars from inside. If the Pierraults were here. Swift and savage and hungry. and Jinan thought he looked lost. two figures slithered from the darkness beneath the walls of the monastery. older. They ran across the ledge." His fingers curled as if they were claws. and he hunched over slightly. Oz recognized the Pierrault brothers immediately. hissing as they slowed their pace and began to dance in close." he said at last. . There was a kind of arrogance that being nearly unkillable gave him but that dissipated instantly at the thought of a silver bullet ripping through him. He did not even slow..
Touched its savagery and its hunger. Oz and Jinan were side by side. "Especially 'cause it was. the wolf gone for another month. poured off her fingers as though each were its own flame-thrower. The vampire was too fast. but the other seemed to be studying Jinan carefully. unless it was to tie in with the attack on Master Shantou. Fire roared up in a blazing pyre from her skull. He could feel the heat of her skull-fire as it flickered in the dark beside him." With a loud hiss the two vampires attacked. waiting. And where the hell is Cain ? he thought. wolf-boy. But. hyena laugh. and consumed her attacker." The vampire let out a wild. Just submerged beneath the calm surface of his flesh. and then Oz was driving him back farther. and again he caught the scent of burning fur inside the monastery. Then the other was on Oz and he couldn't worry about Jinan anymore. The moon was no longer full. "I can't wait to taste your blood. vamps are for dusting." the other vampire snarled at Oz in his French accent. gotta say. black-haired leech lowered his head toward Oz's throat. slicing skin and drawing blood. Oz saw Jinan swing her tail hard and crack the one that lunged at her on the side of the head. "Yeah it is. Master Shantou is my teacher. and he woke it up. fangs bared." Jinan cast a quick.smoke. or about where Cain was in all this or why he'd waited. Oz grabbed one of his wrists." it hissed. He had not changed yet. cracked his skull against the vampire's in a vicious head butt. who was completely engulfed in flames. "You killed our brother. But it was not really gone. Oz let him go. The edges of his vision went black as the vampire choked him. "We are not here for the monk. Oz grabbed a handful of the vampire's hair. "Guess I could say it was self-defense. why wait until now? It didn't make sense. staring into the glowing red eyes of the one in front of him. not yet. He got his footing and surged forward. Why not hunt him during the full moon. lunged. A low growl rumbled in Oz's chest. Fury rose up inside Oz." As though a bell had sounded. One of the vampires stood directly in front of Oz. But Cain did not say we could not have a taste. He ignored her. "I can't kill you. trying to figure out Cain's game. and the vampire started to force him down. Oz felt the wolf down inside him. though he knew it was only his imagination. Werewolves always give me a rush. He got his feet under him. The vampire roared in pain. Out of the corner of his eye. heard things shattering in there. when he'd have a pelt? Unless he had just arrived. but he was no longer holding back the wolf. He turned to look for Jinan just in time to see her standing over the other Pierrault brother. His air cut off. Oz stumbled back. not on the outside." Oz said. then kicked him in the chest so that the vampire fell to the ground. The vampire lost his grip. sidelong glance of astonishment at Oz. but with the other hand the creature reached up and clutched Oz's throat. reeling. The slick. . and snapped his teeth shut on the vamp's own throat. The sound of a clock ticking was in his head. all of them paused.
Jinan stared at him. and a huge troll was visible just outside the door now as though it were standing guard. tail swinging dangerously behind her. "And if they're here. But she was already moving. Oz spit the vampire's blood onto the snow and then wiped it off his lips." she said. "You all right?" he rasped to Jinan. . Cain raised his rifle to his shoulder again." But even as he said it." But then Jinan reached for the vampire. "No. and fire arced from her hands and he. but even as he did so he felt a wave of heat washing off of her that he could feel even ten feet away. Even amidst the stink of all the demons and trolls and the fire. both eyebrows raised. It seared his skin. one hand clapped to the wound in his side where Oz had bit him. Cain had winged him on purpose. Liquid fire spilled from it and dripped down her belly like molten lava.Oz didn't know the Pierrault brothers' first names. they didn't come alone. was consumed by the flames. grabbing Jinan. voice close to his ear. A couple of Draco Volans flew idly above him. she stood up. At the distant figure mirrored in her gaze. Cain fired twice more. Though the way her tail unfurled it was more as if she had uncoiled herself from the ground. The bullets never reached Jinan. Oz cried out Jinan's name. whipcracks on the air. glaring across the ledge. "A vampire bitten by a werewolf. One eyebrow arched wickedly. Oz caught his scent. Oz stared into Jinan's eyes." Oz said. too. "They knew you." He nodded. Just below her left breast there was a hole in her oily blue-black skin. Whichever one had attacked Jinan. The hunter stood not far from the entrance to the monastery. Jinan began to stalk across the snowy ledge. The hunter didn't want him dead unless he was all wolfed out. Oz swore in amazement. They melted in the air three feet from her body. Oz gritted his teeth as he lay on the snow and clapped a hand to his shoulder where the bullet had grazed him." he said. "Wonder what would happen if we let you live. Oz felt a sting on his shoulder and Jinan cried out. She wrapped her arms around him. a warning shot. her breath hot on his face. As if in response. at the reflection of the fire that gleamed there. for of course she saw him as well. The one who had attacked Oz sat on his butt on the snow-covered rocky ledge and stared in wide-eyed astonishment. he exploded in a fiery shower of cinder and ash. She tensed at the same moment. "Down!" he shouted. At Cain. and the two of them dove to the ground just as a rifle barked twice. "Thanks. he knew that scent. Then she turned her attention to his brother.
He stared after the flying things. a chittering thing that made Oz think of scorpions and praying mantises. the front of the monastery erupted with an exodus of demons and lumbering trolls. "What do we do now?" she asked. but he could decipher it well enough. The demons were gone. In the courtyard. empty now save for the stars and the moon. But they slowed moments later. Oz ran. working quickly. Careful and meticulous. It was the first time he had done so without Jinan looking over his shoulder. It was a shambles far worse than the way they had first discovered it. Instead. the two of them walked into the monastery. his head nowhere to be found. he recreated the compound he had ingested each of the previous three afternoons." Jinan muttered. Two followed them out. He brought several of them to the table. Oz stared up into the sky. and Jinan reached out to take his hand. but he had it now. But not powerful enough. her fire subsiding. flew out over the ledge and the valley below with Master Shantou limp in its arms. Oz let his fingers trail over bottles on the shelves. unwilling to allow even the slightest possibility of error. He got up. glancing several times at the parchment paper with Jinan's scrawl upon it. Master Shantou's sorcery was more powerful than Oz had imagined. For once he did not pull away. its viscera still steaming in the cold air. followed by a trio of winged demons. but Cain was gone. Jinan whispered the old monk's name. swept away with the horde." "Not if you don't ever get off this mountain. Jinan started toward Cain. "We go get him. The corpse of a sorcerer lay sprawled beneath crumbled stone. Oz nodded in agreement but said nothing. Jinan beside him. Cain was gone. their shapes in sharp relief against the moon and then melting into the darkness." Alone in Master Shantou's sanctuary. Oz gazed at the moon. trusting that in this moment she would not make more of it than it was. Osbourne!" Cain shouted up to him. they discovered two demons whose bodies seemed to have melted together. All was silence now save for the distant crash and whisper of the descent of that fiendish throng on the mountainside below. A flurry of wings beat the air above the monastery's courtyard and flashed through the rising smoke from the chimney fire. They were in this together. "But I'll see you skinned before too much longer. charred things that Oz thought must have been Draco Volans were scattered about the halls. numbly. Draco Volans filled the night sky. Oz blinked. grateful it had only been a superficial wound. He'd gotten lucky. She spoke English better than she wrote it. perhaps fifty yards from the monastery. . he slipped an arm around her.or eight-hundred-pound troll that had been cut in two. In a long corridor they found a seven. One of them."You're the luckiest son of a bitch I've ever seen. Together. Burnt. hand clapped to the wound on his shoulder. In that moment. trying to see through the sudden monstrous stampede.
He averted his eyes as they walked farther into the ruined village. And without Master Shantou. and he knew that it was neither black nor paint. When they came within sight of the village. Neither of them said his name. to come to their aid in times of tribulation. There were perhaps eight people standing around watching the flames. "That face. for these were not normal circumstances. just around the other side of one of the few dwellings that still seemed relatively untouched. Oz was both startled and profoundly relieved to see that some of the villagers still lived. In the moonlight the awful. all such ruminations left his mind. The surface of the river." Jinan said. Buildings he had seen only weeks ago were in ruins. the idea of going into the lair of the demon to rescue him was not going to sit very well. The bridge that crossed the narrow river was shattered. The question was moot. at least." Oz told her. the people of Lingka were going to have to fight or flee. A clutch of uneaten corpses had dammed the river where it bent slightly south and the water spilled over the banks and ran around the twisted limbs of the dead. five-eyed face on the side of the structure seemed to have been painted in black. They needed all the help they could get. then stood back to watch it burn. and Oz wondered how these people survived the winter under normal circumstances. of course. He capped the water skin and slung it over his shoulder on its leather strap. All he knew was that it had to. They would not survive this winter without fighting for their lives." Oz had been reluctant at first to go to the village. Chances were. Jinan rapped on the door as Oz was pouring the bilious green liquid into a water skin. formidable old man carried a corpse over his shoulder and tossed it into the flames. "Maybe. stripped clean. They walked around the marked dwelling and came in view of a pyre of burning corpses. Oz felt nausea burn in his gut. was clogged with bones. "Ready?" she asked. A plume of black smoke began to rise ahead. A tall. They expected Master Shantou to protect them. But Jinan was right. . and he wanted to get to Muztag's fortress as fast as possible. There was no accumulated snow here yet. "It must be. It was blood. those were Oz's thoughts as he and Jinan trekked tirelessly across the brittle grass and frozen ground of the valley floor. his face immobile.Whether it would do any good. he remembered the people there as fearful and suspicious and doubted they would be willing to help. he did not know. But Oz had caught the scent now. Also. and he noticed that Jinan did the same. some with hollow eyes and others weeping copiously. It was a slight detour from their path. already dotted with places where calmer waters had frozen over. but somehow he kept himself from being sick. then he wiped his hands on his jeans and looked up at her. Then Oz took a closer look at the house and realized that darkness had hidden the truth. Or.
