Sir Shkodra grabbed his thick, long suit, and Stormie followed.
"I don't understand! How would Aunt Magdalena hide something that would help us outside the secret laboratory? Wasn't it supposed to be a discovery?"
"Because in the wrong hands, would be used as a weapon to hurt others." Sir Shkodra replied Stormie, getting into an old truck and closed the door.
"To hurt who?" Stormie took the passenger's seat and jumped in.
"Those like Magdalena. Those who must remain werewolves." He made clear.
They drove to the graveyard as Stormie followed beside.
"What's he doing here?"
"It's okay. I won't hurt you." Sir Shkodra replied.
"He actually isn't a bad person or a freak! Aunt Magdalena was the Wolfsberg Alpha!" Stormie opened up excitedly at Adrian. "I told you, it's all real."
"Yeah, I figured that out."
"Where is the writing?" Sir Shkodra interrupted.
"Right there!" They pointed.
"Where?" He asked, puzzled.
"Right there." Stormie pointed.
He looked at them blankly and brought out a piece of paper and pen from his side pocket.
"Read. Glasses in castle."
"Dies sind die geheimen Zutaten; Hasenherz mit Lilienblütenwurzeln und einem Liter Olivenöl." They read out...
"To reverse the curse, these are the ingredients...."
'Caaw! Caaaww!! Caaaawww!!! Kraa! Kraaa!! Kraaaa!!!'
Ravens from afar crowed, and Sir Shkodra adjusted his coat, gazing at the clouded sky, fearfully. His cold eyes glowered from left to right and then left again.
"What? Why are you shivering?" Adrian asked.
He moved closer to them. "They're coming"
"They?" Adrian frowned. "Who are they?"
"Vampiha!"
"Vampires!"
"Vampiha!"
"You mean vampires." They chorused.
"Ugh! They're pure evil. Once every three centuries, they rise to power. And every time, they're always close to ruling the earth. This is the darkest time in our history. Your Aunt, Magdalena and other werewolves like her were called upon to deliver all beings from this darkness."
"So werewolves are good?" Adrian raised, connecting the dots.
"Of course they are." Sir Shkodra replied.
Thunder struck the earth and a gust of wind distracted their discussion, but he continued.
"One thousand years ago, a fierce battle fought. The powerful dragged Wolfsberg manor. Vampiha and werewolves fought to death. Thousands of each side lost. It went on for years and existence was tortured. At last, werewolves prevailed, and this became a sacred land. The convex became the great protectors. Now, Magdalena is gone without a bloodline werewolf to protect the sacred land. The Vampiha would try again to take control. If they do, it will be a signal for them to rise and feed upon the human race. No one will be safe. This will become a world ruled by the undead!" He roared and Thor beat his anvil against the sky.
Stormie and Adrian turned to themselves in fear.
"Maybe we should tell mum." Stormie suggested to Adrian.
"What about me?" Adrian required. "I am a werewolf. I can protect the castle from the vampires."
"No." he replied. "You must be a bloodline werewolf."
Stormie suddenly closed her eyes, holding her head in a spinning manner.
"What is the matter, girl?" Sir Shkodra asked.
"What's wrong?" Adrian was frightened, holding her closer. "What's wrong?"
"Ugh... I just got light-headed." She explained. "I will be fine."
"We must hurry. Finish list before morning."
"What about the castle?!" Stormie reminded him.
"Castle later, Adrian first!"
They rushed out of the cemetery and got into the old truck. Sir Shkodra drove straight to the market to get the secret ingredients. As they pushed the grocery store's door. Adrian's gaze met with Maria's, but she awkwardly looked away.
"Hallo Fräulein, Wir brauchen einige geheime Zutaten. Können Sie uns dabei helfen?" Sir Shkodra started in a low, deftly eccentric voice.
"Ich müsste Ihre Liste überprüfen, Sir." Maria replied him.
Unsure of what she said, Adrian watched Sir Shkodra handling her the list. He avoided her face, too. Feeling unconcerned, but it did not please him. Adrian wanted to tell her about the whole thing. Why he acted weird on their date but, being a werewolf is a secret that is hidden. Telling her might freak her out, he told himself and followed her lead as she took the list, reading it out.
