It was past 10 am when the neighbors found Ted and his daughter motionless in the back yard.
She hadn't meant too of course, but when Lisa's bite severed Ted's subclavian artery, Ted was left with only a few minutes to get vigorous medical treatment. Twenty minutes after the attack and Tina and Terry were orphans.
Tina, on the other hand was found unconscious with nary a mark on her body...though there was some dried blood on her forearm.
"Hey Paul," said Sgt. Thompson as he gently scraped the blood. "Have the lab check this out and see if it belong inside this little girl."
"Sure John," he replied. "I noticed some other interesting things, how 'bout you?"
"You mean like the hibatchi still having steaks on it and the odd prints in the grass? And the fact that the blood pattern on her arm looks like a bite, but her skin isn't even broken? Yeah I found that pretty interesting too. What would you call it, Corporal?"
Paul Weinstraub considered this. "A severed artery in the neck and shoulder, contusion to the back of the head. No apparent break-in, and even if it was concealed there's no property missing."
"Yeah, and what kind of wound to the neck and shoulder?"
"...Looks like some kind of bite, course we won't know till we get the coroner's report."
"That's what I'm thinking too, something bit the HELL out of him. I'm just wracking my brain trying to figure what it is. Black bear maybe, could have smelled the meat. Or a wolf, they do come around from time to time. But why the heck did they pass on those steaks?"
"Guess, we'll wait for the autopsy. You want to let Tina know the situation?"
Thompson shook his head. "No, I do NOT, but I guess it comes with the territory."
As the sun rose, Lisa, Brenda, and Solange felt their bodies revert to their human form. They were in Lisa's basement and Lisa immediately instructed them to get dressed.
"All right," said Lisa sharply. "First things first. Brenda, do you have any idea what you did to that little girl?"
Brenda swallowed hard and bowed her head in submission; "yes my Alpha..."
"No Brenda, you do not. You do not know because I do not know. Nor is there anybody who does know, nobody has the slightest idea about what is going to happen to her. There is a reason that we don't attack somebody that young; we don't know how she's going to react to it. Now do you understand my dilemma?"
Uncertain of the expected response, Brenda tenatively affirmed. "Yes, my Alpha?"
"Very well then. What do you think is an appropriate punishment for me to administer, for such a grievous lack of judgement?"
"Whatever you see fit, my Alpha."
"Whatever I see fit? For what you've done, I have every right to require your life as punishment. But I think I would prefer that your daughter joins us instead."
"NO!!!!!"
"No? You contradict ME? I thought you said that whatever I see fit is appropriate. I WANT Rachel, Brenda. I demand Rachel."
"No, Lisa...my Alpha please. I beg thee. She doesn't want the gift, she's done nothing to deserve punishment, don't punish her for my failings."
"And what did Tina do to deserve...whatever it is that happens to her? Isn't she just as innocent as Rachel...probably more so?"
"Yes my Alpha, but please..."
"This then, Brenda will be your punishment: You will be consigned to the form of the wolf until the next full moon. I will give you four hours to get your affairs in order, and then you will be transformed - by me. You are not to be seen in the form of the wolf by anyone other than coven members or your immediate family, if you are, we will add another week. As for Rachel, she will not be touched...I will permit her to stay with either my family or with Debra's...assuming Deb agrees. Is that understood Brenda?"
"...yes my alpha..."
"Does that sound fair to you, Solange?"
"Yes, my Alpha."
"It's now...a quarter to ten. At 1:45 you begin your punishment. Now go"
Brenda left the basement, sobbing quietly. Lisa sighed shakily, buried her face in her hands, and cursed.
Wendy thought that it was time to lay down the law with her friends. "Look, guys, I'm going to figure out something to tell Marco. He trusts me, okay...but please, don't touch him."
"We understand, Wendy...but if he finds out..."
"Don't TOUCH HIM!!"
The four girls look perturbed. "I think you'll need to speak with Lisa about that, hon," said Debra. Her policy that if anyone finds out our secret...we make it theirs as well.
"He won't. Look, shit, let's just get back to Evansville."
Marco Patel had been wandering along the side of the road in a daze for the past eighteen hours when an AAA service vehicle appeared to his astonishment.
"You're Marco Patel, right?"
"Uh....yeah. How did..."
"We had just gotten a call from a Good Samaritan in Evansville. She wanted to relay to you that Wendy is just fine, she sends her apologies, and she'll be getting back in touch with you in a few days. And also, there is some cash waiting for you at Western Union."
Half an hour later, Marco was on the road back to Pittsburgh. He was quite astonished when the people of Western Union handed him an envelope of $2500 and a note: MARCO I AM SO SO SORRY - STOP ILL CALL YOU IN JUST A FEW DAYS - STOP USE THIS MONEY AS YOU SEE FIT - STOP I LOVE YOU LITTLE BROTHER - STOP YOUR LOVING SISTER WENDY - STOP.