Oz said nothing. most of their friends and loved ones—so he didn't balk as Jinan began speaking to Tsochen in Chinese. She snapped something at Jinan. "Remember this guy?" Oz asked Jinan. and the side of his face was covered in bloody bandages. Jinan glanced back at him." "It's the polite thing. A wide-eyed boy of perhaps twelve stared at them. "She said—" "I think I got the gist. "She speaks Chinese. and shouted so that his words echoed through the village. "She doesn't want her father to talk about what happened. Oz realized that nobody needed Muztag dead and Shantou home safe more than these people." Jinan quickly translated. "Tell them we've seen the demons and we're looking for volunteers to join a posse to go after them. It seemed to him somehow unfair to ask for their help." Jinan whispered. but these people had lost a great deal—their village. shook it at the mountain that loomed to the east. the surviving villagers stared at him in horror. A teenaged girl rushed from the home behind them and ran up to the old man. Now his wife is dead. He raised his fist to the sky." Oz gazed at the man. Oz had no idea what he was saying." . too?" he asked. He wants them to come back so he can spill their blood as he dies. The village had suffered enough. and her lip quivered as she stared at him. Oz didn't think they had much time to be polite." Tsochen grew angry then. His features were haunted now." she chided him. Tsochen's daughter struck her father on the chest with an open palm. I'm thinking. "That some in the village said the demon of the eastern mountain was only a legend. so that was good. His name was Tsochen. "He says he wants them to hear. Several of them stepped back as though they feared lightning might strike him. but he knew it was true. He took aim as shouts of alarm rose from those around the pyre. Again Jinan turned to Oz. The broad-shouldered old man came toward them. "I don't think we're going to find much help here. He had no idea how to respond to that and was glad he could not speak Tibetan. but Oz knew him. Only then did he study the man's face and realize that he recognized him. rifle shaking in his hands. but the kid lowered the rifle. When he stopped. only stared down the barrel of a rifle held by a boy not much older than Jordy.A gunshot split the night. She's afraid the demons will hear and come back. Oz and Jinan froze in place as the people turned toward the sound—toward them. The girl gestured to the ruins." He ran both hands through his hair and looked around at the carnage. snapping at the boy. Then she turned and waved at Oz and Jinan as if ushering them out of the village. "He speaks Chinese. but then when he thought about it." "You want me to ask him what happened?" "Pretty obvious. From the way she held him. Oz figured Tsochen was her father.
Jinan frowned. The demons have always preyed upon the valley. and the other is Tang. or even Chinese. They looked carved of stone these men. he seemed barely human himself. though he did not look old. Jinan glanced at him. though he knew it was the wind and the terrain that had sculpted them. They say they know the trail up the mountain to Muztag's fortress. The little one is Ritsu. The man next to him was of average height and had long white hair. "Posse?" "You don't watch Westerns. Only Tsochen and his daughter did not ignore them. There were three men standing at the edges of the light thrown by the fire. Some even waved at the air as though they might erase her words. "His name is Ganjin. given that this is part of China. From their headgear and the thick wool and fur jackets they wore. She shook her head firmly. As Jinan spoke. which looked to Oz's only vaguely educated eye to be assault rifles." A deep voice rumbled behind him in Chinese. You'd think there'd be more of them." One eyebrow raised. Oz appraised the three nomads. Oz had gotten away fairly easily in the language department since he had been here." "They say that as nomads they see everything that goes on in the mountains. The older man touched his bandaged face and then muttered something to his daughter. One by one they began to turn their backs on her. Ganjin has offered their help. "He said the villagers are afraid because the demons are myths to them. but lately they've grown more bold." "Tang. Now he wished he had spent part of the last month studying Tibetan." She nodded and turned to explain to the survivors what they planned. "What?" Oz shook his head. and Oz turned quickly to find before him one of the oddest sights he had ever confronted. Just tell them we'd like help. was so huge. Packs and canteens were slung over their shoulders." "Just be glad we've found a few. Anyone who came with them was . eyes widening. But the other." Oz told the injured man. the one who had spoken. who began a long-winded answer. "It's all right. Go on. They call him the son of the mountain because of his enormous size." "Another guy who speaks Chinese. he knew they were nomads. but that was not unusual. Clearly they had kept the best weapons for themselves. and the Tsochen gave them an apologetic look. Since Master Shantou and Jinan both spoke English. "Nothing. He knew the nomads had given old carbines to the villagers. Then she rattled off something in Chinese to the huge nomad." Oz repeated. "Can't blame her." Jinan noted. people stared at her in horror. One was small and seemed almost to crackle with energy. What were new and different were the weapons they carried.
But the Pierrault brothers had done nothing but whine to Cain for weeks.o. and then declared that they would not attempt to take the monastery again and capture Shantou until after the full moon. but somehow Oz had a feeling that Ganjin. There had been executions. But only a few. so huge was the man. not the Order of Sages. and Tang understood that in a way other people might not. Muztag had forbidden him to hunt Oz until Master Shantou had been captured. the demon was building a core of power from which he might spread tendrils of influence and one day have most of those born of or dabbling in the supernatural at his disposal. But still. Maybe when he was safely in Europe or back Stateside. they had been fewer in number. From all he had gleaned. Cain had his priorities— mainly his own wealth and personal safety—but he was well aware that Muztag presented a threat. or so Cain had been told. magic or no magic? Cain was surprised Muztag hadn't executed every last one of them for screwing up that badly the first time. not the Council of Watchers. up to the monastery. Though Muztag rarely took Cain into his confidence. very soon. Ritsu. as though he could . The whole thing was ludicrous. Just the thought of it made him tremble with anger and frustration. He stuck out his hand and Ganjin took it. not any of those other legions of pompous windbags. The five-eyed s. he'd drop a dime to one of his contacts at the Order of Sages. As far as Cain could tell. They shook. Muztag's reputation alone had been enough to draw visitors and ambassadors from all over Asia and Europe. and for anyone else in the valley." Chapter Fourteen Twenty-nine Nights Until the Full Moon In the weeks he had spent in Muztag's fortress. and now back up to the fortress—and what had he gotten from it? Not a damn thing. They knew what was at stake for them. "Let's saddle up. the demon lord had taken what had been a little barony of sorts and quietly transformed it into a thriving center for occult activity that rivaled any other on the Asian continent. More than a few of the demons and magicians Cain had talked to had compared Muztag with an ancient Chinese warlord. But not now. He had a comfortable doss and plenty to eat and the company of several Sashuall demons. just after the full moon the previous month. which was pleasant enough. Granted. Gib Cain had learned what it was like to be nothing more than a cog in the machine. Granted. it was clear to the hunter now that the demon lord intended to continue to extend his influence. how much trouble could one old monk be. and the hunter thought maybe the demon lord perpetuated that image quite consciously.going to be in terrible danger. He'd spent the better part of the night climbing mountains—down from Muztag's fortress. For weeks he had been forced to cool his heels and wait for the moment when Muztag would give him permission to do what he had come to do. Quietly. Now. but as quickly as he could manage. was going to be very dangerous. Oz strode over to Ganjin and had to crane his head back to look up. of course. the first time Muztag's horde had attacked the monastery.b. the demon lord made him feel welcome. he had a werewolf to skin. and from as far away as the States. none of the organizations that played at international sorcery and espionage were taking Muztag seriously yet.
Damn it. but one ought never assume their fortress impregnable. When Cain turned. The way this place was designed. It occurred to Cain that he might be getting too old for this kind of thing. He needed to be off by himself a bit. but he would not give voice to the thought. The corridors were too narrow. he was eye to eye with the sorceress he'd met on that first day. Narrow entrances were an asset in defending a stronghold. and took a flight of stone steps at the first junction in the warren of tunnels. when the time finally came to make their move—after the full moon had come and gone." the sorceress told him. but Cain tore his arm away and stormed off along the corridor away from her. Maybe Muztag wasn't the warlord everyone made him out to be. He should never have approached Muztag. "Maybe you shouldn't be so impatient. making certain only to touch its robes. and now her eyes and hands seemed to leak with a magical mist charged with electricity. scale it from the rear. Torched. Cain realized. just taken his chances that first night he'd arrived. With a scope on his rifle. That would be too much like surrender. try to get above the place. figure out what to do next. Not overstep your bounds. if someone lay siege and actually got inside the fortress. Torchlight flickered in the corridor and gleamed sickly yellow off the slime. he fumed. One of them was a slug-like thing that was leaving a trail of slime on the stone floor. he could put a bullet through the Kaohsiung's fire-skull . The Pierraults were dead. her tone ominous. "And maybe you should mind your own business.have changed anything about their circumstances. meaning even with Oz his prisoner it would take Cain another month to get the pelt—the Pierraults had screwed up completely and gotten themselves killed. Cain glared at her. A hand clamped on his shoulder." She looked like she had more to say. He was free to hunt Oz now that Muztag had the old monk. So back off. She had not spoken a word to him since. Whatever Muztag's hesitation had been. But Cain was alone now. The same principle that would work in favor of the demon if the place was attacked would work against him if someone ever got in—or if he was attacked by someone already inside the fortress. not the sticky. It was always much easier to kill something than to capture it. away from the monastery. What the hell am I still doing here ? he wondered. All Cain had managed to do was wing the werewolf with an ordinary bullet. Muztag's had me on a leash since I got here. Cain angrily shoved a troll aside as he reached the massive front doors of the fortress. A winged Faw-Ch'ak demon blocked his way now. A couple of demons were moving slowly ahead of him. Revulsion churned in his gut. Then. certain that its spines must have poison tips. He steered well clear of that one. Tomorrow he would make his way around the western mountain. certainly that had to be done with. the width of the corridors meant they'd be able to take on a few defenders at a time. and he pushed past the demon. boiling flesh of the thing. actually. Cain slapped the Faw-Ch'ak's wings aside. The other demon was a spiny thing like a humanoid sea urchin. How the hell was Cain supposed to know Oz was hanging out with Kaohsiung demon? Muztag had either not known it or not bothered to mention it. and I haven't tried to break it. making Cain wonder if the stuff was radioactive or poisonous. Then he'd make his way around it until he had a clear view down at the building.