"Hasenherz?" She frowned, trying to understand its English meaning.
"Yes," Sir Shkodra replied her. "Rabbit's heart."
"Oh, rabbit's heart." She went to a cage where some animals were kept and dragged out a rabbit. Handling it to Stormie. Adrian licked his mouth, his sense to feed increasing. Stormie quickly kicked on his leg and pushed him back.
"Don't even think about it!" she warned in a whisper.
"Lili... Lilienblütenwurzeln?" Maria continued.
"That's lily flower roots." He translated.
"No, we don't have that here." She explained.
"Really? Can you please check or ask around?" Adrian cut in mistakenly. Knowing a missing ingredient wouldn't be able to transform him back.
Maria turned to him, confused why he it mattered so much to him. She just rolled her eyes to where roots are kept and luckily, there was only one lily flower's root left. Adrian picked it while Maria read the last ingredient.
"Und... Olivenöle. That's Olive oil." She smiled. "Of course, we have it."
Maria measured three liters of olive oil in a bottle and placed it into a shopping back before handing it to Stormie.
"Help plug out the rabbit's heart." Sir Shkodra instructed.
"May I ask what you're making?" She asked interestedly.
Sir Shkodra's blade eyes caught through her view as he faked a smile, blankly looking at Adrian and Stormie.
"It's Wolfsberg's medicine soup."
"Really? I've never heard of it." She frowned.
"It's a new soup we invented. We'd take it after the fest." Sir Shkodra clarified.
"Oh, I see." Maria smiled, and they smiled at her. Taking the rabbit to a corner with a self-sharpening knife, she rolled the blade through her tiny fingers. It was an old, butchering knife of five inches.
Sir Shkodra picked up some powders while Stormie followed him.
'Kiss me, baby! Rock me baby!' His phone rang, and he picked abruptly it up. "Hello, Mrs Knight."
"I am with children at a grocery store. I will tell them." He nodded and pocketed back his phone.
"Was that my mum?" Stormie asked.
"Yes. She and Jerry are dining at Megastar Restaurant."
"Why? What are they doing there?"
"It's couple's night today. They're probably there for a couple's costume party." He told her, throwing a bag of thyme into the shopping trolley.
"Was that rock band for your ring tone?"
"The musician is werewolf, you know." Sir Shkodra clarified.
"Wow, amazing." Stormie sighed. "That's something."
Adrian as well spoke to Maria.
He stood beside her while her black eyes concentrated on the rabbit. She held its ears and slit its throat at once. Acting as if Adrian wasn't even there.
"Why are you avoiding me? Why are you so quiet?"
"You know what you did, and I need explanations." Her German accent spelled out. And because Maria is German, she is not always easy to understand, but her vocalizations are utterly charming. Adrian loves that her voice is often, to his ear, another peculiar instrument with which is remarkable.
"Are you angry with me?"
Maria gently stroke the knife onto its chest, in a fine, thick line. Giving him no reply.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Stormie interrupted us and I left without saying goodbye."
"That isn't the issue." She turned to him and they locked eyes again. "Who are you, Adrian? What has changed in you?"
He stared at her, dumbfounded. Unable to say a word. She turned away disappointedly and took out the rabbit's heart. Dropping it into a small, transparent jar.
"I know you wouldn't tell me. I'm not enough for you." She handed him the jar, and I walked out. About to call her back, Adrian noticed his claws were growing out of his fingers and his heart dropped, feeling so horrified.
Hearing his whimpering, Maria stopped and turned back to him. Adrian quickly pockets his hands, and the surprised look on his face confused her.
"See you later." He just had to fake a smile and walk out of her to where Sir Shkodra was picking powders.
"What's it?" He asked.
"I'm transforming. I think it's almost time. My veins are getting visible."
"Um, we have to go." Stormie told Sir Shkodra. He stopped what he was doing to check Adrian's eyes.
