“That’s far enough. This here is our store. In fact, all these stores in town are ours. If there’s something you want, well, you’ll have to pay in gold. Real gold, or silver,” the man said, the smile never wavering on his face.
“I take it you’re the owner?” Xander said, his voice even.
“I am now. Since there ain’t hardly anyone left alive, figured I’d step up to the plate and take control. You know, power vacuum and all.”
“What happens if folks just don’t have the gold you want,” Zahara asked.
The smile on the man’s face widened even more as he looked Zahara up and down. Xander had groaned internally. This wasn’t going to end well.
“Well, I do believe in a barter system. For you little lady, I’d gladly give you what you want for a little bit of your time,” he said, wiping the sweat from his forehead, his face becoming an alarming shade of red. Xander thought the man might stroke out.
“And what if little ol’ me doesn’t want to trade?” she asked sweetly. The weapons around them lifted and the man’s eyes narrowed.
“Well, now that you’re here and sounds like you’re a tease, maybe I’ll just take what I want while your man watches,” he said in a nasty tone. Xander sighed and waited, he’d let Zahara deal with this since this was her favorite sport. He watched as she smiled her smile and then he nearly laughed when she began to strip in the middle of the parking lot. The men around her goggled, their eyes going to her shapely body and her assets. The apple cheeked man’s eyes widened and his mouth formed an O as she began to walk toward him naked.
“Tell you what, you let us have anything and everything we want and I’ll not kill you all,” she said in a seductive voice. It took a moment or two for her words to register. The man’s eyes narrowed until Zahara began her change. Then the screams filled the air as the werewolf attacked. She jumped on the man in the doorway, knocking him backwards and he screamed as she clawed at his middle. Intestines flew out, landing in bloody splats around them and the other men stood frozen, horror and incredulity stamped on their faces. They started to raise their weapons and Xander shot each one of them, in their hands. Both men fell to the ground, screaming. The man with the apple cheeks lay eviscerated, body parts scattered all over the parking lot.
Zahara stood with the man’s head wedged in her mouth and began to walk toward one of the down men. He was screaming now and he’d pissed himself as he scrambled backwards away from the creature coming at him. Zahara towered over the cowering man and dropped the bloody head in his lap.
“My girlfriend wants you to know she didn’t appreciate being treated less than human. Anyone else comes to do some honest trading, maybe you should remember that not everyone is as nice as my girlfriend.” Xander had sauntered over to the massive werewolf and took her large hand and they went into the feed store.
“It really was a fun ending to a shitty day,” Zahara said lazily. He lifted his head and kissed the top her of her head and eased back down on the swing. He used his hand to push off the porch floor to move the swing. It creaked pleasantly.
“It was, I have to admit, it was very satisfying. I wonder how Ethan is doing? Rose said she had to start him on antibiotics. He has a really high fever.”
“I’ve got a feeling he won’t live, Xander. But he was bound and determined to do it. At least Rose has Reggie and won’t be alone to manage this place.”
“I feel really bad. Can you imagine if the government tried to turn people into werewolves? Weapons. We’d be used as weapons,” Xander said softly.
“I think that’s why were told when we first start to walk, never to tell and never to talk. I’m just as glad we can’t turn a bunch of people into what we are. I think it makes us rare and special. I’m just sorry that Ethan is paying that price,” she said.
“It was his choice and his wish. He was correct though; it would be one hell of a weapon in his arsenal. I’ve a feeling that those idiots we dealt with in town earlier today is just the beginning. I think as time goes on and whatever supplies are out there will become coveted by the living. There’s gonna be another war, between the living for whatever they can lay their hands on. It’s going to get ugly. Werewolves are nearly indestructible,” Xander said and shifted, his back hurting from the prolonged position. He sat up and pulled Zahara in his lap.
“We’re also damned cute too,” she laughed and snuggled up to him. His hand went up her shirt and felt the warm flesh beneath. He kissed her and grinned when he didn’t feel her bra. A soft laugh rumbled in his chest that was mixed with a soft growl.
“I like when you growl,” Zahara said and he could taste her smile.
Both jerked apart when the screen door opened and they saw Rose come out, her shoulders slumped.
“Ethan died.”
Ž
Avery drew deep on the cigarette and coughed. He wasn’t much of a smoker but he had to do something with