He had underestimated Muztag. Small booths had been set up to sell herbs and potions. from research and consulting to custom sorcery. It was an occult marketplace. His rifle thumped against his lower back with every stair he took.. a reptilian demon who had a sort of spiny fin on his head and wore the uniform of a Chinese soldier spoke to a pair of Black Forest Woodsmen— their skin like bark. Cain knew his skills as a hunter were unequaled. No one so much as glanced twice at him. The guards pulled open the doors. with nothing but the valley below. Cain stepped out into the busy marketplace-under-the-mountain. Cain shook his head and actually laughed softly to himself. Torches lined the walls. Out of the marketplace. Yet another area of the fortress he had not explored. with his cigar and soiled British flag T-shirt. Around a corner." the reptilian soldier was saying. At the top of the stairs he found himself in a corridor whose ceiling was higher than any he had seen elsewhere in the fortress. He passed a booth where a homunculus nattered on about "discount talismans and charms" and the offer to translate runes. He slipped through a patch of torchlight until he . They would be on a mountain. here in the middle of nowhere. The massive troll he thought of as Union Jack. and Hellhound breeding. Cain would track the werewolf and he would capture him. and at the top of the steps he emerged in a part of the fortress he had never seen before. . He heard shuffling feet off to his right and glanced over to see something that made him stiffen and then press himself back against the stone wall in the shadows just outside the reach of the torchlight. The two monsters were escorting Master Shantou— bound in chains—toward a huge set of double doors. Cain's curiosity got the better of him.. so that all he had to carry home with him was the monster's pelt. Carts and wagons were laden with goods. Cain realized that this must be Muztag's quarters. grasping thing on the back of his head that looked like nothing so much as a huge spider made of bone. their limbs sprouting leaves—in butchered German.from a vast distance. Cain made his way through the unfamiliar passage carefully. feet searching for each next step. and it was far brighter here than in most areas of Muztag's complex. For a full minute he stared around him in open astonishment. Mediums and necromancers offered their services. was walking with a blue-skinned demon with a clicking. he was going to use commerce as well. fingers gliding along the walls. and then he would cage him up in that monastery until the next full moon. But he had no plans to transport Oz while he was still alive. Given the trolls guarding the doors and the wrought-metal symbols bolted to the wood. The light above grew brighter. ". right here in the heart of the mountain .. and a flicker from above. "Lord Muztag can provide it all. Union Jack and Bone-spider ushered the chained monk into the chamber beyond. or at least an audience chamber of some kind. with the glow of torches back down below him. The stone stairwell was dark." Amazed and intrigued. really are a full-service facility. He came to a broad set of stairs that led upward still. Demons snarled at one another. with its barkers hawking wares and its menagerie of customers wandering the booths. and the hunter merely shook his head and kept on. No. weaponsmiths. Animals chortled and purred and growled as they tested the limits of their chains. Off to Cain's right. After that. capturing Oz would be child's play. The demon lord was not merely going to take control of the supernatural underground by force and fear.
But whatever those thoughts were. Cain stiffened. Through them. but Shantou did not go down." Muztag growled. and past the guards. Oz did not allow them to enter his conscious mind. "Well. whatever possibilities another man might have considered. He raised the old monk so that his feet dangled below him." In the hall. Nothing else was allowed into his mind. Muztag must be destroyed. I ought to have done this a very long time ago. Cain could just make out a streak of blood on the side of his face. "You were worried. inside Muztag's fortress. he felt a kind of sadness for what could never be. and an array of feathers that grew in a spray out of his forehead." the old monk sneered. who had not closed the doors but now stood within. the massive demon with his five eyes and quivering. And now that I have you at my mercy. Still. well. Jinan was beautiful and good. it appears I won't be needing the hunter after all. and he cared for her." Observing from the shadows between torches out in the hall. The doors were open perhaps a third of the way. up on the mountain. "No matter. but there was no connection between his own plans and goals and his fondness for his traveling companion. His antennae twitched as he reached and grabbed hold of Master Shantou's face with one enormous taloned hand. From that vantage point he could see between the heads of the troll guards. but that was enough. From this angle." Muztag said in Chinese. at the meticulous gravity with which she approached even this small magic. waiting for instructions. Cain flinched when he heard Master Shantou spit on the ground. A handful of other demons— courtiers. Master Shantou was silent. a thousand ideas and possibilities spun in upon themselves as he looked at her petite form. and then moved over to do the same to Oz. Oz was here to find peace so that he might go home. walled off from his conscious mind. By the light cast by the pyre of burning corpses. furred antennae was flanked by a pair of his sorcerers. And his own curse must somehow be lifted. . when Jinan rose and daubed a bit of the paste on the cheeks of the three nomads who had volunteered to accompany them. Cain thought—were arrayed about the room. Shantou. Cyclopean eye seemed to grow even larger. and a leather-clad warrior with bone spurs in his chin and pate. Cain saw Muztag atop a throne that had been ornately carved out of solid rock. He did not like the sound of that at all. Atop that platform upon which sat the throne. including the three Sashuall females he himself had been keeping company with. "To think that all this time I could have been marauding the valley if I had not been so worried about opposition from you. Somewhere. trying to figure out how to keep them all alive. pit-born worm. "I thought monks were supposed to be silent. You and your students provided precious little opposition in the end. His thoughts were already far ahead of this moment. Master Shantou must be saved. central. Oz watched Jinan mix a small tincture of herbs and chalk and dyes into a damp paste.came to another shadowy place in the hall. Bone-spider gave him a wicked shove that sent the old monk staggering toward Muztag's throne." Muztag's huge. "because I nearly killed you once. at the perfect flower of her lips and the way her hair fell across her face while she was bent at her task.
In this form she looked more like some ancient goddess than a demon. She turned to the nomads and spoke to them quickly in Chinese. He wiped his hand across his lips and dropped the water skin on the ground. But Oz had never imagined needing to use that control to summon the wolf. The compound was meant to separate his lycanthropic nature from the lunar cycle. Oz hadn't ever asked Jinan about the physics of the change. Ritsu. Ganjin nodded." Jinan closed her eyes. shook it vigorously." After a moment he took a breath and turned away. They were all armed with assault rifles. Oz gazed at her. "They look ready. He reached for the water skin that was slung over his shoulder. tell them Muztag's not the only monster in the mountains? That not all demons are evil?" Jinan said. The enormous bear of a man. The nomads stared at her. "They ready?" Jinan gestured to the Ganjin. Ganjin. none of them moved or even seemed to breathe. "Pretty much. "That's handy. smiled and whistled in appreciation. human. . "I'm thinking they're going to see you change. All three of them had hats pulled low on their heads. With her hands propped on her hips. lingering a moment as she painted the paste in stripes on either side of Ms nose. Then she changed. Ritsu. had several grenades clipped to a strap across his bulky jacket. For a long moment. this ought to make us invisible to any mystical wards Muztag might have in place around the fortress that would alert him to intruders. Her skin flowed into blue-black. He heard the rustle of clothing as Jinan approached from behind. You should show them now. normal . . The blaze of fire from her open skull above those long. oiled silk. tapered ears was extraordinary. you know?" "We'll see." "What. . It had never occurred to him that the vile-tasting concoction might be used to free that within him that he had worked so hard to cage." Jinan said. and her tail undulated like a serpent as it stretched out from her tailbone. . What he did know was that there was grace and wonder to the Kaohsiung shape-shifting. instead of the pain and ugliness of lycanthropy. he tilted his head and gulped it down. But Oz hesitated. and you don't want to distract them at the wrong time. Trying not to breathe in the terrible odor of the herbal compound. and Tang. He looked from the nomads to Jinan and took a steadying breath. not stopping for a single breath until it was gone." she said. staring at him. Then the wiry little one. her black hair loose this night. where the clothes went—if they were absorbed or shunted to another dimension or something—and he did not know if he ever would. . her concern obvious." he replied. she looked beautiful . "Do you think you're going to be able to . . . said something to Jinan. give him control over the beast within. Several seconds passed before she opened them again and nodded. and stepped forward to offer Oz an assault rifle. and then uncapped it."If I made it right. falling around her face. eyes wide.