They were glowing and his breath whistles. He looked at the both of them, puzzled.
"You must go to the castle before midnight. No one must know you're a werewolf." He warned Adrian. Stormie, accompany your brother.
"What about you... and the ingredients?" Stormie whined.
"Don't worry about me. I'd meet you in the castle and prepare his remedy. Go home already!" he pushed them out of the grocery store, giving an eagle eye around if anyone was watching.
"Where would we find a cab?" Stormie asked as they walked through the crowded market. They crowded it than before.
"I don't know." Adrian replied. "This place is so crowded. There should be a cab around somewhere. We should just keep looking."
"Adrian!" a familiar voice called out at them. They turned back and saw that it was Jerry across the road. He was well dressed in his black suit and he styled his shiny hair to the back as usual.
"Stormie! Oh my... What are you guys doing in the market by this time?" He raised.
"We just cane to see the costumes." Adrian lied. "We're on her way to Wolfsberg manor."
"What a coincidence?!" A mysterious grin spread on his full lips. "I'm actually on my way to pick your mum. You kids want a ride?"
"Yeah!"
"Yes, that would be great!" Stormie replied.
"Great!" he smiled as they walked to his black Mercedes.
Driving through the woods that smelt like murderous alleys, Adrian felt the icy night air biting again at his skin. As if being watched, he sensed the dead. Imagining the screams of the damned who have plunged into the depths of the dark woods surrounding the fallen place. Looking through the transparent window, he could feel the spirits lurking in the night.
"Wolfsberg is just beautiful when the sun goes down, right?" Jerry intoned, off minded. He turned to them briefly, expecting an answer.
Adrian was seated next to him while Stormie sat at the back.
"Sure, it is. But I'm a night bat, guiltily. I hardly stay in at night." He told them
Adrian was in so much pain. He tightly closed his eyes to compress the burning sensation that overtook him.
"Are you okay, dude?" Jerry asked, hearing Adrian's gruntle.
"Yes!" He replied, looking through the wing mirror. Adrian realized his rages were out. "I'm totally fine." he added.
Jerry turned his gaze from the road and faced him while driving. He frowned at Adrian's attitude.
"You know, I've noticed that you've been acting strange these days. I mean, since you came to our little town. It's like you've found your inner strength or something, but that's amazing, trust me." Jerry drove on.
Adrian felt a tangle in his ears and touched it. It stood up like that of a rabbit.
"Oh no, not now!" he cried inside, using the hood of his jacket to cover up.
Looking at his glowing eyes, Stormie didn't feel comfortable either. She handed him her dark glasses and he put it on. Just then, they listened till the car engines suddenly died.
Then, it was ghostly silence.
"What's it?" Stormie cried.
Adrian was about to change.
"Umm, just a minute. This usually happens." He faked an awkward laugh and kicked the car engine.
"Grrr...." The exhaust pipe died in the next second. He turned it on, but it died again.
'Grrrrr....'
Adrian sighed, sensing trouble.
"Let me see." He came down and lifted up the bonnet.
"Grrr..." Adrian whimpered.
"Quiet, dude!"
"Shut up. It's not as easy as you think, Stormie! I have no control over my wolf!"
'Whooop! Whooop!! Whooop!!!' Something in the sky slapped the wings like dragon wings.
'Whooop! Whooop!! Whooop!!!'
"What was that?" Stormie raised an eyebrow, listening closely.
'Whooop! Whooop! Whooop!!!'
"I have no idea." Adrian frowned, looking upwards. Stormie jerked out of the car and Adrian followed.
Jerry kicked the bonnet close, and they saw seven tall men standing at his back. They had pale skin and, of course, Gothic dressings that weren't costumes.
"Can we go now?" Jerry asked, smiling at them with relief in his voice.
"Jerry!" Stormie shivered. "Not to freak you out but... There are a bunch of vampires behind you!"
Meanwhile, another car drove in their direction and stopped. Stormie recognized the driver as the man that drove them from the airport.
"Hahaha! Of course!" Jerry howled with laughter and changed into his vamp self.