Dead Flesh

and paid ‘em a little visit in their cells. Even when I had their nuts squeezed tight in my hand and I thought their eyes were gonna pop straight outter their heads — they still wouldn’t talk about those burglaries.”

“Screw the burglaries,” I spat. “Emily Clarke has been murdered…”

“Murdered?” Banner smiled nervously. “Don’t talk such rubbish.”

“Watch the tape,” Potter said from the corner of the room.

“Why?” Banner asked, picking it up in one of his huge hands.

“Because it shows Morris McCain butchering Emily Clarke,” I said, trying to stay calm.

“Bollocks!” Banner cried and rubbed his thick white moustache, nervously. “McCain wouldn’t dare.”

“Why wouldn’t he dare?” Isidor asked him.

“Because it would all be over!” Banner shouted. “The treaty and everything would be finished. The treaty says that any wolf to be caught murdering a human would be put to death. McCain might be a bit of a bully, but he ain’t dumb enough to go murdering your friend, Emily Clarke.”

“Look, I haven’t got time to stand here and argue with you,” I told him. “If you don’t believe me, watch the footage on the camera.” Then, realising that Potter was right, and I was being made to feel about as welcome as a fart in an elevator, I went to the door.

“Where are you going?” Banner called out.

“To get my friend back before she becomes another one of McCain’s victims,” I said.

Chapter Forty

Kayla

I could hear the sound of paws padding across the dance floor. The claws attached to them made clicking sounds. The wolves crept into the chapel, the sound of their breathing deep and rasping. There was panic amongst the students, and Sam gripped my hand and pulled me close.

“We haven’t come here to be set free, have we?” Sam whispered. “This is a matching ceremony, isn’t it?”

“I guess,” I whispered, letting go of Sam’s hand and releasing my claws. I felt something big and covered in fur brush past me and it made a snarling noise. I flinched backwards.

“Kayla, where are you?” Sam called out, losing me in the dark.

“I’m right here,” I whispered. “Keep still.”

I could hear the sound of feet rushing past me — not wolves — the other students trying to find a way out of the chapel in the dark.

“Put the lights on!” someone screamed.

There was a scuffling noise and I spun around. Then, the song Candyman started again, as if whoever had gone in search of the light switch had hit the wrong button. They must have tried again, as the strobe lights suddenly came on and I wished they hadn’t. In those sudden flashes of bright white light, I saw the wolves that had crept into the chapel. They had positioned themselves near to the students who they were planning on matching with. I wasn’t the only one who had seen the giant-sized wolves with their bristling fur and gaping jaws, as the chapel burst into chaos. In the glimpses of light, I saw the wolves leap through the air and smother the children standing before them. I looked to my right. Sam was standing there, his eyes wide as he stared ahead. I followed his gaze and saw a wolf rear up onto his back legs as it lunged at Sam. With the song Candyman blasting around the chapel, I leapt forward, plunging my claws into the throat of the werewolf.

The lights pulsated on and off and everything seemed to slow down. I felt my fist enter the wolf’s throat. It howled so loud that for a moment the music was completely drowned out. Its cries of agony must have alerted the other wolves, as each of them turned to face me. And in the flashing lights, I caught just glimpses of their razor- sharp teeth and flaming yellow eyes as they came towards me.

I pulled my fist from the wolf’s throat and a stream of black blood jetted up and splashed Sam. “Get behind me,” I screamed over the throbbing music. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would be slaying werewolves while listening to Candyman by Christina Agulera.

The wolves came towards me, circling slowly, while those they had come to be matched with fled to the furthest corners of the chapel. Then, I saw one of the wolves come forward. He was jet black and sleek-looking. His bright yellow eyes stared into mine.

“Oh, Kayla,” he woofed. “I’ve got someone real special for you to match with.”

“I’m not going to be matched,” I whispered, unable to stop myself from looking into his eyes.

“But you haven’t seen who I’ve brought for you,” he barked over the roar of the music.

Then from behind him slinked the most beautiful wolf that I’d ever seen. Its fur was white and shimmered like glass in the strobe lighting. “Who is she?” I asked the wolf.

“The Wolf Man’s intended bride,” the wolf started, and over the blast of the music, I finally recognised his voice. It was McCain. “You are beautiful, Kayla Hunt. And you’ll be even more beautiful once you have been matched with Lola. She will complete you.”

“You don’t understand, McCain,” I said, staring into his eyes. “I can’t be matched like the others. I’m different.”

“And that’s why you will be such a perfect match for Lola,” he woofed, then licked his nose with his tongue. “She is brave and courageous, just like you. She has a spirit that can’t be tamed. Matched together, you will make the perfect bride.”

Then, as if I’d lost control of my own body, I started to walk towards Lola who stood on all fours in front me.

“Kayla, what are you doing?” Sam screamed over the music. “Don’t go to her.”

Although I could hear him, it was like I just couldn’t stop myself. It was as if McCain had control over me somehow. I felt Sam grab for me, and I brushed him aside. I moved slowly closer towards Lola, and it was her burning eyes that I was staring into as she reared up on her back legs and lunged for me.

There was a crashing sound from somewhere in the darkness and more screaming, but it was faint, drowned out by the music and the sound of Lola’s panting as she placed her giant paws onto my shoulders and stared into my eyes. In the flashing lights, I saw her giant pink tongue roll from her jaws and she ran it down the side of my face. It felt warm and rough. And as I looked into her eyes, it was like I could hear her howling inside my head — it was as if she were brainwashing me, taking over my mind.

Suddenly, her howling changed. It was like she was in pain. Lola let go of my shoulders and flew backwards across the chapel. The spell she had cast over me was broken. I looked through the pulsating lights and could see her lying on the floor, a wooden stake sticking out from her side. Then, all hell broke loose.

Chapter Forty-One

Kiera

We had been drawn to the chapel by the sound of the beating music — the screams told us we were heading in the right direction. The gates to the school were locked, and peering through them, I could see several cloaked figures racing back and forth across the lawn. The school with its high walls, search towers, and wide gravel path were just how I had seen it in my nightmare. And as I watched the figures racing around, I knew these were the Greys that Kayla had spoken about. I had seen them in my nightmare too — they had come from the school and had dragged that man back inside. But what or who were they?

There was a grinding sound. I looked right to see Potter breaking the chains that were fastened around the black iron gates. They came away in his claws and clattered to the ground. The music continued to beat in the distance and so did the terrified screams of children. I looked left and Isidor threw open his coat, and with lightning