" 'Tell him thanks. on the other hand. Yellow torchlight flickered across the carts and stands. unfortunately. he punched the tip of the knife into the goblin's side. On his third pass through the marketplace. Cain found what he was looking for: A hideously gnarled goblin faced a wall beyond a stall where a demon with two faces was hawking potions. and Ganjin shrugged. He had returned briefly to his room to change his clothes and pick up a rucksack with his essentials. what I am.. As surreptitiously as possible he backtracked around the potions stall and slipped up beside the goblin.. . Cain raised his gaze cautiously and glanced around. He ground his teeth together as he slipped from a darkened stairwell into the still thriving marketplace." Jinan repeated his words in Chinese. me being . it was busier than before. held out a huge hunting knife to him. now prostituting themselves. just deep enough to draw blood and a little chirp from the creature. "This. who had been mostly silent.. In his hand was a jagged-edged hunting knife with which he could eviscerate the goblin in just shy of six seconds. "You . searching for . despite the freedom Muztag had given him during his stay. and they were more comfortable milling about at night. Oz and Jinan waved to them as the nomads said their good-byes. Then the five of them started off into the darkness toward me mountain that loomed black against the night sky to the east. The survivors in the village stayed far away from them save for Tsochen and his daughter.. His skin tingled." Tang managed in English. His gaze began to drift. take . Oz nodded gratefully and took the knife. but Cain stuck mostly to narrow back stairwells and corridors less traveled. .. If anything. Oz felt a tap on his shoulder. the merchants and their customers lost interest." The goblin offered a pained smile and clicked the phone off. Tang. The heavy jacket and army-issue pants he wore now were perfect for concealing weapons. then turned and began picking up the rest of his gear. grimy finger jammed in the other to block out the noise from the hucksters around him. The third nomad. "Hang up. a stubby. but when the guards paid him no mind. and his heart pumped loud in his chest." Twenty-eight Nights Until the Full Moon It was long after midnight when Cain found his way to the marketplace again. The scent of a human passing cast a ripple of curiosity over the throng. "But he thinks you should take a gun. With his body blocking the blade from the view of the rest of the marketplace. pretty simple to use.. across twisted nightmare things from dimensions even demons spoke of in whispers. and there was not a single blade or gun in his possession that was not now secreted on his person and easily accessible."He says it will help in battle. but I wouldn't have the first clue how to use it. The goblin had stepped away from the bustle of the marketplace and held a cellular phone clapped to one ear. than they would have been during the sunlight hours. across monstrous fortune-tellers rolling bones on blankets spread out on the stone. even in the bowels of that mountain. Cain kept his head down and he went among them. The lateness of the hour did not aid his efforts at stealth. The rifle slung across his shoulder was certain to draw attention this late at night. These were demons and monsters and workers of dark magic. who fell silent the moment he glanced up and saw Cain's furious eyes." Jinan told Oz as she shifted back to human form.
glanced once back into the marketplace to make sure no one had witnessed the murder. On . Cain followed him into the corridor. then disappeared down the darkened corridor with the phone clutched in his hand. with an amiable expression on his face. A simple spell." In a low voice. and Cain prodded him again with the tip of the knife." The goblin moved. Like we're old friends." Cain rasped. It's just a kind of a magical booster. But he couldn't speak Gaelic. Cain sheathed his knife. You can buy them like this. green blood already pooling quickly beneath him. the goblin began speaking to him in Gaelic. But this was different. "How is it you have a cell phone that works?" The goblin's eyes were wide. Inside the thick gloves he had gotten from the nomads.aid. Once in the darkened corridor—its width barely enough to accommodate them both. Cain frowned dangerously." the hunter said. its wall sconces empty of torches—Cain grabbed the little creature around the throat with a huge. too. peeling the phone out of his gnarled hand as the creature slid to the ground. hunted all over the world. huh?" "Now. You could call for pizza from the bottom of a coal mine. this was hardly a blessing. Then he moved the knife to his left hand and held out his right for the phone. "We're inside a mountain in the middle of Tibet." Cain shifted his rucksack and rifle so they sat more comfortably on his back. "I'll give it right back. and he swallowed nervously. I guess. his fingers still had some feeling in them. but considering that they were so cold it felt like someone had hammered nails into them. "Over there. "You were speaking English on the phone. it felt to him a little bit like he had been drinking too much and gotten into a bar brawl. "The stairs. He had no idea if they were being observed but hoped that anyone who might spot them would assume they knew each other. He had learned a lot of languages over the years. One call. as well as the sting of each gust of wind on his cheeks. With the numbness of his feet and the pain in his hands. The goblin hesitated. He had a call to make. "It's not a big deal. "Over there. In his time at the monastery—where the stone walls and the single large fireplace were hardly sufficient at keeping the chill at bay—he had grown used to being cold. already with the enchantment on them. Oz could not feel his feet. scarred hand and pressed him to the stone wall. away from the marketplace. He glanced over at the side corridor Cain had indicated." The goblin's smile faltered." "Am I coming back out of there?" "If you shut up and move. There's a Xihal demon out there selling them—all different colors." "And if I say no?" The hunter rolled his eyes and cut the goblin's throat. calm as could be.
Never been the type to keep quiet. as if daring him to argue. but that was no fault of Master Shantou's. Even if he did not feel as though he owed Master Shantou. Oz would have climbed this mountain. they actually came to a ledge upon which all five of them could stand together. even before he had thrown in with the Slayer and done a little light sidekick work in the battle against the forces of darkness. She had explained to him weeks ago that while she felt the cold. Oz had never been the type to cheer or even just keep quiet. of course. it did not really bother her. the cold was making him tired. The old monk had lived for centuries. The charismatic little man had become grim the moment the terrain had grown difficult. A practical part of him thought this was a spectacularly stupid idea." Jinan said. as Kaohsiung demons obviously had their own internal heat. But the sentries guarding the doors would have seen them long ago had they followed that most direct of routes. she made her way to Oz and her brown eyes searched his. amazingly enough. Oz was grateful when the slope of the cliff face became less severe. there were actually stairs once one reached a certain point in the ascension. Her lips were pursed. there wasn't going to be any walking away from this fight. Now she glanced at him. The pain of the cold returned. he had never been the kind of guy to walk away from a fight. Still. that she meant to warm him. and her gaze narrowed. he climbed in silence. even if he didn't want to settle things with Cain once and for all. only looked impatient with their antics. No. without complaint or hesitation. and her jaw set defiantly. The nomads were also cold. It would have been far easier to scale the face of the mountain that led up beneath the fortress. His fingers began to grow numb. Freezing. and Oz made a fist inside his glove and punched the snow-covered stone several times to bring the blood rushing through his hand. but the truth of the matter is that even before he had discovered that monsters were real. Jinan. According to Ganjin. They flexed their hands and jumped quietly in place. He wouldn't pick one. and spikes of pain shot through them as the motion got his blood circulating again. Oz had seen the burning corpses. several minutes later. Oz knew that this was not a flirtation on her part. And the smile brought a little bit of warmth to his features. The devastation of the monastery. That was a good one. He needed to be able to feel his fingers in order to get a proper handhold. but when. he was as close to ecstatic as he had been since his journey began. and now the ambitions of one persistent and patient demon might cost him his life. Whispering apologies in Chinese as she pushed past the nomads. He had not yet accomplished what he had set out to do here in Tibet. and now he was as quiet as Oz was.top of all of that. The hollow-eyed expressions on the survivors. "Let me hold you a minute. A pained smile crossed his features at that thought. Oz pulled his wool and leather hat down tighter over his ears and continued to climb behind Ritsu. on top of all of those lives down in the valley that had been snuffed out by the hungers of Muztag's lackeys. But if the schoolyard bully was tearing up the recess yard with the new kid. And it appeared that their path became less torturous just a short way above. but even so he felt awkward as he slipped his arms . He stamped his feet. on the other hand. but that was all right.
and her tail slid over the edge." she said. upward jerk. A pair of hideous trolls and a dark-skinned man in the robes of one of Muztag's sorcerers stood guard below them. but the wind that whistled across the face of the mountain stole away the sounds as they did the voices of the guards below. These men knew what they were doing and he had only a single knife. The sorcerer was the first to notice. Jinan altered her physical form again. her voice was warm and moist. the boot kicking loose a small stone and a light cascade of snow that spilled over the edge of the outcropping and fell before the doors. Jinan did not look up at his eyes again. and when she whispered to him. The orange magick sparked around the dead man's hand for a moment before it was extinguished. His right hand glowed with sickly orange energy as he looked up. Tang hacked at the troll with an ax. But then the huge Ganjin dropped down off the outcropping onto the robed man and punched a knife into his neck. and he remembered the tincture Jinan had painted on their faces and wondered if it had been her magic or sheer luck that had allowed them to escape notice. The only surviving guard. squatted there. did not believe he could even provide that. that heat came from inside her. who continued to talk and laugh darkly together. he crouched down with the others and his left foot slipped. not noticing the presence of the intruders above them. Oz felt a certain guilt at the comfort he took from her embrace. a troll with huge golden hoops in his ears and thick matted hair and beard. Jinan unbuttoned his heavy coat and slid her hands inside. at the warmth that seeped into him. The nomad leader cut the sorcerer's carotid and dark arterial blood sprayed the snow all around. Nothing could happen between them. Oz hesitated. Oz was stunned that they had been able to get so close without detection. Ritsu slipped a dagger between the monster's ribs. knew that there was only one thing he could really offer this group if it came down to it. With a swift motion and a single. "Thank you. Then Jinan leaped at the troll. moved in tight against him and pressed her body to him. who chuffed with laughter as if at some filthy joke. and Oz watched in horror as the beast snatched her tail in midair and swung her out and over the edge of the mountain. Almost at the same moment he thought it. The nomads forced the troll down. She perched at the edge of the outcropping. But Oz paid no attention to the . She put her lips to his ear. who seemed not to need his instruction. Ganjin. The truth was. Jinan touched Oz's shoulder.around her. stabbing at it again and again." And that much was true. she slipped forward with almost insectoid agility. Fifteen minutes of moderately difficult climbing later. alarmed by the snapping of bone and the troll's strangled gurgling. "Stay put. She knew that. laying her head on his chest with the intimacy of a lover. fire blossoming from her skull." he whispered. "Ganjin says we're nearly there. and save for a tiny sliver of wonder inside him. was under attack by Tang and Ritsu. and no training in how to handle it. he knew why he had come. Silently. and then the huge nomad whose people called him son of the mountain. she slipped it down behind one of the trolls. led them to an outcropping of stone that looked down upon the massive double doors of Muztag's fortress. Jinan snapped the monster's neck. Oz tensed and held his breath. emanating from the fiery inner core of her being. Tail curled up behind her. Even when she wore a human face. "You'll be all right now. And perhaps because he knew that she realized that. steaming where it touched the ground." He nodded and signaled to the nomads.
