Cruel and Unusual - serialised novel EXCLUSIVE to Steemit Part 40

For the full list of episodes, please see this post: Episode List
And Then, 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

Images below from Google and Pixabay

Please read the start of the story using the links above. I promise, it’s well-worth the time to check it all out. At least then, this excerpt will make more sense.

---

“Actually sir, I have also spoken to one who has seen the victim of such a murder. My daughter came home in a most distressed state. She saw the victim’s remains over at Mitre Square not a week since. It was referred to as the ‘Double Event’ or so I am led to believe. She said that she was compelled to change because of the odours caused by the severity of the mutilations. The woman’s face had been sliced open and her throat cut as to almost sever the head. She had been hacked open, as one would gut a slaughtered animal. The intestines were pulled out and laid over one shoulder. The smell of it all so excited my daughter - who as all of you that know her, is the most gentile lady when the Full Moon is not upon us – that she almost changed to full Wolf there and then.”

“Yes, it seems tragic that your daughter should have witnessed such depravity, yet it also seems all too convenient.”

“Sir, I protest! Do you accuse me of a lie, or my daughter?” The man stood, pushing his chair backwards, his expression furious, yet he struggled to remain calm.

It seemed then, that sanity had returned to the Wolf named David for when he was confronted by the snarling and angry Wolf whom he had insulted, he made his apologies and left the room.

The hasty departure of David opened up the dialogue in the room and if the intent was to encourage scare-mongering and objection to Sentinels coming to the city, the actuality was the reverse. The Wolves voiced nothing but support of any measures deemed necessary by the Sentinels and furthermore, declared their intent to inform every Wolf even throughout the country if necessary. All Wolves would be protected in this time of uncertainty, they vowed, even to the extreme measure that each Wolf would be forbidden to go out alone until the state of emergency was resolved.

The debate went on long into the night and many subjects were covered. From speculation of who the murderer could be to the very real danger of the police being drafted into the area in huge volumes and what it could mean to Wolf Society if the police ever saw one of their number in a state of ‘wolfishness’. They all knew that the more the police were drafted in, the greater the danger that one would be seen and discovered.

Hazel was disturbed that neither Anton nor Keme were as concerned as she was about the possibility of extra police presence in the area. She tried a number of means to bring the subject up for discussion again but the assembly were less concerned than she was and she was frustrated in her attempts.

It was a very contemplative Hazel that made her way back to the hotel rooms alone.

Anton had not noticed her leave, but Keme did. He allowed her to go without asking why she was leaving early, and did not mention it to Anton until they left the meeting.

“Hazel left a while ago so we should not wait for her to come out.” Keme said as he walked past Anton.

“When did she leave?” Anton turned to voice the question toward Keme’s departing back.

Keme just shrugged and kept his back to Anton.

“Keme! I am speaking to you, please turn around and show some courtesy. Your manners are better than this.”

There was no hint of belligerence in his manner as Keme replied to the admonishment.

“I cannot be certain of exactly when Hazel took her leave; it was an hour or more since. She did not say goodbye or offer any explanation as to where she was going. I saw her leave and that is all.”

“You did not think to mention it to me?”

“I thought of it, but I saw that you were busy with other Elders and did not wish to interrupt.” Keme made to walk away again and Anton caught his arm for an instant, giving Keme cause to turn.

“I do not know where it is that you go of an evening and it is not my business but I would ask that you are careful. You do not have skills yet to navigate the city streets as you did back home in your mountains and forests and I worry for your safety.”

Keme looked Anton in the eye and said, “I may not be fluent in the language of these streets but I shall get by. I will be careful as you ask – I always am - and I understand your concern for my well-being. Thank you Anton, you are a good friend.”

Keme turned to leave once more. As an afterthought he turned back to face the older man, removed his hat and bowed towards Anton in a mark of respect for his mentor.

Anton smiled as he watched Keme saunter away and his grin broadened with sheer pride as Keme was enveloped by shadows and then moved so fast that he all-but vanished.

Anton had a fair idea where Keme was heading – or at least the purpose for his journey and he thought that perhaps it was not such a bad idea and altered his own course and went to visit one of his acquaintances – perhaps he could persuade her to lend Hazel a nice dress for the theatre, perhaps?

Hazel had gone back to the hotel for only a brief time, just long enough to change out of her smart clothes and into the clean but ragged ones that she had been wearing before moving in to the hotel. She kept them for occasions such as this. She wanted to go out into the slums and to not stand out like a Jester at a graveside.

She didn’t think of Anton or of Keme; her immediate priority was for the whole of the community, not individuals. She would be more able to indulge in her close companions after she had investigated what was troubling her right at that moment.