he was pleased to know that he would at least have feeling in his extremities. reaching down to help her up. Jinan raised her hands. "Jinan!" he shouted as he leaped off the outcropping. He did not need to know the language to know that they had been discovered. With Jinan there. relieved. Cain was here as well. Twice they encountered demons in the corridor who seemed to be residents or visitors rather than guards. trying to separate one smell from another. and realized that she had landed on the wide stone steps that led down the mountain. "Us." When Ganjin pushed open the doors. But then Oz caught a second odor and his eyes opened. Why else. They moved inside." Oz had his knife in hand when he stepped into the corridor. Master Shantou was here. and whom they let pass without incident. As he had expected. But it was too late for that.creature's death. With Jinan at his side and the nomads arrayed behind him. Jinan and the nomads waited. at the bottom of a set of winding stone steps that had seemed to go down and down forever. Oz led them through a warren of tunnels and winding stone staircases. Twenty feet inside the doors. and then died on the end of the nomad's knife. he pushed the doors closed behind him. His knuckles whitened when he heard shouting down the hall. Immediately he felt warmer. and the tunnel off to their right would lead to him. Then. after all? I'm their bloodhound. He closed his eyes. and another few seconds to understand why. On second thought. in amongst the odors of offal and sweat. Several times they had to make their way through darkness with only Jinan's skull-fire to light the way. stealthy. Three times they retraced their steps to avoid trolls and sorcerers whose robes or insignias revealed them to be guards or prominent members of Muztag's "court. And the hunter's scent came from the same direction as the monk's. carved out of the cliff face. he found one that was familiar to him. and arcs of fire lanced from her fingers as Oz spun around to see what she was . the demons did not seem alarmed at the presence of the others." he whispered. Torches guttered on the stone walls. burning with flame." Jinan whispered. "I'm glad you care. "I think we're close. Whatever horrors awaited them within. It took Oz a moment to realize they wanted him to take the lead. Oz stopped and sniffed at the two passages that led away from the stairs. clutch at the ledge. But even as he ran toward the edge he saw her black talons. dropping down in front of the doors to the fortress. and other times she was forced to extinguish it while they slipped past rooms that were occupied. and his stomach churned in revulsion at many of the stenches that rose up from the tunnels. Then. it occurred to him that numbness might be an asset." Once Ganjin walked straight up to a Vauxhall demon that challenged his presence immediately. "But do you think you could keep it down?" "Right." he said. and then he focused on Jinan. Oz sniffed the dank air inside the fortress. Oz was amazed to see that the entrance corridor was deserted. "This one. and though Oz was very much looking forward to the time when they could go back down the mountain. Eyes still closed. Oz ran closer. For what seemed an interminable length of time but was probably no more than twenty minutes. he nodded in satisfaction and took several steps forward. watching him expectantly.
the son of the mountain. When all three of the nomads opened fire and the demons and goblins began to jitter with the impact of the bullets. but now his enhanced sense of smell was baffled." Jinan urged. but it was jammed or empty and he threw it down in a rage. just ahead. His weapon fell. They would have to hurry now. smoking. followed by four or five hideous little goblins and a trio of other demons unlike any Oz had ever seen. blood and gore spattering the stone walls. One of them lashed at his face. piercing screeches. he was more grateful than anything else. and hauled him back. and he slashed at them with the knife. He killed another. "Oz. Oz sniffed the air. The gunfire was too loud in the enclosed place. killed two. A moment later he caught the scent again. But Ganjin was shouting something in Chinese as the things buried him and he thrashed around. falling with a dry flutter of wings to the stone floor. then a third. He cussed under his breath. Gunfire took several more. to the ground. He nodded. A goat-headed thing and a winged demon with a body like a preying mantis led a charge toward them. Oz gripped the knife and started toward him. The Draco Volans swarmed the huge nomad. The mantis was screaming in a high-pitched staccato voice. He nodded and turned to Jinan. they descended in a vicious throng upon the intruders. But he wasn't about to complain." The wiry little nomad worked his assault rifle frantically. Again. "No!" Ritsu snapped. "They're killing him. but their talons slicked easily through his gloves and cut his hands deeply. but the weapons fire had given away their presence and their location. He was about to announce his discovery when the sound of leathery wings filled the stone corridor along with loud. echoing off the stone. trying to draw the creatures' attention to himself. Stunned. Automatic weapons fire cut it in half. hurting Oz's ears. Oz spun on him.attacking. the air was filled with the stink of cordite and blood. Then the hallway turned dark. that Giles would have been overjoyed to have the chance to catalog all the vile things Muztag had working for him. Ritsu cried out at the death of his comrade and the sight of his friend and leader being driven down beneath a flurry of the savage. The nomad Tang was the first to die. completely out of place. His mind raced. Master Shantou was near. The Draco Volans tore him apart with their tiny talons. the knife like dead weight in his hand. shouting at her. he stood useless. But there were too many. Like a cross between bats and mythical dragons. There were no trolls this time. . They flocked to him and lashed out with their talons and their fangs. winged creatures. Oz was attacked. drawing more and more of them to him. like winged piranha. shouting. the echo of gunfire still filling the hall. Ganjin raised his arms. sputtering torchlight blown out or simply occluded by the huge mass of winged beasts that flew at them from both directions. and some of the creatures were hit. A stray thought went through Oz's mind. The nomads began to fire again. though. It worked. His thick jacket protected his back and arms. only goblins and demons.
The demon had five glowing eyes. Behind them were half a dozen others in robes not unlike Shantou's own. and then he turned to Ritsu. Muztag. Turns out. and two of them were already dead. The body of Ganjin burned as well. those guys might still be alive. to avenge the deaths of so many innocents in the valley. "Jinan. Oz thought. Jinan opened her hands and motioned them back. "Now I wouldn't say that. And suddenly Oz understood: Ganjin had drawn the creatures to him on purpose. Oz turned to see another clutch of demons approaching. the words coming hard from his lips. "We should never have come. Ritsu screamed at Jinan. Oz knew that it was too late to save the son of the mountain. Master Shantou and his students were doomed. But he heard the low. The laughter had been his. mindless-looking people were the old monk's students. He would never return . eyes wide with horror. and then she incinerated everything before her. though he doubted the nomad understood his words. It was useless." Torchlight flickered behind him. If I could have changed. His leather garb reminded Oz of Vikings somehow. It had to be him. Do it. "Bad idea?" the demon lord said." He looked at Jinan. and a troll wearing a Union Jack T-shirt who dragged a bruised and bloodied Master Shantou in chains along the ground. running steps and the sound of something dragging suddenly came to him." he said. They were done. and a woman. . Ganjin had given his life. "I'm sorry. wings fluttering. He had led these three brave nomads to this place. at the terror and shock in Jinan's eyes." Chapter Fifteen Twenty-eight Nights Until the Full Moon At was over. and fluttered limply before falling to the ground to char and blacken. . The weight of his regrets in that moment was almost more than he could bear. Oz was furious with himself for even attempting something so idiotic. He stared at the two dead nomads. spittle flying from his mouth. They were spattered with his blood. black smoke searing the stone ceiling. who seemed almost made of stone. his ears resounding with the echo of gunfire. a demon. there were only a few of them and a trio of sorcerers. The demon in the forefront of this slow. Already the Draco Volans on top of Ganjin were restless. Her eyes raged with liquid flame that licked up her face toward her ears. In the stink of the fire and the dead he had missed it all." Oz told her. though. Dozens of Draco Volans burned. and Ganjin twitched helplessly beneath them.Jinan shook her head. They were here to destroy Muztag. Oz dropped the knife. rumbling laughter. This time. Her skull-fire rose higher. and it took Oz a moment to realize that these hollow-eyed. he had not heard them until now. "This was a bad idea. shrieking. The Draco Volans would kill them all if someone did not stop them. And Muztag laughed again. He had no idea how he could have been so foolish as to think he could lead a rescue attempt into a mountain fortress riddled with demons when he could not even rein in the monster that lived inside him. grotesque parade was a towering thing with strangely twitching antennae jutting from the sides of his face. and their mission would go forever unfinished. Heavy footsteps and soft. two pair and a much larger fifth on top of the others. four men. desperation in his eyes. arms moving slowly now. lips pressed together.
" Muztag raised a hand. the demon lord gazed directly at him. Then Oz—who would not look into Jinan's eyes again—settled his gaze instead upon his teacher. Beneath the fire that licked out from her eyes he could see her staring at him expectantly. his greatest sin. now mesmerized somehow. followed him along with the rest of those who had once been Master Shantou's students. But then he saw his knife on the ground. Miyu." Muztag grunted. But Oz could not see Master Shantou's face." The demon lord smiled at Oz almost politely. The rest of you." Oz gritted his teeth. the wise old monk who had been so patient with him. it felt to Oz like Muztag was talking directly to him. but the others are mine.to Willow. A dark purple light glowed and sparked around the sorcerer's hands. "I had not imagined anyone was left to come to Shantou's aid. He had to do what he could to get Jinan and Ritsu out of there. Come here. He wasn't stupid enough to think the Vastaghri demon lord was going to set Shantou free. As if sensing his thoughts. Muztag laughed. had haunting splashes of torchlight casting their features in grim detail. Anything that will add to his pain and humiliation is worth spending a few extra minutes on. driven him to his knees. She believed in him." A demon in monk's robes—Oz figured this to be Hauck—stepped out first. the old monk hung his head as if in shame and would not look up. casting deep shadows on the nightmarish faces of Muztag and his trolls and the veils of his sorcerers. And now I shall destroy his last hope. They faced one another in that stone corridor—Oz and his two companions against Muztag and his lackeys. and he took another step toward Oz. well. it's magnificent that you survived your visit as long as you did. He looked half dead. whose two comrades had died getting them this far. . When he spoke again. Tang. body and soul. those five eyes glowing. "I want the monk to relish this moment a little longer. the knife Tang had given him. In that moment Oz knew that his biggest mistake. On his knees in chains. Even Shantou's former students. . He rested his left hand on the hilt of the huge sword that hung at his hip. antennae twitching as his eyes narrowed. who clustered around and behind the demon lord. Miyu. to try to convince Muztag to let Jinan and Ritsu go. It was in his head to surrender. Imagine my surprise when I received word that there were intruders sneaking about. beaten and smeared with dried blood. was that he had never been able to have that kind of faith in himself. "Hauck." the demon lord said. The torchlight flickered across the stone walls in that wider segment of corridor. I let the hunter skin those two werewolves. killing guards and my pets. and who would die himself if no one intervened. Those who would rescue Shantou will die at the hands of his former students. bristling at the Vastaghri's supercilious attitude. I have made him my captive. But now that I have seen you . then. "Not yet. "What a pitiful little collective you are. One of the sorcerers pushed past a demon with a kind of ridged bone cage around his skull. His thoughts were at war with themselves. "I have taken his students from him and twisted their souls. But worst of all in that moment was the expression on Jinan's face as she gazed at him. never help Jordy to deal with his own lycanthropy. . But he also wanted to tear the smug smile right off Muztag's face. Then the Japanese woman.
could smell the fear rolling off her in waves and figured Muztag could probably smell it. "Now you may continue. they would have to kill Shantou's other students. "Kill them. But Ritsu had no such hesitation. but still offering them very little room to move. Their robes went up in a curtain of black smoke and orange flame. but it was weak.Oz cursed inwardly. driving her to the ground before he danced away." Muztag said. and he shouted again. They started forward. as though whatever force was controlling her made her unable to focus her mind enough to wield sorcery with any accuracy. An aura of bruise-yellow light glowed around her hands. panic in her voice. the Japanese woman. With a cry of anguish. "Perfect!" Muztag howled gleefully. and Oz knew she was terrified. which here was perhaps a dozen feet across and no more than fifteen. skull-fire burning high. wielding a blade that looked like an old bayonet. "You've got to do it! You've got to let the wolf out!" He slashed at the goateed man. and he was not about to let any of them walk away. flames leaping from her fingers. They had not started this. A thin man with black hair and a goatee lunged at Oz. They had more room to move. They'd surely been killed and skinned by now. the mesmerized students rushed at them. drawing blood. Jinan set two of Master Shantou's former students on fire. Then Miyu. There were only three of them against many. demons." Master Shantou's eyes were narrowed. Oz did not blame her. What are they supposed to do now? To defend themselves. Jinan crouched with her tail swaying. To Oz's right. too. nor decided how it would come together. but in this case Oz knew their lesser number helped them. The students had stepped up around Muztag. and Oz thought of Shen and Ferric. and the troll in the Union Jack T-shirt aside. Her scent had changed. That's what his own future held—which made him wonder where Cain had gotten off to. Ritsu stood to Oz's left. Wide compared with many of the halls in that fortress. "Oz!" Jinan shouted to him. Jinan was afraid. Jinan sketched her fingers in the air. the two werewolves Muztag had given over to Cain. "Wait!" The demon lord grabbed Master Shantou by his long braid and yanked his head back so that he was forced to watch the proceedings. Miyu and Hauck and the others came forward. dead. then kicked Miyu hard in the back of the leg. Then the wiry nomad punched his bayonet through the student's heart. and the man fell to the stone floor. But what the demon lord might not understand was that beneath that terror was a grim and unwavering determination. the demon lord's lackeys all jostling for position in the corridor. Then they ran off down into the tunnel . pushing the sorcerers. their skulls whacking together with a sound like wood cracking. was there as well. who slashed at his arms with the knife. But Oz could see that he did not look defeated. but she was ready to fight. his useless assault rifle on the floor of the corridor somewhere behind them. In silence. and a wall of flame erupted between her and her attackers. his expression grim. and Ritsu stepped in close to the man and head butted him. for he felt the same. She did not want to kill them. And it was her resolution that finally made Oz realize that there was no way to alter the circumstances here. knife at the ready. The first student to lay a hand on him was a Nordic-looking man with a stringy beard. Muztag had done that. and they cried out in pain and confusion as they regained their senses.
The big creature stomped on her tail." he replied as the goateed man gripped him by the throat and grabbed his wrist." Lord Muztag shouted in some strange demon tongue and staggered back. Which is when the troll with the British accent leaped over the wall of flame she had erected. nevertheless. The old monk had never sprouted so much as an extra hair during the nights of the full moon Oz had spent with him." she whispered in amazement. He shot a glance over at where the monk still kneeled at Muztag's feet in chains. . They went down in a tangle of limbs. There is only you. Oz was startled—his teacher had been silent until now. "My friend.and fell to the ground. "Didn't see that coming. She struck him in the side of the head. trying to put out the flames. and Jinan was small and tired. it is that simple." Master Shantou said. Her fire held back a pair of trolls. "Oz!" "Not." Oz said. . and the blaze from her fingers roared in a kind of fiery cyclone around her. simple. The wolf Shantou snapped his chains as if they were twine and lunged upward. "Hunh. and he went down hard. shielding her from her attackers. Oz glanced up and saw Miyu spring to her feet and start toward him. ripping out the throat of a sorcerer who stood nearby. "But the moon is down . and the man struck his head on the ground. slavering wolf with fur as white as a polar bear's. But in that moment a troll whose shirt bore a picture of the British flag let out a bellow of surprise. "This is what I have been trying to teach you. Something dark moved at the edge of Oz's vision and he turned just in time to see Miyu leap at him. He was huge. The troll was huge and angry.. No more regrets. Flames simmered in her eyes. It was all or nothing. Skull-fire roared up to char the stone above Jinan's head. and her eyes went wide as she saw Master Shantou shape-shift into a huge. his grip weakening. his fur completely white. He spoke again. Then he heard Master Shantou shout his name. But his voice was a growl. trying to wrest the knife from him. "Bloody hell!" Jinan turned to see what had caught the troll's attention. this time in English. and one of Muztag's sorcerers. Jinan reacted instantly." Then Master Shantou changed. and she cried out in pain and her fire wavered enough so that Shantou's demon student and the sorcerer leaped over . "He never said a word. rolling." the demon lord muttered as he faced off against Shantou. whipping her heavy tail around to try to knock his feet out from under him. No more fear. a demon student of Shantou's. He shot an elbow into the goateed man's face and started to rise. but he was a werewolf. who cowered at the fury of the inferno that roared in her heart. . . that.. There is no beast.
and his dull." Muztag told Shantou in Chinese. "Jinan!" Oz shouted.the dying embers and then they were all over her. Apparently the demon lord had not known that the old monk could shape-shift at will. Now the British troll shook her hard enough that she thought her neck would snap. The troll spun her around and she could see Muztag and Shantou then. Then Shantou and Muztag were slashing at each other again. And yet Muztag had been afraid of Master Shantou even when he was not a wolf. pinioning it behind her. and he gave her arm a hard tug. he lifted both hands in front of her and mimed pulling something toward him. who swore under his breath. where they were held behind her back. flashed down. but she could not control it. Her legs weakened. Her fire was dying. The bone snapped. the Vastaghri demon lord and the wizened. blue-black flesh. The huge troll in the Union Jack T-shirt let her go. but Jinan lashed out with her right hand. Tiny tendrils of flame licked at her fingers. Jinan felt more exhausted than ever." A surge of rage went through her. and her skull-fire began to dim. The blade rose. his dark eyes peering over the black veil that covered his nose and mouth. the beast's fingers digging into her slick. Jinan cried out in pain as her arm was nearly torn from the socket. They were head to head. no longer ruled by the waxing and waning of the moon. and the werewolf cried out as its crimson blood stained white fur. Shantou drove Muztag backward. giving Muztag time to draw his long sword. "Pay attention. and she fell into the arms of a demon in monk's robes. fell apart completely. afraid of the man. She saw a Hrastgur slash razor wings down at Master Shantou. and flame spurted from her fingers and engulfed him instantly. "You have certainly made this more interesting. slammed the demon lord against a stone wall. All his doubts had long since been washed away by the adrenaline that surged through him as he fought for his life and the lives of his friends. and though the troll held one arm and Shantou's demon student held the other. here. girl. Then he grabbed her by the back of the neck with one huge hand and the other clamped on her arm. white-furred werewolf. ah. "Ah. her concentration. . His voice was deep and menacing as he intoned a verse in Latin. The demon slammed a huge fist into the side of the white wolf's muzzle and Shantou staggered back. Other demons came in around them. dumb eyes ticked toward Oz. and his claws raked the hard shell-like carapace that covered Muztag's body." the troll snarled. as if he were sucking the life out of her. The other troll tried to attack as well." the troll rumbled. of his indomitable will. Her focus. none o' that now. could not direct it. but the wolf ripped its head off with one swipe of a huge clawed hand. Jinan let her inner fire begin to blossom around her fists again. Jinan had been so caught up in these few seconds of battle between the demon lord and the monk that her own plight had seemed unimportant. The first troll swore again in that accent and cuffed her on the side of the head. Then the sorcerer was in front of her. "I'm killing you. Then he lifted the blade again. of his magic. and Jinan screamed. Now he saw the sorcerer casting a spell on Jinan and her fires beginning to dim.
but only the barest flicker within. Oz hauled off and cracked her across the face with a strength that seemed to well up from that primitive place within him. unmindful of the cracks in his carapace and his own blood streaming down his body. But the troll with the Union Jack T-shirt was racing at him now. the moon was not in control. Ritsu went down beneath the onslaught of his demon attacker. Jinan's flame dimmed. A savage awareness rose in him. he found he could not breathe. raised a rifle to his shoulder. The wolf lent him strength and ferocity. Oz snapped his head around and gaped at Cain. Oz was. might draw it out the way it controlled the tides. But this had nothing to do with the moon. and he growled deep in his chest. separating flesh and fur and cracking bone. The moon might pull at it. blowing out the back of his skull. and as the troll lifted his hand." Oz said again. only to have the demon lord's blade whisk through the air and hack into his shoulder. Master Shantou was going to lose.Deep within him. Oz had its scent. and he darted his head about. The bestial part of his nature was primal. the student with the goatee tried to rise. He was going to die. and shot the troll through the eye. "No. and Oz tore his gaze away from Cain to see the white-furred werewolf fall to the floor at Lord Muztag's feet. and Oz kicked him in the head with such force that the man rolled across the ground. and the stink of the thing was repulsive. his hands curled into makeshift claws. Oz did not flee. When Oz looked at Jinan. But right now. and the glow from the sorcerer's hands engulfed her. Now it bared its claws. Master Shantou's student. The Vastaghri demon raised his sword again. The white-furred werewolf that was Master Shantou slashed his claws at Muztag again." Shantou roared in agony. the Wolf snarled and gnashed its teeth. The nomad Ritsu was still alive but bloodied and limping as he lashed out at a demon with his bayonet. but it was intimate and came from inside of him. Which was when Gib Cain stepped up beside him. "Do something. red and blue Union Jack T-shirt now all orange and purple in the light of the torches. . yes. then fell unconscious to the floor. trying to find a way to save Jinan. "No. He felt her cheek give way. wolf-boy. her skull still open. and Oz felt its savagery rising up within him. The troll fell backward and landed in the mess of his own blood and brains. Miyu. it had been stirring. He could taste blood on his lips and was not sure whose it was. and she flew through the air and struck the rock wall. Something flashed in his grasp. His breathing quickened. unconscious. Ever since they had entered Muztag's lair. On the ground. In the back of his mind he reached out to find the moon. kicked him in the side of the head. He crouched. Her skull-fire was little more than a candle flame now. the torchlight revealed that somewhere the troll had gotten his hands on a crescent-bladed ax. though he knew that it was on the wane." Oz whispered.
Somehow Muztag had gotten control over him and all of the others. the only thing that kept her from falling to the ground was the grip the demon in monk's robes had on her throat. She had thought his eyes were hollow. and he doesn't know if he's going to have anyone in his corner. The source of his fear was not the horror surrounding him. she thought. Just another affront against the old . and her blurred vision cleared briefly. Her mind was numb. Even as his hands closed on her throat and he strangled her. "There is only you. His name is Hauck." he said. but his hands remained about her neck. But it isn't true." the remaining sorcerer commanded. "There is no beast. Then Willow smiles. and Jinan thought that she could see deep in his eyes Hauck's own horror at what he was doing. What scares him is he's gonna have to go another three rounds next time the moon comes round. They were all the flame she could muster as the furnace within her sputtered. She had heard the sorcerer call him by name.then. this demon that had been a student of Master Shantou.. okay. One last ember burned. and for a moment it flickered out. But now as she gazed into him she thought she saw some spark there. He's never felt so alone. he was a prisoner within his own self. that time on the lawn in front of Sunnydale High. and a more horrible possibility occurred to her: Hauck was not out of his mind." Jinan's vision dimmed again. In his mind he sees Willow. however. his persona not erased. A gunshot tore through the cavern. Hauck. Above her she saw the face of Hauck the demon. On her knees.. "You're nice. Monk. where he flopped to the floor with a wet thump. and again she could see Hauck above her. There came another gunshot. . her brain muddled.. and a bullet punched through Hauck's chest and spun him backward and away from her. Her fire began to sputter even more. It was the thing within him. He knows that now. three rounds in that fight and the best he can say is he's still standing. It was the truth. but that's not all the time. devoid of conscience. The demon hesitated. She felt cold. not insane. a sentience that had hunted the forests of the world since ancient times." And he wants it to be true. He wants it so very much. So very cold. tight enough so that she still could not breathe. And you're funny and you don't smoke and. "Kill her. He grimaced as though in horrible pain." Tiny streaks of liquid fire tears ran down Jinan's face. Master Shantou is right. her body nearly paralyzed. The pressure on her neck lessened. werewolf. and the sorcerer's spell had all but doused her fire. now.. like a tiny child again. "Show your old master how well Lord Muztag has corrupted you. Oz felt frightened and small. But not only that. she managed to think. after his first bout with the full moon is over. Rather. Hauck. Dead. Werewolf. and Jinan thought he was trying to fight the control over him. echoing loudly.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Gib Cain. Stunned. The demon lord frowned. and its ears twitched for just a moment. some trace of his human voice buried in the roar of the wolf. but his attention was no longer on her. more trolls and demons were coming down the corridor. She glanced at the sorcerer. trying to fend off a pair of demons with his bayonet. but her skull-fire blazed again. the hunter only kept Jinan's attention a moment. Jinan swayed on her knees and put a hand out to steady herself. The sound that erupted from within Oz at that moment was some horrible combination of howl and scream and snarl. girl. and its black lips curled upward as it sniffed the air. The demon lord reacted instinctively. There were a few more students yet alive. "I've already sent two pelts home to my clients. then fired twice more and dropped two trolls as they entered the wider area of the cavern. Muztag grunted in surprise. the end of her tail tightening around his neck. It was staring at her with its vicious. Its fangs gleamed a savage white. He shot her a grateful glance and then looked around from another enemy. The sorcerer's spell was broken. and looked down in shock. He leveled his rifle again and shot the last sorcerer through the chest. But despite the impossibility of Cain's presence as an ally. all four antennae twitching at his temples. Thick cables of muscle rippled beneath the fur of the huge beast. For a few feet away from him stood Oz. backed into a corner. She turned to see the nomad. The sorcerer had time to mutter a prayer before Oz lashed out with lightning speed. Ritsu. she turned to see what had drawn his gaze and saw Cain standing not far away with his rifle in his hands. "Why are you doing this?" Cain choked and gurgled laughter. Muztag's blood soaking his muzzle. but it was not going to restore itself quickly enough to save her life. Jinan's fire stoked up within her again. and she felt her fire flicking up inside her again. Jinan wrapped her powerful tail around him and pulled Cain to her. Jinan let her broken arm hang at her side as she went to Ritsu and incinerated the demons that were attacking him. and a few demons. the furnace roaring. The wolf.Weak. one remaining sorcerer. and Oz's razor teeth clamped down hard and ripped the demon's hand off. But even as Jinan looked around. Weak but determined. claws slashing down. Then the wolf sprang at her. and flames danced upon her fingers. yellow eyes. amazed. The dead man's head thumped and rolled across the stone floor and came to a rest not far from where Muztag was about to bring his sword down to decapitate Master Shantou. The hunter held on to his gun but did not try to fight her. The sorcerer and Hauck had nearly killed her. still befuddled. Muztag . "You!" she snapped. choking gulp. Oz was going to kill her. put an arm up to try to ward the werewolf away. The wolf tossed back its head and swallowed the hand in a single. The hunter had shot and killed a troll nearby. Oz leaped upon Muztag. Oz was dealing with Muztag but there were more of them. One huge paw swept around and with a snap and a tearing sound tore off the sorcerer's head so that the body staggered headless a few pages before falling. Jinan did not have the strength to scream as it landed above her.
I figured my best chance was throwing in with you folks. But to see him like this. You have any idea what the shell of a Vastaghri demon is worth?" A skittering. casting that section of the wall into shadows and silhouettes. claws descended. Then she pointed at Muztag. Its right hand swung around. For it was one thing to accept the beast. She knew that by instinct. spinning as though suddenly unable to judge his location or the distance of the wall. As Jinan watched. He stopped spinning. twitching now only when the wolf tore into it. the wolf drove him down into the fluttering shadows. this demon of the eastern mountain. Cain lifted the rifle. this legendary evil. he lumbered there in the near dark. so they no longer had anything to fight for. When he caught him on his own. Jaws snapped. a chill ran through her. Their master was dead. embraced it for what it was: himself. emotions churning in turmoil within her. Muztag turned at the sound of his voice. In a far corner. "Fine!" Jinan snapped at Cain. Cain shot him through the bulbous fifth eye at the center of his forehead. darting goblin raced at Jinan. lit himself a cigar. No. to Oz. and she was afraid for him suddenly. regained his balance. "Hey. Muztag drove a knee up into Oz's abdomen. It went out. and in only a few moments. Oz leaped upon him. and its claws tore off the two antennae on the left side of Muztag's face. I made a couple of calls. knocking a torch loose. The few of Master Shantou's students who still lived shook their heads as though waking up from a very long dream and seemed to wander the cavern almost aimlessly. Your Lordship!" the hunter shouted. but it was incomplete. however. releasing him. beating at the flames on its head. and though Muztag tried to fight him. The demon lord staggered back now. he advanced upon Oz again. but she moved toward the wolf in the shadows.. "But if you want to help. At last Oz had met the wolf on his own terms. the demon lord was no longer a threat to the wolf. . It screamed and ran away. as though the animal had taken over completely . pulling his blade with him. and waited for them all to clear out so he could claim what remained of Muztag's carapace. and tore. This was an accomplishment. Horribly wounded.. Her broken arm dangled at her side. Muztag was only prey. the demon lord was extremely powerful. and fire lanced from her eyes. Muztag was only a corpse now. and the wolf staggered back far enough that Muztag lifted his sword and drove the blade through Oz's chest. Plus. But Muztag was not dead. The wolf howled in agony but remained focused. The shriek of the demon lord was like a swarm of locusts as he dropped his sword and clapped his remaining hand over his face. Still. he was gonna punch my ticket. Gib Cain slung his rifle over his shoulder. She glanced at it. and another to control it. All around the cavern the few trolls and demons that remained fled along the corridors and into darkened stairwells. Though shaky. shoot him !" Even missing a hand. behaving so savagely. stumbling backward to crash into a sconce on the wall. Viscous pink fluid spurted from the exploding eye and sprayed the ground. the demon lord's body stopped flailing. Jinan stared at him.thought he might need my help with Shantou 'cause the old man's a werewolf.
The silence up there was unearthly. Master Shantou is alive." Epilogue One Month Later Oz had grown used to the cold." Master Shantou appeared beside her and leaned on her. yellow eyes gleaming and feral. sniffing the air. the white wolf disappearing beneath the skin of the wise old monk. and Jinan could see horrible slashes on his flesh. her voice barely above a whisper. Oz emerged. Winter at the roof of the world was an unpredictable season marked by sudden blizzards. fearful for Oz and hoping for more comforting words than these." Jinan turned to look at the monk." the wiry little man said to her in Chinese. She turned again to peer into the shadows. You can change back. "You did it. deathly frigid nights and days when the mountains seemed so close to the blue sky and the warmth of the sun that the snow melted and the process began all over again. the ghost of a smile on his face. ." the old monk said as they both watched the wolf. Oz." "Yes.Ritsu came up beside Jinan. with his eyebrows raised. deepening snows." she said. "To learn at last what it means to be what he is. I think. It's over. The wolf bared his fangs and growled dangerously at them. slavering and bloody. to study them. one hand clutched over a wound on his shoulder. and yet the landscape was breathtakingly beautiful. "Now we will see if he can control it. Though Jinan was not yet recovered herself. had visited Hawaii and Fiji. "How much greater. "Easy for you to say. Then it crouched slightly. "Even a normal man must struggle to find the balance between human and beast in his soul. for one such as Oz? He cannot force a change." she said. Muztag is dead. naked and cold and staring at them. as though it might spring. She was frightened. It seemed to hesitate. he sat cross-legged in that same place where he had spent so many days and nights meditating. "A surprise for himself. His ears twitched as he rose from all fours to stand on two feet. this was paradise. Though he had on his thick jacket and beneath that a sweater woven from yak's wool. "Your friend had a surprise for us. Jinan glanced back to see Master Shantou shifting his form again. None were forthcoming." Shantou said. then. Jinan stared at him. and thick mittens and a hat pulled down over his ears. but more for him than for herself. In the past few months Oz had been halfway around the world. but alive. now. old man. his teeth still chattered and he wondered why he did not simply go inside." a voice rasped behind her. he was human again. His eyes were closed. and yet in these last weeks he had realized that in so many ways. but thanks to his magic and the nature of the werewolf. crouched on the stone floor. for better or worse. leaving the dead demon lord behind. they were already partially healed. When she glanced back at Oz. His robes were torn and bloody. limping and bloody. It must happen as simply and as naturally as the coming of the dawn. At peace. "Oz. she helped to support him.
Ritsu had left for a time. but he was learning. In time. Oz had learned a bit of herbology and begun a daily martial arts kata that did more to help him focus his mind and find a peace within himself than any amount of hiking or meditation ever had. but returned with half a dozen herders from his nomadic tribe. Oz knew that someday soon he would have to try to track the hunter. For now. and their teacher. who offered their aid until such time as Shantou no longer needed them. but not as uncommon as it had been before Muztag had been destroyed and his demons driven out of the fortress in the eastern mountain. Giles. it was being rebuilt at last. Wuxi. of course. He shivered now. For now it was enough that he could stave off the change under the light of the full moon. there on the mountainside. Oz had promises to keep. Four of Master Shantou's students had survived and returned to the monastery with Oz. who had taught him best—as all real teachers do—by example. Jinan. there was new light and life in that monastery. none of them could say. however. But for now he listened to the wind in the trees and he breathed in the crisp winter air and the scent of the fire from below. . to turn the tables. or try to rebuild their village. But not yet. to stop Cain from killing anyone else. Cain would set his sights on other prey—some of whom would be werewolves. but Oz did not open his eyes. he could believe that there might come a day when he could shift back and forth between human and wolf with barely a thought. The nomads who had given their lives. Mr. after all the horror and death and grief. all of the people to whom he owed the greatest debt he could imagine. So. could be around people without endangering them. What had become of Cain. but the sound of the work in progress only merged with his peaceful mindset now and gave him an added measure of comfort. While the collapsed wing of me monastery remained closed. including Tsochen and his daughter. In addition. By the time they had tended to the injured after the battle inside Muztag's fortress. Oz looked up into the night sky and for a long moment he only stared at the moon. join the nomads' tribe. the hunter had fled and taken the corpse of the demon lord with him. Sarah Atwill. Laughter was still rare. Master Shantou. Oz and Jinan had continued their studies under Master Shantou. but he knew Cain was still out there. In addition to his meditation and efforts at centering himself.On the bitterly cold wind he could smell the smoke from the fire that burned inside the monastery. Jinan. Oz was in no rush to catch up to him. at which time the survivors from the village could stay. hammers rang out. Down in the monastery. Though it was a long way off. Qing and his family. And they had plenty of hands to do the work. The old monk insisted they remain until spring. The first few weeks after Muztag's defeat had been spent healing and repairing the damage from the attack that night when Master Shantou had been abducted. and he thought of all the people who had helped get him to this place. along with the rest of his students. some of the survivors from the village. Once upon a time that would have broken his concentration. The full moon. Caesar and Desiree. Soon he would go in. Soon. His control was still tenuous at best. The shadow cast by the demon of the eastern mountain had been lifted. and he opened his eyes. Ostergaard. A sudden burst of laughter erupted from the huge wood and stone building. A smile played at his lips. had climbed the mountain to help and to live within those walls.
He would need the herbal compound and he would continue with his meditation and his kata. it was early morning yet and still very cold. The journey will be long and difficult. Jinan stepped in close to him again and gazed sternly into his eyes. Master Shantou. For the first time in a very long time. and you must make it alone. Despite the temperature. but it was bittersweet. and then she let them drop to her sides. There were only aspects of himself. Master Shantou bowed low in return. Just don't forget me. he found it beautiful. and he shivered again. That was half the battle. They had been through a great deal together. even though he knew that his cousin. the only other werewolf he had ever known who had not tried to kill him. but I really am happy for you. it was in a whisper. Oz gazed at her a long moment. my friend. But that was all right. All I have done is show you the path. but there was something he had already achieved that could not be taken away from him: understanding. There was no wolf deep inside him. no beast to cage within his flesh and bones. but never forget. then rose to his feet and started down the mountain toward the monastery. she lingered with her hands on his arms for several seconds. the faces of his dual nature. He bowed low to the old monk. Jordy. and it was up to him to choose which face to show the world. and that Willow would be wondering what had become of him. his mentor. needed to learn what Oz had learned. okay?" Oz touched her cheek with his fingertips. a place he had begun to think of as home. "Thank you. Though the sky was clear and blue and the sun bright above them." . Sometimes he felt that he did not want to leave. All the more reason he ought to go soon. His cheeks had gone from stinging to numb. It might have been that he lingered with his mouth on hers just a little too long. When she spoke. "Deal. Oz pulled his hat down over his ears. Oz had already said his good-byes to Ritsu and Miyu and all the others inside the monastery. and what harm was one kiss? Especially when it was a kiss good-bye. "You'll give the letter to my father?" "Got it. a kind of aura shimmering around it." he said. Jinan smiled. Then he turned away from Jinan and faced Master Shantou. his friend and his teacher. It would not always be a simple thing to keep his focus enough to control the savagery within him. "I wish you weren't leaving. Oz gazed at the full moon." He buttoned his coat up a little higher. Twenty-eight Nights Until the Full Moon Jinan's lips were soft and warm when he kissed her. her skin was warm as always. Only these two had come out to see him off. Before he decided to stay. When he pulled away from her." "You are gracious.
And he thought of Willow." . and of the comfort his return would bring to Aunt Maureen and Uncle Ken. Especially when I'm headed home. a wonder at what the journey would bring. there was a spark of excitement inside him. "I'll be all right. Instead. He thought of Jordy." he said.Oz knew that the words ought to have troubled him. but somehow they did not. "I've never minded traveling alone.